Nigerians Will Need 2-Week Public Holiday To Recover After Buhari – Ndi Kato

 Ndi Kato, one of the spokespersons for the presidential candidate of the Labour Party, LP, has said that Nigerians would need at least two weeks public holiday to recover from the President Muhammadu Buhari-led government when his tenure might have ended, IGBERETV reports.

Taking to her Twitter handle, Kato wrote;

“When Buhari steps down from power, we need at least a 2-week public holiday so that we can recuperate.

“Nigerians, we have really suffered.”

2023: Timi Frank Warns Buhari, INEC Against Poll Shift

 Former Deputy National Publicity Secretary of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Comrade Timi Frank, on Sunday, advised President Muhammadu Buhari not to contemplate or accept any recommendation to shift the forthcoming polls.

Frank who made this plea in a statement in Abuja, also called on the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), not to add to the current harrowing experience of Nigerians by shifting the polls.

He said the call became necessary following clandestine efforts by the APC and its 2023 Presidential candidate, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, to have the elections postponed because of imminent failure staring at them in the face as February 25, 2023 approaches.

He accused Tinubu of having allegedly mobilized the media and Civil Society Organizations in the 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory with huge sums to begin editorial campaigns and protests respectively to call for the postponement of the presidential elections using the excuse of fuel and Naira scarcity.

Frank, who is the United Liberation Movement for West Papua (ULMWP) Ambassador to East Africa and Middle East, called on Buhari not to succumb to the blackmail of APC and Tinubu who are presently using the APC Governors to prevail on him to shift the polls just like they pressurized him to make Tinubu to emerge as the Presidential candidate of the party.

He insisted that the only legacy Buhari will leave for Nigeria is to keep to his promise to conduct a free, fair, credible and transparent 2023 general elections notwithstanding the efforts being made by Tinubu through the APC governors to make him do otherwise.

He reminded Buhari that already, Tinubu has openly campaigned that the APC Government had failed saying that it is only by insisting on the conduct of free, fair and credible elections that will redeem his image.

He said that Tinubu and APC are seeking postponement of the elections to enable them perfect their rigging strategies ahead of the elections just like they did in 2019.

Frank said: “Buhari has promised Nigerians and the world to bequeath free, fair and credible as his legacy. He must not allow the APC Governors and the behest of Tinubu to sway him to do otherwise.

“You need to prove Tinubu wrong that your government has not failed by making sure the forthcoming general election is free, fair and credible.

“The international community is waiting to see if you will keep to your promise or you deceived them with your promise to ensure holistic electoral reforms in the country.

“Nigerians are ready to go to the polls to correct the evil policies of an uncaring administration as Tinubu has confirmed in order to free themselves from hardship deliberately inflicted on them through clueless leadership.

“This is a better time to hold this election to enable Nigerians to choose whether to remain in Egypt with APC’s Pharaoh or to cross over to the promised land with the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).”

He called on INEC to resist any overtures to postpone the elections. He said do so would be resisted by Nigerians who are already fed up with the present administration and are waiting to take them out of office with their Permanent Voter Card (PVC).

Tiwa Savage Celebrates Her 43rd Birthday Today

 Tiwa Savage Listen (born 5 February 1980) is a Nigerian singer-songwriter and performing artist. Born in Isale Eko, she relocated to London at the age of 11 for her secondary education. Five years later, she began her music career doing backup vocals for artists such as George Michael and Mary J. Blige. After participating in the UK edition of The X Factor and graduating from Berklee College of Music, Savage signed a publishing deal with Sony/ATV Music Publishing in 2009. Inspired by the growth of the Nigerian music industry, Savage moved back to Nigeria and signed with Mavin Records in 2012. She made an appearance on the label's 2012 compilation album Solar Plexus.

