Wednesday, June 14, 2023 Edition

PEOPLES

Suspected kidnapper slumps, dies in bid to escape arrest - Police Sisters bathe lady, 19, with hot water for dating husband in Bauchi

•As over 20 arsonists over Benue community crisis

10th Senate President:

Amidst tension, Tinubu's candidate, Akpabio beats Yari 63/46 to emerge

New Speaker, Abbas scores 353 votes to defeat Jaji, Wase

Akpabio, Abbas’ election good devt -Tinubu

I fought and will continue to fight for democracy - Wase We contested in true spirit of democracy - Jaji

Let's cooperate to move Kano forward, governor Abba tasks new lawmakers PG 7

Akpabio promises to carry all senators along as Senate President

Police arrest over 20 arsonists over Oju crisis in Benue

Communal clash claims one, several houses burnt

Addressing insecurity requires complete approach

L-R: Senate President Godswill Akpabio with Senator Abdulaziz Yari during the inauguration of the 10th Senate at the National Assembly, yesterday in Abuja.

Photo: Mahmud Isa

By Christiana Ekpa

The Former Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Ahmed Idris Wase during the House Election yesterday said, he stood his ground to contested for the 10th Speakership race because his heart bleeds seeing what is going in the country, stressing that he will continue to fight for democracy.

Hon. Ahmed Sani Jaji who contested the Speakership has said they contested the election in the true spirit of democracy.

While Wase expressed his strong belief democracy should be allowed to thrive, Jaji said he is one of those who stands to protect democracy.

Speaking while accepting his nomination to contest the position of Speaker, Wase said he does not believe that the process of democracy should be truncated or the hands of members tied.

He said he was offering himself as Speaker of the House to serve as the voice of the voiceless in the country and be a true representative of the populace.

Accepting his nomination, Wase said:”My respected colleagues, Members-Elect, I stand to first of all appreciate God Almighty for the journey so far in my life. We are very few, 360 among the over 200 million Nigerians to represent them and act on their behalf.

“Colleagues, I want to thank you and appreciate you for the support. I want to say that I believe democracy should thrive. I believe

Speakership Election: I fougt and I will continue to fight for democracy - Wase

•We contested in true Spirit of Democracy - Jaji

•As Hon . Onuoha call inclusion of Female Legislayors in Principal officers Post

in equity, fairness and justice. I believe that Nigeria must move forward. I believe that we don’t need to truncate and tie our hands down.

“It is in the light of this that I pray that God Almighty continue from what our founding fathers have done who have sacrificed their lives for democracy.

“My heart bleeds as I see what is going on in the country. Colleagues, we all fought and continue to fight for democracy. I hereby submit myself to be the voice of the voiceless, to be the true representatives of the Nigerian populace, to be a co-partner in the Nigerian development project. I hereby accept the nomination”.

On his part, Sani Jaji said: “Today is a day of history, a day that all of us must reckoned with democracy. This nomination comes to me as a source of concern and I feel excited that today on the 13 of June, I’m one of those who stand to protect and defend democracy.

“It’s like yesterday that we concluded the general election where all the political parties participated despite the fragile

unity that we have in the country and by the grace of God we were able to overcome it.

“So this election will not be different from the other one. We stand to believe power is from God. Is only God that will give power to whoever he wishes and if given the opportunity we will do the needful. Dear Honourable Colleagues, I rise to accept the nomination by my Honourable Colleagues wholeheartedly”.

Also, Hon. Miriam Onuoha (Omo APC) called on the party APC to consider the inclusion of the female Legislators in the other Majority and Minority Principal officers Position.

She said “I was one of the runners for the Speaker of the 10th House of Representatives and subsequently, Deputy Speaker. None of those came to pass. But for me it is a wonderful experience going forward. I believe that sometimes your desires come to pass and sometimes it is delayed. For me destiny can only be delayed and not denied. I would continue to make process on the floor and make valuable contributions to

nation building.

“And in response to the party’s calling and obidience to party directives and doctrine of party supremacy, I actually did step down before the President at the villa yesterday. I congratulate the speaker and deputy and we look forward to a better composition of leadership to make for optics the inclusion of at least more women in the leader.

“There are still other leadership positions coming for the majority and minority caucuses. What are you going to say about gender balancing when you get to that point of having leaders for the caucuass. Is there any kind of negotiation for the women?

“I hope the party is taking into consideration to that and they will do the right thing” she said Only Tijani Kayode from Kwara and Abdulmumin Mohammed Ari from Nasarawa who nominated and seconded the nomination of Wase as well as Yusuf Ahmed Doro and Muhammad Aminu Ibrahim both from Katsina who nominated and seconded Sani Jaji voted for the two aspirants.

Group urges Tinubu to protect citizens’ democratic rights

The Corporate Accountability and Public Participation

Africa (CAPPA),an NGO, has appealed to President Bola Tinubu to ensure his administration worked to protect and defend citizens’ democratic rights.

Mr Oluwafemi Akinbode, Executive Director of CAPPA, said this in a statement signed by Mr Zikora Ibeh, Policy and Research Officer and made available to newsmen in Asaba.

According to him, the struggle against the annulment of June 12 can be met, when Nigerians can choose their leaders in a free, fair, and transparent process devoid of

violence, ethnic and religious hatred.

“The President can demonstrate his avowed belief in democracy if he selflessly delivers the dividends of democracy to all Nigerians regardless of social status or ethnic, religious and political affiliation.

“June 12 stands as a symbol of Nigerians’ steadfast struggle against military despotism and for democratic governance.

“While it is important to recognise and honour the heroes of this remarkable struggle, we believe Nigerians need to fully enjoy their democratic rights in the selection of who governs them.

“They also must begin to feel the

dividends of democracy for which they sweated, struggled and died during those long years of street battles and protests against the military rule.

“It has been over 24 years since democratic rule was restored in Nigeria but it is arguable whether the form of governance that exists in Nigeria today can be described as a democracy or simply civilian rule.

“While there has been some marked progress in terms of a thriving multiparty democracy and regular elections, Nigeria’s record of human rights violations has not fundamentally improved,’” he said.

He urged the present

administration not to just pay homage to the legacy of June 12 but work selflessly to ensure that democracy meant more than just regular elections but a better life for all Nigerians.

“With the recent removal of fuel subsidy, the administration must work seriously to ensure that poor Nigerians are not adversely affected by rising prices of petrol and daily utilities.

“We urge the administration to ensure the judicious use of savings from subsidy removal to alleviate the sufferings that the policy has inadvertently caused ordinary people.NAN

L-R:, Clack to the National Assembly Magaji Sani Tambuwal; Newly elected speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon. Tajudeen Abbas and Hon Alhassan Ado Doguwa during the inauguration of the 10th Assembly House of Representative, yesterday in Abuja

Photo: Mahmud Isa

Democracy has brought many gains to Nigerians – EU-SDGN

The European Union Support to Democratic Governance in Nigeria (EU-SDGN), says democracy has brought many gains to Nigeria in spite of challenges.

The EU-SDGN said this in statement signed by its cohort members, on Monday in Abuja, to mark Democracy Day.

Onaiwo urges politicians against ethnic, religious divisions

Earl Onaiwo, Former DirectorGeneral of the Nigerian Governors Forum (NGF), has charged politicians against to shun using religion and ethnicity to divide Nigerians.

in a statement and goodwill message personally signed by Onaiwo on Monday in Abuja, he said it was time to build a formidable democracy, devoid of religious and other considerations.

“June 12, 1993 marked the end of religious and ethnic manipulations on our people. Religion has been used for too long to divide Nigerians and the time has come to put a stop to it.

“We normally do not question the religion of the pilot before we board our flights, neither do we ask for the religion of the owner before we buy from the supermarket or filling stations.

“The National Assemblies are faced with electing quality leadership for our legislature with a view to ensuring that good laws are made, therefore, they must shun religious and ethnic considerations, and elect those who can represent the interest of Nigerians well,” Onaiwo stated.

The Edo State-born politician congratulated Nigerians for their resilience and determination shown over the years in the quest to find enduring democratic ethos for the Country(NAN)

“The cohort noted that the country’s democracy, although not perfect and still growing with pockets of stormy and smooth sails, has brought with it many gains.”

The cohort which comprises 16 civil society groups, congratulated the government and people of Nigeria for the strides the country has made along democratic path since 1999.

“EU-SDGN pledges to continue to work assiduously towards strengthening Nigeria’s democracy and deepening the gains that come with it.

“The National Democracy Day serves to remind Nigerians of how far the country has come since June 12, 1993 and underlines

the significant progress and achievements of democracy in the country.”

The cohort said some strides achieved included inclusivity and upholding principles of good governance, respect of human rights and rule of law, which are fundamental pillars of democracy globally.

The EU-SDGN cohort called on relevant stakeholders, including government, political parties, civil societies, and citizens, to continue upholding democratic principles and protecting democratic gains.

The cohort said these were critical condiments for fostering peace, stability, and sustainable development in Nigeria.

“Through funding by the

European Union, the EU-SDGN has been working to reinforce democracy by providing support to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

“Others are National Assembly, Judiciary, Political Parties, Media, Women, Youth and Persons with Disabilities and Civil Society Organisations.

According to the cohort, through EU’s interventions, the programme has provided technical assistance and capacitybuilding to strengthen democratic institutions, electoral processes, and civil society organizations.

It added that it also promoted transparency and accountability in government institutions, increasing citizens’ engagement

for vibrant and participatory democracy.

The cohort include DAI Global, Policy and Legal Advocacy Centre, Yiaga Africa, Kukah Centre, International Press Centre, Institute for Media and Society, ElectHER, and TAF Africa.

Others are Nigerian Women Trust Fund, National Peace Committee, SOS Children’s Villages, Civil Society Legislative Advocacy Centre, Corporate Accountability and Public Participation Africa.

The rest include Justice, Development and Peace Commission, Justice Development and Peace Initiative, and Justice, Development and Peace Makers’ Centre. (NAN)

CSOs are to checkmate govt - official

From: Femi Oyelola, Kaduna

Kaduna State Permanent Secretary Budget and Planning Commission

Mallam Mohammed Bashir said Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) are to checkmate government and create awareness to the public as well.

He stated this at the Validectory Session for the Open Government Partnership outgoing Steering Committee in Kaduna.

Mallam Bashir added that the collaboration between the state Government and CSOs has been effective and successful and the plans and budgets involved major necessary stakeholders.

He appreciated the contributions of the stakeholders for the successful partnership in budget processing planning Monitoring and Evaluation.

According to him the state government has been committed to Citizens engagement in governance

through strict adherence to the Open Government Partnership initiated since 2018.

Mallam Bashir explained that any government that wants succeed must collaborate with relevant Civil Society Organizations and other stakeholders to help achieve set goals and objectives in governance.

He appreciated the contributions of the stakeholders for the successful partnership in budget processing planning

Monitoring and Evaluation.

“The ministry is very grateful for the contributions we got from the partnership We will continue to operate an open door policy for a more robust relationship for effective service delivery, We wouldn’t have achieved so much without you”

In an opening remark, the Co-Chair, Open Government Partnership Hadiza Umar Co chair OGP Hajiya Hadiza Umar appreciated the partners and

media for their commitments that led to the successes achieved.

She explained that the Open Government Partnership works with government in the areas of Planning, Budget Processes, Implementation Monitoring and Evaluation and called on the upcoming steering committee to improve on what has been achieved in the partnership..

The OGP started in 2018 in the state with two years tenure for each leadership.

R-L: Vice President, Senator Kashim Shettima, President of the 10th Senate, Senator Godswill Akpabio and Deputy Senate President, Senator Barau Jibrin, during their thank you visit to Vice President after their emerges as President of the Senate and Deputy President respectively, after the Inauguration of the 10th National Assembly, yesterday in Abuja.

From Ahmad Muhammad, Bauchi

Bauchi State Police Command has arrested two teenage sisters, Fatima Sani and Zulaihat Sani, aged 17 and 15, for allegedly bathing a 19-year-old lady with hot water for allegedly dating husband of one of them.

Police Public Relations Officer, PPRO Mohammed Ahmed Wakil, told reporters in Bauchi Tuesday that, the two sisters, who are both of the Gida Dubu area of the Bauchi metropolis in the state, were said to have “deceitfully” brought the victim to a certain house, where they attacked her

Sisters bathe lady, 19, with hot water for dating husband in Bauchi - Police

and subsequently poured hot water on her.

Wakil, a Superintendent of Police, said that the incident happened last Saturday at Gida Dubu Area of the Bauchi metropolis and the perpetrators were arrested by operatives of the ‘C’ Division led by the Divisional Police Officer.

He said, “On June 10, 2023, at 2.00 pm, police detectives attached to ‘C Police Divisional

Headquarters of Bauchi Metropolis, acted on credible information available at their disposal that on the same date at 1.07 pm , one Sa’adatu Abdurrahman Liman, female (19) residing behind old airport, Bauchi, was deceitfully brought into a house situated at Gida Dubu area of Bauchi by one Fatima Muhammad Sani, female (17) and her sister, Zulaihat

Muhammad Sani (15), both of Gida Dubu area.

“They connived and battered the said Saadatu and thereafter poured boiled water on her. As a result, she sustained serious injuries to her neck and cheeks.

“The heinous act was perpetrated by the suspects on the account that the victim is dating one of the suspect’s husbands.

“On receipt of the report

of the incident, a team of detectives led by the Divisional Police Officer visited the scene, arrested the culprits, and swiftly rushed the victim to the hospital for medical treatment.”

He said that the culprit and her accomplice confessed to the crime in the course of the investigation and would be charged to court for prosecution of the alleged established offences accordingly.

Groups condemns Tinubu administration for interference in NASS leadership election

By Abubakar Yunusa Abuja

The Oodua People’s Frontier (OPF) and the Yoruba Patriots Alliance (YPA) have frowned at the interference of the Bola Tinubuled government in the election of principal officers of the National Assembly ahead of Tuesday’s inauguration.

The groups stated categorically that such actions are not only undemocratic, but also threaten the very foundations of our democracy.

The groups in a statement issued Monday by the Convener of OPF, Moses Odewale and National President of YPA, Anuoluwabamise Adetutu, that it was disheartening to witness the relentless attempts by the government to utilize security agencies as tools of intimidation, coercing aspiring candidates into submission.

The groups stated categorically that such actions are not only undemocratic, but also threaten the very foundations of our democracy.

The groups also expressed dissatisfaction and concern over the flagrant disregard for democratic principles demonstrated by this administration.

The groups pointed out that it was shameful that the current government, barely at the outset of its tenure, was already exhibiting dictatorial tendencies.

They said: “Nigeria is not an ‘agberocracy’; we are a nation founded on democratic principles, where the separation of powers and the independence of the legislative and judicial arms are paramount.

“We vehemently repudiate any misguided parallel drawn between Nigeria and the confined realm of Lagos State, where agberos and touts reign supreme. We assert that Nigeria, as a whole, transcends

the narrow scope of a single state and operates on an entirely different scale of governance.”

They noted that considering the use of court orders to impede eligible candidates from exercising their fundamental rights to contest for principal offices in the Senate was not only an affront to the country’s

democracy but also a blatant violation of the principles of justice and fairness.

The groups added: “The Oodua People’s Frontier (OPF) and the Yoruba Patriots Alliance (YPA), stands firmly against any attempt by this administration to undermine our democratic systems.

“We refuse to be silent spectators as our democracy is eroded by the very government entrusted to uphold it. We will resist every encroachment on our democratic institutions with unwavering determination.

The groups added that the people of Nigeria deserve leaders who respect the tenets

of democracy and uphold the principles of good governance.

“We demand that the Bola Ahmed Tinubu-led government refrain from further interference in the electoral process and respect the rights of eligible candidates to contest for principal offices in the National Assembly. ”

L-R: Clack, House of Representatives, Yahaya Danzaria; Clack to the National Assembly, Magaji Sani Tambuwal administering oath of office to the newly elected speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon Tajudeen Abbas during the inauguration of the 10th Assembly, yesterday in Abuja

Democracy: We must unite to build Nigeria – Sanwo-Olu

Gov. Babajide Sanwo-Olu of Lagos State has urged Nigerians, irrespective of tribe, religion and colour, to unite and build the country.

Sanwo-Olu, who was represented by his Deputy, Dr Obafemi Hamzat, made the call at the 30th Anniversary of June 12, 1993 Election at the Late Chief Moshood Abiola (M.K.O Abiola)’s residence in Ikeja.

He said that with unity, a lot would be achieved to elevate the country.

According to him, during the June 12 election, Nigerians came together to vote massively for late Abiola, whom they believed would transform the country.

“It’s really unbelievable that

it’s 30 years. But it just tells us that time waits for nobody. So, time will not wait for our country and it will not wait for all of us.

“All that Chief MKO Abiola wants is good governance. Good governance so that we can elevate the destiny of these 200 million people out of poverty, that’s all.

“However, in his memory, we must remember what happened. Christians, Muslims, everybody came together to vote for a Muslim-Muslim ticket. So we did de-emphasise religion and ethnicity. We came together as a people.

“So, we must unite as a people, come together as a country so that we can build

this nation. It is natural that we have our differences but it is important that we come together to build this nation,” he said.

The governor said that in the memory of all the great men and women who were murdered because of the June 12, 1993 presidential election, citizens must come together to build the nation.

”So the essence is for us as a people to come together and to always say never again shall injustice rule in our country,” he said.

Speaking earlier, M.K.O Abiola’s daughter, Ayo Abiola, thanked the state government for always acknowledging the struggles of her late father.

Abiola said that her late father had had cause to help people who had one problem or the other, hence, he felt that running for and becoming the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria would ensure he transformed lives and Nigeria further.

She said that a testament to the struggle of June 12 was seeing a member, now the president of the country, in the person of President Bola Tinubu.

“So, we hope and we pray and we expect to see great things from this administration, and we know that they will hold the principles of June 12 dear and close to their hearts,” Abiola’s daughter said. (NAN)

Photo: Mahmud Isa

10th Senate President: Amidst tension, Tinubu’s candidate, Akpabio beats Yari 63/46

By Ikechukwu Okaforadi, Musa Adamu & Christiana Ekpa

Senators Godswill Akpabio (Akwa Ibom North West) and Barau Jubril (Kano North), who are the preferred candidates of President Bola Tinubu, amidst tension, emerged as 10th Senate President and Deputy, having defeated former governor of Zamfara State, Abdul-Azeez Yari, with sixty three votes against forty six.

As early as 8am yesterday, all the senators were already seated, while security operatives overran the premises of the National Assembly, in preparation for the exercise. Gaining entrance into the parliament was not just hectic but also frightening.

On the floor of the Senate, the National Assembly Clark, Sani Magaji Tambawal, who read the letter from the President convening the 10th National Assembly, called for nomination of contestants.

At this juncture, Ali Ndume (APC, Borno South) moved a motion nominating Akpabio, while Solomon Olamilekan (APC Ogun West) seconded the motion.

However, when the Clark called for further nominations, Elisha Abbo (APC Adamawa North) moved a motion nominating AbdulAzeez Yari (APC, Zamfara South), but before that motion could be seconded, Senator Tahir Mongunu (APC, Borno North) opposed the motion on the ground that in line with senate standing order, Yari, being a first time senator, is not qualified to contest for Senate President.

Note that before the election day, there were rumors that the security operatives would arrest Yari or prevent him from entering the chambers, as a way to stop him from participating in the election.

It was also in the public knowledge that the President and some APC governors mounted pressure on Yari to suspend his ambition and step down, of which he remained adamant.

With this charged and volatile circumstance in the chamber, the opposition against his nomination by Mongunu shattered the expectation of a peaceful contest, though they later reconciled, as the Clark allowed

Yari’s nomination to stand.

No gain saying the fact that tension rose and nerves flared up barely to the commencement of the exercise, even as supporters of Akpabio, including Olamilekan, Mongunu, Ndume, Dave Umahi, among others, continued to vehemently oppose the nomination of Sen. Yari by Elisha Abbo.

This opposition against Yari threw the chamber into chaos for a while, before the National Assembly Clark, Sani Magaji Tambawal, managed to restore otherliness. As nomination became closed, the stage was set for a straight contest between Yari and Akpabio.

Apparently assuming the rallying point of the opposition lawmakers-elect and aggrieved APC senators who were not comfortable with the zoning formula of the party, Yari eventually caved in to the superior numbers of Akpabio supporters, after about two hours secret balloting.

Immediately after he was announced winner by the returning officer, some APC governors who had stormed the Senate to witness the election, including: Yahaya Bello of Kogi, Hope Uzodinma of Imo, Abdullahi Sue of Nasarawa, Dapo Abiodum of Ogun, Babajide San-Nwolu of Lagos, among others, as well as the new Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF) and former Governor of Kano, Abdullahi Ganduje, and APC National chairman, Abdullahi Adamu, exchange pleasantries with him.

Recall that before yesterday, President Tinubu and the ruling All Progressive Congress (APC) had signified interest in the candidature of Akpabio and Barau as their preferred candidates for both Senate President and Deputy.

However, this choice of the President and APC was not accepted by some northern senators and Northern political stakeholders, including Northern Elders Forum (NEF), who felt marginalised and aggrieved, hence they united behind Yari and Sani Musa to emerge Senate President and Deputy.

Incidentally, senator Jibril

emerged unopposed as his main challenger, Sani Musa shelved his ambition at the last minute, while Yari went on with the contest.

Barau Jibril was nominated by former Governor of Ebonyi State, Dave Umahi, while Kwara Central senator, Salihu Mustapher seconded the motion.

Meanwhile, in his acceptance speech after his victory, Akpabio thanked his colleagues for the confidence reposed in his capacity to lead the 10th Senate, even as he promised to be one among the 109 Senators.

