Thursday, June 1, 2023 Edition

APC women leaders kidnapped after attending Gov. Sani’s inauguration

NNPC confirms fuel price hike across outlets

Says it is in response to current market realities

Dangote refinery may not bring down fuel Prices – NLC

CSO calls for revocation of licence of saboteurs, fuel hoarders

Subsidy: NLC insists on return to status quo

By Vivian Okejeme, Abuja

Respondents in the petition filed by the presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, (PDP)

Abubakar Atiku, Wednesday, opposed the admissibility of documents tendered as evidence in the petition seeking to sack President Bola Tinubu from Office.

At the commencement of the proceeding before the Presidential Election Petition Court, (PEPC), Atiku, through his counsel, Chris Uche SAN, said the team has prepared a second schedule of documents to be tendered, dated 30th of May and filed on 31st of May, adding that the documents were fully

served on the parties involved.

Among the documents tendered in evidence by the Petitioners through Eyitayo Jegede, SAN were certified true copies of Form EC8A downloaded by the Independent Electoral Commission INEC from INEC Result Viewing Portal (IREV).

Form EC8As are sheets used for collection of results at the polling units level.

The documents numbered as No1- No1A are certification of compliance for 17 local governments of Abia State.

He also tendered form EC8A for eight LGA of Bayelsa state, EC8A for 23 LGA of Kaduna state, EC8A for 20 LGA of Ogun state. As well as that of 23 LGA of

Kogi state.

Reacting, Respondents in the matter through their counsel, objected to the admissibility of all documents relating to five local governments in Kogi states expect namely, Olamuboro, Ofu, Omala, Okohi and Ajaokuta.

The Petitioners further tendered form EC40G for Kaduna state. This is the form where INEC inputs the number of all polling units that were cancelled or voters couldn’t vote.

Finally, they tendered the print of Bimodal Voters Accreditation System BVAS and accreditation data with details including time stamp for 33 states.

Respondents, INEC through its counsel, Abubakar Mahmoud

SAN objected to all except for Kogi, Sokoto and Rivers state.

The Petitioners counsel prayed the court to deem the documents as read pursuant to provisions of paragraph 46(A) of the first schedule of the electoral Act.

The Respondents, however, declined giving consent that the documents be deemed as read, having objected to their admissibility.

Having tendered the documents, the Chairman of the Court, Justice Haruna Tsammani, admitted them as evidence.

Justice Tsammani subsequently adjourned the case until Thursday for continuation of proceedings.

PEPC: Respondents oppose Atiku’s tendered documents Bauchi Governor bids farewell to 3316 intending pilgrims

From:

Governor Bala stated this

while bidding farewell to the intending pilgrims at the Sultan Saad Abubakar Modern Hajj Camp in Bauchi. He said his administration has come up with initiatives aimed at

addressing hardships. He said that the gesture should be reciprocated by abiding by the laws and order of both Nigeria and Saudi Arabia throughout the duration of the exercise.

Ahmad Muhammad, Bauchi

Bauchi State Governor Senator Bala Muhammed Abdulkadir has advised

3316 intending Muslim pilgrims from Bauchi State for the 2023 pilgrimage to be good ambassadors of the State and Nigeria.

Officials of Blue Sapphire women epowerment innitiative with the food items during the Blue Sapphire women epowerment innitiative distribute food items and written matwrials to blind and deaf School student to marks a childrens day in Kaduna on Wednesday 31/5/23

From Yakubu Mustapha Minna

Following the pronouncement of president Bola Ahmed Tinubu that fuel subsidy has gone during his inaugural speech, long queues of vehicles has resurfaced in Minna the Niger state capital.

This has undoubtedly caused untold hardship to motorists and passengers who were taken by surprise of the new development.

Our correspondent observed the closure of many filing stations while many others selling above the regulated price in Minna due to the removal of petrol subsidy as announced by the President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

According to findings, a litre of petrol that is sold at one hundred eighty five and two hundred now sold at between four hundred and five hundred naira per litre at the few filling stations that have opened for business while others hoarding the product refused to open for business.

The situation has led to many passengers now resort to trekking some short distance to save cost before getting to their destinations.

Some passengers who spoke to our Reporter however appealed to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, governor Umar Mohammed Bago to as a matter of urgency deal decisively with those sabotaging the good intention of government especially the petrolatum marketers to serve as detergent to others.

Motorists lamented that despite the petrolatum marketers are having old product subsidized are selling above official pump price hence they should be sealed, arrested and prosecuted for sabotaging the economy of the country.

Meanwhile, the Federal Government through the Nigeria National Upstream and Downstream Petrolatum Regulatory Commission has appealed to Nigerians not to resort to panic buying as there is no cause for alarm and that it is in full control of the situation.

By Vivian Okejeme, Abuja

The Presidential Election Petition Court sitting in Abuja, on Wednesday, adjourned further hearing on the petition filed by the Labour Party and its presidential candidate in the February 25, 2023, presidential election, Peter Obi, challenging the victory of Senator Bola Tinubu of the All Progressives Congress.

At a resumed sitting, Awa Kalu

SAN announced appearance for Obi and Labour Party (LP) had told the court that the plan for the day’s proceeding was for the petitioners to start presentation of some documents but unfortunately, he said their legal had some challenges at the secretariat, due to illness of two of their key staff.

“For this reason, I am constrained to pray for an adjournment to June 1.

“I have before now dropped a hint to Chief Wole Olanipekun.

“With greatest humility and apology, I assure my lord’s that we will be here tomorrow morning with vigour to proceed.

Reacting, the INEC’s lawyer, Abubakar Mahmud SAN, said he was constrained not to object to the application, stressing that it’s one of their days, and should be written off.

On their part, Wole Olanipekun SAN and Lateef Fagbemi SAN, said they were constrained not to oppose the application for an

adjournment.

Consequently, Chairman of the Presidential Election Petition Court, Justice Haruna Tsammani adjourned the matter till Thursday.

PEPC adjourns hearing on Obi, LP petition to June 1 Niger residents lament sudden hike of PMS

Obi and LP had at the last adjourned date called it’s first witness PW1, Barrister Lawrence Uchechukwu Nwaketi.

They have 49 more witnesses to call, while PDP is yet to call a witness, but still tendering their documents for evidences.

HYPPADEC inaugurates Servicom Officers

From Yakubu Mustapha Minna

Hydro Power Producing Area Development Commission (HYPPADEC) has inaugurated its Servicom Officers to enhance effective, efficient, quality, timely and honest service delivery to the citizens of the affected communities.

The Managing Director of HYPPADEC, Alhaji Abubakar Sadiq Yelwa made this known at the inauguration and sensitization of Servicom Officers by the National Coordinator of Servicom

in Minna.

He said that this was aimed at ensuring they do what is expected of them towards service delivery for optimal results in a very transparent manners.

Represented by the Director, finance and administration, Mr Jimoh Haruna who commended Servicom for ensuring it becomes a phenomenal in the country to the benefit of the society.

In his remarks, the Niger State Head of Service HOS, Engr Abubakar Salisu applauded the management of the Commission for leaving to the expectations

of the people through vigorous pursued of its mandates by intervening in various sectors of community hardships across the 6 states of the HYPPADEC.

The SERVICOM National Coordinator, Mrs Nnena Akaegemili said that the mandate is to promote excellent service delivery through sustainable use of Servicom to develop and implement charter development in the system.

She however lauded the live transformation achievements and performances recorded by the HYPPADEC thus far by proffering

solutions to numerous problems confronting the annual flooding communities in the 6 states of the federation.

Akaegemili than challenged the inaugurated officers to imbibe principle of quality, timely and accessing service delivery, embarked on training and retraining as well as to manage the internal and external demands.

The inaugurated officers were asked to pledge their services to the citizens timely, honestly, transparently, effective manners to enhance good feedback.

From L-R His Eminence Edidem Ekpo Okon Abasi Otu V, Obong of Calabar with Senator representing Cross South senatorial district, Senator Gershom Bassey during the Inauguration of the new state governor during the week at the UJ Esuene Sports Stadium Calabar.

From: Femi Oyelola, Kaduna

Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), has advised the be Kaduna State Governor, Senator Uba Sani to shun needless divisive policies and build bridges of friendship, and inclusion, which leads to unity among the people of the state.

CAN in a congratulatory statement signed by the Kaduna State Chairman of the religious body, Rev. John Joseph Hayab, said “it is a sign of weakness and inferiority complex for any leader to combat and destroy anyone who does not agree with their view.”

The statement said that, “As Governor Uba Sani took over the mantle of the leadership of Kaduna State on 29th May 2023, the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) Kaduna State Chapter salutes the new Governor and appeals to him to deliver an inclusive leadership, embracing the diversity of the populace of the state, and not to administrate with needless divisive policies.”

“Accordingly, CAN call on the Governor to work with all stakeholders to build the state, and not to toe the lines of making adversaries but build bridges of love, friendship, and inclusion, which lead to unity and ultimately the core value of an organized society.

“CAN will consistently pray, advise, and support any administration in the state for the development of everyday lives and will speak truth to power.

“To CAN, the new Governor’s pledge to address insecurity is a welcome development given that Kaduna people have suffered so much at the hands of bandits and terrorists.

“Thus, CAN appeals to all peace-loving persons and organizations in the state to join hands with the Governor to make the noble desire of bringing a lasting solution to insecurity a reality.

“The task to build a unified Kaduna is vital and we look forward with great expectations for a new lease of life in Kaduna in areas of security, education, unifying the people of the state, and providing equal opportunities for all irrespective of religious or ethnic differences,” CAN said.

By Lateef Ibrahim, Abuja

Presidential candidate of the Social Democratic Party, SDP, during the just concluded 2023 general election, Prince Adewole Ebenezer Adebayo, on Wednesday criticized the Labour Unions hypocritical attitude towards the fuel subsidy debacle.

Adebayo recalled that the unions were in support of all the three major parties, especially Labour party that is supposed to be pro-workers interest, that promised to remove the fuel subsidy if voted in office.

He wondered why the same unions, especially the Trade Union Congress TUC, is criticizing the pronouncement of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s removal of the subsidy.

According to him, “They supported the removal of the subsidy with the political parties. They (labour) are now looking for negotiation and discussion when

the government that made that policy was around. They didn’t go for negotiation”.

Fuel subsidy: Adebayo, SDP presidential candidate accuses labour unions of hypocrisy CAN tasks Governor Uba Sani inclusion

Adebayo said it was too late in the day for the labour unions to be complaining about the fuel subsidy removal when they should have tackled the Buhari administration( the initiator of the removal process) while in office.

He wondered why they were complaining now, when, in actual fact, all of them, including the Labour party( which supposed to be the workers and unions party), all supported the removal of fuel subsidy

Said he: “TUC and the Labour were not overseas when the Appropriation Act 2023 was passed. Where were they to engage on that issue?

“When the debate was still in the open as to whether we should form a government that would remove subsidy or not, they went with the people that said they would remove subsidy.

“For as long we continue and allow people to take advantage of the leadership of Nigerian workers, we would not address this issue.

“There are two positions you can take on subsidy. Remove or not to remove. They were on the side of removal. They were also around when the immediate past government passed the PIA.

“PEGASSAN, the industrial Union, representing them, was supporting it. PEGASSAN met in Calabar and said the subsidy must go. In the course of electioneering, the Appropriation Act was passed. They didn’t fight or argue with the government, and the government passed the law.

“The reason why we are discussing this now because of what I consider a mistake from the President to make a policy statement on that sensitive issue in an unclear way in his inauguration address which has now caused some panic before the policy would take effect”.

He said the results of the election showed that the people also wanted the removal of subsidy, because, “ if you look at the votes, you would see that the voters voted overwhelming for the political parties who said they are going remove fuel subsidy. They voted for APC, PDP, labour in that order. “

He said he was not surprised at the pronouncement of Tinubu that the fuel subsidy ceases to exists though he frowned at what he called the poor policy communication of the president to the people, who he said, are going to bear the brunt of the effect of the removal.

He insisted that it was only SDP that campaigned that it would continue the subsidy arrangement by removing the corruption inherent in the process even as he explained that despite the legal landmines around the Petroleum Industry Act, he would have negotiated his way out to continue the fuel subsidy if his party had won the election.

Benue PDP congratulates Fr. Alia on inauguration as Governor

From

Uche Nnorom, Makurdi

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Benue State has congratulated Rev. Fr. Hyacinth Iormem Alia, over his successful inauguration into office as the 6th civilian Governor of the state. The party in a statement signed by its Publicity Secretary Bemgba Iortyom on Wednesday prayed God Almighty to sustain the new Governor and give him the wisdom and grace needed for the task he has undertaken.

Bemgba also, said the PDP has now assumed the station of the main opposition bloc in the state, with all sense of duty, maintaining that they will discharge the responsibility with utmost sense

of patriotism to Benue, Nigeria and humanity at large, in the belief that good governance is a combination of the workings of the government on seat and the activities of a robust opposition to it.

“Hear him “our conduct will be guided by a consciousness of our rich culture and heritage as the most successful political party, both at the national level and here in the state, since Nigeria’s independence in 1960.

“In Benue State PDP having held and discharged the popular mandate of governance in 21 out of the 24 years of the current democratic dispensation since 1999, can proudly lay claim to almost the entirety of the developmental legacy on ground

within this period.

This is a legacy as was laid from 1999 to 2007 under Governor George Akume, then built upon from 2007 to 2011 under Governor Gabriel Suswam, and consolidated upon in the last 5 years of the administration of Governor Samuel Ortom when it came under the party’s control.

Our great party is satisfied that the governmental administrations which held sway under its sponsorship have left in place a solid pedestal upon which to further the advancement of the Benue project by the new administration of Governor Hyacinth Alia.

“From the security architecture painstakingly rigged into place (the Livestock Guards and the

Community Volunteer Guards) audaciously signposted in the Anti Open Grazing Law, against monumental daunting odds, to the depth of interventions in the educational, health care and agricultural sectors of the economy, to the the asphalted roads in Makurdi metropolis and elsewhere in the state for ease of travel, to the quality of the official residential and work accommodation bequeathed to the new Governor, PDP has ran its lap of the race and handed over the baton as required under law.

“Our great party will not flinch from its duty of keeping the new administration on its toes all of the time, the sole purpose being to get it to work maximally within the span of time allowed it.”

Front row (L-R): Hon. Ginika Tor, Federal Commissioner representing Enugu State, Anjor Obande, Chief of Staff to the APC National Women Leader (representing Dr. Betta Edu), Hon. (Dr.) Asabe Vilita Bashir, DG National Centre for Women Development, Folasade Olumo, Convener, Diaspora Support for Asiwaju (DSA-North America) and Hon. Miriam Onuoha, Member, House of Representatives at the Victory Celebration and Award Night organised by DSA-North America at the NAF Conference Centre, Abuja on Tuesday, May 30, 2023.

Fuel Subsidy: No Nation can sustain N400bn monthly to saboteurs, Natives backs Tinubu

...Calls for revocation of licence of saboteurs, fuel hoarders ...Wants Tinubu to unite with Atiku, Peter Obi, others

By Tobias Lengnan Dapam

Apro-Democracy and antisabotage group, The Natives, has declared support for the removal of fuel subsidy by the administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, saying no Nation can continue to waste about N400 billions to few people monthly.

The Natives also demanded immediate revocation of licence of some people in oil sector described as “saboteurs” and those hoarding the fuel across the Nigeria. President Tinubu in his inaugural speech said there was no provision for a fuel subsidy beyond June 2023, adding that “fuel subsidy is gone.”

The declaration has, however, led to fuel scarcity and panic buying.

Addressing a press conference Wednesday in Abuja, the Supreme Leader of the Natives, who also doubled as the Executive Secretary of the Petroleum and Energy Related Matters, Civil Society of Nigeria, Hon. Smard Edwards,

urged the new administration to go ahead and reinvest the subsidy money on job creation, digital economy, healthcare, infrastructure, education, agriculture and incentives for the citizens among others.

The group, which comprises of all ethnic groups, languages and tribes with about 20 million members across the country said they rallied in the Sun, stood in the rain, marched in defiance to any sabotage of the country and in defense of democratic sustainability, “this is simply because we are an anti- sabotage organisation, Natives of all tribes and tongues, using our diversity to strengthen the common bond of our Nation, it was therefore fit to defend the mandate freely given.”

Hon. Edwards, while calling on all Nigerians to align with the President’s road map to prosperity of the country, declared that his group will engage President Bola Ahmed Tinubu meaningfully to

ensure that the country is governed under the rule of law and for the prosperity of all Nigerians.

He said: “Mr. President, we heard you loud and clear, the budget that you have glimpsed and heard before assuming office makes no room for fuel subsidy, therefore fuel subsidy is gone.

“We want to state clearly that as citizens of Nigeria, we asked for it, we will not postone any dooms day, as a matter of fact there is no doom.

“We asked every candidate for the removal, we demanded it from the past government, we were assured it will never go beyond June, we formed a coalition for the sector, we got the assurance of Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, Peter Obi, Atiku Abubakar, the NLC, the TUC, the Political Parties, former President Buhari, we asked the Ministry of Finance, we demanded it from NNPC Ltd, we gathered Civil Society for it and we knew it was coming, it will end in June and we will never allow anyone

to reinstate this sabotage of our livelihoods.

No country can consistently allow 400billion monthly to a few Nigerians, we support this position and we agree with the NNPC Ltd too, rather the 400billion per month can be invested in the One million Jobs, Digital Economy, Health, Infrastructure, Agriculture, Education and Incentives.

“We call on Mr. President to give no restraint to the immediate revocation of any licence of saboteurs, deal decisively with any attempt to make live unbearable for citizens by any beneficiaries of subsidy or its removal.

“Young people, women, disabled and all Nigerians, the time to reinvest over N400bn monthly on us and for our sake, our parents and our children is here.

“We shall engage President Bola Ahmed Tinubu meaningfully to ensure that this country is governed under the rule of law and for the prosperity of all Nigerians.

“The Natives hereby call on all

Nigerians to align with the President whose colours have moved from blue white and red to green white green.”

While congratulating the President and his Vice in his speech titled “ Hope is Here,”, the Natives Supreme Leader said: “The first burden on the Nation is to free Nigeria from those that held us bound by fleecing our resources and improverish our people, it is a new dawn.

“President Abraham Ahmed Tinubu has set to serve, he will make bold decisions, he will consult and will be fair, we trust he will reach out to H.E Atiku Abubakar and H.E Peter Obi and he has already reached out to H.E Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso. We can all build this nation together and the solutions rest in all of us.

“It is not only about elections, its about our history, our bond, the people, the parties, the policies, the progress is all directed towards better life for all Nigerians home and abroad.”

China pledges increased economic cooperation with Nigeria

By Egena Sunday Ode

Chinese President XI Jinping has pledged increased economic cooperation with Nigeria, saying the country is important to Africa and the world.

The Chinese president spoke through his Special Envoy, Peng Qinghua, Vice Chairperson, Standing Committee of National People’s Congress, People’s

Republic of China who met with President Bola Tinubu at the State House, Abuja on Wednesday.

Qinghua said the two countries at present had good bilateral relations and economic cooperation, noting that Chinese companies were doing well in Nigeria in railways, roads, hydropower and free trade zones.

While commending President Tinubu’s plan to lead Nigeria to a

new era of economic development and prosperity, the Chinese envoy, however, said there were areas where Nigeria could benefit from China.

He called on the two countries to share ideas and align strategies, urging President Tinubu to also create more conducive environment for investment.

Responding, President Tinubu said Nigeria is open for business

and constructive partnerships, and would do business with any country ready to do business with the country.

He promised that his administration would work to promote ease of doing business.

He said: “We need accelerated growth and we are ready to do business honestly with those ready to do business with us.

“We will continue to work to

promote democracy in the West African sub-region. I’m a product of democracy and shall work day and night to advance democracy.

“We will fight terrorism and all forms of criminality.

We can learn from each other, but we will remain non-aligned.”

The Chinese delegation included her Ambassador to Nigeria, Cui Jianchun and Minister-Counselor Zhang Yi.

L-R: Bayo Boudurin, Angela Agoawike, Dr Sule Yau, Eze Anaba, Dr Iyobosa Uwugiaren, Mustapha Isah, Tony Akiotu, Ben Shemang, Steve Nwosu, Soni Daniel and Othman Aliyu- all members of the Nigerian Guild of Editors during their visit to Daar Communications Ltd office to condole the family and management on the death of the founder, High Chief Raymond Aleogho Dokpesi

L: R - The outgoing Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Niger Delta Affairs (MNDA), Engr. Olufunso Adebiyi, handing over to the incoming Permanent Secretary, Dr. Shuaib Belgore at the Ministry’s headquarters, yesterday in Àbuja.. photo: Justin Imo-owo

Customs initiates fast track 2.0 to promote compliance

By Abubakar Yunusa Abuja

Modalities for transitioning from the Fast Track Regime to Fast Track 2.0 (FT 2.0) have been started by the Nigeria Customs Service in partnership with the World Bank under the Accelerating Revenue Mobilization Reforms Programme (ARMOR).

The customs spokesperson, CSC Abdullahi Maiwada, said the system aims to reward compliance and facilitate trade by admitting traders based on their adherence to regulations and contribution to trade in Nigeria.

“By introducing Fast Track 2.0, the Nigeria Customs Service aims to streamline trade processes, promote compliance, and create a more efficient and rewarding environment for traders.

“When fully operational, FT 2.0 is expected to encourage traders to comply with Customs regulations and rules. One of the main advantages is the potential for significant cost reductions associated with cargo handling and demurrage at the ports.

“Traders who are interested in taking advantage of this facility can access more information and apply through the website www.fasttrack. nigeriatradehub.gov.ng.

“Existing traders who are currently using the old Fast Track system are advised to apply to the new Fast Track 2.0 (FT 2.0).”

Fentanyl: NDLEA busts lethal drug syndicate, arrests members in Anambra

By Mashe Umaru Gwamna

Operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, NDLEA, have arrested members of a syndicate involved in the illicit importation and trafficking of lethal synthetic opioid, Fentanyl, a drug which is 100 times stronger than Tramadol and capable of causing mass casualty among the youth population being targeted by the cartels.

NDLEA in a statement issued on Wednesday by Femi Babafemi, its Director, Media & Advocacy, said the arrest of two members of the syndicate: Odoh Collins Oguejiofor and Oliver Chigozie Uzoma at Ogbogwu market, Onitsha Head Bridge, Onitsha South LGA, Anambra

State, in well-coordinated and clinical operations, is coming on the heels of an alert issued by the anti-narcotics Agency on Tuesday 22nd November 2022 that some criminal elements were plotting to flood the Nigerian market with the drug, which is currently responsible for over 70% overdose deaths as well as a major contributor to fatal and nonfatal overdoses in the United States. According to the CDC in the US, Fentanyl is 80 times as potent as morphine and 100 times more potent than heroin.

