Nelson Ugwuagbo

Barely 24 hours after its closure, the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC) has reopened Sahad Stores, a popular supermarket located in Area 11, Garki District of Abuja.

LeadingReporters gathered that on Saturday that business activities were gradually picking up at the business centre 24 hours after it was sealed on Friday.

Recall that the supermarket was sealed off by an enforcement team of the regulatory ageny for engaging in “misleading pricing and lack of transparency in pricing”.

The FCCPC, in a statement had said investigations revealed that Sahad Stores displayed lower prices on shelves and charged higher prices at checkout points.

The commission said the investigation included all Sahad Stores branches in Abuja, in a bid to ensure a comprehensive understanding of the issues, and implement corrective measures across the entire chain.

According to the agency’s acting executive Vice Chairman, Adamu Abdullahi, the commission had invited members of the supermarket management to defend themselves, but they failed to show up.
 
He said following a mutual understanding and commitment from Sahad Stores to implement transparent pricing practices, “the FCCPC reopened the store on February 16, 2024, at about 7:00 PM.”

“Businesses are expected to display transparent pricing information to empower consumers to make informed purchasing decisions, especially during challenging economic times,” the statement reads.

“The FCCPC remains committed to combating all forms of exploitative or misleading practices that undermine consumer rights.

“The FCCPA protects consumer rights and prohibits deceptive business practices. Section 115 outlines potential penalties for violations, including fines for organisations and imprisonment for directors.

“The FCCPC encourages all businesses to adhere to fair and transparent pricing practices to ensure consumer protection and a healthy market environment.”

The leadership of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has declared a two-day nationwide mass protest for February 27 and 28, 2024, over biting economic hardship being faced by Nigerians.

NLC president, Comrade Joe Ajaero, stated this at the Labour House headquarters of the Labour movement in Abuja, at a press conference on Friday.

He said the decision was made to protest the current hardship being faced by Nigerians.

Details Later…

For the second time in two days, officials from Governor Chukwuma Soludo’s Awka Capital Territory Development Agency (ACTDA) confiscated all newspapers from vendors in Anambra state. 

LeadingReporters gathered that on Thursday, February 15, the officials destroyed all the newspapers and smashed all the PoS machines belonging to the vendors, including their tables and umbrellas. 

The newspapers seized by the agents of the ACTDA, around 10am in Friday include The Nation, The SUN, Punch, Thisday, Vanguard and Guardian.

The officials of ACTDA maintained that the state government does not want any newspaper to be sold again on the streets. 

It was learnt that the vendors in the state were summoned on Friday by the Department of State Service (DSS). 

The DSS summon may not be unconnected to find a resolution to the issue between the vendors and the agency.

However, one of the government officials who spoke with The Nation said: “What they are doing is good. It is to make Anambra look good. But what the people are complaining is the crude way the enforcers are going about it. 

“They don’t have to burn the wares of people who want to make little money to feed their families, destroy bananas of petty traders, smash PoS of people among others.”

 
The Nigerian Association of Road Transport Owners, NARTO, has threatened to stop the lifting of petrol from Monday over high cost of operation.

NARTO National President, Alhaji Yusuf Lawal Othman, who disclosed this in a statement in Abuja, said tanker owners have been recording huge losses due to high cost of operation which is no longer sustainable. 

He explained that members would park their trucks from Monday “because what we spend on operation is more than what we get in total: both in local and bridging”.

He said: “We will have to suspend operations between now and Monday. We cannot continue to operate at a loss. Most people have parked. A lot more are going to park.

“But from the point of view of the association itself, we are going to suspend operations on Monday.”

Othman disclosed that NARTO’s efforts at soliciting the intervention of all the key stakeholders in the Federal Government and industry have not yielded positive results.

“We have written letters up to the level of the Chief of Staff. We have written to the Honourable Minister of State Petroleum Resources (Oil). 

We have written to DG SSS. We have written to the GCEO. We have written to the Authority Chief Executive. We have written to the Major Marketers, yet no response.”

He noted that the N32 Lagos to Abuja freight rate that was implemented while the dollar was N650 is still retained now that dollar is N1,615.