He said his tenure will focus on gender inclusion, sustaining economic and Social welfare and development of the country, especially the January-December budge calendar legacy of the 9th National Assembly.

While urging his colleagues to feel free to approach him on any issue, he expressed confidence that it is a new dawn for the country, having on board as President, a leader who was able to raise the revenue of Lagos State to an enviable heights it is today.

Meanwhile, Speaker of the 10th House of Representatives, Hon. Tajudeen Abbas, who polled 353 votes to be come the 10th Speaker of the National Assembly has declared that his victory for speakership was not just for himself, for all his colleagues, a united House to serve Nigerians, assuring that he will be just and fair to all.

Abbas who disclosed this while giving his first Speech as the 10th Speaker of the House said “This victory is not just about me; it is about all of us coming together as a united House to serve the Nigerian people diligently. It is about honouring the trust that has been placed on us and working tirelessly to deliver on our promises of good governance and effective representation”, he said in his inaugural speech on Tuesday..

He also assured that the House, under his leadership will strive to surpass the achievements recorded by the preceding assembly.

“It is worthy to note that speakership campaign witnessed in the past few months was democracy

at play. But today, all of that has come to pass, and it is time to forge ahead and work together for our people for our common good.

“I do not take this mandate bestowed on me as the Nigerian Speaker for granted. I want to assure you today that I shall be just and fair to every one of you irrespective of our perceived differences. I shall operate a House that you all will be proud of. I shall be guided by the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and the House Rules. Our doors will be open for members of APC, PDP, Labour Party, NNPP, APGA, SDP, ADC and YPP as we strongly believe nation building is a Joint Task.

“Honourable Colleagues, under my watch, the 10th House shall sustain and even surpass the gains of the 9th House. That is my prayer. We shall carry out the TASK before us JOINTLY. We shall introduce reforms and innovations for the benefit of Nigerians. In a few weeks, we shall be reeling out the legislative agenda that will shape the 10th House of Representatives”, he stated.

Speaking further, the Speaker said “My dear colleagues, those of us that were privileged to serve in the just concluded 9th House of Representatives will attest to the fact that appreciable successes had been recorded under my predecessor, Rt. Hon. Femi Hakeem Gbajabiamila, CFR, who from tomorrow, will assume office as the Chief of Staff

to the President/Commander-inChief of the Armed Forces, Federal Republic of Nigeria.

“I will like to congratulate him for finishing his tenure as Speaker successfully and for his new national assignment. The former Speaker remains a great Nigerian whose service to fatherland in the past 20 years as a legislator is unmatched. I commend him for his sacrifices for Nigeria and his support for the new 10th House of Representatives”.

“We shall work closely and interdependently with the Executive and Judiciary to give Nigerians the good governance they deserve. We stand at a crucial juncture in our nation’s history, where challenges abound, but so do opportunities. We will champion legislations that will uplift the lives of our fellow citizens, promote social justice, and drive sustainable development.

“We will focus on strengthening our security apparatus, collaborating with relevant stakeholders to combat insurgency, terrorism, and all forms of criminalities. We aim to help create a safe and secure environment that fosters economic growth and social stability.

“Through legislations, the 10th House will promote entrepreneurship and support small and medium-scale enterprises. We shall diversify our economy and provide sustainable employment opportunities for our youth. We are aware of the challenges in our education, healthcare, and infrastructure sectors amongst other.

Police arrest over 20 arsonists over Oju crisis

From Uche Nnorom, Makurdi

Over twenty persons have been arrested by the Benue State Police Command over wanton destruction of property in Oju local government area of the state.

The suspects were arrested on Sunday morning at the scene of crime while destroying and setting ablaze property following disagreement on Saturday over

where to site a school in the locality by a firm which agreed to build one for them.

Our correspondent who was at the parade of the suspected arsonists at the command headquarters of the Benue State police, Makurdi, on Tuesday disclosed that the commissioner of police, CP Alawari Okoro, ordered them to be charged to court immediately after interrogation.

The Police Public Relations’ officer,

SP Catherine Anene who briefed the media, said no life was lost but that peace has been restored in the communities.

SP Anene said a firm had promised to build a school for the communities but at the point of agreeing to a location where it will be built, they all left for the day only to wake up the next morning which was on a Sunday morning where some youths started destroying property and set close to twenty houses ablaze.

“When police and some other security agencies got there, they found some youths at the scene still wrecking havoc before they were arrested.”

The Police image maker, described the scale of damage done by the suspected arsonists as ‘massive’, saying no one is allowed to take laws into their hands and assured that they all will be prosecuted according to the law.

L-R: Former President, Muhammadu Buhari welcome the Emir of Kano, Alh. Aminu Ado Bayero, during the Emir’s visit to former President at his Daura Home in Katsina State, yesterday.

•As new Speaker, Abbas scored 353 votes to defeat Jaji, Wase

Osun Election: Tribunal okays Action Alliance petitions, approves change of Counsel

From: Femi Oyelola, Kaduna

Osun State Elections Petition Tribunal sitting in Osogbo, the state capital has ruled that the Action Alliance (AA) should continue with its petition against the state House of Assembly election held in the state.

The tribunal also declared that the party has the right to change its counsel as the law allows petitioners to change their counsels as they may deem fit.

The Action Alliance had challenged the results of the last House of Assembly election held in 22 out of the 26 constituencies in the state.

Also, the party is challenging the results of the National Assembly election in all the three senatorial districts and the nine federal constituencies.

At the sitting of the Tribunal yesterday, the AA expressed its willingness to change its counsel to Onyinye Nweze.

The party had initially engaged the services of Mr Muhydeen Adeoye for its petitions, but later terminated his engagement.

Adeoye who was represented by Kafayat Sanusi at the Tribunal alleged that the law firm of Adeoye paid the security cost, but this was challenged by the national chairman of the party, Dr Adekunle Rufai Omoaje who was also present in court.

Omoaje had told the tribunal that his party engaged the services of Kunle Adegoke SAN and no other person, adding that the transfer of the legal services was not known to him.

Omoaje told the tribunal that the party prefers the services of Nweze and this was upheld by the three member tribunal.

The tribunal adjourned to August 15 for hearing.

Addressing insecurity requires whole-of-society approach

Addressing the volatile, uncertain and ambiguous nature of security challenges globally, requires whole-of-society approach.

The declaration was made in Abuja on Tuesday by the Commandant, National Defence College (NDC), Rear Adm. Murtala Bashir.

He was addressing the opening of a Strategic Analysis Course organised by the NDC for participants of Course 31 and others from defence and services headquarters and Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs).

He recalled that there were crises, insurgencies, terrorism and conflicts globally such as between Russia and Ukraine and in Sudan and the Middle East.

“The world is becoming more volatile, uncertain and it is becoming increasingly difficult to predict the outcomes of the crises.

“The world is becoming more complex and it is difficult to understand the nature of some of these conflicts. Nonstate actors are now challenging the authorities of sovereign nations.

“The battle line is becoming

undefined. Belligerents are becoming undefined and nongovernmental organisations are fuelling some of these crises.

“We have to examine how we can further build our capacity to understand these issues; to critically analyse them so that we can comprehensively address them and also predict future developments,’’ he said.

The commandant explained that the objective of the course was to enable participants to identify, define, and analyse issues to be able to predict future developments and proffer desired solutions.

Bashir said the NDC

believed in the whole-of-society approach to addressing national security and developmental challenges hence the need to build capacity of participants.

“We have to invite participants from services headquarters, ministries, departments and agencies so that we can have a comprehensive approach to addressing our challenges.

“The military cannot address challenges alone. It has to adopt the whole-of-nation approach, for instance to tackle insurgency and terrorism,’’ he said.

(NAN)

NCWS pledges support for Tinubu on inclusiveness in governance

The National Council for Women Societies (NCWS) has pledged to work with President Bola Tinubu to actualise his promise to ensure adequate women representation in his administration.

The National President of NCWS, Hajiya Lami Lau, made the pledged on Monday in Abuja while congratulating the President and Nigerians on the 2023 Democracy Day celebration.

Lau said that an allinclusive government was

crucial to nation building and transformation of the country, adding that increased participation of female technocrats in politics would reposition the country for greatness.

According to her, democracy has come a long way in Nigeria, “but women representation over time has continued to be a thing of discourse.

”The nation’s development will have been better if women were given adequate representation since the inception of democracy.

“Over the years, Nigeria has consistently ranked poorly on the global gender equality index, with failed gender bills, violence against women and girls, and poor economic participation.

“If more women are given the opportunity to serve in various government positions, they will bring hope back to the masses and the society will benefit.

“There cannot be any meaningful development without an all-inclusive government of women, youths

and persons with disabilities,” she said.

Lau said that the council has full confidence in the President and the first lady, a patron of NCWS, on his 35 per cent promise of women inclusion in governance.

“We will sensitise the women, work with relevant agencies and the National Assembly on legislation that will promote female employment in all government offices, ministries and agencies as promised by the president,’’ she said. (NAN)

L-R: Chief of Staff to the President, Rt. Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila; Speaker of House of Representatives, Tajudeen Abbas; President Bola Ahmed Tinubu; Deputy Speaker of House of Representatives, Benjamin Kalu and Presidential Spoke man, Dele Alake during the speaker’s visit to the president at the Presidential Villa Abuja yesterday

Let’s cooperate to move Kano forward, governor Abba tasks new lawmakers

From Mustapha Adamu, Kano

Kano state Governor, Engineer Abba Kabir Yusuf has sought for the support and cooperation of the legistilative arm of government to the executive for harmonious working relationships between the dou for the betterment and speedy development of the state.

Jigawa 8th Assembly: Citizens protest against imposition of speaker

From Mika’il Tsoho, Dutse

Thousands of Jigawa youths embarked on peaceful demonstration against imposition of speaker to lead 8th assembly in the state.

The peaceful demonstration which was organised by APC north-northwest Youth Alliance for good governance, Jigawa state chapter took place at Assembly premises and government house Dutse.

Speaking on behalf of the protesters, the secretary general of the group, Adamu Muhammad Na’ Allah Jahun described the demonstration as a visit to sensitize members - elect on the need to elect individuals with passion for the state and capacity to collaborate with the executive, to bring sustainable development to the state.

According to the group, the only way governor Namadi will redeem his campaign promises was to have a vibrant 8th assembly where both the executive and legislative will work in harmony as well as in the best interest of Jigawa.

He maintained that the demonstration also will inform the legislators to allow internal cohesion to prevail in their quest for new leadership in the house.

“We shall advise the members elect, to resist any temptation, intimidation and coercion by external forces, to undermine the process”, he said.

Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf made the call when he received the new leadership and members of Kano state house of Assembly elected on the platform of New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNP) under the new Speaker Rt. Hon,. Jibril Ismail Falgore who called on him at the government house immediately after the swearingin of the tenth assembly.

In a statement by Sanusi Bature Dawakin Tofa, his Chief Press Secretary, the Governor

congratulated the new leadership and other members of the house for the inauguration of the new assembly and prayed to Almighty Allah to guide in the discharge of their legislative responsibilities and relate with other arms of government peacefully.

“We assure you of the readiness of our Administration to work as two arms of government so as to take our dear state to greater heights. Your cooperation is seriously

needed in that direction as we are all working for a common goal, that is the repositioning of Kano” said the Governor.

The new Speaker, Rt. Hon. Jibril Ismail Falgore said they visited the Governor to introduce the new leadership and members of the new assembly to him and affirmed the willingness to work with the executive arm to achieve the desired goals.

According to Rt. Hon. Falgore “ your excellency in not

more than two weeks of your administration, what you have achieved clearly indicates your vision and passion for Kano and we are solidly behind you in this appreciable gesture”

Part of the speaker’s entourage were his deputy Muhammad Bello Butu-Butu, majority leader, Lawan Hussani Dala, deputy majority leader, Hon. Garba Shehu Fammar, the Chief Whip Muddasir Ibrahim Zawachiki and other members of the assembly.

Akpabio, Abbas’ election good devt -Tinubu

By Egena Sunday Ode

President Bolas Tinubu

has congratulated the National Assembly for the peaceful conduct of the process that produce Senator Godswill Akpabio and Tajudeen Abbas at President of the Senate and Speaker of the House of Representatives respectively.

Tinubu said it was time to get on with the real business of governance, adding that he would offer himself as a partner for peace, progress and prosperity of the country.

He stated this in a statement he personally signed.

His words: “The election of Distinguished Senator Godswill Akpabio, CON and Rt. Honourable Tajudeen Abbas as the President of the Senate and Speaker of the House of Representatives for the 10th National Assembly is a good development.

I heartily congratulate them and also rejoice with the new Deputy Senate President Jibril Barau and House of Representatives Deputy Speaker Benjamin Kalu for their well-

•Says he remains partner for progress, prosperity

deserved victories.

Being elected by their peers as presiding officers and assuming the leadership of the National Assembly is a great honour that comes with huge responsibility.

I trust that you will justify the confidence reposed in you by your members and many Nigerians.

I wish Senator Abdulaziz Yari, Honourable member Idris Wase and Honourable Aminu Jaji who enriched the process with their participation in the leadership election the best and a successful tenure in the 10th National Assembly.

I urge them to sustain the same level of enthusiasm they brought to the leadership contest in the discharge of their duties to their constituents and Nigeria.

My congratulations to all members of the National Assembly, across party lines, who, today, enlisted into the service of the blessed people of our great country.

We have all been called upon and accepted the responsibility

to diligently and faithfully serve our fatherland with the oath we took. It is time to get on and move swiftly with the business of governance in the service of Nigeria.

As your President, I am prepared to transparently work with the National Assembly. Nigerians expect distinguished Senators and Honourable members to make laws and carry out oversight duties that will enhance the performance of government to achieve successful outcomes including improving their quality of life.

In the course of our work together, disagreements may occur. When we disagree it will not be out of malice, ill-will and quest to diminish the institution of National Assembly or any individual member.

Our people across the length and breadth of our country expect so much from us. They want us to lift their economic burden. They want us eliminate insecurity so our farmers in rural communities

can go to their farms and produce the food we eat.

Our people look up to us to change the fortune of our country for good and remove all barriers that impede progress. All of these we can make happen with dedication and commitment. We can only achieve all the good things we promised during our campaigns when we work together in harmony but with respect for our respective prerogatives and in the best interest of our country.

We cannot afford to waste this opportunity because Nigerians want us to make every day of the next four years count. Justifiably, our people want more from their government. They truly deserve progressive good governance that will improve their standards of living. We must give them our best.

I will remain a partner in progress for peace, stability and prosperity of Nigeria. I count on the leadership of the 10th National Assembly and all members to work and walk with me on this governmental journey.

Once again, I send my best wishes.”

Niger APC stalwart sues former COS Balarabe claiming N2b damages

From Yakubu Mustapha Minna

An All Progressives Congress stalwart in Niger state, Alhaji Abubakar Katcha has instituted case claiming N2 billion damages against the immediate past Chief of Staff Alhaji Ibrahim Balarabe for malicious prosecution that was later discharge and acquitted.

The case instituted in High Court 3 Minna presided over by Justice Maryam Mahmood, the plaintiff counsels Anietie U.J Udoh Esq and Opeyemi Makinde

Esq have told the court to order the defendant to pay a sum of N1 billion general damages for malicious prosecution.

The Court directed the Ibrahim Balarabe to also pay the plaintiff another N1 billion for been aggreviated and or examplary damages as well directed the defendant to publish public apology to the plaintiff in three different national newspapers.

Meanwhile, an order of the court awarding substantial sum as the court may assess as cost the suit in favour of the plaintiff,

as well as an order directing the plaintiff to pay to the defendant 10% interest per month on the sum to be awarded above released from the date of judgement debt is fully and finally liquidated.

The plaintiff who is one of the founding fathers of the All Progressives Congress APC in Niger state, Alhaji Abubakar Katcha was arrested, detained and prosecuted from 4/12/2019 to 10/12/2021.

The former Chief of Staff COS, Alhaji Ibrahim Balarabe petitioned the plaintiff for

criminal case for inciting the public on various social media platforms and insult the government, governor’s immediate family and constituted themselves to be security threat. The case which was handled by Minna magistrate court two later discharge and acquitted the case against Katcha for lack of merit which was not appeal after 30 days of judgement.

The notice of the case hearing has been slated for 27/6/2023 by the High Court 3 Minna.

Fintiri swears in SSG, Attorney General, as Bathiya emerges 8th Assembly Speaker in Adamawa

From Umar Dankano,Yola

Governor Ahmadu Umaru Fintiri of Adamawa state has sworn some new appointees including Secretary to the state government,SSG,Head of Civil Service,HOS and the Attorney General and Commissioner of Justice.

Those sworn in were Barrister Auwal Tukur as SSG,Mal.Shehu Isa Ardo as Head of Service,Usman Ahmad as Auditor General and Barrister Afraimu Jingi as Attorney General and Commissioner of Justice.

Presiding over the swearing ceremony at Government House Yola Tuesday, Fintiri congratulated the appointees and urged them to foster unity of purpose and engage in efforts that will help the present administration to deliver.

He assured the appointees maximum support of government to enable them discharge their duties that will benefit the people of the state.

The new Secretary to the State Government (SSG) Barrister Auwal Tukur while responding on behalf of other appointees pledged to do their best in the course of discharging their responsibilities.

At the ceremony,the Chief Judge Justice Hafsat Abdulrahman administered the oath of office and allegiance on the Attorney General and Commissioner of Justice Barrister Afraimu Jingi and thereafter Barrister Jingi administered same on the Head of Service and State Auditor General.

Meanwhile,the Adamawa state Assembly members have elected Hon.Bathiya Wesley of Hong constituency as the speaker of the 8th state Assembly.

Wesley emerged in Yola Tuesday during the official inauguration of the 8th Assembly with member representing Jada/Mbulo.Hon.

Muhammad Buba Jijiwa elected as the deputy speaker among others.

Yobe Microfinance Bank to launch official POS terminal

By Muhammad Maitela, Damaturu

The Yobe Microfinance Bank will launch its official Point of Sale Terminals for small and retail businesses.

This was made known by the Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer MD/CEO, Prof. Sheriff Almuhajir as part of the management renewed commitment for expansion and growth as one of the leading Microfinance Bank in the country.

AlMuhajir said that the Bank is set to introduce its own electronic Point of Sale POS software systems using its own NIP routed through NIBBS and Interswitch platforms named ‘YOCASH’.

He said “YOCASH is a payment gateway system that is designed to streamline retail operations by automating the transaction process and tracking important sales data. Basic features of the system include an electronic cash register and software to coordinate data

collected from daily purchases.”

According to him, retailers can increase functionality by installing a network of data-capture devices, including card readers and barcode scanners.

“The main objective of this innovation was to compete favourably with all the available payment gateways in the country.

It is our knowledge that the bank needs to have more financial experts, willing investors and promising partners as vendors and

retailers to make this successful, but with our principle of one step at a time, all these shall be overcome insha Allah.” Almuhajir said.

The Managing Director reiterated commitment of the Yobe Microfinance Bank to increase opportunities for the poor to access financial services by providing financial services to low income entrepreneurs, mobilizing deposits, loans recovery and support to urban and rural traders and small scale farmers.

Suspected kidnapper slumps, dies while trying to escape arrest - Police

From Ahmad Muhammad, Bauchi

The Nigeria Police Force Bauchi State Command has explained that a suspected kidnapper who was part of a syndicate that abducted a 23-yearold student of the Bauchi State University Gadau, slumped and died while trying to escape arrest at a military checkpoint in Azare.

The Command Police Public Relations Officer, Mohammed Ahmed Wakil, stated this yesterday in a statement distributed to reporters in Bauchi. He said “the deceased and two

others who kidnapped the student were said to have also snatched a Toyota Camry 2010 model which they used in taking their victim away, but they ran out of luck when they got to a military checkpoint mounted by operatives of the 133 Special Forces Battalion Battalion based in Azare, Katagum Local Government Area of Bauchi state, where they were promptly arrested”.

Wakil said , the deceased immediately escaped at the scene of the arrest but suddenly slumped and was rushed to the Federal Medical Center, Azare

where he was certified dead by a medical doctor.

He said that two other suspects were handed over to the Command by troops of the Special Forces Battalion.

He said: “Based on interagency collaboration towards complementing the constitutional mandates of the Police as a lead Agency in maintaining the internal security, six suspects were handed over to the Command by operatives of 133 Special Forces Battalion based in Azare, Bauchi state.

“Preliminary investigation

uncovered that the suspects kidnapped a 23-year old student of Bauchi State University, Gadau, residing at Federal Low Cost of Azare town, Bauchi state and whisked away the victim along with a snatched Toyota Camry 2010 with Reg No. (Withheld), took their victim swiftly headed to the Misau town route.

“Upon receiving the distress call, the military stationed at the checkpoint responded immediately and intercepted the stolen vehicle alongside the suspects.

Communal clash claims one, several houses burnt

From Uche Nnorom, Makurdi

Renewed fighting between Mbasombo Community and Mbaivur Community of Ikpayongo in Gwer East local government has claimed one life

An indigene of the area who pleaded anonymity told Peoples’ Daily on phone yesterday Tuesday that an indigene of Mbaivur was killed by Mbasombo people while he was working on his farm last

Friday.

He said after the incident, the people demanded that the perpetrators be brought to book evem as they gave them a timeline.

Unable to produce the perpetrators after the time frame given had elapsed even when the Police were involved, the Mbaivur people went on reprisal attack.

“Some people died during this crisis and they were kept

in the mortuary and when this man was killed in his farm, last Friday, they removed the corpses from the mortuary. It was during their burial, that those who killed the man came and started shooting sporadically.