“Following credible intelligence and synergy with local and international partners, the NDLEA was able to mobilise necessary assets to trace the illicitly manufactured drug to the Ogbogwu market, Onitsha Head

Bridge, reputed to be the largest drug market in West Africa, after months of undercover monitoring.

“Convinced that the Agency has gathered sufficient evidence to nail the suspects, Chairman/ Chief Executive Officer, Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (Retd) ordered a deployment of operatives to pick members of the syndicate one after the other. Odoh Collins Oguejiofor was the first to be arrested while on a business mission with packets of 100 micrograms of Fentanyl, while the arrest of Uzoma who is a major dealer in other illicitly manufactured pharmaceutical opioids including Fentanyl, followed.

“While packs of liquid Fentanyl were recovered from Odoh,

different quantities of banned and controlled drugs including Fentanyl were seized from Uzoma. They include: Ampules of Fentanyl Injection; Ozempic solution for injection in prefilled pens; Ampules of Sustanon 250mg/ml; Ampules of Rivavirin injection 200mg/2ml; Ampules of Erythropoietin injection; Ampules of Recombinant Anti Rho-D Immunoglobulin injection 300MG; Ampules of Pethidine 100mg/2ml solution for injection and Zoladex 3.6mg Goserelin.” Reacting to the arrest of members of the syndicate, Marwa commended all officers and men of the Agency involved in the operation while directing them to intensify the crackdown on other members of the cartel who may have gone underground.

PDP’s BoT, Bamanga Tukur condole with Dokpesi’s family

By Lateef Ibrahim, Abuja

Members of the Board of Trustees, BoT, of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, have described the founder of African Independent Television (AIT) and Raypower Radio, High Chief Raymond Aleogho Dokpesi, who died few days ago, as an advocate of good governance.

The BoT of PDP said this in a condolence message issued by its acting Chairman, Senator Adolphus Wabara yesterday in Abuja.

Dokpesi, who was also a chieftain of the PDP, according to the party’s BoT, left lasting legacies that death cannot touch.

According to the BoT’s statement, “He (Dokpesi) was an advocate of good governance, which was reflected by his constant appraisal of policies which favoured citizens and open criticism of those that adversely

affected the masses.

“Regardless of his social status, High Chief was the leader of the South-south People Assembly (SSPA) as a result of his deeprooted interest for the people of his geopolitical zone.

“An avid businessman, media mogul, maritime engineer, and philanthropist, High Chief was a lot of things to a lot of people.

“Whereas our brother and friend has hearkened to nature’s call to the great beyond, he has left lasting legacies that death cannot touch. Forever and always in our hearts we reflect on these legacies while we mourn your passing.

“We pray God grant High Chief’s immediate family, the good people of Edo state, Nigerians and his friends all over the world the fortitude to bear this irreplaceable loss.

“May his death bring peace, love, harmony and unity to our great

Nation”, the statement said.

Similarly, a former Governor of old Gongola State and business morgul, Alhaji Bamanga Tukur has expressed deep sorrow over the death of Dokpesi, describing it as a colossal loss.

Bamanga, in a statement by his Media Adviser, Chief Oliver Okpala yesterday, said that Dokpesi’s death was a collosal loss to his family, the media, the entire nation and human race.

He pointed out that the deceased has left a footprint in the sand of time.

The statement reads, “Alhaji (Dr) Bamanga Tukur has expressed deep sorrow over the death of Chief Raymond Dokpesi, who worked with him for so many years with a high level of loyalty and trust- and even ended up serving him as his Personal Assistant and confidant, while he was the Governor of the Old Gongola

State - now split into Adamawa and Taraba states.

“On the political front, Baba Bamanga relied very much on the support and trust of Dokpesi while he served as the National Chairman of PDP.

To baba, this is a collosal loss to his family, the media, the entire nation and human race. Raymond has left a footprint in the sand of time.

“Dr. Bamanga Tukur regrets this death which he describes as a monumental calamity to Nigeria , the black nations and the world at large.

“He said he would miss Raymond dearly as his son, confidant, trusted political associate and business partner.

“He prays God to grant his soul eternal rest and give the Dokpesi family the fortitude to bear this unquantifiable loss which is Indeed irreparable”, the statement said.

CAN tasks Governor Uba Sani inclusion

From : Femi Oyelola, Kaduna

Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), has advised the be Kaduna State Governor, Senator Uba Sani to shun needless divisive policies and build bridges of friendship, and inclusion, which leads to unity among the people of the state.

CAN in a congratulatory statement signed by the Kaduna State Chairman of the religious body, Rev. John Joseph Hayab, said “it is a sign of weakness and inferiority complex for any leader to combat and destroy anyone who does not agree with their view.”

The statement said that, “As Governor Uba Sani took over the mantle of the leadership of Kaduna State on 29th May 2023, the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) Kaduna State Chapter salutes the new Governor and appeals to him to deliver an inclusive leadership, embracing the diversity of the populace of the state, and not to administrate with needless divisive policies.”

“Accordingly, CAN call on the Governor to work with all stakeholders to build the state, and not to toe the lines of making adversaries but build bridges of love, friendship, and inclusion, which lead to unity and ultimately the core value of an organized society.

“CAN will consistently pray, advise, and support any administration in the state for the development of everyday lives and will speak truth to power.

“To CAN, the new Governor’s pledge to address insecurity is a welcome development given that Kaduna people have suffered so much at the hands of bandits and terrorists.

“Thus, CAN appeals to all peace-loving persons and organizations in the state to join hands with the Governor to make the noble desire of bringing a lasting solution to insecurity a reality.

“The task to build a unified Kaduna is vital and we look forward with great expectations for a new lease of life in Kaduna in areas of security, education, unifying the people of the state, and providing equal opportunities for all irrespective of religious or ethnic differences,” CAN said.

NSCDC apprehends 3 suspects for sabotaging petrol sales in Niger

From Yakubu Mustapha Minna

Nigeria Security and Civil Defense Corps NSCDC Niger state command has arrested 3 suspects for sabotaging petrol sales in Minna.

NSCDC said the suspects used

four vehicles with constructed tanks used in buying petroleum products at NNPC mage station in Minna the state capital.

The command’s Public Relations Officer DSC Nasir Abdullahi made the disclosure while parading the three suspects which include; Ismaila

Mohammed, Ibrahim Usman and Idris Adamu.

They were arrested by the command’s anti vandal squad following a credible intelligence in Minna.

DSC Nasir Abdullahi noted that they were intercepted at the point of buying the product at a

controlled price to sell at black market thereby causing hardship to the public and sabotaging the federal government efforts of good governance.

He stated that the corps will intensify efforts in clamping down on vandals and other economic saboteurs.

Group trains teachers, students on disaster risk reduction in Kaduna

From: Femi Oyelola, Kaduna

The World Bank-supported Adolescent Girls Initiative of Learning and Empowerment (AGILE) project has begun the training of secondary school teachers and students on disaster risk reduction in Kaduna State.

The Project Coordinator, Hajiya Maryam Dangaji stated this at the inauguration of the training exercise in Kaduna yesterday.

She said the training was being implemented under the AGILE project’s Environmental and Social Safeguard.

Dangaji said the training was necessary due to unforeseen disasters and hazards that could affect schools.

According to her, educating teachers and students on early warning signals and ways to

mitigate them is critical to maintaining a safe learning environment.

“Disaster risk reduction is not a government job alone.

“We all have a role to play and as such, we want the teachers and their students to know the potential disasters and risk, and the simple steps to take within the school environment to reduce or avert them.

“Knowing what they need to do during an emergency or disaster, will ensure a conducive teaching and learning environment and this a key priority for the AGILE project.”

In his remarks, Mr Imam Garki, Zonal Coordinator, NEMA, commended AGILE for organising the training, describing it as “apt” in view of the spate of disasters in communities.

Garki equally said that

disaster management was everybody’s responsibility, noting that the government cannot do it alone.

The training, he said, would enable students and young children to understand that they have a very important role to play as Nigerians in managing disasters in the country.

He said disaster is everywhere, adding that every community experience one form of disaster or the other.

“For example, there is disease outbreak in communities due to lack of cleanliness and as such, educating the children to keep their environment clean will help reduce some disease outbreaks.

“There is also the issue of flooding that is an annual ritual that happens every year affecting schools, students, teachers and other people in communities and

enlightening people on what to do is very important.

“We equally have recurrent building collapses in some parts of the country and fire outbreaks among others. Giving ideas on how to make themselves safe is very important.

“In all, catching them at this young age is very important and I believe that the knowledge that will be impacted on them will make a significant impact in their lives,” the zonal coordinator said.

On her part, AGILE’s Environmental Safeguard Officer, Maureen Oyedoja said that principals and students across 20 senior and junior secondary schools participated in the training.

The AGILE project is the initiative of the Federal Government with funding support from the World Bank.

From L- R Wife of Cross River State governor, Pastor Mrs. Eyoawan Bassey Otu, Cross River State governor Senator Bassey Edet Otu shortly after the Inauguration as state governor in Calabar.

ALGON hails, assures Tinubu of support

By Stanley Onyekwere

The Association of Local Governments of Nigeria (ALGON), has promised a cordial working relationship with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu as he assumed office as the 16th Nigeria President, on Monday.

While congratulating President Tinubu, ALGON commended him for heralding an epoch making tenure filled with personal determination and doggedness to succeed.

National Chairman of the Association and Chairman of Abaji Area Council of the FCT, Alhaji Abubakar Umar Abdullahi, in a statement made available to newsmen in Abuja, declared that the 774 local governments of Nigeria are fully ready to support the new administration in bringing about the benefits of the renewed hope offered by the President in the transformation and development process for the country.

Abdullahi said President Tinubu’s emergence in the last general elections was a clear testimony that Nigeria’s democracy is maturing by the day, with promises for various tiers of government to synergize for good governance and delivering on the socioeconomic needs for the citizens.

He added that looking at the outcome of the election Tinubu was elected by Nigerians across the board with their firm belief in his astuteness to bring harmony among the people irrespective of ethnicity, religion and group needs.

He said “ALGON congratulates President Bola Tinubu in earnest terms and looks forward to a closer working relationship with the administration in its commitment to providing adequate security, fulfilling the wellbeing of the people and furthering the political and economic development of the entire Nation”.

APC women leaders kidnapped after attending Gov. Sani’s inauguration

From: Femi Oyelola, Kaduna

Two women leaders of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Kaduna state have been kidnapped along Manini flash point of Birnin Gwari Local Government Area of the state after attending the inauguration of the state governor, Senator Uba Sani.

This was disclosed by the chairman of Birnin Gwari Emirate Progressive Union (BEPU), Ishaq Usman Kasai in an interview with the Media yesterday.

According to him, the bandits blocked the road and kidnapped the two APC women leaders including dozens of others.

He said the kidnapped women leaders are Birnin Gwari APC

women leader, Hajiya Lami Awarware and her assistant, Hajiya Haulatu Aliyu.

Findings revealed that immediately after the victims were kidnapped on Tuesday, the kidnappers took them to the forest.

He also said that the abductors are yet to contact the families of the victims or any person in the

Gov Namadi appoints SSG, Chief of Staff, others

From Mika’il Tsoho, Dutse

The Jigawa state governor, Malam Umar A. Namadi has approved the appointment of Alhaji Bala Ibrahim Mamser as the new Secretary to the

Government of Jigawa State.

This was contained in a statement signed by the State Head of the Civil Service, Alhaji Hussaini Ali Kila and issued to news men through his public relations officer Isma’ila Ibrahim Dutse.

Until his appointment, Alhaji Bala Ibrahim Mamser was the immediate past Commissoner of Information,Youth, Sports and Culture.

Similarly, the Governor has also approved the appointment

of Senator Mustapha Makama Kiyawa as Chief of Staff.

He added that the Governor has also approved the appointment of Alhaji Adamu Muhammad Garun Gabas as Principal Private Secretary (PPS).

area.

Recall, two days ago, BEPU had while congratulating the president, Bola Tinubu pleaded with the president to end the insecurity bedeviling the Local Government Area.

Also as at the time of filling the report,the state government and the police are to issue a statement on the development.

Other appointees are: Abdullahi S.G Shehu Accountant General and Dr. Habib Muhammad Ubale, Executive Secretary, Jigawa State Youth Empowerment/ Employment Agency.

Inauguration: Northern elders hail president Tinubu, governors

By Abubakar Yunusa Abuja

The Northern Elders Forum

(NEF) has congratulated the new President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Ahmed Bola Tinubu and Vice President, Kashim Shettima,who were sworn-in recently.

The Forum also congratulates returning and new State Governors, and reminds them

of the oaths they took yesterday, which must remain their guide in office until their last days.

In a congratulatory message contained in a statement signed by its Director, Publicity and Advocacy,Dr Hakeem BabaAhmed noted that President Tinubu has made a number of key commitments and promises to Nigerians and hopes that he will honor them faithfully.

The statement read in part;”The Forum particularly wishes to remind President Tinubu of his promise to take on insecurity, poverty and high quality governance as priorities, and commends him for his vision of re-discovering Nigeria’s greatness which will be reflected in the lives of ordinary Nigerians.

“Issues such as inclusion, ensuring justice and fighting

corruption should be prioritized as well. Policies that compound poverty should be avoided, and where difficult decisions need to be taken, they should be accompanied with compassion, sensitivity and adequate public awareness.

“The Forum will work with President Tinubu and Governors to actualize their promises to make Nigerians more secure and

improve the economy to reduce poverty and desperation.

“It further notes that there are many cases before Election Tribunals, some of which may go all the way to the Supreme Court. The Forum appeals to members of the judiciary to show the highest levels of competence and integrity in the manner they treat these cases.”

Supreme leader of the Natives and executive secretary of the Petroleum and Energy Related Matters, Civil Society of Nigeria, Hon. Smart Edwards, and some members of the group addressing a press conference on subsidy removal in Abuja yesterday.

AUN award degrees to 234 graduates in Adamawa

From Umar Dankano,Yola

The Management of the American University of Nigeria,AUN Yola has awarded Bachelor degrees and master degree certificates on different academic disciplines to 234 graduating students .

Presiding over the University’s fourteen (14th) commencement (convocation) ceremony class of 2023 in Yola,Adamawa state capital weekend,Interim President of the University,Attahir Yusuf said all the graduating students have trained both in learning and character equipped with the needed skills to face global challenges in all ramifications.

Yusuf explained that with the excellent performance of records of the University, students are being admitted from Nigeria and other African countries who are grilled in different professional courses that will contribute in changing the fortunes of the societies for good.

He therefore charged the outgoing students to be good ambassadors of the institution wherever they found themselves as witnessed with the excellent testimonies accorded by their predecessors.

The interim president also announced the conferment of honorary doctorate degree upon professor Benedict Oramah of Afreximbank in recognition of his exemplary service in the public sector.

In his speech,guest speaker at the ceremony and president / chairman, Board of Directors, African Export and Import Bank (Afreximbank), Prof. Benedict Oramah commended the wisdom of founder and former Vice president Atiku Abubakar for floating an academic learning institution like AUN in the country.

While observing the dwindling economic misfortunes facing the country, Professor Oramah pointed out that over dependence on oil revenue causing the woes.

Oramah said the paopulation of the country could not be smoothly managed on a mono economic template urgeing the graduating students to use the knowledge acquired to transform Nigeria from an importing country to a producing nation.

“A revolution is sweeping camps; the freedom fighters for this new battle are being trained in technical front with ideas, hard work and investments. While bravery was required to fundamentally alter our world, shatter old assumptions and reshape our lives, the current revolutionaries are of a different breed.

“It is peaceful and will be in factory floors and tech incubation centres. Instead of guns, the battle will be tech and not armed guerrillas; ideas and not bullets will constitute the potent. Courage is a necessity for the economic liberation struggle.”

Climate change: Group faults Total Energy, others over investments that fuels crisis

From: Femi Oyelola, Kaduna

The peoples AGM platform has criticized Total Energies, Eni, and Equinor for their role in prioritizing oil and gas investments that is fueling the climate crisis despite the urgent need to transit to clean, renewable energy.

The convener of the peoples AGM, David Ugolor stated this in a press statement made available to the Media in Kaduna yesterday.

Rev. Ugolor who is also the Executive Director of Africa Network for Environment and Economic Justice (ANEEJ), called

on investors and shareholders at Total Energies scheduled AGM, to reverse the trend.

The group also urged the investors to vote in support of the request from a group of shareholders to allow the Company to set targets “aligned with the Paris Climate Agreement” for Scope 3 indirect emissions related to the use of energy products sold to its customers.

The group canvassed support for the French civil society organisation’s action planned for tomorrow at Total Energies head office in France.

Similarly , the Co-Chair of the peoples AGM and Executive Director, Indigenous Centre for Energy and Sustainable Development, ICE-SD, Legborsi Saro Pyagbara, explained that “new briefing revealed that Total Energies approved more number of new oil and gas expansion in 2022 among international oil & gas majors.

By its own reporting, Total Energies as a company generated more worldwide carbon pollution than its home country of France”.

Taiwo Otitolaye, the CoChair of the peoples AGM and

National Coordinator, Publish What You Pay Campaign, Nigeria, lamented that “neither Total Energies, Eni, nor Equinor comes anywhere close to the bare minimum for alignment with the Paris Agreement, as revealed Oil Change International benchmark, which requires rapid, deep cuts in oil and gas production and sales that need to happen within this decade.

No oil and gas company can credibly claim to be aligned with the 1.5°C limits without taking immediate action to phase out fossil fuels”.

WaterAid calls for direct policies on menstrual health

By Maryam Abeeb

While celebrating the World Menstrual Day,WaterAid Nigeria has called on the federal government to focus more on the menstrual hygiene of girls by formulating direct and clear policies.

The project manager, WaterAid Nigeria, Nanbam Michael made this call during an interview with pressmen at the sensitization programme for schools girls in FCT, Abuja as part of commemoration of 2023 World Menstrual health and hygiene day.

The programme was organised by Federal Ministry of Women Affairs in collaboration with other non governmental agencies such as , WaterAid, UNICEF, PG, Yagazie Foundation among others for teenage girls in secondary schools.

She explained that the it is the right of girls and women to be adequately informed about menstrual hygiene.

According to her, WaterAid is

supporting the Federal Ministry of human affairs as part of the national technical group working on the guideline for menstrual hygiene.

“Generally,, to start from why the Nigerian government needs to focus on this day. This day is recognized by the United Nations General Assembly as a human rights. It is the rights of the girls and women to have all information and materials for menstrual hygiene. And then for the government of Nigeria, they are committed to the SDG goals and the SDG goal especially called Six 6.2 to be precise that talks about hygiene and sanitation having access to hygiene and sanitation and then paying special attention to the needs of women.

“And their menstrual hygiene is one of that special attention to the needle. So the government of Nigeria says they are committed to achieving achieving the SDG goal they should be committed to this day. And then what kind of commitment are we expecting

from the Government of Nigeria? We need to have policies, policies that have direct and clear instruction about what to do about menstrual hygiene.

She stressed that menstrual hygiene should not be taken for granted because if not well managed can cause vagina infection for the girls and it could lead to lifelong infection in terms of reproductive health.

Also, the Water Sanitation Hygiene, WASH specialist, UNICEF, Job Omonyi also disclosed that the multi cluster indicators for 2021 revealed thT about girls or females aged between 15 and 24 as high as 17% are not participating in active social economic activities as a result of the limitation placed on them by menstruation.

He noted that most girl find it difficult to join others whenever they are menstruating, and this makes them loose opportunity of learning and making income.

According to him, UNICEF is making efforts in providing information that will help in

breaking the silence so that people don’t feel stigmatized, rather, they should be proud that they are not sick and that they are normal people.

Further speaking, Chairman of Yagazie Foundation, Kennedy Ezirim has called for more access to adequate facilities that will help menstrual management.

He noted that this will help reduce the mortality rates when it comes to women and girls, adding that in recent years a lot of lives have been lost people died as a result of improper menstrual care.

The Director, child development department, ministry of Women Affairs, Ali Madugu stressed that “We want to demonstrate how committed the ministry that because the ministry is committed in ensuring that every child, every child, particularly females get to make girl child. Most have the opportunity to have a good sanitary party when she is menstruating. And that can only be achieved. If we intensify our campaign as a tradition and bringing our partners together.

Officials of Blue Sapphire women epowerment innitiative with the Blins Student and deaf, during the Blue Sapphire women epowerment innitiative distribute food items and written matwrials to blind and deaf School student to marks a childrens day in Kaduna on Wednesday 31/5/23

From Yakubu Mustapha Minna

Hydro Power Producing Area Development Commission (HYPPADEC) has inaugurated its Servicom Officers to enhance effective, efficient, quality, timely and honest service delivery to the citizens of the affected communities.

The Managing Director of HYPPADEC, Alhaji Abubakar Sadiq Yelwa made this known at the inauguration and sensitization of Servicom Officers by the National Coordinator of Servicom in Minna.

He said that this was aimed at ensuring they do what is expected of them towards service delivery for optimal results in a very transparent manners.

Represented by the Director, finance and administration, Mr Jimoh Haruna who commended Servicom for ensuring it becomes a phenomenal in the country to the benefit of the society.

In his remarks, the Niger State Head of Service HOS, Engr Abubakar Salisu applauded the management of the Commission for leaving to the expectations of the people through vigorous pursued of its mandates by intervening in various sectors of community hardships across the 6 states of the HYPPADEC.

The SERVICOM National Coordinator, Mrs Nnena Akaegemili said that the mandate is to promote excellent service delivery through sustainable use of Servicom to develop and implement charter development in the system.

She however lauded the live transformation achievements and performances recorded by the HYPPADEC thus far by proffering solutions to numerous problems confronting the annual flooding communities in the 6 states of the federation.

Akaegemili than challenged the inaugurated officers to imbibe principle of quality, timely and accessing service delivery, embarked on training and retraining as well as to manage the internal and external demands.

The inaugurated officers were asked to pledge their services to the citizens timely, honestly, transparently, effective manners to enhance good feedback.

By Muhammad Maitela, Damaturu

Chairmen of Management Committees for the 17 Local Government Councils in Yobe State, were Wednesday sworn into office by Hon. Mai Mala Buni, at the Government House, Damaturu.

The Governor said, “the commencement of our second term of office defines a new beginning for more dedication and commitment to service delivery to justify the people’s confidence and

reinvestment of trust in us.”

