NEWS
Oil Bunkers Exposed My Intel To Army, Says Journalist Fisayo Soyombo
Investigative journalist, Fisayo Soyombo has called for a comprehensive reform of Nigeria’s security apparatus to combat illegal crude oil bunkering.
Speaking on Arise TV, Soyombo recounted his recent arrest by the Nigerian Army during an undercover investigation into the country’s illegal oil bunkering network.
Soyombo, founder of the Foundation for Investigative Journalism, was detained for three days by the 6 Division of the Nigerian Army in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, before his release on Friday. His detention followed what he described as a misunderstanding within the military over the investigation’s purpose.
“The Nigerian Army didn’t arrest me in the conventional sense,” Soyombo clarified. “They spotted me during an operation, and I approached them voluntarily. Everyone else ran away, but I stayed because I had nothing to hide.”
Soyombo revealed he was probing the security structures that shield illegal oil bunkering operations. He claimed his detention underscored the depth of the problem, asserting that his findings were corroborated during the ordeal.
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“I spent three days in military detention, and everything I told the highest levels of the Army was confirmed,” he said. “The illegal bunkers told me everything I had shared with the Army. They were on point, without a single mistake.”
Soyombo criticised the Army for leaking sensitive information, which he claimed endangered his safety. “The Nigerian Army has to explain why everything I mentioned in my statement got out before me and was relayed to the illegal oil bunkers,” he said.
Soyombo highlighted the systemic nature of illegal bunkering, alleging that security personnel often collaborate with criminal networks. “This incident is proof of how bad the system is. Illegal bunkering will not stop in this country because there are collaborators in multiple security formations,” he remarked.
Despite the tension, Soyombo recounted a moment of levity during his detention. “They gave me food and everything, so they knew I wasn’t a criminal. I even watched part of the Liverpool vs Real Madrid Champions League match in the house of the area commander,” he shared.
Reflecting on the risks of his work, Soyombo hinted at a possible shift in his career. “I might have just one, two, or three more undercover investigations before I stop. I would rather stop than change my approach,” he concluded.
Soyombo’s arrest and subsequent release have reignited discussions on the integrity of Nigeria’s security forces and their role in curbing illegal activities. His experience, he said, is a stark reminder of the need for greater accountability and reform.
In a bid to support low-income workers, Mexico has announced plans to raise its minimum wage by 12% starting January 2025.
The announcement was made Wednesday by Labor Minister Marath Bolaños during President Claudia Sheinbaum’s daily press conference, underscoring the government’s commitment to a “humanist economy” focused on reducing inequality.
The increase will see the daily minimum wage rise from 249 pesos ($12.23) to 278.80 pesos nationwide, while workers in northern border regions will earn approximately 420 pesos per day due to higher regional costs.
This adjustment reflects an agreement between labor and business sectors and builds on significant wage hikes in recent years.
“We continue on the path to rebuild the minimum wage and the purchasing power of Mexican men and women,” Bolaños said, highlighting that the wage has more than doubled—up 135%—since 2018 under successive leftist governments.
President Sheinbaum, who assumed office in October, has committed to maintaining annual wage increases of around 12% throughout her term.
Responding to concerns that the hike could stoke inflation, she dismissed such fears as unfounded.
“They said this would increase inflation. That’s false,” Sheinbaum said, pointing to central bank data indicating the hike will not have significant inflationary effects.
The administration’s long-term goal is to ensure the minimum wage covers 2.5 “basic food baskets,” a measure of essential groceries for a family of 3.7 people, by the end of Sheinbaum’s term.
The House of Representatives has called on the Federal Government to allocate ₦100 million to Nigeria’s Tobacco Control Fund, enhancing its capacity to enforce the National Tobacco Control Act.
During Wednesday’s plenary, Bassey Akiba, representing Calabar Municipal/Odukpani Federal Constituency, emphasised the need for increased funding.
He highlighted that the current allocation of ₦10 million in the 2024 budget falls short of what is required to combat tobacco-related health issues effectively.
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“Tobacco control is crucial due to its impact on preventable deaths, including cancer,” Akiba stated. He warned that inadequate funding could worsen health risks, noting tobacco consumption’s link to cardiovascular diseases, stroke, and cancer.
The House urged the Federal Ministry of Health to provide a detailed report on the Tobacco Control Fund, including its balance, funding sources, and previous expenditures.
Speaker Tajudeen Abbas backed the motion, stressing the importance of sustainable funding to reduce dependence on international donors.
The House resolved to advocate for a ₦100 million allocation in the 2025 budget to bolster the fund’s effectiveness.
At the eighth Nigeria Family Planning Conference held in Abuja, medical experts stressed the urgent need to address high fertility rates and low family planning uptake to improve maternal and child health outcomes.
The event, themed “Sustaining Commitments for Family Planning within the Nigeria Health Sector Renewal Investment Initiative,” was organised by the Association for the Advancement of Family Planning (AAFP) in collaboration with the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare.
Dr Ejike Oji, Chairman of the AAFP Management Committee, underscored the transformative potential of family planning as a tool for sustainable development. He highlighted its multifaceted benefits, including saving lives, promoting gender equity, and fostering economic growth. According to Oji, “$1 invested in contraceptive services saves $3 in maternal and newborn health costs by reducing unintended pregnancies.”
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Despite some progress, Nigeria’s Contraceptive Prevalence Rate (CPR) remains at 15 per cent, with an unmet need of 21 per cent. Dr Oji called for increased collaboration and innovation to meet the FP2030 targets.
Funmilola OlaOlorun, Co-Principal Investigator at Performance Monitoring for Action/Nigeria, emphasised the need for strict adherence to the national family planning blueprint to achieve a two per cent annual CPR increase. “We cannot do business as usual,” she stated, urging for more funding, dedication, and resource mobilisation.
Samuel Oyeniyi, Director at the Reproductive Health Department, acknowledged the slow but steady progress towards FP2030. He emphasised the importance of integrating family planning into broader health initiatives to bridge existing gaps.
The conference highlighted Nigeria’s renewed commitment, including a $4 million government investment in family planning and the integration of family planning services into the healthcare provision fund, ensuring access for marginalised groups.
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