Morocco became the first African country to make it to the Semi-finals of the FIFA World Cup on Saturday with a deserved 1-0 victory over Portugal.
The Africans picked the ticket with a solitary goal in the first half and snuffed out every effort by the Portuguese to equalise.
Details Shortly.
Enugu Police Command has beefed up security on the streets of Enugu metropolis with the deployment of about hundreds of operatives to restore normalcy.
Two persons were reported dead following early Saturday attack by hoodlums enforcing Simon Ekpa’s five- day sit-at-home order at New Market, Enugu.
A viral video shows two yet- to- be identified victims lying in front of the Enugu University Teaching Hospital, Parklane, Enugu. They were early morning traders said to have been hit by the bullets of the sit-at-home enforcers.
The hoodlums, numbering over 10, stormed the area as early as 6am Saturday and started shooting, scaring people away from the market.
A police van was also set ablaze in front of Colliery Hospital at New Market while two people were shot dead during the invasion.
The development immediately forced Enugu residents indoors for fear of further attack.
However, normalcy returned to the axis and across the metropolis few minutes later following the deployment of crack team of Police Operatives to hunt down the armed hoodlums, who shot sporadically and breached public peace in the area.
Responding to the development, Commissioner of Police, Ahmed Ammani, ordered Area Commanders, Divisional Police Officers and Commanders of all the Tactical/Operational Units of the Command to ensure the maximum deployment of all the Command’s intelligence and operational resources at their disposal, to effectively patrol and fish out miscreants that may want to disturb public peace and security, and/or disrupt the businesses and otherwise activities of law-abiding citizens, under the guise of enforcing illegitimate sit-at-home order.
In a statement by Enugu Police spokesman Daniel Ndukwe, the CP reassured that the Command, collaborating with other security agencies and law-abiding citizens, will never rest on its oars in ensuring that the lives and property of the citizenry are protected against the undesirable activities of disgruntled and misguided criminal elements, hellbent on causing unwarranted havoc to selves and fellow citizens.
Soldiers and their families at Ikeja and Ojo Cantonments in Lagos have started levying themselves to tackle biting scarcity of water.
The Nation gathered the soldiers have lived with the situation for over three years, no thanks to lack of power to pump water from the only borehole serving blocks one to three at the Cantonment.
It was learnt that each of these blocks consisted of 30 flats meaning the borehole was to serve 90 flats with only three hours of electricity for pumping of water daily.
Some of the soldiers who made a Save Our Souls (SOS) message to The Nation said most times they have to trek for about a kilometre distance in search of water to no avail.
They lamented that it was mentally and physically draining for them to return from the day’s task only to go water hunting for long distances inside the barracks but are rejected by those who have personal boreholes.
“This issue started about three years ago. When the system started rationing light from 8pm to 11pm, they forgot that there are buildings sharing boreholes. A block consists of 30 flats and we have three blocks sharing one borehole which means 90 flats.
“Imagine light for three hours to pump water for use by 90 flats. If there was light for longer hours, more flats will at least have water for essentials and wait for the next pumping but that is not the case.
“Some will go to mosque, churches, and public borehole point to fetch. Imagine a single man, after coming back from military duties still carries jerry cans to look for water in one km distance inside the barracks,” said a source who pleaded anonymity.
Another soldier told our correspondent that lack of water was the greatest challenge they faced inside the barracks, lamenting that sometimes, they had to trek as fat as the Army Engineers’ yard but were denied water by those who claimed to be working under instructions.
“Water is as important as food. Imagine me fetching water, climbing steps everyday in this modern generation, after going to long distance. It’s exhausting.
“Sometimes, we’ll go as far as Engineer Yard and they’ll tell us, they’re instructed not to allow anyone fetch water there.
“People have their personal borehole in this barracks and some even sell water because of the situation.
“So, it is all these challenges that made us the soldiers to start taxing ourselves to either buy a generator or drill a borehole.
“As soldiers we do not earn much and so, we cannot afford to do both of them. We are using this opportunity to appeal to the Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, our General Officer Commanding (GOC), 81 Division, and well spirited individuals to come to our aid.
“Please help us drill borehole, then, we can use the contribution to buy generator to be pumping water,” he said.
At Ojo Cantonment, The Nation gathered that soldiers were bitter over a compulsory N200 per room compulsory levy being charged by the authority for light maintenance.
A Twitter account that focuses on military issues, @Militaryblower, which also raised the alarm on the issue, wrote: “A big trouble is coming in Ojo Cantonment, Lagos. The Cantonment boss is charging N200 per room for light maintenance and any soldier that refused to pay the block light will be disconnected. The boss says if they stopped paying, the light situation will be worse than Ikeja Cantonment.
“Another issue soldiers are complaining of is the security issue within the barracks, civilians now use inside the barracks as a passage to Ikotun, some will even park their cars in the barracks to pick it up later at night after closing hour.
“Everything is based on payment, there’s specific amount of money civilians will drop before you’re to park your vehicle or pass through the barracks. The soldier’s wives are planning to revolt and protest.”