Her debut studio album Once Upon a Time was released on the 3rd of July 2013. It was supported by seven singles: "Kele Kele Love", "Love Me (3x)", "Without My Heart", "Ife Wa Gbona", "Folarin", "Olorun Mi" and "Eminado". The album was nominated for Best Album of the Year at the 2014 Nigeria Entertainment Awards and for Best R&B/Pop Album at The Headies 2014. Savage's second studio album R.E.D was released on 19 December 2015. It yielded two singles: "My Darlin" and "Standing Ovation". In June 2016, Savage signed a management and publishing deal with Roc Nation. In September 2017, she released her debut EP Sugarcane. R.E.D and Sugarcane have both been nominated for Best Album at the Nigeria Entertainment Awards.

In November 2018, Savage won Best African Act at the 2018 MTV Europe Music Awards, becoming the first woman to win the category. In May 2019, she announced her record deal with Universal Music Group and exit from Mavin Records. Savage sings in English and Yoruba; her music is a blend of Afrobeats, R&B, pop and hip-hop. Savage's contributions to the Nigerian music industry have earned her several achievements. She has been involved in youth empowerment and breast cancer screening projects and has raised funds to build schools in Nigeria.

Personal life

Savage was married to Tunji "Tee Billz" Balogun. On 23 November 2013, the couple held their traditional marriage at the Ark in Lekki. The couple's white wedding was held on 26 April 2014 at the Armani Hotel in Dubai. On 1 January 2015, Savage and Balogun announced that they were expecting their first child together. Six months later, Savage gave birth to their son. On 28 April 2016, Balogun accused his wife of infidelity and his mother-in-law of witchcraft. In a 45-minute interview conducted by This Day newspaper and Pulse Nigeria, Savage extensively addressed her husband's lengthy social media posts regarding their marriage. She debunked her husband's infidelity claims and accused him of financial recklessness, drug addiction and abandonment. She said her marriage to him was over.

On 19 July 2021, Savage lost her father to an undisclosed illness.

Terrorists Mock Emefiele, They Have Surplus New Naira Notes - Sheikh Gumi

 Islamic Terrorists are mocking the Central Bank Governor Mr. Godwin Emefiele because they already have surplus new Naira notes in their possession while the people suffer - Sheikh Gumi

Controversial Islamic cleric, Sheikh Ahmad Gumi, has said that the plan by the Central Bank of Nigeria to curb kidnapping in the country through the redesign of the N200, N500, and N1,000 notes is not effective as terrorists already have access to the new notes.

Gumi noted that the terrorists were “people who have grievances and also like to improve their image” adding that citing terrorism as the reason for naira redesign would not bring any results.

Speaking in an interview with PUNCH on Saturday, the cleric said the terrorists had mocked Emefiele by the viral video of them displaying the new notes.

He said, “I was one of the people that said it (the CBN initial deadline) was not feasible and I envisaged that it was going to be removed. The government has programmes but in executing the programmes, it is very clumsy; it’s not well thought out. I heard an economist saying that when you have three great events in the same year using the same resources, one has to give way. You cannot over-task your donkey, else, it will collapse.

“An upheaval would have come (if CBN didn’t extend the deadline). Look at how popular Buhari was in Kano and suddenly, people in Kano were turning against him. It is really sad to see that. In Sudan, a mere increase in the price of bread caused the fall of the government because the people depend on it. There is despair among people; they will turn against you, so you don’t take people for granted.

Speaking on the video of terrorists displaying the new notes, he said “These (terrorists) are people who have grievances and also like to improve their image. The CBN governor mentioned that the reason for changing the notes was to deprive terrorists (of money). They (terrorists) hear him and say, “Here is your money with us”. They can catch (kidnap) people and collect new ones (naira notes) and even demand something else like foreign currency. So, citing terrorism as the reason for this draconian rule in a democratic nation is negative; it will not bring any good results. It (the display of new notes by the terrorist) is a show of mockery.