“Everybody is aware that all our consumables in terms of operation are not produced in the country. So, by virtue of the rate of dollars, every consumable has increased. But the freight they are paying us has been the same even during Buhari’s time.So how is that feasible? 

He explained further: “What I mean by local is if you load Lagos, you discharge in Lagos. And bridging is if you load from Lagos, you come to Abuja. Lagos to Lagos, we are paid N120,000.

“AGO alone to distribute fuel within Lagos is N140,000 because it is N1,400 per litre. So, they give you N120,000 and you spend N140,000. How do you want to operate? We are not talking about cost of vehicles, cost of loading, driver’s allowance. That is for local. For bridging Lagos to Abuja, they gave us N32.

“If you have a truck of 40,000 litres, you are talking of N1,280,000-N1,216,000. Less 5% of the amount of N1,280,000 Withholding Tax N64,000. Less 55,000 loading expenses and 15,000 driver allowance. Total expenses N134,000 while balance is N1,146,000. AGO is N1400 for 900 litres, totalling N1,260,000. There is a total loss of N114,000. The diesel that you use from Lagos to Abuja is 900 litres”, he added. 

Governor Babagana Zulum of Borno State has urged citizens of the state to fast and offer special prayers on Monday for divine intervention over the current hardship caused by inflation.

Zulum in his broadcast to the people of the state implored traditional rulers, clerics and citizens to observe a one-day voluntary fast on Monday for peace, prosperity and the development of the state, NAN reports.

“I am deeply troubled by the recent hardships faced by our citizens, particularly the high

“I understand the burden that this places on families and individuals, and I want to assure you that we are taking decisive steps to alleviate this issue.

“Our government is focusing on reviving agriculture in the state, intending to increase food production and reduce our reliance on food palliative.

The governor also expressed my gratitude to security forces and volunteers for the sacrifices they are making to safeguard lives in the state and create a peaceful society for prosperity and development.

He said that his administration was engaged with stakeholders particularly those in the business of essential commodities that include all forms of grains and building materials and had taken far-reaching decisions to mitigate the rising cost of the essential goods.

Less than 24 hours to the primary election of the All Progressives Congress (APC), to elect its flag bearer for the September 21 governorship election in Edo state, a frontline aspirant of the party, Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu, has withdrawn from the race.

He announced his withdrawal on Friday, February 16, in a statement made available to journalists.

The withdrawal notice was addressed to the national chairman of the party, Abdullahi Umar Ganduje, and the Acting State Chairman of the party, Emperor Jarrett Tenebe.

Full text of the withdrawal letter reads: “Few months ago, after extensively interacting with family, friends, political associates, and supporters, I joined the 2024 Edo state gubernatorial race as a result of my passion and commitment to the cause of rescuing Edo state from the current condition of decrepitude.

“I entered the contest as a progressive democrat, with an open mind to keenly contest and accept the result of a process that is fair, credible and transparent. I appreciate the commended the effort made by the National Working Committee (NWC) of the APC to correct the erroneous impression maliciously created by certain persons that some aspirants, including myself had been disqualified from the gubernatorial contest. The NWC constituted the authentic screening committee and all twelve aspirants who purchased and completed the nomination forms were successfully screened and subsequently issued clearance certificates. This step was praise worthy and helped in restoring our integrity in the eyes of the public.

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“Having being cleared to contest, I regrettably wish to announce my withdrawal from the race. Although painful, this decision has become imperative after an exhaustive consultation with my family, friends, political associates and supporters. I make this sacrifice in the interest of the peace and unity that the party desperately requires at both state and national levels.

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“I humbly appeal to the good people of Edo state to accept my decision which I very personal and I promise to be there for them at all times.

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“Thankfully, I acknowledge the fatherly role of President Bola Tinubu, GCFR, as well as the party’s national leadership for the fairness and commitment to the democratic process. Likewise, I remain grateful to the state working committee for their principled stand to allow a level playing field for all aspirants. I am extremely appreciative to my family, friends, supporters, well-wishers, and the extraordinary hardworking men and women of our campaign organization who were prepared to stop at nothing to see me fly the party’s flag. I salute your great works, your steadfastness and courage.

“Finally, as a loyal party man, I wish to pledge that I and my teeming supporters shall support any candidate that emerges in the primary election holding tomorrow.”