Contacted, spokesman for the 81 Division, Lt.-Col Olaniyi Osoba, said the light issue was basically administrative, denying that the institution was levying soldiers.
“It is not true that the system is levying or forcing soldiers to make any payment. It could be that the soldiers decided among themselves to contribute to better the situation. But I can tell you it is completely untrue and false that they are being forced to pay any money.
“Light issue at Ikeja Cantonment has been bad for two or three years now but the authorities have been trying to improve on it. You know that DISCOs are now majorly private organisations and are profit driven. The authority had even gone to then to see how the light can be improved but that it yet to happen.
“So, the authority is working on it and so far, the system has tried to provide more boreholes by ensuring that every new building inside the barracks has its own borehole,” he said.
•Labels ex-Vice President’s top allies betrayers •Rivers PDP flays Atiku’s campaigners over thuggery allegation
THERE is fresh panic in the camp of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) presidential candidate Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, over his chances in the February election, following the latest verbal attack on some of his key allies by former President Olusegun Obasanjo.
Obasanjo, at a recent meeting with a PDP delegation at his Abeokuta residence ,had come hard on two Atiku’s allies ,branding them betrayers.
The duo,who hold top positions in the ‘Atiku for president’ team, were part of the party’s delegation to Abeokuta last weekend.
The Rivers State chapter of the PDP also flayed the Atiku camp yesterday in response to allegations of thuggery leveled at its members by persons supporting the party’s presidential candidate in the state.
The PDP delegation to Obasanjo had gone to seek his support for the party in the February election but got more than it bargained for when the former president tongue lashed two members of the team for what he called their betrayal acts.
One was accused of betraying the collective decision of Southern governors that the presidency should rotate to the South in 2023 while the other was accused of betraying his party over sharing of positions way back in 2011.
Party sources said the dressing down was not a good omen for the PDP especially in the South West where Atiku’s chances are generally seen as nothing to write home about.
On the delegation were former governors Olagunsoye Oyinlola and Sule Lamido as well as Atiku’s running mate,Delta State Governor Ifeanyi Okowa and Sokoto State Governor Aminu Tambuwal.
A source privy to the discussion said : “Baba was categorical in disappointment with one of the men over his support for Atiku. While he recognised the person’s right to freedom of choice, he expressed surprise that a prominent southern politician could oppose the clamour for power to shift to the south after eight years of northern presidency.
“He (Obasanjo) also recalled how the other person similarly betrayed the leadership of the PDP to pitch tent with the opposition to thwart the emergence of the party’s anointed candidate for the position of the Speaker.
“He kept wondering if such persons could be trusted to keep promises and show patriotism. His displeasure with the duo created tension throughout the parley as the former president refused to endorse Atiku’s presidential ambition.”
A party leader from Osun State said: “Our concern in the Southwest has been heightened by what is reported to have transpired when some PDP leaders met with former President Obasanjo in Abeokuta.
“The elder-statesman wasted no time in telling our representatives at the meeting that it was wrong for southerners to oppose power shift to the South in 2023. He has his reasons, but his position, as a prominent political force in the zone, will not help our party’s chances in the Southwest.
“ So, it is proper for us to be worried. But I can assure you that we are not deterred by the development.
“There are numerous prominent south westerners who are supporting Atiku’s aspiration. We are working hard to ensure that their voices are heard too. “Obasanjo’s position is personal to him and he is free to make his choice. We do not begrudge him.
“Those who were at the meeting too did not leave the place without explaining what he didn’t understand to him. The PDP wants to win election and we believe that with Atiku, we stand a good chance. We will not give up on canvassing the good people of the zone to vote PDP. Don’t forget that Tinubu (APC presidential candidate) is from the Southwest and we have him to contend with in the zone.”
Besides the feared backlash of the Obasanjo dressing down,The Nation also gathered that Atiku’s supporters are bothered about the poor turnout at his presidential campaign rally in Lagos during the week.
A source said not only was the PDP presidential candidate displeased with the abysmally low turnout of supporters at the event, he saw the development as a bad omen.
“To many of us, if Atiku must do well in 2023, we must do something about Lagos. The last rally in Lagos frightened us all. The turnout was nothing to write home about. Truth be told, we were all jolted by the reality of the situation in Lagos,” he said.
“But I must tell you that the situation is not a true reflection of Atiku’s popularity in the state. He has massive followership in the state and he will enjoy support during the election.
“What happened was the result of infightings among our party leaders in the state. We are working hard to resolve some issues going forward and I believe very strongly that things will change for good before the next election. PDP is strong in Lagos and we will prove that at the general election.”
The Nation also learnt that developments within the Oyo State chapter of the party are bothering Atiku’s allies as they fear that Governor Seyi Makinde’s disposition to the PDP candidate’s ambition will hurt the chances in February.
Atiku’s photograph is conspicuously missing on the branded vehicles for Makinde’s re-election campaign in the state.
