Featured

Hardship, Petrol Price Hike: FG Gradually Pushing Nigerians to Revolt, Labour Warns

Published

2 years ago

October 31, 2024

Eric

The Organised Labour has warned that the latest hike in the pump price of petrol is pushing Nigerians to the limit.

It also warned the Federal government against what it described as a surprised and unexpected reaction of the people to the frequent hike in the price of the product.

Labour equally advised the government to be wary of the silence of Nigerians in the midst of excruciating hardship and misery being inflicted on them, saying even a goat can bite when pushed to the wall.

In the same vein, an employer group – Chemical and Non-Metallic Products Employer’s Federation (CANMPEF) – said the petrol price increases, occasioned by subsidy removal, has led to an increase in transportation/logistics, production costs, the decline in household income and purchasing power.

Labour’s warning came on a day the Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria (IPMAN) said its members wait for days to load petrol from Dangote Refinery in Lagos, despite paying N40 billion to the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL).

It also said Nigerians can pay less for the product if marketers are allowed to buy directly from the refinery.

One of the labour leaders, who attended the October 16 meeting with the Federal government at the office of the Secretary to the Government of Federation (SGF), reportedly said that government officials are gradually pushing the masses to revolt against the establishment.

He said: “We had thought that the Federal government will halt the incessant increase in the pump price of petrol after our October 16 meeting, where we made the government representatives, led by the Secretary to the Government of the Federation understand the level of frustration, hunger, misery and general restiveness across the country.

‘’Sincerely, we thought the government would give the people a breathing space and suspend the increases. The government is testing the patience of Nigerians. I can tell you that government is pushing the citizens to a boiling point.

“This latest increase of Tuesday, October 29 is one increase too many and a bitter pill to swallow. The increases are pushing the citizens to the limit.

“Government should not be surprised if the people of Nigeria decide to react in an unexpected way that will shock those in government. The people are really angry, frustrated, hopeless and are moving to a point where they may vent their anger in an unusual way that may be difficult to curtail.

‘’You cannot continue to flog a child and tell him not to cry. Hunger is everywhere, apart from the people in power or their friends and relations.

“The frustration and suffering in the country were also highlighted a few days ago during the meeting of the 19 Northern governors, alongside traditional rulers, among others. Across the country, people are just waiting for something to ignite the fire.

“Increasingly, the government is providing the fuel that will ignite the fire. What is probably left is someone to light the matches. We (Labour) have been urging the government to jettison the anti-people policies and lessen the pain, suffering, hunger, poverty and frustration to no avail.

“We have been cautious, thinking the government will allow common sense, empathy and the reality of the mass suffering of the citizens to drive its actions and inactions. Unfortunately, the reverse has been the case. It is getting to the time when the bubble will burst. Even a goat can bite when pushed to the wall.

“Today, the nation’s macro-economic indices are all heading down south without any letting.

Electricity tariffs have gone up, making power almost inaccessible to a greater number of our citizens.

“Petrol prices have gone through the roof and are nearly impossible for an average Nigerian to afford.

Transportation has become difficult, leading to levels of food scarcity and hunger never seen in the country before now.

‘’That unfortunately, has become our lot and that has become what majority of Nigerians look up to us to ameliorate.

“We need your unity and your strength if we are to creatively engage these forces and make governance work for the greater number of workers and people. As it is today, our choices are very limited. It is either we find a way to collectively overcome the forces that are bent on keeping us down as a people or we completely surrender to them and wallow in hopelessness.

“The forces of neo-liberalism must be challenged and the trade union movement remains the only viable force in Nigeria and in the world that can creatively engage it and mitigate its stranglehold on our nation.

“We must offer strong counterpoise to their prebendal logic and proffer newer arguments to triumph over their quest for profit at the detriment of the social will. It is only by remaining strong and united that we can hope to achieve that.

“It is sad but we cannot afford to keep our public refineries shut while still importing refined petroleum products. We demand a review of our salaries instead of its eroded values. We must together demand the re-commissioning of Port Harcourt, Warri and Kaduna refineries in keeping with the agreement we had with the Federal Government on October 15, 2023.”

