The awards honor journalists in 10 categories, including a feature story, investigative reporting, explanatory reporting, and book.
The first-place and second-place winners in each category will receive US$500 and US$250, respectively. The winner of the Nina Mason Pulliam Award for the “best of the best” environmental reporting will receive US$10,000.
International journalists are also encouraged to enter, but if their work is written in a language other than English, they must include an English translation with their entry.
The fee for each submission ranges from US$45 for SEJ members to US$110 for non-members. Journalists residing in low-to-middle-income-economy countries can pay US$10.
Journalists who have completed environmental reporting can submit their work.
The deadline for the submission of applications is May 1, 2023. Interested applicants can apply here.
THE Lagos State Chairperson of the Labour Party (LP), Dayo Ekong, has explained why the party’s presidential candidate, Peter Obi, did not visit the Oba of Lagos during his mega rally in the state on Saturday.
Obi’s failure to visit the monarch sparked criticism from some quarters on the social media.
However, in an interview on Arise TV, on Monday, February 13, Ekong explained that Obi normally makes it a point to visit traditional rulers before embarking on his campaigns, but in the case of Lagos, he was unable to do so.
According to her, the former Anambra State governor attempted to pay the king a courtesy visit but he did not succeed.
“People say what they don’t know. If you have been following the campaign train of Mr Obi, he goes to the royal fathers to pay homage.
“Obi made an attempt to see the Oba of Lagos but we were not able to see the Oba of Lagos,” she said.
When asked if Obi was turned away after getting to the palace, Ekong said that they did not even make it to the palace.
Ekong explained that there would normally have been a pre-arrangement informing the king of Obi’s visit and that he would not go to an empty palace.
She further explained that Obi sent a letter to the royal father, but there was no positive response.
The LP Lagos chairperson insisted that Obi respects cultural and traditional institutions, adding that the presidential candidate did not ignore the Oba of Lagos.
THE Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has said elections will not hold in 240 polling units across 28 states in the forthcoming general elections.
INEC chairman, Mahmood Yakubu, who disclosed this on Monday, February 13, at a meeting with leaders of political parties, said there are no registered voters in the 240 polling units as a result of insecurity.
“There are 240 polling units without registered voters spread across 28 states and the FCT. They range from one polling unit to 12 polling units in the states as FCT except Taraba and Imo states, with 34 and 38 polling units, respectively.
“No new registrant chose the polling units, and no voter indicated interest to transfer to them during the last CVR mainly for security reasons. This means that no election would be held in these polling units,” he said.
Yakubu is meeting with leaders of political parties ahead of the general elections.
The meeting is taking place at the INEC Conference Room in Abuja.
The INEC boss pleaded with the political parties to ensure that only accredited agents are allowed into the polling areas.
He stressed that only those with INEC ID cards would be allowed.
The INEC chairman also urged the political parties to call their candidates and supporters to order in the face of violent attacks that have been witnessed in some campaigns in recent days.
The meeting is to bring the political parties up to speed with all the election preparations and remind them of their obligations.
The meeting is still ongoing as of the time of filing this report.
THE Lagos State Police Command has commenced investigation to unravel the circumstances surrounding the death of Whitney Adeniran, a 12-year-old student of Chrisland School, Ikeja, Lagos.
Spokesperson of the Lagos State Police Command Benjamin Hundeyin disclosed this on Monday, February 13.
He said the Pen Cinema Police Division in Agege is handling the preliminary investigation, while the Homicide Section of the State Central Investigation Department, Panti, will take over the case for discreet investigation.
The state government has ordered the closure of the school pending the conclusion of the investigation.
The Commissioner for Education in Lagos, Folasade Adefisayo, issued a statement assuring the public that no effort will be spared in investigating the incident.
She also expressed her condolences to Whitney’s family, friends, and acquaintances and called for calm.
Whitney Adeniran, a student at Chrisland School’s Opebi branch in Ikeja, reportedly died during a sporting event at Agege Stadium on Thursday, February 9.
The parents of the deceased have accused the school of negligence, claiming that no provision was made for emergency response at the event, which resulted in their daughter not receiving first aid at the scene of the incident.
They dismissed the school’s claim that Whitney died from a cardiac arrest. According to them, their daughter had no pre-existing heart condition.
