Wednesday, February 15th, 2023 Edition

L-R: Chairman of Inter-Agency Committee on Stopping Illicit Financial Flows (IFFs) from Nigeria, Dr. Adeyemi Dipeolu, Chairman of the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), Prof. Bolaji Owasanoye, the Head of Secretariat of the African Union High Level Panel on IFFs from Africa, Ms. Souad Aden-Osman, and the Senior Adviser to the AU High Level Panel on IFFs from Africa, Ambassador Maxwell Mkwezalamba, during the technical validation workshop convened by the ICPC in collaboration with the Inter-Agency Committee on Stopping Illicit Financial Flows (IFFs) from Nigeria and the Coalition for Dialogue on Africa (CoDA), yesterday in Abuja

Buhari canvasses suspension of blanket visa ban by UAE

By Egena Sunday Ode

President Muhammadu

Buhari has called for a lifting of the blanket visa ban clamped down on Nigerians by the Government of the United Arab Emirates (UAE).

The President canvassed this position on Monday during a telephone conversation with the President of the United Arab Emirates, Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, who doubles as the Emir of Abu Dhabi, according to a statement by the Senior Special Assignment is the President on Media and Publicity, Garba Shehu.

President Buhari had called Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al

Nahyan to condole with him on the death of his mother-inlaw, Sheikha Maryam Al Falasi, during which important issues of mutual concern between the two countries came up, the statement said.

It noted that the President requested his UAE counterpart to review the blanket visa ban imposed on Nigerians intending to travel to the UAE, recalling that mutually beneficial excellent relations have subsisted between the two nations over many years, symbolized by robust economic interactions and regular consultations on matters of common interest, including engagements at the highest political levels.

The President noted that recent irritants in bilateral relations generated by consular issues relating to the behaviour of some Nigerians in the UAE are being ironed out, explaining that no country including Nigeria will condone criminalities and illegal behaviours.

President Buhari therefore expressed the readiness of the Government of Nigeria to apply necessary sanctions through appropriate judicial process against anyone identified to have committed criminal acts in the UAE, urging that the issue be allowed to be handled by the relevant security/intelligence agencies of the two countries and to come up with lasting solutions

to the problems associated with criminalities and illegalities, the statement said.

President Buhari also requested a resumption of the suspended operations of Emirates Airline in the country.

Recall that Emirates Airline had suspended its operations in Nigeria in 2022 in the wake of its inability to repatriate funds trapped in Nigeria.

President Buhari assured the UAE leader that the issue of the Emirates funds was receiving appropriate attention alongside those of other foreign airlines operating in Nigeria, adding that the Central Bank of Nigeria had been directed to increase foreign exchange allocation to the airline.

L-R Governor, Central Bank of Nigeria, Mr Godwin Emefiele and Minister of State, Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Zubairu Dada, during the parley with members of the Diplomatic Community, yesterday in Abuja.

Buhari presents Tinubu to Imo state indigenes

By Egena Sunday Ode

President Muhammadu

Buhari Tuesday in Owerri, Imo State, thanked indigenes for continuous support for his administration, government of the state, and All Progressives Congress (APC), asking for more support to consolidate on the gains.

President Buhari, who presented the APC presidential candidate, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu to teeming supporters at the Dan Anyiam Stadium, said the flagbearer would carry on with his legacy.

The President presented the party’s flagbearer to the crowd accompanied by the Governors of Imo State, Hope Uzodinma, Lagos State, Babajide SanwoOlu, Ebonyi State, David Umahi and other party leaders led by the National Chairman, Abdullahi Adamu.

Welcoming President Buhari

and Asiwaju Tinubu, Governor Uzodinma noted that President Buhari had shown more love and understanding for the South East than previous leaders, thanking the President for historic projects, like the Second Niger Bridge.

“Mr President you have been too good to Imo State,’’ he said, listing development projects to include upgrade of the Federal Medical Centre to a teaching hospital, Alvan Ikoku College of Education to university and construction of roads in the state.

“Imo State people are very happy with you Mr President. Your presence here today further shows the strength of the party in the state. Imo State is for APC, and APC is for Imo. In words and actions, we will not disappoint you,’’ he said.

Governor Sanwo-Olu thanked party supporters in the state for coming out to receive the President and presidential candidate, adding that it

validates “the handshake across the Niger’’.

He said the presidential candidate had the capacity to move the nation forward, having left landmark records in Lagos State.

Governor of Ebonyi State said President Buhari had always granted the wish of the South East leaders, particularly in providing support for development.

“No government from the South East has asked you for anything and you turned it down. You are a man of your words.

You live what you say, and say what you believe. We are thankful for the second Niger bridge,’’ he said.

The National Chairman of the APC said Asiwaju would succeed the President, after May 29th, urging support for the candidate to further the gains of the party in the South East.

“APC came with love to share on this Valentine’s Day,’’ he

added.

In his remark, Asiwaju said love will be sustained in the state, and across the country, to bring more peace and unity.

“We come with love, peace, stability and progress,’’ he said.

Asiwaju said President Buhari represents integrity, honesty and dependability and had worked very hard to “retool’’ the nation, after the poor management of the country by previous governments.

“The National Chairman of the PDP, Iyorchia Ayu, admitted on national television that the party had done damage to the country. You heard it. Will you still vote for the party?,’’ he queried.

Asiwaju Tinubu said the incorruptible character of President Buhari will be sustained, while the efforts at infrastructural development, particularly electricity and energy, will be further improved.

Maryam Abeeb

The National Universities Commission (NUC) has approved the upgrade of Sa’adatu Rimi College of Education, Kumbotso, to a University of Education.

Executive Secretary of NUC, Professor Abubakar Rasheed, who presented a letter of recognition of the institution to Governor Abdullahi Ganduje of Kano State in Abuja, said the University is the 61st state-

Niger NPC assures of accurate, acceptable 2023 Census

From Yakubu Mustapha Minna

National Population Commission (NPC) in Niger state has assured to conduct a credible, accurate, reliable and acceptable 2023 population and housing census in the state.

The state NPC federal commissioner, Alhaji Muhammad Dattijo Usman gave the assurance at a one day state level capacity building workshop for Journalists on effective reporting of the 2023 population and housing census in Minna, saying everyone will be enumerated.

Usman appealed to the media to partner with the commission and support for the success of the only digital, transformational and green census in Nigeria to enhance national development.

Represented by his Technical Adviser, Alhaji NdaAli Abdullahi who revealed that Niger state was leading in all the pre census activities in the state hence the cooperation of the media in ensuring it’s sustainability.

Various paper presenters at the workshop emphasized that the 2023 census will surely hold and everybody is a stakeholder in the process to its success and actualization, hence the preparation is on top gear for the success of the planned census in the country.

The paper presenters at the training workshop to include; Dr Tay Ninge HOD Mass Communication Department, IBBU Lapai, Professor Nicolas Iwakwagh of FUT Minna, Galadima Bala, NPC HOD Administration Ibrahim Garba Gbage and NPC Head of Technicals, Samusi Yusuf among others.

NUC approves new university for Kano

owned and 221st in the entire Nigerian University system.

The NUC Executive Secretary commended the governor for the initiative of establishing the University, saying the institution would go a long way in meeting the education needs of the state.

Prof Rasheed said the Commission was impressed by the various documents presented to NUC by the Kano government on the new university, adding that with its approval, other relevant federal government agencies would now accord it recognition as a full-fledged university.

“Having met the requirements consequence upon the receipt of your letter and the former presentation

of necessary documents, I write on behalf of NUC that with effect from Tuesday , 14 February, 2023, that Sa’adatu Rimi University of Education is recognised as the 61st state and 221st university Nigeria.

” By this recognition letter, the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB), Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund) and the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) have been notified of the establishment of this university,” he said.

Earlier, Ganduje said the new university, which is the third to be owned by Kano government, was put in place by his administration to meet the growing demands for education in the state as well as to produce

high level manpower.

“We have produced a robust masterplan, academic brief and the enabling establishing the university.......

“ The available state of the art facilities are specially convinient to accommodate the University in the first phase of its development.

“At present, the proposed university has not less than 116 lecturers with PhDs and if I include myself, it will be 117. It also 246 (staff) with academic masters degree.

“I also want to inform you that adequate preparation has been put in place for the students to complete their studies as the life of the college of education comes to an end,” the governor said.

The governor, who commended former Kano governor, Rabiu Kwankwaso for establishing two state universities, expressed delight that he has built on the legacy by adding another university in the spirit of continuity in government.

He, however, appealed to Kano people to vote his deputy, Nasir Yusuf Gawuna as the next governor of Kano State so as to continue with the good education foundation laid by Kwankwaso and sustained by the current administration.

Recall that before now, Kano State government boasts of Yusuf Maitama Sule University and Aliko Dangote University of Science and Technology, Wudil.

Director, Finance and Account

Ondo Commissioner calls for more national team coaches at league venues

The Ondo State Commissioner for Youth and Sports Development, Bamidele Ologunloluwa, has called for more presence of national team coaches at league venues to improve chances of home based players in the national team.

Ologunloluwa said this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Tuesday in Akure.

According to Ologunloluwa, the presence of national team coaches at match venues will give them room to share experiences with coaches of clubsides, especially those in the lower leagues.

The commissioner,who

appreciated the visit of the Super Eagles Coach, Jose Paseiro, urged him to look inwards for good players as the country is blessed with abundant talents.

“I am happy to meet Jose Paseiro here in Akure, he is our guest and from what I heard, this is the second time he will be watching our team play, though, first time in Akure.

“If we have more of these visits, it will be a morale booster and will raise hopes that more of our indigenous players will be called to the national teams.

“It’s not that we don’t have home based players, but the coach coming down himself to watch them play shows commitment.

“And if he intends to win

the AFCON, he will need best of legs from the country mixed with those outside the country to achieve it.

“I will also urge our coaches at the age grade levels to emulate the national team coach and look for materials in the country,” he said.

The commissioner later expressed his appreciation to Gov. Oluwarotimi Akeredolu, for his support to ensure that youths in the state were employed and off the streets through sports.

Earlier, the Ondo State FA Chairman, Dele Ajayi told NAN that the current board of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) was doing everything possible to bring back the lost

glory of football.

Ajayi said that part of what the board was doing was to ensure that national team coaches visit match venues and watch the league.

The chairman said that soon, the country would reap the gains of the plan being put in place by the board.

NAN reports that the commissioner met with Super Eagles Coach, Paseiro, in Akure during match day seven involving Sunshine Stars and Niger Tornadoes in Akure.

Paseiro was in Akure to watch match day seven of the NPFL involving Sunshine Stars and Niger Tornadoes, which the home team won 2-0. (NAN)

L-R: The Coordinating

of the National Agency for Science and Engineering Infrastructure (NASENI), Alhaji Ibrahim Baba Dauda; the Olu of Ilaro and paramount ruler of Yewaland, Oba Kehinde Olugbenle; a former Deputy Governor of Ogun State, Alhaja Salimot Badru, a trainee and NASENI’s Director of Procurement, Dr. Mohammed Aminu Mohammed during the symbolic presentation of training/working tools to one of the beneficiaries of the NASENI skill acquisition training and youth empowerment programme held in Ilaro, Ogun State, on Monday. PHOTO: NASENI

NDE trains 65 school leavers, artisans in Benue

From Uche Nnorom, Makurdi

The National Directorate of Employment, NDE in Benue State at the weekend, commenced the training for 65 young people on various entrepreneurial skills.

The training which is domiciled under the Vocational Skill Department is targeted mainly at school leavers and artisans drawn from across the 23 Local Government Areas of the state.

The NDE Director -General, Alhaji Abubakar Fikpo in his keynote address, noted that the Basic Business Training (BBT) was in tandem with the programmes of the Small Scale Enterprises (SSE) department of the NDE involved in the development of the entrepreneurial abilities among youths.

Represented by the Benue State Co-ordinator, Akile Patrick, the DG said that the NDE is aware of the huge challenge of unemployment and the associated anti-social behaviour that currently prevails in the country.

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

APC governorship candidate, Dr. Nasiru Yusuf Gawuna and APC Deputy National North, Senator Abubakar Kyari, during the presentation of the APC Kano state governorship candidate and fundraising dinner, in Abuja yesterday.

FG to declare 111 historical sites as National Monuments

The Federal Government said it had started the process of declaring 111 historical sites in the country as National Monuments.

The Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, disclosed this on Tuesday in Abuja at the 26th edition of the President Muhammadu Buhari (PMB) Administration Scorecard Series (2015-2023).

He said the process of declaring the sites as national monuments

had reached an advanced stage and awaiting the Presidential Assent.

According to the minister, when the 111 national monuments come on board, they will be added to the existing 65.

Mohammed also disclosed that the Buhari’ administration had published the first edition of Nigeria’s National Festival Calendar

He said the ministry supported and attended a number of cultural

festivals across the country as part of efforts to put them on the national cultural calendar.

The festivals, according to the minister, include Argungu International Fishing and Cultural Festival in Argungu, Kebbi; the Durbar in Dutse, Jigawa; Calabar Carnival in Cross River and Ijakadi in Offa, Kwara.

Speaking specifically on the globally-recognised Argungu Fishing and Cultural Festival, the minister said it was revived by the

Buhari’ administration in 2020 after a 10-year hiatus.

Mohammed said: “Of course, you are aware that this festival is one of the most widely attended events in Nigeria and the oldest festival of its kind, dating back many generations.

“We also ensured that the festival was inscribed on the Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity by UNESCO in 2016.

NGOs express concerns over difficulties to access grants

Some small Non-Governmental Organisations NGO) in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) expressed concerns over difficulties experienced in accessing grants for humanitarian services.

They expressed their concerns in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) during a one-day training organized by West African Civil Society Forum (WACSOF), on Sunday in Abuja.

Mrs Ene Jonathan, Chief Executive Director (CEO), Global Integrity Crusade Network, said that sourcing for funds from donor organisations had been difficult for her foundation.

Jonathan said that her education and gender-based foundation has been in existence for five years and has never gotten financial assistance from external persons asides from family and friends.

She hoped that the training

organised by WACSOF which had in attendance representatives of some civil society grant donors would enlighten small and new humanitarian organisations on how to appropriately seek for grants.

“Applying for grants is not easy so we are here to know better on how to apply as well as what we are doing wrongly.

“Funds is a major challenge so we are here on capacity building to learn how to apply for funds,” she said.

Also speaking, Mrs Andrea Uwadiae ,CEO Pit to Peak, an NGO said that her organisation which has been in existence for four years is fully funded by herself and husband.

Uwadiae, who is also the Chairman of WACSOF said that it would be a great relief to the orgaisation to get assistance from local and international fund donors.

She described the training as prompt, adding that it would help

NGOs know how to properly write fund proposals and network with important stakeholders and partners.

The Malala Fund, Advocacy Manager in Nigeria, Mr Femi Aderibigbe said that although funds are limited compared to demands and availability, there is need for NGOs to make use of the media in all humanitarian works.

“Your lack of fund could be attributed to your inability to effectively report through the media because it is through the media some grant donors will know and track events carried out by NGOs.

“Civil society budget less in communicating what they do. They say stories rather than communicate results and impact which will drive support from partners who believe in your course.

“It is also important to invite stakeholders for events as this will aid collaboration with international

organizations and partners to access available opportunities.

“In the Malala Fund, our strategy in giving out grants is not to call for applications. We carry out researches and or bases on recommendation from organisations that have implemented programmes similar to what we want to do.

“Before seeking for funds, do research and apply to places clearly in line with what you do and ensure proposals are properly written.

“Organisations should follow up on feedbacks as to why they miss out on opportunities even after writing proposals”.

WACSOF National Coordinator, Mr David Olatunji said that the forum was a coalition of all civil society that make up the Economic Community of West African State (ECOWAS), serving as a vehicle to reach the grassroots.

NAN

AFederal High Court, Abuja on Tuesday, fixed Feb. 20 for ruling on a bail application filed by Ali, identified as a nephew to Governor Yahaya Bello of Kogi and others.

Justice Obiora Egwuatu fixed the date after counsel to the defence, Ahmed Raji, SAN, and lawyer to the prosecution, M.K. Hussein, presented their arguments for and against the motion.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) had, on Feb. 8, arraigned Mr Bello and three others before Justice Obiora Egwuatu.

They were arraigned on 18-count charge of money laundering and misappropriation of about N3 billion.

The three other co-defendants are Abba Adauda, Yakubu Adabenege and Iyada Sadat, while Rashida Bello was said to be at large.

According to the EFCC, the defendants committed the crime between 2020 and 2021.

Bello and others, however, pleaded not guilty to the charges said to violate Sections 18(a), 15(20)(d) of the Money Laundering Prohibition Act, 2011 as amended and punishable under Section 15 (3) of the same Act.

Upon resumed hearing, Raji informed that two separate bail applications were filed on behalf of his clients.

He said the first application was filed on behalf of Bello (1st defendant) and the second was filed on behalf of the 2nd to 4th defendants.

He adopted the written addresses in urging the court to

Alleged N3bn Scam: Kogi Gov’s Nephew, others to remain in prison till Feb. 20

grant the request.

The senior lawyer, who argued that based on the 1999 Constitution, an accused person is presumed innocent until proven guilty, prayed the court to use its discretionary power in their favour.

He further argued that the antigraft agency’s charge was based on mere allegations which could not be substantiated.

Besides, he said Bello was earlier granted an administrative bail by the EFCC during its investigation and did not breach the terms, hence,

he wondered why the commission opposed to his bail plea.

Raji also urged the court to grant the 2nd to 4th defendants’ bail application.

He said that the commission had been investigating them for over a year and the EFCC admitted them to bail during which the international passport of the 3rd defendant was released to him to travel to Saudi Arabia without breaching bail conditions.

He urged the court to grant the prayer.

But Hussein, who opposed the application, said two separate counter affidavits were filed in the regard.

He said he relied on the depositions in opposing their applications.

The lawyer argued that the applicants had not shown sufficient materials to deserve the bail.

Hussein, who said they were flight risk, said they had the capability to interfere in the trial if granted bail.

Although he admitted that the

defendants were earlier granted bail, he expressed fear that they could jump bail if the judge acceded to their request.

He prayed the court to refuse the application.

He, however, applied that excessive bail conditions should be attached if Justice Egwuatu decided otherwise.

But Raji urged the court to exercise its discretion based on Section 165(1) of Administration of Criminal Justice Act (ACJA).The judge fixed Feb. 20 for ruling.(NAN)

U.S. confident in Nigeria’s electoral process

The United States Assistant Secretary of State for African Affairs, Molly Phee, has expressed confidence in the nation’s ongoing electoral processes.

The US official, who has been in Nigeria for a week, engaging with civil society organisations, youths, the private sector, religious leaders, election officials, political party leaders and government representatives, gave the pass mark during

a roundtable with some journalists at the U.S. Embassy in Abuja on Tuesday.

Phee in her comments on the pockets of violence to the build-up to the election, the scarcity of naira notes and the call for an interim government in some quarters, said: “We hope there would be no violence before, during and after the general elections.

“You have a good history from 1999 that you get stronger after each election and we are

very proud of that. The U.S. has a strong confidence in the election.”

She said that her country had so much interest in Nigeria because of the critical position the country occupied in the sub-region, Africa and the world at large.

She noted that Nigeria had a very robust electoral system that would ensure free, fair and credible general elections.

The US official, while commending the peace accord

signed by political actors which was geared towards ensuring a peaceful exercise, called on all Nigerians to shun actions that would undermine the democratic processes.

She challenged all Nigerians to show interest in the ongoing electoral process by fully getting involved.

She said: “INEC has assured that it is prepared to hold the election. That’s why Nigerians should take ownership of the election.”

EFCC says those under probe behind call for its chairman’s sack

The Chairman, Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Abdulrasheed Bawa, on Tuesday in Abuja, alleged that persons under probe by the commission were orchestrating the call for his sack.

Bawa said this at a news conference in reaction to what he termed as sponsored campaign of calumny against him by a Civil Society Organisation.

The EFCC chairman, who spoke through the commission’s Spokesperson, Wilson Uwujaren, said he would not be distracted by the antics of the group.

According to him, the group has through press conferences and street protests called for his sack over alleged disobedience of court orders.

He said that the campaign of calumny would fail and urged the public to disregard the group.

Bawa assured that the EFCC had never undermined the judiciary.

“Contrary to these claims, the EFCC wishes to alert the public that this group have no interest in the fight against corruption.

“And their allusion to disobedience of court orders by the EFCC chairman is an alibi to manipulate facts around judicial pronouncements and processes to pitch the public against the commission.

“Information available to the commission indicates that the group is sponsored by persons under investigation by the Commission.

“And have been mobilized and mandated by their paymaster to embarrass the person of the chairman through choreographed street protests across the country, until he is removed from office,” he said.

Bawa explained that the group found its voice after the EFCC launched an investigation into the mindless looting of the treasury of one of the states in the country.

The EFCC boss said the same group had shouted that the commission lacked the power to investigate the theft of the state’s resources.

