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  • Overview of Key Issues in the Pre-Election Period for the June 18, 2022 Ekiti State Governorship Election (Pre-Election Press Statement)

    Overview of Key Issues in the Pre-Election Period for the June 18, 2022 Ekiti State Governorship Election (Pre-Election Press Statement)

    T
    he first of two off cycle governorship elections for 2022 will be conducted by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in Ekiti State, on June 18, 2022. The election is the seventh in the state since the return of the current democratic dispensation in 1999. Following a 2010 Court of Appeal verdict, which removed then Governor Segun Oni, and declared Dr. Kayode Fayemi the rightful winner of the 2007 governorship election, Ekiti became one of several states holding off cycle governorship elections. The June 18, 2022 Ekiti State gubernatorial election is the very first to be conducted under the amended Electoral Act, 2022.

    As voters in Ekiti State head to the polls for tomorrow’s governorship election, the contest is apparently shaping up to be a three horse race involving the ruling party in the state, the All Progressives Congress (APC), the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and the Social Democratic Party (SDP), which has clearly emerged as a third force in the election. CDD observes that there are 16 political parties fielding candidates for the election. Only two candidates and seven deputy governorship candidates are women, just as the age range of the candidates indicate low participation of the youth.

    The CDD EAC will be closely observing the electoral process with the objective of collecting data to support evidence-based analysis of key aspects of the Ekiti State governorship election. The CDD EAC will also host a fake news hub for the purpose of tracking and countering fake news and misinformation as it affects the election.

    Pre-Election Observations

    Based on the observation of the CDD EAC in the pre-election period, the following are the key trends, which have underlined the process.

    CDD notes that the June 18, 2022 Ekiti State Governorship election is significant because it will serve as the first dress rehearsal as the INEC prepares for the 2023 general elections. The election will also be the first to be conducted under the Electoral Act, 2022, and the new INEC guidelines and regulations for conduct of elections. CDD EAC further notes that although INEC has made commitments to conduct a credible election in Ekiti State, its success in this regard would depend on its neutrality, professionalism and the level of its understanding and commitment to the new legal framework. The credibility of the process would also depend on how well INEC uses some of its new powers as derived from the extant electoral law, especially the power conferred on the Commission to delay the release of election results, if the Commission needs to take a second look.

    The CDD EAC is concerned about violence, money politics and violations of incumbency powers and the possible effects of these on the credibility of the election. CDD EAC notes that Ekiti State, has recorded several incidents of violence during previous elections. In the build up to the 2022 governorship election, pockets of election-related violence have been recorded in places like Ado Ekiti, Efon Alaiye, Oye, Ido/Osi and Oye Ekiti. Other observable issues, which would shape the credibility of the election include; how well INEC is able to effectively deploy technology, particularly the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS), impartial security provisioning, the quality of results management, curtailing the role of money, incumbency and god fatherism in the election. Also critical is the need for stakeholders in the election to proactively track, and counter fake news and misinformation. Already, the pre-election period has witnessed the spread of fake news capable of undermining voter confidence and participation in the process. An example is the fake news which trended recently on a purported Appeal Court decision nullifying the primaries of one of the major political parties and, by extension, its candidate.

    In terms of some of the election risk factor, CDD notes that the ongoing strike by the Academic Staff Union of Universities ( ASUU) has crippled the local economy especially in university towns in Ekiti State. This has created a threat in terms of the availability of idle youth being recruited for activities, which could undermine the credibility of the election. By grounding the local economy, the strike has also created the wrong incentives as voters are more likely to see the election as an opportunity for economic survival, thereby exacerbating the risk of vote buying. This becomes even more relevant when it is considered that Ekiti State introduced the issue of “stomach infrastructure” into the Nigerian political lexicon. CDD has also observed that based on history of past violence in elections in the state, the following Local Government Areas, constitute potential flash points in the election; Ado Ekiti, Efon Alaiye, Ido/Osi, and Oye.

