Barr. Nyesom Wike, the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), has spoken out about the security issues that certain areas of the FCT are experiencing, especially in Bwari, and has reassured locals that the administration of the FCT is actively working to resolve the issues.
Speaking to reporters before to an emergency security meeting in Abuja on Tuesday, Wike advised locals not to become alarmed and stressed that steps are being taken to address the security concerns.
Wike said, “Yes, I am aware that sometimes too, the press overblows what is happening, but all of us are concerned, and we owe a duty to make sure that FCT is safe.” Wike was acknowledging the press’s role in drawing attention to security problems.
The security meeting aimed to examine the security challenges and formulate practical solutions. Wike emphasized the involvement of all Area Council Chairmen in addressing these challenges, emphasizing their crucial responsibility in their respective councils.
“We will put our heads together to come up with solutions. We are not sleeping; the security agencies are not sleeping, and we provide every support that they require to allay the fears of the residents,” he assured.
Expressing dissatisfaction with the frequent travels of Area Council Chairmen during challenging times, Wike deemed such actions unacceptable. He stressed the need for council chairmen to fulfill their responsibilities and not evade accountability by traveling out.
Highlighting a recent teachers’ strike in response to challenges under the jurisdiction of area councils, Wike underscored the importance of council chairmen addressing their responsibilities promptly.
In an effort to resolve the teacher’s strike, the minister disclosed that he had invited the striking teachers for a meeting later in the day.
Wike concluded by urging council chairmen to fulfill their responsibilities diligently, reminding them that not every issue would be attributed to the ministers, but collaboration and swift action were imperative in ensuring the safety and well-being of FCT residents.
The Supreme Court, on Tuesday, reserved judgment in the appeal filed by the Peoples Democratic Party against the appeal court judgment reinstating the Nasarawa State Governor, Abdullahi Sule.
The five-member panel led by Justice Kudirat Kekere-Ekun adjourned the matter for judgment after listening to the counsel’s arguments on the appeal.
Kekere-Ekun noted that parties would be notified when judgment is ready.
The state election petition tribunal had sacked the governor and declared David Ombugadu, candidate of the PDP the winner of the March 18, 2023 election.
The tribunal led by Ezekiel Ajayi, in a split decision of two-to-one, held that having evaluated the evidence before the panel, the PDP candidate substantiated his claim that the poll results were manipulated in favour of Sule.
But the appeal court reinstated Sule and held that the tribunal wrongly relied on the evidence of eight of the PDP witnesses, whose statements on oath were not front-loaded alongside the petition.
Ombugadu, however, appealed the judgment at the apex court.
In a horrifying incident that unfolded around the Federal Low Cost area in Makurdi, the capital of Benue State, a retired nurse, Mrs Esther Amali, and her housemaid, Mercy Mwuese, fell victim to a fatal stabbing carried out by a young man who invaded their residence.
The grim event occurred on Sunday at approximately 4:30 pm, according to an eyewitness account shared with our correspondent. The assailant, described as a young man, entered the compound and launched an attack on the housemaid, Mercy Mwuese, who was in her 20s, during the absence of the retired nurse.
Conflicting versions of the motive behind the attack have emerged. One account suggests that the housemaid may have been impregnated by a member of a rival cult, leading to a gruesome retaliation. Another version implies a personal dispute between the housemaid and the suspected murderer regarding the paternity of her child, accusing the assailant’s friend.
The suspected murderer had allegedly warned the deceased housemaid to cease associating his friend with her child’s paternity, creating an atmosphere of tension prior to the tragic incident.
The assailant gained access to the house by scaling a fence, targeting the housemaid in the absence of the retired nurse. As the attacker stabbed the housemaid, the retired nurse, Mrs Esther Amali, returned to the house and witnessed the horrifying scene.
Despite Mrs Amali’s desperate pleas for the assailant to stop, he continued the brutal attack, stabbing both the housemaid and the retired nurse multiple times. The attacker managed to escape before help arrived.
Neighbours promptly arranged for transportation to convey the victims to the hospital. Mrs Amali, although gasping for breath, managed to narrate the incident en route to the hospital. Tragically, she succumbed to her injuries and passed away before reaching medical assistance.
The remains of Mrs Esther Amali and Mercy Mwuese have been deposited at the Federal Medical Centre in Makurdi. Meanwhile, a compassionate neighbour has taken custody of the baby left behind by the deceased housemaid.
As the community grapples with the shock of this senseless act, the Benue State Police Command spokesperson, SP Catherine Anene, has promised to provide further information on the incident. The investigation into this tragic event is ongoing.