“Their latest dance in the market square came a few hours after family members of a sitting state governor were arraigned at an Abuja court for allegedly stealing the state’s funds.

“EFCC appeals to the public to disregard the campaign by this group as they do not represent the genuine interest of millions of Nigerians who are desirous of seeing progress in the fight against corruption.”

He said that the rented crowd and CSOs being used by the group was a demonstration of how deep-seated corruption had permeated every sector of the society.

“We want to assure Nigerians that the EFCC will not be distracted by this campaign of calumny as we believe that this agenda will fail.

“It is also important to reassure

Nigerians and all stakeholders that the Commission has never, and will not take any step to undermine the judiciary.

“As a law abiding institution, EFCC has conducted all its activities within the ambit of the law.

“Where judicial decisions were made against it, it has never resorted to self-help but availed itself of remedies under the law as it did in the instant case of committal orders of court,” he said.

According to him, it is important to revisit the circumstances of the two orders of committal against him so that the public will be properly informed of the cases.

He explained that the first order by an FCT High Court on Nov. 8, 2022 was issued over the failure to comply with a Nov. 21, 2018 order of the court directing the Commission to return seized assets comprising a Range Rover SUV and the sum of N40 million to the applicant.

Bawa said that it was important for the public to understand that the said order of the FCT High Court was given three years before he became EFCC Chairman.

“Also, the contempt process is quasi criminal in nature and must be served on the person involved. In this case, Bawa as Chairman of the EFCC, was neither served Form 48 nor Form 49.

“In spite of this fact, the Executive Chairman, upon being made aware of the said order of Nov. 21, 2018, had released the Range Rover in question to the Applicant on the 27th of June, 2022.

“And, had approved the process of the release of the remaining N40 million before the committal order was issued,” he said.

Bawa said his response did not show contempt for the court or the judiciary which he held in great esteem.

He added that in the case of the last order by Justice R.O. Ayoola of the Kogi High Court, the processes were still ongoing and would not make categorical statement on it.

“Suffice it to say that in invoking Form 49, the court failed to take cognizance of a pending appeal of its ruling of November 30, which directed the Commission to produce a fraud suspect, one Ali Bello.

“It also failed to transmit records of appeal to the Court of Appeal.

“The commission believes it was denied fair hearing as the alleged infringement of the rights of the applicant happened in Abuja which is outside the jurisdiction of the Kogi High court.

“As a law abiding institution, EFCC approached the appellate court, for a stay of execution. This is a valid and lawful remedy by law and does not evoke any aura of impunity or disregard for the judiciary.

“ It is therefore evident that those claiming that Bawa has a penchant for flouting court orders are simply up to mischief, which is clearly the central theme of the plot by the so-called civil society group.”

(NAN)

NESG partners UNICEF to combat child poverty, violations in Nigeria

By Tobias Lengnan Dapam

The Nigerian Economic Summit Group (NESG) has partnered UNICEF to combat child rights violations and poverty in Nigeria.

The partnership, which took place yesterday will be financed by the federal government.

The partnership will align the country’s poverty reduction strategy with the child and national Multidimensional Poverty Index (MPI), review social sector policies to lower child poverty, and put in place presidential-level accountability measures for reporting and receiving feedback on issues relating to children’s rights and poverty in Nigeria.

Speaking, Chairman of NESG, Niyi Yusuf said, “Today’s children are tomorrow’s leaders, and it is crucial we tackle child rights violations and poverty in Nigeria to ensure their success.

According to the National MPI 2022, two-thirds of our children are multi-dimensionally poor, with 51% of all poor people being children.

“This means over half of the poor children lack the intellectual stimulation necessary for early childhood development.

“Our partnership with UNICEF is both timely and significant. UNICEF is a leading provider of humanitarian and developmental aid for children worldwide, and this launch represents a critical step towards a future where children’s rights are respected, and they receive the support they need to become productive citizens.”

Also speaking, UNICEF Nigeria Country Representative, Cristian Munduate said, “UNICEF is dedicated to protecting children’s rights in Nigeria and worldwide, and helping them build a strong foundation for their future.

Our partnership with NESG highlights the urgency of realising this goal and will coordinate efforts to achieve child rights protection in Nigeria through effective public policies.

“Investing in children is investing in human capital. The right nutrition and care, especially during the first 1000 days of life, can have a significant impact on a child’s ability to grow, learn, and rise out of poverty. It can break the cycle of poverty for families, communities, and countries, and shape a society’s long-term stability and prosperity.”

2023 Hajj: NAHCON to begin screening of airlines in March – Chairman

The National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCOH), says screening of airlines for the 2023 Hajj operation will commence in the first week of March.

The Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of NAHCON, Alhaji Zikrullah Hassan, said this at an interactive session with newsmen on Tuesday in Abuja.

Hassan said that the aim of the interactive session with the media was to foster a deeper

understanding with media professionals.

He said that the commission was working assiduously to ensure that the 2023 Hajj operation was conducted smoothly to enable the Nigerian pilgrims to perform an acceptable hajj rite.

Hassan said: ” You are aware that 95,000 seats have been given to the NAHCON and I must also tell you that we have gone to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia for our first PreHajj visit in order to familiarise

and screen service providers.

” We have already allocated hajj slots to the 36 states of the Federation, the Federal Capital Territory and the Armed Forces.

”We are in the process of doing so many other things after which we will have another media interface.

” We intend to start screening the airline by the first week of March. I can assure you that this year’s hajj will be hitch free.

”This year the coast is very

clear by God’s grace.”

In his goodwill message, NAHCON’s Commissioner of Operation, Alhaji Abdullahi Magaji-Hardawa, said that the commission was determined to satisfy the expectations of the Nigerian pilgrims for this year’s hajj.

He said that the leadership of the commission was always open to suggestions and prepared to answer questions from the media as credible partners of the commission. (NAN)

Nigerian Maritine administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) Deputy director Shipping development, Rakiya Lamai,- Chiroman kawo, Shehu Tijjani,and Kaduna Chamber of Comerce Chairman organising Committe, Hon. Ishaya Idi,during the Closing Ceremony of 44th kaduna International trade fair in kaduna 13/2/23

Group provides water, sanitation services to 7.5m Kaduna residents

From: Femi Oyelola, Kaduna

The Sustainable Urban and Rural Water Supply, Sanitation and Hygiene (SUREWASH), Kaduna Implementation unit, will provide portable drinking water and sanitation services to 7.5 million residents of the state.

The programme’s Social Safeguard Consultant, Mr Leonell Echa, stated this at the opening of a two-day training and inauguration of Grievance Redress Committees (GRCs), in Kaduna on Tuesday.

Echa explained that a total of 6.1 million people would be provided with clean drinking water services, while 1.4 million would be provided with improved sanitation services through the World Bank-supported programme.

He added that 2,000 schools and healthcare facilities would be provided

with improved Water Sanitation and Hygiene facilities, and would also support 500 communities to attain Open Defecation Free status.

According to him, the objective of the programme was to increase access to WASH services and strengthen sectoral institutions in seven pilot states in the country.

He identified the benefiting states to included; Kaduna, Delta, Ekiti, Gombe, Imo, Katsina and Plateau.

“The SUREWASH programme was designed to enact necessary policy reforms and enhance the capacity of institutions required for effective and sustainable service delivery in urban and rural areas, as well as small towns.

“This includes development of priority infrastructure to improve water supply and WASH infrastructure in

institutions such as schools and healthcare facilities as well as markets and motor packs,” he said.

Earlier, the Project Coordinator in the state, Mr Esau Ambinjah, explained that the project was designed to eradicate water, sanitation and hygiene related diseases in the state.

Ambinjah said that the programme was being piloted in six out of the 23 local government areas (LGAs), of Soba, Sabon Gari, Chikun, Igabi, Jema’a and Jaba in the state.

He explained that the benefiting LGAS were selected after declaration of interest and adjudged to be the best among the other LGAs.

He added that the training was part of efforts to mobilise critical stakeholders and community members towards success of the programme.

Also, Mrs Jummai Ibrahim,

a Social and Gender Officer, said that the objectives of the programme was to train stakeholders in the six benefiting LGAs on GRCs, and inaugurate same at that level.

Ibrahim added that the training was also organised to deliberate on gender perspectives and GenderBased Violence that may arise at the course of the implementation of the programme.

She added that at the end of the training the GRCs, designed to resolve issues on the spot in a fair, effective and credible manner, would be inaugurated in the six benefiting LGAs.

“The GRCs will be providing a voice for beneficiaries of the project, resolving environmental and social related complaints, reducing the likelihood of escalation of grievances and promote “do no harm,” Ibrahim said.

By Tobias Lengnan Dapam

The federal government has launched National Schools Security and Emergency Response Centre at the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) headquarters in Abuja.

The centre will ensure that schools across the country are secured.

Speaking at the flag-off ceremony, the Commandant General of the Corps, Ahmed Audi, harped on the need to take proactive measures to stop the growing number of out-of-school students across the country as a result of attacks on schools by terrorists.

“Statistics revealed that about 2, 295 teachers have been killed and 19,000 others displaced in Borno, Yobe and Adamawa States between 2009 and 2018 alone

FG commissions schools’ security, emergency response centre in Abuja

while an estimate of 1, 500 schools had been destroyed since 2014, with over 1,280 casualties among teachers and students.

“These violent attacks have a negative effect on teaching and learning thereby reversing our sustainable national development efforts.

“In view of the importance of education and human capital development towards overall national development, it has become expedient for the Federal Government to deploy extraordinary measures to tackle the spate of attacks on school

facilities in Nigeria.

“Such effort is the commitment and endorsement by the Federal Government of Nigeria to ensure that all Nigerian schools become safe and secured for uninterrupted teaching and learning activities.”

He said the NSCDC has been made the lead agency with the mandate to host the National Safe Schools Response and Coordination Centre.

“A Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) has been designed for the project, Audi disclosed.

Similar, Minister of Interior, Rauf Aregbesola, said the

government was determined to make the schools safe for students and teachers again.

Represented at the occasion by the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry, Shuaibu Belgore, Aregbesola said the initiative would place additional demands on the NSCDC, adding that more personnel would be employed across the country to meet the manpower need to execute the project.

On his part, the Minister of State for Budget and National Planning, Prince Clem Agba, said education was essential to the success of

every one of the 17 sustainable development goals, assuring that the FG would finance the project.

“The Federal government has already committed to the financing of safe schools through the National Plan on Financing Safe Schools,” he said.

Agba also vowed to ensure the prompt release of budgeted funds for the implementation of the programme.

Also, the Nigeria Governors Forum (NGF), pledged its support to the initiative, adding that insecurity in schools had become a national emergency.

Don't postpone forthcoming elections, 18 registered parties tell INEC

By Lateef Ibrahim, Abuja

The Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, has been cautioned against the postponement of the forthcoming general election.

The warning was sounded by the Inter Party Advisory Committee, IPAC, an umbrella body for the eighteen registered political parties in the country, at a meeting between INEC and the paries on Monday in Abuja.

Speaking on behalf of the registered political parties at a meeting with INEC

on Monday in Abuja, the National Chairman of IPAC, Engineer Yabagi Yusuf Sani maintained that under no circumstance should the forthcoming general elections be postponed.

While the presidential and National Assembly elections are slated to hold on Saturday, February 25, the Governorship and State Assembly elections are billed for March 11, this year.

In his response, after listening to the remarks by the INEC Chairman, Engineer Sani said, 'Mr. Chairman (Prof Mahmood Yakubu),under no circumstances should this election be

We’ve invested hugely in human capacity building – NIS boss

The Comptroller General, Nigerian Immigration Service (NIS), Isah Jere, says the service has invested hugely in developing the capacity of its personnel to combat irregular migration.

Jere said this during the inauguration of NIS Borno State Command’s Personnel Training Resource Centre (PTRC).

This is contained in a statement by the Public Relations Officer of the service, Mr Tony Akuneme, on Tuesday.

Jere said the inauguration was part of the commitment of the service towards enhancing the capacity of its officers and men for better service delivery through training and retraining.

He said the event further affirmed the genuine desire of the NIS management to reposition the service towards attaining a truly world-class status to compete with its counterparts worldwide.

The NIS boss said developing the capacity of personnel was important to the service.

This, he said, was a way to achieve its mandate of ensuring that the vast borders were safe and secured.

According to him, “In this regard, the management of NIS places a very high premium on capacity building through training and retraining of

its personnel.

“This is a requisite tool for combating the ever-evolving challenges of irregular migration and other trans-border crimes that affect the security and socio-economic wellbeing of the nation.

“Accordingly, in a bid to enhance inter-agency collaboration, a total of 21 officers comprising 14 NIS officers and seven NAPTIP staff were selected and trained as Training Focal Persons (TFPs).

“Consequently, about 2,600 NIS officers and 190 NAPTIP staff have benefitted from the capacity building offered at the PTRCs. The reason for this cannot be over-emphasised.

“These two organisations are the first respondents in handling the challenges of modern-day migration, migrant smuggling and trafficking in persons across the borders.”

Jere urged the officers and men of the Borno State Command to ensure that the facility was well maintained and put to good use.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the PTRC building is a result of collaboration between the NIS and the International Organisation for Migration (IOM) with funding from the government of the Netherlands.

The inauguration of Maiduguri PTRC brings the total number of completed PTRCs to nine. (NAN)

postponed.

"The 2023 general elections seemingly will be a watershed in the history of elections in Nigeria. Today, the tide has changed, because an unknown Party could pull a surprise to the greatest chagrin of all.

"From this point of view, it is necessary to advise INEC to keep its date with

history which must not be wasted.

"INEC should create a golden niche for herself especially the Chairman who has become the child of history, Nigerians are watching, the international community is watching and the Parties are palpitating:

"I therefore call on all Nigerians of good conscience

to take credible results of the election the way it is.

"At worse, parties should resort to the law court for adjudication. Today it is an abhorrence and crudity if not savagery to see States Governors denying campaign venues to political parties other than their own. This is crude, primitive and uncivilized", he said.

CORRIGENDUM TO THE NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF CONSTRUCTION TECHNOLOGY AND MANAGEMENT (NICTM)UROMI, EDO STATE, ADVERTISEMENT OF 6TH FEBRUARY, 2023.

We refer to the advertisement on the “Invitation for pre-qualification and expression of interest for the implementation of 2023 Capital and Zonal Intervention (Constituency) Projects by the National Institute of Construction Technology and Management, Uromi, Edo State on the 6th of February, 2023. The following amendments should be effected in the advertisement.

a) Kindly ignore and delete the statement erroneously captured as:

“Note, that no Contractor should bid for two lots with the same Company profile”

b) Kindly ignore the spellings and grammatical errors associated with the advertisement.

We highly regret all omissions/errors and any inconveniences this might have caused.

Sign: Procurement Officer, For: Rector.

Be change agents in anticorruption campaigns - ANEEJ tasks CSOs

From: Femi Oyelola, Kaduna

Africa Network for Environment and Economic Justice, (ANEEJ) has urged Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) to be responsible change agent in the anti-corruption crusade in Nigeria

The Executive Director of ANEEJ, Rev. David Ugolor, disclosed this during the anticorruption and Social Inclusive Reform Initiatives in Nigeria project mid-term review meeting, yesterday.

Rev. Ugolor, who explained that the Enhancing Anticorruption and Social Inclusive Reform Initiatives in Nigeria project is being implemented by ANEEJ and eight partners as part of the Strengthening Civic Advocacy and Local Engagement, (SCALE) project, said it is designed to enhanced local civil society’s organizations’ ability to be positive and responsible change agents in the country.

The ED further added that SCALE is a 5-year project implemented by Palladium and its resource partners with funds from USAID, saying it is designed following the anchor cluster model adopted by Palladium to promote and engage in anti-corruption policy reforms.

Rev. Ugolor, who explained that the Enhancing Anticorruption and Social Inclusive Reform Initiatives in Nigeria project is being implemented by ANEEJ and eight partners as part of the Strengthening Civic Advocacy and Local Engagement, (SCALE) project, said it is designed to enhanced local civil society’s organizations’ ability to be positive and responsible change agents in the country.

The ED further added that SCALE is a 5-year project implemented by Palladium and its resource partners with funds from ted by Palladium to promote and engage in anticorruption policy reforms.

ICD: NACA, AHF intensify condom awareness

By Tobias Lengnan Dapam

In their determination to curb the spread of HIV/AIDS, the National Agency for the Control of AIDS (NACA) and AIDS Healthcare Foundation (AHF) have intensified awareness on the use of condom.

Speaking at the event on Monday to commemorate the International Condom Day (ICD), a Deputy Director at NACA, Ezinne Okey-Uchendu said, condom programming is a major pillar in prevention HIV/ AIDS.

“Condom prevents against Sexually Transmitted Diseases

(STDs) and unplanned pregnancy. This message is very important to the young ones and there is need to always intensify awareness on the usage to avoid spread of diseases.”

Speaking further, she said the agency ensures that people with HIV/AIDS are on drugs so that they will not be able to transmit.

On Total Marketing Approach (TMA), she said the approach helps to subsidized condoms, saying all are not free.

She added that the government is working to ensuring an effective condom programming in the country.

Similarly, Oluwakemi

Badamosi, Director of Advocacy and Policy Management, AHF Africa Bureau, said the event is commemorated a day before Valentine’s Day to caution you people who indulge in unprotected sex.

“The message is important for the young ones to protect themselves. It is also strategic because a lot of activities and expression of love that happens during Valentines. We are saying that they should also show love by using condom.

“We need to help young people make informed choices. This is Al a time to increase investment because of the

prevalence.

“Everyone has a role to play so as to effectively curb the spread”.

On his part, Dr. Echey Ijezie, AHF Nigeria Country Program Director, said the programme calls for emergency need to step up awareness. We also want to demystify stigma and misinformation.

“Condom advocacy is necessary because of millions of cases world wide. We want improvement in the use of Condom.

“The young ones need improvement and sensitisation so as to do better when it comes to the use of Condom”.

Kaduna LP guber candidate visits Emir of Zazzau, promises to unite, developed state

From: Femi Oyelola, Kaduna Ahead of the March 11 governorship election, the Labour Party candidate for Kaduna State, Hon Jonathan Asake has paid a courtesy visit to the emir of Zazzau and chairman of the state’s traditional council, Amb. Ahmed Nuhu Bamalli in

his palace.

Asake who presented his campaign manifesto to the emir stated that the Labour Party had the most beautiful and realizable plan to unite and develop the state at this critical moment of its trajectory.

He said the 5-point blueprint was carefully researched and

put together to provide direction for the development of the state based on the social Philosophy of the Labour Party.

“We have beautiful plans stated in 5 pillars. The first is security of lives and property. The second is sports, women and youth empowerment. The third is human capital development.

The fourth is inclusive economic & infrastructural development. The fifth is institutional reforms,” he said.

In a press release by his media aide, James Swam, the governorship candidate assured the emir and people of Zaria of his commitment to justice and fairness.

Speaker, House of Representatives, Rep. Femi Gbajabiamila and Initiator, GbajaRide, while commissioning the 2nd phase of GbajaRide buses to mitigate Naira swap difficulties and fuel scarcity on Monday in Surulere, Lagos. Photo: Speaker’s Office.

Niger NUJ advocates for orphans support

From Yakubu Mustapha Minna

Government and public spirited individuals have been enjoined to support organisations providing care and wellbeing to the orphans and less privileged in the society.

The Chairman Nigeria Union of Journalists, NUJ, Niger State Council, Comrade Abu Nmodu made this known when the Founder of Marvelous Foundation Mrs Mary Adams Datto paid him a courtesy call at IBB Pen House Minna yesterday.

Comrade Nmodu explained that both Islam and Christianity enjoined the people to invest in the welfare of the orphans, adding that, such humanitarian activities attracted reward from God.

In her remarks, Mrs Mary Adams Datto represented by a care giver, Amina Ali said the visit was to appreciate the NUJ chairman for his leadership qualities and also explored areas of partnership for the general wellbeing of the orphans. In her remarks, Mrs Mary Adams Datto represented by a care giver, Amina Ali said the visit was to appreciate the NUJ chairman for his leadership qualities and also explored areas of partnership for the general wellbeing of the orphans.

Kebbi University gets FM station

From Ahmed Idris, Birnin Kebbi

The Kebbi State University of Science and Technology Aliero has established the Campus FM Station.

Addressing newsmen yesterday in his office, the Vice Chancellor of the University, Professor Ladan Aliero who spoke through the Deputy Vice Chancellor in charge of Research and Renovations Professor

Sa’adu Umar Birnin Yauri said that the FM was established last year by the students of electric and electronic technology engineering department with effort to streamline their academic performance and

intelligence.

He added that the newly established FM was tested for more than a month and suspended due to the licence by the Nigeria Broadcasting Cooperation (NBC).

NDDC Chairman assures Niger Delta people of transparency, fairness

From: Femi Oyelola, Kaduna

The Chairman of the Governing Board of the Niger Delta Development Commission, NDDC, Mrs. Lauretta Onochie, has assured that the new leadership at the Commission under her watch will work to impact positively on the lives of the people of the Niger Delta region by making transparency and fairness the order of the day

Speaking during the Anticorruption and Social Inclusive Reform Initiatives in Nigeria

project mid-term review meeting organised by the Africa Network for Environment and Economic Justice (ANEEJ), yesterday, she said it is imperative to chart a new course for the NDDC, different from what obtained in the past.

