Business

Tambuwal Rejects SSS Overture On $620,000 Bribe

Published

14 years ago

June 18, 2012

House Speaker Aminu Tambuwal, has rejected a plea by security agents to help retrieve the $620,000 cash businessman Femi Otedola gave a lawmaker, Farouk Lawan.

The police have asked Lawan, chairman of the ad hoc committee which probed the multi-billion naira fuel subsidy scandal, to surrender the cash, which he admitted collecting. But the lawmaker says he will not give up the evidence that Otedola bribed him against his wish.

Besides, he has not shown up at the police Special Task Force (STF) probing the matter to say all he knows about the bribe.

Tambuwal is said to have rejected the request because, according to sources, “he does not want to be roped in”.

The Speaker was said to have been suspicious of why security agencies were mounting pressure on him to get the cash from Lawan.

A legislative aide said: “The Speaker turned down the request because security agencies might come up with a theory that Lawan kept the bribe with Tambuwal.

“Although the security agencies were not happy with the Speaker’s attitude, the man said as a lawyer he has enough experience to know what could happen when you are turning in evidence.

“He has fears that with a little shred of evidence, he might be roped in.”

The police yesterday reached out to principal officers of the House and influential members of the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to prevail on Lawan to appear before it today or face the consequences.

The House and the Police were involved in a hide and seek game yesterday.

The House said on June 6 it struck an unwritten agreement with the police hierarchy that Lawan could only be available in two weeks after it might have concluded its internal investigation into the matter.

A source said in the presence of the principal officers of the House, the police hierarchy communicated the agreement to the investigating desk.

Ahead of the police final decision on Lawan today, there were indications that five to 10 more lawmakers might be invited by the police based on audio tape of the conversation between Otedola and Lawan.

The Tide source learnt that the police may crack down on Lawan today, if he refuses to honour police invitation.

A source said: “We have sent emissaries to Lawan; they are talking to him to honour police invitation. We are hopeful that this persuasion will work.

“Let us see how it will go, but I think by the end of Thursday, Farouk must have chatted with the Police. We are just trying to be civil.”

But a member of the House said: “When some of our principal officers met with the police team on June 6, they asked the hierarchy to give them two weeks to investigate the allegation before asking Lawan to report for interrogation by the STF.

“The principal officers were obliged the two-week request. That is why Lawan has not appeared before the STF. We are only honouring our own part of the unwritten agreement.”

The source went on: “That claim by some lawmakers appears strange because Lawan is in the country for his recess. We are not aware of any agreement. With the international dimension the matter has taken, does he need two weeks to report to the police to make a statement?

“We have reached out to the House leadership through eminent Nigerians to allow Farouk to come to the police. That is the latest on this matter; let Farouk Lawan honour the police.”

It was learnt that the House leadership was battling last night to find a solution to the issue between it and the police.

A member of the House from the North East said: “For hours, Farouk Lawan met with Tambuwal and principal officers at the Speaker’s residence on Wednesday on how to handle police invitation.

“A solution is being found in such a manner that it will not affect our relationship with the police. Let them be patient.”

It was also learnt that five to 10 members of the House might also be invited by the police based on the audio and video tapes which were being shown some key House members yesterday.

The police source added: “Yes, we may invite more lawmakers, but we want to hear from Lawan first; that is the logical order. Let everybody talk to him to report by Thursday or else it may be a different story.”

The ongoing investigation has, however, created panic among House members following the rush to watch the video tape of the Otedola-Lawan game and listening to the audio tape by lawmakers

A source said: “From the tape, the negotiation was higher Otedola did not start video-taping, until when the rate was reduced to $5million. Later Otedola reduced it to $3million.

“There was another interesting aspect where Otedola told Lawan that the balance of the $3million was ready and the oil baron was asked to fly in the balance.

“Otedola said as soon as he got to Abuja , he would call Lawan but the lawmaker could be heard loudly saying: ‘It is possible we might be in the chamber but I will give you the number of a trusted hand… (A member of the House).

“The said member, who was a union activist before his election, was said to have come from a Yoruba speaking area in the North-Central zone of the country.”

Transport

Nigeria Rates 7th For Visa Application To France —–Schengen Visa

Published

4 days ago

January 28, 2026

The Tide

Nigeria was the 7th country in 2024, which filed the most schenghen visa to France, with a total of 111,201 of schenghen visa applications made in 2025, out of which 55,833, about 50.2 percent submitted to France

Although 2025 data is unavailable, these figures from Schengen Visa Info implies that France is not merely a preferred destination, but has been a dominant access point for Nigerian short-stay travel into Europe.

France itself has received more than three million Schengen visa applications, making it the most sought-after Schengen destination globally and a leading gateway for long-haul and third-country travellers. It was the top destination for applicants from 51 countries that same year, including many without visa-exemption arrangements with the Schengen Zone, and the sole destination for applicants from seven countries.

Alison Reed, a senior analyst at the European Migration Observatory said, “France’s administrative reach shapes applicant strategy, but it also concentrates risk. If processing times lengthen or documentation standards tighten in Paris, the effects ripple quickly back to capitals such as Abuja.”

The figures underline that this pattern is not unique to Nigeria. In neighbouring West and Central African states such as Gabon, Benin, Togo and Madagascar, more than 90 per cent of Schengen visas were sought via French authorities in 2024, with Chad, Djibouti, the Central African Republic and Comoros submitting applications exclusively to France.

