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Xavi, Cancelo cautious of Osimhen

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Xavi, Cancelo cautious of Osimhen

Xavi Hernadez has warned his Barcelona stars to be wary of the threat posed by striker Victor Osimhen in Tuesday’s round of 16 second leg UEFA Champions League clash with Napoli, According Sports Extra reports.

Osimhen rescued a merited draw from the first leg in Naples when he smashed in a Frank Anguissa’s pass in the 75th minute.

Barcelona had taken the lead on the hour-mark courtesy of Poland striker Robert Lewandowski’s 93rd career goal in the Champions League from Pedri’s delightful through ball.

Since his return from the Africa Cup of Nations in Ivory Coast, the 25-year-old has scored five goals in five games for Napoli a form Xavi sees as a threat.

“We saw them from the first leg — Osimhen and Kvaratshkelia are top-level players and dangerous, Xavi said.

“For us, it is essential to defend well against them against and limit the chances they get to hurt us. He (Osimhen) scored from the real chance he had in the first leg and we must not let that happen.”

Barcelona defender Joao Cancelo also has praised Osimhen ranking him among the best players in the world currently. Both teams meet again at the Estadi Olimpic Lluis Companys on Tuesday (today) in a winner-takes-all clash.

And Cancelo adds that Osimhen must be watched.

“Kvaratskhelia, Osimhen, and Politano are exceptional talents. Osimhen scored against us in the first leg with half a chance. He is one of the best strikers in the world,” Cancelo told La Gazzetta dello Sport ahead of Barcelona’s UCL clash against Napoli.

“In the first leg, Napoli were poor and created very few chances. But Osimhen had just one crack at goal and scored.”

Since that game, Napoli have scored 10 goals in five matches with Osimhen involved in six of them (five goals and one assist).

Napoli are expected to present a sterner test for the reigning Spanish champions, and Osimhen would be leading that charge.

Meanwhile, Last season’s Capcannoniere is expected to lead a front three also featuring Kvaratskhelia and Matteo Politano.

Osimhen will aim to score his 10th Champions League goal which will make him Nigeria’s most prolific player in the competition, moving clear of Obafemi Martins who scored nine goals in 34 UCL games.

Physicians say loud night breathing could also be signal of erectile dysfunction

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Physicians say loud night breathing could also be signal of erectile dysfunction

Snoring may seem normal to some and an embarrassment to a few, especially if it disturbs the sleep of others. However, no matter how it is viewed, medical experts say it is a condition that should not be ignored as it might be a sign of erectile dysfunction.

They noted that though nearly everyone snores subtly once in a while, however, the deep guttural or loudly disruptive type should be a cause for concern, warning that it should not be taken for granted as it requires immediate visits to the physicians.

They noted that people who snore loudly are prone to sleep apnea, a potentially serious sleep disorder in which breathing repeatedly stops and starts, reiterating that such conditions may advance to male impotency when not properly examined and treated.

According to an online medical portal, Mayo Clinic, snoring is the hoarse or harsh sound that occurs when airflows pass relaxed tissues in the throat, causing the tissues to vibrate as you breathe.

It noted that it may also indicate a serious health condition that the risk factors include age and obesity, and that it is more common in men.

Mayo Clinic stated, “Snoring can be caused by several factors, such as the anatomy of one’s mouth and sinuses, alcohol consumption, allergies, a cold, and weight.

“When you doze off and progress from a light sleep to a deep sleep, the muscles in the roof of your mouth (soft palate), tongue and throat relax. The tissues in your throat can relax enough that they partially block your airway and vibrate.

“The more narrowed your airway, the more forceful the airflow becomes. This increases tissue vibration, which causes your snoring to grow louder.

“Habitual snoring may be more than just a nuisance. The snorer might be at a greater risk of high blood pressure, heart conditions and stroke.”

The health and well-being website advised snorers to seek medical intervention when it becomes loud enough to disrupt other people’s sleep as this may indicate an association with obstructive sleep apnea and erectile dysfunction.

Speaking exclusively with According Healthwise in different interviews, the experts said male deep snorers should always seek help when they notice that it has become deep and cease for a few seconds before it starts again.

A Consultant Ear, Nose and Throat Surgeon at the University of Ilorin Teaching Hospital, Kwara State, Dr Olanrewaju Idris, said snoring should not be taken for granted, insisting that the condition when not properly studied and treated may cause impotence in men.

He also noted that snoring could lead to social problems, like causing marital or relationship crises.

