Wednesday, June 7, 2023 Edition

PDP, only viable option to rescue Nigeria from hardship, says Atiku

By Lateef Ibrahim, Abuja

Former Vice President and the presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, in the 2023 general election, Atiku

Abubakar has congratulated the governors of Bauchi State,

Bala Mohammed and Governor Sim Fubara of Rivers State for their emergence as Chairman and Vice Chairman respectively of the PDP Governors Forum.

The former Vice President, in a press statement signed by his Media Adviser, Paul Ibe on Tuesday, also commended the

Bauchi State governor for the successful hosting of the PDP National Assembly members retreat.

According to the statement, the former vice president, who is currently on a short business trip overseas, remarks that, “the PDP remains the most

viable party to bring Nigeria out of the current socio-economic hardship.”

He called on all elected officials of the party to keep their focus on policy initiatives that will make life more pleasant and comfortable to the people.

10th NASS: LARMFON drums support for Tajudeen Abbas as Speaker

By: Femi Oyelola, Kaduna

Ahead of the inauguration of the 10th National Assembly, a group under the auspices of Leadership and Role Model Foundation of Nigeria (LARMFON) has thrown its weight behind the aspiration of Hon. Tajudeen Abbas for the position of the Speaker of the House of Representatives.

Executive Secretary of (LARMFON) Hon Ahmed Tijjani Mustapha made this known in a statement made available to newsmen, saying that the decision to back Hon. Abbas was due to his track records and Legislative achievements.

It will be recalled that the leadership of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), through its National Working Committee (NWC), had endorsed Abbas for the position of Speaker and Hon. Benjamin Kalu for the Deputy Speaker.

However, since the announcement of the party’s decision, some aggrieved members-elect of the Lower Chamber has kicked against it, saying the party did not consult

widely before taking the position.

LARMFON while throwing support, appealed to the aggrieved lawmakers to accept the decision for the overall good of the nation.

It noted that since Hon. Abbas was elected into the Lower Chamber, he had always worked towards unifying the members and sponsored several Bills in line with the development of the country.

According to the Forum Abbas’ aims include ensuring that the Nigerian masses were better provided with a basic and quality education while the country’s resources were judiciously utilized to provide essential services for the growth and development of the nation.

They added , the Kadunaborn Federal lawmaker has accorded priority to Education, Public Accounts, Appropriation, Finance, Commerce, Federal Character, and Water Resources since his sojourn in the Green Chamber, pointing out that Abbas, while representing Zaria Federal Constituency, had received several Awards and Honours and also served in several committees in various capacities.

He listed the committees to include: Chairman, Land Transport Committee until May 2023, Committee Member, Commerce Committee (Reps) until May 2015, Committee Member, Finance Committee (Reps) until May 2015, Committee Member of Special Duties Committee (Reps) until May 2015 and Committee Member of Defence Committee (Reps) until May 2015.

Others are Vice-Chairman at Legislative Compliance Committee (Reps) until May 2015, Committee Member at Public Procurement Committee (Reps) until May 2015, and Committee Member at National Planning and Economic Development Committee (Reps) until May 2015.

“We plead with Nigeria’s to remain calm and be careful of all instigation to cause chaos and instability in the country. We should believe in a united Nigeria and know that the removal of oil subsidy is to drive investment and growth that will enable the government give quality education, healthcare, stable power supply, agriculture and also to reduce unemployment and extreme poverty.”

“We also urge President Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu to ensure that the gains made from the increase in oil prices are channeled into good use.”

“We call on the National Assembly and most especially members of the House of Representatives to support the emergence of Hon.Tajjuddeen Abbas as the next Speaker to the House of Representatives.”

“Hon Abbas as Speaker would usher in a new sense of responsibility and will ensure that the Nigerian Youths and its people are fully represented and Nigerians will have the opportunity of having a Leader with the basic knowledge of Nigeria’s problems because he has the zeal and capacity to pilot the affairs of the House of Representatives.”

“He is a person with sound education and the resources to provide the essential services that can lead to a better Nigerian society,

“LARMFON therefore, presents to Nigerians, Hon Tajudeen Abbas, an agent for transformational leadership emblematizing our quest for a Renewed Hope!

L-R: Member House of Representatives Committee on Aviation, Hon. Kolawole Lawal, Chairman of the Committee, Hon. Nnolim Nnaji, Clerk of the, Mr. Bassey Efion and a member of the Committee, Hon. Aminu Suleiman, during the committee meeting with permanent secretary ministry of Aviation over the Nigeria Air, at the National Assembly, yesterday in Abuja. Photo; Mahmud Isa

NIS partners

Kaduna Govt to address land litigations

From: Femi Oyelola, Kaduna

Worriedby the high number of land litigations pending in various courts in Kaduna State, the Nigerian Institution of Surveyors, (NIS), has vowed to put its professional mechanism in motion to help in finding solutions to the cases.

NIS state Council Chairman, Surv. Daudu Andrew, asserted this during the oath taking of new exco and induction of new members into the institution held in Kaduna yesterday.

According to him, the surveyors are supposed to be part of legal instrument of landcertificate of occupancy (C of O) which gives right to land owners. But unfortunately, the Surveyors are not carried along during the processes.

Surv. Andrew however, said, talk is in progress, with the State Government to see how members of the Institution can contribute their professional quotas to the process of issuing legal land documents in the state.

He believes this would immensely reduced land litigations in the state.

He called on the Kaduna State Government to ensure their inclusion of the members of the institution in government projects. Stressing no projects can stand the test of time and no Certificate of Occupancy Is free from litigation if there is No surveyors contribution.

He charged members of the Institution of Surveyors to keep upgrading and expanding their professional prowess, through training, if they must remain useful and relevant in the everchanging world.

He said professionals in the sector should consistently seek to improve themselves for adequate competition, saying surveyors must eschew all tendencies capable of undermining the professional ethics in the overall interest of the people and country at large.

Reps probe Plateau military checkpoint killing of Gyang

By Christiana Ekpa

The House of Representatives, on Tuesday called for a thorough investigation into the reported killing of one Kenneth Gyang at a military checkpoint around Maraban Jama’a Vwei area of Kuru, Plateau State.

The House equally mandated Commandant of the Special Task Force in charge of the checkpoint to investigate the kinlling, and ensure that justice is given with compensation to his family, as well as proper medical care for the injured.

The House resolution was fallout of a motion sponsored under matters of urgent public importance by Hon. Dachung

Musa Bagos, who noted that due to the rate of insecurity and killing of innocent souls in Nigeria, government put in place security check points on several roads across the country to checkmate the insecurity.

He lamented however that there have been complains by citizens of being harassed or molested by security personnel at the checkpoints, recalling that on Monday (5th of June, 2023) “there was an unrest at a security checkpoint in Maraban Jama’a vwei, Kuru between the Security and some of my constituents who were on their way for funeral but were stopped by the Security personnel of the Special Task Force (Operation Safe Haven) stationed

at the popular Vwei (Mararaban Jama’a) Kuru Jos South LGA of Plateau State”.

According to him, the people pleaded with the Security personnel to allow them go to the mortuary to pick the corpse of their deceased for burial and were only allowed access after an intense plea, but “that on their way coming back from the mortuary heading to church for the funeral service the same Security personnel stopped them at the check point denying them right of access, while some youths on bike came down to plead with the Security personnel one amongst the Security personnel shot two of the youths thereby killing one 18 Year Old Mr.

Kenneth Gyang and injuring one Emmanuel Pam”.

He said the victims were among the mourners conveying corpse from Zawan to Kuru for burial.

The lawmaker expressed concern that funeral processions have never had such confrontation or prohibition either by order or convention from the security agents at this or any other checkpoint in Jos and its environs., stressing that it was wrong for the “arbitrary killing of an innocent Kenneth, a promising young man had his precious and sacred life untimely terminated by an officer that ought to have guaranteed his safety”.

The House observed a minute silence in honour of the deceased.

L-R: Secretary of Arewa New Agenda (ANA), Hajiya Halima Idris, Member of ANA, Mr. Melville Ebo, Chairman of ANA, Senator Ahmed Abubakar, Members, Prof. Adamu Usman and Mr. Ishaq Williams, during a 2 day Policy Dialog on the Removal of Subsidy on Premium Motor Spirit PMS (Fuel Subsidy) by the Federal government, held at ICC, yesterday in Abuja.

INEC approves final list of candidates for Bayelsa, Imo,

Kogi governorship polls

• Electioneering campaigns kick off June 14th

• Says attack involving Gov Yaya Bello, SDP guber candidate, Ajaka worrisome

By Lateef Ibrahim, Abuja

TheIndependent National Electoral Commission, INEC, has approved the final list of candidates for the three off-cycle Governorship elections scheduled to hold in Bayelsa, Imo and Kogi States on Saturday 11th November 2023.

The approval, according to the Commission, is in line with the provision of Section 32(1) of the Electoral Act 2022 which requires the publication of the list not later than 150 days to election day (Friday 9th June 2023) following the period for voluntary withdrawal and substitution of candidates by political parties under Section 31 of the Electoral Act 2022.

Rising from a crucial meeting in Abuja yesterday, INEC reminded

political parties and candidates that in line with Timetable and Schedule of Activities for the three elections, campaign in public officially commences on Wednesday 14th June 2023 in line with Section 94(1) of the Electoral Act 2022 and ends on 9th November 2023, twenty-four (24) hours prior to election day.

A statement by Barr. Festus Okoye, National Commissioner and Chairman, Information and Voter Education Committee of INEC, indicated that the final list has been uploaded to the Commission’s website and social media platforms.

The same list, according to Okoye, will be published in the State and Local Government offices of INEC in the affected States on Thursday 8th June 2023 ahead of the statutory deadline of

9th June 2023.

The list showed that all 18 political parties are fielding candidates in Kogi State, 17 in Imo State and 16 in Bayelsa State.

The list also revealed that two political parties are fielding female candidates in Bayelsa State, one in Kogi State and none in Imo State.

The statement by Okoye reads, “At its regular meeting held today (yesterday) Tuesday 6th June 2023, the Commission approved the final list of candidates for the three off-cycle Governorship elections scheduled to hold in Bayelsa, Imo and Kogi States on Saturday 11th November 2023.

“The decision is in line with the provision of Section 32(1) of the Electoral Act 2022 which requires the publication of the list not later than 150 days to election day i.e.

Friday 9th June 2023 following the

period for voluntary withdrawal and substitution of candidates by political parties under Section 31 of the Electoral Act 2022.

“The final list has been uploaded to the Commission’s website and social media platforms.

“Same will be published in our State and Local Government offices in the the affected States on Thursday 8th June 2023 ahead of the statutory deadline of 9th June 2023.

“The list shows that all 18 political parties are fielding candidates in Kogi State, 17 in Imo State and 16 in Bayelsa State.

“The list also shows that two political parties are fielding female candidates in Bayelsa State, one in Kogi State and none in Imo State.

“The Commission wishes to remind political parties and candidates that in line with

Timetable and Schedule of Activities for the three elections, campaign in public officially commences on Wednesday 14th June 2023 in line with Section 94(1) of the Electoral Act 2022 and ends on 9th November 2023 i.e. 24 hours prior to election day.

“Regrettably, the ugly incident last week involving the convoys of two political actors in Kogi State resulting in the destruction of vehicles and other properties ahead of the commencement of campaign is worrisome.

“We urge parties and candidates to conduct their political activities with civility and decorum as peaceful electioneering heralds a peaceful election.

“Political parties and candidates have a responsibility to de-escalate tension ahead of the elections”, it said.

Photo: Mahmud Isa

Reps demand immediate Forensic Audit of N11.34trn P/Harcourt, Warri, Kaduna Refineries rehabilitation

By Christiana Ekpa

The House of Representative, on Tuesday demanded for a forensic audit of all the rehabilitation projects for the moribund Port Harcourt, Warri and Kaduna refineries put at N11.35 trillion from (2010-2020).

The House demand followed the adoption of the report of the House of Representatives Adhoc Committee on the State of Refineries in the Country on the Need to Ascertain the Actual Daily Consumption of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) in Nigeria at plenary on Tuesday.

The report of the Ad-hoc Committee chaired by Ganiyu Abiodun Johnson (APC, Lagos) was billed for consideration by the House last Tuesday but it was stepped down for further legislative action.

This was as the Chairman of the Committee of the Whole and Deputy Speaker of the House, Ahmed Wase directed the Committee to bring out a clear list of recommendations that would be a template to deal with the specific issues the panel was set up to achieve.

Considering the re-presented report, the House urged FBNQuest Merchant Bank should refund to the nation the total sum of $438.012 paid to it as Retainer Fees from 20172018 as the Financing Advisory Contract for the rehabilitation of the three refineries which was not successful and suspended due to the Financing Consortia not reaching agreeable terms for the transaction with the NNPCL.

The House also asked NNPCL and the Contractor (Tecnimont SPA of Italy) to ensure that Phase One of the rehabilitation works in Refinery Area 5 of the Old Port Harcourt Refinery with the

processing capacity of 60,000 Barrels Per Day earlier expected to be restored to 54,000 Barrels Per Day of processing capacity representing 90% capacity utilisation by March, 2023, should unfailingly meet the new target date of September, 2023.

It further urged NNPCL and Tecnimont SPA of Italy to ensure that Phase Two of the rehabilitation works in Refinery Areas 1&2 of the New Port Harcourt Refinery with an installed capacity of 150,000 Barrels Per Day be restored to the estimated processing capacity of 135,000 Barrels Per Day, representing 90% capacity utilisation to deliver a combined processing capacity of 189,000 Barrels Per Day from the old and new refineries and achieve the targeted date of December 2023.

Other recommendations of the Ad-hoc taken by the House were that: “The NNPCL and the Contractor (Daewoo E&C Nigeria Limited) be also urged to ensure that the WRPC Maintenance Services for Quick-Fix Repairs project for the restoration of Refinery Areas 1&2 to operate at a minimum 60% with an expected processing capacity of 75,000 Barrels Per Day petroleum product output meets the 12 months’ target date and comes on-stream in September, 2023.

“The 10th National Assembly be mandated to carry out legislative oversight on the ongoing rehabilitation works to ensure that the nation achieves the expected processing capacity of 189,000 Barrels Per Day from the PHRC (54,000BSPD from OPHR+135,000BSPD from NPHR) and 75,000BSPD from WRPC plus whatever additional processing capacity from the Dangote Refinery, in order to meet the nation’s domestic

ICAN gets new exco in Jigawa

From Mika’il Tsoho, Dutse

The Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria (ICAN), Dutse District Society in Jigawa State has elected new Executives to run the affairs of the District for the next one year.

The new excos emerged through consensus and filled eight executive positions after their nomination was unopposed.

Those emerged winners include comrade Umar Farouk Gambo as Chairman,Sani Ahmad Sulaiman Vice Chairman,Umar Idris Abdullahi, General Secretary, and Umar Dauda Assistant General Secretary.

Other new executives

needs for petroleum products by December, 2023.

“The 10th National Assembly should be further mandated to ensure continuous legislative oversight of the ongoing rehabilitation programme by the NNPCL at the Port Harcourt, Warri and Kaduna refineries in order to achieve project target timelines and rehabilitation of the refineries to bring them back to maximum refining capacity.

“The NNPCL should ensure the immediate award of contract for the rehabilitation of the Kaduna Refinery and Petrochemical Company (KRPC); the NNPCL should strive to achieve the 3-4-year standard regular Turn Around Maintenance (TAM) global best practice for the Refineries after the full and completion of rehabilitation works to ensure sustainable refinery operations and value maximisation.

“The Federal Government and the NNPCL should upgrade the pipelines security architecture for maximum surveillance, protection and pipeline security to avoid incessant pipeline vandalism, ensure regular and continued crude oil feedstock supply to the refineries when fully rehabilitated and functional.

“The Federal Government and the NNPCL should consider outsourcing the Operations and Maintenance (O&M) of the refineries to reputable international oil companies to guarantee reliability, optimal operational availability and to maximise value for money to the nation.

“The Federal Government and the NNPCL should suspend the DSDP (Direct SupplyDirect Purchase) arrangement, remove subsidy on Petroleum Motor Spirit (PMS), deregulate

prices on the product to ensure competitiveness and provide adequate palliative measures to reduce anticipated economic impact and hardship on Nigerians and the economy.

The Committee’s findings showed that the three refineries became unproductive from year 2010 making a range of losses; with Port Harcourt put at 7.6% losses to the tune of N132.52 billion from 2012; Warri at 6% losses amounting to N111.37 billion naira from 2014; and Kaduna at 10% losses to the tune of N122.62 billion from 2014.

It also discovered that from year 2010 to 2019, the refineries were performing sub-optimally with an annual combined capacity of less than 30% and in year 2019, the NNPC obtained an Executive approval and shutdown the refineries for comprehensive rehabilitation to restore the plants to a maximum of 90% nameplate company utilisation.

The panel noted that the total losses from the non-functional refineries since year 2010 is put at N366.52 billion and the total cost of operations and running them from 2010 -2020 stood at N4.80 trillion.

The Committee also found that the total amount spent on oil subsidy payments for the period under consideration from 2010 to 2020 is put at N5.948 trillion.

“The Port Harcourt Refinery Company (PHRC) carried out rehabilitation projects over a period of seven (7) years ranging from 2013 to 2019 valued at about Twelve Billion, One Hundred and Sixty-One Million, Two Hundred and Thirty-Seven Thousand, Eight Hundred and Eleven Naira, SixtyOne Kobo (₦12,161,237,811.61) only.

“The Warri Refinery and Petrochemical Company (WRPC)

carried out rehabilitation projects over a period of six (6) years ranging from 2014 to 2019 valued at about TwentyEight Billion, Two Hundred and Nineteen Million, One Hundred and Ten Thousand, and SixtySeven Naira, Ten Kobo only (₦28,219,110,067.10).

“That Kaduna Refinery and Petrochemical Company (KRPC) also carried out rehabilitation works over the period under review valued at about Two Billion, Two Hundred and Sixty-Six Million, Two Hundred and Forty-Eight Thousand, Four Hundred and Thirty-Four Naira, Sixty-Nine kobo (₦2,266,248,434.69).

“The total cost of rehabilitation for the three (3) refineries based on the submissions of the NNPC from year 2013 to 2019 is put at Forty-Two Billion, Six Hundred and Forty-Six Million, Five Hundred and Ninety-Six Thousand, Three Hundred and Thirteen Naira, Forty Kobo (₦42,646,596,313.40) only.

“That other project costs were reported in foreign currencies at KRPC such as USD (43,672,537.56), EUR (2,852,068.15), and GBP (3,455,656.93).

“The SAIPEM Contracting Nigeria Limited was awarded a contract in 2017 by the NNPC for the Technical Plant Survey of Warri and Kaduna Refineries for the Contract Price of €2,025,000.32 (two million, twenty-five thousand Euros and thirty-two Cents).

“The total value of the contract for the Technical Plant Survey of Warri and Kaduna Refineries awarded to SAIPEM was €2,025,000.32 and the total sum of money received by SAIPEM is €1,822,500.29 while the total sum outstanding is €202,500.03,” it added.

Tinubu hails appointment of Nigerianborn British AI expert, Abel Aboh in to Scotland’s board of data lab centre

are Musbahu Inuwa Adam, Treasurer, Fatima Buba Aliyu Financial Secretary, Nasiru Sabo Idris Technical Secretary and Fatima Mustapha Gana. Social/ Publicity Secretary.

While delivering his acceptance speach, the new elected Chairman, Umar Farouk Gambo, expressed his satisfaction on the way and manner the election was conducted under the Chairmanship of Mal Bilyaminu Shitu Aminu.

The chairman who called on members to join hand together and move ICAN to greater hight added that, as the tenure of the Executives is only one year, the time is too short to make a meaningful impact without support and cooperation.

By Egena Sunday Ode

President Bola Tinubu has poured encomiums on Abel Aboh for making Nigeria proud on a global stage in the field of Artificial Intelligence.

The Nigerian-born British Artificial Intelligence expert was recently appointed into the Board of the Data Lab Innovation Centre, Scotland, United Kingdom.

A statement by the Director of Information, State House, Abiodun Oladunjoye said President Tinubu noted with pride and satisfaction the impressive professional achievement of Aboh in the United Kingdom and how

his expertise and new board appointment represent an important step in the agency’s efforts in enhancing Scotland’s data and AI potential.

Artificial Intelligence, data science and machine learning, according to the Nigerian leader, will take the centre stage in the new global knowledge economy, adding that his administration would prioritise technological innovation as a means of creating a better future for Nigerian youths who will also be inspired by the career accomplishments of Aboh, the statement added.

“I congratulate Abel Aboh for his appointment as a Board member of the Data Lab Innovation Centre in Scotland,

United Kingdom. The success story of Aboh will certainly motivate many Nigerian young people in the technology space to achieve more excellence. This great Nigerian has made our country proud and I am particularly happy about the honour he brought onto himself and our country.

“A major priority of our administration is to invest in education, especially science and technology, to empower our young people to become more globally competitive in the emerging new world of Artificial Intelligence.

“Abel Aboh has set a worthy example many of our youth will draw from. I wish him greater success,” President Tinubu said.

NAPIMS assets worth N4.84trn in 2020 more than NNPC’s - Reps says

By Christiana Ekpa

TheHouse of Representatives Committee report has indicated that the National Petroleum Investment Management Services (NAPIMS), a subsidiary of the the defunct Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) has a total assets worth N4.84 trillion.

This indicate that NAPIMS has surpassed the assets of the parent body which the report stated its group Audited Financial Statement, ended 31 December 2020 had a total assets of N15.835 trillion and N16.2 trillion for 2021.

Yet in direct contrast, NAPIMS alone in its Audited Account for same period had N21.04 trillion.

The report Presented by the Ad-hoc Committee of the House to Ascertain the Total Inventory, Assets, Interest and Liabilities of the NNPC and its Subsidiaries before Transfer to the NNPC Limited to ensure a Glossary Accounting System, the report was considered and adopted at the committee of the whole on Tuesday.

