THE Nigerian Senate has passed the N2.17 trillion 2023 supplementary appropriation bill, recently sent by President Bola Tinubu.
The passage followed the adoption of the report of the harmonised sittings of the Senate and House of Representatives on the bill as submitted by the Chairman of the Senate Committee on Appropriations, Senator Solomon Olamilekan Adeola.
Olamilekan had presented the committee’s report, which was adopted and debated before the Senate President, GodswillAkpabio, put it to voice vote and senators across party lines voted in favour.
On Tuesday, October 31, the supplementary appropriation bill passed the first and second readings in both chambers of the National Assembly.
The lawmakers, while passing the bill, identified the need to particularly enhance the critical needs of the people and subsequently referred it to the Committee of Supply for consideration.
Tinubu, on Tuesday, October 31 wrote to the National Assembly seeking the consideration of the supplementary budget a day after it was approved by the Federal Executive Council (FEC).
Although there were sections of the budget breakdown that Nigerians labelled as ‘misappropriation of funds,’ the House of Representatives said it had only scrapped the N5 billion appropriated in the budget for a presidential yacht.
Addressing journalists after the passage of the supplementary budget by the Senate, Chairman, House Committee on Appropriation, Abubakar Bichi, explained that the lawmakers considered public interest in scrapping the provision for the yacht and transferring the sum to add to the 5.5 billion naira student loan.
The ICIR reported public outrage that trailed the President’s allocation of N28 billion for buying luxury cars for the First Lady’s office and the renovation of the President’s residence, among other allocations for the State House.
The review of the proposed budget showed that N4 billion was outlined for the renovation of the President’s residential quarters and N2.5 billion for his vice’s.
The government also plans to spend N50 billion to construct 40,000 units of ‘Renewed Hope mini-estates nationwide.
The office of the National Security Adviser was allocated N73 billion. There is an additional N2.9 billion for the purchase of Sport Utility Vehicles (SUVs) for the Presidential Villa, as well as another N2.9 billion for the replacement of operational vehicles used by the presidency.
The ICIR had, in December 2022, reported that the Senate approved former President Muhammadu Buhari’s request for a N819.54 billion supplementary budget meant to fix infrastructure destroyed by floods across the country.
The approval increased the 2022 budget deficit to N8.17 trillion and the deficit-to-the gross domestic product ratio of 4.43 per cent.
THERE are growing concerns by some economists over Nigeria’s reliance on borrowing to fund the N5.095 billion presidential yacht and other line items in the 2023 supplementary budget.
The concern followed the Federal Government’s proposal to appropriate N5.095 billion for the purchase of a presidential yacht under the capital expenditure of Nigeria Navy and N5.5 billion for education loan fund in the 2023 supplementary budget.
This is in the 2023 supplementary appropriation details of MDA spending, sighted by TheICIR.
Some of the economists said President Bola Tinubu-led administration was pushing Nigeria into more debt since the supplementary budget is largely to be funded by borrowing.
“The worst part is that Nigeria will borrow to buy the Presidential yacht. Nigeria has a spending problem, not a revenue problem,” a development economist, Kalu Aja, said on his X handle.
“Keep in mind, we only know about the presidential yacht because the federal budget is broken down in line by line. Even the budgets of secretive institutions like DIA and DSS are broken down. However, the National Assembly budget is not broken down line by line. So, it can appropriate NASS yacht, and you will not know,” Kalu said.
More Nigerians are also worried about the maintenance cost for the proposed yacht, as Nigeria struggles with challenging economic problems triggered by high inflation and currency problems.
“Amidst all the economic crisis and hardships we have, you can see their priority and where their focus is. It doesn’t show an urgency to solve any problem,” another development economist, Celestine Okeke, told The ICIR.
“This is a huge concern, and we want the elected political office holders to make the sacrifices they have called on Nigerians to make,” a development economist, Chika Mbonu, told The ICIR.
Meanwhile, a further breakdown of the supplementary budget document revealed that the Nigerian Navy proposed a capital expenditure of 42.3 billion and a recurrent expenditure of N20.42 billion, totalling about N62.8 billion.
Other items in the budget proposal from the Nigerian Navy include the purchase of vehicles, construction of the naval base in Lekki and Epe, provision of critical equipment, and purchase of ammunition.
Under the capital supplementation for the 2023 supplementary budget, the Federal Government proposed N5.5 billion as an education loan fund to fund the Student Loan Act. The total capital supplementation for the 2023 supplementary budget is N210.5 billion.
Meanwhile, the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, Tope Ajayi, has debunked reports that Tinubu requested a presidential yacht.
Ajayi clarified this through a statement titled, “On Presidential Yacht And Other Matters,” in response to reports about the allocation of N5 billion naira for a presidential yacht in the N2.17 trillion supplementary budget submitted to the National Assembly.
According to Ajayi, the Navy requested the yacht for operational purposes, not Tinubu.
Amid the award of multimillion-naira contracts, essential healthcare services remain out of reach for many people in Cross River state communities. Primary health care projects, initially promising, now stand incomplete, leaving residents without crucial care. The Parchment’s investigation by Jimmy Jackson, exposes a disturbing pattern of mismanagement, non-execution, and opacity in the state procurement processes.
As the scorching sun casts a harsh shadow over Egbe-Mbube, a community tucked away in Ogoja Local Government Area (LGA) of Cross River state, a stark tale of desperation and struggle unfolds. David Egbe’s voice resonates with frustration, echoing the anguish of other residents as they grapple with a harsh reality – the only health facility in Egbe-Mbube is ailing, lacking the resources and personnel needed to provide proper care.
