Category: Nigerian Tribune

Renowned Professor of Petroleum Economics, Wumi Iledare, has said domestic refining should serve as the foundation of Nigeria’s fuel supply. This approach, according to him, will enhance energy security, reduce vulnerability to foreign exchange fluctuations, and retain more economic value within the country.

His argument becomes relevant in light of rising petrol imports in Nigeria during June and July 2026, as highlighted by the NMDPRA’s factsheet.

Professor Iledare noted that the increase in petrol imports, despite significant domestic refining capacity, presents a considerable challenge in the downstream market. He pointed out a nine percent rise in imports, reaching 19.7 million litres per day in July, alongside a decrease in domestic consumption. This situation raises questions about market efficiency, competitiveness, and Nigeria’s progress in shifting from import reliance to domestic refining.

‘Domestic refining should become the foundation of Nigeria’s fuel supply, improving energy security, reducing exposure to foreign exchange pressures, and retaining more value within the economy,’ he stated. However, he emphasized that domestic production should not be insulated from competition or guaranteed market access, regardless of cost, quality, or reliability.

Iledare acknowledged that imports remain essential when they provide better value, fill supply gaps, or serve as a credible alternative to domestic suppliers.

He commented on Dangote Refinery’s option to export excess petrol, noting that persistent imports could lead to demand uncertainty, inventory risks, and challenges in production planning.

He elaborated that exporting locally refined petrol while continuing to import it illustrates a coordination problem in the market. He warned that if domestic refineries cannot compete due to inconsistent regulations, pricing distortions, infrastructure challenges, or preferential treatment for imports, Nigeria risks missing out on the advantages of its growing refining capacity.

According to Iledare, the appropriate policy response should not be to eliminate imports or shield domestic refiners from competition. Instead, he advocated for a transparent, rules-based market where both imports and domestic refining can operate.

He stressed the importance of maintaining open import access to ensure competition and prevent domestic market power. At the same time, domestic producers should compete based on price, quality, reliability, and supply performance.

He believes that regulation should prioritise enforcing safety and quality standards, ensuring transparent pricing and import procedures, preventing anti-competitive behaviour, and addressing infrastructure and logistics bottlenecks, rather than directing market outcomes or favouring specific suppliers.

‘The central policy question is not whether Dangote should compete with importers. It is whether Nigeria can create a competitive framework where domestic refining effectively supplies the market and imports remain available to regulate prices and address shortfalls,’ he said. ‘Such a framework would support energy security, affordability, investment, and national value creation without sacrificing competition.’

Iledare concluded by stating that the success of downstream deregulation should ultimately be assessed not just by the volume of domestic refining or imports, but by the public value generated. The key measure is whether market competition leads to a net welfare gain for Nigerians through reliable supply, competitive prices, reduced economic vulnerability, and greater domestic value creation.

He cautioned that when policy distortions inflate costs, restrict competition, or transfer benefits without corresponding public value, the outcome is a welfare loss, regardless of whether the petrol is refined domestically or imported.

Nigerian youths must face the reality of an evolving global job market that demands much more than mere academic qualifications.

Industry experts have warned that employers worldwide now prioritise specific skills and practical experience capable of driving organisational goals, boosting the economy, and advancing society.

Stakeholders, including industry leaders, successful entrepreneurs, and professionals, shared these insights during a career training session organised by the Edike Foundation for tertiary institution students over the weekend.

The one-day 2026 Gown to Town event, themed ‘Beyond the Certificate: Mastering Value Creation’, attracted over 176 participants from multiple campuses across the country.

Represented institutions included Bowen University, Oyo; Lagos State University (LASU), Ojo; University of Ilorin (UNILORIN); Federal University Oye-Ekiti (FUOYE); and the University of Lagos (UNILAG), which hosted the event.

The experts noted that while technological and digital competencies are crucial, human traits like soft skills truly set individuals apart in any professional or personal environment.

Delivering the keynote address, the Executive Secretary of the Lagos State Employment Trust Fund (LSETF), Mrs Feyisayo Alayande, stressed the need for youths to transition from relying entirely on certificates to actively building a value-focused economy.