She added that the new NDDC leadership is there to do things differently, saying they will work with new ideas to be able to achieve the objective of fast-tracking the development of the Niger Delta region.

Mrs. Lauretta Onochie stressed that NDDC was

established specifically for the people of the Niger Delta region as an interventionist agency, meant to bring prosperity to the Niger Delta region.

"We are here to serve the people of the region and by extension serve Nigeria. We are here to reposition the NDDC.

"Our interest is to improve the lives of Niger Delta people. The monies meant for the development of the Niger Delta must be used for the region. ” She said

The NDDC boss assured Person with disabilities, women

and youths robust relationship during her tenure.

In his remarks, the Executive Director of ANEEJ, Rev. David Ugolor said Enhancing Anti-corruption and Social Inclusive Reform Initiatives in Nigeria project is being implemented by ANEEJ and eight partners as part of the Strengthening Civic Advocacy and Local Engagement (SCALE) project, saying that it is design to enhance local civil society's organizations’ ability to be positive and responsible change agents in the country.

Association expresses confidence in INEC to deliver on credible elections

Mr Mike Ejiofor, President, Alumni Association of the National Institute for Security Studies (AANISS), says the association is confident that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) will deliver on credible elections, 2023.

Ejiofor said at a news conference on Tuesday in Abuja, that in spite of series of attacks on INEC personnel and facilities, the commission would live up to expectations.

He called on the public to support INEC, while urging the commission to be open to comments from Nigerians that would help in achieving its set objectives.

The former director of Department of State Service (DSS) also urged INEC to do more to ensure that elections are won at the polls and not at the court, as a result of technicalities.

According to him, in time like this in a nation’s life, when her essence and collective patrimony is being threatened by some political gladiators, it is appropriate that patriotic Nigerians and groups speak out.

“This is with a view to assuaging frayed nerves and assisting our security agencies in bringing the situation under control, as a group of security professionals and major stakeholders in the Nigerian project.

“We will not sit down, fold our hands and watch some politicians and undemocratic groups in their activities destroy our common patrimony.

“Incidentally, today is Lovers’ Day, so let us continue to preach love for one another and our country Nigeria,’’ he said.

Ejiofor said that the executive members of AANISS had studies the

recent political and security climate in the country with regards to the electioneering campaigns and the upcoming general elections.

According to him, the association condemns the unwholesome verbal and physical assaults by some political gladiators and their supports that have characterised the electioneering campaigns in recent times.

“After 23 years of unbroken democracy, it is disheartening that some politicians approach campaigns and elections in such uncivilised and unpatriotic manner.

“Security agencies as critical stakeholders should step up efforts by bringing such unpatriotic elements, whose activities have the tendencies to threaten the conduct of elections to book.

“We commend agencies that have put

their lives and those of their families’ members on the line in defence of our collective wellbeing.

“We urge them to emplace more robust measures with a view to stemming this evil tide to avoid escalation,’’ he said.

Ejiofor warned urged Nigerians against vote selling, adding that there were consequences for our choices.

“As Nigerians, we can collect money and mortgage our future or vote our consciences for the good of our children and generations yet unborn,’’ he said.

The former director of DSS said that the association supported the naira redesign policy of the Federal Government.

He, therefore, urged the Central Bank of Nigeria to endeavour to make the new notes available to Nigerians to ameliorate the sufferings of the people.(NAN)

L-R: Contact and Mobilisation, PCC, Hon Deboral Dayol; PCC Social and Humanitarian, Hajia Maryam Salihu Ibrahim; Deputy Director, Artisans and Technicians PCC North Central, Hajia Hadiza Mamman Vatsa; Founder of Female In Leadership and Empowerment (FILAE), Ayisat Gbajabiamila and Member NAGA, Hajia Amina Isa, during the national agenda for greater Asiwaju door to door programme on Valentine held, yesterday in Abuja. Photo: Mahmud Isa

The President of the Alumni Association of the National Institute (AANI), former Inspector General of Police, MD Abubakar has called on the Federal Government of Nigeria, security agencies, and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to intensify efforts towards a credible and violence-free election in all parts of the country.

This is according to a statement yesterday by Brigadier General Sani Kukasheka Usman (retd), AANI’s National Publicity Secretary.

The former IGP stated that AANI had noted with great concern that the prevailing economic difficulties in the country have been aggravated by additional tension occasioned by perennial fuel scarcity and cashless policy and must be addressed decisively ahead of the 2023 general elections.

He said the government must ensure that an enabling environment is created for Nigerians in all parts of the country to freely exercise their franchise, adding that reliable elections and a smooth handover of power would strengthen Nigeria’s democracy and help it reach its full potential.

The AANI president said the association condemns all forms of electoral malpractice, including intimidation, votebuying and election violence. He urged all contestants for the various elective positions to eschew violence and money politics and uphold global best practices and focus on the issues of security, welfare, and economic

2023: Convener for Atiku boasts of victory

From Uche Nnorom, Makurdi

Convener Zege Mule U Tiv Vision, Marti Acka has boasted that an Atiku Abubakar Presidency is what Nigeria needs at this time to return to the path of glory.

This is just as he insisted that Governor Samuel Ortom lacks the authority to decide who Benue electorates will vote for in the 2023 general election.

Hon. Acka said his group is the largest that is mobilizing support for Atiku in Benue, Plateau, Nasarawa,Taraba and Federal Capital Territory, FCT.

According to her, Nigerians are looking for a man who is competent and has experience to deliver.

Former IGP calls for credible polls

prosperity of Nigerians, over and above personal and pecuniary interests.

He also urged politicians to follow the rules and respect the results of elections and advised voters to choose candidates based on their skills and honesty rather than putting their children’s and grandchildren’s futures at risk for small sums of money or ephemeral items.

He disclosed that, as part of its efforts to promote credible elections, AANI is poised to observe the forthcoming

elections across the country. He said that AANI will not be biased when it comes to watching elections and will do its job as a national organisation with the utmost dedication and impartiality, just like it did during the last elections.

He recalled that AANI had held a national conference on national unity in September 2022, which came up with farreaching recommendations for implementation by the government and other stakeholders, adding that the

association is always available for partnership and further collaboration to enhance national unity and cohesion.

The Alumni Association of the National Institute (AANI) is the foremost national association of a diverse group of eminent Nigerian men and women that cut across professional, sociocultural, economic, and political affiliations in the country who were trained on the rudiments of policy formulation and strategy and have been contributing to national development through

our mission, “To serve as a think tank to the government of Nigeria,” our vision, “To promote the noble ideas of a better society,” and the motto, “Towards a better society.”

It is the most important think tank for Nigeria’s federal, state, and local governments. It has been contributing objectively to the national conversation on many issues that affect Nigeria’s growth and development and give the government the right recommendations and implementation strategies.

Islamic Health College matriculate 321 students for 2022/2023 Academic session

From Usmna Sha’ibu

Islamic Medical Foundation, College of Health Science and Technology has matriculated 321 newly admitted Students into the 2022/2023 academic session in Kaduna State.

Speaking at the event, the College Provost Aminu Yusuf

Gidado charged the students to be disciplined and adhere to school rules and regulations.

He also advised the newly admitted students to take their studies seriously and to avoid all social vices that will distract their attention.

Talking about the success recorded by the college

students last year , the provost said in West African Health Examination in 2022, 33 students graduated with distinction and 12 students with upper credits.

He also said the 1st set of their HIgher National Diploma (HND) in Environmental Health graduated with

100 percent result in the 2022 National Community Health Practitioners Board Examination.

In the Junior Community Health Extension Workers (JCHEW) scored 100 percent while Medical Processing X-RAY Scored 100 percent in their board examinations.

From: Femi Oyelola, Kaduna

Africa Network for Environment and Economic Justice, (ANEEJ) has urged Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) to be responsible change agent in the anti-corruption crusade in Nigeria

The Executive Director of ANEEJ, Rev. David Ugolor, disclosed this during the anticorruption and Social Inclusive Reform Initiatives in Nigeria project mid-term review meeting, yesterday.

Rev. Ugolor, who explained that the Enhancing Anticorruption and Social Inclusive

Reform Initiatives in Nigeria project is being implemented by ANEEJ and eight partners as part of the Strengthening Civic Advocacy and Local Engagement, (SCALE) project, said it is designed to enhanced local civil society’s organizations’ ability to be positive and responsible change agents in the

country.

The ED further added that SCALE is a 5-year project implemented by Palladium and its resource partners with funds from USAID, saying it is designed following the anchor cluster model adopted by Palladium to promote and engage in anticorruption policy reforms.

Be change agents in anti-corruption campaigns - ANEEJ tasks CSOs

Nigerian Maritine administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) Abuja Zonal Office Coordinator; Zailani Attah,- (R) Receiving a Survanier from President kaduna chamber of Commerce, Suleiman Aliyu,-(center) and kaduna chamber of Commerce, Council member, Fatima Usman,-(L) during the Kaduna 44th international trade fair press center holds presentation of survaniers in kaduna 14/2/23

The Permanent Voter’s Card and its derelict functionality

By Hussein Adegoke

You cannot be a patriotic NIGERIAN and be excited about the state of affairs here. There are people who are desperately willing to strangulate the rest of us and hellbent on driving our collective wealth to nothingness. I hold the viewpoint that the derelict state of our economy is an artificial creation of some few. And what is it about PVC collection and its sale for a paltry sum? Are you suggesting those who gave them out never anticipated this? Is the INEC Chairman that myopic and incredulous? In a place of hunger…and rife illiteracy, how dare you make such item a cheap commodity available to all Jick and Harry without adequate structures in place to curb its unmerited use?

That piece of card, if sincerely done, should have done no one any good save the one electorate it was intended for.

So, the “PERMANENT VOTERS CARD”—as you declare with brazen stupidity—could just have

been picked, snatched, sold, bought, and the new custodians would benefit from it? Such valuable item put into use just once in every four years…? What a country? What a shame?!

I mean, is this too far from common logic? To “personalize” the card would never have been an idea from the scratch. This is the system forever in place at the ATM stands or in our banking systems. Does anyone pick up a debit card and gain access to your funds that cheaply? Why do we mature in size but never in sense in this part of the world, for crying out loud? You keep spending on systems that give you no value for what you give to it? Yearly, suffrages (or people of voting ages) keep absconding from polling booths because of their waned beliefs in electoral practices. You keep administering the same migraine reliefs to a Malaria that has survived since the 1960s. We’re no teachers or apologists when it comes to voter’s apathy. But it seems to me that no elite with tangible duties and sensibilities go out to “speak” with no voice—on the election day. Or how would that card that was not equitably distributed, capturing

only a fraction of the voting populace and excluding well-meaning citizens of the country living in the diaspora fairly represent your “credible choice”? The biggest project in the land is an election—coming up but just in every four years, yet we can barely stake it appropriately. What happens to having a VOTING STAND (much like an ATM) at every voting booth across the nation where every eligible person could “clock” or time in by facial recognition? And this, too, could be replicated in the diaspora. What big deal lies in that?

But going back to the first critical point made, there are ugly men within this space hellbent on not making it work! Every Mahmood Yakubu who submits his credentials for such lofty positions should also fear the day of reckoning (but well, it does them good to know and believe there is one)! No NIGERIAN races to political offices in the land without having a separate “booth” of accountability on the judgement day!

Hussein Adegoke is a Public Affairs Analyst.

Nigeria need is constitutional implementation not review

By Muhammad Yahaya Abubakar

For quite sometimes now Nigerians all around regardless of region, religion and all sort of bigotries have been living in such a state of dilemma over the tough life we are experiencing as a nation and as a people.

Whether one is rich or poor as per as Nigeria is concern will not find any reason to unjustify the fact that in one way or the other the bad state of leadership in our country have affected us negatively and have cut the apple out of our teeth.

We had had troubles from international forces ranging from the fall in price of crude oil in the world market which is the major to only source of generating revenue that works for the nation as at today. We also had issue with the IMF for emptying our reserved funds that is only meant to be off for uncertainties but it was shattered on the street and pockets of our governors, a situation that adds to the trouble in exchange value of our local currency strength to other currencies around the globe.

If we take a step back and look at our inside house issues as well, petroleum subsidy have been removed to its zero level and was even glamouring to take it down to negative subsidual value as suggested by some of our greedy governors, a situation that have forced the price of local fuel to trippled and gets higher everyday over the time. Banditry, kidnapping, rape and thuggery have been haemorraging from the four walls of our nation from the south to West down to North. Our youth are left jobless after going through lengthy years of uninterrupted formal education system that promised a better life for them only to come out and sees otherwise. Corruption have infiltrated through the roots and stems of our parastatals, agencies and every government entities in the public sector from contracts award to jobs.

Nepotism have stand in the way of sending people to public offices, tyranny and lack of compliance to the rule of law pass by our justice system on government officials and bodies like INEC and Political Parties case, who chose to see itself as a law above the court.

It was a consequences of those acts that forced Nigerians over time to be meandering, glamouring and fighting over and over from one political and

societal movements to the other viz the almighty Bring Back Our Girls by Aisha Yesufu, Stand Against Rape and Rapists by the UNFPA Nigeria, Revolution Now by Sowore Omolaye, Revolution of Ideas by Tope Fasua, Restructuring by the Yoruba SANs, Biafra/IPOB agitators led by Nmadi Kanu, Oduduwa Republic agitators, Stop the Killings in the North by Aisha Yesufu, EndSars by Falz and Co and a lot of such movements, one will believe with me that all these evicted as a result of poor governance and lack of deligence by the apex government in the country.

Looking at the 1999 constitution of Federal Republic of Nigeria as amended you will believe with me that there is no single sub-section or phrase that supports any of the injustice, corruption, tyranny to law and order by the government and its entities. It have not just barred such instances alone but have also clearly stated

So in essence what Nigeria needs at this point in time of our nation was some action by the government officials than making more fairy tales and empty promises that wont live that far to tell the tales moreso it wont get to be actualised by those that will draft it itself. Let the court prosecute any culpable regardless of class and affiliation. Let the police, ICPC and EFCC investigate, enforced the law and put behind bars offending political and public officers than only wasting more of the nation resource in going after petty banana thieves in the name of yahoo boys and online scammers leaving the bigger thieves lived happily crusing their jeeps in ACs.

penalties around the neck of any person or group of persons culpable that violet any of its provisions. So the issue on table that the Federal Government, Nass and Buhari’s cabinet should focus on should be to try as much as possible to follow the norms and teaching of the constitution they all swore an oath to protect and depend before taking offices and enforce its compliance to parastatals and their heads, agencies and their heads, ministries and their heads as well.

Nigerians lived in harmony, peace, a joyable life and have prosper more to a much greater height on all matters of national and international concerns with our earliest constitution in 60s, 70s, 80s and only get worst as it kept being reviewed to meet the needs of the selfish leaders of our nation as its gets to 90s and 20th. We are better with the British drafted constitution than with our crafted greedy laws.

So in essence what Nigeria needs at this point in time of our nation was some action by the government officials than making more fairy tales and empty promises that wont live that far to tell the tales moreso it wont get to be actualised by those that will draft it itself. Let the court prosecute any culpable regardless of class and affiliation. Let the police, ICPC and EFCC investigate, enforced the law and put behind bars offending political and public officers than only wasting more of the nation resource in going after petty banana thieves in the name of yahoo boys and online scammers leaving the bigger thieves lived happily crusing their jeeps in ACs. Let the communication ministry, finance ministry and NOA go after the exploration of the yahoo boys and online scammers by tracking their route, blocking their source and blocking their wallets. Let them keeps enlighting the public on what to and what not to believe on the internet, let the NOA keeps the public up to date on all happenings around us to stay away from being a rat in trapped of the yahoo hunters.

I beleived Nigeria will get better through a better and dedicated leadership with the same old guide we had in the old days. There is nothing wrong with our laws but everything is wrong with our leadership as a nation.

Muhammad Yahaya Abubakar is a Public Affairs Analyst.

What

2023: Democracy and the leaned economy

By Reuben Hopo

We earnestly need a new foundation that can ably translate the hopes and aspirations of all Nigerians than a privileged few across the country. The Nigeria’s economy would experience rapid growth with each of these zones coming up with sound economic policies that may offer a credible alternative to the federal government’s economic proposals.

Nigeria Democracy Day

Except for politicians across the country, Nigerians already have a deep-rooted fear to be worried about “the way forward” in 2023 given the ongoing fourth republic in which Nigerians have had twenty-three years of uninterrupted democratic experience with dividends of democracy amid unprecedented inflation in the economy, widespread hunger, massive job loss and the increased spate of terrorism. With all these antecedents, no single individual today or tomorrow can resolve these hydra-headed crises facing the country. Point blank!

Under the present Administration of PMB it is inevitable to chart a new direction through a small roundtable talk devoid of partisanship amongst notable leaders across the six geopolitical zones under the presidency to look into the undercurrents of the multiple crises which besieged the present political economy and help the president to midwife a way out for Nigeria’s political future, as we anguished towards the 2023 general elections.

The truth is that the federal government has done very well, saves that Nigeria’s woes have outgrown, and at par with the population explosion and the latter is much bigger than the accomplishments of the federal government that might be estimated at a ratio 10% of the population of the country. Thus, Nigerians do not just groan for nothing. The country is really in a tsunami of poverty despite the consistent efforts of the PMB Administration to fund the economy at all costs.

With the nation’s survival at the precipice due to the cost of living and all its attendant consequences, we cannot continue to miss the promised land for too long anymore in a failed democracy that is due to no one’s fault, but collectively. The presidential system has failed and failed again to provide basic survival for Nigerians and put a permanent end to the rising threat of terrorism in the country. The current structure of governance needs an overhaul because of its antithesis. The institution is our general enemy, not any individual.

With the loss of food security as a major challenge confronting overwhelming Nigerians, what are the hope of survival of the masses

and how do we navigate into the 2023 general elections? 2023 is no best bet for solving the long-sufferings of Nigerians unless the federal government take a cursory look at the effect of the rising U.S. dollar on the common man and average citizens in the economy. The findings would help to adjudge better that despite all the efforts of the federal government, the masses are not faring better. Hence, the need to go back to the drawing board to chart the way out against 2023 as a lasting legacy for Nigeria and her people to live above poverty and to promote peaceful co-existance. Making a terror attack in Nigeria a forgotten history requires more diligence.

To better manage Nigerians together and strengthen a more virile economy for all, the wisdom is that Nigerians can no longer survive as a single nation but as an integration of six mutually exclusive nations. This is the secret and the way out for Nigerians in 2023. We earnestly need a new foundation that can ably translate the hopes and aspirations of all Nigerians than a privileged few across the country. The Nigeria’s economy would experience rapid growth with each of these zones coming up with sound economic policies that may offer a credible alternative to the federal government’s economic proposals.

With a population of over two hundred million, the solution to the present “lock jammed democracy” is to have a collective agreement for one president for the country and six vice presidents to oversee the affairs of each of the six geopolitical zones in the country. The president would govern the country jointly with the six vice presidents and shall retain the title of being the sole commander-in-chief of the armed forces. The six vice presidents may not necessarily belong to the same political parties to form the presidency and federal government.

Nigerians have a major problem and we need to do away with it urgently to set the country free from the hegemony in different quarters. We are too gluttonous to anything foreign without a quick sense of self-examination to nativise foreign political systems in a way that suits the peculiarities and challenges of the Nigerians’ environment. Let Nigeria have six vice presidents to make each zone a coordinate equal of the others. Enough of this absolute power play. It has been the source of absolute corrupt power and abuse of power in the political landscape. The only way to grow a bigger and more vibrant economy is to isolate absurd power from the democratic system.

Providing more tips for a new political order, the Senate at the centre should be abolished, leaving the Houses of Representatives and Assembly in the various states as the main democratic assemblies for both the federal and state governments. The Senate should be

for each of the zones and the composition of its membership should not be on partisanship but strictly on meaningful and recognised interest groups across the country such as the traditional rulers and all professional associations recognized by Acts and Decrees of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. The selection and zoning for a fixed term among the diverse group must be determined by the civil service in each of the new Senates. The purpose of the new Senate Assemblies is to check and balance power across the country. On the other hand, the judicial system operating across the country would remain status ante.

The Senate will have a Senate leader and other principal officers as usual, and permanent staff. The vice president in each zone shall preside over the Senate and the vice president and the Senate shall form the government in each of the six geopolitical zones in the country. The new Senate would also take over the functions of the current Senate and shall perform them in a dual relationship alongside the House of Representatives.

Going by the origin of the Senate as a federal necessity in the United States of America, it is a federal arrangement to balance the power of the House of Representatives to avoid bigger States dominating the smaller ones. So, being a senator is not a senior partner to a honourable member of the House of Representatives, but a co-partner in the legislature. The Senate serves no purpose other than this, and as Nigerians, we have come a long way to be mindful of the huge expenses consumed by a senator and the Senate at large. During the first republic, the Senate was a hotbed for political casualties across the country. Nigeria can maintain a credible Senate with low expenses if this institution is shelved to the zones.

