Thursday, January 19th, 2023 Edition

NSCDC warns vandals to desist from dismantling public infrastructure

he Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) has warned vandals to desist from the nefarious act of vandalising public infrastructure.

Mr Olusola Odumosu, NSCDC Director Public Relations told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Wednesday in Abuja that the Corps had put in place measures to deal with culprits.

The director said it was worrisome that vandals have targeted pipelines, rail lines, manhole covers and bridges in their continued sabotage of national assets.

“Vandalism of bridges constitutes great risks and dangers to the lives of users as they could fall to their untimely deaths unknowingly. “A bridge could also collapse once it

becomes weakened by the destruction of its various parts which makes it structurally deficient at some points. “ The Federal government is investing heavily in infrastructural development in the country and has provided bridges amongst other public utilities to ensure safe mode of movement for citizens,” he said. The director reiterated that NSCDC would intensify

monitoring of all infrastructure and arrest of vandals across the country. He enjoined citizens to join hands with security agencies in ensuring adequate protection and safety of lives and public infrastructure. Odumosu said Nigerians should give useful and prompt information to the Corps and other security agencies to ensure proper protection of public assets.(NAN)

NCoS spent over N697.34m on personnel welfare in 2022 – CG

The Nigerian Correctional Service (NCoS) says it has spent N697.34 million on welfare of serving, retired and deceased personnel of the service between January and December 2022.

The Comptroller General, NCoS, Mr Haliru Nababa, said this at the 17th anniversary of the Correctional Welfare Insurance Scheme, on Wednesday in Abuja.

Nababa said that the welfare of serving, retired and deceased personnel of NCoS alongside members of their families remained paramount in the

policy thrust of the service.

He said that the workshop offered unique opportunity to take stock of the operations of the insurance scheme, evolve new ideas and strategies to make it better, in line with current economic realities.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the theme of the workshop is “Making Retirement a Happy Experience”.

According to him, the correctional welfare insurance scheme also centre on entrepreneurship skills development, exploring

investment opportunities and business risks management, among others.

“Worthy of note is the fact that the scheme has been able to pay 242 death claims to the respective Next of Kin to the tune of N330, 522, 488 between Jan. and Dec. 2022.

“For those who sustained various degrees of injury in the line of duty, medical claims amounting to N86, 113, 890 were paid to 325 personnel while 304 beneficiaries got retirement claims totaling N280, 707,239.

“To aggregate all the

payments within the period under review, 871 beneficiaries received N697, 343, 617,” he said.

Nababa said that the service was conscious of the fact that the best of laws, policies and plans could not yield fruitful results without a highly motivated workforce.

He, therefore, assured that the scheme would continue to grow stronger and better for the collective benefit of all.

“We are committed to ensuring that enduring reforms continue to manifest in all fronts,” Nababa said.(NAN)

R-L: Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde; Chairman, Implementation Committee of Emmanuel Alayande University, Oyo, Prof Deji Omole; former Speaker, Oyo State House of Assembly, Senator Mosurat Sunmonu; Anthoney General and Commissioner for Justice, Prof Oyelowo Oyewo and Prof Olusegun Ajiboye during the inauguration of the committee held at Executive Chamber, Governor’s Office, Secretariat, Ibadan. PHOTO: Oyo Gov’s Media Unit.

Israel ready to support Nigeria with intelligence in tackling terrorism

Israel says it is ready to support Nigeria in the areas of Intelligence sharing, modern combat equipment and extraction of relevant information to effectively win the ongoing war against terrorism.

Retired Lt.-Col. Jonathan Konricus, who served in the Israel Defence Force (IDF) said this in Jerusalem, while answering questions from some Nigerian journalists who are in Israel on a media tour.

Responding to questions from Journalists, on how Israel is willing to support Nigeria in fighting terrorism and insecurity in Nigeria, Kornicous said “what Israel has is a lot of experience.

“Therefore, sharing knowledge, strategies and tactics on how to deal with terror organisation is one.

“Second is training, how to train forces better, the second thing is how to train forces in order to deal with counter terrorism or counter Gorilla operations.

Gbajabiamila congratulates Prof. Ogunsola on investiture as 13th

UNILAG VC

By Christiana Ekpa

The Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rep. Femi Gbajabiamila, has congratulated Prof. Folasade Ogunsola on her investiture as well the 13th Vice Chancellor of the University of Lagos.

Prof. Ogunsola, who was appointed UNILAG VC in October of last year, became the first female to occupy that position since the inception of the university. She had her investiture as the 13th VC of UNILAG on Tuesday.

Gbajabiamila, in a statement by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Lanre Lasisi, said he believed in the capacity of Prof. Ogunsola to bring more development to the famous university.

The Speaker, who is an alumnus of UNILAG, wished Prof. Ogunsola success in her five-year tenure as the VC.

He said he would continue to support UNILAG and other tertiary institutions in the country so as to secure the necessary educational infrastructure required to produce quality graduates for the benefit of the country.

“Another thing is equipment, equipment is very important, intelligence, and combat equipment, how to collect intelligence on your enemies and how to have the fire power and necessary tools to strike the enemy.

“Those are three elements that Israel can and is involved in few of the cases.

“Intelligence is key and Israel spends a quarter of its defence budget on generating intelligence, sensors, analysis, manpower, and that is what really gives us the upper hand against our enemies.

“However, it is very key especially in fighting terror organisations that are using civilians of making it impossible to distinguish between civilians are combatants.

“For any nation to effectively combat terror organisations, you need equipment, you need manpower, you need the manpower to be trained

adequately in other to deal effectively with counter terror operations,” Kornicous said.

Kornicous said that Israel knowing how prone it is from attacks have invested in interception which had a 92 per cent success rate of interception when Hamas and Islamic Jihad fired 4,400rockets at Israel in 11 days in May 2021.

Responding to questions on how Israeli communities in volatile communities have built resilience, Kornicous said that there is a close connection and collaboration between commuters and security agencies.

”Israel has at least 75 years of experience and in many cases more communities were subjected to attacks by different organisations, It is not a new thing.

“It is a reality, part of the DNA of Israeli communities whereby there is always a close connection between the communities and the security organisations, and mostly

the IDF which is responsible for an area.

“We have specific personnel in each and every community, they have their fast response teams in every community, which is equipped by the military and trained by the military.

”What we have learned is that you have to have a quick first response on the ground within minutes to respond to an attack by terrorists.

“The first response made by locals is very important,” Kornicous added.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Israel and Nigeria first established diplomatic, cultural, and economic ties officially in 1960 after Nigerian independence was established.

Israel contributed significantly to the development of Nigeria as well as other Sub-Saharan African countries in the 1960’s and 1970’s by sending Israeli experts and volunteers to modernize Africa’s

agriculture and teach African farmers sustainable farming techniques.

Since 1992 Israel and Nigeria have enjoyed a friendly and mutually beneficial relationship, with more than 50 Israeli companies investing in Nigerian construction, infrastructure, technology, communications and information technology, agriculture, and water management industries.A Memorandum of Interest (MOU) was signed between the Nigerian and Israeli Ministries of Foreign Affairs in 2006, formalizing bilateral consultations on political issues.

This MOU facilitated increased dialogue and cooperation between the two countries on issues of regional and international concern.

Economic ties between Israel and Nigeria are promoted by the Nigerian-Israeli Chamber of Commerce, and the Israel-Africa Chamber of Commerce. (NAN)

Zamfara Gov approves appointments of 412 permanent academic/non- academic staff for state Varsity

From Ibrahim Sidi Muh’d,

Governor of Zamfara State Bello Mohammed Matawalle has approved the appointment of 412 permanent academic and nonacademic staff for Zamfara State University, being part of efforts at revamping the education sector.

This was contained in a statement by the Special Adviser to Governor Matawalle on Media and Communication, Malam Zailani Bappa.

He said the approval followed an earlier recommendation put forward by the Management of the University which takes immediate effect and was confirmed by the Head of Service, Muhammad Kabiru Gayyari.

In a report by the committee on strategy and development headed by Prof. Yusuf Muhammad Adamu Tsafe, Governor Matawalle had earlier directed the Ministry for Higher Education to liaise with the Management of ZAMSUT to ensure implementation of all key recommendations that would facilitate the smooth take-off of the university.

According to it, building on the directive to implement the recommendations of the report by the Prof. Yusuf-led committee, the university’s Vice Chancellor Prof. Yahya Zakari Abdullahi coordinated the recruitment exercise of both academic and non-academic positions under the supervision of the Ministry for Higher Education and in line with National Universities

Commission (NUC) accreditation requirements and the Zamfara State Civil Service Regulations.

Consequently, out of the 412 recommended candidates, 205 were recommended for appointment as academic staff in various positions comprising Professors, Readers, Senior Lecturers, Lecturers I, Lecturers II, Assistant Lecturers, and Graduate Assistants.

The statement further noted that the positions are spread across all the departments in the university, which include the Nursing Sciences, Public Health, Physiotherapy, Human Nutrition and Dietetics, Geology, Physics, Electronics, Biochemistry and Molecular Biology.

Other were Computer Science, Biology, Chemistry, Mathematics,

Statistics, Accounting, Economics, English, History and International Studies, Islamic Studies, Early Child Education, Primary Education, and Mass Communication.

The remaining 207 candidates were recommended for appointment as non-academic staff in various positions comprising Deputy Registrars, Principal Assistant Registrars, Assistant Registrars, Senior Executive Officers, Administrative Assistants, Principal Accountants, Technologists, System Analysts, Principal Software Developers, Library Officers, Confidential Secretaries, Computer Operators, Health Personnel, Clerical Officers, Artisans, Livestock/ Diary Officers, and Technical Officers, among others.”

Gusau

Illegal occupants from the Federal Civil Service Club Headquarters Abuja, being evicted by the Nigerian Police yesterday

Insecurity: Set up barracks in Edo Central immediately - Reps task IGP, Army Chief

By Christiana Ekpa

The House of Representatives, Wednesday asked the Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen. Farouk Yahaya and the Inspector General of Police, Usman Baba Alkali to set up a Nigeria Army Barracks as well as a Forward Operating Base (FOB) and a Police Mobile Force Base respectively within Edo Central Senatorial District of Edo State to provide adequate security.

The House equally urged Alkali to deploy more mobile police personnel to the area.

Recall that the President of Customary Court, Mrs Precious Aigbonog was adducted on her way to court around Ugoneki Igueben Local Government Area of Edo State on January 9, 2023 and that of the former member of the Edo State House of Assembly, Mr Festus Edughele at Ugoneki town on his way to board a flight to Abuja in Benin City on the same day.

The House resolutions the adoption of a motion titled “Need to Beef up Security Formations in Edo Central Senatorial District of Edo State” moved at the plenary by Hon. Sergius Ogun representing Esan federal constituency of the

2023: Labour party flags off gubernatorial campaign in Gombe

From David Hassan, Gombe

Labour Party in Gombe has flagged off its gubernatorial campaign with the aim of winning the forthcoming general elections.

The gubernatorial candidate of the party Hon. Keftin Amuga stated this while flagging off the campaign on Wednesday.

He said Labour Party which will be the party to beat has experienced talented people that will bring the party to victory.

According to him, “we have prepared for the elections, and God’s willing, we will stand firm to ensure that we secure the seat of governorship in the state.”

Edo State.

Presenting the motion, Ogun said “The spate of kidnappings, armed robbery attacks and insecurity generally in the country, especially in Edo Central Senatorial District of Edo State, thus leading to the loss of lives, and properties and is causing palpable fear and apprehension among residents.

“Also of concern was the subsequent death of DSP Michael Adams which occurred during the rescue operation by a team of the Nigerian Army and the Police over a gun duel with the kidnappers.

“Recognizing the primary responsibility of the government to provide security and welfare for the people of Nigeria, the House urged the security agencies to beef up security in the affected senatorial district.

“On Monday 9 January, 2023, Mrs Precious Aigbonog the President of Customary Court was kidnapped on her way to court around Ugoneki Igueben Local Government Area of Edo State;l.

“Also, a former member of the Edo State House of Assembly, Mr Festus Edughele, was also kidnapped on January 9, 2023 at Ugoneki town on his way to board

a flight to Abuja in Benin City.

“These sad incidents occurred two days after 20 train passengers were kidnapped at the Igueben Train Station while waiting to board a train to Warri, Delta State.

“The concerted effort by the team of Nigeria Army and Nigeria Police Force which led to the rescue of the President of the Igueben Customary Court and Mr Festus Edughele as well as 18 out of the 20 Train Passengers kidnapped.

“The death of DSP Michael Adams during the rescue operation by the Nigerian Army and the Police officers as a result gun duel with the kidnappers.

“The urgent need to beef up security formations in the entirety of Edo Central Senatorial District of Edo State to forestall kidnappings and eradicate other acts of criminality in Esan land and Edo State.

“The setting up of a Police Mobile Force Base and a Nigeria Army Barracks/Forward Operating Base (FOB) within Edo Central Senatorial District will go a long way in wadding off perpetrators of crimes and criminality from Esan land and Edo State in general”.

Adopting the motion, the

House observed a minute of silence in honour of the deceased police officer, DSP Michael Adams, who paid the supreme sacrifice while in active service while mandating its Committees on Army and Police Affairs to ensure compliance and report back within 4 weeks for further legislative action.

In a related development, the House urged the Federal Ministry of Works and Housing to immediately embark on the construction of a pedestrian bridge across the expressway of Okada junction on the Benin-OreLagos Road, Edo State to save the lives of Nigerians forced to run across the highway on daily basis.

Titled “Need to Construct a Pedestrian Bridge on the BeninOre-Lagos Road by Okada Junction”, the motion was moved at the plenary by Hon. Dennis Idahosa.

Presenting the motion, Idahosa noted that the BeninOre-Lagos express road was one of the busiest highways in Nigeria with the high volume of vehicles connecting the southwest to the southeast, north and south-south zones of the country.

He said: “The road connecting

Okada town, Iguobazuwa communities and Benin City on the expressway is a popular Okada Junction, a hub for commercial buses and traders running through over 15 minutes of pedestrian and commercial activities.

