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NEITI fixes September 2022/2023 to unveil gas, solid mineral reports

Harrison EDEH
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NEITI fixes September 2022/2023 to unveil gas, solid mineral reports

AMID concerns over the timely release of its reports, the Nigeria Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (NEITI) has fixed September 24, 2024, to unveil its 2022/2023 reports on oil, gas, and solid minerals industries.

Executive Secretary, NEITI, Orji Ogbonnaya Orji, said this at the global Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (EITI) media briefing on Friday, January 25, in Abuja.

He said NEITI focused more on transparency while assuring that the two separate reports would be presented simultaneously to ensure current and globally acknowledged reliable data.

Notably, EITI, who is an international partner of NEITI sent a delegation to Nigeria to assess NEITI’s post-validation plans and how to support the EITI implementation in Nigeria.

The international delegation was led by Bady Balde, Deputy Executive Director, Global EITI Secretariat.

Orji, at the media briefing, explained that some local challenges, including the time of resettlement of its office, affected the timeliness of the reports, adding that the challenges had been sorted out, insisting that the September scheduled date is assured.

Oriji noted that the international partners visit would among other things feature knowledge sharing and capacity building.

“Validation is a global assessment that holds all implementing countries to the same standard and Nigeria scored 72 per cent, excelled and recorded over 90 per cent in quality and reliability of data.

“Their visit is timely because we are trying to align our operations and mandates to the priorities and strategic development goals of the renewed hope agenda of the President Bola Tinubu administration,” he said.

The executive secretary said the organisation is working with the National Assembly on the review of the NEITI Act to align with the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA 2021)

“We have done an in-house review of that Act and are seeking legal opinion. Consultants are working on it while we are working with the national assembly to see how to help us,” he said.

He said his management had looked at the EITI 23 standard agreed upon in Senegal and emerging issues in the global EITI, which included energy transition, contract transparency, and beneficial ownership.

According to him, the issues also include open and accessible data, climate change and gender inclusiveness, the environment, and several areas where the law is deficient.

“We also want to see what could be done to make NEITI less dependent on government for funding.

“Also to see if there are windows where our reports which usually lead to recovery of huge revenue could aid in giving some soft landing in terms of supporting government for funding instead of relying wholly on government,” he added.

Speaking earlier, Balde, the official from the Global EITI Secretariat, had expressed concerns with the delay in the publication of old data, adding that timeliness of data was necessary to cover current relevant issues.

Balde said data publishing should not be delayed, adding that many EITI compliance countries had gone far in producing data in the public domain including Senegal, Zambia, and Norway, among others.

Balde, while describing NEITI as the largest secretariat by staff in the world with twice the number of staff at its headquarters, called for more technical assistance, engagement, and timely data publication to avoid speculation.

He urged the internal governance of NEITI to sustain its principles and uphold values by practicing what it preached and maintaining the highest level of transparency and credibility.

He supported the amendment of NEITI’s act to address the imperfections of the law.

CBN’s planned removal of external MPC members raises interference concerns

Harrison EDEH
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CBN’s planned removal of external MPC members raises interference concerns

THE proposed decision of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) to replace the external members of its Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) has raised questions about possible interference in monetary policy decisions.

Bloomberg reports noted that some of the members said they’ve been sidelined ahead of a meeting next month, which has not been held since July 2023.

Four of the five external members of the 12-seat MPC, who spoke to Bloomberg on the condition of anonymity, said they have not been paid since August, last heard from the central bank in September, and have been excluded from the usual planning ahead of the Feb. 26-27 gathering. The fifth member did not respond to requests for comment.

The apex bank official spokesperson, Sidi Hakama, said the appointment of new independent MPC members was in the pipeline but gave no further details.

An Economist and former Director-General of the Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry, LCCI, Muda Yusuf who spoke to The ICIR on the Development said external MPC members are key to making independent decisions about Nigeria’s Monetary policy issues.