“However, the people succeeded in burying the five persons and after that, not satisfied with what happened, Mbaivur people came and attacked Mbasombo people

leading to the burning down of a market square. I wouldn’t know if there are casualties”, the witness said.

When contacted, Benue State Police Command Public Relations’ Officer SP Catherine Anene confirmed the incident, stating that several houses were burnt but there were no casualties.

She said policemen were swiftly despatched to the area to maintain peace.

Benue group urges FG to intervene in killings

From

Uche

Nnorom, Makurdi

Agroup known as Shitile Development Association (SDA), Makurdi branch in Benue State has passsionately appealed to the Federal Government to intervene in the area over the recent killing of 40 people in different places of Shitile, Katsina-Ala Local Government Area of the state.

In a letter of intervention written to the state government and signed by its President, Door Samuel and Secretary General, Zuai Ephraim, the group called on the Federal Goverment to rescue the people by intervening without delay to save them from

the calamity which had befallen them.

They said the lingering and sporadic killings which had bedeviled the Shitile people and land in communities within Kastina-Ala, Logo LGAs of Benue State and some parts of Taraba State had risen to an unbearable crescendo in the past two weeks.

“These wanton killings are now being orchestrated with reckless abandon and mostly at night. Most disturbing also, is the fact that the identity of the perpetrators is hardly known nor the reason for their actions disclosed.

“Though due to the fear of general insecurity, it is difficult

to move from village to village to gather exact statistics, hordes of lives have been horrendously eliminated in several villages across the land such that the whole land is thrown into wailing and mourning,” the group stated.

They further explained that after the dust settled on the June 4 shooting by gunmen at Imande Mbakange village market in Mbacher council ward, a total of 28 people were killed occasioned by corpses picked up at different points.

The group added that on the same day, in Michihe council ward, six other people were slaughtered while another six on same night were killed at

Achamegh village, Mbagene Kpav, bringing the total number of those killed to 40 in just one night.

They however lamented the situation of three others badly injured during the attacks who are now receiving treatment in the hospital and the destruction of houses as well as valuables in affected places.

“As these barbaric acts continue, our helpless people who escaped death are fleeing the land, deserting their homes and farmlands for safety. We observe sadly also that, as our people are fleeing, herders are occupying these areas and grazing freely on our farms,” the group posited.

By Abubakar Yunusa Abuja

Justice Ambrose Lewis

Allagoa of the Federal High Court, Court 3, Ikoyi Lagos has fixed July 21st for the commencement of trial of Mr Michael Ukiye Diongoli, and his two companies, UK Dion Group and UK Dion Investment Limited on a 61 count charge of defrauding unsuspecting investors to the tune of over N3.7b.

Diongoli and his companies are alleged to have between 2021 and 2022 with intent to defraud, conspired among themselves to obtain money from several individuals and organisations including Dr. Basil Onugu, Prof. Oyekachi Green Nwankwo, FSL Securities Ltd, Catholic Charismatic Renewal, MTN Employer Cooperative, Col Chukwu Tengu rtd. and Nigerian Army Welfare Insurance Scheme among others.

The defendants are accused of pretending to be registered financial institution into wealth management, invited customers to pay money into their accounts and fix it for a period ranging from 6 months to one year with interest, a statement the defendant knew to be false and committed an offence contrary to Section 1(1) of the Advanced Fee Fraud and other Fraud Related to Offenses Act, 2006 and punishable under Section 1(3) of the same Act.

According to the Charge “That you Micheal Ukiye Diongoli, Dion Investment Limited and others at large between MRCH 2021 and May 2022 in Lagos Nigeria, within the jurisdiction of the Federal High Court of Nigeria with intent to defraud fraudulently obtained several sums of money to UK Dion under the pretence that you are a registered financial institution, and you are into wealth Management wherein customers were invited to pay money into your account, fix it for a period ranging from 6 months to one year and the customer will get the money invested with interest, a statement the victims believed, which you knew to be false and you thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 1(1) of the Advanced Fee Fraud and other Fraud Related to Offenses Act, 2006 and punishable under Section 1(3) of the same Act”.

When the charges were read to the defendant, Micheal Ukiye Diongoli pleaded not guilty to all 61 counts, Justice Allagoa thereafter set July 21, 2023as the date for the commencement of the trial.

Mr Diongoli, and his two companies, UK Dion Group and UK Dion Investment Limited are also facing a criminal summons by Justice Zainab Abubakar of the Federal High Court in Abuja on charges of operating without the Liscence of the Securities

N3.7bn scam: UK Dion, Diongoli arraigned on 61 count charge

and Exchange Commission.

In the two count charge brought against Michael Ukiye Diongoli, UK Dion Group And UK –Dion Investment Limited all of No. 21 Buhari Street, Peace Court Estate, Lokogoma, Abuja, they are alleged to have on or between the year 2021 and 2022 within the jurisdiction of the honourable court did commit a felony to wit: conspired among

themselves together with their staff to do an illegal act –diversion of investment funds to the tune of over N3.6billion belonging to the investing public which includes Basil Onugu, Elizabeth Umenwa Nwankwo, Adetoun Sokoni, Ezeogu Victoria Ndozi and others you thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under Section 516 of Criminal Code Act, laws of

the Federation, 2004.

“That you Michael Ukiye Diongoli, UK Dion Group And UK –Dion Investment Limited all of No. 21 Buhari Street Peace Court Estate, Lokogoma, Abuja, they are alleged to have on or between the year 2021 and 2022 within the jurisdiction of the Federal High and together with your other staff, did commit a felony to wit: diverted investment funds

to the tune of over N3.6billion belonging to the investing public which includes Basil Onugu, Elizabeth Umenwa Nwankwo, Adetoun Sokoni, Ezeogu Victoria Ndozi and others you thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 383(2) F of Criminal Code Act, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004 and punishable under Section 390(7) of the same Act”.

Gbajabiamila hails Tinubu for signing student’s loan bill into law

By Christiana Ekpa

The outgoing Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rep. Femi Gbajabiamila, has commended President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for signing the Student’s Loan (Access to Higher Education) Bill, 2019 into law.

Gbajabiamila said the future of the country had just been guaranteed and strengthened with the new law as no Nigerian child would be denied access to tertiary education on account of lack of financial resources.

According to Gbajabiamila, who sponsored the bill, President Tinubu has shown enough determination and empathy with Nigerians to deliver good governance, considering the people-oriented and life-changing legislation he

has signed into law within the short period of his assumption of office.

Gbajabiamila noted that the hardship being faced by the unemployed and low-income earners, coupled with the very high cost of living in Nigeria over the years had made access to quality higher education difficult, stressful and in some cases, impossible.

He also stated that a welleducated citizenry was critical to national development and our nation’s ability to compete in the global economy, arguing that higher education should be regarded as a public good benefiting the entire country rather than a commodity solely benefiting the individual recipients.

The legislation provides for the establishment of the Nigerian Education Fund, domiciled with the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) from which qualified applicants can access education loans through the commercial banks in the country.

Gbajabiamila, who is the Chief of Staff (CoS) designate to President Tinubu, said the assent to the bill by the President was a testimony and an indication of a smooth legislature-executive relationship in his tenure as President.

“When the actions of the President are viewed critically and without prejudice, it is reassuring that Nigerians are bound to enjoy good governance if the Legislature and the

Executive will continue this symbiotic relationship that has brought massive change into governance within such a short period in the life of this administration.

“While I congratulate Nigerians on this new feat, I will equally implore our indigent youths to maximize the advantage of the new law that will enable them to chart the future they crave for themselves”, he added.

Gbajabiamila however noted that considering the patriotic steps and decisions made so far by the President, Nigerians should keep supporting and praying for the President in his strides to bring to bear good governance for the benefit of the greater majority of Nigerians.

L-R: Deputy Senate President, Send. Jibrin Barau taking oath of Office before the clerk of the National Assembly, Alh. Sani Tambuwal, during the Inauguration of the 10th Assembly, yesterday in Abuja. Photo: Mahmud Isa

•rejoices with Nigerian parents, youths

NSCC lays solid structures, partnership for older persons in 2 years - DG

By Albert Akota

The Director General of the National Senior Citizens Centre, (NSCC) Dr. Emem Omokaro has said that the body has used two years in laying solid structures, designing programs as well building partnerships for the betterment of older persons in Nigeria.

Dr. Omokaro who disclosed this at the weekend during maiden media luncheon in Abuja, emphasized that the coming year is going to see a rollout of so many of these programs for the betterment of older persons.

According to her, “We are really looking forward in engaging the Governor’s Forum and then finding the focal points in the states.

Since we cannot put up state offices, we will find focal points in their State Assembly and their Executive arms to ensure that they understand the vision and they can also be passionate about including their older people.

“We have gained so much in our partnership with NDE, SMEDAN and other partners. It is now for us to leverage on their nationwide structures and then increase the tempo of our penetration into the states to reach out to older persons as fast as possible.

“I also look forward to our care quality assurance, seeing us roll out the national benchmark and minimum curricular for training, certifying and registering care agencies, caregivers and then rolling out this agency model where these agencies and caregivers can be sent to homes”, she stated.

She noted that having been able to mainstream geriatric social care into the national skills framework which has now made it a skill that is classified and recognized, the Agency is really looking forward to rolling that out so as to get quality care to older citizens.

She also recognized the efforts of the media in promoting the activities of the Agency, as well as bringing issues affecting older persons to the forefront.

The DG used the opportunity to award the Nigerian Television Authority (NTA) for its partnership with the Agency by providing a platform to ensure smooth and easy broadcast of NSCC’s activities to Nigerians and the world at large.

Sarkin Daji emerges as Niger Assembly 10th Speaker

From Yakubu Mustapha Minna

Member representing Mariga constituency, Abdulmalik Sarkin-Daji has emerged as the Speaker of the 10th Niger state House of Assembly.

Sarkin-Daji, an All Progressive Congress (APC-Mariga) and a first- time lawmaker, was nominated by Engineer Mohammed Haruna (APC-

Bida two ) while Abdulrahman Gambo (APC-Borgu) seconded the motion.

Mrs Afiniki Dauda (APCGurara) was equally elected as the Deputy Speaker after nomination by Pharmacist Umar Nasir (APC-Paiko) and was seconded by Bello Bako (APC-Rijau).

The Clerk of the Assembly Abdullahi Kagara, thereafter, administered the Oath of Office

and Alligence on the nominated Speaker and Deputy Speaker.

In the same vein, the speaker announced that the state working committee of APC recommended and approved Idris Musa Vatsa (APC-Lapai) as the majority leader and Mohammed Abubakar (APCChanchaga) as the chief whip of the assembly and Mohammed Garba (APC-Agwara) as deputy majority leader.

He added that the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) also approved Andrew Doma (PDPShiroro) as Minority Leader and Ndagi Zakari (PDP-Mokwa) as Deputy Minority Leader.

In his acceptance speech, the speaker, Abdulmalik Sarkin-Daji said accountability, transpersncy and integrity will be their guiding principle, assuring of cordial working relationship with the executive.

Democracy Day: We can achieve greatness together, says Fintiri

From Umar Dankano,Yola

Governor Ahmadu Umaru

Fintiri of Adamawa state has threw a passionate aopeal to citizens in the state to rally round his second term administration for more devidends of democracy.

Governor Fintiri made the appeal while extending his felicitations to citizens of the State and country at large on the occasion of Democracy Day celebrations held yesterday.

In a press statement issued in Yola on Monday by the Fintiri’s Chief Press Secretary,Mr. Humwashi Wonosikou and made available to the media indicated that, the Governor who expressed delight over Nigeria’s unbroken democracy since the return to civil rule in 1999 described it as the triumph of freedom.

“Twenty-seven years ago, we witnessed a scene that had once seemed impossible -- an election where, for the first time,

the people of this nation had a choice-unanimously agreeing to ensure democracy thrives.”

Governor Fintiri noted that though it was thwarted, 1999 saw a new beginning as the event turned out to be a landslide victory for freedom as it ushered in the beginning of the end of military rule.

“And we have seen the extraordinary progress since that time. As Nigeria today is standing tall as proud democracies.

“Regrettably, despite our state being a peaceful one,the recent ugly happenings of the Adamawa election where some elements tried to subvert the will of the people.

“I am commending the resilience of those who stood to preserve democracy by ensuring the right thing is done.

“We must never forget that the spark for so much of this revolution, this blossoming of hope, was lit by you, the people of Adamawa. It was the culmination

of the struggles of those who rose up and finally won and those who resisted enemies of democracy.

“History will remember you for standing for the truth. You are our heroes of democracy.

“This is the Nigeria we celebrate today. The free and democratic nation that our forebears and some who are here today dreamed of and fought for and, in some cases, died for.”The statement added.

While commending the spirit of oneness exhibited by Nigerians 27 years ago, Governor Fintiri urged for a return to that kind of spirit where a projected 14 million Nigerians – ignored tribe, religion, class, sectional propensity and even harsh conditions to elect their president with the hope of instituting representative governance and enjoying the dividends of democracy; a process that was, however, tragically annulled.

Governor Fintiri said that the people must learn to imbibe that

spirit they were once known for and put away sentiments and see ourselves first as Nigerians for the much needed change.

Meanwhile, in commemoration of the 2023 Democracy Day, Governor Ahmadu Umaru Fintiri has granted pardon to two prisoners in the state stressing that, the inmates were granted pardon based on their good conducts right from the different dates of their conviction.

“In the spirit of the 2023 Democracy Day, and in the exercise of the powers conferred on me as Governor in Section 212 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic Of Nigeria 1999 (As Amended), after due consultation with The State Advisory Council On Prerogative of Mercy, I have granted various categories of pardon to two prisoners for their good conduct. The two Prisoners as aforementioned should have the remainder of their sentences remitted whole.”

Members of the 10the National Assembly, taking their oath of Office, during the Inauguration of the 10th Assembly, yesterday in Abuja. Photo: Mahmud Isa

Of Tinubu, legislative aspirants and compromised watchdogs

By Felix Oboagwina

For The Presidency to meddle in the election of officers of the twin arms of the National Assembly defies the Doctrine of the Separation of Powers, enshrined to guarantee the checks and balances germane to the sustenance and survival of democracy and among its three arms. This groundwork for the most disingenuous rape of the Constitution and the Nigerian people is being cooked by the ruling party and Nigerians need to rise and save themselves.

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has today become the darling of all those in the leadership race of the 10th National Assembly, NASS. Aspiring legislative officers and their lobbyists have turned Aso Rock to another Mecca, making unending pilgrimages there to curry the favour of the new deity in the shrine.

Under former Rivers State’s Governor Nyesom Wike and Oyo State’s Governor Seyi Makinde, the G5 governors of the opposition People’s Democratic Party (PDP) have visited Aso Rock. They came lobbying for a contestant. Tinubu (BAT) hosted House of Representatives members and senators at the weekend; where he placed the matter before them. Vice President Kashim Shettima has weighed in, telling the senators and House of Representatives to kowtow to the party and the President on their choice of leadership of the Tenth Assembly.

Obviously, the Executive of Tinubu-Shettima is angling to back one candidate and generally dictate the lineup of the next leadership of the Legislature.

This ought not to be so. The choice of who leads the National Assembly is none of BAT’s business. It is not his call. It is not the call of the Executive to say who leads the Legislature. Doing so amounts to a bastardisation of the Constitution and our democracy.

One major contestant for Senate President is Senator Godswill Akpabio, former Minister for the Niger Delta and former Governor of Akwa Ibom State. The man from the South-South is the one the National Executive Committee (NEC) of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) has anointed and to whom it has micro-zoned the position of Senate President. Accusing the party of failing to create a level playing field, party VIPs have kicked, especially fellow aspirants who are irritated by the micro-zoning to one single individual. Tinubu wants Akpabio as Senate President, and he has not hidden it.

By the way, APC that ran a Muslim-Muslim presidential election finally got it right on the matter of reserving the post

of Senate President for a Christian.

For The Presidency to meddle in the election of officers of the twin arms of the National Assembly defies the Doctrine of the Separation of Powers, enshrined to guarantee the checks and balances germane to the sustenance and survival of democracy and among its three arms. This groundwork for the most disingenuous rape of the Constitution and the Nigerian people is being cooked by the ruling party and Nigerians need to rise and save themselves.

The Constitution designates powers for the three arms of our democracy:

Concerning the Legislature, it says in Section 4(1), “The legislative powers of the Federal Republic of Nigeria shall be vested in a National Assembly for the Federation, which shall consist of a Senate and a House of Representatives.”

In no way is the Legislature subject to the Presidency a.k.a. the Executive. Legislative powers are only subject to the Judiciary, not and never to the Executive. It says in Section 4(8): “Save as otherwise provided by this Constitution, the exercise of legislative powers by the National Assembly or by a House of Assembly shall be subject to the jurisdiction of courts of law and of judicial tribunals established by law, and accordingly, the National Assembly or a House of Assembly shall not enact any law, that ousts or purports to oust the jurisdiction of a court of law or of a judicial tribunal established by law.”

Constitutionally, what are the role and functions of the NASS? Apart from making laws, the Legislature is vested with the power to carry out oversight on the Executive and all its Ministries, Departments and Agencies, MDAs. On a good day, to the Executive, the fear of the Legislature is the beginning of wisdom. But over the years, the power of the Legislature has been emasculated. President Olusegun Obasanjo did it, overreaching himself to determine who climbed to and fell from legislative leadership. Legislative leaders became the rubberstamp for Muhammadu Buhari. It could not have been otherwise with the way they emerged, and Senators Ahmad Lawan and Ovie Omo-Agege scurrying off to see the President in Aso Rock immediately they were elected Senate President and Deputy in 2019. Their inglorious tenure masturbated Buhari’s excesses and infamy, passing laws most damaging to the country’s socio-economic health, with a N71-trillion debt profile and stupendous corruption. Can we afford that again?

If the Legislature must carry out oversight and scrutiny of the Executive, should The Presidency dictate who carries out that function? Can a student pick his own examiner? Which

suspect picks his own Judge?

Tinubu cannot dictate who will check, restrain and moderate him. Allowing him to do so is dangerous to national health. The country can ill afford a chummy, paddy-paddy relationship between the Legislature and the Executive. As the democratic watchdog, the Legislature must stand aloof, watching, barking and biting with alacrity and objectivity.

Power corrupts and absolute power corrupts absolutely. The Tinubu, whom people know, knows power; and he has shown capacity to exploit power. Having ridden into power on the back of Afenifere in 1999, he turned around to use the power to decimate the organisation. Next, he pocketed the State Legislature as Governor and later as godfather in Lagos. What Jagaban has done in Lagos, no man has done with any state in this country. Tinubu knows, lives, loves and uses power. For him, democracy is a tool to acquire power –QED!

Lagos is metaphorical of the looming danger of the people losing control of the people’s representatives. Lagos is proof of the dictatorship of someone who knows the meaning of power.

Such a personality needs to be checked or this country would have a tyrant and dictator in power. Having handed the power of the President to Tinubu, as well as all the instruments of coercion as Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces, can Nigeria afford to give this man free rein with no one and no institution to check him?

The checkmating duty belongs to the Legislature. The Legislature is the only element missing in other forms of government –Autocracy, Military or Monarchy. Where a dictator operates as the Executive, the courts will sit as the Judiciary. Only the democratic form of government injects the legislative element through the people’s elected representatives. Thus, the Legislature constitutes a vital component in a democracy. Even its budget and resources are by first-line charge and not subject to executive or judicial monitoring. All this emphasises the need for legislative independence.

With a President Tinubu, Nigeria needs an independent Legislature capable of curbing Jagaban’s well-known tendency to dictatorship. Letting him choose and pocket the next leaders of the National Assembly is dangerous for everybody.

(OBOAGWINA IS AN AUTHOR AND JOURNALIST, AND MAY BE REACHED VIA: foboagwina@gmail.com)

Reflecting on the 30th anniversary of June 12 presidential election

By Prof. Babs Onabanjo

To truly move forward, all individuals involved in the annulment of the June 12 election must be thoroughly investigated and prosecuted according to the law. The pursuit of justice for these actions is a necessary step towards building a better Nigeria—a Nigeria where the rule of law prevails, and the voices of the people are heard.

Thirty years have passed since the annulment of the June 12, 1993, Presidential election in Nigeria, a historic moment that remains etched in the memory of the nation. This election, widely regarded as the freest and fair in Nigeria’s history, represented a pivotal moment for democracy and the hopes of millions of Nigerians. As we commemorate this anniversary, it is essential to reflect on the struggles faced and the injustices that persist in our quest for freedom and true democratic values.

In commemorating this significant anniversary, I urge you to watch the original and unedited videos on Nigerian democracy by visiting YouTube and searching for “Babsonabanjo” and “Nigerian Alliance for Democracy.” These videos offer a unique opportunity to delve deeper into the Nigerian struggle for freedom and the appreciation of democratic values. During those dark days of the Abacha junta, I led fellow compatriots to march and protest against the deadly regime of Sanni Abacha. By watching these materials, we can gain a greater understanding of our collective journey and the challenges that lie ahead for the next generation.

As we mark the 30th anniversary of the annulment of the Abiola mandate, the phrase “justice delayed is justice denied” rings true in the context of the annulment of the June 12 election. It is crucial that we address all forms of injustice as we move forward. Among the injustices that

demand our attention are the fraudulent nature of the Nigerian Constitution and the marginalization resulting from an inappropriate power structure imposed by a cabal determined to subjugate and control the instruments of power by any means necessary.

The Nigerian Constitution touted as a representation of “We the people,” stands as a fraudulent document. It was imposed on us by external forces, disregarding the rights of indigenous peoples to determine the principles of their coexistence. This betrayal of our sovereignty has served the interests of a few in the north, led by Abdulsalam and his cohorts. We must challenge this false narrative and reclaim our right to shape our nation’s destiny.