Rather, the parents claimed their daughter was electrocuted.
The management of Chrisland School issued a statement on the incident, claiming that Whitney had reported “not-too-buoyant” health on January 20.
The school said it opted to take her to a health center, not a hospital, based on proximity considerations. The school dismissed any suggestions of foul play in Whitney’s death and said she slumped in public.
The school claimed that the nearest medical facility was identified and the doctor on duty administered oxygen and every possible aid to Whitney.
A FORMER Minister of Aviation and Director of Special Projects and New Media of the Presidential Campaign Council (PCC) of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Femi Fani-Kayode is currently with the Directorate of State Service (DSS) in Abuja.
The Director, Media and Publicity of the APC Presidential Campaign Council, Bayo Onanuga, confirmed this on his Twitter account on Monday.
Before Onanuga’s confirmation, Fani-Kayode had released over a dozen tweets on his verified Twitter account that he was on his way to the DSS office to honour an invitation.
He reaffirmed his claim that there is a plan to scuttle the 2023 presidential poll through a military coup.
He also claimed the presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Atiku Abubakar, was behind the coup plot.
Fani-Kayode had on Saturday, February 11, alleged in some tweets on his verified Twitter account that he read newspaper reports about Atiku meeting with military generals on Thursday, February 9, in Abuja.
How wondered what a presidential candidate would do with top echelons of the military two weeks before the general elections.
“Is this meeting part of the wider agenda to disrupt the elections, destabilise the country, set us on fire, incite chaos and violence, provoke a coup d’etat and establish a new and unconstitutional order in our beloved country under the auspices of knowing that he has no chance of winning the election?
“Is Atiku now working with some members of the cabal, a handful of treacherous and unpatriotic technocrats at CBN and in the private sector and rogue elements in the ‘deep state’ to effect this demonic hidden agenda?” Fani-Kayode,” tweeted.
Responding to the claim, the military advised the country’s secret police – the Directorate of State Service (DSS) – to invite Fani-Kayode for questioning. They also dismissed his allegation.
Atiku also urged the DSS to arrest Fani-Kayode over the claim.
Speaking through the Acting Director of Defence Information, Brig.-Gen. Tukur Gusau, the military said it would always defend the nation’s democracy and not truncate it.
It, however, vowed to make Fani-Kayode and others making such claims account for their allegations before appropriate authorities.
The ICIR reports that since Nigeria returned to democracy on May 29, 1999, after years of military rule, the military has been apolitical.
Atiku said in a statement issued by his Special Assistant, Public Communications, Phrank Shaibu, on Sunday, that relevant security agencies should invite Fani-Kayode.
He insisted that Fani-Kayode’s claim was ‘treasonable’ and should not be dismissed.
According to the former vice president, the allegation should be taken seriously as less serious claims had attracted prompt actions by the security agencies.
Atiku alluded to the late former Deputy Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, Obadiah Mailafia, who got invitations from the DSS and police many times before he headed for court.
He said Fani-Kayode should not be spared because he belonged to the ruling APC.
Here are Monday’s tweets by Fani-Kayode before heading for the DSS custody:
“Three days ago, when I tweeted about newspaper reports alleging that Atiku was secretly meeting with Army Generals. I got a text message from someone who claimed to be DSS asking me to report to them on a matter of national security.
“I dismissed the invitation because it was vague, and I was not sure whether it really came from the DSS. In any case, I had no intention of going anywhere unless I was formally invited. To my surprise, I received a formal letter from them to report to their office without fail two days later, which was yesterday evening.
“I put a call through to them and was advised to take the matter very seriously and report to them on the stipulated day and time; otherwise, the worse may happen.
“I found it interesting that a call came from one of Atiku’s dogs for me to be arrested by the security agencies yesterday, and had it not been for the fact that the DSS had actually sent a text to me two days earlier I may have thought that they were acting on the instructions of what can only be described as a hopeless and desperate presidential candidate, opposition party and PCC who are clutching at straws, drowning fast, seeking to silence those that give them sleepless nights, shivering in despair and staring defeat in the face in the upcoming presidential election.
“Clearly, the DSS were (sic) not influenced by Atiku and were (sic) simply doing their job by inviting me on a matter that needs explanation and clarification and for a thorough interrogation. And, of course, being a responsible and law-abiding citizen, I will present myself before them accordingly.
