THE House of Representatives has approved N61.55 billion Federal Capital Territory (FCT) supplementary budget for the financial year ending December 31, 2023.
This followed the passage of the 2023 Supplementary Appropriation Bill for the FCT through the third reading at plenary on Thursday, November 30.
Out of the approved sum, N12.90 billion is for overhead costs (recurrent expenditure), while N48.65 billion is for capital projects.
The FCT Administration will get N2.2 billion from the overhead costs, the FCT Human Resources Management Department is to receive N3.3 billion, while N2.8 billion, and N1 billion respectively were earmarked for the Department of Information and Communication and the Legal Secretariat.
Others are the Facilities Maintenance and Management Department taking N1.6 billion, the Abuja Environmental Protection Board which will receive N1.5 billion, and the Satellite Towns Development Department which is to get N500 million.
For the capital expenditure, Engineering Services (FCDA) is appropriated N30.54 billion, Public Building (FCDA) gets N15.11 billion, and Bus Rapid Transit and Transport Regulations (BRT&TR) receives N3 billion.
Before the approval, the FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike, had defended the N61.5 billion 2023 supplementary budget before the relevant Senate and House of Representatives Committees.
He said the budget revenue sources would be inflows from Paris Club refund, payee tax liabilities, special intervention funds (palliatives), internally generated revenue (IGR) and the infrastructure support fund.
He pointed out that the top priority projects would include the Abuja rail mass transit, provision of mass transit buses/rehabilitation of existing ones, and expansion of roads.
EIGHT years ago, on September 16, 2015, Godwin Udoh’s life changed forever.
That night, returning from church with his wife, Idongesit, and their four children, they encountered four policemen at Ijegun bus stop in Lagos, Nigeria.
When they failed to pay a N2,000 bribe, one of the officers, Corporal Aremu Musefiu, in a fit of anger, opened fire. “The bullet scattered my jaw and cut my right arm. The second bullet entered my wife from the right-hand side of her head and came out through the left side. And my wife died instantly,” Godwin recalls.
After the shooting, the police officers fled, leaving Godwin’s family to face the aftermath alone. Godwin spent a significant portion of his savings on medical treatments, funeral costs, and caring for his children without his partner’s support. His eldest daughter now suffers from brain trauma due to the gunshots, adding another layer of challenge to Godwin’s life.
The offending officer was initially arrested but disappeared after being released on bail in May 2017. “I need justice and compensation to rebuild my life and care for my children, especially my daughter, who is facing this trauma,” Godwin says.
Godwin’s story is the focus of a new 12-minute documentary titled “Out of Nowhere.” Produced by Tiger Eye Foundation, a media non-profit advocating for investigative journalism in Africa, it looks into the aftermath of Godwin’s ordeal and his ongoing quest for justice.
Narrated by Nigerian journalist Abisola Alawode and produced by multimedia storyteller Aisha Salaudeen, “Out of Nowhere” features Abisola visiting Godwin’s family to explore their life since the incident and Godwin’s pursuit of legal redress.
In collaboration with organisations like The ICIR, Tiger Eye Foundation aims to document the experiences of ordinary Nigerians and promote accountability for survivors of police violence, like Godwin Udoh.
GOVERNOR Dapo Abiodun of Ogun state has presented the 2024 budget of N703 billion to the State House of Assembly for approval.
Presenting the titled “Budget of Sustained Growth and Development,’ on Thursday, November 30, Abiodun said the budget comprised N415.66 billion for capital expenditure and N287.37 billion for recurrent expenditure.
He also said the budget had consolidated revenue cost of N27.35b billion, N95.05 billion as personnel cost, N105.88 billion in overhead expenses, and N59.09 billion as public debt charge.
“The revenue composition includes Ogun State Internal Revenue Service (OGIRS) with an estimate of N100.81 billion and other ministries, departments, and agencies (MDAs) estimated at N139.73 billion, totalling N240.54 billion,” he said.
