Thursday, January 5th, 2023 Edition

Chairman, Prof Mahmood Yakubu (2nd right) inspecting the last consignment of the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS), at the Nmandi Azikiwe International Airport, yesterday in Abuja.

Photo: Mahmud Isa

Police arrest 8 robbers, kidnappers during Yuletide in Benue

From Uche Nnorom, Makurdi

o fewer than eight suspects have been arrested by the Benue State Police Command during the yuletide period.

A statement by the Police

Public Relations’ Officer SP Catherine Anene and made available to Peoples Daily said the arrest were made at different locations in the state between 28th December, 2022 and 2nd January, 2023 and recovered arms and other stolen items from the suspects.

According to the statement, among the eight robbers and kidnappers that were arrested, six were apprehended along AdikpoJato-Aka road; one at Tse-Kpum, Vandeikya LGA and one at Ogene junction, Otukpo - Ugbokolo road.

“Items recovered from them include; one locally made single

barrel gun, a head mask, a military camouflage and one motorcycle stolen from the same robbery scene.”

She said the State Commissioner of Police Wale Abass lauded the men and urged them to brace up for the forthcoming general election.

Obasanjo commiserates with AfDB President Adesina over mum’s demise

Former President Olusegun Obasanjo, has commiserated with the President, African Development Bank(AfDB), Dr Akinwumi Adesina over the demise of his mother, Mrs Eunice Adesina.

The former President in a letter addressed to Adesina, said late Eunice was a hardworking personality, who dedicated her life to her family and the church of Christ.

He further said the deceased, who passed away on

Dec. 22, 2022 at the age of 92, lived a fulfilled life, adding that her impact on her family was evident in the achievements of her children.

“It is with sadness I read the passing on to glory of Mama, Chief, Mrs Eunice Adesina.

“On behalf of my family please accept our profound condolences and prayers as you go through the permanence of her absence.

“The loss of a mother is never an easy moment to bear, you should however, be consoled

as she lived a life of lessons, hardwork and dedication,”he said.

Obasanjo said the grace of God, which Eunice enjoyed with her late husband, Mr Roland Adesina, led to the impact they made before their demise.

While urging the bereaved to take solace in the fact that she had contributed her quota to human development, the former President said, “mama was one in a million.

“The evidence of her motherhood is well reflected on

her children and daughters-inlaw.

“I can attest to the fact that her children and you in particular are men of strong character and great achievements in their respective rights.

“Those of you she left behind should be comforted even as you celebrate her time on earth.”

Obasanjo said, while all mankind would take same path someday, it was important to be prepared for what one would be remembered for.(NAN)

Gov. Aminu Waziri Tambuwal of Sokoto state, PDP gubernatorial candidate of Sokoto state, Mallam Saidu Umar, his running mate Sagir Attahiru Bafarawa with others during the PDP campaign rally at Binji Local government Area of Sokoto State yesterday.

Ogun Govt begins renovation of MKO Abiola Stadium

Ogun Government has begun renovation of the MKO Abiola International Stadium, Abeokuta, to provide adequate comfort for spectators.

The Chief Press Secretary to Gov. Dapo Abiodun, Mr Kunle Somorin, said in a statement on Saturday that the 10,000-capacity stadium would be fully covered to ensure a facelift.

He said that the renovation was part of Abiodun’s promise to raise the bar of sports and sporting activities in Ogun.

According to him, it is a follow-up to the money spent on the state’s contingent to the justconcluded 2022 National Sports Festival hosted by Delta.

He said that the reconstruction of the stadium started on Friday and had continued to Saturday morning as more materials and workers arrived the site.

The governor’s aide said that the facelift was expected to be completed in four weeks.

He noted that the stadium, named after the winner of Nigeria’s June 12 Presidential Election, Bashorun MKO Abiola, who also hailed from Abeokuta, had been used as a multi-sports event centre for over two decades.

He said the stadium had played host to state-owned and private football clubs, including the Gateway Football Club and Abiola Babes International Football club.

”While the stadium has played host to local and international football matches, it has also produced stars that have proven their mantle globally in the world of sports,” he said.

Somorin said that about 20 per cent of the stadium had been covered as at press time.

He said that arrangement to cover the whole spectators stand would no doubt add beauty, comfort and further raise the standard of the facility.

He added that it would also prepare the stadium for the 2023 National Sports Festival which Ogun recently got the right to host. (NAN)

Air Force redeploys branch chiefs, AOCs, spokesperson in major shake-up

The Nigerian Air Force (NAF) on Wednesday in Abuja approved the appointment and redeployment of new Branch Chiefs, Air Officers Commanding (AOCs), Commandants of TriService and NAF Institutions.

It also approved the appointment of a new spokesperson and other senior officers.

Group Capt. Joel Abioye of the Directorate of Public Relations and Information, NAF, stated that the new postings and the redeployment were part of a routine aimed to ensure operational efficiency and effective service delivery.

Abioye added that the appointments were approved by the Chief Air of Staff, Air Marshal Oladayo Amao.

Former Chief of Policy and Plans, AVM Jackson Yusuf, was appointed as Chief of Defence Policy and Plans (CDPP), while the erstwhile Commandant,

Armed Forces Resettlement Centre, Lagos, AVM Idi Lubo, took over as Chief of Policy and Plans.

AVM Mohammed Yakubu, immediate past Commandant, Air Force Institute of Technology is now Chief of Aircraft Engineering, while AVM Ayoola Jolasinmi, former CDPP, Defence Headquarters (DHQ), is now the Chief of Defence Space Administration.

“The erstwhile Commandant, Armed Forces Command and Staff College, Jaji, AVM Anthony Tuwase, is now the Chief of Defence Transformation and Innovation (CDTI), DHQ.

“In the same vein, AVM Paul Masiyer is now the Chief of Logistics, HQ NAF; AVM Ibikunle Daramola, the erstwhile Air Officer Commanding (AOC), Ground Training Command, Enugu is appointed the Chief of Communications Information Systems.

“AVM Samuel Chinda now takes over as Chief of Air Intelligence, NAF, while AVM Anthony Ndace is now the Air Secretary, NAF.

“Also affected by the new appointments is AVM Emmanuel Wonah, former Chief of Aircraft Engineering who is now the Commandant Armed Forces Command and Staff College, Jaji.

“AVM Charles Ohwo, former CDTI has now been appointed as the Commandant Armed Forces Resettlement Centre, Lagos, AVM Paul Jemitola, the immediate past Air Secretary is now the Commandant, Air Force Institute of Technology, Kaduna.

“AVM Abraham Adole is the new Commandant, Air Force War College, Makurdi,’’ Abioye stated.

Other new appointments are those of AVM Sayo Olatunde, former Commandant Air Force War College who is now the AOC, Ground Training Command, Enugu and AVM Ebimobo Ebiowe

now the AOC Mobility Command, Yenagoa.

Abioye added that the former Director of Public Relations and Information, Air Commodore Edward Gabkwet, was appointed Commander 551 NAF Station, Jos, while Air Commodore Wapkerem Maigida is now the new NAF spokesman.

“Air Commodore Olayinka Oyesola takes over as the Air Component Commander (Joint Task Force North East) `Operation Hadin Kai’.

“Air Marshal Amao charged the officers to bring their professional experiences to bear and to continually explore new methods of proffering workable solutions and renewed strategies to resolving the security challenges in the country.

“The newly appointed and redeployed senior officers are expected to assume their offices on or before Friday, Jan. 6,” Abioye added. (NAN)

FEMA seeks establishment of safety commission, floats emergency marshal

The FCT Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), on Wednesday in Abuja called for the establishment of a Safety Commission to regulate activities of gas stations.

According to him, the initiative is with a view to curbing fire explosions in the territory.

The Director-General of the agency, Alhaji Abbas Idriss, made the call while briefing newsmen on the activities of the organisation in 2022 and its plans for 2023.

Idris observed that most gas stations and outlets in the nation’s capital didn’t have well trained staffers that attended to customers professionally whenever they went to refill their cylinders.

” Every gas station is supposed to have a protective gear for customers to use within their vicinity to protect themselves.

“Gas selling outlets in the filling stations are supposed to have a wall demarcating them with the filling station, but it is not the situation.

” So, if we need to have a safety commission regulated by the FCT Administration to ensure that they train the workers of those stations and make sure that they do the right thing.

” If not, we will continue to have fire explosions that are going to cause much harvoc in the FCT and we have written to the administration to the proposed establish safety commission,” he said.

The D-G said that the agency had concluded plans to introduce Emergency Marshals to work in different communities across the six Area Councils to curb hazards.

This, he stated, was a measure enunciated to help in managing the

adverse effects of the rapid growing population in the nation’s capital.

Idriss disclosed that the agency had carried out hazards mappings in Abuja, identifying areas where urgent attention was required.

He explained that the decision to introduce Emergency Marshals was based on the need to increase Idriss said; saving interventions and also mitigate hazards.

According to him, the Marshals will complement the efforts of volunteers who have played key roles in the agency’s activities.

Idriss said: ” We intend to introduce emergency Marshals this year. These are volunteers who assist students, hospital workers, PWDs, and the general public during emergencies.

” They also assist in facility services, Risk Management and Safety Services by reporting

conditions in a building that could present a hazard during an emergency.

” They also maintain an orderly evacuation; conduct a sweep of an area to ensure that evacuation is complete.”

He also stated that the Marshals were expected to participate in debriefings resulting from evacuation and complete a monthly checklist for fire safety issues in their areas.

”The FCT has become a standard in flood control in the country. This is because of a drastic reduction in the impact of flooding.

“We attribute this development to early warning and massive sensitisation on what to do before the rains, during the rains and after the rains.

” We have also issued early warning in line with the impact-

based seasonal climate prediction by NIMET, and the annual flood outlook issued by the Nigeria Hydrological Agency,” he said.

Idriss also said that in 2022, FEMA responded to 42 distress calls on the 112 emergency toll free numbers.

” This shows a marked reduction to 2021 where we had 173 distress calls, I want to attribute this reduction to the massive sensitization of residents.

” In 2022, 270 lives were rescued from various flood incidents received from 16 distress calls through the 112 emergency toll free number,” he said.

The D-G reassured the FCT residents on the commitment of the agency to the protection of lives and property following reduction of response time from five minutes to three minutes. ( NAN)

L-R: The Prelate, Methodist Church Nigeria, Archbishop Oliver Abah receiving a plaque from Lagos State Governor, Mr Babajide Sanwo-Olu during a courtesy visit at Lagos House, Marina,Lagos yesterday.

APC

PCC

donates 1000 bags of food items to Christian community in Zamfara

The Zamfara chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) Presidential Campaign Council (PCC) has donated 1,000 bags of rice and corn flour to the Christian community in the state for the celebration of the 2022 Christmas and 2023 New Year in the state.

This is contained in a statement issued in Gusau on Tuesday by the state APC Publicity Secretary, Malam Yusuf Idris.

“The food items which comprised 250 bags of rice and 750 bags of maize flour were handed over to the Christian community in the state by the State APC PCC Coordinator Sen. Kabiru Marafa.

“The gesture was aimed at joining the Christian community in celebrating the festive season in the zone which is Coordinated by Gov. Bello Mohammed Matawalle of Zamfara.

“Marafa called on the beneficiaries, the Christian community leaders in the state to ensure that the gesture reached the majority of their members especially those in need throughout the state,” Idris said.

Idris also quoted the PCC Coordinator as calling on them to contribute in creating more awareness on the candidature of the APC presidential and vice presidential candidates, Matawalle and their ability to move the nation and the state to greater heights.

“Marafa called on them to continue to pray for the growth, development, security, peace and unity of the nation as well as the state beyond the 2023 general elections,” he added.

In their remarks while receiving the items, the state Chairman, Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) and the EzeIgbo Zamfara, Ahmad Haruna and Igwe Egbuna Obijiaku, respectively, commended the council for the gesture and promised to extend it to the beneficiaries.

The two leaders also assured that the Christian community would always pray for the growth and wellbeing of Nigeria and Nigerians. (NAN)

Zamfara: Police repel bandits’ attack, neutralise one, arrest 5 others

Ibrahim Sidi Muh’d, Gusau

The Police Command in Zamfara state has repelled a planned attack by bandits on innocent communities in Gusau and Maru local government areas of the state.

The police also neutralized one bandit, arrested five and recovered 2 AK47 rifles.

Parading the suspects at the Police Command Gusau on

Wednesday, the PPRO of the Command, SP Shehu Mohammed who spoke on behalf of the state Commissioner of Police, CP Kolo Yusuf, said on 1st January 2023 , Police Tactical Operatives had received a distressed call about bandits plan to block GusauMagami-Dansadau road to attack commuters and by extension some villages.

SP Mohammed informed that, the Police operatives mobilized

to the locations and engaged the bandits to a serious gun battle during which one of the bandits was neutralised and others were repelled by the superior fire power, “as such, they retreated back to the forest with possible gun shot wounds”, adding that, two AK 47 rifles, two magazines, 104 round of live ammunition and bunch of charms belonging to the bandits were recovered at the scene.

In another development, Police operatives arrested two other suspected bandits identified as Umaru Buba, 21 years old and Babuga Manu, 20 years respectively.

He said the suspects were all indigenes of Baburasa village under Kainji local government area of Niger State, who specialized in kidnapping and cattle rustling in Zamfara, Katsina and Niger states.

Lagos AP guber candidate tasks residents on credible leaders

Pastor Peter Obayuwana, Lagos State Accord Party (AP) Governorship Candidate, has advised residents of the state not to make 2023 a year of mere wishes, but year of decisive action by electing credible leaders.

Obayuwana said this in a statement on Wednesday in Abuja.

He said that 2023 should be made a turning point for the state by electing leaders that would address challenges facing the people.

“We all need water, electricity, food, shelter, good transportation system, security and a government that cares about the needs of the people.

“Borrowing the wise and honest words of President Muhammadu Buhari, I believe that the leadership of Lagos had tried its best.

“It is for us the good people of Lagos to decide whether this best deserves another four-year mandate in a state where there is rising insecurity, corruption and many other problems challenging the growth of the economy.

“Globally, there is economic incoherence. Even world powers are affected,” he said.

He added: “Sadly, economic downturn cannot be arrested like we did (near excellently) with COVID-19 and Ebola where a lot of funds were spent to provide the needed structure and prevent

further spread of the diseases.

“An economic downturn requires strategy and sincerity of purpose, openness and a leadership that gives hope to its people.’’

He said that 2023 should not be a year for populist views, but one for introspection for both candidates and the electorate.

“As a candidate you should ask yourself what have you done? What will you do?

“As a citizen, for whom will you vote? It is a year for you to ask yourself tough questions devoid of sentiments.

“Make this year 2023 your leap year. Not according to the Gregorian calendar but the transformation agenda.

“Take a leap of faith. Vote for an unusual candidate,’’ he said.

Obayuwana promised to address the needs of Lagos residents and transform the economy of the state, offer a leadership that restore the excellence Lagos known for, when elected the state governor.

He said that when voted he would use his expertise, quality team and experience to transform the state.

“Like you, I am a Nigerian, a Lagosian and I am badly affected by the incessant price hikes, rising, yet subtle insecurity within our cosmopolitan city of Lagos.

“I understand the needs of the people and can identify with your pains,” he said.(NAN)

Governor Muhammadu Inuwa Yahaya of Gombe State lead APC campaign rally to Nafada receives rousing welcome, during his campaign rally to Nafada Local government Area of Gombe State yesterday

From

Asset declaration form: Court stops DSS, Police, CCB from investigating INEC Chair

By Vivian Okejeme, Abuja

Justice M A Hassan yesterday, thwarted plans to scuttle the 2023 general election by discountenancing the allegations of false assets declaration against the Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission, Prof Mahmood Yakubu.

The Federal High Court sitting in Garki, in it’s ruling also bar security agencies from

investigating him over his valid assets declaration.

The court held that the declaration of assets by Prof. Yakubu was lawful, valid and in compliance with the law and that he cannot be investigated by any of the security agencies listed by the Claimant.

In an Originating Summons marked FCT/HC/GAR/ CV/47/2022 by Somadina Uzoabaka against the Attorney

General of the Federation and Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, the Claimant sought among other things an order of mandatory injunction directing and compelling the INEC Chairman to recuse, excuse and exclude himself and or step down as the Chairman of INEC pending the investigation and consideration of the various allegations against him by the various law enforcement agencies.

The plaintiff also sought an order of court stopping the INEC Chairman from holding or assuming any public office for a period of 10 years.

Prof Yakubu who in his response to the allegation furnished the court with several exhibits to show the sources of money for the purchase of the properties which the plaintiff alleged were illegally acquired and insisted that his assets

declarations were validly done.

The judge declined to grant any of the 14 prayers of the claimant declared that the INEC Chairman cannot be removed over fabricated allegations of false assets declaration.

Consequently, the judge dismissed the claims of the Claimant and allowed the Counter-claim of the INEC Chairman.

DSS arrests 2 masterminds of explosion near Palace of Ohinoyi of Ebiraland

By Tobias Lengnan Dapam

The Department of State Services (DSS) has said that the it has arrested the mastermind of the Vehicle-Borne Improvised Explosive Device (VBIED) attack which occurred on 29th December, 2022, near the Palace of the Ohinoyi of Ebiraland in Okene, Kogi State during the visit of the President to commission some projects.

The Service in a statement on Wednesday by Peter Afunanya, its Public Relations Officer,

said the person arrested was Abdulmumin Ibrahim Otaru (aka Abu Mikdad) and one of his associates, Saudi Suleiman on 3rd January, 2023.

The statement said OTARU sustained a gunshot injury on his left foot while attempting to escape.

“He is currently receiving treatment at a health facility.”

It said investigations revealed that, OTARU was a high commander of Islamic State of West Africa Province (ISWAP) and either coordinated

or was involved in the following dastardly operations: The 24th June, 2022 attack on Nigeria Police Area Command, EikaOhizenyi, Okehi LGA of Kogi State. A Police Inspector, Idris MUSA was killed and two (2) AK-47 rifles carted away in that attack.

“He was also involved in the 5th July, 2022 attack on Kuje Medium Security Custodial Centre in Kuje Area Council of the FCT; and 5th August, 2022 attack on West African Ceramics Ltd (WACL) in Ajaokuta LGA,

Kogi in which three (3) Indian expatriates were kidnapped.

“It would be recalled that five (5) persons including one (1) Indian, two (2) Policemen and two (2) drivers of the company were also killed in the attack. The kidnapped expatriates were released on 31st August, 2022.

“OTARU operated terrorist cells in and around Kogi State. Similarly, he and his gang had staged several kidnap operations in Kogi and Ondo States. Meanwhile, the suspects are in custody and will be prosecuted

accordingly.

“The Service reiterates its commitment to the safety of the nation. It assures to work assiduously with stakeholders including sister security agencies to tackle the menace of terrorism and other forms of criminality and threats to national security. It, therefore, calls on citizens to support it and other law enforcement organisations with relevant information and all the necessary cooperation required to achieve a peaceful country.”

Sokoto State PDP Governorship Candidate, Mallam Saidu Umar, during the PDP campaign rally at Kebbe Local Government Area of sokoto state, yesterday

By Tobias Lengnan Dapam

The Northern Youths Vanguard for Development (NYVD) has commended the Nigerian military for providing effective security for peaceful Christmas celebration.

NYVD in a statement issued on Monday by its President, Yakubu Dauda and Secretary, Roseline Musa said, it is a testimony that the AFN is determined to keep its promise of restoration of peace in the country.

It said for the second year running, the people of the region, especially the North East had a peaceful Christmas.

The statement urged people of the region to show appreciation to the military by their cooperation and provision of useful information on the activities of enemies of the country in their domain.

The group said troops continued their onslaughts against criminal elements in the last period of the year to show their determination.

“New year eve, bandits kingpin, Gwoska Dankarami, escaped death by the whiskers when air strikes of the Nigerian military targeted his hideout, along Kaura Namoda Road in Zurmi Local Government Area of Zamfara State.

“Similarly, troops of 199 Special Forces Battalion hit out at terrorists on the eve of new year along Maiduguri to Damboa Road, killing some of them.

“Reports from the North East is cheering and gives us hope that very soon, normalcy will be completely restored, because of what our troops are doing there and other places.

“We in NYVD commend the Armed Forces of Nigeria under Gen. LEO Irabor for making all this possible. We are very hopeful it will get better for the North and Nigeria as a country.”

By Lateef Ibrahim, Abuja

The Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, has received the last consignment of the Bimodal Voter Accreditation (BVAS) machines with 52 days to the election.

This was disclosed by an INEC National Commissioner and Chairman Information and Voter Education Committee, Barrister Festus Okoye in a statement in Abuja on Wednesday.

The receipt of the last consignment of BVAS, according to Okoye, was in furtherance of the Commission’s preparations for the 2023 General Election.

The statement by Okoye explained that the Commission’s Chairman, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, National Commissioners and senior officials of the

Commission were at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja, to receive the BVAS. Officials of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), the Nigerian Aviation Handling Company (NAHCO) and airport security officials were at the airport to receive the INEC team.

To facilitate the smooth delivery of the machines, the Commission, according to the statement, created four airport hubs in Abuja, Kano, Lagos, and Port Harcourt.

It explained that over the last four months, several flights delivered the BVAS to the designated airports for movement to States of the federation ahead of the elections.

