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Nigeria Ministries, departments and agencies of the Federal Government, alongside the Presidency, spent at least N1.99bn on foreign trips, training and estacodes in France between May 2023 and September 2024, Sunday PUNCH reports.

The findings are based on an analysis of data from GovSpend, a transparency platform by BudgIT that tracks public expenditure.

The funds covered airfare, hotel accommodation, visa processing, estacodes, training programmes and business meetings.

A substantial portion was spent on executive training programmes, study trips and international conferences.

One of the largest single expenses was N626.91m, paid by the Office of the Special Adviser to the President on Niger Delta for the training and type rating of 35 cadet pilots in South Africa, France and Nigeria.

The funds were transferred from the GIFMIS platform to the PAP Naira Transit Account at the Central Bank of Nigeria.

The State House also recorded heavy spending on foreign trips, including N149.79m for foreign exchange purchases for the First Lady’s trip to France on April 1, 2024. Another N6.29m was allocated in March 2024 for the processing of a five-year multiple-entry visa for the Vice President.

Several MDAs incurred significant expenses on overseas trips. The National Merit Award spent N15.5m as an advance payment for course fees for eight participants in a Paris training programme from 14 to 20 May 2023.

The Centre for Management Development spent N34.3m for six of its officials, each receiving N5.71m, to attend training in France.

Some top officials were also beneficiaries of these foreign trips. The Director-General of the Federal Institute of Industrial Research, Oshodi, Adamu Jummai, and the former Director-General of the National Directorate of Employment, Nuhu Fikpo, were among those whose trips were fully funded for executive programmes in Paris.

The Nigeria Communications Satellite Limited spent N41.09m on multiple officials, including the Technical Adviser to the NIGCOMSAT CEO, Temitope Yoosuf, for business meetings with Airbus in Toulouse, France.

Jane Egerton-Idehen, its Chief Executive Officer, and Aisha Bantam, Head of Corporate Affairs at NIGCOMSAT, were also funded with N11.88m and N5.65m, respectively, to attend the World Space Business Week in Paris.

The Nigeria Football Federation spent N124.45m on flight tickets for Super Falcons players travelling between America, France, Spain and Nigeria for their Olympic Games qualifier against Ethiopia.

Other notable payments include N10.62m by the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission for airfare for three officials attending the G20 Anti-Corruption Working Group meeting in Paris.

The Fiscal Responsibility Commission also paid N7.90m for an officer to attend the 2023 International Bar Association Conference in France.

The Federal Ministry of Health paid N5.30m each for David Beine Atuwo and Olusola Ayoola to participate in the 11th EDCTP Forum in France, covering airfare and conference participation.

The Defence Intelligence Agency made two significant payments, totalling N574.52m, for the salaries of two seconded staff of the Nigerian Financial Intelligence Unit at Interpol in Lyon, France, and Egmont Group in Ottawa, Canada.

The spending comes amid growing concerns over government expenditure and the rising cost of governance.

With the economy grappling with high inflation, fiscal deficits and a weakening naira, there have been calls for greater accountability and transparency in public spending.

The PUNCH earlier observed that in Tinubu’s first six months in office, specifically between June and December 2023, the State House spent not less than N3.4bn on both his local and foreign travels.

Similarly, in the first three months of 2024, a total of N5.24bn was spent by the State House on local and foreign travel expenses of the trio of Tinubu, Shettima and First Lady Remi Tinubu.

A sum of N1.35bn was spent as provision for presidential trips and other related expenses between January and March, N3.53bn was expended for the purchase of foreign currencies during 10 international trips, and N637.85m was disbursed to two travel agencies for the purchase of air tickets for presidential local and foreign trips.

It was also reported that major opposition parties have faulted Tinubu’s frequent travel abroad. According to them, the President is more interested in globetrotting than addressing pressing issues in the country.

But the presidency said a leader who sought to bring foreign investments couldn’t afford to sit back when the harvest was out there.

A few months ago, the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Yusuf Tuggar, justified President Bola Tinubu’s frequent travel abroad, saying he needs to embark on more trips because of its inherent benefits.

When reminded that Nigeria doesn’t have the money required for such frequent trips, the minister disagreed.

“Nigeria has the money. How much does travelling cost compared to the benefits? Again, how much does it cost really when you compare it to some of the things that the President has already addressed?

“How much have we wasted on fuel, electricity and other subsidies? He was subsidising consumption instead of production and subsidising the real sector of the economy,” he said.

In the past 21 months in office, Tinubu has visited about 19 countries on 32 foreign trips.

