Friday, June 2, 2023 Edition

10th NASS: Tinubu, Lawan, Gbajabiamila parley over leadership positions

As Abbas, Kalu, Bawa meet President in Aso Rock

By Egena Sunday Ode

As the nation gets set for the proclamation of the 10th National Assembky, President Bola Tinubu on Thursday at the presidential villa, Abuja met with Senate President Ahmad Lawan and Speaker of the House of Representatives, Femi Gbajabiamila over the race to fill the presiding officers.

The meeting of the leadership of both chambers of the legislature with the President was followed by a separate one involving Tajudeen Abbas and Ben Kalu, both anointed by the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) for the speakership and deputy speakership positions, respectively, of the 10th House of Representatives.

The race has become contentious following the rejection of Godswill Akpabio and Abbas as favourites of the ruling All Progressives Congress leadership for the office of Senate President and Speaker of the House.

Tinubu similarly met with the Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Abdulrasheed Bawa, for the second time in barely 24 hours.

When he came to the villa on Wednesday, the anti-graft boss had told correspondents that he was there to brief the president.

Fielding questions after their meeting, Lawan affirmed that he gave his opinion to the President on how the leadership of the 10th Assembly should emerge.

He said he had never indicated interest to contest for the post of the senate president in the Assembly, saying that national interest and the interest of the legislature should be the guiding principles in selection of its leaders.

The outgoing Senate President said: “What will inform the emergence will be the national interest, interest of the National Assembly, the legislature together, and therefore everybody matters in this process.

“We also believe that Mr. President having been a Senator himself and his Vice President also having been a Senator, this is something that they will always wish and pray for.

“As the chairman of the 9th National Assembly, I find it dutiful and necessary to work with all the major stakeholders especially the leadership of our country, Mr President particularly to give my necessary opinion and advise on how the new leadership of the National Assembly should emerge and what we need to do to ensure stability, productivity of the National Assembly and to ensure peaceful atmosphere between the legislature and the executive arm of government.

“We are getting somewhere and my prayer is we are able to resolve all the outstanding issues by the grace of God. And Mr President is positively disposed to everything being done smoothly.”

Lawan affirmed that against speculations, he never said he would contest the position in the 10th Senate,

saying: “On a more serious note, I have I never indicated interest to run for the office of the President of the Senate in the 10th National Assembly.

“We have worked together with distinguished senators of the 9th National Assembly and members of House of Representatives to create a very clement environment for us to work.

“We have been productive, much more productive than any National Assembly. We have worked very closely with the administration of President Muhammadu Buhari and of course that helped the administration also.

“My prayer and wish and hope is that we are able to have peaceful transition from those who are outgoing to a new set of leaders of National Assembly and who will continue to unite everybody in the National Assembly, in the senate.

“We want to have a leadership in the senate that will unite senators to work so well regardless of their political parties. The same thing in the House of Representatives.

“But the truth is I have never indicated interest to run but I have a responsibility to the Senate, the National Assembly having been in the National Assembly for 24 years now, especially when we have 70 percent of members in the National Assembly especially in the Senate who are new.

“Those of us who have been there longer owe everybody that responsibility to at least help mentoring those who are new if we are not going

to be presiding officers or hold principal positions.

“I don’t really wish to be one. I have played my part and I am happy that we have played our part, we have made positive impacts but of course, we have had our fair share of shortcomings but I can hold my head high on behalf of all my colleagues in the Senate and the National Assembly that this National Assembly has contributed to national development in no mean measure and have succeeded in getting very critical legislation passed and assented to by the former President.”

Also speaking to correspondents later, Abbas said they discussed issues facing the country with the president including the removal of petroleum subsidy.

The candidate, who represents Kaduna State, denied that the 9th House of Representatives was a rubber stamp, denying that his selection is meant to keep the House compromised.

He argued that the 9th Assembly has been the best in the history of Nigerian’s democracy in terms of cordial relationship with the Executive and what was achieved.

The speakership candidate assured that nobody can manipulate the 360 members of the House of Representatives.

Abbas said everything was being done to carry along members aggrieved over their selection for the posts, assuring that come June 13, all members of the House would speak as one.

Kano governor appoints Accountant-General, 4 heads of agencies

statement by Chief Press Secretary to the governor, Sanusi Bature Dawakin-Tofa yesterday.

He said the governor had also appointed Garba Ahmed-Bichi as the new Managing Director of Kano State Water Board.

This is contained in a

Yusuf, according to the statement, had appointed Dr.

Rahila Mukhtar as Executive Secretary, Kano State Healthcare Contributory Management Agency, KCHMA. Hassan Baba Danbaffa had been appointed as Managing Director, Kano State Road Maintenance Agency, KARMA.

The governor also appointed

Arc. Ibrahim Yakubu, Managing Director, Kano State Urban Planning and Development Authority, KNUPDA.

Dawakin-Tofa stated that the swearing-in ceremony of the appointees would be announced soon to enable them assume office immediately.

From Mustapha Adamu, Kano

Kano state governor, Abba Yusuf has appointed Abdulkadir Abdussalam as the new Accountant General of the state.

(L-R): Hon. G. Tor; Anjor Obande (representing Dr. Betta Edu); Hon. (Dr.) Asabe Bashir, DG NCWD; Folasade Olumo, Convener, Diaspora Support for Asiwaju (DSA-North America) and Hon. Miriam Onuoha, Member House of Reps, at the Victory Celebration and Award Night organised by DSA-North America at the NAF Conference Centre, Abuja recently

Declare state of emergency on drug addiction now - Reps Tinubu

By Christiana Ekpa

The House of Representatives on Thursday asked the Federal Government to declare a state of Emergency on Drug addiction.

The House resolution followed

Hajj 2023: 559 first batch of Jigawa pilgrims airlifts Saudi Arabia

From Mika’il Tsoho, Dutse

The first batch of 559 Jigawa pilgrims have been airlifted from Nuhu Muhammad Sunusi International Airport Dutse to Saudi Arabia for 2023 Hajj exercise.

While speaking at the event, the executive governor of Jigawa state, Malam Umar Namadi urged them to pray for peace and progress in the state.

The governor reminded the intending pilgrims that they are few whom were chosen by almighty God among many.

The intending pilgrims departed the Airport on Wednesday at 4:45 p.m., aboard Max Air and expect their landing at Saudi Arabia Airport by 11:00 pm.

a motion under matters of urgent National importance moved by a member from Benue state Mr Francis Otagbo at plenary on Thursday.

Leading the debate, the lawmaker observed drug addiction is the base of criminal

activities.

He expressed concern on the manner at which the illicit substances are available to the youths thereby painting a bleak future for them.

Otagbo however urged government at all levels, to stop

playing lips service to the keg of gun powder waiting to explode at the detriment of the nation.

Ruling on the motion, the speaker Femi Gbajabiamila called for the establishment of well manned rehabilitation centers across the country to battle the

scourge.

He also mandated relevant committees of the House to ensure that the prayers of the motion were carried out and report back to the House within six days.

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.

L-R: Former President Muhammadu Buhari with Former Sokoto state Governor, Aminu Waziri Tambuwal during Tambuwal’s visit to Daura, Katsina State yesterday.

Niger Gov. urges traders to vacate market on SulejaMadala road

From Yakubu Mustapha Minna

Governor Mohammed Umaru Bago of Niger state has ordered that anyone found selling along the Suleja-Madala road should vacate or be arrested and prosecuted for breaking the law.

Governor Bago gave this instruction as his second executive order upon assumption of office.

The Governor, who insisted that the road is no longer a trading post or market centre for anyone further maintained thet cars parked along the road would equally be impounded to serve as deterrence to others.

He reiterated that the goal was to ensure undisturbed traffic flow along the Suleja-Abuja highway where the market is situated over the years that has claimed lives and property of the marketers and motorists.

He also revealed that while plans are underway to relocate the market to a safer nearby location.

PEPC: We signed election result sheets under duress -PDP witness

By Vivian Okejeme Abuja

The first witness (PW1) of the Peoples Democratic Party PDP and their candidate, Atiku Abubakar, has told the Election Petition Court that he signed election result sheets of the 2023 Presidential election under duress.

He maintained that other party agents were also forced to sign the result sheets in their separate polling units and at the State level.

The PW1, Captain Joe Agada (rtd) revealed that they signed the result sheets under duress when it became clear that the Independent National Electoral Commission INEC would not avail them of the result sheets.

In his evidence in Chief, Captain Agada who claimed to be Kogi State Collation Officer for PDP in the February

25 presidential poll alleged that ballot papers and result sheets were manipulated by compromised Electoral officers in collusion with agents of other political party.

Led in evidence by Atiku’s lead counsel, Chief Chris Uche SAN, the witness alleged that he was present in several polling units where Bimodal Voter Accreditation System BVAS were manipulated in favour of a particular party.

Agada specifically revealed that he visited over 20 polling units in two Senatorial Districts of Kogi State and watched where firms EC8A, EC8B and EC8C were signed under duress by the PDP agents as a condition for the agents to be issued with the result sheets.

Under cross examination by INEC’S lawyer, Abdullahi Aliyu SAN, the witness claimed to have

voted at Ogugu in Olamaboro but that he was allowed to move round to monitor the election because of the Special Election Duty Tag provided him by INEC.

Also under cross examination by Chief Akin Olujimi SAN, counsel to President Tinubu, the witness maintained that he endorsed the collated State Result of the election when the reality dawned on him that he would be denied a copy of the result sheet.

Captain Agada who admitted giving evidence for Atiku in 2019 admitted that he did not put his grievances against the election in his witness deposition on oath.

Similarly cross examined by Prince Lateef Fagbemi SAN on behalf of the All Progressives Congress APC, the witness admitted basing his report on the information supplied him by other agents of the party.

Also, the Second Petition

witness, Dr Solarin Sunday Adekunle, the Ogun State Collation Officer said that he refused to sign the collated results in protest against electoral malpractices.

Led in evidence, the witness alleged that election results were allegedly inflated inflated prompting him to decline signing the result sheets.

The third witness, Barrister Uzoma Nkem Abonta told the Court that the election was a nullify on account of so many irregularities, discrepancies and non compliance with rules of the election.

Abonta said that because INEC failed to electronically transmit elections results, what was declared did not reflect the genuine wish of the people of Abia State.

Matter continues June 2.

JAMB warns public against recruitment fraudsters

Maryam Abeeb

The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) has warned the genes public against unwholesome activities of an employment syndicate operating in Akure, Ondo State, which claims to have been contracted to recruit staff for the Board using a dedicated social media account.

This was made known by the Acting Director Public Affairs, Fabian Benjamin in a statement in Abuja.

The board enjoined t members of the public to disregard such information as it is currently not recruiting in any of its offices nor has it contracted anyone or organisation to do so on its behalf. It reads,” The attention of the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) has been drawn to the unwholesome activities of an employment syndicate operating in Akure, Ondo State, which claims to have been contracted to recruit staff for the Board using a dedicated social media account.

“The syndicate, operating under “Akure Job and Business Advert Forum”, located at Quarters 92 Alagbaka Estate, Near CBN Office, IBB Avenue, Akure, Ondo State, is using the name of JAMB, Ondo State Office, to advertise job vacancies into secretarial and clerical positions in the Board.

“The Board, is by this disclaimer, advising all members of the public to disregard such information as it is currently not recruiting in any of its offices nor has it contracted anyone or

organisation to do so on its behalf. Anybody doing business with the above-mentioned platform or similar ones, does so at his/ her own risk. Furthermore, stiff legal actions will be taken against anyone found culpable of such nefarious acts.

“Members of the public are, therefore, advised to be wary of the shenanigans of mischief makers out to defraud halpess job seekers as all notifications by the Board are made only through its approved.

L-R: Senate President Sen. Ahmed Lawan; President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, and Speaker of House of Representatives, Femi Gbajabiamila, during their Visit to the President at the Presidential Villa Abuja yesterday.

Troops kill 26 terrorists, arrest 22 logistics suppliers, 55 suspected criminals in Borno —DHQ

• As 876 surrender with families

By Tobias Lengnan Dapam

The Nigerian Military said its troops have killed 26 Boko Haram Terrorist/ Islamic State of West Africa Province terrorists, including 1 suicide bomber.

Maj-Gen. Musa

Danmadami, Director, Defence Media Operations, made this known on Thursday in Abuja, while giving update on two weeks Military operations in the country.

He said the troops also arrested 22 terrorist logistics supplier, 2 terrorist spy/

informants, and captured 1 Boko Haram Terrorist fighter as well as apprehended 3 armed robbers and 52 suspected criminals.

“Troops equally rescued 16 abducted civilians while a total of 876 Boko Haram/Islamic State of West Africa Province

terrorists and members of the families comprising of 89 adult males, 249 adult females and 538 children surrendered to troops at different locations within the theatre of operations.

“All recovered items, arrested suspected criminals and rescued kidnapped

civilians have been handed over to the appropriate authority for further action, while the surrendered Boko Haram Terrorist/Islamic State of West Africa Province terrorists and members of their families, were profiled and documented for further action.”

Subsidy: Reps demand Forensic Audit Of N413bn CBN Loan

By Christiana Ekpa

The House of Representatives on Thursday asked the office of the Auditor General of the Federation to undertake a forensic audit to ascertain whether the sum of N413billion borrowed from the Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN for subsidy payments was refunded after the passage of the 2015 budget.

The House equally urged the Government to immediately design measures and palliatives to cushion the effects of the subsidy removal for Nigerians, through the provision of Compressed National Gas, CNG buses with cheaper fuel

consumption.

The House also urged the Executive Arm of government to liaise with the National Assembly to fashion out critical areas of economic development, which the additional revenue from the proposed subsidy removal would be appropriately utilized.

The House resolutions followed it’s Ad-hoc Committee on “Petroleum Products Subsidy Regime in Nigeria from 2013–2022”, report which was considered at the Committee and adopted by the House.

According to the House “the government should also introduce intermodal, regional and national transport system to ease mass movement of people

across the country.

“That the Nigerian Midstream Down Stream Petroleum Regulatory Commission should issue stricter and most appropriate regulations as provided in the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA) to ensure that Nigerians are not shortchanged through profiteering.

“That the Revenue Mobilisation Allocation Committee should lead a reconciliation meeting between NNPCL, FIRS and JVCs and the Commission on the utilization of their crude entitlements.

“With the total deregulation of the sector, all the agencies involved in crude lifting/security should have a representative

with the Nigeria Navy as a lead agency to physically asses and document daily crude production and lifting.”

Other recommendations of the panel, which were equally adopted included that “a further investigation through a forensic audit by the office of the Auditor General of the Federation be made to ascertain whether the N413billion borrowed from the CBN for subsidy payments was refunded after the passage and assent of the 2015 budget as earlier approved by the President and the report of the Auditor General to be submitted to the House for further legislative action.

“With the subsidy removal,

the Government should forthwith suspend all Direct Sales Direct Purchase (DSDP) contracts. NNPCL should act by the provision of the PIA to ensure that the country is not sub-changed in both production, lifting and sales of crude.

“The Nigeria Customs Service and Weight and Measures Department of the Federal Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment be equipped to ascertain the actual daily crude oil lifting from the country for proper checks and balances;

“The Committee recommends that the NEITI Act, 2007 be amended by the National Assembly to be in tune with global best practices.”

APC Presidential Support Committee Chairmen Forum, Chairman, Kaduna State, Alhaji Abdul-Majeed Buhari (5th L); Chairman, Osun State, Mr Shutti Adeniyi-Tofeek (M); General Chairmen, Mr Elijah Ettah-Thompson (6th R); Diaspora, South Africa Chapter, Mr Gbenga Durojaiye (5th R) and others, after a news conference appealing to President Bola Tinubu to endorse Sen. Godswill Akpabio as the 10th Senate President in Abuja on Thursday (1/6/23).

Governors forum leadership: Tinubu congratulates Abdulrazaq, Uzodinma, others

By Egena Sunday Ode

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has congratulated governors who recently emerged as leaders of the Nigerian Governors Forum (NGF) and Progressive Governors Forum (PGF).

The President’s felicitations was contained in a statement from the State House on Thursday signed by Abdulaziz Abdulaziz.

“I congratulate the Governor of Kwara State, His Excellency Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq, on his emergence as the Chairman of the Nigerian Governors Forum (NGF), and the Governor of Imo State, His Excellency Hope Uzodinma, on his election as the Chairman of the Progressive Governors Forum (PGF).

“In the same vein, I also congratulate His Excellency Seyi Makinde, the Governor of Oyo State, and his Kaduna State counterpart, His Excellency Senator Uba Sani, on their elections as deputy chairmen for the two respective forums,” he said.

“Being called upon by their peers to lead them is a testament to the trust and confidence reposed in them by the governors,” President Tinubu added.

The President tasked the new leaders to use their tenures to advance the peace, unity and socioeconomic development of the country and join hands with his administration to engender the Renewed Hope agenda.

“As chief executives of states, governors are critical to the overall success of our administration and the desire for a Nigeria that works for all.

“As an important fulcrum in our journey to a more prosperous and safe country, what states do or do not do matter a lot. I am therefore obliged to ask the new leaders to use their good offices to bring about a convergence of vision between the Federal Government, under my leadership, and governments at the state level.

“It is my prayer that you acquit yourselves diligently in discharging the responsibilities bestowed on you through this election,” President Tinubu added.

Reps ask NIMASA to disburse $700m Cabotage funds

By Christiana Ekpa

The House of Representatives has urged the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency, NIMASA, to continue the planned disbursement of $700 million Cabotage Vessel Finance Funds (CVFF) to Nigerian ship owners.

The Chairman House Committee on Nigerian Content Development Legor Idagbo, disclosed this at a media briefing in Abuja.

He said the decision followed resolutions reached at the sitting of the House last month where it deliberated on a motion on

the Planned Disbursement of $700 Million Cabotage Vessel Finance Fund, investigate the Total Accrual of the Fund, and referred same to the House Committee on Nigerian Content Development.

The lawmaker stated that the Committee requested the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency and the Ministry of Transportation to provide detailed information on the total amount accrued to the Fund and disbursements since inception.

”The Committee met with the Minister of Transportation and the Director General of the Nigerian Maritime

Administration and Safety Agency ({NIMASA) on Thursday, 11 May, 2023 to find out about the details concerning the matter. After a thorough analysis of the various submissions on the matter coupled with the explanations given by the Ministry and NIMASA, the Committee discovered that due process was followed in the planned disbursement of the Cabotage Vessel Finance Fund.

“ The Committee notes that the Cabotage Vessel Finance Fund (CVFF) is a fund that was set up in 2003 by the Coastal and Inland Shipping Act.

According to him, the Fund

was established for the purpose of developing indigenous ship acquisition capacity, and to provide financial assistance to indigenous shipping operators.

