Sunday, May 10, 2026
Home Blog Page 162

APC Chairmanship: Search For Ganduje’s Replacement Begins – Leadershipng

admin
-
0
APC Chairmanship: Search For Ganduje’s Replacement Begins – Leadershipng

There are indications that the Presidency may have given the green light for stakeholders to begin the search for a replacement of the All Progressives Congress (APC) national chairman, Dr Abdullahi Ganduje, LEADERSHIP gathered.

The Villa, which has been silent over Ganduje’s recent political travail, is said to have “commissioned” APC governors from the North Central geo-political zone to begin a search for a new chairman from the region as originally planned by the party.

A top party source told LEADERSHIP Friday that besides the North Central zone producing the next chairman, the Villa might be open to allowing the Congress for Progressive Change (CPC) camp within the party to produce Ganduje’s replacement as part of appeasement moves.

It was further learnt that those opposed to Ganduje’s continued stay, including a serving senator who was former governor of a South South state, listed his perceived handling of the Edo and Ondo primaries as well as the unfolding drama surrounding the probe into his tenure as Kano State governor.

Ganduje’s woes, it was also gathered, is being compounded by an alleged plan for New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) presidential candidate in 2023, Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, to return to the APC, a claim confirmed to LEADERSHIP Friday by a former commissioner and APC chieftain in Kano State, Musa Ilyasu Kwankwaso.

Also, the agitation by APC stakeholders in the North Central zone for the return of the chairmanship position to their zone has not helped Ganduje’s case. The immediate past governor of Kano State is from the North West zone.

The APC chairman has been locked in an intriguing legal battle in Kano State over moves to suspend him in his ward by some persons claiming to be APC executives.

They hinged their suspension on the probe into Ganduje’s administration over alleged financial misappropriation by Governor Abba Yusuf.

While Ganduje blames the NNPP-led administration in the state for his travails, the APC leadership, at federal and state levels, has since distanced themselves from the suspension moves.

However, the embattled chairman is fighting back and battling to salvage his job. Party sources told LEADERSHIP Friday that he had reached out to some governors to help him stave off those angling to remove him from office.

It was gathered that he recently pleaded with a governor from a North Central State to urge an aggrieved aspirant to withdraw his suit seeking to stop him from parading himself as chairman.

A serving senator and former national chairmanship aspirant is said to have also been recruited to ensure the case is dropped.

LEADERSHIP Friday recalls that an APC chairmanship aspirant in 2022, Muhammad Etsu, is seeking a legal injunction to stop Ganduje from parading himself as national chairman.

He had earlier argued for the national chairmanship seat to return to the North Central zone.

In the build-up to the 2022 national convention, the APC had zoned the position to the North Central which saw Senator Abdullahi Adamu emerge as national chairman.

He resigned in 2023 paving the way for Ganduje, who hails from North West, to become chairman.

However, the party source told LEADERSHIP Friday that another North Central governor is backing the move to remove Ganduje.

The governor, according to a party source, is seeking Ganduje’s removal because he appears to have taken sides with the governor’s political opponent (a top government official) in the state.

Attempts to get Ganduje’s reaction on the issues were not successful as calls and messages to his media handlers were not responded to.

Meanwhile, it was learnt that the APC-led presidency adopted the silence option over Ganduje’s ordeal, in light of unfolding political intrigues in the North ahead of the 2027 presidential election.

With the frayed political romance between President Bola Tinubu and some of his allies in the region, it might “be convenient to forge new alliances which might involve making tough decisions,” a source said.

The source, who neither confirmed nor denied the Kwankwaso angle, however said the president would need to firm his base in the region, having seemingly fallen out with some politicians, like former Kaduna governor, Nasir el-Rufai.

“So he might be firmer to ask himself what political value the embattled chairman has to him ahead of 2027. Kano State is a strategic state that any incumbent or presidential candidate would need to have on his side,” the party chieftain said.

Another APC chieftain, who also pleaded not to be named, said Tinubu is keeping quiet on the issues about Ganduje because he single handedly brought him to the position.

