Wednesday, February 8th, 2023 Edition

NAHCON establishes Hajj institute in Abuja

From Abubakar Yunusa Abuja

The National Hajj Commission of Nigeria, NAHCON, on Tuesday established the Hajj Institute of Nigeria to train and certify all employees in the Nigerian Hajj and Umrah sector.

The Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of NAHCON, Zikrullah Hassan, made the disclosure at the opening of the institute at Hajj House in Abuja.

Hassan noted that the establishment of the institute would improve the quality of manpower in the hajj and umrah sector and enable the country to be at par with global industry standards.

The chairman also said that the institute would provide an avenue for skills acquisition and entrepreneurship development of youths and be reference point

globally for hajj and umrah training.

He also said that the institute would play a key role in exploring the economic potentials abound in the sector which businesses and teeming youths could explore.

”I am confident that the institute will play a critical role in ensuring that Nigeria reaches and remains at the forefront of excellence in the global Hajj and Umrah industry.

”You will agree with me that the world is rapidly advancing in technology and it has become imperative that NAHCON keeps pace with these global trends.

”In view of this, it has become necessary for us to refocus our strategies and embrace the latest advancements in ICT.

The Saudi Vision 2030, which all Hajj entities across the globe need to align to, has placed a high premium on excellent pilgrims’

services driven by ICT.

”It is for this reason that the Hajj Institute of Nigeria will provide a platform for training and research on various aspects of hajj and umrah, including the use of technology to improve our operations and services.”

Hassan said that the management of hajj in modern times had gone beyond the trial by error system it was used to.

According to him, with the help of ICT, operational activities have been propelled to a more efficient levels with near-zero room for mistakes which needs the right skilled manpower to run.

”Therefore, the birth of the institute marks the commencement of academic activities which will serve as added impetus to NAHCON’s quest for sustainable hajj management system in Nigeria.

”We recognise the economic potentials of hajj and umrah and it is time for us to leverage these opportunities and make them significant contributors to Nigeria’s economy.”

Mr Hassan disclosed that 4th Board of the Commission had chosen to be the pioneer students of the institute not only because of its confidence in the quality of the programmes but to also commence the process of taking Hajj and Umrah to the next level from the very top.

”It is my strong belief that me and my colleagues in the board will emerge from this programme more educated and better prepared to steer the affairs of Hajj in Nigeria.

”Subsequently, more programmes will be rolled out for the different hajj and umrah stakeholders in the public and private sector.”

I didn’t warn my aides to stay away from Atiku’s campaign —Gov. Ortom

Benue State Governor Samuel Ortom has debunked claims that he gave stern warning to his cabinet members and aides not to attend the Peoples’ Democratic Party, PDP, Presidential rally in Makurdi.

It was learnt that before the event, the State helms man issued a stern warning to his deputy, commissioners and

other aides not to attend the rally which held on Monday at the Aper Aku Stadium.

The afore mentioned personalities were conspicously absent at the venue, raising concerns that the claim may be true.

However, Special Adviser to the Governor on Media/ICT Mr. Terver Akase in a reaction to our correspondent said, “No one gave any warning to anybody. Governor Samuel Ortom is a

true democrat. He willingly made available the state-owned stadium and provided security for the successful conduct of the PDP presidential rally in Makurdi. I am sure you also saw members of the State Working Committee of the party and our governorship candidate, Rt. Hon. Titus Uba with others in attendance. The PDP is united in Benue State. Governor Ortom is not vindictive. He is not fighting a personal battle. He is also not out

to destroy PDP. He is the leader of the party in the state; a party he has made huge contributions and sacrifices to preserve.

“What is happening in the party at the national level is not about the Governor’s personal interest. He and his colleagues in the G-5 are only fighting against injustice. They want justice, fairness and equity, and they have made their stand abundantly clear”.

From Uche Nnorom, Makurdi

From left:..Managing Director, Federal Housing Authority,FHA,Senator Gbenga Ashafa, Chairman FHA, Senator Lawal Shuaibu presenting a copy of the FHA report on the collapsed building at Gwarimpa estate to FCT Minister, Malam Muhammad Musa Bello at FCTA , yesterday in Abuja. Photo; Mahmud Isa

From: Femi Oyelola, Kaduna

The Arewa Youth Consultative Forum (AYCF) has said the former Vice president Alhaji Atiku Abubakar stands alone in his call on the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) not to review the deadline.

The National President of the Forum Alhaji Yerima Shettima asserted this during a press conference held in Kaduna yesterday.

According to him, Atiku’s opinion is against prominent Nigerians who made a passionate appeal for deadline review.

Alhaji Shettima added that Atiku’s call was out of place because it is coming on the heels of growing complaint about the kind of sabotage that is causing untold hardship to Nigerians over this policy.

AYCF questioned what purpose will the current difficulties people are facing serve Atiku? Why would he rather identify with the need to let the difficulties faced by rural folks to continue and for how long?

Niger Govt compensates pastoralists’ attack victims

From Yakubu Mustapha Minna

Niger State Government has disclosed that it will compensate pastoralists who have lost their livestock to cattle rustlers.

Governor Abubakar Sani Bello of Niger state disclosed this at the Fulani Cultural Festival organized by the Miyetti Allah Kautal Hore, Fulani SocioCultural Association of Nigeria in Bida.

Represented by Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Ahmed Ibrahim Matane explained that six pastoralists, two each from the three Senatorial Zones of the State who were victims of cattle rustling will be identified and compensated with ten cattle each.

He stressed that the gesture is the willingness of Government in providing initiatives aimed at fostering peace as well as nurture harmonious relationship among the citizenry.

By Egena Sunday Ode

President Muhammadu Buhari on Tuesday in Abuja called on member states of African Union (AU) to imbibe the culture of peer review and peer to peer learning for proactive and strong leadership in the continent.

The President made the appeal at the launch of the Second Country Review Report (CRR) and the National Programme of Action (NPoA) of Nigeria.

He expressed delight that electoral, pension, tax and monetary policy reforms undertaken by his administration have received high commendations from African policy experts, who have also recommended that such best practices are worthy of emulation.

He explained that his commitment to the Second Review of Nigeria was borne out of his ‘‘undiluted resolve to entrench democracy, and quality leadership in all aspects of governance, and further ensure that Nigeria does not lag behind other nations.’’

Describing the document as important to Nigeria as a country built on true Federalism and good governance, the President directed Ministries, Departments and Agencies to implement the report.

He noted that the Report would strengthen the implementation of African Union Agenda 2063, the strategic framework for the socioeconomic transformation of the continent over the next 50 years.

‘‘It comes with a strong mandate on New Partnership for Africa’s Development (NEPAD) and African Peer Review Mechanism (APRM), especially now that the continent is gearing towards the implementation of the Second Ten Year Development Plan to consolidate and seek the acceleration of better society,’’ he said.

President Buhari pledged that Nigeria would continue to support Africa’s renewal and rebirth in line with the collective commitment to the principles and guidelines of the APRM in order to consolidate Africa’s path to healthy democracy, sustainable growth and development.

‘‘As a Government, we are proud of the steady progress being made in the country as stated by the Report and will continue to support the APRM Process and to ensure adequate monitoring and evaluation of the Report implementation.”

He, therefore, directed the relevant Agencies to coordinate the proper use of the Report, adding that it should be institutionalized at the Learning Centres for academic work and archived for future references.

President Buhari recognised the pragmatic role of the Panel of Eminent Persons of the African Peer Review Mechanism, led by Dr. Abdoulie Janneh, who doubles as the Nigerian lead panelist and the entire team members who in one way or the other lent their helping hands for the successful conduct.

‘‘I am very much aware of the five pillars of APRM: Democracy and Political Governance, Economic Governance, Socio-Economic Governance, Corporate Governance and Cross-Cutting Issues which are the nucleus of good governance and upon which the Second Review was

conducted.

‘‘This process has further strengthened the values and gains of our democracy so far, while reporting on the gaps of which most of this administration’s reforms and policies including the Executive Orders signed into law are poised to address.

Peer review good for strong leadership in Africa —Buhari ACYF kicks over Atiku comments on Naira swaps

‘‘I am aware of the high commendations of Nigerian best practices worthy of emulation such as: Electoral Reform; Pension Reform; Tax Law Reform; Digitalization of Performance Management System; Judiciary Reform; Institutionalization of corporate governance; Monetary policy Reform and Fight Against Corruption.’’

National Coordinator/Chief Executive Officer, AUDA-NEPAD/ APRM Nigeria, Princess Gloria Akobundu, said the launch of the report would pave the way for experience sharing, reinforcement of successful best practices in promoting good governance and sustainable development at the national, regional and continental level.

R-L; Nigeria Governor Forum Chairman and Sokoto State Governor, Rt Hon Aminu Tambuwal, Chairman APC Governor Forum and Kebbi State Governor, Sen Atiku Bagudu Abubakar CBN Governor, Mr Godwin Emefiele during an audience at the State House yesterday in Abuja. Photo: State House

$1.6Bn Oil Fraud: Court discharges, acquits Omokore, coy

By Vivian Okejeme, Abuja

The seven years legal traverse of an oil magnate and chairman of Atlantic Energy Drilling Concepts Nigeria Ltd, Mr Jide Omokore, who was accused of fraud and money laundering allegations, has ended as Justice Nnamdi Dimgba declared him discharged and acquitted.

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) was before Federal High Court, Abuja, alleging that Omokore, diverted over $1.6 billion belonging to the federal government under the guise of oil swap.

Justice Dimgba, in his judgement held that the prosecution agency failed to prove the ingredients of the charge and consequently discharged them from all the charge.

According to the court, the issues between the government and the defendants is “a relationship which has gone bad”.

The change sheet posited that the defendants under false pretense obtained crude oil from the government when they never had the required funds or expertise to execute the said agreement between them

and the federal government.

Breaking down the 15 countcharge, which fall into four aspects, had obtain by false pretense; conspiracy to obtain by false pretense, money laundering and taking possession of proceeds of money laundering.

In his judgment, Justice Dimgba stated that after a careful analysis of both oral and documentary evidence before him, there was no evidence that the 1st to 3rd defendants obtained by false pretense the said oil swap deal from the federal government.

The court held that the testimony of one of the witnesses, a former Group Managing Director (GMD) of the Nigerian Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), Andrew Yakubu revealed that the agreement between the 1st to 3rd defendants was legally filed and entered into by the parties.

Justice Dimgba, while stating that his findings showed there was a formal procedure followed by the defendants in the lifting and subsequent sale of crude oil to third party, pointed out that the agreements were not procured by fraud or any other unlawful means.

On the issue of competence and capacity, the judge noted that

the defendants demonstrated that they had the expertise and the wherewithal to procure crude oil from the NNPC, process same and deliver the monetary equivalent of 5,652,227 barrels of crude oil.

While stressing that the burden of proof is on the prosecution, Dimgba held that the 1st to 3rd defendants did not strike him as a person with fraudulent intent because claim of the 1st defendant that he committed all his resources to executing the agreements were not challenged by the prosecution.

The judge said, “I find it difficult to see how the 1st to 3rd defendants acted fraudulently “, adding that Yakubu, in his evidence stated that the federal government entered the agreements to “consolidate on the gains achieved from previous agreements”.

Just Dimgba accordingly discharged Omokore on counts 1 to 3 on grounds that the prosecution failed to discharge the burden of proof in relation to the said counts.

On the issue of conspiracy, the court held that there was nothing before it to show that the defendants conspired to carry out the agreements in an unlawful manner because the

agreements were lawfully and legally entered into by the parties.

Similarly , the court discharged the defendants on the issue of money laundering on the grounds that the contract was a lawful one and as such monies generated from it cannot be regarded as proceeds of unlawful activities.

Meanwhile, 4th and 5th defendants; Victor Briggs and Abiye Membere, were found guilty of collecting gifts from Omokore contrary to the laws guiding conduct of public servants.

Although, the court had discharged them in the counts 10 and 11 relating to them on the grounds that the money used to purchase the cars gifted them were not from proceed of fraud and money laundering, the court however held that they violated Section 98 of the Criminal Code which forbids public servants from receiving gifts from companies or individuals dealing with their office.

Having found Briggs and Membere guilty of what he described as a lesser offense, Justice Dimgba, subsequently adjourned to Wednesday for allocutus and subsequent sentencing.

By Lateef Ibrahim, Abuja

Presidential candidate of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Alhaji Atiku Abubakar has revealed that part of the measures he will adopt to ensure that peace returns to Benue state, if he is elected as the next President of Nigeria, is to make sure that the Fulanis and Tivs in Benue State sign peace accord.

Atiku made the pledge on Monday in Makurdi, the Benue State capital, while addressing party supporters at the PDP Presidential Campaign Rally.

The former Vice President of Nigeria between 1999 and 2007, equally assured that he will bring insecurity to an end and ensure that there is peaceful coexistence between Fulani and Tiv communities in the state.

He promised that he will ensure that people go to their farms, freely, without fear of loosing their lives as well as make Benue state truly the food basket of the nation.

According to the PDP presidential flag bearer, “The umbrella of Tiv people all over the world, I promise you, if you elect me as your president, just like I did in 2001, when I came to Benue and made the Fulanis to sign a peace accord with their brother Tivs, I will come and make sure peace returns to Benue State. “Benue state is the food basket of this country. Today, our farmers in Benue do not go to farm again because of insecurity. I

Invest your resources wisely, club charges Nigerians

By Usman Shuaibu

The Chairman of Good Friends Club (G.F.C) Tunga-Maje in Gwagwalada Area Council of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Chief Francis Orji, has charged Nigerians to invest their resources wisely.

He gave the charge in an interview with newsmen during the club’s end of the year gettogether in Tunga-Maje.

He said the club was established to enable the members to contribute the money for future use, pointing out that every member of the club is entitled to keep N500 or N1,000 every week based on his or her financial capability.

Orji called on the general public to join the club for the purpose of keeping the money for investments.

On his part, the treasurer of the club, Mr Kingsley Azuzu promised to keep the monies of the members intact at all times.

Incesant clashes: I will make Fulani/Tivs to sign peace accord if I am elected, says Atiku

will make sure security returns to Benue State.

“I also promise you that by the grace of God, the issue of unemployment of our young men and women will be a thing of the past. That is why in my policy document, I said we are going to allocate 10 billion US dollars to empower our young men and women with enterprises.

“Let me also assure you that the infrastructural deficit you are facing in this state in terms of your connectivity with other neighboring states will be a thing of the past because we are going to make sure that we vote funding for development of roads and railways to make sure that our transportation system is once again working.

“Benue state has been a gateway

state between the far north and the south, that is why we have the railway line passing through Benue state, today that line is not working.

I promise you that when you elect a PDP government, we shall reopen the railway lines.

“Let me again reassure you that the closure of our universities because of non-payment of salaries to the members of staff will be a thing of the past.

“I have a private university, we have never gone on strike for one day, so if a private university cannot go on strike for one day, why should the public university? I promise you ASUU will not go on strike, because we will pay them and fund education sector adequately”, he said.

Speaking at the rally, the

National Chairman of PDP, Dr Iyorchia Ayu said that it is only people who are mentally deranged that will return the ruling party to power.

According to Ayu, “All of you know that you have suffered in this country in the last eight years of APC, only somebody who has mental problem will vote for APC. Do not waste your vote”.

The former Senate President said that the party is intact, just as he called on all aggrieved members, especially governor of Benue State, Samuel Ortom to bury his grievances and return to the party.

He said, “The party (PDP) is not divided. There are a few members who have grievances. We are talking to them. We want to make sure they come back and work with us fully.

One week is enough to change everything. This thing has been going on and I want to assure you that we’ll receive everybody back.

“I am appealing to my younger brother, Gov. Ortom to come back and join us so that we will fight to rescue Nigeria. Gov. Ortom has nowhere to go, his only house is the PDP and anytime that he comes, we shall be more than happy to receive him and all the PDP governors.

“We want all our candidates, all our governors to be with us because if you allow APC to win this election, you will regret it”, he said.

The campaign team had earlier visited Tor Tiv, His Royal Highness, Prof. James Ayatse and Ochi Idoma, His Royal Majesty, AgabaIdu, Elaigwu Odogbo Obagaji John at their palaces in Gboko and Oturkpo respectively to solicit for their support.

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

Niger Gov.

From Yakubu Mustapha Minna

Niger state government has relocated its Teacher Professional Development Institute (NSTPDI) Dan- Daudu to the former Women Teachers College Minna. It added that there are plans

relocates Teacher Institute

to release N1 billion contract to put up new structures due to insecurity.

Governor Abubakar Sani Bello made the disclosure at the Combined Graduation of 2019/20, 2020/21 and 2021/22 totaling 513 students at JLK IIC, Minna.

Governor Bello said that

the institute was established to cater for the professional development of teachers and catch them young for sustenance of the profession.

He noted that this was coming from the background of the failing infrastructure and poor quality of teaching and learning inherited on

assumption of office in 2015.

The Commissioner for Education, Hajiya Hannatu Jibrin Salihu applauded the governor for the foresight to change the narrative in the education sector, adding that the institute has met the expectations of the state, urging for its sustenance of the pace.

Insurgency: CDD engages media, traditional, religious leaders in Adamawa

From

Umar Dankano,Yola

In its efforts to ensure peace and stability in communities, the Centre for Democracy and Development, CDD, has conducted

reconciliation meetings in ninety six (96) communities on monthly basis in Borno and Adamawa states.

A research fellow with the CDD,Professor Mala Mustapha made the disclosure at a two

day capacity building training organised for journalists, traditional and religious leaders in Yola recently.

Professor Mustapha in his presentation on CDD’s Transitional

Justice works in the North East said the reconciliation meetings had 2,880 beneficiaries who were sensitised on various techniques on how to promote peace and harmony in our societies.

Governor Muhammadu Inuwa Yahaya ( left), presenting a Cheque to one of the local government pensioners (right), while the Chairman of gratuity payments, Muhammad Buba Gombe looks on (middle), during the flag off of payment of gratuity backlog to state and local government retirees in Gombe, yesterday

•As Ayu urges Ortom, other G-5 members to return home

From Abubakar Yunusa Abuja

Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Godwin Emefiele has said that the apex bank will not allow itself to be used to frustrate the forthcoming general elections.

Emefiele, who spoke when the Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) Prof Mahmood Yakubu led 11 National Commissioners on a visit to the Bank, said the CBN will make available every cash needed to pay logistics for the

CBN will not be used to frustrate 2023 polls -Emefiele

success of the elections.

He was responding to a request from Yakubu that the CBN should find a way of addressing scarcity of currency across the country 17 days to the Presidential and National Assembly elections since some service providers to the

commission were “unbanned”.

He said: “The CBN will not allow itself to be used as agents to frustrate the forthcoming election which is a positive assignment.

“If you require cash to pay some of your service providers, we will make it

available to you. We will not allow ourselves to be seen as agents that frustrate a genuine assignment”.

The INEC chairman had told the CBN Governor the 2023 polls will be the best in Nigeria’s history, adding that concerns have however been

raised about the processes leading to the elections. He said while the Commission has transfered all its accounts at the state and national level to the apex bank, some of the services being rendered to the Commission need to be paid for in cash.

IGP orders posting, redeployment of DIGs, AIGs, CPs ahead polls

By Tobias Lengnam

The Inspector-General of Police, IGP Usman Alkali

Baba has ordered the posting/redeployment of Deputy Inspectors-General of Police (DIGs), Assistant InspectorsGeneral of Police (AIGs) and Commissioners of Police (CPs) to Departments, Commands, and Formations in line with his manpower development policy of placing round pegs in round holes.

This is according to a statement yesterday by CSP Olumuyiwa Adejobi, Force Public Relations Officer, Force Headquarters in Abuja yesterday.

Accordingly, DIG Danmallam Mohammed has been redeployed to the Department of Finance and Administration, while the following Assistant InspectorsGeneral of Police have been posted to take up the duties and responsibilities of the Deputy Inspectors-General of Police in charge of the following Departments of the Force as indicated against their names to DIG Department of Training and Development, AIG Hafiz Inuwa to DIG Department of Research and Planning - AIG Aji A. Janga, mni; to DIG Department of Operations - AIG Adeleke A. Bode.

AIG Habu Sani Ahmadu has been posted as Force Secretary while AIG Shuaya’u Lafia Abdulyari assumes office as the AIG in charge of the Force

Intelligence Bureau, Force Headquarters, Abuja.

Similarly, the following Senior Police Officers have been posted to also take up the duties and responsibilities of the Assistant Inspectors-General of Police in charge of Zonal Police Commands as indicated against their names.

They include AIG Police Mobile Force, CP Matthew Akinyosola; AIG Zone 6 Calabar; CP Jonathan

Towuru, mni; AIG Zone 2 Lagos; CP Sylvester A. Alabi; AIG Zone 11 Osogbo; CP Akande Sikiru Kayode; AIG Zone 17 Akure and CP Abimbola Adebola Shokoya.

In line with the IGP’s mandate and strategies to strengthen the operational structures of state commands, the Police Boss has equally ordered the provisional posting of the following Commissioners of Police to

Commands indicated below pending the approval of the Police Service Commission:

CP Adamawa State, CP Adebola A. Hamzat; CP Ogun State, CP Emeka Frank Mba, mni; CP Taraba State, CP Suleiman A. Yusuf; CP Lagos State, CP Idowu Owohunwa, and CP Ebonyi State, CP Faleye E.S. Olaleye.

The IGP charged the newly posted officers to hit the ground

running to ensure the mission, vision, and policy statements of his administration are effectively complied with in the areas of crime-fighting, public cooperation, and safety.

He also called for support and cooperation from members of the public to enable the newly posted senior officers to perform optimally on their mandate. The posting is with immediate effect.

IPMAN makes U-turn, withdraws directive on suspending operations

From Mustapha Adamu, Kano

The Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria, IPMAN, has withdrawn the directives on suspension of operations nationwide.

Peoples Daily reports that the IPMAN had earlier asked it’s members nationwide to shut down filling stations indefinitely.

The IPMAN chairman in Borno State, Mohammed Kuluwu had earlier directed members to suspend all operations in addition to suspending payments ordering products from source until further notice.

But, in a swift reaction, the IPMAN National President, Elder Chinedu Okoronkwo, through the IPMAN Kano Zonal Chairman, Bashir Dan-Malam on Tuesday withdrew the directive.

He said the directive followed the meeting held between the management of the NNPCL, IPMAN National leadership and other stakeholders where the NNPCL promised to give marketers fuel directly.

Danmalam said the meeting which was at the instance of the NNPCL, was aimed at finding a lasting solutions to the current fuel scarcity in the country.

Danmalam said the reason behind the Kuluwu’s directive was because they

(Marketers) bought the products at a very high cost because they were not getting the products from Private Depots.

“Following the meeting, the NNPCL has promised to give IPMAN the products directly and also directed Petroleum Tanker Drivers to stop the collection of the N2 levy,” Danmalam quoted the National President as saying.

He restated the commitment of the union to continue transporting the product to all states across the country so as to end the current scarcity of products.

He said Okoronkwo used the occasion to caution members of the union not to allow themselves to be used by politicians

in order to achieve their selfish interest.

“I want to appeal to our members not to allow politicians to use them for their selfish interest, especially now that the general election is around the corner,” Danmalam said.

According to him, IPMAN would continue to support the Federal Government to ensure uninterrupted fuel supply across the nooks and crannies of the country.

The IPMAN National President also commended the Management of Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation Limited under the leadership of Mele Kyari for his commitment to end the current fuel crisis in the country.

R-L: President Muhammadu Buhari; Chairman Nigeria Governor Forum(NGF), and Sokoto State Governor, Rt Hon Aminu Tambuwal; Chairman APC Governor Forum and Kebbi State Governor, Sen Atiku Bagudu; CBN Governor, Mr Godwin Emefiele and EFCC Chairman AbdulRasheed Bawa, during an audience at the State House Abuja, yesterday. PHOTO STATE HOUSE

2023 Elections: 87.8% PVCs collected in Lagos StateINEC

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in Lagos State says a total of 6,708,451 voters collected the Permanent Voter Card (PVC) out of the 7,637,402 voters that registered in the state.

Mrs Adenike Tadese, INEC’s Head of Voter Education and Publicity in Lagos State, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Tuesday in Lagos that the figure represented 87.8 per cent.

