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FG woos diasporans with $500m domestic FX-denominated bonds

Harrison EDEH
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FG woos diasporans with $500m domestic FX-denominated bonds

TO maximise diasporans’ economic contributions to the Nigerian economy, the federal government said it would issue $500 million in domestic foreign currency-denominated bonds in August.

The Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Wale Edun, said this on Thursday, July 25, in Abuja during a quarterly press briefing to review the first half of 2024.

The meeting had the theme ‘Economic Recovery And Growth: Progress and Prospects 2024’.

The minister had earlier informed that the domestic foreign-denominated bonds would be issued in the second quarter (Q2) of the year to shore up supply for foreign exchange and address Nigeria’s volatile currency market.

Providing an update at the meeting on Thursday, Edun said the government needed to attract savings Nigerians held abroad.

“We have an open exchange rate system, it’s not illegal and so we have the issuance of a dollar-denominated security, not depending on the financial architecture of the western world, not depending on the kind of architecture that you use to raise euro bonds.

“We’re using the Nigerian financial system, the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), the banking system, the investment bankers to issue $500 million in the first instance that will be available and will attract foreign currency held by Nigerians abroad and anybody else who buys into the macroeconomic reform efforts of President Bola Tinubu,” he added.

He further said the  issue is a challenge to the best and the brightest in the financial markets, adding, “It is due to open in the next three to four weeks maximum.”

Recall, the  Bola Tinubu administration floated the currency and removed subsidies at the onset of his administration which caused lots of problems for the economy.

For instance, the unification of forex rates hits the national economy through debts, with the profile rising to N121 trillion following the floating of the naira and the resultant devaluation by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN).

The devaluation saw the local currency, which was exchanged at N430 to the dollar at the official window before Tinubu assumed office, and as of July 25, 2024, exchanged  N1,603/$ at the official window.

To worsen the concern, Nigeria is not meeting up with the supply side of the foreign exchange because of its inability to meet its crude supply of 1.5 million barrels per day as prescribed by the Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC). This, economic analysts said is affecting the dollar supply to the economy as oil remains the mainstay of the economy.

In addressing these problems, Edun said, the government was not planning to raise euro bonds, adding that moving forward with the idea would depend on the success of the domestic foreign currency-denominated bonds.

“Right now, depending on the success of that issue, there is no talk of looking to go to the international markets to raise the euro bond. It is one of the options that we have. It is the markets are open to us. Our ratings and our performance merit it.

“The market is open to us but we prefer in the first instance to challenge Nigerians to come home with their money and be part of the Nigerian reform success story. That we believe is where the economy is headed,” he further said.

The year 2022 recorded an increase whereby the remittances stood at $20.3 billion and 3.5 per cent of the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) in Nigeria.

In 2023, it witnessed a small decline and amounted to $20.1 billion with a corresponding 3.2 per cent of the GDP.

 

AGF warns LG chairmen against tampering with FAAC allocations 

Bankole ABE
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AGF warns LG chairmen against tampering with FAAC allocations 

THE Attorney General of the Federation (AGF) and Minister of Justice, Lateef Fagbemi, has warned local government chairmen and councillors against tampering with the Federation Accounts Allocation Committee (FAAC) allocations.

Fagbemi, a senior advocate, issued the warning on Thursday, July 25, at the 17th-anniversary annual lecture event of the Human Rights Writers Association of Nigeria (HURIWA) in Abuja.

He told the gathering that for more than 20 years, the majority of the 774 local governments had nearly crippling governance and attempts by previous administrations to address the issue had failed.

He claimed that the administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu filed a case before the Nigerian Supreme Court regarding the LGs’ autonomy because it understood the importance of good governance to security and human rights.

He stated that the apex court’s ruling guaranteeing autonomy for the LGAs would greatly increase security and access to human rights in addition to enhancing local government governance.

He clarified that before the Supreme Court ruling, it was anticipated that state authorities would permit local governments to operate in accordance with the 1999 Constitution, but that never happened.

“We now thought, this money is still coming from the federation, and in a way, the money is meant for the local governments; the federation now says, states be our agents, hold this money for onward transmission to the local government.