The source said: “Unlike in the case of Adams Oshimhole who was elected at a national convention and was not the then President Muhammadu Buhari candidate, hence he was allowed to sink, Ganduje is more or less an appointee of the president and, though the quietness, he is enjoying the protection of Villa.

“Unlike Buhari, Tinubu could be blunt to tell Ganduje to go if he is not satisfied with his leadership as the APC chairman. Also, in the case of Oshiomhole, the APC governors were not on his side but it seems the governors are with Ganduje or they simply are not interested in what is happening.”

A former APC national vice chairman, North-west, Salihu Lukman, said the only strong qualification of Ganduje as the party’s chairman is his close relationship with the president.

Nigeria’s Oil Output Recovers After March Dip, Says OPEC

admin
-
0
Nigeria’s Oil Output Recovers After March Dip, Says OPEC

There seems to be hope in the offing for Nigeria as its dwindling daily oil production turned the corner in April, rising marginally from 1.23 million barrels per day in March to 1.28 mbpd, according to the Organisation of the Petroleum Exporting Countries.

OPEC, in its Monthly Oil Market Report for May, said Nigeria’s oil production added 50,000 barrels daily in the last month after it fell in recent times during the month before.

The nation’s crude production fell from 1.32 million barrels per day in February to 1.23 million barrels per day in March, according to a report issued by the organization on Tuesday.

Production dropped from 1.427 mbpd in January to 1.322 mbpd, according to primary sources.

The continuous drop in production came amid stakeholders’ concerns over the loss of revenue due to the failure of the government to ramp up production.

Recently, the Chairman of the Petroleum Technology Association of Nigeria, Wole Ogunsanya, said the country was losing a lot of revenue daily due to its inability to tackle dwindling oil production.

According to Ogunsanya, if Nigeria could retain between 60 and 70 per cent of the oil and gas value chain in the country, it stands a better chance of being among the top 20 economies in the world.

He pointed out that the country was underproducing to the tune of at least 500,000 barrels per day, which was a huge loss to the country.

But the Federal Government said the drop in Nigeria’s crude oil production was due to issues encountered on the Trans Niger Pipeline, coupled with maintenance activities carried out by some oil companies operating across the country.

It, however, stated that efforts were on to fix the pipeline, adding that this would enable the country to produce up to 1.7 million barrels per day of crude oil and condensates.

The Minister of State for Petroleum Resources (Oil), Heineken Lokpobiri, claimed that the drop in production was due to issues encountered on the Trans Niger Pipeline.

“In response to recent concerns regarding a shortfall in oil production in Nigeria during the first quarter of 2024, the Minister of State for Petroleum Resources (Oil), Heineken Lokpobiri, assures (Nigerians) that measures are being taken to address the situation to, not only restore production to previous levels but to also increase it.

“The minister clarifies that the reported production shortfall was primarily due to issues encountered on the Trans Niger Pipeline, coupled with maintenance activities carried out by some oil companies operating in Nigeria.

“The minister is also pleased to announce that the issues have been adequately addressed, and production is expected to return to its previous levels in the coming days,” a statement by Lokpobiri’s spokesman, Nneamaka Okafor, said in April.

At a meeting with stakeholders in Lagos recently, Lokpobiri emphasised that idle oil wells and licences would be revoked and handed over to individuals with proven capacity to explore.

Terrorists Using Cryptocurrency Traders To Fund Insecurity — EFCC

admin
-
0
Terrorists Using Cryptocurrency Traders To Fund Insecurity — EFCC

The Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, Ola Olukoyede, has revealed that unbeknownst to young cryptocurrency traders in Nigeria, terrorists are using their trade to fund terrorism in the country.

The EFCC boss said some of the people who receive money to trade in cryptocurrencies do not know that their financiers are sponsors of terrorism.

He added that some of the 1,146 bank accounts recently frozen by the anti-graft agency were conduits for terrorism funding.

Olukoyede revealed the development during an event organized by some Civil Society Organizations in Abuja.

The programme, titled, “Multi-stakeholders’ national dialogue on preventing terrorism financing and violent extremism,” was held at the Transcorp Hilton Hotels, Abuja on Wednesday.