According to Tadese, 928,951, which were not collected as of the Feb. 5 deadline, represented over 12 per cent.

Tadese said that during the first batch, INEC had received a total of 6, 570,291 PVCs out of which 5,747,651 were collected while in the second batch, it received 1,067,111 PVCs out of which 960,800 were collected.

NAN reports that INEC had earlier extended the collection of the PVC for the 2023 general elections from Jan. 29 to Feb. 5.

INEC has fixed Feb. 25 for the Presidential and National Assembly Elections and March 11 for the Governorship and State House Assembly Elections. (NAN)

FG inaugurates census security, logistics committee

By Tobias Lengnan Dapam

In its determination to ensure successful population and housing census in the country, the federal government has inaugurated the security and logistics committee for the census.

Chairman of the committee, who is also the National Security Adviser to the President, Maj. Gen. Babagana Monguno, said the committee will add value to the census exercise.

Inaugurating the committee which included heads of security agencies and

transport workers, Monguno said the committee must be certain of certain risk factors during the census.

“We must work to ensure that banditry, kidnapping, attack on NPC staff, security officer and communal clashes do not affect the conduct of the exercise.

“You should support, safeguard safety of officials and materials”.

He assured that the committee will be replicated in all the 36 states and the local government area councils.

Speaking, Chairman of the National Population Commission (NPC), Nasir Isa

Kwarra, said the event marked another major milestone in the journey towards the first fully digital census in Nigeria.

“Census has been described as next to war and the biggest peacetime activity in terms of mobilization of men and resources and to us in the Commission the importance of the inauguration of the Security and Logistics Committee cannot be overemphasized to the operation and success of the 2023 Population and Housing census.

“The Commission attaches great importance to the work of the Security and Logistic Committee whose work we

believe is very critical and important to the Commission in our quest to give Nigerian credible, reliable and acceptable census data for national planning.

“I want to assure all members of the committee of iron-cast support from the Commission. We are ready to fully support the Committee in all areas to make it succeeds in its assignments.”

He said the Commission will without delay organize workshop on processes and methodologies for the census to keep members of the committee up-to-date on the preparation for the census.

R-L: Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Governor Godwin Emefiele, Chairman Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) Professor Mahmood Yakubu and CBN Deputy Governor, Dr. Ade Shonobi, during the INEC Chairman’s visit to CBN governor for the preparation of the forthcoming February 25th General Election, yesterday in Abuja.

NUPRC gazettes 5 oil industry regulations, completes 6 others

The Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC) says five petroleum industry regulations have been gazetted while six others have been finalised and ready for gazetting.

Mr Gbenga Komolafe, Commission Chief Executive, NUPRC, disclosed this on Monday in Abuja at the third Phase of its Consultation with Stakeholders on Draft Regulations Development as mandated by Section 216 of the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA).

Komolafe listed the regulations gazetted as, the Nigeria Upstream Petroleum Host Community Development Trust regulations; Royalty Regulations; Domestic Gas Delivery Obligation Regulations; Nigeria Conversion and Renewal {Licence and Lease} Regulations and Petroleum Licensing Round Regulations.

The CCE, represented by an Executive Commissioner, NUPRC Mr Habib Nuhu, recalled that thirteen draft regulations were presented for discussion during its first and second phase of consultations with

stakeholders in 2022.

He said the inputs of the stakeholders from the engagement were incorporated, where necessary, in the draft regulations.

“Thereafter, the regulations were forwarded to the Honourable Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice for vetting, legislative standardisation, and approval.

“I am happy to inform you that five of the regulations have been gazetted while the remaining six have been finalised and ready for gazetting,” he said.

In furtherance of the above and in compliance with Section 216(4)(g) of the PIA 2021, he said the commission organised yet another Stakeholder Consultation prior to finalising more draft regulations.

He listed them as the Upstream Petroleum Measurement Regulations; Advance Cargo Declaration Regulations; Significant Discovery Regulations; Gas Flaring, Venting and Methane Emissions (Prevention of waste and Pollutions) Regulations and

Domestic Crude Oil Supply Obligation Regulations.

The CCE reiterated that the process of formulating the above regulations has been a rigorous and strenuous exercise.

“They are products of critical thinking and evaluation, and hard work by the Commission’s Regulation development Team and the Presidential Implementation Committee on PIA.

“In spite of this however, the process is not complete until the stakeholders’ critical inputs are obtained, discussed, and incorporated, where necessary, in the Regulations,” he added.

He called for a healthy, robust, and intellectual discussion on the regulations during the syndicate sessions to come out with robust regulations with best international best standard.

He said it would ensure that regulations and key policies necessitated by the PIA were developed and gazetted timely so that the industry operators could align their operations with the PIA provisions as quickly as possible.

Mr Kelechi Ofoegbu, Executive Commissioner, Economic Regulation and Strategy Planning, NUPRC, while providing insight into the regulations explained that the measurement regulations would give the regulator the capability of knowing exactly what was produced by different upstream oil operators.

He said, it became necessary to understand the regulation because through the years of production in Nigeria, there has been the quest to know how much we produce and how much we consume, from upstream to midstream to downstream.

“If you ask 10 people in the industry what are your production and consumption numbers, you will get 10 different responses. So nobody takes us seriously, whether is on gas flaring, or whatever. I think that is enough already,” he said.

The engagement had in attendance the Oil Producers Trade Section, Independent Petroleum Producers Association, IOCs, Indigenous Operators among others. (NAN)

Photo: Mahmud Isa

The Federal Government in collaboration with some NGOs on Monday in Abuja sought the inclusion of males to transform social and gender norms to end Female Genital Mutilation (FGM).

Several NGOs, Civil Society Organisations, law enforcement agencies, religious and traditional leaders also pledged their commitment to end FGM and ensure perpetrators were prosecuted.

They made this known at the 2023 International Day of Zero Tolerance for FGM.

The forum was organised by the Federal Ministries of Health, Women Affairs and Justice under the USAID Momentum Safe Surgery in Family Planning and Obstetrics (MSSFPO) project.

Addressing the forum, Minister of Health, Dr Osagie Ehanire, described FGM as human rights

FG, NGOs seek inclusion of males to end female genital mutilation

violation, which had no health benefits, but led to severe bleeding, deaths, infection, and complications at childbirth.

Ehanire lamented that FGM was still prevalent nationwide, hence the need to include males in the fight to eliminate it to enable Nigeria to meet the Social Development Goals global target of ending it by 2030.

He lamented also that some people still consult health workers to carry out FGM, urging the public to report such persons to law enforcement agencies for arrest and prosecution.

“They don’t come to health facilities where you can catch them

and sack the health personnel involved.

“They have people in communities who conduct the FGM. Some people know them, but they don’t lodge reports.

“These are the ones you need to blame and because you don’t report, the Minister of Justice or the police cannot arrest them.

“If you are tolerating the practice by keeping quiet, you take the blame and not the police,” he said.

In her remarks, Minister of Women Affairs, Mrs Pauline Tallen, lamented that Nigeria ranked third in Africa in FGM after Egypt and

Ethiopia.

Tallen noted that in spite of laws and policies prohibiting FGM, some cultures still regarded it as the way to go, hence the need for more enlightenment.

“These laws carry maximum penalties for perpetrators, which is why we must carry along the Ministries of Justice, Information, Education, Youths and Sports at all levels, if we must succeed,” she said.

The minister added that there was also the need for collaboration with traditional, religious and community leaders as well as the entertainment industry and the media to curb the practice.

“I appeal to the Federal Ministry of Health and to all wellmeaning Nigerians to support girls and women suffering from FGM complications and from all other forms of violence and abuse against women,” she said.

Also addressing the forum, Dr Kabiru Attah, MSSFPO Project Manager in Nigeria, said it was working closely with health workers to ensure the stoppage of FGM.

He said the 2023 theme: “Partnering with men and boys to transform social and gender norms to FGM’’ was a clarion call for all to be involved in ending FGM before 2030.

DMO presents N130bn sukuk cheque to FMWH, FCTA

The Debt Management Office, on Monday presented cheques of N130 billion being Proceeds of the 2022 Sovereign Sukuk offer to the implementing ministries.

The implementing ministries were the Federal Ministry of Works and Housing (FMWH) and the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA).

The cheque were presented by Mrs Zainab Ahmed, the Minister of Finance, Budget and National Planning at a ceremony which held in her office in Abuja.

According to Ahmed, the issuance of sovereign sukuk, a project-tied debt instrument, is one of the many innovative and very successful initiatives of the present administration.

Ahmed said it was aimed toward financing development of critical infrastructure.

She said that the facts on how much the initiative had helped to improve road infrastructure across the country were glaring.

“As at date, this administration has invested the sum of N612.557 billion raised through Sovereign Sukuk between 2017 and

2021 for the construction and rehabilitation of key economic road projects.

“The projects are in the six geo-political zones and the FCT.

“In real terms, the amount has been used to construct and rehabilitate sections of 71 road projects covering 2,808 kilometers and four bridges by the FMWH.

“It has also aided the construction of sections of six road projects covering 99 kilometers and 19 bridges by the FCTA,” she said.

The minister said that FMWH and FCTA would be sharing N130 billion, being proceeds of 2022 Sukuk issue proceeds which was successfully issued by the DMO on behalf of the Federal Government.

She said that the release would form part of the 2022 budget, which implementation had been extended to March by the National Assembly

“FMWH will get N110 billion and the FCTA will get N20 billion.

“The N130 billion will be released as part of the capital expenditure in the 2022

Appropriation Act, which has been extended by the National Assembly to March 31.

“As at November 2022, N1.88 trillion had been released as Capital Expenditure, which represents about 40 per cent performance when compared to the total Capital Budget of N4.7 trillion.

“This informed the need to extend the period to implement the capital component of the 2022 Budget,” she said.

According to her, beside the immense contributions of Sukuk to the funding of critical road infrastructure, the objectives of deepening the domestic capital market and financial inclusion are being achieved by the government.

The Director-General of the DMO, Patience Oniha, said that the office started the journey toward issuing a Sovereign Sukuk some years back, diligently working with experts to get the process and documentation right.

According to Oniha, these efforts paid off with the issuance of the first Sovereign Sukuk of

N100 billion in September, 2017.

“The DMO has issued Sukuk four more times bringing the total amount raised as at Dec. 2022 to N742.56 billion.

“From the Sukuk issued between 2017 and 2021, a total of N612.56 billion was raised and deployed to the construction and rehabilitation of sections of 71 roads and four bridges covering a total of 2,820 km,” she said.

She commended the implementing ministries and their various contractors for supporting the DMO in the Sukuk initiative.

She said that through the initiative, the DMO had demonstrated its strong alignment with the policy of President Muhammadu Buhari on infrastructure development.

“Furthermore, the DMO has positioned itself as an agency for managing the public debt including borrowing on behalf of the Federal Government.

“It has also become an active stakeholder in the domestic capital market through innovation, investor engagement and collaboration with other

stakeholders.

“These have deepened the market, created benchmarks for other borrowers and promoted financial inclusion by providing a retail product, FGN Savings Bond, as well as Sukuk and Green Bonds for ethical investors,” Oniha said.

According to her, the DMO remains committed to its mandate and market development activities.

The Minister of Works and Housing, Mr Babatunde Fashola, said that the Sovereign Sukuk had contributed immensely to raising badly needed funds for roads projects across the country.

Fashola said that various construction companies, which had laid off many of the staff due to redundancy had recalled most of the staff members, partly due to the funding support from Sovereign Sukuk.

He commended the former finance minister, Mrs Kemi Adeosun, the incumbent Minister of Finance, as well as the DMO director-general for initiating and sustaining the Sukuk initiative. (NAN)

NIPC initiates masterplan to boost FDIs

The Nigeria Investment Promotion Commission (NIPC) says it is developing a masterplan to attract more Foreign Direct Investments (FDIs) into the country.

Hajiya Saratu Umar, Executive Secretary/Chief Executive Officer, NIPC, said this at a media briefing on Monday in Lagos.

She said the commission would achieve the vision of transforming the country into a destination of choice for investors through a Nigerian Investment Promotion Masterplan (NIPM), which would be ready within two months.

Umar explained that the masterplan would look at different sectors of the Nigerian economy that would attract FDIs, such as agriculture, solid minerals

and infrastructure.

She said that it would provide investment strategies for every sector, which would help investors with vital information to take investment decisions.

According to her, the masterplan will also detail strategies with which the commission will engage investors, both foreign and local.

“We will lean more on agriculture, mining and infrastructure. Particularly for agricultural products and solid minerals, we will look at the value chain; how to minimise exporting them as raw materials but as finished products.

“We must encourage investments in the non-oil sector, which will generate more foreign exchange for the country.

“The non-oil sector is not doing badly,

but we need to do more as a country to promote investments in the sector rather than depend solely on the oil sector,” said Umar.

Speaking on the challenges of the business environment such as insecurity in some parts of the country and poor infrastructure, she said they were not enough to deter foreign investors.

“Our duty is to promote Nigeria as an investment destination of choice.

We have challenges like many other countries.

“There is no country in the world that does not have one form of challenge or the other,” she said.

The NIPC boss said the country’s challenges in the power and transportation sectors were also

investment opportunities.

“The challenges represent opportunities for investors to come in and invest in these sectors, and in the process create jobs for Nigerians.

“Even with the security situation, in our engagements with foreign investors, we tell them there are still some parts of the country that are safe, where investors’ aspirations will be met.

“And we are confident that in the areas we have security challenges, those challenges will soon be over. The security challenges will not be forever, we hope they will fizzle out.

“We will work with other agencies to resolve some of the issues so that we can achieve the desired objective,” said Umar. (NAN)

SDGs graduates 376 youths with starter packs in Niger North

From Yakubu Mustapha Minna

Niger State Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), has graduated 376 youths trained in Briquette Making and Borehole Repairs in Kontagora Local Government Area of the State.

This was contained in a statement issued by its Information Desk Officer, Abubakar Adamu Kuta.

He said the Director General, Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), Mohammed Yakubu Bashar Harka said the first goal of the SDGs was the fight against poverty.

The DG stressed that the event was a deliberate effort of the administration under the leadership of Governor Abubakar Sani Bello to empowering the youths to be self reliant.

President of the Amalgamation of SDGs Borehole Maintenance Comrade Ahmed Sarki Chukuba appreciated the state government for providing enabling environment for the training and graduation exercise. He said the Director General, Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), Mohammed Yakubu Bashar Harka said the first goal of the SDGs was the fight against poverty.

The DG stressed that the event was a deliberate effort of the administration under the leadership of Governor Abubakar Sani Bello to empowering the youths to be self reliant.

President of the Amalgamation of SDGs Borehole Maintenance Comrade Ahmed Sarki Chukuba exercise.

IT firm earmarks $2m for technology lab in West Africa

Ouranos Technologies Limited, a provider of Information Technology (IT) infrastructure services, says it will provide two million dollars to boost enterprise solutions in West Africa.

Joseph Aransiola, Managing Director of Ouranos Technologies Ltd., stated that part of the money would also finance the construction of a technology lab in Lagos, for IT analysis in West Africa.

“The lab is a venture studio focused on building the products and solutions that will power the future of enterprise technology in Africa,” he said in a statement on Tuesday.

Aransiola said the firm had since appointed Olusegun Maleghemi, a notable expert in the technology and innovation

space, as Chief Innovation Officer for the project.

“Maleghemi was Director of Incubation at the Nest Innovation Technology Park which provides support for startups building impactful solutions.

“Africa is poised for tremendous growth in the technology space, and Ouranos Lab will play a key role in driving that growth.

“I am confident that this investment will help identify and develop new technologies and solutions that will drive sustainability and growth for the enterprise technology industry in Africa.

“Ouranos Lab will focus on developing innovative solutions in Data and Identity Security, Artificial Intelligence

and Machine learning, as well as Connected devices.

“It will also focus on Internet of Things (IoT), Blockchain application in the non-finance space, Business Process Reengineering (BPR) and Robotics Process Automation (RPA), amongst others.

“The venture studio also intends to work closely with startups and entrepreneurs to bring their ideas to life by providing support in product development, funding, access to new markets and mentorship,” Aransiola said.

The Chief Operating Officer (COO) of Ouranos Technologies Ltd, Mfon Okon, said that the company was looking to invest in the companies that are building

innovative and scalable solutions.

Mfon said that the choice of Olusegun Maleghemi as Chief Innovation Officer was strategic going by his extensive experience in technology and innovation.

The statement quoted Maleghemi as pledging to work closely with the team to foster innovation in the African enterprise solutions space.

“We have a strong team with a lot of expertise in technology and innovation who are dedicated to building products and solutions that will define Africa’s future.

“We will focus on developing sustainable and scalable products to drive enterprise business growth,” he said. (NAN)

Naira swaps: Action Alliance describes Udeze’s suit against CBN as anti-people

From: Femi Oyelola, Kaduna

The Action Alliance (AA) Party, has reacted to the court injunction requested by Kenneth Udeze, expelled national chairman of the party, asking an FCT High Court to stop CBN

from extending the deadline for the new Naira note swap.

Describing Udeze’s request as antipeople, the National Chairman, Action Alliance, Adekunle Omo-Aje, in a statement yesterday claimed that Kenneth Udeze does not mean well for Nigerians

and Nigeria.

The statement said, “He does not represent our great party Action Alliance, since he is not a member of the party. Since he doesn’t know that any policy causing pain should be rethought, he should focus on his proposed upcoming alliance with

Atiku/Obi for 2023.”

The statement explained that an FCT High Court cannot stop federal agencies from performing their constitutional functions and it cannot also issue any injunctive order to prevent the performance of their statutory duties in the country.

L-R: Minister of Labour Labour and Employment,Sen. Chris Ngige;FCT

Minister, Muhammad Musa Bello; Vice President, Yemi Osinbajo; President Nigeria Labour Congress(NLC),Comrade Ayuba Waba and former Minister of Labour, Chief Emeka Wogu, at the 13th National Labour Congress Delegates Conference in Abuja, yesterday. PHOTO STATE HOUSE

NIGER STATE RURAL ACCESS AND AGRICULTURAL MARKETING PROJECT (RAAMP)

Credit No.: 6519-NG

REQUEST FOR BIDS (RFB)

1. The Federal Government of Nigeria through the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development has received financing from the World Bank toward the cost of the Rural Access and Agricultural Marketing Project (RAAMP), and intends to apply part of the proceeds toward payments under the contract for Backlog Maintenance of 124km Rural Road in Niger State. Procurement process will be governed by the World Bank’s Procurement Regulations.

2. The Niger State Project Implementation Unit, Rural Access and Agricultural Marketing Project now invites sealed Bids from eligible Bidders for the Construction of Backlog Maintenance of 124km Rural Road in Niger State packaged into 4 lots;

LOT

NAME OF THE ROAD

Backlog

Maintenance of Kataeregi-Eba Rural Road in Niger State

Backlog

Maintenance of Patishin-Danko Masalachi Road in Niger State

DESCRIPTION OF WORKS

Backlog Maintenance of an existing rural road having a total length of 23km. The works include but not limited to; Regulation of base course with reconstruction of some washed away Culvert and drainages, provision of double coat surface dressing as well as strict undertaking of Social and Environmental Safeguard

Backlog Maintenance of an existing rural road having a total length of 10km. The works include but not limited to; Regulation of base course with reconstruction of some washed away Culvert and drainages, provision of double coat surface dressing as well as strict undertaking of Social and Environmental Safeguard

PERIOD

18Months

Backlog Maintenance of DokoGaba-Sheshi Road

Backlog Maintenance of an existing rural road having a total length of 14.43km. The works include but not limited to; Regulation of base course with reconstruction of some washed away Culvert and drainages, provision of double coat surface dressing as well as strict undertaking of Social and Environmental Safeguard

Backlog Maintenance of LumaShagunu

Backlog Maintenance of KontagorGagare Sagi Backlog

of Tungan Wawa-

ages, provision of double coat surface dressing as well as strict undertaking of Social and Environmental Safeguard

Backlog Maintenance of an existing rural road having a total length of 7km. The works include but not limited to; Regulation of base course with reconstruction of some washed away Culvert and drainages, provision of double coat surface dressing as well as strict undertaking of Social and Environmental Safeguard

Backlog Maintenance of an existing rural road having a total length of 35km. The works include but not limited to; Regulation of base course with reconstruction of some washed away Culvert and drainages, provision of double coat surface dressing as well as strict undertaking of Social and Environmental Safeguard

18Months

Backlog Maintenance of an existing rural road having a total length of 24km. The works include but not limited to; Regulation of base course with reconstruction of some washed away Culvert and drainages, provision of double coat surface dressing as well as strict undertaking of Social and Environmental Safeguard

Backlog Maintenance of an existing rural road having a total length of 3km. The works include but not limited to; Regulation of base course with reconstruction of some washed away Culvert and drainages, provision of double coat surface dressing as well as strict undertaking of Social and Environmental Safeguard

Backlog Maintenance of an existing rural road having a total length of 6.80km. The works include but not limited to; Regulation of base course with reconstruction of some washed away Culvert and drain-

18Months

The project involves Construction of Backlog Maintenance of an existing rural road having a total length of 124km in Niger State. The works include but not limited to; Site clearance and Earthwork, Culverts and Drains, Pavement and Surfacing as well as strict undertaking of Social and Environmental Safeguard. The project is located Edati/Mokwa, Katcha, Shiroro, Wushishi, Gbako, Borgu, Bosso, Lavun and Kontagora LGA of Niger state. The works are expected to be completed within 18 months including defect liability period.

3. Bidding will be conducted through the World Bank’s “Procurement Regulations for IPF Borrowers- Procurement in Investment Projects Financing” November, 2020- Fourth Edition (“Procurement Regulations”), and is open to all eligible Bidders as defined in the Procurement Regulations.

4. Interested eligible bidders may obtain further information from the State Project Coordinator (nigerspiu@yahoo.com or nigerspiugmail.com) Niger State Rural Access and Agricultural Marketing Project (RAAMP), State Project Implementation Unit (SPIU) and inspect the bidding document during office hours 0900 to 1600 at the address given below.

5. The bidding document in English Language may be purchased by interested eligible Bidders upon the submission of a written application to the address below and upon payment of a nonrefundable fee of NGN100, 000.00 for one lot and N80,000.00 for additional lot. The method of payment will be direct deposit to the specified account below. The document will be made available at the address given below;

Bank Name: Zenith Bank Plc

Account Name: Niger State RAAMP Counterpart Fund

Account Number: 1211076844

6. Bids must be delivered to the address below on or before 12:00 on 21st March, 2023

Electronic Bidding will NOT be permitted. Late Bids will be rejected. Bids will be publicly opened in the presence of the Bidders’ designated representatives and anyone who chooses to attend at the address below on 21st March, 2023 by 12. noon

7. All Bids must be accompanied by a “Bid Security” of;

Lot1: NGN100,000,000.00

Lot2: NGN49,000,000.00

Lot3: NGN22,000,000.00

Lot4: NGN72,000,000.00

8. Attention is drawn to the Procurement Regulations requiring the Borrower to disclose information on the successful bidder’s beneficial ownership, as part of the Contract Award Notice, using the Beneficial Ownership Disclosure Form as included in the bidding document.

9. The address(es) referred to above is (are):

Niger State Rural Access and Agricultural Marketing Project (RAAMP), State Project Implementation Unit (SPIU), Gidan Aliyu Ndanusa, Bosso Road, Minna, Niger State, Nigeria

Tel: 08034500334, 07033366270

E-mail: nigerspiu@yahoo.com/ nigerspiu@gmail.com

18Months

7 35

Bosso Bosso/ Wushishi

Backlog Maintenance of KunyiKampala

Backlog Maintenance of BejiMakera-Jangara Road in Niger State

The Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT) has called on its members nationwide to vote for candidates in the forthcoming general election, who are worker friendly.

The National President, NUT, Comrade Titus Amba made the call at the Union’s Annual Solemn Assembly held on Monday in Abuja.

According to Amba, teachers train all the professionals in different fields, but it is surprising that they are the least paid and most relegated in the country.

“I, therefore, urge all our members to vote wisely but should not vote for any candidate that is not worker friendly, no matter the inducement, persuasion or any consideration” he said.

“Remember that your voter cards are your voices and power. Therefore, we cannot afford to be mute in this critical and decisive moment of our nation’s history.