The Governor also noted that capital receipt, including internal and external loans, grants, and aids, were projected at N240.24 billion, adding that infrastructure would gulp N209.122 billion, representing 30 per cent of the budget.
Abiodun earmarked N109.219 billion for education, representing 16 per cent and a total of N81.185 billion for the health sector
The amount for health represents 12 per cent of the budget estimates, while N28.886 billion, representing four per cent, was earmarked for housing and community development.
Abiodun explained that agriculture and industry would gulp N14.213 billion, representing two per cent, while N22.872 billion, representing three per cent, was budgeted for recreation and culture.
The governor emphasized that in 2024, the state government would focus on finalizing ongoing projects.
“As a strategic move, we shall be having an education summit in the first quarter of the new year where numerous challenges facing the sector will be considered with a view to repositioning the quality of education in the Ogun State.
“The 2024 budget proposal is the fifth prepared by this administration. It reflects the serious challenges currently facing our state, the key reforms necessary to address them, and imperatives to achieve higher, more inclusive, diversified, and sustainable growth,” he said.
During his overview of the primary physical capital projects outlined in the 2024 budget, he revealed that the ‘Light up Ogun Project’ would involve procuring and installing transformers across the state.
He further stated that his administration planned to collaborate with the private sector to ensure uninterrupted power supply within 24 months.
According to him, the state is set to host the 2024 National Sports Festival alongside the ongoing construction, rehabilitation, and maintenance of roads throughout the region.
Some of the roads listed for consideration are the Lagos-Ota-Abeokuta expressway, the Ofada-Owode road, the Lagos Garage-Ikangba-Ilese road, the Ota-Lafenwa-Itele-Ayobo road; Ita Oshin-Ibara Orile-Ijoga Orile-Ibooro-Imasayi road; OPIC Estate internal roads in Agbara and others.
Meanwhile, in his remarks, Olakunle Oluomo, the Speaker of the state House of Assembly, appealed to the governor to consider the implementation of financial autonomy for the state legislature and judiciary as required by the Constitution.
Oluoma highlighted that achieving financial autonomy would bolster democracy and foster a harmonious relationship with the other branches of government.
He, therefore, assured that the House would prioritize the budget, ensuring swift passage to facilitate the state’s progress.
NIGERIA’S senior women’s football team, Super Falcons, on Thursday evening drew closer to sealing their qualification for the 2024 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations after defeating Cape Verde 5-0 in the first leg of the final round.
The qualification format is hinged on home-and-away two-legged matches. Following the Super Falcons’ victory against Cape Verde at the Moshood Abiola National Stadium in Abuja, they are one foot in Morocco 2024.
The Super Falcons’ quest to continue their dominance in the continent, having won the tournament nine times, came alive after Uchenna Kanu gave the lead seven minutes after the blast of the whistle to commence the match.
Fifteen minutes later, Gift Monday doubled the lead after she slotted in the ball past goalkeeper Jacinta Rodrigue before Kanu got a brace at the death of the first half.
The first half saw Cape Verde’s Kleydiana Borges come close with a shot, but Oluwatosin Demehin denied her attempt.
The Super Falcons wasted a couple of opportunities before the end of the first half. Toni Payne missed from close range to let off the Cape Verdeans.
The Falcons continued their dominance in the second half, with Esther Okoronkwo getting a brace in the 67th and 77th minutes to secure the victory for the Super Falcons.
Both teams will clash in the second leg in Praia, capital of Cape Verde on Tuesday, December 5.
A victory for the Super Falcons during the second leg will seal their spot at the 2024 Women’s AFCON tournament.
The Super Falcons can only miss the tournament if Cape Verde scores six unreplied goals in the second leg.
Apart from AFCON qualification, the Super Falcons are also in the race to qualify for the Paris 2024 Olympic Games.