With the arrival of the last flight in Abuja yesterday, the Commission said it has now taken delivery of the required number of the BVAS for all the

polling units in the country and extra machines in line with its contingency provisions for all critical election materials.

2023 polls: INEC receives last batch of BVAS machines Northern youths commend military for peaceful Christmas celebration

The statement by Okoye reads, “In furtherance of the preparations for the 2023 General Election, the Commission, yesterday (Tuesday), 3rd January 2023, received the last consignment of the Bimodal Voter Accreditation (BVAS) machines with 52 days to the election.

“The Commission’s Chairman, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, National Commissioners and senior officials of the Commission were at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja, to receive the BVAS. Officials of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), the Nigerian Aviation Handling Company (NAHCO) and airport security officials were at the airport to receive the INEC team.

“To facilitate the smooth delivery of the machines, the Commission created four airport hubs in Abuja, Kano, Lagos, and Port Harcourt. Over the last four months, several flights delivered the BVAS to the designated airports for movement to States of the federation ahead of the elections.

“With the arrival of the last flight in Abuja yesterday, the Commission has now taken delivery of the required number of the BVAS for all the polling units in the country and extra machines in line with our contingency provisions for all critical election materials.

“The Commission appreciates the support of all Nigerians in its determination to conduct free, fair, credible, transparent, and inclusive 2023 General Election facilitated by the deployment of technology”, it ended.

Buhari greets former minister of external affairs, Akinyemi at 81

President Muhammadu Buhari has joined family and friends of Prof. Bolaji Akinyemi in celebrating his 81st birthday, January 4, 2023, rejoicing with the former Minister of External Affairs on many years of impactful service to the nation.

This was contained in a

statement by the Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Femi Adesina, on Tuesday.

According to the statement, President Buhari lauded the scholar and administrator for his patriotism, and visionary leadership, which shaped the country’s foreign policy and

increased influence in Africa and across the globe, particularly the creation of the Technical Aid Corps that shared professional skills with other nations.

The President noted the courage and experience that Prof. Bolaji brought into every opportunity to serve the nation, and the lasting changes

in strengthening political, diplomatic and academic institutions, with ideas that generations will continue to enjoy and update, the statement said.

It added that as the former Director – General of the Nigerian Institute for International Affairs (NIIA) celebrates another age, President

Buhari affirmed his relevance and influence in the country’s historic transitions, reforms and growth, appreciating his voice of wisdom and knowledge which continues to guide leaders.

The President prayed for Prof Akinyemi’s good health and strength, and blessings upon the family, said the statement.

The Chairman Board of the Niger Delta Development Commission, Ms. Lauretta Onochie addressed the Press after the Inauguration of the New NDDC Board held at the Transcorp Hilton, yesterday in Abuja.

Gov. Bello to attend Miyetti Allah cultural festival in Niger

From Yakubu Mustapha Minna

Governor Abubakar Sani Bello of Niger state is expected to declare open the maiden Fulani Cultural Festival slated for the 20th of January at Bida local government area of the state.

This was contained in a statement issued by the organizer and Niger State chairman, Miyetti Allah Kautal Hore, Alhaji Dikko Shakalo, saying that the programme is aimed at unity in diversity among various ethic groups for maximum benefits.

Shakalo explained that the Etsu Nupe Alhaji Yahaya Abubakar will serve as the Royal father of the day while all the first class emirs of the state are expected to attend, just as the National President of the Association, Alhaji Bello Bodejo will also attend.

FG recruits, trains 8,000 FRSC personnel – SGF

The Federal Government has recruited and trained 8, 000 personnel of Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) to safeguard highways in the country.

The Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Boss Mustapha, said on Tuesday in Abuja while decorating the new FRSC Corps Marshal, Mr Dauda Biu with his new rank.

He said that the injection of the personnel into the system was among numerous support that the FRSC received since the inauguration of President Muhammadu Buhari administration in 2015.

Mustapha said that the several interventions were targeted at reducing the high rate of carnages on roads in the country.

According to him, the support

include assenting of the six United Nations Conventions and Agreements on road traffic.

“Building and inauguration of world class auditorium, ICT Hall and ultra modern medical centre at FRSC Academy Udi, Enugu State.

“Also, building and inauguration of administrative block, hostels for cadets of the Academy and Junior officers of FRSC Staff College at FRSC Academy Udi, Enugu State.

“The approval of the Nigeria Road Safety Strategy Document I and II to deepen road safety administration and encourage inclusiveness,” he added.

Mustapha said that the Corps was also able to expand the scope of its national drivers licence production plant with the building of new Print Farm in Lagos.

According to him, this is in addition to a new training school for road Marshal Assistants in Shendam, Plateau.

“Also, the establishment of Marshal Assistant Training School in Awo Alero through effective collaboration with Delta Government.

“The workforce was also increased through recruitment and training of over 8000 personnel.

“On the operational front, a total of 958 vehicles were injected into the Corps and a total of 16 new Sector Commands were built to boost staff welfare and comfort in the work place, ” he said.

The SGF charged all officers and men to consolidate on the successes made so far in achieving the mandate of road traffic crashes

eradication in the country.

Mustapha said that the event was historic, as it was the second time a career staff was appointed to head the ISO certified organisation in the capacity of Corps marshal.

Speaking, the new Corps Marshal appreciated President Buhari for finding him worthy of the appointment.

“We will work hard, the appointment is giving us more vigour and we assure you that we will not fail you and we will not let you down,” Biu said.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Buhari confirmed Biu as substantive corps marshal on Dec. 30, 2022, having served in acting capacity since July 2022 after the retirement of Mr Boboye Oyeyemi. (NAN)

Environmentalist seeks renewable energy adoption

An environmental expert, Mr Gafar Odubote, has tasked Nigerians on adaptation and adoption of renewable energy to address climate change effects.

Odubote, the Network Coordinator, Let’s Do It World (LDIW) Africa Region, an environmental non-profit organisation, made the call in an interview with News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Tuesday in Lagos.

Odubote said the fight against climate change should go beyond mitigation to engaging in adaptation.

“We can actively address

climate change actions by engaging in climate change adaptation asides mitigation.

“Climate change adaptation is the process of adjusting to the current and future effects of climate change.

“It is completely different from mitigation which is the prevention or limitation of climate change effects.

“With adaptation we are not just reducing the green house gases emissions but making it practically non-existent,” he said.

Odubote also called on corporate organisations and individuals to adopt the use of

renewable energy sources to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

He urged individuals to practice sustainable lifestyles to adequately adapt to climate change effects.

“Corporate organisations can begin climate change adaptation by adjusting their business models to adapt to climate change and reduce imminent natural disasters.

“The use of renewable energy sources instead of burning of diesels to run their offices and machinery is one major way of adaptation to climate change.

“It is time we start thinking of more way we can adopt renewable energy as means of climate change

adaptation.

“Our building models should also be designed and constructed to adapt to climate change effects. From the construction materials and the use of solar energy is paramount.

“Our infrastructural development should be tailored in line with climate change adaptation in mind,” Odubote added.

He stressed that the measures remain the right step for all and sundry in curtailing the effect of climate change in the country.

Odubote called for behavioural change among Nigerians in order

to address climate change effects.

“We must also cultivate behavioural change toward climate change, it should not be perceived as a myth.

“In mitigation all we preach the reduction of greenhouse gases through sustainable lifestyle and practices.

“We should further encourage more afforestation activities and increase the budgetary allocation for the forestry department.

“If we can replenish our environment through adaptation, we can over time overcome the challenges of climate change,” he said. (NAN)

DCP Adamu Abdullahi Elleman FCT Commissioner of Police, Idris Abubakar Sadiq, AIG Kayode Egbetokun, AIG Zone 7, Abuja, and FCT Minister, Malam Muhammad Musa Bello during the visit of the AIG to the FCTA, yesterday in Abuja.

Photo: Mahmud Isa

By Usman Shuaibu

Alegal luminary, Barr Andrew Ofoji has sworn-in the newly elected officials of Gwagwalada Okada Union Forum in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).

Some of the newly elected officials are: Mallam Yushua Hassan Akula; Chairman, Mr Owudah Hassan; Vice-Chairman, Mr Abubakar Muhammad; Secretary-General, Mr Sani A. Isah; Treasurer and the position of Assistant Secretary went to Mr Emmanuel Moses.

Speaking at the occasion, the Aguma of Gwagwalada, Alhaji Muhammadu Magaji who was represented by the District Head of Gwagwalada, Mallam Muhammad Lakai, advised the okada riders to carry out their duties with the fear of God.

Also speaking, the Chairman of Gwagwalada Area Council, Hon. Abubakar Jibrin Giri, who was represented by his Protocol II at the occasion, said his administration would take the okada riders along in the affairs of things in the area.

In an interview, the Chairman of Okada Union Forum in Gwagwalada, Mallam Yushau Hassan Akula, said he would provide purposeful leadership capable of satisfying the aspirations of okada riders in the area.

Akula, therefore, appealed to the administration of Gwagwalada Area Council to assist the union with a bus for the smooth running of the union.

On his part, the Unit Head Operation of FRSC in Gwagwalada, Mr Salihu Abubakar Gada, charged the okada riders to avoid riding in one-way, as he counselled them against riding at 11pm.

ASharia Court in Magajin Gari, Kaduna on Tuesday dissolved the union between Muhammad Abdulganiyu and Ma’arufat Ibrahim.

Delivering a ruling, the Judge, Malam Rilwan Kyaudai, said the marriage was dissolved after all efforts to reconcile the couple by the court and their guardians

failed.

He ordered Ibrahim to return N20,000 paid as dowry.

“She will also return the marriage suitcases she received and contents with the exception of the ones she has also sown.

”She will not return the cell phone as requested by the complainant but she will return the silver rings she received from

him,” he held.

Court dissolves 3-month-old marriage, orders return of dowry Gwagwalada okada union forum gets new executives

Earlier, Abdulganiyu in his petition alleged that his wife left their matrimonial home without any altercation.

“I tried my best to provide for her, but she and her mother do not appreciate my efforts and we’ve been married barely three months.

”If she’s not interested in the

marriage anymore, she should pay me all I spent during the wedding and return the phone and silver rings I gave her”, he said.

On her part, the defendant said she left because her husband does not provide food for her.

She said that he had told her that his mother pushed him into marrying her.(NAN)

Centre lauds Buhari’s social policy for the elderly

The Director-General of National Senior Citizens Centre (NSCC), Dr Emem Omokaro, has lauded the efforts of President Muhammadu Buhari for remarkable achievements made so far in addressing issues concerning older persons in the country.

Omokaro gave the commendation in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Tuesday in Abuja.

“The government of President Buhari is the first administration in the history of Nigeria that has done so well for older persons in terms of policy, legal framework, institutional and architectural procedures mechanism.

“This is the government that is walking the talk. So we can rightly say that older people, through NSCC have been really mainstreamed into development endeavours of the country.

“Currently, the Centre is working with the National Social Safety Net Coordinating Office (NASSCO), to have a separate Social Register strictly for older people. Also older people would be extracted from the general social register and add to the one for them.

“This is to ensure that a larger percentage of older people benefit for the various policies of the Federal Government, donor agencies and International Non

Governmental Organisations and others.

“It is also worthy to note that the revised Social Safety Protection Policy left out older people, but now it has included them. This means that there is a positive hope for older people across the country,” Omokaro said.

The NSCC boss explained that the agency’s mandates cut across all other government Ministries, Department and Agencies, thus, collaboration became a fundamental necessity for the ultimate actualisation of the Centre’s mandates.

She said the centre was serious in addressing issues of healthcare,

income, security and financial independence, intergenerational exchange and mentorship, abuse of older people, justice for older people and many more.

“We also have a programme called ‘Grand Mother Arise’. But please note that it is not only for women, because we are also sentimental about grandfathers.

“You know, there are a lot of stereotypes against Grand Mothers, some see them as witches and the father wizards, but if you observe closely, these people are doing a lot for their community but have not been acknowledged.

“The programme is aimed at acknowledging the roles of

grandmothers and fathers in the communities and also adds value to their farm produce through partnership and collaboration with private sector and other stakeholders.

“We are getting the buy-in of royal fathers and even religious leaders to ensure that the Grand Mother Arise programme achieved its desired goals for the older persons in the various communities across the country,” Omokaro explained.

According to Omokaro, “all these are made possible by the efforts of President Muhammadu Buhari and the Minister of Humanitarian Affairs, Hajiya Sadiya Umar Farouq.” (NAN)

L-R: National President of Restaurant and Food Services Proprietors Association of Nigeria (RESPAN) and the MD/CEO of Sweet Sensation Nigeria, Lady Kehinde Kamson receiving a plaque from Lagos State Governor, Mr Babajide Sanwo-Olu, while the BOT Chairperson, RESPAN and Managing Director of Tastee Fried Chicken, Mrs Pamela Adedayo, watches during a courtesy visit to the Governor at Lagos House, Marina, yesterday.

By Usman Shuaibu

The leadership of Nupe Development Association (NDA) which comprised of Abaji, Gwagwalada, Kuje and Kwali in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) has celebrated the first Nupe cultural festival, special award ceremony and launching of the 2023 calendar in a grand style.

The first Nupe cultural festival which took place at Angwan Dodo Primary School in Gwagwalada was attended by the important dignitaries within and outside the FCT.

Speaking at the occasion, the president of NDA in charge of Zone A, Alhaji Abubakar Jibrin Makun said: “The association is formed for the purpose of promoting unity, peace and progress of its members thereby setting a pace for our future generation yet to come”.

He called on those who have not registered as the members of Nupe Development Association to do so, saying that the door is opened for every Nupe person in the FCT.

He then appealed to highly placed individuals to support the association both cash and kind to purchase a plot of land to erect a befitting secretariat for the association in the FCT.

Makun thanked the executives of the association as well as the members for their efforts towards the progress of the festival.

Also speaking, the Chairman of the occasion, Alhaji Mohammed Saba who is the Secretary of Gwagwalada Area Council, said he would not hesitate to assist the association when the need arises.

From: Femi Oyelola, Kaduna

Ahmadu Bello University has implores parents, guardians, and other stakeholders to ensure that their wards return to

school immediately.

The university said lectures for all undergraduate students of Ahmadu Bello University have commenced in earnest in line with the revised academic calendar for

the 2021/2022 academic session approved by the Senate of the University.

ABU urges students to resume Nupe celebrates cultural festival

This was contained in a statement by the Public Affairs Directorate, Office of the Vice-

Chancellor, and made to the media in Kaduna yesterday.

The statement stated that only a few students turned out for lectures in all the places visited on the 3rd of January, 2023.

2023: Adamawa Elders Forum charged politicians to be upright

Ahead

2023

under the auspices “The Adamawa Elders Forum “has charged all candidates aspiring for political offices to have the interest of the electorates at heart.

Chairman of the Forum,Air Commodore (rtd)Dan Suleiman gave the charge in Yola yesterday while hosting the gubernatorial candidate of the Social Democratic

Party, SDP, Dr. Umar Ardo on his mission and vision for the state.

Commodore Dan and former Military administrator of Plateau state said the office-seeking

politicians need to work on policies that have direct bearing on the yearnings of their people with a view to addressing the untold hardship facing them.

Niger Gov. assures of sustainable devt

From Yakubu Mustapha Minna

Niger State Governor, Alhaji Abubakar Sani Bello has assured the people that he would remain central and achieve the main focus of the APC-led administration in the state.

In his New Year message to

the state, the Governor noted that based on its performance thus far, the ruling party remains the most viable option for the citizens ahead of the 2023 general elections.

Governor Bello maintained that, although the administration is winding down, the government remains focused and committed

to completing most of the ongoing projects stressing that, “service delivery, improvement of the general living conditions and well-being of the people remains sacrosanct”.

Amidst heightened political activities ahead of the 2023 general elections, Governor Sani Bello warned against campaigns

of calumny and thuggery, emphasizing the need for issuebased campaigns among all political gladiators and party loyalists.

He also acknowledged the declining banditry activities across the troubled parts of the state and paid glowing tribute to the gallantry of the Armed Forces

and other security agencies for the sustained fight against the menace of banditry and wanton kidnappings that bedeviled the state.

While wishing citizens a blissful New Year, Governor Bello prayed for the sustenance of peace and unity in the state and country.

From Umar Dankano,Yola

of the

general elections, a non governmental organisation

L-R; Minister of State Petroleum Resources, Timipre Sylva, Minister of Niger Delta, Umana Okon Umana, The Chairman Board of the Niger Delta Development Commission, Ms. Lauretta Onochie, Minister of State, Niger Delta Affairs, Ms Sharon O. Ikeazor and other Members during the Inauguration of the New NDDC Board held at the Transcorp Hilton, yesterday in Abuja.

Tinubu/ Shattima campaign council

donates food to Christian community in Zamfara

From Ibrahim Sidi Muh’d, Gusau

The Zamfara State chapter of the Tinubu/Shattima Presidential Campaign Council has donated 1,000 bags of rice and corn flour to Christian community for the celebration of the 2022 Christmas and new year in the state.

The food items which comprised 250 bags of rice and 750 bags of maize flour were handed over to the Christian community in the state by the State Coordinator of the Tinubu/ Shattima Presidential Campaign Council, Senator Kabiru Garba Marafa.

Marafa said the gesture was aimed at joining the Christian community in celebrating the festive season in the zone which is under the coordination of Governor Bello Mohammed Matawalle of Zamfara state.

He called on the beneficiaries at the event which held at the Zamfara Tinubu/Shattima campaign complex along Sokoto bye-pass road Gusau to ensure that the gesture reached majority of Christians especially those in need throughout the state.

Marafa further called on them to continue to pray especially in Churches and other worship places for the growth, needed development, security, restoration of peace and unity of the nation and the state beyond the 2023 general elections.

Receiving the items, the state Chairman of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) and the Igbo community leader in the state, Ahmad Haruna Gidan Zallah and Chief Igwe Obijiafor respectively, commended the Tinubu campaign council in the state for the gesture and promised to extend it to the intended beneficiaries.

2023: Group seeks braille ballot paper for visually impaired

The Heal Disability Initiative, an NGO, has advocated for braille ballot papers to enable visually impaired citizens participate in the 2023 general elections.

Mr Mainas Ayuba, the NGO’s Executive Director, made the call in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Bauchi on Tuesday.

“We are advocating for production of ballot papers in favour of the visually impaired to enable them vote for candidates of their choice.

“This will be better than relying on someone to lead the visually impaired in the process,”

he said.

Ayuba said that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) should ensure friendly user facilities during the election.

He noted that sensitisation on voter education had started in earnest to ensure that eligible voters participate in the election process.

He also said that meetings were held with Community Based Organisations (CBOs) that worked with People With Disabilities (PWDs) on voter education in 2022.

“We conducted a meeting with CBOs to ensure that eligible

voters collect their Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs).

“We are working on vote buying to protect their civil rights,” the executive director said.

Meanwhile, Mrs Naomi Yusuf, INEC’s Gender Officer in the state, said that adhoc staff would be trained on the use of assisted devices ahead of the 2023 general election.

She said the device would support people living with disability during the election process.

Yusuf said the commission had identified six clusters amongst the PWDs including the Physical,

Albinism, Speech, Hearing, visually impaired and leprosy.

She added that special consideration would be given to PWDs during election day.

“Special priority will be given to PWDs on election day such as separate queues.

“In 2019, Random Access Memory (RAM) was constructed in polling units; but those without RAM staff will come down to the level of the PWDs for accreditation for easy access,” she explained.

Yusuf said that INEC had also made a three-day provision in its office to conduct a Continuous Voter Registration for PWDs to ensure they register. (NAN)

Kwali Bababye of Gade tasks Council Chair on employment

By Usman Shuaibu

The Bababye (chief) of Gade in Kwali Area Council of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Alhaji Yusuf Adamu, has called on the Area Council Chairman, Hon. Danladi Chiya to provide jobs for the youths to alleviate their suffering in the area.

He also charged the youths especially the graduates to engage themselves in meaningful ventures that would reduce their suffering in the society.

Bababye made the call in an interview with newsmen during the celebration of his chieftaincy title in Dabi on Saturday, further urged the youths to shun

immoral acts in the society.

He, therefore, appealed to the entire residents of Kwali Area Council to continue to live in peace with one another irrespective of their religious and tribal differences.

He said he would continue to work towards the unity of Gade and other tribes in Kwali Area Council for the benefit of

togetherness and tasked Kwali Chairman to carry every tribe along in the affairs of things.

Commencing on the 2023 general elections, Bababye of Gade pleaded with the people of Kwali and its environs to collect their PVs in order to vote for the candidates of their choices, while thanking those who graced the occasion.

Bishop calls for National, moral rebirth

From: Femi Oyelola, Kaduna

As Nigerians celebrate the New Year, the Bishop of Anglican Communion Kaduna Diocese, Rt. Rev. Timothy Yahaya has called for National, moral rebirth, and attitudinal change across the board for the country to progress and develop.

Speaking while delivering his New Year message at the Cathedral of St Michael Anglican Church, Kaduna on Sunday, Reverend Yahaya tasked Nigerians to eschew religious and ethnic sentiments and vote for leaders who posses required

qualities to lead the country out of the security and economic challenges bedeviling it into era of progress and development during the forthcoming 2023 general elections.

