GDP dips, cooking gas export banned, cement price crisis persists: Weekly news recap

As the week comes to a close, here are the top stories from across the country.

From a dip in the Gross Domestic Product to controversial primary elections in Edo State, to tragic news involving a lion and a zookeeper in the Zoological Garden of the Obafemi Awolowo University in Ile-Ife, Osun State, and discussions on cement prices and government interventions in Nigeria’s construction sector, here are highlights from the week’s biggest news stories, from February 18 to February 24, 2024.

Edo: Three primaries, six winners
The stage is set for the September 21, 2024 governorship election in Edo State. But confusion surrounded the governorship primary of the All Progressives Congress in the state as three different aspirants claimed victory. Imo State Governor, Hope Uzodimma, who was the Chairman of the Elections Committee, declared Dennis Idahosa as the winner, while another returning officer declared Monday Okpebholo the victor, and local government returning officers announced Anamero Dekeri as the winner.

This discrepancy led to aggrieved stakeholders rejecting Uzodimma’s announcement and calling on party leaders not to recognise his declared candidate. The APC National Chairman, Dr Abdullahi Ganduje, however, officially congratulated Idahosa, urging all aspirants to work for the party’s interests. Meanwhile, both Idahosa and Dekeri gave acceptance speeches, expressing gratitude to party members for their support and pledging to uphold the mandate entrusted to them.

Following the controversy, Uzodimma was replaced as Chairman of the Elections Committee. Uzodimma was replaced by Bassey Otu, the Cross River State governor, who formerly served as the deputy chairman of the seven-member committee. Otu was tasked with overseeing the re-run poll, which saw Senator Monday Okpebholo, representing Edo Central Senatorial District, emerging as the winner of the fresh primary election.

However, the APC has clarified the reason behind the replacement of Uzodimma of Imo State with his Cross River counterpart. The National Publicity Secretary of the APC, Felix Morka, stated that Uzodimma was “unavoidably unavailable” to complete the primary election, necessitating the need for his deputy to take over.

Edo PDP

A former Chairman of Sterling Bank, Asue Ighodalo, emerged as the winner of the Peoples Democratic Party primary in Edo State. The primary was also mired in controversy as the state Deputy Governor, Philip Shaibu, was declared the winner in a parallel primary. Dauda Lawal, governor of Zamfara and returning officer of the election, declared Ighodalo the winner of the primary poll. Ighodalo secured a total of 577 votes to beat his closest rival, Shaibu, who scored one vote while other candidates scored zero votes.

Edo LP

On Friday, aformer President of the Nigerian Bar Association, Olumide Akpata, won the Edo State Labour Party governorship primary with 316 votes, defeating his closest contenders.

The National Chairman of the Labour Party, Mr. Julius Abure, was arrested by security operatives in Edo State on Wednesday, just days before the party’s primary election in the state. Abure was seen in viral videos and pictures being forcibly handled by police officers while his supporters tried to intervene. Abure has been embroiled in disputes within the party over allegations of candidate substitution in the 2023 general election and mishandling of party funds.

GDP dips to 2.74%
The National Bureau of Statistics released a new GDP report indicating a decrease in Nigeria’s Gross Domestic Product growth to 2.74% in 2023 from 3.10% in 2022, marking the slowest growth since the recession in 2020 caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.

The report highlighted reduced growth in the agriculture and manufacturing sectors, with manufacturing growth decreasing by 1.40% and agriculture by 1.13% in 2023 compared to 2022.

The oil sector recorded a growth of -2.22% in 2023, while the non-oil sector grew at 3.04%, both lower than the previous year. Despite challenges, Nigeria’s GDP grew by 3.46% year-on-year in the fourth quarter of 2023, driven mainly by the services sector.

Lion kills OAU veterinary worker
The veterinary technologist in charge of the Zoological Garden at Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, Osun State, Mr. Olabode Olawuyi, was killed by a lion on campus.

The incident was said to have occurred while he was feeding the animals in their den. Despite efforts by other staff to rescue him, Olawuyi sustained severe injuries. Sadly, medical efforts to save Olawuyi’s life were unsuccessful, and the aggressive lion was euthanised afterwards.

Olawuyi had cared for the lions since their birth on campus about nine years ago. The university has initiated a comprehensive investigation into the incident and extended condolences to Olawuyi’s family. The National Association of Non-Academic Staff of Universities, OAU branch, Mr Wole Odewumi, however, explained that the veterinary technologist was attacked by the lion while he was attempting to free a woman, who was first attacked by the lion.