The assets and liabilities of NNPC as government establishment were in 2021 transferred to the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL), after the enactment of the Petroleum Industry Act, 2020.

As a result, the House empaneled another ad-hoc committee chaired by Uju Kingsley Chima from Imo State to ascertain the total inventory, assets, interest and liabilities of the Corporation and its Subsidiaries before Transfer to the Company.

The Committee’s findings showed that asset worth about N28 trillion was unveiled by the former President but during transfer only N26 trillion at official rate of ₦450 to $1 was transferred, leaving a balance of N2 trillion.

The Committee also found that NNPC had over 25 subsidiary companies, whose profits, assets and liabilities were transmissible to NNPC Ltd.

“Nigerian publication on the 3rd of January, 2022, pointed to the fact, that NNPC is asking the Federal Government to pay additional $1.5 billion to five international oil companies (IOCs) as outstanding Cash Call balance.

“This is additional liability about to be passed on to the NNPC Ltd;

However, our findings show that, as a matter of fact, the Federation has actually paid the liabilities of over $2 billion through President Mohamadu Buhari’s directive.

“Found a liability of over

INEC withholding electoral materials after paying N6m - Atiku’s lawyer tells court

By Vivian Okejeme, Abuja

The Presidential Candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party PDP, Atiku Abubakar was said to have paid up to N6million for the supply of certified true copy of the exhibits from the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

Counsel to Atiku, Eyitayo Jegede SAN, who made this know to the presidential election petition court, lamented that, still, the electoral body had not been forthcoming and cooperating as required and envisaged.

The alleged refusal of the INEC to make some critical electoral materials available to him, brought the proceeding to abrupt end.

Jegede explained that consequent to the above, Atiku’s legal team had to subpoena top officials of INEC to compel them to bring the required

documents before the Court on their own.

Consequently, he sought for a 24- hour adjournment to enable him approach the electoral body to do the needful.

No objections from counsel to respondents, INEC represented by Abubakar Mahmud SAN, Tinubu represented by Chief Wole Olanipekun SAN and the All Progressives Congress APC having Lateef Fagbemi SAN as lead counsel.

Justice Haruna Simon Tsammani adjourned the matter till June 7. At Tuesday’s proceedings, Eyitayo Jegede, SAN who conducted proceedings for Atiku had sought to tender forms EC8A from 10 out of 21 Local Government Areas of Kogi State to establish the petition against Tinubu.

The court admitted the evidence tendered as exhibits.

two trillion that NNPC Ltd is about inheriting on behalf of the Federation. No reasonable basis has been established for this liability which is associated with Nigeria Agip Oil Company (NAOC).

“Available information shows that the NNPC assets are stated at historical cost and written-down values; information available to us suggest that some subsidiaries of NNPC, with location in foreign countries, buy crude oil and gas from NNPC without evidence of their payments for the purchases.

“These companies are indicted to be operating without employees and no fixed assets; yet over N30 billion is traceable to some of them”, the report read.

The committee also reported that about 80 companies were owing some various sums.

“From the information above, 80 companies supposedly owe the sum $5,763,278,112.39 on Royalties, $1,004,072,578.72 on Gas Flare Penalty, Concession Rental is $13,173,747.70, and Royalty Gas is $409,577,101.66 while Royalty Gas in Naira is ₦39,815,152,946.95.

“Hence, recommendation is to recover the above debts and transmit to NNPC Ltd. or confiscation of Assets

Value of the debt from the debtors and transfer to NNPC Ltd.

“NNPC spent over ₦1.48

trillion ($396 Million) on Rehabilitation of Refineries (4) between 2015-2022 without significant outcome PortHarcourt Refineries received about $1.5 billion for total rehabilitation to Technimont SPA Italy. Whereas the same refinery awarded contract for equipment of the refinery for over $250 Million, yet to be delivered”, it stated.

Quoting NNPC Group Managing Director Mele Kyari, the report stated “The Assets of NNPC are worth $60 billion (about ₦25.29trillion) he also said that, already-transferred Assets of the Company of about $59.8 billion, representing 80% of the total Assets due to NNPC Limited and that the Current Assets been transferred to NNPC Limited was being evaluated”.

However, the committee further recommended that “NNPC, Federal Government should work modalities that will ensure removal of subsidy in accordance with Petroleum Industry Act (PIA) that stipulates that subsidy be removed within six (6) months of operation of PIA;

“Investments and operations of International Oil Companies (IOCs) should be further investigated and scrutinized present budget before implementation and Fund for

Innovation Development (FID);

“External Auditors should the liabilities of over two (2) trillion Naira being inherited by NNPC Limited on behalf of the Federation. There is need to further establish the current market values of NNPC, especially under a devalued Naira regime.

“Federal Government should investigate foreign desk offices of NNPC subsidiaries with locations abroad, and make International Oil companies to establish offices in Nigeria and develop a framework that will make the companies answerable to the Laws of Nigeria.

“Forensic auditors to first audit all NNPC accounts with all the banks to verify the following, the true amount owned any bank as per loan(s) granted (2) to know the exact movements of funds from NNPC accounts, as well as over charges by banks, which is a huge amount of money and will be a source of additional revenues to the Federal Government and the defaulting banks should be made to refund the sum discovered back to NNPC/Federal Government with interest.

“NNPC should Auction the Equipment and transfer proceed of equipment awarded for PortHarcourt refinery in the sum of $250M (yet to be supplied) to NNPC Limited.”

Supervisor of Environment in Epe Local Government Area, Mr Odupe Tunde (L), leading the cleanup of Marina waterfront as part of the activities to mark the 2023 World Environment Day in Lagos.

Fuel subsidy organized crime, Peter Obi insists

By Vivian Okejeme Abuja

The Presidential Candidate of

the Labour Party (LP), Peter Obi has reiterated his position that the management of the fuel subsidy in Nigeria had become an “organized crime” that permits stealing of the country’s resources.

Fielding questions on his stand on the fuel subsidy removal by the new administration, Obi posited that governance shouldn’t be supply-driven, but demand-driven He spoke with reporters, Tuesday, at the premises of the Court of Appeal, on the sidelines of the ongoing hearing of petitions

challenging the February 25 presidential election at the Presidential Election Petitions Court in Abuja.

He therefore stressed his determination to remove it and introduce a new open and transparent system that carries the people along.

He said he had shown consistently since serving in former President Goodluck Jonathan’s economic management team, by using empirical data, that the PMS purportedly consumed by Ngeria was far more than what is supposed to be when compared to other countries like Pakistan.

On the conditions precedent to the removal of the subsidy, Obi said he had enumerated them in his manifesto while campaigning for the office of the president.

“Throughout my campaigns, go and check my manifesto, I had maintained this about its removal.

“If you have a tooth ache and you go to a dentist, there is a difference between removing your tooth by applying anaesthesia, which will ameliorate your pains than by just pulling it out.

“The difference is that I believe it should be removed with conditions, and that conditions have to be applied.

“If I was involved, I had to show in empirical, statistical data how much we are going to save, where we are going to apply it and the gains for the people.

“Just like I said throughout my campaigns, that I am going to govern the people by being open, showing them empirical, verifiable facts on how the country can be better - that is what I would have done.

“There are things you need to do. When Jonathan was about to remove it that was when they came up with SURE-P as part of the conditions.

“The reason Nigerians are

agitating is that when people say let’s go and suffer, let’s go and sacrifice, they don’t see the effects of the sacrifice; and to do it in an organized manner where people can see in a verifiable plan.

“I did a lot of similar things when I was a governor in Anambra State stopping this to do this, and each one I showed the people in a verifiable manner where we are going to land.

“Governance shouldn’t be supply-driven, it should be demanddriven; you govern with the people. Let the people know what you are doing and explain it to then in clear terms and they will believe you.”

From Mika’il Tsoho, Dutse

Governor Malam Umar Namadi has approved the appointment of Hamisu Muhammad Gumel as Chief Press Secretary to the Governor.

This was contained in a statement signed by the Secretary to the Government of Jigawa State, Alhaji Bala Ibrahim and issued to news men through his public relations officer Ismail Ibrahim Dutse.

Other appointees are; Muhammad Salisu Seeker, Special Assistant Photography and Publication, Garba Muhammad Hadejia, Special Assistant New Media I, Umar Suleman, Special Assistant New Media II.

The statement said all the appointments are wth immediate effect.

From Uche Nnorom, Makurdi

ACatechist

from St. Martins Parish Mbape in Adikpo deanery, Kwande Local Government Area of Benuey state, is on the run following the death of a young lady suspected to be his lover.

The catechist identified as Oliver Vershima was seen around 7 pm on Sunday evening, June 4, 2023, while attempting to dispose of the lady’s body.

Speaking to journalists on

Tuesday, a native from the community, Terhemba, said the suspect, who was assigned to work at St. Augustine Zone, Jov Mbahura, concealed the woman’s body inside his room after she died during attempt to terminate her pregnancy.

“On questioning him, it was discovered that he (Oliver) had impregnated the lady and they tried to terminate the pregnancy but in the process, the lady lost her life early hours of the day”, he explained.

The catechist then hid the dead body inside his room until nightfall so he could take the body out of the village and possibly run away.

“Unfortunately for him, he was caught while trying to carry the body out of the village but he later escaped in the melee,” Terhemba added.

Terhemba said the identity of the lady was yet to be ascertained, adding that she came from a neighbouring community.

Spokesperson for the State

Police Command, SP Catherine Anene, who confirmed the incident said that the corpse of the lady had been recovered and deposited at the hospital morgue.

Catechist impregnates, kills lover in Benue Governor Namadi appoints Media Aides

“Corpse of the said young girl who was said to have visited her man friend was recovered and taken to the mortuary after a report was received but the said Oliver is yet to be seen as he brought the corpse out of his room and ran away.”

The PPRO said that the investigation is ongoing.

Subsidy removal: Coalition calls for provision of effective mass transit system

From: Femi Oyelola, Kaduna

TheNational Social Protection Forum (NSPF) has called on the Federal Government to commence the immediate provision of an effective mass transit system and alternative transport means (rail and air) for commuting people and farm produce from one location to another in rural and urban areas to cushion the effects of the Subsidy removal.

This was contained in a statement signed by the National Coordinator of the Coalition Dr Taiwo Benson and made available to the media in Kaduna yesterday.

The Coalition also called a review of the national minimum wage to maintain purchasing power and to also ensure that a sizeable proportion of disposable income is accessible to Nigerians.

Dr. Benson added that there must be move to Implement measures in the short term to end

the National Cash Transfer (NCT) program to cushion the impact of the subsidy removal on the poor.

The Coalition stressed the need for Government to convene a national dialogue with various stakeholders to brainstorm on how to resuscitate existing refineries and create conditions for robust private sector investment in building new ones to increase competition and reduce cost.

“Move quickly to ensure that adequate and effective power supply is provided to enhance the productivity of small and medium scale businesses (SMSBs) (i.e. informal sector) which happens to be the largest employer of labour in the country.

“Operationalize the National Health Authority Law (NHAL) to reduce out-of-pocket health expenditure that has been identified as a key driver of poverty and vulnerability, particularly for those already near the poverty line and

below. “ He said.

Dr. Benson explained that the National Social Protection Forum (NSPF) is a coalition of Civil Society Organizations and Partners in Nigeria. With a membership of over 140 organizations,

According to him the forum advocates for the expansion of social protection in all the states and the FCT with support from development partners. Its membership also includes various media outlets.

He noted that Whilst the Coalition acknowledge the economic rationale advanced the removal of Subsidy they are concerned about the impact that this removal will have on the masses, especially the extremely poor and vulnerable who now constitute over 133 million of the over 200 million population (NBS 2022).

“ The forum emphatically

notes that the government should not have embarked on the hasty removal of the fuel subsidy without undertaking widespread consultation with relevant stakeholders, not putting in place the necessary safety nets or palliative measures that would cushion the poor from the impact of this change and further the plunging of more Nigerians into extreme poverty. “

“We note with dissatisfaction the manner and approach that was taken in removing the subsidy.

T”he National Social Protection Forum (NSPF) is a coalition of Civil Society Organizations and Partners in Nigeria. With a membership of over 140 organizations, the forum advocates for the expansion of social protection in all the states and the FCT with support from development partners. Its membership also includes various media outlets.”

Managing Director, Institute of Virology, Dr Charles Mensah (L); Director, Centers for Disease Control, Mary Boyd (2nd R), representative of the Board Chairman of IHVN Nigeria, Mamod Shehu (3rd L); Managing Director, Salt Run Global Health, William Blattner( M) and others dignitaries, during cutting cake for the inauguration of IHVN campus in Abuja on Tuesday (6/6/23).

Jahun defects to NNPP, says nobody can stop my relationship with others

From Mika’il Tsoho, Dutse

The former ex - officio People’s Democratic Party (PDP), North-West Alhaji Aminu Nuhu Jahun said his suspension from the party is just because he attended the swearing- in of governor Abba Kabir Yusuf in Kano.

Alhaji Aminu Jahun disclosed this shortly after he received NNPP membership card at his polling unit in Jahun town area of Jigawa state.

“I was suspended from PDP just because I attended the swearing-in of my friend Abba Kabir Yusif, and I want them to know that nobody can stop my relationship with other people, not only Kwankwaso.

“I want to formally announce my defection to New Nigeria People’s Party NNPP today Tuesday as I received my membership card at my polling unit in Jahun”, he said.

Jahun then thanked PDP for giving him membership and various positions within the party for almost 24 years.

He then promised to work hard for the success of New Nigeria People’s Party at local, state and national level.

Court dismisses suit against Tinubu’s inauguration

By Vivian Okejeme, Abuja

Justice Inyang Ekwo of the Federal High Court, Abuja has dismissed suit filed by five residents of the federal capital territory, seeking to stop the inauguration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu on May 29.

Justice Ekwo held that the suit is an abuse of court process, adding that the plaintiff lacked the locus to institute the case, haven failed to prove that the matter is not before the tribunal.

Consequently, the court in it’s judgement ordered the plaintiff’s

lawyer, Chuks Nwachukwu, to pay the sum of N10milliin each to the Attorney -General of the Federation (AGF)and the Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN).

According to the court, Nwachukwu’s act was unprofessional, reckless, frivolous and complete lack of knowledge of elementary principal of law it relates to the constitution and Electoral Act 2022.

Specifically, the court held that it lacks jurisdiction to entertain the suit, adding that the matter is predicated on

election matters and ought to be taken to the presidential election tribunal.

Justice Ekwo added that there is no provision before the court to stop the CJN from swearing-in President, Tinubu.

The CJN, Justice Olukayode Ariwola had on May 29, sworn in Bola Tinubu as the President of Nigeria.

Justice Ekwo also condemned his comment on the media and said if Nwachukwu who was absent in court were to be present, he would have been bared from entering the court.

Following the lawyer’s absence in court, Justice Ekwo made an order directing the register to forward all the processes to the legal practitioners disciplinary committee to determine whether he is fit to practice the legal profession.

Justice Ekwo held that failure of the plaintiff counsel to comply with the court ruling, amounts to contempt of court.

Moreover, the judge insisted that the counsel instigated the suit and merely got the plaintiffs to stand in as parties while he handles the suit as a lawyer.

HYPPADEC fighting deforestation with tree planting in Niger

From Yakubu Mustapha Minna

Hydro Electric Power Producing Areas Development Commission, HYPPADEC, has commenced the planting of 100 trees in order to curb deforestation menace.

The tree planting was to mark the 2023 World Environment Day.

The Managing Director of HYPPADEC, Alhaji Abubakar Sadiq Yelwa made the disclosure while flagging off tree planting on forty hectres in the three geo political zones with five hectres of land at Shata community in Bosso local government of Niger state.

Yelwa reiterated the commitment of the commission in carrying out advocacy and sensitization against

cutting of trees and its consequences to humanity, adding that the current rate of charcoal production is alarming in Niger state.

Represented by the director operations, Iliyasu Wara he condemned indiscriminate dumping of refuse, saying that plans are on in the next one month for the contractors to receive their letters of award to clear 50 kilometers

drainage to avoid flooding in the state.

A resource person, Professor Muhammad Nuhu Bashir of FUT Minna who spoke on this year’s WED theme; Solution to Plastic Pollution, expressed concern over use of plastic and called for innovation and research for effective recycling to enhance economic growth.

From left: Member, Dez Mayorz Online Media Award (DMOMA), Asitonaa Pokima; Director of DMOMA, Chiderebele Okoye; and member DMOMA, Peter Henry-Dee, during a news conference on the forthcoming award ceremony in Port Harcourt on Tuesday (6/6/23).

Peace Commission trains Journalists on early warning response system

From: Femi Oyelola, Kaduna

The Kaduna State Peace Commission in collaboration with the United Nations Development Project has trained over 40 Journalists and media practitioners on Conflict Early Warning Early Response System (CEWERS) and conflict sensitive reporting.

The Vice Chairman of the Commission, Dr Saleh Momale during the training on Monday in Kaduna called on the people of the State to utilize the Early Warning Response System for peaceful coexistence in the State.

“We are optimistic that the utilization of Early Warning signs will help to manage all threats to peaceful coexistence in Kaduna State.

“We are creating additional awareness. We want to see a very friendly environment and a working relationship with the media so that we will have more negative sensitive reporting”.

Momale therefore urged Kaduna Journalists to douse tension using their reportage, saying that their aim is to strengthen peace and unity in the State.

The Zonal Director, National Broadcasting Commission (NBC) Kaduna zone, Mallam Jamilu Yahaya Jega who spoke on Conflict Resolution, Workings, Letters and Spirits of Nigerian Broadcasting Code, urged media practitioners to be careful of what goes out to the public.

Jega also urged Journalists not to engage in partisanship, “use your various platforms to preach peace and harmony”, he said.

Earlier, the Permanent Commissioner at Peace Commission, Rebecca Sako-John appealed to newsmen to report in the way that will resolve issues in the State.

UHC: UK donates £2m to strengthen Nigeria’s health workforce

By Tobias Lengnan Dapam

The World Health Organisation (WHO) said it has welcomed £2m funding commitment made by the United Kingdom’s Department of Health and Social Care to support Nigeria.

It said the fund is meant to strengthened Nigeria’s health workforce in the vision of achieving Universal Health Coverage (UHC).

It added that the grant will run over a two year period to support the government of Nigeria to optimise the performance, quality and impact of the health workforce

through evidence-informed policies and strategies.

Also, UK will provided a multimillion-pound boost to support healthcare staff recruitment and retention in three African countries of Kenya, Nigeria and Ghana, in a bid to build resilience against global health challenges.

A statement issued on Tuesday by WHO Representative in Nigeria, Dr Walter Kazadi Mulombo, said the implementation at subnational levels will focus on six states of Cross River, Enugu, Jigawa, Kaduna, Kano and Lagos.

The statement said, it will build on the presence and technical

support being provided to State governments through the 37 WHO sub-national offices in Nigeria.

“The strength of every health system reflects the capacity and adequacy of its health workforce, which are necessary to deliver quality services to address population health needs.

“Through the UK government’s generous support through WHO, we will deploy the technical support from the 3 levels of the organisation to support the development of evidence-based policies and strategies, capacity building and management for improved planning and

management of Nigeria’s health workforce,” said Mulombo.

Meanwhile, the British High Commissioner to Nigeria, Dr Richard Montgomery says, “A skilled, well-motivated and adequate health workforce is critical for Nigeria to #EndPreventableDeaths and build resilience against global threats.

“This UK International Development funding aligns with the Nigerian health workforce strategic plan and will help the country upskill its workers, and improve health outcomes in the long run.”

Runsewe gives Zimbabwe tactics on cultural security

By Mashe Umaru Gwamna

The Director General, National Council for Arts and Culture (NCAC), Otunba Runsewe, has shared some tactics on cultural security and strategy to Zimbabwe National Defense University.

He said the strategy is to help them promote and preserve their culture.

Runsewe made the disclosure during a courtesy call by Zimbabwean team who were on a military course training in Nigeria.

On how Nigeria’s culture has impacted national security, Runsewe said it took the government’s strategy through sports and culture, in particular the latter through the establishment of the annual National Festival of Arts and Culture (NAFEST), FESTAC 1977, post the nation’s civil war to ensure unity.

Nigeria, he said, also educates her citizens on the negative effects of crisis, which include foreign capital and investment flights, which leads to loss of jobs.

The Director General gave

more sight on how Nigeria has preserved her cultures year to years in the face of western culture invasions, he explained said Nigeria’s culture is its brand identity, one that its citizens carry around everywhere in world .

“We have tried to use the Nigerian culture to sell our image and to keep our heritage. Our culture is our selling point because our cultural content is our brand identity which our tourism will sell to the world.

“There is a mistake in Africa I am trying to change. And that

is that every human is creative, but we have not understood that. Every day we talk about formal education PhD, MSc, LLB etc.; but someone can be creative enough to produce an art or crafts work and make money from it.”, he said . He stated that “What we are doing in Nigeria is that within the 36 states and the FCT, we have set up a skills acquisition programme in every state. Every state must be able to show their strength”.

“As a council we done what we call global Strength, Weakness,

Opportunities and Threats (SWOT) analysis, we looked at the strength of each state, put them forward, and develop those advantages to foster the art and heritage of the culture,” Runsewe said.

Speaking at the event, head of the Zimbabwean delegate, Brigadier General Tendai Darutwe, said Zimbabwe and Nigeria have always enjoyed good relations since before Zimbabwe’s war of liberation before 1980.

“Our relations have remained strong till today”.

