The organised labour, yesterday, gave the Federal Government, May 31, the deadline to conclude the minimum wage negotiation or face a nationwide industrial action.

This came as President Bola Tinubu, promised that his administration was working on a new minimum and living wage to improve the welfare of workers in the country.

The organised labour during the May Day celebration at the Eagle Square, Abuja, also insisted on N615,000 minimum wage, even as it placed an 18-point demand before the government, threatening to shut down the country if the Federal Government failed to accede to their requests by May 31.

This came as the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, congratulated Nigerian workers on this Year’s International Workers’ Day and charged them to resist all anti-people tendencies seeking to compromise and undermine the democratic tenets of freedom, rule of law, accountability and probity in the country.

Also, the presidential candidate of the Labour Party, LP, in the 2023 general election, Mr. Peter Obi greeted Nigerian workers, saying he stands with them in solidarity for their resilience and doggedness to ensure a better Nigeria.

President of Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC, Mr Joe Ajaero and his Trade Union Congress, TUC, counterpart, Festus Osifo, lamented the excruciating living conditions of the Nigerian masses and especially of workers in the last year.

They said: “The last minimum wage of N30,000 expired on April 18 and we should be in the regime of new minimum wage as of today. Discussions were supposed to have been concluded.

“The Federal Government through the National Assembly legislated on it. But we saw that the discussion entered voice mail because the Federal Government refused to reconvene the meeting that was adjourned.

“We think the announcement now appears mischievous because there is no agreed minimum wage that the government is announcing. For them to announce it now, is an issue we are worried about at the NLC and the TUC.”

According to the labour leaders, though robust engagement with all stakeholders has been on, labour was pressing for a two-year lifespan for the new National Minimum Wage Act, with automatic adjustments triggered by inflation surpassing 7.5 per cent.

Insist on N615,000 wage demand

They said: “The battle for a new national minimum wage rages on. Our demand of N615,000 stands firm, rooted in the grim reality of workers’ lives across the nation. Through rigorous engagement with all stakeholders, we’ve pressed for a two-year lifespan for the new act, with automatic adjustments triggered by inflation surpassing 7.5 per cent.

“Every employer with five employees and above must comply. We demand robust monitoring and strict penalties for non-compliant state governments. We have based our figures on real data gathered from your responses nationwide, ensuring that our demand reflects the true cost of living for an average family.

 

“Our message is clear: anything less than a living wage condemns workers to poverty. We urge vigilance as we near the finish line, determined not to let other interests derail our pursuit of economic justice. Together, we will ensure that President Tinubu’s promise of a living wage becomes a reality for every worker in Nigeria.

Threatens total shutdown if …

“If, however, the negotiation of the National Minimum wage is not concluded by the end of May, the Trade Union Movement in Nigeria will no longer guarantee industrial peace in the country.”

Energy Crisis

Decrying the current energy crisis in the country, they said: “Our nation is crippled by this very incompetence and selfishness, leaving our citizens and economy vulnerable. Power, regardless of its origin, fuels economic growth. Oil and gas are lifelines for energy success worldwide. The government must collaborate with the people to ensure energy benefits all Nigerians, not just a privileged few.

“We demand action on our refineries. Promises remain unfulfilled, while operational ones in the private sector fail to ease the people’s suffering. There is suspicion of sabotage to profit from importing, at the expense of our economy. The recent refinery agreement lacks transparency, echoing past exploitation in other sectors.

“Claims of trillions spent on PMS subsidies baffle us. We demand clarity from the government on who benefits and who consumes the 40 million litres of projected daily consumption.

Condemn electricity tariff hike, demands reversal within one week

“The power sector’s plight persists a decade after privatization. Conflict of interest hampers progress, and higher tariffs for nonexistent electricity are unjust. We reject unilateral and illegal tariff hikes and demand adherence to due process.
“A 300 per cent tariff hike would devastate domestic manufacturers. Consumer classification perpetuates inequality, akin to apartheid, endangering field workers’ lives.

“Reassessing privatization is crucial for progress. Despite billions invested, grid collapses persist, and generation remains stagnant. Tanzania’s recent action underscores the need for change. The government must reclaim control and account for revenue from its stake.

“We commend states pursuing independent power generation and urge swift action to break monopolies and empower consumers nationwide. Let us unite to ensure energy serves all Nigerians, driving our nation’s prosperity.

“The NLC and TUC hereby advise NERC and power sector operators to reverse the last increase in electricity tariff within the next one week.”

Insecurity

Ajaero and Osifo also lamented the state of insecurity, saying “Our nation is bleeding. In just the past year, over 4,800 lives have been lost to violence, with over 400 kidnappings reported in a mere two weeks earlier this year. We’re ranked among the top 10 most terrorised nations globally, and it’s unacceptable.

“Banditry and terrorism have made life unsafe for farmers and communities nationwide. Travelling is a nightmare, economic activities suffer, and food shortage looms as farmlands are ransacked or abandoned.

“Despite billions allocated to security annually, the situation worsens. We must rethink our security approach, involving communities for greater safety. Security is communal, it starts with the people.

“A nation unable to secure itself isn’t ready for development. Economic growth hinges on security. We can’t ignore this existential issue. Investing in people secures the nation. It’s time to prioritize the people for a secure and prosperous nation.”

Responsible leadership

The NLC and TUC reminded the President that true leadership prioritises the people above all else.

They said: “Success is not measured by promises or control, but by how well we meet the people’s needs, ensure their security, and provide essential services. Good governance means accountability and prioritizing citizens.

“To achieve this, we must address corruption, insecurity, and the brain drain. Fair treatment of workers isn’t charity, it’s smart economics. We demand fair wages that motivate and inspire productivity.

“Our leaders must serve the nation, not exploit it. We reject greed and call for patriotism and commitment. Let’s build a nation we’re proud of.

“We insist on genuine dialogue and respect for democratic freedoms. Investigate attacks on journalists and communities impartially.

“Security starts with prioritising people. Let’s put Nigerians first for the sake of our nation’s future.”

Places 18-point demand before FG

The 18 other demands by NLC and TUC are:

*That the government restrains itself from the use of violence in civic engagement within the Industrial relations sphere.

• An immediate reversal of the unilateral hike in electricity tariff, enthronement of service reflective tariff and stoppage of segregation of consumers

*An expansion of NLAC’s activities and increasing its periodicity.

*The establishment of constant tripartite workplace audits at the federal, state and Enterprise levels

5. An immediate roll out of the CNG buses nationwide as agreed of the October 2, Agreement signed with the government
   *Full Implementation of Registrar of Trade Unions for Registering more unions, we demand that nee unions be registered in the informal sector. 8. We call for an urgent rethink of the Presidential system of government as practised in our country.

*We call for ane call for a review of the Electricity Privatization exercise with the view to a reversal *Once again, we demand a two-state solution to the crisis in the Middle East. The hypocrisy around international issues imperils our world.
*PTAD has been doing a good job so, do not scrap it but leave it for Pensioners.

*We call for the payment of the N25,000 palliative promised to Pensioners since last year.

*We call for a National Minimum Pension to be negotiated alongside the National Minimum Wage.

