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Travellers gearing up for Christmas journeys from major cities like Abuja and Lagos to their country homes face steep hikes in interstate travel fares.

The removal of petrol subsidies has triggered a surge in fuel prices, pushing pump rates from N195/litre to an average of N599/litre, reaching as high as N700/litre in some states and from various dealers.

This substantial rise in fuel costs has directly impacted transportation fares, with travellers now facing significantly inflated prices for interstate bus trips.

Checks by BusinessDay indicate that tickets for interstate routes could cost as much as N50,000, an exponential increase compared to pre-subsidy removal rates.

GUO Transport Company’s ticket prices illustrate the sharp uptick: a Lagos to Owerri Sienna bus seat during Christmas now stands at N50,500, while a 14-seater Hiace bus seat for the same route costs N42,000.

Similar high rates are prevalent for other routes, with prices for journeys like Lagos to Abuja at N49,000 and Abuja to Lagos at N50,000.

The National Bureau of Statistics’ Transport Fare Watch for October 2023 revealed a 53.04% surge in average fares for intercity bus travel compared to October 2022.

The escalation has been attributed to the removal of petrol subsidies earlier in May 2023, causing interstate fares to leap from an average of N11,000 per seat to as much as N26,000 per seat.

Lagos-based businessman Chijioke Osondu expressed dismay over the soaring ticket prices, revealing that the exorbitant costs were preventing his family’s trip to Abia State.

He disclosed that his extended family traditionally convenes for Christmas every three years, but this year’s high costs might thwart their reunion plans.

Moreover, travellers contemplating using personal vehicles face exorbitant expenses due to soaring spare parts prices.

Car owners like Stephen Udochukwu and Friday Effiong detailed spending over N800,000 and N49,000, respectively, on vehicle maintenance, attributing the elevated costs to inflated prices of spare parts and services.

“I spent N150,000 to change the four shocks which was formerly sold for N90,000 in 2022; N45,000 to change the radiator that was formerly sold for N25,000; N45,000 to buy gear oil that was formerly sold for N25,000; two shafts that used to go for N25,000 for N75,000; engine oil that was N15,000 is now N25,000; engine seat that was N10,000 before now sells for N20,000; ball joint N15,000; tie rod N10,000 and steering rubber that was N5,000 before now goes for N10,000.

“There were other little parts that I changed, and the mechanic collected a service charge of N30,000 that was formerly charged N15,000.

“In addition to the mechanical work, I spent over N350,000 to do the bodywork alone, fix some bad parts and repaint my vehicle. I was forced to repaint my vehicle because the last time I did that was five years ago, in 2018,” Udochukwu said.

Drivers within the transport sector, like Ogochukwu David of GUO Transport Company, echoed the sentiments, highlighting the immense financial strain on drivers who grapple with soaring fuel costs to operate vehicles for interstate travel.

The considerable hike in pump prices has significantly impacted the transport business across Nigeria.

As Nigerians prepare for the festive season, the escalated travel expenses due to inflated fuel prices and increased maintenance costs pose significant challenges, raising concerns about the feasibility of holiday travel for many.

The Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi Ojaja II, on Tuesday visited the embattled former governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) in Kuje Prison, Abuja.

The monarch joined the list of influential Nigerians seeking the release of the former apex bank chief, who is behind bars for his inability to meet his N300 million bail condition.

The Ooni was at the prison twice to visit Emefiele, Politics Nigeria gathered. The first time was in the early afternoon. He left after and returned four hours later to continue with his discussions with him. The monarch had very lengthy meetings with Emefiele.

Emefiele was last month arraigned on a six-count charge bordering on procurement fraud by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC). He was accused of using his position to confer a corrupt advantage on Sa’adatu Yaro, a staff of CBN, by awarding a contract for the procurement of 43 vehicles worth N1.2 billion between 2018 and 2020.

Prior to his arrest and arraignment by the EFCC, Emefiele had been in the custody of the Department of State Security (DSS) for over four months. However, when the DSS released him, he got rearrested by the EFCC.