“The lives of Nigerians who go about their daily activities on the Okada junction are endangered by the absence of a pedestrian flyover, thus resulting in the loss of lives.

“Residents have continually made a public outcry to the government to construct a pedestrian bridge at Okada junction to avert accidents and loss of lives.

“Apart from the dangers to which human lives are exposed, another challenge is that the nonavailability of pedestrian bridges discourages residents from hustling for their daily economic activities.

“School children, traders and workers have been crushed to death and injured in their attempt to cross the express road”.

Adopting the motion, the House mandated its Committees on Works and Legislative Compliance to ensure compliance with the resolutions.

Chancellor expresses satisfaction with IBBUL medical school facilities

From Yakubu Mustapha Minna

The Chancellor, Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida University, Lapai and Emir of Minna, Alhaji Umar Faruk Bahago has expressed satisfaction

with the level of infrastructural facilities installed at the institution’s Medical College.

The Chancellor made this known during an inspection visit to assess the condition and level of preparedness for the

commencement of academic activities of the department.

The Emir of Minna appreciated the University Management for the structures, assuring that the Visitor, His Excellency, Alhaji Abubakar Sani Bello would be

fully briefed.

Contributing, the Acting Chairman of Governing Council, Professor Muhammed Bashar Nuhu affirmed that a lot have been made preparatory to the take off, noting that the remaining

aspects would soon be completed.

Earlier in his welcome speech, the Vice Chancellor, Professor Abu Kasim Adamu assured that efforts would be made to ensure the commencement of the Medical Programme soonest.

Agroup of civil society organizations known as Patriots Network

Nigeria and Citizens Stability Forum (CSF) has called on detractors of move made by the Department of State Services (DSS) on arrest

and investigation of CBN Governor Godwin Emefiele.

The call was contained in a statement, signed and issued to news men by the

lead convener of the forum comrade Mukhtar Lawal during a press conference organised by the forum.

He explained that, the

forum decided to organize the press conference to looking at how the move to arrest and investigate CBN governor is taking another dimension.

From Mika’il Tsoho, Dutse

Allow DSS to carry-out their constitutional duty on CBN Gov - Group tells detractors

Action Democratic Party (ADP) Director Camphaign, Hon. Ben Kure,- State Chairman Umar Musa,- and State Secratary Hon. John Wyock,- during the Action Democratic Party (ADP) Press Breffing over Invitation to participating Governorship debate by the British Brodcasting Coorporation (BBC) hausa in kaduna on wednesday

Reforms: Police officers less corrupt now, says Minister

By Egena Sunday Ode

Minister of Police Affairs, Mohammed Maigari Dingyadi has said latest assessment from the police authorities has shown that the level of corruption attributed to police officers has drastically reduced.

Dingyadi attributed this feat to reforms initiated by the All Progressives Congress, APC, administration headed by President Muhammadu Buhari.

Although he admitted that no poll was carried out by the police authority to ascertain this claim, Dingyadi said feedbacks gotten from the public, especially from random surveys and observations in the market places and other

locations where personnel are posted, have proved that the situation is getting better.

The Minister made this declaration on Wednesday, after the Federal Executive Council meeting, presided over by Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, at the Aso Rock Presidential Villa, Abuja.

He also disclosed that FEC has approved a draft bill for standardisation of the various police training institutions in the country, which, according to him, will be transmitted to the National Assembly soon for passage.

According to him, the bill when passed and signed into law, will give legal backing to the police training institutes, including making them financially

autonomous for effective and professional policing services.

Explaining the rationale for introducing the draft bill, Dingyadi said its main objective is not to establish new training colleges, but to boost the seven existing police colleges, 15 training institutes and other allied professional institutions across the country.

He said: “ I must say that even before this police proposal or bill, our findings has shown that levels of corruption has drastically reduced because of this government reforms.

“One of the objectives of this bill is to improve standard of teaching and learning in these training institutes which in the long run we are bound to have good

output in terms of professional officers, by implication it will also help reduce issues of corruption”.

FEC also approved the procurement of 31 special utility vehicles to aid movement of workers, at the cost of N1.35billion following ongoing clean up of oil spill sites in Ogoni land.

Minister of Environment, Mohammed Abdullahi made the disclosure on Wednesday.

Abdullahi listed the vehicles to include one 18 seater toyota hiace bus, one 30 seater coastal bus, eleven toyota buses, 15 toyota hilux 2022 model, one toyota land crusier jeep, including two other suvs.

Recall that under the ongoing clean up exercise tagged: Hydrocarbon Pollution

Remediation Project (HYPREP) over $1billion is believed to have been committed to the project.

The project which is backed by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) was flagged off in June 2016 by the Vice President, Yemi Osinbajo.

According to the Minister, “we submitted a memo to FEC for the procurement of some project vehicles for the hydrocarbon remediation project, in view of numerous projects in Ogoni which includes the shore-line remediation, centres of excellence to be built in Ogoni land, there is a need to procure project vehicles which will cost over N1.354billion and was awarded to Messrs MUJAF automobiles Nig Ltd”.

The Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), retired Brig.Gen. Muhammed Marwa, said the agency has secured 3,733 convictions of drug dealers in 24 months.

Marwa who said this on Wednesday in Abuja while briefing newsmen on the activities of NDLEA during his tenure, said 26,458 drug traffickers including 34 drug barons were also arrested within the period.

He said 2,346 convictions were recorded in 2022 alone, the highest in the history of the agency and almost doubled the highest ever recorded in the 33 years of NDLEA.

He added that the agency also counselled 19,401 addicts during the period.

“In 2022, I issued a New Year appeal to them and also warned that those who refused to heed the

warning will find themselves in a difficult situation.

“Already, we have 34 barons in our net and they are facing the music in court. We have secured orders for the temporary forfeiture of their assets.

“In these two years, we arrested 26, 458 drug traffickers, among them, 34 barons. In 24 months, we successfully prosecuted 3,733 offenders who were convicted and handed various jail terms in court.

“This is not happenchance but a result of professionalism, determination, commitment and hard work of our officers, men and women,” he said.

Marwa described 2022 as an epoch year, saying that the agency had taken giant leap in drug demand reduction.

He said that the inauguration of the NDLEA drug abuse call centre had broadened access to treatment and rehabilitation.

“It is a year that NDLEA has

unprecedented support too, notably from the Governors’ Wives Forum which made commitments to broaden and deepen social efforts to ameliorate the consequences of drug abuse,” the chairman added.

Marwa warned that unrepentant drug barons and cartels would face tougher time in 2023, promising to ensure that they spend long time in prison and lose their wealth and assets.

“The signs are clear: we have already in the first two weeks of this year taken down three major drug cartels, one of which has built extensive networks across the world while at least six of their kingpins are in our custody as I speak.

“The details you will get to know in the coming days.

“We also had support from our international partners, chiefly the UNODC, counterparts and governments of the United

States, France, Germany, United Kingdom, India, and South Korea.

“The support came in the form of donations of equipment, training, intelligence and other logistics’’, he added.

The NDLEA boss assured Nigerians that the agency was firmly on the task of making Nigeria safe from illicit substances, adding that it was achievable.

He said that NDLEA would sustain its offensive action and shut down the drug route from other countries into Nigeria.

The chairman pledged that the agency would broaden access to treatment and rehabilitation, and carry Nigerians along on the journey to curb trafficking and abuse of substances in the country.

Marwa warned citizens to be wary in their dealings with people of questionable wealth, saying that the anticipated amendment of the NDLEA Act would strengthen the arm of the agency in its drug law

enforcement.

“We look forward to arresting more barons and the 34 in the net presently will know their fate in court in the weeks and months ahead.

“The Proceed of Crime Act 2022 enacted last year has given us new leverage and I will like to remind those who benefit from the proceeds of drug crimes, this time, families, friends and associates, that our investigations are thorough.

“And where we find any link between a drug baron and private citizens, we shall scrutinise their assets. The onus is now on every citizen to be honest in their financial dealings with people whose source of wealth is suspect’’, he said.

He expressed gratitude to President Muhammadu Buhari and other stakeholders for their support in the total transformation of the agency. (NAN)

NDLEA secures 3,733 convictions in 24 months, vows tougher 2023 for drug barons

...FEC approves draft bill for standardized training colleges ...Okays procurement of 31 utility vehicles for project inspection at Ogoni remediation

From left, Former APC national women leader, Mrs Stella Okotete; Chairperson, Diaspora commission, Hon. Abike Dabiri-Erewa APC Youngest Presidential Campaign Council, Dr. Nicolas Felix and director general National Women Development Center, Mrs Valita Asabe Bashir during second edition symposium of the APC Professionals Forum, on ‘Dissecting the Asiwaju Manifesto’ in Abuja yesterday.

‘Photojournalist’ bags one-year imprisonment for possession of hard drug

A“photojournalist,”

Okon Sunday, has been convicted and sentenced to a one-year imprisonment without option of fine for possession of 1.2kg of cannabis sativa by a Federal High Court, Abuja.

Justice Inyang Ekwo held that he handed down the jail term after the plea for mercy by the convict and his lawyer, C.M. Wancha.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Sunday had pleaded guilty to a onecount charge preferred against him by the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), through its counsel, Lauretta Idiakhoa.

In the charge marked: FHC/ ABJ/CR/369/2022, the 32-yearold convict was arrested on Aug. 5, 2022, at Sabon Lugbe, Abuja, wth 1.2 kilograms of cannabis

sativa, a narcotic substance.

He was said to have committed the offence contrary to and punishable under Section 19 of the NDLEA Act CAP N30, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004.

After Sunday pleaded guilty to the charge, Wancha, in his allocutus, described the convict as “a first-time offender, a photojournalist by profession with aged parent depending on him.”

He said since the day of his arrest and the day he was admitted to bail, he had been of good conduct.

“We are praying this court to temper justice with mercy in sentencing,” he said.

The NDLEA lawyer read out Section 19 of the agency’s Act in the open court following Justice Ekwo’s directive.

KDSG, UNICEF strengthens nutrition data management

From: Femi Oyelola, Kaduna

Kaduna State Government, with support from UNICEF, has taken steps to strengthen nutrition data management to improve decision-making and quality of service delivery across the state.

The State Nutrition Officer, Mrs Ramatu Haruna, stated this yesterday in Zaria at a twoday training on Nutrition Data Management, organised by the State Primary Health Care Board (KSPHCB).

The training, supported by UNICEF, was conducted for state officials, local government, health authorities, nutrition focal persons and monitoring and evaluation officers.

Haruna noted that over the years, there have been challenges on data management at different levels, adding that the training was to increase capacity and enhance skills in nutrition data management.

“Currently, the state, in partnership with UNICEF, is implementing Community Management of Acute Malnutrition (CMAM) in 107 OutPatient Therapeutic Centres in 21 local government areas (LGAs).

“Also, the Community Infant and Young Child Feeding programme is being implemented in the whole 23 LGAs of the state.

“Data from these activities are collected periodically and shared with all stakeholders at all levels of decision making,” she said.

The State Integrated Data Control Coordinator, Mr Jibril Isah, said that the objective of the training was to strengthen competencies of HMIS and nutrition officers on the National HMIS data collection tools.

He added that the training was also to strengthen the competencies of participants to conduct robust desk reviews and analysis of program data and also conduct supportive supervision strategies focused on data quality.

Also, Dr Neyu Iliyasu, Director, Family and Community Health Services, KSPHCB, highlighted

the key role of quality data in decision making for nutrition and other health services.

Iliyasu pointed out that improving the capacity of data managers would significantly improve the quality of nutrition data across the council areas to enable the local councils and state government make informed decisions.

Nutrition Specialist, UNICEF Kaduna State, Mrs Chinwe Ezeife, said that the training was crucial to ensuring effective data management for result-oriented decision making that would improve nutrition indices in the state.

Ezeife, who spoke virtually, encouraged the nutrition focal persons and the HMIS officers to take the issue of quality data management seriously to improve the quality of nutrition service delivery.

“The nutrition data management training is very important to UNICEF given the relevance of data in reporting the nutrition and health status of children.

“It will help to track where the issues are in decision making, for improving nutrition intervention and helping in tracking the quality of nutrition programmes.

“Data is very dynamic and its quality accuracy and completeness are very important to the overall programme and decision making, which will add up to the quality of life of children and human capital development.

“As such, every program manager at all levels, local government and health facilities have to have hands-on practical skills around quality data and reporting,” she said.

Also, the Information Management Specialist, Nutrition Section, UNICEF Nigeria, Ms Jieun Yeom, who took the participants through CMAM and CIYCF data tools virtually, stressed the importance of data quality.

According to her, poor data quality will lead to poor result outcomes and waste of resources.

NAN reports that the Act stipulates a minimum of 15 years and a maximum of 25 years imprisonment for an offender.

The judge, before sentencing Sunday, asked him some questions which go thus: “You told NDLEA that you are 32 years and are you 32 years?” Justice Ekwo asked, and he responded in affirmative.

“Are you married?

“I am engaged,” the convict said.

“How old is your fiancée?”

“23 years,” he said.

“Are your parents alive?

“Yes,” he said.

“Where are they?”

“They are in Lagos,” he said.

“Do they know that you are in this problem?”

“Yes,” he said.

“This lady you are engaged to, is she aware that you are in this

problem?”

“Yes, she is here,” he said.

“Where is she?”

The young lady stood up in the gallery and when the judge asked her what she does for a living, she said she was seeking for admission.

The judge said: “You heard the law; the law says that the minimum I can give you is 15 years and the maximum is 25 years.

“Assuming that I give you the minimum, if you add that to your 32 years of age, how old will you be by the time you come out (from prison)?”

“47 years,” the convict responded sadly.

“By the time you are coming out, do you think your parents will still be alive?”

“No,” he said.

“Do you think that young girl

will wait for you for 15 years?”

“No,” he said.

“You see how you make life not just difficult for you but difficult for every other person. Have you done well?”

“No,” he said.

“What were you doing with this substance?”

“I have a gym and I used to sell it to those that come there,” the convict said.