Idagbo explained that the committee realized that there is a lack of Capacity amongst indigenous/ Domestic Coastal operators in Nigeria, thus the reason Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation Limited (NNPCL) still awards contracts to foreign shipping Companies.

He however urged NIMASA to ensure that the disbursement does not violate any of the extant laws made by the National Assembly.

American University Yola’s New President pledges to add value to education

From Umar Dankano,Yola.

The New Vice Chancellor and president of the American University of Nigeria (AUN)

Yola, Dr.DeWayne Frazier has pledged eto use the best American and Nigerian concepts in moulding the minds of under graduates for greater human and social developments in the African Continent and the world at large.

Dr.Frazier made the disclosure in Yola Thursday during an interactive

session with journalists regarding his assumption of office as the president few weeks ago, stressing that his vision is to ensure that,the University’s feat of performance is taken to the next level better than he made it.

Frazier charged the students especially Nigerians to count themselves lucky for having the support and opportunity to further their education to higher level which will impact their families and country as a whole.

As the sixth President of the University since inception in 2003,Frazier said he will be using his first six months for learning both the American and Nigerian educational systems and statdards so as to blend the two together for desired outcome of American education style. He stated that education is the best weapon used in changing the world noting that AUN as a development institution is just doing its part as a catalyst in education

sector.

“This dream, the dream of an American University right here in Nigeria is one of the most important and profound in 21st century Nigeria education.

“Our students get the best of both worlds,a University with a uniquely designed American curriculum that focuses on a student learner-based system full of real world experience and classroom engagement that you will not find outside the walls of our campus”. Frazier added.

The president appealed to all and sundry to support and cooperate with his new leadership in the University so as to achieve the desired goal of developing our children and societies for global challenges.

Earlier in his response, Chairman of the Correspondents’Chapel of NUJ,Adamawa state chapter,Mr. Padio Phineas promised to maintain a harmonious working relationship with the University especially in information dissemination.

From left: APC Presidential Support Committee Chairmen Forum, General Chairman, Mr Elijah Ettah-Thompson; Chairman, Niger State, Mr Bawa Arah and Chairman, Oyo State, Mr Iyiola Aremu-Olayiwola, during a news conference appealing to President Bola Tinubu to endorse Sen. Godswill Akpabio as the 10th Senate President in Abuja on Thursday (1/6/23).

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.”

Presidential election: Obi, LP challenge 18 states results

By Vivian Okejeme Abuja

The Labour Party (LP) and it’s presidential candidate Mr Peter Obi confirmed to the Presidential Election Petition Court (PEPC) that out of the 36 states of the Federation, they will be challenging the election results of 18 states.

At today’s proceeding, the Petitioners, through their counsel, Chief Emeka Okpoko SAN, tendered certified true copies of electoral documents obtained from the Independent National Electoral Commission’s Results Viewing Portal(IREV) in only six states.

Breakdown of the tendered and admitted documents so far showed the Forms EC8As in 15 Local Government Areas of Rivers State, 23 in Benue, 18 in Cross River, 23 in Niger State, 20 in Osun and 16 in Ekiti Local Government Areas.

Reacting, INEC represented by Kemi Pinhero SAN, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and his Vice, Kashim Shetima, represented by Adebayo Adelodun SAN, as well as All Progressives Congress APC represented by Chief Afolabi Fashanu SAN, said they are opposing the admissibility of the electoral documents.

The Respondents confirmed they have

gone through the documents sought to be tendered and will be given reasons for objection when presenting their written addresses.

Consequently, the panel of the court led by Justice Haruna Tsammani admitted the documents as exhibits.

Meantime, further hearing in the petition has been shifted to June 2, at the instance of the Petitioners.

Obi and LP approached the PEPC, challenging the declaration of President Bola Tinubu as the winner of the February 25 presidential election.

Fuel subsidy: Adebayo, SDP presidential candidate accuses labour unions of hypocrisy

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”.

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.

L-R: Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal Oladayo Amao; Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Awwal Gambo; Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), General Lucky Irabor, and Chief of Army, Faruk Yahaya, after the Security meeting with President at the Presidential Villa Abuja yesterday

Subsidy removal is a courageous decision by President Tinubu —Group

From: Femi Oyelola, Kaduna

AGroup under the auspices of the Arewa Youth Assembly (AYA) has called for understanding, calm, and support for the President Bola Ahmed Tinubu administration over removal of subsidy on Premium Motor Spirit (PMS), better known as petrol, and the adjustment of pump prices.

Speaking to journalists in Kaduna, the Speaker, Arewa Youth Assembly, Mohammed Salihu Danlami, said the removal of the subsidy is a tough but courageous decision, which previous administration failed to take.

He noted that it is very thoughtful, a sign of good faith and continuity for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to keep up with the subsidy removal, which foundation was laid by the immediate past administration.

He also commended the efforts of Nigerian National Petroleum Coperation Ltd

In addressing the nation and promptly making adjustments

Hajj 2023: 559 first batch of Jigawa pilgrims airlifts Saudi Arabia

From Mika’il Tsoho, Dutse

The first batch of 559 Jigawa pilgrims have been airlifted from Nuhu Muhammad Sunusi International Airport Dutse to Saudi Arabia for 2023 Hajj exercise.

While speaking at the event, the executive governor of Jigawa state, Malam Umar Namadi urged them to pray for peace and progress in the state.

The governor reminded the intending pilgrims that they are few whom were chosen by almighty God among many.

The intending pilgrims departed the Airport on Wednesday at 4:45 p.m., aboard Max Air and expect their landing at Saudi Arabia Airport by 11:00 pm.

to the price of PMS to tackle fuel hoarders.

Danlami noted that Nigeria has previously paid an average of N120 billion monthly petrol subsidy.

He urged Nigerians to remain calm, apply wisdom and understanding, and resist the temptation and instigation by those fanning the embers of hate to cause chaos and instability in the country.

He further noted that subsidy removal is in conformity with the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA Act) 2021, which provides for total deregulation of the petroleum downstream section to drive investment and growth.

The Assembly president decried the fact that subsidy has been the reason why Nigeria has remained stagnant for years because it benefits only a few rich Nigerians who don’t even need the subsidy.

According to Danlami, few top politicians and key government officials were making billions of dollars of subsidy while Nigerians were unable to afford quality education, healthcare,

infrastructure, electricity, telecommunications, stable power supply, agriculture and are faced with high rate of un-employment and extreme poverty.

He maintained that with subsidy payment, even if oil prices increase in the global market, Nigeria and Nigerians benefit nothing because the gains from the increase in oil prices are channelled to paying subsidies.

He stressed that in the opinion of the Arewa Youths, which reflects the opinion of most Nigerians, payment of the subsidy is a waste of resources and misplacement of priority with lethal consequences to the nation.

Subsidy has fatal effects of inflationary pressures on the economy, which negatively impacts the exchange rates and results in all kinds of untold sufferings of Nigerian Masses and pushes millions of youths into different forms of terrorist activities and insurgency.

He argued that the continued payment of subsidy will lead Nigeria to continue to borrow

and remain in debt, noting that between January and August of 2021, a total of N905.27 billion has been incurred as subsidy costs, according to the Federation Account and Allocation Committee reports. As of 2022, the cost of servicing debt in Nigeria with the federal government was N2.597 trillion, whereas revenue was N2.4 trillion. With this, no meaningful development in other key areas is feasible.

He further stated that as a developing nation, Nigeria must do more than just survive or live in the moment, Nigeria must make developments in all sectors as central to our existence, however, Nigeria cannot do that as much as she continues to pay subsidy to few Nigerians who are already rich at the detriment of over 200 million more Nigerians. By any standard sensible, we cannot possibly eat our cake and have it.

To continue to pay subsidy is to intentionally rob the future of the generation yet unborn; it is to deliberately slide our nation into recession, high inflation rates,

hunger, extreme poverty, and starvation.

We should not, we cannot continue to pay subsidies in this country if we want to have Nigeria as a nation in the next decades to come.

Therefore, the Arewa Youth Assembly calls on Nigerians to support the removal of subsidy in order to save all, and desist from politicising it, or bringing in religion or ethnicity, because the danger that awaits if we continue to pay subsidy is coming for all Nigerians irrespective of their political inclination, tribe or religion.

It is a tough and painful decision to make, but certainly the right step towards the right direction, to save not just a few, but the entire nation, to restoring the glory of Nigeria as the leader of Africa.

In conclusion, the speaker strongly cautioned against hoarding PMS for safety concerns and to allow its continuous flow through the proper channels to ensure its availability and affordability.

National Chairman of APC, Senator Abdullahi Adamu (middle) in hand Shake with GMD NNPC, Malam Mele Kyari, wither members of APC National Working Committee, during the meeting

With GMD, at the Party’s Secretariate, yesterday in Abuja. Photo: Mahmud Isa

Group trains teachers, students on disaster risk reduction in Kaduna

From: Femi Oyelola, Kaduna

TheWorld 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.

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.

Niger Gov. terminates appointments of political appointees

From Yakubu Mustapha Minna

Niger State Governor, Hon. Mohammed Umar Bago has directed the immediate termination of the appointment of all political appointees in the state.

A statement issued by Aishatu T. Usman, Permanent Secretary, Political Affairs, explained that those affected by the termination include, Directors General, Coordinators, Project Managers, Senior Special Assistants, Special Assistants, Political Assistants,

Ward Ambassadors and Personal Assistants to Political Appointees.

The statement added, “statutory Commissions and Niger State and Local Government Pension Boards are exempted from the termination, stressing that they should continue to hold office

as stipulated by relevant laws governing their appointments.”

The governor also ordered the Political Appointees to hand over the affairs of their offices to the Permanent Secretaries or most senior officer in their respective agencies.

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.

Motorists queue to buy fuel at a petrol station at the Central Business District, yesterday in Abuja. Photo; Mahmud Isa

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).”

Gov Namadi appoints Bala Mamser as SSG, Mustapha 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).

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

31/5/23

HYPPADEC inaugurate 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.

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.

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

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Between AON, United Nigeria and Nigeria Air

By Kunle Bankole

Asimple Google search would have shown Mr. Okonkwo and his AON colleagues that Ethiopian Airlines has over 77 years of successful global airline experience. They are the largest carrier in Africa and ranks amongst the 30 largest airlines in the world. Ethiopian Airlines earned $6 billion in revenue and about $1 billion in profits in 2022 alone. They have over 140 modern aircraft in their fleet and have been operating successfully in Nigeria since independence. That isa good pedigree.

Nigerians woke up to the news of the unveiling of Nigeria Air on Friday, 26th May 2023. The Federal government of Nigeria has been on this national carrier project for a long time, so it is good to see that finally, the project is at this present stage.

Given what the former Minister of Aviation, Hadi Sirika, under former President Muhammadu Buhari said, Ethiopian Airlines, following a competitive bid was selected as the preferred technical partner. He also said that, unlike the arrangement of the past, under the defunct Nigeria Airways and Air Nigeria, Nigeria Air will be fully private sector-driven. Ethiopian Airline Consortium has a 49% shareholding in the joint venture, Nigerian Institutional investors have 46% while the Federal Government of Nigeria has a 5% shareholding in the new National Carrier.

Obviously, it is in our national economic and strategic interest to have a national carrier. The benefits are many. For example, several jobs will be created. There will be job roles for pilots, engineers, flight attendants, office staff such as accountants, Human Resources personnel, and so on. Support services including caterers and cleaners etc. will also be required. Nigeria can earn foreign exchange from people buying tickets in foreign currencies as the airline will operate both domestic and international routes. Foreign investors will come in, and Nigeria will be able to fully utilize its many airports. Many of them are underutilized at the moment. Nigeria Air will fly to those destinations following viable economic models. There will be increased training for airline staff, and the establishment of aircraft maintenance, repair, and overhaul (MRO) facilities in Nigeria.

We all know what airline passengers are suffering at the moment in the hands of airline operators. Incessant flight delays and cancellations, poor services, and high ticket costs. Nigeria Air will lead to increased competition in Nigeria’s aviation industry and it is the passengers that will

be the ultimate beneficiaries. There will be more choices for air passengers. With the setting up of Nigeria Air, Nigeria will also be able to fully utilize the Bilateral Air Service Agreements (BASA) it has signed with other countries.

Perhaps, it is as a result of fear of competition that some operators under the aegis of Airline Operators of Nigeria (AON) have been battling the setting up of Nigeria Air. What have they to lose if not that they want to maintain the status quo and keep on depriving Nigerian air travelers of good services?

Are members of AON more patriotic and intelligent than officials of the federal government including the Ministry of Aviation, Federal Executive Council, FAAN, and other stakeholders that have diligently pursued the setting up of Nigeria Air?

It is surprising that on the same day that the unveiling of Nigeria Air took place, MrObiora Okonkwo, Chairman of United Nigeria Airways was on national television demarketing Nigeria Air on behalf of AON. He knew the truth and chose to lie on national television just for selfish economic reasons. It is only in Nigeria that non-patriots like Mr. Okonkwo will walk around castigating the federal government and sabotaging its efforts, in this case, the setting up of Nigeria Air.

According to reports, Nigeria Air will begin full flight operations by the third quarter of 2023. What happened on the 26th of May 2023 was only a launch. It was done

in collaboration with Ethiopian Airlines, the winning technical partner of the project. Members of AON wonder why Ethiopian Airlines should be selected as the preferred partner, but chose to be blind to the open and transparent process that led to their selection in line with international best practices, and along the guidelines of Nigeria’s Infrastructure Concession Regulatory Commission (ICRC).

A simple Google search would have shown Mr. Okonkwo and his AON colleagues that Ethiopian Airlines has over 77 years of successful global airline experience. They are the largest carrier in Africa and ranks amongst the 30 largest airlines in the world. Ethiopian Airlines earned $6 billion in revenue and about $1 billion in profits in 2022 alone. They have over 140 modern aircraft in their fleet and have been operating successfully in Nigeria since independence. That isa good pedigree.

While we do not like to hear about negative incidents in our aviation sector since a sustainable ecosystem is what we all desire, Mr.Obiora Okonkwo should better devote his time to managing United Nigeria Airways and running it as a safe and reliable carrier. Just on the morning of Thursday, 1st of June 2023, Nigeria’s major news channels reported that a United Nigeria Airlines Embraer 145 flight with 50 passengers on Wednesday, 31st of May, 2023, skidded off runway 18L at Murtala Mohammed Airport terminal 2 in Lagos. The aircraft flew in from ChubaOkadigbo airport in Abakaliki, Ebonyi State when the incident happened. Investigators are already looking into this incident.

United Nigeria Airways which also flies the Anambra Airport route has also not done much on that route. It is still flying its small jets on that route. It was cringe-worthy watching Mr. Okonkwo on national television praising his colleague Allen Onyema of Airpeace and talking about the number of aircraft Airpeace planned to bring in later in the year. He struggled to sell Nigerians a dummy that Airpeace should have gotten the technical partnership with Nigeria Air. Mr. Okonkwo should have been talking about the aircraft United Nigeria Airways planned to bring in. Airpeace is not United Nigeria and he should stop hiding under AON to wage a proxy war against Nigeria Air, and indirectly against the federal government of Nigeria. Such shameless and ignoble blackmail will not work. Nigerians are wiser. Nigeria Air has come to stay and will fly Nigeria’s flag to near and distant destinations. This should be a source of pride for us all.

Bankole is an Aviation enthusiast.

By Isaac Asabor

The activities of Charlene Ruto prompted questions over whether she was using taxpayers’ money, in December 2022 when she created the office, she denied that public money was being used to fund what she called the “Office of the First Daughter”.

If there is a frivolous act that can be said to have been enmeshed in the mud of silliness that characterize Nigeria’s democracy, it is no doubt the cantankerous and overzealous phenomenon been promoted by wives of politicians; from one political dispensation to the other, so much that they meddle into the functions that constitutionally fall within the purview of their husbands, and this has in the recent times become irritating to not a few Nigerians, particularly dispassionate political observers among them. The reason for this cannot be far-fetched when the following viewpoints are taken into consideration.

First and foremost, their husbands were elected into political positions by the people based on the confidence reposed in them. Also, given the political antecedents of most of these politicians, the people saw them as those who may be able to fulfil their promises to the people; their wives were not elected into political offices. Also, given the same electioneering situation which their husbands faced before being considered to be voted for by the people, there is the likelihood that most politicians’ wives or specifically first ladies that are today meddling in governance would fail woefully, even at their wards when given the opportunities to run for a given political position.

Secondly, the unrestrained manner with which these women arrogate constitutionally defined and assigned responsibilities to themselves may likely usurp the functions of technocrats and professionals in Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs) that are duly and constitutionally charged with carrying out the responsibilities the first ladies are today meddling in. Though their intentions seem

altruistic, distrusting enough, they may become an avenue for looting public funds.

Despite the fact that many Nigerians see the existence of the office of the first lady as unconstitutional and an aberration, Folasade Tinubu-Ojo, the Iyaloja-general of Lagos, has updated her Twitter bio with the title ‘first daughter of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (FRN)’ following the inauguration of President Bola Tinubu inauguration to office on Monday, May 29, 2023.

In fact, when the attention of the foregoing unconstitutional move was drawn to a cerebral colleague of this writer, he said Nigeria is not Kenya, and jokingly dismissed the political development by saying that “It could be that someone is playing a prank, or flying a kite”.

Against the foregoing backdrop, his reference to Kenya can be understood from the perspective of the fact that last year, Charlene Ruto, the second eldest daughter of President William Ruto and Mama Rachel Ruto left an audience aghast

when she introduced the team members of what she called the Office of The First Daughter.

However, when the flurry of criticisms and condemnations seemed to be unbearable to the father over her daughter’s unconstitutional act, President Ruto denied the existence of such an office. Ruto told journalists at State House, Nairobi thus, “Leave my daughter Charlene alone, you know these are kids, they’re just being children, you know very well that there is no such office. She is just being the daughter of William Ruto and sometimes she doesn’t know the divide between the President and the Father.”

The activities of Charlene Ruto prompted questions over whether she was using taxpayers’ money, in December 2022 when she created the office, she denied that public money was being used to fund what she called the “Office of the First Daughter”.

She said: “The Office of the First Daughter is a private entity. It is neither a constitutional office nor is it being funded by the Kenyan taxpayer.”

Charlene said she referred to the entity handling her diary as the Office of the First Daughter in a private capacity, and not a public-funded office.

In a press statement on Wednesday, December 14, 2022, Charlene clarified that the office was neither constitutional nor was it drawing funds from the National Treasury.

The president’s daughter came under sharp criticism on Tuesday, December 13, 2022, when she introduced her delegation to Tanzania as members of staff at the Office of the First Daughter.