Employers’ group laments

Speaking in a similar vein, the Chemical and Non-Metallic Products Employer’s Federation (CANMPEF), an employer group, said the petrol price increases occasioned by subsidy removal had led to an increase in transportation/logistics and production costs and a decline in household income and purchasing power.

Addressing members and guests at the 45th Annual General Meeting, AGM, of CANMPEF in Lagos yesterday, the President of the employers’ federation, Mr. Devakumar Edwin, lamented: “Following the liberalization of the foreign exchange (FX) market, PMS importers are embattled with looming scarcity and sourcing challenges of FX which continues to increase the selling cost of PMS.

‘’The price adjustments led to an increase in transportation/logistics, production costs, decline in household income and purchasing power.

“There is optimism surrounding the possibility of an energy transition that will reduce the industry’s dependence on expensive diesel and PMS. However, significant investments are required to make renewable energy viable for manufacturing operations.’’

According to him, the spillover of the increases in the petrol price, and floating of the naira has worsened the crises facing the manufacturing sector of the nation’s economy.

“For the manufacturing sector to reach its full potential, government’s intervention is critical. If priority attention is given to manufacturing as a strategic value-adding sector, capable of driving economic transformation, then the country can earn its position among industrialized nations.

“To unlock the potential of Nigeria’s manufacturing sector, the government must commit to the following investments: History has shown that protectionist policies can have a profound impact on local industries.

“A notable example is Nigeria’s 2007 cement policy, which restricted imports by companies without local manufacturing investments.

“In just 15 years following the policy, cement production in Nigeria grew from 7 million metric tonnes to over 60 million metric tonnes per annum. Expanding such policies to sectors like agriculture, petrochemicals, basic chemicals, electronics, and tools manufacturing could set Nigeria on the path to becoming an industrial giant.

“Declare a state of emergency in the manufacturing sector: The sector requires immediate attention, and this can be achieved through policies that promote growth, investment, and innovation. A clear declaration of urgency by the government would demonstrate its commitment to revitalizing the sector.

“Subsidise consumption through manufacturing: By offering tax reliefs and removing tariffs on key agricultural and manufacturing inputs, the government can reduce operational costs and encourage growth.

“These subsidies will also have a profound impact on job creation, especially for Nigeria’s youth, who will be gainfully employed in productive industries. The social and security benefits of such a move are immeasurable and far reaching.

“Create a favorable business environment: Ensuring ease of doing business is essential for long-term sustainability in the manufacturing sector. This requires a combination of administrative and legal reforms to eradicate bureaucratic barriers and other inefficiencies that hinder industrial growth.”

Featured

A Dream at 35, 000 Feet

Published

1 minute ago

July 7, 2026

Eric

By ‘dayo Adedayo

Some dreams are born in the silence of the night. Mine was born somewhere above the clouds.

At exactly 11:03 a.m. on 19 June 2003, aboard a Virgin Atlantic flight from Lagos to London, an idea suddenly came to me. As a Virgin Atlantic Gold Card holder, I had been given one of their black notebooks.

Throughout my travels, I filled it with thoughts, sketches and ideas that I hoped one day would become reality.

That morning, one page changed everything.

The idea was remarkably simple.

I wanted to build a place where every state in Nigeria would have its own room, telling its own story through photographs, objects and experiences. At the heart of it all would be one grand gallery dedicated to Nigeria itself, a celebration of the very best our nation has to offer.

It was only a thought.

A thought written in black ink.

A thought patiently waiting for its appointed time.

The years rolled by, but the dream refused to fade. Instead, it grew stronger.

I travelled relentlessly across Nigeria, documenting our people, cultures, festivals, landscapes, architecture, wildlife and traditions. Every journey added another piece to the puzzle. Every photograph strengthened my conviction that Nigeria deserved to be seen through a different lens.

Then, about eight years ago, I decided it was finally time to give the dream a physical address.

