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Marketers mum over price hike as PMS queues worsen in FCT, Kaduna

Harrison EDEH  and  Ehime Alex
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Marketers mum over price hike as PMS queues worsen in FCT, Kaduna

SENIOR officials of major petroleum marketers across the country have kept mum over possible price hikes following a build-up of longer fuel queues.

Various union bodies of petroleum marketers have yet to issue an official statement on the scarcity, and many filling stations in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) and Kaduna state have shut down.

The ICIR called the Major Oil Marketers Association of Nigeria (MOMAN) for its response to the situation, but calls and messages sent to its leadership were not replied to.

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The queue build-up may not be unconnected with the global surge of Brent crude, which sells at 89.22 per barrel, and the possible move to hike the price by marketers.

The $89.22 per barrel price puts the average official cost of fuel at about N900 if freight charges and logistic costs are built into the cost as Nigeria waits for the take-off of the Portharcourt and Dangote refineries, which could bring down the price by about 15 per cent.

Nevertheless, the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) has pegged the price at N617 per litre in Abuja and about N600 in some parts of the country.

It continues with its price peg despite the deregulation of the petroleum upstream and downstream sectors.

Findings showed that in Lagos, there are insignificant fuel queues in the metropolis and Ogun States on Thursday, April 25, amid growing fears of possible fuel hikes.

The ICIR reporter in Lagos also observed Gbagada, Ojudu-Berger, and some filling stations along the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway; fuel was sold relatively at N635 in most filling stations, not NNPC Ltd.

However, following the panic buying in other states, the NNPCL said it had resolved the cause of the challenge in the fuel supply.

The NNPCL disclosed this in a statement on Thursday by its chief corporate communications officer, Olufemi Soneye.

“The Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC Ltd.) wishes to clarify that the tightness in the supply of premium motor spirit currently being experienced in some areas across the country is due to logistics issues, which have been resolved,” the statement said.

The state-owned oil company reiterated that the prices of petroleum products were not changing.

It urged Nigerians to avoid panic buying, adding that the product was in large quantity in the country.

NNPC’s pump price selling below N600 in Lagos

The pump price of petrol at the NNPCL filling stations in Lagos state is below N600 per litre, while it has gone above N600 in other filling stations.

At the NNPCL filling stations in Ojudu-Berger and Alapere-Estate, the pump price of fuel is at N568, while other filling stations not owned by NNPCL were selling at a higher rate.

A TotalEnergies filling station along the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway, around the Alausa-Secretariat, was selling at N603, while a Conoil filling station a few meters away was selling at N608.

A fuel attendant at Conoil told the reporter that most of the filling stations, like Conoil and Mobil, could sell at a cheaper rate than other filling stations owned by individuals.

“The marketers that have depots like Coniol, Mobil, and others will sell at a lower price than filing stations that are owned by private individuals who do not have depots,” the fuel attendant said.

In some privately owned filling stations, the pump price of fuel was about N640.

At Petrocam filling station in Mowe, Ogun State, the pump price of fuel was selling for N640 and Ardova at N635.

Queues in Abuja

In Abuja, the fuel queue is intensifying with some marketers selling above N700.

A motorist, Babajide Ayetoto, lamented that he had been in the queue at NNPCL in Kubwa Road since 7 am.

He wondered what could have resulted in the fuel scarcity this time.

“I have been here since 7 am today, yet no assurance that I could get the product. The situation is terrible. I wonder what could be the reason for this hardship”, he stated.

A resident of Lugbe in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nnamdi Okorie, said the situation was the same at the Wuye area where he queued to buy fuel.

“I queued at Shafa filling station, Wuye, for hours before I could get the product. On my way from Lugbe, I could not see any filling station dispensing”, he said.

Checks by The ICIR on Wednesday and Thursday showed that virtually all fuel stations along the Airport Road and Kuje community of the FCT were shut.