*Nigerian workers call for a one-year moratorium on all forms of taxes, levies and dues collectable from the informal economy by state and local governments.

*The immediate inclusion of workers in the Committee set up to implement the Oronsaye Report to ensure that workers’ interests are protected through the President’s actions and appointments since the assumption of office has already exacerbated the challenges the Report sought to resolve.

*We demand the implementation of the Science, Technology and Innovation Policy, NSTIP, and its provisions for the National Research and Innovation Council, NRIC, for improved funding of research. We call on the National Assembly to expedite the passage of the NRIC Bill and on Mr President to give assent thereafter.

*The resurrection of fuel queues around the nation should be nipped in the bud immediately
*The forwarding of the reviewed Labour Administration Laws in Nigeria to the National Assembly for passage into law.

Tinubu assures of pay rise, better working conditions

Meanwhile, President Tinubu assured Nigerian workers of a new minimum wage and a living wage, as well as improved working conditions.

Represented by Vice President Kashim Shettima, the President said: “You, the workers of our great nation, are its very backbone. I want to assure you that we appreciate and celebrate your hard work, sacrifices, and contributions to the prosperity and stability of our great nation every day.”

On the new minimum wage, President Tinubu said, “We took office at a time when many nations, including ours, were experiencing daunting socio-political and developmental challenges. Yet, we are resolute in confronting these obstacles head-on.

“The Tripartite Committee on Minimum Wage has been working diligently, and I assure you that your days of worrying are over. Indeed, this government is open to the committee’s suggestion of not just a minimum wage but a living wage.”

Emphasizing the importance of industrial harmony, the President praised the workers, saying, “Your role as an indispensable component of the nation’s engine cannot be overstated by any government if the quest for a just and progressive society is to be realised.

“Our shared vision for national growth and development can only be realised in an atmosphere of industrial harmony and peaceful coexistence in every segment of our country.”

Tinubu appealed to workers to continue to use the power of the labour movement for the greater good of the nation, fostering harmony and cooperation.

He said: “I call upon every one of you to join hands in shaping the destiny of our nation towards greatness. Our allegiance and patriotism are the bedrock upon which our beloved country thrives.”
The president in a statement by his spokesman, Chief Ajuri Ngelale, said: “The President salutes Nigerian workers for their fidelity to the peace, progress, and development of the nation evident in their tireless efforts and patriotic zeal to keep the national engine running.

“President Tinubu celebrates Nigerian workers across all spheres, from the clerical officer who ensures the proper documentation and distribution of correspondence; the security officer who remains ever dutiful through all seasons; the teacher who secures the future of our nation by imparting knowledge to the next generation; the doctor who works relentlessly to save precious lives, and to all Nigerian workers who keep the candle aflame.

“The President affirms that his administration remains committed to improving the welfare of all workers, noting the various relief programmes, including the wage award and the imminent minimum wage review.

“President Tinubu strongly believes that the custodians of the nation’s machinery deserve a fair wage and enhanced welfare and that a labourer is deserving of not just any reward but fair and commensurate wages.”

PDP charges Nigerian workers to resist anti-people tendencies

The PDP, in a statement by its National Publicity Secretary, Mr. Debo Ologunagba, said: “We salute Nigerian workers for remaining steadfast as real drivers of the national economy despite the asphyxiating and life-discounting conditions occasioned by the ill-implemented economic and fiscal policies of the All Progressives Congress, APC, administration.

“Our party is deeply distraught that Nigerian workers and indeed millions of other citizens have, in the last nine years been subjected to misery, harrowing economic hardship and worsening insecurity by the rudderless and insensitive APC administrations, which have wrecked the nation’s productive sectors and brought distress to our national life.

“The PDP particularly condemns the continuing increase in electricity tariff and price of petroleum products with petrol now selling at over N1000 per litre in various parts of the country; a situation that has resulted in an astronomical increase in the cost of living and worsened the economic hardship in the country.

“As the Party of the people, the PDP demands that the APC-led Federal Government ends its insensitivity towards Nigerians and use the occasion of the Workers’ Day to review all its retrogressive policies and take urgent action towards addressing issues that have direct bearing on the welfare of the citizens.

“The PDP however, urges Nigerian workers and indeed all citizens not to give up hope but remain steadfast in their commitment towards a stable, united and prosperous nation, especially at this challenging time.
“The Party celebrates the workers and wishes them a happy Workers’ Day celebration.”

I stand with workers in solidarity- Peter Obi

Obi, in a letter he addressed to the workers, said: “As we come together to celebrate Workers’ Day, I am filled with an overwhelming sense of pride and admiration for every one of you who continue to stand tall and steadfast in your commitment to building our great nation, even in the face of adversity and challenges.

“As we honour the hard work, dedication, and resilience of workers across the country and beyond, I am reminded of the incredible strength and spirit that defines us as a people.

“Despite the countless obstacles and hurdles that may stand in our way, you, the backbone of our society, remain unwavering in your resolve to contribute to the growth and development of our beloved nation.

“From the bustling streets of Lagos to the serene villages of the North, from the bustling markets of Onitsha to the bustling ports of Port Harcourt, your labour forms the foundation upon which our nation stands.

“Whether you are toiling in the fields under the scorching sun or labouring in factories amidst the hum of machinery, your efforts are the lifeblood of our economy and the driving force behind our progress.

“But beyond the tangible contributions you daily make to our nation’s development, it is your unwavering patriotism, resilience, and determination that truly inspire us all.

“In the face of economic hardships, political uncertainties, and social injustices, you continue to stand your ground, holding fast to your belief in a brighter future for our country.

‘I stand with you in solidarity, championing your cause and advocating for your rights. I recognize the sacrifices you make every day to provide for your families, support your communities, and contribute to the collective well-being of our nation.

“Today, as we celebrate Workers’ Day, let us reaffirm our commitment to one another and to the ideals of unity, justice, and equality for all. Let us take pride in our achievements, draw strength from our collective resilience, and rededicate ourselves to the noble cause of building a better, more prosperous Nigeria for generations to come.

“I extend my heartfelt gratitude and admiration to every one of you for your unwavering dedication, patriotism, and sacrifice. Your labour is the cornerstone of our nation’s prosperity, and your contributions will forever be cherished and celebrated.

“Truly, as our anthem reaffirms, the labour of you, our perpetual heroes, shall indeed never be in vain.”

Akpabio assures workers of better welfare

President of the Senate, Senator Godswill Akpabio, in a message to mark Workers Day, by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Eseme Eyiboh, said: “A Nigerian worker is noted for his patriotism, hard work, resilience, and dedication to duty.

“I am happy to be associated with the Nigerian worker in the last more than 25 years and I can attest to the fact that everywhere you go, the Nigerian worker’s spirit resonates profoundly.

“No Nigerian worker will again be allowed to work under inhuman conditions. We will do everything to give you the best because you deserve the best.”

Akpabio who reiterated that the theme for this year’s celebration was apt and in tune with the international best practices, assuring that Nigeria will never be left behind, said that the 10th National Assembly was fully committed to providing the required legislative enablement aimed at protecting the interest of the Nigerian worker, creating a befitting workplace environment and a pay that takes them home.