    Signed:

    Professor Adele Jinadu

    Chair, CDD EAC

  • FACT CHECK: Did the National Population Commission (NPC) publish an e-recruitment shortlist?

    FACT CHECK: Did the National Population Commission (NPC) publish an e-recruitment shortlist?

    By Peter Yohanna

    On July 15, 2023, “NYSCINFO”, an online blog, published multiple lists of candidates shortlisted for the National Population Commission’s (NPC) ad hoc staff e-recruitment for birth registration.

    The headline of the blogpost reads: ”NPC shortlisted candidates for Birth Registration- Check Here. If you have applied for the National Population Commission (NPC) Birth Registration Adhoc Staff e-Recruitment 2023, we are pleased to inform you that the NPC management has released the names of shortlisted candidates for the NPC Birth Registration”.

    The report has been shared across various social media platforms, such as WhatsApp, where it has been forwarded multiple times with the caption,  ”Breaking: NPC shortlisted candidates for birth registration ad-hoc staff recruitment.” 

    Using Semrush – an online tool for assessing a website’s visibility and analytics, it was discovered, as of the time of this report, that the blog site has  9,770 subscribers.

    VERIFICATION

    PUNCH News and other media outlets reported on June 8, 2023, that the United Nations Children Fund (UNICEF) and the National Population Commission (NPC) had partnered with the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) for the registration of 12.7 million births in 2023. 

    The partnership is for the issuance of birth certificates containing the names and nationalities of all Nigerian children under the age of five in 21 states, 456 Local Government Areas, and 4,978 wards across the country. 

    UNICEF’s Chief of Child Protection, Dr. Ibrahim Sesay, said 850 corps members would be enlisted for the exercise and would work alongside National Population Commission (NPC) officials. 

    The NPC portal thereafter opened for e-birth registration recruitment, with a deadline indicated to be June 30, 2023.  

    However, a search of the National Population Commission (NPC) website reveals that the names of the shortlisted candidates have not yet been released.   

    The list of all candidates who allegedly applied for the job was published on a website that claimed to be an NPC recruitment portal.

    The website was checked on the “WhoIs” database, and the results showed that it was registered in March 2023 by one Ibrahim Isah, from Azare town in Bauchi State, and was not registered by the National Population Commission.

    Verdict: FALSE

    The claim that the National Population Commission (NPC) has published the names of shortlisted ad hoc staff for birth registration is false. We can confirm that the website was recently registered and is not affiliated to neither the NYSC nor the NPC.

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  • FACT CHECK: Is this a video of a recent bandit attack in Zamfara?

    A video has been shared numerous times on WhatsApp, claiming that bandits recently attacked Zamfara State.

    The message reads: “Listen to Trust Radio Live, A video has been shared multiple times on WhatsApp, claiming there was a recent attack by bandits in Zamfara State. This is the real situation happening in Zamfara (sic) state,” a text embedded in the video reads

    Some people can be seen in the video sharing their experiences in Hausa, the local language. One of them said that bandits would come into town and attack them and their cattle. Another said the residents fought back and forced the bandits to flee, but they returned on multiple bikes and began shooting sporadically, killing men, women, and children. The people urged the government to send reinforcements to prevent further attacks.

    Verification

    Using InVid, a tool for video verification, a frame-by-frame analysis of the video was done to confirm its authenticity. The results revealed that the clip was first uploaded to a YouTube channel in February 2022.  Further investigation revealed that it was also posted on Facebook by multiple users, just days after the attack. 

    Verdict: Misleading.

    Based on our investigation and available information, we can confirm that the video making the rounds on WhatsApp claiming a recent bandit attack in Zamfara State is false.

    This fact check is produced in collaboration with Daily Trust

  • FACT CHECK: Were several shops owned by Northerners razed in Imo community? 

    FACT CHECK: Were several shops owned by Northerners razed in Imo community? 

    A video circulating on social media purportedly shows the moment shops were razed in Imo State, Southeast Nigeria. In the video posted on TikTok, it was said in Hausa that the properties being burnt belonged to Northerners in the community.