“France acts as the central enumeration point for many African and Asian applicants,” said Manish Khandelwal, founder of Travelobiz.com, which reported the consolidated statistics. “Historical ties, language networks and established diaspora communities all play into that concentration. But volume inevitably invites scrutiny, and that affects refusal rates and processing rigour.”

That scrutiny is visible in the rejection statistics. Of the more than three million French applications in 2024, approximately 481,139 were denied, a rejection rate of about 15.7 per cent. While this rate is lower than in some smaller Schengen states, the sheer volume of applications means France contributes significantly to the total number of refusals within the zone.

For Nigerian applicants and policymakers, one implication is the need to broaden engagement with other Schengen consular hubs. “Over-reliance on a single consulate creates what one might call administrative bottleneck effects,” said Jean-Luc Martin, a professor and expert in European integration and mobility law at Leiden University. “If applicants from Nigeria default to France without exploring legitimate alternatives in countries like Spain, Germany or the Netherlands, they expose themselves to systemic risk

Martin added that the broader context of Schengen visa policy is evolving, with the European Commission’s preparing roll-out of the European Travel Information and Authorisation System (ETIAS) aimed at harmonising pre-travel screening across member states.

For Nigerians seeking leisure, business or educational travel to Europe, these trends suggest that strategic planning and consular diversification could become as important as the completeness of documentation and financial proof. Governments and travel consultancies in Abuja, Lagos and beyond are already advising clients to explore alternative consular pathways and to prepare for more rigorous screening criteria across all Schengen states

By: Enoch Epelle

Transport

West Zone Aviation: Adibade Olaleye Sets For NANTA President

Published

4 days ago

January 28, 2026

The Tide

Prince Abiodun Ajibade Olaleye, a former Welfare Officer and Public Relations Officer of the National Association of Nigeria Travel Agencies (NANTA), has formally declared his intention to contest for the position of Vice President of NANTA Western Zone, ahead of the zonal elections scheduled for Thursday, February 26, 2026.

In a New Year message to members of the association, Olaleye expressed optimism about the prospects of the travel and tourism industry in 2026, despite the economic headwinds and migration policy challenges that affected operations in the previous year.

He acknowledged that reduced patronage and declining trade volumes had placed significant financial pressure on many travel agencies, but urged members to remain resilient and forward-looking.

According to him, the challenges confronting the industry should be seen as opportunities for growth, innovation and institutional strengthening.

He stressed the need for unity and collective action among members of the association, noting that collaboration remains critical to navigating the evolving global travel environment.

Unveiling his vision for the NANTA Western Zone, Olaleye said his aspiration is to consolidate on the achievements of past leaders while expanding the zone’s relevance, influence and impact “beyond imagination.” He promised a leadership focused on commanding excellence, improved member welfare and stronger stakeholder engagement.

Drawing from his experience in previous executive roles within NANTA, the vice-presidential aspirant said he is well-positioned to make meaningful contributions to the association, particularly in areas of member support, public engagement and institutional growth.

“I believe that together, we can take our association to greater heights and build a stronger, more prosperous NANTA Western Zone that benefits all members,” he said, while appealing to delegates for their support and votes.

Olaleye concluded by offering prayers for good health, peace and prosperity for members in 2026, expressing confidence that the new year would usher in renewed opportunities for the travel industry and the association at large.

By: Enoch Epelle

Business

Sugar Tax ‘ll Threaten Manufacturing Sector, Says CPPE

Published

4 days ago

January 28, 2026

The Tide

The Centre for the Promotion of Private Enterprise (CPPE) has warned that renewed calls for a sugar tax on non-alcoholic beverages could hurt Nigeria’s manufacturing sector, threaten jobs and slow the country’s fragile economic recovery.

In a statement, the Chief Executive Officer, CPPE, Muda Yusuf, said while public health concerns such as diabetes and cardiovascular diseases deserve attention, imposing an additional sugar-specific tax was economically risky and poorly suited to Nigeria’s current realities of high inflation, weak consumer purchasing power and rising production costs.

Yusuf who insisted that the food and beverage sector remains the backbone of Nigeria’s manufacturing industry, said the industry supports millions of livelihoods across farming, processing, packaging, logistics, wholesale and retail trade, and hospitality.

He remarked that any policy that weakens this ecosystem could have far-reaching consequences, including job losses, lower household incomes and reduced investment.

Yusuf argued that proposals for sugar taxation in Nigeria are often influenced by global policy templates that do not adequately reflect local conditions.

According to him, manufacturers in the non-alcoholic beverage segment are already facing heavy fiscal and cost pressures.

“The proposition of a sugar-specific tax is misplaced, economically risky, and weakly supported by empirical evidence, especially when viewed against Nigeria’s prevailing structural and macroeconomic realities.

“Existing obligations include company income tax, value-added tax, excise duties, levies on profits and imports, and multiple state and local government charges. These are compounded by high energy costs, exchange-rate volatility, elevated interest rates and expensive logistics,” he said.

The CPPE boss noted that retail prices of many non-alcoholic beverages have risen by about 50 per cent over the past two years, even without the introduction of new taxes, further squeezing consumers.

Yusuf further expressed reservation on the effectiveness of sugar taxes in addressing the root causes of non-communicable diseases in Nigeria.

By: Lady Godknows Ogbulu