Monday, March 13, 2023 Edition

The Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Interior, Dr Shuaib Belgore (middle), in group Photograph with the delegation from the United Arab Emirates

Defence College, led by Mr Maheli Alan Babi (3rd left), during their courtesy visit to the Ministry of Interior, recently in Abuja . Photo: Min. of Interior

Catholic Church kicks against rumours, urges politicians to respect sacred lines

The Catholic Diocese of Warri on Saturday appealed to political actors in Delta to respect the sacred lines as they go about their campaigns.

The Parish Priest of St. Jude’s Catholic Church, Effurun, Delta, the Very Rev. Fr. Mark Ikeke made the appeal in a statement issued in Warri.

The church was responding to rumours that Sen. Ovie OmoAgege, All Progressives Congress

(APC) governorship candidate is not a Christian.

Ikeke declared that OmoAgege is not only a Christian, but a baptised, practicing and dedicated member of the Catholic Church.

“Our attention has been drawn to a rumour that one of our parishioners, Sen. OmoAgege, the Deputy President of the Senate is not a Christian.

“For the avoidance of doubt,

Sen. Omo-Agege is a baptised, practicing and dedicated member of the Roman Catholic Church.

“He is a member of and a communicant in St. Jude’s Catholic Church, Government Reservation Area, Effurun in Uvwie Local Government Area of Delta,” Ikeke said.

He added that the church recognises that this is an election season and encourages political leaders and their supporters to

strive to uphold decorum, respect sacred lines and show love to all in their campaigns.

According to him, the sole purpose of the press statement is to encourage decorum and uphold the truth regarding Sen. Omo-Agege’s religious identity.

“We hope and pray that our faith in the Lord Jesus Christ should thoroughly guide our actions and inactions,’’ he added. (NAN)

Stakeholders task African leaders on human capital

Some stakeholders in Africa have tasked governments and politicians on the need for human capital development to prevent the continent from being vulnerable to attacks.

The stakeholders spoke on Friday at a Pre-Conference of African Ministers of Finance, Planning and Economic Development High-Level Dialogue (Pre-COM 2023 Dialogue), which was held virtually.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the webinar was organised by the Economic Commission for Africa Subregion for West Africa (ECA/ SRO-WA).

According to the stakeholders, improved human capital will lead to a decline in vulnerable communities’, especially groups, women and youths.

Prof. Fatou Sarr, the Commissioner in-charge of Human Capital and Social Affairs, ECOWAS, said wealth creation was key to breaking

societal vulnerability.

Sarr said: “Wealth creation can only be done if we strengthen the capacity of these young people and women to have the skills and access the wealth.

“And of cause, they also need training and education. Social safety networks are indeed very important, but they are only transitory.

“ So, we need to ask ourselves what kind of Africa we want in 25 to 30 years and set up the infrastructure to undertake that today.

“Therefore, beyond the training, the expertise and the skills, we also need to have the means. And those are very critical aspects.”

The professor underscored the need for an improved communication network on the continent, saying that all developed countries moved through energy and communication channels.

She said these are critical areas enabling the continent to

development

move up the ladder and have better access to education and health.

Sarr urged collaboration among member states to enable the sub-region and continent make progress that would yield desired outcomes.

Mr Mainassara Assouman, the Director-General, Planning, Ministry of Planning, Niger, said that the issue of insecurity was beyond the Sahara.

According to him, it goes all the way to the border with the Gulf of Guinea and other Gulf countries.

“There are no miracle ingredients in dealing with insecurity. We do not have magic solutions. The issues of security must go hand in hand with issues of development.”

According to him, about 70 per cent of the people of Niger are young, and one of the solutions for insecurity is employment for the youth.

“The first thing, therefore, is to develop human capital and align

it to employment or consider the social aspect of employment for the youth.

“And to associate that with issues related to development, issues of development are very important, and they offer a response to issues of life for people in the different areas, ” he said.

Also speaking, Dr Abdoulaye Zonon, the Director-General, Planning, Ministry of Planning called for implementation of the right policies.

Zonon said: “If we look at what happened in South-West Asia, we know we can get out of poverty and vulnerability if we implement the right policies.

“One of the key issues we can ask is, who are the poor? Who are those affected by vulnerability on the continent?

“ If you look at the poor people on the continent, most of them, about 70 to 75 per cent are from rural areas and are farmers, and only 20 to 25 per cent are found in urban areas”. (NAN)

Action Democratic Party (ADP) Zonal Chairman, Muhammad Abdullahi,- ADP State Acting Chairman, Umar Isah,- and ADP Organising Secratary Muhammad Yunusa,- during the Action Democratic Party (ADP) organised Press Conference, Over Sacked their Gubernatorial Candidate Sani Sha’aban,- from the Party in kaduna 12/3/23

Wamakko seeks peaceful polls on Saturday

Sen. Aliyu Wamakko (APC-Sokoto North) has appealed to the electorate to be peaceful as they troop to the polling units to cast their votes in Saturday’s Governorship and State Houses of Assembly elections.

Wamakko, in a special message to the people of Sokoto State, said that peace is the prerequisite of any meaningful development.

“Without peace and harmony, development and socio-economic prosperity will continue to elude us.

“Our topmost priority should be the sustenance of peace, unity and the spirit of good neighbourliness,” the former Governor of Sokoto State said.

Wamakko said that violence would not do anybody any good, as it is destructive and retrogressive.

He said: “Nobody should perpetrate violence in the name of politics, hence we should all uphold the sanctity of human life.

“God gives and takes leadership to whosoever He wishes and at his appointed time.

“So, we should all go out peacefully on Saturday and cast our votes for our preferred candidates.” (NAN)

AfDB supports Komadugu-Yobe basin with €362,000 grant

The African Development Bank (AfDB), has signed a 362,000 Euros grant agreement with Hadejia Jama’are Komadugu Yobe Basin-Trust Fund.

The bank in a statement said the grant would prepare additional studies under the second-phase of developing a strategic plan for managing water resources in the Komadugu-Yobe Basin in northern Nigeria.

“Specifically, the grant will support the preparation of a Resettlement Action Plan (RAP) for the Challawa Gorge Dam Watershed Management Project and a stakeholder engagement plan.

” It will support a grievance redress mechanism, and stakeholder consultations involving riparian communities and the Lake Chad Basin Commission comprising Cameroon, Chad, Nigeria and Niger Republic

.“The project will be implemented over eight months and the Hadejia-Jama’areKomadugu-Yobe Basin Trust Fund will execute the project.”

ACF

According to the statement, the Trust Fund is jointly funded by the six states of Bauchi, Borno, Jigawa, Kano, Plateau and Yobe, in collaboration with the Federal Government of Nigeria.

It quoted the Director-General of the Bank’s Nigeria Country Department, Lamin Barrow, as saying the programme would ensure long-term water security for the local people.

“The Komadugu Yobe MultiPurpose Water Resources Development Programme will support socio-economic development, enhanced livelihoods, and environmental sustainability,” Barrow said.

The Executive-Secretary, Hadejia Jama’are Komadugu Yobe Trust Fund, Dr Hassan Bdliya, thanked the Bank for its continued support toward sustainable water resources management in the KomaduguYobe Basin.

Bdliya said: “we are very grateful to AfDB for its support. The Bank has been supporting us since 2016 and the impact of its support has been tremendous.

“The implementation of

this project will have a positive impact on the people within the Komadugu-Yobe Basin.

“The Hadejia Jama’are Komadugu Yobe Trust Fund will work diligently with all stakeholders to ensure the timely completion of the studies,” Bdliya said.

The Komadugu Yobe MultiPurpose Water Resources Development investment programme is a top priority of the Federal Government due to its immense long-term benefits to the inhabitants of six riparian

States in Northern Nigeria.

It also aligns with the country’s development agenda, including the Medium-Term National Development Plan (2021- 2025) and Vision 2050.

Created in 2006, the HadejiaJama’are-Komadugu-Yobe Basin Trust Fund is an innovative platform for joint intervention by the riparian states.

With the support of the Federal Government for augmenting line agencies in addressing the Komadugu Yobe Basin land and water resources issues. ((NAN)

urges CBN to comply with Supreme Court judgment

From: Femi Oyelola, Kaduna

The Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF) has called on the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) to comply with the supreme court judgment on the N500 and N1000 old notes, saying ten days is enough time for the government to find its way towards complying with a court

order which import is central to the achievement of peace, order and good governance in the country.

The Secretary General of the Forum Murtala Aliyu stated this in a statement made available to the media in Kaduna yesterday.

The statement stated that President Buhari is under oath to defend the constitution of

Nigeria and he must prove this by complying with the court order.

The Forum stressed that as President Buhari long term supporters, it will be bad of them if they fail to warn that the much touted benefits of the Naira redesign can never justify the damage to his credentials as a democrat and a stickler for the rule of law.

“This is quite a part from the real possibility of the crisis morphing into a serious social disorder leading to the possible breakdown of law and order throughout Nigeria.

“ We do not believe nor can we advise him to pay such a heavy price on account of a policy whose immediate goals are not entirely clear to a majority of Nigerians.”

17 dead in attack, reprisal killing in Southern Kaduna

From :Femi Oyelola, Kaduna

No fewer than 17 persons, including a Police Officer, have been killed in attacks and reprisal attacks in communities of Zangon-Kataf, in the southern part of Kaduna State.

The Nation gathered that, trouble started in the area Thursday last week when a young herder was tied to a tree and machetes to death by some locals around Ungwan Juju.

Our Correspondent also learnt that, the situation became compounded Saturday afternoon when a misunderstanding arose between security operatives and some Fulani men at a checkpoint in Ungwan Wakili which led to a Fulani man and a Policeman being shot at the checkpoint.

Also later that evening, a group of local

youths who went fishing were attacked and one of them was said to have been macheted to death by the retaliating herders.

A senior military source from the area told our Correspondent that, “on Thursday last week, one Umar Sambo (a herder) was killed while he was returning from grazing his cattle around Ungwan Juju in Zangon Kataf LGA.

“The killers tied the young herder up, matched him to death and hid the corpse in an unknown location. When his brother, identified as Safiyanu, could not find him, he reported to the security agencies, who then launched a search operation. His body was finally discovered at Ungwan,” the source said.

He said, the security situation which they were making efforts to manage, became compounded Saturday evening,

when there was a clash between security operatives and some Fulani at a checkpoint in Ungwan Wakili, which led to the death of a Fulani man and a Policeman.

According to him, “Ungwan Wakili village of Atyap Chiefdom in Zangon Kataf LGA was attacked by unidentified persons around 8:40PM on Saturday, in an apparent reprisal following the killing of the herder earlier mentioned.

“Another suspected, immediate cause of the Saturday night attack, was the accidental shooting of a herder by a policeman at Ungwan Wakili Junction, the burning of herders’ motorcycles and the mob action which followed,” he said.

He however said that, troops of Operation Safe Haven mobilized to the village to repel the attack, but about 16 to 17 persons were already killed, with seven

persons wounded. The wounded were taken to Zonkwa General Hospital for treatment.

“Also worthy of note is that, after after a policeman accidentally shot and injured a herder and a colleague at the checkpoint at Ungwan Wakili Junction, a mob action occurred in Ungwan Wakili.

“While the police evacuated the area, a crowd of locals and herders gathered at the scene, and in the confrontation that followed, one local was killed. Two motorcycles belonging to herders were burnt, while the attack on Ungwan Wakili village occurred a few hours later,” the security source explained.

Meanwhile, the local government authorities have imposed a 24 hour curfew in the affected communities to prevent further breakdown of law and order.

Ex-Boko Haram fighter, traditional ruler, 35 others arrested for drug trafficking

By Tobias Lengnan Dapam

Arehabilitated ex-fighter of the Boko Haram terror group, Alayi Madu and the traditional ruler of Kajola, a border community between Ondo and Edo state, Baale Akinola Adebayo are among 37 persons arrested over 2.2 tons of illicit drugs seized by operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, NDLEA at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, MMIA Ikeja, Lagos during raids across 12 states in the past week.

NDLEA in a statement issued on Sunday by Femi Babafemi Director, Media & Advocacy said, they were arrested as part of ongoing operations to mop up illicit drugs across the country ahead of the next round of elections.

The statement said NDLEA officers in the early hours of Friday 10th March, stormed Kajola forest in Kajola community, a border town between Edo and Ondo state where they destroyed three cannabis farms measuring 39.801546 hectares.

“The owner of the farms who claims to be the Ba’ale of Kajola, Akinola Adebayo, 35, was arrested on the farm at 2:30am, while two other suspects believed to be his workers:

•As NDLEA intercepts heroin, skunk in deep freezers, cooking gas cylinders at Lagos airport

Arikuyeri Abdulrahman, 23 and Habibu Ologun, 25, were also nabbed in a hut near the farms.

“In the same vein, a 26-yearold Alayi Madu, who was a Boko Haram fighter for 15 years before he surrendered to the Nigerian military in 2021 was intercepted by NDLEA operatives on Thursday 9th March along Abuja-Kaduna express road with 10 kilograms of skunk, which he said he bought in Ibadan, Oyo state and was taking the consignment concealed in a sack to Maiduguri, Borno state.

“In his statement, Madu said he is from Banki town, Borno State and joined the notorious terrorist organisation, in 2006 when he was nine years old. He said he repented and surrendered to the military in 2021, after which he underwent rehabilitation and de-radicalisation processes at Umaru Shehu rehabilitation centre, Maiduguri and Malam Sidi de-radicalization centre, Gombe before he was discharged after spending six months. Thereafter, he

traveled to Ibadan, Oyo state where he worked as commercial motorcycle rider (Okada rider) before going into drug trafficking and his eventual arrest along Abuja-Kaduna express road.

“At the Lagos airport in Ikeja, operatives acting on intelligence intercepted a consignment of 11.90 kilograms of heroin and 500grams of skunk concealed in deep freezers, which were part of a cargo that arrived from South Africa on Tuesday 7th March onboard Ethiopian airline via Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. The Agencys sniffer dogs were deployed to locate where the illicit drugs were hidden in the cargo and in no time, they identified the cartons packed in the deep freezers.

“A total of four suspects that played active roles in the movement of the drugs and a truck driver have been arrested so far in connection with the seizure. They include: Dairo Quam; Oluwaseun Ogunmene; Adeleke Abdulrasaq; Bamidele Adewale and Oluwafemi Ogunmeru.

“Meanwhile, NDLEA operatives attached to the Gate C departure hall of the MMIA on Thursday 9th March intercepted a passenger, Aigbedion Philomena heading to Italy via Addis Ababa on an Ethiopian Airline flight. When her bags containing body cream, hair attachments, drinks, and some food items were searched, a total of 1.20kg tramadol capsules concealed inside gift wrapping sheet and covered with old daily newspapers were discovered.

“At the Idiroko land border, NDLEA operatives acting on intelligence on Thursday 9th March intercepted a commercial Toyota Camry Salon Car with reg. number JJJ 756 HB (Lagos) along Ilase-Akoko road, Idiroko with 34 compressed jumbo size wraps of imported skunk weighing 17kg and concealed in two cooking gas cylinders. Two suspects in the car, Benjamin Ajose, 48 and Oluwatobiloba Ajayi, 37, were arrested.

“In Akwa Ibom state, Mrs. Hope Iniobong David, 42, was arrested

with bags of cannabis sativa weighing 1,112kg (1.1 tons) in her house at Ediene Abak in Abak LGA, while operatives in Kogi state on Thursday 9th March recovered 25 cartons, containing 50,000 ampoules of pentazocine injection weighing 200kg in a Toyota Hiace bus marked LAM 652 LG, Kogi, travelling from Lagos to Abuja.

“Also, in Ogun state, operatives arrested a female drug dealer, Bola Egbebi in Ota LGA, with different quantities of Cannabis Sativa, Methamphetamine, Tramadol 225, Skuchies, Molly and Codeine cough syrup, while in Gombe state, another female drug dealer, Fatima Hassan (a.k.a Boss) was arrested on Saturday 11th March in her house at New Mile 3 area of Akko LGA with three and half blocks of skunk weighing 3.245kg. Two other female drug dealers: Folake Ladipo and Adeola Babatunde were arrested with 49.5kg skunk on Friday 10th March in Mushin area of Lagos state.

“In Kwara, operatives on patrol along along Ilorin-Jebba highway on Tuesday 7th March arrested two suspects: Ismaila Saidu and Dahiru Abdullahi with 50 bags of cannabis sativa weighing 578 kilograms, while in the FCT Abuja, 15 suspects were transferred by the Nigerian Army with 35 bags of cannabis weighing 384.3kg.

“A 56-year-old suspect, Shinayemà Kelenku was arrested at Tse-kelenku village, Logo LGA, Benue with 36.7kg skunk, while in Delta state, operatives intercepted a suspect, Chimeze Ndukaire, 56, conveying psychotropic substances worth over N30 million in a white Toyota Hiace bus with registration number Lagos FST 279 XS coming from Onitsha to Warri. The vehicle was intercepted on Friday 10th March at G.S.M junction, Asaba based on a tip-off.

“Recovered from the bus include 267.3 litres of codeine (2,673 bottles); 25,110 pills of tramadol and other opioids.

In Kano state, NDLEA operatives on Saturday 11th March raided the Sabon-gari area of Kano where they arrested a suspect, Chukwuebuka Christopher and recovered from him 7,740 bottles of Codeine based syrup, measuring 774 litres, concealed inside 43 sacks of garlic.

“Chairman/Chief Executive Officer of NDLEA, Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (Retd) commended the officers, men and women of MMIA, Idiroko, Edo, Kaduna, Akwa Ibom, Kogi, Ogun, Gombe, Lagos, Kwara, FCT, Benue, Delta and Kano Commands of the Agency for their diligence and commitment to work. He charged them and their compatriots across other commands not to rest on their oars.”

Police rescue 14 kidnapped victims in Zamfara

The Zamfara police command has dislodged a bandits’ camp and rescue 14 kidnapped victims in Zamfara, who had spent 68 days in captivity. This is contained in a statement issued in Gusau on Saturday by the Police Public Relations Officer in the state, SP Muhammad Shehu.

According to him, “On 10th March, 2023, Police tactical operatives in conjunction with the vigilante group, while on a Mop Up Operation near Munhaye forest, successfully dislodged some bandits’ camp belonging to one recalcitrant bandit Kingpin, popularity know as Dogo Sule”.

“As a result of the operation,

14 hostages, made up of two male adults, seven female and five children below two years old, were rescued.

“The victims informed the Police detectives that, on 1st January, 2023, at about 2300hrs, a large number of suspected bandits, armed with sophisticated weapons, stormed

Anguwar Mangoro and Gidan Maidawa villages in Gusau Local Government Area and abducted the victims to their camp where they spent 68 days in captivity.

“The victims who were in symphathetic condition, have been taken to the Police clinic, Gusau, for medical treatment and thereafter re-united with

their families/Relations,” Shehu explained.

He said the state commissioner of Police, Mr Kolo Yusuf, has congratulated the victims for regaining their freedom, and reassured of the command’s continuous commitment to protect lives and property of the citizens. (NAN)

L-R: Coordinating Director Science and infrastructure of NASENI, Prof. Umar Gaya, Managing Director/Chief Executive NASENI Solar Energy Limited, Dr. Jafar O. Mahmud and Executive Vice Chairman/Chief Executive of NASENI, Prof. Muhammad Sani Haruna, during the commissioning of the Sporting Facilities to make the 10th years anniversary of NASENI Solar Energy, at Karshi in Abuja at the Weekend .

Action Alliance distances self from endorsement of Ashiru

From: Femi Oyelola, Kaduna

The Action Alliance (AA), has debunked any endorsement of Ashiru Kudan or any gubernatorial candidate in Kaduna state, saying the announcement by Mohammed Lawal Kayahaya, was fraudulent and not from the party.

The National Secretary of AA, Ambassador Suleiman Abdulrashid, stated this during a press conference held in Kaduna yesterday.

According to him, the said Kayahaya, is not the state gubernatorial candidate of AA.

He added that Kayahaya is playing the script of the expelled former national Chairman of the party, Barr, Kenneth Udenze, who was recently in Adamawa State to endorse Alhaji Atiku Abubakar.

Ambassador Abdulrashid called on security agents to go after Kayahaya and his likes for using the name of the party without authorization.

Niger CAN urge members to vote competent guber candidates

From Yakubu Mustapha Minna

The Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), Niger state chapter has urged the Christian faithful in the State to vote for only credible candidates at the governorship and legislative elections come March.

The Christian body in a statement stated that such candidates should be those who would ensure development and peaceful co-existence among the citizens.

According to the statement, “we enjoin everyone to vote for candidates of your choices, who must ensure quality education and free healthcare for the people”.

The statement added that candidates and parties have done their own, it is the turn of the electorates to know the differences between day and night, insisting that their votes must count.

The State CAN has decided that his members must consider candidates’ character, competence, capacity and policies before deciding on who to vote for.

APC stakeholders oppose NWC meeting with legislators-elect as recipe for anarchy

By Ikechukwu Okaforadi

All Progressives Congress (APC) stakeholders, under the auspices of APC Transparency Initiative for Good Governance (ATIGG) has opposed the proposed meeting with Federal legislators-elect by the National Working Committee (NWC) of the party led by Abdullahi Adamu.

In a statement issued yesterday by the northern and southern coordinators of ATIGG respectively, Comrade Tasiu Maishanu and Hon. Salinsile Ayobami, they said the proposed meeting is a recipe for anarchy, urging the party’s NWC to withdraw such a meeting.