She emphasised that young people must act as economic drivers who advance nation-building by solving real-world challenges and building sustainable enterprises.

‘We have to change how we speak about young Nigerians,’ Alayande stated. ‘They are not merely a demographic challenge, nor are they Nigeria’s problem. Rather, they are the solution. They represent Nigeria’s greatest productive opportunity.’

She explained that LSETF, established to tackle youth unemployment in Lagos State, continues to empower young people to become solution providers.

Recognising that many young citizens do not lack ambition but rather access to opportunities, she noted that the agency’s mandate is built on five pillars: affordable finance, skill acquisition, business support and access to markets, infrastructure, and technology.

Alayande also commended the Edike Foundation for its commitment to knowledge-sharing outside the traditional classroom setting.

Similarly, the CEO of Samper Discens Consulting, Mrs Edememe Oladiji-Wusu, urged students to look beyond certificates as a guarantee for success.

Speaking on ‘Career Readiness: Becoming a Value Maker in the Real World,’ she stated that a degree only serves as a foundation.

‘What you really need in the real world of work is value creation and sustainability,’ Oladiji-Wusu said. ‘Value creation is about the societal problems you can solve, which ultimately determines how far you will go as an employee or an entrepreneur. This heavily depends on your skills. I encourage you to leave here with the mindset of a value maker.’

On the sidelines of the event, the convener and Executive Director of the Edike Foundation, Mr Oluwatimilehin Akinola, underscored the training’s importance in providing quality education to drive Africa’s advancement.

He noted that this second edition of the forum serves as an interactive platform bridging the gap between classroom theory and practical labour market demands, allowing students to engage directly with industry leaders.

‘We believe our intervention, as part of our corporate social responsibility initiatives, will make a meaningful contribution to the development of Nigeria and Africa as a whole,’ Akinola said.

Addressing the surging cultural emphasis on tech startups, Akinola offered a realistic perspective, cautioning graduates against dismissing traditional employment.

‘We are here to talk about entrepreneurship, but also about being an employee,’ he noted. ‘There is nothing wrong with working a 9-to-5 job. For entrepreneurs, we want them to know that being a CEO does not mean you have arrived. The journey is about building a business that creates employment and opportunities for others to learn.’

When asked what corporate organisations look for beyond formal degrees, Akinola-himself an employer-explained that companies are generally willing to train recruits on technical skills if a strong foundational work ethic is present.

‘To be honest, we are not looking for anything extraordinary; we are also still learning and expect to teach,’ Akinola said. ‘Diligence is key. Under diligence, you have timeliness, hard work, and commitment. Once we see diligence, we can work on the rest.’

He encouraged participants to discover their core purpose early, noting that personal clarity provides vital direction despite broader socio-economic challenges. He added that while the foundation aims to expand its scope to all educational levels eventually, its current focus remains on undergraduates.

‘We want students to understand that there is much more to learn outside the classroom to be truly ready for the future,’ he said.

He added that the foundation also provides mentorship and scholarships to indigent students in federal and state government-owned universities.

Participants at the training expressed delight at the opportunity to sharpen their knowledge and skills. Thanking the Edike Foundation for organising the forum, they promised to cascade the valuable insights gained to their peers in their respective home communities.

A United States-based firm, Von Batten-Montague-York, L.C, has challenged claims that President Bola Tinubu was never criminally investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) in connection with alleged heroin trafficking.

The firm said it had obtained a large volume of records from the FBI and was reviewing and redacting portions of the documents where necessary.

In a statement accompanying excerpts of the documents, the firm said the records included a sworn declaration submitted by the FBI to a United States federal court on August 28, 2026.

According to the firm, the declaration showed that the court had previously determined that a criminal investigation involving Tinubu had been officially acknowledged.

It said, ‘The FBI states under oath that the court has already determined that a criminal investigation of Nigerian President Bola Tinubu (@officialABAT) was officially acknowledged.’

The firm added, ‘Let that sink in: This is a sworn declaration submitted by the FBI to a United States federal court stating that Nigerian President Bola #Tinubu was criminally investigated in connection with the trafficking of #heroin.’

