Monday, May 8, 2023 Edition

Tyre of the Max Air aircraft which crash-landed and burst into flames, at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, yesterday in Abuja.

We’ll prosecute anyone assaulting Kaduna Electric Staff -Kebbi govt

From: Femi Oyelola, Kaduna

The Secretary to the State Government of Kebbi, Alhaji Babale Umar Yauri has said that the state government will prosecute anyone who assaults staff of Kaduna Electric in the state.

He stated this while receiving a delegation of senior officials of Kaduna Electric in his office on Friday.

The officials were in his office on a courtesy visit after the recent incident involving military personnel who assaulted

its staff in Birnin Kebbi.

The SSG welcomed the delegation and assured Kaduna Electric of continued support by the state government for it to carry out its duties in the state without hindrance.

He further stressed that Kebbi state government will not allow people to take laws into their hands, “Kebbi is known as the most peaceful state in Nigeria.

“We, as a responsible government, have already taken measures to avert the future occurrence and have issued a notice to all the security

agencies in the state to arrest and prosecute anyone who dares assault or even intimidate Kaduna Electric staff while discharging their duties

“We are calling on the general public to continue to be patient, law abiding citizens and also to support Kaduna Electric by paying their bills regularly so they can serve us well”, he said.

The leader of the delegation Mr. Ocholi Ausa who is the company’s Chief Operations Officer, said the reason for the visit was to engage with critical stakeholders over

the ugly incident and device ways to prevent a recurrence. He commended the state government for its timely intervention which led to the speedy resolution of the crisis.

He assured that Kaduna Electric is ready to work with all stakeholders to find a lasting solution to the power supply challenges in Kebbi state.

Other members of the delegation were the Chief Security Officer, Colonel Ubale Abubakar (rtd) and Head of Corporate Communication, Abdulazeez Abdullahi.

L-R: Members House of Representatives, Hon. Gudaji Kazaure, Speakership aspirant, Hon. Yusuf Adamu Gagdi, member elect, Hon. Sunday Cyriacus Umeha, Hon Salley Mohammed Kada and former vice Chancellor Federal University, Kashere Gombe State, Prof Alhassan Gani, during the official declaration of Hon. Gagdi for the 10th Assembly Speakership position, yesterday in Abuja.

Mahmud Isa

Senate presidency tussle: Group lauds Tinubu’s silence amidst pressure

From: Femi Oyelola, Kaduna

Aconference of the North-west Progressive Forum (NPF) and regional partners has hailed President-elect Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s reserved non-

committal as the debate for the leadership of the 10th National Assembly rages.

This was contained in a statement jointly signed by Nasir Dambatta, Convener; Moses Ekpeyong, South-south Chairman of Advocates for

Justice & Fairness; Ifeanyi James, Coordinator of New Era Democrats Assembly; and Fatima Mohammed of the Gender Advocates League respectively. Speaking on behalf of the group, Conference convener,

Nasir Dambatta said the NPF and associates from the SouthSouth and the Southeast zones met and reviewed developments regarding the debate on which of Nigeria’s two regional blocks should produce the next Senate President.

Photo:

Niger youth group endorses Dr Bagana as Chief of Staff to Governor -elect

From Yakubu Mustapha Minna

Youths under the auspices of Concerned Youths for Better Leadership (CYBEL) a Non Governmental Organization has unanimously endorsed Dr Murtala Muhammad Bagana as the Chief of Staff to the Niger state governor elect, Umar Mohammed Bago.

The endorsement was reached during the Youth Advocacy Initiative for the betterment of Niger state while considering the records of his attractive proficiency at the youth centre in Minna.

The Convener, Amb. Danjuma Usman Suleiman and Co- convener, Comrade Abubakar Mohammed enumerated some of the contributions of Dr Bagana in the health sector across the 25 local government areas of the state.

The group, therefore, affirmed that Chief of Staff is a very sensitive position that requires a very innovative, exposed, competent, intelligent, experienced and capable gentle man to deliver on the job.

While appealing to the incoming governor, Umar Mohammed Bago for his appointment, they described Dr Murtala Muhammad Bagana as an accomplished young technocrat who can influence rapid socio economic development and lure investors using his network chain of contacts.

The speakers reiterated that the incoming government in Niger state is going to be a youth administration but insisted in having 80% youths to occupy various positions to be appointed by the governor elect.

They lamented over the past use and dump of youths by the successive administrations and urged the All Progressives Congress (APC) Governor elect in Niger state, Umar Mohammed Bago to change the narrative.

The gathering further recommended to state government to nipped the activities of Yandaba and

Speakership: Don’t deliberately exclude us, N/Central APC group tells Tinubu, NWC

By Christiana Ekpa

North Central All Progressive Congress (APC) Stakeholders on Sunday asked the President Elect, Ahmed Tinubu and National Working Committee of the APC not deliberately exclude the North Central Zion from the Principal officers position of the National Assembly.

This was just as the Stakeholders demanded that the Speakership position of the House of Representatives should be given to the Zion.

Speaking at A world Press Conference in Abuja on Sunday, the group led Rev. Dominic Alancha demanded for Justice, Equity and Fairness for the Zone

He said “As you may have known, our group, the North Central APC STAKEHOLDERS was formed in 2015, stands to defend the tenets of democracy and to uphold the rule of law by ensuring fairness and justice to all and at all times.

“Th these noble aims, it has been our lot to commend acts that promote the rule of law and social justice and to speak out whenever we notice acts capable of undermining or threatening our hard earned democracy and to advocate for fairness and balance at all times.

“We are again compelled to invoke our mandate to address you this morning due to an

anomaly we have detected in the direction APC leadership in the country is taking in the course of zoning key offices in the 10th Assembly which we feel may not augur well for our democracy.

“We are constrained to register our disappointment and to protest the decision of the APC Leadership to zone two Presiding Positions Deputy Senate President and Speaker in the 10th National Assembly in favour of the Northwest to the total exclusion of the North Central and other zones in the country.

“Having won the 2023 presidential elections fair and square, we had expected the Leadership of APC to be guided by the principle of justice and fairness in zoning leadership positions in the parliament and had thought that factors like commitment to the success of the party, level of contributions and the need for fairness, Equity and justice to all would guide the decision.

“What we have seen emerging from the decision of the APC however, is a situation of total disregard to Justice Equity and fairness where personal interests has been put forward thereby bringing chaos and conflict in a situation that would have otherwise gone smoothly if national interest has been the guiding principle.

“While the decision of

the APC leaders to zone the Senate Presidency to the South South and the Deputy Senate Presidency to the North West conforms to the expectations of most Nigerians because it takes care of zones that are yet to be represented in the composition of the leadership of the next administration we cannot say the same for the zoning of other leadership positions for the 10th Assembly.

“We therefore take strong exceptions to the bid to zone the position of Speaker of the House of Representatives to the North West zone because that will imply undue favouritism, lack of fairness and the marginalisation of other zones.

“Because, while the North West will go home with two key positions in the National Assembly, the North Central and the South East would be totally excluded from the leadership of the 10th National Assembly.

“This to us seems to be a deliberate act of provocation to the North Central zone which has contributed so much to the success of the APC as a party and to the victory of President-elect Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

“In the last elections, the North Central apart from giving the APC presidential ticket an overwhelming number of votes, gave a greater number of parliamentary and governorship seats to the APC.”

Registrar reiterates NMCN’s commitment to healthy mothers, babies

Mr Faruk Abubakar, the Secretary General/ Registrar, Nursing and Midwifery Council of Nigeria (NMCN), has reiterated the council’s commitment toward having healthy mothers and babies in the country. He made the pledge during an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja on Friday on the occasion of the 2023 International Day of the Midwife. The day is annually celebrated on May 5 to celebrate midwives’ commitment to saving lives and ensuring the health and wellbeing of women and newborn babies. The 2023 edition has “Together Again: From Evidence to Reality” as its theme. The NMCN registrar, therefore, stressed the importance of the day’s celebration, saying “it is all about having healthy mothers and babies who can compete favourably for the growth of the nation.” According to him, the more healthy mothers and babies a country can have, the more

confidence there will be in the society.

He said that a nation with healthy mothers and infants would enable less or zero incidences of diseases, and that would allow mothers and women generally to be productive and contribute their quota to nation building.

Abubakar, who disclosed that there is no formal collaboration between Traditional Birth Attendants (TBA) and trained midwives in the country, however, said NMCN had been training midwives to replace the TBAs.

He said “this is why we introduced community midwives to work in rural areas’ there is no any collaboration, but rather if we train them and they are available, that is better.

”That is why we are encouraging political leaders to support this crusade, identify a community, train him or her, and send such a person back to that community to contribute his or her quota.

“The council trained 6,700 nurses in the last six years and 21,700 nurses and midwives within that period of time

“This idea will surely replace the traditional birth attendants, that is what we are focusing on, and that is our strategy as a council.”

The registrar also said that Nigeria can achieve zero maternal mortality with increased commitment and political will.

He explained that the major constraint to achieving zero maternal mortality is the absence of skilled trained midwives.

He encouraged states and local governments to also work toward training nurses and midwives and not to leave the responsibility to Federal Government alone.

He said “if all the three tiers of government remain committed, achieving zero maternal mortality is possible.”

Abubakar said the council had increased the admission quota of students into midwifery schools, colleges and faculty of nursing in

schools.

He stressed that “the major challenges of the council are inadequate budgetary provision and shortage of manpower.

Meanwhile, the UN Population Fund (UNFPA) in its statement to mark the 2023 International Day of the Midwife, said Nigeria needs 70,000 more midwives to close the shortage gap.

The statement indicated that the Fund’s Executive Director, Dr Natalia Kanem, quoted the 2021 State of the World’s Midwifery Report as putting the shortage of midwives in the country at 30,000, which is six per 10,000 people.

“To close the gap by 2030, about 70,000 more midwives are needed; but with current estimates, only 40,000 more will be created.

“This shortage is particularly acute in Northern Nigeria where essential needs for maternal and reproductive healthcare are unmet.” (NAN)

Kano emir commends gov Ayade for appointing Kano indigenes in his government

From Mustapha Adamu, Kano

The Emir of Kano, Alhaji Aminu Ado Bayero has commended Cross River state governor, Ben Ayade for appointing Kano indigene as a commissioner and aides in his government, describing him as a detribalised Nigerian.

In a statement by Chief Press Secretary to Kano Emirate, Abubakar Balarabe Kofar-Naisa on Thursday, the Emir who spoke on Wednesday during a courtesy call on the governor in Calabar, urged other governors to work towards national cohesion by emulating Ayade’s nationalistic posture.

The Kano monarch was in Calabar for his installation as the new Pro- Chancellor of the University of Calabar.

According to him, “I wish to express my deep appreciation to the governor for appointing Northerners, especially Kano indigenes into his government.

“There is a Commissioner in the Governor’s cabinet who is from from Kano. This is heartwarming. I urge other Governors from other parts of Nigeria to work towards national cohesion by taking a cue from Governor Ayade and appoint aides who are not necessarily indigenes of their states.”

The first class monarch commanded the governor for the warm reception and extreme hospitality accorded him and his entourage.

The Emir thanked President Muhammad Buhari for the appointment as Pro-Chancellor, saying he was happy to be part and parcel of the institution and pledged to work with the Vice Chancellor, Professor Florence Obi, “to take the great University of Calabar to a greater height.”

Responding, Governor Ayade expressed optimism that the Emir’s tenure as Pro-Chancellor would usher in a new dawn for the university given his connections, pedigree and experience.

“ Your Majesty, your appointment as the ProChancellor of the University of Calabar provides us with opportunity to show that the culture of the African man is very

After gun duel, NDLEA seizes 8,852kg illicit drugs consignment in Lagos

By Mashe Umaru Gwamna

Operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, NDLEA, have seized a total of 8,852 kilograms (8.8 tons) of Canadian Loud, an imported synthetic strain of cannabis, at the Eleko beach road in Lekki area of Lagos after a 30-minute gun fight with armed men who were escorting the consignment loaded in two long trucks.

This was contained in a

statement issued on Sunday by Femi Babafemi, Director, Media & Advocacy of NDLEA.

It said, acting on credible intelligence, NDLEA operatives had laid ambush for the traffickers along the Eleko beach road in Lekki and at about 4:51am on Thursday 4th May, two long trucks conveying the illicit consignments were flagged down but rather than stopping, the trucks escorted by armed men sped off, as a result of which there was an exchange of gunfire that

lasted 30 minutes.

“After they were overpowered by the NDLEA operatives, the truck drivers and their armed escorts escaped into the bush abandoning the trucks and the drug consignments.

“While one of the trucks painted red has 149 jumbo bags weighing 6,548kg, the second one with blue colour has 53 big bags with a weight of 2,304kg, bringing the total number of bags to 202 and gross weight of both to 8,852 kilograms. Meanwhile, operatives

NGO urges girls to embrace STEM

Women’s Technology Empowerment Centre (W.TEC), a non-profit organisation, has urged more girls to embrace Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) subjects to bridge the gender gap in the technology space.

Mrs Oreoluwa Lesi, Executive Director of the centre, made the call at an event organised to mark the International Girls in ICT Day at Bishop Howells Memorial Grammar School on Saturday in Lagos.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the event was organised in collaboration with Oracle Academy NAN also reports that over 100 girls across some selected secondary schools attended the event.

Lesi explained that STEM subjects were easy to learn, urging the students to pursue any career in the technology space.

She said that closing the gender gap in the technology space was of

critical importance because meant the loss of vast human resources that could contribute to national development.

She said that closing the gender gap in the technology space was of critical importance to avoid loss of vast human resources that could contribute to national development.

“This will entrench gender inequality,” she said.

She said that they designed programmes such as W.TEC Academy, an afterschool technology club, which was engaging and aimed at attracting more girls to pursue science and technology careers.

“The club targets girls between ages 10 and 17 years, who attend public schools in Nigeria.

“Through participation in the year-long technology club, the girls become more confident in writing programmes, developing applications and creating digital content,” she said.

Also speaking, Oluwafunmilayo Awelewa, Territory Executive

are already on the trail of the drug lord who shipped the illicit consignment into the country.

“On the same day, NDLEA operatives also intercepted a Toyota Sienna vehicle driven by one Mukaila Idowu, conveying 88.3kg skunk at Otedola bridge, Ikeja area of Lagos, while another suspect, Joseph Friday was arrested on Saturday 6th May at Iyana Ira, Lagos with 58.7kg cannabis sativa concealed inside his Toyota Camry car marked FST 587FH.”

Manager, Oracle Nigeria, said girls could become unstoppable if they had digital skills.

Awelewa said that as technology skills became more crucial in the workplace, girls and young women in many parts of the world face being marginalised and left behind.

She said that without equal access to technology and the internet, girls and women were not able to equally participate in the ever growing digital society.

Awelewa said that holding back girls and women in this area affects every aspect of their lives, including their ability to speak out and campaign on issues that affect them.

“Technology is among the fastest-growing industries in the world, therefore, it requires more labour supply to thrive. Women make up almost half the workforce population.

“Their exclusion can deprive the technology industry of the crucial human resources it needs to grow,” she said.

Awelewa said that women were as good at technology as men, adding that its not the lack of interest that keeps women from pursuing tech-related occupations, but an unsupportive culture and an undervaluing of their capabilities.

She said learning digital skills was important for African women and girls because it can help them overcome gender disparities and increase their economic opportunities.

Awelewa said that a good starting point to get women in technology was creating a supportive culture in homes, schools, and the workplace.

“Nothing in life is to be feared, it is to be understood; now is the time to understand more and be fearless. Never believe you could do less because you are a woman,” she added.

She urged the girls that they could achieve more regardless of their gender, size, current department and life challenges.

(NAN)

Pictures taking as NDLEA seizes 8,852kg illicit drugs consignment in Lagos

. Intercepts 1,080 litres of NPS in Ogun, Adamawa; others in Kogi, Edo, Anambra. . Photo: NDLEA

Tragedy averted as passenger air plane crash lands at Abuja airport

From Umar Dan Kano, Yola and Albert Akota, Abuja

AMax Air flight with 143 passengers and an infant on board which departed from Yola, Adamawa State at about 14:05, yesterday was scheduled to arrive in Abuja at 15:00 but made an emergency landing at the Nnamdi Azikiwe international airport in Abuja.

The averted tragedy occurred yesterday (Sunday) afternoon when the Max Air aircraft Boeing 734 seven series of the Yola/Abuja route with no fewer than one hundred and fifty passengers and crew was said to have lost one of

•All passengers, crew members safe •Faulty rear tyre blamed for incident •Pilot was warned before takeoff - Source

the rear tyres while taking off from Yola.

A statement issued by the management of Max Air said the flight alerted the emergency response team at the Nnamdi Aikiwe when it discovered the fault.

However, it said the aircraft experienced two tyre bursts on landing at the Abuja International Airport after taking off in Yola.

“We are pleased to report that all passengers and crew on board the aircraft are safe and sound.

“The airline has taken all

necessary steps to ensure that the passengers are comfortable and are being taken care of during this time.

“They have been conveyed to the arrival terminal with their luggage and belongings for further investigations before being released for future flights.

“ The aircraft tyres are being replaced and Max Air is committed to providing safe and reliable air travel to all its customers.”

The statement added that. “We thank all the passengers for

their patience and understanding the emergency services, and all relevant agencies who responded promptly.

“The airline would like to extend its appreciation to the airport authorities, professionally to ensure the safety of all passengers and crew on board.

“Max Air will continue to provice updates on the situation as more information becomes available.”

• Pilot was notified of fault

2023 polls: Unpaid election duty allowances stir controversy at Correctional Service

By our reporter

Two and half months after Presidential and Gubernatorial elections, the Nigeria Correctional Service (NCS) is yet to fully pay officers who participated in elections duty, our investigation has revealed.

Our investigation also revealed that the NCS only selectively paid few officers, despite huge amount budgeted.

Till today, our findings revealed that some officers who fully participated were not asked to submit their account details for payment.

Our reporter in Jos observed that states affected included; Jos, Taraba, Gombe, Bauchi, Adamawa

and many others.

Sources said most of the officers who collected their claims are those in Abuja and few in other states.

This medium observed that, the money budgeted for NCS from the rank of inspector is N139.000, but even with the release of the funds to the service, only selected few were paid.

Our reporter added that while some were paid the full amount, others only got half of the money.

“It is a very serious issue. As we speak, no money has been paid to us. I have seen some who collected their money but I am yet to get mine despite the fact that we worked together.

“I am very angry with this selective payment of officers despite

risking our lives during the elections. This is a crime against those of us who gave our best”, said NCS staff in Jos.

Another staff from Yobe told our reporter on phone that they don’t have any hope of getting the money because of the high level of corruption in the system. “The current boss of the service is not a man of integrity and we are not expecting anything despite our sacrifices.

“As it stands, our hope is in God. We want the president to intervene and press on the high authority to pay us our money.”

“This is not the first time that we are seeing this kind of high level corruption. Our service is the worst. We do not get allowances and other

benefits because those in-charge usually hijack what is due to us, said another staff from Yola.

He added that the high command only pays attention to those who have connections in the service.

Another officer told our reporter that some of them did not even submit their account details.

He said the service handpicked people for payment.

While reacting to the report, the Spokesperson of the service, Umar Abubakar, said about 80% of the staff have been paid.

He said those complaining are officers who have issues with their accounts, saying the service is working towards rectifying the challenges.

He said the Commandant General

before takeoff - Source

A staff of the Yola international airport on condition of anonymity told our reporter that the pilot was notified of the mechanical fault but said he was not alerted in the plane’s cockpit.

Our sources however said the afternoon flight on routine commercial services landed safely with the intervention of Abuja motor roaming machines.

“No casualties, it was as a result of the absence of one of the rear tires. You know each rear tyre are two, and one of the right tyres got removed while taking off from Yola, and landing became a problem, it was heavy because of the passengers on board who were up to one hundred and fifty.

“The pressure was much and the plane couldn’t get balance until an intervention by ground staff.

“No casualties. Thanks to God the plane landed safely,” he said.

of the service is very passionate and will address all challenges before the end of this month.

He also said all officers who participated in the election were captured for payment.

But after his response, our reporter went further to verify whether staff had issues with their accounts and were asked to effect corrections, but those spoken to in most of the states said the spokesperson was just playing the Ostrich to keep his job.

They said no one contacted them and no one gave them any reason for the delay.

However, this medium will swing to action at the end of this month to update members of the public on whether the service complete the payment within the stipulated time as claimed by the spokesperson or not.

Speakership zoning: Controversy trails adoption of Tinubu’s preferred candidate

By Christiana Ekpa

Controversy have continued to trail

Media reports that the Presidentelect, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu and the leadership of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), have zoned the Speakership seat of the 10th House of Representatives to the North West geopolitical zone.