“Unlike cowards like Emefiele, Atiku and their strange bedfellows, I do not fear my own shadow and neither do I shiver and shake when I am invited by the security agencies.
“I always honour their invitations when properly invited because that is the right and proper thing to do. This is all the more so when it touches and concerns matters of national security, which I take very seriously, and when it involves agencies like the DSS, who are professional and thorough in their methods and approach.
“I have nothing to hide, and consequently, I will present myself before the DSS this morning as I have been asked to do. I maintain my utter contempt for Atiku and the vermin that are around him, and no matter what happens to me today or at any other time, know that as long as there is life in me, I will oppose the darkness and evil that they represent.
“I am used to arrest, interrogation, detention, prosecution, and so much more and have suffered these indignities on many occasions over the last 15 years. I have no fear: nothing moves me, and only death can silence me. The most important thing now is not what happens to me but rather achieving the noble quest to ensure the election of Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu as our next President.
“That is the mission that we must focus on because that is the only way to save our country. I hope that I will be at liberty and free to continue to play my role in that quest, but if I am not and I am detained indefinitely or till the election is over, so be it.
“In such circumstances, be rest assured that I will be praying fervently for Asiwaju’s victory from the inside. For the record, I have said or done nothing wrong or that I should not have said or done, and I stand by everything that I have said or written in the past on all issues.
“It is not a crime to express my concerns about the despicable activities of Atiku, who, in my view, has a hidden agenda and who is so desperate for power that he is prepared to do anything and turn the whole country upside down in order to achieve it.
_May God protect our people and nation from such a shameless and questionable character and such a disastrous plight, and may He continue to be with us all.”
THE Lagos State Government has restricted articulated truck drivers from using some bridges in the state.
The restricted bridges are Ojuelegba and Dorman Long bridges.
The instruction was issued in a letter from the Special Adviser on Transportation to the Governor, Sola Giwa, dated February 6, and addressed to the General Manager of the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA).
The letter was titled, ‘Ban on use of Dorman Long and Ojuelegba bridges by articulated truck drivers’.
Letter from Lagos state Ministry of Transport
The letter is a response to the many truck accidents that occurred around the stated bridges.
The state also aims to stop more casualties through the directive.
“Sadly, on Sunday, 29th January 2023, another tragedy which involved a road accident occurred on the Ojuelegba bridge involving a container-laden truck which fell off the bridge and crushed a commercial bus on the ground which claimed Nine (9) lives and several others injured. Specifically, the State Government has observed that the rising curve of the bridge is not designed to allow passage of long, spacious and heavy vehicles.
“In view of the foregoing, you are directed to apprehend articulated trucks that pass through Dorman Long and Ojuelegbe bridges in accordance with pronouncement of the State Government, in a bid to reduce the spate of avoidable accidents,” the statement said.
Accidents resulting from heavy-duty and articulated trucks have been rampant in recent years and have led to the loss of lives.
In January 2023, an articulated vehicle carrying a 20ft container fell on a commercial bus in the Ojuelegba area of Lagos State, killing nine passengers.
For the past eight years, Abia state doctors have faced many financial difficulties due to the unregulated payment of salary. The medical professionals have seen up to 26-month of their salaries unpaid. Despite this, the Abia state’s Governor, Okezie Victor Ikpeazuseeks election to senate. The ICIR’s Mustapha Usman reports.
Sometimes in 2021, *Nkechi Okoro, a resident doctor at Abia State University Teaching Hospital (ABSUTH) couldn’t bear the embarrassment and pressure of owing children school fees that she resorted to selling her car at a very cheaper price. Okoro has three children in private primary school in Abia state and has to pay a total of about N250,000 to the school every term.
The fee, according to her, is affordable if her salary is paid accordingly, as she did her estimation before sending her children to the school.
Sending children to public primary school in Abia state could be unproductive because the teachers also face months of unpaid salaries, thereby resorting to incessant strikes to let out their plights.
Okoro, who joined the medical profession in 2007, never thought she would face the demeaning situation of not being financially stable to take care of her family’s needs.
This situation was much better for her between 2007-2014 as she was paid regularly by the then-state governor for the service she delivered.