“First, those in the almajiri system are not involved in criminality, banditry, or Boko Haram because they (pupils) are already under the tutelage of a leader they respect, though they can be engaged in other forms of crime like thuggery. So, no child should be left behind in Nigeria. Every government should make sure education is well-taken care of.

“The economy is very important. The person (new President) should improve the economy. Once the economy is improved, a lot of these problems will go down naturally. Another thing is employment. Job creation is a very important programme any government should embrace. Security should be improved too. There is a lot of corruption in our security (agencies) which should be flushed out. They know how to bring out the moles. They just need to be proactive.”

Your Husband Is Not Your Friend, He Is Your Lord — Nigerian Man Tells Women

 

A Nigerian businessman, Darlington Onyelike, has advised women not to let social media deceive them into believing that there is equality in marriage, IGBERETV reports.

Onyelike, who stated this in a post on Tuesday, January 31, also told married women that their husbands are not their friends but their lord. 

He wrote on Facebook;

"There is no equality in marriage, stop confusing yourself, there are no two heads in a home, just one and that is your husband. Your husband is the head of the family just like God is the head of the church. 

Your Husband is not your friend, he is your Lord (1 Peter 3:6). Majority of those that claimed to have married their friend have divorced the marriages. And there is no way your husband can give you 24hours attention, wont he go to work and make money for the family? that means he Will stay with you from morning till night? It's not possible, let's stop deceiving ourselves on social media. Even a jobless man can never give a woman 24hours attention."

Villa Elements: Lai Mohammed Knows Those I’m Referring To – El-rufai Spills

 The Governor of Kaduna State, Nasir El-Rufai has accused the Minister of Information and Culture, Lai Mohammed, of knowing the individual elements in the Villa that are working against the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC’s victory in the 2023 presidential election.

Recall that El-Rufai had earlier on Wednesday, alleged that some persons in the presidential Villa were working towards the failure of the party.

Responding to him, the Information Minister while addressing the state house correspondents after the Federal Executive Council, FEC, meeting on Wednesday, noted that the Presidency is not aware of those in its fold working against the APC.

The Governor, however, on Thursday, in an interview on Arise TV, insisted that even Lai Mohammed knows the individuals he is referring to in the Villa.

He said, ”Let me restate exactly what I said. What I said was that we are convinced that there are elements in the Villa that want APC to lose the elections, I did not say the Federal government. I did not say Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu. I said APC. So I don’t understand why the Federal government is responding to what I said because the Federal government is not part of it. I referred to elements in the Villa, and with the greatest respect, even Lai Mohammed knows who I am referring to.”

N195 Enforcement: Fuel Marketers Plan Shutdown Monday

 Independent marketers of Premium Motor Spirit, popularly called petrol, are getting set to shut down operations beginning from Monday once the government starts the enforcement of N195/litre pump price.

It was gathered on Saturday that the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited, Major Oil Marketers Association of Nigeria, Depot and Petroleum Products Marketers Association of Nigeria, Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria, security agencies and the downstream regulator had all agreed that petrol be sold at N195/litre.

Oil marketers said the agreement was reached at a meeting in Abuja on Tuesday, as participants resolved that beginning from Monday, February 6, 2023, the pump price of petrol should not exceed N195/litre, a development which dealers, particularly independent marketers, described as tough due to the high ex-depot price of the commodity.

They told our correspondent that to avoid having their outlets sanctioned, many filling stations operated by independent marketers would be shut from Monday as it made no business sense to sell a product lower than the cost price.


This is likely to further prolong the petrol scarcity and queues in many parts of the country as independent marketers control about 80 per cent of filling stations nationwide.

IPMAN’s National President, Debo Ahmed, told our correspondent that the approved ex-depot price of petrol was recently raised from N148/litre by the NNPCL to N172/litre, but depots hardly dispense the commodity at this cost.

