APA – Lagos (Nigeria)
The reaction of the Lagos State government to “some social media publications about a purported mass burial plan for casualties of the 2020 #EndSARS incident” is one of the trending stories in Nigerian newspapers on Monday.
The Guardian reports that the Lagos State government, yesterday, reacted to “some social media publications about a purported mass burial plan for casualties of the 2020 #EndSARS incident.”
This was contained in a statement by Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Health, Dr Olusegun Ogboye.
It said: “Peddlers of the news are deliberately misinterpreting and sensationalising a letter from the Lagos State Government Public Procurement Agency, titled: ‘Letter of No Objection – Mass Burial for the 103, the Year 2020 ENDSARS victims’, to misinform the public, stir public sentiment and cause public disaffection against the Lagos State government.”
The statement reads: “It is public knowledge that the year 2020 #EndSARS crisis that snowballed into violence in many parts of Lagos recorded casualties in different areas of the state and NOT from the Lekki Toll Gate, as inferred in the mischievous publications.
“For the records, the Lagos State Environmental Health Unit (SEHMU) picked up bodies in the aftermath of #EndSARS violence and community clashes at Fagba, Ketu, Ikorodu, Orile, Ajegunle, Abule-Egba, Ikeja, Ojota, Ekoro, Ogba, Isolo and Ajah areas of Lagos State. There was also a jailbreak at Ikoyi Prison. The 103 casualties mentioned in the document were from these incidents and NOT from Lekki Toll-gate, as alleged. For the avoidance of doubt, nobody was retrieved from the Lekki Toll Gate incident.
“Contrary to disingenuous narrative weaved around the recently approved mass burial, the #EndSARs Panel subpoenaed the Lagos State chief pathologist to produce full records of unclaimed bodies of dead deposited with state central morgue during the days immediately preceding and following the event at Lekki tollgate on October 20, 2020. The list, with their autopsies of provable cause and circumstances of death, was duly submitted and testified to before the panel.”
The statement notes further: “This subpoena was at the request of lawyers who represented #EndSARS protesters and the chief pathologist complied. There was not a single finding in the report or ensuing white paper attributing the death of any named citizen listed in the autopsy to the Lekki incident.
“The government, therefore, appeals to social media rumour mongers to please, allow the hapless families of the unclaimed loved ones a deserved closure.”
The newspaper says that the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS), has condemned the increase in tuition of higher institutions in the country.
The student body said it was most ridiculous and embarrassing that the government would be introducing fees increment without thinking of rescuing over 133 million Nigerian people from multidimensional poverty.
In a statement, at the weekend, in Ibadan, by its National Public Relations Officer (PRO), Yisa Temitope Giwa, the association said there was no justification for increment in tuition across tertiary institutions and even unity schools.
Giwa said: “The increment of tuition at UNILAG and the planned one across tertiary institutions in the country has shown this administration to be very insensitive. As a matter of fact, it is most ridiculous and embarrassing that the government will be introducing fees increment without thinking of rescuing over 133 million Nigerian people from multidimensional poverty.
“Increment in fees across tertiary institutions will not only complicate the poverty situation of the country but also increase the number of out-of-school children.
“As an association, we believe that the Nigerian government has what it takes to massively fund education and make it accessible. In fact, the students’ loan that was introduced by the Federal Government is nothing but a sham and a bait to lure the Nigerian people into accepting increment in fees payable.
“Beyond the fact that the term of the loan is ridiculous, history has taught us that not every applicant will be considered. And, even if all of them were to be considered, it still does not justify increment in an economy that tops the unemployment index. Rather than give loans, the government must provide for grants and scholarships for students.”
The punch reports that the Manufacturers Association of Nigeria has said its members are currently spending between 35 per cent to 40 per cent of total costs on energy needs.
President, MAN, Francis Meshioye, stated this during an exclusive interview with The PUNCH.
According to him, any increase in energy costs such as electricity tariff or fuel price hike increases their cost.
Meshioye said, “We rejected the hike in electricity tariff because, in the first instance, energy cost is very high for manufacturers, particularly those who consume much like steel manufacturers.
“It takes an average of 35 to 40 per cent of their total costs. Any increase in electricity tariff makes it harder on us. The harder it is, the harder it will be for consumers. When this is so, it means that the demand for products will drop. Like I said in my previous interview, the profit margin will be low.
“The tax that you will have on this margin will be low as well. So the government too, will lose. One thing that I emphasise is that there is a lack of efficiency on the part the discos. They are unable to collect all the money for their supplies. They rely on estimated billing in some cases. This is not good.”
“They can now make a case to increase their tariff. If that is not done, the increase is not based on an informed decision. The data that they are using is inaccurate. So the decision will be inaccurate.”
Speaking further, Meshioye said exporting manufacturers were currently being challenged by ‘astronomical production costs’ which had kept them from operating at maximum capacity.
The newspaper says that naira maintained its downward trend against the dollar as it traded for 876/$ at the parallel market on Sunday.
Some Bureau de Change operators, who spoke to The PUNCH, said the local currency had earlier exchanged to the dollar at 820 a week earlier.
Since the unification of the exchange rates in the country by the Central Bank of Nigeria in recent weeks, the naira had continued to slide to the dollar, due to liquidity crunch, speculations, and other challenges.
Speaking with our correspondent, a BDC operator in Lagos, Alhaji Sanni Abdul, stated, “Naira is currently bought and sold at 850/$ and 876/$. The exchange rate has not been stable for some time now.”
Another BDC operator, Alli Ibrahim, said, “Things are getting more expensive. As of Friday, we were buying and selling the naira at 850/$ and 865/$.”
Chief Executive Officer, Centre for the Promotion of Private Enterprise, Dr. Muda Yusuf, said the foreign exchange market was evidently under pressure as a result of a number of factors.
He said there was a curious surge in monetary expansion in the last month.
Yusuf said, “Money supply grew by an unprecedented 15 per cent in one month between May and June 2023. Broad money grew by over N9tn, from N55.7tn to N64.9tn. This surge in monetary growth is unprecedented. Obviously, this must have had an effect on the exchange rate.”
GIK/APA