By Eric Elezuo

Following the proposed distribution of N5 billion to various states governments of the Federation by the Federal government to alleviate the hardship occasioned by the petrol subsidy removal, Mr Daniel Bwala, an aide to the 2023 presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Atiku Abubakar, has described the process as renewed nonsense.

Recall that the President Bola Tinubu-led government had declared to release administrative palliative of N5 billion to poor households through the state governors.

Bwala, who has remained vocal member of the Atiku/Okowa presidential council, made the remark in his verified X handle while noting that the exercise is a mockery to the sufferings of the people at the moment even as he stressed that organized labour has demystified the palliative.

Toeing the line and calculation of organised labour, Bwala noted that each person would get N1,500 from the palliative.

He wrote: “The organised labour has demystified the so-called 5 billion naira FGN gave to States; first the FGN said it was a palliative and they are now saying it is a loan.

“Organized labour further did their arithmetical calculations and arrived at a shameful conclusion that the so-called 5billion naira comes down to N1,500 per person.

“How much is the cost of food items in the market? Renewed nonsense.”

The Federal Government had announced plans to release N5 billion as palliative to cushion the effect of subsidy removal.

On May 29, 2023 when the administration took office, Tinubu had announced that ‘subsidy is gone’, thereby throwing the nation into economic crisis where the cost of food and services hit the roof, causing not a few households to starve and live in extended and abject penury.

Tinubu had followed up with more harsh policies that seem to ensure that the hardship persists with the price of petrol increasing to all time high with aa space of days. Today, petrol is sold at N617.

Information reaching The Boss has it that the disbursement of the N5 billion has commenced, and some states have already been credited.

The Managing Director /Chief Executive Officer of Esso Properties Limited, Dr. Smith Ezenagu  has bagged yet another award.

Ezenagu, who is also the Director of ISMT St. Salomon University, Cotonou was presented with an award and instrument of commendation by the All African Students Union last Saturday, August 5, 2023.

While presenting the award to Ezenagu at the company’s head office in Awoyaya, Lagos, the President of the Union, Mr. Osisiogu Osikenyi said the Union singled out Ezenagu for the award ‘’because of his lofty strides in delivery of the mandate of Esso Properties Limited; contributions to human capital development through the Esso Academy and his love for education and investments visible in the ISMT St. Salomon University, Cotonou, Benin Republic.’’

 Osikenyi added, ‘’Nigeria alone has over 28 million housing deficit and Esso Properties is mitigating this lacuna by availing home ownership solution to Nigerians at home and Diaspora, which is worthy of commendation.  In essence, Esso Properties Limited under the sterling leadership of Dr. Smith Ezenagu has demystified property  ownership and provided a solution with the “currency of credibility” which he has earned over the years by honest dealings and integrity in business.

 ”Moreover, St. Salomon University contributes towards enhancing access to higher education in Africa by availing more African students’ access. You would agree with me that access is still an issue in a huge population like Nigeria with millions of admission seekers annually.

 While responding at the award presentation which also had the Admissions officer, ISMT St. Salomon University, Cotonou, Mrs. Rita Cholu, Ezenagu said that he was glad that his efforts and contributions towards the development of the housing sector was getting some recognition.

 Ezenagu said, ‘’At Esso Properties Limited, we are driven more with passion than profit and we are focused on carving a niche for ourselves as a trusted, reliable and friendly real estate entity, having sufficient general property investment and real estate market experience as well as the requisite knowledge required to undertake property development, with sights on breaking new frontiers in the industry. We are excited that our efforts at making a difference are not in vain.’’

 He added, ‘’We are also making our mark in the educational sector and we are glad that ISMT St. Salomon University, Cotonou is fast becoming the preferred choice of University for African students and fulfilling one of its objectives by providing quality education to African students.’’

 Ezenagu holds a Bachelor of Business Administration (BBA) from Ecole Superieure Sainte Felicite University, Cotonou, Republic of Benin and Master of Business Administration (MBA) from the Rome Business School, Lagos.

Donates Blocks of Classrooms. Other Equipments to School 

The Class of ‘83 of the renowned Anglican Comprehensive College, Offa, Kwara State has completed two fully furnished ultra-modern classroom blocks and office spaces, that will be donated to their 65 year-old alma mater.

The President of the Class of 83, Mr. Sanusi Mudasiru, who is also Chief Audit and Assurance Officer, United Bank for Africa(UBA Group) disclosed that the donation is part of activities to mark the set’s 40th reunion anniversary.



The reunion and handover ceremony, will be held at the school’s premises in Offa on July 22, 2023, and is expected to be graced by the Executive Governor of Kwara State, Malam Abdulraham Abdulrasaq, His Royal Highness, the Oloffa of Offa, Alhaji Mufutai Gbadamosi, religious leaders and the larger body of old Students’ of Anglican Comprehensive College, Offa.

According to Mudasiru, the class of ‘83 decided to embark on this project to create a conducive learning environment for students while also fulfilling its goal of giving back to the society.

“This is the power of coming together and I enjoin all past and present students of the schools to learn from the little we have done, and come together to better the learning experience of present and coming students , while also realizing that government can’t do it alone,” Mudasiru said.

Two years ago, the Class of ‘83 had donated generators, scanning and photocopy machines and other sundry items worth millions of naira to the school,

Anglican Comprehensive college Offa was founded in 1967 by the Anglican Church of Church Missionary Society of Nigeria, Offa Chapter and the first set of students resumed for academic work January 30, 1967.