Olukoyede revealed, “Some of you are aware of our activities in the area of investigating virtual currency trading and the likes of cryptocurrencies.

“They are potential platforms to fund terrorism. A lot of us don’t understand that. Some of our discoveries during the investigation of some of these platforms were mind-boggling.

“We thought Binance was a major one. Yes, it was. We are prosecuting them. But there are other platforms we have discovered.

“They used some of these young men. Some of them don’t know that the people who gave them money to trade are people who fund terrorism.”

The EFCC boss further said there is a need to adopt technology in tracking money used to fund terrorism in the country.

Olukoyede narrated how he was informed by a friend in the US Federal Bureau of Investigation, that dollar bills across the world can be tracked with technology.

“It is important for us to adopt the use of technology,” he said.

“I was comparing notes with an assistant director in the FBI — a friend of mine. He said: ‘My brother, from our systems in the US, we can track every printed dollar anywhere in the world’,” he added.

The EFCC boss added that Nigeria must get to that stage where technology can be deployed to track naira notes used for terrorism funding.

In Benin, Tax Tribunal orders firm to pay Bayelsa Revenue Board N5.4m tax liability

admin
-
0
In Benin, Tax Tribunal orders firm to pay Bayelsa Revenue Board N5.4m tax liability

The South-South Zone of the Tax Appeal Tribunal holden in Benin has ordered MI Nigeria Limited to pay Bayelsa State Board of Internal Revenue the sum of  N5,472,000.00 (Five Million, Four Hundred and Seventy-Two Thousand Naira only) Pay As You Earn of its staff for March 2021 to December 2021 and Bayelsa State Infrastructural Maintenance Levy due to the Appellant in accordance with the relevant tax legislation.

The tribunal led by Hon. Prof. Obehi Odiase-Alegimenlen unanimously ruled that if a taxpayer did not file its Return to the Tax Authority as required or refused to furnish the Tax Authority with available documents as requested, the Tax Authority has the power to resort to a Best of Judgement Assessment, and any assessment that has not been dully objected to within the stipulated 30 days period has become final and conclusive.

From facts, the Appellant- Bayelsa State Board of Internal Revenue had appealed upon being dissatisfied with the MI Nigeria Limited’s failure and refusal to file and pay the revised assessed tax liability in the sum of N5,472,000.00 (Five Million, Four Hundred and Seventy-Two Thousand Naira only) for Pay As You Earn of its staff whose principal place of residence is in Bayelsa State and Bayelsa State Infrastructural Maintenance Levy.

The Bayelsa State Board of Internal Revenue averred that the respondent has failed, refused and/or neglected to pay the assessed liabilities despite letters of notification, demand notices, letters of invitation and reports of administrative assessment, and urged the tribunal to grant the reliefs sought.

In defense, the Respondent- MI Nigeria Limited argued that the applicable PAYE taxes of the Respondent employees mentioned in the Bayelsa State Board of Internal Revenue letters for the years 2020 and 2021 respectively have been remitted to Rivers and Lagos State where the affected employees reside.

The company maintained that the Bayelsa State Board of Internal Revenue lacks the powers to levy PAYE tax on persons who are not tax residents in Bayelsa State because their workers worked in Bayelsa State for just 2 weeks.

In a well-considered judgment, the tribunal led by Hon. Prof. Obehi Adetokunbo Odiase-Alegimenlen as Chairman, Hon Dr. Ala-Peters David, Hon. Mrs. Hilda Ofure Ozoh, Hon. Barr. Ajoku Vitalis Friday and Hon. Prof. Otusanya Olatunde Julius as members held that the firm didn’t exhibit valid evidence to support their claim that the affected workers did not work more than 2 weeks in Bayelsa State as requested by the tax authority.

The tribunal in its ruling stated that by virtue of Section 58(1) of PITA 2011(as amended) any assessment that has not been dully objected to within the stipulated 30-day period has become final and conclusive.

The tribunal stated that it’s lawful for the Bayelsa State Board of Internal Revenue to call for records and information concerning those staff, and it’s the duty of the firm to furnish the Bayelsa Revenue Board with the required documents such as time sheets etc to show that such Employees did not work in that territory for more than two weeks as is been claimed.