“There are two issues: the states were the agents of the federation; when the money got to the states, they became trustees of the local government. So either way, they are to do their utmost to ensure that the funds were not tampered with,” Fagbemi stated.

The ICIR reported that the Supreme Court granted the nation’s 774 Local Governments Areas (LGAs) financial autonomy in a judgment passed on Thursday, July 11.

The judgment was passed in a suit filed by the Federal Government through Fagbemi against the 36 state governors in the country, seeking full autonomy for local governments.

The Federal Government sought the court to authorise the direct transfer of funds from the federation account to local governments in line with the provisions of the Constitution against the alleged unlawful joint accounts created by governors.

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Calls for local government autonomy in Nigeria have increased in recent years, as interference by the state has been identified as a reason for its underperformance.

Former president Muhammadu Buhari had signed an Executive Order in May 2020, to grant financial autonomy to the judiciary, legislature, and local government councils.

Although the governors were opposed to Fagbemi’s institution of the case, the Supreme Court held that the federal government was right in filing the suit to protect the Constitution.

 

Lawmaker, mining host communities push for increased benefits from mining firms

Mustapha USMAN
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Lawmaker, mining host communities push for increased benefits from mining firms

THE Chairman of the House Committee on Solid Minerals, Gaza Gbefwi, said the committee is working to ensure that mining host communities receive five per cent of total benefits from minerals in their domains in the bill seeking amendment of the Minerals and Mining Act.

Gbefwi said the committee arrived at the decision having realised the critical need for mining host communities to receive a fair share of benefits from their natural resources. 

The lawmaker, disclosed this on Thursday, July 25, at a press briefing organised by the Federation of Nigerian Mining Host Communities in partnership with Global Rights, and other civil society organisations.

Gbefwi, also emphasised the significant development the allocation would make in the development of the communities, noting that “the host communities of oil companies have been able to get three per cent as a result of the PIB. Imagine if they had been able to get that three per cent earlier. There would have been massive development all around.”

“The host communities deserve to benefit from their God-given resources. And that is why we are pushing for it. That is why we are proposing five per cent of whatever is gotten for #MiningHostCommunities,” he added.

In addition to the proposed five per cent allocation, Gbefwi discussed the Environmental Remediation Fund, which he said aimed to address the environmental damage inflicted on mining host communities. 

He, however, acknowledged that the predominance of artisanal mining in Nigeria posed a significant challenge.

Addressing concerns about the proposed five per cent allocation being insufficient, Gbefwi argued that it was a meaningful contribution. 

“It’s not small. Bear in mind that mining is very capital-intensive. The government (State and Federal), the mining company and the community share proceeds as is deemed necessary.  So, it’s better a community gets five per cent of something rather than getting 100 per cent of nothing. Now, one mining site has the capacity to make 1 trillion every year. Now imagine five per cent of one trillion every year. It will really go a long way.

Stakeholders’ demands

Meanwhile, the Federation of Nigerian Mining Host Communities and its civil society partners, applauded recent attempts by the National Assembly, to strengthen the legal and policy frameworks to ensure the equitable distribution of benefits derived from the sector.

The CSOs said it had on numerous occasions advocated for the Act to be amended, particularly to reflect the intent of Section 17(2)(d) of the Nigerian Constitution which provides that “the exploitation of human or natural resources in any form whatsoever for reasons, other than the good of the community, shall be prevented.” 

Highlighting their demands, the host communities federation’s chairman, Habeeb Abubakar Wushishi said the CSOs made 12 appeals at the public hearing, which he said bordered around the security and welfare of the mining host communities.

The appeals are:

  • The expansion of environmental impact assessments to environmental and social impact assessments. 
  • Inclusion of civil society organisations and mining.
  • Chairmanship of, and acknowledgment of state autonomy in MIREMCO. 
  • Clarity and specificity on the definition of the term “community”. 
  • Clarity and specificity of the term ‘community development associations’.
  • Community development agreements (CDs). 
  • Regulation of artisanal and small-scale mining. 
  • Separation of regulatory and administrative functions of the ministry.
  • Derivative allocation for mining host communities. Five per cent derivative to host communities and 13 per cent allocation to the state. 
  • Inclusivity in board and committee composition. 
  • Completion of social and environmental impact assessments before issuance of licenses.

