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#EndBadGovernance Day 1: Dramas that almost scuttled peaceful protest in Lagos

Ehime ALEX
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#EndBadGovernance Day 1: Dramas that almost scuttled peaceful protest in Lagos

THERE were some mild dramas at the police designated protest ground in Lagos State as the nationwide protest kicked-off on Thursday, August 1.

The Lagos State Government had on July 30 secured a court order restricting protesters to the Gani Fawehinmi Freedom Park in Ojota and Peace Park in Ketu.

At the kick-off of the protest in the early hours on Thursday, protesters gradually gathered beside the Gani Fawehinmi Park as the protest built momentum amid heavily armed security operatives.

The personnel include the Nigerian Army and Nigeria Police Force who manned the venue of the two parks with their federal might.

There was also the heavy presence of the Lagos Neighborhood Safety Corps (LNSC) and other security outfits who were supposedly at the venue of the protest to maintain peace.

The youth-led nationwide protest had been planned for August 1 to 10 across the states as aggrieved Nigerians march to the streets in frustration against economic hardships and bad government ravaging the nation.

At the Gani Fawehinmi Park, a pocket of arguments almost turned the protest into a scene of violence as witnessed in some parts of the country.

The ICIR covered day one of the protests at the Gani Fawehinmi Park and reports a few of the scenes that almost scuttled the protest.

Area boys put up resistance

A group supporting the ruling party, the All Progressives Congress (APC) and sympathisers of President Bola Tinubu-led administration initially attempted to stop the protesters who were civil in their conduct.

According to the supposedly “area boys” group, Tinubu has done nothing wrong and the non-Yoruba elements whom they claimed were championing the protest should go to their various states to protest, not in Lagos.

Azeez Omoniyiwa, who claimed to be a politician and phone dealer at the popular Computer Village, repeatedly kicked against the protest.

Azeez Omoniyiwa. Image by The ICIR
Azeez Omoniyiwa. Image by The ICIR

“We don’t want any form of violence. Let us be patient with Tinubu. Give him more time. He is just there for only a year.

“Even during the Emefiele and Buhari regime, they brought in the new note policy. Did you know the hardships on the land then?, he said.

Security operatives resist protesters

At the point when the security operatives were asking the protesters to move inside the Gani Fawehinmi Park and the latter resisted for fear of being caged in, it took the presence of the Lagos State Police Commissioner, Adegoke Fayoade, to douse the tension already building up.

Lagos State CP Adegoke Fayoade. Image by The ICIR
Lagos State CP Adegoke Fayoade. Image by The ICIR

“Don’t turn the protest to violence. You can be rest assured 100 per cent, nobody will be molested. We will provide adequate safety and security for you and that is why we are here,” said the police commissioner.

Protesters’ demands

“We want Tinubu to secure the North and ensure that farmers can go back to the farm to drive down the cost of food because it is the key to food security in the nation.

“It is important that we fix the economy, electoral and educational systems,” a protester and legal practitioner, Joseph Amadi, said.

Joseph Amadi. Image by The ICIR
Joseph Amadi. Image by The ICIR

He said the government needed to restore and boost the manufacturing sector so that the country could become an exporting nation and less dependent on imports.

Amadi said Nigerians needed a mandatory amendment of the Electoral Act to ensure mandatory transmission of election results from the polling units to the IRvF portal.

He noted that businesses and the economy, in general, were crumbling because of the continued epileptic electricity supply in the country while the leaders feed fat at the expense of the masses.

Another protester, Lami Kolus, she said she wanted the country’s leaders to do their jobs and take care of the insecurity in the nation.

She equally called on the government to end prevailing hardship.

Lami Kolus. Image by The ICIR
Lami Kolus. Image by The ICIR

“Our problem is not to give us palliatives. Make the economy stable. “If it is not done, we remain on the streets,” Kolus added.

The protest at the Gani Fawehinmi Park was conducted on Thursday without a central leader as the protesters resorted to continuing the protest on Friday, August 2.

However, there were pockets of slight violence in other parts of Lagos State like in the Lekki tollgate where the police reportedly dispersed protesters with teargas canisters.

Business activities

In the Nigerian commercial capital, business activities were slightly going on around the vicinity of the protest ground. The Ojota motor park was opened and transporters were beckoning commuters to board vehicles to their respective destinations.