The lack of an access road, the perilous motorcycle journey, and the dire condition of the primary health facility paint a vivid picture of a more extensive crisis. For years, the hopes of the people in Egbe-Mbube for a fully equipped and functional healthcare facility have been met with disappointment, exposing a glaring void in government provisions for the community.
“As you can see, there is no access road to the health centre, and even when you are using a motorcycle, you have to be very careful. Otherwise, you will fall down with the motorcycle and the patients before arriving at the primary health care,” Egbe lamented.
The current building that functions as the health facility was donated by the community to the local government. However, it has deteriorated over time, lacks basic amenities, and is not equipped to handle emergency cases.
During a visit by this reporter, the health facility appeared abandoned. It consisted of only four beds, a handful of benches, and a partitioned room in a long hall donated by the community. Sadly, the facility lacks functional health equipment, and there are serious issues of power and water supply.
However, delving deeper into an initiative expected to tackle this issue uncovers a disheartening truth.
The Primary Health Care Facility donated by Egbe Mbube Community
The abandoned PHC Egbe Mbube
In 2021, the Cross River state government awarded a contract to build a Primary Health Care Centre (PHC), in Egbe-Mbube community through the Ministry of Health. Valued at N40 million, the contract was awarded to Messrs Peter Enhievi Nigeria Enterprise. Additionally, another contract was awarded to Messrs Dadaman Global Invest. Nig Ltd to equip the facility with a contract amount of N28 million. Unfortunately, these significant investments have yielded little results, with only a few blocks remaining as evidence, as the rest of the project has been abandoned.
The contract process, especially the tendering phase through which it was awarded, blatantly disregarded Part IV, Section 28 subsection 2 (b) of theState Procurement Guidelines and Rules pertaining to advertising guidelines for all contracts.
According to these guidelines, advertisements for such procurements must be featured in a minimum of two national newspapers, one local newspaper, the Cross River State Government Electronic Procurement Portal, and the state tender journal, particularly in the case of national competitive bidding (NCB).
Despite our thorough efforts, The Parchment was unable to verify any record of the procurement bid advertisement on all the specified channels, including the Cross-River State Due Process and Price Intelligence Bureau (DPPIB) tender board and Cross River State official websites.
Moreover, according to Section 34 subsection (2) of the guidelines, it is explicitly mandated that “all procuring entities must embrace electronic procurement methods, especially in public works, health, and education, for procurement exceeding the threshold of N10 million.”
However, a search conducted on B2Bhint, an online source for company business data, revealed that Messrs Peter Enhievi Nigeria Enterprise was officially registered on January 13, 2017. The listed contact address is No.10 Commy Street, Ekorinim 1, Calabar, Cross River state, with Peter Enyievi Bassey listed as the company’s proprietor.
However, upon visiting the address, The Parchment found that the street name had been changed from Commy Street to Obong Ene Obong Street. Notably, the location did not host any offices or companies; instead, it consisted solely of residential apartments.
In order to get clarity as to why the contract was abandoned, Peter Enyievi Bassey was contacted by this reporter to give an explanation on the status of the project. Several calls, SMS, WhatsApp messages and email sent to his personal phone number were not responded to, including a direct message to his Facebook profile.
Calls were placed to Peter Enyievi on Friday, September 22, 2023, and Saturday, September 30, 2023. A text message was also sent to him on Friday, September 22, 2023, which reads, “Good afternoon Sir, my name is Jimmy Jackson, a reporter with the Parchment news platform in Cross River. I am reaching out to you concerning a story, I’m currently working on about a project in Egbe Mbube that was awarded in 2021 to Messrs Peter Enyievi Nigeria Enterprise. Search on CAC shows Peter Enyievi as Proprietor. Please, I want to know the status of the project and any further details that might help.” Same message was forwarded on WhatsApp, delivered and read, but no response came from him.
The reporter had first reached out to him via Facebook on Tuesday, September 19, 2023 with same message sent via SMS and WhatsApp but with a request that he should reach him (the reporter. And a phone number was provided.
The text of the Facebook message reads:
“I am reaching out to you concerning a story, I’m currently working on about a project in Egbe Mbube that was awarded in 2021 to Messrs Peter Enyievi Nigeria Enterprise. Search on CAC shows Peter Enyievi as Proprietor. Please, I want to know the status of the project and any further details that might help. Thank you, you can reach me on 08168025972.” The message was ignored.
The Facebook message was sent before the reporter got Enyievi’s personal phone number on September and called him.
In the case of Messrs Dadaman Global Invest. Nigeria Ltd, records indicate that the company was incorporated on August 4, 2011 with Obono Eteng Itam, Obono Itam Itam, Oboma Mercy Wohmi and Oboma Lois Jesam listed as the company’s directors.
The listed contact address, plot 55, CBN Cooperatives Estate, Off Kabusa Junction, Apo, Abuja, FCT could not be found when a visit was paid to the location.
When this reporter contacted the company, its Chief Executives Officer (CEO) Mr. Obono Eteng Itam admitted to getting the contract but stated that it was hijacked by politicians in the state and that he does not know the current state of the project.
“It is true that my company got the contract, but that was done through the then speaker of the Cross Rivers State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Eteng Jonah Willams and Mr. Frank Ayade brother, but to talk about the current state of the project, it’s shocking that the project was abandoned.”
He declined making further comments.
Abandoned PHC in Benedehe Ekem
In Benedehe Ekem, Etung LGA, the primary health centre is yet to undergo renovation, despite the fact that the contract for this was awarded two years ago. The contract, which also included the renovation of primary health facilities in Adadama, and Katchuan Irruan in Abi and Boki LGAs, was awarded to Messrs Phoenix Prime Enterprise for a total sum of N45m, with a 30-day completion period.