Among the countries visited were Paris, France; Malabo, Equatorial Guinea; London, the United Kingdom; Bissau, Guinea-Bissau; Nairobi, Kenya; Porto Norvo, Benin Republic; The Hague, Netherlands; Pretoria, South Africa; Accra, Ghana.

Others included New Delhi, India; Abu Dhabi and Dubai in the United Arab Emirates; New York, the United States of America; Riyadh, Saudi Arabia; Berlin, Germany; Addis Ababa, Ethiopia; Dakar, Senegal; and Doha, Qatar.

 

 

 

The net foreign exchange inflow to the Nigerian economy in the third quarter of the year decreased by 2.97 per cent to $14.46bn from $14.89bn in the preceding quarter.

This was released by the Central Bank of Nigeria in its third-quarter economic report published on Friday.

On a quarter-on-quarter basis, net foreign exchange in the third quarter decreased by 2.97 per cent however compared to the third quarter of 2023, net foreign inflow had increased by 75.91 per cent from $8.22bn to $14.46bn.

In Q3, foreign exchange inflow increased by 3.01 per cent to $22.89bn from $22.22bn in Q2 2024. Also, inflows through official sources increased in Q3 as those of autonomous sources declined.

The report said, “Inflows through the bank rose by 39.63 per cent to $11.86 billion from $8.49bn, while autonomous sources fell by 19.66 per cent to $11.03bn from $13.72bn in the preceding quarter. Foreign exchange outflow through the economy rose by 15.18 per cent to $8.43bn, relative to the level in Q2 2024. Outflows through the bank rose by 27.91 per cent to $7.31bn, while those through autonomous sources decreased by 30.06 per cent to $1.12bn.

“Consequently, net foreign exchange inflow through the economy decreased by 2.97 per cent to $14.46bn, from $14.89bn in the preceding quarter. However, net inflow through autonomous sources fell to $9.90bn from $12.12bn in the preceding quarter. A net inflow of $4.55bn was recorded through the bank compared with a net outflow of $2.78bn in the preceding quarter.”

The Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, Olayemi Cardoso, during a recent meeting with the Senate Committee on Banking, Insurance, and Other Financial Institutions, revealed that diaspora remittances processed through International Money Transfer Operators between January and October 2024 reached $4.22bn.

This figure is nearly double the $2.62bn recorded during the same period in 2023. Cardoso added that on a monthly analysis, remittances increased from $336m in September 2024 to $402m in October 2024.

He attributed this surge to improved efficiency in the remittance system, the favourable effects of President Bola Tinubu’s policies, and the growing trust among Nigerians in the Diaspora to support national development.

Meanwhile, in the same quarter, the average exchange rate at the Nigerian Autonomous Foreign Exchange Market depreciated by 14.62 per cent to N1,588.64/$, from N1,385.96/$ in Q2’2024, owing to increased demand pressure.

Also, the external reserves rose to $39.29bn from $34.76bn at end-September 2024. This level of reserves could cover 8.91 months of imports for goods and services or 13.34 months for goods only.

In its projections on the domestic economy, the CBN report said, “For the remaining three months in the year 2024, inflation is expected to remain elevated. This expected rise is on account of the impact of ongoing policy reforms, leading to an increase in both energy and transport costs. However, the banks’ sustained contractionary stance, the relative stability at the foreign exchange market, as well as the continuous harvest of some food staples could contribute to moderating inflation.

“Fiscal outlook remains bright in the near- to medium-term, as fiscal reforms continue to exert favourable outcomes, evident in contracting fiscal deficits and higher revenue collection. The volatility in global crude oil prices, coupled with low production vis-à-vis the OPEC quota, are, however, risks to the outlook. The external sector is expected to remain strong in 2024, driven by sustained improvements in trade surplus, higher domestic crude oil production, and the full operation of the Dangote and Port Harcourt refineries. Global economic conditions are also anticipated to be supportive, with easing inflation in advanced economies, which will stimulate trade and investment.”

Nigeria’s inflation as of November stood at 34.60 per cent driven by food and energy costs, reflecting a 0.72 per cent increase from October’s rate of 33.88 per cent.

There are mixed projections about what the December inflation figure would be; however, it is not likely to be as low as the 21.4 per cent that the apex bank projected in its 2024 macroeconomic outlook for the year.

 

 

 

Special Adviser to President Bola Tinubu on Public Communication and Orientation, Sunday Dare, has strongly criticized former President Olusegun Obasanjo following his recent comment referring to President Bola Tinubu as ‘baba-go slow.’

Dare expressed his discontent, emphasizing that such remarks undermine the efforts and progress made by the current administration while insisted that Obasanjo ran for Presidency on record as the most corrupt during his regime.