There was an unhindered movement of the Lagos’ yellow commercial buses and people were moving freely on the streets. However, fuel stations were under lock and key as well as other corporate businesses.

Meanwhile, the Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu on Wednesday, July 31, had reflected that the tragic events of the EndSARS protest in 2020 should not be repeated in the state.

He noted that the EndSARS protest initially began peacefully but was later hijacked and resulted in monumental destruction and losses, including lives.

“To ensure safe and peaceful expression, the police have designated Gani Fawehinmi Park and Peace Park for protests. These locations will be secured to protect our citizens and prevent chaos,” the governor said.

Bayelsa thrown into darkness as vandals destroy transmission towers

Harrison EDEH
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Bayelsa thrown into darkness as vandals destroy transmission towers

THE Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) has announced the destruction of two of its transmission towers in the Igbooghene community of Bayelsa state.

TCN ‘s General Manager, Public Affairs, Ndidi Mbah, who announced the development in a statement on Thursday, August 1, said towers T98 and T99 along the Ahoada/Yenagoa 132kV line were vandalised on July 29, 2024.

According to Mbah, the incident caused the collapse of both towers, cutting off the power supply to Bayelsa State, including TCN’s Yenagoa sub-station and the Gbarain Power Station, adding that Yenagoa metropolis and the entire Bayelsa State were without power supply.

She, however, stated that the company’s engineer, led by the General Manager of Transmission, Port Harcourt Region, Emmanuel Akpa, accompanied by men from the State Security Services (SSS) inspected the site of the vandalised towers, promising that plans were already ongoing to mobilise a contractor on an emergency basis to reconstruct the collapsed tower buildings.

“This follows an incident on June 16, 2024, where an individual was caught vandalising tower T238 along the Owerri/Ahoada 132kV double circuit transmission lines. Another act of vandalism occurred on June 10, 2024, at the Ahoada Transmission Substation”, Mbah noted.

She urged the public to help in the ongoing fight against the vandalism of power infrastructure nationwide, noting that the company would continue to collaborate with security operatives and host communities including the State Security Services and Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps to combat the menace.

Meanwhile, she said, the company was interfacing with stakeholders including security operatives in Yenagoa to put other initiatives geared towards helping TCN curtail the menace within the state.

“As we continue to work towards a robust grid, it is pertinent to note that a nation’s power sector cannot grow efficiently if funds intended for infrastructural expansion are repeatedly used to replace vandalised equipment”, she said.

The ICIR reported that on Thursday, January 25, the TCN announced a gradual decrease in available generation to the national grid and distribution companies’ load centres.

The organisation explained that the situation was due to gas constraints to the thermal generating companies, which had impacted the quantum of bulk power available on the transmission grid.

Protest: hoodlums, security operatives clash at Lugbe, Abuja

Kehinde OGUNYALE
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Protest: hoodlums, security operatives clash at Lugbe, Abuja

VIOLENCE has erupted in some parts of Lugbe, a satellite town in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), as hoodlums and security operatives clashed, The ICIR reports. 

The hoodlums were seen burning tyres to stop motorists from plying the major highway that connects the Airport Road and the city.

The action led to panic within the residential area as most shops began to close as early as 6 pm.

The ICIR observed that at the sight of the security operatives, people hurriedly dashed for their homes as they headed in different directions out of fear.

The ICIR also observed that security operatives at the scene fired shots into the air to scare the hoodlums, hence increasing panic within the area.

Although this organisation could not identify which officers of the security agencies fired the shots, it can confirm that the shooting continued for more than an hour.

Some residents who fled the scene said the shots fired were teargas, The ICIR observed that a major part of the highway was enveloped with smoke.

As of the time of filing this report, affected areas include Federal Housing Junction, Berger, Car Wash Junction, and Polcie Signborad Junction.

The development might not be unconnected to the #EndBadGovernance protest which started in most parts of the country, including the FCT, today August 1.

The ICIR reported that similar shootings have occurred in states like Kano, Kaduna, Borno and other parts of the country. These shootings have led to a curfew being declared in Kano, Kaduna and Yobe states.

Also, an unconfirmed number of protesters were reportedly shot in a clash between security operatives and protesters in Suleja, Niger State during the demonstration.

The victims were said to have been shot while security operatives were struggling to disperse a group of protesters who mounted a barricade on a section of the Abuja-Kaduna highway. This barricade left passengers and motorists trapped on the road for hours.

