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House of Reps rejects call for suspension of new fuel price

Bankole ABE
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House of Reps rejects call for suspension of new fuel price

THE House of Representatives, on Wednesday, July 19, rejected a motion calling for the reversal of the hike in fuel pump price.

The motion, sponsored by a member, Ikenga Ugochinyere, demanded that the pump price revert to the old price of N537 per litre.

The motion did not succeed and the House instead resolved to set up an ad-hoc committee to look into the continued increase in fuel pump prices.

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The House said that ordering the suspension of the price rise would amount to preempting the work of the investigating committee because it had already decided to look into the hike.

The House requested that its committee provide recommendations for implementing palliative actions to lessen suffering in the country.

The motion of urgent public importance, presented to the House by Ugochinyere, was titled ‘The need to investigate the incessant increase in fuel pump price’.

The House asked the Group Managing Director of the Nigeria National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) Mele Kyari and oil marketers to appear before the ad hoc committee to explain the increase.

In order to lessen the impact of the elimination of subsidies, the ad hoc committee is also looking for ways to guarantee the effective distribution of palliatives to Nigerians.

According to Ugochinyere, the National Assembly is given the right to investigate the operations of any authority responsible for carrying out or overseeing laws passed by the National Assembly under sections 88(1) and (2) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (As Amended).

He added that the Petroleum Midstream and Downstream Regulatory Authority oversees and regulates technical and commercial midstream and downstream petroleum operations in Nigeria under Section 32 of the Petroleum Industry Act, 2021.

Ugochinyere noted that the incessant fuel price hike has caused hardship for Nigerians.

“Mr Speaker, this is the people’s House, and we represent the Nigeria people; very soon, with the way things are going, fuel will be sold for 1,000 per litre.

“On Tuesday, 18th July 2023, petrol pump price was increased from N537 to N617 by petrol marketers without conferring with the relevant government agencies.

“In view of the current socio-economic challenges being faced by Nigerians, a hike in the price of fuel will heap great suffering and hardship on Nigerians,” Ugochinyere stated.

He added that the high cost of transportation will cause food prices to rise in the near future, emphasising how the increase will cause the public great pain.

He expressed worry that a rise in fuel prices will cause tremendous sorrow and hardship for Nigerians, given their existing socio-economic woes.

Deputy Speaker Benjamin Kalu, who presided over the House, put to a vote an amendment made by another legislator asking the House to direct the NNPCL to suspend the new pump price of N617 and restore the old price of N540, but the lawmakers unanimously rejected the motion by shouting “Nay”.

Kalu said the amendment would not be adopted because no one wanted to influence the direction of the ad hoc committee’s probe.

The House, however, decided to summon Mele Kyari, Group Managing Director of NNPCL, to inquire about the ongoing increases in fuel co.

The Committee was given four weeks to conclude its inquiry and submit a report to the House for additional legislative action.

The ICIR reported on Tuesday, July 18, that the Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC) issued a warning to the Federal Government over the hike in the petrol pump price.

NLC, in a statement by its President, Joe Ajaero, rejected the new pump price, describing it as provocative.

Also, in another report by The ICIR, industry analysts gave reasons why petrol prices will keep rising.

According to them, the pump price will continue to rise till the naira attains measurable stability against the dollar.

UK passes ‘illegal migration bill’ amid human rights concerns

Oghenekevwe UCHECHUKWU
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UK passes ‘illegal migration bill’ amid human rights concerns

THE United Kingdom (UK) government has successfully passed the controversial ‘Illegal Migration Bill’ despite opposition and fears about its impact on human rights and refugees.

The bill is set to become law pending approval from the King and poses significant obstacles for migrants entering the UK, especially those arriving via small boats across the Channel.

The bill enforces a “legal duty to detain and remove anyone entering the UK illegally,” a move that aims to halt small boat crossings and discourage asylum applications via irregular routes.

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Efforts were made by the House of Lords to introduce amendments to the bill, including reinstating time limits on child detentions and ensuring protection under the Modern Slavery act.

However, the government reversed most of these amendments in a late-night voting session on July 17.

Immigration Minister Robert Jenrick asserted that the bill aims to send a clear message that those entering the UK illegally will face detention and be returned to their home country or safe third countries they passed through en route, effectively denying such individuals the chance to apply for asylum and seek protection.