Nigeria can only take the lead again in agriculture in Africa to eliminate hunger, poverty, unemployment, promote wealth creation and rejuvenate the economy if we toll this new, wellreasoned political order to eliminate unbridled corruption, indiscriminate waste, inordinate political ambition and “sit-tight syndrome” peculiar within the political class are overbearing on the leaned economy. We would set this country on the right path of good governance and make it a giant in Africa again if we can adopt this new initiative.

These recommendations are achievable in the march to 2023 under six months as a new transition of governance. Let Nigerians hear the loudest voice in their interest to save the country from the impending peril that may confront us again. We must look ahead beyond the impending eight years of the next president in waiting.

Email: reubenhopo619@gmail.com

Strong institutions – A panacea to sustained development

By Buwa Meldrick Memeh

Precisely October 1st2015, at the annual event tagged “Platform” organised by Pastor Poju Oyemade’s Covenant Christian Centre, Bishop Kukah stated that if the worst President that ever ruled Nigeria had the opportunity to be the President of the United States of America, it would be difficult to steal from their treasury and in all sincerity, this is one assertion I completely agree with.

In the same vein, you will agree with me when I say that if President Barak Obama became the President of Nigeria or the President of his ancestral home, Kenya, there is every possibility that he would have ended up like the average corrupt and selfish African leader whose only focus was to amass wealth at the expense of the masses.The statement made by Bishop Kukah further stresses the argument put forward by President Barak Obama that Africans should concentrate on building stronger institutions rather than strong men. Even though I might slightly differ with President Obama, it is important to stress that the existence of strong institutions can only be made possible by the availability of strong men.

The reality of present day happenings indicate that those morals and values that clearly distinguished us from peoples of other countries have been exchanged for the ills that come along with globalization.While growing up, I remember my mother constantly reminded me that in her days, people display their goods outside the compound and the buyer didn’t have to see the trader to purchase these items and it was certain that the trader will meet her money in tact whenever she came back. Nowadays this will practically be impossible astraders are at the mercy of hoodlums and armed robbers.

The display of the latest cars and flamboyant lifestyle of Hollywood stars as seen on television sets have completely altered our values and orientation which has consequently led to the desperation and craving of a new lease of life from both the old and young. Africans have successfully adapted to the lifestyle of their Hollywood idols but unlike developed countries, African nations have weak institutions and structures to tackle the ills and fallout of such contagious lifestyle. Societal standards have been

set so high and it no longer takes a religious person but one with high moral standards to avoid the influence of society. Today even the clergy men have been caught in the web of affluence as they have successfully reduced the worth of private jets to that of mere taxis.

Institutions set up by the government to fight against financial crimes have severally been caught in a mess of their own financial crimes and institutions set up to deliver judgements can no longer be relied upon since corruption has built a safe haven in the hearts of some judges. Today, everyone is out to make money at the expense of someone else and while some blame the situation on the untold hardship faced in the country, we must not fail to identify greed which has eaten the heart of the average Nigerian.

If we must fix the issues at hand, we must see Nigeria as an electronic DVD player programmed to play CD plates. This electronic gadget plays any CD plates but there is a loud scratch when it identifies a faulty or scratched CD plate and it refuses to recognize it or play it any further. Unfortunately, Nigeria as an electronic DVD player has not been programmed to select its CD plates and this explains why every junk that passes through the device is successfully played and consequently inflicts its own damage on the device and regrettably like a virus crashes a computer, every sector of the Nigerian economy is heading for a crash except for the intervention of a quick fix.

President Muhammadu Buhari must understand that the only remedy to this impending disaster is to ensure the institution of harsh laws and capital punishments to deter public officials and other Nigerians from engaging in practices that are capable of crashing Nigeria.

Countries like China and Indonesia have been successful in the implementation of these punishments. In 2014, the former deputy chief engineer of China’s disbanded railways, Zhang Shuguang was found guilty of taking bribes of more than 47m yuan over 11 years. The courts sentenced him to death. In Indonesia, the drug laws are so strict that parents who fail to notify the authorities of their children’s narcotics use could face criminal charges. Recently several Nigerians have been executed in Indonesia due to drug related offences and these countries understand the fact that if these laws are not instituted, the country would pay the

ugly price.

President Muhammadu Buhari has the opportunity to put his name in gold by being the strong man to create an environment that abhors corrupt practises such that when he leaves office, we have a system that is incompatible with corruption. Today it is difficult for any corrupt man to survive as United States President because he would be impeached and thrown in jail but in Nigeria we are not sure of the National Assembly members who will impeach any corrupt President. The onus lies on President Buhari to make the business of governance less lucrative. Those who occupy public office must be those willing to serve and not those interested in jumbo allowances. If the salaries and allowances of National Assembly members are reduced to the present wages received by school teachers, a lot of our legislators would tender their resignation and Nigerians willing to serve would be happy to replace them. Unfortunately the cost of governance has become a burden on Nigerians and a few are carting away with the wealth of the country.

While Nigerians embrace the present administration’s anticorruption stance, President Buhari must understand that it will be regarded as no different from what we have seen under previous administrations if stolen funds are not recovered and no one is made to account for years of misrule. It will also be a waste of time if corrupt persons are not tried and sent to jail. Nigerians are used to hearing huge figures stolen but unfortunately our judiciary are yet to convict corrupt leaders. The same judiciary cleared James Ibori an innocent man but it took the UK courts only a short while before Ibori pleaded guilty to corrupt charges and today we have an ex-governor serving 13 year jail sentence for financial fraud. Unfortunately the Nigerian prisons are built for thieves who steal Maggie cubes while the treasury looters enjoy ex-parte injunctions.

We must admit we have work on our hands which include ridding the judiciary, the police and other public institutions of corrupt elements. If we must get it right we must strengthen our institutions but until then Nigeria remains at the mercy of corrupt leaders.

Buwa Meldrick Memeh is Public Affairs Analyst and Social Commentator on national issues.

Kebbi Gov’s wife charges women to warn their wards against thuggery

From Ahmes Idris, Birnin Kebbi

Ahead of the February 2023 elections, the wife of the Kebbi State Governor Hajiya Aisha Bagudu Abubakar has charged women not to allow politician to used their children for political thuggery.

She made this call yesterday at the presentation of food items to the over 1000 widows and youths in the state, adding that the women are the brain of the house.

“If anyone of them meets you, tell them that they should bring their own children to do it together. I love women and am also a mother, so let us plan good future for our children.”

NDIC

assures Bank Customers safety of deposit

From: Femi Oyelola, Kaduna

The Nigeria Deposit Insurance Corporation (NDIC) has assured Nigerians that their hard earned money in the custody of banks licensed by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) is safe.

The Managing Director of the Corporation, Dr. Bello Hassan asserted this during the NDIC special day at the ongoing 44 Kaduna International Trade Fair. He advised against panic over money swap, saying that the NDIC has activated its crisis action management plan to prevent any negative impact on its operations and banks under its supervision. He advised against panic over money swap, saying that the NDIan to prevent any negative impact on its operations and banks under its supervision.

Elections: NYSC DG wants participating corps members adhere to Electoral Act

The Director-General, National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), Brig.-Gen. Yusha’u Ahmed, has urged youth corps members participating in the general elections to adhere strictly to the guidelines contained in the Electoral Act.

Ahmed gave the advice on Tuesday, in Abuja at the closing of the 2023 Batch A Stream One Orientation Course.

Represented by the NYSC Coordinator in FCT, Alhaji Suleman Abdul, the NYSC boss advised the youth corps members to remain neutral throughout the elections.

He said that as was the case with previous elections, youth corps members would form majority of ad hoc personnel that would be enlisted for the conduct of the exercise.

He added that “it will interest you to know that the performance of your predecessors contributed

to the credibility of previous elections and earned NYSC accolades from both local and foreign observers.

“Therefore, I enjoin you to take a cue from them by performing the election duties with high sense of responsibility.

“As you get set to partake in this important national assignment, I would like to assure you that we have secured the commitment of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and security agencies regarding your welfare and safety before, during and after the elections.”

Ahmed, therefore, urged them to sustain the spirit of patriotism, hard work and resilience which they imbibed during the orientation course as they embark on the next phase of their lives.

He enjoined them to perform their duties with diligence and be guided by the provisions of the

NYSC Act and by-laws, as well as workplace rules and regulations.

The director-general also warned them against unauthorised journeys, adding that if permitted to travel, they must avoid night trips.

The director-general, also on Tuesday in Birnin Kebbi, urged the NYSC members to be agents of peace and transformation to take Nigeria to greater heights.

He gave the charge while addressing NYSC members during the passing out parade of 2023 Batch ‘A’ Stream I Orientation Course at the Dakingari orientation camp in Suru Local Government Area of Kebbi.

Represented by the NYSC Coordinator in Kebbi, Mrs Okolo Agatha-Banki, he said “my dear compatriots, as you begin the next phase of the service, I urge you to sustain the spirit of patriotism, hard work and resilience,

which you imbibed during the orientation course.

“It is my ardent hope that you will strive to meet the expectations of Nigerians by contributing toward the progress and development of our dear country.”

He enjoined the youth corps members to perform their duties with diligence and be guided by the provisions of the NYSC Act.

Ahmed, also at the closing of the 2023 Batch ‘A’ (Stream 1) orientation course held at the NYSC Permanent Orientation Camp, Ikare-Akoko, warned youth corps members against untoward behaviour ahead of the general elections.

Represented by the NYSC Coordinator in Ondo, Mrs Victoria Ani, he said “you are to ensure adherence to the guidelines contained in the Electoral Act and remain neutral throughout the exercise.” (NAN)

Senator, widows others extol Emema Offor’s virtue at 54th birthday

By Albert Akota

ASenator representing Anambra South Senatorial District, Dr Ifeanyi Ubah has lauded Sir, Emeka Offor for his upright and philanthropic gesture towards people around and

beyond.

The entrepreneur and businessman who is currently serving as Senator and CEO of Capital Oil, said “Sir Emeka Offor has touched a lot of lives in an extraordinary manner.

“If you go down to my Constituency where he is a

leader, you will see and hear of the many things he has done for the people and that’s why you can see the multitude of people here from different backgrounds.

“He is the man of the people and loves God and people and that’s the most important thing

in life,” he said.

Also speaking, the wife of the celebrant who put everything together for her husband, Barrister Adaora Offor said, “The idea behind the event was to celebrate my husband. It’s a special day and an opportunity to honour an icon.

Nigerian Maritine administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) Abuja Zonal Office Coordinator, Zailani Attah,- (Middle) Deputy director Shipping development, Rakiya Lamai,- (1st R) President kaduna chamber of Commerce, Suleiman Aliyu,(3rd Left) Cutting a Celebration Cake, during the Kaduna 44th international trade fair press center holds presentation of survaniers in kaduna 14/2/23

By Ikechukwu Okaforadi

The National chairman of Accord Party, Muhammad Lawal Nalado, has raised the alarm that Nigerians are suffering under the huge cash and fuel scarcity, even as he charged President Muhammadu Buhari and the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Governor, Godwin Emefiele, to rise up and address the challenges for a successful 223 general elections.

Nalado who briefed journàlists on the State of the nation after the Party’s National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting in Abuja, also said the party, as one of the leading opposition parties in the country, is working to emerge the ruling party by ensuring that it wins more elective seats in the forthcoming general election.

He said the party is poised to win massively in the election, but regretted that the cashless policy may affect the conduct of the election, hence he enjoined the CBN to make the new naira

Nigerians are suffering under cash crunch, Buhari should act - Accord Chair, Nalado

notes available to Nigerians or recirculate the old notes if there is lack of capacity to produce the new notes.

While pointing out that Accord as a party is not entirely against the policy, Nalado said the suffering it has inflicted on Nigerians is not what was expected at the conception of the policy.

He expressed concern that if the crisis of fuel and cash is not addressed, it will hurt the conduct of the 2023 general election, adding “As party administrators, we are so much concerned with what is happening in this country today regards to this monitory issue. We are not saying the policy is bad, but we are not happy with

the hardship it has caused to Nigerian citizens.

“We believe if it is not addressed properly, it is going to affect so many things including the conduct of the election.

“So, this matter needs to be looked into and we are calling on the federal government and the CBN to step in to make money available for people to withdraw the money from banks.

“I am calling on the federal government and the CBN to step in and make this money available to people to reduce the hardship”, he stated.

He said any policy being introduced to better the lives of the citizens should not turn around and put the citizens in a difficult situation.

“No matter the good policy we want to introduce in this country, I am sure we are doing it for the benefit of Nigerians. So any policy that will put Nigerians in difficulty, I think that policy should not be good enough, if it is allowed like this many Nigerians will fall into a problem.

“The problem is not only on money, but it is also on petroleum, even if you get it, you don’t have money.

“On Election Day, definitely there will be a need for the movement of material from CBN to various election points, if there is no fuel, I doubt if that one will be possible.

“Government should make sure that fuel is available

everywhere and make sure that money is available for everyone”, he noted.

Nalado however, expressed satisfaction with the preparation level of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

He said the political parties had a stakeholders’ meeting with INEC, and part of the things they discussed was the issue of conducting the election INEC confirmed to them the level of their preparedness but they too were in doubt about the availability of fuel and cash.

“So, for this election to be successful, the Federal Government and the CBN have to step in to complement”, he added.

Sen Nnamani says Tinubu has the political will to deliver

By Musa Baba Adamu

Former Governor of Enugu state and Senator representing Enugu East in the Senate, Senator Chimaroke Nnamani has for the umpteenth time praised the exploits of the All Progressives Congress (APC) Presidential candidate Bola Ahmed Tinubu(BAT) as former Governor of Lagos state who improved the health sector significantly.

Senator Nnamani stated that it is to Tinubu’s credit that HIV/ AIDS prevalence in Lagos state decreased from 6.7 percent to 3.5percent between 1999 and 2007 while more than 2,000 women received Prevention of mother to Child Transmission

(PMTCT)in 10 PMTCT centres set up to prevent the disease.

He recalled that Tinubu kick started the Roll back malaria programme under which more than 3.6 million patients received free treatment and over one million treated nets as well as BCC/IEC supplied, respectively.

Sen Nnamani added that Over 181,627 doses of the Sulfadoxine-pyrimethamine formulation were provided, and intermittent preventative therapy for malaria in pregnant women was implemented.

“To end poliomyelitis, a national immunization program was launched, Lagos state keyed in and more than 2.5 million children received the vaccines

as a result”, he said.

Under the Tinubu’s government, he stated that “Lagos State launched a School Health Program, which provided free eyes screening and treatment for about 6,600 students and provided free milk to over 900 public schools totaling about 297,000students.

Tnubu’s Free Health Care and Reproductive programme he stressed covered Children

Under 12 and Adults Over 60 and at no-cost prenatal care for expectant mothers.

He said:”This plan also benefited public employees, their spouses, and their four dependent children who were under the age of 18. This free health programme helped more

than four million children, 1.9 million adults, and 1.2 million government employees.

According to him, “the reproductive health programme was responsible for training 420 community-based workers, 70 health workers, and 154 community health extension workers in the numerous reproductive health topics required by the state which helped helped more than 328,000 clients from the State”.

On eyes diseases , Nnamani pointed out that “Over 654,000 adults were examined as part of Lagos State’s Blindness Preventive Programme and 221,000 received free glasses and medication in addition to free medication, while 11,000

Sen Nnamani

persons received free surgical procedures under Tinubu’s administration “.

Delta 2023: APC alleges plot by Okowa, PDP to cause mayhem

By Christiana Ekpa

The All Progressives Congress (APC) in Delta State has said it has uncovered a sinister plot by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to use APC-branded vehicles to create mayhem and security breaches across the state.

The party said relevant security agencies have been alerted of the alleged plot by Governor Arthur Ifeanyi Okowa and the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP with the sole aim of tarnishing the glittering image and reputation of our great Party, the APC. This is contained in a statement signed by E.V. Onojeghuo, Delta State APC

Publicity Secretary.

“This information has become necessary and important, hence we thought it proper to alert the general public.

“The branded vehicles, made in the semblance of colours and logos of the APC, are hidden in the premises of the Premium Trust Bank, along Maryam Babaginda Way, Asaba. The bank is believed to belong to the Okowa family.

“The intention of Okowa and the PDP is to use these vehicles for thuggery, inflict harm and injuries on innocent citizens, to bring public opprobrium and hate upon the APC, as we approach the general elections.”

According to the APC, “This satanic desperation no doubt stems from the reality that has now dawned on Okowa and the PDP, on the impending defeat that awaits them at the forthcoming polls.

“Having realized that the people of Delta State have finally rejected the PDP and by extension, his vice presidential ambition, Gov. Okowa and his hirelings, have now resorted to sinister schemes to arm-twist voters in the State, through creating a false sense of insecurity amongst the people. This he hopes will turn voters against our great Party.

“The Delta State APC by this press statement notifies the general public

and all security agencies operating in the state, that as a law-abiding political party, we will not succumb to wicked and cheap blackmail, nor gangsterism. Infact, we do not subscribe or tolerate criminal actions that would create insecurity and a breakdown of law and order in the State.”

The APC urged the security agencies to appropriate measures to forestall and crush any breakdown of law and order by Governor Okowa and the PDP.

“We therefore strongly urge the security organizations in the State to take all appropriate measures to forestall and crush the nefarious intentions of Dr. Okowa and the PDP.”

PDP suffers setback in battle to disqualify

Tonye Cole, APC from Rivers guber race

By Musa Baba Adamu

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has suffered another setback in its legal battle to get the All Progressives Congress (APC) and its Governorship candidate, Patrick Tonye Cole disqualified from the 2023 gubernatorial election in Rivers State.

Justice Inyang Edem Ekwo of

the Federal High Court in Abuja dismissed PDP’s suit instituted against the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), APC and Cole for want of diligent prosecution.

In the suit marked FHC/ABJ/ CS/1902/2022, PDP had asked the Federal High Court for an order setting aside the October 4, 2022 publication of names of Cole and APC from the list of

eligible candidates for Rivers State gubernatorial election.

The party also sought another order prohibiting Cole and APC from parading or holding themselves out as eligible candidates for the March 11 Governorship election.

PDP claimed in the suit that the APC breached sections 285 (9) of the 1999 Constitution and 30, 32 and 73 of the Electoral Act 2022 by submitting the nomination

form of Tonye Cole manually as against uploading through the online Nomination Portal of INEC as prescribed by law.

On the grounds of the alleged infraction of the Constitution and the Electoral Act, PDP demanded that both APC and its Governorship candidate be kicked out of the election in the interest of justice and fairness.

However, when the suit was

Vote for Tinubu, all APC candidates – Owoeye to supporters

By Christiana Ekpa

The electorates in Osun have been charged to vote for the presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) Bola Ahmed Tinubu and all the party’s candidates for the National and State Houses of Assembly. This charge was given by Timothy

Owoeye, the Speaker of the Osun State House of Assembly during the flag-off of his reelection campaign in Ilesa East local government council area on Tuesday.

Owoeye who emphasised that Tinubu remained the only candidate that could bring about the needed turn-around of the country added that the APC candidate would bring

about a better and more developed Nigeria to the delight of Nigerian citizens.

The Speaker also hinted that the Yoruba race would immensely benefit from it.

“Like I have said earlier, a vote for me is a vote for experience, the state House of Assembly needs people with experience to stabilize

the state, the peace and good governance of the state depend on a Stable Assembly.

“We also must look at what Tinubu did in Lagos when he was governor. He has given the state a roadmap, the way he governed Lagos showed that Nigeria will not be difficult for him to handle,” the Speaker stressed.

called, neither the PDP nor its counsel was in court to argue the case and no information or excuse was offered for the absence.

Justice Ekwo while checking the case file discovered that PDP and its team of lawyers have been absent from court three times without any explanation.

The Judge said he deemed that PDP has opted to abandon the matter and that there was no compelling reason to allow the suit to drag any further. Justice Ekwo subsequently dismissed the suit in its entirety.

Court extends order stopping PDP from suspending Wike

By Ikechukwu Okaforadi

AFederal High Court in Abuja has extended the order restraining the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) from suspending or expelling Gov. Nyesom Wike of Rivers from the party.

Justice James Omotosho gave the directive on Tuesday after the counsel to the governor, Dr Joshua Musa, SAN, and lawyer to the PDP and others, Johnson Usman, SAN, agreed on March 6 to argue their case.

Justice Omotosho had, on February 2, given a restraining order against the party and others listed in the face of Wike’s motion dated February 2.

Others joined in the suit marked: FHC/ABJ/CS/139/2023 include its National Working Committee, NWC, and National Executive Committee, NEC, National Chairman of PDP, Dr Iyorchia Ayu.

The governor is praying for an order directing all parties to maintain the status quo and stay all actions in the matter relating to the threat to suspend or expel him from the party.