This was even as reports suggest that the North West also got the nod of the President-elect and the party to produce the deputy President of the 10rh Senate.

Rising from its extraordinary emergency meeting on Sunday, the Forum of Former Members of the House of Representatives from the North Central Zone stated that if the the media reports about the said zoning decisions were true, then the President Elected would have allowed himself to be misled by those they described as “selfish” individuals within the party.

The group of former lawmakers who issued a 7-point demands in their communique read by Hon. Idris Yakubu, a member of the 4th Assembly after the meeting lamented that the North Central zone was being unfairly treated by the party despite having kept faith with it since 2015.

The document titled: ‘Need for Justice and Equity in Allocating Key Offices In the National Assembly’, the former legislators said: “We wish to state without equivocation, that the issue we are addressing here has been carefully considered and treated with all sense of responsibility, while the position we have taken on the matter is in the best interest of the incoming administration of H.E Sen Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu and for the greater good of our dear country, Nigeria.”

“Having served as federal legislators at various times and contributed immensely to the development of Nigeria and its democracy, we consider it pertinent to continue on the path of offering wise counsels and to intervene whenever we see that the ship of our country appears to be going adrift.

“As responsible citizens we cannot fold our arms and watch when a major decision capable of fundamentally affecting our dear nation negatively and setting it on the path towards increased suspicion and bitter acrimony is being contemplated,” the communique read.

“After waiting several weeks for the President-elect Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu and other key stakeholders to guide the present crop of elected federal

legislators on the zoning of leadership positions in the 10th National Assembly in order to avoid acrimony and rancor, the forum notes that the principles of equity, justice and fairness which should have guided such processes may not have been explored.

“Rather than dwell on a template to promote unity and fairness for national cohesion, the forum observed that what is emerging is an odious stench of bias and lopsidedness that should not even be contemplated in a democracy,” the Forum said.

They therefore demanded that “while the position of the Senate President can be given to the South for religious balancing and the North-west the Deputy Senate President, that the North Central must be given its due share in the leadership of the 10th National Assembly.

“We ask that since the North Central gave the President-elect the highest percentage number of votes apart from the South-west, that it should be given the Speakership of the 10th Assembly.

“This would come as the fair and just thing to do since the zone has never occupied the seat of Speaker since the return of democracy in 1999 while the Northwest has held it for 12 good years!

“We know that the President-

elect having fought for the return of democracy to Nigeria and had served as a senator and state governor is a thorough democrat, hence it behoves on him to take steps that will preserve and deepen our democracy by ensuring inclusiveness in his administration.

“The North Central can boast of an array of experienced and ranking members who when given the opportunity, can preside excellently over the House of Representatives and ensure quality legislation for the good governance of Nigeria.

“We call on the President-elect not to go according to the plan by a few selfish individuals to patronize their cronies but to administer justice and equity to all so that his administration can start on a sound footing.

“We also call on our party elders from the zone including the national chairman of the party, Senator Abdullahi Adamu; governors; former national chairmen, former governors; former Senate President; ministers, former ministers and other stakeholders to add their voices to the demand for justice to the zone as their continuous silence will only aggravate the intended marginalization of the North Central zone.

Flood: HYPPADEC promises to assist victims in Kebbi

From Ahmed Idris, Birnin Kebbi

Ahead of the 2023 floods, the Hydroelectric Power Producing Area Development Commission (HYPPADEC) has promised to contribute 60% to the benefited 14 affected floods Local Governments in Kebbi State.

Disclosing this at the 2023 stakeholders meeting on flood mitigation and other related issues at Azibri Hotel Birnin Kebbi, the Managing Director of HYPPADEC Alhaji Abubakar

Sadiq Yalwa said that the decision of the commission is to stop the danger of the 2023 floods disaster.

He said that the commission will contribute 60% while the local government will bring 40% if the flood persist.

Kaduna LP reaffirms support for NWC led by Abure, suspends 3 Chieftain

From: Femi Oyelola, Kaduna

The Kaduna State Chapter of the Labour Party, LP, has reaffirmed its loyalty and support of the National Working Committee, led by the ” lawfully recognized” National Chairman, Barr. Julius Abure.

Consequently, the Chapter declared as null and void, all appointments and decisions made by One Lamidi Apapa group on behalf of the party.

A communique issued at the end of the emergency meeting of the State Executive Committee, yesterday in Kaduna, the Chapter emphatically dissociated itself from the ” illegal and counterfeit group” of the Labour Party led by Lamidi Apapa.

The communique which also reaffirmed Hon. Auwal Tafoki as the Chairman of the party in the State, said any other person parading himself as the Chairman, was blatantly committing impersonation and might face the wrath of the law.

States should not depend on FG allocation grant -El-rufai

From David Hassan, Gombe

Kaduna state governor

Mallam Nasiru

Ahmed El-rufai has called on state governors

not to depend on federal government allocation grant, but create avenues for revenue generation.

El-rufai stated this at the weekend in Gombe while

commissioning Gombe Geographic information systems centre ( GOGIS).

He said creating of revenue generation is the only way to boost the socio-economy of the

country. According to him, the National mortgage system is one of the cardinal point that the government will engage upon by building housing units for the benefits of the people.

Sudan crisis: 1,471 Nigerians have been evacuated so far, says FG

By Lateef Ibrahim, Abuja be in

The Nigerians in Diaspora Commission, (NiDCOM), has revealed that the federal government has evacuated no fewer than 1,471 Nigerians from the war-prone Sudan since the beginning of the

evacuation in the last five days. This was confirmed in an update provided by the Head of the Media and Protocols Unit of NiDCOM, Abdur-Rahman Balogun yesterday in Abuja.

According to Balogun, the first and second Batches landed in a Military Jet C13 which

carried 99 people and AirPeace Fight with 277 respectively which made it a total of 376 returnees.

He further disclosed that the third, fourth and sixth batches of 130, 131 and 102 returnees were airlifted by Tarco aircraft while the fifth and seventh

batches with 410 and 322 were airlifted by MaxAir and Azman aircraft respectively..

His words, “So far, a total number of 1471 citizens has been received as we await the arrival of Air Peace later and the good news is, no Nigerian life has been lost so far”.

NERC charged on prosecution of corrupt officials, practices in power sector

From Umar Dankano,Yola

The Nigeria Electricity Regulatory Commission,NERC, has been charged to track prosecution of all corruption related cases in the electricity sector to ensure recovery of stolen public funds in the country.

Critical stakeholders gave the charge as part of the resolutions reached at a one day training workshop organized for Civil society Organizations,CSOs, and Media practitioners in Yola,Adamawa state by the Association of Nigeria Electricity Distributors,ANED, with a view to ensure more transparent and effective electricity service

distribution.

Participants at the training resolved that, the NERC must ensure that the Distribution companies (DISCO) must urgently undertake initiatives to re-number and re-classify all electricity consumers in Nigeria for the purpose of issuing new meters.

Earlier in his welcome

address, the Executive Director, Research and Advocacy,ANED, Barrister Sunday Oduntan said that the training was organized in conjunction with MacArthur Foundation Project to solely discuss corrupt practices and advance solutions on how to eradicate them from both sides of the operators and the customers.

L-R: AIG zone 7, Kayode Egbetokun; Retired AIG, Kayode Ogunshakin and Head of Police Intelligence Response Team (IGP-IRT), CP Tunji Disu in an interactive section, during the Newly promoted and Retired ranking Nigeria police officers get together party organized by rtd. AIG Ogunshakin, yesterday in Abuja. Photo: Mahmud Isa

By Albert Akota

The Director General of National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), Brigadier General Yusha’u Dogara Ahmed has warned Corps Members against defacing their NYSC uniforms and improper dressings.

He said anyone caught violating the Scheme’s dress code or breaking the NYSC rules would be sanctioned.

The DG gave the warning while addressing Corps

Evacuation of Nigerians in Sudan: ACF hails Allen Onyema

of Air-Peace

From: Femi Oyelola, Kaduna

The Arewa Consultative

From has hailed the patriotism demonstrated by Mr Allen Onyema of AirPeace in bringing back Nigerian youths and others caught up in the sad events in Sudan.

The Chairman of the Forum Chief Audu Ogbeh made the commendation in a statement made available to the media in Kaduna yesterday.

The statement added Mr Allen Onyema’s patriotism dated back to when some Nigerians were expelled from South Africa, when he sent several flights to South Africa to bring them back at his own cost.

“He equally sent our national football team out a number of times to enable them participate in tournaments and this time from Sudan, he deployed a whole Boeing 777 Aircraft including the fueling, overflight duties, landing fees, international flight charges and other costs in order to rescue Nigerians caught up in Sudan.

“We want to thank him for this remarkable and consistent show of patriotism, we are deeply touched, and we pray that the Almighty God will reward him adequately.

“These patriots continue to show that in spite of our challenges and difficulties as a nation, we have men and women who still love their Country and will go to any length to render service in times of need”.

NYSC boss reads riot act to corps members over improper dressing

Members and camp officials at NYSC Imo and Enugu State Orientation Camps.

Ahmed advised the Corps Members to be disciplined in their conduct, embrace dignity of labour, adhere strictly to instructions and avoid all forms of negative youthful

exhuberances.

“Avoid unnecessary travelling. Prepare towards becoming self-dependent and use the opportunities of the service year to improve on yourselves”, the DG said.

NYSC lmo State Coordinator, Mrs Rachel Idaewor informed

the DG that the 820 male and 851 female Corps Members have acclimatized and integrated to camp activities.

Similarly, her Enugu State counterpart, Barrister Gladys Adama stated that the Orientation Course content including lectures, SAED,

socials drills, games and sports and other camp activities have been going on seamlessly.

“A total number of 1,852 Corps Members, comprising 847 males and 1,005 females have actively been participating in the Orientation programme”, Adama said.

Group endorses Akpabio, Jibril Barau as Senate President, deputy

From Femi Oyelola, Kaduna

The Youth Progressive Initiative in the North has joined other groups from the geopolitical zone to drum support

for the aspiration of Senator Godswill Akpabio to become the next Senate president and Jibril Barau as the deputy senate President of Nigeria. The President of the group,

Hon Usman Shehu Aliyu, asserted this during a press conference held in Kaduna on Saturday, May 6, 2023.

The group therefore urged the President-elect Asiwaju Bola

Ahmed Tinubu, and all senatorselect for the 10th Senate to support the candidature of Senator Godswill Akpabio, as next Senate President and Senator Jibril Barau as the deputy President.

Don harps on use of Organic fertilizer

From: Femi Oyelola, Kaduna

Professor Sani Yusuf of the National Agricultural Extension Research and Liaison Services (NAERLS/ABU)

Zaria has advised farmers to adopt

the use of Organic fertilizer in their farms for agricultural development.

He gave the advice at the farmers field day on tomatoes organized by the BPZ-BP Ltd inconjuction with the Kaduna State Agricultural Agency (KADA) at

Rafin Tabo, Kurmin Kogi in Ikara Local government yesterday.

He said, the field day is to showcase the performance of the Organic product named”Arise Tech Soil Conditioner” which is purely natural without any chemical use

in the farm such as fertilizer or herbicide.

According to him, with this development, farmers will gain more if they returned to the Organic product in their farming processes.

L- R: Mai Kaltungo, Engr Saleh Mohammed, Gombe State Governor, Muhammadu Inuwa Yahaya, Kaduna State Governor, Malam Nasir Ahmed El- Rufai, Director-General, Gombe State Geographic information system, Dr. Kabir Usman, Commissioner of Lands and Survey, Usman Jafun Biri and other officials during the unveiling of Shongo Gardens Layout and ground breaking ceremony for the construction of 550 housing units in Gombe, yesterday

National tourism transportation summit to host 6th edition in Abuja

By Mashe Umaru Gwamna

All is now set for the hosting of the sixth edition of the National Tourism Transport Summit and Expo, in Abuja.

This is contained in a press release signed by Chief Abiodun Odusanwo, National President ITPN/Chairman Inter-Ministerial Committee, NTTSummit 2023.

He said the summit is a tourism and transportation industry combined event of the Institute for Tourism Professionals of Nigeria (ITPN), in collaboration with Ministries of Transportation, Aviation, Information and Culture, aimed at deepening awareness in critical areas of the industry.

The event, which comes up on Monday 8th to Tuesday 9th of May, 2023 at the Abuja International Conference Centre – Abuja, with the theme: AfCFTA: Exploring in exploring intra African trade, tourism, and transportation opportunities Barriers to collaboration will focus on the challenges and solutions to the realization of the dream for an all-inclusive trading partnerships for the countries of the African Continent as an entity of a singular market in the implementation of the Africa Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) regiment.

The statement noted that the summit the choice of the theme is to reaffirm the need for collaborative synergy among implementers of the AfCFTA protocols as the cardinal step to overcoming the obstacles and barriers for a successful implementation of the AfCFTA Agreement.

He said that the Summit will come up with a template for international cooperation and partnership within the African continent that will improve and strengthen the basic conditions necessary for the successful implementation of AfCFTA.

The Tourism Transportation Summit and Expo programme will feature Host City Walk, Tourism Transport Summit, ExhibitionB2B and G2B sessions, Tourism Transport Membership and Fellowship inductions, Launch of the Compendium of all Communiques of the Summit 2018 – 2022 and The Gala Night which will also feature Awards to deserving stakeholders in the industry.

Participants at the two-day event will be drawn from major key players and stakeholders in the transportation and tourism sectors air transportation; i.e. airlines, tour and travel operators, administrators of the aviation industry; the maritime industry which includes sea transport, boats and sea cruising operators.

Others are Road Transportation including major transport owners, car hire services, Uber, Road Traffic

NYSC Director General, Brigadier General Yusha’u Dogara Ahmed (2nd right) addressing Corps Members on kitchen duty during his visit to Enugu State Orientation Camp in Awgu today, while on the right is the Enugu State Coordinator, Barrister Gladys Adama. Photo; NYSC

Presidential election tribunal: Judicial reporters shut out as PEPT begins today

By Vivian Okejeme, Abuja

Judiciary reporters in Abuja, under the aegis of the National Association of Judiciary Correspondents (NAJUC), have condemned in the strongest term, the directive by the Court of Appeal, Abuja Division, restraining some media organizations from covering proceedings of the 2023 Presidential Election Petition Court, which begins on Monday, May 8.

A statement by the Secretary General of NAJUC, Mr Paschal Njoku, and made available to newsmen on Saturday, expressed shock, over the unlawful directive.

Njoku hinted that before the 2023 general elections, judiciary reporters had the herculean task of covering pre-election matters from the Federal High Court up to the Supreme Court without any form of restriction on media houses.

The group posited that as members of the fourth estate of the

realm, the role of the media in the coverage of election matters cannot be underestimated.

“As customary, Nigerians and the international community are looking unto the media for the coverage of the 2023 Presidential Election Petition Court, Njoku said.

However, NAJUC wonders why the Court of Appeal has decided to shut its door against some accredited judiciary reporters who are dutybound to cover proceedings of PEPC for their various media houses.

According to the statement, “Judiciary Reporters were jolted on Friday, May 5, by a directive from the Court of Appeal that only a few of them would be permitted to cover the Presidential Election Petition Court.

“The Court of Appeal directed the few media houses to pick Accreditation Cards from one Bukola Garr, who claimed to be Personal Assistant to the President, Court of Appeal”.

“It is instructive to note that Bukola Garr did not contact the leadership of the National Association of Judiciary Correspondents (NAJUC) in Abuja, before restricting some reporters from coverage of PEPC.

“Worse still, the well-known friendly and recognised Information Officer of the Court of Appeal, Hajiya Saadatu Musa, was not in the know of Bukola Garr’s ban on some judiciary reporters.

Following Bukola Garr’s unilateral decision, the leadership of NAJUC, led by its Chairman, Kayode Lawal tried to meet with the Chief Registrar of the Court of Appeal on Friday evening to lodge our complaints but he was said to be out of Abuja and has not been picking up calls.

“My Lawal spoke with the Secretary of the PEPC, Mrs Josephine, the same Friday, and she promised to look into the matter immediately but unfortunately, the

man printing the cards was said to be away to Jos and will be back on Saturday” NAJUC states.

In view of the foregoing, judiciary reporters in Abuja want Nigerians to ask Bukola Garr and her instructors in “this morally debasing act” the following questions.

“Firstly, How and what criteria did she use in selecting 26 reporters out of 44 accredited judiciary reporters in Abuja?

“Secondly, who gave her the list which she forwarded to the Secretariat of the PEPC? “Thirdly, Is Bukola Garr a greenhorn who does not know that the court is a public place where the media men perform their legitimate duty unhindered?

“Why would the Court of Appeal and the Secretariat of PEPC knowing that the Presidential Election Petition is a matter of national importance, decide to shut out media houses from covering the proceedings?

Speakership: Group of new members-elect backs Betara

Agroup of newly elected members of the House of Representatives under the auspices of New Vision, has pledged their support for Hon. Muktar Betara for speakership of the 10th House of Representatives.

Betera is the lawmaker representing Biu/Bayo/Shani Federal Constituency of Borno State,

The group disclosed this in a statement by Peter Akpanke member elect from Obudu/ Obaniku/Bekwara federal constituency Cross River, and made available to newsmen on Saturday.

The group had finalised their decision at a meeting of the new members-elect from the SouthSouth in Abuja.

The group is drawn from the All Progressives Congress (APC), New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP), Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Labour Party (LP), and other

political parties.

Akpanke, elected on the platform of PDP said that the lawmakers unanimously pledged their support for Betara’s aspiration, describing him as the most qualified among the contenders for the Speakership position.

He said members of the group had been moving across the country to garner support for Betara, who is also the present Chairman, House of Representatives Committee on Appropriation.

He said that the lawmakers had met most the contenders for the Speakership position, and come to the conclusion that only Betara showed sincere commitment to work with the executive arm in solving the mirage of challenges bedevilling the country.

“We have had an interface with all the people running for speakership in the 10th assembly. We met with all of them one-on-one

but we chose Betara because when we met him, he spoke the minds of the members and how the 10th assembly is going to be independent.

“Betara also spoke on how projects are going to get to federal constituencies, how budgets are going to be executed and how he will collaborate with the executive to make sure that projects are funded.

“How issues of insecurity and employment are going to be tackled, all for the benefit of Nigerians. So the new vision group decided to stand behind him,” Akpanke said.

He said that members of the group had been going round the geopolitical zones to interface and lobbying members-elect to support the cause.

“In the meeting with our colleagues from South-South, all of us resolved that no matter the pressure, we should support Betara based on his antecedents.

“He has been chairman, Army

committee, and we saw how the committee rose from Grade C to get Grade A. He is currently the House Committee Chairman on Appropriation and since then, there has been nothing like budget padding.”

Akpanke said that the zoning arrangements of the ruling APC wouldn’t be binding on the lawmakers, saying the opposition parties had more members-elect.

He added that the group would reject any form of imposition, adding that the National Assembly is an independent arm of government and members must be allowed to chose their leaders.

“Those of us in NASS want to support a speaker who is our own, a speaker who will defend democracy.

“Someone who will protect the interests of members and help us deliver the dividends.”

Akpanke said that the present speaker had ran for three times and

House of Reps

Speakership: Group endorses Kalu

ASouth-West group, the Yoruba Youth Council (YYC) has endorsed the Spokesperson of the House of Representatives, Rep. Benjamin Kalu (APC-Abia) for the position of the 10th Speaker.

The group’s National President, Mr Ayodele Gbologe who made the endorsement during a news conference in Abuja on Friday said that the position should be zoned to the South-East.

He said that Kalu, who represents Bende Federal Constituency of Abia was the most qualified candidate for that lofty position.

Gbologe also said that Kalu’s antecedents and vast experience in legislative activities was unparalleled.

He said: “Kalu’s relationship with the youth, accessibility and approachable personality are other traits that have endeared him to our group and as such, we endorse him for Speaker House of Representatives.”

Speaking further, Gbologe appealed to the leadership of the All Progressives Congress (APC) to “reward performance and jettison religion.”

He said: “The APC and all the political gladiators in Nigeria should jettison religion because religion is not in the Constitution and not part of the party’s manifesto but rather zoning.”

The national chairman equally called on the leadership of the party to zone the Senate Presidency to the North geopolitical region while that of the Speaker be zoned to the South geopolitical region for equity and justice.

“Particularly, the position of the Senate President should be micro-zoned to the North-West.

“This is based on the fact that the Vice-President-elect is from the North-East and National Chairman of the party is from North-Central.

“Therefore, it is only the NorthWest that is currently vacant and left out of the sharing formula in the north,” he said.

