Wednesday, February 1st, 2023 Edition

Chairman Ad-hoc Committee to Interface with Central Bank Nigeria and Commercial Banks on New Currency swap/ Leader of the house Alhassan Ado Doguwa, Clerk House of Representatives Dr. Yahaya Danzaria, member of the committee Abubakar Makki Yalleman and the Governor, Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Godwin Emefiele, during the meeting of the committee with the CBN governor on the modality for the new Naira notes swap at the National Assembly, yesterday in Abuja

Photo: Mahmud Isa

Atiku in Sokoto, promises security, peace, re-opening of borders

By Lateef Ibrahim, Abuja

Presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar has assured that the various closed borders in the country will be reopened if he is elected President in the February 25 presidential election.

This, he pointed out, will be done to enable the people enjoy good trade relationship with those around them.

Atiku, a former Vice President of Nigeria between 1999 and 2007, said this on Tuesday while addressing the PDP presidential campaign rally that had Governors, party chieftains, leaders and numerous party supporters in attendance in Sokoto.

The PDP presidential flag bearer equally promised to ensure the security of the country, create enabling atmosphere for peace to reign as well eradicate poverty from the nation in general.

“It is noteworthy that Sokoto is around the border with other African countries.

I promise to open these borders for our people and other people to enjoy trade relationship with them”, he said.

Atiku, who had earlier paid homage to the Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar, before addressing the rally, said, “I promised to ensure security of lives and return peace in the state and Nigeria at large. If you elect PDP, we will ensure that there is peace for businessmen, cattle rearers,

•PDP, Atiku will deliver on promises Tambuwal, Emmanuel assure

fishermen, farmers and others, they will carry out their trades in peace.

“Secondly, I promise to eradicate poverty in the country, that is why we set aside $10 billion for businessmen, youths and women, I will ensure that they have capital to eradicate poverty in the county.

“I want to promise you that the road from Sokoto to Gusau to Funtua, by the grace of God, will be reconstructed.

“It is noteworthy that Sokoto is around the border with other African countries.

I promise to open these borders for our people and other people to enjoy trade relationship with them.

“The in coming PDP government will ensure that there is no strike in the Universities.

“I promised to give our farmers and cattle rearers capital to continue with their trade, because the moment we restore peace they will just start their trade”, Atiku pledged.

While also addressing the rally, the Director-General of the PDP presidential campaign management committee and Governor of Sokoto State, Hon Aminu Waziri Tambuwal assured the people that Atiku will deliver on his promises to recover Nigeria from insecurity, poverty and whatever malaise they are suffering from at the moment.

Tambuwal, who is also the Chairman of the PDP Governors’ Forum, said with optimism that by the time Atiku becomes the

president on May 29, 2023 the issue of insecurity will be over.

His words, “We want to extend our heartfelt appreciation to the PDP family for the honour done to us. I want to affirm to you that the federal government will be for Sokoto State people, therefore, there should be no dulling on the day of election. Come out and vote en masse and by God’s grace, Atiku is the next President.

“Atiku will deliver on all the promises to recover Nigeria from insecurity, poverty and whatever malaise we are suffering at the moment. By the time Atiku becomes the President on May 29, 2023 the issue of insecurity will be over”, he assured.

The Chairman of PDP presidential campaign council, PCC, and Governor of Akwa Ibom State, Mr Udom Emmanuel, while addressing those present at the rally, commended them for coming out in their numbers to welcome and listen to the PDP presidential candidate and his team.

In the words of Governor Emmanuel, “What we are seeing in Sokoto is wonderful. This demonstrates something very clearly that the youths, the elders and the stakeholders of this seat of caliphate are for PDP and Atiku.

“Sokoto used to be the most peaceful of all the states in this country. But today it is a strange thing because of insecurity.

When you don’t have peace, there is no development, when you

don’t have peace, you will not think very well.

“We are telling you tiday that our leader, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, the next President of Nigeria by God’s grace, has what it takes to provide you peace that have eluded you. He wants to make sure he unifies the country. He has what it takes to take the youths back, to have what to eat and to move them from the lower class into the middle class.

“Today, we are aware of the suffering of the people and if you look at his covenant with Nigeria you will know that this is a man who knows the way. This is the man who is ready to lead the way, he loves the people, he has capacity.

“I am proud to chair his campaign council, because from the day I followed him till today, he does not mount the microphone on character assassination, he does not tell the people about other people, he mounts the microphone to tell Nigerians that he has the solution to the problems, he has the solution to the education, healthcare, security, to the economy of this country.

“He is the only man that will make sure things become okay for Nigerians.

He is the only man that will make sure that the motorcycle that you use to buy eighty thousand, today you are buying for 700, 000, will go back to the good old days. Who is that man? Which party is that? It is Atiku Abubakar and the PDP.”, he said.

Buhari mourns emir of Dutse

By Egena Sunday Ode

President Muhammadu Buhari has mourned the demise of Dr. Nuhu Muhammadu Sanusi, the first-class traditional ruler (Emir) of Dutse, the capital city of Jigawa State.

According to a statement by the Senior Special Assisted to the President on Media and Publicity,

Grab Shehu, Buhari described the deceased as one of Northern Nigeria’s modernizing leaders.

Before his death, the Emir was the Chancellor of Sokoto State University, the statement noted. He was considered as an exemplary leader in the global quest for a sustainable living environment, and a lead advocate for afforestation and the green

ecosystem, it added.

The late Emir’s official biography equally puts him up as an advocate of the mitigation of climate change, prompting him to build the Dutse Royal Golf Course which is reputed to be one of the largest in Nigeria with lush vegetation, exotic flora and rare fauna.

Expressing sadness on the passing of the Emir, President

L-R: Program Manager of CISLAC, Mr. Chinedu Bassey, Executive Director of CISLAC, Auwal Ibrahim Musa and Senior Programme Coordinator of Christian Aid International, Uzor Uzoma, during the press conference on the increasing role of private creditors in Nigeria’s Debt Crisis and it’s Human Cost, yesterday in Abuja.

Isa

Buhari was quoted to have said: ‘‘He was instrumental to the progress Dutse had achieved in the last three decades under his watch. He was a grassroots person who was loved by all.”

The President conveyed his condolences and that of the nation to the Dutse Emirate, the government and people of Jigawa State over the sad loss.

Photo: Mahmud

bags outstanding govt agency award, assures of election security

The Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) has emerged as the best Leadership Government Agency of the year 2022.

The Corps on Tuesday received the award during the 14th Edition of the Leadership Annual Conference and Awards, themed “ Credible Elections and An Economy in Transition” in Abuja.

The NSCDC Commandant General (CG), Dr Ahmed Audi, after receiving the award, said that the recognition will further encourage personnel to work effectively in ensuring adequate security during the forthcoming elections.

Dr Audi said that the Corps had embarked on training and retraining of personnel to ensure proper electoral conduct during the elections.

He said that although the Nigeria Police is the lead election security agency, NSCDC will work closely with all security agencies to ensure peaceful participation by citizens.

“This award is a recognition of what the Corps has been doing to improve the life of personnel and to fulfil its core mandates.

“This will spur us to do more in the delivery of our mandates to the nation,” CG said.

He appreciated President Muhammadu Buhari for allocating the right amenities in ensuring that NSCDC adequately protects the critical national asset and the country at large.

The CG further appreciated the management of Leadership Group Limited. alongside all stakeholders for recognizing the work efficacy of the Corps as he hoped for more of such recognitions to boost the morale of officers and men of the Corps.

The Special Guest of Honour at the event, Vice-President, Yemi Osinbajo, congratulated the awardees and commended the management of Leadership media for organising the event and recognizing distinguished individuals and organisations, both in the private and public sectors.

Old Naira notes probe: Nigerians will not lose their Money – Emefiele

By Christiana Ekpa

The Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Godwin Emefiele, on Tuesday assured the House of Representatives Committee that Nigerians will not lose their money under the Naira redesign project, even as he said that the project is for the overall interest of Nigerians and the economy.

The CBN Governor who gave the assurance during a meeting with the ad-hoc committee on the review of the Bank’s cashless policy and extension of the timeframe of the currency swap programme of the Bank yesterday, said that provision of Section 20(3) of the CBN Act, Nigerians would be given the opportunity

•Says February 10, deadline for Legal Status of Old Bank notes stands

to redeem the face value of the Naira in their possession after the currency would have lost its legal tender status on February 10, 2023, deadline only at the CBN.

Emefiele while seeking for the cooperation of the National Assembly to ensure the success of the programme, he said “Nigerians will not lose their money,”

Reeling out the steps taken by the Bank to ensure the effective distribution of the new banknotes, he disclosed that about N1.9 trillion had so far been collected since the commencement of the exercise.

According to him, the currency redesign policy had so

far recorded about a 75 per cent success rate given the fact that many of those in the rural and underserved locations across the 36 states of the country have had the opportunity of swapping their old banknotes for the new series of the banknotes.

Emefiele, who was accompanied to the meeting by all the four deputy governors at the Bank, disclosed that the Bank had deployed about 30,000 super agents to work with the Bank’s staff currently in the hinterland to ensure that the underserved and vulnerable members of the society are adequately catered for.

The CBN Governor also disclosed that the CBN was

working closely with relevant agencies of the Federal Government to ensure full compliance with the CBN guidelines issued to the deposit money bank for the seamless distribution of the new banknotes.

Speaking earlier, the Chairman of the Special Ad-hoc committee, Honourable Ado Doguwa, expressed the support of the House of Representatives for the cashless policy of the Bank, stressing that the House would assist the CBN in achieving its mandate in that regard.

Hon. Dogowa welcomed the submission of the CBN Governor and stressed the need for more collaboration.

Electoral Act, 2022 has enhanced Nigeria’s electoral processes -Fagbemi

Lateef Fagbemi, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), says the amendment of the Electoral Act, has enhanced Nigeria’s electoral processes and placed it among the best in the world.

Fagbemi stated this in a keynote lecture title, Nigeria: Within the compass of the 2023 General Elections, at a public lecture in honour of Muslim brothers who were recently elevated and sworn-in as SAN, in Abuja on Tuesday.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the lecture was organised by the FCT Chapter of Muslim Lawyers

Association of Nigeria (MULAN) at the Auditorium of the Abuja National Mosque.

He said that if all provisions of the electoral act, 2022 were implemented, Nigerians would enjoy the exercise of their franchise before and after the 2023 General Election and the country would be better for it.

” The technological advancement, especially the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) machines can be said to have taken Nigeria a step closer to a perfect election and indeed, better choice of leaders, if people exercise their franchise without prejudice or primordial

consideration.

” BVAS is now like a gateway that interrogates a prospective electorate to determine whether such is eligible to vote since accreditation of voters is solely based on same unlike in the past where is a footprint of every voter and can actually be explained if the need arises.

” BVAS also shuts the door on the era of unexplained over voting and other issues related to inconsistencies in number of voters. Furthermore, with the electronic transmission of votes, challenges like ballot box snatching and interception of ballot box papers have been

addressed,” he said.

The SAN also said that the act would ensure more sanity and transparency in the electoral process leading to the 2023 General Election.

” The compass of the 2023 election in the face of the electoral act, 2022 promises a good destination for Nigeria, or at least, a good start.

” However, Nigeria has never been short of good or appropriate laws. The enforcement and interpretation by the court are also issues that must be given the desired attention. Given that laws do not interpret or enforce themselves,” he said.(NAN)

L-R: President, Jonde Jam Youth Development Association, Alh. Saidu Maikano, Representative of Tabbital Pulaaku International (TPI), Dr. Abubakar Gire, President, Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria (MACBAN), Baba Othman Ngelzarma, PresidentGeneral, Fulbe Global Development and Rights Initiative (FGRDI), Alh. Salim Musa Umar, and Vice President of TPI Nigeria, Alh. Auwal Googa, during the world press conference in Abuja yesterday on the recent airstrike Extra Judicial Killings of Fulani Herders at Nasarawa/Benue States border. Photo: Mahmud Isa

Sen. Adeyemi says PDP, Atiku cause of Nigeria economic woes

From Yakubu Mustapha Minna

Senator representing Kogi West, Smart Adeyemi has blamed the opposition People’s Democratic Party, PDP, and its Presidential candidate, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar for the economic woes currently facing the nation.

He stated this while presenting donations to the Niger State Governor Alhaji Abubakar Sani Bello who is the Coordinator North Central Campaign Tinubu/Shetima

Renewal Hope 2023.

Senator Adeyemi who also held interactive session with non indigines berated the PDP presidential candidate, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar for Nigeria’s economic challenges. Renewal Hope 2023.

Senator Adeyemi who also held interactive session with non indigines berated the PDP presidential candidate, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar for Nigeria’s economic challenges.

Emir of Dutse Nuhu Muhammad Sunusi is dead

From Mika’il Tsoho, Dutse

Emir of Dutse, Alhaji Nuhu Muhammad Sunusi is dead.

Sunusi, died on Tuesday 31st January, 2023, after a brief illness.

The Jigawa state governor Alhaji Muhammad Badaru Abubakar confirmed this in a condolence statement issued to news men by his commissioner special duties Alhaji Auwal D Sankara.

The statement said, Jigawa State Governor Alhaji Muhammad Badaru Abubakar expressed his condolences on the passing of Alhaji Nuhu Muhammad Sunusi, the Emir of Dutse.

The governor described the late Emir as a “true leader and a respected figure in the community, known for his wisdom, compassion, and dedication to the well-being of his people.”

PENGASSAN urges FG to revoke licence of oil marketers selling above approved price

The Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN), has urged the Federal Government to revoke licences of oil marketers selling above approved pump price of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS).

PENGASSAN said the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA) should immediately mobilise its staff in various locations nationwide to monitor compliance and anyone found wanting, should have their licences revoked to serve as a deterrent.

PENGASSAN, in a statement on Monday by its National President, Mr Festus Osifo, said the call for the revocation of

licences became urgent, following persistent scarcity of PMS in the last six months.

“Should this collusion go on unchecked, we will not hesitate to partner with other stakeholders in ensuring that Nigerians are not further exploited. A stitch in time saves nine,” he said.

Osifo, while empathising with Nigerians on the hardship currently faced with the scarcity and drastic hike in PMS price, decried that one litre of PMS is being sold between N185 to N650, depending on the location and outlet.

“While we understand that the parameters imputed into the old PPPRA and now NMDPRA template has since changed because of some economic

vagaries such as exchange rate fluctuation, vessel hiring cost and cost of Automotive Gas Oil (AGO) amongst others.

“There is no sufficient justification for PMS to be selling for such highly inflated price, thereby subjecting the masses to further difficulties.

“Even though we have some good marketers who tend to play by the rules, others who are overbearing have deployed methods of creating artificial scarcities to hike the price of the product uncontrollably.

“From data available to us from our members, there is over 30 days PMS sufficiency in the country; hence there is no basis for the current scarcity and hardship that Nigerians are being

subjected to,” he said.

He said the national leadership of PENGASSAN had been following up with its members in NNPC Trading Limited who were responsible for assigning the products to marketers.

He said it has been following its teaming members from NMDPRA in various depots and terminals across the country on the need to carry out their functions expeditiously.

He said these members were responsible for issuing cargo clearance, monitoring compliance, routing inspection, metering calibration/ maintenance, accurate delivery to trucks and record keeping, among others. (NAN)

PICS..1 L-R: Minister of Defence, Major. Gen. Salihi Magashi (rdt), Governor of Plateau/Chairman of the Occasion, Barr. Simon Bako Lalong, Governor of Kano state,

Unity of Nigeria paramount in electioneering era -NCPC boss

By Albert Akota

The Executive Secretary Nigerian Christian Pilgrim Commission Rev. Dr Yakubu Pam, has said that the unity of the country was of top priority in the electioneering era. Rev Pam made this known while addressing the 5th batch of

intending pilgrims comprising Delta, Borno and Kogi State at the Departure hall of the Nnamdi Azikwe International Airport in Abuja.

The Executive Secretary said unity of the nation was what the Commission stands for, adding that Pilgrimage was the platform through which Nigerians can get more united.

He charged them to be proud Ambassadors and good representatives of the country and Christ as they embark on the spiritual journey.

In his words, Delta State Executive Secretary, Apostle Samuel Okoh said nation building was incomplete without the Church, hence the need for the exercise.

Okoh said he was optimistic that the Pilgrims would impact upon the nations and their various families.

On his part, the Executive Chairman, Kogi State Christian Pilgrims Commission advised them to be of worthy character and pray fervently for the nation and enhance the unity that every Nigerian had longed for.

R-L:: Resident Representative Friedrich Ebert Stiftung Daniel Mann, Chairman Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) Professor Mahmood Yakubu, Secretary General National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW) Kabiru Ado Yau and President NURTW Tajudeen Ibikunle Baruwa, during the Sensitization meeting on the INEC/ NURTW/NARTO/MOU on 2023 General Election and other Elections, yesterday in Abuja Tuesday Photo: Mahmud Isa

By Egena Sunday Ode

The newly inaugurated 5,700 hectares Hadejia Valley Irrigation Scheme in Auyo Local Government Area of Jigawa State will significantly contribute to Nigeria’s quest for food security, job creation and economic diversification, President Muhammmadu Buhari said on Tuesday in Dutse.

The President spoke at a state banquet after commissioning several projects executed by the Federal Government, the Jigawa State Government and the Malam Alu Farm Project, a private enterprise championed by Honorable Farouk Adamu Aliyu.

The President urged the host community to take advantage of the opportunities provided by the gigantic irrigation infrastructure, saying ‘‘It will be a small part in our over-all quest to lift 100 million Nigerians out of poverty in 10 years.’’

He also charged the Jigawa State Government to sustain its commitment to the Agricultural Sector, acknowledging the success of the Cluster System introduced by the present administration of Governor Mohammed Badaru Abubakar under the slogan of “Farming is a Business”.

During his one-day official visit to Jigawa State the President visited four local government areas to inaugurate projects including the Hadejia Valley Irrigation Scheme at Auyo, Birnin Kudu Specialist Hospital, Malam Alu Integrated Agro-Allied Farm, Birnin Kudu and the dualized Unity-PentagonFanisau Road.

At the farm, the President unveiled a 50.3 metres flag pole, described as the tallest in the country by Hon. Aliyu.

The President also had an aerial view of some of the roads, infrastructure, bridges and places

Buhari inaugurates 5, 700 hectares Hadejia valley irrigation scheme

affected by the flood disaster in September 2022, which affected many parts of Jigawa State.

He used the occasion to express sympathies for the flood victims, promising more relief materials to them.

‘‘While I was previously briefed on the scale of the devastations with regards to loss of lives, destruction of farm lands and public infrastructure, today I was able to personally see the extent of the damage.

‘‘Flying from Auyo through Kafin Hausa and some parts of Miga, Jahun, Kiyawa, Dutse and Birnin Kudu Local Governments, I was able to have an aerial view of some of the affected roads, infrastructure and bridges.

‘‘Even though the Federal Government provided relief materials largely in form of foodstuffs through the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs during the period of the flood, I want to assure the Government and People of Jigawa State that more relief would be provided through the National Committee that was set up by the Federal Government,’’ he said.

President Buhari commended Governor Mohammed Badaru Abubakar for his resounding achievements in the State, noting that he didn’t expect anything less from the man nicknamed “Mai Calculator”.

‘‘I have seen the State Publication of a compendium titled “Against

All Odds” which documented the progress and achievements recorded by the Governor over the first six years of his administration.

‘‘I was truly amazed by the extent of projects and programmes executed across all sectors.

‘‘I was amazed because of the limited fiscal space that we have faced over the years across all the tiers of Government – but then I recall the financial prudence Governor Badaru has been known for which earned him the nick-name “Mai Calculator”.’ The President also felicitated with the citizens of the State for unprecedented developments they have witnessed over the years.

He noted that the projects commissioned during his state visit were ‘‘only the tip of the iceberg,’’ adding that only one out of about 18 new general hospitals was inaugurated.

He expressed delight that each of the thirty constituencies in the State would soon boast of a full-fledged secondary health facility.

He urged the State government to sustain the reputation of the State with one of the highest road networks in the country.

On the Mallam Alu Farms in Birnin Kudu, the President described it as another commendable project which perfectly aligns with the administration’s agricultural transformation agenda. He commended Honorable

2023: Fuel scarcity may negatively affect

By Lateef Ibrahim, Abuja

The Chairman, Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, Prof Mahmood Yakubu has expressed the fears that the persistent fuel scarcity in the country may negatively affect its arrangements for the forthcoming general election in the country.

Prof Yakubu expressed the fears in his remarks at a consultative meeting with members of the National Union of Road Transport Workers, NURTW, in Abuja.

The presidential and National Assembly elections are slated to hold on Saturday, February 25, while the governorship and State Houses of Assembly elections are billed to take place on Saturday, March 11, this year.

The INEC Chairman pointed out that the Commission shares the concern of the NURTW members about the fuel situation in the country and its impact on transportation on Election Day.

Noting that the issue of logistics has been a perennial problem in election administration in Nigeria, Yakubu explained that that is why for three electoral cycles now, INEC has collaborated with the road transport unions to address the problem.

Yakubu, however, disclosed that INEC was going to meet, on Tuesday (yesterday) afternoon with the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) to look into ways to ameliorate the situation.

He assured Nigerians that the commission will continue to engage every national institution for the success of the 2023 General Election.

INEC

His words, “The Commission shares your (NURTW’s) concern about the fuel situation in the country and its impact on transportation on Election Day.

“The truth is that our arrangements may be negatively affected by the non-availability of products.

“For this reason, the Commission will this (yesterday’s ) afternoon meet with the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) to look into ways to ameliorate the situation.

“I wish to assure Nigerians that we will continue to engage every national institution for the success of the 2023 General Election”, he said.

Yesterday’s meeting of INEC with the NURTW, the Chairman explained, sought to achieve two objectives.

The first objective, according to him, is to put finishing touches to the implementation of the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed between the Commission and the Union about two months ago on 20th December 2022 and secondly, to conclude on the modalities for the certification of vehicles by the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) in the light of the emphasis we place on the safety of election personnel and materials.

In his words, “The issue of logistics has been a perennial problem in election administration in Nigeria.That is why for three electoral cycles now, INEC has collaborated with the road

Farouk Adamu Aliyu for championing this wonderful project, saying:

‘‘I believe it will also significantly contribute to our objectives of economic diversification, food security and job creation.’’

‘‘We hope to see more such private sector led large agricultural projects especially with the enabling environment provided by both the State and the Federal Government.’’