Obasanjo made the remark during a keynote address at the Chinua Achebe Leadership Forum held at Yale University in New Haven, Connecticut, USA.

He said the situation in Nigeria was bad as the world could see and understand.

Reacting to the statement, Sunday Dare called on the former president to apologize to Nigerians, adding that he has lost any moral right to condemn any government.

Dare also claimed that democracy suffered mortal wounds under Obasanjo’s watch.

“Former President Obasanjo is a man with a tremendous capacity for mischief and Nigerians know it. His journey along the path of hallucinations has never been in doubt. So is his descent into muddling facts, forgetting that he ran a Presidency on record as the most corrupt. His recent diatribe at Yale University lacks sincerity,” Dare wrote.

“It is actually laughable that Obasanjo’s pretentiousness about fighting corruption is not cutting any ice in the eyes of the general public. We all know what happened under his watch and how, up till the present moment, there has been no explanation as to how he wasted a whopping $16bn in generating megawatts of darkness across the nation. But that is not even the issue.

“Democracy suffered mortal wounds under his watch only capped by his murderous rage for an ill-fated 3rd term. Successive administrations struggled to clean up the mess Obasanjo left behind, which President Tinubu is now making progress with. Obasanjo has lost any moral right to condemn any government. He should apologise to Nigerians for not laying the foundational infrastructure Nigeria needed to advance.

“The Yoruba proverb, “A o ki n wo ariwo oja, eniti a anba na oja ni a n wo”. This means that you shouldn’t pay heed to the market’s noise. Rather, keep an eye on the person you are negotiating with. This is instructive. In this market called Nigeria, the man with the renewed hope agenda is the one that matters and indeed Nigerians. Everything else is ariwo oja. This administration will stay focused on bringing relief to Nigerians. Obasanjo’s remarks reflect the infantilist nature of market noise.

“President Tinubu will Stay the Course in seeing through the reforms he has instituted for a better Nigeria.”

 

 

 

The acting Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Kudirat Kekere-Ekun, on Wednesday, appeared before lawmakers at the Senate for screening and confirmation as the substantive CJN.

The screening was coming after the Senate received a letter from President Bola Tinubu, which was presented during Tuesday’s plenary session by the Senate President, Godswill Akpabio.

During the session on Wednesday, Kekere-Ekun declared that all pre-election matters must be concluded at the Court of Appeal.

“All pre-election matters will terminate at the Court of Appeal. I have zero tolerance for corruption,” she stated.

She also frowned against corruption in the judiciary, stating that she would not tolerate any form of it.

Justice Kekere-Ekun, who was sworn in as the acting Chief Justice by President Bola Tinubu, made this assertion during her Senate screening for confirmation as the substantive Chief Justice of Nigeria.

Kekere-Ekun has been serving in an acting capacity since August, following the retirement of Justice Olukayode Ariwoola.

President Tinubu, in his letter to the Senate, cited Section 231(1) of the Nigerian Constitution, which authorizes the President to appoint a Chief Justice based on the recommendation of the National Judicial Council, subject to Senate confirmation.

In his letter, Tinubu wrote, “I hereby forward the nomination of Honourable Justice Kudirat Kekere-Ekun, CON, for confirmation as the Chief Justice of Nigeria.
“I trust that this request will receive the Senate’s prompt consideration and approval.”

The Senate President subsequently referred the nomination to the Committee of the Whole for further deliberation, scheduled for Wednesday.

If confirmed, Justice Kekere-Ekun will become Nigeria’s 23rd substantive Chief Justice and the second female to hold the position in the nation’s history.

During the screening session, the Senate suspended its standing rules to allow visitors, including Supreme Court judges, judicial officers, and senior presidential aides on National Assembly matters, to enter the chamber.

 

 

A Nigerian lady has stirred controversy on social media after bragging about collecting ₦21,000 for transport fare from a man, only to fail to show up at his house.

She shared her story on TikTok, posting a video of herself alongside a voice note from the man expressing his frustration.

In the voice note, the man revealed that he had sent the lady money for transport several days ago.

However, she claimed to have used that money for her mother, prompting him to send her an additional amount. Despite his multiple transfers, she did not arrive as promised.

The lady’s video quickly went viral, sparking a flood of comments from concerned viewers sharing their opinions on the situation.

See some reactions below: 

Momma😩💕: “Sisterhood is proud of you 😩💔😭😂.”

What Is Life?💔: “So Men Still Dey Send Women Transport For 2024???”

call_me_danny____: “Abeg oo make una no chop my transport oo 😂😂😂😂😂.”