Emefiele had pleaded not guilty to the amended charges and was later granted bail in the sum of N300 million as well as two sureties in like sum, both of which must have certificates of occupancy and titles of properties within the Maitama district in Abuja.

He was also mandated to deposit all his travel documents with the Registrar of the Court with a warning to remain within the Abuja Municipal Council.

The former CBN governor was unable to meet the bail conditions and is remanded in Kuje Correctional Facility until 2024.

The 2024 Appropriation Bill is under scrutiny at the National Assembly, revealing a comprehensive breakdown of proposed expenditures for President Bola Tinubu, Vice President Kashim Shettima, and their respective aides at the Nigerian Presidential Villa.

Vanguard reports that the budget proposal earmarks a staggering sum of N15.961 billion for international and domestic travel if approved.

President Tinubu’s travel expenses stand out, totalling N7.630 billion, with a significant portion allocated for foreign trips amounting to N6.992 billion, while N638.535 million is designated for domestic travel.

Vice President Shettima’s proposed travel budget amounts to N1.847 billion, comprising N1.229 billion for foreign trips and N618.399 million for local travel. A substantial N6.484 billion is also allocated for Villa Headquarters’ international and local travels.

Within the overall budget, the Villa Headquarters receives a significant allocation of N40.616 billion. This includes provisions for routine maintenance of mechanical and electrical installations amounting to N9 billion and N4.5 billion allocated for Julius Berger liabilities related to maintenance from 2022/2023.

Further allocations encompass infrastructure development, with N3 billion dedicated to constructing offices for Special Advisers and Senior Special Advisers and an additional N3 billion set aside for the acquisition, renovation, rehabilitation, and furnishing of the State House Annex.

The budget also addresses transportation needs, allocating N6 billion for operational vehicles, an extra N4 billion specifically for operational vehicles and N2 billion for SUVs.

Other notable allocations include N5.128 billion for miscellaneous expenses, foodstuff, honorarium, refreshments, repair of fixed assets, and computer software acquisitions. President Tinubu and Vice President Shettima are set to spend N254 million and N348 million, respectively, on food supplies.

Miscellaneous expenses account for a substantial portion, with President Tinubu allocating N152.4 million for honorarium and sitting allowances, while the Vice President is allocated N67 million.

Additionally, N650 million is proposed for asset repairs and rehabilitation by the President, while N103 million is designated for computer software acquisitions by the Vice President. The Villa Headquarters estimates spending N980 million on computers and asset repairs within the stipulated period.

The Borno State Police Command says it has successfully neutralised an Improvised Explosive Device (IED) discovered at the entrance of the University of Maiduguri.

According to ASP Nahum Daso, the State Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), the incident occurred on Monday, December 4, prompting a swift response from security personnel.

Daso confirmed that a suspicious device was spotted near the university’s main gate around 9.00 a.m. Promptly, the Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) team was deployed to the location, verifying that the device was indeed a fabricated IED.

“In swift response, the Command’s Explosive Ordnance Department (EOD) swung into action and successfully diffused the IED without loss of lives or property,” Daso stated.

After neutralising the device, he said the command thoroughly sanitised the area to ensure safety.

He added that the police have initiated an investigation to apprehend the perpetrators behind the placement of the explosive device and to uncover their motives.

In light of this incident, the police spokesperson urged residents to remain vigilant and promptly report suspicious objects or individuals to the nearest security agencies.

Andrew Okungbowa, the Chief Press Secretary (CPS) to Godwin Obaseki, the Governor of Edo State, has resigned from his position.

Okungbowa cited his dissatisfaction with how he was treated as the reason for his resignation.

Recall that Okungbowa was appointed Chief Press Secretary just five months ago, on July 25, 2023.

In a short three-paragraph letter, dated December 4, 2023, and addressed to Obaseki, he said: “I write to formally inform you of my resignation from my position as CPS to the governor, with immediate effect.

“I am most grateful for the privilege and opportunity to serve the governor and the state. Please, accept my kind felicitation.”

This newspaper gathered that what prompted CPS’s resignation was the fact that the governor rated much higher and treated quite better, social media influencers in Government House in Benin, which he described as unacceptable.