Recall that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s government removed fuel subsidies, causing the pump price of fuel to rise to between N617 and N690 per litre from N238.

PMS scarcity as fuel sells N1,000 in Kaduna

Kaduna residents are grappling with severe fuel scarcity, with motorists compelled to purchase the product for as much as N1,100 per litre from black market vendors.

Findings showed that many residents going to work were stranded due to fuel scarcity across the state, and very few commercial operators provided services.

Most filling stations were not dispensing fuel, and the few that did hiked the pump price to between N750 and N810 per litre. Despite the hike, long queues were seen at the stations.

A resident, Mohammed Amin, said he bought two litres for N2 200. He stated that if the problem persisted, he would abandon his vehicle at home and opt for commercial transportation.

Findings showed that commercial operators also use the scarcity to hike their fares.

A commuter, Amina Isa, who said she usually paid N100 from the NNPCL filling station in Millennium City in the state to a roundabout where she picked another tricycle to her destination, said, “After waiting three hours without getting a ride, I had no option but to board the next available keke who charged me N300 to the same destination.


    Naira depreciates further to 1,400/$ amid rising dollar demand

    Harrison EDEH
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    Naira depreciates further to 1,400/$ amid rising dollar demand

    THE Nigerian naira depreciated further on Thursday, April 25, and was exchanged for N1,400 against the US dollar on the black market despite the Central Bank of Nigeria’s (CBN) below-market-rate sales to Bureau De Change Operators (BDCs).

    Findings showed the depreciation followed renewed demand pressure in the foreign exchange (FX) market.

    Economic analysts said the naira is under pressure because of Nigeria’s weak exports and inability to meet the Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) quota assigned to Nigeria at 1.7 million barrels per day.

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    “The fiscal side needs to take responsibility and show it is working, the structural issues are still there, and food inflation is so high. The monetary policy is not enough. Already, the naira has lost about N400 against the US dollar this month, as dynamics changes in Nigeria’s foreign exchange market,” an economist, Olumide Adesina, said in reaction to the naira’s depreciation.

    With the current exchange rate, the naira has lost 19.64 per cent in two weeks compared to N1,125 per dollar quoted on April 12, 2023, on the parallel market, popularly called the black market.

    On Wednesday, the naira depreciated to N1,308.52 per dollar at the Nigerian Autonomous Foreign Exchange Market (NAFEM).

    Compared to the level on April 12, 2024, the naira has weakened by 12.69 per cent from N1,142.38 per dollar in the last two weeks, according to data from the FMDQ Securities Exchange.

    The naira has retreated this week as dollar liquidity dips on the back of the exit of some foreign portfolio investors spooked by the Israel-Hamas war and a stronger dollar.

    “The market needs exchange rate hedging products to manage volatility. CBN may not intervene fully in the market because they have been called out severally for dipping the reserve in their interventions. In the coming days, speculators may dominate the market,” an economist, Kingsley Obiakor, said.

    Alleged fraud: court orders arrest of former NILDS DG

    Bankole ABE
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    Alleged fraud: court orders arrest of former NILDS DG

    A FEDERAL High Court in Apo, Abuja, has ordered the arrest of the former Director General of the National Institute for Legislative and Democratic Studies (NILDS), Ladi Aisha Hamalai, over her failure to appear in the fraud case preferred against her by the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC).

    The Court was presided over by a judge, C. O. Oba, who issued the bench warrant for the arrest on Monday, April 22, 2024, following her repeated failure to appear in court to defend herself. 

     The ICPC lawyer informed the court that it was the fourth consecutive time the accused had failed to honour the commission’s invitation to appear in the case, having been adequately served.

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     According to the ICPC in the suit charge number FCT/HC/CR/312/23, the commission is accusing Hamalai of using her office to confer corrupt advantage upon herself by requesting the sum of N12 million to rent a guest house for her office but used the amount to purchase a property for herself at Gwarimpa area of Abuja.