In a tragic incident along the bustling Airport Road in Lugbe, Abuja, Nigeria Info 95.1 FM presenter, Deborah Ohamara, lost her life in a collision involving a heavy-duty truck laden with sand and her moving vehicle.
Details of the accident, which claimed the life of the beloved radio personality, remain limited. According to a Facebook user, Nten Ekpang, who shared information about the incident, Ohamara was hit from behind by another vehicle while driving, leading to a collision with a moving trailer.
In a Facebook post, Ekpang wrote, “A car hit Deborah Ohamara from behind while she was driving and she rammed into a moving trailer. She died from injuries sustained from the crash,” alongside a video capturing the aftermath of the accident.
Nigeria Info 95.1 FM confirmed Ohamara’s passing, expressing deep sorrow at the loss of a brilliant and beloved broadcaster. Fondly known as the “golden voice of Naija Info” due to her captivating on-air presence, Ohamara had an illustrious career. She began as a newscaster with the Cross River Broadcasting Corporation (CRBC) TV and later served as a presenter on 105.5 Paradise FM in Calabar.
The radio station shared the sad news on social media, stating, “We sadly announce the passing of Deborah Ohamara (Debbie), a brilliant and loved broadcaster with Nigeria Info Abuja. We opened a condolence register below.”
As the news of Deborah Ohamara’s untimely demise spreads, the radio community and her listeners are left in mourning, remembering her as a talented and cherished voice on Nigeria Info FM. The circumstances surrounding the accident are still under investigation, and condolences pour in for the family, friends, and colleagues of the late presenter.
The surge in abductions, previously concentrated in the North-West, has now infiltrated major cities across Nigeria as criminal elements extend their operations beyond highways and rural areas. Recently, assailants have intensified attacks in Lagos, Abuja, and other urban centers.
Tragically, the killing of four victims from Sagwari Estate Layout in Abuja’s Bwari Area Council ignited public outrage. The criminals demanded a staggering N700 million ransom for the release of seven family members, resulting in the death of Nabeeha Al-Kadriyar, a 400-level student at Ahmadu Bello University.
As of Monday night, five sisters, including Najeebah and Nadherah, remain captive, with kidnappers escalating the ransom demand to N100 million per captive, set for Wednesday.
In a desperate plea for financial support, the Al-Kadriyar family turned to the public, emphasizing the urgency of securing the release of their loved ones.
Simultaneously, other cases have emerged nationwide, including the tragic killing of 13-year-old Folashade Ariyo, further emphasizing the severity of the situation. Her father, Oladosu Ariyo, a lawyer, has implored the Nigerian Bar Association to intervene urgently.
The alarming statistics from the 2023 Nigeria Security Report reveal a grim reality: 9,754 deaths and 4,049 abduction cases between January and December 2023.
Security reports indicate a shift in kidnapping trends, with criminal activities spreading to the South-West, particularly in Lagos and Ogun states. Recent incidents in these regions include the abduction of a 13-year-old schoolgirl, Miracle Adereti, and a car dealer known as Ejike Conversion.
The epidemic is not confined to the South; Ogun State reported the abduction of a 70-year-old piggery farmer, Pa Adeife Ifelaja, and other incidents unfolded in Enugu, Imo, Edo, and Zamfara states.
Expressing concern over the escalating crisis, public figures like the First Lady, Oluremi Tinubu, and former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar have called for urgent government action. Atiku, in a Facebook post, highlighted the role of poverty and hunger in exacerbating the security menace.
However, the apparent silence from government officials and security agencies on the rising cases of kidnappings across major cities has left citizens disillusioned and anxious.
The Nigerian Bar Association and security experts are also expressing their concerns, emphasizing the need for swift and effective measures to address the insecurity crisis. The Chairman of the NBA Bwari FCT chapter, Paul Dauda, urges the government to tackle the issue promptly, while security expert Chidi Omeje criticizes the government’s apparent inaction.
As the nation grapples with this abduction epidemic, there is a growing consensus that immediate and decisive action is imperative to ensure the safety and security of citizens across Nigeria.
The seven major oil marketers in Nigeria have gained approval from the Dangote Petroleum Refinery to distribute refined petroleum products from the $20 billion facility. Dealers from the Major Oil Marketers Association of Nigeria (MOMAN) confirmed their registration with the refinery, expressing readiness to commence distribution once commercial terms are finalized.