L-R:

Maxwell Mgbudem; National Youth leader Abdulrahmeen Mohammed and the Party National Treasurer, Comrade Mike Lerama during the party’s NEC meeting / State of the Nation press briefing, held yesterday in Abuja. Photo: Justin Imo-owo

2023: Labour Party working very hard for Tinubu’s victory –

By Christiana Ekpa

The All Progressives Congress, APC, has said that the Labour Party (LP) is actually working for the emergence of Bola Tinubu as the next President of Nigeria.

Appearing on Arise Television’s The Morning Show, on Monday, the APC spokesperson, APC Presidential Campaign Council, PCC, North Central, Prince Mustapha Audu, also named some of the States he thinks Bola Tinubu

and Shettima would record a landslide victory.

Audu was specifically responding to a spokesperson of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP’s presidential campaign cannot, PCC, Dele Momodu, who on the same programme yesterday, said that Atiku Abubakar and Okowa would win all 19 states in the North.

“The PDP is used to their false statements and fallacies but it’s clear if you look at the dynamics

in Kogi State where I come from the Bola Tinubu and Shettima will certainly win,” Audu said.

“They’ll win Kwara, Niger, more Northern States, if you look at the North West, North East, Kano, Taraba, Yobe, he’ll clearly win.

“And this is not a two-party as per se although only two parties stand to win. All the other presidential candidates, especially the Labour Party, stand to get more from the PDP.

APC

“The Labour Party has worked best for the APC. The South East that has not been our stronghold the Labour will take a lot of votes from the PDP there. Abuja where we’ve never been so strong, Labour is doing so well in PDP strongholds. I think the Labour Party is working very hard for APC.

“If you look at Rivers State that produces the most votes for the PDP in all the elections there’s disarray in the PDP and this also works for us.”

Wike also asked for an order of the court granting him leave to serve the motion on notice, originating motion and all other processes of the court in the suit on the 1st to 5th respondents by substituted means by pasting all the said processes at the PDP National Secretariat.

After hearing Wike’s lawyer, Dr J. Y. Musa, SAN, Justice Omotosho granted all the reliefs sought.

“That leave is hereby granted to the applicant (Wike) to serve the originating motion, motion on notice and all other processes of this court in this suit on the 1st to 5th respondents by substituted means to wit, by pasting all the said processes of court on PDP National Secretariat, Wadata Plaza, Wuse Zone 5, Federal Capital Territory, Abuja,” he said.

National Chairman, Accord Party, Hon. Nalado Mohammed; National legal Adviser, Mr

Labour Party asks INEC to remove Lagos REC Agbaje before elections

By Christiana Ekpa

The Labour Party (LP) has called for the removal of Olusegun Agbaje, the Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) in Lagos State.

The party urged the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to do so before the general elections

2023: Real reason Atiku’s campaign rally in Rivers was cancelled

Gov Wike

By Musa Baba Adamu

Governor Nyesom Wike of Rivers State has given a reason the campaign rally of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, was cancelled in his state.

Recall that the rally was scheduled for Tuesday.

Wike said that Atiku’s rally in Rivers was annulled because they lacked the numbers to fill the Adokiye Amiesimaka Stadium he approved for the event.

The governor also described the claim by the PDP Presidential Campaign Council (PCC) that the campaign was put off because of fear of bloodshed as untrue.

He spoke at Nyemoni Secondary School field in Abonnema town, the venue of the PDP campaign for AkukuToru Local Government Area, on Monday.

Wike said, “I gave them the stadium, they know they’ve no capacity to fill the stadium, they’re looking for excuses.

“They went and forced themselves to use government land at Trans Amadi. I said no, that wasn’t where I gave you. Where I gave you was Adokiye Amiesimaka, go and fill that place.”

He added, “They now said no, we won’t go there again. We don’t want people to die. Who is killing who? Is anybody killing anybody? I said don’t pay money, I’ll buy the diesel for you. I’ll do everything for you. Mobilise, go, and fill that stadium. They ran away.”

starting on February 25.

A spokesperson for Peter Obi Campaign Organisation, Kenneth Okonkwo made the demand in a Twitter post on Monday.

“If Prof Mahmood Yakubu doesn’t sack Olusegun Agbaje now, then Nigerians must realise that Prof Mahmood has decided to rig the election of 2023 in

favour of APC,” he tweeted. Okonkwo accused Agbaje of referring to the people of SouthEast origin based in Lagos as immigrants in their country.

He said the REC denied Igbos the collection of their Permanent Voter’s Cards, PVCs, “while foreigners from Niger Republic, Chad, etc were given PVCs and

NINs in El-Rufai’s Kaduna State”.

The Nollywood veteran stated that “Nigerians have lost confidence in any election that will be conducted by this ethnic and confused bigot”.

Okonkwo said Agbaje is “suffering from impaired reasoning like the principal he is working for who has commanded

his followers to snatch power at all costs”.

The LP chieftain further charged Nigerians to insist the right thing is done “starting with the firing of Olusegun Agbaje.”

The presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Atiku Abubakar last week asked INEC to remove Agbaje.

Presidency: Group endorses Tinubu/ Shettima ticket

By Ikechukwu Okaforadi

Eleven days to the Presidential election, the Asiwaju Bola Tinubu/Kashim Shettima ticket of the All Progressives Congress (APC) got endorsement by a group, Clerics Congress of Nigeria.

Endorsements of the Tinubu/ Shettima ticket by the group took place at Stakeholders Conference held at Nicon Luxury Hotel attended by representatives of both the Presidential and Vice Presidential candidates of APC.

The Clerics led by Ali John Ali and Timothy Cheren, premised their endorsements of Tinubu / Shettima ticket on competence , capacity and required vision for progressive leadership and Nation building.

The speech reads in part "After a cursory look at all the presidential aspirants, and without any dint of sentiment attached, we have found one candidate suitable to deliver the required result needed to

take our nation out of our present predicament and usher in the required development needed to take us to the next level.

"That candidate without any shadow of a doubt is Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

Our decision has been predicated on the indices of track record of past performance, ability to unite the country and fight insecurity, economic programme of development and the ability to build a sterling leadership succession.

"In all of these, Asiwaju towers high above the pack of other presidential candidates .

Looking at his track record in Lagos where he held sway as governor for eight years, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu succeeded immensely in turning Lagos into a mega city and an economic giant not just in Nigeria but Africa and the rest of the world.

"On the issues of Muslim and Muslim ticket which has engendered so much debate, we have carefully considered the issues

that gave birth to the decision to select a Muslim as his Vice and came to the conclusion that the reasons were more about the

strategy to win elections and have somebody he can be comfortable to work with, than of religious discrimination."

2023 polls: Atiku Abubakar will garner 64% from three zones in north – New report claims

By Ikechukwu Okaforadi

Alhaji Atiku Abubakar is projected to win the Nigerian 2023 election scheduled for February 25, 2023. The interim report from nine months study led by Dr. Oludare Ogunlana of June Group Research and Council for African Security Affairs (CASA) with other Intelligence practitioners in the United States, Europe, and Nigeria pointed to the candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party of Nigeria as a potential winner.

Atiku was rated higher than other candidates from All Progressive Congress (APC) and Labour Party (LP), and New Nigeria Peoples’ Party (NNPP), using four key variables: political geography, Religion, Resources, and Class.

According to the group, “The study’s scope is limited to observing political actors and

interviews with stakeholders in organizations from across six zones of Nigeria and the Nigerians in the Diaspora: political leaders, women groups, religious organizations, civil societies, trade unions, and youth organizations.

“In each interview, we focused on five areas: the personality of the candidates, ethnic influence, religion, power of incumbency, voters’ behavior, emotions’ role, political socialization, and tolerance of diversity of political views. The study that started in May 2022 accurately predicted the outcome of the PDP and APC primaries and the emergence of Alh Atiku Abubakar and Senator Bola Tinubu as candidates for their respective parties.

“We identified where the political influencers, religious leaders, organizations, and Nigerians in the Diaspora stood with voting President in February 2023 and how it aligned to victory

for each candidate. In addition, we gathered data from facilitated workshops and interactive survey sessions with Nigerian political thought leaders, which include lawyers, political activists, and former and current serving political office holders.

“While we respect various polls that have put a particular candidate as the preferred candidate to win the election, we state that data alone does not speak for itself significantly when such data is based on manipulation and sectional polling. The result of every data must be put into context, including understanding the people, culture, pattern, geographical spread of the platform, and historical antecedents.

“In conclusion, former Vice President Atiku Abubakar is expected to garner 64% from the three zones in the North, rake 45% from the South-South

region where his running mates come from, acquire 37 % from the South-East with 27% from the South-West, which is the stronghold of the APC candidate.”

Atiku Abubkar

Tinubu/ Shettima

From Abubakar Yunusa ABUJA

TAJBank Limited, Nigeria’s fast-growing non-interest banking services provider, yesterday on the trading floor of the Nigerian Exchange Limited (NGX) became the first corporate to list Sukuk Bond on the bourse.

The bank listed N10 billion Mudarabah Sukuk issuance after it successfully raised over N11.4 billion under its N100 Billion Sukuk Issuance Programme.

The first of its kind in Nigeria is an Additional Tier 1 Capital Mudarabah Sukuk with lossabsorbency features designed to help TAJ Bank strengthen its capital adequacy ratio and general corporate business activities.

The Issuance received interest from both Retail and Institutional Investors, resulting in a subscription of 113.6. The oversubscription of this Issuance demonstrates that the investment culture in the Country is still vibrant and there is sustained confidence in Nigeria’s path to economic recovery and stability.

Speaking at the closing gong ceremony in commemoration of the listing of the Sukuk issuance on the floor of the Exchange, Chairman, TAJBank, Alhaji Tanko Gwamna who was with top executives of the bank, reiterated that the listing is the first of its kind on the trading floor and it comes with non-interest bearing.

He noted that the listing of the Corporate Sukuk is what the capital market needs to enhance liquidity and further grow Nigeria’s economy.

TAJBank Boss disclosed that the financial institution is considering investing in the manufacturing and Agriculture sectors with raised funds from the Sukuk.

“Manufacturing sector is the only sector that can take most of the youth out of the street and keep them engaged. Also, we are funding agriculture production and its value chain from start to finish. These two sectors are where we wanted to fund the Sukuk issuance,” he said.

“The listing on the Exchange is for investors to trade in the Sukuk and diversify their investment,” he added.

According to him, “We are setting the trend and I’m sure a lot of corporates will come along. We are making more offerings because the market is in need of corporate Sukuk. It was a transparent exercise and people can trade with our Sukuk and it will offer more liquidity for economic growth.

He added that the financial institution very soon will be back in the capital market and raise more funds.

Speaking also, the Managing Director/CEO, TAJBank, Mr. Hamid Joda said the aim of the Sukuk listing is to give Nigeria’s investors alternative means of investment.

He noted that, “Millions of investors have been yearning

TAJBank becomes first corporate to list Sukuk Bond on NGX

for non-interest or Islamic instrument. We believe this is an opportunity for them to invest in such an instrument.

“The funds raised will be deployed into high-impact sectors that create jobs in Nigeria’s economy and in that way, it will have high-impact opportunities for millions of Nigerians.

“I believe with this move; we have inspired many other corporates in the financial space

to come on board and issue Sukuk for greater development of our dear country.”

Speaking at the ceremony, the Divisional Head, Capital Markets, NGX, Mr. Jude Chiemeka commended the efforts of TajBank’s leadership and the parties to the issue: Greenwich Merchant Bank, Lead Issuing House; 117 Capital & Buraq Capital, Joint Sharia Advisers; and United Capital,

Brokers, on the transaction.

“NGX will continue to support issuers by providing a platform of choice for capital raising and linking them with a diverse pool of investors.

“The Exchange is also committed to the development of Islamic financing in the Nigerian capital market and continues to implement initiatives to deepen its offerings.”

Commonly referred to as

Islamic Bonds, Sukuk – a noninterest-bearing bond- has helped government diversify its sources of funding while offering ethical investors an opportunity to invest in government-issued securities. The instrument has not only helped the government achieve a higher level of financial inclusion but has served as a reference for pricing Sukuk issued by other bodies, especially the private sector.

Airlines’ operating costs increased by 300% in 2 years – Operator

From Abubakar Yunusa ABUJA

The Chief Operating Officer of United Nigeria Airlines, Mr Osita Okonkwo, said the operating costs of indigenous airlines have increased by 300 per cent in the last two years.

Speaking with some select journalists in Lagos, Osita pointed out that when the airline commenced flight operations in 2021, a litre of Jet A1 (aviation fuel) was sold at N200 per litre, but regretted that the price had risen to N800 per litre in the local market.

More on the challenges: Okonkwo said that small-body aircraft like Embraer, CRJ, ATR, and Dash-8 aircraft require about 1,300 litres of aviation for an hour flight while middle-body aeroplanes like Airbus 319, 320, MD 83, and Boeing 737 require at least 3,000 litres for the same hour of flight.

At the rate of N800 per litre, the small body aircraft require N1,040,000 for an hour flight

while the middle body aircraft N3,900,000 for the same journey.

He explained that the operators also pay different charges and levies to government agencies like the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority, Nigerian Airspace Management Agency and the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN0, stressing that these charges further added to the operating costs. He said:

“When we started operations in 2021, a litre of fuel was being sold for N200 or thereabout and suddenly, it moved to N500 per litre in February 2022. Now, we are buying a litre of fuel at N800 per litre or N790, depending on where you are buying from.

“Also, we don’t have access to foreign exchange. Forex is not available. The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) only gives about 20 to 30 per cent of your needs. You have to queue, yet have it on the move. Operating costs are escalating at a very high rate.

“There is a need for government

intervention funds for operators.

Governments all over the world are doing that. This is not too much for Nigeria to do for its own operators in the country.

“There is a need for government’s intervention in airlines in Nigeria. The United States and the United Kingdom have done that especially when there are big issues. That is not asking for too much. They have intervened in some companies and given forex to some companies, they should extend the same to the airlines in Nigeria.”

Need for action: Okonkwo called on the Federal Government to come to the aid of the operators to prevent them from collapsing, warning that the sub-sector may collapse in the coming months.

According to Okonkwo, operating costs had continued to climb for the carriers in the last year, stressing that the airfares are being underwritten from other sources by most of the airline operators.

He also declared that the

current low fares by airlines are not sustainable with the current situation of skyrocketing prices of aviation fuel and scarcity of foreign exchange.

What you should know: He dismissed the claim in some quarters that the airlines fixed prices of airfares, saying that the sector is competitive and would remain so.

On the Spring Alliance six of the domestic airlines formed in 2021, Okonkwo said the alliance had helped reduce costs for operators as the airlines airlift each other’s passengers in case of any operational challenges.

Besides, he stated that United Nigeria Airlines had airlifted about 800,000 passengers within the last two years of operations, adding that the carrier still maintained its fleet of four aircraft of CRJ.

He, however, informed that plans were on to add more aircraft to its fleet, assuring that the airline would continue to offer qualitative services to the flying public.

R: Mr. Sherif Idi, Executive Director/ECO, TAJBank, Dr. Olufemi Oyenuga, Chief Digital Officer, Nigerian Exchange Limited (NGX); Mr. Jude Chiemeka, Divisional Head, Capital Markets, NGX; Alhaji Tanko Isiaku Gwamna, Chairman, TAJBank; Mr. Hamid Joda, Managing Director/ CEO, TAJBank; Mr. Bayo Rotimi, Managing Director, Greenwich Merchant Bank during a Closing Gong Ceremony in commemoration of the listing of the N10 billion Mudarabah Sukuk issuance sponsored by TAJBank Limited at NGX on Tuesday February 14, 2023 in Lagos.

HarvestPlus unveils first national Biofortification recipe book in Nigeria

From Abubakar Yunusa ABUJA

In a bid to provide nutritious and tasty ways for families to incorporate nutrient-enriched crops into their daily meals, An agro firm, HarvestPlus has launched the first national biofortification recipe book to help bring more nutrition to the plates of families across Nigeria.

The book offers over 50 recipes using vitamin A cassava, vitamin A maize, and vitamin A orange sweet potatoes as the main ingredients. The recipes have been developed to meet the daily nutrition needs of all family members and to provide a diverse menu using biofortified crops, aiming to improve nutrient intake and reduce malnutrition.

Speaking at the ceremony, the honorable minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Dr. Mohammed Mamood, said this book will guide cooks under the National homegrown school feeding program of the Federal Government.

According to him, “This recipe book will in no doubt serve as an instructional tool for intending and existing food manufacturers, caterers, food distributors, Extension Agents, and other relevant stakeholders in the food industry.

Mamood, who was represented by the Director of the tree crop, Ukatha Bernard said this book will also serve as a pedestal for job and wealth creation for our teeming youths.

‘It is my believe that this book “Biofortified Crops on my Table” will be used alongside other nutrition education resource books authorized by FMARD and other development partners to train farm families on different recipe combinations and health benefits of good eating.

“The benefiting children within the range of this intervention will have more access to biofortified foods being given to them under this

program.

“I, therefore, request that this book be made available to all stakeholders to reach a wider range of household beneficiaries for maximum impact. I, therefore, launch it for the benefit of Nigerians and humanity.

He, however, commended HarvestPlus and other development partners in their commercialization efforts of the Biofortified Crops Programme, as a tool to address the micronutrient needs of Nigerians most importantly the vulnerable households.

The Country Manager HarvestPlus Nigeria, Dr. Yusuf Dollah said Biofortification is a system, approach to complement existing nutrition initiatives using the distinctive crops that would grow a consume to address some of the nutrition challenges we have.

In his word,” Our strategy has been the value chain approach and this recipes book is a way to address

some of the constraints we have along the chains or the links of the value chain, increasing utilization of the crops looking at household utilization and industrial.

“Each recipe you find in this book represents an enterprise so that anybody that goes into the food business can have access to this recipes book. Is a free book, as from today, you can start downloading from the internet for free and for your use.

Also, HarvestPlus Chief Nutritionist, Erick Boy said “This recipe book is a testament to the power of food to nourish and heal, and we hope it will inspire people to incorporate nutritious biofortified crops into their diets and improve their health and well-being.”

Meanwhile, the book features a collection of practical and traditional dishes that have been cleverly adapted to provide added nutrition and fight malnutrition through biofortified foods.

POS agents charging above N200 for cash swap will go to jail, Says Emefiele

From Abubakar Yunusa Abuja

The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Governor, Godwin Emefiele, has insisted that there was no need to shift the February 10 deadline for the swapping of the old naira with the newly redesigned naira notes.

The comment by Emefiele is coming against the backdrop of the recent ruling by the Supreme Court which temporarily restrained the CBN from enforcing the February 10 deadline for the naira swap.

This was made known by Emefiele during a visit to the Federal Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Tuesday to discuss the monetary and currency redesign policy of the apex bank.

The CBN Governor said, “The situation is substantially calming down since the commencement of over-the-counter payments to complement ATM disbursements and the use of super-agents.

Kyari: Energy demand to increase by 35% in 2043, Africa must collaborate to aid transition

From Abubakar Yunusa Abuja

Mele Kyari, group chief executive officer (GCEO), Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC) Limited, says African nations must cooperate and exchange expertise in order to achieve energy independence and transition as demand is expected to increase by 35 percent on the continent.

Kyari spoke at the 7th edition of sub-Saharan Africa international petroleum exhibition and conference (SAIPEC).

The event was themed ‘harnessing a sustainable African energy industry through partnerships’.

Kyari, represented by Adokiye Tombomieye, group executive vice-president, upstream, NNPC Limited, said the Nigerian oil and gas industry is experiencing a significant transformation following the passage of the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA).

“As you are all aware, the act has provided role clarity

in governance, rule-based administration, attractive and flexible fiscal terms and direct benefits for the host communities,” he said.

“All these are targeted at creating enablers for investor confidence in the Nigerian oil and gas sector, where ample opportunities exist.

“Ironically, our restructuring is happening at a time when the energy transition discussion is gaining momentum, and major fund providers for petroleum upstream investment are now activists and anti-fossil fuel.

“As I have always canvassed, decreasing investments in hydrocarbon ventures cannot guarantee global energy security in the near future.

“Rather, an inclusive policy that guarantees access to finance and low-carbon technologies are key to sustaining global energy security and equitable growth.

“Nigeria, being geographically situated in the sub-African region and also a foremost leader in the oil

and gas industry in sub-Saharan Africa, we must now capitalise on the advancements we have made in the industry to meet our energy demands, guarantee energy supply, expand our economies and overall, build a sustainable future for millions of people beyond our shores.

“In the next 20 years, energy demand in Africa is expected to increase in the order of 30-35 percent to support the projected increase in population and industrialisation.

“This presents an enormous opportunity for us to form partnerships across the continent and build a sustainable future.”

Kyari said the need for partnership is more reinforced as more African countries continue to make hydrocarbon discoveries.

He said the partnership would in no small measure assist in “achieving energy independence and also aid the transition to cleaner energy sources such as gas to sustain the region”.