Idris added, “Even if one is dating a lady or a man and in the process before one gets married, realises that the person snores deeply, that alone could affect the relationship.

“Snoring is abnormal because either awake or at sleep, individual breathing should not be associated with any sound or noise. People who snore shouldn’t take it for granted.”

Speaking on High Blood Pressure and erectile dysfunction, a Professor of Cardiovascular Medicine with the University of Abuja, Augustine Odili, said elevated blood pressure is responsible for erectile dysfunction in men.

He said this is due to poor blood flow around the bulbocavernosus, which does not allow the penis to reach full erection.

According to another online medical journal, ScienceDirect, bulbocavernosus is a muscle that surrounds the base of the penis and is directly related to erectile dysfunction in men.

“This has three functions: preventing blood from escaping during an erection by putting pressure on the deep dorsal vein; maintaining erection and pump during ejaculation; emptying the bulbar urethra by reflex action after voiding or ejaculating semen from the urethra at climax,” the journal stated.

Speaking further, Odili, who is the National President of the Nigerian Cardiac Society, explained that what causes erection is the blood flow due to stimulation that occurs through the eyes, the brain or touch.

According to him, a man can get an erection by what he sees, what the brain thinks and interprets whilst being touched.

He said, “There are lots of blood vessels on the penis and they will dilate upon stimuli. God is so wonderful with the making of the penis and made the tissues to be like-sponge that when blood flows into it, it becomes strong. This is when you can say an erection has taken place.

“The tissues of the penis are like sponges. When you squeeze out water from a sponge, it will be small but when water enters it again, it will swell up. These tissues are called bulbocavernosus. It’s spongy but when blood flows in, it gets strong and when the blood goes out, it goes down too.”

According to him, what happens in high blood pressure is the same as that of blood vessels, noting that when there is pressure, it affects the blood vessels and the vascular bed all over the body.

Odili said, “By this, I mean what causes stroke is lack of blood flow in one particular vascular bed in the brain. The same happens to the kidney and it is worse within those areas where you have a lot of blood vessels like the penis.

“So, as the sheer pressure is going on, it will be affecting the wall, the endothelium. From affecting it, it becomes like roughing the endothelium. From there, there will be deposits on the endothelium and hardening of the wall of blood vessels and there will be restricted blood flow.

“So if this continues, when the stimulus comes either to the eye or brain, the blood vessels will not be able to dilate appropriately. Enough blood will not flow to the tissues in the penis for it to be erect due to the blockage or narrowing of the blood vessels, which reduces blood supply to the bulbocavernos. When it becomes regular, you say that erectile dysfunction has occurred when it becomes regular.”

In a study published in the National Library of Medicine titled, ‘Snoring as a Risk Factor for Sexual Dysfunction in Community Men,’ the author, Dr Vicktor Hanak and his team said sexual dysfunction is a common health problem in middle-aged and elderly males among snorers.

The study noted that the prevalence of erectile dysfunction increases steadily with age, and this condition may affect up to 10 per cent of men in their 40s and up to 80 per cent of men aged 70 and over.

In a research meant to examine the association between snoring and sexual dysfunction in a randomly selected, community-based population of middle-aged and elderly males, the authors said men in the heavy snoring group were over two times more likely to have low sexual and erectile dysfunction compared to the none/mild snoring group.

The study concluded that the data collected provide evidence of an association between increasing snoring severity and reduced sexual satisfaction in a population of elderly community males.

“Clinicians assessing patients for sexual dysfunction may therefore wish to explore snoring history, as well as whether some of the treatment options that exist for snoring might improve sexual satisfaction,” the study added.

Youngsters utilizing make-up danger pores and skin most cancers, paediatrician warns

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Youngsters utilizing make-up danger pores and skin most cancers, paediatrician warns

Children under the age of 12, who wear makeup are at risk of having skin allergies, cancer and kidney disease, a paediatrician has warned.

While several videos and pictures on social media show children, who play act and mimic their parents, and apply makeup on their faces, studies and health practitioners have warned that makeup contains toxic materials and may result in neurodevelopmental abnormalities, among other health issues in children.

In an exclusive interview with According Healthwise, a Professor of Paediatrics, Nma Jiya, stated that makeup contains toxic materials capable of causing skin cancer, and neurodevelopment abnormalities and can inadvertently cause damage to children’s kidneys in future.

The don, who has over 36 years of treating children, further noted that although there is makeup formulated for children, those who play or use makeup formulated for adults stand the risk of having skin allergies, infection and asthma in the short run.