On the 2023 General Elections, the President restated his call on Nigerians to remain peaceful.

‘‘Despite some of the challenges that continued to test the process of our democracy, I strongly believe, we have witnessed in the last seven years, entrenchment of the true principles and ideals of democratic governance in the Nigerian Polity. This has been one of the hallmarks of this Administration.

‘‘I must emphasize that tolerance and understanding are vital to the conduct of free elections.’’

Earlier, at the palace of Emir of Hadejia, Alhaji Adamu Abubakar Maje, President Buhari promised to look into the requests of the State Government on the availability of fertilizers and other farm inputs to boost local agricultural production.

The President said Nigeria and Morocco had an existing agreement on fertilizer production, which will complement the existing 44 blending plants in the country.

The Governor of Jigawa State

told the President that the State would remain grateful to the Federal Government for several completed and ongoing projects in the transport, education, health, social investments, agriculture and security sectors.

‘‘Since your administration, we have never seen it better in the life of Jigawa State,’’ he said during the banquet in honour of the President.

‘‘We cannot thank you enough for food security, especially the Anchor Borrowers Programme. Today we see farming in Jigawa as a business and some farmers in the State are among the richest in Nigeria,’’ he added.

Governor Badaru also lauded the President for his intervention to the States of the Federation for the payment of salaries, provision of infrastructure and during the COVID-19 pandemic, running into trillions of naira.

He said from the Paris Club Refund to States alone, Jigawa State received a total of N43 billion.

‘‘With your intervention we were able to do all the projects we promised the people. All these monies kept us in government and I can beat my chest and say that I have adequately delivered and done well for the people.

‘‘Whatever we do in Jigawa State we owe it to your magnanimity and your support and this support is across all the States and party lines,’’ he said.

arrangements, Yakubu says

transport unions to address the problem.

“For the 2023 General Election, the Commission has included the Marine Workers’ Union of Nigeria (MWUN) for efficient maritime transportation.

“The time has come to stop all excuses and provide effective logistics to ensure hitch-free logistics on Election Day. Nigerians should not wait for the arrival of personnel and materials at the polling units. Rather, we should be there waiting for the arrival of voters. We believe that this is achievable.

“Recent elections have shown that working in partnership with the unions and other stakeholders, we can achieve the objective.

“This is a patriotic duty and we should make the necessary sacrifice in the national intertest.The Commission is aware that this is an enormous task. “Election is the largest deployment a nation periodically undertakes and mobilisation of vehicles for election is a large and complex exercise.

“However, this comes only once in four years. What is critical here is forward planning. We have presented to the Union the number and specifications of the vehicles required for the election. “We have also indicated to you the locations where the vehicles are needed. Happily, your members are spread across the country.

“Therefore, vehicles conveying personnel and materials will not travel long distances. In

fact, all movements should be within a State and preferably within Local Government Areas.

“There should be no inter-State movement. I should also remind you that our MoU covers both forward and reverse logistics.

“This means that there is an obligation to return the personnel and materials to designated locations after the election.

“We are working with the security agencies to ensure the safety of your members and their vehicles during the election. Just like our election duty personnel, their safety is paramount.

“That is why in the most recent elections conducted by the Commission, the leadership of your Union at State level attended several meetings with our officials and the security agencies.

“We also ensured that your Union was represented in our Situation Room to coordinate the deployment of vehicles and the security of drivers.

“We will ensure that a similar arrangement is made nationwide for the general election.

“I cannot conclude my remarks without reminding you of your obligation to neutrality. The work of INEC requires non-partisanship. Working in partnership with the Commission, you will be required to subscribe to the Oath of Neutrality and to demonstrate your nonpartisanship in the work you do on Election Day”, he said.

•Engages NNPC, other national institutions on polls’ success

•To administer oath of neutrality on NURTW members

•Promises more relief for flood victims, after helicopter tour of affected areas

•Reiterates need for peaceful election

Nigeria’s public debt stock increased from N42.84 trillion (103.31 billion dollars) in the second quarter of 2022 to N44.06 trillion (101.91 billion dollars) in the third quarter of 2022.

The National Bureau of Statistics (NBS), said this on Tuesday in its Nigerian Domestic and Foreign Debt

Buhari commission’s multi-million ALU farm in Jigawa

From Mika’il Tsoho, Dutse

President Muhammadu Buhari yesterday commissioned a multimillion farm of Malam ALU Agro Allied company in Jigawa state.

During the commissioning, Mr president unveiled the tallest National flag pole in Nigeria and the first fertilizer plant in the state situated in the farm.

Speaking shortly after touring the farm, president Muhammadu Buhari commended the chairman of the farm Alhaji Farouk Adamu Aliyu, urging others to copy from him.

President Buhari who was impressed with the technology used in the farm said, it is part of his administration’s achievement of diversifying the economy through modern agricultural system.

Nigeria’s public debt stock increases to N44.06trn in Q3 2022 – NBS

Report for Q3 2022 released in Abuja.

The report said Nigeria’s public debt stock which includes external and domestic debt grew by 2.84 per cent in Q3 of 2022.

It said that External debt stood at N17.14 trillion (39.66 billion dollars) in Q3 2022,

while domestic debt was N26.91 trillion (62.25 billion dollars).

“However, the share of external debt to total public debt stood at 38.92 per cent in Q3 2022, while domestic debt was recorded at 61.08 per cent.”

In addition, the report

showed that the Federal Government’s share of domestic debt was 80.07 per cent in Q3 of 2022.

In a breakdown by states, the bureau said that Lagos State recorded the highest domestic debt of N877.03 billion in the third quarter of 2022.

Cashless system helps in tracking election financing — Osinbajo

Vice President Yemi Osinbajo says a cashless policy, when effectively operated in Nigeria, can help stem the surge of illicit election financing by making it possible to track funds.

Osinbajo’s spokesman, Laolu Akande, in a statement on Monday in Abuja, said the vice president received a delegation of the EU Election Observation Mission led by Mr Barry Andrews.

The EU Chief Observer is also a member of the European Parliament.

“I think that what we should be looking at is to provide more infrastructures.

“ The cashless thing has been really advantageous and helps with tracking.

“That sort of infrastructure is useful for more financial inclusion and the more financial inclusion you have, the easier it is to track.

“So much money can be spent

without it being tracked under the current election financing practices in the country.’’

Osinbajo acknowledged the serious difficulty in controlling election financing because of cash transactions.

According to him, there are still infrastructure issues required to be in place to ensure an efficient cashless system in the country.

“With cash transactions, it is still difficult to seriously control election financing.’’

On electoral offences, the vice president said the Electoral Offences Commission Bill was at the National Assembly.

He said he hoped that it would begin a new regime of dealing with electoral offences which would be helpful.

“By and large, one shouldn’t expect INEC to be the investigator of electoral offences.

“I think that law enforcement

agencies should be responsible for arresting and prosecuting offenders, state by state.

“Electoral offences are always seen through a political prism; people will always feel that they are being prosecuted because they belong to a certain party.

“What is more important is that we have to find a system where the police could have a special unit for offences during the course of elections.

“The Federal High Courts could also have a special jurisdiction to deal with offences and not extend beyond the Federal High Courts.”

On the role of the judicial system, Osinbajo said that more attention should be paid to the monitoring of tribunals and their outcomes, calling for more scrutiny from the National Judicial Council.

He disclosed that discussions had been had in the past concerning

It was followed by Delta with N272.61 billion and Ogun with N241.78 billion.

The report showed Jigawa recorded the lowest debt at N44.40 billion, followed by Kebbi and Katsina at N60.13 billion and N62.37 billion. (NAN)

malfeasance on the part of some judges and those found guilty should be brought to the fore.

“There should be sanctions and that way, we would be able to clean up and correct some of the problems,’’ he said.

In his remarks, Andrews said that the mission would be monitoring the elections coming up next month and hope for a peaceful and fair electoral process.

According to him, it is the 7th time the INEC is inviting the EU Mission to monitor the elections, adding that the team had been in the country since Jan 11 and will be around until the end of March, 2023.

Other members of the delegation include Ms Samuela Isopi, Ambassador, EU Delegation to Nigeria and ECOWAS and Mr Thomas Boserup, Deputy Chief Observer, EU Election Observation Mission.

(NAN)

L-R) FCT Minister of State, Dr Ramatu Tijjani Aliyu, Hon. Minister of Information and Culture, Alh. Lai Muhammed and the FCT Minister, Malam Muhammad Musa Bello at the FCTA’s presentation during the “PMB Administration Scorecard 2015 - 2023” programme at the National Press Center, Abuja yesterday. Photo: Mahmud Isa

An Osogbo Chief Magistrates’ Court in Osun , on Monday , ordered the remand of Alawode Ridwan , 22, popularly called “Rado” in Ilesa Correctional center over alleged disobedient to court supremacy .

Ridwan pleaded not guilty to a count charge of contempt against him.

The Magistrate, Dr Olusegun Ayilara, had ordered the remand of the defendant due to the

Court remands man for allegedly disobeying court supremacy

magnitude of the alleged offence committed.

Ayilara adjourned the case until to Feb. 27 for hearing.

The Police Prosecutor, Insp. Kayode Adeoye told the court

that the defendant committed the offence sometimes between the months of July 22, 2022 and Jan. 27, 2023 for not appearing in court for his case.

Adeoye said several attempt

to arrest the defendant proved abortive, until he was tracked by the intelligence unit of the Osun Police command and brought to the court.

He said the offence

Ikpeazu, Ihejirika laud Army for promoting

Governor Okezie Ikpeazu of Abia and former Chief of Army Staff, Lt.-Gen. Azubuike Ihejirika (Rtd) have lauded the Nigerian Army for preserving the nation’s diverse culture and traditions, as well as fostering her unity.

They gave the commendation when the 14 Brigade of the Nigerian Army, Ohafia, Abia, held its 2022 West Africa Social Activities (WASA) at Goodluck Ebele Jonathan (GEJ) Barracks on Saturday.

Ikpeazu, who was the Special Guest during the celebration, said the military had played a pivotal role in preserving the unity and security of Nigeria and Abia in particular.

Represented by his Commissioner for Public Utilities, Chief Kingsley Imaga, the governor said that the sacrifices of the Nigerian Army have led to its increased respect, honour and appreciation by the people.

He said: “The displays I have witnessed today have been highly entertaining an educative.

“They have highlighted the beauty and uniqueness of the cultures and traditions of various entities in our common patrimony.

“These displays, for the repeated time, remind us of the blessings of our unity in diversity.”

Also, the former Army Chief, Ihejirika, lauded the Army for promoting cultural diversity and unity through the social interaction of its personnel, their families and supporters.

He said: “All parts of this country are represented here and we are relishing the rich culture of this country.

“I’m particularly happy to be here because just 12 years ago, this brigade was established under my watch.

“You could see that this brigade has contributed in no small measure towards ensuring security in this part of the country and its

environs.”

In a speech, the Commander 14 Brigade, Brig.-Gen. Adegoke Adetuyi, said that WASA was a practice in the Nigerian Army to mark the end of the calendar year, and usher in activities for the new year. According to him, it is a forum to gather personnel, officers and soldiers, families and friends of the barracks, including the host

contravened sections 133 (9) of the criminal code cap 34 vol. 11, laws of Osun, 2002.

The defendant has no legal representation when his case was called by the court clerk. (NAN)

culture, unity

communities, in a conducive atmosphere to interact and celebrate.

” It shows that the Nigerian Army is also made up of people that socialise and also that could display their culture and traditions,” he said.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that diverse ethnic groups in the barracks displayed their rich culture and tradition

CISLAC explains Africa’s rising debt profile

Civil Society Legislative Advocacy Centre (CISLAC) says a major contributor to Africa’s rising public debt is the unprecedented influx of private lenders flooding developing economies looking for higher returns outside advanced economies.

Mr Auwal Rafsanjani, Executive Director, CISLAC, said this at a news conference in Abuja on Monday organised in collaboration with Christian Aid Nigeria on the Increasing Role of Private Creditors in Nigeria’s Debt Crisis and its Human Costs.

He said Nigeria’s debt was growing and increasingly putting the country in a precarious situation, adding that it had significant implications for human rights.

Rafsanjani said the situation also had implications on education, health, climate

change, mitigation and adaption and these called for a collective action to address the debt crisis.

He said the past decade had seen the largest, fattest and most broadbased increase in debt in emerging and developing countries over the past 50 years.

He said the total debt in these areas has risen by 54 per cent points of Gross Domestic Product (GDP) to a holistic peak of almost 170 per cent of GDP in 2028.

“A major contributor to this increased public debt level is the unprecedented influx of private lenders flooding developing economies as they look for higher returns outside advanced economies.

“This is sequel to the global financial crisis of 2008.

“According to the Debt Management Office (DMO), Nigeria’s total

public debt stock as of June 30, 2022 was N42.84trillion.

“It is instructive to recall that Nigeria’s debt service cost presently outweighs its revenue with clear signs of economic dangers ahead,” he said.

Rafsanjani said with refusal of private creditors to embrace debt relief initiatives, the Nigerian government would continue to spend a significant part of its budget to service loans.

He said this would come under stringent conditions including high interest rates, adding that it would drastically reduce due commitment to more critical socio-economic sectors like health and education.

Rafsanjani said in the Nigerian context, about 90 per cent revenue was devoted to debt serving at the expense of development

through dance and other ways.

It also witnessed a tug-of-war competition between the officers of 145 Battalion and 14 Brigade Garrison, and the recognition of some personnel for outstanding performance.

NAN further reports that a bonfire was also lit to signify the climax of all Military Training Exercise for the year 2022.

(NAN)

projects.

He said the group was concerned with the lack of vigorous scrutiny and attention by lawmakers in granting requests for loans without reflecting the provisions of the Fiscal Responsibility Act and the greater implication for the nation economic state.

He said that the Nigerian legislators had the constitutional and legislative mandate to approve loan request only on the basis of public interest and should put this clause as a prerequisite to any approvals they might want to give.

Rafsanjani said the group had inaugurated a research product centred on revealing and challenging role of private creditors in hindering peoples recoveries to enhance the urgency with which the international community should address sovereign debt crisis.(NAN)

A cross section of the Coalition of Civil Society Group during a peaceful protest on the scarcity of new naira notes at Marina, Lagos, yesterday.

By Vivian Okejeme, Abuja

Ahead of the 2023, general election, the President of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Yakubu Maikyau, SAN, yesterday said he will call out and pursue disciplinary action against erring judicial officials participating in the resolution of electoral disputes.

Maikyau reiterated that the outcome of the 2023 general elections, largely depend on the interface between the Bench, the Bar and the Political gladiators.

He said that the NBA owes Nigerians sincere and honest participation in the process by ensuring that the relevant

2023 Election: NBA will discipline erring judicial officers -Maikyau

laws and rules are properly interpreted and applied.

While commending the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) for the efforts to deliver a free, fair, and credible election, Maikyau charge the electoral body to maintain its independence.

He therefore, declared the Bar’s unequivocal support to help ward off any attempt to undermine the integrity of the electoral process and it’s neutrality.

legitimately within our abilities, motivated by the desire to serve the course of justice, to ensure that the relevant laws and rules, properly interpreted and applied, remain the guiding principles for our involvement in the process.

I charge INEC to maintain its independence as we unequivocally, as a Bar, declare our support to help ward off any attempt to undermine the integrity of the electoral process and neutrality of INEC.

in the monitoring of the forthcoming election.

Group fumes over negative effects of corruption

Nigerians

on

From: Femi Oyelola, Kaduna

AGroup under the auspices of Africa Network for Environment and Economic Justice (ANEEJ) has said the endemic corrupt practices in the country is negatively affecting Nigerians.

The Deputy Executive Director of group Mr. Leo Atakpu asserted this during ANEEJ Cluster assessment report on the implementation of London Anti-Corruption Summit and Global Forum for Asset Recovery (GFAR) commitments meeting held yesterday.

According to him Nigeria is the 154 least corrupt nations out of 180 countries, according to the 2021 Corruption Perceptions Index reported by Transparency International.

Mr. Leo explained that the meeting is being organized under the Enhancing Anticorruption and Social Inclusive Reform Initiatives in Nigeria project being implemented by ANEEJ and its eight partners as part of the Strengthening Civic Advocacy and Local Engagement (SCALE) project.

According to him, the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) recently revealed that 133 million Nigerians live in multi-dimensional poverty, saying public infrastructures such as power, roads as well as social services, particularly educational and health institutions are in dire conditions necessitating an unprecedented upsurge in brain drain.

“We are on the verge of another General election. Besides the need to guarantee the security of the lives and properties of Nigerians as they troop out to vote in the 2023 general elections, the ultimate outcome of the election will largely depend on the interface between the Bench, the Bar and the Political gladiators.

“As members of the Legal Profession, serving either on the Bench or at the Bar, we owe Nigerians sincere and honest participation in the process.

“We must do all that is

“While we shall stand with the Courts and do everything legal to protect the integrity of the Bench against any form of intimidation by the political class, any person or group of persons, we will not hesitate to call out and pursue disciplinary action(s) against erring judicial officials. Similarly, members of the Bar who misconduct themselves while participating in the resolution of electoral disputes will face disciplinary action at the Legal Practitioners’ Disciplinary Committee (LPDC) and the Legal Practitioners’ Privileges Committee (LPPC), where Senior Advocates of Nigeria (SAN) are involved.

“I commend the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) for all that it is doing to deliver a free, fair, and credible election to Nigerians.

“In this regard, my attention was drawn to a social media publication that the Nigerian Bar Association in Akwa Ibom State had endorsed a candidate in the forthcoming election. I took time to verify the information and I have confirmation that this indeed took place. I want to say in no unclear terms that we condemn the action of the few members who embarked on such despicable and disgraceful conduct using the platform of the NBA.

“That declaration was not made for or with the authority of the NBA. It is disgusting and I have already instructed the First Vice President NBA who is leading the NBA Election Monitoring Group, to immediately exclude all the branches of the NBA in Akwa Ibom State from participating

“This exclusion will be communicated to INEC forthwith and members involved in this conduct will also face disciplinary action as may be determined by the NBA. NBA is not partisan; we are not a political party, we are representatives of the people, we remain neutral and must be seen to maintain our neutrality at all times - we belong to everyone and to nobody.

“I also thank INEC for extending the deadline for the collection of PVCs which was a clear indication of its readiness and willingness to give every eligible Nigerian the opportunity to exercise his/her franchise. I wrote a letter in this respect based on the report by one of our Senior Counsel, Ms F. Boma Ayomide Alabi, SAN, which I adopted as the NBA position and had discussions with Mr. Festus Okoye, who assured me that the complaints were being considered, I was therefore not surprised at the intervention by INEC.”

Nigeria

Unity of Nigeria paramount in electioneering era -NCPC boss

By Albert Akota

The Executive Secretary Nigerian Christian Pilgrim Commission Rev. Dr Yakubu Pam, has said that the unity of the country was of top priority in the electioneering era.

Rev Pam made this known while addressing the 5th batch of

intending pilgrims comprising Delta, Borno and Kogi State at the Departure hall of the Nnamdi Azikwe International Airport in Abuja.

The Executive Secretary said unity of the nation was what the Commission stands for, adding that Pilgrimage was the platform through which Nigerians can get more united.

He charged them to be proud Ambassadors and good representatives of the country and Christ as they embark on the spiritual journey.

In his words, Delta State Executive Secretary, Apostle Samuel Okoh said nation building was incomplete without the Church, hence the need for the exercise.

Okoh said he was optimistic that the Pilgrims would impact upon the nations and their various families.

On his part, the Executive Chairman, Kogi State Christian Pilgrims Commission advised them to be of worthy character and pray fervently for the nation and enhance the unity that every Nigerian had longed for

R-L:: Secretary General , Catholic Secretariat of Nigeria (CSN) , Very Rev, Fr Zachariah Samjumi , the National Director of Social Communications CSN, Very Rev, Dr, Michael Nsikak Umoh and Rev Fr.Joseph Nomhwange of the CSN, during the 2023 Catholic Secretariat of

Community media parley, held yesterday in Abuja. Photo: Justin Imo-owo

Kwara South SDP senatorial candidate meets FCTbased constituents

Prof. Wale Sulaiman, the Kwara South Social Democratic Party (SDP) Senatorial candidate, has expressed readiness to meet with his constituents resident in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) on Feb 2.

The senatorial candidate said this in a statement he signed and made available to newsmen in Abuja on Monday.

He said the meeting became necessary to acquaint the people of his manifestoes ahead of the February general lections.

Sulaiman said that he had earlier met with the people of his constituency living in Lagos State to show support for his candidacy and tell them about his aspiration to become their representative at the red chamber.

The Professor of neurosurgeon and spinal surgery said he wanted to become their senator because of his passion for development, while promising the people of the district a better deal if elected.

Sulaiman promised to change the face of development in the senatorial district by showing example from previous representation.

He expressed worry over the level of under-development in the district, adding that it was akin to poor leadership recruitment.

He said his coming out as the candidate of SDP would change the face of representation in the district, while calling on Kwara South living in Abuja to attend the meeting.

According to him, I have heard series of complain from my people in Kwara south how as soon as they elect their senator they become a total stranger to them.

He said, “I have the expertise to attract jobs for my people and provide workable healthcare, and education, I will be the people’s senator, who constituents can access without recourse to undue protocol. According to him, I have heard series of complain from my people in Kwara south how as soon as they elect their senator they become a total stranger to them.

He said, “I have the expertise to attract jobs for my people and provide workable healthcare, and education, I will be the people’s senator, who constituents can access without recourse to undue protocol. (NAN)

CBN to Nigerians: Deposit old Naira notes before end of new deadline

From Umar Dankano,Yola

Nigerians have been urged to deposit their monies especially the old Naira notes in various commercial banks within before expiration of the 10 days extension. The Director Internal Audit Department of the Central Bank of Nigeria,CBN.Mrs Lydia I.Alfa made

the plea yesterday while sensitizing traders on the redesigned Naira notes at Yola-Motor park in Yola South local government area of Adamawa state.

While thanking President Buhari and the Governor of the Central Bank, Godwin Emiefele for listening to the people’s outcry and extend the deadline, Mrs Alfa said people should make conscious

effort and get their monies deposited in various accounts and not to wait until last hour before rushing to the banks.

“Take advantage of the ten days extension to deposit the old two hundred, five and one thousand naira in your accounts before they cease to be legal tender on the deadline as approved by the CBN”, Mrs Alfa advised.

She explained that those without Bank account can approach CBN super agents for money swap or POS operators and account opening and deposit their money.

