Thursday, June 8, 2023 Edition

President Bola Tinubu and State Governors in a group photograph after their meeting, at the State House, yesterday in Abuja.

Photo: State House

Emotions, cry for forgiveness trail Reps valedictory session

• Young Nigerians have lost hope in our system - Gbajabiamila laments

• regrets inability to remove constitutional barriers against women participation in politics

• 9th House , most productive Assembly with 2232 Bills - Fulata

By Christiana Ekpa

TheValedictory Session of the 9th House of Representatives was yesterday marked with Emotions as some members of the House were asking repeatedly that their collegues should forgive them of all the errors, offenses and mistakes they may have committed during the four years they spent together as lawmakers.

This was just as the Speaker of the House, Femi Gbajabiamila decried that many young Nigerians have lost hope in the system and are leaving the country in droves to seek their fortunes in a white man County

It was gathered that some members were having issues among themselves over sharing formula in the Committees as well as others.

Speaker Gbajabiamila disclosed this while giving his valedictory session of the 9th House on Wednesday in Abuja at the National Assembly complex.

He said the trend that has created the mind set in the young Nigerians must be stopped, stating that a healthy vigorous growing economy that would provide opportunities for all who work hard to succeed through their labour and ingenuity.

He also observed that adequate security must also be provided to protect the lives and property of the people.

He said: “Despite the considerable investments we have made to improve our public infrastructure and the numerous reforms we have enacted to change how we administer the government, our country faces many significant challenges.

“These challenges have caused many of our fellow citizens to wonder if the promise of democracy will ever become real in their lives. Too many of our young people have lost faith entirely and are choosing in droves to seek their fortunes and their futures in other lands. We are losing some of our best and brightest, and if we don’t act now, the consequences of this loss will shortly become painfully evident.

“How do we ensure a healthy, vigorous, growing economy that provides opportunities for all who work

hard to succeed through their labour and ingenuity? How do we protect our people from the marauders and insurgents, the petty criminals and assorted villains who wish to harm them, whether for profit or in service of other agendas? How do we restore faith in our young people so that so many of them no longer feel like the only way to achieve their best aspirations is to chase their fortunes in far away, often hostile lands? These are the critical questions all of us in government must answer or risk the unforgiving judgment of history. With each new day, we have an opportunity to make the hard choices and take the necessary actions to guarantee our nation’s future. With each new day, we have less time to act and a more outstanding obligation to act quickly”.

Gbajabiamila also highlighted the many feats of the 9th House which has resulted in many legislative legacies which includes the Companies and Allied Matters Act (CAMA), Nigeria Start-Up Act, Electoral Act, constitutional review process, financial independence for State Houses of Assembly and State judiciary, as well as successful interventions in labour disputes.

Others achievements of the House according to him are the January to December budget cycle, the Petroleum Industry Act and the Police Act amongst others.

“These reforms did not end police misbehaviour in our country; soon enough, there was a national reckoning. We responded by working with the Nigeria Bar Association (NBA) to establish a new framework of accountability to hold erring members of the Police Force to account for their conduct in the performance of their duties and compel the Nigerian Police Force (NPF) to take responsibility for the failures of training and discipline that leads to such wrongful conduct.

“And we appropriated the sum of Five Hundred Million Naira through the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) to compensate victims of police brutality nationwide.

“I sincerely hope that the work of

police reform will continue in the House of Representatives until we achieve a system of policing that meets our nation’s needs and reflects the best of us”, he said.

He lamented the inability to remove constitutional barriers that have stood in the way of women’ participation in the politics.

He therefore urged the incoming 10th house of Representatives to do their best in removing some of the constitutional barriers that have long stood in the way of women’s full and unhindered participation in the politics, governance and economy of the country.

“To succeed in our shared ambition of building a prosperous and peaceful country, we must do everything within our power to ensure that our daughters and those yet to be born can grow up in a more open, more equal society than their mothers did.

“Unfortunately, we did not succeed in removing some of the constitutional barriers that have long stood in the way of women’s full and unhindered participation in the politics, governance and economy of our nation. This issue must continue to be at the fore of our national conversations. I hope the 10th House of Representatives will take up the mantle and do better than we did”, he added.

Speaker Gbajabiamila who has just been appointed as the Chief Of Staff to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, assure that he will work to ensure a good relationship between the executive and legislature, while respecting the independence of the legislature.

“This fundamental belief in the responsibility of government to be a force for good has been my guiding light. It will continue to be so in my new endeavours. I humbly ask for your prayers and support in this new chapter.

“I assure you that in this new role, I will work to ensure a cordial and productive relationship between the executive and legislative arms of government whilst respecting the independence and prerogatives of the legislature.

“The 9th House of Representatives

is ending, and the 10th will shortly be convened. All of us, those whose time in office is ending, and those for whom duty continues, will face the judgment of history. I urge you to keep this in mind and let your actions be guided by the desire to ensure that you are not found wanting by man or God in the final judgment”, he said.

This valedictory session brings to an end the 9th House which adjorned Sine Die.

Come June 13 which is approximately less than 7days from today, the 10th Assembly would be inaugurated by the president and commander in chief of the armed forces, Bola Ahmed Tinubu, marking the beginning of the new legislative year which would run for the next 4 years.

It is expected that the 10th House of Representatives would keep up the works of the 9th House, improve on the work already and increase legislation.

Also the Chairman of House Rules and Business, Hon. Fulata Abubakar has disclosed that 9th Assembly is most productive of all Assemblies in the history of the National Assembly.

Be said, “I want to authoritatively inform this House that the 9th Assembly is most productive of all Assemblies in the history of the National Assembly. And here are the statistics; the 9th Assembly processed 2232 bills. Out of these bills, 52 are executive bills, 163 are bills from the Senate and 2017 are members bills.

“Mr speaker, out of these figures still, bills awaiting second reading are 1197. Bills refered to committees 581. Bills reported by the Committees 275. Bills pending in the committee 308. Bills within the Committee of the Whole, 106. Bills laid on table awaiting consideration 64. Bill far passed 510. Bills killed (negatived) 13 and bills withdrawn by their sponsors 5.

“The House also passed 2000 motions in total.Mr Speaker, all these could not have been achieved without your able leadership and that of your Deputy, Ahmed Idris Wase who is also Chairman, Committee of the Whole”, he said.

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

Photo: Mahmud Isa

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

From Mika’il Tsoho, Dutse

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

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

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

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

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

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

Procuring machines to engrave security features on E-Passport will cost N22bn - Reps tell Tinubu

By Christiana Ekpa

House of Representatives, Tuesday, said that procuring the relevant machines that will engrave security features on Nigerian E-Passport will cost the federal government at least N22 billion.

The House therefore advised against terminating a contract with private firm, Iris Smart Technologies Limited, for the production of electronic passport booklets.

These followed a report report by the House Ad-Hoc Committee to Investigate the Proposed Domestication and Processing of Nigerian International Passports which recommendations were considered by the House.

The report presented by Hon. Ibrahim Muhammad Hafiz stated that the production of 10 million booklets by the firm would be stalled.

The committee also explained that an e-passport project was technology based and not a security printing task, as with the Machine-Readable Passport era adding that the security printing aspect of an e-passport constituted only 13 per cent of the various components of an e-passport booklet and that the domestication of the

manufacturing of e-passport booklets does not eliminate the need for foreign exchange and importation of components.

The committee also explained that an e-passport booklet was an active electronic device, as opposed to the old MRP, which is a merely printed booklet; that the chip embedded in the e-passport has a security access module that allows for a ‘handshake’ with and amongst other devices and equipment within the e-passport network; and that the system does not allow the “infiltration” or use of non-prequalified third-party devices or other booklets within the network.

The committee said that the current management of the NIS initiated the domestication process, requiring 90 to 180 days to fully implement the process and other processes of the passport will solve the issue of scarcity.

Hafiz further said that “time will be of the essence if the contract expressly states it or if there are clauses to show that parties intended time to be of the essence. It will be to the legal detriment of the federal government to unilaterally terminate this agreement for any reason until it runs its course, which is the production of 10 million e-passports or

the current remainder under the circumstances. The Central Bank of Nigeria and the Nigerian Security Printing and Minting Plc should be further advised to abide by this opinion in the overall best interest of the Federal Government, in order not to incur unnecessary liability on our lean financial resources through avoidable litigation or other costlier dispute resolution mechanisms.

“Since the current domestication project was initiated by the Nigerian Immigration Service, in conjunction with the Infrastructure Concession Regulatory Commission, and based on the reports and presentations by all the relevant stakeholders, especially the ICRC, the process was fair, equitable, transparent, and followed all international standards. Therefore, the process should be allowed to be concluded. There are over N22 billion worth of systems and equipment, both local and international, in this secured e-passport network. Therefore, if a new booklet solution provider is appointed, this technology infrastructure would have to be discarded. This investment would be lost, and a new network must be purchased

Fintiri appoints SSG, HOS

From Umar Dankano,Yola

The Adamawa state Governor Ahmadu Umaru Fintiri has approved the appointments of Hon.Auwal D.Tukur and Dr. Edgar Amos as Secretary to the State Government (SSG) and Chief of Staff (COS) to the Governor respectively.

Disclosing the development through a press release issued in Yola Wednesday by the Chief Press Secretary (CSP) to the Governor, Humwashi Wonosikou indicated that the appointments were with immediate effect.

“Adamawa State Governor, Rt Hon Ahmadu Umaru Fintiri has approved the appointment of Hon Awwal D. Tukur as the Secretary to the State Government (SSG).

“Governor Fintiri has also approved the appointment of Dr Edgar Amos as Chief of Staff Government House.

“The appointments takes immediate effect”.

However, the newly appointed SSG,Hon Awwal is the biological son to former National Chairman of the PDP and former Governor of Gongola state in the second republic,Alhaji Bamanga Tukur.

Auwal was also a former Member of the House of Representatives from 2003 to 2007 under President Olusegun Obasanjo’s second tenure. He served as the Director General of the Adamawa Presidential and Gubernatorial Campaign Council in the 2023 just concluded elections.

Meanwhile, Dr.Amos was a renown public affairs analyst and a former National president of Association of vetenary practitioners of Nigeria.

Amos was the immediate past

Head of Civil Service in the state. According to the release, with the appointment of Dr Amos now, Shehu Isa Ardo takes over as Head of the Civil Service. Political pundits in the state

congratulated the appointees, saying Governor Fintiri has addressed the brewing controversy surrounding the “insinuation” of re-appointing former SSG. Mal. Bashir Ahmed

and implemented at a greater cost to the Federal Government.”

In a rated development, the House while considering the COVID-19 report, recommended that its Committee be renamed Standing Committee on Epidemic and Pandemics to oversight relevant MDAs involved.

Other recommendations by the committee were “that the country to priorities selfsufficiency in drugs, health commodities and vaccine production, in addition aim to be the main supplier of these in the West African Sub-Region, that all Molecular Laboratories, Intensive Care Centres, isolation wards and oxygen plants established across the country be maintained and updated regulatory so that the country will be ready for any eventually.

“That Public Health Emergency Operation Centres be established at the Federal and State levels. Incident management system be deployed to man these centres with personal drown from, Health, Environment, Water Resources, Information, Education, Aviation/Transportation, and Agric Ministries. This will ensure the country will be in State of readiness at all time for Epidemics or Pandemics.”

who accused of creating more enemies for the government due to his alleged highhandedness and arrogance.

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

Katsina gov commends Tinubu for appointment of Akume, Gbajabiamila

Katsina State Governor, Dikko Umaru Radda, has described the appointments of Rt. Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila and Senator George Akume as Chief of Staff (CoS) and Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF) as appropriate and well deserved.

In congratulating the two appointees, Governor Radda conveyed his warmest felicitations to the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rt. Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila on his recent appointment as CoS by Mr President, His Excellency Bola Ahmed Tinubu GCFR.

Governor Radda said, “Indeed, your appointment is considered in many quarters as a round peg in a round hole given your wealth of experience and service to the country over the years.”

Governor Radda added, “We have no doubt that you will bring to bear your deep legislative knowledge and robust administrative experience in ensuring the smooth running of the Office of the President and support the government to provide the required leadership for the development and progress of our country.

“Be rest assured that our prayers and support are always with you as you take on the responsibilities of this high office.”

In a similar message to Senator George Akume, the newly appointed Secretary to the Federal Government, Governor Radda expressed confidence that the new SGF would deliver considering his wealth of experience at both the state and federal levels.

He said, “This is a huge accomplishment and one that we are very proud of. Your hard work and dogged determination to get things done right are hallmark of your character over the years.

“We are confident that you will bring to bear your wealth of experience to bear in the discharge of the responsibilities of your office. We wish you the best and success in your efforts to set in motion the machinery of government to improve the lives of all Nigerians.”

Tinubu seeks European Council support to fight poverty, insecurity

By Egena Sunday Ode

President Bola Tinubu on Wednesday called on the European Union to assist Nigeria and Africa in strengthening security and economic development to alleviate poverty in the continent.

The President spoke during a telephone conversation with the President of the European Council, Mr. Charles Michel, Director of Information, State House, Abiodun Oladunjoye,

stated in a statement on Wednesday.

The European Council is the EU institution that defines the general political direction and priorities of the European Union.

According to President Tinubu, Nigeria and the whole of Africa would require the help and partnership of her friends and development partners like the EU to address the excruciating poverty in the continent.

While requesting the EU to look at specific areas of security challenges like the Lake Chad and coastal areas, the President promised to remain in contact with the European Union and other member states, the statement said.

He said poverty and insecurity were priority areas for his administration and he would do all that was required to address them.

The Council president used the opportunity of the telephone

conversation to once again congratulate President Tinubu over his election.

While pledging the commitment of the Council towards a stronger cooperation and partnership with Nigeria based on mutual respect and common interests, he pointed out that Nigeria is important to the EU and the International Community.

Mr Michel urged the Nigerian leader to continue to work with the EU in all relevant areas.

UBEC builds teachers capacity in SMASE, Jolly Phonics for effective teaching

By Maryam Abeeb

The Universal Basic Education Commission, UBEC has organised workshop to build teachers capacity on Strengthening of Mathematics and Science Education (SMASE) and jolly phonics program for teachers across the country.

The Executive Secretary of UBEC, Dr. Hamid Bobboyi during his remark at the workshop for dissemination of impact assessment report of SMASE and jolly phonics programme held in Abuja, explained programmes have been implemented over ten years in the UBE programmes.

The ES who was represented by Professor Bala Zakari noted that SMASE has been a major programmes that has helped in strengthening the study of

science and mathematics in basic education.

According to him, the commission has continuously inject the Teachers Professional Development, (TPD) fund into the training of teachers in order to build teachers capacity in SMASE.

“The two programmes have been implemented over ten years in the UBE programmes. I make bold to say that SMASE has been a major programme that has helped in strengthening the study of science and mathematics in the UBE. In any developed world or any nation aspiring for technological development, the priority given to the study of science and mathematics is always high. Nigeria is not left out in this aspiration for technological and science advancement.

“Having adopted SMASE

after its introduction by JICA in 2006 and piloted in 3 States of Kaduna, Plateau and Niger has also placed the teaching of science and mathematics with the methodology prescribed in the SMASE programme in a place of priority.

“After the handing over of the programme, UBEC took it upon itself to continously inject the TPD fund into the training of teachers in order to build their capacity in SMASE. This is because of the pivotal roles teachers play in the delivery of the programme,” he noted.

The ES said that jolly phonics programme has been adopted as the flagship programme of the Commission on early grade reading.

He stated that it is important to underscore the relevance of

reading in the life of a learner, noting that a learner who is able to read early in life is not likely to drop out and certainly is assured of success as the foundation for further learning and self- development has been built.

“It is in view of this fact that the Commission adopted the Jolly phonics programme and its methodology in building the capacity of teachers in basic education to enable them effectively teach reading in schools,” he added

Further speaking, the Director Teachers Development, Aleshin Olumayowa in an interview with pressmen at the programme, said that SMASE is use to train teachers on how to improvise, and how to help learners in learning science and mathematics.

L-R: Former Secretary to the Government of the Federation(SGF) Mr Boss Mustapha handing over the document to the New Secretary to the Government of the Federation( SGF ) Sen George Akume during the handing over and taking over ceremony, yesterday in Abuja. Photo: Justin imo-owo

Subisdy removal: Govs rally support for Tinubu

...We must tame poverty, President says ...Urges govs to bury political differences

By Egena Sunday Ode

State

Governors on Wednesday said they were solidly behind President Bola Tinubu’s decision to end fuel subsidy regime in the country, and other early policy initiatives of the administration aimed at improving the welfare of the populace.

The governors, who took turns to speak when the President hosted members of the Nigerian Governors’ Forum (NGF), led by its chairman, AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq of Kwara State, at the State House, expressed happiness with the President’s subsidyremoval decision, all-inclusive leadership and statesmanship.

Recall that the at his inauguration on May 29 publicly declared that petrol subsidy was gone, a pronouncement that led to instant rise in the pump price of the product and consequent threats of strike by workers unions.

The Nigeria Labour Congress in particular had scheduled Wednesday, June 7 for commencement of the industrial

action but changed its mind at the last minute after a meeting with officials of government where the matter was said to have been ironed out.

The governors at the meeting congratulated President Tinubu for tackling the fuel subsidy behemoth, promising to work with him to ameliorate the short-term impact of the decision.

President Tinubu had earlier called on the governors to collaborate with the Federal Government in tackling the menace of poverty in the country, saying the level of impoverishment was unacceptable.

The President advised the political leaders to downplay their differences and jointly focus on alleviating the sufferings and pains of the people.

“We can see the effects of poverty on the faces of our people. Poverty is not hereditary, it is from the society. Our position is to eliminate poverty. Set aside partisan politics, we are here to deliberate about Nigeria and nation-building,’’ he said.

President Tinubu stated that the

nation should be seen as one big family.

“We are a family occupying one house, and sleeping in different rooms. If we see it that way and push forward, we will get our people out of poverty. A determined mind is a fertile ground for delivering on results,’’ he added.

The President said good governance would safeguard the future of democracy.

“Present in this room is our diversity in culture and politics, but we are one nation. The unity and stability of the country rest upon us.

“We are in a democracy and we have to nurture the democracy. It is a hard-earned system and not easy to manage. If anyone thinks it is easy, look at other nations who are over a hundred years in democracy.

“We have managed ourselves very well to have a democracy. We have campaigned and arrived at our present destination. We must work for our people,’’ President Tinubu told the governors, while assuring them that he would maintain an open-door policy.

The President said he was

prepared to share ideas, strengthen institutions, and create bottom-up frameworks that will improve the livelihood of Nigerians.

“What do we do in the face of crushing poverty? What do we do with our development goals? We took the bull by the horns by removing the elephant in the room, before the nation sinks.

“We need synergy to fight other vices like corruption. We are trying to get smugglers out of the way. How do we work together to galvanize the economy, and put resources in place. We must think and perform.

“After removing subsidy, there must be savings accruing to the Federation Account,’’ he noted.

President Tinubu said the education sector must be improved as part of efforts to reduce poverty and penury:

“How do we address the unacceptable level of poverty? How much are we investing in education, which is the only tool against poverty? I am ready to collaborate with you.’’

The President also drew attention to the security problems

in some states, admonishing the governors that all efforts should be put in place to tackle the security situation, without thinking it’s only for those facing it.

The Chairman of the NGF and Governor of Kwara State, AbdulRasaq, thanked the President for the invitation to deliberate on the challenges of poverty and security, promising that the governors would support the Federal Government in meeting the targets of human development.

“The NGF will follow the tradition of working constitutionally and harmoniously with you,’’ he said.

The meeting, which was attended by Vice President Kashim Shettima and new Secretary to the Government of the Federation George Akume, had 22 governors and two deputy governors from Edo and Niger States, in attendance.

The governors made suggestions highlighting the plight of citizens in their states, assuring the President of their support in proffering solutions through the National Economic Council.

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu congratulating newly sworn-in Secretary to the Government of the Federation, George Akume during the swearing in ceremony at the Presidential Villa Abuja yesterday

PEPC: Atiku’s subpoenaed witnesses unsettle INEC,Tinubu, APC

By Vivian Okejeme, Abuja

The move by the former Vice President, and candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party PDP, Abubakar Atiku to bring subpoenaed witnesses into the hearing of his petition on Wednesday, to tender some sensitive documents was vehemently opposed by the Respondents.

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), President Bola Tinubu and the All Progressives Congress (APC) through their counsel respectively

opposed the calling of the subpoenas to testify against their clients.

