A senior Consultant and Public Affairs analyst, Abdulsalam Suleiman Izuagbe, on Thursday faulted those blaming President Bola Tinubu for the hardship and food crisis in Nigeria.
Izuagbe said Tinubu inherited a near comatose economy from former President Muhammadu Buhari, adding that the president did not remove fuel subsidy that paved the way for the current economic situation in the country.
He noted that since assuming office, the president has been making efforts to recover the losses Nigeria incurred during the previous administrations.
Speaking with TVN on the state of the nation, Izuagbe said: “People are blaming President Tinubu for the state of affairs of the country, it’s not correct because many people forget that when he assumed office, he inherited an almost comatose economy and people should remember that during the presentation of the 2023 budget by Zainab Ahmed, there was provision for fuel subsidy removal up to June 2023.
“The only thing Nigerians are using to crucify Tinubu is that he came to remove the subsidy which is a lie, he wasn’t the one who removed the subsidy; there was no provision for subsidy in the budget.
“It’s disturbing that Nigerians are blaming Tinubu now that multinational corporations are leaving Nigeria. We must all agree that the issue of insecurity is responsible for most of these cases that made the economy collapse and it’s been there long before Tinubu came in. For instance, how can you explain the suicide bombing in Borno State two weeks ago killing about 30 human beings? This means that our security operatives are not using appropriate equipment and command systems to destroy the enemies of Nigeria. People who have no regard for human life can slaughter people at will and those sponsoring them said they should not be referred to as terrorists but bandits; you don’t treat enemies with kid gloves.
“And when you see all these things, they still blame Tinubu for the failure that was handed over to him, a failed system was handed over to him just like Obasanjo said recently that there is no structure.
“He’s taking good steps to rectify the errors he inherited by trying to create ways to recover the losses we have suffered as a nation. Since he assumed office, Tinubu has been performing well, sending palliatives to the state while some of them have not yet told us what they did with it. I know that with the Economic Coordination Council and the calibre of men in it, some bold will come up.”
The senior consultant also highlighted that Nigeria can produce adequate food to end the shortage by 2026.
This, he said can be done by investing over N800 billion into Agricultural programmes across the local governments in Nigeria.
“The only way out of the economic downturn is to go the Agricultural way, we should be able to encourage the president so that he can come out with a plan for Agriculture, so that by 2026; Nigeria will be able to produce stable crops from the present 135 million metric tons this year to 165 metric tones by 2026 if we do the needful.
“We have a programme: Renewed Hope for Agricultural Advancement where N800 billion can be invested in all the local governments in Nigeria. There will be farm centres in all local governments, there will be an agric taskforce that will monitor them and it will yield better results than the N732 billion spent on empowerment projects.
“Food supply and security is the best policy for every government, if the people are well fed they will be ready to work, not steal, and go to school. We don’t think it will be the same music again for Tinubu in 2026 because then there will be an abundant food supply in the country,” he added.
Tinubu inherited hardship, food crisis can end in 2026 – Suleiman Izuagbe
Tinubu inherited hardship, food crisis can end in 2026 – Suleiman Izuagbe
There was pushback against the directive on IOC’s FX proceeds use – Cardoso
The governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, Dr. Olayemi Cardoso, has said there was pushback from players in the oil & gas industry when the apex bank issued a new directive on the use of foreign exchange proceeds by firms in the sector.
Cardoso revealed this on Thursday at the BusinessDay CEO forum themed ‘Leadership in Tough Economic Times’ held in Lagos.
Asked for an update on the impact of the directive, the CBN governor said, “It is still work in process. To be frank, when this first came out, we got some pushback. But, we dialogued, spoke, looked at the issues that some of the players were uncomfortable with, and gave reassurances which seemed to calm many of them down and it works in process.
“I see that it is gradually getting to a phase where the sort of contributions that one would expect from that sector would be there.”