“The rate at which our nation is going, there is a need for national rebirth. Morality is down, sincerity is absent, life is worthless, ritual money, ritual killings all over the place. The tomato seller, the groundnut seller is not spared, everybody should come on board. We must reconsider our way to rebirth the nation. Everybody needs to be patriotic, nationalistic, we need

to defend Nigeria to make Nigeria work.

“Because we are calling for national rebirth, the forthcoming general election should be peaceful and credible. National rebirth is all inclusive, politicians must play a game of unifying the country so that it would not be a mere geographical expression as our forefathers say. When a leader comes to campaign to vote, we look at ethnicity and religion, instead of looking at the quality of the leader and voting credible candidates.

“ We should disregard message of division and embrace message

of unity. Except we are united, this country would not go far. We must disregard division.”

Speaking on the various attacks on INEC offices nationwide and their impacts on the 2023 general elections, Reverend Yahaya said security agents should have taken severe actions to nip it in the bud long ago. “Vandalism of INEC offices started a long time ago, where is the security? The Even INEC chairman had to call on the Federal Government for security. We don’t need that call. I pray these are not the detractors of our democracy or people who want to

pull our country down. Burning down INEC offices would not change the result of the elections.

“I call on Nigerians not to sell their votes. Your votes speak for another four years. Whoever sells his vote is worthless. How much would they sell you as an individual? Money is not everything, they are not buying your vote, they are insulting you.

“For those under bandits’ captivity, we are saddened by their situation. Our security must be on top of their game. No area should be said to be difficult. We should use technology to cater for all. “

L-R; SSAP on National Assembly Senate, Sen Babajide Omoworare, Sen Robert Ajayi Boroffice, Chairman House Committee on NDDC Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, Minister of State Petroleum Resources, Timipre Sylva, Minister of Niger Delta, Umana Okon Umana, The Chairman Board of the Niger Delta Development Commission, Ms. Lauretta Onochie, Minister of State, Niger Delta Affairs, Ms Sharon O. Ikeazor, Managing Director NDDC, Chief Samuel Ogbuku and other Members during the Inauguration of the New NDDC Board held at the Transcorp Hilton, yesterday in Abuja.

May the Sun Rise from the East

By Tope Oke

The immense resonation of the message itself birthed a movement known as the “Obidients”. The frenzy behind the movement has shifted his potential gear of winning from being “impossible” to “possibly but improbable”. While momentum is swelling, there are still so many hurdles to cross. Apart from the armored ethnoreligious glass he has to break, he is up against two old, experienced warhorses who will go to any length to ensure the existing hegemony isn’t usurped.

Despite a variety of accounts from direct participants and observers, there is still a lack of consensus or closure on the real motive behind the events that took place on the morning of January 15, 1966. While some have claimed that the coup was motivated by patriotism, others believe it was simply an Igbo Coup – a phrase for a violent attempt to grab and perpetuate the Easterners in power. Another school describes the young Majors as naïve revolutionaries who were just brimming with youthful exuberance and had no sense of direction or purpose.

If perception is devoid of any molecule of emotion and sentiments, it looked like an Igbo coup! First off, amongst all the military and civilian casualties, only one was Igbo and among all the lynchpins of the coup, only one was non – Igbo! Of course, northern

officers and politicians suffered the most. The subsequent gloating of the Easterners in the aftermath of the coup further enraged their northern counterparts. Imagine the mindset of the northern officers when they saw that famous interview where their colleague, Major Nzeogwu, described how they “got” their revered leader, the Premier, amongst his wife and children. It was therefore sacrilegious for the ultimate benefactor of the coup, who also happened to be an Igbo to defer upholding the military fraternity’s sacred laws against treason by bringing the mutineers to justice. Instead, they still received their wages while in moderate detention, and in all fairness to the northern officers, they exercised restraint for a whole six months. To naively and effectively seal his own fate, General Ironsi introduced the infamous Unification Decree 34 which sucked more power to the center, accentuating the northerners’ belief in a grand plan for the Igbos to consolidate their dominance.

His legendary crocodile-shaped staff couldn’t save him when a mutiny erupted in the peaceful town of Abeokuta on July 29, 1966. That night ushered in a new era of northern hegemony, politically and economically, and simultaneously relegated the Igbos to the backseat of Nigeria’s power and politics. Many of the actors on that night still control the power rungs today one way or the other.

Without a doubt, the perpetual subliminal

bias towards the Easterners from the rest of the country is rooted in the aforementioned events. Perennially disdained by the Northerners for obvious reasons and held in cynicism by others for upturning the Nigerian political applecart. Even those around their neighborhood are quick to remind anyone who cares that they’re not Igbo. Often viewed with suspicion, many are even wary of entering into any economic relationship with an Igbo for some uncanny reasons but they somehow, have managed to become the most enterprising and some of the most successful entrepreneurs in the country. This is not to say that the Igbos do not deserve some of the flak that they get. However, In the dark history of mortals, there are certainly no saints, and therefore it will be reckless to paint any nation or tribe as absolute victims or villains

It is in this preceding context that it is a welcome coincidence that for the first time since 1979, Nigeria is heading into a presidential election with the leading candidates representing the three major tribes, and even more significantly one of them is an Igbo candidate that has garnered sufficient goodwill and support to put a finger on the trigger for a shot at the highest office in the land. Whether he can win remains to be seen but Peter Obi is certainly riding on a wave of a popular, organic movement that cascaded from the EndSars protests which erupted across the

country two years ago. Perhaps, it may not have been the case if the two leading parties had read the room and put a lead on the monetization of their primaries which produced two geriatric politicians in Bola Tinubu and Atiku Abubakar for the ruling APC and the opposition PDP respectively.

While the ruling party was able to rally around to ultimately conduct a primary that produced its National Leader as its candidate, the opposition party is still enmeshed in some sort of political fratricide after an injurytime maneuver in their nocturnal primaries ultimately edged out long-time party stalwart and Rivers Governor, Nyesom Wike out of any place on the ticket.

Admittedly, it is quite understandable why some are backing the Jagaban. If Awolowo was the political god, then Tinubu is the demigod. With Lagos as his launchpad, he has capitalized on Nigeria’s peculiar politics to amass an enormous network of structures and resources and demonstrated enough strategic courage, patronage, and dexterity than anyone else for even his contemporaries to buy into his leadership style and surrender their loyalty to propel him to the presidency. If this was some years back, Tinubu would have secured bloc votes from his kinsmen but his entitled claim to the throne now comes at a time many are disgruntled and disillusioned by the misrule of his party and the candidate he sold to Nigerians

seven years ago. If Nigeria wasn’t a paradox, his party the APC should be ostracized and not have the opportunity to smell power again for some time. However, for some reason, in a country so extremely bedeviled by the three core issues (Security, Corruption, and Unemployment) his party promised to fix in their campaign for power in 2015, the National Leader of that same party is the frontrunner to win the elections. It is nothing short of a diabolical spell and piercingly defines the extreme docility Nigerians are renowned for. Furthermore, and most crucially, if his controversial past is deflected, one cannot look away from his frail health. He clearly isn’t physically or mentally fit to stand the rigors of a role that his erstwhile sick predecessor could inflict on him. The controversial engagement in London at the Chatham House where he grotesquely outsourced the answers to questions thrown at him further amplifies the reservations many have about his cognitive abilities. It is gravely risky for the country to go from one unhealthy septuagenarian to another one and for those who conveniently compare Nigeria to Uncle Sam, they feign oblivion that our institutions are not as strong as the Americans, and neither do their leaders govern from a hospital bed abroad.

Tope Oke is a businessman and public affairs analyst.

@teepenn44

Endorsement and Godfatherism: An anointment or investment?

By Matthew Ma

“Today, it has become almost impossible for someone to hold a political office either by appointment or election without patronizing a godfather because of their power and influence. The godfather uses all he has to make sure his godson wins an election or gets a political appointment with the hope of getting or receiving something in return. Godfatherism in Nigeria is a political investment where the investors ensure to make a profit at all costs. The godfathers can do anything humanly and spiritually possible to protect their investment.”

The conflict arising from godfatherism and endorsement is a dominant attribute of Nigerian party politics. Its role as a political phenomenon has harmed the political structure of Nigeria. It has emerged as a potential threat to a relatively new democracy. The works of Plato, Aristotle, and other classical philosophers have focused on the concentration of political power in the hands of a few in the early Greek and Roman civilization. The elitist thinkers such as Vilfredo Pareto (1848–1923), Gaetano Mosca (1858–1941), and Robert Michels (1876–1936) devoted their political analysis to how power is used and abused by the elite class in different contexts.

Pareto emphasized the psychological and intellectual superiority of the elite. He insists that they are the highest achievers in any field. He discusses the existence of two kinds of elites: ruling elites and non-governing elites. Mosca emphasizes the sociologic and personal characteristics of elites. He said elites are an organized minority, and the masses are an unorganized majority. The ruling class is composed of the ruling elite and the sub-elites. He divides the world into two groups: the political class and the nonpolitical class. Mosca asserts that elites have intellectual, moral, and material superiority that is highly esteemed and influential.

Sociologist Michels formulated the iron law of oligarchy, maintaining that a few run social and political organizations and that social organization and the division of labor are crucial. He believed that all organizations were elitist and that elites have three basic principles that help in the bureaucratic structure of the political organization: the need for leaders, specialized staff and

facilities, utilization of facilities by leaders within their organization, and the importance of the psychological attributes of the leaders. The domination of power by the hegemonic class in many parts of the modern world can thus be said to be nothing new but has a full pedigree. The main lesson of all these works is that studying political elites is essential for understanding the trajectory and threat of paternalism in Nigerian politics.

Godfatherism politics is not a new phenomenon in the Nigerian political arena. The inherent danger or harm it poses to a fragile democracy like Nigeria cannot be overemphasized. Since the return to democratic rule, the country has witnessed a heightened tempo in the politics of godfatherism that continues to reduce the legitimacy of government and void the electoral value of the citizens. A year ago, a photo of Umo Eno kneeling in front of Akwa Ibom State Governor Udom Emmanuel appeared on the internet. The Akwa Ibom state commissioner of land and water resources, a man in his 50s or 60s, knelt to ask for blessings from Governor Udom. The picture of a 60-year-old man (in the voice of Asari Dokubo) kneeling before his mate or even his younger person who just happened to have occupied a higher position is a replica of how Nigerian politics plays out. Sometime last year, a picture of a 61-year-old Nigerian senator, James Manager, representing the Delta southern senatorial district surfaced online, begging the former governor of Delta State, James Ibori, to push his 2023 governorship ambition. Western Nigeria is the pacesetter of godfatherism. Just as the godfather is the boss in the mafia world, Bola Tinubu is the governor, senator, and political figure in that region that governors, senators, house of representative members, and other political office holders take instructions. If you dare to do otherwise and fail to follow his directives, you no longer qualify to be called a godson. Such an act of insubordination is punishable as you will never return to the political position you were occupying unless you have grown some wings to help you flourish independently without him. This issue was the case of the former governor of Lagos state, Akinwunmi Ambode. Based on his track records and achievements, he was to return for the second term, but due to disobedience, they denied him the second term. Comrade Adams Oshiomhole tried this

system in Edo state but failed miserably, as the opposition was able to fight his propaganda and control of the state. They introduced and sold the “Edo no be Lagos” slogan to eulogize Godwin Obaseki against Oshiomhole. Godfatherism is a multi-headed monster in Benue and the country as a whole. It has negatively impacted the practice of popular political participation and good governance. Benue State should have been one of the most developed and wealthy, considering the immense human and material resources of Benue state. But for poor leadership, since the return of democracy in 1999, little has been achieved in progress and development. The reason for this is not difficult to discern. It is a soured relationship between godfathers and godsons. A few years ago, the rift between George Akume and Samuel Ortom of Benue state began when the latter reshuffled his cabinet and removed members of Akume’s camp. The governor retained four commissioners and seven advisers employed by his predecessor. After 48 hours of sacking the commissioners loyal to Akume, he fired the Executive Chairman of Benue Internal Revenue Service (BIRS), Mrs. Mimi Adzape-Orubibi, and his Urban Development Board counterpart, Richard Agwa, who were close associates of Akume. The rift in their relationship widened when Terkimbi Ikyange, the Speaker of the Benue State Assembly, said to be loyal to Akum, was impeached. The development left Akume with eight loyal lawmakers and Ortom with 22. Later, eight lawmakers loyal to Akume served the governor with an impeachment notice. However, the plan fell through after the Makurdi High Court, chaired by Justice Theresa Igoche, issued an interim order limiting eight lawmakers from continuing impeachment proceedings against the governor. This rift marked the fallout between Akume and Ortom.

The 2023 presidential election, like other elections, started with the endorsement of some presidential candidates by prominent individuals, influencers, and socio-cultural organizations in the country. On November 4, Nollywood actors, under the auspices of the Progressive Coalition of Entertainers, declared support for the presidential candidate of the All-Progressives Congress (APC), Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, for the 2023 general elections. The group made their support public during a courtesy visit to the

speaker, Lagos State House of Assembly, Mudashiru Obasa, at the assembly’s complex in Lagos. A month earlier, Nollywood veterans like Patience Ozokwor (Mama-G), Mr. John Okafor (Mr. Ibu), and Alex Osifo announced their endorsement of the presidential candidate of the Labor Party, Peter Obi, in the 2023 general election. The veterans, alongside a support group promoting the 40 Million Ballots Movement, unveiled a donation campaign to support Obi and his running mate, Baba-Ahmed Datti, ahead of the elections. In September, the leader of Afenifere, Ayo Adebanjo, announced in a press conference that the group decided to back the presidential candidate of the Labor Party, Peter Obi, for equity and inclusiveness. Mr. Adebanjo said the Yoruba took the first turn of the zonal arrangement in 1999, which led to the emergence of President Olusegun Obasanjo. Now, power is supposed to return to the south imminently without negotiation. According to him, we cannot continue to demand that the Igbo people remain in Nigeria while we continue to marginalize and exclude them from the power dynamic. Adebanjo position did not go well with some other members of the body. In late October, some Afenifere leaders opposed Peter Obi’s endorsement and endorsed the presidential candidate of the All-Progressives Congress, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu. They made this endorsement public when Tinubu visited the national leader and other group leaders at his country home in Akure, the Ondo State capital. The endorsement and counterendorsement raised questions about who the leader of Afenifere is and which of the backing seems valid. The Middle Belt Forum also backed Peter Obi as their preferred candidate. The forum said it was throwing its weight behind Obi’s candidature because it believes in fairness, equity, and justice. This decision was disclosed by the chairman of the Forum and Convener of Middle Belt for OBIDATTI 2023 while unveiling Peter Obi and Yusuf Datti as their candidate for the 2023 presidential election at the Rwang Pam Township Stadium, Jos, Plateau state capital. Similarly, Arewa Youth Progressives Alliance (AYPA) endorsed the former vice president and presidential candidate of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), Atiku Abubakar, for the 2023 elections. AYPA SecretaryGeneral Hamza Lawal said that after recent interactions with some of the presidential

candidates in Kaduna, the group realized that Atiku was the right person to serve as the president, given his vision, experience, and capabilities. Therefore, he is the best candidate for president.

Once again, the current political climate in Nigeria is under the tyrannical influence of the political godfather. The recent endorsement from former Nigerian president Olusegun Obasanjo, of Peter Obi, the presidential candidate of the Labor Party, as his preferred choice for president in the February election did not go well with other political parties. In an open letter to young people on New Year’s day, Mr. Obasanjo encouraged the young people to vote for Mr. Peter Obi of the Labor Party. Mr. Obasanjo said that in light of the failures of the current regime and the lack of capacity from the other major political parties to help take Nigeria from the doldrums of hardship it finds itself, Nigerians should vote for Peter Obi, the presidential candidate of the LP. He believes that the former Anambra governor can unite the country, has a listening ear, is young, and is willing to save Nigeria from economic collapse. According to him, Mr. Peter is a needle connecting the north and south lines, which cannot be lost. The endorsement of Obi by Obasanjo on Sunday sparked reactions across rival political camps, with the All-Progressives Congress describing it as a worthless political move, adding that it would not affect the ambition of its presidential candidate, Bola Tinubu. The spokesman of the party, Niyi Akinsiju, argued that out of four living exmilitary leaders—Gen. Gowon (Rtd), Gen. Abdulsalami (Rtd), Gen. Babaginda (Rtd), and Obasanjo is the only one that behaves as non-elder statesman. He also said that the endorsement of the former president of Obi does not cast doubt on his third-term presidential ambitions and that he will not lose sleep over it. The People’s Democratic Party also argued that Obasanjo is looking for a proxy to fulfill his defeated desire for a third term. According to the spokesman, Daniel Bwala, the idea that Obi is more susceptible to control makes him the perfect match for Obasanjo’s third-term agenda.

Rev. Ma, S.J, is a Jesuit Catholic priest and PhD candidate in public and social policy at St. Louis University in the state of Missouri, USA

In 2023, power must change hands in Nigeria

By Jide Ojo

Let me use this opportunity again to recap some of my advocacy nuggets. First is the need to collect your PVC and not sell it. Two persons have already been arrested and convicted for buying PVC in Sokoto and Kano. Nasiru Idris was found with 101 PVCs in Sokoto State, and another (name not mentioned) was caught with 367 PVCs in Kano State. This offence is in contravention of sections 117 and 145 of the Electoral Act, 2022. Don’t engage in electoral violence.

The Mountain of Fire and Miracles church founded by Dr. D.K Olukoya is reputed for organising a monthly prayer meeting called “power must change hands.” That essentially is at a spiritual level. However, what is certain to happen in Nigeria is that political power will change hands at 1,491 electoral constituencies on February 25 and March 11, 2023. This consists of one seat of the president, 109 senatorial seats, 360 House of Representatives positions, 28 governorship seats, and 993 state houses of assembly seats. There will also be change of power at many appointive levels such as ministers, commissioners, as well as heads of ministries, departments and agencies.

Preparatory to the forthcoming seventh general election since the return to civil rule in 1999, a lot of electoral cum political activities are ongoing. One of them is the distribution of permanent voter cards to those who have registered to vote but are yet to collect their voter cards. This last phase of distribution started on December

12, 2022 and will end on January 22, 2023. The distribution thus far is holding at the local government offices of the Independent National Electoral Commission but will be devolved to the ward level from January 6 to 15 before reverting to LGA collection point. Thus, if you know you’re concerned about the unpleasant situation of the country, you and I have another chance to democratically change our leaders by voting in the elections.

Another electoral activity ongoing is the recruitment of different cadres of poll workers ranging from supervisory presiding officers, presiding officers, assistant presiding officers (I, II and III), registration area managers, registration area technicians, collation and returning officers. It is said that INEC will recruit an estimated 1.5 million ad hoc staff for the successful conduct of the elections. After the recruitment comes the training of this huge number of election officials. Also happening is the procurement of both sensitive and non-sensitive election materials followed by distribution. Of major concern to many Nigerians is the sustained attacks on INEC offices and facilities ahead of the forthcoming polls. This portends bad omen for the all-important elections.

Lest I forget, campaigns are ongoing with political gladiators trying to market themselves. Several political rallies have been held, town hall meetings organised and televised debates put together by media and civil society organisations. It’s also a season of endorsements, with former President Olusegun Obasanjo sticking out his neck on January 1, 2023, to endorse the Labour Party

presidential candidate, Peter Obi, in his six-page letter. This endorsement, which is a boost to the Obi-Datti camp, has rankled other frontline candidates, namely Bola Tinubu and Atiku Abubakar, both of whom had lampooned the endorsement for lacking any electoral value. Incidentally, both of them have similarly paid homage to the ex-president and sought his support. Of note is also the opinion polling ahead of the next presidential poll. The ANAP Foundation, headed by Atedo Peterside, a former bank executive, has engaged NOIPolls, a foremost polling agency to conduct opinion survey of who will likely win the next presidential election. The two surveys so far held in September and December 2022 have put the Labour Party candidate ahead of the park. This again hasn’t gone down well with the other frontline candidates. Noteworthy is the role of judiciary in elections. There is what is called Election Dispute Resolution, which gives opportunity to aggrieved aspirants, candidates and their political parties to approach the courts for redress. It is therefore the judiciary and not the electoral umpire, INEC, that has the last say on electoral matters in Nigeria. Over the years, the courts and election petition tribunals have overturned the verdict of INEC on the rightful winner of the polls. That is why elections into eight governorship seats namely –Imo, Osun, Ekiti, Ondo, Edo, Bayelsa, Anambra, and Kogi- are not going to be held on March 11, 2023. It was the court and not the electorate, per se, that made former Governor Chibuike Ameachi of Rivers State after the 2007 election. Judiciary brought staggered election

into Nigeria’s political administration.

Constitutionally speaking, the Office of the President, Court of Appeal, constitutes membership of various election petition tribunals while the Chief Justice of Nigeria swears them in. Thus, ahead of 2023 general elections, on Monday, November 7, 2022, the Chief Justice of Nigeria, Olukayode Ariwoola, inaugurated 277 election petition tribunal members to adjudicate on matters that will arise from the 2023 general elections. The CJN also declared open a three-day capacity building workshop for the members of the elections tribunal and justices of the Court of Appeal. It is quite unfortunate that barely 50 days to the general elections, there is still an avalanche of pre-election matters at the various Federal High Courts or appellate courts seeking to know the rightful candidates of some of the political parties. This happened because of the mishandling of the party primaries and nomination process of some of the parties.