He advised the chairmen to adhere strictly to the principle of due process and procedures in executing government business.

He also charged them to be diligent, transparent, judicious and prudent in the management of the council resources.

“As you are aware, Yobe State is currently ranked high in transparency, accountability and good governance by reputable international and local organizations, we must not only sustain this but work hard to

improve the ranking” Governor Buni advised.

He warned that government would not tolerate acts of sabotage and disloyalty.

Gov. Buni swears into office 17 LG Chairmen HYPPADEC inaugurate Servicom Officers

“Let me make it emphatically clear that the state government will not tolerate ineptitude, abuse of office and disloyalty by any public officer. You must be upright and accountable for all your actions, and willing to serve selflessly. We will not hesitate to set example on anyone found wanting.” He warned.

The Governor assured that

the Local Government Council Election would be conducted in November this year.

“This is to take democracy much closer to the people at the grassroots. We will ensure a credible, fair and generally acceptable election is conducted in the state.” Buni said.

He appealled to the people of Yobe state to support and cooperate with the state government as it unfolds new reform policies and programmes to further improve service delivery across the state.

PERL harps on constructive engagement between Govt, citizens

From: Femi Oyelola,

The Partnership to Engage, Reform and Learn (PERL) a UK-supported governance programme, has called for a constructive citizens engagement in aiding good governance and ensuring service delivery to the people in the Local Government Areas.

The State Lead Facilitator, PERL, Mr Adejor Abel asserted this during a 2 Day Citizens capacity strengthening on utilization of the Community Development Charter (CDC)

applications to accelerate timeless in the submission of needs for consideration into Local Government and state Budget.

Adejor encouraged the CDC Champions to be constructive with their various Local government executives and a legislative Council to yield the much desired results that will benefit the citizens.

He added that the meeting with the CDC Champions is also to harvest the success, particularly in aiding good governance and ensuring service delivery to the people in the LGAs.

Adejor reiterated the need to deviate totally from confrontational and abusive approach and embrace constructive approaches.

Presenting the Objectives of engagement, Seth, Luke of Local Government Accountability Mechanisms (LGAM) said it is to enhance the quality and timeliness of citizens needs being generated as well as to address emerging challenges;

He added that the engagement will also enhance the capacity of the champions to effectively utilize the CDC platform https://

citizensdemand.org to improve efficiency in the submission of the CDCs across the 23 LGAs;

Seth, Luke added the meeting will also enhance the quality and timeliness of citizens’ needs being generated as well as to address emerging challenges;

In his remarks Mr. Yusuf Goje explained that the engagement is an avenue for the CDC Champions to narrate their success stories and reflected on their challenges at the same time setting priority for next steps considering the emerging opportunities for more robust engagement going forward.

Speaking with our correspondent on the sideline of the meeting, the Planning Officer at the Planning and Budget Commission Umar Ibrahim said the constructive engagement adopted by CDC Champions aided successes recorded since its inception.

The CDC Champions used the avenue to do a thorough review of their engagement in the areas of inclusion of citizens in the government’s policy process, planning and budget in achieving service delivery and good governance in the 23 LGAs.

L-R: President coalition of concerned Niger Delta stakeholder CCND, Odiedim Amachree, Youth leader CCND, Comrade Nwasabari Bani and Media consultant CCND, Comrade Yemi Itodo during the State of the Nation world press conference yesterday in Abuja.

Photo: Justin Imo-owo

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Buhari’s day of political reckoning

By Abdu Abdullahi

In a mega pledge he made, Buhari assured us that the first four years of his administration would celebrate the revival of our moribund refineries to ease our energy crisis. What happened to that covenant when he completed his eight years rule? Was he not found guilty for breach of promise? Was the day of his political reckoning mute on this perpetuated sin?

May 29, 2023 was exclusively Muhammadu Buhari’s day of political reckoning. It was the day that the former president was tried and judged by history vis-a-vis his campaign promises and how he sabotaged them at the end of his political navigation of salvaging Nigeria.

When Buhari was too desperate to rule Nigeria, he presented himself like the only Messiah we were waiting for. His body language was very significant for its mastery of appealing to our sensitivities to make him the only political icon of the time. He was able to steal the then political show of relevance and majesty which many aspiring politicians could not showcase. But after woeful performance, that day convicted him that he was not the Messiah we needed.

At last, the Buhari we adored greatly had swung into proper inaction which culminated in giant despairs and end of optimism. Gradually, the grand euphoria that greeted his arrival had started to diminish rapidly leaving him politically miserable. His observed incompetence eventually found its way into our scheme of national affairs. His celebrated integrity inevitably vanished into the thin air and lost its moral values. The day of his political reckoning showed us that there was a great difference between his razzmatazz entrance and his dilly dallying adventure. ‘All that glisters is not gold’ was the judgement of the day.

After exhausting his eight years of political expedition and governmental activities, he left behind some disturbing political debts in terms of unfulfilled pledges for which prosperity will not cease to forget. His major trial was how he ‘technically’ degraded Boko Haram only to be substituted with brutal banditry. Prior to his stewardship, he promised to defeat Boko Haram but another version of Boko Haram erupted like the volcanic eruption in the Northwest.

Buhari had earlier affirmed that the face of the economy was very awful and ugly for our liking. He then convinced us that if we elected him, the economy would be better off. However, little did we know that the real economic turmoils would be a waiting disaster that would devastate us. After eight years, we are lacking a sense of economic belonging as well as prosperity. We are feeling the horrors of an economy that possesses no bright future for us. But in his self-defense, Buhari’s economy was the excellent thing that had happened to all of us. However, the day of his political reckoning confirmed that he left us poorer, inflation uncontrollable and unemployment attaining its zenith point.

If corruption were to speak, it would have indicted Buhari for not giving it the fierce fighting it deserved. He was too sympathetic to corruption. What we realized was a mere empty rhetoric that could not inspire even our spiritual element to hate corruption. Don’t forget Buhari’s message of zero tolerance on corruption as a cardinal point of his campaign propaganda. Unfortunately, Buhari did not disappear from the scene until corruption was fully tolerated and entrenched in the heart of corrupt persons and supported them with uncouth mercies as it was the case with former governors Joshua Dariye and Jolly Nyame. Callously, he made them heroes of corruption under our watch. Thus, on May 29,2023, Buhari was found guilty of cheating the crusade against corruption and he could not disprove this sin.

If government is all about fighting the evils of subsidy to relieve the masses of untold hardship, Buhari’s glamorous idea of selling a liter of petrol above 50 naira as an act of injustice was well applauded by many Nigerians. But it was baffling how he rediscovered that after all, fuel subsidy was an economic nuisance and hiked the price of petrol without an apology. Surprisingly, he could not trace the missing link between his complaint of 50 as costly as against the skyrocketing price of 240 he left while departing the scene.

In a mega pledge he made, Buhari assured us that the first four years of his administration would celebrate the revival of our moribund refineries to ease our energy crisis. What happened to that covenant when he completed his eight years rule? Was he not found guilty for breach of promise? Was the day of his political reckoning mute on

Cigar no be food, na poison!

By Isaac Asabor

are in Africa. In addition, 57.9% of people in Africa suffer from moderate to severe food insecurity.

this perpetuated sin?

In all fairness, Buhari did not complete his ‘ messianic’ task without dropping a political bomb that for every unsuccessful president, there is an unsuccessful government. It was a trial of the president who left behind a government that was at the beginning a living phenomenon, chaotic at the middle and tragic at the end. Nobody had expected that Buhari’s government would be for the selfish cabals who formed a parallel and even superior government. That day marked the end of the cabals and Buhari would atone for the sins they committed to the nation.

Buhari did not like failure but he acted towards blatant failure until when he finally departed from the corridors of power. The very day he left the Villa heralded the end of his brinkmanship in terms of what he thought was good for Nigeria and what we felt as pains of betrayal. Indeed, our collective yearnings and aspirations were not motivated for higher achievements but we were left to struggle for self governance as the centre could not hold and things broke into bits. On that day, it was recorded that Buhari could only wear a false smile to assert his misconceived heroism.

If Buhari was not fair to himself, the rest of us had successfully been just to him by cautioning him of abstaining from doing the needless. We always supported and encouraged him to do the needful to improve our lots. Our constructive and corrective pens were the effective tools that we deployed to make him readjust his dilapidated ideas and actions so that prosperity would count him amongst the favoured leaders of our time. But his indefatigable and infallible media team insisted on notorious communication scandals that left him committing more political suicide. On that day, his media warlords could not save him from the image crisis and the crisis of failing he left behind.

To our greatest disappointment, Buhari erred tremendously. His unprecedented trial of incapacity was finally concluded on May 29,2023 and was fairly judged by the verdict of history. Eventually, the chant of ‘sai baba Buhari’ could no longer rent the air and was laid to rest forever.

Unarguably

to buttress the reason why today should be celebrated, the apex global agency said “Nearly 828 million people are facing hunger globally. Of these, 278 million (20%) are in Africa. In addition, 57.9% of people in Africa suffer from moderate to severe food insecurity.

If there is any Special Day that the global community should not joke about or politicize with, it is unarguably the 31st day of each year. The reason for its importance in the world’s calendar is that it is the day when the World Health Organization (WHO) and public health champions around the world on a yearly basis come together to celebrate. It is called World No Tobacco Day (WNTD).

Against the foregoing backdrop, it is didactic to disclose in this context that today, May 31, 2023, is been celebrated as World No Tobacco Day under the theme, “We need food, not tobacco!” So, today is undeniably a day that has been set aside by health and community organizations in Nigeria and other countries across the world to commemorate World No Tobacco Day as it provides the opportunity to highlight the dangers associated with tobacco use and exposure to tobacco smoke. It is also an occasion to renew the advocacy for effective policies to halt the tobacco epidemic and its impact on individuals, societies, and nations.

As gathered from WHO, “This year’s theme is “Grow Food, Not Tobacco”. This theme aims to raise awareness about alternative crop production and marketing opportunities for tobacco farmers and encourage them to grow sustainable, and nutritious crops. The theme also seeks to expose the tobacco industry’s efforts to interfere with attempts to substitute tobacco growing with sustainable crops, thereby worsening the global food crisis. It calls on all of us to explore how food and agricultural policies make adequate nutritious food and healthy diets available while reducing tobacco production.

“Tobacco growing and production exacerbates nutrition and food insecurity. Tobacco farming destroys ecosystems, depletes soil fertility, contaminates water bodies, and pollutes the environment. Any profits to be gained from tobacco as a cash crop may not offset the damage done to sustainable food production in low- and middle-income countries.

Unarguably to buttress the reason why today should be celebrated, the apex global agency said “Nearly 828 million people are facing hunger globally. Of these, 278 million (20%)

This jeopardizes the region’s attainment of SDG 2 which aims to end hunger, achieve food security and improved nutrition, and promote sustainable agriculture. The intensification of the major drivers behind recent food insecurity and malnutrition trends, such as conflict, climate extremes, and economic shocks, further compounds this situation. Therefore, our concerted actions are essential, so everyone has enough food.

It added that “We face a grave challenge in food and nutrition security imposed by the increasing tobacco farming in the Africa Region. Available data shows that while the area under tobacco cultivation decreased by 15.7% globally, in Africa it increased by 3.4% from 2012 to 2018. During this period, tobacco leaf production globally reduced by 13.9%; however, it increased by 10.6% in Africa. In recent years, tobacco cultivation has shifted to Africa because of a regulatory environment that is more favorable to the tobacco industry, as well as increasing demand for tobacco”.

Digressing from the emphasis placed on farming food crops, permit me to opine that smokers also need to feed well by recalling an experience I had with a smoker even before now. Lekan is unarguably addicted to smoking and popularly known as “Omo Oga” among his friends and colleagues. He is a mechanic and lives in Lotto community in Mowe, Ogun State.

Based on the aversion and regrets he expressed when engaged by this writer to understand the reason behind his smoking habit, it was possible to have firsthand knowledge about why the campaign for this year’s “No Tobacco Day” is been anchored and driven with the theme, “Grow Food, Not Tobacco.”

I must confess that the reason for being in support of the campaign, and hence the inspiration to express this view cannot be pooh-poohed as the negative impact that tobacco can have on anyone’s life is damaging.

Lekan, in our parley, confessed that while growing up in a home with smokers that he remembers picking up his first cigarette around the age of 12. “I started smoking cigarettes when I was always running errands for brother Fatai, and by and by, the daily routine which I thought was part of my own way of respecting my elders eventually led me to become a fulltime smoker by 13 years old.”

As an addiction that stuck with him despite several attempts to quit, he said, “I have tried to quit seriously three times. The first time was in 2021 when I began my wellness journey and was diagnosed with a disorder that was causing a thickening of my vocal cords. I made it for about 6 weeks and then my best friend was diagnosed with Leukemia. While trying to support him, I started smoking again to cope with the stress.”

Lekan tried to quit for a second time in February 2020 after his father died of a stroke. “I wanted to do anything I could do to improve my health. Unfortunately, after about 6 weeks of success, COVID-19 hit, and the fear and anxiety I felt led to a panic attack that resulted in an illness which I cannot explain but the doctor told me the sickness was a result of my smoking habit. Unfortunately, when I left the hospital, I picked up a pack of cigarettes and started smoking again.”

To this writer, it is expedient for the fight against smoking to be intensified as it should not remain a fight that is only fought on May 31 by each passing year. The reason for the foregoing cannot be farfetched as the era of the COVID-19 pandemic made it more important than ever for the world to confront the tobacco problem. The era of the COVID-19 pandemic unarguably showed that smoking weakens the immune system and increases the risk of respiratory infections. It will be recalled in this context that many of the underlying health conditions that placed individuals at greater risk for severe complications from COVID-19 during the period were revealed to have been caused by tobacco use.

To me, quitting smoking is the single most important step a smoker can take to improve the length and quality of his or her life.

Unarguably expressing his strong desire to quit the habit, Lekan rued, “My dad’s passing was soul-crushing to me. I have two adult children and though I know that I will pass away eventually, I want to save them from that pain as long as I possibly can, and I don’t want it to be because of smoking.” As if he knew the theme of this year’s “World No Smoking Day”, he said, “I need food for me to look healthy, not cigarette that is making me fall sick every time,” and with a warning tone, ended the parley thus, “Cigar Nor Be Food, Na Poison”, which invariably is the headline of this piece.

Isaac Asabor

is a

Public Policy Analyst.

Abdu Abdullahi is a Public Affairs Analyst.

AI: Why humans still rule the tech seas!”

By Tife Owolabi

Remember, folks, AI may be smart, but humans are witty, charming, and capable of making the world a brighter, funnier, and more compassionate place. And that, my friends, is why AI will never truly replace us!

Ahoy, tech enthusiasts! As a seasoned tech journalist with over a decade of experience sailing through the treacherous waves of technological advancements, I’m here to debunk the notion that AI will replace humans.

So, strap on your life jackets and get ready for a witty voyage as we navigate the hilarious reasons why AI will forever remain our trusty co-pilot and not the captain of our tech ships!

Siri, Alexa, and the Unfortunate Blunders Let’s start with our favorite voice assistants, shall we? While Siri and Alexa have their moments of glory, we’ve all encountered their not-so-subtle slip-ups. Remember when Siri misheard your request for “play classical music” as “slay plastic muppets”? Or when Alexa suddenly started reciting the recipe for banana pudding while you were in the middle of a deep conversation about particle physics? AI may be intelligent, but it sure has a knack for unintentional comedy!

AI in Art: The Museum of Glitches Art and AI have collided in intriguing ways, producing bizarre and hilarious creations. Who could forget the infamous AI-generated painting that sold for millions, only to be discovered as a blurry mess that looked suspiciously like a

By Ike Willie-Nwobu

Tinubu faces an uphill task. For eight years former president Muhammadu Buhari huffed and puffed with painfully little to show for it. His embarrassing performance at a time he had everything going for him has brought genuine doubts over whether Tinubu, who is cut from the same cloth, can make any significant difference.

Nigeria’s long wait for May 29, 2023 has come and gone with little savoring but many sighs as a country that once promised so much begins its difficult journey to a future that has never looked bleaker.

There can be no mistake about it. Almost as soon as Nigerians woke up from the cold reality of what May 29, 2015, had yielded, Nigerians knew that the next May 29th could not come any faster. May 29, 2019, came with predictable disappointment as Muhammadu Buhari’s administration continued to sleepwalk to disaster.

Having passed through the roads of tortured elections, May 29, 2023, was not greatly anticipated save for the fact that Buhari and his atrocious and attritional autocade would take off from Daura on that day, leaving a bemused Aso Rock relieved.

In his post-inauguration speech, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu called on Nigerians to join hands with him to rebuild their country and make key gains in critical sectors of the economy. In a searing preinauguration address during an Inter-denominational service on May 28, Oluremi Tinubu, Nigeria’s first lady had sought to allay fears that her husband was corrupt by insisting that her family does not need Nigeria’s wealth to survive.

For many Nigerians though, it is important to guard their hearts as recent

Picasso seen through the wrong end of binoculars? Or the AI-written poetry that left us scratching our heads, pondering the meaning of life, the universe, and why the algorithm chose to rhyme “apple” with “nipple”? While AI may dabble in art, it’s clear that humans still reign supreme in the realm of aesthetics and poetic finesse.

The Robot Revolution That Tripped Over Its Own Wires We’ve all witnessed the impressive dance moves of those nimble robots on YouTube, right? Well, let’s just say their talents are best appreciated in a virtual world. Remember the robot that confidently attempted a pirouette, only to lose its balance, flail its arms, and crash into a pile of broken dreams? It seems that while AI can master repetitive tasks and precision movements, a graceful twirl or a smooth waltz remains a realm exclusive to human agility. So, let’s keep the dance floor reserved for us bipedal beings, shall we?

AI in Comedy: The Jokester’s Sidekick While AI may have a database of jokes at its disposal, it still lacks the comedic timing and wit that tickles our

funny bones. Have you heard the one about the AI trying to be a stand-up comedian? Its delivery was so dry that it caused a drought in the Sahara! Comedy is an art form that relies on human intuition, cultural nuances, and the ability to read an audience. AI may attempt to generate punchlines, but it often ends up as the awkward friend who laughs at its own jokes.

Lastly, as we sail through the vast sea of technology, AI remains an invaluable co-pilot, but humans are firmly at the helm. From voice assistants with a knack for comedic blunders to AI-generated art that leaves us scratching our heads, the quirks and limitations of AI remind us that human ingenuity, creativity, and good old-fashioned humor cannot be replicated by algorithms alone.

So, fellow tech enthusiasts, fear not! While AI continues to enhance our lives, we humans will forever be the captains of our tech ships, steering through the ever-changing tides with our ability to adapt, create, and laugh at the unpredictable quirks of the digital world.

And let’s embrace the AI revolution while keeping in mind that the human touch is what makes the world a fascinating, unpredictable, and wonderfully amusing place to live.

Remember, folks, AI may be smart, but humans are witty, charming, and capable of making the world a brighter, funnier, and more compassionate place. And that, my friends, is why AI will never truly replace us!

Tife Owolabi is a Public Affairs Analyst.

history suggests that that could make a crucial difference in moving forward and not courting heartache.

Nigeria is in a tough place now, and it was at least comforting to see that Tinubu’s inauguration speech did not shy away from tough questions. But tougher challenges lie in wait. While it is no mean task to write a speech for an occasion of such gravity as the swearing in of a president, it is in taking what is in the speech and doing it that a the major challenge lies.

Tinubu ran his campaign on the wheels of hope, pledging to renew the hopes of Nigerians in their country, and promising a country full of hope.

Now, hope is a tricky thing. Celebrated English poet Emily Dickinson in her poem “Hope” describes hope as “the thing with feathers”. Hope has also been variously described as the elixir of life.

In the stormy sea of life, hope is usually the anchor people hold on to, the lone rafter in the tide. For many years, Nigerians have lived hope, breathed hope and even eaten hope.

Perhaps, the most precious attribute of hope is its resilience, in how it pushes people to keep going and never

give up. For many years, Nigerians have held on to the hope that things will change in their country. It is not to imply that there are those who have not lost hope. There are many and who would blame them in a country that appears programmed to incinerate hope.

However, Tinubu has promised to renew hope. A chance to do that is the least he deserves. But before he is deluded into thinking that it will be an easy task by his team of core APC supporters who prefer fiction to truth, Tinubu must understand that it will be a most arduous task. For one, getting Nigerians onside won’t be easy.

At best, Tinubu is operating on what many consider a stolen mandate. The tenacity and ferocity with which his main opponents at the elections are clinging to their fast fading hopes at the election petition tribunal hints at it.

The fearsome flaws of the election which brought Tinubu to power is a key reason many are skeptical of his every word. But there is also a history of corruption and drug-running.

Then there is the fact that words are often just about that for Nigerian politicians who say one thing but often mean an entirely different thing.

Tinubu faces an uphill task. For eight years former president Muhammadu Buhari huffed and puffed with painfully little to show for it. His embarrassing performance at a time he had everything going for him has brought genuine doubts over whether Tinubu, who is cut from the same cloth, can make any significant difference.

What is more? If Tinubu fails in office, many Nigerians would nod their heads knowingly and grit their teeth. If he succeeds, there will be many who will be disappointed but relieved. But he has no choice but to succeed because failure may just push Nigeria over the edge.

While Nigerians wait with bated breath, they must learn to log their fires and guard their hearts from the gust of unpredictability and uncertainty that many Nigerian politicians have shown themselves to be.

Nigeria’s long road to hope

Having passed through the roads of tortured elections, May 29, 2023, was not greatly anticipated save for the fact that Buhari and his atrocious and attritional autocade would take off from Daura on that day, leaving a bemused Aso Rock relieved

“

Siri, Alexa, and the Unfortunate Blunders Let’s start with our favorite voice assistants, shall we? While Siri and Alexa have their moments of glory, we’ve all encountered their not-so-subtle slip-ups

Adeeko hails

Seyi Adekunle on his national honours award

By Abubakar Yunusa, Abuja

The Chief Executive Officer and founder of Whiskey Mistress, Mrs. Adenike Isi Adeeko has congratulated chairman and lead designer of the Vodi Group,Seyi Adekunle over his nomination and approval for the National Honours Award in the rank of OON, (Officer of the Order of the Niger), by the former President Mohammadu Buhari.

Fashion entrepreneur, Seyi Adekunle is the chairman and lead designer of the Vodi Group of Companies, a company that excels in customised men’s suits and conventional clothes, as well as its sister company, which focuses on a wide range of shoes. However, he is also called Seyivodi.