“Now that you are gong to prison for 15 years, all those people, wil they be coming to see you?”

“No,” he said.

“What do you want me to do for you now?”

“Please, temper justice with mercy,” he begged.

Justice Ekwo, who sentenced him to one-year imprisonment, ordered the prison term to take effect from Aug 5, 2022.(NAN)

FG, WAPCEH collaborate to strengthen environmental health

Environmental Health (WAPCEH) and Environmental Health Council of Nigeria (EHCN) with Permanent Secretary of the Federal Ministry of Health, Mr Mahmuda Mamman during a courtesy visit to the permanent secretary in Abuja

By Vivian Emoni The Federal Government, in collaboration with West African Post-Graduate College of Environmental Health (WAPCEH), has expressed commitment to strengthening and promoting environmental health officers across the country.

Permanent Secretary of the Federal Ministry of Health, Mr Mahmuda Mamman, disclosed this when some officials of WAPCEH and Environmental Health Council of Nigeria (EHCN) visited the ministry on Wednesday in Abuja.

Mamman said that the collaboration would not only promote and strengthen environmental health, but would also move the officers forward, through achieving its mandates and objectives across the country.

He said that the meeting was aimed at discussing areas of collaboration, to see ways of moving the environmental health officers forward.

“The meeting is also to discuss how we can interrogate, collaborate and bring all of us together to discuss, agree and find a way forward on how we can

handle environmental health issues.

“This is part of our discussions, and we have to discuss more in order to identify so many areas where we can work together.

“Also, we have agreed that this meeting will continue in order for us to review the progress made so far from the deliberations,’’ he said.

The permanent secretary said that WAPCEH and some ministries, departments and agencies (MDAs) were already working together to ensure that the aim of the collaboration was achieved.

He further stated that the ministry was working with the Ministries of Environment, Agriculture and Rural Development, Water Resources and other MDAs in the areas of environmental health issues.

Registrar of EHCN, Dr Yakubu Baba, said that the agencies and the MDAs were working together to ensure that the environment sector had strong guides on issues relating to it.

Baba said that the guide was to improve public health, adding that part of the purpose of the visit was to seek ways of strengthening the collaboration between the government and WAPCEH.

“I want to make an emphasis from what the permanent secretary has just said; Nigerians should be aware that there is a new dawn because the spirit of

one health concert already exists.

“We are already working together with cross-cutting ministries and I believe that Nigerians are going to see new changes now that the health ministry will take the leadership in the coordination of environmental health services,’’ he said.

Also speaking, the Registrar/ Secretary of WAPCEH, Dr Rotimi Adeyemi, thanked the ministry and EHCN for the collaboration, adding that the effort would go a long way in fortifying the environmental health officers.

“WAPCEH is concerned about environmental health officers in Nigeria. It is our hope that our discussion today will take the bull by the horns and ensure that other issues are effectively attended to.

“They can deploy health officers to other ministries, such as water resources, environment and agriculture and rural development, but the officers should be domiciled at the health ministry.

“WAPCEH believes that strong collaboration between the college and the government can lead to health development in West Africa.

“This is our concern. We thank the officials of the ministry and we hope to continue from where we stopped today next time we meet,’’ he said. (NAN)

Alhaji Lai Mohammed, Kwara State Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq, APC Presidential Candidate Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, Niger State Governor Abubakar Bello, APC National Chairman Senator Abdullahi Adamu, and APC Vice Presidential Candidate Senator Kashim Shettima, during the Presidential Campaign Rally in Kwara State on Tuesday

From Yakubu Mustapha Minna

The Niger, Kogi Area Command of the Nigeria Customs Service has handed over 317 blocks of compressed cannabis sativa weighing 253.6 kilograms to NDLEA.

The cannabis worth over N20 million was intercepted on Abuja Lokoja highway by customs.

Minna Customs Area Controller Mr Busayo Kadejo while handing over the seized items to the NDLEA, said he has obtain necessary approval from Comptroller General of Customs Colonel Hameed Ibrahim Ali retired to do that.

Mr Kadejo hinted that the action further demonstrated the synergy that exists between Nigeria Customs Service and NDLEA, the security and law enforcement agencies.

From: Femi Oyelola, Kaduna

The Assistant Inspector General (AIG) of Police in Charge of Zone 14, (Kaduna and Katsina) Edward Egbuka, has said that the Force would ensure that its image is not tarnished in the coming general elections.

Egbuka said this yesterday when he paid an official visit to the Kaduna Police Command to interact with its personnel.

He said the visit was to encourage the Police personnel on the good work they are doing to rid the country of crimes.

He noted that the personnel were sacrificing a lot to the service of humanity and their

fatherland, which called for such kinds of visits to encourage and motivate the good work they are doing.

The AIG further said that the visit was also to review operational strategies of the zone to ensure more successes in the fight against crime and criminality within the areas of responsibilities.

“We will also review the zones strategies to ensure a peaceful general election, where we will make sure the image of the Force is not compromised in any way,” he said.

2023: We’ll ensure the image of Nigeria Police not tarnished- AIG Customs hands over N20m worth of Cannabis to NDLEA in Minna

Egbuka thanked the personnel for their sacrifices to the state and the nation in general, while assuring them of the Zone’s support.

Our tenure will expire this year, says NATMP President

By Usman Shuaibu

The national president of the National Association of Nigeria Traditional Medicine Practitioners (NANTMP), Dr Shaba Maikudi, has disclosed that the current executives of the association under his leadership would end

their tenure in November, 2023.

Maikudi made the disclosure while briefing newsmen on Sunday in Abuja, pointing out that due to the certificate of return signed by the electoral committee chairman, the secretary of the committee, as well as the Board of Trustee (BOT) Chairman of NANTMP showed that the tenure

of the present officials would expire in November, 2023.

He said: “I wish to inform the members of the association and the general public that no election will hold on the 28th of January, 2023 as was spearheaded by a few dismissed executives of the association”.

He further pointed out that

the so-called election by a few dismissed executives of the association is a scam capable of defrauding the members.

Maikudi, however, appealed to the entire members of the association not to purchase nomination form from any dismissed members for an election.

2023 : Senator Binani kick-starts gubernatorial campaign

From Umar Dankano, Yola

The Adamawa state gubertorial candidate of All Progressives Congress, APC, Senator Aishatu Dahiru Binani has promised

to use her political influence and connection to change the fortunes of the state if elected as governor come 11th March, 2023.

Senator Binani made the promise while officially

flagging off her 2023 election gubernatorial statewide campaign in the boarder town of Toungo in Toungo local government area in the state yesterday.

She pledged that her 10

points agenda has captured all her administration will provide for the people in the state.

Binani urged electorates to vote for all candidates of the party.

She assured electorate that they will not regret voting her.

Senior Deputy Commissioner of Police, Admin, DCP. Chukwudi Ariekpere,-Assistant Inspector General of Police AIG Zone 14 Edward Egbuka,- (Centre) and Kaduna Commissioner of Police, CP. Yekini Ayoku,

Guild seeks improved incentives for doctors, health workers

National Guild of Medical Directors (GMD) on Tuesday appealed to government at all levels to create an enabling environment and provide attractive incentives for doctors and other health workers.

Dr Raymond Kuti, President, GMD said this in a communique issued at the end of the guild’s Annual General Meeting (AGM).

The theme of the AGM was ‘ Human Resource Management for Healthcare:Challenges, Strategies and Opportunities.’

He said attractive incentives could make doctors and health workers who had left the country come back home.

“Poor working conditions and weak infrastructure with chronic underfunding are compounding the issue with increased workload and overwork for those who remain in service.

“Limited career opportunities for advancement compounded by political interference and the lack of performance-based promotion.

” This leads to low morale and poor attitude amongst the health workforce and the pervasive challenging political climate and insecurity is an important reason for uninhibited brain drain,” Kuti said.

He said the lack of adherence to the Commonwealth Code of Practice for International Recruitment of Health Workers made it easy for other countries to recruit medical professionals with impunity.

Kuti said the guild had however identified strategies that can be adopted by government and private sector organisations to retain doctors in Nigeria and curb brain drain.

Kuti sai’: ”One of such strategies is for the organisations to provide career advancement programmes and opportunities by investing in training, learning and development programs to keep abreast of new innovations.

“Develop and implement enhanced health sector salary and incentives schemes especially in deprived areas to improve quality of life.

“Skills such as effective communications, resilience, leadership, emotional intelligence, empathy, and quality assurance management must be actively taught to health professionalsstarting early in schools.

” This will also help to improve communication channels and provide effective, ethical leadership and governance in healthcare institutions,” he said.

Kuti also said the Human Resources (HR) management was imperative to ease burnout and minimize dissatisfaction while improving work-life balance for healthcare professionals.

He said solutions to mitigate or reverse brain drain among healthcare workers in Nigeria must be practical and adopt

Muslim-Muslim ticket: Court dismisses suit seeking Tinubu’s disqualification

By Vivian Okejeme, Abuja

The Federal High Court, Abuja, yesterday dismissed a suit seeking disqualification of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and Bola Ahmed Tinubu over the nomination of Muslimmuslim candidacy for the 2023 presidential election.

Ruling by Justice Ahmed R. Mohammed indicated that the plaintiff, an Abuja based legal practitioner, Mr Osigwe Ahmed

Momoh have no lack of locus standi to file the suit.

The court held that the lawyer, as non member of APC and having not participated in the process that produced Tinubu and his running mate, Kashim Shetima cannot query them on the nominations.

The Plaintiff prayed the court for an order nullifying the candidature of APC and Tinubu from participating in the presidential election on the

ground that the nomination of Muslim-muslim candidacy is unconstitutional.

He premised his matter on sections 14, 15 and 224 of the 1999 Constitution.

In his brief of argument, he submitted that Muslim-muslim candidacy run counter to the spirit of national cohesion, integration and unity.

Consequently, he asked the court for an order of perpetual injunction to the Independent

National Electoral Commission (INEC) from publishing the name of APC and its presidential candidate for the purpose of the 2023 election.

Justice Mohammed in his judgement disagreed with the plaintiff on legal right to institute the case and subsequently dismissed it in its entirety.

However, the court did not award any cost against the plaintiff.

From left, Chairman, Board of NNPC, Senator Margaret Okadigbo; former APC national women leader, Mrs Stella Okotete; Chairperson, Diaspora commission, Hon. Abike Dabiri-Erewa APC Youngest Presidential Campaign Council, Dr. Nicolas Felix and director general National Women Development Center, Mrs Valita Asabe Bashir during second edition symposium of the APC Professionals Forum, on ‘Dissecting the Asiwaju Manifesto’ in Abuja yesterday.

2023: Group tasks INEC on fairness to political parties

TheAbuja School of Social and Political Thoughts (ASSPT) has tasked the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to be fair to all political parties ahead of 2023 general elections.

The Director of the School, Dr Sam Amadi, made the call at a news conference in Abuja, on Tuesday while speaking on the uploading of party agents for the Feb. 25 presidential election.

Amadi urged INEC to work hard and simplify its digital processes to enable efficient and timely upload of Polling Units (PUs) agents by political parties.

He equally advised the commission to factor the interests and challenges faced by the less established political parties in managing its deadlines.

Amadi said from the group’s interactions with some of the parties “outside the major ones, namely the Peoples Democratic Party, the All Progressives Congress, the Labour Party and the New Nigeria People’sParty” the feedbacks were not encouraging.

“We receive reports of difficulty in uploading party agents including difficulty of using the INEC’s portal and the number of PUs to be uploaded.

“Some of the officials of these parties informed us that INEC official did not notify them that their method will only provide online forms suitable for selfservice and not for enterprise use cases.

“Some of them have also complained that the tasks requires more time that INEC allocates.

“Some of these party officials are requesting INEC to adopt the Enterprise Data Upload Method

which will be easier and faster to enable them to quickly upload their agents.

“And this will enable them be in a position to monitor and defend their votes, especially in the presidential and governorship elections where incentives for rigging and manipulations may be high.

“INEC should recognise the comparative disadvantage of the less established parties and grant them amply opportunity to meet the deadline.

“If INEC is not able to be flexible with its system to enable smooth upload, then it should, within its conveniences and schedule, consider to extend the deadline.

“This will enable effective participation by the less established parties, outside the Big Four to ensure fair participation in competitive election, “ Amadi explained.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the school at the event launched a 2023 Election Observatory to monitor, analyse and provide solutions to issues that would affect the credibility and fairness of the elections.

Amadi said the gesture became necessary in order to help the INEC with necessary information in its preparations towards a credible exercise.

He said, “the objective of the observatory is to offer an independent analysis of the challenges of free and fair election to INEC as the country approaches its general elections.

“We believe that the most important aspect of the electoral process is not the actual voting, but actions taken by the electoral

management body to make voting free and fair.

“We are not engaged in election monitoring but rather in observing and analysing the processes and procedures that guarantee fairness and credibility of voting and declaration of results.

“To this end, we will be having weekly press briefings to highlight challenges and offer solutions to ensure the conduct of the 2023 elections remain free, fair and credible.”

The school urged INEC to ensure that all eligible registered voters collect their Permanent Voter Cards(PVCs) before the election dates to avoid disenfranchisement.

He explained that the logistics could be overwhelming for the institutions, adding that the election is a crucial one and its competitiveness requires more transparency and accountability than in the past.

He commended INEC for the decision to use its staff to conduct the election rather than academics outside its control.

“By establishing a committee of its senior management and taking ownership of the process, INEC is proving that it is learning from the failures of the past and is determined to conduct more efficient and reliable elections in 2023.

“This decision underlines a recognition of the needs to standardise the procedures and processes of the elections.

“This is more so as the returning officers make decisions that at times are arbitrary and capricious to undermine the fairness of electoral outcomes,” he said.

Mr Kenneth Eze of Speak Out Africa Initiative, urged INEC to put measures in place for all eligible registered voters, especially students who were now back to their various schools, get their voting PVCs.

“We all know that when the Continuous Voter Registration was conducted, Nigeria students were home due to eight months strike declared by ASUU.

“Today, as we are talking PVCs distributoon and collection, these same largest decision making constituency are currently back in their school busy with their studies.

