Commercial activities in border communities of Katsina, Sokoto, Borno and Zamfara states have collapsed following closure of the country’s borders with Niger Republic in the wake of the military takeover of power in the Francophone country on August 3.

Checks by our correspondents on the border communities in Katsina, Sokoto, Borno, and Zamfara within the week revealed that commercial activities in the communities have been paralysed with long lines of trucks loaded with goods still stranded at the borders. However, despite the heavy presence of security operatives, smuggling thrives across illegal borders in the states.

In the Jibia Local Government Area of Katsina State, residents expressed anxiety and anger at the low level of trading.

In Katsina State, aside from the Magamar-Jibia border post, another official border with the Niger Republic in Kwangolam (pronounced Kogolam) was equally closed.

A visit to Magamar-Jibia, Kogolam Maiyardua, Baure, Dankama, and Birni Kuka, among others, showed that economic activities were at the lowest ebb. Majority of traders in these communities now trade in farm produce such as yams and grains.

At Maiyardua, for instance, many traders have shifted from transborder trading to livestock, especially cattle, goats, and poultry. The presence of a cattle market seems to be the saving grace for the transborder traders in the community as no exports and importation businesses are taking place along the Kwangolam border post again.

Security operatives, including the policemen, officers of the Nigeria Customs Service and those of the Nigeria Immigration Service, still maintain their presence and checkpoints along the Kwangolam route.

Our correspondent encountered more than 10 such checkpoints from Daura to Kwangolam, which is a distance of 16 kilometres. The security operatives were, however, not harassing travellers.

Indeed, security operatives at the Nigeria/Niger Republic border control station at Kwangolam could be said to be on vacation as no activity was going on there. If not for the presence of some residents, who engage in car wash business a few metres away from the border post and the rope put across the road at the main gate of the border post, one could easily mistake the place for another part of the town.

During an interaction with our reporter, residents expressed anger over the situation, saying the border closure had eroded their businesses and plunged them into penury.

Ado Usman, 42, said, “Before the border closure in August, I used to come to Kwangolam every day from Zango as I was selling any product brought in through the borders. The products were mainly rice, sugar, spaghetti, and milk. I had my customers then who used to come from Kano and from all over Nigeria because they knew that once they were here, they would get the product. But since the border closure, life has not been easy. Even when some of the products find their way here, they are too expensive for people to buy.

‘’Many of us now eke out a living by assisting people to buy and sell livestock at the Maiyardua Kara market. Many of us have even joined the Okada business to survive, while some of us have relocated to other big cities like Lagos, Ibadan, and Port Harcourt where we have friends and relatives to survive. Things are really hard here but we hope the border will be reopened one day.’’

In Magamar-Jibia and other surrounding communities, including Jibia and Daddara, trading activities are at a very low ebb. Many shops have been closed down while many traders are now trading in farm produce just as in Kwangolam.

Jibia town, which used to be a commercial hub, was a shadow of itself when our correspondent visited the town last weekend.

Many traders in Jibia who volunteered to speak after being assured of anonymity alleged that even before Nigeria closed her border with Niger Republic, officers and men of the NCS were extorting money from traders bringing goods to Jibia from other parts of the country. The traders added that this had discouraged many traders from conducting trading activities in Jibia.

Husseini Mubarak, 45, whose shop is located in one of the markets inside Jibia town, said, “We are begging the Federal Government to reopen the border in Jibia. The border closure has made many of us poor. No business: nothing is coming in; nothing is going out. Many of us now sell yams and grains to survive since those items we used to trade in are no longer coming in. Those of us who have farms cannot even go to the farms again because of bandits. There is no single week that bandits don’t storm Jibia. Life is really terrible here now.”

At the border control post at Magammar-Jibia a few farmers were seen passing through on foot either on their way to or returning from their farms. Otherwise, the premises of the border post were completely devoid of activities.

The security operatives on duty, who spoke on the condition of anonymity, said they were not facing any harassment from residents.

Chairman of Jibia Peoples Forum, Gide Dahiru, insisted that the border closure had brought hardships on the residents and the traders in the local government. He implored the Federal Government to find an amicable solution to the problem in the Niger Republic.

He declared, “As patriotic Nigerians, we support every action taken by the Federal Government on the border closure. We, however, need to tell the truth that many people, especially traders, now focus on farm products. The closure has made many to close shops as there are no products coming again.

“The situation in Jibia is compounded by activities of bandits. People cannot go to farms again as bandits would kidnap them and demand ransom before they are released. So, food is scarce; there are no trading activities in all our markets again. Even the local products brought from other parts of Nigeria do not easily get to Jibia because of extortion by security agents along the Katsina/Jibia highway.

“We are only appealing to the Federal Government to know that Jibia is a local government in Nigeria and people residing there are Nigerians. Although some of us have historical links with Niger Republic, the fact still remains that we in Jibia are Nigerians and should not be allowed to die of hunger and poverty because of the border closure and activities of bandits.”

Chairman of the Katsina State chapter of the Civil Society Organisations of Nigeria, Abdurahman Abdullahi, also declared that the Federal Government should review the current border closure with Niger Republic.

He said, “Border closure affects economic activities of communities neighbouring Niger Republic. This by extension leads to an increase in criminal activities in those areas as people’s sources of livelihood have been cut off. If you go to Magama Jibia, Kongolom, Baure, Dankama, and other Katsina State communities sharing borders with Niger Republic, you will shed tears. These places that used to be commercial hubs in the past are made dry by border closure.”

The NCS Comptroller in charge of the Katsina Area Command, Muhammed Umar, has, however, met with stakeholders in 12 border communities in Katsina State where he urged them to discourage trans-border crimes and promote national security.

Smuggling booms at Zamfara’s 100 porous borders

Zamfara State has no border post officially constructed by the Federal Government to check smuggling activities.

However, there are over 100 porous borders between the Zurmi and Shinkafi Local Government Areas of the state that link the country with the neighbouring Niger Republic.

Checks by our correspondents showed that there is free movement of goods and services to and from the neighbouring Niger Republic through these porous borders, a situation which revealed that the border closure arrangement has collapsed.

At Gidan Jaja and Gurbin Bore towns in the Zurmi Local Government Area as well as other parts of the Shinkafi Local Government Area, vehicles and motorcycles were seen going out of the country to the Niger Republic and returning without any restrictions.

Essential commodities like rice and clothing materials are now imported to the country from Niger Republic through Gidan Jaja and other porous borders with little or no pressure from the security agents at checkpoints.

A businessman, who gave his name as Abdullahi Kaura, said Customs officers have now relaxed their activities with regard to the seizure of smuggled items unlike before when they pursued and arrested defaulters.

