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Nigeria’s Unity, Not Negotiable -President-elect
The President-elect, Senator Bola Ahmed Tinubu, has declared that he remains committed to the united Nigeria, saying that the country’s unity is not negotiable.
Tinubu made the declaration yesterday in Port Harcourt while inaugurating the Rivers State Magistrate Court complex, constructed by the Governor Nyesom Ezenwo Wike-led administration.
The President-elect said: “I promise Nigerians, the unity of this country is not negotiable. That is what Wike and I are promoting jointly. I promise I will be fair to all.”
He lauded Wike for fighting corruption through the provision of conducive working environment for the Judiciary.
Tinubu said: “To what Wike has done here today, he is fighting corruption. That is the way to fight corruption. He has been contributing very well to this.
“You don’t expect your judges to live in squalor, to operate in squalor, to dispense justice in squalor. This is part of the changes that is necessary in our policy think-tank. We must fight corruption and we definitely must look at the other side of the coin.
“If you don’t want your judges to be corrupt, you have to pay attention to their welfare. If you want fair dispensation of justice, you will not want them to operate in a hazardous condition. Let’s take value for value.
“If I don’t have consumer credit and you want me to pay for a car that I needed at once, 5 million or 6 million, very big temptation, corruption.
“But, if you have consumer credit, that will deal with the propensity for corruption. We don’t want our judges to play foul, to compromise justice. Not just the books, but do something0 now. I promise you we are going to review all of these in our policy think-tank.”
He stated that his visit to Rivers State was in fulfilment of the promise he made to the people of the state when he came for campaign in the state, ahead of the February 25, 2023 presidential election.
The President-elect said: “Today, I am concluding a two-day and final leg of a visit to Rivers State. I was proud to deliver the 12th historic and iconic flyover yesterday. Whatever you say about owing or not owing, I am personally grateful to the man who brought me here.
“He didn’t ask for a personal commitment, he asked for a policy commitment, which an incoming President has not authority to offer and approve. There can only be one President at a time.
“I cannot commit to expenditure on behalf of our great President when my tenure has not started. I have fulfilled a promise that I made to the people of Rivers State and that is what I intend to do in all policy formations coming up.”
Earlier in his speech, Governor Nyesom Ezenwo Wike, thanked Tinubu for fulfilling his promise to visit Rivers State after victory at the polls.
Wike said: “Let me on behalf of the government and people of Rivers State thank you once more for coming to honour us by fulfilling the promise you made to the people of the state when you came for your campaign. Just yesterday, you commissioned the 12th flyover.
“We want to say again, congratulations on your victory in the last presidential election on February 25, 2023. Your Excellency, this is another promised made and promise kept. I thank God almighty that today, God has made it possible that the dream was accomplished.”
By Abubakar Yunusa
Dangote Petroleum Refinery has slashed its ex-depot price of premium motor spirit (PMS), also known as petrol, to N825.
Esan Sunday, head of media relations and branding communications at Dangote Group, announced the reduction in a statement on Wednesday.
The development comes more than three weeks after the refinery reduced petrol price from N950 per litre to N890.
The new price means that the refinery has significantly cut the ex-depot price by N125 from N950 per litre in January.
“This recent price reduction will also ensure that Nigerians pay between N860 and N865 per litre for petrol at the pump in Lagos,” the statement reads.
“This strategic price adjustment is designed to provide essential relief to Nigerians in celebration of the Ramadan season, while also supporting President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s economic recovery policy by alleviating the financial burden on the Nigerian populace.
“It is important to note that Dangote Petroleum Refinery has consistently lowered the prices of petrol and other refined petroleum products to the benefit of Nigerians.
“This marks the second reduction of PMS prices in February 2025, following a previous decrease of N60 earlier in the month.
“Additionally, in December 2024, during the yuletide period, the refinery reduced the price of PMS by N70.50, from N970 to N899.50 per litre, as part of its commitment to easing the cost of living and providing relief to Nigerians during the holiday season.”
The oil firm refinery also said previous reductions have positively impacted the overall cost of living, benefiting various sectors of the economy.
Dangote refinery added that its high-quality products, which have become a favourite in both domestic and international markets, will remain available nationwide, particularly through its key partners — MRS Holdings, AP (Ardova Petroleum), and Heyden — at market-friendly rates.
The organisation assured the public of a consistent supply of petroleum products, with sufficient reserves to meet domestic demand and a surplus for export, thereby boosting the country’s foreign exchange (FX) earnings.
The refinery also called on marketers to support the initiative, ensuring that Nigerians remain the primary beneficiaries of its effort
Abdullahi Ganduje, the national chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), says the ruling party had a debt of N8.9 billion when he assumed office.
Ganduje took over from Abdullahi Adamu, who was the national chairman of the APC until his resignation in July 2023.
Speaking during the APC’s NEC meeting in Abuja on Wednesday, the former Kano governor said the expenses were incurred during pre-election legal battles, election cases, and appeals for legislative, governorship, and presidential elections.
“The current NWC inherited debts and legal liabilities to the total tune of N8,987,874,663, arising from various legal engagements,” Ganduje said.
However, the APC chairman said Kareem Kana, the national legal adviser, has been working to reduce the debt burden.
“We still passionately appeal to the national executive committee to intervene accordingly,” he said.
Earlier today, the chairman said the party is making efforts to mend internal divisions and bring aggrieved members back into the fold.
Ganduje explained that the APC had initiated high-level discussions among party leaders and stakeholders to address lingering disagreements and strengthen party unity.
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has arraigned Jude Okoye, the elder brother and former manager of Paul and Peter Okoye of the defunct music group, P-Square, on charges of laundering ₦1.38billion, $ 1 million and £34,537.59.
Jude was arraigned alongside his company, Northside Music Ltd, before Justice Alexander Owoeye of the Federal High Court, Lagos, on a seven-count charge
One of the counts read: “That you, Jude Okoye Chigozie and Northside Music Ltd sometime in 2022, in Lagos, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, did directly acquire a landed property known as No 5, Tony Eromosele Street Parkview Estate, Ikoyi, Lagos worth ₦850,000,000.00 (Eight hundred and fifty million naira) only, which money you knew or reasonably ought to have known forms part of proceeds of unlawful act and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 18 (2) (d) and punishable under Section 18 (3) of the Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022.”
Another count read: “That you, Jude Okoye Chigozie and Northside Music Ltd sometime in 2022, in Lagos, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, did indirectly using bureau de change convert the sum of $1,019,762.87 (One million nineteen thousand, seven hundred and six-two dollars eighty-seven cents), domiciled in Access Bank Plc operated by Northside Music Lid to the naira equivalent and remitted into various bank accounts with the intention of concealing that the said fund form part of the proceeds of an unlawful act and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 18 (2)(a) and punishable under Section 18 (3) of the Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022.”
He pleaded “not guilty” to the charges.
In view of his plea, the prosecution counsel, Larry Peters Aso, applied for a date for hearing as well as for the remand of the defendant in the correctional facility pending trial.
The defendant’s counsel, Inibehe Effiong, informed the court of a pending bail application. He asked for a short date for the hearing. Effiong also asked that the defendant be remanded in the EFCC’s custody pending the hearing of the application.
Aso objected to the request for the defendant to be remanded in the EFCC custody. He argued that the EFCC custody was already congested with suspects awaiting arraignment. He urged the court to remand the defendant to the correctional facility since he had taken his plea.
Justice Owoeye adjourned the matter till February 28 for bail hearing and April 14 for trial.
He also ordered that the defendant be remanded in the Ikoyi correctional facility.