According to the President of the Dangote Group, Aliko Dangote, the refinery has started producing Automotive Gas Oil (diesel) and JetA1 (aviation fuel), with products expected to hit the market within the month, pending regulatory approvals.
The major marketers, including 11 Plc, Conoil Plc, Ardova Plc, MRS Oil Nigeria Plc, OVH Energy Marketing Limited, Total Nigeria Plc, and NNPC Retail, have completed registration with the refinery, setting the stage for purchasing and distribution.
Clement Isong, the Executive Secretary/CEO of MOMAN, stated, “All MOMAN members have registered with Dangote Petroleum Refinery to become marketers of its products.” He emphasized that major marketers would have the products in their stations as soon as they are available for sale.
The refinery, located in Lagos and inaugurated by former President Muhammadu Buhari in May 2023, has received six million barrels of crude oil and commenced production of diesel and aviation fuel. The facility, with a capacity of 650,000 barrels per day, is a crucial step in Nigeria’s quest for self-sufficiency in petroleum product refining.
Isong explained, “We started registration last year. As soon as they say they are ready, we will pick the products. Also, as soon as the commercial terms are set, my members will pick.”
However, Isong remained uncertain about the pricing policy, stating, “I don’t know what the market price will be, but I know that with my international experience in the economics of petroleum, nobody does this business to make a loss.”
The President of IPMAN, Abubakar Maigandi, confirmed plans for a meeting with Dangote refinery management to discuss loading modalities and product pricing. He assured that independent marketers would determine product costs only after loading commences.
President of PETROAN, Billy Gillis-Harry, anticipates a marginal drop in product prices due to reduced logistics costs with domestic crude use. He acknowledged PETROAN’s ongoing discussions with Dangote refinery for supply and distribution arrangements.
While the exact reduction in fuel prices remains uncertain, stakeholders express optimism about the positive impact of Dangote refinery’s production on product availability, employment opportunities, and a potential drop in prices for diesel and aviation fuel.
He began to beat her. Shocked by the unexpected behaviour, she reported him to her pastor, expecting the pastor “to pray and cast out the demon” in her husband.
But the pastor instead advised her to return to her parents’ house, warning that the abuse would continue. It did, but she stayed with the hope that he would change.
This was the best intervention the church could provide for her because it lacked resources or guidelines to help members in such relationships. This is the fate of one of victims of gender-based violence like many others out there, who declined that name be used in print. “The violence and abuse left me devastated and depressed that I even contemplated suicide” she stated.
Remi Johnson, a broadcast journalist, speaking on gender-based violence and the declining voices of women in the FCT said: “Some institutional norms that tends to make women enter their shell or become unnecessarily quiet are societal stigmas/ premonitions, bullying of subordinates by superiors of opposite sex in the office environment, religious perceptions on the need for women to be submissive.
“For instance, some cultures believe that women should not speak where men are speaking. This for me is a stereotype and barriers that every woman needs to break, to become free.”.
What is Gender-based violence (GBV), in the first instance? by definition is violence directed against a person because of that person’s gender or violence that affects persons of a particular gender disproportionately.
Violence against women is understood as a violation of human rights and a form of discrimination against women and shall mean all acts of gender-based violence that result in, or are likely to result in physical harm, sexual harm, psychological, or economic harm or suffering to women.
It can include violence against women, domestic violence against women, men or children living in the same domestic unit. Although women and girls are the main victims of GBV, it also causes severe harm to families and communities.
Violence against women is an invisible and ageless pandemic that impacts the lives of those who experience it but also affects their families and communities.
Physical harm results in injuries, distress and health problems, and may even lead to death in certain cases. Typical forms of physical violence are beating, strangling, pushing, and the use of weapons.
Sexual harm includes unconsented sexual acts, attempts to obtain a sexual act, acts to traffic, or acts otherwise directed against a person’s sexuality without the person’s consent.
Psychological harm includes psychologically abusive behaviours, such as controlling, coercion, economic violence, and blackmail.
Socio economic harm involves the principle of equal treatment of men and women in matters of employment and occupation. The principle of equal treatment between men and women in the access to and supply of goods and services. The principle of equal treatment between men and women engaged in an activity in a self-employed capacity.
In the Federal Capital Territory, scourge of GBV is statistically proved to be high, the Federal Capital Territory’s Mandate Secretary for Women Affairs, Mrs. Adedayo Laniyi, recently during a meeting with some stakeholders ahead of activities for a 16-day Activism against GBV, disclosed that 2,344 cases of gender-based violence have so far been recorded in the FCT in 2023.