    As can be seen here, here, here, and here, the video has since gone viral, as the man speaking in the video can be heard asking people to share it widely.

    Claim: Several shops owned by Northerners were razed in a community in Imo state

    Verification

    The CDD War Room investigated the viral claim and here is what we gathered.

    We traced the source of the viral video to a TikTok user who uploaded the video on Saturday, July 29, 2023, without any caption.

    To further confirm the veracity of the statement made in the video, we searched and found a special report published by Daily Trust on Monday, July 31. The report was titled, “1 Killed, Several Shops Burnt As Imo Govt Demolishes Hausa Settlements.” 

    According to the report, several shops and homes in some Hausa communities in Owerri West Local Government Area of Imo state, were razed during an alleged operation by the state government officials.

    Sources reportedly disclosed that officials of the Owerri Capital Development Authority (OCDA) and Environmental Transformation Agency (ENTRCO), alongside policemen stormed  and set ablaze shops and properties in Avu Junction, Hausa market, Nekede No 1 market and Arugu market, as part of the government’s efforts to remove alleged shanties and illegal structures.

    “Several houses and shops belonging to northerners were burnt down, most of us are currently taking refuge in the bush and our Juma’at Mosque was equally demolished by the taskforce and the police,” one of the sources was quoted to have said.

    However, the Imo State Commissioner of Police, Mohammed Barde, reportedly said at a news conference on Sunday, July 30, 2023, that it was an inferno that gutted one of the markets, denying the alleged report that the market was set ablaze.

    Part of the Commissioner’s statement read, “I invite you here this afternoon to clear some misleading reports making the rounds on social media, alleging that hoodlums attacked and burnt the popular Hausa Market Avu which is not true.

    “For the purpose of clarity, I wish to inform you that the incident that happened at the market was a fire outbreak that led to loss of properties. No life was lost in the inferno and it’s under investigation and the outcome of our investigation will be made known to the public.

    “I am pleased to inform you that, the Executive Governor of Imo State, His Excellency,  Hope Uzodinma, has been informed and directed arrangements be made for him to meet with those affected.”

    Verdict: All We Know

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  • FACT CHECK: How true are claims by Igbo Times about alleged suspension of Nigerian courts, Abaribe’s death? 

    FACT CHECK: How true are claims by Igbo Times about alleged suspension of Nigerian courts, Abaribe’s death? 

    Igbo Times Magazine, an ethnic-based news blog, reported that Nigeria’s President, Bola Tinubu, has suspended all courts in the country due to fears of disqualification.

    The platform, in the report dated July 26, 2023, asserted that this announcement was made through a statement where the president cited “uncovered evidence of widespread fraud in the judiciary” as the reason for his decision.

    Claim I: Nigeria’s president, Bola Tinubu, has suspended all courts in the country over fears of disqualification.

    Verification

    The CDD War Room investigated the claim made by the news blog that Bola Tinubu has suspended all courts in Nigeria. 

    We checked the statement purportedly issued by the president. We observed that the alleged statement was not signed, and there was no confirmation or credible publication of such a statement by any reputable media outlet.

    Also, the CDD War Room has been observing the proceedings of the Presidential Election Petition Court (PEPC) since it commenced the hearing of petitions contesting the outcome of the 2023 presidential election.

    We can confirm that the Court still sat on Tuesday, August 1, 2023, contrary to the viral report being published by the news blog weeks ago.

    Verdict: FALSE

    The CDD War Room found the report published by Igbo Times Magazine to be false, as there is no credible evidence or official confirmation from reliable sources. It is essential to rely on verified information from reputable news outlets to ensure the accuracy of viral news and avoid spreading false or misleading information. As of now, there is no indication that Bola Tinubu has suspended any court in Nigeria.

    Claim II: Igbo Times Magazine reported that Eyinnaya Abaribe, a federal lawmaker, was shot by gunmen in Abia state

    The news blog posted on microblogging platforms, X (formerly Twitter) and Facebook, that Abaribe, the senator representing Abia South Senatorial District, was shot dead by gunmen in his residence.