Collins dictionary defines makeup as lipstick, eye shadow and powder applied on the face to improve or change appearance.

A study on the Usage of Children’s Makeup and Body Products in the United States by Eleanor Medley et al, published in the National Centre for Biotechnology Information, reports increasing evidence of toxic ingredients found in cosmetics and personal care products.

The study also revealed that most children, especially those under 12, use makeup with play intentions.

In another study conducted by scientists at the Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health, most children under the age of 12 use children’s makeup such as glitter, face paint and lip gloss.

The researchers, while alluding to previous research, noted that makeup often has “toxic chemicals, like lead, asbestos, PFAS, phthalates, and formaldehyde.  Toxic chemicals in children’s makeup and body products, like heavy metals, are especially harmful to infants and children.”

The study further stated that aside from the skin allergies the children may be exposed to, they are also at risk of inadvertently ingesting some of the products.

Speaking further on the issue, Jiya, who is also a consultant paediatrician at Usmanu Danfodio University Teaching Hospital, Niger State, warned that children under the age of 12 should not wear makeup and advised mothers to keep them out of children’s reach.

Speaking further on the issue, Jiya said, “The skin of infants and children is fragile compared to that of adults because the absorption of some of these products is higher. Using their mother’s lipstick eye pencils and eye beautification products can cause diseases like conjunctivitis and bacterial infection in the eyes.

“Some of the children use their mother’s makeup and can develop skin allergies, dermatitis, bacterial skin infection, itching and distortion of the face.

“Makeup is not usually what we recommend for very young children. They contain chemicals like mercury and sodium, and when absorbed into the skin can cause serious brain damage which can cause learning abilities.”

Jiya, who is the Faculty Treasurer of the West African College of Physicians, added that cancer of the white blood cells, leukaemia, and chronic kidney disease are other risks prolonged use can expose them to.

The don also warned against the prolonged and constant use of makeup in older children, stating that the constant exposure and absorption of makeup products by the skin could lead to chronic diseases in the future.

He urged parents to keep their cosmetic products away from children’s reach to prevent them from playing and applying them on their faces.

Man held for allegedly beheading daughter in Edo

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Man held for allegedly beheading daughter in Edo

A man identified as Emmanuel Ovwarueso has been arrested by operatives of the Edo State Security Network for allegedly beheading his daughter for money ritual in Benin City, Edo State.

The suspect was arrested in Uteh, Upper Mission, where he resides last Thursday at about midnight with the head of the deceased in a polythene bag.

He was said to have tied and gagged his wife and carried out the killing in her presence.

His wife, whose name was not available at the time of press, said, “My husband’s attitude changed recently. He kept saying I should not look at him like a poor man anymore.

“At his place of work, he was buying drinks for everyone as if he was celebrating. Even his co-workers were surprised at his new spending style. He even told them that his money was very near. We never knew he had plans to use our daughter for a ritual.”

A member of the ESSN, who spoke on the condition of anonymity, said, “We saw him that Thursday night with a bag, walking so fast like he was rushing to catch a flight. We stopped him, but he resisted. We asked what was inside the bag, he said it was his food. So, we searched the bag and found a human head inside it.

“We interrogated him and from the way he was talking, it was obvious he was hiding something. So, we took him to his house, and we met his wife tied down. We untied her and asked who tied her, she said it was her husband. She told us that her husband tied her down with a rope before killing their daughter.

“The suspect then took us to the place where he buried the little girl’s body in a shallow grave and the body of the girl was exhumed immediately.”

The suspect has since been handed over to the Nigeria Police, Edo State Command for further investigation.

Confronting challenges dealing with digital literacy

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Confronting challenges dealing with digital literacy

There is no doubt in saying that digital literacy stands at the forefront of global progress, serving as the backbone for socio-economic development in the digital age. As a result, countries worldwide consistently seek ways to enhance their capabilities and harness the full potential of technology. Nigeria is also not left out in this race as this has prompted the National Information Technology Development Agency, the pioneer in technological advancement in Nigeria, to ambitiously envision achieving 95 per cent digital literacy by 2030.

It is not merely a goal but a transformative journey. As NITDA embarks on this journey, the challenges and opportunities that lie ahead shape a narrative that extends far beyond the boundaries of technology, touching the very essence of Nigeria’s future. In today’s connected world, digital literacy is the pillar that empowers individuals, communities, and nations to handle the challenges of the digital era. It is a passport to inclusion, a catalyst for innovation, and a driver of economic growth.