“In most of the developed countries even the developing ones; they place more priority on the welfare of teachers,” he said.

Group says Atiku collaborating with Aso-Villa cabals to scuttle election

From: Femi Oyelola, Kaduna

The Joint Front of Civil Society Organizations of Nigeria (JFCSON) has alleged that the presidential candidate of People’s Democratic Party, (PDP) Alhaji Atiku Abubakar is collaborating with some elements in the presidential villa to derail the nation’s democracy and scuttle election, for opposing the Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN’s currency swap extension deadline by 10 days.

In a statement by Barnabas Bala Yock, the National President of JFCSON, said Atiku’s recent remarks opposing the extension of the deadline for the swap, and PDP’s challenge to the All progressives Congress, APC, presidential candidate, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu’s patriotic intervention have confirmed that he and his party are part of the dangerous collaboration to tamper with due democratic processes.

According to Yock, JFCSON has followed Naira redesign developments since October when the Central Bank of Nigeria under its Governor, Godwin Emefiele announced a controversial policy of Naira notes redesign.

2023 elections: NUT advocates support for worker-friendly candidates

Amba said when one neglected the welfare of teachers certainly one would not get the needed result.

He said that the leadership of the union had increasingly engaged the states government on the issues of N30,000 Minimum Wage and Consequential Adjustments.

Amba said that the Union had also filed trade dispute with the Registrar of Trade Unions against some non-cooperative states governments.

He reaffirmed the

determination of his administration to take the Union to greater heights, through the immense, solid and numerous achievements of his predecessors.

Earlier in his sermon Imam Muhammad Bin ‘Uthman urged government at all levels to ensure adequate security for the nation towards better learning condition .

Bin ‘Uthman said for any nation to be educationally developed, there must be physical and spiritual security,

saying that insecurity is a big challenge to national development.

He added that other factors necessary for national development included food security, job opportunity, power supply and quality healthcare system.

Also speaking, Rev. Fr. Nduka Uzo, advised that Nigerians should learn to live together in love and harmony irrespective of their differences.

Uzo encouraged teachers to always come to God in prayers,

praises and thanksgiving, saying instead of complaining, they should use the time to ask God for provisions.

He said that being a teacher was a vocation, so they should not give up in the struggle.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the NUT solemn assembly was to commit the leaders, teachers, their welfare and action plans to the hands of God towards an all-round success for the good of the profession and the nation. (NAN)

L-R: The President, Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Comrade Ayuba Wabba, Minister of Labour and Employment, Dr Chris Ngige, Minister of FCT, Mallam Mohammad Musa Bello and the President, Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Yakubu Maikyau, during the NLC 13th National Delegates Conference, held yesterday in Abuja.

Stakeholder urges APC members to remain focused

The Director-General All Progressives Congress (APC) Support Groups, Dr Nasiru Ladan, has called on the members of the party to remain focused to ensure its victory at all levels in the forthcoming elections.

He spoke in Abuja at the inauguration of Alhaji Suleiman Isyaku as the Director of the Amalgamated APC Support Groups (AASG) for the NorthCentral Zone, on Sunday.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Isyaku is also the Chairman of Tinubu/ Shettima Ordained Movement.

The event also witnessed the inauguration of NorthCentral zonal leadership and

the unveiling of the national executives of AASG, which comprises major APC support groups.

Ladan said AASG was established to rally support for the party and its presidential candidate, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu and other candidates at all levels across Nigeria.

He further added: “Tinubu’s outstanding leadership qualities, personal attributes and antecedents as a former two-term governor of Lagos State were enough evidence that Nigerians would be safe under his watch.”

He described Tinubu and his running mate, Sen. Kashim Shettima, as ‘merchants of

hope.’

“They are capable of redefining the meaning and concept of modern leadership in Nigeria. The duo would project their joint ticket as a transformation agenda.”

Speaking also, Isyaka said the group was in search of credible leadership which could only be found in Tinubu, saying he would consolidate on the gains of President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration.

He added that as members of a united front, the common goal was to mobilise eligible voters at the ward and unit levels, as well as engage major stakeholders across states of the federation.

Isyaka expressed optimism

that APC would win the forthcoming elections from top to bottom on Feb. 25 and March 11, respectively.

The special guest of the event, Mrs Folasade Tinubu, the Iyaloja of Lagos State spoke on the need for the party members to be united to ensure its victory at the polls.

She appreciated all the support groups for their immerse contributions at the various stages of the Tinubu/ Shettima campaign rallies across the country.

She said: “It is important to educate the electorate on how to vote so that their votes would be valid during the polls.”

(NAN)

APC Benue Governorship rerun: Fr. Alia says he is spurred by victory

From: Uche Nnorom, Makurdi

All Progressives Congress,APC Governorship candidate for Benue State Rev. Fr.

Hyacinth Alia has said that he is further spurred, and his will power stiffened by his victory at the recent rerun primary.

It would be noted that Fr. Alia emerged winner in last week’s rerun Governorship primary which was ordered by the appellate court in Makurdi, Benue State capital.

In press statement signed by Director Communications, Alialization-Alia/Ode Campaign Organization ‘23

Kula Tersoo and made available to Peoples Daily on Sunday, the clergy man assured that he is well-prepared and ready to lead the way for the liberation of the people of the state who have been traumatized with hunger, illnesses, and destitution orchestrated by bad leadership that has deliberately denied

them access to their legitimate entitlements and basic needs of life.

Furthermore, he urged the electorates to dust their PVCs and get ready for the D-Day on 11th March 2023 to vote him to victory, promising that a vote for him will bring smiles on the faces of the masses of the state.

Photo; Justin Imo-owo

Techno Oil to provide 24 hours service to tackle fuel scarcity

The management of Techno Oil Ltd. has directed its outlets nationwide to make fuel sales to motorists round the clock, to mitigate the hardships facing Nigerians currently.

The Chief Executive Officer of the company, Mr Tony Onyeama, made the announcement on Monday in Lagos while speaking on the efforts of the company to end the current crippling fuel scarcity.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Nigerians are currently facing another round of a nerve-wracking fuel scarcity that has forced motorists nationwide to queue for hours at filling stations, in a bid to buy fuel.

“We have directed our outlets nationwide to dispense fuel to marketers and to motorists, to assist government in its relentless and ongoing efforts to end the latest round of fuel scarcity.

“Our fuel sales outlets are open round the clock to give needed services to the public, to bring the fuel scarcity problem to an end.’’

Onyeama pleaded with oil marketers to give necessary support to the Federal Government to ensure fuel availability at a time like now, to ease the suffering faced by the masses.

According to him, Techno Oil has always come to the rescue as a leading oil marketer in moments of fuel scarcity in the country.

Nigeria, Africa’s top crude exporter has been plagued by a recurrent fuel scarcity crisis that appears to be posing a serious threat to a landmark general election, slated for this month.

The situation appears to look worrisome with the problem compounded by the prevailing crisis in the financial sector, caused by the redesign of the naira currency.

The redesign of the naira, which is being carried out by the Central Bank of Nigeria has resulted to an acute shortage of money in banks and automated teller machines in the country.

The development has forced hundreds of people to besiege various banks in a bid to withdraw money, while scores of point of sale operators have been forced out of business, due to a lack of cash.

NUPRC gazettes 5 oil industry regulations, completes 6 others

The Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC) says five petroleum industry regulations have been gazetted while six others have been finalised and ready for gazetting.

Mr Gbenga Komolafe, Commission Chief Executive, NUPRC, disclosed this on Monday in Abuja at the third Phase of its Consultation with Stakeholders on Draft Regulations Development as mandated by Section 216 of the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA).

Komolafe listed the regulations gazetted as, the Nigeria Upstream Petroleum Host Community Development Trust regulations; Royalty Regulations; Domestic Gas Delivery Obligation Regulations; Nigeria Conversion and Renewal {Licence and Lease} Regulations and Petroleum Licensing Round Regulations.

The CCE, represented by an Executive Commissioner, NUPRC Mr Habib Nuhu, recalled that thirteen draft regulations were presented for discussion during its first and second phase of consultations

with stakeholders in 2022.

He said the inputs of the stakeholders from the engagement were incorporated, where necessary, in the draft regulations.

“Thereafter, the regulations were forwarded to the Honourable Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice for vetting, legislative standardisation, and approval.

“I am happy to inform you that five of the regulations have been gazetted while the remaining six have been finalised and ready for gazetting,” he said.

In furtherance of the above and in compliance with Section 216(4)(g) of the PIA 2021, he said the commission organised yet another Stakeholder Consultation prior to finalising more draft regulations.

He listed them as the Upstream Petroleum Measurement Regulations; Advance Cargo Declaration Regulations; Significant Discovery Regulations; Gas Flaring, Venting and Methane Emissions (Prevention of waste and Pollutions) Regulations

and Domestic Crude Oil Supply Obligation Regulations.

The CCE reiterated that the process of formulating the above regulations has been a rigorous and strenuous exercise.

“They are products of critical thinking and evaluation, and hard work by the Commission’s Regulation development Team and the Presidential Implementation Committee on PIA.

“In spite of this however, the process is not complete until the stakeholders’ critical inputs are obtained, discussed, and incorporated, where necessary, in the Regulations,” he added.

He called for a healthy, robust, and intellectual discussion on the regulations during the syndicate sessions to come out with robust regulations with best international best standard.

He said it would ensure that regulations and key policies necessitated by the PIA were developed and gazetted timely so that the industry operators could align their operations with the PIA provisions as quickly as possible.

2023: Cyber attacks, greatest threat

By Christiana Ekpa

The Executive Director OJA Development Consult, Jide Ojo has said that Cyber Attack is the Greatest threat to the 2023 General Election in Nigeria, even as he disclosed that the upcoming General Election worth N478.6bn, is the costiest in the history of the Country.

This was just as the director general of the National Institute for Legislative and Democratic Studies (NILDS), Prof. Abubakar Sulaiman and Resident Representative of Konrad Adenauer Stiftung, Nigeria, Marija Peran said that there can’t be proper democracy without a proper Media.

The Stakeholders equally called on law enforcement officials to arrest and prosecute offenders of the Electoral Act,

The stakeholders disclosed these in Abuja on Monday at the opening ceremony of training workshop for the National Assembly press Corps organised by Konrad Adenauer Stiftung (KAS) in conjunction with NILDS and the National Assembly.

Ojo while Presenting his paper titled “2022 Electoral Act vs. 2010 Electoral Act:

to

Mr Kelechi Ofoegbu, Executive Commissioner, Economic Regulation and Strategy Planning, NUPRC, while providing insight into the regulations explained that the measurement regulations would give the regulator the capability of knowing exactly what was produced by different upstream oil operators.

He said, it became necessary to understand the regulation because through the years of production in Nigeria, there has been the quest to know how much we produce and how much we consume, from upstream to midstream to downstream.

“If you ask 10 people in the industry what are your production and consumption numbers, you will get 10 different responses. So nobody takes us seriously, whether is on gas flaring, or whatever. I think that is enough already,” he said.

The engagement had in attendance the Oil Producers Trade Section, Independent Petroleum Producers Association, IOCs, Indigenous Operators among others.

(NAN)

general election - Expert

•As NILDS DG, KONRAD says Proper Democracy depends on Proper Media •want prosecution of electoral act violators

Highlighting the substantive and Noteworthy Provisions in the 2022 Electoral Act” said the Section 3 sub section 3: recommended that Funding for the election shall be released 1 year ahead, adding that INEC Spent N117 billion in Cyber Security alone

Also the NILDS DG in his opening said “I call on all security and enforcement agencies to closely study all the electoral offences in the Act and takes measures to arrest and prosecute offenders.

“The Electoral Act has robust provisions prohibiting campaigning or broadcasting based on religious, tribal, or sectional reason for the purpose of promoting or opposing a particular political party or the election of a particular candidate (s.97). Section 91 prohibits campaigns or slogans that are tainted with abusive language that directly or indirectly injure religious, ethnic, tribal or sectiona| feelings.

“It also prescribes penalties for breaches. Yet, no politician or party has been charged despite abundant evidence of

blatant contraventions of these provisions by people from all parties.

“Additionally, the Electoral Act has a few provisions on the use of state media but, unfortunately, nothing concrete to regulate private media organisations. Nonetheless, Section 120 (6) prohibits the dissemination of false results and prescribes a penalty of three years imprisonment”.

He decried the rise of negative campaigns by politicians and tasked the media to redirect the candidate in their approach to electioneering campaigns. “The failure of the media to re-frame the conversation and re-direct politicians to issues that confront Nigeria has largely worsened the situation”, he alleged.

Conttinuing, he advised, “I challenge you, therefore, to reflect on your role as watchdogs of our democracy. As professionals, you have a duty to inform the public and provide them with the information they need to make Informed decisions about leadership and policy.

“However, the media is

better placed to set the agenda for public discussion of critical issues, especially in the build-up to the elections”.

In a welcome remarks, the resident representative of the Konrad Adenauer Stiftung (KAS) in Nigeria, Marija Peran, said that it was critical to prepare the media for the task ahead.

She noted that a strong media coverage is needed to x-ray the election and strengthen democracy in Nigeria assuring that KAS will continue to contribute to the sustenance of democracy in Nigeria.

“It was really important that we hold this training before the election. The next four years will shape the political direction that Nigeria will go. One of the mandates of Konrad Adenauer Stiftung, is to support all democratic institutions. And the media is very important to us,” Peran said.

The Chairperson of the House of Representatives Press Corps, Ms. Grace Ike, said the training is the most important training session because it dwells on two most critical issues in the history of Nigeria today.

Skin-lightening Products; the dark side

By Abiola Adeola Olunrebi

And if one is considering using any skinlightening products, it is important to make research on the ingredients and if possible talk to a dermatologist.

“If it makes you feel beautiful, then do it“. A wellknown quote that has made many Nigerian females go overboard as regards skin care and their choice of skincare products. Most females are likely to go for skin-lightening products that have glowing, whitening, gold lightening, intense exfoliating, and so on as extra description to their names most of the time, with the notion that skin lightening is not the same as skin bleaching. Wikipedia defined skinlightening as the act or practice of using chemical substances in an attempt to lighten the skin. Some of these products have been shown to be effective and some toxic; over time. And since our culture and society sees having a lighter skin as attractive and beautiful, females don’t mind going the extra mile to be ranked as such. And really, the physical

appearance alone does not in any way define beauty. In subsequent paragraphs, the general research on the usage of skin-lightening products as well as the dark sides (effects), will be discussed.

It is estimated that the global market for skin lightening products will reach 31.2 billion dollars by 2024, and that these skin-lightening products happen to be popular in African countries. In Nigeria, 77% of women happen to use skin-lightening products. Unfortunately, these skin-lightening products contain toxic and dangerous chemicals like hydroquinone, corticosteroids, and mercury components that on the long run cause serious skin irritation, acne, discolouration, health problems, and even skin cancer.

In addition to the aforementioned physical risk, there are psychologically risk associated as well. Many who use skin-lightening products have been studied to have low self esteem and the desire to conform to the popular standard of beauty that is based on lighter skin tone. This can lead to the feeling of worthlessness, shame, and insecurity about their

natural skin colour.

It is important to take note of the dark side of using skin-lightening products that especially contain the earlier mentioned and other toxic components, as well as the physical and psychological risk associated with it and remember that beauty comes in all shades and that every one is beautiful in their own unique way. Females on their part should not in any way adopt the definition of being beautiful as just lighter skin tone alone. Skin-lightening products should therefore, not be seen as a way to achieve beauty but rather as a potential health hazard. It is then, up to each individual to decide if skin lightening is right for them and make sure they put their physical and psychological health in view by taking all necessary precautions to ensure their safety. And if one is considering using any skin-lightening products, it is important to make research on the ingredients and if possible talk to a dermatologist.

Abiola Adeola Olunrebi

Nollywood is demonizing Nigerian culture

By Azuka Onwuka

The Nigerian film industry, popularly called Nollywood, has been a big source of pride since it officially took off in 1992 with the production of Living in Bondage. It has provided wealth, fame and prestige to Nigeria and thousands of Nigerians. Ironically, right from Living in Bondage, producers of Nigerian movies have tended to cast the Nigerian traditional life as evil, as well as portraying Nigerians as people who make their money through the power of the occult and human sacrifice.

The reason Chinua Achebe wrote Things Fall Apart and Arrow of God was to present a balanced view of the African life before the advent of the European colonialists, thereby puncturing the negative portrayal of Africa by Europe as barbarians. Achebe did not seek to glorify Africa; rather, he chose to present a society that was not irrational or lawless, even though it had its flaws.

Sadly, many Nollywood writers and producers have adopted the neo-colonial mindset in their films which focus on Nigerian traditional ways of life. For the sake of specificity, I will focus on Igbo culture in this discourse.

Anytime a Nigerian film focuses on an Igbo village as well as the city, there are some constant narratives: 1. The village is the home of poverty, while the city is the place of wealth and good life. 2. The village is the home of witches and wizards while the city is the home of good men and women. 3. The traditional religion in the village is evil but the Christian religion in the city is the good that always overcomes the darkness in the village. 4. The village is a lawless society where one man can seize the property of anybody, especially widows, with nobody stopping him except by divine intervention, while the city is the land of order.

It has become a joke passed around that once you see an actor like Pete Edochie or Chinwetalu Agu in a film set in a traditional Igbo community, a widow will be dealt with mercilessly. Her goats and chickens will be confiscated in broad daylight. She will be barred from farming on her husband’s lands. Sometimes, the terror is a king in an Igbo community that acts as he wishes, confiscating people’s property as well as daughters and wives, arresting people and even killing some.

One is forced to ask: In which fairy Igbo village do these things happen? If they were old events, in which fairy Igbo society did these things happen?

In the distant Igbo past, a girl could be pushed into a marriage with threats by her parents, but no girl could be forced into a marriage if she chose

not to marry a particular man. During the marriage introduction, a girl was expected to visit the bridegroom’s home and spend at least four market days with the mother of the bridegroom, without any sexual relations with the bridegroom. This was the opportunity for her to be studied by the prospective groom’s family and for her to study the man’s family. If she returned and said she did not like the family or the man, the marriage would not proceed.

Secondly, at the point of accepting the bride price by the men of the extended family, the bride would be called and asked if she wanted to marry the man. If she said no, that was the end of the story. A girl was expected to say that it was okay by her if her father wanted her to marry the man. But in such cases, the girl would have had a discussion with her father and agreed on the marriage.

In addition, during the marriage rites, the father of the bride would give her a cup of palm wine to take a sip and take to whoever was her choice for husband. If she took a sip and dropped the cup on the ground and ran away, the marriage had been truncated.

So, the bride had avenues to confirm if she wanted to marry a particular man, even if her father or mother was applying pressure on her. If she decided to succumb to the threats and pressure and go ahead with the marriage, then it was her decision.

Widows also were (and are) vulnerable but not as portrayed in Nollywood. An Igbo marriage is not an affair between a man and a woman or between the nuclear family of the bridegroom and that of the bride. It is an affair between the two extended families called umunna (descendants of one man). To buttress this point, the father of the bride is not allowed to participate in the bride price discussions. It is the umunna that would do that and confirm to him when they are done. Similarly, no bride would be handed over to a bridegroom who came alone or with only his father. He would be asked to go back and bring his people.

Therefore, if a married man dies and his widow refuses to remarry, she cannot be treated as is portrayed in Nollywood films. She has the umunna of her husband to complain to. If they fail to intervene, she has her own people to complain to. Once they hear that their sister is being maltreated by her late husband’s brother or kinsmen, they will come to enquire. If after their visit, the maltreatment continues brazenly, then the culprit is looking for trouble.

On an appointed day, the able-bodied men from her village would soak themselves in strong drinks and other substances, and then proceed in droves to

their sister’s home. They would descend on the home of the man victimising their sister, cut down any plant around, kill all chickens, goats and sheep owned by the man and destroy as many things as they can. That is to send a clear message that the widow being maltreated did not fall from the sky but was born into a family, and that nobody should toy with her.

Most families and villages would not want such a thing to occur in their community. So, whenever a widow comes to complain against a man taking her property or maltreating her, it would quickly be looked into and resolved. This is completely in dissonance with the way issues concerning widows are portrayed in Nollywood films.

In addition, anytime traditional practices are depicted in Nigerian films, they are shown to be evil. At the end, a pastor will be invited to destroy the “forces of darkness”. Ironically, in the real world, a Christian or Muslim would gladly accept to swear by the bible or Quran rather than any Nigerian deity because he believes that if he is guilty, swearing by the bible or Quran will not kill or destroy him, but not the same with swearing by a deity.

Also, our films have helped to ensure that young men do not want to live in the rural communities. They are made to believe that for one to be successful, one has to leave the rural areas. Ironically, there are many rural communities where people make more money and live a better life than in Nigerian cities.

In addition, many urban dwellers are made to believe that it is dangerous to travel to their hometowns or take their children home. Every uncle or aunty or old person in the village is cast as a wizard or witch destroying the success and life of those who live in the city.

The point is not that there are no evil activities in the rural areas. But for the sake of selling movies, Nollywood producers have continued on a campaign of exaggeration of the ills of rural lives and the glorification of Western life. In the eyes of Nigerians and foreigners, they have also put a question mark on the heads of Nigerian rich men as men of the occult who make their money through sacrificing human beings. Many poor or struggling people within Nigeria believe these stories, and start seeking ways to get rich, thereby leading to the disappearance of people, who are kidnapped and killed.

Films are sources of advertising for countries. Those who produce films in Nigeria should think of ways of telling our stories without portraying our ways of life as evil. This should be seen as a national clarion call.

is a Public Policy Analyst.

Azuka Onwuka is a Public Affairs Analyst.

Agriculture and the future of Africa

By Chidi Oguamanam

Africa is continent of 55 countries and thousands of nationalities with incredible human and cultural diversity. Anthropologists have long associated the prevalence of human and cultural diversity with biological, ecological, ecosystem and agricultural biodiversity. Africa is an outstanding evidence of that concordance. In addition to its wealth of incredible diversity, Africa is the youngest and fastest growing continent. In 2050, a quarter of the world’s people would be resident in Africa (2.5 billion). Nigeria, Africa’s most populous country, would rank the world’s third. Over 70 per cent of Africans would be under 30 years of age! How can the continent harness this incredible potential which could readily flip into unprecedented tragedy if not wellmanaged? That is the big question for the future of Africa. That future is at the intersection of strength and a ticking time bomb.

In a way, Africa’s future lies on the continent’s ability to capitalise on its strengths, to exploit its late-comer advantage in the development dynamic. A few of those strengths and their intersections include the continent’s population and youth power; its traditional knowledge and the latter’s intersection with technologies, all of which have ramifications for agriculture as a crucial sector for the continent’s political and economic stability.

As a starting point, Africa must be able to feed itself. In doing so, it must creatively engage its youth and leverage the continent’s value-added in the global market place by interfacing information communication technologies with agro production and marketing. The need to fill the gap between youth power and the continent’s ability to feed itself needs no emphasis. Most political ruptures in history from the historical bred riots to fairly recent Arab Spring have been linked to the frustrations of a hungry population which is inevitably an angry population.

But development experts construct Africa, as they do of world’s indigenous peoples, as in a desperate need for “capacity building and capacity development” in virtually all areas including

agriculture. They are wont to recommend orthodox solutions. Hardly any regard is given to what the rest could learn from Africa. For example, they prescribe hi-tech/industrial agriculture as the solution to Africa’s food insecurity. Now, the entire country, including Nigeria is in a race to the bottom over the introduction of genetically modified organism as the prime gift of agrobiotechnology to be uncritically embraced. But “experts” are silent on the cost of that approach or the overall industrial agriculture option on the continent.

In a counterintuitive way, these uncritical advocates of capacity building and capacity development are themselves in need of inward capacity development to understand Africa’s realities. Hitech agricultural has troubling legacies ill-suited for replication in Africa. Consider this: Since 1990s, we have lost 75 per cent of plant genetic resource diversity for food and agriculture. Today, 24 billion tonnes of healthy soil and 15 million trees are lost yearly; one third of the world’s agricultural land is degraded. The future of industrial agriculture beyond 60 years is bleak! Only 3-5 mega transnational agro-chemical corporations have monopoly over key economic crops; we rely on three – rice, maize and wheat – (out of an estimated 30,000) of those for 75 per cent of our calorie intake. For these mega agro transnational corporations, African is another market frontier for their investments.