According to Abdullahi, Customs officers at checkpoints have stopped harassing people who import goods from Niger Republic, adding that, “business activities from the two neighbouring countries that have been crippled in the past as a result of the border closure have now returned to normal.”

Efforts to speak to Customs officers in the state proved abortive as none of them was ready to speak on the matter.

Sokoto’s Illela community is now a shadow of itself

In Sokoto State, Illela Local Government Area, which is the one-time busiest and bubbling border town between Nigeria and Niger Republic, is now a shadow of itself as commercial activities have gone down to the lowest level in the history of the town.

Most of the residents who relied on the activities of the border for their day-to-day businesses, which the majority of the youths in the area are known for, said they now find it hard to feed.

When our correspondent visited the Illela border community to ascertain the current situation in the once-busy town, it was observed that the economic situation of the town had gone down completely when the border was in use for commercial activities.

The most noticeable activity in the area is the scores of articulated vehicles trapped at the other end of the border which have all been there following the closure of the border by the federal government.

Most of the trapped trucks, such as Dangote and BUA cement factory, are loaded with different types of goods which include textiles, charcoal, and soap among others.

Some residents of the border community appealed to the federal government to consider the plight of residents of the border towns in the country and open the border for business activities.

The security situation in the town and at the border post was very tight, as the border now has the presence of military personnel which was not the same as before the border was closed in August.

Meanwhile, despite pleas by Nigerians, especially those involved in import and exporting business to allow stranded goods back in the country, many trucks are still stranded at the border post with their goods unable to gain access back to the country.

It was gathered that the trucks have been stranded at the border post since August when the President directed that all land borders with Niger Republic closed.

Some of the drivers of the trailers who spoke condemned the attitude of the federal government, saying they were treated like aliens in their country.

Adamu Nasiru, a motor boy of one of the trucks, said, “It is very unfortunate how we are being treated in our country despite committing no offence.

“We are into our legitimate job driving trailer. If for any reason a border is shut, does it mean we should remain or stay in no man’s land for this long without being cared for by our government?

“We have been sleeping on the bare floor here since, some of us were attacked by snakes here and some fell sick due to unfavourable conditions of where we live here.

“I think we deserve to know our offence; if I choose this work instead of being a criminal is that an offence in this country?

“Our appeal to the government is to allow us access to our country, hence, we have all our documents intact, as such we should be allowed in to reunite with our families while we are still alive”

Also speaking, Godwin Monday, a truck driver who was on hs way from Burkina Faso en route Niger Republic before the closure of the borders, lamented that life has never been the same since he was trapped at the border.

“I actually don’t know what to say again. We have done all that is necessary by pleading with the government and the security agents here to allow us passage so we can go back to the country all to no avail.

“We are here surviving on what people give us in Illela. Most of us have sold all our diesel to eat, while some of us have turned labourers assisting locals on their farms here. Please help us appeal to Mr President to allow us back into our country with our vehicles.

“We choose this work which we all believe is a legitimate work, we are not criminals and should not be treated like one in our fatherland. It is very very unfair on us. We are not criminals. They should allow us to go back into the country.”

Meanwhile, it was gathered that despite the closure of the border by the authorities, smuggling activities were still going on around the bushes in the area.

Scores of motorcycles were seen with different types of goods coming in from the Niger Republic, while some others were leaving the Nigeria axis to Niger.

A motorcyclist who spoke said no amount of border closure could stop the activities of illegal smuggling of goods in the area.

Nuhu (surname withheld), while speaking with our correspondent, said he had been operating as a transporter for smugglers for over 10 years.

“I have been doing this now for over 10 years, so, I see no reason why I cannot continue when I already know the ins and outs of the job.

“Security agents cannot disturb us because we don’t deal with border and as such we are miles apart in our dealings.

“Those among them who patronise us along the bush know us very well and once we settle them we have nothing to worry about.

“Even due to borders closure by other countries with Niger Republic, business activities in Niger have also been affected.”

A shop owner in the area, Altine Illeila, who also spoke with our correspondent, linked the border closure to the high cost of foodstuffs in the market.

He said when the border was in operation, smuggling activities were not too expensive and as such, the cost of goods in Illeila was very much okay.

He also described the stress being encountered while taking petty things to Kwani and other states in Niger Republic as too much.

“I’m sure you are aware that we sell most of our soft drinks in Niger Republic. Drinks such as Coca-Cola, Maltina, Nutrimilk, and energy drinks among others there with reasonable profits but that has stopped now.

“For anyone who intends to bring things into the country or take out any goods or items must be ready to part with more bribes which will turn out to cause an increase in the price of such goods.”

Efforts to speak with officials at the border post were not successful as both Customs and Immigration, among others, declined to comment, saying they were not authorised to speak with the press over the issue.

But the Comptroller, NCS, Sokoto/Zamfara Command, Musa Omale, during a visit to the border town commended the residents for complying with the directive on the closure of the land border.

The Comptroller, who was monitoring the compliance as well as boosting the morale of the officers and men of the command, reminded them that the Federal Government directed the closure of all border stations with the Niger Republic following the military coup.

He said, “Today’s tour is a follow-up to the Comptroller General of Customs visit to ensure full-scale compliance and to further serve as a morale booster to the officers and men of the command.

“Since the closure, the command has continued to leverage intelligence to record numbers of interception.

“I am impressed with the additional layers of enforcement put in place. I also want to thank other sister security agencies for their cooperation towards enforcing the compliance, I implore you all to keep the tempo.”

Omale further extended his appreciation to the stakeholders, which include importers, exporters, and agents, as well as the community for their patience over the current situation while assuring that the command is also hoping for a quick amicable resolution of the crisis

Borno residents groan

Transborder traders in Borno State recount horrid experiences as trans-border commercial activities shrink by over 70 per cent following the closure, even though about 30 per cent of such trade flows illegally through bush routes.

“I import into Nigeria from Niger food items like maize, beans, onions, fish and export fishing nets, hooks, and most other essential commodities that are not available in Niger,” Bukar Alibe said.

“Before the closure of the border, I used to shuttle between both countries with at least five pickup loads of these commodities through the Gaidam border post daily.

“Now, I hardly do so with one pickup load in a week or even two weeks, and I must tell you, most of us now do so through illegal bush routes because Customs officials at both sides of the border would certainly seize the goods.”

He continued, “At the Gaidam (Yobe State) and Damasak (Borno State) border towns, unquantifiable huge volumes of our goods lie waste because they cannot be transported across.”

Alibe disclosed, “My N500,000 worth of onions I was trying to bring in from Niger rotted away at the Nigerien side of the border because of the border closure,” adding, “A friend of mine, Modu Idriss’ about N5m worth of smoked fish was confiscated by the Nigerien Customs officials while trying to port it through the border post.”