Corruption among law enforcement agencies slowing fight against human trafficking, NAPTIP says

Bankole ABE
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Corruption among law enforcement agencies slowing fight against human trafficking, NAPTIP says

THE NATIONAL Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP) has identified corruption among law enforcement agencies and weak legislation as some of the factors militating against the fight against human trafficking in Nigeria.

The agency condemned the rising number of Nigerians who are victims of trafficking and assured that it was revving its efforts to curb the menace.

The Director-General of NAPTIP Fatima Waziri-Azi, represented by the agency’s Director of Public Enlightenment, Kehinde Akomolafe said these at an anti-corruption radio programme, Public Conscience, produced by the Progressive Impact Organisation for Community Development (PRIMORG) in Abuja.

Speaking on an investigation that revealed the extent of brutal treatment and exploitation of Nigerians trafficked to Egypt, the NAPTIP boss said the organisation was aware of such cases and had already started taking action to save the victims.

He also cautioned the public not to accept offers that could jeopardise or dehumanise their lives.

She said long court cases, weak legislation and dishonest law enforcement officers contributed to human trafficking in Nigeria and other parts of the world.

“Corruption is endemic and cuts across other countries of the world, and that’s why trafficking is easily perpetrated in Nigeria and around the globe. You find law enforcement officials aiding and abetting traffickers. Some of them know these traffickers from their operations either at the entry or exit point. They give them something or become too familiar with them.

“Apart from the bribery aspect, we also have officials turning a blind eye to trafficking activities, and that’s why for us at the agency, we are not resting,” the agency’s boss stated.

According to her, the agency, from inception, has secured 672 convictions, 67 in 2023, and 35 persons so far in 2024.

She added that “NAPTIP is winning the war against trafficking but still wants stiffer punishment for traffickers and the support of the judiciary in hastening cases.

She added that the agency was pushing for stiffer punishment against traffickers that would lead to confiscation of their proceeds and other wealth.

She declared that the agency would not take it lightly whenever law enforcement officials were found complicit.

Speaking on the programme, the Editor of Southern Operations, Human Angle Media, Kabir Adejumo said many Nigerians trafficked to Egypt engaged in forced labour and also lived in fear as authorities go after illegal immigrants.

Adejumo said victims who were interviewed during the investigation were eager and willing to return home, but their sponsors threatened to expose them and wouldn’t give them their passports.

He also disclosed that a Nigerian was rescued by the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NIDCOM) and NAPTIP among several victims.

In her contribution, the Director of the Human Angle Foundation, Angela Umoro-David, encouraged NAPTIP to stick to its mission by promptly responding to cases of human trafficking..

Public Conscience is a syndicated weekly anti-corruption radio program PRIMORG uses to draw government and citizens’ attention to corruption and integrity issues in Nigeria.

The programme is supported by the MacArthur Foundation.

Like, military, police, SSS reads riot act against planned nationwide protest

Mustapha USMAN
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Like, military, police, SSS reads riot act against planned nationwide protest

THE State Security Services (SSS) has issued a stern warning to parents, guardians, and community leaders, to advise their children and wards against participating in a planned protest scheduled to take place in various parts of the country, from August 1.

The secret police sounded the warning in a press statement released by its Director of Public Relations Peter Afunanya, via its X handle on Thursday, July 25.

This is despite the constitutional provisions of the constitutionally guaranteed right for Nigerians to protest and assemble.

Under Section 40 of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended), every person is entitled to assemble freely and associate with other persons.

“Every person shall be entitled to assemble freely and associate with other persons, and may form or belong to any political party, trade union or any other association for the protection of his interests,” Section 40 reads.

Also the United Nations Human Rights law stressed on the right of peaceful assembly.

 The law states: “Everyone has the right to freedom of peaceful assembly. The right of peaceful assembly includes the right to hold meetings, sit-ins, strikes, rallies, events or protests, both offline and online.”

The riot acts

Meanwhile, with this latest alarm, the SSS has joined the Nigerian military and other state actors in threatening the ‘organisers’ of the nationwide protest scheduled for the first week of August this year.

The service raised concerns over potential infiltration by elements aiming to incite chaos and extreme violence.

According to the SSS, the planned protest has political motivations with the ultimate goal of discrediting both the federal and sub-national governments, leading to a change in regime.

