By Ubong Ukpong, Abuja

Eighty-three members of the House of Representatives yesterday renewed their push for Parliamentary Democracy in Nigeria, insisting that there must be a departure from current American presidential democracy model, if the country would get it right in governance.

A number of stakeholders in agreement with the lawmakers also expressed a united view on the need for Nigeria to adopt an alternative system of democratic governance.

The views were galvanized at a national dialogue in Abuja, convened by the Parliamentary System Support Group (PSSG), which is an initiative of the 83 members of the 10th House of Representatives.

The group through its spokesman, Abdulsamad Dasuki, justified its drive for a shift to a Nigerian-styled system of government.

“Clearly, we need an alternative, but what should replace this presidential model—a mere imitation of the American system—must be a home-grown solution. This answer is not for any individual or group to dictate; it must emerge from a genuine dialogue among Nigerians, especially between the young and the old, the new generation and those before them.

“Each of us is affected differently by the dysfunction in our presidential system, and this shared experience invites us all to be part of this aspiration for a new governance model,” he said.

Chairman of the event and elder statesman, Prof. Ango Abdulahi recalled that the parliamentary system of government as bequeathed to Nigeria by the British colonists was working “until some people who were in a hurry (couppists) felt that it was not working, and overthrew it”.

He argued that if the alternative later adopted has failed, answers should be provided to the question of why we failed.

“Democracy is very elastic in meaning, so we can have our own home-grown democracy. Adopting the American presidential system was our first mistake”, he said, adding that it is a system that does not fit into our cultural system and other values.

He stressed that if the parliamentary system did not work in just after four years before it was overthrown in the first republic, Nigeria is worse today after over 24 years of running the presidential system.

Also, former National Secretary of the  defunct Action Congress (AC), Dr. Usman Bugaje saluted the courage of the group of lawmakers to bring the issue to the fore, advising however that the focus should be broadened.

“The last 25 years have not given Nigerians what they expected – poverty is deepening, insecurity is escalating, there’s mind-boggling corruption,” he said, adding that the idea of a home-grown system was in order, and that anyone who keeps borrowing foreign system will end up being enslaved.

He encouraged the parliament to stick to its guns as it is constitutionally empowered. “Parliaments today are largely rubber stamps,” he said.

Presenting the welcome remarks on behalf of the Parliamentary System Support Group earlier, Abdulsamad Dasuki recalled that reflecting on the over 25 years of democracy in Nigeria, “it is impossible not to recognise that this period has been an experiment—one that has tested our patience, optimism, and enduring hope for a better nation.

“Yes, we have nurtured and embraced this democracy, but let us be candid: this is not the democracy we desire, nor the one our founding fathers envisaged.

“A closer look at our system reveals fractures that can no longer be ignored, dreams left unfulfilled, and gaps that beg to be filled. Now is the time to address these issues.

“Now is the time to rethink an escape route from this reality. Now is the time to set our minds on crafting a new path—a cure for the affliction that has transformed our democracy into a spectacle of pity.

“For years, we have argued and debated how to cure this affliction, but we must always remind ourselves that the core problem lies in the vehicle through which we experience this democracy: the current presidential system. Each election year, we invest our hopes and dreams into a system expected to uplift our people, only to find ourselves repeating the same wish after every cycle of four challenging years.

“Instead of a government that works for the people, we see one that serves public officials—a government that grows fat on bloated overheads, delivering scant dividends to its citizens.”

During the panel discussions, former Speaker of the House of Representatives, Yakubu Dogara, former Minister of Interior, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola and Minority Leader of the House of Representatives, Kingsley Chinda who is also a leading member of the PSSG all agreed to the need to seek an alternative to the current presidential democracy in Nigeria.

Dogara who cautioned that it is always difficult to have a rational discuss in Nigeria today without sentiments or biases, said there was need for leaders to play by the rules. “There have been serious lack of accountability. Any system that makes the people to fear those in power is rather imperial,” he stated.

By David Torough, Abuja

Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria (IPMAN) has secured an agreement with Dangote Refinery to lift products directly from the refinery.