The UK deems 57 countries worldwide, including EU member states, as safe destinations.

However, securing the agreement of these safe third countries has become challenging following the UK’s departure from the EU and the Dublin Treaty.

The treaty allowed countries to send migrants back to their first entry point in the EU or a country where they previously initiated the asylum process.

The United Nations has expressed concerns about the bill, arguing that it contravenes the UK’s obligations to uphold international human rights and protect refugees.

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UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Volker Türk, stressed that the legislation could set a dangerous precedent, potentially influencing other countries to weaken their asylum-related obligations, thus jeopardizing the international refugee and human rights protection system.

Türk called on the UK government to reverse the law, renew its commitment to human rights, and uphold its responsibilities in safeguarding individuals in need of international protection.

Tribunal: APC says Tinubu did not discuss with CJN

Vincent Ufuoma
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Tribunal: APC says Tinubu did not discuss with CJN

THE ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) has refuted reports that President Bola Tinubu had a telephone conversation with the Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN) Olukayode Ariwoola, regarding the possible outcome of his case at the Presidential Election Petition Tribunal.

Publisher of an online news platform, Jackson Ude, had, in a post on Twitter, alleged that during the said phone conversation, the CJN advised Tinubu and the APC to get ready for a rerun of the 2023 presidential election.

However in statement on Wednesday, July 19, APC spokesperson, Felix Morka, accused Ude of fabricating a falsehood on a matter of serious national importance that is actively under review by the tribunal.

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Morka stated that Tinubu and the APC won the February 25 presidential election without a doubt, and do not have any need to engage in side conversations with the CJN regarding pending petitions before the tribunal.

He said the tribunal should be afforded the time and space to perform its important constitutional and statutory duty of adjudicating and delivering a verdict in the matter without needlessly calling the integrity of the judges into question.

“We have become aware of a decidedly mischievous and intentionally misleading tweet by one Mr Jackson Ude. He alleged that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu was in a telephone conversation with the Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Olukayode Ariwoola, in which the CJN purportedly told the President and APC to prepare for a presidential election rerun,” Morka said.

“President Tinubu and our Party won the last Presidential election without a doubt, and do not have any need to engage in side conversations with the CJN regarding pending petitions before the PEPC. As the core democrat that he is, the President respects the right of aggrieved candidates in the election to seek redress for any grievances that they may have. The Constitution and Electoral Act provide effective guarantees of that right.”

The APC spokesman said reports such as the one published by Ude only aim to inflame political passions, create doubt and panic, and preemptively undermine the verdict of the tribunal.

He said the APC is confident that Nigerians are smarter and more discerning to be affected by what he described as Ude’s brand of tasteless and crass mercenary expedition.

INEC had declared Tinubu as the winner of the February 25 presidential election.

According to the Commission, Tinubu secured 8,794,726 votes, Atiku Abubakar of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) came second with 6,984,520, while Labour Party’s (LP) Peter Obi finished third with 6,101,533.

The PDP and LP candidates rejected the result and approached the tribunal with separate petitions to challenge Tinubu’s victory.

They alleged that Tinubu was not qualified to contest the election and that he failed to secure the majority of lawful votes cast at the poll.

They are also contesting that Tinubu’s running mate, Kashim Shettima, had a double nomination contrary to the Electoral Act.

In addition to Atiku and Obi’s petitions, the Allied Peoples Movement (APM) is also asking the court to nullify Tinubu’s election.

The party argued that the withdrawal of Ibrahim Masari as the initially nominated Vice-Presidential candidate of the APC invalidated Tinubu’s candidacy under Section 131(c) and 142 of the 1999 Constitution, as amended.

The party contended that there was a three-week gap between Masari’s expressed intention to withdraw, the actual withdrawal of his nomination, and Tinubu’s replacement of him with Shettima.

The APM further claimed that Tinubu’s nomination had expired when he nominated Shettima as Masari’s replacement.

Although initially five petitions were filed challenging Tinubu’s victory, The ICIR had reported that two of the petitioners, the Action Alliance (AA) and the Action Peoples Party (APP), withdrew their cases during the pre-hearing sitting of the tribunal.

All parties in the suits have closed their cases at the tribunal. Written witness statements are currently being filed and exchanged by all parties in the suit.