Given the foregoing, it is germane to urge the newly sworn-in Nigeria’s president, Bola Ahmed Tinubu, to call her daughter to order, and assure Nigerians, that the Office Of The President’s Daughter which her daughter seems to be introducing to Nigeria and Nigerians seems as if she is pranking Nigerians or she is flying a kite and should tell Nigerians that such office does not exist.

Isaac Asabor is a Public Policy Analyst.

If there is a frivolous act that can be said to have been enmeshed in the mud of silliness that characterize Nigeria’s democracy, it is no doubt the cantankerous and overzealous phenomenon been promoted by wives of politicians

It is surprising that on the same day that the unveiling of Nigeria Air took place, MrObiora Okonkwo, Chairman of United Nigeria Airways was on national television de-marketing Nigeria Air on behalf of AON

“

‘Office of the first daughter’: Is it a prank, or a kite being flown?

Good emotional attachment, parental adjustment: Essential factors for family-nation building

By Caleb Onah

These individuals are more likely to develop strong interpersonal skills, respect diversity, ethnicity, religions differences and work towards the common good of everyone around. In addition, emotionally secure individuals are less prone to engaging in anti-social behaviors such as crime – robbery, phone snatching and violence, or substance abuse.

Nation building is a complex and multifaceted process that requires the collective efforts of its citizens. While economic and political factors in Nigeria often take center stage in discussions on nation building, the role of strong emotional attachment and effective parental adjustment cannot be overlooked as it is a core factor of rapid growth and economy sustenance, because a country that lacks good moral standard and secure attachment slow down growth and progress. These factors play a crucial role in shaping the character, values, and resilience of future generations, thereby contributing significantly to the development and stability of our country.

Emotional attachment, the bond and connection individuals develop with their guidance, parents or primary caregivers is a key factor in sustaining good democracy. It serves as the foundation for healthy emotional and social development. When Nigerian children experience a secure emotional attachment, they tend to develop a sense of trust, empathy, and self-esteem, which are vital for their overall well-being.

Such emotional stability provides them with a solid foundation to navigate the challenges they will encounter while living in Nigeria as they grow into adulthood and navigating through the difficult life and challenges of survival and reproduction living in Nigeria. In the context of nation building, Nigerians with a secure emotional attachment are more likely to possess positive traits that contribute to the overall betterment our country, and society.

They are more likely to exhibit more empathy, compassion, and respect for others and the difficult world around. These qualities foster a sense of unity and cooperation, allowing everyone to work together towards shared goals. Furthermore, when Nigerians, individual and groups are emotionally secure they are better equipped to handle stress of different forms and adversity, enabling them to contribute positively to their communities even in challenging times. In-between, when guidance, parents and social support providers are emotionally attuned to their children or wards’ needs and demonstrate consistent care and support; it fosters healthy emotional and cognitive development.

Children raised in such an environment are more likely to take calculated risks, develop a sense of responsibility, self-discipline, and moral values for themselves and others. They are better equipped to make sound decisions, engage in positive social interactions, and contribute meaningfully

to their communities.

Researchers and academic have further discovered that, good emotional attachment and parental adjustment can have a profound and lasting impact on nation building. As regard to the Nigeria children, when we create an atmosphere for them to grow up in an environment where their emotional needs are ‘met’, they are more likely to become well-rounded individuals who value social harmony and contribute positively to society. They do not only criticize the government, but provide meaningful and lasting solution to challenges being encountered in their society.

These individuals are more likely to develop strong interpersonal skills, respect diversity, ethnicity, religions differences and work towards the common good of everyone around. In addition, emotionally secure individuals are less prone to engaging in anti-social behaviors such as crime –robbery, phone snatching and violence, or substance abuse.

This creates a safer and more stable society, which is vital for the Nigeria progress and development as a whole. Moreover, the positive influence of good emotional attachment and parental adjustment extends beyond individual families, but to a global scale. When we have a critical mass of emotionally secure individuals in our society and Nigeria, it creates a ripple effect, promoting collective well-being and social cohesion at a larger scale.

To foster good emotional attachment and parental adjustment, societies of every kind, Nigeria and Nigerians must invest in creating supportive structures and policies. These can include accessible healthcare, quality education, affordable childcare facilities, and social welfare programs that provide support for parents and caregivers. By recognizing the importance of emotional well-being in the early years of every Nigerian child’s life and offering the necessary resources, we can empower parents to fulfill their role effectively.

Caleb Onah is a Public Affairs Analyst.

The surge of extreme hunger in Africa

By Agbaje Ayomide

It is no gainsaying the fact that there can be no sustainable reduction of hunger in Africa without the expedient need to ensure food security.

Over the past years, immense efforts have been made by the governments, stakeholders, non-governmental organizations and reputable international bodies to end hunger crisis and curtail food insecurity most African countries are confronted with. According to the Food and Agricultural Organization (FAO) of the United Nations, about 153 million people suffered from severe food insecurity in sub-Saharan Africa. Millions of people especially in the rural areas have died as a result of chronic starvation, and putting others at great risk of suffering from the famine in drought-prone areas while many have been displaced and become refugees in faraway regions in desperate search for food and to secure their livelihoods. This disaster has over time had its widespread effect to almost all African countries with an exponential increase, thereby requiring an exigent need for humanitarian intervention more than ever before.

Root causes on a broader perspective

However, different root causes can be linked to the disaster that has ravaged the continent; varying from poverty, conflicts, climate change (drought and adverse weather conditions), environmental degradation, high food prices and harsh economic realities. Children are often the worst affected, with their health and education largely and drastically impacted – mostly with disease outbreaks. 66 million primary school-age children attend classes in school hungry across the world, with 23 million in Africa alone. Poor nutrition causes nearly half (45 per cent) of deaths in children under five – 3.1 million children each year. One in four of the world’s children suffer stunted growth. In under-developed and developing countries, the proportion can rise to one in three. In fact, in the most recent estimate, approximately 239 million people in sub-Saharan Africa were hungry. Out of those, 30 percent were undernourished.

These root causes create a vicious cycle that seems to be very difficult to break. When conflicts endure, people would flee their homes and communities to others and are unable to plant crops and harvest the farm produces. Then less foods get harvested, prices nosedive, putting the survival prospects of families in abyss in the face of the closure of market avenues. Conflicts, in most situations, worsen because humanitarian agencies often cannot access the

affected communities to bring emergency aids and reliefs. However, droughts have become more frequent and intense in recent years in Africa. These droughts affect food-production systems in fragile contexts in similar ways that conflict does. Less food and water also means vast numbers of dead livestock in affected areas. These devastate families’ source of income and food, and thus perpetuates the cycle of poverty and deprivation.

Nigeria in context

Nigeria, like in most African countries, has also had its own fair share of food crisis, plunging her into a perpetual state of poverty and as such more hunger. Hundreds of families particularly in the Northern part of the country survive on meager handouts for subsistence, thus making their children suffer from malnutrition and infectious diseases. Sadly, these malnourished children are always left in unkempt looks and torn clothes roaming the streets with small bowls in hands begging for money and food from passers-by, thereby making them vulnerable to the dangers and threats of the society. This has come to be their way of life due to the circumstances that bring about nutritional challenges, perhaps with no hope for an improved state of affairs and a better future. For example, ‘Almajiri’ is one the phenomena the group of these children are often referred to. This system has grossly abused their right to quality education, proper nutrition, good health and security. This makes one wonder what becomes the fate of the commons and the future of these children.

This is not far from the case as it is with other African states. For instance, 6 million people in the East African region are displaced due to conflict and drought, making them heavily dependent on humanitarian assistance to meet their needs. Also, communicable diseases threaten the lives of children. More than 131,000 cases of acute watery diarrhea or cholera were reported in Ethiopia, Somalia, and Kenya during 2017, according to the World Health Organization (WHO). In recent times, NGOs are now springing up in heavy waves to fight for the rights and call for the social inclusion of the vulnerable children and hungry masses on the continent.

The way forward

Organizations, like the Journalism for SDGs, should continue increasing the public awareness about the plights of those affected by hunger crises through media advocacy in a bid to project their untold stories and draw global attention. This will also be in pursuit of the much-needed policies and reforms through the strategic engagement of the government at all levels, policymakers and

involved stakeholders to take decisive actions geared towards the attainment of the UN Sustainable Development Goals 2 for the world – `Zero Hunger.’ For an effective advocacy drive, aspects of visual documentary can be incorporated into campaigns to foster engagement and mobilization.

According to the United Nations, agriculture is the single largest employer in the world, providing livelihoods for 40 per cent of today’s global population. It is the largest source of income and jobs for poor rural households. 500 million small farms worldwide provide up to 80% of food consumed in a large part of the developing world. The agriculture sector offers key solutions for sustainable development, and is central for hunger and poverty eradication. Therefore, more research projects in agriculture, as well as food processing and storage should be done in an effort to explore the realities surrounding the inadequacy of food in Africa, and as such recommend measures to address this pressing issue on the continent.

It is no gainsaying the fact that there can be no sustainable reduction of hunger in Africa without the expedient need to ensure food security. And one of the veritable ways this can be achieved is through massive, disruptive agrarian revolution hinged on the integration of an advanced level of technology into the agricultural sector. If this strategy and model of modern technologies should be leveraged upon to improve the system of agricultural outputs and enable efficient storage, the seemingly vicious cycle of hunger is bound to intercept in the long term by making food accessible to the people.

The philanthropists, however, also have a crucial to play by making provision for emergency food aids, disaster reliefs, clean water, sanitation and healthcare services, and education to hungry children and families in African communities. Also, foreign investors should take a chance on investing funds in greenhouse farming and rural development schemes aimed at empowering impoverished families in the rural areas to take up small-scale farming and build sustainable business enterprises. These will not only go a long way in alleviating hunger and fighting poverty by providing jobs and generate decent incomes as means of livelihood at the grassroots level, but also in achieving food security, improving nutrition and standard of living, and promoting sustainable agricultural practices on the continent.

Agbaje Ayomide is a board member at the Journalism for SDGs.

Such emotional stability provides them with a solid foundation to navigate the challenges they will encounter while living in Nigeria as they grow into adulthood

“

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”.

Concede Senate Presidency to Kalu, Shettima pleads with Yari

From: Femi Oyelola, Kaduna

The leader of the Arewa Youth Consultative Forum (AYCF), Alhaji Yerima

Shettima has pleaded with the former Governor of Zamfara State and frontline Senate Presidential aspirant, Senator Abdulaziz Yari to concede the Senate President to the former Governor of Abia State and Chief Whip of the Senate, Senator Orji Uzor Kalu.

Addressing newsmen in Kaduna yesterday, Shettima

hinted that allowing a South Easterner and a Christian to be the Senate President will help to strengthen the unity of the country.

He said the partnership between Senator Yari and Senator Kalu is well accepted in the North and have received silent endorsements across the country.

According to him,” We are happy with the strong partnership between the North and South with Senator Abdulaziz Yari and Senator Orji Uzor Kalu. We are

aware they are yet to formally announce to Nigerians who becomes the Senate President and who becomes the deputy. We are happy that the two are ready to accept the decisions between the two groups.

“We also know that Yari has an upper hand in the partnership since he has about 42 Senators while Kalu has about 27 senators making the partnership to have 69 Senators in their fold. But we are appealing to Yari to consider the future of the country at this critical time and accept the Deputy

Senate President position. There is actually no difference between the Senate President and Deputy Senate President since the two are presiding officers.

“We only think that for religious balancing and for peace and unity of the country, the South East deserves to produce the Senate President. Senator Uzor Kalu is a detribalised Nigerian who has built relationships across all regions. He is very close with President Tinubu and his family. He is close to the North and the South South. “

From left: Mobilization Officer, Free Nigeria Movement (FNM), Princess Licia; President, African Emancipation Movement for Good Governance, Comrade Lucky Obiyan; Convener of FNM, Dr Moses Paul; and Co-Convener, Comrade Oby Elekwa, during a news conference against fuel subsidy removal without cushioning effect on alleged suffering Nigerians, in Abuja on Thursday (1/6/23).

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.

Inauguration: Northern elders hail president Tinubu, governors

By Abubakar Yunusa

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, Hakeem Baba-Ahmed 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.”

Gov Otu orders Ayade’s appointees to vacate buildings, return vehicles

By Musa Baba Adamu Governor

Bassey Otu of Cross River State has ordered that further auctioning of government properties in any part of the state should halt immediately.

The governor has also directed that past government officials still in possession of official vehicles and other properties should return them immediately.

In a statement signed by Dr. Innocent Eteng, the

Permanent Secretary in the General Administration Office of the Secretary to the State Government, the governor also dissolved all governing boards of parastatals, commissions, and agencies other than statutory boards.

He directed that all local government council chairmen, upon expiration of their tenure, hand over to their respective Heads of Local Government Administration (HOLGAS) or Directors-General and

Administration (DGSAS) of their local governments.

Otu has also ordered that all government properties, including buildings hitherto occupied by political appointees, be vacated with immediate effect, instructing such affected appointees to hand over to their permanent secretaries or most senior directors.

The statement said: “Political appointees and other public officers still keeping government vehicles are to return them

forthwith to the Transport Officer, Office of the Governor. All auctioning of assets are hereby suspended and will be revisited in due course.”

The governor frowned at the highhandedness and harshness of tax and revenue agents and dissolved their committees immediately.

Otu said further allocations of lands and other related matters should be suspended until further notice.

CNPP urges caution in petrol subsidy removal, says APC worsening suffering

By Christiana Ekpa

Conference Of Nigeria

Parties (CNPP) has urged the Federal Government to exercise caution in implementation of the its petrol subsidy removal, saying that the policy is worsening the suffering of the masses.

In a statement signed by its Deputy National Publicity Secretary, Comrade James Ezema, the CNPP noted that the All Progressives Congress (APC) has continued its “anti-people agenda under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu administration thereby worsening the suffering

of the Nigerian masses.”

According the CNPP, “contrary to President’s recent tweet after his “subsidy is gone” inaugural declaration, which created the impression that the implementation of subsidy removal will commence at the end of June, the policy has taken immediate effect.

“The CNPP is therefore disturbed that without any cushioning scheme to mitigate the negative impact of the policy on the masses, the Federal Government has gone ahead to increase pump price of petrol nationwide.

“As desirable as subsidy

removal on petrol may be, a government that has the masses at heart would have first put in place intervention programmes to ensure that Nigerians do not continue to suffer unduly.

“For instance, a total rehabilitation of the nation’s refineries or construction of new ones and introduction of subsidised mass transportation schemes as well as improvement on the nation’s railway system are just a few of such intervention schemes that should be in place before the total deregulation of the downstream sector of the Nigerian petroleum industry.

“We therefore call on

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to reconsider the timing of his full implementation of the subsidy removal policy to first put in place measures that would reduce the burden of the policy on already impoverished masses of the country.

“With the unprecedented poverty and job losses in the last eight years of the previous APC administration, it may be catastrophic to increase the suffering of the masses without commensurate measures to enhance the welfare of the ordinary citizens”, the CNPP warned.

Governorship election tribunal inaugurated in Kaduna

By Ikechukwu Okaforadi

Athree-man panel of the election tribunal handling the petitions filed by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and its gubernatorial candidate, Isa Ashiru, alongside other political parties was inaugurated in Kaduna on Thursday.

The PDP had challenged the victory of the Kaduna State governor, Uba Sani of

the All Progressives Congress (APC), with claims that the last governorship election in the state was manipulated in favour of the incumbent governor.

In his inaugural speech, the chairman of the panel, Justice Victor O. Oviawe, promised to ensure that the tribunal upholds and works within the ambit of the provisions of the constitution.

According to Justice Oviawe, “The Tribunal will be just, and

fair and do the right thing in the interest of the public.”

Speaking further, he sought the cooperation of the bar to enable the court to make timely delivery in line with the provisions of the electoral act.

In his remarks, the chairman of the Nigeria Bar Association (NBA), Tajudeen Muhammed, assured the panel of the NBA’s support, adding that the bar would give the utmost cooperation to the

bench throughout the process of the case.

Other members of the panel are Justice D.A. Damulak and Justice N. Nonye.

The tribunal also said it would be sitting daily to ensure its task was completed within the stipulated time.

The leading counsel to Governor Uba Sani, Bayo Ojo, assured them of their cooperation and committed to defending their

clients appropriately.

The leading counsel to the PDP gubernatorial candidate in the 2023 election, Samuel Atung, said they have been assured by the tribunal at its inaugural sitting that there would be justice, saying that as members of the bar, they have abiding faith in the tribunal that justice will be served.

Chairman House on Nigeria Content Development Hon. Legor Idagbo during a press briefing at National Assembly, yesterday in Abuja.

Photo: Mahmud Isa

By Musa Baba Adamu

Senator Nicholas Tofowomo representing Ondo South in the National Assembly, has stated that he would rather retire from politics than abandon the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, which has provided him with significant benefits.

The Senator emphasized the need to reassure his constituents and the PDP following the defection of Senator Ayo Akinyelure from Ondo Central to the All Progressive Congress, APC, during a Senate plenary on Wednesday.

Though Tofowomo commended Akinyelure’s representation of the people of Ondo Central, he wished him well in his new political party.

He said: “I will rather leave active politics than leave the PDP through which God has made me. I was a two-term commissioner for transport in Ondo State on the platform of the PDP. I obtained God’s mercy thereafter to become a distinguished Senator of the Federal Republic of Nigeria under the same PDP.

“I am grateful to God for fulfilling most of my desires within the PDP. As a result, I want to assure my constituents and the party leadership that I have no intention of leaving the PDP for any other political party.

“While it’s true that our party is currently experiencing some challenges, particularly in Ondo State, I recognize that these are internal issues that are common to all political parties and can be resolved amicably.

“As for my elder brother, Senator Ayo Akinyelure, who recently left the party, I wish him well and pray that God will continue to bless him for his contributions to the growth and development of our party and the Ondo Central region, regardless of where he finds himself in the future.”

By Christiana Ekpa

Ahead of the November governorship election, the candidates of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, for Lokoja I and II State Constituency in the last general election, Hon Ahmed Shehu Yabagi and Hon. Ishaiku Kashim Musa have dumped the party and joined the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC.

Reactions

They were received by the Kogi State Governor, Alhaji Yahaya Bello. Governor Bello expressed delight about the decision of the politicians to join the ruling party.

He maintained that his administration accords respect and value to capacity, and not necessarily who has been in the ruling party for long.

He admonished the politicians to bring their wealth of experience

to bear, adding that they should also encourage their supporters to work assiduously for the party’s victory.

Kogi guber: Two PDP Assembly candidates join APC I’d rather quit politics than leave PDP – Sen Tofowomo

In their separate remarks, the new entrants into the APC assured the Governor of their decision to work in accordance with the ideals of their new political home.

Meanwhile, the Senatorial Candidate of Accord party for Kogi West in the 2023 general elections, Bashorun Moses Eseyin

has resigned his membership of the party.