“We should collaborate and

share knowledge and help each other in critical areas including exploration and production, research and development, technical expertise and human capacity development to spread the wealth within the continent,” Kyari said.

“At NNPC Limited, we understand the importance of partnerships in achieving a sustainable energy industry in Africa. This is why we have been working closely with countries, companies and other stakeholders to develop innovative solutions that meet the energy needs of the continent,” the GCEO said.

“We must acknowledge that this new era of automation and artificial intelligence is focused on the application of cuttingedge technologies, such as the use of robotic drilling systems for unmanned operations, the deployment of cognitive computing in upstream operations, superspecialised sensors for real-time monitoring and maximisation of reservoir yields.”

“There is, therefore, no need to consider any shift from the deadline of February 10.”

Emefiele also said that Point of Sale (POS) agents who charge above N200 for the CBN cash swap program will be arrested and jailed when caught.

He further added that the POS operators can come to the CBN to be compensated for any extra cost incurred in getting the new notes rather than charging a higher fee on customers.

Recall that on Wednesday, February 10, 2023, a 7-man panel of the Supreme Court led by Justice John Okoro, had in a unanimous decision, temporarily halted plans by the Federal Government and the CBN to ban the use of the old naira notes across the country.

The court was ruling in an ex parte application brought by three northern states of Kaduna, Kogi, and Zamfara. Justice Okoro also adjourned the matter until February 15 for a hearing of the main suit.

Also, Kano, Ondo, and Rivers

L-RThe Country Manager HarvestPlus Nigeria, Dr. Yusuf Dollah and the Director of the tree crop, Ukatha Bernard,at the launching of first national biofortification recipe book in Abuja yesterday

Buhari signs business facilitation bill into law

From Abubakar Yunusa Abuja

The Presidential Enabling Business Environment Council (PEBEC) says President Muhammadu Buhari has signed the business facilitation (miscellaneous provision) bill 2022, also known as the omnibus bill, into law. Presented as an executive bill, the business facilitation (miscellaneous provision) act,

2023, is a legislative intervention by PEBEC, which amends 21 business-related laws, removing bureaucratic constraints to doing business in Nigeria.

The new law also codifies executive order 001 on transparency and efficiency in public service delivery, aimed at strengthening ease of doing business reforms across the country.

In a statement on Monday,

Jumoke Oduwole, special adviser to the president on ease of doing business and PEBEC secretary, said the assent to the bill marked an important step in the delivery of an enabling environment for micro, small and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs) in Nigeria.

She said the PEBEC secretariat is extremely grateful to see the act come into fruition.

“It is a culmination of over four years of collaboration

between public and private sector stakeholders, including the attorney general of the federation, and the federal ministry of justice, the Nigeria Bar Association section on business law through the participation of over 40 law firms and consulting firms, the Nigerian Economic Summit Group (NESG), and the national assembly business environment roundtable (NASSBER),” Oduwole said.

“We are especially delighted to appreciate the 9th national assembly for its speedy consideration of this bill, with immense support from senator Babajide Omoworare, senior special assistant to the president on national assembly matters (senate) all his efforts.”

In December 2022, the senate passed the bill following its earlier passage by the house of representatives.

Naira crunch may cause $18m GDP loss monthly, says Rewane

Abubakar Yunus Abuja

Bismarck Rewane, chief executive officer of Financial Derivatives Company, projects that Nigeria will suffer a total gross domestic product (GDP) loss of $18 million per month due to the negative effects of the naira redesign policy.

Rewane spoke during a recent presentation at the Lagos Business School.

The economist attributed the decline in GDP growth to the reduction in velocity of money circulation and total man-hours loss in the economy.

“Total man-hours loss in a month will be 120 hours and total GDP loss in a month will be $18

million,” Rewane said.

“Trade is settled mainly in cash and POS, although 70 percent of trading transactions are settled by cash.

“Therefore, velocity of circulation in the trading sector (16 times) is approximately four times more than the formal sector.

“A decline in the velocity of

circulation could reduce output in the trading sector. Hence its contribution to GDP will fall.”

The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) had fixed February 10 as the deadline for the validity of old naira notes.

But the supreme court temporarily restrained the federal government from banning the old naira notes and fixed February 15

for hearing on the matter. Despite the extension, the new notes are scarce and Nigerians are also finding it hard to get the old ones.

Meanwhile, the apex bank has attributed the scarcity to hoarding and advised citizens to embrace alternative payment channels such as eNaira and internet banking.

L-R: Sultan of Sokoto, Alh. Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar III, Governor of Kano State, Dr. Abdullahi Umar Ganduje, his Deputy, Dr. Nasiru Yusuf Gawuna and the Emir of Kano, Alhaji Aminu Ado Bayero, during the National Conference on Livestock Reforms and Mitigation of Associated Conflicts, organized by Kano state Government, held yesterday in Abuja.

Photo: Mahmud Isa

FCTA officials tasked on halting corruption

By Stanley Onyekwere

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

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

Mohammed, represented

by Bulus Zaphania, particularly informed the participants that they are expected to comply with the Code of Conduct for Public Officers as prescribed in the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended) and other laws related thereto.

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

“We employ The Area Council Chairmen to take queue from the FCTA administration that has put

up this workshop, and replicate same at your various Area Councils so as to ensure 100% Compliance from all your staff.

“The participants are requested to put public interest above every other interest while carrying out their duties”, he stressed.

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

While delivering his remarks, the FCT Permanent Secretary, Adesola Olusade, said the

workshop would help to build the capacity and knowledge of the workforce to strengthen fight against corruption.

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

One of the participants, and Senior Special Assistant on Monitoring, Inspection and Enforcement to the Minister of FCT, Comrade Ikharo Attah, said public office holders should be

guided by the code of conduct.

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

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

Gov’t restates resolve to boost food security

By Stanley Onyekwere

As part its effort to boost food security, the FCT Administration has pledged to bolster the existing collaboration with the Nigeria Institute of Soil Science (NISS), so as to improve the quality of soil, in the nation’s capital city.

Making this point, FCTA’s Permanent Permanent Secretary, Mr. Adesola Olusade, noted that the FCT Administration was very concerned about the quality of land because the productivity was largely dependent on land.

Adesola, spoke on behalf of the FCT Minister, Malam Muhammad Musa Bello, when the governing council of the institute led by its President, Prof. Ayoade Ogunkunle, paid a courtesy call on the FCTA, recently in Abuja.

He assured that any agency of government that was desirous to contribute to the development of the FCT is always well received.

According to him,” if the land quality is weak you will farm for nothing and therefore, for a body to regulate the use of land is very important and appropriate for the country.

“We are here to receive you today on behalf of the FCT Minister, by my person Adesola Olusade, the Permanent Secretary FCTA, the Mandate Secretary Agriculture and Rural Development Secretariat, FCT, Abubakar Ibrahim and other management of staff in the secretariat.

“ We have taken note of the accomplishments of the institute and we also noted the paragraph two of your letter where you requested for an office space in the FCT. We will convey your request to the minister

“ I thank you Prof. Ayoade for acknowledging the robust structure we have in the FCT and for the enlightenment you provided us on the institute. On thing is certain the institute appears to be the father of all.”

Earlier, Ogunkunle, explained that the institute was an agency under the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development

with its Act enacted and signed by President Muhammadu Buhari on February 3, 2017.

He also said that the institute was charged with the mandate of regulating and sustaining the profession of soil science and not only the profession but the use of soil.

He revealed that currently the institute have over 350 registered soil scientist that we can vouch for and they can counsel or advice people on the use of soil and if you adhere to it you are bound to succeed.

He said: “Soil is like the home for everybody such as human

being, plants, animals and the nature of soil in every country makes it if we destroy it then we are in for problem.

“If we don’t manage it sustainably then we are in trouble. In abroad where we study we realized it and they make so many places untouchable because you

cannot go to the next country to ask for their soil.

“You can ask for many other things but not soil. If a soil is erroded and damage it will take many years to restore it. Soil is like a living being when you start using it at a stage it doesn’t respond again unless it is well manage.”

VIO rewards Traffic officers for service delivery

By Stanley Onyekwere

The FCT Directorate of Road Traffic Services (FCT-DRTS), otherwise known as Vehicles Inspection Officers (VIO), have doled out meritorious awards to no fewer than twenty officers and men of the Directorate, so as to encourage dedication and efficiency in the road traffic management system in the Territory.

It was gathered that the initiative, which is the maiden edition of the annual merit award of the directorate, was designed to recognize those who have excelled in the cause of service delivery.

Speaking at the event, Director of FCT-DRTS, Dr. Abdullateef Bello said the award and recognition, which was in three categories, would further spur its operatives to do more and as well encourage others who have been unmindful of

the directorate’s critical mandate to wake up.

Bello noted that for any organisation to achieve productivity, there is the need to motivate staff of such an organisation, adding that the directorate is ready to provide requisite facilities for it’s officers to deliver service

He stated that the FCT-DRTS is poised to improve it’s image by ensuring that it achieves the best of standard required of the directorate in the discharge of its assignments.

Bello explained that the awardees were carefully selected, based on their accomplishments over the years in the directorate, adding that the selection was also done with utmost sincerity and without fear, favour or sentiment.

He congratulated the officers, even as he encouraged them not to relent in their oars, adding that the award should serve as beginning for

all of them.

Similarly, while presenting the award certificates and plaques to the officers, the secretary, transportation secretariat of the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA), Hon Abdullahi Adamu Candido, noted that the job of the directorate is a very critical one, because they encounter both the good and the ugly on the roads, adding that motorists believe that the fear of the VIOs is the beginning of wisdom.

Commending the director for initiative, Candido noted that the recognitions and awards showed that the risks the officers take in their jobs is being noticed, adding that awards should continue, so that the directorate can appreciate the good ones among the officers, because recognition and awards are legacies that don’t decay.

According to him, “This should continue to be in place, so that we

appreciate the good, and those who are not too good will know that in the service of your country, try to also make sure that at least once your management recognises you, it goes to say a lot about you.

“These are some of things that will never be allowed to decay. You take your salary every month, and certain privileges of office, but the letter or award of recognition that some of us are always proud , you can keep it in your library, your children, ground children and great ground children will even take a look at it, and appreciate your contribution to the society, and it become a motivating factor to he or she”.

On his part, one of the awardees, and head of DRTS taskteam, Shehu Maiwada, thanked the director for the award, adding that the recognition would propel him and others to do more for the directorate.

L-R: The Chairman of the Medical Advisory Committee(CMAC), Dr. Emmanuel Musa; the President of the Rotary Club of Abuja Maitama, Rtn. Yusuf Alli; Assistant Governor Sylvester Chuka Okoye; the District Governor, District 9125 of Rotary International, Dr. Goddy Nnadi; the Chief Medical Director of the Maitama District Hospital in Abuja, Dr. Imuetinyan Igbinovia; HOU Nursing,Mrs. Josephine Oteri; the Compound Officer, Mrs. Sanni-Balogun Abidemi; and the Accident and Emergency(A&E) Unit In-Charge, Mrs. Habiba Musa at the handing over of newlyrenovated emergency unit of the hospital by the Rotary Club of Abuja Maitama yesterday

Ukraine war: Russians slowly take ground around Bakhmut

The staccato instructions come from the Ukrainian army escort taking us to a military position in battlescarred Bakhmut, a city once famed for its sparkling wines.

Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky has called the eastern city “our fortress”. Russian forces have spent the past six months trying to capture Bakhmut. Now they have intensified their onslaught - Ukraine believes - to tear it down ahead of the anniversary of the invasion.

We follow orders, darting down an icy rubble-strewn street, with a clear blue sky overhead - ideal for Russian drones.

Just after we cross the road, two Russian shells come slamming down behind us on the other side. We turn around to see black smoke rising and keep on running.

Was the shelling random or aimed at us? We can’t be sure, but everything that moves in Bakhmut is a target - soldier or civilian.

For hours there is no let-up in the shelling, incoming and outgoing. A Russian fighter jet roars overhead. The nearest Russian troops are just two kilometres away.

There is street fighting in some areas, but Ukrainian forces still hold the city - despite sub-zero temperatures and dwindling ammunition.

“We have some shortages of ammunition of all kinds, especially artillery rounds,” says Capt Mykhailo from the 93rd Mechanised Brigade, whose call sign is ‘Polyglot’. “We also need encrypted communication devices from our Western allies, and some armoured personnel carriers to move troops around. But we still manage. One of the main lessons of this war is how to fight with limited resources.”

We get an insight into the ammunition problems as Ukrainian troops target a Russian position with 60mm mortars. The first mortar round flies from the tube with a loud bang. The second round doesn’t eject.

There’s a hiss of smoke and a shout of “misfire” sending the mortar unit scrambling for cover. Troops tell us the ammunition is old stock, sent from abroad.

The battle for Bakhmut is a war within a war. Some of the fiercest fighting of the invasion has happened here. And now the Kremlin’s forces are gaining ground, metre by metre, body by body. Wave after wave of mercenaries from the notorious Wagner group have been sent into battle here. There are reports of fields of Russian corpses.

Moscow now has effective control of both main roads into the city, leaving just one back route left - a slender supply line.

“They have been trying to take the city since July,” says Iryna, press officer of the 93rd Brigade. “Little by little they are winning now. They have more resources, so if they play the long game they will win. I can’t say how long it will take.

“Maybe they will run out of resources. I really hope so.”

We move from carefully concealed firing positions to bunkers humming with generators and warmed by stoves. But troops take care to conceal any smoke which could give away their location - part of the housekeeping of war. Among those we meet there is calm determination to fight on.

“They are trying to encircle us so that we leave the city, but it’s not working,” says Ihor, a camouflage-clad commander, with a battle-hardened edge. “The city is under control. Transport moves, despite constant artillery strikes. Of course, we have losses from our side, but we are holding on. We only have one option - to

keep going to victory.”

There is another option - to withdraw from Bakhmut before it’s too late. But among the defenders on the ground there seems little appetite for that. “If we have such an order from our HQ, OK, order is order,” says Captain Myhailo. “But what sense to hold all these months if you need to retreat from this city? No, we don’t want to do this.”

He recalls those who have given their lives for Bakhmut - “a lot of good brave men who just love this country.”

And if the defenders of Bakhmut were to withdraw, it would pave the way for Russia to push towards bigger cities in eastern Ukraine like Kramatorsk and Slovyansk.

Moscow has stepped up its attacks in other front-line areas in the Donbas region in the east, and in the south. Ukrainian officials say a new Russian offensive is already under way.

The Kremlin is on a clock, as it counts down to the anniversary on 24 February. “They are mad about dates and so-called ‘victory days’,” says Capt Mykhailo.

But the battle of attrition for Bakhmut could wear out the Russians, according to Viktor, a tall, lean Ukrainian commander who has captured Russian magazines on a shelf in his bunker.

“They don’t defend now,” he says, “they just attack. They continue taking some metres, but we are trying to make sure they take as little of our land as

possible. We are holding the enemy here and wearing them out.”

There is still some life in Bakhmut if you know where to find it.

A blast of heat and light hits you when you walk through the door of the “invincibility hub”, past boxes of donated food supplies. It’s a boxing club turned life-support system where local people can recharge their phones and themselves, with hot food and companionship.

It was crowded when we visited, with elderly women clustered around a stove, and two young boys sitting in the boxing ring, glued to a TV screen, and playing war games.

Around 5,000 civilians remain in Bakhmut without running water or power - many are elderly and poor. “Some are pro-Moscow. They are waiting for the Russians,” a Ukrainian colleague mutters darkly.

All here are fighting their own battles says Tetiana, a 23-year-old psychologist who is at the hub watching over her young brother and sister. She’s still in Bakhmut because her 86-year-old grandmother can’t move and relies on her.

“Most people deal with it by praying to God,” she says. “Faith helps. Some forget that they are people. Some show aggression. They start behaving worse than animals.”

Back outside the battle for this broken city rages on, with a drum beat of shelling as we leave.

US warns that dual citizens face Russian conscription

The US has warned its citizens to leave Russia immediately or risk wrongful detention or conscription to fight in Ukraine.

In a new travel warning, the State Department said Russia may refuse to acknowledge US-Russian dual citizenship.

The warning added that US citizens had already “been interrogated without cause and threatened”.

Russian officials have downplayed the updated travel advisory.

It is unclear how many US citizens are travelling or living in Russia. Following the Russian invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, several thousand reportedly fled the

country.

In its newly updated travel warning, the State Department said those still in Russia face the potential for “harassment and singling out”.

Dual citizens also face the prospect of being conscripted as part of a wider Russia military mobilisation to support operations in Ukraine, it said.

“Russia may refuse to acknowledge dual nationals’ US citizenship, deny their access to US consular assistance, subject them to mobilisation, prevent their departure from Russia, and/or conscript them,” the warning reads.

A number of US citizens - including

former and current government personnel and private business people - have already been taken into custody, interrogated and harassed, according to the State Department.

“Russian security services may fail to notify the US Embassy of the detention of a US citizen and unreasonably delay US consular assistance,” the warning reads.

“Russian security services are increasing the arbitrary enforcement of local laws to target foreign and international organisations they consider ‘undesirable’.”

In a statement quoted by Russian news agency TASS, Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said that the US had issued

similar warnings “many times”.

“This is not the first time we have heard this,” he said.

The last US warning for its citizens to leave came in September, when Russian authorities announced a partial mobilisation of military reservists.

Mr Peskov also said that any dual USRussian citizens “are primarily Russian citizens, regardless of what citizenship they have”.

Besides Russia, the State Department has “do not travel” advisories for 18 other countries including Afghanistan, Syria, Haiti, North Korea, Somalia, Ukraine and Yemen. Source: BBC

Ukrainian troops are doggedly holding onto Bakhmut amid fierce Russian attacks

Equatorial Guinea vice-president’s superyacht and homes seized in South Africa

South African officials have seized a superyacht and two palatial homes owned by Equatorial Guinea’s VicePresident Teodoro Nguema Obiang.

A court ordered the seizures after local businessman Daniel Janse van Rensburg won a law suit against Obiang for unlawful arrest and torture.

He has demanded compensation of about $2.2m (£1.8m).

He says he was unlawfully detained in Equatorial Guinea for about 500 days after a business deal went wrong.

The vice-president, the son of the world’s longest-serving ruler, has not yet commented on the case.

He and President Teodoro Obiang Nguema Mbasogo have long been accused of seeing oil-rich Equatorial Guinea as their personal fiefdom, and of abusing its wealth and resources.

This is the latest in a string of rulings issued against him by courts around the world.

“We attached two houses... in Cape Town in a formal application two weeks ago and the superyacht last Tuesday,” lawyer Errol Eldson, who is representing the businessman, told AFP news agency.

An application to auction the assets had been filed, he added.

Mr Van Rensburg has waged a lengthy legal battle against the vice-president in the South African courts, and published a book last year on how a business trip to Equatorial Guinea in 2013 “turned into

a journey to the depths of hell” following his “harrowing incarceration” at the notorious Black Beach prison

Mr Eldson told AFP that his client had set up an airline in Equatorial Guinea with a local politician who withdrew from the venture at the last minute and demanded a financial refund.

The dispute led to the politician phoning Vice-President Obiang and “within 10 minutes” an elite security force unit “picked Daniel up and threw him into Black Beach prison”, the lawyer was quoted as saying.

Obiang is widely seen as being groomed by his father - who has been in power for 43 years - to succeed him.

Last month, he ordered his halfbrother’s arrest over the sale of a jet.

His half-brother was alleged to have pocketed the proceeds of the sale. He has not publicly commented on the allegations.

The vice-president - known for his lavish lifestyle - has also had his own brushes with the law.

In 2014, US authorities seized a $30m mansion in Malibu and other assets, included a Ferrari car, saying they had been bought with the proceeds of corruption.

Two years later, Swiss prosecutors seized 11 luxury cars belonging to him. The cars - among them a Bugatti, Lamborghinis, Ferraris, Bentleys and Rolls Royce - were sold at an auction for

about $27m.

He was also fined and handed a suspended sentence by a French court in 2021 for using public money to fund a luxurious lifestyle in the European nation. He denied wrongdoing.

In the same year, the UK imposed “anti-corruption” sanctions on him.

Officials said he had a collection of Michael Jackson memorabilia, including a $275,000 crystal-covered glove which the late singer had worn on his 1980s Bad tour.

The UK said the new sanctions targeted individuals who had “lined their own pockets at the expense of their citizens”.

South Sudanese urge leaders to act on Pope’s message

South Sudan’s leaders have been urged to act on Pope Francis’ plea for peace in the war-torn country.

Media tycoon arrested over Cameroon journalist’s death

Amedia tycoon in Cameroon has been arrested in connection with the killing of the prominent radio journalist, Martinez Zogo.

The businessman Jean-Pierre Amougou Belinga, the owner of L’Anecdote media group, was arrested just before dawn.

Zogo was abducted three weeks ago outside a police station in Yaoundé. His body was found heavily mutilated five days later.

The authorities announced last week that they had made several arrests in connection with the killing.

Three years ago another Cameroonian journalist, Samuel Wazizi, disappeared then died in state detention and an investigation into his death was not made public.