The tribunal had also reserved judgment in APM’s suit, after the party and all respondents in the suit wrote and adopted their written witness statements.

Fuel price hike: College of Education lecturers to work twice weekly

Ijeoma OPARA
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Fuel price hike: College of Education lecturers to work twice weekly

FOLLOWING the hike in fuel prices, the College of Education Academic Staff Union (COEASU) has directed its members to work only two times a week.

The directive was contained in a statement issued by COEASU National President Smart Olugbeko on Wednesday, July 19.

Olugbeko said the decision was reached by the union’s executives during a meeting on Tuesday, July 18, and will be upheld until the Federal Government yields to its demand of a 200 per cent salary increase.

“The leadership of the Union has been inundated by members’ complaints that they could no longer go to work as a result of a hike in the price of petrol and the resultant high cost of transportation.

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“Against this backdrop, it has become inevitable for the Union to direct members to go to work only two days weekly while an emergency NEC meeting shall be convened to ratify this decision and decide on the specific days of the week members are to go to work,” the statement read.

Noting that the salaries of staff of Colleges of Education in the country has not been reviewed since 2010, Olugbeko urged the Federal Government to address the issue and avert a distortion of the academic calendar.

“We have been on same salary since 2010 while the petrol price rose intermittently from N65/N70 in 2010 to N650 in 2023 (a tenfold increase). Our salary structure which is subject to renegotiation at three-year intervals, has remained static for 13 years, skipping four due renegotiations.

“It is ludicrous that Government has refused to return to the negotiation table on the welfare package for staff after the Union, prior to the removal of the fuel subsidy, had proposed a 200 per cent increase in salary as against the Government’s offer of a ridiculous 35 per cent for the Chief Lecturers and 23 per cent for other cadres,” he added.

The Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) on Tuesday, July 18, increased the pump price of petrol to N617 per litre, the second hike since President Bola Tinubu announced an end to fuel subsidy during his inaugural speech on May 29.

The price of fuel, which was less than N200 for a litre of fuel, surged above N500 in May before the recent hike, which brought it to N617.

The hike has led to rising transport costs, and with no commensurate increase in income, Nigerians are battling the resulting hardship.

Analysts, however, predict that fuel prices will continue to rise until the naira gains some stability against the dollar.

Troops arrest traffickers moving drugs from Ghana to Nigeria

Mustapha USMAN
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Troops arrest traffickers moving drugs from Ghana to Nigeria

TROOPS of 192 Battalion of the Nigerian Army have intercepted an international drug syndicate smuggling a truckload of substance suspected to be cannabis sativa (marijuana) to Sango Otta in Ogun State.

A statement by the Director of Army Public Relations, Onyema Nwachukwu on Wednesday, July 19, disclosed that the troops, who operate in 81 Division Area of Responsibility, made the arrest on Tuesday, July 18, following credible intelligence.

“Responding to actionable intelligence, troops conducted stop and search operations along Ajilete Road in Yewa South Local Government Area of Ogun State, during which they intercepted and impounded the suspected truck without Registration number, loaded with 397 wraps of substance suspected to be marijuana.”

Preliminary investigations by the troops revealed that the illicit substance concealed in the truck were being transported from Ghana through Benin Republic via Igholo-Idiroko to Sango Otta.

“The suspects conveying the illegal drugs have been identified as Mr Matthew Edegbe, a Benin Republic national and Mr Joshua Dansu of Idiroko, who are currently assisting in ongoing investigations.

“Items recovered from the suspects include the truck’s Registration Number identified as (T 1826 LA Lagos), which was detached and concealed in the vehicle to prevent identification, an Infinix and Itel phone, one iphone, a Benin Republic National Identification card and a driver’s license belonging to one George Benyagbe, as well as the sum of N7000,” the Army spokesman added.

According to the statement, the two suspects, vehicle and exhibits will soon be transferred to the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), Lagos State Command, for prosecution.

The Chief of Army Staff Major General Taoreed Lagbaja commended the troops for their commitment and vigilance, urging them to sustain the momentum to rid the country of criminality.

On Saturday, July 15, troops of the Battalion also intercepted a truck with of over 20,000 cartridges of ammunition heading to Anambra State.

The troops, who acted on actionable intelligence conducted a meticulous and rigorous Stop-and-Search operation along Ajilete-Owode Road in Yewa North LGA of Ogun State.