He said closure of the border had been devastating to Nigeriens and Nigerian traders.

Alibe further explained, “On both sides, transborder business has virtually completely been halted.

“While the Niger Republic, which relies about 70 to 80 per cent on the importation of goods through Nigeria, is starved of most of its needed essential commodities, plunging their population into more untold hardships, the Nigerian transborder businessmen are also plunged into hardships because this has been our livelihood for ages.”

Aimi Aji trades in rice and smoked fish across the border. He used to shuttle at least three times monthly between both countries through the Gaidam border. Now, he says, he does so only about once through an illegal bush root.

“My goods have never been seized by Customs officials since the closure of the border, but my 90 sacks of rice worth over N2m I was about to transport to Niger are now stocked up in Gaidam. Transborder trade has been my only occupation; I am not doing anything now for sustenance; I am only spending out of my capital.”

Babagana Mutikime trades in fabrics, cell phones (iPhone, Smart, and Android) as well as women’s wear.

“I used to export about N10m worth of these items, sometimes even more, to Niger Republic,” he disclosed, continuing with deep grief, “Now I have about N5m worth of these commodities, which I can’t export to Niger.

“My main problem is that the larger percentage of the items are cell phones, and the cell phones are not the type preferred by Nigerians; they are the type preferred by Nigeriens.

“So, however much I slash their prices, they will not be bought by Nigerians; I tried that, and I regretted it because the prices offered were just too humiliating to me as a businessman because I would be selling at an unacceptable loss.”

He lamented gutturally, “I can tell you that I have now spent about N3m out of my capital for the upkeep of my family because I have been doing virtually nothing since the closure of the border.”

Ahmed Ashemi is the Chairman of the Borno State Chamber of Commerce, Industries, Mines, and Agriculture.

“Nobody can tell you the number of billions of naira lost as a result of the halting of transborder trade due to the closure of the border because there are no formal records to enable us to do that credibly, but I can authoritatively tell you that transborder trade has shrunk by over 70 per cent since the closure of the borders,” Ashemi said.

He also said, “Although the issue at hand affects Nigeria/Niger Republic transborder trade, to substantial percentages it also affects trade between Nigeria, the Central and East African countries because the borders with Chad and Cameroon are also closed, and the government has not officially informed us that they have been opened.

Punch

Federal High Court, Abuja, on Thursday, struck down some “offending provisions” which took away the right of appeal of a tax debtor.

Specifically, the affected provisions include the Tax Appeal Tribunal (Procedure) Rules ( 2021), the Federal High Court of Nigeria (Federal Inland Revenue Service) Practice Directions (2021) and the Federal High Court of Nigeria (Tax Appeals) Rules (2022).

The judge, James Omotosho, in a judgment, held that the provisions were unconstitutional as they cut back on constitutionally-provided right of appeal.

The first provision voided by the court was Order III Rule (6) (a) of the Tax Appeal Tribunal (Procedure) Rules (2021).

The provision prescribed that an aggrieved person, challenging the tax charged by the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) or any relevant tax authority, shall pay 50 per cent of the disputed amount into any account so designated by the Tax Appeals Tribunal before such appeal could be heard.

The second provision affected was Order V Rule 3 of the Federal High Court of Nigeria (Federal Inland Revenue Service) Practice Directions (2021).

It prescribed that where a person intends to challenge an assessment served on him or her, he or she shall pay half of the assessed amount into an interest yielding account of the Federal High Court, pending the determination of the application/ proceedings.

The third provision was Order V Rule 1 of the Federal High Court of Nigeria (Tax Appeals) Rules (2022).

It prescribed that where an appellant is appealing against the decision of the Tax Appeal Tribunal, the sum contained in the decision shall be deposited in an interest-yielding account maintained by the Chief Registrar of the Federal High Court.

A former President, Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Joseph Daudu, had filed the suit marked: FHC/ABJ/CS/12/2022.

Daudu argued, among others, that the provisions were unfair, unlawful and a violation of the right to appeal.

Minister of Finance, Budget and National Planning, who made the Tax Appeal Tribunal (Procedure) Rules (2021), was sued as the first respondent in the suit.

The applicant also joined the Chief Judge of the Federal High Court, who made the Federal High Court of Nigeria (Federal Inland Revenue Service) Practice Directions (2021) and the Federal High Court of Nigeria (Tax Appeals) Rules (2022), and the Attorney General of the Federation (AGF) as 2nd and 3rd respondents in the case.

More pronouncements

Delivering the judgment, Omotosho said: “Even though the 1st respondent (the minister) is empowered to make rules for the conduct of appeal, he is not expected to construct an embargo to the enjoyment of the right to appeal of any appellant.

“The right to appeal is a constitutional right and the 1st respondent cannot take away such right through the making of a subsidiary legislation.

“The law is trite that where any law or subsidiary legislation contravenes the provision of the Constitution, it shall be declared void to the extent of its inconsistency.

“The said provisions being challenged by the applicant were made to favour the Federal Inland Revenue Service without any attempt to balance the interest of a tax debtor.

“For a tax debtor, who is unable to afford to deposit the entire assessed sum of money, he is automatically deprived of his right of appeal.”

According to him, this court, as a court of justice, will ensure that justice is done to all parties regardless of their status.

“This court by virtue of Section 6(6)(b) of the Constitution is empowered to determine issues between government and persons,” he said.

The judge said that the court would not allow an unjust provision to cripple the constitutional rights of the applicant.

“In final analysis, I therefore do not hesitate to strike down the offending provisions which in the opinion of this court substantially takes away the right of appeal of a tax debtor such as the applicant,” Omotosho said.

The judge, therefore, proceeded to declare the provisions of Order III Rule (6) (a) of the Tax Appeal Tribunal (Procedure) Rules, 2021 as “unconstitutional, null and void.

He declared that the provisions were also contrary to the provisions of Section 36(1) and (2), Section 6(6) (a) of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended) and the doctrine of separation of powers.”

He also declared that the provisions of Order V Rule 3 of the Federal High Court of Nigeria (Federal Inland Revenue Service) Practice Directions, 2021 “is unconstitutional, null and void.

He issued an order striking down (deleting) the provisions of Paragraph V Rule 3 of the Federal High Court (Federal inland Revenue Service) Practice Directions 2021, or any other similar provision therein, for being unconstitutional and in excess of the powers of the 2nd respondent (the Chief Judge of the Federal High Court) to issue practice directions.

He also ordered the striking down (deleting) of the provisions of Order V Rule 1 of the Federal High Court of Nigeria (Tax Appeals) Rules 2022, for being unconstitutional and in excess of the powers of the 2nd respondent to issue practice directions and Rules of court.