The Falcons will face Cameroon early next year in the Paris 2024 Olympic Games qualifiers.
THE Labour Party presidential candidate in the March 2023 election, Peter Obi, has condemned the ongoing demolition of houses, markets, and other facilities in some parts of Nigeria.
Obi appealed to the federal and state governments to put a human face to governance, citing the economic hardship faced by most citizens.
The former Anambra state governor stated this in a statement released via his X handle on Thursday, November 30.
The ICIR reports that some state governments, particularly Lagos and Kano have pulled down several buildings since the general elections ended.
There has also been minor demolitions in some parts of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) and Kogi state.
In Lagos, the state government and the Federal Housing Authority in the past few weeks have pulled down structures in Lekki, Ikota, Alaba, Abule Ado, Ajao Estate, Ladipo Market, and other areas of the state.
The demolished buildings were said to have violated the city’s master plan by sitting on drainage channels.
Similarly, in Kano, The ICIR reported how the state government demolished several buildings a few days after the inauguration of the new administration, headed by Abba Kabir Yusuf.
Governor Yusuf said the properties, and scores of others marked to be pulled down, were built on government’s lands sold off to private individuals by his predecessor, Abdullahi Ganduje.
He also said the exercise fulfilled his campaign promises, adding that residents were satisfied with the demolition.
Consequently, the action have rendered many families homeless amid the current economic hardship in the country.
Reacting to this, Obi said the exercise added extra hardship to Nigerians already grappling with multi-dimensional poverty.
“It’s with complete despondency and unhappiness that I have followed the ongoing demolitions of properties across the country, especially knowing the extra hardship such acts have been heaping on hapless citizens who are already battling with multi-dimensional poverty.
“What a responsive government should be doing under the current harsh economic conditions in the country is to come up with measures aimed at alleviating the people’s hardships and to carry out measures that will take more people out of poverty,” he said.
According to him, the prevailing economic challenges in the country should prompt the state government to adopt a more diplomatic approach in handling the situation.
“Even if there are some violations as the governments are claiming, this critical time is not auspicious for such an exercise, knowing the hardship in the land and the consequences it will have on the poor who are struggling to make ends meet with their little resources.
“The poor in our midst who are putting their meager resources are going through very severe financial stress that should not be multiplied further. In some cases, the properties being demolished are the lifetime savings and retirement abodes of the aged and incapacitated,” he added.
SINGER Ahmed Ololade, better known as Asake, has been crowned the most-streamed artiste in Nigeria on Spotify for 2023.
This is according to the data published by the streaming platform on Wednesday, November 29 to unveil the 2023 edition of “Wrapped” – its yearly compilation of listeners’ top music picks.
Asake clinched the top position of the most streamed artistes while his songs ‘Lonely At The Top’, ‘2:30’ and ‘Amapiano’ also dominated the list of the most streamed tracks for the year.
Similarly, Rema’s hit song, ‘Calm Down’, which featured Selena Gomez became the first African single to reach a billion streams on the streaming platform.
The song is 8th on Spotify’s top 10 chart of most streamed tracks globally.
According to Spotify, it is the first song by a Nigerian Afrobeats artiste to feature on the top 10 chart of most streamed recordings globally on its platform.
Other ten Nigerian artistes listed as most streamed on the platform are, Burna Boy, Davido, Bnxn, Omah Lay, Olamide, among others.
For the female category, Ayra Starr bagged the title of the most streamed female artiste in Nigeria, followed by Tiwa Savage.
Ayra Starr is also the Spotify’s 2023 most streamed female artistes in other African countries including, Ghana, Kenya, Rwanda, Tanzania and Uganda.