Shedding light on the issue, the Oyo State governor said it was not compulsory, as every politician is free to choose his own campaign strategy.
The G-5 PDP governors -Nyesom Wike (Rivers State), Samuel Ortom (Benue), Okezie Ikpeazu (Abia State), Ifeanyi Ugwunayi (Enugu) and Makinde – had pulled out of the party’s presidential campaign team after the party failed to meet their demand for the removal of the National Chairman, Iyorchia Ayu.
They publicly announced that they would not campaign for Atiku in their various states. Makinde was the only PDP governor in the Southwest before the recent emergence of Ademola Adeleke as governor of Osun State.
Makinde said:“I have seen branded cars by state House of Assembly candidates with just pictures of others running for House of Representatives in their localities. “Anybody that branded cars with his own money… You see, you can’t force them to put my own picture or someone else’s picture so as to vote for him.
“ I believe those that left the party did so owing to their political ambitions. Work is ongoing at bringing every party member together ahead of the 2023 general elections. Of course, we are reaching out to them, while some are vindicated on dropping their ambitions to join back in the party.”
Rivers PDP flays Atiku’s campaigners over thuggery allegation
The Rivers State chapter of the PDP yesterday rejected allegations of thuggery leveled at its members by persons supporting the party’s presidential candidate, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar in the state.
Speaking at the PDP Secretariat in Port Harcourt, the party’s Campaign Council, described as illogical and ill-conceived, claims by Atiku’s spokesman in Rivers that the party was planning to destroy Atiku’s billboards and posters.
The Chairman, Publicity and Communications Committee of the council, Ogbonna Nwuke, said the allegation that the Rivers PDP planned to recruit 20 political thugs in each of the 23 local government areas of the state to intimidate innocent citizens was unfortunate.
Nwuke said: “We would not have wasted energy in responding to these allegations that are as worthless as the paper on which they are written. The reason is that they are products of poor workmen who are usually in the habit of quarrelling with their tools.
“Despite the claims, billboards carrying the faces of candidates of other political parties, including those that are aspiring for the presidency, are standing elegantly along major roads and streets. Nobody in the PDP loyal to the leadership of Governor Wike has removed them.
*Our position is that agents of the presidential candidate have resorted to underhand practices in an attempt to stir distrust and unrest in Rivers State. We have stumbled upon a plan by the pro-Atiku group led by a war canoe chief, supported by some rogue politicians who believe in divide and rule tactics, to use murderers, assassins and ex-prisoners to inflict bodily harm on innocent and defenseless Rivers people.
“The idea, we have learnt, is to destabilise a peaceful state, create fear and unrest and cause public disaffection through the generation of barefaced terror and mind-boggling violence. The idea is to cover up their evil plan to attack the state, stimulate tension and attempt to halt the ongoing and commendable bid by Governor Nyesom Wike to deliver more facilities to the good people of Rivers State in accordance with his electoral promises.
“As part of the plan, they are already running on the theory of the big lie by fabricating all kinds of tales, so they can later claim they told us so. In their desperation, they have even claimed that we are assembling thugs”.
Besides, Nwuke said the allegations were at variance with the provisions of the Electoral Act adding that the Atiku campaigners were demonstrating crass ignorance.
He said: “Votes will count in this election. The people will decide who rules them. Election results shall be transmitted electronically. INEC has introduced BVAS, meaning that only those who are qualified to vote will take part in the forthcoming elections.The hijack of polling boxes has become obsolete. No one can write results. That practice has become archaic. So, what will thugs do?
“Besides, the Wike administration has surpassed all expectations in terms of project delivery. The Rivers people know this, the Nigerian people appreciate this fact and the Federal Government has acknowledged this reality.
“Ex-agitators in the Niger Delta who have pitched camps with some candidates as we prepare for election are doing their best to campaign reasonably and peacefully. They are refusing to be dragged into the fray by blood thirsty politicians who are incidentally working for Atiku.
“Armed with the kind of scorecard that Governor Wike has put on the table, the goodwill that the PDP in Rivers State is enjoying, what do we need thugs for?
“Let us even for one second consider statistical data. Atiku’s Spokesman in Rivers State is claiming that the Rivers PDP of which he is part is recruiting 20 thugs per LGA.
“Some ‘LGAs like Khana and Etche have at least 19 wards. Is Atiku’s Spokesman saying that every ward will have an average of one thug each? If this is correct, what impact will one or two thugs have in a ward comprised of so many Electoral Units?
“This shows how hollow and how shallow these claims are. This exposes the lie that Atiku’a uncouth spokesman is telling the world. Those who are spinning these lies however forget that the wildcat allegations which are being deployed cannot, and will not earn sane votes for the presidential flag-bearer of the PDP.”
Nigeria’s total debt stock has risen to N44.06 trillion on the back of borrowings from the federal and state governments.
A statement issued by the Debt Management Office yesterday in Abuja stated that “as at September 30, 2022, Nigeria’s Total Public Debt Stock which comprises the Total Domestic and External Debt Stock of the Federal Government of Nigeria (FGN), all State Governments and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) stood at N44.06 trillion.”