Eseyin did not give a reason for his resignation from the Accord Party.

His resignation was contained in a letter addressed to the chairman of the party in Ward 6, Mopamuro Local Government Area of Kogi State.

The letter was dated 31st May, 2023.

trail Senator Shekarau’s advice to Tinubu on National Assembly

By Christiana Ekpa

Former governor of Kano State, Ibrahim Shekarau’s advice to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to scrap the National Assembly in the bid to reduce the cost of governance, has elicited sharp reactions from some citizens of Kwara State.

The Kano Central Senator had advised President Bola Ahmed Tinubu on steps to take in reducing the cost of governance in the country under the current dispensation.

Speaking on Channels TV’s Politics Today on Wednesday, Senator Shekarau claimed that the country does not need both chambers of the National Assembly under President Tinubu.

“Left to me, we don’t need to have the two chambers, the two houses,” he argued.

According to him, ”it is costing the country, I agree a democracy means getting as many involved as possible, but the way it is going on now, there are almost 500 legislators nationwide, I don’t think we really need this much at the moment.”

Reacting to Shekarau’s position, an elder statesman in Ilorin, Alhaji Lasisi A.K.Jimoh and a chieftain of the ruling All Progressives Congress, said “the National Assembly is created by the Constitution so, Tinubu cannot do away with it.

“However, all Nigerians know that the National Assembly is the most costly establishment in Nigeria today. Its members are also the most avaricious Nigerians who siphon a lot of our national fund into their own purses through padded budgets.

“It is also common knowledge that they bully

Federal Government Agencies to submission and into connivance in the use of “Constituency Projects” as conduit pipes for nefarious ends. Certainly, there is an urgent need to curb them to save Nigeria.

“But that cannot be achieved unless Mr President, Asiwaju Tinubu, resists the temptation to indulge in RUB MY BACK, I RUB YOUR OWN partnership with them. That one go easy so?” he queried.

In his own reaction, the Chairman, Academic Staff Union of Universities, ASUU, University of Ilorin, Professor Moyosore Ajao, said, “I absolutely agree with Senator Shekarau.

“We need to cut down the cost of governance in our country. I also believe that we need to make the National Assembly position part-time while only the principal officers are full-time. How many

times in a week do they sit to legislate?”

Also reacting, a professor of Political Science, University of Ilorin, Hassan Saliu, said, based on the cost that the nation is bearing in maintaining the national assembly, it will be difficult to contest that position with Senator Shekarau.

He, however, argued that “on the strength of representative democracy, it will be difficult to sustain the argument, because of the intrinsic value of democracy, especially in the long run.

“My own position is that with the current structure, bringing about a reduction in the number of National Assembly members would be a difficult option, not with the attitude of the members who have the power to bring that about, ” he added.

Speakership: Advocacy group rallies support for Tajudeen Abbas

By Ikechukwu Okaforadi

Agroup under the umbrella of Advocacy for Tajudeen Abass has appealed to political parties stakeholders, especially members-elect of the House of Representatives to support the aspiration of Abbas Tajudeen as Speaker House of Representatives in the 10th Assembly.

The Tajudeen Abbas Advocacy

Group led by Jibril Aliyu at a press conference in Abuja Wednesday, said Hon Tajudeen Abbas speakership in the 10th National Assembly will ensure transparency in the conduct of legislative activities and invariably, good governance.

Good leaders, according to the group, are those who prioritize the welfare of their constituents over their personal interests, uphold democratic values, and have a

vision for the future.

He described Abass Tajudeen as a seasoned politician and lawmaker who has dedicated his life to serving the people of his constituency.

The group further pointed out that the nation needs a dynamic, visionary, stable, and purposeful National Assembly that will complement president Tinubu’s blueprint to deliver the promised renewed hope of Nigerians.

“Hon Abbas is a square peg waiting to be fixed into the square hole of the Speakership of the House of Representatives in the 10th National Assembly”, he said.

He posited that the Green Chamber is unique and therefore requires a unique presiding officer in the person of Hon Abbas who will be unifying the various interests and probable factions in the House.

He consequently urged other

contestants in the Speakership race to jettison their ambitions by respecting the decision of APC NWC.

He added that the press conference held by them for open support for Hon Abbas , was not sponsored by him or any other serving or federal lawmaker - elect but collectively funded membership of the group because of their strong belief in his character, competence and capacity.

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.

Niger Gov. appoints SSG, COS, others

From: Yakubu Mustapha, Minna

The Governor of Niger State, Rt. Hon. Mohammed Umar Bago has approved the appointment of Alhaji Abubakar Usman Gawu as the new Secretary to the Government of Niger State (SSG).

A statement issued by Hajiya Hauwa Isah Wali, Permanent Secretary Government House, disclosed that the Governor has approved the appointments of Usman Abdullahi Gbatamangi as the new Chief of Staff to the Governor and Sadiq Yusuf as Deputy Chief of Staff to the Governor while Engr. Abubakar Y. Salisu is the new Head of Service.

According to the Permanent Secretary, “the State Governor has also approved the appointments of Bologi Ibrahim as the Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Yerima Abdullahi as the Director General, Protocol and Usman Magaji as Principal Private Secretary (PPS) to the Governor”.

Hajiya Wali further stated Governor Umar Bago has approved the appointments of Abdulhakim Abdulrahman as Special Assistant to the Governor on Domestic.

The statement disclosed that the Niger State Governor has also appointed Abdulbaqy Ebbo as Adviser Digital Communications to the Governor, Aisha Wakaso as Adviser Print Media to the Governor and Dr. Murtala Mohammed Bagana as Adviser Special Duties to the Governor.

APGA elects new national chairman, reconstitutes board of trustees

By Ikechukwu Okaforadi

Members of the All Progressives Grand Alliance, APGA, have elected Barr Sly Ezeokenwa as the national chairman of the party.

They also elected other members of the National Working Committee, NWC.

The party held its national convention in Awka, Anambra State capital, where it elected the 31 officers through a voice vote.

The out-gone national chairman, Victor Oye while handing over, stated that his leadership had been able to bequeath the party a national secretariat in Abuja and a five-storey edifice as the South east regional secretariat of the party.

He revealed that with that feat, APGA now ranks as the only

political party with a permanent secretariat in Abuja.

He also revealed that he bequeathed the party with the sum of N30million.

The new national chairman, Ezeokenwa in his acceptance speech said: “I want to appreciate our Governor, Prof Chukwuma Soludo and his faith in disruptive change, which has produced me as the youngest national chairman of a major political party in Nigeria.

“I pledge that we will take APGA to its main owners: peasant farmers, artisans, professionals and others. We will launch project ‘drive APGA’, which will embark on a membership drive, and will move the party from where it is today to a higher pedestal.”

Soludo while speaking at the event said: “We are a party that

believes in partnership. Because we want to see outcome, we will partner with those who want to move Nigeria forward.

“We will continue in the policy of partnering with government in power. Elections are over and governance has begun in earnest. We congratulate INEC for the election.

“The same election some people repudiated is the one that produced senators and Reps on the same day. I thank INEC for being able to conduct the election. Many governors lost election to Senate, some lost the ability to install successors, it has never been heard of in Nigeria.”

Soludo added that: “Our party is going to be led by a youth. We are sure the party will be moved to a new height. We call on those who

left APGA to return.

“Our tent is bigger and can contain all. APGA is the movement rooted in ideology and has a base. We have no faction in APGA and it remains indivisible and strong.”

The party also reconstituted its board of trustees, naming former governor Willie Obiano as chairman.

Members of the board included the out-gone national chairman, Oye; governorship candidate of the party in Enugu, Frank Nweke Jnr; Senator representing Abia South, Senator Enyinaya Abaribe; former member representing Orumba North and South in the House of Representatives, Hon Ben Nwankwo and the speaker of Anambra State House of Assembly, Rt Hon Uchenna Okafor, among others.

SDP backs Tinubu on fuel subsidy removal

By Christiana Ekpa

The Social Democratic Party (SDP) has backed the current administration of President Bola Tinubu on the removal of fuel subsidy describing it as a bold and positive step.

The National Secretary of the SDP, Dr Olu Agunloye, made the remark in a statement issued in Lagos on Thursday.

President Bola Tinubu announced on May 29, after his swearing-in ceremony, the removal of the pump price of petrol.

Agunloye said the removal of fuel subsidy, if well handled, could positively impact both

the economic growth and development of Nigeria.

The SDP national secretary said Tinubu should put in place well-thought-out implementation policies, programmes, and projects that would lead to a complete deregulation process and multiple local refineries.

He said the government should also ensure a general increase in national productivity and ultimate national competitiveness that would effectively engender a significant increase in the wellbeing and welfare of the people within a short time.

Agunloye said the party recognised that sometimes a nation needs to take tough

decisions for its survival, and for Nigeria, the moment was here.

He said: “We recognise subsidies as fiscal tools used by governments to foster economic development, usually to maintain prices of commodities or products at a particular level.

“It is a design which, when properly deployed, becomes a tool for social justice in line with the SDP Manifesto.

“We have noted that successive past nine Presidents of the Federal Republic over the past 37 years announced the removal of fuel subsidy but did not have the political will.

“They do not have the determination to accomplish this

but rather only multiplied the ills of the fuel subsidy, making severe negative impacts on the economy and the people of Nigeria.

“We have noted that for almost four decades, successive governments of Nigeria found something wrong with what necessitated the fuel subsidies but had kept making things worse and could not address the problems positively.”

Agunloye said if any of these nine past governments of Nigeria had been an SDP government, it could have, based on its ideology of social justice, also addressed the root causes that necessitated these unsustainable subsidies in the petroleum industry.

Sultan of Sokoto tasks Qausain tv to double its efforts

His Eminence, the Sultan Of Sokoto, Alhaji Sa’adu Abubakar has urged Qausain TV to double its efforts for its services to general public.

The visit, under the leadership of Qausain Group President, Alhaji Nasir Musa (Albanin Agege) and the other management staff including Auwal MB, Hashim Abubakar Musa, Khalifa Muhammad Babandede and Hassan Haruna were heavily welcomed by the palace officials at their arrival.

The Sultan also tasks the popular television that operates in three major languages, English, Hausa and Arabic to maintain professionalism on their programs to educate people and entertaining them as well.

In his remarks, the President of Qausain GROUP Alhaji Nasir Musa who explained the purpose of visit, said that he is in shorts of words to thanks Sultan for his royal reception and welcomed in a befitting manner.

He added that “Qausain TV will be acted on the Fatherly advise from Sultan immediately and do the needful in serving the society as requested.

The team presented to His Highness with enlarged framed photographs of himself and an award of exceptional excellence and leadership.

After the colourful meeting, His Royal Highness granted Qausain team opportunity the photographs session together with him and also the closing prayers were observed.

Nigerian Breweries mulls acquisition of Distell Wines & Spirits Nigeria

From Abubakar Yunusa Abuja

Nigeria’s biggest beer maker Nigerian Breweries will decide in the weeks ahead whether to acquire the controlling stake in the local unit of Stellenbosch-based Distell International Limited after an offer from Heineken Beverages Limited South Africa.

The company got an approach from Heineken Beverages to buy the 80 per cent shareholding in Distell Wines & Spirits Nigeria Limited, which the latter is looking to offload, according to a statement issued by Nigerian Breweries on Wednesday.

Distell International Limited is fully owned by Heineken Beverages and has spirits, wines and ciders within its product mix including internationally known brands like Amarula, Savanna, Chamdor and Hunter’s Dry.

“The Board resolved to consider the offer in detail with support from external legal and financial advisers and thereafter make a decision thereon in the coming weeks,” the document said.

Distell Nigeria locally produces still and sparkling wines as well as ciders in addition to importing wines, spirits and flavoured alcoholic beverages from the parent company in South Africa.

The approach from Heineken Beverages presents Nigerian Breweries with the chance to branch out into the manufacturing of such products, none of which is present in its portfolio of around 22 brands, according to the information on its website.

Nigerian Breweries reported a net loss of N10.7 billion in the quarter to March, with total assets standing to N652.9 billion.

Acquisition of property, plant and equipment for 2022 came to N97.9 billion up from N59.4 billion a year earlier, its audited earnings report showed.

Capital market ready to aid development- Yuguda

By Abubakar Yunusa Abuja

With the assumption of office of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, the Securities and Exchange Commission has assured of the readiness of the capital market to aid in infrastructure development.

This assurance was given by Director General of the SEC, Mr. Lamido Yuguda during an interview Thursday.

Yuguda expressed the belief that the Nigerian Capital Market, being an organised and specialised financial market that drives capital mobilisation through domestic savings and foreign capital inflows, is well positioned for the realisation of the infrastructure objectives of the nation.

According to him, the benefits of adequate infrastructure in any economy cannot be over emphasised as they help to speed up development and create wealth.

He said, “If we are able to get well thought out infrastructure in this country, it will do a lot of things. It will raise the level of economic activities in the country as a whole and these activities will need people to be employed so they can carry out those activities.

“That means the youths and our people will get more employment and as you get more employment, people get more disposable income and need to find outlets to spend that income. That means people can set up small.

Industries and be able to live decent lives. Also, people will be buying the basic essentials of life and the people who are in the business of producing these or selling them will be in business . So you find out that there is a chain effect”.

The SEC bosss recalled that in the past most famous industries were sited close to rail lines to aid the transportation of heavy machinery and raw materials

as well as finished products to consumers.

“You can have several carriages in the train carrying various products. Today we do not have the rail lines and we need to revive these infrastructure” he said.

The SEC DG expressed the hope that the nation’s economy will bounce back and thrive with the aid of the capital market.

“I have a lot of hope in our economy. Right now if you do the GDP ranking, Nigeria is about number 30, but I am very confident that if we get our infrastructure right, our ranking will improve tremendously.

He stated that Nigeria has the population and the market Right now, which means that investment in infrastructure can pay back itself in Nigeria faster than other parts of Africa because the nation has more people that can use the infrastructure.

He therefore urged government at all levels to look

towards the capital market for financing of such investments which he said would aid the much needed economic development.

He assured that once the infrastructure is right, the number of use willl grow which in turn boost economic activities.

Yuguda said this will all be aided by the capital market as it is an unbiased price determination machinery for the economy.

“Once we have the right infrastructure, people will travel by roads. We did in the past and I think once we have the right structures in place we can begin to enjoy good roads again” he added.

The SEC DG assured that the Commission is committed to protecting investors and creating an enabling in the market, emphasising the SEC’s unwavering resolve to build a robust capital market that is instrumental to driving economic progress in the country.

Fuel Subsidy: After meeting Tinubu’s delegation, NLC insists on price reversal

From Abubakar Yunusa Abuja

Themeeting between organised labour and officials of the federal government on fuel subsidy ended in a deadlock with the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) insisting on the reversal of the price increase.

The meeting was held at the State House in Abuja and was attended by the head of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation Limited (NNPCL), Mele Kyari; a presidential aide, Dele Alake, the president of the Trade Union Congress (TUC), Festus Osifo, and other officials.

The NLC in a statement after the meeting described the increase in the pump price of petrol as an “ambush” against the Nigerian people.

The NNPCL had on Wednesday directed its outlets nationwide to sell fuel between N480 and N570 per litre; an almost 200 per cent increase from the initial price of below N200.

The Chief Corporate Communications Officer of NNPC Ltd, Garba Deen Muhammad, said the price adjustment was made in line with “market realities”.

The NNPCL made the announcement two days after the inauguration of Bola Tinubu as Nigeria’s president during which he said fuel subsidy must be removed based on the arrangements made by his predecessor.

But the NLC faulted the move by the government, adding that the removal of subsidy or fixing of the price should be done after adequate consultation.

“We are worried that the government through the NNPC despite the ongoing meeting of stakeholders in the oil and gas sector to manage the unilateral but unfortunate announcement by the President to withdraw subsidy on petroleum products, went ahead this morning to announce a new regime of prices under a new pricing template,” the labour union said.

“This is an ambush and runs

FUEL SUBSIDY

against the spirit and principles of social dialogue which remains the best platform available for the resolution of all the issues arising out of the petroleum downstream sector.

“Government cannot in one breathe be talking about deregulation and at the same time fixing the prices of Petroleum products. This negates the spirit of allowing the operation of the free market unless the government has as usual usurped, captured or become Market forces.”

Mr Ajaero called on the government to immediately instruct the NNPCL to withdraw the template to give room for dialogues between the government and labour leaders.

Meanwhile, Peoples Daily gathered that the labour leaders met with representatives of the federal government on Wednesday in Abuja.

Speaking at the end of the meeting, Mr Alake, spokesperson of the Bola Tinubu campaign, said that both parties “have been deliberating on finding very amicable solutions to the issue at hand.”

“We had a very robust engagement. We cross-fertilized ideas, ideas flew from all sides and

there is one thing that is remarkable even from the Labour side, and that is Nigeria,” he said.

“We are all looking at the peace, progress and stability of Nigeria. That is what is paramount.”

Mr Alake said that the talks are ongoing and it is 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.

But the Trade Union Congress (TUC) President, Festus Osifo, lamented that there had been no communication between the government and labour leaders.

“If you listen to the president during the inauguration at eagles square, he said one of the hallmarks of this administration is going to be dialogue, is going to be consultation, that they are not going to lord it over us,” the TUC official said.

“I’m trying to paraphrase what he said, that he is not going to be a dictator. And what has happened in terms of day has not shown what was written in his address.

“So, all we said before now was that we ought to have sat down, have

this conversation before anything could have happened.”

The official noted that labour leaders have been open to conversations but no such communication existed.

He said: “So, there was no conversation whatsoever, so for over a year, there wasn’t formal engagements and formal meetings. And because there wasn’t formal engagements and formal meetings that is why we found ourselves in this.

“If we have met before now, we would have proposed a lot of things. We have experts in our midsts who could have proffered some solutions, even the CNG how it could have been done faster. Because our own is, how do we protect the Nigerian people and the workforce?

“So, it’s not about grandstanding but it’s about how do we protect the workforce. Clearly, we have stated in our meeting today, let the statuesque ante remains, while we go back and have conversations with our principal, because the workers are our principal then we will reconvene for their discussion. But we hope that they will revert to the statuesque ante.”

Abubakar Yunusa, Abuja

Nigeria’s Tax-to-GDP ratio which, in the last 12 years, hovered between 5% to 6% rose to 10.86% by the end of 2021.

The new ratio was communicated to the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS), via a letter signed by the Statistician-General of the Federation, Prince Adeyemi Adeniran, on the 25th of May 2023, following a joint review by the Nigerian Bureau of Statistics (NBS), in collaboration with the Federal Ministry of Finance and the FIRS, using data from 2010 to 2021.

The revision took into account revenue items hitherto not previously included in the computations; particularly, relevant revenue collected by other agencies of government.

