Politics

Nigeria’s President, Tinubu calls for ‘sacrifice’ over fuel subsidy removal

Published

2 years ago

June 12, 2023

President Bola Tinubu of Nigeria, during his Democracy Day speech on Monday, called for “sacrifices” in exchange for future investment.

President Tinubu in the speech said “I have painfully asked you, my compatriots, to sacrifice a little more for the survival of our country. For your trust and faith in us, I assure you that your sacrifice will not be in vain.”

“The government I lead will repay you with massive investments in transport infrastructure, education, regular electricity supply, healthcare and other public services,” he added.

The call for sacrifice is in wake of the removal of subsidy on petroleum products in Africa’s largest oil producer, making a liter of petrol increase from 190 naira (41 cents) to around 540 naira (1.17 dollars), a development that has led to mixed reactions across board and threats of industrial action by organised labour.

Some observers have argued that the hike in petrol price will put financial stress on the majority of Nigerians who depend on cheap petrol to power their businesses, as well as transportation, based on the poor state of public transit systems in the country.

The state-owned Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) operates four refineries: two in Port Harcourt (PHRC), one each in Kaduna (KRPC), and Warri (WRPC). Despite several investments to revive the refineries, none of them has operated at full capacity for years.

Although Nigeria in its current fourth republic transitioned into democratic reign on May 29, 1999, the June 12 date which is now chosen as Nigeria’s National Democracy Day is in honour of the abortion, by military fiat, of the decisive victory of Chief Moshood Abiola who ran under the defunct Social Democratic Party (SDP) in the June 12, 1993 presidential election, an election widely adjudged to be the best in Nigeria’s history.

Related Topics:#Tinubu Featured Fuel subsidy Nigeria

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Politics

Burkina Faso releases 4 French spies after Moroccan intervention

Published

2 days ago

December 20, 2024

Ifeoluwa Dada

In a diplomatic spat over their imprisonment, France and Morocco announced Thursday that four French nationals detained in Burkina Faso for a year had been freed after mediation from Morocco.

They were spies, according to a prior statement made by the director of France’s foreign intelligence organisation, the DGSE.

A request for comment was not answered by the DGSE or a representative of the French military, which is in charge of the agency.

Since December 2023, they have been held in Ouagadougou.

President Emmanuel Macron hailed King Mohammed of Morocco on Wednesday for his intervention, “which made possible the liberation of our four countrymen who had been held in Burkina Faso for a year,” according to a statement from the French administration.

King Mohammed and President Ibrahim Traore of Burkina Faso were also commended by Morocco’s foreign ministry, which stated that “this humanitarian act” was made possible by their positive bilateral ties.

In October, France made peace with Morocco, one of its former protectorates, after three years of hostilities between Paris and Rabat stoked by immigration concerns and the disputed Western Sahara region.

Morocco offers Burkina Faso and other military-ruled Sahel republics Atlantic trade.

However, France’s relations with former West and Central African colonies, such as Burkina Faso, remain difficult. In Ouagadougou, French troops and diplomats were ejected, the defence attache and ambassador were asked to depart, and certain French media were suspended.

The military junta that took control in 2022 in Burkina Faso has been criticized by international rights groups for cracking down on free expression and harassing dissidents to handle a security crisis precipitated by Al Qaeda and Islamic State extremists.

Politics

Ghana: President-elect Mahama appoints anti-corruption team

Published

3 days ago

December 19, 2024

Ifeoluwa Dada

According to a statement released by his transition team on Wednesday, Ghana’s President-elect, John Dramani Mahama, has designated an anti-corruption committee to investigate allegations of wrongdoing.

When he takes office next month, Mahama, the leading opposition candidate in the presidential election held on December 7 and who received almost 56% of the vote, has pledged to reclaim the proceeds of corruption and hold those responsible for it accountable.

In anticipation, an anti-graft squad has been established. The parliament’s Committee on Assurances, which has previously raised suspicions of governmental corruption, is chaired by MP Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwah.

An investigative journalist, a private attorney, a former auditor general, and a former police officer with experience in high-profile robbery cases make up the other three members.

After looking into alleged financial irregularities that took place during the previous administration, Daniel Dumelovo, the former auditor general, was fired.

Recovering lost assets and fighting corruption were two of Mahama’s main campaign pledges.

“He intends to hit the ground running on these commitments,” the statement said.

Eight years after leaving office, former President Mahama is back to head the West African country. Despite not being personally contaminated, he faced criticism during his 2012–2016 administration due to claims of political corruption.