Before this announcement, Nigeria’s total public debt as of June 2022, stood at N42.84 trillion.
According to the DMO, “the total domestic debt stock as at September 30, 2022, was N26.92 trillion while the total external debt stock as at September 30, 2022, was N17.15 trillion”.
The DMO attributed the increase in the debt stock to “largely new borrowings by the Federal Government to part-finance the deficit in the 2022 appropriation Act, as well as, new borrowings by sub-nationals.”
Data from the DMO’s external and domestic debt service also showed that the country spent N1.17 trillion on debt in the third quarter (Q3) of 2022.
N820.59 billion was spent on domestic debt service and N356.92 billion ($801.23 million) spent on external debt service.
The federal government spent N1.33 trillion to service domestic debts in the first half of 2022, representing an increase of 42.5 percent compared to N935.46 billion spent in the corresponding period of 2021.
A sizable amount of this money was used to offset obligations to local contractors.
When compared to the second half of 2021, domestic debt service increased by 19.2 percent from N1.19 trillion.
•Newly redesigned Naira now in banks, ready for issuance
•Senate grills CBN officials over new Naira policy
•CBN withdrawal limits targeted at politicians —Fintiri
Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Governor, Godwin Emefiele, yesterday, bemoaned the prevailing foreign exchange shortage in the country, its slowing down of national development, and the rising spate of inflation.
Emefiele spoke at the 13th Bankers’ Committee Retreat in Lagos.
He said elsewhere yesterday that the newly redesigned Naira notes are already in the banks and ready for issuance.
At the Bankers’ Committee Retreat, the CBN Governor said Nigeria’s 21.09 per cent inflation rate in October was relatively high and at an unacceptable level.
The inflation rate has already exceeded the six to nine per cent target set by the apex bank, with the rise attributed to the uptick in the price of Automotive Gas Oil (AGO), increase in electricity tariff, intermittent scarcity of petrol and foreign exchange scarcity.
The October inflation rate in Nigeria was the 10th consecutive monthly increase and the highest inflation level in 17 years.
Emefiele who spoke on the theme: “Increasing the Productive Base of the Nigerian Economy and Non-Oil Export Revenues,” stressed the need to review, reconsider and recalibrate the strategies for Nigeria’s economic prosperity.
He said inflation in Ghana in October surged to 40.4 per cent, while the rates in Ethiopia and Rwanda surpassed 30 per cent by October 2022. Inflation in other Emerging and Developing Economies (EMDES) like Turkey and Argentina exceeded 80 per cent in October.
He called for the recognition of the hindrances of high inflation and foreign exchange shortages on the achievement of Nigeria’s national development goals.
He said the launch of the RT200 programme in February 2022 by the apex bank was informed by the need to support the fundamentals of the Nigerian economy, diversify from dependence on oil inflows, and minimize the debilitating pressures in the foreign exchange market.
According to him, the initiative, designed to stimulate non-oil exports with a $200 billion foreign exchange income target in three to five years, has been widely accepted and driven by the institutions that constitute the Bankers’ Committee.
He hoped the retreat would enable the stakeholders to review the progress and impact of the implementation of RT200 and re-examine banks’ support for other government programmes, promote non-oil export and identify specific implementable actions by the financial system to enhance foreign exchange revenues.
He said the retreat was convened to focus on the development of the local manufacturing industry and non-oil sectors, more broadly, and particularly to enhance the sector’s capacity to generate foreign exchange inflows.
”The focus is even more germane considering the enormity of the global economic turbulence, as wave after wave of negative shocks continue to ravage many countries,” Emefiele said.
He said the banking sector stakeholders have what it takes to collectively come up with innovative solutions and workable programmes to bolster the productive base of the economy, fast-track diversification, strengthen Nigeria’s fundamentals, and resolve the structural imbalances that have constrained the economy for so long.
He said that with sheer determination, cooperation, and persistence Nigeria could surmount today’s challenges and chart a way for viable economic development now and in the future.
”We, as the managers and drivers of Nigeria’s financial system, recognize the crucial importance of our roles and privileged positions. Over the years, collaborative programmes and initiatives of the Bankers’ Committee have delivered tangible contributions to the nation’s economic prosperity,” he said.
Emefiele said the global reaction to the evolving circumstances was in some cases chaotic, uncoordinated, and profoundly nationalistic.
To the escalating threat of hyperinflation, he said central banks in many countries reacted with a sharp and extensive monetary tightening in renewed pursuit of price stability.
He said: “In view of the widespread food and cost-of-living crises, we are seeing growing restrictions on food exports as about 23 advanced economies, according to the World Bank, have banned the export of 33 food items.
”Also, the European Union plans to impose energy price caps on Russian supplies, to curtail the energy crisis caused by the war in Ukraine. Most of these actions, including the effects of capital flow reversals and exchange rate pressures, have not only amplified the vulnerabilities of EMDEs, but assertively highlights the need for us to strengthen our domestic economic base, fast-track the attainment of economic diversification, limit our reliance on foreign products, insulate and immunize our economy against foreign shocks.”