“Its unfortunate and I am calling the attention of INEC. There is no way they will be in school and still collect their PVCs which they did at home.

“Youth population is over 26 million as we were told by INEC and they must be part of determining who governance us in the next four years, “he said.

He urged the Federal Government to declare public holiday for students for one week and mandate ASUU, Nigeria University Commission (NUC) and stakeholders in education sector to suspend every activity during this one week break.

Oh his part, Mr Law Mefor, fellow of the school, urged INEC to improve its delivery system and overcome some of the managerial shortcomings recorded in the past weeks.

He said some of these suggestions were made to provide fair and effective participation in INEC process and to avert litigations that might damage the credibility of the entire process. (NAN)

FCT: Kwali, Gwagwalada get leaders of Gade

By Usman Shuaibu

The chief of Gade in Kwali Area Council of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Alhaji

Yusuf Adamu as well as the Madaki of Angwan Gade in Gwagwalada Area Council, Mallam Abdullahi Baba Tanko have celebrated their Chieftaincy titles at their

respective communities.

An interview with newsmen at the occasion, the Chief of Gade in Kwali, Alhaji Yusuf Adamu, said his leadership would carry every

Gade along in the affairs of things in Kwali.

He urged the youths to engage in meaningful ventures that would reduce their suffering in the society,

Trade to rise as Israel-Nigeria direct flight commences in March

Bilateral relations and trade between Israel and Nigeria will rise with the commencement of direct flights between the two countries from March, according to Israeli authorities.

Ms Sharon Bar-Li, Deputy Director-General, African Department, Israel Ministry of Foreign Affairs, said this while meeting with some Nigerian journalists on a media tour to Jerusalem on Wednesday.

Bar- Li said that the direct flights would further cement the

relations between Africa and the Middle East.

“Once we are able to inaugurate direct flights between Nigeria and Israel we are going to see a boost because right now, there is no gate way for Israel into Africa.

“As a former Ambassador to Ghana I can tell you that it is very difficult once you do not have a direct flight. Once this route starts working, we are going to see a huge change.

“We are going to see business flourishing; people will be able to come and go easily. We will see a

pilgrimage,” she said.

The director-general said Nigeria was a very religious country and the citizens, both Christians and Muslims, went to Israel on pilgrimage.

“Do not forget that Jerusalem is a sacred place for free religions, not just to Christianity, not just to Judaism, but also to Islam where people come to mount to do little hajj.

“By March, I really hope to be able to welcome to Israel the Minister who will come on the first flight to inaugurate this

route. It will be a very profitable route with a high demand for it.

“The eagerness to open this new route is a good sign for postCOVID-19 recovery,” Bar-Li said.

She said that the operation of a direct flight between Israel and Nigeria would break all trade barriers, lamenting the minimal trade between both countries which had been on the low in recent years.

“The trade is very minimal and I am hopeful that with this direct flight we will have no more excuses,” she added ( NAN)

calling on the Chairman of Kwali Area Council, Hon. Danladi Chiya to provide Jobs for the youths.

He then appealed to the entire residents of Kwali to continue to live in peace with one another irrespective of their religious and political differences, saying that he would continue to preach oneness among the Gade in Kwali.

Speaking in the same vein, the Madaki of Angwan Gade in Gwagwalada, Mallam Abdullahi Baba Tanko expressed joy as he celebrated his chieftaincy coronation in a grand style in the area.

He said due to his patience he was able to celebrate his chieftaincy title and urged every human being to cultivate the habit of patience and endurance at all times.

Madaki, however, used the occasion to advise the youths to go to school in order to become important people in the society and thanked the Aguma of Gwagwalada, Alhaji Muhammadu Magaji for recognizing as the Madaki of Gade in Gwagwalada.

Meanwhile, ten cabinet members of Madaki were announced during the occasion.

Ortom vows to complete all projects before Handing over

From Uche Nnorom, Makurdi

Benue State Governor, Samuel Ortom has vowed to complete all projects initiated by his governnent before exiting office in May this year.

Ortom made the pledge in Gwer West local government area while addressing suporters of the Peoples’ Democratic Party,PDP in continuation of the governorship campaign tour of Benue North West senatorial district with the party’s governorship flagbearer, Engr. Titus Uba.

The Governor said the projects which are scarttered across the senatorial districts have either been completed or are still ongoing, and assured that they would be completed before he hands over to his successor.

Alhaji Lai Mohammed, Kwara State Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq, APC Presidential Candidate Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, Niger State Governor Abubakar Bello, APC National Chairman Senator Abdullahi Adamu, and APC Vice Presidential Candidate Senator Kashim Shettima, during the Presidential Campaign Rally in Kwara State on Tuesday

AfCFTA: Opportunity to liberate Africa must not slip from our hands – MAN AMAC frowns at FCT Transport Secretariat over return of park

BY Usman Shuaibu

The administration of Abuja Municipal Area Council (AMAC) in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) has frowned at the Mandate Secretary in charge of Transport Secretariat of the FCT Administration, Hon. Abdullahi Adamu Candido over the return of Park-and pay policy.

This was contained in a press statement signed by Senior Special Assistant on Community Development to the Chairman of AMAC, Mr. Yunusa Yusuf Ahmadu and made available to peoples Daily Correspondent in Abuja.

According to the statement, it is worrisome for the FCT Transport Secretariat to cooking up a Kangaroo way to begin park and pay which ideally the law does not permit them, they do not have the power to do that.

The statement said “Candido should know clearly that gone are those days when he was the Chairman, he cannot be mandate Secretary and be the Chairman of AMAC at the same time, it is not allowed, it is either he is mandate secretary.

“There are so many laws he should concentrate on, we have issues in train station, people are dying, neighboring communities are sacrificed for train stations and railway, let him go and attend to those issues, we know how people’s bags are being snatched in train stations. I think he has enough job to do rather than concentrating on how to collect park and pay or co-operate parking or whatever he calls it, it solely the responsibility to enforce it and ensure that we get it done”.

It said; “We want to warn clearly that we know the Minister as a law-abiding citizen and nobody should cajole the Minister to do wrong thing, we want to tell Candido that we have records of how he never allowed the park and pay to see the light of the day when it was initially introduced by the FCDA”.

The Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN) has called on African nations to maximise the opportunities presented by the Africa Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) to fully integrate the continent into the global market.

Chief Francis Meshioye, the President of MAN, made the call at the “Lighting the African Trade Torch for the Implementation of the AfCFTA” ceremony held on Wednesday in Lagos.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the AfCFTA’s “Torch Lighting’’ ceremony is to demonstrate the commitment of participating countries to the implementation of the AfCFTA.

Meshioye, who doubles as President, Pan-African Manufacturers Association (PAMA), said AfCFTA had created a market of over 1.3 billion people and was the largest single market in the world with a Gross Domestic Product (GDP) of over 2.6 trillion dollars.

He said that the AFCFTA would boost Africa’s export by more than 600 billion dollars with wage gain of more than 10 per cent, presenting a unique opportunity for increased production capacities and trade volume.

According to him, AfCFTA is a catalyst for significant reduction in poverty, offering opportunities for ramping up production, up scaling trade volume and creating enduring wealth for the continent.

“On behalf of PAMA, I congratulate the African Union, the AfCFTA secretariat and the Africa Business Council for the progress we have made since the commencement of the AfCFTA.

“We see the single liberalised market for free trade in goods and services, which AfCFTA offers as a lifetime opportunity for African countries to trade more with each other, refocus national economic, and fast track the process of fully integrating the continent into the global market.

“All these opportunities are for the taking, if competitiveness of private businesses is enhanced ; and I must say, we cannot afford to allow this monumental opportunity to liberate Africa economically, slip from our hands.

“In reality, the benefits and opportunities that AfCFTA offers are not without challenges and hurdles that

will necessitate tough decisions and measures.

“However, I am confident that with concerted efforts of all stakeholders and overwhelming support of all private sector operators in Africa, these hurdles are surmountable,” he said.

The MAN president noted that his interactions with manufacturers revealed the hope that AfCFTA would transform Africa into a prosperous and competitive trade environment.

He stressed the need to immediately move beyond the completion of negotiations on schedule of tariff offers, finalisation of work on the rules of origin and fully operationalise the Pan African Payment Platform.

Meshioye said that all outstanding issues germane to the effective implementation of AfCFTA must be speedily resolved.

He charged participating countries to continue to support the African Union and the AfCFTA secretariat to evolve strategies that would ensure that trading in the AfCFTA corridor stimulated inclusive development in Africa.

Meshioye explained that this was achievable through strategic framework

to facilitate inflow of investment and the inclusion of women, youth, innovation and technology development in the AfCFTA implementation roadmap.

He added that countries must address macroeconomic environment, poor competitiveness and dearth of trade facilitation infrastructure prevailing in many African countries.

“As we light the Africa Trade Torch on implementation of AfCFTA today, we must all resolve to keep this monumental light in our minds.

“We should ensure upscaling of trade in manufactured goods through improved industrial capacity and deliberately develop industrial inputs to reduce the intensity of reliance on the global supply chain.

“We must intentionally bring down all the historical physical borders in Africa, facilitating peaceful co-existence and security of lives and property.

“We must effectively support all Organised Private Sector organisations in Africa and strengthen the private sector directorate in the structure of the AfCFTA secretariat as PAMA continues to monitor unfolding events around AfCFTA with great optimism,” he said. (NAN)

Reps want relief materials for victims of Abak Main Market, Akwa Ibom

By Christiana Ekpa

The House of Representatives has urged the National Emergency Management Agency to arrange for relief materials for victims of the recent fire incidence at Abak Main Market, in Etim Ekpo, Ika Federal Constituency, Akwa Ibom State.

This was sequel to a motion of urgent national importance titled “Urgent Need To Empathize With And Provide Relief Materials

For Victims Of The Recent Fire Incidence At Abak Main Market

In Abak, Etim Ekpo, Ika Federal Constituency, Akwa Ibom State”, brought to the House by Hon

Aniekan Umanah.

Umanah noted that the materials was to cushion the effect of losses incurred during the fire.

He said that there is need for the Federal Fire Service to enhance the operational capacity of their outpost to enable them rise to the occasion whenever fire disaster occur.

The Lawmaker noted that while people all over the world were eagerly preparing and waiting to usher in the new year,2023 with joy, a devastating fire gutted down the popular Abak market at the Abak Market square area of Abak Town, in Abak Local Government Area of Akwa Ibom State on the

30th December,2022 at midnight.

In presenting the motion in the House, the Lawmaker further notes that the inferno which began at about 12am lasted for over four hours before it was brought under control through community efforts and intervention by men of the Federal Fire Service, Uyo”.

According to the Lawmaker, there have been an alarming increase in fire disasters in the markets across the country in the recent past, while observing that inferno wrecked havoc on people and properties resulting in several burns, injuries and huge loses incurred by the hapless citizens and traders”.

Adopting the motion in the House, the Lawmakers noted with grave concern that the ugly incident has left it’s victims distraught and helpless especially that the market served as their only source of livelihood with so much responsibilities to cater for.

“The House further noted that, majority of the victims obtained various forms of loans to finance their trading ventures and with the unfortunate situation are now jobless and unable to meet their daily responsibilities.

“The House Worried that the highly industrious people of this community are majorly traders, farmers artisans and small

scale entrepreneurs and have contributed their quota in the maintenance of peace and general development of the country and face imminent outbreak of epidemics arising from hunger and unhealthy lifestyle.

“The House therefore called on the Federal Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs & Disaster Management to immediately take stock of the affected innocent citizens and work out measures to assist them restore their means of livelihood.

It also urge the Committees on Humanitarian and Poverty Alleviation as well as Committe on Interior to ensure compliance.

L-R: Special Adviser on National Drugs Control Master Plan (NDCMP) ,National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) Otunba Lanre Ipinmisho, Secretary to the Agency, Barr. Shadrach Haruna, Chairman / Chief Executive Officer NDLEA, Brig Gen. Buba Marwa (Rtd) Special Adviser to the Chairman, Col.Yakubu Bako (Rtd) and the Director of Media and Advocacy of the Organisation,, Mr Femi Babafemi , during the Agency Media briefing on the NDLEA Scorecard in the last two years and their plans for the year 2023, held yesterday in Abuja . Photo: Justin Imo-Owo

Tackling Nigeria’s plethora of violent conflicts

By Abu I. Michael

The condition of affairs of Nigeria was once the desire of many countries. She is the most populous country in Africa and richly endowed with first-rate class of humans from diverse sociocultural backgrounds; for her use also are large deposits of agricultural and mineral resources. Because of the benefaction, the country remains a major trading partner of several countries including the world powers. Nigeria is relevant and strategic to the world survival, but remains a puzzle because of her inability to attain rapid socioeconomic development in order to pull out the majority of her citizens from poverty.

By her natural endowment, Nigeria is also expected to be at the forefront in the affairs of Africa – a beacon, and hope for the total emancipation of Africans from the shackles of illiteracy, corruption, hunger and bloodletting.

But getting the equilibrium to jump back unto her path of glory is faltered by a plethora of violent conflicts. Many of the states making up the 6 geopolitical

zones on which the country are structured are being confronted by one form of violence or the other: acts of terrorism, insurgency, herder-farmer’s and ethnoreligious conflicts, deliberate destruction of pipelines, armed robbery/banditry, cruel kidnapping, cultism, political assassination and the perennial election violence. On a daily basis, the media are crammed with the death of innocent Nigerians and huge destruction of public and private assets and property worth millions of naira arising from these violent conflicts. The situation is worrisome in spite of the efforts of our gallant military, the police and other paramilitary agencies to stem the tide of the violence. The huge human and financial resources going into the various activities to stop or curtail the conflicts will definitely impact negatively on the performances of the government and our desire to transcend from an economy that is consumption-based only to a manufacturing/producing one.