Nigeria’s aspiration to attain 95 per cent digital literacy by 2030 underscores a profound commitment to equipping its citizens with the skills and knowledge necessary to thrive in the digital realm. However, this journey is not devoid of hurdles which need to be addressed for the vision to be realised. The hurdles range from infrastructure barriers; urban-rural technology differences, educational landscape, and socio-economic factors (including the affordability of digital devices and internet services). Moreover, awareness and perceptions surrounding digital literacy require refined strategies to dispel myths and create an understanding of its transformative potential.

As regards infrastructure, urban centres often enjoy better connectivity and access to digital tools than their rural counterparts. The integration of digital literacy into the formal educational system also remains a challenge. Many educational institutions lack the necessary infrastructure, such as computers and software to facilitate meaningful digital education. In a situation where schools do have access to these resources, there is often a scarcity of updated and relevant educational content.

Furthermore, adding digital learning to the curriculum largely depends on how skilled educators are in using these tools. Regrettably, many teachers lack the necessary training to seamlessly include digital tools in their teaching methods. The fast-paced changes in technology make this challenge even more difficult, as educators find it challenging to keep up with the latest advancements.

Affordability is another hurdle. The cost of digital devices (such as computers and smartphones), to be used to attain digital literacy, is unaffordable for many Nigerians. While the digital age has ushered in a wealth of opportunities, the expenses associated with acquiring computers and smartphones serve as a challenge, particularly for those in the lower-income bracket.

One solution to the affordability challenge is to set up more community technology centres equipped with computers and internet access. Furthermore, exploring e-waste recycling programmes can be a sustainable approach. Repurposing and redistributing refurbished devices will make digital tools affordable for a broader segment of the population. Implementing policies that’ll subsidise cost of digital devices for low-income individuals will be another crucial step. Government-backed initiatives or collaborations with private sector entities can help make devices more accessible.

The last hurdle worth noting is the lack of awareness of the potential of digital literacy. The broader population has not fully comprehended the transformative potential of digital literacy. Some view digital literacy as irrelevant to their daily lives or too complex to grasp. On that note, there is a need for national awareness campaigns, local language outreach, hands-on demonstrations, storytelling and success narratives, and collaboration with the media. If all of these can be done, the lack of awareness of the potential of digital literacy will be solved, thereby significantly raising participation and improvement in digital skills acquisition.

The vision to achieve 95 per cent digital illiteracy by 2030 should not be left to government agencies alone. Educational institutions, civil society, and individuals should also unite in shaping Nigeria into a digitally empowered nation.

NNPCL rallies EFCC to deal with oil theft

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NNPCL rallies EFCC to deal with oil theft

The Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited has appealed to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission to help tackle the menace of crude oil theft in the country, stating that no one is ready to invest in the oil sector due to the menace.

The Group Chief Executive Officer of the NNPCL, Mele Kyari, made the appeal at an interactive session with the Executive Chairman of the EFCC, Ola Olukoyede, at the NNPC Towers in Abuja on Monday.

In statement by the NNPCL spokesperson, Olufemi Soneye, the company’s helmsman was said to have spoken about the efforts by the company to eradicate corruption from its system, to stem crude oil theft and pipeline vandalism.

Kyari had contended that going by the volume of oil stolen daily and the brazenness with which the perpetrators operate, crude oil theft was the most humongous and virulent economic crime in Nigeria that must attract the attention of the EFCC.

He said, “As we continue to do our best to deepen transparency and stamp out corruption from the system, there is one big challenge that you will need to help us with, Mr. Chairman. That challenge is crude theft. It fits into everything you have said — the people, the asset, the opportunity, and the absence of deterrence.

“We have deactivated 6,409 illegal refineries in the Niger Delta region. Today, we have disconnected up to 4,846 illegal pipes connected to our pipelines, that is out of 5,543 of such illegal connection points. That means there are a vast number of such connections that we have not removed.

“These things don’t just happen from the blues. They happen in communities and locations we all know. As we remove one illegal connection, another one comes up. It is sad, Mr. Chairman.”

According to him, this kind of oil theft does not happen anywhere else in the world.

“When we say illegal connections, they are not invisible things, they are big pipes that require some level of expertise to be installed. Some of them are of the same size as the trunk line itself. No one would produce crude oil knowing full well that it is not going to get to the terminal. That is why nobody is putting money into the business. So, you can’t grow production.”