It further cited the FBI’s explanation for withholding some of the records under law-enforcement exemptions.

The firm quoted the FBI as stating that ‘the responsive records herein were compiled in furtherance of the FBI’s investigation of multiple individuals for drug trafficking crimes.’

The company said it released portions of the document to challenge a claim made on Sunday that Tinubu had never been criminally investigated and was merely relying on privacy protections to prevent the release of the records.

‘We are posting this document to counter the claim made yesterday that President #Tinubu was never criminally investigated and is simply following the law to protect his privacy,’ the firm said.

‘That claim is false, as shown by the FBI’s sworn declaration below,’ it added.

The legal dispute over Tinubu’s records has continued to attract attention in Nigeria, particularly because of the allegations surrounding the $460,000 forfeiture and questions over whether additional US government records could shed light on the circumstances surrounding the matter.

The National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) and the National Association of Polytechnic Students (NAPS) have commended the Department of State Services (DSS) for suspending the prosecution of the African Action Congress (AAC) presidential candidate, Mr Omoyele Sowore, until after the 2027 presidential election.

The students described the decision as a welcome step towards a free, fair and credible election, saying it would ensure that all presidential candidates compete on a level playing field.

Addressing a press conference in Akure, the Ondo State capital, Babatunde Akinteye commended the decision of the Director-General of the DSS, Mr Oluwatosin Adeola Ajayi, to suspend Sowore’s prosecution until after the forthcoming presidential election.

Akinteye said no presidential candidate should be placed at a procedural or institutional disadvantage because of pending criminal proceedings during a critical electoral period.

‘This decision is a commendable demonstration of commitment to democracy, fairness, due process, the rule of law and the integrity of the electoral process,’ he said.

The student leader stressed that the suspension should not be construed as an abandonment of the case or as placing Sowore above the law, noting that the prosecution could resume after the election in accordance with due process.

According to him, the decision was a responsible exercise of institutional discretion aimed at ensuring that the electoral process was not unnecessarily complicated by proceedings involving a presidential candidate.

‘The prosecution will continue after the election in accordance with due process and the applicable law,’ the groups stated.

The groups also commended the DSS Director-General for what they described as his commitment to the rule of law, citing the release of persons allegedly detained in error and the payment of over N300 million in compensation to affected persons.

They said the DSS had also demonstrated that politically sensitive and national security matters could be handled through established legal and judicial processes.

NANS and NAPS further praised the agency’s efforts in combating terrorism and insurgency, as well as its reported disciplinary action against personnel who violate established procedures or rules of engagement.

According to them, the approach was necessary to strengthen public confidence in the security agency and ensure that state powers were exercised responsibly.

They stated that ‘at this defining moment in our democratic journey, what the nation requires is an electoral environment in which all candidates compete under substantially equal conditions, institutions remain impartial, and citizens are free to make their choices without fear, favour or undue institutional influence.’

The groups therefore described the decision to defer Sowore’s prosecution as prudent, responsible and confidence-building, saying it would help reinforce public confidence that the 2027 presidential election would be determined by the free will of Nigerians.

They urged all stakeholders to work towards a peaceful, transparent and credible election, stressing that the right of Nigerians to freely choose their leaders must be protected.

TRADING activity on the Nigerian Exchange Limited (NGX) contracted sharply, last week, with equity volume falling by 3.74 billion shares, or 59.8 percent week-on-week, even as the benchmark index recovered on renewed buying interest in selected large-cap stocks.

Investors traded 2.507 billion shares worth N123.223 billion in 173,561 deals during the four trading days to August 28, compared with 6.242 billion shares valued at N157.764 billion in 186,496 deals in the preceding week. This means the market lost nearly 60 percent of its weekly volume, while transaction value declined by a more moderate 21.9 percent and the number of deals fell 6.9 percent.

The sharp differential between volume and value suggests that although the number of transactions declined only modestly, the market witnessed significantly fewer shares changing hands. This points to reduced breadth of participation and increasingly selective positioning by investors, rather than a broad return of risk appetite.