She reiterated that CBN will penalized any bank whose ATM machines dispense old redesign currency notes, calling on people to report such Bank to CBN for immediate action.

2013: INEC to mobilise 100,000 vehicles, 4,000 boats for polls, reveals Yakubu

By Lateef Ibrahim, Abuja

The Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, has revealed that it is mobilising about 100,000 vehicles and 4,000 boats for the deployment of personnel and materials to 176,846 polling units spread across 8,809 Registration Areas (or electoral Wards) in 774 Local Government Areas nationwide.

The Chairman of INEC, Prof Mahmood Yakubu made the revelation when he met with the management of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited, NNPCL, on Tuesday ahead of the forthcoming general election and the negative impact the ongoing fuel scarcity in the country is likely to have on the commission’s arrangements.

The INEC Chairman told the NNPCL management, led by its Group Chief Executive Officer, GCEO, Mr Mele Kyari, at the NNPC towers, Abuja, that the various arrangements of the electoral body and its objectives cannot be fully accomplished without the guaranteed supply of petroleum products to facilitate the movement of vehicles and boats.

He thus pleaded for the use of the NNPC land and floating mega stations nationwide to service INEC’s election duty vehicles and boats, saying, “We will bear the cost of the products. By doing so, there will be guaranteed supply for elections”.

Prof Yakubu equally made case for a special arrangement with other marketers in locations where the NNPC may not have dedicated stations in addition to the consideration of other options to support “our seamless operations on Election Day”.

The INEC Chairman said, “As you are aware, Nigerians will go to the polls in a little over three weeks in what will be our 7th consecutive General Election since the restoration of democracy in 1999. “The election will hold in two phases. The national elections (Presidential and National Assembly) will hold on Saturday 25th February 2023 to be followed two weeks later by State elections (Governorship and States Houses of Assembly) on Saturday 11th March 2023.

“Nigerian election is huge and complex. Election is the biggest

logistical operation that Nigeria undertakes every four years.

“93,469,008 registered voters are expected to elect a President, 28 State Governors and 1,462 legislators (109 Senators, 360 members of House of Representatives and 993 members of State Houses of Assembly).

“The Commission is mobilising about 100,000 vehicles and 4,000 boats for the deployment of personnel and materials to 176,846 polling units spread across 8,809 Registration Areas (or electoral Wards) in 774 Local Government Areas nationwide.

“Earlier this morning (yesterday’s), we had a meeting with the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW). We are working with them as well as the Marine Workers Union of Nigeria (MWUN) to mobilise the vehicles and boats needed for the massive land and riverine movement of men and materials for the election.

“We are determined to overcome the perennial challenge of late commencement of polls on grounds of logistics.

“However, this objective cannot

be fully accomplished without the guaranteed supply of petroleum products to facilitate the movement of vehicles and boats.

“Hence, in our effort to mobilise every national institution to give Nigerians a pleasant experience on Election Day, the Commission believes that the NNPC, as our national oil company, is one of the critical institutions that can facilitate the attainment of our objective.

“We are aware of the efforts of the NNPC to ease the current situation in earnest. At the same time, we would like to appeal to you to consider the following proposals:

*The use of the NNPC land and floating mega stations nationwide to service our election duty vehicles and boats. We will bear the cost of the products. By doing so, there will be guaranteed supply for elections;

*A special arrangement with other marketers in locations where the NNPC may not have dedicated stations; and

*Consider other options to support our seamless operations on Election Day.

Monetary policy inconsistencies affects Naira value -Borno Varsity VC

From: Shehu Abubakar, Maiduguri

The Vice Chancellor of Borno State University, Prof Umar Kyari Sandabe, has blamed Nigeria’s monetary policy inconsistencies for the inability of the Naira to find its true market value.

Prof Sandabe was the keynote speaker in Maiduguri, Tuesday, January 31, at the University of Maiduguri’s

First International Conference Revolutionising Management Skills For Economic Advancement And Capacity Building In A Challenging Environment.

“There has never been a time when the Naira is allowed to find its true value in the market,” he posited, attributing the situation to what he described as poor monetary policy by the country’s monetary authorities.

He descried the situation where the authorities would tell the public that they have allowed the currency to find its true value, but after sometime they would suddenly come up with a policy fixing its market value and raises interest rates and causes inflation.

Turning to the 3-day conference, he charged the participants to find ways whereby managers can take appropriate decisions even in

difficult situations.

The Dean of the university’s Faculty of Management Sciences, Prof Mohammed Dahiru Madawaki, described the conference as crucial in view of what he described as overwhelming planning and management challenges nationally and globally.

The conference, organised by the Faculty, drew over 70 scholars from universities within and outside the country.

Kaduna Police Command Paraded 3 Susfected Women, who Stole their nabours 5 month Child, and 14 others

•Meets NNPC, seeks special concession for fuel supply

CNNC urges Christians to vote credible candidate

Congress of Northern Nigerian Christians (CNNC) has directed its members to vote credible candidates.

The group stated this in a press statement read by its director of information, Dr Iliya Yusuf after a meeting on 25th January, 2023 in kaduna.

The meeting had in attendance, the national president of the association, Elder Steven Baba Bangoje, national secretary of the association, Pastor Aminu yusuf, chairman kaduna state chapter Elder Bulus Emishe Dogara and other stakeholders.

They called on all northern Christians to stick together both at local and national level to speak with one voice.

While answering questions from journalists, he reiterated their support on CAN’s stand on muslim - muslim tickets.

The body also advised its members and all northern Christians that their votes should be for peace, development and justice.

2023: Obi promises to improve agriculture, business activities in Jigawa

From Mika’il Tsoho, Dutse

The presidential candidate of Labour Party (LP) Mr Peter Obi has promised to provide enabling environment for better modern agriculture and business in Jigawa state.

Obi dropped the hint yesterday while delivering his speech at his campaign rally held at filin Samba area of Dutse local government area of Jigawa state.

He explained that, as part of his seven point agenda, if Jigawa people voted for him in the forthcoming general election, he will do all his best to reduce terrorism and provide enabling environment for easy life.

Other promises he made included: food security, fighting corruption, leapfrogging Nigeria from an oil-dependent economy to the Fourth Industrial Revolution (4IR) with massive investment in new technology and expanding physical infrastructure.

2023: INEC receives sensitive, non sensitive materials in Benue

From: Uche Nnorom, Makurdi

The Independent National Electoral Commission, (INEC), in Benue State said it has received sensitive and non sensitive materials ahead of the 2023 general elections.

The state INEC Public Affairs

Officers, Terkaa Andyar, disclosed this on Tuesday to our correspondent in Makurdi. Mr Andyar however,could not divulge exactly when the distribution of materials would commence but confirmed they have received non sensitive and some of the sensitive materials. He said; “We have

received ballot boxes and sleeping mats which will be used in Registration Area Centers,RACs.

“We have also received the voting cubicles and other consumables like ink pads, stamps, calculators among others.

The Public Affairs Officer

also said “We have received the Biomodal Voter Accreditation System (BIVAS) and other forms that will be used before and on election days”.

He stated that the items have just been received and plans are on the way to distribute them to the 23 Local Government Areas, LGAs, of the state.

Zulum unveils Chibok water project; opens schools in Damboa, Askira

Governor Babagana

Umara Zulum on Monday night unveiled a water project with capacity to store and distribute one million, two hundred and fifty thousand litres of water at Mboa village in Chibok Local Government Area (LGA) of (southern) Borno State.

Mboa village is located five kilometres away from Chibok town, headquarters of Chibok LGA and with that proximity, the commissioned water project will serve over 40,000 residents of not just Mboa village but also of Chibok town and neighboring communities, a statement by Isa Gusau, spokesman for the Zulum said yesterday.

The water facility was designed with a storage capacity of a 750,000-litre surface tank and a 500,000-litre overhead tank with water sources from 20 motorised boreholes.

“One of the major challenges of Chibok town has been the lack of portable drinking water. During our electioneering campaign, we promised you that if elected we shall address the water problems you face. This night we are here to commission a multi-million naira project which was executed to provide Chibok and its environs with water”, Zulum said.

“I am very happy to be here to commission this

project, let me also commend the Commissioner of Water Resources for a job well done”, the Governor declared. Conducting the governor round the project, Commissioner of Water Resources, Engr. Tijjani Alkali, explained that the water project is powered by 36,000 watts of solar and a 100 kva generating set.

… Opens Schools in Damboa,

After the water project in Chibok, Governor Zulum stopped over at Gumsuri, a community in Damboa LGA, to commission a senior secondary school on the same Monday night.

Meanwhile, earlier that day before going to Chibok and Damboa, Zulum was in Askira town, headquarters of Askira

The governor commissioned a new junior secondary school in Askira town with classroom to contain about 1,000 students. At the commissioning, each student was presented with uniforms, reading and writing materials as well as bicycles to ease transportation especially for those coming from distant places.

Niger Govt sets to tackle arbitrary pricing, scarcity of petrol

From Yakubu Mustapha Minna

Niger State Governor, Alhaji Abubakar Sani Bello has directed for the constitution of a Committee to monitor the artificial scarcity of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) and its arbitrary pricing across the State.

The constitution of the Committee by the Government followed the persistent fuel scarcity being witnessed in the State as a result of the arbitrary pricing and hoarding of the product.

This was contained in a statement issued by the Secretary to the State Government (SSG),

Ahmed Ibrahim Matane who said that the Committee is to ensure strict compliance with the approved allocation to filling stations in the State and retail prices for PMS.

Ahmed Matane revealed that members of the Committee were drawn from the Independent Petroleum Marketers

Association of Nigeria (IPMAN), Security Agencies and Government Officials.

The State Government threatened to deal decisively or sanction any filling station not dispensing its allocation and selling above the stipulated approved pump prices of PMS in the State.

From Shehu Abubakar, Maiduguri

Askira

Uba LGA.

L-R: The Immediate Past Acting Director General, National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), Mrs. Christy Ifeyinwa Uba presenting handing over note to the new Director General NYSC, Brig. Gen. Yusha'u Dogara Ahmed, during the handing / taking over ceremony, on Monday in Abuja. Photo: Justin Imo-owo.

Godwin Emefiele: Softly, softly

By Sheriffdeen Tella

The second basic function of the CBN according to the Act that established it is that it should maintain external reserves to safeguard the international value of the legal tender currency. The official exchange rate of naira to a dollar in 2014 just after Emefiele took over the CBN was N165.15; while the black market rate was N190.

If there is a government official that should remain humble, it is the Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria. If we are to divide the economy into two namely the real and the monetary sectors, the governor carries half. It is a favour from God and a responsibility that must be carried out with utmost dexterity and humility. The CBN Governor, Godwin Emefiele, recognises the magnitude and the authority attached to the assignment but has yet to demonstrate the required humility for such position.

He feels the assignment has given him power over the country he is expected to serve. He is above the Nigerian institutions, constitution, and even the people. The National Assembly called him many times but he ignored it with flimsy excuses. The Nigerian citizens asked him to reconsider his stand on the deadline for currency swapping in view of the inadequacies surrounding the availability of the new currencies, he ignored them and instead was offering ATM cards for withdrawal of local currencies and foreign exchange. Does the public have accounts with the CBN?

Let us assess his execution of the monetary management of the Nigerian economy. The starting point is to present the traditional functions of the central bank and examine how he has performed. The traditional or basic functions are expected to be performed by any central bank in the world. The central bank is the only bank that can issue domestic currencies. It serves as an adviser and banker to the government just as it is the lender of last resort to other banks. The bank is the custodian of cash reserves and foreign currency or foreign exchange. It acts as the clearing house for interbank transactions among banks and the issuer of monetary policy.

It is within this general context that the four-core mandate of the CBN was formulated. In the Act establishing the bank, it is expected to issue legal tender currency in Nigeria; maintain external reserves

to safeguard the international value of the legal tender currency; promote a sound financial system in Nigeria; and, act as banker and provide economic and financial advice to the Federal Government.

The first primary and major goal of the CBN is to produce Nigeria’s money and distribute the same fairly across the country.

It is not to produce Nigerian ATM cards. The distribution of the new currency is unfair. Most banks have been collecting old notes with no new currencies to replace them. I went to a bank’s ATM to withdraw money at the end of last week and also with the intention to snap the old currencies the bank has been dishing out before taking it from the ATM. Unfortunately, the machine has no money to dispense. And, that is common everywhere. A cashless economy does not mean no cash. The so-called cashless economies in advanced countries have millions of ATMs installed outside banks, in shopping malls, train stations, bus stations et cetera. What are the ATMs supposed to be dispensing and why were they installed if they are 100 per cent cashless? In those economies, ATMs work 24 hours a day and seven days a week. No internet problems and no electricity problems either. Forcing people to go cashless is a coverup for inadequacy and inefficiency. To the extent that currencies are not easily available, the governor of the CBN has failed in the first function.

The second basic function of the CBN according to the Act that established it is that it should maintain external reserves to safeguard the international value of the legal tender currency. The official exchange rate of naira to a dollar in 2014 just after Emefiele took over the CBN was N165.15; while the black market rate was N190. What is the exchange rate today? The official rate is N440 and the black market rate hovers around N750. It can neither encourage foreign investment nor the repatriation of proceeds of exports.

It was under the leadership of the CBN Governor that, through a whistle-blower, large amounts of new foreign currencies were found in a flat in Ikoyi, Lagos. Who is legally responsible for the custody of foreign currencies? So, who should be queried for the Ikoyi foreign currency warehouse? During the intervention programmes of 2015, Emefiele was reported (never denied) to have distributed foreign currencies to some commercial banks for intervention in distressed businesses. There was no record of how the money was distributed

or if it was returned. After some writeups by Late Henry Boyo and yours truly, the House of Representatives set up a committee to look into the matter. Maybe a report will come out almost five years after.

The CBN governor turned himself into a commercial bank manager by going out to give money to farmers as intervention funds when the funds could have been channeled through the Bank of Agriculture that is equipped to perform such a function. He later complained that the farmers were not repaying the funds given to them. Yet, according to him, the farmers so liked him that they paid N100m for his botched presidential form! Have they not repaid the loans?

There was a display of massive branded campaign vehicles for the CBN Governor’s campaign when he was to contest the primary of the All Progressives Congress. Those vehicles were not produced in Nigeria and must have, therefore, been imported with hardearned foreign exchange. The bank was more interested in funding foreign travels by government officials, and importing exotic drinks and food as well as encouraging round-tripping activities within the foreign exchange market than providing money for the importation of raw materials and spare parts for industries. Yet the governor would put the massive depreciation of the naira on one Aboki Bureau de Change or students going abroad to study. Given the exchange rate depreciation under his watch, it is clear that the governor has again failed in the second basic function of the central bank.

Has the CBN promoted a sound financial system? Instead of strengthening the financial system by encouraging them to be more innovative, the bank has been competing with commercial banks. As already alluded to, the CBN has been engaging in retail banking in the name of promoting CBN interventions. The introduction of ATM cards by the CBN for whatever transactions is an aberration; not innovation. Individuals do not bank directly with the CBN, so what do they need the CBN card for? Until recently, I have used my bank’s master card to collect foreign currencies whenever I travelled to other countries in Africa, Europe or elsewhere. So, why do I have to get a CBN card to do the same? I will have to transfer money to the card at a cost and withdraw at another cost. What a financial loss!

Sheriffdeen Tella is a Public Policy Analyst.

How to build sustainable democratic culture in Nigeria

By Azuka Onwuka

There is always a godfather that determines who should run for which political office. If the godfather endorses you, then you are almost certain of ‘winning’ the election. But if he does not endorse you, your name changes to OYO – On Your Own!

One challenge facing Nigeria is that of weak democratic culture. Many Nigerians feel that they are powerless before powerful politicians and political godfathers. They believe that only the politicians and the godfathers have the power to determine who wins what election and who gets what favours after the election.

That is why politicians do everything possible to win the primaries for presidential, governorship and legislative positions. They spend massively to buy the votes of the delegates who will elect the candidates. The belief is that once they secure the party’s ticket, it is a fait accompli that they will be elected by the electorate, especially if their party is the preferred one within their constituency.

If the February 2023 election can change that attitude, it will have achieved a lot. The democracy in Nigeria does not have deep roots. The people don’t fully believe that power is in their hands. They believe that only the rich and powerful can win elections in Nigeria. That keeps many good people out of politics.

When our second child was in Basic 2, he came back one day from school and announced excitedly that he had been elected the Class Captain of Basic 2. It was written all over him that he was very happy. With glee and a sense of importance and accomplishment, he narrated the proceedings of the election. According to him, he was nominated with two others to contest for the post of the class captain. The class members voted for the three of them. And at the end of the election, he got 19 votes, while his other two fellow contestants got 9 and 3 votes respectively.

I guess that the feat felt more satisfying to him because he was not appointed by the teachers. He was elected by his classmates: a testimony that his classmates found him worthy to be their leader. The classmates had known him and his other classmates. They had interacted from Basic 1 and pre-primary classes. They had played together, quarrelled, fought, made up, and competed on many fronts. They had answered questions and found out each other’s level of intelligence. They had seen who told the more interesting stories, who related with others better, who had more power to get the others to listen, or who was more confident than the others. Maybe if it was by appointment, someone else would have been chosen as the class captain.

That got me thinking. Could the entrenchment of democracy

from the elementary school level help to change our attitude to democracy? Why did I ask that question? Right from the colonial days, we have been displaying a poor attitude to democracy. We brook no opposition. We treat opponents as enemies that must be crushed. Even after we have ‘won’ elections, we try to victimise anyone or community that did not vote for us. If any of our kinsmen or fellow member of our ethnic group does not support our political ambition, he is branded a traitor and treated like a leper, perhaps for life. Nobody cares to know that the man has a right not to support his kinsman.

There is always a godfather that determines who should run for which political office. If the godfather endorses you, then you are almost certain of ‘winning’ the election. But if he does not endorse you, your name changes to OYO – On Your Own!

This anti-democratic mindset seemed to have sprung from our traditional and historical background. We grew up under the powerful kingship system. The king was a demi-god. Many a king had the power over life and death. His words were final. He brooked no opposition. Anyone who challenged him was arrested and taught a lesson, which could include death. Everybody bowed and trembled before his majesty!

Even in the communities where there were no kings, there were also a council of elders and priests whose words were final. Everyone was expected to conform to the norms, traditions, and decisions. Dissension was not tolerated. Once the community had taken a decision, that was it. You either conformed or got punished. If you hated the decision so much that you could not obey it, you had the option of leaving the community and settling in another community.

With this type of background, it is not surprising to see that Nigerians are intolerant of contrary views or orientations. Anybody who expresses a different view on an issue is treated like an enemy of the state rather than a partner in progress who just has a different idea about the route to the development of the town, state or nation. Any criticism or genuine piece of advice from any quarter is an irritation. The purveyors of such opinions are termed ‘disgruntled elements’ or “those working for their paymasters.” The only time all seems to be well is when everyone is hailing the leader. The election that makes the heart of such leaders swell is that in which they or their party ‘wins’ in all the districts.

This cancer has even so much permeated our social and religious lives that those with minority religious or ethnic orientations are not tolerated. They are constantly attacked or victimised. Even when they are not physically harmed, they are hardly allowed to raise their heads or hold any positions in the

communities. Forever, they are treated like outsiders or secondclass citizens. Even the most educated and most travelled join in upholding these injustices in the name of defending their religion or ethnic group. Disappointingly, our national laws do little to defend minority rights.

Therefore, to ensure that we start curbing this ugly attitude, we need to inculcate a true democratic culture in people at an early age. For example, right from primary school, in addition to teaching civics, positions like class prefects/monitors/captains should be made elective. The pupils should be made to understand the importance of contesting elections right from the cradle. Although the teachers may know the pupil that would perform better as the captain, it is better to allow the pupils to elect their leader themselves. It helps to make the elected children see that they emerged as a result of the goodwill they have among their classmates. That will make them accountable to their classmates, rather than a godfather (teacher or principal). That makes such child leaders to do their best to work in the interest of those who elected them.

This will make the child to realise that his mates elected him to ‘serve’ them, not to rule over them. He knows that they are watching to see if he is living up to expectations. He knows that even before the end of the session (tenure), his classmates can vote him out, if they are not happy with his performance. He also knows that he cannot bribe the entire classmates to vote for him if he is not living up to their expectations. In addition, his other mates will also strive to be better in all the indices, so as to be considered above him during the next election.

Beyond helping to make our democracy stronger, it will also help to make our people better. Those who have dreams of becoming leaders will start from childhood to be above board. For example, someone who has a crooked streak knows that any time he comes out to contest for any political post, such a negative will be used against him. He cannot bank on a godfather bulldozing his way through the electoral system to get him into office.

Because it is said that you can’t teach old dogs new tricks, our adults are as good as lost on the issue of tolerance of contrary opinions and minorities, but we can catch our children now that they are still malleable. We can inculcate the right democratic principles and tolerance of minorities in them. That will help us to create great leaders of the future and also a great, harmonious and progressive nation.

Twitter: @BrandAzuka

Nigeria and the false notion of leadership

By Gozie Irogboli

An important function of leadership is that of succession planning. In the family, in the cooperate world and in the political spheres it is essential. But the Nigerian political leaders think only in terms of self perpetuation and when that is not possible, they would install their children or a puppet that they can remote control because they need someone who will cover up the mess they usually leave behind.

As I reflect ruefully on Nigerian’s perennial political imbroglio, my mind dwells on what Chinua Achebe of blessed memory once said about what he considered to be the problem of Nigeria, the recumbent African giant. In his epochal essay entitled: The Trouble With Nigeria, the erudite scholar had declared assertively that, “The Trouble with Nigeria is simply and squarely a failure of leadership”. Everybody agrees to this heroic assertion. Nigeria has not produced the right leadership that is needed to properly cement the disjointed fissures and ethnic cleavages, chart a common course and inspire the people towards the accomplishment of national goals. The devastating effects of dysfunctional leadership are felt on every facet of our national life. There is unbridle corruption, undesirable culture of impunity, cronyism, nepotism, mediocrity, no clear national aspiration, lack of unity, mutual recrimination, poor national productivity etc. plaguing the soul of the nation. But, the problem of Nigerian is so much about followership as it is of leadership because of the wrong people’s perception of the concept of leadership.

The pertinent question that rankles in the minds of every wellmeaning Nigerian is: why is it difficult for the right leadership to emerge? The reason for this is not far-fetched. The Nigeria sociocultural milieu has made it impossible for the right leadership to emerge. There is a close connection between the people and the types of leaders they produce as Joseph-Marie de Maistre the French-Italian political philosopher and diplomat puts it many years ago: “every nation gets the leaders it deserves”.