Furthermore, the current power structure perpetuates marginalization and denies many Nigerians the opportunity to participate fully in the democratic process. A few cabals wield disproportionate control, subjugating the masses and impeding the growth of a truly inclusive democracy. It is high time we dismantle this unjust system and empower all Nigerians to have a voice in shaping their country’s future.

The anniversary of the annulment of the June 12 election also brings to light the issue of arbitrary killings carried out by the state with impunity. We must remember individuals like Kudirat, the Ogonis, Ken Saro-Wiwa, and countless others who have lost their lives due to statesanctioned violence. Their deaths serve as stark reminders of the urgent need for justice and accountability. We cannot allow these heinous acts to go unpunished. Only by holding those responsible to account can we begin to heal the wounds of the past.

Financial fraud has been endemic in our nation, with the looting of the national treasury and fraudulent contracts, including subsidies. Corruption has persisted across successive administrations, from Babangida and

Abacha to Abdulsalam, Obasanjo, Yar’Adua, Jonathan, and Buhari. No individual should be exempt from the pursuit of justice and the demand for accountability. It is imperative that those responsible for these acts of financial misconduct face the full force of the law.

Only then can we rebuild trust in our institutions and ensure that the resources of our nation are utilized for the betterment of all Nigerians.

Indeed, we must accord recognition, appropriate dues, and compensation to the families of the late President-elect MKO Abiola and Vice President-elect Kingibe.

Their sacrifices and contributions to our democracy should never be forgotten. By providing them with the support they deserve, we demonstrate our commitment to honoring their memory and rectifying the wrongs of the past.

To truly move forward, all individuals involved in the annulment of the June 12 election must be thoroughly investigated and prosecuted according to the law. The pursuit of justice for these actions is a necessary step towards building a better Nigeria—a Nigeria where the rule of law prevails, and the voices of the people are heard.

As we commemorate the 30th anniversary of the annulment of the June 12 Presidential election, let us renew our commitment to the ideals of democracy, freedom, and justice. The struggle for a better Nigeria continues, and it is incumbent upon each of us to play our part in shaping a brighter future. Together, we can overcome the injustices of the past and pave the way for a truly democratic and prosperous Nigeria.

Prof. Babs Onabanjo is the President, Nigerian Alliance for Democracy (1993-1999) and President/CEO of AD King Foundation, United States

Emefiele: Right decision at the wrong time

By Jideofor Adibe

If I were to advise the Tinubu government, I would favour suspending publicly going after any former official until he has spent at least one year in office and has successfully plucked some low-hanging fruits that would broaden his legitimacy base. Officials that have questions to answer could be invited quietly for clarifications while the financial crime-fighting agencies will be tasked with carrying out the necessary investigations outside media glare.

THE May 29, 2023 inauguration of a new set of power wielders highlighted once again the transient and ephemeral nature of political power. Political power is said to be transient because, like a candle in the wind, it is fleeting and impermanent.

It is there one moment with all its glow and beauty, and gone the next twinkle of an eye. It is ephemeral because its duration is quite short. Even if you were to hold an office for 20 years, it will one day come to an end, and the period in which the office is held will seem insignificant in the scheme of things.

Perhaps the recent suspension and detention of Godwin Emefiele, the CBN Governor from June 4, 2014 until he was relieved of the position by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu on June 9, 2023, dramatises the transient nature of power. Emefiele became the first public official from the Buhari era that the Tinubu government went after.

In a statement by Willie Bassey, Director of Information in the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, it was explained that Emefiele’s suspension “is a sequel to the ongoing investigation of his office and the planned reforms in the economy’s financial sector”. Emefiele was reportedly arrested in Lagos by the DSS and flown to Abuja.

There is a general belief that Emefiele committed a number of infractions while in office, including taking over functions that should ordinarily be performed by the Ministries of Agriculture and Water Resources in a bid to ingratiate himself to some power brokers from the North. He particularly annoyed many Nigerians when he tried to take part in the APC’s presidential primaries while still clinging to his office as CBN Governor.

In the run-up to the February 25, 2023 presidential election, he introduced a Naira re-design, ostensibly with the approval of President Buhari, and apparently aimed, among other things, at stemming vote-buying during the election. Tinubu’s supporters

felt the policy was targeted at him.

Emefiele’s suspension, arrest and detention raise a number of issues:

One, is the question of the constitutionality of his suspension from office without the permission of the Senate. Though Lamido Sanusi Lamido was similarly suspended by the Jonathan government without the authorisation of the parliament, the dethroned Emir of Kano challenged his suspension in court and the case had not fully run its course when he was appointed the Emir of Kano. He subsequently discontinued the case.

There are also questions of why Emefiele had to be arrested by the DSS (which is in charge of internal security) if the allegations against him bothered primarily on corruption. People also wonder why someone who had served the country at such a top level and had not been convicted of any of the crimes for which he was being investigated could not have been saved the humiliation of being openly driven to an aircraft to be taken to Abuja(with one of the men who boarded the waiting aircraft holding a handcuff)?

It may also be germane to pose the question of what the nation could possibly lose if the EFCC had simply invited Emefiele to their offices to explain any issues of interest. While the drama of the humiliation might have satisfied some yearning for the blood of their social class and ethnic/religious enemies, it will most likely complicate the management of the politics that is likely to flow from his suspension and arrest.

For instance, critics are already accusing Tinubu of ethnic bias in bypassing Dr Kingsley Obiora, said to be the Deputy Governor heading the economic policy and research unit of the CBN (and the only Deputy Governor of the apex bank with a PhD) in favour of Adebisi Shonubi, a mechanical engineer and fellow Yoruba, as the Acting Governor of the CBN. Tinubu was similarly accused of bypassing the most senior Deputy Governors – Mrs Aisha N. Ahmad, and Mr Edward Adamu – in favour of Mr Shonubi.

No matter how one looks at it, a government that came to power with a huge legitimacy crisis as the Tinubu government did, does not need such distractions, especially when it is still grappling with the effects of the manner in which the fuel subsidy was removed and is yet to pluck any low hanging fruits to shore up its legitimacy base.

Two, it will be difficult for Emefiele’s suspension not to be linked to vendetta. During the campaigns, there was a general belief by supporters of Bola Tinubu, that Emefiele’s Naira re-

design policy was targeted at Tinubu who was believed to have the heaviest war chest for vote-buying. If this was really the main reason for his suspension and arrest, what happens to Buhari who openly said he endorsed the Naira re-design policy? There is similarly the question of why Emefiele’s arrest should be a priority to the new government and the criteria that made his arrest more imperative than the arrest of other functionaries of the government suspected of having grossly abused their offices?

Three, despite the fact that it is right to call public officers who abused their office to account, I believe the timing in the case of Emefiele was wrong. I am generally opposed to the idea of a new government starting with cleaning the Augean stable or going after its political enemies in the guise of doing so. I call this the ‘Buhari sin’ because the Buhari government, rather than focus on whatever agenda they had for the country on coming to power, wasted precious time and resources demonising the Jonathan government.

If I were to advise the Tinubu government, I would favour suspending publicly going after any former official until he has spent at least one year in office and has successfully plucked some low-hanging fruits that would broaden his legitimacy base. Officials that have questions to answer could be invited quietly for clarifications while the financial crime-fighting agencies will be tasked with carrying out the necessary investigations outside media glare.

Four, since Emefiele must have acted in many of the cases of suspected infractions and impunity on the instructions of power brokers or society’s ‘untouchables’, would the President be able to also summon or arrest such people? If Tinubu is not able to arrest such people, would that not open him up to charges of picking up a soft target? And if he is able to arrest some of the names the public are likely to insist should also be arrested, will he be able to manage the politics from that and at the same time seamlessly implement whatever programme he has for the country?

I am not saying that a new government cannot fight corruption and impunity but our experience has shown that this ‘gra-gra’ approach has not really worked. I believe that a thoughtful and quiet approach that cannot be easily coupled to vendetta offers a new leader the opportunity of fighting crimes without distractions by the politics of doing so

Jideofor Adibe is a Public Policy Analyst.

Will natural gas take the straw away from those drinking our fuel?

By Khaleb Ogbonna

With the near-depletion of disposable income for the average Nigerian and a rising poverty rate – Nigeria being the poverty capital of the world – the argument is not whether subsidies will continue or not, nor is it about whether we are in the age or decade of gas. The focus now should be on how swiftly this policy can be implemented to ensure Nigerians spend less on energy consumption. The current fuel subsidy has driven expenses on energy and production to an all-time high, not to mention the grating impact of inflation as well.

As seen in a viral video on social media, a few young men – probably members of a transportation union in one of the Francophone African countries – are seen lamenting and criticising Nigeria’s

Based on a slight understanding of the figures mentioned in the said video, in a mixture of the languages they spoke, French and Fulfulde, there is an apparent increase in the price of the commodity that they used to get cheaper and more easily before. The price of the heavily subsidised Premium Motor Spirit (PMS), which sold for less than 450 CFA in Nigeria’s neighbouring countries of Chad, Cameroon, Niger, and Benin, had risen to over 800 CFA, a whopping 77.8% increase.

In a viral video during the run-up to the 2023 general elections, the candidate of Nigeria’s Labour Party, Mr. Peter Obi, while making a case for the removal of the subsidy on petrol, compared Nigeria’s consumption to that of Pakistan with a similar population density but a higher number of cars. In his comparison, Nigeria’s overblown consumption raised the question of who has been consuming the excess fuel.

According to a report, Nigeria, a country with a population of about 200 million, consumes 66.8 million litres of petrol daily. However, this conflicts with the report by the Nigerian Customs Service, which accused the NNPC of releasing over 90 million litres. This, however, is not far from a statement made by Mr. Melee Kyari, the Group CEO of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC), in an interview on Arise TV. He alluded to this and explained that when a marketer hauls a full tanker to the North for sale, profit margins could be around NGN 250,000. However, when taken across the border, the subsidised petrol can generate a profit of over NGN 30 million.

According to the NNPC’s own admission, over 20 million liters

of petrol are smuggled outside Nigeria daily. The sale of smuggled petrol across the West African sub-region fuels black markets and distorts the price mechanisms of these countries.

According to a report by the International Monetary Fund (IMF), Nigeria spent NGN 1.89 trillion out of NGN 4.98 trillion (39%) generated from oil revenue on subsidies in 2021. In 2022, it rose to NGN 4.6 trillion out of NGN 7.5 trillion (61.4%). Then in 2023, the projection stayed at NGN 3.14 trillion out of NGN 9.41 trillion.

This is scary, yet not as scary as a deeper revelation that this uncovers. The World Bank reports that out of the money spent on fuel subsidies, the poorest 40% of Nigerians purchase just 3% of all subsidised petrol. To put it simply, over 80 million Nigerians buy 1.9 million litres out of the 66 million litres released daily. So, by this analogy, the people consuming the fuel are those who are benefiting from the 20 million litres of PMS already paid for, along with a small population of 120 million privileged Nigerians who consume the rest.

This public spending is troubling. When compared to the ratio of public spending to GDP, developed economies average 30% compared to Nigeria’s 13%. However, what is more troubling is that Nigeria’s government expenditure ranks quite low globally. Nigeria spent an average of $23 on education per Nigerian, compared to $32 in Mali, $88 in Ghana, and $350 in

In December 2020, the then-president of Nigeria, Muhammadu Buhari, declared 2020-2030 as the “decade of gas” for Nigeria with the signing of the Auto-gas Policy. The idea behind this declaration was that for a country with over 200 trillion cubic feet of natural gas deposits, it was necessary to move Nigeria away from its overreliance on petroleum products like fuel, which have been the mainstay of the country’s energy consumption.

With several policies and targeted investments in the oil and gas sector, such as the unbundling of the NNPC to a Saudi ARAMCOesque limited liability company, the Buhari administration followed up with the approval for the construction of the AKK project. This is a 614 km natural gas pipeline that will transport over 3.5 trillion cubic feet of gas daily from Ajaokuta to Kano through Kaduna. The project is said to be about 45% completed.

However, the question for the average Nigerian energy consumer is how these policies and projects will affect them. The primary objective of the auto-gas policy is to reduce dependence on petrol and diesel and to make a 40% switch to natural gas products

like Liquefied Natural Gas (LPG) and Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) within the decade. This shift will require the country to explore its gas potentials to the fullest.

In moving towards alternative natural gas products, there is a general consensus, echoed during the Buhari administration, that natural gas offers a cheaper way out of the expensive regime of fuel that necessitated government subsidies.

In an interview with Business Day, Kelvin Emmanuel, an energy sector expert and co-founder/CEO at Dairy Hills, provided a breakdown of the price difference, stating that “One standard cubic metre of CNG ranges between N175-N270 depending on location. That means it is 30 percent the price of diesel and 41 percent the price of petrol from the top line.”

With the near-depletion of disposable income for the average Nigerian and a rising poverty rate – Nigeria being the poverty capital of the world – the argument is not whether subsidies will continue or not, nor is it about whether we are in the age or decade of gas. The focus now should be on how swiftly this policy can be implemented to ensure Nigerians spend less on energy consumption. The current fuel subsidy has driven expenses on energy and production to an all-time high, not to mention the grating impact of inflation as well.

With the need for cheaper alternatives, there is a necessary shift towards converting petrol-powered engines to CNG or LPG. The government took the lead in this effort when Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Timipre Sylva, ordered the chief executives of departments and agencies under the Federal Ministry of Petroleum Resources to convert all their official vehicles to run on autogas. In the pilot phase, the Federal Government planned to finance the conversion of one million vehicles from petrol to natural gas. These vehicles, mostly passenger and haulage vehicles on Nigerian roads, were expected to be converted by the end of 2021.

Despite the declaration of the decade of gas, it is disheartening to observe that the federal government allocated a meagre amount in its 2023 budget for this purpose. The cost of purchasing the kit required to convert a car from a petrol or diesel engine to a CNG engine ranges from N100,000 to N300,000, depending on the nature and condition of the car. However, a fully converted car can save over 40% of its energy budget.

Khaleb Ogbonna is a media executive who can be reached at Khalebpowers@gmail.com.

Business woman appeals

to Uba Sani over unpaid contract debts

From: Femi Oyelola, Kaduna

An indigenous company, Messrs Bolanle Ogundele Ventures Kaduna, has appealed to the Governor of Kaduna State, Uba Sani, to come to its aid and intervene in a debit case between the company the state major contracting company.

Chief Executive of the company, Mrs Bolanle Ogundele, who made the appeal during a press conference in Kaduna on Sunday, alleged that the State major contracting company, Messrs Ronchess Global Resources Limited, has refused to pay Messrs Bolanle Ogundele Ventures the sum of over N14million (fourteen million) Naira owed the company for the supply of materials since June 2022, despite repeated demands.

According to her, Messrs Bolanle Ogundele Ventures supplied to Messrs Ronchess Global Resources Limited, through a purchasing order materials worth over N14 million Naira since last year and the money has not been paid. The materials which included sharp sand, hard core granites and stone base were supplied to Messrs Ronchess Global Resources Limited and confirmed by it.

She further explained that the alleged refusal of Messrs Ronchess Global Resources Limited, to settle the debts has exposed Messrs Bolanle Ogundele Ventures to ridicule from those it collected the materials on credit to carry out the supply, due to it failure to pay the money for the aforementioned materials.

“Messrs Bolanle Ogundele Ventures are one of the suppliers in the ongoing project titled: Kaduna State Road Agency (KADRA) Urban Renewal Road Project. “The company supplied for Zaria, Danbushia and Sultan road projects respectively,” she explained.

Ogundele said, although, she instituted a civil case before a court to retrieve the money, but up till the time of the press conference, nothing came out of it, alleging that ‘It is because I am a woman’, or an attempt to frustrate her efforts,” she lamented.

She added that Messrs Ronchess Global Resources Limited paid

10th Assembly: Uba Sani calls for mutual executive-legislative relations

From: Femi Oyelola, Kaduna

Kaduna State Governor, Senator Uba Sani has called for a strong and cordial relationship between the executive and legislative arms of government in Kaduna State.

This was contained in a statement by the Chief Press Secretary to the Governor Muhammad Lawal Shehu and

made available to the media.

The Governor also congratulated Honourable Yusuf Liman and Honourable Magaji D. Henry on their election as Speaker and Deputy Speaker of the Kaduna State House of Assembly respectively

He emphasizes the importance of collaboration and cooperation in achieving sustainable development and ensuring that

the dividends of democracy reach every citizen.

Uba Sani assures both the newly elected Speaker and Deputy Speaker, as well as all members of the Kaduna State House of Assembly, of his unwavering support and commitment to working together for the betterment of the state.

The Governor while wishing the new principal officers and

other members of the 10th Assembly a successful tenure in office, promised to ensure independence of the legislative arm, to enable the Assembly function effectively.

Governor Sani also commended the transparent and fair process that led to the emergence of the two distinguished lawmakers as leaders of the legislative arm of government in Kaduna State.

Uba Sani urges Nigerians to build trust in government

From: Femi Oyelola, Kaduna

Kaduna State Governor Senator Uba Sani, has said the lessons of the June 12 incident should be used to build and renew people’s trust in government.

He asserted this in his message to mark the 30th Anniversary of June 12th in Kaduna yesterday.

The Governor recounted that late MKO Abiola’s sacrificed a lot to ensure that democracy thrives in Nigeria.

Uba Sani added that Nigeria has come a long way in its practice of democracy which has been a mixed bag of successes, failures, unmet expectations and rising expectations.

“It is also a story of heroes and villains,” Governor Uba Sani lamented.

He noted that Nigeria’s founding fathers, labour leaders, civil society and prodemocracy activists have made remarkable contributions to the growth and development of democracy and the nation owes them a debt of gratitude for their labours of love.

“The last few years of our practice of democracy have been full of challenges. Our people’s trust in democracy and government waned considerably due to economic, social and political crisis, with their debilitating consequences.

“Many of our people feel the country and its leaders do not care about them. The youths feel the country does not care about their future. Many parts of the country feel they have not been given a sense of belonging. These sentiments

and anxieties threaten our country’s economic prospects and our desire for national unity,” the Governor said.

He lamented that the way policies are designed and implemented in Nigeria without adequate consultations and scrutiny have tended to alienate the people while corruption has worsened the trust deficit.

The challenge before us therefore is how to restore the people’s trust in government and effectively mobilize them for the important task of national renewal.

“Our country must move in a new direction. We must put in place measures to ensure inclusiveness, responsiveness, fairness and integrity in policy making and service delivery. Devolution of powers is the way

to go. More powers must be given to the states to take care of the needs of the people at the grassroots. Decentralization of power will unleash the potential that exists everywhere in Nigeria,” he said.

Kaduna State, the Governor said, is making conscious and deliberate efforts to spread development by focusing on the rural areas and his government is determined to reinvent and re -energise the rural economies through the massive infrastructural development.

“When we make the grassroots attractive to our people, rural - urban migration will be checked and our people will fully embrace democracy as a system that caters for their welfare and enables them to realize their full potential,” he said.

Members of the 10th Assembly, during their Inauguration of the 10th Assembly, yesterday in Abuja. Photo: Mahmud Isa

Kogi East stakeholders adopt candidate Usman Jubrin

By Ikechukwu Okaforadi

Kogi East Critical Stakeholders Forum has adopted candidate of Accord Party, Vice Admiral Jibrin Usman (rtd) as consensus candidate from Kogi East for November 11 governorship election.

The forum said it took the decision because of Usman’s experience and capacity to be governor.

Chairman, Simon Achuba, told reporters after a meeting of Kogi East stakeholders.

The forum is made up of former deputy governors, senators, Representatives, principal officers of State Assembly, ministers, ambassadors.

Achuba said: “Kogi East Critical Stakeholders, after assessment of candidates from Kogi East, has endorsed Vice Admiral Usman (rtd) of Accord Party as consensus candidate from Kogi East to contest November 11 governorship election.

“This decision was taken bearing in mind his experience and capacity to occupy the office of governor.

“The forum appeals to other contestants from Kogi East to join hands with Usman to ensure he wins the election to take the state to enviable heights …”

Achuba said the Forum would make a public presentation of Usman to the people of Kogi State.

“The Forum shall set up a high powered Committee to put together a formidable structure to carry out the campaign for the general election in accordance with the enabling laws when campaign kicks off officially,” Achuba added.

The Accord Party candidate

assured the Forum of victory in the November 11, 2023 election.

He said he would continue to solicit the support of Kogi East critical stakeholders ahead of the election.

He promised to work together with the people to deliver the dividends of democracy.

Usman said: “A lot of things will change under my government. Our people have suffered enough. We will not allow the present governor to achieve a third term through Ododo.

He urged the people to vote for

him in order to bring development to the state.

“Once we kick-start the campaign the difference will be clear. I enjoy huge support in the state. Kogi has not enjoyed the dividends of democracy.

“Civil servants have gone through hell. My state is not paying minimum wage. We must change this.

“I will restructure the civil service by calling those that were unjustly disengaged from their place of work,” the Accord Party candidate added.

Prob DPO, IPO who released secretariat’s key to ex-Chairman – NNPP tells IGP

By Christiana Ekpa

The New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) South West zone has called on the Inspector General of Police, Usman Alkali Baba, to investigate the Divisional Police Officer and Investigating Police Officer of Adatan Police Station in Ogun State over the alleged release of the key of the party’s secretariat to the former Chairman of the party, Sunday Oginni.

The party said this in a statement signed by Comrade Kilamuwaye Badmus, Southwest Zonal Publicity Secretary, and made available to journàlists on Tuesday.

Recall that Oginni had been expelled from the party over allegations of anti-party activities, among others.

The party had inaugurated a caretaker committee led by Prince Adekunle Ibrahim.