When The Parchment visited Benedehe Ekem PHC, the back of the dilapidated building was covered in overgrown grass, and an abandoned tricycle ambulance was found similarly concealed beneath the overgrown grass, rendering the facility unsuitable for its intended purpose as a primary health care centre.
PHC Benedehe Ekem, Etung
PHC Benedehe Ekem, Etung
PHC Benedehe Ekem, Etung
A health worker in Etung, who craved anonymity as she is not authorized to discuss the matter, expressed deep concern about the facility’s dismal condition. She said that the wards lack ceilings, restrooms, sufficient staff, security measures, and other crucial amenities.
Esther Abi, a resident, shared her worries about spending a night at the local health facility due to safety concerns and security issues. Drawing from her personal experience during pregnancy, she vividly described the unsettling conditions she had encountered.
“I was on the verge of delivering, and upon arriving at the facility, I found health workers present, but the overall environment was far from accommodating. The women’s ward, in particular, was surrounded by overgrown grass, creating a potential habitat for dangerous animals such as snakes. Fortunately, I’m grateful that nothing adverse occurred during that period.”
Messrs Phoenix Prime Enterprise was officially incorporated on February 7, 2021 with Mr. Ekanem Ekpenyong Ekpenyong identified as the officer of the company. Curiously, the company was awarded a contract worth N22 million on February 23, 2021, a mere two weeks and two days after its establishment.
This constitutes a breach of Section 21 subsection 8(b) of the State Procurement Law, which states that any supplier, contractor, or consultant failing to exhibit satisfactory performance or due diligence in prior public procurement engagements within the preceding three years prior to the initiation of the current procurement procedure should be disqualified from participating in the said procurement process. Regrettably, these requirements were not followed.
The company’s official contact address is situated at 10 Emmanuel Edem Crescent, Federal Housing Estate, Calabar, Cross River state. However, upon a visit to this address, this reporter found a residential building with no discernible signs of a company’s presence.
N144 million contracts abandoned in Abi LGA
The College of Nursing in Itigdi, Abi LGA, stands as a stark reminder of uncompleted projects. Construction jobs awarded in 2021 with the promise of transformation, now lie abandoned casting doubt on the commitment of the state government to quality education and facilities.
Messrs Renaissance Datarium was awarded thesum of N60m on February 23, 2021 for the “completion of block work and fixing of doors and windows in 3-storey hostel blocks for ground and first floor” at the college. When a visit was paid to the school, the project was abandoned and one can visibly see dilapidated doors and windows yet to be fixed.
AnotherN18m contract awarded to Messrs Entek B, also in February 2021, for landscaping and perimeter fencing at the college. But no such landscaping or fencing work was visible during this reporter’s visit.
Furthermore, the construction of three additional classrooms intended to meet NBTE specifications, with another N18m contract awarded to Gobenchi Supply and Investment Company Ltd, was not observed at the college during the same visit. The only noticeable change was the repainting of the school with white and blue colours; no new construction was evident.
College of Nursing and Midwifery, Itigdi, Abi
A student who craved anonymity for fear of being victimized disclosed that nothing has changed in the school’s hostel, adding that the dilapidated state of the hostel prompted her to seek accommodation outside the school campus.
“When I got admission to this school and was offered an accommodation in school, the current state of our hostel, especially, doors and windows then prompted me to seek accommodation outside campus for comfort.”
Moreover, the issues extend beyond the college, with the General Hospital, Itigdi, facing similar challenges. The renovation, initially anticipated to enhance the facility’s female ward, children’s ward, and theatre, have been abandoned despite theN48 million contract awarded to Conceal Nigeria Ltd.
B2Bhint provides records for Messrs Renaissance Datarium and Gobenchi Supply and Investment Company as officially registered entities. Nevertheless, what stands out is that the legal addresses provided by both companies – 89 Urhobo Street, FHA Phase II, Karu, FCT, Abuja for Datarium Rensissance Limited, and 3 Atunwa Street, Ikeja, Lagos State for Gobenchi Supply and Investment Limited, lead to residential buildings with no indications of housing a business office or company operation. The companies also lack any online presence, including the absence of websites, social media pages, or any digital footprints.
General Hospital Itigidi female ward, Children’s ward and theatre
Listed as directors and shareholders of Messrs Renaissance Datarium are Adoolmumin Yarima Muhammad and Lukman Salihu, with Gideon Atu Izang, Secretary. For Gobenchi Supply and Investment Company Limited, listed as directors are George O’ben-etchi and O’ben-etchi G. George O’ben- etchi is a former House of Assembly member and former commissioner for Social Housing and Solid Minerals in Cross River State. He was the Commissioner for Solid Minerals in 2021 when the contract was awarded
When this reporter contacted George O’ben-etchi, for explanation on the abandoned project, he promised to get back to the newspaper. However, despite this assurance, no response has been received till date. Text and WhatsApp messages sent to his phone elicited no response.
A text message was sent on Friday, September 30, 2023 and it reads “Good morning Sir, my name is Jimmy Jackson, a reporter with the Parchment news platform in Cross River. I am reaching out to you concerning a story, I’m currently working on about a project in Itigdi, Cross River State that was awarded in 2021 to Gobenchi Supply and Investment Company. Search on CAC shows George O’ben-etchi and O’ben-etchi G. as Directors. Please, I want to know the status of the project and any further details that might help.”
The same message was forwarded on WhatsApp same day but he has not read it.