Newly redesigned Naira now in banks, ready for issuance
Emefiele, in multiple tweets on CBN’s official handle yesterday, said the newly redesigned Naira notes were already in banks and ready for issuance.
“The newly redesigned N200, N500, and N1,000 banknotes are now in banks and ready for issuance to members of the public,” the CBN Governor said while briefing President Muhammadu Buhari during a visit to him in Daura, Katsina State.
He said that the currency redesign and reintroduced cashless policies were not targeted at anybody but were for the good and development of the Nigerian economy.
The CBN governor urged Nigerians to embrace the various electronic channels available for banking and financial service transactions in Nigeria.
He said: “The currency redesign and reintroduced cashless policies are not targeted at anybody but are for the good and development of the Nigerian economy.
“The CBN deferred the cashless policy severally to prepare and deepen Nigeria’s payments system infrastructure.”
Emefiele advised Nigerians to take their old N200, N500, and N1,000 banknotes to the banks before January 31, 2023, deadline.
At Senate screening, CBN’s Deputy Governor sheds light on N100,000 cash withdrawal limit
The Senate Committee on Banking, Insurance and other Financial Institutions yesterday took two Deputy Governors of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) to task on the new policy of the apex bank limiting cash withdrawals to N100,000 for an individual and N500,000 for companies per week.
The Deputy Governor of CBN on Financial System Stability, Mrs Aishat Ahmad and Deputy Governor Corporate Services, Edward Lametek Adamu, had appeared before the panel for screening following their nomination for re-appointment by President Muhammadu Buhari.
The Deputy Governor of CBN on Financial System Stability, Mrs Aishat Ahmad said the Cashless Policy was introduced in 2012 during the Goodluck Jonathan Administration and extended to Abuja and six other states in 2013.
She explained that though full implementation of the policy had not been carried out by CBN since then, its introduction then, has brought a lot of transformation into the banking and payment system of the country.
Mrs Ahmad said: “Based on information available to the CBN, the time for full implementation of the policy with the proposed limit on cash withdrawals per week is now.
”The required infrastructure for its implementation in terms of financial access point system, mobile money, e-Naira etc, are available across the 774 local government councils in the country.
”All the fears and worries being expressed by Nigerians on the planned limit on cash withdrawal policy are seriously being taken care of as nobody or section of Nigerians, will be left out.
”In the past, banking transactions in Nigeria were limited to bank branches alone as the only means, which has now expanded into multiple electronic platforms as well as a geometric increase in the number of agents from 88,000 to 1.4million.”
She, however, said that the apex bank is flexible and would be ready to accommodate opinions that won’t make the policy strenuous to any category of Nigerians during implementation.
After her presentation, the Committee chaired by Senator Uba Sani (APC – Kaduna Central), gave the two nominees ‘take a bow and go’ treatment.
The motion was moved by the Chief Whip of the Senate, Senator Orji Uzor Kalu and seconded by Senator Danjuma Goje.
Sani in his remarks said: “With the presentation made by the Deputy Governor of CBN on Financial System Stability, Aisha Ndanusa Ahmad on the planned limit on cash withdrawal, the required information on the merits of the policy has been given and will be communicated to the Senate in plenary through our report.
”The two Deputy Governors having earlier been screened before serving their first tenure need not throw a rigorous process again as unanimously agreed by members of the Committee.
”They should therefore take a bow and go,” he ruled.
CBN withdrawal limits targeted at politicians —Fintiri
The Governor of Adamawa State, Ahmadu Fintiri has said that the CBN withdrawal limit policy is targeted at politicians.
Reacting to the new CBN policy during a campaign engagement in Kala’a, Hong Local Government Area, Adamawa State, the governor said the policy coming shortly after Emefiele’s uneventful foray into politics which had been prematurely truncated, could only have been retaliatory given that the policy was likely to worsen poverty among the citizens.
He said: “What is breeding poverty? Economic policies. Look at the one that is about to be implemented by the Central Bank which would further throw the country into poverty. Nobody is saying the economy shouldn’t be cashless. Take time and do it systematically. We shouldn’t do it as if some people wanted to be politicians and they were denied the opportunity, then they use their office to punish the politicians.”
Controversies have continued to trail the planned policy of the Central Bank of Nigeria to limit daily cash withdrawal for individuals to N20,000 daily and N100,000 and N500,000 per week for individuals and corporate bodies respectively.
Fintiri, who cautioned against such policies, tasked holders of key national institutions to act in the overall national interest.
HUMAN rights lawyer, Femi Falana (SAN), and the Chairman, Lagos Satellite Depot, Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Market (IPMAN), Akin Akinrinade, are not impressed by the 48 hour ultimatum handed down to stakeholders by the Department of State Services (DSS) on Thursday to end the current fuel scarcity in the country.
