Operatives of the Nigeria Police Force have arrested protesters expressing their displeasure over the recent increase in petroleum price and electricity tariff .
The protesters were arrested around the Ojuelegba area of Lagos .
Newsmen gathered that apart from the protesters who were arrested , gadgets of journalists were seized .
One of the leaders of the protesters , Hassan Soweto, said 18 persons were arrested , including four journalists .
“ We have just been arrested alongside several members of the Socialist Party of Nigeria and journalists for protesting this morning against fuel price hike , electricity tariff , and deregistration of SPN . I am typing this message at the back of a police van taking us to Area C, Police Command , Lagos , ” Soweto , who is the National Youth Leader of SPN , said .
In a statement , the National Organising Secretary of SPN , Dimeji Macaulay , identified some of those arrested as Dagga Tolar, Ayo Ademiluyi , Chinedu Bosah , Lexan Ali , Fidel Davynovich , Oluwole Engels , Soweto , and eight others.
He said , “We condemn this attack as part of the continuous descent of the country into a brutish state of military repression . It is completely unacceptable , and we enjoin all Nigerians interested in preserving this country’ s hard- earned democracy to condemn this emboldened descent into a civilian – military dictatorship.
“ We demand a public apology from the police for this ridiculous and unprofessional action taking against our comrades , and we ask that proper disciplinary measures be taken on those security officers involved .
“ It’ s important for you to note that Demonstrations and protests are a global phenomenon and are a part of the development of any society. ”
As tertiary institutions reopen next Monday in Lagos State, the state government says final – year students will go back to the classrooms before students on other levels.
Tokunbo Wahab , Special Adviser on Education to Governor Babajide Sanwo- Olu , made this known while featuring on Channels Television ’ s Sunrise Daily programme.
Schools in the country had been shut in March as part of measures to curb the spread of the coronavirus disease .
But the Federal Government announced the resumption of graduating pupils last month to write this year’ s West African Senior School Certificate Examination from August 17 , 2020 , through September 12 , 2020 .
Sanwo- Olu had subsequently announced the reopening of schools in the state starting with tertiary institutions on September 14 , 2020 .
“ I am pleased to announce that our tertiary institutions will be allowed to reopen from September 14 , 2020 , all our tertiary institutions, ” the governor had said , adding that secondary and primary schools would resume a week after .
Speaking , Wahab explained that the government had put in place necessary facilities and processes to ensure a safe reopening of classrooms in the state .
He also emphasised that the students in the state will resume in phases .
The governor’ s aide said , “ Basically, we are at a point where scientifically we ’ ve been proven to have flattened the curve. And it invariably means that we are not as exposed as we used to be some five, four , three months back . So , consequently , we have to find a way to bring our lives back to normal . And in doing that , education is very critical to whatever we are going to do .
“ In the past few weeks , we ’ ve been putting in place measures and facilities that will enable our children come back to school .
“ Even at that , what we seek to do from next week is to start a phased reopening of our tertiary institutions.
“ On the 14 th we have announced that our tertiary institutions are going to open to our students for the first time after six months. ”
Wahab said the students have been having their lectures online all along and “they are going to come on campus to have their revision one – on -one and then they can now have their exams and their projects . ”
Continuing , he said , “ For our tertiary ( institutions) from on the 14 th , we are going to start with the final – year students across our tertiary institutions. With those final – year students , we are sure that they are older , they are more mature , and they are going to meet up with the protocol as put in place by the institutions based on the regulations of the NCDC ( Nigeria Centre for Disease Control ) .
“ After we have phased them out , maybe after their exams , then , those in the penultimate year will come on campus . So , we are not going to put all our students on campus at the same time.
“ For our secondary, from on the 21 st , they are also going to have a phased resumption. ”
The Debt Management Office has released Nigeria ’ s total public debt stock as of June 30 , 2020 , and put the country’ s entire debt at N31 trn , indicating an increase of N2 . 38 trn within a space of three months.
Nigeria ’ s total public debt stock includes the debt stock of the Federal Government, the 36 states , and the Federal Capital Territory.
Just as the country’ s public debt stock , the DMO also released reports on Nigeria ’ s Actual External Debt Service Payments in Second Quarter , 2020 , as well as Nigeria ’ s External Debt Stock as of June 30 , 2020 .
For the country’ s public debt stock as of June 30 , 2020 , the DMO said , “The data shows that in naira terms, the total public debt stock which comprises the debt stock of the Federal Government, the 36 state governments and the FCT stood at N31 . 009 trn or $ 85 . 897bn .