This was reflected in the market’s performance. The NGX All-Share Index (ASI) rose 0.81 percent week-on-week to 241,298.47 points, while market capitalisation increased by N1.29 trillion to N155.83 trillion. The gain pushed the market’s year-to-date return to 55.06 percent, although the month-to-date performance remained negative at -1.6 percent.

The positive index performance was largely driven by selected heavyweight counters, particularly in the banking and oil and gas sectors. First Holdco Plc gained 11.58 percent, Seplat Energy Plc rose 10 percent and Access Holdings Plc advanced 9.3 percent, providing significant support to the benchmark.

However, the broader market painted a weaker picture. Fifty-five stocks closed lower against only 24 gainers, producing a breadth ratio of just 0.44x. Analysts said the divergence between the rising ASI and negative breadth showed that the gains were concentrated in a handful of heavyweight counters rather than broadly distributed across the market.

Market performance

Sectoral performance was mixed but generally supportive of the benchmark. The oil and gas sector led with a 4.54 percent gain, driven particularly by Seplat Energy’s 10 percent appreciation. The banking sector followed with a 2.85 percent rise, supported by gains in First Holdco Plc, Access Holdings Plc, and other selected tier-one banks.

The positive performance in these sectors was partly offset by weakness elsewhere. The insurance sector declined 1.27 percent, dragged by International Energy Insurance Plc, Veritas Kapital Assurance Plc and Sunu Assurances Nigeria Plc, while the Industrial Goods sector slipped 0.15 percent.

At the individual stock level, UPL was the best-performing stock, gaining 18.8 percent, followed by First Holdco (+11.6 percent), Seplat Energy (+10 percent), Red Star Express (+9.9 percent) and Transcorp Hotels (+9.8 percent).

On the losing side, International Energy Insurance Plc plunged 26.6 percent, while Fidson Healthcare Plc, Caverton Offshore Support Group Plc, Zichis Industries Limited and Austin Laz and Company Plc declined 17.7 percent, 15.2 percent, 14.7 percent and 12 percent, respectively.

Financial Services remained the dominant trading segment, accounting for 1.977 billion shares, or 78.87 percent of total equity volume, valued at N71.563 billion. Services and ICT followed with 148.226 million and 117.982 million shares, respectively.

Market analysts expect the NGX to maintain a cautiously positive bias in the coming week, supported by continued positioning in Banking, Oil and Gas and Commodity stocks.

A major catalyst is the confirmation by FTSE Russell that Nigeria will be reclassified to Frontier Market status effective September 21, 2026. Analysts believe the development could strengthen investor confidence and support further positioning ahead of Nigeria’s formal return to the Frontier Market universe.

Nevertheless, the outlook remains tempered by the market’s high year-to-date return, weak breadth and declining trading activity. Analysts expect investors to remain increasingly sensitive to valuations, with further gains likely to be concentrated in fundamentally stronger and relatively undervalued counters.

Elevated fixed-income yields are another competing factor. The average Treasury-bill secondary-market yield rose 10 basis points week-on-week to 19.3 percent, while strong demand at recent government securities auctions underscores the attractiveness of fixed-income assets.

Consequently, the immediate test for the equities market is whether the FTSE Russell catalyst can translate into broader participation and a recovery in trading volume, rather than simply extending gains in a narrow group of heavyweight stocks.

Overall, analysts expect the NGX to remain positive but uneven, with investors likely to favour liquid, fundamentally stronger stocks and counters offering attractive valuations. The combination of the Frontier Market reclassification, sector-specific buying and valuation considerations is expected to keep the market active, but selective rather than broad-based, in the near term.

OPay has dismissed rumours circulating on social media that the fintech company plans to shut down its operations, describing the claims as false, malicious and fabricated.

In a statement addressed to its customers on Monday, the company said reports claiming that customer accounts had been wiped out, deposits lost and operations shut down were misleading.

OPay assured customers that all accounts and deposits remain safe, intact and fully accessible, adding that it would continue to provide payment and financial services across Nigeria.

The company said it operates as a licensed institution regulated by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), with customer deposits insured by the Nigeria Deposit Insurance Corporation (NDIC).

OPay urged customers to disregard unverified claims and rely on updates from its official website and verified social media platforms.

