Tuesday, April 18, 2023 Edition

Vice President Yemi Osinbajo(right) with Director General National

for Policy and Strategic Studies (NIPSS), Prof. Ayo Omotayo during the inaugural lecture at the maiden edition

JAMB extends 2023 direct entry registration

By Maryam Abeeb

The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) has extended the closing date for the ongoing 2023 Direct Entry (DE) registration.

In a statement, the head of Public Affairs and Protocol, Dr. Benjamin Fabian stated that the DE registration exercise, which commenced on Monday, 20th March, 2023, and billed to end on Thursday, 20th April, 2023, has been extended by one week starting from Friday, 21st April, 2023.

According to him, the extension is partly to give all holders of Cambridge A/Level Certificates, who were unable to register for the exercise

on account of some issues associated with the verification of their certificates, another opportunity to do so, as well as accommodate others, who wish to register but were unable to do so within the stipulated time.

It’s reads, “It should be noted that in its bid to ensure that the Cambridge A/L Certificate is onboarded in the verification process, the British Council is partnering with the Board and, as such, would be providing a verification portal for the seamless verification of its Cambridge Certificates as obtains with other categories of A/Level certificates. It is this provision of a verification portal by the Council that informs the Board’s decision

to reconsider its earlier stand on non-inclusion of Cambridge certificate for DE registration.

“Consequently, all holders of Cambridge Certificates, who desire to register for the 2023 Direct Entry, can now proceed to any of the Board’s offices nearest to them to register for the exercise.

“This consideration does not in any way include candidates awaiting Cambridge Certificates as “Awaiting Results” would not be accepted.

“It would be recalled that the Board, after series of discoveries of falsification of A/Level results, modified its DE registration platform to ensure, among others, that only certificates with

verifiable processes are allowed as entry requirements for the DE exercise.

“To streamline the process, the Board had also published a number of certificates that are allowed for DE registration which had, hitherto, excluded the Cambridge Certificate.

“It was against this backdrop that the British Council had dispatched a high-level delegation, which met with the Management of the Board to explore the possibility of establishing a credible verification platform for its Cambridge A/L Certificates and by so doing, curb incidences of falsification of results as being experienced with many other A/L certificates approved as part of DE entry requirements.

Group wants Senate Presidency zoned to North West

From: Femi Oyelola, Kaduna

The Northern Youth Council of Nigeria (NYCN) has appealed to the All Progressives Congress (APC) to zone the Senate Presidency to the Northwest.

In a statement released earlier yesterday by President NYCN Isah Abubakar called on other Senators-elect to support Senator Jibrin Barau of Kano

State to emerge as the next Senate President.

According to the NYCN, Senator Barau’s wealth of experience and track record make him the perfect candidate for the position.

They believe that his leadership qualities and commitment to the development of Nigeria will enable him to effectively steer the affairs of the Senate.

The NYCN also urged the APC to consider the political and economic importance of the Northwest region in Nigeria’s political landscape.

They argued that zoning the Senate Presidency to the Northwest would not only promote equity and fairness, but also help to strengthen the party’s support base in the region.

“We call on the leadership

of the APC to consider the Northwest region for the position of the Senate Presidency.

Senator Jibrin Barau is a seasoned and experienced lawmaker who has demonstrated his commitment to the development of Nigeria.

“We believe that he will make an excellent Senate President and we urge all Senators-elect to support his candidacy.”

From left, General secretary, Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC), Comrade Emmanuel Ogbuaja; Chairman Labour Party, Julius Abure; NLC National President, Comrade Joe Ajaero; Member National Executive Council (North West) Comrade Wisdom Nwachukwu, and Head, NLC international Department, Hon. Uche Ekwe during a solidarity visit by the NLC executives to the LP National Chairman in Abuja yesterday.

Reactions trail INEC’s suspension of Adamawa governorship supplementary election

From Umar Dankano,Yola

The suspended collation of the Adamawa state governorship supplementary election by the Independent National Electoral Commission,INEC, has continued to generate reactions from stakeholders for the umpire to intervene.

It would be recalled that,the governorship election was conducted on the 18th February and was declared inconclusive and rescheduled for a rerun election on 15th April which was controversially announced halfway by the embattled Resident Electoral Commissioner,REC. Hudu Yunusa Ari that Senator Aishatu Dahiru Binani of the APC won the governorship polls in the state.

In a press statement signed and issued by Senator Binos Dauda Yaroe in Yola Monday described as “sad” development which deserved condemnation in the interest of peace and justice.

Senator Yaroe representing Adamawa South opined that INEC needs to urgently take steps to repair its damaged reputation by investigating in to the matter wholly with a view to taking necessary legal action against anyone found wanting.

“INEC needs to urgently take steps to redeem its damaged reputation by handling over Mallam Hudu for thorough investigation and subsequent prosecution for attempting to cause an insurrection in Adamawa state.

Similarly in his reaction to the incident, the Social Democratic Party, SDP Governorship candidate, Dr.Umar Ardo said the political imbroglio over the governorship rerun election was a “naked dance of shame in the market place”.

Nigerian Navy sustains surveillance in Gulf of Guinea

The Nigerian Navy (NN) has sustained presence of her capital ships at sea as well as directed operations bases to enhance efforts to dominate their Areas of Operations, In response to recent spike in piracy in the Gulf of Guinea (GoG).

The Director of Information, Nigerian Navy, Commodore Adedotun Ayo-Vaughan, said this in a statement on Sunday in Abuja.

Ayo-Vanghan said the spate of piracy in the Gulf of Guinea (GoG) within the last 10 years reduced to an all time low in 2022.

He said that while concerted efforts were being made to reduce piracy within the GoG to its lowest minimum, two unfortunate incidences were recorded within the region in the last three weeks.

According to him, the first incident which involved the hijack of Motor Tanker (MT) MONJASA REFORMER, occurred on March 25 at a location144 nautical mile (nm) West-South-West (WSW) of Pointe-Noire, Republic of Congo.

He said it was later discovered that the pirates abducted six crew members from the vessel.

“The second incident involved the hijack of MT SUCCESS-9 about 306 nm SW of Abidjan Fairway Buoy (FWB), Cote d’Ivoire on April 10.

Ramadan Timing Day 27

“It is pertinent to state that the NN vectored Nigerian Navy Ship (NNS) GONGOLA to rendezvous MT MONJASA REFORMER in company of NNS KANO and a French Warship to escort the vessel to Lome, Togo.

“The NN has equally continued to employ her surveillance infrastructure to monitor shipping activities within the nation’s maritime environment and will continue to exploit intelligence to track activities of criminals, to maintain sanctity of the Nigerian Maritime Environment (NME).

“To this end, the NN enjoins all seafarers to continue to carry out their legitimate businesses without fear,” he said.

The naval spokesman said that no incident of piracy had occurred within NME, adding that the area remained safe for maritime and economic activities.

He gave assurance that NN would continue to sustain credible presence to deter any form of criminality.

“In securing the NME and GoG in general, the NN appreciates the efforts of international partners under the Coordinated Maritime Presence arrangement as well as the support of other maritime stakeholders that play other roles in the collective security of the GoG,” he added. (NAN)

Foundation moves to transform teachers from analog to digital

AKaduna-based Non-Governmental Organisation, Emerald-Isle Foundation (EIF) on Monday began a five-day training of primary school teachers on digital literacy in Kaduna State.

EIF Chief Executive Officer, Ms Evelyn Ode, said at the opening of the training at Queen Amina College Kakuri, Kaduna, that the aim was to transform the teachers from analogue to digital teachers.

Ode said that the training was organised in partnership with the Kaduna Basic Education Accountability Mechanism (KADBEAM), IHIFIX Foundation, Queen Amina College, LEAP Africa, and the Coalition of Associations for Leadership, Peace, Empowerment & Development (CALPED).

Ode said that 25 teachers from Local Education Authority Primary School, Nasarawa I, would be trained as a pilot, on basic digital skills, under EIF Train the Tutor Project, designed to improve the capacity of teachers.

This, according to her, is in line with the foundation’s focus on helping underserved children to gain access to quality education that will help them actualize their full potential.

She added that the training was the second phase, designed to build the capacity of teachers to leverage on digital devices to teach in class with a view to improve learning outcomes.

According to her, the goal is to improve teaching and learning outcomes in public and private schools in Kaduna in line with the current digital age.

“The world is evolving, and teaching and learning processes have gone digital.

“Therefore. Our teachers must not be left behind; they must be equipped with the needed digital skills to be able to use digital devices to improve their teaching delivery in the classroom.”

Ode said that the foundation had earlier improved the teachers’ teaching practices with a focus on classroom management and taking advantage of child development stages to impact the needed knowledge.

She explained that digital skills training became necessary to bridge identified gaps during the foundation’s Literacy Drive Project to improve learners’ reading skills using phonics (sounds of letters).

“We noticed the teachers’

Inadequate skills in the usage of the internet to source for relevant materials to enrich their lesson plans.

“We then decided to train the teachers on the basics of computers, how computers operate, and how they can use online platforms to source for materials to enrich their lesson plans and notes.

“This, in the long run, will trickle down to the learners and improve their learning outcomes,” she said.

The Head Teacher of the school, Mrs Victoria Ayuba, thanked EIF for the gesture which she described as very crucial to effective teaching and learning.

From: Femi Oyelola, Kaduna

Alhaji Musa Mubarak has emerged winner of Sunday’s governorship primary election of the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) in Kogi.

Mubarak, popularly known as “Emperor’’ scored 607 votes to defeat his closet rival, Pastor Felix Oni, who scored 44 votes, while the second runner-up, Alhaji Hassan Bawa scored three votes.

Three other aspirants, Sen Adbulrahman Abubakar, Alhaji Aliyu Ali and Mr Kamaldeen Yakubu, stepped down from the race and supported Mubarak.

The election was witnessed by INEC officials.

Musa Mubarak emerges winner of NNPP’s governorship primary election in Kogi

Committee Chairman of Kogi NNPP Primary governorship election, Henry Francis, declaring the election result on Sunday in Lokoja

The primary election committee chairman, Comrade Henry Francis, who announced the results, said 717 delegates from the 21 local government areas of Kogi were accredited

to vote in consonance with the party’s Constitution

The party’s chairman in Kogi, Alhaji Suleiman Abubakar, congratulated Mubarak and the entire NNPP family for the successful and hitch-free primary election, describing it as “a day of history’’.

He described Mubarak as a humane philanthropist that

would turn around the fortunes of Kogi for the betterment of the people.

“As from today, we shall expect a new dawn of political activities in Kogi.

“’This is the only governorship primary election that was free, fair, transparent and credible. Today is a new beginning for the people of Kogi both at home and

in the diaspora,’’ Abubakar said.

In his acceptance speech, Mubarak commended other aspirants for their sportsmanship, and promised to make the state proud.

“I have emerged as the governorship flag bearer of the NNPP in Kogi and by the grace of God, I am going to emerge as the governor,’’ Mubarak said. (NAN)

Court adjourns suit seeking to remove PDP chair, Ayu

From Uche Nnorom, Makurdi

AMakurdi High Court on Monday adjourned the suit seeking to remove the embattled National Chairman of the Peoples’ Democratic Party, PDP, Dr. Iyorchia Ayu to April 28, 2023.

Recall that Ayu was suspended by the PDP ward executive of his Igyorov ward of Gboko Local Government Area of Benue State, after passing a vote of no confidence on him.

It should be noted that in a twist of event, the State Executive Council, SEC of the PDP had also, suspended ward council executive of Igyorov for suspending Ayu.

Justice Kpochi had on March 28th, 2023, issued an order restraining Dr. Ayu from parading himself as the National Chairman of the PDP, pending the hearing and determination of Suit No.MHC/85/2023, filed by a member of the PDP, Engr. Conrad Terhide Utaan, seeking to remove Ayu as National Chairman of the party following his suspension by his ward executive.

When the matter was mentioned,, counsel to Dr. Ayu, J.J Usman SAN, informed the court that he was withdrawing Ayu’s preliminary objection and

counter affidavit to the suit, filed on April 3rd, 2023.

Counsel to Engr. Utaan, Emmanuel Ukala, SAN, did not oppose the application of the withdrawal of the two processes, he however, asked the court to award cost against Ayu as he came prepared to go on with the substantive suit.

Ukala, SAN, further informed the court that the defendants served on him fresh processes while he was in court and so, he will need time to respond to the processes.

He also, submitted that counsels in the matter have agreed that the preliminary objection and counter affidavit

as well as the substantive suit be heard together on April 28th, 2023.

Ayu’s counsel, J.J Usman, SAN, agreed to the submission of Ukala, SAN.

After listening to the submissions of counsels in the matter, the presiding judge, Justice Kpochi adjourned the

matter to April 28,2023 for hearing of the substantive suit. He also informed parties in the matter that he will be returning the case file to the Chief Judge of Benue State to reassign to another judge as he is embarking on a national assignment at the elections petitions tribunal.

Expert advocates robust Gas Asset Magt Plan to achieve Net Zero target

Dr Victor Ekpenyong, the CEO of Kenyon International, has urged the Federal Government to harness the abundant oil and gas resources for economic and industrial development.

Ekpenyong, a Well Controls Specialist, said that harnessing the expertise of Nigerian oil workers in a robust Gas Asset Management Plan to achieve Net Zero target will tackle oil theft and vandalism.

A statement by Mr Ifechukwu Muonyili, Public Affairs Manager at Kenyon on Saturday, reported Ekpenyong as making the call while addressing industry experts at the Oloibiri Lecture

Series and Energy Forum (OLEF) 2023.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) recalls that OLEF 2023 was held at the PTDF Hall in Abuja on April 6, 2023.

According to Ekpenyong, who was a keynote speaker, there is need for Nigeria to develop a strategy for oil and gas asset management to ensure effective oil and gas resources utilisation.

The proposed plan, he said, would enhance energy security and achieve net-zero emission goals earlier set by the Federal Government, driven by its policy of gas utilisation as a transition energy.

Ekpenyong stated that Nigeria had been blessed with abundant oil and gas resources, but the lack of proper

management had resulted in cases of vandalism and obsolete oil and gas assets still in use.

“One cannot utilise what one has not properly managed and Nigerian industry experts need to take decisive action to implement a comprehensive strategy to bring these assets under control, properly managed and secured.

“We at Kenyon International, an industrious oil and gas service company, have developed a home grown panacea to oil theft and vandalism in oil and gas fields.

“Our solution has been helping some operators to manage their assets, and it comes with so much risks to lives of our

employees who implement the process.

“As patriotic Nigerians, we go through a lot in a bid to secure assets and prevent tampering and pollution that could potentially pollute and destabilise the ecosystem and we urge the industrywide deployment,” Ekpenyong said.

Ekpenyong harped on asset management in Nigeria’s oil and gas industry and the need for all stakeholders to take action towards achieving the goal.

The Oloibiri Lecture Series and Energy Forum (OLEF) 2023, an annual initiative of the Society of Petroleum Engineers Nigeria, targets enforcing the development of the oil and gas industry in Africa. (NAN)

L-R: CEO, 9mobile, Juergen Peschel; CFO, 9mobile, Nkem Oni-Egboma; CEO, Bimplus Telecoms Ltd, Salawu Adebimpe; and ED, Regulatory and Corporate Affairs 9mobile, Abdulrahman Ado at 2023 Channel Partners Conference which held at the Marriot Hotel, Ikeja

NAFDAC gives approval for R21 malaria vaccine

By Tobias Lengnan Dapam

The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC), had given a provisional approval for R21 malaria vaccine for use in Nigeria.

The Director General of the Agency, Prof Mojisola Adeyeye stated this on Monday during a press briefing in Abuja.

She said the approval of the vaccine manufactured by the Serum Institute of India, indicated that Nigeria becomes second country to approve the product after Ghana.

She explained that the review committee recognised that the vaccine is 75 percent effective in protecting against malaria.

She added that the vaccine’s potential benefits outweigh its known and potential risks, thereby supporting the manufacturer’s recommended use.

The NAFDAC boss further explained that the provisional approval of the R21 makes Nigeria the second country in the world to approve its use after Ghana, adding that Nigeria expects to get at least 100,000 doses of the vaccine

in donations soon before the market authorisation will start making other arrangements with the National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA), NAFDAC.

She said the vaccine is indicated for prevention of clinical malaria in children from 5 months to 36 months of age. The storage temperature of the vaccine is 2-8 °C.

“NAFDAC in exercising its mandate as stipulated by its enabling law, NAFDAC Act CapN1, LFN 2004 is granting registration approval for R21 Malaria Vaccine (Recombinant, Adjuvanted) manufactured by

Serum Institute of India Pvt. Ltd. (SIIPL).

“The Marketing Authorization Holder is Fidson Healthcare Ltd in line with the Agency’s Drug and Related Products Registration Regulation 2021.

“A provisional approval of the R21 Malaria Vaccine was recommended and this shall be done in line with the the World Health Organization’s (WHO’s) Malaria Vaccine Implementation Guideline.”

She said Malaria is one of the most important public health concerns in the world, adding that the latest WHO World

Malaria Report showed that there were 247 million cases of malaria in 2021 compared to 245 million cases in 2020.

“The estimated number of malaria deaths stood at 619 000 in 2021 compared to 625 000 in 2020.”

Speaking further, she explained that the brief on the approval of the R21 Malaria vaccine has been communicated to the Minister of Health and National Primary Health Care Development Agency for appropriate actions toward immunization in the respective population.

IMF 3.2% Projections: Buhari is handing over a more resilient economy -BMO

Latest economic projection by the International Monetary Fund (IMF) has shown that President Muhammadu Buhari will be handing over a stable economy to the in-coming administration of President-elect, Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

This is contained in a press statement by the Buhari Media Organisation (BMO) signed by its Chairman Niyi Akinsiju and Secretary Cassidy Madueke.

According to the group, this is a far cry from what the current administration inherited from the previous People’s Democratic Party (PDP)-led administration in 2015.

“IMF’s decision to

retain Nigeria’s 3.2 per cent economic growth projection for 2023 in its recent world economic outlook update is, for us, a clear testament to the economic policies of the Buhari administration at a time of a global slump.

“That it went further to review its 2022 economic growth projection form 2.9 per cent to 3.0 per cent showed that Nigeria will almost certainly have a relatively good showing.

“This positive projection is however not new to us as we have regularly suggested that Nigeria, on Buhari’s watch, would exceed all expectations and prove naysayers wrong.

“We had noted in January

this year, when IMF projected a 0.2 per cent increase in its earlier 3.0 per cent growth forecast for Nigeria that it was hinged on the economic thrust of the Buhari administration which we all know is centered around a diversified economy with an ever-improving non-oil sector.

“Today, it has again confirmed our position that in spite of a global slowdown and high inflation rate, Nigeria has continued to perform not only above the global average but also better than some advanced economies.

“And like the Central Bank of Nigeria, we see the IMF projection as an affirmation that

the Buhari administration has been consistently doing the right things to stabilize the economy.

“We also acknowledge that this is as a result of an improvement in the country’s daily crude oil production, even as the non-oil sector continues to do well.

“So it is safe to say that President Buhari would be handing over a more resilient economy than what he met in 2015 when the economy was on a decline with no fewer than 21 States barely able to pay workers’ salaries after a slump in oil prices.

“We can easily recall that Nigeria’s GDP growth dropped from 6.54% in 2014 to 2.35%

as at Q2 of 2015 when Buhari assumed office, as a result of declining oil prices.

“After almost eight years, the administration has almost weaned the country off oil in such a way that about 78 per cent of our revenue come from non-oil resources, while only 22 per cent is from the oil sector.

“Now that we are moving gradually to the terminal date of the administration, we are elated that the administration is paving way for a seamless transition by having four members of the Presidentelect Bola Tinubu’s team in the Federal Government’s delegation to the Spring Meeting of the IMF/World Bank “

L-R: Managing Editor, Proshare, Teslim Shitta-Bey; Co-Founder & CTO, ThriveAgric, Ayo Arikawe; Head, Clearing and Settlement, AFEX, Nancy Olisakwe; CEO, Releaf, Ikenna Nzewi ; CEO, Graeme Blaque, Zeal Akaraiwe. At the Grand Finale of the 2022 Code Cash Crop, in Lagos, recently

Adamawa Supplementary Election: CSOs condemn violation of Electoral Act

By Abubakar Yunusa Abuja

The Centre for Democracy and Development (CDD) has condemned in strong terms the illegal declaration of a winner in the Adamawa State supplementary governorship election by the Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) on Sunday.

It also urged the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to immediately sanction Hudu Yunusa-Ari, the resident electoral commissioner in Adamawa, for violating the Electoral Act in the state’s supplementary governorship election.

•Charges INEC to hold violators accountable

CDD Director, Idayat Hassan made the call in a statement shared with journalists in Abuja, and said is a brazen violation of the clear provisions of the Electoral Act 2022

Citing the electoral act, he explained that the electoral act, 2022 makes it abundantly clear in Section 25 (2f) that: “The returning officer shall announce the result and declare the winner of the election at the State Collation Centre in the case of election of a Governor of a State.”