    Screenshot of the viral report on Facebook

    Verification

    The CDD War Room investigated the viral report suggesting that Abaribe, the lawmaker representing Abia South Senatorial District, was shot dead by gunmen, and here is what we found.

    To confirm the veracity of the claim, we investigated the images attached to the post. We found that one of the images was from a 2021 gunmen attack on a member of Federal House of Representatives, Chris Azubogu, in Anambra state. The second image was from an attack on Ifeanyi Ubah’s convoy, also in Anambra state.

    When we clicked on the link embedded in the post, it took us to another false post which has been flagged by Facebook.

    As of the time of filing this fact-check, we can confirm that Eyinnaya Abaribe was not shot dead and is still alive.

    Verdict: FALSE

    The images used in the viral post did not show an attack on Abaribe in Abia state. They show unrelated incidents involving other political actors in a different state. Also, no credible media outlet reported Abaribe’s death.

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  • FACT CHECK: Did the judges acknowledge Chimamanda Adichie in court?

    FACT CHECK: Did the judges acknowledge Chimamanda Adichie in court?

    A social media user has claimed that the judges at the Presidential Election Petition Court on August 1, 2023, acknowledged the presence of award-winning writer, Chimamanda Adichie. The claim was discovered on Twitter, where it had received over four thousand likes and had been viewed over 72 thousand times as of the time of this report. The claim has also surfaced on other microblogging platforms, such as Facebook, and messaging platforms, such as WhatsApp. 

    Claim: Presidential tribunal judges acknowledged Chimamanda Adichie in court

    Verification

    CDD Election WarRoom was physically present at the tribunal and can confirm that Chimamanda Adichie entered the courtroom some minutes before 2 p.m. alongside Peter Obi and Datti Abba Ahmed , the flag bearers of the Labour Party (LP) who are also the petitioner in the presidential election tribunal, against the emergence of Bola Ahmed Tinubu of the All Progressives Party (APC) as the winner of the February presidential election. 

    Her arrival was met with enthusiasm by supporters of Peter Obi and the Labour Party, as many people attempted to take photographs with her. 

    The session, which was supposed to start at 2 p.m., did not start until 2:20 p.m. when the judges arrived.  

    The usual procedure was followed, and the court immediately got down to business, beginning with the announcement of the appearances of both parties. 

    The parties were scheduled to adopt their final written addresses 

    At no point during the court session did the court or any of the judges acknowledge her presence. 

    Verdict: FALSE

    The claim that the judges acknowledged the presence of Chimamanda Adichie in court is False. The CDD War Room was present at the tribunal and through out the session, none of the judges acknowledged her presence or gave special recognition to the award-winning writer.  

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  • FACT CHECK: Did Niger military leader say Tinubu government is illegitimate?

    FACT CHECK: Did Niger military leader say Tinubu government is illegitimate?

    On July 30, 2023, a Twitter user uploaded an image with the caption “BREAKING: Your Government is illegitimate. I will not listen to you- General Tiani, Niger Military Leader replies Tinubu as the chairman of ECOWAS.” The tweet has garnered over 472k views as at the time of compiling this fact-check. 

    A similar version of the claim is going viral on WhatsApp. The message reads “Coup plotter in Niger accuses President Tinubu of lacking legitimacy.”

    In a video attached to this WhatsApp version of the claim, the caption reads “ECOWAS is not as strong as it used to be because its Chairman, the President of Nigeria is having legitimacy issues.” The claim is attributed to an SABC correspondent. 

    Claim I: Niger military leader said Tinubu government is illegitimate

    Verification

    On July 27th, 2023, military officers in Niger announced a coup on national TV. They said the democratically elected government of Mohamed Bazoum has been dissolved. The soldiers also announced the suspension of all institutions and the closing of the country’s land borders. Since the announcement, president Bazoum has been held hostage by the commanders of the presidential guard. 