Tax-to-GDP ratio is a measure of a nation’s tax revenue relative to the size of her economy as measured by Gross Domestic Product (GDP). The ratio is a useful tool for assessing the “health” of a country’s tax system, and highlighting its tax potentials

FIRS: Nigeria’s tax-to-GDP ratio rises to 10.86% as at 2021

relative to the size of the economy. It is the ultimate measure of the effectiveness of a nation’s tax system compared to other countries.

In a statement announcing the new Tax-to-GDP ratio, the Executive Chairman of FIRS, Mr. Muhammad Nami, explained that sources which previously put the country’s Tax-to-GDP ratio at between 5% and 6% did not consider tax revenue accruing to other government agencies in their computation. Particularly, revenues collected by agencies other than the FIRS, Customs and States Internal Revenue Service were excluded. This situation was peculiar to Nigeria as most other countries operate harmonised tax system (all or most tax revenues

are collected by one agency of government) with single-point tax revenue reporting. As such, all relevant tax revenues are included in the computation of the Tax-toGDP ratio.

“In order to correctly state the Tax-to-GDP ratio, the FIRS initiated a review and recomputation of the ratio for 2010 to 2021. In recomputing the ratio, key indicators that were previously left out were taken into account. This resulted into a revised Taxto-GDP ratio of 10.86% for 2021 as against 6% hitherto reported,” the statement noted.

Mr. Nami further noted that Nigeria’s Tax-to-GDP ratio should ordinarily be higher than 10.86% but for certain economic and fiscal policy factors, including tax

waivers and leakages occasioned by the country’s fragmented tax system.

“It is important to note that the Tax-to-GDP ratio for Nigeria should be higher, but for the impact of tax waivers contained in our various tax laws (including exemptions to Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises broughtin by Finance Act, 2019), low tax morale, leakages occasioned by the country’s fragmented tax system and the impact of the rebasing of the GDP in 2014”, he explained.

The FIRS boss implored the government to consider reviewing its policies on tax waivers thereby guarantying increased revenue to prosecute its programmes and positively move the needle of the

country’s tax-to-GDP ratio.

The Statistician-General of the Federation, Prince Adeyemi Adeniran, in his letter to the Executive Chairman of FIRS, described the revision as a facelift to the Tax-to-GDP ratio for Nigeria in comparison with other countries.

He further noted that the NBS had “carefully and diligently reviewed the methodology used for computing the revised estimates, as well as the various items that have been included in the new computation,” and that the NBS as an outcome of its review and meetings with FIRS has adopted the new Tax-to-GDP computation.

Fuel subsidy: Nigerians urged to hold IPMAN responsible

By Abubakar Yunusa Abuja

The Coalition of Northern Group

CNG has called on Nigerians to hold Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria(IPMAN) responsible for the sudden deterioration of the prices of Petroleum a few hours after the announcement by government on the subsidy.

The group said their amazed by the desperation of the Independent oil marketers who are quick to hike the fuel pump prices by almost five hundred percent within just 12 hours of the announcement of the subsidy removal.

Group spokesperson of the group

,Abdul-Azeez Suleiman made the call in a statement made available to journalists, said the quick hike and desperation to hoard the commodity is aimed at stocking anger against the new administration .

According to Abdul Azeez,”We call on the new administration of President Bola Tinubu to handle this obviously dicey situation with utmost wisdom and compassion so that the innocent public is not made victim.

“We call the attention of the Tinubu administration to be vigilant over the latent trap set for it with the subsidy issue by the outgone government aiming to set it on a collision course with the public early in the day.

“We therefore advise government to deploy maximum wisdom, and caution to chart a workable means of dealing with the bad situation deliberately thrown on its laps in such a way that no one gets hurt”,he said . The statement partly read:”Government should device compassionate ways of cushioning the impact of the subsidy removal without necessarily compromising its economic recovery policies.

“We demand from the Federal Government action to call the syndicate that have siphoned the trillions of Naira of public funds during the previous regime in the name of a fictitious, fraudulent oil subsidy to account.

“We call on the Federal Government not to be distracted by the antics of discredited self-serving labour leaders, unscrupulous oil marketers and a few unpatriotic officials of the NNPCL who would seize every opportunity to undermine its good intentions”.

Speaking on the consequences,he noted that the Coalition of Northern Groups has convened a meeting of all the 150 affiliate groups and other concerned associations that took the previous decisions of 2020 on NLC deceptions to discuss and come up with a unified position on the current situation on Monday, June 5, 2023 at the Arewa House, Kaduna.

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

By Stanley Onyekwere

The Chinese Embassy in Nigeria, has reached out with packages of love to some less privileged children in an Abuja Orphanage Home, as part of activities to mark this year’s International Children’s Day, and in commemoration of the 60th anniversary of China dispatching its first medical aid team abroad.

In particular, officials from Chinese embassy yesterday visited and donated assorted educational and food items to the the beneficiaries at the Victorine Home for Children, located in Gwarinpa, Abuja Municipal Area Council (AMAC).

It was gathered that the gesture is inline with the”ChinaAfrica Hand in Hand to Warm Children’s Hearts” activity jointly launched by China’s first lady, Peng Liyuan and the African First Ladies Development Federation.

Speaking during the event, the wife of the Chinese Ambassador to Nigeria, Ms. Liang Huili, explained that the donation of the love packages to the children, was a symbol of Chinese government efforts to keep the fire of love burning.

She expressed hope that the gesture could convey warmth and care to the children, and help them grow up healthily and live a happy life in the society.

According to her, China is ready to work with her Nigerian friends to encourage all parties to take actions improve the health and well-beings of African orphans and contribute more to build the China-Africa community with a shared future.

“Today is June 1, the International Children’s Day. This year also marks the 60t anniversary of China dispatching its first medical aid team abroad.

“On this important occasion, a special Campaign to care for the Health of African Orphans, themed with Warm Children’s Hearts, a China-Africa joint action”, proposed by Her Excellency PENG Liyuan, the Wife of Chinese President Xi Jinping and the Organization of African First Ladies for Development, known as OAFLAD, would be held across Africa.

“On behalf Chinese government, I want to donate love packages to the beloved Children, as a symbol of our efforts to keep the fire of love burning.

“I want to thank the Ministry of Women Affairs and the Victorine Home Orphanage for your efforts to help materialize this event”, she said.

Furthermore, the Chinese Ambassador’s wife however,

METRO

Int’l Children’s Day: Chinese Embassy donates learning, food items to Abuja children

recalled that, in the year of 2020, Her Excellency Peng, wife of Chinese President Xi Jinping, sent a message to first ladies of African countries, expressing gratitude for the countries help to China’s fight against COVID-19.

She adds: “To express the friendly feeling of the Chinese people towards the African people, the Chinese government

has donated a batch of antipandemic supplies through OAFLAD to 53 African countries including Nigeria to help women, children and adolescents.

“Since then, Chinese aid materials have been delivered to various countries. Those countries expressed gratitude for China’s care and help for African women, children and adolescents,

saying that China provided help when it was needed most, which reflected the profound friendship between African countries and China sharing weal and woe”.

Responding, Matron of the Victorine Home Orphanage, Jovita Nkem Nzeduru, while describing the initiative as a welcome and exciting development, said it will go a long to enhance the wellbeing

of the beneficiaries, who are among the vulnerable members of the society.

Nzeduru, who assured the good usage of the support items, also thanked the Chinese for deeming children at the Home worthy beneficiaries of the love packages aimed at boosting their health and learning in the society.

The wife of the Chinese Ambassador to Nigeria, Ms. Liang Huili, and other officials during the donation of love packages to the less privileged children, at the Victorine Home for Children on the occasion of International Children’s Day, and in commemoration of the 60th anniversary of China dispatching its first medical aid team abroad, yesterday, in Gwarinpa, Abuja.

Adesola condoles with DAAR Communications, Dokpesi family over Chairman Emeritus demise

By Stanley Onyekwere

The Permanent Secretary, Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA), Olusade Adesola, has condoled with the family of the late High Chief Raymond Dokpesi, Chairman Emeritus of DAAR Communications PLC, over the passing of the media mogul, which occured on Monday, 29th May, 2023.

This was disclosed in a condolence message personally signed by the Permanent Secretary, delivered to the management of DAAR Communications PLC, owners of African Independent Television (AIT) and Ray Power

Radio, by the Director of FCT Information and Communication, Muhammad Hazat Sule.

Adesola said the entire FCT Administration received the news of the demise of the High Chief Dokpesi with a rude shock and expressed his profound sadness.

He described the Late Dokpesi as an exceptional person and a visionary leader whose immense contributions to the media industry as exemplified by his pioneering efforts in establishing DAAR Communications, a leading broadcast network is indelible.

He noted that Dokpesi’s dedication, passion, and relentless pursuit of journalistic integrity has inspired numerous individuals

and shaped the broadcast industry in Nigeria.

He said: “His visionary leadership coupled with his immense knowledge and experience has not only transformed DAAR Communications into a formidable institution, but also contributed significantly to the grown and development of the media sector.”

The Permanent Secretary, who had only recently took over the affairs of the FCT Administration from the former Minister, Mallam Muhammad Musa Bello, noted that the late Dokpesi was a true patriot, who built bridges across the nation and shared the ideals of a united country, which are also

the ideals and foundation upon which the FCT was created.

He added that as a corporate citizen, DAAR Communications PLC contributed in many ways to the growth and development of the nation’s capital, Abuja.

The Permanent Secretary therefore prayed that God Almighty grant the Dokpesi’s family, the political associates as well as the management and staff of DAAR Communications the fortitude to bear the irreparable loss.

He also assured that the FCT Administration will continue to identify with the vision of the late High Chief Raymond Dokpesi.

Donald Trump recorded saying he kept classified file after leaving office

US prosecutors have obtained an audio recording of Donald Trump in which he acknowledges keeping a classified document after leaving the White House.

CNN first reported that investigators had the tape, and people familiar with the matter later told the BBC’s US partner CBS this was the case.

The justice department is investigating Mr Trump’s handling of classified material. He denies wrongdoing.

The inquiry is reported to be nearing its end and could result in charges.

The audio recording is said to be from a meeting at Mr Trump’s New Jersey golf club in July 2021, which is around six months after he left office.

Two people familiar with the matter told CBS that Mr Trump can be heard acknowledging there are national security restrictions on a military memo because it details a potential attack on Iran.

He says it is still classified and should have been declassified before leaving the White House, one person said.

Mr Trump also says he wants to share information from the document but knows his ability to declassify it is limited because he is no longer president, CNN reported.

It is not clear whether Mr Trump had the document during the meeting or was just

describing it to several aides who were there. Other reports suggest the sound of rustling paper can be heard.

The tape appears to contradict Mr Trump’s repeated argument that he declassified all material he removed from the White House. It could also prove to be

a key piece of evidence if prosecutors seek to show the former president was aware he should not be in possession of classified documents.

Neither the BBC or CBS News have listened to the audio and it has not been made public.

Madeleine McCann: German police say objects

Several objects were found during a search of a Portuguese reservoir in connection with the disappearance of Madeleine McCann, German officials say.

It was too early to confirm whether the items, which are being analysed, are connected to the missing Briton, Braunschweig prosecutors added.

Portuguese police helped by their German counterparts, searched the Arade reservoir in Portugal last week.

Madeleine disappeared from a holiday complex in the Algarve in May 2007.

Police say their investigation into 46-year-old German national Christian Brueckner, who has been named as an “arguido” or official suspect, is expected to continue for some time.

Media caption,

Watch: The BBC’s Daniel Sandford was at the reservoir in Portugal after the police search ended

Christian Wolters, prosecutor for the city of Braunschweig, said the items found in Portugal would be examined over the coming weeks.

“We thank all officers who participated in the search. The co-operation between the Portuguese police, the British officers and the German federal police was outstanding and very constructive,” he added.

Heavy machinery, sniffer dogs and pickaxes were used during the threeday search - which came at the request of German investigators who believe convicted sex offender Brueckner is the prime suspect in her disappearance.

He is currently serving a prison sentence in Germany for the 2005 rape of a woman on the Algarve. Brueckner lived in the region between 1995 and 2007, say police.

The Arade lake is 31 miles (50km) from where Madeleine went missing while on holiday with her family in Praia da Luz.

Brueckner is thought to have often travelled in his Volkswagen T3 camper van to the reservoir - which is known to have been used as an unofficial camping spot.

The German denies any involvement in Madeleine’s disappearance, saying he was “miles away” at the time.

It has been handed over to justice department investigators who are being overseen by special prosecutor Jack Smith. Their investigation, which has ramped up in recent weeks, is examining the removal of hundreds of classified government documents from the White House which were then taken to Mr Trump’s Florida estate, Mar-a-Lago, after he left office.

Investigators are assessing how these documents were stored and who may have had access to them. They are also examining how his team responded to a request for security footage from his Florida estate.

Mr Smith will ultimately decide whether the former president should face criminal charges. Among other statutes, the justice department believes Mr Trump may have violated the Espionage Act by keeping national security information after he left office.

Mr Trump, who is running for president again in 2024, faces several other legal investigations. He was recently indicted in New York over hush money payments made to a porn star. He has pleaded not guilty. He is also the subject of an investigation in Georgia over his alleged efforts to try and overturn the 2020 presidential election results in the state.

analysed after Portugal search

Madeleine was three-years-old when she vanished from the holiday complex where she had been on holiday with her parents Kate and Gerry McCann on 3 May 2007. They left her and her younger twin

siblings asleep in their apartment while they went out to dinner with friends.

Last month, the McCann family marked the 16th anniversary of Madeleine’s disappearance, saying she is “still very much missed” and they “await a breakthrough”.

Jasmine Hartin: Socialite spared jail after killing Belize police chief

ACanadian socialite who killed a police chief in Belize with his own gun has reportedly been spared prison time.

Jasmine Hartin, 34, was handed a £30,000 fine and 300 hours of community service, according to local reports.

She pleaded guilty in April to the manslaughter of Henry Jemmott on 28 May 2021. He died from a single gunshot wound to the head.

Hartin is the former partner of Andrew Ashcroft, the son of a prominent UK businessman Lord Michael Ashcroft.

Under the sentence handed down by the island’s high court, Hartin must pay $75,000 BZD within 12 months, or face a potential prison sentence of 12 months,

according to Channel 5 Belize.

She must also рrоduсе а vіdео warning against the dangers of drunkenness and mishandling firearms, according to Breaking Belize News.

At the time of Mr Jemmott’s death, Hartin and Mr Ashcroft lived in Belize with their two children.

Over the course of the investigation and criminal trial, it was revealed that Hartin and Mr Jemmott, who were known to be friends, had been at a party in together on the island of Ambergris Caye on the night of his death.

Police say that the two took a stroll on the beach before ending up at a pier. At some point, Mr Jemmott handed her his gun to put aside.

She later told investigators that she had been drinking, and had fumbled with the Glock 17 after the police chief asked for it

back, leading to an accidental discharge. Police found Hartin near the pier, covered in blood and distraught. Mr Jemmott’s body was found in the water off San Pedro, Belize.

Hartin was charged with manslaughter by negligence, and eventually pleaded guilty in April 2023.

Under Belize’s criminal code, the maximum prison sentence for manslaughter by negligence is five years.

After she pleaded guilty, Hartin told reporters outside court: “I just want Henry’s family to have peace now and I want this whole thing to be behind all of us so we can heal.”

Source: BBC

The historic centre of Lugo, outside Ravenna was among the cities with the worst flooding

Madeleine McCann was three when she went missing in 2007

Hartin said had she accidentally shot her friend, superintendent Henry Jemmott, after the two went on a walk by the beachfront in Belize in 2021

Sudan conflict: Rockets hit Khartoum market as talks collapse

Rockets hit a market in Sudan’s capital, Khartoum, killing 18 people and leaving more than 100 wounded, doctors and residents say.

The fighting between rival military forces comes as truce talks mediated by the US and Saudi Arabia collapsed.

Wednesday’s violence around a market in Mayo in the south of Khartoum included artillery fire and aerial bombardment.

It caused the most civilian casualties in a single incident in the capital since the war began in April.

This brings the civilian death toll over seven weeks to at least 883, according to official counts - though the real number is likely to be far higher.

Neighbourhood organisations - which have been helping Khartoum’s residents get food and medicine - described it as a catastrophic situation and appealed for doctors and blood donations.

With so much of the violence taking place in urban areas civilians are in constant danger.

On Tuesday, the army and its rivals from the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) had agreed to extend last week’s humanitarian ceasefire deal for another five days, in talks brokered by the US and Saudi Arabia.

But the next day the army withdrew from the talks, alleging the RSF was not committed to the terms.

The US says both sides have violated the ceasefire - adding it remained ready to help mediate a truce when they were serious

about ending the violence.

The ceasefire had allowed some urgent aid to reach around two million people, but the continued insecurity had “prevented delivery to many more and blocked operations to restore essential services”, a

US State Department spokesperson said.

According to the UN, 25 million people, more than half the population of Sudan, are now in need of humanitarian aid and protection.

With talks no longer taking place there is a fear of the fighting escalating - heavy fire was reported on Thursday morning across the River Nile from Khartoum in the cities of Bahri and Omdurman.

“We are being terrorised by the sounds of heavy artillery around us. The house has been shaking,” a 49-year-old resident of Omdurman told the Reuters news agency.

The UN World Food Programme (WFP) says its warehouses in El Obeid in North Kordofan state, with food for 4.4 million people, are coming under attack.

“It is unconscionable to steal from the hungry. This must stop,” WFP chief Cindy McCain tweeted.

The fighting, which has also been fierce in Sudan’s western Darfur region, is a direct result of a vicious power struggle between the two generals who led the 2021 coup - army chief Abdel Fattah al-Burhan and RSF commander Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo, better known as Hemedti.

Nigeria’s fuel subsidy: How the new president has shocked the nation

After he had been sworn in on Monday, Bola Tinubu took his eyes off the teleprompter during his address to say: “The fuel subsidy is gone.”

He was referring to a decades-long subsidy that has kept down the price of petroleum products.

The 71-year-old politician gave no timeframe or any more details about what is a major policy move. When a president last tried to remove the subsidy 11 years ago, protests erupted.

Within hours of Mr Tinubu’s first address, hundreds of people had poured on to the streets, either in their cars or on foot with yellow jerrycans, to grab what they believed to be the last drops of fuel to be sold at a government-fixed price.

But only a few were lucky - many filling stations stopped selling altogether, while others unilaterally increased prices by more than 200%, triggering chaos and an artificial scarcity.

By the time the president’s team clarified that the scrapping of the subsidy would not come into effect until the end of June - in line with the outgoing administration’s budgetit was too late to stop the panic.

By Wednesday, even the state-owned oil company had said it would be raising the price of petrol.