Hassan said CDD observed with utmost concern the

unhealthy twist of events involving the INEC Resident Electoral Commissioner (INEC) who illegally took over the responsibility of the Returning Officer by declaring the result of the governorship election.

According to her, “It is an affront on the laid down procedure for the Resident Electoral Commissioner to have gone ahead to make the announcement when he is not empowered by the law to do so.

“Apart from the fact that such a step is patently illegal, the action of the REC is capable

of provoking the breakdown of law and order in the State, considering the tense political atmosphere in the State given the inconclusive governorship poll and the subsequent supplementary poll.

“Importantly, we call on all participants in the process and stakeholders across the State to remain calm and maintain the peace. We urge INEC to ensure the prompt conclusion of the process in line with provisions of the Electoral Act and other extant guidelines”, she said.

L-R: , President, Global center for leadership ànd Good Governance, Comrade Ogedengbe Ayodele Monday, Country Director, Vote Must Count international Initiative (VMCII), Dr. Barry Avotu Johnson and the President, African Emancipation Movement for Good Governance , (a support group for Obidatti presidency), Hon. Lucky Obiyan, during the VMCII World press conference on the 2023 general election , calling on the incoming NASS members to elect people with good characters into the principal office positions , held yesterday in Abuja.

Group sensitises civil society, humanitarian workers on mental health

From: Femi Oyelola, Kaduna

Good Deeds, a global movement of people dedicated to doing good has sensitised civil society organisations and humanitarian workers on mental health and self-care while providing humanitarian services.

The Focal Person of the group in Kaduna State, Mrs Itama Okhuelegbe, said at the event in Kaduna, that the exercise was to also appreciate civil society and humanitarian workers for their selfless service to humanity.

The event was organised in collaboration with the Thinkers Children Foundation, as part of activities to mark the 2023 Good Deeds Day.

Okhuelegbe explained that the Good Deeds Day sought to promote people giving back to their community, thereby promoting harmonious relationships among people.

81 Division Garrison wins Nigerian Army combat competition

The Nigerian Army on Sunday ended its InterBrigade Combat and Proficiency Competition with 81 Division Garrison emerging the overall winner with a total of 460 points.

The event, held at the training ground of the 35 Artillery Brigade Alamala in Abeokuta, Ogun, saw the 35 Artillery Brigade contingents clinching the second position with 440 points, while 9th Brigade emerged second runner-up with 410 points.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the four Brigades of the 81 Division Nigerian Army including 81 Division garrison, 9 Brigade, 45 Artillery Brigade and the host 35 Artillery Brigade, participated in the competition.

Speaking at the closing ceremony, the General Officer Commanding 81 Division, Maj.-Gen.Obinna Ajunwa, said the competition was meant to improve strength, confidence and combat readiness of the officers to face any security challenge.

Ajunwa represented by Brig.Gen. O. B Davies, noted that the aims and objectives of the five day competition had been achieved. He commended the participants and implored them to be more productive in their given tasks .

She said that since 2007, Good Deeds Day had been uniting people from around the world with the aim of spurring them to help others and do good for their communities.

“The act of charity and good deeds towards people in need, or communities in despair, is never forgotten by their recipients.

“Today, we are celebrating civil society organisations, individuals and groups rendering humanitarian services first responders to people in need, putting smiles on people’s faces and keeping families together.

“We want to thank groups and individuals that have been rendered selfless help to survivors of sexual and genderbased violence, marginalised, neglected, and exploited groups.

“We want more people to become ambassadors of doing good things to those in need in whatever way they can – feeding the hungry, providing shelter to

the homeless, and clothing the poor, among other good deeds,” she said.

While acknowledging the good deeds of humanitarian service providers, Okhuelegbe, however, stressed the need for humanitarian and development workers to also care for themselves to avoid mental breakdown.

On his part, Mr Peter Ebeh, Senior Psychologist with Neem Foundation, Kaduna Office, described mental health as emotional, psychological and social wellbeing of people.

According to him, mental health affects how people think, feel, and behave.

“It particularly determines how people handle stress, anxiety, depression, and insecurity; how they relate to others and the kind of choices they make”, he said.

He pointed out that with too much demand on the humanitarian workers, they

could encounter stress, which in the long run, would affect their mental health.

“People need to know that in the attempt to do good and extend a helping hand without taking care of themselves, they may end up in a dysfunctional mental state.

“There is, therefore, the need for people to balance their work with self-care, to be able to function normally and maintain stable mental health,” he said.

One of the participants, Mr Sunday Awulu, Secretary, Kaduna State Branch, Nigerian Red Cross, acknowledged the absence of a balance between humanitarian work in the field and the workers’ self-care.

Awulu identified psychological stress due to pressure to meet set targets as one of the major causes of mental breakdown among humanitarian workers.

He explained that the competition was organised to improve junior leadership training , organisational ability and inculcate initiative in the stipulated rank perfect of noncommission officers in the division.

“Apart from competing among yourselves, I believe that the competition has fostered what we all desired to achieve.

“Likewise, the stamina and endurance displayed by the various commission during the combat swimming and just concluded obstacle competition is indeed highly commendable.

“Those of you that performed well in this competition would be privileged to represent the division at Nigerian Army level organised competition,” he said. The Commanding Officer of 35 Artillery Brigade and host of the competition, Brig.-Gen. Muhammed Aminu, commended participants for their hardwork, urging them not to relent and try to do more in the next competition.

NAN reports that the participants competed

Photo: Justin Imo-owo.

Adamawa guber: INEC orders REC to stay away until further notice

By Lateef Ibrahim, Abuja

The Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, has instructed it’s Resident Electoral Commissioner, REC, in Adamawa State, Barr. Hudu Yunusa Ari to stay away from the Commission’s office in the State immediately until further notice.

The Prof Mahmood Yakubuled INEC has, consequently, directed the Administrative Secretary to take full charge of INEC, Adamawa State with immediate effect.

The directives were contained in a letter on Monday, signed by the Secretary to INEC, Mrs Rose

•Directs Admin Secretary to take charge

Oriaran-Anthony dated 17th April, 2023.

The Adamawa State REC, it will be recalled, had on Sunday, without regards to due process, declared the Governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress, APC, in the State, Senator Aisha Binani as the Governor-elect, despite the fact that the collation of results was on going.

Miffed by the unilateral action of Barrister Ari, the Commission halted the collation of the results of the supplementary election and ordered the REC and all

those involved to report to Abujaimmediately.

The action of the REC, the INEC pointed out, was a usurpation of the power of the Returning Officer and therefore it was null, void and of no effect. According to the Commission, “Consequently, the collation of the result of the supplementary election held yesterday 15th April 2023 is suspended forthwith.

“The REC for Adamawa State and all other officials involved in the process are hereby directed to report immediately to INEC headquarters in Abuja”, INEC

said.

Yesterday’s letter to Barr Ari by the INEC Secretary, entitled, ‘Commission’s Directive To Stay Away From INEC, Adamawa State, reads, “I hereby convey the Commission’s decision that you (Barr. Hudu Yunusa Ari), Resident Electoral Commissioner, Adamawa State should stay away from the Commission’s office in Adamawa State immediately until further notice.

“The Administrative Secretary has been directed to take full charge of INEC, Adamawa State with immediate effect.

“Please, accept the assurances of the Commission’s warm regards”, the letter concluded.

Islamic clerics call for harmony among Islamic societies at NAFSAT Iftar

By our correspondent

The resident Imam, University of Lagos, Dr. Mustapha Ibrahim, on Sunday, called for peace and harmony among Islamic societies so as to build a nation of our dreams.

He spoke as the Guest Speaker at the Iftar organised for media executives in Lagos by the Nasrul Lahi Faith Society, NASFAT with the theme ‘Search for religious harmony, peace and development

: The role of Islamic societies.’

According to him, the major role of Islamic societies is to come together and promote peace, adding that the ‘ present successes achieved Islamic societies in this part of the world is by accident and not design.’

He lamented the division among Islamic societies and advised ‘ going different ways will not help us at all.’

“If we are truly interested in attaining religious harmony and peace, we should facilitate

methodic teaching of quranic aims of human existence and the objective of sharia. If we come together. If we come together, we would be able to achieve more results than what we are achieving now,” he said.

He further opined that any community based on a network of chaotic human relationship and comes under slightest attempts of provocation and ignorance will experience religious disharmony.

“When people lack knowledge of what is right or wrong, such a

ANEEJ, other CSOs demand UN Convention on tax

From: Femi Oyelola, Kaduna

As the 4th United Nations Financing for Development Conference gets underway in New York, Africa Network for Environment and Economic Justice (ANEEJ), and others Civil Society actors have demanded a United Nations Convention on tax as key to global tax reforms.

This was contained in a statement by the Deputy Executive Director, ANEEJ, Leo Atakpu and made available to the media in Kaduna yesterday.

The statement stated that Nigeria had been a major champion for tax reform or tax Convention at the United Nations.

nation will be turned into a jungle on earth,” he said.

The President, NAFSAT, Abdul- Mumin Niyi Yusuf, in his opening remarks, urged the President-elect, Bola Ahmed Tinubu ‘to lead in a different way. ‘

“It should no longer be business as usual. We expect new leadership that will give us a prosperous nation,” he said.

Highlight of the event was the unveiling of Lasilkiin Communication, a new media arm of NAFSAT.

Vice President Yemi Osinbajo(middle), Governor of Plateau State Simon Lalong(2nd right), Director General National Institute for Policy and Strategic Studies (NIPSS), Prof. Ayo Omotayo(4th left) with other participants at the maiden edition of the Policy making and Good Governance Lecture series at the National Institute in Kuru Jos, Plateau State, yesterday. PHOTO STATE HOUSE

Niger NDE begins registration of unemployed

From Yakubu Mustapha Minna

National Directorate of Employment (NDE), has concluded plans to embark on registration of all unemployed persons in the 25 local government areas of Niger state as directed by the NDE

headquarters.

Niger state NDE Coordinate Mohammed Dantsoho Abubakar in a statement issued in Minna, said the state registration is scheduled to start on Monday.

According to the statement, the registration exercise will

hold at NDE state office, Ladi Kwali Road adjacent NTA Minna for those within Minna and environs, while those in the local government areas are expected to register at their respective councils secretariat.

Dantsoho urged all unemployed in Niger state to

register themselves in their designated local governments in order to benefit from the programme.

He stated that the federal government wants to have the full statistics of the unemployed in the country so as to make a proper plan for them.

The statement further stated that unfortunately, Nigeria's Integrated National Financing Framework (INFF) which was developed last year, alongside 85 other INFFs of other developing countries of the global South did not contain any information about the UN Convention on Tax.

The statement added that Nigeria may have caved in to pressure from powerful nations and their agents.

Cleric tasks elected leaders on fulfilling campaign promises

From: Femi Oyelola, Kaduna

The Deputy Imam of Sultan Bello Mosque Kaduna, Sheikh Umar Usama has called on newly elected political leaders in the country to fear God and fulfil their electioneering campaign promises when they resume office.

The Islamic Scholar, gave the charge during the 28th Annual end of Ramadan Lecture organised by the Federation Of Muslim Women’s Associations In Nigeria (FOMWAN) Kaduna state Branch yesterday.

The Cleric noted that the mandate given to them represented the lives, hope and voices of the people, hence, the elected leaders must justify the confidence reposed in them through constant engagement and delivery of dividends of democracy.

Switch Magazine debuts with tell-all interview with policy makers

By Stanley Onyekwere

Switch Media and Freelance Publications, publishers of Switch Magazine, are coming out soon with a series of interviews featuring key policy makers, ministers, governorselect and entrepreneurs.

The cover page is adorned with the Director-General National Agency for The Great Green Wall, (NAGGW), Dr. Yusuf MainaBukar, who marked his first year as DG, having been appointed by President Muhammadu Buhari.

An expert in Climate Change Adaptation and Sustainable Development, he spoke on Nigeria’s energy transition as a climate change strategy.

He gave insights into challenges faced, measures taken to overcome them, blueprints to restore the ecosystem for the benefits of humanity.

The magazine is focussed on youths-friendly topics, digital economy, environment including climate change, biodiversity and remediation of polluted environment.

First of its kind in the country. the latest edition of the magazine is hitting the streets this month, and will come with interviews with high-profile government officials, among them are, the Honorable Minister of Environment, Mohammed H. Abdullahi, Director General of National Information Technology Development Agency, (NITDA), Mal Kashim Inuwa, Dauda Lawal, Governor Elect of Zamfara State, Aisha Hashim CEO of Shakara Nourish Bowl, winner of CEO’s Network Africa Awards under Food and Catering among accomplished young Nigerians.

In a press statement issued by the Chief Operating Officer, Mr. Danladi Muktar who traced the history of the magazine to the quest for the robust involvement of Nigerian youths in governance, he noted that this has translated to the motto of the magazine as apart from dwelling on government policies, it strives to give the youths of the country a voice and outlet to ventilate their views.

Again, Air Peace resumes flight operations to Benue

From Uche Nnorom, Makurdi

Air Peace has commenced official flight operation in Benue State.

It should be noted that last year 2022, Air Peace had alsoflagged off its operation which was later grounded.

It was gathered that they failed to meet Federal Airport Authority of Nigeria, FAAN, Nigeria Airspace Management Authority, NAMA and the

Nigerian Meteorological Agency,NiMET, amongst other regulatory requirements. Speaking at the event, Governor Samuel Ortom said his administration has invested heavily, (though he failed to mention the amount) in time, goodwill and financial resources to help to meet the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority’s rigorous requirements for the resumption of Commercial Aviation services here.

He highlighted government’s contributions to include: facilitating the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding by the NAF, FAAN, NAMA and NiMET for the use of the NAF Aerodrome for commercial services, procurement and provision of a NCAA-approved Digital Airport Rescue Fire Fighting,ARFF vehicle along with training, equipping and testing of over 50 Fire Staff; provision of a state-of-the-art

Ambulance and trained Health personnel for Emergency Rescue Services, facilitating the Geodetic Survey of the Airport to ensure the Airport is included in International Civil Aviation Organization, ICAO maps so that pilots can rely on instruments (and not just their eyes) to fly into Makurdi, provisions of Airport Tarmac markings and related airside signages and provision of operational vehicle for NAMA.

Sanction REC, others involved in Adamawa show of shame, PDP Governors tell

By Lateef Ibrahim, Abuja

Governors elected on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP-GF, have called for the appropriate sanctioning and prosecution of the now suspended Resident Electoral Commissioner, REC, of Adamawa State, Barrister Hudu Yunusa Ari and others involved in the unilateral declaration of the All Progressives Congress, APC, candidate in the state, Senator Aisha Binani as the Governorselect of the state, while collation of results was still in progress.

The PDP Governors Forum declared that such sanctioning should be swiftly commenced to serve as deterrent to others.

The PDP-GF made the call in a statement yesterday by its Director-General, Hon CID Maduabum in Abuja.

The forum equally enjoined

all Nigerians to be on alert and brace up to emerging threats to the nation’s democracy and the struggle for good governance in Nigeria.

The attempted electoral heist and brigandage perpetrated by the Adamawa State Resident Electoral Commissioner, Barrister Yunusa Ari, according to the PDP Governors, was perhaps the lowest point of the 2023 General elections.

They however commended the immediate steps taken by the INEC as an institution to recover its battered image by nullifying the attempted coup and suspending the REC.

According to the statement by Maduabum, “The PDP Governors’ Forum, under the leadership of Rt Hon Aminu Waziri Tambuwal

CFR, strongly condemns the show of shame in Adamawa State on the April 18 supplementary Governorship election.

“The attempted electoral heist and brigandage perpetrated by the Adamawa State Resident Electoral Commissioner, Barrister Hudu Yunusa Ari is perhaps the lowest point of the 2023 General elections.

“We commend the immediate steps taken by the INEC as an institution to recover its battered image by nullifying the attempted coup and suspending the REC.

“The appropriate Returning Officer, Mele Lamido, should immediately conclude the collation and declare the result.

“One of the most important lessons of this election season is that the integrity of INEC

personnel is crucial to free, fair, and credible elections as well as deployment of technology.

“Going forward, there should be a deliberate process of revisiting the appointments of National and Resident Electoral Commissioners to weed out corrupt and extremely partisan officials. “It is the partisan method of appointment of these officials that led to national disgrace in Adamawa State.

“Appropriate sanctions, including prosecution of all those involved, especially the former Resident Electoral Commissioner, Barrister Hudu Yunusa Ari should be swiftly commenced to serve as an example to others.

“We enjoin all Nigerians to be on alert as we brace up to emerging threats to our democracy and the struggle for good governance in Nigeria”, it said.

Why Nigeria needs homegrown cyber security solutions – Afolabi

The Founder of Eko Innovation Centre, Lagos, Mr Victor Afolabi, says Nigeria needs homegrown cyber security solutions that understand the challenges of its local environment.

Afolabi, also the Curator of Art of Technology Lagos, made this known during the grand finale of the Secure Hack 1.0 event powered by Eko Innovation Centre on Saturday evening in Lagos.

He said that one of the major challenges of technology adoption in Nigeria was cost barrier.

The founder said that most tech people in Nigeria today had to buy laptops and smart devices which are foreign to do their jobs, adding that the devices were usually very expensive .

“Looking at the cyber security solutions, anti-viruses that we buy, many of them are paid for in Forex and the sad thing is that they are ridiculously expensive because the dollar rate keeps going up.

“This cost element increases the vulnerabilities of organisations in emerging markets like Nigeria.

“When a cyber security solution is too expensive, only few would be able to afford it and that leaves many organisations vulnerable to cyber attacks.

“How do we protect ourselves when we do not have homegrown solutions,” he said.

Afolabi said Nigerians need solutions developed here either for cyber crime or physical crime that people could pay for using Naira.

He said that the way our cyberspace would be more secured because people would be able to afford the cyber security solutions.

Afolabi said that was why the innovation centre put together hackathons like the secure hack 1.0 to encourage young talents with innovative ideas.

The founder said that when solutions are homegrown, its maintenance would be easy and one would not have to start sending messages to the manufacturer unlike when it’s imported.

He said: “Hopefully as the Nigerian tech market matures, things would get better. 20 years

ago nobody was building softwares in Nigeria, but today we are beginning to see foreign people using our talents.

“They are now taking our talents abroad and paying them a lot of money to build solutions for global use,” Afolabi said.

He noted that soon banks and other organisations would start using locally-developed cyber security solutions when the market matures.

Afolabi added that one day, Nigerian talents would build solutions that would be at per with international solutions.

Speaking on the Secure Hack 1.0, he said that the hackathon, which was launched in February, garnered over 400 registrations from participants to form 100 plus teams from 62 locations in four countries and across two continents.

He said that the teams were split into groups of four and were required to work together for three weeks, brainstorming and identifying new concepts based

on their focus areas which include cybersecurity, physical security, and biosecurity.

Afolabi said that the best team would have the chance to win N2,000,000 prize pool and an acceleration programme investment to get their products ready for the market among other benefits.

NAN reports that some of the teams that participated are Cyber Hive Pitch Desk, a platform that offers cyber security education; Health Waka, a platform that provides seamless tracing and tracking of sick people; Team 9 and Team 18, among others.

After the pitching of ideas, team Health Waka was declared winner of the N2,000,000 pool prize by a group of Jurors.

Some of the Jurors were Dr Obadare Peter Adewale, Cofounder, Digital Encode Limited; Ayodele Olojede, Group Head, Emerging Businesses Africa, Access Bank, and David Ali, Chief Information, Security Officer, Airtel among others. (NAN)

INEC

•Want partisan, corrupt INEC officials weeded out

Involve MfBs in policy formulation, implementation, NAMB urges CBN

The National Association of Microfinance Banks (NAMB) has renewed its call on the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) to always Involve MfBs in the formulation and implementation of key policies.

The association also urged the apex bank to involve microfinance banks in other measures targeted at enhancing the nation’s financial system stability and sustainable growth.

It made the call in the

communiqué issued at the end of its emergency Board of Trustees (BOT) meeting recently in Abuja, signed by the Chairman, Malam Ibrahim Bamalli, and Secretary, Dr Dan Ogun.

The NAMB BOT called on the CBN to help in improving public confidence in the microfinance banking subsector and to position the MfBs for improved contributions to the nation’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP).

It also tasked MfBs and other

relevant stakeholders to get involved in the implementation of policies of urgent importance to forestall the crisis that recently characterised the implementation of the Naira redesign policy.

It also tasked its member-banks on internal cleansing and selfregulation required to better position them to impact the economy.

It urged MfBs to embrace digitalisation by committing adequate investments to critical e-channel infrastructure for

enhanced operations.

“We recall that the implementation of the cashless and Naira redesign policies created some challenges for MfBs that seriously threatened many member-banks, with attendant negative implications.