At the proceedings, lead counsel to the PDP, Chief Chris Uche, SAN, Atiku said he had four witnesses for the day. One is already front loaded while three are Subpoenaed. One of the subpoenaed witness is an INEC Adhoc staff in the 2023 Presidential election.

Shortly after the end of cross examination of the witness, Hon. Ndubuisi Nwobu from Anambra State, Uche informed the court that the petitioners have three subpoenaed witnesses and went to

call the first one, an Adhoc staff of INEC.

However, immediately the witness entered the witness box and barely before he could take his oath, counsel to INEC, Mr Abubakar Mahmoud, SAN, rose in objection to the hearing of the evidence of the witness.

He informed the court that he was only served this morning with the statement of the witness and as such would have to study the statement in order to do a thorough cross examination.

Tinubu’s lawyer, Chief Akin Olujimi, SAN and APC’s lawyer,

Prince Lateef Fagbemi, SAN, alined with INEC, adding that they were only served barely 20 minutes ago with the statement and has not seen what it contains.

Reacting, Uche maintained they are not supposed to frontload subpoenas statement to the respondents, adding that there was nothing strange in the statement of the witness to warrant an adjournment.

At the juncture, Justice Haruna Simon Tsammani, proposed standing down the trial for 30 minutes to enable respondents look at the documents and thereby cross

examination the first subpoenaed witness.

Meanwhile, the electoral body insisted that the witness should not be allow to testify because the witness “is said to be an Adhoc staff of the Commission” and as such he would have to go and look at INEC’s records to enable him confirm the status of the witness and prepare adequately.

Consequently, Uche urged the court to adjourn till tomorrow for the calling of the three subpoenaed witnesses.

Hearing into the petition continues June 8.

Peace Commission trains Journalists on early warning response system

From: Femi Oyelola, Kaduna

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Akume takes oath of office as 21st SGF

...Says Nigerians will find fulfilment as he discharges his duties

By Egena Sunday Ode

President Bola Tinubu

Wednesday in Abuja

inaugurated Senator George Akume as the 21st Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF).

The former Governor of Benue State and immediate-past Minister of Special Duties and Intergovernmental Affairs took the oaths of allegiance and office

in a ceremony held at the Council Chambers, State House in the presence of the President, Vice President Kashim Shettima, and senior government officials.

Akume, 70, was Governor of Benue State from May 1999 to May 2007.

Following his tenure as governor, he was elected into the National Assembly as the Senator representing Benue North West Senatorial zone in 2007.

During his term in the Senate, Akume served as Minority Leader from June 2011 to June 2015.

Speaking to reporters after his inauguration, Akume said:

‘’It is an honour to be chosen to serve in this exalted position out of over 200 million Nigerians. It is a challenge to serve in line with the oaths I have taken today. I assure Nigerians I will do my best and I will not disappoint the President.

‘’I will not disappoint this

country; I will not disappoint my party. I believe Nigerians will find fulfillment in my responsibility as I discharge my duties.’’

Also present at the ceremony were the Governor of Benue State, Fr Hyacinth Alia, Kwara State Governor, AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq, the wife of the SGF, Hon. Regina Akume, some former governors, the leadership of the All Progressives Congress, family members and friends.

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

Thepeople of Jigawa state, commended president Bola Ahmed Tinubu for the appointment of Senator Ibrahim Hassan Hadejia as Deputy chief of staff. The commendation was contained in a letter of congratulatory message signed by Dr Isah Musa Ringim and issued to newsmen.

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

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

of the law and your dedication to ensuring fairness and equity within the judicial system.

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

and fostering sustainable growth” Dr Isa Musa stated.

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

Group empowers 944,286 women, girls in Kaduna

From: Femi Oyelola, Kaduna

AKaduna-based group under the auspice of Empowering Women for Excellence Initiative (EWEI) says it has empowered 944,286 women and girls from 2008 to 2022 in Kaduna State.

EWEI’s Founder and Programme Director, Mrs Safiya Garba made this Known on Tuesday in a message to celebrate the NGO’s 15th anniversary in Kaduna.

Garba said that since establishment on June 6, 2008, EWEI, a gender-based NGO, has worked tirelessly to encourage girls and women to harness their abilities to live a quality and fulfilling lives.

She said that between 2008 and 2022, the women and girls were empowered financially, educationally, politically, socially, and culturally to effectively exploit their potential, live a quality life and contribute to national development.

She said that women and girls were empowered under “Our Safe Spaces project; Learning Without Limit’s project; Economic Empowerment Partnership; We for Them project; and Educational Subsidy Programme.

Others, according to Garba, are ”Know and Say No project; Civic Education and Participation for Women”; and other online interventions among others.

She said that over the years, collective efforts, collaboration, and the belief in EWEI’s mission have become a beacon of hope and a catalyst for change in the lives of countless girls and women.

She said that the commitment of partners to EWEI’s cause has enabled the NGO to provide multi-sectoral interventions and empower women through capacity building, information dissemination, advocacy, and community service projects.

“Today marks a momentous occasion as the Empowering Women for Excellence Initiative proudly celebrate its 15-year

anniversary.

“On behalf of the entire EWE family, we extend our heartfelt gratitude to all of you for your unwavering support, dedication, and partnership throughout this remarkable journey of empowerment,” she said.

A virtual presentation of the achievement so far showed that the women and girls were empowered under the “Our Safe Spaces” project that supports women and girls’ survivors of Gender-Based Violence (GBV).

It added that the project also supports women and girls’ survivors of physical and economic violence and sexual exploitation with a 24/7 toll-free GBV helpline.

The report also showed that adolescent girls were equally empowered under the NGO’s “Learning Without Limit” project, which provides supplementary learning for girls across eight secondary schools within Kaduna metropolis.

It added that the project

equally seeks to bridge the digital divide in adolescent girls’ access to quality education.

Under the “Economic Empowerment Partnership”, the report indicated that the NGO provided training on economic empowerment activities such as micro credit financing targeting low income or out-of-school girls and women.

“EWEI’s “We for Them “project seek to reduce sexual harassment and abuse in public places particularly motor parks and tertiary institutions.

“Our “Educational Subsidy Programme” equally provides educational subsidy support and extracurricular activities for selected girls in public secondary schools.

“Also “Know and Say No” project raises awareness about sexual and GBV as well as strengthening institutional capacities to address GBV by providing a platform for effective action towards the protection of minority rights.

“Civic Education and Participation for Women” project addresses the underrepresentation of women and excluded groups in the political space, giving a voice to citizens’ concerns and encouraging participatory governance,” the report indicated.

EWEI Senior Programme Officer, Ms Rachel Ogbonna, said that EWEI would continue to empower women and girls to be the best they can be and aim for excellence.

She said that the beneficiaries would be empowered through mentoring, in addition to supporting the development of social and emotional skills including self-esteem, leadership and assertiveness.

“EWEI will also continue to provide information and capacity building on health, politics, economic and social issues to the beneficiaries through its various programmes and information dissemination platforms,” she said.

From Mika’il Tsoho, Dutse

Speaker, House of Representatives, Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila (right) receiving a standing ovation from his colleagues after his valedictory address during the valedictory plenary of the 9th House of Representatives, at the National Assembly, yesterday in Abuja.

Photo: Mahmud Isa

Wife of High Court Judge kidnapped in Adamawa

From Umar Dankano, Yola

Wife of a High Court Judge (names withheld) has been abducted by suspected sydicate of kidnappers in Adamawa state capital. Reports had it that the unfortunate episode occurred on Wednesday’s night around 2:00am when the criminals forcefully broke in to the said judge residence and whisked away the victim at Nyibango

settlement on Army barracks road in Jimeta-Yola, the state capital.

In a statement on the abduction of the Wife of the High Court Judge, the Adamawa State Police Command has vowed to rescue the victim.

Confirming the development through a press statement issued in Yola, Spokesman of the state command of the police,SP

Suleiman Nguroje said the issue has been reported to the

police as detectives have since been deployed from the Crack Squad,Special Rapid Response Team (SRRT) for the rescue mission.

Nguroje added that the operatives are to carry out tactical and intelligence driven rescue operation with a view to rescue the victim and arrest the suspects with their collaborators.

“These deployments will surely assist in coordinating timely response to distress calls

and to clamp down on those found committing crimes”.

According to him, the command has deployed electronic devices to record pictorial evidences of those involved.

“The CP has directed the Deputy Commissioner of Police in charge of Operations and Deployment to Coordinate the Designed Rescue operation as all DPOs are to adopt stop and search exercise.

“So that, the exercise will

ensure total domination of the public space, prevent criminals from escaping as well as arrest of trouble makers”.The statement explained.

The CP while assuring the Command’s effort to rescuing the kidnapped victim unharmed, further called on the public to give timely report of any suspicious character around them to the nearest police stations for prompt action.

Why we dragged INEC, Uba Sani, others before election tribunal - AA

From: Femi Oyelola, Kaduna

The Action Alliance, (AA) party said it is in Court to challenge the 2023 Gubernatorial election results in Kaduna state that brought Gov Uba Sani to office over the unlawful exclusion of the party’s governorship candidate from the exercise.

The state governorship candidate in the just concluded 2023 governorship election Ambassador Suleiman Abdulrasheed, disclosed this while speaking to Journalists at the Election Petition Tribunal in Kaduna yesterday.

According to him, the party filed a suit No. EPT/KD/GOV/2023 before the Court between Action Alliance (AA), Amb. Suleimam Abdulrasheed as 1st and 2nd Petitioners and Independent National Electoral Commission, (INEC), All Progressives Congress, (APC), Uba Sani and Adam Timothy Sherman as 1st, 2nd and 3rd Respondents respectively.

He said, there was no basis for excluding him from the race, because even though the name Adamu Timothy Sherman is listed above as the Candidate of the 1st Petitioner at the said election, the said Adamu Timothy Sherman is neither

a member of the 1st Petitioner or was sponsored by the 1st Petitioner, nor did he participated in the governorship primaries organized, yet he is the candidate of the party in the state.

Amb. Abdulrasheed added that there is no reason for the 1st Respondent to unlawfully exclude him from the elections, hence the election is thus invalid for non-compliance with the provisions of the Electoral Act 2022 (as amended)

According to him, while AA rejoices with Senator Uba Sani on his victory, however, it faulted the IINEC processes that excluded him as a governorship candidate from participating in the election.

He further said his Party, AA, has called the attention of the 1st respondent to an appeal filed by a former member of the party, Mr Kenneth Udeze before the Supreme Court.

In the suit No. SC/CV/1259/2022, filed by the said Kenneth Udeze against Adekunle Rufai Omo-Aje and others, Udeze appealed against the judgment that authenticated the emergence of Omo-Aje as the national chairman of the AA.

He added that the said Kenneth Udeze

Peace Commission trains Journalists on early warning response system

From: Femi Oyelola, Kaduna

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

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

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

“We are creating additional awareness. We want to see a very friendly environment and a working relationship with the media

so that we will have more negative sensitive reporting”.

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

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

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

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

who was suspended and subsequently expelled from the party had approached the Supreme Court to appeal the judgment won by the party’s authentic National Chairman, Adekunle Rufai Omo-AjeAmb.

Abdulrasheed noted that INEC deliberately failed to comply with the provisions of the Electoral Acts and also failed to obey court

judgements which were favourable to the party.

It would be recalled that the Court of Appeal and several other courts had ordered INEC to upload the names of candidates submitted to it by Omo-Aje on its website and paste same on the notice boards of all its offices.

www.cbn.gov.ng

CENTRAL BANK OF NIGERIA ON BEHALF OF DMO OFFERS NIGERIAN TREASURY BILLS TENDER NOTICE

Notice is hereby given by the Central Bank of Nigeria on behalf of DMO that the Federal Government of Nigeria Treasury Bills of 91, 182 and 364-day tenors amounting to ₦1,101,072,000; ₦1,284,650,000 and ₦32,154,897,000 respectively would be issued by Dutch auction on Thursday, June 15, 2023.

All Money Market Dealers should submit bids through the CBN S4 WEB INTERFACE between 8.00 a.m. and 11.00 a.m. on Wednesday, June 14, 2023.

Each bid must be in multiple of N1,000 subject to a minimum of ₦50,001,000. Authorized Money Market Dealers can submit multiple bids. A bid may be for authorized Money Market Dealers own account, non–Money Market Dealers or interested members of the public. The result of the auction would be announced on Wednesday, June 14, 2023. The Bank reserves the right to reject any bid.

Allotment letters would be issued for successful bids on Thursday, June 15, 2023, while payment for the successful bids should be made to your account with Central Bank of Nigeria not later than 11.00 a.m. on Thursday, June 15, 2023.

The Bank reserves the right to vary the amount on offer in line with market realities prevailing as at the period of auction of the Nigerian Treasury Bills.

Niger Gov. swears - in new SSG, HOS, COS, others

From Yakubu Mustapha Minna

Niger state governor, Mohammed Umar

Bago has sworn in new Secretary to the State Government, SSG, Head of Service, HOS, Chief of Staff, COS and other after careful study, review of their capacity, integrity and ability to work for the state.

The governor made the declaration shortly after the swearing in of the appointees by Justice Halima Ibrahim Abdulmalik represented by Justice Hassana Bawa Wuse at government house Minna, saying this is government of the youth.

Bago stated that they are his choices and charged them not to be found wanting but to justify the confidence reposed in them by working boldly and assiduously for the growth and development of Niger state.

He urged his supporters to be patient and perseverance as his government will do everything possible to ensure the fulfilment of their campaign promises to the citizens, nothing that the next 5 appointments will be all female gender for inclusiveness.

Bago reiterated the commitment of his administration to ensure the those Communities ravaged by the insecurity due to the activities of the bandits will soon be a thing of the past while he congratulated them as the new grooms of the state.

In his remarks, the newly sworn in SSG, Alhaji Abubakar Usman Gawu pledged their commitment, loyalty and full support for the success of the present administration in achieving its numerous objectives.

He appreciated the governor for the trust and confidence reposed in them hence the assurance to justify the confidence while he called for prayers and support for the government laudable programmes.

Others sworn in include; Engr. Abubakar Salisu as HOS, Hon. Usman Abdullahi Batamangi COS, Sadiq Yusuf deputy COS and Bello Ibrahim as deputy Chief of Staff to the deputy governor respectively.

COVID–19: Reps want self-sufficiency in drugs, vaccine production

By Christiana Ekpa

The House of Representatives has urged that selfsufficiency in drugs, health commodities and vaccine production, be prioritized in the country.

The House also urged that the country should also aim to be the main supplier of these in the West African Sub-Region. These followed the consideration and approval of the report of the Committee on COVID–19 which was laid by Hon. Haruna Mshelia.

The House also urged that all

molecular laboratories, intensive care centres, isolation wards and oxygen plants established across the country be maintained and updated regulatory so that the country will be ready for any eventuality.

It called for the establishment of Public Health Emergency Operation Centres at the Federal and State levels.

The House said incident management systems should be deployed to man these centres with personnel drawn from, Health, Environment, Water Resources, Information, Education, Aviation/Transportation, and

Agric Ministries. This, it said, will ensure the country will be in a state of readiness at all time for epidemics or pandemics.

The House approved that the Committee be renamed Standing Committee on Epidemic and Pandemics and to oversight relevant Ministries, Departments and Agencies involved.

It urged that the Government should treat health as business as obtained in Agriculture, Political will should be liberal towards Health Research Institutes;

The House also considwred and approved the report of the

Conference Committee on Sexual Harassment Bill for an Act to make Comprehensive Provisions for the Prohibition and Punishment of Sexual Harassment of Students by Educators in Tertiary Educational Institutions laid by Hon. AkandeSadipe Tolulope.

The House deferred the consideration of the report of the Ad-hoc Committee to Investigate the Alleged Loss of over $2.4 Billion in revenue from the illegal sale of 48 Million barrels of Crude Oil in 2015 Including Crude Oil Export from 2014 to date laid by Hon. Mark Gbillah Terseer to Wednesday.

L-R: APC National Secretary, Iyiola Omisore; Senate President Ahmed Lawal; Vice President Kassim Shettima; President Bola Ahmed Tinubu; APC National Chairman, Abdullahi Adamu and newly Sworein Secretary to the Federal Government of the Federation, George Akume after the swearing-in of new SGF at the Presidential Villa Abuja yesterday

Stakeholders collaborate to earmark SSBs tax for public health financing

By Mashe Umaru Gwamna

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

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

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

“We believe that this is a step in the right direction towards achieving the global best practice of excise tax of at least 20% of the final retail price on all SSBs products.

“This tax is to be earmarked

for public health interventions towards the prevention and control of NCDs”.

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

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

She said “An estimated 38.6 million litres of soft drinks are sold daily in Nigeria making us the 4th highest soft drink consuming country in the world. “The drinks are marketed in a such a way that customers believe that they get better value when they buy the bigger bottles of soft drinks, leading to overconsumption.

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

NCDS threatens progress

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

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

“The Federal Ministry of Health is committed to working with relevant MDAs and NGOs to ensure sustainable implementation of the SSB tax, efficient utilization of revenue generated towards public health and periodic monitoring and evaluation of the impact of the tax”, she said.

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

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

“The Federal Government through the Finance Act 2021 began implementation of a N10 per litre tax on non-alcoholic and sugar-sweetened beverages in June 2022, a commendable effort in a bit to reduce the prevalence of NCDs associated with sugary drinks, which various research shows contributes to about 39% of the total deaths, annually”.

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

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

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

HYPPADEC fighting deforestation with tree planting in Niger

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

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

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

Yelwa reiterated the commitment of the commission in carrying out advocacy and sensitization against cutting of trees and its consequences to humanity, adding that the current rate of charcoal production is alarming in Niger state.

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

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

Benue PDP condemns Alia for sacking workers

From Uche Nnorom, Makurdi

Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Benue State chapter has condemned in strong terms directives by Governor Hyacinth Alia, nullifying all appointments by the outgone governemnt.

It would be noted that Governor Alia had in a statement on Wednesday signed by his Chief Press Secretary Kula Tersoo directed the sacking of all categories of workers employed

by the immediate past Governor Samuel Ortom from May 2022 till date.

The PDP at a press briefing held at its Secretariat in Makurdi on Wednesday,condemned the action as ‘unlawful’, “insensitive’ and ‘callous’.

Acting Chairman of the party Isaac Mffo maintained that the affected civil servants were given lawful appointments into the state civil service having fulfilled all statutory requirements and until this directive were entitled to all the rights, privileges and

protections guaranteed them under the labour laws of the state.

“This is to say that loss of such rights, privileges and protections cannot be at the whim of anyone, no matter how highly placed, including the governor, but can only be for reasons prescribed under same laws, which do not include the action taken by Governor Alia.

“The insensitivity in the Benue State Governor’s action becomes more glaring when viewed against the backdrop of the untold

hardship which Nigerians were subjected to under the recently expired Buhari regime in the forms of catastrophic economic mismanagement and such insecurity as directly threatened the country’s sovereignty.

“Governor Alia, being a direct offshoot of the cruel and visionless Buhari regime, should be threading cautiously as Governor of Benue State so as not to aggravate the pains and sufferings inflicted on the people of the state by that regime”, Mffo urged.

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

By Tobias Lengnan Dapam

The World Health Organisation (WHO) said

it has welcomed £2m funding commitment made by the United Kingdom’s Department of Health and Social Care to support Nigeria.

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

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

workforce through evidenceinformed policies and strategies.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Labour Party (LP) Chikun/Kajuru federal Constituecy elect, Abubakar Adms,- Jubilation of Sporters over tribunal grant him go and swearin-in, during the sitting in Kaduna on Wednesday 6/6/23

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Discussing child defilement

By Adewale Kupoluyi

On the other hand, the Lagos State Criminal Law had singled out child defilement and goes further to make provisions as to tackle the statute barred barrier, Ali stated. He reiterated that the Child’s Rights Act, 2003 makes provisions for the protection of a child when it comes to criminal sexual assault and defilement, but that the act had not been domesticated by a number of states in Nigeria, although many stakeholders are still calling on other states to speedily follow suit and ensure its implementation.

There is hardly any day that passes by without getting unpleasant news of child defilement, especially against the girl-child. The truth is that child defilement has assumed frightening proportions that deserve urgent attention and is worth discussing. This topic took a centre stage on Radio Law Clinic, a weekly programme on the Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta (FUNAAB), Ogun State radio station, FUNAAB 89.5FM, where listeners are given basic knowledge of the law to become better citizens. The co-producer and presenter of the programme, Mrs. Omobolanle Sanyaolu in the introductory remarks, had observed that children are supposed to be a joy to their families and future leaders of the nation, but many of these children remain victims of different forms of abuse, violence, and exploitation.