Transport fares have already shot up, commuters are stranded at bus stops and the powerful labour union is now readying itself for a confrontation with the new government.

“By his insensitive decision, President Tinubu on his inauguration day brought tears and sorrow to millions of Nigerians instead of hope,” Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) leader Joe Ajaero said in a statement.

Despite its oil riches, Nigeria is unable to refine crude locally to meet demands.

The four state-owned refineries are moribund, forcing the country to import refined petroleum products which are then sold at a price fixed by the government.

So while people in the UK and Ghana, for example, were forking out £1.44 ($1.80) or 14 cedis ($1.24) respectively for a litre

of petrol in May, Nigerians paid 185 naira ($0.40) - despite all three countries buying it from the same international market.

This has been the practice in Nigeria since the 1970s and most residents have grown up insulated from paying the actual price of petrol.

But Mr Tinubu says Nigeria can no longer do this because of dwindling revenue: the government has already set aside $7bn to subsidise fuel for the first six months of this year.

This amounts to 15% of the budget, more than the combined allocations for education (8.2%) and health (5.3%).

Subsidies are not necessarily bad. Many countries offer them in sectors ranging from agriculture to electricity in order to keep costs down for citizens.

But of major concern to Nigerians is corruption. Government agencies give conflicting figures for the amount of fuel imported, while dubious sellers have been known to divert the fuel to nearby countries to get higher rates.

Ironically, President Tinubu was at the head of the resistance in 2012 when a

government last tried to end the subsidy.

He wrote then that the government had “tossed the people into the depths of the midnight sea”, in a blistering attack on the policy, which was subsequently reversed.

Yet there is more of an acceptance now that the subsidy should be scrapped to free up money for essential public services like transport, health and education.

Analysts expect fuel to sell from anywhere between 250 naira and 350 naira after the current upheavals.

The increase may not seem huge, but it is likely to have far-reaching repercussions in a country where one in three people are unemployed, inflation is at a record 22% and 96 million live below the poverty line of $1.90 per day.

The situation is made worse by the fact that economy is run on thousands of fuelsucking generators that power businesses, from barbershops to corporate skyscrapers, because of a lack of electricity.

Nigerians are already spending more than 60% of their income on food and transport. With the minimum wage stuck at $64 a month, many are fearing that they will

be further impoverished.

“It is not sustainable,” muttered one man at a petrol station in the capital, Abuja, after filling the tank of his SUV.

Mr Tinubu’s announcement was not preceded by the usual talks with the unions to find common-ground.

In late 2021 when the last government toyed with the idea, it proposed a monthly cash advance of 5,000 naira to poor Nigerians to cover transport fares.

Many struggling Nigerians, used to seeing politicians mismanage the country’s oil wealth, fear they may already be victims of a profiteering racket.

They are questioning why the pump price has already increased at both private and state-owned filling stations for what is likely to be older and cheaper stock.

They also wonder what will happen to the money the government has set aside to subsidise fuel for the month of June. Will it disappear or will it be used for their benefit?

There is a feeling that politicians want the people to make sacrifices without making any of their own.

“Had the president also reeled out costcutting measures by the government, such as selling a jet from the presidential fleet or reducing Aso Rock’s [a reference to the presidential office] budget on refreshments, the message might have been better received,” said another man at the Abuja petrol station.

It was also not the sort of first-day pronouncement many were expecting from a president who does not have a large dose of goodwill - he was elected by less than 10% of registered voters.

It is unlikely that Mr Tinubu will reverse the policy. Unlike his predecessor, Muhammadu Buhari, who leaned towards welfarism, he favours free market-driven forces.

Many Nigerians wanted Mr Tinubu to hit the ground running, but many wish he had stuck to the script at his inaugural address, which should have mentioned the “phasing out” of the petrol subsidy. Source: BBC

Market stalls were destroyed and buildings riddled with bullet holes from Wednesday’s fighting

An off-the-cuff remark by Nigeria’s new president during his inaugural speech caused chaos with snaking queues across the country at petrol stations.

N ews F rom A s IA

Aras Amiri highlights jailed Iran environmentalists’ plight

Among the many thousands of political prisoners in Iran’s jails are seven prominent environmentalists who were arrested in 2018. The former British Council employee, Aras Amiri, spent two and a half years imprisoned with two of them. She was released last year, and is now speaking out for the first time to draw attention to their plight.

Aras Amiri has every reason to look forward in her life.

Since coming back to the UK, she has married, moved to Jersey and is now six months pregnant.

But every day, her mind takes her back to Evin prison in Tehran - and to those she left behind when she was released.

Like other political prisoners, the former London-based British Council arts manager spent time in solitary confinement, where she was threatened, blindfolded and interrogated around the clock.

Accused of working against the regime, she was given a 10-year sentence after declining to cooperate with Iranian intelligence, although she was eventually acquitted after appealing to Iran’s Supreme Court.

She still has nightmares about her ordeal.

“It’s an experience that breaks many people,” she says. “And it has long-lasting effects on all of us.”

But it’s not herself she wants to talk about.

Niloufar Bayani (L) is serving a 10-year prison sentence, while Sepideh Kashani (R) was handed a six-year term

Ms Amiri was held - together with Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe - in the women’s wing of Evin along with two environmentalists, Niloufar Bayani and Sepideh Kashani.

“My heart burns for them,” she says. “They were my best friends there. And it’s just so unfair.”

Bayani and Kashani were arrested in early 2018 along with Kashani’s husband, Houman Jokar, Amirhossein Khaleghi, Sam Rajabi, Taher Ghadirian and Morad Tahbaz, who also holds British and American citizenship - all members of the Persian Wildlife Heritage Foundation (PWHF).

Its director, CanadianIranian dual national Kavous Seyed-Emami, died in suspicious circumstances while under interrogation shortly after his arrest.

The group had been using cameras to track criticallyendangered wild Asiatic cheetahs, but were accused of using their environmental projects as a “cover to collect classified information”.

Even though a committee of Iranian ministers concluded there was no evidence that they were spies, a Revolutionary Court convicted them in 2019 on various national security charges and sentenced them to between six and 10 years in prison.

“Their arrest is part of a wider suppression of Iran’s environmentalists,” Ms Amiri says. “And there is no accountability. The whole process of the judiciary is a dark joke.”

Best known for their work trying to conserve Asiatic cheetahs, she says they also worked with Persian leopards,

dolphins and turtles in Qeshm Island, Asiatic bears, as well as migratory birds.

“They did such important work. Their projects were always supported by local people. It’s a loss for the whole of Iran.”

The UN Environment Programme, where Niloufar Bayani had worked as a consultant for several years before joining the PWHF, has called for their

psychological pressure exerted on them during their interrogations as “so appalling, it’s difficult even to imagine”.

Bayani wrote to court that she was threatened with sexual assault, was forced to mimic the sounds of wild animals and was shown pictures of the body of Kavous Seyed-Emami and told she and her colleagues would suffer a similar fate unless they confessed.

In a letter written from jail on the fifth anniversary of their arrest, Kashani said she had been interrogated in a room with “blood all over it”, and threatened with hanging. Her interrogators told that her husband would die like Seyed-Emami.

Both women were held in the much-feared 2A section of Evin prison - controlled by Iran’s Revolutionary Guards - at the same time as the Australian academic, Kylie Moore Gilbert, who was accused of espionage and sentenced to 10 years before being freed in a prisoner swap.

Released in 2020, Ms MooreGilbert dedicated her memoir of her time in jail to the two women, describing them as “sisters in suffering and injustice” who used to secretly share notes of encouragement and food with her at great risk to themselves.

“Their love, solidarity and selfless care for me, a foreigner to whom they owed nothing, was the difference between surviving the mental torture of solitary confinement and succumbing to the deliberate cruelty and degradation of Iran’s prison regime,” she told the BBC.

release.

Ms Amiri says that Bayani and Kashani were “joyous” company in jail, despite everything they had endured, including two years of solitary confinement.

“They are such generous souls - determined to make life beautiful. We still managed to laugh together. I was very lucky to have been held with them.”

She describes the

“The injustice of Nilou and Sepideh’s imprisonment continues to torment me, and not a day goes by when I don’t think of them and hope for news of their release.”

Aras Amiri got to know the women when they were transferred from 2A to the general women’s wing of Evin.

“They’re loved so much by all the prisoners,” she says. “And they really shared with us the love they have of nature. I just want them to be back with their families, back in nature, and back protecting Iran’s wildlife again.”

Jerusalem Sbarro pizza bombing victim dies after 22 years in coma

AUS-Israeli woman has died after 22 years in a coma from injuries suffered in a Palestinian suicide bombing at a pizza restaurant in Jerusalem.

Chana Nachenberg was 31 at the time of the attack at the Sbarro pizzeria, which killed 15 other people, including seven children and a pregnant woman.

She is the third US national to die as a result of the bombing in August 2001.

The US is seeking the extradition from Jordan of a woman convicted by Israel of murder for her role in the attack.

Ahlam Tamimi, who was born in the occupied West Bank and has Jordanian citizenship, was given 16 life sentences by an Israeli court in 2003. She was released in 2011 as part of a deal

to free an Israeli soldier held captive for more than five years by Palestinian Hamas militants in Gaza.

Tamimi helped the bomber, Izz al-Din Shuheil al-Masri, carry out the attack. She settled in Jordan after her release, and has spoken about her pride at her involvement in the atrocity.

Tamimi is on the FBI’s Most Wanted Terrorists list and the US says it is seeking her extradition on charges of conspiring to use a weapon of mass destruction against Americans. Jordan’s High Court has rejected a previous request.

The parents of one of the two other US citizens killed in the attack - Malki Roth, who was 15 at the time - have campaigned

for years for the US to do more to effect Tamimi’s extradition. This article contains content provided by Twitter. We ask for your permission before anything

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End of twitter post by Arnold Roth

The Sbarro restaurant, at a busy intersection in the centre of west Jerusalem, was packed with customers when Tamimi and Masri, both Hamas members, entered on 9 August. Tamimi, who chose the target, left before Masri blew himself up. In addition to those killed, about 130 people were injured.

It was one of multiple suicide bombings by Hamas during the second Palestinian intifada, or uprising, against Israel, which began the previous year and tailed off in 2005.

Source: BBC

Aras Amiri says her mind goes back everyday to the prison where she was held and the friends she made there

Also in jail is Houman Jokar, Sepideh Kashani’s husband, seen here with a sedated Persian leopard

Chana Nachenberg was one of 16 people killed in the bombing

Environment

COP15: High stakes in Montreal as negotiators seek new global biodiversity framework

The Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) convened for its resumed Fifteenth Conference of the Parties (COP15),yesterday in Montreal, Canada, and to close on Monday, 19. Negotiators will be working to clinch a new global biodiversity framework (GBF) that will set a series of goals and underlying targets for a “nature-positive future.”

The previous set of goals and targets that have guided international biodiversity conservation efforts in recent years, the 2011-2020 Strategic Plan for Biodiversity and its 20 Aichi Targets, expired in 2020, with the COVID-19 pandemic stymying plans to already have a GBF ready to take their place.

The first part of the CBD COP15 took place in Kunming, China, and online last year. While China is the meeting’s host, travel restrictions and other challenges related to the pandemic led to the resumed COP15 venue being moved to Montreal, where the CBD secretariat is located.

Discussions in Montreal are numerous and include issues related to addressing environmentally harmful subsidies; the final shape of the 30×30 target; the signals that COP15 sends for scaling up naturebased solutions, including naturebased infrastructure; the linkages between nature-based solutions finance and climate finance; and how the results of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change’s (UNFCCC) Twenty-seventh Conference of the Parties (COP27) can inform the Global Biodiversity Framework.

Johan Rockström, Director of the Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research (PIK), remarked: “We need a ‘Paris Moment’ in Montreal. Similar to the legally binding global climate agreement to hold global warming well below 2 degrees Celsius and aim for 1.5 degree Celsius, governments gathering at the world nature summit COP15 in Canada need to set a limit to nature destruction. To safeguard our life-support system on Earth, we need to halt nature loss to zero, which means protecting all remaining intact nature. Only if we protect and regenerate Earth’s nature, we can really protect Earth’s climate.”

“This is potentially an historic moment for biodiversity,” said Andrew Gonzalez, a professor in the biology department at McGill University in Montreal and founding director of the Quebec Centre for Biodiversity Science.

He added: “The rate of global change in nature during the past 50 years is unprecedented in human history,” the report said, pointing to five key drivers: land- and seause changes, direct exploitation of organisms, climate change, pollution, and invasions of alien species.

Environmental crisis: Nigeria seeks UN interventions on GGW, HYPREP issues

The Federal Government of Nigeria has called on the United Nations (UN) to assist in addressing Hydrocarbon Pollution Remediation Project (HYPREP) and Great Green Wall issues (GGW) to enable restoration of lost lands in the country.

Minister of Environment, Mohammed Abdullahi, said this while receiving the Deputy Secretary-General of UN, Amina Mohammed, on courtesy visit, in Abuja, recently.

Abdullahi said that the ministry was committed to ensuring that the two major projects were implemented effectively, adding that the UN’s intervention would boost the ministry’s efforts.

“There are two important projects which we will need more of your support, the HYPREP and GGW. We are doing our best to ensure that it’s working greatly.

We have the team for the HYPREP. We are doing our best to make sure that the structure put in place is maintained to ensure checks and balances for good governance and transparency.

“This is what we are doing and we hope we will get robust support from you.

“You have always been there for us and we still have hope that you will continue to give us your full support,” he said.

Responding, Mohammed said that the UN would give its best to support in restoring the loss lands.

“So, it’s really important that we put in place the teams that will help us to look at those programmes and to see that GGW issues is properly addressed.

She said the GGW project was an economic corridor, which would offer empowerment to both youth and women, if properly addressed in the country.

According to her, the GGW project will really empower our people, but at the same time, it is able to give less reason for people to destabilise countries when they get involved in conflicts of different types.

“So again, we are at your disposal; the UN will support any efforts that you want with the GGW, particularly the wetlands,” she said.

Mohammed, however, advised agencies, parastaltals and other relevant stakeholders to support the ministry in ensuring that the environmental programmes were implemented effectively.

She thanked the minister

for his strong leadership and commitment in ensuring that environmental crisis were being tackled as well as ensuring that Paris Agreement was achieved effectively.

HYPREP was established in 2012 under the Federal Ministry of Environment to achieve the under listed objectives in Ogoniland and other impacted communities:

“To determine the scope, means and modalities of remediation of soil and ground water contamination in impacted communities as may be recommended by HYPREP Governing Council and remedy them,

“Enhance local capacity for better environmental management and promote awareness of sound environmental management as

well as ensure livelihoods and sustainable development, and

“Ensure security and promote peace building efforts in impacted communities as well as strengthen governance, transparency and accountability in the region.”

The Great Green Wall (GGW) initiative, launched in 2007 by the African Union, aims to restore the continent’s degraded landscapes and transform millions of lives in the Sahel.

Its ambition is to restore 100 million hectares of currently degraded land, sequester 250 million tonnes of carbon, and create 10 million green jobs by 2030.

In Nigeria, the GGW Initiative also seeks to recover degraded land, preserve ecosystems, and provide sustainable livelihood opportunities for communities.

PILIWA launched in Nigerian

By Mashe Umaru Gwamna

Lawyers, civil society, and media executives converged to Benin, the Edo state capital recently for the launch of the Public Interest Lawyering Initiative for West Africa (PILIWA) Nigeria chapter.

The initiative which was founded in 2016 has a membership that cuts across nine West African countries including Cote d’ Ivoire, Ghana, Sierra Leone, Mali, and Niger, among others, and supports young lawyers interested in public interest cases technically, financially, and intellectually.

A member of PILIWA and Executive Director of the Environmental Rights Action/ Friends of the Earth Nigeria (ERA/ FoEN), Chima Williams said that public interest lawyering is a special area for legal practitioners

with passion for public good.

Williams explained that the PILIWA was particularly interested in Nigerian lawyers because of the peculiarity of environmental and human rights abuses perpetrated by big corporations aided by the state in all parts of the country where natural resources are found.

On the Nigeria launch of the PILIWA initiative, the ERA/FoEN boss said a desk office will be set up in Benin which will receive an endowment of N250,000 (two hundred and fifty thousand naira only).

The initiative will equally train young lawyers and imbue them with the relevant knowledge on sources of evidence, how to gather evidence and how to present it before a court of competent jurisdiction.

In his intervention, Jonathan Kaufman, Executive Director of

the Advocates for Community Alternatives (ACA) said that he owes his association with legal work and particularly public interest cases with his experience as a young lawyer, when he was conscripted into the cases filed by families associated with the Ken Saro Wiwa case as well as victims of the Parabe Oil Platform case caused by Chevron in Ondo State.

The two cases, Kaufman pointed out, encouraged him to reach out to and start associating with local lawyers that are classified as stubborn because of their quest for justice.

He revealed that many legal cases suffer because of information gathering deficit, financial constraints, and lack of thoroughness in terms of minute details. Sometimes lawyers are not able to obtain cross border information that their peers may

be able to obtain and pass onto them if a platform for cooperation exists.

He said that the PILIWA platform will bridge the identified gaps to help public interest lawyers secure what they need to push and win unconventional cases.

The highpoint of the event was the inauguration of zonal coordinators for the PILIWA in Nigeria. The nominated coordinators of the South-South, South-east and North Central Zones are Courage Nsirimovu, Kalu Emmanuel Chisom and Redzie D. Jugo respectively. The coordinators for the Northwest, Northeast and Southwest will be announced later.

Participants were drawn from the legal profession in Edo, Bayelsa, Rivers, Plateau, Imo, Enugu, Niger and Kogi states, among others.

Myanmar coup: The soldiers refusing to fight

The Myanmar military is suffering defections from its forces and is finding it hard to recruit. In exclusive interviews, newly-defected soldiers tell the BBC that the junta, who seized power in a coup two years ago, is struggling to suppress the armed pro-democracy uprising.

“No-one wants to join the military. People hate their cruelty and unjust practices,” says Nay Aung. The first time he tried to leave his base he was badly beaten with a rifle butt and called a “traitor”.

He managed to escape the second time and flee across the border to Thailand with the support of opposition groups.

“One of my friends is in the resistance,” he says. “I called him and he told people here in Thailand about me. I arrived here with their help.”

He’s now living in a safehouse along with 100 other newly-defected soldiers and their families. These men, who refused to fight their own people, are now in hiding so we are not using their real names. They’re being housed and protected by the very resistance movement they were ordered to fight.

Since the military seized power in a coup in February 2021, more than 13,000 soldiers and policemen have defected, according to the exiled National Unity Government of Myanmar (NUG). They are offering cash incentives and support to try and get more soldiers and police officers to switch sides.