“CBN’s Naira redesign policy was desirable for the country but nonintegration of the MfBs in the policy formulation and implementation caused serious hardships for the banks and their customers,” it said. (NAN)

Chaplain commend Federal Government decision for enlisting the Nigerian Correctional Service on concurrent list

The decision of the federal government to include Nigerian Correctional Service in the concurrent list so that the States Government can participate fully in the running of the Service as been accorded as a welcome development thàt will change the narratives as fàr as prison management is concern

The National Chaplain Roman Catholic of the Nigerian Correctional Service, Rev. Fr. Victor Nyoroh stated this during the Chaplaincy in collaboration with the Compassionate family during their visit to the Dukpa (Custodian) correctional service center in FCT as past of their easter festivity celebration to feed prisoners as the biblical demands.

Fr Victor who also double as the National coordinator of the Compassionate family says he is pleased with Federal Government decision which according to him will affect both prisons inmates and managers of the Correctional centres positively. “as a country we have a lot to benefit from this Reforms and call on other stakeholders support to make it a success”,.

The National Chaplain also make know that Nigerian Inmate now are well Skill equipped with Refine Character, he ask Nigerians to employ the services of ex-prisons inmates that has finished their term because of the enormous skills and character reformation has been impacted on

them, who are now better citizen in our society.

The Catholic priest acknowledge individuals that has make it possible for them to feed the Prisoners, according to him their Organisation has been providing Scholarship in secondary education and training inmates that has left the prison world by reintegration them into the larger society and many prisoners has benefits Through Earth spring international, Organisation that is providing succour to freed inmate which the priest as the executive director.

According to him, Once again, the correctional center (Prison) has been shown to be a place of hope and

FCT Minister eulogises Emmanuel Yepwi, late Etsu Karu

By Stanley Onyekwere

the possibility of redemption through compassion, love and kindness. All this is possible through paths of faith, work and professional formation, but above all of spiritual closeness as demonstrated by the compassionate family.

He added that “The purpose of this very outreach is to celebrate the resurrection of Christ with those who haven’t the opportunity of celebration infact those that are confined, those that are in prison, they have no avenue of celebrating with their families or their homes under freedom. We fill we should bring the message of love, of Christ resurrection of new life for a better tomorrow. the essence is a message of Joy and Hope that Christ

Gunmen kidnap Eight Persons in Benue

From Uche Nnorom, Makurdi

Not fewer than eight persons have been kidnapped in Atamka, Owukpa, Ogbadibo local government area of Benue State.

According to a resident of the area who pleaded anonymity, said the incident happened between Saturday and Sunday when the gunmen laid ambush on people

returning from church along Atamka/Ugbudu road linking Obollo Afor in Enugu State.

He said a security man was abducted on Saturday, adding that the other seven people were abducted on Sunday while returning from church.

Few of the victims were identified as; Onyechi Onuh, John Ameh and Agnes Ikwuta.

Former chairman of the local

government, Prince Samuel Onu who confirmed the kidnap to our corresondent on Monday said that there were two incidences of abduction in the area.

He said, "The first incident was on Saturday when a security guard was abducted at Atamka. On Sunday, some people who were on okada and returning from church were ambushed at the same place and taken away by

the suspected kidnappers.

"The people actually waylaid eight people but they discovered that one of their victims has a bad leg and could not walk normally, they left him. So, in total, seven people were abducted on Sunday.

The former chairman said that security men were on the trail of the suspected kidnappers and making frantic efforts to rescue the victims.

Mining: Association partners countries for international standards

The Gold Miners Processors and Marketers Association of Nigeria (GMPMA) said it was committed to partner with other mining developed countries to achieve international standards in the sector.

President of the association, Mr Auwal Bununu, said this while speaking with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Sunday in Abuja.

He said that the commitment would support the sector to acquire more knowledge on mining activities and provide equipment for effective implementation of policies and projects.

According to him, the challenge in the Nigeria mining sector is provision of mining equipment and machinery as well as international standard technical services.

“What we have started doing now is that we are looking at the mining developed countries such

as Australia, Canada, China, South Africa, Turkey and Europe, to work with them.

“We are collaborating with those countries so that we can strongly build and strengthen mining companies in Nigeria.

“Working with international companies will help us get their capacity, gain more knowledge and higher standards to support our mining industries,” he said.

He said Nigeria took samples to laboratories at those developed countries to test some of the materials before use in the country.

He said that if such services could be provided to Nigeria about 80 per cent mining problems would be solved appropriately.

“When we have the services and have about 90 per cent of operators who are experts, investigations of materials and other activities will be easy and accessible.

“We can also provide the services locally in accordance with international standards.

“So, we are making efforts for our local mining companies to have access to such equipment that will get to the standards.”

Bununu said that the association had signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Beijing Institute of Mineralogy and Mineral Resources.

He said that the association had also engaged with other partners from Europe to build up the synergies.

He said the effort was to ensure that Nigeria would get to the international standard in the mining activities.

Bununu, also Technical Adviser to Nigeria Association of Chambers of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture (NACCIMA), a mining group, said the association was an

umbrella body of the GMPMA.

He said that the NACCIMA had engaged with other relevant stakeholders, such as Ministry of Mines and Steel Development and all the regulatory agencies under the ministry.

He said the engagement with the ministry and other stakeholders was to ensure that Nigerians comply with environmental laws, for safety of the environment and health of people.

The association boss said that the effort was to ensure that its mandates and objectives were achieved effectively.

He said that the collaboration would as well enable them to monitor unlicensed miners across the country.

“The association is committed to address the issue of unlicensed miners and other unauthorised activities in the sector.” (NAN)

Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Malam Muhammad Musa Bello, has eulogized late Etsu of Karu, HRH Emmanuel Kyauta Yepwi, the Sa’karuyi of Karu, as man of peace and an epitome of wisdom who was steeped in the culture and traditions of his people.

Bello also commiserated with the Karu Chiefdom in Abuja Municipal Area Council (AMAC), over the death of their monarch, aged 76 years, who reportedly died after a brief illness over the weekend, at medical facility in Kano State. The FCT Minister who led a delegation of senior officials of the FCT Administration on a condolence visit to the palace of the Etsu Karu on yesterday, described the late monarch as a person of wisdom who contributed immensely to the development of his domain, adding that his guidance and counsel will sorely be missed.

Represented by the FCT Permanent Secretary, Mr. Olusade Adesola, the Minister also stressed that his reign brought peace, stability and development to Karu Chiefdom and indeed, the FCT,.

He however, prayed that Almighty God will grant the royal father eternal rest and his family and the Karu Chiefdom, the fortitude to bear the irreparable loss.

Speaking on behalf of the Palace, the District Head of Jikwoyi, Mr. Nicodemus Machi, appreciated the FCT Administration for the condolence visit to the Karu Chiefdom and prayed that the good relationship between the Palace and the FCT Administration will continue to flourish.

On his part, the Senator representing the FCT at the National Assembly, Phillip Aduda, thanked the FCT Minister for coming to commiserate with the Karu people and for his support.

Aduda however, disclosed

Some financial experts have advised the Federal Government to reappraise engagement with the World Bank Group in the interest of economic growth.

The experts spoke to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) against the backdrop of the ongoing Spring Meeting of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) /World Bank in Washington DC.

They said that both institutions had not represented the interest of Africa in its past meetings.

A past president of the Chattered Institute of Bankers of Nigeria (CIBN), Mr Okechukwu Unegbu, suggested that Nigeria and Africa should look toward the African Development Bank (AfDB) for more functional economic development.

“I have lost confidence in the World Bank and IMF, because whatever economic measures they propose are usually negative for Africa but positive for Europe and America.

“The only time we can expect their intervention to be beneficial to Africa is if they are reorganised with a strong African presence at such reorganisation, ” he said.

He suggested that Nigeria and other African countries should look more toward the AfDB for development of the continent znd its economies.

Balami tasks incoming president-elect to combat insecurity

By Usman Shuaibu

The retired Judge of the Federal Capital Territory

(FCT) High court of Justice, Hon. Justice Mwada Balami, has charged Nigeria president elect, Bola Ahmed Tinubu and his cabinet members to deem it necessary to wage war against security challenges facing the country.

He also urged the incoming government to always move towards fighting corruption which had eaten deep into the fabric of our nation for so long now.

Balami, who gave the charge in an interview with newsmen in his residence in Gwagwalada to mark the remembrance of the death of Jesus Christ.

He called on both Muslims and Christians to live in peace with each other for the sake of togetherness, noting that no country could move forward in the atmosphere of rancor and acrimony.

He, however, pleaded with Christians and Muslims to cultivate the habit of living peacefully with their neighbours anytime of the day.

Experts suggest reappraisal of World Bank Group engagement amidst slow economic growth

“The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) should stop participating in these meetings because their proposals have not benefited our economy.

“We should focus on strengthening the AfDB for a more functional development of Africa, ” he said.

According to Uche Uwaleke, a Professor of Capital Market at the Nasarawa State University, Keffi, expectations from the current meeting are huge for Nigeria.

Uwaleke called for a robust discussion on the Nigerian debt situation and how to get some relief.

“This is against the backdrop

of Russian-Ukrainian war and a fragmented world which is affecting global economic growth, climate change, inflation and huge sovereign debts.

“For Nigeria, in particular, the possibility of restructuring her public debt with both multilateral and bilateral creditors should take centre stage,” he said.

Meanwhile, the IMF has urged the CBN to continue to tighten monetary policy rates to rein in inflation.

The IMF Director of Research Department, Pierre-Oliver Gourinchas said at the meeting, while releasing the World Economic Outlook (WEO) report.

NAN reports that Nigeria’s inflation rose in February from 21.82 per cent to 21.91 in spite the hike in CBN’s Monetary Policy Rate (MPR) from 16.5 per cent to 17.5 per cent in January.

This informed further increase in the MPR to 18 per cent in the month of March.

The IMF also upgraded Nigeria’s growth prospects for 2024 to three per cent, an upgrade of 0.1 per cent from its last WEO released in January.

It said that the prospects for Nigeria’s growth were stable and retained its predictions for 2023

at 3.2 per cent.

Speaking on Sub-Saharan Africa, Gourinchas said that inflation for the region was still high, but forecasted a gradual decline.

“This region is suffering from a strong funding squeeze.

“We already discussed some of the countries that are facing very innovative spreads, and a lot of them are already in the region.

“A lot of the challenges come from external factors that vary from the surge in energy and food prices as a consequence of the Russian invasion of Ukraine and the tension in energy markets are affecting the region.

PS tasks accountants managing Nigeria’s wealth to prevent leakages

Dr Marcus Ogunbiyi, Permanent Secretary, Career Management Office, Office of the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, has called on accounting professionals to manage the country’s wealth effectively and prevent leakages.

He said this at the 2023 Annual Dinner and District Award ceremony, organised by the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria (ICAN) NyanyaMararaba and District Society, in Abuja.

Ogunbiyi, who was the chairman of the occasion, said accountants are custodians of public trust and should endeavour to uphold the ethics of their profession as they carry out their duties.

“Accountants are supposed to be trustworthy because they hold and control the liquid asset of the organisation and as such they are meant to be trustworthy, honest, manage wealth and prevent leakages in the affairs of government.

“So accountants should be officers in the service who can be relied upon and be able to identify areas of inappropriate spending and support government and make sure that leakages are blocked,” he said.

Also, Malam Tijjani Isa, 58th ICAN President, represented by Dr Oyemolu Akinsulire, ICAN Council member, said that the institute would continue to support its members in their various endeavours.

He,however,called on accounting professionals to abide by the ethics of profession and ensure that they carry out their duties with integrity and accountability.

“By our training, we are utility managers, we fit in anywhere and we perform, we get our colleagues and ask questions.

“That is why when you see us anywhere, we go the needed mileage and achieve the needed result.

“My advice to our members is to continue to keep the flag of the

institute flying higher,” he said.

Mr Adewale Adeagbo, Chairman, ICAN NyanyaMararaba and District Society, said the event was aimed at recognizing and appreciating persons who had contributed to the growth of the district and the ICAN brand.

Adeagbo also called on members of the district to ensure they make the institute proud by being good examples in their places of work and in the society at large.

“My advice to members of the district society is to keep the flag flying, even though the district is barely two years, we are doing things as though we have been in existence before now.

“We don’t want to crawl, we want to fly and with God on our side, we believe that we will make the institute proud.

“To the incoming executives, I urge them to continue from where we stopped, though the previous excos laid the foundation, we tried to build on but we stopped at a

certain stage, so we advice them to continue from there,” he said.

Dr Salisu Saad, Deputy Director at the Federal Inland Revenue Services (FIRS) and the guest lecturer at the event called on Nigerians to pay their taxes as it was their civic responsibility.

Saad who spoke on the topic, “The Nigerian Tax System – Implications on Revenue Generation for the Country”, said that tax evasion had continued to impact the drive for infrastructural development in the country.

“There is a high level of tax evasion and tax avoidance, this is related to the way government spends the money because there is a perception by some Nigerians that there is corruption in the country.

“They believe that when they pay taxes, the revenue would go to other pocket that is why some individuals try to evade it, but that is not an excuse, we need to pay taxes as part of our civic responsibility,” he said.

L-R: Member, Coalition for good Governance and Economic Justice in Africa (CGGEJA), Comarde John Mayaki, another Member CGGEJA, Hon. Ayobumi Oyalowo, Convener for South- South Senate Presidency, Prince Kassim Afebua, Co- Convener, Hon. Cletus Obun and the member of CGGEJA, Comrade Akinloye Oyeniyi, during the Coalition world press conference calling for the Zoning of the Senate Presidency to the South South Geopolitical Zone of the country, held yesterday in Àbuja. Photo: Justin Imo-owo

Self-dependency in academic endeavors

By Bello Abudari

When you rely on others to achieve your academic goals, you become vulnerable to setbacks and disappointments. Selfdependency helps you to build resilience and bounce back from setbacks, which is crucial in achieving long-term success.

Self-dependency is a crucial trait that every student should possess when it comes to academic activities. It is the ability to take control of your academic life, be responsible for your actions and decisions, and work towards achieving your goals without relying solely on external support.

Here are some reasons why self-dependency matters in academic activities:

Develops critical thinking skills: Being selfdependent requires you to think critically and solve problems on your own. This approach not only helps

you to develop a deeper understanding of the subject but also enhances your critical thinking and problemsolving skills.

Promotes self-motivation: When you depend on others to do your academic tasks, you lose the motivation to learn and grow. Self-dependency, on the other hand, motivates you to take the initiative and strive for excellence in your academic endeavors.

Encourages ownership and responsibility: Selfdependency promotes the development of a sense of ownership and responsibility towards your academic performance. You become accountable for your actions, and you take ownership of your achievements and shortcomings.

Fosters independence: Self-dependency encourages independence, which is an essential skill for personal growth and development. You learn to rely on yourself and trust your abilities, which can be beneficial beyond academic pursuits.

Builds resilience: When you rely on others to achieve your academic goals, you become vulnerable to setbacks and disappointments. Self-dependency helps you to build resilience and bounce back from setbacks, which is crucial in achieving long-term success.

In conclusion, self-dependency is a vital trait that every student should strive to develop in their academic pursuits. It not only promotes critical thinking, self-motivation, and independence but also fosters a sense of ownership, responsibility, and resilience. By being self-dependent, you can achieve academic success and develop life-long skills that will be beneficial beyond your academic pursuits.

Bello Abudari writes from Mass communication department Abubakar Tatari Ali Polytechnic Bauchi and can be reached via: abudariusman75@ gmail.com

Will petroleum subsidy end by June?

By Ibrahim Mustapha Pambegua

The new government should come up with comprehensive reforms aimed at addressing these challenges if Nigeria is to achieve sustainable development through petroleum-generated revenue. The Tinubu’s incoming administration which will inherit petroleum subsidy should consider complete deregulation of the petroleum sector to allow market forces to determine the prices.

Barring change of circumstances, the payment of petroleum subsidy will end by June this year, as hinted by the minister of finance and National planning, Zainab Ahmed Shamsuna. According to the finance minister, World Bank has released the sum of $800millions to pay palliatives to Nigerians in order to cushion the effects of subsidy removal. Though, advance countries of the world offer subsidy to their people in different aspects of human development, in Nigeria, petroleum subsidy has become thorn in the flesh of any government in power. There is no doubt, successive administrations including the outgoing one had tried to stop the payment of subsidy but could not succeed. It is estimated, in the last 16 years, Nigerian government has spent whopping sum of $30 billions as petroleum subsidy to Nigerians. These huge funds spent on subsidy could have been used to revamp our ailing power, fix our decay education and above all infrastructure deficit. There is no gainsaying the facts, subsidy payment has raised more questions than answers. The money guzzling intervention has been dogged by corruption. It is alleged that marketers in collaboration with some corrupt government officials feed fat from the program through bogus submission of false claims. Subsidies are form of government intervention set to reduce the cost of fuel by providing direct financial support to oil companies, and as such, subsidize the product

to consumers. Nigeria is one of Africa’s largest producers of crude oil, and it relies heavily on this resource for its economic growth. In addition, oil account to Nigeria’s GDP and provides employment opportunities for many Nigerians.

The history of fuel subsidy dates back to October 2000 was due to supply inadequacies from the country’s four refineries. The Nigerian government set up a committee to review all aspects of petroleum product pricing and distribution. The committee recommended the establishment of Petroleum Products Pricing Regulatory Committee (PPPCRC), which later metamorphosed into Petroleum Products Pricing Regulatory Agency (PPPRA). PPPRA uses a price modulation mechanism, which allows for adjusting petroleum product prices to reflect changes in global oil prices. When international oil prices are high, the government may increase the regulated price of petroleum products in Nigeria to prevent shortages and ensure that independent petroleum marketers can operate profitably. When global oil prices are low, the government may decrease the regulated cost of petroleum products to reflect the market conditions and pass on the benefits to consumers.

Under PPPRA, the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (now NNPC Ltd) gives approval for importers to bring in petroleum products. These products are sold to independent petroleum marketers at government- regulated prices, usually lower than the landing cost. The independent marketers then sell the products to consumers at a price that includes their operating costs and a government-regulated margin. Although fuel subsidies have been beneficial in terms of making petroleum more accessible to citizens, they have also had some negative impacts on the economy. For one, they have led to increase corruption and mismanagement due to weak oversight mechanisms, with some

individuals and companies taking advantage of the system to make illegal profits.

In addition, the government spends a significant amount of money on petroleum subsidies, leading to increase public debt. In some cases, the cost of subsidies can exceed the revenue earned from the sale of crude oil, Nigeria’s main export. Furthermore, due to the price differences between Nigeria and neighboring countries and the inefficiencies in the distribution and supply chain, petroleum products are often smuggled out of the country, leading to frequent shortages and long queues at petrol stations. Subsidy prices encouraged the overconsumption of petroleum products, leading to increase in air pollution and greenhouse gas emissions, discouraging investment in the domestic refining industry and alternative energy sources. In terms of monetary cost, government spends N400 billion monthly to subsidise the product. The cost of maintaining it, is unbearable amidst dwindling revenue generation due to massive oil theft. Given these issues associated with fuel subsidy programs, it is clear that there is the needs for it to go. The new government should come up with comprehensive reforms aimed at addressing these challenges if Nigeria is to achieve sustainable development through petroleum-generated revenue. The Tinubu’s incoming administration which will inherit petroleum subsidy should consider complete deregulation of the petroleum sector to allow market forces to determine the prices. This would reduce the burden on the government to provide subsidies, encourage competition, and attract more private investment into the sector. Lastly, the incoming government should incentivize investment in renewable energy sources such as solar and hydropower for speeding national development.

Rebuilding Nigerian society through act of kindness

By Caleb Onah

Everything from life satisfaction to self-actualisation (realizing one’s potential) improves when we give of ourselves, the little we have and can afford. It also significantly improves physical health, delays mortality, and reduces depression. Increased feelings of well-being, happiness and positivity, as well as positive emotions and luck.

This is a phrase every Nigerian child used to hear in childhood. “Treat others the way you would like to be treated.” But kindness not only benefits the person doing it, but it also has a profound effect on our mental health. We know that when one person or another feels depressed and mistreated, it can have devastating effects on many areas of life. That is why many adults will never forget their childhood or school days when someone was cruel or rude to them.