The soldiers uncovered the illegal ammunition in a truck with Registration Number ENU 697 XY, loaded with 720 packets of Red Star Cartridges of 12 Calibre, containing 25 cartridges per packet, totalling 18, 000 cartridges and an additional 250 packets of live (black) cartridges containing 10 packets each, totalling 2500 cartridges of same calibre.

According to the Nigerian Army spokesman Onyema Nwachukwu, “The suspects, identified as Mr. Eric Seworvor, a Ghanaian national, and the driver, Mr Lukman Sani, have been taken into custody and are helping with ongoing investigations.”

“Information gathered during preliminary investigation revealed that the ammunition, which were surreptitiously concealed in a supposed empty truck were imported from Mali, via Idiroko International Border, where the criminals had successfully beaten several other checkpoints en-route their final destination in Onitsha, Anambra State, where they intended to deliver the illegal ammunition.

“Timely intervention by the vigilant troops however thwarted the chaos that such volume of ammunition would have unleashed on innocent members of the public, if the criminals had succeeded.”

The Nigerian Army therefore appealed to all law-abiding citizens to continue to support the troops and other security agencies with credible and actionable information, as they combat security challenges across the country.

Buhari’s lopsided appointments come under scrutiny as Reps commence probe

Vincent Ufuoma
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Buhari’s lopsided appointments come under scrutiny as Reps commence probe

LOPSIDED appointments made by former President Muhammadu Buhari has come under scrutiny following a resolution passed by the House of Representatives on Tuesday, July 18.

The Reps, during plenary on Tuesday, resolved to probe the appointments made during Buhari’s eight years as Nigeria’s President.

A motion to probe Buhari’s appointments was moved by Labour Party (LP) member representing Enugu East/Isi Uzo Federal Constituency, Paul Nnamchi.

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The lawmaker, while moving the motion, also said the Federal Character Commission (FCC):should be proved for allegedly abdicating its constitutional responsibilities.

Noting that the federal character principle was included in Nigeria’s constitution to promote national cohesion and equal opportunities, he argued that there “exists a brazen domination” of bureaucratic, economic, media, and political positions by a section of the country.

“Twenty-four years after its constitutional entrenchment, the perception is that there exists brazen domination of the bureaucratic, economic, media, and political posts at all levels by a section of the country at the expense of the others,” Nnamchi said,

The lawmaker also claimed that there is a “clash of interests” among the commissioners at the commission.

“Federal Character Commission has virtually abdicated its constitutional and statutory responsibilities and degenerated into personality clash of interest among its commissioners as was the case about a year ago.”

The House of Representatives adopted the motion and subsequently set up an ad hoc committee to investigate “the returns on appointments undertaken by Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) under its (FCC) jurisdiction between 2015–2023″.

The lawmakers also requested the Commission to submit a report of appointments in the MDAs between 2015 and 2023.

Buhari’s lopsided appointments 

During his tenure as President, Buhari was accused of favouritism and nepotism in federal appointments, but the former military head of state defended his actions.

In June 2020, a group of Southern leaders filed a lawsuit against Buhari in the Abuja Division of the Federal High Court. They alleged that Buhari’s administration had marginalised the Southern region of Nigeria in its appointments since 2015.

The leaders argued that the composition of the government of the federation under Buhari, and most of its agencies, did not reflect the principle of federal character. They claimed that there was a predominance of persons from a few states and sectional groups dominating the opportunities in the government, a situation which they said threatened national unity and integration.

The lawsuit was filed by 16 Southern leaders, including Edwin Clark, Reuben Fasoranti, John Nnia Nwodo, and Pogu Bittus.

But in an interview with BBC Hausa in 2015, Buhari explained the reason behind his appointments, saying he nominated people he could trust, and who had worked with him for years.

He also said the constitution allows him complete control over his choice of close officials. Buhari also made it clear that the appointments also served as a reward for those who remained loyal to him for years.

A 2017 BusinessDay report titled “81 of Buhari’s 100 appointees are Northerners” showed that 81 of those appointed into key positions by Buhari either from the North-East, North-west or North-Central since he became President.

Buhari’s Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Femi Adesina, in a response to the report, published a list, which suggested that 82 of the 157 appointments made by the President were from the South, and 75 from the North.