The fintech firm also warned individuals spreading false information that it would take appropriate legal action against perpetrators of fabricated rumours.

It urged anyone with verifiable proof concerning the allegations to come forward and present the evidence without authorisation.

OPay said it remained committed to maintaining high standards of security, transparency and customer protection in its operations.

Former Vice President and African Democratic Congress (ADC) presidential candidate, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, has said the killings and displacement in Benue State are not beyond solution, insisting that criminality has no tribe and that urgent action is needed to restore the state as ‘the Food Basket of the Nation.’

In a post on his social media pages on Monday, Atiku cited Amnesty International’s report that 6,896 people were killed in Benue alone in the first two years of the Tinubu administration.

‘Benue is the Food Basket of the Nation. Today, that basket is bleeding,’ Atiku said.

‘Behind that figure are farmers who never returned from their farms, families driven from their ancestral homes, and communities emptied by fear.’

The ADC candidate linked the violence to rising food prices nationwide, arguing that insecurity has become an additional burden on Nigerian households.

‘And when Benue cannot farm, Nigeria cannot eat cheaply. Every farmer forced off the land eventually shows up in the price of yam, rice, beans, vegetables and meat in the market. Insecurity is not only a security crisis; it is now a cost-of-living tax on every Nigerian family,’ he said.

Atiku said he speaks from personal experience as a farmer whose farms have also suffered theft and disruption.

‘I speak about this not only as a former Vice President, but as a farmer who has felt the consequences of insecurity. I therefore understand, from personal experience, what insecurity does to production, livelihoods and ultimately the price of food in the market,’ he stated.

He faulted the Tinubu administration for failing to translate increased government revenue into security, despite the removal of the fuel subsidy and huge import-duty waivers.

‘Nigerians were told that removing fuel subsidy would free enormous resources for development and security. Yet, in 2025 alone, the Nigeria Customs Service disclosed about ?34 trillion in import-duty exemption approvals, with a substantial portion reportedly linked to military hardware,’ Atiku said.

‘So Nigerians are entitled to ask a simple question: Where is the security? Where are the results? If Nigerians must pay more for fuel so government can have more resources, and enormous concession are being approved in the name of national priorities, then Nigerians should not also be paying with their lives.’

Atiku said he remains convinced that the crisis can be resolved through justice and deliberate peace-building.

‘I know this crisis is solvable. I have helped broker peace between Tiv and Fulani communities before, and I remain convinced that criminality has no tribe. A killer is a killer. A thief is a thief. We must punish criminals, protect farmers, secure livestock owners, and restore peaceful coexistence,’ he said.

The former Vice President said he met with ADC candidates for various elective positions in Benue State and charged them to prioritise the lives and livelihoods of the people above politics.

‘It was with this conviction that I received our ADC candidates for various elective positions in Benue State. Their mission must be greater than winning elections. It must be about protecting lives, restoring livelihoods, reviving the Food Basket of the Nation, and making life affordable again,’ he said.

He said: ‘Tinubu removed the subsidy. Nigerians paid the price. Government got the resources. Benue should not still be paying with blood. Secure Benue. Restore the Food Basket. Make Nigeria affordable again.’

A leading light in the coalition called G100, Professor Anthony Kila, has shed light on the mission of the movement, saying it is designed to strengthen democratic institutions, as well as guarantee good governance and accountability.

He said every election won in the country has always been through coalition by political forces and cautioned that it is delusional for the present opposition leaders to believe that they could individually go into the coming general election and triumph.

Kila, who spoke to the Nigerian Tribune as G100 leaders prepared, at the weekend, to converge, on Abuja, today, for a crucial meeting, strongly challenged the opposition parties posturing to go solo, to quickly have a rethink in the interest of institutional building and holding government accountable post-election.

Recall that in 2013, three major political parties and a faction of another party formed the All Progressives Congress (APC) that defeated the then ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the 2015 general election.

To further buttress his assertion, Kila also cited the collaboration among PDP and other parties that defeated the APC in the governorship election in 2019 in Oyo State.

However, stalwarts of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) and the Nigerian Democratic Congress (NDC) have consistently declared that they do not need a coalition to contest the forthcoming elections.