Nigeria is a heterogeneous entity of over 200 million people and about 500 ethnic nationalities – something to cheer about. Unfortunately, that which is supposed to be its strength has become its worst weakness. The socio-cultural environment is polluted by ignorance, hypocrisy, hatred, mutual recrimination, ethnic irredentism and adverse socio-cultural atavism. Our decisions at personal and national levels are colored by hatred,

creed and ethnic prejudice. We have people supporting injustice and promoting tyranny and oppression out of ignorance, hypocrisy, hatred and lack…By electing bad leaders and not holding them accountable and showing them solidarity even when they display crass incompetence and glaring injustices to the citizens, Nigerians are culpable in the crime of making and sustaining dysfunctional leadership.

Indeed, leadership like most terms and concepts is grossly abused and bastardized in Nigeria. The Nigerian notion of leadership is tinged by traditional dogma and military mentality by the Nigerian public. Leadership as it generally conceived is about influencing peoples’ behavior towards the attainment of shared goals or common aspiration. This means that the leader wields power. Power in this context is not force, coercion or excessive reliance on authority but ability earned through trust, style, skills or other rare attributes. What does the leader do? The leader influences, motivates, supports, develops, plans, and achieve goals. A Leader establishes direction, creates vision and strategies, effectively communicates goals, seeks commitment from his people, and builds teams and coalitions for the purpose of goal attainment. And the followers are usually motivated by the passion or the genuine commitment of the leader to pursue and achieve the shared goals. People are usually de-motivated, and disenchanted when the leader abandons the common goals and hanker after parochial interests.

Essentially, leadership is a process involving people, activity and mutual interaction, influencing people in the pursuant of common goals. Trait, skills and style approaches are the schematic ways scholars look at the concept of leadership. The trait approach emphasizes the attributes such as, intelligence, self-confidence, integrity, sociability, determination, and emotional stability among others which the leader is expected to have. It is believed that with these traits the leader is able to influence his followers to achieve the desired goals. The traditional notion of leadership is that leaders are born with these leadership traits. The danger of believing that leaders are born is that it makes the so-called leaders arrogant; taking things for granted and ignoring efforts to sharpen their skills and latent potentials by learning. It creates entitlement mentality. Those who believed they were born to lead most of the time rely on authority to lead; what I call leadership by assumption—clinging to assumed noble ancestry or position of spurious claims. And the inherent dangers include lack of training, reliance on authority,

impunity, patronage, illusion and unrealistic assumption. People who hold on to this belief place all emphasis on their rights and most often negate their obligations. Rights and privileges without obligation or responsibility are tyranny. History has shown that the ultimate destination of tyranny is failure. The current state of affairs in the country has made a complete mess of the born-to-rule hypothesis for what we have experienced in the past fifty years in the hands of those who lay claim to this antiquated theory is toxic and dysfunctional leadership that has ruined the nation.

However, over the years, the general views about leadership have evolved from mere emphasis on leader’s personality (traits) to other issues like the leader’s behaviors and capabilities. Thus, leadership can be appraised based not only on individual attributes, but on competencies (problem-solving skills) and leadership outcome (performance or goal accomplishment).

The style approach to leadership is about the behavior of the leader towards the followers and task accomplishment in different situations. By and large, the attitude of the leader in this regard is dependent on the situation. The behavior of an officer leading his troops to the war front may not be the same when he is leading them to the parade ground or to the armed forces games. In the style approach, some leaders are task oriented (more interested in goal accomplishment) while some are people oriented (more interested in relationship building). The most effective leader in the leadership grid is the one that combine both styles.

In the skills approach, leadership is seen as a skill-based process. The skill approach emphasizes the capabilities that make the leader more able to effectively influence his group. These skills can be latent, honed or learned. Skills and abilities can be learned and developed. Robert Katz, a Harvard scholar identifies technical, human and conceptual skills as the basic skills that make leaders effective. Technical skills have to do with competency. Leaders should have the right techniques and analytical tools to interpret situations. A man who does not know about Economics may find it difficult leading an economic team. In the contemporary fast-paced world, leaders are expected to be updated with current global trends in order to keep pace with the environment. Outdated individuals would not understand issues and global contemporary trends and therefore may not be effective.

Gozie Irogboli, an economist, a novelist and public policy analyst can be reached at goziei@yahoo.com

Democracy without democrats, leadership without honour

By Owei Lakemfa

He repeats these like a man with a pricking conscience. President Buhari is like a man who sets examination questions for himself, supervises the examination, answers the questions, marks the script, awards himself high grades and wonders why he is not being applauded for his excellent performance.

IN Geneva, Switzerland, an acquaintance once apologised that he was some minutes late for our appointment because he went to vote that morning. Everywhere and everything appeared normal. There was no indication of voting going on. I reflected that back home, elections even at state level are emergencies in which curfew is imposed, movement restricted and the army, police, intelligence and other security services turned out on the streets.

In November, 2021, I was an observer at the elections in Venezuela. It was a Sunday because the Venezuelans would not allow a disruption of their normal activities, including on Saturdays when a lot of trading goes on. Sundays are their rest days, so they can afford an hour or two.

A Catholic country, I watched people returning from church with their children and making a detour to the polling station. Back home in Nigeria, it would be unwise for people to carry their children to the polling station. First, voting can be disrupted and violence breaks up. Secondly is the endless queue.

Nigerian voters were by the last elections, forced to go to the polling station twice in a day for the same election; first to be accredited and later to cast their ballot.

All the noise of ‘modern’ electoral system such as being issued temporary and Permanent Voter’s Card, PVC, the so-called revolutions of using card readers, and the newest contraption called the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System, BVAS, which is supposed to read PVCs and authenticate a voter’s finger print, are eliminated in Venezuela’s hotly contested elections.

The very cheap, fast and non-controversial voting system in Venezuela simply requires the voter to come to the polling station with his national identity card, which we call NIN. This is checked against the electronic national register. The voter is then given a sheet which he goes to a covered table to tick and drop in a carton, yes, packet carton in the centre of the room, and off he goes. The number of persons who show up with their identity cards and

the votes in the carton must tally. Within four hours, the election results nationwide, were out.

I use the example of Venezuela because like Nigeria, it is a Third World country and due to unilateral American-imposed sanctions, it is poorer than Nigeria.

So, voting is not rocket science. Elections do not need to be commoditised and generally turned into a feast of vultures where most politicians, their hangers-on, thugs, public relations and media sorcerers, professional election observers, security personnel, some lawyers and judges feed. In fact, the cut for the police in the 2023 elections is officially N64 billion.

Our democracy which is without dividends for the electorate, is quite contentious because to hold high political office, is to hold a key to the public treasury, have immunity and act with impunity. This is why some characterise Nigerian politics as a criminal enterprise.

It is a democracy in which the President and the Governor are in god-like positions, presiding over the affairs of ordinary mortals; legislators earn insane allowances, annually pad the national budget and award contracts to themselves, and judges many times, make controversial pronouncements. In fact, the Supreme Court has been caught selecting a governor for the people. Elections are quite contentious partly because we run a unitary system in which to have political power is to be so strong as to disregard constitutional provisions. This, President Muhammadu Buhari, has done a number of times, including disregarding the Federal Character provision which is at odds with his preference for prebendal politics.

There is also the problem that while the Constitution announces the country as a federation, its provisions are unitary.

A trending post in the internet last week asked Nigerians: “Which queue are you joining today? Queue for fuel? Queue for PVC? Queue for new Naira notes?” This, sadly, summarised the state of the country. Nigerians are in long queues for petrol in a country so blessed with oil and gas reserves.

Our leaders in the last three decades have been so good that the country cannot refine petroleum products for local consumption. They are so efficient that they are incapable of distributing even the imported petrol. They have also become so modernist that rather than motorists buying petrol at the fuel stations, many buy from street urchins who ply their trade on side streets and residential

homes.

Just as our political leaders succeeded in dislodging foreign exchange transactions from the air-conditioned bank halls to the non-bankers under the trees in street corners, so are they dislodging petrol from the fuel stations to the Jerry cans of street urchins, some of who have now learnt the technology of adulterating fuel.

Another point in the post is about queuing for PVCs which, of course, will be useless in the allocation of votes from the ungoverned spaces in the country.

Then, there is the challenge of a change of currency notes in which millions are guaranteed to lose their hard earned money simply because they do not have the opportunity to change their old notes. A simple, straight forward exercise of exchanging new notes for the old becomes so complex that as at Saturday, even in Abuja, the country’s capital, almost all the ATM machines had run out of cash or had been shut down by commercial banks. The issue is not who is to be blamed, it is that the new notes are not available on demand at least across many bank counters, ATMs and Point of Sale, POS, outlets. To put it mildly, the country is not at peace.

In the last few weeks, I have lost count of how many times President Buhari has declared that all is well with the country and that he has fulfilled all the electoral promises he made to Nigerians. On such occasions, he would reel off his achievements and paint pictures of the El dorado to which he has transformed Nigeria.

He repeats these like a man with a pricking conscience. President Buhari is like a man who sets examination questions for himself, supervises the examination, answers the questions, marks the script, awards himself high grades and wonders why he is not being applauded for his excellent performance.

In spite of the creeping darkness, I see rays of light in the horizon. Part of my optimism is my belief in the ability of the Nigerian people to turn their situation around. Also, in my analysis, none of the leading Presidential candidates is suffering from the neo-military complex. This is a debilitating complex that sees alternative views as a challenge, if not treason. It is a condition, like a Gambian saying goes, which sees every issue as a nail and every solution as a hammer.

Owei Lakemfa is a Public Policy Analyst.

NUJ removes NOA staff, LG information officers from its membership

From Mustapha Adamu, Kano

The Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) has removed the National Orientation Agency staff and Local Governments Information Officers from the list of its members.

The NUJ took the decision at its two-day delegates conference in Kano State on Thursday.

During the Constitution Review Session, the delegates agreed that NOA staff would no longer be accorded NUJ membership.

The delegates also noted agreed that the elected officials of the NOA Chapel would however be allowed to serve out their term of office as members of the NUJ.

The gathering also passed a new law barring staff of ministries of information adjudged as nonpractising journalists from being accorded NUJ membership.

Delegates in session also concurred that Local Government public relations officers should no longer be handed NUJ membership status.

NSCC unveils 10-year strategic roadmap on aging persons in Abuja

By Albert Akota

The National Senior Citizens Centre (NSCC) has unveiled strategic roadmap on aging persons as well as an inclusive vision that will addresses demographic change affecting older persons in Nigeria.

The Minister of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development, Sadiya Umar Farouk, who unveiled the 2022-2032 project yesterday in Abuja and national plan of action on aging in Nigeria and project activities 2021-2025, urged state governments and FCT to do same

to ensure the protection and safety of older persons across the country.

The Minister who was represented by Alhaji Musa Munguno, Special Assistant to the President on Humanitarian Affairs, revealed that NSCC has developed short-term ways of achieving their goals through the operational plans detailing the programmes and activities that will be achieved in fiscal year.

According to him, document will support the National Senior Citizen Center to achieve the desired coordination, collaboration, cooperation and communication in

mainstreaming issues affecting the older persons in Nigeria in all the critical Ministries, Departments and Agencies.

Speaking earlier, the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry, who was represented by the director Human Resources Management, Tokunbo Rufai implored the stakeholders to expand it activities by engaging the states government for further collaboration in improving information and analysis of aging population.

He add that, it necessary to formulate goals and programmes for public enlightenment and support in required policy of older

persons in our communities.

In her keynote address, The Director General of NSCC, Dr. Emem Omokaro, said that population trend show speedy increase in the population of older persons in spite of Nigeria s youthful population structure which currently more than 14.8 million persons for 60 years and above in Nigeria.

She further said that it not by surprise, nor an emergency the predictability provides ample opportunity for the nation to project the population of aging by developing and enhance appropriate mechanism and system to contain the challenges.

Sokoto State Governorship candidate, Mallam Saidu Umar holding the flag of PDP presented to him by the National Chairman of the Party, Senator Iyorchia Ayu, during the PDP Presidential Campaign held at Giginya Memorial Stadium Sokoto, yesterday.

Group invites technocrats to politics

The Directorate of Professional Women, Independent Campaign Council (ICC) of the APC Presidential Candidate Committee, Lagos State, on Monday urged technocrats to get actively involved in the nation’s electoral process toward choosing credible leaders.

From: Femi Oyelola, Kaduna

Kaduna State governorship candidate of People’s Redemption Party (PRP), Mal. Hayatuddeen Lawal Makarfi has promised to make Kaduna an industrial hub that will be envied by the rest of the country and the world.

He asserted this during an interactive season with Kaduna League of Veterans Journalists in Kaduna yesterday.

According to him, Kaduna has been a destination for industrialization, saying for decades, it has attracted many industries.

Makarfi vowed to leave a legacy that will serve as a model for any government that means well to the people of the state.

The Director, TinubuShettima/ Sanwo-OluHamzat, ICC, Dr Atinuke Owolabi, made the call at a news conference in Lagos.

She urged technocrats to support the APC Presidential Candidate, Sen. Bola Tinubu and re-election of Gov. Babajide Sanwo-Olu because of their track records of empowering professionals.

Owolabi, a professional engineer, called on all professionals, elites and intellectuals “to come out and join in this race; do all we can to win together”.

“We are first and foremost women but then we have an edge. We have been groomed; we have been refined; we have paid our dues in our different fields of endeavor; and thus we are rightly

called professional women.

“The task before us is big and important. It behooves on us to make a difference and steer the ship of our nation in the right direction.

“As enormous as it may seem, our task is yet a simple one. All we need do is to participate, getting intentionally involved,” Owolabi said.

According to her, for a very long time the elites in the nation, the professionals, the intellectuals, have not been as involved as they should be when it comes to politics and electioneering process.

She added: “This time around, we will not only make our voices heard, we are going to leverage on our areas of influence to convince people and get them to also participate and get them to be part of this process.

“However, we have gone too far as a nation to start afresh or even make more costly mistakes.

“We not only encourage our people to participate, we will encourage them to choose right because if we lose this opportunity before us, it may take many years

to get another. That is if we ever do.”

Stressing the need to support Tinubu, Owolabi, described the APC candidate as a builder.

She said: “He has built great leaders; he has built bridges across the nation; he played a significant role in building Lagos and making Lagos what it is today, the envy of other states.

“We have practically seen what he has done and what he can do.

“Let us all be part of positive history as we bring in our expertise and our experiences to support this great man who has volunteered to give us a renewed hope as a nation.

“Today, as professionals in different fields, we are using this medium to encourage professionals alike, not to just sit on the fence, we encourage you to be a part of this process and together we make Nigeria great.”

Owolabi called on technocrats to also re-elect Gov. Babajide Sanwo-Olu and his right hand genius, Dr Obafemi Hamzat, urging the technocrats to collect their Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) before INEC deadline.

She said, “If the artisans and traders take it upon themselves to get their PVCs, how much more an elite?”

Owolabi said that anyone who failed to vote in the forthcoming elections did not have rights to complain.

She said that the directorate would be the voice for the professionals and would embark on door-to-door campaign to different estates across the three senatorial districts, sensitising people of PVC collection.

“One of the penalties for refusing to participate in politics is that you end up being governed by your inferiors.

“Let us all vote like our rights depend on it as our vote is our voice as professionals.

“The ignorance of one voter in a democracy impairs the security of all. Our lives begin to end the day we become silent about things that matter to our great nation,” Owolabi said.

The event had in attendance directors in the directorate and the leadership and members of many professional groups. (NAN)

I will make Kaduna State industrial hub

PDP seeks removal of INEC official over destruction of PVCs

From Gambo Ahmed Lafia

The Peoples Democratic Party in Nasarawa state have raised alarm over the destruction of PVCs belonging to its members by an officer of INEC in Awe local government council of Nasarawa state, calling for the immediate sacking of the Electoral officer

Briefing journalists at the Party Secretariat in Lafia the state capital,

the PDP State Public relation officer Ibrahim Hamza said that over 100 PVC believed to be for their members were destroyed by INEC boss in Awe.

“The attention of our great party had been drawn to the illegality done by INEC in collaboration with APC members in Awe LGC of the state where large number of PVC of our party and other political parties have been destroyed few days ago”

He maintained. The PRO continued” we are calling on the state and the National headquarters of INEC to verify as well as arrest and sack the electoral officer of Awe .INEC should replace the present Awe Electoral officer with another competent one before 2023 polls. “

Hamza who lamented that this is not the first time that the Awe LGC Electoral officer have

been collaborating with APC to de enfranchise their members and other political parties in the state, adding that PDP in the state have facts on ground especially the illegality of INEC officer in Awe LGC. We are aware that some APC members were arrested by the security operatives few days ago and are currently at the state CID in connection with the destruction of PVCs belonging to opposition

patties in the state. He however implored PDP members to remained calm as the party officials are on top of the incident, calling on INEC to provide new PVC for those cards were destroyed, PeoplesDaily sought to hear from the Electoral officer Awe LGC as at the time of filling the report proved abortiive as his phone number was not reachable.

2023 polls will be the best - Lawan assures EU observers, Kenya’s Odinga

By Musa Baba Adamu

The President of the Senate, Ahmad Lawan is upbeat that the forthcoming general elections will be the best ever in Nigeria.

Lawan expressed this optimism on Tuesday while playing host to a delegation of the European Union election observers and former Kenyan Prime Minister, Raila Odinga who paid separate courtesy visits to the Senate President.

Odinga was in Nigeria at the instance of the Management of the Leadership newspapers for their Annual Conference and Awards which held in Abuja on Tuesday.

The Senate President told his guests that the National Assembly had worked very hard to provide necessary support to the electoral agency and enacted the needed legislation to guide the electoral environment for the polls.

Receiving the EU delegation led by Thomas Boserup, Deputy Chief Observer, the Senate President said: “The general elections this year will be probably the best. This is because we worked so hard in the National Assembly to produce a very good document to guide electoral environment in Nigeria.

“The amendment to the Electoral Act was signed into law by Mr President last year and the INEC has been given ample opportunity and a great deal of latitude to introduce

technology in the elections.

“The introduction of BVAS(Bimodal Voter Accreditation System) I think will go a long way in ensuring that election fraud, manipulations are reduced to the bearest minimum.

We believe that has been one of the serious issue that bedeviled our elections previously.

“The thing that motivates us more is what we have been able to give to INEC. I think INEC is a princely institution. We have always prioritise INEC. We believe that INEC shouldn’t

be in want. Where INEC makes a request, we believe we should always give INEC what our country can afford.

“Where we are able to give everything, we should do so. If we have to meet INEC half way, we must have a strong reason to doing so. This is because we don’t want any excuse from INEC.

“We want INEC to perform very well. We want the elections in 2023 to be very credible and very transparent and with the introduction of BVAS, we believe we can achieve that feat.

“Your (EU)statement in 2019

was very helpful. We believe that the stability of Nigeria is the stability of Africa and indeed, the stability of the world. And what you are doing is not only to stabilize our political or electoral process but to ensure that other countries copy from us.”

Also while receiving Kenyan former Prime Minister and his delegation, Lawan re-echoed similar sentiments about the 2023 polls.

Lawan commended Odinga for his roles in ensuring that Kenyan democracy is peaceful and stable.

He said: “Election periods are

normally periods that are described as uncertain especially in developing countries and Africa in particular.

“Many things are suspended. Everybody will tell you after the elections are over. Why? Because people fear that elections will bring violence and so much uncertainty.

“I think we need to continue to work to ensure that our elections are peaceful, credible, that the integrity test that we need to push our elections should give us every hope and give our people every hope that their votes count.

Alhaji Abubakar Atiku in Delta

Secured, just Nigeria is coming - Obi says as Obidients lock up Adamawa

By Christiana Ekpa

The Obidient Movement stormed the North East State of Adamawa

on Tuesday with Presidential Candidate of the Labour Party, Mr. Peter Obi declaring in a multi- city Rally that a new Nigeria is possible, where the people will be secured and having equal opportunities in their country.

Obi and and his Obidient team arrived the state Tuesday morning to an organic warm and colorful reception of the Obidients in the state led by the the former Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Mr. David Babachir Lawal.

The three key cities in the state, Yola, the state capital, Numan and Mubi towns all hosted the team with various types of engagements, town hall meetings

and rallies with a cross section of the community all declaring their unalloyed support for Obi and the LP.

At the various engagements Obi made it clear to the people that he and his Vice are seeking to rule this country because they have the capacity and the capabilities to unlock the numerous potentials in our land and turn it into gains for the populace.

He said that security is topping their priorities because without a secured environment nothing can be achieved in our policies of turning Nigeria from consumption to production and pulling the people out of poverty.

Obi told the people that the insecurity that has seriously affected the state and now spreading to all parts of the country is a consequence of long neglect of the basic needs of the people which he and Datti are

coming to correct.

‘A society that is bedeviled by injustice cannot move forward, a country whose leaders use ethnic and religious sentiments to deceive and grab political power cannot develop because they get it at the expense of character, competence and known record of performance’, Obi declared.

Obi continued his message that the vast arable land in the North remains the future gold and oil of Nigeria which if he and Datti are elected will see a new and vibrant Nigeria.

He also said that Nigeria has no business being the poverty capital of the world with all the potentials of human and natural endowment freely given to us by God.

The LP Presidential flag bearer told the youths that he and Datti will engage them

and ensure quality education policy where their parents will not be under severe stress to educate them.

His words: “For us, education is an investment and we will do everything to educate the populace because without education we cannot pull people out of poverty which is our goal if given the mandate”.

Obi told the jubilant crowd that by voting for him and Datti they will be be investing their future in trusted hands who are the best among all the candidates.

The Vice Presidential candidate Yusuf Datti Baba-Ahmad, the National Chairman of the Labour Party, Julius Abure among other Obidient leaders and Presidential Campaign Council spoke at various engagements to underscore the Obidient message to the people .

INEC begins distribution of non-sensitive materials to

13 LGCs in Nasarawa

From Gambo Ahmed lafia

The Independent National Electoral commission in Nasarawa state on Tuesday began the distribution of Nonsensitive materials to the 13 Local government councils of the state preparatory to the February

general polls.

The INEC Resident commissioner, Dr Uthma Ajidagba who conducted the inspection of the materials at the state INEC office in Lafia said that the items are to be on ground in all the LGCs of the state on time before the general polls.

He further stressed that the distribution of the items which he opined that it was the second time in order to enable timely distribution to Area centres across the nooks and crannies of the state.

