Black Pelican Group, a leading provider of total interior solutions in Nigeria, celebrated its 20th anniversary with a launch event for a coffee table book and a commemorative campaign titled “20 & Timeless.” The event marked two decades of innovation and excellence in the Nigerian interior design industry.

Key Highlights:

• Founding and Growth: Since its establishment in May 2004, Black Pelican Group has been a major player in delivering high-quality interior solutions for both personal and commercial spaces.
• Anniversary Theme: “20 & Timeless” reflects the company’s enduring legacy and commitment to innovation and customer satisfaction.
• Leadership Comments:
  • Michael Owolabi, CEO: Expressed pride in the company’s achievements and its role in shaping Nigeria’s interior design sector. Emphasized the commitment to exceeding customer expectations and continuous learning.
  • Adetola Owolabi, COO: Highlighted the company’s comprehensive approach to interior solutions, from concept to completion, ensuring a seamless experience for clients.
• Special Guests:
  • Fola Adeola, Founder of GT Bank: Launched the coffee table book and praised Black Pelican’s dedication to excellence and team development.
• Event Attendees: Included directors, management, staff members, former staff, key clients, and other stakeholders who reflected on the company’s journey and successes.
• Subsidiaries: The company’s various subsidiaries, including IL Bagno, Bathrooms Direct, BPLogistix, Bagno Technik, and BPL Wellness, have contributed significantly to its success by providing diverse interior solutions.

Black Pelican Group continues to reaffirm its commitment to excellence and innovation in the Nigerian interior design industry.

Peter Obi recently tweeted that Nigeria will not achieve a “peaceful and secure society” until politics is viewed as a service to the people, criticizing current leadership for prioritizing personal luxuries over national development. This comment drew sharp criticism from the All Progressives Congress (APC), which accused Obi of inciting anger against President Bola Tinubu’s administration with what it described as false and manipulative narratives.

In a statement issued on July 23, 2024, APC spokesperson Felix Morka condemned Obi’s remarks, calling them an attempt to inflame public sentiment and mobilize outrage against the APC government. Morka argued that Obi’s claim that Nigeria’s economic difficulties stem from the nine years of APC leadership was a “revisionist” and “deliberately misleading” assessment.

The APC emphasized that economic challenges are a global issue and criticized Obi for not acknowledging the complexity of Nigeria’s economic problems. The party highlighted recent positive economic indicators, including over $20 billion in foreign investment, a record ₦6.52 trillion trade surplus in the first quarter of 2024, and a significant increase in foreign reserves. The APC also defended President Tinubu’s administration, citing efforts in infrastructure development, social welfare, agricultural advancements, and national security improvements.

The APC argued that Obi’s criticisms were politically motivated and overlooked the administration’s achievements and efforts to address the country’s economic challenges.

Bayo Onanuga, President Bola Tinubu’s Special Adviser on Communication and Strategy, has challenged Peter Obi to proceed with his defamation and libel charges, expressing no fear of any legal repercussions. Onanuga’s comments come after Obi threatened to sue him if he did not apologize and retract allegations suggesting Obi was instigating violence.

On July 23, 2024, Obi demanded that Onanuga apologize and retract his statements linking Obi to an impending mass protest. Onanuga had accused Obi of inciting unrest by making provocative comments about the Nigerian economy, insinuating that Obi’s words were meant to mobilize his supporters to destabilize the country. In a tweet, Onanuga alleged, “Peter Obi’s supporters are the people planning mayhem in Nigeria and that Obi should be held responsible for anarchy.”

Obi’s legal team responded, stating that Onanuga’s tweet damaged Obi’s reputation by falsely depicting him as someone who condones violence, contrary to his well-documented history of non-violence. The legal team described the publication as a calculated effort to demean and embarrass Obi.

In a letter to Onanuga, Obi’s legal team demanded a retraction and a public apology in four national newspapers and on Onanuga’s verified X account. Additionally, Obi sought ₦5 billion in damages for the embarrassment caused to him and his family.