He said: “On behalf of the Senate and the entire National Assembly and indeed, my family, I wish to join the world in wishing the Nigerian worker a happy International Labour Day.

“We are celebrating patriotism, hard work, commitment and dedication. And I want to assure you that your sacrifices can never go in vain. The tough times will never last forever and in fact, they will soon be over,” he added.

Vanguard News Nigeria

David Umahi, minister of works, has accused Paul Onwuanibe, chief executive officer (CEO) of Landmark Africa Group, of politicising issues arising from the Lagos-Calabar coastal road project.

Umahi spoke on Monday while supervising the demolition of structures at the Landmark Beach in  Lagos.

Recently, the federal government commenced the construction of the Lagos-Calabar coastal road, which is expected to run through the shoreline of beach resorts in  Lagos, while traversing eight other states.

The project has generated controversy and concerns about funding and the businesses that would be affected during construction.

On April 18, Onwuanibe said the government had not formally contacted the resort on the impact the project would have on the beach business.

Speaking during the demolition exercise, Umahi said the federal government only destroyed shanties at the beach on its 250-metre right of way.

The minister said the Landmark CEO is “seeking attention”, adding that he has no claim to make in the demolition of shanties on the right of way.

“No claim for Landmark. We spared all his infrastructure. We don’t pay for shanties. Shanties were on our right of way — 250 metres from the shoreline,” Umahi said.

“He has no claim. We make all the efforts to spare all his infrastructure. That is why I said he is a politician and I’m an engineer.

“While he plays politics, I do the engineering work. I don’t know the attention he is seeking for when things are very practical.”

 [TheCable]

Mr Aderemi Adeoye retired yesterday as the Commissioner of Police (CP) in Anambra State. By his own admission, his net worth is now N20 billion! And he has set his eyes on displacing Alhaji Aliko Dangote as the richest man in Africa within the next ten years. I am also quoting him. “I have been privileged to be trained in Ghana, England, Israel, California and more. I have served abroad in the United Nations, and this career gave me opportunities for self-development, and these have prepared me for retirement,” Adeoye admitted during his ceremonial pull out parade from the Nigeria Police Force (NPF) in Awka last weekend. “In 2018, I founded an investment club, Alpha Trust Investment Club (ATIC) Limited. We started it with a modest sum of N54 million, but today we have investments worth over N20 billion. That will be my full-time business from Wednesday, May 1 (yesterday). We have been investing and now we want to go into full time business. And we will in the next 10 years give Dangote a run for his money.”

Let me be upfront here. I do not agree with those who find virtue in the kind of ‘poverty’ fables that propelled former President Muhammadu Buhari to power in 2015. So, I am not opposed to legitimate ‘side hustles’ without which it is difficult for professionals to stay afloat in Nigeria. But there is a problem when public officials acquire stupendous wealth that is impossible to explain and then make a show of it. Therefore, to know more about this multibillion Naira company whose promoter seeks to displace Dangote on the ‘Forbes List’, I first conducted a search at the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC) where I drew blank. I am surprised that a business concern with a portfolio of N20 billion is not listed at the CAC. Then I did a Google search. My findings were shocking.

In February this year, some people had petitioned the Inspector General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, asking him to investigate an alleged fraudulent diversion of over N20 billion funds by Adeoye. In the petition, dated 30 January 2024 and signed by 33 members—including Diasporan Nigerians resident in the United States, Canada, Australia and the United Kingdom—they alleged that Adeoye has been using his uniform to operate what they described as a Ponzi Scheme. “Sometime around 2017, we became ‘friends’ with Mr Adeoye on Facebook. At the time, he was serving in the African Union on secondment from Nigeria. He endeared himself to us and many others by projecting himself as a champion for victims of fraud and an upright man,” they wrote. “Often, he claimed to have come to the aid of persons who had been defrauded on Facebook. He got many accolades from many of us for these claims. As time will show, these claims were deliberate and well-planned effort by him to win the trust of many of us on Facebook as a precursor to launching his grand scheme.”

In 2018, according to the petitioners, Adeoye “proposed an investment club on Facebook, named Alpha Trust Investment Club (ATIC), aiming to pool funds for diversified investments, including joint property purchases. The idea gained traction due to Mr. Adeoye’s credibility as a senior police officer. Trust was high, leading to initial payments directly to his personal account. ATIC was later formally established under the Corporate and Allied Matters Act, growing to over 1,400 members by 2023.”

However, according to the petitioners, what is now happening “Centers on a lack of accountability, lack of proper structure, gross abuse of powers, intimidation, arbitrary punitive actions against members, negligence of duty, and a failure to adhere to regulatory requirements. All of these have cost members dearly.” After listing nine accounts domiciled in GTBank to which monies are paid with Adeoye as sole administrator, they demanded that he “be compelled to disengage from running the investments with immediate effect, with an undertaking not to touch or deal in any assets belonging to the Club, since his involvement in the scheme, and dealing in the business as a public servant, in the first place, is prima facially (sic) illegal ab initio and as a matter of law.” 

There is nothing on record to suggest that Egbetokun acted on the petition. But a few weeks ago, PUNCH newspaper interviewed Adeoye who described the claims by those petitioners as “criminal defamation of character”. These were his words: “They are our members and started fomenting trouble. In the course of this, they issued threats. Someone who issues threats to others is a criminal. The person they want to haunt down is the largest shareholder, who has 11 million shares. If something is wrong with the finances, who is the first to know? What they are doing now is criminal defamation of character. When you defame a person criminally, that is a crime. The Board of Trustees met and expelled them; after they were expelled, they labelled the club Ponzi.

“We bought land as a cooperative. And we have one document for it in the name of the cooperative for each purchase. Am I supposed to tear the document into pieces and then begin to share them? We are an online investment platform. We published all the receipts and payments on our page, and every member sees them. We have created a lounge to process their settlement. We are writing to the developer to remove the parts of the bulk purchase for them and issue documents to them in their names. Developers charge 10% of the current value of the land for that. We are not asking them to pay us. They should pay directly to the developer. We will only certify them as our members for the process.”

I am still trying to process what this company is about. But there are even more critical questions that beg for answers. How can a Police Commissioner establish a ‘business’, ask the public to contribute funds that would generate returns, use his private accounts to receive such funds and claim ownership of the pool of money contributed by ‘shareholders’, after allocating 11 million shares to himself? And how could Adeoye have been diligent in his work as a law enforcement officer if he spent considerable time chasing money from people whose backgrounds he had no idea of—including those who could be criminals? Are there no regulations within the police that frown at a serving officer establishing and running a business venture, especially of this nature? Are police officers exempted from the code of conduct for public officials in Nigeria?

On Monday, there was an online post titled, ‘The audacious billionaire cop’ credited to a Mr Dauda Adesina Joki-Lasisi, a retired police officer. Joki-Lasisi (who claimed to have started his career in 1988 as a cadet inspector after training at the Police Academy in Kano) drew from his own moral examples and that of many others in the NPF to argue that money making is incompatible with the work of a law enforcement officer. He concluded his treatise with several posers. “In a service where the pension of a retired CP is not up to a N100K, what message was CP Adeoye sending to those still in service? Was it for them to embark on a rabid pursuit of money at all costs in order to secure their post-service life? And in that case, how wouldn’t these officers then compromise the sacred policing ethics by monetizing their services to the detriment of the masses and the security of the nation?” Joki-Lasisi asked. “I think retiring senior officers need to now be compelled to submit their valedictory addresses to the police authorities for vetting and possible censorship of any damaging content thereof, in order to prevent the recurrence of an embarrassing absurdity of this nature.”

