Blog

Tinubu Lauds Chief Akande, Says; Your Honesty, Integrity Motivate me, am Lucky to Have you

By Biola Lawal
Abuja (Flowerbudnews): President Bola Tinubu, on Tuesday night in Abuja lauded Chief Bisi Akande, remarking that he benefitted immensely from his close relationship with long-time confidant, and that he considered himself lucky to have him.

Speaking at a dinner held at the State House Conference Centre to celebrate the 85th birthday of the elder statesman, President Tinubu said he was delighted that the sentiments he had about the former Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), who is also a former governor of Osun State, resonated well with other speakers at the event.

This was disclosed in a statement by Chief Ajuri Ngelale Special Adviser to the President
(Media & Publicity).

“Listening to the remarks from the podium, they are inspirational enough. It has been said that you are Mr. Integrity, we, the younger ones, are very lucky to have you. You deserve to be celebrated.

‘:Thank you for always being forthright and being honest. I do not want to repeat myself beyond the fact that, lucky enough for me, I have you. I thank God for your life,” the President said to Chief Akande.

Recounting the role of Chief Akande in the process leading to the emergence of the APC as a mega party and its eventual election victory in 2015, the President stated that the lessons in forgiveness and patience that he learnt from the elder statesman eventually led him to becoming the President of Nigeria.

“Anyone who wants to learn about forgiveness, candour, reliability, should see Chief Bisi Akande. You taught us perseverance, patience, honesty, and management of resources, be it human or capital. See me standing before you, I am the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

“You know how many times and how long that we spoke truth to power, deliberate on how to take the cuff off this nation, how to change and comply with our developmental objectives. You have been doing it whispering silently, ‘be patient, forget the past, look forward’”, the President said.

In his response, Chief Akande, who said he had concluded arrangements to have a discourse on ‘leadership’ to mark his birthday in Ibadan, thanked the President and First Lady Oluremi Tinubu for the dinner, acknowledging that President Tinubu had always been pivotal in the celebration of his birthdays since the 70th anniversary.

He harped on the twin values of loyalty and honesty in dealings with friends.

Other speakers at the event, including Senate President Godswill Akpabio; House of Representatives Speaker Tajudeen Abbas, Governor Abdullahi Sule of Nasarawa State, APC National Chairman Abdullahi Ganduje, former Kaduna State Governor Nasir el-Rufai, Minister of Solid Minerals Dele Alake, and former Chairman of TETFUND, Alhaji Kashim Ibrahim-Imam, extolled the virtues of the elder statesman. (Flowerbudnews)

January 17, 2024
Tinubu Announces Plan for Massive Education of Youths as Part of Strategies to Curb Kidnapping, Banditry

By Biola Lawal
Abuja (Flowerbudnews): President Bola Tinubu has announced plans for a massive education of Nigerian youths as part Federal Government’s efforts to effectively tackle kidnappings and Banditry.

President Tinubu made the pronouncement on Tuesday at the State House in Abuja when he received a delegation of Jam’iyyatu Ansaridden, a highly respected Islamic Movement, Chief Ajuri Ngelale, Special Adviser to the President,
(Media & Publicity) disclosed in statement.

He condemned the recent spate of kidnappings and bandit attacks, describing the menace as disturbing, unGODly, and sinister

The President said that while security agencies were acting with dispatch to immediately address the current challenge, all required resources, policies and plans will be rolled out soon for the massive education of Nigerian youths.

President Tinubu said that education was the antidote to the troubles agitating the nation, adding: “There is no weapon against poverty that is as potent as learning.

“I can assure you that we are here to change the life of our people. We are here to promote peace, stability, and economic prosperity.

“We are dedicated to building a lasting peace with a focus on the comprehensive education of our children. We will get our teachers and their owners involved in an education process that will be relevant to the future of this country.

”It is important. Knowledge brought me here with your prayers and your support. Without knowledge, there is nothing to generate hope for mankind,” President Tinubu said.

The President also emphasized that it was important to promote updated knowledge through existing islamic learning institutions for youths in Northern Nigeria to speed up development in the region, in Nigeria, and throughout Africa.