The presidential spokesman said the government’s list “put the lie” to the “mischievous” claims about Buhari’s appointments, adding: “It is, indeed, false for anyone to say that President Buhari’s appointments are lopsided.”

However, a Fact Check by Premium Times on the list released by Adesina, said it contained several omissions and errors.

Despite public outcries, Buhari’s top appointment into the country’s security service between 2015 and 2020, favoured officers from the northern part of the country.

Checks on Buhari’s appointments into the leadership cadre of Nigerian’s security agencies during that period show that only two of the eight security chiefs were from the South: the Chief of Defence staff (South West) and the Chief of Naval Staff (South-South).

The remaining six, including the heads of the Army, Air Force, Police, Nigeru Intelligence Agency and Department of State Service were all Northerners.

Also, as of April 6, 2021, a regional analysis of the heads of security agencies conducted by The ICIR, including paramilitary organisations, based on their state of origin shows that 12 out of 16 of them (75 per cent) are from the Northern part of the country, while just four (25 per cent) are from the Southern part of the country.

Also, Buhari”s approval of the list of Justices of the Court of Appeal released in 2021 is considered as lopsided, with 61 per cent of jurists coming from the North versus 39 per cent from the South.

Buhari’s appointments into the top management of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) and its subsidiaries showed an uneven geographical spread of senior appointments.

An analysis carried out by The ICIR revealed a geographical imbalance within the ranks of the Corporation.

Apart from violating the Constitution in appointing his personal aides into sensitive positions in agencies like the Independent Electoral Commission (INEC), Buhari also in several cases appointed dead people into his government.

The former President also breached the Acts establishing several agencies, including the National Pension Commission (PenCom). He also engaged in illegal extension of tenures.

Unqualified persons were also appointed in agencies and ministries like the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP).

Buhari in 2021, approved approved Imaan Sulaiman-Ibrahim’s appointment as the new Director-General of NAPTIP. However, Sulaiman-Ibrahim did not possess the required qualification to hold the position.

According to the NAPTIP Act, the agency’s DG shall be someone of the director cadre in the Nigerian public service or its equivalent in any law enforcement agency.

“There shall be for the Agency a Director-General who shall be from the Directorate cadre in the public service of the Federation or its equivalent in any law enforcement service and shall be appointed by the President on the recommendation of the Minister,” Section 8 (1) of the NAPTIP Act 2015, reads.

Suleiman-Ibrahim did not have any record of attaining the director cadre in Nigeria public service as she had never held a major office in the country’s civil service. She was, however, appointed against the stipulation of the law.

Exchange rate: TETFund moves to suspend foreign scholarships

Mustapha USMAN
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Exchange rate: TETFund moves to suspend foreign scholarships

THE Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund) has commenced moves to suspend foreign scholarship offers to Nigerian students over exchange rate challenges.

TETFund Executive Secretary Sonny Echono disclosed this on Tuesday, July 18, when he appeared before the House of Representatives ad-hoc committee investigating the alleged mismanagement of N2.3 trillion tertiary education tax by TETFund.

Echono explained that some of the taxes are paid to TETFund in foreign currencies through an account held at the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) but when fees are to be paid for scholars abroad, the Central bank insists on TETFund sourcing the required foreign exchange.

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“We operate a system where our forex is being sold on our behalf at an official rate and we apply like anybody else to get it, sometimes it leads to additional cost.

“Currently as I speak, we are in consultations with all our stakeholders to suspend foreign training for a year or two.

“This is because of the recent exchange rate adjustments. We are unable to continue based on our disbursement guidelines,” he said.

The Executive Secretary stressed that the money allocated in naira by TETfund cannot cover the dollar requirement for training students abroad. According to him, TETFund now needs more naira to pay for the dollar that is required for the annual fees of students currently studying abroad.

Echono added that, henceforth, TETfund training will be done locally through “our experienced, first-generation universities and other specialised universities” in the country.

“This way we can retain our resources in-house and cope with the change of foreign exchange variation,” he added.

While denying the allegations that TETFund mismanaged the N2.3 trillion fund, Echono noted that the Federal Government was owing the organisation N371.3 billion, out of which N46 billion has been repaid.

Over 137 Nigerian students studying abroad absconded 

The Executive Secretary of the Tertiary Education Trust Fund also disclosed to the House of Representatives ad-hoc committee that over 137 Nigerian students from 40 institutions, sponsored abroad, absconded.