In showing kindness and expressing love to others, I enjoy owning my own tech and psychosocial support business in which making people happy, finding new to their life and giving hope to the demoralised is my priority. Also, I love interacting with people and inspiring them to believe in themselves more, giving them hope and new perspectives to see things and the world around them. This has been my passion since childhood. In light of recent economic difficulties, I run a successful digital business called Besancon Tech Limited. Combining digital marketing, web development, training academies and other digital marketing-related services with psychosocial support. I have always believed in the power of kindness to positively impact not only ourselves but also those around us. My loyal clients love to read my positive reassurance and leave with a smile on their face at the end of their treatment session(s). However, the economic downturn and difficulties caused by the new naira banknote policy in Nigeria present a challenge that goes beyond the financial aspect. Obviously, in recent times, rendering optimal psychosocial service has been limited and difficult lately

As an elder and first child in my home, having more time with my siblings has been wonderful, but I knew it was important for them and me to have some purpose and structure to our lives. My younger sister, Sharon and I both have some form of mental health challenges – struggling with depression wasn’t an easy task to deal with, and we know how vital it is for our minds to keep occupied with a positive and conflicting thoughts. We had to think and developed ways to do this, coming up with the idea of

rendering 50% discount price on every service was perfect and after which we send out cards and emails with positive messages to anyone, we felt could benefit from a kind word; friends, neighbours and relatives.

Advising for the future, reminding people of how great they really are, how special they could be and how resilience they are up till now, anything that will make them smile and bring a bit of happiness to their day considering the demand of living in Nigeria at this time. We don’t want people to feel isolated, stress and traumatise even though we have to stress ourselves to an extent, we can still take the opportunity to be closer than ever, providing some form of psychosocial support to everyone no matter their status or background. Seeing an increase in kindness, we started advertising many of our service discounts in the local media, we received such positive feedback that we have practically turned our salon into a psychosocial centre for clients.

Sharon has shown incredible concentration and resilience. At 18, she completed over 60% of her required commercials in one week. This was known through client feedbacks from her mobile and social messaging and marketing, while proving love and support to her friends and followers. Not because she was asked to, but because she is truly happy when she brings sunshine, hope and strength into the lives of others. People value their packages and services so much that they raise the bar for more patronage. However, it shown that, hearing a description of how a discounted service can make a difference for someone can motivate them to try to help others. Being kinder to each other is like throwing a pebble into water. Ripples and kindness inspire others to be kind. Kindness has a unique reproductive power regardless of marital status, religion, or level of education. The more we work individually, the more collectively we become, and helping each other becomes the discover themselves, not just charity.

Of course, this is a difficult time for everyone, but learning valuable life lessons through kindness will help heal the wounds. Helping others makes the world a better, safer and more peaceful place, regardless of where we come from, our colour or our ethnicity. We’re proud of the hard work and creativity we put into our everyday task to support people who need a little more human connection than ever before, to get it done now. In support of this, Aesop, the Greek narrator and storyteller, said: “No act of kindness – no matter how small – is wasted.” Turns out he was right. Acts of kindness not only benefit those who receive them, but science has proven that there are amazing

health benefits for those who perform these acts and even those who are simply witness the act. Reported physical health benefits include increased longevity, more energy, pain relief, and lower blood pressure.

Mental health benefits show increased communal affection, empathy, compassion, and gratitude. In my experience, the mental health benefits of those who perform acts of kindness can be beneficial in the following ways: Reduce stress and anxiety: Kindness has been shown to increase self-esteem, empathy, and compassion, while improving mood. It can lower levels of cortisol in our brain, a stress hormone that directly affects blood pressure and stress levels. People who give in a balanced way also tend to be healthier and live longer. Showing kind deeds releases the feel-good hormone oxytocin, which boosts self-esteem and optimism. This, along with lower cortisol levels, helps reduce stress and anxiety and can improve mood.

Improves stability: Practicing kindness can change activity in ones’ prefrontal cortex, the part of the brain that processes all negative emotions, such as shame, guilt, and anger. Self-hate – so these feelings can often be mitigated. In addition, happiness, peace, and immunity are strengthened, increasing resilience and improving the ability to cope with difficult times. What’s more, research shows that the hypothalamus is activated when we do or receive simple kindnesses. This is the area of the brain that regulates many bodily functions, including sleep, and is an important factor in maintaining good mental health.

Strengthen our body’s immunity: When immunity is increased, there is no doubt our body will always be healthy and have the ability to prevent disease. Just engaging in good deeds increases the body’s immunity. Serotonin is also increased, which regulates mood and increases resilience in the brain. Kindness to others releases endorphins that activate the brain’s pleasure centres. This phenomenon is called “helper euphoria” and causes the us to feel like a receiver rather than a giver.

Everything from life satisfaction to self-actualisation (realizing one’s potential) improves when we give of ourselves, the little we have and can afford. It also significantly improves physical health, delays mortality, and reduces depression. Increased feelings of well-being, happiness and positivity, as well as positive emotions and luck. Above all, I hope that today we all do kindness to those around us as little and as often as possible.

Caleb Onah is a Digital Psychologist and can be reached at calebandonah@gmail.com

Chimamanda Ngozi-Adichie and the spikes of facile criticisms

By Nwabuisi Johnpaul

As it stands, our last hope is the Judiciary and we charge them to be upright saying yes to truth, justice, equality and fairness. The Judiciary must not jeopardize the future of over 200 million people; neither should they sacrifice their dreams, hopes and aspirations on the altar of personal gains, bribery and corruption.

In these days of social unrest and political tension, when the problems of Nigeria has become gigantic in extent and chaotic in detail, Chimamanda NgoziAdichie’s open letter to United States President, Joe Biden, engenders a timeless truth and an undeniable testimony about the political legitimacy and morality of the 2023 Presidential election in which the compromised chair of the Independent Electoral Commission (INEC) announced and endorsed the ruling party’s candidate Bola Ahmed Tinubu as the winner.

In the wake of Chimamanda’s open letter has been a mass of juvenile and childish criticisms which undoubtedly showboats a predilection for corruption, crass subterfuge, deflection from the real and burning issues, and a spot-on hostility to the truth. Quite sadly and distressingly annoying is the fact that many learned people have joined these facile criticisms forming a terrible tidal wave of hateful oligarchs who scorn truth, ridicule objectivity and rational reasoning, ordain corrupt sovereigns

and validate an odious aristocracy suffused with a penchant for greed, bribery, corruption, injustice and barefaced illegality.

Nigerians, therefore, must refuse to play to the gallery and address the real issues of Chimamanda’s open letter. The real issues self-evident in the letter and in the 2023 presidential polls include: INEC’s double tongue and ongoing shenanigans; INEC’s deliberate attempt to manipulate the results; law enforcement officers and their collusion to voters intimidation; disenfranchisement of Nigerians; election rigging; and the Nigerian state’s pervasive problem of low-trust. These are the burning issues; and most of the criticisms you must have heard or read are intellectually facile and shallow aiming to swerve you from ideal reality and affect your judgment of the real issues! Thus, it is pertinent to emphatically and unapologetically state that the 2023 presidential electoral process was fraudulent, manipulated and crippled by the manacles of desperation and the chains of unfettered thinking that money can buy everything and anything; indeed, it was a downright mockery of democracy.

Nigerians must continually read the signs of the times to understand that the institutions of neckdeep poverty, inept infrastructures, poor-healthcare systems, dysfunctional education, endless hunger, untold strife, unwarranted pestilence, incessant insecurity issues and many more help our politicians to thrive and perpetuate their evil, vile antics

and abominable theatrics. Hence, we must all be committed to tearing down these institutions by objectively analyzing issues, standing for virtues, becoming congenital truth tellers, dissociating ourselves from the ropes and tyranny of bribery, greed and corruption; and allowing a proper entrenchment of justice and peace to take their pride of place.

As it stands, our last hope is the Judiciary and we charge them to be upright saying yes to truth, justice, equality and fairness. The Judiciary must not jeopardize the future of over 200 million people; neither should they sacrifice their dreams, hopes and aspirations on the altar of personal gains, bribery and corruption. We unequivocally want a Nigeria functional with systems that favor the well-being of all Nigerians. We want to have a government that will be accountable and transparent in their dealings. We want to be ruled by people who have unquestionable pedigree and character. We want to be governed by qualified and innovative minds. Nevertheless, if we are to recalibrate Nigeria and set it on the path that leads to peace, prosperity and progress, then, we must learn to tell ourselves the truth. This task Chimamanda unambiguously did with an untrammelled courage that exemplifies that she is not just a literary savvy, but an undaunted philosopher whose unbridled search for truth has torn the veil of ignorance and taken her out of the cave of disillusionment and falsity.

Nwabuisi Johnpaul, melchi5801@gmail.com

Association tasks President-elect on development of mining sector

The Gold Miners Processors and Marketers Association of Nigeria (GMPMA) has urged the President-elect, Sen. Bola Tinubu to place priority on the development of the mining sector of the economy.

Mr Auwal Bununu, the GMPMA president, said this when he spoke with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja on Sunday.

Bununu said the sector was faced with lack of government attention, adding that such had hindered effective implementation of projects and policies in the sector.

“The sector is expected to be a major contractor to the country’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP).

“In the 1960s and 70s, the sector contributed about 15 per cent of GDP because there was attention and strong support by relevant authorities.

“But today, the GDP contribution is low as the sector is no longer receiving such support and attention.

“The financial institutes and fiscal policies are not capturing the sector very well in the policy formulation, thereby making the sector not functioning effectively as its being expected,” he said.

Bununu, also the Technical Adviser to Nigeria Association of Chambers of Commerce, Industry, Miners and Agriculture (NACCIMA), a mining group, said the association’s target was to promote the economic development of the country.

He said that the NACCIMA was an umbrella body of the GMPMA, adding that the association was working with stakeholders to achieve its objectives.

Bununu said that the association welcomed the president-elect pronouncement of plans forming a government of competence, which would ensure development in all the sectors in the economy.

” I am happy to hear the President-elect saying that he is going to form a government of competence.

“What that means is that from my own understanding, the administration will bake the national cake and ensure that it gets to everyone in all sectors in the country. What we have been experiencing is sharing formulas, but not baking the cake.

“So, in as much as the president elect has promised

Cleric tasks incoming administration on justice, fairness

Dr Huseyn Zakaria, the Chief Missioner, Uthman Bin Affan Mosque, Wuse II, Abuja, has called on the incoming administration of the President-elect, Sen Bola Tinubu, to ensure justice and fairness to all Nigerians.

The cleric made the call in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) after the closing ceremony of the 2023 Annual Ramadan Tafsir of the mosque, on Sunday, in Abuja.

Zakaria also stressed the need for all elected officials to respect their conveanant with the almighty Allah by fulfilling all their campaign promises.

“For our new incoming leaders at various levels of administration and governance

in this country, they should remember that the position they have asked for and they were voted for are all trust given to them by the Almighty Allah.

“And when you enter into a conveanant with Allah to help the advancement of this country at all levels, then it is a strong issue. Anything that is against justice, fairness and fair play should not be assisted by you and should not be part of your programmes.

“Politics has ended now, and what is important is that all elected officials are leaders of all Nigerians and all Nigerians are their subjects. So, no more party politics after election. Therefore, they should carry along with them everybody

despite the differences in political affiliations.

“They should give everybody their rights and give people whatever they have promised them during the electioneering campaigns. When they do that, Allah will help them come back again, otherwise Allah will change them with a better people in the next elections.”

Zakaria explained that the theme of this year’s Ramadan Tafsir centred on the protection of the rights of the weak, the orphans, girl-child, and the women folk with respect to distribution of their inheritance.

He emphasised the need for all stakeholders to stand with them in making sure that their rights were accorded

to them as contained in the holy Quran and teachings of Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him).

“Unfortunately, we are facing so many challenges with regards to the restoration of the rights of the weak at all levels. Our courts and judges are actually not doing enough and our security operatives are actually not doing enough.

“So we need to actually stand against any persecution and any wrong from wherever actually it emanates so that we will have a society that actually stands on justice and fairness.

“If that happens, we will have a society that is helped and assisted by the Almighty Allah,” Zakaria said. (NAN)

Motorsport NGO trains 100 Children in Karting, gives prices

By Mashe Umaru Gwamna

About 100 children have been successfully trained in a kart (motorsport) training and competition for children in Abuja. The training was done by a motorsport nongovernmental organization known as Automobile and Touring Club of Nigeria (ATCN).

Participants were trained on the techniques and rules of kart racing both in theory and practical demonstration using e-karting devices and Go-Kart vehicles.

The first three day of the event

took place on the premises of Abuja Enterprise Agency while the day four, which was the final and competition day took place at the Eagle Square Parking Lot, Abuja.

The four-day event under the name Karting in School Phase 2 had about 100 participants which was supported by the Fédération Internationale de l’Automobile(FIA) through its FIA Sports Grant Programme hosted by ATCN in partnership with Abuja Enterprise Agency and Abuja Investment Company Limited.

About 100 children participated in the competition

out of which the best 16 were selected, and then the best 8 out which the best 4 qualified for the final.

In the category of boys, the first price went the 17-year-old Bassey Akilahyel who emerged over all winner while Usman Suleiman and Muhammad Suleiman came behind as first runner-up and second runner-up respectfully.

In the female category of the Karting in Schools, 11-year-old Ummusalma Abdullateef was the winner, while Sunday 9th April, 2023 saw 18 students participate in the eSport in eKarting Category, 12-year-old Abdullateef Junaid

emerged overall winner, followed by Mubarak Muhammad and David Shaibu who came second and third, respectively.

The president of ATCN Mr Isaku Bamayi, in his closing remark charged the kart drivers to show “dedication and commitment because the training and the outcome of the competition will definitely impart on your life, especially for those of you who want to obtain licence to participate in National and international competitions”, he said.

All the participants were given certificates while winners went home with trophies.

Catholic women organization (CWO), sacred heart parish celebrating Mother’s day with Thanksgiving at the church in Gwagwalada on Sunday in Abuja

By Musa Baba Adamu

Aformer Deputy Governor of Kogi State, Abayomi Awoniyi, has described the victory of Senator Dino Melaye as the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) candidate for November 11 governorship election in Kogi State as a great threat to the party.

Awoniyi, who is an aspirant in the PDP governorship primary election held on Sunday, 16th April 2023, disclosed this on Monday in a statement made available to journàlists.

The former deputy governor, who alleged that the PDP primary was not free and fair, said the election that brought Melaye as the party flag bearer was flawed.

While explaining that Senator Melaye’s victory is a pyrrhic one, Awoniyi further alleged that 158 votes of 739 votes of the contest were already allocated to Senator Dino

Dino Melaye’s victory great danger to PDP’s unity – Ex-Kogi Dep Gov Awoniyi

Melaye to the detriment of eight other aspirants.

He further alleged that one of the delegates that voted during the PDP primary was imported from the All Progressive Grand Alliance (APGA) in the just concluded House of Assembly elections.

Awoniyi added that another illegally imported delegate is native to and resides in a ward different from where his name emerged.

According to the statement: “The primary that threw up Senator Melaye was flawed. 158 delegates who emerged from the State Ad-hoc Congress of the 29th March 2023 were replaced

by the woeful Sen. Abdul Ningi Congress Committee, working in concert with Senator Dino Melaye’s enablers within the party hierarchy at the highest level.

“To gift any aspirant a total of 158 votes in a contest for 739 votes involving 8 aspirants is not a fair contest. It is fraudulent, duplicitous, sinful, and unwholesome because it confers undue advantage on the favoured aspirant. Sen Dino Melaye won a fraudulent primary.

“62 of the 158 delegates imported come from two LGAs, Yagba West and Kabba/Bunu, which are undoubtedly my

strongholds for the primary elections. In Ijumu, Senator Melaye’s LGA, 29 of the 46 delegates were switched.”

Awoniyi is of the view that if the delegate list which came from the Ad-hoc Delegates Congress of the 29th March 2023 had been used for the primary of the 16th April 2023, the election would have been tagged a free, fair and transparent exercise.

Recall that in the PDP governorship primary election held on Sunday, Abayomi Awoniyi polled 77 votes while Senator Dino Melaye scored 313 votes in which he (Melaye) was declared the winner of the election.

Dino Melaye

INEC deliberately frustrating advancement of Democracy - CNPP alleges

By Christiana Ekpa

Conference Of Nigeria

Political Parties (CNPP) has lamented that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has “deliberately frustrated the deepening of the country’s democratic advancement as well as the only legacy President Muhammadu Buhari may have intended to leave after signing into law the amended Electoral Act 2022, which cleared the coast for the deployment of technology in Nigeria’s elections.”

In a terse statement signed by its Secretary General, Willy Ezugwu, in reaction to the controversy surrounding the Adamawa State governorship election, the CNPP said that “in saner clime, all the INEC and non-INEC official fingered in the viral allegation of bribery and falsification of election results in Adamawa State should be in jail.

“This is not the case because INEC is either acting a script by the enemies of Nigeria’s democracy or some selfish political elites who wish to get the country engulfed in politically motivated anarchy for yet-to-be known personal benefits.

“The unwarranted palpable tension in Adamawa State since on Sunday when the state Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Hudu Yunusa-Ari, announced Aisha ‘Binani’ Dahiru,

candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), as the winner of the gubernatorial election is not different from illegalities the commission, in collaboration with politicians, allegedly in the February 25 presidential election in many parts of the country.

“The conduct of the Adamawa State governorship election, which obviously did not go down well with many residents, points clearly to the 2023 sham elections in many states.

“For the CNPP, all the damage control mechanism deployed by INEC in trying to make Nigerians believe that it meant well in Adamawa State or other parts of

the country amounts to mere film trick.

“The INEC leadership, particularly the Chairman of the commission, Prof Mahmood Yakubu, had assured Nigerians of real-time transmission of 2023 polls results but deliberately failed to make its innovative biometric devices work and resorted to manually transmitted results collation, which opened up the planned electronically controlled electoral processes to all kinds of manipulation.

“Sadly, INEC under the current leadership presents itself as a cash-and-carry Commission where the highest bidder is

declared the winner against the wishes of the electorates and urged to go to court.

“Unfortunately, in the eyes of many Nigerians, the judiciary is yet to prove its readiness to deliver judgment on electoral matters based on the merit of the cases rather than relying on technicalities to deny litigants justice in election petitions.

“So many Nigerians have expressed reservations over the preparedness of the judiciary to be firm in delivering justice in many pre-election matters brought before the courts in 2023, particularly at the Supreme Court of Nigeria.

“The actions and inactions of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) are obviously aimed at intentionally derailing the legal preparations put in place by President Muhammadu Buhari ahead this year’s elections.

“The result is the now clearly doomed legacy of free, fair, and credible 2023 general elections which President Buhari would have left behind on May 29 as his outstanding legacy in eight years, but the Adamawa State governorship election has brought to a woeful climax the unpleasant tale of INEC supervised electoral impunity”, the CNPP said.

Adamawa supplementary election: CSOs condemn violation of Electoral Act

By Abubakar Yunusa

The Centre for Democracy and Development (CDD) has condemned in strong terms the illegal declaration of a winner in the Adamawa State supplementary governorship election by the Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) on Sunday.

It also urged the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to immediately sanction Hudu Yunusa-Ari, the resident electoral commissioner in Adamawa, for violating the Electoral Act in the state’s supplementary governorship election.

CDD Director, Idayat Hassan made the call in a statement shared with journalists in Abuja,

and said is a brazen violation of the clear provisions of the Electoral Act 2022.

Citing the electoral act, he explained that the electoral act, 2022 makes it abundantly clear in Section 25 (2f) that: “The returning officer shall announce the result and declare the winner of the election at the State Collation Centre in the case of election of a Governor of a State.”

Hassan said CDD observed with utmost concern the unhealthy twist of events involving the INEC Resident Electoral Commissioner (INEC) who illegally took over the responsibility of the Returning Officer by declaring the result of the governorship election. According to her, “It is an affront on the laid down procedure for the

Resident Electoral Commissioner to have gone ahead to make the announcement when he is not empowered by the law to do so.

“Apart from the fact that such a step is patently illegal, the action of the REC is capable of provoking the breakdown of law and order in the State, considering the tense political atmosphere in the State given the inconclusive governorship poll and the subsequent supplementary poll.

“Importantly, we call on all participants in the process and stakeholders across the State to remain calm and maintain the peace. We urge INEC to ensure the prompt conclusion of the process in line with provisions of the Electoral Act and other extant guidelines”, she said.

By Ikechukwu Okaforadi

Ahead of the November 11, 2023 governorship elections, the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) has forwarded the names of the governorship candidates of the party for Bayelsa, Imo and Kogi states to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

The names of the candidates of the party forwarded to the electoral umpire are Timipre Sylva, Ahmed Ododo and Hope Uzodinma respectively as governorship candidates for Bayelsa, Kogi and Imo states.

Ododo scored 78,704 to emerge as the candidate of the party. The candidature of Ododo was ratified by a Special Congress of the party, as stipulated in the guidelines for the primary election held on April 14, across all the 239 wards of the state.

However, some governorship aspirants of APC in the state including Senator Smart Adeyemi, former Minister of State for Labour and Productivity, Professor

Guber polls: APC sends names of Uzodinma, Ododo, Sylvia to INEC amid some protest

Stephen Ocheni, son of the late ex-Governor Abubakar Audu, Shuaibu and a member of the National Working Committee (NWC) of the APC, Murtala Ajaka, rejected the results of the primary election.