    Shortly after the military took over, Bola Tinubu, the president of Nigeria and the chairman of ECOWAS, summoned an extraordinary meeting of all ECOWAS leaders. At the end of the meeting, the resolution was to give a week ultimatum to Abdourahmane Tchiani, an Army general, the leader of the officers who overthrew Niger’s democratically elected leader. 

    In a communique read by the ECOWAS Commission chairperson, Omar Touray, at the Extraordinary Summit held in Abuja, the ECOWAS leaders concluded that if constitutional order is not restored to the Republic of Niger, the commission may resort to the use of force. 

    The military leader, Tchiani, fired back at ECOWAS, just as they warned against any form of military intervention from the sub-regional body.  Even though the Niger coup leader warned against the use of force, there is no evidence that he referred to the government of Bola Tinubu as illegitimate. 

    Verdict: NO EVIDENCE

    There is no evidence to show that Niger coup leader, Tchiani described the Bola Tinubu-led federal government as illegitimate. Although the presidential election result that won Tinubu the presidency is being contested at the tribunal, the elections court is yet to give its verdict. 

    Claim II: SABC correspondent says ECOWAS is not strong because its chairman, the president of Nigeria is having legitimacy issues

    Verification

    The CDD War Room found that the video circulating online is an interview granted on SABC NEWS by Sophie Mokoena, the international editor for South African Broadcasting Corporation (SABC).

    In the interview, Sophie was asked questions about the recent coup d état in Niger, the continuous hostage of the president, Mohamed Bazoum, and the role of ECOWAS and the AU in the ongoing crisis within the region.

    While responding, she said “it is quite unstable right now and unfortunately you have the chair currently, it’s the president of Nigeria also facing a lot of pressure in his country in terms of  how the election panned out in terms of the result. Some questioning the credibility of the election. He issued a strong statement yesterday but already when you read the reaction to the statement, people were already saying you yourself, you are not legitimate…”

    Verdict: TRUE

    We can confirm that Sophie Mokoema, the international editor of SABC said ECOWAS is not strong (as it used to be) because the chairman who doubles as Nigerian president, is having legitimacy issues.  

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  • FACT CHECK: Nigerian public officers’ pay has not been adjusted since 1999?

    FACT CHECK: Nigerian public officers’ pay has not been adjusted since 1999?

    Adams Oshiomhole, a chieftain of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), representing Edo North in the 10th Nigerian Senate, has claimed in a recent interview with Channels TV, that the pay of public officers has not been adjusted since the year 1999.

    The former national chairman of the APC and ex governor of Edo state, made this known when fielding questions on the government’s plans for palliatives following the removal of fuel subsidy.

    While stressing that salary earners in Nigeria were underpaid, Oshiomhole said, “Do you know that the pay of public officers has not been adjusted since 1999 because it has to be done by the RAMFAC? And, which country in the world since you like to talk globally, in an environment such as ours where the key variables that determine costs of living; exchange rate, inflation, running double digits over the past 10-15 years? I don’t know when last Nigeria attained single-digit inflation.” 

    Claim: Nigerian public officers’ pay has not been adjusted since the year 1999

    Verification

    The CDD War Room investigated the claim to confirm its veracity, and here is what we found.

    According to Paragraph 32(d) of Part 1 to the Third Schedule, and Sections 70, 84, 111, and 124 of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended), the Revenue Mobilisation Allocation and Fiscal Commission (RMAFC) is the federal executive body responsible for determining the appropriate remuneration for public officers, which include political, public, and judicial office holders.

    We ran a check on the official website of the Commission and found a report which revealed that the remuneration packages for political office holders in the Executive and Legislature at the Federal, State and Local Government levels, as well as Judiciary at the Federal and State levels, were reviewed in 2000 and 2007.

    “The 2000 Remuneration Report was passed into law and is known as the ’’Certain Political, Public and Judicial Office holders (Salaries and Allowances) Act, 2002” while the 2007 Remuneration Report which reviewed the remuneration package is called “Certain Political, Public and Judicial Office Holders (Salaries and Allowances, etc.) (Amendments) Act, 2008”. This is the extant Act in use for the remuneration of political office holders to date,” part of the report read.