“The plotters desire to use the intended violent outcome to smear the federal and sub-national governments; make them unpopular and pitch them against the masses. The long term objective is to achieve a regime change especially at the centre.

“The Service has also identified, among others, the funding lines, sponsors and collaborators of the plot. However, it does not think that aggression should be the first line action in the instance, in handling the emerging scenario.

“It has instead, variously applied non kinetic and conflict resolution strategies, including moral suasion, stakeholder engagement and other multi-track diplomatic shuttles, to dissuade the planners from actualising their undesirable objective. 

“Based on the foregoing, the service wishes to warn all the protest groups to eschew any form of proposed rage, anarchy and spoliation,” the statement added.

The secret police urged the agitators to use ample ways available to them to channel their grievances without resorting to violence.

It further called community, CSOs and market leaders to reject any invitations to participate in orchestrated violence

“Similarly, parents, guardians, heads of traditional and academic institutions are respectively urged to advise their children, wards, subjects and students not to take part in the planned protest. Let us all join hands to build a Nation without rancour, bitterness or stained banner,” the statement added.

Military, police, presidency warn against planned protest 

Meanwhile, earlier the Nigerian military had joined other state actors to threaten organisers of the nationwide protest against embarking on the strike.

“The armed forces on its part will not stand by and allow anarchy to befall our nation,” the director of defence media operations, Major General Edward Buba, said at a media briefing in Abuja, on Thursday, July 25.

According to him, organisers of the planned protest intend to replicate the recent demonstration in Kenya, which led to deaths, destruction and drastic actions from the country’s president.

The military’s stance also aligned with the positions of a few other state actors, including the presidency and the police, who also issued stern warnings against any protest.

The Inspector General of Police, on Tuesday, July 23, expressed similar sentiments, warning that: “Some groups of people, self-appointed crusaders and influencers, have been strategising and mobilising potential protesters to unleash terror in the land under the guise of replicating the recent Kenya protests.”

Also, reacting to the different calls for the protest, the Special Adviser to the president on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, on Saturday, July 20, said the presidential candidate of the Labour Party (LP) in the 2023 elections, Peter Obi, should be held responsible for his supporters’ alleged plans to cause mayhem in the country.

According to him, the IPOB and Obi’s supporters are the people spreading the hashtags ‘EndBadGovernance’, ‘Tinubu Must Go,’ and ‘Revolution2024’.

He further described them as anarchists and not democrats, noting that they were attempting to call out their people via propaganda due to Obi’s failure to win the presidency in the 2023 election.

Planned protest: Tinubu meets traditional leaders, after meeting with governors

Mustapha USMAN
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Planned protest: Tinubu meets traditional leaders, after meeting with governors

PRESIDENT Bola Tinubu is currently holding a closed door meeting with traditional rulers at the Presidential Villa in Abuja.

The meeting began at about 2:30 pm when the President arrived at the Council Chamber.

The delegation of royal fathers is led by the Sultan of Sokoto, Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar III, and the Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi.

Also at the meeting are Kwara State governor and chairman of the Nigeria Governors’ Forum, Abdulrazaq Abdulrahman, and Hope Uzodinma of Imo State, who doubles as chairman of the Progressives Governors Foru

While the agenda for meeting remains undisclosed, it may not be unconnected with the planned nationwide protests scheduled for the first week of August against economic hardship ravaging the nation.

This latest development came some minutes after Tinubu and All Progressives Congress (APC) Governors also held a closed door meeting at the Presidential Villa.

According to a report by Daily Trust, the meeting held was also unconnected with efforts by the government to stop the planned nationwide protest.

The ICIR earliier reported how the governors under umbrella of  Progressives Governors Forum (PGF), pleaded with Nigerians to shun the nationwide protest 

At a closed-door meeting with members of the forum on Wednesday, July 25, the group’s chairman and governor Uzodimma, admitted that the policies of Tinubu’s government had caused pains and economic hardship for the citizens.

He expressed confidence that the issues would be resolved by the government.

“We have looked at the various policies of this government, and we acknowledge a teething problem associated with the initial stage of the programme and agree that because we are very hopeful, it is also the solution to the current problem and economic hardship that has befallen our country.