“We have barely a month to the MPC meeting. I believe the nomination of other external members is key to an independent decision of the apex bank on the matter. Let’s give the President and the  Governor benefit of doubt on the nomination of external members before the February meeting date. There’s a reason for external competition of some members into the MPC to enable external and balanced perspectives to issues on monetary policy,” he said.

Notably, monetary authority is crucial to President Bola Tinubu’s efforts to boost growth and attract foreign investment to Nigeria’s lethargic economy. Soon after taking office in May, he suspended the bank’s then-governor Godwin Emefiele, who was arrested weeks later on charges including fraud. Emefiele denies wrongdoing and his trial is ongoing.

Tinubu then installed new leadership under ex-Citibank executive Olayemi Cardoso, who has pledged a return to orthodox central banking with a focus on tackling inflation, stabilizing the country’s free-falling naira currency, and delegating development banking roles to other financial institutions.

“We are committed to rebuilding an institution that is trusted and respected and promoting confidence in the economy,” Cardoso said.

The MPC consists of the governor, four deputies, and two bank directors, plus five outsiders appointed by the president and the governor. The current five external members were picked by former President Muhammadu Buhari, and former Apex Bank Governor- Emefiele.

The MPC needs six of the 12 to be present to constitute a quorum, so there’s no risk that next month’s meeting won’t be properly constituted, even if new external members have not been named by then.

The current external members who spoke to Blomberg said that they’ve not been invited to the Scheduled meeting and don’t anticipate being there.

Economists expect Cardoso to raise interest rates sharply in what will be the first gathering of the MPC since July when it lifted the policy benchmark to 18.75 cents. Inflation has subsequently surged and stood near a three-decade high of 28.9per cent in December.

But if no external members of the committee are present, it will leave question marks over the possible political interference in the key monetary decisions.

“Holding February’s MPC meeting without any independent member would likely raise questions concerning the credibility of the decision,” said Omobola Adu, an economist at BancTrust & Co. “Having external members reduces the bias that the central bank can be influenced by internal or political pressures.”

NCAA suspends mattini airline’s licence after Ibadan airport mishap

Nurudeen AKEWUSHOLA
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NCAA suspends mattini airline’s licence after Ibadan airport mishap

THE Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) has suspended the license of Mattini Airline Services Limited, the private jet operator involved in the runway overshoot incident at Ibadan airport on Friday. 

The ICIR reported that a private jet conveying ten persons overshot the runway at the Samuel Ladoke Akintola Airport in Ibadan, Oyo state, on Friday, January 26.

The jet skidded into the nearby bush during an attempt to land at the airport.

See also: Private jet overshoots runway in Ibadan, 10 escape death

Reacting to the development, the Director of Public Affairs and Consumer Protection of NCAA, Michael Achimugu, in a statement via NCAA’s X handle on Saturday, cited Sec 32 (4) of the Civil Aviation Act 2022 as the basis for the license suspension, emphasizing that this move is in line with ensuring safety and global best practices. 

He further revealed that the NCAA has initiated a comprehensive safety and economic audit of all private jet operations in Nigeria to reinforce aviation standards.

The statement reads in part: “NCAA is aware of the runway excursion involving a Challenger CL 601 aircraft, operated by Mattini Airline Services Limited, with registration marks N580KR at Ibadan Airport on 26th January 2024.

“Martini Airline Services Limited holds a valid Permit for Non-Commercial Flight, PNCF. In line with statutory provisions, the Nigerian Safety Investigation Bureau, NSIB, has launched an investigation into the occurrence.”

He added that the NSIB is conducting the safety investigation, while the NCAA has initiated an economic inquiry into the operation of the aircraft, such as the terms and conditions of the PNCF as detailed in its Annexure.

Recall that on November 3, less than three months ago, an aircraft conveying the Minister of Power Adebayo Adelabu crash-landed while descending at the Ibadan airport.

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No fatalities were recorded as a result, and a preliminary report by the Federal Government indicted Flints Aero in the incident.

