Nigerian press zooms in on declaration of state of emergency on food security, others

APA – Lagos (Nigeria)
The declaration of a state of emergency on food security by President Bola Tinubu on Thursday as the Federal Government stepped up efforts to tackle food inflation following the removal of fuel subsidy dominates he headlines of Nigerian newspapers on Friday.
The Punch reports that President Bola Tinubu on Thursday declared a state of emergency on food security as the Federal Government stepped up efforts to tackle food inflation following the removal of fuel subsidy.
Tinubu also approved that all matters pertaining to food and water availability as well as affordability, as essential livelihood items, be included within the purview of the National Security Council.
This is to be followed by an immediate release of fertilisers and grains to farmers and households to mitigate the effects of the subsidy removal.
The Special Adviser to the President on Special Duties, Communications and Strategy, Dele Alake, disclosed this to State House correspondents on Thursday, after consultations with key stakeholders in the agricultural sector value chain at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.
Explaining the development, the Presidential aide said, “Mr. President is not unmindful of the rising cost of food and how it affects the citizens. While availability is not a problem, affordability has been a major issue for many Nigerians in all parts of the country.
“This has led to a significant drop in demand, thereby undermining the viability of the entire agriculture and food value chain.”
The newspaper says that the opposition parties on Thursday demanded the resignation of the Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission, Mahmood Yakubu, on the basis of the European Union Election Observer Mission report which gave INEC low marks in its conduct of the general elections.
The Labour Party and the Peoples Democratic Party said the EU report on the election confirmed their positions that the 2023 polls were not transparent or credible, but the INEC and the All Progressives Congress dismissed Yakubu’s indictment by the parties.
The electoral agency had declared the APC standard bearer, Bola Tinubu, the winner of the presidential election but the verdict was challenged by the LP, PDP and other opposition parties.
Tinubu polled 8,794,726 votes to defeat the PDP standard bearer, Atiku Abubakar, and his LP counterpart, Peter Obi, who garnered 6,984,520 votes and 6,101,533 votes, respectively.
Atiku and Obi, however, rejected the results, with each claiming at separate press conferences that the election was fraught with violence and massive rigging.
Consequently, both candidates headed for the Presidential Election Petition Tribunal to seek redress.
Chief Observer, Barry Andrews, Member of the European Parliament, who presented the preliminary findings of the EU EOM report in Abuja on June 28, observed that shortcomings in law and electoral administration hindered the conduct of well-run and inclusive elections and damaged trust in INEC.
He also noted that a lack of transparency and operational failures reduced trust in the process and challenged the right to vote.
However, the EU report was roundly criticised by the Presidency and the APC even as some party faithful protested against the EU EOM’s stance.
The Guardian reports that the Department of State Services (DSS), yesterday, said it charged former Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Governor, Godwin Emefiele, to court, following order by an Abuja High Court.
The spokesman for the secret police, Dr Peter Afunanya, said: “Sequel to an Abuja High Court order today (yesterday), July 13, 2023, DSS, hereby confirms that Mr. Godwin Emefiele has been charged to court, in compliance.
The statement reads further: “The public may recall that the service had, in 2022, applied for a court order to detain him, in respect of a criminal investigation. Though he obtained a restraining order from an FCT High Court, the service, however, arrested him in June 2023, on the strength of suspected fresh criminal infractions/information, one of which forms the basis for his current prosecution.
“The service assures the public of professionalism, justice and fairness in handling this matter, and indeed the discharge of its duties within the confines of the law.” Earlier, yesterday, Justice Hamza Muazu had issued a one-week ultimatum to DSS to charge Emefiele to court or set him free.
Muazu issued the order, while delivering ruling in a fundamental human rights suit instituted against DSS and others, by Emefiele.
The judge held that, while DSS has power to carry out its constitutional duties of arrest, detention, and prevention of crime, the activities must be done within the ambit of law. He maintained that the law stipulates conditions under which a Nigerian citizen could be held, and for how long.
Emefiele had dragged Attorney General of the Federation and the DSS Director General to court, seeking enforcement of his fundamental right to freedom of movement and dignity of human life.
The newspaper says that the Organised Labour, yesterday, described as laughable and economic waste, the plans by the Federal Government to transfer N8,000 to 12 million poor households in the country for six months.
In separate requests to the two chambers of the National Assembly, President Bola Tinubu had sought approval from the Senate and House of Representatives for a $800 million loan and N500 billion palliative for the removal of petrol subsidy.
In May, former President Muhammadu Buhari had asked the Senate to approve the loan request despite the public outcry it generated. Tinubu’s letter, which was tagged ‘Request for approval of additional financing of the national social safety net programme set up by the National Assembly,’ stated: “The purpose of the facility is to expand coverage of shock responsive safety net support for all and vulnerable Nigerians and the cost of meeting basic needs.
“Under the conditional cash transfer window of the programme, the Federal Government will transfer the sum of N8,000 a month to 12 million poor and low income households for a period of six months with a multiplier effect on about 60 million individuals.”
President Tinubu further explained that “to guarantee credibility of the process, digital transfers will be made directly to beneficiaries’ accounts and mobile wallets.
“It is expected that the programme will stimulate economic activities in the informal sector and improve nutrition, health and education outcomes for beneficial households.”
BUT without delay, the Senate approved Tinubu’s requests – the $800 million World Bank loan and N500 billion fuel subsidy removal palliative.
According to the Senate, the N500 billion request meant to cushion the negative effects of the removal of fuel subsidy by the executive shows that the nation has a “government that listens.”
GIK/APA