    In a four-count charge, the commission also accused the former DG of requesting another N29 million to furnish the building as a government guest house. 

     The ICPC prosecutor, Michael Adesola, told the court that the former Hamalai had been served the arraignment notice but was surprised she was not in court.

    On her part, Hamalai’s counsel, Olayemi Afolayan, informed the court that her client was sick, the reason she was absent.

    However, the judge ruled that having failed to appear in court, the ICPC should effect her arrest and produce her in court at the next adjourned date.

     The matter has since been adjourned till September 9.

    The NILDS is a capacity-building organisation of the National Assembly that offers technical assistance to Nigeria’s legislature and other democratic establishments. It was established under the Legislative Studies Act on March 2, 2011. 

    Floods kill 155 in Tanzania, 45 in Kenya

    Itoro ETUKUDO
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    Floods kill 155 in Tanzania, 45 in Kenya

    ABOUT 155 people have died from flood and landslides caused by El Niño in Tanzania, leaving at least 236 injured, the country’s Prime Minister Kassim Majaliwa said on Thursday, April 25.

    According to Majaliwa, over 10,000 houses were damaged, with about 200,000 people being affected.

    He warned that the rains might continue into May and urged families to leave flood-prone areas.

    “The heavy El Nino rains, accompanied by strong winds, floods, and landslides in various parts of the country, have caused significant damage. These include loss of life, destruction of crops, homes, citizens’ property, and infrastructure such as roads, bridges, and railways,” he said.

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    Like Tanzania, heavy rains have also swept through other countries in East Africa, including Kenya and Burundi, causing a humanitarian crisis in the region.

    Kenya has experienced severe rain since mid-March, but the downpours have worsened over the last week, resulting in widespread flooding.

    Since the rains began, around 45 people have died as a result of flooding in Kenya, with 13 dead in Nairobi this week, while over 96,000 people have been displaced in Burundi.

    Kenya’s president, William Ruto, called for an emergency multi-agency meeting and ordered the army to help with rescue operations as the rains pounded large parts of the country.

    The rains caused floods that engulfed homes and blocked roads and bridges in some slum areas of the capital.

    With forecasts predicting additional heavy rains, Kenyans have been cautioned to remain vigilant, as residents residing in the most flood-prone areas would be relocated.

    During a press briefing, the country’s deputy speaker, Gladys Boss, told reporters that “the government would do whatever it takes, apply all the required resources in terms of money and personnel to make sure that lives are not lost and the people of Kenya are protected from this disaster.”

    Nigeria remains world’s most burdened country with malaria cases, deaths

    Mustapha USMAN
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    Nigeria remains world’s most burdened country with malaria cases, deaths

    NIGERIA remains world’s malaria capital, despite making significant strides in reducing cases and deaths from the disease over the past two decades, according to the World Health Organisation’s (WHO) data.

    As the country joins the rest of the world to commemorate this year World Malaria Day, today, April 25, The ICIR presents how the country has fared with the scourge.

    Public health experts who spoke with The ICIR urged Nigerians to utilise available services and support the government’s efforts to combat the disease.

    They called on government at all levels to be more committed to tackling the menace.

    They also solicited sustained commitment to the fight against the scourge.

    Caused by parasites transmitted to people through the bites of infected female Anopheles mosquitoes, malaria is a preventable and curable major public health issue affecting millions of Nigerians.

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    The disease, mostly found in tropical countries, can be life-threatening, with nearly half of the world and 97 per cent of Nigeria’s population at risk of the disease.

    For instance, in 2021, there were approximately 249 million reported cases of malaria, leading to about 608,000 deaths.

    Nigeria (26.6 per cent), the Democratic Republic of the Congo (12.3 per cent), Uganda (5.1 per cent), Mozambique (4.1 per cent) and Angola (3.4 per cent) collectively represented half of the total malaria cases worldwide.