In Imo, no one contested against the incumbent governor, Uzodinma.

In Bayelsa State, Sylva defeated the former candidate of the party in the last gubernatorial election, David Lyon and four other aspirants, to emerge winner of the contest, which took place across 106 wards in the eight local government areas (LGAs) of the state on April 24.

Sylva scored a total of 52,061 votes from the 55,141 accredited delegates, while Lyon came a distant third with 1,872 votes and Joshua MacIver came second with

2,078 votes.

The ruling party sent a letter, dated April 17th, jointly signed by the Deputy National Chairman (North), Senator Abubakar Kyari, and the National Secretary of the party, Senator Iyiola Omisore, to the Chairman of INEC, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu.

The letter reads: “We write to forward the underlisted list of our party’s candidates to your commission for the 2023 off-season gubernatorial elections.

“His Excellency, Chief Timipre Sylva – Bayelsa State; His Excellency, Senator Hope Uzodimma – Imo State; Ahmed Usman Ododo – Kogi State.

“Above is for your information and necessary action, please.”

Our gubernatorial candidate is from Ogun State – NNPP insists

By Christiana Ekpa

Ogun State Chapter of New Nigeria People’s Party (NNPP) has disclosed that the gubernatorial candidate of the party in the recent election, Ajadi Oguntoyinbo is from the state.

The party made the confirmation in a statement signed by the Public Relations Officer (PRO), of the party, Comrade Olowu Olayemi, on Monday.

Ajadi contested the gubernatorial election held on Saturday, 18th March 2023 on the platform of NNPP.

Yewa Young FrontLiners (YYF) had alleged that Ajadi is not from the state.

The party has, however, said the group that sponsored the allegation is made of political jobbers, with propaganda, lies and blackmail as their stock in trade.

The party through its PRO, Olowu Olayemi, insisted that those behind the erroneous report are not farfetched, describing them as unscrupulous elements within the party in the state.

Olayemi who spoke on behalf of the party and Ajadi Oguntoyinbo Movement explained that those who are peddling the rumour have sold their conscience for love of inducements.

He added that the sponsors

of the rumour have betrayed the party, alleging that the accusers took part in antiparty activities because of the money they were given.

Olayemi said truly Ajadi was born in Ibadan but lived all his life in Ilaro, where his mother comes from and Ibafo and these were shown in all documents and forms he submitted for the election.

He added that there was no place where Ajadi lied on oath or denied being born in Ibadan.

Olayemi stressed that Ajadi had lived most of his life over forty (40) years in Ilaro and Ibafo. He concluded that by naturalisation, Ajadi is also an indigene of Ogun State.

“This unpopular group said Ambassador Olufemi

Ajadi Oguntoyinbo is not from Iyalode Dynasty Family in Ilaro.

“This set of individuals betrayed the party they claimed they love, they took part in anti-party activities because of the money they were given. We have it on good authority the details of the amount they collected to betray the course of New

Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP), Ogun State Chapter.

“Again for the avoidance of doubts, Olufemi Ajadi Oguntoyinbo remains steadfast, dedicated and committed to a new Nigeria and he is a bonafide indigene of Ogun state by naturalisation. We challenge anybody who has information that proves otherwise to come to the

Omale emerges YPP governorship candidate in Kogi

Dr Samson Omale has emerged the Young Progressives Party (YPP) governorship candidate in Kogi, after a primary election held on Monday in Lokoja.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Omale, who was the only aspirant, was unanimously affirmed and adopted as the party’s governorship

candidate, in the presence of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) officials.

The YPP Primary Election Committee Chairman, Dr David Komolafe said Omale had been duly screened and certified to participate in the primary election.

Komolafe announced that a total of 184 delegates from all the 21 local government areas

of the state were accredited to vote, in line with the party’s constitution.

The chairman, who is also the YPP State Secretary, said the only other aspirant, Mrs Funmilayo Olumodeji, had voluntarily stepped down for Omale earlier in the day.

”Omale has, therefore, been unanimously elected unopposed by the delegates since the other aspirant has

stepped down,” he said.

YPP Chairman in the state, Dr Victor Akubo, affirmed the decision of the delegates and appreciated the other aspirant for making the process simple and peaceful.

Akubo congratulated Omale for emerging the YPP flag bearer in the state, urging him to make the party and the state proud, if he became the governor. (NAN)

Adamawa governorship re-run: INEC chairman rescued situation – Shehu Sani

By Musa Baba Adamu

The former senator representing Kaduna Central Senatorial District, Senator Shehu Sani, on Monday, said nobody should blame the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) chairman, Professor Mahmud Yakubu, for the

unfortunate event that happened in Adamawa State.

Recall that the Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC), Hudu Yunusa Ari had declared Aisha Binani of the All Progressives Congress (APC) winner of the governorship election in the state after announcing results of 10 of the 69 polling units.

Senator Shehu Sani who wrote on his Facebook wall on Monday, said:

“It’s unfair to blame Professor Mahmud Yakubu for the unfortunate event that happened in Adamawa State.

“The REC shamelessly violated the law and prompt action was taken by the National Headquarters of

INEC.”

He said Prof Mahmud has done a commendable job by rescuing the situation and by extension rescuing our electoral system from Brigandage.

“The next step is to demand the prosecution of the REC and other culprits involved. Let’s be fair and objective,” he wrote.

Uzodinma

By Christiana Ekpa

The end is yet to be heard on the Adamawa state governorship election tussle.

It will be recalled that the electoral umpire on Sunday through its National Commissioner, Information and Voter Education, Barr. Festus Okoye would say “It is null, void, and of no effect”.

However, contrary to this, Senator representing the Adamawa North Senatorial District, Ishaku Abbo, has stated that the Electoral Act as amended in 2022 inhibits the Independent National Electoral Commission(INEC) from declaring the collation of results in Adamawa state null and void.

It should be recalled that INEC suspended the collation of the

Presidency: Atiku, Peter Obi, Kwankwaso handed Tinubu easy victory –Fashola

By Musa Baba Adamu

The Minister of Works and Housing, Babatunde Fashola has disclosed how the three main political opponents gave away victory to the Presidentelect, Bola Tinubu.

Fashola said Tinubu’s three main opponents gave him victory by splitting from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), after the 2019 presidential election.

Recall that the Labour Party, presidential candidate, Peter Obi; Atiku Abubakar of PDP; and Rabiu Kwankwaso of the New Nigeria Peoples Party, were members of the former ruling party before they decamped.

However, Fashola said their separation before the 2023 presidential election led to Tinubu’s victory.

“Politics is a game of numbers and numbers have arithmetic equations – additions and multiplications. APC was adding and multiplying. PDP was dividing and subtracting.

“So, the major contenders against us in this election – NNPP, PDP, LP, their candidates, were in the same party in 2019. They lost by almost four million votes.

“So, they handed away the presidential ticket by dividing their powers. Not only did they divide, they now subtracted with the G5 governors. So, it was bad mathematics,” Fashola said while fielding questions during a television programme.

Adamawa supplementary election: INEC can’t nullify announced results – Senator Abbo

Adamawa State supplementary governorship poll despite results declared for 10 of 20 local government areas (LGAs) in the election showing Governor Ahmadu Fintiri in an early lead.

The electoral umpire had on Sunday through its National Commissioner, Information and Voter Education, Barr. Festus Okoye would say, “It is null, void, and of no effect”.

However, Senator Abbo speaking on Monday, maintained the electoral body’s proclamation was insignificant as backed by the electoral act.

“They cannot suspend collation,” the Senator said.

“INEC cannot nullify an election that has been announced, they don’t have that power.

“Elections have been announced, it is out of their hands. The result has been announced by the REC. Section 65 does not operate in isolation, there is section 149.”

Meanwhile, Section 149 of the Electoral Act of 2022 states that.

“Notwithstanding any other provisions of this Act, any defect or error arising from any actions taken by an official of the Commission in relation to any

notice, form, or document made or given or other things done by the official in pursuance of the provisions of the Constitution or of this Act, or any rules made thereunder remain valid, unless otherwise challenged and declared invalid by a competent court of law or tribunal.”

The Senator under the All Progressives Congress also insisted that it was futile to challenge an already announced result, while accusing the opposition party in the state of electoral infractions.

“It has already been announced, you cannot review a result that they told us. They said the reason why they have not reviewed Fufore was that it was announced.”

“Fufore elections were contentious, we prepared for a free and fair but PDP did not prepare for a free and fair election, they prepared to bypass the elections, they prepared to compromise some certain officials,” he said.

“We prepared for the elections and the elections went smoothly, with the introduction of BVAS, we all voted in line with the dictates of the electoral act and the INEC regulations.”

“Election was taken place, the election was collated. PDP sent

someone when they discovered that we had 37,000 votes in favour of APC and went and snatched election results. The chairman of the local government sent someone and snatched election results and disappeared.”

Senator Abbo also noted that the Returning Officer declared the result under duress from the governor and the former commissioner of police.

“They went again and computed another result when they mobilized themselves in their thousands and chased out APC supporters and moved the collation centre to a police station chased out our supporters.”

“The governor drove in the presence of the former commissioner of police to Fufore and declared the result under duress,” he said.

“They forced the electoral officer to declare the result under duress, the governor was there, the commissioner of police was there. “The senator also lamented about brewing reports of people bypassing BVAS, and people stocking ballot boxes inside houses adding that some of his party agents were chased out in some local government areas.

“The supplementary elections went very well until the national commissioners in collaboration came from Abuja. In collaboration with the PDP, they decided to subvert the process and do a coup against the APC.”

“You cannot have a supplementary election without having the main election. It was the failure of the conclusiveness of the main elections that gave out supplementary elections. What happened in Fufore was a coup.”

Adamawa Guber: God forbid Binani becomes governor – Babachir Lawal

By Christiana Ekpa

Former Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Babachir Lawal, has said it was impossible for Aisha Binani of the All Progressives Congress, APC, to become the governor of Adamawa State.

Lawal claimed that Binani was not qualified to be governor of Adamawa, adding that she does not have the character for the position and did not get the required votes during the first Governorship election conducted by the Independent National Electoral

Commission, INEC, on March 18.

Speaking on Arise TV on Monday, the former SGF said: “ God forbid, it is impossible for Binani to become governor of Adamawa State.

“At the initial, she was not qualified, she does not have the character and she did not get the vote. During the first election, take note that I am not PDP or APC.

“But the PDP got 421525 votes and the APC got 380275 votes, the PDP was leading with over 31,000 votes at that stage. Now after the collation of about 20 local governments out of 21 in

Adamawa, the remaining one local government remains, and that is where the problem started.

“They started doctoring the results, they stole the results and started manipulating it.”

Lawal’s assertions are coming after the controversy that trailed results collation after Saturday’s supplementary election in the state

The Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) for Adamawa gubernatorial election, Hudu Yunusa-Ari, caused a major uproar after he announced Binani winner of the governorship election on Sunday while collation was

ongoing.

Before the collation exercise was suspended on Saturday night, results from ten local government areas had been announced and Binani was trailing the incumbent governor and the PDP candidate, Ahmadu Fintiri.

However, INEC swiftly denounced the purported declaration and suspended the collation of results of the supplementary election.

The electoral umpire further summoned the REC to Abuja with immediate effect.

Governorship Petition: Tribunal orders substituted service on Sanwo-Olu

The Lagos State Governorship Election Petition Tribunal has granted an ex parte application by Labour Party’s gubernatorial candidate, Mr Gbadegbo Rhodes-Vivour, for substituted service on the state Gov. Babajide Sanwo-Olu.

Rhodes-Vivour and Labour Party, through their counsel, Mr Olagbade Benson, had informed the tribunal that Sanwo-Olu evaded service

of the petition on him by the court’s bailiff.

They alleged that Sanwo-Olu refused to collect the document from the bailiff when the court official got to his office to serve him.

In the petition number EPT/LAG/GOV/04/2023, they are praying the court to grant them leave to serve the petition and other processes on the governor and his deputy through substituted means, by

posting same via DHL courier services or any other recognised courier service company, to the respondent’s official residence at Lagos House, Marina, Lagos.

NAN reports that, on April 11, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) candidate, Mr Abdul-Azeez Adediran known as Jandor, and the Labour Party Candidate, Rhodes-Vigour, separately asked the tribunal to nullify Sanwo-Olu’s re-election and declare them the winners.

The petitioners had challenged the outcome of the March 18 Governorship Election in Lagos State in which the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) declared Sanwo-Olu winner.

NAN also reports that the Lagos State Election Petition Tribunal has received a total of 48 petitions in respect of the 2023 elections held on Feb. 25 and March 11.

(NAN)

Senator Abbo

NECA to FG: Additional taxes would make businesses more vulnerable, stifle consumption

From Abubakar Yunusa ABUJA

The Nigeria Employers’ Consultative Association (NECA) says any attempt by the federal government to increase taxes will lead to a negative impact on households, individuals, and businesses.

Adewale-Smatt Oyerinde, NECA’s director-general, took this position in a statement on Sunday.

The International Monetary Fund (IMF) had recently called on the government to reduce its debt by focusing on increasing the tax basket and compliance as a means of generating revenue to cut borrowing.

IMF, in its latest fiscal monitor, titled, ‘On the Path To Policy Normalisation’, noted that Nigeria’s debt was projected to continue to rise and urged the government to remove fuel subsidies and direct them to health and education.

Reacting to recommendations by the multilateral firm, Oyerinde said the move to increase taxes in order to reduce borrowing as suggested by the IMF, would only lead to disaster for an economy struggling to stay afloat.

“For a private sector already overwhelmed by multiple taxes, the imposition of additional taxes on services will make the business community more vulnerable with a trade-off on growth and job creation,” Oyerinde said.

“More taxes, of course, will weaken the purchasing

power of individuals and stifle consumption, with attendant consequences for social cohesion.

“It may defeat any attempt to widen the tax net as taxpayers would consider tax avoidance measures.

“There will be massive capital flight, and the drive for direct foreign investment could be defeated.”

Oyerinde further said the government should consider

widening its tax net as the association had posited on many occasions and at various fora.

He also said the association was in support of the IMF’s recommendation to the government to consider widening its fiscal net, as it is the way to go.

“In addition, one of the problems governments at all levels in Nigeria have is the rising cost of governance,” he added.

“If the cost of governance can be addressed decisively, it has the tendency to reduce borrowing since recurrent expenditure will automatically decrease.

Speaking on the subsidy removal palliative from the World Bank, Oyerinde said the $800 million fund was “not necessary”.

Rather, he urged the government to give attention to fixing the refineries and making them operational in the coming

months before the removal of petrol subsidy.

“Already, experts and the polity at large have frowned against the loan facility and have proposed definitive approaches including fixing the refineries,” he said.

“Also, investigate, without delay, the subsidy regime with the view of exposing the alleged corruption associated with it; this should not be a difficult thing for the government to do.”

FAAN asks travellers to make contingency plans as aviation workers begin 2-day strike

From Abubakar Yunusa ABUJA

The Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) of the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport (NAIA) chapter has advised travellers and stakeholders to make contingency plans in order to avoid missing their appointments.

The authority’s management issued the advisory in a statement on Monday in Abuja.

FAAN was speaking in regards to the planned strike by aviation unions which could affect scheduled flight operations.

The agency said the management of NAIA would open the airport for operation as usual, but warned that

Okonjo-Iweala: What

From Abubakar Yunusa ABUJA

Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, directorgeneral of the World Trade Organisation (WTO), says the COVID-19 pandemic taught the world how important global value chains have become for job creation and inclusion.

Speaking at the World Bank/IMF (International Monetary Fund) Spring meetings in Washington DC, the WTO DG, said the COVID-19 vaccine supply chain gave a lot of insight as to how the redistribution of the global supply chain can be structured for more inclusive jobs across the developing world.

“Global value chains are the backbone of trade. Global value chains make up to 45 to 55 percent of world trade. And there are forces for inclusion, they create jobs and help to increase incomes,”

passengers may experience “disruptions in flights operations as a result of the planned strike action”.

The aviation authority expressed regret over any inconvenience that passenger may face.

“The management of the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria, Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, wishes to inform the general public of the aviation union’s planned twoday warning strike scheduled to start Monday April 17, 2023,” FAAN said.

“Intending passengers and stakeholders are kindly advised and note so as to make contingency plans in order to avoid missing their flights and appointments. Any

inconvenience experienced is highly regretted.”

Last Friday, the aviation unions announced plans to embark on a warning strike in protest against unpalatable working conditions and entitlements.

The unions involved are the National Union of Air Transport Employees (NUATE), Air Transport Services Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (ATSSSAN), and the Association of Nigeria Aviation Professionals (ANAP).

Others are the National Association of Aircraft Pilots and Engineers (NAAPE), and the Amalgamated Union of Public Corporation Civil Service Technical and Recreation Services Employees.

The workers are demanding the approval and implementation of the condition of service (CoS), as agreed between them and the Salaries, Incomes and Wages Commission (NSIWC), the office of the head of civil service of the federation, and other agencies.

Others are the nonimplementation of minimum wage consequential adjustments and arrears for the Nigeria Meteorological Agency (NiMet) since 2019 and the planned demolition exercise of all the agency buildings in Lagos by the minister of aviation for an airport city project.

In a memo signed by the leadership of the five unions, the workers said an indefinite strike would ensue, if the two-day warning strike fails.

COVID-19 taught us about job creation

Okonjo-Iweala said.

“Actually studies have shown that when you have global value chains spreading, per capita incomes go up.

“During the pandemic, when we had to deal with vaccines, we had these meetings with the CEOs of the vaccine manufacturers, Pfizer, Moderna, and so on. And what they said; the mRNA vaccine, the Pfizer one is spread over 19 countries.

“The supply chain is spread over 19 countries and manufacturing in 86 sites. It’s incredible the force they can be for creating jobs and employment; I see them as a force for inclusion.”

Advancing her argument on the role the global supply chain plays in driving employment and inclusion, OkonjoIweala, said the world needs to look beyond China and India/Indonesia for

the expansion of global value chains.

“We are saying that at this time when global supply chains are trying to build resilience by not being concentrated in one country or the other, we need to see this as an opportunity to encourage them to spread to more developing countries as a force to bring even SMEs and women into the value chains,” she added.

“Let’s not just talk about China plus one when we’re thinking of diversification of supply chains, when they say plus one, it means Indonesia or India. Let’s talk about China plus Morocco, China plus India, China plus Nigeria, China plus Senegal, China plus Bangladesh, China plus Brazil, Costa Rica.

“With this kind of approach global value chains can really be a force for

inclusion.”

Okonjo-Iweala: 75% of West Africa’s trade finance needs are not met Citing a study by the World Trade Organisation (WTO) and the International Finance Corporation (IFC), Okonjo-Iweala added that 75 percent of the trade finance needs of West Africa are not being met.

The WTO DG said West Africa has only 25 percent of its trade needs met, “this is below the average of 40 percent for the whole of the continent”.

She said “If we were to bring access to trade finance within West Africa to the overall average of Africa,” that will drive eight percent growth across the continent.

Okonjo-Iweala said the WTO and IFC “are collaborating in a fantastic manner” to increase trade finance in Africa and across the developing world.

The Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria (IPMAN) has raised alarm over the circulation of low density grade of automotive gas oil (AGO), also known as diesel, in the south-east region of the country.

Density is “the mass of fuel per unit volume”.

Chinedu Anyaso, IPMAN chairman of the Enugu depot community in charge of Anambra, Ebonyi, and Enugu states, made this known in Awka on Sunday.

Anyaso said the leadership of IPMAN had received reports of damaged vehicles and industrial machines from members of the public as a result of suspected offspec diesel.

He said the association had set up a taskforce to unravel the

IPMAN warns of circulation of adulterated diesel in south-east

syndicate responsible for the distribution of the unwholesome product in the zone.

The IPMAN chairman said the distribution of such petroleum products was not just a two-fold hazard for customers, but also an economic sabotage which should be discouraged by all.

“IPMAN wants to alert members of the public, especially those buying automotive gas oil or diesel, to be cautious when buying the

product because, there is a report of low density quality in circulation,” Anyaso said.

“We have received reports of possible fake product in circulation which has affected vehicles and machines negatively, so we are advising that they be more careful.

“On our part as an association, we have already set up a taskforce to monitor the situation and find out those who are responsible for sourcing and distributing the

product across the zone.”

Anyaso urged marketers, especially those who do not buy from depots, to ensure that the products they are procuring are authentic, as ignorance on the part of defaulters would not be tolerated.

He added that IPMAN would work with the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA) and relevant security agencies towards removing the unwholesome

product from circulation.

In January this year, train services were disrupted along the Abuja-Kaduna route due to poor quality of diesel it received by the management.

The Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC) had explained that the diesel “fell short of the specification required to operate our rolling stock, [and] was outrightly rejected after statutory laboratory test”.