If power will change hands for the better in 2023, whose responsibilities will that be? It will be that of 93.5 million Nigerians who have registered to vote. However, giving the lackadaisical attitude of some Nigerians who may not come out to collect their permanent voter cards or are unwilling to vote at elections, these are the real betrayers of the Nigerian project and they have no right to complain of bad leadership because we as Nigerians have a golden opportunity to effect change in leadership this year. My appeal, therefore, is to those uncommitted registrants to please come out en masse to exercise their voting franchise. As

a self-acclaimed political evangelist, I have been involved in capacity building of female candidates, and a couple of weeks ago, I was engaged by a youth group, Frontline Youth Creativity Initiative, to speak to youths to go and collect their PVCs and vote on election days. We were in Kabusa, Gwagwalada, and Jikwoyi – three communities in the Federal Capital Territory- for the assignment. Similarly, I have been doing media rounds on several television and radio programmes trying to mobilise Nigerians on the imperative of participating in the forthcoming elections.

Let me use this opportunity again to recap some of my advocacy nuggets. First is the need to collect your PVC and not sell it. Two persons have already been arrested and convicted for buying PVC in Sokoto and Kano. Nasiru Idris was found with 101 PVCs in Sokoto State, and another (name not mentioned) was caught with 367 PVCs in Kano State. This offence is in contravention of sections 117 and 145 of the Electoral Act, 2022. Don’t engage in electoral violence. In order to ascertain where you will vote at the next election (polling unit), log on to INEC’s Voter Status Verification System portal and fill a short form or call 0700-CALLINEC and 0700-2255-4632. Go to your earlier identified polling unit on election days between 8:30am and 2:30pm to cast your ballot after having been duly accredited. And lastly, don’t sell your vote, but vote wisely for all the five political offices that will be contested at the general elections.

– Twitter: @jideojong

By Bolaji Samson Aregbeshola

Nigeria has been facing constitutional crisis since independence in 1960. The 1999 Constitution is also the reason for the call for secession, disintegration, restructuring and true federalism by some ethnic and interest groups. Evidently the over 350 ethnic nationalities in Nigeria are not happy with the progress made so far. This necessitate the production of a new constitution that will reflect the character of Nigeria and its spirit and thought.

Although Nigeria is a federation in name but what presently obtains is a unitary system of government where the federal government is too powerful and the federating states have been weakened leading to underdevelopment, inequitable distribution of resources, abuse of political power, corruption, high level of insecurity and power imbalance.

It is no longer news that the 1999 Constitution was promulgated into force by military decree. The military introduced the present unitary system of government through their decree which eventually became the 1999 Constitution. Nigeria has since been suffering from a military era hangover arising from over-centralization of power and resources, weakened unit states, and non-performance of local governments. No thanks to the writers of the 1999 Constitution who laid a faulty foundation for the modern day Nigeria. Also, shame on

members of the political class who are opposed to the production of a new constitution for the country. This group of politicians are bent on upholding a faulty constitution due to their selfish interest. They have also disregarded the recommendations of the 2014 National Conference constituted by former President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan which many sane minds agree is capable of addressing some of the national questions. Consequently, most of the 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory continue to depend on the federal government for survival despite dwindling oil revenues and the numerous resources in each federating states. States are unable to explore their natural resources due to poor governance structure which the present crop of political leaders are unwilling to address. We cannot continue to confine ourselves to the 1999 Constitution (as amended) in our quest to find answers to the national questions.

Since 1999, the Nigerian democracy has been unsuccessful. Nigeria is classified as a hybrid regime rather than a full democracy. This is according to the 2019 Democracy Index by the Economist Intelligence Unit. The people are not allowed to choose their preferred officials and representatives due to electoral frauds. The courts have now been delegated with the responsibility of determining the winner of an election. Politicians do not want any electoral reform that will affect the status quo. The recommendations of the Uwais electoral reform committee have not been fully implemented. Major

General Buhari also thwarted efforts to reform the electoral system by the 8th National Assembly. He declined assent to the Electoral Act Amendment Bill on four occasions. It is obvious that nothing much will change with respect to the electoral system in the 2023 general elections. Elections in Kogi and Bayelsa states shows what the chain of events would be in 2023. Politicians have perfected the art of rigging and are unlikely to change their ways.

The living standard of Nigerians is also very poor. Nigeria is presently the poverty capital of the world overtaking India. While the present government says they are going to lift 100 million people out of poverty in 10 years, their policy direction says otherwise. Furthermore, any attempt by the Nigerian masses to express their displeasure over the lack of accountability and transparency, high level of corruption, lack of respect for the rule of law, human right abuses, high level of insecurity and mismanagement of the economy within the present government is seen as an affront. The freedom of expression, freedom of speech, freedom of the press and freedom of assembly are no longer respected. Nigerian laws do not apply equally to all citizens.

The National Assembly and the Judiciary have become the appendages of the Executive rather than being independent. This is evident in the willingness of the 9th National Assembly to become a rubberstamp of the Executive and the inability of the Judiciary to challenge the Executive’s

lack of respect for the rule of law. For the Judiciary, the invasion of the homes of judicial officers by security operatives and the removal of the former Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Walter Onnoghen—all on the orders of Major General Buhari may have informed their silence in the face of tyranny.

Corruption remain a major challenge affecting economic development and threatening the fabric of the Nigerian State. According to Transparency International, Nigeria ranked 146 out of 180 countries on global corruption index in 2019. This is in spite of the fact that the fight against corruption is one of the key priorities of the Buhari regime. The fight against corruption is perceived by many people as selective and a witch-hunt of political opponents. The present government is also neck deep in corruption. Contrary to the federal government’s defense, the corruption perception index by Transparency International is reflective of the current situation in Nigeria.

Corruption is the source of many public officer’s stupendous wealth and the consequence is the high level of poverty and inequality seen in our society.

According to the 1999 Constitution (as amended), sovereignty belongs to the Nigerian people but when the foundation of the Nigerian State is faulty, what can the poor masses do? The political leaders are the ones saddled with the responsibility of laying a strong foundation for the Nigerian State. Unfortunately, those who derive their powers and authorities from the people have now become more powerful

than the people who gave them the power. The Nigerian masses have lost the power to oust bad leaders.

Those who claim that Nigeria’s unity is sacrosanct and are opposed to both constitutional and nonconstitutional solutions to Nigeria’s problems are the enemies of the country. They are only interested in using the resources from Southern Nigeria to develop North Nigeria as well as line their private pockets and achieve their selfish ambition. The amendment of some sections of the 1999 Constitution by the political class does not go far enough and cannot ensure true federalism or restructuring.

Furthermore, those who are opposed to restructuring of the Nigerian State will not provide the needed votes required for a constitutional amended to bring restructuring into effect.

The unity of Nigeria is not guaranteed without laying a new foundation for the Nigerian State. Nigeria’s political leaders are only postponing the evil day by maintaining the status quo and dismissing agitations for secession, disintegration, restructuring and true federalism. There is a need to produce a new constitution that address the issues of restructuring and true federalism. The collapse of African countries such as Democratic Republic of Congo, Somalia and South Sudan should tell us something.

Bolaji Samson Aregbeshola is an Op-Ed Contributor and the author of “Nigerian Political Parties and Politicians: Winding Road from Country to Nation.”

When the foundation of the Nigerian State is faulty, what can the poor masses do?

2023: Gov

Yahaya promises to construct infrastructure in Nafada

From David Hassan, Gombe

As part of the efforts to bring people close to the government, Governor Muhammadu Inuwa Yahaya has promised to construct more developmental projects in Nafada community.

The governor stated this on Tuesday during the All Progressives Congress (APC) rally at Nafada local government area of Gombe state.

Governor Yahaya while sharing his experiences said his administration is ready to solve problems if elected for second term.

NANS in diaspora elects Ogar as new president

By Abubakar Yunus Abuja

The National Association of Nigerian Students, NANS in diaspora elected Comrade Prince John Ogar from the University of Sierra Leone, as its

new president.

Prince Ogar took over from Evidence Ahayere, whose tenure has come to an end.

He was declared the winner after he scored the highest votes to beat comrade Abdulrazak

Abdulrahman from the South Africa University of the union election held online.

The new NANS diaspora president in a statement after his victory vowed to make issues of students in diaspora his priority.

He said, “My administration will do everything to engage government agencies, developmental partners, especially those in charge with the responsibility to promote and finance and invest more in our education system.”

Governor Fintiri mourns NUT Chair, Rodney Nathan

From Umar Dankano, Yola

Governor Ahmadu Umaru Fintiri of Adamawa state has commiserated with the leadership of the Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT), over the demise of the State Chairman of the Union, Comrade Rodney Nathan.

Late Nathan died on Tuesday at a private hospital

in Jos, Plateau state after an illness.

Press Secretary to the Governor, Mr. Humwashi Wonosikou disclosed the development through a press statement issued in Yola Wednesday commiserating with the family and associates of late Nathan.

Governor Fintiri described the late Chairman as a

successful administrator and educationist, who got to the top by hard work.

“Rodney Nathan would be remembered for his exemplary lifestyle. He was a man who demonstrated great commitment to the service of the Union and the new thinking of our administration towards the growth and development of the education sector as reflected

in the various leadership roles he played in the promotion of cordial working relationship and revamping of education in Adamawa State”.

The Governor described the late NUT Chair as a decent and diligent unionist, saying his death was a major loss not only to his family, the Bwatiye race, the Teachers Union in the North, but also the entire State.

Southern Kaduna communities harp on peaceful coexistence

The communities in Southern Kaduna said they are ready to dialogue and live in peace

with any group or groups of persons in the area.

This was disclosed by the Chief of Kagoro Mr. Ufuwai

Bonet, in the Kaura Local Government Area of Kaduna State, According to him, Southern

part of the state is open to dialogue with Fulani people and any warring faction towards ensuring permanent peace in his

Chiefdom.

“We are ready for dialogue with any group of people that have any grievances against us”.

From: Femi Oyelola, Kaduna

FCT Minister, Malam Muhammad Musa Bello, (6th left) flanked by the AIG, Zone 7 HQ, Kayode Egbetokun (5th left) and FCT Commissioner of Police, Idris Abubakar Sadiq during the visit of the AIG to the FCTA, yesterday in Abuja.

Photo: Mahmud Isa

Peter Obi: Coalition backs Obasanjo, Ortom, Edwin Clark, other’s endorsement

By Musa Baba Adamu

The Coalition of South East Youth Leaders (COSEYL) on Wednesday threw its weight behind the former president Olusegun Obasanjo, Benue State Governor, Samuel Ortom, the South-South leader and elder Statesman Chief Edwin Clark over the endorsement of the Labour Party presidential candidate, Peter Obi for the February elections.

Recall that Obasanjo, Ortom, Clark and other individuals had in the last few days, declared Peter Obi their preferred presidential candidate for the coming poll.

Reacting, the coalition in a statement issued on Wednesday by its President General, Goodluck Ibem, said the move by the patriotic Nigerians showed that they mean well for the country.

According to the coalition, those kicking against the endorsement are in support of the country’s current economic and security woes.

“Anyone who is against these men of good conscience is just telling Nigerians that he/she is comfortable with the price of fuel selling at N600 per litre, exchange rate of N720 for $1, insecurity and other social vices that have taken over the entire nation.

“We commend the boldness of Governor Samuel Ortom, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo, and Chief Edwin Clark to say the minds of Nigerians who have no means of doing so”, the statement added.

Atiku, Obi, Kwankwanso, Tinubu are my pals, I can’t back one, leave others - Ngige

By Ikechukwu Okaforadi

The Minister of Labour and Employment, Chris Ngige, has said he will not work for the emergence of any of the presidential candidates, in the February election.

Ngige who is a member of the All Progressives Congress (APC), said the four frontline presidential candidates are his friends, and that he will not campaign for or against any of them.

The Minister stated this on Wednesday, in his country home in Alor while speaking to journalists.

He urged Nigerians to rather look at the programmes of the candidates and determine which of them was better than the other, and vote right.

When prodded further on which of the candidates he thinks may win the election, Ngige said he would not like to predict, insisting Nigerians should be allowed to choose who they want to be their president.

Giving an account of his personal relationship with each of the frontline presidential candidates, Ngige said: “Malam Kwankwaso, is my friend, I know

him too as deputy speaker when he was deputizing Agunwa Anekwe, one of our party’s strong men.

“Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, Vice President (former) the Federal Republic of Nigeria was the man who was in the helm of affairs when I was ‘kidnapped’- when I was shoved out of office.

“He was standing in for Mr President (Obasanjo), who was in Maputo, and he ordered the Inspector General of Police then, to reinstate me to office.

“I also worked with him in the economic team- National Economic Council as the Vice

President. So, I know him, and he is a friend of mine, and we also formed AC together.

“Peter Obi, my brother, my successor and my everything, I know him too and he is a friend. So, how do I campaign against any of them?

“Bola Ahmed Tinubu, my friend again – supportive. During trying times; we formed AC together. I became the known opposition Senator in the Eastern Region under the auspices and platform of the ACN. So, he is not somebody I don’t know.”

2023: Kwankwaso in Delta promised 500 classrooms, massive employment

By Christiana Ekpa

The presidential candidate of the New Nigerian Peoples Party, NNPP, Dr Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso on Wednesday urged the people of Delta State to support and vote for the party in the forthcoming

2023 elections.

Kwankwaso made the call during a remark shortly after he commissioned the campaign office of Hon. Onochie Anthony Ochie in Ogwashi-Uku, Delta State.

He said the NNPP is a national party to beat in the

whole of Nigeria.

Kwankwaso also called on all NNPP candidates to work towards ensuring the victory of the party at the polls.

Kwakwaso promised to build 500 classrooms in three years, take children off the streets and create massive employment for

the people.

Earlier, NNPP House of Representative Candidate for Aniocha/Oshimili Federal Constituency, Hon. Onochie Anthony Ochie welcomed Kwankwaso to Ogwashi-Uku for the commissioning of his campaign office.

PDP to hold mega rally for Atiku in Ekiti South

By Musa Baba Adamu

Ahead of the 2023 presidential election, the director of the Atiku Campaign Council, Ekiti South, Professor Kolapo Olusola has announced January 12th as the

day for mother of all rallies in the senatorial district.

In a statement in Ado Ekiti, Professor Kolapo disclosed that a committee to ensure a successful rally has been set up with Wale Ayeni as chairman. Others are Omotoso Asebiomo (Ikere), Arike

Ogunkorede (Gbonyin), Sade Akinrinmola (Gbonyin), Adeyinka Adeyemi (EKSW), Ogunlade Kehinde (Ise-Orun), Chief Titilayo Oguntuase (Emure), Segun Akanle (East East) and Tunde Olaiya (IseOrun).

He said that the move was part

of efforts to ensure that the PDP candidate emerges as the next president of the country.

The former deputy governor urged members of the committee to ensure that the rally is a successful one and justify the confidence reposed in them.

Shekarau resigns from APC Campaign Council, cites personal reasons

By Christiana Ekpa

Ahead of next month’s general election, a former lawmaker who represented Birnin Gwari/Giwa Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives,

Hon. Hassan Adamu Shekarau, has resigned from the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).

In a letter dated January 3, 2023 and made available to journàlists in Abuja on Wednesday, the former Kaduna State lawmaker

cited personal reasons for leaving the party.

While he thanked members of the APC in Kaduna State who have supported him in times past, it could not be confirmed whether he would join the Peoples Democratic

Party.

Part of the letter read: “This is to convey to you my decision to resign as a member of the All Progressives Congress with effect from 3rd January, 2023.”

Recall that Kaduna State

governor, Malam Nasir El-Rufai is serving his second tenure which will end on May 29, 2023, while his closest ally and Senator representing Kaduna Central Senatorial district, Uba Sani is the APC governorship candidate.

win 2023 presidential election – Tinubu

The APC presidential candidate, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, on Wednesday in Kano State, expressed optimism that his party would capture Kano State and Nigeria as a whole, come 2023 elections.

Tinubu, who was accorded a rousing reception by the people of

the state, was in Kano for the flagoff of the Northwest presidential campaign rally.

He thanked the people of the state for their overwhelming turn out, support and cooperation.

Gov. Abdullahi Ganduje appealed to the party supporters to vote for APC from top to bottom in

the forthcoming general elections.

He assured the APC presidential candidate that the Kano people’s votes were for APC, saying the people have seen dividends of democracy provided by the APC administration.

The governor said the party acknowledged and was motivated

by the mammoth crowd that received the Asiwaju Bola Tinubu in Kano.

“The success of the rally is a clear statement and demonstration of the preference of Kano people as regards the choices before them.

“The support for Gawun/ Garo is a vote of confidence for

our governorship candidate and his deputy,” NAN quoted me as saying.

Ganduje said that Tinubu had the character, capacity and competence to provide leadership that everyone would be proud of in the country. (NAN)

2023 polls: Peter Obi biggest reason Tinubu will emerge victorious –Keyamo

By Musa Baba Adamu

The spokesperson for the All Progressives Congress presidential campaign council, Festus Keyamo has said Peter Obi, Labour Party’s flag bearer is the biggest reason his party’s candidate Ahmed Bola Tinubu will win the forthcoming presidential election.

Keyamo made this disclosure on Wednesday in an interview programme on a television station.

While reacting to former President Olusegun Obasanjo, and ex-commissioner Edwin Clark’s endorsement of Peter Obi, Keyamo said similar action occurred in the 2019 elections, but all resulted in nothing.

“When we say that Peter Obi is the greatest weapon Asiwaju Tinubu has, people do not understand what we are saying. I can say it openly now because it is too late to pull out; Peter Obi is the biggest reason why Ahmed Bola Tinubu would win the 2023 election. On a lighter note, on the day of swearing in of Tinubu as President, I will beg that Peter Obi is given the front seat; he will sit near Tinubu as his best friend”, he said.

Obasanjo

2023: NNPP tackles FG over increase in University registration fees

By Christiana Ekpa

The New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) has tackled the All Progressive Congress (APC) administration over the recently revised registration fees for undergraduate students by universities.

NNPP gubernatorial candidate in Jigawa State, Malam Aminu Ibrahim Ringim stated this yesterday after presenting flags to the candidates of the Jigawa North West Senatorial zone at Gumel.

He said the APC administration had made life miserable for Nigerian citizens by creating unnecessary poverty through its impoverished policies and programs.

According to him” Universities have increased their registration fees, making it difficult for the poor families to send their children to universities or complete their studies”

“For a student who wants to study science courses must pay about N200,000 or above as

registration fees in some of the Universities”

“For years Federal Government has failed overtime to invest fully in the sustenance of tertiary education thereby shifting the burden to parents”

“Therefore it is unfair for the Federal Government to shift the burden on parents with the poor minimum wage and other unnecessary hardship”

Ringim explained that voting for the PDP or APC is like jumping from frying pan to fire.

He said Nigerians should think about the difficulties they have gone through during the PDP and APC administrations and make the right decision in the general elections.

He also urged Nigerians to consider voting for competency and not allow politicians to change their minds with money.

“Look at all the candidates in the NNPP and other parties, vote for us if we a competent and don’t vote for us if we a not, “Ringim stated.

L-R: 2nd Deputy President, Chartered Institute of Forensics and Certified Fraud Investigators of Nigeria (CIFCFIN), Prof. Suleiman

Aruwa; President, Dr. Iliyasu Gashinbaki; Chairman, House of Representatives Committee on Foreign Affairs, Hon. Yusuf Buba Yakub and member Board of Trustees, Fatima Muhammadu Buhari, during a press conference and unveiling of its Institute as Chartered by Statute and the tasks ahead in combating corruption in Nigeria in Abuja yesterday.

correcting

By Ikechukwu Okaforadi

The Labour Party (LP) has said former President Olusegun Obasanjo’s endorsement of Peter Obi is a move by Obasanjo to correct past mistakes as president.

past mistakes – LP National Vice Chairman, Reuben

The South-South National Vice Chairman of the Labour Party, Felix Reuben made the observation in an interview on Wednesday.

Reuben also faulted those criticizing Obi for associating with former leaders of the country who

they have accused of running the country aground.

He noted that Obi’s association with Obasanjo will enable him to learn some lessons to equip him for the job ahead.

He said: “Today I want to say

that Obasanjo is correcting any mistake he had made. He has seen that when he was president there were certain things he couldn’t do.

“He has seen that Peter Obi can do better than he did and the best

thing for him to do as a statesman is to endorse and work for this man.”

The Labour Party leader called on every other leader including governors to join in endorsing Obi for the future of the country.

Reject politician who discriminate, tamper with your rights – Group tells Muslims

By Musa Baba Adamu

The Concerned Yoruba Muslim Scholars (CYMS) in Nigeria have advised Islam adherents to reject candidates who will deny their fundamental human rights during the general elections.

The group tasked Muslims to reject candidates who will discriminate against them during the 2023 general elections.

The scholars made the call on Wednesday while addressing newsmen at the premises of Ibadan Central Mosque, Oja Oba area of Ibadan.

Secretary General, CYMS, Professor Abideen Olaiya, who addressed journalists on behalf of President-General, Shaykh

Abdur-Rasheed Mayaleke, said the group aligns with the position of the Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs and Supreme Council for Sharia in Nigeria that Muslims should vote for candidates that can guarantee their fundamental human rights without discrimination.

Olaiya condemned the purported invitation of the Director of Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC) Professor Ishaq Lakin Akintola, by someone claiming to be calling from the Ibadan office of the Directorate of Security Services (DSS) over a press statement criticising the government of Oyo State over infringement on the rights of Muslim students.