It was this crummy, lumpy and raspy atmosphere of insecurity staring Nigerians in the eye that took the Acting

Director General of the Institute for Peace and Conflict Resolution (IPCR), Dr. Bakut tswah Bakut to Jigawa State recently. IPCR’s mandate covers in-depth research on peace, conflict and security related matters; analysis of related issues, production of policy briefs and response options for the government; and it also engages in direct intervention. The National Peace and Conflict Resolution Seminar recently held in Dutse, capital of Jigawa State was very important towards tackling Nigeria’s plethora of violent conflicts.

The choice of Jigawa according to Dr. Bakut, was innovative. Jigawa borders Bauchi to the east, Kano and Katsina to the west, and Yobe State to the northeastern part; the state also shares international border with Niger Republic providing inimitable opportunities for cross-border trading. But, what IPCR finds interesting about this state of about 5 million people is the fact that all the states sharing borders with her including parts of Niger Republic are embroiled in violent conflicts yet Jigawa State remains relatively peaceful. Dr. Bakut said

the Institute was in Jigawa to tap knowledge, to learn the resilience of her people and the things being done by the Government and people of the state to achieve the peaceful atmosphere being enjoyed by them for possible replication and transfer to other states of the federation.

In order to set the tone for the rich conversation and interaction which occurred at the seminar, Dr. Muhammad Auwal Haruna of the Federal University, Dutse gave an ‘Overview of Peace and Conflict Resolution in Jigawa State,’ while Professor Emman Shehu Usman, Director of the International Institute for Journalism, Abuja Campus made presentation on ‘The Role of Nongovernmental Organizations in Peace and Conflict Resolution in Nigeria: The Jigawa State Experience. Barrister Paul Andrew Gwaza, a versatile peace and conflict discussant/facilitator from IPCR presented ‘The Role of Government in Peace and Conflict Resolution in Nigeria: Appraising the Jigawa State Experience.’

Although, there will be publications on the findings, the principles in operation and the

Nigeria’s Greatness: It begins with you

By Rabiu Oladele

Philosophers believed that one of the qualities of a selfless leader is to listen and hear the cry of his followers.

This brings me to the issues I will like to discuss below:

Let recall vividly the standard of living of Nigerians before and happenings during 2015 general elections which prompted Nigerians to vote out the then ruling party, PDP led by Former President Goodluck Jonathan GCFR due to one reason, “incompetence” which led to suffering of the masses that became so unbearable anymore.

Years after, “has the situation changed?” To me, the answer is YES it has, but it changes in the negative direction, and you will agree with me when we start comparing the prices of commodities then and now.

The reason why we are having this kind of changes is because the incumbent public officers are trying to tackle the symptoms of a problem rather than the problem itself facing the nation.

Now let me explain what I mean by this; then we have no alternative than to buy the ideology of current ruling party, APC led by President Muhammadu Buhari, GCFR to rule us, atleast to tackle the issues of the inability of the masses to feed well, inability of the children to attend good government schools, unavailability of good and modern facilities in our health centres and government general

hospitals, unavailability of good and lasting infrastructures like good roads, clean water and so many, all these are known to be symptoms of a bad government and not the problems.

Now looking into what I called the real problem of the nation is the kind of people we elected to be our leaders, forgetting that these are the people that will make policies that will have effects on our daily living as a citizen of Nigeria. Imagine a country that allows over 25% interest or more on loans from commercial banks, how do you do business with such? Where we have the people that will make policies that is not favouring the youth to contest for a particular position in the country. These are the same people that will always make policies that will increase our recurrent expenditure rather than reducing it and increasing the capital expenditure, these policies and so many more are what is killing our nation gradually.

The reason I relate this issues to the general elections in 2015 is that the youths were either not given the level playing ground with the old politicians or the youths rather never wanted to participate in the politics of the nation.

Now, you will want to ask me how were the youths not given the level playing ground and my response are thus:

The age limit allowing the youth to contest is not favourable. Also the policies of political party setting a very high price of

obtaining forms for anyone to be the party candidate.

Another reason is the issue of godfatherism that exist in our political parties, you have to know somebody who knows somebody to contest for an ordinary councillor of your ward, all these are discouraging the youths.

Haven analysing the symptoms and problems, another question you might wanna ask is ” what can the youth do that can’t be done by the older politicians” and the answer is that the older politicians can also perform excellently, but it has to be elders that has being able to re-invent his or her self in his/her profession and has been able to convince us, not the kind of leaders we have now that still deliberate on empowering their graduates with wheel barrows and jerrycan or a politician that his B.Sc certificate cannot be ascertain or even the one that was sued for not having a SSCE certificate, oh! My God, what a country Nigeria!!!.

Can we compare the exposure of a Masters and PhD holders to these people, the answer is NO. Now let’s not look at the angle of education alone, there are so many professionals that does not have these certificates but know the latest technical know how of doing things in their various field who still have the energetic ability to make this country good again, talk about business men and women, they have the track record of performing excellently or even a builder who has no masters nor PhD but has attended

seminars and acquired knowledge on the various modern techniques on building, these are the kind of people we want in our government so as to make good and reliable policies that can make our country great again

Unfortunately, these people are still thinking of bringing back tollgates on our roads again? So as to continue extorting the masses instead of providing good roads for us, they are also thinking of adding 5naira to the 145naira we buy fuel, these are the same people that have made the business environment so unbearable to the foreign investors and they had to leave the country for a nearby countries, all these their policies boils down to the amount we buy a cup of garri in the market, a cup of rice in the market, even the price of kulikuli had been increased, these commodities use to be the last option for the poor man but now my brother, if you see me eating kulikuli and garri, I am a rich man ooo!!!

Recently, Nigeria had just lost an opportunity of a massive project from Microsoft of constructing its data centres to South Africa, just because of energy (power supply), can you just imagine? This is a project that could have employed over 10,000 Nigerians directly and indirectly, yet, these people are not seeing it as anything.

Another question I will like to ask our youths is “are we still ready to continue with the mess created by our incorrigibly kleptomaniac bandits who continue to recycle

elements sustaining the peaceful coexistence of the people in the state, the contributions of some of the participants at the seminar unravel some of the ingredients for durable peace. The Matawalli Rigim, Engr. Kamilu Abubakar and Representative of the Commissioner for Women Affairs, among others attributed the peaceful atmosphere of the state to the inclusiveness of governance, recognition of the roles of the traditional institutions and respect for leaders of religious groups in the state. Community leaders give regular reports to the paramount ruler on the happenings in their domains while religious leaders meet regularly to take critical decisions with such mutual trust.

Representatives of the police, DSS and other security agencies appreciated the spirit of patriotism being exhibited by the people in the state, noting that their duties for effecting policing of the state were made easy because the people often volunteer useful information in good time.

Michael writes in from Abuja

themselves year by year? ”

It is something of pain for me seeing youths arguing with each other that its PDP or APC. We need to tell ourselves the truth that its neither of these two parties nor any other political party but ourselves (The Youth). We need to form coalition, stand firm and support ourselves towards youths being our policy makers.

Do you know that the youths have approx 60% of the total population of the people in Nigeria? Let’s assume we the youths can form coalition like APC in 2015, all gathered together with the same vision of saying “Nigeria must be great again”, we will definitely vote out these rogues.

Do you know it begins with you? Just talk to yourself to talk to someone to talk someone that can talk to another person about getting their permanent voter’s card (PVC) and get ready to vote massively for the better Nigeria come 2019. This is called WOM in my profession (marketing).

I challenge you today as a progressive Nigerian youth to challenge yourselves in making this nation great again by doing the needful.

Tell a friend, “for Nigeria to be great again, it begins with you”. #GetInvolvedNow Thank you.

God bless Nigeria!

God bless The Youth!

Rabiu Oladele is a Professional Marketer | Social Reformist | Activist | A Patriotic Young Nigerian

Security implication of Nigeria’s 13.2 million out-of-school children

By Grace Atim

According to the United Nations, out-of -school children (OOSC) are defined as those kids who are yet to be enrolled in formal education excluding pre-primary school. The age range for out-ofschool children is 6-11 years.

The UN Convention on The Rights of the Child (1989) has in its preamble that; “…Mankind owes to the child the best it has to give.”

This landmark legal instrument is all encompassing international bill of rights for children. It defines protection, and commits states to ensuring protection, promotion, participation.

However, in Nigeria it is glaring that issues of child education and protection are not taken seriously. According to a UNESCO Statistic Institute (2016) report, Nigeria is said to have the highest number of out-of -school children in the world with 8.7, followed by Pakistan (5.6), India 2.9, Sudan 2.7, Ethiopia 2.1, and Indonesia 2.0. In spite the existence of legal International and national instruments that have provisions for compulsory and qualitative education for all children. This further reinforces government’s obligation to ensure education by provisions of the Nigeria 1999 Constitution as Amended in its chapter 2, Section 18 … Educational Objectives thus;

Government shall direct its policy towards ensuring that there are equal and adequate education opportunities at all levels. Promote free, compulsory and universal primary education at all levels.

There have been attempts to address the issue of OOSC through school enrolment and retention, other states such as Delta, Oyo, Osun, Sokoto and Lagos have put in place policies that parents will now face appropriate sanctions in accordance with the law for refusing to send their children to school.

A cursory appraisal of the situation of child education shows that little progress has been made with regards to provision of Basic Education through the Universal Basic Education Programme (UBEC). But a lot still needs to be done in that direction.

Although, the problem of Out-of -school children is global, Nigeria’s share is quite very with a staggering figure of 13.2 million, UNICEF Report (2018). The UNESCO Institute for Statistic (UIS 2014), stated that worldwide nearly 58 million children of primary school age were out-of-school in year 2012.

The Executive Secretary UBEC, Hamid Bobboyi stated that the number of out-of -school children increased from 10.5 million to 13.2 million, between 2010 to 2015. While the Minister of Education Mallam Adamu Adamu, in January, 2018

disclosed that the number of outof-school children in the country dropped from 10.5 million to 8.6 million in the last three years.

UNICEF’s Deputy Representative in Nigeria, Ms Pernille Ironside stated that Nigeria has 10.5 million aged 6-14, out-of-school children. 69% per cent of the OOSC are located in the Northern part of the country, with Bauchi state having the highest number of 1.1 million children of the outof- school children, followed by Katsina state with 781.500.

This figure is traceable to the fact that deep rooted socio- cultural, economic, and environmental barriers, cost of education and negative perception to formal education especially in most parts of northern Nigeria. And the perception that education is disempowering, wasteful, negates the wave of get rich quick syndrome dominate in the south east.

The escalating violence and recurrent attacks on schools and hospitals has severely disrupted the right of Nigerian children to education which Malala, Yousafzai (2013), advocated thus;

“… Education is our right, I said. Just as it is our right to sing. Islam has given us this right and says every girl and boy should go to school. The Quran says we should seek knowledge, study hard and learn the mysteries of our world.”

The exceptional bus driver

By Ahmed Mahmud

As for the driver, he did not see his kindest act as anything important. He believes it is normal to return things that are not yours. He went further to say that,he too was very worried about my wife’s emotional state having realized that the laptop belongs to a company, hence he made sure he came to to station earlier than usual.

This man. He’s a bus driver in Ajah area of Lagos.He is fondly called Mr. Righteous. He is always in rain boots and professional overall.

He is also called an Engineer by all bus drivers at the bus station, apparently because of his choice of dressing.

His spoken English is Queens, very articulate and fluent. He hails from Imo State.

Without a doubt, he’s man of integrity, pillared by conscience and roundly revered by everybody in the car park.

He is a very simple man,

about 5ft tall with white beard. I think he is in his late sixties.

Just last night, at about 7pm.

My wife entered his tiny bus, usually called Korope. She sat at the front with her company’s laptop which contained vital contents and information.

The distance to her destination wasn’t upto 4 kilometers. Still. She decided to drop the laptop by her side while seated.

Shockingly, when she arrived at her destination, she got off the bus without the laptop.

It was when she got home she realized her laptop was still on the bus.

Swiftly, we drove out in a bid to locate the man’s whereabouts since he’d told my wife that that was his last trip and he lives around Sangotedo’s ShopRite.

The traffic didn’t help the situation, but I managed to speed when there was a chance.

We got to the United Estate, but the man could not be found. Still we braved the traffic back to Ajah’s bus stop with the hope

that he would return the laptop if sees it. Yet to no avail.

The entire time, my wife was understandably distraught. Praying, wailing and crying at the same time. She did so in a profuse scale wondering what is she going to tell her company.

For me, the speed in which I drove the car was unprecedented and I am thankful to God we had no accident.

As we got to Ajah and explained the situation to everyone, they expressed their empathy and assured us that the driver is a man of integrity and if he sees the laptop that he would surely return it.

We went back home at about 10 pm after exchanging telephone numbers with the drivers we met and promised them that we will return this morning since we were told the driver will surely be at the park today.

Throughout yesterday’s night my wife did not sleep and neither did I.

On the other hand, inspite of

The pertinent question is, what future awaits children in a country that have been ravaged by an array of conflicts ranging from armed robbery, kidnapping, abduction, attacks on schools/ hospitals, ethno-religious crisis, political violence, farmer/herder conflicts.

Sadly, the Nigerian child is at the centre of this violence, being subjected to all manner of abuse and neglect, ranging from maiming and killing, sexual abuse, forced and exploitative labour, forced recruitment and use by armed groups for suicide attacks and as combatants, and trafficking etc.

Although, the Child Rights Act was passed into law in the year 2003, to protect and promote the rights of the Nigerian Child, but as at 2018, only 24 out of the 36 states have domesticated it.

However, a situation analysis by Geoffrey Njoku, UNICEF Communication Specialist identified gaps in accessing to qualitative education to poor implementation of policies and laws.

The security implication in all of this is that, there will be a never ending story of militancy, insurgency, armed robbery, kidnapping, drug abuse and trafficking, political thugs, etc in the country. Owing to the fact that, a teaming number of illiterate, unemployable, young and poor out-of-school children who have no value for education are readily available for use in any

criminal activity. This serves as a ‘time bomb ‘waiting to explode if not strategically, systematically and urgently addressed.

In finding durable solution to the problem of OOSC, it is essential to address issues such as forced displacement, insecurity, unemployment, dilapidated state of educational facilities across the country, drug abuse, forced/early marriages, street hawking, use of children for alms, use of children as political thugs, use of children for exploitative labour etc.