I wish Adeoye well as he retires to the stupendous wealth that he has amassed for himself. But like Joki-Lasisi, I also believe that the NPF should be concerned about the reputational damage of his audacious disclosure. In my August 2021 column, ‘Beyond Abba Kyari’s Indictment’, I addressed a similar issue that borders on ethics in the police. The intervention followed the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) indictment of a Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP) then touted as a ‘Super Cop’. “By charging Kyari to their court, asking for his arrest, and placing emphasis on the fact that ‘he is a highly decorated deputy commissioner of the Nigeria Police Force …’, the FBI was implicitly making a connection between criminality and law enforcement in our country,” I wrote in the column. “There are lessons in this tragedy that should not be lost on the authorities in our country. Having allowed the police to degenerate as an institution, it is little surprise that many of their personnel now embody the worst vices of society.”

That a serving police officer would openly admit to being a billionaire resulting from running a curious business while still in uniform confirms the lack of accountability that defines public conduct in our country today. Yet, as I have also repeatedly stated on this page, when you run a system where there are no consequences for bad behaviour, it becomes easy for those who ordinarily should uphold the law to also become outlaws. Unfortunately, that is where we are in Nigeria today!

Remembering Ayogu Eze

On 11 January this year, I received an invitation card by WhatsApp from the late former Senate spokesman, Ayogu Eze for the wedding of his daughter. I immediately replied by congratulating him, asking that I be reminded a week to the event. “Thanks, my brother. I will send a reminder on February 2,” he responded. Of course, he never sent the reminder because, as I now know, he fell ill, and sadly, died last week. Ayogu Eze was a member of a professional chat group to which I also belonged before I exited last year when some members introduced toxicity into conversations. But I kept in touch with individual members. Yesterday in Abuja, I joined Mr Fred Ohwahwa, Dr Kingsley Osadolor, Hon Abdul Oroh and Mr Andy Ezeani to visit Mrs Nkechi Ayogu-Eze. As expected, the atmosphere was different from when she (and her now deceased husband) lavishly hosted us just about three years ago.

On a personal note, Ayogu Eze was a respected senior colleague with whom I exchanged ideas over the years. Scrolling through my handset yesterday, one stood out. It was in May 2020 during Covid-19. I had written a column that he enjoyed and decided to engage me. From our exchanges that day, I leave this warning from him to his colleagues in the political arena: “This (the issue I wrote about) is pathetic and at the same time symptomatic of the leadership recruitment process in our country…our governance model is characterised by theatre and showmanship, with zero substance. If we don’t change course, this joke will blow up in our faces, sooner or later.”

May God comfort the family Senator Ayogu Eze left behind.

The release of Magnus Onyibe’s new book, "Leading From The Streets: Media Interventions by a Public Intellectual 1999-2019," has taken a new dimension. According to the organizers of the public presentation of the book which will take place on 8th May at Alliance Francais/Mike Adenuga Centre , Lagos, 9am prompt; apart from a panel discussion on the theme "Tinubonomics: What's Working, What's Not, Why, and Way Forward" by experts, there will be merit awards tagged Leading From The Streets awards to deserving individuals and corporate organizations that have touched the lives of Nigerians in profound ways.
So they are being honored because, like John F. Kennedy the 35th president United States of America, USA, stated during his inaugural address in 1961: “ Ask not what your country can do for you , but what you can do for your country” ln these difficult times that Nigerians are going through, the receipients of Leading From The Streets awards have imbibed the message expressed by U.S president J. F Kennedy, over sixty(60) years ago.

Also, the trio of Gen. Yakubu Gowon, former Nigerian head of state; Nobel laureate Prof. Wole Soyinka; and Mr. Lekan Alabi, who wrote an open letter to Gen. Gowon requesting Prof. Soyinka's release from incarceration during the Nigerian civil war , may meet on stage together for the first time.

Among those to be conferred with the Leading From The Streets award are Prof. Wole Soyinka, Barrister Allen Onyema of Airpeace, Alh. Aliko Dangote of Dangote Industries, Dr. Olisa Agbokoba, Col. Abubakar Dangiwa Umar (rtd), and Chief Mike Adenuga of Globacom.

As it may be recalled, Prof. Soyinka, who will be turning 90 years old on July 13, was committed to jail in 1967 by the federal government of Nigeria for twenty-two (22) months because he wrote and published an article in the mass media trying to dissuade the federal government from going to war against Biafra.

Instead of heeding his wise counsel of urging both sides to come to a negotiated settlement he was incarcerated for allegedly being an accomplice of the separatist Biafran side.

When the guns from both the Federal and Biafran armies stopped booming, an estimated one (1) million Nigerian souls had been lost with properties and infrastructure worth multiple billions of naira destroyed, mostly in the eastern part of our country. That is a catastrophe from which our country is yet to recover to from, till date. Perhaps owing to his patriotic effort to stop an avoidable war and his intellectual excellence, Professor Soyinka was awarded the Nobel laurel in literature in 1986.

Once again, consistent with his unwavering support for the downtrodden and society alike, he has recently been engaged in the struggle for Nigeria’s unity, notably his calling out of Labor Party’s vice presidential candidate for 2023 elections, threatening that there would be civil disobidience if current president, Bola Tinubu were to be sworn into office before his victory was affirmed by the court. His consistent commitment to the unity if Nigeria is one of the reasons why he is being conferred with the Leading From The Streets award.

Barrister Allen Onyema, with his airline Airpeace, has been rescuing Nigerians stranded in foreign countries during periods of conflicts, free of charge. This ranges from Airpeace flying to South Africa during xenophobic attacks against Nigerians to going to Libya, Sudan, and Ukraine to bring Nigerians home when they were stranded during wars in those countries. To cap it all, Onyema/Airpeace has dramatically crashed the cost of flight tickets from about N4m to N1.2m for the lucrative Lagos to London route that had been monopolized by United Kingdom based airlines.

Airpeace has even gone further to offer rebate fares to Nigerian students studying abroad so that they can be encouraged to come home more often. For that selfless service, which was not offered from the corridors of political power, Allen Onyema/Airpeace is being honored with the Leading From The Streets award.

Africa’s richest man, Alhaji Aliko Dangote, has demonstrated passion for Nigeria and Nigerians by investing a whopping $20 billion dollars into building the recently commissioned 650,000 barrels a day Dangote Refinery. The mega refinery is aimed at stemming the hemorrhaging of scarce foreign exchange to Europe for the purchase of refined petroleum products, of which African countries have not been able to produce and had instead been importing.

With the coming on stream of the refinery, the price of diesel has been crashed from about N1,700 per liter to below N1,000 per liter. As we all know, diesel, otherwise known as Automotive Gas Oil (AGO), is critical to the production of goods and services as well as influence the price of transport and logistics. It is the spike in the cost of living owing to the withdrawal of subsidies on petrol and naira that brought about current hardships on Nigerians, especially the vulnerable ones among us.

