The Nigerian Army has dismissed reports blaming an accident that claimed 25 lives at Egwu Onyeama, Enugu State, on Tuesday, on a
checkpoint mounted by the 82 Division, Enugu.
The Headquarters 82 Division of Nigerian army maintained it does not have a checkpoint at the location of the accident.
According to the Division, the accident that occured on Tuesday happened about 300m ahead of the soldiers’ base.
It added that preliminary investigation revealed that the accident was due to brake failure.
In a statement posted on its official X handle on Thursday, the Division commiserated with families whose loved ones were involved in the incident, and prayed for the speedy recovery of the injured.
The statement reads: “The attention of Headquarters 82 Division Nigerian Army has been drawn to the news circulating in some mainstream and social media platforms attributing the Division’s Checkpoint at Ugwu Onyeama as the cause of an unfortunate and tragic accident that claimed 25 lives on 11 June 2024. On receipt of the information from an online journalist that sought clarification about the incident, he was informed one-off that the Division does not have a checkpoint there but rather, it has a Location/Base by the roadside to curb the incessant kidnappings the area was hitherto known for.
“This, report is inaccurate and full of falsehood that are meant to tarnish the appreciable efforts of the troops. It is therefore necessary to set the records straight.
“First, the Division wishes to condole and commiserate with the families whose loved ones were involved in the tragic incident and also pray for the speedy recovery of those injured.
“It would be recalled that the rehabilitation of the road was concluded in December and the road opened in first quarter of this year. Since then, the troops only have a base and the barriers used for the checkpoint were removed.
“Due to the steep gradient of the road, the section have remained problematic since the 1990s before, during and after the checkpoints were removed.
“The accident that occured yesterday happened about 300m ahead of the soldiers’ base. Preliminary investigation revealed that the accident occurred due to a brake failure of a trailer coming down slope from 9th Mile Axis. The trailer rammed into other incoming vehicles from Enugu and not those coming from same Axis of 9th Mile with it.
“Hence, the crash was a head-on and not a rear collision. Thus, the soldiers never stopped any vehicle on the road for any checking but served as a responder to the accident.
“Also, while loss of any life is unfortunate, however, only 2 people died at the scene of the accident and not 25 cases being reported. It is disheartening to accuse the military of causing the accident. The Division is not unaware of the efforts of the kidnappers and illegal miners in the area to get rid of the checkpoint.
“The law abiding citizens are once again assured of the commitment of 82 Division Nigerian Army to continue to serve them as the Nigerian Army remains the Peoples’ Army.
“The general public is hereby enjoined to disregard the report as it is not the actual account of what happened. The Division will continue to perform its constitutional roles of protecting lives and property within its Area of Responsibility.”
Checkpoint not cause of Enugu accident – Nigerian Army
Checkpoint not cause of Enugu accident – Nigerian Army
NELFUND to publish institutions with complete data June 24
The Nigerian Education Loan Fund has said it would publish the full list of institutions that have submitted their complete student data as requested by the agency for upload onto the NELFUND Student Verification System.
NELFUND on Thursday, said the list would be published on June 24, 2024.
This list of both Federal and State owned institutions will be published to ensure transparency and to encourage due access and participation in the scheme, of both undergraduate applicants and tertiary institutions in this critical exercise, the Fund said in a statement by its Head of Media, Nasir Ayitogo.
‘It is commendable that many federal institutions have already completed the exercise has been the first wave, whilst the process of uploading the data to NELFUND SVS is currently ongoing for the state-owned institutions
‘For applicants to be able to access the fund, the individual’s details must feature in the institution’s submitted data set sent to the NELFUND SVS, where automatic applicant verification can then occur seamlessly.
‘Failure to have this verification would invalidate the application process and disadvantage applicants. It is therefore critical that the information provided by the tertiary institutions is not only complete but also accurate,” the Fund said.
Recall that President Bola Tinubu, on April 3, signed the Student Loans (Access to Higher Education) Act (Repeal and Re-Enactment) Bill, 2024, into law.
The assent was sequel to the separate considerations by both the Senate and the House of Representatives of the report of the Committee on Tertiary Institutions and the Tertiary Education Trust Fund.