Oginni had also been arrested by policemen from Abuja, who stormed Abeokuta last week over allegations bothering on fraud.

The party has, however, alleged that the former Chairman, shortly after his release, connived with his cohorts to seize the party Secretariat, preventing the caretaker executive and party members from using it for the Democracy Day celebration.

“Oginni collected the keys to the Secretariat from the

Divisional Police Officer (DPO) of Adatan Police Station in Abeokuta Ogun State, where the keys were deposited for safety following the crisis in the party.

“But to our surprise, on Sunday, the Adatan DPO and the

IPO in charge of the case connived with Oginni and illegally released the keys to the party secretariat to him against the order of the IGP.

“This act from the DPO has forbidden our members from celebrating June 12 inside our

party secretariat because we are law-abiding citizens, and we don’t want to be part of anything that can disrupt the peace in the state; we stayed away.

“We are using this medium to commend the Police

Ebonyi Assembly elects Odunwa as Speaker

By Ikechukwu Okaforadi

The Ebonyi State 7th House of Assembly elected Moses Odunwa, representing Ikwo South constituency, and Chinedu Onah, representing Ohaukwu South constituency, as Speaker and Deputy Speaker, respectively, on Tuesday.

The emergence of Odunwa as Speaker was unopposed, following the nomination

by the member representing Edda West, Nkemka Okoro Onumara, and seconded by Godwin Abiri of Izzi West.

Onah, too, was unanimously elected as the Deputy Speaker of the House. Kingsley Ikoro, representing Afikpo West, emerged as the Leader of the House, and Joseph Ununu of Abakaliki North was elected the Deputy Leader without opposition.

Also, Nkemka Okoro Onuma, representing Edda West, became the Chief Whip, while Lucas Chukwu, representing Ishielu South, emerged as the Deputy Chief Whip of the House.

18 out of the 24 members of the House of Assembly are members of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC). The remaining ones are three members of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), two

Headquarters for a job well done and calling on the IGP to investigate the release of the party’s Secretariat keys to Oginni despite order that the keys should not be released to him,” Badmus said.

President of the 10th Senate, Sen. Godswill Akpabio, during the Inauguration of the 10th Senate, at the National Assembly, yesterday in Abuja. Photo:

members of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), and one member of the Labour Party (LP).

Patricia Anasi, the clerk of the House, earlier stated that the election of the principal officers of the 7th Ebonyi House of Assembly was conducted according to the stipulation of Section 92 (1) of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria as amended.

Mahmud Isa

Yakubu Dandali emerges Speaker of Kwara 10th Assembly

By Ikechukwu Okaforadi

Salihu Yakubu Danladi was yesterday re-elected as the Speaker of Kwara State House of Assembly for the second term, after which the inaugural session of the 10th Kwara Assembly was held in Ilorin.

He urged fellow lawmakers to justify the confidence reposed in them by their constituents and get to work immediately, to ensure ‘‘effective and efficient performance of their constitutional responsibilities.

Danladi who won a second term in March this year, said Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq had provided good governance in the state in the last four years, adding that “we are proud of him and we will give his administration the needed legislative support.”

He said the responsibility of overseeing the Ninth House of Assembly was placed on his shoulders four years ago and choosing him as head of the Tenth House of Assembly was therefore a reassurance of a vote of confidence and support for what he had done for the people of Kwara State.

He thanked members of the House of Assembly for electing him as Speaker, describing it as a demonstration of great trust and confidence in his leadership.

He urged them to use the opportunity of their membership of the House of Assembly to foster unity and progress and promote peace and good governance, noting that though the challenges ahead are enormous, Governor Abdulrazaq has laid a sound foundation through his visionary leadership.

Yakubu Salihu Danladi, who was unanimously re-elected, was nominated by Abdullahi Halidu Danbaba of Kaiama state constituency at exactly 10.56am and the nomination was seconded by Arinola Lawal.

Ojo Oyebode Olayiwola of Oke- Ogun state constituency was also elected as Deputy Speaker, to replace Raphael Adetiba, who lost his seat.

Olayiwola was nominated by Hon Razaq Olatunde Owolabi of the Share/Oke-Ode state constituency.

The Magaji Family in the AgboOba area of Ilorin also had the House Leader position retained by them as a member of the family, Oba Abdulkadri Magaji of Ilorin Central state constituency, was named as the new House Leader.

His elder brother, Magaji Abubakar Olawoyin was until his death on Monday, January 9, 2023, the House Leader.

Abolarin Ganiyu of Ekiti state constituency is the new Chief

10th NASS: Tolu Bankole tells Akpabio, Abass, others not to amass wealth

By Ikechukwu Okaforadi

Amember of All Progressives Congress (APC) National Working Committee (NWC) representing People With Disabilities (PWD), Hon. Tolu Bankole has felicated with the new leadership of the National Assembly, even as he urged them not to use their position to amass wealth at the detriment of Nigerians.

In a statement signed and made available to journàlists yesterday, the chieftain felicitated the presiding officers and implored them to focus on legislative agendas that would improve the socioeconomic life of Nigerians.

“I celebrate this seamless milestone and felicitates with the Senate President/Chairman and Honourable Speaker, House of Representatives/

Vice Chairman of the National Assembly – Distinguished Senator Godswill Akpabio (CON) and Rt Honourable Tajudeen Abbas (MON) respectively on this historic occasion.

“I congratulate the Deputy Senate President, Distinguished Senator Jubrin Barau and Deputy Speaker, Rt Honourable Benjamin Kalu for being a part of the team who will steer the affairs of the legislative branch for the next four years.

“On this occasion, I also rejoice with all Nigerians for being witnesses to history.

“We must remind ourselves on the need to remain focused on legislative agenda for the emancipation of our people. You are in the saddle as a result of people’s trust across the length and breath of Nigeria. This is the moment to be circumspect, roll up your sleeves

and all hands must be deployed on deck to alleviate poverty, push back insecurity, unemployment and the likes through innovative legislative actions” he said in part.

He urged the National Assembly to work as a team with the executive arm without compromising the tenet of separation of powers. He added that in the end, Nigerians are not interested in the number of bills but in the changes in there day to day lives.

“The tenth Assembly leadership must work as a team with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration while maintaining the delicate balance of separation of powers. Your loyalty must be to Nigerians who will judge your success not by the number of bills passed but when majority of Nigerians attest to the socioeconomic good arising from the laws. In other words, the good must

be seen and felt by Nigerians.

“Your oversight functions and legislative interventions must support all policies that will make Nigerians happy, better and prosperous. The elite must be willing to lead sacrificially to close the near infinite gap between the masses and the rich in our bid to achieve development. Money is not passport to heaven.

“Also, all international economic policies that will make Nigerians poorer should be jettison no matter the intention” Bankole added.

He solicited support for the Persons with Disabilities in there quest for inclusion in Nigeria. “The National Assembly should expect robust engagements from Persons With Disabilities, PWDs, as we in return expect your support on all matters of inclusivity. We are better together in love”, he added.

Speaker, House of Representatives after his emerges as 10th Speaker of the House, Hon. Tajudeen Abbas, taking the Oath of Office before the clerk of the National Assembly, Alh. Magaji Sani Tambuwal, during the Inauguration of the 10th Assembly, yesterday in Abuja.

Let Nigeria’s interest guide your legislative activities - CNPP tells Akpabio, Abbas

By Christiana Ekpa

Conference Of Nigeria Political Parties (CNPP) has congratulated the new leadership of the National Assembly and all the lawmakers on their inauguration on Tuesday, urging them to prioritise the overall interest of Nigeria and Nigerians in their decisions as they begin to exercise their constitutional powers as legislators.

In a statement signed by the

By Christiana Ekpa

Aformer member of the House of Representatives, Sani Mohammed Takori has condemned the recent utterances of the Vice President, Kashim Shettima over the Senate President contest.

The Vice President, Shattima had declared that, in the current dispensation, “the worst and incompetent Southern Christian was better than the Northern Muslim in the senate presidency.”

Takori in a statement,

CNPP’s Secretary General, Willy Ezugwu, the umbrella association of registered political parties and political associations said that “while party may be supreme, national interest outweighs party interest.”

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and his party had nominated Senators Godswill Akpabio and Barau Jibrin for Senate president and deputy Senate president, as well as Hon Tajudeen Abbas and Hon Benjamin Kalu for Speaker

described the assertion as a direct attack to the North and particularly, North West, Senatorelect, former Governor of Zamfara State, Abdul’Aziz Yari.

The former lawmaker, while condemning the position of the Vice President, quickly, urged him to retract his word and ask for forgiveness of the northerners.

“We felt aggrieved by this assertion as it comes directly from no other person but the Vice President who is our own, it was quite unfortunate”, he added Takori, a lawyer, urged

and deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives.

“The CNPP urges the new President of the Nigerian Senate, Senator Godswill Akpabio and Speaker, House of Representatives, Rt. Hon. Tajudeen Abbas, to ensure that they did not go down in history as rubber-stamp leaders but consider the interest of the country in any relationship with the executive.

“As one of the three arms of

President Tinubu to disregard such sentiment as a true democrat and allow free and fair contest in the chamber. He reminded President Tinubu of the efforts he and other compatriots made in the struggle for the survival of the current democratic dispensation.

“We are quite aware that President Tinubu is a true democrat, so he would never succumb to undemocratic posture, especially, in the election of National Assembly leadership”, he added.

government, there is need for harmony among the other arms but it must not be at the detriment of good governance and rule of law.

“While we congratulate all the lawmakers for a successful inauguration, we call on individual Senators or members of the House of Representatives to consider the interest and wellbeing of the electorate within their respective constituencies before any decision is taken”, the CNPP urged.

According to him, any attempt to deny Yari from contesting for the Senate Presidency was a clear denial of the right of the entire northern people.

He called on senators-elect to reject any act of imposition by the government and elect leadership of their choice, as that would ensure independence of the parliament.

“As Senators-elect, don’t allow a stooge to lead the Senate if at all you want true democratic development to strive in the country,” he added.

Photo: Mahmud Isa

By Ikechukwu Okaforadi

The National Democratic Institute and International Republican Institute’s joint International Election Observation Mission (IEOM) released its final report on the 2023 general elections in Nigeria on Tuesday.

The mission, supported by the US Agency for International Development (USAID), led by Dr Joyce Banda, former President of Malawi, monitored the February 25 Presidential and National Assembly elections and presented its preliminary report on February 27.

The report criticised the conduct of the polls, saying “inadequate communication and lack of transparency by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) about their cause and extent created confusion and eroded voters’ trust in the process.”

In the final 2023 elections report sent to journàlists on Tuesday, National Democratic Institute (NDI) Press Secretary Paulina Chavez Alonzo gave a damning verdict, recalling the nationwide exercise saw the “lowest turnout for national contests in Nigeria’s modern

How 10th House under my watch will function –Speaker Abbas

The Speaker of the House of Representatives, Tajudeen Abbas, has pledged to work with the executive and judiciary to deliver good governance for the benefit of all Nigerians.

Abbas made the pledge in his acceptance speech after his emergence as Speaker on Tuesday in Abuja.

“Under my watch, the 10th House shall sustain and even surpass the gains of the ninth House. That is my prayer.

“We shall carry out the task before us jointly. We shall introduce reforms and innovations for the benefit of Nigerians.

“In a few weeks, we shall be reeling out the legislative agenda that will shape the 10th House of Representatives.

POLITICS

Nigeria’s 2023 elections marred by vote manipulation – IEOM report

democratic history, with only 27 per cent of registered voters participating.”

It noted that while there were improvements in election administration, advances in results transparency, increased competitiveness in the presidential race, quality engagement of youth, and overall optimism generated by the enactment of the Electoral Act 2022, the elections “fell short of citizens’ legitimate and reasonable expectations.”

The mission observed “significant logistical, technological, and communications failures by INEC, divisive rhetoric by political

parties, political violence, regional disparities in electoral integrity,” declaring that “instances of vote manipulation and marginalisation of key populations marred the electoral process and disenfranchised voters”.

The report urges the new government, lawmakers, INEC, and political parties to show genuine and renewed dedication to improving electoral and democratic processes, fighting corruption, and providing Nigerian citizens with responsive and trusted institutions.

“Nigerians must undertake collective actions to combat disenchantment, address

lingering political grievances, and restore faith in elections and democracy as a whole,” the final report states.

IEOM found that there is still space to confront electoral integrity challenges and build on the gains of recent reforms, but only through demonstrable political will, good faith, and committed and coordinated efforts among Nigerian stakeholders.

The report includes key findings on the pre-election, election day, and post-election periods and offers practical recommendations for consideration by Nigerian stakeholders and partners to promote a resilient and inclusive

democracy.

The report is based on information gathered by the delegation from June 2022 to May 2023. The 40-person election day delegation observed the polls in 20 states, including the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).

National Democratic Institute and International Republican Institute thanked the Nigerian people for the warm welcome that they accorded IEOM and commended the contributions of the more than 60 observers who participated in the pre-election, election day, and post-election teams.

Akpabio promises to carry all senators along as Senate President

By Ikechukwu Okaforadi

The President of the Nigerian 10th Senate, Godswill Obot Akpabio, said he will cooperate with all senators despite their differences.

The former governor of Akwa Ibom State and the immediate past Minister of Niger Delta Affairs was elected Senate President after the inauguration of the 10th Senate on Tuesday in Abuja.

Akpabio garnered 63 votes to

defeat his closest rival, Abdullaziz Yari, who scored 46 votes in a keenly contested election of the Senate presiding officers.

In his acceptance speech, Akpabio said: “Expressions of differing and opposing opinions and views are but the fabric that democracy is made of.”

He said that with him on the saddle, the Senate is set for the promulgation of laws, and the stage is set for a check on the executive through oversight functions.

Akpabio explained President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s commitment to building a strong and virile economy, adding that his actions in recent weeks pointed to his understanding of the challenges faced by the citizens.

He said: “I am pleased, as I am sure that you too are, that we have in His Excellency, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, a President and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, who is committed to a

strong economy, national security, and the rule of law.

“The antecedents of Mr President and his actions in office these past two weeks give not just a pointer but bear witness to an executive government that knows the challenges of the country and is in a hurry to resolve them.”

Akpabio said the 10th Senate will pass laws that emphasise economic viability; hence, they will cooperate with the executive for the required legislative framework.

Ogun Assembly: PDP members-elect kick over postponed inauguration

By Musa Baba Adamu

Eight members-elect of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) have condemned the sudden postponement of the inauguration of the 10th Ogun Assembly earlier scheduled for Tuesday.

Recall that the inauguration was without prior notice postponed a few hours to the set time for no reason.

The clerk of the assembly, Deji Adeyemo, announced the postponement in a WhatsApp message after many had already set out for the occasion.

Adeyemo, who regretted all inconveniences, said the inauguration now holds on June

20.

Peeved by the development, the eight PDP memberselect stormed the assembly complex to protest against the postponement, alleging poor communication.

Within the premises of the heavily secured assembly complex, the members-elect wondered what could have warranted the sudden change in date a few hours before the programme.

Addressing newsmen at the entrance of the assembly complex, Member-elect Olalekan Adeleye from Odogbolu Constituency expressed shock over the postponement. Adeleye, who warned

against an assembly leadership crisis, lamented that no formal notice or letter was issued for the postponement, save for a WhatsApp message, which he said some members-elect were not aware of.

“This is strange. We were in high spirits yesterday, hoping that we would resume here at 9 am for our inauguration.

“To our dismay, we were locked out when we got to the assembly this morning, and when I started asking questions, someone called my attention to a WhatsApp message purportedly sent by the clerk of the House that the inauguration has been postponed to June 20,” he said.

He avowed that there

were appropriate ways of communicating such important information to them before it was too late.

According to him, the notice of the inauguration was sent through a proclamation letter written by Governor Dapo Abiodun that the 10th assembly would be inaugurated by June 13.

“If there is going to be any postponement, the governor’s proclamation letter should be withdrawn, followed by another proclamation letter conveying the new date,” he said.

He lamented that the sudden postponement was not the best way to begin the new legislature.

June 12 broadcast: Tinubu threatened judiciary, plans to run autocratic govt – Atiku’s aide

By Musa Baba Adamu

The Special Assistant on Public Communication to the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, Phrank Shaibu has described President Bola Tinubu’s Democracy Day broadcast as a veiled threat to Nigeria’s judiciary.

Shaibu said Tinubu had no constitutional power to determine what an illegal or legal court order is.

In his broadcast on Monday, Tinubu had said: “It has become imperative to state here that the unnecessary, illegal orders used to truncate or abridge democracy will no longer be tolerated.”

Reacting, Shaibu said it was funny that Tinubu, who had been one of the biggest beneficiaries of court orders, could turn around to “threaten the judiciary now that he has found his way into power.”

In a statement he signed, Shaibu said Tinubu’s speech had exposed his plan to

run an autocratic government.

According to Shaibu: “What is an illegal court order? Is it an order that Bola Tinubu finds unfavourable?

“Is it within his powers to determine what order to obey and which one to disregard? This is a man who rode to power after several applications were dismissed based on technicalities.

“This is a man who just last week obtained a court order in order to stop the Nigeria Labour Congress from going on

strike.

“However, now he suddenly realises that unnecessary so-called illegal orders used in truncating democracy would no longer be tolerated when his minions in Lagos deprived non-indigenes from voting. What a hypocrite.

“Tinubu wants to impose the leadership of the legislative arm of government. He also wants to force the judiciary to bow to his will. Does he want to turn Nigeria into a dictatorship?”

TrustBanc shareholders approve N1.5bn capital injection

The shareholders of TrustBanc Holdings Limited have approved the injection of N1.5bn capital into its microfinance bank subsidiary, just as the parent company’s rating has been upgraded by DataPro from A to A+ with a stable outlook.

According to a statement issued on Monday, the shareholders’ approval aims to further reinforce the bank’s position as a leading lender in the public sector segment and facilitate its expansion into other retail lending segments.

In the DataPro rating note, the long-term rating of A+ indicates low risk. It reflects the group’s strong financial strength, excellent operating performance, and growing business profile.

TrustBanc shareholders’ fund grew from N2.9bn to N11bn during the year under review. The rating note affirmed that the N11bn is well above the aggregate regulatory required capital of N550m stipulated by the Securities & Exchange Commission and Central Bank of Nigeria for the group’s subsidiary companies, namely TrustBanc Capital Management Limited, TrustBanc Asset Management Limited and TrustBanc J6 MFB Limited.

Based on DataPro’s analysis, TrustBanc’s assets were predominantly composed of liquid assets, accounting for 89 per cent of the total assets as of the end of 2022.

Meanwhile, earlier this month, TrustBanc redeemed its series 11 Commercial Paper issue, totalling N4.9bn, marking the fourth successful redemption in 2023, following the earlier redemption of series 8, 9, and 10, amounting to N5.96bn.

“We are once again delighted to honour our commitment and redeem the series 11 issue upon its maturity. We extend our sincere gratitude to all the holders of this commercial paper. Their trust in us is a testament to our strong financial performance, robust business model, and growth strategy.

As a group, we take pride in contributing to the development of the Commercial Paper market through our association with the FMDQ. It is worth mentioning that TrustBanc was nominated, alongside MTNN and FCMB, for the award of the largest commercial paper lodgement on FMDQ last year,” said Group Chief Executive Officer, Abu Jimoh.

Dealers on the CP issue include UCML Capital Limited, United Capital Plc and Emerging Africa Group.

Speaking on behalf of the dealers, a director at UCML Capital Limited, Egie Akpata, said the

Customs intercept over 100 smuggled SUVs, other vehicles

Abubakar Yunusa, Abuja

The Nigeria Customs Service, on Monday, announced that it intercepted over 100 exotic vehicles, including various models of Sport Utility Vehicles, adding that 38 of them had been forfeited to the Federal Government.

It also called on stakeholders to synergise with officers and men of the Nigeria Customs

Service to effectively suppress the menace of smuggling vehicles into Nigeria.

The Deputy Comptroller of Customs, who doubles as the Coordinator, Rapid Response Squad Headquarters, Jack Okpabi, disclosed this in a statement issued in Abuja while providing updates on his team’s quarterly achievements.

Commenting on the smuggled vehicles that were intercepted, he said the recent

operation by the NCS, which led to the interception of over 100 Toyota Hilux, Toyota Landcruiser and other models of exotic vehicles, had saved the country from losing huge revenue that would have gone down the drain.

Okpabi was quoted as saying, “You can see that we have over 100 vehicles and 38 have been forfeited to the Federal Government. The operation will lead to the recovery of over

N400m from demand notices.”

The customs officer expressed dismay over the determination of some persons to smuggle vehicles into Nigeria and wondered why some individuals were patronising the smugglers.

“It is on this note that I want to emphasise that the service will not hesitate to bring to book any offender caught smuggling vehicles into Nigeria.

Nigeria’s dollar bonds jump 5-month high after Emefiele’s suspension

From Abubakar Yunusa, Abuja

Nigeria’s bonds priced in the US dollar raced to their summit so far this year on Monday as the market welcomed the suspension of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN)’s governor, Godwin Emefiele.

Mr Emefiele’s exit was considered a departure from a raft of policies that have kept foreign investors away from Africa’s largest economy.

The apex bank’s helmsman was asked to step aside by newly-inaugurated President Bola Tinubu from his position on Friday. He was taken into custody by the State Security Service one day for what the secret police described as “investigative reasons.”

He oversaw a central bank

that advanced a N22.7 trillion overdraft called Ways and Means to the Nigerian Government over his nine years at the helm.

That has ramped up Nigeria’s public debt by half to N77 trillion.

The Senate in early May assented to the move by former President Muhammadu Buhari’s government to convert the overdraft, statutorily repayable within 12 months, to a bond to be paid back in 40 years.