Africa’s case is different: At 874 million hectares, Africa has 60 per cent world’s fertile land. Of 600 million Africans engaged in farming, 80 per cent are women. They are smallholder farmers. They are, by default, organic farmers relying mainly on TK and agrobiodiversity. The costs of wholesale adoption of industrial agriculture include massive social disruption and displacement of rural populations, deforestation, and replacement of agrobiodiversity with monoculture. Those are already evident from developments across the continent from Cote d’Ivoire to Cameroon; Liberia to Ethiopia, for example. Other costs include degradation of soil quality, another race to the bottom in the form of foreign direct investment desperation in agriculture which has

Mobilising for a Future without Oil

By Chijioke Nwaozuzu

In 2009, Margaret Atwood wrote a piece titled ‘The Future without Oil’ for a German Newspaper, Die Zeit. In that famous article, she said “it’s not climate change, it’s everything change”. That piece which is as relevant today as ever, presents us a picture of a possible future of an earth in which fossil fuel is no more; and thus prompts us to ask ourselves this pertinent question –what do we wish to create for ourselves today and for our future generations?

For years, Nigeria and some other African countries have depended on crude oil revenue for running their economies. While it is not a crime to benefit from natural resources such as oil, overdependence on a mono-product for satisfying immediate needs without thinking of the future presents potentials of catastrophic consequences – as is evident today.

African countries, like other resource-rich jurisdictions have had a series of windfalls in oil revenue, yet with minimal impact on ordinary citizens, owing to the fiscal recklessness exhibited by governments during periods of oil boom.

In Nigeria, for instance, petroleum accounted for about 90 percent of foreign revenue over a long period, yet only contributed about 14 percent to national Gross Domestic Product (GDP). Overreliance on crude oil as a major export revenue earner beclouded the development of some other productive sectors, which even contribute more to the GDP as shown in figure 1.

Sectoral Contribution to Nigerian GDP

Furthermore, the over-reliance on crude oil, whose price is prone to the vagaries of and volatility in the international oil market, exposes African nations to uncertainties in revenues, especially in periods of burst – as is the case today, leaving most of the economies with minimal revenues to fall back on.

While the current oil glut is biting export-dependent African nations hard, other crude oil rich countries who had strategic plans for the future – like Norway, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, etc., have less to worry about, because they all made provisions for the uncertain future. Such futuristic strategy is what differentiates them from their African counterparts, only some of which engaged in saving part of their resource revenues for the future generation, in what is called Sovereign Wealth Funds (SWF).

Today some of these stabilisation funds from oil revenues are running into billions of dollars, which would provide economic stability for those economies in the future, should oil run out or is replaced by another resource.

Even though some African nations have made efforts at averting the potential uncertainties inherent in the commodities market (as a result of the boom-bust cycle) by establishing the Excess Crude Account (as is the case with Nigeria) or Sovereign Wealth Funds,

it has only achieved mixed success in creating the framework for savings during high oil price regimes.

Where successes were recorded in savings, it helped to smoothen government finances and budgets, and attracted international agencies, such as the International Monetary Fund (IMF) to back fiscal reforms (as in Nigeria), yet it did not prove a good mechanism for ring-fencing savings, as it did not have a legal provision for the sharing of revenue amongst government tiers. This, in itself, was a major flaw in the savings programmes, as they were not directed toward the future, but for immediate sharing among the levels of government. As a consequence, there were large-scale thefts, funds misapplication, and mismanagement, as is the case of Nigeria.

The aftermath of the above failure in Nigeria was the initiation of the Sovereign Wealth Act in 2011, intended to invest oil earnings during windfall periods into infrastructure development, as well as providing funds (stabilisation funds) for the future generation. Nigeria’s performance in the SWF as at 2015. Even with this, the fund has been beleaguered by issues of the lack of transparency and unaccountability in its management. This is not peculiar to Nigeria, as some other African countries (like Libya) have had their share of funds mismanagement. In spite of this absurdity, there should be a renewed effort on the part of the government at providing for a future without oil.

The oil sector creates only a handful of job (about 1 percent) in Nigeria, and the instability of revenue from oil could impact the overall growth of the economy (through changes in government spending), the position of fiscal and external reserves, and employment. Diversification here implies the development of the non-oil sectors (e.g. agriculture, manufacturing, services, etc.) and the reduction of oil dependency, as well as the creation of a non-oil economy that has the potential to sustain a high level of government revenue and the establishment of more jobs.

It is imperative for the governments of oil dependent economies to begin to diversify their economic base in order to reduce exposure to the inherent volatility and uncertainties that characterise the international crude oil market; improve private sector employment opportunities; drive up productivity; and strategically establish the non-oil sector of the economy, which in the future would act as a ‘safety net’ when revenue from oil may become insignificant.

To diversify the economy and thus reduce over-reliance on oil revenues, there is urgent need for national development plans geared towards boosting human capital development, rapid and consistent industrial expansion with the capacity to employ skilled labour, as well as mobilising the services sectors, which has the capacity to boost revenue for the countries.

To realise these goals would require a stable economic environment devoid of high inflationary trends, a business

resulted in unconscionable massive agricultural land grab across the continent. Gradually in agriculture, we are at the risk of repeating what has happened in the pharmaceutical sector. There, R&D priorities are set by the Big Pharma, with huge investments in medicines for the rich and diseases of the affluent as opposed to the needs of the poor and vulnerable. With Africa’s agriculture in the hands of agro-TNCs, R&D agenda in agriculture will be far removed from Africa’s priorities and needs in agro-biodiversity and the sustainability of traditional agricultural knowledge and practices. That is not a viable pathway for the continent.

Africa’s factor endowment in TK-driven agriculture sustains ‘the culture in agriculture’ as Africa’s way of life. The communal and cultural components of agriculture in Africa are the reason African agriculture resists being reduced to mere production line of industrial monoculture. Africa can lead the search for how best to integrate its agricultural traditions into a sustainable and winning business model. That would include selective and dynamic adaptation of technologies such as those relating to climate change adaptation and mitigation, not to mention irrigation (only four per cent of Africa’s agriculture benefits from irrigation technology) and the use of new ICTs for global market optimisation of Africa’s niche and value-added in crop diversity and organic production. Not only would ICT bridge the gap between farmers and sophisticated brokers in the global value chain, it would open untapped legitimate branding through trademarking options, geographical indications and other custom market options. Although it may feel like the genie is out of the bottle, African may yet resist being screwed by the global supply/value chain. Through internal selfsustaining investments in its areas of factor endowment, it may still avoid developmental havocs of advanced economies by rethinking the prospects of agriculture for the continent’s future in a constructive manner in relation to the self-serving and conventional prescriptions of western development experts.

Oguamanam is Full Professor, Faculty of Law, University of Ottawa.

environment that is strengthened and liberalised such as would encourage trade and foreign direct investment, a deepened financial sector, as well as an expanded and fortified educational system. These will impact and support private sector-driven economic activities, especially in the non-oil sectors, thereby providing job today and for the future.

There is no doubt that complete diversification of the economy from the oil to non-oil sectors is a difficult task, however timely implementation of adequate policies will help in its achievement. Lessons of such policies and diversification efforts could be learnt from countries like Indonesia, Malaysia and Mexico, which have been able to implement diversification of their economies from oil, with huge successes recorded. These countries did not only create favourable business and economic environments, but also focused on quality upgrading, as well as encouraging their firms to develop export markets.

• Fiscal Responsibility

In the case of Nigeria, over the years government revenues or finances have been handled with a high level of fiscal irresponsibility by government officials, characterised by the misuse and mismanagement of revenues from crude oil exports, thereby jeopardising the infrastructural development goals of the nation. Today, the era of fiscal irresponsibility has to be jettisoned, and addressed as a misnomer of the past, in order to garner ample revenue for driving sustainable development initiatives for the future.

Furthermore, the government should, as a matter of importance, strengthen the agencies responsible for the management of the Sovereign Wealth Fund, to insulate it from political pressures and interests.

• Improvement in the Taxation System

The objective of a good tax system is to guarantee long-term fiscal stability of government programmes and policies. Thus, an appropriate tax administration is necessary to ensure that tax payers comply with the provisions of tax laws and that the funds derived therefrom are paid into the government coffers. Over the years, however, tax systems in developing countries have had mixed results.

It has been estimated by the Global Financial Integrity that outflows from developing countries due to tax avoidance/evasion and illicit financial flows amounts to about $1 trillion each year. This is especially rife in countries with weak tax collection institutions/ systems. Therefore, countries should develop strategies for tightening every loophole to ensure appropriate tax collection, since such revenue could boost government finances needed for funding developmental projects.

Chijioke Nwaozuzu, a downstream petroleum economics and policy expert can be reached on cnwaozuzu@gmail.com

Access Bank has unveiled several discounts and mouth-watering freebies on its retail products and services to celebrate its customers in this season of love.

The Valentine season campaign, tagged ‘Love is More,’ will run from Feb. 1 to March 11, 2023.

Mr Robert Giles, Senior Retail Advisor, Retail Banking, Access Bank, said at the campaign’s debut that the initiative was introduced to demonstrate love and appreciation for its customers.

“Valentine season provides us with another opportunity to demonstrate our love and appreciation for our customers for the years of loyalty and support for the bank.

“We are using this opportunity to thank our customers for their commitment to Access Bank.

“We value our customers and non-customers who rely on our services and products to conduct seamless banking activities, and

Gov Badaru appoints Hameem as new emir of Dutse

From Mika’il Tsoho, Dutse

The Jigawa State Governor, Muhammad Badaru Abubakar, has approved the appointment of Muhammad Hameem Nuhu Sanusi as the new Emir of Dutse.

This was contained in a statement signed and issued to news men by the Jigawa state commissioner of special duties Alhaji Auwal D Sankara.

According to the statement, the appointment followed the unanimous selection of Hameem by seven kingmakers among three contenders for the royal seat.

The selection was then approved by the Jigawa State Council of Chiefs and subsequently, by the Governor himself, taking effect from February 5th, 2023.

His appointment followed the death of his father Dr Nuhu Muhammad Sunusi who died last week after brief illness at hospital in Abuja.

Valentine: Access Bank unveils ‘Love is More’ campaign

we wish everyone the best of this season,” Giles said.

Also speaking, Njideka Esomeju, Group Head, Consumer Banking, Access Bank, said that the campaign was unveiled to appreciate its customers during Valentine.

“In the spirit of the season of love, we have unveiled several amazing offers to appreciate our customers during this month of love.

“Our customers who sign up for the XclusivePlus annual plan this month of February will not only receive a 10GB of data to share great moments with loved ones but will also get a 10 per cent

discount off their total purchases on Konga.

“Small business owners (SMEs) who open a Diamond Business Advantage Account (DBA) and grow their balance to N1,000,000 (DBA Trader Lite and DBA Basic) or N5,000,000 (DBA Growing to Prestige) and perform at least two transactions on the AccessMore app before Feb. 28 stand a chance to win a free business protection bundle, a gift box, or a one-month fee waiver.

“This season, when our women use their “W” branded debit card at Beacon Health Diagnostics, they will receive a

20 per cent discount on cervical cancer screening. Ladies, you can get your “W” debit card today from any Access Bank branch close to you,” she said.

Esomeju said customers who transact five times every week this February on AccessMore or *901# would qualify to win a N500 topup on *901# and N1,000 worth of data on AccessMore.

She said that the bank would also provide customers with free vehicle registration when they acquire a brand-new or preowned vehicle from one of our registered dealers nationwide.

“Salary account holders with Access Bank are not left out, as

they can access a bouquet of loan offers and enjoy a five per cent interest rate reduction in the first month of the loan repayment.

“We are offering these and so much more to show how much we appreciate our customers’ consistent patronage.

“To join the reward train, dial *901# or download and log onto the accessmore app to open a new account.

“You can also visit any Access Bank branch near you to reactivate your account, and then start transacting immediately to enjoy the Valentine season campaign benefits,” Esomeju said. (NAN)

2023 Polls: Tinubu vanguard of women empowerment, says Minister

By Stanley Onyekwere

As political parties intensify efforts to woo the electorate in the forthcoming general elections, the FCT Minister of State, Dr. Ramatu Tijjani Aliyu, has described the APC presidential candidate, Sen. Bola Ahmed Tinubu, as the vanguard of women empowerment above other candidates.

Aliyu affirmed that the support given to Sen. Oluremi Tinubu was an eloquent demonstration of Asiwaju’s commitment to giving political space to women.

Aliyu spoke at a “train the trainers” summit organised by the Nigerian women unite for

Tinubu/Shettima, in Abuja, according to a statement from S.A Media to FCT Minister of State.

The Minister, who acknowledged the roles of women in nation building, and the numerical strength of women, also emphasised that with unity of purpose, great candidates and a dynamic party machinery, the odds favour the ruling All Progressives Congress.

In her words; “Our presidential candidate, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, is the vanguard of women empowerment above all other candidates. His support and encouragement to his wife says it all.

“We have every confidence

that a Bola Tinubu Presidency is the best suited to advance the fortunes of women in this country.

‘He would ensure effective participation of women in commanding heights of the national economy, agriculture, manufacturing, hi-tech and commerce.

“He has done it in his family, he has done it in Lagos and will do it at the national level. Tinubu/ Shettima will make Nigeria secure again. His liberality speaks for itself.

“He will give attention to the ordinary women in our communities through promotion of Micro, Small and Medium

Enterprises (MSMEs).

“He will implement innovative and impactful safetynet programmes. He is set to make women the drivers of our agricultural production”.

Also, wife of the APC presidential candidate, Mrs. Oluremi Tinubu, has vowed to restore better life for rural women if elected come February 25, 2023.

She further promised the restoration of the defunct family support programme, stressing that priority would be given to women and child health, curb maternal/child mortality rates in Nigeria and enhance child nutrition amongst others.

L-R: The Chairman, National Senior Secondary Education Commission (NSSEC) Governing Board, Amb. Dr. (Mrs) Nimota Nihinlola Akanbi (OON) with the Director Of Mahatma Gandhi Institute of Education for Peace and Sustainable Development (MGIEP) ANANTHA DURAHIAPP during the 10th Anniversary of MGIEP in India New Delhi recently. Photo: NSSEC

By Musa Baba Adamu

AFederal High Court in Damaturu, Yobe State capital, on Monday, ruled that the All Progressives Congress, APC, cannot field candidates for two state House of Assembly seats of Ngalda-Fika and Goya-Ngeji constituencies.

Justice Fadima Aminu pointed out that in October last year, a judge of the court nullified the party’s primaries conducted in both constituencies on 26 May 2022, following non-compliance with Section 84(13) of the Electoral Act 2022, and ordered fresh primaries to be conducted by the party within 14 days as required by law.

Delivering her judgement via zoom, and joined by the counsels

Court stops APC from contesting two Yobe Assembly seats

to both parties, Justice Aminu declared that: “APC indeed failed to comply with the provisions of guideline in the conduct of primary elections as provided in the Electoral Act [and] thus cannot sponsor candidates for the two-state assembly seats”.

She added that the implication of this misconduct is for the court to invoke the provision of Section 84 (13) of the Electoral Act 2022 which reads, “where a political party fails to comply

with the provision of this Act in the conduct of its primaries, its candidature for election shall not be included in the election for the particular position in it”.” She said further: “This court having been fortified by the above provision of the law and the recent Supreme Court decision of Hon. Nnamdi Ezeanyi and Hon. Jones Onyerere supra in conjunction with the earlier cited judicial and statutory authorities hereby toe the same line and

pursuant to the provision of Electoral Act 2022 and the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999, this Honorable Court holds that since the time allowed by Electoral Act 2022 for the conduct of primaries and submission of candidates to political parties by INEC has elapsed, the APC shall not field candidate for the seat of Ngalda/ Fika Constituency of Assembly House of Assembly for the 2023 General election.”

She concluded thus: “This matter is hereby dismissed and each party bears its own cost. This is my decision. This shall be the judgement of this court.”

Similarly, the same provisions of the law were applied to the case of Goya-Ngeji House of Assembly Constituency.

Reacting to the development, counsels to the plaintiffs in both cases, lauded the judgement and thanked the judge for her judgement.

Naira Swap: CNPP Stands With CBN on deadline, wants old notes retrieved

By Ikechukwu Okaforadi

Conference of Nigeria Political Parties (CNPP) has said that political parties in Nigeria favours no further extension of the window for the swap of old naira notes through the commercial banks, urging the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) to set up mechanism for mopping up old naira note in the hands of rural dwellers after the February 10, 2023 deadline.

In a statement issued in Abuja by the CNPP Secretary General, Chief Willy Ezugwu, umbrella body all registered political parties and political association said that “only politicians who have perfected plans to buy votes with the old notes are clamouring for further extension of the deadline for old naira note swap.”

The CNPP was reacting to the resolution by 14 political parties threatening to withdraw from the 2023 general elections if there was further extension of the swap deadline and the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory’s restraining order on President Muhammadu Buhari, the CBN Governor, Godwin Emefiele and 27 commercial banks from suspending the currency redesign policy of the federal government.

Justice Eneojo Eneche of the FCT High Court had in a ruling on an ex parte application brought by four political parties against the government and 27 commercial banks in the country, restrained the respondents from further extending

the old naira notes swap deadline.

Urging Nigerians not to allow themselves to be used by corrupt and desperate politicians who do not mean well for the country, the CNPP argued that “the long term gains of the naira redesign policy and the entire cashless policy of the federal government outweigh any short term pain.

“Therefore, we urge the masses to bear with the federal government and the Central Bank of Nigeria as efforts are ongoing to overcome the current plot to sabotage the policy.

“We have seen the efforts of security and anti-graft agencies in arresting the economic saboteurs collaborating with a few unpatriotic politicians who are desperate to buy votes with the old

notes by insisting on endless extension of the swap deadline.

“Their move to frustrate President Muhammadu Buhari administration’s cashless policy and its attendant benefits to the economy remains consistent with their intention to derail the 2023 general elections if they cannot buy votes or manipulate the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to do their bidding.

“The same elements had moved to remove the INEC Chairman for insisting on deploying technology for the conduct of the 2023 general elections, especially the use of the BVAS machines which are currently being reconfigured to ensure that over-

voting in polling units is permanently eliminated, making rigging and ballot box stuffing a thing of the past.

“The CNPP calls on all wellmeaning Nigerians, Civil Society Organisations, and patriots to remain resolute in the current fight for the soul of Nigeria through free, fair, and credible elections.

“Nigerian youths must be assured that once the right leadership is voted at all levels, the current pains and hardship will eventually become a tale of the past.

“It is time for the people to take their destinies in their hands. We stand with the order of Justice Eneojo Eneche restraining the federal government, CBN and commercial

banks from, “stopping, extending or interfering with the currency redesign terminal date of February 10 or issue any directive contrary to the February 10 date.”

“The CNPP hereby urges the CBN to devise means of mopping up old notes from the rural communities in event that some rural farmers in the unbanked villages were unable to swap their old naira notes by February 10 deadline.

“Individuals and organisations who are unable to swap their old naira notes after the deadline should take their old notes to the CBN offices for exchange with the new notes at their face value as directed by the CBN”, the CNPP stated.

L-R: Murshid of the Abuja National Mosque, Professor Shehu Ahmed Sa’id Galadanci; His Royal Majesty, the Ona of Abaji and chairman FCT council of chiefs, Alhaji Adamu BaBa Yunusa; former INEC chairman, Professor Attahiru Jega; Representative of the Secretary to the government of the federation, and Director human resource FCTA, Muhammad Bashir; Representative of the FCT minister, during the one-day Public sensitization on the theme: toward a free, fair and credible 2023 general elections organised by the Abuja National Mosque Da’awah and welfare foundation in Abuja Yesterday.

Niger South SDP senatorial candidate promises purposeful leadership

By Usman Shuaibu

Asenatorial candidate of Social Democratic Party (SDP) for Niger South constituency, Dr Amb. Aisha Abdullahi, has promised to provide purposeful leadership capable of satisfying the aspirations of her constituency if elected in 2023 general elections.

She made the pledge in an interview with Peoples Daily correspondent after a political meeting in Abuja, also said if given the mandate, she would focus on women empowerment.

She further said if elected, she would give priority to the Youth Empowerment to enable them to be self-reliance in the society.

Ambassador Aisha Abdullahi pointed

out that she would deem it necessary to support the education of Nigerlites at all times, as she said she would make sure the boarding schools in the State are re-opened.

Commenting on the dilapidation of roads in Niger State, the SDP senatorial candidate said she would not hesitate to partner with the Federal Government to repair the dilapidated roads in Niger State.

She, therefore, called on the entire residents of her constituency to come out in mass to vote for the candidates of SDP in the 2023 general elections, and warned them against vote buying.

She appealed to Nigerlites to shun any act capable of causing rancor and acrimony during the elections, advising the youths to stay away from political violence.

Peter Obi sympathises with Nigerians over recurrent hardship, vows change in 2023

By Ikechukwu Okaforadi

Labour Party (LP) Presidential Candidate, Mr Peter Obi on Tuesday, bemoaned the hardship that Nigeria has endured and vowed to improve things if elected to lead the country in 2023. Obi asked his followers to show more commitment as the election neared, warning that the country’s future would be unpredictable if

Nigerians missed the chance to choose a competent president in the next general elections.

The LP standard bearer spoke at the launch of a book titled: “Peter Obi: Many voices, one perspectives” in Abuja.

He said: “I have told all the supporters, various groups supporting me that we need people, we need all of you to support us, especially these final days to reach

the end of this race.

“Nigeria has suffered a lot, this is a great country and it can be turned around. But we cannot succeed without your intervention, so as you launch this book, please be part of what we are doing to Nigeria.

“This is an existential election. I will urge all of you to be involved. If we get it wrong, no body can tell what next. All I know is that I always wish Nigeria the best and I

know you people do. And In doing that, I urge you to be part of a new Nigeria that Dati and I are fighting for.”

Professor Okay Ikechukwu, while reviewing the book, said the 969 paged publication was at best a biographical testimonial with a historical focus.

“The subject matter is Peter Obi and that is the point. The central point we are making here and

PDP faults Buhari’s silence over attempts to assassinate CUPP spokesman

By Musa Baba Adamu

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Imo State on Tuesday raised an alarm that for the third time in less than two months, “there was another bloody attack today” at the residence of the spokesman of Coalition of United Political Parties (CUPP) and candidate for Ideato Federal Constituency, Barr. Ikenga Imo Ugochinyere.

The opposition party said eyewitnesses were very exact and unanimous in their verdict that the hooded attackers were members of the state-backed Ebubeagu militia who were said to have been stationed in Akokwa, just recently.

PDP stated this in a release, signed by its publicity secretary, Collins Opurozor and made

available to journàlists in Owerri, Imo State capital.

The party alleged that the latest attack, apart from its core objective to assassinate Ikenga Ugochinyere, was also contrived to intimidate his supporters and weaken the resolve of Ideato people who are fully determined to elect Ikenga Imo Ugochinyere as a member of the House of Representatives at the polls on February 25th, 2023.

Recall that on December 23, 2022, the convoy of Ikenga was attacked as he returned home from Abuja, and he narrowly escaped death. On January 14, 2023, Ikenga’s residence in Umukegwu-Akokwa witnessed a bloody onslaught that left three persons dead, including his uncle and 32 vehicles burnt to ashes and buildings levelled to the ground with explosives.

The statement reads: “Today, the state-sanctioned terrorists who rode in a convoy of vehicles that included an armoured personnel carrier returned to the very same residence with even more audacity, unleashing mayhem on the buildings and letting loose hell upon everyone at sight. We are yet to establish the casualties.

Avowing that “the attacks on Ikenga Ugochinyere began immediately after he exposed the widespread compromise of the INEC voter register,” Imo PDP said: “What our party finds deeply disturbing is that President Muhammadu Buhari and the Federal Government have remained silent over these continuous bloody attacks on our candidate by ostensible agents of the Imo APC regime.”

PDP further accused the President of having abdicated his duty as the Commander in Chief of the Armed Forces, “thereby enabling desperate political actors within the APC in Imo to endlessly terrorize the state and mow down perceived political foes as it pleases them.”