Ahmed, who was reacting to the notice to members issued by the Public Relations Officer, IPMAN Ibadan Depot branch, Mojeed Adesope, stated that marketers were advised to sell the product in stock now before the enforcement begins on Monday.

In the memo, which was sighted on Saturday, Adesope said, “The top management of NNPC, other relevant authorities in the downstream sector of the economy as well as all the security agents in the country met at on Tuesday, January 31, 2023 to begin the enforcement of pump price of PMS at N195/litre at all the filling stations across the country with Immediate effect.

“Towards that end, enforcement will commence effective from Monday, February 6, 2023 to enable you to dispose of all your remaining stock on or before the enforcement date.

“Members are hereby implored not to purchase products that they would not be able to dispense at N195/litre. The above information should be given wider spread/circulation in order not to get any member caught unawares. You are strongly advised to heed this information.”

Commenting on this, the national president of IPMAN said the information was in order as he urged other independent marketers to take note.

Ahmed stated, “The information is in order, because the depots that the NNPC gives products to are selling at a higher price, and IPMAN members will not like to leave their stations idle. And to avoid sanctions, it is better to close your station.

“So what is going to happen in essence is that marketers have to buy products using the NNPCL loading tickets, and if they don’t have the tickets, all they have to do is to close down their stations. You have to buy from the NNPCL in order to sell at the government regulated price.”

He said the NNPCL was the only importer and it often gave the product to DAPPMAN to sell to IPMAN members at a regulated rate.


Ahmed added, “They also give the product to MOMAN to sell through the stations of major marketers, but DAPPMAN has to sell to independent marketers because independent marketers do not have depots.

“The 21 NNPCL depots across the country that we rely on before now are all moribund and not working. So right now, we depend on DAPPMAN depots to get our products at the price approved by the NNPCL.

“But most times, DAPPMAN would increase their price and when you buy from them at such a high price, there is no way you are going to sell at a lower price. So, that memo is telling marketers that if they cannot get the NNPCL product to buy at the controlled price, they better not sell to avoid having their stations sealed.”

When asked for the approved price that the government, through the NNPCL, had asked depot owners to sell, Ahmed replied, “In fact, there is a lot of confusion.

“As of today, we are supposed to buy at N172/litre from the NNPCL designated depots run by DAPPMAN. But if you get there at times, you don’t buy at that price; rather, you buy at higher rates.

“Before it was N148/litre, but all of a sudden, the NNPCL just did what it did and increased the price to N172/litre, which was why they said the retail price should now be N185/litre.”

He explained that the N172 ex-depot price was without the cost of conveying petrol to wherever the marketer was taking the product to.

“If you are taking it further than 400 kilometres from the place of purchase, you are going to get the bridging claims or price equalisation. But if you are taking it within 120 kilometres or around that distance, you will get some little allowance to make you sell at a controlled price.

“But, the truth is that we don’t get the product at the controlled price of N172, which is why you see a lot of areas where they sell at higher prices.

“However, for MOMAN, because they get it at the controlled price, they take it from their depots to their stations and sell it at lower prices compared to independent marketers. Mind you, independent marketers control about 80 per cent of retail outlets in Nigeria.”

In Lagos, most of the outlets that sold the product on Saturday had long queues of desperate motorists, with some selling for between N280 and N350 per litre.

A similar situation was prevalent in Ogun State, where motorists struggled to get petrol from the few filling stations that had the product. Some stations on the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway sold the product for between N320 and N380 per litre.


A commercial motorist, Idris Adewale, said he had banked on getting petrol at the Nipco filling station at Magboro for N195 per litre, but was disappointed to discover that the station was under lock and key. He also claimed that the Rainoil station at Ibafo did not sell the product and he only succeeded in filling his vehicle’s tank before the Sagamu interchange for N340 per litre.

A desperate motorist, Nnamdi Goodman, claimed to have bought 10 litres for N7,000 on Airport Road in Lagos on Saturday.

