Nigeria Times

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.

The Nigerian Senate is scheduled to start the screening process for seven new ministerial nominees presented by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu next Tuesday. The nominees and their designated portfolios include:

• Dr. Nentawe Yilwatda (Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Reduction)
• Muhammadu Dingyadi (Labour & Employment)
• Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu (State, Foreign Affairs)
• Dr. Jumoke Oduwole (Industry, Trade and Investment)
• Idi Mukhtar Maiha (Livestock Development)
• Yusuf Ata (State, Housing and Urban Development)
• Dr. Suwaiba Ahmad (State, Education)

For the first time, the nominees’ portfolios are listed in advance of the Senate’s confirmation process. Senate President Godswill Akpabio read Tinubu’s letter to the chamber on Thursday, urging prompt consideration. The Senate may conclude the screening process by Wednesday, depending on document review and proceedings.