The day before Mr Buhari left office, the House of Representatives abruptly convened an emergency session to approve an increase in the borrowing limit from the CBN.

Of the Eurobonds of emerging markets on Monday, Nigeria’s bonds recorded the sharpest rise, with the country’s

bond having the longest maturity climbing to its year-to-date high.

Debts due in 2051 rose by over 3 cents on the greenback to 73.74.

Nigeria’s stock and fixedincome markets could not react to the development on Monday, a public holiday, but are likely to respond when trading resumes Tuesday.

Bloomberg reported that Wale Edun, an aide to President Tinubu, said that harmonisation of Nigeria’s problematic multiple exchange rate regime is around the corner, adding that the unification could be done within a quarter.

The gap between the official exchange rate of the naira to the dollar and the parallel market rate is currently as wide as about 60 per cent.

A dire shortage of FX, whose supply has been severely limited following an oil crash in 2020, means a chunk of foreign investors’ money is trapped in the system, denying them the liberty to exit the market at will, a put-off for potential investors seeking havens for their investments.

“We shall ensure that investors and foreign businesses repatriate their hard-earned dividends and profits home,” President Tinubu promised in his inauguration speech.

Foreign investors’ participation in stock trading in Nigeria plunged to N8.5 billion in April from N104 billion in April 2015, a month before Mr Buhari took office, according to Nigerian Exchange Limited data.

NDIC has been taken over by ‘cabal’ — New board chair

By Abubakar Yunusa Abuja

Abdulhakeem Abdullateef, the new chairperson of the governing board of the Nigerian Deposit Insurance Corporation (NDIC), has alleged that the corporation reeks of corruption and has been taken over by a ‘cabal’.

The board chairman also faulted the corporation’s new act

saying it is one of the instruments of corruption.

“I tell you, NDIC stinks. There is a lot of rot going on. They say, ‘When you fight corruption, corruption fights you’. This is the purported new act of the NDIC and I tell you for nothing that this is Emefiele’s act. Here, they have taken away the powers of Mr President in respect of the NDIC,” he said in a Facebook

post on Monday.

Mr Abdullateef was on 17 May appointed by former President Muhammadu Buhari to serve as the chairman of the board of NDIC following the confirmation of the board members by the senate.

But Mr Buhari, on 26 May, signed the NDIC (repeal and reenactment) bill of 2023 into law, repealing the NDIC Act of

2006. The new act, amongst other things, provides that only the permanent secretary in the Ministry of Finance can chair the governing board of the NDIC.

According to a PRNigeria, controversies have since trailed the appointment of the new chair as the new law repealed the appointment of a chairman outside the public service.

Mr Abdullateef, a

former Lagos lawmaker and commissioner, alleged that the ‘cabal’ took the new act to former President Buhari 48 hours before his leaving office.

“They knew at that time that the man was so busy and he would not be able to read everything they have put here. Therefore, they got him to sign it,” he said.

“Another fraud was committed. This document that was signed is materially different from the vote and proceedings of that of the National Assembly that passed it.”

He alleged that the said cabal introduced the new bill to truncate the original plan of the board.

Mr Abdullateef noted that there are still men of integrity among the lawmakers, adding that the ‘cabal’ knew at the time that if they introduced the section to them on the floor, they will vote against it.

“So what did they do? It was hidden somewhere, it was not part of what was passed by the National Assembly,” he said.

The embattled chair also said that the act gave the president the free hand to appoint competent Nigerians who are capable of becoming managing directors and executive directors.

“Now, they have tied the hands of the President and they said only someone recommended by Emefiele alone can be the Executive or Managing Director,” he said.

Mr Abdullateef, who wept in the video, called on Nigerians to not allow the new act to see the light of day. He also called on President Bola Tinubu to probe the new act.

Phone, generator imports gulped $3.5bn in 2022 – Report

Nigeria spent $3.47bn importing phones, generating sets, electrical transformers, and a host of other electrical equipment in 2022.

This is based on data culled from the International Trade Center. The ITC gets its data from the National Bureau of Statistics and the United Nations COMTRADE.

According to the multilateral agency, which has a joint mandate with the World Trade Organisation and the United Nations, Nigeria’s electrical importation bill grew by 11.90 per cent from the $3.09bn it was in 2022. Also, over the last three years, Nigeria has spent $10.26bn importing electrical equipment amid falling foreign exchange reserves.

Imports under the electrical machinery and equipment category on the ITC portal

include, but are not limited to, electric motors and generators, electric generating sets, electrical transformers, vacuum cleaners, electric shavers, hair clippers, and telephone sets which include smartphones, facsimile machines for line telephony, teleprinters, and parts of telephone sets.

Total phone imports in 2022 was put at $773.56m, a 0.17 per cent year-onyear increase from $772.25m as of 2021. $468.65m worth of electric motors and electric generating, and $357.36m worth of electrical transformers were also imported.

Cumulatively, the three products constituted 46.06 per cent of total electrical equipment importation in 2022. Most of the equipment were imported from China, India, Germany, Türkiye, Sweden, United States of America, United Kingdom,

Austria, Italy, Vietnam, and France.

According to the Nigerian Communications Commission, about 63 million technology devices are sold in Nigeria yearly. Nigeria’s phone market is dominated by foreign players like Tecno, Samsung, Apple, and Itel. Despite having the seventh-highest number of phones in the world, buoyed by its large mobile subscribers, according to the World Population Review, the country’s local phone manufacturing industry is nonexistent.

Recently, the IDC said, “Nigeria’s smartphone market declined 32.1 per cent YoY in Q4 2022 due to sustained high inflation and a shortage of U.S. dollars in the country.”

Nigeria’s smartphone market declined

32.1% YoY in Q4 2022 due to sustained high inflation and a shortage of US dollars in the country.

In an earlier interview with The PUNCH, the Chief Operating Officer, Association of Telecommunications Companies of Nigeria, Ajibola Olude, said poor electricity supply, lack of regulatory enforcement, disdain for local content, and a lack of technical knowhow were reasons affecting local phone manufacturing in the country.

Lamenting on the continued dependence on imported electrical equipment in an earlier interview with The PUNCH, an associate professor of Economics at the Pan Atlantic University, Olalekan Aworinde, said, “The implication of this is many. For instance, foreign exchange management, all those goods were paid for in dollars.

June 12: Time to Nurture Strong Institutions, Better Masses’ Welfare - Governor Radda

On the occasion of this year’s Democracy Day, Mallam Dikko Umaru Radda, the Governor of Katsina State, has tasked political leaders in the country to remain committed to the Nigerian project.

Radda gave the advice in a statement signed by his Chief Press Secretary, CPS, Ibrahim Kaula Mohammed, and made available to newsmen.

“This year’s Democracy Day celebration should reawaken our consciousness to the exigent task of building a prosperous and

egalitarian Nigeria, with strong and efficient institutions of governance,” he said.

According to the Governor, the root of democracy has already been entrenched in Nigeria, barely 24 years after the country returned to civilian rule.

“That is why the present set of Nigerian leaders, especially the political class, must strive towards making the country’s democracy a model for other African nations.

“There is the need for us to offer the masses a better deal, by providing them dividends of

democracy. At a time the country is battling with a myriad of socioeconomic challenges, we must do all we can to cushion the hardship of our people,” he said.

Mall. Radda, expressed gratitude to former President Muhammadu Buhari for declaring June 12 as Nigeria’s new Democracy Day, in 2018, while also bestowing a posthumous national honour on the acclaimed winner of the 1993 presidential election, Moshood Abiola

He said: “Buhari deserves tremendous plaudits for helping

to nurture our democratic culture. His declaration of June 12 as the country’s new Democracy Day, about five years ago, was a watershed. History and posterity will fondly remember his invaluable service to the nation”.

He emphasized the need for citizens to be patriotic and remain united, while also supporting President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and his mission to fix the country.

Radda further reiterated his unwavering commitment to fulfilling all his campaign promises, with a view to restoring Katsina’s

lost glories.

His words: “The driving force of our administration will be service to the people, equity, and justice for all. We will run a people-oriented government and resist anything compromising our ability to put our people first.

“I will lead by example, and I expect members of my cabinet and all public servants to do the same. I will be accountable and periodically provide updates on the achievements and challenges of my administration”.

Cleric urges government at all level to carry religious leaders along

Abubakar Yunusa, Abuja

AKano based Islamic scholar, Sheikh Mahajjadina Sani Kano have advocated the need for the new set of people in governance that were inaugurated on the 29 of May 2023 at all level and the new set of leadership in the National Assembly to provides and enabling environment to carry religious leaders along, so that they can serve as moderator in the face of sever moral decadence among the youths in the country.

Sheikh Mahajjadina made the call in a chart with our reporter in Abuja over the weekend, he added that this has

become imperative owning to the fact that religious leaders are being under used in the face of curbing the fall in discipline of which they their input should have being of great importance in bringing an end to several immoral acts in the society such as phone snatching hooliganism which ultimately make them easy target for recruitment into more sophisticated crime like terrorism, banditry and insurgency.

He therefore urges state government that are been ravaged by spate of terrorist’s activities to involved religious clerics in the planning and executing the war against terrorism, “This have tested and

found to be effective in several countries around the world, so Nigeria should also follow the cue, so that the activities of terrorist can be history in our country” he said.

On the state of the economy and the recent removal of petroleum subsidy, the Islamic cleric call on government at all level to roll out measures and palliatives in other to cushion the adverse effect of removal on the people especially people in the rural areas, “In as much as government have made up their minds on the subsidy removal, provision should be put in place so that the hash impact of the removal would not be too much on the citizens”, he concluded.

Ondo Governor, Akeredolu finally transmits power to deputy

By Musa Baba Adamu

After weeks of speculation surrounding the health of Oluwarotimi Akeredolu, Governor of Ondo State, and his prolonged absence from the state, he officially transferred power to his deputy, Lucky Aiyedatiwa, on Monday.

Akeredolu wrote a letter to Olamide Oladiji, the Speaker of the Ondo State House Assembly, informing the Assembly that Aiyedatiwa would act as Governor while he is on medical leave abroad.

The Governor’s whereabouts had caused concern in the state, with opposition parties calling on him to delegate power to the deputy governor to

avoid a constitutional crisis.

The Speaker confirmed that Akeredolu would be on a 21-day medical leave abroad, starting from June 7 to July 6, 2023.

The letter stated that the leave, which started on June 7, has been extended to July 6, 2023, due to the public holidays on June 12 (Democracy Day) and Eid el Kabir (June 28th and 29th, 2023).

The Speaker described the Governor as a lover of peace and an advocate for the rule of law.

He wished him a speedy recovery and an enjoyable vacation, while assuring the people of Ondo State that the Deputy Governor would efficiently handle the affairs of the state in the Governor’s absence.

Sheikh Mahajjadina

METRO

Yankwashi, CIPMN President knocks MDAs, others over engagement of unlicensed project managers

By Stanley Onyekwere

The newly elected President of the Chartered Institute of Project Managers Nigeria (CIPMN), Dr. Jamilu Yankwashi, has declared resolved to go after anybody found managing projects without the licence of the Institute, including the person that engaged such person to manage projects.

Yankwashi, who emerged CIPMN’s President with 18 votes out of the 23 accredited voters, at its Special General Meeting yesterday, in Abuja, decried that the engagement of unlicensed project managers by Ministries, Department and Agencies ( MDAs) as well as private sector players.

He noted that the newly elected members of the CIPMN Governing Board would begin enforcement of all relevant provisions of the Institute Act, once they are are inaugurated.

He explained that one of the key elements of ensuring successful delivery of projects in Nigeria is the knowledge of technical and know-how in project management both in theory and practice.

According to him, the Act establishing the Institute makes it mandatory for both public and private sectors players to ensure that all project managers were duly certified by CIPMN, but the law has been continually violated.

He said, “ Section 14 subsection 9 of the CIPMN establishment Act, No 3 of 2018, clearly provided that nobody shall be appointed to manage projects in any organisation

•Vows to scale up enforcement

whether it is public sector, organisation, or private sector organisation without the licence of the Chartered Institute or project of Nigeria and if you ever do that, you have committed offence punishable under Section 19 of the Act, which can give you up to two years in prison.

“ I wanted to ensure that there is issue of enforcement, because if you can’t enforce the powers in the field, literally, you

are empowering people in the project sites to do the wrong thing.

“Most of the issue we are having is abandoned projects, building collapses, failed projects, and citizens’ dissatisfaction due to deficit in infrastructure are majorly attributed to quacks managing projects in the country.

“The Institute is empowered by virtue of the provision of

section 21 to train, licence as well as prosecute anybody found managing projects without the licence of the Chartered Institute of Project Managers of Nigeria, including the person that employed such person without the licence to manage a project.

“So, authorities need to know that with the advent of this particular law, it is not just at your pleasure to appoint anybody to manage projects,

because even you that appointed such person, you are at risk of going to jail for up to two by virtue of section 19 of the Law establishing the Institute”.

It was gathered that Yankwashi, who was the Vice President (North) in the Governing Council of the Institute, and later became Acting President, following the removal of Dr. (Mrs.) Victoria Ihekerenma Okoronkwo as president of the Institute.

FCTA raids health facilities rendering sub-standard services

By Stanley Onyekwere

The Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA), has vowed to seal off any health facility providing services below the recommended standard within the Territory.

This was made known when the Private Health Establishments Registration And Monitoring Committee (PHERMC), under Department of Medical and Diagnostics embarked on three days monitoring tour of health facilities in Abuja.

Addressing journalists after the exercise, recently, the Director Medical and Diagnostic, Health and Human Services Secretariat FCTA, Dr Abubakar Ahmadu, who led the team said any facility

found to perform below the recommended standard or seen to render any service beyond the scope approved will be sealed off.

He said the essence of this visit is to have an intensive inspection of the private health facilities in the Federal Capital Territory to ensure that facilities that are registered with PHERMC function according to the services they were registered to provide.

“So far, what we have seen is that some facilities that were registered earlier are still maintaining the standard that we expect of them.

“ But so far, we have had cause to seal the services of one particular facility, which was providing services beyond the scope of which it was registered”, he

stressed.

He said that whereas some facilities have provided optimum service according to the approval granted by PHERMC, some have been discovered to perform below par.

Ahmadu strongly warned that the administration will not hesitate to seal off any facility that fails to provide optimum service to the residents of FCT.

“All private facilities within the FCT registered with PHERMC have clear cut services that they have been registered to carry out so it is our expectations that all these facilities abide by that and provide services within that scope. And they need to seek approval to go beyond so that the facility will be inspected, and we will be able to assess if such additional services

can be accommodated.

“We recognise that constraints occasioned by the economy presently so we are going to work towards ensuring that the services provided by these facilities we are inspecting are not far below expectation and if they do, we have to shut it down.

“But those that just have minimal things to address certainly can continue to provide services but once they go below standard, we have no choice but to seal those facilities. It is in the interest of the public that we’re doing all this.

“Once we see any facility that is operating below standard operating without qualified personnel. We are duty bound to shut them down, and we will shut them down”, he said

The newly elected President of the Chartered Institute of Project Managers Nigeria (CIPMN), Dr. Jamilu Yankwashi, receiving his certificate of returns, at the Institute’s Special General Meeting, yesterday, in Abuja.

Donald Trump due in Miami court to face charges over classified documents

Donald Trump is due to appear in court in Florida to face charges of mishandling sensitive documents after he left the White House.

The former president will enter a courthouse in Miami for an initial hearing on Tuesday, the second time he has appeared in court this year. Miami’s police chief said the force was ready for crowds of between 5,000 and 50,000 people to gather.

Mr Trump spent the night at his hotel resort in the city.

The 76-year-old is expected to travel by motorcade from the Trump National Doral resort to the Wilkie D Ferguson Jr courthouse where his arraignment is scheduled for around 15:00 local time (19:00 GMT).

Following the 25-minute journey, Mr Trump will appear in front of a judge and is expected

to deny 37 counts of illegally retaining classified documents and obstructing the government’s efforts to get them back.

The hearing will last for about an hour and will address various procedural issues, although it is unlikely a trial date will be set. A judge earlier rejected a request by news organisations to allow photo and video access inside.

Mr Trump, who has repeatedly denied wrongdoing, is then expected to return to his golf resort in Bedminster, New Jersey, where he will make remarks to the media.

The charges, which were made public on Friday, came after FBI agents found more than 100 documents with classified markings at Mr Trump’s private Florida estate Mar-a-Lago in August.

They allegedly contained information about the defence and weapons capabilities of both the

US and foreign countries, as well as plans for possible retaliation in response to a foreign attack.

Prosecutors accuse him of hoarding the secret files, storing some in a ballroom and a bathroom, and of engaging in a conspiracy with an aide to obstruct the FBI’s inquiry.

Police officers and sniffer dogs have been patrolling the area surrounding the court in downtown Miami as officials warn of the potential for unrest.

“Make no mistake about itwe’re taking this event extremely serious,” Miami Police Chief Manuel Morales said. “We know that there is a potential of things taking a turn for the worse.”

Supporters of Mr Trump, who is the frontrunner for the Republican presidential nomination in 2024, have gathered outside his resort, with some carrying huge flags reading: “Donald Trump 2024,

I’ll be back”. Cars and motorcycles covered in Trump paraphernalia also circled the area while others sounded their horns in support.

Mr Trump entered a restaurant at the resort on Monday evening, greeting supporters and posing for a picture. “With you all the way!” one person shouted from the bar, before Mr Trump thanked him and gave a thumbs up. His legal troubles appear not to have diminished his support among Republican voters, and he continues to hold a significant lead over all other candidates for the nomination.

A poll by the BBC’s US partner CBS found 76% of likely Republican primary voters were more concerned about the indictment being politically motivated than about the documents posing a national security risk.

And a Reuters/Ipsos poll

‘Dead’ woman found breathing in coffin

Mourners at the wake of an elderly Ecuadorean woman were startled to discover she was still alive.

A hospital doctor in the city of Babahoyo declared Bella Montoya, 76, dead following a suspected stroke.

She was placed in a coffin and taken to a funeral parlour, where relatives held a vigil before her planned burial.

When, after almost five hours, they opened the coffin to change her clothes ahead of the funeral, the woman gasped for air.

“My mum started to move her left hand, to open her eyes, her mouth; she struggled to breathe,” her son Gilbert Balberán described the moment

he realised his mother was still alive.

Video taken by one of the mourners shows her lying in an open casket struggling to breathe, while another complains that an ambulance they called has not yet arrived.

Minutes later, firefighters arrive and lift Bella Montoya from the coffin onto a stretcher and take her back to the same hospital where she had been declared dead.

Her son told Ecuadorean media that she was in intensive care, but was responsive.

“My mum is on oxygen, her heart is stable. The doctor pinched her hand and she reacted, they tell me that’s good because it means she is reacting

little by little,” newspaper El Universo quoted him as saying.

Ecuador’s health ministry has set up a committee to investigate the incident.

Mr Balberán said he had taken his mother to hospital at about 09:00 “and at noon a doctor told me [she] died”.

He said he had even been issued with a death certificate, which stated that she had died of cardiopulmonary arrest after suffering a stroke.

Bella Montoya is not the only person to “come alive” after being officially declared dead.

In February, an 82-yearold woman was found to be breathing while lying in a funeral home in New York state. She had been pronounced dead

released on Monday returned a similar result, showing 81% of Republicans thought the charges were politically motivated, which is something Mr Trump has long claimed.

He has continued to strike a defiant tone as his moment in court nears, airing grievances with the case and repeatedly accusing the Biden administration of weaponising law enforcement agencies against him in an interview with a Spanish-language radio programme on Monday.

Long-standing protocol dictates that the Department of Justice, the federal agency that enforces US law, should operate independently from the White House. “I have never once - not one single time - suggested to the justice department what they should do,” President Biden said on Thursday.

Treat Williams: Everwood and Hair actor dies in road accident

Actor Treat Williams, who starred in the film musical Hair and the US television series Everwood, has died in a road accident aged 71.

Williams was thrown from his motorbike in Vermont on Monday after being hit by an SUV turning left, police said.

He was airlifted to hospital with critical injuries, but pronounced dead on arrival.

The actor recorded over 130 screen credits in a career that spanned almost 50 years.

“As you can imagine, we are shocked and greatly bereaved at this time,” a family statement published by Variety magazine said.

“Treat was full of love for his family, for his life and for his

craft, and was truly at the top of his game in all of it.”

Williams’ agent of 15 years, Barry McPherson, described him as “the nicest guy” who was “so talented”.

“He was an actor’s actor,” McPherson told People magazine, adding that Williams had been at “the heart of Hollywood since the late 1970s”.

Actor Wendell Pierce described Williams on social media as a “passionate... creative man” whose “adventurous spirit was infectious”.

Following his 1979 breakthrough in Hair as hippie George Berger, Williams appeared in Steven Spielberg’s 1941 (1979), Once Upon A Time In America (1984), Dead Heat

(1988), Things to Do in Denver When You’re Dead (1995) and Deep Rising (1998).

He was also known for his stage acting, with roles in Stephen Sondheim’s Follies and as Danny Zuko in the original Broadway production of Grease.

In the early 2000s, Williams appeared as widowed Dr Andy Brown in four series of the US TV drama Everwood, and he also took on roles in Chesapeake Shores, Blue Bloods and Chicago Fire.

He was nominated for an Emmy award for his work in the 1996 TV movie The Late Shift, and received three Golden Globes nominations during the 1980s.

BBC

File photo of a coffin

Treat Williams was an “actor’s actor”, according to his

Zimbabwe heads to the polls in August against a backdrop of one of the world’s highest rates of inflation and accusations of an intensifying crackdown on the opposition.