Despite these demands, Onanuga remained defiant, tweeting, “I am still waiting for the letter from Peter Obi’s lawyer threatening a ₦5 billion suit and demanding an apology to Peter Obi over the planned ‘revolution’. Let me just tell Obi and his lawyer: I am not afraid of any legal action. We shall meet in court.”

The All Progressives Congress (APC) also criticized Obi, accusing him of inciting Nigerians against President Tinubu with manipulative and false narratives. The APC described Obi’s remarks on the economy as “an admixture of half-truths, blatant distortions and misinformation” aimed at stirring public outrage against the Tinubu administration. The party further accused Obi of hypocrisy, claiming it was unreasonable for him to expect Tinubu to achieve what he “failed miserably to accomplish in eight years as governor of Anambra State.”

Nyesom Wike, Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), stated that the planned protest against President Bola Tinubu’s administration is politically motivated. He made this remark on Tuesday while interacting with journalists after inspecting the Karshi to Apo Road construction project, which was awarded 13 years ago but remains unfinished.

Wike emphasized the need for patience, stating that the current administration is working hard to address the issues inherited from previous governments. He pointed out that the country is facing significant challenges and that it is unrealistic to expect immediate solutions.

He acknowledged that people are unhappy due to hunger and unemployment but asserted that the Tinubu administration is not responsible for the current unemployment levels. Wike criticized those planning the protests, describing them as political maneuvers aimed at gaining popularity ahead of elections.

“We are going to elections very soon; these are political gimmicks,” Wike said. He urged Nigerians to be patient with the government, believing that things will improve over time.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that some sections of the country are planning a week-long protest over hunger and insecurity. While some groups and individuals have distanced themselves from the planned protest, others insist it must hold to draw attention to the sufferings of Nigerians and to urge the government and international community to take action.

The Nigerian Senate has passed the Finance Act (Amendment) Bill, 2024, which includes a significant change in the taxation of banks’ foreign exchange gains. This decision came after the consideration and adoption of the report presented by Sen. Sani Musa, Chairman of the Senate Committee on Finance.

The bill, initially proposed by President Bola Tinubu and read at the plenary session on July 17, 2024, aims to amend the Finance Act of 2023. One of the primary objectives of this amendment is to impose a Windfall Tax on banks’ foreign exchange gains. The levy charge for this tax has been increased from the previously proposed 50% to 70%.

The additional revenue generated from this windfall tax, estimated at ₦6.2 trillion, is intended to finance the Appropriation Amendment Bill. This move is expected to provide a substantial boost to the government’s finances, tapping into the profits banks make from foreign exchange transactions.

The Finance Act (Amendment) Bill, 2024, thus represents a significant shift in the taxation policy, targeting the financial gains of banks to support broader fiscal measures.

At the 18th Africa International Housing Show in Abuja, Minister of Housing and Urban Development Ahmed Dangiwa highlighted Nigeria’s significant housing deficit, which requires the construction of 550,000 housing units per annum over the next 10 years, amounting to about ₦5.5 trillion annually. The theme of the event was “Financing the House We Need,” aligning with the Renewed Hope Housing Agenda.

Dangiwa acknowledged that while the government’s plan to deliver 50,000 units is ambitious given Nigeria’s history in housing stock development, it is still a small fraction of the required annual 550,000 units. He emphasized the need for public-private partnerships and collaborations with housing development finance institutions, investors, and partners to bridge this gap. A demand-driven approach has been adopted to avoid issues of abandoned or unsold buildings, and an online housing portal has been launched, which has already recorded over 28,000 applications.

Senate President Godswill Akpabio, represented by Victor Umeh, Vice-Chairman of the Senate Committee on Lands, Housing, and Urban Development, reiterated the commitment of the 10th Assembly to ensure that every Nigerian has access to housing. Akpabio emphasized the importance of inclusive policies that cater to the diverse needs of Nigerians and expressed concern over the frequent building collapses in the country, urging professionals in the built environment to address this issue.