“The situation is very serious now. [s]I bought 10 litres of petrol from a black marketer on the Airport Road in Lagos on Saturday morning. That’s N700 per litre! I don’t think I can keep going like this, otherwise I will spend all my salary and savings on fuel alone,” he lamented.[/s][/i]

In the Federal Capital Territory, many filling stations belonging to independent marketers were shut on Saturday due to lack of products to dispense, while the few ones that sold petrol dispensed it above N195/litre.

At the Khalif Civic Oil & Investment Limited filling station located in Kubwa, a suburb of Abuja, petrol was dispensed at N300/litre, while many others in obscure locations in the capital city sold above N300.

However, the few outlets of the major oil marketers and the NNPCL that sold petrol on Saturday dispensed it at the approved N195/litre pump price. But many mega stations were not open for business due to lack of products to sell.

Eterna, Gegu Oil, Sunset Energy and MRS, among others, located on the Kubwa-Zuba Expressway, were not selling the product.

Also, Major Oil filling station on Airport Road, and the NNPC filling station on Arab Road, Kubwa, did not dispense the product as they were all shut.

However, the queues in the few outlets such as Salbas around Zuba, and Conoil in the Central Business District were not too long as the preceding day due to the fact that most residents stayed indoors for the weekend.

On Thursday, the Chief Executive, Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority, Farouk Ahmed, and the Group Chief Executive Officer, NNPC Limited, Mele Kyari, disclosed that several measures were being taken to enforce the approved price of petrol and to stop the diversion of the product.

The NMDPRA boss, while speaking on sanctions against downstream operators who flouted the approved regulations, stated that over 270 filling stations and seven depots had been closed down.

“On top of shutting the depots, we also shut down over 270 retail outlets. We are doing our work and this has brought some respite in some areas,” Ahmed stated.

On his part, Kyari said the Federal Government was now deploying operatives of the Department of State Services to monitor tankers conveying petrol to filling stations in order to halt the diversion and smuggling of the product.

He stated that already, [i]over 120 DSS officers had been deployed to follow fuel tankers to the various retail outlets in Abuja, as more security agencies were being drafted for the exercise for nationwide coverage.

“So much is going on; there are government security interventions. I know the kind of work that we do with the security agencies; for instance, in Abuja alone, we have over 120 DSS officers following every truck to fuel stations and we are activating this across the country,” Kyari said.

Meanwhile, the Chairman, IPMAN, Enugu Depot Community in charge of Anambra, Ebonyi and Enugu states, Mr Chinedu Anyaso, has said the prevailing shortage in the supply of PMS in the South-East may not end soon because of the challenges facing marketers in procuring the product.


He said this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria in Awka on Saturday.

NAN reports that petrol now sells for between N400 and N450 per litre and between N500 and N600 in the black market in Awka, Anambra State.

As of Saturday, most filling stations in the city were closed for lack of petrol, while the few that had the product were selling at very high prices with long queues of motorists.

Anyaso said the quantity of the product coming to the South-East had reduced by more than 50 per cent compared to the supply in normal time.

According to him, at the moment, nothing suggests the easing of the problems as some of the marketers have yet to get supplies they paid for over a month ago, except the Federal Government takes a drastic action to flood the country with the product.

Anyaso stated, “Our members, who got NNPC allocation last year, paid for the product since December, up till now they have not received their supply; rather, they asked them to pay additional money for which most of them made overdraft of between N1.4m and N1.6m.

“As you can see, most filling stations in the zone have shut down because they can no longer source petrol normally, those that have, pay through their nose to get it; that is why there are abnormal rates because they have to recover their cost and make some profits.

“It is impossible for the authorities to enforce price now; our people are making extra effort to ensure that we have the product to buy even if it is expensive.”

Anyaso said in addition to the hardship the people were facing as a result of scarcity and high prices, thousands of workers stood to lose their jobs if the problems persisted as no marketer would continue to pay workers when they were not in business.