“It is a recipe for avoidable new controversies and grievances against our party and the incoming administration”, the group said, adding “The APC Transparency Initiative for Good Governance, once again urges all well-meaning party stakeholders and members to caution the Party National Chairman to jettison the idea of calling for a meeting of legislators-elect under our party at this time when the gubernatorial

Malaria:

and other state elections are yet to be conducted.”

According to a rejoinder to the meeting which is scheduled to be held in the presidential Villa, ATIGG said “Our attention has been drawn to a publication by the Abdulahi Adamu-led NWC with regard to an invitation of all APC national legislators-elect to a meeting scheduled for 13th March 2023.

“While it is conventional and not unexpected for the leadership of a national party such as the All Progressives Congress (APC) to commence organising a forum to meet with the newly elected national legislators with regard to preparing them for the legislative assignment ahead in the coming 10th Assembly, the call for meeting is a departure from what is right and definitely not in the interest of the party, its members and the country at large.

“It would be an understatement to submit that the scheduled meeting is to apparently satisfy personal and selfish ambitions of the leadership of NWC in collusion with their partners”, the group said.

ATIGG the chief reason for calling the meeting by the NWC leadership without due consultation with the paramount NEC and at a rather short notice is apparently to commence the process of imposing leadership on the 10th National Assembly.

“We are well aware that the NWC leadership, in continuation of the impunity that characterised its action before, during, and after the party primaries, where the highest bidders were imposed on the party across the states of the country, is going ahead to zone the 10th National Assembly leadership in favour of those they have entered into “mutual benefit” with.

“This we cannot allow to happen for the many negative implications it would have both on the party and the smooth running of the executive course if we do not get things right at the National Assembly.

It is too early to begin an imposition process of leadership on the National Assembly.

“What we should be doing now is wide, all inclusive consultations that will throw up widely acceptable

legislative leaders in the interest of the party and its agendas for the incoming administration. We must be conscious of the fact that the numerical constitution of both the incoming Senate and HOR, is dicey, and any attempt at imposition at this early, if not premature stage, could force the opposition to stage a coup that might lead to the repetition of the 2011 ( HOR) and 2015 errors in the Senate leadership.

“It is time we totally moved from the impunity of candidate imposition - particularly without wider party consultationconsidering the effect it already has on us in the 2023 elections, where we lost in so many places where we ought to have easily won because of candidate imposition and the inherent grievances and resentments against the party by a significant important party members and blocs.

“For instance, party gubernatorial aspirants who were ‘downgraded’ to constituency aspirants and who command popular, respectable supporters in their respective base are not to be toyed with at this point in time.

KASU scientist, others develop mosquito repellent fabric

From: Femi Oyelola, Kaduna

Prof. Zakari Ladan, of the Department of Pure and Applied Chemistry, Kaduna State University (KASU), and other coresearchers, have developed a mosquito repellent fabric.

In a statement by the Public Relations Officer of KASU, Adamu Bargo, in Kaduna on Sunday, the institution said this was part of efforts aimed at ending the malaria scourge.

Bargo said that the product was the outcome of more than N27 million Research Grant, under the 2020 National Research Fund (NRF), of the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund).

“This is the first NRF/ TETFund grant won by KASU as the host Institution, in collaboration with Bingham University and Vaal University of Technology, South Africa,” he said.

He identified the research topic as “Development of an Ecofriendly Mosquito Repellent

Fabric, Embedded with Nanoparticles Encapsulated with Vitex Negundo Bioactive Compounds”.

He said that Ladan, the principal researcher, with a Specialty in organic and synthetic chemistry, conducted the research alongside three others.

The spokesman said the other researchers were; Dr Bamidele Okoli, an organic chemist from Bingham University, Dr Uju Ejike, a biochemist from Bingham University and Dr Mthunzi Fanyana, an expert in nanotechnology from Vaal University of Technology, South Africa.

He added that nightgowns were produced from the fabric, rather than the continuous use of chemical insecticides or mosquito-treated nets with synthetic chemicals.

Bargo explained that the fabric was embedded with nanoparticles encapsulated with Vitex Negundo bioactive compounds for the control of mosquitoes.

“The research is focused on producing a mosquitorepellent fabric, embedded with nanoparticles encapsulated with the active constituents of Vitex Negundo bioactive compounds.

“The type of mosquitorepellent fabrics developed from this research are in the form of sleeping nightgowns with other bio-products.

“They include bioinsecticide sprays and repellent creams, formulated with the plant’s bioactive constituent for the control of mosquito bites,” he said.

According to Bargo, the grant under the supervision of Prof. Ben Chindo, Director of Research and Development, KASU, has fulfilled TETFund’s requirements, having achieved the project’s objectives.

He said that the project had achieved its objectives based on the expected outcomes, including the production of the nightgowns from the mosquito repellent fabric.

Other outcomes, he said,

included two international conferences, and the publishing of seven articles in highimpact factor journals and two conference proceedings.

“The researchers also patented a novel essential oil pilot plant that can isolate aromatic bioactive constituents from plants, useful in the cosmetic, pharmaceutical and flavour industries.”

Bargo added that an NRF/ TETFund Workshop was also organised at Bingham University, Karu, on the topic:

“Malaria Prevention and Control Measures, using Some Plant Bioactive Constituents Found in North Central Geopolitical Zone of Nigeria.“

“Five different products were formulated, using isolated bioactive constituents of Vitex Negundo plant, namely; mosquito repellent cream and pure eucalyptus oil,” he said.

Bargo listed others to include; aerosol sprays, mosquito repellent spray fitted with fan and gloss, and waterbased mosquito repellent paint.

PDP governorship campaign council decries dismantling of security check point in Gombe

Hassan, Gombe

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) management council in Gombe state has decried the dismantling of all security check points within

Gombe environs by the Gombe state government.

The spokesman of Gombe state PDP campaign management council Mr. Ayuba M. Aluke made this known while briefing Journalists in Gombe on Friday.

He said the dismantling of security check points in the state ahead of the Governorship and state House of Assembly schedule for 18th of March was ploy to clear the way and grant free movement for political thugs.

It is imperative for Gombe state government to reverse the directive and reinstate the security check points for peace and security of Gombe state residents during and after the forthcoming elections.

From David

Coalitions calls for cancellation of Lagos West Senatorial election

From: Femi Oyelola, Kaduna

Agroup under the auspices of Truly and Fully Arewa Movement of Nigeria has called for the cancellation of Lagos West senatorial elections.

While reading a text of the press conference yesterday signed by the President Truly and Fully Arewa Movement, Ismail Mohammed, the national President of Unity & Peace Awareness Initiative, Dr. Marcus Nacheson said the election was disrupted in 7,000 polling units across 10 Local Government Areas of Lagos State.

The President who was represented by Prince Elijah Jibrin, noted that the election was marred by a lot of irregularities, thereby calling on the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to cancel the Lagos West senatorial election.

“We are calling for cancellation of the election by INEC, setting aside a new date for fresh election in the entire 7,000 polling units across the LGAs.

“We are also calling on the local and international observers to draw the attention of INEC with immediate effect”.

“Hoodlums destroyed BVAS machines and thereby disrupting the entire process. Electoral materials arrived at the most of the polling units at about 12 noon”.

Gov Sule promises more projects if reelected

From Gambo Ahmed, Lafia

Nasarawa state Governor Engr Abdullahi Sule has reassured the people of the state of his commitment to embark on more developmental projects if reelected in the forthcoming polls.

He gave the assurance during a parley with media chiefs and reporters at the government House Lafia on Thursday.

“Leadership is a task given to a person by God. I pledge to fulfil all the initial promises made to the people of the state if reelected”.

Amotekun arrest alleged rapist, herbalist in Osun

Amotekun Corps, the security network of states in the Southwest geopolitical zone arrested a 24-yearold suspected rapist in Iwo, Osun, on Friday.

He was alleged to have been keeping a 16-year-old girl in his room for three days while having

carnal knowledge of her.

Commander of the corps in Osun, retired Brig.-Gen. Bashir Adewinmbi, told newsmen in Osogbo on Saturday that the security outfit arrested a 28-yearold herbalist almost in Iwo.

The herbalist allegedly defrauded some persons and was

also found to be in possession of fake 100 dollar and N1,000 notes.

“The suspects were arrested at different locations in Iwo on Friday after reports were made to Amotekun about their nefarious activities.

“Upon interrogation, the suspects confessed to the crimes

and were handed over to the police for further investigation and prosecution,’’ Adewinmbi said.

The Amotekun commander urged Osun residents to always assist security agencies with information that could help to prevent crime and apprehend criminals. (NAN)

Association to sensitize charcoal producers on afforestation

The National Charcoal Producers, Dealers and Exporters Association of Nigeria (NACPDEAN) is set for a consultative meeting with government agencies to sensitize charcoal stakeholders on importance of afforestation.

The association made this known in a statement made available to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Sunday in Abuja.

According to Mr Babatunde Edu, National President of the body, the meeting is to sensitize

stakeholders on the effects of deforestation, the benefit of afforestation and innovative processing procedures to boost the forest resources in Nigeria.

“This is with emphasis on the association trust policy on issuance of Afforestation Pass and Charcoal Lifting Rights by the National Association for compliance of stakeholders to streamline the sub-sector in furtherance to the association’s aims and objectives.

“NACPDEAN is to ensure compliance of stakeholders on

afforestation to mitigate climate change.

“We also exist to fast-track growth and development of the sector and to increase the contribution of the sub-sector to the Nation’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP).

Edu also noted that the event is scheduled to hold on Thursday, 16th March 2023, at the Presken Hotel Ikeja, Lagos, by 10a.m. with the Theme: “Sustainable Afforestation & Reforestation for Nigeria’s Posterity.”

“All Exporting Stakeholders

in the charcoal sub-sector are invited to the consultative meeting with the government and also shipping companies, freight forwarders, and terminal operators will be in attendance,” he said.

NAN also reports that the event will be in collaboration with the Federal Ministry of Environment (FMOE), Federal Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment (FMITI), Nigerian Shippers’ Council, and Nigerian Export Promotion Council, among others. (NAN)

The National Commission for Persons with Disabilities, during a road walk to commemorate the International Women’s Day, yesterday in Abuja. Photo; Mahmud Isa

HYPPADEC begins 160 housing units for affected flood victims in Niger communities

From Yakubu Mustapha Minna

Hydro Power Producing Areas Development Commission (HYPPADEC) has officially flagged off the construction of 160 detached 2 bedroom flats at the resettlement center of Muregi and Ketso communities in Niger state.

The ground breaking ceremony was held at New Muregi resettlement center in Mokwa local government of the state, and officials said that the building will have toilet and kitchen, in which Muregi will have allocation of 120 units and Ketso will get 40 housing units respectively.

The Managing Director HYPPADEC, Alhaji Abubakar Sadiq Yelwa expressed concern over the economic and environmental disaster experienced over the years due to perennial flooding that has caused destruction of lives and property in the affected communities.

Sadiq Yelwa noted that the projects would be delivered as planned and in standard within the duration of 3 months period because sufficient funds of 30% will be released in each trenches to ensure completion for occupation by 12 communities, adding that each building will cost N4.8 million each.

Governor Alhaji Abubakar Sani Bello of Niger state has assured of full support to the HYPPADEC for its interventions in tackling various challenges facing the affected flooding areas, decried that four years ago about 150 Communities were flooded in Niger state.

Polls: Shehu Sani tasks security on free elections

From: Femi Oyelola, Kaduna

Aformer lawmaker, that represented Kaduna Central in the upper Chamber, Senator Shehu Sani, has warned security agents in the state to allow free governorship and State House of Assembly elections on in the rescheduled elections.

Sani, a social activist stated this after security agents in the state on Tuesday arrested the Media Director of the Kaduna State Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Campaign Committee, Hon. Saidu Adamu, who is a former commissioner in the state.

According to Senator Sani, the security agents also arrested two other youth leaders identified as El Abbas Muhammed and Talib Muhammed.

I will never step down for anybody, Kano ADP guber candidate vows

From Mustapha Adamu, Kano

The Kano governorship candidate for Action Democratic Party (ADP) and a member of the House of Representatives for Kano Municipal Federal Constituency, Shaaban Sharada, has assured the Kano people and the electorate that he will never withdraw his candidature for any candidate during the forthcoming governorship election slated for March 18, 2023

.Sharada made the statement during an interactive session with

some selected journalists from some radio stations based in Kano, according to his campaign spokesman, Abbas Yushau in a statement yesterday.

He said the ADP candidate said he is committed to participating in the gubernatorial election, which is why, at the first instance, he joined the race to slug it out with other contestants with the aim to govern Kano and not to withdraw for anybody, as was insinuated in some quarters.

Sharada said so far indicators had shown that he is the most

competent and prepared candidate “because he is not the political godson of any body, and as such, he is not withdrawing for any candidate.”

“The Honourable Shaaban said it doesn’t make sense to withdraw for candidates who are godsons of some prominent politicians.

“Honorable Sharada cited the example of NNPP’s Abba Kabir Yusuf, who was presented by his political godfather, Engineer Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, and who cannot do the bidding of anyone except his political godfather,” part of the

statement reads.

“Honourable Shaaban Sharada said part of his mission is to make Kano a hub for exports to the West and Sub-Saharan Africa, especially fish.

“He also promises to increase internally generated revenue for Kano from 2 billion to 10 billion monthly.

“The radio stations that aired the live program were Premier Radio FM, AREWA Radio, Aminci Radio, Vision FM, and on their social media handles,” the statement concluded.

L-R: Partner at I create Africa / Chair Admissions Nigerian Institute of Architects Abuja Chapter, Arc. Zulaiha J Baba Girei , The Founder / CEO, I Create Africa, Mr. Bright Jaja and the General Manager IL Bagno Black Pelican Ltd, , Princess Kay- Olufade, during the events for women in construction industry in commemoration of the 2023 international women’s day celebration, Organise by I Create Africa conjunction with the ILBagno, held recently in Abuja.

NEXIM Bank, stakeholders harp on gender equity, women’s empowerment

Mr Abubakar Bello, the Managing Director, Nigerian Export and Import Bank (NEXIM), and other stakeholders have stressed the need for gender equity and women’s empowerment to improve access to health, education, economic and political opportunities in the country.

They made the call at a family fun weekend, organised by NEXIM Bank, in commemoration of the 2023 international Women’s Day (IWD) celebration in Abuja.

The NEXIM Bank boss said women play significant role in every area of human development, hence the need to ensure they had access to opportunities that would further harness their potentials for the development of any nation.

According to Bello, the bank prioritises anything concerning women, adding that women should be celebrated all the time for their immense contribution to the society.

“We should not just celebrate women only on women’s day or month.

“Women should be celebrated everyday. This year’s theme, which talks about embracing equity, should not be celebrated only on

women’s day, but all the time as we are talking about moving forward to the future.

“Every women’s day, we make promises on equal opportunities, equity, amongst others.

“I want a feedback from the women from all the promises made in the past, where are we? Are you satisfied with what we have done?” he said.

The NEXIM Bank boss further added that the bank prioritises the well being and health of its workforce to ensure maximum productivity.

“We take the competence of women seriously, especially when bringing in new staff. It’s not a favour that we are doing to the women, it is a favour that we are doing to the agency.

“We are happy about the issues discussed by the speakers. One spoke about being focused, another on health and wellbeing.

“Another one spoke about motivation and how to remove obstacles and barriers affecting women’s development,” he said.

He, therefore, stressed the need to accommodate more women so that they can give in their best in any workforce and the society in general.

Mrs Imaan Sulaiman-Ibrahim, Federal Commissioner, National Commission for Refugees, Migrants and Internally Displaced Persons, stressed the need for programes that would bridge the gap for women to become independent and contribute to national development.

On the issue of challenges affecting women in Internally Displaced Persons (IDP) camps, Sulaiman-Ibrahim decried its effects on them, calling for more collaboration to address them.

“Women are the most hit, they loose their privacy when such things happen and it is hard for them.

“They carry a lot of burden because they become the caregivers, heads of households and other challenges for women when displacement and emergency happen.

“We must work collectively to address these challenges facing women,” she said.

Mrs Maryam Lemu, a motivational speaker, encouraged women to key into the digital world and give in their best to the development of their homes, community and nation at large.

“Digital world should be embraced by everyone and stop focusing on the negative.

“Let key people who have access make it possible for more women to have access because once a woman has access to knowledge and she learns, she can empower her family, the society and hopefully generation will be better than what she didn’t get.

“Don’t listen to negativity, sometimes it comes from us, we keep making excuses why we cannot do somethings.

“But it is just background noise, so reduce the volume on that and focus on what you can do. The possibilities are limitlessness,” she said.

Also, Dr Amina Dorayi, Country Director, Pathfinder, encouraged women to prioritise their health, mental well being and eat healthy food and fruits.

“This is one of the best thing you can do for your staff – work that prioritises your wellbeing. You are the most important person in your life and those around you, so do not joke with your health. Health is life, health is everything,” she said.

NAN reports that other highlights of the day were various sporting activities for staff of NEXIM Bank, their family members and other stakeholders.

(NAN)

Photo:. Photo: Justin Imo-owo

Ramadan: Cleric urges CBN to release more naira notes

Sheikh Yahya Al-Yolawi, the Chief of Nurul Yaqeen Jumma’at Mosque Life Camp, Abuja, has urged the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) to ensure the release of more redesigned naira notes as the month of Ramadan is fast approaching.

Al-Yolawi made the call while delivering his Jumma’at Sermon, titled, “the Significance of Ramadan Fast: Health, Spiritual, Social and Psychological Benefits of Ramadan Fast,” on Friday in Abuja.

The cleric noted that Muslims spend more money during the period of Ramadan on food items and other charitable activities which usually comes as a result of carefully examining, budgeting and planning on what, and how to spend their money.

“And that largely depends on the accessibility of cash in and out flow of individual and organisations and that is very essential in the world of business keeping that spirit even after Ramadan is very crucial to the growth and development of your business.

“I will like to use this medium to call on the Federal Government and the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) to release more cash to the country as Ramadan is fast approaching.

“People are in utmost need of money for Ramadan expenses and other activities. May Allah make it easier for all of us, ameen.”

He revealed that the mosque would roll out a series of Ramadan activities, starting from Taraweeh, Tahajjud, Tafseer and daily feeding programme to cater for over 200 Muslims daily.

He called on those who wish to support the feeding programme with food items to donate to the worship centre or send cash donations via its bank account number.

He explained that ramadan is a period of fasting, reflection, devotion, generosity and sacrifice by all Muslims around the world to observe one of the five pillars of Islam.

“The significance and benefits of fasting to a believer cannot be over-emphasized due to the number of mercies and blessings of Allah towards a Muslim community throughout the month.

Pharmacists appeal for Uzochukwu’s safety

The Nigeria Association of Pharmacists in Academia (NAPA) has called for reassurance on the safety of Prof. Ikemefuna Uzochukwu.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Uzochukwu, a Pharmacist, was the Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) in Abia, during the Feb. 25, 2023 Presidential/National Assembly elections.

Following the elections, Uzochukwu, who sought a review of the results, said he was “abducted and detained” by security agencies during the collation and announcement of results.

The National Chairman of NAPA, Dr Ezekiel Akinkunmi, in a statement on Friday appealed

to agencies of government that were concerned with handling the matter and the general public, to let fairness and justice prevail.

“The news of the abduction, forceful detention, false imprisonment and threat to the life of one of our members, who serves as the Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) of Abia State, Professor Ikemefuna Chijioke Uzochukwu by the Police and the Directorate of State Services in Abia State, has come to our attention.

“We have also got the news that he was asked to stay away from the Commission’s Office in Abia until further notice, without any official statement as to his particular offence.

“While we condemn all

forms of electoral offences in strong terms, we wish to state categorically that we find the treatment meted out to Prof. Uzochukwu very strange and we wish to condemn it out-rightly.

“Prof. Uzochukwu is a Pharmacist and a renowned Professor of Pharmaceutical Chemistry of international repute.

“ As pharmacists and trainers of pharmacists, our core attributes include unblemished integrity, accuracy and strict adherence to ethics, rules and standards.

“We have zero tolerance for all forms of misconduct. That is why we give the populace medicines instead of poison.

“We can vouch for these

attributes in Prof. Uzochukwu and that is why we are greatly concerned with the treatment meted out to him as well as his present situation.

“We, therefore, appeal to agencies of government that are concerned with handling this matter and the general public, to let fairness and justice prevail on this issue.

“And to stop the unnecessary media trial he is being unfairly subjected to,’’ the statement said. According to NAPA, the pharmacists are greatly concerned about the treatment meted out to Uzochukwu and his present situation.

“We need to be assured of his safety,’’ the statement said. (NAN)

Lagos State Governor, Mr Babajide SanwoOlu (second right) commiserating with relatives of a deceased involved in the train accident, during his condolence visit to the family home at the weekend in Lagos, With him is Head of Service, Mr Hakeem Muri-Okunola (right).

Envoy seek ways to boost Nigeria-Bangladesh bilateral trade

Mr Masudur Rahman, Bangladesh High Commissioner to Nigeria has called for more comprehensive ways to boost the growing trade relations between Nigeria and Bangladesh.

Rahman made the call on Thursday in Abuja in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN).

He said the trade volume between both countries currently stands at about $70 million dollars with prospects of solidifying and tapping into other areas of mutual interest.