‘It’s delusional for the opposition to think it can go all alone in the coming elections. Nobody has ever won in Nigeria without a coalition, even within states,’ Kila told the Nigerian Tribune.

‘The Nigerian story is that no party gets to power without a coalition, because the votes are the same; just collate them at the end of polling. Nobody wins 50 percent; the reason is that everybody wins with less than 40 percent of the votes in Nigeria,’ he emphasised.

Kila, Director, the Commonwealth Institute of Advanced and Professional Studies (CIAPS), explained that the ongoing efforts aimed at achieving a compromise among the opposition parties as the countdown to the election and cautioned against inordinate ambitions encumbering the building of consensus and institutions.

His words: ‘It is a test for the opposition leaders themselves. It is the exam question for the opposition: Can you see the big picture? Can you sacrifice your own ambition for the greater good? Are you mature enough to create what I call constructive compromise?’

The political economist stated that he and other compatriots are already looking beyond the 2027 general election because strong institutions form the pillars of democracy, enthronement and sustenance of good governance and accountability.

‘My view is that it is important to have not only a viable government, but also a viable opposition. My argument is that fragmented opposition is not good for the system and is not good for the government.

‘A government that is not challenged is prone to errors because it becomes hubristic and too complacent. When a government is challenged with responsibility and accountability, it will always be on its toes.

‘The whole role of government is always to be on its toes, otherwise, it may lose focus. I truly believe and will continue to remind other people that if you are still going to vote for the APC, if you love institutions, you should make sure that they have opposition because if you do it today, tomorrow, they might be somebody else there (in power).

‘And I keep telling people, especially my own Oduduwa people, that what we do today might haunt us tomorrow. Some of us are thinking beyond 2031 already because whatever happens, at best scenario for President Bola Tinubu and the worse scenario for his perceived adversaries, he will be there till 2031, so, what happens tomorrow?

‘We are thinking beyond 2027. When you think that way, what you are doing is to strengthen institutions. What we are trying to do is to get the opposition to work together, but there seems to be what I will call a syndrome of red herring among some opposition leaders.’

Abuja summit, a defining moment -G100

Meanwhile, the G100 has called on opposition parties, their leaders, candidates and members to approach today’s gathering with one fundamental understanding: ‘we are stronger together than we are apart.’

In a statement, on Sunday, by its convener, Salihu Lukman, the G100 said the First Summit of Nigeria’s opposition political parties scheduled for the Shehu Musa Yar’Adua Centre in Abuja, came at a defining moment for Nigeria’s democracy.

Across the country, millions of Nigerians are looking to the opposition not merely to criticise the government of the day, but to demonstrate the maturity, discipline and sense of national purpose required to offer a credible alternative,’ the statement said.

The group noted that cooperation does not require parties to surrender their identities or ambitions, but to recognise national interest above partisan differences.

Advocates good faith, practical mechanisms

The group said the summit provides an opportunity to build practical mechanisms for dialogue and coordination, while respecting the structures of participating parties.

‘This summit provides an opportunity to begin building practical mechanisms for dialogue, coordination and cooperation, while respecting the identities and structures of participating parties,’ it stated.

‘The G100, therefore, appeals to every participating party and leader to come to the table in good faith, with an open mind and with the larger interests of Nigeria at heart.’

Acknowledging that disagreements are inevitable, Lukman urged leaders not to allow differences to deny Nigerians a credible alternative.

Despite the directives given by the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) to manufacturers of sachet liquor to recall the drinks or get their plants shut, investigations by the Nigerian Tribune have revealed that sales of this size of alcoholic beverages still continue unhindered.

NAFDAC had, last week, warned manufacturers of alcoholic beverages packaged in sachets and PET plastics bottles below 200ml that it would permanently shut down their facilities if the ban on such contents were not complied with, while insisting that the ban had taken effect from January this year.

But investigations by Nigerian Tribune revealed that the beverages are still being sold in many parts of the country, in spite of the warning.

For instance, visits to parts of Lagos and Ogun States revealed that there were not such efforts at complying with the agency’s directives since sachet alcoholic beverages were seen displayed at strategic parts of the city by traders dealing in the business.