This follows weeks of protracted negotiations by the parties.

The Dangote Refinery, the largest in Africa and Europe has been producing petrol, diesel, and aviation fuel, with plans to supply products to over 30,000 IPMAN members and 150,000 retail outlets nationwide.

This move is expected to eliminate middlemen, reduce costs, and ensure a steady supply.

IPMAN’s National President, Abubakar Garima announced this at a press briefing yesterday in Abuja after a meeting of the National Working Committee of the association.

He said the partnership would ensure a steady, affordable supply of PMS products nationwide.

“After meeting with Aliko Dangote and his management team in Lagos, we are pleased to announce that Dangote Refinery has agreed to supply IPMAN with PMS, AGO, and DPK directly for distribution to our depots and retail outlets.”

Garima urged IPMAN members to support Dangote Refinery, citing the benefits of backward integration and its positive impact on Nigeria’s foreign exchange market.

He explained, “IPMAN members should rely on Dangote Refinery and Nigerian refineries for white products, creating more job opportunities and supporting President Bola Tinubu’s renewed hope agenda.”He urged marketers to support the refinery, emphasizing that such support would help boost Nigeria’s economy.

From Anthony Nwachukwu, Lagos

Compt. Mohammed Babandede of Onne 2 Area Command of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) said the unit collected a total revenue of ₦550,431,559,598.41 from January to October 2024, representing 89 per cent of its annual target of N618 billion.

In a statement Monday, Babandede also disclosed that the command processed a total of 2,436,408.

Under the enforcement of anti-smuggling provisions, he said the command intercepted a total of 22 containers (20x40ft and 2x20ft) of prohibited trade, including arms and ammunition, illicit drugs and donkey skin, among others, with a cumulative duty paid value of ₦46,840,119,810.

Recalling the mandate of the Comptroller-General of Customs, Bashir Adeniyi, in September, Babandede said the series of seizures of contraband goods coming in through the port “led to the declaration of a three-month state of emergency, when the command has been granted the authority to scrutinise all suspected containers, regardless of the presence of their owners.

“This proactive approach aims to ensure that no illegal substance can evade detection, in line with the comptroller-general’s policy thrust of consolidation and collaboration.”

He added: “These seizures underscore our unwavering commitment to combatting illicit medicine and ensuring the safety of the public. The implementation of this state of emergency by the CGC has proven effective in enhancing our operational capabilities and ensuring that we can act decisively against those who seek to undermine our nation’s security.”

Working with other sister-agencies, therefore, the command seized 20x40ft and 1x20ft containers laden with illicit drugs, and 1x 20ft container laden with donkey skin. He gave the breakdown as 2,624,053 x 100ml bottles of Cough Syrup Codeine, 7,530,000 x 50mg tablets of Really Extra Diclofenac, and 3,500,000 x 5mg tablets of Trodol Benzhexol.

Others include 27,048,900 x 225mg tablets of Royal Tapentadol/ Tramadol/Tamolx, 7,665,000 x 200ml tablets of fake/counterfeit Gonorrhea Antibiotics without NAFDAC number, 15,600,000 x 4mg tablets of fake chlorphenamine, 33,840,00 x 2mg tablets of fake Lemotil Loperamine, and 19,430 pieces of Chilly cutter used for concealment.

There were also 20,238 pieces of sanitary fittings tap/toilet seat used for concealment, 26,400 x 30mg tubes of fake permethrin cream, 480,000 tablets of fake Stapsiril, 112,500 tablets of fake multi-mineral supplement, 28 x 25kg drums of diphenhydramine Hydrochloride ip, 3,388 pieces of waste connector used for concealment, and 2,100 pieces of donkey skin.So far this year, he disclosed that the command has seized 63 containers comprising of illicit trade, concluding 844 riffles, 112,500 pieces of live ammunition, over 6,469,253 x 100ml bottles of syrup with codeine, and over 56,878,900 x 225mg tablets of Royal Tapentadol/Tramadol/Tamolx, among others.