“ The corresponding figures for March 31 , 2020 , were N28 . 628 trn or $ 79 . 303bn . ”
The debt office explained that the increase in the debt stock by N2 . 381 trn or $ 6 . 593 bn was accounted for by the $ 3 . 36 bn budget support loan from the International Monetary Fund , new domestic borrowing to finance the revised 2020 Appropriation Act.
It said this includes the issuance of the N162 . 557 bn Sukuk , and promissory notes issued to settle claims of exporters.
The debt office added , “ The DMO expects the public debt stock to grow as the balance of the new domestic borrowing is raised and expected disbursements are made by the World Bank, African Development Bank and the Islamic Development Bank which were arranged to finance the 2020 Budget .
“ Recall that the 2020 Appropriation Act had to be revised in the face of the adverse and severe impact of COVID- 19 on government ’ s revenues and increased expenditure needs on health and economic stimulus , among others. ”
It stated that additional promissory notes were expected to be issued in the course of the year .
This , it said , and new borrowings by state governments , were also expected to increase the public debt stock .
The Federal Government has directed the Chief Medical Directors and Managing Directors of federal tertiary hospitals to “ immediately” commence the use of consultants and doctors on the National Youth Service Corps to provide routine services.
The government also directed that locum staff should “ be brought in when and where necessary to forestall services ’ disruption when applicable and affordable ”.
The Minister of Health , Dr . Osagie Ehanire , gave the directive in a statement issued in Abuja .
He was reacting to the nationwide strike by the National Association of Resident Doctors over the non -payment of their COVID- 19 hazard allowance and other demands.
He said , “ lt is with deep concern that l view the ongoing strike by the Nigerian Association of Resident Doctors which commenced yesterday ( Tuesday ) September 7 , 2020 .
“ We must remember that the primary duty of doctors and all health workers is to save lives . Embarking on a strike in this time that the country is battling with the COVlD- 19 pandemic is ill -timed and ill- advised.
“ lt is a critical time in which all well -meaning medical professionals should close ranks and confront the common enemy , which is the COVlD- I 9 pandemic threatening mankind .
“ This is therefore one strike too many . Besides , most of the demands have been met and others, though, difficult , are at an advanced stage of implementation . A little patience would have made a big difference .
“ The Federal Ministry of Health finds it necessary to ensure measures are put in place to mitigate the effect of this strike on the generality of our populace by directing the CMDs / MDs of our federal tertiary hospitals to immediately do the following : COVlD- 19 treatment outlets should continue to function as before .
“ Emergency services should continue to run as before . Routine services should be maintained with Consultants , NYSC Doctors. Locum staffers to be brought in when and where necessary to forestall services disruption when applicable and affordable.
“ I call on the NARD to return to work and engage the Federal Government in completing the ongoing due process of implementing the MoU between NARD and government .
“ I wish to assure the general public that measures have been put in place to ensure that they continue to access services at all our federal tertiary hospitals across the country. ”
Students , workers , and civil society groups hit the streets of Ibadan , the Oyo State capital , to express displeasure at the hike in the price of petrol as well as the increase of electricity tariff .
The protesters , who carried placards with different inscriptions to convey their disapproval , while chanting anti -government songs , gathered at the Awolowo Junction area of the state capital .
The protesters condemned the policies of the regime of the President , Major General Muhammadu Buhari (retd . ) , describing the recent increment in the prices of electricity and fuel as wicked and one that lacked sound judgment .
The Chairman , Joint Campus Committee of the National Association of Nigerian Students , Mayowa Opakunle , told newsmen that students in the state totally reject the increases .
Opakunle said , “We are out on the streets to register our grievances and show our displeasure at the wicked policies and unjust treatment of Nigerians by the Federal Government.
“ We say no to fuel price hike and electricity tariff increment at this period when many people have lost their jobs, many have not even been paid salaries for the past six months.
“ Prices of food , other goods and services have continued to increase while salaries are either being slashed into half for so many while others don ’ t even get at all.
“ But despite these hardships , the government has continued to increase prices of commodities . The consistent show of ineptitude and cluelessness on the part of the President and his cabinet is worrisome . ”
In the same vein, students under the aegis of the National Association of Nigeria Students staged a protest in Osogbo , Osun State capital , against the recent increase in pump price and electricity tariff .
Some of the protesters put on the orange # RevolutionNow Movement beret .