The executive bill titled, ‘A bill for an Act to repeal the Students Loans (Access to Higher Education) Act, 2023 and Enact the Student Loans (Access to Higher Education) Bill, 2004 to Establish the Nigerian Education Loan Fund as a body corporate to receive, manage and invest funds to provide loans to Nigerians for higher education, vocational training and skills acquisition and related matters,’ was signed in the presence of the leadership of the National Assembly, ministers and major stakeholders of education.
The Act empowers the Nigeria Education Loan Fund to provide loans to qualified Nigerian students for tuition, fees, charges and upkeep during their studies in approved public tertiary institutions and vocational and skills acquisition establishments in the country.
Nigeria’s economic downturn responsible for decline in DStv subscribers – Multichoice
African Pay-TV operator, Multichoice Group, has blamed Nigeria’s economic challenges for the decline in DStv subscribers.
According to Multichoice, active subscribers in the country has reduced by 18 per cent.
The company disclosed this in its financial result for the year, which ended March 31, 2024.
According to Multichoice, the decline in Nigeria affected its overall subscriber base leading to a nine per cent decline for the year.
The total subscription figure for Nigeria was not stated as it is lumped with other operating units outside South Africa tagged as ‘Rest of Africa’ (RoA).
It reported that the 18 per cent decline in Nigeria brought the RoA’s total active subscribers down by 13 per cent to 8.1 million from 9.3 million in 2023.
“The group’s 9% decline in active subscribers was mainly due to a 13% decline in the Rest of Africa business as mass-market customers in countries like Nigeria had to prioritize basic necessities over entertainment, while the South African business showed more resilience with a 5% decline.
“The Nigerian economy and consumers faced persistent challenges through FY24. The removal of fuel subsidies, sharp currency depreciation with the official naira halving in value, inflation climbing to over 30%, and higher emigration of the middle and upper class drove an 18% YoY decline in active subscribers,” the company said.
Multichoice added that this also reduced Nigeria’s contribution to the Rest of Africa revenues from 44 per cent to 35 per cent.
It noted, however, that Ghana saw a similar subscriber trend given an inflation rate that is still above 20 per cent.
Multichoice further stated that due to the challenging market dynamics, the short-term focus of its RoA (Nigeria, Angola, Kenya, Ghana, and Zimbabwe) business was shifted from subscriber growth to safeguard profitability and cash flows.
Recall that Ahead of the implementation of Multichoice’s new subscription prices on May 1, a Competition and Consumer Protection Tribunal (CCPT) sitting in Abuja issued an order restraining the company from implementing the new prices based on a case filed by a Nigerian customer.
TVN had reported that Multichoice ignored the court order and implemented the new prices which prompted the Tribunal to slam a N150 million fine on the company for challenging the jurisdiction of the court.
The court also ordered Multichoice to give Nigerians a one-month free subscription on DSTV and GOTV.
Nigeria’s economic downturn responsible for decline in DStv subscribers – Multichoice
$2.4bn of $5.5bn refinery loan repaid, says Dangote
The founder of Dangote Group, Aliko Dangote, has revealed that he has paid off $2.4bn of the $5.5bn loan for his $19bn Lagos-based refinery.
The Africa’s richest man also alleged that powerful oil cartels tried to undermine his refinery project.
Speaking at the Afreximbank Annual Meetings in Nassau, The Bahamas, on Wednesday, Dangote said his 650,000-barrel-per-day refinery will act as Nigeria’s strategic reserve, as reported by This Day Newspaper.
“We borrowed the money based on our own balance sheet. I think we borrowed just over $5.5bn. But we paid also a lot of interest as we went along, because the project was delayed because of lack of land, also the sand-filling took a long time. Almost five years or so we didn’t do anything.
“We actually started in 2018. We borrowed that much. We have actually, of course, paid interest and some principal, about $2.4bn. We’ve done very well. We now have only about $2.7bn left to be paid. So we’ve done very well for a project of that magnitude,” he said.
Dangote thanked Afreximbank and Access Bank for their support, acknowledging that many had doubted the project’s success.
He stated that the vision would have failed without their backing.
Dangote further remarked that foreign banks showed little interest in supporting Africa’s development.