At 19, Maung Sein is the youngest in the safehouse. He joined the military when he was just 15 years old.

“I admired the military,” Maung Sein says, and he wanted to make his family proud. But the military’s violent crackdown on the nationwide uprising demanding democracy has dramatically changed people’s view of men in uniform.

“We saw online people calling us ‘military dogs’,” he says - the animal term is one of the biggest insults in Myanmar. “That made me sorry and sad.”

Maung Sein says foot soldiers like him couldn’t disobey “orders from above” to “kill civilians and burn villages”.

But he also left because he thinks the military is in a weak position.

Ethnic armed organisations in the border regions alongside a network of civilian militia groups, called the People’s Defence Forces (PDF), are proving to be a much stronger force than many expected and the Myanmar military has lost control of large parts of the country.

In Magway Division and Sagaing Division, places that previously provided the military with many recruits, young people are instead joining the civilian militia.

Before managing to defect, Maung Sein’s unit was ordered to “attack and destroy” a PDF training camp.

The operation didn’t go well. Seven of his fellow soldiers were killed before they were ordered to retreat. “They [the PDF] have a better strategy,” he says, “which makes them stronger.”

The PDF enjoys widespread public support and villagers provide intelligence about the military’s movements and shelter the young militia fighters.

Capt Zay Thu Aung spent 18 years in the air force. He defected a year after the coup in February 2022.

“They are under attack across the

country,” he says, reflecting on the state of Myanmar’s army, “and they don’t have enough men to fight back.”

This is why, he says, the military is increasingly using the air force.

In recent months the military has carried out devastating air strikes across the country. Since January there have been more than 200 reports of air attacks. The deadliest airstrike hit the Pa Zi Gyi village in Sagaing region in April, killing more than 170 people, including many women and children.

“Without the air force, it’s very likely that the military will fall,” Capt Aung predicts.

Like the other defectors, everyone in his family was proud of him when he was chosen as an air force cadet. In those times, he says, it was an honour to be part of Myanmar’s military. The coup, he says, “pulled us down the abyss”.

“Most of the people I lived with in the air force were not bad people. But since the coup, they’ve been acting like monsters.”

He’s the only one in his unit who has defected, though. Most of his friends have “kept fighting against my people”, he says.

Despite the Myanmar military’s critical role in the country’s affairs, its exact size is unknown. Most observers estimate at the time of the coup it was around 300,000 but now is much lower.

The resistance has used new technologies like video games alongside traditional crowdfunding mechanisms to raise money, much of it individual donations from the

diaspora.

They have managed to raise significant sums this way but they lack access to military grade weapons or fighter jets.

The National Unity Government has offered to pay $500,000 (£405,000) to regime pilots or sailors who defect with a military aeroplane or navy vessel, but so far no-one has done this.

With the Myanmar military strategy turning increasingly to the air, with devastating consequences, the BBC follows those fighting back.

Capt Aung says it’s not easy to leave after being “indoctrinated for years” and that he, too, feared being seen as a traitor.

“There is a saying in the Myanmar military that you leave when you’re dead.”

Russia’s role

Before defecting, Capt Aung worked on a major upgrade of the capital Naypyidaw’s airport to prepare for the arrival of advanced fighter jets from Russia, the Sukhoi Su-30.

Capt Aung takes us through the satellite imagery of the airport. He shows us where he used to live and where he helped build three open sheds to house the six Sukhoi Su-30s ordered.

These fighter jets represent “the most advanced aircraft in the arsenal of the Myanmar military,” says Leone Hadavi from Myanmar Witness, who has been monitoring the aircrafts the military is using.

He says the Sukhoi Su-30 is an advanced multi-role fighter jet that has both air-to-air and air-to-ground capabilities in the version that was exported to Myanmar.

It has a greater capacity to carry

weapons than the Russian-made Yak130s that have been regularly sighted in recent airstrikes.

Capt Aung says as part of the agreement two test pilots from Russia and a repair crew of 10 people would stay for “one year during the entire warranty period”. He was involved in building their accommodation.

Others from the Myanmar air force were sent to Russia. “Altogether more than 50 people were sent to be trained to operate these planes,” he tells us.

Two of the six fighter jets have arrived in Myanmar and been put on display at military parades. They have not yet been sighted in the conflict.

In the face of international sanctions and condemnation from its neighbours, the Myanmar military has become increasingly isolated. The latest round of UK sanctions in March attempted to target the military’s access to fuel.

But Russia - who has long-running ties with the Myanmar military - has stepped up to become their strongest foreign backer.

The United Nations Special Rapporteur for Myanmar, Tom Andrews, says Moscow is by far Myanmar’s largest arms dealer. According to his report released in May, Russia has shipped over 400 million dollars’ worth of arms to Myanmar since the coup.

These come from 28 Russian entities, including state-owned ones. The report says 16 of those suppliers have been sanctioned by some countries for their role in Russia’s war in Ukraine. And that these weapons have been used to “commit probable war crimes and crimes against humanity” in Myanmar.

In the air, the people’s resistance is trying to fight back with drones.

Khin Sein, 25, leads a team of female drone pilots who adapt civilian drones to drop home-made bombs on military targets.

She was a university student and took part in the mass protests sparked by the coup before taking up arms.

“We don’t have the resources like the military but we don’t dwell on this,” she says from her jungle camp.

“Compared with a plane, our drone is like a sesame seed. It can go far when you have many sesame seeds,” she says.

“If we fly high, like 300 metres above, they don’t even know that we are coming. So we can attack them effectively and they are scared of drones.”

From his hideout across the border in Thailand, Capt Aung now shares his air force intelligence with those like her, fighting for democracy.

“By listening to the sound at night, can we distinguish between a fighter jet and a civilian plane?” comes the crackled voice over Zoom in the back room of his house.

“We share our knowledge in the best way we can”, Capt Aung says after the meeting.

It is complex for him, “on a personal level, my brothers, friends and teachers whom I lived with, I have no hatred for them,” he tells us.

But this cause is bigger. “It’s not about individuals, we are fighting an institution.”

And he’s happy, he says because “I’m working for my country. I’ll support the revolution in whatever way I can until it’s over.”

Source: BBC

Defected soldiers are in hiding in neighbouring Thailand

Ethnic armed groups have joined forces with anti-coup militias across the country

More than 13,000 soldiers and policemen have defected since the coup, the exiled National Unity Government says

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3. WILLS, INIRUO

4. ALABOSON, COLLINS DEINGIKUMO AIMS AND OBJECTIVES

(A) TO FOSTER UNITY AND UNDERSTANDING AMONG MEMBERS.

(B) TO INITIATE PROGRAMMES OR ACTIVITIES NECESSARY TO MAINTAIN PROMOTE AND ENCOURAGE THE WELFARE OF MEMBERS.

(C) TO SUPPORT THE GENERAL DEVELOPMENT AND UPLIFTMENT OF OUR ALMA MATER SO AS TO ACHIEVE A COMMON GOAL IN THE PURSUIT OF CORPORATE AND EDUCATIONAL EXCELLENCE FOR OUR ALMA MATER.

(D) TO ENGAGE IN SUCH ACTIVITIES AS THE CLASS MAY DEEM FIT IN ORDER TO PROMOTE ALL OR ANY OF THE ABOVE IDEALS. ANY OBJECTION TO THE REGISTRATIONS SHOULD BE FORWARDED TO THE REGISTRAR, CORPORATEAFFAIRS COMMISSION, PLOT420,TIGRIS CRESCENT, OFF AGUIYI IRONSI STREET, MAITAMA, PMB 198 GARKI ABUJA WITHIN 28 DAYS FROM THE DATE OF THIS PUBLICATION.

SIGNED: SECRETARY

PUBLIC NOTICE

THE GENERAL PUBLIC IS HEREBY NOTIFIED THAT THE ABOVE NAMED ORGANIZATION HAS APPLIED TO THE CORPORATE AFFAIRS COMMISSION ABUJA, FOR REGISTRATION UNDER PART C OF THE COMPANIES AND ALLIED MATTERS ACT. 2020.

TRUSTEES

(

1) GLORY EWALEFOH. CHAIRMAN.

(2) ESTHER OKPETE -SECRETARY .

(3). TSOLA OMATSOLA TAWIAH ORITSEJAFO

AIMS AND OBJECTIVES

1. TO PROVIDE ACCESS TO QUALITY TERTIARY EDUCATION FOR UNDER PRIVILEGED CHILDREN

2. TO PROVIDE DEPRIVED YOUNG PEOPLE WITH THE POWER TO EARN A REGULAR AND DECENT LIVELIHOOD BY GIVING THEM ACCESS TO TERTIARY EDUCATION

3. TO INTEGRATE CHILDREN WHO ARE MARGINALIZED BY POVERTY AND LACK OF EDUCATION INTO MAINSTREAM SOCIETY THROUGH WORK PLACEMENTS AND OTHER PROGRAMS.

4. TOASSIST IN THE PROCESS OF SOCIAL INTEGRATION TO UNDERPRIVILEGED YOUNG PEOPLE INTO THE SOCIETY

5. FACILITATING VOCATIONAL TRAINING TO THE YOUNG ADULTS TO REDUCE THEIR SKILL GAP WHICH WILL HELP THEM IN EITHER GETTING EMPLOYED OR START THEIR OWN ENTERPRISE.

ANY OBJECTION TO THE REGISTRATIONS SHOULD BE FORWARDED TO THE REGISTRAR, CORPORATEAFFAIRS COMMISSION, PLOT420,TIGRIS CRESCENT, OFF AGUIYI IRONSI STREET, MAITAMA, PMB 198 GARKI ABUJA WITHIN 28 DAYS FROM THE DATE OF THIS PUBLICATION. SIGNED: MADUAKOLAM IGWE ESQ.

RECONCILIATION OF NAME

THIS IS TO INFORM THE GENERAL PUBLIC THAT OCHIWU GLORY OGBE AND OCHIWU GLORY IS ONE AND SAME PERSON, HOWEVER I NOW WISH TO BE KNOWN AND ADDRESSED AS OCHIWU GLORY OGBE. ALL FORMER DOCUMENTS REMAIN VALID. AUTHORITIES CONCERNED AND THE GENERAL PUBLIC SHOULD TAKE NOTE.

NIMLYAT

I, FORMERLY KNOWN AS YANKAT NIMLYET NOW WISH TO BE KNOWN AS NIMLYAT YANGKAT LABONG CJ. ALL FORMER DOCUMENTS REMAIN VALID. ALL AUTHORITIES CONCERNED AND GENERAL PUBLIC PLEASE TAKE NOTE.

NKECHI

I, FORMERLY KNOWN AS NKECHI JOVITA MADUFOR. NOW WISH TO BE KNOWN AS NKECHI JOVITA ADIOHA. ALL FORMER DOCUMENTS REMAIN VALID. ALL AUTHORITIES CONCERNED AND GENERAL PUBLIC PLEASE TAKE NOTE.

JIBRIN

I, FORMERLY KNOWN AS USMAN FATIMA WITH THE DATE OF BIRTH 08/01/1987 NOW WISH TO BE KNOWN AND ADDRESSED AS JIBRIN FATIMA WITH THE CORRECT DATE OF BIRTH 20/08/1988. ALL FOR DOCUMENTS REMAIN VALID. THE GENERAL PUBLIC TAKE NOTE.

PUBLIC NOTICE

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. EBAH JAMES PATRICK - CHAIRMAN

2. ENWERE FRANCIS NNAMAKA - TRUSTEE/SECRATARY

3. ADEYEMI OLUWABUKOLA MOSES

THE AIMS AND OBJECTIVES ARE :

1. TO IMPROVE THE STATE OF THE MEDICAL SERVICE, ENVIRONMENTAL STABILITY, IMPROVING THE WELFARE OF THE UNDERPRIVILEGED AND DISADVANTAGED BY PROVIDING MEDICAL AND SOCIAL SERVICES THAT WILL HELP REDUCE DISEASES PREVALENT IN URBAN AND RURAL AREAS.

ANY OBJECTION TO THIS REGISTRATION SHOULD BE FORWARDED TO THE REGISTRAR-GENERAL, CORPORATEAFFAIRS COMMISSION, PLOT 420, TIGRIS CRESCENT , OFF AGUIYI IRONSI STREET , MAITAMA , ABUJA WITHIN 28DAYS OF THIS PUBLICATION. SIGNED : SECRETARY.

NKECHI

I, FORMERLY KNOWN AS NKECHI JOVITA MADUFOR. NOW WISH TO BE KNOWN AS NKECHI JOVITA ADIOHA. ALL FORMER DOCUMENTS REMAIN VALID. ALL AUTHORITIES CONCERNED AND GENERAL PUBLIC PLEASE TAKE NOTE.

JIBRIN

I, FORMERLY KNOWN AS USMAN FATIMA WITH THE DATE OF BIRTH 08/01/1987 NOW WISH TO BE KNOWN AND ADDRESSED AS JIBRIN FATIMA WITH THE CORRECT DATE OF BIRTH 20/08/1988. ALL FOR DOCUMENTS REMAIN VALID. THE GENERAL PUBLIC TAKE NOTE.

PUBLIC NOTICE

PATNAB HEALTH INITIATIVE

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. EBAH JAMES PATRICK - CHAIRMAN

2. ENWERE FRANCIS NNAMAKA - TRUSTEE/SECRATARY

3. ADEYEMI OLUWABUKOLA MOSES

THE AIMS AND OBJECTIVES ARE :

1. TO IMPROVE THE STATE OF THE MEDICAL SERVICE, ENVIRONMENTAL STABILITY, IMPROVING THE WELFARE OF THE UNDERPRIVILEGED AND DISADVANTAGED BY PROVIDING MEDICAL AND SOCIAL SERVICES THAT WILL HELP REDUCE DISEASES PREVALENT IN URBAN AND RURAL AREAS. ANY OBJECTION TO THIS REGISTRATION SHOULD BE FORWARDED TO THE REGISTRAR-GENERAL, CORPORATEAFFAIRS COMMISSION, PLOT 420, TIGRIS CRESCENT , OFF AGUIYI IRONSI STREET , MAITAMA , ABUJA WITHIN 28DAYS OF THIS PUBLICATION.

SIGNED : SECRETARY.

PUBLIC NOTICE

THIS IS TO INFORM THE GENERAL PUBLIC OF THE LOSS OF ORIGINAL RIGHT OF OCCUPANCY (R OF O) IN RESPECT OF PLOT NO. 1069, FILE NO. BN 11019, DAPE DISTRICT CADASTRAL ZONE CO4, FCT ABUJA. BEARING ODE OLUJIMI ADEKA.

ALL EFFORTS MADE TO TRACE THE MISSING DOCUMENTS PROVE ABORTIVE. PLEASE THEAGIS, FEDERAL CAPITALTERRITORYADMINISTRATION (FCTA) AND THE GENERAL PUBLIC SHOULD TAKE NOTE.

PUBLIC NOTICE

RAIN OF PRAYER ASSEMBLY

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. LUCKSLEY INDI IGENEGBAI (CHAIRMAN)

2. KATE MODUPE FALANA (SECRETARY)

THE AIMS AND OBJECTIVES ARE :

1. TO RESCUE MEN THROUGH THE TEACHING AND PREACHING OF THE WORD OF GOD AND PREVAILING PRAYERS.

2. TO RUN AND ESTABLISH VIBRANT CHURCH BRANCHES AND NETWORK WITH OTHER CHRISTIAN BODIES WITHIN AND OUTSIDE NIGERIA.

3. TO ENGAGE IN COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT, WELFARE, AND BENEVOLENCE PROJECTS. 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.

PATRIOTIC ELITE CLUB OF AMASSOMA

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. YERI, WAIBODEI, PETER (CHAIRMAN)

2. AYOGOI, AYOGOI, SIMON (SECRETARY)

3. AMBAIOWEI,TARI,EBIOWEI (MEMBER)

THE AIMS AND OBJECTIVES ARE :

1.TO ORGANIZE SEMINARS AND ENLIGHTENMENT CAMPAIGNS TO EDUCATE THE PEOPLE OF AMASSOMA COMMUNITY AND BAYELSANS ON THE IMPORTANCE OF EDUCATION IN NATION BUILDING AND SUCH OTHER LECTURES THAT WILL AFFECT THE SOCIETY POSITIVELY.

2.TO FOSTER UNITYAMONG MEMBERSAND INCULCATETHE ESSENCE OF CITIZENSHIP,MUTUAL CO-OPERATION, PEACEFUL CO-EXISTENCE AND PROGRESS.

3.TO FIGHT AGAINST ALL FORMS OF DISCRIMINATIONS AS A RESULT OF POLITICAL, SEX, RELIGIOUS, FAMILY AND EDUCATIONAL DIFFERENCES AND TO PROMOTE PEACE AND UNITY IJAW NATION.

4.TO EFFICIENTLY HARNESS AND DIRECT THE EDUCATIONAL NEEDS OF BAYELSANS ASSISTING DESERVING STUDENTS MORALLY AND FINANCIALLY.

5.TO BE STRONGLY OPPOSED TO ALL FORMS OF CRIMINALITY AND SOCIAL VICES IN SOCIETY.

6.TO ENCOURAGE AND FACILITATE IN ANY DEVELOPMENTAL PROGRAMME IN AMASSOMA COMMUNITY AND OTHER PARTS OF BAYELSA STATE.

7.TO PROMOTE THE OBSERVANCE OF THE TENET OF DEMOCRACY, RULE OF LAW, EQUITY, FAIMESS, RIGHT AND JUSTICE IN AMASSOMA AND BAYELSA AT LARGE.

8.TO ADEQUATELY ADVOCATE FOR POLICIES AND IDEOLOGIES OF GOOD GOVENSANCE

9.TO HONESTLY SEEK FOR THE INTEREST AND PROGRESS OF AMASSOMA COMMUNITY IN PARTICULAR AND BAYELSA STATE IN GENERAL.

ANY OBJECTION TO THIS REGISTRATION SHOULD BE FORWARDED TO THE REGISTRARGENERAL, CORPORATE AFFAIRS COMMISSION, PLOT 420, TIGRIS CRESCENT OFF AGUIYI IRONSI STREET MAITAMA , ABUJA WITHIN 28DAYS OF THIS PUBLICATION. SIGNED : SECRETARY.

PUBLIC NOTICE

TREASURE MINDS CLUB

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. KUDIRAT MOSUN ADEYEMO-CHAIRMAN

2. NOJEEMDEEN O.OLADIPO-SECRETARY/MEMBER

3. PHILLP DAMILOLA ABIOLA MEMBER

4. AWE GRACE OLUWAFUNMIKE MEMBER

THE AIMS AND OBJECTIVES ARE :

1. TO ACHIEVE EXCELLENCE AT ALL LEVELS IN THE COMMUNITY.

2. TO CREATE AWARENESS AMONG THE LESS PRIVILEGED (ORPHANS, WIDOWS AND WIDOWERS)

3. TO SET UP ON A HUMANITARIAN GRAND. 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.

FRIDAY, JUNE 2, 2023

Super 6: Lobi stars will pick continental, Iorfa Boast

By Uche Nnorom, Makurdi

Vice Chairman of Lobi Star Football Club Dominic Iorfa has boasted that his team is in good frame to pick a continental ticket.