Gbologe further said that the position of the Speaker should be micro-zoned to the South-East adding that the Yoruba Youth Council “is projecting Kalu” for that position.(NAN)

Niger NUJ trains members on solution journalism

From Yakubu Mustapha Minna

Niger State council of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) has trained its members on Solutions Journalism towards exposing them to new practices in the profession. The Deputy Editor-in-

Chief, News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) Abdulaziz Ismail who conducted the training in Minna, and described solutions journalism as a rigorous research and fact based reporting about solutions taken by both state and nonstate actors to social problems affecting the lives of the people.

Ismail, the head of Solutions Journalism in NAN, added that Solutions Journalism entails looking at the impact and relevance of the solution as well as explaining the limitations and challenges encountered while providing the solutions.

He said in solutions journalism , the journalist

must have a good working knowledge of the profession. He maintained that, in solutions journalism, the reporters need to focus on solutions being provided by individuals, NGOs, CSOs as well as governments at all levels just as he can report on how a problem is solved somewhere.

Property developer, Osakwe builds shed for caddies at IBB Golf Club

By Vivian Okejeme Abuja

Aproperty developer Mr Cecil Ezem Osakwe have taken ‘the giant step’ in honouring the caddies at the IBB International Golf and Country Club, Abuja with the construction of a befitting and modern caddy shed.

The project captioned “Captain Cup 22”, was handed over to the new captain of the club, Dr Banjo Obaleye, in the presence of Board of Trustees (BOT) members, members of the club and caddies.

Speaking at the handover, Cecil Ezem Osakwe, said he was motivated to execute the project for the fact that it was for the benefit of the caddies who are lower level people in golf community.

“The caddies are usually the lower level of golfers but they are ones who make it happen,

help us carry our golf bags and cards. So, when I was given this project, the fact that it is going for people at this level was my strong motivation,” Osakwe revealed.

The Harvard trained legal luminary and consummate real estate developer, believed the maintenance of the edifice would not be a problem for the users due to the quality of the work.

“First, I’m a builder, but a lawyer by profession and I’m into real estate development. I like anything that has to do with me to have it stand out. I won’t go into how much it cost, but the good thing is that because of the quality of the work, it will not be easy to damage it no matter how irresponsible you are,” he stated. Reacting, Chairman, BOT of the club, General I.B.M. Haruna (rtd), showered encomium on the Osakwes for showing love

and focusing on the lower level people in the society who he said are in the majority but often forgotten.

“Glory be to God, the king and the maker who has created us, who takes care of us, sees us to places and those who see our need. He uses them to provide those needs. We are grateful to them and we thank God that we are making progress.

“It is difficult to think about the wellbeing of the lower people in the society who are often the majority.

“The caddies are the ones who carry our bags and clubs, and are aware of the challenges and obstacles of the golf course being played, along with the best strategy in playing it. So, I thank the past captain and Osakwe for thinking toward the comfort of the lower level in our means and building this for them,” General Haruna said.

The club captain, Dr Banjo Obaleye and past captain, Senator Emmanuel Anosike, thanked Mr and Mrs Osakwe for the honour done to the club.

“When you see a man of quality you see his hand work. When he made up his mind to do this, he went to Julius Berger to construct this. You can see the roof and floor well laid. Thank you Mr and Mrs Osakwe, Obaleye stated

Senator Anosike, during whose tenure as captain of the club the project was initiated, said the caddies are one of the biggest representatives of the different job clusters that golf creates and their role is strategic.

“Our goal was to communicate to them that we care about them by virtue of being around the game and we thank Osakwe for perfectly demonstrating our love and care to the caddies,” Anosike said.

Author of Nadama Book, Hajiya Fatima Sanda Usara (left) and Spacial Guest of Honour, former Chief of Army Staff, Lt Gen Tukur Buratai (5th from right) ND other dignitaries, during the launch of a book titled, “NADAMA” , by Fatima S. Usara in Abuja, weekend Photos: BASHIR BELLO

Editor, Grace Yussuf, presents book on journalism, women, faith

The global public will be presented with a book, “The Journalist, The Woman and Her Faith”, authored by Mrs Grace Yussuf, a Deputy Editor-In-Chief with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN).

A statement issued by the organising committee on Sunday said the event would take place on May 9, at the National Press Centre, Radio House, in Abuja.

The statement described the book as a memoir of a female Nigerian journalist and would precede her retirement from service on May 16.

According to the statement, the presentation will be chaired by Prof. Joy Ngozi Ezeilo (SAN), the Founder, Women Aid Collective (WACOL).

Mr Femi Adesina, a veteran journalist and Special Adviser to President Muhammadu Buhari on Media and Publicity, will be the Book Presenter, it said.

The book will be reviewed by Mr Joe Bankole, who is a media consultant, author and former Managing Editor with NAN.

The revered Orodje of Okpe Kingdom and Chairman of Delta State Council of Traditional Rulers, His Royal Majesty, Orhue 1, will be the Royal Father of the occasion.

Other special guests expected at the event are Mr Buki Ponle, the Managing Director of NAN and Amb. Shri Gangandharan Balasubramanta, the Indian High Commissioner to Nigeria.

Similarly, Dr Ibrahim Goni, the Conservation General of the National Park Service, and several veteran journalists who have made impact in the journalism profession, will grace the event.

The event is expected to be a major gathering for stakeholders in the media industry as well as friends, associates and well wishers of the author.Similarly, Dr Ibrahim Goni, the Conservation General of the National Park Service, and several veteran journalists who have made impact in the journalism profession, will grace the event.

(NAN)

Military’s GIWA 2 Project a boost to economy — Group

By Tobias Lengnan Dapam

Agroup known as the Economic Monitoring Alliance has said that the recently inaugurated secured communication network for the Armed Forces project nick named GIWA 2 Project as a boost to the economy.

Meanwhile, the GIWA 2 Project is designed to provide secured means of communications, real time instant reporting as well as information exchange between

the Armed Forces of Nigeria and other security agencies and bring about enhanced collaboration between defence intelligence and entire security community.

A statement issued on Saturday by the group’s president, Bola Adegoke, joined President Muhammadu Buhari and the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation ( NNPCL) Limited Communication team to commend the Armed forces of Nigeria under the leadership of

Gen. LEO Irabor for innovation.

It said an improved and secured communication system will enhance ongoing operations of the Nigerian military and other security agencies, thereby making it safer for economic activities to thrive.

The statement attributed the strength of the military in advanced countries to secured communication network.

“We commend the GIWA 2 Project as it is one of the several initiatives of the Gen. LEO Irabor led AFN aimed

at deepening collaboration in tackling the security challenges in the country.

“Our study show that the effectiveness seen in the military and security agencies of the advanced countries have secured communication network as one of the factors responsible.

“We salute the CDS and his team for this noble objective which will enhance security for our farmers and give a boost to other economic activities,” the Alliance added.

PDP to judiciary: Be impartial arbiter in pending petition before PEPT

By Lateef Ibrahim, Abuja

The Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, has restated its call on the Judiciary to resist and insulate itself from the reported antics of the All Progressives Congress, APC, in the discharge of its constitutional duties as independent and impartial arbiter in the pending Petition before the Presidential Election Petition Tribunal.

The party made the call at a press conference addressed by its National Publicity Secretary, Hon Debo Ologunagba in Abuja on Sunday.

The leading opposition party hinged it’s call on what it called the ‘shocking revelations, reports and allegations’ of plots by the All Progressives Congress (APC) to influence the outcome

of the Presidential election Petition currently pending before the Presidential Election Petition Tribunal.

The PDP called on the APC and its leaders to immediately come clean and publicly address Nigerians and the world on these disturbing allegations and revelations which are already in the public domain.

The party equally raised the alarm over intimidation, harassment, threats and vicious attacks by APC leaders against Nigerian youths and eminent Nigerian personalities for speaking out against its planned moves to install a government that does not enjoy the mandate of majority of Nigerians as expressed at the Polling Units.

According to Ologunagba, “The alleged planned onslaught

by APC leaders on eminent Nigerians and our democratic institutions, including the Judiciary, stems from APC’s apprehensions given the weight of evidence against it as well as the continuing refusal by majority of Nigerians to accept the outcome of the flawed Presidential election.

“There are apprehensions in the public space, having regards to the reputation of certain individuals within the highest level of the APC, who have demonstrated capacity and proclivity to compromise democratic institutions in our country”, it said.

Continuing, the PDP said, “The APC and INEC are therefore advised to halt further steps to hinder the ability of the Presidential Election Petition

Tribunal to dispense justice in the matter in accordance with the law

“The PDP therefore restates its call on the Judiciary to resist and insulate itself from the alleged and reported antics of the APC in the discharge of its Constitutional duties as independent and impartial arbiter in the pending Petition before the Presidential Election Petition Tribunal.

“It is imperative to state that the reckless violation by INEC of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (as amended), the Electoral Act, 2022, INEC Guidelines and Manual in the 2023 Presidential election portend grave consequences to our democracy and political stability as a country.

South-East Young Professionals want Rep. member-elect for speakership

South-East Young Professionals, a pressure group, has canvassed support for House of Representatives member-elect, Ibe Osonwa (LP-Abia), to run for the office of the Speaker of the House.

The Group’s Coordinator, Mr Uzor Ngoladi, made the position known when he led members of the association on a courtesy visit to the memberelect in Abuja on Friday.

According to him, the group is endorsing Osonwa, who is to represent Arochukwu/ Ohafia Federal Constituency of Abia in the 10th House of Representatives because he is vocal and vibrant.

Ngoladi said: “We are here to encourage you to join the

speakership race; we are here to congratulate Osonwa who has been elected member House of Representatives.

“We are here to engage and encourage him. As he begins his legislative duties there are issues that are bothering young people.

“Osonwa is a vibrant young politician. He will make sure that the issues of southerners are not left behind in this new administration, especially in the National Assembly.”

He, however, urged the lawmaker-elect to formulate laws that would favour all Nigerians.

On ranking and zoning, Ngoladi said that it would be jettisoned, adding that “we saw in the last election; in all

the political parties that zoning formula was jettisoned.

“So it can also be jettisoned in the National Assembly. It’s not constitutional.

“There is no where it is written that if you have not been in the National Assembly and you are a first timer that you cannot vie for speakership.”

In his remarks, Osonwa who appreciated the group for the visit said that it was an honour that the group to believe that he was qualified to vie for speakership.

He said: “We are taking everything into consideration while speaking to the leadership of the House and the South-East caucus.

“This is moving sand. No positions have been taken. We

do not get to elect the speaker until June 13.

“While the Constitution does not recognise ranking member but the House Standing Rules does, we will consult to know what our issues are.

“We are going to embark on a mission of national integration. Diversity should not be our weak point but our strength and we must harness it,” he said.

Osonwa, who said that the security of lives and property was paramount, promised to come up with bills and motions that would be security-centred.

He also said that there was endless possibilities in Nigeria if the country developed technologically. (NAN)

COMMENTARY

The story behind the Loko/Oweto bridge across River Benue

By Usman Adams

The almost 2.5km length Loko/ Oweto bridge which works and Housing Minister Babatunde Raji Fashola affirms has been completed would soon officially be inaugurated by the Federal Government.

The bridge has been adjudged by experts as a masterpiece of engineering design and expertedly and professionally executed by An Israeli Firm, Reynolds Construction co.Ltd which handled the project.

The beauty of the bridge is further enhanced by the provision of electricity that sets it and its surrounding aglow that can be noticed from up to 4kilometers on the approach of the bridge by commuters and communities around it.

The inauguration would be the end of a happy journey of the project spanning over 30 years from the date of its conception.

And as it is usual and perhaps expected of a project of that magnitude, it suffered some hiccups and delays as a result of a myriads of factors which included the attitudes of the officials handling the project, vested interest, politicking and others too numerous to mention here.

Perhaps, many Indigenes of Benue state may not have been aware that the Steel Rolling Mill which was originally planned to be located in Makurdi, Benue State In 1980 Mysteriously found its way to Katsina, Katsina State for unexplained reasons. Can only be conjectured that Dr. Paul Nnongo an Indigene of Benue State and then Minister of Mines and Steel Development who might have influenced the location of the project in his own state was no more there when the Steel Rolling Mill was relocated.

The Parliament which is the Engine room of Democracy utilizing Its oversight functions and supervisory roles could easily checkmate the unwholesome attitude of some officials of the executive entrusted with the execution of some project who might be tempted to derail them.

In the course of the execution of the Loko/Oweto bridge some futile attempts were made by some unseen hands to derail these Nobel Project when the issue of Bagana Bridge across River Benue was introduced into the mix. And this is why electorates should strive to vote reputable and Quality Candidates to represent them in the Parliament. It should therefore be mentioned for special commendation the role played by Hon. Solomon Umoru Agidani a 3 term member of the house of Representatives who stood firm to make sure the project was never hijacked at any point by vested interest.

Accordingly, he methodically followed the yearly budgeted allocation of funds for the project. for example, when the sum of one billion naira only was appropriated for this project in the 2005

budget in anticipation of commencement of construction activity, He was pleased.

A major breakthrough came at a time when David Mark was the President of the Senate and Dr. Goodluck Ebele Jonathan assumed Office as the President shortly after the death of President Umoru Musa Yaradua in May 2009. The synergy between Parliaments and Executive Personified by David Mark the President of the senate and Goodluck Ebele Jonathan resulted in the acceleration of the project which Nigerian’s can now see today.

One of the Highlights of Rt Hon Solomon Agidani’s efforts was the invitation of Engr Etteh arro to do the bridge design presentation in Senator David Mark’s office as the President of the Senate on 27th July 2010

He also lobbied for the financial provisions of the 6 billion naira in the 2011 budget which was collaborated by the Senate through senator David Mark.

The above perspectives are necessary to underpin the fact that the legislature and the executive working in harmony and concord can result in rapid development across the nation.

In addition, public officers including members of the parliament and the executive should be given due recognition when they perform their roles creditably, thus the saying “Give to Caesar what belongs to Caesar”

The name of Honourable Agidani is frequently mentioned in this presentation because of his intense interest and several efforts he has put in the realization of this project.

In this Connection Agidani had some other co-travellers who showed similar commitments in ensuring that the bridge project saw the light of the day without much Ado.

In this category were; Alhaji sabo ago,the first Director of planning Fct, who proposed this route as part of the Nigerian highway in 1971.

Chief Audu ogbe who did his bit

while he held sway as the PDP National chairman Architect Sonny echono as director of Bureau of Public procurement

Chief Barnabas Gemade as Secretary for works under abacha regime, who had made Efforts to raise a loan of 12 billion naira in 1993 From AFDB.

Honourable Agidani even went to extra miles to Solicit assistance from an Old boy Engr. Edward Ujege who left the school 4years Before him While he held sway as Director of Federal Highways at the Material time.

All the above Narratives go to demonstrate the fact that a gigantic project like Loko owetu bridge is not like a parachute which is prepared with all its contents and Simply dropped at a specific location.

Now at this point it should be stated that the primary reason for the bridge Construction between Loko and Oweto across River Benue is the desire to link the south Eastern State of High Population density with areas of High Food Production of the North Central states and other States of the North.

It is also the shortest link between Kano, Kaduna, Abuja and Export Processing Zone (EPZ) in Calabar as well as Obudu Cattle Ranch saving four hrs of the F238 route traversing through Oturkpo, Makurdi, Lafia, Akwanga and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).

It should further be stated that the bridge which is already in use albeit official inauguration now has multiplier effects. Some trading activities are now springing up daily along that corridor. Many interested parties from all corner and crannies of the country are now pouring into the area to acquire lands for multiple purposes. Those in hospitality business are thinking of putting up hotels and eateries for commuters plying the road from far distances from South-East and South-South who may want to have a stop over and relax before Continuing their onward journey.

Additionally, filling stations are likely to spring up soon due to the axis of the

bridge.

Finally, President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan must be commended for awarding the contract of the bridge and President Muhammadu Buhari would no doubt take the greatest honour and glory for not abandoning a project started by his predecessor and now continued its funding which now saw the completion of the project.

Many people may not be aware that the Loko/Oweto-bridge is about 200 Metres longer than the Contentious and Controversial second Niger Bridge which is also awaiting official inauguration before the end of Buhari’s administration.

The National Assembly should also be given a thumbs up for approving the budgetary allocation provided by the executive from the year 2011 till the completion of this Nobel project in April 2023.

This is a lesson the members of the national assembly should individually and collectively learn that co-operation with the executive does not Necessarily earn them the description of a rubber stamped Assembly.

Justice would not have been done to this Analysis without the mention of the iconic role played by the Honourable Minister of Works and Housing and Senior Advocate of Nigeria(SAN) Babatunde Raji Fashola who was always on the road to ensure that the project was not only carried out according to specifications but was promptly Executed without undue delay Either from the path of the Contractors or the Government.

He is a square peg in a square hole according to many Nigerians who had observed his performance in office. It will therefore not be out of order for President Muhammadu buhari to Reward this able Minister with a special award to demonstrate to other public office Holders that Hard work, dedication and commitments does not only pay but also has its rewards.

Adams is Public Affairs Analyst

“Not Our King”, Not Out Of Place

By Isaac Asabor

Given the reasons adduced for being averse to the monarchical system of government in the UK, and which culminated in “Not Our King”, it will be okay to say the protest is not out of place.

There is no denying the fact that when history is x-rayed that there was a time when almost the whole world was ruled by a monarch or a king or queen and that there are many countries that still feature some form of monarchy. As of now, there are countries that have a monarch ruling over them.

In fact, the power of monarchs varies as it is defined by the country’s traditions and language even as most monarchies are constitutional, having largely ceremonial roles. Some, however, have absolute power, while a small number are elective and one is a co-regency where two or more people share a monarchical position.

Against the foregoing backdrop, it is expedient to say that as King Charles III’s coronation took place today that the role of the monarchy in modern Britain has been under renewed scrutiny. Without a doubt, if the world ever needed a symbol for Britain’s divided political landscape, it came today during the coronation of King Charles. Despite the pouring rain and occasional booms of thunder, crowds of protestors and well-wishers seized the opportunity that was inherent in the occasion to make their feelings known about the royals, and their repugnance to the monarchical system of government that the UK is known for.

While plenty of brands, celebrities, and royal superfans have all shown their enthusiasm and support for the royals in the lead-up to the coronation, the event has also had to contend with overwhelming levels of apathy, with a YouGov poll reporting a whopping 64 percent of respondents marking themselves as unbothered by the ceremony. The coronation also faced criticism for its “slap in the face” price tag to the taxpayer during a cost of living crisis, as well as a proposed ‘pledge of allegiance’ which was labeled by critics as “tone deaf”.

At this juncture, it is expedient to ask, “What is bad about the monarchical system of government which the protestors under the aegis of a prominent anti-monarchy group in the U.K. called Republic that leveraged on the chant “Not My King,” and disrupted the coronation of the newly installed King in the UK? The Republic under the

leadership of Graham Smith, the chief executive of the group, argued that a monarchical system of government is a form of government where the individual or group of people in power are determined through bloodlines, noting that specific rules are in place that dictate who can be named the ruler of the state in a monarchy. He added that most countries are ruled by kings or queens, but some allow for a group of nobles to be the head of the government as well.

Given the foregoing, it is explanatory to say that one of the disadvantages of a monarchy is that the people being ruled rarely have a say in who gets to be their leader. The reason for the foregoing cannot be farfetched as everything is pre-determined, even as a society could become stuck with an abusive individual in power for multiple decades and leaving the people with little or no recourse to save themselves from the pangs of misgovernance.

To not a few enthusiasts of good governance, monarchy cannot in any way be said to be the best system of government as it is a form of government where a single person, designated as the monarch, serves as the head of state until they choose to abdicate or die. Without a doubt, the governing power of this individual may be symbolic only, restricted, or fully autocratic where judicial, legislative, and executive powers are all at their disposal.

In fact, most monarchies are hereditary, allowing different generations to take over from their parents to rule over a nation. There are self-proclaimed and elective versions of this form of government, but those options are rare. The authorities are proclaimed in the same way as all of the structure, recognizing different titles, insignia, and seats that are bound to a specific region or territory.

Without a doubt, the lead protester, Graham Smith, who widely publicized the demonstration plans, prior to the coronation of the king, particularly in the run-up to the coronation that he expected as many as 1,700 people to join Republic on Trafalgar Square, which is a historically popular site for protest in Britain. In addition to chants of “not my king,” Smith said the protest would also feature speeches from lawmakers, activists, and even representatives of other Republican movements. Their principle argument, Smith says, is that monarchy is inherently anti-democratic and that Britain should

have an elected head of state instead.

To not a few democrats who believed that the protest against the monarchical system of government adopted in the UK for decades, the protest is not out of place as they believed that with the eyes of the world fixed squarely on proceedings around Westminster Abbey, King Charles III’s coronation served as an opportunity for a protest and a “significant game changer” for the anti-monarchist movement.

