Home Blog Page 1681

Cement sales drop 30% over naira redesign, says MAN

0

At the height of the naira crisis earlier this year, the Manufacturers Association of Nigeria reported a 30% decline in cement sales.

According to the association, sales of consumer goods fell by 20% during this time due to a lack of access to cash.

The devastation caused by the naira redesign policy on the manufacturing sector was described in detail in a “Special Focus” of MAN’s Manufacturing CEOs Confidence Index, according to MAN.

According to the report, because of the significant progress that has been made in this area, the Central Bank of Nigeria does not need to hasten the country’s shift to a cashless economy or engage in overly aggressive policymaking.

 

Approximately 20% and 30% less sales of consumer goods and cement, respectively, were experienced as a result of the protracted crisis, the report claims, nearly bankrupting manufacturing companies.

According to MAN, the crisis had a negative effect on the manufacturers because it directly reduced their working capital, which halted regular business operations.

It was further stated that the devaluation of the naira reduced consumer support for manufacturing companies and as a result increased their volume of inventories, particularly for retail goods.

The economic crisis had negative effects on the manufacturing value chain and logistics costs, according to the report, because it exposed the heavily cash-based distributive trade sector to significant risk.

Part of the report’s summary stated, “The significant decline in money velocity created room for speculation and sparked the emergence of a naira black market, adding to the problems already faced by manufacturers due to a lack of foreign exchange.

In particular, those in the agro-allied industries, which frequently do business with local farmers in outlying towns with no formal banking in sight, were clearly destroyed by the naira shortage because their cash-based transactions were so prevalent. More regrettably, the outrageous POS fees on such cash limited the operations of hardy manufacturing SMEs and increased their cost of doing business.

Tell this story, please:

 

Ministry of Works, Umahi agency of FG, announces that N431b is available for contractors

0

The Ministry of Works, an agency of the Federal Government, has announced that it has N431 billion available for contractors.

This was said by the Minister of Works, David Umahi, during a meeting with all project managers for road dualization and all zone directors of the Ministry on Thursday at the Ministry’s office in Abuja.

Additionally, the Minister stated the Ministry’s plan to concentrate on the majority of the dualized roads in the nation.

He declared, “We are here today to declare our intention to deal with the majority of the dual-lane roads in the nation.

I want to remind you that the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation would fund 50% of the contract’s total amount till 2025.

“We have N431 billion ready for contractors to clear, but there is no certificate for it. If you are doing a job under Phase 1, try to make claims. If your job involves augmentation, go back to your Regional Director for understanding before I sign the certificate. Any certificate I sign now, I have to take account for it even after I have left office.”

Speaking through the Director of Information Press and Public Relations Unit, Blessing Lere-Adams, Umahi further instructed the contractors to stay in one lane if their project had not reached 50% completion. He also mentioned that he had developed a Performance Bond that would ensure all new projects for a 10-year period.

He asked all road builders to contact the Ministry to either cease construction or reconstruct the road such that it would survive ten years if they created roads that were not capable of doing so.

He urged all the contractors to work with him on building roads using concrete technology, as it was done in Singapore and India, and he cautioned contractors that he would not listen to tales of failure on the roads due to overloading.

In addition, Umahi urged the contractors and other interested parties to pay attention to President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, noting that the current administration is in charge of 18000 kilometers of roads and that it inherited a contract sum of about N14.1 trillion, of which N4 trillion is being paid for all of the projects, some of which have lasted for between 10 and 20 years.

The Minister claimed that certain contractors have intentionally increased the contractor sum by 100%, which is why they are not receiving payment.

“We are returning to the original concept of the projects and the necessity of any further works and also see how we can get a fair deal,” the Minister added. “Expecting an endorsement from the Ministry of what is not acceptable to the Nigerian Society of Engineers is not conceivable.”

I Umahi also stated that “Mr. President knows road infrastructure, and if I come before him with a contract for a value of N44 billion reviewed to N144 billion contract sum, I must be able to present facts of how the cost got about.”

Tribunal’s decision, supporters of Kano governor hold special prayers

0

 

Supporters of the New Nigeria Peoples Party held special prayers for Kano State Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf on Thursday before the Election Petition Tribunal decision in order to ensure his victory.