The tribunal held that MI Nigeria Limited ignoring the Bayelsa State Board of Internal Revenue request does not help its case because it is trite law that a party who is in possession to produce evidence but fails to do so, it is deemed that his failure to produce same is an intended act because the evidence if so produced will be adverse to its case.

“Therefore, in our opinion, the window statutorily given to the Respondent to respond to the Administrative Assessment elapsed long before the Appellant even approached the Tribunal, and thus is statute barred and the Assessment has become Final and Conclusive.” The Tribunal ruled.

Boro Day: Presidential Amnesty Programme’s Boss Urges Niger Delta Youths To Shun Violence

admin
-
0
Boro Day: Presidential Amnesty Programme’s Boss Urges Niger Delta Youths To Shun Violence

The Administrator of the Presidential Amnesty Programme (PAP), Chief Dennis Otuaro, PhD, has paid glowing tributes to the memory of Ijaw hero and icon of the Ijaw struggle, Major Isaac Jasper Adaka Boro, on the occasion his 56th anniversary celebration.

In a statement issued to mark this year’s Boro Day by his Special Assistant on Media, Mr. Igoniko Oduma, on Thursday, Otuaro said that Boro was being remembered for his vision, amazing intentions to ensure better standard of living for the ijaw people.

He described Boro as a courageous Ijaw freedom fighter who lived a selfless life and promoted the ideals of an egalitarian society.

Otuaro stated that Boro believed in the unity, progress and development of Nigeria where equity and justice would reign, saying it was for this reason he fought to keep Nigeria as one indivisible nation.

According to him, the commemoration of Boro Day is one of the significant ways of celebrating Boro’s legacy of community service and mutual co-existence.

He noted that the establishment of the Presidential Amnesty Programme was a response to the agitation by Niger Delta youths whose advocacies were anchored on Boro’s school of thought and principles.

He, therefore, advised Ijaw and indeed Niger Delta youths to celebrate this year’s Boro Day responsibly while upholding the ideals for which the late icon is being remembered.

The PAP boss said, “Major Isaac Jasper Adaka Boro is an Ijaw hero and icon of the Ijaw struggle. His 56th anniversary is a commemoration of his bravery and courage.

“Today, many Ijaw and Niger Delta youths are drinking from the fountain of Boro’s struggle which is a worthy legacy bequeathed by him.

“The Presidential Amnesty Programme was created as a direct response to the intense agitation by Ijaw and indeed Niger Delta youths who were inspired by Boro. Therefore, it is imperative that all hands must be on deck to promote peace and stability in the region in order to fully achieve the objectives of the Programme.”

Otuaro also urged Ijaw and indeed Niger Delta youths to shun violence, embrace unity and love one another in the interest of Ijaw nation.

He also enjoined the Ijaw people to look inward to note the fact that Boro fought for the unity of a strong virile Nigerian nation where the Ijaws would have a pride of place.

He stressed further that Boro did not engage in acts of disunity and pull-him-down syndrome, which has become the pastime of some youths of today.

 

Nigeria’s Inflation Hits 33.69%

admin
-
0
Nigeria’s Inflation Hits 33.69%

Nigeria’s headline inflation rate has increased to 33.69 per cent in April 2024 up from 33.20 per cent recorded in March 2024, the National Bureau of Statistics has said.

This represents a month-over-month increase of 0.49 per cent points in the headline inflation rate, according to the Consumer Price Index report, the NBS stated in a report on Wednesday.

Comparing year-on-year data, the inflation rate in April 2024 was 11.47 percentage points higher than in April 2023, where it stood at 22.22 per cent. This indicates that the headline inflation rate has risen significantly over the past year.

Additionally, on a month-to-month basis, the inflation rate for April 2024 was 2.29 per cent, which is 0.73 per cent lower than the 3.02 per cent recorded in March 2024. This suggests that the rate at which prices increased in April 2024 was slower than the rate in March 2024.