Justifying his anti-monarchical disposition from a Christian perspective, Symon Hill who was arrested, handcuffed, and put in a police van after interrupting the announcement of King Charles III in the centre of Oxford last year, explained in his article titled, ‘Not My King!’ Why, as a Christian, I am willing to be arrested for opposing the monarchy’ why he, as a Christian, felt it necessary to intervene and make his voice heard.

He partly wrote in his article thus: “Those 17thcentury Puritans would have been surprised if they had been able to see Oxford on 11 September 2022 when local dignitaries and military leaders stood on a stage in the city centre and declared Charles III to be king.

“I was on my way home from church when the proclamation was read. I had not organized a protest. The proclamation began with expressions of grief for Elizabeth II. I would never interrupt an act of mourning. But when the High Sheriff of Oxfordshire declared Charles to be our “only and rightful liege lord”, to whom we should give “obedience with humble affection”, I couldn’t stomach it.

“I cannot accept Charles as my lord. There is such arrogance and absurdity inherent in being told that we must accept and obey a new king and head of state about whom we have not been consulted. So I called out, “Who elected him?”

“A couple of people near me exercised their freedom of speech by telling me to shut up. I said that a head of state was being imposed without our consent and that we should not bow down to him”.

Given the reasons adduced for being averse to the monarchical system of government in the UK, and which culminated in “Not Our King”, it will be okay to say the protest is not out of place.

Isaac

Asabor is a Public Affairs Analyst.

Sudan crisis: Call for a national and regional intervention

By Ibrahim Mustapha Pambegua

The developments in Sudan over the last few days are not good for the stability of the nation or its prospects for any transition to democratic rule. Dagalo rose to power within the RSF beginning in the early 2000s when he was at the head of the militia known as Janjaweed – a group responsible for human right atrocities in the Darfur region.

Khartoum, the Sudan capital, is at the verge of collapsing with intense fighting between the two warring general who are at each other throat and trying to control the resources of North-Arab Nation. The gunfight which erupted since April 15,has led to the death of many poor people . There is reported cases of humanitarian crises with hundreds of women and children become the worst victims. To confound the humanitarian crises, the Sudan neighbouring countries, Egypt, Ethiopia and Chad Republic have denied access for their borders for easy entry of the surging refugees who troop in their thousands to escape the ongoing crises. Many nationalists have been trapped in the war-torn country. Nigeria and others countries have started evacuating their people for safety.

The crises revolves around infighting between two

rival groups: the Sudanese army and a paramilitary group known as the RSF, or Rapid Support Forces. Since a coup in the country in 2021, which ended a transitional government put in place after the fall of longtime dictator Omar al-Bashir two years earlier, Sudan has been run by the army, with coup leader General Abdel-Fattah Burhan as de facto ruler. The RSF, led by General Mohammed Hamdan Dagalo –who is generally known by the name Hemedti – has worked alongside the Sudanese army to help keep the military in power.

Following Bashir’s ouster, the political transition was supposed to result in elections by the end of 2023, with Burhan promising a transition to civilian rule. But it appears that neither Burhan nor Dagalo has any intention of relinquishing power. Moreover, they are locked in a power struggle that turned violent on April 15, 2023.Since then, members of the RSF and the Sudanese army have engaged in gunfights in the capital, Khartoum, as well as elsewhere in the country. Over the course of three days, the violence has spiraled.

The recent background to the violence was a disagreement over how RSF paramilitaries should be incorporated into the Sudanese army. Tensions boiled over after the RSF started deploying members around the country and in Khartoum without the expressed

permission of the army. But in reality, the violence has been brewing for a while in Sudan, with concern over the RSF seeking to control more of the country’s economic assets, notably its gold mines.

The developments in Sudan over the last few days are not good for the stability of the nation or its prospects for any transition to democratic rule. Dagalo rose to power within the RSF beginning in the early 2000s when he was at the head of the militia known as Janjaweed – a group responsible for human right atrocities in the Darfur region.

The entire international and regional community need to act to prevent the conflict from worsening. This requires a collective approach and unified diplomatic bloc capable of pressuring the parties to stop fighting – including the US, UK, Norway (Troika), and the European Union (EU), key influential players in the Gulf, Saudi Arabia, and the UAE, Egypt, and other influential states such as China. Crucially, international efforts should connect with continental and regional mediation efforts by the African Union (AU) and the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD), to ensure that efforts are not duplicated or diluted.

Ibrahim Mustapha Pambegua, Kaduna state. 08169056963.

Language is not a friend – I have bound my project

By Bilyaminu Gambo Kong-kol

Another blunder is the introduction of letter “V” in Fulfulde. In a standard Fulfulde setting, there is nothing like the consonant sound /v/. Hausa too does not have it. That is why some Hausa say bery good instead of very good. Just like the way some Hausa misplace V for B in English, some Fulfulde speakers misplace W for V in their first language.

Language is considered the principal method of human communication, consisting of words used in a structured and conventional way and conveyed by speech, writing, or gesture. It is a tool that establishes commonness between the sender and the receiver.

For the commonness to be established, the encoder must be well-grounded in the language he chooses to use and arrange his words systematically. He must also consider meanings such as denotative, connotative, reflected, and social among others.

The receiver must also do his part as interference is likely to occur from him, the environment, channel, or encoder.

However, language sometimes becomes a betrayer by betraying even the native speakers due to its rigid nature. The fact is that, even if you are familiar with the rules, language may decide to disgrace you abruptly.

In this piece, Hausa, Fulfulde and English languages will be used in explaining my points.

In Hausa, it is a rule that most of the words that end with the letter “A” are feminine and those ending with E, I, O, and U are masculine. But there are exceptions, for instance, words like kotu (court), gwamnati (government), and kwallo (ball) end with masculine vowels but they are feminine. On one part, ruwa (water), zama (sitting), and kira (call) are masculine despite having feminine endings.

Hausa also demands that wherever possessives “Na” and Ne are used for masculine words, they should be substituted with “Ta” and “Ce” for feminines. For example, Jirgi na ne ( It is my plane), mota ta ce ( It is my car).

Many Hausa speakers, including some of the natives in northwest Nigeria, are struggling to adhere to the rules. To get primary data on this, choose any state in Nigeria and listen to their radio stations or

have physical interactions.

In Fulfulde, the law states that a word’s ending determines its demonstrative adjective. For instance, it is okay to say this horse, this room, this pen in English but the case is different in Fulfulde. Wamnde nde, sudu ndu, bindirgol ngol. To learn more, get a Fulani friend or wife.

This rule is giving headaches even to the LI in Yola as it requires alertness and quickness of thought. It is normal to hear a typical Fulani man saying ” Mi laari mo” instead of “Mi laari ngal” when he is referring to “I saw the hen”.

Another blunder is the introduction of letter “V” in Fulfulde. In a standard Fulfulde setting, there is nothing like the consonant sound /v/. Hausa too does not have it. That is why some Hausa say bery good instead of very good. Just like the way some Hausa misplace V for B in English, some Fulfulde speakers misplace W for V in their first language.

For example, ” O vindi instead of “O windi” (He wrote), “Mi vi” instead of mi wi (I said), “O va’i leggal” instead of “O wa’i leggal” ( He/she climbed a tree).

One interesting thing about Fufulde is that, unlike Hausa and English languages, Fulfulde does not have pronouns that differentiate gender. Fulfulde’s pronoun “O” refers to he/she in English and Shi/ita in Hausa. And Fulfulde’s pronoun “Ma” refers to Ka/Ki in Hausa. Maybe this was done to show our shyness and respect (Pulaaku).

Another virus that is threatening Fulfulde is codemixing and code-switching. Some Fulfulde speakers in Adamawa, Taraba, Gombe, and Yobe could not speak pure Fulfulde for an hour without borrowing from Hausa, English, Arabic, or their L2 words. This signifies a low level of grammar or lack of respect for Fulfulde language. It needs to be fought gallantly.

In English, rules of concord, tenses, syntax, and semantics are hectic for learners and L2 speakers.

Concords like: “He says, I say, they say, he has, I have, they have, he does, I do, they do, he does not have, I do not have, and they do not have” are found to be confusing most especially by learners. Also, the sentences below, even though correct, may not convince learners as plural nouns could be seen nakedly. Shamsu, together with his wife, is coming to

London or Maijama’a, along with Bilkisu, is coming to Cyprus. Think of ” Neither Ghali nor the students are present” Vs “Neither the students nor Ghali is present”.

In tenses, the unjustified usage of past in the present, present in the past, or the distortion of the entire tenses is common. Moreso, choice of words, and sentence construction are being influenced by speakers L1. You will see an English sentence given direct translation from Hausa, Fulani, Igbo, or Yoruba. Example: Haruna said it is for me and you.

In phonetics and phonology, words are pronounced mostly the way we hear others articulate them overtime. Sometimes, Lll speakers localize the British accent. Consonant sounds like /θ/, /ð/, /ʃ/ /ʃ/, / ʃʃ/, /dʃ/, and ŋ/ are mispronounced in some some words. Vowel sounds /ʃ/, /ʃ/, /ʃ:/, /æ/ and the eight diphthongs play with the tongues of learners. Or should we say learns play with them?

The topic is broad but advisably, make sure you learn all the dos and don’ts of every language you want to communicate with people. This will pave the way for you to communicate effectively and earn you respect. By so doing, you minimize 70% to 90% of your chances of making mistakes. Don’t expect 100%, even the natives are still looking for that!

Nevertheless, always remember that language is not a friend, it may decide to disappoint you unexpectedly. I received mine on my last day as an undergraduate student at Bayero University, Kano. I was stuck on fishing out whether the word “bind” is a regular or irregular verb. What is the past participle; binded, bounded, or bound? It had escaped my memory. I still don’t understand why English decided to misbehave on this special day of mine (04/05/2023).

Whatever the reason, I got a pitch that led to the writing of this article. Alhamdulillah! My appreciations to communication scholars, the Vice Chancellor, Federal University, Kashere, Professor Umaru A. Pate, and OPEC’s PR Coordinator, Dr. Umar Jibrilu Gwandu for drawing my attention immediately. I HAVE BOUND MY UNDERGRADUATE PROJECT!

Bilyaminu Gambo Kong-kol is a graduating student of Mass Communication Department, Bayero University, Kano

Fidel Castro’s political struggle unites Havana and Moscow

By Kestér Kenn Klomegâh

Putin stressed that the Soviet Union and Russia have always supported and support the Cuban people in their struggle for independence and sovereignty. “We have always opposed any restrictions, embargoes, blockades and so on. We have always backed Cuba on international platforms. We are seeing that Cuba occupies the same position with respect to our country, to Russia,” he added.

Under the auspices of an official state visit to attend the unveiling of a statue in memory of former leader Fidel Castro in northwestern Moscow, Cuban President Miguel Diaz-Canel Bermudez unreservedly expressed support for anti-American position taken by Russia, reminded the history of Cuba and the Soviet Union during the Cold War when both shared the same stand.

Diaz-Canel Bermudez highlighted the significance of the visit to Moscow. Cuba and Soviet Union had similar experience, both were blockaded. “It takes place at a time when both Russia and Cuba have been subjected to unfair unilateral sanctions and have a common enemy, a common source which is the Yankee empire, which manipulates a large part of humankind,” he said. “We constantly condemn the sanctions imposed on the Russian Federation and the sources of the ongoing conflict so that people are not misled and do not blame Russia for this, and we also condemn what Europe is doing, being completely subordinate to US interests.”

Referring to the unveiling of the monument, he described it as a true reflection of Fidel Castro’s personality in the midst of struggle, just like in the midst of struggle today.

He denounced the imperialist powers and further praised all efforts of the Russian Federation and, under such complicated circumstances, Russia’s role in orienting the world towards multi-polarity.

Russia can always rely on Cuba. Moscow and Havana will continue to strengthen cordial bilateral relations and defend the great values of freedom, equality and justice. The principle of continuity, not just a slogan or a motto, but to continue promoting relations with the Russian Federation. Cuban leader thanked Russia for its support for his country and spoke in favor of expanding economic cooperation between the two countries.

President Vladimir Putin noted in his speech that the bilateral relations between Cuba and Russia have been making steady headway in the past three years since the previous meeting in the Kremlin. He pointed to the appreciable developing cooperation between foreign ministries, parliaments and governments. State Duma Speaker Vyacheslav Volodin visited Cuba quite recently.

The Russia-Cuba Intergovernmental Commission is working. It held its 19th session. There are plans for cooperation between the governments with many joint projects up to 2030.

Putin stressed that the Soviet Union and Russia have always supported and support the Cuban people in their struggle for independence and sovereignty. “We have always opposed any restrictions, embargoes, blockades and so on. We have always backed Cuba on international platforms. We are seeing that Cuba occupies the same position with respect to our country, to Russia,” he added.

All this is a result of the traditional friendship that was

started by Comrade Fidel Castro. Today, Cuba and Russia agreed to have unveiled a monument to him. Indeed, this is a good memory of him, a true work of art. He is so dynamic, always in motion, moving forward. It definitely captures the look of a fighter that he had.

Putin really remembered his personal meetings very well, even the details with him. “He was an impressive man. I remember how during our first meeting in his office when we were freely discussing the current situation during lunch, I was stunned by his attention to detail and his knowledge of the nuances of ongoing events, even if they took place far away from Cuba,” he narrated the story.

“He was aware of and could analyse everything happening in the world. It was very interesting and useful for me to have these meetings with him. Relying on this firm foundation of friendship, we must certainly move forward and enhance our cooperation in the current conditions,” Putin said in conclusion.

Work on the bronze-made three-meter-monument lasted for six months and took place in the Russian capital. Castro is depicted seated on a rock with a stylized map of Cuba inscribed on it. The image reflects the heroic path of a person who stood up for the rights and freedoms of the Cuban people, according to the Kremlin’s press service fact sheet.

The Moscow city legislature approved the idea of such a monument on February 16. The initiative to erect a monument to Fidel Castro came from the leadership of the Russian Defense Ministry. The idea was supported by the Russian Military-Historical Society which held a closed artistic contest with 11 works participating.

Kestér Kenn Klomegâh is a Public Policy Analyst.

Imo North Senator-elect, Ndubueze joins race for Senate President

By Tobias Lengnan Dapam

As the race for the senate presidency gathers momentum, Senator-elect from the Imo North Senatorial District, Engr. Patrick C. Ndubueze, has joined the race for the position of Senate President.

The senator had informed the party officially through a letter to the APC National Working Committee (NWC) and all the 109 Senators-elect across the country for support to realise this vision.

The vibrant Imo born politician first first came to limelight in 1992 when he was elected member of the Federal House of Representatives representing Okigwe Federal Constituency.

Ndubueze in a letter to the party, a copy seen by newsmen on Sunday in Abuja, thanked the national leadership of APC for the immense support availed him to emerge as the Senatorial candidate of the All Progressives Congress of the Imo North

Senatorial District.

It said the Nigerian Senate has grown into an icon of national democratic trajectory and had, overtime, shown a capacity to rise and fulfil the huge expectations of Nigerians across the nation.

The letter which reads in parts said; “Now, in respect of current realities in this time which requires sensitive leadership in the Senate in the moulds of: A focused Leadership, A Leadership that is people’s centric and A calm and supportive Leadership.

“Having been persuaded of my track record as a ranking legislator, a politician of more than 35 years standing and a personal character that had stood the test of time for integrity and commitment to the people, I, Engr. Patrick Ndubueze, being a ranking member of the National Assembly, do desire to offer myself to contest the office of the Senate President of the 10th National Assembly strongly believing in my capacity to stand in the roles of the leadership

required at this time.

“Sir, I trust that you will bless my aspiration as declared with your active support through appropriate counseling, advices and networking, to ensure that this noble cause sees the light of the day!

“While, I await your kind acceptance of my declaration of intention, sir, please, accept, the assurances of my esteemed regards.”

The senator while canvassing for the support of his colleagues in a letter addressed to individual Senator-elect, said in the last 32 years, he has remained committed to the good cause of the Nigerian project .

He said he has been on a consultation frenzy with critical stakeholders across the length and breadth of the country to positive acclaim.

“Distinguished Senator, over the last 32 years, I have remained committed to the good cause of the Nigerian project. And had always been persuaded that our sovereign advancement inclusive

of the desired progressions of millions of Nigerians is better enabled through the instrumentality of appropriately engineered legislations which are superintended by a knowledgeable and motivated political head of the National Assembly who is equipped for thoroughness, moderation and a vision-driven compassion.

“It is for these reasons, and their fulfilment, Distinguished Senator, that I have decided to declare my intention to contest the office of the President of the Senate of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

“I do not treat this declaration lightly, Distinguished Senator. I, indeed, have been on a consultation frenzy with critical stakeholders across the length and breadth of our country to positive acclaim.

“This letter to your good self is in continuation of the consultation I had embarked upon, by which, I am of the hope that you will avail me a time to physically meet with you, even

as I now canvass for your support and advice as we head to the day of the election of the principal officers of the National Assembly.

“While thanking you, profusely, for the opportunity of this engagement, Distinguished Senator, please accept my highest regards for your good self.”

Real estate firm rebrands for efficient service delivery

MKH Group has announced the name change of one of its subsidiaries, MKH investment Ltd., to MKH Properties Ltd., effective May 1.

Dr Hammed Muibi, the Chief Executive Officer, MKH Properties Ltd., confirmed the name change in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos.

Muibi said the change of name would not alter the company’s financials, legalities and related documentations.

“Effective May 1, 2023, MKH Investment Limited will be renamed MKH Properties Limited.

“This change of our company’s name will allow us to present ourselves as Nigeria’s most innovative and trusted real estate and property solutions company.

“Our commitment will remain our highest priority for our customers and partners across West Africa,” he said.

Hon Gbande condenms contractor, Mins of works staff abduction

By Vivian Okejeme, Abuja

AMember representing Katsina-Ala, Ukum and Logo federal constituency, Hon. Comrade Dr. Richard Gbande, has condemned the abduction of two staff of the federal ministry of works and a contractor on Monday, 2nd May, 2023 at Tse Agbete village, Kendev ward in Ukum Local Government Area of the state.

Dr. Gbande who expressed

dismay over the unfortunate situation describe it as inhumane, barbaric, dehumanizing, shameful, uncouth and strange warned that, the activities of unlawful gunmen is capable of hindering development in the area.

According to eyewitness, the victims were on ground for the construction of a 3 classroom block at LGEA Primary school Agbete facilitated and sponsored by Dr. Richard Gbande.

The team led by Accountant Sevav Ezekiel shortly after briefing kinsmen and Youth were about to be taken to the site and a group of unknown gunmen appeared shooting sporadically in the air and those present took to their heels for safety and the victims were forcefully taken to unknown destination.

Deputy chairman house committee on commerce in a statement appealed to those

perpetrating the act to lay down their arms and embrace peace for the development of the area.

Those kidnapped are the Benue State Resident Architect of the federal ministry of works and housing and Engr. Anthony Ishaku of the Federal Ministry of works and housing, Abuja.

This ugly situation has since been reported to various appropriate security authorities for further action.

Also, Mr Olukunle Idowu, MKH Group Managing Director, said the company would streamline its focus on providing customers and prospects with ideal exposure to the company’s operation and value proposition.

“We look forward to rolling out our rebranded collateral, including our product catalogues, presentations and several others.

“Our email addresses and corporate website address will be updated to reflect our new company name.

“We thank you for your continued support and trust in the brand,” he said. (NAN)

L-R: Mr. Muhammad Nami, Executive Chairman, Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS), receives the ICAN Merit Award from Mallam Tijani Musa Isa, President, Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria (ICAN)

Senate Presidency: Akpabio will spell doom for North – Arewa leader

By Musa Baba Adamu

The member of the Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF), has warned against picking Senator Godswill Akpabio as the next Senate President.

Musa Saidu, who is the leader of the Arewa Community in Southern Nigeria, warned that Akpabio’s emergence as Senate President would spell doom for Nigeria.

Saidu noted that no true Northerner would endorse

Rivers: I have not withdrawn my

petition from tribunal –

Lulu-Briggs

By Ikechukwu Okaforadi

Rivers State governorship candidate of Accord in the just concluded election, Dumo Lulu-Briggs has refuted reports that he has withdrawn his petition from the Election Petition Tribunal.

Lulu-Briggs, in a statement by his Media Assistant, Nia’bari Fakae affirmed that he is still committed to pursuing their case before the Election Tribunal.

The Accord governorship candidate said the rumour about the withdrawal of his petition was originated by detractors and their agents.

He said the Accord is, “Steadfast in its commitment to upholding the principles of justice, fairness, and transparency in the electoral process.”

The statement urged the public, media organizations, and all concerned parties to refrain from spreading unfounded rumors and to await verified updates from official sources.

Akpabio for the Senate Presidency.

He condemned Akpabio’s endorsement by a Northern coalition.