On Thursday, the special prayer was offered along the six crucial primary entrance roads to Kano, including Katsina Road, Gwarzo Road, Madobi Road/Sharada, Zaria Road, Maiduguri Road, and Hadejia Road.

Yusuf’s election victory is being contested by the Kano State Chapter of the All Progressives Congress.

The tribunal has not yet decided when to issue the ruling.

Police invited Sam Larry, Mohbad failed to show up says FCID

0

The late singer Ilerioluwa Aloba aka Mohbad filed a petition on June 27 alleging assault, among other things, and the Lagos Annex, Force Criminal Investigation Department of the Nigerian Police Force, Zone 2, Alagbon, has confirmed that it invited music promoter Samson Balogun, aka Sam Larry and others.

The federal police department further highlighted that after the singer failed to appear to defend his case, a lawyer for Sam Larry and the other suspects also filed a counter-petition against Mohbad, citing defamation of character.

Oluniyi Ogundeyi, the spokeswoman for the Lagos Annex of the FCID, further disclosed that the late singer Mohbad failed to appear at the police station to adopt and defend his petition and also to provide proof of the allegations, to help the police in prosecuting the suspects, if necessary, in an exclusive telephone interview with our correspondent on Thursday night.

Following the disclosure of a document, the late singer petitioned the FCID Annex, Alagbon, Lagos State, alleging, among other things, that a music promoter named Samson Balogun, alias Sam Larry, had threatened his life, caused intentional damage, assaulted him, and subjected him to oppression.

 

The dead and another musician, Omoniyi Temidayo alias Zlatan Ibile, were working on a video shoot when Sam Larry and 15 other armed men invaded the location and threatened to cause mayhem, according to Mohbad’s June 27, 2023 plea.

He said, “They eventually assaulted him (Mohbad) and destroyed equipment worth over N5 million at the spot, just before he narrowly escaped with injuries.”

I, a law-abiding citizen with the aforementioned name and residence, as well as a musician, bring to your attention the assault and danger to my life by the aforementioned individuals.

“On June 25, 2023, while I was shooting a video with another artist named Zlatan (Ibile, the aforementioned individuals, numbering around 15, led by Sam Larry Elegushi, entered the location with dangerous weapons like guns and cutlasses, disrupted the entire shooting process, damaged the equipment I was using for the shooting valued at about five million naira, and began threatening my life. As a result, they turned violent and attacked me.

The petition also includes the aforementioned images. Eight Million Naira (N8,000,000) is the total price I paid for the shooting that they destroyed, and it is non-refundable.

“However, during the assault, they boasted that they are employees of Oba Elegushi and that they were asked to deal with me for reasons that are only known to them; to this day, they have continued to make threats to kill me if I am seen. Sir, I beg your good office to protect me from the aforementioned individuals and bring them to justice.

Part of the plea said, “Sir, I call on your good office to preserve my life from the above named persons and bring them to book.” We appreciate your prompt action.

The police could not act on the petition because Mohbad refused to appear and adopt, defend, and also offer evidence to support the claims he made, according to Oluniyi Ogundeyi, Police Public Relations Officer, FCID Annex, Lagos, when contacted by our correspondent on Thursday night regarding the recent development.

We received the petition, followed up on the data in the petition, and invited the suspects, according to Ogundeyi. However, Mohbad declined to appear to defend his lawsuit and offer information that would have helped the police conduct a thorough investigation and, if required, refer the case to the legal department for prosecution.

“Yes, Mohbad did report the incident on June 27, 2023. Today (Thursday), the IPO confirmed this to me and showed me the case file. Sam Larry and other suspects named in the petition were asked for questioning, according to the IPO, and they accepted the invitation and provided statements as well. A lawyer for Sam Larry and the other accused filed a counter-petition accusing Mohbad of defaming them when the deceased declined to appear to adopt and defend his petition.

There was nothing the police could do if a petitioner refused to defend their petition and provide evidence to help the police in investigating the matter and forward the case file to the legal department if the suspect’s are found to be at fault. The police even attempted to contact Mohbad on numerous occasions, but he never showed up.

In an earlier statement titled “Mohbad’s Death: We Will Carry Out Diligent Investigation – FPRO,” the Force PRO, Olumuyiwa Adejobi, stated that the police were committed to a thorough investigation into the matter and that the Lagos State Commissioner of Police has been tasked with determining the circumstances surrounding his death.