She said, “10 days ago, the number of reported cases of GBV in the FCT was less than 2,000, but just in the last count on Wednesday, November 22, 2023, the number surged to 2,344 reported cases.”
She explained that the FCT wanted to use the National Dashboard of GBV to create awareness on the underreporting and state of crisis in the communities and six area councils.
She added, “We are a cosmopolitan and as well as a very interesting indigenous community, and in the palaces of our royal fathers they have cases every day, some are so challenging that even how to bring them to the fore for the police to intervene is often challenging.
“So now, the ingenuity of the Department of the FCT Gender Based Violence Focal Person was to create this engagement and let them see that this is not good enough, that if we trigger consciousness within you, then as mothers in those communities, you will do something.
“For me, it also became a trigger and a clear dashboard for my inaugural assignment.”
In the same vein, National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Person, (NAPTIP), has noted with dismay the rising cases of spousal abuse in the Federal Capital Territory, (FCT) making close to half of the reported cases of abuse and other related cases of violence.
Director General of the Agency, Professor Fatima Waziri-Azia, Said, “In 2022, we received 1, 342 reported cases of violence and abuse through our 24-hour call center and others, and from January to June we have already received 623 reported cases and the highest number of reported cases.
“In 2022, the highest number of reported cases received were on spousal abuse, fast forward to 2023 in six months, the highest number of reports received is still spousal abuse so that tells us that it is a very big problem within the family.
“For the FCT, there is heightened awareness regarding these issues of violence, people are better informed, and they know what is acceptable and what is not within the ambit of the law and the general effect of all of this is the increased reportage of cases of violence.
“This generally does not mean an increase in crime, but it signifies an increase in public trust in NAPTIP as an institution and that bad behaviour is no longer tolerated.
According to her, “The retreat is to create a platform for prosecutors and judges to share unique experiences in the trial and prosecution of sexual and gender-based violence. I hope all the prosecuting counsels here will take advantage of this privileged opportunity to listen and learn from my Lords on how to carry on in the courtroom.
“In 2022 we secured four convictions in the FCT and a landmark conviction, one in Sokoto of rape and the other in Sokoto where the perpetrator bagged 21 years imprisonment without the option of fine.”
The Minister of Women Affairs, Uju Kennedy-Ohaneye, at a recent briefing in Abuja said, “If we have a mobile court, it will help as we go for our advocacy against SGBV. We have been advocating, and spending money, to no avail.
She disclosed that the reforms targets, “When victims report, police will come in for arrest, we will take the victim straight to the hospital to confirm and then the mobile courts come in to ensure justice is served.”
Just like government agencies, non-governmental organization like the Open Society Initiative for West Africa (OSIWA) and Gender Strategy Advancement International (GSAi) should hailed for consistently fighting against gender-based violence against women.
The chief operating officer at Facebook and former Google executive, Sandberg in her book ‘Lean In’ celebrated as a feminist manifesto, shares her own experiences as well as those of other women in high corporate positions, encouraging women to “lean in” and claim their seat at the table. Instead of simply bemoaning the current state of affairs, she gives concrete advice on how women can break the limiting patterns they face in the working world.
According to her: “Don’t check out of your career early just because you’re planning to have kids, find a partner who is willing to support your career, forget the unrealistic concept of “having it all,” and start taking more risks. Both men and women will find invaluable lessons in leadership that will help you maneuver your future career.”
A chieftain of the opposition party, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Daniel Bwala, on Wednesday, said he is committed to supporting the administration of President Bola Tinubu, even if that requires him to defect to the All Progressives Congress.
“I told him today, I am committing to play my part to support your administration, and I have no apologies to anybody,” Bwala told State House correspondents after closed-door talks with the President at the Aso Rock Villa, Abuja.
“APC is a party. President Bola Tinubu is my motivation; if supporting him will take me to APC, so be it,” he stated when asked if he would defect to the APC.
On January 2, 2024, Bwala, a staunch critic of the governing APC and the Tinubu administration, said opposition political parties must form a strong coalition if they would successfully wrestle power from the governing APC in the 2027 general elections.
Bwala, a guest on Channels Television’s Politics Today, said that without a coalition of opposition parties, President Tinubu would spend eight years in office.
“Without a coalition of political parties, Tinubu is going to spend the next eight years. That one is for sure.
“The truth of the matter is that there will be a coalition of political parties that will be very strong. This is a fact that I know.
“The coalition that is coming will swallow some of the elements that are creating the problems in the various political parties,” he said.
