Politics

The Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Wale Edun, has revealed that the country currently spends $600m on fuel importation monthly.

Published

2 years ago

August 7, 2024

He stated that the high import bill is due to neighbouring countries, up to Central Africa, benefiting from the country’s fuel imports.

The minister stated this during an interview on AIT’s Moneyline programme, which was posted on its Youtube channel on Wednesday.

Edun explained that the situation was the reason President Bola Tinubu removed fuel subsidy, as the country does not know the exact amount of fuel consumed internally.

According to a report by the National Bureau of Statistics, the country’s petrol import was reduced to an average of one billion litres monthly after President Bola Tinubu removed the fuel subsidy on May 29 last year

He said, “The fuel subsidy was removed May 29, 2023, by Mr President, and at that time, the poorest of 40 per cent was only getting four per cent of the value, and basically, they were not benefitting at all. So it was going to be just a few.

“Another point that I think is important is that nobody knows the consumption in Nigeria of petroleum. We know we spend $600m to import fuel every month but the issue here is that all the neighbouring countries are benefitting.

“So we are buying not just for Nigeria, we are buying for countries to the east, almost as far as Central Africa. We are buying. We are buying for countries to the North and we are buying for countries to the West. And so we have to ask ourselves as Nigerians, how long do we want to do that for and that is the key issue regarding the issue of petroleum pricing.”

He added that the nation must take a decisive step to tackle step the problem as it impedes it’s economic growth

Of great importance to the government, Edun said, is the welfare of the people, particularly the vulnerable.

One of the key areas of focus is ensuring food availability and affordability.

Speaking further in the interview, the finance minister clarified that the N570bn fund release to state governments was implemented last December.

He said, “This actually refers to a reimbursement that they received from December last year onwards and it was a reimbursement I think under the COVID financing protocol but the point is that the states have received more money. They have received more money. Mr President has charged to ensure food production in the states

Edun also clarified that the recent decision to raise the maximum borrowing percentage in the Ways and Means from five to 10 per cent does not imply that the Federal Government tends to rely on the Central Bank of Nigeria financing.

He said the government had rather used market instruments to manage its debts.

The minister said, “We have not gone to the central bank to say, please lend the government money to pay its debt, to pay its salaries. That’s Ways and Means. We have not gone. In fact, we have used market instruments to pay down what we owed, and that is a very, very germane aspect of having a strong economy.

“It was raised to 10 per cent, but that doesn’t mean it will be used. It’s there as a fail-safe and just gives that extra flexibility so that if a payment needs to be made and there is a mistiming or gap in when revenue would come in and expenses, we can just draw it down briefly.”

He described the approval by the National Assembly as a fail-safe measure

The minister added, “Sometimes it just gives that extra flexibility so that if a payment needs to be made and there’s a mistiming, there’s a gap between the time at which the revenue will come in and the expenses needed, you can just draw down briefly.

“So, the aim is to keep within the letter of the law, I think that’s the main point.”

He also said the welfare of Nigerians remained a key priority for the current administration, particularly ensuring food availability and affordability.

Edun said, “There is a concerted effort to ensure that we have homegrown food available. In the short term, apart from what is being distributed from reserves, there is a window that has been opened for importation because the commitment of Mr President is to drive down those prices now and make food available now.”

He assured all that the measure would not undermine local farmers, as importation would only be permitted after exhausting local supplies.

He said, “So, one of the conditions for this importation will be that everything available locally in the markets or with the millers and so forth has been taken up. We will have auditors that will check that.”

He said these interventions seek to reduce inflation, stabilise exchange rates, and lower interest rates, thereby creating a conducive environment for investment and job creation

Politics

Declare Abaribe’s seat vacant, Abia APGA tells Senate

Published

4 days ago

March 20, 2026

Ekwutos Blog

March 20, 2026

The All Progressives Grand Alliance in Abia State has called on the Senate to declare the seat of the Senator representing Abia South, Enyinnaya Abaribe, vacant following his resignation from the party.

The party made the call on Thursday during a press briefing in Umuahia, where its leadership, led by a former member of the Abia State House of Assembly, Obinna Ichita, insisted that Abaribe voluntarily resigned from APGA and was not sacked, contrary to his claim at the Senate.

Ichita argued that Abaribe’s exit from the party that sponsored his election violates constitutional provisions, stressing that there was no leadership crisis within APGA to justify his defection.