    Also, Nigeria (31.3 per cent), the Democratic Republic of the Congo (12.6 per cent), Tanzania (4.1 per cent), and Niger (3.9 per cent) together accounted for slightly more than half of all malaria-related deaths worldwide.

    While individuals of all ages are susceptible to the disease, children and pregnant women are particularly vulnerable and prone to experiencing complications. This heightened susceptibility puts them at a higher risk of severe illness and increases the likelihood of mortality, especially among children under five.

    Experts who spoke with The ICIR disclosed that a higher prevalence is generally observed in the northern states compared to the southern states.

    They also noted that the Nigerian government has taken proactive measures over the years to reduce the spread and prevalence of the disease, focusing on reducing it to at least 10 per cent by 2025, but minimal successes have been recorded.

    Why Nigeria continues to grapple with malaria

    Despite concerted efforts and interventions, Nigeria continues to face significant challenges in its fight against malaria, said Adewale Adeleye Samuel, medical doctor and a senior registrar at the Department of Public Medicine, University of Abuja Teaching Hospital. 

    Samuel said it was important to look into the factors contributing to this persistent struggle, noting that the government had implemented several strategies to reduce the prevalence of the disease over the years.

    He also noted that while the government needed to do more to sensitise and distribute insecticide-treated nets (ITNs) to people in marginalised communities, citizens should also use ITNs instead of selling them.

    “Before now, we had ITN in circulation. But then we had incidents of people storing them in their houses, and at the end of the day, they started selling them. There are two issues here: One is there’s a difference between you giving them and them using them. So that is the place where I think the government should come in,” he said.

    Also, according to the 2022 WHO report on malaria in Nigeria, the disease continues to take a toll on people’s health, especially young children. The WHO estimates that malaria accounted for 20 per cent of all deaths in children under five in 2021. 

    Compared with other countries with high malaria prevalence in the WHO African region, Nigeria, despite its efforts, experienced disruptions to essential malaria services. 

    These disruptions are estimated by WHO to have resulted in an additional 480,000 malaria cases and 10,000 malaria-related deaths.

    WHO also states that in 2021, about 37 per cent of children under five did not receive care within two weeks when they had a fever, and only a quarter of all children with fever got tested. Among those who sought care, only 39 per cent were tested.

    Despite recent improvements, malaria parasitological diagnosis remains low in Nigeria, leading to inappropriate treatment of patients and irrational use of malaria drugs. 

    The global health body also cites lack of state ownership, poor budgetary allocations, and high out-of-pocket expenditures as contributing factors.

    Strides in malaria intervention

    The 2021 Nigeria Malaria Indicator Survey (NMIS) revealed that malaria prevalence in Nigeria fell from 42 per cent in 2010 to 27 per cent in 2015, then to 23 per cent in 2018 and 22 per cent in 2021.

    WHO also observes that despite the significant burden and the hurdles posed by the COVID-19 pandemic, malaria incidence has decreased by 26 per cent since 2000, noting that the decline is evidenced by a decrease from 413 cases per 1000 population in 2000 to 306 cases per 1000 in 2021.

    Before the pandemic in 2019, WHO says malaria incidence stood at 302 cases per 1000 population.

    In the same period, the malaria mortality rate (i.e. deaths per 1000 population at risk) fell by 55 per cent from 2.1 per 1000 population in 2000 to 0.9 per 1000 population in 2021. Malaria mortality rate in 2019 was 1.2 per 1000 population. 

    “Between 2009 and 2021, about 220 million insecticide-treated nets (ITNs) were distributed in 37 States. The proportion of the population who slept under ITNs the night before the survey increased from 22.9 per cent in 2010 to 36.4 per cent in 2021. The percentage of children under the age of five who slept under an ITN the night before the survey increased from 28.9 per cent in 2010 to 41.2 per cent in 2021. 