 “I believe, personally, that the very purpose of your commission is to curtail economic crimes, and there is no bigger economic crime of this scale anywhere else than what is happening in this area,” the GCEO lamented.

Speaking, the EFCC boss, Olukoyede, was said to have expressed satisfaction with NNPCL’s commitment to issues of ethics and code of conduct.

He challenged the management to ensure that the codes of ethics and regulations are complemented with monitoring and enforcement to enhance deterrence.

The According reports that crude oil theft has been on the increase in the Niger Delta despite efforts to stem the tide.

It has been named as one of the factors responsible for the dwindling oil protection and the relocation of some international oil companies to divest.

Council asks Islamic clerics to evangelise peace, unity

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Council asks Islamic clerics to evangelise peace, unity

The Muslim Council of Nigeria, on Monday in Kaduna, sensitised no fewer than 100 Islamic scholars to preaching methodology with the aim of uniting the scholars across the board.

According to the News Agency of Nigeria, the President of the council, Alhaji AbdulRahaman Sadiq, in his opening remarks, called for collective efforts and cooperation of the scholars to ensure that the aim of the sensitisation programme was achieved.

Speaking on the purpose of the exercise, Sodiq said with the advent of social media, many scholars have derailed while using social media platforms as avenues to attack one another.

The president said with the sensitisation, all the challenges identified before now would soon be over.

He urged the clerics to emphasise peaceful coexistence, unity and piety during their preaching sessions throughout the month-long fast and after.

Sodiq further encouraged beneficiaries of the programme to uphold the dictates of the holy book and the hadith of Prophet Muhammad as guidelines.

”Islam is a religion of peace, and we must all strictly adhere to the dictates of the religion.

“It is our responsibility as the Muslim Council of Nigeria to ensure that all the Islamic scholars are on the same page with one another without any form of discrimination, or using abusive words during preaching,” Sodiq said.

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SSANU, NASU deal with FG, declare seven-day strike

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SSANU, NASU deal with FG, declare seven-day strike

The Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities and the Non-Academic Staff Union, on Monday, declared a seven-day warning strike to protest their withheld four months salary.

The unions declared the warning strike on Monday in Abuja, following a meeting of their joint action committee in Akure, Ondo State last Thursday and Friday.

The SSANU National President, Mohammed Ibrahim, who read the communiqué of the meeting to journalists, said the action became necessary as the Federal Government had refused to pay them the four months salary withheld as a result of their nationwide strike in 2022.

The Federal Government recently released the withheld four months salary to the Academic Staff Union of Universities, which was also on strike in 2022, but ignored SSANU and NASU.

On February 13, 2024, SSANU and NASU unions wrote protest letters to the Chief of Staff to the President, Femi Gbajabiamila, and the Minister of Education, Tahir Mamman, over the exclusion of the non-teaching staff from the payment of outstanding four months’ salaries.

The unions, in their communique, said, “While SSANU is not averse to the payment of the withheld salary to our sister union, ASUU, it however, views this action as a clear violation and breach of the post-strike agreement with the government on non-victimisation of our members who participated in the strike.

“We strongly oppose this discriminatory practice which we view as the government’s open invitation to an industrial crisis. Credible information available to us has it that the directive of Mr President is for all university-based unions to be paid four months’ salary.

“The NEC therefore suspects saboteurs in this government bent on destabilising and destroying the good intent of Mr. President towards sustaining industrial peace in the university system.

“NEC in session, therefore, calls on the relevant authorities of government to immediately implement the directive of Mr. President by paying our members the four months withheld salaries, failing which NEC has approved a one-week warning strike in conjunction with our sister union in JAC, NASU.”

The unions also demanded that the government expedite action on the renegotiation of the new national minimum wage as the current national minimum wage had completely been made useless by the hyperinflation currently ravaging the country.

CIBN to induct 336 chartered bankers

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CIBN to induct 336 chartered bankers

The Chartered Institute of Bankers of Nigeria is set to induct 336 new members as chartered bankers.

In a statement signed by the Head of Corporate Communications and Brand Management, Folake Akintayo, on Monday, CIBN would be awarding certificates to student members who had completed the institute’s Banking Professional Examinations in 2023.

The induction ceremony scheduled to take place on March 23, 2024, will see 336 newly qualified associates (chartered bankers) and 149 microfinance-certified bankers formally admitted into the associateship and microfinance-certified bankers’ categories of the institute.