LPG marketers: FX scarcity, multiple taxes responsible for high cooking gas price

From Abubakar Yunusa ABUJA

The Nigerian Association of Liquefied Petroleum Gas Marketers (NALPGAM) has attributed the hike in the price of cooking gas to fluctuations in the exchange rate, multiple taxes, and the scarcity of foreign exchange.

Bassey Essein, executive secretary of NALPGAM, spoke on Sunday in an interview with NAN.

In its latest report on liquefied natural gas (LPG) prices, the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS), had said the average retail price for refilling a 12.5 kilogramme (kg) cylinder of cooking gas declined by 0.23 percent from N10,277.17 in January 2023 to N10,253.39 in February 2023.

On the other hand, the agency said average retail price for refilling a 5kg cylinder of LPG increased by 0.26 percent from N4,588.75 recorded in January 2023 to N4,600.57 in February 2023.

Speaking on the price increase, Essein said marketers’ inability to frequently import LPG to boost domestic supply, was a challenge.

He said while the price of cooking gas was still high, it has remained stable since the beginning of the year, compared to the price last year.

“The source of LPG, for some time now, has been predominantly from the Nigeria LNG and has never met the demands,” he said.

“This is because of the supplydemand gap and market dynamics. All these work in concert to affect the price. Hence, the price goes up.

“The inability to import LPG as frequently as before and to augment the inadequate domestic supply is due to major factors [like] FX, exchange rate, and taxes.”

Recommending some solutions, Essein called for more investment in the gas processing sector in the country, urging the federal government to grant necessary “incentives that attract investors”.

He also asked the government to “remove taxes and tariffs on gas”.

“The penalty for gas flaring l learnt has been increased. Maybe it will work because if a company recognises the penalties paid on these, it might encourage the worthwhile investment in gas

processing.” Essein said.

On his part, Oladapo Olatunbosun, NALPGAM president, advised the government to create incentives to encourage exploration.

Olatunbosun said foreign and

local investors could be encouraged to explore and invest more in the gas business.

He added that such investments are necessary because Nigeria has an abundant supply in the soil and under water; as well as the needed

storage facilities.

“The price is coming down gradually. The only solution to bring price down significantly is to improve on supply,” he said.

“Mark you, inflation affects all pricing. We should also know that

the value of our currency is a factor.

“Why price is a major issue is because the purchasing power of the masses is low.

“As a country, we should plan for increasing the local supply through exploration.”

Q4 loss shrinks Nigerian Breweries’ profit further to N13bn

From Abubakar Yunusa Abuja

The Nigerian Breweries’ group closing after tax profit of N18.7 billion at half year, shrank to N13 billion at full year 2022, as the company operated the entire second half at a loss. A loss of about N4 billion occurred in the third quarter (Q3), which cut the profit figure to N14.7 billion, and a further loss in the final quarter, again, lowered the bottom line for the year.

The brewing company lost the impressive profit growth record of 79.5 percent year-on-year at the end of Q3 and managed to step up 4 percent on its closing group after-tax profit of N12.7 billion in 2021.

This was the question mark we placed on the company’s earnings outlook at the end of Q3 — whether the growth rate would be maintained to full year or lost in the final quarter.

The company’s audited financial report for the full year ended December 2022 shows that even the moderate profit improvement was

squeezed out of a huge tax saving. A much bigger loss could have occurred in the final quarter had it not been for a drop of 62.3 percent in income tax expenses to N4.2 billion.

Pre-tax profit dropped by 26.8 percent to N17.3 billion in the year, reflecting increased operating pressure in the final quarter. The cost saving from tax expenses made the big difference between the drop in pre-tax profit and the moderate improvement in after-tax profit in the year.

Two major expense lines generated the operating pressure that consumed revenues and created losses for the company over the last two quarters of the year. Net foreign exchange loss maintained the lead in cost increases as seen in the interims — multiplying close to four times to N26.3 billion at the end of the year.

The huge net foreign exchange loss of the company reflects the major foreign exchange difficulties faced by manufacturers generally in 2022. The drop in pre-tax profit is

a direct effect of the swollen foreign exchange losses in the year.

The second source of operating pressure is marketing and distribution expenses, which rose by 38 percent to N135.8 billion and claimed 63.8 percent of gross profit against 61.3 percent in the preceding year.

The company’s management was able to keep input cost moderated, as it grew below sales revenue at 21.8 percent to N337.3 billion compared to 25.9 percent growth in sales revenue for the year. Nigerian Breweries generated a turnover of N550.6 billion in 2022, improving from N437.3 billion in 2021.

The stronger growth in sales than input cost powered a top record increase of 33 percent in gross profit, amounting to N213.3 billion at full year.

Part of the gain was claimed by the strong growth in selling and distribution expenses, a drop of 35.4 percent in other income to less than N3 billion ;as well as a net loss of

N575 million in financial assets for the year.

The incursion lowered the increase in operating profit to 24.7 percent to close at N51.7 billion.

The company was able to reduce its cost of finance from N11 billion in 2021 to N8.4 billion in 2022. This is despite that its borrowings multiplied from N31.4 billion at the end of 2021 to N122.2 billion at the end of 2022.

The jump in net foreign exchange loss pushed net finance cost from N17.8 billion to near doubling at N34.4 billion over the same period.

Nigerian Breweries was on the second year of recovery in 2022 after three years of running profit drop bottomed at N7.4 billion in 2020. It rebounded with a profit leap of 72 percent to N12.7 billion in 2021, which slowed to the moderate improvement in 2022.

The company is paying a final cash dividend of N1.03 per share, having paid an interim cash dividend of 40 kobo per share at the end of Q3.

BU$IN€SS Interview

From Abubakar Yunusa, Abuja

In the course of your presentation, you mentioned that the you will spare no efforts protecting investors, both minority and majority interest in companies that seem to be listed on the market. Could you just share with us from those efforts that we made to protect our interest?

Now, protection of investors is really the central mandate of the commission and when the commission protects investors, we do not discriminate between minority and majority shareholders. So when there is a case of de-listing, the application for de-listing comes to the commission and we go through it very carefully to ensure that the shares of the company being delisted are actually fairly valuable because fair valuation is what protects all investors, all the shareholders. So we ensure that this is really fairly valuable. If there are any issues, we actually take this application back to the issuing houses and get this sorted so that nobody that is in the company is actually treated unfairly. So, that is how the commission uses its regulatory power to ensure that both minority shareholders and majority shareholders are treated equally and fairly.

What is the update on unclaimed dividends?

Thank you very much for this question. I think we have answered the questions on unclaimed dividends severally. This is a figure that is dynamic, that is evolving. So at the moment, I will not give you a very specific figure, but I will let you know that there are arrangements that have actually been developed for managing the unclaimed dividends administration. You know that there is the unclaimed funds trust fund that has been established by government and unclaimed dividends are part of unclaimed funds that will be taken into this unclaimed fund trust fund, others are unclaimed deposits in bank, among others.

So there are efforts that are currently being made to ensure that this fund starts working. But the thing is that this fund is not taking over unclaimed dividends of people, if at any time anybody comes up with a claim for unclaimed dividends, the fund actually has been designed to pay that claim. But instead of allowing this fund to remain idle, this unclaimed fund trust fund is supposed to help in developing the country economically so that this will actually benefit both people who have this unclaimed dividend as well as other citizens who do not own them. Now I think these are the first two questions they are all on unclaimed dividends. If you want further details, we can actually engage with you to give you more specific details on these mechanisms that have been provided.

What is SEC doing on the crisis rocking Seplat currently?

We as a commission have issued a public statement on the engagements that we have had with both Seplat as a company and NGX, the exchange on which it is quoted and which is under our supervisory purview. And we have examined the issues surrounding Seplat, and we have come to the conclusion that these issues are not issues that really relate to the fundamental economic activity of Seplat as a corporate entity.

The production of Seplat has not been affected. Work at all Seplat facilities is continuing as it should, but there are issues surrounding some of the members of the board and some of the shareholders. And we have urged the board to pay attention to these issues, both the administrative issues

Why Equity Market Is Doing Well In Nigeria —Says SEC Boss

that have been raised and also the legal issues that have been raised. And at the moment, I will say that we are satisfied that Seplat is working in accordance with the agreements reached at that meeting to ensure that these issues are followed through by Seplat to a logical conclusion.

We continue to receive updates from the board of Seplat about the current situation in the company and will continue to engage and to support the company to go through these issues fairly so that the interest of shareholders of Seplat is protected.

Nigerians are worried about the foreign portfolio that has been dropping over time and in recent times, we have also seen that retail investors are reducing their participation in the market. So I am asking this afternoon, what are the ways that the SEC is planning on bringing both sets of investors, both foreign investors and retail investors in Nigeria, back into the market?

This is a very important question and it’s a question that talks to the attractiveness of both the capital market and also Nigeria as an investment destination. Now, the things that determine whether foreign investors come to a particular destination and whether retail investors who are domestic want to reinvest are similar but they are also quite different. When you have very good companies listed in the market like the Nigerian Capital Market. Companies that have good fundamentals, companies that are selling products, that have a ready market.

If you look at many of the companies on our market, they are actually doing very, very well even relative to other countries where they operate in. Now, if you are a domestic investor, clearly you have very little reasons not to participate in a market that is quite vibrant and right now, if you look at the equity market in Nigeria, it is actually doing very, very well relative to many other jurisdictions. We closed 2022 very well and 2023 is looking also well, in spite of all, the challenges that we know exist in both the global economy as well as in the domestic economy.

Now for a foreign investor, no matter how attractive the domestic economy is, domestic capital market is, a foreign investor will always factor in the ability to transfer their domestic earnings into foreign exchange so that they can repatriate this foreign exchange to their countries. Now at the moment we all know that we are having some challenges with the foreign exchange situation in Nigeria. That is international investors who are invested, you know, reporting some delays in assessing foreign exchange for the repatriation of their dividends or their capital.

So because of this, you are seeing a reduced proportion of foreign investors in the Nigerian Capital Market relative to what this Market has been used to. That is a situation that is not permanent. We expect the foreign exchange situation in this country to substantially improve.

There are a lot of economic developments

in the country today that actually are laying the foundation for a much more vibrant foreign exchange in the country. We do use a lot of our foreign exchange to import refined petroleum products. We know at the moment that the Dangote refinery in Lekki once it comes on stream, it will have the capacity of 650,000 barrels per day of refined petroleum products, lubricants, and the rest. So that means that a lot of the importation that is happening now should actually be sourced from this source and the amount of foreign exchange you are now wasting on importing refined petrol should substantially moderate if this huge refinery comes on board. It is actually very close to completion, so this is really a good thing.

Secondly, in terms of the other aspects, Nigerian economy really has a good potential to generate foreign exchange from a lot of non-oil sources. So once this is realized, you will see a much higher generation of foreign exchange in Nigeria. If you have a higher generation of foreign exchange from non-oil sources and reduced utilization of foreign exchange to import the refined petrol, you’ll find that these two, should give you a much better situation where you can now use, the greater availability for exchange to meet the needs of investors who are interested in really taking advantage of the economic opportunities existing in our country. So I think that is what I would say to that question. So it is not a situation that has no solution. The solutions are there, but right now this solution are actually in various stages of development. By the time they all come to full development, you will see that this situation should improve considerably.

Are we expecting the ISB to be signed before the end of this present administration?

As I said, we expect the ISB to be presented to Mr. President for his assent. And the Capital Market and the development of the Capital Market is something that’s really very close to the heart of this administration. If you look at the Capital Market Master Plan, it started exactly in 2015, when Mr. President came to office the first time. And a lot of the development that we have seen today in the Capital Market, I mean e-dividend, direct cash settlement and

all this huge effort that you are seeing in the Capital Market were a direct result of those efforts from 2015.

So the tenure of this administration is closely actually aligned to the most important development that have happened in the Capital Market over the last eight years. And it is only fitting that this Investment and Securities Bill that has been in the works. Remember, we had an attempt to reform and we couldn’t actually get it through the National Assembly.

You know, I think it was the eighth assembly or even earlier because the one we are working with is 2007, but it’s almost 15 years and a lot of developments have taken place within Capital Markets globally. And of course, within Nigerian Capital Market over those years, some of the biggest companies today in the world, never existed. You know, when the Investment and Securities Act was promulgated in 2007.

So, I am very, very confident that the very good work that must happen and have decided over in the Capital Market. You know, from 2015 to date has now been capped very fittingly with the smooth passage of the ISB through the Nigerian National Assembly. I’m very confident that Mr. President will sign this bill into law before his term of office finishes on the 29th of May of 2023.

So I’m really very optimistic about this and I’m very happy and also very grateful to Mr. President for his support of the commission and of the market, over all these years there has never been a single request that we made to government that was not granted. And I think this is very, very good. We have seen development in the commodities trading ecosystem. Today, the revised ISB 2023 actually has a full section of provisions on the regulation of the commodities trading ecosystem. And I think this is really something that is a big thing. And it’s a game changer because if you look at the strength of this country in commodities, if we start trading these commodities on organized changes, okay the impact on economic development of Nigeria and all the duration of non-oil exports is really massive. Okay. So I really think there are lots of things that the ISB has that would really appeal to the heart of the government to get it assented to n as possible.

SEC Boss

Monarch tasks FCTA staff on promoting peace

By Stanley Onyekwere

The Ojurin of Ijurin-Ekiti in Ekiti state, Joachim Afolabi has called on the staff of Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) to centre their activities on peace and not hatred.

He said as civil servants, they must not come to work or office wrapped in anger, hatred and malice.

Afolabi stated this when the Director of Press in the office of Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Anthony Ogunleye led some staff of the administration on a thank you visit to the Oba, after burying his father at the weekend.

The monarch said occupying a high position in an office should not be seen as an opportune time to stoke embers of hatred.

According to him: “Peace is a fundamental thing that will make any administration or setting to succeed, so I am calling on all the staff of the Federal Capital Territory Administration to always promote peace.

“A void issues that we bring hatred, don’t just issue somebody a query because the person comes late to work, try to know why the person is behind schedule to office.

“Let you people uphold peace and shun acts capable of bringing hatred in the administration, Peace and unity should take the centre stage”.

On his part, while fielding questions from journalists in the Oba’s palace, Anthony Ogunleye said his father was a good man, who during his days on earth was a committed christian and a teacher.

Ogunleye said: “Our father was a principles good man, the legacy he left behind we will continue to build on it. My father was a honest and an honourable man. He was a man who lived his life with simplicity and dignity”

“He was a committed family member, a committed community member, he loved his village, he loved his people, he loved his wife.

“As his children, there is nothing we can do but to sustain our father’s legacy “.

Traffic congestion: FCTA dismantles shanties at Deidei, Kubwa

By Stanley Onyekwere

In continuation with its reinvigorated clean up exercise, a combined team of FCT Administration’s city management officials yesterday stormed and cleared structures mainly makeshift shops that allegedly encroaching on road corridors and power installations within Kubwa and Deidei, in Bwari Area Council of Abuja.

Most of the affected structures kiosks, extensions attached to perimetre fence of Deidei Livestock, tables and chairs used for various trading activities, purportedly constituting environmental and security challenges in the area.

However, as the team accompanied by a joint team of security personnel went deep into the clean up exercise, some persons attempted to carry out a mop action, by hurling stones at the officials, who managed to disperse them, and continued their work.

Explaining the exercise, the Special Assistant to the FCT Minister, Comrade Ikharo Attah, said due to the volatile nature of the area, a strong combined team was mobilised

to free the traffic congestion by getting rid of shanties along the major road corridors, which also constitutes security threat to road users and other residents.

Attah added that the whole Deidei road axis is about the issue of removing the entirety of illegalities around the place particularly the service lane of the Zuba-Kubwa Expressway is fully covered, and the other main lane is also blocked road connecting down to Zuba axis is also blocked as well as the Livestock market area is completely blocked.

He said: “We came out for a general clean up in Kubwa, Deidei and Zuba axis. And during the exercise in Deidei, the team came under attack, because Deidei has been known to be volatile with so much criminalities and illegalities in the place.

“So we are removing illegalities, so as to free Deidei from traffic congestion and security threats.

“We have been able to do very sufficient work in Deidei and Kubwa. We know that for sure that some of the criminal elements will want to resist that, but as a government we pushed them back, minor injuries sustained

and we are good to go.

“One or two persons were injured but largely, the area is calm now, and those who are criminal elements, who tried to stop the enforcement were dispersed, and work continued”.

Reacting to the development, one of the Livestock dealers at Deidei, Murtala Idris, expressed sadness over the exercise, which he said was carried out without due notice.

“We are not happy, because it is the same government through the management of the International Livestock Market that gave us the permission to be build shops for our livestock activities there, and they generate revenue from us.

“And we were not adequately informed about the exercise, even they were the ones that gave permitted us to build shops here, and so there is no expectation that they will just came and demolish everything without due notice, that is why I’m not happy.

“Now, I have been displaced, but if the government had notified me to remove my shop, I will follow the rules, and remove it myself”.

Journalists urged to boost enrollment into health insurance scheme

By Stanley Onyekwere

The Executive Director, International Society for Media in Public Health

Mrs. Moji Makanjuola, has admonished journalists to help boost enrollment into available health insurance in the society, in order to widen access to efficient healthcare.

Makanjuola noted that the

media has a role to play in encouraging people to buy into the health insurance scheme, noting that no one is immune to sickness, disease or death.

She spoke during a recent two-day engagement with the media on the need to create more awareness of the scheme to residents of the FCT.

While speaking on the topic, ‘Principles of Effective,Journalis

m,Communication/Engagement for Health/Life, she called on journalists to be alive to their responsibility of informing, educating and entertaining the public.

She added that the media has a role to play in encouraging people to buy into the health insurance scheme, noting that no one is immune to sickness, disease or death.

“No one is spared out of illness; everyone is subject to it. We must do all we can to always check on our health regularly.

“Many diseases, medical conditions or death can be totally avoidable if we work towards that. Nigerian journalists must be alive to their responsibility of informing the public about basic needs of life, including health,” Makanjuola stressed.

FBI makes arrests over alleged secret Chinese ‘police stations’ in New York

US prosecutors have arrested two men in New York for allegedly operating a Chinese “secret police station” in Manhattan’s Chinatown neighbourhood.

Liu Jianwang, 61, and Chen Jinping, 59, both New York City residents, face charges of conspiring to act as agents for China and obstruction of justice.

They are expected to appear in federal court in Brooklyn on Monday.

China has previously denied operating the stations, calling them “service centres” for nationals overseas.

Mr Jianwang and Mr Jinping worked together to establish the first overseas police station in the United States on behalf of China’s Ministry of Public Security, the US Department of Justice alleged on Monday.

The outpost was closed in the fall of 2022, the department said, after those involved became aware of an FBI investigation into the station.

“This prosecution reveals the Chinese government’s flagrant violation of our nation’s sovereignty by establishing a secret police station in the middle of New York City,” said Breon Pearce, the top prosecutor in Brooklyn.

The stations are believed to be among at least 100 operating across the globe in 53 countries, including the UK and the

Netherlands. And last month, Canada’s federal government announced an investigation into two Montreal-area sites thought to be police outposts.

“The PRC’s actions go far beyond the bounds of acceptable nation-state conduct. We will resolutely defend the freedoms of all those living in our country from the threat of authoritarian repression,” said assistant attorney general Matthew Olsen, from the Justice Department’s National Security Division

According to prosecutors, Mr Jianwang was closely connected to Chinese law enforcement, and was enlisted to help China with “repressive activities” in the US beginning in 2015, including harassing Chinese dissidents.

In 2018, he allegedly participated in efforts to push a purported PRC fugitive to return to China, including repeated harassment and threats to the individual and his family, living in China and the US. And prosecutors said he was also enlisted to locate a pro-democracy activist in China. Mr Jiangwang denied these actions when confronted by US authorities.

If convicted, both Mr Jianwang and Mr Jinping face up to 25 years in prison.

Chinese embassies in the US and Canada have said the locations are “overseas service stations’’ opened during the pandemic to

assist nationals abroad with driver’s licence renewal and similar matters.

But human rights groups have accused China of using the outposts to threaten and monitor Chinese nationals abroad.

FBI director Christopher Wray said last November that his agency was monitoring reports of such stations, calling them a “real

Ralph Yarl: Black teen shot at doorstep

Protests erupted in Kansas City, Missouri, over the weekend after a homeowner shot a black teenager twice who rang their doorbell by mistake.

Ralph Yarl, 16, was sent by his parents to pick up his brothers from a friend’s house on 13 April, but went to the wrong address.

The suspect shot Mr Yarl through his door.

Police have released the shooter from custody but not identified them.

Mr Yarl was released from hospital on Sunday and is recovering at home with his family, his father Paul Yarl told the Kansas City Star.

“He continues to improve,” his father told the paper. “He is responsive and is making good progress.”

Prominent civil rights lawyers Ben Crump and Lee Merritt are representing Mr Yarl’s family in the case. They criticised officials for releasing the suspect, who they say is a white male.