“Please embark on special prayers. Embark on proper education for our youths. Kidnapping and banditry are not the way of God. Shedding each other’s blood is bad. And there can be no development without peace.

”It is only in the area of peace that we can eliminate poverty. We must work for peace in order for our economy to grow better,” the President concluded.’:

In his remarks, the Jam’iyyatu Ansaridden leader, Sheikh Muhammad Lamine Niass encouraged the President to continue implementing his reform initiatives while affirming that his movement, which is reputed for its promotion of peace and tolerance, would continue to pray for Nigeria’s peaceful development. (Flowerbudnews)

January 17, 2024
Alleged rights breach: Court voids N10m fine against media house

Abuja: A Federal High Court (FHC), Abuja, on Tuesday, set aside a judgment directing the Human Rights Radio and Television Ltd. to pay a N10 million in damages to Mr Samuel Onaibre over alleged violation of his fundamental rights.

Justice Inyang Ekwo, in a judgment, held that the Jan. 20, 2022 judgment delivered by a sister court in Warri, Delta, was obtained by fraud and lack of service of process on the media station as required by law.

Justice Ekwo held that where a party alleged that a judgement was entered in a case in his absence, “It means that such judgement was obtained by procedure adopted which deprived the decision or judgement of the character of a legitimate adjudication.

He said the respondents, having not controvert the averments of the applicants, are deemed to have admitted the case of the applicants.

“An order is hereby made setting aside the judgement and orders delivered on 20th of January, 2022 by this honourable court, coram Honourable Justice Okon E. Abang in suit number: FHC/WR/CS/92/2019 between Mr. Samuel O. Onaibre v. Human Rights Radio and Television Ltd. & 2 Ors.,” he declared.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that following a judgment entered in favour of Mr Onaibre, the registrar of Delta State Polytechnic, Ozoro, by Justice Okon Abang at the Warri Division of a FHC in 2022, the media house filed another suit at the Abuja division, praying the court to vacate it.

While Human Rights Radio and Television Ltd was the 1st applicant, Mr Ahmed Isah, the CEO of the station, was the 2nd applicant in the suit marked: FHC/ABJ/CS/1996/2022.

The applicants had sued Mr Samuel Onaibre, the Inspector-General of Police, Deputy Inspector General of Police, ACP Fergus Manga and DSP Peter Tanda as 1st to 5th respondents respectively.

The applicants, who gave 12 grounds while the judgment should be vacated, averred that a complainant, Blessing Onu, a student of Delta State Polytechnic, Ozoro, sought the assistance of the media house, alleging that her school refused to award her National Diploma Certificate (NDC).

She alleged that the development resulted to her missing the opportunity to proceed to the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) programme despite complying with all the requirements of the institution.

“On 25th February, 2019 during live broadcast of Brekete Family Programme at the 1st applicant’s radio station, he (Isah) intervened in the matter, requested and got the contact of the registrar, the 1st respondent, on record to hear the position of the school! on the matter.

“This was after failed efforts to make the school attend to the complaint without bringing it up on air.

“He put a call to the 1st respondent to enquire the truth and position of the Delta State Polytechnic, Ozoro which same was answered and the 1st respondent turned uncivil on the phone call, resorted to abusive, humiliating and unprintable name callings against him (Isah).

“He was compel to release the official phone number to the public to elicit the assistance of any listener who would like to persuade him (the registrar) to attend to the case of the complainant.

“He later realised that some of the listeners sent the 1st respondent (registrar) threatening and abusive messages upon which he lodged a petition against the applicants and the complainant to the Inspector-General of Police,” Isah, who deposed to the affidavit said.

He said despite amicable resolution of the matter by the police, and Onaibre promising to withdraw the suit with a notice of discontinuance of the suit served on him, he was surprised to hear about the judgment of the Warri court against him.

In his preliminary objection, Onaibre prayed Justice Ekwo to dismiss the suit on the grounds that the applicants’ originating motion was incompetent and an abuse of court process.
Delivering the judgment on Tuesday, Ekwo held that there are situations where the court is permitted to exercise jurisdiction, to set aside its own judgement or the judgement of a court of coordinate jurisdiction.