It disclosed the 2024 Stream One Graduate Induction and Prize Awards Ceremony of the institute would also serve as a platform for a lecture titled ‘Ethics and Professionalism: A Prerequisite for Building Sustainable Careers and Institutions’, which would be delivered by the Chief Executive Officer of Sterling Bank Plc, Mr Abubakar Suleiman.

“The lecture is expected to provide insights for professionals about the importance of ethics and professionalism in fostering both individual careers and institutional sustainability,” part of the statement said.

Also expected at the lecture is the Commissioner of Finance, Lagos State. Abayomi Oluyomi.

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Events demand N3.7tn padding probe, northern senators disown Ningi

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Events demand N3.7tn padding probe, northern senators disown Ningi

The All Progressive Congress, Peoples Democratic Party, Labour Party and some other political parties on Monday, called for a thorough probe into the allegation made by the Chairman, Senate Committee on Population, Abdul Ningi (PDP, Bauchi Central), that N3.7tn was padded in the 2024 budget.

While the parties called for a probe into the allegation, some northern senators disowned the claims made by Ningi, saying the Bauchi State senator did not speak for them

The Bauchi senator, however, maintained his position on Monday that o N3.7tn could not be accounted for in the 2024 budget.

This came as Senator Jimoh Ibrahim called for the arrest of Ningi, on the grounds that the lawmaker was attempting to breach the peace at the National Assembly, among other concerns.

At a press briefing on Monday, Ningi insisted that N3.7tn was inserted into the 2024 budget.

He, however, stated that he was misquoted, stressing that he never mentioned that President Bola Tinubu was running two budgets.

He further stated that he spoke in the interview as a lawmaker and not on behalf of the Northern Senators’ Forum.

Ningi had in an interview with the British Broadcasting Corporation (Hausa Service) on Saturday, alleged that the budget passed by the National Assembly for the 2024 fiscal year was N25tn, while the one being implemented by the Presidency was N28.7tn.

In the interview, he was quoted to have said, “For the first time in Nigerian history, today we are operating two different budgets. One budget was approved by the National Assembly and signed by President Bola Tinubu and the one was implemented by the Presidency.

“The one approved by us is N25tn while the one being operated by the Federal Government is N28.7tn

“Apparently, we discovered N3tn was inserted into the budgets for projects without locations. This is the highest budget padding that happened in Nigerian history under Senator Akpabio’s watch.”

The Bauchi senator was further quoted to have said, “We resolved as the peoples’ representatives to see President Tinubu on this issue, with facts and figures, to ask him if he is aware of this embarrassment or not, then from there we will take action.

“Let Nigerians be patient with us. This is a national issue; it affects all Nigerians irrespective of party, tribe or religion.”

The Senate through its spokesperson, Yemi Adaramodu (APC, Ekiti South) had in a chat with our correspondent refuted the claim on Saturday night, stating that there was no padding whatsoever in the budget.

But during a press conference on Monday, Ningi told journalists that he never said that the President was running two budgets, rather there was N3.7tn in the 2024 budget yet to be accounted for.

No two budgets

He said, “At no time did I say Bola Ahmed Tinubu is implementing two budgets. There was no time; at no time did I say Bola Tinubu was biased against the North. The Hausa version is there. At no time did I say Bola Ahmed Tinubu is implementing a N25tn budget.

“I said we have established beyond reasonable doubt that about N25tn so far has a nexus in the budget. That means that there is money, there is a project and then there is location. But we have yet to ascertain N3.7tn of that budget. We have established the N3tn of that budget; we have not established its location and the place.”

The Bauchi Central senator insisted that the powers to appropriate reside with the National Assembly and not the President, so it would be ignorant of him to say that the President was running a separate budget.

Ningi said, “What the President proposed to the Senate are proposals. What the Senate passes is appropriation. There is no way I will talk about N25tn and N28tn. The President has no powers for appropriation.

“It is even a misnomer for the executive to tell the National Assembly members, we are bringing a budget and don’t touch it; it is a misnomer.

“The constitution is clear on who has the power for appropriation. I couldn’t have said what they had suggested. There is no way a President will implement a budget that is not passed by the National assembly.”

He explained further, “But I said going forward, the budget evaluation is ongoing. And I said lastly, the intention of the northern senators as regards budgetary allocation was to meet the Senate President with our findings and subsequently meet President Bola Ahmed Tinubu with our findings.

“So if one is questioning our desire to relate with Bola Tinubu, how will I say that the findings of the Northern Senators Forum will go to the senate president and then to the President and Commander-in-Chief?”