Day 1: How ‘End Bad Governance’ protest turned violent in Abuja

Nurudeen AKEWUSHOLA  and  Mustapha USMAN
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Day 1: How ‘End Bad Governance’ protest turned violent in Abuja

DESPITE promises by the Inspector-General Police, Kayode Egbetokun, to protect participants at the ‘End Bad Governance’ protest from harassment and attack, the first day of the protest turned violent in Abuja, the nation’s capital after the security operatives attacked the protesters and prevented them from demonstrating in some designated locations. The ICIR’s Nurudeen Akewushola and Mustapha Usman report. 

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It all started as a peaceful demonstration in Abuja, as protesters gathered at the entrance of Moshood Abiola Stadium in the early hours of  Monday, August 1, which marked day one of the 10-day protest.

Many offices in the city were shut, and the streets appeared deserted due to fear that gripped the city hours to the protest.

For instance, in Wuse, Secretariat, Central Area, and Lugbe, a few cars plied the roads, with many shops and businesses shut.

The ICIR team began by visiting some of the initially designated locations for the protest in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), such as Unity Fountain and Eagle Square. While few or no protesters were present, the locations were heavily guarded by police, Nigeria Security and Civil Defence officers, and military personnel armed with ammunition.

In addition, entrances to Eagle Square and Unity Fountain, like Berger and AYA, were heavily militarized with armed police officers and soldiers.

In the early hours of the day at Eagle Square, about 20 Nigerians chanted different songs and demanded that President Bola Tinubu’s administration #Endsbadgovernance and return subsidies on fuel.

However, the Nigerian police tear-gassed the peaceful protesters, including a nursing mother, who had an infant in her hands.

Speaking with journalists, the woman who refused to give her name, claimed to have lost her husband to bandits recently in Katsina and was prompted by the crisis to join the masses protesting against the ugly situation of the country.

The ICIR reported that insecurity, inflation and a hike in the cost of living among other reasons pushed many Nigerians to stage the nationwide protest.

Tinubu had stopped fuel subsidy and devalued the local currency, the naira, thus causing a spiral hike in food and commodity prices.

Protest kicked off at MKO Abiola Stadium

Many protesters gathered at the MKO Abiola Stadium wielding placards carrying various inscriptions such as’ Hunger is Enough,’ and ‘End Bad Governance in Nigeria’ among others. They marched to Eagle Square at about 11 am.

Protesters in front of MKO Abiola Stadium

The protesters had assembled at the stadium since around 7 am, with dozens of police and military personnel on the ground.

The protest was peaceful at the stadium as the protesters were chanting and voicing their demands. The protesters also appealed to Tinubu to reverse some of his policies and also cut the cost of governance.

Lamenting about the country’s economic hardship, one of the demonstrators, Prince Ojoka, noted that “the protest is to show that we are not happy and not okay with the policies of the government.”

He emphasised the constitutional rights given to the citizens to demand better governance and the right to gather and protest.

According to him, the protest is beyond the new minimum wage, adding that the common Nigerians not on the government payroll bear the brunt of the economic crisis.

“It’s not about the minimum wage, that’s why the labour unions are not here, what about the common man on the streets who does not earn a salary, will the government continue to share money for the state government? What about those that are not working with the government? What policies are going to favour them?,” he queried.

Protesters defy court order, match to Eagle Square

Meanwhile, after spending hours at the MKO Abiola Stadium, protesters marched to Eagle Square, where they had initially planned to converge.

During the demonstration, The ICIR observed how a group of policemen moved in their numbers to resist the protesters from moving from the stadium. But as the demonstrators remained defiant, the armed men rode through their vehicles down to Eagle Square.

There was serious resistance from the police at Eagle Square the moment the protesters headed towards the entrance of the facility.

Protesters marching to Eagles Square

This might not be unconnected from the court order by the Federal Capital Territory High Court in Abuja on Wednesday, July 31, restricting the protesters to the MKO Abiola Stadium.

The presiding judge, Sylvanus Oriji, a Justice issued the order while delivering a ruling in an ex-parte application brought before him by the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike.

Police turned violent, attacked peaceful protesters 

While expressing their grievances with solidarity songs and placards at the road leading to Eagle Square, the peaceful protesters were attacked with tear gas by the security operatives who were stationed at the premises to repel the protesters.