The report stated that Flint’s Aero violated its Air Operator Certificate (AOC) by conducting a commercial trip, as the aircraft was not meant to be used to convey passengers.

In August, the NSIB commenced an investigation into an aircraft crash in Lagos State during a test flight.

Two passengers aboard the aircraft during the crash had sustained injuries, though there had been no fatalities at the time of the incident. 

Kano Hisbah arrests 52 tricycle riders for conveying opposite genders

Nurudeen AKEWUSHOLA
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Kano Hisbah arrests 52 tricycle riders for conveying opposite genders

THE Kano State Hisbah Board has arrested at least 52 commercial tricycle riders over alleged “immoral haircuts”, the sale of illegal drugs and substances, and the mixing of opposite genders in their tricycles.

According to Punch, the tricycle riders were apprehended by operatives of the Hisbah Command from different parts of Kano city and were later released after a warning by the officers.

While addressing the tricycle riders on Friday, January 26, the Deputy Commander-General of Hisbah, Mujahid Aminuddeen, urged them to be good ambassadors of Islam and Kano State by shunning social vices.

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“We want to use this opportunity to appeal to you to avoid such acts and avoid acts capable of tarnishing the image of our religion and culture of Kano people, ” he said.

According to him, among the alleged offences of the tricyclists include “immoral haircuts, riding around wearing only shorts, using objectionable posters on their vehicles, mixing unrelated men and women, selling illegal drugs, and conveying women to places where they engage in immoral acts.

“As Muslims, we would not accept this behaviour and activities of the tricycle riders. That is why we brought you here to admonish you on the negative implications of these acts on our religion and culture as people of Kano.”

 

Kwara signs 2024 budget, LG amendment bill

Nurudeen AKEWUSHOLA
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Kwara signs 2024 budget, LG amendment bill

THE Kwara State Governor, AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq, has signed the 2024 Appropriation Bill into law.

The governor also assented to the Local Government Amendment Bill.

According to a statement on Friday night by his Chief Press Secretary, Rafiu Ajakaye, Abdulrazaq said the budget is aimed at expanding infrastructure and growing the economic base of the state on a sustainable basis.

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He lauded the House of Assembly for its legislative roles on the Local Government Elections Bill, which he noted now paved the way for the conduct of the elections.

He noted that the 61 per cent that the administration has budgeted for capital expenditure is a deliberate move to scale up infrastructural development across the state.

The governor said, “Today, we are taking another bold step in the annals of our state. We commend the Assembly for doing a good job with the budget and for taking their time and making sure it is SABER (State Action on Business Enabling Reforms) compliant.

“You did very well before when we were committed to SFTAS (State Fiscal Transparency Accountability and Sustainability). Our being SFTAS compliant has been very beneficial to the state as it ensured transparency in the way we do things,”he added.

Abdulrazaq further  pledged that the debt profile of the state will soon go down on the Debt Management Office (DMO) chart as his administration has been able to reduce the debt of the state through negotiation with the federal government.

‘Military shot him in the chest,’ family of man allegedly killed by soldiers in Plateau claims

Mustapha USMAN
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‘Military shot him in the chest,’ family of man allegedly killed by soldiers in Plateau claims

THE family of Dambem Datom Dafur, a sexagenarian father allegedly murdered by the Nigerian military in the ongoing clash in Mangu Local Government Area (LGA) of Plateau State, has given its account of how its patriarch was killed.

Dafur’s death on Wednesday, January 25, 2024, came as a shock and has continued to weigh heavily on his wife and children.

Born in 1964, the last child of his father, the deceased was blessed with three children and survived by a wife.

His family said it was planning to sue the Army to demand answers to his death and bring the officers who allegedly shot him in the chest to justice.

A member of his family, who spoke with The ICIR on condition of anonymity, described the incident as unfortunate, noting that his uncle (the deceased) was standing guard close to his house against arsonists who were burning houses in a nearby community when the soldiers started shooting.