It was also gathered that several high-ranking officials of the Edo government attempted to intervene to avert the resignation, but the Chief Press Secretary (CPS) was determined to quit.

The governor was said to have met with him in Lagos and requested that he join his media team to support his Special Adviser on Media Projects, Crusoe Osagie, in preparation for the crucial September 21, 2024 guber election. The CPS reportedly said that he was later treated with disrespect.

A resident of the Tudun Biri in Igabi Local Government Area of Kaduna State, Idris Dahiru, says he lost 34 family members during the Nigerian Army’s aerial bombardment on Sunday, December 3.

Over 90 villagers were killed when a Nigerian Army drone struck a gathering of residents commemorating Maulud.

The Army has apologized for the killings saying saying it was targeted at terrorists.

Narrating his experience to BBC Hausa, Idris said: “Our annual Maulud celebration was shattered by unexpected airstrikes. The first bomb exploded without warning, killing innocent people, including women and children, some victims were torn apart by the blast.

“As we rushed to aid the injured, the jet returned, unleashing a second bomb, this time, many of those who had come to help were among the casualties.

“My family alone has lost 34 members in this tragedy. We have 66 loved ones receiving medical care at Barau Dikko hospital,” he added.

The court asked the senior lawyer to pay the fine to four respondents in a suit he filed on the Imo governorship tussle.

The Supreme Court, on Tuesday, imposed a fine of N40 million on human rights activists and constitutional lawyer, Mike Ozekhome, for filing a “frivolous” motion before the court regarding the Imo governorship tussle, which was decided in 2019.

In a ruling by Justice Tijani Abubakar, the court ordered the senior lawyer to pay the N40 million fine to the four respondents he had sued.

Justice Abubakar held in the ruling that the request was strange, frivolous, baseless, unwarranted, vexatious and irritating.

He further held that the motion was a calculated design to demonise the Supreme Court.

Mr Ozekhome, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, was called to the Nigerian Bar over 42 years ago. The fine was for bringing a motion before the Supreme Court, seeking to re-validate the suit that removed Emeka Ihedioha as governor of Imo State in 2019.

Those to be paid are the Action Peoples Party, Uche Nnadi, Uche Nwosu and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

In the motion, Mr Ozekhome had asked the court for a consequential order to compel INEC to issue a fresh Certificate of Return to Mr Ihedioha to enable him to spend a four-year tenure as the Imo governor.

His grouse was that the incumbent governor, Hope Uzodinma “unlawfully” spent the four years which Mr Ihedioha ought to spend.

Among others, Mr Ozekhome in the motion claimed that the All Progressives Congress (APC) had no candidate in the 2019 Imo governorship election, hence, Mr Uzodinma ought not to have been made a governor on the platform of the APC.

The Supreme Court, however, dismissed the motion on the grounds that it had no jurisdiction to entertain it.

Governor Hon Mai Mala Buni of Yobe State has sworn in interim transition committee chairmen for its 17 Local Government Areas.

The governor, who disclosed this during the swearing in ceremony of the 17 chairmen at the banquet hall of Government House Damaturu, said that the exercise was necessary to ensure that no vacuum existed in his administration.

According to him, these appointments were necessitated by the expiration of the tenure of the last elected local government councils.

Buni told the caretaker chairmen to intensify efforts on local revenue generation to support the financing of development projects in their respective areas for the betterment of the people.

The governor described that their appointments were made on the bases of their hard work, loyalty, experience and zeal to deliver more selfless services to the people of the grassroots.

He urged them to pay more attention to farmers/herders’ relationship during the period of farm harvest as well as the migration of herdsmen.

Buni said the government will not condone any act capable of breaching peace among farmers and grazers in the rural communities.

He said “Grazers are advised not to trespass on farmland that are yet to be harvested; on the other hand, farmers should not block the cattle routes to hamper the free movement of livestock.”

He advised the Local Government chairmen to imbibe the principles of accountability, transparency and due process to be on the same page with the present administration and with commitment to the execution of people oriented policies and programmes to improve the lives of the people.