According to him, the scholars who were sponsored by TETFund for higher education abroad refused to return to the country after completing their programmes.

Echono warned that stringent and effective measures will be taken against those who refuse to return to the country for Nigerians to benefit from their expertise.

He stressed that such individuals would be considered fugitives of the law in their own country.

“Some of the scholars that have been sponsored, unpatriotically when they go, they enjoy our scholarship, acquire a higher degree, then refuse to come back. It has become a major crisis.

“The scholarship requires that you will come back. It is required that you have a guarantor and in many cases, the guarantor has suffered undue hardship because when you disappear, we hold the guarantor to pay all the money expended on your behalf but that has not been effective.”

Echono added that TETFund “can enforce the repayment for those who insist they will not come back.”

“We will write to the embassies and they will make it available to those countries and they will not be able to get jobs. They will be seen as fugitives of law from their countries.

“We may have to take that hard stand because the numbers are alarming. We just checked about 40 institutions and over 137 absconders and the review is ongoing.

“It is a huge number that we cannot afford and so we will be seeking your support to strengthen some of the existing regulations to ensure that those who benefit from this programme must come back.

Explaining that TETFund is not against people looking for greener pastures, Echono noted that such individuals must do so on their own.

Economists fault NBS inflation figures amid astronomical rise in cost of living

Harrison EDEH
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0
Economists fault NBS inflation figures amid astronomical rise in cost of living

ECONOMISTS have faulted the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) June inflation report which put the figure at 22.79 per cent, citing concerns of measurement methodologies. 

The economists faulted baskets of measurements by the national statistics office, insisting that the official quoted figure did not represent the current economic realities.

“The officially qouted number is below most of the forecast of both the local and international numbers. Many experts had projected a higher inflationary number because of the two key policies of the current administration on foreign exchange unification and fuel subsidy removal. These are natural triggers to inflation,” an economist, Paul Alaje, said in reaction to the NBS June inflation numbers.

“It is possible that some of the items that NBS has in the inflation baskets are still dealing with old stocks. Food inflation increased but core inflation increased marginally,” Alaje said.

Agreeing, a professor of Finance and Capital Market, Uche Uwaleke, said those two key policies would, indeed, automatically spike inflation figures.

“Inflation came in lower than expected, although the capital market has been doing well. I think it is time the National Bureau of Statistics changed its methodology. There is a problem with the methodology, I dare say,” Uwaleke said.

According to the professor, “If you say inflation has increased by 22.79 per cent year-on-year, all you are saying is that the average commodity prices have gone up by that percentage. That is grossly understated.

“The NBS polls data covered 10,000 informants across the country, focusing on 740 commodities. However, what is important is that the methodology they are using is the national living survey of 2009, which is obsolete. It is time the methodology was updated to reflect present realities.”

Meanwhile, survey checks on few commodities frequently consumed showed more than a 50 per cent rise.

For instance, in most markets in Abuja, the price of a frequently consumed mudu of gari has risen from N300 to N600 within a space of one year. A six-piece bunch of plantain that sold for N600 at this time last year now sells for N1,400. A 75-litre bottle of palm oil, which sold N800 at this time last year also now sells for N1,300.

However, the NBS, clarifying its latest inflation figures, explained that numbers may not fully capture the impact of the fuel subsidy removal and the unification of the exchange rate.

The statistics office explained that the data collection for computing the rate for the reference month typically stopped around the middle of the month, meaning that the June numbers only reflected approximately two weeks of the policy impact on consumer prices.

“The full effect of the policy, as relates to prices, can, therefore, not be reflected in June only, but also in subsequent months, based on actual prices collected in market outlets across the country.

“As such, the effect of fuel subsidy removal and the unification of the exchange rate is yet to fully impact the inflation rate,” the NBS stated.

The ICIR had reported how the International Monetary Fund (IMF) pointed out that the NBS had not been using the right methodology in measuring the CPI.

In a report titled, ‘Nigeria: 2022 Article IV Consultation’, the IMF said the NBS was using the 2003/2004 National Consumer Expenditure Survey (NCES) to measure the CPI or the inflation rate, instead of the 2018 National Household Livings Standards, which would have measured the rate appropriately.