“The senator resigned in his ward. He did so voluntarily, which is his right. However, if you leave the party that gave you the platform for another party when there is no leadership crisis, that seat must be declared vacant,” he said.

He further alleged that Abaribe misrepresented the circumstances of his exit by claiming he was sacked.

“The party has documentary evidence to show that Senator Abaribe was not sacked. He resigned three months after disciplinary measures were taken against him over actions the court did not consider appropriate,” Ichita added.

According to him, the mandate belongs to the people and the party, not the individual office holder.

“They gave him the mandate on the platform of APGA, not any other party. There was nothing like ADC when he was elected. He cannot take the mandate elsewhere without consulting the people who gave it to him,” he said.

Ichita maintained that the constitution is clear on defection, noting that any lawmaker who leaves a party without a valid internal crisis must vacate the seat.

“My message to Senator Abaribe is to honourably vacate the seat instead of waiting for the National Assembly to declare it vacant. That would amount to national embarrassment,” he added.

Also speaking, the APGA State Chairman, Sunday Onukwubiri, and the party’s Public Relations Officer, Chukwuemeka Nwokoro, reiterated that Abaribe had distanced himself from the party’s activities at various levels in the state.

They insisted that he neither holds dual membership nor was he expelled, maintaining that his resignation was voluntary.

“He was invited by the party but failed to appear and was subsequently suspended in line with the party’s constitution. Three months later, he resigned,” the officials said.

Reacting, Abaribe defended his position, insisting that he acted within his constitutional rights.

“When you are no longer a member of a party by virtue of being sent away, you have the fundamental right of association to join another party,” he said.

He argued that his indefinite suspension by APGA effectively amounted to expulsion.

“If a party places you on indefinite suspension for more than six months, what does that mean? It means you have been told to go elsewhere, and that is exactly what I did,” he stated.

The senator added that the proper constitutional procedure for removing him from office would be through a recall process by his constituents.

“If the people who elected me no longer want me, the right thing to do is to initiate a recall. That is the position of the law,” he said.

Politics

Tinubu’s Reforms May Be Challenging, but They’ve Boosted Nigeria’s Global Respect — Information Minister Mohammed Idris

Published

4 days ago

March 20, 2026

Ekwutos Blog

The Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, has stated that Nigeria is receiving greater respect internationally under the leadership of President Bola Tinubu.

Speaking on Friday after attending Jumaat prayers at Yahaya Road Mosque in Kaduna, Mr Idris said, “Nigeria is indeed taking its rightful place. The country is respected more than ever before on the international scene. The reforms that the president has instituted, as challenging as they are, are meant for the benefit of all Nigerians.”

He urged Nigerians to stay calm as the government continues its efforts to restore security across the nation. Referring to the recent multiple b%mb att@cks in Maiduguri, Borno State, the minister assured that such incidents would not be allowed to recur.

“Indeed, our country is facing challenges, and the government is working tirelessly to ensure security throughout Nigeria. We have seen what has happened, particularly in Borno State. We pray to Allah to make this the last one, as the government is committed to preventing any repetition of such incidents,” he said.

Mr Idris also stressed the importance of citizens being prayerful and working together to address the country’s challenges. He encouraged both Muslims and non-Muslims to unite in the interest of Nigeria’s growth and development.

“This is a time for reflection for all Nigerians. We pray that everyone will consider this moment and recognize the need for unity, progress, and national development. All hands must be on deck for the unity of the country. As we earn respect internationally, we also hope and pray that unity will strengthen within our nation,” he added.

Politics

Imo APC Releases List of State, LGA, Ward Party Executive Committee Members

Published

4 days ago

March 20, 2026

Ekwutos Blog

By Dan Opara

Following the successful conduct of the Imo State APC Congress held in Owerri, Imo State, on March 3rd, 2026, the leadership of the party has officially released the list of victorious candidates who emerged from the exercise.

The announcement, made on Friday, March 20th, 2026, came 17 days after the Congress, as gathered by ThePressman Newspaper.

According to the released list, Chief Austin Onyedebelu emerged as the Imo State APC Chairman, while Arc. Allen Enwerem was elected as the State Deputy Chairman. Hon. Onyekachi Ibezim secured the position of State Secretary, alongside 33 other members who now constitute the State Party Executive Committee, including Ex-Officio members in Imo State.