Ambassador of Saudi Arabia to Nigeria, Amb. Faisal Ebraheem Alghamdi (M), officially presenting Saudi Dates to the Director of Regions, Ministry of Foreign Affairs/ Nigerian Government representative, Amb. Janet Olisa (L), at the Royal Embassy of Saudi in Abuja. With them is Senior Public Relation Specialist, King Salman Humanitarian Aid and Relief Centre, Nezar Talaqi (R)

Peace Corp boss, Prof Akoh endorses Tinubu’s choices of SGF, CoS

By Vivian Okejeme, Abuja

T

TETFund approves N130m as zonal intervention for polytechnics

By Maryam Abeeb

T

and learning and building capacities for the use of the equipment procured.

he Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund) has approved N130,000,000.00 as zonal intervention for each polytechnics in its 2023 intervention line, geared towards reinvigorating skills acquisition in polytechnics across the country.‘’Funds are allocated in line with the provision of the Establishment Act and guided towards addressing critical and essential needs of the beneficiary institutions for the improvement of quality and maintenance of standards in the tertiary educational institutions.

N52,046,079,584.7 as zonal Intervention to enlisted polytechnics.

Polytechnics.

Akoh in a statement in Abuja, extended his congratulations to the leader of APC in Benue State, Senator Akume, and the Speaker, House of Representatives, Gbajabiamila on their appointments as Secretary to the Government of the Federation and Chief of Staff to President Tinubu respectively.

Prof. Akoh believes that Senator Akume’s wealth of experience in governance being brought to the table would enormously assist President Tinubu in advancing the Nigerian Project, having been a Permanent Secretary in the Civil Service, Former Governor, Senator and Minister of Special Duties and Inter-governmental Affairs.

Prof. Akoh believes that Dr George Akume has the necessary prerequisites to assist Mr President in handling the complex socio-economic challenges facing the country as demonstrated in the positions he had held interalia.

The APC Chieftain, in the same manner, extended his heartfelt felicitation to the outgoing Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon Femi Gbajabiamila on his appointment as Chief of Staff to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR.

Akoh acknowledged that the appointment of the youthful and experienced Gbajabiamila is a reflection of President Tinubu’s promise to feature the youths in his administration.

He expressed happiness that President Tinubu, in his usual ingenious manner, understands the numerous challenges ahead and the need to bring capable hands to the table in other to foster national unity amongst the country’s numerous ethnic nationalities for harmonious coexistence and progress.

The Founder of Peace Corps of Nigeria and President of Ambassador Dickson Akoh Foundation said their appointments are not only well deserved but a true reflection of reward for hardwork, coupled with the belief that they would deliver in whichever responsibility they are bestowed.

he National Commandant, Peace Corps of Nigeria (PCN), Prof. Dickson Ameh Akoh, has endorsed President Bola Tinubu’s choice of former Benue State Governor, Senator George Akume as Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF) and Outgoing Speaker of the House of Representatives, Femi Gbajabiamila as the Chief of Staff (CoS).This was disclosed by the Director of Infrastructure of the Fund, Malam Buhari Mika’Ilu at the TETFund/ NBTE Sensitisation Workshop on the 2023 Zonal Intervention on Skills for Rectors and Directors of Skills in Beneficiary Polytechnics in Abuja .

Mika’Ilu said that the intervention was to consolidate the efforts of the National Board for Technical Education (NBTE) in increasing the capacities of polytechnics to deliver on their mandate.

He said the intervention was mostly used to support institutions to meet basic requirements for accreditation.

He said the intervention focused purely on projects with academic relevance, thereby addressing deficiencies in core areas of acquisition of essential instructional materials and equipment for teaching

‘’NBTE have been at the fore front in championing the need to have skills in the educational system in Nigeria.

‘’It is in response to this, that the Fund has prioritised the 2023 Zonal Allocation to polytechnics to be geared towards reinvigorating skills acquisition in the polytechnics across the country.

‘’This is to further consolidate on the efforts of NBTE of increasing the capacities of Polytechnics to deliver on their mandate.

‘’Therefore, the sum of N130,000,000.00 only allocated to each polytechnic has the main focus of procurement, Installation, Testing, Training and commissioning of relevant training materials,” he said.

The director also revealed that since inception of the Zonal Intervention in 2016, the Fund had allocated a total sum of

‘’In the year 2017, the Fund focused the Zonal intervention on “Student Dignity Project”. Hence, the intervention was used to upgrade and standardise all lavatory facilities or provision of new ones where necessary in academic areas of institutions, also shuttle buses (coaches) were also procured for students use among other projects.

‘’Most recently, the 2022 intervention was used for deployment of ICT facilities within the institutions in line with the guidelines developed by the Fund. This is essentially to increase the capacities of institutions to function effectively and deliver their programmes online.

‘’The Fund has allocated a total of N60,290,000,000.00 for Zonal Intervention for the year 2023 to all the two hundred and nineteen beneficiary institutions of which, the sum of N9,230,000,000.00 is allocated to polytechnics,” he added He said the intervention, a postresearch activity, had created an opportunity for academic staff in Science and Technology Programmes to fabricate equipment, thus promoting skills development in the

Mika’Ilu expressed optimism that the intervention would in the long run, support the institution to resuscitate skills and improve graduate employability.

Meanwhile, the Executive Secretary of TETFund, Sonny Echono charged rectors of polytechnics to explore the innovative approaches to skills development and as well device effective solutions that would enhance the quality and relevance of technical education in the institutions.

Echono said that skills development and entrepreneurship represented a holistic process in which individuals in society pursue opportunities and address needs through innovation.

He, however, said that acquiring skills prepares individuals for employment across all sectors of the economy and helps overcome numerous challenges as well fostering a brighter future for both the nation and individuals for global competition.

‘’Today, we recognise the significant strides made by TETFund and NBTE in promoting skills development in our beneficiary polytechnics.”

Gov. Peter Mbah of Enugu State (L), fraternizing with traders at Mayor Market in Enugu south LGA of Enugu State, during his tour to monitor compliance of government directive for businesses to resume Monday activities in Enugu on Monday (5/6/23).

Gov Uba Sani appoints new clerk for Kaduna House of Assembly

Anew Clerk of the Kaduna State House of Assembly has been appointed by Governor Uba Sani. She is Sakinatu Hassan Idris. This was contained in a

statement, by Muhammad Shehu Molash, the governor’s Chief Press Secretary, and made available to newsmen in Kaduna yesterday. He said the appointment followed a report received by the Governor from the Assembly Service Commission, concerning

the Examination and Processes for appointment of Clerk of the Legislature.

standing election observer 5. She served as the Acting Director, Legislative Drafting Department, Kaduna State House of Assembly, Deputy Director, Legislative Drafting Department, Kaduna State House of Assembly.

From: Femi Oyelola, Kaduna

Stakeholders collaborate to earmark SSBs tax for public health financing

By Mashe Umaru Gwamna

Stakeholders in the public health sector have collaborated to earmark Sugar-Sweetened Beverages (SSBs)tax for public health financing and framework towards the sustainability of the tax.

Speaking at a one day InterAgency Capacity Building Meeting on sugar-sweetened beverages (SSBs)tax yesterday in Abuja, the Director/Head, public Health Federal Ministry of Health, Dr. M O Alex Omohudu, explained that the institution of the SSB tax has been identified as the most effective way of reducing the consumption of sugar sweetened beverages, consequently reducing the incidences and prevalence of NCDs.

According to her, it is to this effect that the government introduced a 10 naira per litre excise tax on all sweetened beverages in the 2021 Finance Act.

“We believe that this is a step

in the right direction towards achieving the global best practice of excise tax of at least 20% of the final retail price on all SSBs products.

“This tax is to be earmarked for public health interventions towards the prevention and control of NCDs”.

In an effort to accomplish its mandate, the Federal Ministry of Health through the NCD Division of the Public Health Department has continued to engage relevant stakeholders and this is why we are here today to address the misconceptions that abound concerning the SSBs tax.

She noted that, “Nigeria has lose a lot of money annually to loss of productivity due to Noncommunicable diseases (NCDs), and incur cost on treatment and management of these chronic diseases”.

She said “An estimated 38.6 million litres of soft drinks are sold daily in Nigeria making us the

Jigawa citizens laud President Tinubu for appointing Hadejia as Deputy chief of staff

From

Mika’il Tsoho, Dutse

The people of Jigawa state, commended president Bola Ahmed Tinubu for the appointment of Senator Ibrahim Hassan Hadejia as Deputy chief of staff.

The commendation was contained in a letter of congratulatory message signed by Dr Isah Musa Ringim and issued to newsmen.

The statement said, his appointment was based on merit due to his integrity and leadership qualities exhibited.

According to the letter, “Your distinguished tenure as the Attorney General of Jigawa State from 1999 to 2021 showcases your unwavering commitment to upholding justice and serving the people of your state. Your role as a legal advocate demonstrates your profound understanding of the law and your dedication to ensuring fairness and equity within the judicial system.

“Furthermore, your invaluable contributions as the Deputy Governor from 2001 to 2007 and again from 2015 to 2019 has undoubtedly left an indelible mark on the development and progress of Jigawa State. Your leadership skills and astute decision-making have undoubtedly played a crucial role in advancing the welfare of the people and fostering sustainable growth” Dr Isa Musa stated.

“It is worth acknowledging your service as a Senator from 2019 to 2023, during which time you represented the interests and concerns of your constituents with utmost sincerity and diligence. Your ability to navigate the complex political landscape and advocate for legislative reforms is a testament to your knowledge, expertise, and commitment to public service”.

4th highest soft drink consuming country in the world. “The drinks are marketed in a such a way that customers believe that they get better value when they buy the bigger bottles of soft drinks, leading to overconsumption.

“Of particular concern is the trend of overconsumption among Nigerian adolescents which can lead to childhood obesity and negative health consequences in adulthood.

NCDS threatens progress towards the 2030 Agenda for sustainable development which includes a reducing the probability of death from any of the four NCDS between ages 30 and 70 years by 2030”, Dr.Okoh stated.

She said a multi-agency collaboration is necessary to ensure the long-term implementation and sustainability of the SSBs tax.

“The Federal Ministry of Health is committed to working with relevant MDAs and NGOs to ensure sustainable implementation of

the SSB tax, efficient utilization of revenue generated towards public health and periodic monitoring and evaluation of the impact of the tax”, she said.

Also speaking, Executive Director of CAPPA, Akinbode Oluwafemi,said this Inter-Agency Capacity Building meeting serves as a platform for us to foster partnerships and collaborations of stakeholders across various government agencies, sectors, and departments to maximize our collective impact and bring about sustainable implementation for the SSB tax including earmarking the revenue generated for health initiatives.

He emphasized that, as advocates, we recognize the urgent need to implement effective measures to address this growing public health crisis.

“The Federal Government through the Finance Act 2021

began implementation of a N10 per litre tax on non-alcoholic and sugar-sweetened beverages in June 2022, a commendable effort in a bit to reduce the prevalence of NCDs associated with sugary drinks, which various research shows contributes to about 39% of the total deaths, annually”.

Similarly, in his paper presentation, Executive Secretary, Osun Health Insurance Agency, Adeniyi Oginni noted that, most of the risk factors of NCDs lies outside health and we all need to come together to reduce the burden of NCDs in Nigeria.

Meanwhile,Research Associate, Center for the Study of the Economic of Africa (CSEA), Austin Iraoya, who said, the advantages of earmarking SSB Tax are countless.

“It increases the fiscal space for health and makes fund available for targeted interventions in addressing NCDs among many others”.

Reps berate Sirika over launch of National Carrier, says it is a scam

By Christiana Ekpa

The House of Representatives yesterday raised an alarm over the launching of Nigeria Air despite an existing court order restraining such action.

The Chairman of the House Committee on Aviation, Hon Nnoli Nnaji, expressed disappointment at the action of the immediate pest Minister of Aviation, Hadi Sirika.

He said that the committee was irked by the action of the Ethiopian airline in the unveiling project.

The committee on Aviation made the following resolutions.

“The Committee after careful evaluation of the issues on deliberation is totally dissatisfied with the actions of the former Minister of Aviation, Sen, Hadi Sirka in going ahead to flag off the opcrations of Nigeria Air despite a standing Court injunction against such, and without any provision for sustaining the operations of the airline. We are equally irked by the role played by Ethiopian Airline in this whole process. It does not speak well of the excellent brotherly relationship existing between our two nations.

“A careful review of the process indicates the exercise to be highly opaque, shrouded in secrecy, shoddy and capable of ridiculing and tarnishing the image of Nigeria before the international community. We want to put on record, that the Committee and indeed the National Assembly had no role in the purported launch of Nigeria Air or anything related thereof.

“While the Committee and indeed the parliament is not opposed to Nigeria having a National Carrier, as a matter of fact having a National Carrier is highly desirable to us as a people and Nigeria, as a nation. However, such a process should be transparent and all embracing. We as a Committee would not accept any attempt

by any individual or group of individuals or organization to hide under the project and siphon our commonwealths.

Hon Nnoli also said “ let it be put on record that the House of Representatives and the committee has no part you play in the unveiling of Nigeria air”.

The committee urged president Tinubu to as a matter of urgency constitute a committee to review the Nigeria Air project and bring all perpetrators to book.

He said that the emergency meeting was summoned to make sure that Nigerians were not surchanged.

Hon Nnaji said that it was not proper for Air Nigeria you have been unveiled without all the necessary documents being available and the stakeholders being carried along.

“There is no growth without sacrifice. The committee leadership and Nigerians woke up to the rude shock of the launching of a national carrier. Before you unveil an airline, you must put some things in order. Hon Nnaji said.

He commended the local airlines industry I’m Nigeria and urged them to keep up the good work.

While responding to questions on Launch, the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Aviation, Dr. Emmanuel Meribole, said that Nigeria Air was not launched but unveiled.

He also said that Ministry followed due processes in the unveiling.

He said that no lobo was approved for the launching of Air Nigeria.

“As an accounting officer of the ministry, no kobo was paid for the unveiling” Mr. Meribole said.

He however reminded the meeting that Airline Operators are in court on the project and the matter should not be discussed

On this the chairman countered saying that it was funny that he just remembered that the issue was in court.

Representatives of Airline Operators

of Nigeria said that Nobody is against the coming up of Nigeria Air but were dissatisfied about the process.

The Director General of the Infrastructure Concession Regulatory Commission, ICRC, Mr. Joe Aniku Michael Ohiani said that Nigeria Air project was not ready as the three most important documents are not ready

“We were not consulted. There’s no shareholders agreement. It is a naming ceremony without a birth.”. Ohiani said.

A former Director General of Nigerian Airspace Management Agency, NAMA, Captain Roland Iyayi said that the Nigeria Air project would not benefit the Nigerian public.

He noted that the award of a majority stake in Nigeria Air to Ethiopian Airlines was not transparent and would bring about unfair competition in the Nigeria airline industry.

“The dealings are not entirely transparent. There are undue privileges given to this new carrier which domestic operators aren’t enjoying. For instance, the government proposes a 15-year tax moratorium for the national carrier. Again let us be very clear, this is not a national carrier in the context in which it is being presented. This is a flag carrier. This is because if you are bringing strategic investors at 49% and it has other institutional investors, one of which is 60% owned by a foreign entity. In the long term, what you are putting together is a foreign airline being allowed to operate in the Nigerian space in variant with Article 7. This is not in the interest of the Nigerian public” Dr. Iyayi said.

The Chief Executive Officer of Air Peace, Mr. Allen Onyema described the Air Nigeria Project as a “ruse”.

He said that the idea of national carrier was outdated and countries no longer get involved in it.

He said that it was a lie that Nigerians want national carrier.

NEW ADVERT RATES

Nigeria, its government and geospatial dynamism

By Abu, I. Michael

After all the political hubbub, though with various challenges still in the Presidential Election Petition Tribunal by some aggrieved contestants of the 2023 Presidential Election, Nigerians have every reason to celebrate the dawn of a new government, another democratic dispensation under the leadership of His Excellency, Asiwaju Ahmed Bola Tinubu as President and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces alongside his Vice, His Excellency, Shettima Kashim. Both of them performed tremendously as Governors of Lagos and Borno States respectively; their antecedents are on records.

As governor from 1999 – 2007, President Tinubu could be said to have laid the foundation for the symmetrical development of Lagos State because of his leadership competency and deep insight of geospatial dynamism. That is why the development plan of Lagos State was well structured and infrastructural distribution and expansion inimitably tackling rowdiness, insecurity and enforcing steady growth in state Internally Generated Revenue (IGR); subsequent governors of the state tow this path making Lagos State to be a pacesetter not only in the country but in the West African sub-region socioeconomically and in terms of physical infrastructure. The leadership ideal ingrained by his governorship engendered robust state of security for every sector to thrive.

Security is a major area of focus for any government. Way back as a student of Political Science at the Yobe State University, we transmit much of these words: ‘state’, ‘government’, ‘sovereignty’, ‘territory’, ‘population’ and ‘power’ in the class hence they became some of our companionate vocabs as students. Unfortunately, having spent nearly 4 years of the programme which I started from Pre-Degree, I was unable to complete it like other sad experiences because of the pervasive insecurity occasioned by the Boko Haram insurgency that heavily wrecked normalcy in Yobe State, Borno and especially some other states of the northeast as at that time. A peaceful atmosphere is not only priceless, but sacrosanct as necessary condition for societal growth and

development as well as its survival as an entity.

Unarguably, states lose their socioeconomic glow; precious human lives are also threatened apart from various destructions when the tranquility of a political state is infringed upon. No country in the world can practically make headway politically, socially and economically in the face of public disorder and insecurity in general. The Nigerian State has over the years been challenged to appreciate geospatial dynamism not only in terms of socioeconomic and physical development but in peace enforcement and general protection.

Just like any other countries in the world, Nigeria is defined by the features of political state such as territory, population, government and sovereignty. Even though the government is an agency of the state, it remains critical because it is the body constitutionally empowered to govern the affairs of a country. In our contemporary world, no country can survive and progress without the application of geospatial data because we exist within a geographical sphere; this is what President Tinubu-led Government must take to heart and ensure that public institutions apply geospatial techniques in their operations in order to save cost and speedily achieve results. Just to refresh our memories, a country is confined within a geographical area called territory and usually consists of people (population) and it is the workings of the government to uphold its sovereignty, the supremacy of that country within its territorial area. The Nigerian Government and especially, the President and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces must have at all times prototypical of the territory he controls and all that is therein.

Recently, some officials of the Civil Society Coalition for Transparency and Good Governance had very robust interaction with the Surveyor General of the Federation (SGoF), Surv. Abuduganiyu Adeyemi Adebomehin at the Survey House, Abuja; the conversation was stimulated by a patriotic zeal to ensure that Nigeria is routed in the glorious path of equability, increased physical infrastructure, sustainable socioeconomic development and also more importantly, solid national security arrangement.

Having taken critical assessment of the functions and

Tinubu: One week after

By Jideofor Adibe

My feeling is that if the anticipated hardship from this policy becomes overwhelming and is not attenuated within a reasonable time frame, even some of Tinubu’s most passionate supporters will join the camp of those praying for the court to overturn his declaration as the winner of the February 25, 2025 election.

Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, Nigeria’s President since May 29, 2023, once said that his lifelong ambition was to become the President of Nigeria. He was lucky that his dream came true. Though the outcome of the election remains contested, he has been Nigeria’s President the past one week. So what are the takeaways from his one week in office?

One, there was a bounce from his inauguration. Though Tinubu came to office with a huge legitimacy crisis and is one of the most scandal-ridden African Presidents, no fewer than 20 Presidents from around the world attended the inauguration according to some media reports. American President Joe Biden sent a delegation as did the British Prime Minister, Rishi Sunak. And these were despite the damning reports of most of the international election observers of the presidential election in which INEC declared him the winner and the campaign by the opposition for world leaders not to legitimise Tinubu’s ‘victory’ by congratulating him.

Two, the bounce from the inauguration was overshadowed by the unintended consequences of Tinubu’s declaration on the day of his inauguration that “fuel subsidy is gone”. That speech immediately led to panic buying of fuel, the return of queues in petrol stations across the country and the jumping of pump prices in some filling stations to as much as N700 per litre.

Though the removal of fuel subsidy was expected and all the three leading presidential candidates – Tinubu, Atiku Abubakar and Peter Obi – had promised to remove it if they won the election, few people thought it would be done in such a dramatic manner as Tinubu did it. Those who argue that removing the subsidy on fuel was a decision foisted on Tinubu by the outgoing government forget that he has the powers to reverse it by sending a supplementary budget to the National Assembly with a request that funding the subsidy should remain while he put together his team and the necessary infrastructure that would help cushion the effect of that policy.

My feeling is that by announcing the ending of the fuel subsidy regime the way he did he wanted to convey a message that he would be a decisive President who would not bulk at taking tough decisions. This is especially so if his “fuel subsidy is gone” statement is related to his pre-inaugural speech where he declared that he would not want anyone to pity him because of the enormity of the challenges bedevilling the nation because he

sought for the job and campaigned for it.

Three, the angst across the country resulting from the manner in which the removal of the subsidy was made shows that hardship has no ethnic, religious or political party affiliation. In fact, the argument that fuel subsidy benefits only (or even mostly the rich) is motor park economics as everyone – rich, middle class, the poor and businesses seems overwhelmed by a sense of foreboding following the 300% hike in the pump price of fuel in this largely generator-dependent economy.

Suddenly the perennial online combat between the ardent supporters of Tinubu and others that are often wrongly lumped together as ‘Obedients’ seem to have abated as everyone seems to worry how the policy will impact on them once it has cascaded through the entire value chain. Though a new price template of N488 per litre in Lagos and N537 and N557 in Abuja and Borno State respectively by the Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation, NNPC, led to the disappearance of queues in most filling stations, it would take a while for the effects of the nearly 300% price hike in fuel price to fully work themselves through the country’s various value chains.

My feeling is that if the anticipated hardship from this policy becomes overwhelming and is not attenuated within a reasonable time frame, even some of Tinubu’s most passionate supporters will join the camp of those praying for the court to overturn his declaration as the winner of the February 25, 2025 election.

Four, just a few days after his inauguration, some putative centres of power in the Tinubu government had begun to emerge. One of the President’s children, Folasade Tinubu-Ojo, the Iyaloja (“Mother of the Market”) of Lagos markets, crowned herself the First Daughter of Nigeria and also elevated her position from the Iyaloja of Lagos Markets to Iyaloja of Nigeria. She also announced the launching of what she called Friends of Iyaloja Initiative, which she said will “channel her experience, connections and human resources” towards supporting her father’s administration.