They took off from Freedom Park , Osogbo , and moved through MDS road to Olaiya Junction , chanting anti -government songs .
The President , Major General Muhammadu Buhari (retd . ) , says it will be “ grossly irresponsible” to borrow to subsidise electricity tariff amid the economic crunch caused by the lockdown occasioned by the COVID- 19 pandemic .
He also said no provision was made for fuel subsidy in the Revised 2020 Budget , noting that about N1 . 7 trn has been spent on tariff shortfalls to support the electricity sector since its privatisation .
The increases in fuel price and electricity tariff have sparked outrage of late with the Trade Union Congress and 79 other civil society organisations and labour unions set to hold nationwide protests this week.
The President , who spoke during his second – term First Year Ministerial Performance Review Retreat in Abuja, noted that under the new arrangement , only customers who get electricity for 12 hours and above per day would have their tariff increased .
Buhari had won his re- election in 2019 after defeating the opposition Peoples Democratic Party ’ s candidate , Atiku Abubakar , with about four million votes in the February 23 poll.
He had on August 21 , 2019 , constituted his second – term cabinet and had in August 2020 while marking one year since the inauguration of the cabinet listed 35 policies, programmes and projects as his second – term achievements.
The First Year Ministerial Performance Review Retreat focuses on examining the performance of the ministers and other officials in the President ’ s cabinet .
Buhari , who is attending the 57 th Ordinary Session of the Economic Community of West African States Authority of Heads of State and Government in Niger , was represented at the retreat by Vice President Yemi Osinbajo.
The PUNCH had earlier reported that some loans obtained by the Federal Government have been the subject of controversy of late .
Speaking, the President said the government revenue had shrunk by 60 per cent due to the COVID- 19 pandemic but the government was not considering borrowing to fund subsidy for electricity and petrol .
He said , “ The COVID – 19 has led to a severe downturn in the funds available to finance our budget and has severely hampered our capacity . One of the steps we took at the beginning of the crisis in March when oil prices collapsed at the height of the global lockdown was the deregulation of the price of premium motor spirit such that the benefit of the lower prices at the time was passed on to consumers .
“ The effect of the deregulation is that pump prices of petrol will change with the changes in global oil prices . This means quite regrettably that as oil prices go higher , we could see some increases in pump price. This is what has happened now when global prices rose, it meant that the prices of petrol locally will also go up .
“ There are several negative consequences if the government should go back to the business of fixing or subsidising petroleum or PMS prices .
“ First of all, it will mean a return to the costly subsidy regime . Today , as we ’ ve heard , we have 60 per cent less revenue . We simply cannot afford the cost.
“ The second danger is the potential return of fuel queues which has thankfully become a thing of the past. Nigerians no longer have to endure long queues just to buy petrol often at highly inflated prices .
“ Also , there is no provision for fuel subsidy in the Revised 2020 Budget simply because we are not able to afford such a cost.
“ If reasonable provision must be made for health , education , and other social services , we simply cannot sustain petroleum subsidies. ”
Furthermore, the President said , “The recent service – based tariff adjustment by the discos has also been a source of concern to many of us . Let me say frankly like many Nigerians , I have been very unhappy with the service by many of the discos . But there are many constraints including poor transmission and distribution capacities . I ’ ve already signed off the first phase of the Siemens Project to address many of these issues.
“ Because of the problems of the privatisation exercise , the government has had to keep supporting the largely privatised electricity industry . So far , to keep the industry going , we have spent close to N1 . 7 trn especially by way of supplementing tariff shortfalls . We simply do not have the resources at this time to continue in this way . And it will be grossly irresponsible to borrow to subsidise generation and distribution which are both privatised . ”
The General Overseer of the Redeemed Christian Church of God , Pastor Enoch Adeboye , has said that people who are above 70 years needed to check their salvation if they were still afraid of death.
Adeboye said this at the first Sunday Thanksgiving of the RCCG new year calendar, held at the headquarters in Lagos .
“ Because of the COVID- 19 pandemic , old people were advised to stay at home and not come to church which is good advice .
“ But if you are over 70 years of age and you are still afraid of death, then you should check your salvation, ” he said .
Adeboye added that the God would turn down coronavirus , adding that no virus would come near the children of God .
“ God will give us total victory on any virus . The Lord who has kept us to see September will keep us to see the new year , ” he prayed .
“ When we remember some people we grew up with are dead , some are in prison, sick , and we are still alive , then we should have reasons to praise the Lord .