Ningi consistently mentioned N3tn at the press conference, when asked to clarify the money with no projects. He said, “N28.7tn was passed as the 2024 budget, N25tn was allocated for, so the money without allocation is N3.7tn.”

Responding to reports that there were plans to suspend him, he noted that he was ready to bear the brunt of his statement even if the punishment that came with it was to get him suspended.

“I am not afraid of suspension by the Senate. I stand by what I said: N3.7tn is not traced to any project in the 2024 budget. I spoke for myself and not on behalf of the Northern Senator Forum. I never said the federal government is operating with two budgets. I only said N25tn was traced to projects and N3.7tn was not traced to any project,” he said.

Parties demand investigation

But the LP, APC, PDP, New Nigeria People’s Party, and Peoples Redemption Party demanded an investigation into the alleged padding of the 2024 budget

The PDP’s National Publicity Secretary, Debo Ologunagba, stated in an exclusive interview with The According on Monday that the allegation required attention.

“I would like to receive detailed information to be able to respond appropriately. Having said that, if it’s true, any such issues require attention and should be addressed at the necessary level,” he stated.

On his part, NNPP National Publicity Secretary, Yakubu Shendam, urged President Tinubu to investigate what was happening.

He said, “Mr President should be able to sit down properly because this is his government for which he was given a mandate to lead. If he really wants to stamp out corruption, he should be able to look inside, meaning the people he’s operating with, to find out what is happening about this. Because at the end of the day, it is his government that will be blamed.’’

The PRP Acting National Publicity Secretary, Muhammed Ishaq, stated that if true, it represented gross misconduct and a blatant disregard for the principles of transparency, accountability, and fiscal responsibility that the nation deserves, especially during these trying times.

On his part, the Chief Spokesman of the Labour Party Campaign Organisation, Yunusa Tanko, told The According that such an allegation was too weighty to be swept under the rug.

He said, “We support the probe. They have to give us an account of exactly how much is the budget and what the over N3trn is for. There should be a line-by-line examination of the budget as well as further confirmation of the figures as already given by each of the relevant ministries, agencies, and departments.

“It is at that particular point in time we will know and ascertain whether the budget was padded or not. That way, we will also have a clearer understanding of what that particular N3tn is for and who will come out to make the claim. Once that is done, we will know who to hold responsible. But as it is now, both the Federal Government and National Assembly have to come clean as regards the issue of the padded budget.”

The Deputy National Organising Secretary of the APC, Nze Chidi Duru, however, doubted that such a humongous amount could be inserted in such a budget without the knowledge of the two chambers, whose processes were known to be rigorous.

Duru nevertheless demanded that a thorough investigation be carried out to verify the authenticity of the allegation.

The former lawmaker also expressed conviction that if Ningi was found to be gaslighting or raising an unfounded claim, he was certain that necessary sanctions would be meted out on him.

“We are not in the Senate and there is no way one will know the internal workings of the 10th National Assembly. But we know once a budget is passed, there are ways by which it will be harmonised. One will find it strange, to say the least, that such an addition outside of what has been agreed intra-chambers in a bid to have a harmonised budget, can be unilaterally inflated by one person or chamber. It will be one of the eight wonders of the world for them to consider that.

“But assuming without conceding that it was unimaginably possible, that calls for the highest level of investigation. However, I think it is too difficult to believe such a thing can happen in a chamber that is regulated and follows due process in passing the budget.’’

Senators disown Ningi

Senators under the Northern Senators Forum dismissed the claims made by Ningi.

In a statement signed by a cross-section of lawmakers across different Northern zones, they said they were a part of the passing of the budget and would not discredit their collective effort.

The lawmakers said, “We, the undersigned, on behalf of the Senators from the 19 Northern States and the FCT, under the aegis of Northern Senators Forum, hereby state that Senator Ahmed Abdul Ningi of the Peoples Democratic Party, Bauchi Central Senatorial District, who also happens to be the Chairman of our forum, was on his own in the claims he made on the BBC Hausa Service on the 2024 budget.

“As such, the view he expressed was his personal opinion, sentiment and unfortunately skewed, incorrect and misleading.

“There was never a time where we held a meeting and mandated Senator Ningi to address the press on the said matter.”

They added, “The budget was presented to the National Assembly during a joint session of the two chambers – Senate and House of Representatives – by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu on November 29, 2023, in line with the requirement of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

“Both chambers of the National Assembly diligently and meticulously debated, processed, and passed the proposal of the President. And satisfied with it, the President assented to it.