The judge thereafter ordered the striking down (deleting) of the provisions of Order IlI Rule 6 (a) of the Tax Appeal Tribunal (Procedure) Rules, 2021 for being unconstitutional, null and void and in excess of the powers of the 1st respondent (the Minister of Finance) to make Rules prescribing the procedure and conduct of appeals before the tribunal.

NAN

Canadian high commission says its visa application centres in Abuja and Lagos remain open to the public despite suspension of operations in the nation’s capital.

The high commission announced a discontinuation of its services in Nigeria on Tuesday, hours after a fire outbreak gutted a section of its building in Abuja.

The Canadian government said the explosion killed two people, including a locally engaged employee, adding that operations in Abuja had been suspended till further notice.

However, in a statement released on Thursday by Demilade Kosemani of the public affairs department, the high commission said the suspension of operations did not affect visa applications.

“As we continue to mourn the passing of our dear colleague from the High Commission of Canada in Abuja, please note the following information below,” the statement reads.

“Immigration, Refugee and Citizenship Canada (IRCC clients: processing of applications continues).

“Regardless of the suspension of operations at the High Commission of Canada in Abuja, the Visa application centres in Abuja and Lagos remain open.

“For status updates send a webform. (https:// www.canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/services/application/check-status.html).

“Consular assistance for Canadians in Nigeria who require emergency assistance: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or +1 613 996 8885 or via our whatsapp on +1-613-909-8881.”

The Canadian government had said it would work with local authorities to determine the cause of the explosion.

The Cable

Israel agrees to 4-hour daily pauses in Gaza fighting to allow civilians to flee, White House says

Israel has agreed to put in place four-hour daily humanitarian pauses in its assault on Hamas in northern Gaza, the White House said Thursday, as President Joe Biden pressed Israelis for a multi-day stoppage in the fighting in a bid to negotiate the release of hostages held by the militant group.

Biden had asked Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to institute the daily pauses during a Monday call and said he had also asked the Israelis for a pause of at least three days to allow for hostage negotiations.

“Yes,” Biden said, when asked whether he had asked Israel for a three-day pause. “I’ve asked for even a longer pause for some of them.” He added there was “no possibility” of a formal cease-fire at the moment, and said it had “taken a little longer” than he hoped for Israel to agree to the humanitarian pauses.

National Security Council spokesman John Kirby said a daily humanitarian pause would be announced Thursday and that the Israelis had committed to announcing each four-hour window at least three hours in advance. Israel, he said, also was opening a second corridor for civilians to flee the areas that are the current focus of its military campaign against Hamas, with a coastal road joining the territory’s main north-south highway.

Similar short-term pauses have occurred over the past several days as tens of thousands of civilians have fled southward, but Thursday’s announcement appeared to be an effort to formalize and expand the process, as the U.S. has pressed Israelis to take greater steps to protect civilians in Gaza.

Asked in a Fox News interview that aired Thursday about the prospect of a daily humanitarian pause, Netanyahu replied that “the fighting continues against the Hamas enemy, the Hamas terrorists, but in specific locations for a given period, a few hours here, a few hours there, we want to facilitate a safe passage of civilians away from the zone of fighting. And we’re doing that.”

Biden’s push for an even longer pause comes as part of a renewed diplomatic push to free hostages taken by Hamas and other militant groups to the Gaza Strip during their Oct. 7 surprise attack on Israel.

Israeli officials estimate that militants still hold 239 hostages, including children and the elderly, from the attack that also saw 1,400 people killed in Israel. U.S. officials say fewer than 10 Americans are among those held captive. More than 10,800 people have been killed in Gaza, according to the Health Ministry in the Hamas-run territory.

Kirby told reporters Thursday that pauses could be useful for “getting all 239 hostages back with their families, to include the less than 10 Americans that we know are being held. So if we can get all the hostages out, that’s a nice finite goal.”

“Humanitarian pauses can be useful in the transfer process,” he added.

Indirect talks were taking place in Qatar — which also played a role in the freeing of four hostages by Hamas last month — about a larger release of hostages. CIA Director William Burns was in Doha on Thursday for talks with the Qatari prime minister, Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani, and the head of Israel’s Mossad intelligence agency, David Barnea, according to a U.S. official. The official spoke with The Associated Press on the condition of anonymity to discuss sensitive matters.

Qatar is a frequent go-between in international dealings with Hamas, and some top Hamas political leaders make their home in the Gulf country. The U.S. official stressed Burns was not playing a lead role in the negotiations.

Kirby confirmed that the U.S. continues to have “active discussions with partners about trying to secure the release of hostages,” noting in particular Qatar’s help.

Sen. Ben Cardin, chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, told the AP that several issues need to be resolved in the negotiations, including whether a more extended pause in fighting or the hostage release would come first, and whether it would be possible to access all the hostages to know how many there were and the state of their health,

Cardin, D-Md., returned to Washington this week after helping lead a congressional delegation to the Middle East for talks with leaders from Egypt, Israel and Saudi Arabia. He and fellow lawmakers met with Biden on Wednesday night to brief him on their talks in the region.

“We have been told in the last several weeks that progress is imminent ... and then nothing happens,” he said. He added, “I hope we’ll see some progress, but we’ve been disappointed in the past.”

Lt. Col. Richard Hecht, an Israeli military spokesman, said there had been no shift in Israeli tactics. ’There’s no cease-fire,” he told reporters. ”‘These are tactical local pauses for humanitarian aid, which are limited in time and area.”

“These evacuation corridors are for civilians to move south to safer areas where they can receive humanitarian aid.” Asked about Kirby’s announcement, he said: “It’s not a shift,” though he said Israel would try to expand these humanitarian corridors.

Secretary of State Antony Blinken had warned Israel last week that it risked destroying an eventual possibility for peace unless it acted swiftly to improve humanitarian conditions in Gaza for Palestinian civilians as it intensifies its war against Hamas.

In a blunt call for Israel to pause military operations to allow for the immediate and increased delivery of assistance, Blinken said the situation would drive Palestinians toward further radicalism and effectively end prospects for any eventual resumption of peace talks.

French President Emmanuel Macron had opened a Gaza aid conference on Thursday with an appeal for Israel to protect civilians, saying that “all lives have equal worth” and that fighting terrorism “can never be carried out without rules.”

Kirby said Uzra Zeya, the State Department’s under secretary for civilian security, democracy and human rights; special envoy David Satterfield; and Sarah Charles, who leads the USAID’s bureau for humanitarian assistance, were representing the U.S. at the Paris conference. Israel has not been invited by France to the conference.

Satterfield on Thursday described improving aid delivery for central and southern Gaza, but described no such effort in the northern battle zone other than to help civilians flee the intensifying Israeli assault.