The billionaire acknowledged that he anticipated resistance, but admitted that he underestimated the ferocity of the opposition, stating that the pushback was far more intense than he had expected.
He stated that both local and international interests, which he likened to a “mafia”, made repeated attempts to thwart the refinery’s completion.
“Well, I knew that there would be a fight. But I didn’t know that the mafia in oil, they are stronger than the mafia in drugs. I can tell you that. Yes, it’s a fact,” he stated.
Dangote, who described himself as a fighter, said they “tried all sorts” to stop him.
“But I’m a person that has been fighting all my life. You know, so I think it’s part of my life to fight,” he said.
He added, “As a matter of fact during the COVID period, some of the international banks really were looking forward to making sure that they push us into default of our loans so that the project will just be dead. And that didn’t happen with the help of banks like Afreximbank.”
Dangote also announced his plans to venture into the steel industry, stating that his goal is to use only Nigerian-produced steel, ensuring self-sufficiency and reducing reliance on imports.
According Online reports the Dangote Refinery recently shifted its plan to release petrol into the market from June to July 10-15. Dangote cited minor challenges for the delay.
Biafra declaration will restore peace, stability to West Africa – BRGIE
The Biafra Republic Government In-Exile, BRGIE, has claimed the declaration of Biafra Liberation on December 2, 2024, will bring about peace and stability in the West African region.
Simon Ekpa, who is known as the Prime Minister of BRGIE, disclosed this in a statement via his official X handle on Thursday.
This is coming amid vow by the Chief of Defence Staff, Christopher Musa that Ekpa must be arrested and prosecuted.
However, Ekpa noted that the declaration of Biafra meant total freedom from Nigeria.
He stressed that the liberation of Biafra would put an end to the insecurity surge in Nigeria.
According to him, “in preparation for the declaration of the Restoration of Independence state of Biafra, BRGIE has engaged a Lobbying Firm in Washington DC to represent the Biafra government effective from June 12, 2024.”
He added that the marginalization of Biafrans will be a thing of the past from December.
“As the Biafra Declaration of 2nd December 2024 comes closer, our objective is to see Biafra total freedom from Nigeria, which will help to restore peace and stability in the entire Sahel region, it will also help to end terrorism in West Africa.
“The Biafra Republic Government In Exile BRGIE under my leadership has hired one of the prominent Lobbying Firm in Washington DC to represent the Biafra government effective from 12.6.2024.
“Our arms remain wide open to other possibilities across the board. Biafrans are ready to make friends with whoever is willing to help in the Liberation, we have no enemies other elements in the Nigeria state”, he said.
About three weeks ago, Ekpa’s BRGIE announced that it has dragged the Nigerian government to the African Union over Biafra Liberation and the continued detention of the Leader of the Indigenous Peoples of Biafra, IPOB, Mazi Nnamdi Kanu.
Biafra declaration will restore peace, stability to West Africa – BRGIE
Bank witness exposes suspicious payments in Agunloye trial
In a development surrounding the alleged $6 billion Mambila Power Project fraud, an Economic and Financial Crimes Commission witness has shed light on how former Minister of Power and Steel, Olu Agunloye, received multiple transfers totalling N5.2 million from an employee of Sunrise Power and Transmission Ltd, Jide Sotirin.
An EFCC statement on Thursday via X noted that the revelation came during Agunloye’s trial before Justice Jude Onwuegbuzie of the Federal Capital Territory High Court in Apo, Abuja, where he faces seven-count charges bordering on official corruption and fraudulent award of the Mambila Power Project contract.
A compliance officer with Guaranty Trust Bank, Adebayo Ilori, took the stand as a prosecuting witness and narrated the intricate details of the financial transactions involving Agunloye and Sotirin.
According to Ilori’s testimony quoted by the EFCC, “Sometimes in October 2022, the bank received a letter from EFCC requesting for some information on the account opening package, statement of account, and certificate of identification on two customers, Olu Agunloye and Jide Sotirin.”
Ilori further explained the process undertaken by the bank to comply with the EFCC’s request, stating, “Upon receiving the letter, Wale Agunbiade, head of the Unit, went ahead to generate the statement of account from the computer system of the bank.”