But with the recent crashing of the price of diesel by Dangote Refinery which is a humanitarian gesture,there would significantly be a downward trend of the cost of living in due course. That is apart from the N15b that he recently expended in procuring palliatives like rice for distribution to the masses across the country to ameliorate the pervading effect of hunger.

He did all of the above not as a public servant, but as an entrepreneur/philantropist. It is for that reason that Aliko Dangote/Dangote Refinery will be honored with the Leading From The Streets award.

Dr. Olisa Agbakoba (SAN) was in the forefront of the struggle to entrench democratic leadership in our country after a long period of military rule. Through his pro-democracy activism platform, the Civil Liberty Organization (CLO), he and like-minded Nigerians teamed up to agitate for the exit of the military from political leadership back to their barracks until the military gave way to democratic leadership in 1999. He has remained committed to the pursuit of public good without occupying any public office.

For the reasons above and more, Dr. Olisa Agbakoba has acquitted himself as a patriotic Nigerian Leading From The Streets, hence the honor is being bestowed on him.

Col. Abubakar Dangiwa Umar, a retired army officer who had served as military governor of Kaduna state under the watch of Gen. Yakubu Gowon as military head of state, was a disciplinarian and a man that is full of integrity. While in the military, he was immensely popular and could have transitioned into politics like his former colleagues by contesting to become president or governor in our current democratic setting. But he chose to continue to lead outside the corridors of power.

During the immediate past administration of President Muhammadu Buhari, he wrote an open letter to the president protesting the delay in confirming Justice Monica Dongben-Mensem as President of the Court of Appeal due to some archaic and primordial sentiments. After due consideration of his articulated points, her appointment was confirmed as Appeal Court president by then president Buhari without further delay. For that remarkable accomplishment and related public good that he has spearheaded without being in the corridors of power, Col. Abubakar Dangiwa Umar (rtd) is adjudged as one of the notable Nigerians committed to Leading From The Streets.

Chief Mike Adenuga, who turned 71 on April 29, is the sixth (6) recipient of the Leading From The Streets award for his dogged determination to positively change the course of history for Nigerians by democratizing access to telecommunications services.

Apart from his outstanding role in philanthropy, it is his telecommunications firm, Globacom, that introduced per-second billing for GSM telephone service to Nigerians after the foreign service providers had been operating the per-minute billing system that compelled subscribers to pay for minutes of phone calls even if they only made a few seconds of call. When Globacom made its debut in the Nigerian market, it also crashed the price of SIM cards from N30,000 to N7,900 only, thus precipitating the putting of telephone service in the hands of basically every Nigerian irrespective of their status in society-high or low.

For that remarkable gesture of positively touching the lives without being wielding political power , Chief Mike Adenuga with his Globacom has been Leading From The Streets, hence he is being conferred with the honor.

Apart from the merit awards, history may be made if the trio of Gen. Gowon, Prof. Soyinka, and Mr. Lekan Alabi meet on the same stage for the first time since the end of the Nigerian civil war in 1970 during the event . It may be recalled that a seventeen (17) years old boy, Lekan Alabi, had written a letter published in the Daily Times newspaper of the days of yore to then head of state Gen. Gowon, appealing to him to release Soyinka from indefinite detention. Then tenager Alabi, who is now a grandfather, has promised to take advantage of the public presentation of the book to meet the chairman of the occassion, Gen. Gowon generally known as the father of Nigeria by vrtue of being the oldest living head of state, (who will be 90 on October 19) for the first time together together with prof. Wole Soyinka billed to be the keynote speaker at the event.

Tervel T.Kejih
Team Lead,Strategic Communications.

An important development that occurred in the financial services industry the other week went largely unreported in the press; perhaps because the media is still engrossed in all the corruption dramas of the last few weeks. On Friday, April 26, Central Bank officials, led by a director, met with the chief executives of major fintech companies in the country and ordered them to discontinue onboarding of new customers. The CBN, I understand, has been dissatisfied with the manner with which the fintechs have been handling KYC checks in opening accounts for their customers and is convinced that such loopholes could be or have been exploited by money launderers and terrorist financiers in moving illicit financial resources. KYC (Know your customer) is the mandatory process undertaken by a bank to identify and verify their customer’s identity and address when opening account. Periodically, over time, those requirements are reinforced by the banks. I recently had to forward new utility bills to my account officer and perform BVN confirmation just to reactivate an account.

In addition to the provision of the utility bill by the customer, bank officials are expected to physically inspect the address provided by the customer. But the fintechs don’t have not been this diligent in verifying the identities and addresses of their customers and the authorities are convinced that these lapses could be exploited by the bad guys. A fintech customer only has to complete an online form and provide BVN, ID card and address. Among the top deposit-taking fintechs that attended the meeting with the CBN are Opay, Moniepoint, Palmpay and Kudak. Opay has however assured that it is committed to being compliant with all regulations. In a statement after the meeting, the company stated that it will ‘’support government efforts to clean up the financial industry’’.

The CBN’s order is coming a few months after it directed all financial institutions to collect ID cards before opening accounts for customers, voiding its 2013 guidelines which waived IDs to encourage financial inclusion. The order also coincides with a major crackdown on suspicious bank accounts by the authorities. Just last week, a Federal High Court in Abuja granted the EFCC an interim order to freeze 1,146 accounts belonging to persons and organizations being investigated for unauthorized forex transactions, terrorism financing and money laundering. In giving the order, Justice Emeka Nwite noted that ‘’preliminary investigations reveal that the bank accounts are linked to persons who take advantage of the virtual cryptocurrency exchange platforms to illegally manipulate the value of the naira and launder proceeds of unlawful activities’’.

The reason for all these feverish curbs is because authorities are worried that Nigeria’s fight against terrorism and money laundering has been poorly rated by the Financial Action Task Force (FATF), the global money laundering and terrorist financing watchdog. ‘’Nigeria has been grey-listed by FATF as of February 24, 2023 and this is very bad for us as a nation’’, a director at the CBN told this writer last week. South Africa and 22 other countries are also grey-listed. Grey-listed countries are those deemed to have deficient anti-money laundering and terrorist-financing mechanisms. There are two categories of grey-listed countries: those that are currently working hard with under FATF monitoring to address the lapses and those that are doing nothing about it for which stiff sanctions may apply. Obviously, our country is desperate to be taken off the grey list. But the hurdles are high.

The country has suffered severe security challenges in the last 15 years and its currency has undergone significant devaluations in the last one year or so partly due to the trading activities on the cryptocurrency platforms. Nigeria’s inability to arrest financiers of terrorism and the recent escape of an executive of Binance, a cryptocurrency-trading platform, from detention in Abuja are pointers to gaps in the nation’s security framework. By ordering the fintechs to discontinue further customer acquisitions, the CBN is hoping to tighten its surveillance on this component of the finance sector. The bank should go farther and scrutinize their books as keenly as they examine the records of the banks.