    “The coverage for the intermittent preventive treatment of malaria in pregnancy – receiving two or more doses of sulfadoxine-pyrimethamine (SP) – rose from 22 per cent in 2015 to 26 per cent in 2020, it declined to 23 per cent in 2021,” the report added.

    The public health expert, Adewale Adeleye Samuel, explained that the government had tried to control malaria through several intervention programmes.

    “A lot of programmes have come over the years. Roll Back Malaria; a lot of them just want to see that malaria is being controlled. The last strategic plan, the National Malaria Strategic Plan that we were looking at the end of 2025, aimed at reducing the prevalence of malaria to less than 10 per cent and then looking at mortality, especially among children now, to be less than 50 per 1000 births. 

    “So, all these efforts, put together, are the efforts by the government, through the Federal Ministry of Health, to ensure that malaria is under control.”

    Looking forward

    Proferring solutions to the prevalence of malaria in Nigeria, a public health practitioner, Michael Olarewaju, emphasised the need for the government to expand ITN distribution and ensure proper use across the country.

    He also highlighted the need to improve access to rapid diagnostic tests and effective antimalarial treatments, invest in research for new prevention and control strategies, including vaccines, and promote community awareness about malaria prevention measures.

    On his part, Samuel called for improved budgetary allocations and investment in research for medical practitioners.

    Access to quality malaria treatment still eludes many – WHO

    Mustapha USMAN
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    Access to quality malaria treatment still eludes many – WHO

    THE World Health Organization (WHO) has bemoaned the alarming disparities in access to quality malaria treatment, particularly in low-income countries.

    It said millions lacked access to life-saving treatments, perpetuating a cycle of suffering and death.

    In key messages to commemorate the 2024 World Malaria Day (WMD), the global health body said progress in reducing malaria had stalled in recent years. 

    The commemoration had the theme, “Time to deliver zero malaria: invest, innovate, implement”.

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    The WHO said not only did malaria continue to endanger health and cost lives directly, but it also perpetuated a vicious cycle of inequity, impacting vulnerable groups like pregnant women, infants, children under five, refugees, migrants, internally displaced people, and indigenous peoples.

    “The WHO African Region shoulders the heaviest burden of the disease – accounting, in 2022, for 94 per cent and 95 per cent of malaria cases and deaths. Rural populations in the African region living in situations of poverty and with less access to education are the most impacted. In view of the current trajectory, critical 2025 milestones of the WHO global malaria strategy for reductions in malaria cases and deaths will be missed.

    “Why are pregnant women, young children and other groups in vulnerable situations not accessing the malaria services they need? On World Malaria Day 2024, WHO joins the RBM Partnership to End Malaria and other partners in highlighting barriers to health equity, gender equality and human rights in malaria responses worldwide – as well as concrete measures to overcome them,” the statement added.

    The WHO urged the world against inequality in emphasised quality healthcare, noting that despite everyone having the right to quality, timely, and affordable services to prevent, detect, and treat malaria, this is not a reality for all.

    According to the agency, infants and young children have continued to suffer the greatest mortality, with an estimated four out of five malaria-related deaths in the African Region among children under five years of age in 2022. 

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    “Pregnancy reduces a woman’s immunity to malaria, making her more susceptible to infection and increasing her risk of severe disease and death. Gender inequalities, discrimination and harmful gender norms heighten her risk of contracting the disease. If untreated, malaria in pregnancy can cause severe anaemia, maternal death, stillbirth, premature delivery, and low-birth-weight babies.

    The agency urged an end to discrimination and stigma and called for community involvement in health decisions, closer healthcare provision through primary healthcare, and addressing factors increasing malaria risk, including integrating malaria control into universal health coverage.

    FAAN confirms fire outbreak in Lagos airport, diverts flight operations

    Ehime ALEX
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    FAAN confirms fire outbreak in Lagos airport, diverts flight operations

    THE Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) has confirmed the fire at Murtala Mohammed Airport (MMA) in Lagos in the early hours of Thursday, April 25.