The officers also blocked other popular roads leading to the area.

The ICIR’s team observed that the police fired dozens of canisters into the crowds, affecting not only the protesters but also journalists.

Protesters covering their faces from the teargas
Protesters covering their faces from the teargas

The ICIR also saw a tear gas canister strike a young man in the lower abdomen, leaving a gaping cut in his skin.

The incidents, which occurred in various locations around the axis, saw law enforcement officers response to the peaceful gatherings shift dramatically, leading to outrage.

Protesters return teargas canisters, stone policemen 

Enraged by this development, some of the protesters began returning the tear gas canisters at the police and hurling stones in response to officers’ aggressive crowd control measures.

The ICIR heard some protesters, saying “They (police officers) caused this”. We won’t be deterred by their teargas,” while some also mobilised themselves to continue the confrontation.

The chaos continued as the police kept chasing the protesters while the protesters remained defiant.

The confrontation, which lasted for over two hours, saw the protesters pushed to the Garki, Area 11 Road, over one kilometre from the Eagles Square.

A Police helicopter appeared to be monitoring the situation and was seen hovering around the Central Business District, Abuja where the protesters were chased.

A protester injured by cannister

Police attack journalists

Similarly, two journalists covering the protest at Eagle Square were harassed and attacked by the police officers.

The journalists, including Yakubu Mohammed from Premium Times, identified themselves as media practitioners, with Mohammed wearing a press vest that clearly marked him as a journalist. He also presented his identity card to the police officers.

According to a Premium Times report, the police officers hit Yakubu Mohammed with the butt of their gun and their batons until he sustained injuries on his head.

Mohammed was then arrested and briefly detained in a police van placed near the Head of Service Building near Eagles Square.

Jide Oyekunle, the second journalist was also captured by The ICIR to be dragged by a police officer, but would later be released after the intervention of his colleagues.

These attacks compounded the ugly reality that many Nigerian journalists are facing in the country.

The ICIR reported how several journalists were being subjected to harassment and intimidation by the Nigerian police.

Anti-protest group 

It wasn’t long after the protest commenced at the MKO Abiola Stadium when about 12 buses belonging to the anti-protest group arrived.

The group led by one Blessing Joel consisted of men who appeared tattered and unkempt. Some of them were seen smoking Indian hemp at the protest scene, while some were asking for money to be paid for their action.

The demonstrators who carried placards with the inscription, “No Protest” said they did not want to protest because it was aimed to overthrow Tinubu’s administration.

The ICIR gathered they were promised N5,000 each to frustrate the demonstration.

Meanwhile, speaking with The ICIR, the leader of the protesters, said he said the country needed peace and as such there would be no protest.

“When protests happened in other countries, we saw what happened. If Nigerians say we should engage in protest, they are not planning to do a ‘real’ protest, you will see a lot of blood flowing in the country. Because of the nature of the country when Tinubu met the country, it wasn’t easy but the man is trying. Tinubu is trying,” Joel said.

Like Eagle Square, protesters in Asokoro face police resistance 

Just like at Eagle Square, protesters, in Asokoro, encountered significant resistance from the police.

The demonstration, initially intended as a peaceful expression of hardship, quickly escalated as law enforcement intervened with tear gas.

Tyres burnt on the street at Airport Road, Abuja

The ICIR observed how hundreds of protesters were running down the street linking to Kugbo, Nyanya, and other streets around the area, to avoid the tear-gas plumes.

As of the time of filing this report, some groups were also protesting at Airport Road, Lugbe and Kubwa.

The protest in Lugbe was later hijacked by hoodlums who caused mayhem and burnt tyres on the streets but they were repelled by the police.

Protest: Kano, Yobe declare curfew, Nasarawa youths loot shops

Kehinde OGUNYALE
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Protest: Kano, Yobe declare curfew, Nasarawa youths loot shops

FOLLOWING the looting and vandalism of a complex belonging to the National Communications Commission ((NCC) in Kano State, the state governor, Abba Yusuf, has declared a 24-hour curfew in the state. 

He gave the directive at the Government House, on Thursday, August 1, as part of efforts to contain vandalism and looting trailing the hunger protest in the state.

The governor said, “Based on the power conferred on me by the Constitution of Nigeria as the chief security officer of the state, I have, therefore, declared a 24-hour curfew in the state with immediate effect.”