The Federal Government says it spent N30 . 5 billion on efforts to curtail COVID- 19 between April and July this year .
The Accountant General of the Federation , Ahmed Idris, who disclosed this , said the amount represented 84 per cent of the N36 . 3 bn public funds and donations received by the Federal Government to tackle the pandemic.
He said there was a balance of N5 . 9 billion .
Idris said this in response to a Freedom of Information request jointly made by Socio- Economic Rights and Accountability Project; and Connected Development .
SERAP’ s Deputy Director , Kolawole Oludare , said in a statement that Idris , in his undated response , also indicated that “ the Presidential Task Force on COVID- 19 spent N22 billion ; while 36 states spent N7 billion on COVID- 19 . ”
Idris , according to the statement , added that the Nigerian Air Force spent N877 million on the deployment of assets in support of COVID- 19 operations ; the police spent N500 million on personal protective equipment ; while N17 , 865 . 09 was paid as bank charges .
The Africa Cup of Nations trophy retained has reportedly been “ stolen ” from the Egyptian Football Association headquarters in Cairo .
The Egyptian Football Federation confirmed to Goal that the trophy won by the Pharaohs three times in a row has been lost .
Ex- Egyptian Football Association vice -president Ahmed Shobeir earlier revealed that the trophy was discovered missing during preparations to build a museum to house all of the silverware won by the North African nation.
“ Officials of the committee which meets every five years and currently manages the Football Association were surprised that the trophy was not available , in light of their desire to create a museum at the federation headquarters , which would feature the trophy and the national team’ s kits , ” Shobeir said on the ‘ On Time Sports ’ TV show.
“ However , [ they ] were surprised to find that the Afcon trophy was lost , and decided to open an investigation . ”
It was initially claimed that former captain Ahmed Hassan – who skippered the team to success at the biennial tournament in 2006 , 2008 , and 2010 – was in possession of the trophy, although he subsequently denied the claim .
“ The committee searched for the trophy, but then an employee told them that Ahmed Hassan , the former captain of the Egyptian national team, who won the cup three times in a row , has kept it, ” Shobeir added .
Later , ex – Egypt midfielder Abdelghani clarified in a press conference that the trophy had been lost in a fire seven years ago .
“ After the burning of the Football Association headquarters , some cups were lost , and the matter was investigated , ” the former FA member began , “ including the Africa Cup of Nations that we retained .
“ Some said that the cup had been with Shawky Gharib , the former general coach of the Egypt national team, and some say it had been with Hassan , the former captain of the Pharaohs. ”
“ I wish I had kept the cup in my house instead of it being lost , ” he posted on his @ AhmedHassan Twitter handle , “ and I am surprised that I ’ m being questioned about the cup after nine years , despite the presence of two FA boards , and the five- year committee for a year and two months… but they’ re only now looking for the cup !
“ One of the members of the five- year committee contacted me and told me that they would put a picture of me with the African Nations Cup on the wall inside the federation, ” Hassan continued, “and he asked me about the cup .
“ I told him that I had delivered it back in 2011 , and he said to me: ‘ I wish you had not handed it over , as the cup is not at the association now. ‘”
The Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria , Enugu depot , has warned that petrol may cost more in the South – East .
Anyaso said that petrol might be sold for N170 in the South- East because of the cost of delivering the products at the stations in the zone .
Anyaso said that the depot had been lying moribund since 2005 .
He was reacting to the increase in the pump price of petrol and the challenges faced by marketers in the zone .
He said the depot was strategic to the national economy , adding that it was serving Anambra , Ebonyi, Enugu , parts of Imo , Abia , Cross River and North – Central , including Benue State .
The IPMAN chief described the cost of transporting products from Lagos , Warri , Benin , Calabar and other locations as huge .
According to him , marketers do not get their equalisation fund as and when due .
He said that marketers in the zone were incurring huge losses due to incessant road crashes and spill involving their trucks as a result of the poor state of the roads .
“ We want to use this opportunity to renew our appeal to the federal government to repair the Emene depot in Enugu so that our members can start loading products from here .
“ This depot has been shut down for over 15 years due to what they called pipeline vandalism .
“ Our members are suffering and the people of the South – East and other areas that source products from the depot are suffering .
It said this is because the Federal Government failed to reactivate the Emene depot .
The Chairman of Enugu depot of the association , Mr Chinedu Anyaso , disclosed this in an interview with newsmen in Awka.
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