    The FAAN confirmed this in a statement on Thursday by its director of public affairs and consumer protection, Obiageli Orah.

    The over-an-hour-long fire incident has forced the airport authority to divert all flight operations in Terminal 1 to the D Wing.

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    “At 05:29 hrs, smoke was detected billowing from the E54 Bridge, leading electrical engineers to immediately cut off power to the entire E Wing. The Airport Rescue and Firefighting Service (ARFFS) team was quick to respond, arriving at the scene by 05:30 hrs. Initial suspicions point to sparks from an electrical unit as the cause, but a thorough investigation is ongoing to ascertain the cause of the fire.

    “In the meantime, all flight operations in Terminal 1 of MMA have been diverted to the D Wing. More details will follow shortly,” the statement read.

    Recently, there has been a constant fire outbreak at the Lagos Airport.

    In March this year, a fire broke out at the MMIA Lagos, reportedly leading to travellers and workers being evacuated to a departure hall due to thick smoke billowing from a section of the facility.

    In September 2023, there was also a fire outbreak at the MMA, Lagos.

    Insecurity: Over 2,300 people killed in 90 days, Zamfara tops list

    Kehinde OGUNYALE
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    Insecurity: Over 2,300 people killed in 90 days, Zamfara tops list

    At least 2,336 people were killed in various violent attacks within the first three months of 2024, according to data sourced and analysed by The ICIR

    This is an approximate average of 26 persons killed daily between January 2024 and the end of March 2024. 

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    The ICIR gathered the data from the Armed Conflict Location & Event Data Project (ACLED), a data bureau that collects real-time data on the locations, dates, actors, fatalities, and types of all reported political violence and protest events worldwide.

    The deaths were connected to 1,395 incidents reported to have taken place in the country within the period under review. 

    Insecurity has been a perennial challenge in Nigeria, ranging from attacks by bandits and secessionist groups to attacks by insurgent groups like Boko Haram/Islamic State’s West Africa Province (ISWAP), and clashes between herdsmen and villagers, among others.

    Months Death
    January 769
    February 749
    March 818

    Table showing the monthly breakdown of reported deaths in Q1 2024

    From the filtered document, 769 people were killed in January 2024, while in February and March, 749 and 818 deaths were reported. 

    According to the data, the states with the highest killings within the first quarter are Zamfara (439 deaths), Borno (437 deaths), Kastina (362 deaths) and Benue (221 deaths).

    The states with the lowest reported cases of death are Gombe and Kano state recorded no deaths. A closer look at the data showed that Gombe reported only one violent incident within the quarter but no lives were lost. 

    This makes Gombe state the safest state to live in within the first three months of 2024.

    Other states with a lower reported death rate are Oyo, Abia and Ondo with two deaths respectively. 

    When broken down by geopolitical zone, states in the North-Central reported 515 deaths, the North-East reported 539 deaths, and the North-West region had 996 deaths. For the Sothern region, the South-East recorded 102 deaths, the South-South recorded 131 deaths, and the Sout-West lost 53 people to attacks. 

    Geopolitical Zone Total
    North Central 515
    North East 539
    North West 996
    South West 53
    South East 102
    South South 131

    Table showing the geopolitical breakdown of deaths reported in Q1 2024

    At the beginning of the year, Vice President Kahsim Shettima said that  President Bola Tinubu had approved N50 billion as the “Pulaaku Initiative”, a non-kinetic solution to deal with insurgency and banditry in the North. 

    However, the data gathered showed that the northern states have suffered more insecurity attacks in the quarter under review than the Southern region. The data showed that within three months for every one person killed in a southern state, at least seven persons died in the north.

    The ICIR had reported several violent attacks in Nigeria within the first quarter. This rising number of killings forced the federal government and state to agree on creating state police to strengthen the security architecture of the country.