Awarding a contract to a government official clearly violates, Part III Section 21 subsection 8 (f) the state procurement law, which states that whenever it is established by a procuring entity or the bureau that any or a combination of the situations set out exist, a bidder may have its bid or tender excluded from procurement proceeding if: “the bidder fails to submits a statement regarding its dominating or subsidiary relationship with respect to other parties to the proceedings and person acting on behalf of the procuring entity participating in the same proceeding or whom remains in subordinate relationship with other participants to the proceedings.”
State Cold Store not completed after award of contract to two different contractors
Amidst the myriad of halted health initiatives, the state Cold Store project stands as another striking example of an unrealised dream. Designed to bolster medical storage capacities and facilitate the distribution of vaccines to primary health centers throughout the state for critical immunization initiatives, the state cold storage facility finds itself in a state of limbo.
The contract for the project, which was awarded by the Cross-River Ministry of Health to Messrs Ertika Nig. Enterprise in February 2021 to thetune of N95 million remains incomplete even after nearly two years, despite the 30 day completion timeline.
While a portion of the facility is currently in partial use, the prolonged delay in completion highlights an unsettling pattern of unmet promises and essential health infrastructure projects left abandoned.
Amid all this, insights gathered from the Cross-River State Due Process and Price Intelligence Bureau (CRDPPIB) have unveiled a startling revelation.
The same contract was alsoawarded to a different contractor, Messrs Makaki Enterprise, for the very same sum within the same fiscal year, as part of the State Fiscal Transparency, Accountability, and Sustainability Program (SFTAS).
Significantly, Messrs Ertika Nig. Enterprise cannot be traced as a registered entity on the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC), portal, while Messrs Makaki Enterprise records show date of incorporation as June 26.
For Messrs Makaki Enterprise, records indicate that Ettah Utibe Elijah, Ettah, Matthew Elijah and Ettah, Karofem Elijah are the company’s director. This reporter reached out to Ettah Matthew Elijah, a Principal officer, to explain why the project has not been completed two years after the award of the contract. His respond was that this reporter should be more specific, and further requested for the pictures of the site from this reporter, as at the time of filing this report, he did not respond to subsequent messages sent to him.
The listed contact address for Messrs Makaki Enterprise, is No 15, Marian Road, Calabar, Cross River State but when the reporter visited the address, there was no trace of the company as the locations only has commercial shops.
The State Cold Store, Calabar
A recent visit by this reporter to the Cold Store located at Barracks Road, Calabar, revealed the profound consequences of the project’s incomplete status. The facility, which plays a critical role in preserving vaccines for the immunization of women and children across the state, currently presents a distressing sight. The cold chain equipment used to store these vital vaccines operates within a space lacking proper ceilings, an unfinished floor, and uncompleted office areas.
The project conceived to serve all the 18 council areas of the state has been in limbo due to its non-completion, which has affected the vaccination of women and children in rural communities.
One of the officials overseeing the state cold store who did not want his name mentioned because he was not authorized to speak, explained the critical functions of the cold store in the state, stressing that it is one of the very important facilities in the health sector as its purpose is vaccines preservation for onward distribution especially during the cholera and measles outbreak but the facilities is still not optimally functional.
“As you can see, the other part, nothing is going on, while the maintenance units have no roofing” he said.
A health worker in Egbe-Mbube, who also craved anonymity, decried the impact of vaccination preservation in their primary health facility as there usually depend more on the Council headquarters for their vaccine preservation which in most cases are delayed.
“Getting vaccines is one aspect but also preservation is another herculean task which also has resulted to few deaths in the community,” the health worker observed.
This depiction underscores the urgency for the prompt completion of the project, given that the poor state of the facility not only jeopardizes the viability of the stored vaccines but also hampers the efficient delivery of essential healthcare services.
Continuing with the pattern of project abandonment, another contract valued atN22 million, was awarded to Messrs Ernhnor Limited for the repair of Cold Chain Equipment across the PHCs in the 18 LGAs of the state. Regrettably, this contract has also fallen victim to non-execution, echoing the same troubling fate as the previous projects.
Health workers at Akim Oqua PHC in Calabar Municipal LGA said they have made several unsuccessful attempts to get the State headquarters to address the faults with the facility’s cold chain equipment.
“Our appeals have been met with silence and inaction leaving us frustrated. To make it worse for us, we are not permitted to engage a local artisan to fix the equipment,” a health worker at the facility told the reporter.
There are no existing records in the CAC to validate Messrs Ertika Nig. Enterprise as a registered company. Equally, these companies exhibit a complete lack of online presence—no trace can be found on digital platforms.
However, B2Bhint does present records forMessrs Erhnof Limited. The company was officially incorporated on February 5, 2021 and was awarded a contract a few weeks later amounting to N22 million on February 23, 2021. Again, this action constitutes a breach of Section 21 subsection 8(b) of the State Procurement Law which states that any supplier, contractor, or consultant failing to exhibit satisfactory performance or due diligence in prior public procurement engagements within the preceding three years prior to the initiation of the current procurement procedure should be disqualified from participating in the said procurement process. Regrettably these requirements were not followed.
Community leaders lament poor health facilities, call for urgent intervention from government
A community leader in Benedehe Ekem, Etung LGA, Oscar Ofuke expressed serious concern over the neglect of the PHC in the community. In an interview with The Parchment, Ofuke remarked, “Benedehe Ekem stands out as the largest ward within the local government in terms of both land area and population.
“Surprisingly, despite its size, the ward lacks a proper healthcare facility to adequately address the needs of the community, particularly those of women and children.”
He further elaborated that the poor state of the facility results in tragic loss of lives during emergency cases. The only recourse is often to transport patients to Ikom, a neighboring local government.