Tobi Amusan risks 2 years ban over anti-doping violation

Dotun OMISAKIN
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Tobi Amusan risks 2 years ban over anti-doping violation

NIGERIAN sprinter, Tobi Amusan, the 100m women’s hurdles world record-holder, is facing a two years ban over alleged violation of anti-doping rules.

Amusan, on Wednesday, July 19, revealed she has been charged with an anti-doping rule violation by the Athletics Integrity Unit (AIU) for missing three tests in 12 months.

“Today the Athletics Integrity Unit (AIU) has charged me with an alleged rule violation for having 3 missed tests in 12 months,” she said in a post on Instagram.

However, she denied taking performance enhancements.

“I am a clean athlete, and I am regularly; (maybe more than the usual) tested by the AIU – I was tested within days of my third ‘missed test.”

The charge has cast doubts over her participation in next month’s world championships in Budapest, Romania. But Amusan said she will fight the charge.

“I intend to fight this charge and will have my case decided by a tribunal of 3 arbitrators before the start of next month’s World Championships.

“I have faith that this will be resolved in my favour and that I will be competing at the World Championships in August.”

The penalty for having 3 missed tests in 12 months

According to the World Athletics Anti-Doping Rules, athletes have to submit their whereabouts by the required deadline.

Also, under the World Athletics Anti-Doping Rules, the applicable sanction for three ‘whereabouts’ failures is two years ineligibility, subject to a reduction to a minimum of one year depending on an athlete’s degree of fault.

The world athletics regulatory body has a three-strikes rule that states that if an athlete does not provide accurate whereabouts information for a doping test they may incur a declaration of a missed test, or a filing failure. Three strikes in a 12-month period is an anti-doping violation.

What is Whereabouts in athletics?

According to Global Sports Advocates, athletes must file quarterly whereabouts updates that provide information about their training locations, competitions, regularly scheduled activities, overnight locations, and a daily 60-minute window where they will be available for testing. This information must be updated on a timely basis when an athlete’s schedule changes.

Deadlines for whereabouts submissions are as follows:

Quarter 1 deadline is December 15.

Quarter 2 deadline is March 15.

Quarter 3 deadline is June 15.

Quarter 4 deadline is September 15.

EXPLAINER: What you need to know about anthrax disease

Mustapha USMAN
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EXPLAINER: What you need to know about anthrax disease

FOLLOWING the confirmation of the first case of anthrax disease in the country, many Nigerians have become apprehensive.

Anthrax is a severe disease that can affect both humans and animals.

On Monday, July 17, the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (FMARD) said the Office of the Chief Veterinary officer of Nigeria was notified of animals manifesting symptoms of a suspected case of an infectious disease in a farm in Suleja, Niger State.

The farm was described as a ‘multi-specie animal farm comprising cattle, sheep and goats’.

Anthrax has been associated with hides (Ponmo) and bush meats – delicacies which are popular among Nigerians.

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However, the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC) has assured that the Federal Government has put specific preventive measures in place to ensure the safety of Nigerians. But the Centre also urged Nigerians to stay away from likely causes of the disease.

What is Anthrax?

The NCDC defined anthrax as a severe disease caused by the bacteria – bacillus anthracis. It can affect both humans and animals, including wild animals and livestock such as cows, pigs, camels, sheep, goats, etc. The bacteria, which exist as spores, can be found in the soil, wool, or hair of infected animals. 

According to the NCDC, anthrax spores are resistant to extreme conditions and can survive in the soil or environment for decades, making controlling or eradicating the disease very difficult. 

Also, the Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) explained that anthrax is a serious infectious disease caused by gram-positive, rod-shaped bacteria known as Bacillus anthracis and occurs naturally in soil and commonly affects domestic and wild animals around the world. 

The Centre noted that although people can get sick with anthrax if they come in contact with infected animals or contaminated animal products, it is not contagious.

This means that a person cannot contract it from another person except in the case of cutaneous anthrax, where there is a small risk of direct infection from the lesions on another person’s body. 

Inhalation anthrax cannot be transmitted from person to person and can only be contracted by directly inhaling anthrax spores, according to The World Health Organization (WHO).

How humans get infected 

The majority of anthrax cases occur among individuals who have direct contact with infected animals or animal-related materials, such as wool, hides, or hair, in their occupational settings. Anthrax infection can be contracted through various means of exposure.

