The OPEC Fund for International Development (the OPEC Fund) and Africa Finance Corporation (AFC) have signed a US$50 million loan agreement to finance the development of infrastructure critical to economic growth and job creation across the continent.

The proceeds of the 10-year loan will be used to improve connectivity, transport, logistics, trade and to boost access to energy across the African continent,a statement said on Thursday.

According to the statement,the loan doubles the OPEC Fund’s commitment to AFC following an initial US$50 million 10-year loan provided in January 2021, and builds on collaboration initiated through a cooperation agreement in 2017.

The loan is aligned with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 9 – Innovation and infrastructure, and SDG 17 – Partnerships.

OPEC Fund Director-General Dr. Abdulhamid Alkhalifa,said:Africa continues to be a key region for the OPEC Fund, with over 45 percent of its aggregate financing dedicated to the continent.

He added:“Sustainable infrastructure development is key to unlock Africa’s vast potential and enable it to fully utilize its resources. Working with local partners on the ground such as AFC helps to deepen our impact and support Africa’s development agenda.”

AFC President & Chief Executive Officer Samaila Zubairu said: “AFC has enjoyed a long-standing partnership with the OPEC Fund and we are delighted to collaborate again to support the work we do in developing critical infrastructure in Africa. Developed and developing countries alike are battling the chronic challenges brought on by a wave of global shocks, and these challenges will only be solved by working together through partnership and engagement between the world’s leading finance institutions.”

Africa’s economic growth has been slowed by global supply chain disruptions and rising costs in the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic, further widening the continent’s infrastructure funding gap.

The collaboration between the OPEC Fund and AFC is targeted at increasing access to long-term sustainable finance for infrastructure projects.

By Omobolanle Shosanya

The Nigeria Immigration Service says it has confiscated about 6,216 National Identity, Voters and sundry other cards from illegal migrants as the service intensify surveillance on Nigerian boarders ahead of the 2023 general election.

According to the figures released by Comptroller General of Immigration Service, Isa Jere Idris, Kebbi State alone accounted for 40% of the seizures with a haul of 1,331 Nigerian National Identity Cards and 1,356 Voters cards impounded from illegal migrants from neighbouring countries.

Other states with sizeable foreign migrant incursions include Jigawa, Yobe, Kwara,Sokoto, Niger, Katsina and Ogun State border areas.

Speaking at a one-day election retreat in A uja on Wednesday,he said the service has had adequate training and preparation for the election and charged to display professionalism in the discharge of there function during the polls.

He warned that state comptrollers would be held liable for any breach of electoral rules by personnel under their command.

He said:”All the Comptrollers shall be held liable for any lapses or partisanship involving personnel under their watch. You are hereby charged to re-orientate Officers and Men to exhibit high sense of professionalism to complement the current positive public perceptions of the Service as a result of our ongoing reforms”.

He explained that the signing into law of the 2022 Electoral Act places a burden on all stakeholders including INEC,security agencies, political parties,local and international observers and the media.

He emphasized the need for all to work towards sustenance of the democratic practice. He commended extra effort by state commands who intercepted foreigners in possession of National ID cards and voters cards as well as ensure their removal from the country

“Let me thank all those who are putting in extra efforts to make the Service and by extension the Country proud in their various Formations. Special commendation to the Comptrollers of Kaduna and Kwara States, who recently were able to intercept non-Nigerians who were unlawfully in possession of voter’s cards and National Identity cards”.

“Looking back at the involvement and participation of the service in various training programmes arranged by INEC the CGIS said the service is ready to contribute its quota towards a successful poll come February 25.

“The NIS has been regularly attending Inter-Agency Consultative Committee on Election Security (ICCES) organization by Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA) in readiness for the 2023 general election.The NIS personnel have attended election security related courses such as;Election Monitoring/Observation Course at Jaji,Kaduna”.

The Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF) and Minister of Justice,Abubakar Malami, has urged the Supreme Court to dismiss the suit filed by three state governments challenging the naira redesign policy of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN).

In a preliminary objection through his lawyers,Malami contend that the apex court lacks jurisdiction to entertain the suit. He averred that the came under the purview of the federal high courts.

Malam Nasir elRufia of Kaduna state, Yahaya Bello of Kogi and Bello Matawale of Zamfara had in an exparte motion challenged the naira redesign policy of the federal government and sought court’s intervention on the February 10 deadline for the phase out of old currency in the country.

The governors had implored the CBN to rescind its decision on the new naira notes .