A statement by Saidu reads

partly: “We hereby dissociate ourselves from the endorsement of Akpabio for the Senate Presidency by a coalition of Northern groups.

“No true Northern group will

want to endorse Akpabio for a sensitive position like that of Senate President because he is not friendly with the North.

“We are the people who know

Akpabio because we are resident in the South; we know those who are friendly with the Northern people, and Akpabio is actually not one of them.”

Sign Peace Corps Act into law – Gov Adeleke begs Buhari

By Musa Baba Adamu

Governor Ademola Adeleke

of Osun State has urged President Muhammadu Buhari to assent to the Nigerian Peace Corps Establishment Act without delay.

The governor, who made the call during the passing out parade of the officers of the corps on Saturday in Osogbo, the capital of Osun State, added that the act

becoming law would ensure peace and unity in the country.

The signing of the act into law would go a long way toward providing employment for a large number of unemployed youths, the governor said. Represented by his aide, Ajisafe Toyese, the governor said: “The Nigerian Peace Corps would help to complement the tireless efforts of other security sister agencies towards maintaining peace across

the country.

“I call on the Nigerian Peace Corps to unite in forming a common front towards achieving the mandate upon which it is being established.

“The new officer cadets should show discipline and focus when discharging their various duties anywhere they might be posted to.”

The Commandant General of the Nigerian Peace Corps, Dr

Mustapha Abubakar, thanked President Buhari for agreeing to give assent to the Nigerian Peace Corps Establishment Act.

“I charge the new cadets to make time for personal development, which would go a long way in adding value to their services in the NPC,” he said.

The Ooni of Ife had earlier donated land to the corps for its training school in Ile-Ife, Osun State.

Political leaders in Rivers, Ebonyi have bad attitudes – Shehu Sani

By Christiana Ekpa

Former lawmaker and social critic, Senator Shehu Sani has claimed the relocation of the elections petition tribunal to Abuja “doesn’t tell good about the attitude of the political leaders.”

Sani’s statement followed

the relocation of the elections petition tribunal of both Rivers and Ebonyi States to Abuja.

Recall that Chief Judge of the Court of Appeal, Monica Mensem, last month ordered the relocation of both Ebonyi and Rivers Election Petition Tribunal to the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, with immediate effect.

Sani, in a tweet on Sunday, said the relocation showed the bad attitudes of political leaders in the two States.

He wrote, “The relocation of the elections petition tribunal from Rivers and Ebonyi to Abuja doesn’t tell good about the attitude of the political leaders in those states.”

Members-elect kick against Gbajabiamila’s secret adoption of Abbas, Kalu

By Christiana Ekpa

Democrats Alliance for Good Governance (DAGG) on Saturday condemned in strong terms the report making rounds on the “secret adoption” of one of the Aspirants for the position of the Speaker of the 10th House of Representatives.

This was just as a group of Members-elect frowned at the purported “secret adoption” which reportedly took place on Friday night, describing the exercise as “an affront on the Parliamentarians and the National Assembly as an Institution.”

The Coalition’s National Coordinator Dr. Williams Martins stated this in a statement made available to Journalists in Abuja.

He said: “We are most jolted and sincerely betrayed especially when we got the hint that the preferred Aspirant was taking by hand to be introduced to the President-elect.

“This development for us is not

only demeaning, but degrading and absurd for the calibre of Nigerians who were elected by over 50 million Electorates who voted during the 25th February and Supplementary elections.”

According to the Group, “Men of goodwill and Conscience as well as elected Public Office holders can not afford to fold out hands to allow someone who is being reported to be adopted as Chief of Staff to the incoming President-elect, although a Member-elect in the 10th Assembly, to in a reckless manner feels he can succeed in imposing any Candidate on the People’s Parliament.

“To allow such means, they (Members-elect) are unfit for the task of representation and will definitely fail in holding the Executive Arm of Government to account when the need arises within the span of four years of the 10th Assembly.

The Coalition’s National Coordinator therefore warned

against any action that may frustrate a united 10th Assembly and tenets of democracy.

“To put it succinctly, all the actors in the Nigerian projects should be seen as honourable men and women who honour gentlemen discussion and reciprocate same at all times.

“Rather than doing this, we wish to State unequivocally that none of the us as Parliamentarians will subscribe for anything short of what the Constitution stipulates on Independence of the Legislature.

“You’ll recall that some of the Aspirants met with the outgoing Speaker, Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila to express our grouse about the unhealthy and unparliamentary actions and inactions of adopting his stooge.

“As if they were taken for a ride, the Convener of the meeting, denied the allegation of adopting our Colleague, Hon. Tajudeen Abbas from Kaduna State and Hon. Benjamin Kalu from Abia State as

the Deputy Speaker,” he noted. While calling for a rethink, the Group Coordinator urged President-elect and the outgoing Speaker to desist from any act that could bring their names into disrepute.

“We actually thought that with the way the Speaker spoke to his Colleagues during the closed door meeting was done in genuine faith, but as you can all see it was a deceptive meeting,” he lamented.

Meanwhile, one of the aggrieved lawmakers who spoke under condition of anonymity dismissed insinuations over the alleged illfeelings against Hon. Tajudeen Abbas and the Spokesman of the House, Hon. Benjamin Kalu (APCAbia).

He said: “While we do not have anything against the person and aspiration of the gentleman, we wish to stress that the will of the people and by extension of Constituents will determine the choice of who to lead the 10th Assembly.

Shehu Sani

Kaduna Labour Party suspends three members

By Christiana Ekpa

The Labour Party, Kaduna State chapter, has suspended three of its card-carrying members that took part in what it called “the so-called NEC meeting” that took place in Bauchi, Bauchi State on Wednesday, May 3, 2023.

Among those suspended are Bashir Idris Aliyu, Alhaji Ibrahim Sidi Bamali and Engr Michael Ayuba Auta and the decision of their suspension would be forwarded to the National Working Committee of the Labour Party and other relevant bodies for further actions.

Addressing newsmen in Kaduna on Saturday, Idris Yusuf, the party state Public Relations Officer explained that the party dissociated itself from the illegal and counterfeit group of the party led by one Lamidi Apapa.

He said, “We hereby affirm and assert our loyalty, support and commitment to the National Working Committee of our great Party led by our lawfully recognised National Chairman, Barrister Julius Abure.”

He called on the members and the general public to disregard anyone or group parading themselves as state officials of the party in Kaduna outside the duly constituted and recognized state exco led by Hon Auwal Tafoki.

He stated that Kaduna State Labour Party was committed to ensuring that the party remains united and becomes the most formidable political platform in the state and in Nigeria that will produce visionary and transformational leaders.

He added that members of the party cannot be distracted by a few disgruntled elements whose major

aim is to service their greed to the detriment of the party and the country.

The Public Relations Officer explained that members of the party in the state affirmed and assert their loyalty, support and commitment to the National Working Committee led by the lawfully recongnised National

Chairman, Barrister Julius Abure.

He stated that following the sudden emergence of a renegade faction in the Labour Party led by one Lamidi Apapa, the party is being assaulted by agents of destabilisation and commotion, stressing that millions of supporters are watching the shameful drama carried out by

these enemies of democracy with disdain.

He called on the public to note that the entire drama of indignity going on was being sponsored by an electoral bandit whose main aim is to use a fake Labour Party NWC to scuttle the weighty petition the party and their Presidential candidate, Peter

Obi tabled before the Presidential Election Tribunal.

The intention, he added, is to create parallel structures at the national level and over the states to lend support to the dirty agenda of scuttling the mandate of Mr Peter Obi and Dr Datti BabaAhmed in the 2023 Presidential elections.

L-R: Lecturer, Department of Mass Communication, Bayero University, Kano, Dr. Sule Yau; Fellow, Nigerian Guild of Editors, Mr. Tony Iyare; VicePresident, West, Mr. Bolaji Adebiyi; and former VicePresident, North, Habibu Kila, during a consultative meeting with Guild members in Kano.

Zamfara PDP warns against destruction of property belonging to APC

By Ikechukwu Okaforadi

The opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Zamfara State has warned its supporters to desist from vandalizing properties belonging to the All Progressives Congress (APC) as the PDP has taken over the state.

The Party’s secretary, Faruk Shettima Rijiya said the fact that PDP won the governorship election in the state does not give anybody the power to destroy properties belonging to the opposition or

individual properties.

In an interview in Gusau, he said, “We are not part of such arrangements and will never support such kind of inhumanity in any form.

”Zamfara State needs to be repositioned and not destroy the existing properties, the party distances itself from anybody found doing such.”

He said the incoming government does not have the intention of witch-hunting anybody, adding that the speculations making the rounds in the state that

Governor Bello Mohammed Matawalle is being targeted are false.

“We are not targeting anybody but whosoever is found guilty of the law must face the consequences of the law because nobody would be made a sacred cow or untouchable because the new administration is set to fish them out.

“Destruction of opposition parties or individual properties does not help the incoming government at any level but let the supporters maintain their loyalty to the party.

May 29: Seeking quick determination of petitions ignorance – Festus Keyamo

By Musa Baba Adamu

The Minister of State for Labour and Employment, Festus Keyamo has said that “those calling for quick determination of election petitions are plainly ignorant or crassly mischievous”.

Keyamo said it would be impossible to amend laws and rules of court to accommodate such an idea.

He made the assertion on Sunday in a post via his verified Twitter handle.

The statement followed calls by some Nigerians, asking the court to ensure speedy determination of election petitions before it, especially the presidential election.

Some had also argued that May 29 swearing-in should be stopped pending the determination of presidential election petitions.

But Keyamo said “Those who think by such a call they are doing the Petitioners any good, do not realise that they are, in fact doing a great harm to the cases of the

Petitioners.”

He wrote, “THOSE CALLING FOR A QUICK DETERMINATION OF ELECTION PETITIONS BEFORE MAY 29TH UNDER OUR PRESENT LAWS ACTUALLY WANT TO DESTROY THE CASES OF THE PETITIONERS.

“Those calling for the determination of the Election Petitions BEFORE the swearing-in ceremonies on MAY 29th under our present electoral laws and Rules of Court and/or procedure are either plainly ignorant or crassly mischievous.

“In future, it is possible to amend our laws and rules of court to accommodate such an idea, but it is clearly IMPOSSIBLE under our present circumstances.

“Those who think by such a call they are doing the Petitioners any good, do not realise that they are, in fact doing a great harm to the cases of the Petitioners.

“It is the Petitioners that need more TIME to prove their cases and not necessarily the defendants. That is why the

Petitioners are given 21 days to file and the defendants have 14 days to respond. And the Petitioners have a further 7 days to reply, making a total of 30 days as against the 14 days of the Respondents.

“It follows that in leading evidence in court/Tribunal in support of the Petitions, the Petitioners would also take more time. It is more arduous to prove an Election Petition than to defend it.

“If these characters say a single point (let’s say the FCT 25 percent storm-ina-teacup issue) should be set down for determination immediately, would the Petitioners’ lawyers agree to withdraw and abandon all other issues raised in their Petition and proceed only with that issue?

“Will they take that risk? Ask them privately. They know better. This is because the rules of Election Petitions do not allow Petitioners to prove their cases piecemeal.

“A Petitioner cannot pursue a single point up to the Supreme Court and after losing, return to the Tribunal or Court and

say he/she/it wants to now prove other aspects of the case.

“Even that single point alone CANNOT be determined by the Supreme Court BEFORE MAY 29th because of the time given by the rules for parties to file their Notices of Appeal and exchange their briefs.

“It is indeed only the Respondent that can raise a preliminary objection that can determine the Petition in limine (that is, at the threshold). Even at that, the rules allow the Court/Tribunal to take the objection together with the Petition itself and give one judgment at the end in order to save time.

“So, this is a free advice to the advocates of pre-May 29th determination of the Election Petitions: they are doing the cases of their Principals (the Petitioners) great harm.

“They should realise that just as we say ‘justice delayed is justice denied’, we also say ‘justice rushed is justice crushed’.”

POLITICS

By Ikechukwu Okaforadi

Senator-elect for Imo North Senatorial District, Patrick Ndubueze, has declared his intention to contest for president of the 10th Senate.

He made his intention known in a letter addressed to the National Working Committee (NEC) of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).

Ndubueze, a former member of the House of Representatives, was elected into the parliament in 1992 where he represented Okigwe Federal Constituency of Imo State.

The senator-elect is coming to the Senate for the first time after about 29 years since he left the National Assembly.

With his declaration, Ndubueze becomes the third aspirant for the position from the South-east after Osita Izunaso, also from Imo State and Orji Kalu, who is currently the Chief Whip of the Senate.

The governor of Ebonyi State, Dave Umahi, a senatorelect, from the region has withdrawn from the race.

Other contenders for the position are a former governor of Akwa Ibom, Godswill Akpabio, Jibrin Barau (Kano),

Imo senator-elect joins senate presidency race, writes APC leadership

Abdulaziz Yari (Zamfara), Ali Ndume (Borno) and Sani Musa (Niger).

Governor Abdullahi Ganduje of Kano State had announced that the inner caucus of the APC resolved to zone the Senate President to the South-south in favour of Akpabio.

In the letter, Ndubueze said the Senate at this time needs a focused, people-centric, calm and supportive leadership and that he possesses those qualities.

“Now, in respect of current realities in this time which requires sensitive leadership in the Senate in the moulds of: A focused Leadership, A Leadership that is people’s centric and calm and supportive.

“Having been persuaded of my track record as a ranking legislator, a politician of more than 35 years standing and a personal character that had stood the test of time for integrity and commitment to the people,

I, Engr. Patrick Ndubueze, being a ranking member of the National Assembly, do desire to offer myself to contest the office of the Senate President of the 10th National Assembly strongly believing in my capacity to stand in the roles of the leadership required at this time.”

He appealed for the endorsement of the party leadership for the position.

“Sir, I trust that you will bless my aspiration as declared with your active support through appropriate counselling, advices and networking, to ensure that this noble cause sees the light of the day,” he said.

“While I await your kind acceptance of my declaration of intention, sir, please, accept the assurances of my esteemed regards,” the letter reads.

The senator-elect also wrote his colleagues to canvass their endorsement and support.

In the letter, Ndubueze said he had consulted widely with critical stakeholders before declaring his ambition.

“Distinguished Senator, over the last 32 years, I have remained committed to the good cause of the Nigerian project. And had always been persuaded that our sovereign advancement inclusive of the desired progressions of millions of Nigerians is better enabled through the instrumentality of appropriately engineered legislations which are superintended by a knowledgeable and motivated political head of the National Assembly who is equipped for thoroughness, moderation and a vision-driven compassion.

“It is for these reasons, and their fulfilment, Distinguished Senator, that I have decided to declare my intention to contest the office of the President of the Senate of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

“I do not treat this declaration lightly, Distinguished Senator. I, indeed, have been on a consultation frenzy with critical stakeholders across the length and breadth of our country to positive acclaim,” he said.

He appealed to his colleagues to grant him the opportunity of speaking to them physically after the order.

“This letter to your good self is in continuation of the consultation I had embarked upon, by which, I am of the hope that you will avail me a time to physically meet with you, even as I now canvass for your support and advice as we head to the day of the election of the principal officers of the National Assembly.

“While thanking you profusely for the opportunity of this engagement, Distinguished Senator, please accept my highest regards for your good self,” Ndubeze said.

Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment, Dr. Evelyn N. Ngige (Middle) flanked to the left by the Canadian Deputy High Commissioner to Nigeria, H.E. Teshome Nkrumah and other officials of the Ministry during a courtesy visit by the Deputy High Commissioner to the Ministry recently.

Speakership: Betara remains unbeatable, says Gudaji

By Christiana Ekpa

Leading aspirant for the Speakership seat of the House of Representatives, Hon Muktar Aliyu Betara remains unbeatable in the race for the Speakership of the House of Representatives.

A member of the House of Representatives, Hon Mohammed Gudaji Kazaure in a goodwill made this known during the unveiling ceremony of the Speakership aspiration of Hon Yusuf Adamu Gagdi held at the Transcorp

Hilton Hotel in Abuja.

He described Betara as a man with tremendous goodwill that could easily sweep the race for the Speakership of the 10th Assembly.

The Jigawa born politician recalled that Betara singlehandedly influenced the votes that led to the emergence of Yakubu Dogara and his successor, Mr Femi Gbajabiamila as Speakers of the House of Representatives in the 8th and 9th Assemblies.

He maintained that Betara who chairs the House committee on Appropriation

remains indispensable as far as the race for the speakership of the 10th Assembly is concerned.

He advised Gagdi to strike a deal with Betara to decide on which of them would succeed the outgoing Speaker Femi Gbajabiamila.

He said: “The truth is Betara is the major contender in this race. If he is with Gagdi, he would win 100 percent. They understand each other. They Know each other. Betara is a good man, he is a very gentleman who is always calm and silent. The only thing with him is that he doesn’t

know how to say no.

“For me, we need a Speaker who would say no. I advice members to vote for Gagdi. I am planning to go and meet Betara and tell him to come and join Gagdi. Betara deserves the Speakership seat which he is now trying to take.”

Kazaure who warned the APC leadership against imposition of Speakership candidate on the House described Betara as the father of the House that is well liked and admired by the entire members of the House of Representatives.

Photo-: Min of TradeInvestment

From Abubakar Yunusa, Abuja

TAJBank Limited, Nigeria’s foremost non-interest bank, has announced Nollywood acts, Osita Iheme (Pawpaw) and Saratu Daso as brand ambassadors.

According to a statement the bank’s Chief Executive Officer, Hamid Joda in Abuja on Friday, the idea is a marketing strategy to popularise TAJBank’s technopowered innovative products and services in the grassroots.

Hamid said that it would also deepen financial inclusion in the country.

He also listed Uzee Usman, Aisha Falke (Northern Hibiscus)

Nigerian stocks rally on scramble for Access Holdings’ shares

From Abubakar Yunusa Abuja

Nigerian stocks advanced for the first time this week on Thursday after the main equity index added 0.2 per cent on the back of continued brisk trade in the shares of Access Holdings.

Nigeria’s biggest lender by assets has now traded as many as 2.3 billion shares in the two weeks since 20 April, the day the corporation announced it would pay shareholders 50 per cent more in annual dividends for last year.

The stock has appreciated by 18.9 per cent since then.

Trade derived further strength from the gains recorded by GTCO and oil and gas firm Ardova.

“This week, we expect bullish sentiments to continue, as investors look to take advantage of fundamentally sound stocks with low pricings, with Q12023 earnings season already underway,” said analysts at United Capital in their outlook note seen by Peoples Daily.

“However, we see room for pockets of profit-taking activities.”

Market breadth was positive as 32 gainers were reported compared to 18 decliners.

The all-share index grew by 83 basis points to 52,290.8, while market capitalisation climbed to N28.5 trillion.

TAJBank unveils Pawpaw, Daso as brand ambassadors

and Hauwa Jalilah as brand influencers of the bank.

He said that the emergence of the ambassadors and influencers followed a rigorous selection process by a brand expert team constituted by the management.

According to him, the initiative was based on the customeroriented business philosophy of TAJBank.

“It is also aimed at leveraging the brand ambassadors and influencers’ selfless services and commitment to poverty alleviation in the grassroots,” he said.

He said it will take the TAJBank customer-focused services story to millions of under-served and unbanked people across the country.

He described the event as epochal in the bank’s efforts to tell Nigerians and the global community that TAJBank was determined to serve them better by bringing joy to as many as are ready to bank with it.

“As you can see, these brand ambassadors and influencers have carved a niche for themselves as highly responsible players in the movie industry over the years.

“By their actions, they are people-oriented and socially responsible, especially through their financial and other supports to the needy in the society.

“This aligns with the corporate philosophy of TAJBank, which

is to care for the needy through interest-free innovative products and services.

“So, as our partners in the brand and marketing drive for TAJBank, we are optimistic that millions of customers, who are our only interest, will immeasurably benefit from this partnership,” he said.

In a remarks on behalf of the ambassadors, Iheme said that he was proud to be part of TAJBank”s commitment to poverty alleviation

in the country.

“I am taking the TAJBank brand to anywhere I go from now, and I will tell the people that TAJBank is the bank to bank with because it cares for all,” he said.

Also, Aisha Falke, who is one of the newly announced influencers, said that she was proud to have emerged as one TAJBank’s influencers.

“Let me assure the management that I will do my best to take the bank’s mantra,

FIRS Boss, Nnami wins ICAN merit award

From Abubakar Yunusa you

The Executive Chairman, Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS), Mr. Muhammad Nami has been named winner of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria (ICAN) Merit Award 2023 in its Non-Members Category at the Institute’s 2023 Annual Dinner Awards.