Below is the full list of 2023 Spotify wrapped
Most streamed male artistes in Nigeria on Spotify
Asake
Burna Boy
Davido
Seyi Vibez
Omah Lay
BNXN
Rema
ODUMODUBLVCK
Olamide
Wizkid
Most streamed female artistes in Nigeria on Spotify
Ayra Starr
Tiwa Savage
Tems
Rihanna
SZA
Billie Eilish
Nicki Minaj
Doja Cat
Libianca
Mercy Chinwo
Most streamed songs in Nigeria on Spotify
Lonely At The Top – Asake
Gwagwalada – Bnxn ft Kizz Daniel & Seyi Vibez
Feel – Davido
2:30 – Asake
Reason– Omah Lay
Party No Dey Stop (with Zinoleesky) – Adekunle Gold
ECONOMISTS have said that the Federal Government’s reliance on borrowing to fund the annual budget is pushing the cost of funds higher for businesses and crowding out the private sector.
In the proposed N27.5 trillion Federal Government’s 2024 budget, for instance, 45 per cent of the projected revenue of N18.3 trillion would be utilised to service debts.
Analysts said the development had consequences for the rising cost of funds for businesses while also crowding out the private sector.
“The budget would rely heavily on borrowing from domestic and multi-lateral agencies. Foreign borrowings have an exchange rate risks and would keep ballooning the cost of funds for private sector funding and SMEs,” a professor of Macro-Economics at the Pan-Atlantic University in Lagos, Perekunah Eregha, said in response to Nigeria’s 2024 budget proposal.
“The rise in borrowings would put pressure on interest rates and has consequences on rate hikes. When this happens, there would be a decline in investments and a shift of interest by investors,” he added.
More borrowings, he explained further, would also create further problems for Nigeria’s foreign reserve while putting more pressure on the volatile exchange rate.
He suggested that the government have a proper financing strategy and not crowd out the private sector because the nation needed them.
While reacting to the budget, another Professor of Economics at Lagos Business School, Bongo Adi, said more borrowings would expose the private sector and businesses to high risks and compound Nigeria’s currency problems.
“We need to be concerned about the macroeconomic fundamentals and what we do with borrowed funds. Does it have a direct direct bearing on development or consumption? If we have more borrowings, we have more debts to service, which puts pressure on our currency, “he said.
Nigeria’s total debts now stand at N87.7 trillion, according to data from the Debt Management Office (DMO), which puts pressure on inflation and worsens Nigeria’s currency problems.
For the 2024 budget estimates, the deficit is projected at N9.18 trillion or 3.88 per cent of gross domestic product (GDP). This is lower than the N13.78 trillion deficit recorded in 2023, representing 6.11 per cent of GDP.
President Bola Tinubu, at the budget presentation Wednesday, November 29, in Abuja, said the deficit budget would be financed by new borrowings totalling N7.83 trillion, N298.49 billion naira from privatisation proceeds, and N1.05 trillion drawdown on multilateral and bilateral loans secured for specific development projects.
Youths from south-east Nigeria have consistently shown apathy towards joining the Nigeria Police Force (NPF) in recent years, data shows.
In this report, The ICIR’s Bankole Abe looks at the youth’s indifference to joining the Police, whose fundamental duty is to provide internal security in Nigeria.
A civic organisation, SBM Intelligence’s data shows that, between 2017 and 2021, the South-East had the lowest representation in recruitment into the Nigerian Police among the nation’s six geo-political zones.
In 2017, among the 5,253 candidates shortlisted for Police recruitment, the North-West had the highest figure of 1,300, the North-Central had 823, the North-East produced 759, and the South-East had the lowest representation with 651. South-South and South-West had 799 and 921 respectively.
Inspector-General of Police Kayode Egbetokun
In 2018, about 314,877 shortlisted candidates were confirmed. The south-east got only 16,774, the South-South had 32,404, and the South-West contributed 33,359. The North-Central had 78,700, the North-East produced 68,077, and the North-West had 85,563 on the list
According to the data, in 2021, 124,485 candidates were shortlisted, out of which 28,290 were from the North-Central. The North-East had the highest number of shortlisted candidates with 37,522, the North-West 35,585, and the South-South 10,778. South-West had the second lowest with 9,378, while South-East had the lowest with 2,932 candidates.