“This Includes, where the judgement is entered in default of the defendant’s appearance or in default of pleadings; where the judgment was obtained by fraud; where the judgement breached the fundamental right of a party; and where the judgement will work Injustice on one of the partes,” he said.(NAN)(www.nannews.ng)/ Flowerbudnews

January 17, 2024
Police Recruitment: 136,177 Candidates Screened, 108,768 Uploaded as Arase Hails Exercise

..
charges officials “let’s maintain this momentum and strive for even greater achievements ”

By Biola Lawal

Abuja (Flowerbudnews): A total of 136,177 candidates have now been screened in the ongoing recruitment exercise of the Nigeria Police Force which commenced nationwide on January 8.

The Police Service Commission through the Police Recruitment Board is currently Screening 416,270 Nigerian youths who have shown interest and applied to be considered for a career in the Nigeria Police Force, Ikechukwu Ani, Head, Press and Public Relations disclosed in a statement on Tuesday.

”The candidates are being subjected to physical and credentials screening, a prelude to an aptitude test and other processes including medical examination,” the statement stressed..

It said that the Commission has upgraded and automated the online recruitment processes to ensure its credibility and create a measurable standard for final selection of successful candidates.

” Results/outcome of the screening exercise are uploaded real time to the Commission’s portal and monitored by the Situation Room set up and led by Commission Chairman, Dr. Solomon Arase CFR, retired Inspector General of Police,” it said.

Out of the 136, 177 candidates screened, 108,768 have been successfully uploaded, the difference being problems/challenges from fluctuating network.

The PSC Chairman who is the National Co-ordinator for the Recruitment exercise, had expressed his satisfaction with the commitment of both the Commission Staff, the Police Officials and other Members of the Police Recruitment Board.

He confirmed that there had been a commendable improvement in both screening and uploading rates and a complementary daily reportage of figures.

Dr. Arase congratulated the field work force and charged them to ‘: maintain this momentum and strive for even greater achievements”.

He assured the candidates that they should not panic and be rest assured that they will all be screened before the end of the screening exercise, adding that he is aware of the heavy traffic at the screening centres.

Dr. Arase said the Commission is giving the nation a new and credible platform for recruitment into the public Service insisting that the ongoing Police recruitment will surely meet all known international standards devoid of any manipulation.

He repeated that the nation will be proud of the products of this exercise. He however said the Commission may review the sequence of the exercise where the aptitude tests may come first.

Dr. Arase noted that reports from the field showed a curious development where many candidates with beautiful Senior Secondary School Certicates (SSSC) and National Examination Council certificates can not write their names or ordinarily introduce themselves.

He wondered how they acquired such excellent certificates adding that aptitude tests coming as a first stage of the recruitment process will help eliminate obviously unqualified candidates and reduce the size of persons that would subsequently appear for screening.

He disclosed that the Commission will surely get it right and produce a template for effective and efficient recruitment exercise in Nigeria. “When we get it right at the entry point, we would have almost gotten sixty percent quality in the expected performance of the Officers and that is our objective” Dr. Arase noted. (Flowerbudnews)

January 17, 2024
Boat Mishap: N-HYPPADEC partners agencies to enhance water transportation safety

By Mohammed Baba Busu

The National Hydroelectric Power Producing Areas Development Commission (N-HYPPADEC), says it will continue to partner sister agencies to enhance water transportation safety in the country.

Its Managing Director, Abubakar Sadiq-Yelwa, said this in a statement by Nura Tanko-Wakili, Head, Press and Public Affairs, N-HYPPADEC, in Minna on Tuesday.

He said such partnership was imperative to encourage compliance with safety measures on inland water transportation.

Sadiq-Yelwa described as shocking, the boat mishap at Tungan Leda in Shagunu District in Borgu Local Government Area of Niger.

He expressed concern that boat operators were exposing innocent lives to danger in spite of efforts by relevant authorities to put a stop to the menace.

Sadiq-Yelwa sympathised with the family members as well as government and people of Niger and Kebbi states over the incident.

The managing director expressed the commission’s heartfelt condolences to the family of the deceased and prayed for the repose of their souls.

He also sympathised with other victims and wished them fast recovery.