Mr. Nami, who received the Award at the Monarch Event Centre, Lagos, yesterday was described by the President of the Association, Mallam Tijani Musa Isa as an unassuming and humble achiever who has led the FIRS to excel in the international tax circle despite global economic challenges by achieving milestones in revenue collection.

“This Award is in recognition for your positive impact in the society. You have made significant contribution to the institute and to Nigeria. The governing board deemed it fit to acknowledge the role you have played and your outstanding achievements,” Mal. Isa noted.

which is “our only interest is you, the customer” to my followers and admirers both locally and internationally.

“TAJBank is a futuristic and innovative non-interest bank that can stand by its customers through thick and thin and offer them the best services at no interest charged.

“The bank’s message is clear – innovative service at no pains – and I am ready to take this to everywhere I go”, she said.

•also named winner BusinessDay Newspaper Excellence in public service award 2022

In his Citation, Mr. Muhammad Nami was described as “a go-getter and an ingenious leader.” It further stated that “the reforms he is implementing at FIRS attest to his dexterity, visionary leadership and patriotism. Under his visionary leadership, the FIRS in 2022 achieved an unprecedented revenue collection of N10.1 trillion, which is the highest tax collection ever made in the history of the country.”

While receiving the award, the Executive Chairman FIRS appreciated the Council Members of the Institute, saying that he has been lucky to work with their members through his 32 year career.

“Since I left the university, over 32 years ago, I have had the privilege and luck to be directly and indirectly associated with ICAN members: from the PKF, to Manam Professional Services, and now I am working directly

with well over 3,000 members of this Institute as the Executive Chairman of the FIRS.

“I feel blessed by this honour and privilege. I am grateful to God, and to all of you who have found me worthy of this recognition. I pray God rewards all of you enormously,” he noted.

Mr. Nami dedicated the award to his alma mater from primary to tertiary levels; his former colleagues at the Presidential Committee on Audit of Stolen Recovered Stolen Assets; members of the Tax Advisory Committee of the FIRS; all taxpayers; the Board Members, Management and staff of the FIRS, and his family members.

In a similar recognition earlier in the week, on Thursday 4th May, 2023, the FIRS boss was named the winner of the BusinessDay Excellence in Public Service Award 2022, at the BusinessDay States Competitiveness And Good Governance Awards 2022.

The country’s influential business newspaper explained that it named him the winner of the award for his “visionary and leadership qualities [that] has brought tremendous change to the FIRS.”

It further noted that: “Under your leadership, you transformed the tax administration and compliance landscape in Nigeria. You deployed the revolutionary TaxPro Max: FIRS’ homegrown digital platform for tax administration which allows taxpayers to register, file returns and pay their taxes easily from any location other than their respective tax offices.

“You have repositioned the operations and staff of the FIRS, and introduced technological tools to institute more transparency, accountability, and effectiveness, which in turn has translated into the increased capacity to deliver on the mandate with results.”

L-R: TAJBank’s Ambassador, Hajiya Saratu Gidado; Managing Director TAJBank, Mr. Hamid Joda; TAJBank’s Influencer, Hauwa Jalilah; the bank’s Executive Director Mr. Sherif Idi; and TAJBank Influencer Hajiya Aisha Falke (Northern Hibiscus) during the unveiling of the Bank’s Ambassadors and Influencers in Abuja

Airtel Africa appoints Unilever West Africa’s MD as CEO of Nigerian subsidiary

From Abubakar Yunusa

Airtel Africa has appointed Carl Cruz, the outgoing managing director of consumer goods company Unilever West Africa, as the new chief executive of its Nigerian unit.

Mr Cruz, who gave up the top position at Unilever Nigeria on 4 May, resumes his new role on 5 May.

He replaces C Surendran and will simultaneously hold the role of regional operating director of the telecom operator reporting to the CEO of Airtel Africa, according to a statement,

“He was a board member in the role of executive director in Unilever Nigeria Plc and a non–executive director in the board of Unilever Ghana representing Unilever as a shareholder. His experience spans more than three decades in companies in Africa and Asia,” the statement said.

He is a graduate of University of De La Salle, Philippines, with a Bachelor’s degree in marketing management. His immediate past position involved overseeing Unilever’s listed national subsidiaries in Ghana, Nigeria and Frenchspeaking African countries.

Before then, he chaired and led Unilever Sri Lanka alongside holding senior positions at Unilever’s operations in Hindustan and Philippines.

“He has a solid record of accomplishment as a strategic and transformational business leader who thrives on problemsolving and building strong teams to deliver business growth,” said Segun Ogunsanya, the CEO of Airtel Africa.

Mr Cruz has operated in managerial, directional and strategic capacities in areas including sales, trade development, commercial engagement, customer and brand development as well as distribution.

SEC takes enlightenment to FRSC zonal commands

From Abubakar Yunusa Abuja

As part of efforts to ensure the continued enlightenment of investors to enable them take more informed decisions, the Securities and Exchange Commission is set to hold an enlightenment programme for staff of the Federal Road Safety Corps.

The Enlightenment programme with the theme “Investor Safety” is to be held across 12 Zonal Commands in the country.

The campaign is expected

to hold in Kaduna, Sokoto, Adamawa, Kwara, Bauchi and Plateau states.

The enlightenment campaign to the FRSC zones is in continuatuon of collaboration between the Commission and the Corps to ensure that staff members are knowledgeable about the opportunities available in the capital market.

Director Market

Development of the SEC, Mr. Nestor Ikeagu, had recently stated that such enlightenments are part of the Commission’s determination to ensure that

every facet of the Nigerian society has a grasp of the workings of the capital market and its benefits.

According to the SEC Director, the outreach program will be held at the six locations simultaneously on Tuesday May 9, 2023 with an expected participation of a large number of officers and it is hoped that these programs will become a continuous feature in the Corps training programme.

The Commission reiterated its commitment to educate all stakeholders in order to encourage participation by local

investors in the local capital market, which is currently dominated by foreign investors.

“We will enlighten them on other more profitable investment options available in the capital market so that they can plan as well as educate them on how to avoid illegal fund managers” he said.

Ikeagu said some initiatives introduced by the Commission were to ensure an investorfriendly and attractive system such as e-DMMS, regularisation of multiple accounts, Direct cash settlement, transmission of shares, among others.

Nigerian payment startup, Nomba, raises $30 million in pre-Series B funding

By Abubakar Yunusa Abuja

Nomba, a Nigerian payment startup, announced Tuesday that it has raised $30 million in a pre-Series B investment.

The round was led by San Francisco-based Base10 Partners (investors in Nubank, Plaid and Brex), with participation from Helios Digital Ventures, Shopify, Partech, and Khosla Ventures.

With the new funding, the startup said it would deliver payment solutions that have been designed for the specific services that businesses provide.

This will enable them to plug gaps in their payment processes and operate more efficiently to deliver excellent customer experiences.

Formerly known as Kudi, the start-up was founded in 2016 by Yinka Adewale and Pelumi Aboluwarin as a chatbot designed to simplify payments.

In 2018, it evolved into a company whose distinct point of sale (POS) technology, partnerships with banks and other licensed financial institutions democratized access to banking products and services for merchants across Nigeria.

This, the startup said, also includes core banking solutions such as opening savings accounts and loans.

According to the startup, it serves over 300,000 businesses and processes $1 billion in monthly transactions.

Speaking on the funding round, the CEO and co-founder, Yinka Adewale, said: “We see payment as a business model, not just a product and we want to make it easier for businesses to take advantage of all that is possible in their payment processes to support their continued growth and success.

“We have a long list of

products we have been working on and the funds we have raised as well as the investors that have backed us gives us a lot of confidence about what can be achieved with more effective payment solutions in the hands of business owners.”

Also speaking, Luci Fonseca, Partner at Base 10 said, “Nomba’s track record of innovation and capital efficiency makes it one of the most exciting startups in Africa. We are thrilled to be supporting them to deliver their game-changing solutions to power growth and continued success for businesses in Nigeria and beyond.”

L-R: Beneficiary of Scholarship Awards/ student of Kwara state University,Samad Abidemi Abdul Hamid; student of Olabisi Onabanjo University,Adegbite Victoria; The celebrant,Aare Ona Kankafo of yorubaland,Iba Gani Adams; student of University of Ibadan, Khadijat Oladipupo; and student of Lagos state University, Akinsanya Ganiyat Adedoyin, during the prize presentation of Scholarship awards to winners of four brilliant students of four tertiary institutions, to mark the 53rd birthday of Iba Gani Adams in Lagos, yesterday.

From Abubakar Yunusa Abuja

The decision by Malaysia and Taiwan to recall Indomie’s “special chicken” flavour noodles has raised some concerns about the safety of the food globally, including in Nigeria.

The development followed the detection of ethylene oxide, a substance known to cause cancer, in the product by the health institutions in the two countries.

Nigeria has also reacted to the development as the agency in charge of standards has set in motion plans to conduct fresh independent tests on the concerned products.

The country’s National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) confirmed to journalists on Sunday morning its plans to ascertain the claim by its Taiwan and Malaysian counterparts.

The health department in Taipei, Taiwan’s capital, said it detected ethylene oxide in two types of instant noodles, including the Indomie chicken flavour, following random inspections.

It said the detection of ethylene oxide in the product did not comply with standards.

“The Taipei City Health Bureau reminds food industry that our country has not approved the use of ethylene oxide as a pesticide, nor has it approved the use of ethylene oxide gas as a disinfection purpose,” the department said in a statement.

“The industry is sure to implement autonomous management and confirm that the raw materials and products should comply with food safety and health management.”

Following this development, the health ministry in Malaysia said it had examined 36 samples of instant noodles from different brands since 2022 and found that 11 samples contained ethylene oxide.

Ethylene oxide is a colourless, odourless gas that is used to sterilize medical devices and spices and has been described as a cancer-causing chemical.

The Malaysian ministry said it had taken enforcement actions and recalled the affected products.

Indofoods, an Indonesian company and maker of Indomie instant noodles, has denied the allegations noting that all its noodles are produced with standard certification. However, Taiwan and Malaysia have ordered businesses to immediately remove the products from their shelves.

NAFDAC Director General, Mojisola Adeyeye, a professor, on Sunday, told this newspaper that beginning from Tuesday, 2 May, the agency will commence processes to test randomly selected products to ascertain the claims before reaching out to the public.

Mrs Adeyeye in response to an inquiry by our reporter, said the agency’s official in charge of laboratory services is already on alert.

The director general wrote: “NAFDAC is responding. We plan to randomly sample Indomie noodles (including the seasoning) from the production facilities while

Nigeria investigates as Malaysia, Taiwan recall Indomie noodles over cancer-causing substance

PMS samples from the markets. This we will carry out on Tuesday 2nd May (as Monday May 1st is a public holiday).

“The compound of interest is ethylene oxide, so the Director (Lab Services) Food has (is) being engaged, and he is working on the methodology for the analysis.”

Reacting to the allegations in a statement on Friday, Taufik Wiraatmadja, a member of the board of directors at Indofoods, defended the safety of the noodles noting that it is safe for consumption.

Mr Wiraatmadja said the noodles have received standard

certifications and have been produced in compliance with international food safety regulations.

“All instant noodles produced by ICBP in Indonesia are processed in compliance with the food safety standards from the Codex Standard for Instant Noodles and standards set by the Indonesian National Agency for Drug and Food Control (“BPOM RI”). Our instant noodles have received Indonesian National Standard Certification (SNI), and are produced in certified production facilities based on international standards,” he wrote.

“ICBP has exported instant

noodles to various countries around the world for more than 30 years. The Company continuously ensures that all of its products are in compliance with the applicable food safety regulations and guidelines in Indonesia as well as other countries where ICBP’s instant noodles are marketed.

“We would like to emphasise that in accordance with the statement released by BPOM RI, our Indomie instant noodles are safe for consumption.”

Indofoods is one of the world’s largest makers of instant noodles and exports its products to more than 90 countries including Saudi

Arabia and Nigeria where they are in high demand.

Nigeria, a major consumer of Indomie instant noodles, is expected to take a position on the matter in the coming days.

According to data from the World Instant Noodles Association (WINA), Nigeria, Africa’s most populous nation, is currently among the largest consumers of instant noodles with 1.92 million servings as of May 2020.

The country also ranked 11th in the global demand for noodles ranking, with Indomie instant noodles being the most consumed brand in Nigeria.

NBC, BON fault NCC’s plan to sell 600MHz spectrum band

The Nigerian Broadcasting Commission (NBC) and the Broadcasting Organisation of Nigeria (BON) have rejected the planned sale of the 600MHz spectrum by the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC).

The NCC had in March announced the availability of frequency slots in the 600 MHz spectrum band for nationwide deployment.

But BON in a letter said the sale of the frequency would lead to the sudden disappearance of the majority of the television stations in the country and give foreign media maximum penetration into the nation’s broadcast space.

In the letter, dated 25 April and addressed to the Director-General of NBC and signed by Yemisi Bamgbose, executive secretary of BON, the organization called on the NBC to take all necessary possible legal steps to ensure that the spectrum is not sold

until necessary steps had been taken to protect.

The letter read in part: “Our attention has been drawn to an advertisement placed by the NCC, titled ‘Availability of Frequency Slots in the 600 MHz Spectrum Band’, published on March 23, 2023.

“In the said advertisement, the NCC brought notice to the general public on the availability of frequency slots in the 600MHz spectrum band for sale.

“If this sale of the primary spectrum allocated to broadcasting is allowed to happen, all television stations operating on frequency 600MHz will be affected negatively.

“Those that will be affected include all DTT operators; ITS; Pinnacle; many private television stations; the majority of state government-owned stations; some NTA community and state stations operating within the range of 600MHz frequency.”

The organisation explained that the frequency 700-800MHz, housing some state government-owned and private stations, have been sold to telecom operators, a decision that has created problems that have not been resolved. It noted that the digital switchover which NCC might be capitalising on has not been delivered as expected.

BON said that it is aware of all the efforts put in place by NBC for many years to achieve an analogue switch-off, but the desired result is still very far from the remarkable achievement.

“It is therefore very curious to ask the National Communication Commission the reason behind rushing to sell the spectrum that is specifically and legitimately allocated for broadcasting in Nigeria,” the statement said.

“More curious is the urgency by which NBC is rushing to ensure the

sale of the spectrum within a short period of expiration of the tenure of the current administration.”

The BON official noted that the sale of the spectrum by NCC will lead to the sudden disappearance of the majority of the television stations in Nigeria.

“Many television stations are on the 476-700 MHz including free view, DTT, pay TV, private TV, NTA community stations and state government-owned television.

“Without doubt, more than 80 per cent of Nigerians will be denied access to television broadcasting which serves as the authentic source of accurate information, public enlightenment and solely source of entertainment.

“It will give the foreign media maximum penetration into the nation’s broadcast space in which negative consequences can only be imagined,” the statement said.

L-R: Ekiti State Governor, Mr Biodun Oyebanji; Commissioner for Health and Human Services, Dr Oyebanji Filani; Special Adviser to the Governor (Special Projects), Arc. Tope Ogunleye; Chief Medical Director, Oba Adejugbe General Hospital, Ado-Ekiti, Dr Gbenga Omotosho; and Permanent Secretary, Hospitals Management Board, Dr Olasunkanmi Alabi; during the on-the-spot assessment of facilities at the Oba Adejugbe General Hospital, Ado-Ekiti, at the weekend

FCTA lauds Journalists for aiding Abuja’s dev’t

By Stanley Onyekwere

Journalists are admonished to not relent on actively discharging their essential role in deepening the roots of Nigeria’s democracy, as they have the responsibility to uphold democracy, which is why the media is called the fourth estate of the realm.

The Director, Press, Office of the FCT Minister, Mr. Anthony Ogunleye, who gave this charge, during a media chat on the commemoration of World Press Freedom Day, in Abuja, commended journalists for aiding the development of the Territory.

Ogunleye also extolled media practitioners for always upholding the tenet of democracy, keeping government on its toes and carrying out the fundamental task of journalism, which is to entertain, educate and inform members of the society.

He noted that the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) led by Malam Muhammad Musa Bello, over the last seven and half years has worked very closely with members of the press, and together, they have been able to achieve as much as they did towards developing the FCT.

According to him, press freedom is something that is held very much high in Nigeria, as since the return of democracy in 1999, there has been tremendous freedom of the press, without which democracy cannot thrive.

“We don’t hear of Journalists been incarcerated or been killed, molested harassed or prevented from doing their job.

“Without journalists going out to do their work, to gather facts about issues concerning the society, and to also give the government the tools to make the right decision; and members of the public the knowledge they need to continue to build their society, nothing can work.

“I would like to use the opportunity to congratulate Journalists in the FCT, and commend them for the great work they are doing, not just here in the FCT, but across the country.

“I urge them to continue to do their job. And for those here in the FCTA, as we look forward to welcoming the new FCT Administration after May 29, I will ask them to continue to cooperate with us, work together and let us build the FCT of our collective dreams”, he stressed.

METRO

Taxation: FCT-IRS gives 3-week ultimatum to expatriates, firms in Abuja

By Stanley Onyekwere

In continuation of its ongoing efforts to harmonize and enhance the Internally Generated Revenue of Abuja, the Federal Capital Territory Internal Revenue Service (FCTIRS) has issued a three-week ultimatum to companies and organisations with foreign nationals working in the

Territory to turn in details of expatriates to for proper documentation.

In particular, such concerned organisations are strongly advised to comply promptly not later than the end of May 2023.

This was disclosed in a statement signed by Head, Corporate Communications, FCT-IRS, Mustapha Sumaila,

which was made available to newsmen on Sunday.

According to the statement, the request, is part of the resolution reached in a meeting between Mr. Agboola Lukman Dabiri, Secretary, of Economic Planning, Revenue Generation and PPP in the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA), and the Acting Executive Chairman, FCT-IRS,

Mr. Haruna Abdullahi.

“This exercise is compulsory and should be taken with utmost importance by firms and organisations with expatriates working under them within the Federal Capital Territory.

“Concerned organisations are strongly advised to comply promptly not later than the end of May 2023”, the statement affirmed.

Climate change: FCTA engages farmers on disaster free farming season

By Stanley Onyekwere

In order to ensure a disaster free farming season, the Federal Capital Territory Administration through its Agricultural and Rural Development Secretariat (ARDS) has engaged farmers and other stakeholders on the 2023 Seasonal Climate Prediction (SCP) for the Territory.

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

In his keynote address at the event held in Kuje Area Council, yesterday, ARDS Secretary, Mallam Abubakar Ibrahim, said the measures that the FCT Administration has taken through the Secretariat in downscaling the annual weather report is yielding the desired results as finding shows increased in agricultural production

and adaptability of farmers to the changes.

Ibrahim noted that ARDS has ensured that all FCTA relevant agencies particularly the FCT Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and the Abuja Environmental Protection Board (AEPB) are carried along in the sensitisation campaigns.

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

“All of these are vital information that will help to increase the adaptive capacity of farmers to weather changes, thereby enabling them to avert harsh conditions that may have adverse effect on crop and animal production.

Reiterating the determination of the Secretariat to ensure the success of the exercise, the Secretary said it has concluded arrangements to embark on

an aggressive sensitization campaign to the 6 Area Councils and the farming communities in all the 62 wards of the FCT.

He added that the Secretariat has tried to ensure that the information is simplified and translated in the major local languages such that they are clearly understood by the farmers.

“It is gladdening to see that the event has attracted a large turnout which gives us hope that the information will reach the targeted farmers as expected.

“I will like to appreciate the NiMet management for their support and assure farmers that the FCT leadership under the Honourable Minister, Muhammad Musa Bello and the Honorable Minister of State, Dr. Ramatu Tijjani Aliyu, will leave no stone unturned in their effort to end hunger. Within the next few days, the Administration will be rolling out its input support to FCT farmers.

“We will continue to work hard to strengthen the capacities of our Extension Agents to deliver quality

services to FCT farmers. Our doors will remain open for partnership with genuine Agro-allied investors towards repositioning the Agricultural sector of the FCT”, he said.

Earlier, in her welcome address delivered by the ARDS’s director, Agric Services, Mrs. Fransisca Ihekandu, noted that the programme will help farmers to have disaster-free farming activities throughout the year.

Ihekandu said in ensuring that the downscaling is stepped down to all the 6 Area Councils of the FCT, the Secretariat has already trained and mobilized all the Extension Agents that will be deployed for the exercise.

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

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

The Parish priest sacred heart Catholic church Gwagwalada Rev. Fr. Sam Tarvihi,(left), with praying members of the Catholic men Organisation in comemoration of the 2023 Father’s day celebration at the church yesterday in Abuja.

Photo: Justin Imo-owo

Brownsville: Seven dead as car strikes people in Texas border town

Seven people have been killed in the US state of Texas after a car struck a group at a bus stop close to a shelter for the homeless and migrants.