Similarly, just a few days after his inauguration, there was a viral video of the First Lady, Senator Remi Tinubu, sitting in a purported economic meeting with President Tinubu, Vice President Kashim Shettima, the Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, Governor Godwin Emefiele and the Group Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited, NNPCL, Mele Kyari at the Presidential Villa Abuja. While some argued that the First Lady sitting in such a meeting was a violation of protocol, her supporters argued that as head of the Senate committee on NNPC during Saraki’s era as Senate President, she sat at the purported meeting as a politician, not as First Lady.

The point here is that one of the issues used against Tinubu

statutory mandates of the Office of the Surveyor General of the Federation (OSGoF), the officials of the coalition lost breath in the realization that Nigeria has such an organization with its functions essentially prime to national security and all other sectors of the economy. They deemed it fit to take it upon them to advocate adequate budgetary allocations for OSGoF, and also warrant aggressive campaigns and sensitization in order abreast the general public on the significance of geospatial data and streamlining of geospatial inputs in planning and implementation of projects by the Nigerian Government and its MDAs.

Another crucial issue that the coalition is intervening is for the government to urgently make funds available for the review of the Survey Coordination Act (SCA) enacted since 1962. The strength of the provisions of the act is already hampered by the contemporary realities hence there have been recorded cases of proliferation of maps and violations of the act endangering our national security, physical planning and project implementation.

The government must also ensure we fully harness and streamline geospatial inputs in our public enterprises, the apex surveying and mapping office of the country should be seen very much as part of the Defence and National Security Architecture, National Planning and Implementation. Patriotically speaking, the Office of the Surveyor General of the Federation (OSGoF) should be properly situated to free it from bureaucratic bottlenecks for robust funding and operations that would at all times ensure urgent decisions and actions on matters of national concerns.

President Tinubu in his inaugural address on May 29 mentioned some key areas of the focus of his administration which includes security, the economy, job creation and agriculture among others. These and other challenges of our environments can only be dealt with more appropriately if the generation and application of geospatial data is entrenched in the heart of every governmental decision, planning, programming and implementation.

Michael is the Head, Press and Public Relations, OSGoF

during the campaigns was that different members of his family (Remi, Seyi and Folashade in particular) might constitute themselves into independent centres of power if he won the election.

Five, in the one week of his presidency, Tinubu has also started assembling members of his kitchen cabinet. In his first set of appointments as Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Tinubu named Ambassador Kunle Adeleke as the State Chief of Protocol, SCOP, to the President; former Lagos State Commissioner of Information, Dele Alake, as Presidential Spokesman and Olusegun Dada as Special Adviser, Digital Media.

The following day he appointed Nosa Asemota as his official photographer and Adelani Opeyemi as the official photographer of Vice President Kashim Shettima. On June 2, 2023, just five days after his inauguration, he appointed the outgoing Speaker of the House of Representatives, Femi Gbajabiamila, as his new Chief of Staff; former Deputy Governor of Jigawa State, Sen. Ibrahim Hadejia, as Deputy Chief of Staff and Former Minister of Special Duties, George Akume, as Secretary to the Government of the Federation.

On Sunday, June 4, 2024, he announced the appointment of Nuhu Ribadu, the pioneer Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, as the National Security Adviser. While his appointments so far mirror the tendency for chief executives to populate their kitchen cabinets with long term allies and loyalists, he has so far not included very controversial individuals that would make the task of post campaign reconciliation more problematic.

For instance, if the position of Secretary to the Government of the Federation, SGF, was given to former Kaduna State Governor Nasir el-Rufai as was rumoured, it would have made reconciliation more difficult. This is because El-Rufai not only championed the Muslim-Muslim ticket in Kaduna, he sought to institutionalise that anomaly by ensuring that his hand-picked successor retained the same Muslim-Muslim template.

Similarly, it would have been more difficult to achieve reconciliation if the duo of Bayo Onanuga and Femi Fani-Kayode who uniquely fanned the embers of ethnic hatred and promoted both provincialism and Igbophobia are given front row seats in the government.

Overall, Tinubu started with a fumble as many newly elected leaders often do. This is because while politicians are said to campaign in poetry, in governance, they will be forced to rule in prose. They will not only discover that the devil is in the detail but will also find out that every policy or even major pronouncement, has unintended consequences.

Jideofor Adibe is a Public Affairs Analyst.

The subsidy apology Tinubu may never render

By Azuka Onwuka

Itis part of the reasons Nigeria is under-performing and retrogressing. The leaders of Nigeria are rulers who have no respect for Nigerians. They don’t take Nigerians seriously. They don’t see themselves accountable to the people. And if leaders are not accountable to the people, the chances that they will be committed to the welfare of the people will be low.

The continuous implementation of the subsidy on petrol has been the most thoughtless decision of the Nigerian administrations in the past two decades. Therefore, on May 29, 2023 when he was inaugurated, President Bola Tinubu announced that petrol subsidy had been removed. It was the wise thing to do. By announcing it on the day of his inauguration day, Tinubu believed that he was taking a decisive step that former President Muhammadu Buhari could not take throughout the eight years of his presidency.

However, there was a snag in that announcement by Tinubu. Beyond the shock of it on the populace, which made the price of petrol to rise from N189 per litre to over N500 in one day, it was the most hypocritical action Tinubu could have taken.

In January 2012, after months of consultations and discussions with different Nigerian stakeholders and general public, the administration of Dr. Goodluck Jonathan eventually began the implementation of the removal of petrol subsidy. Tinubu, as the national leader of the opposition Action Congress of Nigeria, condemned the removal of petrol subsidy. He called it “Jonathan tax” and accused Jonathan of breaching his social contract with the people. He noted that with the subsidy removal, the people would become “enslaved to greater misery.”

Buhari, as the national leader of the opposition Congress for Progressives Change, was also fully against the removal of petrol subsidy. He said that subsidy did not exist but was only a smokescreen for corruption. Buhari said inter alia: “Nigerians are being deceived on the issue of fuel subsidy. The Federal Government takes out fuel for refining, only to come back and talk about removing the subsidy. That is nonsense and an attempt by a clique within the PDP-led Federal Government to siphon the proceeds to be realised from the removal of oil subsidy.”

A protest tagged Occupy Nigeria held in different parts of Nigeria for many days. Especially at the Ojota, Lagos rally, different musicians and celebrities performed. They took their turn to lambast the administration of Jonathan as insensitive and out-of-touch with the masses. Different personalities spoke at the rally, hitting hard on Jonathan.

It is believed that the seed of the merger of Tinubu’s party (the Action Congress of Nigeria), Buhari’s party (Congress for Progressives Change) and the All Nigeria People’s Party was sown during that protest against Jonathan’s removal of the petrol subsidy. About one year later on February 6, 2013, the key opposition parties merged under the umbrella of the AllProgressives Congress. That merger succeeded in ousting the People’s Democratic Party at the next election in 2015.

However, when Buhari assumed office in 2015 as president, to the shock and embarrassment of many Nigerians, he continued with the same subsidy he had claimed did not exist. Not only did he continue its implementation, he even spent much more money on subsidy than his predecessors that he condemned. In addition, Nigerian oil production dropped drastically as a result of oil theft. Even though the Russian invasion of Ukraine created immense wealth for oil-producing countries, Nigeria was getting poorer and running deeper into debt under Buhari. For eight years of his administration, Buhari never apologised for implementing the same petrol subsidy he denied its existence. He never apologised for being in charge at a time corruption was worsening in the oil sector, even though he was also the minister of petroleum all through the eight years of his presidency.

Nigeria is reported to have spent a whopping N21.7tn in the last 18 and a half years, according to a recent computation by Thisday using data from the Nigeria Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative and an independent review of figures from 2005 and the first half of 2023. The report shows that in 2005 when the computation started, Nigeria spent N351bn on petrol subsidy. By 2012 when the subsidy protest held against the Jonathan administration, the subsidy payout had risen to N1.36tn. Ironically, by the end of 2016, the first full year of Buhari as president, Nigeria paid N240bn on petrol subsidy. That was almost twice the amount paid in 2012 when the petrol subsidy protest took place. And by 2022, the last full year Buhari spent in office, the subsidy payment had ballooned to N4.4tn.

What compounded the woes of the Buhari administration was that he did not have the spine to remove the subsidy despite its terrible effect on the country. The irony is that one of the unique selling propositions that made many people vote in Buhari was that he was a retired military major general who was projected to have the courage to take decisive actions in the interest of the country. But even after his re-election in 2019, he went back and forth on the petrol subsidy removal, and eventually postponed its removal until after his exit, thereby setting up his successor for a face-off with the masses from inception.

With Tinubu taking over from Buhari and announcing the removal of petrol subsidy, it is surprising that Tinubu is taking such an action that he condemned vociferously as a member of the opposition without offering any apology to the public. During that 2012 protest, some Nigerians died; some property was destroyed; many companies lost money. During the succeeding 13 years of petrol subsidy, Nigeria lost a lot of money that could have been put to good use. The continuation of petrol subsidy also helped to impoverish many Nigerians and create more crime and instability in Nigeria.

However, Tinubu did not explain to Nigerians if he was wrong in 2012 for opposing subsidy removal. He did not explain to Nigerians what has changed between 2012 when he opposed subsidy removal and 2023 when he became the president and chose to remove it. That Tinubu could do a volte-face on petrol subsidy without any explanation or apology is not surprising about a Nigerian politician. To expect an apology from Tinubu, Buhari or most Nigerian politicians is like expecting a ewe to grow horns.

The brand of politics practised in Nigeria is negative and retrogressive. It is politics of arrogance, kingship, subterfuge, and non-accountability. Politicians say and do whatever they believe will earn them votes, not concerned about the practicability, truthfulness, or common good in such. Once power is acquired, such politicians can deny making the promise, even if they were recorded in video. They can also claim that it was their aides or party that made such a promise and not them. They can also simply decide not to even bother to respond to such an allegation with the belief that it will not cost them anything. But one thing that is rare to see a Nigerian politician do is apologise for any action or speech in the past or for going against any opinion held in the past.

It is part of the reasons Nigeria is under-performing and retrogressing. The leaders of Nigeria are rulers who have no respect for Nigerians. They don’t take Nigerians seriously. They don’t see themselves accountable to the people. And if leaders are not accountable to the people, the chances that they will be committed to the welfare of the people will be low.

Although it sounds like wishful thinking, one can only hope and pray that Nigerian leadership pattern can change and be like that of countries that are showing clear progress. The fastest way for a country to make progress is to copy the examples from countries which are making progress.

Twitter: @BrandAzuka

President Museveni and Africa’s political culture wars

By Chidi Odinkalu

Lastmonth, Namibia’s Supreme Court ruled in favour of granting legal recognition to same-sex marriages contracted abroad. In February, Kenya’s Supreme Court held that advocacy for the rights of sexual minorities was constitutionally protected and that groups involved in that could not be denied registration as NGOs. In November 2021, Botswana’s highest court decriminalised same-sex sexual relations.

In the 37th year of his interminable rule, President Yoweri Museveni signed into law Uganda’s Anti-Homosexuality Act, passed by Parliament earlier in the month. Among other things, the new law prescribes life in prison for persons convicted of homosexuality, a crime that already exists in Uganda’s laws.

It also creates a new crime of “aggravated homosexuality” punishable with death; explicitly precludes a defence of consent for crimes under the law, and makes it possible to convict for homosexuality, children who are otherwise excluded from criminal responsibility under Ugandan law.

Describing the law as “a shameful Act” and “a tragic violation of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights”, US President, Joe Biden, a Catholic, ordered a wide-ranging review of development assistance with Uganda, which may extend to “the application of sanctions and restriction of entry into the United States against anyone involved in serious human rights abuses or corruption”.

From Uganda, Speaker of Parliament, the exquisitely named Anita Among, who presided over the passage of the law shot back, saying: “I get a lot of threats, we are going to lose out on AIDS drugs…aid is going to be cut off, tourism, export…I said, so what? That you are going to be blocked from going to America, do I need to go to America?”

In this excitable back and forth, not much attention has been paid to its contents. The Anti-Homosexuality Act, as its title indicates, sets out to make it clear that the government of Yoweri Museveni is against homosexuality and the law expends excruciating energy to make this clear. The text makes interesting reading.

The Act begins with a spectacular feat of reductionism, describing a “homosexual” as “a person who engages in an act of homosexuality”. So, the Act makes the person but what then is homosexuality? The Act says it “means the performance of a sexual act on a person by another person of the same sex”. This requires us then to understand what a “sexual act” means. The Act obliges, describing a sexual act as “the stimulation or penetration, however slight, of a person’s anus or mouth by a sexual organ of another person of the same sex”, and extends to such stimulation or penetration whether procured by “a sex contraption” or by “any part of the body of a person of the same sex.”

If you are tired or confused by this complex labyrinth of definitions, the Act is not yet done because you still do not yet know what a “sexual organ” is. Well, in Uganda, according to this new law, a sexual organ is “in the case of a female person”, a vagina and, “in the case of a male person” a penis. Just to be sure that we are all on the same page, the Act tacks back to define “female person” as “a person born with a female sexual organ”and a “male person” as “a person born with a male sexual organ.”

On the whole, the Act chases down a drafting rabbit hole in pursuit of its rabid objectives. Anyone could easily choose to be detained by the tendency of its drafters to reduce sexual identity to the external manifestations of its terminals in the human genitalia or to one act. But that is only one of the numerous problems with this new Ugandan law. If a piece of legislation needs at least six different sets of definitions of diminishing exactitude in order to explain the object of its prohibitions, it is unlikely to pass the test of clarity or certainty, which is constitutive of criminal prohibition. The crime created by this new law is worse than witchcraft, which, by the way, Uganda’s courts ruled unconstitutional 24 years ago for lack of clarity.

It is easy to default to generalisations about African cultures to explain the kinds of developments in Uganda. A related point of view could be that such developments are about deeply held “African values”.

This, certainly, is the view of the African Union. In 2015, after eight years of refusal, the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights, Africa’s primary continental human rights body, voted by a narrow majority to grant Observer Status to the Coalition of African Lesbians, CAL, an organisation lawfully registered in South Africa. Promptly, the foreign ministers of the African Union, AU, decided that this was “an attempt to impose values contrary to the African values” and ordered the Commission to lift the Observer Status granted to the CAL in consonance with “African values”.

When the Commission demurred, the AU threatened to withdraw its funding. In the end, the Commission wilted under overwhelming sovereign pressure and withdrew the Observer Status granted to CAL. Surprisingly, South Africa, in whose territory CAL was lawfully registered, refused to raise a finger in defence of its laws and constitutional values. Since these events, the Commission has now adopted the doctrinal position that the advancement of rights relating to human sexuality is “contrary to the virtues of African values”.

In reality, this recent slew of laws on human sexuality across Africa is very much about politics. Museveni’s most recent antihomosexuality law is only the latest in a continent in which rulers in trouble instigate culture and identity wars (framed in faux

Pentecostalism)to re-energise their political fortunes. This is not the first time President Museveni has signed such a law. Uganda’s courts struck down a similar law on anti-homosexuality passed in a haste one decade earlier when they found that parliament had passed it without quorum.

Elsewhere around Africa, the timing of Nigeria’s Same Sex (Prohibition) Act passed around the same time in 2014, coincided with a terminal dip in the fortunes of then President, Goodluck Jonathan. In Ghana, the Promotion of Proper Human Sexual Rights and Ghanaian Family Values Bill, 2021, on the cusp of passage into law happens to coincide with a season in which the political fortunes of President Nana Akuffo-Addo’s New Patriotic Party, NPP, are at an all-time low. In Kenya, a Family Protection Bill very much of the same ilk as its Ghana and Uganda counterparts has been introduced in parliament as the political honeymoon of President William Ruto comes to an end.

Those who are minded to reach conclusions from these developments would be well advised to make haste slowly. Samesex sexual relations are currently lawful in 22 African countries. Last month, Namibia’s Supreme Court ruled in favour of granting legal recognition to same-sex marriages contracted abroad. In February, Kenya’s Supreme Court held that advocacy for the rights of sexual minorities was constitutionally protected and that groups involved in that could not be denied registration as NGOs. In November 2021, Botswana’s highest court decriminalised same-sex sexual relations.

In Nigeria, the Criminal Law of Lagos State achieved exactly the same goal in 2015. Similarly, the Violence against Persons Prohibition Act passed by Nigeria’s National Assembly a mere 15 months after the Same-Sex Marriage (Prohibition) Act makes rape a unisex offence, which can be committed by men or women against one another or against persons of the same sex. Implicitly, therefore, it retained the prohibition against same-sex sexual relations only if there was an absence of consent, actual or presumptive, effectively decriminalizing homosexuality as a federal offence in Nigeria.

This is far from the unified picture that the partisans in Africa’s emerging theatre of political culture wars would have us to believe. The notion of “African values” is as invented as the idea of “homophobic Africa”is unreal. What we have is a very nuanced and highly contested territory in the continent. It is too early to know how this could end. What is clear, however, is that Africans will ultimately resolve these issues on their own continent and that is as it should be.

*A lawyer and a teacher, Odinkalu can be reached at chidi. odinkalu@tufts.edu

Gwagwalada Chairman appoints Immigration officer district head

By Usman Shuaibu

The Executive Chairman of Gwagwalada Area Council in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Hon. Abubakar Jibrin Giri, has appointed Immigration Officer, His Royal Highness Ibrahim Tukura as the District Head of Gwako Community.

However, the Agora of Zuba (3rd Class Chief), Alhaji Mohammed Umar Bello had already crowned the newly appointed District Head of Gwako on Sunday being the 4th of June, 2023 in Zuba.

Speaking to Peoples Daily Correspondent in his palace in Gwako, Ibrahim Tukura thanked the Gwagwalada Area Council Chairman for the appointment.

He said he would deem it necessary to work hand in hand with the administration of the Council for the overall development of Gwako community.

He charged the people of Gwako community to always live in peace, warning them to shun any act capable of generating tension in the community.

He then appealed to the Gwagwalada Chairman to provide security across the communities in the area and urged the traditional rulers to be loyal to the Council’s Chairman at all times.

He pointed out that he would join hands with other traditional rulers in Gwagwalada Area Council for the Sake of peace and togetherness.

Tukura called on the youths in Gwako community to go to school in order to become important personalities in the society, while advising them to stay away from troubles in the community.

The Gwako District Head, however, pleaded with the Council’s Chairman to provide jobs for the youths.

Bauchi Governor approves recruitment of 1,684 workers

From Ahmad Muhammad, Bauchi

Bauchi State Governor, Bala Mohammed has lifted the embargo on employment in to the State Civil Service and granted approval for the recruitment of over one thousand sixty hundred and eighty workers in critical areas in various Ministries, Departments and Agencies across the state.

The State Head of Civil Service Alhaji Yahuza Adamu Haruna stated this yesterday while addressing journalists on the development.

He said it comprised the recruitment of one thousand teachers of core subjects including English, Mathematics, Biology, Chemistry, Physics and ICT as well as one hundred and fifty four staff at Aminu Saleh College of Education Azare.

Alh Yahuza Adamu Haruna said that the Governor has also granted approval for Ministry of Agriculture to recruit two hundred and six extension workers and farm managers in fulfilment of his promise during the launch of this year’s farming season and sales of fertilizer at Azare.

He said the move followed

the announcement of lifting the employment embargo by Governor Bala Mohammed in his inaugural speech on 29th May at Abubakar Tafawa Balewa Stadium Bauchi.

Yahuza commended the Governor for the gesture and expressed hope that the employment would provide the manpower needed in relevant sectors and enhance the economic status of the state.

He warned applicants to be wary of fraudsters stressing that Government and security agents would be monitoring the process with a view to identifying culprits..

Head of Service said “ last year Governor recruited staffs in the health sector , he is going to recruit more, and even SUBEB will also submit the critical areas to recruit more teachers.

Yahuza said other government ministries and Government offices, have been asked to submit requests fir employemw t I’m critical areas in their offices.

The State Chairman of the Nigeria Labour Congress NLC Comrade Dauda Maidara Shu’aibu commended the Governor for his effort to reduce the unemployment rate in the state.

Pastor Enenche empowers women, orphans

By Abubakar Yunusa Abuja

As part of activities to mark his 55th birthday, the Senior Pastor of Dunamis International Christian Centre, Dr Paul Enenche, on Sunday, reached out to the less privileged and orphans, while also empowering women with business materials.

The event took place at the Glory Dome on Sunday and witnessed a significant distribution of essential items.

Among the items distributed

were food items, sewing machines, ovens, cash, and other necessities.

The intention behind this act of generosity was to provide assistance and support to those in need.

Dr. Paul Enenche understands the importance of lending a helping hand and ensuring that the less fortunate have access to basic necessities.

After the event, Dr. Paul Enenche proceeded to Pywoi, a community located along the airport road.

There, he commissioned a block of classrooms that he personally renovated and equipped for the benefit of GSS Pywoi.

This gesture highlights his commitment to education and the importance of providing conducive learning environments for students.

During the event, Dr. Enenche expressed his belief that the purpose of Christianity is to serve as a beacon of light for people to see.

He emphasized the need for

individuals to use their positions and resources to make a positive impact on society.

Dr. Becky Enenche, his wife, also lauded the cleric for his consistent humanitarian efforts.

She noted that this was not the first time he had embarked on such compassionate initiatives, citing the significant number of individuals supported through his scholarship programme and other humanitarian gestures.

The village head of the Pywoi community, Chief Tanko Bahago,

commended Dr Paul Enenche for his kind-heartedness and expressed gratitude for his benevolent gesture.

In addition, the principal of Government Secondary School, Piwoyi, Pauline Ngozi Nwagogo and Hajia Ramatu Nusa, Director of Junior Secondary School Universal Basic Education Board, in Abuja, both praised the cleric for his generous donation, recognizing the positive impact it would have on the school and its students.