Falana, responding yesterday to the DSS order, dismissed it as an empty threat while Akinrinade wondered how the security organisation expected “us to give what we don’t have.”
But the Executive Secretary ,Major Oil Marketers Association of Nigeria (MOMAN), Clement Isong, saw some merit in the ultimatum.
He said the DSS was only “offering to help us anywhere we have security challenge.”
Falana ,fielding questions on Channels Television, declared: “The ultimatum will not work because there is no sanction for impunity in Nigeria.”
Continuing, he said: “The State Security Service (SSS) does not operate under the law in Nigeria. It does its own thing.
“There is nobody to call the agency to order. They will know that it’s just an empty threat because nobody is going to be arrested and prosecuted to teach a lesson.
“The other day, toxic fuel was brought to Nigeria. The government promised, ‘We’re going to deal with them, it will never happen again.’ Was anybody arrested? Was anybody prosecuted? It’s the same thing because they know the people behind it. It’s like oil theft. They know them.”
Falana said while the DSS was right to feel concerned about the “serious security problems” caused by endless queues at filling stations, it is the Police who are saddled with the responsibility of maintaining internal security in the country.
He said where the Police could not maintain adequate internal security, the president is empowered to call in the military.
He said:“So, this agency is a secret agency required to submit reports: ‘We fear that there will be a threat to the security in Nigeria.’ And the president will then take appropriate action. We must run this country in line with the provisions of the law.
“That (enactment establishing the DSS) is a decree made by the military. But now, we have the Constitution. Section 215 has imposed a duty on the Police to maintain the internal security of the country.
“But what the SSS – not DSS; it is not a department of state security. It is not a department of the Presidency. It’s the State Security Service for all of us.
“That body is required to submit reports to the government: ‘This problem may lead to insecurity. What can we do very quickly?’ The internal security of our country is the role of the police.”
IPMAN:DSS order is an action in vain
Akinrinade argued that only the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) could be given that kind of ultimatum.
Contacted by The Nation yesterday,he said:“The ultimatum by DSS, I think, was wrongly issued. The main supplier of petrol in this country is NNPC and if they (NNPC) give us the product we will sell to customers.
“As I am having this conversation with you, there is no special arrangement made for IPMAN to dispense. So when ultimatum is issued like this and there is nothing to back it up, it’s an action in vain.
“So, until they talk to NNPC to make fuel available to us as IPMAN, that ultimatum cannot apply to us, that’s our position.
“ From our end, we are asking that they give us fuel and we will dispense because we cannot give what we don’t have; so if they give us we will dispense otherwise our stations will still be the way they are at the moment.”
DSS’ directive misunderstood -MOMAN
However,the Executive Secretary, Major Oil Marketers Association of Nigeria (MOMAN), Clement Isong, saw the DSS order in a different light.
”I think you have misunderstood the DSS,” he told The Nation by phone yesterday.
He said: “What we have agreed is to improve the quality of distribution; let nobody create an impression that anybody was sabotaging anything- no.
“Rather, DSS was offering to help us anywhere we have security challenge-filling stations, depots, we can call them and they will help us. The DSS has been very supportive but anybody that is sabotaging will see their bad side.
“Essentially, what we MOMAN agreed to is that we want to improve our operational efficiency; we coordinate better with NNPC and already there is improvement in the distribution.
“We are not waiting for 48 hours.As you can see in Lagos, queues are disappearing.
“We are just improving coordination and there is nothing sinister. There is product but the challenge is getting the product from where it is into the tanks of Nigerians and that is what we are working on.”
In handing down the ultimatum on Thursday,the DSS said the fuel scarcity had assumed a dimension that was detrimental to the security of the country.
The DSS spokesman, Dr. Peter Afunnaya,told reporters at the end of a meeting with stakeholders in Abuja that the Service could not fold its arms and allow some individuals or group to destabilise the country.
Afunnaya quoted the NNPC as saying it had about 1.9 billion litres of petrol in stock that could last beyond the Christmas.
He said that after the expiration of the ultimatum, the Department would commence a nationwide operation to ensure that the products are made available.
Afunnaya said: “It is the mandate of the Service to detect and prevent threat to national security. This is why the Service has to summon the stakeholders’ meeting in the oil and gas sector to find a lasting solution to the problem before it snowballs into crisis.
“The stakeholders at the meeting included the NNPCL, Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority, Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG), IPMAN, MOMAN, Depot Operators and National Association of Transport Owners (NATO) among others.
“There is an agreement that marketers will be operating for 24 hours on daily basis and that tankers owners said all hands will be on deck to ensure lifting of the products.
“IPMAN has also committed itself to ensure that the product is available for 24 hours daily. The NNPC Limited disclosed that it has over 1.9 billion litres of PMS in stock and also agreed to sell the products at official ex-depot price to all oil marketers nationwide.”
•Stop calling Ekpa our leader, pro-Biafra group warns Ohanaeze
GUNMEN enforcing the five-day sit-at-home order reportedly issued by the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) in the Southeast, yesterday, unleashed terror on innocent citizens as people across the region defied the directive.
