Nelson Ugwuagbo

The Mandate Secretary of the FCT Women Affairs Secretariat, Mrs Adedayo Benjamins-Laniyi, says the Federal Capital Territory Administration has sealed off an orphanage in Karonmajigi, the Priesthood Orphanage, after 23 children, aged 1 – 14 years, trafficked from Plateau state, were rescued from the orphanage.

Benjamins-Laniyi stated this when she addressed pressmen on Monday, adding that the FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike, had authorised the Secretariat to profile and recertify orphanages operating within the nation’s capital.

“There is no question, yesterday, with immediate effect, that ‘home’ was sealed, shut down. We have the name of the proprietor of the orphanage home, but we are not naming names now for obvious reasons. When the entire material investigation is concluded, there will be an official gazetted presentation of the facts, the findings, and the delivery of this intervention we’ve started here today.

“NAPTIP, as we speak is already on it. Using this as an example, one of the first things I have done is to get approval for the recertification of orphanage homes in Abuja. The minister has approved that there will be a full thorough reprofiling of anything that has to do with orphanage and recertification status of all orphanages in Abuja,” she said.

She noted that the Women’s Secretariat was already working with the office of the Commissioner of Women Affairs of Plateau State, to reunite the children with their families, some of whom she said had been at the uncertified orphanage for five years, since 2019.

“We are working with the Plateau state government to reunite the children that I had earlier mentioned by name and by age, with their families in Plateau state. This is a transition arrangement,” she said.

The Plateau State Commissioner for Women Affairs, Mrs Caroline Dafur, narrated that the Proprietors of the orphanage home abandoned the children at the orphanage, under the care of one Pastor Abraham, in a terrible condition of hunger. Three of the children had then escaped and were discovered by officers of the Federal Road Safety Corps, who reported the case to the NAPTIP and took the children to the Human Rights Radio, who then notified the Plateau State government and the FCT Women’s Secretariat.

“We came in yesterday and on reaching here, we were told that they went to church. We kept going from one church to another, looking for them until we found them in a Deeper Life Church, where we were able to pick them up, and we went to the home. And we saw the place, it is not supposed to be called a home.

“The place is just so unkempt. I wonder how the children were sleeping in the small room. Nine girls were sleeping in a very small room with just two mattresses. And then for the boys, they were in a small room too, with two mattresses just on the floor. And I mean, it’s so pathetic the way human beings treat human beings in this country.”

She stated the displeasure of the Plateau state government while appreciating the Mandate Secretary for the assistance in evacuating the children, and relocating them to the Karu Children’s Home.

Abuja Electricity Distribution Company on Monday said it will disconnect electricity in the Presidential Villa and 86 Federal Government’s Ministry Department and Agencies over N47,195 billion outstanding debts as of December 2023.

Some of the affected MDAs are Chief of Defence Staff – Barracks and Military Formations owing N12bn, FCT Ministry, Ministry of Finance, Ministry of State Petroleum, Ministry of Health, Ministry of Information, Ministry of Education, Ministry of Agriculture.

Others are the Federal Inland Revenue Service, Ministry of Education, CBN governor, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ministry of Budget and Planning, Ministry of Culture and Tourism, Ministry of Interior, Head ECOWAS, and Ministry of Transport, among others.

While issuing a notice of disconnection to the affected MDAs, AEDC said, “The Management of the Abuja Electricity Distribution Company (AEDC) has given a 10 days’ notice to 86 Government to pay up the N47.1bn electricity debt they owe or risk disconnection.

“The Abuja Electricity Distribution PLC is constrained to do this publication with the details of Government, Ministries, Departments and Agencies with long outstanding unpaid bills for services rendered to them through the provision of electricity supply in that our previous attempts to make them honour their obligations have not achieved the desired results.”

The firm also urged the MDAs to pay up before the disconnection time slated for Wednesday, February 28, 2024.

“The relevant MDAs are hereby given notice that the AEDC shall, after the expiration of 10 days from the date of this publication, that is, after Wednesday, February 28, 2024, embark on the disconnection of our services to them until they discharge their obligations to us by paying their debts.

LeadingReporters gathered that in 2919, The Federal Executive Council approved the inclusion of the presidential villa in the eligible customer policy to ensure uninterrupted power supply to the villa.

This was made known by Hakeem Bello, special adviser on communications to the then minister of power, Babatunde Fashola, who said the approval aimed to improve the electricity supply and distribution in the country.

According to him, the approval was made at the FEC meeting in response to a memorandum submitted by the minister seeking approval to include the presidential villa in the distribution expansion programme earlier approved by the council.

The eligible customer regulation, which was issued by the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) in mid-2017, permits electricity customers to buy power directly from the electricity generation companies (GenCos), other than distribution companies (DisCos), in line with the provisions of section 27 of the Electric Power Sector Reform Act 2005.

The programme seeks to enable unutilised 2000 megawatts (MW) from the GenCos to be distributed to targeted metered customers.

“The Ministry had earlier obtained approval from the Bureau of Public Procurement (BPP) following its letter to the Bureau intimating it of the Council’s approval of the Distribution Expansion Programme with the intention of the Ministry to procure civil works that would facilitate uninterrupted power supply to the Aso Rock Villa and curb the present erratic supply of power in spite of the availability of power by the Generation Companies (GenCos),” Bello said.

“The project to be executed by Messrs Dextron Engineering Limited, has a completion period of six months under the Distribution Expansion Programme. An arrangement has also been put in place such that a GenCo, North-South Power Company Limited, will procure the dedicated supply to the Villa from the National Grid while the Abuja Electricity Distribution Company (AEDC) has indicated interest in ensuring the success of the project.”

As the All Progressives Congress, APC, was conducting its primary election on Saturday to nominate a candidate for the September 21, 2024 governorship election in Edo State, the news broke that one of the party’s aspirants, Dr Ernest Afolabi Umakhihe, had withdrawn from the race.

LeadingReporters gathered that Umakhihe’s withdrawal brings the total number of aspirants that have withdrawn from the primary election so far to three.

Those who had earlier backed out of the race are Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu and Chief Lucky Imasuen, the former deputy governor of the state.

In the letter personally signed and addressed to the Edo State acting chairman of the party, Jarrett Tenebe, he said he decided to withdraw from the contest after his “latest interactions” with the party’s leadership.

The letter of withdrawal by Umakhihe, the immediate past Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security, was dated February 16 and titled, “Discontinuation of My Campaign.”

Umakhihe said he took the decision because the campaign could not go on ‘under the present circumstances.’

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.