Nigeria Times

1. Jonathan Reflects on Emotional Toll of 2015 Election Loss
   Former President Goodluck Jonathan opened up about the emotional difficulty he experienced after losing the 2015 election. Speaking at the Raymond Dokpesi Annual Diamond Lecture, Jonathan recounted feeling as though the world turned against him, but acknowledged support from media mogul Raymond Dokpesi.
2. Obasanjo: “$70 Billion I Left in Nigeria’s Coffers Has Vanished”
   Former President Olusegun Obasanjo voiced his concern over Nigeria’s financial state, revealing he left $70 billion in reserves in 2007, which has since dissipated. He criticized current leadership, pointing out Nigeria now has more debt than when he first took office.
3. Pray for Tinubu to Succeed, Says Wike
   Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, called on Nigerians to pray for President Bola Tinubu’s success. During a road project inauguration in Abuja, he praised Tinubu’s dedication to fulfilling his campaign promises.
4. Senate to Begin Ministerial Nominee Screening on Tuesday
   The Senate will commence screenings next Tuesday for seven ministerial nominees from President Tinubu. The candidates include notable figures for roles in Humanitarian Affairs, Foreign Affairs, and Housing.
5. Tinubu’s Decision to Dismiss Five Ministers Explained
   Fresh insights reveal President Tinubu’s decision to dismiss five ministers stemmed from performance reviews and public feedback. The presidency stated the move aims to boost efficiency in government.
6. Defence Minister Vows Tinubu’s Support in Fighting Insecurity
   Minister of Defence Badaru Abubakar assured troops in Katsina that President Tinubu is fully committed to providing resources necessary to curb insecurity, urging military personnel to continue their efforts against banditry.
7. House of Representatives Challenges CBN on Old Naira Note Validity
   Lawmakers criticized the Central Bank of Nigeria over confusion regarding old naira notes’ validity. Representative Afam Ogene called for CBN clarity, with a report on the matter expected soon.
8. IMF Confirms Nigeria Hasn’t Requested Financial Aid
   The IMF confirmed that Nigeria has not sought financial assistance, addressing rumors. IMF Director Abebe Selassie explained that member countries have the right to seek funding if needed.
9. Politics Should be Free of Bitterness, Says Tinubu’s Aide
   Presidential aide Tunde Rahman emphasized that politics should avoid bitterness, speaking on the recent meeting between President Tinubu and PDP leader Atiku Abubakar, which took place at the National Mosque.
10. PDP Crisis Shouldn’t Center on Wike and Atiku, Says Ologbondiyan
    Former PDP spokesperson Kola Ologbondiyan expressed frustration over the party’s focus on Atiku Abubakar and Nyesom Wike in its ongoing crisis, advocating for broader effor.

The House of Representatives Committee on Public Assets has accused former Aviation Minister Hadi Sirika of involvement in the questionable sale of two helicopters by the Nigerian College of Aviation Technology (NCAT) in Zaria. According to a report by Saturday Punch, the Bell 206 helicopters were sold for N556 million, allegedly due to underutilization.

While former NCAT Rector Capt. Alkali Modibo asserted that the sale followed due process and involved a licensed auctioneer, the committee, led by Ademorin Kuye, questioned the transaction’s transparency. The helicopters, initially purchased for $2.4 billion, were sold for just $1.2 billion without Federal Executive Council approval.

The committee recommended further investigation and potential prosecution for those involved, urging the Inspector General of Police to question Sirika and the buyers, Blue Horn Aviation Services Limited and Premier Jet Service Limited. The Nigerian Army also expressed disappointment, revealing it was denied the opportunity to acquire the helicopters for its aviation operations.

Labour Party Caucus Leader in the House of Representatives, Afam Ogene, has criticized the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) for its unclear stance on the coexistence of old and new Naira notes. His statement follows the CBN’s response to a Supreme Court ruling that did not specify an expiration date for the old ₦200, ₦500, and ₦1000 notes as legal tender.

On October 24, the House passed a motion led by Ogene, urging the CBN to clarify the non-legal status of old notes starting January 1, 2025, as the dual circulation of currency notes has caused public confusion. Ogene attributed the lack of clear policy to an “unintended factual error” in the motion.

In response, the CBN advised the public to disregard the motion, calling it a disruption to the country’s payment system and referencing the Supreme Court’s recent ruling. Ogene expressed concerns over the deteriorating quality of currency notes from banks and questioned why Nigeria operates with two distinct sets of currency.

He urged the CBN to prioritize transparency and resolve the ambiguity for the public’s benefit, instead of relying on legal technicalities.

The Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, has given an update on the search for victims following a helicopter crash on Thursday in the Atlantic Ocean, near Bonny Finima off the coast of Calabar. He stated that divers are continuing their search for remaining bodies and the wreckage. A full update will be shared once significant progress is made.

Following the accident involving eight individuals, the Ministry of Aviation reported that three bodies have been recovered so far. The Nigerian Safety Investigation Bureau (NSIB) and other emergency teams have been activated, with military and low-flying aircraft aiding the search. Despite the lack of an Emergency Locator Transmitter (ELT) signal, efforts to manually locate the crash site are ongoing.

The Nigerian House of Representatives has voted down a bill proposing amendments to the 1999 Constitution that would expand the application of Islamic law. Sponsored by Aliyu Missau, the bill sought to remove the term “personal” from references to Islamic law in sections 24, 262, 277, and 288, which would allow the Sharia Court of Appeal to cover matters beyond personal issues.

Missau argued that removing the limitation to “personal” matters would allow Islamic law to include commercial and international aspects, such as those seen in institutions like Jaiz Bank, which operates under Islamic commercial law. Proponents of the bill, primarily from northern regions, contended that the change would support the growth of Islamic commercial practices in Nigeria.

Opponents, however, argued that the amendment could disrupt the secular nature of the Nigerian state. Solomon Bob from Rivers highlighted that the “personal” limitation was purposefully included to avoid broadening Islamic law’s scope. Bamidele Salam from Osun added that the amendment risked deepening religious divisions, recalling debates from earlier constitutional assemblies in 1979 and 1999, where military intervention limited Islamic law’s scope to personal matters.

After a heated debate marked by regional divides, the bill was ultimately rejected by a voice vote led by Deputy Speaker Ben Kalu.

The Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) has disclosed that ongoing power outages across Northern Nigeria will likely continue due to security challenges hindering repair efforts on critical transmission lines. The blackout, which has now lasted over four days, was triggered by vandalism on the Shiroro-Mando transmission line—a crucial supply line for northern states.

Despite attempts to reroute electricity through the Ugwuaji-Apir 330-kV line, a recent tripping incident has further complicated efforts. According to Engr. Nafisatu Asabe Ali, TCN’s Executive Director, Independent System Operator, voltage limitations in Kano mean that only 350 MW can be safely transmitted. The Shiroro-Mando line remains inactive, as TCN cannot access the vandalized area due to security risks advised by the National Security Adviser’s Office.

In response, the House of Representatives urged the creation of a strategic security plan, recommending advanced surveillance systems to protect critical transmission infrastructure.