From left: Director of Regions, Ministry of Foreign Affairs/ Nigerian Government representative, Amb. Janet Olisa; Ambassador of Saudi Arabia to Nigeria, Amb. Faisal Ebraheem Alghamdi and Senior Public Relation Specialist, King Salman Humanitarian Aid and Relief Centre, Nezar Talaqi, during an official presentation of Saudi Dates to the Nigerian Government at the Royal Embassy of Saudi in Abuja.

Obi explains his subsidy removal support with a Toothache analogy

By Ikechukwu Okaforadi

The Presidential Candidate of the Labour Party, Peter Obi has said that his support for the removal of subsidy paid on petroleum products is true but with a condition that should be empirical to the people.

Obi who was ambushed by judicial correspondents as he attended his ongoing election petition case at the Court of Appeal headquarters in Abuja on Tuesday, said his support for subsidy removal dates back to the Goodluck Jonathan era when he was a member of the Presidential economic management team.

“If you have followed me very well right from the time I was a member of Jonathan’s economic management team, I consistently maintained that subsidy should be removed because I see it as organized crime. People were just stealing the resources of the country and I showed empirically in my statistical analysis that we are not consuming the amount of fuel they claim we consume.

The former Anambra state Governor differentiated his idea of Subsidy removal from what is happening in the country now that they are linking him to the two options available to a person having a tooth arch.

He said that if you approach a dentist to remove a painful tooth, he will apply a local anesthetic to numb the area around the tooth so you do not feel pain.

It’s not the same thing as pulling the tooth forcefully, the pain you feel will be different.

For me, I will go with the approach of the dentist while supporting the removal of the tooth because I wouldn’t want to go through the pain of forceful removal.

Recall that even when Jonathan wanted to remove it they came up with various relieving policies like SureP and others.

“If you read my manifesto you will see clearly how I planned to remove subsidy, I will govern with the people and show them statistically and empirically what we are getting and how we are deploying it.

“The problem In Nigeria is that when people say let’s go and suffer, let’s go and sacrifice, they don’t see the results of their suffering and their sacrifice.”

I will conduct credible primaries in APGA — National chairman

By Christiana Ekpa

Thenew National Chairman of All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), Barr.

Sylvester Ezeokenwa, has said he will conduct credible and transparent primary elections for all party members aspiring for elective positions.

Ezeokenwa, who gave a hint of his work plan to our correspondent in his Awka residence on Sunday, said it would no longer be a situation where top echelons of the party decided conduct of primaries but a situation where party faithful are allowed the liberty to exercise freedom of choice in party primaries because APGA, according to him, belonged to the people. He said in 2018, it was the

fallout of the primaries that led to unprecedented number of litigation especially in Anambra state because Anambra he said had over 30 cases of litigation as a result of conduct of the primaries; not mentioning those in other states.

He said APGA was poised to do things differently this time in terms of energising the party, adding that the only veritable means of energising the party was to give APGA back to the masses. That it is the masses that have the ultimate decision to determine who flies the party’s flag and no longer people at the top echelon of the party.

The 38-year-old APGA national chairman who was legal adviser of the party in Anambra state as well as national

legal adviser of APGA prior to his emergence as the national chairman of the party, said henceforth a mechanism would be put in place to ensure the conduct of a very credible, transparent, free and fair primary elections for APGA faithful.

Ezeokenwa said credible primaries were the only veritable platforms for the election of credible individuals to fly the party’s flag in any elections, stressing that to enthrone positive change in the society, there is absolute need to elect credible people to be the standard bearers of the party for any elective position in any election.

He therefore maintained that henceforth whoever wants to be the candidate of APGA in any election must go and test his

popularity before members of the party.

He said they would also work very closely with the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to achieve credible primary elections within the APGA while thanking all members of the party from the 36 states of the federation including the Federal Capital Territory Abuja for reposing so much confidence in him and making him the national chairman of the party.

He therefore assured all APGA faithful in the country that he would not disappoint them as he begins to unveil his plans and programmes for the growth, development, advancement and expansion of the party in the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

L-R: Registrar/CEO of ICAN, Prof. Ahmed Kumshe, FCA, ICAN Member, Hajia Queensley Seghosime, mni, FCA, ICAN President, Dr Innocent Okwuosa, FCA, the Accountant- General of the Federation, Dr Oluwatoyin Madein, FCA, Member of ICAN Presidency, Mallam Haruna Yahaya, mni, FCA and Mr Zubairu Salau of the Accountant-General office during a courtesy call on the AGF by the ICAN team in Abuja yesterday.

Senate throws out controversial National Water Resources Bill

By Musa Baba Adamu

TheSenate on Tuesday rejected the controversial National Water Resources Bill, 2023 after it was listed for concurrence on the order paper for consideration and passage.

The rejection of the bill by the Senate put an end to the controversy by governors and federal lawmakers majorly from the southern part of the country.

When the bill was read for concurrence on the floor of the Senate, Senator Gabriel Suswan from Benue North West raised Order 85 of the Senate Rules which provides that Senators must have full details of the provisions of any bill coming for concurrence.

Senator James Manager from Delta South who seconded Senator Suswan stressed the need to have details of the bill since provision was made for only the title of bill.

Senate President Ahmad Lawan later ruled in favour of the rule cited and adjourned the plenary for the day.

It would be recalled that the House of Representatives had passed the in 2020 admist suspicion

by members and general public.

Before the passage, Chairman of the House Committee on Water Resources, Sada Soli, said the Minister of Justice and AttorneyGeneral of the Federation, Abubakar Malami (SAN), as well as commissioners for justice and attorneys-general of the 36 states of the federation had been consulted and the opinions received would be attached to the bill and distributed to all members.

A member of the House from Benue State, Mark Gbillah, had raised the alarm when the bill was to be taken for the first reading.

Only the short title of a bill is written on the Order Paper for first reading, while a long title, which has more details, is written when listed for second reading.

Gbillah said, “I am aware that the matter listed for first reading, the National Water Resources Bill, generated a lot of controversy within this honourable House and even across the country, and some of us wonder why this issue is still being re-presented on the floor of the House, because some of us are not comfortably in support of this bill in the first instance Mr speaker.

I thought I should bring that to the notice of the Right Honourable Speaker.

The Speaker, Femi Gbajabiamila, who admitted that Gbillah “raised a very cogent point,” noted that Nigeria is a very diverse country and everybody’s sensitivity must be taken into consideration.

Gbillah, however, disagreed with the Speaker, stating that the lawmakers were duly elected and given the mandate to represent the interests of their constituents. He said, “Whatever the governors might have agreed upon may not be acceptable to us. It is we that have those powers as enshrined in the Constitution to enact legislation that will be binding on this country.”

There were fireworks in the House on September 29, 2020, with some members, mostly from the southern part of the country, raising various legal and procedural issues against the bill.

The President, Muhammadu Buhari had in 2017 presented the controversial bill to both chambers of the National Assembly, which seek to transfer the control of water resources from the states to the Federal Government.

The legislation was titled, ‘A Bill for An Act to Establish a Regulatory Framework for the Water Resources Sector in Nigeria, Provide for the Equitable and Sustainable Redevelopment, Management, Use and Conservation of Nigeria’s Surface Water and Groundwater Resources and for Related Matter.’

The summary of the bill reads, “This Act repeals the Water Resources Act, Cap W2 LFN 2004; River Basin Development Act Cap R9 LFN 2004; Nigeria Hydrological Services Agency (Establishment) Act, Cap N110A, LFN,2004; NationaI Water Resources lnstitute Act Cap N83 LFN 2004; and establishes the National Council on Water Resources, Nigeria Water Resources Regulatory Commission, River Basin Development Authorities, Nigeria Hydrological Services Agency, and the National Water Resources Institute.”

The proposed bodies, if established, will “provide for the regulation, equitable and sustainable development, management, use and conservation of Nigeria’s surface water and groundwater resources.”

By Ikechukwu Okaforadi

The immediate past governor of Rivers State, Nyesom Wike, has commended President Bola Tinubu for removing fuel subsidy.

Speaking during a media chat on Tuesday, Wike stressed that electing Tinubu was not a mistake.

According to Wike: “He has shown leadership from the first day he took the oath. If we are to tell ourselves the truth, it can’t be business as usual; this subsidy is gone. How many presidents can take such a decision? For me, that is leadership, and he’s prepared for the job.

“It’s a hard decision, but he has to take it, and no good leader who means well for his people will start playing games.

“During his campaign, he said it; even PDP said it, so they all know that this is the problem for this country. We didn’t make a mistake; this is the kind of leadership we need in this country.”

Senate approves Tinubu’s request to appoint 20 special advisers

By Musa Baba Adamu

The Senate has approved President Bola Tinubu’s request to appoint 20 special advisers.

The Senate President, Ahmad Lawan, read the president’s request on the floor of the upper legislative chamber on Tuesday.

In the request, the president did not disclose the identity of the 20 special advisers.

But after the letter was read, the senate approved the request.

This is coming after Tinubu was officially inaugurated as the 16th President of Nigeria.

By Ikechukwu Okaforadi

Apolitical pressure group based in the north, Arewa New Agenda (ANA) yesterday threw its weight behind the recent policy proclamation by President Ahmed Bola Tinubu, which declared an end to the subsidy regime in Nigeria.

Presenting a communque after a two-day Policy Dialogue on the Fuel Subsidy removal, the National Convener of the group, senator Ahmad Abubakar MoAllahyidi, said though the Policy may have its economic challenges, the end will benefit Nigerians.

The Convener said Arewa New Agenda recognizes the pain occasioned by the increase in pump price of petroleum

products; but the removal will prevent the diversion and smuggling of gasoline outside the country’s borders which bleeds our economy.

“Government must stay on course with its current action; must not give in to blackmail nor capitulate under threat.

It is the considered position of the policy dialogues as convened by ANA that under the DSDP, imported petrol belongs to the NNPCL since it (NNPCL) has supplied crude oil to the marketers in exchange for petrol but the marketers usually keep the imported fuel to themselves and sell it to the independent marketers at arbitrary price.

“The removal of subsidy on PMS will among other things:

Solve the problem of perennial hardship and the attendant hardship on citizens. It will put a stop to corruption around the subsidy regime which has made some individuals stupendously rich without industry.

Arewa New Agenda backs Tinubu on fuel subsidy removal Tinubu, the leader Nigeria needs –Wike

“It will free-up the humongous amount paid out as subsidy for enhance growth in critical sectors of national development Reduce Gasoline Smuggling and Diversion. The removal of fuel subsidy eliminates the unhealthy price arbitrage with neighboring countries”, the group said.

While noting that this critical economic activity will require all hands to be on deck for the prosperity of Nigeria, senator MoAllahyidi said salaries and wages of workers in Nigeria is

nothing to write home about and needs to be realistically reviewed.

“Dialogue with organized labor must be intensified; we caution labor not to politicize this genuine economic policy activity at this very early stage of the Tinubu administration.

“That vulnerable groups in Nigeria feel the impact of subsidy removal more and they should be first line of consideration in provision of palliatives.

“That dialogue attendees support the decision of President Tinubu on the removal of subsidy and will do everything possible to help actualize the desire for improved life of the ordinary citizens

Recommendation/ Suggestions”, the group said.

President, Rotary Club of Naraguta, Virginia Jang (R), with some of the Club Members, inspecting some equipment, during the official presentation of the equipment to Primary Health Care donated by the Rotary Club in Jos on Tuesday (6/6/23).

Ex-Abia PDP secretary, Ogbonna dumps party, retires from partisan politics

By Musa Baba Adamu

Theformer Abia State Organizing Secretary of the Peoples Democratic Party, Saint Moses Ogbonna, has announced the resignation of his membership of the PDP in the state. He also announced his total withdrawal from state partisan

politics.

Ogbonna disclosed his decision in a letter addressed to the PDP Chairman, Aku na Ekpu, Eziama na Obuba Ward, in Isiala Ngwa South local government area and the state. The Abia party chieftain, however, did not state the reasons behind his decision to dump the former ruling party in the state.

His words: “I wish to use this medium to formally and officially resign my membership of the Peoples Democratic Party, and at the same time, inform the general public that as of now, I have ceased to participate in partisan politics.

“I hereby apologize to anyone who I have wronged in one way or the other as we wandered through the

political tide.

“I now wish to manage my legal practice as an activist and to serve Abia and humanity in general to the Glory of God.

“I thank all my colleagues in PDP for all their cooperation and love during my stay in the party. Let’s love lead”

Again, Oyo Assembly suspends LG chair over alleged diversion of funds

By Musa Baba Adamu

TheOyo State House of Assembly has suspended another local government chairman in the state.

The Chairman of Saki West Local Government Area, Mr. Sarafadeen Omirinde, was suspended by the assembly on Tuesday.

This is not the first time the

assembly would be suspending a local government chairman.

Chairman of Irepo Local Government Area, Lateef Sulaimon Adediran was suspended by the assembly in May this year over alleged diversion of funds.

The assembly on Tuesday announced that it has suspended Omirinde following some allegations against him.

The lawmakers announced that the suspension was to allow the House to investigate various allegations levelled against the chairman in a correspondence to the House.

The correspondence, which was signed by two-third members of the legislative arm of the local government, was read by Clerk of the House.

Some of the allegations levied

against the embattled chairman included gross misconduct, religious intolerance, anti party activities and unlawful diversion of the local government subvention.

The house then directed the Vice Chairman, Mr Gbenga Akinola to take over from the chairman.

Leader of the legislative arm in the local government area is to take over the position of the vice chairman.

Yusuf emerges new Speaker, Kogi House of Assembly

By Christiana Ekpa

The lawmaker representing Lokoja II, Aliu Umar Yusuf has emerged the new Speaker of the Kogi State House of Assembly.

Yusuf emerged the Speaker shortly after Governor Yahaya Bello of Kogi State issued a proclamation

inaugurating the eighth Assembly.

The House also elected Enema Paul, the lawmaker representing Dekina Okura Constituency as the new Deputy Speaker.

Other principal officers elected are Suleiman Abdulrasaq, Majority Leader), Seidu Amodu (Deputy Majority Leader), Baba Haruna, (Chief Whip), Bello Okuwaseyi,

( Deputy Chief Whip), Idowu Ibikunle, (Minority Leader), Sunday Daku, (Deputy Minority Leader) and Bode Ogunmola, (Minority Whip).

In his inaugural speech, the new Speaker, Hon Aliu Umar Yusuf thanked God almighty for the privilege to serve Kogi State.

He also thanked his colleagues

for finding him worthy to champion the affairs of the legislative house.

The Speaker said the state Assembly under his leadership will collaborate with other arms of government towards moving Kogi State forward.

The house thereafter, adjourned sitting to 1st August 2023.

Thugs attack, flog PDP members at Ogun tribunal premises as security agents watch

By Musa Baba Adamu

The Ogun State Election Petition Tribunal sitting in Isabo, Abeokuta on Monday commenced hearing of the petition filed by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governorship candidate, Ladi Adebutu, against Dapo Abiodun of the All Progressives Congress (APC).

Both the APC and the PDP mobilised their members to be at the tribunal for solidarity.

However, political thugs stormed the venue of the tribunal with canes, otherwise known as pankere, attacking perceived opponents while police officers and other security agents watched.

Although the road leading to the court was barricaded at both ends by the police, it did not prevent the hoodlums from attacking their targets.

As the political thugs roamed about with canes in their hands, the police made no attempt to arrest or stop them from causing chaos.

A policeman said, “there is nothing we can do, we can’t arrest them. Everything about Ogun is always different.”

A PDP member, who was attacked by the thugs, said he lost his phone, money and other valuables in his possession while being beaten.

As of the time of filing this report, members of the PDP have fled the court premises to avoid further attacks.

Attacking opposition members at the tribunal has now become a dangerous trend in Ogun after every election.

We never endorsed Kalu for Senate Presidency – ACF

By Musa Baba Adamu

The Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF) has denied endorsing former Abia governor, Sen.Orji Uzor Kalu as its preferred candidate for the Senate Presidency of the 10th National Assembly.

Alhaji Musa Saidu, a member of the forum said this in a statement on Monday in Abuja.

Saidu was reacting to a statement created to Alhaji Yerima Shettima, the leader of the Arewa Youth Conservative Forum, AYCF, claiming that the ACF had endorsed Kalu for the position.

“I want to say without fear of contradiction, that the ACF has no youth wing and there was no time that we sat to make Shettima the AYCF leader.

“The whole thing is false.

“The ACF has not endorsed Kalu as the next Senate President, because we have our own ways of doing things.

“It is shocking to hear Shettima asking Sen. Abdulaziz Yari to step down for Kalu in the race for Senate Presidency,” he said.

Saidu, also the leader of the Arewa Community in Southern Nigeria, said that the ACF would have preferred that the position

be zoned to the North because of its contribution to the victory of President Bola Tinubu in the Feb. 25 election.

“The North contributed the highest votes for Tinubu in the presidential election, so we can’t just endorse candidates from other zones for the Senate Presidency.

“How can we work for Tinubu to become president and then turn around to start campaigning for other zones to become Senate President.

“In fact the Vice-President slot given to the North is just like a spare tyre, everybody in Nigeria

knows that the position has no much value.

“Since the North West gave Tinubu the highest votes, then it should be given the Senate Presidency, the position of the Speaker of the House of Representatives is too small for the zone,” he said.

Saidu added: ”It is a payback time for the North, so it should be given the Senate Presidency of the 10th National Assembly.

“For fairness and justice, the North should be considered for the Senate Presidency and Sen. Abdulaziz Yari should be endorsed for the position.”

Shehu Sani mocks Wike over comment on Tinubu offering him appointment

By Ikechukwu Okaforadi

Aformer Kaduna Central Senator, Shehu Sani, has mocked the immediate past governor of Rivers State, Nyesom Wike over his remark on President

Bola Tinubu offering him an appointment.

Sani said Wike was talking about appointments more than members of the All Progressives Congress, APC. Recall that Wike had visited Tinubu twice since he

assumed office as president.

Speaking with BBC Pidgin, Wike said he would consult his wife and friends if Tinubu offers him an appointment.

The former governor also vowed to assess himself to see if he is prepared for

any national assignment, should Tinubu offers him an appointment.

Reacting, Sani tweeted: “Wike is talking about appointments more than even members of the ruling party.”

Don’t use your office for personal vendetta

PRP warns Kano Governor, Abba

By Christiana Ekpa

The People’s Redemption Party, PRP, has advised Kano State, Governor Abba Kabir not to use his office for personal vendetta but for the best interest of the state.

This was contained in a press statement signed by members of the 2023 Kano

PRP candidate forum issued to journàlists.

They warned the Governor against injustice, prioritizing any individual, group, or political party’s interest above the collective interest of the state.

“Election is the only legal and acceptable way of producing leaders under democracy in

Nigeria, there must be a winner and a loser.

“We are calling on the new government to put the collective interest of the state above any individual, fraternity interest or parochial sentiment.

“Revitalize our decaying education sector, improve public healthcare service delivery, come up with policies

and programs that will enhance agriculture, commerce and industries, job creation and poverty eradication,” they stated.

The party however congratulated the governor and all other candidates who won election under various political parties.

Ekiti Gov, Oyebanji signs 3 bills into law

By Christiana Ekpa

Ekiti State Governor Biodun

Oyebanji on Monday signed three laws recently passed by the state House of Assembly, namely the Ekiti State Roads Fund Law, the Ekiti Rural Access Roads Authority Law, and the Wealth Fund Law, 2023.

According to Oyebanji, the signing of the three sectorreform laws was geared towards actualising the road infrastructure upgrade and prosperity agenda of the administration.

The governor said his administration would continue to drive development by ensuring the transformation of the infrastructural landscape of the state.

Speaking after assenting to the three laws at a brief ceremony held at the Executive Council Chamber, Governor’s Office, Ado-Ekiti, Governor Oyebanji said he is determined to improve the quality of lives of citizens of the state, especially rural dwellers who have long been denied basic services.

The event was attended by a World Bank team led by the Country Director, Mr. Shubham Chaudhuri. Members of the Ekiti State House of Assembly and the Executive Council of the state were also in attendance.

Governor Oyebanji noted that the Rural Access and Roads Authority would serve as the engine driving the development and maintenance of rural roads in the state. He explained that the body will be responsible for

the planning, implementation, and monitoring of the construction, rehabilitation, and maintenance of Class C and D roads in the state.

He added that the authority would help foster economic growth through the facilitation of transportation of goods and services, which would lead to an improvement in the standard of living of the rural populace.

The governor stated: “Today is a momentous occasion as we gathered here to witness the signing of three significant sector reform bills into law. It is with great pleasure and a sense of fulfilment that I stand before you to inaugurate the Rural Access and Roads Authority and the State Roads Fund, both vital components of the Ekiti Rural Access and Agricultural

Marketing Project (RAAMP) and the Ekiti State Wealth Fund.

“These reform bills mark a major milestone in our commitment to transforming the infrastructure landscape and laying a very solid economic foundation for our beloved state. It signifies our resolute dedication to improving the lives of our people, especially those in rural areas who have long yearned for enhanced connectivity and better access to vital services, and the vulnerable who have been negatively affected by various government policies.

“Additionally, the State Roads Funds, as established, will provide a sustainable financing mechanism for the maintenance and rehabilitation of our Class B, Class C, and Class D road

infrastructure. This dedicated fund will ensure that they have the necessary resources to carry out timely repairs, thus prolonging the lifespan of our roads and minimising disruption to the transportation network.

“The Ekiti Wealth Fund is our very bold attempt to put in place the building blocks for sustainable growth and development. It is a coordination of infrastructure funds, future generation funds, and investment funds to drive our shared prosperity agenda.”

Earlier, the Speaker of the Ekiti State House of Assembly, Olubunmi Adelugba, disclosed that the Sixth Assembly was able to pass 99 bills and 90 resolutions during its four-year tenure.

DMO offers two FGN savings bonds at N1000 per unit

By Abubakar Yunusa Abuja

The Debt Management Office (DMO) has announced an offering for two Federal Government of Nigeria (FGN) savings bonds for subscription at N1,000 per unit.