The ICIR reported that the NCC office in Kano was set ablaze by hoodlums amid hunger protests in the state on Thursday, August 1.

The newly-built office was scheduled for inauguration next week. The office complex was also looted during the incident.

The arsonists and looters were not immediately known when filing this report.

Reacting to the incident, the Minister of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy, Bosun Tijani, described the incident as ‘sad’.

“This building is set to host our buildathon holiday maker programme for secondary school kids, starting next week. A slight setback for our journey to deepen our workforce for technology while creating job opportunities for the youth. Millions of naira down the drain,” Tijani tweeted.

Similarly, the government of Yobe State has declared a curfew in the state for 24 hours.

With this development, the two states have joined Borno State to declare a curfew on the first day of the #EndBadGovernance protest, slated to last for 10 days.

Meanwhile, The ICIR learnt that the Gombe State government is considering declaring a curfew in the state after violence reportedly erupted between protesters and security operatives in the state.

The ICIR reports that a policeman was shot in a clash that broke out between the protesters and a police officer after the officer shot tear gas at the protesters.

The ICIR reports that some protesters have blocked the Keffi-Abuja highway, in Nassarawa State, preventing motorists from plying the road.

Some of the protesters carried placards with the inscriptions: “End bad governance in Nigeria”, and “Bring back fuel subsidy”, among others.

However, some protesters in the Mararaba part of Karu Local Government Area of Nasarawa state have turned violent, as reports say that they burnt and looted shops along the express road in the area.

The ICIR further gathered that the protest had begun in Kebbi State and police officers fired tear gas on the demonstrators in the state capital, Brinin Kebbi.

Protesters, policeman shot in Niger, Kaduna, protest spreads to Adamawa, Edo

Kehinde OGUNYALE
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Protesters, policeman shot in Niger, Kaduna, protest spreads to Adamawa, Edo

AN unconfirmed number of protesters have been shot in a clash between security operatives and protesters in Suleja, Niger state, in the ongoing End Bad Governance protest. 

When writing this report, The ICIR could not confirm the number of protesters shot as some media reports alleged six people, while some said three, and others claimed one person.

However, the victims were said to have been shot while security operatives were struggling to disperse a group of protesters who mounted a barricade on a section of the Abuja-Kaduna highway.

This barricade left passengers and motorists trapped on the road for hours.

A report by Daily Trust noted that some policemen close to the barricade could not control the youths who outnumbered them. However, a reinforcement team was sent to the scene, leading to a commotion.

The report further said that among those killed was Yahaya Nda Isah, a resident of Hassan Dalatu Road, Suleja, who was hit by a stray bullet.

The bullet reportedly hit Isa on his bike in front of the Suleja Police ‘A’ division where protesters had assembled.

Another victim was simply identified as Mallam Abu, also said to have died on the spot.

The spokesperson of the Niger State Police Command, Wasiu Abiodun, said some hoodlums also attempted to set the Tafa LGA ablaze but they were dispersed by security operatives.

“The miscreants attempted to set the Tafa LGA ablaze, they were dispersed by the police and military. Kaduna road and toll gate were cleared”, he said.

Meanwhile, in Kaduna State, a police officer was reportedly shot while the security team tried to disperse protesters in the state with tear gas.

The ICIR learnt that the injured officer was immediately rushed into the police vehicle by his colleagues for treatment.

However, it is unclear whether protesters or hoodlums were responsible for the shooting.

The ICIR also observed that protesters have taken to the streets in Adamawa and Edo states.

In Adamawa State, pro-government protesters gathered in large numbers at Mahmoud Ribadu Square in Yola, the state capital to appreciate President Bola Tinubu for championing local government autonomy and guaranteeing peace in the state.

However, the Edo Police Command lauded protesters over how they peacefully organised themselves and urged them to sustain it.

The Commissioner of Police in Edo, Funsho Adegboye, made this remark at the Kings Square on Thursday in Benin, as he was seen distributing water and snacks to the protesters in appreciation of their peaceful conduct.

Protest: Minister decries burning of NCC office, as looting begins in Kano

Bankole ABE
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Protest: Minister decries burning of NCC office, as looting begins in Kano

THE Minister of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy, Bosun Tijani, has decried the burning of a complex belonging to the National Communications Commission ((NCC) in Kano State.

