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CSOs accuse group of impersonation, call for arrest of culprits
A Coalition of Civil Society Organisations, have accused an NGO named, Concerned Citizens on Economic Reform Nigeria, of impersonating them and called on security agencies to arrest and prosecute the culprits.
The Convener of Initiative for Leadership and Economic Watch, Splendour Agbonkpolor, made this known while addressing newsmen on Monday in Abuja.
Agbonkpolor said the call was in reaction to a petition written by the said NGO to the Unites States Department of Treasury Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) through the U.S Embassy in Abuja.
He added that the said petition was signed by one Tijani Ibrahim m, who claimed to be the Convener and Amb. Fatima Abubakar, as the Secretary of the said NGO.
According to him, the petition titled ‘Persons of interest in the violation of the coalition-agreed price cap on Russian crude’ was against the Group Chief Executive Officer, Nigeria National Petroleum Company Limited, Mele Kyari and Chief Executive Officer, Matrix Energy group, Abdulkabir Aliu.
Agbonkpolor said the coalition was inundated with calls from well-meaning Nigerians on the fact that the office address listed on the group letterhead belongs to the coalition.
He added that the name used by the group was also twisted to look like one of theirs.
“The name of the convener also happens to be assumed to be one of us since we have such a name in our coalition.
“Gentlemen, we have gathered you here to denounce the letter written to the US government and to state categorically that we were impersonated by those who wrote it.
“For the records, the NGO who wrote it in disguise of one of ours is not registered with the Corporate Affairs Commission.
“Secondly, the two phone numbers used in their letterhead do not exist anywhere but created out of their memories.
“Most importantly, the address listed there as Suite B5, 3rd Floor, Danville Plaza, No 5, David Ejoor Crescent, Abuja is currently unoccupied.
“We all occupied various sections of Danville Plaza for over ten years as NGOs but last year December, the owner of the place sold it and we all moved to new place.
“As NGOs, we do not subscribe to blackmail and will not sit back and watch people impersonate organisations we have built credibly for years in order to make us look like enemies of a well-meaning Nigeria state.
“Anyone who has an axe to grind with NNPCL and its management as well as the Matrix Energy Group should be bold to use their registered NGO as well as address and not ours,” he said.
Agbonkpolor urged the U.S. government to disregard the petition submitted by the group, saying it was not authored by any of the members of the coalition who were former occupants of the address used by the said group.
He said the coalition found it distasteful to be used by any group of persons or companies fighting for their own interests.
Axcordimg to him, they will be proceeding to submit a letter of of withdrawal to the U.S. Departinent of the Treasury Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) through its United States, Embassy in Abuja on this issue that is almost eroding our integrity, credibility and reputation.
Also, the Convener of Social, Political, Economic, Educational and Environmental Rights Initiative (SPEEERI), Jacob Okpanachi, called on the security agencies to expose the persons behind the petition and bring them to book.
Okpanachi said the group would not allow any group of persons to tarnish the credible image they had build over the years. (NAN)
The Nigerian electricity sector slowed in the fourth quarter of 2024 (Q4 2024), with the electricity production index declining by 1.64% year-on-year (y-o-y).
Data from the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) says this marks a reversal from the 5.55% growth recorded in the third quarter of 2024 (Q3 2024).
Average estimated electricity generation rose by 2.34% to 4,206.50 megawatts per hour (MW/h) from 4,110.47 MW/h in Q3 2024.
Similarly, electricity consumption saw a modest increase of 2.63%, reaching 4,105.66 MW/h from 4,000.24 MW/h in the preceding quarter.
This is as the Nigerian economy witnessed widespread expansion in the fourth quarter of 2024 (Q4 2024), with 21 out of 22 subsectors recording positive growth.
On a quarter-on-quarter (q-o-q) basis, however, the subsector showed signs of recovery, as the index rose by 22.50% compared to a significant decline of 49.46% in the previous quarter.
The broad-based economic expansion in Q4 2024 can be attributed to several factors, including improved business confidence, increased consumer spending, and enhanced performance in key sectors such as agriculture, manufacturing, and telecommunications.
The government’s fiscal and monetary policies, aimed at stabilising inflation and boosting investment, also contributed to the positive momentum.
According to the CBN, the improvement was largely attributed to enhanced gas supply to thermal power stations and the continued implementation of the Siemens Power Project, which has positively impacted power generation, transmission, and distribution networks.
Notably, the oil and gas sector benefited from relatively stable crude oil prices and improved domestic production, which provided a boost to overall economic output.
The data also stated that the non-oil sector, particularly fintech and digital services, also played a significant role in driving economic activities.
The Alliance of Sahel States (AES) comprising junta-led Mali, Niger Republic, and Burkina Faso have imposed a 0.5 percent import duty on goods from the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) member nations.
The move further strains relations between the three junta-led nations and the ECOWAS, which they withdrew from earlier this year following a series of military coups and economic sanctions.
The AES, which began as a security pact between the military rulers of the three countries in 2023, has now metamorphosed into an aspiring economic union with plans for biometric passports and closer economic and military ties.
In a joint statement last week, the AES said the levy aims to generate revenue to fund the alliance’s activities.
The tax, which came into effect on Friday, applies to all imports from ECOWAS countries, except humanitarian aid.
The taxes also disrupt the free trade once enjoyed by all countries in the West African region.
The economic implications could be severe, leading to higher consumer prices, supply chain disruptions, and strained regional economic stability.
While it may provide short-term revenue for the junta-led governments, it risks other long-term consequences, including weakened regional integration.
ECOWAS has maintained that it will keep diplomatic channels open with the junta-led states until July, despite announcing their permanent expulsion from the bloc earlier this year.
Monday Okpebholo, the governor of Edo state, says 14 suspects arrested in connection with the killing of Kano-bound travellers in Uromi LGA of the state have been transferred to Abuja for further interrogation.
The suspects were detained after a mob attacked a group of hunters travelling to Kano for Sallah celebrations on Thursday.
Speaking in Abuja on Monday during a condolence visit to Barau Jibrin, the deputy senate president, Okpebholo condemned the attack and assured Nigerians that those responsible would be brought to justice.
Okpebholo also announced that his government had set up a committee to support the families of those killed.
“It’s unfortunate that it happened in our state. We are here to say, to let you and other people know that we are not happy,” Ismail Mudashir, media aide to Barau, quoted Okpebholo as saying.
“The president is doing something drastic about this. He’s not happy also.
“The IG has swung into action. The DIG CID is in charge. So far, they have arrested 14 suspects.
“So they are bringing them to Abuja for interrogation. We have also set up a committee to see that we take care of the families of the deceased.”
Responding, Barau said the perpetrators of the act must be brought to book to serve as a deterrent to others.
“We cannot undo what has been done. But we all want – all Nigerians, what they are looking forward to is to make sure that these people are arrested and brought to justice. And you are doing well in that direction,” Barau said.
“And I’m also glad you’ve spoken about the fact that your government is ready to assist the families of those affected.
“I want you to continue to pursue the case so that all those who were involved in these barbaric actions are brought to justice. It’s a barbaric action, to say the facts.”
He urged the Edo government to ensure all those involved were held accountable, adding that such attacks must never happen again.