Across the world, the fight against financial crimes is not letting up. Financial crimes cause economic distortion, loss of control over economic policy, revenue loss and weakening of the integrity of financial markets. This week, the founder and former chief executive of Binance, Changpeng Zhao, was sentenced to four months in prison in the US after pleading guilty to violating that country’s laws against money laundering at the world’s largest cryptocurrency exchange. It is this same level of seriousness that the global community expects Nigeria to apply in its fight against money laundering and terrorism financing. Going after abusers of the Naira is good, but the nation will fare far better if big-time criminals are brought to book.

The Nigerian Army announced to the general public on Wednesday, May 1, that it has released the list of successful candidates for Direct Short Service Commission (DSSC) Course 28/2024.

The Nigerian Army made an official publication via its X handle and said the full list of successful candidates for the course can be accessed via its official website.

According to the publication, Officer Cadet training will commence on 10 May 2024 at the NDA, Afaka, Kaduna.

Below is the General Instruction for the next stage of the exercise as announced by the Nigerian Army.

1 – Candidates are to report to NDA, Afaka, Kaduna with the following:

• Original credentials, including online printout showing
  his/her passport photograph(s).
• Four copies of 5 x 7 coloured photographs in suit and full standing position without cap/hat.
• Two pairs each of unmarked white round-neck vests and navy blue shorts (without stripes).
• Two pairs of pure white canvas/trainers (rubber type NOT acceptable).
• Two pairs each of unmarked maroon round-neck vests and navy blue tracksuits (without stripes).
• Two white shirts, one blue shirt, a black tie and a black belt.
• Four pairs of white socks and 2 pairs of black socks.
• Two pairs of national dress or suit and casual wear.
• One wristwatch.
• A pair of black-laced shoes.
• Swimming trunk.
• Two white bed sheets and pillowcases.
• One blanket (grey or army green colour).
• Two sets of cutlery.
• I am pressing iron.
• Toiletries.

2 – Female candidates should come along with the following items in addition:

• One pair of black low-heel cover shoes.
• Two black lounge suits.
• A pair of trouser suit.
• Two black shorts (tights).

3 – Serving military personnel: Are to come along with release letters and passes from their commanders/commanding officers from their commanders/commanding officers.
4 – Successful candidates who fail to report on the aforementioned date will forfeit their vacancies to candidates on reserve.
5 – Reserve candidates are not to report to NDA but will be contacted in the
event vacancies arise.
6 – There will be no vacancy for Reserve candidates after 31 May 2024.

[Nairametrics]

Multichoice Nigeria recently announced another price increase on its DStv and GOtv packages, marking a third time in the last 12 months.

While many Nigerians are kicking against the latest increase, the company justified its action by citing the economic situation in the country.

Multichoice blames rising business operation costs and points to currency depreciation, with the naira’s value dropping significantly, and inflation jumping to 33.2% as of March 2024.

But the price increment, which has now become an annual ritual did not just happen in Nigeria. Earlier in March, the PayTV operator had announced a price increase in its home country, South Africa, and Kenya, and the new prices have taken effect from April 1, 2024.

Like in Nigeria, the company also blames the vagaries of the economy for the price adjustment in the other two markets.

Although the Competition and Consumer Protection Tribunal (CCPT) sitting in Abuja on Monday restrained Multichoice Nigeria from implementing the DStv and GOtv price increment, which is expected to take effect on Wednesday, May 1, 2024, a comparative analysis of prices across Multichoice’s major markets became expedient.

Prices compared

Nairametrics took a look at what the company is charging in other markets, especially, based on recent price increments, and here is what we found:

In South Africa, Multichoice’s highest package, DStv Premium currently goes for R929 ($49.36) a month, while in Kenya, the same package costs Sh10,500 ($78) per month. In Nigeria, DStv Premium will cost N37,000 ($26.7), based on the new price recently announced.

DStv Compact Plus package in South Africa is currently at R619 ($33) per month, while the same package costs N25,000, ($18) in Nigeria. Kenyans are currently paying Sh6,500 ($48) for the same package.

The third package common to the three markets is the DStv Compact. Multichoice South Africa currently charges R469 ($25) for Compact package per month. In Nigeria, the new price announced for DStv Compact is N15,700 ($11), while in Kenya, the same package currently goes for Sh3,700 ($27).

Income level compared

It is important to note that the income levels in each of these countries differ and that also plays a role in how charges are fixed for markets. This also helps to understand who is paying more relative to their level of income.

• According to Stats SA in its quarterly employment survey (QES), the average income in South Africa is R25,304 ($1,348) per month as of Q1 2023. The World Bank puts the country’s GDP Per Capita at $6,766.5 as of 2022. South Africa is an Upper-Middle Income country according to the Bank.
• Data from the Kenya National Bureau of Statistics (KNBS) shows that the average monthly income for Kenyans rose to Sh20,123 ($149) in 2022. According to the World Bank, the country’s GDP Per Capita stood at $2,099.3 in 2022. The country is categorized by the Bank as a Lower-Middle Income country.
• The average monthly salary in Nigeria is estimated to be between N80,000 and N100,000, which is about $58 to $72. This figure represents the median level, meaning that half of the working population earns less than this amount, while the other half earns more. However, the World Bank’s data shows that Nigeria’s GDP Per Capita stood at $2,162.6 as of 2022. Nigeria is also classified as a Lower-Middle Income country.

Bottomline

Based on the income levels, it is safe to say that Kenyans are paying more for DStv services out of the three countries. On the other hand, rates in South Africa are the cheapest going by their average income. This indicates that Nigerians are paying more than South Africans.

[Nairametrics]

First, kudos to the Kukah Centre for organising recently a forum on the topical question of national integration. The success of the effort is a measure of the increasing relevance of the Abuja-based think tank. Cynics may dismiss such a platform provided by the Catholic Bishop of Sokoto, Bishop Mathew Hassan Kukah, as just another “talking shop.” But it is wrong to assume that issues in Nigeria have all been properly defined. So any serious gathering aimed at further clarification on the numerous problems would be in order.

The senator representing the Edo north district, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole, by his own admission, “invited” himself to the occasion. He felt the topic of discussion was an important one.

A clip of Oshiomhole’s contribution at the dialogue has since gone viral in the social media just like the clips of some of his recent statements on the floor of the senate. The indisputable fact is that Oshiomhole has been making truly progressive contributions to the debate in the national parliament. His background as a labour leader is manifest in the positions consistently taken in the course of debate. He has been remarkably flying the flag of the true labour tradition in Abuja.

At the Kukah Centre, Oshiomhole spoke on the central issues of the polity, economy and society. These issues include the class nature of the application of the rule of law; the funding of basic education; ethics and values; homosexualism and the economic trend of de-industrialisation as a cumulative effect of decades of failed policies.

He deplored the failure of the elite to give leadership that’s necessary for making progress while admitting that he is part of the system having been governor, party chairman and now a senator. Oshiomhole even made a critique of religious bodies and identified himself as a member of one of the marginalised minority ethnic groups in Nigeria. He is an Etsako man from the northern Edo. He said that the total population of the minority ethnic groups is a higher number than the totality of the majority ethnic groups. This, he said, would make the minorities to be the real majority if put together.

Expectedly, the video of the Kukah Centre event has generated diverse reactions. Oshiomhole has been justifiably applauded in some quarters as speaking for the common good and progress. From other perspectives, criticisms of his positions have been legitimately made in the true nature of public debates.