Long-time president Robert Mugabe was deposed in 2017 but many say that little has changed.

In the run-up to the vote, questions linger over how free and fair the ballot will be in a country that is trying to rehabilitate its image.

When are the elections?

Zimbabweans will vote on 23 August to elect councillors, members of parliament, and a president. If there is no outright winner in the presidential contest, a run-off will be held six weeks later, on 2 October.

Who is running for president?

The final list of candidates has not yet been confirmed.

In the last election, in 2018, 23 people ran for president, but this time that number is likely to be lower after the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission raised the nomination fee to $20,000 (£16,000) from $1,000 (£800).

There are likely to be two main candidates:

• Incumbent Emmerson Mnangagwa, from the governing Zanu-PF party

• Opposition leader Nelson Chamisa, from the Citizen’s Coalition for Change (CCC)

Mr Mnangagwa, 80, has led Zimbabwe since the military forced Robert Mugabe to resign in 2017, and then won a disputed election a year later. He was a long-time ally of Mugabe before the pair fell out.

Mr Chamisa, 45, came second in 2018, winning 44% of the vote. A 2020 court ruling stripped him of the leadership of the main opposition Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) and he subsequently lost access to party assets and state funding.

He formed the CCC in 2022, remains hugely popular in urban areas and is the main face of the opposition.

Other contenders include Saviour Kasukuwere - an exiled former Mugabe ally,

Zimbabwe elections 2023: What you need to know

Douglas Mwonzora, the MDC’s new leader, businesswoman

Elisabeth Valerio, whose United Zimbabwe Alliance Party was launched in March 2022, and US-based businessman Robert Chapman - however the chances of any of them winning are slim.

Nomination courts on 21 June will confirm final candidates for all the elections.

Who will win?

Zanu-PF has the advantage of incumbency, state power and access to state resources. The party, which has been in power since independence in 1980, also retains strong support in rural areas.

However with the economy in such a mess, many people, especially those in urban areas and the youth, think it is time for a change.

Rural voters normally turn out in huge numbers, unlike urban and youth voters, which could work against the opposition. The government has also refused to allow Zimbabweans living abroad to vote - which could also work against Mr Chamisa.

Polling so far has predicted different results, so it is hard to use that as a guide as to who may end up president.

Furthermore, human rights activists say that in the past Zanu-PF has used various tactics to stay in power, including violence and intimidation, statemedia blackouts and negative coverage of the opposition. Zanu-PF has previously denied using dirty tricks against its opponents.

What are the main issues?

The cost-of-living crisis continues to be at the core of voters’ concerns, with the last three years having been some of the worst in a decade. In the 12 months leading up to May this year, prices rose by 86.5%, one of the highest annual inflation

rates in the world.

Meanwhile, businesses are struggling to cope with crippling power outages and an unstable local currency, which lost 86% of its value between January and early June.

Allegations of corruption also remain a source of frustration, with a very low rate of prosecution. During the Covid pandemic, equipment was allegedly procured at inflated prices - the health minister was fired but then exonerated by the courts.

How do the elections work?

For members of parliament and council candidates, the election is won on a first-pastthe-post basis - in other words the person who has the most votes.

In the presidential race, however, a candidate needs more than 50% of the vote to be declared the winner, otherwise there will be a run-off election between the top two.

When will we get the results?

By law the presidential

election results must be announced within five days after voting ends.

Will they be free and fair?

Civil society groups and the opposition doubt that polls will be free or fair. They cite what they say has been a systemic crackdown on government critics. The arrests and convictions of opposition figures and government critics has intensified over the last two years.

The electoral reforms that the opposition have demanded for years - to level the playing field, provide access to public media and remove ex-military personnel from the electoral body - have not happened.

CCC leader Mr Chamisa says more than 60 of the party’s meetings were banned, or disrupted by police during byelections last year, prompting fears it will happen again.

As former Zimbabwean politician Jonathan Moyo put it, Zanu-PF will not “reform itself out of power”.

What happened in the last election in 2018?

This will be the second time Mr Mnangagwa and Mr Chamisa face each other.

Five years ago, the president won in the first round with 50.8% of the vote, but violence followed polling day in which six people were killed when security forces opened fire on protesters.

Observers generally commended the freedom of movement during the campaign period and relative peace on voting day, but the EU for example noted major shortcomings including state resources being misused in favour of the incumbent.

The EU said the final results as announced by the Electoral Commission contained numerous errors.

Mr Chamisa’s party failed in its legal challenge to have the result overturned after arguing that the presidential and parliamentary vote tallies were off by tens of thousands.

Father of Julie Ward who spent years hunting Kenya killer dies

Afather who spent 35 years trying to hunt down his daughter’s killer after she was murdered in Kenya has died.

The body of wildlife photographer Julie Ward, 28, from Bury St Edmunds, Suffolk, was discovered on Maasai Mara reserve in September 1988. No-one has ever been convicted of her murder.

John Ward, who spent £2m of his own money investigating the case, died within two weeks of his wife Jan.

Their sons Bob and Tim said they would continue their father’s mission.

Bob Ward said his father, who died aged 89, continued to follow leads up until a few weeks ago.

He said, together with his brother, they would carry on their father’s work, and they planned to publish a book on the case and get a documentary made.

“The world can get to see what he’s been doing for the last 35 years,” he told BBC Radio Suffolk.

“It’s such an extraordinary story and I think people only know about half of it.”

Miss Ward disappeared towards the end

of a solo photography safari.

She was last seen alive on 6 September 1988 before her burned and dismembered body was found by her father a week later.

At the time, Kenyan officials claimed she had been attacked by animals, but they later accepted she was murdered after her father uncovered further evidence.

Unlawful killing

Two game rangers were acquitted of Miss Ward’s murder in 1992 due to insufficient evidence.

A new team of Kenyan police officers

re-examined the case in 1997 and in 1999 a gamekeeper was tried and acquitted of the crime.

In 2004, an inquest held in Ipswich recorded a verdict of unlawful killing.

John Ward, from Brockley, near Bury St Edmunds, had made more than 100 visits to Kenya, trying to hunt down who was responsible.

He previously said if his daughter’s death was accidental, he would have accepted, but he was determined not to give up on the murder investigation. Source: BBC

Zanu-PF, the governing party, has a lot of support in rural parts of the country

Australia bus crash: Driver going too fast in Hunter Valley, police say

The man driving a bus in Australia that crashed, killing 10 and injuring at least 20, was allegedly going too fast in foggy conditions, police say.

The bus was carrying passengers returning from a wedding on Sunday when it overturned at a roundabout near the town of Greta in New South Wales (NSW).

Many of the victims are connected to tight-knit rural sporting clubs, local media have reported.

The crash is one of Australia’s deadliest road incidents.

Brett Andrew Button, 58, has been charged with multiple counts of dangerous driving and negligence, after being arrested on Monday.

He was allegedly driving “in a manner that was inconsistent with the conditions”, the NSW Police Traffic and Highway Patrol Commander told reporters on Tuesday.

“He lost control of that vehicle... obviously the speed was too quick for him to negotiate that roundabout,” Acting Assistant Commissioner David Waddell added.

Fourteen people injured in the crash in the Hunter Valley wine region remain in hospital, with two in a critical condition, police say.

They have not formally identified any of the victims, but the mayor of Singleton said many lived in the small town.

“I know we’ll never get over it,” Sue Moore told the BBC.

Some local families have been at the side of injured people in hospital in Newcastle and Sydney, Ms Moore said, and others are planning funerals while reeling from “the worst possible thing that could ever happen in their lives”.

“As far as I know, one lot of parents are leaving two kids orphaned,” she said.

A junior doctor, Rebecca

Mullen, was among those killed, said NSW Health Minister Ryan Park.”This has made a very dark day even darker for NSW Health,” he said.

Tasmanian man Kane Symons also died in the crash, his former surf club confirmed on social media.

Posting on behalf of his family, the Carlton Park Surf Lifesaving Club described Mr Symons as “an amazing athlete... a great bloke and a mate to many”.

“We adored him and he will be truly missed,” they said.

Pop-up mental health clinics have been set up in Singleton and the nearby town of Cessnock to support the local community, and Ms Moore said discussions are under way to fundraise for the victims’ families.

Mr Button is also a Hunter Valley local, and is clearly hurting along with the victims’ relatives, a magistrate said when he faced court on Tuesday morning.

Sakshi Malik: Hurt by Indian PM Modi’s silence on wrestlers’ protests

Indian wrestler Sakshi Malik says she is “hurt” that Prime Minister Narendra Modi has not yet commented on the allegations of sexual misconduct against the outgoing wrestling federation of India (WFI) chief.

“When we won medals, he [Mr Modi] invited us home for lunch, he treated us with so much love and respect. It does hurt that he is now silent over this issue,” Malik, the first Indian woman to win an Olympic wrestling medal, told the BBC.

She is among a group of top Indian wrestlers who have been protesting for months, demanding the arrest of Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh, who is also an influential MP from Mr Modi’s Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). Mr Singh denies all the allegations against him.

Delhi police have opened two cases against the MP based on the testimonies of seven athletes who accuse Mr Singh of harassing them for years. As one of the complaints is from a minor, police have invoked the stringent Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (Pocso) Act. Mr Singh has said that the law was being misused. He has been questioned by police but not arrested yet.

Malik and other top wrestlers temporarily suspended their agitation last

week after they met Sports Minister Anurag Thakur who promised to complete the investigation against Mr Singh by 15 June.

“Depending on how strong the charges against him are, we will decide our next course of action. But our fight for justice is far from over,” Malik said.

“Mr Modi should definitely get involved and ensure that the police investigation is impartial. All we really want is a fair and proper investigation,” she added.

The government has also promised that neither Mr Singh, nor any of his close associates, would have a role in the new wrestling federation which will be elected by 4 July. But the wrestlers say he’s an influential man and only his arrest would stop him from interfering in the federation’s affairs.

The wrestlers first began protests in January but called it off the same month after India’s sports ministry stripped Mr Singh of his administrative powers for a few weeks and the government promised to investigate their complaints.

But the protests restarted in April, with the wrestlers calling for his arrest.

Last month, the protest site was cleared and several wrestlers were briefly detained as they tried to march to India’s new parliament. The police also filed cases

including of rioting against them.

Visuals of the athletes being dragged and carried off in buses went viral, sparking criticism from top athletes and opposition politicians. The International Olympic Association also weighed in, calling for an impartial probe.

On 30 May, the wrestlers threatened to dump their medals into the Ganges - India’s holiest river - following which a delegation of protesters met Home Minister Amit Shah at his residence last week.

Malik said it was hurtful to watch the prime minister do nothing throughout this period: “We were on the streets for about 40 days... There was nothing even though he was well aware of what we were protesting about.”

Last week, Indian media reported that the minor athlete had withdrawn her allegations against Mr Singh.

Malik said she was not in touch with the complainant, but believed that “the player was pressurised into withdrawing the charges”.

“Even if charges under Pocso are not applicable, there are still plenty of complaints against Mr Singh for which he should be arrested. But it seems that laws are not equal for everyone,” she added.

Jack Dorsey: India threatened to shut Twitter and raid employees

Former Twitter CEO Jack Dorsey has alleged that the Indian government threatened to shut the platform and raid employees’ houses in the country.

In an interview with a US-based YouTube channel, Mr Dorsey said India requested removal of several tweets and accounts linked to the farmers’ protest in 2020.

Twitter was also asked to censor journalists critical of the government, he alleged.

India has denied the allegations and accused Twitter of violating laws.

“This is an outright lie... Perhaps an attempt to brush out that very dubious period of Twitter’s history,” federal minister Rajeev Chandrashekar tweeted on Tuesday.

“No one went to jail nor was Twitter ‘shutdown’. Dorsey’s Twitter regime had a problem accepting the sovereignty of Indian law. It behaved as if the laws of India did not apply to it.”

Mr Dorsey’s comments - made to the American news series Breaking Points - are the latest in an already troubled relationship between Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) government and Twitter.

It also comes at a time when the platform has been caught up in an intensifying debate on its role in supporting principles of free speech amid demands in several countries to control Twittter’s influence.

Mr Dorsey quit as the Twitter CEO in 2021 and the social media platform was purchased by billionaire Elon Musk in 2022.

In the interview, which was uploaded on YouTube on Monday, Mr Dorsey said “countries like India and Turkey made many requests to us to take down journalists’ accounts that give tactile information and remove them from the platform”.

He added that he was “surprised at the level of engagement and requests” by

governments of the world to censor content on the platform during his time.

“India, for example, was a country that had many requests around the farmers’ protests, around particular journalists that were critical of the government,” he said.

“It manifested in ways such as: ‘we will shut Twitter down in India’ - which is a very large market for us; ‘we will raid the homes of your employees,’ which they did; ‘we will shut down your offices if you don’t follow suit.’ And this is India, a democratic country,” Mr Dorsey told the show’s hosts Krystal Ball and Saagar Enjeti.

At the height of the farmers’ protests against a series of agriculture reform laws, the government had asked Twitter to remove tweets it believed that had used an incendiary hashtag, and accounts it alleged were used by Pakistan-backed Sikh separatist groups.

The request came after the largely peaceful protest had been jolted by violence

on 26 January 2021, which left one person dead and hundreds of policemen injured.

Twitter had first blocked some 250 accounts, including those of a news magazine and activists and organisations associated with supporting the year-long protests on the outskirts of capital Delhi.

But six hours later, Twitter restored the accounts, citing “insufficient justification” for continuing the suspension.

The Indian government immediately ordered Twitter to block the accounts again and told the company’s employees in India that legal action would be taken - which could be up to seven years in prison - if they did not comply.

Twitter responded, saying it would not block accounts belonging to media companies, journalists, activists and politicians because that would “violate their fundamental right to free expression under the Indian law”.BBC

“I see before me a man suffering,” Magistrate Robyn Richardson said, granting him bail.

Bus driver Brett Button leaves a police station after being granted bail

Top Indian wrestler Sakshi Malik spoke to the BBC about the protests

Property

Service charge key in mgt of multi tenanted property -ESV. Patrick Okeke

By Mashe Umaru Gwamna

An Estate Surveyor & Valuer ESV. Patrick Kene Okeke, said Service Charge is key in the management of multitalented property.

ESV. Okeke made the disclosure in Abuja, yesterday while speaking to newsmen.

He said multi tenanted property have facilities that are used in common by all tenants.

“Facilities such as elevators, security lighting, security alarm, elevators among others. The Service Charge are imposed on all the tenants for smooth running of the property and for the common good of all”.

He said the Estate Surveyor and Valuer, will normally

propose annual budget, estimate to cover the expenses which will be apportioned to tenants to pay accordingly.

“The Service Charge is paid collectively by the tenants according to the space they are occupying”.

He will equally manage the funds for the day to day running of the property.

“ The Estate Surveyor & Valuer will provide an annual report to show how the money collected are expended, each tenant must have the statement of account. This is very important to enable each tenant to know whether he has a refund or will add to the common pool of funds”, Okeke stated.

He explained that “It is

important to add that nonpayment of service charge by some tenants has wide implication in the maintenance of the property.

“When the security men and cleaners for instance are not paid at the end of the month, your guess is as good as mine with what will happen to the property”.

He said that Estate Surveyors and Valuers are the only professionals who are competent to handle this aspect of property management.

“He is the one who secured the tenants and such are familiar with them and conversant with the day to day running of the property maintenance and can deal with artisans as the case maybe”, he stated.

NIOB urges government to reduce high cost of houses

By Mashe Umaru Gwamna

Nigerian Institute of Building (NIOB) has urged government to reduce the present high cost of affordable houses.

The institute said in order for government to achieve their goal for affordable house, there is a need to use local construction materials and technologies of housing construction.

“This will help in bringing down the cost to the affordability bracket”.

President of NIOB, Prof. Yohanna Izam, made the disclosure on Thursday at a two-day Mandatory Continuous Professional Development Workshop for its members in Abuja.

The theme of the workshop is “Innovation and technology in housing development”and

sub theme: ‘Understanding the Nigeria housing challenge, technology driven mass housing provision and innovations to address housing affordability’.

“ As we all know by the United Nation recommendation, you don’t use more than 30% of ones income on housing”, he said.

Izam noted that there is need to bring down the cost of houses to that range, if not, we cannot achieve housing for all in Nigeria.

“Another option is to increase the wages to a living wage and improve on the wage structure. When this is achieved, low income earners can afford the houses”.

Speaking on the institute plan for the coming administration, he said the institute is also charging the incoming government to make construction of affordable houses

for citizens a priority.

The president said that there was an urgent need for mass housing provision in the country.

According to him, the provision of mass housing units will not only address the housing deficit but will also solve a social welfare problem.

“We have look at the deficit in housing which some people have put the figures at 20 million. So the incoming administration should consider it as a priority to begin to develop mass houses for Nigerians.

“It will solve a social welfare problem and it will also reflect the economy that will create jobs for our teaming populace,” he said.

While speaking on the paper he presented at the workshop about Dry Construction he said that it was about addressing the issue of speed in construction.

According to him, it helps to minimise the amount of onsite activities that involves industrialised building system that use more of refabricated components assembled within a short time on the construction site.

“The time for construction is reduced and on the long time factory production of considerable number of components improve the quality of the components and also reduce the cost of production.

“That is what other countries are using to address tfhe issue of mass housing provision.

“We are talking about large numbers, if we can do 700,000 units in Nigeria for the next 10-20 years then we will now stabilise in the housing sector then Nigerians can have affordable housing,”he said.

Similarly, 2nd Vice President of NIOB, Bimbo Kolade decried the lack of accurate data on housing

deficit in the country.

He said that shelter was critical and innovation and technology must be deployed to address housing delivery in Nigeria from the foundation stage to the last level of delivery.

Kolade said as builders one of the objectives of the workshop was to set an agenda for the incoming administration on the need for mass housing.

Prof. Ismaila Adamu of Yobe State University Damaturu who presented a paper on provision of affordable housing using Lean Technology said the Technology would help reduce cost.

“It is a technique for project construction management, where

you cut down cost through eliminating waste and eliminate any activity in the production process that does not add value to the building.

“Since we are looking for innovative ways for affordable housing units it is a technique that manages planning with control, so that when you plan you also control.

“When you talk of affordable housing you can look at it from different perspectives, affordable houses to who?

“Everyone has the type of house he wants, because you see sometimes government builds houses and give to people but they sell it and go and construct the type

that they like.

Adamu said effort must be put into providing houses for the low income groups that are really affordable and cost effective.

One of the participants of the workshop, Olaniran Aderobigbe, a fellow of NIOB and Managing Director of Projubi Nigeria Plc said the workshop was key because it keeps builders abreast of the latest innovation the industry globally.

Aderibigbe said most of the lectures were futuristic and would give participants a mindset to process and apply the techniques when they eventually come across them adding that the workshop was worthwhile.

An Estate Surveyor Valuer ESV. Patrick Ken Okeke

Why making AI safe isn’t as easy as you might think

Artificial-intelligence experts generally follow one of two schools of thought - it will either improve our lives enormously or destroy us all. And that is why this week’s European Parliament debate on how the technology is regulated is so important. But how could AI be made safe? Here are five of the challenges ahead.

Agreeing what artificial intelligence is

The European Parliament has taken two years to come up with a definition of an AI system - software that can “for a given set of human-defined objectives, generate outputs such as content, predictions, recommendations or decisions influencing the environments they interact with”.

This week, it is voting on its Artificial Intelligence Act - the first legal rules of their kind on AI, which go beyond voluntary codes and require companies to comply.

Reaching global agreement

Former UK Office for Artificial Intelligence head Sana Kharaghani points out the technology has no respect for borders.

“We do need to have international collaboration on this - I know it will be hard,” she tells BBC News. “This is not a domestic matter. These technologies don’t sit within the boundaries of one country

But there remains no plan for a global, United-Nations-style AI regulatoralthough, some have suggested it - and different territories have different ideas:

• The European Union’s proposals are the most strict and include grading AI products depending on their impact - an email spam filter, for example, would have lighter regulation than a cancer-detection tool

• The United Kingdom is folding AI regulation into existing regulators - those who say the technology has discriminated against them, for example, would go to the Equalities Commission

• The United Sates has only voluntary codes, with lawmakers admitting, in a recent AI committee hearing, concerns about whether they were up to the job

• China intends to make companies notify users whenever an AI algorithm is being used

Ensuring public trust

“If people trust it, then they’ll use it,” International Business Machines (IBM) Corporation EU government and regulatory affairs head Jean-Marc Leclerc says.

There are enormous opportunities for AI to improve people’s lives in incredible ways. It is already:

• helping discover antibiotics

• making paralysed people walk

again • addressing issues such as climate change and pandemics

But what about screening job applicants or predicting how likely someone is to commit crime?

The European Parliament wants the public informed about the risks attached to each AI product.

Companies that break its rules could be fined the greater of €30m or 6% of global

The European Parliament has taken two years to come up with a definition of an AI system - software that can “for a given set of human-defined objectives, generate outputs such as content, predictions, recommendations or decisions influencing the environments they interact with”.

This week, it is voting on its Artificial Intelligence Act - the first legal rules of their kind on AI, which go beyond voluntary codes and require companies to comply

annual turnover.

But can developers predict or control how their product might be used?

Deciding who writes the rules

So far, AI has been largely self-policed.

The big companies say they are on board with government regulation“critical” to mitigate the potential risks, according to Sam Altman, boss of ChatGPT creator OpenAI.

But will they put profits before people if they become too involved in writing the rules?

You can bet they want to be as close as possible to the lawmakers tasked with setting out the regulations.

And Lastminute.com founder Baroness Lane-Fox says it is important to listen not just to corporations.

“We must involve civil society, academia, people who are affected by these different models and transformations,” she says.