“The bilateral trade between Nigeria and Bangladesh currently stands at a modest $70 million dollars, with Bangladesh only contributing $20 million as

export to Nigeria.

“Previously the bilateral trade was even much insignificant but it is picking up, “So we are working on all fronts to deepen the bilateral cooperation in the areas of education, technical training exchanges, pharmaceuticals, ICT, software, textile/garments, and so on,” he said.

The envoy said Bangladesh was willing to deepen trade with Nigeria in the Oil/gas sector and agricultural sector with products like cotton, soya beans, ginger, millet, etc.

He, however, stressed the need to smoothen all bottlenecks associated with international trade and banking, especially in Nigeria, so as to have more

seamless trade and investment.

“There are a lot of challenges in deepening the trade and investment, particularly in the way the banking sector could work to enhance the trading.

“In order to improve international trade, it is important for both countries to smoothen the transactions which are used through Letters of Credit opening and other banking tools.

“We also need to work on the areas of smooth handling, of course, of the goods and products and services that are offered,” he said.

The high commissioner said Bangladesh was looking forward to engaging more with Nigeria in areas like textile/garments,

pharmaceuticals, and software which Bangladesh exports to the tune of $1.4 billion dollars.

Rahman recalled that Prof. Isa Pantami, Minister of Communications and Digital Economy had in January led a 17-member delegation to Bangladesh to deepen bilateral cooperation between both countries.

He, therefore, advocated for more such engagements which were facilitated by the NigeriaBangladesh Business and Technology Forum.

He said the high commission would continue to work with relevant stakeholders to strengthen the cordial bilateral relations between both strategic countries. (NAN)

ACivil Society Organisation, Global Network for Sustainable Development( GNSD), has called on Civil Society Organisations and other youth platforms to desist from acts of public incitements, describing the calls for the arrest of Enenche as tyrannical.

The National Coordinator ,GNSD, Mr Phil Roberts, made the call in a statement on Friday, in Abuja.

Robert said that such groups were hired to silence the voice of reason “and render our nation a tyrannical and dictatorial enclave

“A society where citizens live in perpetual fear and bondage.”

“It is advised that such groups should stop further acts of public incitements against the person of Dr Paul Enenche, their actions so far are tantamount to a gross abuse of his fundamental human rights as a free citizen

“A certain provocative and

NYSC boss

inaugurates think thank committee on policy trust

By Albert Akota

The Director General of National Youth Service Corps, Brigadier General YD Ahmed has promised his readiness to take the scheme to enviable heights with innovations.

He reiterated this while inaugurating a 13-man think tank committee that would drive the actualisation of his 5-points policy thrust.

Ahmed charged members of the committee to work in conjunction with all the departments at the National Directorate Headquarters, Abuja, the NYSC Area Offices and other structures of the Scheme and also liaise with various NYSC stakeholders towards actualization of the policy thrust mandate.

“I expect you to review the previous achievements and challenges of the Scheme and come up modalities to improve on them”, he said.

The Committee Chairman, Mr Omotade Ayodele, who is also the Director, Corps Welfare and Health Services in his response promised that the committee would do everything possible to achieve the Director General’s policy thrust.

Stop inciting public, CSO warns youth groups

inconsequential call by a faceless self-acclaimed Civil Society group, Centre for Social and Economic Rights (CSER) for the arrest of Dr Paul Enenche and Pastor Sarah Omakwu is such that threaten national security .

“The fact that they make such calls especially regarding” the arrest of Dr Paul Enenche in particular, in spite of the fact that he is not the only one calling for electoral probity and justice, makes their motive questionable,” Roberts said.

According to him, other renowned clerics from both Islamic and Christian faiths drew the attention of the government to the irregularities that characterised the recent elections, yet these faceless

groups are bent on calling for the crucifixion of one man.

“The conduct of these groups is antithetical to democracy and freedom of speech, they represent the worst enemy of the Nigerian nation as they are out to sabotage the efforts of both the state and the citizens in building a more tolerant, progressive and inclusive society.

“One wonders if these individuals masquerading as a civil society groups understand what civil society advocacy stands for, how can you call yourself ‘civil’ while you are brazenly advocating for tyranny and dictatorship?

“How can you be advocating a civilized society, while at the same time, calling for

undemocratic use of force to stifle citizens’ freedom of speech as in the constitution?,” he said.

According to him, how can you be a centre for citizens’ rights, while openly fighting to deprive them of their fundamental human rights?

“How can you address yourself as ‘civil’ while openly canvassing for illegitimate use of force by agents of the state against her citizens?

” How can you be fighting for and against citizens’ rights at the same time? This is nothing short of bareface hypocrisy and duplicity,” it added.

He noted that the country was advancing as a civilised society and they cannot drive us backward in their brazen pursuit

of filthy lucre.

“They are, therefore, advised to stop further acts of public incitements against the person of Dr Paul Enenche as their actions so far are tantamount to a gross abuse of his fundamental human right as a free citizen.

“They have no moral or legal basis to call for the arrest of a law-abiding, responsible and impactful citizen in free expression of his civic and political opinion as guaranteed by the constitution.

It therefore ,stated, that any further incitement by such groups against the person of Paul Enenche would be taken as a deliberate and willful provocation, aggression and assault,“ he said. (NAN)

LASG partners GetBundi on STEM education

The Lagos State Government and GetBundi Education Technology Company have inaugurated a Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) laboratory at Wesley Girls Senior Secondary School, Yaba, Lagos.

The STEM laboratory is the pilot phase of an ongoing partnership between the Lagos State Government and GetBundi that would see the deployment of GetBundi’s education technology platform across schools in the state.

Speaking at the ceremony on Thursday, Dr Adetola Salau, Special Assistant on Education to the Governor of Lagos State, emphasised the importance of STEM education, saying it would prepare students for emerging challenges.

“STEM will prepare students to constitute an effective workforce; it will equip them with the skills needed to excel in a rapidly-changing, technologydriven society,” she said.

She explained that what the Getbundi was offering was in tandem with the Science Technology Engineering Arts and Math (STEAM UP) Lagos project which she oversees.

According to her, the goal is to infuse the ideals of a globally unified STEAM curriculum, making learning fun, accessible, sustainable, relatable to learners, while inculcating critical thinking ability, problem identification and solving skills.

It also encourages collaboration and creativity in designing solutions to identified challenges in society, she added.

She said that by virtue of the partnership, GetBundi would help to “provide students with real-world experience and help them to develop the skills that are in demand in the job market.

According to her, that goal will be better achieved with the donation of a STEAM laboratory equipped with the latest equipment and software.

“They (Getbundi) supported our district here – Educational District IV, specifically Wesley Girls Secondary School –through this generous support which aligns with our goals that ultimately focus on the provision of quality education for all of the state’s children.

“This encourages educational innovation that aims to improve learning outcomes.

“We are also glad that this laboratory will be at a girls’ secondary school because we are focused on inspiring girls to pursue STEM courses and careers – by providing access to STEM resources directly at their school.

“That is expected to lead to the setting up of clubs and activities that would support students to learn more about STEM and its relevance to their lives,” she said.

Mr Osita Oparaugo, founder/ Chief Executive Officer of GetBundi, in a remark, explained that the STEM laboratory that had been set up at Wesley Girls Senior Secondary School was a pilot programme to enable the Lagos State government to assess the platform and get feedback from students and teachers.

“The ultimate aim is to

ensure that government and GetBundi could then formulate the right framework to deploy the technology across Lagos government schools,” he explained.

He said that GetBundi, a government-approved online educational technology platform, was focused on using technology to make high-quality and engaging STEM subjects for secondary school and digital skills courses accessible to all across Africa.

“Less than 18 percent of Africans, Nigerians inclusive, who enter the universities, pursue science-related fields due to lack of appreciation of STEM caused by inability of African countries to invest in science education mostly at the secondary school level.

“For instance, by 2030, there will be nearly 250 million job gaps in the digital space as our world is constantly changing through technology.

“African youths must be equipped with the right skill if they want to be productive and competitive,” he said.

He said the existing gaps were the reason for setting up GetBundi with the goal of “massifying STEM and Digital Skill courses across Africa”.

According to him, GetBundi has a target to upskill 10 million African workforce by 2030 under the GetBundi Vision 2033.

He disclosed that GetBundi currently offers online vocational training on 16 digital skills courses six of which had courses in pidgin English developed by industry experts in Africa and

Sanwo-Olu

Nigeria’s undernourished women and girls

By Kene Obiezu

Aworld without women is simply unthinkable. A world without healthy and thriving women is a world that is as sick as what we have today. With everything women bring to the table, it remains scandalous that they remain vulnerable to everything that goes wrong in a country as poorly planned as Nigeria. A world without women. Who can imagine it?

When poverty is invoked in Nigeria, it is usually to paint a pathetic picture of the way and a manner a country continues to seriously underperform in spite of its prodigious human and natural resources. But beyond the disturbing statistics and the shadows it casts over large swathes of Nigeria, there are people, full-blooded people, for whom poverty is a breathing, heaving and harrowing reality.

Poverty invariably breeds hunger. In fact, constant hunger brought on by cascading food insecurity is one of the most visible signs of poverty. In Nigeria, hunger etches some of its darkest features into girls, women and children. As per a recent report from the United Nations Children Emergency Fund(UNICEF),7.3 women and girls between the ages of 15 to 49 are undernourished from a figure of 5.6 million in 2018.The report also placed Nigeria as one of 12 countries hit hardest by the global food crisis brought on by the Covid-19

crisis and made worse by the war in Ukraine. According to the report titled “Undernourished and overlooked: A Global Nutrition Crisis in Adolescent Girls and Women” which was published ahead of the International Women’s Day(IWD) on March 8,gender inequality was deepening the nutrition crisis with severe consequences for their present health and reproductive futures. The report also warned that unless urgent action was taken by the International Community, the impact of this crisis could last for generations to come.

It presents one more problem that women and girls in Nigeria have to contend with even if one chooses to overlook the fact that in 55 percent of adolescent women and girls suffer from anaemia while nearly half of Nigerian women of reproductive age do not consume the recommended diet of at least five out of ten food groups.

If the statistics were just that- cold, hard figures lacking in sympathy- the nightmare begins when one considers how this can impact the children born to such undernourished women and girls in the long run. About 12 million Nigerian children are stunted. Many of them become stunted during pregnancy and during the first 500 days of their life. Left unchecked, the road to a sick and sickly country will be paved with little resistance.

The reason why all well-meaning Nigerians and indeed every well-meaning citizen of the world must continue to shout from the rooftops

for an equal, equitable and peaceful world is that without a world where equality, equity and peace reign supreme, too many things would remain grotesquely and savagely out of place including the lives of many girls, women and the children they bear.

A world without women is simply unthinkable. A world without healthy and thriving women is a world that is as sick as what we have today. With everything women bring to the table, it remains scandalous that they remain vulnerable to everything that goes wrong in a country as poorly planned as Nigeria.

Fixing Nigeria begins from getting everyone involved and excited about the project that Nigeria. Getting everyone involved and excited about the task ahead will not be possible without healthy and willing bodies. Women have been left behind for far too long. Given the critical even if understated roles they play in building families and societies, it is clear that the current trend can simply not be allowed to continue.

In these days when the world celebrates women for all they are and bring, it is imperative to reflect on how every space can be made equal and comfortable for them to thrive . The world will be a much better place for this, and a much worse place without it.

Kene Obiezu can be reached at keneobiezu@ gmail.com

Africa: From potential to their prosperity

By Ahmed Audu

The fifth United Nations conference on Least Developed Countries (LDCs) was held recently in Doha , capital of Qatar. World leaders including President Mohamadu Buhari gathered with the private sector, parliamentarians, civil society as well as youngsters , and advanced new ideas to hasten delivery on agreed commitments as well as raised new pledges of support via the Doha programme of action.

The Doha programme of Action aims to invest in eradicating poverty and build capacity, leverage the power of science and technology as well as innovation, and equally enhance international trade as well as regional integration.

It also aims to support structural transformation, drive prosperity, tackle Covid-19, climate change, build resilience , and mobilise the international partnerships to enable sustainable graduation.

The conference which held under the theme: “From Potential to Prosperity” provided African countries the opportunity once again to garner the support of the international community for accelerating sustainable development on the continent and equally assist them make progress towards achieving prosperity for all.

Indeed the African continent is home to eight of the fifteen fastest growing economies in the world. According to the international monetary, fund, IMF, many economies in Africa grew at a record pace in 2022 , an average of more than 7.5% per year over the past two decades. Therefore, it is not surprising that interest in Africa has increased significantly in recent years on the part of leading international players, especially the former mother countries – Britain and France.

Things , however , have not been well for the French in recent years, particularly in Mali and Burkina Faso , but formal European dominance in Africa ended in 1977 after Republic of Djibouti

gained independence from France. But Africans are increasingly realising that they only have flag independence in a maze of economic dependency that rubbishes their sovereignty .

Many observers wonder how growth indicators are a measure of welfare in Africa as western companies continue to relentlessly extract the resource of the continent. And when a local national leader gets in the way , then western governments through “Colour revolutions “ or armed intervention, remove such an “ obstacle” as a result of which the resource rich continent remains plagued by poverty, unemployment and hunger.

In Neo-Colonialism : The Last Stage of Imperialism, the radical visionary, Kwame Nkrumah, the first African- born Prime minister of Ghana, wrote in 1965 that ‘’the neo-colonialism of today represents imperialism in its final and perhaps its most dangerous stage..... The final essence of neocolonialism is that the state which is subject to it is, in theory, independent but in reality its economic system and its political policy is directed from outside....The result of neo-colonialism is that foreign capital was used to exploit and not to develop the least developed parts of the world.’’

Frankly speaking the land and people of Africa were brutally exploited by British colonial rulers. And at present the African vector of Britain’s interest is not new, an excuse has been added. According to the British foreign minister, James Spencer Cleverly, the reason is to prevent the spread of Russian and Chinese influence on the African continent. Again such important aspects as the sovereignty and wellbeing of the peoples of Africa are omitted.

Really, the main driving force that is plundering Africa under the guise of charity is the global financial system with its centre in London. According to a published report by a coalition of British and African non-governmental organizations, NGOs , the annual losses of African states from cooperation with western governments and transnational corporation’s

amounts to at least 60 billion US dollars.

It is on this grounds that the Zamfara state government in February this year banned the so called development partners and donors masquerading as NGO’s from working in the state , owing to the high influx of them carrying out illegal activities that contravened the existing laws of the state government .Britain reportedly plans to become the largest investor in Africa from the G7 countries, the informal grouping of seven of the world’s advanced economies, by 2025 . Given the kingdom’s plunge into a deep financial, economic and energy crisis in recent months, the demonstrative concentration on military and financial assistance not for the world’s poorest states, but for pro-western regime in Kiev, are perceived on the African continent with little enthusiasm and very critically.

Against the backdrop of the global crisis, in particular the food crisis , countries with a monarchical model of government are on the verge of even greater uncertainty. Therefore they follow the path of least resistance, using neo-colonialism as a tool to achieve their economic and political goals.

One of these tools used by London is the Commonwealth of Nations, which after the death of Queen Elizabeth II became a relic of the past, and also shows the archaism of the monarchical model of government in Great Britain.

The truth is the economic growth in Africa is contributed largely by enterprises with the capital formation dominated by foreign groups of private and public enterprise and investors. They exploit of Africa’s potential for their own prosperity. Under such business arrangement, the wealth generated in the nations is largely retained by foreign nationals. The Doha conference did not address this.

This justifies the current existence of two Africas . One Africa with a solid growth rate and one Africa with over 30 states at the bottom of the Human Development Index.

Ahmed Audu is a Public Affair Analyst.

2023 Election: The betrayal, the tragedy, the shame

By Tony Eluemunor

Betrayal entails unfaithfulness, duplicity, infidelity, treachery and disloyalty. If faults other than betrayal had caused the chaos, unmitigated havoc, bedlam and anarchy with which Nigeria’s sordid history was worsened on February 25, 2023, that day’s election should have been canceled.

First the betrayal: President Mohammadu Buhari and the Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) without being prompted by anyone, repeatedly promised Nigerians a free and fair election in February 2023. Buhari promised that a transparent 2023 election would be his legacy project.

Yet, what happened? International observers have derided both Nigeria and the elections. Both Buhari and the INEC Chairman, Prof Mahmood Yakubu knew that giving Nigeria a flawless general election was doable, that the money projected to meet the logistics that would make the poll transparent was duly budgeted for and the monies made available to the electoral agency.

The computing systems that would make it possible to upload results real time, and so deny election riggers the opportunity of cooking the figures at the so-called collating centres, were designed. The right laws were in place. The INEC chairman was even seen in a video boasting that the results would be uploaded as they trickled in from the polling units, Nigerians had such a right.

Then the day arrived for Buhari and the INEC chairman to walk their talks, and they betrayed Nigeria. Suddenly, the results were not uploaded. Suddenly, the ones that had, perhaps mistakenly, been uploaded were scrubbed.

Then in the Nigeria of 2023, despite all the billions spent

buying the needed computing gadgets despite all the progress in computing and telephony, Nigeria returned to the dark ages of manual collation of election results, which enabled all sorts of criminalities to be acted out upon the peoples’ votes.

Why have I termed this failure a betrayal? It is a betrayal because the means to make the 2023 election angelically transparent was available to Buhari and INEC. The two chose to betray their country.

They made a deliberate choice. I have linked or hooked both of them together because Buhari appointed Prof. Yakubu. Had there been a direct transmission of the results from each polling unit to the general public through the portals, all the mayhem which played out in the collation centres would have been avoided. That the choice was there to make the votes from each unit to be uploaded directly to the public, but that route was deliberately disdained, must be noted.

Betrayal entails unfaithfulness, duplicity, infidelity, treachery and disloyalty. If faults other than betrayal had caused the chaos, unmitigated havoc, bedlam and anarchy with which Nigeria’s sordid history was worsened on February 25, 2023, that day’s election should have been canceled.

That brings us to the tragedy of that election. That day’s poll was a tragedy because it was an unmitigated disaster for Nigeria. The peoples choice of who should be their freely elected leader was disdained as in despised, spurned, disparaged and treated with massive and audacious contempt. This is tragic because the election meant the world for our teaming youths. Suddenly, matters “Nigeriana” began to matter to them. If this election is not redeemed and the wrongs done to their human rights (implicit in the very act of their being constitutionally responsible to choose their own leader), is not redressed, reversed and punished, they would become alienated, and

totally so.

It is tragic for a nation to go through the hollow ritual of holding an election every four years. It is tragic for a nation that their President and Chairman of an electoral body would openly commit themselves to organizing free and fair elections and then go ahead and conduct the worst election in the history of the world, after having deliberately refused to engage an array of computing and telephony equipment that had been purchased for such purpose. Such acts of lawlessness and criminality always weaken a society.

Ah, the shame of it all. It’s shameful that our leaders are shameless.

Since the criminality that was passed off as an election on February 25th 2023 took place, the INEC Chairman has not uttered a word of regret and apology. He has shown no sense of remorse for having failed an entire country. And worst of all, less than a week after the flawed election, President Buhari travelled to Qatar, his fourth foreign trip in 2023, to attend the 5th United Nations Conference on least developed countries.

This is as the entire world mocks Nigeria for the election fiasco and cash-swap cash crunch has made Nigeria a hell on earth and petrol scarcity has worsened the hell Buhari’s administration has turned Nigeria into. Couldn’t someone advise Buhari to cancel that trip because other leaders would be mocking him as an ineffectual leader who would jet out when his country men and women were being besieged on various fronts by problems that no longer exist in other parts of the world? That trip has heaped shame on Nigerians for only unserious leaders would travel out of their countries despite “the fire on the mountain”.

Turn your company around with these simple growth strategies

By Ismaheel Taofeeq Adisa

Optimize Your Website: Make sure your website is optimized for search engines to increase visibility and lead generation. Incorporate effective keywords and phrases, backlinks, and high-quality content to make sure people can easily find you.

Are you looking to turn your company around and propel it to new heights?

If so, you’re in luck! Here, I offer simple and effective growth strategies to help you do just that. Whether you’re a small business looking for ways to expand, or an established one that is feeling the pinch of a downturn, these strategies can help take your company further.

I’ll cover everything from improving customer service and marketing to developing better processes and expanding into new markets. By following my advice, you can create more opportunities for growth and increase overall profitability. So get ready to learn all the best tips, advice, and practices to grow your business!

If you’re ready to start growing your business, one of the best places to start is leveraging your existing connections. By tapping into both offline and online connections, you can gain access to invaluable resources such as advice, industry trends, and even referrals.

Here are a few methods for building meaningful connections:

Connect with past customers and clients via social media, emails, or newsletters

Network with people who are similar to you in terms of experience, interests, or goals

Take advantage of free tools like LinkedIn that can help you find new contacts in your area

Reach out directly to prospects and ask for advice or feedback on new ideas

Not only will these connections open up new growth opportunities, but they will also provide valuable insight into how you can improve your business practices. Taking the time to reach out and nurture these relationships will benefit you greatly in the long run.

Investing in your team is one of the best growth strategies you can employ when it comes to turning around your company. Employees are the backbone of any successful organization, and creating an environment where they can grow and develop their skills will pay off in the long run.

To start, look for ways to help employees grow their skill sets. This could include providing training and educational materials, offering mentoring opportunities, introducing new technologies, and setting up career paths. It’s important that employees feel valued and have access to resources that help them become more effective in their roles.