So This Happened (247) reviews Wofai Fada’s engagement, a fake medical doctor, others0.00 / 0.00

The report read, ” In April 2024, the headline inflation rate increased to 33.69% relative to the March 2024 headline inflation rate which was 33.20 per cent. Looking at the movement, the April 2024 headline inflation rate showed an increase of 0.49% points when compared to the March 2024 headline inflation rate.

“On a year-on-year basis, the headline inflation rate was 11.47 per cent points higher compared to the rate recorded in April 2023, which was 22.22 per cent. This shows that the headline inflation rate (year-on-year basis) increased in April 2024 when compared to the same month in the preceding year (i.e., April 2023).

“Furthermore, on a month-on-month basis, the headline inflation rate in April 2024 was 2.29 per cent, which was 0.73 per cent lower than the rate recorded in March 2024 (3.02 per cent). This means that in April 2024, the rate of increase in the average price level is less than the rate of increase in the average price level in March 2024.”

Food inflation however reduced by 1.11 per cent caused by a fall in the rate of increase in the average prices of basic food commodities.

“On a month-on-month basis, the Food inflation rate in April 2024 was 2.50% which shows a 1.11 per cent decrease compared to the rate recorded in March 2024 (3.62 per cent). The fall in Food inflation on a Month-on-Month basis was caused by a fall in the rate of increase in the average prices.”

$25 Billion Nigeria-Morocco Gas Pipeline Project Advances Into Northern Section

admin
-
0
$25 Billion Nigeria-Morocco Gas Pipeline Project Advances Into Northern Section

A significant milestone has been recorded in the implementation of the Nigeria-Morocco Gas Pipeline project according to ETAFAT, the firm overseeing the project.

The company confirmed that the project has advanced a step forward following the commencement of topographic surveys in the northern section.

The surveys covering Morocco, Mauritania, and Senegal began following a meeting between Morocco’s National Office of Hydrocarbons and Mines and the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited, NNPCL.

ETAFAT officials said the initial studies are already in an advanced stage, marking a crucial milestone for the ambitious project, which aims to become the largest of its kind in Africa.

The pipeline would stretch along the West African coast, connecting Nigeria to Morocco and Europe through Benin, Togo, Ghana, Ivory Coast, Liberia, Sierra Leone, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Gambia, and Senegal. Upon completion, it would connect to the existing Maghreb-Europe Gas Pipeline. The project is expected to significantly impact African development, fostering economic growth and regional integration.

King Mohammed VI of Morocco underscored this importance in a recent speech, calling the pipeline “more than just a bilateral project” but a strategic initiative for the entire West African region. “This is a project for peace, for African economic integration, and for co-development: a project for the present and for future generations.” the King said.

Dutch subsea solutions company N-Sea began seabed inspections in West Africa last year to support the project. At the same time, Nigeria announced plans to begin construction this year.
Funding for the $25 billion project was secured through four memoranda of understanding signed in June 2023.

Boniface Wins Bundesliga Rookie Of The Season

admin
-
0
Boniface Wins Bundesliga Rookie Of The Season

Bayer Leverkusen striker, Victor Boniface, has been named the winner of the 2023/24 Bundesliga Rookie of The Season for his instant impact in his debut season in the German topflight.

The Nigerian striker beat Chelsea loanee Ian Maatsen, who has been impressive for Borussia Dortmund since joining in January, RB Leipzig Xavi Simons, also on loan from PSG and Hoffenheim forward Maximilian Beier.

“And the winner is Victor Boniface,” Bundesliga announced via X on Wednesday.

“Bayer Leverkusen striker Victor Boniface takes home the #BLRookie of the Season award from Sorare after making an instant impact to the Bundesliga — in which he won four Rookie of the Month trophies in a row. Congrats Victor!”

The Akure-born striker, who was also named in the Bundesliga team of the season, has been one of the propellers of Bayer Leverkusen’s push for their first title, which they achieved with five games to spare.

He has scored 13 goals and provided nine assists in 22 Bundesliga games. He was out for almost four months with an injury, which also saw him miss the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations for Nigeria.

He has 20 goals and 10 assists in 32 games across all competitions this season.

With the league officially ending on Saturday, they could set an unprecedented record of winning the league with an unbeaten record of 34 matches.