“Our PHC lacks adequate medical equipment, medications, water, security and even a shortage of staff. We have no medical doctor and health workers who work in the PHC are often inconsistent because there is no lodge and they come from far places.”
Reacting to his community’s predicament, Mr Patrick Odey from Egbe-Mbube, Ogoja LGA expressed his dismay at the turn of events since the award of the contract to construct a PHC in the community.
“I was hopeful at first until when the contractor handling the projects left the site after constructing a few blocks in 2021, without any explanation from government or the contractor despite repeated appeals.”
He urged the government to prevail on the contractor to quickly return to site so as to alleviate the suffering of residents of the community.
Cross River government keeps mum over the abandoned contracts
On July 19, 2023, The Parchment filed a Freedom of Information Act (FOI) request with the state health ministry, seeking comprehensive and detailed information regarding the expenses incurred on projects that were awarded in the year 2021.
In its request, the newspaper sought evidence of the financial outlay, specifying the precise amount spent, as well as the identities of the contractor(s) entrusted with these projects. Additionally, The Parchment requested copies of the contractual agreements associated with each of the projects that were awarded during the aforementioned year.
Although the health ministry acknowledged the receipt of the request, no official response was provided as of the time of filing this report
When The Parchment contacted Dr. Pauline Obute, the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Health, for comments on the matter, she said that she was currently out of town. However, text messages sent to her line got the following reply “I’m on an official engagement outside Calabar. Please, as earlier discussed, find time to meet in the office so I can understand and guide on the official source of the information you need. Thank you.”
When this reporter visited her in office, she said that she was not the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry as of 2021 and 2022.
“There are procedures in government especially relating to documents which cannot be released without due process being followed.”
When the former Director-General, Cross River State Primary Health Care Development Agency (CRSPHCDA), Mrs. Abasioffiong Offiong, was contacted she promised to get back to the newspaper. However, despite this assurance, no response has been received thus far. Text messages sent to her phone received a reply indicating her current unavailability: “Ok, I am out of town now.”
Efforts to engage the immediate past health commissioner, Dr. Janet Ekpenyong, followed a similar pattern. She neither answered the call nor responded to the message sent to her.
“Government should act fast to help affected communities” – experts
Reacting to findings in this report, Mr Audu Liberty Oseni, Coordinator, Media Advocacy, West Africa, MAWA Foundation, admonished the state government to promptly intervene and rectify the prevailing irregularities in previous procurement activities of the state particularly in the health ministry. He stressed that the intervention is essential for ensuring the proper and effective delivery of primary healthcare services within the state.
In a telephone interview, Mr. Audu Oseni underscored the critical stance that Cross-River State must adopt in preventing the misappropriation of public funds for individual benefit, especially as citizens continue to endure the absence of essential amenities to which they are rightfully entitled.
He further stressed, “Instances of corruption are regrettably widespread, but this pattern must not persist. The current state government must assume responsibility for the meticulous oversight of all public funds expended, particularly within the crucial realm of healthcare.”
This investigation is supported by the John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation and the International Centre for Investigative Reporting(ICIR)
TRACE International, a nonprofit anti-bribery group, invites applications for prizes for investigative reporting focusing on detecting commercial bribery to enhance business transparency.
Works must have been published in 2023 and may address actual violations of the law and behaviours that create significant conflicts of interest and related misbehaviour.
Entries not written initially or produced in English must have a translation. Print, broadcast, and web reporters covering bribery cases can compete for a reward.
AS Nigerians continue to grapple with a record rise in inflation, especially with food items, there are fears of an impending food crisis in the nation.
The estimated 225 million people in Africa’s largest economy have experienced a continuous rise in costs for basic goods, especially foods, since 2020.
Costs for meals have increased significantly in recent years, which continues to affect household feeding and food businesses such as restaurants, caterers, food vendors and bakers.
Most Nigerian families have reduced their food intake from three square meals a day to two or even one.
This is the case of Bimpe Adetunji, a mother of four.
‘The inflation is just increasing on a daily basis, and it is affecting all the sectors. Think of any item, it is affecting it. An egg is now N100. Mudu (a medium-sized measuring bowl) of Garri is now N600. The only thing one can do to balance the situation is do opportunity cost – things that are most important are what you should focus on, and things that are not important, you leave it out” she said.
A university undergraduate who simply identified himself as John stated that he had to cut down on feeding expenses as his feeding allowance was no longer sustainable.
“In my early years in school, my dad was giving me N20,000, I always used N10,000 out of it for provisions and foodstuffs. The rest went to handouts, clothing and other basic needs. But now the same amount doesn’t sustain me for more than two weeks. I have had to cut down on my spending, I don’t eat what I want.
“I can’t even buy foodstuffs again. I rather eat out. When eating out, it’s just small portions of food that are served which can’t be enough for you,” he lamented.
He added that he often complemented the food with carbonated drinks.
In this report, The ICIR reported the health implications of sugar-sweetened beverages.
Food sellers groan
Faridah Awodele, an online food trader, confirmed to The ICIR that inflation had significantly impacted her profit margin. She has adjusted her prices many times in few months, and she no longer makes the profits she has previously made.
‘In a lot of ways generally, the profit margin has reduced drastically. we just try to satisfy customers. We have had to increase prices because of inflation. But at the same time, we can’t increase prices ridiculously. So, at some point, we have to reduce our profit margin to make our goods affordable for our customers.
“We even had to stop selling certain goods because of the prices. When you look at the cost of getting it, and you try to add your profit and everything, eventually, it’s not worth it,’ Awodele complained.
Adejoke Aderounmu, who runs a restaurant where she sells local rice and beans, shares the same feeling as Awodele. As she tries to remain in business while attempting to please consumers, she decries “over 100 per cent price rise in the purchase of condiments and other ingredients.”