“Our sincere sympathies go out to the family, friends, and supporters of the late Ilerioluwa Oladimeji Aloba, better known as Mohbad, who died away lately,” Adejobi stated. We are aware of the worries surrounding his premature passing.

“The Lagos State Commissioner of Police has been tasked with determining the circumstances surrounding his death, and the Nigeria Police Force is dedicated to conducting a thorough investigation into this case. We’ll keep you informed as the investigations progress, so don’t worry.

“We urge members of the family or close friends who may have important information to contact the Lagos State Commissioner of Police to help with this procedure. We respectfully ask that people hold off on saying anything or taking any actions that would endanger the ongoing inquiry in the interim. We respect your confidence and assistance greatly.

According to The PUNCH, controversial socialite Sam Larry has experienced backlash on social media as a result of a video that showed him and several other people assaulting late musician Mohbad.

When Larry and a group of boys barged into the set of a music video where Mohbad and Zlatan were working, Mohbad fled in terror. Zlatan, on the other hand, made an effort to salvage the situation by defending Mohbad from Larry and his allies.

Following the release of the video, enraged Nigerians flocked to Larry’s Instagram page to bash him for allegedly threatening and tormenting the late singer. In response to the barrage of cyberattacks he has gotten since the video’s release, Larry, who is rumored to be Naira Marley’s ally, has subsequently disabled his Instagram account.

According to The PUNCH, Mohbad passed away on Tuesday at the age of 27. The management of Mohbad also issued a formal announcement announcing his demise.

“We confirm with deep sorrow that Promise Oladimeji Aloba PK/A Mohbad (Imole) passed away today, September 12, 2023.

The family of Mohbad thanks you for your support and your prayers and begs that you continue to respect their privacy during this trying time. Mohbad was a light to the very end, and we mourn the loss of the brightness he carried. The brief statement, which was published on both his Instagram and X handles, said, “Imole is at Peace at last.

 

Nyesom Wike not just FCT Minister, but my Adviser – Tinubu

0

Nyesom Wike, the former governor of Rivers State, is not only the FCT Minister, according to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, but also his adviser.

When he welcomed the influential 62-man delegation from Rivers state to the Presidential Villa in Abuja, Tinubu made this statement.

 

He informed the stakeholders in Rivers State that he had heard their pleas for infrastructure improvement, particularly on the East West Road’s decaying Elementary junction-Onne axis connecting the Port Harcourt Refinery.

The President was reported as saying: “The Honorable Minister, Wike, is not just the Minister of the FCT, he is also my adviser and an admirer of mine,” in a statement released by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Chief Ajuri Ngelale. He has made a strong start, and the State should support him.

The President remarked, “I am the Captain and Chief Salesman of the country. I advise the younger generation to be more patient with the procedures of government. We need to quickly change the trend and take advantage of the opportunities. The people of our nation have high hopes for us. I promise to put in a lot of effort, and I ask God to direct me in the correct direction so that I won’t let Nigerians down, the President said in closing.

Tinubu appoints Delu Yakubu national coordinator of Social Investment Programmes

0

In anticipation of Senate confirmation, President Bola Tinubu has given his blessing to Mrs. Delu Bulus Yakubu’s nomination as the first National Coordinator/Chief Executive Officer of the National Social Investment Programmes Agency (NSIPA).

The President’s Special Advisor on Media and Publicity, Ajuri Ngelale, revealed this in a statement on Thursday.

In his resolve to realize the Renewed Hope objective of his government, Tinubu charged the new appointment with bringing the greatest level of effectiveness, transparency, and high-quality service delivery to NSIPA.

On May 22, 2023, President 2023 signed into law the National Social Investment Programmes Agency (Establishment) Act.

Yakubu holds an agronomy master’s degree from the State University of Bio-Technology in Kharkiv, Ukraine, and has managed social investment programs for more than 15 years.

Tribunal orders re-run election for Saki West constituency of Oyo State

0

In Oyo State, the National and State Assembly Election Petition Tribunal mandated a run-off election for the Saki West state constituency.

The All Peoples Congress (APC) candidate Mr. Shittu Ibrahim was earlier proclaimed the victor of the March 18 state assembly election by INEC.

It stated that Ibrahim received 13,692 votes, defeating Julius Okedoyin, a candidate for the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), who received 13,422 votes.