However, the latest video has also revived the seasonal Oshiomhole bashing which some pundits have made a pastime since the senator’s transition from labour activism to politics 17 years ago. Indeed the attacks on Oshiomhole have come from left, right and centre of the Nigerian ideological spectrum in the most uncharitable manner. In extreme cases, outright lies have been told to denigrate Oshiomhole.
Like any other activist turned politician, Oshiomhole has made his own serious mistakes. His errors have been both tactical and strategic in nature as he navigates the immense contradictions of Nigerian politics.

He readily admits this fact himself.

Pray, who is that politician who ever acts without committing errors?

The important thing is how the error is corrected going forward.

While it is legitimate to criticise Oshiomhole’s mistakes, it is utterly wrong to distort facts or tell half-truths in order to put him in bad political light.

Samples of the twisted stories circulating about Oshiomhole could be highlighted to demonstrate this point for historical purposes.

On November 29, 2013, Governor Oshiomhole was on an inspection of the work of a task force on environmental sanitation in the bid to beautify Benin. One of the offenders caught was a widow, Mrs. Joy Ifije, hawking by the road side. The poor woman begged for mercy as officials confiscated her wares. In a moment of indiscretion, the governor shouted at her: “go and die.” The ugly incident was widely reported and it naturally generated outrage from foes and friends of Oshiomhole alike. For instance, as friends, this reporter and his wife and fellow reporter, Funmi, angrily called the governor from Lagos telling him: “Comrade, this act of yours is unacceptable; it is unlike the Adams we know…” Oshiomhole’s daughter, Dr. Winnie Owumi, a urologist specialist, called from the United States also criticising her father with strong words for what happened.

Calmly, Oshiomhole responded to comments by simply asking what could be done to mitigate the damage.

As Oshiomhole later explained he received criticisms and suggestions from various quarters including, of course, members of his government.
The governor then took the following steps to correct the error. He invited the roadside trader to the government house as his guest. Over a cup of tea, the widow, accompanied by her son, received the unequivocal apologies from the governor.

On that occasion, Oshiomhole said inter alia: “Let me apologise for the way I spoke to you. I am very sorry about the statement. I have also realised that even in anger, one could still achieve the same result that he set out to achieve without provocative outburst. I apologise from the bottom of my heart. Sometimes you get angry when people compromise your efforts…”

The meeting ended with Oshiomhole appointing Mrs. Ifije as an ambassador on environmental sanitation. On some occasions, the lady went round the city with the governor to sensitise residents on the compliance with environmental regulations.

The governor gave Mrs. Ifije two million naira to get a shop and establish a more decent trading business. He offered to personally pay for the education of the widow’s son to the university level. The son is now a graduate. The trading business has flourished. The widow has built for herself a three-room bungalow in Benin. She calls Oshiomhole on phone occasionally to update him about her progress in life.
The later mitigation part of the story was widely reported just like the verbal assault on the roadside trader. But pundits conveniently ignore the good part when recalling the story to lampoon Oshiomhole over a decade later. Oshiomhole’s denigrators never forget the bad part of the story; but they pretend not to remember the happy ending of the incident.

That’s bad faith.

If politicians on the hustings could be excused on this score, it is certainly less than professional for newspaper editors, columnists and television anchors to conceal facts in order to demonise a political personality. .

In any case, how does the half-truth being told about this 2013 incident diminish the importance of Oshiomhole’s 2024 position that governors should fund basic education adequately so that out-of-school children could be taken off the street?

Another false allegation against Oshiomhole is that he once told a politician who decamped into the All Progressives Congress (APC) that his “sins are forgiven.” The insinuation here is that a politician could circumvent the law as a member of the ruling party. Oshiomhole never said such a thing. Here is the true story: As chairman of APC, Oshiomhole received into his party some politicians in Edo state who decamped from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). From the podium, Oshiomhole threw some banters at one of the politicians, Mr Iluobe. Roughly translated Iluobe means “I don’t do bad.” Oshiomhole said specifically of Iluobe that if he could act in the true meaning of his name, by not doing “bad’ even though he was moving from a “bad party, the PDP,” his “sins are forgiven no matter the bad things (he) did in PDP.”

Meanwhile Mr. Iluobe was not holding any political post at time. Neither was he being investigated or tried by any law enforcement agent.

Since the statement was made not a few top members of APC who have held political positions have been taken through the justice process by anti-corruption agencies in the same way that politicians from other political parties have been treated. Those who keep repeating the line of “your sins are forgiven’’ have not pointed to any case involving the politician in question, Mr. Iluobe, which was manipulated. Yet the utter misrepresentation of Oshiomhole’s statement has continued till this day.. The bogey of “godfatherism” of Oshiomhole is resurrected at every season of primary election in Edo state. Understandably, politicians seek his endorsement to secure the party ticket. Some of those who fail to win the ticket often turn round to accuse him of playing the “godfather.” The friction between Oshiomhole and his successor and erstwhile political ally , Governor Godwin Obaseki, is the most authoritative case cited in the trial of Oshiomhole in this respect. Meanwhile, it does not occur to Oshiomhole’s traducers that even Obaseki himself is no more singing the tune of “godfatherism” as he approaches the end of his tenure in Edo government House. Few months ago, Obaseki invited Oshiomhole to a forum where he honoured past governors of the state for their respective contributions to the development of the state. The two politicians made complimentary remarks about each other at the event. Only two days ago, Obaseki handed over to the Edo state chapter of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), a secretariat complex constructed by the state government. The magnificent building is named “Adams Oshiomhole Labour House.”

Even in the heat of the last APC primaries, some commentators displayed in their fecund imagination Oshiomhole’s “political coffins.”
Yet, the former labour leader is still speaking for the common good in Abuja.

Oshiomhole should be steadfast in articulating the cause of the common good regardless of what the cynics may say.

To do so doesn’t even require a radical disposition because that is what any decent liberal should do in the Nigerian condition.

This position is inimitably formulated by a notable liberal scholar of the Harvard University, Michael Sandel, in his book, “Justice: What’s the Right Thing to Do?”

Writing on the “Politics of the Common Good,” Sandel puts the argument this way: ”If a just society involves reasoning together about the good life, it remains to ask what kind of political discourse would point us in the direction…The challenge is to imagine a politics that takes moral and spiritual questions seriously but brings them to bear on broad economic and civic concerns, not only on sex and abortion.”

The public sphere is impoverished when public intellectuals are so fixated in their concealed partisan positions to the extent of manipulating facts to justify their positions.

That is doubtless not in the public interest.

Happy May Day

The theme of today’s May Day cannot be more apposite: “Celebrating Workers Resilience and Contribution to National Development.”
To enhance the contribution, the method of labour may have to change in tactical and strategic terms.

While acting locally, the outlook should be global.

This is because the forces shaping the concept and the environment of work sometimes do not respect even national boundaries- climate change, technology, geo-political dynamics, pandemics etc.

Beyond perfecting their dexterity in collective bargaining, labour should muster the strengthen to influence policies by the sheer force of ideas. Labour must be properly equipped to defend its alternatives to policies. It should acquire the organisational capacity to mobilise not only workers, but also the whole of the society around the options of fundamentally fighting mass poverty and gross inequality.

