Nelson Ugwuagbo

Aliko Dangote, the chairman and President of Dangote group has asked the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation Limited (NNPCL) to buy out his Dangote Refinery after allegations of him been a Monopolist.

This is coming after the Chief Executive Officer of Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority, Farouk Ahmed, made claims that the Dangote refinery had requested the regulator to stop giving import licences to other marketers to be the only fuel supplier in Nigeria. In a video interview with State House correspondents, Ahmed stated that. “We cannot rely heavily on one refinery to feed the nation, because Dangote is requesting that we should suspend or stop importation of all petroleum products, especially AGO and direct all marketers to the refinery, that is not good for the nation in terms of energy security. And that is not good for the market, because of monopoly.”

Dangote in his defence said that, if his Refinery is bought out by the NNPCL, then allegations of him been a Monopolist would no longer be valid.

“Let them (NNPCL) buy me out and run the refinery the best way they can. They have labelled me a monopolist. That’s an incorrect and unfair allegation, but it’s OK. If they buy me out, at least, their so-called monopolist would be out of the way”.

“We have been facing fuel crisis since the 70s. This refinery can help in resolving the problem but it does appear some people are uncomfortable that I am in the picture. So I am ready to let go, let the NNPC buy me out, run the refinery”, Dangote said.

Dangote also revealed to Reporters that the challenges his refinery is currently facing have validated the warnings of his friends and associates, who advised him to exercise caution when investing billions of dollars in the Nigerian economy.

“As you probably know, I am 67 years old, in less than three years, I will be 70. I need very little to live the rest of my life. I can’t take the refinery or any other property or asset to my grave. Everything I do is in the interest of my country.

“This refinery can help in resolving the problem but it does appear some people are uncomfortable that I am in the picture. So I am ready to let go, let the NNPC buy me out, run the refinery. At least the country will have high-quality products and create jobs,” he said.

Elon Musk’s X, formerly Twitter, has updated its rules to officially allow adult and graphic content on the platform.

Adult content and nudity has been present on Twitter for years and — unlike Facebook or Instagram — was never explicitly banned even before Musk’s takeover in late 2022.

The new guidelines, first reported by Tech Crunch on Monday, explicitly permit users to share adult content “as long as it is consensually produced and distributed adult nudity or sexual behavior.”

X updated the guidelines over the weekend, stating that “sexual expression, visual or written, can be a legitimate form of artistic expression.”

Under the new policy, posting adult content is formally within the rules as long as it is labeled and not prominently displayed, such as in profile pictures or account banners.

Accounts that regularly post adult content will be required to automatically mark their image and video posts as sensitive content.

Adult content will also be prohibited for users identified as children or adult users who choose not to view it.

The policy extends to AI-generated content, animations, cartoons, hentai and anime.

X’s safety team tweeted the new guidelines would “bring more clarity to our rules and transparency into enforcement of these areas.”

Since acquiring Twitter in 2022 with the stated intention of promoting free speech, Musk has faced criticism for slashing content moderation teams.

Under his ownership, the platform has also experienced technical issues and reinstated accounts of right-wing conspiracy theorists and former US President Donald Trump.

Musk also aims to expand X’s revenue base beyond advertising and transform it into a “super app” similar to China’s WeChat, which integrates messaging, voice and video calling, social media, mobile payments and online booking services.

In a bid to stop the ongoing strike by organized labour, the Federal Government, through the National Salaries Wages and Income Commission, has extended an invitation to the leaders of the Nigeria Labour Congress and Trade Union Congress.

However, it is not yet clear if the Labour leaders will attend the meeting.

LeadingReporters gathered that some unions have shut their workplaces to comply with the directive of the two labour unions to embark on an indefinite nationwide strike.

On Friday, organised labour announced that they will be commencing a nationwide indefinite strike due to the refusal of the Federal Government to increase the proposed minimum wage from N60,000.

According to the President of the Nigeria Labour Congress, Joe Ajaero, the strike will begin at midnight on Sunday, June 2, 2024.

In a joint statement delivered by Ajaero and his Trade Union Congress counterpart, Festus Osifo, they expressed their serious concerns and disappointment over the Federal Government’s failure to finalise and pass a new National Minimum Wage Act into law.

They also demanded that the government reverse the increase in electricity tariff to N65/kWh.

Recall that both unions had given an ultimatum of May 31, 2024, for negotiations on the new minimum wage.

However, talks between organised labour and the Federal Government broke down on Tuesday after both parties presented their offers.

The government increased its initial offer of N57,000 by adding N3,000 to make it N60,000. ,

This proposal was rejected by labour during the meeting.

During negotiations at this meeting, labour also lowered their demand from last week’s proposal of N497,000 by removing N3,00 which reduced their new proposal to N494,000.

Abuja-Kaduna Train Services (AKTS) did not operate on Monday, June 3, due to the ongoing strike action announced by the Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC) and Trade Union Congress (TUC).

There was no train movement from either Idu (Abuja) or Rigasa (Kaduna).

The chairman of Abuja Union of Abuja-Kaduna Train Services (AKTS), Comrade Yusuf Kazeem said no train moved in or out of Abuja today.

Kazeem said: “There is total compliance throughout the system as there is no train movement.

“Passengers were not stranded because we sent a message to inform them that there would be no train service.

“Also, most of our tickets are sold online and the portal was not opened for passengers to buy tickets which was an indication that we were not available for service.