The congratulatory message was contained in a signed by herself and shared with journalists in Abuja on Tuesday, said” This achievement is a testament to your exceptional talent, hard work, and dedication to your craft.

Adeeko said :”It is with great pleasure that I extend my heartfelt congratulations to you on receiving the National Award for your outstanding contribution to the fashion industry.

“Your innovative designs have captured the hearts of many, and your artistic vision has undoubtedly left an indelible mark on the fashion industry. Your passion for fashion and your commitment to excellence have set you apart as a true leader in your field, and this award is a recognition of your remarkable achievements.

“Your creativity, attention to detail, and ability to push boundaries have made you a role model to many aspiring designers. You have inspired countless individuals to pursue their dreams and to strive for excellence in their chosen fields.

“As you bask in the glory of this well-deserved recognition, I want you to know that your contributions to the fashion industry have not gone unnoticed. Your talent and hard work have earned you this prestigious award, and I have no doubt that you will continue to inspire and innovate for years to come.

“Once again, congratulations on this incredible achievement. I wish you all the best as you continue to pursue your passion and make your mark on the fashion world,” she said.

AHF, Keffi LG train students on menstrual health management

By Tobias Lengnan Dapam

AIDS Healthcare Foundation (AHF), has partnered Keffi Local Government in Nasarawa State, to create awareness on menstrual health management.

The event took place on Wednesday, with sensitisation on secondary school students in Keffi .

The students were urged to end to shame and stigma on menstruation.

To ensure effectiveness in the campaign, AHF, instituted a sanitary pad bank in collaboration with Keffi LG, Keffi Primary Healthcare Agency and Keffi Ministry of Women Affairs, to ensure availability of sanitary pads for girls.

Speaking, Dr Emma Nwabueze, Medical Director AHF Nigeria said that the Foundation was creating awareness, to end stigma around menstruation while ensuring young women and girls have

access to menstrual pads.

Nwabueze said that the process of menstruation had caused many girls to stay out of school due to financial inability to purchase pads, misconception and myths around menstruation, hence the need to create awareness.

``We used this opportunity to come to keffi to educate the women, girl child, male child and everybody on issues surrounding menstrual stigma.

``Some of our girls miss school because they are on their menstrual period, some do not go to school because their parents do not have money to buy the products.

``Some of our girls cannot open up and tell their parents about what is happening to their body, that is why we are here to advocate and tell people that menstruation is clean not dirty, he said.

He said that the sanitary pad bank by AHF in collaboration with its partners was to ensure

continuous availability of pads in facilities for girls in school and out of school during emergency situations.

Also speaking, Executive Chairman Keffi LG, Mr Muhammed Baba-Shehu represented by the Secretary Keffi LG Mr Muhammed Adamu, applauded the Foundation for choosing Keffi LG as one of its beneficiaries for the program.

``It is a thing of joy to see that we are direct beneficiaries of this program. AHF have done marvellously well in such a silent area that affects our women and girls.

``However, on the side of the local government, we intend to collaborate with the Foundation and we are giving the assurance that we will do our best to contribute to the pad bank.

``We will also see how we can train our people to produce the sanitary pads to benefit our women and girls,’ he said.

Baba-Shehu further urged parents, teachers and guidance to support their children to end shame and discrimination when menstruating and ensure they maintain good hygiene.

On her part, Mrs Aisha Basha, Supervisory Counsellor Women Affairs Keffi LG, said the Ministry was saddled with the responsibility of educating young women and girls on menstrual health and management.

Basha said the sensitisation was aimed at breaking the silence on stigma and shame as it affects menstruation.

``This is important because we realise that most of our children are shy especially when they are growing into the reproductive stage.

``They do not want to discuss any issue concerning menstruation or any changes in their body to their parents, as they prefer to hide and deal with the situation themselves,’ she said.

Fuel Scarcity resurface in the Federal Capital Territory, yesterday in Abuja, after the President Bola Ahmed Tinubu announce removal of fuel subsidy.

Niger residents lament sudden hike of PMS

From

Yakubu Mustapha Minna

Following the pronouncement of president Bola Ahmed Tinubu that fuel subsidy has gone during his inaugural speech, long queues of vehicles has resurfaced in Minna the Niger state capital. This has undoubtedly caused untold hardship to motorists and passengers who were taken by surprise of the new development. Our correspondent observed the closure of many filing stations

while many others selling above the regulated price in Minna due to the removal of petrol subsidy as announced by the President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

According to findings, a litre of petrol that is sold at one hundred eighty five and two hundred now sold at between four hundred and five hundred naira per litre at the few filling stations that have opened for business while others hoarding the product refused to open for business.

The situation has led to many

passengers now resort to trekking some short distance to save cost before getting to their destinations.

Some passengers who spoke to our Reporter however appealed to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, governor Umar Mohammed Bago to as a matter of urgency deal decisively with those sabotaging the good intention of government especially the petrolatum marketers to serve as detergent to others.

Motorists lamented that despite the petrolatum marketers

are having old product subsidized are selling above official pump price hence they should be sealed, arrested and prosecuted for sabotaging the economy of the country.

Meanwhile, the Federal Government through the Nigeria National Upstream and Downstream Petrolatum Regulatory Commission has appealed to Nigerians not to resort to panic buying as there is no cause for alarm and that it is in full control of the situation.

Photo: Mahmud Isa

Enugu AAC guber candidate tells Mbah to keep to promises, vision

By Ikechukwu Okaforadi

The governorship candidate of the African Action Congress (AAC) in the March 18 election in Enugu State, Ray Kene Ogbodo has charged the new Governor of the State, Peter Mbah to keep to his promises as encapsulated in his manifesto.

Ogbodo gave the charge, Tuesday, on the sideline of the 2023 inauguration ceremony of Peter Mbah and his deputy, Ifeanyi Ossai, held at Okpara Square, in Enugu Metropolis.

He said some of the vision of the Governor aligned with that of his, adding that he will support any policy that would bring Enugu people out of abject poverty.

While describing Mbah’s inaugural speech as inspiring, powerful, and magnificent, the AAC Guber candidate called on the citizens and residents of the state to support the policies and programmes of the newly inaugurated administration of Peter Mbah, adding that no government could succeed without deliberate support of the citizenry.

Ogbodo said that even though he lost the governorship election, he would support Mbah’s administration to deliver good governance to the people and hold his government accountable where necessary.

“I took part in the election as a Guber candidate, but obviously I did not win, but it is incumbent upon me to come here today and support the Governor. I needed to witness it, because it is something that is very good to me.

“Peter Mbah has taken his oath of office and oath of allegiance. His speech was very wonderful and very magnificent, in terms of the things that he wants to do for Enugu State. These are part of the things we are talking about, developing Enugu State and uplifting our people from abject poverty,” he said.

When asked what is his charge from Enugu people, Ogbodo said “My charge to Enugu State people is to keep watchful and be steadfast so that the new governor that we have can start to develop Enugu and implement all the things that he has in his manifesto.

“We believe as a new Governor, that he will be able to take Enugu to the next level, deviate from what PDP government has been in Enugu State and take a new course for Enugu State, I believe he can do it.”

Kogi Assembly holds induction course for members-elect

By Christiana Ekpa

The Kogi State House of Assembly has held an induction course for the 25 newly elected members of the state constituency.

The one-day induction course was held at the chambers of the Kogi State House of Assembly on Wednesday.

Speaking at the event, the Special Adviser to the Governor on Legislative Matters, Hon Haruna Musa Idoko, advised the inductees to ensure peace and unity in the cause of their legislative duties, despite the fact

that all of them are not of the same party.

While stressing the need to toe party lines during voting for the leadership of the House, he said doing otherwise would rock the boat of the state and would not be of benefit to them.

Musa noted that legislative business is not learnt elsewhere but on the job and stressed the need to be friendly with the legislative staff members who will be assisting them on the job.

Also speaking, the chairman of the Assembly Service Commission, Alhaji Andas Abdulmalik Momohjimoh,

stressed the need for lawmakers to be well acquainted with their prospective aides.

According to Momohjimoh, prospective aides who will later be their image-makers should be capable of representing them anywhere.

Earlier in his lecture titled “Principles and Practise of Emotional Intelligence for Leaders,” retired Deputy Clerk, Administration and General Services, Martins Enimola, stressed the need for lawmakers to manage their emotions while making decisions, adding that lawmakers should identify

themselves and the plights of their colleagues for effective and efficient performances.

Also in a lecture titled “Financial Guild to Budgeting,” a consultant from Ultimate Consultants, Lawal Lamidi, stressed the need for lawmakers to prioritise their needs and embark on productive ventures.

Other lectures include “Legislative Practice and Rule of Engagement” by Kogi State House of Assembly’s Deputy Clerk, Alfa Ndagi Ahmed and “Lawmaking Functions of Legislators Under the Presidential System” by Bamidele Suru.

Ihiala to get federal appointmentsAgbodike, Anambra Deputy Speaker

By Musa Baba Adamu

The Deputy Speaker of Anambra State House of Assembly and House of Representatives member-elect for Ihiala Federal Constituency, Paschal Arinzechukwu Agbodike, has said the people of Ihiala should expect federal appointments as the 10th National Assembly begins operation.

Agbodike, who stated this at Professor Dora Akunyili Women Development Centre, Awka, while fielding questions from journalists, shortly after the state

congress of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), said he has done it as a state legislator, as attested to by the people of Ihiala and would go to the National Assembly to bring more dividends of his stewardship through federal appointments and other opportunities.

According to Agbodike, the two positions that came to Ihiala Local Government Area from the just concluded state congress; the State Secretary of APGA and the State Vice Chairman of APGA South senatorial zone, were a true confirmation that Ihiala is a

great local government with great people.

He said Ihiala won 4 over 4 for APGA in the last general elections and there is absolutely no doubt that APGA will keep soaring higher and higher in Ihiala local government area.

The Deputy Speaker therefore noted that following the confirmation of the people of Ihiala that he has done notably in the 8 years he represented Ihiala 2 State Constituency in the House of Assembly, he would go to the national assembly to do more for his people.

He said the people of Ihiala and Anambra citizens should expect more dividends of democracy and good representation he intends to replicate from his achievements, as a state lawmaker, adding that a lot of projects will come to Ihiala federal constituency and Anambra state at large.

He said “I am going to the national assembly for and on behalf of my people; Igbo people. The Southeasterners and Ihiala local government. It shall be well with all of us. APGA shall be great again.”

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu resumes at his office in the State House and inspects Brigade of Guards, yesterday in Abuja.

Senators Urhoghide, Akinyelure dump PDP in 2023 elections aftermath

By Ikechukwu Okaforadi

Two senators of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Ayo Akinyelure (PDP Ondo Central) and Matthew Urhoghide (PDP Edo North) yesterday dumped the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) for yet to be announced party in the Senate.

In letters addressed to Senate President yesterday, Ahmed Lawan, which were read on the floor during plenary, Urhoghide said his decision was based on the crisis rocking the PDP at both national and State levels of the party.

The letter titled ‘Notification of Resignation of My Membership of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP)’, Urhoghide said “I write to formally inform you and the entire senate of the Federal Republic of Nigeria that I am resigning my membership of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), effective immediately.

“This difficult decision arose out of the negative political energy emanating

Cross River: ‘You are not governor of APC’ – IPAC, LP set agenda for Otu

By Christiana Ekpa

TheInter-Party Advisory Council (IPAC), and opposition Labour Party (LP) have advised Prince Bassey Otu to bear in mind that having been sworn into office, he is now Governor of Cross River State and not that of the All Progressives Congress (APC).

This was contained in IPAC’s congratulatory message signed by its chairman, Anthony Bissong Attah.

It reminded him that he contested the governorship election alongside other well meaning sons of the state, who were equally well qualified.

“Your emergence as governor should therefore be seen as an opportunity to pilot the affairs of the state with humility and the fear of God.

“It is noteworthy to state that having been sworn in, you are now the governor of Cross River State and not just APC.

“Your campaign slogan of putting The People First is one which encapsulates the whole yearnings of the masses and we expect that you will hit the ground running as you face this daunting task of restoring the lost glory of our dear state.

“As very critical stakeholders who are doggedly committed to the welfare and overall good of Cross Riverians, we have elected to immediately commence our constitutional role of advising you on sensitive matters regarding statecraft and good governance,” he said.

IPAC urged Otu to run an open, transparent and accountable administration, charging him to follow due process and respect for human rights and justice.

They emphasized the importance of setting up a cabinet with a few eggheads who are armed with the right character, competence and capacity to take the state out of the doldrums.

Similarly, in a statement signed by its chairman and former governorship candidate, Ogar Osim, the LP rejoiced with Otu for winning the mandate of the people.

The party reminded him that it came second best in the governorship election, assuring him of the support of the people of the state at home and abroad as he begins a new chapter of development for the state.

Sighting the scriptures which enjoin prayers for leaders, LP assured Otu of their spiritual support in prayers.

“We pray the Sovereign Lord, who gave you power now, to equip you with the wisdom necessary to lead our people in fairness and justice,” he said.

They further assured that they would join Otu in the journey for transformation of the State.

at the moment from the irreconcilable differences and squabbles within the PDP at the national level and especially in my dear state, Edo State.”

He said the squabbles have spiked to levels that have made it impossible for him, being a confirmed democrat, to function and grow as he envisioned in his political journey.

“I am however grateful to the party which yielded me the platform to achieve the mission of serving my country as a twoterm senator — which experience afforded me the opportunity to meet and work with all you wonderful colleagues.

“The opportunity helped me to build and form important and lasting friendships here in the senate. Above all else, it imbued in me knowledge and experience that I could not have gotten anywhere else.

“As the 9th Senate of the Federal Republic of Nigeria winds down, I congratulate my colleagues, both returning and outgoing, for the service which they rendered to our nation and a wish of God’s

speed in whatever you find expedient to do, going forward.

In a related development, the senator representing Ondo Central, Akinyelure said in a letter titled ‘Notification of my resignation of my membership of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP)’ that his decision to quit PDP was to enable him look at other areas of human endeavor that he can be of more value to his State and humanity at large.

“This is to formally inform you and all my Distinguished Colleagues in the 9th Senate of National Assembly that I am resigning my membership of the Peoples Democratic Party with effect from 11th June, 2023 when I must have completed my four-year tenure in the Senate of the 9 Assembly.

“I Therefore, wish to express my appreciation to the party for granting me the opportunity to serve Ondo Central Senatorial District and Nigeria in the Senate of the 9the Assembly on the Platform of PDP.

“This decision has come at this time since

the 9th Senate is coming to an end soonest, I wish to use this medium to congratulate all my colleagues, both returning and outgoing for their much support and selfless service to the nation under your leadership for a job well done, and that we shall remain absolutely loyal to the Federal Republic of Nigeria as democratically elected representatives of Nigerians in the Senate of the 9th Assembly who have performed creditably well under your leadership.

“This is to enable me settle down and look forward to other areas of human and professional endeavours where I can be of value addition to my dear State, Ondo State and Nigeria in general. Once again, I say big congratulations for moving Nigeria forward to greater heights of development going forward in our political endeavours.”

Meanwhile, note that while Urhoghide is the chairman of Senate Public Accounts Committee (SPAC), Senators Akinyelure was Chairman of Senate Committee on Ethics, Privileges and Public Petitions.

Akpabio’s Senate presidency ‘ll stabilize National Assembly – Group

By Ochiaka Ugwu

ANon- Governmental Organization (NGO), Concerns Citizens for Democracy and Development Initiative had thrown its weight behind the aspiration of former Governor of AkwaIbom State, Sen. Godswill Obot Akpabio as the Senate President of the 10th National Assembly.

The group, in a press statement released in Abuja Thursday by its facilitators, which include: Ubong Nelson Ikie, Hosanna Abel, Obong Innocent Ekpoumoh, Francis Eyo, Abdulfatai Ibrahim and Barr Dominic Etim noted that Akpabio’s Senate Presidency would serve as a channel to resolve all lingering issues and restore confidence in the legislative arm of government.

According to the statement, “With Akpabio at the helm of the affairs of the National Assembly as the Senate President, be assured that his intellectual wherewithal

will make us compete in the comity of nations.

“Openness, transparency, integrity, inclusiveness and purposeful leadership will be the order of the day when he is elected as the President of the Senate.

“As a way of promoting our diversity, Senator Akpabio, as a true epitome of National Unity and integration, if elected as Senate President will religiously be committed to the true spirit of National Unity and integration, as well as promoting African solidarity and other core mandate, with his other colleagues at the regional level

“With Senator Akpabio as Senate President the clamoring issues of the affirmative action on 35% women inclusion in politics and governance shall be given top priority, as well as laws that will protect the vulnerable will be taken care of.

“The issue of girl child molestation and all forms of harmful practices against the

girl child shall be looked into under the leadership of Senator Akpabio as the senate president geared towards the attainment of a just an egalitarian society in the Nigerian State.

“Akpabio as a former speaker at the university Student Union Parliament during his university days is much abreast with the challenges that has bewildered students at all levels , this he can bring to bear by resolving government, lecturers and students incessant acrimony which has enveloped our educational sector over the years..

“It is in the above submission that we are urging Nigerians both at home and in the Diaspora to engage their elected legislators to elect Senator Godswill Akpabio in becoming the Senator President and the chairman of the National Assembly of the 10th Senate of the Federal Republic Of Nigeria and we won’t regret”, the statement concluded.

L-R: Special Envoy of Chinese President XI Jinping and Vice Chairman of Chinese National People’s Congress, HE Peng Qinghua, with President Bola Tinubu, during a meeting at State House, yesterday in Abuja

APC Governors elect Uzodinma Chairman as Adamu says lifting subsidy a challenge

By Ikechukwu Okaforadi

All Progressive Congress Governors (PGF) yesterday announced Hope Uzodinma as Chairman of the forum, even as the party’s National Working Committee (NWC) Chairman, Abdullahi Adamu, said lifting of subsidy as announced by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu comes at a specially challenging moment.

Yobe State Governor, Mai Mala Buni, who was Chairman of APC Extraordinary Convention Planning Committee, disclosed this when he led PGF members to introduce Uzodinma to Adamu and members of his NWC.

Other APC Governors in attendance were Yahaya Bello of Kogi, Abdullahi Sule of Nasarawa, Mohammed Bago of Niger, Uba Sani of Kaduna, Inuwa Yahaya of Gombe, Nasir Idris of Kebbi and Dapo Abiodum of Ogun State.

In his remarks after the introduction, Uzodinma said the PGF is a constructive partner of the party, adding that as Governors, they are absolutely loyal to the

Fuel subsidy removal requires human face - Governor Uzodinma tells Tinubu

By Ikechukwu Okaforadi

Imo State Governor, Hope Uzodinma yesterday advised President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to apply human face in implementation of fuel subsidy removal, o avoid hardship on Nigerians.

Speaking to journàlists in Abuja, Uzodinma said removal of subsidy was long overdue, adding that all the 2023 presidential candidates resolved that they will remove subsidy.

He said “The incumbent government, before they left, made us to know that fuel subsidy is no longer sustainable. What we are talking about now is the implementation process. How to implement the program in a manner that it will not be too hard on the people. And I think the government is working on it.

“I have confidence in the ability of the current President to navigate through the waters and make decisions that will be to the best interest of our people and the country as a nation.

“The President has not made a proclamation for the National Assembly leadership to be inaugurated. And of course you know, APC is the majority party. At the right time, the party continue to convince and talk to stakeholders. And collectively the issues will be resolved.”

The Imo Governor said as a forum, they were committed to the ideals of the government, which he said is also their party.

“Because the federal government belongs to APC. It is APC led government. And everything that is contained in the manifesto of our great party during our campaigns are meant to be done and carried out.

“On the issue of fuel subsidy, all the presidential candidates during the campaigns, all promised that they will removed fuel subsidy.”

party hierarchy, especially in serving as salesmen of APC manifesto.

He said “I want to assure you that the APC governors understand very clearly that the government each of us are presiding over belongs to the party and we know both at the federal and sub-national level, the government belongs to APC, it is APC-led government.

“Under my watch, we will be very close to the party. The purpose of the Forum is to have impetus to the activities of the party and the government. We are only going to act as salesmen that will market the policies and programmes of the government.

“Arising from the manifesto promised to the people before the election, I can assure that you had a team and working together with the kind of men I have seen as Progressives Governors members, I think we have gotten all it would take to ensure that policies of our government were fully marketed”.

He said APC is the only party in Nigeria, pointing out that the governors are ready to work with the party with absolute loyalty.

“Whatever that we did not get before,

I’m sure under my leadership, the party will get it. It is going to be a synergy, we cannot do much without you and conversely, I do not think you can do much without us. So we are married in this business and there is no going back”, Uzodinma said.

In his response, Adamu said as a party, NWC has only one advice to offer, which he said is that APC manifesto should be adhered to at all time, even as he reminded them that they are architects of their various destinies.

While he cautioned them to strive in meeting the expectations of Nigerians who voted them into office, Adamu said “For us, anything that we will want to say to you is adherence to the manifesto as much as you can. We have a general framework for the governance of the country and you represent those who fly the flag of the party and it is expected that whatever you do, you will have in mind the manifesto that the party gives the country.

“You as the Chief Executive Officers of the states must key into this manifesto, but there are peculiarities, there are priorities you must have set and you are bound to do

as much as you can to meet the expectations of those who voted for us.”

He expressed concern that removal of subsidy will be very challenging, Adamu said “We are in a very difficult moment and you have come at a very difficult period. Even with the timing of the lifting of the fuel subsidy, this is going to be very specially challenging to us, particularly to you because you are where it matters most.

“From national politics, you are the shock absorbers in the various states of the federation. You live with the people. You wake up with the people and you work with them. The expectation is that you could have a better appreciation of their pains as citizens of this country. So, a lot of expectations will be on you as governors of the federating units of this great country.

“As far as the party is concerned, we will give you every cooperation you need. If you have any problem, turn to us and we will give you the best advice as we can. But whatever we do with you, you are the one wearing the shoes and know where it pinches.”

From left, Director general National Broadcasting Commission (NBC) Balarabe Shehu Ilelah; Group Managing Director, Daar Communications

Mr Tony Ekiotu and Vice Presidential Candidate of the Labour Party Datti Baba Ahmed during a condolence visit to the Dopkesi’s family over the death of the Chairman DAAR Communication Raymond Dopkesi in Abuja yesterday.

Kano guber: APC’s failure to pay N700 stalls Tribunal proceedings

By Christiana Ekpa

The commencement of pretrial session in the ongoing petition filed by All Progressives Congress, APC, challenging the victory of Kano Governor, Abba Kabir Yusuf of the New Nigeria People’s Party, NNPP, was stalled on Tuesday.