Acting quickly Microsoft, which has invested billions of dollars in ChatGPT, wants it to “take the drudgery out of work”.

It can generate human-like prose and text responses but, Mr Altman points out,

is “a tool, not a creature”.

Chatbots are supposed to make workers more productive.

And in some industries, AI has the capacity to create jobs and be a formidable assistant.

But others have already lost them - last month, BT announced AI would replace 10,000 jobs.

ChatGPT came into public use just over six months ago.

Now, it can write essays, plan people’s holidays and pass professional exams.

The capability of these largescale language models is growing at a phenomenal rate.

And two of the three AI “godfathers”Geoffrey Hinton and Prof Yoshua Bengio - have been among those to warn the technology has huge potential for harm.

The Artificial Intelligence Act will not come into force until at least 2025 - “way too late”, EU technology chief Margrethe Vestager says.

She is drawing up an interim voluntary code for the sector, alongside the US, which could be ready within weeks.

Source: BBC

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WEDNESDAY JUNE 14, 2023

Kylian Mbappe: Where will PSG superstar play next?

Kylian Mbappe has told Paris StGermain he won’t be renewing his contract beyond 2024, but does want to stay next season.

If that happens, the French champions risk losing him on a free transfer - some 180m euros (£165.7m) less than they paid for him in 2017.

So will they try to cash in on him this summer? If they do, there will be no shortage of admirers, but only a limited number of clubs are likely to be able to afford him.

The prolific 24-year-old has scored 212 goals and contributed 98 assists in 260 games since joining PSG from Monaco, initially on loan, six years ago - winning five league titles among his 13 domestic trophies with the club.

He also played a crucial role in France’s 2018 World Cup triumph and his international record of 38 goals in 68 appearances places him fifth on his country’s all-time top scorers list - 15 behind record holder Olivier Giroud.

In December, Mbappe scored the first hat-trick in a World Cup final since 1966 but a penalty shootout loss to Argentina denied him successive World Cup victories at the age of 23.

So, with the world seemingly at his feet, what do his options appear to be?

Real Madrid

Kylian Mbappe and Real Madrid manager Carlo Ancelotti shake hands after a Champions League last 16 tie last year

Real Madrid president Florentino Perez said Kylian Mbappe “must have changed his dream” after rejecting a move last year

Mbappe looked destined to sign for Real Madrid only last year.

Long-admired by the Spanish giants, he had agreed a financial package with both Real and PSG as he considered his future before the expiration of his contract in June.

Real were willing to pay 150m euros (£127m) as a signing-on fee and a wage of 40m euros (£34m). Instead, Mbappe chose to accept a lucrative new deal and remain at PSG, although he said the dream of playing for Real is “never over”.

The departure of fellow Frenchman and Ballon d’Or winner Karim Benzema to Saudi Arabia means Real are in the market for a striker, with Tottenham’s Harry Kane thought to be at the top of their wishlist.

Will this be the year Real get their man? Carlo Ancelotti’s side have already made one statement signing this summer, landing England midfielder Jude Bellingham for 103m

euros (£88.5m), and they might now be tempted to finance another.

Manchester United Manchester United are another European giant chasing a talisman this summer - and among the few Premier League clubs with the financial capacity to fund a move.

There remains uncertainty around the club’s future ownership, however, with Sheikh Jassim bin

Hamad Al Thani and rival bidder Sir Jim Ratcliffe waiting to see if either of their offers to buy the club will be accepted by the Glazer family.

Manager Erik Ten Hag has prioritised filling the number nine role in his second summer transfer window, with England captain Kane an option if Spurs chairman Daniel Levy indicates a willingness to sell to a domestic rival.

However, news of Mbappe’s situation could perhaps tempt United to offer the Frenchman a move to England - and any potential new owner an opportunity to make a promising first impression.

Saudi Arabia

Karim Benzema and France teammate Kylian Mbappe embrace each other

Karim Benzema agreed to join Saudi Arabian champions Al-Ittihad after leaving Real Madrid

The Saudi Pro League is the home of Portugal forward Cristiano Ronaldo and now former Real teammate Benzema. Might Mbappe be tempted to join them?

Four of the leading Saudi Arabian clubs were recently taken over by the country’s Public Investment Fund, which also owns Newcastle United and LIV Golf.

Ronaldo’s move to Al Nassr saw the five-time Ballon d’Or winner become the world’s highest-paid athlete, with Forbes reporting the 38-year-old’s annual earnings as $136m (£108.7m) in May.

After Saudi Arabian side Al-Hilal missed out on Argentina legend Lionel Messi, a similarly lucrative offer emerging for another global superstar in Mbappe would not come

as a surprise.

Chelsea

It was quite the first year for Chelsea under new owner Todd Boehly, who proceeded to splash out more than £550m across two transfer windows following his takeover.

The club may not be quite as aggressive this summer as they look to seek to trim their bloated squad and also ensure they adhere to the Premier League’s profit and sustainability rules.

However, the lengthy contracts they have handed out - British record 121m euro (£107m) signing Enzo Fernandez and £89m addition Mykhailo Mudryk both joined on eight-and-a-half year deals - allow them to spread out the cost of each player over that time.

Which means, should they succeed in reducing their squad size, Boehly’s Blues could very well be in the market for yet another statement signing as they look to bounce back from a disastrous season on the pitch in which they finished 12th in the

English top flight.

Liverpool

Mbappe made clear his admiration for Liverpool back in 2020, describing Jurgen Klopp as a “very good manager” and his side as “a machine” as they hunted down a first Premier League title.

The Reds were previously linked with Mbappe but Klopp said the forward was out of his club’s price range - and he provided a similar response amid talk of a move for Bellingham earlier this year, which he compared with a child asking for a Ferrari for Christmas.

While that is likely to still be the case, owner John Henry has said that he does expect some investment in the club as they aim to again compete with Premier League winners Manchester City.

With PSG keen not to lose Mbappe without recuperating part of their outlay, could there yet be an opportunity for Liverpool if they are able to avoid being drawn into a bidding war?

Kylian Mbappe won the Golden Boot award at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar with eight goals

S P R T

Lionel Messi: Can Argentine’s move to Inter Miami revolutionise football in US?

“I think Miami needs a star,” David Beckham said in 2018 when his new Major League Soccer franchise was born. “Miami would expect us to bring in a star. That’s what we plan on doing.”

Five years later, with Inter Miami currently playing its fourth season in MLS, Beckham and co-owners, brothers Jorge and Jose Mas, delivered the biggest star of them all. Arguably the greatest player of all time. The World Cup winner, Lionel Messi.

Messi could be a catalyst, building momentum for the sport in the United States in the three years before they cohost the 2026 World Cup with Canada and Mexico.

Before that, the USA will also host the 2024 Copa America, meaning Messi could not only play his final game in club football in the States but likely his final major international tournament too.

These are big moments for Messi at the end of his playing career - he’ll be 36 by the time he’s eligible to play his first game for Miami - but they are potentially even bigger moments for football in the USA.

Quiz: How well do you know Lionel Messi?

From shy genius to ‘bad boy’ leaderMessi’s Qatar transformation

The move has echoes of Beckham, who joined LA Galaxy in 2007, and of Pele, who was drawn to the American soccer package at New York Cosmos in the old NASL in the 1970s.

Messi’s move will partly be judged, whether he likes it or not, on the growth of soccer in America during his time there. Propelling it to the front and centre of the conversation in American sports, rather than an appendage.

The depth of influence Messi has will depend on whether his impact goes beyond the superficial. Will the enthusiasm end when he leaves or will Messi’s magic see domestic soccer

strengthen across the nation?

At the moment, North American men’s professional sports consist primarily of the ‘Big Four’ major leagues - basketball (NBA), baseball (MLB), American football (NFL) and ice hockey (NHL).

MLS is not always taken as seriously as these and is often an afterthought in general sports coverage, if it is thought of at all.

Since Messi’s announcement, though, it has featured regularly as a main story. No-one can overlook the biggest name in world sports. That this big name happens to be a soccer player is significant.

Anticipation of Messi’s arrival will be the first stage of his American story, when the effect he’s having on the game there will be seen in real time. Inter Miami’s social media following has already skyrocketed beyond those of many NHL, MLB and NFL teams.

Cumulative ticket sales for their games from July to the end of the season which, unlike the European leagues, runs within a calendar year rather than across two, have seen an almost 28-fold increase since Messi’s announcement.

Tickets for the NBA Finals in Miami last week cost less than those for Messi’s possible debut against Cruz Azul in the Leagues Cup. Team line-up announcements are already being met with a barrage of comments, most asking ‘where’s Messi?’

The move will be good for MLS, especially in the short term while Messi is there - but being good for MLS isn’t necessarily the same as being good for soccer in America. Much will depend on how much of the excitement and interest filters down to the grassroots.

That can be difficult when there is no connection between the leagues at different levels across the country. There is no direct continuation from the NASL of Pele to the MLS of Beckham and Messi, and no link between MLS and the

country’s other pro-soccer league, USL.

Neither is there promotion and relegation, though this is handy for Miami who currently sit bottom of the Eastern Conference before Messi’s arrival.

David Beckham

David Beckham became owner of the Inter Miami franchise in 2014

If Messi’s impact on the sport in the US is to go beyond the league in which he plays, MLS might have to open up somewhat, paying some mind to other soccer organisations running parallel to and below it - and it may benefit from doing so.

Its rules and regulations have helped forge steadier foundations than previous pro-soccer leagues, while single-entity single-mindedness has facilitated selfpreservation, but it might now be time to remove some of the shackles. Messi’s arrival could encourage that.

The league has already needed some flexibility to attract Messi in the first place. A combination of factors, including a new broadcast deal with Apple TV starting this season, a shared kit supplier in Adidas and a Beckham-owned club in Miami - a city where Messi himself owns property - have provided favourable circumstances.

It is fitting that Beckham is the owner bringing Messi to MLS as his own arrival as a player in 2007 changed the game. To facilitate Beckham’s signing, the league created the ‘designated player rule’sometimes referred to as the Beckham rule - which allows clubs to acquire up to three players whose wages can exceed the salary cap.

Beckham’s rule now facilitates his team’s move for Messi, the details of which are yet to be disclosed but, as expected, there will be more to it than just a standard designated player contract.

Messi’s added extras will take to new levels what MLS and its partners can offer a player. It will be reminiscent of the

landmark deal NBA star Michael Jordan signed with Nike in 1984 when Nike took the unprecedented step of offering Jordan a percentage of sales.

As well as deals with Adidas, and Apple for a four-part documentary, there are rumours Messi could take a club ownership stake, while there is talk he could get a percentage of sign-ups to Apple TV’s MLS Season Pass.

To compete with the billions on offer in Saudi Arabia, MLS had to think outside the box. If Messi’s presence is to transcend the league and impact American soccer as a whole, MLS might have to think outside MLS.

Asking one player to change the landscape of a sport in a region so large and varied is an impossible task. Soccer is not unpopular in the United States, it just isn’t as religiously followed domestically as it is in most of the rest of the world.

Fans might obsessively follow the national team or a club from Europe or Mexico, but the structure of American club soccer on a national level doesn’t rouse the same mass intrigue or devotion. Pele or Messi increasing the popularity of soccer in the US is not the same as increasing the popularity of the domestic game.

America has its own sports and its own ‘football’ adapted from the same unruly 19th-century English games as association football. Overtaking them culturally is a huge task.

Even Pele couldn’t turn a nation of (American) football fans into a nation of soccer fans, though in some ways he and Beckham laid the groundwork for Messi to give it a go.

Messi’s arrival will mean higher attendances, global attention and increased awareness of MLS, but for the effects to be permanent in American soccer, something will need to be built at a local level on the ground on the back of this momentous, magic move.

Lionel Messi helped Argentina win the World Cup in December

The beginning of a new era (1)

Contd. from back page

and sharing our space with individual and institutional corruption; the cankerworm that has eaten deep and become the most singularly potent bane of growth of our systems; absolutely nothing. The EFCC and other anti-corruption agencies have failed Nigerians if the truth must be told. If the promise to discourage and fight corruption would hold water, we would want to see pragmatic changes to the structures and operational modules of the agencies. Whatever, Nigerians would hold Mr. President to his words; he has told us he would discourage corruption and strengthen the effectiveness and efficiency of the extant anti-corruption agencies.

And again, our expectation is high, that along with the renewed hope package, the notion that we cannot enjoy uninterrupted power supply for days will be beaten by regular and affordable electricity supply across the country. It is not impossible; it

is commonplace in our neighbouring Benin Republic. If that country can do it, we should do even better. We had been repeatedly given dashed hope in that critical sector; and now we hope that as the words of Mr. President; “electricity will become more accessible and affordable to businesses and homes alike. Power generation should nearly double and transmission and distribution networks improved. We will encourage states to develop local sources as well.”

It is an insult, and an embarrassment, that our currency has become so weak and rarely can compete with any desired currency around the globe. How do we explain the reality that the Benin Republic CFA is strongly competing with Naira? Our entire monetary policy as a nation must be overhauled; the era of parallel exchange rate markets must be behind us. It is unproductive, and we cannot allow it to be sustained beyond now if we want to

make any meaningful improvement in our national monetary policy. Mr. President speaks of a thorough house cleaning; that much the Central Bank must be forced to do.

The list is endless, but I will add to the discourse around fuel subsidy removal. In the words of Mr. President, “Fuel subsidy is gone.” Though it is expected, it would be appropriate that Nigerians see in the next few days what the government has in stock to cushion the immediate effect of the subsidy removal. Without a clear and direct intervention, the ordinary citizens would be at the receiving end of the increment. We want to see, on one hand, rigorous interventions, and on the other hand, strong interaction with the citizens to know what they are gaining by losing on the subsidy regime. That is a social responsibility of the government and Mr. President owes Nigerians that much.

I am going to end this piece today, yet,

slightly borrowing from the words of the President: this period is momentously critical for all Nigerians; and for all of us a proud moment of birth of new hope, the renewed hope. This is about time we join hands to aid our nation affirm its rightful place among the world’s great democracies. Shall we all join President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to make Nigeria a more perfect nation, creating a new Nigeria with positive ideas that would live through eternity?

Mr. President, these are your words and today they become your bond; we would hold you to actualise them. “With full confidence in our ability, I declare that these things are within our proximate reach because my name is Bola Ahmed Tinubu, and I am the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria”

GOD BLESS THE FEDERAL REPUBLIC OF NIGERIA!

PEOPLES DAILY

PEOPLES DAILY, WEDNESDAY JUNE 14, 2023

The beginning of a new era (1)

Brazil to play Spain friendly in anti-racism game in support of Vinicius Jr

“All great beginnings start in the dark, when the moon greets you to a new day at midnight.” “Today is the first day of the next phase of our national life.” “Never underestimate the power you have to take your life in a new direction.” “It’s a new dawn, it’s a new day, and it is a new beginning for me, for you and for us. Indeed a new dawn for Nigeria and Nigerians.

I borrow some lines from Reena Mahay’s “A New Dawn,” a new twilight, a new spark, a new charm, a new morrow, a new gleam; a new dream… is here to set your toe.

In my excitement for the era of a ‘Renewed Hope,’ I have been staying up hoping it is in my direct power to bring the hope of the tomorrow that is now upon us, to my people and country men and women. Would Tinubu bring to our tables the unity, healing, relief and hope we desperately desire; the hope that the painful history of our recent experiences would be rewritten to bring light and smiles to our faces, and give life to the power that recreates the Nigeria dreams and ideas.

against our own nation, the land of our fathers and mothers gone.

It is a new dawn. We made it this far. We weathered the storms as we witnessed a nation that isn’t broken but simply unfinished. Now, let’s take it up from here, the task of communal rebuilding. Tinubu in the front, you at the back, one and all of us; and our nation is rebuilt. In the words of the new President “We must work harder at bringing these noble documents to life by strengthening the bonds of economic collaboration, social cohesion, and cultural understanding. Let us develop a shared sense of fairness and equity.”

As a federated entity, with the bulk of citizens in states, the state governments play, perhaps, a greater role even in driving the economy of the country.

judiciously used to the benefits of the citizens of the country. Hope that we would once again breadth the very air of safety and security across the lands of our nation, and our people would no longer cry in the midst of plenty.

To these and all the promised programs that become the substances of the hope we now have as a people, we will earnestly look forward to purposeful actions and performance. We will hold Mr. President accountable even as we contribute our quotas as patriotic citizens.

Brazil will play Spain in a friendly in March next year as part of an antiracism campaign in support of Vinicius Jr.

The game will be played at the Bernabeu - home of Brazil winger Vinicius’ club side Real Madrid.

Vinicius was the target of racist abuse multiple times in Spain while playing for Real in the past campaign.

“There is no place for racist insults in our football,” said Spanish Football Association president Luis Rubiales.

Rubiales and Brazilian FA (CBF) counterpart Ednaldo Rodrigues launched their antiracism campaign under the slogan “One skin”.

“It is important to understand that harder punishment needs to be applied in cases of racism by the football authorities,” said Rodrigues.

“Fines are not enough. The clubs need to be held accountable too.

“CBF was the first football federation to adopt harder sanctions for cases of racism, such as the deduction of points in league standings, closure of stands or the lifetime expulsion of club members.

“We need to lead a campaign worldwide to fight against this virus that shames everyone in football.”

This is a new dawn. Let’s roll out the drums and merry; let Nigerians sing of the arrival of the morning of a renewed hope. Across the length and breadth of our land; from the west, the east, and the south and all the way to the far north, let’s celebrate the beginning of the season of love and healing; of greatness and goodness of our motherland. Let’s celebrate our rising from grieving to growing.

Our nation and our people have gone through much. Our blood has been spilled on our streets like fowls; our bones are broken daily for no crime we committed. Our clinics and hospitals are shut down when we need to be saved from sicknesses and imminent death, because the doctors and nurses have decided to stay away because their expectations are not met. Our school age children roam the streets when they are supposed to be saying “present ma/sir” to their tutors in school. Because the schools are under locks and keys for months without anyone blinking eyes. We sleep more in darkness without a decent power supply, because all we have been getting are promises that were never fulfilled; our Godgiven petroleum has become a commodity we cannot afford any longer. We are more at peril of the few among us, who are bent on taken advantage of us and our commonwealth to their personal use, when we become headless; but my fellow countrymen and countrywomen; these are not enough for us to turn our back

Fellow Nigerians, this is our part in this new beginning, we must altogether do our parts to end the internal wars tearing us apart and robbing us of real growth and development. We must from all regions and at all corners, lay down our arms so we can reach out our arms to one another. The hope we see, the hope we dream of may be challenging, but together, we can make it live, and together, we can find light in these never ever ending darkness.

Fellow Nigerians, it is time we all stepped out from every corner of our dear nation, Nigeria, from the west, all the way to the north, crossing the south and the east. Let’s step out of the shade, the darkness of enmity, of jingoism, and of unbeneficial attachments to those things that divide us more than they unite us. We have a role to play in the new dawn; the renewed hope would bloom as we permit it. There is light now but only if we are brave enough to let it shine; if we are brave enough to individually be that light.

I listened to the President; while elated at the elements of the points he raised, I became a little bit apprehensive when I did not hear about any details or a plan by the Federal Government headed by Mr. President to collaborate with other tiers of administrations of Nigeria government to achieve its goals. The critical problems that bedevil the country today are very local in nature; we cannot effectively combat insecurity without full and effective contributions of the state and local government authorities across affected areas.

It therefore should be imperative that the Federal Government creates a positive diversion from the status quo; build its objectives and policies around effective collaborations and building synergy with the state governments. I therefore would advise the APC-led Federal Government to coordinate effectively with the Governors Forum, most especially the Progressive Governors Forum, which should be headed by a select governor with a grand understanding of the private and public sector economics. Effective synchronisation would turn the Governors Forums into a powerful tool in the hands of the Federal Government to drive its programs effectively and purposefully.

The President talked about recognising those in opposition as co-travelers in the journey of building Nigeria; it is very important that this statement goes beyond the speech into full action. For the first time in our history, we had an election that has so divided us along unpleasant lines, and it would be near impossible to govern and achieve much without participation of Nigerians across lines. The president must in the interest of Nigeria and Nigerians, adopt a bipartisan approach to its governance direction. Engaging the opposition and those who worked against your success at the poll in the interest of the country should be the way to go to achieve many of the set goals of the new Administration.

The president also calls for hope and unity. There could be no other time more appropriate for the call; this is a period of division and gloom for us as a nation and people, and the time to call for hope and unity. We cannot afford to continue to be the force that would shatter our dear country rather than mend it.

Our President, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu has promised us more than a hope; he offers us renewed hope, a shared hope. Hope that Nigeria would take its rightful place in the committee of serious nations; hope that the resources of our land would be

Mr. President has given us his words that no longer are we going to sleep with one eye open again in Nigeria. Mr. President said “We shall defend the nation from terror and all forms of criminality that threaten the peace and stability of our country and our sub regions.” Mr. President, whatever it would be, we want to see governance direction that will forever uproot insurgence, put out the light of banditry, kidnapping and regional terrors in our country. This is a promise of renewed hope, and we shall look forward to the manifestation.

Of our unkempt economy, Nigerians want to see the changes that present real growth and development. We want to see government policy direction and implementations that will address the gross economic poverty in our land. We want to have a country that enjoys absolute food security; a nation where the youths don’t roam the streets for lack of gainful employment. The promise of hope must bring to us controlled inflation, affordable cost of goods and services, take home salaries and income that are worthwhile, and a market flooded with locally produced commodities. To these, we will hold you to your promises Mr. President.

What will we be able to do if we will have to continue living

DAN GAYE

DAN GAYE

Chaos as petrol sells at N500 per litre in Katsina