Okedoyin and the PDP complained to the tribunal about the decision, claiming there had been excessive voting, irregularities, and a violation of the electoral laws.

The tribunal determined that the petition had substance and that the petitioners had established their claims beyond a reasonable doubt in a decision made by a unanimous vote of its members under the chairmanship of Justice Jubril Anaja.

According to Anaja, the cancellation of the results from the constituency with 1,285 voter cards collected’s Ward 6 Unit 7 and Ward 11 Unit 19 could have a significant impact on the election’s outcome.

The tribunal stated that even while the declared winner in Ward 6 had a lead over the petitioner by 270 votes, more than 1,000 voters had their votes invalidated.

The tribunal claimed that if the more than 1,000 people INEC had prevented from voting in the impacted wards had been permitted to do so, the outcome might have been changed.

“The certificate of return given to the first respondent (Ibrahim) by INEC is accordingly revoked awaiting the outcome of the Saki West constituency’s rerun election.

Within 90 days, Anaja instructed INEC to hold new elections in Ward 6, Unit 7, and Ward 11, Unit 19.

Ibrahim’s attorney, Mr. Sikiru Adewoye, responded by stating that his client would challenge the tribunal’s ruling.

However, Mr. Yusuf Ogunrinde, the petitioners’ attorney, praised the panel for the ruling.

Re-voting has been mandated for the Saki West state seat by the National and State Assembly Election Petition Tribunal in Oyo State.

The state assembly election for the constituency held on March 18 was previously proclaimed by INEC to have been won by Mr. Shittu Ibrahim of the All Peoples Congress (APC).

It stated that Ibrahim received 13,692 votes, defeating Julius Okedoyin, the PDP candidate, who received 13,422 votes.

Okedoyin and the PDP headed to the tribunal after being dissatisfied with the verdict, claiming there had been excessive voting, irregularities, and a violation of the electoral laws.

The tribunal found that the petition had substance and that the petitioners had established their claims beyond a reasonable doubt in a decision that was unanimously issued by its chairman, Justice Jubril Anaja.

The revocation of the results from the constituency with 1,285 voter cards collected’s Ward 6 Unit 7 and Ward 11 Unit 19 could, according to Anaja, materially impact the election’s outcome.

Despite the declared winner having a 270-vote advantage over the petitioner in Ward 6, the tribunal highlighted that more than 1,000 voters were left without a vote.

The tribunal asserts that if the more than 1,000 voters INEC disenfranchised in the concerned wards had been permitted to cast ballots, the outcome might have been changed.

“The certificate of return issued by INEC to the first respondent (Ibrahim) is hereby set aside awaiting the rerun election to determine the victor for Saki West seat.

“INEC is hereby directed to conduct a rerun election in Ward 6, Unit 7 and Ward 11, Unit 19 within 90 days,” said Anaja.

In response, Ibrahim’s legal representative, Mr. Sikiru Adewoye, declared that his client will challenge the tribunal’s ruling.

Mr. Yusuf Ogunrinde, the attorney for the petitioners, did, nonetheless, praise the panel for its decision.

Benue PDP legal adviser expresses disappointment with continued detention of client

0

On Thursday, Clement Mue, the legal adviser for the People’s Democratic Party in Benue State, expressed his disappointment with the continued detention of his client in the Correctional Center in Makurdi.

Mue stated that his client, Paul Gyenger, was taken into custody on August 25th, 2023, on the orders of the state governor, Rev. Fr. Hyacinth Alia, through the Commissioner for Justice, on the accusation that he defamed him by posting on his Facebook page alleging that he (Governor) diverted the two billion dollars in palliative money given to the state by the Federal Government. Mue made this claim.

The continued imprisonment of his client, who had previously been granted bail, was referred to as “illegal, unconstitutional, and unwarranted” by the legal adviser for the PDP.

Mue claimed that the Chief Magistrate, His Worship Taribo Attah, had thwarted all of the efforts made to get bail for his client, even after the High Court had ordered his release on bail.

 

On Thursday, the speaker gave a press conference in the Makurdi Magistrate Court, which is located across the street from the School of Nursing.