The incident happened near the Ozanam Center in the city of Brownsville near the Mexican border at about 08:30 local time (14:30 GMT) on Sunday.

At least six other people were been injured, some of them critically.

The driver has been arrested and charged. Police said the incident appeared to be intentional.

Lieutenant Martin Sandoval of the Brownsville Police Department told local media that the driver had also been taken to hospital for treatment and was undergoing drug and alcohol tests.

Migrants were thought to be among the dead, Lieutenant Sandoval said.

Texas shooting: Eight killed by gunman in Allen mall

Agunman has shot and killed eight people shopping at a mall north of Dallas, Texas, emergency services say.

Hundreds of people were evacuated from the Allen Premium Outlets mall as eyewitnesses described a man firing indiscriminately at passers-by.

A police officer on an unrelated call killed the gunman after hearing shots.

Some of the victims are reported to be children. At least seven people are being treated in hospital, three of whom are critically ill.

Allen Fire Chief Jonathan Boyd said seven people - including the gunman - were pronounced dead at the scene and two died later in hospital.

A police officer at the mall “heard gunshots, went to the gunshots, engaged the suspect and neutralised the suspect,” Allen Police Chief Brian Harvey said.

The victims’ ages range from 5 to 51, according to a hospital spokesperson.

Some witnesses described the gunman as dressed all in black and wearing combat gear. Footage taken after the gunman’s death appeared to show an AR-15 style rifle lying near his body.

Texas Governor Greg Abbott described the shooting as an “unspeakable tragedy” and said the state was ready to offer any assistance to local authorities.

US police have asked members of the public with video captured at the scene to contact the FBI, as they collect evidence.

President Joe Biden on Sunday denounced the “senseless acts of violence” and ordered

US flags be flown at half-mast at federal buildings, military posts and American embassies until sunset on Thursday.

He also again called on Congress to ban assault weapons and high-capacity magazines.

“Too many families have empty chairs at their dinner tables,” said the president. “Tweeted thoughts and prayers are not enough.”

“I heard about 10 pops go off, then ten to fifteen more shots - we see this guy dressed all in black, a vest, just shooting at people,” said one witness, adding “we just got to the back of the store”.

Video from the scene showed people running for cover across a car park as a series of shots rang out.

Allen has about 105,000 residents and is 20 miles (32km) north of central Dallas.

Most adults aged 21 or over in Texas are allowed to carry a handgun without a licence, unless they have a previous conviction. In addition, there are few restrictions on possession of rifles and shotguns. Republicans control the Texas state legislature.

In the US so far this year there have been at least 198 mass shootings in which four or more people were killed or wounded, according to the Gun Violence Archive. That is the most at this point in the year since at least 2016.

One eyewitness at the mall, Fontayne Payton, told the AP news agency he heard gunshots though his headphones as he shopped at H&M.

When people were allowed to leave the

mall, he described seeing bodies outside.

“I pray it wasn’t kids, but it looked like kids,” he said. “It broke me when I walked out to see that.”

Allen Mayor Ken Fulk called it “a tragic day” for the city. “Allen is a proud and safe city, which makes today’s senseless act of violence even more shocking,” he said on the city’s website.

“However, I want to commend our police and fire departments for their quick response. Their thorough training not to hesitate to

move toward the threat likely saved more lives today.”

Texas Senator John Cornyn tweeted that he was “grieving with the Allen community” and praised the quick response of “all of those involved in responding to this afternoon’s horrific incident”.

Earlier this week police in Texas arrested a man accused of shooting dead five neighbours, including a nine-year-old boy. Francisco Oropesa was found hiding in a cupboard after a four-day manhunt.

Climate change: Vietnam records highest-ever temperature of 44.1C

Vietnam has recorded its highest ever temperature, just over 44C (111F)with experts predicting it would soon be surpassed because of climate change.

The record was set in the northern province of Thanh Hoa, where officials warned people to stay indoors during the hottest times of the day.

Other countries in the region have also been experiencing extremely hot weather.

Thailand reported a record-equalling 44.6C in its western Mak province.

Meanwhile Myanmar’s media reported that a town in the east had recorded 43.8C, the highest temperature for a decade.

Both countries experience a hot period before the monsoon season but the intensity of the heat has broken previous records.

In Hanoi, climate change expert Nguyen Ngoc Huy told AFP that Vietnam’s new record was “worrying” given the “context of climate change and global warming”.

“I believe this record will be repeated many times,” he said. “It confirms that extreme climate models are being proven to be true.”

The world has already warmed by about 1.1C since the industrial era began and temperatures will keep rising unless governments make steep cuts to emissions.

In Vietnam’s central city of Danang, farmer Nguyen Thi Lan told AFP the heat was forcing workers to start earlier than ever and finish by 10:00.

Vietnam’s previous record temperature of 43.4C was set in central Ha Tinh province four years ago.

Further west, the Bangladeshi capital Dhaka recorded its highest temperature since the 1960s while Indian authorities said parts of the country were experiencing temperatures that were three or four degrees above normal.

In April, Spain recorded its hottestever temperature for that month, hitting

38.8C at Cordoba airport in the south of the country.

In March climate scientists said a key global temperature goal was likely to be missed.

Governments had previously agreed to act to avoid global temperature rises going above 1.5C. But the world has already warmed by 1.1C and now experts say that it is likely to breach 1.5C in the 2030s.

In its report, the UN’s Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change said “every increment of global warming will intensify multiple and concurrent hazards”

Source; BBC

The road in Brownsville, Texas where the crash happened

Shoppers were seen leaving the mall, some with arms raised

Sudan fighting: The Nigerian footballer who fled in his shorts

Charles Collins was looking forward to his next match in the Sudan Premier League when fighting broke out in the country on 15 April, turning the city where he lived into a war zone.

The 28-year-old Nigerian footballer, who plays for Khartoum side Haidob en Nahud, said he had to leave all his possessions behind, fleeing in just the black shorts he was wearing, when battles between the army and a powerful paramilitary group reached his neighbourhood of the Sudanese capital.

He was among 396 Nigerians who flew back to Abuja from Egypt this week, after escaping from Sudan in what many described as a dangerous journey lasting several days.

“I am coming back home with just this, just my blanket,” he told the BBC at Abuja’s international airport, swivelling to reveal a black backpack.

“I ran out of my house wearing just shorts, it was a terrible experience,” he said.

Haidob, who were only promoted to the premier division this season, were on course to qualify for the Caf Confederations Cup - Africa’s second most prestigious competition.

The team lost 1-0 to Kober SC Bhari just a week before fighting started but remained in fourth place in the now-halted league.

But after what he went

through, Collins does not see himself going back to Sudan to continue his career.

A handful of footballers from Nigeria’s top-flight division have transferred to Sudan over the years, finding the top clubs that play in continental competitions attractive.

‘It was a terrible experience’

Collins, who has been in Sudan for three-and-a-half years after arriving from Mauritius club Richie Moore Rovers, said he lost everything he owned in the country, including $20,000 (£16,000) cash.

He was combining football with some business on the side, importing hair extensions into the country for sale and had taken delivery of a shipment eight days before the fighting broke out, which is now lost.

“There are many who came back with nothing. At least I came back with a blanket,” he said on arrival in Abuja, pointing to a man with a black polythene bag.

“He came back with just his food.”

The evacuees were airlifted in two planes - one from Nigerian commercial carrier Air Peace and a military aircraft - from Aswan in neighbouring Egypt. They had been stranded for days at the Egyptian border because of problems with their visas.

Before the fighting broke out, more than 5,000 Nigerians were believed to reside in Sudan,

mostly students. The country is famous for its Islamic Studies and Classical Arabic, which many Nigerians were studying.

Its affordable pharmacy and medicine colleges were also popular with Nigerians. There were joyous scenes at Abuja’s airport as the evacuees were met by family members and

government officials.

However, the trauma is still fresh. “It was a terrible experience throughout the journey,” Zainab Abdulqadir, a student, told the BBC.

She said that her leg was swollen from sitting all night in a car as they escaped Sudan without water or food.

“It was a situation of extreme tension, fear and instability,” she said.

Abdulazez Muiza, a student at the Africa International University in Khartoum, which is popular with Nigerians, said she mistook the first gunshots for electric sparks on the day fighting started.

Sudan fighting: Warring sides in Saudi Arabia for talks

Representatives from Sudan’s warring armies have arrived in Saudi Arabia for their first face-toface negotiations.

The “pre-negotiation talks” between the Sudanese army and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) were due to start on Saturday in Jeddah. They are sponsored by the US and Saudi Arabia.

Several ceasefires have broken down since the fighting began weeks ago.

Both sides have said they will discuss a humanitarian truce but not an end to the conflict.

There has been no word so far about whether the meeting has taken place or who the representatives from both sides are.

Saudi Foreign Minister Faisal bin Farhan welcomed the representatives from both parties. He said he hoped the talks would “lead to the end of the conflict and the return of security and stability to the Republic of Sudan”.

Gen Mohamed Hamdan Daglo, who leads the RSF, said on Twitter that the group appreciated all efforts to establish a ceasefire and provide the Sudanese people with aid. He also insisted the RSF was committed to “the transition to a civilian-led government”.

Gen Daglo, better known as Hemedti, is engaged in a bitter power struggle with Sudan’s army commander, Gen Abdel Fattah al-Burhan - the country’s de facto president.

Saturday’s talks come amid reports of continuing clashes in the Sudanese capital, Khartoum.

Hundreds of people have been killed and nearly 450,000 civilians displaced since the fighting began. Of that total, the International Organization for Migration says, more than 115,000 have sought refuge in neighbouring countries.

A joint US-Saudi statement urged “both parties to take in consideration the interests of the Sudanese nation and its people and actively engage in

the talks towards a ceasefire and end to the conflict”.

A spokesman for UN children’s agency, James Elder, said the conflict’s first 11 days alone had killed an estimated 190 children and wounded

1,700 - and those figures were just from health facilities in Khartoum and Darfur.

“The reality is likely to be much worse,” he said.

The intensity of the fighting has prevented much-needed

aid deliveries getting through.

So far Gen Burhan and Hemedti, who led an Arab militia in the brutal Darfur conflict, have shown little readiness to reach a peace settlement. Source: BBC

Charles Collins (in white) in action in the now-halted Sudanese league

The fighting has been particularly fierce in the capital, Khartoum

FROM ASIA

Ukraine war: ‘Mad panic’ as Russia evacuates town near Zaporizhzhia plant

Russia has sparked a “mad panic” as it evacuates a town near the contested Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant, a Ukrainian official says.

Russia has told people to leave 18 settlements in the Zaporizhzhia region, including Enerhodar near the plant, ahead of Kyiv’s anticipated offensive.

The Ukrainian mayor of Melitopol, Ivan Fedorov, said there were five-hour waits as thousands of cars left.

The UN’s nuclear watchdog warned a “severe nuclear accident” could occur.

Speaking to the BBC’s Newshour programme Rafael Grossi - the director of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA)said the evacuation of residents near the nuclear plant indicated the possibility of heavy fighting

between Russian and Ukrainian forces around the plant.

Although the plant’s reactors were not producing electricity they were still loaded with nuclear material, he said.

Mr Grossi added that he had had to travel through a minefield when he visited the plant a few weeks ago.

Earlier, the IAEA warned in a statement that situation at the Zaporizhzhia plant was “becoming increasingly unpredictable and potentially dangerous”.

Operating staff were still at the site but there was “deep concern about the increasingly tense, stressful, and challenging conditions for personnel and their families”.

It said IAEA experts at the plant had “received information that the announced evacuation of residents

Yevgeny Prigozhin: Wagner boss ‘promised ammunition’ after retreat threat

Russia’s Wagner Group boss says Moscow has agreed to his demands for more ammunition, days after he threatened to withdraw his men from Bakhmut.

On Thursday, Yevgeny Prigozhin attacked his Russian partners in a gruesome, expletivefilled rant, filmed among dozens of Wagner troops’ corpses.

The next day he said Wagner fighters would leave Bakhmut by 10 May.

But on Sunday Prigozhin said Moscow had agreed to provide the supplies “needed to continue fighting” in the city.

Prigozhin’s apparent U-turn is not a huge surprise. He is a publicity seeker who has not followed through on previous threats.

Russian troops and fighters from Wagner, a private military company, have been trying to capture Bakhmut for monthsdespite its questionable strategic value.

Western officials believe thousands of Russian and Wagner troops have been killed in the fighting, and the eastern Ukrainian city has become a symbolic prize.

Yet - although Russian troops and Wagner fighters are on the same side - it is an uneasy alliance.

Prigozhin has regularly criticised Russian officials for what he claims is a lack of frontline support.

In his new statement, Prigozhin claimed that Gen Sergei Surovikin - who commanded Russia’s forces in Ukraine between October and January - had been appointed to liaise between Russia’s regular military and Wagner mercenaries.

“This is the only man with the star of an army general who knows how to fight,” Prigozhin said. “No other army general is reasonable.”

While Prigozhin didn’t expressly reverse his pledge to withdraw troops from Bakhmut, he said his forces had been given permission to “act in Bakhmut as we see fit” - appearing to suggest they will remain.

The Kremlin has not commented on Prigozhin’s latest statement.

Wagner has its own set of commanders, objectives and motivations, and Prigozhin is widely believed to hold his own domestic political ambitions.

Defence Minister Sergei

Shoigu and Chief of the General Staff Valery Gerasimov have often been the focus for his anger, amid reports of infighting among different power groups in Vladimir Putin’s entourage.

In his statement on Thursday, Prigozhin raged: “Shoigu! Gerasimov! Where is the... ammunition?... They came here as volunteers and die for you to fatten yourselves in your mahogany offices.”

And he said Wagner’s casualties were “growing in geometrical progression every day” because of the lack of ammunition.

At the time, Ukrainian officials expressed scepticism that Prigozhin truly intended to withdraw his forces from Bakhmut.

Deputy Defence Minister Hanna Maliar said on Friday that Wagner was actually redeploying mercenaries towards Bakhmut in a bid to capture the city before Tuesday’s Victory Day celebrations in Russia.

In other developments in Ukraine and Russia:

• There was “mad panic” as Russia evacuated occupied towns near the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant

• A pro-war Russian writer is out of a coma, after his car was blown up by a car bomb

• Ukraine accused Russia of dropping white phosphorus bombs in Bakhmut

Arab League: Syria reinstated as Assad rehabilitation continues

Syria’s readmittance to the Arab League comes ahead of a meeting in Riyadh later this month

Syria is back in the influential Arab League, more than a decade after being thrown out for its brutal repression of pro-democracy protests, which led to the ongoing civil war.

The move is further evidence of a thaw in relations between Damascus and other Arab governments.

Syria’s readmittance was approved at a meeting of League members in Egypt.

It comes ahead of a summit in

Saudi Arabia later this month that President Bashar al-Assad may now attend.

In a statement, Syria’s foreign ministry said it had received the League’s decision “with great attention” and called for “greater Arab cooperation and partnership”.

Foreign ministers from 13 of the 22-nation group’s members were present when the decision to readmit Syria was taken.

They stressed the need to end Syria’s civil war and the resulting refugee and drug smuggling crises. Growing poverty and lack of job opportunities saw many turn to

the drug trade, the BBC reported last year.

A committee involving Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Lebanon, Jordan and Iraq will be set up to help Syria achieve those goals.

The Arab League’s secretary general, Ahmed Aboul Gheit, said the move was the start of a process to resolve the crisis in Syria, which would be “gradual”.

He stressed the decision did not mean a resumption of relationships between Arab states and Syria as it was up to each country to decide this individually.

More than 300,000 civilians are thought to have been killed and

more than 100,000 detained or disappeared during the civil war, according to UN estimates.

Roughly half of the pre-war population of 21 million has been displaced, either within Syria or as refugees abroad.

Mr Assad began to regain control over the country in 2015, with the help of Russia - forcing its neighbours to think of a future with Mr Assad in place.

Arab moves to restore ties accelerated after the devastating earthquake that hit Turkey and Syria in February.

Earlier this week, Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi visited

Mr Assad - with some analysts suggesting the visit put extra pressure on Arab nations to bring Syria back into the fold.

It follows visits by foreign ministers from Egypt and Saudi Arabia and the restoration of full diplomatic relations with Tunisia. Syria’s foreign minister has also recently visited several Arab countries as part of a diplomatic push.

The US and UK are among the Western countries that have recently stated they will not restore relations with President Assad’s government.

Source: BBC

The Ukrainian mayor of Melitopol, Ivan Fedorov, posted these pictures on Saturday evening of the “mad” five-hour queues to leave the evacuated area

Yevgeny Prigozhin has issued a series of angry statements at the Russian government in recent months

By Maryam Abeeb

Minister of Education, Malam Adamu Adamu, on Saturday expressed satisfaction over the conduct of the rescheduled 2023 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME).

Adamu, who alongside Registrar of the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB), Professor Ishaq Oloyede, monitored the exam at the Computer Based Test (CBT) centre located in Mambila Barrack’s, Asokoro, Abuja. expressed delight over the smooth conduct of the exercise.

He said : “I am very happy with what I have seen. The (temporary) holding room (for candidates) , and the arrangement in where they are taking the examination, I think everything is in order.

While saying no any negative incident was recorded in the conduct of the UTME at the CBT centre, the minister, however, made a case for a temporary holding place for candidates waiting for the scheduled time of the exam.

“Everything is okay, have you seen any problem? Perhaps they should have a class for the holding room, I think that is the only improvement they will make here,” Adamu said.

Meanwhile, JAMB’s Head of Public Affairs and Protocol, Dr Fabian Benjamin, in an interview on Saturday, said about 80,000 candidates, who could not sit for the 2023 UTME within their scheduled time owing to no fault of theirs, sat for the rescheduled UTME across the country.

According to the JAMB’s spokesperson, candidates affected include those who were verified at their centres but could not sit the examination, those who could not be biometrically verified, those with mismatched data, among others.

He said the deployment of

Minister expresses satisfaction as 80,000 candidates sit for rescheduled JAMB exam

innovations in the conduct of the exam paid off bountifully as the exercise recorded the lowest reported cases of infractions.

“In this year’s UTME, issue of examination malpractices was

reduced to almost zero level,” Fabian said.

On when the results of the rescheduled UTME would be released by the examination body, Fabian said the board’s

management will analyse the conduct of the exercise after its conclusion before it will a take decision on that.

Recall that the Board had on Tuesday released results of

candidates who had earlier took part in the exam, that commenced on Tuesday, 25th April.

A total of 1,586,765 candidates indicated interest in sitting for the 2023 UTME.

Nigeria needs school curriculum relevant to its needs -UNESCO

By Maryam Abeeb

The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation, UNESCO, has emphasised Nigeria’s need for a school curriculum that is relevant to its needs.

UNESCO’s Director for International Bureau of Education, IBE, Mr. Ydo Yao, stated this at a 4-day capacity building workshop organised by the UN agency for officials of the Ministry of Education,in Abuja.

The workshop is in line with the Transforming Education Summit, TES, held in New York in September 2022, which reiterated that TES must more than ever, be a priority for government, development partners, civil society, and multilateral agencies.

In a statement earlier on Monday, the UN agency said “the need for this action is evident in the triple crises of equity and inclusion, quality, and relevance of education.

“Part of the commitments toward addressing these crises is making curriculum relevant for assuring quality in education and ensuring that values, knowledge, and skills needed to thrive in present day complex world are transmitted through the education system.

“Curriculum is a central and irreplaceable component of any educational policy and pivotal in

the transformation of Education. To achieve SDG4 which seeks to “ensure equal access to quality education for all and promote lifelong learning opportunities”, there must be a rethinking of curriculum contents and pedagogical approaches.”

Speaking at the workshop in Abuja, Yao lamented that there are many Nigerians and Africans who have gone to school and are qualified but have no jobs because of their nature of training.

“First of all, is the relevance of learning. You know, there are many Nigerians and Africans who have gone to school. They are qualified. But they don’t have jobs. And this is a global challenge for Africa. And is because of the relevance of the trainings.

“Whereas we have some areas that are not exploited at all. And where there is a big potential of job creation. We are continuing to teach people, learners on areas that used to be very relevant in the past. Today they are no longer relevant but we are still continuing the same things for 40 years. So how are we rethinking our education to make sure what we are offering is really what is needed?

“These are questions that we need to ask and all these have to be part of a process of reforms that can be undertaken by people who are trained, and who have the skills to do it. And this training is about

that,” he said.

According to him, no education sector can be transformed if its curricula are not transformed, adding that curriculum is for education, what a constitution is for a democracy and that means it’s at the heart of education.

“So, when you talk about education, you are talking about content, programmes and learning. So, if you want to transform education, and you don’t transform what is at the core of it, which is the learning, the content and the programmes, your transformation has no meaning,” he said.