The ICIR reported how a source accused the military of taking a side in the clash, having allegedly killed a man while trying to disperse unarmed women protesting against the military harassment in the Angwan Sarki community.

Photo of Dafur. Photo credit:
Photo of  Dafur, a sexagenarian father, allegedly killed by the military Photo credit: Family


The military and other security operatives were deployed to Mangu LGA on Tuesday, January 24, following the escalated attacks, leading to a clash between Muslim and Christian-dominated communities.

Giving the account of the incident that led to his uncle’s death, the family source stated that the man was an easy-going person and in no way was armed and deserved to be brutally killed. 

“Sincerely, it’s very unfortunate because we believed that the military always maintained law and order. But to our greatest surprise, someone who was 60 years old, my uncle and the only older person left in the family, was shot dead by the military.

“According to his wife, he left the room without carrying anything, not even a stick, and stood near his house with other people around when the military started shooting. The other people ran, and the place he was running to didn’t have a road, but one military man followed him to the wall of a particular house and then shot him directly in the chest. Other people who were running away saw how the military personnel shot him,” said the source.

The source noted that the military took away the shell of the bullet to avoid being traced, adding that more than six eyewitnesses confirmed the killing.

The source pointed out that the family had decided not to bury the deceased, adding that they would demand justice as soon as possible.

“The corpse is there; we are not going to bury the corpse now. We took him to the mortuary so that we could embalm him, and at the end of the day, we are going to demand justice because he was shot in the chest. If you see the body, you will see that somebody who’s trained shot that particular man.

“People that were there saw it directly, and they (military) took away the shell of the bullet so that probably they wouldn’t trace the person that did that job. Everybody that was there saw exactly what happened. More than five eyewitnesses said it was the military, and they wouldn’t lie.”

Meanwhile, Dafur was not the only victim of the alleged military attack in Angwan Sarki, as The ICIR spoke to a survivor of the event.

A survivor of the alleged military brutality in the Mangu area, Sunday Yusuf. Photo: Local/The ICIR
A survivor of the alleged military brutality in the Mangu area, Sunday Yusuf. Photo: Local/The ICIR

Sunday Yusuf, originally from Murish, Mangu ward, alongside his family, was displaced sometime around 2023 by herdsmen and had to take refuge in Angwan Sarki of Mangu LGA.

Yusuf, a father of four children, was also allegedly shot by one of the military personnel deployed to the town to enforce the curfew declared by the state government despite being unarmed and staying close to his residence.

Although Yusuf survived, his right arm, where a bullet caught him, has now been amputated and has been left to battle the aftermath of the attack alone.

As all the sources who spoke with The ICIR confirmed, Yusuf said that Angwan Sarki was not among the areas plagued by the clash.

He added that he and others were standing close to their houses to protect them from possible attacks.

The military had, however, denied allegations of abetting killing, burning of houses and also killing of civilians in the clashes.

The Defence Headquarters (DHQ), in a statement released by its acting director, Defence Information, Tukur Gusau, a brigadier general, on Thursday, January 25,  denied killing unarmed civilians in the LGA.

It described allegations of unarmed civilians killing and other claims against its officers as untrue.

The DHQ stressed that the troops of Operation Safe Haven restoring peace in the state carried out their duties professionally and by the rules of engagement.

 

EXCLUSIVE: Troops arrest 3 notorious gunrunners in Zamfara

Mustapha USMAN
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EXCLUSIVE: Troops arrest 3 notorious gunrunners in Zamfara

TROOPS of Operation Hadarin Daji (OPHD) in Zamfara state have arrested three suspected gunrunners while trying to smuggle arms into the state.

A source in the know of the arrest said the three suspects, namely Musa Usman Seun, Aminu Ibrahim, and Isah Mohammed, were apprehended at Shinkafi on January 22, following credible intelligence received on activities of notorious gunrunners by the military.

One of the suspects is said to be a leader of a major political party in the state, while others are notorious for firearm trafficking.

The troops recovered N2,580,000, one Volkswagen Wagon, and three mobile phones from the suspects.