Parents should be sensitized particularly the rural and nonliterate ones about the value of education, Federal government as a matter of urgency should declare a holistic state of Emergency in the education sector.

Government should ensure education is more accessible to all children as enshrined in the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC 1989) in its article 28: that;

“Children have the right to education. Primary education should be free and compulsory. Secondary education should be accessible to every child. Higher education should be available to all on the basis of capacity. School discipline shall be consistent with the child’s right and dignity.

all the efforts I displayed to get the laptop back on real time, as a husband, I was blamed for the loss.

Understandably so, it is the nature of every woman. They blame their husbands for everything.

The tension in the house was high and I dared not say anything to escalate it.

If you are a married man reading this, you will have an ideaof what I am talking about.

As early as 7am this morning, my wife left for the bus station and I followed her shortly. We got there and waited for close to 2 hours narrating the situation to the drivers and engaged in conversations about incidents similar to ours. Boom!

At about 8 O’clock, the entire car park erupted in a wild jubilation as Papa emerged with the laptop. On sighting the driver,my wife broke down in tears of joy as we roundly gave the man an appreciave hug thanking him for his utmost sincerity.

As for the driver, he did not see his kindest act as anything important. He believes it is normal to return things that are not yours. He went further to say that,he too was very worried about my wife’s emotional state having realized that the laptop belongs to a company, hence he made sure he came to to station earlier than usual.

After handing over the laptop, I gave him money as a token of our appreciation, but Papa refused to take it

Please, I am using this medium to thank Papa and appeal to everyone reading this to pray for this man because he has saved my household from trouble.

With this demonstration, he has proven once again that God answers prayers and that Nigeria is full of Good Samaritans.

Finally, have confidence in Nigeria and Nigerians, because there are so so many good people in this beautiful land of ours.

Grace Atim is a Research Fellow at the Institute for Peace and Conflict Resolution, Abuja.

HYPPADEC hands over N1.2b water project to Contractors in Niger HYPPADEC boss charges staff to declare assets

From Ahmed Idri, Birnin Kebbi

The Managing Director of Hydroelectric Power Producing Areas Development Commission (HYPPADEC) Alh Abubakar Sadiq Yelwa has charged all the staffs of the commission to comply with the federal government’s directives and declare their assets through the code of conduct Bureau.

Abubakar Sadiq Yelwa stated this while declaring open a 2 days training workshop, tittle,”compliance with assets declaration and code of conduct for public offecers”, organized by HYPPADEC in collaboration with code of conduct Bureau in Birnin Kebbi.

He added that the commission is committed to assets declaration with the view of aiding the government in tracking the assets and liabilities of its staff vis-a vis their income in order to mitigate unethical conducts including corruption,money laundering and fraud.

From Yakubu Mustapha Minna

Hydro Power Producing Areas Development Commission (HYPPADEC) has handed over N1.2 billion water works project to contractors for total over hauling and reticulation of New Bussa water works in Borgu local government area of Niger state.

The Managing Director HYPPADEC Alhaji Abubakar Sadiq Yelwa made this known during the handing over ceremony at the site in New Bussa, saying that if rehabilitation is completed,

it will bring to an end over 20 years of water scarcity in New Bussa and environs.

Sadiq Yelwa disclosed that the contract is for a duration of 6 months for its completion.

He warned the contractors to ensure contract specifications so as to have value for money or face revocation.

Represented by the Director Community and Rural Development Directorate, Dr Mahmud Mohammed Umar who described as critical project signed on behalf of the commission and charged the community to support and take ownership of the contract

for optimal results.

The Director Operations, Engr Ilyasu Abdullahi Wara explained that the contract is divided into 7 lots to various contractors to ensure speedy completion within specifications and the duration.

He added that the laudable project consist of technical and booster station, one million litres pump house and tank rehabilitation, utility vehicles, laboratory equipment, reticulation system and 7km expansion of distribution, rehabilitation of entire building and 3 km expansion of old township expansion and maintenance among others.

The Niger State Managing Director, Water and Siwage Cooperation, represented by Gimba Isah said this would ensure provision of healthy and maximum portable water supply to the masses.

He urged for support and understanding of the citizens to ensure the maintenance of the project for effective and efficient service delivery.

Borgu local government chairman, Suleiman Yerima appreciate the kind gesture of HYPPADEC, noting that the community has suffered over the years.

From:

Emir of Zazzau Amb Ahmed Nuhu Bamalli has called on wealthy individuals to invest in the propagation of Islami for a greater reward from Allah.

The Emir made the call during a fund raising for the expansion of Al-Anoor central Mosque Kaku junction Kofar Galadima, Nagoyi bypass Zaria.

Amb Bamalli explained that well to do people need to support the propagation of Islam financially by taking the responsibility of building worship places and Islamic schools.

Nigerians will be safe under my Presidency - Atiku

do everything to promote unity in diversity.

Presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, and former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has assured Nigerians that they will be safe under his watch if elected President come next month.

Atiku was speaking in Jos while gracing the 2023 extra-ordinary General Church Council,GCC of the Evangelical Church Winning All, ECWA.

He said as a born unifier, he believes in the integration of humanity at all levels and would

A statement from media aide to Yakubu Dogara Turaki Hassan said Atiku was speaking through the former Speaker Rt Hon Yakubu Dogara.

He said God did not make any mistake in creating people and allowing them belong to different tribal,ethnic and religious backgrounds.

Atiku said, “a divided Nigeria cannot achieve the purpose of God for us as a people. A divided country will only keep us in darkness and disunity. All through my life I have lived and worked

harmoniously with people of other faiths and ethnic affiliations with ease because of mutual understanding and respect. My bussiness and political partners come from different backgrounds with zero expressions of religious or ethnic sentiments. I have never contemplated same faith ticket throughout my political career.

“The Muslim Muslim ticket adopted by some people is a recipe for disaster. It is an indication that not everyone will be carried along in government. “As Governorelect of Adamawa in 1999, I gave my full backing to Boni Haruna to take over when I was nominated

Vice President against all odds.

Boni governed Adamawa for 8 uninterrupted years. In Taraba Rev Jolly Nyame was encouraged to contest the Governorship in 1999 just after loosing the local government primary elections. We have and are working together with many Christians across the nation and the Church should have confidence in my capacity,experience and ability to deliver”.

Atiku appreciates Christians all over the nation for their prayers and commitment to the nation and assured that he will not relent in cementing a cordial

relationship between Christians and Muslims all the time.

“The church stands to get alot under my watch as President of this nation if elected. Knowing the significance and importance of unity in peace and development. I will do everything possible to sustain and consolidate it. Any society that is not united will suffer. We have no reason to divide ourselves for whatever reason. A divided Nigeria cannot take us anywhere. If Nigeria is divided, both Christians and Muslims will suffer.

“Together with Senator Ifeanyi Okowa as Vice President, we will

Emir of Zazzau urges wealthy individuals to invest in propagation of Islam

Femi Oyelola, Kaduna

From Ahmad Muhammad, Bauchi

Governor Muhammadu Inuwa Yahaya addresses a crowd of supporters during the presentation of APC Flag to the House of Assembly Candidate For Kaltungo West Constituency, Iliya Suleiman in Kaltungo, Gombe State yesterday

NNPP asks Tinubu, Atiku to step down over corruption, drug allegations

By Ikechukwu Okaforadi

The New Nigeria People’s Party (NNPP) has urged the presidential candidates of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Atiku Abubakar and the All Progressives Congress (APC), Bola Tinubu to withdraw from the presidential race over serious allegations of corruption and drug peddling that have made mockery of the 2023 general election.

A statement issued by the party’s National Publicity Secretary, Agbo Major, said Nigeria has been brought to ridicule and disrepute before the comity

of nations over accusations of high level corruption and drug peddling against Atiku and Tinubu, adding ‘He that goes to equity must come with a clean hand.’

NNPP demanded the immediate withdrawal of both presidential candidates to answer to charges preferred against them in court.

“It is justice juxtaposed for them to continue in the presidential race with heavy allegations of wrongdoings on their shoulders. It is moral burden fie the two candidates to continue in this race at a time Nigerians are looking for a younger and unblemished crop of leaders.

“There is no moral justification for

Atiku and Tinubu to strive to rule the nation until the court decides their fates one way or the other. National interest supersedes personal interests, aggrandizement and grandstanding in the quest for a better, greater, progressive, equitable and just democratic nation.

“Nigerians are tired of recycled politicians who have numerous cases of corruption, drugs, birth/educational certificates, health and questionable source of wealth. Citizens want men and women of integrity, visionary, purposeful, resourceful, dynamic and transformational leaders to usher them to a new and better Nigeria we all desire

and deserve.

“Senator (Engr) Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, PhD is the man of the moment to give Nigerians a new lease of life after years of wandering in political wilderness from the oppressive APC and PDP regimes.

“Eligible Nigerians should collect their PVCs now and let their voice be heard loud and clear in the forthcoming elections. Your vote is your power to elect credible, resourceful, courageous and progressive leaders that will deliver dividends of democracy to the masses not carnage”, the party statement said.

AMAC chairman drums support for Atiku, other PDP candidates in February polls

By Usman Shuaibu

The Chairman of Abuja Municipal Area Council (AMAC) in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Hon. Christopher Zakka Maikalangu, has charged the women, as well as the party supporters to vote for the presidential candidate of PDP, Abubakar Atiku in the forthcoming general election.

He also urged the women and his supporters to come out in mass to vote

for the senatorial candidate of PDP in the FCT, Hon. Philip Tanimu Aduda, as well as the candidate of PDP representing AMAC/Bwari Federal Constituency at the National Assembly, Hon. Micah Y. Jiba during the polls.

Maikalangu, gave the charge while addressing the PDP women ward leaders in politics at a meeting held at Apo Resettlement town hall in Abuja on Tuesday.

He assured the women that his

administration would not hesitate to put smiles on the faces of the women, and thanked them for their support in all ramifications.

He said “With the challenges we are facing now, we cannot give up, l am being denied some things, maybe because I am in PDP”.

While fielding questions from newsmen after the occasion, the Chairman frowned at votes buying during the polls.

Maikalangu, however, advised the entire residents of Abuja to shun any act capable of generating tension during the election.

Also speaking, the candidate of PDP representing AMAC/Bwari federal constituency at the National Assembly, Hon. Micah Y. Jiba said if elected into the House of Representatives for the second term, he would provide purposeful leadership for the people of his constituency.

Labour Party Presidential candidates, Peter Obi with his Vice President Candidate, Hon, Datti Baba Ahmed, addressing the Party Members during the Labour Party Presidential Campaign Rally at Ahmadu Bello Stadium in Kaduna yesterday

2023: SDP will form next government in Oyo – Ex-Attorney General

By Musa Baba Adamu

Aformer attorneygeneral in Oyo State, Michael Folorunso Lana has declared that the Social Democratic Party (SDP) will form the next government in the state.

Lana who is the gubernatorial candidate of the party revealed that the party will form the next government in May this year.

He noted that this would be realised after the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has been defeated in the March 11 gubernatorial election by his party (SDP).

The SDP candidate made these declarations on Tuesday in Ibadan, the state capital.

The former attorneygeneral spoke while addressing thousands of supporters of the party who converged at the frontage of ancient Mapo in Ibadan, after a rally that spread across some parts of Ibadan.

The rally which started in the morning at the Ojoo area of Ibadan was attended by the Vice Presidential candidate of the party, Mr. Yusuf Buhari and the South-West Chairman of the party, Chief Alani Silas.

Others are the state Chairman, Michael Okunlade and deputy gubernatorial candidate, Abdul Rahman Aloyinlapa.

Lana while speaking, alleged the present administration in the state has disappointed the electorate.

He, however, said the party

would defeat the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and other political parties during the 2023 elections.

He added that the party would form the next government in the state in May 2023 after all the political parties have been defeated in the election.

The former attorney-

general while speaking further, warned that the state cannot afford another four years under governor Seyi Makinde.

He alleged that the current governor of the state, Seyi Makinde, has moved the state backwards.

The SDP candidate used the avenue to charge the people of

the state to guard their PVCs.

He enjoined the electorate not to be swayed by desperate politicians.

Lana while addressing the party supporters, further alleged that desperate politicians are out to deceive the people.

Lana said, “I have no doubt in my mind that our party, the

SDP would coast home to victory in Oyo State during the elections as the people are eagerly waiting to send the present government of Governor Seyi Makinde packing from the Agodi Government House as it has not only to disappoint the people by succeeding in moving the state backwards”.

35 percent slots assured if Tinubu emergs president in 2023 - Sen. Remi tells women

By Christiana Ekpa

Wife of the All Progressive Congress (APC) presidential candidate, Oluremi Tinubu, yesterday told Nigerian women that thirty five percent slots of appointive positions are already guaranteed if her husband, Bola Ahmed Tinubu emerges the President of the country in the 2023 general election.

Speaking yesterday during an event organised by the APC Professionals Forum on ‘Renewed Hope 2023’ in Abuja, Tinubu’s wife said Bola will consolidate on the President Muhammadu Buhari’s Social Intervention Programs with greater emphasis on empowering women and youth towards lifting more families into collective wealth and prosperity.

“Our goal is to have at least 35% female representation at all levels of government. We will also work towards progressively

improving on the number of female lawmakers at state and national levels,” she said.

“I am a woman, and I am a beneficiary of Asiwaju’s commitment to empowering womenfolk. Although I have always been passionate about charity work and I invested greatly in women and youth development as First Lady of Lagos State, it was with the support of my dear husband that I was able to also take on political leadership roles.

“We need to institutionalize female inclusion and representation in politics and governance; this is Asiwaju’s pledge to the women of Nigeria.”

She further pledged that the incoming Tinubu/Shettima administration will focus on empowering our teeming 70 million youth through job creation and entrepreneurship support efforts and policies.

She added: “As a mother, I know that one of the biggest challenges youth face is the fear of tomorrow with its uncertainties. This often leads them to take poorly considered risks and make bad decisions.