The discussants, who were drawn from diverse fields of human endeavours, reviewed the nature, causes, and solutions to child defilement. A legal practitioner, Clement Obasanya defines defilement with reference to Section 218 of the Criminal Code Act, as the unlawful carnal knowledge of a girl under the age of 13 while the offender that engages in the act is guilty of a felony and liable to life imprisonment. For another lawyer, Oluwadamilola Fatoye, any child that had been abused sexually, physically, or emotionally, would always have negative reactions or counter-reactions in society. She added that defilement is traumatic and often associated with psycho-social problems in children. Defiled children, more often than not, have negative outcomes in terms of poor academic performance, low selfesteem, depression, poor social relationships, show cruelty to animals, have attention deficit, hyperactivity disorders, and teenage pregnancy, among others.

Fatoye stated that “You can imagine all of these things happening to a child. I am sending it directly to people that have the tendency of defiling a child. The thing is that you were once a child and if your life was destroyed the way you are destroying another person’s life, you will not be the kind of person or you will not have grown up to be the kind of person you are right now. Please, I am pleading to our conscience as mature people to desist from doing this demonic and devilish act. The government has the Ministry of Women Affairs and

there is the National Human Rights Commission that people can go to lodge a complaint bordering on child defilement and can get necessary attention”. Obasanya speaks further by identifying the causes of defilement to include carelessness of parents, improper dressing, drug abuse, absence of sex education, lack of cordial relationship between parents and children, inability to exercise self-control, and promiscuous lifestyles by parents. At times, offenders are found to engage in the dastardly behaviour for ritual purposes because they have gotten themselves involved in what they should not get themselves involved in”, he added.Another legal practitioner, Charles Ali observed that there are certain provisions in the laws that are both adequate and inadequate and that one of the limiting factors associated with the criminal and penal codes is that they cover rape in general and not defilement per se, adding that there are other things that makeup child defilement that has not been covered by the act. The counsel mentioned the issue of limitation of time at bringing up criminal allegations and charge against suspected persons in the court. The criminal code makes provision for only two months as its limitation period. Before a complaint is made, an arrest is carried out, before an investigation is conducted, and a case filed in court, the two months must have elapsed. On the other hand, the Lagos State Criminal Law had singled out child defilement and goes further to make provisions as to tackle the statute barred barrier, Ali stated. He reiterated that the Child’s Rights Act, 2003 makes provisions for the protection of a child when it comes to criminal sexual assault and defilement, but that the act had not been domesticated by a number of states in Nigeria, although many stakeholders are still calling on other states to speedily follow suit and ensure its implementation.

On her part, a school administrator, Mrs. Funke Akintaro enjoined the family to protect their children against abuse, being the first agent of socialisation. “The first thing a mother must do to prevent defilement is to make her child her friend. A mother must be her child’s confidant for the child must be confident enough to tell you anything and everything that he or she is passing through. If you make your child your friend, you will know everything about that child. A mother must have many tentacles to pick things to know whether her children are hiding things from her while exposure to pornographic contents, no matter how subtle they appear, should be prevented in addition to watching things that can affect them psychologically through the censorship of they watch on television and the Internet”, Mrs. Akintaro cautioned.

Some Christian clerics gave their interventions from the biblical perspective. For Bishop Oluwatoyin Ige, Senior Pastor, Covenant Lifeway Church, the voice of men is the voice of God and what the law does is to establish God’s consent about a community, a nation, and a people. For instance, the World

Guilty of being Nigerian in Ghana

By Leo Igwe

Theyare now extending the abuse to Nigerians in their country. Police abuse of Nigerians should not be an excuse for this horrific treatment. Ghana police must be called to order. They should stop targeting, and extorting money from Nigerians.The government of Ghana must rise to its responsibility and end this official witch hunt and maltreatment of Nigerian nationals who are living in the country.

The Nigerian government should look into the treatment of Nigerians in Ghana because there are reports of police harassment and extortion from Nigerians in the country. A Ghanaian friend recently shared a Facebook post on some police raids that targeted Nigerians. His post reads: “My apartment has been raided by the Ghana Police 4 times in less than a year. Whatever reason you think for this. It’s worse!

The apartment used to be occupied by some Nigerian men who were tired of being harassed by the police”. So many Nigerians in Ghana suffer constant harassment by the police. The harassment has gone on for too long that some are tired. Yes, some Nigerians are tired of being targeted, stopped, arrested by the police in Ghana.

As the post further reveals, the raids have become a pretext for extortion: “The neighbor told me that they packed and left the day after the final raid; after they had to find 7000 Cedis bribe for the police to bail themselves out. They were not the only Nigerians who packed and left. More than five apartments became available after that raid”.

So raiding apartments where Nigerians live has become a lucrative business for the police in Ghana. Police officers extort thousands of Cedis from Nigerians, then let them go and later return to raid and extort money from them again. Nigerians have become easy prey for the Ghana police. Nigerians have become a cash cow for Ghanaian authorities. Take a look at the next part of the post:

“When I first got the apartment, even before I had finished cleaning it up, police officers showed up in Rambo style, entering into the apartment without knocking, asking where the Nigerians are. I explained to them that I was the new tenant and did not know of anyone else. Because of how the apartment was in disarray, they nodded along and left”. Look, this was not a random raid for illegal occupants. It was a targeted police action. There are nationals from many west African countries who are living in Ghana. When I was in Ghana, I met Liberians, Sierra Leoneans, and Ivorians who were living in the country and who had taken Ghana as their home. In fact, on one occasion, I met some Fulanis in the Northern region. They entered Ghana on horses through the border with Burkina Faso. They had no travel documents.

The police in Ghana are not raiding apartments asking for Liberians, Sierra Leoneans, or Nigeriens who were illegally staying in the country. No, the police raided apartments asking: “Where are the Nigerians? So, the Ghana police have specifically been instructed to go after Nigerians!

The post recounts other incidents of police harassment:”The second time this happened, I was in my office while some friends were in the kitchen. The police surrounded the apartment, some entering from the front and some from the back, shouting and asking where the Nigerians were. I could see the fear in my friends’ eyes. I stepped in with some jokes to calm nerves, and we even offered them food to calm their nerves. The third time this happened, I had learned to keep my doors locked at all times. I heard banging on the door and someone trying to forcibly open the windows. I opened the door and a police officer rushed past me asking if I am Nigerian and where the Nigerians were. Today, I was not home. My girlfriend was. The police came again asking for Nigerians. I came home to find their pickup still parked outside. They were moving from apartment building to apartment building looking for Nigerians. Their case: they received a tip that there are Nigerians in the area who smoke. The day before, they

Health Organisation (WHO) and Nigerian laws look at child defilement as something bad, which makes the culprits liable to life imprisonment, saying sexual abuse or molestation is particularly devastating and warned that sexual sins are frowned upon in the scriptures. “I want to take this (message) to all our adults and young adults, to please, have self-control for the problem of sexual defilement is the problem of the mind”, he stressed. Pastor Gbade Akintaro, Presiding Pastor, Peculiar Peoples’ Palace Int’l Ministries, noted that child defilement remains a violation of the fundamental rights against its victims and that child defilement is seen as harlotry practice, a serious thing against the Lord and that destruction awaits whoever defiles a child or minor.

Rev. Peace Toluwade, Lead Pastor, City Harvest Church describes children as a heritage from one generation to another and arrow in the hands of a mighty man. He revealed that any sexual contact between a man and woman that are not married amount to immorality and when a child is involved, it is sometimes called ‘statutory rape’ and becomes more severe attracts great punishment from God because of the long term effects on the victim by causing anger and an addiction to sinful behaviour. On his part, an Islamic cleric and teacher, Ustaz Abdulrasheed Opeloyeru informed that the punishment for defilement, according to the Holy Quran, is severe as permitted under Islamic injunctions. Ustaz Opeloyeru recommends good upbringing of the child, giving of sound education and morals, and regularly praying for our children.

In the final analysis, what it takes to curb child defilement is a combination of strategies and efforts by everyone in society. In specific terms, people must desist from engaging in devilish acts such as going into rituals, they should adhere strictly to Godly living, victims of defilement should be courageous to report their unpleasant experience to relevant governmental and non-governmental bodies for rehabilitation and to expose perpetrators, parents should be closer and be more sensitive to their children’s needs, parents should teach their children sex education and scrutinise what their children watch in the media and on the Internet to be free from pornography and dangerous things, adults should have self-control and stop defiling children, parents should avoid living promiscuous lifestyles that their children may want to copy, and available laws and legislation should be strengthened. States across the country should domesticate the Child’s Rights Act and make its implementation easy while the bottlenecks militating against the smooth prosecution of similar cases in law courts should be removed to successfully fight child defilement in Nigeria.

Dr. Kupoluyi writes from Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta (FUNAAB), Ogun State.

had raided some apartments and caught themselves some Nigerians who ultimately had to pay about 6000 Cedis, I am told, to be left alone. “.

So police have raided this guy’s apartment many times. Who knows how many times these Nigerians-targeted police raids have been carried out in Ghana? Who knows how much money the Ghana police have extorted from their Nigerian victims?

In conclusion, the post states: “These raids usually happen on a weekend. The officers are always different. They always carry weapons. They always enter forcefully. They are always targeting people who look different. I am beginning to suspect this is not sanctioned by Ghana Police. Why would the state sanction xenophobia? I am also beginning to suspect that when they run out of Nigerians to do this too, Ghanaians who are different would be the target. Most of these Nigerians targeted, are hard-working members of the community, trying to survive in their sister country. They are only guilty of being Nigerian in Ghana”.

What this kind-hearted Ghanaian has recounted is definitely the tip of the iceberg of abuse, harassment, maltreatment, and extortion that Nigerians, who are living in Ghana, suffer at the hands of the police. Probably, Ghanaian police are imitating the police in Nigeria. They have realized that the Nigerian police abuse and brutalize their citizens with impunity. They are now extending the abuse to Nigerians in their country. Police abuse of Nigerians should not be an excuse for this horrific treatment. Ghana police must be called to order. They should stop targeting, and extorting money from Nigerians. The government of Ghana must rise to its responsibility and end this official witch hunt and maltreatment of Nigerian nationals who are living in the country.

The government should know that there are at least 500, 000 Ghanaians living in Nigeria.

Leo Igwe is a Public Affairs Analyst.

10th Assembly: What is in Akpabio-Barau joint ticket for the Senate Leadership

By Saajid Ibrahim

It is no more news that the Akpabio-Barau joint ticket for the Senate Leadership has continued to gain ground by endorsements from relevant quarters. From President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, Vice President Kashim Shettima and governors in the ruling and opposition parties like Governor Yahaya Bello of Kogi State and the immediate past governor of Rivers, Nyesom Wike among others and still counting.

As excitement grows for the 10th Assembly elections, the profile of Senator Akpabio is already widely known being a former Governor of Akwa Ibom State and Minister of Niger Delta while his running mate, Senator Barau Jibrin is known as a silent achiever and accomplished politician.

Born in the ancient city of Kano, Barau holds a bachelor’s degree in accounting, master’s certificate in Financial Management and pricing, master’s certificate in Management and Masters of Business Administration (MBA). He also holds a certificate in Financial Management for business decisions from the prestigious Cornell University, United States.

A former Chairman of the Kano State Investment and Properties Ltd, and Commissioner of Science and Technology in the state, Barau’s ardent dedication to his constituents inspired him to contest as a member of the Federal House of Representatives in Tarauni Federal Constituency of Kano State during the 1999 national assembly elections, a contest in which he was victorious.

After a term in the House of Representatives and three terms in the Senate, Sen Barau Jibrin has amassed an unparalleled wealth of experience and profound expertise that places him in a league of his own. In fact, currently, he is the most ranking Senator-elect from North West and Kano State, a 4th termer, who has sponsored bills and motions with unequal legislative experience.

Recently, the Progressive Youth Intellectuals in collaboration with the Youths Digest, the organizers of

the annual Campus Journalism Awards endorsed Senator Barau for demonstrating remarkable skill and honesty in his interventions at the legislative chamber especially on education, skill acquisitions and youth development.

Because of his remarkable records in the National Assembly over four terms, the Progressive Youth Intellectuals believe it is fitting that Barau Jibrin, a candidate from the North West Zone, be chosen to the coveted position of Deputy Senate President.

It is necessary to stress that while in the House of Representatives, Jibrin chaired the House Committee on Appropriations and was a member of the House Committee on Power. During his tenure, he displayed his well-known dedication to prioritizing education, particularly for the younger generation, by constantly championing the cause of young Nigerians.

He was a strong supporter of a bill to build the Federal University of Education Technology in Bichi, Kano State. He also sponsored bills to establish the Federal Polytechnic Kabo.

Sen Jibrin also introduced another bill in 2020 to create the North West Development Commission to address gaps in infrastructural development in the region. Despite the region’s abundance of capable senators, Senator Barau was named Northern Senator of the Year by the Nigerian Senate Press Corps in 2017. His success attests to his various services to national peace and prosperity, which resulted in his being named Commander of the Order of the Niger, CON.

He also performed critical roles in several development projects while serving on the Niger Delta, Industries, Land Transportation, and Appropriations Committees.

Even in the 2023 presidential election, Senator Barau demonstrated his competence and popularity. Kano, his home state, earned the second highest number of votes for the All Progressives Congress. Meanwhile, Senator Barau’s districts in Northern Kano accounted for nearly half (200,000 votes) of the APC’s 513,000 votes in the state.

Nigeria’s long road to hope

By Ike Willie-Nwobu

Tinubu faces an uphill task. For eight years former president Muhammadu Buhari huffed and puffed with painfully little to show for it. His embarrassing performance at a time he had everything going for him has brought genuine doubts over whether Tinubu, who is cut from the same cloth, can make any significant difference.

Nigeria’s long wait for May 29, 2023 has come and gone with little savoring but many sighs as a country that once promised so much begins its difficult journey to a future that has never looked bleaker.

There can be no mistake about it. Almost as soon as Nigerians woke up from the cold reality of what May 29, 2015, had yielded, Nigerians knew that the next May 29th could not come any faster. May 29, 2019, came with predictable disappointment as Muhammadu Buhari’s administration continued to sleepwalk to disaster.

Having passed through the roads of tortured elections, May 29, 2023, was not greatly anticipated save for the fact that Buhari and his atrocious and attritional autocade would take off from Daura on that day, leaving a bemused Aso Rock relieved.

In his post-inauguration speech, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu called on Nigerians to join hands with him to rebuild their country and make key gains in critical sectors of the economy. In a searing preinauguration address during an Inter-denominational service on May 28, Oluremi Tinubu, Nigeria’s first lady had sought to allay fears that her husband was corrupt by insisting that her family does not need Nigeria’s wealth to survive.

For many Nigerians though, it is important to guard their hearts as recent

history suggests that that could make a crucial difference in moving forward and not courting heartache.

Nigeria is in a tough place now, and it was at least comforting to see that Tinubu’s inauguration speech did not shy away from tough questions. But tougher challenges lie in wait. While it is no mean task to write a speech for an occasion of such gravity as the swearing in of a president, it is in taking what is in the speech and doing it that a the major challenge lies.

Tinubu ran his campaign on the wheels of hope, pledging to renew the hopes of Nigerians in their country, and promising a country full of hope.

Now, hope is a tricky thing. Celebrated English poet Emily Dickinson in her poem “Hope” describes hope as “the thing with feathers”. Hope has also been variously described as the elixir of life.

In the stormy sea of life, hope is usually the anchor people hold on to, the lone rafter in the tide. For many years, Nigerians have lived hope, breathed hope and even eaten hope.

Perhaps, the most precious attribute of hope is its resilience, in how it pushes people to keep going and never

Further examination of the election results reveals that Senator Barau’s birthplace, the North West, provided the most votes for the All Progressives Congress in the 2023 presidential elections, totaling 2.7 million votes.

It is telling that Sen Barau was the only APC senator who withstood the tumultuous wave of the New Nigerian People’s Party, NNPP, in Kano state, triumphantly winning his re-election bid and returning to the Senate. This alludes to the truth that the Senator is doing something right for his people.

Senator Barau Jibrin continued his political climb in future years, winning election to the Senate of the Federal Republic of Nigeria in 2015, representing Kano North Senatorial District on the All Progressives Congress platform. He repeated this feat in 2019 and 2023, winning three consecutive red chamber elections.

Finally, Sen Barau Jibrin’s character and incorruptible nature stand out as his most admirable qualities. His untainted reputation sets him apart as a leader who can be relied upon to act in the best interests of the Nigerian people. This sets him apart as a paragon of virtue in an era where trust in public officials is of paramount importance.

As a result, the candidacy of Sen Barau Jibrin for the esteemed office of Deputy Senate President in the 10th Assembly of the Federal Republic of Nigeria became a beacon of hope for the nation. The unwavering support of the Progressive Youth Intellectuals, coupled with Jibrin’s relentless commitment to achieving meaningful outcomes and combating corruption confirms his position as the unquestionably right option for this critical role.

Electing Senator Barau Jibrin CON as the running mate of Senator Akpabio for Senate Leadership will undoubtedly pave the road for unprecedented progress and development in Nigeria as a cohesive unit. They have proven to be a prototypical leaders capable of leading the upper chamber in a period of “renewed hope” for the entire country.

Saajid Ibrahim, a public affairs analyst, writes from Abuja.

give up. For many years, Nigerians have held on to the hope that things will change in their country. It is not to imply that there are those who have not lost hope. There are many and who would blame them in a country that appears programmed to incinerate hope.

However, Tinubu has promised to renew hope. A chance to do that is the least he deserves. But before he is deluded into thinking that it will be an easy task by his team of core APC supporters who prefer fiction to truth, Tinubu must understand that it will be a most arduous task. For one, getting Nigerians onside won’t be easy.

At best, Tinubu is operating on what many consider a stolen mandate. The tenacity and ferocity with which his main opponents at the elections are clinging to their fast fading hopes at the election petition tribunal hints at it.

The fearsome flaws of the election which brought Tinubu to power is a key reason many are skeptical of his every word. But there is also a history of corruption and drug-running.

Then there is the fact that words are often just about that for Nigerian politicians who say one thing but often mean an entirely different thing.

Tinubu faces an uphill task. For eight years former president Muhammadu Buhari huffed and puffed with painfully little to show for it. His embarrassing performance at a time he had everything going for him has brought genuine doubts over whether Tinubu, who is cut from the same cloth, can make any significant difference.

What is more? If Tinubu fails in office, many Nigerians would nod their heads knowingly and grit their teeth. If he succeeds, there will be many who will be disappointed but relieved. But he has no choice but to succeed because failure may just push Nigeria over the edge.

While Nigerians wait with bated breath, they must learn to log their fires and guard their hearts from the gust of unpredictability and uncertainty that many Nigerian politicians have shown themselves to be.

Having passed through the roads of tortured elections, May 29, 2023, was not greatly anticipated save for the fact that Buhari and his atrocious and attritional autocade would take off from Daura on that day, leaving a bemused Aso Rock relieved

“

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

From: Femi Oyelola, Kaduna

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

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

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

Dr. Benson added that there must be move to Implement measures in the short term to end the National Cash Transfer (NCT) program to cushion the impact of the subsidy removal on the poor.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Niger CAN distributes items to IDPs

From Yakubu Mustapha Minna

The Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) Niger State chapter has donated relief items which includes food items and none food items to IDPs in Paikoro and Shiroro local government areas of the state.

State Chairman Most Rev. Dr. Bulus Yohanna, as part of efforts to cushion the effects of the hardships confronting Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs), presented the relief materials to IDPs,

and urged them to remain steadfast and prayerful.

Most Rev. Yohanna who was represented by his Vice, Rev. Ezekiel Ibrahim appealed to them to accept the little that has been presented to them saying, “our prayers are with you always, because we want you to return to your homes soonest”.

The Parish Priest of SS Peter & Paul Kafin Koro, Rev Fr. Benedict John Adigizi who received the items on behalf of the people appreciated the effort of

the body of Christ.

It was reported that the IDPs have been sheltered at the Baptist Primary School and UBE School Gwada IDPs camp in Shiroro LGA while those in Paiko were assembled at the ECWA Church in Paikoro LGA of the state.