ꨄ 𝐃𝐚𝐦𝐦𝐲 🥺🎊💞: “He be like say na his last card he send ooo 😹 cause this English too much 😭😹.”

slimfavy❤️: “if na my friend ayo him dn go do d girl madness oo,even if ba 5k him no send to do bad 🤪.”

Žazzy✝️✨❤️: “E de sweet you now bah ….. candle don cost oo 😂😂. Justice no go de oo 😂😂💔.”

𝔧𝔦𝔡𝔡𝔲: “Una Dey chop 30k??? Me wey Dey chi flight money😭.”

Daddy Aura🙂‍↕️🤚🏼: “Who still send transport for 2024😂😂 wetin do bolt?😂.”

user59347638471: “why don’t you care about him why na baby na wetin fit them cause if person say no them no dey hear.”

❤️QUEEN 🫶BHETTY 🦋: “The wicked person got me rolling on the floor😹💔.”

_clintion: “If dem never kpai one of this girls when Dey chop transport, rest no go learn. Even the man Dey speak English I can feel his pain 💔😂😂.”

꧁ꨄ𝓖𝓮𝓷𝓮𝓿𝓲𝓮𝓿𝓮 ꨄ꧂: “Dis perosn self no fear 😂😭see voice so tick make small pikin com Dey find am 😭.”

 

 

The Peoples Democratic Party has officially rejected the Edo State Governorship election results announced by the Independent National Electoral Commission.

During a press conference in Abuja, PDP acting National Chairman Umar Damagum on Monday called on concerned Nigerians to support the party’s rejection of the election results.

The Independent National Electoral Commission announced on Saturday that Senator Monday Okpebholo of the All Progressives Congress won the Edo State Governorship election.

Okpebholo received 291,667 votes, defeating the PDP’s Asue Ighodalo, who garnered 247,274 votes, and the Labour Party’s Olumide Akpata, who came in third with 22,763 votes.

Out of the 18 local government areas in the state, the APC won 10, while the PDP secured 8.

Damagum claimed that the PDP candidate, Ighodalo, was the legitimate winner of the election and alleged that the election did not meet the necessary democratic standards.

He stated, “The PDP therefore unequivocally rejects the final result of the Edo State Governorship election as declared by INEC as it did not meet the minimum standard for democracy, having not reflected the expressed will and aspiration of the people in line with provisions of the Electoral Act, 2022 and INEC Guidelines for State Governorship Election.

“The PDP demands that INEC within the time stipulated by Section 65 of the Electoral Act, 2022 review the Edo State governorship election and announce results only as obtained from the genuine votes cast at the Polling Units.”

Damagum announced that the PDP would challenge the results declared by INEC in court and urged the people of Edo to stay strong and steadfast.

He stated, “From unfolding political events in the country, the latest being the brazen rigging of the Saturday, September 21, 2024, Edo State Governorship election by the All Progressives Congress (APC) in connivance with government-controlled agencies, it is clear that our democracy is under threat.

“As you know and widely reported in all segments of the media, the 2024 Edo State Governorship election was barefacedly compromised by the APC in collusion with unpatriotic security operatives and heavily procured officials of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), who viciously trampled on the votes of the people in defiance of the Law and total disregard to the sovereign will of the people of Edo State.

“You may recall that the PDP had on several occasions alerted of this sinister plot by the APC to subvert the election, the roles allegedly being played by AIG Zone 7, Benneth Igwe and Edo State Commissioner of Police CP Nemo Edwin-Iwo and the appointment of a known APC apologist and supporter, Dr Anugbum Onuoha, as the Edo State Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC).

“Several demands by our Party for the redeployment of these officials as well as the release of all arrested PDP members and supporters fell on deaf ears and tend to validate PDP’s suspicion of a top-level conspiracy to rig the Edo State governorship election.”

The PDP acting national chairman stated that the people of Edo State selected Ighodalo as their next governor and emphasized that only their will, as expressed at the polling units, should be respected.

He added, “Nigerians and the world watched in horror as the APC-compromised security operatives and thugs unleashed terror, harassed, arrested and detained PDP members and supporters, foisted siege mentality on the people, paved the way for APC agents and procured INEC officials to manipulate the ballot process, substitute genuine results from the Polling Units with fictitious figures and transferred the victory clearly won by our candidate, Asue Ighodalo to the defeated APC candidate, Monday Okpebholo.

“As Nigerians already know, despite the violence, intimidation and manipulations by the APC, results obtained from the Polling Units show that our candidate, Dr. Asue Ighodalo clearly won the election before the figures were altered at the State collation exercise in favour of the defeated APC candidate.

“The PDP calls on all Nigerians and lovers of Democracy all over the world to stand up in solidarity with the people of Edo State in rejecting this assault on the democratic rights of the people as witnessed in the Edo State Governorship election.”