Another great way to invest in your team is to create a positive company culture that encourages collaboration, communication,

and innovation. Make sure each member of your team feels heard, respected, and valued – not only by you but by each other too. This will create a sense of unity among the team and make them more likely to take risks which can lead to innovation that drives growth for the business.

To succeed in the modern business landscape, you must take your marketing online. By optimizing your website for search engines, running targeted ad campaigns on social media and other online platforms, and establishing a presence on relevant industry websites, you can promote your business to an entirely new audience that may never have heard of you before.

When marketing online, these key components will help ensure success:

Optimize Your Website: Make sure your website is optimized for search engines to increase visibility and lead generation. Incorporate effective keywords and phrases, backlinks, and highquality content to make sure people can easily find you.

Advertise: Utilize targeted ad campaigns across social media platforms such as Facebook, Twitter, or LinkedIn to reach out to potential new customers.

Establish Yourself Online: Set up a blog or other content areas where you can solidify your expertise within your field—this will help build trust with existing and potential customers alike.

Social media is a must-have tool for businesses looking to grow their reach and increase their profits. It’s an incredibly powerful tool that can help you build relationships and foster engagement with customers.

Here are some of the key benefits of leveraging social media for business growth:

Adapting your content to the right social media platform allows you to connect with the right audience, ensuring your message reaches the people most likely to take action.

Social media can also be used as a customer service platform, allowing customers to contact you quickly and receive speedy responses. This helps build trust and loyalty between customers and your company.

Using social media platforms like Twitter, Facebook, and LinkedIn can help spread word of mouth about your brand, leading to increased awareness among potential customers. Social media also allows you to share useful resources such as blog posts, videos, and more, all of which are great for boosting engagement.

Overall, investing in social media should be at the top of any company’s growth strategy list if it wants to see success in the future.

Content marketing has become a cornerstone of modern business growth, and you can use it to get your company noticed. Consider putting together a blog or series of videos that showcase your knowledge, products, and services in a meaningful way.

You can reach potential customers by creating shareable content tailored to their needs. Here are some ideas for how to

do this:

Personalized emails, offers, and messaging can help you connect with prospects on an individual level. By understanding the unique needs of each customer, you can create custom offers tailored just for them.

Creating engaging content is key to success in content marketing. That means telling stories, creating visuals, and providing useful information that will capture the attention of your target audience.

Social media platforms like Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram are powerful tools for reaching potential customers. Utilize these platforms to share your content and create relationships with potential customers who may be interested in what you have to offer.

When it comes to turning your business around and experiencing sustainable growth, one of the most important things you can do is re-evaluate and maximize your profits. To do this you need to understand where your expenses are coming from and how you can make them more efficient. Here are some tips to help you along the way:

Analyze spending habits for each department to understand where money is being spent, who is spending it, and what value it’s providing. Compare spending habits to industry benchmarks and create a budget that reflects current needs.

Look for opportunities to automate mundane tasks or streamline processes. Automation can free up resources that could be used in other areas to drive growth. It also helps prevent costly mistakes, save time, increase efficiency, and reduce employee turnover.

Reduce customer service costs by analyzing customer interactions and feedback data to identify opportunities for improvement and address common issues more efficiently. Use analytics tools or customer feedback surveys to gain insights into what customers want and then act on those insights. These strategies can help you keep costs down while maximizing profits over the long term and help turn your company around for good.

In conclusion, creating an effective growth strategy for your business is an ongoing process that requires careful consideration, analysis, and planning. By investing time in building relationships, leveraging technology, and developing your team’s strengths, you can create a successful growth strategy that can help you achieve your company’s goals.

With these tips and advice, you can develop a comprehensive strategy that will turn your business around and help you thrive. When it comes to business growth, it’s important to be strategic and take the time to invest in your team and processes. This way, you can create a path to success and take your company to the next level.

Taofeeq, a Youtuber, Digital marketer, and CEO of Prem Business Empire, Minna.

taofeeqonline19@yahoo.com

Tony Eluemunor is a Public Policy Analyst.

From

The Adamawa State Muslim Council is being accused of endorsing incumbent Governor Ahmadu Umaru Fintiri against other gubernatorial candidates in the state.

The alleged endorsement said to be by the council of Governor Fintiri for the 2023 Gubernatorial elections has caused disaffection and disagreement in the organization.

Expressing his dissatisfaction with such development, Secretary of the Muslim Council, Michika Local Government branch Alhaji Abdulrahman Maina Yaji, Mutawallin Michika resigned his position lamenting that his action was due to politicization of the faith-based organization by its State leadership.

Polls: Muslim Council secretary resigns, says organisation politicized

According to the resignation letter dated 7th March 2023, addressed to the State Chairman Muslim Council and made available to the media in Yola weekend, Yaji alleged that, the leadership of the Council has pinched their support to Governor Fintiri,the PDP governorship candidate, thereby derailing from its constitutional obligations of been a father umpire to all shades of opinions.

He described the organization’s state leadership action as “selfish, self serving, and greedy.

“The selfish and partisan

activities of the Adamawa state leadership of Muslim Council, has seriously become a source of embarrassing jokers with concern to the well-meaning Muslim Ummah of Adamawa state who are deceived by the leadership of the Council.

“An organization that is supposed to be apolitical, but unfortunately they became supporters and form a campaign team for the ruling PDP championing for the re-election of Fintiri, is rather embarrassing and dragging the name of the council to

the mud.

“This, they exhibited by touring all the 21 Local Governments in Adamawa state, meeting with the local branches to inform them that the council has endorsed Fintiri and that Muslim Ummah are directed through the local branches to inform and mobilize the Muslim Ummah to vote for PDP/Fintiri, just because their hands were greased.

“As the Secretary of Muslim Council Michika Branch, I resolved to put my resignation from the position,” Yaji pointed.

Reacting to the development,an

official of the Council who pleaded for anonymity said Yaji was out for his selfish reasons.

The source stated that the council wouldn’t want to join issues with Yaji over his calculative attack just to achieve political attention and patronage from his paymaster, insisting that the council did nothing wrong.

He further denied any endorsement of any governorship candidates rather accommodating all candidates who seek audience for political engagements including campaign.

Polls: Dogara endorses APC’s Sadiq Abubakar for Bauchi guber

From Ahmad Muhammad, Bauchi

The immediate past Speaker of the House of Representatives Hon Yakubu Dogara has endorsed the Air Marshall Sadiq Baba Abubakar (rtd) of the All Progressives Congress (APC) for next week’s governoship election in Bauchi State.

The former Speaker is a member of the People’s Democratic Party and member of the Presidential Campaign Council of the party’s presidential candidate Alhaji Atiku Abubakar.

In 2019, he helped mobilised and led a coalition of political parties and interest groups in Bauchi which ousted former governor Mohammed Abdullahi Abubakar and installed Senator Bala Mohammed in 2019.

However, shortly after the elections governor Bala Mohammed reneged on all political agreements he entered into before the election and declared political war on prominent citizens of the state who opposed his style of governance including Dogara and an elderstatesman Alhaji Bello Kirfi, who was a minister in the second Republic under president Shehu Shagari.

Dogara had accused Mohammed of corruption including non-payment of salaries of teachers and civil servants.

The former Speaker led a campaign team of Air Marshall Sadiq Baba Abubakar across some Bauchi local governments including Kirfi and Alkaleri where Governor Bala Mohammed came from.

Speaking to a mammoth crowd of supporters in Alkaleri Local Government Area of Bauchi State , Dogara urged the people to toe the path of honour by

voting out Bala Mohammed from office.

“We came to tell you the truth,

that we need to effect a change of leadership in Bauchi State.

“I came here to enlighten

you that even though your son (Governor Mohammed) is there but since he is not doing well we

should change him. I urge you all to cast your vote for Air Marshall Sadiq Abubakar on Saturday.”

L-R: Head of Human Resources, Bi-Courtney Aviation Services Limited (BASL), Tinuola DapoAwosika; BASL Head of Safety, Nafisat Adeniran; BASL Head of Aviation Security, Monica Oguta and BASL Head of Marketing, Gbubemi Aibangbee, during the BASL Managers celebration of the International Women’s Day, held at the BASL’s office, Murtala Muhammed Airport Terminal-Two (MMA-2), in Lagos

Obi, Soludo campaign for Anambra House of Assembly candidates

Mr Peter Obi, candidate of the Labour Party, and the Anambra state Governor, Prof. Chukwuma Soludo, of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), have intensified campaigns for their respective candidates, ahead of the March 18 House of Assembly election in Anambra.

While Obi called on candidates of the Labour party to win and support the APGAled government, Soludo urged electorate in Anambra to ignore Obi and vote for his party.

Obi who met with Labour Party House of Assembly candidates in Anambra on Friday night, called on them to go all out and campaign to win on March 18.

He said they should win and support the APGA-led government to deliver dividends of democracy to the people.

The former governor of Anambra used the opportunity to thank the people of Anambra for their massive support for Labour

Party to win two Senatorial and five House of Representatives seat on Feb. 25.

Obi urged electorate across the country and in Anambra to go about their campaigns peacefully as election was not war.

According to him, “I have told my people to go and campaign and win election.

“Their job as a legislator is to work with the governor and ensure he provides the dividends of democracy to our people. Help him to make good laws on education, health and other sectors.

“Soludo remains our governor, our job is to support and pray for him,” he said.

“I have told our candidates to go about their campaigns in a peaceful, quiet and organised manner,” he said.

He said he had no issues with Gov. Soludo as they remained brothers, best of friends with different political views.

“He is the governor of my state and I have utmost respect

for him, I am contesting for the president of Nigeria and to the best of my knowledge he is not a contestant,” he said.

In a reaction, Soludo described the call by Obi for Anambra electorate to vote Labour Party as deceptive and a strategy of laying landmines for him.

Soludo, who spoke through Mr Christian Aburime, his Press Secretary, urged Anambra to ignore Peter Obi and vote for APGA candidates for the 30 seats in the House of Assembly.

“That call is inappropriate and meant to deceive Anambra people. Obi can not be talking about development in Anambra and also be talking about asking Anambra people to elect lawmakers from an opposition party to work with Soludo.

“He worked with a legislature that was dominated by lawmakers from the PDP and he knows that it was not easy for him.

“He even suffered impeachment because of that, so Anambra people should go all out

on March 18 and vote for APGA, if they want the developmental strides of Mr Governor to continue,” he said.

Aburime said instead of canvassing votes for Labour Party, Peter Obi should throw his weight behind the ruling APGA as payback for the massive support the people of Anambra gave him on Feb. 25.

He urged Anambra not to relent in retaining APGA in the State Assembly and avoid stalling the economic and security gains achieved by the Soludo administration so far.

According to him, Anambra people supported Obi and Soludo refused to interfere as the people trooped out to vote for Labour Party.

“We voted Labour Party in the presidential election, but for the House of Assembly election, we are voting for APGA, and we want Anambra people to know so.”

“APGA has come to stay in Anambra and not Labour Party,” he said. (NAN)

Umar Dankano, Yola

By Ikechukwu Okaforadi

The All Progressives Congress (APC) in Zamfara State has raised alarm over alleged plans of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to rig the governorship and state assembly elections in the state.

The party urged the security agencies in the state to muscle out all means and intelligence to deal ruthlessly with anyone or group trying to cause confusion during the forthcoming governorship and state assembly elections.

In a statement issued by the party’s publicity secretary, Mallam Yusuf Idris Gusau said the police has already arrested a PDP cards printing agent for all political parties ahead of the March 18 governorship and State Assembly elections in the state.

“It is high time that the security operatives in Zamfara State muscle out all means and intelligence to fish out any saboteur or groups trying to

Zamfara APC alleges plans by PDP to rig governorship, state assembly elections

cause confusion before, during and even after the upcoming governorship and state assembly elections in the state”

“This call has become necessary following Friday’s arrest by the police of one Naziru Ibrahim aka Naziru Abuja who was caught red-handed printing agent cards for all political parties ahead of the March 18 elections”

According to Gusau, the All Progressives Congress (APC) has been credibly informed that following his arrest, the said Naziru confessed that he was working for the PDP.

“In his Gusau residence during the arrest, the suspect was found to have installed machines that would be used

in printing different INEC cleared documents such as the agent cards to confuse the agents officially deployed by the respective political parties from the fake and possibly in the fracas that may ensue, the PDP can hatch its plans to disrupt the elections process”

“Recall that even before the last presidential and national assembly elections we raised an alarm of some printers working for the PDP and located at the canteen area of Gusau metropolis”

“Similarly, we alerted the security operatives and members of the public of indiscriminate use of fake documents especially in the replacement of result

sheets during the presidential/ national assembly elections, this arrest goes to vindicate the APC alerts and claims especially that the suspect said he was working directly with and under the supervision of a PDP stalwart in the state, Lubuna Baba Gusau”

“At the moment, the PDP is singing the slogan ‘kowa agent, meaning “everyone is an agent” in the coming election, they are already printing agent cards, who knows what they are perpetrating at the rural areas”

“We wish to call in strong terms, the security agencies in the state to mop up all those involved in this scam, investigate and dislodge anyone involved in such and expose them before

next Saturday’s governorship/ State Assembly elections to ensure a peaceful, credible and acceptable election throughout the state”.

Speakership race: Analyst makes case for Idris Wase

By Christiana Ekpa

As the race for the top job of the Speaker of the 10th House of Representatives gathers momentum, albeit underground consultations following the Presidential and National Assembly elections, an Abuja based social affairs analyst, Cham Faliya Sharon has called on the leadership of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), to support the aspiration of incumbent Deputy Speaker, Hon. Ahmed Idris Wase to emerge.

Sharon made the call in a statement she issued on Sunday and made available to journalists in Abuja, noting that the APC should as a matter of reward for loyalty and faith in its ideologies, zone the position to the North Central, and support Hon. Idris Wase as it preferred choice for the Speakership seat.

The social commentator who expressed admirations for the party’s exploits at the just concluded Presidential and National Assembly elections noted that “an overwhelming majority of Nigerians have kept faith with the governing All Progressives Congress (APC) by handing the party continuity in the Presidency and a comfortable majority in both Chambers of the National Assembly.

“For any honest observer, as well as any good student of Nigeria’s developmental history,

the party’s triumph at the polls is well-earned because the party’s achievements in office, especially in the provision of infrastructure and growth of local productivity, are unprecedented. And these achievements are the result of the progressive collaboration and support given the Executive branch by the leadership and members of the National Assembly who are majorly of the APC.

“With the party set to commence another journey of leading the country into another phase of development, and considering also that certain key national leadership offices will be zoned to respective geopolitical zones, it becomes imperative to call on the national leadership of the APC to, as a matter of principle and honour, zone the position of the Office of the Speaker of the House

of Representatives of the 10th Assembly to the North Central geopolitical zone, and if it does that, it should also kindly throw its weight behind Rt. Hon. Ahmed Idris Wase, the current Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, to become the next Speaker.

“Zoning the Office of Speaker to the North Central region and supporting Hon. Ahmed Idris Wase to occupy the office

should be considered an exercise of recognition and reward for loyalty and sacrifice. Since the 2015 general elections to date, a significant section of the North Central region has maintained an unalloyed support for the APC, and it will be just and noble to appreciate this support and loyalty by ceding this important national office to them so that the party can expand and maintain its hold in the region.

Former Nigerian ambassador alleges plot by PDP to scuttle Taraba guber election

By Musa Baba Adamu

Nigeria’s former ambassador to the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago, Alhaji Hassan

Jika Ardo, has alleged that the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, is plotting to destabilize the forthcoming governorship and state House of Assembly elections in Taraba State.

Ardo, who is a chieftain of the All Progressives Congress, APC, said the plans to scuttle the election in the state by using Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, officials and security agencies to rig, have been uncovered.

He said this on Sunday

during an interactive session with media men in Jalingo, the state capital, urging the electorate to tread extra legitimate miles to halt the plans from seeing the light of day.

Ardo, who doubled as the State Coordinator of the Independent Grassroot Presidential Campaign Council, IGPCC, of Presidentelect Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, insisted that extensive interaction with people at the grassroots and other relevant stakeholders shows that the PDP is jittery due to the outcome of the Presidential election.

The PDP, who according to him, is piqued by the general

acceptance of the APC in the state, has resolved to use other means to win the election at all costs.

“The scheme is to ensure that election materials arrive very late especially in the hinterlands so that the election will run into the night when they will perform their devilish acts. Another tactic is to make sure that certain sensitive materials do not come to the polling units at all or they will bring fake results sheets and create confusion,” he alleged.

He admonished the electorates not to take the law into their hands but to protect their votes at all costs in line with the laws of the land.

Alhaji Hassan Jika Ardo

Governor Matawalle

By Musa Baba Adamu

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Osun has threatened to occupy police stations across the state unless the Inspector General of Police, Usman Baba Alkali, does not stop the ongoing arrest of its leaders ahead of the Saturday, March 18, 2023, state House of Assembly election.

The party, which maintained that it is the ruling party in the state and its members are law-abiding citizens, ruled out restoring to self-help but added that if the harassment continued, it would mobilise and storm all police posts in peaceful protests so that all their members in the state would be arrested

This warning was contained in a statement signed by the Osun PDP caretaker chairman, Akindele Adekunle, on Sunday in Osogbo, the state capital.

The statement reads this, “Our leaders are being arrested in a bid to rig Saturday’s election. We will resist any ploy to manipulate the polls. Osun people voted overwhelmingly for PDP in the last polls. They are ready to freely exercise their voting rights again. Arresting our leaders on Kangaroo charges is an attack on democracy and our fundamental human rights.

“We will not resort to selfhelp. We are law-abiding citizens and a ruling party in Osun State. But if this harassment of our members continues, we will mobilize and storm all police posts in Osun state in a peaceful protest. Let the IGP arrest all Osun PDP members.

“We call on the Inspector General of Police to stop serving the evil interest of the APC. The police boss has a sacred duty to be an impartial enforcer of the law, not an agent of one political party against the other. It is unacceptable for the IGP to take directives on who to arrest or detain from APC chieftains. This is a democracy, not a military dictatorship.”

While wondering if winning the election in a free and fair

Don’t arrest our members or we’ll occupy your stations – Osun PDP warns police

poll was a sin, Akindele queried the reason why the IGP Baba Alkali was deliberately stoking the fire of political conflict in a peaceful state like Osun.

Osun PDP called on

the western embassies and international human rights organisations to intervene by calling the IGP to order notes that the conduct of the police in Osun State was threatening the

peace and security of the state.

“PDP members are being pushed to the wall. We are Nigerians protected by the constitution. We will not surrender our rights. We put

the IGP on notice that he will be responsible for any breakdown of law and order in the state. This illegal statewide arrest must stop,” the statement concluded.

Guber election: We’ve rectified Presidential poll mistakes – Jigawa REC

By Ikechukwu Okaforadi

The Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, said it has taken steps to resolve problems encountered during the 25th February presidential and National Assembly elections.

Resident Electoral Commissioner, Professor Muhammad Lawan Bashar, stated this in an interview with newsmen over the commission’s readiness for the coming 18th March elections.

He said the commission in Jigawa State

had received over 20 petitions from different political parties and individuals across the state.

“We have so far received over twenty petitions from political parties and candidates as well as applications for the issuance of certified true copies of our ballots papers and results sheets.”

He explained that the postponement of the election to the 18th of March 2023 would give the commission opportunity to overcome the previous mistakes and lapses.

“We are taking steps to overcome the

previous mistakes, lapses, and problems we encountered during the presidential and National Assembly elections.”

The resident electoral commissioner said the commission had already received all the sensitive and none sensitive materials for onward distribution to the local governments.

“The materials are in the custody of CBN; we have sorted them out under the supervision of party agents and our staff.”

They advised the electorates to come out and cast their votes and assured them that their votes would be counted.

Obidient movement should have been national – Reno Omokri

By Christiana Ekpa

Aformer aide to ex-president Goodluck

Jonathan and social media influencer

Reno Omokri said the ‘Obidient Movement’ is not rational.

He disclosed this on Sunday on his official Twitter page.

Omokri, a known supporter of Atiku Abubakar, the People Democratic Party

presidential candidate in the 25 February election, explained that although Obidient Movement is powerful, it is not national.

“If Nigeria must survive and thrive, we need national movements. The Obidient Movement is a powerful force. But it is not a national movement. It is not even rational. That is why when you disagree with an Obidient, insults are to be expected”, he posted.

‘Obidient Movement’ is a group of

supporters of Peter Obi, the presidential candidate of the Labour Party.

The Movement has aided the popularity of the Labour Party and its electoral successes in the last election, especially in defeating the winner of the presidential election, Bola Ahmed Tinubu, in his state.

Peter Obi and Atiku Abubakar are currently challenging Tinubu’s victory at the Presidential Election Tribunal.

R-L: Captain CN Buzugbe; director of Governors Rotary Club of Lagos, Rotarian Comfort Ade Babalola; Lt Cdr OA Olajide; president, Rotarian Club of Lagos, Rotarian Joseph O Akhigbe; Commander, Nigerian Navy Defence Hospital, Ojo, Surgeon Captain AS Mohammed; director, Rotary Foundation, Rotarian Uk Eke, MFR; Executive Officer Nigerian, Navy Defence Hospital Ojo, Surgeon Captain VC Igboezue when the Rotary Club of Lagos, District 9110, donated over 100 Mobility in Lagos, yesterday.