According to multiple reports, the NCC office in Kano was set ablaze by hoodlums amid hunger protests in the state on Thursday, August 1.

The newly-built office was scheduled for inauguration next week.

The office complex was also looted during the incident. The arsonists and looters were not immediately known when filing this report.

Many youths across the country commenced a nationwide protest tagged #EndBadGovernanceInNigeria on Thursday, August 1.

According to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), some Kano youths who were armed with dangerous weapons took over major roads in the state.

Reacting to the development on X, the minister described the incident as ‘sad’.

He confirmed that the Digital Innovation Park which belonged to the NCC was slated for launch next week to support the government’s technical talent accelerator project.

“This building is set to host our buildathon holiday maker programme for secondary school kids, starting next week.

“A slight setback for our journey to deepening our workforce for technology while creating job opportunities for the youth. Millions of naira down the drain,” Tijani tweeted.

There are also unconfirmed reports of looting and vandalism in Kaduna and Katsina states as the protest spread across Nigeria.

Meanwhile, reports indicate that one person identified as Ismael Ahmad Musa was killed in Hotoro, Tarauni Local Government Area of Kano State during clashes.

It’s uncertain if he was one of the anti-poor governance protesters.

Since the emergence of President Bola Tinubu, there has been unprecedented inflation, with the market prices of food snowballing and more citizens pushed into poverty.

The ICIR reported that the president held closed-door meetings with the traditional rulers and governors over the demonstration.

Similarly, political actors including former presidential candidates, political parties and other stakeholders have reacted to the protest.

#EndBadGovernance protest: Borno government imposes 24-hour curfew

Kehinde OGUNYALE
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#EndBadGovernance protest: Borno government imposes 24-hour curfew

The Borno State government has imposed an immediate 24-hour curfew across the state in response to hunger protests in the state. 

A statement from the state police command said the curfew followed the detonation of an improvised explosive device in Kawori Market, Konduga area of the state Wednesday night.

The explosion was suspected to have been carried out by a Boko Haram suicide bomber leading to the deaths of 16 persons while several others were injured.

According to the Police Public Relations Officer, Nahum Daso, the bomb explosion made Governor Babagana Zulum consult with top security officials before imposing the curfew.

The statements read, “In view of the constitutional mandate of the Nigeria Police Force and other relevant security and law enforcement agencies toward the preservation of law and order in the state. You are all aware of the incident that took place at Kawori which was the detonation of an improvised explosive devices ordinance device which led to the death of (16) persons while several others were critically injured and on admission across various gvernment hospitals in the state.

“In line with our constitutional mandate towards the restoration of law and order his Excellency the Executive Governor of Borno State, Prof. Babagana Umar Zulum in consultation with heads of security in the state, finds it’s expedient to declare 24 hours curfew in the state with immediate effect.

““I, therefore, wish to call upon the good people of Borno State to remain calm and law-abiding. Further developments will be communicated to you accordingly, please.”

The ICIR reported that the hunger protests started in states like Lagos, Sokoto, Bayelsa and Kano, Rivers, Oyo, Borno, Benue, and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) in the early hours of today, Thursday, August 1.

Further findings showed that in addition to eight states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), other states namely Cross River, Abia, Ogun, Imo, Kaduna, Plateau, Zamfara Yobe, Kastina and Gombe also joined the protest.

Recent developments also showed that the protests have begun in Taraba and Delta states.

In Taraba, children and youths were seen taking over the streets of Jalingo, the state capital.

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The protesters who were armed with placards and banners, converged at the Ministry of Works Roundabout and marched towards the Roadblock Flyover.

However, security operatives have asked the protesters to disperse.

Also, in Delta, security operatives were reported to have opened tear gas at protesters in Asaba, the state capital.

Despite violations, senate amends CBN Act to increase FG’s borrowing threshold

Harrison EDEH
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Despite violations, senate amends CBN Act to increase FG’s borrowing threshold

DESPITE violations that characterised previous borrowings, the Nigerian Senate has expeditiously passed a bill for an Act to amend the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN)’s Act to increase the apex bank’s total advances (lending) to the federal government from 5 per cent to a maximum of 15 per cent.

The executive bill, sponsored by Bamidele Opeyemi, the senate leader passed first, second, and third reading during an emergency session of the Senate on Wednesday, July 31.