When asked about their confidence in the judiciary, Damagum stated, “In this election, we shall once again test the level of preparedness of the judiciary to deliver justice where it is needed. Therefore, we cannot rule out a situation where justice will be dispensed, but the most important thing is that we shall subject them to greater scrutiny in the eyes of Nigerians. They say that when the judicial system does not work, then you don’t have a country. I don’t know if we will still have a country.”

 

Vice President, Senator Kashim Shettima, on Tuesday, described Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises as the lifeline of the nation’s economy.

Shettima made this statement in Makurdi during the inauguration of the Benue MSME fashion hub, which is expected to create 48,000 jobs for youths.

The Vice President, represented by the Deputy Chief of Staff, Office of the Vice President, Senator Ibrahim Hadejia, emphasised that MSMEs are a strong pillar of stability for the economy.

He said, “It is evident that it will be impossible to grow Nigeria’s economy if MSMEs do not remain a top priority.”

Shettima noted that the Federal Government’s intervention is designed to foster a conducive environment through MSMEs.

He added, “MSMEs are the backbone of Nigeria’s economy, accounting for 96 per cent of business activities and contributing over 45 per cent to our economy.
“Without them, over 80 per cent of Nigeria’s workforce would be without a job.”

While stating that fashion hubs and ICT centres are to be established in all states of the federation, the Vice President said that out of the five hubs that have been inaugurated, the Benue fashion hub remains one of the largest.

He added that the Benue hub has over 200 production machines and 100 ICT units.

According to the Vice President, the machines have the capacity to produce military and school uniforms, both for the state and beyond.

“We are confident that this hub is of global standard, and it is estimated that it will provide 48,000 jobs,” the Vice President said.

In his speech, the State Governor, Rev. Fr. Hyacinth Alia, who applauded the Federal Government for the initiative, expressed confidence that it will serve as a catalyst for growth and development, not only in the state but across the entire Middle Belt region.

“We are committed to ensuring that the project fulfils its purpose of empowering our people and contributing to the socio-economic transformation of our state,” he said.

Alia appreciated the donation of 70 computers to power the ICT section of the hub, along with various sewing and weaving machines, the 100KVA generator, and other equipment.

 

 

Nigerian lady raised eyebrows on social media after discovering she doesn’t have a womb, a year after visiting the hospital with her boyfriend for a D and C procedure.

The incident was revealed by another woman on social media who narrated the events.

According to her, she was informed by a patient that a lady recently found out she doesn’t have a womb.

The woman further explained that the affected lady and her boyfriend had visited the hospital for a D and C procedure.

During the operation, complications arose.

Allegedly, while the lady was unconscious, her boyfriend gave approval and signed for her womb to be removed as it was deemed necessary to save her life.

After the operation, everything seemed fine as she had her period the following month, though heavier than expected.

Several months later, she stopped having periods altogether. Additionally, her boyfriend started distancing himself, leading to the end of their relationship.

Concerned about her lack of periods, the lady visited the hospital again to find out what might be wrong, only to discover that her womb had been removed during the previous operation.

Unfortunately, her boyfriend was no longer alive, and accountability for the incident could not be established.

WATCH below 

@lolokingsfertilityhome

I feel so bad for my lady 😔 #Lolokingsfertilityhome

♬ original sound – Mirabel_somi

 

 

Famous rapper, Erigga expresses love and appreciation to his fans after influencer, Saida Boj sadly loses her social media accounts.

Following her controversial remarks about men’s financial obligations on The Honest Bunch podcast, popular influencer Saida Boj faced significant backlash online, resulting in her TikTok and Instagram accounts being banned.

Amongst her trolls is renowned rapper, Erigga who criticized some of the comments she made on the podcast, and as expected, Saida Boj swiftly replied to him.

In reaction to the ban of her social media accounts, Erigga took to the X platform to thank his fans, implying that they played a role in the outcome.

He wrote: “I love my fans 😂🤣”

Reactions to Erigga’s appreciation to his fans…

UrglyGramm said: “If to say you go reply that secondary school student u for fall my hand and Area no go ever forget buh u too much 😹❤️”

nglatmrn said: “New world order, dem nor dey delete person again. We go just delete your account, make noise stop.”

Rexxie_Ye said: “Na your fans go report the girl account, you’re very shameless…”

Sir_Steven wrote: “Lol ….. she dey whyne she dey fellow our street landlord dey drag”

TundeOlade opined: “We don’t know you, we just don’t like her talk… She misyarn”

Josh.Eth said: “Erriga they’ve banned all her socials wetin you gain 😂”