“Ofada rice that I normally bought for a mudu at N2000 now goes for N4500, and I am selling for N2000 per plate. Before, I could get the mudu for N400 or N500 and I sold a plate at very cheap price.”
Apart from her not earning as much as she used to, her sales have dwindled.
“The sale is not as it used to be. Customers would complain that there’s no money. Before, I could sell 25-30 plates of food daily, but now I hardly sell up to 15 plates because everyone is complaining. This is a tough time for business owners, Aderounmu whined.
Alarming food price differentials in just 12 months
According to a market survey recently conducted by The ICIR comparing the increase in food prices between 2022 and 2023, food prices have increased by as much as 30 per cent in the past one year.
Previously sold for N2,200 per kilogram, chicken now costs between N2200 and N2400. A 50 kg bag of rice that once cost N47,000 now costs N53,000, while a 50kg bag of beans that used to cost between N50,000 and N55,000 now sells for N65,000-N70,000.
Similarly, a bag of garri that once cost between N20,000 and N25,000 now sells between N26,000 and N30,000, and a mudu of flour currently costs N1,100 from N900 in 2022.
The ICIR reports further that a mudu of granulated sugar costs N1800 from N1100 in 2022, and a litre of palm oil that was once sold for N800 is now N2000.
Although seasonal variations impact the cost of vegetables, especially pepper, onions and tomatoes, the prices of vegetables have unusually soared in the past 12 months. According to The ICIR’s market survey of some of grocery stores in Abuja, a large basket of tomatoes costs between N8,000 and N10,000 when it is in season and between N20,000 and N40,000 when it is not.
Convenience items such as spaghetti, noodles, and bread have also increased in price. A family-sized loaf of bread is now sold for N1,200 instead of N700, while 500 grams of spaghetti that was sold for N400 in 2022 is now N650, 120 grams of noodles that was sold for N170 in 2022 currently sells for N220 and a crate of eggs goes for N3,000 from N2,200.
How subsidy removal, others worsens prices
The ICIRreported some of the inflationary pressures were caused by banditry, insecurity and shutting down of the land borders. Although some of the land borders have been reopened, Nigerians still bear the brunt due to some other factors, such as the rising cost of transportation due to the fuel subsidy removal.
SOME Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU), Ile Ife students stormed the premises of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission in Ibadan, on Wednesday, November 1, protesting against the arrest of their fellow students.
The students in their numbers took to the streets with placards bearing various inscriptions, demanding an immediate and unconditional release of the arrested students.
The protest also trended on social media, with the hashtag #FreeOAUstudents.
In the early hours of Wednesday, November 1, the EFCC arrested over 69 students in a raid on hostels outside the campus.
The EFCC Head of Media and Publicity, Dele Oyewale, while confirming the development, said the suspected internet fraudsters were arrested based on credible intelligence.
Items recovered include exotic cars, 190 mobile phones and 40 laptops among others.
Oyewale disclosed that the suspects had made useful statements to the anti graft body, adding that they would be charged to court as soon as investigations are concluded.
Meanwhile, the Students’ Union President, Abass Ojo, said the body had details of “72 students picked up from their hostel with phones and cars taken away.”
In a widely circulated video sighted by The ICIR, a group of young individuals said to be students residing in the off-campus hostel were seen whisked away by the security operatives in a white Hummer Bus.
Reacting to the arrest via its X handle, the OAU Students Union, described the arrest as ‘unacceptable’, adding that it was against the principles of justice and due process.
“We strongly condemn the recent unjust arrest and harassment of our fellow students by members of the EFCC @officialEFCC in the odd hours of today, Nov 1, 2023. This action is unacceptable and goes against the principles of justice and due process.
“We stand in solidarity with our peers and call for a thorough investigation into these incidents. The safety and rights of students must be protected,” the union wrote.
OAU management react
Meanwhile, the management of the university has reacted to the arrest.
According to a report by The Nation, the university’s bublic relations officer, Abiodun Olarewaju, noted that the institution was still in the process of confirming the exact number of students taken picked by the commission.
During a telephone conversation, Olarewaju said the targeted hostel was situated outside the school campus. He further added that OAU had dispatched a delegation to the EFCC office to establish the exact number of students detained by the anti-corruption agency.
He said: “We want to be sure that our students are not unduly harassed or intimidated nor abused. The management has mandated us to go to Ibadan and find out because the welfare of students is important to us.
“We are just going there now, it is not only our students that are outside Ife, so we wouldn’t want a situation where people will say all those who were arrested are our students whereas maybe some of them are not our students. We want to know who we want to fight for, who we want to defend and protect,” he said.
NIGERIA’s Super Eagles players Victor Osimhen and Gift Orban have been shortlisted for the 2023 Confederation of Africa Football, CAF award in both player of year and young player of the year award categories respectively.
Oshimen, who was ranked eighth best player in the world at the just concluded Ballon d’Or ceremony held on Monday’s night in Paris, will compete against 29 African players to be crowned the continental best player.
Ex-international Nwankwo Kanu was the last Nigerian to be crowned as the winner in 1999.
Also, Orban who has just two appearances and 3 goals for the country was nominated for an award in the young best player category.
“A panel of CAF Technical Experts, African Football Legends, and selected media representatives from several countries put together the preliminary list for the various categories with the performance of the nominees between November 2022 and September 2023 serving as the period under consideration,” a statement by CAF on Wednesday read in part.
The award holds on December 11, 2023, in Marrakech, Morocco.
The highlight of this edition is the introduction of the CAF African Goalkeeper of the Year for both men and women categories.