The state Resident Electoralcommissioner

explained that as the general polls draws nearer , said the commission has embarked on steps to ensure that the elections is peace, fair and free.

Dr Ahidagba enumerated items distributed include Mats, ballot boxes, voters cubicles amongst others.

Account for N84bn Bakassi funds – C’River ADC challenges APC, PDP

By Musa Baba Adamu

The ruling APC in Cross River State and the opposition PDP have been charged to give accounts of the cumulative sum of N84 billion Bakassi Stabilization Fund which the state has received so far from the federal government since 2008 to date.

The governorship candidate of the African Democratic Congress, ADC, in the state, Mr Effiong Nyong made the charge in a statement released

in Calabar.

He said at different times members of the two parties have belonged to either party and have been privy to the receipts and disbursements of the special fund meant for the development of Bakassi.

He said: “The two so-called big political parties in Cross River State know what has been happening to the Bakasssi Stabilization Fund of N500 million monthly collection from the federal government.

“Since 2008, a total of N84

billion, at N6 billion per year, has been received in the state, and there is nothing to show for it.

“These same individuals are campaigning in Bakassi and other parts of the southern senatorial zone of the state, pledging and promising all manner of things, and they know they are lying.”

Nyong, a journalist, maintained that people in the state are undermined and taken for granted by the political class.

He charged the people not

I have no godfather –NNPP senatorial candidate, Nesiama tells Delta traders

By Christiana Ekpa

Why

yesterday

to be sentimental with their Permanent Voter’s Cards.

Said he: “Vote out corruption; vote to restore the civil service; vote to ensure our elders get their pension and gratuity. Vote to ensure sanitation in our environment.

“Vote to change our tourism narrative for the better. Our economy can be better managed. Enough is Enough.”

Nyong lamented that Nigerians never envisaged in their wildest dreams that things could be this bad in the country.

Ogun APC took ADC candidates to court – Otegbeye

By Musa Baba Adamu

The governorship candidate

of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Biyi Otegbeye, has revealed why he and other candidates of the party were dragged to court by the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).

Otegbeye was reacting to Monday’s appeal court judgment, which set aside the order of an Abeokuta Federal High Court that the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, should delist all ADC candidates

in Ogun.

The APC had gone to court saying Otegbeye and others did not emerge through a credible primary in accordance with the new Electoral Act.

Addressing newsmen on Tuesday, Otegbeye said the APC filed 26 pre-election cases against the ADC and its candidates.

This, he said, was because the party did not want to be on the ballot with a formidable opponent.

“To our consternation, 21 lawsuits were filed against us by the APC, apparently to preclude

us from contesting the March 11th, 2023 elections,” he said.

Otegbeye maintained: “The ruling APC have run out of ideas and they needed justification to demand the people’s mandate for a second term; hence, the desperate effort, at taxpayers’ expense, to take us out of the ballot.

“Unfortunately, they have failed and must now test their much-diminished popularity and integrity at the polls.”

Otegbeye regretted the blatant attempts to reverse the gains of democratic evolution in the

country through dubious schemes calculated at eliminating electoral competition.

He noted that any attempt to grab the people’s mandate by running away from legitimate competition is a mockery of democracy.

The ADC, he declared, is ready to take over Ogun from APC in 2023, counting on the support of former governor Ibikunle Amosun and the people of Ogun State.

According to him, ADC is the party to beat in the forthcoming election.

The Delta South senatorial candidate of the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP), Commodore Omatseye Nesiama (Rtd) yesterday told traders in Igbudu market, Warri, that he does not have a godfather and financier bankrolling his political ambition.

Nesiama made the remark during his consultative visit to the Igbudu Market Traders Association (IMTA).

The NNPP candidate promised to be accountable to the traders and people of Delta South Senatorial District if voted into office as the next senator.

He said “I don’t have a godfather. I don’t have a financier. I have no structure. Nobody anointed me for the game but God Almighty did,” he said, assuring the people that “I will not be accountable to any godfather but to the people who will believe in my message.”

He appealed to the traders to give him their support and cast their votes for him in the forthcoming elections.

Kwara declares Wednesday work-free day for PVC collection

By Ikechukwu Okaforadi

Governor Abdulrahaman Abdulrazaq of Kwara State has declared Wednesday, a work-free day to enable civil servants to get their Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs), from the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), which will ensure their participation in the upcoming general elections.

This was announced in a statement in Ilorin on Tuesday by the Kwara State Head of Service, Susan Modupe Oluwole.

“All those that are yet to get their voter cards are admonished to immediately do so before the expiration of the collection date,” she stated. INEC said there will be no further extension of the date for the collection exercise.

L-R) Former Kenyan Prime Minister, Hon. Raila Odinga, Chairman, Leadership Group, Mrs Zainab Nda-Isiah, HRH Etsu Nupe Alh Yahaya Abubakar and the FCT Minister, Malam Muhammad Musa Bello during the 2022 Leadership Annual Conference and Awards in Abuja

Shehu Abubakar, Maiduguri

The New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) in Borno State has complained of the persistent destruction of its campaign structures and attacks on its candidates in the state, allegedly by the governing All Progressives Congress (APC).

“The New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) Borno state chapter finds it highly imperative to draw the attention of the good people of Borno to the dangerous political trends capable of plunging our dear state into wanton violence and disruption of the emergent fragile peace that we have collectively fought for,” the party complained in a statement signed

I’ll return Kano to trade and

hub if electedObi assures electorate

By Musa Baba Adamu

The Presidential Candidate of the Labour Party, Peter Obi and his campaign train arrived at the North’s commercial nerve center, Kano on Sunday, where he assured the people that Kano will regain its old enviable status in trade and industry.

Obi told the jubilant crowd in the ancient city that he drove round Kano before coming to address them and he found all the industries in the City shutdown, promising that if elected in February, he and Datti will restore them.

He said that the trading status of Kano will return and will remain the center of cash, adding “Before, if you want cash, you come to Kano, but what you see today is poverty everywhere. Datti and I will restore the old glory of Kano.

“We will secure and unite Nigeria where people will be proud to say I am a Nigerian. We will kill the sentiments of tribes and religions which they have been using to deceive us.”

The former Anambra Governor told the people amidst shouts of ‘Sai Obi’ that under the Presidency of he and Datti, there will be one Nigeria where the people will be free to move and do their business unmolested.

Obi said that they will be able to do what they are preaching because they have done it in public and private sectors and succeeded, referring to his record in Anambra state where he was governor for eight years and no kobo was missing.

“Datti and I will not allow wastages. We will do exactly what we are saying”, Obi stressed.

He told the people that this election is going to be about character you can trust not people who will come to talk about religion and tribe which they have been using to deceive us.

2023: Borno NNPP alleges APC destroying its campaign structures

by its State Chairman of the party, Barr. Mohammed Mustapha, and circulated to newsmen.

“On Friday, January 20, 2023, the campaign billboards of our Presidential candidate, His Excellency Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, and that of the Borno Central Senatorial candidate, His Excellency Attom Magira Tom, were violently attacked and destroyed in strategic locations across the Maiduguri Metropolis and other major communities within the constituency,” the party said.

“This attack on our campaign structures was coming barely two weeks after similar destruction was

carried out on the same number of billboards,” the party complained further.

“As law-abiding members of a party whose principles have resonated with the electorates, we did not call for counter-violence,” saying, “Instead, we urged our teaming supporters to remain calm and law-abiding while the leadership of NNPP reported the matter to the concerned security agencies.”

The party expressed shock that “The Friday incident of an attack on our billboard was carried out in a coordinated fashion on the night of the very day we replaced our duly authorised billboards.”

The party alleged: “It is even more saddening to note that the APC and its thugs did not only destroy our billboards, but they also went ahead to replace the banners on them with those of some of their own APC candidates, even though we have paid the Borno state government all the required fees for the advertisement permit.”

The party listed some of the locations where its billboards were destroyed within the Maiduguri metropolis alone.

“For the avoidance of doubts, we want the public to fact-check our claims by visiting the WestEnd Roundabout, the Dandal

Police station Roundabout, the Post Office Roundabout, Opposite Metro Police Division, the Adjacent Government College Maiduguri, Adjacent FGC Monguno, Adjacent Umaru Shehu General Hospital, Airport Roundabout, LM Bakery Junction at GidanMadara, Bulunkutu YanNono, Bama Road/Lagos Street Junction, Adjacent UBA along Sir Kashim Road, and host of many other places to verify our claims.”

NNPP alleged further: “We want to kindly remind the general public that this attitude of violence by the APC and its government did not start today.”

2023 is time for North to repay Tinubu’s support – Shettima

By Musa Baba Adamu

The vice presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Kashim

Shettima said President Muhammadu Buhari would not have been the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria without the support of Bola Tinubu.

Shettima stated this while addressing supporters at the APC presidential rally in Dutse, the capital of Jigawa at the weekend.

He said 2023 is a payback time for the northern part of the country for what the APC

presidential candidate did to the region in the past.

Shettima explained that since 2007, Tinubu has been supporting northerners. According to him: “Tinubu in 2007 backed Atiku; he also supported Nuhu Ribadu in 2011, and in 2015, if Bola Ahmed Tinubu didn’t support Buhari during the APC presidential primary election, he would have not been the president,” he said.

He said that 2023 is a payback time and northerners must prove that they are promisekeepers.

Shettima said Nigeria needs somebody who has vast experience and can solve all the problems of the country like Tinubu.

He said President Buhari has done remarkably well in the development of the country and Governor Mohammed Badaru Abubakar has also achieved a lot, therefore, they need somebody who will continue from where they stopped.

The APC vice presidential candidate urged the electorate in the state to vote for all APC candidates as a token of appreciation for what the APC administration has achieved in the last seven years.

L-R: Senior Vice Chairman/Editor-in-Chief LEADERSHIP Newspaper Group Limited, Azu Ishiekwene; Former Prime Minister of Kenya, Keynote Speaker, Raila Odinga; Chairman, Special Guest of Honour/ Vice President Prof. Yemi Osinbaji, and Minister of FCT, Chief Host Mohammed Musa Bello, during the 14th Edition of LEADERSHIP Annual Conference and Award, held in Abuja yesterday

industry

Elon Musk’s Starlink now active in Nigeria — first country in Africa

From Abubakar Yunusa Abuja

Starlink, a satellite internet service owned by Elon Musk, is now available for customers in Nigeria.

The development is coming weeks after preorder sales were announced.

The company had said customers interested could preorder the starter kits at the price of $600 for the hardware and $43 per month for subscriptions to its services.

In a post on its Twitter page on Tuesday, Starlink said its service is now active in the country.

“Starlink is now available in Nigeria – the first African country to receive service,” the tweet reads.

Meanwhile, on its website, the company said customers can get its services at a lower rate with a 30-day free trial.

The notification said while the hardware would be available for N274,098, the subscription would be at a price of N19,260.

“Starlink is currently available in your area. Customers in your region typically see download speeds of 50-200 Mbps. No contracts, 30-day trial,” the company said.

“Shipping times are currently estimated to be 1 to 2 weeks from order… N19,260/ month for service and N274,098 for hardware.”

Confirming the development, Isa Pantami, minister of communications and digital economy, described it as a milestone.

“We have made it again. @ SpaceX thank you for hosting me in your headquarters, United States in December 2022 to complete the logistics for the deployment,” he tweeted.

In 2021, Peoples Daily reported that the company, which saw Nigeria as a critical market, was in talks with the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) to secure the licences needed to launch.

One year later, Elon Musk announced that Starlink had been approved for deployment in Nigeria.

Banks will accept old naira notes after deadline, says Emefiele

Abubakar Yunusa, Abuja

Godwin Emefiele, governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), says banks will continue to accept old naira notes after the stipulated deadline.

Emefiele spoke on Tuesday when he appeared at an interactive session with the house of representatives ad hoc committee on the currency redesign and naira swap policy.

He said the CBN will also accept the old naira from banks after the February 10 deadline.

Emefiele made reference to the CBN act which mandates the apex bank to continue to accept old notes after its expiration.

However, the CBN governor did not mention a duration when the banks will stop collecting the old notes.

Section 20 (3) of the CBN act states: “Notwithstanding sub-sections (1) and (2) of this section, the bank shall have power, if directed to do so by the president and after giving reasonable notice in that behalf, to call in any of its notes

or coins on payment of the face value thereof and any note or coin with respect to which a notice has been given under this sub-section, shall, on the expiration of the notice, cease to be legal tender, but, subject to section 22 of this act, shall be redeemed by the bank upon demand”.

Speaking further on the CBN act, he explained that even after the old currency has lost its legal tender status “we (CBN) are mandated to collect these money (old notes) and I stand with the house of

representatives on this”.

“What does that mean? It could (old notes) have lost its legal tender status which means we have moved on. But if you have your money that you have not been able to send to the bank, we will certainly give you the opportunity to bring them back into the CBN to redeem it. Either you pay it to your bank account or you want to do exchange, we will give you. You will not lose your money. This is the assurance I give to Nigerians,” Emefiele said.

Osinbajo: Cashless policy will curb illicit election financing in Nigeria

Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo says a cashless policy, when effectively operated in Nigeria, can help stem the surge of illicit election financing.

Osinbajo spoke when he received a delegation of the EU election observation mission led by Barry Andrews, on Monday.

In a statement by Laolu Akande, his spokesperson, the politician reasoned that an effective cashless policy will make it easy to track funds and will be useful for financial inclusion.

“I think that what we should be looking at is to provide more infrastructures,” he said.

“The cashless thing has been

really advantageous and helps with tracking.

“That sort of infrastructure is useful for more financial inclusion and the more financial inclusion you have, the easier it is to track.

“So much money can be spent without it being tracked under the current election financing practices in the country.’’

Further speaking, Osinbajo highlighted the difficulty in controlling election financing because of cash transactions.

He said there are still infrastructural issues required to be in place to ensure an efficient cashless system in the country.

“With cash transactions, it is still difficult to seriously control election financing,” he added.

On electoral crime, he said the

electoral offences commission bill is already at the national assembly.

Osinbajo expressed hope that it would begin a new regime of dealing with electoral offences which would be helpful.

“By and large, one shouldn’t expect INEC to be the investigator of electoral offences,” the politician said.

“I think that law enforcement agencies should be responsible for arresting and prosecuting offenders, state by state.

“Electoral offences are always seen through a political prism; people will always feel that they are being prosecuted because they belong to a certain party.

“What is more important is that we have to find a system where the police could have a

special unit for offences during the course of elections.

“The federal high courts could also have a special jurisdiction to deal with offences and not extend beyond the federal high courts.”

Also commenting on the role of the judicial system, Osinbajo said more attention should be paid to the monitoring of tribunals and their outcomes.

In addition, he called for more scrutiny from the national judicial council.

“There should be sanctions and that way, we would be able to clean up and correct some of the problems,’’ he said.

On his part, Andrews said the mission would be monitoring the coming elections and hope for a peaceful and fair electoral process.

From R-L: Ambassador Bolaji Akinremi, Director Economy, Trade & Investment, Foreign Affairs, Nigeria, H. E. Ambassador Zubairu Dada, Hon. Minister of State Foreign Affairs, Nigeria, Dr. Adelana Olamilekan MD/CEO, Zenith Carex Intl Ltd and H. E. Abubakar Moriki Husaini, Nigeria Ambassador to Japan at the ongoing Nigeria-Japan Business Forum in Tokyo

From Abubakar Yunusa Abuja

PENGASSAN to NMDPRA: Revoke licences of erring marketers , Says Petrol price hike not justified

The Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN) says there is no basis for the current scarcity and price increase of premium motor spirit (PMS) across the country.

PENGASSAN, in a statement on Monday, said data made available to the union showed there was over 30 days PMS sufficiency in the country.

Festus Osifo, president; and Lumumba Okugbawa, its secretary-general, jointly signed the statement.

The association regretted the

hardship that Nigerians were being subjected to as a result of the scarcity and price increase.

“We understand that the parameters imputed into the old Petroleum Products Pricing Regulatory Agency and now Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA) template has since changed,” the statement reads.

“This is because of some economic vagaries such as exchange rate fluctuation, vessel hiring cost, and cost of AGO among others.

“However, there is no

sufficient justification for petrol to be selling for such highly inflated price, thereby subjecting the masses to further difficulties.”

PENGASSAN urged the management of NMDPRA to compel all marketers and retailers to make the products available at the approved price. It also called on the regulator to immediately mobilise all its staff in various locations across the country to monitor compliance.

To act as a deterrent, PENGASSAN asked the authority to revoke the licenses

of marketers who fail to comply.

“Should this collusion go unchecked, we will not hesitate to partner with other stakeholders in ensuring that Nigerians are not further exploited,” it said.

PENGASSAN’s criticism comes amid a hike in the price of petrol at filling stations a scarcity that lasted for three months.

NMDPRA had said the scarcity is worsened by the activity of cross-border smugglers, erring marketers, and ongoing road construction.

Atiku blames Buhari for ‘significant’ downgrade in Nigeria’s credit rating

From Abubakar Yunusa Abuja

Atiku Abubakar, presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), says the President Muhammadu Buhari-led administration “lacks the critical competencies” to initiate and implement innovative solutions to Nigeria’s problems.

Over the weekend, Moody’s had downgraded Nigeria’s credit rating from B3 to Caa1, saying the government’s fiscal and debt position was expected to continue to deteriorate.

Abubakar, reacting to Moody’s rating in a statement on Monday, said the downgrade was “very significant”.

He said the Buhari-led administration is to be blamed for the downgrade.

“Moody’s notes the FGN’s deteriorating fiscal and debt position and its lack of capacity to respond to same; it notes the ‘exacerbating policy trading-off’ between debt servicing and the financing of critical sectors, including education, health, and other social programmes; it also notes the government’s inability to curtail its addiction to deficit financing and its appetite for more funds from the central bank’s ways and means,” he said.

NNPC takes over Addax Petroleum assets

From Abubakar Yunusa Abuja

The Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC) Limited says it has taken over Addax Petroleum’s production sharing contract (PSC) assets.

Addax is owned by Sinopec, a state-owned Chinese firm.

Mele Kyari, group chief executive officer (GCEO), NNPC

Limited, GCEO; and Yonghong Chen, outgoing managing director (MD), Addax, signed the closing documents on behalf of the two parties

In a tweet on Tuesday, NNPC said the documents were signed in Abuja, on January 31, 2023.

The signing ceremony marked the termination of the 24-year PSC relationship between both oil firms.

The development comes over two months after Addax Petroleum Development Nigeria transferred four major oil mining leases (OMLs) to the national oil company, after exiting from the assets. Both parties signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) on the transfer, settlement, and exit agreement (TSEA).

With the agreement, Addax ceased to be the PSC contractor for the four oil mining leases (OMLs) 123, 124, 126 and 137.

In April 2021, the defunct department of petroleum resources (DPR) revoked the four Addax licences over poor development of the assets but three weeks later, President Muhammadu Buhari restored the licences.

Finally, Emefiele appears before reps over naira redesign policy

From Abubakar Yunusa Abuja

Godwin Emefiele, governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), is currently before the house of representatives ad hoc committee on the currency redesign and naira swap policy.

The CBN governor had ignored previous invitations from the lawmakers, prompting them to threaten to issue a warrant of arrest against him.

On Thursday, Femi Gbajabiamila, speaker of the house, said he will issue a warrant to the inspectorgeneral of police (IGP) to compel the attendance of the CBN governor to respond to the summon of the house on Tuesday (today).

Emefiele is currently before the lawmakers in the company of top officials of the CBN, including Kingsley Obiora, deputy governor, economic

policy directorate.

After sustained public outcry and criticism from key stakeholders, the CBN on Sunday extended the deadline for the swap of old naira notes at commercial banks by 10 days.

Announcing the development after meeting with President Muhammadu Buhari, the CBN governor said the new deadline is February 10, 2023. However, Nigerians will still be able to deposit their old notes

directly with the CBN until February 17, 2023, described as a “grace period”.

Nigerians had been complaining about the inability to swap their old notes for the new designs as the January 31 deadline loomed.

The naira redesign is believed to be targeted at stopping vote buying in the 2023 general election scheduled for February 25 and March 11.

“All three observations are a direct indictment of the country’s political leadership for its failures in the management of our fiscal resources. The APC-led government lacks the critical competencies to initiate and implement innovative solutions to our problems and deliver on their mandate with the desired impact.”

Abubakar said if elected, he would act differently and change the economic direction of the country for the better.

He pledged to “undertake far-reaching fiscal restructuring to improve liquidity and the management of our fiscal resources”.

“Among others, I will undertake an immediate review of government spending with a view to eliminating all leakages arising from subsidy payments.

“Second, I will stop all fiscal support to ailing and underperforming state-owned enterprises.

“Third, I will take steps to improve spending efficiency by gradual reduction of government recurrent expenditures.

“Fourth, I will undertake a review of government procurement processes to ensure value-for-money and eliminate all leakages.

“Finally, I will focus on non-debt financing by promoting a private sector-led infrastructure development fund for the financing and delivery of key infrastructure projects.”

From right: Executive Director Civil Society Legislative Advocacy Center (CISLAC) Awwal Ibrahim Musa (Rafsanjani), Country Director Accountability Lab Friday Odeh and Taiwo Adebayo from Centre for Journalism and Innovation, during the Transparency International in Nigeria Officer Launch of the 2022 Corruption Perceptions Index, yesterday in Abuja Tuesday Photo: Mahmud Isa

Ex-presidential aspirant asks Tinubu to sustain Nigeria-China economic ties if elected

From Abubakar Yunusa Abuja

Moses Ayom, a former presidential aspirant in the All Progressives Congress (APC), has asked Bola Tinubu, standard bearer of the party, to sustain the economic relationship that Nigeria has with China.

In 2016, Nigeria and China signed a number of agreements when President Muhammadu

Buhari visited Xi Jinping, his Chinese counterpart.

In a statement , Ayom, also the chief executive officer (CEO) of Granite and Marble, said the agreements, if sustained, would reduce unemployment in the country.

“As a member of the president’s entourage to the historic business trip to broker the agreement, I recalled that on the same trip, the $6

billion currency swap deal was achieved,” Ayom said.

“Also, a mining company, Granite and Marble, signed a business deal with one of the biggest manufacturer of mining equipment in the world, SBM China Ltd.

“I am delighted about the commissioning of the Dangote owned $2.5 billion fertilizer equipment plant in Lagos early last year. I am hopeful that the

SBM deal that is meant to be located in Abuja and supported by the central bank with RSSF, will soon take off.”