“In a very short time, we are confident that the situation will be restored. Prosperity would come at the end of the day. We use this opportunity to advise our young boys and girls, young men and women, to desist from being instigated into causing crisis or chaos in the country, he said.

Meanwhile, he blamed opposition parties for instigating attacks on the government and harped on patriotism among citizens.

The ICIR reported that some Nigerians, along with a group led by former presidential candidate, Omoyele Sowore, have been mobilising to start nationwide protests in the first week of August.

Reacting to the plans earlier, Tinubu had asked Nigerians to shelve the protests.

He called on the citizens to await his administration’s response to all their demands.

The ICIR reported that the Nigerian military joined other state actors to threaten the protest organisers, warning that the Armed Forces would not stand by and allow anarchy to befall the nation.

APC governors urge Nigerians to shun protest

Itoro ETUKUDO
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APC governors urge Nigerians to shun protest

THE Progressives Governors Forum (PGF) has pleaded with Nigerians to shun the nationwide protest against hardship slated for the first week of August.

At a closed-door meeting with members of the forum on Wednesday, July 25, the group’s chairman and Governor of Imo State, Hope Uzodimma, admitted that the policies of President Bola Tinubu’s government had caused pains and economic hardship for the citizens.

He expressed confidence that the issues would be resolved by the government.

“We have looked at the various policies of this government, and we acknowledge a teething problem associated with the initial stage of the programme and agree that because we are very hopeful, it is also the solution to the current problem and economic hardship that has befallen our country.

“In a very short time, we are confident that the situation will be restored. Prosperity would come at the end of the day. We use this opportunity to advise our young boys and girls, young men and women, to desist from being instigated into causing crisis or chaos in the country, he said.

He blamed opposition parties for instigating attacks on Tinubu’s government and harped on patriotism among citizens.

“Already, Nigerians have suffered enough. The global economic recession, insecurity in Nigeria, political tension occasioned by instigations and campaigns of calumny by the opposition party, and social media attacks on various policies of the government.

“We want to advise for the interest of the country and a show of patriotism. Our citizens must take ownership of this country. We have no other country we can call our own. We took the opportunity also to agree to explain to the larger Nigerians that this government is doing well, he added.

Uzodinma further said that the body was committed to the country’s unity and doing whatever would make Nigerians live better lives.

He however stated that the governors were not aware of the motive behind the planned protest, and it was unwise for anyone or group to protest under whatever guise.

The ICIR reports that some Nigerians, along with a group led by former presidential candidate, Omoyele Sowore, have been mobilising to start nationwide protests in the first week of August.

Reacting to the plans, President, Bola Tinubu asked Nigerians to shelve the protests.

He called on the citizens to await his administration’s response to all their demands.

The ICIR reported that the Nigerian military joined other state actors to threaten the protest organisers, warning that the Armed Forces would not stand by and allow anarchy to befall the nation.

Eni secures regulator’s approval to sell 100% of Nigerian unit to Oando Plc

Ehime ALEX
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Eni secures regulator’s approval to sell 100% of Nigerian unit to Oando Plc

THE Nigerian government has approved the 100 per cent divestment of Italian firm Eni onshore Nigerian assets to Oando Plc, an Indigenous energy solutions provider.

Oando disclosed this to the investing public in a statement signed by its chief compliance officer and company secretary, Ayotola Jagun, on Thursday, July 25.

It said Eni had received formal consent from the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC) for the sale of 100 per cent of the shares of Nigerian Agip Oil Company (NAOC) to Oando.

It noted that the acquisition followed Eni’s receipt of consent, adding that both parties could proceed with the completion of the transaction.

“We are delighted that Eni has received the government’s approval to proceed with the completion of this strategic transaction.

“We extend our gratitude to the Honourable Minister of Petroleum Resources and the Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC) for their concerted efforts in ensuring the execution of the grant of consent under the novel and robust divestment framework established by the recently enacted Petroleum Industry Act,” the group chief executive of Oando, Wale Tinubu, said.

Eni had in September 2023 hinted of its plans to divest its Nigerian onshore assets to Oando following the recent operating environment faced by many companies.

The ICIR reported that the completion of the transaction was to be subject to ministerial consent and other required regulatory approvals.