In a circular dated May 6, 2024, signed by the Director, Trade and Exchange Department, Hassan Mahmud, the apex bank said oil firms can now spend 50 per cent of the repatriated export proceeds on financial obligations.
The CBN said, “Following the recent inquiries by banks and other stakeholders on our circular referenced TED/FEM/PUB/FPC/001/004, in respect of Cash Pooling requests by banks on behalf of IOCs, we provide further clarifications as follows:
“The initial 50 per cent of the repatriated proceeds can be pooled immediately or as when required. Banks may submit the request for cash pooling ahead of the expected date of receipt, supported by the required documentation, for approval by the Central Bank of Nigeria.
“The 50% balance of the repatriated export proceeds could be used to settle financial obligations in Nigeria, whenever required, during the prescribed 90-day period.”
The CBN said petroleum profit tax, royalty, domestic contractor invoices, cash calls, domestic loan principal and interest payment, transaction taxes, education tax, and forex sales at the Nigerian Foreign Exchange Market are eligible for settlement from the balance 50 per cent.
The CBN earlier stopped international oil companies operating in Nigeria from immediately remitting 100 per cent of their forex proceeds to their parent companies abroad.
The regulator said that the practice known as ‘cash pooling’ had an impact on liquidity in the domestic forex market.
Govs are major problem to good governance, says Bwala
A prominent member of the Peoples Democratic Party, Daniel Bwala, has said governors are the main challenge to good governance in Nigeria.
While hailing the Supreme Court judgement on local government autonomy, the lawyer lampooned the governors for not being up and doing.
He alleged that the governors are not addressing hunger and unemployment despite the funds they’ve received from the President Bola Tinubu-led administration.
“Thank God for the Supreme Court verdict on local government autonomy to the effect that “it is unconstitutional for state governments to hold onto LG funds; henceforth FGN pay directly to LGAs,” Bwala wrote in a post on his X.
He added, “One victory down. The next is either a constitutional review or court verdict declaring that INEC to conduct LG elections, otherwise, governors might still use LG chairmen appointed by them to hold the monies in trust for them
“Governors are the problem of good governance, but many people don’t know. Do you know how much they have received since @officialABAT took office? Tell me what they are doing in their states to address hunger and unemployment?
“In my opinion, even media houses hardly stay long on this conversation because their major clients are state governments. This democracy requires all of us to move it forward ohh. There is God ohhhhh.”
The According reports that the apex court earlier on Thursday declared that it is unconstitutional for state governors to hold funds allocated for local government administrations.
The seven-man panel, in the judgment delivered by Justice Emmanuel Agim, declared that the 774 local government councils in the country should manage their funds themselves.
The apex court held that the power of the government is portioned into three arms of government, the federal, the state, and the local government.
The court further declared that a state government has no power to appoint a caretaker committee and a local government council is only recognisable with a democratically elected government.
Minister hails S’Court judgement, plans LGs conference
The Minister of Special Duties and Inter-governmental Affairs, Zephaniah Jisalo, has expressed his support for the Supreme Court’s decision to grant autonomy to local governments in the country.
The seven-justice panel of the apex court, in a judgment delivered by Justice Emmanuel Agim, ruled that the 774 local government councils in the country should independently manage their own funds.
The apex court held that the power of the government is portioned into three arms of government, the federal, the state and the local government.
The court further declared that a state government has no power to appoint a caretaker committee and a local government council is only recognisable with a democratically elected government
Speaking at the opening of a two-day retreat for ministry staff in Abuja on Thursday, Jisalo stated that the autonomy would foster development in local governments.
Jisalo noted that with the autonomy granted to LGs, the staff of the ministry must perform its constitutional responsibilities to better the lives of the citizens.
He said, “I have been informed that the Supreme Court judgment has given the autonomy of local governments in the country. That is to say, the state assembly will also legislate on the activities of local government, including the tenure of a local government administration.
“We are resolute to perform. And we have no excuse as a ministry not to perform. We will ensure that our effort will be translated meaningfully into improvements to the lives of our citizens of our country.”