For instance, in Iyana Ipaja, Abule Egba, Ikeja, Obalende, Ikotun and many other places in Lagos visited by Nigerian Tribune, those items were publicly displayed, with the traders patiently waiting for those who patronise such goods.

More interesting to the correspondent is the fact that at Iyana Ipaja, in Lagos, some of them were even displayed very close to motor parks, with some drivers seen making purchases from sellers.

The same thing happened in Ogun State. The drinks ranging from bitters to spirits were displayed in places like Sango, Oju Ore, Canaan Land and several bus stops in Ota, Ado Odo Local Government Council, with many of the traders claiming ignorance of NAFDAC’s directive that the items had been slated for a recall by the manufacturers.

One of the traders who volunteered information to Nigerian Tribune stated that the channels she normally gets her supply from still supplied her products last week.

‘While we know that there is ban on the items, but we’ve been assured that it is being sorted out. So, we are not aware of this recent information,’ she added.

The trader, who would not want her name mentioned, would, however, want government to temper justice with mercy.

‘Many of us in this business have no other job except this. And if you are saying we should not sell these things again, what next for us?’ she asked rhetorically.

Interestingly, investigations by the Nigerian Tribune among traders of the liquor revealed that the drinks remain one of the fastest-selling in that category due to their cost efficiency and portability.

While attempts at getting a response from the Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN) regarding the latest development were not successful as at the time of going to the press, investigations among manufacturers of these sachet alcoholic beverages revealed fresh fears and concerns about a possible downtime this might cause the business, the manufacturing sector and the nation’s economy.

According to one of the operators, who also would not want his name in print, besides leading to job losses, complying with the directive would also see huge resources deployed to buying the machines being used to produce the products go down the drain.

‘The fact remains that the machines are only meant for such products, and they cost a lot of money. If we are saying we should shut it down, that means a lot of jobs would be lost and the machines used for the production rendered useless since they are not convertible,’ he stated.

According to him, shutting down the factory and banning the product would not solve the issue, but rather compound the issue.

He expressed the fear that such ban might result in the market being saturated with adulterated sachet alcohol beverages.

Reno Omokri, the Ambassador-designate of Nigeria to Mexico, Honduras, Guatemala and Nicaragua, has said President Bola Ahmed Tinubu is challenging the release of records held by United States law enforcement agencies because they may contain private, non-criminal information that he would not want made available to his political opponents.

Omokri said the FBI could have records bearing Tinubu’s name without those documents amounting to criminal records.

He argued that, just as an individual would not ordinarily want private records released to political opponents even when they contain no evidence of criminal conduct, Tinubu should not be expected to allow potentially sensitive personal information to be made public simply because it is held by a US law enforcement agency.

Omokri made the argument in a post on X on Monday while responding to reports and political claims surrounding the ongoing legal battle over the release of the records.

He disputed reports suggesting that the FBI had released Tinubu’s ‘criminal records’ to a US judge, describing the characterisation as misleading.

According to him, FBI databases contain extensive non-criminal information on US citizens, residents and foreign nationals. He said such records can be generated through routine background checks, including screenings conducted for people applying for US visas.

Omokri said records held by the FBI could contain biometric, biographical and financial information, including fingerprints, DNA, bank statements and other private data, and argued that the existence of such records does not establish criminal conduct.

He also challenged claims that the FBI has criminal records concerning Tinubu, referring to correspondence he said was exchanged between the US Embassy and Nigeria’s then Inspector General of Police, Tafa Balogun, in February 2003.

According to Omokri, Balogun had sought information from the US Embassy about any FBI criminal records involving Tinubu, who was then governor of Lagos State, and received a response the following day clearing him of any such records.

He said the claim was also consistent with his own findings after travelling to Chicago, Illinois, between September 18 and 20, 2022, to investigate allegations concerning Tinubu’s academic and other records while he was a member of the opposition.

Omokri said his investigation led him to conclude that claims that Tinubu had a criminal record were unfounded.

He wrote, ‘Does The FBI Have Any Criminal Record on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu?