This is owing to the failure of the Petitioner’s counsel to effect a mandatory fee.

The APC lead counsel, Nuraini Jimoh, SAN, told the Tribunal that failure of the network prevented them from generating REMITA and paying the Federal Government the sum of N700.

He told the court that they faced a slight hitch to access the Network and generate REMITA to pay and upload the pretrial session forms.

He stressed, “My Lords there was a serious technical problem to access and generate REMITA. The Secretary of the Tribunal contacted Headquarters over the technical issue being encountered by the petitioner but they said we will not continue until the process is completed electronically.”

Nuraini Jimoh told the court that the petitioner has 7 days within which to file the pretrial forms, explaining that they are within time.

The counsel prayed for an adjournment to enable the petitioner to file their pretrial forms.

In the Petition, the APC is praying the tribunal to declare that Abba Yusuf was not qualified to contest the election, arguing that his name was not in the list of members of NNPP sent to INEC.

APC is also praying the Tribunal to

declare that NNPP did not win the election with the majority of lawful votes because some of the votes cast for them were invalid and if removed from their scores, APC will have the highest number of votes.

In his response, Abba Kabir Yusuf, through his counsel Chief Awomolo Adegboyega, SAN, described APC’s petition as dead on arrival for lacking in merit and competency to stand the test of time.

Consequently, when the Tribunal asked respondents their stand on the prayer by the APC, counsel to INEC, Barrister Emmanuel Osayomi and that of Abba Kabir Yusuf Chief Awomolo Adegboyega, SAN, didn’t oppose the prayer for adjournment.

However, Counsel to the INEC, Osayomi urged the Tribunal to allow him file an application to amend processes.

PHOTO: P

Dangote refinery may not bring down fuel

Prices – NLC

By Abubakar Yunusa,Abuja

The Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC) says the recently launched Dangote Petrol Refinery may not take complete care of the needs of Nigerians and may not bring down prices of petroleum products in the country.

Speaking on Channels Television’s Sunrise Daily on Wednesday amid the fuel subsidy removal controversy, the NLC President, Joe Ajaero, said the Dangote Refinery is commendable but it might not be the answer to the issues confronting the petroleum sector.

Ajaero said, “First, I commend Dangote Refinery but the provision of having dictatorship of the market especially in the private sector is dangerous. Now that is what we are experiencing in the area of cement production. What is Dangote Refinery going to produce? Will it be enough?

“He has done enough to build a refinery. If three or four companies like that are refining then you are talking of competition.

“So, I think while we commend Dangote as a good Nigerian, we are talking about competition, we are talking of deregulation. So Dangote has done well, but can Dangote take care of 30% of the needs of Nigerians?” Ajaero queried.

President Bola Tinubu in his inaugural speech on Monday, said fuel subsidy has ended. His pronouncement caused panic in the sector resulting in an instant scarcity of petroleum products across the country.

However, Ajaero said the position of Labour has been clear on the issue that even if Tinubu has a good intention, alternatives must be provided.

He said the President should have asked questions and find out the implications of fuel subsidy removal on Nigerians on the streets.

The NLC boss listed the alternatives to include the repair of the nation’s four refineries, provision of transportation of alternatives for the Nigerian workers, among others.

“The pronouncement by Mr President is as good as law and if in the process we make a law that is not practicable, the same people that made the law can look at it,” Ajaero said while calling for a review of the President’s pronouncement.

“Does it bring pleasure to us to say subsidy is gone and people start suffering? Is it not part of leadership for us to look at how the suffering of the people can be reduced?” he asked.

NNPC adjusts petrol pump price, says ‘it’s in line with market realities’

The Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC) Limited says it has adjusted the price of petrol, also known as premium motor spirit (PMS), across its retail outlets.

In a statement on Wednesday, Garba Deen Muhammad, NNPC’s spokesperson, said the adjustment is in line with market realities.

According to the statement, pump prices at NNPC’s retail outlets will now begin to vary to match market trends.

“NNPC Limited wishes to inform our esteemed customers that we have adjusted our pump prices of PMS across our retail outlets, in line with current market realities,” the statement reads.

“As we strive to provide you with the quality service for which we are known, it is pertinent to note that prices will continue to fluctuate to reflect market dynamics.

“We assure you that NNPC Limited is committed to ensuring a ceaseless supply of products.”

The oil company said it regrets any inconvenience the development may cause Nigerians.

“We greatly appreciate your continued patronage, support, and understanding during this time of change and growth,” NNPC said.

The development, typical of a subsidy-free regime, comes at a time when Nigerians are uncertain as to whether the current petrol subsidy has ended as declared by President

Bola Tinubu, or whether the policy would take off next month.

This medium had reported that petrol was sold for as high as N500 in Lagos on Tuesday.

Although Tinubu had said petrol

subsidy had stopped, the Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Media Centre says the president’s statement was not a new development but a restatement of the federal government’s intention to end subsidy by June.

Subsidy: NLC insists on return to status quo

By Egena Sunday Ode

TheNigeria Labour Congress, NLC, has insisted on return ro status quo ante on the issue of fuel subsidy.

This position was taken on Wednesday at a meeting between the federal government and the leadership of the NLC held at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

Recall that the pronouncement by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu at his inauguration on Monday that “fuel subsidy is gone” has triggered an unprecedented increasing the pump price of Petroleum Motor Spirit, PMS.

While the spokesperson on the government side, Dele Alake, told newsmen after the meeting that it was a robust engagement, the President of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Joe Ajaero, said that Labour remained on their demand for the restoration of subsidy.

Alake said: “We had a very robust engagement. We crossfertilized ideas, ideas flew from all sides and there is one thing that is remarkable even from the Labour side and that is Nigeria. We are all looking at the progress and stability of Nigeria. That is what is paramount.

“We cannot go into any

details now because talks are still ongoing. We cannot finish everything at on sitting. So, we have adjourned now, we are continuing the talks at a later day very very shortly.

“The point is that talks are ongoing and it’s always better for all sides to keep talking with a view to arriving at a very amicable resolution that will be in the longer term interest of all Nigerians. That is as much as we can say now.”

But speaking separately to reporters, Ajaero declared that there was no consensus at the meeting, saying: “I wouldnt know what was communicated to you as an outcome of the meeting. As far as Labour is concerned, we didn’t have a consensus in this meeting.”

While insisting on a return to the status quo, he said: “That’s one principle of negotiation. You don’t ask the partner to negotiate under gunpoint.”

On what they NLC wants, Ajaero said: “The prayer of NLC is that we go back to status quo, negotiate, think of alternatives and all the effects and how to manage the effects this action is going to be on the people, it is an action that must take off.”

On whether the status quo is the restoration of subsidy, the

NLC leader stated: “Well, the subsidy provision has been made up to the end of June and before then, conscious people, Labour management, government to be able to think of what to happen at the end of June.

You don’t start it before the time.”

While noting that there is no dogma about subsidy, Ajaero wondered why government cannot respect the sanctity of the law that provided for the expenditure up till the end of June.

He pointed out that there is no country in the world that does not subsidize the living of their citizens, saying that as long as Nigeria’s import refined petroleum, the cost will be high.

“Is there any country that does not subsidize living of people even if you’ve been providing public transportation? Those are issues we’re looking at.

“If you are a major producer of crude and you refine abroad, you carry the crude abroad and refine and bring it, definitely there’ll be a difference in the price and that’s what they’re paying,” he added.

The NLC President also wondered why a meeting would be called to discuss subsidy only for government to announce new pump price same day.

Noting that there must conversation in a free atmosphere, he added: “That’s what we are saying. It is not because there is any dogma on subsidy. No. But we should converse in a free environment and atmosphere and arrive at a decision.

“If we agree for a meeting by 2pm today and in the morning, you come up with price modulation, how can you fix price in a deregulated market?”

Also speaking, the President of Trade Union Congress (TUC) said the unions will go and consult with their members before deciding on the next meeting with government.

The meeting, which took place in the office of the Chief of Staff was also attended by the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Labour and Employment, Kachallon Daju; the Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Godwin Emefiele; the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL), Mele Kyari and former Edo State governor, Adams Oshiomhole among others

It followed the pronouncement by President Tinubu that petroleum subsidy is gone, which has caused a hike in the price of the product.

Days after Tinubu’s inauguration, Nigeria’s stock market hits N1.51trn gain

From Abubakar Yunusa Abuja

The equities market of the Nigerian Exchange Ltd., NGX, opened trading for the week on a bullish note driven by investors’ confidence, following the inauguration of President Bola Tinubu.

Mr Tinubu, in his inaugural speech, said on Monday that the former administration did not capture fuel subsidy in the 2023 budget and he would ensure a unified exchange rate as part of measures to boost the Nigerian economy.

Specifically, the market capitalisation recorded a gain of N1.505 trillion or 5.22 per cent to close at N30.349 trillion from N28.844 trillion posted on Friday.

Also, the All-Share Index, ASI, rose by 2,764.47 points or 5.22

per cent to settle at 55,738.35 compared with 52,973.88 recorded at the previous trading.

Accordingly, the Year-to-Date gain moderated to 8.76 per cent.

Index heavyweights, MTN Nigeria, Dangote Cement and BUA Cement drove the market’s strong performance, alongside gains in Tier- one banking stocks such as Guaranty Trust Holding Company, GTCO, Access Holdings, United Bank for Africa, UBA, and Zenith Bank.

Access Holdings in the shares of Transcorp topped the most traded chart with 199.62million shares valued at N2.45 billion.

GTCO followed with 76.38 million shares worth N2.18 billion, while Zenith Bank traded 66.13 million shares valued at N1.92 billion.

UBA traded 81.99 million shares valued at N831.47 million,

while Transcorp transacted 95.68 million shares worth N309.24 million.

Analysts at Vetiva Securities Ltd., said that “The market exhibited a favorable response to President Tinubu’s inauguration speech and his proposed plans for the country’s economy.

“This positive sentiment is anticipated to endue in the upcoming session, as investors responded positively to the latest transition of power to the new administration.”

Market breadth closed positive at with 54 advancing stocks that outnumbered four declining ones.

Zenith Bank recorded the highest price gain of 10 per cent to close at N29.70, per share.

Transcorp Hotels and Nigeria Breweries followed with a gain 10 per cent each to close at N8.25 and N42.35, per share respectively.

Jaiz Bank and First City Monument Bank (FCMB) alao went up by 10 per cent each to close at N1.10 and N4.62 per share respectively.

On the other hand, Ikeja Hotel led the losers’ chart by 10 per cent loss to close at N2.16, per share. NCR followed with a 9.88 per cent decrease to close N2 .76, while Tantalizer dropped by eight per cent to close 23k, per share.

Julius Barger followed with a decline of 7.94 per cent to close at N29, while International Energy Insurance was down by 6.98 per cent to close N1.20 per share.

Analysis of today’s market activities showed trade turnover settled higher relative to the previous session, with the value of transactions up by 106.07 per cent.

A total of 1.08 billion shares valued at N15.80 billion were exchanged in 9,916 deals.

FG, NLC to meet over petrol subsidy removal

From Abubakar Yunusa, Abuja

Representatives of the federal government are expected to meet with the leadership of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) today over the planned removal of petrol subsidy.

Joe Ajaero, NLC national president, disclosed this on Channels Television’s Sunrise Daily programme, on Wednesday.

He said the meeting will hold by 2 pm today.

“Government seems to have shown interest in discussion. As at last night, they reached out and we have fixed 2pm today to commence discussions,” Ajaero said.

“There, all these other issues will be discussed because you cannot just say ‘no subsidy’ and then, you are not producing and you leave us to the fabrics of the market.”

Ajaero said the position of the NLC has always been clear that if President Bola Tinubu has good intentions, alternatives must be provided.

He said Tinubu should have asked questions and investigated the effects of the reduction of petrol subsidy on Nigerians.

Among the solutions suggested by the NLC boss were the rehabilitation of the country’s four refineries and the provision of alternative transportation for Nigerian workers.

“The pronouncement by Mr. President is as good as law and if in the process we make a law that is not practicable, the same people that made the law can look at it,” Ajaero said.

“Does it bring pleasure to us to say subsidy is gone and people start suffering? Is it not part of leadership for us to look at how the suffering of the people can be reduced?”

While access to petrol became difficult following the presidential declaration on subsidy; Tinubu’s media team said the president’s statement was not a new development but a restatement of the federal government’s intention to end subsidy by June.

NMDPRA: We’re ready to issue petrol import licence to interested companies

From Abubakar Yunusa Abuja

The Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA) says it is ready to issue licences to companies interested in petrol importation.

Speaking to journalists , Farouk Ahmed, chief executive officer of NMDPRA, said the criteria for importing kerosene and diesel will be applicable for the importation of the product.

However, Ahmed said several conditions have to be met before the applicants are granted licences.

“There are a lot of conditions to be met before you are given a licence to import petrol,” he said.

“I cannot give you all the rundown now but I can tell you that just the way marketers import diesel or jet kero, there are conditions for all that and the same condition will apply to those who want to import premium

motor spirit (PMS).”

Only companies that are lessees producing crude oil and/ or condensates or who are holders of crude oil refining licences are eligible to supply wholesale petroleum liquids (including petrol importation), according to section 197 (2) of the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA) 2021.

While the PIA empowers the NMDPRA to issue licences to refiners or producers of crude oil, the regulation, in sections

73 (3) and 111 (1), provides that the minister of petroleum must approve such licences.

Currently, the Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC) is the last-resort supplier, tasked with importing refined petrol to ensure adequate supply and distribution in the country. Through the direct sale, direct purchase (DSDP) scheme, the country exports crude oil and exchanges it for refined petroleum products.

IPMAN: We’ve sanctioned over 100 petrol stations for increasing pump price

From Abubakar Yunusa Abuja

Yakubu Suleiman, the national spokesperson of the Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria (IPMAN), says over 100 petrol stations have been sanctioned for increasing pump prices.

Briefly after President Bola Tinubu’s speech on May 29 that the petrol subsidy has been cancelled, panic buying erupted in some parts of the country as some marketers closed shops, leading to large queues in filling stations across the country.

In Lagos, Abuja, and other

parts of the country, it was observed that since May 29, some filling stations ceased operations; while those that dispensed petrol increased prices as large queues of customers lined up for the commodity.

Speaking in an interview with Channels Television on Wednesday, Suleiman said there is a penalty for filling stations increasing pump prices, adding that over 100 sanctions have been placed on defaulters.

“We have a task force that goes around all the filling stations in the country and I want to assure you that they are there, working

right from yesterday,” he said.

“Any filling station caught increasing the price just because of this announcement, there has to be a penalty against such stations. We sanction those who default. We close the stations. Our task force is there doing its job.

“As of yesterday, more than 100 filling stations have been sanctioned. Some of them, when we go through their reports, are not real petroleum marketers. Real ones cannot go against the rule of their administration.”

Mike Osatuyi, the national operations controller of IPMAN, had earlier told TheCable that

the reflexive action of customers who wanted to stock up on cheap petrol before the price of the product increased, was to be blamed for the unprecedented level of queues.

He advised that, although there is currently enough petroleum stock to supply the nation, there would be a price increase eventually.

Meanwhile, the representatives of the federal government are expected to meet with the leadership of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) today, over the planned removal of the petrol subsidy – the root cause.

From left, Director general National Broadcasting Commission (NBC) Balarabe Shehu Ilelah signing the condolence register during a condolence visit to the Dopkesi’s family over the death of the Chairman DAAR Communication Raymond Dopkesi in Abuja yesterday.

CBN’s Palm Oil Intervention, Proactive, Commendable

Palm oil is an important vegetable oil that is used as a raw material for both food and non-food industries. Being a vegetable oil, palm oil is cholesterol-free. The oil is used in food manufacturing, in beauty products, and as biofuel.

According to reports, palm oil accounted for about 33% of global oils produced from oil crops in 2014. On average globally, humans consumed 7.7 kg (17 lb) of palm oil per person in 2015. Since then, demand has also increased for other uses, such as cosmetics and biofuels.

Between 1950s and 1960s, Nigeria was the leader in the world oil palm market. Unfortunately, from that enviable height of controlling about 40 percent of the world market, Nigeria slipped to fifth position, barely producing 3 percent of the global supply of oil palm.

What Went Wrong?

Over the past couple of decades, Nigeria has performed abysmally in this market, becoming a net importer of oil palm to meet up with the demand gap in the country.

Obviously, there are a myriad of production challenges confronting oil palm production in Nigeria and the consequent low or inadequate yield.

These range from the age of palm trees which can affect the overall output, inadequate capital for innovation, limited access to land due to the land tenure system, continuous destruction of wild groves from which the fresh oil palm fruits are harvested and difficulty in accessing high value seedlings.

Others include: lack of proper scaling of milling technology which result in sub-optimal output, inefficient synergy between stakeholders in the value chain, inability of the small millers to meet industrial quality, quantity and timeliness of delivery, constrained access to fertilizer, high cost of transportation and labour, poor or inadequate management of plantations and undercapacity utilization.

Importation of palm oil into Nigeria

Of course, with the aforementioned challenges, the domestic demand for palm oil increased above the production, therefore, Nigeria resulted to importation of the product from China and Malaysia.

In 2018, 350,000 metric tons of palm oil were reportedly imported into Nigeria. While this was a higher volume compared to the preceding year, it represented an overall decrease in imports of the product. For instance, in both 2013 and 2014, the country imported over 500,000 metric tons of palm oil.

In 2021, the production of palm oil in Nigeria reached 1.4 million metric tons. Between 2009 and 2021, the production quantity generally increased, registering the highest growth in 2010, when it grew by roughly 14 percent. From 2014

onwards, the output from palm oil production followed a rising trend.

According to reports, around 1.8 million metric tons of palm oil were expected to be consumed in Nigeria as of the 2021/2022 crop year. This represented a peak in consumption compared to the ten preceding years, indicating that the farm product is one of the major crops in the country with a growing domestic need.

Indonesia’s Palm Oil Exportation Ban

The current war in Ukraine and the last year ban on palm oil export in Indonesia have however, widened the global demand gap for the product.

Surpassing Malaysia in 2008, Indonesia has experienced a rapid expansion of oil palm plantations in recent decades, and the country was responsible for almost 50% of global palm oil production in 2017; Indonesia is now the world’s largest producer.

In 2021, its production of this commodity amounted to around 46.2 million metric tons. Indonesia was estimated to produce 46.9 million metric tons of crude palm oil this year, while domestic demand is only expected to reach 16.9 million metric tons. This would leave a supply glut of more than 30 million metric tons that can’t be exported.

Indonesia ordered a ban on the export of the commodity on April 28, 2022 to address shortage of cooking oil in the country.

President Joko Widodo announced the ban on April 22, 2022 to ensure the country has enough cooking oil amid

a general surge in food prices both domestically and abroad.

Why

CBN

Intervention?

Few years ago, the Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Mr. Godwin Emefiele envisioned an oil palm market that is dominated by Nigeria; overtaking Thailand and Columbia to become the third largest producer through increased production from 1,250,000 metric tones to 2,500,000 metric tones by the year 2028.

Currently in Nigeria, oil palm production per annum is 1,250,000MT and the current demand is 2,500,000MT per annum. To meet this demand, the value of imports accounts for about N60 billion annually and unhealthy for the nation’s economy.

However, to achieve 50 percent import substitution through production upgrade within the next ten (10) years, there was need to bridge the demand deficits for domestic production of fresh fruit bunches from 8.5 million MT recorded in 2010 to about 10 million MT in 2020.

The additional 1.25 MT of fresh fruit bunches was estimated to produce 150,000 MT of palm oil using an average of 12 percent extraction rate.

To change the narrative, the CBN engaged the stakeholders, including State Governors and other top government functionaries from the oil palm producing states, to have their buyin and partnership in order to stimulate investments in the palm oil plantations.

After the engagement, CBN was able to woo thirteen (13) state governors who pledged to make available a total of

“ In line with these objectives, the CBN has facilitated land allocation to investors through states governments. So far, 170,000Ha has been allocated to investors across 11 states

904,624 hectares of land for development under the Anchor Borrowers’ Programme.

Emefiele had stated that the ultimate goal was to become the third largest producer of palm oil through the cultivation of approximately 350,000H by 2025.

According to him, the core objectives of the intervention was to: meet local demand of palm oil, improve local processing quality and standards, conserve foreign exchange reserves, create jobs and enhance the skills of Nigerian people along the oil palm value chain, facilitate easier access to funding for oil majors, SMEs and smallholders, improve and grow the economy.

In line with these objectives, the CBN has facilitated land allocation to investors through states governments. So far, 170,000Ha has been allocated to investors across 11 states.

As at January 2020, the bank said, a total of N30 billion was disbursed to seven oil palm companies to support their expansion programmes, with the CBN expecting 40 applications from investors across the country.

The apex bank is working closely with the Nigerian Institute for Oil Palm Research (NIFOR) to enhance their seeding production capacity and standard.

CBN’s Oil Palm Targets

To cultivate 350,000 Ha by 2028, the CBN has as its target to: fund more oil palm majors and SMEs that meet funding criteria, towards plantation development and mill construction.

To develop framework for inclusion of smallholder farmers, given their potentials.

Facilitate stakeholder engagement towards supporting oil palm industry. The intervention is expected to increase oil palm production and support the economic diversification drive of the country.

METRO

FCTA receives USAID comprehensive newborn equipment for Asokoro, Nyanya hospitals

By Stanley Onyekwere

The FCT Administration has taken the delivery of high tech comprehensive newborn equipment donated by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), to help boost capacity to meet the critical needs of babies under 30 days old in the Territory and environs.

It was gathered that the USAID through its implementing partners donated the lifesaving equipment that will help save the lives of the sick and newborns, to Asokoro District and Nyanya General Hospitals.

Receiving and commissioning the stateof-the-arts facilities at a brief handover ceremony, yesterday, at Asokoro Hospital, Abuja, Director General, FCT Hospitals Management Board, Dr. Mohammed Kawu, said the equipment will go a long way in reducing neonatal morbidity and mortality in the hospitals, FCT and the country in general.

Kawu noted that “although the benefiting hospitals already have similar equipment for managing neurones before now, but we appreciate this support a lot which are really modern high tech equipment from USAID.

“There are other support that the FCTA provides through its procurement and budgetary provisions and Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) sources”.

Also speaking, Chief Medical Director, Asokoro Hospital, Dr. Afiomah Uche, revealed that what the hospital received from USAID were critical medical equipment, in order to assist the health personnel to ensure accelerated reduction of new born and prenatal mortal and morbidity.