The source also disclosed that the preliminary investigation by the military revealed that the money recovered was for the exchange of assorted weapons at the Illela border in Sokoto state, noting that the suspects were undergoing further interrogation.

The three suspects allegedly arrested for gunrunning in Zamfara State by the Nigerian military
The three suspects allegedly arrested for gunrunning in Zamfara state by the Nigerian military.

The ICIR’s efforts to confirm the claims from the acting director of defence information (Defence Headquarters), Tukur Gusau, a brigadier general, were unproductive as he did not respond to text messages sent to his number hours before filing this report.

The ICIR reports that Zamfara has remained one of the hotbeds for insecurity in Nigeria, following activities of terrorists who have terrorised the state for over a decade.

In December 2023, terrorists shot at motorists along Dogon Karfe on the Gusau – Talata Mafara highway in one of the regular cases of terror attacks recorded within the state.

Some of the passengers were abducted, while many others were left injured.

The ICIR reported at least 15 deaths resulting from terror attacks in Zamfara state between September and October, including 11 worshippers who were killed during Juma’at prayers at a community mosque in the Ruwan Jema community, Bukkuyum.

Terrorists in the state killed more than 100 people in January 2023 when a large number of men invaded at least nine villages and unleashed mayhem in violent attacks that lasted for about three days.

Wads of cash allegedly recovered from the three suspected gunrunners arrested by the military in Zamfara State
Wads of cash allegedly recovered from the three suspected gunrunners arrested by the military in Zamfara State

On December 15, The ICIR reported bandits in the state killing soldiers and destroying armoured trucks hours after an LGA demanded more weapons from the Federal Government to enable the military to confront the bandits and other criminals in the state better.

The ICIR reported how bandits abducted several students of the Federal University of Gusau, the state capital. 

The bandits invaded the private hostels of the students in the Sabon-Gida community of the Bungudu Local Government Area of the state in the early hours of Friday, September 22. Sabon-Gida is a few meters away from the university.

Sources in the school disclosed to The ICIR that the bandits went away with no fewer than 25 students (predominantly female students).

Although the number of students abducted by the bandits was believed to be higher, it wasn’t the first time terrorists would kidnap students from the university. 

Shortly after they were kidnapped, security forces rescued six of the abductees (all females).

The ICIR reported that the security forces – Joint Task Force of Operation Hadarin Daji – rescued seven more students from their captors, according to Zagazola Makama, a publication specialising in counter-insurgency in the Lake Chad region.

Private jet overshoots runway in Ibadan, 10 escape death

Ijeoma OPARA
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Private jet overshoots runway in Ibadan, 10 escape death

A private jet conveying ten persons overshot the runway at the Samuel Ladoke Akintola Airport in Ibadan, Oyo state, on Friday, January 26.

The jet skidded into the nearby bush during an attempt to land at the airport.

Spokesperson of the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) Carol Adekotujo, confirmed the incident, saying there were no casualties as a result of the incident.

“It was a private plane from Abuja. It landed safely but overshot the runway. There was no casualty,” she said.

Firefighters and other rescue operatives from the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) were at the scene to avert possible disaster, and the Nigerian Safety Investigation Bureau (NSIB) disclosed that a team had been sent to the site for investigations.

On November 3, less than three months ago, an aircraft conveying the Minister of Power Adebayo Adelabu crash-landed while descending at the Ibadan airport.

No fatalities were recorded as a result, and a preliminary report by the Federal Government indicted Flints Aero in the incident.

The report stated that Flints Aero violated its Air Operator Certificate (AOC) by conducting a commercial trip, as the aircraft was not meant to be used to convey passengers.

In August, the NSIB commenced an investigation into an aircraft crash in Lagos State during a test flight.

Two passengers aboard the aircraft during the crash had sustained injuries, though there had been no fatalities at the time of the incident.