The relief items consist of several bags of rice, maize, beans, cartons of noodles, gallons of palm oil, groundnut oil, packets of bar soap, detergents, salt and seasonings among others.

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

By: Femi Oyelola, Kaduna

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

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

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

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

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

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

line with the development of the country.

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

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

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

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

“We plead with Nigeria’s to remain calm

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

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

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

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

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

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

From left: Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), George Akume; former Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Boss Mustapha and Permanent Secretary, Cabinet Office OSGF, Maurice Mbaeri during the swearing-in of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation at the Presidential Villa in Abuja on Wednesday

Demolition of alleged illegal structures in Kano serious calamity –APC blasts NNPP

By Christiana Ekpa

The Kano State All Progressive Congress (APC) has described the ongoing demolition exercise of structures designated as illegal by the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) government in the state as a serious calamity in the ancient city.

Speaking at a press briefing on Tuesday, the Deputy State Chairman of the APC, Shehu Maigari, said, “Kano being a mega city and commercial nerve centre of Northern Nigeria and West Africa, is now facing a serious calamity from the NNPP-led administration”.

He said, “No doubt the action of the NNPP government is signalling a bad impression for the citizens, as well as those who come to Kano for various commercial activities”.

Maigari added, “this Barbaric and wanton destruction of peoples’ means of livelihood by the state government calls for serious prayers as innocent persons are now counting their loses in billions”.

The APC Chieftain further alleged that the demolition exercise has now paralyzed and brought commercial activities in the famous Kanti Kwari Textile market, Kofar Wambai and many other places to a standstill.

He worried that the action of the NNPP government has brought unnecessary chaos, rampant vandalism, daylight stealing and grabbing of innocent people’s properties by irate youths.

He said, “The APC condemned the barbaric behaviour in totality because the Ganduje-led government was not the first regime to allocate lands to others as even Kwankwaso himself did so, down to the Abubakar Rimi period”.

The Party then urged those whose properties were destroyed to seek legal redress and get their rights while warning parents to guide their wards against unnecessary criminality.

On the same basis, the APC leaders urged security agencies to do more by restoring public confidence in the wake of what he described as a shocking calamity in the ancient city.

Edozie Njoku not known to APGA - Barr. Azike

By Ikechukwu Okaforadi

AnAbuja based legal practitioner, Lewis Azike, who has been following developments in the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) has said that Edozie Njoku who has been dragging the party from one court to another in search of judgements to destabilize the party, is not known to APGA.

Azike, in a statement made available to journàlists on the desperation of Edozie Njoku and his cronies to call the shots in APGA, maintained that all those were efforts in futility, as the Congresses and National Convention of the All Progressives Grand Alliance were authenticated and affirmed by courts of competent authority and jurisdiction.

He opined that no matter how Edozie Njoku tries to steal justice illegally and unjustly through

shopping for court judgements in his favour, truth remains that Victor Ike Oye, the immediate past National Chairman of APGA, did not commit any contempt of court by conducting Congresses and the National Convention of 31st May which produced the new National Working Committee of the party led by Barr. Sylvester Ezeokenwa.

Azike in his statement said, “It is no longer news that the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), the unarguably, 3rd largest political party in Nigeria, have concluded its nationwide congresses that culminated in the National Convention of the Party held on 31st of May, 2023 in Awka Anambra State which saw the emergence of the Barr. Sly Ezeokenwa led National Working Committee.

“Commentators and pundits alike have continued to commend

the process and outcome of the congresses and convention as a perfect exemplification of the upward trajectory the party has seen since the emergence of Prof. Charles Chukwuma Soludo as the National Leader of the Party.

“However, the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) appears to be caught in another web of legal intricacies which may seem to derail the smooth transition of power just witnessed from the old to the new executives.

“There were reports of an interim order of injunction from an FCT High Court in Bwari which purportedly restrained Dr Victor Ike Oye from conducting its congresses and National Convention pending the determination of the suit brought by Otunba Camaru Lateef Ogidan & Alhaji Rabiu Mustapha.

“In the said suit which has Dr. Victor Ike Oye and Independent

National Electoral Commission as defendants, the Plaintiffs contended that the Supreme Court on the 24th March, 2023 vide its corrected judgment affirmed Chief Edozie Njoku as the authentic National Chairman of APGA thus questioning the right and powers of Dr. Victor Ike Oye to conduct APGA Congresses and Convention not being the National Chairman of APGA.

“Indeed, a proper understanding of the extant judgments on APGA leadership and the true purport of the Supreme Court Ruling of 24/3/2023 will readily reveal that the suit before the FCT High Court, Bwari Judicial Division is an exercise in futility. Thus, the outcome of the said suit will have no impact whatsoever on the just concluded nationwide congresses and National Convention of APGA for a number of reasons.”

Labour Party (LP) Chikun/ Kajuru federal Constituecy elect, Abubakar Adms, Jubilation of Sporters over tribunal grant him go and swearin-in, during the sitting in Kaduna on Wednesday 6/6/23

Labour Party ask Kaduna tribunal to nullify 2023 governorship election in state

By Ikechukwu Okaforadi

The gubernatorial candidate of the Labour Party in the 18th March 2023 election, Jonathan Asake on Tuesday asked the Election Petition Tribunal to nullify the governorship election conducted in Kaduna State.

Uba Sani of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), had been declared winner of the election by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

But the gubernatorial

candidate of the Labour Party claimed the election was marred by irregularities and did not comply with the electoral act.

The Labour Party (LP), candidate, Jonathan Asake and the LP, lead counsel, Abah Ejembi and two of his colleagues told the court during pre-hearing that there were massive vote buying and corruption, asking the court to invalidate the entire process of the election.

Ejembi in an interview with newsmen at the end of the tribunal’s sitting on Wednesday

said the governorship candidate and the Labour Party, in the petition, with Ref. No. EPT/ KD/Gov/2/2023, before the Governorship tribunal “is asking for the nullification of the 18th March 2023 governorship election, in Kaduna State”.

He explained, “Our complaint before the court is of noncompliance with the electoral act and massive vote buying. In our petition, we asked the court to invalidate the entire process.”

Ejembi said the court sitting was for pre-hearing and

dealt with the processes and procedures that would guide the entire process, in terms of filing applications, what is required and the time that will be used or needed during the hearing of the case in the court.

The matter was adjourned to Thursday, 15th June 2023, by the Chairman of the panel, Justice Victor O. Oviawe, for the hearing of all the applications that have been filed.

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

Senate shifts valedictory session to Saturday

By Musa Baba Adamu

The President of the Senate, Ahmad Lawan announced on Wednesday that the Senate has rescheduled its valedictory session to Saturday, Lawan had announced on Tuesday that the Uppper Chamber would hold its valedictory session on Thursday.

The Senate President told members of the Senate Press Corps that the shift in the date was due to a scheduled meeting of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu with the lawmakers of the incoming 10th National Assembly on Thursday.

The Senate held plenary on Tuesday as well as on Wednesday.

“By the grace of God, we will still

hold plenary tomorrow(Thursday) and then our valedictory session will be on Saturday.

“It is because tomorrow, Mr President, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu will be meeting with the Senators-elect and members-elect at 2pm.

“And we believe that a session as significant and as important and as historical and memorable

as valedictory session of the Senate requires a whole day. Not one, two, three hours. And therefore we push it to Saturday,” Lawan said.

The Ninth Senate officially ends its four-year tenure on 11th June, 2023.

Lawan hinted that the Tenth Senate would be inaugurated on Tuesday, 13th June, 2023.

Peter Obi, Judas who denied Atiku Presidency –Reno Omokri

By Musa Baba Adamu

Socio-political activist

Reno Omokri has said the Labour Party presidential candidate, Peter Obi, cost his Peoples Democratic Party, Atiku Abubakar, the presidency.

Omokri said Atiku would have been president, but Obi played the role of Judas.

He insisted that President Bola Tinubu came third and was not the winner of the last election.

Tweeting, Omokri stressed that Obi has been rendered politically impotent.

According to Omokri: “If Peter Obi had not overreached himself and played Judas, by now, Waziri Atiku Abubakar would be President. Peter would have been vice president, while Tinubu would have come a distant second.

“Even with rigging, it was not Tinubu that defeated Waziri Atiku. It was Peter Obi. For him and Labour Party, going to court is flogging a dead horse. Even Judas did the same.

“He tried to return the 30 pieces of silver to the chief priests, but the deed had been done. If Peter Obi likes, let him condemn the patriotic act of President Bola Tinubu to retain fuel subsidy removal.

“It won’t change the fact that Yes Daddy has been rendered politically impotent in Nigeria.”

Katsina Gov, Dikko Radda hails Akume, Gbajabiamila’s appointments as SGF, CoS

By Christiana Ekpa

Governor Dikko Umaru

Radda of Katsina State has applauded Tinubu’s appointments of George Akume and Femi Gbajabiamila as Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF) and Chief of Staff (CoS) to the President, respectively, as appropriate and well-deserved.

Radda made the remark in a congratulatory message he sent to the duo, made available in a statement to journalists by his Chief Press Secretary, Ibrahim

Kaula Mohammed.

According to Radda, Gbajamila’s appointment is considered in many quarters a round peg in a round hole, considering his wealth of experience and service to the country over the years.

The Katsina governor expressed confidence that the Speaker of the 9th House of Representatives will bring to bear his deep legislative knowledge and robust administrative experience in ensuring the smooth running of the Office of the President and support the government in

providing the required leadership for the development and progress of the country.

“Be rest assured that our prayers and support are always with you as you take on the responsibilities of this high office,” he said.

Similarly, in a congratulatory message to Senator George Akume, the newly appointed Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Radda expressed confidence that the new SGF would deliver results considering his wealth of experience at both the state and federal levels.

“This is a huge accomplishment and one that we are very proud of. Your hard work and dogged determination to get things done right are hallmarks of your character over the years.

“We are confident that you will bring your wealth of experience to bear in the discharge of the responsibilities of your office.

“We wish you the best and success in your efforts to set in motion the machinery of government to improve the lives of all Nigerians,” Radda said.

Adamawa APC lawmaker defects to PDP

By Ikechukwu Okaforadi

The member representing Ganye Constituency in the Adamawa State House of Assembly, Alhassan Hammanjoda, has formally notified the assembly

of his defection from the All Progressives Congress (APC) to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

Alhassan announced his defection in a letter he personally signed and presented on the floor of the house during Wednesday’s

sitting.

In the letter, read by the speaker of the house, Aminu Iya Abbas, the lawmaker said his defection is consequent upon the decision of his supporters and his personal conviction.

He added that the current leadership of Governor Ahmadu Fintiri is providing good leadership, which he supports.

Alhassan, who bid farewell to his former party, thanked them for their support and the

opportunity given to him to serve the people of his constituency for eight years.

Speaker Aminu Iya Abbas, welcoming him to the ruling PDP in the state, charged him to continue with his support for the party.

Senate President holds farewell parley with top aides, journàlists

By Ikechukwu Okaforadi

The President of the Senate, Ahmad Lawan on Wednesday held separate valedictory meetings with his legislative aides and members of the Senate Press Corps.

Lawan thanked his staff for making his tenure a success and applauded members of the Senate Press Corps for being a worthy partner of the Ninth Senate.

The Senate President first met with members of the Senate Press Corps where he commended the reporters for effective and accurate coverage of the activities of the Ninth Senate.

“Just like we in the Ninth

Senate said that we worked for National interest, this Senate Press Corps has also worked for the national interest. We can’t ask for a better Senate Press Corps than this one,” Lawan said.

The Senate President recalled the many achievements of the Ninth Senate and Ninth National Assembly in general.

“But who would have known that we have done that, if you didn’t tell the world. We have done so many things. You reported those things that we have done and one thing I can say here is that you remain factual, you remain truthful in reporting whatever happened in the Senate.

“Infact you are worthy

partners of the Ninth Senate. We appreciate your commitment. We appreciate your patriotism.

“For us and particularly for me, this Ninth National Assembly, no matter what anybody will call it, we have done what we should do to ensure service delivery by the executive arm of government to Nigerians.

“At the last count, former President Muhammadu Buhari, assented to about 112 bills in the last four years. Some of them extremely crucial and critical bills...that have come to reform either our economy or the oil industry or our social environment or our electoral process, are things that we are

very happy about and we have been able to achieve them.

“On the whole, this Ninth National Assembly has made its marks in the areas of legislation, representation and oversight. This is an opportunity for us to commend you for telling Nigerians about us and what we do here exactly the way it should be,” Lawan said.

He urged the Senate Press Corps to extend similar cooperation and support to the Tenth Senate and its leadership.

At another similar meeting with his legislative aides, the Senate President thanked them for their contributions in their different capacities.

“I want to thank God for his blessings that today, close to four years, we didn’t have to run all over the place, fire on the mountain. That we have been able to work very peacefully in the Senate and between the Senate and the House of Representatives and between the National Assembly and the executive arm of government,” Lawan said.

Responding on behalf of the legislative aides, the Chief of Staff to the Senate President, Dr Babagana M. Aji thanked the Senate President most sincerely for the privilege and opportunity to serve.

From left: Immediate Past Chief Executive Officer, Nigerian Institute for Leather Science Technology (NILEST), Dr Eucharia Opara; Director General of NILEST, Prof. Mohammed Yakubu; representatives, Regional Director of United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO), MS Christiana Obase; Vice President, Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Mr Leye Kupoluyi and Zonal Manager Southwest Bank of Agriculture, Ibadan, Mr Adekunle Osho, during the Ponmo Summit 2023, Incorporation of Ponmo dealers into other business for effective repositioning of the leather industry” in Lagos on Wednesday (7/6/23).

Those against me have their reasons –Aregbesola

By Christiana Ekpa

Former Minister of Interior, Rauf Aregbesola, returned to Osun State on Wednesday to a rousing welcome by supporters.

The former governor said those against him “have their reasons”, adding that he holds no grudge against anyone.

Aregbesola was hosted to a homecoming reception in Osogbo, the capital, after serving in the federal cabinet from 2015 to 2023.

His convoy passed through Osogbo/Ilesa road, Ilesa Garage, Oke-Ijetu, Oke-Ayepe, ItaOlokan and stopped at Ataoja’s Palace at Oja-Oba.

Aregbesola thanked his admirers for standing by him over the years, saying “the eulogies have not stopped” since he left power.

“It was because of my promise to the then Ataoja of Osogbo that I picked my deputy from Osogbo.

“Anyone who has issues with me has his/her reasons, but I hold no grudge against anyone,” he noted.

Argebsola thanked exPresident Muhammadu Buhari for appointing him and hailed Osogbo and its people “for adopting me as their son”.

Nigeria politics not for poor people –Ogunlewe

By Ikechukwu Okaforadi

Achieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Senator Adeseye Ogunlewe has claimed that politics in the country is not meant for the poor.

Ogunlewe made the assertion while fielding questions on Arise Television’s Morning Show programme on Wednesday.

He was speaking on the politics surrounding the race for the leadership of the 10th National Assembly.

“As I said how many years ago, Nigeria politics is not for the poor. No matter how much you describe it, it’s for the rich. If you don’t have enough funds, just don’t come into politics; you will never get through. And that is the truth. So a poor man can’t say, I am a senator or a poor person can’t say, I want to be the President of the Senate.

“How does it work out? You must be able to stand very solid to be able to play politics in Nigeria; very very solid.

“There’s nobody who is going to be a Senator today who will be a poor person. They are not poor,” Ogunlewe said.

Court admits final presidential election results as exhibits in Obi’s petition against Tinubu

By Musa Baba Adamu

In a renewed bid to justify his request for nullification of the election of President Bola Tinubu, the presidential candidate of the Labour Party (LP) in the last presidential election, Peter Obi, on Wednesday tendered the collated final presidential election results used in declaring Tinubu as winner of the election.

The final result was admitted by the Presidential Election Petition Court (PEPC) without any objections from the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), President Bola Tinubu, Kashim Shetima and the All Progressives Congress (APC) who are the four respondents in the petition.

Apart from not opposing the final presidential election results contained in form EC8DA, the four respondents did not also oppose deeming the vital documents as being read in the

open Court.

Obi and the Labour Party LP through their lawyer, Professor Paul Ananaba, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, SAN, tendered the documents alongside several exhibits to establish the petition against Tinubu’s election.

Surprisingly, however, while the respondents vehemently opposed the admission of collated election results from the ward level, local government level, and state level, they accepted tendering the final result without any objections.

At Wednesday’s proceedings, the collated results in the 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) contained in forms EC8D used by the electoral body were also tendered and admitted as exhibits.

Also at the PEPC hearing on his petition against Tinubu, Obi, who was physically present in the court to witness proceedings, shifted his battle from ward-

collated election results to local government election results and state-collated results before tendering the final result as exhibits in aid of his petition.

The collated results at the local government levels are contained in forms EC8C used by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) during the February 25 presidential poll.

The 13 states where the ward collated results were tendered and admitted as exhibits are Bayelsa, Benue, Cross River, Ebonyi, Edo, Lagos, Niger and Ondo.

The rest states are Oyo, Rivers, Sokoto and Ekiti and Delta.

Obi tendered collated results in 8 local government areas of Bayelsa, 23 in Benue, 18 in Cross River,10 in Ebonyi, 18 in Edo, 20 in Lagos and 25 in Niger State.

Others are 18 in Ondo, 33 in Oyo, 23 in Rivers, 23 in Sokoto, 16 in Ekiti and 25 in Delta.

Although INEC, Tinubu, Kashim Shetima and the All

Progressives Congress (APC) who are respondents in the petition signified their objections against admission of the collated results, Presiding Justice of the Court, Justice Haruna Simon Tsammani admitted them as exhibits in favour of Obi and the Labour Party.

Meanwhile, Chairman of the Court, Justice Haruna Simon Tsammani has fixed June 8 for continuation of hearing in the petition.

Addressing newsmen later, Obi’s counsel, Professor Paul Ananaba explained that the coast is now clear for his clients to begin to call witnesses to testify to establish the petition.

The professor of law revealed that the witnesses will speak through the admitted documents one after the other to show the court where electoral malpractices were carried out during the February 25 presidential election.

INEC releases final candidates’ list for Bayelsa, Imo, Kogi guber poll

By Musa Baba Adamu

The Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, has released the final list of candidates for Nov. 11 governorship election in Bayelsa, Imo and Kogi.

Those listed for Bayelsa poll included Gov. Diri Duoye, PDP, Chief Sylva Timipre, APC, Mr Eradiri Udengmobofa, LP, Mr Osuluku Binalatefa, SDP, and Mrs Ogege Mercy, APP.

The candidates for Kogi are Mr Leke Abejide, ADC, Mr Dino Melaye, PDP, Malam Ahmed Ododo, APC, and Mrs Suleiman Fati, ZLP.

Those listed for the Imo poll included Gov. Hope Uzodinmma,

APC, Mr Ayanwu Samuel, PDP, Mr Odunzeh Ben, NNPP and Mr Achony Nneji, LP.

Mr Festus Okoye, the INEC National Commissioner and Information and Voter Education Committee, said in a statement in Abuja the list was approved by the commission at its regular meeting on Tuesday.

Okoye said that the decision was in line with the provision of Section 32(1) of the Electoral Act 2022.

He said that the section required the publication of the list not later than 150 days to election day i.e. Friday June 9, following the period for voluntary withdrawal and substitution of candidates by political parties

under Section 31 of the Electoral Act 2022.

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

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

The list showed that all 18 political parties fielded candidates for Kogi poll, while 17 parties fielded candidates for Imo and 16 parties in Bayelsa.

The list also showed that two political parties fielded female candidates for the Bayelsa poll, while only one party fielded a

female candidate for Kogi poll.

Okoye reminded political parties and their candidates that in line with timetable and schedule of activities for the election, campaign in public would officially commence on Wednesday, June 14 in line with Section 94(1) of the Electoral Act 2022 and ends on Nov. 9 i.e. 24 hours prior to election day.

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

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

From Left: Vice Chairman, Radio Television Theatre and Arts Workers Union(RATTAWU), Lagos Chapter, Micah Dandy; Chairman of RATTAWU Lagos Council, Ishola Adejumo; Public Relations Officer, Olajide Olojede and Ex-Officio, Mark Akhuetie, during the RATTAWU NAN Chapter Election in Lagos on Wednesday/07/06/23.

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

By Abubakar Yunusa Abuja

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

REDAN urges Tinubu to assent to RECON bill into law

By Abubakar Yunusa Abuja

The Real Estate Developers Association of Nigeria(REDAN) had called on the president Asiwaju Bola Tinubu to sign the Real Estate Regulatory Council of Nigeria (RECON) into law considering the essence of the bill to the real estate sector.