    This indicates that the pay of certain public officers has been adjusted multiple times since the return of democracy in 1999.

    Verdict: FALSE

    The claim made by Adams Oshiomhole about public officers’ pay not being adjusted since 1999 is false. The CDD War Room confirms that the federal executive body, RMFAC, responsible for determining public officers’ pay, has made multiple adjustments to the remuneration packages.

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  • FACT CHECK: Niger’s finance minister breaks down in tears over order to account for stolen funds?

    FACT CHECK: Niger’s finance minister breaks down in tears over order to account for stolen funds?

    A video, purportedly showing Niger Republic’s finance minister, Ahmat Jidoud, crying over an order from a military junta to account for stolen funds within 48 hours, has been widely circulated online. 

    The video went viral on Saturday, July 29, 2023, spreading across various social media platforms and gaining significant attention from multiple news outlets, such as Sahara Reporters, Gambakwe media, Gistmania, Insiderhint, and others; as can be seen here, here, here, here, and here.

    Screenshots of the viral video on Instagram
    Screenshots of the viral video on Twitter and Facebook
    Screenshots of the multiple blogposts

    This is coming days after the country’s president, Mohammed Bazoum, was held by troops from the presidential guard on Wednesday, July 26, 2023. Subsequently, the Nigerien soldiers declared a coup on national television.  

    Claim: Video shows the moment Niger Republic’s finance minister was crying over an order from the military junta to account for stolen funds within 48 hours.

    Verification

    The CDD War Room investigated the viral claim to confirm its veracity, and here is what we found.

    An assessment of the viral clip revealed that the man shedding tears in the video was not Ahmat Jidoud, the minister of finance of the Niger Republic. 

    We identified the man in the video to be Marou Amadou, the country’s former minister of Justice, who served between 2011 and 2021, during the administration of former Nigerien president, Mahamadou Issoufou.

    L- Ahmat Jidoud R- Marou Amadou

    We further traced the video to a Facebook post made on December 27, 2021, which was captioned “Former Minister of Justice Marou Amadou under the magistracy of Issoufou. It was today 27 December 2021 at Bravia Hotel in Niamey.”

    Screenshot of the Facebook post

    Verdict: FALSE 

    The CDD War Room confirms that the viral video purportedly showing the moment Niger’s finance minister, Ahmat Jidoud, was crying over an order to account for stolen funds, is an old video of the country’s former minister of justice, Marou Amadou. The video has been online since December 2021.

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  • FACT CHECK: Did Oshiomhole say members of the 9th Senate looted their offices? 

    FACT CHECK: Did Oshiomhole say members of the 9th Senate looted their offices? 

    An All Progressives Congress (APC) senator, representing Ogun West, Solomon Adeola, who was part of the 9th Assembly, has claimed that Adams Oshiomhole, another APC senator representing Edo North, said in an interview that senators of the 9th Assembly looted their offices at the end of their tenure. 

    Adeola made this known on the floor of the Red Chamber, during the plenary session held on Tuesday, July 25, 2023.

    “Mr President, the matter arising has to do with one of our colleagues (Adams Oshiomhole) that granted a television interview concerning the 9th Senate which I was a member. On this said programme, the distinguished senator of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, told the whole world that we looted our offices, that chairs, tables, televisions, were carted away by the Senators,” Adeola said as he raised a point of order.

    Claim: Adams Oshiomhole said in an interview that members of the 9th Senate looted their offices 

    Verification 

    To confirm the veracity of the claim, the CDD War Room assessed the interview, where Adams Oshiomhole was said to have made the statement, and here is what we found. 

    In the interview with Channels Television, the former governor of Edo State spoke to issues bordering on the recent subsidy removal and the high cost of governance in Nigeria.

    When asked to defend the huge allocation of funds linked to the National Assembly, Oshiomhole said he was yet to know the pay structure of the federal legislature. He added that he had just resumed as a lawmaker, and there had been no communication yet about his statutory salary.