The boat according to the local authorities was conveying over 80 passengers with a lot of goods from Duga Mashaya in Niger to a neighbouring market in Wara, Kebbi.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that local authorities confirmed the recovery of five corpses, many passengers rescued and 12 others missing.

Preliminary investigation attributed the accident to overloading of the already won-out boat which has undergone many repairs.

NAN

January 17, 2024
Alleged $9.6bn scam: How top govt. officials aided P&ID directors–EFCC Investigator

Abuja: Mr Umar Babangida, an investigator with the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), on Tuesday, revealed how top government officials aided Process and Industrial Development (P&ID) Ltd.’s directors in the alleged $9.6 billion scam against Nigeria.

Babangida, who was the 2nd prosecution witness (PW2) in the ongoing trial of fleeing James Nolan, an Irish national, told Justice Obiora Egwuatu of a Federal High Court, Abuja in his testimony.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the anti-graft agency had, in the charge marked: FHC/ABJ/CR/9/2022, sued Micad Project City Services Ltd. and Mr Nolan as 1st and 2nd defendants.

Nolan, a P&ID director who also has a British citizenship, was arraigned and granted a N100 million bail after pleaded not guilty to the 20-count charge preferred against him.

However, after he perfected his bail conditions, he failed to appear in court for trial.

On Sept. 28, 2022, Justice Ahmed Mohammed of a sister court, where Nolan was also standing another trial, revoked the bail and issued a bench warrant for his arrest for jumping bail.

Justice Mohammed equally granted the EFCC’s request to continue his trial in absentia.

Nolan, alleged to be at large, is also standing trial in about eight other cases for his involvement in the 9.6 billion dollars controversial contract awarded to P&ID Ltd.

While being led in evidence-in-chief by EFCC’s counsel, Mr Bala Sanga before Justice Egwuatu, the witness said President Muhammadu Buhari directed that an investigation be conducted by the commission into the signing of a gas supply and processing agreement between the Federal Ministry of Petroleum Resources and P&ID Ltd. dated Jan. 11, 2010.

“On 28th June, 2018, a letter from the Office of the Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF) and Minister of Justice was forwarded to EFCC conveying the directives of Mr President , Commander-In-Chief of the Armed Forces, Federal Republic of Nigeria, that investigation be conducted by the EFCC.

“The petition was assigned to my team and I, including Isah Suleiman Daku, Aminu Lawal, Hembafan Tortilla, and others,” he said.

According to him, we conducted the investigation by requesting documents of certified true copies (CTCs) from the Federal Ministry of Petroleum Resources.

“Upon receipt of the documents, which include copy of the signed gas supply and processing agreement dated 11th January, 2010; memorandum of understanding dated 22nd July, 2009; memos and other correspondence, we reviewed the documents.

“And we discovered they were signed by the late Minister of Petroleum Resources, Dr Rilwan Lukman, and was witness by late Mrs Grace Taiga, the then Director of Legal Services, Fed Ministry of Petroleum Resources.

“Late Mr Michael Quinn, an Irish citizens, signed for P&ID and witnessed by Alhaji Muhammed Kuchazi in respect of the gas supply and processing agreement. The same individuals signed in the MOU.

“Our investigation discovered that Michael Quinn was the owner and operator of P&ID Ltd which was incorporated in the British Virgin Island together with his partner, Brendan Cahill, who is also an irish citizens.

“We further discovered that they have incorporated about 30 companies registered by Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC) in Nigeria.

“They also registered 20 offshore companies which they promote and operate.

“Among the 30 companies registered in Nigeria is Micad Project City Services Ltd, the 1st defendant and their representatives in Nigeria.

“In operating these companies include James Richard Nolan, the 2nd defendant in this case, who is an Irish citizen; Adam Quinn, also an Irish citizen; Lloyd Quinn, also Irish but deceased; Neil Christopher Murray, also Irish but at large; Gerald Patrick Gallagher, also known as Gerry Gallagher, is also an Irish but at large at the moment.

“They are the representatives in running and operating Micad Project City Services Ltd,” Babangida revealed.

The PW2 said they wrote to the CAC requesting for the incorporation document of the company.