“It will be the first time that shot stoppers will be acknowledged for their performances, further expanding the network of winners for the annual event. 10 players have been nominated for the novel award,” the statement reads.
According to CAF, the prestigious event seeks to reward and celebrate exceptional players, officials and administrators during the period under review.
“Thirty players made the list for the top prize – CAF African Player of the Year – whilst 20 players have been nominated for the CAF Interclub Player of the Year.
“Coach of the Year, CAF National Team of the Year and Club of the Year have ten nominees each just as CAF Young Player of the Year – for players under the age of 21,” the statement adds.
The ultimate winner of each category, according to CAF will be decided after votes from a voting panel consisting of CAF technical committee, media professionals, head coaches and captains of member associations and clubs involved in the group stages of the Interclub competitions.
The last winners were Senegal forward Sadio Mane and Nigeria’s Asisat Oshoala in both men and women categories in July 2022 in Rabat, Morocco.
For the nominees of the female category, Africa’s football governing body said it would announce in due course.
Full List of nominees (in alphabetic order by member association):
Player of the Year (Men)
Ramy Bensebaini (Algeria and Borussia Dortmund)
Riyad Mahrez (Algeria and Al Ahli)
Edmond Tapsoba (Burkina Faso and Bayer Leverkusen)
Andre-Frank Zambo Anguissa (Cameroon and SSC Napoli)
Vincent Aboubacar (Cameroon and Besiktas)
Ibrahima Sangare (Cote d’Ivoire and Nottingham Forest)
Seko Fofana (Cote d’Ivoire and Al Nassr)
Chancel Mbemba (DR Congo and Olympique Marseille)
Fiston Mayele (DR Congo and Pyramids)
Mahmoud Abdel Moneim “Kahraba” (Egypt and Ahly)
Mohamed Abdelmonem (Egypt and Al Ahly)
Mohamed ElShenawy (Egypt and Al Ahly)
Mohamed Salah (Egypt and Liverpool)
Mohammed Kudus (Ghana and West Ham United)
Thomas Partey (Ghana and Arsenal)
Serhou Guirassy (Guinea and VfB Stuttgart)
Yves Bissouma (Mali and Tottenham Hotspur)
Achraf Hakimi (Morocco and Paris Saint-Germain)
Azzedine Ounahi (Morocco and Olympique Marseille)
Hakim Ziyech (Morocco and Galatasaray)
Sofyan Amrabat (Morocco and Manchester United)
Yahya Jabrane (Morocco and Wydad Athletic Club)
Yassine Bounou (Morocco and Al Hilal)
Youssef En-Nesyri (Morocco and Sevilla)
Peter Shalulile (Namibia and Mamelodi Sundowns)
Victor Osimhen (Nigeria and SSC Napoli)
Sadio Mane (Senegal and Al Nassr)
Pape Matar Sarr (Senegal and Tottenham Hotspur)
Percy Tau (South Africa and Al Ahly)
Mohamed Ali Ben Romdhane (Tunisia and Ferencvaros)
Goalkeeper of the Year (Men)
Mohamed ElShenawy (Egypt and Al Ahly)
Yassine Bounou (Morocco & Al Hilal)
Andre Onana (Cameroon and Manchester United)
Ronwen Williams (South Africa and Mamelodi Sundowns)
Edouard Mendy (Senegal and Al Ahli)
Oussama Benbot (Algeria and USM Alger)
Youssef El Motie (Morocco and Wydad Athletic Club)
Djigui Diarra (Mali and Young Africans)
Pape Mamadou Sy (Senegal and Generation Foot)
Landing Badji (Senegal and AS Pikine)
Interclub Player of the Year (Men)
Aymen Mahious (Algeria and USM Alger/Yverdon-Sport)
Oussama Benbot (Algeria and USM Alger)
Zineddine Belaid (Algeria and USM Alger)
Fiston Mayele (DR Congo and Young Africans/Pyramids)
Makabi Lilepo (DR Congo and Al Hilal/Valenciennes)
Hussein El Shahat (Egypt and Al Ahly)
Mahmoud Abdel Moneim “Kahraba” (Egypt and Ahly)
Mohamed Abdelmonem (Egypt and Al Ahly)
Mohamed ElShenawy (Egypt and Al Ahly)
Mostafa Fathi (Egypt and Pyramids)
Djigui Diarra (Mali and Young Africans)
Yahia Attiyat Allah (Morocco and Wydad Club Athletic)
Yahya Jabrane (Morocco and Wydad Athletic Club)
Youssef El Motie (Morocco and Wydad Athletic Club)
Peter Shalulile (Namibia and Mamelodi Sundowns)
Percy Tau (South Africa and Al Ahly)
Ranga Chivaviro (South Africa and Marumo Gallants/Kaizer Chiefs)
Ronwen Williams (South Africa and Mamelodi Sundowns)
Ali Maaloul (Tunisia and Al Ahly)
Mohamed Ali Ben Romdhane (Tunisia and Esperance Sportive de Tunis /Ferencvaros)
Young Player of the Year (Men)
Dango Ouattara (Burkina Faso and Bournemouth)
Souleymane Alio (Burkina Faso and New Stars)
Ernest Nuamah (Ghana & Olympique Lyonnais)
Abdessamad Ezzalzouli (Morocco and Betis)
Bilal El Khannous (Morocco and Genk)
Gift Orban (Nigeria and KAA Gent)
Lamine Camara (Senegal and Generation Foot/Metz)
Pape Amadou Diallo (Senegal and Generation Foot/Metz)
THE Abuja Division of the Court of Appeal has sacked Gabriel Suswam from the Senate.