The association also thanked the Senate President, Senator Ahmed Lawan and the speaker of the house of representatives, Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila ,the Deputy

Speaker Rt. Hon. Idris Wase, and Rt Hon. Peter Akpatasan for the concurrence and passage of the RECON Bill.

Adresssing journalists in Abuja yesterday,REDAN president, Alhaji (Dr )Aliyu Oroji Wamako said ,” said REDAN is complementing the Federal Government’s effort in providing affordable housing to Nigerians.

“We are confident that the President Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu GCFR, the Commander -In-Chief of the armed forces

who has Nigerians at heart will sign the Bill into law soonest considering the essence of the Bill to the real estate sector, as it will serve as engine for job creation; with resultant benefits of National Economic Development.

“REDAN as a responsive and responsible Association is committed to executing our National Housing Development flagship project, the Rural-Urban Housing Initiative (RUHI-774), which is aimed at developing at least 100 housing units in each of the 774 Local Government

Councils of the Federation including the FCT, where feasible and viable”,Aliyu said .

Speaking further,he said “We have secured construction finance in the sum of N26 billion from Pan African Affordable Housing finance institution, the Shelter Afrique to finance the RUHI-774 projects nationwide.

“We use this medium to thank Members of the REDAN Board of Trustees, National Executive Council and entire Members for supporting us in our journey to get the Bill to this state.”

The Deputy ViceChancellor, Nasarawa State University, Keffi, Professor Saadatu Hassan Liman and the Director, Planning Research and Statistics of NYSC, Alhaji Ahmed Wada Ikaka during the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding on behalf their institutions at the NYSC National Directorate Headquarters in Abuja. Photo: NYSC

Bolt, Uber drivers begin strike over low fares, 25% commission rate

By Abubakar Yunusa Abuja

E-hailing drivers under the aegis of the Amalgamated Union Of App-Based Transport Workers Of Nigeria (AUATWON) have shutdown operations over low fares.

The strike, which began on Wednesday, was also in protest of the high commission rates set by Uber and Bolt — the two biggest ride-hailing service providers in Nigeria.

The development comes amid increased petrol pump prices in Africa’s biggest economy after authorities scrapped subsidy payments on the commodity.

Last week, the Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC) Limited adjusted the price of petrol from N185 to over N500 across its retail outlets, leading to an exponential surge in the prices of goods and services.

Operators told TheCable

that the strike commenced on Wednesday after a brief meeting in Lagos.

“The strike is on. Bolt still maintains 25 percent commission with just N100 increment with this present price of petrol,” a source said.

“Some buy as high as N600 per litre and as low as N550. The fare is nothing to write home about, especially with the traffic situation in Lagos.

“So the strike has started. But for those who have personal needs to meet, they can take ride requests offline.”

Also justifying the industrial action, a driver who identified as Azeez, lamented the harsh economic realities in the country.

He said the cost of spare parts has jumped to 300 percent over the last four months.

“I bought fuel for N13,500 on Sunday and I did a trip of N21,200. Bolt has taken N5,300

as their commission. I am left with N15,900,” Azeez said.

“Deduct N13,500 [for petrol], I am left with N2,400 and I drove for about eight hours for that day.

“Look at it. If my car should break down or I have an emergency will N2,400 be able to take care of my situation?”

In an official statement on Wednesday, the association said the latest removal of subsidy, which has increased the prices of petrol by over 270 percent, coupled with the “unreasonable 25 percent commission charge on every trip, has further put the business and investment in an unprofitable state”.

The app-transport workers said they are struggling to survive and can no longer cope with the situation.

Hence, the drivers are demanding an increase in fare by 200 percent and a reduction of commission by 50 percent.

The operators are also

asking the companies to stop the unlawful deactivation of drivers, and implement an “open collective bargaining with AUATWON”.

“We’ve passed our demands to the application companies but they’ve refused to attend to them,” the statement reads.

“We are using this opportunity to call on the fleet managers, driver-partners, and app-base transport workers across Nigeria, to support this strike fully and understand, that our service(s) must be withdrawn during this protest and moratorium or waiver should be given to all drivers on rentals or higher purchase.

“This is a solidarity step we must take together to protect our investment as fleet managers, secure our business as workers, and secure our job as app drivers.

“We are confident this will give us a better and profitable industry that will encourage every stakeholder.”

Reps query NNPCL over “missing” N2 trillion during transfer of assets from NNPC

By Abubakar Yunusa Abuja

Anad hoc committee of the House of Representatives has queried the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) over N2 trillion allegedly unaccounted for during its transition from NNPC.

The committee, in its report adopted by the House Committee of the Whole House, on Tuesday during plenary, said the asset of NNPC was worth $64 billion (about ₦28 trillion) during the transition process but $58.8 billion (₦26 trillion) was transferred to the NNPC Limited.

The committee, chaired by Uju Kingsley (APC, Imo), was mandated to ascertain the total inventory, assets, interest and liabilities of the NNPC and its subsidiaries.

The defunct NNPC transited to NNPC Limited in July 2022 in line with the Petroleum Industry Act. The transition changed the entity from a state-run entity to a commercial oil company.

In the report, the committee stated that NNPC Limited has not been able to account for the N2 trillion discrepancy.

“From findings, total assets worth $64 billion (about ₦28 trillion) was unveiled by Mr President but during transfer only $58.8 billion (₦26 trillion at official) at a rate of ₦450 to $1 was transferred, leaving a balance of ₦2 trillion unaccounted,” the report read in part.

The committee also claimed to have discovered another N2 trillion liability owed to AGIP Petroleum Limited but no single evidence to back the claim.

Furthermore, the committee said it discovered additional fraud committed by companies linked to NNPC subsidiaries.

“Information available to us suggests that some subsidiaries of NNPC, with locations in foreign countries, buy crude oil and gas from NNPC without evidence of their payments for the purchases. These companies are indicted to be operating without employees and no fixed assets; yet over N30 billion is traceable to some of them,” the report said.

The committee recommended the audit of the purported N2 trillion liability that NNPC Limited inherited. It further called for a forensic audit of all NNPC accounts with all the banks to verify the true amount owed to any bank based on loans granted.

In addition, the audit would cover the movements of funds from NNPC accounts, as well as charges by banks.

Furthermore, the committee asked the federal government to investigate foreign desk offices of NNPC subsidiaries with locations abroad and make international oil companies establish offices in Nigeria and develop a framework that will make the companies answerable to the Laws of Nigeria.

The recommendations of the committee were adopted by the Committee of the Whole House without amendment.

Sustainability, climate disclosures crucial for protecting investors, says NGX Regulation

By Abubakar Yunusa Abuja

NGX Regulation Limited

(NGX RegCo) says it remains committed to championing the drive of sustainability and climatic disclosure reporting among companies to ensure investors in the Nigerian capital market are protected.

Tinuade Awe, chief executive officer, NGX RegCo, spoke during the opening of the 3-day virtual workshop on sustainability disclosure standards for companies as well as investors in the capital market in Lagos on Tuesday.

She said the workshop was organised to help investors understand the basic concepts of the Sustainability Accounting Standards Board (SASB) standards and make effective

decisions based on the standards.

Expressing her excitement, Awe said NGX RegCo would continue to promote a fair, transparent and orderly market that thrives on full and timely information.

She said, “As a member of the NGX Group, our commitment towards driving sustainability and climate disclosures dates back in time and continues as we partner with organisations such as the FRC and so we are pleased to have these sessions as they are important and we look forward to having more collaborations with the FRC as well as other organisations.”

Awe further revealed that there is an adoption readiness strategy mapped out to help accountants and auditors in sustainability and climatic reporting.

“The adoption readiness

working group is a creation of the FRC supported by the ISSB where basically a group of people are being put together in order to advise or help the FRC on a roadmap for getting to the adoption of these standards to work in Nigeria,” she said.

Earlier in his welcome remarks, Shuaibu Adamu, executive secretary, Financial Reporting Council (FRC) of Nigeria, said Nigeria is the only African country that has been selected to launch the International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS) S1 and IFRS S2.

He said the key to the launching of these standards has been awareness and capacity building.

Commending NGX RegCo and ISSB, Adamu said, “It is encouraging that African countries are coming together

to collaborate in this capacity building programme because it is clear that Africa does not want to be left behind.”

“We want to appreciate NGX RegCo for agreeing to partner with us and they have been so far worth partners in this endeavor. It is clear that ISSB wants implementation of these standards globally and they have taken time to ensure Africa is not left behind”.

Also speaking at the event, Ndidi Nnoli-Edozien, board member, ISSB, said IFRS standards are used across 140 countries.

She said the objective is to enable companies to provide comprehensive, decision useful sustainability and climate information to global capital markets, and develop a common language of sustainability related disclosures.

Nigeria, Netherlands modify treaty to strengthen economic cooperation

The Federal Government and the Kingdom of Netherlands have engaged in an Economic Consultation to modernize the existing bilateral investment treaty between both countries to strengthen economic interest and opportunities.

The Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Amb. Adamu Lamuwa, at the opening of the Economic Consultation in Abuja, said that discussion would also be opened or the establishment of a joint Binational Commission.

Mr Lamuwa, who was represented Amb. Bolaji Akinremi, Director, Trade and Economic Relations in the Ministry, said that the Economic Consultation was timely as rebuilding the nation’s economy is the focus of the new administration.

“This gathering of professionals would foster productive dialogue on Nigeria-Netherlands Economic Cooperation, the Investment Promotion and Protection Agreement (IPPA), Avoidance of Double Taxation Agreement (ADTA), and other legal frameworks.

“During this Economic Consultation, Nigeria is willing to explore further, areas of economic cooperation with the Netherlands in Agricultural value chain, secular economy, renewable energy, waterways management and water scarcity.

“Other areas are Oil and Gas, Special Economic Zones, African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) and Trade facilitation in Western

Africa, Science, Technology and Innovations (STI) Education and Health.

“Mines and Metallurgy, Arts and Crafts, Tourism, Creative and Entertainment Industry, Small and Medium Enterprises Development, Aviation, AntiMoney Laundry and Counter Financing Terrorism (AML/ CFT) / General Security matters. Digital Economy and FINTECH,”

He noted that in spite of the longstanding bilateral relations between Nigeria and the Netherlands there was no Joint/Bi-National Commission Agreement between the two countries.

“Negotiation for the establishment of a Joint Commission has been inconclusive since 1987.

“Against this background, the Government of Nigeria would like to reopen the negotiation for the establishment of a Joint/Bi-National Commission Agreement, as this would further consolidate and boost the relations between the two countries,” Lamuwa said.

Hanneke Schuiling, ViceMinister for Foreign Trade of the Kingdom of the Netherlands said the Dutch government attaches importance strengthening bilateral economic relationship with Nigeria, its fifth trading partner in Africa.

Ms Schuiling said that updating and modernizing the investment agreement between both countries will create a more stable and predictable investment environment.

“In this regard we see a high potential in four areas in particular: –agriculture, IT, healthcare and renewable energy.

“As you may be aware, the current treaty was signed in 1992. Since then, both countries have experienced significant changes in their approach to international investments which can be adopted into a new treaty.

“It is important to modernize our treaty to reflect these changes. A modernized treaty can also foster stronger economic relations between our two nations.

“I hope we can seize the opportunity to mutually agree on a new investment treaty, that reflects the evolving economic landscape and guarantees a fair and transparent investment climate for both parties.

“Firstly, we recognize the importance of promoting and protecting investments in both our countries. It is important that we facilitate investments and that we provide a transparent legal framework to investors. This will be crucial to fostering investor confidence.

“At the same time, we need to ensure that our respective governments’ right to regulate is enshrined in the treaty.

“Secondly, incorporating sustainable development and responsible business conduct in this treaty is another element that we feel is very important. These topics are increasingly important in trade and investment agreements. .

“Thirdly, it is our ambition to include provisions for transparent and predictable dispute

settlement procedures. This will provide both governments and investors with greater certainty and confidence in the investment process,” Schuiling said.

Dr Bashir Jamoh, DirectorGeneral, Nigeria Maritime and Safety Agency, NIMASA, said that the Agency looked to partnering with the Netherlands as a maritime nation to develop Nigeria’s blue economy to becoming the nation’s main source of revenue.

“What we are advocating now is the issue of the blue economy, and already, the Federal Government has inaugurated a committee to look into ways of harnessing our blue economy.

“The Netherlands having being a maritime nation, they owe it a duty to join hands together and see how we can continue to build and expand our own fleets, the ships, small ships, the fishing trollers, passenger ferries, instead of using small canoes that every day we record accidents.

“The fishing industry used to give Nigeria the second largest income, today, because of the extinction of these fishing trollers we no longer have any sizeable income from our fishing.

“We are doing what we can explore from the over 2.5 trillion dollars’ worth of ocean resources,” Mr Jamoh said.

The News Agency of Nigeria reports that 35 Ministries, Department, and Agencies, MDAs, the Lagos State Chambers of Commerce and Industry, the Manufacturing Association of Nigeria, MAN, would be participating in the three-day economic consultation.

Subsidy removal: Tinubu asks NEC to work on intervention programmes

...As major marketers back President, donate 100 buses

By Egena Sunday Ode

President Bola Tinubu has directed the National Economic Council (NEC) led by Vice President Kashim Shettima to begin the process of working out what he called “interventions” to ameliorate the impact of subsidy removal on Nigerians.

Governor of Ogun State, Dapo Abiodun, stated this after he led some major oil marketers on a courtesy call on President Tinubu at the Presidential Villa, Abuja on Wednesday.

This came as the major oil marketers announced a donation of 100 mass transit buses worth N10 billion to the federal government to cushion the effect of subsidy removal.

Governor Abiodun who briefed newsmen after the courtesy visit said the marketers were in the presidential villa to express solidarity with the president for the decision to end subsidy payment.

He noted that Tinubu’s action showed

courage to remove the hermorage that had bedeviled the country for decades.

He said the country was spending about N4 trillion annually on subsidy, which henceforth should be taken to the Federation Account Allocation Committee, FAAC for sharing among three tiers of government.

The governor said that while there would be some discomfort on the part of the people, the move would eventually benefit the people as there can be no gains without pains.

Addressing the newsmen, Mrs Winifred Akpani, Chairman DAPPMAN, said the courtesy visit was to express the major oil marketers utmost support to the federal government.

She said that the group was aware of the difficulties the subsidy removal has created in the country, expressing optimism that it was going to reposition the country.

She noted that Nigeria in the first three months of 2023 has spent over N2

trillion, adding that if it continued with the payment, by the end of the year, I may spend about N7 trillion.

Akpani said through subsidy, Nigeria has been feeding her neighbouring countries, adding that it can no longer subsidise fuel for African countries while its economy continues to bleed.

She further explained that the marketers have announced plan to donate 50 to 100 mass transit buses as a way to help in the success of the initiative, calling on other organisation to emulate the gesture.

Her words: “We all collectively agree that we’re going to work at providing real mass transit buses that work, the ones that run on CNG which is a compressed natural gas and diesel interchangeably, and hopefully we’re going to start with about 50 to 100. And that is in the very, very short term. And these are locally produced.

“So, you see that we’re also providing jobs, a lot more jobs because we’re using local assembly plants, we are not

importing this. That is less pressure on our foreign exchange, and that’s more jobs for Nigerians. And Mr President was very happy with that.

“We’re really relieved to thank the President because he has a perfect understanding of a lot of the issues. I guess we’re not surprised but we were almost amazed to use that word. He asked all the right questions and he pointed to who could solve this problem and that problem.

So, like I said, we’re really, really grateful that we’ve had this interaction, and we’ll take it from there. And hopefully, everybody here and Nigerians at large will begin to see that even if this sounded very difficult, it’s a very, very good move, and very courageous.

“We’ve been trying to do this for so many years. No president has had the courage to do this. But now we’ll have to face it and like we said, support is what is required now to see this through.”

R-L: Former Speakers of the House of Representatives, Hon. Ghali Na’aba, Hon. Patricia Etteh; former Deputy Speaker, Hon. Babangida Ngoroje, former CNAs, Oluyemi Ogunyomi; Salisu Maikasuwa and former Majority Leader, Hon. Mulikat Akande, during the valedictory plenary of the 9th House of Representatives, at the National Assembly, yesterday in Abuja.

Photo: Mahmud Isa

METRO

Abuja@47 Poetry Contest: FCTA rewards winners with electronic gadgets

By Stanley Onyekwere

The Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) has rewarded three winners of the Abuja @ 47 Poetry Online Contest, with smart electronic gadgets, ranging from phones, I-pads, laptops to cash tokens.

Our correspondent reports that the winners of contest, organised as part of the activities to mark the 47th anniversary of Abuja’s creation are:Gabriel Oche, Eyimofe Jerry, and Gimba JR7, respectively.

While presenting the prizes to the winners yesterday, the FCTA Permanent Secretary, Olusade Adesola, said the contest was one of the ways to engage the youths and enhance their creativity, while creating a platform for the unification all tribes.

Adesola noted that the administration will continue to explore ways of using innovation to build the Abuja dream, and ensuring that the city becomes habitable and secured for all.

According to him, there was enormous talents in the art and harnessing it for both FCT and national development was very important.

He said, “ as a government, we recognize the importance of supporting and promoting the arts and the creative industry, in general.

“I do not need to start telling you about the importance of arts, but suffice it to say arts help us in expressing our humanity, showcasing our talents, and connecting with others in ways that enrich our lives. That is what you have achieved.

“The huge talent which you expressed you arts has connected us all for development of the nation’s capital”.

Earlier in her welcome remarks,Acting Director, Reforms Coordination and Service Improvement Department (RCSID), Dr. Jumai Ahmadu, said the three winners’ were selected from about 30 entries received from applicants.

She explained that the participants were required to write stories and share online videos that best represent the what Abuja

stands for.

Ahmadu noted that the winners have been rewarded with smart phones and laptops to enable them continue with the propagation of the ideals of the Abuja project.

Responding on behalf of the winners,

the overall winner, Gabriel Oche, thanked everyone involved in organising the contest as well as the contestants, because all of them wrote from their hearts.

“For you (organisers) to pick us out as winners, it shows that there is light at the

end of the tunnel, and tomorrow is brighter for everybody.

“Abuja is a city for us all, and the unification of our tribes and languages is of paramount importance to everybody”, Oche stated.

Group launches structure to monitor Govt’s activities in communities

By Stanley Onyekwere

Asociopolitical organisation under the auspices of Asiwaju Mandate Group (AMG) has unveiled its structure which cut across the six geopolitical zones of Nigeria, to serve as watchdogs, diligently monitoring the actions and inactions of government officials to ensure they remain true to the spirit of our collective mandate and promoting policies and programs that are people-centric and developmental.

The national coordinator of the AMG, Serah Shekwonya Tukurah, while speaking during the unveiling ceremony yesterday in Abuja, said they are committed to holding themselves and all the government accountable for their responsibilities and advocating for the best interests of the Nigerian people.

She also appealed to Nigerians, the Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC and the Trade Union Congress, TUC to put the greater good of all Nigerians above their

unions’ interest, noting that the subsidy system as practiced has proven to be a drain on the nation’s resources, leading to significant fiscal deficits, corruption, and limited investment in critical sectors such as healthcare, education, and infrastructure development.

“The removal of the subsidy will create a rationalized and market-driven approach to petroleum pricing. This will not only ensure a fair distribution of resources but also stimulate economic growth by attracting private investments, fostering competition, and promoting innovation within the sector.

“The funds saved from subsidy removal can be redirected towards social welfare programs, job creation initiatives, and the development of vital infrastructure projects that will benefit all Nigerians. This indeed will be a worthy sacrifice under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s watch.

“We laud the President for hitting the ground running. His recent appointments

indicate intent and purpose to deliver on his promise during the campaign. While congratulating Hon. Femi Gbajabimiala and Senator George Akume on their appointment as the Chief of Staff of the President and Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF) respectively,” she said.

The group urged the new Chief of Staff and the SGF to live up to the expectation of the teaming masses and be reliable assets to the President In delivering his mandate, saying that they equally trust that all future appointments would be top-notched and aimed at delivering the dividend of democracy to all Nigerians.

“More so, the renewed hope mandate places a strong emphasis on the rule of law and inclusive governance. The President believes that a just and fair society can only be built upon a foundation of strong institutions and transparent processes.

“This group will advocate for the strengthening of the judiciary, fighting

corruption, and ensuring that all Nigerians have equal access to justice.