“From the response from CAC, we got that the company was incorporated in 2005 with two shareholders and directors namely; James Nolan and Adam Quinn with 50 per cent equity each ,” he said

He said in March 2007, Nolan resigned as a director of Micad Project and relinquished his shares back to the company, and Lloyd Quinn and Gerry Gallagher were appointed the directors of the company.

“In April 2007, Adam Quinn also resigned as director of the company and relinquished his shares back to the company leaving Lloyd Quinn and Gerry Gallagher as directors.

“Lloyd Quinn had 99 per cent equity while Gerry Gallagher had 1 per cent equity of the company,” he said.

The witness said his team wrote to Guarantee Trust Bank (GTB) requesting for the account opening package and statement of account of Micad Project and discovered Lloyd Quinn was the sole signatory to the company’s account.

“Upon further investigation, we discovered the company had another account with Diamond Access Bank formerly Diamond Bank.

“We wrote to Access Bank Plc requesting for account opening package and statement of the account of Micad Project City Services Ltd.

“We reviewed responses from the bank and reviewed the documents and discovered that James Nolan, who had resigned as director and shareholder of the company in 2007, was a signatory to the Access Bank account.

“We also discovered Neil Murray as a signatory to the Access Bank account,” he said.

Babangida said after further review of the statement of account domicile with Access Bank Plc, the team discovered that Federal Capital Development Authority (FCDA) paid over N151 million into the account on May 22, 2017.

“We also discovered a payment from the account of single transaction of N50 million to Avory Chambers dated 24th of May, 2017,” he added.

He said the team confirmed through the Special Control Unit against Money Laundering (SCUML) that the company failed to comply with the confirmed that the Money Laundering and Prohibition Act, 2011 (as amended).

“From the response from SCUML, we confirmed that the company, Micad Project, in its account opening package with GTB described its business activities as real estate development company.

“That had confirmed it status as a designated non-financial institution.

“The report further stated that the conducted search into their records discovered the company failed to declared its business activities to the Federal Ministry of Industry and Trade Investment.

“We also stated that the company did not file record of its compliant officers and its management strata.

“The company also failed to train its staff on money laundering and combating illegal act.

“The company failed to establish an internal audit unit in compliance with Money Laundering and Prohibition Act and no report of threshold transaction above N5 million to an individual and N10 million to a corporate entity was made.

“The investigation revealed that the payment of over N151 million into the account of the company and N50 million out of the account of the company were not reported in compliance with Money Laundering and Prohibition Act,” he said.

The witness said the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS), in the course of their investigation, revealed that the company failed to comply with the tax law.

“On the strength of that, we wrote to FIRS to confirm that the company had tax liability of over N39 million which the company failed to pay between 2008, 2009 and 2010.

“We equally wrote to FCTA (Federal Capital Territory Adminstration) to confirm the payment of the N151 million and availed us CTCs of records of terms of settlement filed as a consent judgment between Micad Project and other parties.

“We received response from the FCTA attaching the signed terms of settlement and other evidence of payment and further review that a dispute emanated between Micad Project City Services Ltd and Crome Oil Ltd which resulted in the signing of the terms of settlement,” he said.

Babangida said all the documents relating to the investigation were forwarded to the EFCC’s Forensic Department for forensic analysis.

According to him, the forensic expert will be in better position to tell the court of his findings.

Earlier, Mr Temitope Erinomo, the 2nd prosecution witness and former Principal Complaint Officer, Federal Ministry of Trade and Investment, said that the ministry carried out an off-site and on-site examinations of Micad Project City Services Ltd

Erinomo, who said this during a cross examination by the defence lawyer, Mr Michael Ajara, revealed that the off-site and on-site examinations “were carried out at the business addresses of the company but they were not present at the two addresses in Abuja and Lagos.”

“In my testimony, I said that we received a letter from the EFCC seeking to know the compliant status of Micad Project with the Money Laundering and Prohibition Act and to also furnish them with other information that will be relevant to the investigation that EFCC is carrying out,” he told the court.