He told reporters via an online briefing that the international community had been able to get fuel to turn back on water desalination plants in the south, and that aid into the south was averaging 100 trucks a day. Two pipelines supplying clean drinking water to the south from Israel have been turned back on.

“We do see the ability in the coming days, we hope, to meet the minimum requirements of the population in the south,” he said. “And I’m speaking of the south and the center, not of the north, which remains a kinetic area.”

AP

RUSSIAN PERSPECTIVE

Putin visits Ukraine military operation HQ

President Vladimir Putin has held a closed-door meeting with high-ranking commanders during an unannounced visit to the headquarters of Russia’s Southern Military District, which oversees the military operation in Ukraine.

Putin made a stopover in Rostov-on-Don on his way back from a state visit to Kazakhstan, Kremlin Press Secretary Dmitry Peskov told reporters early Friday morning.

Accompanied by Russian Defense Minister Sergey Shoigu and the head of the General Staff, Valery Gerasimov, Putin “inspected new models of military equipment,” Peskov said, without offering details. The Russian leader also spoke with other top defense officials, who briefed him on the progress of the country’s military operation against Kiev.

Several Russian outlets released a video showing Putin disembarking from his plane and arriving at the HQ, where he was greeted by Shoigu and Gerasimov.

Rostov Region borders Russia’s frontline Donetsk and Lugansk People’s Republics and has often come under Ukrainian missile and drone attacks in recent months. Putin’s last previous visit and meeting with the top brass at the Rostov-on-Don HQ took place just last month, and, before that, in August and March.

The visit came amid a failed Ukrainian counteroffensive which has dragged on since June, with even Ukraine’s commander-in-chief, Valery Zaluzhny, now admitting that Kiev is unlikely to achieve a breakthrough.

According to estimates by Russian officials, Ukraine lost more than 90,000 troops during its long-heralded counteroffensive alone. Launched in early June, the push has failed to yield tangible gains, resulting only in heavy personnel and material losses, with hundreds of military hardware pieces, including assorted Western-supplied vehicles, damaged or destroyed.

Last week, Putin said that Western powers were “changing their tune now [and] saying different things” compared to their previous insistence on inflicting a military defeat on Russia.

WESTERN PERSPECTIVE

Ukraine military says onslaught on Avdiivka in the east intensifies

Russian troops are intensifying their attacks on the key eastern town of Avdiivka, a senior Ukraine officer said on Thursday, while the country's general staff reported its military repelled many Russian assaults in widely separated sectors of the front.

President Volodymyr Zelenskiy hailed Ukraine's counteroffensive launched in June as "inspiring", but gave no details.

Russian forces have focused on the eastern regions of Donetsk and Luhansk since their drive on Kyiv stalled in the first days of the invasion in February 2022.

They have been bearing down since mid-October on the shattered town of Avdiivka, known for its coking plant and its position as a gateway to the city of Donetsk, 20 km (12 miles) to the east.

Oleksandr Borodin, press officer for Ukraine's third separate assault brigade, said Russian forces were launching major infantry attacks, while trying to keep equipment intact.

Borodin told the news outlet Espreso TV there were no dramatic statistics for destroying enemy equipment "because they use it much less, mainly from a distance.

"But their movements are quite dense now. It is not just infantry advancing but also parallel work of artillery, drones, aviation, the same air bombing and more."

Russian forces, he told Espreso, were unable to replenish supplies quickly and Ukrainian defensive positions were solid.

"All this started after the events in Israel," he said. "Perhaps they believe it is the best time to advance, but they have no serious successes."

Vitaliy Barabash, head of Avdiivka's military administration, told Espreso Russian forces were shelling the town "round the clock" but wet ground from several days of rain was holding their troops back

"Once the ground dries, they will definitely advance."

Ukraine's General Staff, in its evening report, said its forces had repelled 11 attacks near Avdiivka, 15 in the nearby Maryinka sector and 22 further northeast in Bakhmut, a town seized by Russian in May. Six attacks were repelled further north near Kupiansk, where Russian forces have been active.

Russia's Investigative Committee, in an account of the day's fighting, said Ukrainian forces shelled the town of Skadovsk in a Russian-occupied area of southern Kherson region. The report said there were dead and wounded in the attack.

Russia's Defence Ministry reported strikes on Ukrainian troops and equipment near Bakhmut.

Reuters could not independently confirm reports from either side.

RT/Reuters

The current Palestinian-Israeli conflict is what the late Kingsley Mbadiwe would have called the ‘battle of bicycle versus caterpillar’. Mbadiwe was a master of the superlative metaphor, and he used that expression to describe the closing days of the Nigerian Civil War.

There is nothing civil about the ongoing conflict in the ancient land of Palestine, which the Jews call Israel. In the Holy Bible, there is the story of David, armed with a catapult, who was pitted against Goliath, the mighty hero of the Philistine. Today, it is the Arabs who are armed with the catapult. They are pitted against a merciless opponent who is armed with the best and deadliest weapons science has yet devised.

The Jews believe that their ancestors witnessed the first dawn of humanity. Indeed, the most famous creation story is recorded in the Bible where God planted Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden. That mythical garden, according to the author of Genesis, was between the Rivers Tigris and Euphrates, now in present day Iraq.

Adam and Eve, since there were no other humans, had no other choice than to become husband and wife and they first gave birth to two sons, Cain and Abel. Cain, in a fit of anger, killed his brother. God, since there were no policemen or judges then, took the matter into his hand and sentenced Cain to wander about till the end of his life.

But Adam and Eve managed to have other children after Cain invented murder. Only Seth was recorded in the Bible, the others were not mentioned by name. Seth ultimately became the ancestor of Abraham who lived in the present-day Iraq before migrating to the Middle-East. He is believed to be the primogenitor of both the Jews and the Arabs. Their conflicting claims to the same piece of real estate is what has led to the killing field that we are witnessing in Gaza and occupied West Bank today.

So far, more than 10,000 Palestinians have been killed and almost 1,500 Israelis. The United States government, once the dominant policeman of the world, is apparently using the conflict to test its latest weapons.

Though the Jews and the Palestinians believe they have a common ancestor in Abraham, they do not have a common vision or narrative. In the Torah, the holy book of the Jews, the Philistines (Palestinians) are regarded as the enemy. But then after the Abrahamic period, came Joseph who led the Jews into exile in Egypt. Then Moses came and led them out. It was David, who was made king in Hebron, who conquered Jerusalem and seized it from the Jebusites (Palestinians).

Since then, Jerusalem and the surrounding real estate, has changed hands; the Babylonians, the Persians, the Romans and by the turn of the 20th Century, the Ottoman of Turkey.