“You can’t just shoot people without having justification when somebody comes knocking on your door - and knocking on your door is not justification. This guy should be charged,” Mr Crump said.

The suspect was taken to police headquarters to provide a statement before being released. In Missouri, a person taken

into custody for a felony investigation must be released or charged within 24 hours.

Investigators are looking into whether or not the suspect is protected by the state’s Stand-Your-Ground laws, which grant people permission to use deadly force if they feel seriously in danger. Critics say such laws facilitate violence against black people.

“I do recognize the racial components of this case,” Kansas City Police Chief Stacey Graves said. “I do recognize and understand the community’s concern and the community’s response to this particular incident.”

On Sunday hundreds of protesters gathered near the house where the shooting happened, chanting “black lives matter” and “justice for Ralph”.

“This was not an ‘error’, this was a hate crime,” Mr Yarl’s aunt, Faith Spoonmore, told the Kansas City Defender. “You don’t shoot a child in the head because he rang your doorbell. The fact that the police said it was an ‘error’ is why America is the way it is.”

Ms Spoonmore set up a GoFundMe page to raise money for her nephew’s care. According to the page, Mr Yarl meant to pick up his brothers at an address on 115th Terrace but wound up on 115th Street.

The page says, “My nephew fell to the ground, and the man shot him again. Ralph was

problem”.

“To me, it is outrageous to think that the Chinese police would attempt to set up shop, you know, in New York, let’s say, without proper coordination,” Mr Wray said. “It violates sovereignty and circumvents standard judicial and law enforcement cooperation processes.”

after ringing wrong doorbell

then able to get up and run to the neighbour’s house, looking for help.”

The GoFundMe page also describes the teen as “one of the top bass clarinet players in Missouri”, one who “plays multiple instruments in the metropolitan youth orchestra”.

The page had raised $1.5m (£1.21m) as of Monday afternoon local time.

Celebrities like Halle Berry, Kerry Washington, and Jennifer Hudson have taken to social media demanding justice and voicing their support for the Yarl family.

Alabama shooting: Young football star Phil Dowdell killed in Dadeville shooting

Rising sports star Phil Dowdell has been named as one of the victims in a mass shooting at a teenager’s birthday party in Alabama at the weekend.

At least four people between the ages of 17 and 23 were killed at the party in the small city of Dadeville on Saturday.

Twenty-eight more were injured, authorities said, some critically.

Police have not said whether a suspect is in custody.

The city’s local pastor told the BBC the gunman was still at large and urged him to

turn himself in.

On Monday, the flags outside Dadeville High School flew at half mast for the four victims killed on Sunday, identified as 18-year-old Philstavious “Phil” Dowdell, 17-year-old Keke Nicole Smith, 19-year-old Emmanuel ‘Siah’ Collins and 23-year-old Corbin Dahmontrey Holston, according to local media.

Mr Dowdell was attending his sister Alexis’ 16th birthday at a dance studio in the centre of the town.

He was due to graduate from the local high

school to go to Jacksonville State University on an American football scholarship. His mother is also reported to have been injured in the incident.

His grandmother, Annette Allen, told the Montgomery Advertiser local newspaper: “He was a very, very humble child. Never messed with anybody. Always had a smile on his face.”

His sports coach at the local high school, Roger McDonald, described him as an outstanding young man.

“Everybody loved Phil. He always had

a smile on his face. He always spoke to everyone. He was the ideal kid that you want to coach. He wasn’t just a great athlete. He was a great kid,” he told the paper.

One of his friends who played with him on the high school football team, where Phil was the wide receiver, told the BBC: “Phil to me was an amazing friend. God’s got an angel.”

Relatives and friends of Ms Smith said she was a once-promising 17-year-old athlete who was also about to graduate from the town’s high school.

Source; BBC

Jupiter, Venus, the Moon, and Mars should all be easily visible, however Uranus and Mercury might be more of a challenge

Ralph Yarl, 16, is a “fantastic kid” who plays bass clarinet, his aunt said

Sudan crisis: Burhan and Hemedti - the two generals at the heart of the conflict

Asoundtrack of explosions, a skyline dominated by bitter, black smoke, a daily existence of fear and uncertainty as bullets, rockets and rumours fly.

Life in Sudan’s capital, Khartoum, and in many other parts of the country, has taken a sudden, very dramatic turn for the worse.

At the heart of it are two generals: Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, the leader of the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF), and Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo, better known as Hemedti, the head of the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF).

The two worked together, and carried out a coup together - now their battle for supremacy is tearing Sudan apart.

The relationship between the two goes back a long way.

Both played key roles in the counterinsurgency against Darfuri rebels, in the civil war in Sudan’s western region that began in 2003.

Gen Burhan rose to control the Sudanese army in Darfur.

Hemedti was the commander of one of the many Arab militias, collectively known

as the Janjaweed, which the government employed to brutally put down the largely non-Arab Darfuri rebel groups.

Majak D’Agoot was the deputy director of the National Intelligence and Security Services at the time - before becoming deputy defence minister in South Sudan when it seceded in 2011.

He met Gen Burhan and Hemedti in Darfur, and said they worked well together. But he told the BBC he saw little sign that either would rise to the top of the state.

Hemedti was simply a militia leader “playing a counter-insurgency role, helping the military”, while Gen Burhan was a career soldier, though “with all the ambitions of the Sudanese officer corps, anything was possible”.

The military has been running Sudan for most of its post-independence history.

The government’s tactics in Darfur, once described by Sudan expert Alex de Waal as “counter-insurgency on the cheap”, used regular troops, ethnic militias and air power to fight off the rebels - with little to no regard for civilian casualties.

Darfur has been described as the first genocide of the 21st Century, with the Janjaweed accused of ethnic cleansing and using mass rape as a weapon of war.

Uganda’s failure to jail child rapists as teen pregnancies soar

The shocking rise of sexual abuse of young girls in northern Uganda was revealed when it was reported that in the wake of the pandemic there was a more than four-fold increase in those aged 10-14 becoming pregnant. BBC Africa Eye has been looking at why perpetrators are getting away with the crime.

The heavily pregnant girl - no more than 12 years old - looks down at her hands as the local council chairman asks about her latest visit to the doctor.

It is the sort of question a family member should be asking, but this is no normal pregnancy.

The girl lives on her own in a small home, in Kitgum district, and is expected to give birth any day.

Her parents’ cassava business failed, so they returned to their village to find money for the family.

“She was left here because here is a little bit nearer to the schools,” chairman Obita David Livingstone says.

“But the unfortunate part, the next room here is where people drink. That alone has exposed her to a lot of challenges.”

No-one knows who the father is, or what happened.

‘Three cases a week’

BBC Africa Eye is only allowed to film this girl, who we are not naming, because Mr Livingstone said he wanted to raise awareness of the sexual violence happening in the community.

“In a week, we always have like three cases of defilement. Sometimes when we get the perpetrator, we have to tie them with ropes and take them, escort them to the police. But they don’t bother to follow it up.”

He is fed up with such levels of impunity.

“There is nobody who can really support the person who has been raped. To me I look at this justice as a weak justice,” the local chairman says.

Defilement means unlawful sexual intercourse with a girl below the age of 18.

According to Uganda’s Health Management Information System, pregnancies among girls between the ages of 10 and 14 increased by 366% during the country’s first Covid lockdown (March-June 2020).

At the regional general hospital in Gulu nearly a quarter of all pregnancies in the last financial year were girls under 18, the age of consent in Uganda.

Dr Baifa Arwinyo, the head of obstetrics and gynaecology, said: “If I am talking of teenage mothers, all of them are defiled. They are teenagers, they are not supposed to be pregnant.

“You will find that young mothers are the highest proportion of those dying of obstructed labour. The younger the mother, the more the complication.”

‘Sexual abuse was a war strategy’

The high levels of sexual violence are thought to be a legacy of the two-decade conflict in northern Uganda, which was infamous for its brutality.

The war was started by Joseph Kony, head of the Lord’s Resistance Army (LRA), a rebel group that wanted to overthrow the government.

His fighters were known for their inhumane treatment of those they abducted: maiming, cutting off lips and limbs, and forcing people into submission through fear.

It is estimated 40,000 children were abducted, forced to become soldiers or sex slaves, and 1.7 million people lived in internally displaced camps.

The rebels moved on from Uganda in 2008, but the after-effects of their atrocities are still present today, according to gender rights activist Pamela Angwech, director of Gulu Women Economic and Globalisation, a grassroots non-governmental organisation (NGO).

“Living within a toxic, minefield

environment had long-term effects on the community. People are used to seeing dead bodies, people are used to seeing death. Sexual abuse was used as a military strategy by the LRA team.

“I describe it as the war was fought in the body of the woman and the woman became the battlefield.”

Few people ever saw justice for the heinous crimes committed during the war.

One LRA commander, Dominic Ongwen, was tried at the International Criminal Court (ICC) and found guilty of 61 counts of war crimes and crimes against humanity in February 2021.

Kony is also wanted by the ICC but his whereabouts remain unknown.

According to lawyer Eunice Lakaraber Latim, who works for NGO Caritas, that legacy of a lack of accountability thrives in northern Uganda to this day.

“Growing up from Gulu, I saw so many children getting defiled, and most of those parents did not have the resources to pursue the justice that their children deserved.”

‘My child lives in pain’

Ms Latim took Africa Eye to the family of a three-year-old girl who was raped by a relative.

The mother only found out after she noticed the child’s style of walking changed. When the police came to arrest her relative, she says they asked her for money to “transport him”.

“I was then expected to feed the prisoner,” says Ms Latim.

“You have to literally pay your way to get justice. You have to pay money for fuel to have the suspect apprehended.

“You’re supposed to provide feeding for them while they’re still at the police station.”

The suspect was held for six months, but because some of the correct legal procedures were not followed, he was released on bail. The mother simply did not have the means to keep pursuing the

case.

Police and medical reports confirm that the three-year-old had been infected with a sexually transmitted disease.

“My child is still in pain, even now. The infection has never healed,” her mother said.

“He should face a prison sentence. I didn’t want it to end this way.”

Ms Latim says it is not unusual for the justice system to fail victims, saying they have had a number of cases that have fallen apart.

“There is a lot of corruption. People don’t fear committing crimes here, because they say, if you have money, you will get out. That is what is happening.”

Nachula Damalie, the regional police commander of Aswa, acknowledges the problems with how some cases are handled, but she denied corruption is rife.

“We are not supposed to ask a victim to pay for our services. But sometimes I should accept that we can run out of fuel. Yes.

“Now with the corruption, it has been a general perception that police officers are corrupt, but not all are corrupt, just like any other institution would be. We have good ones and bad ones.”

The Minister of State for Northern Uganda, Grace Freedom Kwiyucwiny, also admits there are problems.

“I can’t deny corruption. Corruption is there. It’s at all levels, even at ministries’ level,” she says.

“We have laws on defilement, we have laws on incest, but somehow again, people just go behind the law and bribe police and then police say, ‘OK, go and settle it at home.’ There are cases which have been prosecuted, but the number is not high.”

None of the suspects in any of the cases BBC Africa Eye investigated were prosecuted.

Source: BBC

Hemedti eventually became the commander of what could be described as an offshoot of the Janjaweed, his RSF.

Gen Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo (L) and Gen Abdel Fattah al-Burhan (R) both lead powerful forces

N ews F rom A si A

Vladimir Kara-Murza: Russian opposition figure jailed for 25 years

Opposition activist Vladimir Kara-Murza has been sentenced to 25 years in jail in Russia for charges linked to his criticism of the war in Ukraine.

He was found guilty of treason, spreading “false” information about the Russian army and being affiliated with an “undesirable organisation”.

The Russian-British former journalist and politician is the latest of several Putin opponents to have been arrested or forced to flee Russia.

He has denied all of the charges.

Mr Kara-Murza, 41, has spent years speaking out against Russian President Vladimir Putin and, alongside the war in Ukraine, has also been critical of the government’s crackdown on dissent.

Last week, he said in a statement that he stood by “every word that I have said... Not only do I not repent any of this, I am proud of it.”

“I know that the day will come when the darkness engulfing our country will clear,” he added in remarks posted online. “Our society will open its eyes and shudder when it realises what crimes were committed in its name.”

Mr Kara-Murza’s 25-year sentence, which has been widely condemned, was the maximum sought by prosecutors and is the longest sentence an opposition figure has received since the war in Ukraine began.

It took only minutes for the judge to rule on his casesometimes the delivery of verdicts and announcing sentencing can take a long time in Russian courts.

The judge said Mr Kara-Murza would serve his time in a “strict

regime correctional colony” and that he would be fined 400,000 roubles ($4,900; £4,000).

The tough sentence is a sign that in today’s Russia the authorities are not only determined to silence critics but also to neutralise anything or anyone they believe represents a threat to the political system.

The BBC was not allowed access into the courtroom and only a handful of journalists from Russian state media were granted access, along with the defendant’s mother and lawyer.

Instead, reporters and foreign ambassadors crowded into a separate room to view proceedings on two TV screens.

Speaking outside the court after the sentencing, his lawyer Maria Eismon, said the sentence was “terrifying” but also a “high appreciation” of her client’s work.

“When [Mr Kara-Murza] heard it was 25 years, he said: my selfesteem even rose, I realised I’d been doing everything right!” she said.

Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny also weighed in on Mr Kara-Murza’s sentencing, calling it “revenge” by the Kremlin “for the fact that he did not die at one time” after he allegedly survived two poisonings by Russian authorities.

Mr Kara-Murza played a key role in persuading Western governments to sanction Russian officials for human rights abuses and corruption.

He was arrested a year ago in Moscow, initially for disobeying a police officer. More serious charges were levelled at him once he was in custody.

Mr Kara-Murza’s case was partly based on a speech he made to politicians in the US last

year, where he said Russia was committing war crimes in Ukraine with cluster bombs in residential areas and “the bombing of maternity hospitals and schools”.

Those claims have been independently documentedbut deemed false by Russian investigators who said the defence ministry did “not permit the use of banned means… of conducting war” and insisted Ukraine’s civilian population was not a target.

Another charge stemmed from an event for political prisoners at which Mr Kara-Murza referred to what investigators called Russia’s “supposedly repressive policies”.

Vladimir Kara-Murza will serve his 25-year sentence at a penal colony

Last week, a copy of a speech he made to the closed court was released, in which he said his trial reminded him of a Stalin-era show trial of the 1930s.

“I only blame myself for one thing,” he said.

“I failed to convince enough of my compatriots and politicians in democratic countries of the danger that the current Kremlin regime poses for Russia and for the world.”

His sentence has been widely condemned, with the British government summoning its Russian ambassador and saying that it would look at measures for holding those involved in Mr Kara-Murza’s detention and “mistreatment” to account.

The UK had already sanctioned the judge who presided over the trial for previous involvement in human rights violations.

“Russia’s lack of commitment to protecting fundamental human rights, including freedom of expression, is alarming,” British

Foreign Secretary James Cleverly said in a statement.

The United Nations and the US State Department have also condemned the verdict, with the latter describing Mr Kara-Murza as “yet another target of the Russian government’s escalating campaign of repression”.

Not-for-profit group Human Rights Watch, meanwhile, described the verdict as a “travesty of justice” and called on Russia to “immediately vacate the verdict and unconditionally free him”.

Mr Kara-Murza comes from a well-known Soviet dissident family. His father, Vladimir Sr, was also a Kremlin critic.

He received British citizenship when he moved to the UK as a teenager with his mother and he attended Cambridge University.

He began his career in journalism before becoming an adviser to Boris Nemtsov, another prominent Russian opposition leader and politician who was shot

dead in Moscow in 2015.

Mr Kara-Murza was involved in the passing of the Magnitsky Act in the US - a key piece of legislation that helped secure the adoption of sanctions targeting human rights abusers in Russia.

He nearly died twice after being poisoned and moved to the US with his family to recover. He later returned to Russia but refused to leave after the invasion of Ukraine, despite the growing risk to those who opposed the government.

From November: ‘I love and hate this man’

“I love and hate this man for his incredible integrity,” Vladimir Kara-Murza’s wife, Evgenia, told the BBC last year.

“He had to be there with those people who went out on the streets and were arrested,” she said, referring to the many Russians detained for opposing the war.

“He wanted to show that you shouldn’t be afraid in the face of

Evan Gershkovich: US ambassador visits detained journalist

AUS journalist detained by Russia on spying charges is “in good health”, according to the US ambassador to Russia.

Lynne Tracy said she visited 31-year-old Evan Gershkovich on Monday, marking the first time US officials have been granted access to him.

Mr Gershkovich was arrested on 29 March while working for the Wall Street Journal (WSJ) and charged with spying.

He denies any wrongdoing and will appeal his detention on Tuesday.

US consular officials were initially refused access to Mr Gershkovich, and Ms Tracy said Monday’s visit was “the first time we’ve been permitted access to him since his wrongful detention more than two weeks ago.”

“He is in good health and remains strong,” she added.

Mr Gershkovich could face up to 20 years in prison if found guilty of spying. Russia claims he was trying to obtain classified defence information for the US government.

His arrest is the first time Moscow has accused a US journalist of espionage since the Soviet era.

While US officials were initially denied access to Mr Gershkovich, lawyers for the WSJ were able to see him.

His employer said it was doing “everything in our power to support Evan and his family”.

The WSJ said he first dropped out of contact with editors on 28 March while he was working in the Russian city of Yekaterinburg.

Press freedom watchdog Reporters Without Borders said he was covering the Russian mercenary group Wagner, which

has taken part in some of the heaviest fighting in eastern Ukraine in the city.

Last week, the US designated him as “wrongfully detained” by Russia, which means more resources can be allocated to securing his release.

Various politicians across the US also called for Mr Gershkovich’s immediate release, including US President Joe Biden, who on Tuesday said his imprisonment was “totally illegal”.

Senate Republican and Democratic leaders, Mitch McConnell and Chuck Schumer released a rare joint statement condemning his detention.

“We demand the baseless, fabricated charges against Mr Gershkovich be dropped and he be immediately released.”

Source: BBC

Vladimir Kara-Murza pictured during a hearing in October 2022

Evan Gershkovich has been in a Russian prison since late March

How artificial intelligence is matching drugs to patients

Dr Talia Cohen Solal sits down at a microscope to look closely at human brain cells grown in a petri dish.

“The brain is very subtle, complex and beautiful,” she says.

A neuroscientist, Dr Cohen Solal is the co-founder and chief executive of Israeli health-tech firm Genetika+.

Established in 2018, the company says its technology can best match antidepressants to patients, to avoid unwanted side effects, and make sure that the prescribed drug works as well as possible.

“We can characterise the right medication for each patient the first time,” adds Dr Cohen Solal.

Genetika+ does this by combining the latest in stem cell technology - the growing of specific human cells - with artificial intelligence (AI) software.

From a patient’s blood sample its technicians can generate brain cells. These are then exposed to several antidepressants, and recorded for cellular changes called “biomarkers”.

This information, taken with a patient’s medical history and genetic data, is then processed by an AI system to determine the best drug for a doctor to prescribe and the dosage.

Although the technology is currently still in the development stage, Tel Aviv-based Genetika+ intends to launch commercially next year.

An example of how AI is increasingly being used in the pharmaceutical sector, the company has secured funding from the European Union’s European Research Council and European Innovation Council. Genetika+ is also working with pharmaceutical firms to develop new precision drugs.

The company hopes its work will be in strong demand in the future. There are more than 280 million people globally who suffer from depression, according to the World Health Organization.

And while taking antidepressants certainly won’t be

the correct treatment for all, it has long been estimated that almost two thirds of initial prescriptions for depression or anxiety may not work properly.

“We are in the right time to be able to marry the latest computer technology and biological technology advances,” says Dr Cohen Solal.

Dr Heba Sailem says that the potential for AI to transform the global pharmaceutical industry, which generated revenues of $1.4 trillion (£1.1tn) in 2021, is huge.

A senior lecturer of biomedical AI and data science at King’s College London, she says that AI has so far helped with everything “from identifying a potential target gene for treating a certain disease, and discovering a new drug, to improving patient treatment by predicting the best treatment strategy, discovering biomarkers for personalised patient treatment, or even prevention of the disease through early detection of signs for its occurrence”.

New Tech Economy is a series exploring how technological innovation is set to shape the new emerging economic landscape.

Yet fellow AI expert Calum Chace says that the take-up of AI across the pharmaceutical sector remains “a slow process”.

“Pharma companies are huge, and any significant change in the way they do research and development will affect many people in different divisions,” says Mr Chace, who is the author of a number of books about AI.

“Getting all these people to agree to a dramatically new way of doing things is hard, partly because senior people got to where they are by doing things the old way.

“They are familiar with that, and they trust it. And they may fear becoming less valuable to the firm if what they know how to do suddenly becomes less valued.”