    The former national chairman of the ruling APC, went further to say, “Let me tell you one thing that the National Assembly is not talking about and I don’t know why those who have the duty to speak are not speaking about it. I was shocked by the level of vandalisation of properties of the National Assembly. Their televisions were carted away. Carpets are carted away. Senators’ chairs are carted away.”

    Oshiomhole did not say in the interview that the senators looted their offices, as he only expressed concerns over the rate at which certain items in the senators’ offices were found missing despite the heavy presence of security officers in the NASS complex. 

    While refuting the claim, Oshiomhole said, “At no time did I say senators looted their offices. I only said offices were vandalised and that many senators had to use their personal money to purchase basic items for their offices. I was defending the erroneous impression out there that we appropriated N70 billion to ourselves.”

    Verdict: Misleading

    The CDD War Room confirms that Adams Oshiomhole did not say that senators of the 9th Assembly looted their offices, as he only expressed concerns over the rate at which some items were found missing in senators’ offices despite the presence of security personnel in the NASS.

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  • FACT CHECK: Did the Federal government receive a loan of 800 million from the World Bank?

    FACT CHECK: Did the Federal government receive a loan of 800 million from the World Bank?

    The chairman, Senate committee on media and public affairs, Yemi Adaramodu, while briefing journalists in Abuja recently, stated that the $800 million facility from the World Bank is not a loan. He said the amount was different from the N500 billion the federal government had set aside to provide palliatives to Nigerians to cushion the effects of the fuel subsidy removal. 

    He stated, ” It is a World Bank facility. It has been on before the advent of this government. It is not borrowing; it is for the national social safety net. It is very different from the palliatives targeted specifically at Nigerians which would be sourced among Nigerians. It is not borrowing; it is not a loan.“

    Claim: the federal government received a loan of $800 million from the World Bank

    Verification

    Findings reveal that contrary to the statement by the Senate’s spokesperson, the $800 million secured from the World Bank is actually a loan and not an intervention from the bank. The federal government had recently secured a $800 million loan from the World Bank to provide palliatives for over 50 million Nigerians after the removal of fuel subsidy.

    Recall that the administration of former President Muhammadu Buhari, towards its expiration, secured the loan but could not disburse it as it was already winding down.

    Reports from Daily Trust, Channels Television, and Premium Times revealed that the concession loan, which was approved by the World Bank board, is to be repaid in 25 years with an interest rate of 2.5 percent. The money is set to be shared to vulnerable persons captured in its National Social Safety Net Programme (NSSNP).

    Concessional loans, also called soft loans, have more generous terms than market loans. The features of concession loans generally include below-market interest rates, grace periods in which the loan recipient is not required to make debt payments for several years or a combination of low-interest rates/grace periods.

    The $800m loan obtained by the government attracts a maximum commitment charge rate of one-half of one percent per annum on the Unwithdrawn Financing Balance, and a service charge of three-fourths of one per cent per annum on the withdrawn credit balance. This signifies that the interest charge is one and a quarter percent per annum on the withdrawn credit balance.

    Also, a percentage of the principal amount of the loan is expected alongside the other charges, and this will increase over time. While the first payment will be 1.65 per cent of the principal amount, the last payment will be 3.40 per cent of the principal amount.

    It is also important to note that the agreement between the federal government and the World Bank which was signed by the former minister of finance, Zainab Ahmed, has a repayment plan which will be made from 2027 to 2051, twice a year.

    The Country Director of the World Bank, Shubham Chaudhury, confirmed that the financing that the World Bank has provided to Nigeria is a loan. He explained that the loan is a highly concessional one that will be paid back over some years. Chaudhury stated that although the $800 million is a loan, it almost looks like a grant because the interest rate Nigeria will pay for the loan is about 2 percent yearly.

    Verdict: FALSE 

    Findings by CDD fact-checkers showed that the $800 million secured by the government of former President Buhari is a loan and not a grant. This is contrary to the statement by the spokesman of the Nigerian Senate, and as such, the claim is false.

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