Justice Egwuatu adjourned the matter until Wednesday for continuation of trial.(NAN)(www.nannews.ng) /Flowerbudnews

January 16, 2024
PRESIDENT TINUBU SALUTES FORMER PRESIDENT BUHARI FOR VISIONARY LEADERSHIP AND SERVICE TO NIGERIA

By Flowerbudnews

Abuja (Flowerbudnews): President Bola Tinubu on Tuesday in Abuja thanked former President Muhammadu Buhari for his visionary leadership of Nigeria and commitment to probity, propriety, and service.

Speaking at the launch of two books on the former President; Working with Buhari: Reflections of a former Special Adviser to the President, Media & Publicity, by Femi Adesina, and Muhammadu Buhari: The Nigerian Legacy, by Dr. Udu Yakubu, President Tinubu said Buhari demonstrated integrity and transparency in leadership.

This was disclosed in a statement by Chief Ajuri Ngelale, Special Adviser to the President (Media & Publicity)

The President said the former President has kept his word not to interfere in government matters after leaving office.

“When you left office, you left a lot of pens and files for me for continuity. I inherited the liabilities and assets of my predecessor.

“You told me it will be difficult to please everyone as a leader. You advised that I should work hard and satisfy my conscience,” he said.

President Tinubu stated that former President Buhari inherited a tottering economy and an overwhelming security situation, but that the former President was able to start the process that would guarantee stability.

“I am glad that history has been reintroduced in our schools, and this will be part of our curriculum,’’ the President said on the books.

Describing former President Buhari as an organized and disciplined person, President Tinubu urged him to continue to be a pillar of the nation’s development, even after retirement.

Earlier in his remarks, former President Buhari thanked the President for attending the event, highlighting some of the peculiarities of the office, which include the likelihood of being misinterpreted and misunderstood.

“We kept records of our stewardship. This event is part of accounting for our two terms in office. Government is a continuum. You run and hand over to the next person,” Buhari said.

The Chairman of the occasion, former Head of State, General Yakubu Gowon, commended the former President for actions taken to buoy the economy, contain insecurity, and stabilize the polity.

“You handed over to President Tinubu; it was great. It was really great to hand over to President Tinubu, another great leader who will give Nigeria a new direction,” General Gowon added. (Flowerbudnews)

January 16, 2024
Court judgment: Legal practitioner urges Tinubu to correct appointment of FCC chair, secretary

Abuja: President Bola Tinubu has been urged to correct the appointment of the Federal Character Commission (FCC)’s chairman and secretary by the previous government

A legal practitioner, Mr Festus Onifade, made the call in a letter to President Tinubu on Wednesday and a certified true copy made available to newsmen in Abuja.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that President Muhammadu Buhari had, on April 28, 2020, appointed Muheeba Dankaka as FCC chairman for a five-year tenure and was confirmed by the Senate on June 2, 2020.

(legal practitioner, Mr Festus Onifade)

Also the ex-president approved the appointment of Bello Tukur as FCC’s secretary on April 14, 2017 and was reappointed on March 12, 2021 for a term of four years.

While Dankaka is from Kwara, Tukur hails from Taraba; the duo coming from the northern geopolitical zone.

Against this backdrop, Onifade, in a suit marked: FHC/ABJ/CS/709/2021, sued the president, Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF), FCC, Dankaka and Tukur as 1st to 5th defendants respectively at the Federal High Court, Abuja.

In the originating summons dated and filed on July 19, 2021, the lawyer sought a declaration that “the president is bound to observe and comply with the provision of Sections 7 and 8 (1), (2) (a) (b) (c) of the Third Schedule, part 1 of the 1999 Constitution (As Amended) in the appointment of persons to the office of the Chairman and Secretary of FCC.”

He also sought an order directing the president to immediately dissolve and reconstitute the FCC’s board in accordance with the laws.
Justice Inyang Ekwo, in his judgment on Nov. 22, 2023, declared that the appointment of Dankaka and Tukur from the northern region was unlawful.

Meanwhile, in a letter dated Jan. 16 and titled: “Appeal to Mr President to Safeguard the Integrity of Federal Character Commission,” the constitutional lawyer prayed the president to give effect to the court judgment.

In the letter, the Secretary to the Government of the Federation. Sen. George Akume, and Chief Lateef Fagbemi, SAN, the Attorney-General of Federation and Minister of Justice, were also copied.