“This presentation of the central Working Team of Asiwaju Mandate Group is a call to action to all progressives and by extension the members of the fourth estates of the realm to eschew divisory rhetoric and embrace tolerance, broad mindedness, and acceptability.

“AMG recognises that strength that lies in Nigeria’s diversity. It promotes inclusivity and unity, respecting and celebrating the diverse cultures, religions, and ethnicities that make up our nation. We will work tirelessly to foster national unity, bridging divides and promoting dialogue among various stakeholders, building a stronger and more cohesive Nigeria.

“Our group is a platform for unity and collective action, and we invite every progressive to join us in this noble endeavor. Together, we can shape the destiny of our nation and build a brighter future for generations to come”, she said.

The FCTA Permanent Secretary, Olusade Adesola presenting a prize to the the overall winner of Abuja @ 47 Poetry Online Contest, Gabriel Oche, yesterday, in Abuja.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Astrud Gilberto: The Girl from Ipanema singer dies at 83

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Uncredited vocals

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

arranged by Quincy Jones.

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

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

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

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

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

Source: BBC

Gov. Bago launches Green Economy initiative in Niger

From Yakubu Mustapha Minna

Niger state governor, Mohammed Umar Bago has concluded plans to revive and build a sustainable economy in Niger State.

This is in a bid to mark the World Environment Day (WED) in a meeting with the consultants in green economy, to discuss his vision for championing green growth in the state.

The meeting reviewed the theme of this year’s WED celebration on plastic pollution and underscored the importance of the governor’s drive to lead the state on the road to sustainability.

Governor Bago in demonstrating his commitment set up a Niger State Committee on Green Economy to help develop a blueprint and an implementation framework for a green economy, chaired by Prof. M. T. Usman.

Meanwhile, the Committee is to come up with modalities that would enable the State to leverage its carbon credentials to spur development that is sustainable.

He reiterated his determination to personally lead the campaign to plant millions of trees across Niger State towards accomplishing global sustainable development goals, Nigeria’s climate targets, African Union Agenda 2063, One Billion Trees for Africa vision, and the Great Green Wall.

The Governor emphasized the place of Niger State as the largest sub-national entity in Nigeria, with a land mass of 76,363km2, and blessed with arable land, an abundance of water bodies, and labour, which can be catalysed into massive opportunities for youth employment and green economic growth.

He announced his intention to host the first-ever Green Summit to mark his first 100 days in office and challenged the Committee to work towards actualizing it.

First Lady at liberty to choose her ADC -Presidency security expert

By Egena Sunday Ode

Asecurity expert in the Presidency has said the choice of an Aide De Camp (ADC) for the office of the First Lady and the wife of the Vice President should be made after inputs had been received from them directly.

According to the security source who spoke on condition of anonymity, the choice of an aide to be attached to such a high profile office should be made after the opinion of the occupant had been sought.

Recall that, the wife of the Vice President and former Governor of Borno state, Hajia Nana Shettima, was in the news recently for allegedly rejecting a female Police Aide De Camp (ADC) assigned to her office because she is unmarried.

Weighing in on the matter, however, the source who is versed in security duties for VIPs, yesterday, explained that it is within the purview of the

president or governor’s wife to choose who becomes her aide.

“She should therefore, be accorded the honour to make a choice from three suitably qualified officers that would be shortlisted for her selection, the expert said when sought to make professional input on the matter.

“This is especially as she had indicated her preference to work with her former ADC when she served as the Wife of the Borno State Governor for eight years.”

“She should be given the chance of choosing one ADC from the three suitably qualified officers that would be shortlisted for her selection.”

The source further noted that “assigning security details or aides to VIPs follows specific procedures that vary across security agencies. It is a process that involves selecting at least three competent personnel and scrutinizing their service records. The most suitable candidate is

then presented to the VIP for approval, and upon acceptance, the personnel is officially assigned to the individual.”

Continuing, he asserted that “aside professional competence and other criteria, other issues relating to selecting a personal aide includes but not limited to - background checks for suitability to the office by the VIP as the case maybe. He listed other criteria to include personal assessment and acceptance of the aide by the VIP, any other reason the VIP may find desirous of an aide he or she may expect of an aide.

“Most importantly, the long and short details regarding criteria for selecting a personal aide are usually personal. The idea of imposing people on vip’s via whatever guise should not be encouraged. The decision of the wife of the vice president ought to be respected as we pray and look forward to better service from the government.”

He said, the former Borno

state First Lady is not new to the corridors of power and has previously worked with an ADC when she served as the governor’s wife for eight years in Borno.

It is therefore, not surprising that the same ADC and security detail who worked with her in Borno as the governor’s wife was present at her inauguration, the expert added.

The security expert said “the Shettima family is known for maintaining long-term relationships with their staff and workers, like retaining the security details that served the Vice President when he was Governor. Given this track record, it’s unlikely that his wife would act differently, and she has always prioritized following due process in her official dealings, including assigning security personnel to work with her as ADC.

“It is essential to maintain standard procedures in all cases to avoid any lapses in security,” he said.

Pastor Enenche empowers women, orphans

By Abubakar Yunusa Abuja

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

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

Among the items distributed

were food items, sewing machines, ovens, cash, and other necessities. The intention behind this act of generosity was to provide assistance and support to those in need.

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

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

There, he commissioned

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

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

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

He emphasized the need for individuals to use their positions

and resources to make a positive impact on society.

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

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

The village head of the Pywoi community, Chief Tanko Bahago, commended Dr Paul Enenche for his kind-

heartedness and expressed gratitude for his benevolent gesture.

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

President Bola Tinubu and State Governors in a group photograph after their meeting, at the State House, yesterday in Abuja. Photo: State House

N ews F rom A si A

Ben Roberts-Smith threatened witnesses in defamation trial, judge says

Ajudgement in a landmark defamation trial says Australia’s most-decorated living soldier lied to cover up his misconduct and threatened witnesses.

It also found Ben RobertsSmith “complicit in and responsible for” the murder of four Afghans.

Last week, he lost a defamation suit against three Australian newspapers over war crimes allegations.

It has raised the spectre of a possible wider reckoning over claims of war crimes by Australian forces.

On Thursday, Federal Court Judge Anthony Besanko threw out the former special forces corporal’s case against The Age, The Sydney Morning Herald, and The Canberra Times.

Mr Roberts-Smith claimed the papers ruined his life with their reports that he had broken the moral and legal rules of war.

The judge delayed releasing the reasons for his judgement until Monday, to allow Australian authorities time to ensure it did not inadvertently divulge national security secrets.

But Judge Besanko found the claims that Mr Roberts-Smith had murdered unarmed prisoners and civilians while serving in Afghanistan were “substantially true”.

Saying that the 44-year-old was “not an honest and reliable witness”, he added: “I have difficulty accepting the applicant’s evidence on any disputed issue”.

He further found that the Victoria Cross recipient invoked a special forces code of silence to intimidate witnesses, and also smeared and threatened others.

Mr Roberts-Smith had used a private investigator to mail threats to those considering testifying

against him, something Judge Besanko said may constitute a criminal offence - either perverting the course of justice or using a postal service to menace, harass or cause offence.

More articles from the reporters at the centre of the trial, published in the days following the judgement, also allege further intimidating behaviour.

Mr Roberts-Smith went to the extent of sending a legal threat to

Gina Rinehart, Australia’s richest woman, warning that an ex-soldier - Ms Rinehart’s relative - would be sued for speaking ill of him, Nine Newspapers reported.

He also used his private detective to investigate another former soldier and his family, and was captured on tape lambasting soldiers who break the code of silence.

“A few people [in the special forces] had done what we don’t do,

and that’s talk out of school,” he said, according to the report.

Mr Roberts-Smith has not commented since the ruling, but he is expected to appeal to the full bench of the federal court.

The 110-day defamation trial cost up to an estimated A$25m ($16.3m, £13.2m).

Mr Roberts-Smith had been considered a national hero for having single-handedly overpowered Taliban machinegunners who were attacking his Special Air Service (SAS) platoon, earning him Australia’s highest military honour.

He was appointed to highprofile executive positions and received a string of accolades, even being crowned Father of the Year in 2013.

But while he has not been charged with any offences, the father of two is currently the subject of an Australia Federal Police inquiry into alleged war crimes.

In 2020, a landmark investigation known as the Brereton Report found “credible evidence” that elite Australian soldiers unlawfully killed 39 people in Afghanistan.

It recommended that 19 current or former soldiers should be investigated over alleged killings of prisoners and civilians from 2009-13.

Singapore to hold final horse race after more than 180 years

The more than 180-yearlong history of horse racing in Singapore is set to draw to a close.

It has been announced that the small Southeast Asian nation’s only racecourse - Singapore Turf Club - will hold its final meeting next year.

The country’s government will take back the 120-hectare site, which will be used for public and private housing.

Queen Elizabeth II, who was an avid racegoer and racehorse breeder, has an event named after

her at the course.

Her late Majesty presented the inaugural Queen Elizabeth II Cup during a visit to Singapore in 1972. She attended the feature race a second time in 2006.

“Horse racing has a long and distinguished history in Singapore,” the Singapore Turf Club said in a statement late on Monday.

“With races continuing until the 100th Grand Singapore Gold Cup on 5 October 2024, the Club will continue to ensure the sportsmanship, safety and

integrity of every race,” it added.

The sport was introduced to Singapore in 1842, when Scottish merchant William Henry Macleod Read and several other enthusiasts founded the Singapore Sporting Club.

They transformed a patch of semi-swampland in Farrer Park in central Singapore into a racecourse. In 1924, the site was renamed as the Singapore Turf Club.

Horse racing proved to be popular not only with Europeans, with meetings also attracting

wealthy Malay and Chinese racegoers.

In 1933, as horse racing’s popularity increased on the island, the course was moved to a larger location at Bukit Timah in western Singapore.

In March 2000, the Singapore Turf Club moved to its current location at Kranji, in the north of the island. The S$500m ($370.9m; £298m) racecourse has a five-storey grandstand, with capacity for 30,000 spectators.

However, the Singapore Turf Club has seen attendance decline

over the past decade.

The country’s government said the land would be redeveloped for public and private housing to meet “future land use needs”.

“Singapore is a city-state with limited land. The government continually reviews its land use plans to meet today’s needs while ensuring there is sufficient land for future generations,” it added.

The Ministry of National Development also said it would explore other uses for the land, including leisure and recreation facilities. Source: BBC

Australia’s most-decorated living soldier has found his reputation tainted by allegation of war crimes.

Queen Elizabeth II visited the Singapore Turf Club in 1972 and 2006

Horse racing was introduced to Singapore in 1842

NIOB urges govt to prioritise construction of affordable houses

By Mashe Umaru Gwamna

The Nigerian Institute of Building (NIOB) urges government to make construction of affordable houses for citizens a priority.

Prof. Yohanna Izam, President, NIOB, made this call recently at a two-day Mandatory Continuous Professional Development Workshop for its members in Abuja.

The theme of the workshop is “Innovation and technology in housing development”.

It also has sub themes:”Understanding the Nigeria housing challenge, technology driven mass housing provision and innovations to address housing affordability’.

Izam said that there was an urgent need for mass housing provision in the country.

According to him, the provision of mass housing units will not only address the housing deficit but will also solve a social welfare problem.

“We have look at the deficit in housing which some people have put the figures at 20 million. So the incoming administration should consider it as a priority to begin to develop mass houses for Nigerians.

“It will solve a social welfare problem and it will also reflect the economy that will create jobs for our teaming populace,” he said.

While speaking on the paper he presented at the workshop about Dry Construction he said

that it was about addressing the issue of speed in construction.

According to him, it helps to minimise the amount of onsite activities that involves industrialised building system that use more of refabricated components assembled within a short time on the construction site.

“The time for construction is reduced and on the long time factory production of considerable number of components improve the quality of the components and also reduce the cost of production.

“That is what other countries are using to address the issue of mass housing provision.

“We are talking about large numbers, if we can do 700,000 units in Nigeria for the next 10-20 years then we will now stabilise in the housing sector then Nigerians can have affordable housing,” he said.

On his part, 2nd Vice President of NIOB, Mr Bimbo Kolade decried the lack of accurate data on housing deficit in the country.

He said that shelter was critical and innovation and technology must be deployed to address housing delivery in Nigeria from the foundation stage to the last level of delivery.

Kolade said as builders one of the objectives of the workshop was to set an agenda for the incoming administration on the need for mass housing.

Prof. Ismaila Adamu of Yobe State University Damaturu who presented a paper on provision

of affordable housing using Lean Technology said the Technology would help reduce cost.

“It is a technique for project construction management, where you cut down cost through eliminating waste and eliminate any activity in the production process that does not add value to the building.

“Since we are looking for innovative ways for affordable housing units it is a technique that manages planning with control, so that when you plan

you also control.

“When you talk of affordable housing you can look at it from different perspectives, affordable houses to who?

“Everyone has the type of house he wants, because you see sometimes government builds houses and give to people but they sell it and go and construct the type that they like.

Adamu said effort must be put into providing houses for the low income groups that are really affordable and cost effective.

One of the participants of the workshop, Mr Olaniran Aderobigbe, a fellow of NIOB and Managing Director of Projubi Nigeria Plc said the workshop was key because it keeps builders abreast of the latest innovation the industry globally.

Aderibigbe said most of the lectures were futuristic and would give participants a mindset to process and apply the techniques when they eventually come across them adding that the workshop was worthwhile.

Service Charge Key In Mgt Of Multi Tenanted Property - ESV. Patrick Okeke

By Mashe Umaru Gwamna

An Estate Surveyor & Valuer ESV. Patrick Kene

Okeke, said Service Charge is key in the management of multitalented property.

ESV. Okeke made the disclosure in Abuja, yesterday while speaking to newsmen.

He said multi tenanted property have facilities that are used in common by all tenants.

“Facilities such as elevators, security lighting, security alarm, elevators among others. The Service Charge are imposed on all the tenants for smooth running of the property and for the common good of all”.

He said the Estate Surveyor and Valuer, will normally propose annual budget, estimate to cover the expenses which will be apportioned to tenants to pay accordingly.

“The Service Charge is paid collectively by the tenants according to the space they are occupying”.

He will equally manage the funds for the day to day running of the property.

“ The Estate Surveyor & Valuer will provide an annual report to show how the money collected are expended, each tenant must have the statement of account. This is very important to enable each

tenant to know whether he has a refund or will add to the common pool of funds”, Okeke stated.

He explained that “It is important to add that nonpayment of service charge by some tenants has wide implication in the maintenance of the property.

“When the security men and cleaners for instance are not paid at the end of the month, your guess is as good as mine with what

will happen to the property”.

He said that Estate Surveyors and Valuers are the only professionals who are competent to handle this aspect of property management.

“He is the one who secured the tenants and such are familiar with them and conversant with the day to day running of the property maintenance and can deal with artisans as the case maybe”, he stated.

Surveyors task members on professionalism

From: Femi Oyelola, Kaduna

Nigerian Institution of Surveyors (NIS), Kaduna State Council has charged members to keep upgrading and expanding their professional prowess, through training, if they must remain useful and relevant in the ever-changing world.

The Chairman of the State Council, Surv Daudu Andrew asserted this during the oath taking of new exco and induction of new members into the instruction held in Kaduna on 3rd of June, 2023.

According to him, professionals in the sector should consistently seek to

improve themselves for adequate competition, saying. surveyors must eschew all tendencies capable of undermining the professional ethics in the overall interest of the people and country at large.

Surv. Andrew called on the Kaduna State Government to ensure the inclusion of the

menbers of the institution in government projects, stressing no projects can stand the test of time and no Certificate of Occupancy is free from litigation if there is no surveyors contribution.

He said Kaduna state is the number two on the national ladder of the institution in terms of dues payments.

He stressed that the current leadership of the Institution is working in sync with the government and its agencies to create the necessary environment for growth, peace and harmony within the profession that will reduce land litigations in the state.

Feature

Ukraine war: Holy Trinity painting on display in Moscow

In Moscow, the Cathedral of Christ the Saviour echoes to Orthodox chants and prayers. It’s packed with worshippers on one of the great feasts of Orthodoxy: Pentecost.

But many have come here to see a masterpiece that’s been put on display. A 600-year-old Orthodox icon - one of Russia’s most precious - believed to have been painted by the medieval artist Andrei Rublev. It’s known as The Holy Trinity.

For a century, this fragile painting has been in a state museum, Moscow’s Tretyakov Gallery. Temperature and humidity controls, along with teams of restorers, have helped to protect and preserve this work of art.

But the Kremlin recently ordered that the icon be transferred to the Russian Orthodox Church. The head of the Church, Patriarch Kirill, is delighted.

“This icon returns to the Church at a time when our Fatherland is confronting massive enemy forces,” he told worshippers at the weekend. “It returns so that we can ask God to help our country and pray for our Orthodox president Vladimir Putin, whose decision it was to hand back the icon.”

The Patriarch may be pleased. But the icon’s transfer has sparked controversy.

One of Russia’s most renowned art historians agrees to meet to explain why. Lev Lifshits was part of a group of experts that advised against moving the icon from the Tretyakov Gallery, warning that the transfer could result in major damage.

“This decision was someone’s personal whim,” Lev explains. “The [Tretyakov Gallery’s] Restoration Council was categorically against this.

“While the icon was in the museum, with a team of restorers, it was like a person in intensive care. It was being monitored round the clock and by the most modern equipment.

“This is a political decision. Those in power here are looking to the heavens and hoping for help from above.”

Or, at the very least, help from the Church to sustain public support for Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine and for Russia’s president. Patriarch Kirill publicly backs what the Kremlin still calls the “special military operation.” He has previously claimed that any Russian soldiers killed will have their sins “washed away.”

What’s more, the Russian Patriarch has suggested that

President Putin’s reign over Russia had been mandated by God.

“God put you in power so that you could perform a service of special importance and of great responsibility for the fate of the country and the people entrusted to your care,” Patriarch Kirill said last October.

In that sense, returning the Holy Trinity icon could be interpreted as a reward for the Church’s loyalty.

But that may be only part of the story.

“The Church is a very important element of his personal ideology,” believes Andrei Kolesnikov of the Carnegie Russia Eurasia Center. “The inner circle of Putin, and Putin himself, they have an ideology: it is clerical, anti-Western and imperialistic. What is the basis of this ideology? Not MarxismLeninism as in a previous period of Russian history, but

religion.

“He’s a religious man. But it’s not about Christianity as such, with real Christian values, because cruelty - this is not Christian values. In that sense Putin is a follower of a very specific kind of religion.”

Outside Moscow’s Christ the Saviour Cathedral in Moscow, worshippers are queuing to see the Holy Trinity icon. Some here are hoping for miracles.

“It’s difficult now with the special military operation,”

Valentina tells me. “We are praying for victory.”

“Any sensible person will hope the conflict ends soon,” says Antonina. “I think God will help.”

In Russia the Orthodox Church often paints the war in Ukraine as a “holy war.”

To make Russians believe that God is on their side. And to make them forget that it was their country that invaded Ukraine.

Source: BBC

The Holy Trinity painting is now on display at a cathedral in Moscow, despite its age and fragile state

The head of the Russian Orthodox Church is a vocal supporter of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine

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

THE TRUSTEES ARE :

1. BADA-NJOKU NNENNA JOHN (CHAIRMAN)

2. NJOKU CHINYERE JOHN

3. JOHN-NJOKU ROSELINE OLUCHI

4. BADA-NJOKU EVERESTUS OKECHUKWU (SECERTARY)

THE AIMS AND OBJECTIVES ARE :

1. TO IMPROVE THE LIVING CONDITIONS OF WIDOWS AND THEIR DEPENDENTS, THROUGH PROMOTING INCOME GENERATION ACTIVITIESAND PROJECTS, WHICH INCLUDES TRAINING,AWARENESS ETC,...ESPECIALLY FOR THE DESTITUTE AND ORPHANS, SO THAT SUCH WOMEN MAY VIEW THEMSELVES AS EQUALS IN THE SOCIETY. ANY OBJECTION TO THIS REGISTRATION SHOULD BE FORWARDED TO THE REGISTRAR-GENERAL, CORPORATEAFFAIRS COMMISSION, PLOT 420, TIGRIS CRESCENT , OFF AGUIYI IRONSI STREET , MAITAMA , ABUJA WITHIN 28DAYS OF THIS PUBLICATION.

SIGNED : SECRETARY.