While stating that the school should not be a cemetery for culture, he said “schools, instead of being the place where I will go and lose what is going important for my culture, my community, school should rather be where I go, and I meet my culture.”

On his part, the Minister of State for Education, Hon. Goodluck Opiah, described the workshop as very apt and timely training and a step in the right direction, adding that this is the first time Nigeria will be benefiting from such gesture from UNESCOIBE in spite of being a member state, and the Nigerian Educational Research and Development Council (NERDC), serving as the President of IBE Council from 2014 to 2016.

Opiah said training and

capacity development are critical avenues for systems strengthening and repositioning of national operational frameworks for optimal performance.

He noted that since curriculum is dynamic, opportunities for capacity building on curriculum development and implementation should be regular to keep abreast with new knowledge and strategies.

The minister said “We recognize the fundamental role of curriculum in the drive for the attainment of globally agreed goals and country specific aspirations. It remains the singular instrument capable of transforming the human capital base of a nation for effective contribution to nation building and development.

The minister added that Nigeria is committed to the logical conclusion of all aspects of the curriculum review process.

Also speaking, the Executive Secretary of NERDC, Prof Ismail Junaidu, said the government was committed and deliberate in its vision to bring change to the Nigerian education sector as articulated in the Ministerial Strategic Plan, 2016 to 2018 and later 2018 – 2022.

Junaidu affirmed that the implementation of the Strategic Plan has yielded tremendous results both in terms of policy formulation and execution of critical projects for better education delivery.

Colleges of education to get TETFund sponsored books

Maryam Abeeb

2253 text books made up of 12 titles, sponsored by the Tertiary Education Trust Fund TETFund have been distributed to public federal and state colleges of education in the country.

The books were written by scholars of the Nigerian Academy of Education NAE.

At the book distribution during the 25th Conference of the Nigerian Academy of Education in Abuja, the Executive Secretary of TETFund Sonny Echono said the TETFund would continue to support the production of vital text books for use in public tertiary institutions.

Mr Echono said TETFund would sustain the partnership with the Nigerian Academy of Education and described academy as

the mother of all academics in the country whose members have been at the fore front of pursuing the dissemination and spread of knowledge and development of skills in children.

According to Echono ‘’TETFund is proud to associate with the mother of all academics, the Nigerian Academy of education has been at the fore front of pursuing the dissemination, spread of knowledge, development of skill and the holding of it amogst our children, and for generations they have been doing this’’.

The TETFund boss noted that books are important asset for a country’s growth and catalyst for mental growth and social integration.

‘’Books are the bedrock of all learning whether in digital or hard format, books

play a very important role as reference materials for scholars, students and all who seek knowledge’’ .

The Executive Secretary of the National Commission for Colleges of Education Prof. Paulinus Okwelle while appreciating TETFund for the books called for the inclusion of Private colleges of Education as beneficiaries to improve their libraries.

‘’I want to appreciate TETFund for the much they are doing in both human and capacity building and infrastructure. I want to make a request if you don’t mind, next time let us include some of these private colleges of education, we are all producing the same NCE, in any way, we can to assist them by enriching their libraries so that they will not have issues when we go for accreditation’’ .

The Chairman, Committee of Provost Colleges of Education Professor Farouk Haruna urged TETFund to sustain the efforts of supporting local production of Text books by Nigerians scholars.

Professor said books are at the heart of colleges of education.

The President of the Nigerian Academy of Education professor Kabiru Isyaku said group Serve as a forum for Nigerian educationists at the highest level, whose opinion on education commands professional authority and respect.

He explained that the academy strive to improve the quality of education throughout the country by taking the initiative to express views on plans, programmes, policy and practice in education.

Afghanistan: ‘Nothing we can do but watch babies die’

Three-month-old Tayabullah is quiet and motionless. His mother Nigar moves the oxygen pipe away from his nose and puts a finger below his nostrils to check if she can feel him breathing.

She begins to cry as she realises her son is fading.

At this hospital in Afghanistan, there is not a single working ventilator.

Mothers hold oxygen tubes near their babies’ noses because masks designed to fit their small faces are not available, and the women are trying to fill in for what trained staff or medical equipment should do.

Every day, 167 children die in Afghanistan from preventable diseases, according to the UN children’s fund Unicef - illnesses that could and should be cured with the right medication.

It is a staggering number. But it’s an estimate.

And when you step inside the paediatric ward of the main hospital in the western province of Ghor, you will be left wondering if that estimate is too low.

Multiple rooms are full of sick children, at least two in each bed, their little bodies ravaged by pneumonia. Just two nurses look after 60 children.

In one room, we saw at least two dozen babies who appeared to be in a serious condition. The children should have been continuously monitored in critical careimpossible at this hospital.

Yet, for the million people who live in Ghor, this basic facility is still the best equipped public hospital they can access.

Public healthcare in Afghanistan has never been adequate, and foreign money which almost entirely funded it was frozen in August 2021 when the Taliban seized power. Over the past 20 months, we have visited hospitals and clinics across this country, and witnessed them collapsing.

Now the Taliban’s recent ban on women working for NGOs means it’s becoming harder for humanitarian agencies to operate, putting even more children and babies at risk.

Already defeated by a lack of resources, medics at the Ghor hospital used whatever little they had to try to revive Tayabullah.

Dr Ahmad Samadi was called in to check his condition, fatigue and stress visible on his face. He put a stethoscope to Tayabullah’s chestthere was a faint heartbeat.

Nurse Edima Sultani rushed in with an oxygen pump. She put it over Tayabullah’s mouth, blowing air into it. Then Dr Samadi used his thumbs to perform compressions

on the boy’s tiny chest.

Watching on looking stricken was Tayabullah’s grandfather Ghawsaddin. He told us his grandson was suffering from pneumonia and malnutrition.

“It took eight hours on rubble roads to bring him here from our district Charsadda,” Ghawsaddin said. The family, who can only afford to eat dry bread for meals, scraped together money to pay for the ride.

For half an hour, the efforts to revive his grandson continued. Nurse Sultani then turned towards Nigar and told her Tayabullah had died.

The sudden silence which had enveloped the room was broken by Nigar’s sobs. Her baby boy was wrapped in a blanket and handed over to Ghawsaddin. The family carried him home.

Tayabullah should be aliveevery disease he had was curable.

“I’m also a mother and when I saw the baby die, I felt like I’ve lost my own child. When I saw his mother weeping, it broke my heart. It hurt my conscience,” said Nurse Sultani, who frequently does 24hour shifts.

“We don’t have equipment and there is a lack of trained staff, especially female staff. When we are looking after so many in serious conditions, which child should we check on first? There’s nothing we can do but watch babies die.”

Minutes later, in the room next door, we saw another child in severe distress, with an oxygen mask on her face, struggling to breathe.

Two-year-old Gulbadan was born with a heart defect, a condition called patent ductus arteriosus. It was diagnosed six months ago at this hospital.

Doctors have told us the condition is not uncommon or hard to treat. But Ghor’s main hospital is not equipped to perform routine surgery that could fix it. It also doesn’t have the medicines she needs.

Gulbadan’s grandmother Afwa Gul held down her small arms, to try to prevent the little girl from pulling down her mask.

“We borrowed money to take her to Kabul, but we couldn’t afford surgery, so we had to bring her back,” she said. They approached an NGO to get financial help. Their details were registered but there’s been no response since then.

Gulbadan’s father Nawroze stroked her forehead, trying to soothe his daughter who winced with every breath she took. Stress etched on his face, he pursed his lips and let out a sigh of resignation. He told us Gulbadan had recently

We borrowed money to take her to Kabul, but we couldn’t afford surgery, so we had to bring her back,” she said. They approached an NGO to get financial help. Their details were registered but there’s been no response since then

begun to talk, forming her first words, calling out to him and other members of their family.

“I’m a labourer. I don’t have a stable income. If I had money, she would never have suffered this way. At this moment, I can’t even afford to buy one cup of tea,” he said.

I asked Dr Samadi how much oxygen Gulbadan needs.

“Two litres every minute,” he said. “When this cylinder gets empty, if we don’t find another one, she will die.”

When we went back later to check on Gulbadan, we were told that’s exactly what had happened. The oxygen cylinder had run out, and she died.

The oxygen production unit at the hospital isn’t able to produce sufficient oxygen because it only has power at night, and there isn’t a steady supply of raw material.

In a matter of a few hours, two children died of diseases that could have been prevented or cured. It’s a crushing but all too familiar blow for Dr Samadi and his colleagues.

“I feel exhaustion and agony. Every day we lose one or two beloved children of Ghor. We have almost got accustomed to it now,” he said.

Walking around the rooms, we saw an overwhelming number of children in distress. One-year-old Sajad’s breathing was raspy. He’s suffering from pneumonia and meningitis.

In another bed is Irfan. When his breathing became more laboured, his mother Zia-rah was given another oxygen pipe to hold near his nose.

Wiping tears that rolled down her cheeks with her upper arm, she carefully held both pipes as steady as she could. She told us she would have brought Irfan to the hospital at least four or five days earlier if the roads had not been blocked by snow.

So many simply can’t make it to hospital, and others choose not to stay once they get there.

“Ten days ago a child was brought here in a very critical condition,” Nurse Sultani said. “We gave him an injection, but we didn’t

have the medicines to cure him.

“So his father decided to take him home. ‘If he has to die, let him die at home’,” he told me.

Mothers sit alongside children with oxygen cylinders - but the hospital is unable to provide sufficient quantities

What we saw in Ghor raises serious questions about why public healthcare in Afghanistan is crumbling so quickly, when billions of dollars were poured into it by the international community for 20

years until 2021.

Where was that money spent, if a provincial hospital doesn’t have a single ventilator for its patients?

Currently there is a stop-gap arrangement in place. Because money can’t be given directly to the internationally unrecognised Taliban government, humanitarian agencies have stepped in to fund salaries of medical staff and the cost of medicines and food, that are just about keeping hospitals like the one in Ghor running. Source; BBC

Tayabullah breathes oxygen through a tube held by his mother

Mothers are left distraught at this Afghanistan hospital where children die of preventable or curable diseases

There are no oxygen masks in the hospital small enough to fit a baby’s face

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Algeria 2023: Golden Eaglets overpower South Africa 3-2 to reach quarter-finals

Nigeria sailed into the last eight of the Africa U17 Cup of Nations in Algeria with a 3-2 defeat of South Africa’s Amajimbo in an interesting encounter in Constantine on Saturday night.

Five-time world champions Nigeria, who pipped Zambia 1-0 in their opening match but then lost by the same margin to Morocco in their second game, fell behind as early as the 6th minute when Amajimbo drew the first blood by converting from their very first corner kick.

The Eaglets had the ball in the net four minutes later but it was ruled off-side. They continued to knock as Tockukwu Ogbadibo’s shot proved too weak to trouble the opposing goalkeeper and Light Eke’s header missed target.

Charles Agada, who also had been knocking on the door, brought Nigeria level in the 33rd minute when he nodded into the net from a corner kick with South Africa’s goalkeeper in no man’s land.

South Africa shot ahead once more but Light Eke restored Nigeria into the game two minutes after the restart.

Abubakar Abdullahi shot Nigeria into the lead for the first time in the match in the 63rd minute, and it remained that way as the Eaglets finished with six points and in second place in Group B, behind Morocco who also ended with six points but with superior goals difference.

Sports minister congratulates Victor Osimhen

Minister

of Sports and Youths Development, Honourable

Sunday Dare has led millions of plaudits in Nigeria and the diaspora in congratulating Super Eagles striker, Victor Osimhen for his remarkable achievement, in propelling his Italian Serie A Club, SSC Napoli to winning the 2022/23 Championship.

Having sidestepped the opportunity of winning it in their last home game, Oshimen clinched the title, by scoring the equalizer for Napoli, in their 1-1 draw at Udinese, a point that gave the Gli Azzurris (Blues) an unavailable 80 points, from 33 games, 16 points clear of SS Lazio and sent thousands of their fans, at the Diego Armando Maradona Stadium into a frenzy, chanting “Oshimen! Oshimen!! Oshimen!!!”

In applauding Osimhen, Dare noted that the 24 year old has succeeded in imprinting his name in the folklore of Italian football and sports; by becoming only the second Nigerian, after legendary

Obafemi Akinwunmi Martins to win the Italian Serie A Championship.

Osimhen’s exploits in the colour of Napoli can never be undermined, having scored 22 league goals so far this season, dwarfed the record of 21 held by Samuel Eto’o Fils; and still got fivr matches, to set a new record as the golden booth winner - the first from Nigeria.

The likes of Odion Ighalo, Ahmed Musa, Obafemi Martins, Kelechi Iheanacho, Fábio Cannavaro, Mario Balotelli and other well known football players have joined in the worldwide celebration of Osimhen, the Poster Boy of both Napoli and the Super Eagles of Nigeria, in light of his recent achievement.

The 52 minute goal scored by Osimhen, ended the 33 years wait for another Sccudetto for Napoli; for whom legendary Argentine captain, Diego Maradona is credited with almost single handedly delivered their first two titles in 1987 and 1990.

Golden Eaglets

Victor Osimhen

Argentina 2023: Nigeria’s Flying Eagles arrive in Buenos Aires

The delegation of two-time runnersup Nigeria have arrived in Buenos Aires, capital of Argentina for a 10-day camping programme ahead of this year’s FIFA U20 World Cup finals. A contingent of 20 players and 10 officials departed the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja on Saturday night aboard a Turkish Airline flight and travelled through Istanbul before

heading to the “land of the Pampas”. With a record of having finished with the silver medals in 1989 and 2005, and with the bronze medals in 1985, the Flying Eagles are hoping to break the duck and collect the top prize in their 13th appearance at a tournament they first graced in Mexico 40 years ago.

That year, they stunned then Soviet Union 1-0 through a well-taken goal by

Tarila Okorowanta in Monterrey, but then lost 0-3 to Brazil in their second game in Guadalajara. Needing victory to reach the knock-out round, the Flying Eagles could only draw with The Netherlands in their final group game in Monterrey.

Nigeria has been slotted in Group D for this year’s championship and will play Dominican Republic, Italy and

Brazil in that order in the group phase. Their first two games will hold in Mendoza, in the far west of Argentina, against the Dominican Republic on 21 May and against Italy on 24 May, before they fly to La Plata to play Brazil on 27 May.

La Plata, Santiago del Estero, San Juan and Mendoza are the four host cities for the 24-nation championship.

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Erling Haaland: Manchester City striker chasing Dixie Dean record after 50th goal of season

Bola Ahmed Tinubu: How will it end?

Often people ask me why I write on certain topics and issues all the time, like bashing the government, and seeing very little good in people in government and government actions and my takes on education, health and power, conflict, politics of ethnicity and more.

My answer is that I do because I believe that such subjects are important for Nigeria and Nigerians as they are for other nations, but when it appears to me Nigerians and our leaders particularly do not react to these topics the way they should, I repeat them in new essays to remind old readers and recruit new ones to participate in the continuing dialogue.

Guest Columnist

By Prince Charles Dickson, Ph.D

be proud, arrogant, think too highly of himself or talk rudely to his subjects, he will go into that room and once he sees all his hunting instruments and dresses; they remind him of his humble beginning and make him humble the more.

There will be a need to create a balance with intellect, hard work and patriotism in the zoning thing that has led us nowhere. How Mr. Bola is able to come out with any fascinating cabinet that will thrill Nigerians is a big question. For example, the questions to be answered will be what will the Ministry of water resources do differently, as many Nigerians would want to see water run from a tap courtesy of their effort.

of ‘elephant and hippo’ projects.

Another day, another goal for Erling Haaland - with even his manager surprised at the latest incredible statistic from the Manchester City striker’s recordbreaking season.

Haaland converted a thirdminute penalty in City’s 2-1 win over Fulham, a result that took Pep Guardiola’s side back to the top of the Premier League and a step closer to their fifth title in six seasons.

It was the 22-year-old’s 50th goal of the campaign in all competitions, following his £51.2m move from Borussia Dortmund in June.

The spot-kick took the Norwegian forward past Clive Allen’s mark of 49 goals for Tottenham back in 1986-87.

Haaland has now scored the most goals by a top-flight player for 92 years - since Tom ‘Pongo’ Waring reached 50 for Aston Villa in 193031, when Ramsay MacDonald was the UK prime minister.

Waring’s tally came in a season when Arsenal were champions, ahead of Villa, Sheffield Wednesday and Portsmouth, with Manchester United bottom and relegated from the old First Division, along with Leeds.

“Before Winston Churchill was prime minister? Wow. Sounds a long time ago,” was Guardiola’s reaction to hearing the latest Haaland-related statistic.

Like we say in local parlance the May 29 don nearly reach, except events of seismic proportion happens, and I know it won’t happen at the court, Mr. Bola Ahmed Tinubu would be President. He comes on board with so much expectation and with so many problems, such is the fundamental nature of the problems that they have become part of us. However on many occasions we have been provided with the opportunity to get it right but many times we let go of such moments.

The just concluded Presidential polls, presents such moment again, while I have refused to discuss the elections, not as an act of cowardice, but truly, who am I, to discuss, an election many think was fairly accurate despite all the controversies, and many others see as having further divided the nation, or one that has realigned the nation.

There was this young, poor and wretched hunter. His family was nothing to write home about. He was very poor and miserable.

One day, the king of his village died and when they consulted the oracle, this young man was picked to be the next king despite the fact that his lineage has nothing to do with the kingship.

On the day of coronation, he wept so bitterly as he could not imagine the crown being put on his poor head.

He said that the room was the most beautiful room in the whole palace.

Though what was in that room was not beautiful, they helped him remain humble before GOD and men. In addition, it also gave him a beautiful and peaceful reign, and perspectives.

Already there is a call for time and patience, how much of it, we have only time will tell, our experience is that the government has to start all over again and the same old music is remixed and a few months after we notice the same old thread in action.

And fearfully, the same issues that the last administration sought to solve or made comic off, are the same ones we will face again.

Bola Tinubu has to, not just by his will but by his powers, thread a new path–or else we may still tow the known path. It is the only road we know for now…road contracts that will be abandoned, commissioning of hospitals without facilities. Schools that would be neglected, strikes within various sectors of the economy amongst many short and longfalls will characterize the administration with a couple of its own fair share

As Tinubu is sworn in, and he prepares his cabinet, I am not one of those that will really bother about whether he has a kitchen cabinet or even has a kitchen in the first place. The fact is that one; the kitchen belongs to his wife, whether as wife of the president or first lady…so I would concern myself to his ministers and yes men, and of course women.

The incoming president must stand his ground, we already are starting on a combination of contradictions, whether it is the people’s mandate, with all the ranting and noise, or INEC mandate only posterity will judge.

The fact is that Mr. Bola, will be in the first line of offensive, he will be between making sure it’s not business as usual and settling politicians with aggrieved pockets on one hand. Mr. Bola will have to resist the temptation to be Minister for Petroleum, or give Mr. Shetima his veepee the power to be this or that, he should be wary of the politics of senior special assistant or some commission or body doing something and nothing about one industry or sector.

Whoever he picks, or someone suggests and demands, or the party hierarchy nominates, for whatever position, the administration is already faced with a conglomerate of jobless politicians, jobbers and ex-this and that, who require settlement of one form or the other. Can Bola damn them?

Bola Ahmed Tinubu is going to be faced with giving or sharing the bounty for very mundane reasons. Ministers who failed as governors, legislators who contributed nothing and persons who lost elections and others whose father and mother was former this, and former that will be everywhere.

Mr. Bola must stop sharing the cake; he needs to shock Nigerians by his appointments. This is my admonishment, Mr. Bola…does not have an enviable job but with passion he can make it a worthwhile one and start to leave a legacy. Get off all the talk, because it is cheap and could come back to hunt and haunt him.

Nigerians want Ministers, advisers, and aides, legislators that will perform miracles. For a nation that has a very low expectation ratio, for sure we are ‘not’ asking for the impossible from Mr. Bola considering the rot he has to contend with, but he must importantly often go into that room, seek inspiration from that room, he must tell the truth…he must be transparent, and accountability to man and God, and Nigerians, how it will end—only time tell!

Dickson is a public affairs commentator

May Day: Pay serious attention to workers welfare in your govt -Lawan tells Tinubu

After the coronation, he asked that an extra room should be built in the palace compound and the things to be kept in that room are just his catapult, hunting boots, hunting dresses and all his hunting instruments.

Anytime he is tempted to

Taye Taiwo and Oduamadi

“Congratulations to Erling. The best goals to help us achieve what we want is still [to come] there.

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Busy body!

DANDANGAIGAYE

Bola Ahmed Tinubu is going to be faced with giving or sharing the bounty for very mundane reasons. Ministers who failed as governors, legislators who contributed nothing and persons who lost elections and others whose father and mother was former this, and former that will be everywhere