Cameroon ranks 118th out of 180 countries on the Press Freedom Index compiled by Reporters Without Borders.

“Although Cameroon has one of the richest media landscapes in Africa, it is one of the continent’s most dangerous countries for journalists, who operate in a hostile and precarious environment,” says the watchdog. BBC

The Pope made a “peace pilgrimage” to the country over the weekend with the heads of the churches in England and Scotland.

In his sermon on Sunday during a mass in the capital, Juba, the Pope urged the country to reject the “venom of hatred”.

Man South Sudanese are hoping their leaders will heed the advice.

“I expect our leaders to change their hearts and implement the message of peace brought by Pope Francis so that the people of South Sudan can have a lasting peace,” Imma Lasu told the BBC after the mass.

Rose Adao, a member of the Pentecostal Church, said she wants the leaders of South Sudan to repent and carry out the message of peace brought by Pope Francis.

Elisabeth Mayak Thomas, 20, was among the volunteers in preparations to host the Pope. She said she expected the leaders to “implement the peace agreement and reconcile our people”.

Peacekeeper killed in attack on UN helicopter in DR Congo

AUnited Nations peacekeeper from South Africa was killed and another wounded in an attack on their helicopter in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo on Sunday.

The UN mission in the country, Monusco, said the helicopter came under fire in the afternoon while heading to Goma, the capital of North Kivu province, where it managed to land.

It said another peacekeeper was wounded in the attack.

“Monusco strongly condemns this cowardly attack against an aircraft bearing the United Nations emblem,” it said in a statement.

The South African National Defence Force (SANDF) also confirmed the attack.

“An Oryx helicopter came under fire in Goma, the Democratic Republic of the Congo on Sunday February 5, 2023,” it said in a statement

.“The SANDF is in the process of informing family members of the soldiers who were involved.”

Media tycoon arrested over Cameroon journalist’s death

A media tycoon in Cameroon has been arrested in connection with the killing of the prominent radio journalist, Martinez Zogo.

The businessman Jean-Pierre Amougou Belinga, the owner of L’Anecdote media group, was arrested just before dawn.

Zogo was abducted three weeks ago outside a police station in Yaoundé. His body was found heavily mutilated five days later.

The authorities announced last week that they had made several arrests in connection with the killing.

Three years ago another Cameroonian journalist, Samuel Wazizi, disappeared then died in state detention and an investigation into his death was not made public.

Cameroon ranks 118th out of 180 countries on the Press Freedom Index compiled by Reporters Without Borders.

“Although Cameroon has one of the richest media landscapes in Africa, it is one of the continent’s most dangerous countries for journalists, who operate in a hostile and precarious environment,” says the watchdog.

Russia’s Lavrov to meet junta leader in Mali visit

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov is expected to arrive in Mali’s capital, Bamako, on Monday for his second trip to Africa in two weeks.

Mali’s foreign ministry said Mr Lavrov will hold a meeting with junta leader, Col Assimi Goïta, and other officials during the two-day visit.

The Yerewolo movement, which advocates for closer ties between Mali and Russia, welcomed Mr Lavrov’s visit and called for the installation of a Russian military base in the northern Gao Region, aBamako website reports.

Mr Lavrov was expected to visit Mali during his trip to the continent in January, but instead toured South Africa, Angola, Eswatini and Eritrea.

Russia’s influence in Mali has steadily increased since the deployment of Wagner Group mercenaries in December 2021.

Mr Lavrov said France had created a security void by withdrawing its troops from the Sahel nation, which Mali had asked Russia to help fill.

Israeli envoy to Zambia mugged in Lusaka

Israel’s ambassador to Zambia, Ofra Farhi, was mugged in front of her bodyguards on a street in the capital Lusaka last week, with robbers taking her diplomatic passport and mobile phone.

Local media said Ms Farhi was crossing a busy street on Friday when a car pulled up alongside her and the occupants grabbed her bag, which had an unspecified amount of cash.

She was treated at a local clinic and continued on to her scheduled meetings with local officials.

The ambassador said in a statement that though it is the kind of incident that can

Vice-President Teodoro “Theodorin” Nguema Obiang is known for his lavish lifestyle

Turkey-Syria earthquake: Mother and baby rescued twice in three days

ASyrian mother and her newborn baby are recovering after being rescued from the rubble of her earthquake-hit home twice in a week, a charity says.

Dima was seven months pregnant when last Monday’s earthquake caused part of her house in Jindayris to fall down.

She suffered minor injuries and later gave birth to a boy, Adnan, at a hospital in Afrin supported by the Syrian American Medical Society (Sams).

They returned to the house, only for it to collapse fully three days later.

Adnan was brought back to Afrin’s al-Shifa Hospital by rescuers in a critical condition, suffering from severe dehydration and jaundice, while Dima was treated for a serious lower limb injury.

Dr Abdulkarim Hussein alIbrahim, a paediatrician, told the BBC via WhatsApp on Monday that the baby was responding well to treatment.

“Adnan’s condition... has significantly improved,” he said.

“We are just feeding him and [providing] the rest of his needs through intravenous drips.”

Video footage released by Sams showed Adnan sleeping peacefully inside an incubator with his wrist hooked up to a drip.

Dima and her husband Abdul Majid stand in their earthquakedestroyed home in Jindayris, Syria

Dima has been discharged from hospital once again and is living in a tent along with her husband, Abdul Majid, and their nine other children. She has been travelling to Afrin to visit Adnan in hospital every day.

Her family was forced to return to her partially destroyed home after she gave birth because there was no alternative shelter available in Jindayris, one of the worst-hit towns in oppositionheld north-western Syria.

They have also not received any other aid since the earthquake, like thousands of others who have been affected.

Even before the disaster, 4.1 million people - most of them women and children - were relying

on humanitarian assistance to survive in the region, which is the last bastion of the jihadists and rebels who have been fighting forces loyal to President Bashar al-Assad for 12 years.

But as of Sunday, only 52 lorries carrying aid from UN agencies had arrived from Turkey via Bab al-Hawa in Idlib province - the sole border crossing that the UN is authorised to use to deliver humanitarian assistance.

The deliveries had been scheduled before the earthquake and were delayed by damaged roads and other logistical issues, which meant they have not included the heavy machinery and other specialist equipment needed by the White Helmets, whose first responders operate in opposition-held areas.

Dr Ibrahim said there was an acute shortage of the medicines, other medical supplies, beds and blankets needed to treat the many injured people still being pulled from the rubble.

“No hospital has the capacity to accommodate this large number of injuries,” he warned.

Sams said the lack of shelter and access to water, sanitation and hygiene was a major concern in earthquake-affected areas

“[Everywhere] is full.”

The chairman of the Sams Foundation, Dr Basel Termanini, said the lack of shelter and access to water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) services was also a major concern for the medical relief organisation, whose facilities in the region have helped more than 2,000 earthquake victims.

“We can treat the women after trauma or after delivery, but they need to go back to a

safe environment with minimum housing, nutrition and clean water,” he told the BBC.

“Unfortunately, this is in general lacking in north-western Syria, due to limited resources and the markedly delayed aid coming from the only lifeline of Bab al-Hawa crossing.”

Dr Termanini accused the UN and the international community of being “quite guilty of poor planning and failed execution”.

China says US balloons breached airspace at least 10 times

China’s foreign ministry says the US has flown balloons into its airspace more than 10 times in the past year.

It comes after the US on 4 February shot down a suspected spy balloon over its airspacewhich China said was one of its weather balloons gone astray.

Relations between the two countries have since deteriorated. In recent days, the US has also shot down a number of other unidentified objects.

Questioned on Monday, Beijing said the US had made many airspace breaches.

“It’s not uncommon as well for the US to illegally enter the airspace of other countries,” said foreign ministry spokesman Wang Wenbin at a regular press briefing.

“Since last year alone, US balloons have illegally flown above China more than 10 times without any approval from Chinese

authorities.”

“The first thing the US side should do is start with a clean slate, undergo some self-reflection, instead of smearing and accusing China,” he added.

He said Beijing had responded to the incursions in a “responsible and professional” manner.

“If you want to know more about US high-altitude balloons illegally entering China’s airspace, I suggest you refer to the US side,” he said.

Chinese state-affiliated media reported over the weekend that an unidentified flying object had been spotted off the country’s east coast, with the military preparing to shoot it down.

The White House denied Beijing’s accusation that it sent balloons over China to conduct surveillance, with National Security Council spokesperson Adrienne Watson calling the

claims “false” on Twitter.

The first balloon incident led US Secretary of State Antony Blinken to cancel a planned trip to Beijing. The top diplomat called China’s alleged highaltitude spying “unacceptable and irresponsible”.

On Sunday, the US ordered an unmanned “octagonal structure” to be downed in Michigan near the Canadian border - the fourth object to be taken out in eight days.

Fighter pilots also shot down smaller unidentified objects over Alaska on 10 February and northern Canada on 11 February.

Mr Wang said he had “no understanding of [these other objects]”.

“But what we want to tell everyone here is that the US’ frequent firing of advanced missiles used to strike down unidentified flying objects is an

Map showing objects shot down over North American airspace

overreaction of excessive force,” he said.

A US military commander, General Glen VanHerck, said that there was no indication of any threat from the latest object.

He said it could be a “gaseous type of balloon” or “some type of

a propulsion system” - adding he could not rule out that the objects were extra-terrestrials.

UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak said the government would do “whatever it takes” to keep the country safe from the threat of spy balloons.

Hong Kong: Largest national security trial begins

The trial for the largest national security case in Hong Kong has begun, with some 47 people accused of “subversion” for holding an unofficial primary election.

They include some of the city’s most prominent pro-democracy figures, such as activists Joshua Wong and Benny Tai.

Most of them have been detained for the past two years

on security grounds.

Critics say the city’s controversial national security law is used as a tool to crush dissent.

But Chinese and Hong Kong authorities maintain it is needed to curb unrest.

On Monday long queues of supporters were seen outside the West Kowloon Magistrates’ Court, where the hearing is

taking place.

A small group of protesters also gathered outside the court. “Crackdown is shameless,” read one banner which added: “Immediately release all political prisoners.”

Prosecutors charge that the unofficial primary election - held to select candidates to contest a legislative election - was a “vicious plot” to subvert the

government.

The accused had a “massive and well-organised scheme” to gain a legislative majority and cripple the government by blocking the passage of laws, with the ultimate aim of overthrowing the Beijing-appointed chief executive.

The group, which has been charged with conspiracy to commit subversion, has

maintained they were merely practising normal opposition politics.

Supporters are surrounded by police outside the West Kowloon Magistrates’ Courts building during a hearing for the 47 prodemocracy activists on trial.

Dubbed “The 47” by local media, those connected to the case include: BBC

Why the human genome was never completed

Before the end of 2023, you should be able to read something remarkable. It will be the story of a single individual, who they are and where they come from – and it will offer hints about what their future holds. It probably won’t be the most entertaining read on first glance, and it will be very, very long. But it will be a seminal moment – the publication online of the entire genome of a human being, end to end with no gaps.

At this point you may feel that you have heard this before. Surely the human genome was published decades ago? Isn’t that all done?

It was, in fact, never finished. The first draft of the human genome was released in 2001, before a consortium of international scientists of the Human Genome Project announced that they had “completed” the job with a finished sequence in 2003. Assembled from chunks of various people’s DNA, this became the “reference” sequence against which all other human DNA could be compared.

It was certainly the best that could be done at the time, but had major gaps and errors. Later releases improved on it, but many of the problems persisted. Only in the last few years has technology advanced to the point that it is possible to read the entire human genome, without gaps and with minimal errors. But these have all been composites, using DNA drawn from multiple individuals. This year, for the first time, the entire genome of a single human being – a man named Leon Peshkin – is due to be released.

This complete, single human genome will be a monumental technical achievement. Only 70 years have passed since the doublehelix structure of DNA was first revealed, thanks in part to a grainy black and white image taken by Rosalind Franklin, transforming our understanding of how genetic information is stored. Today we have the capability to read the entire genetic ‘textbook’ that makes a person unique.

But the geneticists involved say it is also a beginning, not an end. They now want to sequence the genomes of people from around the world, to build up a true picture of our species’ genetic diversity. They want to understand what the previously unsequenced sections of DNA are doing. And they want to roll out end-to-end genome sequencing in clinics, to help doctors diagnose and treat us when we get sick.

In short, the human genome will never be complete. We will never be done reading it.

The first human genome

The original Human Genome

Project (HGP) was one of the biggest scientific projects ever attempted, costing about $3bn (£2.5bn) . Launched in 1990, its aim was to read all the DNA the average human carries in their cells. The first draft sequence was published just over a decade later, in 2001. Simultaneously, another version of the genome was published by Celera Genomics.

Leon Peshkin, a biologist at Harvard Medical School, will be the first person to have this whole genome sequenced without gaps

(Credit: Virginia Savova)

Leon Peshkin, a biologist at Harvard Medical School, will be the first person to have this whole genome sequenced without gaps

(Credit: Virginia Savova)

WHAT IS A GENOME?

The genome is often compared to a kind of book, written in the alphabet of DNA rather than English. The DNA alphabet only has four letters: A, C, G and T. They each represent different molecules called bases that are strung along the length of the DNA molecule. When read correctly, a particular sequence of these letters forms a gene.

The job of translating this information falls to the molecular machinery inside our cells. Some genes provide the information needed to make an enormous variety of different proteins that perform assorted functions important to life, while other sections of DNA have regulatory functions. What the Human Genome Project team figured out was the exact order of the bases along the DNA, something like CGATTTCCGAAAA – and so on for over three billion letters.

The human genome promised many things. We would discover what the genes were doing, especially those involved in diseases. This would enable a future of personalised medicine, in which we all received treatments shaped around our genetic makeups. The genome also promised insights into our evolutionary origins: exactly how are we different from our closest living relatives, chimpanzees and bonobos?

Some of this has happened, some of it hasn’t. We certainly know a lot more about the functions of many genes and their roles in diseases ranging from breast cancer to schizophrenia. However, in practice it has turned out that most diseases are affected by hundreds of genes, so genomic medicine hasn’t got very far. Few inherited diseases are caused by a single faulty gene, and the use of genetic screening to detect those at risk of rare conditions is largely only used for those considered at the highest risk.

In contrast, genetics has reshaped our understanding of human evolution, for instance revealing that our ancestors interbred with other hominins like Neanderthals.

Meanwhile, lurking in the background has been the awkward fact that the human genome was never actually finished. While geneticists have been cleaning it up ever since the first draft was published, most recently in February 2022, some parts of the genome remained out of reach. Repeats, repeats and more repeats

The problem is that some DNA is extremely repetitive. Certain stretches of the genome repeat the same sequences over and over, sometimes for thousands of bases.

DNA sequencing has made it possible to conduct genetic diagnosis of inherited, although often rare, diseases (Credit: Dickson Lee/Getty Images)

The repetitive DNA often turns up in the same bits of the genome. Our DNA isn’t stored in one long continuous rope, but is instead split into smaller chunks called chromosomes. These are X-shaped (apart from one Y-shaped chromosome carried by men) and there are 23 pairs of them in humans. Each has repetitive DNA at the tips of its four arms – the telomeres – and at the central cross, the centromere. Both are important.

Eight per cent was missing from the officially finished version in 2003 – Adam Phillippy

The telomeres are thought to act as protective caps, and damage to them has been linked to ageing. Meanwhile, the centromeres are crucial to the process of cell division that underlies growth

and reproduction, and which goes wrong in cancer. Reshuffling of the DNA in the centromeres has been implicated in the development of some cancers.

However, the Human Genome Project could not sequence the repetitive DNA, and didn’t try. Their method was not up to the challenge. They did not read the entire genome in one go, but instead cut it up into small chunks a few hundred bases long, read those, then stitched them back together with a computer. This would not work for repetitive sections, because the computer had

no way to figure out what order the segments fitted together. It would be like trying to do a jigsaw that was all cloudless blue sky.

“Eight per cent was missing from the officially finished version in 2003,” says Adam Phillippy, head of genome informatics at the National Human Genome Research Institute in Bethesda, Maryland.

And so our repetitive DNA sat, almost entirely unread, for 20 years. Then in 2021 Phillippy and his colleagues announced they had read it all.

Source; BBC

Some of this has happened, some of it hasn’t. We certainly know a lot more about the functions of many genes and their roles in diseases ranging from breast cancer to schizophrenia. However, in practice it has turned out that most diseases are affected by hundreds of genes, so genomic medicine hasn’t got very far.

Leon Peshkin, a biologist at Harvard Medical School, will be the first person to have this whole genome sequenced without gaps (Credit: Virginia Savova)

Scientists have been trying to fill in various gaps in the human genome for the past two decades (Credit: Greg Baker/Getty Images)

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Victor Osimhen rated nest striker in the world ahead of Haaland

By Amaechi Agbo

Super Eagles striker, Victor Osimhen has been rated as the best striker in the world. Even better that Manchester City forward, Erling Haaland, according to English newspaper, Daily Mail.

Osimhen who scored his 17th Serie A goal of the season in Napoli’s 3-0 humiliation of Cremonsese on Sunday is seeking to become the first African player to win the Serie Golden Boot award.

Erling Haaland will be seeking to hunt down Arsenal on Wednesday when both teams clash in a heavyweight top-of-the-table EPL clash as Arsenal currently lead City with three points on the log.

However, the rives is the case for Osimhen whose 7 goals in six consecutive matches have helped Napoli to establish a sixteen-point lead ahead of their closet rival Inter Milan.

Although not every Premier League follower is familiar with Victor Osimhen but they soon will be. The Nigerian is driving Napoli towards only the third Serie A title in their history, and their first since the days of Diego Maradona. They are 13 points clear at the top ahead of Sunday’s meeting with struggling Cremonese.

Maradona’s status in Naples has to be seen to be believed. Walk through the city centre and you will

find shrines to him. In the Spanish Quarter, the murals depicting the great Argentine take the breath away. No footballer will be idolised in Naples quite as Maradona was but if Napoli win the league this season, Osimhen will come pretty close.

Daily Mail noted that Osimhen may not be quite as prolific as Haaland - who is? - but Osimhen is a more complete No 9. Sporting a protective mask after breaking his cheekbone and eye socket in November 2021, the 24-year-old even looks like a superhero.

He has 16 goals in 17 Serie A appearances this term but there is so much more to his game. His speed terrifies defenders, as does his strength.

Unlike Haaland, he links play superbly and has developed a deadly understanding with fellow attacker Khvicha Kvaratskhelia, another of Europe’s top players this season.

Roaring his team on from sidelines after he had been substituted during a recent win over Roma, Osimhen showed himself to be natural leader.

His goal in that gamecontrolling the ball on his chest and knee before despatching a sweet volley - was one of the best in Europe’s top five leagues this season.

Osimhen’s qualities make him the ideal Premier League No 9 but he would not come cheap.

Aurelio De Laurentiis insisted this week that Osimhen was not for sale and the Napoli owner, with his impressive sporting director Cristiano Giuntoli at his side, is known as one of the game’s most ferocious negotiators.

Agents and sporting directors who tried - and failed - to sign stars like Kalidou Koulibaly and Dries Mertens in their prime break out in a cold sweat when recalling talks with Napoli.

It will be no different when they come for Osimhen and Kvaratskhelia this summer.

Nigerian has plenty of admirers across Europe but Napoli have made it clear he is not for sale Napoli president Aurelio De Laurentiis insisted he does not have to sell his star players Given Chelsea’s brashness in the market, De Laurentiis and Giuntoli will probably be thinking they can get half a billion for the pair of them. They will certainly be looking to double the £75million paid to Lille for Osimhen in July

2020.

‘I can tell you that Osimhen is not for sale,’ De Laurentiis told German publication Bild. ‘Our players are in demand, but I don’t have to sell anyone. We don’t have any debts.’

Expect Osimhen, whose contract expires in two years, to come under serious pressure from supporters to sign a new deal.

Yet nearly every elite player today craves the challenge of the Premier League. With United and Chelsea badly lacking a No9, it promises to be a busy summer.

CSED trains 34 coaches on netball in Taraba State, donates equipment

By Amaechi Agbo

Jalingo, the Taraba State capital was the center last week as the train of Community Sports and Educational Development, CSED Initiative arrived the state and trained 34 coaches in netball and also donated the sport equipment to the people.

The training which was jointly organized by Taraba Ministry of Youth and Sports Development and the Ministry of Education, was powered by CSED Initiative a leading sport for change NGO in Nigeria.

The two-day training which held from 9-10 February, was part of the CSED’s mandate in actualizing the “Project 2027” set target

“PROJECT 2027” is a grassroots netball development programme that aim to promote the right of Nigerian girls to play the game of netball in the country. Netball could have died “unnaturally in Nigeria,” if not for the consistent efforts of CSED Initiative and the Naija

Netball Stakeholders who have strongly resisted the nonchallant attitude of the NOC (Nigeria Olympic Committee) and some top civil servants in the Federal Ministry of Youth and Sports in developing netball in Nigeria.