In a statement, DMO said the offers, which opened on June 3, 2023, will close by June 9, 2023.

The agency said the first offer is a two-year FGN savings bond due on June 14, 2025, at an interest rate of 10.301 percent per annum.

The second issuance, DMO said, is a three-year savings bond maturing on June 14, 2026, at 11.301 percent per annum interest rate.

The organisation also said coupon payment dates are September 14, December 14, March 14, and June 14 respectively.

“They are offered at N1,000 per unit subject to a maximum subscription of N5,000 and in multiples of N1,000 thereafter, subject to a maximum subscription of N50 million,” the statement reads.

“Interest is payable quarterly and the bullet repayment (principal amount) is done on maturity”.

The debt office said the latest offers have a settlement date of June 14, 2023.

The DMO noted that the FGN savings bonds were backed by the full faith and credit of the FGN and charged upon the general assets of the country.

“They qualify as securities in which trustees can invest under the trustee investment act,” DMO added.

“They qualify as government securities within the meaning of the company income tax act (CITA) and personal income tax act (PITA) for tax exemption, pension funds, amongst other investors.”

The savings bonds are also listed on the Nigerian Exchange Limited and qualify as liquid assets for liquidity ratio calculation for banks, the office said.

SEC says commodities export will grow economy

By Abubakar Yunusa Abuja

TheSecurities and Exchange Commission has said that Nigeria has various commodities that could be exported in a bid to grow the economy, provide jobs for Nigerians as well as provide the nation with forex.

Director General of the SEC, Mr. Lamido Yuguda who stated this while speaking to journalists in Lagos weekend, said that the agricultural sector in the country is expected to grow significantly in the near future.

Yuguda disclosed that in its desire to ensure that agricultural produce are of exportable standards and quality, the Commission is collaborating with the Standards Organisation of Nigeria to develop standards for commodities.

He disclosed that as a result of the collaboration with SON, some of the standards have been developed and being exposed to different markets close by and they have been received very well.

The DG said that the development of these standards will pave the way for the export of these products to the international market and in turn boost the Nigerian economy.

He said that the Commission is pleased about the new government’s mention of supporting the commodities sector as it will further boost the SEC’s efforts at developing the Commodities sector.

“Already, we have licensed a total of 5 exchanges, and also approved the trading and framework for operations of different instruments. We are collaborating with NAICOM, CBN, SON and the Fed Min of Solid Minerals and Mines in various ways to develop the sector. Ranging from capacity building, standard setting, domestic and international advocacy etc”.

“This is a sector that the Commission has been working strenuously to encourage, both agricultural commodities and mineral commodities among others. This is a market that has a lot of potentials for Nigeria. We are a very good agricultural nation and we have a lot of resources and right now most of them are sold in local markets without any form standards and because of that a lot of our agricultural produce is rejected in the international market.

“You see smaller countries are able to export their agricultural products especially fruits. Our fruits are among the best in the world, but unfortunately we are not participating in this market because of the issues of standardisation.

According to him, “This is something in the right direction, it is a starting point and I believe that going further in the near future this could be something really significant. We expect the agricultural sector to grow significantly in the nearest future. We are also collaborating with the Ministry of Solid minerals because there is a lot of opportunity in that sector. But right now there is a lot of artisanal mining, so there needs to be a collaboration between State governments and the Ministry of Mines so that there is a kind of standardisation and those mining are licenced by the government and this mining is happening on a sustainable basis”.

Yuguda stated that as part of its

implementation of the Capital Market Master Plan, the commission constituted a Technical Committee on commodities Trading Ecosystem whose mandate was to identify challenges of the existing framework and develop a roadmap for a vibrant ecosystem.

“A committee comprising various stakeholders including the SON was set up to drive the implementation of the report. One of the recommendations in the report identified development of grading and standardisation system in line with international best practice,” he said.

“That I may know Him, and the power of His resurrection”Phil 3:10.

President, Rotary Club of Naraguta, Virginia Jang (L) presenting some hospital equipment to the representative of the Head of the Primary Health Care, Dr Kolade Alfred, during the official presentation of Hospital Equipment to the Health Care donated by the Rotary Club in Jos on Tuesday (6/6/23).

N’Delta youths, others urges Tinubu to review fuel price template

By Abubakar Yunusa Abuja

The Niger Delta Youth Congress (NDYC), Southsouth Movement for Good Governance (SMG) The Urhobo Progressive Vanguard (UPV), Niger Delta Women for Change (NDWC), and others has urged president Ahmed Bola Tinubu to critically review the fuel price template provided by the NNPCL.

The group, in a statement jointly signed by National Coordinator NDYC, Comrade Israel Uwejeyan; National President, SMG, Barr. Raymond Oporomo; President, UPV, Comr. Efemena Esamagu; National Coordinator, NDWC, Mrs. Abigail Asibie; National President, CRYDF, Comr. Julius Emaluji, on Monday in Abuja.

The groups noted that reducing the fuel price template, government will be lessening the financial burden on the masses.

They also called on the President to prioritize finding a lasting solution to the inherited issues plaguing the petroleum sector. One crucial aspect that demands urgent attention is the state of the existing refineries.

The statement read past: “The continuous reliance on imported petroleum products has not only proven to be economically unsustainable but also undermines our national energy security. “We implore President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to proffer a comprehensive and sustainable plan to revamp and rehabilitate the existing refineries within the coming months.

“This measure will not only reduce our dependence on imported petroleum products but also create job opportunities, foster local content development, and ultimately contribute to the economic growth and development of our nation.

“We urge all stakeholders to work together to build a nation where the welfare of the people is paramount and where the actions of all stakeholders align with the collective goal of a prosperous Nigeria.”

They further urged Nigerians to be vigilant and reject the NLC’s attempts to drag them into a situation with uncertain outcomes.

Add: “We urge our compatriots not to fall for the gimmicks employed by the NLC, who seem to be taking advantage of the

suffering of the masses for their selfish negotiations.

“The NLC must first and foremost provide a comprehensive explanation regarding its absence during the preparation, presentation, defense, and passage of the budget by the former President Muhammadu Buhari’s government and the 9th National Assembly, which did not include provisions for subsidy.”

“We call on Nigerians to hold independent oil marketers accountable for the drastic deterioration of petroleum prices, we vehemently condemn these acts of extortion by the independent marketers who hiked pump prices as soon as the subsidy removal was announced by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu in order to sabotage the efforts of the government.”

UN: Countries must put aside national interests, priotise common good to tackle climate crisis

From Abubakar Yunusa Abuja

Simon Stiell, executive secretary of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), has called on countries to put aside their national interests and prioritise global common good.

Stiell spoke at the opening plenary of the Bonn Climate Change Conference on Monday.

The Bonn conference is a preparatory meeting intended to lay the technical groundwork for the COP28 summit that starts in November.

The executive secretary made reference to the recent reports by scientists, adding that there is a need to speed up action to tackle climate change.

Stiell said the world is at a “tipping point” in the climate crisis, while urging nations to put aside their differences and make brave decisions to limit global warming.

“The latest reports of the WMO and IPCC make clear that climate change is accelerating, and we are lagging behind in our actions to stem it,” he said.

“I’m aware of the difficulty you face, wearing two hats at these sessions. There is, at times, tension between national interest and the global common good.

“I urge delegates to be brave, to see that by prioritising the common good, you also serve your national interests and act accordingly.

“As you deliberate, keep in mind this basic premise: No life is expendable. Not expendable because national budgets are already constrained elsewhere. Not expendable because we want to consume ever more energy than our needs.

“Not expendable because fossil fuel extraction is a financial and political insurance policy. Not expendable because nature is easily commoditised.

“We have a clear ambition: to pursue limiting global warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius and deliver a resilient sustainable future for all. We must make progress against all areas. This will set the frame for COP28.”

Ardova close to exiting Nigerian Exchange as shareholders accept N17.4 billion buyout

From Abubakar Yunusa Abuja

Ardova Plc reached the critical stage of delisting its shares from the Nigerian Exchange after a buyout agreement that will see minority shareholders get 2.9 per cent more than the settlement price the acquiring investor initially offered them.

“Each scheme shareholder (as defined in the scheme document) shall receive ₦17.88K per scheme share held,” the energy firm stated in the outcome document of a court-ordered meeting released on Monday.

Businessman Abdulwasiu Sowami, who already owns an indirect stake of 74.1 per cent in the company, had early this year tendered N17.38 per unit (premium inclusive) for all the 970.7 million shares held by other shareholders.

The latest contract means Mr Sowami will pay N17.4 billion compared to the N16.9 billion proposed before the two sides held talks.

Consummating the deal will mark the exit point for Ardova from the Nigerian bourse, fiftythree years after its precursor African Petroleum was admitted to the stock market in Lagos.

Ardova’s decision to go private continues a worrisome trend of oil & gas companies dumping Africa’s second-biggest stock exchange, with 11 Plc (formerly Mobil Nigeria) quitting two years and oil driller Oando now set to go that way.

Last month, Rak Unity Petroleum, the first indigenous company to be quoted on the exchange, made the last call to pay shareholders off as it went into liquidation.

“The legal and beneficial ownership of the scheme shares (will) be transferred to Ignite Investments & Commodities Limited,” Ardova said in the

document, referring to Mr Sowami’s nominee company.

The timing brings the right circumstances to the acquirer to bolster revenue and unlock more excellent value in the energy industry.

It also coincides with the latest deregulation reform by Africa’s largest economy, terminating the state oil company’s monopoly of importing fuel.

In the spirit of a liberalised market, NNPC Limited is aborting its fuel-for-crude swap arrangement with traders with hints that indigenous oil companies could start importing petroleum products this month.

Nigeria’s total trade improves in Q1 2023 – NBS

By Abubakar Yunusa Abuja

The National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) says Nigeria’s total merchandise trade slightly improved in the first quarter of 2023.

This is according to the NBS Foreign Trade in Goods Statistics Report for Q1 2023 released in Abuja on Tuesday.

The NBS said the increase was due to a marginal increase in import and export trade resulting in a positive trade balance.

The report said in Q1 2023, Nigeria’s total trade stood at N12.1 trillion of which total exports stood at N6.5 trillion and total imports amounted to N5.6 trillion.

It said total exports increased in Q1 2023 by 2.00 per cent but declined by 8.66 per cent when compared to the amount recorded in Q4 2022 at N6,359.61 billion and Q1 of 2022 at N7,102.11

billion, respectively.

The report said total imports increased by 3.67 per cent in Q1 2023 compared to the value recorded in Q4 2022 at N5,362.83 billion.

“Total imports however fell by 25.83 per cent when compared to the value recorded in Q1 2022 at N7,495.67 billion,” it said.

The NBS said re-exports value in the quarter under review stood at N32.17 billion representing 0.50 per cent of total exports.

The report said the top five re-export destinations were Cameroon, Ghana, Equatorial Guinea, the United Kingdom, and Liberia.

It said the most re-exported commodity was vessels and other floating structures for breaking up with N21.07 billion.

“This was followed by light vessels, fire floats, floating cranes, and other vessels valued at N4.71

billion.

“Followed by this were other instruments and appliances for surveying amounting to N0.93 billion and parts of work-truck of the type used in factories, warehouses, dock areas or airports valued at N0.85 billion.”

The report said the top five export destinations in Q1 2023 were the Netherlands accounting for 12.91 per cent, followed by the USA at 8.93 per cent.

“This was followed by Spain at 7.53 per cent, France at 7.51 per cent, and India at 7.04 per cent of total exports.

“Altogether, exports to the top five countries amounted to 43.92 per cent of the total value of exports,” the NBS stated.

It said the commodity with the largest export values in Q1 2023 was petroleum oils and oils obtained from bituminous minerals, crude at N5,148.58

billion representing 79.37 per cent.

“This was followed by ‘Natural gas, liquefied’ at N622.36 billion accounting for 9.59 per cent, and ‘Urea, whether or not in aqueous solution’ at N146.79 billion or 2.26 per cent of total exports.”

In terms of Imports, the report said in Q1 2023, China, The Netherlands, Belgium, India, and the USA were the top five countries of origin of imports to Nigeria.

It said the value of imports from the top five countries amounted to N3.2 trillion representing a share of 55.78 per cent of the total value of imports.

“The commodities with the largest values of imported products were Motor Spirit Ordinary at N1,492.28 billion, Gas Oil at N472.40 billion

Durum Wheat (not in seeds) at N249.22 billion.”

and

From left: Chief Medical Director, Lagos State University Teaching Hospital (LASUTH), Prof. Adetokunbo Fabamwo; Provost, Lagos State University College of Medicine (LSUCM), Ikeja, Prof. Abiodun Adewuyi and Vice Chancellor, Lagos State University (LASU), Prof. Ibiyemi Olatunji-Bello, during the induction of 3rd set of Bachelor of Nursing Science Graduates of the LSUCM in Lagos on Tuesday (6/6/23).

FCTA doles out communication gadgets to security agencies

By Stanley Onyekwere

To boost crime fighting efforts in Abuja, the nation’s capital, the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) yesterday doled out distributed state-ofthe-art communication gadgets to security agencies.

The communication gadgets presented include: 500 units of Hand Held Radios, 35 Base Radio, 10 Repeater Stations and 3IP Connect.

Recall that the FCT administration had in October 2022 procured and distributed 60 units of operational vehicles to the FCT Police Command, Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps

(NSCDC) ,and the Department of State Security Services (DSS).

Also, the FCTA had in March 2023, distributed additional patrol vehicles, protective gear and riot control equipment to support their efforts.

Distributing the items, the FCTA Permanent Secretary, Mr. Olusade Adesola, said the distribution of communication gadgets marks the end of the series of activities in the latest donations made to the security agencies.

Adesola, while handing over the equipment to heads of the security outfits in office, noted that the nature of threats and security challenges have become increasingly complex thus the

need for state of the art facilities to meet up with modern methods of combating crimes.

He therefore urged the benefiting agencies to make good use of the gadgets provided them in enhancing their operations through effective communication.

Adesola explained that the procurement of top of the range brand of Motorola communication radio and other gadgets became imperative in equipping the security agencies with the right tools.

The Permanent Security noted that the communication equipment are a testament that the FCTA was concerned about securing citizens lives; as well as assist the Security

Agencies to coordinate their activities seamlessly.

“The gadgets, we are presenting today are a testament to our unwavering dedication to the security and well-being of our residents.

“These devices will enable our security our security agencies to respond swiftly and effectively to emerging threats, coordinate their efforts seamlessly, and gather and analyse crucial intelligence in real time.

“By equipping our security personnel with these gadgets, we are investing in their capacity to safeguard our society and deter criminal elements from undermining our peace and

security”, he stated.

In a vote of thanks, the FCT Commissioner of Police, Haruna Garba, while commending the FCT Administration for providing the security agencies with the needed communication gadgets, expressed optimism that the equipment would serve as as support system and enhance effective communication among security personnel.

The CP, who is optimistic that the equipment will act as buffer to their operations by helping them communicate with officers on field, assured that agencies will make maximum use of the equipment for the greater good of residents of the territory.

Entrepreneurship: NGOs empower 122 widows, others in Abuja

By Stanley Onyekwere

Two Non Government Organisations (NGOs), Helpline Foundation for the Needy Abuja, and the Rasaq Okulaja Empowerment Initiative, have empowered no fewer than 122 persons, in Abuja.

The beneficiaries mainly widows, and the less-privileged, were engaged in a 3-day skills acquisition programme at Church of God Mission International (CGMI) Vocational Training Centre in Byazhin, Kubwa.

It was gathered that after the

intensive training in soap making, confectionaries, makeup and hat making, adire making (tie and dye), among others, all the trainees were, over the weekend, given certificates of attendance with different kinds of gift items, while only those with outstanding performance were given starter packs, which included sets of sewing and grinding machines.

Speaking to newsmen on the sideline of the event, President, Helpline Foundation, Dr. Jumai Ahmadu, noted the imperative to always do more in uplifting the needy, and ensuring that they in

turn empower others.

Ahmadu said: “This year is just the beginning. Next year, we are going to come back to see that most of our trainees today will train other women.

“They are going to grow from this little handouts we are giving them here today to become big employers of labour.

“I want to challenge the women that have been trained in the past three days not to take this training for granted.

“Package your package very well, and market your package. With this training, you can go to the

international market depending on how well you package your products”.

Earlier, Pastor (Mrs.) Toyin Rasaq Okulaja, President, the Rasaq Okulaja Initiative, noted that the NGO, named after her late husband, Rev. Rasaq Okulaja, and launched on his one-year memorial, was designed to actualize his plan to establish such to support the less privileged in the society.

While thanking everyone for attending the event, she revealee that it was by God’s grace that she was alive, having lost Rev Rasaq Okulaja, a year ago.

Pastor Okulaja advised the widows saying: “Don’t look down on yourselves. Put to good use what you’ve learnt. Whatever you touch will prosper.

“In all things, give thanks to God. By strength shall no man prevail. This is one year of God’s faithfulness”.

Highpoint of the event was colourful exhibition of items by the trainees produced after the threeday empowerment programme, even as they expressed gratitude for the opportunity given them to be self-sufficient.

Vice President Kashim Shettima (l), President Bola Tinubu and a House Representative Speakership aspirant, Hon. Aliyu Betara, when Betara visited the President at the State House

Pilot of plane that crashed in Virginia was slumped over in cockpit - reports

The pilot of a private plane that was chased by fighter jets before crashing in Virginia was seen slumped over in the cockpit, US media report.

Fighter jets spotted the seemingly unconscious pilot after intercepting the aircraft, officials told outlets including the Washington Post and CNN.

The pilot and three other passengers died in Sunday’s crash.

The Cessna Citation aircraft crossed restricted airspace over Washington DC before plummeting in Virginia.

The plane, which had been heading to Long Island from Tennessee, made a hairpin turn when it reached New York before flying back south towards its origin.

When it entered airspace over the US capital, some of the most restricted in the country, F-16 fighter jets were permitted to fly at supersonic speed to intercept it and a loud sonic boom reverberated around the region.

The pilot was silent for the last two hours of the flight and the aircraft ultimately ran out of fuel and crashed in a densely wooded, mountainous area near Montebello in Virginia.

It is not clear why the pilot was unresponsive. Military officials speaking on condition of

anonymity said the plane was not shot down and fighter jets did not cause the crash.

Investigators are now combing through rural Virginia assessing the wreckage which is said to be “highly fragmented”. That operation is likely to take days, officials said.

“Everything is on the table until we slowly and methodically remove different components and elements that will be relevant for this safety investigation,” National Transportation Safety Board investigator Adam Gerhardt said.

A report with further details will be released next week. A final report on the fatal incident will be released in 12 to 24 months.

The four people who died have not been formally identified, but a person linked to the plane said his family members were onboard.

John Rumpel, 75, who runs the Florida business that owned the aircraft, told the New York Times his daughter, two-year-old granddaughter and her nanny were on the plane along with the pilot.

He said they had been returning to East Hampton, New York state, from his North Carolina home.

“It descended at 20,000ft a minute, and nobody could survive a crash from that speed,” Mr

Rumpel, who is also a pilot, said, adding that he hoped his relatives had not suffered.

Mr Rumpel, speaking separately to the Washington Post, identified the pilot as Jeff Hefner who he said had been flying for more than five years. He has not been named by officials.

Richard Levy, a retired captain and pilot instructor, told BBC News that the Cessna probably lost cabin pressure.

Aircraft cabins can depressurise for a number of reasons, including because of aircraft mechanical malfunctions or pilot errors, he said.

In this case, Mr Levy said the cabin may have depressurised gradually and “insidiously” without those on board even noticing symptoms of hypoxia - a condition in which the body is deprived of adequate levels of oxygen - until it was too late.

“They’re unaware of what’s happening, and then they’ve gone beyond the point of rational thinking, consciousness and good vision,” Mr Levy said.

Mr Levy said the pilot may have realised at one point that the cabin was depressurising and then tried to turn the aircraft around on an autopilot setting. “After that, my assumption is that the pilot then lost consciousness,” he said.

Astrud Gilberto: The Girl from Ipanema singer dies at 83

One of Brazil’s biggest stars of the 1960s and 70s, she recorded 16 albums and worked with artists ranging from Quincy Jones to George Michael.

Her version of The Girl From Ipanema sold more than five million copies and helped to popularise bossa nova.

Sofia Gilberto, the artist’s granddaughter, broke the news of her death on Instagram.

“I’m here to bring you the sad news that my grandmother became a star today, and is next to my grandfather João Gilberto,” wrote Sofia, who is also a musician.

“She was a pioneer and the best. At the age of 22, she gave voice to the English version of Girl from Ipanema and gained international fame.”

Paul Ricci, a New York-based guitarist who collaborated with Gilberto, also confirmed the news on Facebook.

“I just got word from her son Marcelo that we have lost Astrud Gilberto,” he wrote. “He asked for this to be posted.

“She was an important part of ALL that is Brazilian music in the world and she changed many lives with her energy. RIP from ‘the chief’, as she called me.”

The BBC has contacted Gilberto’s representatives for official confirmation.

Born Astrud Evangelina Weinert in Bahia, she moved to Rio de Janeiro at an early age and took musical inspiration from her mother’s side of the family, where “almost everyone played an instrument”.

In her mid-teens, she fell in with a group of young people she described as a “musical clan”, whose members included the famous singer Nara Leao and acclaimed guitarist João Gilberto, who helped create bossa nova.

Astrud and João married a few months after meeting, and it was their relationship that accidentally gave rise to her recording career.

Uncredited vocals

In 1963, she accompanied her husband to New York to help him as a studio translator while he cut an album with jazz legend Stan Getz.

When the band came to record the English lyrics for The Girl From Ipanema, they needed a vocalist - and Gilberto shyly suggested she could handle the task.

“Producer Creed Taylor said he wanted to get the song done

right away and looked around the room,” engineer Phil Ramone told Jazzwax in 2012.

“Astrud volunteered, saying she could sing in English. Creed said, ‘Great.’ Astrud wasn’t a professional singer, but she was the only victim sitting there that night.”