The transaction, in which the acquisition cost was not disclosed, will increase Oando’s current participating interests in OMLs [Oil Mining Lease] 60, 61, 62, and 63 from 20 per cent to 40 per cent.

However, a report by Reuters, quoting an investment bank, pegged the deal at more than $500 million.

A formal chairman of the Major Oil Marketers Association of Nigeria (MOMAN), Adetunji Oyebanji, had told The ICIR that international oil companies’ exit and divestment was hurting Nigeria’s oil production.

Not less than 15 multinational companies have either divested or partially closed operations in Nigeria in the last three years.

In a report, the ICIR chronicled some of the companies that were left under harsh economic realities in the last year of President Bola Tinubu’s administration.

Trump: Inside US presidents who faced assassinations, survived attempts

Itoro ETUKUDO
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Trump: Inside US presidents who faced assassinations, survived attempts

ON Saturday, July 13, the former President of the United States (US) and Republican candidate in the upcoming elections, Donald Trump, escaped an assassination attempt.

Trump was shot in his right ear during a political rally in Pennsylvania. He was rushed off stage by the Secret Service after the shooting.

The FBI later identified the shooter as Thomas Matthew Crooks, a 20-year-old from Pennsylvania after being killed by law enforcement.

The incident led to the death of two persons – the gunman and an attendee, Corey Comperatore, leaving Trump and two other spectators wounded.

Timelines of assassination plots

Trump is not the only ex-president or presidential candidate to have faced an attempted assassination. In the history of America’s presidency, about ten presidents and presidential candidates have either been assassinated or experienced an attempt.

Abraham Lincoln

Lincoln was the 16th president of America and the first to be assassinated. He was shot in the back of his head on April 16, 1865, by John Wilkes Booth during a special performance of the comedy “Our American Cousin” which he attended with his wife, Mary Todd Lincoln, at Ford’s Theatre in Washington.

After the incident, he was rushed to a house across the street from the theatre for medical treatment but died the following morning. He was succeeded by the vice president, Andrew Johnson. However, his killer, Booth was shot and killed on April 26, 1865, after he was found hiding in a barn near Bowling Green, Virginia.

James Garfield

James Garfield was the second US president to be assassinated. He was the US’ 20th president and was shot four months after taking the oath of office on July 2, 1881, while walking through a train station in Washington to catch a train to New England.

Shot by Charles Guiteau, Garfield was laid at the White House for several weeks. However, he died in September holding office for just six months. Guiteau was eventually caught by the police and executed in 1882 while Chester Arthur, the vice, took over as the 21st president of the United States.

William McKinley

McKinley was the 25th president of the United States. He was shot twice in his chest while shaking hands with people passing through a receiving line after giving a speech in Buffalo, New York, on September 6, 1901. He died on September 14 of the same year, barely six months after the beginning of his second term in office. He was succeeded by his vice, Theodore Roosevelt.

A 28-year-old Detroit resident, Leon F. Czolgosz admitted to the shooting and was found guilty at trial. He was executed in an electric chair on October 29, 1901.

Franklin D. Roosevelt

Roosevelt was the 32nd president and longest-serving U.S. president. He is the only president to have served more than two terms. As the president-elect in February 1933, Roosevelt had just given a speech in Miami Guiseppe when Zangara fired five shots at him but missed his target and instead killed the Mayor of Chicago, Anton Cermark. Zangara was however convicted and sentenced to death.

Harry S. Truman

Harry Truman, the 33rd president escaped an attempted assassination in November 1950 after two gunmen broke into Blair House, across the street from the White House. The incident led to the death of a White House policeman and one of the assailants during an exchange of gunfire, leaving two other White House policemen wounded.

The remaining assailant, Oscar Callazo was arrested and sentenced to death. In 1952, Truman commuted the sentence to life in prison. He was however released from prison in 1979 by President Jimmy Carter.

John F. Kennedy

The 35th president, John Kennedy, was shot by a hidden assassin in November 1963. He was rushed to Parkland Memorial Hospital where he died.

He was succeeded by Vice President Lyndon B. Johnson, who was sworn into office in a conference room aboard Air Force One, the only president to take the oath of office on an aeroplane.