ICJ orders Israel to prevent genocide in Gaza

Ijeoma OPARA
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ICJ orders Israel to prevent genocide in Gaza

THE International Court of Justice (ICJ) has ordered Israel to prevent genocide in its war with Gaza.

The ruling was delivered by presiding judge Joan Donoghue in The Hague on Friday, January 26, during the determination of a suit filed by South Africa against Israel.

South Africa filed a petition against Israel in December 2023, accusing the Israeli government of genocide and urging the court to order an emergency suspension of the attack on Gaza.

The petitioner alleged that Israel was “intent on destroying the Palestinians in Gaza,” and called for a halt in the attacks.

It urged the ICJ to end the violence in Gaza to protect Palestinians from “from further serious and irreparable harm.”

“The point is not simply that Israel is acting disproportionately. The point is that the prohibition on genocide is an absolute. Nothing can ever justify genocide,” a lawyer representing South Africa, Vaughan Lowe said.

He also argued that Israel’s military activities in Gaza were not targeted against Hamas alone but affected the entire Palestinian population.

“Israel says it aims to destroy Hamas. But months of bombing, flattening entire residential blocks, cutting off food and water to an entire population cannot credibly be argued to be a manhunt for Hamas,” Lowe said.

During the ruling on Friday, Donoghue ordered Israel to contain the ongoing carnage in Gaza. Though she did not order a ceasefire, the presiding judge ruled that Israel must take immediate and effective measures to allow the provision of urgently needed humanitarian services in the area.

She said the civilian population in the Gaza Strip was “extremely vulnerable” and was at risk of irreparable harm before the ICJ reached its final decision on the issue.

“In light of the foregoing, the court considers that there is urgency, in the sense that there is a real and imminent risk that irreparable prejudice will be caused to the rights found by the court to be plausible before it gives its final decision,” she said.

The ICJ also ruled that Israel should report to the court in a month with details on whatever effort it puts into upholding the ruling.

Israel halts flights to South Africa

Meanwhile, on Friday, Israel announced the suspension of flights to South Africa by its airline, El Al.

“El Al is expected to stop operating flights to South Africa due to a lack of passengers, originating from South Africa’s accusations of genocide against Israel at the International Court of Justice, according to a source within the company,” Jerusalem Post daily reported.

The suspension may not be unconnected to the case in The Hague.

According to a report, the decision resulted from a commercial downturn and security concerns due to the ICJ ruling.

Nigeria: Whether or not you read this, you owe ₦405,520

Kehinde OGUNYALE
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Nigeria: Whether or not you read this, you owe ₦405,520

THE notion that Nigeria’s economy is grappling to survive with a high inflation rate, increased poverty and debt profile is no longer new. However, what is new is that each Nigerian owes ₦405,520.

The increased public debt stock is coming four months after President Bola Tinubu and 18 new governors were sworn into office in May 2023. According to the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS), as of the end of September 2023, Nigeria’s public debt stock stood at N87.91 trillion.

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The total external debt stood at N31.98 trillion, while the total domestic debt was N55.93 trillion in Q3 2023.

If the debt per capita is calculated, with a population projection figure of 216,783,381, each Nigerian would owe N405,520.02.

The ICIR reported how each Nigerian owed N396,376.19 in terms of debt per capita when the country’s public debt stock was N87.38 trillion as of June 2023. This would mean that N9,143.81 was added to Nigerians’ debt within three months.

Assuming all Nigerians are to repay this money using the minimum wage of N33,000, the debt would be repaid in about 13 months.

Amid the increased debt, 133 million people in the country are living in different categories of poverty while the country’s inflation has risen to its highest record of 28.92 per cent at the end of December 2023.

A development economist and Associate Consultant to the British Department for International Development, (DFID), Celestine Okeke, told The ICIR that Nigerians are paying more for their consumables because of rising inflation due to these borrowings.

He added, “It is putting pressure on the value of our naira. Let’s just hope that the inflation will moderate this year as promised by the CBN as more refineries become functional.”

Image by Rilson S. Avelar from Pixabay

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