He commended the President’s suspension of the Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, Dr Betta Edu, saying, “Some of his (Tinubu’s) Ministers that were allegedly reported to have committed infractions, instead of protecting them, he asked that the law should have its course and suspended somebody without wasting time. That, to me, is impressive because it’s about the people.”
Referring to Tuesday’s announcement of a 60 per cent slash in travel entourages for the Presidency and MDAs, Bwala remarked, “There has been this outcry that the government is bloated. Yesterday, he introduced a policy that reduced the cost of governance and today, he told me it is just the beginning.”
The legal practitioner said the President assured him that more cost-cutting measures are underway to reduce the cost of governance.
“What have we been talking about as citizens is that if you don’t have a personal grudge against someone…if it is a policy issue.
“What I’m saying apart from today that I’m talking here is that you all need to visit my Twitter page. In the last few days, I have been expressing my surprise and appreciation to the President for the decisions he is making. So, this is not about political party. And you need to know that, like I said, I was with him before I left. And I was doggedly committed to him.
“I told him today that I am committing to play my part to support your administration, and I have no apologies to anybody,” he explained.
The Federal Government of Nigeria is earmarking N450bn for power interventions in 2024, as revealed by the budget analysis of the Nigerian Bulk Electricity Trading Company. This substantial allocation, listed under the company’s capital expenditure, highlights the government’s commitment to addressing challenges within the power sector.
The Nigerian Bulk Electricity Trading Company’s total expenditure for 2024 is projected to be N454.81bn, with allocations across various categories. Notably, N2.44bn is allocated for personnel costs, N2.36bn for other recurrent costs, N580m for general travel and transport, N15m for utilities, N110m for materials and supplies, N210.75m for general maintenance services, N34m for other services, N60m for fuel and lubricants, N40m for financial charges, N576m for miscellaneous, and N736.51m for supplementary overhead.
The significant portion of this budget is directed towards the ‘FGN Power Intervention Fund,’ emphasizing the government’s focus on addressing challenges and enhancing the power sector’s performance. This allocation comes in the wake of consistent government interventions over the years to bolster the power sector.
As of May 2022, the Federal Government’s intervention fund to electricity distribution companies had reached N2.9trn, representing the total funding extended to the sector since its privatization in 2013. Previous interventions include the approval of N701bn as Power Assurance Guarantee in 2017 and an additional N600bn announced in 2019.
Despite these financial injections, the power sector has faced challenges, including grid collapses. In response, the House of Representatives, as of October 2023, expressed its intention to probe all financial interventions in the power sector over the past decade, covering investments totaling over $1.25bn.
The Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry, in its New Year statement, emphasized the need to bring private sector investment into the transmission segment of the power sector. This recommendation aims to enhance technical and financial capacity, contributing to a well-functioning sector that can power economic growth.
Following a sluggish performance in 2023, global trade is anticipated to rebound, projecting a growth of 2.3% in 2024, aligning with the anticipated global output expansion, according to the World Bank’s latest Global Economic Prospects report.
In 2023, global trade in goods and services exhibited minimal growth, estimated at 0.2%, marking the slowest expansion outside global recessions in the past 50 years. Goods trade contracted, primarily influenced by declines in key advanced economies and a deceleration in Emerging Market and Developing Economies (EMDEs). This contraction marked the first sustained decline in goods trade outside a global recession in the past two decades.
The report indicates a normalization of trade patterns, with goods trade expected to resume expansion. However, the contribution of services to total trade growth is projected to decrease, reverting to patterns observed before the pandemic. Despite this, the responsiveness of global trade to global output is expected to remain lower than pre-pandemic levels in the near term, attributed to subdued investment growth.
Global tourist arrivals are forecasted to return to pre-pandemic levels in 2024, although recovery may lag in countries where reopening was delayed. The global trade growth forecast for 2024 has been revised down by 0.5 percentage points since June, influenced by weaker-than-expected growth in China and global investment. Consequently, the projected trade recovery for 2021-24 is considered the weakest following a global recession in the past half-century.
The World Bank’s projection aligns with the National Bureau of Statistics’ data on Nigeria’s total trade in the third quarter of 2023, standing at N18,804.29bn. Exports and imports increased significantly compared to the previous quarter and the corresponding quarter in 2022.
Despite the anticipated rebound in global trade, the World Bank notes a slowdown in overall global growth for the third consecutive year, projecting a decrease from 2.6% in the previous year to 2.4% in 2024. Developing economies are expected to grow at 3.9%, over one percentage point below the previous decade’s average, with low-income countries forecasted to grow at 5.5%, slightly weaker than previously expected.