A 50 kilograms bag of cement in the Federal Capital Territory has surged to between N10,000 and N15,000.

LeadingReporters gathered that a market survey was conducted on Friday in Gwarimpa, Area 10, Kubwa, Lugbe and Dawaki showed that a 50kg bag of Dangote cement is N10,000 and BUA cement stood at N15,000.

A retailer in Gwarimpa, Yinka Adebayo, said that the price of Dangote cement is N10,000 while that of BUA is N15,000.

He said he sold a bag of cement for N6,000 in January 2023.

“We sell Dangote cement at N10,000 per bag, and BUA is N15,000. Unfortunately, it will surprise you that I sold the same bag of cement, N5,500 to N6000, last month,” he said.

Similarly, Rukiyat Abdullahi, a retailer in Kubwa, said Dangote cement is sold for N10,200 while BUA goes for N16,000.

“Dangote is now N10,200 while BUA goes for N16,000 per bag”, she told DAILY POST on Friday.

At Lugbe, the retailers confirmed to DAILY POST that Dangote and BUA cement prices are N10,000 and N15,000, respectively.

Meanwhile, Minister of Housing and Urban Development, Arc. Musa Dangiwa decried the astronomical rise in the price of cement and other building materials across the country.

He said the price hike was unacceptable and insisted the fluctuation in the exchange rate of the dollar could not be blamed.

Recall that for more than five months, the Cement Producers Association of Nigeria cautioned that the Federal Government’s plan to introduce concrete roads could increase cement prices to N9,000 per bag.

The development comes amid a continued soar in Nigeria’s inflation. The National Bureau of Statistics, in its Consumer Price Index report for January, said inflation soared to 29.90 per cent.

The Enugu Zonal Command of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, has arraigned the Chairman, Onitsha/Odekpe Plastic Market Association, Obinna Calistus Okoli, before Justice Nnamdi Dimgba of the Federal High Court, sitting in Awka, Anambra State, for obtaining under false pretence to the tune of N6.7 million.

Okoli was arraigned on Tuesday, February 13, 2024 alongside Onitsha/Odekpe Plastic Market Association on a two-count charge bordering on obtaining under false pretence.

One of the counts reads: “That you, Obinna Calistus Okoli (while being Chairman of Onitsha/Odekpe Plastic Market Association) and Onitsha/Odekpe Plastic Market Association between May 2018 and July 2020 in Onitsha, Anambra State within the jurisdiction of the Federal High Court of Nigeria with intent to defraud induced one Mr. Joseph Okechukwu Enyiuche to deliver to you the sum of (N6,700,000.00) Six Million, Seven Hundred Thousand Naira under the pretence that you would allocate to him four shops in the proposed lock-up stalls/shops to be built at water melon land which pretence you knew to be false and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 1 (1) (a) of Advance Fee Fraud and Other Fraud Related Offences Act 2006 and punishable under Section 1 (3) of the same Act.”

They pleaded not guilty when the charges were read to them.

In view of their pleas, counsel to the EFCC, Nuradeen Shehu Ingawa, prayed the court for a trial date and for the defendant to be remanded at the Correctional Centre.

Defence counsel E. O. Igowe made an oral application for bail but was vehemently opposed by Ingawa who reminded the defence counsel that it was a court of records.

Justice Dimgba thereafter adjourned the matter till Friday, February 16, 2024 for hearing of bail application. The defendants were remanded at the EFCC custody.

The defendant was arrested by operatives of the Enugu Zonal Command of the EFCC when a petitioner alleged that Okoli fraudulently obtained N6.7 million from him in order to help him secure four lock-up shops at a proposed mall to be built at water melon land in Anambra State.

The petitioner says that after making payment for the shops, he discovered that the defendant had no shops left to be allocated to him and all efforts made to get his money back proved abortive.

The Independent Corrupt Practices and other Related Offences Commission, ICPC, has arraigned a former President of the Senior Civil Servants Association of Nigeria, ASCSN, Bola Audu, over alleged N72 million fraud.

Audu was arraigned on Thursday before Justice Yusuf Halilu of the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, on a five-count charge.

He has been expelled as a member and President of ASCSN over anti-union activities.