However, since 2015, Okoro has suffered different implications of not getting a monthly salary from the state government. Her children are often sent out of classes for owing school dues.
“There are times we owe up to three months. Just because I am on the friendly side and keep pleading with them, they give me the chance. That’s why anytime I get money from a relative, gift or something, I try to pay off any of the backlogs,” she stated.
Okoro, like many other resident doctors in the state, are being owed 25 months’ salary arrears. Even when some had the chance to move out to other states or countries, they remained, hoping the situation would change.
But now, the hope has faded, and the joy of being a medical professional is now clouded with hunger.
“Initially, I am part of the people that say we can make this happen but suddenly, I am thinking that was just a misconception. Because there is a level of suffering you will get and feel bad for yourself and as I talk to you, I am already sick and tired of the work. I don’t even have joy during work anymore, so if I get a better opportunity elsewhere, I will go to where they will appreciate my work,” she said.
Background
Document exclusively obtained by The ICIR reveals that the state government led by Governor Okezie Victor Ikpeazu upon resuming office in 2015, met seven months withheld salary by the previous administration but also accumulated another four months, making it 11 months during his first year.
Through the intervention of President Muhammad Buhari, the state government cleared the eleven months owed salary in tranches. However, as the state government cleared the months, it kept accumulating another month of unpaid salaries.
President Buhari made an attempt to clear the arrears by giving a bailout fund to the state government. The ICIR gathered that the payments, 22 of the then outstanding arrears were made on August 21, 2015, September 4 and 23, 2015, October 29, 2015, November 30 and December 30, 2015, March 8, 2016, June 8, 2016 and December 29, 2016.
Not knowing that the accumulated months will continue for years, the state doctors ignored the unpaid salary for a few months after receiving the previously owed salaries till they couldn’t bear the brunt again.
Findings by The ICIR confirmed that the residents’ doctors are being owed 25 months’ salaries, Hospital Management Board (HMB) staff members are owed about 14 months, while other cadres of doctors in the state have their 26-month salary arrears unpaid.
Findings by The ICIR confirmed that the residents’ doctors are being owed 25 months’ salaries, Hospital Management Board (HMB) staff members are owed about 14 months, while other cadres of doctors in the state have their 26-month salary arrears unpaid.
Trends of doctors leaving the country
Media reports show that many Nigerian medical practitioners, especially doctors and nurses, have been leaving the country for other developed nations due to neglect and lack of proper attention to the health sector and health practitioners’ welfare.
Many have also blamed the mass exit of medical practitioners on working conditions, adding that Nigeria has failed to address the lingering issue of unpaid salaries.
According to a report, 10.5 per cent of Nigerian-trained doctors are practising in the UK as of July 2020.
In September 2022, the National Association of Government General Medical and Dental Practitioners (NAGGMDP), said over 2,000 doctors had left Nigeria for Europe, Saudi Arabia, and Canada in six months.
According to him, the doctors left for countries where their services were better appreciated, especially Britain. “But in Nigeria, they are poorly remunerated and at times not paid for months in some states, with salaries up to 25 months unpaid in some instances,” he said.
Similarly, the Nigeria Association of Resident Doctors disclosed that six out of 10 doctors in the country plan to move abroad for greener pastures. This is just as it disclosed that there are only 12,297 resident doctors in both the Federal and state tertiary health institutions in the country.
“As of the last time we issued the questionnaire, we found that out of 10 resident doctors, six of them are planning to leave or have the intention to leave. The statistics we had then was in December 2021. So, it’s either they are planning to leave, or they have thought of leaving.”
“Of course, you will agree with me that we are having inflation in the country, and the rate at which our naira is being devalued is alarming. If you compare our pay with the pay where most of these health workers go, you will discover that what we earn here is not up to one-tenth of what they get practising there,” he stressed.
The ICIR gathered that out of the 55 African countries, Nigerian Doctors only earn more (in dollars) than their counterparts in nine countries. This means that Doctors in 45 African countries are better paid than Nigerian doctors.
Meanwhile, despite earning less compared to other African and developed countries, some of these doctors still faced many periods of unpaid salaries amidst the high inflation of things in the country.