Jisalo also disclosed that the ministry would organise a conference for local government leaders as well as the traditional rulers before the end of the year.
He said, “It will also help to develop, particularly the administration of the local government system and the chieftaincy affairs. The traditional rulers are under our office. And as such, we are going to have a local government conference in Nigeria. We are also going to have a conference of traditional rulers in Nigeria this year.”
On the retreat, the minister said it would help to strategise and improve the ministry’s performance.
He said, “The retreat is a fundamental moment for us to reflect, to evaluate, and to strategize on how we can improve our performance management system and intergovernmental coordination to improve better services to our Nigerian people. The retreat marks a real commitment to excellence in our service delivery. The outcome will have far-reaching implications on our ministry and the entire nation.”
Kano; Ganduje, wife, others to be tried in absentia, escape bench warrant
A Kano State High Court presided over by Justice Aminu Adamu Aliyu, has ruled that former Governor Abdullahi Umar Ganduje, his wife and six others, not be slammed with Bench Warrant in a case of alleged funds diversion.
Justice Amina Adamu Aliyu said she based her decision on the political tension in the state, worrying that some individuals may use the actions of the court to cause mayhem.
She then struck out the prayers for a bench warrant against the former governor and his wife.
However, the Judge said that the defendants whom she knows were served with a substituted means of service but refused to appear in court would be tried even in absentia.
Meanwhile, the Prosecution Counsel, led by Adeola Adediyo SAN, had asked the Court to slam a Bench Warrant on Ganduje, his Wife and six others.
Kano; Ganduje, wife, others to be tried in absentia, escape bench warrant
Ex-NYSC director joins APC, says party means well for Nigeria
A former Legal Director of the National Youth Service Corps, Ahmed Ibrahim, has joined the ruling All Progressives Congress.
Ibrahim, who recently retired from public office, was received by the Secretary of Abuja Municipal Area Council, Zakari Babale, and members of the Federal Capital Territory chapter of the party on Thursday in Abuja.
While addressing newsmen, Ibrahim explained that he joined the APC out of conviction that it meant well for Nigerians.
According to him, there was a need for all to support the vision and policies of President Bola Tinubu in moving the nation forward.
He noted that despite the country’s challenges, Tinubu has done well in the areas of security, agriculture, human capital development and social investment.
He said, “In this regard, all hands must be on the deck to support the president in his Renewed Hope Agenda to move the country forward and move it to a greater and enviable height.”
“Let me also say I joined the APC to help sustain it by contributing my quota to national development.”
The event was attended by APC stakeholders from the FCT’s six area councils and some of its chieftains from Edo, Ibrahim’s home state.
After his acceptance speech, Ibrahim was presented with the party’s flag and a broom, which is the symbol of the APC.
“We are convinced that Alhaji Ahmed Ibrahim would help reposition and revive the party ahead of the 2027 general election. Although the FCT APC had its challenges, this is not the time for members to grumble. It is a time to join efforts with the President Bola Tinubu-led administration to build a better society for all.
“This is because the unity and commitment of APC members in ensuring the implementation of Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda is critical to the country’s development. So while opposition political parties are doing everything to pull President Tinubu and the APC down through propaganda, we as members will remain committed.
“I therefore call on the party’s members to remain united in projecting the Federal Government’s policies and programmes in the interest of all,” he said.
Oyo reps member, Akinremi buried amidst tears in Ibadan [PHOTOS]
![Oyo reps member, Akinremi buried amidst tears in Ibadan [PHOTOS]](https://tvn.ng/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/IMG-20240711-WA0010-1024x682-768x512.jpg "Oyo reps member, Akinremi buried amidst tears in Ibadan [PHOTOS]")
The lawmaker who represented the Ibadan North federal constituency before his demise, Musliudeen Olaide Akinremi has been buried.
TVN reports that Akinremi who was elected on the platform of All Progressives Congress (APC) died in Abuja on Wednesday, at the age of 51.