With proper organisation the fight for social justice can be won.
Solidarity for Ever!

Commuters in the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, Abuja, and other cities across the country have bemoaned the hike in transportation fares owing to the current fuel scarcity.

DAILY POST reports that queues have worsened in many filling stations across the country, with Abuja as one of the worst hit areas.

While some motorists were lucky to get fuel at some retail outlets for between N700 and N,1200 per litre after hours of squabbles, others were not so lucky as many retail outlets were shut, with their excuses being supply challenges.

Findings by DAILY POST revealed that the snake-like queues at a few filling stations in Abuja have worsened the traffic situation in the nation’s capital and its outskirts as the long queues spilt on major roads, hindering movements, just as thousands of people were stranded at bus stops with transport fares as high as double the former amounts.

Although many outlets owned by independent oil marketers remained shut, DAILY POST gathered that NNPC retail outlets sell petrol at N617 per litre.

Some motorists told DAILY POST that they had to painstakingly endure the unending queues and jostling for sometimes six hours.

DAILY POST gathered that the shortage of the premium product saw the black marketers selling the petrol for as high as N1,200 per litre in some areas of the FCT and its outskirts.

Meanwhile, the National Association of Nigerian Students, NANS, has threatened to embark on mass action if the Federal Government failed to take immediate steps to address the current fuel scarcity in the country.

The association’s Senate President, Babatunde Akinteye, in a statement on Monday, lamented that the fuel scarcity has left many citizens, including students, frustrated and helpless.

He added, “The consequences of this fuel crisis are dire, with electricity supply remaining unreliable, prices soaring, and essential services paralyzed. Nigerian students, along with the rest of the population, are bearing the brunt of this crisis daily.

“We demand immediate actions from the NNPCL to resolve the fuel crisis and restore stability to our nation.”

Speaking during an interview on Channels Television’s ‘The Morning Brief breakfast programme’ on Monday, monitored by DAILY POST, the National President of the Petroleum Products Retail Outlets Owners Association of Nigeria, PETROAN, Billy Gillis-Harry, blamed the fuel scarcity across the country on a supply challenge from NNPC Limited.

Mr Gillis-Harry, who explained that the supply challenge has not been resolved, however, acknowledged the efforts by NNPC Ltd to solve the problem.

He said NNPC has its own outlets that they also serve.

“So if they have some logistics issues, that will possibly be what is internal to NNPC. But as for us, PETROAN members, we can tell Nigerians for real that if we have petroleum products delivered to us, supplied to us upon payment for those same products, we will supply them to Nigerians.

“I would like to correct Nigerians that we, retail outlet owners or marketers as they generally call all of us, are not the reason for this. We do not have any reason not to serve the public and we are willing to serve the public.

“All that is required is for us to have petroleum products delivered to us from NNPC and we will make sure that our retail outlets are open, some of them are even open for 24 hours. The challenge of logistics is only relevant to the NNPC retail outlets,” he said.

Findings by DAILY POST indicate that as at Monday, transportation fare from Masaka, Ado, Mararaba, all in Nasarawa state, outskirts of Abuja that used to be 500 is now N800.

Also, from Jikwoyi, Karu and Nyanya now cost N800 as against N500 and N600 respectively.

Similarly, from Lugbe, Airport Road which was N400 is now N500-N600.

Speaking to DAILY POST, some commuters expressed their frustration, calling on the authorities to intervene without delay.

A commuter, Gabriel Olotu, expressed his grievances while waiting under the bridge in Mararaba for close to two hours trying to get a cab or bus to Wuse/Berger.

“I have been standing here for almost two hours trying to get a taxi to work but I have not been able to get any.

“I hate to resume office late so I wake up and prepare myself for work on time. Unfortunately today, I have been here since 7:30 am. It is almost 10 am already,” he lamented.

Another commuter, who simply gave her name as Agnes, said she paid higher than what she used to pay on transport fare.

She said, ”Already, the money I had with me cannot get me lunch at work, on getting to the road, the transportation fare is now doubled.

”This means the limited money I have will be affected again, which boils down to the fact that what we are going through is unbearable.”

On her part, Mrs Aisha Mohammed said she will have to trek from the junction where she will be dropped to her house because the money meant for motorbikes has been spent on plying the main road.

She begged that the situation be put under control soon because it won’t be easy for people to get to where they earn their living.

A driver, Sunday Adah, who had been waiting in one of the queues, described the situation as horrific and blamed the government for being insensitive to the plight of Nigerians.

“This government is wicked and always bent on making us suffer. I do not understand if they enjoy seeing us suffer.

“I have been in this queue for more than four hours and I have not been able to get fuel.

“I know how much I would have made already but for the time that I have spent here. I do not know what the problem is again.

“They said fuel subsidy, now they have removed fuel subsidy and made us buy the fuel at outrageous rates, yet we cannot even buy with ease,” he said.

No fewer than 14 male and two female adults lost their lives when their vehicle crashed into a fence and caught fire along the Enugu/Opi/Nsukka road late Tuesday.

The Enugu State Police Public Relations Officer, Daniel Ndukwe disclosed this in a statement shared on the X page of the command on Wednesday.

The accident, according to Ndukwe, occurred when an 18-seater bus with a Bauchi number plate DAS 215 XA crashed into the fence of Maduka Maduka and went up in flames.

The impact of the crash and the intensity of the fire that occurred during the accident were said to have led to the death of 16 passengers while two others were rescued alive.

Ndukwe added that further investigation revealed that the vehicle was speeding before it lost control and rammed into the fence.

The statement read, “The Enugu State Police Command wishes to inform the public that a lone fatal motor accident occurred today, April 30, 2024, around 5:20 p.m., at Ekwegbe, along Enugu/Opi/Nsukka Road, claiming the lives of yet-to-be-identified 14 males and two females who burned beyond recognition.

“The accident involves an 18-seater white-coloured Toyota Hummer bus with a Bauchi State commercial registration number DAS 215 XA and the inscription “Masha Allah”, said to have been driven at high speed, lost control, and plunged into the fence of Maduka University along the road.

“A preliminary investigation reveals that the vehicle unfortunately burst into flames burning beyond recognition, the 16 deceased individuals, who were taken to the hospital and confirmed dead. However, two other passengers were rescued alive and taken to the hospital for medical attention by police officers, soldiers and public-spirited citizens, who immediately responded to the incident.”

The PPRO stated that further investigation revealed that the vehicle which was also loaded with vegetables, food items, and the luggage of the passengers, was heading towards Nsukka from the Enugu axis of the road but the point of take-off and final destination of the vehicle was yet to be ascertained.

Ndukwe, however, urged members of the public to come forward with information that can help in identifying the victims.

The Commissioner of Police, CP Kanayo Uzuegbu, in the company of officials of the Federal Road Safety Corps, has visited the scene to assess the situation and described the accident and the carnage therein as sad.

The CP further called on individuals that can help in identifying the victims or with information to trace the family members of the deceased to come forward with such information or call 08098880172 or 08086671202,” the statement concluded.

[Punch]