Speaker of the House of Representatives Abbas Tajudeen, represented by Abdulmumin Jibrin, Chairman of the House Committee on Housing and Habitat, stressed that adequate housing is crucial for addressing many of Nigeria’s challenges, including insecurity, social stability, job creation, health, education, economic productivity, cultural preservation, and civic participation. He advocated for comprehensive policies focusing on both housing demand and supply, including direct government funding, public-private partnerships, tax breaks, subsidies for developers, and improvements in land acquisition and administration.

Pastor Mathew Ashimolowo, Chairman of Makarios: The Luxury Place, advised Nigerians to engage in land banking while being mindful of land laws and avoiding government-reserved lands. He called on the government to facilitate easier access to housing through mortgages.

Suleiman Zarma, Chairman of the Africa International Housing Show (AIHS), noted that the 2024 event was the 18th edition aimed at finding sustainable solutions to Africa’s housing challenges. He highlighted the exhibition of revolutionary products, materials, designs, and processes for housing provision, emphasizing the need for a renewed political will to combat the continent’s housing crisis amidst global economic and political challenges.

The Lagos State Metropolitan Area Transport Authority (LAMATA) announced that the Lagos Rail Mass Transit (LRMT) Red Line is 99% complete and will begin operations in September 2024. The Managing Director of LAMATA, Abimbola Akinajo, represented by the Director for Rail, Olasukanmi Okusaga, revealed this at a news conference organized by the Ministry of Transportation and its agencies in Lagos.

The Red Line will initially have four trips per day between Oyingbo and Agbado, operating at 8:30 am and 12:30 pm for a four-week period. The technical test runs for the Red Line system have already commenced.

In addition to the rail updates, Idowu Oguntona, Managing Director of Lagos Bus Services Ltd. (LBSL), reported that LBSL has provided transportation to two million Lagos residents from May to date and has established a fully accredited high-capacity training school for drivers. The LBSL has also implemented a Sustainable Policy to decarbonize its fleet, promoting environmental responsibility.

The Motor Vehicle Administration Agency (MVAA), led by General Manager Rasheed Muri-Okunola, has automated its system to improve service delivery, reducing the time to obtain a plate number from 48 hours to 36 hours. The MVAA is collaborating with the Lagos State Number Plate Production Authority to achieve this.

Tiamiyu Afusat, General Manager of the Lagos State Drivers Institute, reported that the institute has expanded its centers to five locations and has trained 236,000 drivers. The institute has introduced computer-based training for drivers and urges organizations to enroll their drivers in these programs.

Adebisi Adelabu of the Lagos State Parking Authority mentioned that on-street parking enforcement has not yet begun due to the need for collaborative enforcement efforts. The parking fees will range from ₦200 to ₦1,000 per hour, depending on the area.

Sola Giwa, Special Adviser to the Governor on Transportation, emphasized that the Bus Reform Initiative aims to ensure safe, effective, and efficient transportation in Lagos. From August, all trucks heading to the Lekki axis must use the state’s call-up system to streamline operations.

Commissioner for Transportation, Oluwaseun Osiyemi, noted that the session served as a feedback mechanism to enhance the ministry’s operations. He highlighted the government’s efforts to create a safe environment by developing a functional database of everyone entering and leaving Lagos through interstate parks, ensuring better security planning for the state.

Bimbola Salu-Hundeyin, the Secretary to the Lagos State Government (SSG), stated that there is no reason for protests in Lagos State due to the significant achievements and developments by the state government. During a meeting with the Secretaries of the Local Governments (SLGs) in Ikeja, she emphasized that while peaceful protests are a legitimate right, they should not become violent or destructive.