However, Dr Sailem emphasises that the pharmaceutical sector shouldn’t be tempted to race ahead with AI, and should employ strict measures before relying on its

predictions.

“An AI model can learn the right answer for the wrong reasons, and it is the researchers’ and developers’ responsibility to ensure that various measures are employed to avoid biases, especially when trained on patients’ data,” she says.

Hong Kong-based Insilico Medicine is using AI to accelerate drug discovery.

“Our AI platform is capable of identifying existing drugs that can be re-purposed, designing new drugs for known disease targets, or finding brand new targets and designing brand new molecules,” says co-founder and chief executive Alex Zhavoronkov.

Its most developed drug, a treatment for a lung condition called idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis, is now being clinically trialled.

Mr Zhavoronkov says it typically takes four years for a new

drug to get to that stage, but that thanks to AI, Insilico Medicine achieved it “in under 18 months, for a fraction of the cost”.

He adds that the firm has another 31 drugs in various stages

of development.

Back in Israel, Dr Cohen Solal says AI can help “solve the mystery” of which drugs work.

Source: BBC

The company hopes its work will be in strong demand in the future. There are more than 280 million people globally who suffer from depression, according to the World Health Organization. And while taking antidepressants certainly won’t be the correct treatment for all

Dr Talia Cohen Solal, left, is using AI to help her and her team find the best antidepressants for patients

The global pharmaceutical sector had revenues of $1.4 trillion in 2021

Alex Zhavoronkov says that using AI is helping his firm to develop new drugs more quickly than would otherwise be the case

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GROWTH AND WELFARE TO PROVIDE AWARENESS OF FINANCIAL EMPOWERMENT, TRAININGS AND WORKSHOPS THAT IMPACTS POSITIVELY ON THE QUALITY OF LIFE TO ORGANIZE AWARD CEREMONIES TO ENCOURAGE HARDWORKING, INTELLECTUAL, INTELLIGENT AND SUCCESSFUL WOMEN AND YOUTH TO UNDERTAKE ACTIVITIES THAT PROMOTE QUALITY HEALTH CARE AND FEEDING FOR CHILDREN TO PARTNER WITH NATIONAL & INTERNATIONAL NGOS AND GOVERNMENTAL AGENCIES FOR THE ATTAINMENT OF SPECIFIC GOALS THAT PROMOTES THE WELFARE OF CHILDREN, WOMEN AND YOUTHS TO EDUCATE YOUNG PEOPLE AGAINST DRUGS AND ALCOHOL ABUSE. ANY OBJECTION TO THIS REGISTRATION SHOULD BE FORWARDED TO THE REGISTRARGENERAL, CORPORATE AFFAIRS COMMISSION, PLOT 420, TIGRIS CRESCENT OFF AGUIYI IRONSI STREET , MAITAMA , ABUJA WITHIN

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THE AMINU CHRISTOPHER TERHEMBA MOHAMMED (ACT-M) FOUNDATION

THIS IS TO INFORM THE GENERAL PUBLIC THAT THE ABOVE NAMED HAS APPLIED TO THE CORPORATE AFFAIRS COMMISSION (CAC), ABUJA FOR REGISTRATION UNDER PART ‘F’ OF COMPANIES AND ALLIED MATTERS ACT, ( CAMA 2020).

THE TRUSTEES ARE :

JEKELLE HELEN ELENA - CHARIMAN

BANDI SAM KWENDO

VERR BERNARD BEEIOR AMASETIMIN

JIWUNDE PRISCILLA DEVAAN - SECRETARY

ADEBAYO CYNTHIA NNENA

YUWA MTSOR

AHMADU MUSA DANJUMA

OJOWU GEORGINA SEEMBER THE AIMS AND OBJECTIVES ARE :

TO PROVIDE EDUCATIONAL SUPPORT THROUGH SCHOLARSHIPS AND DONATION OF EDUCATIONAL MATERIALS FOR ORPHANS AND VULNERABLE YOUTHS TO PROVIDE SKILL ACQUISITION AND CAPACITY BUILDING TRAININGS TO YOUNG PEOPLE TO ENHANCE SOCIO- ECONOMIC GROWTH AND WELFARE TO PROVIDE AWARENESS OF FINANCIAL EMPOWERMENT, TRAININGS AND WORKSHOPS THAT IMPACTS POSITIVELY ON THE QUALITY OF LIFE TO ORGANIZE AWARD CEREMONIES TO ENCOURAGE HARDWORKING, INTELLECTUAL, INTELLIGENT AND SUCCESSFUL WOMEN AND YOUTH TO UNDERTAKE ACTIVITIES THAT PROMOTE QUALITY HEALTH CARE AND FEEDING FOR CHILDREN TO PARTNER WITH NATIONAL & INTERNATIONAL NGOS AND GOVERNMENTAL AGENCIES FOR THE ATTAINMENT OF SPECIFIC GOALS THAT PROMOTES THE WELFARE OF CHILDREN, WOMEN AND YOUTHS TO EDUCATE YOUNG PEOPLE AGAINST DRUGS AND ALCOHOL ABUSE. ANY OBJECTION TO THIS REGISTRATION SHOULD BE FORWARDED TO THE REGISTRARGENERAL, CORPORATE AFFAIRS COMMISSION, PLOT 420, TIGRIS CRESCENT OFF AGUIYI IRONSI STREET , MAITAMA , ABUJA WITHIN 28DAYS OF THIS PUBLICATION. SIGNED : SECRETARY.

THE AMINU CHRISTOPHER TERHEMBA MOHAMMED (ACT-M) FOUNDATION

SKILL ACQUISITION AND CAPACITY BUILDING TRAININGS TO YOUNG PEOPLE TO ENHANCE SOCIO- ECONOMIC GROWTH AND WELFARE TO PROVIDE AWARENESS OF FINANCIAL EMPOWERMENT, TRAININGS AND WORKSHOPS THAT IMPACTS POSITIVELY ON THE QUALITY OF LIFE

TO ORGANIZE AWARD CEREMONIES TO ENCOURAGE HARDWORKING, INTELLECTUAL, INTELLIGENT AND SUCCESSFUL WOMEN AND YOUTH TO UNDERTAKE ACTIVITIES THAT PROMOTE QUALITY HEALTH CARE AND FEEDING FOR CHILDREN TO PARTNER WITH NATIONAL & INTERNATIONAL NGOS AND GOVERNMENTAL AGENCIES FOR THE ATTAINMENT OF SPECIFIC GOALS THAT PROMOTES THE WELFARE OF CHILDREN, WOMEN AND YOUTHS TO EDUCATE YOUNG PEOPLE AGAINST DRUGS AND ALCOHOL ABUSE. ANY OBJECTION TO THIS REGISTRATION SHOULD BE FORWARDED TO THE REGISTRARGENERAL, CORPORATE AFFAIRS COMMISSION, PLOT 420, TIGRIS CRESCENT OFF AGUIYI IRONSI STREET , MAITAMA , ABUJA WITHIN 28DAYS OF THIS PUBLICATION.

SIGNED : SECRETARY.

PUBLIC NOTICE

THIS IS TO INFORM THE GENERAL PUBLIC THAT THE ABOVE NAMED HAS APPLIED TO THE CORPORATE AFFAIRS COMMISSION (CAC), ABUJA FOR REGISTRATION UNDER PART ‘F’ OF COMPANIES AND ALLIED MATTERS ACT, ( CAMA 2020).

THE TRUSTEES ARE : JEKELLE HELEN ELENA - CHARIMAN BANDI SAM KWENDO VERR BERNARD BEEIOR AMASETIMIN JIWUNDE PRISCILLA DEVAAN - SECRETARY ADEBAYO CYNTHIA NNENA YUWA MTSOR AHMADU MUSA DANJUMA OJOWU

Calling Chelsea broken ‘a bit much’ -Lampard

Saying that Chelsea are currently “broken” is “a bit much”, says their interim manager Frank Lampard.

The Blues sacked manager Graham Potter earlier this month with the team 11th in the Premier League, despite spending more than £550m on players this season.

The Champions League is the last competition they can win this season but they trail Real Madrid 2-0 before Tuesday’s quarter-final second leg.

“We are not where we want to be. That’s clear,” said Lampard.

“But I think the word broken is a bit much.

“The league position is a reality, and we are 2-0 down in this game. We have to work against that.”

Real have won the Champions League a record 14 times, beating Liverpool in last season’s final, and are second in Spain’s La Liga.

So Lampard was asked if overturning Real’s advantage from the first leg and reaching the semi-finals would rival 2012 when, as a player, he helped Chelsea win the Champions League for the first time.

“I don’t think anything that happens tomorrow will be better than winning the Champions League,” said the 44-year-old, who is Chelsea’s record goalscorer.

“We had many difficult moments on that run - against Barcelona and Napoli. It was a huge run where there were a lot of big achievements.

“But considering the score now, the team we are up against and the moment we are in, we have to fight really hard to make it happen so, of course, it would be special.”

Lampard has ‘no problem’ with Boehly coming into changing room

The Telegraph has reported that Chelsea’s co-owner and

chairman Todd Boehly went into the changing room after Saturday’s 2-1 home defeat by Brighton and delivered a speech to the players, during which he called the club’s situation “embarrassing”.

Speaking on Monday, Spanish goalkeeper Kepa Arrizabalaga said: “Todd comes into the changing room after every game. He has had different chats with us over different games.

“I’m not going to say what he said but it is normal for him to come into the changing room.”

Lampard was then asked about the American investor, who completed his takeover of Chelsea last summer, coming into the changing room.

“I am comfortable with that,” he said. “There was maybe some criticism of our old owner [Roman Abramovich] for not coming to games and not being around, and that wasn’t always true.

Lampard says Blues got basics wrong in Brighton defeat

“I think when an owner is very invested in their interest in the team and wants to help them improve, it is their prerogative to have the input that they want.

“I remember as a player, the owner first coming into the dressing room. It happened here at Chelsea but had never really happened for me before. I remember being happy you could high-five the owner and listen to them.

“I don’t think it’s a bad thing in terms of the identity of the club and where you want to get to, I have no problem with it. I have my thing to say after the game. If an owner comes in and wants to be positive, wants to speak to the players, then I think it’s absolutely in their power to do that.

“Like Kepa has said, it can be regular in the modern day, and I’ve no problem. In fact.

I think it shows passion and that’s the first thing that I like.”

‘No favourites in search for new manager’

During Lampard’s 11 days back at Stamford Bridge, it’s fair to say things haven’t gone to plan.

He’s suffered three losses and now has another match against the European champions, where Chelsea are

already 2-0 down.

It would be a huge shock if they managed to win the game but Lampard sent the message that ‘anything is possible’ at his pre-match news conference.

Lampard is only back at the club until the end of the season and the search for their third permanent manager in 12 months is under way.

It’s been reported that

Julian Nagelsmann has been approached. Chelsea are conducting a wide search to try to get this appointment right and build on the project they have planned.

I have been told that there are no favourites at this stage and the club are going to speak to a number of candidates before they pick their next manager.

Lampard says calling Chelsea broken ‘a bit much’

AC Milan Thrash Napoli In Victor Osimhen's Absence

Serie A league leaders, SC Napoli had a night to forget on Sunday as they were thrashed 4-0 by visiting AC Milan in what is regarded as the Champions League quarter-final rehearsal with their talismanic goals scorer, Victor Missing due to injury

In the first of three matchups between Milan and Napoli this month, the defending Serie A champion routed this season’s runaway leader 4-0 on Sunday ahead of two more clashes in the Champions League quarterfinals in two week's time.

Rafael Leão scored twice and Brahim Diaz set up one goal and scored another to hand Napoli its heaviest defeat of what otherwise has been an extraordinary season.

“We’re happy with the performance but it’s just one game,” Milan coach Stefano Pioli said. “Tonight’s result has nothing to do with the Champions League games, because that’s a different competition. That will be a very balanced contest.”

Napoli’s only other losses in the Italian league this season both came by scores of 1-0, to Inter Milan in January and to Lazio a month ago.

Napoli was also beaten 2-0 by Liverpool in the final match of the Champions League group phase but that loss came after the Partenopei had already clinched a spot in the round of 16.

Otherwise, Napoli’s only other defeat in 2022-23 came against Cremonese on penalties in the Italian Cup.

Milan moved up to third place, 20 points behind Napoli and four points behind Lazio.

Milan controlled from the start at the Diego Armando Maradona stadium and Diaz set up Milan’s early opener for Leão with a perfect through ball. Leão — last season's MVP — then did the rest by chipping in over Napoli goalkeeper Alex Meret.

Diaz produced some more fireworks when he faked out Mario Rui to score with a deflection from close range in the 25th.

It marked the first time that Napoli conceded twice in the opening 25 minutes of a Serie A game since a match against Juventus in Aug. 2019.

P R T

Boston Marathon: Evans Chebet retains men’s title & Hellen Obiri wins women’s race

Kenya’s Evans Chebet successfully defended his Boston Marathon title - with two-time Olympic champion Eliud Kipchoge back in sixth.

Chebet won in two hours five minutes and 54 seconds, with

compatriot Kipchoge finishing 3:29 behind him.

It is only Kipchoge’s third defeat in his previous 18 marathons.

Kenya’s Hellen Obiri, competing in just her second race over the marathon distance, won

the women’s race in 2:21.38.

Chebet is just the sixth man in history to retain the Boston title and the first since 2008.

Switzerland’s Marcel Hugh won his sixth Boston title in the men’s wheelchair race while home

hope Susannah Scaroni won the women’s event.

Tributes were paid in the city on Sunday to mark 10 years since the Boston Marathon bombing, which killed three people and injured 280.

Bala Nikyu resigns as Nassarawa United Coach after poor run of form

With eight defeats, two wins and two draws in 12 matches, Bala Nikyu, Technical Adviser of Nasarawa United FC, has parted ways with the Club on mutual consent after three seasons at the helm of affairs.

The former Nigeria U-17 female national team coach’s exit from the Solid Miners followed the team’s extremely poor results in the ongoing 2022/23 Nigeria Premier Football League Season, particularly the 1-2 home loss to newcomers, El-Kanemi Warriors FC of Maiduguri on matchday 12 on Saturday, 1st April, 2023, at the

New Jos Stadium.

Nassarawa United are in danger of relegation to the second division, Nigeria National League, NNL after collecting just 8 points from 36 in 12 league matches in the abridged league and are 9 on Group A table which has ten clubs

Coach Nikyu thanked the Club and its wonderful supporters for the opportunity given to him to serve, describing Nasarawa United as a big and amazing club with so much to offer.

The Management of Nasarawa United headed by

Chief Barr. Isaac Danladi, has welcomed the decision of Coach Bala Nikyu to throw in the towel, and wished him the best in his future endeavour.

Subsequently, the Management has confirmed that Head Coach, Abubakar Arikya, will become Acting Technical Adviser pending the appointment of a substantive Technical Adviser, with Samson Keshi Marwa, Balarabe Ibrahim and Ibrahim Yahaya Sabo working as his assistants.

Barr. Danladi told the Club’s Media: “This is not the best time for us as a Club in the league.

“We thank the Coach for his

wisdom to step down from his role. Yes, the results are not what we ever envisaged, but we hope this is the best for both parties, going forward.

“We have but six league matches remaining and we have a herculean task on our hands to stabilize in the league.

“There is no better time to join forces than now. Everyone has to be at his best to ensure the highest possible result for our darling Club and our teaming supporters.”

Bala Nikyu was first appointed as Nasarawa United Coach in November 2018 and later reappointed in 2021.

Evans Chebet (left) has won three marathons while Hellen Obiri’s triumph in Boston is her first marathon win

The futility of scientists’ latest attempt to create a human being

Barcelona: Joan Laporta says investigation over referee payments is ‘ferocious attack’

An investigation into claims that Barcelona paid referees for preferential treatment is part of a smear campaign, says club president Joan Laporta.

Prosecutors allege Barcelona paid Jose Maria Enriquez Negreira, former vice-president of Spain’s referees’ committee, 8.4m euros (£7.4m).

Barcelona say the money was for consultancy work.

“This is one of the most ferocious attacks in our history,” Laporta said.

“I am convinced that FC Barcelona has not committed any crime of sports-related corruption. I hope that sooner rather than later it is fully exonerated.

“I ask FC Barcelona supporters to be as united as ever in defence of our crest, our essence, and our ownership model, which is that of a club owned by all of its members.”

Last month a court heard that Barca had been indicted on charges of “corruption”, “breach of trust” and “false business records”.

European football’s governing body Uefa has said it is also investigating the matter.

Laporta said Barcelona have a paper trail of the payments made between 2001 and 2018.

“Some services were provided,” he said. “They were documented. There were invoices, payments registered in the accounting books. There was no crime of corruption.”

Laporta accused La Liga president Javier Tebas of trying to “damage Barcelona’s reputation” and said rivals Real Madrid, who have joined the prosecutor’s case, have always been favoured in terms of refereeing decisions.

Last week, this columnist touched on scientists’ latest attempt to create a human being through Ectolife, quoting them extensively on its purpose and objective. EctoLife is an artificial womb in a stationary facility, propelled by advanced technology. Scientists say that they are replicating the ‘exact conditions’ that are prevalent in a woman’s womb during pregnancy in EctoLife. They remark that it will help solve problems associated with pregnancy and childbirth as well as infertility, among others. Once they fertilise an egg in their laboratory, the embryo there from is then put in this artificial womb called EctoLife to continue its growth. And at ‘full term’’ according to them, with a push of the button the baby is delivered from the artificial womb to the parents to take home. ‘This is fantastic’, I can imagine many people exclaiming while many others I sense, are already fantasising about it.

Although no baby has come out of EctoLife as yet, scientists and other experts in the related field are optimistic that it could become a reality in some ten years time. They assert that they have been able to ‘crack’ the later stages of pregnancy in that they are able to nurture premature babies(who stayed only 20 weeks in their mothers’ belly) in an incubator where it continues to grow to maturity and taken home by their mothers alive and well. They would also say they have been able to figure out the beginning in that they are able to create an embryo from where a baby develops, in their labs, through In Vitro Fertilisation (IVF). So, what remains for them to figure out according to the experts is about the first 20 weeks, from the time the embryo is formed. Pregnancy lasts for about 40 weeks. And

By VICTORIA NGOZI IKEANO

for them the complete solution is this ectoLife, artificial womb powered by latest technological innovations. It is notches higher than the incubator in their inventions. One must commend scientists and others for the efforts they have been making over the years to invent, develop things that help facilitate life here on earth. And they shall continue to make steady progress in this respect, as evidenced in technological and other technical advances. In fact there shall be no end to such advances and discoveries for the ingredients for them are already at hand. The foundation for them had been set. Now what these scientists have been excelling at and will continue to excel in relates to inanimate things which also include artificial intelligence. They cannot step beyond the bounds of what is earthly, physical, because their brain is limited to earthly issues only. With regard to the human being the origin of whose core lies beyond this earth, what scientists have been focussing on over centuries is the physical body only. The best of the world’s scientists cannot create a

human being. What they can create or rather develop is a physical body without life. The human being comprises the physical body and the soul/spirit within which is what animates the physical body, gives it life. When the spirit within the body leaves it which we call death, the body decays because it is of matter while the spirit journeys to the higher realms above, spiritual realm, heaven.

In the first four months of pregnancy what a woman carries in her womb is a developing physical body. And in the middle of pregnancy the spirit/soul incarnates (enters) into the physical body. This is when the woman feels the twitches (first movement) of the baby. As soon as the spirit/ soul enters the little body, it simultaneously animates it; the blood within the baby begins to circulate. Note that at death the blood stops circulating because that which animated the body, that is the spirit/soul has left it.

Now it is only the special radiation of a woman (let us call it a kind of ‘power’ imbued her by the Almighty GOD) that enables her to attract a spirit/ soul into a growing body in her womb. Therefore even if a

man has reproductive organs, he cannot produce a baby because he is not imbued with that special radiation needed for attracting a spirit/soul into it. And that is why in the case of IVF, for it to achieve the desired goal, scientists have to put into a woman’s womb, the little physical body they have formed in a lab for a human spirit/soul to be able to incarnate into it and hence birth a human being.

So, in the case of this latest development of an artificial womb called EctoLife, a human spirit/soul cannot possibly enter into the little physical body that is developing there because there is a missing link, the natural radiating process within a woman that can form a ‘bridge’ that enables a human spirit/soul to incarnate into it, thereby animating it and bringing it to life. Note that in the case of premature babies that are nurtured in an incubator, incarnation had already occurred, these are hence already human beings. To conclude, what the advanced scientists with advanced technology are forming and developing is a lifeless physical body in which a human spirit cannot incarnate. This can only happen with a woman, in a woman’s womb with her special radiation for attraction. They are only creating humanlike models, not a full-blooded human being.

Therefore even if a man has reproductive organs, he cannot produce a baby because he is not imbued with that special radiation needed for attracting a spirit/soul into it. And that is why in the case of IVF, for it to achieve the desired goal