“As parents, it is our job to create the right environment for our wards to flourish, to grow in self-confidence, to learn to be self-sufficient, responsible, and useful members of society. This is also a key responsibility for the leadership of the nation.

“To this end, the next APC-led administration will address the issues by: Increasing opportunities and channels for easy access to credit to start businesses. The incoming administration will work with and encourage commercial banks to provide and set aside a quota of their projected credit provisioning for youth-led enterprises at appreciably low-interestrate loans.

“We will encourage the creation of Innovation and Productivity Hubs for youth to present their ideas and have same reviewed for marketability and utility. These hubs will generate business idea validation reports which will be used in partnership with commercial banks to vet loan applications.

“Commercial banks will also be encouraged to ensure their loan application processes are simplified and that they give greater priority to young people and women with marketable ideas. This will be implemented across the federation.

“The incoming Tinubu/Shettima administration will create opportunities and channels for business mentorship for youth. The initially mentioned Innovation and Productivity Hubs will serve as incubators for intergenerational business mentoring.”

L-R: Representative of the Minister of State for FCT, Hayiya Aisha Baiyee, Mandate Secretary, Area Councils Service Secretariat, Hon. Abubakar Ibrahim Dantsoho, the President Abuja Original Inhabitants Youth Empowerment Organisation (AOIYEO) / SA to the Minister of FCT on Youths Affairs, Amb Issac David and the FCT Youth Leader, Hon. Ibrahim Maikeri, during the flag off of sensitization campaigns for the collection of PVC in FCT, held in Abuja. Photo: Justin Imo-owo

You turned NASS to rubber stamp Assembly –Aisha Yesufu slams Lawan

By Christiana Ekpa

Popular Nigerian activist and social critic, Aisha Yesufu has attacked the President of the Senate, Ahmad Lawan, for saying the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, allowed the Boko Haram insurgency to fester during its 16 years in power.

The social critic also said the All Progressives Congress, APC, had over seven years to tackle the insurgency but instead worsened it.

Yesufu expressed her feelings in a post via her verified Twitter handle on Wednesday.

The Senate President had while addressing the Presidential Campaign Rally of the ruling APC, which was held in Damaturu Yobe State, alleged PDP rally, allowed Boko Haram to fester.

Lawan’s statement was signed by his Special Adviser on Media, Ola Awoniyi.

He said, “When Boko Haram started in the northeast, in Borno state, the then leadership of PDP said it was not true. There was nothing like Boko Haram, and Boko Haram blossomed. Boko Haram flourished, and Boko Haram gained ground and took root.”

But reacting to the allegation by the Senate President, Yesufu said Lawan turned the National Assembly into “a rubber stamp Assembly”.

She wrote, “The Senate President who turned the National Assembly into a rubber stamp Assembly is accusing PDP when his own party has had over seven years to tackle the insurgency and have worsened it. Both APC and PDP are failed parties that should not be allowed into the corridors of power.”

Special Purpose Vehicle Allegation: Atiku demands apology from Tinubu

By Lateef Ibrahim, Abuja

The presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Alhaji Atiku Abubakar has demanded for an unreserved apology from his counterpart in the All Progressives Congress (APC) Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu over the allegation of Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV) saga.

Atiku, who made the demand through the spokesperson of his presidential campaign organisation, Mr Kola Ologbondiyan, also threatened to furnish Nigerians with a compendium of Tinubu’s alleged corrupt practices as well as the list of SPVs used by him to loot public funds in key government agencies.

He reminded the APC candidate of the age-long aphorism that those who dig pits for the innocent always fall into them.

According to him, “This is the case in the vexatious plots by Asiwaju Tinubu to divert attention from his litany of atrocities by seeking to impugn on the impeccable character of our candidate, Atiku Abubakar, with unfounded controversy of corruption”.

Atiku accused Tinubu of using one Michael Achimogu to blackmail him, stating that

.....Tells APC presidential candidate to quit race

“no matter how much falsehood appears to thrive, the truth will always prevail at the end of the day.

His words, “Tinubu has not only failed in this mission to tarnish the clean image of Atiku Abubakar but in the process also exposed himself as the real Mr. SPV.”

He listed a number of account Tinubu allegedly used to move huge sums of money from a domiciliary account to a firstgeneration bank in a three-day lodgment scheme.

The PDP Presidential flag bearer said the money was spilt and paid in bits and pieces of $30,000, $30,000, $35,000, $30,000 into a domiciliary account in a first-generation bank.

“Nigerians are now in the know of how tranches of $35,000, $71,000, $100,000, $30,000, $200,000, $300,000, $30,000, $70,000, $80,000, $70,000 and $30,000 were alleged to have been taken by Tinubu from different branches of the said first generation bank between February 4 to February 5, 2015.

“Nigerians now know of how Tinubu has been desperately trying to divert attention from his alleged use of ... companies he reportedly owned by proxy, to loot N100 billion tax money belonging

to Lagos State, since 2002.

“It is now in public domain how (the company), which has for over 20 years held the exclusive rights to collect taxes in Lagos State in return for a commission under very shady arrangements through which it reportedly siphoned billions of naira belonging to Lagos State.

“The public is now aware of a petition before an anti-corruption agency wherein Tinubu’s alleged SPV company was reported to have used another company which shares same address with Tinubu’s office on Idowu Taylor Street in Lagos to launder Lagos State funds.

“Documents sighted in one of the anti-corruption agencies reveals that Tinubu’s SPV allegedly laundered over N20 billion ($46.5 million) in different currencies to several companies, including payment of N1 billion ($2.3 million) to company that is widely known to belong to him.

“Bola Tinubu should come out clean and speak to these damning money laundering allegations against him.

“He should explain to Nigerians how billions of naira belonging to Lagos State and meant for the welfare of the people, reportedly found its way ... and ended in bits and pieces in

foreign currencies into domiciliary accounts allegedly owned by him in commercial banks.

“We also challenge Asiwaju Tinubu to explain to Nigerians how, as Lagos State governor, he awarded the exclusive right of tax collection in Lagos State to his alleged proxy company ... as well as the allegations that the SPV was used to steal over N100bn belonging to Lagos State.

“Furthermore, Nigerians are still awaiting the APC presidential candidate’s still has no explanation for his conviction and criminal forfeiture of $460,000 in a criminal case of trafficking in narcotic in the United States of America, for which under section 137 (1) (d) of the 1999 Constitution (as amended), he is not eligible to contest election in Nigeria.

“Since Asiwaju Tinubu has on his own opened up on the allegations of corruption, our campaign is prepared to help him to fill the gaps he wants closed,” Atiku threatened.

He called on Tinubu to listen to the voice within and withdraw from the presidential race, adding that “if anyone is to be arrested and disqualified from the presidential race on account of corruption, certainly, that person is not Atiku Abubakar but Bola Tinubu.

2023 elections will hold – Kwara REC

By Musa Baba Adamu

The Resident Electoral Commissioner, REC, in Kwara State, Malam Attahiru Madami, on Wednesday declared that this year’s general elections will hold as scheduled.

He spoke at a lecture titled “Toward Peaceful 2023 General Elections” organized by the National League of Veteran Journalists, Kwara State Chapter, at the press centre of the Nigeria Union of Journalists, NUJ, in Ilorin.

He dismissed insinuations in some quarters with the impression that the impending general elections

may likely be cancelled due to the state of insecurity in some parts of the country.

Attahiru declared untrue reports making the rounds that the exercise may not hold, assuring that “the elections will hold as planned.”

He also revealed that the chieftains of political parties contesting the elections in the state have written to him pledging to abide by the rules in a bid to have a peaceful exercise in Kwara State.

Delivering the lecture, Barrister Yusuf Ola-Olu Ali, SAN, argued that for the conduct of peaceful general elections in the country, all stakeholders must be guided

by the Electoral Act and obey its provisions.

Yusuf Ali, who was represented by Barrister Ibn Haruna Mahmoud, said rather than resorting to violence, aggrieved parties must direct their grievances to the election tribunals to seek redress after the elections.

He also cautioned against vote buying which Section 36 of the Electoral Act frowns upon, describing it as a criminal offence.

Yusuf Ali noted that the Electoral Act is adequate to cater for complaints of aggrieved parties seeking redress after elections instead of adopting violence.

He stressed the need for the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, to embark on voter and civic education of the electorate before the election, describing it as fundamental toward realizing a credible and peaceful general election.

Chairman of NALVEJ, Tunde Akanbi, in his speech, said with 45 days to the general elections, politicians and their supporters could have a positive change of mind to counter the erroneous belief that “it is either them or the elections will not hold.”

2023 elections: Every vote will count – Osun INEC REC, Agboke

By Ikechukwu Okaforadi

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Resident Electoral Commissioner for Osun, Dr Mutiu Agboke has assured that each vote will count.

He said that despite apprehension about security, the Commission is determined to go ahead with the general elections calling on all stakeholders to work for a free, fair and transparent election.

Agboke stated this during a sensitisation visit to the Ogunsua

of Modakeke, Oba Joseph Olubiyi Toriola on Wednesday.

The Osun INEC boss also maintained that the Commission has decided to carry along traditional rulers and chiefs in their locality.

According to him: “With the coming election, INEC has decided to include the kings and chiefs. We want the traditional institution to talk to the people and educate them on the election. Majority of the electorates still believe it is business as usual.”

He affirmed: “INEC is assuring that each vote will count. INEC

wants all people to come out and vote and they must have their PVCs. With BVAS each vote is assured of being counted. All the news about cancellation and postponement of the vote is not an issue. We want all stakeholders to work for a free, fair and transparent election. The uncollected PVCs must be collected as part of requirements for voting.”

Responding, the Ogunsua of Modakeke, Oba Joseph Olubiyi Toriola urged the Commission to ensure its machines are in working order to avoid complaints common among the electorate.

“The town has been talking to its people to ensure the election is peaceful and free from violence,” he concluded.

In a visit to the INEC local government offices in Ife North, Ife South, Ife Central, Ife East and Ife East Area Office, Modakeke, Agboke maintained that the visit is aimed at reminding the staff and members of the National Youth Service Corps, NYSC, that they have more work to do within this period.

He added that between now and February, INEC is going to be busy.

He warned: “Staff who don’t apply the rule will face the music. Staff should stick by the rules. The INEC chairman will not be happy seeing any staff being liable.

“INEC staff should be organized. INEC is ready because it knows that its staff are ready. We also expect performance and delivery on the INEC mandate.

“We would not tolerate any negative report. With BVAS in place, no staff can assist anybody during the election. You are advised to be in tune with the training and discharge your responsibility on election day.”

Naira slides to N748/$ at parallel market Dollar and Naira

By Abubakar Yunus Abuja

The naira has dropped to N748 per dollar at the parallel section of the foreign exchange (FX) market, popularly called the black or street market.

The figure represents a depreciation of N8 or 1.1 percent from the N740 it traded two weeks ago.

Speaking to TheCable on Wednesday morning, Bureaux De Change (BDC) operators put the buying price of the dollar at N740 and the selling price at N748, leaving an N8 profit margin.

They said there was low demand for the greenback in the street market.

“Demand is not much. Maybe because it’s January. People are not rushing to buy dollars to import goods,” said a BDC operator in Victoria Island, Lagos.

At the official market, the local currency closed flat against the dollar at N461.50/$ on Tuesday, according to details on FMDQ OTC Securities Exchange — a platform that oversees official foreign exchange trading in Nigeria.

The monetary policy committee (MPC) of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) is expected to meet next week to determine the trajectory of the nation’s monetary policy and the economy at large.

Peoples Daily had reported that Godwin Emefiele, CBN governor, resumed duty on Monday after his annual vacation abroad.

“The governor resumed with renewed vigour to perform his duty ahead of the first monetary policy committee (MPC) meeting of the year scheduled for January 23 to 24, 2023,” Osita Nwanisobi, CBN spokesperson, had said.

“Mr. Emefiele remains committed to performing the task before him in line with his oath of office and the policy direction of President Muhammadu Buhari.

“While thanking the public for keeping faith with the bank, we urge Nigerians to continue to support the policies of the bank aimed at ensuring a stable financial system and the Nigerian economy in general.”

ISB game changer for commodities ecosystem-Akeredolu-Ale

By Abubakar Yunus Abuja

TheInvestments and Securities Bill has been described as a game changer that is capable of enabling the commodities trading ecosystem to thrive thereby diversifying the nation’s economy and provide the nation with foreign exchange.

This was stated by the Managing Director of LFCE, Mr. Akin Akeredolu-Ale while commenting on the ISB which was recently passed by the House of Representatives.

He stated that Nigeria is a commodities country as a better part of the GDP by way of production comes from the commodities ecosystem and urged that Senate to ensure swift concurrence on the Bill.

“We need that concurrence by the Senate as quickly as possible. I am very happy that the NASS has taken it upon themselves as well as the SEC to push this bill. That bill is a game changer for the Commodities Ecosystem, and also

a game changer for Nigeria as a commodities country. For now, a lot of commodities being traded is still in the informal sector, the bill would create structure and all the leakages from taxation and revenue will be taken care of by this bill.

“The major things about the commodities ecosystem is the fact that we are looking inwards in Nigeria now. A lot of the impact of the policies that the CBN had done last year by way of supporting the agriculture space are paying off now in the maize, wheat and rice space among others. And for us at the LFCE, we have also looked at the part of commodities that has to do with solid mineral which is the gold space.

“In Nigeria we have over 58 different solid minerals that are sought for all over the world, we have not touched platinum or lithium which is the major component for batteries and electric cars. These are the kinds of commodities that by the time the bill is passed, we would be able to have proper structure

and attract foreign investors. What do these foreign investors look out for? The foreign investors look at regulatory framework, legal framework and a proper enabling environment to want to participate in the market”.

He disclosed that in a bid to further deepen the Commodities Trading Ecosystem in Nigeria, the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has approved 13 products for trading on the Lagos Futures and Commodities Exchange.

Akeredolu-Ale stated that the Exchange has capacity to trade electronic receipts of oil and gas, agriculture, solid minerals, derivatives and currencies adding that the Exchange has also put in place necessary infrastructure to trade in derivatives as hedging instruments for investors.