The consistently low number of youths from the South-East interested in joining the Police has become a worrisome trend in recent years.
The chairman of the Police Service Commission (PSC), Solomon Arase in October 2023, expressed concern about the South-east youths’ persistent lack of enthusiasm in joining the force.
Arase had, in a statement by Ikechukwu Ani, head of press and public relations of PSC, urged the zone’s leaders to figure out how to persuade their youth to show more interest in joining the Force.
PSC Chair, Solomon Arase
The PSC claimed that if the zone continued its apathy in joining the Police, it would be difficult for anyone to pay attention to its complaints of marginalisation in the nation’s Police.
Arase said that as the region was a hotbed for non-state actors’ activities, which fueled insecurity, the youths should have taken the lead in being recruited into the Police and providing indigenous response to the threat.
According to the PSC, the statistics for the 2023 Police recruitment show that Kaduna state leads with 20,259 youths having already completed the online applications, while Adamawa state followed with 18,933 applications.
Others are Borno with 18,305, Bauchi with 16,554, Katsina with 16,232 and Kano with 15,888.
“Next to Anambra state from the rear are Ebonyi, 737; Abia, 966 and Imo, 999. Bayelsa has 1,020; Enugu, 1,036; Lagos, 1,259; Delta, 1,338 Edo; 1,526,” the statement said.
Stakeholders suggest possible reasons for apathy from the region
Commenting on the likely reason for the apathy in Police recruitment from the south-east, a journalist and coordinator of the African Centre for Media & Information Literacy ((AFRICMIL), Chido Onumah, in a chat with The ICIR, said “People who feel exceptionally marginalised do not think the Police could offer them what they need. The Police is also an endangered species in that region of the country,” Onumah stated.
He said nothing represented the oppression faced by youths of the south-east like the Police.
He argued that the youths saw the Police as the authority of the state that supported their oppression.
“There is also the security aspect. The Police in the south-east are the target of terror. In the south-east, Police are very vulnerable, and not many people will fancy such an organisation,” he said.
Also speaking on the issue, a professor of Philosophy at the University of Lagos (UNILAG), Douglas Anene, said many youths, for obvious reasons, “including the longstanding subtle exclusion of Ndigbo (the south-east people) in the commanding heights of security architecture, are not interested in joining the Police.”
He added that “their disillusionment concerning the entire Nigerian project is another reason they are uninterested in joining the Police,” Anene argued.
In his contribution, security expert Oladele Fajana posited that youths from the region preferred engaging in business or salary work (different from policing).
“When the matter came up from the Police Authority, the Police Service Commission was surprised at the number of applicants. The south-east is very minimal compared to other parts of the country.
“It has always been like that. And what are the causes? The love in being in a physical business or salary work,” he said.
Implications for region
In 2023, Frank Mba, the most senior Police officer from the south-east, was promoted three times within a year to fill the region’s vacant position at the higher level.
The Police Service Commission, while explaining the reason for the rapid promotion, said Mba’s rise to a Deputy Inspector General (DIG) of Police three months after he was promoted to the rank of Assistant Inspector-General of Police (AIG) was because he was the most senior Police officer from the south-East zone of the country.
DIG Frank Mba, currently the highest serving Police officer from the South-East
According to Onumah – mentioned earlier -it would be easier for the south-east to fill the position if they had the numbers.
Speaking on the implication, Fajana said a low representation in the nation’s Police might work against the region in the future.
“Nigeria might still go back to regionalism, whereby every region, every state will protect itself. So it will be challenging for the south-east,” Fajana said.
Possible way out
Suggesting possible solutions to the issue, Onumah said the Police leadership must find out the cause of the south-east youth’s apathy to joining the Police.