Uche added that it has assisted to boost the capacity of the facility, in order to give care to babies less than 30 days delivered to mothers within and outside the hospital, as the equipment will be used to look after them.

According to her, the donation has already increases the hospital’s bed space to twelve beds, and is adding value to the facility that serves as a regional reference centre, which gets admissions from outside FCC and neighbouring states, in oder to get the care at an affordable cost

“We have received equipment for treatment of jaundice, we have warmers to keep babies warm; syringe pumps, and deliver drugs to them; and other equipment in order to ensure that babies especially the

very small and sick ones survive and are able to do well in life.

“The FCTA employes highly trained personnel who have been in neonatal unit, and they have neonatal capacity for many years, but receiving these equipment, we also received training, in order to effectively use and maintain them.

“We have them already, but the number was increased, so we are now able to ensure more families are going benefit from healthcare delivery in this facility.

Similarly, Chief Medical Director, Nyanya District Hospital, Dr. Hadiza Idris Bage, said because of the donations made, more children of poorest of the poor are going to benefit immensely as they are going to get the best of services.

She said: “The kind of donations made to Asokoro District Hospital were also given

to Nyanya General Hospital, so the poorest of the poor will get quality services”.

Ealier, in his remarks, Director, USAID Health Population and Nutrition Office, Paul McDermott said specialized equipment and technology are essential for the survival of small and sick newborns.

McDermott added that specialised equipment, such as continuous positive airway pressure machines and incubatorsare often needed to support breathing and regulate an infant’s temperature.

He disclosed that scaled up training within FCT will be supported by USAID’S Integrated Health program, as part of USAID implementing partners’ collaborative effort.

“Today, USAID through its Momentum Country Global Leadership, Quality of Care (MCGL QoC) activity in partnership with

NEST360 is handing over some specialized equipment to FCTA to help end preventable newborn deaths and improve the quality of care for mothers and children in Nigeria.

“To help reduce the knowledge gap and increase the capacity of health providers to maintain specialized medical equipment in Nigeria, USAID MCGL QOC, NEST 360, in partnership with the Federal Ministry of Health, trained biomedical engineers and technicians (BMET).

“This included two personnel from each of the 36 states and the FCT on the use and maintenance of this equipment. In turn, this initial cadre of technicians will train other BMETs in their respective states.

“l also acknowledge the productive collaboration with the teams of Asokoro and Nyanya hospitals which has led us here to a successful handover”, he said.

Food security: ARDS downscales 2023 seasonal climate prediction to farmers

By Stanley Onyekwere

The Agricultural and Rural Development Secretariat (ARDS) of the FCT Administration has downscaled 2023 Seasonal Climate Prediction (SCP) to farmers and other stakeholders in Abuja, the nation’s capital city, so as to ensure a disaster free farming season.

The ARDS in partnership with the Nigeria Meteorological Agency (NiMet) had organised the sensitization/downscaling programme on the annual weather report for hundreds of representatives of farmers and other stakeholders drawn from the six FCT Area Councils.

According to the Secretariat, the measures that the FCT Administration has taken

through the Secretariat in downscaling the annual weather report is yielding the desired results as finding shows increased in agricultural production and adaptability of farmers to the changes.

It added that all FCTA relevant agencies particularly the FCT Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and the Abuja Environmental Protection Board (AEPB) are carried along in the sensitisation campaigns.

“Through our Zonal Agric officers, Area Council Authorities and our Extension Agents the Secretariat have stepped down the information to our farmers to guide them on when to start and stop planting, expected amount of rainfall as well as the duration of the rains.

“All of these are vital information that

will help to increase the adaptive capacity of farmers to weather changes, thereby enabling them to avert harsh conditions that may have adverse effect on crop and animal production”, ARDS stated Reiterating its determination to ensure the success of the exercise, the Secretariat disclosed steps taken to ensure that the information is simplified and translated in the major local languages such that they are clearly understood by the farmers.

According to the ARDS’s director, Agric Services, Mrs. Fransisca Ihekandu, noted that the programme will help farmers to have disaster-free farming activities throughout the year.

Ihekandu said in ensuring that the downscaling is stepped down to all the 6

Area Councils of the FCT, the Secretariat has already trained and mobilized all the Extension Agents deployed for the exercise.

On his part, Acting General Manager with NiMet, Mr. Oyegade Adeleke, noted that the climate information, which is available for every part of the country will ensure that people don’t make mistakes in farming activity.

He adds: “Climate will always change, but people must always build resilience, by accessing appropriate information on climate related issues”.

The downscaling which kicked off in Kuje had attracted a large turnout, which signalled that the information will reach the targeted farmers as expected.

AI‘godfather’

Yoshua Bengio feels ‘lost’ over life’s work

One of the so-called “godfathers” of Artificial Intelligence (AI) has said he would have prioritised safety over usefulness had he realised the pace at which it would evolve.

Prof Yoshua Bengio told the BBC he felt “lost” over his life’s work.

The computer scientist’s comments come after experts in AI said it could lead to the extinction of humanity.

Prof Bengio, who has joined calls for AI regulation, said he did not think militaries should be granted AI powers.

He is the second of the so-called three “godfathers” of AI, known for their pioneering work in the field, to voice concerns about the direction and the speed at which it is developing.

AI describes the ability of computers to perform tasks so complex, they have previously required human intelligence to complete.

A recent example has been the development of AI-powered chatbots, like ChatGPT, which appear to give human-like responses to questions.

This has led to planned European Union legislation on AI. And on Wednesday, the bloc’s technology chief, Margrethe Vestager, said a voluntary code of conduct for AI could be created “within the next weeks”.

‘Bad actors’

Some fear that advanced computational ability could be used for harmful purposes, such as the development of deadly new chemical weapons.

Prof Bengio told the BBC he was concerned about “bad actors” getting hold of AI, especially as it became more sophisticated and powerful.

“It might be military, it might be terrorists, it might be somebody very angry, psychotic. And so if it’s easy to program these AI systems to ask them to do something very bad, this could be very dangerous.

“If they’re smarter than us, then it’s hard for us to stop these systems or to prevent damage,” he added.

Prof Bengio admitted those concerns were taking a personal toll on him, as his life’s work, which had given him direction and a sense of identity, was no longer clear to him.

“It is challenging, emotionally speaking, for people who are inside [the AI sector],” he said.

“You could say I feel lost. But you have to keep going and you have to engage, discuss, encourage others to think with you.”

The Canadian has signed two recent statements urging caution about the future risks of AI. Some academics and industry experts have warned that the pace of development could result in malicious AI being deployed by “bad actors” to actively cause harm - or choosing to inflict harm by itself.

Fellow “godfather” Dr Geoffrey Hinton has also signed the same warnings as Prof Bengio, and retired from Google recently saying he regretted his work.

The third “godfather”, Prof Yann LeCun, who along with Prof Bengio and Dr Hinton won a prestigious Turing Award for their pioneering work, has said apocalyptic warnings are overblown. Twitter and Tesla owner Elon Musk has also voiced his concerns.

“I don’t think AI will try to destroy humanity, but it might put us under strict controls,” he said recently at an event hosted by the Wall Street Journal.

“There’s a small likelihood of it annihilating humanity. Close to zero but not impossible.”

Prof Bengio told the BBC all companies building powerful AI products needed to be registered.

“Governments need to track what they’re doing, they need to be able to audit them, and that’s just the minimum thing we do for any other sector like building aeroplanes or cars or pharmaceuticals,” he said.

“We also need the people who are close to these systems to have a kind of certification... we need ethical training here. Computer scientists don’t usually get that, by the way.”

Air New Zealand weighing passengers before flying

The weight will be anonymously recorded in a database but not be visible to airline staff or other passengers, the firm said.

Air New Zealand said knowing average passenger weight would improve fuel efficiency in the future.

Participation in the survey is voluntary, the airline added.

The airline previously weighed domestic passengers in New Zealand in 2021.

“Now that international travel is back up and running, it’s time for international flyers to weigh in,” the airline said in a press statement.

Before the pandemic, the airline flew more than 17 million passengers every year, with 3,400 flights per week.

Knowing the weight of everything that goes on its aircraft is a “regulatory requirement”, airline spokesman Alastair James explained in a video.

“We know stepping on the scales can be daunting. We want to reassure our customers there is no visible display anywhere,” Mr James said. “By weighing in, you’ll be helping us fly safely and efficiently every time.”

Air New Zealand will be asking more than 10,000 customers travelling on its

Air New Zealand is weighing passengers before they board international flights, as part of a survey to determine average passenger weight.

international network to take part in the survey.

Passengers will be weighed at the gates of certain flights departing from Auckland International Airport between 29 May and 2 July.

The airline said that everything that goes on its aircraft - from cargo and

onboard meals to luggage in the hold - is weighed, and that for customers, crew and cabin bags it used average weights based on survey data.

Air New Zealand is the national carrier of the country and has 104 operating aircraft.

Shetland castle on sale for £30,000 but needs £12m upgrade

Acastle in Shetland is on the market for just £30,000 - but any potential buyer will also need a spare £12m.

House-hunters could snap up Brough Lodge on the island of Fetlar for less than the price of a flat.

The 200-year-old property is set in 40 acres of land, with folly towers, a courtyard and walled gardens.

But investors have been warned they will need deep pockets to cover the cost of the renovations to the building, which dates back to 1820.

The Brough Lodge Trust - which was formed in 1998 to preserve the building - has appealed for a “philanthropic entrepreneur” to take on its plans to transform the site into a world-class retreat. Their proposals would retain the existing building, as well as creating 24 bedrooms and a restaurant.

Brough Lodge is category A listed

building of national significance and is situated on the north-west end of Fetlar.

It was built by a merchant called Arthur Nicolson and it was based on architecture he had seen while travelling in France, Switzerland and Italy.

A unique structure on the island of just 61 people, it has lain empty since the 1980s when the last Lady Nicolson moved out.

The last heir of the Nicolson family, Olive Borland, transferred ownership of the estate in 2007 to the Brough Lodge Trust and is one of the trustees.

Since taking over the estate, the volunteer-run trust has spent more than £500,000 of donations to make the property watertight and add a new roof.

Its sale price of £30,000 is substantially less than the average price of a house in Scotland - in August last year that was calculated at £195,391 by HM Land Registry.

But the trust estimate that it will cost the buyer £12m to complete the development.

“The vision is simple but effective,” the trust explains on its website.

“Under the plans we have developed, the building’s historic character would be fully respected.”

As well as enjoying sweeping views of the North Sea, guests at Brough Lodge would have the opportunity to do yoga and textile classes, and experience Shetland traditions of knitting and weaving.

The proceeds of the sale of the lodge would go towards tuition in hand knitting for children, keeping alive a key element of the islands’ artistic heritage, Brough Lodge Trust says.

As well as bringing tourism to the island, the trust said the proposed works would bring economic benefits to the island with the creation of 14 jobs.

Source: BBC

Ama Ata Aidoo: Ghana’s famous author and feminist dies

One of Africa’s most-celebrated authors and playwrights, Ghanaian Ama Ata Aidoo, has died aged 81.

A renowned feminist, she depicted and celebrated the condition of African women in works such as The Dilemma of a Ghost, Our Sister Killjoy and Changes.

She opposed what she described as a “Western perception that the African female is a downtrodden wretch”.

She also served as education minister in the early 1980s but resigned when she could not make education free.

In a statement, her family said “our beloved relative and writer” passed away after a short illness, requesting privacy to allow them to grieve.

A university professor, Ata Aidoo won many literary awards for her novels, plays and poems, including the 1992 Commonwealth Writers Prize for Changes, a love story about a statistician who divorces her first husband and enters into a polygamous marriage.

Her work, including plays like Anowa, have been read in schools across West Africa, along with works of other greats like Wole Soyinka and Chinua Achebe.

When asked by BBC HARDTalk’s Zeinab Badawi in 2014 if she regarded herself as a writer with a mission, she replied: “In retrospect, I suppose I could describe myself as a writer with a mission. But I never was aware that I

had a mission when I started to write.

“People sometimes question me, for instance, why are your women so strong? And I say, that is the only woman I know.”

She was a major influence on the younger generation of writers, including Nigeria’s awarding-winning Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie.

In a piece about the Ghanaian in The Africa Report publication in 2011, Adichie wrote:

“When I first discovered Ama

Ata Aidoo’s work - a slim book on a dusty shelf in our neighbour’s study in Nsukka [in south-eastern Nigeria] - I was stunned by the believability of her characters, the sureness of her touch and what I like to call, in a rather clunky phrase, the validating presence of complex femaleness.

“Because I had not often seen this complex femaleness in other African books I had read and loved, mine was a wondrous discovery: of Anowa, tragic and humane and many

dimensional, in Aidoo’s play set in the 1800s in Fantiland; of Sissie, the selfassured, perceptive main character of the ambitious novel Our Sister Killjoy, who wryly recounts her experiences in Germany and England in the 1960s; or of the varied female characters in No Sweetness Here, my favourite of Aidoo’s books.”

Nigerian Afrobeats superstar Burna Boy included her powerful criticism of colonialism and ongoing exploitation of Africa’s resources in

his song Monsters You Made in 2020: “Since we met you people 500 years ago. Look at us, we’ve given everything. You are still taking. In exchange for that, we have got nothing. Nothing. And you know it. But don’t you think that this is over now? Over where? Is it over?”

Ama Ata Aidoo was born in a small village in Ghana’s central Fantispeaking region in 1942.

Her father had opened the first school in the village and was a strong influence on her.

At the age of 15 she decided that she wanted to be a writer and within just four years, had achieved that ambition after she was encouraged to enter a competition.

“I won a short story competition but learned about it only when I opened the newspaper that had organised it, and saw the story had been published on its centre pages and realised the name of the author of that story in print was mine,” Ata Aidoo once said as she looked back at her career.

“I believe these moments were crucial for me because ... I had articulated a dream... it was a major affirmation for me as a writer, to see my name in print.”

She went on to study literature at the University of Ghana and became a lecturer, publishing her first play in 1964.

After her 18 month-foray into politics she went into self-imposed exile in Zimbabwe for a time and became a full-time writer.

Navigating the two sides of Somalia’s capital Mogadishu

Until a few weeks ago I’d never been home.

A country where I speak the language, and look like everyone else but had never stepped foot in.

That place is Somalia.

But this month, I followed in the footsteps of countless diaspora children and booked a one-way-ticket to the motherland.

I was born and raised in London, some 6,000 miles (9,700km) from my family’s roots.

Growing up, I always felt torn between the idea of what sounded like two very different cities.

I’d hear about Mogadishu on the news. A capital filled with death and destruction, touted as “the most dangerous place in the world”.

But then my parents would speak so fondly of “Xamar”, as the locals call it. They described a beautiful city, situated on Africa’s longest coastline, known to many as “the pearl of the Indian Ocean”.

I’ve come to realise that both versions hold some truth.

Many diaspora Africans, like myself, have returned to their original or ancestral homeland.

On arrival there is often of a deep sense of belonging, but at the same time, a melancholy about the differences that being in the diaspora has created.

My parents were born in Mogadishu in the late 1950s and, like many older Somalis, they have their rose-tinted memories of the country.

“We used to zoom around in our convertibles and wear whatever we wanted,” my mum often reminisces, recalling her wild adventures and even wilder hairstyles. Nowadays women are expected to dress more conservatively.

“All you had were goats,” my siblings tease, to her dismay.

The Somalia we grew up seeing on our screens showed Western journalists in

displaced people’s camps talking to those on the brink of famine. Back in the 1990s, it was because of the war.

But the same images are being shown, in 2023, as a result of ongoing instability and climate change.

Unexpectedly, the most accurate picture of Somalia I got was through TikTok.

#SomaliTikTok is huge and the hashtag has amassed some 77 billion views.

Through social media I got a glimpse into daily life in Mogadishu, through the lenses of both locals and people like myself. This pushed me to go and see it with my own eyes and even consider relocating here.

Of course Mogadishu is still a dangerous place, the al-Qaeda-affiliated group alShabab remains an active threat. An attack in October killed more than 100 people.

But there’s another side to the city that is rarely shown - the fear of instability means that most Westerners do not travel freely.

The only white face I have seen is in the

confines of the high-security airport village.

But the true essence of Mogadishu can only be experienced through its restaurants, markets, beaches and people.

The city comes to life at night and is best explored on a bajaja - a Somali rickshaw.

“There’s six bajajas for every person,” one driver joked.

The familiar foods and flavours remind me of my mum’s cooking.

African staples like meat and rice are always served with fresh bananas, alongside dishes like spicy spaghetti Bolognese, from the country’s Italian colonial past.

Local fishermen carry giant rare tuna across their shoulders, worth tens of thousands of dollars in Japan.

Sadly, a lack of infrastructure and investment in the country’s once-budding fishing industry means they rarely reap the rewards.

But as President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud passes a year in office, there’s

a growing sense that the country is on the path to rebuilding.

“You see the construction everywhere, we’re improving slowly, God willing,” my 24-year-old bajaja driver points out.

Like many, he is yet to experience a stable Somalia. The war broke out in 1991 and around 75% of the country’s population is under 30.

He remains optimistic but our conversation highlights the blaring inequality.

Like many diaspora, I have the privilege of choosing to return.

While other Somalis, especially those outside the capital are seeking a way out.

In 2022, Somalia accounted for the eighth highest number of refugees globally, according to the United Nations.

Somalia is one of the world’s most climate-vulnerable countries and extreme weather events have forced hundreds of thousands from their homes, with the worst drought in 40 years now giving way to flash floods.

As we drive further into the city, I notice the buildings, both new and old, and admire the Islamic Afro-Italian architecture.

They are fortified behind concrete barriers and stacks of sandbags. And on almost every corner of the city is a young officer armed with an AK-47 rifle.

Calls to prayer are blasted through speakers and interspersed with the sound of distant gunshots.

Despite this, I feel a deep sense of hope. And I’m not alone.

The city is filled with other diaspora, often from Minnesota or Toronto, as well as local Somalis determined to cultivate stability.

“I believe in my country,” a young businesswoman tells me.

She says she never wants to leave.

“We can bring back the Somalia our parents told us about,” she adds.

Source: BBC

Ama Ata Aidoo won many literary awards including the 1992 Commonwealth Writers Prize for her book Changes

In our series of letters from African journalists, Soraya Ali tries to reconcile between the idyllic image of Somalia that she grew up with and its reputation as a hostile place.

Five members of Palestinian militant group killed in Lebanon blast

Five members of a Palestinian militant group have been killed and several more wounded by an explosion in Lebanon, close to the border with Syria.

The Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine-General Command (PFLP-GC) blamed Israel for the blast, saying it carried out an air strike on a site in the eastern town of Qusaya overnight.

But an Israeli source told the BBC that its military was not involved.

Lebanese security sources said it was caused by munitions being moved around.

It comes amid growing tensions between Israel and militants in Lebanon and Syria, who are armed and backed by Iran.

Photos purportedly from the scene of the explosion showed a building in ruins and a badly damaged vehicle.

A statement from the PFLPGC accused the Israeli military of bombing a site belonging to the group and vowed to retaliate.

“This crime is not isolated from the recent accelerating events on the Lebanese and Syrian fronts, and within the framework of continuous Zionist threats

begins salvage

The United Nations has started a operation to remove 1.1 million barrels of oil from a decaying supertanker moored off Yemen’s Red Sea coast.

A salvage vessel with a crew of experts reached the FSO Safer on Tuesday.

They will undertake work to make it secure for oil to be transferred to another tanker, Nautica, which is due to sail from Djibouti next month.

There is an imminent risk that the Safer could explode or break apart, causing an environmental catastrophe.

The UN has so far raised $114m (£92m) to pay for the unprecedented project through donations from dozens of member states, private companies and even the general public through a crowdfunding campaign.

But it says another $29m is urgently required, including to safely moor the Nautica to an anchored loading buoy and tow the Safer to a recycling yard.

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End of twitter post by UN Development

UN Development Programme

Administrator Achim Steiner

described the arrival at the site of the salvage support vessel Ndeavor, operated by Dutch company SMIT, as a “critical step” and a “proud moment”.

He added that it was a “a prime example of the importance of prevention”.

“Aside from a possible humanitarian and environmental catastrophe, funds spent now will prevent a disaster that could cost billions in the future.”

The Safer was constructed as a supertanker in 1976 and converted later into a floating storage and offloading facility for oil. It is anchored near the Ras Isa oil terminal, which is controlled by Yemen’s rebel Houthi movement.

Its structural integrity has deteriorated significantly since maintenance operations were suspended in 2015, when the Houthis seized large parts of Yemen and a Saudi-led coalition intervened in support of the Yemeni government. The ensuing war has reportedly killed more than 150,000 people and left 21 million others in need of aid.

The Safer holds four times the amount of oil spilled in the 1989 Exxon Valdez disaster, in Prince William Sound, Alaska.

The UN says a major spill in the Red Sea would destroy coral reefs, mangroves and other sea life, expose millions of people to highly polluted air, devastate fishing communities, force nearby ports to close and disrupt shipping through the Suez Canal.

It estimates that the cost of clean-up alone would be $20bn.

targeting resistance forces inside and outside Palestine,” it said.

The Israeli military did not comment on the claim, but official sources denied it.

Lebanon’s army also did not comment, but Reuters and AFP news agencies cited Lebanese and Palestinian security sources as saying it was an accidental

explosion caused by mines or rockets detonating as they were being moved.

The PFLP-GC is a relatively small militant group formed as an offshoot of the PFLP in 1968. It gained notoriety in the 1970s and 80s for bombing an airliner and carrying out cross-border attacks into Israel.

According to the United States, which has designated the group as a terrorist organisation, the PFLP-GC has several hundred members operating in Syria, Lebanon and the Gaza Strip.

It says they receive logistical and military support from Syria’s government, whose forces they have fought alongside during the country’s civil war, as well as financial support from Iran.

In early April, the Israeli military carried out air strikes on what it said were installations belonging to the Palestinian militant group Hamas in southern Lebanon. The strikes were a response to a barrage of 34 rockets fired into northern Israel by militants in Lebanon the previous day.

Iran tries female journalists who reported on Mahsa Amini’s death

Two Iranian female journalists who helped break the story of Mahsa Amini’s death in custody in September have gone on trial before a Revolutionary Court.

Niloufar Hamedi and Elaheh Mohammadi have been charged with “collaborating with the hostile US government” and “propaganda against the establishment”.

Ms Hamedi’s husband said her trial opened in Tehran on Tuesday, a day after Ms Mohammadi’s began.

The women deny the charges and insist that they were just doing their jobs.