Angered by the development, the gunmen went wild, ventilating their frustration on hapless citizens.
Mbaitoli area of Imo State and its environs particularly, came under heavy attacks by the gunmen.
A policeman, and Prince Iheme, an elder brother to Nollywood actor, Osita Iheme popularly known as Pawpaw, were mindlessly murdered during the attacks.
The gunmen also left severe matchet cuts on the state Commissioner for Solid Minerals, Martin Eke.
It was learnt that the gunmen who rode in Tundra operational vehicles shot sporadically forcing people to scamper for safety.
While businesses abruptly wound up, the roads were deserted as motorists abandoned their vehicles and ran for their dear lives.
At Orji, near Owerri, the state capital, the gunmen wearing block cloths in three vehicles attacked residents and passersby, including policemen.
Eyewitnesses told our correspondent that the gunmen met policemen at 7up junction at Orji and shot one cop dead.
He said “They just killed a policeman now. They opened fire on them and were shouting there is sit-at-home. We have asked you to go home. Stay indoors.”
Another eyewitness said “I just escaped death by a whisker now. They stopped before us and shot into the air and asked us to go home. They didn’t shoot at us, maybe because I was in the midst of some elderly women.”
It was also gathered that the fleeing gunmen also shot repeatedly at Nkwo-Orji market before taking off towards the Okigwe Road.
At Ubomri in the Mbaitoli Local Government Area of Imo State, the gunmen attacked the convoy of the All Progressives Congress candidate for Mbaitoli/ Ikeduru Federal Constituency, Akarachi Amadi.
While Prince Iheme was killed on the spot, the state commissioner for Solid minerals, Martin Eke, was cut with a machete.
An eyewitness who didn’t want to be mentioned said ” this attack is politically motivated. We just finished from one campaign rally ground and were heading to Ubomiri. Our convoy was attacked at Amawuihe before Ubomiri.
“Prince Iheme was riding in the same vehicle with The Commissioner for Solid Minerals, Martin Eke. Prince Iheme who is Pawpaw’s elder brother was killed on the spot. The commissioner who was sworn in two weeks ago was cut badly. He has just been rushed to a hospital. They were driving in a Ford vehicle. I pray he makes it.”
Reacting, IPOB spokesman, Emma Powerful called on the people to lynch anybody enforcing the directive in the Southeast.
He said: We told them to lynch anybody who is trying to enforce sit-at-home or theyshould call the number given to them to call so ESN operatives can appear in that place. You know Hope Uzodimma recruited many bandits and criminals in Imo State to blackmail IPOB.”
The police spokesman for the command, Michael Abattam, had yet to respond to our inquiry on the incidents.
Meanwhile, IPOB yesterday warned the apex Igbo socio-cultural group, Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide to stop calling a Finland based Nigerian, Simon Ekpa, IPOB leader saying Nnamdi Kanu remains its leader.
Secretary, Emma Powerful, specifically cautioned the Publicity Secretary of Ohaneze Ndigbo, Dr. Alex Ogbonnia and Chief Chukwuemeka Ezike to stop addressing Ekpa as ex-IPOB leader.
He maintained that should the Ohanaeze chieftains fail to stop addressing Ekpa as IPOB leader they would be left with no option than to open a book of remembrance for them.
The statement reads: “We, the global family and movement of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) ably led by the great and indefatigable liberator Mazi Okwutchukwu Kanu wish to caution the Publicity Secretary of Ohaneze Ndigbo, Dr. Alex Ogbonnia and chief Chukwuemeka Ezike to stop claiming ignorance of who the leader of IPOB is. If indeed he is the real Publicity Secretary of Ohaneze Ndigbo and Ezeife being who he is and unaware of who IPOB leader is, they deserve not to occupy that position in Igboland. We warn Dr. Alex Ogbonnia and Ezife never to address the criminal residing in Finland as former IPOB leader or we will open a book of remembrance for them.
“For proper information, IPOB has had no other leader since its formation and will not have any other leader except Mazi Nnamdi Okwuchukwu Kanu who is currently in DSS solitary confinement because of his conviction about the liberation of Biafra Nation.
“It’s hypocritical that a man who claims to be Publicity Secretary of Ohaneze and elder can also claim that they are not aware who has been the IPOB leader all this while. Every living Igbo person, non-Igbos, and the whole world know who the leader of IPOB is and that IPOB had never had any other leader.
“Mazi Nnamdi Kanu remains IPOB leader worldwide and will remain so till Biafra is restored. The criminal in Finland you are referring to has never been an IPOB member, he was contracted to come and destroy IPOB and Ndigbo and will never be IPOB member till Biafra comes. If you can’t boast of IPOB membership, how can you be a leader in IPOB?”
He called on the President General of Ohanaeze Ndigbo, Prof.George Obiozor to call his men to order.