And then came another unforgettable day.

At exactly 11:20 a.m. on 15 October 2022, the first shovel pierced the earth and construction of the DAP Experience Centre, Lagos officially began.

Nineteen years had passed since that life-changing moment aboard the Virgin Atlantic flight.

As the first scoop of earth was lifted, it felt as though every kilometre travelled across Nigeria, every photograph ever taken, every museum visited around the world, every obstacle encountered and every prayer whispered had led to that very moment.

The foundation being dug that morning was more than the beginning of a building.

It was the foundation of a dream that had patiently waited almost two decades for its appointed time.

Through a friend, I approached one of Nigeria’s finest architectural firms, Adeniyi Coker Consultants Limited (ACCL).

I had only one instruction.

The building had to be intentional.

It had to be contemporary.

It had to be timeless.

It had to be impossible to tell where the front ended and the back began because the site sits between the Lekki–Epe Expressway and T. F. Kuboye Road in Oniru, Lekki.

The lead architect, Mr. Yinka Ogundairo, supported by Mr. Tunde Adegbenro and Mr. Olabode Fakorede, produced a design that completely blew my mind.

Before putting pencil to paper, they researched some of the finest museums and galleries across Europe and America. Every lesson learnt from those iconic institutions found its way into the drawings placed before me.

That was when I knew I had to experience them for myself.

My research took me through 46 cities across the world, visiting museums, galleries, visitor attractions and cultural centres to understand what makes people curious enough to walk through a door and inspired enough to leave wanting to return.

I remain deeply grateful to the French Embassy for granting me a multi-year visa after reading the passionate letter I wrote explaining the research journey I intended to undertake. Their belief in my vision became part of this remarkable story.

What stands today as the DAP Experience Centre, Lagos, is therefore not an accident.

It is the product of twenty-three years of dreaming, researching, travelling, documenting and refusing to give up.

The journey, however, was anything but easy.

Obtaining planning approval took almost two years. During construction, advances in digital technology compelled us to redesign sections of the building, sacrificing two planned floors so the Centre could embrace the future rather than become outdated before opening.

By the end of the project, my face had become considerably darker than the rest of my body.

Construction under the Lagos sun has a way of changing one’s complexion! 😂😂😂

Together with UF-A Consultants as Structural Engineers, MFA as Mechanical and Electrical Engineers, and Ladchrislord as Civil Engineers, an extraordinary team transformed an idea into reality.

Yet the building itself tells a story long before anyone steps inside.

It proudly stands on three giant visible pillars, symbolising the three great regions upon which Nigeria stood at Independence in 1960.

The building has six principal sides and a smaller seventh, representing Nigeria’s six geopolitical zones and the Federal Capital Territory.

Scattered across the structure are 154 windows of varying sizes.

Each window represents one of the 154 destinations every Nigerian should experience before returning to their Maker.

At the entrance, visitors will find the complete list, allowing them to tick off where they have been and discover where they should go next.

The building also contains 98 steps, representing 98 fascinating places to visit within Lagos State. These, too, will be listed so visitors can continue exploring Lagos long after leaving the Centre.

Perhaps the most unusual feature is what you will not find.

Very few perfectly straight walls.

Very few perfectly straight windows.

That is deliberate.

Life itself is rarely straight.

Each generation simply contributes its own little part before leaving the rest for those who follow.

Our ambition stretches far beyond bricks and concrete.

We are bringing a touch of Times Square in New York to Nigeria by wrapping sections of the complex, including the security building, energy room, water treatment plant and parts of the ground-floor façade, with giant LED displays celebrating the very best of Nigeria.

The experience begins immediately you walk through our doors.

The ground floor welcomes visitors with a café, to be operated by Cafe One, alongside a merchandise store offering more than 500 carefully curated Nigerian souvenirs.

On the first floor lies our digital experience.

Visitors will experience Nigeria through an immersive 5D theatre unlike anything currently available in Africa.

Then comes one of our signature attractions, the Boat Room.