Although there are no official stats to back up the actual numbers of doctors who had exited, it should be noted that many doctors have been leaving since at least 2018
Bank loans restriction complicates situations of Abia state doctors
When a doctor, *Ifeoma Okoye visited one commercial bank in 2022 and was told she wouldn’t get a loan, she thought the bank had reached its limit. It was later she realised that medical professionals, especially staff of ABSUTH, have been delisted from receiving loans because of their irregular salaries.
She, “I went to a bank one day, and to my greatest surprise I found out that they had a list of those they don’t give loans. They don’t give loans to them because their salaries are not coming regularly. That was the reason they gave. They don’t give loans to people that work at ABSUTH.”
Okoye, who’s also a resident doctor, stressed that the development makes everything more complicated for her as she now has to resort to getting ‘little change’ from selling second-hand clothes or ask relatives to take care of her needs.
She said, “In August last year, I lost my dad. But I shifted the burial to January this year because I don’t have money. Sincerely speaking, they have to contribute money for me. Doctors had to form a WhatsApp forum where they contributed money. A lot is on me because I am the breadwinner.”
On how she survives the heat, she added, “Here they bring a lot of second-hand cloth, some of these materials that they use to make bedsheets, and I would make it for one or two people that need them. Though the money I earn from that is nothing but that’s what I feed on.”
She’s not alone in this predicament as a couple of ABSUTH doctors interviewed by The ICIR also explained their ordeals and have to forgo any hope of getting a loan from a commercial bank.
*Uju Chukwu, a consultant doctor, also explained that her attempt to process a loan from a bank was rejected three years ago when she needed to sort things out with money.
According to her, the “Abia state government has killed the civil service.”
“The problem in Abia state is not about doctors alone. I know an institution whereby the government has actually wiped off about 15 months’ salary. As far as they are concerned, the 15 months’ salary has been forgotten. The kind of atrocities and things they are during is inhumane. It’s wickedness,” she added.
ABSUTH loses medical course accreditation
The Abia state university teaching hospital has lost its accreditation to admit new students to study medicine and surgery due to the interrupted sessions of the teaching hospital.
The interrupted session could be traced to the agitation and industrial actions over the irregular payment of salaries of its workers.
In April 2021, the Association of Resident Doctors (ARD) in the state embarked on a long and comprehensive strike that lasted till September 2022. The strike, according to the ARD president Nnamdi Erondu, pushed the FG to pay seven of the 27-month salary arrears.
However, their happiness didn’t last long, as September marked the last time the residents’ doctors were paid. The Government has accumulated another four months to the existing ones, translating to another 25 months of salaries arrears.
Although the university is allowed to graduate the already admitted medical students, post-graduate medical students are, however, not allowed to be trained. Similarly, the only accreditation left with the hospital, the Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria (MCDN) is currently being threatened due to the perennial non-payment of salaries.
The state government similarly confirmed that the loss of accreditation is a result of the closure of the university.
“The loss of accreditation was solely as a result of the closure of the Abia State University Teaching Hospital where student doctors are trained and have nothing to do with the technical and professional competence of the University nor the Teaching Hospital.
“The Hospital was closed as a result of issues around arrears of salaries of workers.” the Chief Press Secretary to the governor, Onyebuchi Ememanka said.
Students groan over interrupted session
Some students of the Abia state university who spoke to The ICIR expressed their dissatisfaction over their affected academics, noting that they have added one year to spend in school due to the strike.
A 500-level medical student Onwuneme Loveth U, said ever since she came into the clinical class, the hospital has been on and off.
According to her, the medical students of ABSU haven’t had a steady hospital function for like six months at a stretch.
Nwosu Alexander, a 5th-year medicine student, told The ICIR that clinical classes are a thing of imagination, adding that his class cannot write MBBS professional exams this month due to a functionless hospital facility.
Alexander added, “The unpaid salaries of doctors really put a stop to our studies, especially in the aspect of clinical studies. We are Normally meant to integrate ourselves with the patients and learn the skills that make doctors who they are, but unfortunately, we lack that because of the unpaid salaries of our doctors.
“So, we are just trying to find alternative ways to do them, like attaching ourselves to private hospitals and/or watching videos online.”
Abia NMA steps so far…
Abia state doctors protesting over irregular payment of salary.