The witness confirmed the authenticity of the documents provided to the EFCC, stating, “Upon receiving the account opening package and statement of account, we compared the information generated because the statement of account was generated from the bank’s application by imputing the customer’s details on the computer system, and all the parameters requested, which was then printed out.”
Ilori’s testimony took a critical turn when he revealed the details of the financial transfers Sotirin made to Agunloye.
“The witness established that Sotirin on August 10, 2019, transferred the sum of N3,600,000.00 from his account to Agunloye. On October 22, 2019, he transferred N500,000.00 to Agunloye and equally did so on November 13, 2019, to the tune of N1,121,000.00,” the EFCC statement noted.
The witness further corroborated his claims by referring to the bank statements, stating, “On exhibit EFCC (1b), the name of the account holder is Agunloye Olu, and it is a Naira account. On 10 August 2019, there was a transfer credit of N3,600,000.00 from Sotirin Jide Abiodun in favour of Agunloye Olu. Also, on 22 October 2019, there was a credit transfer of N500,000.00 from Sotirin Jide Abiodun to Olu Agunloye, and on 13 Nov 2019, there was a credit transfer of N1,121,000 from Jide Sotirin Abiodun to Agunloye Olu.”
The EFCC furthered that the court proceedings were adjourned until June 11, 2024, for cross-examination.
The EFCC had on January 10 arraigned Agunloye, who served as power and steel minister between 1999 and 2003 under the administration of former President Olusegun Obasanjo, on seven counts bordering on “fraudulent award of contract and official corruption.”
In one of the charges, the EFCC alleged that on May 22, 2003, Agunloye awarded a contract, titled “Construction of 3,960mw Mambilla Hydroelectric Power Station on a Build, Operate and Transfer Basis” to Sunrise Power and Transmission Company Limited “without any budgetary provision, approval and cash backing.”
In another count, Agunloye was alleged to have on August 10, 2019 “corruptly received the sum of N3.6m from Sunrise Power and Transmission Company Limited and Leno Adesanya for having conveyed the ‘approval of the Government of the Federal Republic of Nigeria for the construction of the 3,960 megawatts Mambilla Hydroelectric Power Station’ in favour of SPTCL.”
Minimum wage: I’ll approve what Nigeria can afford – Tinubu
President Bola Tinubu has said that he would approve a new minimum wage that the government can afford.
The President said this on Wednesday at a dinner to mark Nigeria’s 25 years of unbroken Democracy in Abuja.
Tinubu thanked those who stood by him over the years, promising Nigerians that he won’t depart from the tenets of democratic governance.
“I have to celebrate with you my dear brother, Senate President, Deputy Senate President,” he said, adding that Senate President Godswill Akpabio and his deputy, Jibrin Barau would soon get an Executive Bill from him on the new minimum wage.
“The minimum wage is going to be what Nigerians can afford, what you can afford and what I can afford. Cut your coat according to your size, if you have size at all,” he said.
The President also pledged to bring down the prices of food items by tackling the menace of banditry that has forced many farmers away from their farms.
He also rallied Nigerians to support his administration’s efforts to strengthen the economy and informed citizens that a bill for a new minimum wage would be sent to the National Assembly soon, among other things.
Recall that the government and the labour last Friday, failed to reach an agreement on the new minimum wage.
While labour again dropped its demand from N494,000 to N250,000, the government added N2,000 to its initial N60,000 and offered workers N62,000.
Both sides submitted their reports to the President who is expected to make a decision and send an executive bill to the National Assembly for a new minimum wage.
Minimum wage: I’ll approve what Nigeria can afford – Tinubu
Govs should earn minimum wage to feel workers’ pain — Soludo
The Anambra State Governor, Charles Soludo, on Wednesday, said governors and other elected officials should earn minimum wage to reflect the current reality of Nigeria.
He said contrary to the flamboyant lifestyles portrayed by governors and elected officials, the country was facing a dire financial crisis.
The governor spoke at a special edition of The Platform, an event organized by The Covenant Nation to promote national development.
According to him, Nigeria’s economic woes are exacerbated by the extravagant lifestyles of government officials, which are sustained at the expense of the nation’s wealth.