The Ottoman Empire was defeated in the First World War and its empire was parcelled out among the victorious powers. Britain got Palestine and most of the Arab lands, including Egypt and Arabia. It helped to create a new country called Saudi Arabia, named in honour of Prince Saud, a friend of the British, who was proclaimed the first king of the new country. Prince Saud is said to be a direct descendant of Holy Prophet Mohammed.

The British also promised many of their Arab colonies independence following the outbreak of the Second World War in 1939. The Arabs of Palestine, unhappy that they did not get a definite promise of independence from the British, supported Germany during the Second World War. The Grand Mufti of Jerusalem, Mohammed Amin al-Husseini, made a high-profile trip to Berlin in 1941 to pledge his support for Adolf Hitler.

In 1945, Britain and its allies became victorious in the Second World War. The Palestinians waited in vain for the independence of their homeland. The Jews, who were in the minority, were also waiting for the same piece of land.

Earlier, in 1926, Lord Arthur Baffour, the Lord President of the Imperial Council, made a declaration that the Jews have the right to a homeland.

The Jews, especially those called the Zionist, seized on it, and by the end of the Second World War, were insisting that Britain should help them get a homeland. Britain proposed to get them a parcel of land in Kenya or Australia, but later agreed with the Zionists that it would be better if they got a part of Palestine.

The Zionists believed there was no alternative to an independent Jewish State. For many centuries, the Jews were facing persecution in European societies and caricatured in drama and literature (for example Fagin in Charles Dicken’s Oliver Twist and Shylock in Shakespeare’s Merchant of Venice) as evil people.

When Hitler rose to power in Germany in 1933, he made the Jews the object of his hatred and ultimately killed six million of them in what became known in history as the Jewish Holocaust. At the end of the Second World War, all the victorious powers; Britain, the United States and the Soviet Union, agreed to divide Palestine into two, giving the Jews the smaller part of it.

With the certainty of getting a new state, Jews started migrating to Palestine. The Palestinian Arabs, though officially opposed to Jewish immigration, saw it as good opportunity to make money. They sold their land to the Jews at premium prices. The Jews kept coming. The Palestinian Arabs kept selling.

By 1948 when the United Nations agreed to split the old Palestine into Arab and Jewish states, the Jews had already bought more than 20 per cent of the land. The Arabs rejected the partitions. The Jews accepted it. The Arabs declared war. The Jews declared the independent state of Israel. Many wars later, fathers are still burying their sons and there is no end in sight.

The Israelis and the Palestinians have a lot to learn from the Yoruba. For the Yoruba people, history is about relationship and not really about right or wrong, or the correctness of the narration. It is the embedded lessons and the protocols agreed upon by the ancestors as a result of that history (or myth).

In the Yoruba creation story, Oduduwa came from heaven and landed in Ile-Ife with a celestial chain, armed with the soil of heaven and a cock. He poured the soil on the water that covered the earth and the continents took form. Land continues to expand from Ile-Ife (Land of Expansion) and humanity dispersed from that spot from all corners of the earth. But we know no journalist witnessed the creation of the world!

Interestingly, science, anthropology, evolution and archaeology support the Ife theory more than the Garden of Eden story. All scientific research about the origin of man point to Africa, especially the Nile Valley in East Africa, as the first place where human life took form.

The emergence of Homo Erectus and later Homo Sapiens occurred in Africa. The discovery of iron and fire, the greatest discovery of the human race, occurred in Africa and were carried out by our ancestors. There is enough scientific evidence to support the belief that all other races migrated from Africa: the Jews, the Europeans, the Arabs and the Indians.

The black complexion has survived on every continent as natives till today. This is the land where both the Jews and the Gentiles have their roots. All civilisations in the world have their origins from this continent of ancient mysteries and modern miseries.

Mythology also credited Oduduwa with two other roles apart from taking part in the emergence of the First Dawn. He was the father of the human race. After hundreds of years and Ile-Ife had become a substantial settlement, he also invented the unique Yoruba kingship system. At the core of the obaship system is the Arole Theory, which states that every Oba, who can trace his origin to the House of Oduduwa in Ile-Ife, has the right to independence. He inherits the position and precedence of the first occupier of his throne.

That theory was thoroughly shaken in the 19th Century when three new powers emerged outside the Oduduwa constellation. These were Ilorin, Ibadan and Ijaiye. The result was a war, which could not be resolved until the British came to organise an armistice in 1886 as a prelude to colonial rule.

The Yoruba, after a painful experience that lasted for almost 70 years, have learnt that war does not solve any problem. Today, the inheritors of that collective memory, have learnt to engage in a lot of verbal warfare without actually going into the shooting-war. The lesson from the Old Ones of Ile-Ife is that humanity is one, why go to war with your brothers and sisters? If talks fail, engage in more talk until talk begets fruit.

That is the lesson that must be imbibed by the warring children of Abraham in the Middle East. If indeed they believe that Abraham was their father, then they would unite to find justice in the temple of equity. Equity demands that the Palestinians must be granted the right to their own land. No number of sophisticated weapons and mass killings, as it is going on now in Gaza, can stop the hunger for a Palestinian independent homeland.

It is the birthing of the Palestinian homeland that can be the ultimate guarantee of peace and security for Israel, not the weapons of war. War does not solve any problem. That is the lesson from the Old Ones of Ile-Ife.

Elections in Nigeria this year might be nearly over but the war by other means could well receive fresh fire from three state elections this weekend.

The year began with general elections in February and March, and is closing with off-cycle elections in Imo, Bayelsa and Kogi on November 11.

Conducting elections for three governors after the major round of governorship elections in March that covered 28 states, including the legislatures in dozens of states, and the federal elections before that, might ordinarily look easy. 

But they are not. These three off-cycle elections are in fact products of either violent electoral outcomes or bitterly fought court decisions. Apart from the post-election chaos that Nigeria has had to deal with, on a good day, each of the three states on their own, is a political cauldron – a nightmare for organisers, participants and observers alike.

Imo special

Of the five states in the South East, for example, Imo is arguably the most violence-prone with widespread reports of random fatal attacks, jailbreaks, attacks on security personnel, police stations and government facilities. Even Governor Hope Uzodimma, the chief security officer of the state, has lived largely behind heavy barricades and moves about like a general in an active war zone. 

To be fair, the violence in Imo predates him. It goes back to the years of the farmer-herder clashes; the rise in separatist agitations under MASSOB – a much earlier and far less deadly franchise than IPOB; and then followed by the upsurge in a variety of loose cannons. The situation has been worsened by years of poor governance.