Although she had little time to prepare, Gilberto’s detached but sultry vocals perfectly captured the vibe of a “tall and tan and young and lovely” girl who turns the heads of everyone she passes.

The song was an instant hit and went on to win the Grammy Award for record of the year.

Gilberto wasn’t credited on the track (which was released under the name Stan Getz and João Gilberto) and she only received the standard $120 session fee for her performance.

However, it was the springboard for a successful solo career, beginning with 1965’s The Astrud Gilberto Album, on which she teamed up with incomparable jazz guitarist Antonio Carlos Jobim on a suite of Brazilian standards.

Speaking to The Independent last year, her son Marcelo claimed that Gilberto struggled with the objectification she received from

the press, and often had to fight misogyny in the music industry.

Writing on her website in the early 2000s, Gilberto recalled how several people had claimed responsibility for her success with Ipanema, with Stan Getz saying he had rescued her from being a “housewife”.

“Nothing is further from the truth,” she wrote. “I guess it may them look ‘important’ to have been the one that had the ‘wisdom’ to recognize talent or ‘potential’ in my singing… I suppose I should feel flattered by the importance that they lend to this, but I can’t help but to feel annoyed at the fact that they resorted to lying!”

In the 1970s, she began writing her own songs, as showcased on albums like Astrud Gilberto Now (1972) and That Girl From Ipanema (1977).

On the latter, she achieved a lifetime ambition by recording one of her songs, Far Away, as a duet with legendary jazz trumpeter Chet Baker.

Alongside recording, she developed a second strand to her career, acting in the films The Hanged Man and Get Yourself a College Girl and recording the soundtrack for The Deadly Affair,

arranged by Quincy Jones.

In the early 1980s, Gilberto formed a group that featured her son Maeclo on bass and toured the world, but she largely avoided playing in Brazil, where she felt she had not been afforded the recognition she deserved.

“Brazil turned its back on her,” Marcelo told The Independent. “She achieved fame abroad at a time when this was considered treasonous by the press.”

In Europe, she recorded an album of samba classics with James Last; and George Michael sought her out to duet on a version of Desafinado for charity album Red Hot + Rio in 1996.

She recorded her final album, Jungle, in 2002, after which she announced an indefinite hiatus from public performance, having previously said that being “close to the public was frightening”.

The singer devoted most of her later years to campaigning against animal cruelty, but the legacy of her first recording lived on, with everyone from Frank Sinatra and Madonna to Amy Winehouse and Nat King Cole offering their own interpretations of Gilberto’s performance.

Source: BBC

Books, not flowers, at SA media star’s memorial

South African news sites have been reporting on a memorial service held in honour of renowned journalist and political commentator Eusebius McKaiser, whose sudden death last week at the age of 45 shocked the nation.

News24 reports that people were requested to bring to the memorial one of his great loves, books, rather than flowers, that would be donated to a charity.

“The request was just one of the many ways the broadcaster, author and political analyst was remembered for his intellectual prowess and eloquence in communicating his sometimes radical and passionate ideas,” the site reports.

SowetanLive reports that vocalist Lyla Faye performed Revolution by Tracy Chapman, while all the speakers described him as “extremely intelligent, witty, full of love and passionate”.

In his address, McKaiser’s partner Nduduzo Nyanda said: “What I’ll miss the most are our Sunday nights and our rituals. I’ll miss his cheesy music, his love of 80s music. What I’ll miss the most is knowing I have somebody who loved fully and who gave himself fully.”

McKaiser died after suffering a suspected epileptic seizure.

He was outspoken about racism and a strong advocate of the rights of the LGBT community. McKaiser hosted talk shows and wrote columns for various local and international publications.

Sudan conflict: Army accused of killing Congolese in campus bombing

Ten people from the Democratic Republic of Congo have been killed in an army attack on a university campus in Sudan, the Congolese government says.

They died in bombardments on Sunday afternoon at Khartoum’s International University of Africa, it said.

“What hurts us very much is that it was the regular army that dropped the bombs knowing there were foreigners there,” the Congolese foreign minister said.

Rival military forces have been battling in Sudan’s capital for weeks.

Paramilitary fighters of the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) have bases in many residential areas across the city, which tend to be attacked by the military from the air.

It is not clear if those caught up in Sunday’s bombing were university students. It may have been an area within or by the university where various foreign nationals sought refuge.

UN refugee chief Filippo Grandi tweeted of his shock that 10 refugees had died in an attack in Khartoum, without giving further details.

The RSF, which is in a vicious power struggle with the army, said - in what appears to be a reference to the same attackthat the bombing on Sunday had happened in an area where African refugees were staying. It put the death toll of Congolese nationals at 25.

It tweeted a video that purported to be from the scene. It showed smoke rising in the

Tanzania disputes Amnesty’s claims on Maasai evictions

Tanzania’s justice minister has defended the government over accusations of forcefully relocating the Maasai people from their ancestral land near the Serengeti National Park.

Damas Ndumbaro described as “misleading” a report by Amnesty International that accused security forces of repeatedly using excessive force to evict the Maasai in the northern Loliondo region.

The rights group said police carried out arbitrary arrests and shot at people.

The minister told the BBC that government had only sought to demarcate a 4,000 sq km (1,544 sq miles) area that was a gamecontrolled area, established by the

German colonial government. He said local people had invaded the area after independence in 1961 to an extent that it could no longer be used for conservation, and the government had donated about two-thirds of the land to the communities there.

The minister said the police had acted calmly despite locals confronting them with crude weapons.

“Our police behaved very professionally in last year’s’ demarcation exercise. They did not react because they respect human rights,” he said, adding that a policeman was killed and the accused were being tried in court in accordance with the rule of law.

background from the direction where the International University of Africa is located.

People in the video, including a distressed woman who says her husband died in the attack, speak a mixture of Arabic and Lingala, the language spoken mainly in the west of DR Congo.

One man says: “We are Congolese… many people here are Congolese. Where is the international community?”

From visual clues in the video, including the minaret of a mosque in the background and what looks like a communications tower nearby, the BBC has pinpointed the site to an area of Khartoum near the university campus and a sports stadium.

Foreign Minister Christophe Lutundula said DR Congo had demanded an explanation from the Sudanese government and expected the bodies of those killed to be repatriated free of charge.

This would ensure “our compatriots are buried with dignity in accordance with our traditions”, he told journalists on Monday.

The Congolese government has also asked the Sudanese authorities to open up a humanitarian corridor so that those wounded in the attack and others still stranded in Sudan can be evacuated.

The foreign minister was at pains to say that arrangements

had been made since the conflict erupted on 15 April to evacuate Congolese people living in Sudan.

Some buses had taken students from the International University of Africa to the Egyptian city of Aswan where they were then flown to the Congolese capital, Kinshasa.

Such efforts would continue, Mr Lutundula said.

The humanitarian truce between the army and the RSF, which began on 22 May, officially expired on Saturday eveningthough it was frequently ignored by both sides.

The fighting, now it its eighth week, has killed hundreds of civilians and forced more than a million people to flee their homes.

Kenyan police tear-gas protest over proposed tax hikes

Police have fired tear gas to disperse Kenyan protesters demonstrating in the capital against some of the government’s proposed measures to impose new or higher taxes on items including fuel.

One of the key contested measures in the unpopular finance bill is a new 3% housing fund levy for all salaried workers and to increase value added tax on fuel to 16%.

The bill also calls for taxes on beauty products, crypto-currencies and earnings by social media influencers. They are among the measures that have been opposed by many Kenyans.

The dozens of protesters had sought to gather at a park in the centre of Nairobi before marching to parliament to urge MPs to reject

the tax proposals.

Local media reported that some of the protesters were arrested.

Legislators are set to debate the bill on Thursday, amid warnings

issued by President William Ruto and his deputy Rigathi Gachagua against those opposed to the proposals.

Source: BBC

DR Congo opposition politician accused of coup plot

The right-hand man of the Democratic Republic of Congo’s main opposition leader, Moïse Katumbi, has been accused by the army of colluding with a rebel group to plan a coup.

Salomon Idi Kalonda was arrested last week at the airport in

the capital, Kinshasa. He is a key figure in Mr Katumbi’s political campaign ahead of December presidential election.

His arrest has been described by the opposition as politically motivated, but Col Kangoli Ngoli of the military intelligence

said that Mr Kalonda had been “regularly” talking to M23 rebel officers “and Rwandan officers”.

“The aim was to overthrow the current authority in DR Congo by all possible means,” Col Ngoli told journalists on Monday.

The authorities in Kinshasa

accuse the Rwandan army of fighting alongside the M23, an allegation Rwanda has consistently denied.

M23 spokesman Maj Willy Ngoma denied the rebel group was working with Mr Kalonda to stage a coup, adding that leaders

in Kinshasa “can accuse anything about anyone they want to neutralise”.

“We cannot plan with someone in Kinshasa to organise a coup, we want talks with the government, not a coup,” Maj Ngoma told the BBC.

In a video said to be from the scene, this woman says she lost her husband

Ben Roberts-Smith threatened witnesses in defamation trial, judge says

Ajudgement in a landmark defamation trial says Australia’s most-decorated living soldier lied to cover up his misconduct and threatened witnesses.

It also found Ben RobertsSmith “complicit in and responsible for” the murder of four Afghans.

Last week, he lost a defamation suit against three Australian newspapers over war crimes allegations.

It has raised the spectre of a possible wider reckoning over claims of war crimes by Australian forces.

On Thursday, Federal Court Judge Anthony Besanko threw out the former special forces corporal’s case against The Age, The Sydney Morning Herald, and The Canberra Times.

Mr Roberts-Smith claimed the papers ruined his life with their reports that he had broken the moral and legal rules of war.

The judge delayed releasing the reasons for his judgement until Monday, to allow Australian authorities time to ensure it did not inadvertently divulge national security secrets.

But Judge Besanko found the claims that Mr Roberts-Smith had murdered unarmed prisoners and civilians while serving in Afghanistan were “substantially true”.

Saying that the 44-year-old was “not an honest and reliable witness”, he added: “I have difficulty accepting the applicant’s evidence on any disputed issue”.

He further found that the Victoria Cross recipient invoked a special forces code of silence to intimidate witnesses, and also smeared and threatened others.

Mr Roberts-Smith had used a private investigator to mail threats to those considering testifying

against him, something Judge Besanko said may constitute a criminal offence - either perverting the course of justice or using a postal service to menace, harass or cause offence.

More articles from the reporters at the centre of the trial, published in the days following the judgement, also allege further intimidating behaviour.

Mr Roberts-Smith went to the extent of sending a legal threat to

Gina Rinehart, Australia’s richest woman, warning that an ex-soldier - Ms Rinehart’s relative - would be sued for speaking ill of him, Nine Newspapers reported.

He also used his private detective to investigate another former soldier and his family, and was captured on tape lambasting soldiers who break the code of silence.

“A few people [in the special forces] had done what we don’t do,

and that’s talk out of school,” he said, according to the report.

Mr Roberts-Smith has not commented since the ruling, but he is expected to appeal to the full bench of the federal court.

The 110-day defamation trial cost up to an estimated A$25m ($16.3m, £13.2m).

Mr Roberts-Smith had been considered a national hero for having single-handedly overpowered Taliban machinegunners who were attacking his Special Air Service (SAS) platoon, earning him Australia’s highest military honour.

He was appointed to highprofile executive positions and received a string of accolades, even being crowned Father of the Year in 2013.

But while he has not been charged with any offences, the father of two is currently the subject of an Australia Federal Police inquiry into alleged war crimes.

In 2020, a landmark investigation known as the Brereton Report found “credible evidence” that elite Australian soldiers unlawfully killed 39 people in Afghanistan.

It recommended that 19 current or former soldiers should be investigated over alleged killings of prisoners and civilians from 2009-13.

Singapore to hold final horse race after more than 180 years

The more than 180-yearlong history of horse racing in Singapore is set to draw to a close.

It has been announced that the small Southeast Asian nation’s only racecourse - Singapore Turf Club - will hold its final meeting next year.

The country’s government will take back the 120-hectare site, which will be used for public and private housing.

Queen Elizabeth II, who was an avid racegoer and racehorse breeder, has an event named after

her at the course.

Her late Majesty presented the inaugural Queen Elizabeth II Cup during a visit to Singapore in 1972. She attended the feature race a second time in 2006.

“Horse racing has a long and distinguished history in Singapore,” the Singapore Turf Club said in a statement late on Monday.

“With races continuing until the 100th Grand Singapore Gold Cup on 5 October 2024, the Club will continue to ensure the sportsmanship, safety and

integrity of every race,” it added.

The sport was introduced to Singapore in 1842, when Scottish merchant William Henry Macleod Read and several other enthusiasts founded the Singapore Sporting Club.

They transformed a patch of semi-swampland in Farrer Park in central Singapore into a racecourse. In 1924, the site was renamed as the Singapore Turf Club.

Horse racing proved to be popular not only with Europeans, with meetings also attracting

wealthy Malay and Chinese racegoers.

In 1933, as horse racing’s popularity increased on the island, the course was moved to a larger location at Bukit Timah in western Singapore.

In March 2000, the Singapore Turf Club moved to its current location at Kranji, in the north of the island. The S$500m ($370.9m; £298m) racecourse has a five-storey grandstand, with capacity for 30,000 spectators.

However, the Singapore Turf Club has seen attendance decline

over the past decade.

The country’s government said the land would be redeveloped for public and private housing to meet “future land use needs”.

“Singapore is a city-state with limited land. The government continually reviews its land use plans to meet today’s needs while ensuring there is sufficient land for future generations,” it added.

The Ministry of National Development also said it would explore other uses for the land, including leisure and recreation facilities. Source: BBC

Australia’s most-decorated living soldier has found his reputation tainted by allegation of war crimes.

Queen Elizabeth II visited the Singapore Turf Club in 1972 and 2006

Horse racing was introduced to Singapore in 1842

NIOB urges govt to prioritise construction of affordable houses

By Mashe Umaru Gwamna

The Nigerian Institute of Building (NIOB) urges government to make construction of affordable houses for citizens a priority.

Prof. Yohanna Izam, President, NIOB, made this call recently at a two-day Mandatory Continuous Professional Development Workshop for its members in Abuja.

The theme of the workshop is “Innovation and technology in housing development”.

It also has sub themes:”Understanding the Nigeria housing challenge, technology driven mass housing provision and innovations to address housing affordability’.

Izam said that there was an urgent need for mass housing provision in the country.

According to him, the provision of mass housing units will not only address the housing deficit but will also solve a social welfare problem.

“We have look at the deficit in housing which some people have put the figures at 20 million. So the incoming administration should consider it as a priority to begin to develop mass houses for Nigerians.

“It will solve a social welfare problem and it will also reflect the economy that will create jobs for our teaming populace,” he said.

While speaking on the paper he presented at the workshop about Dry Construction he said

that it was about addressing the issue of speed in construction.

According to him, it helps to minimise the amount of onsite activities that involves industrialised building system that use more of refabricated components assembled within a short time on the construction site.

“The time for construction is reduced and on the long time factory production of considerable number of components improve the quality of the components and also reduce the cost of production.

“That is what other countries are using to address the issue of mass housing provision.

“We are talking about large numbers, if we can do 700,000 units in Nigeria for the next 10-20 years then we will now stabilise in the housing sector then Nigerians can have affordable housing,” he said.

On his part, 2nd Vice President of NIOB, Mr Bimbo Kolade decried the lack of accurate data on housing deficit in the country.

He said that shelter was critical and innovation and technology must be deployed to address housing delivery in Nigeria from the foundation stage to the last level of delivery.

Kolade said as builders one of the objectives of the workshop was to set an agenda for the incoming administration on the need for mass housing.

Prof. Ismaila Adamu of Yobe State University Damaturu who presented a paper on provision

of affordable housing using Lean Technology said the Technology would help reduce cost.

“It is a technique for project construction management, where you cut down cost through eliminating waste and eliminate any activity in the production process that does not add value to the building.

“Since we are looking for innovative ways for affordable housing units it is a technique that manages planning with control, so that when you plan

you also control.

“When you talk of affordable housing you can look at it from different perspectives, affordable houses to who?

“Everyone has the type of house he wants, because you see sometimes government builds houses and give to people but they sell it and go and construct the type that they like.

Adamu said effort must be put into providing houses for the low income groups that are really affordable and cost effective.

One of the participants of the workshop, Mr Olaniran Aderobigbe, a fellow of NIOB and Managing Director of Projubi Nigeria Plc said the workshop was key because it keeps builders abreast of the latest innovation the industry globally.

Aderibigbe said most of the lectures were futuristic and would give participants a mindset to process and apply the techniques when they eventually come across them adding that the workshop was worthwhile.

Service Charge Key In Mgt Of Multi Tenanted Property - ESV. Patrick Okeke

By Mashe Umaru Gwamna

An Estate Surveyor & Valuer ESV. Patrick Kene

Okeke, said Service Charge is key in the management of multitalented property.

ESV. Okeke made the disclosure in Abuja, yesterday while speaking to newsmen.

He said multi tenanted property have facilities that are used in common by all tenants.

“Facilities such as elevators, security lighting, security alarm, elevators among others. The Service Charge are imposed on all the tenants for smooth running of the property and for the common good of all”.

He said the Estate Surveyor and Valuer, will normally propose annual budget, estimate to cover the expenses which will be apportioned to tenants to pay accordingly.

“The Service Charge is paid collectively by the tenants according to the space they are occupying”.

He will equally manage the funds for the day to day running of the property.

“ The Estate Surveyor & Valuer will provide an annual report to show how the money collected are expended, each tenant must have the statement of account. This is very important to enable each

tenant to know whether he has a refund or will add to the common pool of funds”, Okeke stated.

He explained that “It is important to add that nonpayment of service charge by some tenants has wide implication in the maintenance of the property.

“When the security men and cleaners for instance are not paid at the end of the month, your guess is as good as mine with what

will happen to the property”.

He said that Estate Surveyors and Valuers are the only professionals who are competent to handle this aspect of property management.

“He is the one who secured the tenants and such are familiar with them and conversant with the day to day running of the property maintenance and can deal with artisans as the case maybe”, he stated.

Surveyors tasks members on professionalism

From: Femi Oyelola, Kaduna

Nigerian Institution of Surveyors (NIS), Kaduna State Council has charged members to keep upgrading and expanding their professional prowess, through training, if they must remain useful and relevant in the ever-changing world.

The Chairman of the State Council, Surv Daudu Andrew asserted this during the oath taking of new exco and induction of new members into the instruction held in Kaduna on 3rd of June, 2023.

According to him, professionals in the sector should consistently seek to

improve themselves for adequate competition, saying.

surveyors must eschew all tendencies capable of undermining the professional ethics in the overall interest of the people and country at large.

Surv. Andrew called on the Kaduna State Government to ensure the inclusion of the

menbers of the institution in government projects, stressing no projects can stand the test of time and no Certificate of Occupancy is free from litigation if there is no surveyors contribution.

He said Kaduna state is the number two on the national ladder of the institution in terms of dues payments.

He stressed that the current leadership of the Institution is working in sync with the government and its agencies to create the necessary environment for growth, peace and harmony within the profession that will reduce land litigations in the state.

Ukraine war: Holy Trinity painting on display in Moscow

In Moscow, the Cathedral of Christ the Saviour echoes to Orthodox chants and prayers. It’s packed with worshippers on one of the great feasts of Orthodoxy: Pentecost.

But many have come here to see a masterpiece that’s been put on display. A 600-year-old Orthodox icon - one of Russia’s most precious - believed to have been painted by the medieval artist Andrei Rublev. It’s known as The Holy Trinity.

For a century, this fragile painting has been in a state museum, Moscow’s Tretyakov Gallery. Temperature and humidity controls, along with teams of restorers, have helped to protect and preserve this work of art.

But the Kremlin recently ordered that the icon be transferred to the Russian Orthodox Church. The head of the Church, Patriarch Kirill, is delighted.

“This icon returns to the Church at a time when our Fatherland is confronting massive enemy forces,” he told worshippers at the weekend. “It returns so that we can ask God to help our country and pray for our Orthodox president Vladimir Putin, whose decision it was to hand back the icon.”

The Patriarch may be pleased. But the icon’s transfer has sparked controversy.

One of Russia’s most renowned art historians agrees to meet to explain why. Lev Lifshits was part of a group of experts that advised against moving the icon from the Tretyakov Gallery, warning that the transfer could result in major damage.

“This decision was someone’s personal whim,” Lev explains. “The [Tretyakov Gallery’s] Restoration Council was categorically against this.

“While the icon was in the museum, with a team of restorers, it was like a person in intensive care. It was being monitored round the clock and by the most modern equipment.

“This is a political decision. Those in power here are looking to the heavens and hoping for help from above.”

Or, at the very least, help from the Church to sustain public support for Russia’s fullscale invasion of Ukraine and for Russia’s president. Patriarch Kirill publicly backs what the Kremlin still calls the “special military operation.” He has previously claimed that any Russian soldiers killed will have their sins “washed away.”

What’s more, the Russian Patriarch has suggested that President Putin’s reign over Russia had been mandated by God.

“God put you in power so that you could perform a service of

special importance and of great responsibility for the fate of the country and the people entrusted to your care,” Patriarch Kirill said last October.

In that sense, returning the Holy Trinity icon could be interpreted as a reward for the Church’s loyalty.

But that may be only part of the story.

“The Church is a very important element of his personal ideology,” believes Andrei Kolesnikov of the Carnegie Russia

Eurasia Center. “The inner circle of Putin, and Putin himself, they have an ideology: it is clerical, anti-Western and imperialistic. What is the basis of this ideology?

Not Marxism-Leninism as in a previous period of Russian history, but religion.

“He’s a religious man. But it’s not about Christianity as such, with real Christian values, because cruelty - this is not Christian values. In that sense Putin is a follower of a very specific kind of religion.”

Outside Moscow’s Christ the Saviour Cathedral in Moscow, worshippers are queuing to see the Holy Trinity icon. Some here are hoping for miracles.