But,pleading for the vacation of the order,Malami submit that the plaintiffs have equally not shown reasonable cause of action against the defendant.

Counsel to Malami , Mahmud Magaji and Tijanni Gazali,who citing section 251 of the 1999 constitution,argued that the suit fell within the exclusive jurisdiction of the Federal High Court in matters of monetary policy of an agency of the Federal Government.

He added:“The claims or reliefs are not against the federation, but the Federal Government and its agency, the Central Bank of Nigeria.

“The Federal Government of Nigeria is distinct from the Federation or the Federal Republic of Nigeria. The Plaintiffs have no grievance whatsoever against the Federation of Nigeria.

“This suit has disclosed no dispute that invokes this (Supreme) Court’s original jurisdiction as constitutionally defined”

Socialist Party of Nigeria,SPN,has implored the new leadership of the Nigeria Labour Congress,NLC,led by Comrade Joe Ajearo,to defend Nigerians against the biting effects of fuel and currency in the country.

The group,in a statement said this in a statement signed by its National Chairperson,Abiodun Bamigboye,and National Secretary,Chinedu Bosah.

The group said the development was necessary as Nigerians are currently witnessing untold hardship while the immediate leadership of the union didn’t do anything concrete to safe them from the mess.

The group punctured the statement credited to the firmerpresident of Nigeria Labour Congres (NLC) that the trade union federation is not prepared to do anything against the current fuel scarcity.

It said:”However, we are not surprised given the fact that the outgoing leadership of the NLC has never lived up to its historical obligation of defending the interests of the working people. This statement shows that the present and old NLC leaders have not always wanted to struggle despite occasionally sounding radical and making radical statements.

“We call on the new leadership of the NLC that will emerge from its delegate conference holding on February 8 to act differently by being prepared to always defend the interests and rights of the working people.”

The group welcomes a pocket of protest actions that have broken out in a number of cities across the country,but condemns violent attacks on bank premises or any property.

“We call on trade unions and pro-masses organizations to provide coordination and leadership by initiating a programme of mass activities including protests and a 24-hour general strike to demand an immediate three-month extension of the banknote hand-over period and adequate provision of petrol at the current official price.

“Nevertheless, workers, activists, socialists and pro-labour organizations must begin the discussion on how to rescue the trade union movement from the domination of its current rightwing leaders and build it as a fighting and democratic movement

“The working people need a fight back against this backward government and ruling elite. The petrol scarcity has become severe such that motorists and other buyers sometimes spend the whole day queuing and struggling to get the product which is essential for businesses and home.

“We hold that the scarcity of petrol and the attendant high prices hovering between N300 and N650 was a deliberate gimmick by the government and oil marketers to officially increase petrol prices and deregulate petrol under the guise of removing the phantom and fraudulent subsidy; this must be resisted!

“We equally note that diesel prices have gone through the roof and remain high contrary to the false hope created by the ruling elite that deregulation with its attendant competition would bring down the prices. The oil marketers have constituted themselves into cartels in order to keep the price so high for the sake of super profit. We call on the working people to reject the current price hikes and the planned deregulation.

“Also, a huge concern is the paralysis in the financial sector which has lasted for more than a week and the problems are in multiple folds. While there is an acute scarcity of the redesigned N1000, N500 and N200 denominations, the old notes are being withdrawn from circulation. Yet, the network is not reliable which makes it difficult for people to do online transfers.

“As a result, many people have been forced to beseech ATM machines and banking halls and yet cannot access their money. Even the Point on Sale (POS) operators equally ran out of cash, forcing many operators to close down while the few who have cash had to increase charges.

“These financial crises have put the economy at a standstill while many could not do simple transactions while many workers in the informal sector are currently being owed salaries. The CBN claims that it has issued enough money to the commercial banks, but the banks have denied this – a typical buck-passing.

“This current crisis further underscores the fact that the capitalist ruling elite are so backward and primitive that cannot carry out the most basic tasks of capitalism. They could not seamlessly make available ordinary banknotes which are basic means of exchange and also could not provide adequate petrol despite Nigeria being one of the world’s biggest crude oil producers.

” Yet, the three leading candidates have promised to continue the same neo-liberal capitalist program which is a major reason for the anti-poor policies and failure of the successive governments. Therefore, we call on working people and youth to link protests against the current crisis and anti-poor policies in general to the need for a mass working people political party with a socialist programme that can both lead to immediate struggles and argue for a fundamental change.