Onifade said: “It is against this background that we make this appeal to you sir to give effect to the judgement of the court by appointing persons from different geo-political zones who will represent the diversity recognised in the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (As Amended).

“Mr. President sir, it may not have come to notice that the morale of staff is at all-time low and this singular incident has caused a lot of resentment among staff of the commission.

“This is particularly because the commission itself is guilty of the infractions it was constitutional and statutory created to remedy.
“Sir like the popular saying ‘remove the log in your eyes, before the log in mine.’

Mr. President Sir, your timely intervention will remedy this anomaly and restore the commission back to performing its constitutional and statutory functions efficiently.
“It will also restore confidence of Nigerians in this administration as a government of inclusion, endearing hope in governance, and giving every Nigerian a sense of belonging.”(NAN)(www.nannews.ng) / Flowerbudnews

January 16, 2024
Women, hairstylists lament over high cost of hair attachments

By Taiye Olayemi

Some women and hairstylists on Tuesday lamented the high cost of hair attachments as the price has continued to soar from 2023.

They expressed their concern in separate interviews with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos.

NAN reports that hair attachment is one of the most important part of a woman’s fashion and the price in Nigeria depends on the quality and brand.

There are various types of hair attachments based on the company of production like: X-pression, Darling and Lush.

These attachments could be used to make styles like ghana weaving, bob marley, twisting, shuku, knotless braid, pick and drop, and more.

Average hair attachments initially sold for N1,700 now cost N3,600, and those sold for N1,200 now go for N2,500.

Hair cream and relaxers are not also left out as the biggest jar of hair cream that was sold for N800 now costs N3,000 as well as other smaller ones.

Faith Omije, a hairstylist at Crystal Beauty Salon said, “the situation must be urgently addressed, else the increment would continue without control”.

Omijie said the development now warranted a reduction in her normal service charge for hairdo when customers purchased hair attachments from her, as a way of encouraging them.

“The manufacturers keep telling us their cost of production has increased which warranted the increase in the cost of hair attachments but for me, this is not tenable.

“It appears they are only being inconsiderate when we look at the rate of the increment.

“From 2023, the price keeps adding up with N100, N200 till it is now unbearable. My customers are always complaining.

“In a way to encourage them, I reduce my service charge which is also affecting me.

“Even the price of hair cream, hair relaxers and wool are on the increase too. Before now, I sell a bundle of single wool for N200 but it is now N300,” she said.

Another hairstylist, Grace Akpan, said the government must be able to ensure measures were put in place for general price control of items in the market.

Akpan said the most unfortunate thing about the development was “that nobody is currently addressing the problem, women now have to spend a fortune or engage in critical thinking before making their hair”.

“Many of my customers now run away from making hairstyles that will make them use hair attachments.

“They rather go for weave-on and wool because they are not as expensive as hair attachments, just few of them are using it now.

“This development has also impacted the cost of braided wigs,” she said

Similarly, Helen Arokoyo, an undergraduate student of University of Lagos said “Now, I hardly make my desired hairstyle, I go for what my money can make.

“I’m the type that likes my hair very full but I can’t afford to buy enough attachment to do that.

“The option of reusing my attachment is out of consideration for me because the hair won’t be as neat and beautiful as it should be when new attachment is used.

“It is indeed a frustrating one for me because I don’t like wools and weave-on. So, I’m only left with the option of using the hair attachments,” she said.

Aminat Usman, a pharmacy sales representative told NAN that she had temporarily resolved to weaving her hair in different styles pending when the price of hair attachments would be regulated.

“I don’t want to give myself problems, I will continue to weave my hair like this.

“And maybe when I am fortunate to get awoof money, I can consider buying attachments but not with the meagre sum I’m earning now,” she said.

Caroline Olatunji, a photographer said, “Each time I buy hair attachment to make my hair, I’m always pained due to the amount of money I will have to part with.

“Before now, I can make my hair with N5,000 but now I spend close to N10,000.

“I have considered barbing my hair but it is also expensive when I think of the the cost of maintenance and treatment. The situation is really frustrating,” (NAN) (nannews.ng)

January 16, 2024