Currently, the National Medical Association, Abia branch, is on strike over the non-payment of the arrears. The strike, which they embarked on on December 9, was a result of the failure of the state government to address the issues raised by the National Executive Council of the Association.
The council had, on November 21, 2022, given the state government ultimatum of 21 days to clear the aforementioned salary arrears of its members. But the state government, according to the communique issued by NMA on Sunday, December 4, has shown no serious commitment to the course.
Speaking with The ICIR, Abia state NMA secretary Daniel Ekeleme disclosed that despite the Union attempt to address the issue amicably, the state government is still not ready to pay the salary arrears of the doctors, adding that their offers are not ideal enough.
“The congress turned their technical offer down. And we resolved that going forward, the government must pay at least 50 per cent of the money owed with a documented agreement of paying two months’ salary every month-one month of the current and one month of the arrears until the whole arrears is paid up.”
Governor seeks election to senate despite owing over 117 months workers’ salaries
The Abia State Governor Okezie Victor Ikpeazu
The Abia State Governor Okezie Victor Ikpeazu is seeking to be elected as the senator of the Abia south constituency after serving as the state governor for two terms.
Victor Ikpeazu is the Governor in charge, while the non-payment of the state medical doctors spans 26 months. Also, according to the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Ikpeazu owes workers in different agencies and institutions 117 months of salary arrears and 30 months of pension benefits to pensioners in the state as of November 2022.
A report published by The Guardian, states that “secondary school teachers are owed 14 months; state college of education (technical) 27 months and Abia State Polytechnic 30 months.”
On July 19, 2022, The Abia State Polytechnic lost its accreditation due to non-payment of salaries and allowances of staff members for 30 months.
Abia Gov’t declines comment
On Saturday, February 4, The ICIR contacted the commissioner for information, Eze Chikamnayo, through phone call and SMS, but Eze didn’t respond to both at first. On Monday, February 6, The ICIR again reached out to him through a call and a reminder SMS which Eze also failed to pick up and respond to.
Later that day, this reporter realised that the information commissioner blocked his contact as the service provider stated, “Dear customer, you’re not allowed to call this number.”
Similarly, when The ICIR reached out to the Commissioner for Health, John Ahukanna, he declined to comment, noting that the state government will release a press statement after the official meeting with the governor and doctors, which he said would be next week.
He further declined to speak on some of the doctors’ claims in this report.
*Names with asterisk were changed to protect the speakers.
NIGERIA’S passport has been ranked 96th out of 108 countries globally.
According to a report released by a global passport ranking authority, the Henley Passport Index, Nigeria’s passport ranked below those of countries like South Africa, Kenya, Zambia, Namibia, Malawi, Uganda, Ghana, Morocco, Benin, Burkina Faso, Rwanda, Senegal, Niger, Mali, Chad, Algeria, Burundi and Congo.
The ranking was based on the number of visa-free destinations passport holders can access.
The report stated that Nigeria’s passport holders can access only 46 countries visa-free.
Japan and Singapore topped the list with their passport gaining access to 193 destinations while Afghanistan ranked last with 27.
The United Kingdom, France, Ireland, and Portugal ranked 6th with access to 188 destinations.
The United States, Belgium, New Zealand, the Czech Republic, Switzerland and Norway ranked 7th with access to 187 visa-free destinations.
African countries ranked ahead of Nigeria include Namibia (66th), Malawi (70th), Kenya (71st), Tanzania (72nd), Zambia (73rd), The Gambia (75th), Ghana (79th), Sierra Leone (79th), Rwanda (82nd), Burkina Faso (85th) and Cote d’Ivoire (86th). Niger Republic and Mali occupied the 89th position.
Speaking with Arise Tv on Friday, February 10, the Managing Partner Uk/Nigeria of Henley and Partner Group, Stuart Wakeling, described the ranking as very important.
“It is a very important ranking because it shows the ability of the citizens of that nation to guide you on how many countries they can travel to visa-free or visa upon arrival.
“It is pretty much every single country on the planet and it analyzes destinations that passport holder country has in association with another country.”
Wakeling further stressed that the ranking is aimed at increasing the global mobility of people.
“We are doing this for greater mobility across the planet for increased business opportunity,” he added.