PUBLIC NOTICE

CITY OF WONDERS CHRISTIAN CENTRE

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

THE TRUSTEES ARE :

1.AGBEDUN MICHEAL TEMITOPE

2.AGBEDUN IVIENOSANOBUA OSAYOMWANBO

THE AIMS AND OBJECTIVES ARE :

1.) TO STIRRINGAND TRANSFORMING OF PEOPLE INTO THE WONDERS OF CHRIST.

2.) TO REACH OUT TO SOULS AS PART OF THE END-TIME VOICE IN THE BODY OF CHRIST GLOBALLY

3) TO RAISE SPIRIT-FILLED AND WORD-BASED GIANTS THAT WILL OFFER A TRUE QUALITY WORSHIP AND CELEBRATION OF THEIR REDEMPTION UNTO GOD.

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

SIGNED : SECRETARY.

PUBLIC NOTICE

HOPE OF THE HOPELESS EVANGELICAL PRAYING MINISTRY

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

THE TRUSTEES ARE :

1. MOSES ADEBAYO SAMUEL( CHAIRMAN)

2. ADEBAYO MARIA AFOLAKE

3. MOSES MORENIKEJI

THE AIMS AND OBJECTIVES ARE :

1. ENCOURAGE CHRISTIANS THROUGH THE FAITHFUL TEACHINGS OF THE BIBLE

2. TO ENCOURAGE CHRISTIAN ACTIVITIES THAT ARE BIBLE CENTRED

3. TO ENCOURAGE PEOPLE TO MAKE THE TEACHINGS OF JESUS CHRIST THE CENTER OF LIFE AND EXISTENCE.

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

SIGNED : SECRETARY - AJANI OLUTAYO ADEWALE.

PUBLIC NOTICE

OLD UNITED FRIENDS CLUB OF IWAYA 2021

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

THE TRUSTEES ARE :

1.ADEYEMI ADEWALE

2.ADEBOSIN OLUYORI EMMANUEL

3.AKOLO OLAYEMI CHARLES

4.OLUSEGUN MICHAEL EYITOPE

5.OLOKUN OLATUNBOSIN MATHIAS

THE AIMS AND OBJECTIVES ARE :

1.TO IMPROVE THE LIVING STANDARD OF MEMBERS.

2.TO CONTRIBUTE TO GROWTH AND DEVELOPMENT OF IMMEDIATE COMMUNITY.

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

SIGNED : SECRETARY.

DEBORAH

I, FORMERLY KNOWN AS DEBORAH EGHONGHON OMOKHUA NOW WISH TO BE KNOWN AS DEBORAH EGHONGHON ONU. ALL FORMER DOCUMENTS REMAIN VALID. ALL AUTHORITIES CONCERNED AND GENERAL PUBLIC PLEASE TAKE NOTE.

UZODINMA

I, FORMERLY KNOWN AS NWOSU CHIDIEBERE NNAMDI. NOW WISH TO BE KNOWN AS UZODINMA CHIDIEBERE. ALL FORMER DOCUMENTS REMAIN VALID. BANKS, ALL AUTHORITIES CONCERNED AND GENERAL PUBLIC PLEASE TAKE NOTE.

ABUBAKAR

I, FORMERLY KNOWN AS ABU KARIM, NOW AND HENCEFORTH, WISH TO BE KNOWN AND ADDRESSED AS ABUBAKAR ABDULKARIM. ALL FORMER DOCUMENTS REMAIN VALID. AUTHORITIES CONCERNED AND THE GENERAL PUBLIC TO PLEASE TAKE NOTE.

PUBLIC NOTICE

FREDERICK-EZE FOUNDATION

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

THE TRUSTEES ARE :

1. EZE, FREDERICK OGBONNAYA - CHAIRMAN

2. FREDERICK-EZE SHANICE ADANNAYA - SECRETARY

3. JIBUNOH IJEOMA CHINYERE

4. FREDERICK-EZE CHLOE NNENNAYA

5. THOMPSON JENNIFER CHINYERE

6. EZE CHIJIOKE ODOEMELA

7. CHINKATA OBINNA NWAKANMA

THE AIMS AND OBJECTIVES ARE :

TO PROVIDEASSISTANCE IN THEADVANCEMENT OF EDUCATION TOACHIEVE EXCELLENCE AT ALL LEVELS IN THE COMMUNITY AND TO PROVIDE FUNDING AND SCHOLARSHIP OPPORTUNITIES TO UNDERPRIVILEGED CHILDREN TO ACHIEVE EDUCATIONAL NEEDS AND GOALS.

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

SIGNED : BARR. PROSPER UKACHUKWU SUITE 118, SHUBAN MOTEL, UTAKO ABUJA FCT.

PUBLIC NOTICE

ARTIST CONCERN FOR DEVELOPMENT INITIATIVE

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

THE TRUSTEES ARE :

1. UKU ESTHER ROWOLI

2. UKWU MICHAEL CHIDI

3. DANDAURA EMMANUEL SAMU

THE AIMS AND OBJECTIVES ARE :

1. FOSTERING COLLABORATION AND COMMUNITY-SERVING RELATIONSHIPS AMONG CREATIVES

2. NURTURING AND DEVELOPING LOCAL CAPACITIES IN THE CREATIVE ARTS WITH A VIEW TO DELIVERING ON DESIRED SDG OUTCOMES.

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

SIGNED : SECRETARY.

PUBLIC NOTICE

GATE OF HOPE INITIATIVE FOR YOUTH EMPOWERMENT

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

THE TRUSTEES ARE :

1.EKPUK JOSEPH EFFIONG

2.JACOB NDIFREKE ENEFIOK

3.EYO INIUBONG JOSEPH

4.UMOH EMMANUEL EDIT

5.OSUYAK MARYANN ITA

6.UMOREN UKEME EDET

THE AIMS AND OBJECTIVES ARE :

1.TO EMPOWER YOUNG PEOPLE WITH THE SKILLS, KNOWLEDGE, AND RESOURCES THEY NEED TO SUCCEED IN THE WORKFORCE AND ACHIEVE THEIR GOALS.

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

SIGNED : SECRETARY.

LOSS OF DOCUMENTS

THIS IS TO NOTIFY THE GENERAL PUBLIC OF THE LOSS OF STATUTORY RIGHT OF OCCUPANCY (R OF O) OF PLOT NO 541, WITH FILE NO OG -10332, LOCATED AT CADASTRAL ZONE BO6 MABUCHI DISTRICT ABUJA. BELONGING TO ABOSEDE ANGELA OTUNBA . ALL EFFORTS MADE TO TRACE THE SAID DOCUMENT PROVEDABORTIVE. IF FOUND REPORT TO THE NEAREST POLICE STATION, GENERAL PUBLIC SHOULD PLEASE NOTE.

PUBLIC NOTICE

NDA 41ST REGULAR COURSE RUBIES ASSOCIATION

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

THE TRUSTEES ARE :

(1) YELLOW-DUKE JULIENNE IFEOLUWAPO (CHAIRPERSON)

(2) ABDULLAHI ABISAT MOHAMMED

(3) JUMBO-OCHIGBO BRIDGET ONYAOLE

(4) OGUNSINA MODUPE ARINOLA

(5) BELLO RISIKAT AKE (SECRETARY)

THE AIMS AND OBJECTIVES ARE :

(1) TO PROMOTE A PLATFORM THAT WILL FOSTER THE SENSE OF BELONGING AMONGST MEMBERS.

(2) TO PROMOTE SELF-ACTUALIZATION OF MEMBERS THROUGH VIBRANT WELFARE SCHEME.

(3) TO PROMOTE UNITY AND WELFARE OF ALL MEMBERS OF THE ASSOCIATION.

(4) DEVELOP AFFINITY AMONGST MEMBERS TO ENCHANCE OVERALL CAPACITY OF THE ASSOCIATION FOR IT TO BE CATALYST FOR POSITIVE DEVELOPMENT IN THE SOCIETY.

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

SIGNED : SECRETARY.

PUBLIC NOTICE

CAUSE A SMILE INITIATIVE

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

THE TRUSTEES ARE :

1.OPARA IFEJOLA ESTHER

2.OGBOLE AHMED TANIMU

3.MAGNUS FELIX ECHEBIRI

4.UCHENNA JULIET SEBASTINE

5.OPARA EMMANUEL

THE AIMS AND OBJECTIVES ARE :

1.TO PREACH GOSPEL OF JESUS CHRIST THAT WOULD HELP BRING PEOPLE OUT OF PAIN, HELP THEM STAY STRONG AND SUPPORT THEM IN THE AREAS OF NEEDS.

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

SIGNED : SECRETARY.

PUBLIC NOTICE

SLUM TO STAGE AFRICA INITIATIVE

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

THE TRUSTEES ARE :

1. OSAHOR CHIFUMNANYA EMMANUEL

2. EGWOYI ANTHONIA OINE

3. NGBRENI VISION AUDU.

THE AIMS AND OBJECTIVES ARE :

1. TO DEVELOP UNDERPRIVILEDGED YOUNG ARTISTS BY PROVIDING THEM WITH FREE RESOURCES, FACILITIES AND MENTAL SUPPORT NEEDED TO EXCEL.

2. TO CREATE ARTS, EDUCATIONAL AND HUMANITIES PROGRAMMES TO BENEFIT CHILDREN AND AT-RISK YOUTH LIVING AT UNDERSERVED AREAS IN NIGERIA AND BY EXTENSION AFRICA.

3. TO CREATE PRELIMINARY AND INTERMEDIATE DANCE TRAINING FOR VULNERABLE CHILDREN IN NIGERIATHROUGH CREATIVEARTS PROGRAMS.

4. TO RAISE FUNDS, OBTAIN GRANTS AND FINANCIAL SUPPORT FOR UNDERPRIVILEGED YOUNGARTISTESAND PROVIDEARTISTIC MANAGEMENT FOR THEM.

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

SIGNED : SECRETARY.

INDA FIELD COMMUNITIES HOST COMMUNITIES DEVELOPMENT TRUST

THIS IS TO INFORM THE GENERAL PUBLIC THAT THE ABOVE NAMED HAS APPLIED TO

THE CORPORATE AFFAIRS COMMISSION (CAC), ABUJA FOR REGISTRATION UNDER PART ‘F’ OF COMPANIES AND ALLIED MATTERS ACT, ( CAMA 2020).

THE TRUSTEES ARE :

1,.OWUNARI BLAKK - CHAIRMAN

2,. MR SILVERNUS DANIEL JUMBO

3,. TOBIN SOKARI SAMPSON

4,. IGONIKON MINA ABARIOWUA. - SECRETARY

5,. ABEL - ATTONI LOLO EVELYN

6., DAPPA DUMOTEINM 7., SILVESTRE IDANYE

8,. AMACHREE IBIKUNO MERCY 9,. ETELA SITOMA

THE AIMS AND OBJECTIVES ARE :

1., TO SUPPORT LOCAL INITIATIVES WITHIN THE HOST COMMUNITIES, WHICH SEEKS

TO ENHANCE THE PROTECTION OF THE ENVIRONMENT.

2,. TO ADVANCE AND PROPAGATE EDUCATIONAL DEVELOPMENT FOR THE BENEFIT OF THE HOST COMMUNITIES.

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

SIGNED : EZEJI GLORIA 08038769236.

PUBLIC NOTICE

GAURAKA INTERRELIGIOUS PRAYER NETWORK FOR PEACEFUL COEXISTENCE

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

THE TRUSTEES ARE :

1. MOHAMMED ABDUL-MUMIN------ CHAIRMAN

2. EKE CHIKA ISRAEL

3. PILA VEREMON SOLOMON

4. MUHAMMED ALHASSAN

5. IGBASEKHE USMAN

THE AIMS AND OBJECTIVES ARE :

1. TO PROMOTE PEACEFULCO-EXISTENCEAND TOLERANCEAMONG THE RELIGION FAITHFULS IN GAURAKA

2. TO ORAGNISE PROGRAMMES FOR MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC WITH A VIEW TO PROMOTING PEACEFUL CO-EXISTENCE AND RELIGIOUS TOLERANCE AMONG THEM.

3. TO PROMOTE PEACE, UNITY, RELIGIOUS TOLERANCE, FRIENDSHIP AND ONESS AMONG THE ADHERENTS OF MAJOR RELIGIONS.

4. TO CARRY OUT CHARITABLE CAUSE AND SUPPORT MISSION TO THE LESS PRIVILEGED, ORPHANS AND WIDOWS.

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

SIGNED : ADOLPHUS FRIDAY SAMUEL - SECRETARY

PUBLIC NOTICE

EHI ONI FOUNDATION.

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

THE TRUSTEES ARE :

1.EHI EKI ONI-TRUSTEE /CHAIRMAN

2.BABATUNDE OLUWAFEMI ONI- TRUSTEE /SECRETARY

3.NOSAZENA ENAHOLO-TRUSTEE

4.NWANGWU AIZEYOSAOBO- TRUSTEE

THE AIMS AND OBJECTIVES ARE : TO IMPROVETHE HEALTHAND WELL-BEING OF UNDERPRIVILEGED CHILDREN BY PROVIDING ACCESS TO QUALITY HEALTHCARE SERVICES.

TO REDUCE CHILD MORTALITY RATES AND IMPROVE CHILD HEALTH OUTCOMES IN UNDERPRIVILEGED COMMUNITIES. ANY OBJECTION TO THIS REGISTRATION SHOULD BE FORWARDED TO THE REGISTRAR-GENERAL, CORPORATE AFFAIRS COMMISSION, PLOT 420, TIGRIS CRESCENT , OFF AGUIYI IRONSI STREET , MAITAMA , ABUJA WITHIN 28DAYS OF THIS PUBLICATION.

SIGNED : SECRETARY.

PUBLIC NOTICE

UGADA PROGRESSIVE UNION, ABALA UGADA

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

THE TRUSTEES ARE :

1) ANUKWU MBANEFO JIMMY (HRH)

2) ONWUGBENU CHRISTIAN - CHAIRMAN

3) UGWUNNA KENNETH ONYE-EGO - SECRETARY.

4) NWOGO SUNDAY

5) ONWUGBENU STANLEY OKECHUKWU

THE AIMS AND OBJECTIVES ARE :

1. TO CREATE A VERITABLE FORUM FOR THE PHYSICAL, FINANCIAL, MORAL DEVELOPMENT, SOCIAL AND CULTURAL UPLIFTMENT OF THE MEMBERS, AND THE SOCIETY AT LARGE

2. TO PROMOTE PEACE AND UNITY, DEVELOPMENT IN THE SOCIETY. ANY OBJECTION TO THIS REGISTRATION SHOULD BE FORWARDED TO THE REGISTRAR-GENERAL, CORPORATEAFFAIRS COMMISSION, PLOT 420, TIGRIS CRESCENT , OFF AGUIYI IRONSI STREET , MAITAMA , ABUJA WITHIN 28DAYS OF THIS PUBLICATION.

SIGNED : SAM T ANI, ESQ. 080654 75774.

PUBLIC NOTICE

UDU ALLIED FISH & POULTRY FARMERS ASSOCIATION

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

THE TRUSTEES ARE :

1. EGEREGOR ODAFE MATTHEW. (CHAIRMAN)

2. ENEBELI IFEANYICHUKWU CORLEON (SECRETARY)

3. AGAJA EVELYN OKPATARHE

4. IBI FRANK ESEROGHENE

5. JUSTINA UKPEIBO

THE AIMS AND OBJECTIVES ARE :

1. SAFE GUARDING THE RIGHTSAND INTERESTS OF EACH FARMER/MEMBER IN THE ASSOCIATION

2. ENHANCING EACH FARMERS KNOWLEDGE AND SKILLS

3. RENDERING GUIDANCE AND ASSISTANCE AND IMPLEMENTING AFFAIRS TOWARDS JOINT OPERATIONS

4. IMPLEMENTING AND BOOSTING AFFAIRS TOWARD FISH FARMING MECHANIZATION

5. RENDERING ASSITANCE IN THE IMPROVEMENT OF FISH FARMING. ANY OBJECTION TO THIS REGISTRATION SHOULD BE FORWARDED TO THE REGISTRAR-GENERAL, CORPORATE AFFAIRS COMMISSION, PLOT 420, TIGRIS CRESCENT , OFF AGUIYI IRONSI STREET , MAITAMA , ABUJA WITHIN 28DAYS OF THIS PUBLICATION.

SIGNED : SECRETARY.

PUBLIC NOTICE

DAVEMMA SUCCOUR FOUNDATION

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

THE TRUSTEES ARE :

1.DR.NJOKU DAVID CHIBUZOR.

2.ROSELINE NJOKU MRS.

3.CHIOMA PRECIOUS NJOKU.

4.UGOCHUKWU EMMANUEL NJOKU.

THE AIMS AND OBJECTIVES ARE :

1.TO FIGHT FOR THE RIGHT OF MIGRANTS.

2.T0 PROVIDE SUCCOR FOR THE LESS PRIVILEGED.

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

SIGNED : SECRETARY.

PUBLIC NOTICE

WOMENTOPIA EMPOWERMENT FOUNDATION

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

THE TRUSTEES ARE :

1.DALPHIN OLA ALEXANDER-TRUSTEE /CHAIRMAN

2.INNOCENT, FAITH ODACHI- TRUSTEE /SECRETARY

THE AIMS AND OBJECTIVES ARE : -TO FACILITATE THE EASY ACCESS TO GLOBAL OPPORTUNITIES FOR WOMEN AND GIRLS IN AFRICA WITH THE AIM OF REDUCING POVERTY AND UNEMPLOYMENT IN THE SOCIETY -TO PROVIDE EASY ACCESS TO EDUCATIONAL RESOURCES, JOB TRAININGS,SKILLS BUILDING, WORKSHOPS AND SUPPORT SERVICES TO WOMEN AND GIRLS IN AFRICA WHICH WOULD HELP EMPOWER THEM WITHIN THEIR COMMUNITIES.

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

PUBLIC NOTICE

WINEPRESS CHRISTIAN EVANGELICAL MINISTRY

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

THE TRUSTEES ARE :

1. OSAZEE AIGWI (CHAIRMAN)

2. OSAZEE SAMSON OSUNDE SECRETARY

THE AIMS AND OBJECTIVES ARE :

1. PROPAGATION OF THE GOSPEL AND OTHER CHARITABLE WORKS.

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

SIGNED : SECRETARY.

PUBLIC NOTICE

CITISCAPE COURT LOKOGOMA LANDLORDS AND RESIDENTS ASSOCIATION

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

THE TRUSTEES ARE :

1. JOSEPH INNOCENT GANDAPA (CHAIRMAN/TRUSTEE)

2. OJUGBO KENNETH UNAH (SECRETARY/TRUSTEE)

3. AJIBOYE OBAFEMI FESTUS (TRUSTEE)

4. NWURUKU KINGSLEY MONDAY (TRUSTEE)

5. NWOYE MAY IFEOMA (TRUSTEE)

6. CHIKELU IKECHUKWU (TRUSTEE)

THE AIMS AND OBJECTIVES ARE

1. TO MAKE CITISCAPE COURT LOKOGOMA A DECENT, SERENE, TRANQUIL AND ORDERLY ENVIRONMENT WITH ADEQUATE SECURITY EQUIPMENT AND PERSONNEL, AMENITIES FOR SOCIAL PURSUITS, AND GENERALLY TO FOSTER A SPIRIT OF GOOD NEIGHBORLINESS AND FELLOWSHIP AMONGST THE PROPERTY OWNERS AND RESIDENTS.

2. TO PROMOTE COLLECTIVE SECURITYARRANGEMENTS, ENVIRONMENTAL SANITATION AND BEAUTIFICATION OF CITISCAPE COURT LOKOGMA. ANY OBJECTION TO THIS REGISTRATION SHOULD BE FORWARDED TO THE REGISTRAR-GENERAL, CORPORATE AFFAIRS COMMISSION, PLOT 420, TIGRIS CRESCENT , OFF AGUIYI IRONSI STREET , MAITAMA , ABUJA WITHIN 28DAYS OF THIS PUBLICATION.

SIGNED : SECRETARY.