The former aspirant said Tinubu is the best candidate for the presidency.

“We believe that a Bola Tinubu is most suitable in consolidating on the economic foundation that Buhari had laid for this country. I also know that Tinubu is a leading light

in the business of attracting international investments to Nigerian,” he said.

“I have known Tinubu since the days of Iyorchia Ayu’s senate presidency when he, Tinubu, served as the chairman of finance, appropriations, banking and currency of the then senate.

“Tinubu has all it takes to rule this country because he has paid his dues as a leader of the party.”

Global tax rules skewed against developing countries, finance Minister

Abubakar Yunus Abuja

Zainab Ahmed, minister of finance budget and national planning, says global tax rules are uneven, especially for developing countries.

The minister said this on Monday at the 42nd Annual Technical Conference of the Commonwealth Association of Tax Administrators (CATA) in Abuja.

Ahmed said the current international tax rules were skewed against some countries, particularly developing nations, including Nigeria.

She also said taxation was a matter of domestic law, adding that disputes arising from the interpretation of domestic legislation should only be resolved within those domestic legislations and by people properly schooled to interpret them.

According to Ahmed, Nigeria

is committed to working with other jurisdictions and international bodies to achieve a win-win solution in the contentious matter.

She also called on the CATA to join forces with Nigeria in insisting that the skewed international tax rules be put in order for the good of all.

“Painfully, the skewness in the current international tax rules is again influencing the two-pillar solution of the inclusive framework,” she said.

“We have observed, for instance, that “Amount A” profit meant for market jurisdictions is progressively being chipped away in favour of jurisdictions where the multinationals are resident.

“Another example of skewness of the ‘Amount A’, rules are the requirement for jurisdictions to surrender domestic tax disputes to the mandatory and binding ruling of an arbitration panel

composed and sitting outside the legal system of the respective jurisdictions.

“The discussion to change the rules must start now; the world must rework the profit allocation rules used for transfer pricing and the sharing of taxing rights by tax treaty partners.

“Nigeria is of the view that CATA is that organisation that is best placed to start this dialogue. Nigeria is committed to working with other jurisdictions and international bodies to achieve a win-win solution.

“The ‘Amount A’ proposal being developed by the Inclusive Framework is not achieving consensus because it is founded on win-lose principles. Only rules that promote a winwin situation can achieve the support of all.”

The minister, however, said countries must cast aside their differences or individual self-interest to jointly develop a workable, simple, and fair

solution to the challenges confronting taxation.

She also highlighted other problematic areas, which include the digitalisation of tax administration, fair international tax rules, capacity development, and nomad workers.

She, therefore, urged delegates and experts to come up with an actionable communique that would help the government in formulating appropriate policies.

On his part, Muhammad Nami, executive chairman, Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS), said harmonisation of tax systems was on the front burner of the fiscal conversations in many jurisdictions.

Nami, who also doubles as the president of CATA, added that the harmonisation must happen for the governments to plug leakages and shore up revenue.

“Some jurisdictions have

achieved this, and they testify to its advantage over the fragmented system. Others need to learn how, why and what jurisdictions that have harmonised their tax systems have to share,” he said.

He said the upsurge of disruptive technological innovations in the business environment have triggered peculiar issues.

He said the business world was in a state of flux while the character of data and its management kept changing as tax administrators remained under compulsion to align their mandates with the changes arising from technological advancements.

Nami added that in matching the pace of technology advancement, tax administrators must remain bound by the laws, regulations, and codes that safeguard sourcing, storage, processing, and management of data.

MULAN honours Muslim lawyers elevated as Senior Advocates of Nigeria

By Stanley Onyekwere

The FCT Chapter of the Muslim Layers’ Association of Nigeria (MULAN) yesterday organised its first of the series of public lecture, in honour of a total of nine Muslims, who were recently elevated and sworn-in as Senior Advocates of Nigeria (SAN).

The honourees include: Former Bauchi State Governor, HE. Mohammed Abdullahi Abubakar, SAN, Diri, Said Mohammed, Sulayman Olawale Ibrahim, SAN, Mumini Ishaola Hanafi, SAN, Prof. Maiyaki Theodore Bala, SAN, Sanusi Musa, SAN, Mustapha Shaba Ibrahim, Prince Lukman Oyebanji Fagbemi, and Prof. Abdullahi Shehu Zuru, SAN, respectively.

In his welcome remark, Chairman, MULAN FCT-Abuja Chapter, Yahaya Dangana, explained that the rationale behind the initiative was to recognise excellence and hardwork of Muslim brothers for others to emulate them.

Dangana added that it would further advance the MULAN’s objective of encouraging and demonstrating brotherhood in the legal practice environment.

He noted that the Association is a an umbrella organisation that tries to bring together all Muslim Lawyers residing and or carrying out their legal activities in FCT and its environs to promote islamic values in the conduct of their affairs, in dealing with the public.

Also speaking, Chairman of the event, Hon. Justice H.B.Yusuf, the Chief Justice of the FCT High Court, who was represented by Hon. Justice Babangida Hassan of the FCT High Court, commended the leadership of FCT MULAN for organising a thought provoking lecture in recognition of Muslim brothers in the Legal profession.

Yusuf while congratulating the honourees for achieving such status in the legal profession, expressed optimism that their SAN conferment will be of great

Police, AEPB to tame scavengers in FCT

By Stanley Onyekwere

In order to curb the activities of scavengers perpetrating criminal activities within Abuja, the nation's capital city, the FCT Police Command has directed its operatives to work in sysnergy with Abuja Environmental Protection Board (AEPB) and other relevant agencies in the Territory.

The FCT commissioner of police, CP Sadiq Abubakar gave the marching order to divisional police bosses, in Abuja, in furtherance to the command’s sustained fight to rid the capital

city of criminal elements.

The FCT Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Josephine Adeh, who disclosed the development, said : “The Commissioner of Police in charge of the Federal Capital Territory has given strict directives to all supervisory Police Officers to synergize with the Abuja Environmental Protection Board and other relevant agencies to rid the capital city of scavengers.

"He has directed that they should be charged to court where arrested and their loot destroyed.”

benefit Muslim ummahs and humanity in general.

However, in his keynote lecture on the Theme: Nigeria Within the compass of the 2023 General Elections, Prince Lateef Fagbemi, said the 2023 General Election will definitely mark a turning point for Nigeria, election-wise, as Nigerians struggle at building a nation of their choice.

Fagbemi described 2022 Electoral Act 2022 as a round peg in a round hole towards revolutionising the electoral system, with a view to producing the best leaders and reaffirming that the voice and choice of the people count.

He opined that the Act has pushed the Nigerian electoral process to the standard of other democratic Countries all over the world. It is believed that if the provisions of this Act are judiciously implemented, Nigerians will enjoy the exercise of their political franchise before and after the 2023 general elections, and the country as a whole will be better for it.

Most of the discussants identified key areas critical to examining efficiency towards a free, fair and credible elections in Nigeria; and practices towards an effective presentation of election petitions under the extant electoral laws, in the wake of the country’s 2023 elections.

One of the discussants, Ahmed Raji decried that the increasing huge number of election petitions cycle is a sign of under development of any society, hence the need for stakeholders to focus more on discouraging the trend.

Highpoint of the event, which had in attendance top Legal practitioners, including Dr. Hassan Liman (SAN), MULAN’s pioneer president, and currently member, President’s Advisory committee of the Association, Adekola Mustapha,National President, MULAN, Kazeem Olaniyan, was the award presentation to the awardees, for their selfless service and contributions to the advancement of the Association.

Adamu’s sack as AMAC-IPDC boss unlawful -Court declares

By Stanley Onyekwere

The Federal High Court in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) presided by Hon. Justice M. O Olajuwon has declared the sack of Hon. Yakubu Adamu, former managing director of AMAC Investments and Property Development Company (IPDC) as unlawful, null, and void.

In a judgment delivered by Justice Olajuwon on January 16, 2023, between Hon. Yakubu Adamu and the immediate past chairman of AMAC, Hon. Abdullahi Adamu Candido and AMAC-IPDC, the court declared that they cannot lawfully remove Yakubu Adamu as director of AMAC-IPDC.

The court also declared that the

decisions taken at the AMAC-IPDC board of directors meeting held on August 31, 2021, to revoke the appointment of Hon. Adamu as managing director/chief executive officer is wrongful, unlawful, invalid, null and void, and incapable of having any legal consequence.

Also, any purported implementation of the outcome of the AMAC-IPDC board meeting of August 31, 2021, including constituting of a caretaker/interim management or otherwise by whatever name or appellation called to manage the affairs of AMAC-IPDC is unlawful, null, and void.

“A declaration that the decisions taken at AMAC-IPDC Board of Directors’ meeting

held on August 31, 2021, revoking the appointment of Adamu as the managing director/ chief executive officer of AMACIPDC is null and void and of no legal consequence.

“A declaration that any purported implementation of the outcome of the AMAC-IPDC board meeting of August 31, 2021, including the constitution of a caretaker/interim management or otherwise by whatever name or appellation called, to manage the affairs of the AMAC-IPDC, is unlawful, null, and void”, the judgement read.

The court also gave an order of injunction restraining the former chairman and AMACIPDC from giving effect or continuing to

give effect to any of the decisions taken at the Board Meeting of AMAC-IPDC held on August 31, 2021, which meeting has been declared a nullify by the court.

Adamu, who hailed the judgment expressed gratitude to Justice Olajuwon for being fair in giving justice to the case, saying that his share of the company as a shareholder has been restored by the court.

“I am happy that the court has given me victory and declared that I am still a shareholder of AMAC-IPDC and that all the benefits that I am supposed to

benefit from when I was wrongfully removed till today be paid. I am very grateful to the court for the judgment,” he stressed.

FCT Minister, Malam Muhammad Musa Bello (left) in close conversation with the FCT Minister of State, Dr Ramatu Tijjani Aliyu during the FCT Administration’ presentation at the “PMB Administration Scorecard 2015 - 2023” programme at the National Press Center, Abuja yesterday. Photo: Mahmud Isa

French protests intensify against pension age rise

Asecond wave of French protests and strikes is under way against President Emmanuel Macron’s plans to raise the retirement age from 62 to 64.

Eight big unions are taking part in the strike, which has disrupted schools, public transport and oil refineries.

Marches are taking place across France involving hundreds of thousands of people, after a first day of action attracted more than a million people.

Several cities have seen larger crowds than on 19 January.

The Macron government is pushing ahead with its pension age reforms in the face of opinion polls that suggest two-thirds of voters are opposed to the changes, which begin their passage through the National Assembly next week.

Without a majority in parliament, the government will have to rely on the right-wing Republicans for support as much as the ruling parties’ own MPs.

Hours before the main protest began in the Place d’Italie in central Paris, thousands of marchers turned out in Toulouse, Marseille and Nice in the south, and Saint Nazaire, Nantes and Rennes in the west.

A reported 11,000 police were deployed to cover the

demonstrations taking place in a reported 200 towns and cities.

“Mr Macron is certain to lose,” far-left leader Jean-Luc Mélenchon told reporters in Marseille. “Nobody wants his reforms, and the more the days go by, by the greater the opposition to them.”

Karima, 62, held up a placard in Paris highlighting that the government’s plans hurt women far more than men: “Lots of us already have broken careers and will have to work even longer than men in order to have a full pension.”

There was severe disruption to transport, with one in three highspeed trains running and only two driverless metro lines operating normally in Paris. Large crowds were reported on one of the main overground lines in the capital.

The CGT union said at least three-quarters of workers had walked out at the big TotalEnergies oil refineries and fuel depots, although the company said the number was far lower.

Power plants reported reduced production after workers went on strike at the main electricity company EDF.

One of the main teachers’ unions said some 55% of secondary school teachers had walked out, although the government said the figure was

just over a quarter. High school pupils staged protests outside some schools and students said they would occupy Sciences Po university in Paris in support of the strikers.

“A lot of French people feel that working is more and more painful. It’s not that they don’t want to work, they don’t want to work in these conditions,” Sciences Po political

scientist Bruno Palier told the BBC.

The government has indicated it may move some way on the detail of the reform but has refused to give in on the main thrust of the raising the retirement age by two years to 64.

“Any kind of reform that is going to ask people to work longer will be unpopular, but we’ve been elected on this reform,” said Christopher

Weissberg, an MP in President Macron’s Renaissance party.

At 62, France’s retirement age is lower than most other countries in Western Europe. Italy and Germany have moved towards raising the official retirement age to 67, while Spain’s retirement age is 65 and in the UK it is 66.

In France, very few workers have personal pensions linked to capital investments, but there are now only 1.7 workers paying into the shared pension fund per person in retirement.

“We have a universal system, and the system has to pay for itself. If not, it’s weakening and if it’s weakening, at some point, people will lose their pension,” Mr Weissberg warned.

Economist Prof Philippe Aghion said the reforms were necessary because France had a structural deficit of some €13bn ($14bn; £11bn) and raising the retirement age would also help increase the rate of employment in France.

“That will give the government credibility to make some investments that it needs to make in schooling, in the hospital system that it needs to improve, and more investment in innovation and green industrialisation,” he told the BBC.

Ukraine war: Western allies send Kyiv mixed messages on war planes

US President Joe Biden has ruled out providing F-16 fighter jets to Ukraine, despite renewed calls from top Kyiv officials for urgent air support.

Asked on Monday if the US would be sending the planes, Mr Biden said “no”. The UK also said it was “not practical” for it to send its aircraft to Ukraine.

Meanwhile, France’s Emmanuel Macon said “by definition, nothing is excluded” ahead of meeting a Ukrainian minister.

Ukraine says advanced jets will help protect its skies from Russian attacks.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and the country’s top military officials say there should be no taboos on such military aidbut the US and its partners fear this would lead to further escalation with a nuclear-armed Russia.

On Tuesday, Ukraine’s Air Force spokesman Yuriy Ihnat was quoted by the Ukrainska Pravda news website as saying that Kyiv needed up to 200 multi-role fighter jets - such as F-16s - to defend its skies.

He said that Russia currently outnumbered Ukraine by five to six times in terms of the number of war planes.

The US-made F-16s would be a significant upgrade on the Sovietera fighting jets - mostly MiGsUkraine is currently using, which

were made before the country declared independence from the USSR in 1991.

However, Mr Biden has repeatedly rebuffed Ukraine’s pleas for the jets, instead focussing on providing military support in other areas.

Other Western allies have been been less definitive though. On Monday, President Macon did not rule out sending its war planes to Ukraine - but he stressed that it must neither further inflame the situation nor limit France’s ability to defend itself.

Ukrainian Defence Minister Oleksii Reznikov is now in Paris, where he is expected to discuss the issue with Mr Macron and French military officials later on Tuesday.

Poland - another key ally of Ukraine - has also not ruled out sending F-16s to Kyiv. However, Polish Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki said any such move would only be possible “in complete co-ordination” with other Nato members.

The US announced last week it would supply Kyiv with 31 Abrams tanks, reversing its earlier stance on the issue. The UK and Germany also pledged similar support.

Ukrainian Deputy Foreign Minister Andriy Melnyk welcomed that announcement but asked allies for the creation of a “fighter jet coalition” that would also provide Ukraine with Eurofighters,

Tornados, French Rafales and Swedish Gripen jets.

On Tuesday, UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak’s spokesman said he was not aware of any formal request from Ukraine for aircraft, adding that “the UK’s Typhoon and F-35 jets are extremely sophisticated and take months to learn how to fly”.

“Given that we believe it is not practical to send those jets to Ukraine.”

However, the spokesperson

said Mr Sunak “has had intensive discussions with military advisers” and “the conclusion is that given Russia’s advantage in numbers a sustained war of attrition would not benefit Ukraine”.

Germany has also said it will not send fighter jets to Ukraine.

The F-16 Fighting Falcon is widely considered one of the world’s most reliable fighter jets and is used by other countries, such as Belgium and Pakistan.

It can be armed with precision-

guided missiles and bombs and is able to fly at 1,500 mph (2,400 km/h), according to the US Air Force.

The F-16’s targeting capabilities would allow Ukraine to attack Russian forces in all weather conditions and at night with greater accuracy.

Moscow has repeatedly accused Nato of being an aggressor by proxy, warning that further escalation could trigger a nuclear war. Source: BBC

Marches took place in cities across France, including the southern city of Nice

Ukraine has long been pushing its allies to provide advanced fighter jets to defends its skies from Russian attacks

How Egyptian police hunt LGBT people on dating apps

In Egypt, homosexuality is highly stigmatised, and there have long been allegations that police are hunting LGBT people online. Now BBC News has seen evidence of how the authorities are using dating and social apps to do this.

All victims’ names have been changed

Having grown up in Egypt, I am aware of the pervasive homophobia that permeates every part of its society. But friends there tell me that the atmosphere has recently become far more brutal, and the tactics for tracking down LGBT people more sophisticated.

There is no explicit law against homosexuality in Egypt, but our investigation has found that the crime of “debauchery” - a sex work law - is being used to criminalise the LGBT community.

Transcripts submitted in police arrest reports show how officers are posing online to seek out - and in some cases allegedly fabricate evidence against - LGBT people looking for dates online.

They reveal how the police initiate text conversations with their targets.

Egypt is one of the most strategically important Western allies in the Middle East and receives billions of dollars in US and EU support every year. Around half a million British tourists visit the country annually and the UK trains Egyptian police forces, via the UN.

In one text conversation between an undercover police officer and someone using the social networking and dating app WhosHere, the officer appears to be pressuring the app user to meet up in person - that person was later arrested.

It is extremely difficult for LGBT people to openly meet potential dates in public in Egypt, so dating apps are a popular way to do that. But just using the apps - regardless of your sexuality - can be grounds for arrest based on the incitement of debauchery or public morality laws in Egypt.

It is not just Egyptians who are being targeted. In one transcript, police describe identifying a foreigner, who we are calling Matt, on the popular gay dating app Grindr. A police informant then engaged Matt in conversation, and - the transcript says - Matt “admitted his perversion, his willingness to engage in debauchery for free, and sent pictures of himself and his body”.

Matt told the BBC that he was subsequently arrested, charged with “debauchery”, and eventually deported.

In some of the transcripts, the police appear to be trying to pressure people who seem to be simply seeking dates or new friendships into agreeing to sex for money. Legal experts in Egypt tell us that proving there has been an exchange of money, or an offer of one, can give the authorities the ammunition they need to take a case to court.

One such victim, whom we found through the transcripts, was a gay man we are calling Laith. In April 2018, the contemporary dancer was contacted from a friend’s phone number.

“Hello, how are you?” the message

said. The “friend” asked to meet for a drink.

But when Laith arrived to meet him, his friend was nowhere in sight. He was met instead by police who arrested him and threw him into a cell belonging to the vice squad.

One policeman stubbed a cigarette out on his arm, he told me, showing me the scar.

“It was the only time in my life that I tried to kill myself,” Laith says.

He claims police then made a fake profile for him on the WhosHere app, and digitally altered his photos to make them look explicit. He says they then mocked up a conversation on the app which appeared to show him offering sex work.

He says the pictures are proof that he was framed, because the legs in the picture do not resemble his own - one of his legs is bigger than the other. The BBC has only had access to grainy photocopied police case files, so it cannot independently verify this detail.

Three other people told us the police forced or falsified confessions related to their cases, too.

Laith was jailed for three months for “habitual debauchery”, reduced to a month on appeal. Laith says the police also tried to get him to inform on other gay people he knew of.

How we disguised contributors’ identities

For the BBC documentary Queer Egypt Under Attack we used innovative face-tracking 3-D masking to ensure identities remained protected - the aim was to give the film a more attractive aesthetic than the usual blobbing technique of disguise allows.

“[The policeman] said: ‘I can fabricate a whole story about you if you don’t give me names.’”

The Egyptian government has spoken publicly about its use of online surveillance to target what it described as “homosexual gatherings”.

In 2020, Ahmed Taher, former assistant to the Minister of Interior for Internet Crimes and Human Trafficking, told the newspaper Ahl Masr: “We recruited police in the virtual world to uncover the masses of group sex parties, homosexual gatherings.”

The UK Foreign Commonwealth and Development Office told the BBC that no UK funding has gone towards training for the Egyptian police in activities relevant to the claims made in the investigation.

UK MP Alicia Kearns, chair of the Foreign Affairs Committee, told the BBC that she wanted more to be done to warn LGBT travellers about the risks in countries such as Egypt, “where their sexuality might be weaponised against them”.

“I would urge the Egyptian government to cease all activities which target individuals on the basis of their sexual orientation.”

The Egyptian government did not respond to the BBC’s request for comment.

The WhosHere app was referenced in nearly every police transcript the

BBC has had access to.

Cyber privacy experts told us that WhosHere seems to have specific vulnerabilities, allowing hackers to scrape information about its userssuch as location - on a large scale.

And they say the way WhosHere is collecting and storing data is likely in breach of privacy laws in the UK and the EU.

It was only after the BBC formally approached WhosHere that the app changed its settings, removing the “seeking same sex” selection, which could put people at risk of identification.

WhosHere disputes the BBC’s findings about vulnerabilities and say that they have a robust history of addressing problems when raised. And that they do not operate any specific service for the LGBT community in Egypt.

Grindr, also used as an app by police and criminals to find LGBT people in Egypt said: “We work extensively with Egyptian LGBTQ activists, international human rights advocates, and safety-focused technologists to best serve our users in the region.”

Criminal gangs are using the same tactics as the police to find LGBT people. They then attack and humiliate them, and extort them by threatening to post the videos online.

I managed to track down two people we are calling Laila and Jamal, who were victims of a video that went viral in Egypt a few years ago. The footage shows them being forced to strip and dance, while being beaten and abused. They are forced at knife point to give their full names and admit they are gay. They told me the duo behind the videonamed Bakar and Yehia - are notorious amongst the community.

We saw at least four videos in which Bakar and Yehia either appeared, or could be heard, extorting and abusing LGBT people before they uploaded the videos to Whatsapp, YouTube and Facebook. In one of these videos, an 18-year-old gay man we are calling

Saeed is forced to, falsely, say he is a sex worker. I met him to hear about what happened next. He told me that he considered legal action but says his lawyer advised against this, telling him his sexuality would be perceived as more of a crime than the attack he suffered.

Saeed is now alienated from his family. He says they cut him off when the gang sent them the video in a bid to blackmail them too.

“I have been suffering from depression after what happened, with the videos circulating to all my friends in Egypt. I don’t go out, and I don’t have a phone.

“No-one used to know anything about me.”