“They can go there and create awareness; they can’t give up. In all of the solutions, it’s for the Police to go there and do a survey, survey the south-east, and find out what the problems are.
“It is the people on the ground that will know best. They should talk to institutions, youths, and parents to find out why people are not joining the Police.
“If they do their research, they can find out if there is a need for incentive. It can serve as a moral booster,” Onumah said.
Proffering a solution, Anene said continuous advocacy by the region’s leaders and non-governmental organisations based in the South-east, including special incentives by the Police Service Commission, could reverse the trend.
Fajana, on his part, said leaders in the region must speak with sincerity to the youths on the matter.
THE Coalition for Whistle-blowers Protection and Press Freedom (CWPPF) has condemned the arrest, incarceration, and arraignment of a journalist, Gabriel Idibia, in Kaduna.
Idibia, a staff member of Daybreak Nigeria media organisation, was arrested following his report on the harsh living conditions within the Hajj Camp in Kaduna state.
In a statement by the deputy director at the Centre for Journalism, Innovation and Development (CJID), Busola Ajibola, on behalf of coalition members on Wednesday, November 29, the coalition said the act represented a ‘severe’ violation of press freedom, aiming to intimidate journalists in the lawful discharge of their duties.
“The Coalition for Whistleblowers Protection and Press Freedom (CWPPF) vehemently condemns the unwarranted arrest, incarceration, and arraignment of Mr. Gabriel Idibia, head of bureau, northern operations at Daybreak Nigeria, by Operation “Yaki” Police in Kaduna on November 13th.
“Mr. Idibia was apprehended by Operation “Yaki” Police in Kaduna on November 13th and subjected to two days of detention over his exposé on the deplorable conditions of the 2023 Kaduna Hajj camp. Following his arrest, he was arraigned in court and released on November 15th, albeit under difficult bail conditions,” the coalition noted.
Idibia was scheduled to appear in court on Wednesday, and according to the statement, charges brought against him include defamation of character, intimidation, and incitement of contempt of religion.
“This act represents a severe violation of press freedom, aiming to intimidate journalists in the lawful discharge of their duties. Journalism is a constitutional right (Section 22 of the 1999 Constitution) empowering journalists to hold the government accountable to the public,” the statement further read.
According to a release by Daybreak Nigeria, Idibia was pressured by Police officials to disclose his sources. He resisted.
“The Coalition fervently implores the immediate intervention of the Nigerian Union of Journalists (NUJ), Civil Society Organizations, media rights groups, and all stakeholders to advocate on behalf of Mr. Idibia. The group also urges influential bodies to counsel those responsible for Mr. Idibia’s continuous harassment, emphasising the imperative to cease such unwarranted aggression,” the coalition noted.
On September 24, Idibia reported that men and women who intended to go on pilgrimage slept on the floor in an overcrowded hall at the Kaduna Hajj Camp, a situation described as unIslamic.
The report also revealed a lack of basic amenities such as potable water and a proper waste management system at the camp, among other challenges.
FOLLOWING their release from custody, singer and owner of Marlian Music record, Azeez Fashola popularly known as Naira Marley and show promoter, Balogun Eletu, known as Sam Larry have both made their first public appearance.
In one video that has gone viral on social media the duo were seen alongside another singer on the record label, Oniyide Azeez, known as Zinoleesky hailing themselves while entering a car.
And in another video that also went viral, Naira Marley and Sam Lerry were spotted giving food items to people while a Fuji music was playing in the background.
Both Naira Marley and Sam Lerry were arrested by the Lagos Police Command in connection with the death singer Ilerioluwa Promise, known as Mohbad.
The ICIR reported that, Naira Marley and Sam Lerry were granted bail in the sum of N20 million and on November 17, they regained freedom after spending 40 days in police custody.
Mohbad was signed to Marlian Records, between 2020 and 2022 as he started his music career. Since his death, the result of his autopsy yet to be released and the cause of his death is still unknown.