Mue stated, “The truth of the matter is that on the 25th of August 2023, my client, Paul Terhemba Gyenger, who is the defendant in this case and is currently being held at the Correctional Centre in Yakyo, Makurdi, Benue State was arrested upon a complaint by Governor Hyacinth Alia, on the grounds that he made a post on his Facebook page tagged, ‘it is alleged that other states have collected their palliatives and

“He stated that it is alleged, but he did not claim that he was aware of it.” The fact that he was detained on that Friday formed the basis for it. After going to the police, they informed us that they would appear in court to arraign him. They did not, and as a result, on August 28, 2023, I petitioned the High Court 10 to issue a basic enforcement order against the defendants, who were the Governor, the Commissioner for Justice, and the Commissioner for Police.

Related News: We’re approaching 100 days! The PDP has criticized the chairman of the LP in response to criticism from the Delta governor.
The APC lost two seats in the National Assembly in the tribunals, while the PDP gained one.
“Upon being served with that particular process, the third respondent in this matter, the Commissioner of Police arraigned my client on the 31st August 2023 at the Chief Magistrate Court 1 presided over by His Worship Taribo Attah and I filed a motion for bail in his court. Dele Momodu has no electoral value like Wike-Onwordi does. The topic was brought up, and he postponed the discussion until the 11th of September, 2023.

Because they are complaining of conspiracy, defamation of character, and cybercrime sticking, all of which are typically bailable, the claimed offenses are bailable. After the Magistrate considered our request, he set the date for making a decision on our kind of request for the 20th of September in 2023.

” Fortunately for my client, the High Court 10 that we petitioned approved our request for bail.

“An order was presented to the Magistrate, His Worship Taribo Attah, on the 12th day of September, 2023. He went home at one o’clock and locked the courtroom door behind him, but I was still there when I returned. I waited until 4 o’clock in the afternoon on the 12th of September, 2023, and then I filed a move exparte this morning, the 13th of September, 2023, because the High Court directed the court to determine bail terms and not anything else. The Chief Magistrate explained to me that it was an improper use of the judicial system, and that he was unable to comply with the request because of this.

“I then instructed him to section 34 sub 3 of the administration of criminal justice law which entitle him to give bail as the original remand notice was to expire on the 7th September 2023,” I said. “As the original remand notice was to expire on the 7th September 2023,” I said. While we are having this conversation, the ongoing imprisonment of my client in the Yaikyo Correctional Centre is unlawful, in violation of the constitution, and unjustified.

“All they want to do is make advantage of the state’s repressive capabilities in order to keep him locked up for the rest of his life. Because I have no other choice, I will have to ask to have my client released.

Breaking: Ganduje-Led APC Begins Online Registration of Members

0

At the moment, President Bola Tinubu is in the process of holding a meeting at the Presidential Villa in Abuja with a team that is being headed by Abdullahi Ganduje, the national chairman of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).

According to TheNigerian, senior officials in charge of security are also present at the meeting, which began at approximately three in the afternoon.

In spite of the fact that there has not been any briefing on the topic for the meeting as of yet, it has been gathered that the delegation will be delivering a document that offers potential solutions to the conflict between farmers and herders.

Breaking: Appeal Court Reverses Elumelu’s Victory, Declares LP Candidate Winner of Delta Reps poll

0

Asaba, in the state of Delta – Ndudi Elumelu was proclaimed the victor of the 2023 election by the National and State Houses of Assembly Election Tribunal in Asaba. However, the Court of Appeal in Abuja has overturned that decision.

According to The Nigerian, Elumelu is a representative for the Aniocha/Oshimili Federal Constituency in the state of Delta. He belongs to the People’s Democratic Party, also known as the PDP.Ngozi Okolie, a member of the Labour Party (LP), was deemed to be the victor of the election by the appellate court on Thursday, when it issued two separate decisions.

It criticized the trial tribunal for nullifying Okolie’s election and then went on to rule against Elumelu’s petition, which had been presented before the trial tribunal and constituted the basis for the verdict that had been nullified.

The Court of Appeal agreed with Okolie’s lawyer, Mahmud Magaji (SAN), that contrary to the finding of the tribunal, Okolie was duly nominated and sponsored by his party and that he resigned his appointment as a Senior Special Assistant (SSA) to Delta State Government as required by the Constitution. Mahmud Magaji is the lawyer for the Labour Party. The Court of Appeal found that Okolie was duly nominated and sponsored by his party.

Information to follow…