“It is clear that Mr President presented a budget of N27.5tn to the National Assembly and the assembly passed a budget of N28.7tn based on the need to make increases or decreases in the appropriations of the various MDAs, which is in tandem with the legislative powers of the National Assembly in order to address critical projects and services across various sectors.

“Therefore, the statement made by Senator Ningi that the 2024 budget presented to the National Assembly by Mr President was the sum of N25tn was not correct and that should not be taken as the position of the Northern Senators Forum.”

The Northern Senators stressed further, “To the best of our knowledge there was no budget padding, whatsoever that was done to the 2024 budget. The assertion by Senator Ningi that certain things were done to the bill is his personal opinion. It is not the view of the generality of us, the Northern Senators.’’

Some of the senators who signed the statement include Senator Jibrin Isah (APC, Kogi East), Diket Plang (APC, Plateau Central), Senator Saliu Mustapha (APC, Kwara Central) Senator Lawal Adamu Usman (APC, Kaduna Central), Senator Abdulaziz Yar’ Adua (APC, Katsina Central), Senator Aminu Abass (PDP, Adamawa Central) Senator Ibrahim Bomai (APC, Yobe South).

Reps minority

Meanwhile, the minority caucus of the House of Representatives has constituted a study group to investigate claims by Senator Abdul Ningi that the 2024 budget was inflated with as much as N3.7tn with no projects tied to the huge amount.

Speaking with one of our correspondents on Monday, Minority Leader of the House, Kingsley Chinda described Ningi’s allegations as a “very issue.”

He said, “We have commissioned a study to ascertain the veracity of the claim before we take a position on the same. It is a serious issue if confirmed to be true.”

The position of the minority caucus is in line with calls by some civil society organisations who have called for a probe into the allegations made by the Bauchi federal lawmaker.

Also, some opposition lawmakers in the House of Representatives called for an investigation into the allegation made by Ningi.

Speaking with The According, a member of the PDP representing Obokun/Oriade Federal Constituency, Osun State, Mr Oluwole Oke, urged Nigerians to be patient, noting that having already passed a motion for the review of the 2024 budget, the House would unravel the truth or otherwise of Ningi’s claims.

He said, “The 2024 budget as passed by the National Assembly is itself, a work in progress in view of the current realities but do not forget that the House in plenary last week, passed a motion to review the 2024 budget.

“This review will reveal whether the allegations reportedly made by Senator Ningi are true or not. However, the budget we passed on the floor of the House is not N25trn but N28.7trn.”

Similarly, the Deputy Chairman, the House Committee on Justice and member representing Ezeagu/Udi Federal Constituency, Enugu State, Sunday Umeha, stated that opposition members of the House would support a probe into Ningi’s allegations if a case of budget padding was established.

Umeha, a member of the Labour Party said, “So far, my investigation of the 2024 budget has not revealed the allegations made by Senator Ningi, but if it is established that indeed there was a case of budget padding, we will definitely call for a probe. I don’t think it is right to speak on speculation because, at the moment, it is an allegation that has not been proven.”

Asked about his position on the matter, a PDP chieftain and Chairman, Public Accounts Committee, Bamidele Salam, simply said, “Only the Minority Leader can speak on behalf of the caucus.”

In a related development, the lawmaker representing Ondo South, Jimoh Ibrahim (APC), has said he will prosecute his colleague for misinforming the public and lying against the Senate.

He said, “What Ningi said is very embarrassing. We are the 10th Senate and will not just fold our hands. The Senate approved only one appropriation for 2024. We never approved two. The presidency of Nigeria cannot operate with two budgets.

“Senator Ningi made this false information and it’s unacceptable. It is causing uncomfortable pains to our integrity; integrity of children and family as people read it all over the world and are raising questions.”

He noted that he had personally taken it upon himself to request the Inspector-General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, to as a matter of urgency charge Ningi for criminal misinformation and conduct likely to cause a breach of peace.

He said, “If the Senate will not move to do that in the next seven days, I will write a letter, and I have started doing that to the IGP to investigate the circumstances leading to approval of two appropriations and if the IGP will not do it, I will ask for the order of mandamus to compel a public officer to do that.”

“Senator Ningi must be charged to court. The charges must be preferred by the criminal justice department for the governments and after thorough investigation.’’

Additional reports by Adebayo Folorunsho-Francis and Dirisu Yakubu

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