We’ve been told about dozens of attacks like this - carried out by multiple gangs. There are only a few reports of attackers being arrested.

It shocked me to learn, in the course of investigation that one gang leader, Yahia, is gay and actively posting online about his own sex work.

But perhaps it gives him a criminal edge - he knows just how vulnerable his targets are. And arguably his own position, as a gay man with little opportunity, fuels his criminality.

We have no evidence that Yahia has been involved in recent attacks, and he has denied involvement in any of the attacks.

Covering any of these issues inside Egypt itself has been banned since 2017, when the country’s Supreme Council for Media Regulation imposed a media blackout on LGBT representation except if the coverage “acknowledge[s] the fact that their conduct is inappropriate”.

LGBT community advocates, many of them in exile, are divided over whether the problems in Egypt should be highlighted in the media or tackled behind the scenes.

But Laila, Saeed, Jamal and Laith have chosen to step out of the shadows and break the silence.

Source: BBC

Laith (right) - the identities of all our contributors need to be disguised

Secretive Saudi executions leave families in the dark

Executions of prisoners have been carried out in Saudi Arabia with no advance warning to their families, relatives have told the BBC. The country’s execution rate has almost doubled since 2015 - according to a new human rights report - the year when King Salman and his son Mohammed bin Salman took charge.

Mustafa al-Khayyat’s family were given no notice that he was about to be killed.

They still have no body to bury. No grave to visit. The last they heard from him was a phone call from prison, and he signed off with these words to his mother: “Alright, I have to go. I’m glad you’re OK.”

Neither had any inkling that it would be the last time they spoke.

A month later, Mustafa was dead - one of 81 men killed on 12 March 2022, in the largest mass execution in modern Saudi history.

Mustafa’s name is on a long and growing list put together by the campaign group Reprieve - which, along with the European Saudi Organisation for Human Rights, has been meticulously documenting Saudi executions for a new report.

Based on data collected since 2010, their study has found that:

• Saudi Arabia’s execution rate has almost doubled since King Salman took the reins in 2015, appointing his son Mohammed bin Salman to key positions

• The death penalty has been routinely used to silence dissidents and protesters, contravening international human rights law, which states it should only be used for the most serious crimes

• At least 11 people initially detained when they were children have been executed since 2015, despite Saudi Arabia’s repeated claims that it is curtailing the use of the death penalty against minors

• Torture is “endemic” in Saudi prisons, even for child defendants

Reprieve documented 147 executions in Saudi Arabia last year, but says there could well have been more. It also says the country has “disproportionately” used the death penalty against foreign nationalsincluding female domestic workers and low-level drug offenders.

Nearly a year on, officials haven’t told Mustafa’s family how he and the others were executed. His older brother, Yasser, says it has been a tragedy for the families.

“We don’t know whether they were given a decent burial or thrown in the desert or in the sea. We’ve no idea.”

Yasser is speaking publicly for the first time. He now lives in Germany, where he has been given political asylum after fleeing Saudi Arabia in 2016, fearing the same fate suffered by his brother.

Yasser says his brother was “fun, sociable, and popular”. Since 2011, Mustafa took part in daily demonstrations - led by the country’s Shia minority - against the Saudi government.

He was detained in 2014. After his death, an official announcement said that he, along with 30 others, had been executed for the same string of offences - including attempted murder of security personnel, rape, robbery, bomb-making, stirring up strife and spreading chaos as well as trading in weapons and drugs.

“They never provided any evidence. This lie cuts very deep,” explains Yasser - who says his brother was still trying to appeal his conviction when the authorities executed him and the 80 other men.

“Not only did they take their lives, they intentionally maligned them and accused them of things they’ve not done.”

After rising to power, Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, Saudi’s de-facto ruler, promised to modernise the Kingdom - and suggested in an interview in 2018 that his country, a key Western ally, was trying to “minimise” its use of the death penalty.

But, nearly five years on, Saudi Arabia remains one of the world’s most prolific executioners - despite a lull that coincided with Saudi Arabia’s presidency of the G20 and the start of the Covid pandemic.

The crown prince - known as MBShas “done the exact opposite of what he promised” Reprieve’s director, Maya Foa, tells me from her east London office. “He has overseen vast numbers of executions and a brutal crackdown on people attending pro-democracy protests.”

What’s more, she adds, there is a regime of secrecy around the death penalty, explaining that for many of the cases Reprieve have looked at, nobody knew they were even on death row.

“Their family members did not know. So you had people who were arrested, tried, sentenced to death and then executed in secret.”

Some families only discovered via social media that their loved ones had been killed, says Ms Foa - describing that lack of official information as one of the “most cruel and distressing” aspects of each case.

Traditionally, beheading has been the main method of execution in Saudi Arabia - the executions used to take place in public - with the names of those killed, and the charges they faced, published on government websites.

But human rights activists say the use of the death penalty has become much more opaque.

Nobody I spoke to knew exactly how executions are now carried out, though firing squads are also thought to be used.

The death penalty is part of a Saudi legal system which “is unfair in its essence”, says Ali Adubisi, director of the Berlinbased European Saudi Organisation for Human Rights. “No type of independent civil society or human rights groups can operate there. If we weren’t drawing attention to the executions, people would be killed in silence.”

Human Rights Watch said that 41 of the 81 men executed in March were from the Shia minority and that “rampant and systemic abuses in Saudi Arabia’s criminal justice system suggest it is highly unlikely that any of the men received a fair trial”. They also heard reports of torture.

When Yasser was first allowed to visit Mustafa, 12 months after his arrest in 2014, he was shocked by what he saw.

“Even though it had been a year since we had last seen him, he couldn’t even stand up to greet us.

“He’d fall over as soon as he triedand when we asked him, he said it was because of torture.

“We saw bruises on his body and he told us he’d been given electric shocks.”

The sister of another detainee told me her brother had also been badly tortured.

“He said he was strung up by his feet and beaten. He never imagined a forced confession would be allowed in his trial,” says Zainab Abu Al-Khair, whose brother Hussein has been in prison since 2014.

Hussein - a Jordanian driver working

for a wealthy Saudi family - was arrested with drugs in his car on the Jordan-Saudi border. Zainab is certain they were not his.

Speaking from her home in Canada, she explains how Hussein’s family have been struggling to make ends meet since his arrest. He has a disabled son and, after he was imprisoned, his 14-year-old daughter was “sold into marriage” in Jordan.

Last November, Saudi Arabia ended an unofficial moratorium on the death penalty for drug offences - a move described by the UN Human Rights Office as “deeply regrettable”. Within a fortnight, 17 men were executed for such offences, the UN said.

In prison, says Zainab, men have since been taken from Hussein’s cell never to return.

It has left both Hussein and Zainab terrified. “I can’t even talk about him without my heart pounding,” she told me.

“I think of him all day and at night, I have bad dreams. The thought they might chop off his head - it’s barbarity.

“You can’t imagine how hard it is. Sometimes I just sit alone and cry, cry, cry.”

Part of the anger she is feeling is directed at other countries for allowing Saudi Arabia “to get away with it”.

Last March - four days after the mass execution of 81 men - the then UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson met Mohammed bin Salman to try to persuade him to pump more oil to replace Russian fuel imports. Downing Street said Mr Johnson did raise concerns about Saudi Arabia’s ongoing human rights issues.

Since coming to power, MBS has carried out social and economic reforms - including allowing women to drive - but

they’ve been accompanied by intensified political repression.

The latest report from the campaign group Human Rights Watch describes Saudi Arabia’s human rights record as “deplorable” - a stain on its reputation, which it is busy trying to “launder” through sports and entertainment.

The BBC has sent three emails to the Saudi Human Rights Commission - a Saudi government organisation - asking to speak to an official, but has received no replies.

A statement to the BBC from the Saudi embassy in London noted that many other nations around the world have the death penalty, and that countries have different views about what penalties are appropriate. It said: “As we respect their right to determine their own laws and customs, we hope that others will respect our sovereign right to follow our own judicial and legislative choices.”

But the comments failed to address the steep rise in executions under the crown prince, MBS, or the way the death penalty is being used, in contravention of international norms.

The UN Human Rights Office told the BBC it was “deeply concerned about the trend in the use of the death penalty in Saudi Arabia”.

“In particular, we are concerned by the increase in the number of death sentences issued and upheld, including against child offenders, and for offences that do not meet the ‘most serious crimes’ threshold of international law, such as drug-related offences,” it said.

For those whose loved ones are in prison, it’s a desperately anxious time. Hussein’s sister keeps a vigilant eye on the family chat group.

Source:BBC

Saudi Arabia executed 81 prisoners on 12 March 2022, including these nine men whose families agreed for their photographs to be shared with media

Property

FG committed to bridging infrastructural gaps – Fashola

By Mashe Umaru Gwamna

Federal Government said it remained committed to bridging the infrastructure gaps in the country, including those of institutions of learning.

This was contained in statement signed and issued by Blessing Lere-Adams, Director, Press and Public Relations.

The Minister of Works and Housing, Babatunde Fashola has said stated the importance of infrastructure to the learning environment and quality of education

He made the disclosure in Sokoto, on Thursday, at the formal handover of 0.92 kilometres internal road project constructed in the Usmanu Danfodio University Teaching Hospital (UDUTH) by the Federal Ministry of Works and Housing under its tertiary institution’s internal roads intervention initiative.

Fashola was represented at the occasion by the Federal Controller of Works in Sokoto State, Engr Kassim Maigwandu

Accordingly, the Minister explained that the gap in infrastructure was being bridged steadily by a gradual process of repairs, renewal and construction on major highways, which had now reached the schools.

He further revealed that the Federal government has provided 83 internal road intervention projects in various Federal tertiary institutions across the country.

over a total of 46 as at March 2022. Another 18 are now ready to be handed over, while 19 roads are currently being attended to in similar institutions across the country, making a total of 83 “he said

The road projects according to Fashola, benefited not only the students and the institution’s community but also provided jobs for youths, stating that 95 people were employed in the process of the construction of the road in the Teaching Hospital.

Earlier in his remark, the Chief Medical Director (CMD) of the University Teaching Hospital Sokoto, Professor Anas Ahmed Sabir, represented by Dr Usman Malami Aliyu, Chairman, the Medical Advisory Committee, said that the entire Hospital community were excited about the project.

He explained that the project had enhanced a significant part of the hospital more accessible and motorable with asphalt road which has also given room for expansion in the hospital as new projects can easily be sighted along the road

“The commissioning of this road project will obviously mark the beginning of other assessable and affordable health care services delivery to all Nigerians,” he said

He expressed profound gratitude on behalf of the UDUTH Board Management to H.E, President Muhammadu Buhari for all the support and for providing the enabling environment to operate and further improve specialist quality service delivery, while also praying for more interventions to be considered and executed for the hospital.

Professor Sabir also commended the Federal Ministry of Works and Housing and the Federal Controller at Sokoto office for ensuring that quality job was done at the appointed time and not compromised.

The 0.95 km road in UDUTH links the new female students hostel; new Multipurpose Center; School of Nursing and Midwifery; Sewage treatment plant; Renal dialysis center;” Aminity ward and Nutritions unit among others .

Aggregate testimonies gathered from staff and students of the hospital community pointed to the fact that the internal road intervention in the institution has positively impacted in no small measure to the working

and learning environment in the institution

According to the views expressed ” the road, before the intervention was not in good condition, it was wiry and scary access to clinical areas. But with the intervention, it

has now provided easy access and comfort of movement in the institution. It was well constructed, illuminated and has added improved security measures for the students in the institution “

They commended the federal government under President Muhammadu Buhari and described the tertiary institutions roads intervention initiative of the federal ministry of works and housing as excellent.

Minister of Interior, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, Doing the Roll-Out of Enhance e-Passport and Commissioning of the Katsina State Command of the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) Katsina Command Headquarters, yesterday in Katsina State. Photo: Min of Interior

FG task stakeholders on functional national physical planning standards

By Mashe Umaru Gwamna

Federal Government has tasked directors of town planning and other relevant stakeholders on the need for development of functional physical planning standards for Nigeria.

The Director Urban and Regional Development (URD), Federal Ministry of Works and Housing, Olasunkanmi Dunmoye, made the disclosure at a workshop, held in Ibadan, Oyo State,recently.

The two-day regional workshop was organised for directors and experts on preparation of national physical planning standards in Nigeria.

Dunmoye, represented by an official of the ministry, David Olakunde, said the Federal Government had, in November 2021, mobilised national stakeholders to drive the process of developing common standards and guidelines that could be applied to moderate physical planning activities in the country.

He said that the efforts had resulted in the generation of a general framework of core thematic issues to be contained in the proposed document.

“It was agreed that the framework shall be subjected to reviews by stakeholder groups at regional levels and this explains why we are gathered here today.

“It is a clear fact that the federal government and all sub-national governments had been applying one set of standards or the other before now.

“But there is the need to synchronise these to reflect our federal character.

“There is also the need for federating units to work together more closely in order to guarantee smooth, sustainable and cohesive human settlements development across the country.

“You will all agree with me that one of the most popular global slogans amongst

developmental experts today is: ‘leave no one behind’.

“This is what the initiative for developing National Physical Planning Standards seeks to promote,” he said.

Dunmoye further stated that the Federal Ministry of Works and Housing viewed the physical planning standards preparatory process as a landmark event that would determine the destiny of human settlement development in Nigeria in the foreseeable future.

He reaffirmed the ministry’s commitment to driving the process to a logical conclusion.

The director said that the stakeholders were at the workshop to discharge the task of preparing a tool that had the potential of guaranteeing integrated and sustainable socio-economic and physical development for Nigeria.

According to him, it is a tool that several other African countries have embraced and applied successfully to move their respective countries forward.

Dunmoye urged the stakeholders to provide vital inputs toward improving the draft physical planning manual, such that it would become the springboard for engendering harmonious development in the region.

He also enjoined them to play their respective roles with utmost diligence, thereby setting a very clear direction for eventual national workshop.

“At the end of the series of regional workshops at regional levels, we are hopeful that a fully acceptable, practical and functional instrument for the management of physical development activities in Nigeria would emerge.

In his address of welcome, a Director in the Urban and Regional Development Unit of the ministry, David Olakunde, said that the workshop was aimed at formulating acceptable physical planning standards for

Nigeria.

He said that the ministry had, in 1992, initiated the annual forum of Directors and Heads of Town Planning Organisations in Nigeria to engender productive collaboration on physical planning issues.

“Since then, the enthusiasm and support to the vision of working together for common good have been very high. It is our earnest prayer that the zeal will not wane at any time.

“Our coming together today is to deepen the ongoing process of preparing the firstever compendium of standards that will help guarantee sustainable development of the different aspects of physical environment and human settlements across Nigeria.

“We are here to build on what had been done so far and to introduce the region’s specific character into the document in the making.

“In welcoming you, I want to pose this challenge that we apply the opportunity of this workshop for maximum benefit.

“In the course of this meeting, we shall be relying on each and every one of us to put forward his or her best efforts into the various discourses.

“If we are diligent with this request, we shall finish well by improving the quality of these national planning codes and regulations,” he said.

Olakunde added that the workshop would also be promoting the synergy amongst different tiers of government as well as building higher levels of partnerships between government and non-governmental agencies playing roles in the human settlement development sector.

In his goodwill message, the Federal Controller of Housing in Oyo State, Mr Jacob Gbolahan, stressed the need for Nigeria, as a rapidly growing and developing country, to prepare and implement the national physical standard.

Ukraine war: Funeral held for battleground body collector

Against a backdrop of muffled booms from the frontlines to the south and east, people sank to their knees and threw roses in front of the van as it inched past them.

Then, as the back door opened and a wooden coffin was pulled out, the sobbing began.

“My son! Why?” cried Ludmilla Sosnenko, clutching her daughter for comfort.

There have been many untimely, unexpected funerals in this northern Donbas town in recent months, but this one, unusually, was not for a soldier or a regular civilian.

Denys Sosnenko - a 21-year-old former Ukrainian national kickboxing champion - volunteered last year to work as a body collector for a charitable organisation known as Black Tulip, who scour the frontlines for the abandoned corpses of soldiers, both Ukrainian and Russian.

“Denys - there are many angels on your shoulders today - the angels of those you brought back home,” said Alexey Yukov, the local head of Black Tulip, addressing the crowd. “Because of your work so many soldiers, who died in places no one would ever have looked, have been reunited with their families.”

Sosnenko died last week when the van he was driving - a van very much like the one that carried his body into the town square - hit an anti-tank mine close to the frontlines.

“He always said ‘this is my mission - I have to do this’. It was dangerous work, but he would reassure us, saying ‘don’t worry, we are protecting the souls of the dead,’” his mother Ludmilla said. “He was always cheerful and had big plans for life after the war.”

Last year, the BBC filmed Sosnenko and his team at work more than once.

He spoke of the horrors of the job, picking bodies up, piece by piece, and of the constant dangers - not just from the war raging around them, but from boobytraps often hidden beneath corpses, allegedly by retreating Russian troops. The team often use drones and other equipment to search for explosive devices.

But Sosnenko and his colleagues also talked passionately about the importance of their work.

Many of the bodies they’ve collected over the past 11 months have been those of Russian soldiers which have then been exchanged, across the frontlines, for the bodies of missing Ukrainian servicemen.

“We feel a sense of grace in doing this, in bringing people home to their families,” Artur Semeyko - who worked

alongside Sosnenko - said, recalling the peace they had brought to people who had previously been unable to arrange a proper funeral for their missing relatives.

Sosnenko’s colleagues insist they will continue their work “even if it costs us our lives”

Speaking after Sosnenko’s funeral, in a snow-bound cemetery on the edge of Slovyansk, Mr Semeyko insisted that nothing had changed.

“We are glad we were able to bury him with honour,” said Mr Semeyko. “He accomplished so much in such a short life, but now we must continue our

Sosnenko died last week when the van he was driving - a van very much like the one that carried his body into the town square - hit an anti-tank mine close to the frontlines. “He always said ‘this is my mission - I have to do this’.

work to bring more people home.”

“We will return to work as soon as possible,” agreed Mr Yukov.

“We will go back, even if it costs us our lives,” he added. “We realise that we

don’t have time to mourn, because the war goes on and so many lads are dying. They too, must be brought home.”

Source: BBC

Denys Sosnenko, who helped to recover bodies from battlegrounds, died when his van drove over a landmine

Among those at the funeral were Deny’s father Eduard (left), mother Ludmilla (right) and his sister Natalia (centre)

In an interview with the BBC, Denys Sosnenko had spoken about the dangers of his job

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3. TO OFFER SUPPORT AND SOLIDARITY TOWARDS THE INTEGRATION AND RECEPTION OF ALL FRANCOPHONES PERSONS.

4. TO PROMOTE RECEPTION, INFORMATION AND INTEGRATION OF PEOPLE ESPECIALLY NEWLY ARRIVED FRANCOPHONES FAMILIES IN NIGERIA.

5. TO AFFILIATE AND CO-OPERATE WITH OTHER SISTERS ASSOCIATIONS WITHIN AND OUTSIDE NIGERIA FOR THE PROGRESS AND DEVELOPMENT OF THE INTEREST OF THE ASSOCIATION

6. TO ORGANIZE AND HOST COCKTAILS, PROGRAMS INCLUDING MEETINGS AIMED AT ENHANCING INTER-PERSONAL CONTACT AND COMMUNICATION.

7. TO CARRY OUT ACTIVITIES, PROJECTS, AND PROGRAMS TOWARDS THE DEVELOPMENT AND ATTAINMENT OF THE AIMS AND OBJECTIVES OF THE ASSOCIATION. ANY OBJECTION TO THIS REGISTRATION SHOULD BE FORWARDED TO THE REGISTRAR-GENERAL, CORPORATE AFFAIRS COMMISSION, PLOT 420, TIGRIS CRESCENT , OFF AGUIYI IRONSI STREET , MAITAMA , ABUJA WITHIN 28DAYS OF THIS PUBLICATION. SIGNED : SECRETARY.

PUBLIC NOTICE

UFEDO ENYO OJO GLOBAL EVANGELICAL MINISTRY

THIS IS TO INFORM THE GENERAL PUBLIC THAT THE ABOVE NAMED HAS APPLIED TO THE CORPORATE AFFAIRS COMMISSION (CAC), ABUJA FOR REGISTRATION UNDER PART ‘F’ OF COMPANIES AND ALLIED MATTERS ACT, ( CAMA 2020).

THE TRUSTEES ARE :

1.SUNDAY AMEH

2.SUNDAY OJONE

3.SUNDAY JOSEPH

THE AIM AND OBJECTIVE :

1.TO PREACH THE GOSPEL.

ANY OBJECTION TO THIS REGISTRATION SHOULD BE FORWARDED TO THE REGISTRAR-GENERAL, CORPORATE AFFAIRS COMMISSION, PLOT 420, TIGRIS CRESCENT , OFF AGUIYI IRONSI STREET , MAITAMA , ABUJA WITHIN 28DAYS OF THIS PUBLICATION.

SIGNED : SECRETARY.

MRS. ISAIAH

I, FORMERLY KNOWN AS MISS IGBOZURUIKE CHIKWADO BETTY NOW WISH TO BE KNOWN AND ADDRESSED AS MRS. ISAIAH CHIKWADO BETTY. ALL FORMER DOCUMENTS REMAIN VALID. AUTHORITIES CONCERNED AND THE GENERAL PUBLIC SHOULD TAKE NOTE.

PUBLIC NOTICE

ASSOCIATION DES FRANÇAIS DE L’ETRANGER IN NIGERIA

THIS IS TO INFORM THE GENERAL PUBLIC THAT THE ABOVE NAMED HAS APPLIED TO THE CORPORATE AFFAIRS COMMISSION (CAC), ABUJA FOR REGISTRATION UNDER PART ‘F’ OF COMPANIES AND ALLIED MATTERS ACT, ( CAMA 2020). THE TRUSTEES ARE :

1. PEYSSON ROMAIN OLIVER-CHAIRMAN

2. PATUREL NANA FATIMA-SECRETARY/MEMBER THE AIMS AND OBJECTIVES ARE :

1. TO PROMOTE FRANCOPHONE CULTURE AND PRACTICES.

2. TO BE NON-POLITICAL, NON-RELIGIOUS, NON-GOVERNMENTAL, NONPROFIT MAKING AND NON-RACIAL.

3. TO OFFER SUPPORT AND SOLIDARITY TOWARDS THE INTEGRATION AND RECEPTION OF ALL FRANCOPHONES PERSONS.

4. TO PROMOTE RECEPTION, INFORMATION AND INTEGRATION OF PEOPLE ESPECIALLY NEWLY ARRIVED FRANCOPHONES FAMILIES IN NIGERIA.