Without leaving the building, visitors will journey by boat from Marina in Lagos into the Atlantic Ocean, through the creeks of the Niger Delta, onward to Onitsha, up to the majestic Confluence at Lokoja, before returning once again to Lagos.

The same floor also houses a Documentary Theatre and a Photography Library for students, researchers and photography enthusiasts.

The next level celebrates analogue photography.

Here, visitors will trace the evolution of photography from the humble pinhole camera to today’s mobile phone.

Original equipment, historic exhibitions and a fully operational traditional darkroom will allow younger generations to witness how photographs were created before the digital age.

Returning to the ground floor, visitors can transform their own photographs into treasured keepsakes, from framed prints and throw pillows to key holders, rings, fridge magnets and many other personalised souvenirs celebrating Nigeria.

The DAP Experience Centre is for everyone.

For children discovering their country for the first time.

For families seeking unforgettable experiences.

For schools extending learning beyond the classroom.

For tourists searching for authentic Nigeria.

For researchers, historians, photographers and lovers of culture.

And for every Nigerian who has ever wondered just how beautiful this nation truly is.

Within these walls, you will travel across Nigeria without leaving the comfort of one building.

You will meet our people.

Discover our history.

Celebrate our diversity.

Experience our culture.

And, perhaps for the very first time, see Nigeria not through headlines, but through her beauty.

That little idea written into a black notebook at 35,000 feet has finally found its home on the ground.

Welcome to the DAP Experience Centre, Lagos.

Welcome to Nigeria.

Featured

Court Reserves Ruling in Times Multimedia Suit Against Afreximbank Over CAX IP Dispute

Published

2 days ago

July 5, 2026

Eric

By Andrew Orolua

The Federal High Court sitting in Lagos has reserved ruling in the intellectual property suit between Times Multimedia Ltd. and the African Export-Import Bank, Afreximbank, and others, following arguments on a preliminary objection challenging the court’s jurisdiction.

The matter came up on Thursday, July 2, 2026, before Honourable Justice Osiagor.

Times Multimedia Ltd., a Nigerian media and events company, is the originator and registered proprietor of “CAX” – the Creative Africa Exchange.

Court documents state that Times Multimedia conceived CAX in 2017/2018 as a continental trade and investment platform designed to finance, market, and monetize Africa’s creative and cultural industries. In 2018, the company formally presented the CAX concept, framework, and business model to Afreximbank for partnership and institutional backing.

Following engagements with Times Multimedia on the CAX proposal, Afreximbank in 2020 launched its own initiative known as the Creative Africa Nexus, CANEX. Times Multimedia alleges that CANEX substantially adopted the core concept, objectives, and structure of CAX without license, attribution, or contractual agreement, leading to the present suit for intellectual property infringement.

Afreximbank and other defendants filed a Notice of Preliminary Objection, contending that the bank enjoys immunity from judicial proceedings in Nigeria under the _Afreximbank Establishment Agreement, 1993_, Section 9 of the _Diplomatic Immunities and Privileges Act_, Cap D1, LFN 2004, and the _African Export-Import Bank (Privileges and Immunities) Order, 2014_.

Afreximbank was established in October 1993 by African governments and investors to promote intra-African trade. Nigeria is a founding signatory. Article 50 of the Establishment Agreement provides that the Bank enjoys immunity from legal process except to the extent that it expressly waives such immunity.

Counsel to Times Multimedia Ltd. opposed the objection. Counsel argued that the immunity claimed by Afreximbank is not absolute, and that the same Establishment Agreement contains provisions contemplating circumstances where the bank may be sued or subjected to judicial proceedings, particularly in respect of commercial transactions.

The claimant’s legal team further urged the court to interpret the relevant instruments holistically and to avoid any construction that would unjustifiably deny an aggrieved Nigerian entity access to court in the absence of a clear and express exclusion of the court’s jurisdiction, as guaranteed under Section 6(6)(b) of the 1999 Constitution.

Counsel for both sides argued extensively for over one hour. At the end of proceedings, Justice Osiagor reserved the matter for ruling and adjourned the case to Monday, 29 September 2026.