The following are likely ways by which people can get Anthrax:

Breathing in spores.

Eating food or drinking water that is contaminated with spores.

Eating raw or undercooked meat from infected animals.

Getting spores in a cut or scrape in the skin.

The NCDC categories the means of anthrax infection in humans as follows:

  • Skin infection, i.e., direct contact with infected animals through wounds or cuts
  • Gastrointestinal, i.e., through eating raw or undercooked meat of infected animals or their products, including milk.
  • Inhalation, i.e., breathing in the spores (the deadliest form of the disease).

Possible symptoms

The symptoms of anthrax vary depending on the type and route of exposure. It is also important to note that the disease is rare, and the symptoms can be mistaken for another disease or illness. However, it is crucial to seek medical attention if one experiences any concerning symptoms.

According to NCDC, anthrax, in humans, can cause fever, painless skin sores with a black centre that appears after the blisters, general body weakness, and difficulty in breathing. It can also cause severe digestive illness that resembles food poisoning.

The symptoms in animals include high fever, weakness, loss of appetite, bleeding from all body openings (nose, mouth, ears, anus etc.), swelling and difficulty in breathing and bloody diarrhoea. It can lead to sudden death in most cases. 

The blood of an animal with anthrax does not clot on slaughter. Also, at slaughter, marked bloating and quick decay are observed.

Persons at risk of contracting anthrax

The Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development and the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention have identified the group of persons at risk of contracting the disease:

  • People who handle animals, i.e., veterinarians, veterinary laboratory workers, farmers, abattoir workers, butchers, cattle rearers, livestock producers and traders, wildlife handlers, hunters, park rangers, processors, importers, and exporters of hide and skin, animal health workers etc.
  • People who consume animals (cattle, sheep, and goats) that were found dead
  • Healthcare workers, diagnostic laboratory workers and caregivers who are exposed to patients or their biological specimens.
  • Law enforcement officers (Police, Military, Immigration, Customs, Point of Entry Personnel etc.).
  • Anyone travelling to a location with a confirmed anthrax case within and outside Nigeria.

Prevention

For individuals at high risk of exposure, such as veterinarians, livestock workers, and laboratory personnel, vaccination against anthrax is one of the most effective ways to prevent infection. It is, however, uncertain whether the anthrax vaccine is available in Nigeria.

The Federal Government has said it will start nationwide vaccination of livestock soon to mitigate the possible spread of the disease.

Meanwhile, to prevent the spread of the disease, NCDC says Nigerians must carefully examine the livestock they consume and take caution when buying animals such as cows, camels, sheep and goats from Nigerian states bordering Benin, Chad, Niger Republic, Ghana and Togo via waterways.

As earlier reported, Nigerians should stay away from consuming hides (Ponmo), smoked meat and other by-products of bush meats while also cautioning themselves from eating sick or dead animals. The NCDC also advised hunters to desist from picking sick or dead animals from the bush for human consumption purposes.

Livestock owners should also make sure to vaccinate their livestock as it is the most effective preventive measure against anthrax, and always be on their personal protective equipment when handling sick animals.

Good hygiene practices on the farm through regular cleaning and disinfection of animal housing, feeding equipment, and water troughs are also believed to reduce the risk.

The Centre also advised animal health professionals/handlers and healthcare workers to maintain infection prevention and control precautions, a high index of suspicion/vigilance and also notify the health authorities (both human and animal) when they see any human or animal with the symptoms.

Can Anthrax be treated?

Yes. The disease, according to WHO and CDC, can be treated with antibiotics.

“Hospitalisation is required for all human cases of anthrax. Individuals potentially exposed to anthrax spores may be provided with prophylactic treatment. Anthrax responds well to antibiotics, which need to be prescribed by a medical professional. Always follow medical advice on how to take the antibiotics. Precisely follow the instructions and do not shorten the course of treatment. Should any side effects of the treatment be noted, please consult a physician at once. Nobody should attempt to use antibiotics or any other drugs to treat or protect themselves without first getting medical advice,” WHO said.

Another possible treatment for anthrax is through the use of antitoxins as prescribed by physicians. “Antitoxins target anthrax toxins in the body. Doctors must use antitoxin together with other treatment options. Currently, there are a few types of antitoxins that can be used for treating anthrax,” CDC explained.

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