    Update: The headline of this report was changed.

    FCT Police debunk viral robbery in traffic video

    Ijeoma OPARA
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    FCT Police debunk viral robbery in traffic video

    THE Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Police Command has debunked a robbery incident captured in a video circulating on social media via a statement released late Wednesday, April 24.

    The statement signed by the FCT Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO) Josephine Adeh disclosed that the robbery incident captured in the video did not occur in Nigeria and urged social media users to desist from misinforming the public.

    “Upon meticulous analysis of the video, it becomes evident that the robbery incident did not even occur in Nigeria. This conclusion is drawn from the vehicle registration number plate design and the steering position of the vehicle, which is right-hand drive (RHD).

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    “It is important to note that Nigeria does not allow RHD vehicles on its roads neither are the roads fashioned to accommodate such cars as seen in the video. The Commissioner of Police FCT, CP Benneth Igweh, psc, mni, urges those circulating the video to desist from such actions as it may cause apprehension and unwarranted panic among the populace,” Adeh noted.

    A video that captured road users being robbed by some thugs at a traffic light had been circulated on social media, with a caption suggesting that the incident occurred in Abuja.

    In the video, five men were captured robbing occupants of two vehicles of their belongings and running into the darkness afterwards.

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    The video was accompanied by a caption that read, “The frightening moment thugs waylaid folks waiting for traffic light to turn green in Abuja. These days, life is ugly, nasty, and brutish. We all should be very vigilant and extremely careful lest we fall into or are caught up and mired into such a situation.”

    The video has been reposted many times since Wednesday, especially by social media users on Facebook.

    119 inmates escape after rain destroys Suleja Correctional Centre

    Bankole ABE
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    119 inmates escape after rain destroys Suleja Correctional Centre

    NEARLY 120 inmates of the Suleja Medium Correctional Centre, Niger state, have escaped after the fence of the facility collapsed during a heavy rainfall on Wednesday, April 24.

    Parts of the prison fence were destroyed by the rain that pounded the ancient town and its neighbours, including the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).

    Many prisoners took advantage of the incident to escape.

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    The Nigeria Correctional Service (NCoS), in a statement on Thursday, April 25, confirmed the inmates’ escape from the centre.

    The spokesperson of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) command of NCoS, Adamu Duza, confirmed that 119 inmates escaped.

    Duza said the downpour that lasted for several hours wreaked havoc on the centre and surrounding buildings, destroying part of the custodial facility, including its perimeter fence, giving way to the escape of all inmates at the facility.

    He added that the Service had begun efforts to recapture the fleeing inmates, working in conjunction with sister security agencies.

    Ten fleeing inmates have so far been captured, and they have been taken into custody, he said.

    “The service is not unmindful of the fact that many of its facilities were built during the colonial era and are old and weak. The Service is making frantic efforts to ensure that all ageing facilities give way to modern ones.

    “The Controller of Corrections, FCT Command, Francis John, wishes to assure the public that the service is on top of the situation and that they should go about their normal businesses without fear or hindrance,” the statement read.

    A top source within the Niger State Police Command who did not want his name mentioned also confirmed the incident to The ICIR in a chat on Thursday.

    According to him, the incident was not a jailbreak but happened as a result of a heavy downpour.

    “Yes, the incident happened; about 100 escaped, but we are working with the Prison authorities to re-arrest some of the inmates who escaped,” he stated.

    He added that some had been re-arrested between Wednesday night and Thursday morning.

    Over the years, Nigeria has experienced several jailbreaks. The immediate past government of President Muhammadu Buhari saw a flurry of jailbreaks.

    Buhari’s Minister of Interior, Rauf Aregbesola, in 2022, said about 3,906 prisoners who escaped from various jailbreaks across the country were still at large.

    This report captures 18 jailbreaks under Buhari, who led Nigeria as elected President between May 29, 2015, and May 29, 2023.

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