The ICIR earlier reported Nigerian passport was ranked 98thout of 199 countries in the 1st quarter of 2022.
According to the ranking released by Henley & Partners, the Nigerian passport ranked below those of other African countries such as Malawi, Niger, Chad, Zimbabwe, Uganda and The Gambia.
THE presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Bola Tinubu, has suggested measures the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) should take to end the crisis trailing the scarcity of new naira notes.
In a statement he signed on Sunday, February 12, Tinubu said he was not opposed to the currency swap, but to the pains it brought to Nigerians.
He commended the National Council of State, which recommended on Friday, February 10, that the CBN print more notes or redistribute the old notes in its coffers.
Tinubu, a former Lagos State governor, rued the agonies Nigerians have faced since the use of the new naira notes took effect on December 15, 2022.
He expressed delight that the petrol motor spirit (PMS) is becoming more available at fuel stations.
The ICIR reports that fuel and currency scarcity have led to protests in some parts of the country in the past few days and threatened the 2023 general elections, which begin on February 25 with the presidential and National Assembly elections.
While many Nigerians have said the currency swap is ill-timed, others believe making the old notes cease from being legal tender will prevent persons who have kept large funds in vaults for vote buying from using them.
“For the records, I and my running mate, Senator Kashim Shettima and our campaign council do not have anything against the CBN Naira redesign and cashless policy in principle.
“We are, however, only concerned about its disruptive implementation and the hardship it has brought on the generality of our people who currently can’t access their hard-earned money to meet obligations and the attendant consequences on the informal sector, where majority operate,” Tinubu said.
The ICIR reports that Tinubu had said the currency swap and fuel scarcity were targeted at him to make him fail the election.
In his Sunday statement, he recommended the following for the CBN to alleviate the currency crisis.
Following the advice of the Council of States, the CBN should announce that the old and new Naira notes (especially the non-withdrawn notes and coins) will co-exist as legal tender for the next 12 months to follow examples of countries that have successfully implemented similar monetary policy. This will immediately remove growing tension in the country, eliminate panic reactions by the populace and allow time to scale up infrastructural gaps around alternative payment options to cash.
We advise the immediate suspension of associated charges on online transactions and bank transfers and payments via POS until the current crisis is fully resolved. This cost should be considered a roll-out expense by the CBN to incentivise the envisaged shift to alternative transaction channels; for both the financial services consuming public and those in charge of implementing the scale-up programme.
Mobilise all money deposit banks, payment platforms to show clear commitment and timelines on expanding their infrastructure and support services.
Bring in fintech companies with capabilities into the currency swap programme for the next 90 days to help decongest banking halls and ATM points where people line up for hours.
The Central Bank and other relevant MDA’s should form an Inter-Agency Action Committee for immediate oversight over the cash supply gaps from the Nigerian Security and Minting Company and deal with issues around capabilities and turn around time to meet the needs of the informal sector and unbanked people.
The CBN, National Orientation Agency and Ministry of Information, State and Local Governments with their relevant organs in both the public and private sectors should commence a major public enlightenment and sensitisation campaign to further educate and empower our people on the new naira and cashless policy for better understanding and mainstream adoption.
EKITI State has applied to be a part of the plaintiffs suing the Federal Government over the naira redesign policy.
In a statement on Sunday, Yinka Oyebode, the special adviser to the state governor Biodun Oyebanii said the state filed the application on Friday, February 10 through the Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Dayo Apata.
According to the statement, Ekiti State government had several reasons for joining the suit, including the shortage of naira notes, which have created “palpable anxiety” among residents of the state.
“The directive of the Federal Government of Nigeria had affected the livelihood and had inflicted excruciating pain and hardship on all Nigerians, including citizens of Ekiti State,” Oyebode noted.
He also said revenue and taxes within the state had also been adversely affected, and Ekiti had common interest as the other plaintiffs involved in the suit, hence the application.
Three All Progressives Congress (APC) governors had dragged the Federal Government before the Supreme Court in a bid to halt the full implementation of the naira redesign policy introduced by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN).
The governors include Nasir El Rufai of Kaduna, Yahaya Bello of Kogi and Bello Matawalle of Zamfara.
The Kano State government also filed a lawsuit against the Federal Government over the naira redesign policy.
