APA – Lagos (Nigeria)
The report of the emergence of President Bola Tinubu, on Sunday, in Guinea-Bissau, as the Chairman of the Authority of Heads of State and Government of the Economic Community of West African States dominates the headlines of Nigerian newspapers on Monday.
The Punch reports that President Bola Tinubu, on Sunday, in Guinea-Bissau, emerged the Chairman of the Authority of Heads of State and Government of the Economic Community of West African States.
In his remarks, the Nigerian leader called on ECOWAS to “stand firm on democracy,” declaring that, “We will not accept coup after coup in West Africa again. Democracy is very difficult to manage, but it is the best form of government.”
Tinubu warned that terrorism and the emerging pattern of coup d’etat in West Africa had reached alarming levels and demanded urgent, concerted actions.
Therefore, he called for collective action from member-states, pledging that under his leadership, frameworks would be harmonised to actualise the dreams of ECOWAS.
The Special Adviser to the President on Special Duties, Communications and Strategy, Dele Alake, revealed this in a statement he signed on Sunday titled, ‘President Tinubu emerges as new ECOWAS Chairman, harps on regional security.’
According to the statement, in a unanimous endorsement, Tinubu emerged as the new Chairman of the ECOWAS at the 63rd Ordinary Session of the Authority of Heads of State and Government on Sunday in Bissau, Guinea-Bissau.
Tinubu, who accepted the honour on behalf of Nigeria, pledged to bear the responsibility of the office and run an inclusive administration of the regional organisation.
While decrying the emerging pattern of coup d’etat in West Africa, Tinubu charged ECOWAS to stand firm in defence of democracy.
“There is no one among us who did not campaign to be a leader. We didn’t give our soldiers resources, we didn’t invest in them, in their boots, in their training to violate the freedom of the people,” Tinubu said.
The newspaper says that the volume of Premium Motor Spirit, popularly called petrol, that was consumed across the country in the first half of 2023 is 11.26 billion litres, the Federal Government has said.
It was, however, observed that after the removal of subsidy on petrol, following the pronouncement by President Bola Tinubu on May 29, 2023, PMS consumption reduced by an average of about 18.5 million litres daily in June.
Data obtained on Sunday from the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority in Abuja, on Sunday, showed that between January 1 and May 28, 2023, which was the pre-deregulation period, the total amount of petrol consumed nationwide was about 9.9 billion litres.
The average consumption for the 148-day period was put at 66.9 million litres, indicating the country consumed an average of 66.9 million litres of petrol daily during the five-month period when subsidy on petrol was still in place.
But figures from the Federal Government agency indicated that between June 1 to June 28, 2023, which was described as the post-deregulation period, the total petrol consumption across the country was 1.36 billion litres, while the average daily consumption was put at 48.43 million litres.
An analysis of the data by our correspondent showed that the difference between the average monthly consumption figures during the pre-deregulation and post-deregulation periods was about 18.5 million litres.
This implies that the average daily consumption of petrol across the country reduced by about 18.5 million litres after subsidy on commodity was stopped by the Federal Government.
An analysis of the data by our correspondent showed that the difference between the average monthly consumption figures during the pre-deregulation and post-deregulation periods was about 18.5 million litres.
This implies that the average daily consumption of petrol across the country reduced by about 18.5 million litres after subsidy on commodity was stopped by the Federal Government.
The Guardian reports that Lotus Bank, a non-interest financial institution in Nigeria, has announced and celebrated its second anniversary. Over the past two years, LOTUS Bank has been involved in the transformation of the financial landscape in Nigeria, offering innovative solutions and customer-centric services.
Since its inception, LOTUS Bank said it has prioritised providing a banking experience that goes beyond traditional norms, focusing on ethical practices and financial inclusion for all.
“Our journey over the past two years has been incredible, and we owe our accomplishments to our customers, who have placed their trust in us,” said the Managing Director of LOTUS Bank, Mrs. Kafilat Araoye.
In just two years of operations, LOTUS Bank has been commended for its ethical banking practices, commitment to financial inclusion, and significant contributions to the country’s economic growth. In 2022, the bank received the Leadership ‘Bank of the Year’ in recognition of its efforts towards economic growth and pursuit of ethical banking.
Beyond its financial achievements, LOTUS Bank also maintains a strong culture of promoting environmental sustainability and creating value for society. The bank is deeply involved in supporting businesses and educational institutions, fostering job opportunities, and actively championing environmental conservation initiatives.
“Our two-year journey has been marked by remarkable achievements and recognition, but more importantly, it has been a journey of making a positive impact on society,” said Hajara Adeola, the Founder and Chairperson of LOTUS Bank. “We are honoured by the privilege to contribute to the well-being of the environment and the communities we serve.”
The newspaper says that a group, United Action Front of Civil Society, has faulted what it termed combative reaction of the President Bola Tinubu-led administration, following a report on the last general elections released by European Union Election Observation Mission (EU-EOM).
Head, National Coordinating Centre of the group, Olawale Okunniyi, yesterday, said: “It is indeed obvious that the Tinubu-led regime is palpably troubled by burden of the flawed mandate it currently presides over. The leadership of the organised civil society strongly condemns the combative posture of the new administration, whose handlers are regrettably unmindful of the responsibility and decency required of the presidency of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.”
He said: “It reeks of bare-faced hypocrisy for the Tinubu administration to accuse the EU of attempting to ridicule the Nigerian electoral system and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), when, in actual fact, the report of the EU only partly captures widespread flaws majorly orchestrated by the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) during the February 25 presidential elections, as well as the rescheduled governorship polls, held March 18, 2023.”
Okunniyi commended EU-EOM for the courage it demonstrated in stating facts, saying it was evident that atrocities and grand robbery that characterised the elections in some parts of the country were either not captured or were under-reported.
He added: “We maintain that the final EU Election Observers Report on the 2023 general elections, presented by Barry Andrews in Abuja, calls for sober reflections, as Nigeria can only ill afford to tread the ugly path of under-performance by INEC, coupled with interference of incumbents in future elections.
“While we appreciate the desperation of President Tinubu’s handlers for the pitiable defence of an obviously rigged process, in which their principal has become beneficiary in the interim, we, however, marvel at the insincerity and lack of decency in pretending that the presidency, presided over by Tinubu, can genuinely affirm credibility of the 2023 polls on behalf of Nigeria and Nigerians.
“We also wonder when and how the presidency, under Bola Tinubu, has suddenly become the mouthpiece of INEC. It smacks of arrogance for the presidential handlers of Bola Tinubu to castigate the EU that partnered and heavily funded INEC in the process leading to the 2023 polls. The presidency was only hiding behind a finger by condemning the EU-EOM report, which clearly speaks to what the world already knew about shortcomings of the 2023 polls.”
GIK/APA
Nigerian press zooms in on emergence of President Tinubu as ECOWAS chair, others