Salu-Hundeyin highlighted several accomplishments of the Lagos State Government, including the implementation of the Ilera Eko Medical Insurance Scheme, the construction of a medical university, advancements in transportation, and youth engagement initiatives. She noted that Lagos State is the only state in Nigeria that pays a ₦70,000 minimum wage and does not owe pensioners.

The meeting aimed to ensure that the developmental agenda of Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, under the THEMES+ Developmental Agenda, reaches the grassroots. Salu-Hundeyin and the SLGs discussed comparing notes and addressing any grievances to improve governance and services at the community level.

Akeem Dauda, Chairman of Scribe 57, supported the SSG’s sentiments, stating that the planned protests are unnecessary given the state government’s efforts. He urged youth to look at the situation from another perspective and engage constructively with the government to address any concerns.

Overall, the state government believes that its achievements and ongoing efforts provide no grounds for protest and that dialogue and engagement are the best ways to address any issues.

Akinwumi Adesina, President of the African Development Bank Group (AfDB), has warned that ongoing criticism of Aliko Dangote and his refinery could harm Nigeria’s investment climate. Adesina emphasized that no prudent investor would undermine a $19.5 billion investment, as alleged by importers against Dangote. The criticism arises from a dispute between Dangote and the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) and petroleum regulatory authorities over alleged substandard diesel production by Dangote’s refinery.

Adesina noted that such controversies paint Nigeria negatively on the international stage and dismissed accusations of Dangote monopolizing the manufacturing sector. He highlighted the significant barriers to entry and high capital costs involved in large-scale projects like railways and refineries, pointing out that Dangote’s investments are exceptional due to these challenges.

Adesina’s comments were echoed by business mogul Femi Otedola, who posted a statement on X, emphasizing the risk and expense involved in manufacturing in Nigeria’s challenging business environment. Otedola criticized the disparagement of Dangote, calling it self-defeating and harmful to Nigeria’s attractiveness to foreign investors. He argued that undermining the country’s largest investor sends a negative signal, discouraging potential investments in the nation.

The five corps members kidnapped on Ifon/Owo road in the Ose Local Government area of Ondo State have recounted their harrowing experience. The victims, Oluwaseun Adewole, Feranmi Oluwadara, Patience Andrew, Taiwo Oribamise, and Lekan Ajayi, were abducted after completing their mandatory orientation at the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) permanent camp in Abia.

One of the victims, Patience Andrew, explained that the kidnappers attacked their vehicle shortly after passing a military checkpoint in Ifon. The driver, mistaking the kidnappers’ flashlight for another checkpoint, stopped the vehicle and was immediately shot dead, along with a woman in the front seat.

Andrew described how they were forced out of the vehicle and trekked through the bush from night until morning. She noted that the kidnappers, mostly in their 20s and one dressed in a military uniform, communicated mainly in Hausa, with only one barely speaking English. They used one of the victim’s phones to demand a ₦5 million ransom from their families, which was eventually paid along with drinks and cigarettes to secure their release.

The Police Spokesperson for the state, Fumilayo Odunlami-Omisanya, claimed the victims were abandoned by their assailants due to police pressure, but the victims maintained that the ransom payment was the actual reason for their release.

Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has condemned the current administration’s attempts to suppress citizens’ rights to peaceful protest. He argued that a responsible government should ensure a “safe and secure environment” for citizens to exercise their rights to peaceful assembly, as guaranteed under Section 40 of the 1999 Constitution.

Atiku emphasized that these rights are “enshrined in the Nigerian Constitution and affirmed by our courts,” and criticized the government’s focus on identifying and targeting individuals behind planned protests, calling it an “exercise in futility.” He noted that the widespread discontent among Nigerians transcends political affiliations, including supporters of President Tinubu and the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).

Atiku has continued to critique the economic and socio-political policies of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, attributing the “hunger, anger, and hopelessness” experienced by Nigerians to the government’s “incompetence and cluelessness.” He highlighted the irony of the situation by recalling how current government officials were once protest leaders themselves in 2012.