The group advised the DSS to be professional in its dealings and

understand that religious matters are very sensitive and volatile.

It cautioned the organisation not to be used to test the strength of Muslims in the South-West.

It added that injustice against the MURIC director would be considered an attack on Muslims in Yorubaland and Nigeria as a whole.

The group maintained that the security outfit should also remember its purposes of creation and not dabble in matters that could attract hatred to the security outfit.

The group said, “It is unfortunate that religious leaders that should be busy propagating righteousness are now being drawn full-blown into murky waters of partisan politics.

“We hereby align with the position of the Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs and Supreme Council for Sharia in Nigeria that all Muslims should go out and vote for candidates that can guarantee their fundamental human rights without discrimination and for the good governance of the country.

“Our attention was drawn to the purported invitation of the Director of Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC) Professor Ishaq Lakin Akintola, on Friday, December 16, 2022, by someone claiming to be calling from the Ibadan office of the Directorate of Security Services (DSS) over a press statement criticising the government of Oyo State over infringement on the rights of Muslims, especially Muslim Students.

“We also appeal to the DSS to be professional and understand that religious matters are very sensitive and volatile. The DSS should not be used to test the strength of Muslims in the South-West as an injustice against the MURIC director would be considered an attack on Muslims in Yorubaland and Nigeria as a whole. The security outfit should also remember its purposes of creation and not dabble into matters that could attract hatred to the security outfit.

“We also call on well-meaning Nigerians to prevail on DSS and the state government so that no harm must touch Prof Akintola and Muslims won’t fold their hands to allow injustice”.

Lagos AP guber candidate tasks residents on credible leaders

Pastor Peter Obayuwana, Lagos State Accord Party (AP) Governorship Candidate, has advised residents of the state not to make 2023 a year of mere wishes, but year of decisive action by electing credible leaders.

Obayuwana said this in a statement on Wednesday in Abuja.

He said that 2023 should be made a turning point for the state by electing leaders that would address challenges facing the people.

“We all need water, electricity, food, shelter, good transportation system, security and a government that cares about the needs of the people.

“Borrowing the wise and honest words of President Muhammadu Buhari, I believe that the leadership of Lagos had tried its best.

“It is for us the good people of Lagos to decide whether this best deserves another four-year mandate in a state where there is rising insecurity, corruption and many other problems challenging the growth of the economy.

“Globally, there is economic incoherence. Even world powers are affected,” he said.

He added: “Sadly, economic downturn cannot be arrested like we did (near excellently) with COVID-19 and Ebola where a lot of funds were spent to provide the needed structure and prevent further spread of the diseases.

“An economic downturn requires strategy and sincerity of purpose, openness and a leadership that gives hope to its people.’’

He said that 2023 should not be a year for populist views, but one for introspection for both candidates and the electorate.

“As a candidate you should ask yourself what have you done? What will you do?

“As a citizen, for whom will you vote? It is a year for you to ask yourself tough questions devoid of sentiments.

“Make this year 2023 your leap year. Not according to the Gregorian calendar but the transformation agenda.

“Take a leap of faith. Vote for an unusual candidate,’’ he said.

Obayuwana promised to address the needs of Lagos residents and transform the economy of the state, offer a leadership that restore the excellence Lagos known for, when elected the state governor.

He said that when voted he would use his expertise, quality team and experience to transform the state.

“Like you, I am a Nigerian, a Lagosian and I am badly affected by the incessant price hikes, rising, yet subtle insecurity within our cosmopolitan city of Lagos.

“I understand the needs of the people and can identify with your pains,” he said. (NAN)

Ex-Minister loses traditional title for disrespecting Bauchi Gov, as daughter quits cabinet

By Musa Baba Adamu

The Bauchi Emirate Council has approved the immediate removal of the former Minister of Special Duties, Muhammadu Bello Kirfi as its member for disloyalty and disrespecting the state governor, Bala Mohammed.

The council in a letter signed by its Secretary, Shehu Mudi Muhammad on Tuesday, also stripped the former minister of the traditional title of Wazirin Bauchi.

Shehu said, “I’m directed to refer to a letter received from the Ministry of Local Government Affairs of reference No: MLG/ LG/S/72/T dated December 30th 2022. The content of the said letter indicated your disloyalty and disrespect to the government and the Executive Governor of

the State. It therefore directed removal with immediate effect (sic).”

“In view of the above, you are hereby removed from office as Wazirin Bauchi and as a Council Member of Bauchi Emirate.”

Recall that Muhammadu was earlier suspended as the Wazirin Bauchi in 2017 by the Emir of Bauchi, Dr Rilwanu Suleiman Adamu, and reinstated on the 5th of August 2022 by Governor Mohammed, who presented the reinstatement letter at Kirfi’s residence in Bauchi.

Kirfi was the Minister of State for Foreign Affairs under President Shehu Shagari and also the Minister of Special Duties during former President Olusegun Obasanjo’s administration.

Meanwhile, his daughter, who is Commissioner of Cooperatives and SMEs Development in Bauchi

State, Sa’adatu Bello Kirfi has left the position.

She resigned 24 hours after her father, Muhammadu Bello Kirfi was removed as the Wazirin Bauchi.

The Bauchi Emirate Council dethroned Alhaji Kirfi for allegedly disrespecting Governor Bala Mohammed.

Hajiya Kirfi announced her exit in a January 4 letter to the Governor through the Secretary to the State Government.

The ex-commissioner said her resignation as a member of Bauchi State Executive Council was immediate.

“I wish to thank His Excellency the Executive Governor for allowing me to serve my state under your administration,” she wrote.

Senior Special Assistant to Mohammed on Local Government

Affairs, Harsanu Yunusa Guyaba has also resigned his appointment.

In a letter to the former Wazirin on January 3, the Emirate said a memo was received from the Ministry of Local Government Affairs with reference no: MLG/ LG/S/72/T.

The communication indicated his “disloyalty and disrespect to the governor and the government,” and directed his “removal with immediate effect.”

“You are hereby removed from office as Wazirin Bauchi and also as a Council Member of Bauchi Emirate,” the letter signed by Alhaji Shehu Muhammad reads.

Kirfi was Minister of State Foreign Affairs under President Shehu Shagari, and Minister of Special Duties during the President Olusegun Obasanjo administration.

Tinubu’s presidential campaign council dismisses Peter Obi’s chances in 2023

By Musa Baba Adamu

The All Progressive Congress (APC) Presidential Campaign Council has dismissed the chances of the Labour Party Presidential Candidate, Peter Obi in 2023.

The council reacted on Wednesday over former President Olusegun Obasanjo and Chief Edwin Clark’s endorsements of Obi as their preferred presidential candidate.

Speaking with journalists in Calabar, capital of Cross River State, the South-South Coordinator of the Public Affairs Directorate, Cletus Obun said it would be the miracle of the

century for the Labour Party’s presidential candidate to win the February 25, 2023 polls.

He described those endorsing Obi as political undertakers and an exercise in futility.

He maintained that the various endorsements will not translate to Obi’s victory, adding that he does not have the political clout and war chest to win such a high-profile contest.

Obun, a former Chairman of the defunct Action Congress of Nigeria( ACN) in Cross River State, further described Obi as a candidate for the future.

“The so-called popularity and endorsements cannot guarantee victory for Peter Obi.

“We are overreacting to Obasanjo’s endorsement of Obi. The former President has run his full circle and what you are seeing now is a once-upon-a-time patriot who is now on the decline and he thought he can re-invent himself.

”Don’t forget that he did this in 2019. He said worse things and gave the impression that Nigeria was on the precipice. To him, Nigeria will collapse.

”Today he wants to enthrone a puppet with himself as the master puppet. He said Obi will have someone to draw his ear. This is a metaphor for a puppet.

”Obj is a bad example of what a democrat should be. Everything about democracy he tries to

subvert. He has anti-democratic tendencies.”

According to him, Obasanjo and Edwin Clark are men who have exhausted their stay on earth.

“And so, the only way to catch headlines is to endorse someone who cannot win an election.

”Chief Clarke in a clannish move endorsed GEJ in 2015, OBJ in 2019 endorsed Atiku. They both lost as they will surely do on February 25, 2023. These men are political undertakers.

“Their role now is to pray for the best leader for our country. Their frail jump into the extreme partisan participation is a fatal plunge into political irrelevance.”

L-R; President Muhammadu Buhari, Chairman House Committee on Finance, Hon James Falake, President of the Senate Dr Ahmad Lawan and Speaker Rt Hon Femi Gbajabialmila during the Signing of 2023 budget into Law at the State House, yesterday in Abuja.

PHOTO; State House

Proliferation of illegal operators a major concern – SEC

By Abubakar Yunus Abuja

The Securities and Exchange Commission has stated that the persisted proliferation of operators running illegal investment schemes in the country continues to be a major critical concern to the capital market.

Director General of the SEC Mr. Lamido Yuguda who stated this in a New Year Message in Abuja, therefore assured of a renewed onslaught against promoters of such schemes.

Yuguda said that last year alone, the Commission sealed off the offices of four (4) such illegal operators that had defrauded innocent citizens of billions of naira and assured that the Commission will continue its enforcement actions to ensure that such illegal entities are not allowed to operate.

The SEC has been fighting a serious war against Ponzi schemes, we have been alerting people. We have said that investors should only deal with registered operators that have the registration of the Commission, we have their list on

the SEC website and we have always said that if you go to an operator or when an operator approaches you, you must confirm that he is a licensed operator with the SEC.

“We have our numbers on how to reach our offices in the zones and we have done a lot of sensitizations in terms of seminars, webinars all in an effort to discourage people from going to Ponzi schemes. Unfortunately, a lot of people continue to patronize this Ponzi schemes, we have had cases that have been reported to us, our enforcement department and the police unit have been on many of these cases trying to resolve the cases that have been reported to us.

“The Commission has also continued to employ its compliance tool to ensure that only fit and proper capital market operators practice in the market. This has resulted to an improved level of compliance with filing of prudential returns rising to 96% in 2022 compared with 81% in 2021”.

The DG expressed confidence that as the results of the various initiatives the Commission is implementing begin to gradually

Nigerian Banks capture 4.8M BVN's in 2022 - NIBSS

By Abubakar Yunus Abuja

Banks in Nigeria recorded a total of 4.8 million new Bank Verification Numbers (BVNs) in 2022, this is according to data released by the Nigeria Inter-Bank Settlement System (NIBSS).

According to the data seen by Peoples Daily, this brings the total number of registered BVNs in the country to 56.5 million. As of December 2021, the BVN database stood at 51.7 million.

In the data, the 2022 figure showed a slowdown in the BVN database growth compared with 2021 when the database increased by 6 million from 45.7 million in December 2020 to 51.7 million.

NIBSS explained further that active bank accounts in the country

stood at 133.5 million as of December 2021.

However, data for 2022 has yet to be released; the figure is expected to be higher than that of the preceding year, which shows a wide gap between the registered BVN and the number of bank accounts.

Meanwhile, Peoples Daily learnt from industry analysts that since multiple accounts can be linked to a single BVN, the difference between the number of BVNs and bank accounts may not be much. According to NIBSS, the BVN gives bank account owners a unique identity that can be verified across the Nigerian banking industry, while it ensures that customers’ bank accounts are protected from unauthorised access. Emphasising the security benefits of the BVN, NIBSS stated.

manifest in 2023, the Commission and indeed the Capital Market will witness uncommon development in securities issuance businesses especially as it affects digital assets, commodities trading ecosystem, custodianship of assets, and Fintech among others.

“With the implementation of the Revised Capital Market Master Plan, the Market will also witness renewed confidence expected to attract fresh investments from domestic and foreign investors.

“Although 2023 is an election year and market activities may typically slow down before and during the general elections, we are hopeful that the improved awareness and positive electioneering campaigns will lead to peaceful elections and a quick return to the pre-election levels of investment activities.

On some of the achievements of the Commission in the last year, Yuguda disclosed that on AntiMoney Laundering/Combating the Financing of Terrorism (AML/ CFT), in order to comply with the requirements of both the GIABA Mutual Evaluation Report(MER)

Follow-Up Process and the FATF International Cooperation Review Group (ICRG) requirements to avoid Nigeria being placed on the FATF public grey list at the Plenary after the deadline in October, 2022, the Commission approved the Rules and Regulations of the Virtual Asset Service providers b. Amendments of the sector specific regulations to repeal the 2013 SEC AML/CFT Regulations and enactment of the 2022 AML/CFT Regulations.

On Fintech, the DG stated that the Commission will pursue various initiatives, including sensitization programmes on Crowdfunding adding that to further strengthen and encourage developments in the Fintech space, the Commission resuscitated the Regulatory Incubation program during the year.

Giving an update on the Investments and Securities Bill (ISB) review, the SEC DG said the Commission presented the ISB to the National Assembly for its legislative consideration and a public hearing was successfully organised on September 20, 2022. The Bill

has successfully gone through the 3rd reading at the House of Representatives in December, 2022, and will be presented to the Senate on resumption in January 2023 for its concurrence.

“We are hopeful that the Bill will be passed into law before the end of the 9th National Assembly. With less than six months to the end of the 9th National Assembly come June, 2023, we believe that the Investments and Securities Bill (ISB) will be passed in the coming months. The ISB, if passed into law, will align the enabling Act with the realities and trends in capital market regulation and practice in Nigeria and abroad” he stated.

Yuguda assured that the Commission will continue to provide extra support to the registered commodities trading platforms to complement government’s renewed diversification efforts in agriculture.

Engagement with the Standards Organization of Nigeria (SON) will continue in order to expedite action on the review, approval and publication of commodities standards.

FG does not have the resources to fight illegal mining, says minister

Lekan

Adegbite, minister of mines and steel development, says the federal government does not have the resources to preempt all illegal minerals miners’ activities because the country is vast.

Adegbite, speaking on ARISE TV on Tuesday, said even though the country cannot forestall illegal mining operators, those caught will be dealt with according to the law.

He also said the federal government had begun to organise the so-called illegal miners into cooperatives to ensure thorough monitoring, adding that so many foreign nationals were being arrested and prosecuted for breaking the law.

“As for illegal mining, that’s a problem because Nigeria is a very vast country. I must admit to you that we do not have the resources to preempt all these illegal activities because Nigeria is vast, ” he said.

“But we react to it very well, because we have been monitoring the locals, through the states and all that, and the security guys are aiding us. We’ve arrested a lot of these nationals that you mentioned, and we have prosecuted them.

“We are working with agencies like customs, immigration. We’re working with them to tighten the noose. We are saying don’t let these illegal people come in in the first place. But wherever we are alerted to the activities, we are left with the responsibility and we have got the support of security services.

“I sincerely admit that we have some illegality all over the place because Nigeria is a vast place and I cannot come out and tell you that yes, we have the resources to preempt this because we can’t be everywhere at the same time. No, it’s not possible.”

Adegbite further disclosed that the ministry now has satellite

monitoring system from which illegal activities are closely watched.

The minister said artisanal mining is a major activity in Nigeria and, therefore, not illegal; adding that the government had not made it unlawful because many of those involved use proceeds from it to feed their families.

Speaking on the Ajaokuta Steel, Adegbite said things would be done differently compared to the past, as the new deal would be based on equity stakes, with the process expected to be completed in March this year.

He added that the transaction advisor in the case is guiding the federal government on the proper thing to do.

“We have people who are going to come into Ajaokuta with their equity,” he added.

“We don’t want a free ride anymore. That’s one of the lessons

learnt from the past. We’ve learnt a lot of lessons because we’ve had two sessions of concessions of Ajaokuta that failed.

“This time around, we are being guided by experts, and because of the value inherent in Ajaokuta, they appreciate it. But we’re saying this time there is no free lunch.”

The minister noted that President Muhammadu Buhari is the first in the history of Nigeria to have committed money to mining in the country, up to the tune of $100 million.

“We’ve talked about diversification over the years from one administration to the other, but actually putting money where the mouth is, President Buhari did that and because mining is a very risky venture, the government needs to de-risk the sector,” he added.

“We invested money in exploration and of course, acquiring data, which is what President

Buhari did, especially in 2017. This data is what is attracting people to the sector now.

“And additionally, when we came in, I noticed that we were going the petroleum route again, where we exported the crude oil and they will bring in refined products, so we started the process of engaging stakeholders.

“It took us about two years, but today it’s an official policy of the government. It was approved by the council, where without beneficiation you cannot export raw ore from Nigeria anymore.”

On monies generated from mining activities in mining, Adegbite said there has been an improvement from what the sector contributed to the the country’s gross domestic product (GDP) in the last 10 years.

“Where we were doing less than N1 billion, today we are doing N10 billion. Tt’s a giant leap.” he said.

Governor Babagana Umara Zulum of Borno State(right),with other officials at a water project site in Azare local government area of Bauchi State, yesterday.

Oil Theft: NNPCL, security agencies destroy barge loaded with stolen crude

By Abubakar Yunus Abuja

The Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC) Limited said it has destroyed a barge loaded with stolen crude.

The NNPCL in a statement said the barge destruction was carried out in collaboration with private security contractors and government security agencies on Saturday.

A barge refers to a flatbottomed inland waterway vessel used to transport goods or petroleum products on waterways.

The NNPCL noted that the operators of the barge were arrested in December 2022.

“The barge, named MT Brighton 1, which was loaded with stolen crude, was apprehended in one of the creeks running into the Ramos River in Agge Community, a border village between Delta and Bayelsa states,” it said.

The statement added that the security intervention team demolished a filling station, named Blessed Corporate Oil & Gas Services Ltd in Opete, Warri, Delta State, for allegedly being in the custody of trucks laden with stolen crude and discharging the illegal content into its underground storage tanks.

In recent years, Nigeria has recorded a surge in oil theft incidents in its oil-producing region, a development that had worsened the nation’s revenue challenge.

In a bid to curb crude oil theft, the Nigerian government launched an application in August last year to monitor cases of theft.

The NNPC also awarded a multi-billion naira pipeline surveillance contract to a former leader of the Movement for the Emancipation of Niger Delta, Government Tompolo.

President Buhari promises to support Burundi with petroleum products

As Nigerians continue to battle the ripple effect of fuel scarcity, President Muhammadu Buhari on Tuesday, promised fuel delivery assistance to Burundi.

Mr Buhari made the promise at the State House on Tuesday while hosting the special envoy of the president of Burundi, Evariste Ndayishimiye.

According to a statement signed by the Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Femi Adesina, the president pledged that in the spirit of African solidarity and brotherliness, Nigeria will support the Republic of Burundi in diverse ways as necessary.

The Nigerian president thereafter promised to support the Burundian people with fuel

supply.

“On request for assistance in the area of energy provision, particularly fuel, by the Burundi leader, President Buhari said he knows what it feels like for a country to suffer from energy shortage, and promised that he would get the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited to look into the request,” the statement said.

In his speech, Audace Niyonzima, Minister of Finance, Budget, and Economic Planning of Burundi, said the Burundian president sent goodwill for the New Year to Nigerians and Mr Buhari. He also wished the country well in the general elections scheduled for February and March.

“We pray that the polls would be peaceful and successful so that Nigeria would maintain her

reputation as a bastion of peace and stability,” the Special Envoy said.

Mr Buhari made the promise as Nigerians continue to face an energy crisis that has thrown households into darkness and crippled businesses across the country.

In recent years, fuel scarcity worsened in Nigeria, causing queues at filling stations and leaving millions unable to fuel their cars and generators.

In recent months, especially since the government announced plans to remove fuel subsidy, Nigerians have had a hard time getting petroleum products at filling stations.

The scarcity has persisted despite the government’s repeated claims it had enough petroleum products in stock.

In many parts of Nigeria,

operators of filling stations where petroleum products were available, sold at prices higher than the government’s pump price.

In December, in a bid to help alleviate the stress faced by Nigerians daily, the State Security Service in December issued a 48-hour ultimatum to the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited and fuel marketers to resolve the ongoing petroleum scarcity in the country.

The secret police said it would “commence operations” around the country if the problem persisted after two days.

But the threats notwithstanding, fuel scarcity persisted as motorists and other end-users continue to lament scarcity of petroleum products even during festive periods.

Elon Musk’s Starlink begins preorder sales in Nigeria

By Abubakar Yunus Abuja

Elon Musk’s Starlink, a satellite internet service, has announced the prices for its starter kits as preorder sales begin in Nigeria.

Starlink made the announcement in a statement seen by Peoples Daily on Thursday.

The development follows the company’s plans to roll out and expand its services to Nigeria this year.

According to the statement, interested customers can preorder the starter kits at the price of $600 (N438,000 at the

current parallel market exchange rate) for the hardware.

Starlink also said customers will pay $43 (N31,390) per month for subscriptions to its services.

“Order now to reserve your Starlink. Starlink expects to expand service in your area (Nigeria) in 2023. You will receive a notification once your Starlink is ready to ship,” the statement said.

“$43/month for service and $600 for hardware.”

Meanwhile, after the journalist tried to make a preorder, it was learnt that customers who buy at this time

will receive notifications via emails on the status of their shipments.

The notification reads thus: “Starlink is currently limited in your area and hopes to expand service soon. The timeline for service availability is dependent on regulatory approval. You will be notified via email prior to shipment once your Starlink is ready.”

“You will have seven days to confirm your order otherwise your deposit will be automatically cancelled and fully refunded.”