In the five-count charge, the government accused Audu of alleged embezzlement of N69 million that was meant for the purchase of a sport utility vehicle for the office of the President of ASCSN.

In another charge, the prosecution told the court that Audu allegedly diverted N3 million into the union’s election.

He pleaded not guilty when the charges were read to him. His counsel, Babatunde Adewusi, applied that the defendant be granted bail.

Following his not guilty plea, Osuobeni Akponimisingha, an Assistant Chief Legal Officer at the ICPC, opposed the bail application and requested a date for commencement of trial.

“My Lord, we are interested in the defendant attending trial,” Akponimisingha said.

In his reaction, the defendant’s lawyer commended Akponimisingha “for his professional conduct in the handling of the case.”

The judge, Halilu, said bail is a constitutional right of an accused person depending on the nature of the alleged offense.

Halilu noted that a defendant was presumed innocent until proven otherwise.

“The prosecution must lead credible evidence to establish the guilt of a defendant,” the judge said.

In considering Audu’s bail request, the judge said the alleged offenses were bailable.

Subsequently, the judge allowed Audu to bail on the grounds that he produces two sureties who must be directors in the federal civil service.

The judge added that the directors must produce their letters of employment and promotion to the directorship rank in the civil service.

Halilu said the defendant would be remanded at Kuje Prison in Abuja if he fails to meet the bail condition.

The suit was adjourned until 6 May for commencement of trial.

The House of Representatives has taken a major step to scrap the current presidential system of government being run in Nigeria and replace it with the parliamentary mode of government.

This is as the House introduced three Bills, seeking to alter the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 to allow transition from the current presidential system to a parliamentary system at all levels of government – federal, state, and local government.

The Bills, namely ‘Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (Alteration) Bill, 2024’, HB.1115, HB.1116 and HB.1117 sponsored by Hon. Kingsley Chinda, the Minority Leader and 59 others, passed through the First Reading statpge at plenary on Wednesday.

The proposed legislations sought to
replace the President with a Prime Minister to serve as the Head of Government and establishing the office of the President as a ceremonial leader with the elective offices chosen from the elected members of the legislature.

It also intends to shift the process of electing Governors and Chairmen of Local Governments from general election to voting within their respective legislative bodies, and reduce bureaucratic hurdles and fostering closer collaboration between the executive and legislative branches of government.

Addressing journalists on the general principles of the Bills, Spokesperson for sponsors, Hon. Abdussamad Dasuki (PDP, Sokoto), said the proposed alterations, when passed, would significantly impact the national political landscape.

Dasuki said when the parliamentary system of government was practised in the First Republic, it worked for the country as by its nature the elected representatives that were both in the legislative and executive arms of government were accountable to the people.

He argued the collapse of the First Republic and the long stretch of military rule culminated in the adoption of a new system of government, theoretically fashioned after the Presidential System of the United States but in practice imbibed the uttermost attributes of military rule.

The lawmaker said the high cost of governance, leaving fewer resources for crucial areas like infrastructure, education, and healthcare, and consequently hindering the nation’s development progress, and the excessive powers vested in the members of executive were the imperfections of the presidential system of government.

“The Bills presented today seek a return to the system of government adopted by our founders, which made governance accountable, responsible and responsive, and ultimately less expensive.

“With the presentation of these Bills today, we hope to achieve the following: Ignite, provoke a national conversation about the future of Nigerian governance system.

“To ensure robust public debates, stakeholder consultations, expert analyses, and a thorough and informed decision-making process.

“To raise awareness about this significant development and encourage constructive dialogue on the potential implications of these proposed constitutional alterations. The future of Nigerian governance rests on informed public engagement, and responsive and responsible leadership.

“Our conviction is that a streamlined Executive Branch, which replaces the President and Vice President with a Prime Minister and Cabinet chosen from the legislature could lead to a smaller central government, reducing salaries and administrative expenses.

“We also hold strongly that shifting the election of Governors and Local Government Chairmen from general election to votes within their respective legislative bodies could save billions spent on state and nationwide campaigns,” Dasuki stated.

The sponsors of the Bills, however, said the take-off time for the new law if eventually passed will be from 2033, apparently when President Bola Tinubu and others elected into offices for the first term might have completed their second tenures.