“Let’s come clean and straight with Nigerians. Nigeria is very poor and broke but the lifestyle of government and government officials does not show it, especially with the obscene flamboyance in public display,” Soludo said.
He went further to say, “The poor are hungry and impatient, let’s not annoy them more with our insensitivity. In this case, I agree with reverend father Mbaka, who said elected governors should also earn minimum wage. I agree that we should be paid that so that we can feel that as well.
“In Anambra, I have not received a kobo as salary since I assumed office. I have donated my salary to the state.
“It is symbolic. It is not much. I think generally, the system is in denial. There must be some signalling, it is just the symbolism of this.”
Soludo urged his colleagues and other elected officials to cut wasteful spending.
“That is why I proposed reinventing the new code of conduct for public officers. For the federal government, the actual projected revenue comes to about N6,160 per Nigerian, per month.
“For the states, except Lagos and a few states, most states have revenues amounting to less than N3,000 per resident, per month.
“It is from this shares per citizen that we are expected to provide all the infrastructure, debt service, pay salaries and pensions, build schools, and provide everything.
“For each of our wasteful spending, let’s be conscious of how many citizens share that we are squandering. Once we lose this consciousness about the public trust we bear, the society dies irredeemably,” he said.
Osun Govt to host industrial summit in September
Plans have been concluded by the Osun State Government to host a three day industrial investment summit in September 2024.
The state government disclosed this in a statement issued by the Summit Consultant, Rotimi Awelewa, in Osogbo on Thursday.
The Industrial Investment Summit according to the statement is expected to hold at the Centre for Black Culture and International Understanding, CBCIU, Abere.
The decision by the state government is coming after the state governor, Ademola Adeleke who was represented by the Commissioner for Commerce and Industry, Rev. Bunmi Jenyo, on May 10, 2024, inaugurated the Central Working Committee for the Osun Industrial Investment Summit, 2024.
The statement said, “Industrial Investment Summit 2024 from September 11 to September 13, 2024 with the theme ‘Connecting Progress with Purpose’ which will focus on the bid to position Osun State as a major industrial and Commercial hub in Nigeria and West Africa.
“The Osun State Investment Summit 2024 is packaged to showcase bankable opportunities and strategic matchmaking platforms, convening stakeholders to Osun Industrial ecosystem to facilitate partnerships and investments in the State.
“The principal objective and focus of the Summit is to set an economic policy agenda for accelerated industrial investments in Osun State, Nigeria, underpinned by sustainable and inclusive development.
“Through focused discussions and deliberations, the Summit seeks to identify and address the key challenges and opportunities for transforming Osun State economy, with a particular emphasis on the role of Agriculture, Industrial Advancement, Manufacturing, Tourism and Capital Investment.”
The summit is also expected to focus on driving double-digit industrial investment and economic growth across every nook and cranny of Osun State.
Osun Govt to host industrial summit in September
EU imposes €200m fine, daily penalties on Hungary for systemic breach of asylum laws
The European Union’s highest court has slapped Hungary with a substantial fine of €200 million (approximately $216 million) and a daily penalty of €1 million for flagrantly violating the bloc’s asylum laws.
The European Court of Justice (ECJ) ruled that Hungary has persistently failed to comply with EU regulations, despite a previous ruling in 2020 that mandated the country to adhere to international procedures for asylum seekers.
The ECJ stated that Hungary’s actions constitute a deliberate evasion of its obligations, leading to the systematic breach of EU asylum laws. The court’s decision comes after a lengthy legal battle, highlighting the EU’s commitment to upholding the principles of asylum and the rule of law within its member states.
Read also: 120 million people displaced by war, violence globally, UN Says
Hungary’s breach of EU asylum laws has resulted in the illegal deportation of migrants, raising concerns about the country’s disregard for human rights and international norms. The ECJ’s ruling serves as a strong rebuke to Hungary’s actions, emphasizing the importance of compliance with EU regulations and the protection of asylum seekers’ rights.
The fine and daily penalties imposed on Hungary are a significant step towards ensuring that member states respect the EU’s asylum laws and uphold the principles of human rights and dignity. The ruling also serves as a warning to other member states that failure to comply with EU regulations will result in consequences.
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