Cement price challenge
Cement manufacturers have agreed to sell a 50kg bag of cement at a retail price between N7,000 and N8,000 nationwide, pending government interventions to address industry challenges. The decision came after a meeting convened by Minister of Works, Dave Umahi, following concerns over soaring cement prices, which have reached around N13,000 in some areas.

The meeting identified issues like smuggling, bad roads, high energy costs, and forex challenges as factors contributing to high prices. Manufacturers committed to lowering prices pending government support to tackle these challenges. The government pledged to address gas costs, import duties, smuggling, and road infrastructure issues.

The Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, Doris Uzoka-Anite, assured all of collaboration with industries to ease operational bottlenecks. BUA Group also pledged to supply an additional six million tonnes of cement to stabilise prices. Smuggling of cement to neighbouring countries due to price disparities was also highlighted as a concern. The meeting concluded with plans to reconvene in 30 days to review progress.

FG halts exportation of cooking gas
The Federal Government has announced plans to halt the exportation of Liquefied Petroleum Gas, commonly known as cooking gas, to boost domestic supply and drive down prices. This decision was made following a surge in the cost of cooking gas, which has risen to about N18,000 for a 12.5kg cylinder. LPG dealers had previously predicted this increase due to continuous price hikes. The Minister of State for Petroleum Resources (Gas), Ekperikpe Ekpo, disclosed that LPG producers have been instructed to cease exportation, with hopes that increased domestic availability will lead to a price reduction. Despite the removal of Value Added Tax on LPG imports, investors are still maximising profits, prompting government intervention to stabilise prices. Additionally, efforts are underway to transition government vehicles to Compressed Natural Gas and discuss naira transactions within the gas sector.

The Lagos solution
Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, announced measures to alleviate economic hardship, including flexible working hours for civil servants, transport support for teachers, prompt pension payments, reduced transport fares, and food palliatives for households. Additionally, the state government plans to reposition Nigeria’s gas sector for economic growth and development and offer a 25% rebate on transportation while opening Sunday markets with reduced prices for staple foods. Also, healthcare support includes covering the costs of free child deliveries and providing rebates on essential drugs like those for hypertension and diabetes.

25kg rice at N10,000
Nigerians, mainly artisans, flocked the Nigeria Customs Service office in Yaba, Lagos, to purchase 25kg bags of rice for N10,000 following an announcement by the Customs Comptroller General, Adewale Adeniyi, about the distribution of seized food items.

Adeniyi emphasised that the rice must not be resold and outlined eligibility criteria, including providing a Nigerian Identification Number. The distribution aims to directly benefit various groups, including artisans, teachers, nurses, and religious bodies, ensuring maximum impact.

Slain DPO: Prime suspect’s corpse exhumed
The Rivers State Police Command has successfully exhumed the body of Gift Okpara, also known as 2 Baba, a notorious cultist and prime suspect in the murder of former Divisional Police Officer Bako Angbashim. Okpara was reportedly killed during a joint security raid, but his body was snatched by loyalists. Following an operation led by police operatives, his remains were discovered buried in a deep forest. The police command confirmed that his body was buried in a shallow grave in Ebrass Forest.

Former DPO Bako Angbashim was a law enforcement officer who served in the Ahoada Division of Rivers State, Nigeria. Unfortunately, he became a victim of a gruesome murder allegedly orchestrated by 2Baba,.

Angbashim was ambushed, killed, and his body dismembered by the gang led by 2Baba. The murder occurred on September 8, 2023, in Odumude community, Ahaoda East Local Government Area. Angbashim’s brutal killing sparked a manhunt for the prime suspect and his gang members, leading to a joint security operation that ultimately resulted in the death of 2Baba and the retrieval of his decomposing body from a shallow grave in Ebrass Forest.

Aso Villa’s electricity debt
President Bola Tinubu directed the immediate settlement of an outstanding electricity bill amounting to N342 million owed to the Abuja Electricity Distribution Company by the State House. This directive follows the reconciliation of accounts between the State House Management and the AEDC. Initially, the AEDC threatened to disconnect electricity in the Presidential Villa and 86 Federal Government Ministries, Departments, and Agencies due to outstanding debts totaling N47.20 billion as of December 2023.

However, after reconciling the accounts, the state house revealed that its outstanding bill was significantly less than initially claimed by the AEDC, standing at N342.35 million. The Presidency, through a statement signed by President Tinubu’s Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, assured that the debt would be paid before the end of the week. The statement also urged other MDAs to reconcile their accounts with AEDC and settle their electricity bills.