But Uzodimma’s dramatic emergence and his brand of politics appear to have brought a new, more dangerous salience to the violence in the state. If you add the ongoing dispute between the national headquarters of the Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC) and the state government to the mix, then you might understand why this weekend’s election could be a perfect storm.

Labour has vowed to avenge the black-eye its president, Joe Ajaero, received at the hands of security personnel allegedly at the behest of Uzodimma. It has announced a flight ban on the governor and promised to follow up with a ground offensive. 

Inside Bayelsa’s creeks

Bayelsa is chaotic in its own way. Though the state managed to survive the turbulence after the forced removal of Governor Diepreye Alamieyeseigha in 2005, its brand of violence has often stemmed from an explosive mix of hostage taking and crude oil politics. A state with some of the country’s most forbidden creeks, Bayelsa is a logistician’s nightmare. It is also a base of former militants ready, able and willing to outspend politicians to secure their political stronghold.

Bayelsa has enjoyed a fairly unchallenged reign of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) since 1999. A brief intrusion by the All Progressives Congress (APC) came to grief when the Supreme Court ruled that Governor-elect David Lyon could not be sworn in because his deputy filed false documents  with the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

But with former PDP governor and junior Petroleum Minister Timipre Sylva now running on the platform of the APC, power could change hands. Yet, PDP stalwarts still licking their wounds from the defeat in the presidential election, are unlikely to stand idly by and watch the fall of a durable PDP stronghold in the Niger Delta.

Kogi, white lion’s den

The omens in Kogi with its history of political violence — the most horrific in recent times being the 2019 murder of PDP Kogi woman leader, Acheju Abuh, who was burnt to death inside her home — are no less frightening. The ruling APC and opposition parties have continued to trade allegations of violence even days to the election and no arrests have so far been made. 

Apart from Kogi where Yahaya Bello is ineligible to contest again, Imo and Bayelsa have incumbents itching to retain their seats. 

In a country where incumbency is a rock to be circumnavigated, the records suggest that unseating an incumbent takes more than guts. Among the miserable tally of incumbents that failed a reelection bid, were Mohammed Abubakar of Bauchi (2015-2019), Ramalan Yero of Kaduna (2012-2015), Mahmuda Aliyu Shinkafi of Zamfara (2007-2011), Ikedi Ohakim of Imo (2007-2011), and current junior Minister of Defence, Bello Matawalle (2019-2023). If performance mattered there would probably have been more. 

Add to this the huge mutual suspicion of the political players, and the mistrust by the voting public and you might understand why only winners come out of every election season, acclaiming democracy and certifying their victory as the popular will.

Voter apathy

Voter apathy remains a serious concern. According to a Guardianreport on Tuesday, “only about 30 percent of registered voters may decide the outcome in the three states combined.” However, from recent history whether at federal or state elections, 30 percent would be good turn-out. 

The presidential election in February recorded 26.7 percent. While other elections are only marginally better, the South East has remained a catastrophically low performer in recent years. The election that brought Anambra Governor Charles Soludo to power two years ago, for example, recorded a historic low turn-out of 10 percent.

If Guardian’s low forecast turns out right, it would be mainly for two reasons. One, the spike in violence in these states in the run-up to the elections, and two, the bitter aftertaste of the general elections held earlier this year. Seven months after the polls, the elections of a number of governors are still being challenged in the courts. Even if the courts existed solely for the pleasure of politicians, there still won’t be enough justice to serve their desperation. 

Political campaigns, if they have existed at all, have been a joke. Politicians in the three states where elections would hold have been making scandalous promises ranging from free tickets to European job fares, to promises to turn water to wine. 

Voters inclined to go out to vote in spite of these ridiculous offers are concerned for their safety because complicit security services and their political paymasters have refused to punish past perpetrators of violence. There is no indication that it would be different this time.

INEC’s albatross

Yet, more than anyone else, INEC knows that its poor handling of the general elections and their aftermath, could also be a strong reason for voter apathy. Voters won’t come out if, on top of safety concerns, they don’t also believe their votes would count. The Commission is once again in the spotlight. It cannot afford to fail. 

Again, the Commission has promised that polling unit results would be uploaded directly to INEC’s viewing portal even in largely rural states like Kogi and Bayelsa where there are limited communications and electricity infrastructure across large swathes of polling areas. We can’t afford to have another round of excuses this time.

No one wants to hear about glitches, attempted hacking, failing batteries or poor networks. The bulk of the complaints in the last general elections, which later became the subject of litigation, have been about INEC’s competence, credibility and the transparency of the process.

Elections in Edo and Ondo are next, but the three this weekend offer the commission redeeming grace. All said, since the elections would be held in states outside the top 10 in the country’s voter population, they offer INEC one big chance to repair its image.

** Ishiekwene is Editor-In-Chief of LEADERSHIP

“The difference between a successful person and others is not lack of strength, not lack of knowledge, but rather a lack of will.” ― Vince Lombardi

LinkedIn's research reveals that entrepreneurs consistently report the highest levels of job satisfaction among professionals. This study is logically understandable given that entrepreneurs typically venture into businesses aligned with their passions.

While the concept of ditching the corporate ladder and becoming your own boss is undeniably alluring, it's crucial to acknowledge the substantial risks involved. Income is far from guaranteed, traditional employer-sponsored benefits become a thing of the past, and in cases of business losses, your personal assets are at risk. Whether entrepreneurship is primarily a product of innate traits or skills acquired through learning remains a perennial debate. Unlike personality traits and demographic factors, the mastery of entrepreneurial skills necessitates a journey of training, education, and real-world experience in today's competitive market. This, in turn, offers you the competencies to generate innovative ideas and succeed in the business realm.

While you may not possess all of them at the outset, check out six key hard and soft skills that are paramount for starting a successful business. Read along!

Effective communication and listening skills

One of the foremost skills that every entrepreneur must possess is the power of effortless communication. Whether you're a solo entrepreneur or at the helm of a corporate behemoth, your ability to communicate is the sole thread connecting you and all stakeholders and potential partners. An entrepreneur's communication repertoire should encompass interactions with investors, employees, peers, customers, creditors, and mentors. If you can't effectively convey the value and vision of your company, the chances of success become increasingly remote. Communication skills enable individuals to articulate thoughts, ideas, and emotions with clarity through spoken and written words, as well as various other forms of expression. Listening skills, on the other hand, empower you to comprehend, absorb information, and respond thoughtfully. Both these abilities, thereby, form the bedrock of entrepreneurial proficiency, substantially influencing how you manage your business.  Contrary to the common misconception that effective communication is an innate quality, it can also be cultivated and refined. Always remember: You are the biggest champion for your business.