In 2021, Peoples Daily reported that the company, which saw Nigeria as a critical market,

was in talks with the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) to secure licences needed to launch.

One year later, Elon Musk, SpaceX founder, announced that Starlink, the company’s satellite internet service, has been approved in Nigeria.

According to SpaceX, Starlink was launched as a low-earth orbiting (LOE) constellation of satellites to provide low latency, high bandwidth internet to consumers across the globe.

A low latency network connection is one that generally experiences small delay times, while bandwidth refers to the

amount of information that a connection to the internet can handle at a given time.

Starlink internet is said to work by sending information through the vacuum of space, where it travels much faster than in the fiber-optic cable.

The internet service was slated to commenced operations in Nigeria by the end of last year but was stalled by regulatory constraints.

In July, 2022, Musk had revealed via Twitter that Starlink would become active in Nigeria in August 2022, going further to ask potential users to begin ordering the starter kits at $99.

Abubakar Yunus Abuja

Presidential Candidate of All Progressives Congress (APC), Senator Bola Ahmed Tunubu, APC Governor’s and Other stakeholders, during the Party’s Presidential Campaign Rally, at Sani Abacha Stadium, yesterday in Kano.

have oil prospects

By Abubakar Yunusa

The Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC) says it is taking coordinated steps for more frontier exploration across the north.

The company said this in a document, on the frontier exploration services activities of NNPC from 2020 to 2022.

According to the document, some prospective states where oil is expected to be discovered include Niger, Nasarawa, Sokoto, Borno, Yobe, Adamawa, Bauchi, and Gombe states.

Beyond the north, the Anambra basin was listed as another area where the NNPC is striving to find more oil.

Prospecting is the first stage in discovering oil and gas field, under which seismic surveys are carried out.

Here are highlights of exploration activities by Nigeria’s oil company in two years.

The NNPC document showed that 2D seismic acquisition has been completed at the 700 line kilometre (LKM) in Sokoto basin, where crop compensation payment has been completed.

According to NNPC, postacquisition has reached 70 percent on the 600 LKM in Bida basin, while acquisition activities have been suspended on the southern Chad basin, due to undisclosed circumstances.

To ensure the continuation of activities on the southern Chad basin, it said security clearance was received from the defence headquarters on November 7, 2022.

NNPC said it also requested for a waiver from the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC) for environmental impact assessment (EIA) to commence operations in the aforementioned basin.

Meanwhile, for the oil prospecting licence (OPL) 813A 3D in southern Chad basin, post-acquisition was at 65 percent completion.

In Nasarawa state, the NNPC document revealed that the 86km2 Keana west 3D seismic data was fully acquired but post-acquisition activities was yet to commence.

The NNPC said it is prospecting for oil in phase 13 in Wadi, Yobe state, where a 168km2 likely area is being appraised.

In Adamawa, it noted that it is on phase 14 of Kinasar prospect, spanning 170km2 as well as phase 15 of Ziye prospect, spanning 172km2 all in the Borno basin, adding that both prospects have been completely assessed for security risk.

In addition, it said while the contract agreements for phases 13 and 14 have been executed, that of phase 15 is yet to be executed.

Highlighting the progress made in the drilling of prospective well sites, the national oil firm said it has reached the drilling stage for six sites in the frontier basins.

Gas distributors seek private sectorled industry to unlock new investment

Theassociation of local distributors of gas (ALDG) in Nigeria says government’s regulation of tariffs in the sector has continued to hinder new investment in the industry.

Joseph Ezigbo, chairman, board of ALDG and managing director of Falcon Corporation Limited, said this in the latest edition of the association’s publication.

Ezigbo also noted that since the federal government failed to fund the much-discussed “decade of gas”, the private sector must be encouraged to take the lead.

He said the Nigerian gas industry is plagued with many challenges, including legacy issues and unfolding ones, due to the current state of the industry and the impact of global events.

“Infrastructure is and has remained a key challenge. Nigeria has a gross inadequacy of gas infrastructure, and we are not seeing new investments coming into the space. There are, of course, many reasons behind this,” Ezigbo said.

“A key issue is tariff regulation. Regulated gas price limits investors’

confidence in the commercial viability of projects. The government still regulates the domestic price of natural gas, an act that many industry players say promotes inefficiency as pegged prices are not reflective of actual costs.

“The tariffs must be cost reflective and accommodate acceptable investor returns, and in this regard, the market must be allowed to determine the acceptable and competitive tariff levels that encapsulate value chain cost from production, processing, transportation, and distribution.”

Ezigbo also said the cost and tenure of gas infrastructure funding, if any, are also a major constraint, with local financing institutions struggling to provide the quantum and tenure of funding required.

The ALDG president said Nigeria’s financial landscape needs to evolve towards a country that has access to long-term and single-digit local currency credit, as its gas infrastructure is extremely capital intensive.

Under the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA), he said the implementation

of the midstream and downstream gas infrastructure fund (MDGIF) and other gas infrastructure development incentives are key to unlocking investments in the domestic natural gas market.

Ezigbo said the right way forward is to bring the private sector into the ownership of the ‘decades of gas’ programme pursued by the federal government.

“One clear thing is that the government does not have the resources, nor is its structure aligned enough to ensure continuity and timely delivery of the objectives of the programme,” he said.

“The government needs to allow for the gravitating toward a completely private sector-driven industry where its role remains at the level of oversight of the PIA provisions and its attendant regulations.

“Where the country is today and the many socio-economic headwinds we are grappling with, we need the private sector efficiency and capacity to come to play and enable the industry to move forward at a much faster pace.”

According to Ezigbo, the liquidity crunch in the gas-to-power value chain remains a huge concern, with the mounting debts as gas suppliers continue to suffer from payment defaults and liquidity constraints that erode investors’ confidence.

This is a major problem for the gas sector given that power offtakes the bulk of gas delivered into the domestic market, he said.

“There are many attendant challenges stemming from the general micro and macro environment, amongst which are inflation, insecurity, human capacity constraints, and so on, which also have implications for gas development in Nigeria,” Ezigbo explained.

“These notwithstanding, several opportunities exist for potential players to fully harness as enabled by the PIA.”

He added that opportunities exist for potential investors to play in domestic liquefied natural gas (DLNG), compressed natural gas (CNG), auto gas/natural gas vehicle (NGV), liquefied petroleum gas (LPG), wholesale gas trading and natural gas distribution.

L-R: Vice Presidential Candidate of APC, Senator Kashim Shettima, Presidential Candidate, Senator Bola Ahmed Tunubu, APC National Chairman, Senator Abdullahi Adamu, Governor of Kano state, Dr. Abdullahi Umar Ganduje, deputy Governor of Kano state, Dr. Nasiru Yusuf Gawuna and Governor of Plateau State, Barr. Simon Bako Lalong, during the Presidential Campaign Rally at Sani Abacha Stadium yesterday in Kano.

LCCI to FG: Sustain interventions in manufacturing, insecurity for steady economic growth in 2023

By Abubakar Yunus Abuja

TheLagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI) has urged the federal government to sustain its targeted interventions in selected critical sectors like agriculture, tackling insecurity, and freeing more money from subsidy payments to ensure economic growth in 2023.

The chamber gave charge in a statement signed by Chinyere Almona, director general, LCCI.

In the statement, titled ‘the LCCI new year statement on the economy 2023,’ the body projected that sectors like manufacturing, agriculture, transport, telecommunications, and trade will be major drivers of economic growth.

It said the aforementioned sectors would deliver a gross domestic product (GDP) growth rate above 3 percent in 2023, higher than the 2 percent recorded in 2022.

“In 2023, we expect to see growth in sectors like manufacturing, agriculture, transport, telecommunications, and trade. With Nigeria having the third largest subscriber base in Africa (after South Africa and

Egypt), the telecoms sub-sector is expected to record growth above the 10.1 percent achieved in the third quarter (Q3) 2022 driven by the growing deployment of payment service banks (PSB) by the telcos, increase in subscribers using more telcos’ services, and the expected innovation coming with the launch of the 5G technology,” the statement reads.

“The government needs to be more sensitive to the regulation of the ICT sector to promote growth and support private sector operations.

“In 2023, government’s intervention through targeted financing support to the agro sector can boost agricultural production, create jobs, and lower the spiking food inflation that has been responsible mainly for the rising headline inflation all through 2022.

“The manufacturing sector which suffered headwinds such as scarcity of forex for import of inputs, weakened consumer demand due to weak purchasing power, high energy cost, logistical challenges, policy uncertainties, and harsh regulatory environment in 2022, may likely record a growth

in the sector away from the negative growth of -1.9 percent it recorded as at third quarter (Q3) of 2022.

“With lowering imports due to forex scarcity, local manufacturing could rev up in growth to meet the growing unmet local demand for hitherto imported finished products.”

LCCI, however, stated that the expected growth would only happen if the government would address current issues like rising inflation, scarcity of forex, high energy costs, high-interest rates, and logistics challenges due to insecurity in most parts of the country.

Speaking on fuel subsidy, the chamber projected that removal by the new administration might bring some shocks to the economy in the short-term with the possibility of adjusted pricing and demand in response to market forces in the long run.

However, it said “the Dangote refinery coming into operations by mid-year will boost production levels and support growth in the manufacturing sector”.

“Nevertheless, the contribution of manufacturing to GDP may fall from the 8.2 percent recorded during the third quarter of 2022

unless the government takes urgent and targeted financing support to critical productive infrastructure in the country,” it added.

LCCI said in 2022, the Central Bank of Nigeria in response to the spiraling inflation rate, deployed a tightening monetary policy to stabilise prices.

It said the rates rose from 11.5 percent in January and peaked at 16.5 percent in November 2022.

“This is expected to rise further during the monetary policy committee meeting in January to 17 percent to curb the persistent inflation and prevent capital flight,” it said.

“The chamber had earlier recommended that rate hikes alone would not curb inflation except the real factors like food supply disruptions, high energy cost, scarcity of forex, and the security challenges around agricultural production locations that have fueled low production and high logistics cost.

“In 2023, we need fiscal interventions to support strategic sectors like manufacturing, agriculture, transport logistics, and more allocation of forex to productive sectors.”

NNPC: Niger, Nasarawa, Sokoto, Borno, Yobe, Adamawa, Bauchi, Gombe

METRO

Fire outbreak: FEMA seeks Safety Commission for FCT

By Stanley Onyekwere

In order to ensure sustainable mitigation of loss of lives and property to incessant fire outbreaks and explosions from gas and fuel outlets in Abuja, the FCT Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), has advocated for establishment of a Safety Commission for Territory.

The Director General of FEMA, Alhaji Abbas Idriss who disclosed this yesterday, during a press briefing, in Abuja, said the proposed Commission will take charge of the responsibility of issuing operating licenses and

effectively curb the proliferation of liquid (cooking) gas and petrol outlets in the FCT.

Idriss however, warned that if such Commission was not established, FCT is going to have fires and explosions that are going to cause much havoc in the nation’s capital.

He disclosed that in furtherance to the advocacy, they had even gone to some states to do some understudy, to see what they are doing.

According to him: “We are advocating that we should have a Safety Commission in the FCT, which will take charge of the

responsibility of issuing operating licenses. Because, most of these Gas stations don’t operate the way they are supposed, as they don’t have the training and adequate staffing to handle such ventures.

“So, we have written for it, and we will continue to advocate for such sustainable intervention. We had a Committee on incessant gas explosion in FCT, but that doesn’t mean that we are not taking actions.

“Now, with the fire incidence in three filling stations, we have revisited those actions, and we are awaiting response from the FCT Minister. Definitely,

something good is coming out. It is a concern that we can’t ignore, as it is part of responsibility. We had even gone to some states to do some understudy, to see what they are doing.

“So if we don’t have safety Commission established and regulated by the FCTA that will ensure that they train each operators of Gas outlets and filling stations to follow the right thing required of them, we are going to have fires and explosions that are going to cause much havoc in the FCT”.

Furthermore, the FEMA boss revealed that in 2022, the Agency

intervened in post fire disaster in various parts of the FCT as well as responded to 10 fire incidents, including 3 filling station fires, where 16 lives were saved. On FEMA’s action plan for 2023, he said it intends to continue with a spillover of activities of the previous year which include Operation eagle eye and dry season early warning campaign.

He added that FEMA will continue with dry season sensitization on Radio, Television and other hand, social media platforms as well as at market places and residential areas.

DOAS harps on boosting FCT IGR profile

By Stanley Onyekwere

The Director, FCT Department of Outdoor Advertisement and Signage (DOAS), Babagana Adam has bemoaned inability to maximally generate and channel all revenues to government coffers as a result of the illegal activities of the some cabals, thereby frustrating reinvigorated efforts to boost the Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) profile of the FCT.

Adam, who revealed to

Journalists in Abuja, recently, while highlighting the setbacks the FCT administration has endured due to the situation, however, vowed to fight them till the end, to ensure the right things are done.

He said: “Some people have turned revenue collection into their inheritance and dynasty. There are cabals that are frustrating DOAS efforts to generate more revenue for the administration.

“They are handing over the

right of generating revenue to their families and cronies. I received a letter yesterday from the wife of a late cabal that has been feasting on the sweats of Abuja residents collecting illegal adverts.

“There’s a construction company that is one of the first three in Abuja that has been fraternising with this family. While that company pays nothing less than N40 million on mobile Advertisement, this money has never been remitted in total for

Abuja Municipal Area Council for the past three years, and I have been running a battle at the risk of my life and the lives of some of my colleagues that were attacked and some of you journalists.

“That contractor was given a target of N30 million and I discovered in 2019 or in 2020, the person only reluctantly remitted N11 million naira out of the N30 million. Where is the balance for the year of N19 million.

“Secondly, there is a company I fought from head to toe, may

be that is why some of them gave up and left. Some of you will remember the Abuja Municipal Trade and Investment, that company is a dynasty and a clug of progress on AMAC and the FCT”.

“I like pledging, till I leave DOAS or out of government responsibilities, I and my colleagues, if my colleagues like, I will fight them to the last drop of my blood to see that the right things are done and the right money goes into government coffers, then I will surrender”.

Kayode Egbetokun AIG Zone 7 Headquarters Abuja, presenting a gift to the FCT Minister, Malam Muhammad during the visit of the AIG to the FCTA, yesterday in Abuja.

Photo: Mahmud Isa

world news

Cristiano Ronaldo mixes up South Africa and Saudi Arabia after Al Nassr move

Football star Cristiano Ronaldo got the name of his new host country wrong while speaking at his first press conference in Saudi Arabia following his multi-million dollar move to Al Nassr.

“It’s not the end of my career to come to South Africa,” he said, in an earnest voice against a backdrop proudly proclaiming “Saudi welcome to Arabia”.

While they can’t have been happy, the Saudi officials at Tuesday’s press conference didn’t seek to correct Ronaldo and it didn’t seem to bother his new Saudi fans, who gave him a thunderous welcome as he appeared in Al Nassr’s yellow and blue kit at his new home ground, Mrsool Park.

As tweeter @NVMakhanye pointed out: “�� You don’t need to know the name of the country to make €200 million �� Anyways, welcome to South Africa Ronaldo �� ”

His reported annual salary of $200m (£177m) is believed to make him the world’s highest-paid footballer.

While it was obviously a slip of the tongue, it hasn’t stopped some South African football fans from dreaming of seeing one of the world’s most famous stars playing for their local team.

And the South African tourism authority is still hoping that Ronaldo will show up at the Moses Mabhida stadium, built in the coastal city of Durban for the 2010 World Cup.

South Africa’s Phakaaathi news site described it as a “stunning blooper”, while its football editor Jonty Mark commented: “Saudi Arabia and South Africa may have the same initial at the start of each part of their respective name, but it is still more than a little bizarre that Ronaldo couldn’t pick the right country in his first presser.”

However, most tweeters in the Arab world overlooked his gaffe, with @ alasiri_555 commenting in Arabic: “Nothing wrong with that. Everybody makes mistakes.”

BBC Arabic producer Ahmed Rouaba says the focus of most tweets has been on football, with Al Nassr fans expecting him to win games for them - and lift the club and country.

Al Nassr didn’t seem too bothered, tweeting: “Everyone is happy today �� �� ”

And it also posted a video of Ronaldo arriving in Saudi Arabia, just in case anyone thought he really was in South Africa:

The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites.View original tweet on Twitter

As for Ronaldo, he is looking forward to his new life in the oil-rich kingdom.

“In Europe, my work is done. I’ve won everything. I’ve played in the most important clubs in Europe. And now for me is a new challenge,” he said.

China Covid: WHO warns about under-representing Covid deaths

The World Health Organization has warned that China is under-representing the true impact of Covid in the countryin particular deaths.

The removal of most restrictions last month has led to a surge in cases.

But China has stopped publishing daily cases data, and has announced only 22 Covid deaths since December, using its own strict criteria.

“We believe that definition [of a Covid death] is too narrow,” WHO emergencies director Dr Michael Ryan said.

Dr Ryan said China’s figures “underrepresent the true impact of the disease in terms of hospital admissions, in terms of ICU admissions, and particularly in terms of deaths”.

China last month changed its criteria for what constitutes a Covid death, meaning only those who die of respiratory illnesses are counted.

This goes against WHO guidance, which encourages countries to count the number of excess deaths - how many more people die than would normally be expected based on death figures before the pandemic hit.

Dr Ryan added that China had increased its engagement with the WHO in recent weeks, and said he looked forward to receiving “more comprehensive data.”

But he also suggested individual health workers could report their own data and experiences.

“We do not discourage doctors and nurses reporting these deaths and these cases,” Dr Ryan said. “We have an open approach to be able to record the actual impact of disease in

society.”

The UK science data company Airfinity estimates more than two million Covid cases a day in China, and 14,700 deaths.

Since China abandoned key parts of its “zero-Covid” strategy almost a month ago, there have been reports of hospitals and crematoriums being overwhelmed.

More than a dozen nations have introduced travel restrictions on travellers from China. Beijing has criticised these as politically motivated and threatened to retaliate.

No new Covid variants have been detected

in China, despite the surge in cases. However, the WHO has warned this could be due to a decrease in testing.

The Chinese authorities have announced they are sending medical supplies to rural hospitals before an expected wave of coronavirus infections in the countrysidewhere vaccination rates are patchy.

Dr Abdi Rahman Mahamud, director of the WHO’s alert and response coordination department, has warned China may see another wave of infections as families gather for China’s Lunar New Year in a few weeksone of the country’s busiest travel periods.

Taraneh Alidoosti: Iran releases top actress held for supporting protests

Authorities in Iran have released a top actress who was arrested last month after expressing solidarity with antigovernment protesters.

Taraneh Alidoosti was pictured being greeted by friends outside Tehran’s Evin prison, her hair uncovered.

The 38-year-old star was freed on bail after being accused of “posting inflammatory content”.

She had posted a picture on social media without a headscarf and condemned the first execution of a protester.

Many Iranian actors, musicians and other celebrities have publicly backed the protests against the clerical establishment.

They erupted almost four months ago following the death in custody of Mahsa Amini, a 22-year-old woman who was detained by morality police for allegedly wearing her hijab, or headscarf, “improperly”.

Authorities have portrayed the protests as foreign-backed “riots” and responded with lethal force.

So far, at least 516 protesters have been killed, including 70 children, and 19,250 others arrested, according to the Human Rights Activists’ News Agency (HRANA). It has also reported the deaths of 68 security personnel.

Two protesters were executed last month after being convicted of the vaguely-defined national security charge of “enmity against God”.

Human rights groups condemned their trials as gross miscarriages of justice. They were reportedly tortured into confessing and deprived of access to lawyers of their choosing.

Days before her own arrest on 17 December, Ms Alidoosti had urged people to speak out in response to the execution of the first protester, Mohsen Shekari.

“Every international organisation who is watching this bloodshed and not taking action is a disgrace to humanity,” she wrote on her Instagram account, which had millions of followers before it was disabled.

In November, she had posed with her hair uncovered, holding a sign saying “Woman, life, freedom” - the main slogan of the protest movement.

State media reported that Taraneh Alidoosti had failed to provide “any documents in line with her claims”

Iran’s state news agency, Irna, reported that Ms Alidoosti was arrested for failing to provide “any documents in line with her claims”.

Ms Alidoosti is one of Iran’s most successful actresses. She starred in The Salesman, which won an Academy Award in 2016 for the Best International Feature Film.

She has paused her career to support the families of protesters killed in the crackdown and has previously vowed to remain inside Iran at any price.

Two other Iranian actresses, Hengameh Ghaziani and Katayoun Riahi, were arrested in November for supporting the protests. They have also been released on bail.

In a separate development on Wednesday, the Iranian government vowed to give a “decisive response” after the French satirical magazine Charlie Hebdo published a series of cartoons mocking Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, a Shia Muslim cleric who has the final say on all state matters.

Charlie Hebdo said it had received more than 300 such cartoons and “thousands of threats” after it launched a competition last month in order to “support the struggle of Iranians who are fighting for their freedom”.

“The insulting and offensive action of a French publication in releasing cartoons

against [Iran’s] religious and political authority will not be left without an effective and decisive response,” Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian tweeted.

Meanwhile, Iran’s Supreme Court upheld death sentences handed to two men who were convicted of “corruption on Earth” over the alleged killing of a paramilitary member in Karaj in November.