5. TO AFFILIATE AND CO-OPERATE WITH OTHER SISTERS ASSOCIATIONS WITHIN AND OUTSIDE NIGERIA FOR THE PROGRESS AND DEVELOPMENT OF THE INTEREST OF THE ASSOCIATION

6. TO ORGANIZE AND HOST COCKTAILS, PROGRAMS INCLUDING MEETINGS AIMED AT ENHANCING INTER-PERSONAL CONTACT AND COMMUNICATION.

7. TO CARRY OUT ACTIVITIES, PROJECTS, AND PROGRAMS TOWARDS THE DEVELOPMENT AND ATTAINMENT OF THE AIMS AND OBJECTIVES OF THE ASSOCIATION. ANY OBJECTION TO THIS REGISTRATION SHOULD BE FORWARDED TO THE REGISTRAR-GENERAL, CORPORATE AFFAIRS COMMISSION, PLOT 420, TIGRIS CRESCENT , OFF AGUIYI IRONSI STREET , MAITAMA , ABUJA WITHIN 28DAYS OF THIS PUBLICATION. SIGNED : SECRETARY.

KUNWE

I, FORMERLY KNOWN AS KUMSE FLORENCE JUMAMAI NOW WISH TO BE KNOWN AND ADDRESSED AS KUNWE JESSICA KUMSE. ALL FORMER DOCUMENTS REMAIN VALID. AUTHORITIES CONCERNED AND THE GENERAL PUBLIC SHOULD TAKE NOTE.

WEDNESDAY FEBRUARY 01, 2023

sports@peoplesdailyng.com, SMS-

29 referees to receive FIFA badges today

By Albert Akota

Atotal of 29 Nigerian referees will on Wednesday, 1st February receive their badges to operate as FIFA match officials for the year 2023, at a special ceremony inside the NFF Secretariat, Moshood Abiola National Stadium, Abuja.

A total of seven of them will be badged as FIFA referees while another seven will be decorated as FIFA assistant referees. Four are FIFA women referees and three are FIFA women assistant referees. Four are FIFA beach soccer referees while another four are FIFA futsal referees.

Only two of the arbiters

are new to the topmost rank: Muhammed Yakubu and Tijjani Ahmad, who wil operate as FIFA assistant referees.

FIFA Referees: Ogabor Joseph; Nurudeen Abubakr; Quadri Adebimpe; Kassim Abdulsalam; Abdullahi Abubakar; Bashir Salihu; Grema Mohammed

FIFA Assistant Referees:

Samuel Pwadutakam; Usman

Abdulmajeed; Efosa Igudia

Celestine; Hope Igho; Tejiri Digbori; Muhammed Yakubu; Tijjani Ahmad

FIFA Beach Soccer Referees: Jelili Ogunmuyiwa; Fawole Olawale; Olayinka Olajide; Rabiu

Ahmad

FIFA Futsal Referees: Bello

08142929046

Zuru Alhassan; Musa Dung Davou; Paul Umuago; Uhah Ndubuisi

FIFA Women Referees: Ndidi Patience; Hannah Eliagwu; Olufunmilayo Alaba; Yemisi

Akintoye

FIFA Women Assistant Referees: Mfon Friday Akpan; Beauty Kabenda Terah; Abibat Yusuf

Peseiro hails Flying Eagles as team stretches unbeaten run to 16

Super Eagles Head Coach, José Santos Peseiro was present at the NFF/FIFA Goal Project pitch on Tuesday morning as Nigeria’s U20 boys, Flying Eagles mauled Capital City Football Academy 4-0 in a friendly match.

The warm-up game was another tune-up session to the game against Junior Chipolopolo of Zambia on Saturday at the Moshood Abiola Stadium, as part of the general preparations for the Africa U20 Cup of Nations tournament in Egypt next month.

Goals from Samson Lawal, Agbalaka Solomon, Olamilekan Adams and Yahaya Ibrahim ensured the Flying Eagles extended their unbeaten run to sixteen games.

A delighted Peseiro, while speaking with Head Coach of the Flying Eagles, Ladan Bosso said the team has a lot of quality and he is convinced that the U20 boys will put up a performance in Egypt that would be good enough to qualify them for the FIFA U20 World Cup finals in Indonesia later this year.

The Portuguese tactician was at the match venue together with NFF Technical Director, Augustine Eguavoen and Super Eagles Team Administrator, Dayo Enebi Achor.

The Flying Eagles are billed to play Zambia U20 men's team on Saturday before the team departs Nigeria for Morocco on Wednesday next week.

Flamingos shine at Leadership Annual Conference and Awards

By Albert Akota

Nigeria’s U17 girls, Flamingos were mentioned in the same breath as a number of the country’s movers and shakers in politics, business and the economy on Tuesday, while being honoured for their FIFA World Cup bronze medal at the 14th edition of LEADERSHIP

Annual Conference and Awards in Abuja. The FIFA World Cup medal feat, achieved when outclassing Germany in the third-place match of the 2022 FIFA U17 Women’s World Cup in India in November, swung the pendulum in their favour as the Nomination and Selection Committee considered the Sportsperson of the Year 2022

category.

NFF’s Director of Media and Communications, Mr. Ademola Olajire received the glittering plaque on behalf of the Flamingos at the Annual Conference and Awards staged at the Abuja International Conference Centre, and attended by the country’s Vice President, Professor Yemi Osinbajo, GCON.

There were also former Kenyan Prime Minister, His Excellency

Raila Odinga, FCT Minister Muhammad Musa Bello and Chairman of Leadership Group, Mrs Zainab Nda-Isaiah.

Other award winners included Dr. Benedict Oramah, General Buba Marwa, Rtd and athlete

Oluwatobiloba Amusan (Persons of the Year 2022); Mallam

Nasir El-Rufai, Rt. Hon. Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi and Prince Dapo Abiodun (Governors of the Year); Barr. Nyesom Ezenwo Wike (Politician of the Year); Mrs Nneka Onyeali-Ikpe (Banker of the Year); MTN (ICT/Telecom Company of the Year) and; Oluwatobiloba Daniel Anidugbe, also known as Kizz Daniel (Artiste of the Year).

Super Eagles’ Head Coach Jose Peseiro (right) with Flying Eagles’ lead strategist Isah Ladan Bosso

P R T

Sean Dyche: What new Everton manager will bring - by those who have played for him

Everton have turned to former Burnley boss Sean Dyche as they look to clamber out of the Premier League relegation zone.

The 51-year-old impressed during almost 10 years at Turf Moor, guiding the Clarets to two promotions from the Championship and two top-half Premier League finishes on a modest budget.

He also gained legendary status in the Lancashire town by helping Burnley achieve their first European qualification in 51 years - leading them to seventh place in the top flight in 2017-18.

But will his pragmatic and hard-working approach revitalise Everton?

BBC Sport spoke to Dean Marney and Sam Vokes, who both enjoyed several successful seasons under the man some know as the ‘Ginger Mourinho’, to find out what the players should expect.

What will Dyche demand from his players?

Marney: “When we really saw the difference was in pre-season. He demands a lot with the fitness levels. It was the fittest I have ever been in my life and it was the same for a lot of the players.

“Initially, he can’t do that, but I think if he can get to the end of the season and stay up, come the start of next season you will see a very different Everton team.

“It was very much a different group at Burnley and the standard of player wasn’t as high as Everton have.

“He tried to slowly introduce his philosophies. Sean was about playing in the opposition’s half. It was a contrast to what the players had been used to [under Eddie Howe] but, especially after that first preseason, you started to realise it made total sense with our squad.

“With Everton, there are a lot more egos. It is not quite as easy to get those players on board quickly. But if anyone can do it, he can.”

Vokes: “It was our goal as ‘little old Burnley’ to survive, so when we hit 40 points by January, we thought it was time to march on and we finished on 65 and got into Europe. That was a combination of that culture he instilled in the players and us believing in what we did.

“He can go into a club and create that atmosphere that a club like Everton need at the moment.”

Can he get the fans on board?

Marney: “He likes to be in control from the top to the bottom. He will work closely with the board and will try to take the pressure and limelight away from the board and bring the fans closer to the players.

“I am sure a big part of what he says in his press conferences is: ‘Let’s get the fans behind the team and make the fans proud of watching the team play.’ That is what he did at Burnley. He said: ‘I promise you, you will have a team that will give everything for the shirt, week in, week out, win, lose or draw.’

“That has been the thing with the Everton fans at the minute. They feel players are not giving their all, which is probably not the case. It is a severe lack of confidence.

“Once you have fans that are not

supporting you and on your back, it becomes very tough. Hopefully he will turn that around.”

Vokes: “He is the perfect appointment for Everton at this time. They are looking for a bit of stability, and that is exactly what Sean Dyche brings.

“At Burnley, he created this culture that ran throughout the club from the players to the staff, and the fans bought in as well. That is what Everton are craving.”

The key things for Dyche to fix at ‘broken’ Everton

What can Everton expect tactically from Dyche?

Sean Dyche

Dyche’s Burnley typically played with a traditional 4-4-2 formation

Marney: “We played to our strengths. We weren’t going to play Manchester City and go toe-to-toe in a game of pure football. But I am pretty sure if you asked 90% of the teams if they liked playing Burnley, they would say no.

“His thing was to make good players - and ultimately week in, week out he was coming up against better players - as uncomfortable as possible, whether that be playing a bit more direct, picking up second balls, first contacts...

“It was always done with a purpose and very clearly thought through. Whether it was playing down the side with a particular centre-half, turning the full-back, it was always to make their better players struggle.

“We worked on tactics a lot, particularly that first pre-season we had. There were certain triggers we all knew. It wasn’t as brutal as people tried to make out.”

Vokes: “People attach a stigma to Dyche’s way of playing, but at Burnley we

played in a way to get results. Defensively we pressed from the front, and in the Championship we were an attacking team.

“For any manager that had the budget Burnley had, to stay in the Premier League for seven years was impressive.”

How does he operate behind the scenes?

Marney: “He is very honest, very open, and you can speak to him about anything. If you had anything to discuss - a problem, or why you weren’t in the team - he would be 100% honest. As players, that is all you can ask for.

“Win, lose or draw, he is very much the same. People think he is a bit of a hard man but I have only seen him lose it once or twice. He is very calm.

“He is a very good man-manager. If you have problems, one of his massive things is ‘family first’. He tried to create a happy environment. He did that at Burnley and the players, him and fans were all as one.

“With Everton fans, if you do that, you are halfway there because when they are behind you, they are up there with the best fans.”

Vokes: “He is a very measured man. When you come in at half-time, he will sit with staff and let the players cool down and then have a reasonable chat.

“He is very calm and collected and get his points across.”

Analysis - Above everything, Dyche is a pragmatist

BBC Sport football reporter Simon Stone

When I sat in one of Dyche’s lengthy, usually light-hearted pre-match news conferences, he waxed lyrical about his belief there was nothing to be gained from the practice of goalkeepers playing it short

to defenders perilously close to their own goal, then taking up positions where they could receive passes.

That was not because he was against the principle of building play from the back. It was because, with one of the smallest budgets in the top flight, he was taking on teams with better players. Against superior opposition with players of high speed and technical ability, the jeopardy of taking risks near your own goal was high, Dyche reasoned, so why do it?

Dyche likes his teams to be aggressive and quick. If Burnley didn’t score many goals, he would argue it was because, financially, top strikers were unattainable. His central midfield tended to be organised to provide added protection in defence, so the support further up the pitch was not always there.

These are clear views. Also clear in his mind is that, given the opportunity, he could do a better job if he had better players. Dyche’s body of work suggests this is right.

Evidently, his first task will be keeping Everton up. In Michael Keane, James Tarkowski and Dwight McNeil, he has three players he already knows. It is fair to assume he has been doing a lot of research on the rest. If he succeeds or fails, by the summer, he will be far better placed to start building something meaningful next season.

Should Everton go down, Dychewith two promotions on his CV - could presumably be trusted to lead a promotion quest, particularly as Everton would benefit from parachute payments. If they stay up, surely he will have earned the right to continue his work.

Sean Dyche impressed working on a modest budget at Burnley

Letter to President Muhammadu Buhari

Cont. from back page

the real intentions of the promoters behind it. Currency has been changed in the country before, for instance, the present N100 note under the Jonathan administration without desperation of the present CBN regime. Who is the CBN governor? An appointee of PDP that was retained by Your Excellency’s commitment to integrity; and, who also was a presidential candidate not long ago and undeniably a partisan. His loyalty is arguably to PDP and the naira redesign is one of their many political tools hiding behind economic policies to sink APC in the coming elections. Otherwise, why the confusion? Why set a date for the mopping of old naira notes which is not possible within three months due to myriads of peculiar local factors. Announcing the date for the expiration of the old notes as legal tender is well in order and his rightful mandate, but insisting that all old notes must be deposited in the manner he goes about it can only elicit one undesirable response which is the wrath of the general public. Thankfully, the CBN governor has reportedly issued another statement allowing the old notes deposit to continue after the deadline; a position the House of Representatives, for instance, has maintained in accordance with Section 20 of the CBN Act which allows for an extension of up to five months. Again, why the hastiness by Mr. CBN Governor? Has he not done adequate consultations and due diligence or could there be something else?

Mr. President, for six good consecutive years, the country was

on top of fuel availability because you wanted to keep that record. What suddenly changed? Why has the government suddenly become careless about fuel scarcity across the country and the effects it would have on the chances of the ruling party at the polls?

In 2015, months to the presidential election, the Jonathan presidency geared up its response to the Boko Haram insurgency just to shore up public support and win the then dicy election; why then should the APC Administration that has been doing quite well regarding the availability of the products suddenly stop months to a crucial election? Could this be a case of a party planning to fail or not having in place, plans to win?

With the culmination of these ominous events towards a crucial round of election, are we not providing excuses for the possibility of severe crises across the country that may trigger radical political change? The Independent Electoral Commission, INEC, for instance has reportedly complained that if the fuel crisis persists, it may affect its logistical operations. Now, add the scarcity of the new naira cash which is important to facilitate logistics, especially at the grassroots where cash use is prevalent. Any losing party may decide to trigger crises on the basis of an alleged sabotage due to the policies in question. This may spiral into bothersome uncertainty Mr. President.

If the purpose of the naira redesign is to stop politicians from using cash to influence the general elections, I am afraid it will be difficult to achieve because politicians belong to a class of

elite who can always find their ways to achieve their aims. We have seen how dollars was used in the last presidential primaries, what then will stop them to not stack foreign currency to influence the election as an option if local currency in cash is not obtainable? It is the low income earners, the middle class and the underclasses that will be most affected and for the worse by these questionable policies. The likely consequence is that the electorate, largely the undecided and a chunk of the APC support base will vote against APC as a strong response. The opposition will seize every inch of the opportunity to campaign against the ruling party as the election draws near to which it cannot muster any potent response. By then, Your sworn enemies would have a higher chance of coming back to power which, this time, will be to smear all your achievements and APC’s future prospects.

What the earlier mentioned cohort within the ruling party and the corridors of power fail to factor in is what an Atiku Abubakar presidency portends in a post-Buhari era. If there is anything, both PDP and Atiku would not stop at anything to achieve their aims, if they find their way by any chance to the Presidency again; and this will include sustained attacks on your well-earned and well-known reputation, including your integrity and other worthy legacies. They will destroy APC as a party and restate the old order of a single national party. They will use the same cohort, their allies of necessity in question as scapegoats against the ruling party; they will hound all your

appointees, they will create the most rehearsed and propagated rhetoric of a corrupt Buhari Administration for as long as they are in power until your name is completely soiled. They will do everything possible to show the world that you ran a corrupt government and they are likely to succeed because they have all the weapons at their disposal, including treacherous insiders. It may not be an Atiku, for instance, that will spearhead the onslaught but a dedicated PDP machine for the mission.

Majority of Nigerians know Your Excellency as a man of integrity and I too have no doubt you will leave no stone unturned to keep it before you exit power. Over the last eight years, you have redefined leadership, selflessness, and set the stage for patriotism in the position of authority. You have carved your name in the annals of history for responsible governance. You fought corruption with a sustained tempo despite corruption fighting back, you reinvigorated the national infrastructural map of the country and you have stood tall above ridicule and stains that marred others before you. That job, Mr. President, you must conclude; you can only enjoy continuation of your good work by ensuring another APC presidency succeeds you.

I am sure Your Excellency will do what is right to ensure the ruling party, APC emerges as a cohesive unit for the coming elections; and will emerge as winner yet again.

Thank you Mr. President.

GOD BLESS THE FEDERAL REPUBLIC OF NIGERIA!

SPORTS Letter to President Muhammadu Buhari

Man Utd transfer news: Club in talks over loan deal for Bayern Munich midfielder Marcel Sabitzer

Dear Mr. President and the leader of the All Progressives Congress, the exigencies of time and season have made it mandatory for me to write this letter to you at this material time, and I do hope it would receive the urgent attention it so deserves.

Austria midfielder Marcel Sabitzer is flying to the UK to complete a loan deal from Bayern Munich to Manchester United.

The 28-year-old is available during the current transfer window, and following Christian Eriksen’s long-term injury and a short-term problem for Scott McTominay, United explored the prospect of a loan move.

At Tuesday’s media conference United manager Erik ten Hag said it was “difficult” to complete any deals on deadline day.

However, Ten Hag is well known at Bayern Munich because of his spell as secondteam coach there, and that relationship could help speed up the process.

Without Eriksen, who has been ruled out until the end of April with an ankle injury, and McTominay, Ten Hag has only two fit central midfielders for the upcoming games against Nottingham Forest and Crystal Palace over the next week.

Seventeen-year-old Kobbie Mainoo is highly thought of at United, but it is unlikely he would be risked at first-team level on a regular basis. Zidane Iqbal, 19, also plays in midfield but the Iraq international is yet to make a senior appearance this season.

It has been obvious overtime, right from the days preceding the APC presidential primary election that produced the current party flag bearer, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu for the February 2023 presidential election, that there were forces represented by influential persons that enjoy proximity to your Excellency and who have become desperate to work against the emergence of the APC presidential flag bearer. We are all witnesses to the high end manipulations till the last hours to stop his emergence and foist on the party what will be rightly called in popular parlance, a stooge, but for the stubbornness of the candidate and his supporters, especially the Northern governors within APC and of course, Your Excellency’s refusal to aberrate from your well-earned and well-known integrity against the party.

We had expected that with the primaries over and a party presidential flag bearer having emerged, the heightened internal divisions before the primaries would be over and the party would then congregate to a united house towards winning the coming elections. That is however far from the reality currently obtainable. This is not to sound as an alarmist, but Mr. President, the All Progressives Congress is currently the definition of a house divided against itself; as we have in high places and corridors of power, people and forces who are bent on working against the party interest and have been increasingly camping with the opposition PDP candidate in order to further sustain their self interest in a post-Buhari era.

Your Excellency Mr. President, there are forces currently at play and while you may not be aware, perhaps, understandably due to your

ever tight schedules over governance matters, you are apparently at the middle of a complex, destructive antics that may tarnish if not outrightly destroy your name and the impeccable reputation you have built overtime.

The current machination against APC and its presidential flag bearer which I am bringing to Your Excellency’s attention involves agents and players across various political turfs; and Atiku Abubakar is at the centre of it all and some of your close lieutenants and allies who are already colluding with the opposition PDP to deny APC another deserving successive presidential victory.

For one, these individuals and forces are largely not involved since the historic ascension of APC to the presidency in 2015 and in the consolidation of power in 2019 but have gained entrance to the Presidency through the privilege of proximity to Your Excellency; and for another, is the outright abuse of such privilege by these individuals who by virtue of their common personal interests can be rightly regarded as a cohort whose manipulation of events, actions and responses is against the APC’s chances in the coming presidential election. Permit me Mr. President to ask a rhetorical question: why is this treacherous cohort colluding with the foremost opposition and rival of the ruling party, APC at this material time? Simply because they want to further preserve their personal businesses and spheres of influence which they have amassed particularly in the past eight years as Your Excellency steadfastly demonstrate just leadership and the tenets of democracy including delegation of authority without any encumbrances, the rule of law and trust for

subordinates. And as it is likely that the cohort may not enjoy such disposition of primitive accumulation in the event of another APC victory, they have therefore chosen to collude with a political party and a candidate that can play quid pro quo that allows them to preserve and possibly grow their personal businesses at the expense of the ruling party and its deserving perpetuation at the presidency; which is necessary for the continuity of the laudable projects of Your Excellency’s Administration.

Suffice to say that the interests of the aforementioned treacherous cohort does not align with that of APC which is pro-masses; and they do not care if APC loses as long as their interests are protected by whoever is in power. And surely, they have found an ally in PDP and have taken up the position to work for the interest of the opposition party from within. Their actions, including close contact with Your Excellency, offering of advice, ostensible help to shore up Your Excellency’s performance are questionable as they collusively project manipulative policies aimed at shrinking the chances of the ruling party at the coming polls.

How else does one explain the appointment of a core PDP figure to be in charge of deciding the mobilisation of police leadership across the states close to an election year? How does one address the suddenness and eagerness to see the redesign and circulation of several Naira notes and the withdrawal of the old ones to a conclusion at the rate we are all witnessing - which is contrary to what is obtainable in enviable democracies - and to add, coming from a PDP appointee? And more worrisome, how does a ruling party that spent six years making sure

there was no fuel scarcity suddenly lose touch and the same is reappearing in filling stations across the country? These seemingly innocuous concerns affect the masses the most and who may turn their policy-induced provocation and wrath against APC at the polls; except if the recent committee being chaired by Your Excellency can reverse the fuel scarcity well before the general elections.

Mr President Sir, the decision to appoint a core PDP member as the Chairman of the Police Service Commission is not understandable to many concerned APC stalwarts. It is well-known in the public that he is a card carrying member of the opposition party, who chaired the Security Committee of PDP’s last convention (https:// www.premiumtimesng.com/ news/top-news/486477-pdpinaugurates-15-nationalconvention-subcommitteesexpects-6000-delegates. html), yet he has been given the responsibility of heading such a sensitive national commission under the ruling party and during an electioneering period. And of course, we have started seeing the restructuring of police leadership across the states weeks to the election. Where does the recommendation for the appointment come from?

Who advised the president on such an appointment? What is their end game?

The naira redesign, no doubt, is a great project, but the timing and the hastiness to get it done apparently exposes

. . putting the