The party further noted that despite its call for the disbandment of the Ebubeagu Militia, redeployment of heads of security agencies and the establishment of an independent panel of inquiry to unravel the Imo killings, nothing has been done by the Federal Government.

“The masterminds of the attacks on Ikenga Ugochinyere must be arrested and brought to book before Imo is plunged into full-blown anarchy and a very bitter, bloody war.

that lies in the central point of the work, is that if people keep saying the same thing about a person for a long time, it must meet that there are bases for whatever they are saying. It must also mean that they are making verifiable claims. It must men that the man is, real, he is authentic and and it must mean that he represents what is presented today. Peter Obi is a man with community consciousness,” he stated.

A group of seasoned Media Professionals published the compendium entitled “Peter Obi: Many Voices, One Perspective”.

The group is headed by the first female Professor of Mass Communication in Nigeria and Sub-Saharan Africa, Prof. Chinyere Stella Okunna.”

The compendium features published articles authored by some of the best in the pen profession, as well as opinions by other highprofile commentators.

Abia APGA ‘ll conduct guber primary soon –Etigwe Uwa

By Christiana Ekpa

Etigwe Uwa has expressed optimism that he will soon be declared the rightful governorship candidate of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) and would proceed to win the Abia State governorship election on March 11, 2023.

Uwa, who challenged the candidature of Prof Greg Ibe, who was declared guber candidate of APGA in Abia State, in an interview said the Federal High Court in Abuja has nullified all prayers against him, and that his own prayers to the court were upheld after all arguments have been taken.

Uwa, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, further claimed that a new date would soon be announced for another governorship primary election to determine the rightful candidate.

, during

“Despite all the litigations and antics to limit or discourage my ambition, I will continue to tell Abia [people] that our state needs capable hands to harness her potential for greatness,” he said stressing that his billboards are everywhere, which is an indication that he was already campaigning.

2023 election: Wike working for Tinubu – Fayose

By Musa Baba Adamu

The younger brother to a former Governor of Ekiti State, Ayodele Fayose, Isaac has alleged that Governor Nyesom Wike of Rivers State is working for the All Progressives Congress, APC, presidential candidate, Bola Tinubu.

Wike has been at loggerheads with

the leadership of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, after losing the party’s presidential ticket to Atiku Abubakar.

The face-off with Atiku led to Wike’s call for the removal of the PDP’s National Chairman, Iyorchia Ayu.

Wike and the G-5 governors said the party can’t have the North produce the party’s national chairman and presidential candidate.

They stressed that a southerner should be allowed to produce the party’s national chairman for the sake of balance and equity.

However, Fayose, in a Facebook post wrote: “It’s almost election day. Labour Party (LP) and support groups for Peter Obi need to consolidate in SS, MD (Especially Plateau, Benue), Ondo, Lagos, Kaduna, Taraba. These are the strong

regions to get high numbers.

“The SE needs to show its hands massively.

“For SS: Wike is working for BAT, there is a heavy propaganda going on in Akwa Ibom, Okowa is ready for war in Delta, Bayelsa needs a structure to convert, Edo is certain.

“BAT is playing a victim in the SW, and unfortunately, it’s working.”

L-R: Inspector General of Police Usman Baba Alkali, Chairman Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) Professor Mahmood Yakubu and National Security Adviser (NSA) to the President Major-General Babagana Mogguno (retired)

the INEC Chairman meeting with the NSA and the Security Chief, yesterday in Abuja..

Photo: Mahmud Isa

By Christiana Ekpa

Former President of South Africa, Thabo Mbeki will lead a team of Commonwealth election observers to Nigeria.

Secretary-General, Patricia Scotland constituted the Observer Group following an invitation from the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

Scotland noted that the body remains a committed and reliable partner in Nigeria’s continuing journey towards peaceful democratic governance.

The leader said the Commonwealth has observed all general elections since 1999, adding that the latest deployment

I cannot work with APC governor in Delta – Ned Nwoko

By Musa Baba Adamu

The Delta North senatorial candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Ned Nwoko today said it’s not a do-or-die affair for him to be voted a senator.

Nwoko made the assertion during an interactive session with journalists in Asaba.

Nwoko who was a guest at “The Platform”, a programme organized by the Delta State Council of the Nigeria Union of Journalists, NUJ also said he wouldn’t like to be in the opposition when he emerges as the next senator at the red chamber.

He explained that he can’t function effectively well as an opposition in the house.

According to Hon. Nwoko, it will be an uphill task for him to go and convince Peter Obi and Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu to do what he wanted for him.

He stressed: “It’s almost impossible. But if I have Okowa and Atiku, it’s easy. Please, make room for them. I believe they will make things happen. If I am in opposition, it becomes a problem.”

Nwoko noted that the PDP agenda will be those things discussed and agreed upon with the people.

While noting that the same goes for the governor, Nwoko told the people that they are shooting themselves in the leg if they support a candidate of the All Progressives Congress, APC to be governor of Delta State.

“I cannot work with an APC governor. I know him,” he said.

He then solicited support for all PDP candidates in the forthcoming elections.

Thabo Mbeki leads Commonwealth observers for Nigeria elections

affirms the enduring support for the promotion of the processes and institutions of democracy.

“This month’s elections hold immense significance not just for Nigeria, but for the entire African continent and the wider democratic world.”

Scotland urged all stakeholders to ensure a peaceful election environment which is conducive to the free exercise of people’s

franchise and in which fundamental freedoms and rights are respected.

The Commonwealth group will observe the preparations for the election, the polling, counting and the results process, and the overall electoral environment.

The observers will assess the conduct of the process as a whole and, where appropriate, make recommendations for the

strengthening of the electoral system in Nigeria.

The team will have briefings with electoral authorities, political parties, law enforcement agencies, media, civil society groups representing women, youth and people with disabilities.

The recommendations to be submitted to the Secretary-General will be forwarded to the Nigerian government, INEC, parties taking

part in the elections and all Commonwealth governments.

The 16 observers, expected from February 18 to March 2, are politicians, diplomats and experts in law, human rights, gender equality and election administration from Botswana, Canada, Fiji, Ghana, Kenya, Lesotho, Rwanda, Saint Lucia, South Africa, Uganda, United Kingdom and Zambia.

2023: PDP seeks cooperation of journalists in Delta State

By Musa Baba Adamu

The Delta State governorship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, Sheriff

Oborevwori have solicited the cooperation of Journalists for the actualization of the Vice

Presidential ambition of Dr. Arthur Ifeanyi Okowa, running mate to Atiku Abubakar, presidential candidate of the PDP.

The lawmaker spoke when he appeared on the “Platform,” a programme designed by the NUJ Delta State Council in Asaba to

interrogate potential leaders on their agenda.

Oborevwori said, “I will serve as governor of all Deltans irrespective of your social status, religion or political affiliation ”

He noted that he has a special agenda designed for a greater Delta

State.

He said, “I urge you to sensitize the people to vote 5/5 for all PDP candidates. Vote against bad governance, vote against fuel scarcity and bad economy orchestrated by the APC government.

Ekiti Speaker seeks diaspora support for Gov Oyebanji

By Christiana Ekpa

The Speaker of the Ekiti State House of Assembly, Olubunmi Adelugba, has urged the Ekiti in Diaspora to key into the blueprint of the administration of Governor Biodun Oyebanji to boost the industrial and investment profile of the state.

Adelugba made the call in her office in Ado Ekiti on Tuesday when she hosted members of Ekiti in Houston Association, the umbrella body of Ekiti indigenes in the city of Houston, Texas, United States of America.

According to a statement by her Special Adviser, Media, Odunayo Ogunmola, members of the association who were led on the courtesy visit by their President, Pastor Bolu Alabi, said they were impressed by positive developments going on in their home state and

expressed their readiness to partner with the government in key sectors of the economy.

The Speaker urged Ekiti citizens in other parts of the world to leverage the enabling environment provided by the Oyebanji Administration for development purposes, especially in agribusiness, commerce, tourism, Information and Communication Technology, education, and health, among others.

She pointed out that Ekiti is making progress in key sectors of the economy and the inputs of its indigenes abroad would be needed to complement what the state government is doing to make the state a destination of choice for business and investment that would create more jobs for the youths.

Adelugba stressed that Ekiti now has an airport that was established for the export of agricultural produce and to also open up the

state to other parts of Nigeria and outside the country.

She said: “In Ekiti, we now have our own airport and planes can land there. We used the Akure Airport more than the people in Ondo State but now, we have our own airport and it will be put to good use. It is also a cargo airport that can be used to export and market our agricultural products.”

Speaking earlier, the President of Ekiti in Houston Association, Pastor Alabi, said the body was delighted that Ekiti has produced the first female Speaker in its political history.

Alabi disclosed that there are over 1,000 Ekiti families in the city of Houston, many of whom are doing well in various fields of human endeavours.

He said: “We want to be part of the progress and be part of the new dawn in our state. We are here to

see how we can contribute our little quota to the development of the state.

“We want to work with the Ministry of Education on how we can award scholarships to deserving indigent students in all the local government areas of the state.

“We are also working with the Ministry of Works on how we can be involved in the renovation of public infrastructure especially the public hospitals in the state. We also want to institute endowment funds in the two state-owned universities to encourage academic excellence and infrastructural development of these institutions.”

He also expressed delight with the cooperation and smooth working relationship that exists between the Executive and Legislature in Ekiti State which he noted would facilitate good governance.

L-R: Secretary, Igbo Elders Consultative Forum, Prof. Charles Nwekeaku, Chairman, National Dialogue Committee, Elder Onyema Ugwunze, Leader, the Art Bearers of New Nigeria, Evangelist Iwuchukwu Nwafor and the Former Governor of Anambra State / Chairman Igbo Elders Consultative Forum, Chief Chukwuemeka Ezeife, during the Art Bearers of New Nigeria in Conjunction with the Igbo Elders Consultative Forum media briefing / The Prophetic Prayer Declarations for a successful 2023 General Elections, held yesterday in Abuja. Photo-: Justin Imo-owo

Abubakar Yunusa, Abuja

Justice Zainab Abubakar of the Federal High Court, Court 4, Abuja has set March 16, 2023 for the commencement of trial of Vektr Capital Global Group along with two staff of the company Mr. Solomon Edet Solomon and Mr. Zakari Haruna on allegations bordering on operating as fund managers without registration by the Securities and Exchange Commission among others.

Hon. Justice Abubakar also directed that the two defendants be remanded in Suleija Correctional Centre pending when Mr. Zakari Haruna is able to fulfil his bail conditions.

The SEC had in March 2022 sealed up the Wuse Zone 5 office of Vektr Capital on suspicions of illegally collecting money from the investing public to the tune of N891,000,000 while not registered with the Commission.

In the four count charge brought against the company and its promoters by the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Vektr Capital Global Nigeria Limited is alleged to have on or between the year 2021 and 2022 within the jurisdiction of the honourable court with intent to defraud, conspired amongst themselves together with one Kayode Sal Viktor and your other staff to obtain the sum of over N891, 729,000 from investing public including Cordelia Ukomaka Ducke Eze and others under false pretence that they were a fund managers which you are not and thereby

3 ships discharge frozen fish at Lagos ports

From Abubakar Yunusa Abuja

The Nigerian Ports Authority, NPA, on Monday said that out of the 21 ships discharging at the Lagos Port Complex, three of the ships were carrying frozen fish.

It said that the remaining 18 ships discharging at the port were carrying soya bean meal, bulk gypsum, bulk urea, bulk salt, general cargo, bulk wheat, container, truck and petrol.

The NPA, however, reports that no ship was waiting to berth at the port.

The organisation also said that 17 other ships expected at the ports were carrying bulk wheat, general cargo, container, soya bean meal, boat, bulk sugar, bulk salt, butane gas and bulk fertilizer.

The NPA said that the ships were expected to arrive at the Lagos Port Complex as from February 6 to February 17.

Ponzi: Judge sets March 16 for Commencement of Trial

committed an offence contrary to Section 8 of the Advanced Fee Fraud and Fraud Related Offences Act 2006 and punishable under Section 1 (3) of the same Act.

“That you M/s Vektr Capital Global Nigeria Ltd, on or between the year 2021 and 2022 within the jurisdiction of this honourable court did commit a felony to wit. Conspired among yourselves together with Kayode Sal Viktor and your other staff to do an illegal act- to lure and offer for subscription an unregistered collective investment scheme valued over N891,000,000 to investing public including Cordelia Ukomaka Ducke Eze and others and thereby committed an offense contrary to and punishable under Section 516 of Criminal Code Act, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria 2004.

“That you M/s Vektr Capital Global Nigeria Ltd, on or between the year 2021 and 2022 within the

jurisdiction of this honourable court did commit a felony to wit. Conspired among yourselves together with Kayode Sal Viktor and your other staff to do an illegal act- to lure and offer for subscription an unregistered collective investment scheme valued over N891,000,000 to investing public including Cordelia Ukomaka Ducke Eze and others and thereby committed an offense contrary to and punishable under Section 54 of the Investments and Securities Act, 2007” the Charge stated.

When the bail application came up for determination, the Justice said she has not been convinced going by the affidavit that the accused will attend court to attend trial and not jump bail.

Earlier, Counsel to Mr. Solomon urged the court to grant the defendant bail, stating that the defendant is only an employee of the company and not the owner.

However, Hon. Justice Abubakar declined saying that being an employee of the company is not enough for her to grant him bail but told the counsel that she needs to be convinced that if the defendant is granted bail he will be available to attend the hearing and not jump bail.

She said, “You know the provisions of the of the Administration of Criminal Justice on bail applications. He must meet those considerations. Show me in your affidavit of support where all these conditions have been listed as met to give me the assurance that the second defendant will at all times attend this trial in person. If I grant him bail based on what you have submitted will I not be seen to be reckless as a judge?

“Granting of bail is a discretionary power and you must earn it, you must convince me. So many people jump bail cases will come up and it

cannot go on because the person has jumped bail. If you convince me, because your conviction is on oath I believe you. My concern is what you depose in your affidavit. I cannot on the basis of this deposition grant this person bail, I cannot.

“According to Section 160 paragraph 8F, the applicant must have these facts in his affidavit to convince the court to grant him bail. If I grant bail and he decides to jump bail tomorrow anyone that sees this application will say he did not commit himself.

Hon. Justice Abubakar state that there are no vital assurances to convince the court to grant the defendant bail as contained in Section 160 of Criminal Administrative Justice Act 2013 and enumerated in Paragraph 8f of the said Act, emphasising that It is important that the deposition must contain that vital information to convince and assure the court to grant the second defendant bail.

Zainab Ahmed: FG has spent N612bn Sukuk funding on road projects in four years

From Abubakar Yunusa, ABUJA

Zainab Ahmed, minister of finance, budget, and national planning, says the federal government has invested over N600 billion raised through sovereign sukuk in road projects across the country.

Ahmed spoke at the symbolic cheque presentation ceremony of the 2022 N130 billion sovereign sukuk by the debt management office (DMO) in Abuja on Monday.

The sukuk is a strategic debt instrument that supports infrastructure development, promotes financial inclusion and deepens the domestic securities market.

The minister described the project as one of the most innovative and successful initiatives of President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration.

Last year, the DMO raised

N130 billion from its N100 billion sovereign al ’Ijarah sukuk opened on November 21, 2022.

Speaking at the ceremony, Ahmed said the sukuk has helped in improving road infrastructure in the Nigeria.

She added that the N130 billion received would be released to the national assembly “as part of the capital expenditure in the 2022 appropriation act, which has been extended to March 31, 2023.”

The minister said the federal ministry of works and housing (FMWH) received N110 billion and the federal capital territory administration (FCTA) got N20 billion as of December 2, 2022.

“I am proud to say that the issuance of sovereign sukuk, a project-tied debt instrument, is one of the many innovative and very successful initiatives of this administration towards financing the development of critical

infrastructure in the country,” Ahmed said.

“The facts on how much the initiative has helped to improve road infrastructure across the country speak for themselves.

“As at date, this administration has invested the sum of N612.557 billion raised through sovereign sukuk between 2017 and 2021 for the construction and rehabilitation of key economic road projects in the six (6) geo-political zones and the federal capital territory (FCT).

“In real terms, the amount has been used to construct and rehabilitate sections of 71 road projects covering 2,808.06 kilometers and four bridges by the FMWH and sections of six road projects covering 99 kilometers and 19 bridges by the FCTA.

“The 2022 sovereign Sukuk of N130 billion will be released as part of the capital expenditure in the 2022 appropriation act, which

has been extended by the national assembly to March 31, 2023. As at November 2022, N1.88 trillion had been released as capital expenditure, which represents about 40 percent performance when compared to the total capital budget of N4.7 trillion.

“This informed the need to extend the period to implement the capital component of the 2022 budget.

“It is important to add that besides the immense contributions of sukuk to the funding of critical road infrastructure, the objectives of deepening the domestic capital market and financial inclusion are being achieved by the government.”

On her part, Patience Oniha, DMO’s director-general, said the agency has demonstrated its strong alignment with the policy of the president’s infrastructural development through the sovereign sukuk initiative.

•Remands defendants in Suleija Correctional Centre

Tax Harmonisation: FIRS signs MoU with LIRS for joint tax operations and audit

From Abubakar Yunusa ABUJA

The Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) yesterday signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Lagos Internal Revenue Service (LIRS) where the two tax authorities would collaborate on joint tax audit, investigation and automatic exchange of information.

The MoU signing ceremony which took place at the State House, Marina, Lagos State, Monday was executed by the Executive Chairman, FIRS, Mr. Muhammad Nami, and the Executive Chairman, LIRS, Mr. Ayodele Subair, and was witnessed by the Honorable Minister of State, Budget and National Planning, Prince Clem Agba as well as the Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babajide SanwoOlu.

The MoU which establishes a joint FIRS, LIRS Audit and Investigation team obliges the two tax authorities to share relevant information that would assist both parties in their tax administration and enforcement roles, while also providing for capacity building between both authorities.

Speaking during the ceremony, the FIRS Executive Chairman noted that the cooperation would enable the two authorities to work as a team to achieve these objectives.

“We will carry out joint audit and investigation as a team; we will also conduct automatic exchange of information for gathering data for the purpose of tax administration. With that information, we would be able to carry out tax administration

seamlessly.

“In addition to that, what we are going to introduce administratively because of our joint operation, is to ensure that we are able to implement presumptive tax regime as far as issues of tax administration is concerned.

“But that is going to happen after we are done with the regulation we are putting together with the Ministry of Finance, Budget and National Planning, which the Honourable Minister of Finance would issue in due course.

“The presumptive tax would be for the purpose of Personal Income Tax and also Ground Rent administration in Lagos State.

“Another key issue I want to emphasize is capacity building. There are certain things we know as FIRS and would like to share with the State Inland Revenue Service. And there are also areas of specialization you have that we expect you to share with us through capacity building.

“The major objective of this collaboration is to raise enough funds for Lagos State government and the Federal Government to be able to fund their budgetary requirements,” the FIRS boss stated.

In his message to the people of Lagos, Mr. Nami stated that “civilisation globally does not happen by accident,” but that “people or citizens of various jurisdictions, states and countries globally make it happen through the taxes they pay.”

Mr. Nami explained that without funds received by the government through taxes, governments all over the globe would not be able to provide

critical infrastructures such as roads, hospitals, internationally rated airports, schools and be able to cater for security and safety of their citizens.

He stated that “with this collaboration, we are confident that Lagos State would earn more revenue from taxes, and be able to deliver to Lagosians a 4th Mainland Bridge, a Lekki International Airport — which it has already conceived — and other critical infrastructure. “I appeal to the Lagos State Government to continue to give Lagosians— particularly taxpaying residents— value for the taxes they pay.”

The Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babjide Sanwo-Olu in his remarks stated that this collaboration commenced over a year ago with the intention to improve the fiscal space of the country.

He noted that the country’s tax to GDP ratio, at around six to

eight percent was unimpressive and unacceptable, stating that other nationals within the SubSaharan region are doing better.

“Other nations even within the Sub-Sahara region are doing between 14 to 15 percent. If you talk about developed countries, they are doing 35 to 40% and that is what makes them developed countries because indeed, it is really an avenue for you to support your government and hold them accountable.”

Mr. Sanwo-Olu noted that with this collaboration, the State was on track to rise above its N1.7 trillion to within the region of four to five trillion Naira.

The Honorable Minister of State, Budget and National Planning, Prince Clem Agba commended the two tax authorities for this landmark agreement, and appealed to other states to follow suit.

NECA to FG: Prosecute saboteurs of new naira notes supply to avert looming danger

From Abubakar Yunusa Abuja

The Nigeria Employers’ Consultative Association (NECA) has asked the federal government to prosecute anyone sabotaging efficient and smooth implementation of the naira redesign policy.

Adewale-Smatt Oyerinde, director-general, NECA, made the call in a statement on Monday.

Oyerinde said the government must provide ways to save the country from its fragile state and further bashing.

He also urged the government to efficiently implement its policies, as Nigerians tussle with multi-facet problems.

“The government should, as a matter of urgency, ensure the availability of the new naira notes and if necessary to prosecute saboteurs to ease the frustration of Nigerians and avert the impending breakdown of law and order,” he said.

“One worrisome and distinctive feature of recent economic policies remains the poor implementation of such.

“While it is commendable to develop policies and programmes, the implementation of same is as important to the success of the said policies and programmes.

“The trail of poor implementation of decisions is palpable and worrisome.

‘80% PoS operators out of business’ — AMMBAN laments naira scarcity

From

Abubakar Yunusa Abuja

The Association of Mobile Money and Bank Agents in Nigeria (AMMBAN) says over 80 percent of its members have shut down their operations due to the cash crunch in the country.

Speaking to journalists on Tuesday, Hussein Olanrewaju, national chief aggregating officer of AMMBAN, said the current cash shortage has affected the means of livelihood of point of sale (PoS) operators nationwide.

TheCable had reported that POS operators increased transaction charges amid the increasing demand for cash by customers.

Commenting on the position of the association, Olarenwaju said AMMBAN has cautioned its members not to engage in such an “illegal” act.

“However, the reality is obvious, agents are treated as other Nigerians even when they act as a mini-bank in catering for the needs of underbanked and unbanked Nigerians,” he said.

“Some agents do go the extra mile to get cash which of course comes with a cost and then push the same cost to their customers. It’s sad and worrisome.

“AMMBAN has frowned on this illegal act and has warned its members not to be found wanting in such an act.

“This has made over 80%

PoS agents shut down their business across the country and negatively affected their livelihood.

“Where there used to be 10 agents before, you can hardly find 2 agents operating in the same location now.

“We have been engaging with the CBN to categorise PoS agents separately so that these excesses are put to an end.”

Olanrewaju said the CBN’s cash swap programme might not achieve its objective due to the low number of agents selected for the scheme.

He also said the scheme was not profitable for POS operators.

“Cash swap program is aimed at enabling the hinterland to exchange the old naira notes for

the new notes at a maximum of N10,000 per person per day without charges,” the AMMBAN official said.

“Agents are only allowed to charge if the amount is above N10,000 or if it’s a card withdrawal. In the true sense, it’s not profitable.

“The CBN governor said there will be a constant review of limits. From the look of things, the CBN is trying to get data they don’t have to monitor money transactions in the country.

“The only record they have is the amount of money printed and how much is in the bank’s custody. They do not however know how much is in individual custody.”

“It is obvious that the country is not short of good policies, but their implementation by relevant authorities has remained a challenge. While the naira redesign is commendable, the implementation, so far, is short of commendable.

“A policy that was purportedly designed to curb inflation, encourage the cashless culture, and foster financial inclusion among others is inadvertently pushing many Nigerians into frustration in view of the current epileptic bank transfer/epayment systems and general inadequacy of online banking infrastructure.

“The current situation portends grave danger for the economy, even as Nigerians do not have access to the new notes, businesses are short of sales and most employees find it difficult to go to work because of lack of cash.

N EWS

From Abubakar Yunusa Abuja

The Borno chapter of the Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria (IPMAN) has directed members to suspend all operations.

In a statement signed on Tuesday by Mohammed Kuluwu, IPMAN chairman in the state, the marketers were also ordered to suspend the payment of ordering products from source until further notice.