” Specifically, the aim is to wrest political power from the backward and thieving capitalist elite and form a workers and poor people’s government that will use the huge human and material resources of the country to provide the basic needs of the vast majority and the capitalist”

The Lagos State government has announced a 50 per cent reduction in fares on all government-owned transportation system as part of measures to cushion the effects of fuel shortage and Naira scarcity in the state.

Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu,who disclosed this to newsmen on Wednesday,said that the 50 per cent fare cut would take effect from Thursday, February 9 and would be effective for seven days.

He said that the currency exchange and the fuel situation has raised the tension in the state,adding that Lagos residents deserved to be commended for their patience and understanding in the face of hardship experienced in recent days.

He said: “The government had taken some steps to cushion the effects of these measures that were announced at the federal level, but with telling effects on states.Your resilience has been remarkable. On behalf of the Executive Council, I thank you most sincerely for standing firm, demonstrating your confidence in our ability to protect your interest in these difficult days.

”There have been talks between the state government and the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation Ltd. (NNPCL) on the lingering fuel shortage. NNPCL demanded Ijegun Egba tank owners and operators unhindered access to the tank farms, where about 40 per cent of petroleum products come from.

”We have been able to do that by rearranging the timing of the work on the Buba Marwa Road, the dual carriageway that leads to the tank farms. The road is over 50 per cent completed. Now, you would have noticed some improvement in the supply of petroleum products.Also, we have given approval for 24 hours work at petrol stations around the state”.

Commending the Supreme Court for the wise ruling on the currency exchange, Sanwo-Olu said: “CBN currency exchange deadline had, no doubt, caused some dislocation, and Lagos, being Nigeria’s business and financial engine-room, was feeling the effects of the measure.

”To further support Lagosians to weather these stormy days, I hereby announce a 50 per cent cut in fares on all our BRT buses, LAGRIDE taxi-scheme, First Mile and Last Mile buses, and Lagos Ferry Services (LAGFERRY).

”This will take effect from tomorrow for the next seven days. We will push out more Cowrie Cards to enable more Lagosians get onboard our services.I have directed that food banks be set up in various parts of the state, to cater for the vulnerable. We will distribute food stuff to various communities.

”While lauding security agencies in the state over their efforts to check the situation, the governor said: “I would like to thank our security agencies (the Military, the Department of State Services, the Police, the Civil Defence and Neighbourhood Watch) for their service and diligence in these days”

Immigration Confiscates 6216 National Identity,Voters Cards From Illegal Migrants

The Nigeria Immigration Service says it has confiscated about 6,216 National Identity, Voters and sundry other cards from illegal migrants as the service intensify surveillance on Nigerian boarders ahead of the 2023 general election.

According to figures released by Comptroller General of Immigration Service, Isa Jere Idris, Kebbi State alone accounted for 40% of the seizures with a haul of 1,331 Nigerian National Identity Cards and 1,356 Voters cards impounded from illegal migrants from neighbouring countries.

Other states with sizeable foreign migrant incursions include Jigawa, Yobe, Kwara,Sokoto, Niger, Katsina and Ogun State border areas.

Speaking at a one-day election retreat in A uja on Wednesday,he said the service has had adequate training and preparation for the election and charged to display professionalism in the discharge of there function during the polls.

He warned that state comptrollers would be held liable for any breach of electoral rules by personnel under their command.

He said:”All the Comptrollers shall be held liable for any lapses or partisanship involving personnel under their watch. You are hereby charged to re-orientate Officers and Men to exhibit high sense of professionalism to complement the current positive public perceptions of the Service as a result of our ongoing reforms”.

He explained that the signing into law of the 2022 Electoral Act places a burden on all stakeholders including INEC,security agencies, political parties,local and international observers and the media.

He emphasized the need for all to work towards sustenance of the democratic practice. He commended extra effort by state commands who intercepted foreigners in possession of National ID cards and voters cards as well as ensure their removal from the country

“Let me thank all those who are putting in extra efforts to make the Service and by extension the Country proud in their various Formations. Special commendation to the Comptrollers of Kaduna and Kwara States, who recently were able to intercept non-Nigerians who were unlawfully in possession of voter’s cards and National Identity cards”.

“Looking back at the involvement and participation of the service in various training programmes arranged by INEC the CGIS said the service is ready to contribute its quota towards a successful poll come February 25.

“The NIS has been regularly attending Inter-Agency Consultative Committee on Election Security (ICCES) organization by Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA) in readiness for the 2023 general election.The NIS personnel have attended election security related courses such as;Election Monitoring/Observation Course at Jaji,Kaduna”.