Anambra LP assembly candidates sponsored to fight Soludo –APGA chieftain

By Christiana Ekpa

Special Adviser to Governor Chukwuma

Soludo

on Political Matters,

Alex

has alleged that Anambra House of Assembly Labour Party candidates are being sponsored to fight the state government when they win.

Obiogbolu,

Obiogbolu, who spoke with journalists in Awka, said Anambra needs to vote for candidates of the All Progressives Grand Alliance, APGA, to avoid lawmakers who will distract the governor, when sworn in, from doing the wonderful job he has at hand.

He, however, added that the governor

is not looking for a rubber stamp assembly, as he is ready to work with people of all parties, but the problem remains that the candidates running on the platform of the Labour Party, were being sponsored for ulterior motives.

“It is not that Gov Charles Soludo cannot work with lawmakers who are not of APGA; after all, the current House of Assembly is made up of PDP, APC and APGA, and we have not had any issue at all.

“Soludo is well informed and experienced that he can work with them, and don’t forget that he is a homeboy and he is not new to politics. So the issue of rubber stamp lawmakers does not come in

here.

“What we are looking at is the motive or the intent of some people who want to send some people to the State Assembly.

“Are they going to the House of Assembly to represent their constituencies, to make good laws for the state and carry out their oversight functions as stipulated by the law? Are they going to the House of Assembly to see sense in what Governor Charles Soludo is doing for the people of the state? Are they being sponsored to the Assembly chambers to do the needful in the area of checks and balances for the good of the state?

“When you hear the mantra known as;

payback time, you can agree with me that it sounds vindictive in every sense and manner. What is payback time? It means since ‘Soludo didn’t support Peter Obi of Labour Party, we are going to vote in the Labour Party candidates, so that he would know no rest as the governor’, and whatever he does be it good or not would be frustrated and if possible impeach him outrightly.

“If we have lawmakers across the political parties in the State Assembly that are out for good governance and with the most of honest intentions, they are welcome. But what would not benefit our state is for some people who are also Anambra people to come in to overheat the polity,” he said.

By Christiana Ekpa

The Bauchi State Governorship, National and State House of Assembly Election Tribunal, has granted leave to PDP candidate, Garba Dahiru to access sensitive materials used by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) during the NASS election on February 25 2023.

Justice Wilfred Kpochi, who led the three-man panel, gave the order following an ex-parte application filed by Dahiru and his party.

Court grants Bauchi PDP, NNPP candidates leave to inspect poll materials

INEC announced APC’s Shehu Umar as the winner of the Bauchi South Senatorial District election on February 26th.

Alex Hassan, lead Counsel to the applicant, had prayed the court to compel INEC to allow his client to obtain documents in the Commission’s custody used for the election, adding

that the document would aid his petition against the emergence of APC’s Umar as the winner of the election. Ruling, Kpochi who granted the application and said it had merit.

He, therefore, ordered INEC to make the election materials available to the applicant, his agents and counsel.

“The petitioners are to take certified copies and conduct a manual and physical inspection of all the electoral materials used in the conduct of the Bauchi South Senatorial District election held on the 25th February 2023,” he said.

The tribunal also granted leave to a candidate of the New Nigeria Peoples Party

(NNPP) candidate, Mijinyawa Mohammed, to access election materials used for the Bauchi North Senatorial District election.

Mohammed Counsel, Yaldami Gambo, said the order would aid his party to inspect all the election materials used by the electoral umpire in preparing their petition.

2023: INEC confirms Adebutu as Ogun PDP guber candidate

By Christiana Ekpa

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has confirmed Ladi Adebutu as the authentic governorship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Ogun State.

INEC declared Adebutu the rightful candidate, having won all the cases against his candidature at the Supreme Court.

Earlier, the Senior Special Assistant to Governor Dapo Abiodun on New Media, Emmanuel Ojo, had claimed the PDP had no governorship candidate in Ogun State.

Ojo, on different social media platforms, said: ”Ogun PDP does not have a governorship candidate according to INEC list. Don’t waste your vote when it is time. Vote for APC.”

But, the INEC Resident Electoral Commissioner in Ogun State, Niyi Ijalaye, dismissed Ojo’s claim, describing it as unfounded and untrue.

“It is a rumour that is not founded, that is all,” Ijalaye said.

He maintained that Adebutu would participate in the March 18 poll as the PDP gubernatorial candidate in Ogun State.

Recall that Adebutu and another of his rivals, Segun Showunmi, have reunited to work together for the PDP in the coming election.

The last case filed by Jimi Lawal at the Supreme Court was on Thursday dismissed by the court.

Lawal and some of his followers were said to have defected to the All Progressives Congress (APC).

Osun APC, PDP trade tackles on establishment of University of Ilesa

By Musa Baba Adamu

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP)

in Osun State has described the reaction of the All Progressives Congress (APC) to the establishment of the University of Ilesa as one lacking the requisite understanding.

The party also described the unnecessary criticism of the State Governor, Ademola Adeleke by the APC as an indication of ignorance.

The PDP in a statement by its caretaker chairman, Akindele Adekunle on Sunday affirmed that the party had a record of establishing an enduring institution like the University of Osun (UniOsun).

Adekunle also added that Adeleke’s interest in the university is to make the institution sustainable and stand the test of time like UniOsun.

He also accused the Oyetola

administration of being deceitful as the initial idea of the university was that of Ademola Adeleke which was part of his campaign promise in 2018.

“The reason for this is not far-fetched as it is well known to the public that Governor Adeleke was the first to promise Ijesha people a University during his 2018 governorship election campaign at the Palace of Owa of Obokun. At that time, the APC, including Oyetola laughed it off, and thought of it as impossible, until it was a few weeks to the 2022 governorship election when Oyetola hurriedly came up with the idea just to drive voters, and not because he was sincere about.”

The PDP also said Oyetola was not sincere in the establishment of the University of Ilesa, explaining that a lot of key issues were left unattended by the past administration.

“The law establishing the University

was hoarded and kept away from the public just as nothing concrete was done about the workers in the College of Education that was upgraded. Also, the funding and sustainability plan of the University was treated shabbily,” Dr. Adekunle pointed out.

Adeleke who had on Friday during a visit to the institution assured that the University of Ilesa had come to stay added that he was only making efforts to ensure that the institution had a proper and sustainable takeoff.

The governor had in November 2022 set up a technical committee headed by a renowned academic to review the establishment of the university and come up with plans for a resolution for the effective take-off of the University.

The governor also stated that the Committee had submitted its report and a White Paper on it will be issued soon.

The APC had in a statement by its acting chairman, Tajudeen Lawal on Saturday alleged that the Adeleke administration did not undertake due diligence on the University of Ilesa before it suspended its take-off.

It also accused Governor Adeleke of being inconsistent regarding the take-off of the recently established University.

According to the statement, “The haphazard manner with which Adeleke reversed his earlier policies on the take-off of the Ilesa University (IU) and the Ilesa Water Project is an indication that he is not sincere as he is out to swindle the populace and obtain their votes under false pretence in the Saturday’s election across the state.

“All the indigenes of Osun State, wherever they may be, must not cease to offer prayer to God Almighty to deliver us from the ‘kick-and-push’ governor whose trademark is a constant policy somersault.”

Ladi Adebutu

From Abubakar Y Ojimaojo ABUJA

Commission (NCC) says telecommunications companies lost a total of 12 million internet subscribers in 2021 due to the national identification number (NIN) linkage policy.

In its latest report titled, ‘2021 subscriber/network data annual

Company blames insufficient power allocation for unstable electricity supply

From Abubakar Yunusa, ABUJA

The Abuja Electricity Distribution Company (AEDC) said insufficient power allocation to the company by generation stations was responsible for the unstable electricity supply in the region.

Adamu Muhammed, public relations Officer, Niger Region, AEDC, disclosed this while speaking with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Sunday in Minna.

“The Management of AEDC PLC wishes to inform its valued customers that it is aware of the unstable power supply experienced in recent times essentially caused by insufficient power allocation.

“Due to the limited energy allocation, we have had and will continue to implement load curtailment directives across our franchise to manage the situation for grid stability.

“This will involve occasional/ temporary interruption of power supply to certain areas for a limited period.

“All this instability in power supply has to do with generation/ transmission stations. If the generation stations improve, definitely our allocations will improve as well,” he said.

Mr Muhammed apologised to electricity consumers for the inconveniences caused by the load shedding.

“We are doing everything we can to ensure that the impact of the power outages is minimised, and we appreciate your understanding and cooperation during this challenging time.

“We appeal to our esteemed customers that we will continue to update them on the situation and provide any necessary information when it is available,” he said.

NAN reports that AEDC’s franchise area covers the Federal Capital Territory, Niger, Kogi and Nasarawa States.

The company is organised into nine regions and 39 area offices across the four states.

NIN-SIM policy: Telcos lost 12m internet subscribers in 2021, says NCC

report’, the commission also said a total of nine million active voice subscribers were lost between 2020 and 2021.

This, according to the report, was due to the directive to suspend the sales and registration of new SIMs across the country.

In December 2020, NCC had given telecommunications companies a two-week ultimatum to block SIM cards not registered with National Identification Number (NIN).

The federal government later extended the deadline from December 2020 to January 2021 to enable subscribers with NIN link it up; while those without NIN had till February 9, 2021.

The NCC report said subscriber number decreased from 204,601,313 subscribers in 2020 to 195,463,898 active voice subscriptions as at December 2021 “with a loss of 9,137,415 subscriptions”.

“This represents about 4.46 percent decline in total subscription within the period under consideration,” it added.

“The decrease in operators’ subscriber base was attributed majorly to the effect of the directive from NCC in December 2020 to all GSM operators to suspend the sale

and registration of new SIMS, SIM swaps and all porting activities.

“The objective of the audit exercise was to verify and ensure compliance by mobile network operators with the set quality standards and requirements of SIM card registration as issued by the federal ministry of communications and digital economy and the commission.”

NCC also the number of internet subscribers decreased by 12 million.

“Nigeria’s teledensity decreased from 107.18 percent as at December 2020 to 102.40 percent by December 31 2021,” the report said.

“The number of internet subscribers decreased from 154,301,195 subscriptions as at December 2020 to 141,971,560 subscriptions as at December 2021 representing a decline of 8 percent.”

In the period under review, the commission said broadband penetration also decreased from 45.02 percent as at December 2020 to 40.88 percent as at December, 2021.

Similarly, broadband subscriptions decreased from 85,941,222 subscriptions in December 2020 to 78,041,883

subscriptions as at December 2021.

On the level of data usage, the NCC said: “There was an increase in the volume of data consumed in the year-end December 2021 when compared with the year ended December 2020”.

“The total volume of data consumed by subscribers increased to 353,118.89 terabytes

as at December 2021 from 209,917.40TB as at December 2020. This represents an increase of 68.2 percent in data consumption within the period.”

It added that the telecoms industry contribution to the gross domestic products (GDP) was 12.45 percent in the fourth quarter (Q4), 2020 compared to 12.61 percent in Q4 of 2021.

PAPSS implementation will aid diversification - SEC

From Abubakar Yunusa Abuja

The Securities and Exchange Commission has said that it is excited about the implementation of the Pan-African Payment Settlement System PAPSS as it will encourage intra-African trade and aid diversification within the capital market.

This was stated by Head, Office of the Chief Economist of the SEC, Dr. Okey Umeano during an interview in Abuja.

The Nigerian Exchange and the Pan-African Payment Settlement System recently signed a Memorandum of Understanding to support cross-border payments across capital markets in Africa.

According to Umeano, “this MoU begins to implement something that we have been very excited about. PAPSS makes it easy to trade across Africa. It makes Intra-African trade more efficient and we have always wanted it. It was created initially for just the usual everyday trade but we have always wanted it for the capital market because we think that if we can link the exchanges and the markets across the continent we will have a bigger opportunity set for everybody, so we have been working on that.

“We have two projects the West African Capital Market Integration project and the African Exchanges Linkage project but the problem we have always had was how to settle, how do we make payments happen? If I want to buy a Ghanaian stock, do I have to change my naira to dollars and then from dollars back to cedi’s and all that. These where all the problems we had but with PAPSS, we can make this trades more efficient and easier. I can trade in naira and whoever I am buying from in Ghana or wherever in Africa receives in the local currency so this is a good thing and we thank Afrexim bank.

Umeano also commended the NGX for taking the lead on this, the MoU allows them to stick this up with the Ghana stock exchange and we hope that other exchanges and other market players will key in and take this opportunity.

He stated that given the way the markets are, this implementation will improve opportunities for diversification and make markets able to perform better.

“Given the way the markets are; it improves the opportunity for diversification. It improves the opportunity set everywhere. Let me give you an example, a couple of

years ago when our market didn’t do so well, our bond market didn’t do so well we had issues around currency and we had the foreign investors leaving. It was reported that the market in Côte d’Ivoire, the eight nations French union their market did much better.

“So from a fund manager point of view if I could invest across the markets in the region, it will help my diversification, it will help improve returns, it will help my portfolios so I think that there’s appetite for it, I think that fund managers, pension, funds and all that will take advantage of it so I think it’s a good thing” he said.

On where the initiative is going next, Umeano stated that it is a very big step that is expected to scale to other markets and reap the enormous benefits adding that Nigeria and Ghana have always been traditional partners and I think it’s easier to start off with Ghana.

“I think that as time goes on we can scale to the BRVM market; we can scale even away from West Africa to other parts of Africa. I see this growing first, I would prefer this is me not NGX but I would prefer that the next stop becomes the Capital Market Integration

project and it’s something that I am actively pushing that we can link these markets in West Africa first and PAPSS will be an enabler and after that we will go on to other markets but of course this decision is one that NGX has to make and other exchanges that join.

Umeano stated that in the integration project currently ongoing, the SEC and other regulators are encouraging issuers to be able to access markets that are different from the market of the primary issue, because when issuers know that the chances of their issues being more successful given that they have a larger market to sell into, it will increase or encourage them to issue more.

“If there’s an issue in Nigeria, anybody anywhere in Africa can take part in that issue in their local currency so this is very important. I see this as a very big one, for many years now the primary side of the market has not been very good. We have seen a lot of issues across the continent and even in other parts of the world.” he added.

He assured that regulators are in support of the initiative and are making efforts to harmonize regulations to support these laudable developments.

The National Charcoal Producers, Dealers and Exporters Association of Nigeria is set for a consultative meeting with government agencies to sensitise charcoal stakeholders on the importance of afforestation.

The association made this known in a statement made available to the News Agency of Nigeria on Sunday in Abuja.

According to Mr Babatunde Edu, National President of the body, the meeting is to sensitise stakeholders on the effects of deforestation, the benefit of afforestation, and innovative processing procedures to boost

Association tasks charcoal producers on afforestation

the forest resources in Nigeria.

“This is with emphasis on the association trust policy on issuance of Afforestation Pass and Charcoal Lifting Rights by the National Association for compliance of stakeholders to streamline the sub-sector in furtherance to the association’s aims and objectives.

Charcoal price up 40% in Kwara as kerosene, gas scarcity continues

“We also exist to fast-track growth and development of the sector and to increase the contribution of the sub-sector to the Nation’s Gross Domestic Product.

The event is scheduled to be

held on Thursday, 16th March 2023, at the Presken Hotel Ikeja, Lagos, with the theme: ‘Sustainable Afforestation & Reforestation for Nigeria’s Posterity.’

“All Exporting Stakeholders in the charcoal sub-sector are invited to the consultative meeting with the government and also shipping

companies, freight forwarders, and terminal operators will be in attendance,” he said.

The event will be in collaboration with the Federal Ministry of Environment, Federal Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment, Nigerian Shippers’ Council, and Nigerian Export Promotion Council.

CBN ends cash swap programme in rural areas

By Abubakar Yunus Abuja

The Central Bank of Nigeria says residents of rural and unbanked areas can no longer swap old notes for new ones through its cash swap programme.

The CBN Acting Spokesperson, Isa Abdulmumin, disclosed this in a telephone chat with our correspondet, noting that the programme had fulfilled its mandate.

He said, “The programme has stopped. The cash swap was not in perpetuity and has a lifeline.”

However, the Association of Mobile Money and Bank Agents in Nigeria had described the programme as ineffective, insisting that participation by stakeholders was minimal.

The CBN had said the cash swap programme was aimed at enabling citizens in rural areas or those with limited access to formal financial services to exchange old naira notes for the redesigned notes.

To promote financial inclusion, the CBN excluded mobile money/Point of Sales agents in Abuja and Lagos, maintaining that the service was available for anybody without a bank account.

It also noted only N10,000 could be released per customer under the cash swap programme.

But in an assessment, AMMBAN National Publicity Officer, Oluwasegun Elegbade, noted that the recent mob attacks on banks would have been averted if the programme

fulfilled its purpose. He said, “The programme has not been really effective as it should. If it worked, we would not have witnessed the number of crises that erupted across the

country.

“We expected more participation as far as the swap is concerned. The operators were given control over the whole thing with little monitoring.

Pilots back NCAT tuition hike

From Abubakar Yunusa ABUJA

Stakeholders in the aviation industry have expressed support for the hike in the standard pilot fee of the Nigerian College of Aviation Technology, Zaria.

They said the tuition hike was long overdue as the institution had not reviewed its fee in a long time.

Speaking with our correspondent in Abuja on Friday, the President, Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association of Nigeria and former Chief Executive Officer, Associated Airlines, Alex Nwuba, said although it was painful to be paying more as the economy bites harder, the hike was not out of place, adding that prices were rising for everyone including cost of the academic staff and fuel for operations.

He said, “The easiest thing to do is review the exchange rate and you will see that in real terms it is cheaper today than it was

ten years ago. Yet, wages aren’t rising to keep up with inflation and can’t otherwise things will get out of hand.”

He further noted that student attendance would drop, stressing that it was cheaper than going abroad.

“We need to pray for the reform of our economy so that citizens can improve their quality of life,” he added.

Meanwhile, the Chief Executive Officer, Top Brass Aviation, Capt Roland Iyayi, said there was every likelihood that the increment would affect the students population going forward, adding that students were supposed to get the support of the state government and corporate bodies to enable them take the course.

Iyayi said, “I suspected that it would affect the students population but ideally, the course itself is actually meant to be that the state government or corporate bodies ought to support students.

“Unfortunately, we have not had a responsive government to sponsor them, students have to quickly find their way in trying to get these courses done.

“Ordinarily, it is not supposed to b; In a more developing societies, students usually get loan facilities to run the courses.

He added, ”NCAT has not increased their tuition fees in a long time unfortunately, it has been caught up with the economic crisis. if you have all

“Without monitoring, many of the states just did as they wanted. The CBN only set up a monitoring team in less than five states. Overall, it wasn’t an effective initiative.”

these costs that are going up, there is no way one would be able to manage.”

He, however, said that he did not think the tuition hike was to make things more difficult for students.

He added that the percentage increase in the fee was fair compared to other schools, stressing that if the school failed to raise the fee it might end up struggling to meet up with demands.

‘Private sector contracted in February amid cash crunch’

From Abubakar Yunusa ABUJA

The private sector business condition in Nigeria has plummeted amidst the naira scarcity, a monthly report by Stanbic IBTC has shown.

In the report, Stanbic IBTC Bank Nigeria stated that the Purchasing Managers Index sank to 44.7 in February of 2023, from 53.5 in the prior month.

According to the bank, the latest record pointed to the first contraction in private

sector business conditions in over two years, ending a 31-month sequence of expansion.

“Steep reductions in output and new orders were observed, attributed to the cash shortage challenges experienced across the country during the month.”

It stated that firms scaled back their purchasing activity and employment.

The report read in part, “Meanwhile, persistent fuel shortages saw petrol pump prices increase, which added to price

pressures and led to supplier delivery delays.

“The rate of input inflation was the softest since June 2020, but marked and stronger than the series average. In turn, there was a further sharp rise in output prices, albeit one that was the weakest in four months.

“Lastly, business sentiment was at a five-month high, supported by hopes that economic conditions will improve, alongside business expansion and

investment plans.”

Expounding on the forecast, the report highlighted that the composite PMI in Nigeria is “expected to be 54.00 points by the end of this quarter, according to Trading Economics global macro models and analysts expectations.”

In retrospect, the Stanbic IBTC Bank Nigeria PMI is projected to trend around 54.40 points in 2024 and 56.00 points in 2025, according to our econometric models.

Police arrest 5 suspected ritualists in Ogun

The Police Command in Ogun, says it has arrested five suspected members of a ritual gang, which specialises in exhuming corpses from graves and removing body parts for rituals.

The Police Spokesman , Abimbola Oyeyemi, who disclosed this in a statement

in Abeokuta on Sunday, said the suspects were arrested on Saturday in Odogbolu.

Oyeyemi gave the names of the suspects as; Oshole Fayemi, 60, Oseni Adesanya, 39, Ismaila Seidu, 30, Oseni Oluwasegun ,69 and Lawal Olaiya, 50.

He said the suspects were arrested following intelligence

received by the Police at Odogbolu Divisional Headquarters, that the gang was planning carry out another round of human parts harvest within Ososa town.

He said the Divisional Police Officer (DPO), of Odogbolu Division, Godwin Idehai, immediately mobilised his men and stormed the suspects’

hideout where five of them were apprehended.

“On interrogation, the suspects made confessional statements that they were actually into the business of exhuming corpses from their graves.