He argued that any attempt to suppress these rights is not only unconstitutional but also a direct affront to democracy, underscoring the essential role of peaceful protest in a healthy democratic society. Atiku’s remarks come at a time of heightened tension and increasing public dissatisfaction with the government’s performance, highlighting the crucial need for protecting democratic freedoms in Nigeria.

In a formal demand, Peter Obi, the Labour Party’s Presidential Candidate in the 2023 general elections, has called on Mr. Bayo Onanuga, the president’s Special Adviser on Communication and Strategy, to retract an allegation linking Obi to an impending mass protest. Obi’s counsel, Chief Alex Ejesieme of MADIBA Chambers, issued the demand following Onanuga’s July 20, 2024, post on his X handle (@aonanuga1956), which suggested that “Peter Obi’s supporters are the people planning mayhem in Nigeria and that Obi should be held responsible for anarchy.”

Obi’s legal team claims the statement, widely circulated on social and mainstream media, has damaged Obi’s reputation, depicting him as someone who condones violence despite his well-documented history of non-violence, even under provocation. The letter from Obi’s counsel states, “It’s our client’s conviction that the publication was a calculated plot to demean, ridicule, humiliate, and embarrass him by the estimation of every right-thinking member of society.”

The letter demands a retraction and a public apology in four national dailies (Vanguard, THISDAY, Punch, and The Cable) and on Onanuga’s verified X account. Furthermore, Obi is seeking ₦5 billion in damages for the embarrassment caused to him and his family. Should Onanuga fail to meet these demands within 72 hours, Obi’s legal team has threatened to pursue defamation and libel charges in court.

Inspector-General of Police (I-G) Olukayode Egbetokun has assured the public that the Nigeria Police will handle the planned protest on August 1 in a professional manner. During a meeting in Abuja with Strategic Police Managers, which includes officers from the rank of Commissioners of Police and above, Egbetokun emphasized the police’s commitment to providing security for those engaging in peaceful protests.

He stated that the meeting aimed to share and analyze intelligence from various Police Commands across the country to ensure national security. Egbetokun reiterated the police’s stance on peaceful protests, asserting, “If the protest is peaceful, you will see us protecting the protesters as long as they remain peaceful.”

However, he warned against violent protests, stating that the police have a duty to protect lives and property and will not tolerate any actions that lead to the destruction of facilities. “No civilized society will tolerate violent protest. Violent protest is criminal, but peaceful protest is a right,” he remarked.

Egbetokun also urged Nigerian youths to ignore any incitements to violence, emphasizing that the right to protest must be exercised peacefully.

Mele Kyari, the Group Chief Executive Officer of NNPC Ltd, has publicly addressed allegations linking NNPC employees to a blending plant in Malta, following claims by Aliko Dangote, President of Dangote Group. Dangote suggested that the establishment of such a plant impeded the procurement of locally produced petroleum products.

Kyari categorically denied any involvement, stating, “I do not own or operate any business directly or by proxy anywhere in the world, with the exception of a local mini-agricultural venture.” He further clarified that he is unaware of any NNPC employee operating a blending plant in Malta or elsewhere globally.

Emphasizing the integrity of NNPC’s operations, Kyari asserted, “A blending plant in Malta or any part of the world has no influence over NNPC’s business operations and strategic actions.” He reassured stakeholders that any employee found involved in such activities would face strict compliance sanctions.

Kyari also emphasized the need for transparency and accountability, urging that individuals implicated in these allegations be publicly identified and reported to government security agencies. “I strongly recommend that such individuals be declared public and be made known to relevant government security agencies for necessary actions in view of the grave implications for national energy security,” he stated.

Kyari’s statement aims to dispel the concerns raised by Dangote Group’s President and reinforce NNPC’s commitment to maintaining robust operational standards and national energy security.