The association said the decision followed, “the critical situation as it affect our sourcing and selling of product at lost (sic) and the action of the authority to impose the selling of product at a lost price (sic) on our side”.

CBN must not succumb to

IPMAN directs members in Borno to suspend operations, shut filling stations

‘selfish’ politicians, say lawyers on deadline for old naira notes

From Abubakar Yunusa Abuja

A coalition of public interest lawyers says the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) must not succumb to “selfish” politicians who are worried about losing elections.

The coalition spoke while reacting to a verdict of a high court in the federal capital territory (FCT).

In a suit marked FCT/ HC/CV/2234/2023, the court

temporarily restrained the CBN from extending the deadline on the use of old naira notes.

The plaintiffs in the suit are Action Alliance (AA), Action Peoples Party (APP), Allied Peoples Movement (APM), and National Rescue Movement (NRM).

The apex bank has since fixed February 10 as the deadline for the use of old naira notes.

Speaking in a statement on Tuesday, Tochukwu Ohazuruike, convener of the coalition, said

those seeking extension are pretending that it is in the interest of Nigerians.

“We hope CBN obeys the court order and ensures that the February 10th deadline remains sacrosanct. No more extension will be tolerated. CBN has operational and monetary policy independence,” Ohazuruike said.

“Section 1 (3) of the CBN act 2007 states that, ‘in order to facilitate the achievement of its mandate under this

act and the banks and other financial act, and in line with the objective of promoting stability and continuity in economic management, the bank shall be an independent body in the discharge of its functions’.

“Emefiele should go ahead and carry on his constitutional duties and not again succumb to the selfish needs of politicians, who are worried about losing elections and disguising that they are calling for extension in the interest of Nigerians.”

CBN must not succumb to ‘selfish’ politicians, say lawyers on deadline for old naira notes

From Abubakar Yunusa Abuja

Acoalition of public interest lawyers says the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) must not succumb to “selfish” politicians who are worried about losing elections.

The coalition spoke while reacting to a verdict of a high court in the federal capital territory (FCT).

In a suit marked FCT/ HC/CV/2234/2023, the court temporarily restrained the CBN from extending the deadline on the use of old naira notes.

The plaintiffs in the suit are Action Alliance (AA), Action Peoples Party (APP), Allied Peoples Movement (APM), and National Rescue Movement (NRM).

The apex bank has since fixed February 10 as the deadline for the use of old naira notes.

Speaking in a statement on Tuesday, Tochukwu Ohazuruike, convener of the coalition, said those seeking extension are pretending that it is in the interest of Nigerians.

“We hope CBN obeys the court order and ensures that the February 10th deadline remains sacrosanct. No more extension will be tolerated. CBN has operational and monetary policy independence,” Ohazuruike said.

“Section 1 (3) of the CBN act 2007 states that, ‘in order to facilitate the achievement of its mandate under this act and the banks and other financial act, and in line with the objective of promoting stability and continuity in economic management, the bank shall be an independent body in the discharge of its functions’.

“Emefiele should go ahead and carry on his constitutional duties and not again succumb to the selfish needs of politicians, who are worried about losing elections and disguising that they are calling for extension in the

interest of Nigerians.”

In a similar reaction to the court judgment, the Ethnic Youth Groups, an organisation of Arewa, Ohanaeze, Oduduwa youths, said those seeking to loot the country have lost.

“These selfish individuals

want Emefiele removed because they don’t want the deadline to naira swap to stop before election so that they will be able to bring out the money they stole and stashed and use it to muzzle the people to vote who they want,”

Nwada Amaka, Ohanaeze Youth

secretary-general, said on behalf of the organisation.

“This order of the court has rendered futile all behind the scene efforts especially by governors of some states to force the hand of the President to reverse the policy or at least

extend the same.

“Governors alleged to be behind the moves to stop this policy include the governors of Kaduna, Kogi, Zamfara, Ondo, Rivers, Imo, Benue and Kano. “Looters of the commonwealth of the people have lost out.”

NUPRC gazettes 5 petroleum industry regulations

From Abubakar Yunusa Abuja

The Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC) says five petroleum industry regulations have been gazetted.

The commission said six others have been finalised and are ready for gazetting.

Gbenga Komolafe, chief executive officer of NUPRC, spoke on Monday in Abuja at the third phase of the authority’s consultation with stakeholders on draft regulations development.

The consultation is in line with section 216 of the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA).

The engagement had in attendance the Oil Producers Trade Section (OPTS), Independent Petroleum Producers Association (IPPA), international oil companies and indigenous operators, among others.

Komolafe, represented by Habib Nuhu, executive commissioner, NUPRC, said 13 draft regulations were presented for discussion during the first and second phases of consultations with stakeholders in 2022.

He listed the gazetted regulations to include Nigeria’s upstream petroleum host community development trust; royalty; domestic gas delivery obligation; Nigeria conversion and renewal (licence and lease); and petroleum licensing round.

The other six yet to be

gazetted are upstream petroleum fees and rents regulations; upstream decommissioning and abandonment regulations; unitisation regulations; acreage management (drilling & production) regulations; frontier exploration fund administration regulations; upstream environmental remediation fund regulations; upstream petroleum safety regulations; and upstream petroleum environmental regulations.

“I am happy to inform you that five of the regulations have been gazetted while the remaining six have been finalised and ready for gazetting,” he said.

In compliance with section 216(4)(g) of the PIA 2021, he said the commission organised yet another stakeholder consultation prior to finalising more draft regulations.

He listed them as the upstream petroleum measurement regulations; advance cargo declaration regulations; significant discovery regulations; gas flaring, venting and methane emissions (prevention of waste and pollution) regulations; and domestic crude oil supply obligation regulations.

Kelechi Ofoegbu, executive commissioner, economic regulation and strategy planning, NUPRC, provided insight into the regulations.

He said the measurement regulations would give the regulator the ability to know the exact production by different

upstream oil operators.

Ofoegbu said it became necessary to understand the regulation because, through the years of production in Nigeria, there has been the quest to know how much the country produces and how much it consumes, from upstream to midstream to downstream.

The Nigeria upstream petroleum host community development trust regulation underscores a three percent annual allocation to host communities from operators’ operating expenditures.

Under the royalty regulation, the benchmark for royalties paid by upstream operators is subject to an annual rise of two percent.

A major highlight of the domestic gas delivery obligation regulation is that operators who fail to comply with the domestic gas delivery obligations under the act must pay a penalty of $3.50 per MMBtu for gas not

delivered.

On the Nigeria conversion and renewal (licence and lease), the regulation states that the commission shall not sign a conversion contract unless Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC) Limited has signed off on the fact that the conversion in all respects conforms to the provisions of section 92(3)(a) of the act.

It also states that the effective date of a conversion contract, pursuant to section 92(4), shall be February 16, 2023, or an earlier date upon the expiration of the oil prospecting licence (OPL) or oil mining lease (OML).

According to the petroleum licensing round regulation, the duration of a licensing round shall be sufficient for bid participants to evaluate all geological, geophysical, technical, economic, and fiscal conditions relating to a block, but shall not exceed one year.

RUWASSA, WaterAid launch N133M project in Bwari

By Stanley Onyekwere

As part effort towards strengthening water and sanitation delivery in Abuja, FCT Rural Water Supply and Sanitation Directorate otherwise known as RUWASSA in partnership with WaterAid Nigeria has launched a 133-million Naira intervention project in Bwari area council of the Territory.

The project, funded by the Latter-Day Saints Charity (LDSC) is expected to be executed by WaterAid within a one-year period, in order to strengthen Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) delivery in four selected communities namely; Dakwa, Barangoni, Zuma II and Tudun Fulani within Bwari Area council.

Also, the project will focus on increasing access to WASH services by constructing and rehabilitating solar-powered water facilities as wel as provision of gender-inclusive public sanitation facilities in the selected communities

In his welcome remarks, Executive Director, FCT RUWASSA, Mohammed DanHassan, said the initiative will serve as a model for improved access to Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) in FCT communities.

Dan-Hassan disclosed that two communities will be provided with two new water scheme, one community will get rehabilitation of an existing water scheme, while there will be the provision of a sanitation facility.

“We have ceremoniously launched the project, and we hope to see the implementation in next two to three months towards its completion in these communities, thereafter, we intend to integrate the community members into it, as a strategy to ensure sustainability. The community members on the project, will help maintain and

take care of it themselves.

“So, in the months ahead, we will come back and see the facilities functioning, that will make us happy, and we will seek for other partnerships to replicate this project in other communities in Bwari Area Council and even other Area Councils of the FCT”, he stressed.

Also speaking, Elder Idyo Egbo of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, the sponsors of the project, said the Church noticed the gap that exist in sanitation and water supply, and in its philanthropic nature decided to partner with WaterAid to provide water and sanitation for the people in the selected communities.

He added that the Church

believe in uplifting the lives of the people, looking on how people can be better off and Sustainable Development Goals (MDGs) help to forge partnerships in such interventional.

According to him: “In Abuja, about 70% of people lack access to adequate water supply, and 52% of these people also suffer from living in unhygienic environment, and there is another 30% that seriously are affected by open defecation. So we believe that this project will assist in reducing that number. But particularly, it will change attitude and behaviours.

“I believe with what we have done, we will see an improvement in the living standard of people especially in areas that are outside the metropolitan city of Abuja”.

Representative of the WaterAid Nigeria, Kolawole Baruwo, Head of Advocacy, Policy and Communication, noted that over the next twelve months, the project will make life meaningful for the people as a start.

He said: “When people fall sick from water bone diseases, children cannot go to school, women cannot go to the markets and be productive, so society slows down generally.

“So to provide access to WASH in the selected communities in Bwari, with the hope of reaching 9,500 people especially women and children in schools, so that they can have dignity, good health and participate meaningfully in the society”.

Not left out, District Head,

Dakwa Community, Alh. Alhassan Musa, who spoke on behalf of the beneficiary communities, described the project as a critical intervention that would improve the wellbeing of people in the rural areas.

Highpoint of the event was the official signing of the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) by RUWASSA and WaterAid Nigeria, signalling the commencement of the project. And some of the top stakeholders who witnessed the singing include; the Esu Bwari, HRH Ibrahim Yaro, Supervisory Councillor, Environment, Hon. Salihu Matthew, represented the Bwari Chairman, and HOD, Admin at the Council, Mary Ishaya amongst others.

CCB charges FCTA officials to support fight against corruption

By Stanley Onyekwere

In order to ensure entrenchment of good governance, the Code of Conduct Bureau (CCB), has admonished officials of Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) to support the fight against corruption at all levels.

The charge was handed down by Chairman of the Bureau, Prof. Isa Mohammed, yesterday, during a workshop it organised in conjunction with FCTA for political office holders in Abuja.

Mohammed, represented by Bulus Zaphania, particularly informed the participants that they are expected to comply

with the Code of Conduct for Public Officers as prescribed in the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended) and other laws related thereto.

He noted that the programme would guide political office holders on compliance with Code of Conduct in line with the National Anti-Corruption Strategy (NACS).

He adds: “We employ The Area Council Chairmen to take queue from the FCTA administration that has put up this workshop, and replicate same at your various Area Councils so as to ensure 100% Compliance from all your staff.

“The participants are requested to put public interest above every other interest

while carrying out their duties”.

Furthermore, the CCB boss told the officials that the Bureau will soon launch an online Assets declaration portal, which the pilot scheme will start with its staff.

While delivering his remarks, the FCT Permanent Secretary, Adesola Olusade, said the workshop would help to build the capacity and knowledge of the workforce to strengthen fight against corruption.

Accorfing to him, “The workshop will help build the capacity and knowledge of FCTA officials in compliance with the Code of Conduct, which will also strengthen the fight against corruption in the system”.

One of the participants, and Senior Special

Assistant on Monitoring, Inspection and Enforcement to the Minister of FCT, Comrade Ikharo Attah, said public office holders should be guided by the code of conduct.

“ The workshop is what we have to take serious, because most a times public officers don’t understand that they are holding a public trust, every public office holder should be guided by the code of conduct. You don’t put your interest above the collective interest of the people.

“We must stand to do the things that are for good of the people, not only for your children and your family. What is expected of public office holders is to have high standard of conduct”, he stressed.

FCT Minister , Malam Muhammad Musa Bello (2nd left) flanked by senior officials of the Nigeria Correctional Services, (NCS) in a handshake with the Controller General NCS Haliru Nababa following the ourtesy visit by the NCS management to the FCTA in Abuja on Monday.

Turkey earthquake: Erdogan announces threemonth state of emergency in quake area

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has announced a three-month state of emergency in 10 provinces worstaffected by an earthquake that has killed thousands.

Mr Erdogan said that the death toll in Turkey has risen to 3,549 people.

More than 1,600 people are reported to have died in Syria.

In a televised address, Mr Erdogan said the state of emergency is to ensure that rescue work can be “carried out quickly” in the country’s south-east.

He said the measures would allow relief workers and financial aid into the affected regions, but did not give further details.

The state of emergency will end just before elections on 14 May, when Mr Erdogan will attempt to stay in power after 20 years.

Turkey last imposed a state of emergency in 2016 after a failed coup attempt. It was lifted two years later.

Rescuers in Turkey are battling heavy rain and snow as they race against the clock to find survivors of the earthquake that struck in the early hours of Monday.

The World Health Organization has warned the toll may rise dramatically as rescuers find more victims.

Thousands of children may be among the dead following the earthquake and aftershocks, the United Nations has said.

Heavy machinery worked through the night in the city of Adana, with lights illuminating the collapsed buildings and huge slabs of concrete, in scenes repeated across southern Turkey.

Occasionally the work stopped and a call of “Allahu Akbar” rose up

when a survivor was found, or when the dead were recovered.

Adana is full of the homeless - those who lost their homes and others too fearful of aftershocks to return.

Some left without shoes, coats and phone chargers. Temperatures are expected to drop below freezing later this week.

The 7.8 magnitude tremor struck at 04:17 (01:17 GMT) on Monday at a depth of 17.9km (11 miles) near the city of Gaziantep, according to the US Geological Survey.

A later tremor had a magnitude of 7.5 and its epicentre was in the Elbistan district of Kahramanmaras province.

On Tuesday morning, traffic was at a standstill on the main highway to the Turkish city of Maras, close to the epicentre of the quake.

Cars occasionally crawled forward, the wet road illuminated by glowing red brake lights. Few rescuers have made it to this part of southern Turkey yet.

One search and rescue team on their way to the city, their van loaded with specialist equipment and supplies, told the BBC they were eager to start looking for survivors, but they had no idea how bad the devastation would be when they arrived.

Nationally, 8,000 people have been rescued from more than 4,700 destroyed buildings, Turkey’s Disaster and Emergency Management Authority (AFAD) said in its latest statement.

As aftershocks continue, rescuers in some areas have been digging through rubble with their bare hands. But freezing conditions are hampering search efforts.

In the southern province of

Hatay, the Reuters news agency reported that a woman’s voice was heard calling for help under a pile of rubble.

“They’re making noises, but nobody is coming,” a resident who gave his name as Deniz said while weeping.

“We’re devastated, we’re devastated. My God... They’re calling out. They’re saying, ‘Save us,’ but we can’t save them. How are we going to save them? There has been nobody since the morning.”

In Hatay, Ghanaian footballer Christian Atsu - who made 107 appearances for Newcastle - was pulled from the rubble of a building with injuries, his manager Mustafa Özat told Turkish radio.

Atsu now plays for Turkish club Hatayspor. The club’s sporting director, Taner Savut, is still under the rubble, Mr Özat said.

In the Turkish city of Osmaniye, near the epicentre, pouring rain hampered rescuers. The city was without power as the cold and rain set in.

One family camped on the street, scared of the aftershocks, despite the freezing temperatures. Every time they felt an aftershock, the family moved closer into the middle of the street.

A hotel owner in the city told the BBC that of 14 guests staying that night, only seven had been found.

Countries around the world are

sending support to help the rescue efforts, including specialist teams, sniffer dogs and equipment.

But the earthquake has caused significant damage to three airports across Turkey, also creating challenges for aid deliveries.

At least 1,600 people are now known to have been killed in Syria, where millions of refugees live in camps on the Turkish border.

Turkey lies in one of the world’s most active earthquake zones.

In 1999 a quake killed more than 17,000 in the north-west, while in 1939, 33,000 people died in the eastern province of Erzincan. This earthquake was powerful enough to be felt as far away as Cyprus, Lebanon and Israel.

Turkey earthquake: The survivors’ choice - danger inside or freezing outside

At dawn in the biting cold we made our way to a 10-storey building in Adana that had completely collapsed. I met two women wrapped in blankets, heading towards the rubble.

Ummu Bayraktar and Nazife

Batmaz are staying in a mosque in the Turkish city, which has become a hub for the relief operation after Monday’s earthquake.

Their own home nearby was badly damaged. We walk and talk as they head to find their friend, one of Ummu’s cousins.

A companion urges us not to walk close to another building. It’s cracked, he says: “They’ll all have to come down.”

We pass two diggers working on the edge of the collapse zone, while six rescue workers use drills and gloved hands to throw down rubble towards them.

We then take a side street, where I see a group of survivors wrapped in blankets sitting on plastic chairs keeping warm around a fire.

The two women seek out their friend, Nurten, coddled in a blanket in the freezing cold. She sits and weeps.

Her adult daughter, Senay, was on the second floor of the collapsed building. Nurten has been waiting here all day and all night, but no news has come.

“When my daughter is lying in the cold, how can I lie down in a warm bed?” she asks.

“My daughter never liked the cold, oh God. She is under the earth. My heart is burning,” she cries.

We hear the drills and the crump of the digger. Nurten’s friends comfort her. Her daughter

has two girls of her own - both currently studying abroad. They’re trying to head back to Turkey.

“What am I going to tell the girls? They’re coming here today. What am I supposed to tell them? They had entrusted their mother to me,” Nurten says.

The sense of loss is spreading more quickly than the search for survivors.

Further south, on the Turkish border with Syria, more news came in overnight from Hatay province, one of the worst hit regions.

In the darkness, footage showed a resident searching in the rubble. He believes someone is alive underneath. “Speak out loud,” he pleads.

“As you see, there is a dead body here. He is dead and nobody has removed him. And a woman’s voice is heard from underneath.”

As he speaks a woman’s voice cries out from the rubble. She cries again, and then bangs on metal trying to hold the man’s attention. But there is nothing he alone can do. An entire home is collapsed and it will take machinery to lift the ruins.

This is a story of unanswered cries, being repeated over and over again across this region.

Nearby, another Hatay resident, Deniz, points to the collapsed building where his parents were stranded.

“They’re making noises but nobody is coming. We’re devastated. My God... They’re calling out. They’re saying, ‘Save us,’ but we can’t save them. How are we going to save them?” he asks.

Even closer to the epicentre, in the city Kahramanmaras, fire

crackles. There, thousands of buildings are reported collapsed, the number of homeless even higher.

A family gathers, too frightened from aftershocks to go back to their badly hit building. The firewood is all they have. Flames bring a little warmth to bare hands.

“We barely escaped from inside the house,” says Neset Guler.

“We have four children. We left the house with them at the last moment. There are several people trapped inside. It is a huge disaster. Now, we are waiting without water or food, we are in a desperate state.”

A region awaits help it may be impossible to provide on the scale needed. And in the meantime, more buildings risk falling, and the small fires outdoors will be the only way to stay warm. Source: BBC

Members of the Turkish military pull two women from under the rubble of a collapsed building in Hatay

Christian Atsu: Footballer ‘removed from wreckage with injuries’ after earthquake

Footballer Christian Atsu has been pulled from the rubble of a building “with injuries” after the earthquakes in Turkey, his club’s vice-president Mustafa Özat has told Turkish radio.

Atsu, who plays for Hatayspor, was trapped after the earthquakes that have killed at least 4,800 people.

The Ghana forward, 31, played 107 games for Newcastle and has had spells with Chelsea, Everton and Bournemouth.

Hatayspor sporting director Taner Savut is still in the collapsed building.

Hatay was one of the areas closest to the epicentre of the earthquake, and has suffered extensive damage.

“Christian Atsu was removed from the wreckage with injuries,” Özat told Radyo Gol.

“Unfortunately, our sporting director Taner Savut is still under the rubble.

“Hatay was deeply affected. We are coming towards the end of the most dangerous hours.”

Atsu, who won 65 caps for Ghana, joined Hatayspor in September 2022 after a season with Saudi Arabian team Al-Raed.

He scored the winning goal in the 90th minute of Hatayspor’s Super Lig match against Kasimpasa on Sunday.

The Ghanaian Football Association tweeted: “We’ve received some positive news that Christian Atsu has been successfully rescued from the rubble of the collapsed building and is receiving treatment. Let’s continue to pray for Christian.”

Organ harvesting plot: Interpreter tried to help transplant bid - court

Ahospital interpreter tried to persuade doctors to approve an illegal kidney transplant for the daughter of a Nigerian politician, a court has heard.

Evelyn “Ebere” Agbasonu allegedly asked for £1,500 to help secure Sonia Ekweremadu’s £80,000 transplant at a north London hospital in February 2022.

The prosecution claims the procedure was not legal as the organ donor had no altruistic motive or family connection with the recipient.

Four defendants deny the allegations.

Ms Ekweremadu, 25, her father Ike, 60, and her mother Beatrice, 56, who all have an address in Willesden Green are standing trial.

Dr Obinna Obeta, 50, from Southwark, who has been described as the medical middleman, has also been accused of the charges.

The Old Bailey has been told the “transactional” deal had involved a 21-year-old donor, a street trader from Lagos, who agreed to the harvesting of his body part for up to £7,000 and the promise of opportunities in the UK.

Ms Agbasonu was a long-standing member of staff at the Royal Free Hospital in Hampstead where she worked as a medical secretary, jurors heard.

She had stepped in to interpret Igbo during an initial meeting on 24 February between Dr Peter Dupont and the donor from Nigeria, who spoke little English.

The consultant had concluded the young man, who cannot be named for legal reasons, was not an appropriate candidate and appeared relieved that the transplant would not go ahead, the court heard.

Prosecutor Hugh Davies KC said it was “somewhat extraordinary” that, according to messages from others, Ms Agbasonu appeared to agree to manipulate a second meeting to the advantage of the Ekweremadu family.

Ike Ekweremadu’s medically trained brother Diwe Ekweremadu allegedly sent his daughter advice from the

interpreter to show a clear family connection with the donor.

Jurors heard he told Sonia Ekweremadu: “Ebere said it would be easier to establish that his mum and your mum are sisters. If we stretch it to the grandmum and grandmum the relationship will be too distant.”

Ms Ekweremadu allegedly replied: “OK that’s fine.”

Diwe Ekweremadu then allegedly laid out the financial agreement to her father, saying he had “met the Igbo interpreter” and “she agreed to work with us”, which would also involve “coaching the boy”.

“She insisted that I give her £1,500. I think they just position themselves to exploit people,” the court was told he said.

He allegedly added that after a meeting with Ms Agbasonu, she had “advised that (the donor) comes to the hospital on Tuesday and Thursday while Chinoso (Sonia) is having her dialysis.

“Psychologically everyone in the team will have to accept that he’s really committed to his cousin’s health and it usually makes it easier to accept the person for the procedure,” he said.

Mr Davies suggested the messages demonstrated the opposite of an altruistic organ donation.

‘She covered up for him’

On 11 March, the donor attended a meeting with another surgeon at the Royal Free Hospital and the interpreter, the court heard.

Afterwards, Diwe Ekweremadu allegedly messaged Ike Ekweremadu: “I have spoken with (the interpreter). She said the boy did better today but he’s still showing so much timidity.

“She covered up for him and added the words as much as possible.”

Mr Davies told jurors following the meeting, the surgeon agreed with Dr Dupont that the donor was unsuitable and Ms Ekweremadu was informed of the decision on 29 March.

The court also heard Dr Obeta had trained at medical school with Diwe Ekweremadu, who remains in Nigeria and is not on trial.

The defendants all deny conspiring to arrange or facilitate the travel of the young man with a view to exploitation between 1 August 2021 and 5 May 2022.

The trial continues.

Nigerian bank workers use ladder to flee protesters

Awidely shared video showing staff members at a Nigerian bank using a ladder to climb over a security wall to escape irate customers is genuine, the BBC’s Disinformation team has found.

