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Group unravels CBN, Discos’ secret plots to collapse Nigeria’s economy

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GODWIN EMEFIELE, CBN Governor

The federal government has been intimated of alleged plots by the Central Bank of Nigeria, (CBN) and Electricity Distribution Companies, (Discos) to collapse the nation’s economy through an ongoing secret moves to cancel Eligible Customer, (EC) scheme.

The plot by the cartel if not quickly arrested will not only cause injuries on manufacturing industries but it will also lead to the total collapse of the economy, thereby causing unemployment because more industries will soon wind-down operations.

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The Coalitions of Arewa Assembly in a statement issued in Kaduna, on Sunday by its National Coordinator, Mallam Attahiru Usman, disclosed that the move by the CBN and some Discos cartels is a deliberate attempt to collapse the economy stressing that more industries may soon go out of business operations.

Usman said, “CBN’s mandate is to regulate Nigerian banking activities and money markets but has no business in the regulation of the power sector.”

The group also urged the 36 state governors under the auspices of the Nigeria’s Governors’ Forum to rally round its members in a bid to arrest jobs carnage and Internally Generated Revenue, (IGR) deficit stressing that many industries have collapsed in Kano, Kaduna, Zamfara, Lagos, Ogun and other states of the federation while many others are operating below capacities.

According to the statement, “As part of efforts towards actualizing their aims of increasing Electricity Tariffs, the said cartel plotted coup d’état which ensured that Mr. Raji Fashola SAN was not returned as Minister for Power for a second term tenure while the former Managing Director of Transmission Company of Nigeria, (TCN)was also relieved of his appointment.

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“Unfortunately, it is crystal clear at this point to note that the purpose of privatization has not been achieved. Discos have found their ways to lobby the CBN Governor, Mr. Godwin Emefiele, to cause policy summersault by mis-regulating the system, increasing electricity tariff as well as planned to cancel Eligible Customers which is the only avenue for the Electricity Generation Companies to sell close to 3000 stranded powers that Discos was not able to evacuate.

“Cancellation of Eligible Customers which has been a huge relief to Genco and TCN as well as manufacturers that are buying bulk powers, will wreck serious havoc on business activities nationwide with negative ‘bush fire’ effects on all facets of the nation’s economy.”

The statement further stressed that, “The privatization act has set limitations for all Discos while the act of Electricity Generation Companies and TCN gave rooms for the Eligible Customers. This alert is in the collective interest of Nigerians. At the moment, transformers are being purchased by members of communities and associations for the comfort of their households while Discos take advantage of this and claim returns on such efforts put in place by innocent residents in their budget.

Despite the proclamation by the national assembly, Discos are yet to invest on purchase of meters. It will gladden our hearts if Discos can do an hour documentary to be aired on National Television stations on their achievements to Nigerian masses since the privatization was done
as well as give adequate account of the fund released to them by the federal government through the Central Bank of Nigeria, (CBN).

The group however appealed President Muhammadu Buhari and his economic team to urgently wade-into the matter even as it called on the leadership of the national assembly led by the Senate President, Dr. Ahmad Lawan to adopt legislative processes to unravel the plot.

“Please save our country from ‘cartels’ who inherited our national assets without any relief to the masses, we cannot afford to see our residents in blackout and industries collapsing on high power tariff cost while our members are losing their jobs. Nigerian youths are suffering, more graduates are being produced and there are no vacancies to accommodate them. If the CBN and Discos did not desist from the plots, we shall have no choice than to storm the national assembly and the CBN headquarters to demonstrate and stage protests on major roads.

“Before embarking on any policy of this kind, we implore the leadership of National Assembly to prevail on the Minister for Power to organize a public debate wherein, stakeholders, interest groups, associations as well as representatives of Non-Non-governmental Organizations, (NGOs) would be involved in order to submit their positions before hand”, Usman added.

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Amnesty International to NYSC: Stop threatening corps member who criticised Tinubu

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Amnesty International has condemned officials of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) for allegedly sending threatening messages to a corps member who criticised the President Bola Tinubu-led administration over rising inflation and economic hardship.

Daily Trust had reported how the corps member in a widely circulated video shared on Tiktok expressed frustration over the deteriorating economic conditions in Nigeria.

 

She openly tackled President Tinubu, calling him a “terrible leader,” and questioned what steps the government is taking to ease the suffering of citizens.

After her video gained traction, the serving corps member claimed she began receiving threatening messages, allegedly from NYSC officials.

 

She shared another video in which she was receiving calls from an NYSC official.

In the video, the official could be heard saying, “Are you normal? Keep quiet and bring down the video you posted.”