“Some passengers called to complain about their inability to buy tickets and we used the opportunity to inform them that we would be embarking on strike, so passengers did not bother to come to the station.”

He added that workers of AKTS also boycotted work on Monday.

“Our staff too did not come to work because they are aware of the strike,” he said.

A Federal High Court in Abuja granted Chioma Okoli a N5 million bail with two sureties of the same amount on Friday, following allegations related to her online comments about Erisco Foods Limited’s tomato paste product.

Okoli is facing charges related to her online remarks about Erisco Foods Limited’s tomato paste, which the police say contravened the Cybercrime Act of 2015.

She was brought before the court by the Inspector-General of Police and indicted on two counts of cybercrime.

More details later…

The Kano State Police Command has urged residents to ignore false information circulating on social media that Alhaji Aminu Bayero, the 15th Emir, would lead the Friday prayers at the Central Mosque.

The Commissioner of Police, Usaini Gumel told the News Agency of Nigeria in a telephone interview on Friday that Bayero will observe his Friday prayers in the mosque within the Nasarawa Palace, where he currently resides.

The commissioner said the police and other state security agencies will provide robust security at the Emir’s Palace, where Emir Muhammad Sanusi II is expected to lead the Jummah prayers.

”The police urges the general public to disregard the false reports and misinformation circulating on social media and go about their activities without fear of molestation or intimidation.

”The police will continue to provide necessary security to ensure that will enable residents observe their Friday congressional prayers peacefully without threats to their lives and property,” he said.

He urged the people to volunteer credible information on the movement of dubious characters for prompt security action in the state.

Kano state governor, Abba Kabir Yusuf on Thursday, May 30, visited the National Security Adviser (NSA), Nuhu Ribadu in Abuja.

This was revealed in a post by the governor on his official X page.

Governor Yusuf shared pictures of his meeting with the National Security Adviser, Malam Nuhu Ribadu, captioned: “I had a fruitful engagement with the National Security Adviser, Malam Nuhu Ribadu, this afternoon in Abuja. – AKY.”

Details shortly…

The Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission, FCCPC, is currently conducting investigations across the country to uncover the reasons for the high cost of food prices in Nigerian markets.

This is to enable the commission to provide suggestions to the federal government on how to address the ongoing food crisis.

The Head of the FCCPC, Lagos Office, Suzzy Onwuka, recently led a team of investigators to engage with marketers and traders’ associations in Lagos State to understand the reasons behind the ongoing increase in food prices.

Similarly, in Rivers State, the FCCPC, under the guidance of its South-South Zonal Coordinator, Uchegbu Chukwuma, also conducted fact-finding sessions with traders’ associations and marketers to identify the factors contributing to the continuous rise in food prices.

In Lagos, the fact-finding investigation at the Mile 12 International Perishable Market and the Oke-Odo Market in Agbado/Oke-Odo LCDA was described by Onwuka as a mission to collect firsthand information from key sources and stakeholders. This included engaging with market union leaders, sellers, and consumers in these significant food markets.

A statement from the FCCPC yesterday, reads: “FCCPC’s surveillance efforts suggest that participants in the food chain and distribution sector, including wholesalers and retailers, are allegedly engaged in conspiracy, price gauging, hoarding and other unfair tactics to restrict or distort competition in the market, restrict the supply of food, manipulate and inflate the price of food indiscriminately.

“These obnoxious, unscrupulous, exploitative practices are illegal under the FCCPA.

“Following this exercise, the commission would develop a concise report of its inquiry and make recommendations to the government in accordance with Section 17(b) of the FCCPA and initiate broad-based policies and review economic activities in Nigeria to identify and address anti-competitive, anti-consumer protection and restrictive practices to make markets more competitive while also ensuring fair pricing for consumers.”

President Bola Tinubu has assented to the National Anthem Bill 2024 reverting to the old national anthem, “Nigeria, we hail thee”.

Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, revealed this on Wednesday at a joint session of the National Assembly marking the Silver Jubilee Of Nigeria’s 4th Republic.

President Bola Tinubu is expected at the joint session.

Akpabio said the sitting is primarily to launch the new national anthem, explaining that the President will not be making a speech because he has to leave to launch the Abuja metro line.

The Senate and the House of Representatives had previously passed the legislation to swap the national anthem from “Arise, O Compatriots” to “Nigeria, We Hail Thee” at separate sittings.

The old anthem, “Nigeria, We Hail Thee”, composed when Nigeria gained independence on October 1, 1960, has replaced the “Arise, O Compatriots” anthem.

Lillian Jean Williams, a British expatriate who lived in Nigeria during its independence, penned the lyrics for “Nigeria, We Hail Thee,” while Frances Berda composed the music. The anthem played a significant role in shaping Nigeria’s national identity and unity during the 1960s and late 1970s.

What are the lyrics to Nigeria We Hail Thee?

Nigeria, we hail thee,
Our own dear native land,
Though tribe and tongue may differ,
In brotherhood, we stand,
Nigerians all, and proud to serve
Our sovereign Motherland.

Our flag shall be a symbol
That truth and justice reign,
In peace or battle honour’d,
And this we count as gain,
To hand on to our children
A banner without stain.

O God of all creation,
Grant this our one request,
Help us to build a nation
Where no man is oppressed,
And so with peace and plenty
Nigeria may be blessed. 

More to follow…