‘Recently, the media has been awash with sponsored reports and headlines claiming that the United States Federal Bureau of Investigation has released so-called ‘criminal records’ of His Excellency, Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, President and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, to a U.S. judge, Honourable Howell Beryl, of the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia.

‘These reports have since been amplified on social and traditional media by the President’s political opponents, who have further asserted that the President is fighting to keep those records from the public.

‘These claims are untrue, and these individuals and their surrogates are using clever semantics to deceive the public.

‘Unlike some of these groups and media organisations, I physically went to Chicago, Illinois, between September 18 and 20, 2022, to investigate these claims and found them to be fallacious.

‘President Bola Tinubu has no criminal record in the United States, Nigeria, or anywhere else, and the FBI has not provided any criminal record on the President to anyone because none exists.

‘Yes, FBI records may contain his name, but they are NOT criminal records.

‘Please fact-check me: The US FBI regularly keeps billions of non-criminal files on American citizens and residents, as well as foreign nationals, through the FBI’s Central Records Systems and Next Generation Identification database.

‘For example, if you have ever applied for a US visa, the FBI likely has a record on you. This is because the FBI conducts MANDATORY background screenings on behalf of the Department of State and the Department of Homeland Security on US visa applicants.

‘Thus, as a US citizen or resident, or even as a foreign national, if your name is run through the FBI databases, it is likely to bring up hundreds of pages of records. This does not mean that the records are criminal. In most cases, they will be benign.

‘Such records may include personal biometric, biographical, and financial information, such as fingerprints, DNA, bank statements, and other private records.

‘Would you, as an individual, want your private records released to your political opponents, even if they were non-criminal?

‘However, on the specific issue of criminal records, the Nigerian public should be made aware that the FBI has itself stated that it has no CRIMINAL records involving Asiwaju Bola Tinubu.

‘This was made known as far back as Monday, February 3, 2003, when the then Governor of Lagos, Mr Bola Tinubu, was having political issues with the then incumbent President. The then Inspector General of Police, Mr Tafa Balogun, wrote to the Embassy of the United States, seeking information on any FBI criminal records involving Mr Bola Tinubu, and got a response back the next day from them giving the all clear as regards any criminal records involving Mr Tinubu.

‘This was consistent with my findings when I visited Chicago in 2022, as a member of the opposition, to establish the truth about then-Presidential candidate Bola Tinubu’s academic and other records.

‘Nigerians may want to find attached the response from the Embassy of the United States absolving the then-Governor of Lagos of any wrongdoing or criminal conduct, charges, or activity whatsoever.

‘Those who may question the authenticity of this document may also wish to contact the US Embassy in Abuja or Lagos for clarification.

The comments followed an explanation by Wole Afolabi, SAN, a legal counsel to Tinubu, on why the President was challenging the release of records held by US law enforcement agencies in connection with historical investigations involving him.

Afolabi said during an interview with Channels Television monitored by TRIBUNE ONLINE on Sunday that Tinubu’s legal challenge was within his rights under US law.

He argued that allegations against the President were speculative and that the Freedom of Information Act was not intended to serve as a means of obtaining personal information about political candidates.

The case is part of a longstanding legal dispute in the United States over records connected to historical investigations involving Tinubu.

American transparency activist Aaron Greenspan filed a Freedom of Information Act lawsuit against several US government agencies, including the Department of Justice, Federal Bureau of Investigation and Drug Enforcement Administration, seeking records relating to investigations involving the Nigerian President.

The lawsuit, filed at the US District Court for the District of Columbia, seeks FBI files and interview records connected to investigations dating back to the early 1990s.

Some of the requested records have been linked to allegations surrounding a 1993 civil forfeiture proceeding involving approximately $460,000. Tinubu has denied wrongdoing in connection with the allegations.

The legal dispute intensified after the FBI indicated that it had records responsive to Greenspan’s FOIA request.

The bureau then asked the court for permission to submit some of the material privately, arguing that releasing parts of the records could expose law-enforcement techniques and potentially endanger individuals.

A US judge subsequently allowed the FBI to submit sensitive material for private judicial review, meaning the court could examine the documents without making them public at that stage.