Ways and Means is a loan facility through which the CBN(as the lender of last resort) finances the federal government’s budget shortfalls. The facility allows the government to borrow from the CBN if it needs short-term or emergency finance to fund important projects.

This law was violated under the Senate Presidency of Ahmed Lawan when the CBN lent N23 trillion to the federal government beyond the threshold stipulated by the Fiscal Responsibility Act.

Meanwhile, the amendment bill initially proposed a borrowing limit of 15 per cent but several lawmakers however cautioned that the borrowing limit should not exceed 10 per cent to ensure fiscal discipline.

Consequently, during a clause-by-clause consideration of the bill, the Deputy Senate minority, Abba Moro, moved for an amendment, that the word 15per cent be substituted for 10per cent in clause 2. The majority of Senators supported this amendment.

Also, the senator representing Bauchi Central, Abdul Ningi, moved for an amendment, that the borrowing should only be limited to capital expenditure but lawmakers murmured in disapproval, and no lawmaker seconded his motion.

Opeyemi in his lead debate, explained that the very essence of the bill is to enable the federal government to meet its immediate and future obligations due to the government’s increasing need for funds to finance the budget deficits and other expenses.

“The Central Bank of Nigeria’s Advances to the federal government are essentially loans that the Central Bank of Nigeria provides to the government to help it meet its financial obligations. These Advances are typically short-term and are expected to be repaid by the government”, he said.

The S]senate leader further explained that the advances will provide immediate funds to address budget shortfalls finance essential government expenditures and help maintain financial market stability by preventing government default on its obligation.

He added that it will inject money into the economy, stimulating economic activity and potentially creating jobs.

He disclosed further that it would also enable the government to support critical sectors like agriculture, health care, and infrastructural development; and lower the government borrowing cost by providing cheaper funds than the traditional borrowing method.

“This amendment is very consequential and it needs the support of us all This is to enable the Federal Government to embark on very important projects that will inflate and rejig the economy especially the Renewal Hope Infrastructural Development across the country.

“This is the first time that both the executive arm and legislative arm are passing a budget that has more capital than recurrent. I therefore urge you all to support the passage of this Bill”, Opeyemi added..

The ICIR in March reported that the  Senate set up an ad-hoc committee to probe the N30 trillion Ways and Means loans of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN obtained under former President Muhammadu Buhari)

The probe committee, inaugurated on Monday, March 11 has not seen the light of the day, despite concerns by financial analysts that the CBN’s over-lending to the federal government influenced Nigeria’s rising inflation year-on-year.

The ICIR also reported at different times how the CBN violated lending to the Federal Government by exceeding the threshold stipulated by the Fiscal Responsibility Act.

There were concerns over failed oversight by the senators who sanctioned the approval without following what the Fiscal Responsibility Act stipulated.

‘I feel your pain’, Fubara addresses protesters in Rivers

Kehinde OGUNYALE
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‘I feel your pain’, Fubara addresses protesters in Rivers

RIVERS State Governor Siminalayi Fubara has told protesters that his government would do everything within its powers to make life easier for the people of the state. 

He said this while addressing the #EndBadGovernance protesters in Port Harcourt, the state capital, on Thursday, August 1.

Fubara said, “I am thanking you because you are here to demand for a better Nigeria. But like I said, I am one of you and I feel your pain. In our government, here, we are doing everything to make life easy for our people.

“But you see, this particular protest that we are doing now, we worry that we know a lot of people are planning to take advantage of this protest to destroy our state, but we will not allow it.

Fubara orders relocation of House of Assembly to Government House
Governor Siminalayi Fubara of Rivers state

“I want to thank you for being peaceful. I already know your problem, and we will communicate it to the federal government. It is not easy but we know with time, it will be well. Starting from our own state, everything will be well. What we need is to support the government and support the policy.

While pledging to.support the people of the state to alleviate poverty and hunger, Fubara said he was not against peaceful protest but would not support any violence protest or anything that would not destroy the state.

The protesters interjected his address with “Mr Governor, there’s hunger” as he attempted to pacify them.

Fubara added that he had no fear that the protest would be hijacked but that the demonstration could be politically-driven.

The ICIR reported that that in addition to eight states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), protests have commenced in other states, including Cross River, Abia, Ogun, Imo, Kaduna, Pleatue, Zamfara Yobe, Kastina and Gombe.

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