“They said that they usually sold the exhumed body parts to

their clients who used them for money making rituals,” he said. Meanwhile, the Commissioner of Police in the state, CP Frank Mba, has directed that the suspects be transferred to State Criminal Investigation Department for discreet investigation and possible prosecution. (NAN)

L-R: National Commissioner of INEC in charge of North West, Prof. Abdullahi

A. Zuru presenting the certificate of return to a member elect representing Danbatta/ Makoda Federal Constituency of Kano state, Hon. Hamisu Ibrahim Cidari, during the presentation of Certificates of return to member of the National Assembly by INEC, at International Conference Centre, yesterday in Abuja.

Minna residents lament incessant youth attacks on communities

From Yakubu Mustapha Minna

Residents of Minna metropolis and environs have lamented over the incessant attacks by the youths on the people and communities, leaving many injured and property destroyed.

Youths in their groups have continued to unleash havoc on the innocent citizens in various streets of Minna.

Areas affected included; Barkin Sale to Kpakungu, Stadium road, Limawa and Mobile roundabout among others.

Supreme Court recognises Lawal as Zamfara PDP Governorship candidate

From: Femi Oyelola, Kaduna

The Supreme Court has affirmed Dauda Lawal as the authentic governorship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Zamfara State.

This was contained in a statement made available to the media in Kaduna yesterday.

The statement stated that Lawal’s affirmation is coming over a week to the March 18 governorship election scheduled by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in the state.

In a unanimous judgment,

the five-man panel of Justices dismissed an appeal brought against the nomination by another governorship aspirant, Dr Ibrahim Gusau.

In the lead judgment delivered by Justice Adamu Jauro, the Supreme Court upheld submissions of the Counsel to Lawal, Damian Dodo, that his client was legally and lawfully nominated in line with the provisions of the law.

Justice Jauro upheld the judgment of the Court of Appeal Sokoto, which had on January 6, this year, endorsed the second primary election that produced the candidate.

Lawal had in the primary election polled 442 votes to emerge victorious over Dr Ibrahim Gusau and Other aspirants.

Justice Jauro held that a Federal High Court in Gusau which nullified the primary elections twice had no jurisdiction at the time it adjudicated upon the suit instituted by Dr Gusau.

The Court of Appeal Sokoto Division had in June 6 upheld the primary election, which produced Dr. Dauda Lawal, as the candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) for the March 11, 2023, governorship

election in Zamfara State.

The first PDP governorship primary election held on May 25, 2022, was challenged at a Federal High Court in Gusau and was nullified.

The High Court in its judgment ordered fresh primary election, which was conducted on September 23, 2022, but was also quashed by the same court for irregularities.

Not satisfied with the High Court decision, Dr. Dauda Lawal Dare, Adamu Maina-Waziri, the Chairman Primary Election Committee; and retired Col. Bala Mande approached the Appeal Court for redress.

Reports revealed that due to the current attacks many people were injured, maimed, harassed and intimidated while property were destroyed.

According to findings, the well coordinated youth groups who are identified as political thugs usually came out for operations without the required counter attack from the security operatives appropriately.

When contacted, the Niger State Police Command Public Relations Officer (PPRO) DSP Wasiu Abiodun said the four of the youths have been arrested in two locations of Morris and Stadium road in connection with the attacks, adding that police personnel have been deployed to the identified black spot areas in curbing the menace in Minna and environs.

Women commissioner bags Gov Sule for second term bid

Sule for the second term in office, calling on women and eligible electorates in the state to vote for him massively.

Aisha who made the call while speaking in an interview with newsmen on the re election of Governor Sule in lafia, adding that governor Sule deserves

second term because of his tremendous contributions to the upliftment of women through empowerment as well as other infrastructural development on ground.

She added that Governor Sule has identified with women in his

administration through various political appointments to women compared to other governors in the country, hence the need for women and electorates generally to support him for continuity in order to achieve more democratic dividends in the state.

From Gambo Ahmed, Lafia

Nasarawa State Commissioner for Women Affairs and Social Development Hajiya Aisha Ruffai lbrahim has drummed support for the re election of Governor Abdullahi

Photo: Mahmud Isa

METRO Bwari Chairman seeks legislative approval for N10.6B 2023 budget

By Stanley Onyekwere

The Chairman of Bwari Area Council of the FCT, John Gabaya has sought the swift consideration and approval of the Council’s Legislative Arm, for a budget of N10,684,556,784 for the 2023 fiscal year.

The proposed 2023 appropriation, tagged ‘a budget of Inclusive Growth and Development for vast majority of Bwari people, which has a projected gross statutory revenue of N13,424,560,984, with a total projected net revenue of N10,684,556,784, and statutory deductions of N4,773,569,200 for Primary School Teachers, Pensions and Trainings was laid before the Speaker of the Legislative Council, Hon. Ahmed Yerima Douglas.

This, represents a marginal increase of N1,083,548,200 over last year’s budget in 2022, the Council’s gross statutory revenue was N12,341,012,784 with total net revenue receipts of N8,258,512,784 and total deductions of N4,310,000,000.

Also, of the total net revenue receipts, N8,650,991,784 is expected from Statutory Allocations, while N2,033,500,000 is projected from internally generated revenue and accruals from FCT Internal Revenue disbursements.

Gabaya, while presenting the proposed budget at the Council Chambers, sais it is projected with an estimated expenditure profile of N1,799,756,784 for personnel cost, while N2,103,800,000 is for overhead cost just as N6,780,935,000 is earmarked for capital expenditures.

He added that the budget seeks to provide “gainful jobs, increased incomes and greater wealth for all households in Bwari Area Council”.

He therefore called on all

stakeholders and residents of the Council to cooperate and participate in the implementation process to ensure the actualization of the Council’s set objectives to improve production and productivity.

The Chairman said to improve efficiency, transparency in the internally revenue generation

system of the Council, there are advanced plans to electronically collect revenues, thereby blocking leakages and strengthening its revenue profile.

Furthermore, after sectoral appraisal of the previous budget, Gabaya explained that due to paucity of funds, the 2022 budget

focused mainly on revamping the rural and township infrastructure and provisions of basic social services.

In his remarks, after receiving the copy of the budget, the Speaker Bwari Legislative Council, Hon. Ahmed Yerima Douglas commended the Chairman’s

commitment towards transforming the Council. While stressing the need to facilitate the continued rapid development of the Council, the Speaker assured the that the Council Legislators would diligently consider and pass the budget into law.

AMAC: Hoteliers risk ‘seal up’ over non-payment of tax

Owners of hotels within the Abuja Municipal Area Council (AMAC) are enjoined to pay all necessary taxes or have their property sealed up.

This was contained in a recent

statement signed by the Senior Special Assistant on Media and Public Affairs to AMAC Chairman, Kingsley Madaki, and issued to the newsmen.

It states that the Council has

strictly followed due process by serving them 14-day Demand Notice, and failure to abide by which it would not hesitate to embark on outright closure of all defaulting business premises.

According to the statement, with the expiration of the 14-day Demand Notice, the AMAC Taskforce was directed to commence verification and enforcement in earnest.

Council executes strategy for competitiveness in raw materials, products dev’t

The Raw Materials Research and Development Council (RMRDC) has commenced the execution of a national strategy for competitiveness in raw materials and products development it recently initiated.

The Director General (DG) of RMRDC, Professor Hussaini Doko Ibrahim, disclosed this in a recent document on why the industrial sector needs competitiveness to participate in the global value chains.

The overall objective of the policy brief, according to the document, is to provide the framework to strengthen the competitiveness of Nigeria and enhance its integration into the regional and global value chains.

Doko explained that the programme, which had since been approved by the Federal Executive Council (FEC),

provided the implementation guidelines with 11 strategic foci which were mostly used in the construction of the resultbased management logical framework of the strategy.

He noted that the focal areas were regarded as strategic elements on which all the specific projects for 21 raw materials and products classification schemes from the 97 broad categories of the Harmonised System Commodity Codes (HS Codes) were based.

He said, “The successful implementation of the strategy would significantly impact on import reduction potentials towards Nigeria’s competitiveness in raw materials and products development.

“The design of the implementation framework is built on the principles of fact-based considerations, international

best practices, verifiable indicators and coefficients of various two-way frequency matrices.

“It is, therefore, a plan with great potential to guarantee success for growing Nigeria’s economy in the desired direction.”

According to him, the implementation plan’s institutional framework has “the Presidency” at the helm for directing the policy thrust and decision-making.

Over 17 Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) are major stakeholders with specific mandates to play key roles in the implementation of the strategy and provision of support services.

‘’The Council has taken the responsibility to conduct the scoping study and provide a policy brief for a renewed approach to implement a value

chain development strategy that can prioritize sectors with high potential for sustainable value chain development in Nigeria.

‘’The overall objective of the policy brief is to provide the framework to strengthen the competitiveness of Nigeria and enhance its integration into the regional and global value chains,’’ he said.

According to the DG, to consolidate these gains and tackle the remaining challenges, there is need to articulate a national policy on value chain development, deepen reforms to further improve the business and regulatory environment, focus on areas of comparative and competitive advantages, promote public and private R&D investment, and champion intraECOWAS cross border trade.

President Muhammadu Buhari receives in audience Gubernatorial Candidate for Kano State Nasiru Yusuf Gawuna APC in Daura on last week.

Aramco: Saudi state-owned oil giant sees record profit of $161bn

Saudi oil giant Aramco has announced a record profit of $161.1bn (£134bn) for 2022, helped by soaring energy prices and bigger volumes.

It represents a 46.5% rise for the stateowned company, compared with last year.

It is the latest energy firm to report record profits, after energy prices spiked following Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022.

America’s ExxonMobil made $55.7bn, and Britain’s Shell reported $39.9bn.

Aramco also declared a dividend of $19.5bn for the October to December quarter of 2022, to be paid in the first quarter of this year.

Most of that will go to the Saudi government, which owns nearly 95% of the shares in the company.

Brent crude oil, the benchmark oil price, now trades at around $82 a barrel - though prices exceeded $120 a barrel last March, after Russia’s invasion, and June.

“Aramco rode the wave of high energy prices in 2022,” said Robert Mogielnicki of the Arab Gulf States Institute in Washington. “It would have been difficult for Aramco not to perform strongly in 2022.”

In a statement on Sunday, Aramco said the company results were “underpinned by stronger crude oil prices, higher volumes sold and improved margins for refined products”.

Aramco’s president and CEO Amin Nasser said: “Given that we anticipate oil and gas will

San

remain essential for the foreseeable future, the risks of underinvestment in our industry are real - including contributing to higher energy prices.”

To address those challenges, he said, the company would not only focus on expanding oil, gas and chemicals production - but also invest in new lower-carbon technologies.

Aramco - the world’s second-most valuable company only behind America’s Apple - is a major emitter of greenhouse gas emissions that contribute to climate change.

Responding to Aramco’s announcement, Amnesty International’s secretary general Agnès Callamard said: “It is shocking for a company to make a profit of more than $161bn in a single year through the sale of fossil fuelthe single largest driver of the climate crisis.”

She added: “It is all the more shocking because this surplus was amassed during a global cost-of-living crisis and aided by the increase in energy prices resulting from Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine.”

Saudi Arabia is the largest producer in the oil cartel Opec (Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries).

The Gulf kingdom has been condemned for a range of human rights abuses: its involvement in the conflict in neighbouring Yemen, the murder in 2018 of journalist Jamal Khashoggi, for jailing dissidents, and for the widespread use of capital punishment.

In a separate development on Sunday, Iran

said its oil exports had reached their highest level since the re-imposition of US sanctions in 2018.

Oil Minister Javad Owji said exports increased by 83 million barrels in 2022 compared with the previous 12 months. In Iran, a new year starts in March.

Analysts say the rise is due to greater shipments to Iranian allies China and Venezuela.

Tehran’s export revenues took a significant hit after then-US President Donald Trump pulled out of a landmark nuclear deal five years ago.

The US sanctions, coupled with economic mismanagement and corruption, have meant that the Iranian economy has not had any substantive growth in the past decade. And by some measures, it is still 4-8% smaller than it was back in 2010.

Diego: Eight dead after boats, possibly used for people smuggling, capsize

At least eight people have died after two boats capsized off the California coast, emergency services have said.

San Diego Fire-Rescue department said a search had begun after the boats got in trouble off Black’s Beach, San Diego.

A 911 caller told emergency services she had been on a boat with eight people that made it to shore, but another vessel, carrying eight to 10 people, had capsized.

Local media have reported the boats were suspected to be carrying migrants.

Emergency services from several agencies found two overturned boats with bodies spread over an area of 400 yards (366m).

A search operation was still under way on Sunday morning, San Diego Fire-Rescue said.

The San Diego Union-Tribune said the boats were suspected to be smuggling people and reported the search efforts were hampered by thick fog.

It comes as the UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak is in San Diego for the Aukus summit between the US, UK and Australia.

He has recently announced a policy aimed at stopping people from coming to the UK on small boats across the English Channel.

In 2021, four people died and two dozen were injured when a boat go into trouble off the coast of San Diego.

Aukus: Sunak in US visit to finalise defence pact

UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak is to fly to California later to discuss key details of a new defence agreement with his Australian and US counterparts.

The 2021 Aukus pact aims to counter what the three nations see as China’s threat in the Indo-Pacific region.

At the time, China condemned the agreement as “extremely irresponsible”.

The meeting with US President Joe Biden and Australian PM Anthony Albanese is expected to agree the supply of nuclear powered submarines to Australia.

Speaking ahead of the talks in San Diego, Mr Sunak said the UK’s global alliances were “our greatest source of strength and security”.

During the trip - Mr Sunak’s first to the US as PM - he is also set to unveil the UK’s new integrated review of defence and foreign policy, which have been updated after Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.

Mr Sunak said the review will reflect “the future we want to deliver” to the UK - “secure, prosperous and standing shoulder to shoulder with our partners”.

The plans to finalise the key details of the

Aukus (Australia-UK-US) pact come in light of strained diplomatic relations between the West and China.

Downing Street has recently cited “increasingly concerning behaviour of the Chinese Communist Party” and just last month the former head of MI6 said the UK must “wake up” to the threat posed by China’s challenges to global security.

Meanwhile, the US and China continue to clash on issues including Taiwan, China’s militarisation of the South China Sea and the origins of Covid-19. And more recently, the spy balloon saga heightened tensions between the superpowers.

Beijing has acknowledged that ChinaUS relations have “seriously deviated”. Chinese Foreign Minister Qin Gang said the diplomatic crisis caused by the balloon incident could have been averted but the US acted with “the presumption of guilt”.

The deal is set to see Australia become just the seventh nation in the world to operate nuclear-powered submarines, after the US, UK, France, China, India and Russia.

The plan is for nuclear submarines to be

pact will result in work for UK shipyards, with reports

The UK is hoping the

built in Adelaide, south Australia, with the UK and US providing consultation on technology for their production.

Aukus

suggesting Canberra could select to build a modified version of the British Astute-class submarine, while taking delivery of up to five US Virginia-class submarines during the production stage.BBC

Amin Nasser is the president and CEO of Aramco, the world’s secondmost valuable company behind Apple

Torrey Pines City Beach, also known as Black’s Beach in San Diego

The new defence partnership will initially focus on a fleet of nuclearpowered submarines for the Australian Navy

Xi Jinping’s reelection: A reflection of peoples’ wish

By Ochiaka Ugwu

On Friday March 10, China’s parliament in their own wisdom elected Mr. Xi Jinping as president for third term an action that will see the great reformer and economic miracle worker pilot the affairs of the second largest economy in the world for another five years. This happened during a session of China’s National People’s Congress (NPC) at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing.

Xi was re-elected unanimously by the nearly 3,000 delegates to the National People’s Congress, which is holding its annual meeting in Beijing. After the announcement, Xi bowed to the delegates as they applauded.

Taking an oath of office with his right hand held up in a fist, Xi said he would be loyal to the constitution and the “motherland”, and “work hard to build a prosperous, strong, democratic, civilized, harmonious and beautiful modern socialist country.”

Recall that at a Communist Party congress in October, Xi clinched a norm-bending third term as party chief and surrounded himself with egg heads and great thinkers that will help rejuvenate the nation’s economy. His victory was welcomed by Chinese nationals all over the world and non Chinese who have benefitted from his modest diplomatic engagements with nations of the world.

Analysts around the globe were quick to point out that Xi’s reelection was a reflection of peoples’ wish given his far reaching reforms that have greatly benefitted Chinese populace. They ranked his contributions to Chinese growth to that of Chairman Mao Zedong, who founded the modern China and Deng Xiaoping, who guided China’s economic opening as paramount leader for around 20 years until his death in 1997.

It is important to know that poverty alleviation and improvement of the People’s Well-being have taken preeminence upon Xi’s arrival as Chinese president. Since Xi’s coming, China has scored a decisive victory against poverty, employment conditions have been improved, urban and rural residents find their incomes growing faster than the economy, a social security system has been built to cover the whole people, and education is making smooth progress. The Chinese people now have a stronger sense of security, benefit and happiness.

Common prosperity is now fundamental principle of socialism with distinctive Chinese features. The new era is one for

achieving common prosperity. Since 2012 the central leadership headed by Xi Jinping has been engaged in a “war against poverty. When inspecting the povertyalleviation and development in Fuping County, Hebei Province, in December 2012, he (Xi) pointed out, “We cannot say we have realized a moderately prosperous society if the rural areas, especially the backward parts of the countryside, are left behind.” During an inspection tour of Shibadong Village in Hunan Province in November 2013 he coined the term “targeted poverty alleviation,” and stressed that this work must be based on local conditions.

To conquer extreme poverty, China under Xi has mobilized manpower, material and financial resources on an unprecedented scale. Special policies have been devised to help the regions suffering extreme poverty: Tibet, four prefectures in southern Xinjiang (Hotan, Aksu, Kashi, and the Kirgiz Autonomous Prefecture of Kizilsu), the areas in Sichuan, Yunnan, Gansu and Qinghai with large Tibetan populations, and the prefectures of Liangshan in Sichuan, Nujiang in Yunnan and Linxia in Gansu. |

From 2013 to 2017 the central government funding for poverty alleviation programs totaled 278.7 billion yuan, up 22.7 percent year-by-year on average; and the provincial spending was 182.5 billion yuan, up 26.9 percent year-by year on average. By October 2017 the developed areas and central Party and government institutions had dispatched 122,000 people on poverty alleviation missions in the poor regions, and provided more than one trillion yuan to these regions. A total of 2.778 million people had’ been sent to work in the villages.

Thanks to the endeavors of the whole country and the whole Party, the poverty-stricken population had dropped from 98.99 million in late 2012 to 16.6 million in late 2018, and the poverty headcount ratio was down from 10.2 percent to 1.7 percent. From 2013 to 2018 the annual growth of disposable income of rural residents in poor regions was 12.1 percent, which was 10 percent if adjusted for inflation, or 2.3 percentage points higher than the average growth in rural areas as a whole. All credits to good initiatives promoted by President Xi.

In March 2019 President Xi Jinping called on the whole country to rise to the challenge of poverty. In April he demanded more efforts to tackle the prominent problems and ensure that the poverty alleviation goals be achieved and the task of building a moderately

prosperous society in all respects fulfilled as scheduled.

China under Xi has implemented the employmentfirst strategy since 2012. People are encouraged to start businesses as a way to stabilize the job market. From late 2012 to late 2018 the total number of people employed increased from 767.04 million to 775.86 million, and the year-end registered urban unemployment rate dropped from 4.1 percent to 3.8 percent. New urban jobs exceeded 13 million every year from 2013 to 2018.

The reform of the income distribution system is making steady progress. Salaries roughly grow in step with productivity, the proportion of pay in the primary distribution of social wealth increases, and the gap between industrial Sectors, regions and social groups is narrowing.

China’s social security system has been improving in fairness since 2012. In 2014 the social pension schemes for rural and non-working urban residents were merged under unified national management. Public institutions and government offices began to introduce a basic pension scheme similar to that of enterprises, ending the dual pension scheme.

In 2016 the basic insurance schemes for rural and nonworking urban residents were unified, Reforms have expanded the coverage of social security, with an increasing number of people joining the pension, medical, unemployment workrelated injury, and maternity insurance schemes.

President Xi also brought increased development in educational system that met the aspiration and expectation of Chinese peoples and millions of non Chinese nationals schooling in China. Since 2012 China’s spending on education has kept increasing, and the development of education is becoming balanced, making the people feel the benefit of education.

safety of the people above all else, personally took charge and planned the response, and called for confidence, solidarity, and a targeted response based on science.

In December 2013 a national program was launched to improve the conditions of schools in poor areas that provide nineyear compulsory education. By late 2018 some 220 million square meters of school buildings had been expanded or built and teaching devices worth 106.6 billion yuan had been purchased, benefiting nearly 220,000 schools in more than 2,600 counties.

In July 2016 the State Council decided to accelerate the integrated development of urban and rural compulsory education in the counties, demanding that unified standards be adopted for their school buildings, staff sizes, per-student funding and basic equipment; that the policies be fully executed to exempt all students receiving compulsory education from paying tuition and other fees, supply free textbooks to rural students, and grant living allowances for boarders from financially disadvantaged rural families; and that by 2020, the schools providing compulsory education in the counties shall have balanced development, and equal access to basic public education services be realized in both urban and rural areas.