The workers at Zenith Bank in Warri, Delta state, had been accosted by customers frustrated at not being able to get access money from ATM machines.

A staff member, who asked to remain anonymous, told the BBC that the trouble started after they informed customers that they had run out of new naira notes.

There have been long queues outside banks in recent weeks as Nigerians seek to exchange their old banknotes for new ones before the 10 February deadlineextended from 31 January.

Many banks have placed a limit because of the shortage to the frustration of customers.

Printing errors found in Mozambique school books

Mozambique’s Ministry of Education and a private publisher have apologised after printing errors were found in a Portuguese language text book used in primary schools.

The page numbers in Ouvir e Falar, Ler e Escrever (Listen and Speak, Read and Write) do not follow a chronological order.

For example, what should be the first page is instead page 16 with the wrong content. Other pages are also upside down.

“We apologise to all those affected,” said publisher Textos Editores in a statement, adding that not the whole print run was affected by the error.

The education ministry has ordered a recall of the affected books.

Critics accuse the government of not taking children’s education seriously and want higher standards to be adhered to.

Last year, scientific errors were reported in a natural science book used by grade six pupils.

Despite an outcry from parents the authorities did not comment at the time.

Why Russia and Mali are firm friends

Sergey Lavrov’s is the first visit by a Russian foreign minister to Mali as he tries to expand his country’s footprint on the continent.

Relations first blossomed between the two in December 2021 with Russian forces being welcomed into the West African country in December 2021 to help with the fight against extremist groups.

The authorities in Mali describe them as security advisers, but Western officials insist they are mercenaries from the private security company, Wagner, which the US recently designated as an international criminal organisation.

Mali’s co-operation with these forces had led to a souring of relations with its traditional Western partners.

French forces, which had been in the country fighting Islamist militants for close to a decade, withdrew last year as did their partners, including US special forces.

In recent weeks, the authorities in Bamako expelled French ambassador Joel Meyer.

The US government told the BBC it could not exist in the same space as a group it accuses of committing crimes.

“That is not an organisation that would bring any value to the fight against terrorism,” the US ambassador to the UN Linda Thomas-Greenfield told the BBC last month about Wagner.BBC

Christian Atsu signed for Hatayspor in September 2022

Turkey and Syria earthquake: ‘The hospital was collapsing with my son inside’

Ismael Alrij had just left his six-yearold son, Mustafa, in the hospital when the ground started to violently shake. Watching the building start to fall apart, Ismael could only fear the worst.

“Then the earthquake got stronger,” Ismael tells me in a series of voice messages over WhatsApp, the connection patchy. “The power went out and the entrance to the hospital, which was made from glass, started shattering.

“It was like a doomsday scenario,” he says “I started imagining how I would have to rescue my son from the rubble.”

A minute later, Mustafa emerged, running towards him, screaming and crying. He had ripped out his own drip, and blood was oozing from his arm.

Ismael rushed to help not only his own son but others escaping the building amid panic and confusion in the dark. He sheltered nurses and a pregnant woman due to give birth in his car for 20 minutes before racing home to find out about his own family.

Ismael’s wife and other child were safe, and the house was still standing.

The situation there in al-Dana, northwestern Syria, was chaotic and desperate. Ismael had watched two residential buildings collapse but power and internet cuts meant rescue services could not be called. It was an hour, he says, before anybody could get there to look for survivors.

Doctors in north-western Syria say needs are immense after the earthquake

Al-Dana is an opposition-held town in

Idlib province, near the border with Turkey. Civil defence units are the only emergency first responders in the absence of any government services, but the scale of the devastation made it impossible for them to reach everyone affected.

A few hours after the 7.8-magnitude earthquake struck at 04:18 local (01:18 GMT), Ismael, a journalist, went to look around.

“The damage is indescribable,” he says. “The areas most affected are ones which were previously bombarded by Syrian government or Russian forces.”

The Syrian uprising in 2011 descended into a bitter civil war in which the Syrian regime, backed by Russia, pounded rebelheld areas.

For the past three years there has been a shaky ceasefire in north-western Syria. The region is split into a patchwork of zones controlled either by Syrian opposition forces or the Damascus-based government.

Ismael saw dozens of residential buildings destroyed in the town of Atareb, north of the government-controlled city of Aleppo.

“There are many buildings and neighbourhoods which rescue teams can’t reach because of a shortage of equipment,” he says.

“We really need help from international organisations.”

One such group which was already functioning is the Syrian American Medical Society (Sams), which supports hospitals across the opposition-held north-west.

Dr Osama Salloum, who was called to the Sams hospital in Atareb, says he “could

not understand what was happening” in the first few moments of the quake.

“I felt death was close,” he says. “I kept hearing buildings and rocks fall.”

By the time he left the hospital there had been about 53 deaths there - a figure which he says rose to more than 120 by the time we spoke. “I could not count the number of injured,” he adds.

Dr Osama Salloum: “I felt death was close by”

The earthquake also hit areas under government control in the north. Aya was on a visit to her family in the coastal city of Latakia when it struck.

The 26-year-old chef was asleep with her mother and three siblings when the

power went out.

“I got out of bed but was not sure what woke me up,” she tells me. “I didn’t understand what was happening until I found the rest of my family also up.”

Her family home is on a main road and has glass windows throughout.

“We couldn’t move because of how strong the quake was,” she says. “We remained rooted on the spot.”

Aya’s mother has Parkinson’s disease. She was petrified and panicking.

“I was in shock and couldn’t move,” says Aya. “I kept looking at how the walls were shaking and moving back and forth. I can’t describe to you how crazy the situation was.”

China spy balloon: US Navy releases photos of debris

The US Navy has released photos of a suspected Chinese surveillance balloon that was shot out of the sky on Saturday.

The US Fleet Forces Command posted several photos on its Facebook page showing large debris of the balloon being hauled into a boat.

The post said the sailors retrieving the debris on Sunday were part of the Navy’s specialist explosives team.

The device will now be examined to see whether it was indeed spy equipment.

US officials have described the balloon as being about 200 ft (60m) tall, with the payload portion comparable in size to regional airliners and weighing hundredsor potentially thousands - of pounds.

China has repeatedly insisted that the “airship is for civilian use and entered the US due to force majeure - it was completely an accident”.

The discovery of the balloon set off a diplomatic crisis, with US Secretary of State Antony Blinken immediately calling off a weekend trip to China - the first such high level US-China meeting there in years - over the “irresponsible act”.

The balloon was retrieved off the coast of Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, a day after being shot down by a fighter jet.

The navy said the debris was spread over seven miles (11km) of the Atlantic Ocean, and two naval ships - including one with a heavy crane for recovery - were sent to the area. However, the photos reveal the piles of balloon material were able to be pulled

aboard by hand.

The US military has also deployed unmanned underwater vehicles as part of the search effort.

Experts say that the wreckage of the balloon could provide the US with valuable insight into Chinese aerial surveillance technology and techniques, allowing them to better understand what the balloon was capable of and how it transmitted information.

Efforts to recover the balloon’s equipment, however, have been complicated by the need to ensure that US personnel are kept safe from potentially dangerous materials, such as explosives or battery components.

US defence officials first announced they were tracking the strange object on Thursday, and waited until it was safely over water before shooting it down.

Footage on US TV networks showed the balloon falling to the sea after a small explosion.

On Friday, the Pentagon said a second Chinese spy balloon had been spottedthis time over Latin America with reported sightings over Costa Rica and Venezuela.

Colombia’s Air Force says an identified object - believed to be a balloon - was detected on 3 February in the country’s airspace at above 55,000ft.

It says it followed the object until it left the airspace, adding that it did not represent a threat to national security.

Turkey-Syria earthquake: Newborn baby pulled from collapsed building

A newborn baby girl has been saved by rescuers from beneath the rubble of a building in north-western Syria that was destroyed by Monday’s earthquake.

Her mother went into labour soon after the disaster and gave birth before she died, a relative said. Her father, four siblings and an aunt were also killed.

Dramatic footage showed a man carrying the baby, covered in dust, after she was pulled from debris in Jindayris.

A doctor at a hospital in nearby Afrin said she was now in a stable condition.

The building in which her family lived was one of about 50 reportedly destroyed by the 7.8-magnitude earthquake in Jindayris, an opposition-held town in Idlib province that is close to the Turkish border.

The baby’s uncle, Khalil al-Suwadi, said

relatives rushed to the scene when they learned of the collapse.

“We heard a voice while we were digging,” he told AFP news agency on Tuesday. “We cleared the dust and found the baby with the umbilical cord [intact], so we cut it and my cousin took her to hospital.”

Paediatrician Hani Maarouf said the baby arrived at his hospital in a bad condition, with “several bruises and lacerations over all her body”.

“She also arrived with hypothermia because of the harsh cold. We had to warm her up and administer calcium,” he added.

She was photographed lying in an incubator and connected to a drip, as a joint funeral was held for her mother Afraa, father Abdullah and her four siblings.BBC

Ismael Alrij and his son, Mustafa, in hospital five minutes before the earthquake struck

Property

Gwarimpa Building Collapse: FCTA, FHA set up technical team

By Mashe Umaru Gwamna

The Federal Capital Territory Administration, FCTA and the Federal Housing Authority, FHA, have set up a technical team to look into the report prepared by the FHA on the circumstances surrounding the collapse of a 3 story building at 6th Avenue Gwarimpa, on Friday, 3rd February, 2023, which led to 3 fatalities.

This was contained in a statement jointly signed and issued by Anthony Ogunleye and Kenneth Chigelu ,DIRECTOR OF PRESS , PRO FHA (OFFICE OF FCT MINISTER)

According to the statement, This was one of the decisions reached at a meeting between top officials of the FCTA and the FHA where the report was presented to the FCT Minister, Malam Muhammad Musa Bello by the Chairman of the FHA, Senator Lawal Shuaibu on Monday, 6th February, 2023.

The FCT Minister and the FHA Chairman both regretted the loss of lives and commiserated with the families of the deceased while directing that a compensation plan be prepared for them.

The meeting resolved that the investigation by the technical team is also aimed at strengthening the internal working mechanism of both agencies and that all those found culpable in the building collapse will face appropriate punishment commiserate with the crime committed The FCT Minister announced that in line with FCTA policy, the allocation of the collapsed building be revoked.

The meeting also commended the various agencies involved in the rescue

•Revokes building allocation

efforts that saved 21 lives and stressed the need for cases of contraventions to go beyond mere issuance of “stop work” notices.

Both organisations resolved to work very closely together to prevent any future occurrence. Meanwhile,those present at the meeting

SUKUK Funding: Ministry of works

By Mashe Umaru Gwamna

The Federal Ministry of Works, has received a cheque of N110 billion of SUKUK funding for the execution of critical road projects across the six geopolitical zones of the country. This was contained in statement signed and issued by Lere-Adams Blessing Director (Press and Public Relations).

According to the statement, Federal Ministry of Works and Housing and the Federal Capital Territory, recently benefited a total of N130 billion of the 2022 SUKUK Fund .

“Federal Ministry of Works and Housing received N110 billion, the Ministry of the Federal Capital Territory received N20 billion”.

The SUKUK fund is a form of Public Private Partnership (PPP) which was among the funding options adopted by the Federal

receives

Government under President Muhammadu Buhari to fund the construction of critical roads in Nigeria.

Receiving the cheque on behalf of the Ministry, the Minister of Works and Housing, Babatunde Fashola, said the total capital budget for road projects across the nation for Federal Ministry of Works and Housing in year 2015 was N18 billion.

He explained that,”As of 2015 the Capital budget for Works was just N18 billion for all Nigerian roads at the time oil prices were just dropping shy of a hundred dollar per barrel and all that could be committed to Nigerian roads was just N18 billion.”

Speaking on the impact of the meager amount spent on Nigerian roads then, he said that construction companies were therefore laying off staff because the Federal Government was

were, the FCT Permanent Secretary, Mr. Olusade Adesola, the Managing Director, FHA Senator Gbenga Ashafa, Chief of Staff to the Minister, Malam Bashir Mai-Bornu, Executive Secretary FCDA, Engr. Shehu Hadi Ahmed, and other top officials of the FCTA and FHA.

FCT Minister, Malam Muhammad Musa Bello (7th left) flanked by Chairman, FHA Senator LawalShuaibu (6th left) and Managing Director, Senator Gbenga Ashafa (4th right) and senior officials of the FHA and FCTA following the meeting between the FHA and the FCTA on Monday.

N110B for roads

owning these companies.

“That was the story before SUKUK,” he said.

Fashola stated that this development could not fund the nation’s road projects adequately, adding that despite the fact that the Capital budget position of the Ministry was moved from N18 billion to over N260 billion in 2016, Federal Government had to look into alternative sources of funding road projects because that was not still enough.

“That is where the SUKUK funding came in and through the SUKUK, we have completed several road and bridge projects across the six geo-political zones of the country,”

According to him, SUKUK financing has enhanced the completion of some of the priority road and bridge projects across the country.

Earlier the host, Minister

of Finance, Budget & National Planning, Dr. Zainab Shamsuna Ahmed while presenting the cheque to the two Ministries said that President Muhammadu Buhari was committed to the development of road infrastructure of the country.

While listing the intervention of the Federal Government of Nigeria Sovereign SUKUK Fund in the Nation’s road infrastructure, Dr.Ahmed disclosed that in 2017, the sum of N100 Billion was expended on the nation’s road infrastructure, N200 Billion in 2018, N362.56 Billion in 2020, N612.56 Billion in 2021, and N742.56 Billion in 2022 respectively.

She said: “This symbolic event therefore is part of the celebration of the contribution of the Sovereign SUKUK Fund to road infrastructure development over the years.”

PMB commissions federal secretariat Lafia

By Mashe Umaru Gwamna

President Muhammadu Buhari has commissioned the Federal Secretariat Lafia, Nasarawa at the weekend.

This was contained in statement signed and signed by The newly commissioned Secretariat complex was built by the Federal Ministry of Works

and Housing has also been named after a renowned Jurist and Legal personality, a respected Royal Father, a retired Honourable Justice of the Supreme Court and the current Emir of Lafia and Chairman of Nasarawa State Council of Chiefs, HRH. Sidi Bege.

Welcoming the President, and Minister of Works and Housing, Babatunde Fashola said that upon

the Ministry’s recommendation, Mr. President approved the naming of the edifice after the retired Justice of the Supreme court, His Royal Highness, Sidi Bage According to Fashola the conference room of the complex also got the approval of Mr. President to be named after a very prominent Nasarawa State indigene in the person of late Mrs. Maimuna

Katai for her hard work, courage, simplicity and honesty.

Speaking of the complex, Babatunde Raji Fashola said that it is sitting on a 6,702 square meters of land and that it could accommodate 2000 to 2,300 staff in the 402 offices. He added that it has car park with the capacity to accommodate 300 cars and also other facilities.

According to the Minister, the

socio- economic impact of the project includes the creation of small businesses around the facility such as - Food Vendors, POS Kiosks and increased value of landed properties in Bulka Sidi Environs among others.

Moreso, the Minister stressed that these Federal Secretariats are Federal Government symbols and images in the states.

What is hybrid warfare? Inside the centre dealing with modern threats

Mysterious underwater explosions, anonymous cyber attacks and subtle online campaigns to undermine Western democracies - these are all “hybrid threats”. The BBC visited a centre dedicated to targeting a relatively new form of warfare which is increasingly concerning Nato and the EU.

“It is about manipulation of the information space. It’s about attacks on critical infrastructure,” explains Teija Tillikainen, when asked to define hybrid warfare.

She is director of the European Centre of Excellence for Countering Hybrid Threats (Hybrid CoE), which was established in Helsinki, Finland, six years ago.

Ms Tillikainen says it is an ambiguous threat format, which is something nations find very difficult to counter and protect themselves against.

But these threats are very real.

Last September, powerful underwater explosions beneath the Baltic Sea ripped gaping holes in the Nord Stream gas pipelines between the coasts of Denmark and Sweden. The pipelines were constructed to carry Russian gas to northern Germany.

Moscow was quick to deny any responsibility, but Western suspicions centred around a potential Russian motive to further starve the West of energy, as punishment for backing Ukraine after Russia’s invasion last February.

Then there is electoral interference. Few people realised at the time, but after the 2016 US elections, investigators concluded there had been concerted Russian interference - again, denied by Moscow - with the aim of damaging Hillary Clinton’s chances, in favour of Donald Trump.

This was allegedly conducted using online “bots” - artificial online accounts on social media controlled by state-backed cyber activists, working out of “troll factories” in St Petersburg.

Another method is disinformation - the deliberate propagating of an alternative, false narrative, often one that appeals to certain more receptive sections of a population. This phenomenon has accelerated since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, with millions of citizens - not just in Russia but even in Western countriesaccepting the Kremlin’s line that the invasion was a necessary act of self-defence.

To help Western governments identify and protect themselves against these threats, Nato and the EU set up the Hybrid CoE

in Finland. The country is an interesting and perhaps natural choice for such a centre. For decades, it has stayed officially neutral, ever since it lost a short winter war with Russia in 1940.

But the two countries share a border which is 1,300km (807 miles) long, and a nervous Finland has been drawing ever closer to the West, culminating in its application to join Nato last year.

On a cold, snowy morning, I visited the centre, housed in an office block close to the defence ministry and just a short distance from the grey, Soviet-era Russian embassy building.

There, director Teija Tillikainen leads a team of around 40 analysts and subject-matter experts drawn from a number of Nato and EU countries, including a Briton on loan from the Ministry of Defence.

She explains that a current area of focus is in the Arctic, where they have mapped a lot of hybrid threat potential.

“There are new energy sources emerging,” she explains. “There are new possibilities for great powers to protect their interests. There’s also a lot of manipulation of information.

“The Russian narrative is the Arctic is a special region outside of conflicts where nothing bad is happening - and still Russia is building up its military there.”

Perhaps the key distinguishing features of hybrid threats are that they almost never involve an actual “kinetic” attack - someone opening fire with a weapon. They are much more subtle, but often no less dangerous. They are also nonattributable in nature, meaning it is usually hard to determine who was behind these acts, such as the 2007 massive cyber attack on Estonia, or last year’s gas pipeline explosions under the Baltic. The perpetrators take care to leave as few clues as possible.

There are numerous ways one state can damage another short of direct military action.

This is illustrated by a handbook drawn up by the centre, outlining maritime hybrid threats - containing 10 imaginary but highly-plausible scenarios. They range from the clandestine use of underwater weapons to declaring a control zone around an island, plus the blocking of narrow straits.

One real scenario they have examined in detail was Russia’s actions in the Sea of Azov prior to its invasion of Ukraine. From October 2018 onwards, in order for Ukrainian ships to progress from their home ports of Mariupol and Berdyansk through the Kerch Strait

and out into the Black Sea, they first had to queue for inspection by Russian officials. These delays, says Jukka Savolainen, the director of vulnerabilities and resilience, could stretch into days or even up to two weeks, inflicting economic damage on Ukraine.

But it is in the field of disinformation that the centre’s experts have found the most surprising results. After collating and assessing numerous opinion polls across Europe, they have come to the conclusion that in several Nato countries, Russia is winning the information war amongst substantial portions of the population.

In Germany, for example, the Kremlin’s narrative that its attack on Ukraine was a necessary reaction to Nato provocation has

been gaining popularity as the war continues. In Slovakia, more than 30% of those polled believed the Ukraine war was deliberately provoked by the West. In Hungary, 18% blamed “the oppression of the Russian-speaking population in Ukraine” for the war.

Jakub Kalensky, a senior analyst from the Czech Republic, uses the analogy of water to illustrate the need to suppress Moscow’s disinformation campaign.

“I wouldn’t evaluate Russian disinformation as particularly sophisticated,” he explains. “It’s

not about the attractiveness of the message, but the way they achieve success is through sheer numbers. There’s no reason to give these people access to social media platforms. Everyone wants to have access to fresh water, but we don’t allow them to poison the water.”

Ms Tillikainen says it is not the centre’s role to undertake measures to counter hybrid threats - but to assess, inform and then train others to do what needs to be done to protect Europe from this growing phenomenon.

Source: BBC

This is illustrated by a handbook drawn up by the centre, outlining maritime hybrid threats - containing 10 imaginary but highly-plausible scenarios. They range from the clandestine use of underwater weapons to declaring a control zone around an island, plus the blocking of narrow straits

Last September strong underwater explosions in the Baltic Sea ripped gaping holes in the Nord Stream gas pipelines between Denmark and Sweden

The Russian narrative is the Arctic is outside of conflicts [but it’s] building up its military there.

Hybrid threats include underwater sabotage, an increasing concern here in the Baltic Sea (pic: Frank Gardner)

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2. ZAINAB ISAH - TREASURER

3. SALAMATU MOHAMMED - MEMBER

4. HAUWA MOHAMMED - SECRETARY

THE AIMS AND OBJECTIVES ARE :

1. TO IMPROVE THE WELFARE OF THE MEMBERS

2. TO CREATE JOB OPPORTUNITY AMONG THE MEMBERS AND ENCOURAGE THEM ON SKILL ACQUISITION IN ORDER TO BE SELF RELIANCE.

3. TO FORM A NETWORK AMONGST OURSELVES AND BE READY TO SUPPORT EACH OTHER IN ANY LITTLE WAY WE CAN.

4. TO ENCOURAGE OR EMPOWER OTHER WOMEN AMONG US WHO ARE NOT STRONG AND EVEN THOSE WHO ARE NOT PART OF US.

5. TO CHANGE THE NEGATIVE PERCEPTION ABOUT WOMEN BEING A BURDEN IN OUR SOCIETYE. ANY OBJECTION TO THIS REGISTRATION SHOULD BE FORWARDED TO THE REGISTRAR-GENERAL, CORPORATE AFFAIRS COMMISSION, PLOT 420, TIGRIS CRESCENT , OFF AGUIYI IRONSI STREET , MAITAMA , ABUJA WITHIN 28DAYS OF THIS PUBLICATION. SIGNED : SECRETARY

PUBLIC NOTICE

THE ELECT FAITH TABERNACLE

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

THE TRUSTEES ARE :

1. ADAJE JAMES - CHAIRMAN

2. ADAJE GODWIN OWOICHO - SECRETARY

3. ILECHUKWU OZOEMENA EMEKA - MEMBER

4. AKADE PHILIP IORTYOM - MEMBER

THE AIMS AND OBJECTIVES ARE :

1. IMPARTING TO MEN MORAL, MENTAL AND SPIRITUAL VALUES.

2. TO TEACH AND PREACH THE WORD OF GOD.

3. TO PROPAGATE THE GOSPEL OF OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST.

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

SIGNED : SECRETARY.

PUBLIC NOTICE

ANATOLE EMPOWERMENT AND ADVOCACY FOUNDATION

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

THE TRUSTEES ARE :

1. OLATUNJI EMMANUEL OLUWOLE

2. OLATUNJI COMFORT

THE AIMS AND OBJECTIVES ARE :

1. TO PROVIDE SUPPORT TO TEENAGERS AND YOUTH IN THE CHOICE OF THEIR LIFE CAREER AND SELF DEVELOPMENT

2. TO PROVIDE SUPPORT AND GUIDANCE TO TEENAGERS AND YOUTH AGAINST CRIME AND OTHER DESTRUCTIVE LIFESTYLES

3. TO PROVIDE MENTORSHIP TO TEENAGERS AND YOUTH.

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

SIGNED : SECRETARY.

PUBLIC NOTICE

IFEMED 92 ALUMNI ASSOCIATION

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

THE TRUSTEES ARE :

1. LOTO OLABISI MOREBISE (CHAIRMAN)

2. AYENI OLAWALE OLUGBENGA (SECRETARY)

3. OLARINDE OLUFUNSO YETUNDE

4. OLADELE AYODEJI OLANREWAJU

5. ADEDIGBA MICHAEL ADEWOLE

THE AIMS AND OBJECTIVES ARE :

1. TO PROMOTE THE INTERESTS AND WELFARE OF ALL HER MEMBERS WHILE MAINTAINING A COMMON BOND AMONGST ALL MEMBERS.

2. TO ENCOURAGE ALL ASPECTS OF THE GROWTH OF THE OAU COLLEGE OF HEALTH SCIENCES.

3. TO ORGANIZE REGULAR ALUMNI EVENTS.

4. TO PROMOTE PROFESSIONALISM AMONG MEMBERS.

5. TO COOPERATE WITH OTHER BODIES WITH SIMILAR AIMS AND OBJECTIVES. ANY OBJECTION TO THIS REGISTRATION SHOULD BE FORWARDED TO THE REGISTRAR-GENERAL, CORPORATE AFFAIRS COMMISSION, PLOT 420, TIGRIS CRESCENT , OFF AGUIYI IRONSI STREET MAITAMA , ABUJA WITHIN 28DAYS OF THIS PUBLICATION.