“It’s difficult now with the special military operation,” Valentina tells me. “We are praying for victory.”

“Any sensible person will hope the conflict ends soon,” says Antonina. “I think God will help.”

In Russia the Orthodox Church often paints the war in Ukraine as a “holy war.”

To make Russians believe that God is on their side. And to make them forget that it was their country that invaded Ukraine.

Source: BBC

The Holy Trinity painting is now on display at a cathedral in Moscow, despite its age and fragile state

The head of the Russian Orthodox Church is a vocal supporter of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine

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Premier League: Which teams did the World Cup break help or hinder?

Arsenal manager Mikel

Arteta described it as “unprecedented”, former Tottenham boss Antonio Conte called it “crazy” and Liverpool’s Jurgen Klopp said it made him “angry” whenever he talked about it.

Last autumn, the Premier League was bracing itself for a season like no other - with a World Cup shoehorned into the middle of a packed club schedule.

When the top flight paused for the World Cup, Arsenal were five points clear at the top.

“We don’t know how that’s going to affect us,” admitted Arteta.

With the Premier League season over, we know exactly how every club was affected.

The answer? Some more so than others.

Did the World Cup play any part in the title race?

When the season concluded, Manchester City were the champions by five points.

For Arteta and Arsenal, the facts are difficult to ignore.

Having averaged 2.64 points per game before the World Cup, they averaged just 1.96 afterwards. No other Premier League club experienced a bigger drop off in results.

And it seems to be in defence where they suffered most, conceding 1.33 goals per game after the resumption, having let in a miserly 11 in 14 games prior to the tournament.

So was momentum lost? Not necessarily, given they won four and drew one of their first five league games back.

And, having had just eight players taking part in Qatar compared with City’s 16, you couldn’t point to fatigue either.

Erling Haaland scored 18 goals in 13 Premier League games before the World Cup - but ‘only’ 18 in 22 appearances after

With Norway not qualifying for the World Cup, much was made of how Manchester City forward Erling Haaland might benefit from a midseason break.

After scoring twice in a 3-1 win over Leeds on 29 December, he said “to watch other people score to win games at the World Cup kind of triggers me”.

That proved something of an understatement, given he ended on a record 36 Premier League goals.

It was a similar tale for many of the leading strikers in the English top flight, with only three of the division’s nine top goalscorers actually starting a game in Qatar.

For Manchester United forward

Marcus Rashford, the World Cup even proved to be a catalyst for the second half of his season.

Having netted three times during the tournament, the 25-year-old went on a remarkable scoring run with 16 goals in 17 games across all competitions after returning to his club. He’d scored eight in 19 matches in the run-up to the World Cup.

Terrible timing for Leicester

Leicester City went into the World Cup break in high spirits after a run of four wins in five matches had lifted them up to 12th in the table.

When asked following a 2-0 victory at West Ham whether the tournament might halt the Foxes’ momentum, then manager Brendan Rodgers denied there was any frustration.

“What the players have done in this last period, to move away from where we were, has been absolutely fantastic,” he added. “We’ll have a bit of a rest and then we’ll work very hard.”

Halt the momentum, however, is exactly what it did.

Star man James Maddison picked up an injury to the back of his knee just before the World Cup, and returned with trouble at the front of his knee. In his absence, Leicester resumed their Premier League campaign with four successive defeats.

It wasn’t until 4 February, Maddison’s first league start since

November, that they won another league game.

As it is, they only went on to taste victory three more times after that, with Rodgers departing on 2 April and Leicester’s relegation sealed on Sunday.

Maddison, whose superb form in the early part of the season had many fans and pundits clamouring for his inclusion in Gareth Southgate’s squad, scored just three times after recovering from injury. Only one of those came in the last 15 matches of the campaign.

Leicester City’s James Maddison

James Maddison’s last goal from open play came in Leicester’s 4-1 win over Tottenham on 11 February Did the World Cup cost Vieira his job?

On the subject of momentum, the other club to fall foul of the World Cup break was Crystal Palace.

Immediately before the midseason break, Patrick Vieira’s Eagles won four out of seven Premier League games.

On their return to action, they won just once more in the league before Vieira was sacked on 17 March.

Unlike Dean Smith at Leicester, the returning Roy Hodgson was able to steer Palace away from trouble.

Lopetegui’s mid-season preseason with Wolves

By contrast, timing was everything for Wolves - even if it was

“only by accident”.

Wolves were bottom heading into the World Cup, winning just two of their first 15 games under Bruno Lage and then interim boss Steve Davis.

Former Spain and Real Madrid manager Julen Lopetegui was in the stands to watch their 2-0 defeat by Arsenal immediately before the break - and his taking over as boss the following day proved decisive.

“Rather than having to find a short-term fix, the six-week stoppage allowed him time to install his ideas with the players and work on a plan for January recruitment,” explained BBC WM’s Wolves reporter Mike Taylor.

“Coaches taking over mid-season don’t usually get the chance for an immediate pre-season-style reset.

“The evidence shows that it ironed out the bugs in the defensive programming - Wolves won seven home games after the World Cup, all with clean sheets, and the signings of Craig Dawson and Mario Lemina in January were essential to that improved organisation.

“However, it’s worth remembering Wolves had approached Lopetegui as soon as he had been fired by Sevilla, the same week as Bruno Lage was sacked. At that time, Lopetegui was caring for his ailing father and demurred. A month later, with Wolves seemingly drifting, Lopetegui felt the time was

right. And so it proved.”

Wolves’ points-per-game average rocketed from 0.67 to 1.35 for the remainder of the season - the biggest improvement of any side post-World Cup.

How did the World Cup affect your club’s form?

per game average

Pre-World Cup PostWorld

Arsenal were top, Wolves were bottom and Leicester were in mid-table when the Premier League paused for the World Cup

S P R T

Transfer window: Where will Jude Bellingham, Harry Kane, Lionel Messi, Declan Rice and Victor Osimhen move to?

Jude Bellingham, Lionel Messi, Victor Osimhen and Harry Kane are just four of the world-class players who could be on the move in what looks set to be a huge transfer window this summer.

Will Messi return to Barcelona? Is Declan Rice bound for Arsenal?

The transfer window for clubs in the Premier League next season opens on Wednesday, 14 June and closes on Friday, 1 September.

Let’s run through the rumours and gorge on some gossip as we take a look at the big names who might be set to make a switch.

Jude Bellingham

Why Bellingham is ‘worth £130m’the view from Dortmund

Borussia Dortmund’s youngest captain at 19 and deemed “exceptional” by Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp, Bellingham is one of football’s hottest properties this summer and on Monday was named Bundesliga player of the season.

Real Madrid are in advanced talks to sign the England midfielder and are willing to pay about £89m - although Dortmund are understood to want £130m.

Manchester City are also believed to be interested in the teenager who played 42 times for his club this season, scoring 14 goals and registering seven assists.

In April, Liverpool ruled out signing the former Birmingham City star with Klopp saying the Reds’ interest was like a “child wanting a Ferrari for Christmas”.

Why Bellingham’s Real move would make ‘perfect sense’

Harry Kane

Harry Kane mural

A mural of Harry Kane has been painted across the road from Tottenham Hotspur Stadium

“Harry Kane, we’ll see you in June.”

Manchester United fans serenaded the Tottenham talisman during their 2-2 draw in London in April. United, like Chelsea, Bayern Munich and Paris

St-Germain, are being repeatedly linked with the 29-year-old.

Spurs and Kane have a decision to make. England’s record goalscorer has one year left on his contract and, if he does not extend his deal, could leave for free at the end of next season.

Will Harry Kane stay at Tottenham?

Latest Tottenham news, analysis and fan views

Get Spurs news notifications

There is no doubting Kane’s ability - he has scored 280 goals in 435 appearances for Spurs and is 47 goals shy of Alan Shearer’s Premier League goalscoring record of 260.

Spurs have kept hold of him before, two summers ago when he tried to engineer a move to Manchester City.

But with Spurs unable to deliver Champions League football next season and Kane yet to win a major trophy, the forward’s future in north London remains unclear.

Declan Rice

West Ham: Declan Rice may leave this summer - David Moyes

Declan Rice could become the first West Ham captain to win a European trophy since England’s Bobby Moore lifted the Cup Winners’ Cup in 1965.

Before their Europa League semi-final second-leg win at AZ Alkmaar, West Ham manager David Moyes said there was “a good chance” Rice will leave this summer.

The 24-year-old has rejected all efforts to get him to sign an extension amid interest from virtually all of England’s top clubs.

Moyes accepts Rice may leave in summer

Rice came through the youth system at West Ham and has been capped 41 times by England, playing in all five of their matches at last winter’s World Cup.

There are reports Rice is leaning towards a move to Premier League runners-up Arsenal, but the Gunners may have to double the £72m they paid

for record signing Nicolas Pepe in 2019.

In April, Moyes said Rice would not be sold for less than £150m - believing his star midfielder is worth “north” of that figure.

Lionel Messi

World Cup winner Lionel Messi will leave Paris St-Germain when his contract expires this summer.

His relationship with PSG has soured. On 3 May he was suspended by the club for two weeks after travelling to Saudi Arabia without their permission.

In his first game back he was booed by supporters.

Messi to leave PSG this summer

Why Messi’s dream return to Barcelona looks very unlikely

Messi left Barcelona in 2021 because of financial issues at the club, but a move back to the Nou Camp, where the Argentine is the all-time top scorer with 672 goals in 778 games, may not be an option.

Barcelona have a wage bill of about £530m which they need to reduce by at least £177m.

The 35-year-old has also attracted interest from Inter Miami in Major League Soccer (MLS) and an eyewatering offer of about £350m to play in Saudi Arabia for one year with Al-Hilal.

Victor Osimhen

Victor Osimhen celebrates surrounded by cameras

Victor Osimhen scored the goal which clinched Napoli’s first Serie A title in 33 years in a 1-1 draw at Udinese

Victor Osimhen has become the envy of Europe’s top clubs with his blockbuster performances for Napoli.

Chelsea, Arsenal, Manchester United, Liverpool, PSG and Real Madrid are just some of the teams linked with the striker recently, making Osimhen a regular in the BBC Sport gossip column.

He is Serie A’s top scorer this season with 25 goals in 31 games, powering Napoli to their first Scudetto in 33 years.

Will Osimhen end up in the Premier

League?

The 22-year-old idolised Chelsea striker Didier Drogba growing up, and in 2016 rejected Arsenal when he signed his first professional contract with Bundesliga side Wolfsburg.

Italian football expert James Horncastle said on BBC Radio 5 Live’s Football Daily podcast that Osimhen would cost more than £90m, and “probably closer to” £130m.

The striker made headlines in March when he said: “I’m working so hard to make sure that I achieve my dream of playing in the Premier League some day.”

Mount? Mbappe? Maddison? An epic summer awaits

Manchester United, Liverpool and Arsenal are set to battle it out for Mason Mount’s signature with the England midfielder refusing to sign a new contract at Chelsea.

Mount’s deal runs out at the end of next season and the Blues have reportedly put a £70m price tag on the 24-year-old.

Brighton supporters face a nervy summer after manager Roberto de Zerbi said stars Moises Caicedo and Alexis Mac Allister “deserve to play in another level”.

Brighton rejected a bid from Arsenal of about £70m for Ecuador midfielder Caicedo in January, while World Cupwinning Argentina midfielder Mac Allister has been heavily linked with Liverpool.

Meanwhile, James Maddison is likely to move following Leicester’s relegation, with Newcastle and Tottenham rumoured to be interested in the 26-year-old England midfielder.

And superstar Kylian Mbappe is being monitored by Europe’s top clubs with the 24-year-old’s contract expiring at the end of next season, while PSG team-mate Neymar, who joined from Barcelona for £200m in 2017, is being linked with Manchester United.

It is going to be an epic summer. Make sure you follow every twist and turn on BBC Sport’s football section.

Fuel subsidy removal: To be or not to be!

Contd. from back page

put our current date daily consumption at around 34 million litres a day, yet we uphold it for decades because those who were behind the inflated numbers and by extension the corruption in it are powerful and in high places. Literally, while Nigerians thought the government was subsidising the product for them, what was happening in reality was the hidden cabal presenting the double inflated figures of imported product on a daily basis and collecting subsidies on all, including the more than half we did not import or needed.

The reality of the figure was that on a monthly basis, while the Nigerian government pays approximately eight hundred million dollars ($800,000,000), nearly more than half of the sum is for products that were never imported into the country and which ended up in private pockets.

Yet, we keep having product shortages

and irregular prices across the country as a result of supply deficits from time to time. Why? Because of the actual imported quantity, nearly a quarter, after receiving subsidies on them, were diverted away from the country into our neighbouring nations and sold at higher prices again to make double gains. Benin Republic citizens would then prefer smuggled PMS from Nigeria because it is much less expensive compared to the official pump price at approved filling stations. No wonder there is more panic in those countries over the subsidy removal in Nigeria.

Consequently as a nation, our capacity to develop economically and to develop our infrastructure has become an uphill task; a country that spent #4.4 trillion, that is, above a quarter of its total annual budgets of #16,391,023,917,692 on petroleum subsidy in the year 2022. A subsidy payment in a calendar year that was about 300 percent of total budgetary allocations to the health

sector, far above allocation to education and even works and housing; how can that country progress literally.

Now that subsidy is gone, what next?

We must ask how Nigerians would survive the sudden increases in cost of unavoidable services and commodities. Would the current national minimum wage still be realistic? It would be appropriate that the Federal government with immediate effect raise the national minimum wage by as much as 400 percent to #150,000. We should see a promising tax relief package for employers of labour across the country to enable them to raise workers salaries.

It is also about time that we take investment in Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) as an alternative to PMS to power automobiles in the country seriously, while we also make conscious effort to bring up at least two of our refineries back to production and to promote a number of modular refineries in the country also to

commence production. It is obvious that the only benefit the country would get from Dangote refinery would be readily availability of the products and not price drop; in reality, Dangote, just like his other businesses would be profit oriented and would enjoy monopolistic power for as long as he remains the only player in that field. There is a long day of darkness ahead of us before we get to the light. We should not deceive ourselves, the decision to stop the subsidy regime, as good as it maybe, has hit Nigerians badly and would remain a major impediment to the survival of the common Nigerians until the government at all levels proactively provide worthy and consistent palliatives to cushion the effects of the hardship.

GOD BLESS THE FEDERAL REPUBLIC OF NIGERIA!

PEOPLES DAILY

Fuel subsidy removal: To be or not to be!

Benzema agrees to join Saudi champions AlIttihad after Real Madrid exit

Ballon d’Or winner Karim Benzema has agreed terms on a three-year deal with Saudi Arabian champions Al-Ittihad after leaving Real Madrid.

French striker Benzema, 35, won 25 trophies - including five Champions Leagues and four La Ligas - in 14 years with Madrid but they agreed to let him leave his contract a year early.

He scored 354 goals for Real, second only to Cristiano Ronaldo.

Ronaldo, who hit 450 Real goals, plays for another Saudi club, Al-Nassr.

“It’s a good league and there are many good players,” said Benzema. “Cristiano Ronaldo is already there, a friend which shows Saudi Arabia is starting to further progress its level. I am here to win, like I did in Europe.

“I have been fortunate to achieve amazing things in my career and achieve everything I can in Spain and Europe. It now feels the time is right for a new challenge and project.”

Al-Ittihad are managed by former Wolves and Tottenham boss Nuno Espirito Santo.

Benzema played 648 times for Real after his 2009 move from Lyon and scored with his last touch for the club, netting a penalty in Sunday’s 1-1 draw with Athletic Bilbao before being replaced.

On Monday it was announced Al-Ittihad were one of four leading Saudi Arabian clubs to be taken over by the country’s Public Investment Fund, which also owns Newcastle United.

Ronaldo’s Al-Nassr are another, and so are Al-Hilal, who have been strongly linked to Paris St-Germain’s Lionel Messi this summer. Source: bbc.com

It was all a matter of when as it had become obvious to Nigerians in the last months that the era of subsidy on petroleum products was gradually coming to an end in the country. Unlike at some other times, we had all leading contestants for the position of the president of the country reiterated their unflinching support for the termination of the age-long subsidy regime and readiness to effect the same as soon as they become the president and commander-in-chief. And now, finally, the time is upon us, in the words of the president, ‘fuel subsidy is gone.’

Having known ahead of time, should Nigerians have made preparations to help themselves navigate the tough terrains that would definitely be created by the removal? Unfortunately, there is nothing the citizens could do to help themselves; it is not in their place or hands to in any way make preparations. The government owes the people that much; preparation to alleviate the challenges that would be thrown at the system and the people by the subsidy removal.

While I have been an unrepentant advocate of subsidy removal, I have also without mincing words expressed the need for the government to recognise the effects the outright removal would have on the masses, the ordinary citizens of Nigeria; that is, taking off the subsidy without well-spelled out and effected actions to ease the effects on the citizens. And we are already dealing with the immediate consequences, for instance, for an average civil servant or businessman in Abuja who is living in the suburbs and working in the city centre, the cost of transportation alone has automatically increased by 100 percent at the minimum. A to and fro trip to work from Suleja now cost a minimum of three thousand naira as against about one thousand five hundred naira previously. That is sixty thousand (#60,000) monthly on a minimum wage of thirty thousand (#30,000) naira. That is irreconcilable and absolutely unworkable. That is even exclusive of the spread effects on the prices and cost of staples and common goods, which are already beginning to respond to the subsidy removal. The Kwara state government just a few days ago announced a reduction in weekly work days to three days from five days to cushion the effect on the civil servants in the state. While that appears as a palliative, it is detrimental to the state economic growth as it would

eventually constitute a decline in productivity.

Today, I am at a crossroad; speaking simultaneously for the policy I have for ever want to see coming to an end in order for the economy to grow without or at least with minimal artificiality, and the people, who have committed no crime to suffer the consequences of errors of the ruling class who have over the decades bastardised the genuine policy of subsidising petroleum products for the country. Would it be possible for the government to create a probable middle ground between removing the subsidy and the suffering of the common man as a result of the removal? I still wish the government would have strategically put in place palliatives and cushions to ameliorate the expected sufferings that would come with the PMS subsidy removal.

We need a full understanding of what petroleum subsidy is in Nigeria. We need to understand the reasons we got to the point whereby we had to subsidise the products for Nigerians and eventually, what made the subsidy program no longer feasible for the country’s continued survival. This education is needed for Nigerians to recognise and understand why we are where we are today, and perhaps, know why they have to go through whatever suffering they are going through.

Subsidy is a global phenomena; the USA, for instance, currently subsidises its domestic agricultural sector, housing, automakers, oil and energy producers and to some extent, healthcare through its popular Medicare. Till now, the United States government, according to the Environmental and Energy Study Institute, spends $20 billion every year on direct fossil fuel subsidies, and of that figure, about $16 billion goes to oil and gas while the rest goes to the coal industry. The same goes with most developed economies of the world. Take it or leave it, the subsidy regime is never the problem; our challenge and the reason why it is no longer admirable in our clime is the institutionalised corruption that we have and could not do anything to arrest until it becomes a norm within our system and

national life. So, the subsidy must go if corruption cannot go.

So, what is a subsidy? It is a direct or an indirect payment to individuals or firms, in the form of direct cash payment from the government or a targeted tax cut to affect a reduced direct consumer price of a subsidised product. The objective is to cushion the effect of high prices on common goods without discouraging the producers.

Why subsidy in Nigerian petroleum industry? However, we are not supposed to be discussing subsidy in that sector of our economy. All top crude oil producing countries in the world are also top crude oil refining nations of the world. Nigeria regrettably is not in that category. Nigeria is the only OPEC member that imports 95 percent of refined petroleum for domestic use; no other member of the group imports above 20 percent for domestic usage. Automatically, paying subsidies becomes mandatory to fill the gap between the landing cost of imported fuel and the pump price of fuel in the country.

When we lost the nation’s capacity to locally refine crude oil for our local consumption requirements, by some designs unexplainable, and beginning with the OPEC crisis of the 1970s that led to significant changes in the global oil market, resulting in the skyrocketing of price per barrel of crude oil from $3 to $12 as at 1974, we literally became banded to the OPEC price control and stabilisation drive globally. We were hooked to flow with the production programming policies of the organisation; and unfortunately, the citizens lost the opportunity to pay the best price, the lowest possible, having done away with components that drive up cost purchase and importation of finished products from some countries outside our shores.

When we sell crude oil to import finished products, we come under the business operational decision of the producing countries or refineries. From the producing refineries, the cost of acquisition of the crude at the international market, logistic cost of moving the crude to their facilities, the cost of refining and setting profit margin would determine the

cost we are buying directly from the organisation. On our part, the importing country, the cost per unit of refined products and the very unfavourable dollar exchange rate are the two most important factors that make the products nearly unaffordable to the ordinary citizens and make the call for subsidy then necessary. The cost of distribution, costs associated with the transportation of the imported refined products to the depots across the country, the cost of maintenance (monitoring and repairs) and operation of pipelines and depots and charter fees for coastal tankers also take their toll on the final cost.

Gone this way, we have subsidised the products since the late 1970s when we literally began to prefer the more money we got from the exportation of our crude oil and finally when we succumb to the corruption that grounded all our refineries from continuous operations and make turnaround maintenance impossible; and until we literally allowed all our refineries to go down to speed up a flourishing subsidy regime in the country.

Now, while it appears the government was subsidising the PMS price for the citizens, what we were actually having were a group of Nigerians hanging in the middle and taking massive advantage of the processes to rob both the country and the citizens.

As at 1980, with a national population of 72.95 million, the daily PMS consumption of Nigeria was pegged at 10.7 million litres. Fast forward to 2023, with a population figure of 221,056,095, a 203 percent increase from 23 years ago, our daily consumption of the product has, on paper, increased to 80 million litres, a 647 percentage increase. This is absolutely impossible by all mathematical and logical interpolations, which would

DAN GAYE

DAN GAYE

Chaos as petrol sells at N500 per litre in Katsina —News

APC change the change!