The body of the lawmaker was received by friends and associates at the Ibadan Airport in the Alakia area of Ibadan and moved to one of his residences for burial.
He was buried amidst tears at his Ologuneru residence in Ibadan.
The burial rites were conducted by the Chief Imam of Ibadanland, Sheikh Abdulganiy Agbotomokekere.
Our correspondent reports that family, friends, political associates and mourners trooped out to pay their last respects to the lawmaker.
Oyo reps member, Akinremi buried amidst tears in Ibadan [PHOTOS]
Court remands ex-power minister in prison
A Federal High Court in Abuja has ordered that a former Minister of Power, Saleh Mamman, be remanded in Kuje prison in Abuja pending the consideration of his bail application.
Justice James Omotosho issued the order on Thursday after the court resumed Mamman’s arraignment on money laundering charge which was earlier stepped down by the judge.
The former minister pleaded not guilty to the charge preferred against him by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission.
The EFCC had filed a 12-count money laundering charge against Mamman.
He was alleged to have committed money laundering offences to the tune of N33 billion.
The former minister served under former President Muhammadu Buhari from 2019 to 2021.
On May 10, 2021, he was arrested and detained at the headquarters of the anti-graft agency in Abuja.
Buhari had September 1, 2021, sacked Mamman and the then Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Sabo Nanono, in what was called a cabinet restructuring.
Mamman was accused of conspiring with staff of the ministry in charge of the accounts of the Zungeru and Mambilla Hydro Electric Power projects to divert about N22 billion.
The investigations uncovered property in Nigeria and overseas allegedly linked to the suspects, while millions of naira and dollars had reportedly been recovered.
Details later…
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Reactions trail Supreme Court judgment on local government autonomy in Kwara
Reactions have trailed the judgment of the Supreme Court of Nigeria on the vexed issue of local government autonomy delivered on Thursday.
Recall that the court, aside from granting full autonomy to the local governments in the country, also ordered the Federal government to stop allocations to local governments without democratically elected council officials.
Amid jubilation among local government staff and residents of Ilorin, Kwara State capital, a Chieftain of the All Progressives Congress, APC, Lasisi.A.K.Jimoh, described the judgment as long overdue.
“If the constitution says the existence of a democratically elected local government is constitutionally guaranteed, then where do you have a caretaker and payments being channelled through state governments to local governments?
“The constitution also states that the local government is the third tier of government, will one tier be under another tier, and is the state under the federal government.?
“I expected the judgment to go a bit further to pronounce emphatically that there cannot be a caretaker committee under the constitution which we are operating now because a caretaker committee is not a local government,” Lasisi declared.
In his reaction, the Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Babatunde Muhammed, said the judgement was long expected.
“In Kwara State now, for the past five years, our highly respected Governor Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq’s government, has refused to conduct local government elections.
“For the past five years, this is the first time in the history of the state that we have unelected council officials running the affairs of the 16 local governments in the state.”
Babatunde argued that the inability of the local governments in the state to get their allocations directly from the federal government has constituted a serious setback to the development of the third tier of government.
“I was opportune to contest and be elected as a councillor here in Ifelodun Local Government Area of Kwara state in 1990. Our election was handled by the National Electoral Commission, and our monthly allocations came directly from the federal government to the local governments.
“We spent three years during our tenure between 1991 to 1993 and local governments were able to embark on many laudable projects beneficial to the people at the grassroots.”
The PDP chairman, said his then council chairman, Architect Olukayode Abogunrin, performed creditably well constructing enviable projects including the Share-Oke-Ode road bridge with just N7m from allocations directly received from the federal government.
He commended President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, and the Attorney General of the federation, for taking up the matter from the Appeal court to the Supreme Court to ensure that the local government autonomy becomes a reality as expected by Nigerians.
On his part, Chairman of the Nigeria Union of Local Government Employees, NULGE, Kwara state, Oyinlade Seun, said “We are overwhelmed as we declared fasting and prayers since Wednesday and Thursday on the autonomy issue.