“Professor George Obiozor, the President General of Ohaneze Ndigbo worldwide should call these men to order if indeed they are Ndigbo and Ohaneze Ndigbo Publicity Secretary or scribe and chieftain. If they make this kind of mistake again, IPOB will remember them.
He also accused Governor of Ebonyi State, Dave Umahi and Senator Ike Ekweremadu of sponsoring the Ekpa led faction to destabilize the Southeast.
“IPOB maintains its stand that the devilish and outrageously sponsored 5- day sit-at-home in Biafraland will not stand. If anybody or group dares to enforce this evil agenda to suffocate our people, they should prepare for IPOB volunteers and ESN operatives on those days. Even if you are inside the ground, we will smoke you out. We are not begging you not to come to enforce a Sit-At-Home order on the days mentioned.”
Reacting, Ohanaeze scribe, Chief Ogbonnia said he had never referred Ekpa as IPOB leader.
He said “I warned Ekpa for claiming to be a leader and Emma Powerful is warning me. It doesn’t add up. I never referred to Simon Ekpa as IPOB leader. In our press release, there is nowhere IPOB is mentioned. So, I don’t believe Emma Powerful issued the press release. There must be a mischief somewhere. ”
Residents of the two major cities of Abia State; Aba, the commercial nerve of the state and Umuahia, the state capital on Friday ignored the sit-at-home order of the Simon Ekpa led faction of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) to go about their lawful and legitimate duties.
Residents and visitors in Aba and Umuahia were left in shock when the news of the purported IPOB sit-at-home order by the Simon Ekpa led group filtered into town.
While there was intra-state transportation of goods, markets witnessed beehives of business and economic activities.
Banks, government, private and public offices were opened for business as customers thronged the premises to carry out their transactions.
Some of the traders including one Mr. Clement Ibeabuchi and Mrs. Dorathy Nkem said it was insensitive for the Simon Ekpa led group to call for a sit-at-home days after the Monday weekly sit-at-home, adding that any sit-at-home order as called by Ekpa is anti-Igbo especially as the people are heading towards the peak of the ember months and Christmas season.
Tournament favourites Brazil were knocked out of the World Cup on penalties as Croatia kept their nerve to edge through to the semi-finals.
Croatia, beaten finalists four years ago, scored with all four of their spot-kicks as Rodrygo – taking his team’s first kick – was denied by the brilliant Dominik Livakovic and Marquinhos’ crucial fourth effort struck the post.
As the ball hit the foot of the woodwork and bounced away, Croatia’s players sprinted to celebrate with their goalkeeper, while the Brazil team hit the turf, knowing their dream of a sixth crown had come to an end.
After an engrossing 90 minutes, Tite’s men thought they have won it in extra time when Neymar scored a thumping effort to equal Brazil’s ‘official’ men’s goalscoring record.
But substitute Bruno Petkovic had other ideas, stroking in a 116th-minute equaliser with Croatia’s first shot on target in the match to take the game to the nerve-shredding shootout.
And it was the European side who emerged victorious once more, having done so by the same method against Japan in the last 16, to set up a semi-final meeting with the Netherlands or Argentina on Tuesday.
The crisis rocking the Labour Party (LP) on Friday took another dimension with the National Working Committee (NWC) suspending the Ogun chapter Chairman, Michael Ashade.
The national leadership of the party also suspended Ogun excos.
The NWC also relieved the National Publicity Secretary, Abayomi Arabambi of his duties for alleged sabotage and anti-party activities.
National Secretary of the Labour Party, Umar Farouk Ibrahim disclosed these in a communique read to journalists on Friday in Abuja after a meeting of the NWC.
The communique reads: “The NWC held its meeting today 9th December 2022. The following resolution was adopted.
“The Ag. National publicity secretory was relieved of his Ag. Appointment by the NWC.
“Disciplinary Committee has been constituted to investigate his anti-party activities as a member of the party.
“The Ogun State chairman and the Exco have been Suspended. A care taker should be appointed to taker charge of the party’s activities in the state pending the recommendation of the Disciplinary committee set up to investigate their anti- Party activities.
“The NWC has unanimously passed a vote of Confidence on the leadership of the National chairman Barr. Julius Abure.”
The national publicity secretary, Arabambi couldn’t be reached for comments.
He didn’t answer calls placed to his mobile number when our reporter contacted him.
Ogun chapter of the Labour Party had on Dec 1, expelled Doyin Okupe, Director-General of the Presidential Campaign Council of the party on the ground of his failure to perform his financial membership status in the past six months contrary to the dictates of the party’s constitution.
They announced his dismissal alongside ten others from the party in the state.
The move was part of the resolutions reached at the end of a meeting held at the party’s secretariat in Abeokuta, the Ogun State capital on Thursday December 1, 2022 where they called for the emergence of a new director general of Northern extraction to reflect the national character and political balance.
But the national headquarters through the party’s National Secretary had called their bluff, saying the party remained strong and united.
Umar said: “The party has an internal conflict resolution mechanism of handling cases against party members as enshrined in the party’s constitution.”