News
Plateau Indigenes In Diaspora Warn Lalong Over Jos Main Market Reconstruction
Plateau State Diaspora Development Association (PSDDA) in the United States of America (USA) have warned the Plateau State Government headed by Simon Bako Lalong to ensure their concerns are addressed before signing a contract for the reconstruction of the Jos Main Market (JMM).
According to the group, they have not endorse any Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) concerning the reconstruction of the market adding that the way the government is pushing the project is supecious.
A statement issued by the Secretary, PSDDA, USA, Moses Dachen on 10 August 10, 2022 said: “We want to warn that any attempt by the handlers of this state government to ignore our concerns, would be at its own peril.
“We also want to warn any contractor that would deliberately accept to work on a contentious project such as this to have a rethink. There will be consequences if the concerns of our people are thrown to the wind.
“We want to warn any government official or individuals against pushing this project as is with no modification to accommodate the concerns of our people. Any attempt to ignore our concerns and the general outcry of our people would be met with stiff resistance. It would be in the interest of those in government to continue to explore dialogue on this subject, ” the group said.
While calling on their people to continue to support meaningful and people oriented projects and government policies, the diaspora group said they will never be cowed into submission to agendas clearly designed to continue to subjugate their collective interest.
“We the members of Plateau State Diaspora Development Association in the United States wish to express our position on the ongoing decision by the Plateau State Government (PLSG) to initiate the rebuilding of the damaged Jos Main Market (JMM).
“First, we commend any effort towards such a venture and we appreciate every step taken to actualize this goal. We also recognize that a public venture such as this requires the buy-in of the public.
“We believe it is with this desire that the PLSG initiated stakeholders consultations to gather opinion and suggestions from the good people of Plateau.
“It is our common knowledge that the majority of our people disagrees with the terms of reference as contained in the MoU for the reconstruction of the JMM.
“As major stakeholders in the Plateau project, we also had the opportunity of voicing our strong opposition during a virtual town hall meeting we had with PLSG as to the terms of contract contained in the MoU.
“We flatly rejected several aspects of the contract and offered an alternative solution to our state government, ” the group said.
The group said they proposed to PLSG to work with its sons and daughters in Diaspora to generate the funds needed for this project.
“We assured our government that we are willing to crowd fund the needed resources amongst ourselves and we hoped this gesture would be allowed to be tested.
“We ended our meeting with assurances from the officials of PLSG that they would look into all the concerns we raised and our position as well as the position of many well meaning Plateau citizens. We were assured that consultations are ongoing and concerns raised would be considered before any decision would be taken.
“However, it is with great dismay that we are reading in print media a position put forward by the PLSG claiming that“Stakeholders endorse the rebuilding of JMM.”
“We wonder, if all the concerns raised were already addressed? Who are the stakeholders that endorsed the project? And if our position as stakeholders doesn’t matter, why did the officials of PLSG consult our opinion in the first place? Why would the PLSG refuse the offer from those of us in Diaspora without any cogent reason? Is there any hidden motive why the state government is ramming through our throats a project we clearly are not in support of?
“Is the PLSG indebted to an unknown benefactor and are using the JMM project as a ploy to pay back its debts? What is the State government hiding from the good people of Plateau state? These and many more questions deserve answers and it will behoove our state government to honestly address these concerns first before pushing through with an unpopular project, ” the group added.
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.