The court rejected the appeals of Mohammad Mehdi Karami and Seyed Mohammad Hosseini, who have both alleged that they were tortured into making false confessions. Retrials were ordered for three co-defendants sentenced to death in the same case, including Hamid Ghare-Hasanlou.

Hospitals across China are under pressure amid a fresh wave of Covid infections

Hospitals across China are under pressure amid a fresh wave of Covid infections

Somalia car bombs: At least 35 die in Mahas attacks

At least 35 people have been killed in a double car bombing in central Hiraan province, Somalia, police say.

The al-Qaeda linked group al-Shabab has said it was behind the attack.

The district commissioner of Mahas town said his home and that of a local MP were the targets.

However, “most of the dead are civilians,” including “women and children”, the local deputy policy commissioner told the Reuters news agency.

The blasts were so powerful that witnesses said people far away from the explosion sites were wounded by flying fragments.

“This was a horrible attack,” witness Adan Hassan told the AFP news agency, describing the dead bodies he saw.

Al-Shabab has been losing ground in

recent months after President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud pledged “total war” against the Islamist militants in August, following an attack on a popular Mogadishu hotel, which saw more than 20 people die.

Two months later, twin car bomb explosions near a busy junction in Mogadishu killed at least 100 people. AlShabab also said it was behind that attack.

President Mohamud subsequently mobilised the Somali army and governmentbacked clan militias in a bid to take villages and towns from al-Shabab, which controls large swathes of the country.

Despite their losses of territory, alShabab has continued to carry out attacks in central and southern Somalia.

Both African Union forces and US funds have been allocated to assist Somalia in its fight against al-Shabab.

Ghana fishing: Abuse, corruption and death on Chinese vessels

When it comes to abuse and corruption on Chinese fishing vessels in Ghana, Bright Tsai Kweku has seen it all.

He has seen Chinese crew treating local fishermen like “slaves”, he says.

“They beat them, they spit on them, they kick them,” Mr Kweku says. “I have been through that before.”

Mr Kweku works as a bosun - an officer in charge of equipment and the crew. He says he has been forced to work for three days without sleep, had food withheld from him and been forced to drink dirty water.

The fate of some of his fellow fishermen has been even worse, he says.

Mr Kweku says one of his colleagues fell sick with cholera on board a Chinese vessel but the crew refused to bring him back to shore for treatment. He didn’t make it back alive.

He saw another get badly burned on a vessel after a fire ignited onboard. Another colleague got caught by a propeller. Neither survived and the families have not received proper compensation, he says.

These are just a few examples of the alleged widespread abuse and neglect linked to Chinese fishing vessels operating off Ghanaian shores.

The UK-based Environmental Justice Foundation (EJF) says at least 90% of the industrial trawlers operating in Ghana are owned by Chinese corporations, in contravention of Ghanaian laws on the ownership of vessels fishing under the local flag. A substantial proportion of these vessels have engaged in illegal practices, EJF says.

A recent EJF report investigates what it says are illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing, and human rights abuses by China’s Distant Water Fishing (DWF) fleet in Ghana. The ownership and operational control of China’s DWF fleet is complex and opaque, and is the largest in the world.

All 36 crew members interviewed by EJF had been forced to work more than 14 hours a day and received inadequate food.

• 94% had received inadequate medicine or witnessed verbal abuse

• 86% reported inadequate living conditions

• 81% had witnessed physical abuse

• 75% had seen serious injury at sea.

In response, China’s embassy says it is a “responsible fishing country”.

“We have always worked with other members of the international community to crack down on illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing, and have done a lot in effectively combating illegal fishing,” its press office tells the BBC.

One of the worst disasters involving a

Chinese vessel in Ghanaian waters took place eight months ago.

On 6 May, the MV Comforter 2 sank in stormy conditions. Fourteen crew were rescued, but 11 remain missing, presumed dead, including the state-appointed observer. The body of the Chinese captain was found.

One of the survivors, who requested anonymity and we will call Michael, recalls the horrors that unfolded that day.

Despite storms getting increasingly worse, he says the Chinese crew told the fishermen to pull in an excessive haul in one go. The boat already had a lot of fish on board, and it lost control, capsizing under the weight of the haul and the choppy waters.

Michael and nine others managed to grab hold of a floating oil drum for almost 24 hours, before a fisherman found them.

“It was a terrifying night,” he says. “We didn’t know whether we would make it or not.”

Michael hasn’t recovered physically or mentally from the disaster, and says the Ghanaian company officially in charge of the vessel, Boatacom, has not paid him any compensation.

“I’m not happy at all, the company keeps giving us excuses. Sometimes I feel pain all over my body. I need medical attention, but I don’t have money,” he says.

Kojo Ampratwum, managing director of Boatacom, tells the BBC the firm has submitted its reports to the insurance company and is waiting to hear back.

Tracing who owns the MV Comforter 2 and other vessels operating in Ghana is complicated.

Foreign ownership of industrial trawl vessels operating under the Ghanaian flag is illegal, but some Chinese firms get around this via Ghanaian front companies.

Through its research, EJF says the Chinese Dalian Mengxin Ocean Fishery Company is the ultimate owner of the MV Comforter 2 and that it is part of the Meng Xin fleet.

The Meng Xin fleet has also been linked to one of the most notorious cases on Ghanaian waters in recent times - the disappearance of fisheries observer Emmanuel Essien.

Since 2018, Ghana has appointed fisheries observers on board all industrial trawlers operating under the Ghanaian flag. Their job is to collect data on fishing activities and report on illegal practices at sea.

Essien had earned a name as a dedicated and thorough observer, but this had led to problems. He got into a fight with a Chinese national who had stopped him from filming crew illegally discarding fish at sea, says his brother James Essien.

Emmanuel’s final report to the Fisheries Commission was on 24 June 2019. In the report - a copy of which was provided to the BBC - he outlines illegal fishing activities and states: “I humbly plead with the police to investigate further.”

On 5 July, Essien went missing from the Meng Xin 15 trawler.

James says that his brother had dinner with the rest of the crew before they headed back to their cubicle to sleep. The next morning he was nowhere to be seen.

More than three years on, the family still has no answers. A police investigation found “no signs of violence or anything incriminating”.

“I want the truth to come out,” James tells the BBC, in tears.

The Mengxin Ocean Fishery Company could not be reached for comment.

Essien’s disappearance is one of many factors that have had a chilling effect on Ghana’s fisheries observers.

Ghanaian observers who spoke to the BBC explain how a culture of fear, corruption and neglect are pushing them to take bribes to bury evidence of illegal fishing and abuse on Chinese vessels.

“Most of our colleagues are taking money,” says one observer, who requested anonymity and we will call Daniel.

“They are being bribed and taking money from the Chinese and submitting reports to the ministry that are not true.”

All the observers interviewed say their wages are poor and it often takes as long as five months to get paid, meaning kickbacks from Chinese and Ghanaian crew managers are necessary to feed their families.

“If you reject the bribe you go home hungry,” says another observer, who we will call Samuel.

“Most of those observers do take bribes. That’s what we do to take care of our families.”

Some feel too scared to report the truth.

“Sometimes what they do is throw the observer into the water - it has happened before,” Samuel says. “Because of the fear we normally don’t report issues like that.”

One former observer, who has since left Ghana, tells the BBC he was once called to the office of a high-ranking official within the Ministry of Fisheries and Aquaculture Development after he reported illegal practices at sea.

He says the official asked him to present the evidence, and then proceeded to delete it from his phone. But he had the evidence backed up on a laptop and threatened to post it on social media.

Then he says he started receiving threats.

At one point he was so nervous that he would not sleep at his own house because

people knew where he lived and he was worried about being attacked, or worse.

One day, when he was cycling near the fishing harbour in Tema, a port city east of the capital Accra, he says a Ghanaian official spotted him and tried ramming him with his vehicle.

“He was trying to hit me with his car at the fishing harbour. I saw him so I jumped to the gutter… this guy was mad,” he says.

He eventually decided to leave the industry after receiving death threats.

“I became miserable in life because when I’d go to the harbour, everyone was looking at me. I couldn’t find any work to do. I became like a stranger, like I’m a bad person. It was so hard for me.”

He now avoids the harbour when he’s back in Ghana.

“People try to threaten me. These guys are very serious,” he says.

Steve Trent, founder and head of EJF, says the high concentration of Chinese ownership within trawl fleets is a problem across West Africa, accusing them of often flouting the law.

But in Ghana, the problem is “particularly acute”, he says.

“These Chinese owners have commonly put a Chinese captain in charge of the vessels to command the mainly Ghanaian crew and it is these Chinese captains that have driven the abuse,” Mr Trent says. He blames the abuse on the owners seeking to “maximise profits and minimise costs”.

EJF investigations have uncovered systemic corruption “at virtually every level and including fisheries officials, police and navy officers” tasked with enforcing regulations, he says.

While there has been some progress on illegal fishing in Ghana, Mr Trent says a lot more needs to be done.

“We need to see the loopholes and deceit by which illegal foreign ownership, now concentrated with the Chinese, are eliminated,” he says.

The Ghanaian government did not respond to multiple requests for comment.

Mr Kweku wants the government to allow fishermen to properly unionise, and says a system must be put in place so people are under contract before being sent out to work at sea.

A mixture of abuse, disappearances and poor pay has taken a lasting toll on his mental health, and that of many others.

“We lost a lot of fishermen at sea but nothing is done about that. Two or three observers are missing,” he says.

“We are all afraid of going to sea but there is no work on land, so you must force yourself to go.”

Source: BBC

Asia&Middle-East

Ukraine war: Defying Russian onslaught in city ‘at the end of the world’

“This is the toughest operation I’ve ever seen. The enemy has thrown its strongest assault at Bakhmut. We haven’t seen troops like this before,” the Ukrainian commander tells us.

Commander Skala, as he wants to be called, is controlling the Ukrainian operation to defend the city of Bakhmut in the eastern Donbas region from an underground chamber off a nondescript street. It is one of the main command centres the Ukrainian military has set up in the city, and few journalists have been here.

A tall, hefty man with sparkling eyes, he watches a live feed from a drone hovering outside the eastern edge of the city on a big screen in the centre of the room.

One of the battalion’s units is trying to spot the location of Russian positions, to aid another unit which has just gone out to defend eastern approaches to Bakhmut under attack.

In addition to Russian armed forces, mercenaries from the private paramilitary Wagner group have been sent in their thousands to front lines around Bakhmut.

“Wagner soldiers openly advance under fire towards us even if they’re littering the land with their bodies, even if out of 60 people in their platoon only 20 are left. It’s very difficult to hold against such an invasion. We weren’t prepared for that, and we’re learning now,” Commander Skala says.

“Some weeks ago, we lost positions on the eastern approaches to the city because the enemy was constantly storming us with assaults. We moved to secondary front lines to save our soldiers,” he adds.

“We are trying to work smartly and get those positions back. Sometimes you have to withdraw to attack the enemy properly.”

Wagner leader Yevgeny Prigozhin has said Ukrainians have turned every house in Bakhmut into a fortress, and that there were now “500 lines of defence”.

Russia has been using all its might to try to take Bakhmut - a battle considered critical for the country after it lost ground in Ukraine in recent months, being pushed out of Kherson in the south and the Kharkiv region in the north-east. Capturing Bakhmut is also important to further Russia’s aim to control the whole of the Donbas region in eastern Ukraine.

Throughout our conversation with Commander Skala, muffled explosions can be heard from above ground. The second you step outside, the sound is loud enough to make your heart pound - the terrifying whistle of shells flying in followed by the deafening boom of the impact.

And the sound never stops as the bombs keep falling.

One resident described it as “the end of the world” and there are moments when it feels like that.

Bombs have ripped through the middle of apartment blocks, blown away the facades of buildings and created craters by the side of streets. It was hard to find a window in Bakhmut that was intact. The ground is littered with broken glass and debris.

This was once a quiet, ordinary town in the east, known for its sparkling wine. Now, it’s become a byword for war and Ukraine’s resistance.

It lies at a vital road intersection, but over the months, the battle here has gained a symbolic importance. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky recently called it the “fortress of our morale”.

Bakhmut used to be home to just over 70,000 people before the war. Just a tenth of its residents - mostly elderly or poorremain.

While the streets are largely empty, we see dozens of civilians in an aid centre, known here as a “resilience centre”.

It has power, and wi-fi provided by Elon Musk’s Starlink satellite system. Volunteers distribute small packets of food, medicines and other basic supplies. A wood-burner in the centre keeps the room warm.

This is a lifeline for the people in Bakhmut.

Many sit huddled around electrical points, trying to charge up their phones.

What’s remarkable is that even when shells land just a few hundred metres from the centre, people don’t flinch. It’s as if they’ve become numb, running from bombs every day.

Trauma is visible on many faces though.

Why don’t you leave, we asked Anatolay Suschenko, who was standing in a queue for some food.

“I have nowhere to go. I’m alone. Who would want to take an 86-year-old?” he said. “Here, at least sometimes when soldiers throw away food or soup, I find it and eat it. And I get free bread. In my whole life, I’ve never seen anything like this. All the windows of my house have been blown off, and the gate has been destroyed.”

People have different reasons to stay. Olha Tupikova sits in the corner of the room with her 13-year-old daughter Diana.

“I think everywhere in Ukraine is equally dangerous. Some of our neighbours left and died elsewhere. Here we have a house. We have cats and dogs. We can’t leave them,” she said.

“Our roof has 21 holes and the garage has nine. I mend them every time, and try to repair the windows too. Normally the holes are caused by shrapnel, but lately we’ve had stones flying in too, making holes that are the size of a head.”

“We live like mice. We quickly run out to get some bread, choose different routes to get back home. Before sunrise I look for wooden boards and logs [to repair my

home]. In the evening I search for water because there’s no water supply in town,” Olha said.

“Of course, it’s frightening. But now we do it army style, like soldiers. We joke that master chefs know nothing about cooking [compared to us]. We can make a meal out of anything on an open fire, or even a candle.”

The local administration is trying to convince people to leave.

In a location in the city we can’t disclose because it could compromise his safety, we met Oleksiy Reva, who has been the mayor of Bakhmut for 33 years.

“It’s those who don’t have money and don’t want to face the unknown who are staying. But we are talking to them about it. Because safety is most important, safety and peace,” he said.

Why does he continue to stay, we asked. “This is my life, my job, my fate. I was born here, and grew up here. My parents are buried here. My conscience won’t allow me to leave our people. And I’m confident our military will not allow Bakhmut to fall,” he said.

In the fields outside the city, we see the daily grind required to keep a hold on it.

The unit of soldiers we meet try to spot

“The equipment is outdated. It works fine and does the job, but it can be better. We also have to be very economical with our shells, very precise with our targets so we don’t run out of ammunition. If we had more equipment and modern weapons, we would be able to destroy more targets which would make things much easier for our infantry,” one of the soldiers, Valentyn, said.

Winter also makes things difficult. Weapons don’t operate as smoothly in cold weather, they tell us.

“We simply need to overcome this period, hold on, and then execute counteroffensives and fight,” Yaroslav said.

Each side is trying to wear the other down. This is a battle of endurance.

How do you motivate yourself every day, we asked. “We all have families to go back to. Valentyn just had a son but his family is in Germany, so he hasn’t seen him yet,” Yaroslav said as Valentyn cracked a shy smile.

“His motivation is colossal.”

Source: BBC

Russian locations and fire artillery - Sovietera D-30 guns - in their direction, to allow Ukrainian infantry to push ahead every day. But barely any advance is being made.

Many of those remaining in Bakhmut are elderly, like 86-year-old Anatolay, and searching for food

Bombs have ripped through facades of buildings everywhere in Bakhmut

What is known about new Covid

Anew Covid sub-variant is causing some concern in the US, where it is spreading rapidly.

Some cases have been recorded in the UK, so what do you need to know about XBB.1.5?

What is XBB.1.5?

It is yet another offshoot of the globally dominant Omicron Covid variant, which itself followed the earlier alpha, beta, gamma and delta variants.

Omicron has outperformed all previous versions of coronavirus since it emerged in late 2021, and has given rise to many sub-variants which are even more contagious than the original.

Symptoms of XBB.1.5 are thought to be similar to those of previous Omicron strains, but it’s still too early to confirm this. Most people experience coldlike symptoms.

Is XBB.1.5 more infectious or dangerous than earlier variants?

XBB.1.5 itself evolved from XBB, which began circulating in the UK in September 2022, but which has not been classified as a so-called “variant of concern” by health authorities.

XBB had a mutation that helped it beat the body’s immune defences, but this same quality also reduced its ability to infect human cells.

Prof Wendy Barclay from Imperial College London said XBB.1.5 had a mutation known as F486P, which restores this ability to bind to cells while continuing to evade immunity. That makes it spread more easily.

She said these evolutionary changes were like “stepping stones”, as the virus evolves to find new ways of bypassing the body’s self-defence mechanisms.

Scientists from the World Health Organization (WHO) confirmed on Wednesday that XBB.1.5 has a “growth advantage” above all other subvariants seen so far.

But they said there was no indication it was more serious or harmful than previous Omicron

variants.

The WHO said it would keep a close watch on lab studies, hospital data and infection rates to find out more about its impact on patients.

Where is XBB.1.5 spreading?

Over 40% of Covid cases in the United States are estimated to be caused by XBB.1.5, making it the dominant strain in the country.

At the beginning of December, it accounted for only 4% of cases so it has quickly overtaken other versions of Omicron.

Covid hospital admissions have been rising in recent weeks across the US.

The UK Health Security Agency is due to release a report on variants spreading in the UK next week, and may refer to XBB.1.5.

Could the XBB.1.5 variant take off in the UK?

Nothing is certain, but it does look likely.

The UK had five Omicron waves in 2022, and further spikes in cases are inevitable.

Figures for the week to

“ XBB.1.5 itself evolved from XBB, which began circulating in the UK in September 2022, but which has not been classified as a so-called “variant of concern” by health authorities.

XBB had a mutation that helped it beat the body’s immune defences, but this same quality also reduced its ability to infect human cells.

Saturday 17 December from the Sanger Institute in Cambridge suggested that one in 25 Covid cases in the UK were XBB.1.5.

But that was based on just nine samples, so we’ll need to wait for a week or two to get a better picture of how it is spreading.

Prof Barclay said she expected more hospitalisations in the UK if the variant takes off here, “as we expect it to do”.

Prof Paul Hunter from the University of East Anglia, said: “The balance of probabilities is that XBB.1.5 will trigger a wave here later this month, but we can’t be sure.”

NHS England has said the fears of a “twindemic” of Covid and flu have been realised, with both viruses putting strain on an already stretched NHS.

variant XBB.1.5?

Are scientists worried about XBB.1.5?

Prof Barclay said she was not especially concerned about the general UK population because there was “no indication” that XBB.1.5 would “breakthrough” the protection against severe illness provided by vaccines.

But she is worried about its effect on the vulnerable, including the immunocompromised, who get less benefit from Covid jabs.

Prof Hunter said he’d seen no evidence that XBB.1.5 was more virulent, meaning it was no more likely to “put you in hospital or kill you” than existing Omicron variants.

He added: “It’s ironic that everyone is focussing on possible variants emerging from China, but XBB.1.5 came out of

the US.”

Prof David Heymann from the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine acknowledged that there was still a fair amount to learn about this latest variant.

But he said it was unlikely to cause major problems in countries like the UK which have high levels of vaccination and previous infections.

His concern was for countries like China, where there was both low take-up of vaccines and little natural immunity because of prolonged lockdowns.

“China needs to share clinical information on people infected in order to see how the variant behaves in a non-immune population,” Prof Heymann said.

Source: BBC

Covid vaccines provide most people with good protection against serious illness

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Gusau mourns passing of Abia FA boss, Ephraim Chukwuemeka

By Albert Akota

President of the Nigeria Football Federation, Alhaji Ibrahim Musa Gusau has described as ‘most shocking’ the death on Tuesday morning of the Chairman of Abia State Football Association, Sir Ephraim Chukwuemeka.

The respected former referee, who happened to be the longest-serving FA Chairman in the country, died on Tuesday morning in Umuahia, capital of Abia State.

“The NFF has this morning received the most shocking news about the death of Sir E. C. Chukwuemeka, who has for decades been an esteemed member of the NFF Congress. I spoke with him just over a week ago when he told me that his wife had a partial stroke. I had no idea it would be the last conversation between us.

“Sir Chukwuemeka represented the vintage old guard in the NFF Congress and blessed us all with his wisdom, deep knowledge and understanding of the game of football, its rules, its management and its intricacies. We will all miss him dearly. Our prayer is that Almighty God should grant him eternal rest and also empower those he has left behind, including his immediate family, friends and the Nigeria football fraternity, with the fortitude to bear the big loss,” Gusau said.

NFF empanels judicial, match officiating committees

The Nigeria Football Federation on Monday constituted its judicial and match officiating committees, for the period 2022-2026.

Heading the Referees Committee is former FIFA referee, Mrs Faith Irabor, with Mallam Rabiu Umar as vice chairman, while the Match Commissioners Committee is headed by Member of NFF Board, Alhaji Babagana Kalli.

The vice chairman is Alhaji Ganiyu Majekodunmi, another member of the NFF Board.

The Disciplinary Committee is headed by Barrister J. B. C. Obikwelu, former vice chairman

of the Anambra State Football Association, while Barrister Gandi Umar Mohammed is chairman of the Appeals Committee.