It is on record that from 2015 to 2018 the country’s 338 counties had spent a total of 254.4 billion yuan on compulsory education, and enrolled about 220,000 new teachers; built 1,598 new schools, and expanded or renovated nearly 40,000 schools; and purchased new teaching devices worth 119.4 billion yuan and 220 million copies of new books. By the end of 2018 some 2,717 or 92.7 percent of China’s counties had passed the evaluation of balanced development of education.

President Xi during the Corona virus pandemic with Great Spirit of determination and commitment gave the virus a bloody nose. After the outbreak began, the Party Central Committee under Xi made containment the top priority. Xi, prioritizing the health and

President Xi Jinping presided over 4 sessions of the Political Bureau of the Party Central Committee and 14 sessions of its standing committee, as well as multiple other important Party meetings. The central leadership demonstrated keen insight, practiced decisive decision-making, offered sound guidance, and met the challenge with composure as they made meticulous plans for protecting Wuhan and Hubei, formulated major strategies in light of the evolving situation, and led the whole Party, all of the armed forces, and the entire nation in rapidly launching an allout people’s war against the epidemic.

Under the firm leadership of the Party Central Committee, the Chinese people came together in this difficult time, providing overwhelming support to those in need and putting up a strong line of defense against the epidemic. Xi rallied China’s medical worker, with 540,000 local medical workers from Hubei and Wuhan fight the virus at close quarters while more than 40,000 medical workers and 346 medical teams from across the country rushed to the front lines without hesitation.

Private businesses and hospitals, charities, nursing homes, and welfare institutions actively pitched in, countless Party members and officials led by example, and police officers and servicemen and women of the PLA and the People’s Armed Police fought bravely on the front lines.

China largely contained the spread of the virus in just over a month’ line, reduced the daily number of new local cases to the single digits in roughly two months’ time, and achieved decisive success in the battle to protect Wuhan and Hubei in approximately three months. All these efforts at making China the greatest nation in the world have greatly endeared President Xi to Chinese populace.

In the final analyses, experts in China affairs have expressed optimism that Xi’s new assumption of control of the party-state will see China escape the middle-income trap and strive toward the goal of “common prosperity” — primarily enhance the Chinese middle class. That will in turn potentially drive and stimulate China’s “three engines of growth,” namely, investment, consumption, and foreign trade, each of which has faced challenges.

President Xi Jinping

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FROM ASIA

US accuses Iran of cruel false prisoner swap claims

The US has accused Iran of making “cruel” false claims that a prisoner exchange had been agreed between the two countries.

Iranian foreign minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian on Sunday told state media a deal had been struck, which would probably be carried out soon.

But a White House security spokesperson denied this, saying Iranian officials did not hesitate to “make things up”.

The latest claim would cause heartache for affected families, they added.

Mr Amir-Abdollahian told state TV that an agreement had been reached in the recent days and “if everything goes well on the US side, I think we will witness a prisoner exchange in a short period”.

He added that Iran was ready, while the US was working on “final technical coordination”.

While insisting the claim was false, the US spokesperson said Washington was committed to securing the release of Americans held in Iran - naming Siamak Namazi, Emad Shargi and Morad Tahbaz.

Oil executive Siamak Namazi, who has dual US-Iranian citizenship, was jailed for 10 years on charges of spying and cooperating with the US government in 2016.

Emad Shargi is an IranianAmerican businessman who was arrested in 2018 while working for a tech investment company.

Iranian-American environmentalist Morad Tahbaz, who also holds British citizenship, was given a 10-year sentence on charges of spying for the US and undermining Iranian security in 2019.

He released on bail last July with an electronic bracelet - with UK officials saying they were working with the US to secure his “permanent release”.

There have been tensions between the US and Iran in recent years since President Donald Trump pulled out of a nuclear deal and reimposed sanctions which severely damaged the Islamic republic’s economy.

Iran has detained a number of US-Iranian dual citizens and Iranians with US permanent residency in recent years, most of them on spying charges.

Tehran has sought the release of more than a dozen Iranians in the United States for years, including seven Iranian-American dual nationals, two Iranians with

permanent US residency and four Iranian citizens with no legal status in the United States.

In 2019 the two countries conducted a prisoner swap which

saw Chinese-American researcher Xiyue Wang released to the US while stem cell expert Massoud Soleimani went in the other direction.

Turkey earthquake: Istanbul residents fear homes will collapse

The crack in Mesut Muttaliboglu’s bedroom wall is so wide, he can fit a car key into it.

He turns it sideways, and with a flick of his wrist, a large chunk of plaster flies off the wall and crashes to the ground.

It’s why he and his family are moving out of the flat they’ve lived in for the last 15 years. The whole building has been condemned after failing an earthquake safety test. There’s a very high chance that a tremor would bring this whole block crashing to the ground.

Here in Istanbul, fear is growing.

The two powerful earthquakes in Turkey’s south that claimed almost 50,000 lives have brought a new urgency to its biggest city. Home to 15 million people, it sits on the North Anatolian fault line, and experts predict it’s due its own major earthquake before 2030.

Around 70% of the city’s buildings were built before rule changes that enforced stricter construction standards in 1999, and so are considered potentially unsafe. Just three months ago, a study said a quake here could kill up to 90,000 people. Now, the race is on to get the city ready.

Mesut knows all too well the devastation a quake can cause. He’s just returned from the epicentre in the southern city of Kahramanmaras, where he lost relatives. As we talked in his now-empty flat, he described the moment he found out.

“It happened at 04:17, a relative called and we all woke

up screaming.” Mesut’s face crumples into tears and he turns away to compose himself. “It’s a horrible situation. We couldn’t get [to Kahramanmaras] for three days because of snow, and when we reached the rubble it was so hard. I can’t describe it. I hope God doesn’t make anyone else experience this.”

When Mesut returned to Istanbul, the authorities had shut off power and water to his flat. “I asked for them back again just so we could move. They gave me two more days.”

“The municipality had sent us written warning about it, but the situation wasn’t resolved due to rejections from the neighbours. We knew that our utilities were going to be shut off, and we were ready to leave here, but then the quake happened and it all became a shambles.”

Since the earthquakes in the south, there’ve been more than 100,000 new applications to the Istanbul municipality for building safety checks. The waiting list for one shot up to three months, then four, and it keeps rising.

Tenants as well as landlords can now apply, but some still don’t because of the financial implications. The compensation to help those who need to move out of condemned buildings is low. There are no official numbers showing how many fail the test.

The city’s mayor, Ekrem Imamoglu, has promised more training for rescue teams, and preparation of temporary shelters that could house up to 4.5 million people in the aftermath of a quake. But many fear it still isn’t enough.

A walk down an average Istanbul street tells you why. Many of the buildings have particular design features that can make them collapse if they’re put under pressure during a quake.

Dr Kurtulus Atasever, a structural and earthquake engineer, met me to point some of them out. We stood on an empty patch of ground, strewn with rocks, that used to be the foundations of a building. When a magnitude 5.8 quake hit Istanbul in 2019, it was so badly damaged it had to be knocked down. Up and down the street, its neighbours have many of the same flaws. Good quality concrete is vital, he tells me. And the architecture is crucial. “We have some overhangs

here. In this type of building we have some weak or soft storeys. There are short columns too, they are actually all typical building problems.”

In very simple terms, each of them weakens a building at ground level, meaning it struggles to hold up the floors above if there’s an earthquake. An overhang makes the rest of the building wider than the footprint. Soft storeys are where the ground floor is taller than the floors above it. Short columns don’t have enough length compared to their diameter.

They can be done safely, Dr Atasever points out, but only if proper thought and planning has gone into the design. In old

buildings especially, that’s rare. We’re standing in the shadow of Yasemin Suleymanoglu’s house, and I ask if she’s concerned about the apartment block it’s in. She holds her daughter’s hand and looks up at the face of the building. “I don’t feel safe here,” she says.

“Our building shook a lot during the 2019 earthquake, and the columns of the one across the street cracked. I’ve been feeling restless since that sound, and with this latest quake we are really scared. We’re losing our sleep because it may hit us any time. And I think we’re at risk because our building is old.”

Source: BBC

US-Iranian Siamak Namazi was arrested in Iran in 2015 and later sentenced to 10 years in prison on spying charges

February’s earthquake devastated the city of Kahramanmaras

Education JAMB reviews guidelines for exam officials

By Maryam Abeeb

The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board has reviewed guidelines for its examination officials.

JAMB said the training, which was held virtually was for all examination officials to comport themselves professionally at all times, particularly when addressing cases of malpractice without necessarily causing a commotion in the hall.

“Furthermore, examination

officials were also advised not to engage in any act of extortion of candidates and, at the same time, ensure that candidates are protected from any form of extortion as well. In addition, they are enjoined to arrive promptly at their centres.

“As part of the review exercise, Proctors are also tasked to refrain from bringing their mobile phones into the examination hall, charging such phones in the examination hall, or engaging in any communication with outsiders

during the examination.

“The Board maintains that all its rules are meant to guide all its examination officials and, as such, they are to be diligently and religiously followed as the success or failure of the examination is contingent upon the disposition and conduct of examination officials”, the board said in a statement.

Likewise, JAMB said it had trained no fewer than 2,000 invigilators ahead of the 2023 Unified Tertiary and Matriculation Examinations

and Direct Entry examinations.

The board also noted that the training availed it the opportunity to review the guidelines for proctors and other examination officials, saying it was held simultaneously in three batches across the six geopolitical zones.

The first batch comprised Proctors drawn from institutions in the South-West and NorthEast, while the second and third batches were Proctors from institutions drawn from the South-East/North-Central

and North- West/South-South respectively.

“The training was part of the Board’s efforts to equip all officials, particularly the Proctors, on the rudiments of computer appreciation and measures to address any technical issues that might arise during the conduct of the examination.

“The training would, among other things, help in ensuring that Proctors familiarise themselves with the rules and regulations of the examination.”

NDLEA counsels students on dangers of drug abuse, trafficking

Maryam Abeeb

The National Drugs Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) in Sokoto State has counselled Secondary Schools students on the dangers of drug abuse and illicit drug trafficking among youths and women in the state.

Speaking at a sensitisation training in Sokoto, the NDLEA Zonal Commander in charge of Sokoto, Kebbi and Zamfara, Mr. Misbahu Idris, said the idea was to protect the future of youths and women in the society.

According to him, the training, sponsored by the office of the Clerk and Senate Committee on Drugs and Narcotics, was targeted toward accomplishing the country’s desire on ending any form of drug abuse and illicit drug trafficking.

He lauded the collaboration of Castle Wings Global Services Ltd with NDLEA in the project of War Against Drug Abuse (WADA), saying that the collaboration has continued to yield positive results.

The zonal commander further called on the students to utilise the programme in sensitising their friends and colleagues on

the dangers of drug abuse.

Mr. Muhammad Iro, the NDLEA Commander in Sokoto, said the activity was part of WADA’s efforts to sanitise the society of criminal elements and dangers of youth engagement in drug abuse and trafficking.

“We are optimistic that without the consumption of hard drugs, criminal activities and other social vices will be minimal, if not totally addressed.

Also speaking, Mr. Yusuf Salisu, the representative of the Senate Committee on Drugs and Narcotics, said the partnership

with NDLEA and International Foundations was part of the policy of discouraging consumption and abuse of hard drugs among youths.

He commended the NDLEA for its sustained commitment in initiating strategic ways of addressing the menace of drugs and urged youths to always ‘say no to drugs abuse.’

In her remarks, Mrs. Rabi’a Muhammad, the Chairperson, Adongari, an NGO engaged in the fight against drugs, described drug abuse as one of the disturbing challenges among youths in the society.

L-R: (front row) Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Education, Mr Andrew David Adejoh , Director Education Support Services, Mrs Lydia Giginna, Director Human resources mgt, Mr David Gende with other Director and Education stakeholders, after the media briefing on the 2023 common wealth day celebration, held recently in Abuja.

Photo: Justin Imo-owo

The Serbian who inspired US Capitol rioters, then emigrated to Texas

Aman whose video inspired one of the main leaders of the Capitol riots emigrated to the United States soon after the 2020 election. The BBC has found that he and his wife continue to encourage political violence on their social media accounts, a trend that worries extremism experts.

Three days after the 2020 election, while the result was still in doubt, a chemist from Belgrade was getting emotional.

Sitting in front of a blank white wall, he turned on a video camera and unloaded his opinions about politics in the United States - a country he had never visited.

“Hello again from the Serbian guy,” he begins.

He apologises for getting emotional in a previous video: “I was afraid as hell. But now, when I keep seeing thousands of you doing the right thing, I’m not afraid anymore.”

Then, in a presage of the events that transpired at the US Capitol two months later, he calls for attacks against American elections officials.

“They must feel fear when they’re counting fake ballots. They must think about, are they going to get out of there alive?”

“Yes, I’m calling you for violence,” he says. “If that is the only way, who cares?”

Inspiration for January 6 plan

The “Serbian guy” is chemist Aleksandar Savic. Of all the swirling conspiracy theories and emotive videos that circulated in the wake of the 2020 presidential election, somehow Mr Savic’s clip went viral in right-wing circles, catching the attention of some of the people who later led the Capitol riot on 6 January 2021.

Chief among them was Stewart Rhodes, head of the Oath Keepers militia. The story of the video formed part of the evidence in Rhodes’s recent trial, which resulted in a guilty verdict on a charge of seditious conspiracy.

According to court documents, Rhodes sent the video to a militia chat group, along with the message: “[W]e must now do what the people of Serbia did when Milosevic stole their election… Refuse to accept it and march en-mass [sic] on the nation’s Capitol.”

Rhodes told the group he was in “direct contact” with Mr Savic. The Oath Keepers were ready to follow the Serbian plan.

From a revolution to a riot

In his videos, Mr Savic compared the situation in the US to the events leading up to the resignation of Serbian president

Slobodan Milosevic in 2000.

The comparison is not a very apt one, according to activists interviewed by BBC Serbian who were active in the country’s opposition movement at the time.

One described the two situations as “fundamentally” different.

Milosevic’s ouster in 2000 came after the devastation of the Yugoslav wars. There was broad-based opposition against the Serbian leader, who altered vote totals in an attempt to cling to power. Large rolling protests against his rule were mostly peaceful, albeit with notable attacks against state TV and parliament buildings.

Mr Savic, however, focused on the violence in his video, telling supporters of Donald Trump to go to the US capital, attack television stations and government power centres, and force the military and law enforcement to capitulate.

Bizarrely, he claimed that all of the countries of Eastern Europe were still socialist dictatorships and warned the same fate would befall the US if the election result was not violently overturned.

His video had a profound effect on the Oath Keepers leader.

Three days after noticing the video, Rhodes published a post on the Oath Keepers website, headlined “Call to Action! March on DC, Stop the Steal, Defend the President, & Defeat the Deep State”.

“We must all march on Washington D.C. and directly backup and defend President Trump as he fights against the ongoing coup that is attempting to steal the election,” he wrote.

The post goes on to state: “A patriot from Serbia, who also loves America, shows us the way” followed by a point-by-point plan based on the 2000 revolution, including peaceful protests, followed by civil disobedience, and the gathering of millions in the capital.

Rhodes then distributed his plan to Oath Keepers and other chat groups.

During the militia leader’s trial last year, US prosecutor Jeffrey Nestler told jurors that the resemblance between Rhodes’s post and what actually happened on 6 January 2021 was “stunning”.

Moving to America

In the meantime, Mr Savic and his wife were on a journey of their own.

The couple moved to the US shortly after the video was posted, arriving in Texas at some point in early 2021, according to work history and posts on their social

His last job in the academic world was at the Jozef Stefan Institute in Ljubljana where he worked as a PhD assistant, an institute spokesperson told the BBC. His contract ended in March 2020, just as the Covid-19 pandemic hit

media accounts.

Previously, Mr Savic worked in Serbia, Slovenia and France after getting his PhD in chemistry at the University of Belgrade.

His last job in the academic world was at the Jozef Stefan Institute in Ljubljana where he worked as a PhD assistant, an institute spokesperson told the BBC. His contract ended in March 2020, just as the Covid-19 pandemic hit.

Ms Jovanovic also got a PhD at the University of Belgrade and later worked at the University of Lille in France as a postdoctoral fellow.

In Texas, she worked at the MD Anderson Cancer Center until June 2022, according to the institution’s spokesperson. MD Anderson officials declined to comment further, but on social media both Ms Jovanovic and Mr Savic have implied that she was removed from her job either because of her opposition to vaccines or refusal to take a Covid-19 vaccine.

Talking up political violence

Mr Savic has previously said that he was far away from Washington on 6 January 2021.

The couple declined multiple requests to comment for this story.

But on their social media accounts, spread across a wide range of mainstream and fringe sites, the pair continue to post a range of anti-communist, far-right, anti-vaccine, anti-Semitic and conspiratorial content. They’ve also posted anti-LGBTQ messages and posts expressing fury about illegal immigration.

Since they emigrated to the US, they have also continued to talk about the possibility - even the necessity - of political violence.

“There will be no violence = instant defeat,” Mr Savic tweeted. “There is a potential for violence = possible victory”.

“Potential of/for violence is what built and sustained the civilisation,” he wrote. “For some strange reason, Western people have forgotten this fact of reality.”

Impale Democrats!

On a fringe social media website, Ms Jovanovic shared

several memes which appear to call directly for violence.

One showed a screenshot from a film depicting a line of dead bodies on pikes.

“Impeaching Democrats is out,” the caption reads. “Impaling Democrats is in!”

She shared a similar meme depicting dozens of corpses and the caption “WHAT OUR BORDER SHOULD LOOK LIKE”. On Twitter, she has called for the execution of Anthony Fauci and other American officials involved in responding to the Covid-19 pandemic.

While none of her recent posts are particularly popular, in the summer of 2020, shortly after a large wave of Black Lives Matter protests began in the US, Ms Jovanovic did score a viral hit with a video claiming that socialists were controlling almost all levels of American government and were planning mass chaos across the country. She argued that “tyrants” must be removed from office using force if necessary.

Copies of the video racked up millions of views across several social media platforms.

What’s next for the ‘Serbian

guy’?

Although the couple refused to answer our questions, last year Mr Savic answered questions from left-wing website Talking Points Memo in which he denied inciting violence, saying that “angry people” can be inspired by anything from “books” to “rap songs”.

He said that he had been in brief contact with Rhodes, during which he repeated what he had said in his videos. And he said he had not met Rhodes or any Oath Keepers in person since arriving in Texas, nor had he been questioned by law enforcement.

Experts say Mr Savic and Ms Jovanovic are part of a larger trend among supporters of the Capitol rioters.

“Even after his video helped inspire the Oath Keepers’ illegal actions on January 6, social media posts from Savic and his wife are full of violent and anti-Semitic rhetoric and conspiracy theories about Covid-19 and the January 6 insurrection,” says Stephen Piggott, an analyst with Western States Center, a non-profit that tracks extremist groups.

Source: BBC

PEOPLES DAILY , MONDAY, FEBRUARY 13, 2023

A still from the video which inspired the Oath Keepers militia

Stewart Rhodes is the founder of the far-right Oath Keepers militia

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SPACE FOR SALE

MONDAY, MARCH 13, 2023

Indian Wells: Andy Murray, Emma Raducanu and Jack Draper win to reach third round

British trio Andy Murray, Emma Raducanu and Jack Draper all won on Saturday to reach the third round at Indian Wells.

Raducanu, the 2021 US Open champion, fought back from 4-1 down in the first set to beat Poland’s Magda Linette, the 20th seed, 7-6 (7-3) 6-2. She will now face Brazil’s Beatriz Haddad Maia, the 13th seed, for a place in the last 16.

Murray beat Moldova’s Radu Albot 6-4 6-3 to set up a meeting with Draper, who beat compatriot Dan Evans 6-4 6-2. Raducanu, 20, continued her return to form after shrugging off illness and a recurring wrist injury to beat Danka Kovinic on Thursday.

The world number 77 fought back to win the opening set on a tie-break, then eased through the second set for her first back-to-back victories since September.

Raducanu suffered an ankle injury before January’s Australian Open and tonsillitis forced her to withdraw

from last week’s Austin Open, while the wrist injury that cut short her 2022 season required attention from a physiotherapist on Saturday.

“I feel better, it was still a challenge, I wouldn’t say I was 100% but better than the first-round match,” Raducanu, who earned her biggest win by ranking since landing the major title in New York, told BBC Sport.

“I had to dig really deep against Magda because her level was really high.

“The wrist isn’t completely pain free. But I gritted my teeth a little bit and it’s good to still be able to win matches at this level despite the challenges I’ve had over the past few weeks.”

Poland’s world number one Iga Swiatek enjoyed a 6-0 6-1 win over Claire Liu, whose fellow American Jessica Pegula, the third seed, fought back to beat Italy’s Camila Giorgi 3-6 6-1 6-2.

Tunisian fourth seed Ons Jabeur, playing for the first time since losing in the Australian Open second round in

January, fought back to beat Poland’s Magdalena Frech 4-6 6-4 6-1.

Murray won for the first time under two hours this year, having needed three hours and 12 minutes to beat Argentina’s Tomas Etcheverry in the first round

Former world number one Murray enjoyed his first straight-set win since last October after his original opponent, the 15th seed Pablo Carreno Busta of Spain, had to withdraw because of a muscle injury.

After a number of marathon wins in the opening weeks of the season, Murray said it felt good to beat Albot in one hour and 42 minutes.