Reacting, Amnesty International, in a post on X, said instead of threatening her, the authorities “should be prioritizing addressing the country’s economic woes.”

“It is perfectly within her right to express discontent peacefully. Instead of threatening her for her opinions on rampant inflation, the authorities should be prioritizing addressing the country’s economic woes.

“Millions of people in Nigeria are facing extreme poverty. So far, the authorities have failed to put in place effective mitigation measures, leaving millions of people without the hope of getting out of the economic challenges and enjoying their human rights.

“The Nigerian authorities must stop responding with violence and threats to individuals and groups who express dissenting opinions — in utter disregard for Nigerian constitution and international law. Holding and voicing dissenting views is not a crime,” the human rights organisation said.

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Alleged Sexual Assault: Natasha Hints at Plans to Arrest Her

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Kogi Central Senator, Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, has claimed that there are plans to arrest her upon her return to Nigeria.

Speaking in an interview on Sunday from the United States, where she attended the recent Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) meeting in New York, Akpoti-Uduaghan stated, “I’m aware there are plans underway to have me arrested as soon as I arrive Abuja.

The Senate President Akpabio sent three staff headed by the Chargè D’Affairs of the Nigerian embassy in New York to evacuate me from the United Nations premises right after my speech. I was rescued by parliamentarians from other countries and the security,” she said.

Attempts to reach Senate President Godswill Akpabio for comments were unsuccessful, as his spokesperson, Eseme Eyiboh, had yet to respond to multiple calls.

Addressing how she attended the IPU meeting despite not being officially nominated by the Nigerian government, Akpoti-Uduaghan explained that she secured her accreditation independently. She said she registered online as a senator and was able to attend because she was already on the IPU’s mailing list as a past participant.

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“I registered online as a senator. The suspension does not remove my legitimacy as a senator. I registered online and got a pass. I attended the same programme last year and was already on the mailing list. After I got a pass, I bought my own ticket and funded my trip and participation at the event,” she said

She further revealed that this was not her first time at an IPU event. In March 2024, she was part of Nigeria’s official delegation to the 148th IPU General Assembly in Geneva, Switzerland, alongside Senate President Akpabio, Cross River South Senator Ekpenyong Asuquo, and Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Benjamin Kalu.

Akpoti-Uduaghan clarified that her participation in the latest IPU event was facilitated through her previous attendance at a meeting organized by the Commission on the Status of Women (CSW). She also noted that IPU events are not restricted to government officials but are open to individuals and civil society organizations.

She emphasized that she traveled to New York using a visa on her ordinary Nigerian passport rather than an official passport.

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Kano Task Force Committee Launches Mass Operations Against Thuggery, Substance Abuse

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The Kano State Joint Task Force Committee on Peace Restoration and Youth Rehabilitation under the leadership of Dr. Yusuf Ibrahim Kofar Mata, conducted mass operations in Yakasai, Kofar Mata, Zango, Zage, Zanzado, Rimi Market, Shahuchi Park, Kano Line, Sharada, Ja’en, Dan Agundi and neighboring areas.
The Committee PRO, Comrade Ibrahim Abdullahi Waiya, the Hon. Commissioner of the Ministry of Information and Internal Affairs, in a statement on Saturday, said between the 13th and 14th of March, 2025, intelligence-led operations which were conducted at the criminal hideout and black spots resulted in the arrest of fifty-three (53) suspected thugs, drug dealers and recovered three (3) Parcels,
Fifty (50) wraps and other large quantity of dried leaves suspected to be cannabis sativa (Wiwi), two (2) Codeine syrup, two (2) tubes of rubber solution, one (1) gallon of suck and die, one hundred and five (105) pieces of suspected exol tablets, five (5) cutlasses, and two (2) scissors.
Others are two (2) clubs (Gora) and a bulk of suspected charms.
According to the statement, during the operations, the Task Force recovered substantial quantities of cannabis sativa at some notorious drug joint in Zanzado, where a larger quantity of the substance was found.
Additionally, a delivery vehicle and five (5) cattle suspected to belong to an infamous drug dealer, were also seized at this location.
The statement further stated that all the suspects arrested would be charged in court upon completion of the investigation.
The success recorded in the two-day operations indicates a significant step in the ongoing efforts to combat thuggery and substance abuse in Kano State.
“The composition of the committee which brought together combined security agencies and Government functionaries is dedicated to sanitizing the streets of Kano and restoring peace to the communities.
“The Kano State Joint Task Force Committee remains steadfast and resolute in its mission to create a safer, drug-free and peaceful environment for the benefit of all the inhabitants in the State,” the statement added.

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