Iranian authorities have arrested at least 75 journalists since mass anti-government protests swept across the country in the wake of Ms Amini’s death, according to Reporters Without Borders (RSF). Seventeen, including Ms Hamedi and Ms Mohammadi, are still in prison.

Ms Amini died in hospital in Tehran on 16 September, three days after she was detained by morality police for allegedly wearing her hijab “improperly”.

Witnesses said the 22-yearold Kurdish woman was beaten while in custody, but authorities blamed “sudden heart failure” for her death.

Ms Hamedi, a 30-yearold journalist with the Sharq newspaper, photographed Ms Amini’s father and grandmother embracing. She posted it on

Twitter with the caption: “The black dress of mourning has become our national flag.”

Ms Mohammadi, a 35-yearold reporter with the Hammihan newspaper, published a story about Ms Amini’s funeral in her hometown of Saqqez. She described how hundreds of mourners cried out “Woman, life, freedom”, which became one of the main slogans of the protests.

Security forces arrested Ms Hamedi on 22 September, while Ms Mohammadi was detained a week later.

Prosecutors refused to provide their families and lawyers with information about the cases against the two women, who were kept in harsh conditions at Evin Prison and Qarchak Women’s Prison.

But at the end of October, Iran’s ministry of intelligence and the intelligence agency of the Revolutionary Guards issued a statement accusing Ms Hamedi and Ms Mohammadi of being trained by the US Central Intelligence Agency to foment unrest in Iran.

And last month, the judiciary’s spokesman announced that they had been charged with “collaborating with the hostile government of America, conspiracy and collusion to commit crimes against national security and propaganda against the establishment”.

On Monday, Ms

Mohammadi’s lawyer confirmed she had attended the first session of her closed-door trial at Branch 15 of the Revolutionary Court in Tehran, which is presided over by the notorious judge Abolqasem Salavati.

Shahabeddin Mirlohi told Hammihan that he was not permitted to speak.

“We had significant and serious formal objections in the case,” he added. “In our view, the Revolutionary Court does not have jurisdiction over this case, and it should be heard in a competent court with the presence of a jury and in an open manner.”

Sharq journalist Milad Alavi tweeted that “her basic rights and clear legal requirements were violated”, adding: “They ridiculed the concepts of ‘court of law’ and ‘fair trial’!”

Ms Hamedi’s separate trial began on Tuesday, according to her husband.

“Niloufar denied all the charges against her and emphasised that she had acted within the framework of the law as a journalist, and had not taken any action against the security of Iran,” Mohammad Hossein Ajorlou tweeted.

He added that he was not allowed to be present during the two-hour hearing and that his wife’s lawyer was not given an opportunity to present a defence.

The PFLP-GC is estimated to have several hundred members operating in Syria, Lebanon and the Gaza Strip

UN

operation to stop catastrophic oil spill off Yemen

Keyamo, Tijjani Aliyu call for scrapping of Minister of State portfolio

By Egena Sunday Ode

Two Ministers of State in the outing President Muhammadu Buhari’s cabinet have raised issues on the desirability of their portfolio, describing it as an aberation and calling for its outright scrap.

For the outgoing Minister of State for Labour and Employment, Festus Keyamo, appointing a Minister of State is an aberration.

Keyamo stated this in his speech at the valedictory session presided over by President Buhari to mark the end of the Federal Executive Council (FEC), under his (Buhari) administration, at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

But for his Federal Capital Territory, FCT, counterpart, Ramatu Tijjani Aliyu, who spoke to newsmen at the forecourt of the Presidential Villa after the valedictory FEC session, the incoming adminstration of Bola Ahmed Tinubu should consider scrapping of the portfolio in order to avoid under representation.

Keyamo who thanked President Buhari for enriching his Curriculum Vitae, through the appointment, noted that some other Ministers of State, have been grumbling and unable to be bold and speak out.

He said it would it was difficult to assess the individual performances of the Ministers of State since their discretion was shackled under the discretion of the Ministers as any original ideas developed by a Minister of State are subject to clearance by another colleague in Cabinet before they can sail through for consideration by Council.

The prepared text read: “Mr. President, you first appointed me as Minister of State in the Ministry Niger Delta Affairs in August, 2019 and you later redeployed me as Minister of State in the Ministry of Labour and Employment.

“Today, I cannot find the words to express the depth of my gratitude to you for finding me worthy, out of over two hundred million Nigerians, to be nominated and subsequently appointed to serve as a Minister of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. My curriculum vitae has been greatly enhanced – forever.

“From my very humble beginnings in a small dusty town in Delta State where I was born and raised by my struggling parents, all the way to the Council Chambers at the Presidential Villa where I had the honour and privilege to participate weekly in decisionmaking for my country in the last four years, it has been like a fairy tale. I give God all the glory.

“What I am about to say, therefore, is not and should not be construed as an indication of ingratitude. Far from it. What I am about to say is just my own little contribution to our constitutional development as a relatively young democracy and to aid future governments to optimize the performance of those they appoint as Ministers.

“Mr. President, the concept or designation of “Minister of State” is a constitutional aberration and is practically not working for many so appointed. Successive governments have come and gone and many who were appointed as Ministers of State have not spoken out at a forum such as this because of the risk of sounding ungrateful to the Presidents who appointed them.

However, like I said earlier, this is not ingratitude.

“As a private citizen, I am on record to have gone to court a number of times to challenge unconstitutional acts of governments for the sake of advancing our constitutional democracy, so it will be out of character for me to have gone through government and be carried away by the pomp of public office and forget my role as a member of the Inner Bar and my self-imposed role over the years as a crusader for democracy and constitutionalism.”

Supporting his position with the provisions of the 1999 Constitution (as amended), Keyamo said, “Mr. President, I crave your indulgence to explain this constitutional conundrum of “Minister of State”.

Sections 147 and 148 of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended), deal with the appointments and responsibilities of Ministers of the Federation. The said sections state as follows:

Section 147

“(1) There shall be such offices of Ministers of the Government of the Federation as may be established by the President.

(2) Any appointment to the office of Minister of the Government of the Federation shall, if the nomination of any person to such office is confirmed by the Senate, be made by the President.

(3) Any appointment under subsection (2) of this section by the President shall be in conformity with the provisions of section 14(3) of this Constitution:- provided that in giving effect to the provisions aforesaid the President shall appoint at least one Minister from each State, who shall be an indigene of such State.”

Section 148 “(1) The President may, in his discretion, assign to the VicePresident or any Minister of the Government of the Federation responsibility for any business of the Government of the Federation, including the administration of any department of government.”

“Furthermore, the 7th Schedule to the 1999 Constitution provides for the Oath of Office to which each Minister must subscribe. There are no different Oaths for “Minister” and “Ministers of State”. They all take the same Oath of Office.

“In addition to the above, the Ministers-designate appear before the Senate and are grilled and cleared AS MINISTERS, not as Ministers in some instances and Ministers of State in some other instances. It is at the point of assignment of portfolios that successive Presidents then reclassified some as “Ministers of State.”

He contended that though the President has the constitutional powers to assign portfolio to his appointees, he said that such appointment must be in line with

for consideration by Council. The drafters of our Constitution obviously did not intend this.”

He argued that the unconstitutional development has led to having ministers that are idle or redundant.

then be fully under the Minister of Employment, without any double loyalty to the Minister of Labour and Productivity.

the constitutional provision.

He said, “Some may want to justify this by saying the President is given the discretion by the Constitution to assign whatever responsibility(ies) he likes to Ministers. Yes, I concede Mr. President can do that, but not by a designation different from that prescribed by the Constitution.

“Simply put, it is akin to the President assigning responsibilities to the office of the Vice-President and re-designating that office as “Deputy President” under our present Constitution. That is clearly impossible. Why then should that of the Ministers be different?

“What is more, Ministers are appointed pursuant to Section 147(3) of the 1999 Constitution to represent each State of the Federation. Therefore, Ministers sit in Cabinet as the eye of Mr. President in each State of the Federation. It is therefore against the intendment of the drafters of our Constitution for a representative of a State to be reclassified as against another representative of another State.

“The Schedules of Duties of Ministers and Ministers of State that intend to cure some of these anomalies hardly help the issues. Firstly, the Schedules of Duties are observed more in breach by the Permanent Secretaries and Directors who really cannot be expected to serve two masters.

“And in any case, many of the roles of both Ministers are so ambiguous that the bureaucrats would always interpret them to satisfy the ones they see as the “Senior Ministers” or “main Ministers” for fear of being persecuted by them.

“Secondly, parts of the Schedules of Duties seem to suggest that the Ministers can delegate functions to the Ministers of State. This is a constitutional impossibility. It is only Mr. President that can delegate Presidential powers as one cannot delegate what he does not have (delegatus non potest delegare). In any case, how can someone who took the same Oath of Office with another delegate functions to that other?

“Thirdly, the Schedules of Duties leave so many gaping holes that bring conflicts between the Ministers and Ministers of State. In addition, the provision that “Ministers of State” cannot present Memos in Council, except with the permission of the Minister, is another anomaly. It means the discretion of the Minister of State is subsumed in the discretion of the Minister, yet both of them represent different States in Cabinet.

“It also follows that it would be difficult to assess the individual performances of the Ministers of State since their discretion is shackled under the discretion of the Ministers. Original ideas developed by a Minister of State are subject to clearance by another colleague in Cabinet before they can sail through

“As a result, many Ministers of State are largely redundant, with many going to the office for symbolic purpose and just to while away the time. Files are passed to them to treat only at the discretion of the other Minister and the Permanent Secretary. Yet, the Ministers of State will receive either praise or condemnation for the successes or failures of such Ministries.

“I understand that when this practice first surfaced in the First Republic, it was used as a contraption to give a semblance of “Government of National Unity”, when in actual fact no “real power” was ceded to the opposition members co-opted into government who were mostly designated as the Ministers of State, so as to keep them in check under the leadership of the ruling Party’s Ministers.

“But, over time the custom has come to stay and now it has been established as a norm, even regarding Ministers from the same ruling Party. In fact, one political absurdity that has emerged from this is that some Ministers of State won more votes from their States for the party in power than the “main Minister”.

On the way forward, he said, “Many Ministerial Retreats have been held to try and resolve the issues between Ministers and Ministers of State. President Obasanjo held four of such Retreats, with the last one holding at the National Institute for Policy and Strategic Studies (NIPSS), Kuru, Jos, from 23rd to 25th February, 2001. Yet, the problems persisted.

“Mr. President, unknown to many successive Presidents and the general public, these conflicts gravely affect the optimal performance of Governments. What is the way forward?

“Obviously, the argument that two Ministers are cramped into some Ministries in order not to unnecessarily proliferate Ministries and therefore save Government’s money is no longer tenable. This is because Government does not need any extra infrastructure or more money to maintain all Senior 36 Ministers or even a bit more appointed as is now the custom.

“This is because the present Ministers and Ministers of State have their separate offices, cars, security personnel and personal aides. So, what is the point?

“There are enough Permanent Secretaries within the system to be assigned to each Minister, or in the least, one Permanent Secretary can serve two Ministers. Since the Schedules of Duties of both Ministers already reflect the broad Mandates of the Ministries, the Ministers can be named in line with those Schedules of Duties, instead of continuing with this unconstitutional arrangement. For instance, there is no reason why we cannot have a Minister of Labour and another Minister of Employment.

“In my case, whilst the Schedule of my colleague had to do more with Labour and Productivity, mine had to do more with Employment. The Directorates in my Ministry that were under my office would

“We can also have a Minister of Trade and another Minister of Investment. We can have a Minister of Education (Tertiary) and another Minister of Education (Primary and Secondary); we can have a Minister of Mines and another Minister of Steel; we can have a Minister of Works and another Minister of Housing and so on and so forth.

“In all of these, no extra infrastructure is needed to sustain this suggested arrangement. The present infrastructure and present personnel in the Ministries can very well sustain it. It will be at no extra cost to government. This is preferable than successive governments continuing with this present unconstitutional arrangement.

“Finally, I want to place it on record again that Mr. Present gave me maximum support as his Minister to function optimally. So, this treatise is not a personal complaint. This is just a respectful recommendation for record purposes and for the sake of posterity. It is also intended to correct an anomaly that has existed for ages.”

Also speaking during an interview with newsmen Minister of State for FCT, Ramatu Tijjani Aliyu urged the incoming Tinubu administration to scrap the office of the minister of state so as to avoid under representation in the cabinet.

In her own experience, she said “If you are appointed, if you serve your state, if you underwent the same training, you attend the same FEC representing your people. Why then is your voice hinged upon another minister’s voice? Why is lack of planning on another minister’s part an emergency on yours? Why is the label ineptitude now the label you will carry if he should fail?

“All this should be looked into by the next administration to put the country in the good part of trajectory. Let me tell you this, if and only if, and that is the little minus I saw in this administration, all ministers were allowed to perform.

“The performances of the government and the achievement of President Muhammadu Buhari administration, I’ll beat my chest they cannot be equaled.

“But if one plus one becomes one, then there is an issue. Why then have a minister of state whose capacity no matter what is brought forth will be weighed and will be debated upon will be decided to go or not go to FEC by a colleague.

“So, that does not do justice to the appointment, it doesn’t do justice to the people he is representing, it does not even do justice to the person presenting themselves.

“But by and large, it was fantastic is worth an experience, because you know what that did to me? It also built my thick skin.

“It built my endurance level, it built my capacity to understand what is not and what does not. And it has built me largely to operate within the level availed to me, and hopefully there will be another opportunity, sometimes somewhere God’s grace to be able to unleash the potential of so many untapped representing ministers.”

Ben Roberts-Smith: How decorated soldier’s defamation case has rocked Australia

For months on end, Australia’s mostdecorated living soldier sat stoically in a Sydney courtroom as dozens of witnesses accused him of war crimes, bullying peers, and assaulting his mistress.

But Ben Roberts-Smith was not the one on trial.

The 44-year-old had brought the case, suing three Australian newspapers over a series of articles in 2018 which he says defamed him. He argues they ruined his life by painting him as a callous man who had broken the moral and legal rules of war, disgracing his country in the process.

But the media outlets say they reported the truth, and have set out to prove it.

It is the first time in history any court has been tasked with assessing allegations of war crimes by Australian forces.

Warning: This article contains descriptions of violence which readers may find upsetting.

Lasting 110 days and costing up to an estimated A$25m ($16.3m, £13.2m), the trial has heard extraordinary and at times bizarre evidence about every facet of Mr RobertsSmith’s life.

It sparked a media frenzy, captured national attention, and has made Mr RobertsSmith the public face of accusations of Australian war crimes in Afghanistan.

After sifting through volumes of evidence, this week a judge is due to hand down a decision in the historic case.

Hero or criminal?

When Mr Roberts-Smith finished his final tour of Afghanistan in 2012, he returned home a hero.

He received Australia’s highest military award - the Victoria Cross - for having singlehandedly overpowered Taliban machinegunners who had been attacking his Special Air Service (SAS) platoon.

More accolades and admiration followed. He was crowned Father of the Year in 2013, appointed to high-profile executive positions, given prestigious speaking engagements and featured in massive portraits in the Australian War Memorial.

But Mr Roberts-Smith’s shiny public image was shattered in 2018 when journalists Nick McKenzie, Chris Masters and David Wroe started publishing articles about his alleged misconduct in The Sydney Morning Herald, The Age and The Canberra Times.

The newspapers claim Mr Roberts-Smith was involved in six murders of unarmed prisoners or civilians while deployed in Afghanistan between 2009 and 2012 - which he strenuously denies.

According to the newspapers, these included a handcuffed farmer the soldier had kicked off a 10m cliff - a fall which knocked out the man’s teeth, before he was subsequently shot dead.

Another was a captured Afghan teenager so terrified a witness recounted him “shaking like a leaf”. He told the court Mr RobertsSmith later claimed to have shot him in the head, boasting it was “the most beautiful thing I’ve ever seen”.

The Federal Court also heard that Mr Roberts-Smith had used a machine gun to kill a captured fighter whose prosthetic leg was then taken as a trophy, and later used by troops as a drinking vessel. Other murders were ordered by him to initiate or “blood” rookies, the papers claim.

The Geneva Convention - international

rules intended to limit the savagery of war - prohibits the torture, killing or cruel treatment of prisoners, while also offering protections to wounded and sick soldiers.

“Not a single one of the murders we allege… involved decisions that were made in the heat of battle… the ‘fog of war,’” said Nicholas Owens, a barrister for the newspapers.

But Mr Roberts-Smith says he has always honoured the rules of engagement. He argues five of the killings occurred legally during combat, and a sixth didn’t happen at all.

The former SAS corporal’s legal team argues the most serious allegations Mr Roberts-Smith faces were made up by jealous colleagues - “liars” and “gossips” - to smear him.

“What he did not expect was that having been awarded the Victoria Cross, he would have a target on his back,” his barrister Arthur Moses told the court.

The journalists had “jumped on the rumours like salmon jumping on a hook”, publishing them as fact, his team said, arguing that the trial evidence - once weighed - would exposed them as inconsistent, “fanciful” and “salacious”.

To support their claims, the newspapers called witnesses including Afghan villagers, a federal minister, and many former or serving elite soldiers.

They ended up unearthing even more damaging allegations. One of Mr RobertsSmith’s close friends - who gave evidence anonymously - said there were another three alleged murders in Afghanistan that Mr Roberts-Smith was accused of being involved in, in addition to those outlined in the newspapers’ case.

Much evidence was also devoted to claims Mr Roberts-Smith bullied peers. The war hero conceded he had punched a fellow soldier in the face in front of their entire patrol, but denied threatening another with “a bullet in the back of the head” if his performance didn’t lift.

But Mr Roberts-Smith’s versions of events were at other times corroborated by witnesses, along with official field reports, though the newspapers allege these were falsified to cover up crimes.

Astonishing evidence on other issues also emerged during the defamation case, including:

• Admissions from Mr Roberts-Smith that he had set fire to several laptops to wipe his data

• Claims he had buried classified information inside a child’s lunchbox in his backyard

• Testimony from a private investigator that Mr Roberts-Smith had asked him to take the blame for anonymous, threatening letters to soldiers who were cooperating with war crimes inquiries.

Mr Roberts-Smith also watched on as his ex-wife Emma described the moment a woman with whom he’d had an extramarital affair turned up at the family home, unannounced and nursing a black eye, saying she had become pregnant with his baby.

The woman - whose identity is protected - cried on the witness stand as she recounted the evening when she alleges Mr RobertsSmith punched her in a hotel room, after she had embarrassed him at an event. He denies this and claims her injury was caused by a fall at the event.

Mr Roberts-Smith has not been charged over any of the allegations and no findings have been made against him in a criminal court.

‘Code of silence’

But the evidence also put a spotlight on the usually hidden world of the SAS.

In November 2020, a landmark report found credible evidence that Australian forces had unlawfully killed 39 civilians and prisoners in Afghanistan from 2007 to 2013.

The head of the Australian Defence Force said it laid bare an unchecked “warrior culture” among some soldiers - particularly within the SAS - who had allegedly taken “the

law into their own hands”.

The trial heard from retired and serving SAS soldiers who said any potential misconduct was rarely reported due to a “code of silence” within the regiment, while others defended their actions as necessary.

Many giving evidence were there unwillingly, having been subpoenaed, and three refused to speak about some allegations fearing self-incrimination.

One soldier, who testified that he witnessed Mr Roberts-Smith execute someone, said he resented being compelled to give evidence against him.

“I still don’t agree with the fact [Mr Roberts-Smith] is here, under extreme duress, for killing bad dudes we went over there to kill,” he said.

Almost three years after the landmark Brereton Report, local media have reported more than 40 soldiers are being investigated for their roles in alleged war crimes, but charges have only been laid against one.

And so the judgement in Mr RobertsSmith’s defamation trial is a huge moment for Australia - both legally and culturally - says Peter Stanley, the former principal historian at the Australian War Memorial.

Soldiers serving under Australia’s banner have almost certainly committed war crimes before, he says, but up until this year none had ever been charged.

And while the broader population may not always agree with the wars Australia has fought, there has long been “great pride in the way in which [it] has fought - this is what’s known as the Anzac legend”.

“The Ben Roberts-Smith episode is just a precursor to the major series of war crimes investigations, allegations, prosecutions, and possibly convictions that we’ll see over the next few years,” he told the BBC.

“It certainly made [him] the litmus test.”

What happens now

The judge - Anthony Besanko - will first decide if the articles are defamatory, and if so, he’ll then consider any defences.

In Australia defamation is a civil matter, meaning the burden of proof is lower than the “beyond a reasonable doubt” standard required during criminal cases. The newspapers only have to prove the allegations are more likely to be true than not.

They argue that proving even one of the six murders alleged, to that standard, could be enough to win the case.

But the law says Judge Besanko must take particular care in weighing the strengths and weaknesses of the evidence if there are grave consequences for those involved.

The criminal allegations being made by the media outlets fell “at the very highest end of objective seriousness… [and] strike at the very heart of Mr Roberts-Smith’s morality and humanity,” Mr Moses said in closing.

The stakes are also high for the newspapers, with experts saying a loss could result in the highest defamation payout in Australian history.

“We need to remind ourselves that the legal case is not a war crimes trial,” Mr Stanley says.

“[But] there’s a lot riding on this outcome - it’s not just the reputation of one man, it’s our faith in the defence force… and our faith in the system of media that we rely on to give us a truthful and accurate version of the world.”

Source: BBC

Ben Roberts-Smith is suing over articles he says painted him as a war criminal

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1. FOR THE PROMOTION OF GENERAL HUMANITARIAN AND CHARITABLE PURPOSES AND THE PROVISION OF RESOURCES (FINANCIAL, TECHNICAL AND TRAINING) FOR THE RELIEF OF POVERTY IN NIGERIA 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

DANIEL AGUNBIADE EDUCATION FOUNDATION

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.AGUNBIADE DANIEL DAMILOLA

2.OYEWOLE OYEFUNKE OLAJUMOKE

THE AIMS AND OBJECTIVES ARE :

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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.

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PUBLIC NOTICE

THE GENERAL PUBLIC IS HEREBY NOTIFIED INITIATIVE FOR ADVANCEMENT OF ETHICAL

STANDARD HAS APPLIED TO CORPORATE AFFAIRS COMMISSION, ABUJA FOR REMOVAL

THREE (3) OF THE TRUSTEES UNDER PART “F” OF THE COMPANIES AND ALLIED MATTERS

ACT, NO. 1 OF THE 2020

REASON FOR REMOVAL OF THREE (3) TRUSTEES

REASON FOR THE REMOVAL OF THREE (3) OF THE TRUSTEES IN PERSONS OF: PAUL

SANTOS, NANCY NGUNAN AGBE AND SYLVANUS UGBODU IS THAT THE MEMBER

THEMSELVES INSTIGATED THE CHANGE SO AS TO ACHIEVE THE AIMS OF THE FOUNDATION.