Gerald Ford

The 38th US president, Gerald Ford faced two assassination attempts in 1975 but was not hurt in any of the incidents.

On the first attempt, Ford was travelling to Sacramento for a meeting with the governor of California when Lynette “Squeaky” Fromme, a disciple of Charles Manson, squeezed up and through a mob on the street, pulled out a semi-automatic pistol, and aimed it at the president.

But the gun was not fired. Fromme was then sentenced to prison and released in 2009.

Seventeen days after the first attempt, another woman, Sara Jane Moore, fired a shot at Ford while he was outside a hotel in San Francisco.

She missed the first shot and was caught on her second attempt. Moore was sent to prison and released in 2007.

Ronald Reagan 

In March 1981, Reagan was shot by John Hinckley Jr. after delivering a speech in Washington, D.C. He was shot alongside three other people, including his press secretary, James Brady, who was partially paralysed as a result. Reagan eventually recovered from the shooting.

However, after a jury declared Hinckley not guilty by reason of insanity for shooting Reagan, he was taken into custody and placed in a mental health facility.

A judge then declared that he was “no longer a danger to himself or others,” which resulted in his release from court supervision. Reagan was the USA’s 40th president.

George W. Bush

In 2005, George W. Bush, the 43rd president of the United States, was attacked with a hand grenade while he and the Georgian president Mikhail Saakashvili were attending a rally in Tbilisi.

The cloth-wrapped bomb fell about 100 feet from the two men, who were protected by a bulletproof barrier. However, nobody was harmed, and the grenade did not explode.

Presidential candidates that were assassinated/faced attempted assassination
Theodore Roosevelt 

Theodore Roosevelt, who served as the 26th president was shot while he was campaigning to return to the White House in 1912. He was not seriously hurt.

Robert F. Kennedy

In 1968, Robert Kennedy, who was running for the Democratic presidential nomination, was assassinated just after he delivered his victory speech for winning the California primary. The shooting also left five other people injured.

George C. Wallace

In 1972, presidential candidate, George Wallace was shot during a campaign in Maryland while he was seeking the Democratic presidential nomination. He became paralysed from the waist down after the incident.

Arthur Bremer, the person who fired the gun was convicted and sentenced to prison but was released in 2007.

Death toll rises in Lagos building collapse

Bankole ABE
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Death toll rises in Lagos building collapse

DEATH toll has risen to five at a collapsed building on Wilson Mba Street, Arowojobe Estate Maryland, Lagos State.

The incident happened in the early hours of Thursday, July 25, and three persons were earlier confirmed dead from the tragedy.

According to the Lagos State Emergency Management Authority, (LASEMA) at least five yet-be-identified persons were recovered dead from the debris while five others were rushed to a nearby hospital for treatment.

After the rescue operation, the Permanent Secretary of LASEMA, Femi Oke-Osanyitolu confirmed more casualties at the collapsed building.

“A total number of dead is now five, adult males and a total number of five persons rescued and receiving medical treatment,” Oke-Osanyitolu stated.

The official said search and rescue operations were swift leading to the rescue of some victims.

According to him, three adult males were recovered dead shortly after the incident, and two male adults were rescued alive. One male adult was trapped under the rubble and but was subsequently rescued alive by the LASEMA and the Lagos State Fire Service.

“All the six men were site workers. They are receiving pre-hospital care on location while SEHMU has been contacted for the remains of the three fatalities,” Oke-Osanyitolu stated.

The Nigerian Police Force (NPF), LASEMA, Lagos State Rescue and Fire Service, and other rescue teams were among the emergency organisations on the site of the incident.

The incident occurred around midnight when three terraces under construction unexpectedly fell.

An eyewitness reported that the incident happened at about 3:58 in the morning.

The ICIR reports that there have been several incidents of building collapse in Lagos State. In the last years, the state has recorded no less than 115 incidents of building collapse.

According to LASEMA, between January and July 2022, the state recorded no less than 30 cases of building collapse.

In some cases, there were no fatalities, while in others, scores of people perished in the rubble.

For instance, a 21-storey building located at Gerard Road, Ikoyi, caved in in November 2021 leading to the death of about 45 people.

Also, the collapse of the Lekki Gardens in Ikoyi in 2016 claimed about 35 lives.

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