SIGNED : SECRETARY.

CHRIST OF GOD MISSION. CAC/ IT/ NO 3335

1) ONYI ABRAHAM NNAJIOFOR - REMOVED.

2) NWEKE DAVID - REMOVED.

3) UGWU CHARLES - REMOVED.

4) ONWURAH HENRY - REMOVED.

5) NKWOCHA VINCENT - REMOVED. NEW TRUSTEES:

1) OZOUDE KELVIN IKECHUKWU - NEWLY APPOINTED

2) OKEKE UGOCHUKWU GAIUS - NEWLY APPOINTED.

3) NWEKE ONYEKA EPHRAIM - NEWLY APPOINTED.

4) ANICHEBE MICHEAL IKEAGUN - NEWLY APPOINTED.

5) UKATU IFEANYI DESTINY - NEWLY APPOINTED.

6) UKATU OBIORA SOLUTION NEWLY APPOINTED.

7) NWEKE NONSO STEPHEN - NEWLY APPOINTED.

AIMS AND OBJECTIVES ARE STILL THE SAME.

ANY OBJECTION TO THE APPLICATION SHOULD BE FORWARDED TO THE REGISTRAR

GENERAL, CORPORATE AFFAIRS COMMISSION, PLOT 420 TIGRIS CRESCENT, OFF AGUIYI

IRONSI STREET MAITAMA ABUJA WITHIN 28 DAYS OF THIS PUBLICATION.

SIGNED: UGWUOKE MARTINS CHIJIOKE. 08039228273.

WEDNESDAY FEBRUARY 08, 2023

Ghana footballer Christian Atsu trapped in Turkish Earthquake

•GFA prays for Atsu

By Amaechi Agbo

Ghanaian football player,, Christian Atsu has been reportedly trapped in the rubbles of Turkish Earthquake on Monday.

Reports emerged that the former Chelsea star is among thousands of people yet to be accounted for following the earthquake that rocked the country on Monday morning

Atsu who played for clubs in England is currently under the employ of Hatayspor.

More than 1,800 people have been killed and thousands more injured after a powerful magnitude 7.8 earthquake struck Turkey and Syria early on Monday.

The quake, one of the strongest to hit the region in more than 100 years, struck 23 kilometers (14.2 miles) east of Nurdagi, in Turkey’s Gaziantep province, at a depth of 24.1 kilometers, the US Geological Survey said.

Multiple strong aftershocks have been felt across the region for hours after the first quake, including a severe quake measuring magnitude 7.5.

Turkey’s disaster agency appealed for help from the international community as it conducts search and rescue operations, several world leaders have call to offer humanitarian support to Turkey

Several players of Hatayspor have been rescued following the earthquake, Atsu and club sporting director Taner Savut are still unaccounted for. A search

and rescue Operation is ongoing

Atsu’s former club Newcastle United tweeted: “Praying for some positive news, Christian Atsu.”

The Ghanaian international spent several years in England playing for top clubs like Chelsea, Everton, Bournemouth and Newcastle. He joined the Turkish outfit in 2022.

Currently, hashtag #prayforchristianatsu is trending on Twitter with former Black Stars captain, Asmoah Gyan tweeting “Oh God, plssss” with a picture of Atsu.

GFA prays for Atsu

Meanwhile, the Ghana Football Association, GFA has stated that it is praying for Atsu even as it is making efforts to establish contacts with the Turkish Football Federation.

The GFA in statement while hopeful for “positive news” added that it is contacting all Ghanian players in Turkey to ensure they are fine.

“We pray for Ghana International Christian Atsu and victims of the earthquake in Turkey and Syria.

“We continue with our efforts to establish contact with officials of Hataspor and the Turkish Football Federation, considering the difficult situation.

“Our thoughts and prayers are with Christian Atsu and our brothers and sisters in Turkey and Syria. We remain hopeful for positive news

“National Teams Department of the GFA has been contacting all Ghanaian footballers within Turkey and Syria to ensure their safety in this difficult moment.

“We will continue to liaise with all authorities and NGOs as we remain hopeful for positive news on all of them,’ the statement concluded.

No Nigeria player trapped in Turkey Earthquake - NFF

By Amaechi Agbo

The Nigeria Football Federation NFF has confirmed that no Nigeria player is trapped in the earthquake that rocked Turkey on Monday Morning.

A 7.8 magnitude earthquake rocked areas of Turkey and Syria on Monday, causing devastation

across the countries with rising casualties.

A second earthquake, with its epicentre near the city of Kahramanmaras, hit several hours after the first and the rising death toll is currently 1,200

The federation in a short message on its verified Twitter handle said on Monday assuaged fears among Nigerians on the

possibility of Nigeria players being among those trapped in the rubbles stating that all the players plying their trade in Turkey are doing fine.

“The Nigeria Football Federation is sad about the unfortunate earthquake in Kahramanmaras city of Turkey.

“NFF President, Alh. Ibrahim Gusau has reached out to

Nigerian players based in Turkey and they have all confirmed that they are fine,” the federation said.

NFF commiserated with families and people of Turkey affected in the disaster

“We pray the souls of the departed rest in peace even as we commiserate with the people of Turkey at this time.”

There are more than 10

Nigerian players who play in the Turkish Super League. They include, Super Eagles captain, Ahmed Musa (Fatih Karagümrük); Anthony Uzodinma, Brown Ideye (Göztepe Spor Kulübü); Olanrewaju Kayode (Sivasspor), Leke James (Sivasspor); Valentine Ozonwafor (Galatasaray) ; Obinna Nwobodo (Göztpe), among others.

Christian Atsu

S P R T

Akwa United attacked by armed robbers

By Amaechi Agbo

Nigeria Premier Football League side, Akwa United team was attacked on Thursday by armed robbers on their way from Ibadan

The Akwa Ibom State owned club were attacked by armed robbery gang along Ogoni Road, Rivers State while returning from Ibadan after their NPFL game against Kwara United on Wednesday

The incident happened on Thursday at about 6:48pm when the team’s vehicles ran into a road block mounted by hoodlums.

The club confirmed the attack on their website

“Team Akwa United survived an armed robbery attack along Ogoni road, Rivers State while returning from Ibadan after honouring Nigeria Professional Football League Matchday 5 against Kwara United.

“The incident happened on Thursday February 2, 2023 at about 6:48pm when the team’s vehicles ran into a road block mounted by hoodlums,” the club said.

The drivers on noticing the illegal

road block, made frantic efforts to reverse the vehicles to safety but the criminals pelted the vehicles with dangerous weapons, smashed the windows and ran after the vehicles which led to one vehicle running into another but no life was lost.

Team Manager of the club Sir Emmanuel Udoh described the incident as unfortunate and expressed appreciation to God for His journey mercies and protection over the team.

“The attack on our team along Ogoni road was one terrible experience and the psychological effects is what we need to put behind us fast.

“It was God that saved us from those hoodlums, who were determined to do anything to us. The worst part of it is that the attack happened in-between two police checkpoints.

“On behalf of Akwa United, I want to use this opportunity to appeal to all security agencies to redouble their effort especially along some well-known dangerous locations like Ogoni road”

The team managed to arrive in Uyo at about 9:55pm.

Man City face expulsion from Premier League over financial breaches

By Amaechi Agbo

English Premier League defending champions, Manchester City could be expelled from the Premier League after the league organisers charged them with multiple breaches in transfer dealing over four years ago.

The Premier League charged Manchester City with more than 100 breaches of its financial rules following a four-year investigation.

It has referred the club to an independent commission over alleged rule breaches between 2009 and 2018.

Although City has “denied any wrong doings”, if found guilty, the champions will face punishments ranging from fine and points deduction to expulsion from the Premier League.

The commission also accused City of not co-operating since the investigation started in December 2018.

City said they were “surprised” by the charges and are supported by a “body of irrefutable evidence” in their short statement on Monday.

“Manchester City is surprised by the issuing of these alleged breaches of the Premier League Rules, particularly given the extensive engagement and vast amount of detailed materials that the EPL has been provided with,” the club said in a statement.

“The club welcomes the review of this matter by an independent commission, to impartially consider the comprehensive body of irrefutable evidence that exists in support of its position.

“As such we look forward to this matter being put to rest once and for all.”

Last season City won their sixth Premier League title since the 2008 takeover by the Abu Dhabi United Group.

In a statement the Premier League said City breached rules requiring them to provide “accurate financial information that gives a true and fair view of the club’s financial position”. This information covered club revenue, which includes sponsorship income and operating costs.

BBC reports that further alleged breaches relate to rules requiring full details of manager remuneration - from the 2009-10 to 2012-13 seasons, when Roberto Mancini was in charge - and player remuneration between 2010-11 and 2015-16.

The Premier League said City breached rules related to UEFA regulations, including Financial Fair Play (FFP), from 2013-14 to 2017-18, as well as Premier League rules on profitability and sustainability from 2015-16 to 201718.

In 2020 European football governing body UEFA ruled that City committed “serious breaches” of FFP regulations between 2012 and 2016. However, a two-year ban from European competitions was overturned by the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) later that year.

UEFA began its investigation into City after German newspaper Der Spiegel published leaked documents in November 2018 alleging the club had inflated the value of a sponsorship deal. The proceedings of the commission - chaired by Murray Rosen KC - will be confidential and heard in private.

When the Premier League investigation began, City said the allegations were “entirely false” and that allegations in Der Spiegel came from “illegal hacking and out of context publication of City emails”.

Akwa United bus damaged after the attack

Emefiele, the cabal and the currency entanglements

military dictatorship? If yes, the CBN may be right with its naira demonetisation policy, but if NO, the president and by extension, the apex bank may have erred in legality and processes and the entire activities has run afoul of legality and therefore must be stopped. If there are such records of consultations, the Cabinet Affairs Office should educate the public accordingly; otherwise, it will confirm the aforementioned policy design errors.

It suffices that we also look at Section 148(2) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 (as altered) (1999 Constitution) and raise a pertinent question: does the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (the President) ‘mandated in the exercise of his executive powers to hold regular meeting with the Vice President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and the Ministers (Federal Executive Council) to;

(a) determining the general direction of domestic and foreign policies of the Government of the Federation;

(b) coordinating the activities of the President, the Vice-President and the Ministers of the Government of the Federation, in the discharge of their executive responsibilities; and

(c) advising the President generally in the discharge of his executive functions other than those functions concerning which he is required by the Constitution to seek advice or act on the recommendation of any other person or body?’

It also has to be tested in the court of law whether or not by the provision of paragraph 19 of Third Schedule, Part One thereof of the Constitution, the President has no power to approve any recommendation concerning the economic affairs of the Federation unless such advice is considered by the National Economic Council? Otherwise, why is the body constituted?

And again, given Section 148 (2) of the 1999 Constitution and paragraph 19 of the Third Schedule thereof, can the President unilaterally without recourse to the Federal Executive Council and the National Economic Council, respectively, approve the Central Bank of Nigeria, for

the redesign of N200, N500 and N1000 note and recall the old currency within three months? We are not a military or fascist dictatorship but a nascent democracy where healthy deliberations are expected.

Another pertinent question to ask is that in taking such a very critical decision, was there a budgetary provision for the demonetisation policy in the approved 2022 CBN Appropriation by the National Assembly? If not, the manner in which the policy has been conceived and being implemented goes against the Appropriation Act which calls for further legal and legislative queries.

And again, did CBN make consultations with NCC, NITDA and the Minister of Communication and Digital Economy with regard to the adequacy of telecom infrastructure density and citizens’ digital literacy to accommodate a cashless policy at this material time? Given that CBN has no control nor jurisdiction over these critical regulatory bodies, proceeding in a rash manner to enforce cashless policy despite the obvious infrastructural gap - which the World Bank in a recent publication noted - puts to question whether it is in the interest of the nation or personal interest.

And above all, was Emefiele and the CBN he presides over oblivious of the realities of the Nigeria nation to the point that they act based on book theories without regard for pertinent realities of our people and system? Access to Banking facilities and active bank users in Nigeria are respectively 122.3 million, majorly 24 commercial banks and while the Nigerian population stands at 221 million. However, England with a population of 63 million has over 357 commercial banks. South Africa with a population of 60.3 million has 63 commercial banks and Ghana with 33.5 million people has 23 commercial banks. The import of this data is simple: Nigerian commercial banks have limited capacity to handle the high traffic of Internet banking for over even a mere 30 million daily hits and will have to collectively increase their infrastructure to comfortably handle higher traffic. Internet connectivity in Nigeria is grossly below par with limited access and which is

predominantly in urban settlements and major cities. The interiors and the rural areas have been largely unconnected. Also noteworthy is the deployment of 3G and older generation networks by telecom operators to rural and suburban settlements while 4G network is reserved mostly for the capitals and big cities; one implication of this which is largely ignored is that transmission from a 4G network to a 3G or 2G network and vice versa will be fraught with challenges.

Since a fortnight ago, currency shortage across the country has become acute, while the nation’s internet connectivity capacity has been exposed to be far below par with what is required for effective functioning of a digital economy as proposed by the apex bank. There has been recorded consistent challenges with bank transfer USSD codes, mobile app and web app usages causing transaction debits from source without subsequent crediting of target accounts - or the severe delay of such - as a result of poor internet connectivity on one hand, and more worrisome, the inaccessibility of the three main electronic channels, USSD code, mobile app and web app in most cases because of the same reason. Across the country, traders have resolved against accepting fund transfers as payment modes for transactions because of the challenges and that has made life more difficult for the citizens. Considering this challenge, it has become obvious that the country is not yet ripe for a digital economy. This has given the ubiquitous POS operators the power to extort exorbitant charges and make life even more difficult for Nigerians who have to pay as much as 20 percent as charges per withdrawal in most cases, and that is even if the cash is available.

One will think that with the growing tension and uncertainty across the country, that the deadline will be extended or the policy suspended; instead, some undisclosed individuals reportedly have approached a court - that most likely lacks jurisdiction on the matter - to obtain an order - not a judgement anyway - to not extend the deadline. Who are these individuals? Are they being sponsored by the CBN regime?

Another angle to consider is that our

commercial banks are foremost, business oriented and apparently not some extension of public bureaucracy. They have their prime customers and of course, wealthy, active politicians are inclusive. Wouldn’t a profit making enterprise like a commercial bank choose first to attend to its prime customers who mostly are willing to play ball - and I don’t mean football - to get the new currencies while ignoring the rest customers who are mostly ordinary Nigerians? If the CBN governor with a long career in the local banking industry would fail to see this scenario, then, it would either mean he is grossly incompetent to not foresee it and recalibrate his demonetisation policy. Or could it be that he foresees it but does not care for the ordinary Nigerians who will, and indeed are now suffering because of his policy; or it may be just what he wants to stir the general public at the hit of the election campaigns against the ruling party which leads to the final consideration.

Is there not a political undertone to create nationwide protests in the manner of the 2020 ENDSARS protest? There are already viral reports of vandalisation of some commercial banks’ premises, attacks on bank staff and public threats to escalate the unrest across the country as a result of the nationwide shortage of cash. Why is the CBN governor still adamant over these glaring worsening crises across the nation? Can there be adequate supply of the new notes to the general public before 10th February 2023? And as the situation drags on towards Election Day, who benefits from these crises if not the leading opposition party? Could it be that some vested interest wants to push for an interim government by disrupting the election with the tortuous policies of fuel and cash scarcity to the general public? If the policy is not working or cannot work as it seems, is it not better to suspend and rework it for later implementation because we are at a critical point where the next leadership of the nation is to be determined in a matter of a few weeks.

God Bless The Federal Republic Of Nigeria!

FATIMA

I, FORMERLY KNOWN AS FATUMA MOHAMMED B.C.J NOW WISH TO BE KNOWN AND ADDRESSED AS FATIMA BCJ MOHAMMED. ALL FORMER DOCUMENTS REMAIN VALID. AUTHORITIES CONCERNED AND THE GENERAL PUBLIC SHOULD TAKE NOTE.

WONAH

ABDULRAZAK

SIRAJO

BE KNOWN AND ADDRESSED AS SIRAJO A SHEHU. ALL FORMER DOCUMENTS REMAIN VALID. AUTHORITIES CONCERNED AND THE GENERAL PUBLIC SHOULD TAKE NOTE.

DAWAM

I, FORMERLY KNOWN AS DASIM JOY DAVID NOW WISH TO BE KNOWN AND ADDRESSED AS DAWAM JOY YOILA. ALL FORMER DOCUMENTS REMAIN VALID. AUTHORITIES CONCERNED AND THE GENERAL PUBLIC SHOULD TAKE NOTE.

I, FORMERLY KNOWN AS ABDURAZAK SHEHU NOW WISH TO BE KNOWN AND ADDRESSED AS ABDULRAZAK SHEHU. ALL FORMER DOCUMENTS REMAIN VALID. AUTHORITIES CONCERNED AND THE GENERAL PUBLIC SHOULD TAKE NOTE.

I, FORMERLY KNOWN AS JOSEPHINE G. WONAH NOW WISH TO BE IDENTIFIED AND CALLED WONAH GRACE JOSEPHINE. ALL FORMER DOCUMENTS REMAIN VALID. AUTHORITIES CONCERNED AND THE GENERAL PUBLIC SHOULD TAKE NOTE.

Nigerian footballer slumps,

The beginning of the Buhari Administration also marked the beginning of another era in the nation’s politics: the era of the cabals. The nomenclature cabal has become problematic to many Nigerians who are unable to comprehend fully what it represents and the people who constitute its membership. The cabal has been linked to everything that went wrong with Nigeria in the last seven years or thereabout, to every attempt to hoodwink processes to achieve selfish personal and group goals. The present Administration has witnessed many secret plots by elements within the covert clique who have been derailing public plans and skewing public decisions in their favour.

Bala, slumped and died during a home match between his club, CD Madridejo FC and SP Cabanillas in Spain Terceira Division on Sunday.

The Castilla-La Mancha Football Federation said in a statement that the Nigerian youngstar slumped for no apparent reason in the 39th minute of the match.

Medical personnel on the ground at the Municipal Toledo stadium were said to have immediately come to his aid, but efforts to revive him proved abortive as he was later pronounced dead.

The 21-year-old Kafanchan born player, Hadi, started his football career with Arewa United FC and other several clubs like Shareef Academy, Golden Balley, Zaria Bees and Salama FC all in Kafanchan, before moving to Plateau and Jigawa states.

“The Castilla-La Mancha Football Federation and Castilian-La Mancha football, with its President Pablo Burillo at the helm, are totally dismayed at such an event.

“For this reason, the federative body remains at the disposal of CD Madridejos for everything it needs in these difficult times,” the statement reads.

The 21-year-old Hadi last played in Nigeria with Nigeria National League side Jigawa Golden Stars

He was one of the four Nigerian players on the books of CD Madridejos including former Nigeria U-17 and U-20 striker, Kehinde Ayinde, before his death

In the attempt to understand what a cabal represents and why it would receive such negative attention, I consulted far and wide, searching for understanding of the term including its extended meanings and influences. I found out that in the simplest explanation, the word cabal refers to the contrived schemes of a group of persons secretly united in a plot to overturn the existing government’s policy and program pathway to selfish ends, and of course, also to a group engaged in such schemes.

Wikipedia defines the term as a group of people who are united in some close design, usually to promote their private views or interests in an ideology, a state, or another community, often by intrigue and usually unknown to those who are outside their group. Whichever way it is defined or interpreted, cabal and its usages would always carry huge negative connotations of political purpose, conspiracy and secrecy.

A quick perusal of history has revealed that the concept of clique formation to influence public discourse for personal ends is not new to our age. It is a perennial abnormality that has traveled through ages and space, among people of all races and continents, and obviously would continue to have a place in all political settings.

A December 28, 2015 article by the New York Times in the United States talked about a small group of powerful people in Minnesota, who were not elected,

but were running the affairs in the larger America. The article wrote: “From their borrowed perch on the 38th floor of an unnamed but identifiable Minneapolis skyscraper, the Itasca Project’s [sic as they were called] goal is to shape regional economic policy through direct collective influence on lawmakers. The group has successfully pushed through a gas tax increase to fund transportation infrastructure, state support for local businesses, as well as a government agency to attract new companies. Soon, they want to get involved in education reform, shoving McKinsey consultants and their rubrics on public schools. Schwartz credits the Itasca Project with a peculiar kind of friendly Midwestern ethic, but their behavior isn’t so strange. It’s just what capitalists do.”

This cabal were capitalists who had formed a clique and would use their positions of influence to redirect public policies, not because they care about the public but to aid their belief in capitalism and to benefit from the same. That is the summarised nature of the cabal wherever they are found, whether in the Americas or Nigeria.

Here in Nigeria, the cabal at the national level has not been given real faces overtime; we know they exist, that they are powerful unelected men and women always close to the position of power; and using the same to exert influences that hurt national affairs in furtherance of the returns they expect and obtain. Now, for once, there is a face attached to the cabal in the country, and that face is Godwin Emefiele, the governor of the Central Bank of the country; and his game at using the influence of his office as the governor of the country’s apex bank to subtly dictate the outcome of an election says it all.

The decision to redesign the nation’s currencies would remain controversial; and given what we have all seen so far about it,

we would find it most difficult to subscribe to the genuineness or otherwise of the monetary policy decision at the last lap of a sensitive election year. Is it in the interest of Nigeria and Nigerians, or is it a selfishly packaged decision to deliver personal and group desires. Is the target the expulsion of hoarded notes to save the naira against its falling strength, or is it a cleverly designed plan to influence the presidential election in favour of a certain candidate as being seen in many quarters. All indices point to the latter; the timing of the change, the speed and stubbornness or the policy responses to the hardship created by the change, all point to the handiwork of a clique set out for a nonnegotiable premeditated end.

So many questions begging for answers; why now? Why the rush? Why refuse to budge even at the height of glaring mass suffering? What really is Emefiele after? Is he bent on getting the electorate angry enough at the ruling party to effectively affect the APC chances at the presidential poll or what exactly could push him this much? In taking the huge decision, did CBN satisfy the extant provision of the nation’s Decimal Currency Act of 1971, Section 3 to be precise which stipulates the approval of the Minister of Finance in the design of the new currencies, or is there an act of the National Assembly for the repeal of the said Act?

To what extent did the CBN stick to its own rule book? Is there no infringement on the CBN Act? There are two issues under consideration here. One is the right of CBN to call in currency and the other is whether the apex bank has the right to fix a deadline in the manner it presently goes about it. The interpretation of the CBN Act Section 20 subsections 3, 4 and 5 would suffice here. The Section while empowering the apex bank to retrieve old currencies while

issuing new ones also binds the regulator to continue to redeem the old notes even after it ceases to be legal tender and having given a reasonable notice to the public: the section says “ Notwithstanding Sub-sections (1) and (2) of this section, the Bank shall have power, if directed to do so by the president and after giving reasonable notice in that behalf, to call in any of its notes or coins on payment of the face value therefore and note or coin with respect to which a notice has been given under this sub-section, shall, on the expiration of the notice, cease to be legal tender, but, subject to section 22 of this Act, shall be redeemed by the Bank upon demand.” Has a reasonable time been given? Why are ordinary citizens who have been dutifully going to the banks with their old notes within the given time that is clearly infeasible not given the new notes by the majority of the banks - that were stocking their ATMs with the same old notes that purportedly has a deadline? Why is CBN not dishing sanctions against a glaring infraction by licensed commercial banks right under its statutory supervision?

Another issue for consideration would be the question: does the President enjoy the unilateral power to approve the redesign of currencies as he may deem it fit without consultation with both the Federal Executive Council which has its legitimacy under the Ministers’ Statutory Powers and Duties Act and the National Economic Council given that we now practice a democracy since the birth of the Fourth Republic and no longer in a