Lobi finished second behind Rivers United in group B of the abridged Nigeria Professional Football League, NPFL.

The team therefore qualified for the Super 6 alongside Rivers United, Enyimba,Bendel Insurance, Akwa United

and Remo Stars. The competition holds at Mobolaji Johnson Arena in Lagos from June 3 to June 11 and has price money of 100 million.

It should be noted that the Super Six’s top two teams will represent Nigeria in the CAF Champions League next season while the overall third-place team on the standings of the Super Six will represent Nigeria in the CAF Confederation Cup.

Speaking with Sportswriters on Tuesday in Makurdi at the McCarthy Stadium, Iorfa bemoaned the exit of the team in round 16

of Federation Cup, attributing it to fatique. He however, noted that in past years, the team has not gone beyond round of 32 of the FA Cup.

He said, “the team travelled alot from Plateau where we played our league games to Owerri for the FA and then to Ijebu Ode where we played against Warri Wolves and lost. I must commend the resilence and determination of my boys. They gave their best.

“Our target is to emerge amongst the teams to play in the Super 6. We are in

good track to get a continental ticket. The team is good to go”.

The former Super Eagles winger lauded Sportswriters for their relentless support for the team and urged them to continue.

Chairman, Sports Writers’ Association of Nigeria, SWAN Benue State Chapter John Shiaondo applauded the leadership style of Iorfa that has seen the team emerge as one of the best in the country and encouraged him to continue in that stride.

S P R T

NFF, Tingo seal partnership agreement on Federation Cup

The country’s oldest football championship, known presently as Federation Cup, secured another title sponsor on Thursday as the Nigeria Football Federation and Tingo signed a partnership agreement on the prestigious competition.

At a modest but colourful ceremony inside the NFF Secretariat, President of NFF, Alhaji Ibrahim Musa Gusau declared that the first partnership agreement in the life of the new NFF administration had taken some months to seal because his team places more premium on integrity and credibility of partnerships and relationships than the number of such relationships.

“We took our time to conduct due diligence on the company and we found them to be upright and credible. For us, it is about credibility and integrity. A number of corporates have approached us for partnerships but we are taking our time to evaluate things.

“I congratulate Tingo for their steadfastness to ensure the actualization of this relationship. We believe it is the beginning of great things that will happen between the company and the NFF going forward.”

NFF General Secretary, Dr. Mohammed Sanusi added that the Federation is delighted to secure sponsorship for the oldest and most glamorous football championship in the land, and would go extra mile to ensure that Tingo derives the appropriate mileage from the title sponsorship.

Chief Operating Officer of Tingo, Mr. Peter Owokolo commended the NFF for the opportunity given to the company to engage Nigeria Football at such a high level, and promised to explore areas of further positive contributions to the

Nigeria game.

“We are honoured to be here and to be able to take the title sponsorship of such a prestigious competition as the Federation Cup. It is a privilege. We are

committed to promoting and positively projecting Nigeria Football in every way we can.”

The Federation Cup began as the Governor’s Cup in 1945, and has been addressed variously

as the Challenge Cup and the Football Association (FA) Cup over the decades. It became Federation Cup in 2008, when the Nigeria Football Association became Nigeria Football

Federation following the approval of its Congress in Makurdi, Benue State. Also at the event were Tingo’s Project Coordinator, Dr. Segun Sanni; the Chairman/ CEO of Skills and Dribbles Marketing Company (facilitators of the agreement), Alhaji Abubakar Sadiq; NFF Deputy General Secretary, Dr. Emmanuel Ikpeme; Director of Finance and Administration, Mr. E. C. Kadiri; Director of Communications, Mr. Ademola Olajire; Director of Legal, Barr. Okey Obi; Director of Audit, Mr. Yohanna Mathias; Head of Marketing and Sponsorship, Mr. Alizor Chuks; Head of Protocol, Mr. Barnabas Joro; Head of International Competitions, Mr. Enebi Achor and; Chief Operating Officer of the Nigeria Women Football League, Ms Modupe Shabi.

PUBLIC NOTICE

AHBABUL RASUL YOUTH 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. MOHAMMED IBRAHIM-CHAIRMAN

2. SALISU ANAS SULEIMAN-SECRETARY

3. AMINU MUSA-MEMBER

THE AIMS AND OBJECTIVES ARE :

1. TO PREACH AND PROPAGATE THE TRUE TEACHING OF PROPHET MUHAMMADU PEACE BE UPON HIM.

2. TO PREACH LOVE, PEACE AND HARMONIOUS COEXISTENCE AMONG DIVERGENT SECTS IN ISLAM. 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

GLORIOUS SUPPORT INITIATIVE

THIS IS TO INFORM THE GENERAL PUBLIC THAT THE ABOVE NAMED HASAPPLIED TO THE CORPORATEAFFAIRS COMMISSION (CAC),ABUJAFOR REGISTRATION UNDER PART ‘F’OF COMPANIES AND ALLIED MATTERS ACT, ( CAMA 2020).

THE TRUSTEES ARE :

1. ABDULSALAM JIMOH EKUNDAYO

2. OSHINOWO OLUYEMISI EUNICE

3. ODUYOYE ADEWALE OLUFUNMILADE

4. SALAMI AFEEZ OWOLABI

THE AIMS AND OBJECTIVES ARE :

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.

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 :

1.TO PROMOTE EDUCATION BY PROVIDING SCHOLARSHIPS, FUNDING, AID AND FINANCIAL SUPPORT TO INDIGENT STUDENTS.

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

THE GENERAL PUBLIC IS HEREBY NOTIFIED INITIATIVE FOR ADVANCEMENT OF ETHICAL STANDARD HASAPPLIED TO CORPORATEAFFAIRS COMMISSION,ABUJAFOR REMOVALTHREE

(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 NGUNANAGBEAND SYLVANUS UGBODU IS THAT THE MEMBER THEMSELVES INSTIGATED THE CHANGE SO AS TO ACHIEVE THE AIMS OF THE FOUNDATION.

THE OLD TRUSTEES ARE:

1.AKINROLUYO DICKSON OLAJIDE - RETAINED

2.SAMUEL AKINS - RETAINED

3.OMOTAYO AGBAJE - RETAINED

4.PAUL SANTOS - REMOVED

5.NANCY NGUNAN AGBE - REMOVED

6.SYLVANUS UGBODU - REMOVED

1.AKINS AMINAT - APPOINTED

2.AKINROLUYO FOLASADE OLAYINKA - APPOINTED

PUBLIC NOTICE

THE INCORPORATED TRUSTEES OF ‘MERCY-GATE PENTECOSTAL MISSION, CAC/IT/NO. 38415.

THIS IS TO INFORM THE GENERAL PUBLIC THAT THE ABOVE NAMED ORGANIZATION HAS APPLIED TO THE CORPORATE AFFAIRS COMMISSION (CAC), ABUJA FOR CHANGE OF TRUSTEES UNDER PART ‘F’ OF COMPANIES AND ALLIED MATTERS ACT, ( CAMA 2020).

THE OLD TRUSTEES ARE :

1. MR ISAAC OLAIYA AJANA - RETAINED

2. MR JULIUS FOLAYAN FAMUSANMI - REMOVED

3. MRS ABIODUN ABISOLA GOODWILL - REMOVED

4. MRS RACHEL ABIMBOLA AJANA - RETAINED

5. MR ANTHONY OLUWADIYA OLUWASANMI - RETAINED

6. MRS SARAT OLAJUMOKE OLATUYI - RETAINED

7. MR OYEWOLE ANDREW ADEFEMI - REMOVED

THE NEW ELECTED TRUSTEES ARE :

1. EMMANUEL OLUMIDE AJANA

2. ABIMBOLA OJOLOWO-OJUKO

3. STEPHEN EMEKA ONYEKWERE

THE AIMS AND OBJECTIVES REMAIN THE SAME. ANY OBJECTION TO THIS APPLICATION 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 : YOMI SANYA & CO. LEGAL PRACTITIONERS.

PUBLIC NOTICE

OGHOSA GODSON 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.ORIAKHI ESOHE GIFT (CHAIRMAN)

2.ORIAKHI OYENMWOSA DELIGHT (SECRETARY)

3.ORIAKHI OSARUESE LISA (TREASURER) THE AIMS AND OBJECTIVES ARE :

1.TOASSIST WIDOWS, ORPHANS, INCAPACITATED/DISABLED PERSONS, HOMELESSAND LESS PRIVILEGE IN THE SOCIETY WITH A SOURCE OF LIVELIHOOD AND TO ENGAGE IN POVERTYALLEVIATION PROGRAMS;

2.TO PROVIDE HEALTHCARE SUPPORT AND EQUIPMENTS TO PERSONS LIVING WITH HEALTH CHALLENGES AND TO EDUCATE THEM ON PREVENTIVE/MITIGATING MEASURES AGAINST CONTACTING DISEASES;

3. TO ENGAGE IN HUMAN DEVELOPMENT, YOUTH EMPOWERMENT AND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMS AND TO ORGANIZE SEMINARS/CONFERENCES ON ENTREPRENEURSHIP AND SKILL ACQUISITION TO THE YOUTHS;

4.TO PROVIDE FREE LEGAL SERVICES TO POOR VICTIMS OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE, RAPE, HUMAN RIGHT

ABUSE, PERSON INMATES AND INDIGENT PERSONS THAT CANNOTAFFORD THE SERVICES OF A LAWYER;

5. TO ASSIST THE LESS PRIVILEGED PERSONS IN THE SOCIETY AND PROVIDE BASIC INFRASTRUCTURE AND BASIC AMENITIES FOR COMMUNITIES, ORPHANAGE HOME AND HOMELESS PERSONS AND TO OPERATE ORPHANAGE HOME;

6. TO RAISE FUNDS FOR THE FURTHERANCE OF THE OBJECTIVES AND ACTIVITIES OF THE FOUNDATION AND TO RECEIVE DONATIONS, SUBSCRIPTIONS, GRANTS AND GIFTS IN CASH AND KIND OF PROPERTY, WHETHER MOVABLE OR IMMOVABLE BOTH LOCALLY AND INTERNATIONALLY.

7. TO PROVIDE EDUCATION, SCHOLARSHIP, EDUCATIONAL MATERIALS AND EQUIPMENTS FOR THE LESS PRIVILEGE IN THE SOCIETY AND TO COLLABORATE WITH OTHER NGO(S), GOVERNMENT AND FOREIGN ORGANIZATION WITH SIMILAR OBJECTIVES TO ACHIEVE SET GOALS; ANY OBJECTION TO THIS REGISTRATION SHOULD BE FORWARDED TO THE REGISTRAR-GENERAL, CORPORATEAFFAIRS COMMISSION, PLOT 420, TIGRIS CRESCENT OFFAGUIYI IRONSI STREET MAITAMA ABUJA WITHIN 28DAYS OF THIS PUBLICATION. SIGNED : SECRETARY.

PUBLIC NOTICE

ASSOCIATION FOR FOREST CONSERVATION AND GREEN INDUSTRIAL CHARCOAL MERCHANTS

THIS IS TO INFORM THE GENERAL PUBLIC THAT THE ABOVE NAMED HASAPPLIED TO THE CORPORATEAFFAIRS COMMISSION (CAC),ABUJAFOR REGISTRATION UNDER PART ‘F’OF COMPANIES AND ALLIED MATTERS ACT, ( CAMA 2020).

THE TRUSTEES ARE :

1. IDOWU ADESOLA ADEBOWALE - CHAIRMAN

4. JONES-IDOWU FLORENCE OMOLOLA -SECRETARY

THE AIMS AND OBJECTIVES ARE :

1. TO FOSTER UNITY, PROGRESS AND THE WELFARE OF MEMBERS AND THE PUBLIC.

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

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 ABUJAAND 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.

PUBLIC NOTICE

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 :

1.JANET KYUMEN-(CHAIRMAN)

2.REV.FR.DR.BAHAGO SAMAILA BENEDICT

3.PASTOR JONATHAN YOHANNA

4.CYNTHIA SALEH

5.MARY MUSA.

6.SHEHU 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 YOUTHSAND THE LESS PREVILEGED TO ENGAGE IN CAPACITY BUILDING,ECONOMIC

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

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Manchester City open talks with Chelsea over Mateo Kovacic transfer

Akume: As SGF beckons

Withthe formal inauguration of Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu as the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, the ball has been set rolling on the course of democratic good governance in the next four years. The expectations are expectedly high given the leadership credentials and governance antecedents of the president in and out of office as the former Governor of Lagos State. These expectations have been further boosted by the philosophical flamboyance of his policy statements.

In specific terms, majority of Nigerians are in expectation of a new era of national security; economic growth and development; good federal practices; urban renewal; improved quality of education with accent on science and technology; youth and infrastructure development among many other critical interventions in all aspects of our national life would be given massive consideration and attention. In short, Nigeria and Nigerians would return to the good old days.

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 Atah Pine

policy directions and organizational principles.

These and many other development strides are achievable in a governance ecosystem peopled and managed by skillful, knowledgeable, effective and efficient personnel and officials. In the specific instance, this point bears on ministers, ambassadors, bureaucratic officials, aides and assistants, and so on. The engine room that is charged with the statutory responsibility for the coordination of this complex tapestry of the governance architecture in Nigeria is the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF).

The Secretary to the Government of the Federation is a very important office. The occupant of the office works directly under the President and is saddled with the coordination of the formulation and implementation of public policies and programmes and administrative oversight on federal ministries, departments and agencies. These ministries, departments and agencies are numerous and well-known that they need not detain us here. The occupant of the office of SGF must therefore be someone with the requisite theoretical and intellectual capacitation, administrative sophistication, political imagination, professional competence and leadership capital.

The SGF job is not an all-comers job. The success or failure of the federal government hinges on the effective running and management of this politico-administrative engine room. Given the enormity of expectations from Nigerians of the Bola Ahmed Tinubu-led federal government, the choice of who is saddled with the critical responsibilities of SGF should be someone who is tested and trusted; who is at home with complex administrative tasks and a political horse imbued with titanic energy, courage, focus and saliency of spirit.

As President Bola Ahmed Tinubu weighs the various options before

Akume

him as to whom to appoint into this critically important office, I make bold to say that, one choice that stands out is Senator George Akume, the political leader of the All Progressive Congress in North Central Nigeria. Humble, amiable and warm, Senator George Akume has since the advent of democracy in the fourth republic built a political network whose foundations and fortress are so strong that no storm of the opposition can withstand in any democratic tussle. In the last twenty-four years, he has been the main issue in Benue State politics.

A cousin of the late J. S. Tarka, Senator George Akume by dint of hard work, perseverance and political sagacity has effortless emerged as the political leader of the Tiv people. As Governor of Benue State from 1999 to 2007, his policy blueprint, Benue Advance Plan, has remained the one fundamental and foundational policy document that successive administrations in Benue State have built their development projects upon. Since leaving office in 2007, no one has become the Governor of Benue State without his endorsement. In all this, he has remained self-effacing and focused on building a generation of new leaders in Benue State.

That said, the factors that strongly recommend Senator George Akume for the job of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation in view of the above itemized qualities are so numerous to count. For reasons of space constraint, I will elaborate on five items. Firstly, theoretical and intellectual capacitation. Senator George Akume was trained at Nigeria’s premier university, University of Ibadan, at both the undergraduate and graduate levels where he bagged the Bachelor and Master of Science degrees in Sociology, and, Industrial

Relations and Industrial Relations, respectively.

He honed his theoretical skills and social sciences sophistication in a scholarly environment that resonated with the best intellectual traditions and values. It is a measure of this training that whenever he his writes or speaks, he does so from a point of profundity of perspectives. A deep thinker, he dissects issues with uncommon insight and analytical clarity that leads to effective and efficient actionable solutions.

Secondly, administrative sophistication. On Completion of his academic training at Ibadan and upon return from national service, he joined the Benue State Civil Service as an administrator officer and rose through the ranks to the pinnacle of his career as a Permanent Secretary. Within this period, he had a very engaging and rewarding career serving as head of various government committees and Chairman of Local Governments. Senator George Akume once served as the Sole Administrator (Chairman) of Gboko Local Government Area of Benue State and Idah Local Government Area in present day Kogi State. This background imbibed in him the virtues of patience, methodical organization of work, respect for constituted authority, and operation in complex and multicultural work environment.

Thirdly, political imagination. His political imagination is fresh and fertile. He is very discerning, foresighted and farsighted. He was the Governor of Benue State for eight years, Distinguished Senator of the Federal Republic of Nigeria for twelve years, and in the last four years, he was the Minister for Special Duties and Intergovernmental Affairs in the Muhammadu Buhari administration. In all these assignments, Senatior George Akume, has brought his intellect and ingenuity to bear on his duties and responsibilities. Not for once, has he been found wanting, and on account of this he is always loved and admired by his people and peers.

Senator George Akume, it was, who brought the Action Congress (ACN) and later the All Progressive Congress (APC) to northern Nigeria. He deployed the vast network of his contacts, friendship and political engineering and working in close collaboration with Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu to build into the formidable political party that APC is today. All the way, he has remained a true party man and loyal to its

Fourthly, leadership capital. In the last twenty-four years, Senator Akume has steadily built a new generation of leaders within Benue State and across the country. By virtue of his personal example, he has developed a leadership model that is based on trust, humility, service, dedication, loyalty and respect to elders and constituted authority. These virtues and values have stood his political family in good stead and largely accounts for its preeminent position in the politics and democratic governance of Benue State.

It is envisaged that these virtues and values would lubricate the wheel of intergenerational leadership succession and contribute significantly in building a new Nigeria of our collective dreams. In point of fact, these leadership values are at the core of the present administration’s values of inaugurating change, good governance and development.

Fifthly, professional competence. Senator George Akume is a professionally certified management guru. He is adept in the management of personnel and resources entrusted into his care. He is also a good mobiliser of materials and logistics towards the achievement of set goals. Those who have worked with him as Governor, Senator and Minister are full of testimonies of his professionalism, and administrative ingenuity in the discharge of his duties and responsibilities.

As the nation awaits the next set of appointments that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu would roll out, it is our considered opinion that, he would find Distinguished Senator George Akume, whom they all belong to the class of the 1999-2007 set of Governors, fit for the position of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation.

Atah Pine, Head, Department of Political Science, Benue State University, Makurdi.

Taye Taiwo and Oduamadi

George