Currently, they have set a European record of 50 games unbeaten and could win a treble with the Europa League final coming up next Wednesday against Atalanta in Dublin as well as the DFB Pokal final against FC Kaiserslautern on May 25.

Thanks to his impressive run in Germany, he could also well be in the run for the African Player of The Year Award alongside compatriot Ademola Lookman who has also been incredible for Atalanta in the Serie A and Europe.

World Bank Blacklists 58 Nigerian Companies, Individuals Over Corruption

admin
-
0
World Bank Blacklists 58 Nigerian Companies, Individuals Over Corruption

The World Bank has blacklisted 58 Nigerian companies and individuals for engaging in corrupt practices, a move which comes as part of the institution’s ongoing efforts to uphold integrity and transparency in its projects and operations.

Among those affected are 39 Nigerian companies previously debarred by the African Development Bank (AfDB), along with 19 individuals identified by the World Bank under the cross-debarment policy.

The total number of debarments now stands at 58, rendering the implicated entities ineligible to participate in projects and operations financed by institutions of the World Bank Group.

The list which the World Bank updates every three hours, contains a total of 1,210 companies and individuals globally at the time of this report.

A debarment renders firms/individuals ineligible to participate in projects and operations financed by institutions of the World Bank Group.

According to the World Bank report, the sanctions were imposed following an administrative process conducted by the Bank, which allowed the accused firms and individuals to respond to the allegations. This process adhered to the Bank’s procedures for sanctions proceedings and settlements in bank-financed projects.

“Through July 2007, this process was conducted in accordance with the Sanctions Committee Procedures adopted on August 2, 2001. The process is currently conducted in accordance with Bank Procedure: Sanctions Proceedings and Settlements in Bank Financed Projects. For more information on the two-tier sanctions process go to Sanctions,” it stated in the report.

Cross-debarment, as per the Agreement for Mutual Enforcement of Debarment Decisions, was enforced in accordance with the agreement dated 9 April 2010. This agreement has been made effective by several international financial institutions, including the World Bank, Asian Development Bank, European Bank for Reconstruction and Development, Inter-American Development Bank, and African Development Bank.

Cross-debarment in accordance with the Agreement for Mutual Enforcement of Debarment Decisions dated 9 April 2010, which, as of July 1, 2011, has been made effective by the World Bank, Asian Development Bank, European Bank for Reconstruction and Development, Inter-American Development Bank, and African Development Bank.”

In addition to debarment, the Bank reserves the right to apply other actions to firms and individuals found in violation of its policies, which may not necessarily result in debarment.

The prohibited conduct leading to debarment is defined in the applicable Procurement or Consultant Guidelines, as well as in the World Bank Procurement Regulations for Investment Project Financing Borrowers. The specific guidelines may vary depending on the nature of the project in question.

The World Bank’s actions underscore its commitment to combating corruption and promoting accountability in development projects, ensuring that funds are used effectively for the benefit of the people.

530 CNG Buses For Deployment In Lagos, Oyo, Kwara

admin
-
0
530 CNG Buses For Deployment In Lagos, Oyo, Kwara

530 CNG buses for deployment in Lagos, Oyo, Kwara, FCT, others

The process for nationwide deployment of Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) vehicles has commenced.

Not less than 530 buses are to be deployed by the end of the month in six pioneering states.

These are Oyo, Lagos, Kwara, Kogi, Kaduna, Nasarawa, and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Abuja.

Programme Director of the Presidential Compressed Natural Gas Initiative (PCNGI) Michael Oluwagbemi stated this yesterday.

It was during the event signaling the commencement of 15-day-long activities ahead of the rollout.

He said the distribution is on a demand-led basis. He added that efforts would be accelerated at the conversion of diesel and petrol-fuel engines across the country.

1...161162163...976Page 162 of 976

EDITOR PICKS

POPULAR POSTS

POPULAR CATEGORY

ABOUT US

Equity News is for your timely news on Entertainment, Music, Education, Law and Fashion fashion website. We provide you with the latest breaking news and analysis from an equitable perspective.

Contact us: info@equitynews.ng --- 08142480272

FOLLOW US

Equity News © 2023