Financial proficiency

Money serves as the lifeblood of any organisation. Ineffectual financial management can lead to depleting your resources prematurely, jeopardising your business's prospects.  Alongside that, a fundamental understanding of how to interpret and construct financial statements, such as the balance sheet, income statement, and cash flow statement, is imperative. These documents serve not only regulatory and taxation purposes but also function as essential tools for monitoring performance, projecting future financial trajectories, and managing expenditures. As your business progresses, there may be opportunities to delegate certain financial responsibilities, but as an entrepreneur, possessing proficiency in budgeting, financial statement analysis, funding and relevant financial skills is indispensable for effective business management.

Effective time management Time management is far from being a mere "soft skill." When embarking on a new business journey, the initial inclination might be to work around the clock, but this approach isn't sustainable. Billionaires and other prosperous entrepreneurs excel at managing their time, which entails two essential facets: allocating most of their time to the highest-priority tasks and allowing themselves time to recharge. Above all, your time stands as your small business's most invaluable resource. How you harness this resource will significantly influence your business's success.

While time management is essential for all, it’s especially crucial for home-based businesses. When you start your day, plan a clear roadmap for the tasks ahead. This is particularly true for solo entrepreneurs, who often find themselves donning multiple hats throughout the day—handling emails and correspondences, crafting press releases, making sales calls in the afternoon, and concluding the day as a bookkeeper.  It's not about being a superhuman; it's about mastering time management and task prioritisation. Digital marketing proficiency In the contemporary business landscape, digital marketing is an absolute necessity. Regardless of whether you operate a neighbourhood pizza shop, offer plumbing services, or are in the process of building a new app, integrating some form of digital marketing is pivotal for expanding your business beyond a one-person operation. This entails establishing an effective online presence through a well-designed website.  Increasingly, it also involves acquiring basic knowledge of SEO, social media utilisation, and the ability to launch elementary digital marketing campaigns, such as Facebook ads. Therefore, for any business owner, a solid grasp of digital marketing elements such as SEO, social media marketing, and online advertising is indispensable in steering the growth of their enterprise. As your business evolves, you might consider outsourcing certain digital marketing tasks, but even then, having a nuanced understanding of digital marketing is required to track and measure campaign results.  Strategic networking  Your network stands as one of your most valuable assets in the realm of entrepreneurship. Effective networking not only allows you to connect with like-minded professionals but also provides you with the opportunity to assemble your future team and stay abreast of the dynamicity of your industry. Your professional network can encompass a diverse array of individuals, including:  Alumni from educational institutions Former and current co-workers Industry luminaries Friends and family members Professors and teachers Past and present clients Fellow business professionals in the entrepreneurial realm Cultivating a robust network can open doors to an array of business prospects, from potential partnership deals and subcontractor relationships to identifying future employees. It broadens the scope of your public relations efforts, enabling you to convey the right message across all fronts. Another effective method for widening your network is by participating in networking events within your locality or industry. These gatherings bring together learners from around the world, providing a platform for networking, engagement, and learning from distinguished leaders. LinkedIn can also facilitate valuable connections. Don't hesitate to initiate contact by sending a personalised invitation to establish rapport with a new connection.  Strategic business management While a successful entrepreneur is often defined by their thriving company, the art of business strategy is sometimes overlooked. It’s akin to the monumental magnificence of the Taj Mahal; everybody is bewitched by its beauty but none talks about the pain involved in building it. Effective entrepreneurs may initially rely on their exceptional communication, sales acumen, unwavering focus, and hunger for learning to navigate their businesses. When it comes to structuring and advancing a business, a robust business strategy is paramount. While some entrepreneurs have the luxury of hiring a planner for all the administrative tasks, the reality for most is different.  Entrepreneurship hinges on the unwavering determination and resilience to navigate through the most testing of circumstances. Nonetheless, they alone cannot propel you towards your goals without a well-rounded skill set. 

Yourstory.com

The naira weakened after efforts by the Central Bank of Nigeria to clear a backlog of matured foreign-exchange forward contracts left a number outstanding.

It slumped about 7% to 1,150 naira per dollar on the parallel market on Wednesday from 1,070 the previous day, according to Abubakar Mohammed, chief executive officer of Forward Marketing Bureau de Change Ltd.

That reversed naira strength last week after CBN announced it had cleared foreign-currency contracts with an unspecified number of banks.

The move was a key step targeted by the government to help stabilize the naira, which has fallen sharply since it reformed foreign-exchange controls earlier this year. The unit strengthened to 950 per dollar last week from 1,150 following the central bank’s dollar settlement.

Analysts said the amount of unsettled forward contracts remains substantial.

“The amount offset so far is only a fraction of what is outstanding, and most of the beneficiary banks are international banks,” investment bank FBNQuest said in a note to clients.

The naira also closed weaker in official trade at 870 per dollar on Tuesday, compared with 809 the previous day, according to FMDQ Group, a Lagos-based operator that tracks the data.

Airlines have a large backlog of unmet requests for dollars to repatriate income, but have not been supplied, said Kingsley Nwokoma, president of the Association of Foreign Airlines and Representatives in Nigeria.

The International Air Transport Association said in June that its members had more than $800 million stuck in Nigeria.

Finance Minister Wale Edun said last month that the government expects to attract $10 billion of inflows in the coming weeks to help clear the backlog, ease liquidity and stabilize the currency.

Bloomberg

Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) says that all banknotes remain legal tender after reports of anxiety among some members of the public over the legality of old naira banknotes.

In a statement on Wednesday, Isa AbdulMumin, director, corporate communications, said the old naira notes should not be rejected, as they will be issued alongside redesigned banknotes in adequate quantities to banks for the benefit of their customers.

CBN said: “Our attention has again been drawn to reports of a scarcity of cash across some major cities in the country despite assurances of sufficient cash stocks in all locations across the country.”

“There have also been reports of anxiety among some members of the public over the legality or otherwise of old Naira banknotes.

“For the avoidance of doubt, while reiterating that there are sufficient banknotes across the country for all normal economic activity, we wish to state unambiguously that every banknote issued by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) remains legal tender and should not be rejected by anyone, as stipulated in Section 20(5) of the CBN Act, 2007.”

CBN said its branches have been directed to continue to issue different denominations of old and redesigned banknotes in adequate quantities to banks for onward circulation to bank customers.

“We wish to restate that all denominations of banknotes issued by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) remain legal tender,” the apex bank said.

“In line with Section 20(5) of the CBN Act, 2007, no one should refuse to accept the Naira as a means of payment. Consequently, members of the public are advised to accept all CBN-issued banknotes currently in circulation and guard against panic withdrawals.

“We reaffirm that there is sufficient stock of curency notes to facilitate normal economic activities.”

CBN advised members of the public should continue to embrace alternative modes of payment to reduce the pressure on the use of physical cash.

The Cable