In addition, the leadership of the ruling APC across the 27 Local Government Areas of Imo State has also been announced.

The Ward Party Executive Committee Members for the 305 wards are, however, yet to be fully confirmed.
Below is the comprehensive list of the All Progressives Congress State Executive Committee Members for Imo State, including their respective telephone numbers.

ALL PROGRESSIVES CONGRESS
STATE: IMO STATE EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE

State Chairman, Chief Austin Onyedebelu, 08033101685.

State Deputy Chairman, Arc. Allen Enwerem, 08036301966.

State Secretary, Hon. Onyekachi Ibezim, 08033416291.

State Assistant Secretary, Nzenwa Nwoju, 08037717167.

State Zonal Vice Chairman I, Hon. Frank Onyejiaka, 0803314564.

State Zonal Vice Chairman II, Justice Ogu, 08072079223.

State Zonal Vice Chairman III, Dan Chike Ogu, 08037894168.

State Legal Adviser, Barr. Onyeme Promise, 08061526970.

State Assistant Legal Adviser, Barr. Godwin N. Chukwukere, 08033310076.

State Treasurer, Dr. Ben Uwakem, 08033408703.

State Assistant Treasurer, Emenike Uzo, 08098048483.

State Financial Secretary, Rex Onyemara, 07060608457.

State Assistant Financial Secretary, Engr. Innocent Obidike, 08033288662

State Organizing Secretary, Okey Ezuruike, 08033411574.

State Assistant Organizing Secretary, Mrs. Tina Anya, 08068818358.

State Publicity Secretary, Onwuasoanya FCC Jones, 08064483254.

State Assistant Publicity Secretary, Ambrose Nwogwugwu, 08135047154.

State Welfare Secretary, Chinyere Ofurum Sandra, 08069738781.

State Assistant Welfare Secretary, Cecilia Okafor, 08032462478.

State Auditor, Hon. Dan Ikpeazu, 08033263444.

State Assistant Auditor, Hon. Charles Nnorom, 08164341068.

State Woman Leader, Mrs. Ify Obi, 08060850990.

State Assistant Woman Leader, Mrs. Egondu Ewelike, 08089134418.

State Youth Leader, Hon. Franklin Chukwuemeka, 08097123456.

State Assistant Youth Leader, Hon. Innocent Onwuemenyi.

State Special (PCL), Dr. Samuelson Emehibe, 0803902102.

State Senatorial Youth Leader I, Anele Joseph, 08037794751.

State Senatorial Youth Leader II, Chris Ike, 08036034727.

State Senatorial Youth Leader III, Ifeanyi Nwannenna, 08020988164.

State Senatorial Women Leader I, Mrs. Iheako O. Elizabeth.

State Senatorial Women Leader II, Lady Martina Okere, 08036689003.

State Senatorial Women Leader III, Mrs. Franca Onuoha.

State Ex Officio I, Henry Oguguo, 08035001354.

State Ex Officio II, Hon. Alban Amasiatu, 08060564561.

State Ex Officio III, Chukwuma Onyedindere, 08037756307.

State Ex Officio IV, Chief Monday Ikokwu, 08086803626.

Meanwhile, the leadership structure of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Imo State has been duly constituted, with officials elected across the State, Local Government Area, and Ward levels, reflecting a comprehensive and well-organized party framework.

At the Local Government Area level, notable individuals have emerged as party chairmen in various LGAs.

In Owerri West LGA, Mr. Chikadibia Okpe, was elected as the APC Local Government Chairman.

Similarly, in Orlu LGA, Mr. Ejike Iberame, emerged as the duly elected Party Chairman, while in Oguta LGA, Mr. Obed Onyebuchi, was elected as the APC Chairman, alongside 24 LGA Party Chairmen, to further strengthening the party’s grassroots leadership.

These developments extend across other Local Government Areas and wards, where Party Chairmen and Ward Chairmen have also been elected to provide leadership and coordination at their respective levels.

The successful emergence of party executives at the State, LGA, and Ward levels underscores the APC’s commitment to internal democracy, effective organization, and sustained grassroots mobilization across Imo State.

The release of the list marks a significant step in consolidating the party’s structure across the state, as the newly elected executives are expected to steer the affairs of the APC in Imo State moving forward.