“We are sure our governor will comply with the judgment to give true and pure autonomy to the local governments in the state to guarantee grassroots development.
Oyinlade asserted that with the full autonomy now granted the local governments, the issues of insecurity, food insecurity and other things hindering development at the third tier of government will become a thing of the past.
Reactions trail Supreme Court judgment on local government autonomy in Kwara
Spain’s decade journey to Euro 2024 final
After spending over a decade bogged down in disappointment, Spain waltzed their way back to football’s peak by reaching Sunday’s Euro 2024 final in Berlin.
Winning two European Championships in 2008 and 2012, either side of their 2010 World Cup triumph, La Roja were set to dominate football for years to come.
However, they fell from grace at astonishing speed. The players destined to replace their golden generation fell desperately short.
Spain’s 2014 World Cup defence ended in early humiliation, battered 5-1 by the Netherlands, crashing out in the group stage.
The two-time defending champions were eliminated by Italy in the Euro 2016 last-16, with newspaper Marca labelling it “The End” for Vicente del Bosque’s La Roja.
Spain fell at the same stage in the 2018 World Cup against Russia on penalties, completing over 1,000 passes but failing to hurt the limited hosts.
A better showing at Euro 2020 took a young side to the semi-finals but the 2022 World Cup last-16 defeat by Morocco was another painful exit.
However, the Spanish football federation believed the team was close to where they needed to be.
They replaced coach Luis Enrique with Luis de la Fuente, who had coached national youth sides for years with success.
Despite early jitters, including a 2-0 defeat by Scotland last year, Spain stuck with their little-known coach and are now reaping the rewards.
De la Fuente earned their first silverware in 11 years by lifting the Nations League last summer, pledging it was only the beginning.
And so it proved, with La Roja the standout Euros team, dominating the toughest group featuring defending champions Italy, before beating hosts Germany and France.
What they have achieved seems remarkable given their line-up boasts few recognisable stars beyond Manchester City midfielder Rodri.
Barcelona winger Lamine Yamal, 16, will dazzle the football world for years to come and could earn that billing, but he is only just starting his career.
On the opposite flank Nico Williams has also burst into the limelight and may get a big move this summer from Athletic Bilbao.
Elsewhere the team features many ‘misfits’, including Marc Cucurella who has struggled at Chelsea, Saudi Arabia-based Aymeric Laporte, and others who are not standouts for their clubs.
However, their lack of superstars poses no problems. “I have 26 great players and I’m just lucky that they are Spanish,” said De la Fuente.
Unlike final opponents England, whose coach Gareth Southgate is sometimes reluctant to replace struggling icons, or France building around a sub-par Kylian Mbappe, Spain accept everyone is on an equal footing.
“The big difference to all the (other) countries is that we are a team and there is no one leader above the rest,” explained Barcelona’s Pedri before the tournament.
• ’A long process’ –
De la Fuente, more pragmatic than his predecessor, is profiting from his willingness to try different approaches.
Spain still enjoy possession but also release the explosive Yamal and Williams, fire in crosses and let them take risks to beat their markers.
While other coaches might have opted for one winger and a possession-friendly midfielder on the other flank, the 63-year-old goes full throttle with both.
Luis Enrique’s Spain tried to pass teams to death but at times in Euro 2024 La Roja have had less than 50 percent possession.
De la Fuente knows his players better than most of his counterparts did at the tournament, having coached the vast majority of them over the past few years.
He won the U19 Euros with Spain in 2013 and the U21 Euros in 2019, plus silver at the Tokyo Olympics in 2021. Seven of the starting line-up that day have played at Euro 2024.
“I know the players very well, what we had available to us and we needed time to do what we are seeing now,” said the coach this week.
“I am not surprised by it. Cooking this up… is a long process but we knew the decisions and the path we had to take.”
That continuity has proven vital in the international game where coaches do not typically have long to work with their players and has taken Spain to the verge of glory once more.
AFP