The Referees and Match Commissioners’ committees are scheduled to meet with the NFF leadership at the NFF Secretariat, Abuja on Thursday by 1pm, in preparation for the 2022-2023 Nigeria Professional Football League season commencing on Saturday, 8th January.

FULL LIST: REFEREES COMMITTEE

Mrs Faith IraborChairman

Mallam Rabiu UmarVice Chairman

Oba James Odeniran –Member

Mr Abraham Zakowi –Member

Mallam Waziri Furo Gawe –Member

Mr. C. C. Chukwujekwu –Member

Mallam Bello AbubakarMember

MATCH COMMISSIONERS COMMITTEE

Alh. Babagana Kalli –Chairman

Alh. Ganiyu Majekodunmi –Vice Chairman

Hon. Usman Maulud –Member

Alh. Aminu Mammaga –Member

Alh. Idris Abdullahi Thuraya – Member

Mr. Anthony Ugwu –Member

Otunba Mustapha Razaq – Member

Chief Kenneth Nwamuocha – Member

DISCIPLINARY

COMMITTEE

Barr. J. B. C. Obikwelu – Chairman

Barr. Abdulrahman

Abdulrahman – Vice Chairman

Barr. Ibrahim Mukhtar – Member

Barr. Wole Ademoyegun – Member

Barr. Bello Galadi –Member

APPEALS COMMITTEE

Barr. Gandi Umar

Mohammed (mni) – Chairman Barr. Martin Usen Effiong – Vice Chairman

Barr. Bemva Akortsaha – Member Barr. Bweino Dauda

– Member

Barr. Bukar Muazu – Member

Ibrahin Guasu, Nff president

WHEREAS the person whose name is set out in the first column hereunder died intestate on the date place stated in the said in the column.

AND WHEREAS the person(s) whose name (s) and address(s) and relation(s) to the deceased are set out in the second column hereto has/have applied to the High Court of Justice, Nasarawa State for the grant of Letters of Administration of the Real and personal properties/estate of the said deceased. NOTICE: IS HEREBY GIVEN that Letter of Administration (without will) will be granted to such applicant/applicants unless a “NOTICE TO PROHIBIT” the grant is file in this Registry within Twenty- One (21) days from the date hereof.

IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUSTICE OF NASARAWA STATE OF NIGERIA IN THE PROBATE DIVISION SCHEDULE

NAME OF DECEASED PERSON

Aboki Mary Stephen late of Lafia, Died on the 6th day of May, 2019 at Lafia

Garba Jatau late of Nasarawa, Died on the 2nd day of August, 2022 at Nasarawa

Aya A. Deborah late of Lafia Died on the 4th day of September, 2021 at Lafia

Hamisu Usman late of Feferuwa, Died on the 10th day of January, 2022 at Feferuwa

Nkyak Aye Kelvin late of Agyaragu, Died on the 21st day of September, 2021 at Lafia

Fatima Usman late of Lafia, Died on the 14th day of August, 2020 at Lafia

James E. Bikwa late of Lafia, Died on the 10th day of May, 1994 at Awkwa

Isaac Rebecca Umaru late of Lafia, Died on the 21st day of December, 2020 at Lafia

Usman Haruna late of Lafia, Died on the 13th day of March, 2022 at Gwantu Kpoku Adamu late of Keffi, Died on the 14th day of March, 2022 at Keffi

Ahmadu SASidu Tanko late of Wamba, Died on the 15th day of December, 2021 at Wamba Ezeme N. Victoria late of Mararaba, Died on the 22nd day of April, 2022 at Abuja

Ocheni Simon Aminu late of Nasarawa, Died on the 16th day of October, 2022 at Abuja Habibu Alhassan late of Keffi, Died on the 20th day of May, 2022 at Gudi

Umbugudu Michael late of Sabon Bakama, Died on the 2nd day of July, 2022 at Lafia Mathew Juliana Ezekiel late of Lafia, Died on the 2nd day of December, 2021 at Lafia

Yakubu Kande late of Lafia, Died on the 7th day of October, 2021 at Kurgwi Odus Ibrahim A. late of Nasarawa, Died on the 29th day of August, 2022 at Keffi

Julius Kadomba Martina late of Akwanga, Died on the 29th day of August, 2022 at Akwanga NAF18.34743 Musa Muhammad Tanko late of Lafia, Died on the 8th day of November, 2021 at Kaduna Anda Danlami late of Lafia, Died on the 2nd day of September, 2021 at Lafia

NAME(S) AND ADDRESS (ES) OF APPLICANT

Aboki Stephen Jerry of Lafia the lawful Son of the said deceased.

Obagu Abdullahi Garba of Nasarawa the lawful Son of the said deceased

Daniella Abeson Aya of Abuja the lawful Daughter of the said deceased.

Usman Zule of Lafia the lawful Widow of the said deceased

Kelvin Godiya of Agyaragu the lawful Daughter of the said deceased.

Yusuf Salaha Usman of Nasarawa the lawful Daughter of the said deceased

Biwa Marannatha Biche of Lafia the lawful Daughter of the said deceased

Isaac Abu Umaru of Lafia the lawful Son of the said deceased

Usman Sadam of Gwantu the lawful Son of the said deceased.

Adamu Halima & Adamu Maimuna both of Keffi the lawful Daughters of the said deceased

Ahmed Badamasi Tanko & Ahmed Zakariya Tanko both of Wamba the lawful Sons of the said deceased

Onyeaka Samuel of Abuja the lawful Widower of the said deceased.

Hannah Ojonogecha Ocheni of Ocheni the lawful Daughter of the said deceased Abubakar Basma Shafa of Keffi the lawful Widow of the said deceased.

Awayi Joseph of Sabon Bakama the lawful Widow of the said deceased.

Blessing J. Affi of Lafia, the lawful Daughter of the said deceased.

Buki Daniel of Gwagwalada the lawful Father of the said deceased Ibrahim Jiobrin Odus & Odus Hassan Ibrahim both of Nasarawa the lawful Sons of the said deceased.

Adu Samson Blani of Akwanga the lawful Widower of the said deceased.

Tanko Muhammad Musa of Lafia the lawful Brother of the said deceased Andah Carolyn of Lafia the lawful Widow of the said deceased

Mohammed Hamza late of Akwanga, Died on the 21st day of January, 2021 at Kaduna Emmanuel Rami Pawa late of Akwanga, Died on the 19th day of May, 2022 at Akwanga Garba Aruwa late of Ara Sabo, Died on the 27th day of August, 2022 at FCT Abuja Yakubu Michael late of Keffi, Died on the 24th day of July, 2022 at Keffi

Mrs. Ogyase Grace (Elikpi) late of Lafia Died on the 26th day of August, 2022 at Jos Akpaki Mathew late of Bamze, Died on the 12th day of July, 2022 at Sokoto Osuila Sale Ekwule late of Usha - Kadu Died on the 5th day of March, 2020 at Mararaba Tsebe Wakili late of Tammah, Died on the 6th day of May, 2022 at Nasarawa Yusuf Musa late of Lafia, Died on the 25th day of March, 2022 at Lafia Emmanuel Iyima Ogah late of Keana Died on the 1st day of April, 2019 at Keana Kure Samuel Mohammed late of Langi, Wamba, Died on the 10th day of September, 2022 at Wamba Adamu Adagadzu Musa late of Nassarawa Eggon, Died on the 27th day of October, 2022 at Nassarawa Eggon Gambo Mohammed Awaje late of Lafia, Died on the 15th day of September, 2022 at Lafia Michael Paul late of Lafia, Died on the 21st day of October, 2022 at Lafia

REPUBLICATION

Jatau John Atafache late of Keffi, Died on the 27th day of July, 2022 at Gwagwalada Atama Isah Harri late of Karu, Died on the 26th day of March, 2018 at Mararaba Girigi Samuel late of Lafia, Died on the 9th day of May, 2018 at Kadarko Tsaghor Kibu Tsamani late of Masaka, Died on the 18th day of January, 2019 at Jos Sarki Kibu Tsamani late of Masaka, Died on the 18th day of January, 2019 at Jos

(Esther M. Ejeh. Esq.) PROBATE REGISTRAR NASARAWA STATE OF NIGERIA, LAFIA

Sunday Hamza of Gwantu the lawful Son of the said deceased

Emmanuel Chungwanje Pawa of Akwanga the lawful Son of the said deceased

Abdulmalik Garba, Garba Bilya, Maryam Garba & Farida Garba all of Ara Sabo, Karu the lawful Sons & Daughter of the said deceased respectively.

Yakubu Godwin Sa’ah of Barda the lawful Brother of the said deceased.

Ogyase Nathan Oyowuso of Lafia the lawful Son of the said deceased.

Affiku Ayuba of Bamza, Nassarawa Eggon the lawful Brother of the said deceased.

Ekwule Saleh Geoffrey of Usha – Kadu the lawful Son of the said deceased

Tsebe Ezekiel Wakili of Nasarawa the lawful Son of the said deceased.

Musa Hadijat Yusuf & Khadija Abdullahi both of Lafia the lawful Widows of the said deceased Joshua Emmanuel Ada of Keana the lawful Son of the said deceased.

Esther Markus of Langi, Wamba, the lawful Brother of the said deceased.

Huzaifa Ayaka Adamu of Nassarawa Eggon the lawful Son of the said deceased.

Mohammed Musbau Gambo of Lafia the lawful Son of the said deceased.

Adeja Michael & Paul Justina both of Lafia the lawful Brother & Widow of the said deceased.

REPUBLICATION

Safiratu T. Jatau of Keffi the lawful Mother of the said deceased.

Bridget Harri Isa, Hauwa Isa Harri & Job Harri all of New Karu the lawful Daughters & Son of the said deceased respectively.

Girigi Ezekiel of Kardako the lawful Son of the said deceased.

Leah Tsamani & Tsamani Hellen Legma both of Kokona the lawful Daughters of the said deceased Leah Tsamani & Tsamani Hellen Legma both of Kokona the lawful Daughters of the said deceased

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Inzaghi warns Leao against joining Real Madrid, Man City Warns Leao

Italy star, Pippo Inzaghi has advised Rafael Leao to remain with AC Milan and ignore joining Man City or Real Madrid.

The Portuguese forward became Milan’s clutch player, the one who carried the burden with Zlatan Ibrahimovic injured and when Giroud wasn’t firing on all cylinders. Leao stepped up, scoring or providing an assist in the final six matches of the season.

Leao has been in talks over a renewal with Milan, but there has been a gap between what Milan are willing to offer Leao and what the player is demanding.

Yet there is a hope that both can compromise and a deal struck. However, Inzaghi has urged Leao to maintain his rise with the club than joining Real

Madrid or Man City.

“If I were him I would stay. Milan has always been the best for me. To wear that shirt, to play at San Siro.

A few years ago, you might think of striving for something more prestigious, because Milan was becoming fantastic again. But now they won the league, they make their way to the Champions League,

But now they won the league, they make their way to the Champions League,.

“Leão is good, but he can be even better. I hope he is convinced. Here he can be a protagonist, at the centre of the project. The risk is that he in City or Real he becomes one of many. If I could give him advice, I would tell him to become a flag bearer for Milan, something unique.”

Niger Tornadoes FC’ Fans Club have conferred an award of excellence on the chairman of Niger Tornadoes Football Club Minna, Hon. Adamu Aliyu Mohammed.

In an event that took place at the Niger Tornadoes FC Secretariat, Ministry Of Youth and Sports Development over the week, the Technical Adviser of the State owned team, Abubakar Bala Mohammed also received an award alongside four players, for their outstanding performance last season.

According to the organizers of the award ceremony (Fans Club) the essence of rewarding the outstanding performers, is to encourage other players to emulate their colleagues to always give their all when called upon.

The Fans Club which was created and registered in 2016 with the aim of volunteering to give the much needed support to the team, had Amos Silas Jako as her first Chairman, while the current chairman is Abubakar Adamu Layi.

Aside organizing an award ceremony, the FANS CLUB have always made it a duty to vote and recognize best player of the team on a weekly bases during league matches.

The Award for Excellent Performance were presented to Niger Tornadoes Chairman Hon. Adamu Aliyu, Technical Adviser, Abubakar Bala Mohammed, Teams Captains, Ifeanyi Okoye and Sunday Akinmoladun, the other two players who bagged awards are; Lukman Mohammed and Daniel Edeh who had since departed the club and pitched tent with a foreign club.

Responding on behalf of all the recipients, Abubakar Bala Mohammed, acknowledged the important contributions of the FANS CLUB and said their efforts can not be underestimated.

While calling on the need to sustain the tempo and maintain a greater synergy between the FANS & SUPPORTER’S CLUB in the best interest of the team, Coach Bala urged them to spread their tentacles in the area of seeking partnership and sponsorship as obtainable in the most developed places.

He stressed that the issue of sponsorship which is generally lacking among Nigeria clubsides must be tackled so as reduce over dependence on government.

He said, “For instance, most clubs including Tornadoes do not have economic right of players, losing huge amount of money to agents, anytime players secure deals outside the shores of the country. In our case when Daniel Edeh secured his move away, his agent took the lion share of the whole transfer fees, as a result of inability to pay his clearance fees outrightly, so a lot need to be done in this aspect”.

Thereafter, Coach Bala made a pledge of N100,000 to the FANS CLUB.

Also speaking, the special guest of honor at the event, APC State Publicity Secretary Hon. Labaran Sarkin Kaji, while reiterating that Niger Tornadoes is one of the famous clubsides in Nigeria with supporters spread within and outside the State, said, football is loved and cherished by many but performed by the youth, hence the need for government to give the sector a special attention. He said football if well harnessed can boost the economy of a state, he commended the current chairman of the team, Hon. Adamu Aliyu for doing so well in terms of piloting the affairs of the team and used the occasion call on the Coaches to place special consideration on home based players.

By Amaechi Agbo

Crisis has hit the proposed kickoff of the 2022/2023 Nigeria Professional Football League, NPFL season slated for January 8 as Club Owners have withdrawn their participation in the new season.

The Chairman, Club Owners Association, Barr Isaac Danladi confirmed the development in a release issued on Christmas Day.

According the release, the Club Owners vowed not to attend the Wednesday, December 28 draw for the new season neither would they participate in the league if the

Interim Management Committee, IMC goes ahead to adopt an abridged format for the new season against a majority decision for a straight league.

“This is to bring to your notice that we are in receipt of the above circular inviting clubs for the 2023 NPFL draws on abridged league format.

“Consequently, I wish to further inform members and state categorically that this is not in consonance with the joint decision of clubs and IMC at the last meeting of Wednesday 21st Dec 2022 whereby it was agreed inter-alia that the abridged league

proposed by IMC and the straight league which was overwhelmingly proposed by the clubs would be communicated to NFF by the IMC for further necessary action.

“We are therefore perplexed and amazed that just few hours after the meeting, IMC came up with a circular fixing 28th December as date for draws based on abridge league format,” the release said.

“We wish to categorically dissociate ourselves with the circular and state firmly that clubs would not be part of the draws on 28th December 2022, neither would we participate in an abridged league.

The clubs remain resolute in their quest to have a “better league that will endure, hence we cannot be part of an arrangement that will not be beneficial to football development in Nigeria.

“In view of the above, a meeting of the club Owners is being proposed for 28th December 2022 in Asaba Delta state to review matters arising among other things.

“Details of the meeting and other logistics will be announced soonest, please.

“We appreciate members for their patience and good conducts since this saga started.”

Inzaghi

Niger Tornadoes award reception

Gumel declares NOC/Olympic solidarity Sports Medicine Seminar open

In remembrance of Covid-19 pandemic

t was to its own dreadful achievement that the world’s nuclear power and weapons were no match to its emerging power of mass devastations. No amount of allied forces could sight and eliminate it so that we would heave a sigh of relief. The best that could be done was to control and limit its pervasive and global rampage at the expense of economic prosperity and social development.

Towards the end of December 2019, the global killer and master of all diseases Coronavirus abruptly stormed the world and lunched its missiles of mass destructions that attacked continents, countries, towns, villages and our homes, inflicting immense damages on all aspects of human lives while the irreparable losses it caused are still very much with us.

Guest Columnist

By Abdu Abdullahi

President of the Nigeria Olympic Committee, Engineer Habu Ahmed Gumel declared open the NOC/Olympic Solidarity Sports Medicine Seminar ongoing at the Media Centre, National Stadium Complex, Surulere, Lagos.

Gumel, who was ably represented by NOC Public Relation Officer, Phemmy Adetula enjoin participants to take cognizance of topical issues which will be extensively addressed by guest speakers as it affects the growth and health of our athletes and development of our sport.

Adetula said the theme, “Promote and Protect The Integrity of Sports and Health of Athletes”, sports medicine is something athletes, coaches and administrators should be aware of because it has become a big challenge and a recurring decimal in our sporting events and as we approach the National Sports Festival in Delta State in the next couple of days, I urge all the participants to listen attentively to our eminent speakers and learn valuable lessons from their wealth of experience which will propel our sports in the right path.

NOC Chairman, Medical and Scientific Commission, Dr Festus Oshoba in his speech welcome all participants both online and physical to the seminar and harped on the need for information and knowledge about sports medicine to be propagated among athletes and major stakeholders.

He thereafter introduced the speakers such as Dr Akin Amao, Prof Ken Anugweje, Dr Akin George, Dr Sam Ogbondeminu. Others are Dr Bukola Bojuwoye, Olumide Oyedeji, Dr Paul Onyeudo, Dr Bakare Ummukulthoum, Prof AdeAkingboye amongst others.

It came with a terrible message of untimely deaths, panicking, global pandemonium, psychological instability and socioeconomic dislocations of magnifying dimensions. While we were caught unawares of its sudden explosion like the volcanic eruption, little did we know that it promised to be a sworn enemy poised to conquer humanity and force the world to prostrate before it. The memorandum of destructions it designed and signed was too awful and horrific to all and sundry that it sparked off uncontrollable fears as we became conscious of its tremendous dangers, running helter skelter to hide in a safe palace. Indeed, Covid-19 was a classical metaphor for deep sorrows, despairs and a general feeling of melancholy ever witnessed in the history of mankind.

It was first identified in Wuhan, China and transmitted through high frequency rate, making contact with dreaded animals, forcing and driving inroads into every continent including Antarctica. At that time, researches suggested that an intermediate animal, possibly the Pangolin ( an endangered mammal) was responsible for the transfer to human beings while there were no treatments for the disease albeit laboratories were working round the clock on various types of treatments, including vaccine.

Indeed, the Corona artillery of human holocaust led to the creation of an unprecedented global fraternity which had just a temporary base. A homogeneous world was briefly established in practical terms to fight a common foe. There were suspensions of lingering wars and conflicts all over the world, creating more friends than enemies, promoting more tranquility than upheavals. Its gruesome killings were so frightening that for instance, it claimed 849 lives in Spain in just 24 hours. It was not just a messenger of death, but a death in itself. With Corona on the offensive side, death was easy, living was difficult as we remained locked up and our freedom of association was banished to our bewilderment. It was to its own dreadful achievement that the world’s nuclear power and weapons were no match to its emerging power of mass devastations. No amount of allied forces could sight and eliminate it so that we would heave a sigh of relief. The best that could be done was to control and limit its pervasive and global rampage at the expense of economic prosperity and social development. The whole world was a prisoner under Coronavirus, frightening us to stay indoors and boycotting one another as our social being was massively dislocated and redefined. Coronavirus was

now the authentic super power even though it lacked nuclear weapons. Ironically, the selfacclaimed powerful were powerless, for Coronavirus taught us a good lesson that for every powerful, there was something more powerful.

While wielding its omnipotence character of ruins, it fixed the world economy at a very high risk of a total collapse. Both public and private economies, big and small, suffered immense defeats that still manifest in our memories and reminiscences. It made millions poorer, robbed them of their means of livelihood and ensured that hunger and starvation were a living phenomenon in many homes and people could only think of survival without the means of survival in terms of fully fledged economic activities.

Coronavirus intimidating craziness reached its uptimum level of rampages owing to its ability to enforce social distortions and dilapidations. It boosted social isolation as well as mistrust among ourselves, culminating in the gradual diminishing of social values and beliefs. The lockdown anomaly was something that would be hated to be remembered for our traumatic experiences. Life was so valuable that we would not afford to lose it to an unseen terror. Death was so irritating that we could shun worshipping

in Mosques and Churches. Coronavirus was then the terror of all terrorists even though its size was very insignificant.

Politically, Coronavirus exposed the inadequacies of the governments of the third world countries in connection with providing the needed development. For instance, it was laid bare how our health sector was a laughing stock to deploy the essential things needed to offer treatment to the victims. It also exposed the gravity of corruption as recorded in some states of Nigeria how palliative items were diverted by certain reactionary elements. It also narrated our inferiority on relevant technology.

Influenced by these global anxieties plus horrors, the mass media incessantly bombarded us with maximum reportage about this killer disease, sending to us warning signals to be extremely cautious. The media were our best friends of those trying moments, educating and informing us of the widespread and senseless attacks of the novel disease. For instance, the face mask ‘revolution’ came into being as a result of the media’s endless ‘commodification’ of the practice of wearing face mask for protection.

With this laconic recapitulation, have we forgotten the fundamental lessons of this global tragedy three years after the outbreak of the pandemic?

Abdu Abdullahi is a Public Policy Affairs Analyst.

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Coronavirus

craziness reached its uptimum level of rampages owing to its ability to enforce social distortions and dilapidation