The ultimate goal of the project is to bring the game of netball to the attention of one million Nigerian school girls before the end of 2027, by training one thousand two hundred Physical Education (PE) teachers in schools all over Nigeria. These trained P.E. teachers will be expected to impart the knowledge gained from attending the free netball training into their students.

The two-day basic netball training for P.E. teachers in Taraba State led to the certification of 34 (thirty-four) new netball coaches. The training was conducted by two Netball Africa certified instructors, Dr Grace Ataha and Godwin Edema Fuludu.

The two instructors made use of the training pack that was developed by the current World

Netball Ambassador, Mary Waya, who is the former coach of Tanzania and Malawi national netball teams. The two instructors stressed the importance of the P.E. Teachers ensuring they promote the safety and welfare of their students by ensuring that they implement the safeguarding advice that they have received during the netball training. Furthermore, the teachers will be provided with access to develop themselves by doing online safeguarding training and other online sports for change training that would be made available to them in future.As part of the netball training curriculum, the new coaches were trained in the theory and practical aspects of netball, which is the only sport in the world that is specifically designed for girls and women.

The attendees at this free training course were intrigued by the unique rules of the game of netball. These rules require players to stay in specific parts of the netball court that is divided into three parts.

The position of a player in this team sport (netball) determines the area of the court that they can operate in. Netball has seven different positions and the players have to pass and move the ball from one end of the court to the other end, and they can only score a point when their goal scorer (GS) successfully shoots the ball into their opponent rim that has an internal diameter of 38cm or 380mm. The two netball rims are placed on vertical poles that is 10 feet tall (for adult players).

However, the poles could be adjusted to 9 feet for U-12 players and 8 feet for U-9 players. Netball is played in four intervals of 15 minutes each. The Netball World Cup will be held from 28th July to 6th August 2023 in Cape Town (South Africa).

During his welcome address to the participants at the opening ceremony of the training event, the Director of Sports, Mr George Shitta urged the participants to carefully listen to the teachings of the instructors, who have held

similar basic netball training events in five other states (Edo, Delta, Akwa Ibom, Enugu and Bayelsa) in Nigeria.

Mr Shitta thanked CSED for coming to Taraba State again, just after less than a month of holding a grassroots badminton training event in Taraba State. Given the important role sports play in unifying Nigerians, Mr Shitta urged private organizations and individuals to complement government efforts by investing more in grassroots sports development with a view of engaging the youths in pro-social activities that would be beneficial to them and the society in future.

Mr Shitta stated that the Sport Council will consolidate on the gains of the training through proper monitoring in order to ensure the effective utilization of the free starter packs (netball balls, fingerheld whistles, rims/nets and two sets of netball training bibs) that were distributed to the P.E. teachers of the schools and staff of the Sport Council.

Erling Haaland and Victor Osimhen

S P R T

Ex Arsenal Coach Marcello carpets Mountain of Fire Church hierarchy over MFM disbandment

By Amaechi Agbo

Former coach of Mountain of Fire and Miracle Football Club of Lagos, Marcello Anyanwu has frowned at the authorities of the owners of the club, Mountain of Fire and Miracle Church for disbandment of the club.

The MFM FC was relegated from the Nigeria topflight league, Nigeria Premier Football League NPFL last season and wete to begin life at the lower league, Nigeria National League, NNL this season.

But the church decided to sell the club’s NNL slot and returned the club to its former owner, Toyin Gafaar’s Bolowatan, a decision that did not go down well with Mr Marcello

Speaking to our correspondence over the church’s decision from his base in United Arab Emirate, the Head Scout of Gulf United Football Club, Dubai 2nd division league, described the decision as an unfortunate one.

“MFM was established for evangelism and youth empowerment. And engaging in and sponsorship of a football club to play in the highest Nigeria football league was one of the ways the church has empowered the youths and contributed to the development of football in the country.

“It’s true that the club has been

struggling for the past two seasons in the Nigeria Premier Football League, NPFL which lead to its relegation to the lower league last season. But this shouldn’t have warranted throwing away the baby with the bathing water,” he started.

The former Nigeria Football Federation Presidential aspirant is of the opinion that what the club needs is restructuring and not outright disbandment.

“What is needed at this point in time is restructuring. Every club, like any organisation, experiences its worst moment at a time. But instead of winding up such enterprise, the owners rather would look inward to find a solution to their problems. I had expected the church authority to have put on their thinking cap and fixes whatever are the problems with the team.

“The church authority has enough resources, material and human, to resuscitate the fortunes of the club and and restore its past glory,” the former Arsenal youth team trainer said.

The ‘Olukoya Boys ‘was wholly owned by Mountain of Fire and Miracles Ministries, a Pentecostal Christian organization which came into existence in 2007.

In 2013, MFM participated in the Nigeria National League after they took over Toyin Gafaar’s Bolowatan FC’s slot for

free.

MFM then made their debut in the Nigeria Professional Football League in 2016 and as newcomers, they narrowly escaped relegation.

The following season, they finished in the second position and qualified for the 2018 CAF Champions League, a record feat achieved in relative time.

In the 2020 and 2021 seasons, they finished 14th and 10th respectively.

However, after six years of top flight football, MFM were relegated from the

NPFL in 2022 and were to begin a new life in the NNL alongside Kano Pillars, Katsina United and Heartland FC.

But ahead of the 2022/23 abridged NNL season scheduled to kickoff on March 3, MFM as a church has decided to discontinue funding the club and returned it to the owner who gave them the slot for free over a decade ago.

Meanwhile, Henserd FC of Sagbama, Bayelsa State will replace MFM ahead the 2022/2023 NNL season after the former bought over the latter’s slot in the league.

Egypt 2023: Gusau charges Flying Eagles to go for FIFA World Cup ticket

By Amaechi Agbo

President of Nigeria Football Federation, Alhaji Ibrahim Musa

Gusau has assured the Flying Eagles of all necessary support and attention from the football-ruling body as the team continues its build-up to the Africa U20 Cup of Nations finals in Egypt.

The NFF President gave the assurance on Sunday evening while visiting the Flying Eagles at their training tour base, Hotel Novotel in Mohammedia, Morocco shortly after the team’s 2-1 victory over their Congolese counterparts in a friendly at the Complexe Sportif Sidi Mohammed.

“Let me use this opportunity to congratulate you all for emerging victorious against the Congolese team. It was a well-deserved victory because you played well. I believe there are a lot of good players here that will make the generality of Nigerians proud.

“The NFF under my leadership is working assiduously to ensure that you get all the support necessary for you to excel and that’s why I directed the secretariat to settle all your camping allowances which was done before your departure. I assure you that we are now working on how to motivate you in an extra way when you get to Cairo. All you have to do is go out there and make

Nigerians proud.

“Getting to the semi-finals is paramount because that guarantees us a place in the FIFA U20 World Cup in Indonesia; so I urge you to seal that ticket and then get to the final and win the trophy.”

Responding on behalf of the team, Captain Daniel Bameyi thanked the President for the visit while reassuring him the players are battle-ready for the

task ahead, and will do the needful by ensuring the team not only wins a World Cup ticket but goes all out for the trophy.

The Flying Eagles are expected to play U20 boys of Central African Republic on Wednesday before the team’s departure to Cairo on Thursday.

Against the Congolese, Nigeria dominated for large swathes of the first period but fell behind when Solomon Oniangue scored for the boys from

However,

around for Nigeria with goals in the 66th and 74th minute to maintain the unbeaten run of this set of Flying Eagles in all matches and competitions.

CAF Confederation Cup: Rivers United thrashed 3-0 in Congo

By Amaechi Agbo

Nigeria champions, Rivers United were on Sunday humbled 3-0 by Diables

Noirs of Congo in Group B of the

CAF Confederation Cup

The Nigeria Premier Football League winners conceded three goals in 7 minutes in the first half to set the tone on their losing opening Group B match.

Carl Wunda scored the opening goal in the 30th minute before Jaures Ngombe made it 2-0 two minutes later for the host.

Domi Massoumou made it three-nil on the dot of 37th

minute.

The defeat leaves Rivers United rock bottom of Group B after the other match between ASEC Mimosas and Motema Pembe ended goalless.

Rivers United will take on ASEC Mimosas on Sunday February 19, at the Godswill Akpabio International Stadium, Uyo, Akwa Ibom State on matchday 2.

Brazzaville in the 21st minute. Haliru Sarki, Francis Ayuba and Mohammed Ibrahim all missed good opportunities to draw the Flying Eagles level.

Emmanuel Uchegbu and Adams Olamilekan turned the game

MFM FC was disbanded after their relegation from the NPFL last season.

NFF President Gusau in a group photo with the Flying Eagles at their Hotel Novotel in Mohammedia on Sunday.

NPFL23: Sunday Akinmoladun charges teammates to up their game ahead of Bayelsa United visit

Niger Tornadoes defender Sunday Akinmoladun has called on his colleagues to brace up for victory ahead of the mid-week visit of Bayelsa United and the weekend game against Dakkada FC in Kaduna.

The Tornadoes skipper who speaks on the heels of the weekend defeat to Sunshine Stars of Akure in a match-day 7 encounter said... “Winning our next two matches before the break is a must, starting from the visit of Bayelsa United on wednesday”.

“It is everyone’s knowledge that we started the season very well with victory in Bauchi which was followed by a home win against Doma United, but since then, we have been struggling to regain back our form”. “The coaches are doing their best; the players too, but this time around we must be up and doing to avoid last season’s scenario when the battled for safety up till the last couple of games to end the season”.

“The two scoreless home draws against Rangers Int’l and Lobi Stars have no doubts affected our standing on the group ‘B’ log, but

not withstanding, we must get back to winning ways, starting from the mid-week game”.

“We must not allow this dwindling form affect our

performance, hope is not lost, even though it is an abridged season with few number of matches”.

The Ikon Allah Boys have scored 4 goals and conceded 5, a return that

IOC Donates One Million Dollars To Turkey-Syria Earthquake Rescue Mission

By Amaechi Agbo

The International Olympic Committee, IOC has donated the sum of one million USD to help those affected by the twin Monday earthquake that ravaged Turkey and Syria on Monday.

The world Olympic Movement umpire said it had created an emergency fund an will donate the sum to help cushion the impact of the quake on the victims

The IOC, the Olympic Council of Asia (OCA), the European Olympic Committees (EOC) and the Olympic Refuge Foundation (ORF) will donate a total of USD one million to help the Olympic community in the areas affected by the natural disaster.

is not impressive, after a brilliant start to the season.

Tornadoes occupies the 6th place on the log with 8 points after 7 matches.

2023 AFCON Qualifier: Guinea Bissau To Host Super Eagles In Morocco

Nigeria’s opponents, Guinea Bissau will host the Super Eagles in Morocco in the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations, AFCON qualifier between the two countries next month.

In the matchday 3 of the qualifiers, Nigeria will first host Guinea Bissau on March 20 before a reverse on 27 which the Guinea football authorities have secured a Moroccan venue for

The two-legged matches are the match days three and four of the qualifiers for the Africa Cup of Nations slated slated for January 2024.

No host have been selected yet for the 34th edition of the continental showpiece after initial host, Ivory Coast was stripped of the hosting rights due to infrastructure deficit.

Africa’s football ruling body, CAF failed to approve any stadium venue in Guinea Bissau for the reversed fixture, warranting the country to make a frantic search for the alternative venue before the February 7 deadline stipulated by CAF

Guinea Bissau football federation approached the Federation of Morocco Football to have its home game in the North African country and the approval has been secured.

Guinea-Bissau is placed second behind Nigeria with four points and Super Eagles maintained the top spot with a maximum of six points from two games.

The IOC and OCA will each give USD 250,000, EOC will give EUR 250,000, while the ORF will make available an additional amount of USD 260,000 for immediate emergency assistance to the local population and refugees in Turkey and Syria

“It is with great sadness that we have learnt of the tragic loss of life and devastation caused by the earthquake that has struck the south-eastern region of Türkiye and Syria.

“I have spoken to the NOC President of Türkiye and the NOC President of Syria, and have heard from them about the impact the earthquake has had on many members of the Olympic community. Unfortunately there are a number of athletes and members of the Olympic community among the victims, while many others have lost their homes and sports infrastructure has been heavily damaged,” said IOC President, Thomas Bach.

“We discussed how best to support the members of the Olympic community. As a result of the conversations, we have agreed with the OCA, the EOC and the ORF to take immediate action,” the IOC President added.

“Our first-response emergency assistance in Türkiye will channelled through the Olympic Refuge Foundation and their partners on site. In Syria, we will work with international NGOs and UN agencies that are able to access the affected areas. We have learnt that the biggest need at the moment is for food, medicine and tents.”

Also, the European football body UEFA are among the sporting federations providing financial aid for those affected by the devastating earthquakes in Turkey and Syria.

UEFA and its Foundation for Children will donate an initial 200,000 euros ($214,000) to support the humanitarian operation in Turkey and Syria.

The English Premier League said it will be donating one million pounds ($1.2m) in response to the tragedies and that players and officials will wear black armbands for this weekend’s round of Premier League matches.

Niger Tornadoes Sunday Akinmoladun

Rescuers at the Turkey Earthquake scene

Napoli fans queue to o buy Victor Osimhen’s mask

The 2023 election is significant to Nigeria and Nigerians in so many ways and we cannot afford to miss it, regardless of manipulations by the enemies of the state who are bent on maintaining their hold on the nation - all for their selfish reasons. We are approaching a very crucial election, and suddenly, petroleum scarcity emerged from nowhere and has refused to end. While we are grasping with that, they came again with the naira redesign and demonetisation in a manner that is against global practice and common sense; insisting on ending the regime of old notes in the shortest unimaginable time space. What Nigerians are going through right now can best be described as an organised attack on the sanity and survival of the country and its people. There exists no rational explanation for the pains and struggles the people have to go through to access their hardearned money, seamlessly carrying out their business transactions and paying for services as and when necessary and conveniently as free citizens. It would remain forever unexplainable the rationale behind the hurriedness imposed on the implementation of the currency change and to why appointed officials in a democracy would go so low into selfishness to the point of wanting to forcefully impose a policy without leaving any room for gauging effects and creating room for reappraisals.

demonetization of older notes are normal internationally. However, they usually involve transition periods of one year or longer so as to minimise economic disruption.

There are concerns, and real concerns at that. The presidential candidate of APC rightly describes the implications on ordinary Nigerians, small businesses and vulnerable households. It is the same concern the World Bank voiced. It said the rapid demonetisation could be costly to small businesses. According to the World Bank, rapid demonetisation can generate significant short-term costs, affecting mostly small scale businesses, and poor and vulnerable households who would be mostly affected by the liquidity-constraint and unable to carry out their day-today cash transactions.

about one-eighth of what is taken out. That was the beginning of the challenge Nigerians are subjected to presently. CBN knows this but is careless because there are ulterior motives to the implementation of the policy by Emefiele at this material time.

get as much as tens of million per day per their branches. Why? These banks possibly have ties with the CBN governor and his political associates in the leading opposition parties. Nigerians are suffering today because the notes Emefiele claimed to have been released to the streets are most likely in the coffers of his political allies and political party, and your guess?

Napoli fans now look forward to buying replicas of Victor Osimhen’s mask on matchdays according to La Gazzetta dello Sport.

Replicas of Osimhen’s mask were on sale in the stalls outside the Diego Armando Maradona Stadium and hundreds of fans were seen queueing to buy the gadget on Sunday, before their game with Cremonese.

Majority of the fans also bought his shirt to go with the mask.

The Nigeria international is Serie A’s leading scorer with 17 goals in 18 matches, including eight in the last six appearances

Napoli are on course to win their first Scudetto in 33 years.

Luciano Spalletti’s side are enjoying a 16-point lead over second-placed Inter who have a game in hand.

Definitely, we would eventually establish the only plausible rationale for the timing of the policy and also for the acute time imposition as well as the refusal of CBN to be bothered about the pains of Nigerians. We would also have to establish the link or otherwise between the hurried policy and the desire of some elements to unduly influence the outcomes of the 2023 general elections.

Naira redesign or currency swap or whatever nomenclature it is giving is a global government policy aimed at protecting the strength of national currency against manipulations by unscrupulous citizens who hoard and undermine the circulation of currency. Across the globe, and not limited to Nigeria, nations periodically change their currency. The United State of America did that last year; Saudi Arabia did that and the process is still ongoing till now. However, what is amazing is the forced timing and limitation given to the process by Emefiele-led CBN.

The USA still uses both the old and new dollars side-by-side and would continue to do so until the old notes are totally withdrawn from circulation via continuous deposition with the nation’s banks. The Saudi Arabia kingdom is doing the same.

The World Bank, some days ago commented on the Nigerian government’s rushed currency change, saying it is strange. Accordingly, though it is normal to have periodic currency redesigns and demonetisation, such a transition usually takes about one year or more. So why the rush in the case of Nigeria? The World Bank submitted that “Periodic currency redesigns and

We should also bear in mind that the country, beyond the rhetoric, is not prepared for a digital economy. From available and verifiable data, only 45 percent of Nigerians adults have bank accounts, and would in any way be able to access any digital payment platform.

It is also stated that, in the last years, only 34 percent of the population had engaged in any form of digital payment or receipt of payment. The infrastructure is apparently deficient; the people are not ready, nor are they effectively sensitised to embrace the new policy, yet Emefiele is bent on enforcing the policy on the unprepared system. This is not to talk about the under-population of banks in the country.

The proposed digital payment platform alternative could not suffice; the readily available infrastructure is not only near enough for the program, but it is also highly unlikely that it would expand fast enough to bridge the already created gaps as a result of shortages of new notes across the country. Electronic network is below par to requirement; even the urban areas are not adequately covered not to talk of the interiors and rural areas across the country. Nigeria and Nigerians are in no way ripe for such a quantum leap as pushed by the apex bank, particularly at this point in time.

The CBN policy is filled with too many unpreparedness; too many loopholes to stay. It is only appropriate that in sweeping out the old currency to the tune of #2.7 trillion as stated by CBN, there should have been a corresponding printing of as much as the same amount to dump in circulation. What CBN has done so far is taking out #2.7 trillion of old notes and print out #400 Billion new notes for circulation. That figure represents

CBN wants to take Nigeria to the digital economy in a swoop, apparently why it printed a mere one-eighth of the old currencies, yet it has no planning and investment in collaboration with the telecom industry and other critical stakeholders. How can we develop telecoms infrastructure, without prior planning and investment in bandwidth growth nationwide, develop a multifold increase in electronic transactions capacity? How many towns and villages have no broadband telecom infrastructure enabling digital financial transactions across the country? We are not even talking of what generation of technology yet - 2G, 3G, 4G, 5G?

We have to ask the pertinent question; who is the CBN governor? Who is Emefiele? What connection does he have with the 2023 general election? We made the mistake as a country when the man was retained in such a sensitive position after declaring his intention for political office. He became partisan from that day; or at least publicly known. He has not hidden his disdain for the APC presidential candidate from that time onward; just as much as he has formed alliances with the opposition candidate to sustain his position beyond the Buhari Administration, as he did in the past. It is everywhere on the street; the objective is first to ignite hunger and anger, incite Nigerians against the ruling party and its presidential candidate and aid the success of their preferred candidate at the polls.

Though Mr. Emefiele would fail at its machinations, but soon enough, we will establish his plan to use his desperate policy to orchestrate the defeat of APC at the presidential poll. It is becoming obvious that the man at the head of CBN is part of the cabal that was bent on imposing its candidate on APC at the primary election and have refused to support the emerged flag bearer of the party afterwards.

Another question to ask is where is the said printed #400 Billion new notes? With that much money in circulation, the hardship would not be as it is now. Where are the notes? It is on note that the major banks that should be fed with the money to assuage the liquidity challenge on the streets have been starved with as low as only #1.0 million per day per branch. Yet, the smaller banks

Why would CBN rigidly insist on its policy? Why would the apex bank refuse to shift ground despite the subsisting court cases and the Supreme Court order, the pleas of the masses and the obvious suffering across the country? Lest we forget that we are in a democracy and not a dictatorship. Is it true that the main objective of the forces behind the currency redesign is to starve the APC presidential candidate of cash while feeding the PDP candidate with the same to influence the election outcomes? It is reported that a CBN official from Bauchi made a public statement that the old notes are no longer legal tender despite a subsisting Supreme Court order suspending the 10th February deadline. Is that a contempt of the court?

Let usk not fail to mention the reported CBN portal where those with the old notes are to go and obtain a digital PIN in order to deposit the old notes after the deadline. This is an additional burden on those in the rural areas and those with no access to the internet; and who are part of the support bloc of APC. With this controversial policy, are they not likely going to abstain from the coming elections or vote against the ruling party?

At what point would Emefiele give up his personal interest and bow to popular advice including from economists, the World Bank and the governors of states in the country. Very simple and the global practice: let the two, the old and new coexist while the old natural dissipates from circulation. There is still time for Emefiele to salvage his name, else his fall could be catastrophic.

GOD BLESS THE FEDERAL REPUBLIC OF NIGERIA!