THE OLD TRUSTEES ARE:

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THE INCORPORATED TRUSTEES OF ‘MERCY-GATE PENTECOSTAL MISSION, CAC/IT/NO. 38415.

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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 :

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3.ORIAKHI OSARUESE LISA (TREASURER) THE AIMS AND OBJECTIVES ARE :

1.TO ASSIST WIDOWS, ORPHANS, INCAPACITATED/DISABLED PERSONS, HOMELESS AND LESS PRIVILEGE IN THE SOCIETY WITH A SOURCE OF LIVELIHOOD AND TO ENGAGE IN POVERTY ALLEVIATION PROGRAMS;

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THE TRUSTEES ARE :

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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.

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KAMUKU YOUTH EMPOWERMENT AND DEVELOPMENT FORUM

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.YA’U SAIDU AHMED - CHAIRMAN

2.LUTHER ELIZABETH ABAKI

3.MUSA ADAMU BAWA - SECRETARY

THE AIMS AND OBJECTIVES ARE :

1.T O SYNERGIZE AND HARNESS MEMBERS’INDIVIDUAL CAPABILITIES FOR THE WELFARE, GROWTH AND DEVELOPMENT OF ALL KAMUKU

YOUTHS

2.DEVELOP PROGRAMMES THAT FOSTER FELLOWSHIPS AMONGST MEMBERS AND ENCOURAGE THE PHYSICAL AND MORAL GROWTH OF ITS MEMBERS

3.PROMOTE AND SUSTAIN KAMUKU CULTURE IN ABUJA AND THE ENVIRONS.

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.

AGAPE FRIENDS CONNECT FOR EMPOWERMENT AND DEVELOPMENT UNION

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 :

2.REV.FR.DR.BAHAGO SAMAILA BENEDICT 3.PASTOR JONATHAN YOHANNA 4.CYNTHIA SALEH

MUSA.

DANLADI 7.EMMANUEL ZAKARIYA 8.DOMINION GAMALIEL DAGAH ESQ-(SECRETARY). THE AIMS AND OBJECTIVES ARE :

1.TO PROMOTE PEACE,JUSTICE AND EQUITY.

2.TO UNITED MEMBERS AS ONE MATURED FAMILY IRRESPECTIVE OF TRIBE OR RELIGION.

3.TO EMPOWER AND SUPPORT THE LESS PREVILEGED IN THE SOCIETY.

4.KNOWLEDGE SHARING AND COLLABORATION WITH ENTREPRENEURS.

5.BUSINESS EXCHANGE AND DEVELOPMENT RELATIONSHIP.

6.TO CREATE OPPORTUNITIES FOR YOUTHS AND THE LESS PREVILEGED TO ENGAGE IN CAPACITY BUILDING,ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT ACTIVITIES AND EXPOSURES AT ALL LEVEL.

7.TO PROMOTE GIRL CHILD EDUCATION THROUGH PAD UP A CHILD PROGRAM.

8.NETWORKING. 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

POWER REALM WORD OF LIFE GLOBAL GOSPEL CHURCH

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. AONDOAKAA ORSTER DANIEL _ CHAIRMAN

2. AONDOAKAA DANIEL BRIDGET MIMIDOO _ SECERTARY

THE AIMS AND OBJECTIVES ARE :

1. TO PROPAGATE THE GOSPEL OF JESUS CHRIST

2. TO LIBERATE PEOPLE FROM THE HANDS OF SATAN THROUGH PREACHING OF 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.

PUBLIC NOTICE

ADARI CARE FOUNDATION

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. LIADI AYOKU ADEOYE -CHAIRMAN

2. LIADI BOLAJOKO WOSILAT

3. KAREEM ADEBIMPE ISLAMIYAT

4. AYANTOYE TAOFEEQ OLADIMEJI -SECRETARY

THE AIMS AND OBJECTIVES ARE :

1. TO HELP THE LESS PRIVILEGED IN THE SOCIETY.

2. TO INITIATE PROGRAMMES FOR THE EMPOWERMENT OF YOUTHS, NEEDY AND ORPHAN VIA SKILL ACQUISITION AND VOCATIONAL TRAINING CENTRES. 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

LANDLORD OLOUNLOGBON ALABI FOUNDATION

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.ALABI TODIMU OLAMIDE - CHAIRMAN

2.MAHMUD TITILOPE MAHMUD

3.ALADE BABAFEMI THEOPHILUS

4.ODEKUNLE ADEOLA ESTHER - SECRETARY

5.ADELEKE TOBILOBA OLAMIDE

THE AIMS AND OBJECTIVES ARE :

1. TO SUPPORT THE NEEDY IN TERMS OF FOOD PROVISION, HOUSING AND MEDICAL ASSISTANCE TO THE SICK.

2. TO COMBAT EXTREME POVERTY, HUNGER, HEALTHCARE AND EMPOWERMENT.

3. TO REACH OUT TO THE LESS PRIVILEGE AND GIVE A HELPING HAND TO THE NEEDY, ORPHANS

4. TO INITIATIVE AND PROMOTE WIDOW’S EMPOWERMENT PROGRAMME AND TO CATER FOR THEIR WELFARE.

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.

PEOPLES DAILY, THURSDAY, JUNE 1, 2023

Olympics Qualifier: NWF President, Dr Ibrahim Abdul Lauds Weightlifters After Tunisia Medal Haul

By Amaechi Agbo

The President, Nigeria Weightlifting Federation, NWF, Dr Ibrahim Abdul, FCISM, OCP, CMC; has commended Nigeria weightlifters who won 12 medals at the just concluded 2023 Senior Africa Weightlifting Championship in Tunisia.

Five Nigeria athletes, Lawal Rufiatu, Olarinoye Adijat, Eze Joy Ogbonne, Edidiong Umoafia and Akano Desmond represented Nigeria at the championship which also served as the 2024 Olympic Games qualifier.

They competed in 59kg and 71kg women’s categories as well as 73kg and 89kg men’s categories.

They won a total of 12 medals made up of three gold, seven silver and two bronze medals to put Nigeria’s quest for the 2024 Olympic Games qualification on sound track

In a release signed by the Media Officer, Nigeria Weightlifting Federation, Mr Amaechi Agbo, the President charged the weightlifters to buckle up ahead of more qualifiers.

“First and foremost, I want to commend the athletes for doing their best, considering the circumstances.

“As the president and someone who aim for the best, I wanted all of them to win gold medals in Tunisia. Nevertheless, I am proud of what they achieved.

“However, I urge them to buckle up. We have just started the race to Olympic Games qualification and there is a long way to go. They should remain active, sustain their training schedules and strictly follow them.

“As a federation, we will continue to provide, within our powers, all that are necessary for them to excel. We cannot afford to miss out on Olympics again after what happened in Tokyo Olympics qualifiers.

“I have no doubts in their abilities and

I believe that once they remain focused, we will get there,” he said

Meanwhile, Nigeria ambassador to Tunisia, Amb. Asari Edem Allotey has charged the weightlifters to remain focused in their quest for 2024 Olympics tickets. Amb. Allotey stated this on Thursday while hosting the Nigeria Weightlifting contingent in her house.

The Ambassador who expressed delight with the performances of the lifters, also

cautioned them to make improvements if they must become Olympic medalists in Paris next year.

Nigeria weightlifters are expected to participate in five other weightlifting qualifying championships as they seek a return to Olympic Games medal podium in Paris next year.

The championships/Olympics qualifiers are:

1. IWF Grand Prix Havana, Cuba June 2-12, 2023

2. IWF World Championships Riyadh, Saudi Arabia -September 2-17, 2023

3. IWF Grand Prix Doha, Qatar December 1-17, 2023

4. African Championships February 25 March 02, 2024 (host to be confirmed)

5. IWF World Cup Phuket, Thailand April, 2024

U-20 World Cup: How Flying Eagles came from behind to beat Dominican Republic

By Amaechi Agbo

Nigeria’s Flying Eagles earned the first three points of Group D of the ongoing FIFA U20 World Cup in Argentina after an own goal by Guillermo De Rena and a smart finish by Samson Lawal steered them beyond Dominican Republic in Mendoza.

Ibrahim Muhammad’s shot had been firmly held by goalkeeper Xavier Valdez and Jude Sunday and Tochukwu Nnadi had threatened in the fore

within the first quarter-hour, before Japanese referee Yusuke Araki opted to consult the Video Assistant Referee and then award a penalty to Dominican Republic in the 20th minute, after a tackle by Daniel Daga. The resultant penalty was brilliantly converted by Edison Azcona.

Sunday, Nnadi, Fago Lawal, Samson Lawal and Muhammad all doubled their efforts with onslaughts launched towards the opposition, but goalkeeper Valdez was brilliant on the day, especially

in tipping over Sunday’s dipping shot from outside the box in the 37th minute.

Defender Solomon Agbalaka, who headed the goal that sank hosts Egypt at the Africa U20 Cup of Nations in January, attempted a similar effort in the 58th minute but found Valdez capable. From a dashing run in the 61st minute, substitute Emmanuel Umeh should have done more than place the ball in the keeper’s waiting hands.

Daga, Sunday and substitute Haliru Sarki all tested the keeper

in a second half dominated by Nigeria, but Samson Lawal was very alert to smell blood and capitalize on a defensive lapse by the boys from Dominican Republic to score Nigeria’s winner in the 68th minute. This was a minute after Jude Sunday had the ball in the net from a flowing team move, but it was ruled offside.

“We are happy with the three points though we wanted the boys to win by a higher margin as goals advantage do matter along the line in a competition such as this. The next two matches will be much

tougher and I expect the Flying Eagles to also show sterner stuff,” said NFF General Secretary, Dr. Mohammed Sanusi who watched the encounter at the Estadio Malvinas Argentinas in Mendoza. Next up for the two-time runners-up of the FIFA U20 World Cup is a clash with Italy at the same venue on Wednesday evening. A draw will most certainly guarantee a place in the knockout rounds for the Flying Eagles, ahead of their final group phase encounter with Brazil in La Plata on Saturday.

Nigeria Weightlifting contingent with the Ambassador during the latter’s visit in Tunisia on Thursday

•Ambassador charges lifters to remain focused

S P R T

Côte d’Ivoire to host 2023 CAF Women’s Champions League

Côte d’Ivoire will host the third edition of the CAF Women’s Champions League, the Executive Committee has announced. The prestigious inter-club competition for women was first hosted by Egypt in 2021 with Morocco hosting last year’s edition.

The dates for the tournament will be announced soon, but the eight-team tournament will help the Ivorians test their systems ahead of the TotalEnergies Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) which kicks off in January 2023.

The format will remain unchanged with the eight teams drawn into two groups. The top two in each will progress to the semi-finals.

The champion of the host country will be joined by seven other teams from the zonal qualifiers which will be held in due course as well.

Morocco’s AS Far are the defending champions, having clinched the crown on home soil, beating holders Mamelodi Sundowns Ladies. The format will remain unchanged with the eight teams drawn into two groups. The top two in each will progress to the semifinals.

The champion of the host country will be joined by seven other teams from the zonal qualifiers which will be held in due course as well.

Morocco’s AS Far are the defending chamhed the crown on home soil, beating holders Mamelodi Sundowns Ladies.

WAFU U-20: Five-star Falconets Wallop Niger 7-0 In Group B Opener

Nigeria’s U-20 girls celebrating none of their goals on Sunday

In a jaw-dropping showcase of attacking prowess, Nigeria’s U-20 women’s team kicked off their campaign at the WAFU B U-20 Girls Cup of Nations in Ghana with an emphatic 7-0 victory over Niger on Sunday.

The Group B match, held at Kumasi’s Baba Yara Stadium, witnessed a masterclass performance by the Nigerian side, leaving their opponents in awe.

From the opening whistle, Nigeria displayed their intent to dominate the game. Wave after wave of relentless attacks bombarded the Niger defence, setting the tone for the rest of the match.

In just the fourth minute, Esther Opeyemi Akajaye announced her presence with a clinical finish, marking the beginning of a remarkable individual performance.

Akajaye continued her assault on the Niger defence, netting two more goals in the 13th and 54th minutes to complete a sensational hat-trick.

Her exquisite finishing left Niger reeling, struggling to find answers to Nigeria’s relentless onslaught.

The Nigerian team’s dominance extended beyond Akajaye’s heroics. In the 30th minute, Mercy Kalu added to the growing tally, further extending

Nigeria’s lead.

The fluidity and cohesion displayed by the Nigerian players were a sight to behold, as skillful dribbling, incisive passing, and deadly finishing overwhelmed their opponents.

As the second half commenced, there was no respite for Niger. In the 49th minute, Adoabi Okah confidently converted a penalty kick, compounding the woes of the Niger team and solidifying Nigeria’s supremacy on the field.

Victoria Alani joined the goal-scoring spree in the 64th minute with a sensational strike that shattered the Niger defence.

Nigeria’s relentless pursuit

of goals found its culmination in stoppage time. In the 91st minute, Chioma Olise added the finishing touches to the victory with a clinical finish, leaving no doubt about Nigeria’s superiority in the match.

This resounding victory serves as a statement of intent from Nigeria’s U-20 women’s team.

Meanwhile in the group’s other game Burkina Faso defeated Togo 2-0 thanks to goals by Mounifatou Helbi and Alimata Belem.

The competition continues on Tuesday when Benin take on Cote d’Ivoire in the three-team Group A.

“Arsenal Don’t Want To Win Titles” - Gift Orban

Nigeria player, Gift Orban has disclosed that his ambition remains to play in the English Premier League, EPL stressing that joining Manchester United, Liverpool or Manchester City is ideal prospect for him.

But the 20-year-old striker took a swipe at Arsenal’s lack of trophy in the league to state that he would not want to join the North London side because they don’t have ambition to win titles.

“The Premier League is my ultimate

dream. Man United, Liverpool or Man City,” he told hlnsport

“I don’t really like Arsenal that much – it’s like they don’t want to win titles”.

“I want to go somewhere where they win titles.”

Chelsea are reportedly preparing a bid to bring the striker to Stamford Bridge, but the Blues are considering sending him out on loan if they successfully complete the transfer.

Gift Orban emerged into the global football following his eye-catching

performances with his Belgian club, Gent.

He joined the Belgian Pro League side in January and scored 14 goals in 13 appearances in the domestic league as well as 5 goals in the Europa Conference League

On 15 March, he scored a firsthalf hat-trick in 4–1 away win over İstanbul Başakşehir in the UEFA Europa Conference League round 16. The hattrick was scored within three minutes and 25 seconds, setting a new record for the fastest hat-trick in UEFA club

competitions, breaking the previous record of six minutes and 12 seconds held by Mohammed Salah in the Champions League.

Orban’s comment might not go down well with some Arsenal faithfuls who saw their title ambition in the current season dealt a huge blow following their recent poor performances.

Their “unexpected” 3-0 bashing by Brighton on Sunday at the Emirates Stadium appeared to be the final nail that sealed their coffin away from the title.

PUBLIC NOTICE

FLORENCE OLAJUMOKE OLAJERE FOUNDATION

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 :

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SIGNED : SECRETARY.

PUBLIC NOTICE

GLOBAL MINISTRY

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AN Y 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.

AYUBA ABDUL, ESQ 08036373769 SOLICITOR

THE ETERNAL CHURCH OF GOD MISSION

PUBLIC NOTICE

SAMUEL OLAJIDE OLAJERE FOUNDATION

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. OLAJERE FLORENCE OLAJUMOKE - CHAIRMAN

2. OLAJERE OLAYINKA MICHEAL - SECRETARY

3. FAKEYE GRACE OLUFUNMILAYO

THE AIMS AND OBJECTIVES ARE :

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2. TO PROVIDE FOR THE EDUCATIONAL NEEDS OF CHILDREN WITHIN THE SOCIETY.

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ARUNA YAKUBU FOUNDATION

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THE TRUSTEES ARE :

1. YAKUBU NUNU OHIS - PRESIDENT

2. YAKUBU ABDULMUMINI OMOKHEOWA - SECRETARY

THE AIMS AND OBJECTIVES ARE :

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SPACE FOR SALE

Manchester City open talks with Chelsea over Mateo Kovacic transfer

Tinubu: The kingmaker becomes the king

Can Tinubu’s ‘Renewed Hope’ agenda salvage the economic woes wrought by the previous administration? Or would he follow the disastrous and horrible precedent set by his predecessor? The nation waits to see if the ‘best person for the job’, as Buhari described his nextin-line, would turn around the fortunes of the country and bring succour to Nigerians.

It is official. Bola Ahmed Tinubu is the President and Commander-in-chief of the Armed Forces, Federal Republic of Nigeria, realising his dream of leading Africa’s most populous country.

Tinubu, who served as the governor of Lagos State between 1999 and 2007, contested the presidential election on the ticket of the All Progressives Congress, APC, the same party as his predecessor, Muhammadu Buhari that came into power in 2015, ending the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, uninterrupted 16-year rule.

The Premier League champions have already had encouraging talks with Kovacic’s agent, says journalist Fabrizio Romano, suggesting a personal agreement is close. City still have to come to an agreement with Chelsea on a fee, but The Athletic add that the west Londoners have permitted the talks and there is a willingness to let him go.

Kovacic is one of the players the London side are prepared to offload this summer as they look to cut away at their bloated squad. Kovacic has a year left on his contract at Stamford Bridge and there is little chance of him being offered an extension.

City are not the only team interested in signing the Croatia international, with Bayern Munich and Manchester United previously touted as possible destinations. However, the midfielder’s preference would be to join Pep Guardiola’s side.

City will hope to tie up a deal for Kovacic swiftly amid uncertainty surrounding Ilkay Gundogan’s future at the Etihad Stadium. The Germany international has been linked with Arsenal and Barcelona with his contract running down.

Source: goal.com

Guest Columnist

By Ezinwanne Onwuka

many who interpreted it as a revelation of his deep-rooted sense of entitlement for the topmost office, Tinubu was unbothered. Tinubu, guided by his philosophy of ‘fight for it [power], grab it and run with it’, traversed the length and breadth of the country during the almost fivemonth campaign period, speaking directly to Nigerians and selling his candidacy and message of ‘Renewed Hope.’

leader’ and the ‘Jagaban’, a title bestowed on him by the late Emir of Borgu in Niger State, Alhaji Haliru Dantoro Kitoro III, which means ‘the leader of warriors’. Regardless of how remarkable, or otherwise, Tinubu’s emergence as president is, the fact is that he inherited a fragile nation. Nigeria’s economy is in the doldrums, fueling a fiscal crisis amid widespread insecurity and unrest – the results of the campaign of change run by his party in 2015. To be clear, the APC had promised to tackle corruption, insecurity, and to ameliorate the nation’s depressing economy if voted into power in 2015 but these nightmares only became rife under its leadership.

The presidential race was one of the hardest to predict and most tightly fought in years, with three prominent candidates of which Tinubu was among. And with the onslaught on him by his traducers, including the interrogations about his identity, health status, educational qualifications, source of wealth and the forfeiture of $460,000 to the United States government in 1993 over allegations of drug trafficking, and the loss of the support of the Christian community for his choice of Kashim Shettima, a fellow Muslim, as his running mate, among others, to demarket him, Tinubu’s chances in the race appeared to be bleak. But at the end of the day, he won – albeit, a controversial victory.

Considered the ‘kingmaker’ and ‘godfather’ of Nigerian politics, the former Lagos governor had, during a meeting with party delegates in Abeokuta, the Ogun State capital ahead of the ruling party’s presidential primary election on the 7th and 8th of June 2022, made known his will and readiness to become the president of Nigeria in 2023 with the famous ‘Emi l’okan’, which loosely translates to ‘It’s my turn’, declaration. ‘Emi l’okan’ was a bold and audacious statement, asserting his suitability for the presidency. It conveyed the fact that since he has been instrumental in helping a lot of people to achieve their political goals, including expresident Buhari, he expects his gesture to be reciprocated because he is deserving of the presidency by virtue of his qualifications, competence and capacity.

Connected to his ‘Emi l’okan’ declaration was his remark that becoming Nigeria’s fifth elected president since the return to democratic rule in 1999 has been his ‘lifelong dream’. This implies that his ambition since he debuted his political career as a federal lawmaker to represent Lagos West constituency in the Senate in 1992 was to become Nigeria’s president. After decades of political schemings behind the scenes, Tinubu, who extended the political influence he wields in Lagos nationally in 2015 which led to Buhari’s emergence as the president, threw his hat into the 2023 general election as a presidential candidate, declaring unequivocally: ‘It’s my turn.’

Though the remark irked

He exhibited great confidence that he would win the election despite the animosity towards his candidacy after overcoming the obstacles to winning the presidential ticket of the APC. As 25 February 2023, drew nearer, and the fuss on the TinubuShettima ticket as well as the seemingly intimidating support for his rival, Peter Obi, the Labour Party flag bearer, by a greater number of Nigerian youths, became more aggressive, many thought the APC candidate was done for.

However, by the time the final result of the election was announced by the chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, his cynics were left in shock. With the landslide victory, Tinubu consolidated his titles as the ‘Asiwaju’, a Yoruba honorary title bestowed on him by the late Oba of Lagos, Oba Adeyinka Oyekan II meaning ‘the

Evidently, as a brilliant political strategist, Tinubu came to renew the hopes of Nigerians in the nation and the party. Tinubu’s action plan, his well thought-out, comprehensive and realistic solutions to the myriad of problems besetting the country for the country, encapsulated in his manifesto titled: ‘Renewed Hope’, demonstrates that he understands the task ahead of him. However, many Nigerians think otherwise. The foreboding thought is that since the Buhari-led APC government failed, he is also likely to disappoint Nigerians.

Can Tinubu’s ‘Renewed Hope’ agenda salvage the economic woes wrought by the previous administration? Or would he follow the disastrous and horrible precedent set by his predecessor? The nation waits to see if the ‘best person for the job’, as Buhari described his next-in-line, would turn around the fortunes of the country and bring succour to Nigerians.

Ezinwanne writes via ezinwanne.dominion@gmail. com.

DAN GAYE DANGAYE

Court slams life imprisonment on 3 kidnappers of female journalist in Yola

That’s right!

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Connected to his ‘Emi l’okan’ declaration was his remark that becoming Nigeria’s fifth elected president since the return to democratic rule in 1999 has been his ‘lifelong dream’

President Bola Tinubu