“It has been a long time [since winning a match in straight sets], I’ve had a lot of brutal matches since then,” he said.

“Probably some of them I could have finished sooner and probably a bunch a matches I could have lost as well. It was nice to get through this one.”

The 35-year-old Scot now has his first meeting with Draper, 14 years his junior

and ranked just one spot below him at 56.

In his first match against Evans, Draper broke the 32-year-old in his first two service games and his last two to knock out the 24th seed.

“Playing Dan is a really tough challenge, I think he is one of the best competitors on the tour and he has an awkward style. I knew that coming in and knew he wouldn’t want to lose to me,” said Draper.

Spain’s Carlos Alcaraz, who could to the ATP number one ranking by winning the title, started with a sharp 6-3 6-3 victory against Australia’s Thanasi Kokkinakis.

Defending champion Taylor Fritz came from a set down to beat fellow American Ben Shelton - the fast-rising 20-year-old who reached the Australian Open quarter-finals - in a 4-6 6-4 6-3 triumph.

Fifth seed Daniil Medvedev beat American Brandon Nakashima 6-4 6-3 while his Russian compatriot Andrey Rublev, the sixth seed, won 6-4 6-2 against the Czech Republic’s Jiri Lehecka.

Emma Raducanu only decided she would play Thursday’s first-round match 20 minutes before play was scheduled to start

Barcelona: Real Madrid back corruption charges against La Liga rivals over payments to referees’ official

Real Madrid say they will support the corruption charges faced by Barcelona over money paid to the vice-president of Spain’s referees’ committee.

Real are prepared to “defend their interests” when proceedings are opened.

On Friday, a court heard Barcelona have been indicted for “corruption”, “breach of trust” and “false business records”.

Prosecutors allege Barca paid 8.4m euros (£7.4m) to Jose Maria Enriquez Negreira and his company in return for favourable refereeing decisions.

Barcelona, who deny any wrongdoing, acknowledged the payments were made to Dasnil 95 between 2001 and 2018.

The Catalan club described the company as “an external technical consultant” which was paid to

compile video reports related to professional referees “with the aim of complementing the information required by the coaching staff”.

Former presidents Josep Maria Bartomeu and Sandro Rosell, as well as Negreira, have also been indicted alongside the club.

The lawsuits were brought by the Barcelona public prosecutor’s office.

“FC Barcelona obtained and maintained a strictly confidential verbal agreement with Jose Maria Enriquez Negreira so that, in his capacity as vicepresident of the technical arbitral committee (CTA) and in exchange for money, the latter carries out actions tending to benefit FC Barcelona in decisions by the referees,” prosecutors said.

A senior Barcelona official said the club had expected the prosecutors’ complaint and described

it as “nothing more than an absolutely preliminary investigative hypothesis”.

Real Madrid held a board meeting on Sunday to discuss the issue, outlining their position after having “inspected the serious accusations”.

“Real Madrid wishes to express its utmost concern regarding the gravity of the facts and reiterates its confidence in the legal system,” said the reigning Spanish champions.

“The club has agreed that, in defence of its legitimate rights, it will appear at the trial when the judge opens it up to the affected parties.”

Barcelona president Joan Laporta responded by insisting the club is the “victim of a campaign” to “harm its honourability”, urging fans to remain “calm”.

“It is no surprise and we will defend Barca and prove that the club is innocent,” he tweeted.

Arsenal beat Fulham to restore five-point lead

Arsenal restored their five-point advantage at the top of the Premier League in outstanding fashion with a ruthless victory at Fulham.

Mikel Arteta’s side responded to Manchester City’s narrow victory at Crystal Palace on Saturday night by wrapping up this win by half-time as they opened up a 3-0 lead with a devastating attacking display.

Gabriel Martinelli had already had a goal narrowly ruled out for offside by the Video Assistant Referee (VAR), before defender Gabriel headed in Leandro Trossard’s corner after 21 minutes - the first of a trio of assists for the Belgian.

Trossard then crossed for Martinelli to beat the static Antonee Robinson to head home at the far post five minutes later, before providing the delivery for captain Martin Odegaard’s cool finish in first-half stoppage time.

Fulham mounted a belated threat after the break as visiting keeper Aaron Ramsdale denied Bobby de Cordova-Reid, while Tosin Adarabioyo headed against the woodwork.

Arsenal, however, were always in control and Arteta was able to re-introduce influential striker Gabriel Jesus for the first time since he required knee surgery after

being injured playing for Brazil against Cameroon at the World Cup for a 13-minute cameo.

This had all the hallmarks of a hazardous fixture for Arsenal given Fulham’s impressive campaign and the pressure on after Manchester City reduced their lead to two points.

But, once again, the steel, character and skill that has characterised their season was on show.

The £21m capture of Trossard from Brighton in January looks increasingly shrewd by the week and he ran riot down Fulham’s right flank, taking on the role of creator-in-chief before being substituted to a standing ovation in the closing stages.

Arsenal have been presented with examinations of different types on a regular basis in this impressive attempt to win a first title since 2004 - and they passed this one with flying colours.

The Gunners dug deep to come from two goals down to beat Bournemouth in the 97th minute in last weekend’s game at Emirates Stadium, while here they stamped their authority all over a lacklustre Fulham from the first whistle.

Manchester City had asked the question by winning

at Selhurst Park. Arsenal provided the answer at Craven Cottage with their fifth successive Premier League win.

Fulham in danger of fading

Marco Silva’s Fulham have been an outstanding addition to the top flight this season - a surprise package given they were rated as relegation favourites by many.

Here, however, they were well short of the standards they have set and this comprehensive defeat capped a disappointing week after losing the west London derby at Brentford on Monday.

There were mitigating circumstances with two of their most influential performers missing, Willian ruled out with a back muscle injury and Joao Palhinha suspended. The goals have also dried up for main marksman Aleksandar Mitrovic, who has 11 this season, but last scored in January.

After a below-par display, Fulham only came to life after the break when the game was effectively over.

Currently in eighth place, they have done so well to put themselves in contention for European football next season.

Silva’s main task now is to ensure the conclusion to this campaign does not drift away into anti-climax.

News Analysis

10th Assembly: Battle line drawn over Senate President, HoR Speaker slots

The 10th National Assembly will be inaugurated in June. Preparatory to the inauguration day, the next line of political battle is among the members of the 10th National Assembly, especially the current principal officers are the game and struggle of who became the next Senate President and Speaker of the House of Representatives, as well as other Principals officers, our correspondents, IKECHUKWU OKAFORADI and CHRISTIANA EKPA write on the likely contestants.

From all indications and the results announced by the Independent National Electoral Commission, it is clear that some experienced lawmakers will miss in the 10th National Assembly as some of them, who are aspiring for the positions of Presiding and Principal officers, failed in the general election.

A lot of them who were aspiring for the positions, failed to secure the tickets of their parties to re-contest parliamentary elections, while others lost to their opponents at the general election.

In the Senate, the same fate is playing out, as key senators, who are well positioned by experience, to contest and emerge as Senate President and principal officers, could not secure return tickets.

The list of those who did not make it includes, Minority leaders of both Chambers, senator Philip Aduda and Hon. Ndudi Elumelu, who lost at the general election, the Deputy Minority Leader Toby Okechukwu, who could not secure his party ticket, Hon. Magaji Dau’ Aliyu and Hon. Nkeiruka Onuejeocha, senator Mathew Urogide, among others who also lost at the just concluded poll.

The Prominent one among others who won their reelection and could be aspiring for the Senate President and Speakership positions are the Present Speakers, Femi Gbajabiamila, Deputy Speaker Idris Ahmed Wase, the Chairman of Appropriation, Aliyu Mukta Betara, the Spokesman of the House, Benjamin Okezie Kalu and the embattled Leader of the House, Alhassan Ado Doguwa.

Others are Chief Whip of the Senate, Orji Uzor Kalu, Godwill Akpabio, Ahmed Lawan, the incumbent President of Senate, Ali Ndume, former Senate Leader, Yahaya Abdullahi, senator Adamu Aliero, incumbent senator leader, Ibrahim Gobir, among others.

For the Speaker Gbajabiamila, the victory of Ahmed Tinunu gave him an edge over all others aspiring for the position of the Speakership but there are also feelers that Gbajabiamila could move to Villa for a position as Chief of Stuff to the President or Attorney General of the Federation.

Another Vital point to look at is the fact the Position of Speakership may be zoned to North West or North Central which could give Idris Wase an edge, also perhaps if not the needless controversy that surrounds his style of presiding the green chamber.

However, Gbajabiamila could stand a better chance if he decides to contest for the Speaker, as there is already laid precedence that the South West, particularly (Lagos) have The Vice President, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo and the Speaker Gbajabiamila servicing the country at the same.

The Speaker who has been described as a bridge-builder and one of the most resilient, resourceful, and successful Nigerian politicians among his colleagues is not free from those who

may kicked against his reelection as the Speaker of the House, as there were alleged threat of impeachment more than 3 times since he became the Speaker.

The Deputy Speaker Hon. Idris Wase, on his part was said to have worked hard for the President Elect, Tinubu just for him to get the Speakership position but f old members will it difficult for him to scale through considering the fact that he was caught in a needless controversy several times preventing his colleagues from presenting their views on matter against the federal government and other ethnicity issues, Wase is been seen by among his colleagues to be impulsive and always want to have his with religious and ethnicity biases.

A perfect example of how he operates shows how he rides on tribal and religious sentiments, by stoutly preventing a member representing Gwer East, Gwer West Federal Constituency of Benue State, Hon. Mark Gbillah from presenting a petition against the federal government on the alleged takeover of their lands by herdsmen.

The petition filed by Mzough U Tiv Amerika

(MUTA) on insecurity in Benue, Nasarawa, and Taraba accused the federal government of nonchalance towards the perils facing those who have been displaced as a result of herdsmen activities. But Wase said Nigerians abroad are not eligible to file petitions against the federal government on crimes linked to herdsmen. He argued that Nigerians abroad had no rights to file a petition on the crisis, saying it would be understandable if the petition came from those in the country.

“Honourable Gbillah, did you say Tivs in America? What do they know about Nigeria? What is their business? They can’t sit in their comfort zones and know what is happening in Nigeria,” Wase said. Responding, Gbillah argued that Nigerians abroad should be able to file complaints, because they have family members residing in the state. But Wase questioned whether or not MUTA was even registered with the Corporate Affairs of Commission to begin with.

Gbillah, however, countered Wase on the grounds that Nigeria has been pursuing a policy of inclusiveness for its citizens in the Diaspora, an aim he said would easily be defeated if the same category of Nigerians cannot be allowed to speak on raging matters of national concern. Rejecting the petition, Wase, ‘’I’ll refer you to the functions of the committee on diaspora, if you go through that, it is nothing relevant to what you’re now presenting. I’m not convinced that we have to take that petition.’’

The media, however, missed the drama until the video surfaced online. As expected, there were reactions and a huge backlash, as the video portrayed the Deputy Speaker as nothing but an ethnic jingoist in such a high national office. The backlash, which Wase ordinarily was unprepared for later forced him to issue a statement justifying why the petition was rejected without even considering its merits.

The majority leader of the House Doguwa, ambition, dreams and desires to become the Speaker of the House seem to be over as he has been sent to Prison for culpable homicide, conspiracy, mischief, unlawful possession of firearms and inciting disturbance.

Others charged at large are Nazifi Asnanic, Nafiu Musa, Hamisu Amadu and Abdulhadi Alaramma.

Alhassan Doguwa was charged with burning a building that resulted in the burning of Alasan Mohammed and Aminu Malam Amadu to death, while Bashir Yani, Labaran Sule and one Amadu were injured by the fire,” one of the charges read in part.

The offences are contrary to Section 97, 114, 247, 336 and 221 of Penal Code.

Another Lawmaker who stands good chance outside Gbajabiamila is Aliyu Betara as he is widely accepted among his colleagues due to his open-minded roles in the lives of his colleagues and the way he carries his colleagues along in the decision of his Appropriation Committee

He is also a major force in returning the Budget circle from January to December and there feeler also that he secretly stepped down to work for Gbajabiamila during their last principal officer’s election with a promise that the Speaker will consider him.

However, the choice of the Vice President Kashim Settima may create an obstacle for him, but there is also a laid down precedence that Nigeria once had Vice and the House Speaker from the same zone, just as the saying goes that everything is possible in Nigeria.

The Spokesperson of the House, Benjamin Kalu also stands a good chance for the Speakership position but ambition of his God father and Uncle, Senator Orji Kalu who is been position and have worked for Tinubu for the Position of the Senate President could be an obstacle against the young outspoken who has been described as one of the must outstanding Spokesperson since in session of the House.

One notable fact is that, the olde members always have their way of influencing the new members on how the electing principal officers should be and that only indicates that Gbajabiamila will still hold the show as he will determine who becomes next Speaker of the House if he is not contesting.

In the Senate, the battle will be largely determined by where the party decision on zoning will swing. If APC decides to zone to the South East, then Orji Kalu becomes the best choice, given his experience and friendship with northern politicians, including northern Senators.

However, political pundits believe that Tinubu will not be comfortable with a Kalu led Senate, especially looking at the fact that he supported Ahmed Lawan, a northerner against him (Tinubu) during the primaries of the party.

To this line of thought, former Governor of Akwa Ibom, Godswill Akpabio, will do better in the rank of preferred candidate for Tinubu, especially given that he played a good boy role by stepping down for Tinubu before the commencement of APC primaries at Eagle Square.

Looking at all these permutations, one can say it is only time that will tell how the party may decide to zone the positions and if the lawmakers will accept the zoning arrangements of the party. Only time will tell.

The Prominent one among others who won their reelection and could be aspiring for the Senate President and Speakership positions are the Present Speakers, Femi Gbajabiamila, Deputy Speaker Idris Ahmed Wase,

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Katie Taylor: Irish star will bid to become two-weight undisputed world champion against Chantelle Cameron

March 18 guber and the bandwagon fears

The ideological content of politics in Nigeria is grossly insufficient, at least going by the conduct of politicians and of political parties. Party constitution is not respected, power rotation agreements are broken at the point of conception, and internal democracy is aborted by vested interests and inordinate partisanship. Very rampant is the indiscriminate and infectious switching of parties by unstable politicians, not on the basis of ideological conviction, but rather in search of ‘stomach infrastructure,’ politics for survival or subsistence, thanks to Peter Ayodele Fayose, former Ekiti state governor who popularized this political neologism (a new political coinage now gaining traction). Fayose was Ekiti State governor from 2003 to 2006, and again from 2014 to 2018.

Monday Column

By Hameed M. Bello, PhD

hamdbelo@yahoo.co.uk

means that the outcome of an election, or the behaviour of voters is predicated upon the outcome of a similar or previous election that is, though not dependent on it but, indeed tangential to it.

system.

Ireland’s Katie Taylor will bid to become a two-weight undisputed world champion when she takes on England’s Chantelle Cameron in Dublin on 20 May.

The meeting with world lightwelterweight champion Cameron at the 3Arena will be a first professional fight in Ireland for Taylor.

The Dubliner challenged Cameron to the fight on Instagram earlier this month.

She said she would be “happy to move up in weight” and has now got her wish.

Taylor, the undisputed lightweight champion, was set to face Amanda Serrano in a world title rematch on 20 May but the Puerto Rican pulled out because of injury.

Taylor, 36, beat Serrano on points to retain her undisputed lightweight title in New York last May, with the pair making history in the first female contest to top the card at Madison Square Garden.

The long-awaited homecoming bout for the Bray fighter had looked like it could take place at Croke Park, the GAA’s headquarters, before security cost issues led promoter Eddie Hearn to instead choose the 3Arena in the Irish capital.

“Once Serrano pulled out this was the natural fight to make,” said Taylor.

“It’s two undefeated, reigning undisputed world champions going up against each other and I believe that’s the first time that’s ever happened in the modern era of the sport.

From experience also, it is a cultural practice among our politicians to dump their parties and pitch tents with the party they feel has a chance to form the central government, or the one which has just won a major election. Specifically, the candidate of the All Progressives Congress, APC, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu has just won the keenly contested presidential election. Already, politicians who are not sure of delivering for their party on Saturday, or are desperate to align with the government at the centre to avoid remaining in perpetuity on the fringe of power, have been abandoning their parties and declaring support for the president-elect or candidates of his party in the governorship and state houses of assembly elections. This can pass only as ideological laziness or scheming to position for patronage in the power sharing arrangements. Besides, a typical Nigerian politician is not cut out for opposition politics. He is either in power or is out of it, and believes that if he cannot beat them, the only alternative is to join them. The predictable result of this last minute cross carpeting is a bandwagon effect in the Saturday guber and other elections.

The usually over flogged argument is that there is no permanent enemy or friend in politics, but permanent interest. This is a reason politicians pitch tents where their bread is surely buttered. They don’t want to be on the losing side, or remain in the opposition to nurse their party ideologies for the next four years to be able to win the following election. At the moment, if they cannot partake in the sharing of the main cake on the table, at least they should be able to standby closely to pick the crumps. At all at all na him bad pass, as is usually said in local parlance. This is the difference between democracy in third world or developing countries and those of the advanced democracies in Europe and America, not minding that political governance in any country has some local cultural characteristics.

shortly after the emergence of Tinubu as president-elect.

Gaint expressed happiness over the high level of the opposition parties losing their supporters to the APC in the State, assuring that the APC will win on the 18th March in the governorship and state assembly elections in the state. Similar defections were reported in Zamfara and Gombe States.

And in the PDP and Labour Party dominated areas where both parties enjoyed relative dominance in the results of the Presidential election, similar defections were recorded. In such places, the APC is in the opposition and similarly lost members to the parties in control of votes in those areas.

Green Party was founded in 1984 with Jill Stein as presidential candidate, The group generally supports a left-leaning, liberal platform on the American political spectrum with an emphasis on the core tenets of environmental protection, social justice, grassroots democracy and pacifism. The party also supports campaign finance reform to limit corporate political influence and declines corporate contributions. It has ballot access in 20 states.

Libertarian Party which has the slogan of “Maximum freedom, minimum government” is a libertarian political party in the United States that promotes civil liberties, non-interventionism, laissez-faire capitalism and the abolition of the welfare state. It was founded in 1971. In 2012, Libertarian presidential candidate Gary Johnson received about 1.3 million votes, more than any other third-party candidate.

Instances of such switching were recorded in some states. In Niger State, the PDP governorship candidate in the 2015 and the 2019 elections, Alhaji Umar Mohammed Nasko had reportedly dumped the party for the ruling APC after his presidential candidate, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar lost out. Umar Nasko a staunch PDP chieftain made the switch in Minna, saying that his defection was out of conviction after he was approached by the APC governorship candidate, Umar Mohammed Bago. Bago, while accepting him into the party according to the report, said that they both shared the same vision for the development of Niger state, adding that Nasko will be part of his government if elected - this is the bottom line.

As we countdown to Saturday, March 18, the stage is set once again for us to either reconfirm or witness a departure from the likely bandwagon effect which comes about as a political anomaly. Recall that the contest for the governorship and membership of state assemblies will be held in all states, except in some like Kogi, Anambra, Bayelsa, Edo, Ekiti, Ondo and Osun which are out of the general time table due to circumstances, including the FCT where the position of governor or state assembly does not exist.

The Libertarian Party is the third largest political party in the United States after the Republican and Democratic parties. The group aims to emphasize a commitment to free-market principles, civil rights, personal freedom, noninterventionism, peace and free trade. According to the party, “Our vision is for a world in which all individuals can freely exercise the natural right of sole dominion over their own lives, liberty and property by building a political party that elects Libertarians to public office, and moving public policy in a libertarian direction.”

This is it. Our politicians should learn to remain and build their parties, rather than switching indiscriminately at the slightest excuse. As it is often said, Rome wasn’t built in a day. With time, they can build great parties that can upset the apple cart. Peter Obi, presidential candidate of the Labour Party almost did it.

DANDANGAIGAYE

Taye Taiwo and Oduamadi

“People have been talking about this fight for a long time now so I’m delighted it’s happening and I’m looking forward to becoming a two-weight undisputed champion.”

Bandwagon effect is simply a term used in sociology to denote the observation that people often do or believe what they think many other people do. It is the tendency for people to adopt certain behaviours, styles, or attitudes simply because others are doing so. More specifically, it is a cognitive bias by which public opinion or behaviours can alter due to particular actions and beliefs rallying amongst the public. The expression has become popular in political circles in Nigeria and refers to a winner takes it all syndrome. In this context, it

LAGOS: 08074420617

From Birnin Kebbi in Kebbi State, a report said at the weekend that a key chieftain and other supporters of Senator Adamu Aliero of PDP, a Senator-elect, had defected to the APC. The APC chieftain,

Alhaji Kabiru Sani Giant said in an address that many supporters of Senator Adamu Aliero and other groups had switched to the APC

In American democracy which we copy, for instance, the dominance of two-party system makes it all-too-easy to forget that there are actually other parties out there contesting for votes. Although largely overlooked today in mainstream political circles, third parties - or minority parties - have historically held significant influence in national politics of the USA.

Today there are 37 ballotqualified minority parties in the U.S. (despite its name, the Tea Party is not an official party, but rather a Republican contingent). Only three of them, however, are recognized in more than five states: the Green Party (left wing, environmentalist), Libertarian Party (individual rights) and Constitution Party (staunchly conservative, religious). Each is wholly unique, but they all share a staunch belief in the need for alternatives to the two-party