PUBLIC NOTICE

AUTO LUBE OPERATORS ASSOCIATION, LAGOS

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

THE TRUSTEES ARE :

1. ADEWUNMI OLUWASANYA (CHAIRMAN)

2. FAGOROLA OLUWABUNMI DANIEL (SECRETARY)

3. FADARE ADUBI OLASUNKANMI

4. FADARE RUFUS AYEGBUSI

5. ARIYO ADEMOLA ADEROPO

6. OMOLE ADEKUNLE

THE AIMS AND OBJECTIVES ARE :

1. TO PROMOTE THE INTEREST OF ITS MEMBERS.

2. TO PROTECT THE INTEREST OF ITS MEMBERS.

3. TO PROMOTE THE WELFARE OF ITS MEMBERS.

4. TO ENHANCE THE BUSINESS OF THEIR MEMBERS. ANY OBJECTION TO THIS REGISTRATION SHOULD BE FORWARDED TO THE REGISTRAR-GENERAL, CORPORATEAFFAIRS COMMISSION, PLOT 420, TIGRIS CRESCENT , OFF AGUIYI IRONSI STREET , MAITAMA , ABUJA WITHIN 28DAYS OF THIS PUBLICATION.

SIGNED : SECRETARY.

PUBLIC NOTICE

OOU ACCOUNTING 2004 ALUMNI

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

THE TRUSTEES ARE :

1. SHOYODE USMAN OLATUNJI. TRUSTEE/CHAIRMAN

2. ADELEKE IBUKUNOLUWA ADENIKE. TRUSTEE

3. IDOWU OLUSEYI OYEWOLE . TRUSTEE

4. OGUNTAMU OLUWALEKE SUNDAY. SECRETARY

THE AIMS AND OBJECTIVES ARE :

I. TO FOSTER UNITY, PROMOTE CORDIAL RELATIONS AMONG MEMBERS.

II. TO PROMOTE AND SEEK THE GENERAL WELFARE OF THE MEMBERS.

III. TO ORGANIZE SOCIAL AND EVENT GATHERINGS TO FOSTER CONNECTIVITY AMONG MEMBERS.

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PEOPLES DAILY, THURSDAY, JUNE 8, 2023

REVEALED: How Sunday Oliseh stopped FIFA from banning Nigeria from 1998 World Cup

By Amaechi Agbo

But for the patriotic role played by former captain, Sunday Oliseh, Nigeria’s Super Eagles would have been banned by the world football governing body, FIFA from all football related activities especially from participating in the 1998 World Cup in France.

FIFA were expected to ban Nigeria following the nation’s withdrawal from the 1996 Africa Cup of Nations, AFCON hosted by South Africa due to political logjam between the two nations.

Nigeria had played a decisive role in ending Apartheid in South Africa and the eventual release of Nelson Mandela. When the political crisis that gripped Nigeria involving the imprisonment of M.K.O Abiola by the then Nigerian Government led by Major General Abacha, Nelson Mandela intervened and tried to summon international support to overturn this decision.

Mandela condemned Nigeria’s government. This led to the president,Major General Sani abacha to withdrawing the Super Eagles of Nigeria from participating in the forthcoming AFCON set to be hosted for the very first time in South Africa in 1996.

This withdrawal automatically triggered a ban by the Confederation of African Football (CAF) on Nigeria for the next three editions of the AFCON. 1998, 2000, and 2002,

An expected ratification of this was scheduled to follow by FIFA which banned Nigeria from all its organized competitions. FIFA’s constitution and charter forbids government intervention in football at all levels and thus a violation of this was to be met by an outright ban.

Former Super Eagles Captain, Sunday Oliseh who narrated how him and the NFF Secretary General then rallied to avoid FIFA’s ban said their move was never in the public domain

“The Secretary General of the Nigerian Football Federation, Mallam Sani Ahmed

Toro informed me of an impending ban on Nigeria by FIFA for the 1998 World Cup scheduled to be played in France. Startled and worried, we brainstormed on how to avoid this in between calls from one another for hours.

“With a looming FIFA congregation

to ratify CAF’s sanction, Sani Toro (NFF Secretary General) called me up to say that we had to do something. We jointly decided that I would write to FIFA a registered letter pleading leniency. Sani Toro gave me the FAX, postal address, and the FIFA section to address my letter to.

“In my letter to FIFA, I pleaded with them to be lenient and consider the plight of almost 180 million Nigerians who would be heavily punished for an offence they did not commit and had no power to influence. I asked them to consider the fact that we as players and a nation have already suffered hugely by the CAF sanctions which deprives us of defending our title in 1996.

“I enumerated the career damaging consequences that such an international ban would have not only on the Super Eagles players but also up and coming younger players from the local league and youth national team age groups. I almost immediately received a return mail from FIFA confirming reception and consideration.

“We were extremely afraid of the negative implications we could suffer from certain sections. For days that seemed like forever we awaited FIFA’s Reply,”Oliseh disclosed in his Autobiography, “Audacity to Refuse”

The former Borussia Dortmund of Germany star noted that following the withdrawal not the team from the 1996 AFCON, the Super Eagles could not defend the tittle they won in 1996.

“As Defending Champions of Africa, we were clear favorites to defend our title with most Super Eagles players having further progressed and matured to a higher playing level compared to how they were in 1994.

“Days later, I came back home from training at 1 in the morning. FC Koln and my wife gave me a registered letter from FIFA. FIFA had accepted my plea; NIGERIA WAS GOING TO BE BANNED!

“When I called Sani Toro to share the news, he told me he had already been notified by FIFA. We rejoiced as if there was no tomorrow, all the while keeping this away from the public for obvious reasons.”

Nigeria pulled out if 1996 AFCON tournament but played in the 1998 FIFA World Cup where they reached, again, the last 16 but we’re humiliated 4-1 by Denmark in the Round of 16

2023 Federation Cup final holds on June 15 in Asaba

By Amaechi Agbo

The Nigeria Football Federation

NFF has announced that the 2023bFederation Cup final will hold on Thursday,June 15 at the Stephen Keshi Stadium, Asaba, Delta State by 5pm.

2018 champions, Enugu Rangers will battle Bendel Insurance in the epic final which would be a repeat of 1981 clash between the two side. The final will be preceded by the female final by 2pm

Activities for the day will begin with the women’s final, between Cup holders Bayelsa Queens and Rivers

Angels, which is billed to commence at 2pm. The men’s final, between 1978 champions Bendel Insurance of Benin and multi-titlists Rangers International of Enugu, will kick off at 5pm.

Football administrators, promoters, stakeholders and fans are already looking forward to one of the best finals in both men’s and women’s versions, with Rivers Angels and Bayelsa Queens the two teams that have represented Nigeria in the nascent CAF Women’s Champions League competitions –which underscores their strength on the home front.

Bayelsa Queens are the defending champions of the competition, having overwhelmed FC Robo Queens of Lagos in the final of the 2021 competition at the Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium in Benin City.

The ingredients are there for a fierce contest in the men’s final, with Bendel Insurance and Enugu Rangers having contested two of the most memorable finals in the history of the men’s competition.

In what amounted to a stunning result that year, leaving bookmakers holding the short end of the stick, ‘Benin Arsenal’

dismantled the much-feared Enugu Rangers 3-0 in the 1978 final at the National Stadium, Surulere, Lagos. Peter Egharevba scored the first goal through a long range free-kick that silenced the vociferous fans of the ‘Flying Antelopes’.

Three years down the line, Rangers exacted their revenge, with the peerless ‘Chairman’ Christian Chukwu leading the orchestra from the back as the all-white clad boys from Coal City won 2-0 with goals from Okwuchukwu Obiora and Ifeanyi Onyedika on a sunny afternoon.

Bendel Insurance have been in flaming form this season, unbeaten in the abridged Nigeria Premier Football League season and posting credible performances everywhere. Rangers International were on the backfoot for the larger part of the first half of the season but picked up in the second stanza, and are sure to give their all in the final of a competition in which they love to soar.

Apart from going home with the coveted trophy, the winner of the encounter will pick the first ticket for the CAF Confederation Cup competition next season.

Sunday Oliseh with his book, “Audacity to Refuse”

S P R T

NOC Appoints Nigeria Weightlifting Federation President Dr Ibrahim Abdul

Chairman Sport-For-All

Commission

By Amaechi Agbo

The President, Nigeria

Weightlifting Federation, NWF, Dr Ibrahim Abdul FCISM, OCP, CMC, has been appointed the chairman, Nigeria Olympics Committee, NOC SportFor-All Commission.

The appointment which is contained in a letter dated May 29, 2023 noted that Dr Abdul’s engagement is in recognition of his wealth of experience and outstanding contribution to Nigerian Sports as well as the Olympic Movement.

In the letter signed by the President NOC, Engr Habu Gumel while charging him to bring his expertise to bear in his new office, wished the Commission’s chairman all the best in the discharge of his responsibilities.

“It is my pleasure to inform you that the Executive Board of the Nigeria Olympic Committee has approved your appointment as the Chairman of the Sport For All Commission.

“Your appointment is in recognition of your wealth of experience and outstanding contribution to Nigerian Sports as well as the Olympic Movement. It is therefore hoped that you would bring to bear your expertise and experience in achieving the goals of your Commission and the NOC in general.

“While congratulating you, we wish you the best of luck in your endeavours,” the letter read As Sport-For-All Commission

2023 AFCON qualifier: Super Eagles begin camping on Sunday

Ahead Of Sierra Leone clash

By Amaechi Agbo

Nigeria’s Super Eagles will begin coming for their matchday 5 2023 Africa Cup of Nations, AFCON qualifier against Sierra Leone in Lagos on Sunday, June 11.

The encounter which is their penultimate match will hold a week after inside the Samuel Kanyon Stadium in Liberia’s capital, Monrovia.

The Leone Stars have been playing all their home qualifiers away from home following CAF’s rejection of their stadia for not meeting global standard Super Eagles, Group A leaders, will camp in Lagos for the game and will train at the Mobolaji Johnson Arena.

The Samuel Kanyon Stadium in Monrovia has artificial turf same with the playing surface of the Mobolaji Johnson Arena, Onikan where the three-time African champions will train.

Super Eagles are seeking to qualify for the 2023 continental showpiece after their poor showing at the 2021 edition in Cameroon early last year.

The Jose Peseiro led Eagles currently tops Group A with nine points and needs just a win in their two remaining matches to book

their ticket to Cote D’Ivoire, the host nation.

Sierra Leone are third on the log with five points from four matches, two points behind second placed Guinea Bissau.

All three teams have equal chances of qualifying for the tournament but only the two best teams will secure the tickets from the group.

Nigeria will play their last qualifier on September 8 against bottom placed Sao Tome and Principe.

The match will hold at the Godswill Akpabio International Stadium in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State.

Chairman, Dr Abdul’s responsibilities include inter alia: coordination and promotion of activities of Sport-For-All

and general wellbeing through physical fitness in Nigeria; organising and ensuring widespread participation in the

Olympic Day Celebration in Nigeria

Ensuring that the NOC maintains affiliation with the International Sport-For-All governing bodies, especially the Trim & Fitness International Sport-For-All; Support the creation and development of indigenous games in Nigeria and regulating the activities of Keep Fit Clubs in Nigeria.

Dr Ibrahim Abdul’s first assignment as Sport-ForAll Commission Chairman is organisation of the forthcoming Olympic Day Celebration slated to hold on June 24.

Termed ‘’Let’s Move,” the celebration seeks to encourage people to be physically active for at least 30 minutes a day, corresponding to the minimum time recommended by the World Health Organization for good health.

It is also a special day to promote the Olympic values of excellence, friendship and respect as enunciated by the International Olympic Committee (IOC) over the years.

A total of 21 states including the Federal Capital Territory have registered to take part in the Olympics Day Celebration which was last held prior to the Coronavirus pandemic in 2020.

Nigeria Olympic Committee, NOC President, Engr Habu Gumel will declare the Celebration open.

Real Madrid terminates Hazard’s contract after four miserable seasons

Real Madrid FC has terminated Eden Hazard’s contract after for miserable seasons with the UEFA Champions League champions

Real Madrid confirmed that Eden Hazard will leave the club on a free transfer at the end of the current campaign. Hazard’s contract is due to elapse in June next year.

The Belgian, who joined Real from Chelsea in an enormous deal which could climb up to £150m, has struggled horribly with injuries during his time in Spain having made just 74 appearances in all competitions for the club in four years

The club said in a statement that their separation is mutual.

“Real Madrid CF and Eden Hazard have reached an agreement whereby the player will be released from the club as of June 30, 2023,” the statement read.

“Eden Hazard has been part of our club for four seasons, in which he has won 8 titles - 1 European Cup, 1 Club World Cup, 1 European Super Cup, 2 Leagues, 1 Copa del Rey and 2 Spanish Super Cups.

“Real Madrid wants to express its affection for Eden Hazard and wishes him and his entire family the best of luck in this new stage.”

The 32-year-old winger, who

is one of Real’s top earners, has contributed seven goals and 12 assists during his time in Spain, which quickly turned into a nightmare after Hazard suffered a foot injury early into his debut season.

Hazard suffered 18 injuries as at February 2023 since he joined the club from Chelsea in 2019

Several surgeries failed to bring Hazard back to his best form and, by the time he had managed to shake off the injury bug, he had lost the majority of the faith from those in charge at

the Bernabeu and struggled for game time.

The former Chelsea winger has appeared just six times in La Liga this season, despite only being unavailable for three matches through injury, and is now just weeks away from bringing his disasterous spell in Spain to an abrupt end.

In December, the Belgium captan announced his retirement from international football following his country’s unimpressive outing at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar.

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Messi rejects €1 billion Saudi Arabia money to join Inter Miami in MLS

The causes of child labour in Africa

Ionce attended an event that kept me until late at night. While going back home around 8:30, there was this young girl of about 10 or 11 years, who was running helter-skelter in order to catch up with cars so as to sell her sachet water mindless of a possible accident which may likely end her life talk less of the possibility of either being kidnapped or raped but then how many of such children must have been killed in a motor accident or actually kidnapped, raped or trafficked? According to United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), Nearly 1 in 10 children are subjected to child labor worldwide, with some forced into hazardous work through trafficking.

Guest Columnist

By Adeparua Damilola

forced recruitment into armed conflict, sexual exploitation, drug production and trafficking or other illegal acts, debt bondage, hazardous work that can cause injury or moral corruption.

nurture and when poverty knocks on their doors, they end up sending their children to far places either to their relatives or places where they can start working and fending for themselves as house helps or factory workers.

TheBalon d’Or holder and Argentina legend Lionel Messi has rejected huge monetary move in Saudi Arabia Pro League to join American side Inter Miami

The 2022 World Cup winner will leave French Ligue 1 champions Paris St-Germain this summer.

The former Barcelona forward is set to reject a more lucrative offer worth around €1 billion from Saudi Arabian side Al-Hilal. The Miami deal includes collaboration from brands like Adidas and Apple.

Messi, 35, won the Ballon d’Or award for the world’s best player seven times and is expected to win it later this year after World Cup success.

This is the first time Barcelona icon Messi has played outside Europe.

BBC Sports reports that Messi had wanted to remain in Europe for another season but, after no satisfactory offers were received, he had the straight choice between Inter Miami or Al-Hilal.

He was heavily tipped to be favouring a move to Saudi Arabia, where he would have joined Cristiano Ronaldo and Karim Benzema in the league in a deal that could not be matched financially.

But Messi was ultimately tempted to Major League Soccer (MLS) side Inter Miami for a variety of reasons including lifestyle, and a deal with big brands that extends beyond football.

He already owns a house in Miami, which he rents out.

He was keen on a return to Barcelona this summer but the Financial Fair Play (FFP) limitations that will be in place for next season in La Liga made any ambitious plan to bring him back an impossibility.

Paris St-Germain won Ligue 1 in both his seasons at the club but went out in the Champions League last 16, which means his time in France was not seen as a huge success.

He netted 32 goals in 75 games for the club - and ended this season with 16 goals and 16 assists in Ligue 1.

Child labor is not strange to every Tom, Dick and Harry in this part of the world because saying it is practiced in Nigeria will amount to nothing other than an understatement but in the real sense, it is not just peculiar to Nigeria as it is seen and practiced in other parts of the world although with different levels and percentage. The emergence of COVID 19 has brought about an increase in child labor.

Statistics shows that roughly 160 million children were subjected to child labor at the beginning of 2020, with 9 million additional children at risk due to the impact of COVID-19.

According to International Labor Organization (ILO), the term “child labor” is often defined as work that deprives children of their childhood, their potential and their dignity, and that is harmful to physical and mental development. It refers to work that is mentally, physically, socially or morally dangerous and harmful to children; and/or interferes with their schooling by: depriving them of the opportunity to attend school; obliging them to leave school prematurely; or requiring them to attempt to combine school attendance with excessively long and heavy work. The worst forms of child labor involves children being enslaved, separated from their families, exposed to serious hazards and illnesses and/or left to fend for themselves on the streets of large cities often at a very early age

According to Wikipedia, Child labor refers to the exploitation of children through any form of work that deprives children of their childhood, interferes with their ability to attend regular school, and is mentally, physically, socially and morally harmful. As posited by a source, child labor can manifest in the form of slavery or similar practices, child trafficking,

The latest ILO global estimates on child labor indicate that Africa has the largest number of child laborers; 72.1 million African children are estimated to be in child labor and 31.5 million in hazardous work. Another source posits that most children working below permissible age limits (72 million) live in Africa, followed by Asia (62 million). Anyone under the age of 18 is considered a child, according to the United Nations.

In the olden days, African men married many wives to give birth to numerous or even uncountable children as evident in some cases. These children are needed for nothing other than helping them on their farmlands as laborers and such men were seen as wealthy and influential due to the profits they make from their children’s hard labor. Unfortunately, even after the emergence of western education, some of these parents are still engaged in the practice and nowadays, many children are still going through the effects of the archaic culture.

Apart from the aforementioned cultural origin of child labor, what about the particular religious belief, which encourages child labor?

According to a source, Almajiri begging system is a type of begging for alms that is prevalent in the northern Nigeria and practiced specifically by Muslim children. In that region, Muslim families send their children from their homes into major towns and cities to live with and receive qur’anic education from Islamic teachers called “Malams”.

These children are known as “almajiris”. It has been estimated by the Ministerial Committee on Madrasah Education in December 2010, that Nigeria has about 9.5 million almajiris.

The usual Islamic law is that the almajiris have to ask their host community for food only if they are hungry, and when they are satisfied, they go back to the classroom. Unfortunately, these

teachers “Malams” transform the children into professional beggars by forcing them to beg for money in the street and do other menial jobs for money from dawn to dust and surrender the proceeds (money).

The outrageous part of this is the fact that many of these children follow strangers to strange and dangerous places which may likely endanger their lives to beg for alms and this makes the research as posited by a source feasible that children on the move risk being forced into work or even trafficked, subjected to violence, abuse and other human rights violations

One of the causes of child labor is poverty. Since unemployment is on the rise, the aftermath is poverty and this explains why there are many professional beggars on the street. Parents who even have one or two children can hardly feed them talk less of those who have numerous children and since these parents are unable to cater for their children, it becomes expedient for the children to fend for themselves and hence, child labor. Even right from the olden days, poor African parents who are indebted used their children as collateral!

Also free education is not compulsorily accessible to all. Many children who are interested in getting educated either hawk or go to work early in the morning before going to school so as to get themselves their learning materials and also pay their school fees up till now the government keeps advertising free education which is not actually free. Many parents cannot even afford the advertised free education and end up engaging their children in child labor. Yet, majority of the leaders enjoyed free education with other benefits attached in their own days.

Research shows that 30 million children live outside their country of birth, increasing their risk of being trafficked for sexual exploitation and other work. Family size also leads to child labor.

Africans are fond of marrying many wives and giving birth to many children they cannot

In addition, broken family can lead to child labor. Many people break up with only their interests in mind, not concerned about the well being of their children who may end up being taken to a far away place or to relatives who will not get them enrolled in schools due to inability to take proper care of them or who due to their personal gains engage them in child labor. What about the orphans who have no one to support them, who should be the responsibilities of the government but left alone to roam about aimlessly and get kidnapped or trafficked for child labor?

Child labor can be minimized if there is an active government that has the interest of the people in mind. Some of these children work in order to support themselves. Since the government advertises free education, they should ensure that education is free indeed and Non Governmental Organizations (NGOs) which are working towards alleviating poverty should be fully supported.

Most importantly, Africans should put their archaic beliefs aside such as marrying many wives who will give birth to many children they will not be able to cater for and rearing children in order to have laborers. In addition, in filing for divorce, parents should have the interest of their children in mind because they are indeed the future leaders and if we fail to train them properly, we may end up having an improper future.

Adeparua Damilola Can be reached via:adeparuaadot55@ gmail.com

DAN GAYE DANGAYE

Court slams life imprisonment on 3 kidnappers of female journalist in Yola

That’s right!