A three-member panel of the court on Wednesday, November 1, unanimously declared that the Benue state former governor who represented the North-East senatorial district in the state was not the legitimate winner of the senatorial election in the state on February 25.
The court voided the certificate of return issued to Suswam of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
It directed The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to give a new certificate of return to Emmanuel Udende of the All Progressives Congress (APC).
The panel criticised the Benue State National Assembly Election Petitions Tribunal’s decision to nullify Udende’s election and return Suswam to the Senate.
The appellate court said the tribunal reached an incorrect result after upholding Suswam’s petition to contest Udende’s victory and incorrectly assessed the evidence brought before it by the parties.
Consequently, the court declared that it saw merit in the APC candidate’s appeal, and it overturned the tribunal’s decision.
INEC declared Udende the winner of the senatorial election after he polled 135,573 votes to defeat Suswam, who got 112,231 votes.
Suswam challenged the outcome and went to the tribunal, claiming that excessive voting, anomalies, changes, and results fabrication had tainted the election.
The tribunal ruled that Suswam proved that anomalies occurred in five of the senatorial district’s seven local government areas.
The tribunal cancelled 21,229 votes cast for Suswam and 51,895 votes cast for Udende.
Suswam had 90,590 votes left after deducting the padded votes claimed by the tribunal, while Udende had 82,699.
The panel was headed by Ori Zik-Ikeoha.
However, the appellate court overturned the ruling in Udende’s favour on Wednesday.
THE Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and the Trade Union Congress (TUC) have placed workers on strike alert nationwide over the arrest of NLC President Joe Ajaero by operatives of the Nigeria Police Force (NPF) in Owerri, Imo State.
The Labour unions also accused the Imo state governor, Hope Uzodinma, of masterminding Ajaero’s arrest.
The unions, in a joint statement on Wednesday, November 1, signed by General Secretary NLC Emmanuel Ugboaja and Nuhu Toro, Secretary General TUC, accused the Imo state government of continuing to use the instrument of violence and intimidation against trade unions and their leadership in the state.
According to the unions, the government unleashed “blood-cuddling” mayhem on the state workers with Ajaero’s arrest.
“Earlier in the morning, Policemen had tried to disperse workers who were gathering at the state NLC secretariat without success. This was followed in the usual manner by thugs who were stationed very close to the secretariat in several Hilux and Toyota trucks.
“These thugs were later to unleash mayhem on the few workers who had already gathered, smashing car windscreens, delivering matchet cuts on some, stabbing many, and inflicting all manners of injuries on the workers. GSM handsets were snatched, Laptops taken away, and Monies were forcefully taken away by the hoodlums.
“The Police in the usual manner accompanied by thugs led by the Special Assistant to the Governor of Imo state on Special Duties: Mr. Chinasa Nwaneri, leading others like Tapey and Madoka, descended on the president of the congress after overpowering the few workers who were left after the initial battering, inflicted heavy injuries and big blows to his head and body and kicking him in the process while dragging him on the ground while the Police supervised the mayhem,” part of the statement reads.
The unions said the Police bundled Ajaero into their waiting van and whisked him away to an unknown destination.
Continuing, the Unions said all they had been asking Uzodinma was to honour agreements signed and to respect the rights of workers in the state.
“Workers deserve their wage, and if you are in the habit of owing workers, you make their lives unstable and strip them of their humanity. These are some of the things we have asked Hope to do, but to which he has refused to heed; instead, he believes in the use of intimidation and violence against the workers and the people.”
They called on Nigerian workers within and outside the state to be on alert for immediate nationwide action if Ajaero was not released by the end of Wednesday that he was abducted.
They also called on President Bola Tinubu to call Uzodimma to order to avert the state from being turned into “a den of thugs and bloodsuckers.”
The ICIR reports that officers of the Nigerian Police reportedly arrested the President of the NLC, Ajaero, in Owerri, Imo state, on Wednesday.
The NLC was leading a protest and strike in the state due to alleged disrespect for workers and unpaid salaries by Uzodinma’s administration when officers of the Nigeria Police Force apprehended its leader.
The Labour union had vowed to mobilise its members for a total strike in the state starting Wednesday, November 1.
The crisis comes 11 days before the governorship election in the state.
THE House of Representatives has given the Accountant-General of the Federation, Oluwatoyin Madein, a 72-hour ultimatum to submit a detailed report of how N100 billion in COVID-19 intervention funds were spent.
The Chairman of the House Committee on Public Accounts, Bamidele Salam (PDP, Osun), said the ultimatum followed the failure of the AGF to comply with the committee’s resolution to submit the report on October 27, 2023.
As a result, he directed the AGF to transmit the report before the close of work on Friday, November 3, 2023.
The resolution followed a motion on the ‘Alleged mismanagement of COVID-19 intervention funds from 2020 to 2022’, approved by the federal government for various ministries, departments and agencies (MDAs) between 2020 and 2022.
Salam said, “A letter was written to the Accountant-General to furnish the committee with details of all releases pursuant to the provisions of the Appropriation Act as well as other interventions captured by the release from Central Bank of Nigeria to different ministries, departments and agencies of government.
“That letter, I was duly informed, showed that submission is expected on or before October 27, 2023. As we speak, that input has not been received from the office of the Accountant=General of the Federation.”
Salam said the document would guide the investigation proceedings and enable the House to carry it out within a timeframe.
The ICIR reports that the world responded to the devastations accompanying COVID-19 in 2020 and 2021 with different measures.
While morbidity and mortality from the disease soared globally, the Nigerian government, private organisations and well-meaning citizens rose to support the nation’s health systems to combat the virus.