The ruling will determine whether the suit can proceed against Afreximbank before the Federal High Court.

Featured

Fake Agency Scandal: NDC Demands Gbajabiamila’s Sack

Published

3 days ago

July 3, 2026

Eric

The Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) has called on President Bola Tinubu to immediately remove his Chief of Staff, Femi Gbajabiamila, over allegations linking him to an alleged multi-billion-naira corruption scandal involving a purported non-existent government agency, the Presidential Foreign Intervention Promotion Council (PFIPC).

In a statement issued on Friday by its National Publicity Secretary, Osa Director, the opposition party described the allegations as grave and said Gbajabiamila’s continued stay in office could compromise any credible investigation into the matter.

The NDC’s demand follows allegations made by Prince Mathew Adeniyi Adeyemi, who claims to be the Director-General of the PFIPC, an agency the Presidency has publicly denied exists.

According to the party, the allegations raise serious concerns about transparency, accountability and integrity within the Tinubu administration.

The NDC alleged that despite the Presidency’s denial of the agency’s existence, the PFIPC purportedly secured budgetary allocations in the 2026 Appropriation Act and opened a domiciliary account, a Pound Sterling account and a Treasury Single Account (TSA) domiciled with the Central Bank of Nigeria.

The party questioned how an agency described as non-existent could allegedly establish multiple high-level government financial accounts without official approval or the required documentation.

It also called on the Office of the Accountant-General of the Federation to explain whether forged documents were used in processing the accounts.

The statement further alleged that the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation approved 314 staff positions for the purported agency, describing the development as another issue requiring urgent explanation.

According to the NDC, the allegations also include claims that Gbajabiamila demanded 48 per cent of the agency’s take-off grant, reportedly valued at N27.39 billion, a request Adeyemi allegedly rejected.

The party also cited Adeyemi’s claim that he secured his appointment through the Chief of Staff after allegedly paying N600 million, of which N400 million was allegedly paid through proxies, while N200 million remained outstanding.

It said the alleged unpaid balance reportedly contributed to the Presidency’s subsequent denial of the agency’s existence.

The NDC further alleged that the claims point to a wider pattern of institutional corruption, including the alleged sale of public appointments.

The party also linked the controversy to the death of Babatunde Tanimola, whom it described as an intermediary between Adeyemi and the Chief of Staff.

According to the statement, Tanimola reportedly died in a fire incident at a hotel in Utako, Abuja, on October 22, 2025, a day after the police reportedly received a petition from the Chief of Staff.

The NDC also referenced Adeyemi’s claims that he survived multiple assassination attempts, including an attack along the Abuja-Kaduna Expressway on September 7, 2025, and alleged that certain individuals within government are plotting to eliminate him.

Against the backdrop of the allegations, the party demanded the immediate removal of Gbajabiamila to allow what it described as a full and impartial investigation.

It also called on President Tinubu to establish an independent investigative panel to examine the alleged operations of the PFIPC, including its budgetary allocations, financial transactions, account openings and staff recruitment.

The NDC further urged investigators to probe the circumstances surrounding Tanimola’s death and the alleged assassination attempts on Adeyemi, while recommending that Adeyemi be granted witness protection.

The party also demanded that the Chief of Staff produce all official documents signed since assuming office for forensic examination.

In addition, it called for the questioning of officials of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), the Office of the Accountant-General of the Federation, and the Office of the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation over their alleged roles in the matter.

The opposition party also urged the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) and the Nigeria Police Force to commence what it described as a thorough investigation without fear or favour.

“The NDC will not accept the usual tactic of issuing a mere defensive press release from the Presidency as a deflective ploy. Nigerians deserve to know the truth through a transparent process that promotes fairness and justice,” the statement said.

The Presidency has previously maintained that the PFIPC is not a recognised government agency.

As of the time of filing this report, neither the Presidency nor Chief of Staff Femi Gbajabiamila had responded to the fresh allegations contained in the NDC statement.