According to him, “On the 28th of July 2022, we launched the Gold Coin. The good thing about the Gold coin is that the gold that was used in its preparation was sourced from

Nigeria and a lot of it came from Ilesha. It is being traded and people have realised that this is a very good hedging instrument, this just goes to show the capacity of what we can do in Nigeria if this Bill is passed.

The goal of LCFE is to play a pivotal role in growing the nation’s gross domestic products (GDP) into double digits. In Africa, the commodities ecosystem is the largest employer of labour. It provides a platform to deploy resources into the fungible assets that have been de-risked. We bring transparency through the operations of commodities exchange through our structures and two-way quote”.

He therefore restated the compelling need for the federal government to unlock the potentials of the Nigerian commodity ecosystem through the concurrence of the Investments and Securities Bill by the Senate stating that at the minimum, it will enhance the competitiveness of commodities exchanges in Nigeria.

L-R Group Executive,Transaction Banking Group, first Bank, Mrs Olaitan Martins; Managing Director/ Chief Executive Officer, FirstBank, Dr. Adesola Adeduntan; Ekiti State Governor, Mr Biodun Oyebanji; Executive Director/ Group Chief Risk Officer, FirstBank, Mr. Olusegun Alebiosu ; and Special Assistant/ Business Support Executive Adekunle Amujo,during the First Bank Management Team’s meeting with the Governor in AdoEkiti, yesterday.

FG: Nigeria’s external reserves healthy enough to withstand global recession

By Abubakar Yunus Abuja

The federal government says Nigeria has enough foreign exchange reserves to withstand a global recession this year.

Zainab Ahmed, minister of finance, budget and national planning, disclosed this on Tuesday during an interview with Arise TV on the sidelines of the World Economic Forum (WEF) in Davos.

Citing the projections of multilateral organisations such as the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund, the minister said there was a strong possibility that the world economy is headed for a recession.

“Clearly there is going to be a decline in growth. And why

we are having this decline in growth is because of the sustained economic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic,” Ahmed said.

“We’ve seen the resurgence of COVID-19 in some developed economies, especially China, and also the effect of the RussiaUkraine war that is having a global impact.

“The quantitative easing that is being implemented by central banks across the world also contributes to the high cost of interest, resulting in the high inflation rate, and which means people’s spending power is weakened. So, these are all indications that there will be a global recession.”

Ahmed said in 2008 when there was a global recession, Nigeria’s FX reserves were in

excess of $60 billion and the country was able to withstand the impact of that recession.

Asked if the country would be able to withstand another recession this year, she said the country’s FX reserves stood at $34 billion.

According to Ahmed, the $34 billion was enough to sustain imports for six months.

“It is true we had higher reserves during the first global recession. Our reserves are now at $34 billion. So, that is still a healthy level. It means we’re able to meet at least six months of imports and other expenses into the country,” the minister explained.

“It means we can withstand another global shock if we’re able to carry through a coordinated

response between the monetary, fiscal as well as trade authorities.

“We have learned a lot from the experience that we went through during the COVID. And it showed that when we plan as one, we can actually withstand the shocks.

“You’ll recall that Nigeria’s economy did go into recession during the COVID but it was a short-lived one because of that coordinated response, which had, not just the government, but also the private sector contributing to the effort.”

“Also, at that time we were able to scale back on some categories of government spending to enable us to invest more in the healthcare sector. So, with the right policies we can weather another global recession.”

UK inflation dips slightly to 10.5%

— second drop in two months

By Abubakar Yunus Abuja

The United Kingdom’s inflation rate dropped slightly to 10.5 percent in December 2022.

This is the second time inflation would be declining in two months, despite forecasts of a recession in the country.

In November, inflation rate fell slightly to 10.7 percent from the 41-year high of 11.1 percent in October.

UK’s Office for National Statistics (ONS), said the drop in diesel prices in the country contributed to the ease.

It further said the largest upward contributors are housing and household services (electricity, gas, and other fuels) and food and non-alcoholic beverages.

ONS added that the largest downward contribution to the change came from transport (particularly motor fuels), clothing and footwear, and recreation and culture, with rising prices in restaurants and hotels.

Meanwhile, food and nonalcoholic beverage prices, making the largest (partially offsetting) upward contributions, rose by 16.9 percent in the 12 months to December — slightly up from 16.5 percent in November.

Speaking on the inflationary movement in the country, Grant Fitzner, ONS chief economist said: “Inflation eased slightly in December, although still at a very high level, with overall prices rising strongly during the last year as a whole.”

“Prices at the pump fell notably in December, with the cost of clothing also dropping back slightly.

“However, this was offset by increases for coach and airfares as well as overnight hotel accommodation. Food costs continue to spike, with prices also rising in shops, cafes, and restaurants.”

Meanwhile, last year, the Bank of England (BoE) increased the interest rate to 3 percent amid projections of “a prolonged period” of recession in the country.

FAAC: FG, states, LGAs shared N990bn as allocation in December

By Abubakar Yunus Abuja

The Federation Account Allocation Committee (FAAC) says it shared N990.189 billion among the three tiers of government in December 2022.

The figure represents an increase of N88.136 billion compared to the N902.053 billion shared in November.

FAAC disclosed this in a communique issued at the end of its latest meeting in Abuja.

The N990.189 billion total distributable revenue comprised statutory revenue of N707.756 billion, value-added tax (VAT) of N233.277 billion, exchange gain of N24.841 billion, and N24.315 billion from electronic money

transfer levies (EMTL).

FAAC said the federal government received N375.306 billion, states received N299.557 billion, while the local governments got N221.807 billion.

It added that oil-producing states received N93.519 billion as derivation, (13 percent of mineral revenue) in the same month.

For December, accordingly, the gross statutory revenue of N1.136 trillion was received, which was higher than the previous month’s.

From this amount, the commission said N31.531 billion was disbursed as the cost of collection and a total sum of N396.896 billion to transfers, savings, and refunds.

The remaining N707.756 billion was distributed as follows: federal government received N325.105 billion, states N165.897 billion; local governments N127.129 billion, while oilproducing states under the 13 percent mineral derivation got N90.625 billion.

On the allocation of the N233.277 billion value-added tax, FAAC said the federal government got N34.992 billion, states received N116.639 billion, and N81.647 billion was given to local governments.

It also disclosed that from the N24.841 billion exchange gain, N11.562 billion was allocated to the federal government and states got N5.864 billion. While the local governments received N4.521

billion, derivation under the 13 percent mineral revenue also received N2.894 billion.

FAAC added that N24.315 billion from the EMTL was distributed to the federal government (N3.648 billion), states (N12.157 billion), and local governments (N8.510 billion).

It further said petroleum profit tax (PPT), companies income tax (CIT), and value-added tax (VAT) recorded a significant increase, while import duty decreased considerably and oil and gas royalties and excise duty increased marginally.

In addition, the balance in the excess crude account (ECA) as at January 17th, 2023 stands at $473,754.57.

By Abubakar Yunus Abuja

Afederal high court in Abuja has summoned Godwin Emefiele, governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) over a $53 million judgement debt arising from the Pars Club refunds.

Inyang Ekwo, presiding judge, gave the order on October 20, 2022, following an application

for garnishee made by Joe Agi, a senior advocate of Nigeria who is the judgment creditor.

The court granted the application and ordered Emefiele to appear in court on Wednesday, January 18.

However, at the court session on Wednesday, the case was adjourned to March 20.

No reason was given for the adjournment.

The dispute stemmed from an alleged $70 million judgment against Linas International Ltd for the lawyer’s (Joe Agi) assistance with the Paris Club refund.

Emefiele was said to have only released $17 million, leaving an unpaid balance of $53 million.

The court had on January 23, 2020, ruled that Emefiele must appear “to be examined on oath

touching the means you have or have had, since the date of the said garnishee order absolute, to pay the balance of $53 million now due and payable under the said garnishee order absolute and also show cause why you should not be committed to prison for default in payment of the said sum”.

In October 2022, Agi through his counsel Isaac Ekpa and

Chinonso Obasi, filed another application against Linas International, minister of finance and the CBN, seeking “an order directing the inspector-general of police to arrest Emefiele and bring him to

court alongside his lawyers: Damian Dodo, Audu Anuga, all Senior Advocates of Nigeria, and Ginika Ezeoke, Jessica Iyoke, Abdullahi Afolayan, and Olayemi Afolayan”.

L-R: Vice Chairman, Troyka Holdings, Mr. Jimi Awosika; Director, Troyka Holdings, Dr. Ken Onyeali-Ikpe; Managing Director, Fidelity Bank, Mrs Nneka Onyeali-Ikpe; Group Managing Director & CEO, Halogen Group, Mr Wale Olaoye and Chairman, Halogen Group, Dr Biodun Shobanjo (OON), at a reception for Olaoye’s daughter, Oluwatoniloba and her husband, Farrel Emmans which took place in Lagos, yesterday.

BU$IN€SS

PenCom: Contributory pension scheme reforms have eased challenges faced by employees

By Abubakar Yunus Abuja

The National Pension Commission (PenCom) says reforms under the contributory pension scheme (CPS) have eased challenges encountered by employees.

The commission said this recently in a video message to Nigerians.

The contributory pension scheme (CPS) is an arrangement where both the employer and the employee contribute towards the payment of the worker’s pension at retirement.

In a bid to improve the sector, PenCom said it has implemented several reforms including the recovery of over N10 billion outstanding pension contribution, and the payment of outstanding pension liabilities.

The commission recently approved the increase of monthly pensions for retirees on “programmed withdrawal” under the CPS.

“The online enrollment and verification exercise, multi-fund structure, non-interest fund, retirement savings account transfer system, and data recapture exercise have eased all the challenges that contributors experience,” it said.

PenCom said it has also ensured that all pension fund administrators (PFAs) increase their share capital to at least N5 billion.

“As we speak, the total pension assets in the country has amounted to over N14 trillion and PenCom has launched the new edition of pension enhancement for retirees on programme withdrawal under the contributory pension scheme,” the commission said.

“The most exciting benefit is that [it is] not only public and civil servants will be enjoying pension in our country; private sector, traders, tailors, fashion designers, shoemakers, civil societies — almost all citizens — can enrol in the pension scheme under the micro pension plan.

“This means that everyone can begin to plan for their lives and in the future, and the national security problem will end in our country.”

PenCom further lauded the federal government for revamping the pension scheme, enjoining Nigerians to make wise use of them.

Zainab Ahmed hints at gradual removal of petrol subsidy from April 2023

By Abubakar Yunus Abuja

Zainab Ahmed, minister of finance, budget and national planning, says the federal government may begin the gradual removal petrol subsidy from April 2023.

Ahmed spoke on Tuesday during an interview with journalists on the sidelines of the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland.

After an 18-month extension, the federal government plans to spend N3.35 trillion on petrol subsidy from January till June, 2023.

Speaking during the interview, the minister noted that the petrol subsidy regime must be exited as it is revenue that would have gone into the

government coffers.

“Where there is not enough revenue for government to buy the refined petroleum products, we have had to borrow to buy the petroleum products. So, if we take that out, that is about N3.25 trillion. That is a significant relief, that we do not incur any more than that number that we projected for in 2023,” she said.

Asked if she felt betrayed that the petrol subsidy had not been removed despite her best efforts to ensure removal, she stressed that it was a collective decision to retain the payments.

“Betrayed? No. It was a decision that was taken as a collective, recognising the fact that due to the lingering impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, and

also heightened inflation, that removal of the fuel subsidy at that time, would have increased more burden on the citizen,” Ahmed said.

She added that President Muhammadu Buhari does not want to take measures that exacerbate economic hardship in the country.

“The president does not want to contemplate a situation where measures are taken that are further going to burden the citizens. So, the decision was to extend the period from June 2022 (sic) to 18 months, beginning from January 2022,” the minister said.

“So, in June 2023, we should be able to exit. The good thing is, we hear a consistent message that everybody is

saying this thing needs to go. It is not serving the majority of Nigerians.

“I listened to some of the new leaders that are campaigning for the next round of leadership in the country that are saying they will get rid of it very quickly.

“What will be safer is for the current administration to maybe at the beginning of the second quarter to start removing the fuel subsidy, because it’s more expedient if you remove it gradually, than to wait and move it all in one big swoop.

“So, the idea for us in the budget, is that the subsidy costs should not exceed that N3.23 trillion. So, whether it’s done completely 100 percent by June or by July, or whatever, it’s a process.”

FAAC accuses NNPC of using lower FX rate for crude oil revenue

By Abubakar Yunus Abuja

The Federation Account Allocation Committee (FAAC) has accused the Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC) of using an exchange rate lower than the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) official rate for the sale of domestic crude oil between 2015 and 2022.

The committee said this in a report signed by Kabir. M. Mashi, chairman of its post mortem subcommittee (PSMC).

The report was presented the sub-committee at FAAC’s monthly plenary meeting held on Tuesday, January 17, 2023.

The FAAC sub-committee said it observed some underpayments

of N185.45 billion to the federation account as a result of the low exchange rate applied by the NNPC.

“On the exchange rate application by NNPC on domestic crude, FIRS PSC crude and NUPRC royalty crude sale values, the sub-committee observed some under payments of N185,458,842,270.76 to the federation account as a result of NNPC using exchange rate lower than the CBN official rate on domestic crude sale for the period 2015 to 2022,” the report reads.

FAAC also said the CBN has confirmed that “NNPC did not use the rate advised” by the bank.

It added that the national oil firm has not yet responded to

the matter after “several months of being given the analysis to review”.

“Despite the concerns of FIRS, NUPRC and other stakeholders, NNPC Limited has continued to use a different exchange rate in remittances to the federation account till date,” the committee.

Consequently, the FAAC subcommittee recommended that the plenary should take a decision on the appropriate exchange rate to be used by NNPC Limited on remittances to the federation account going forward to avoid underpayments to the federation account.

It also said the plenary should engage a third party forensic auditor to validate the established

underpayments to the federation account by NNPC.

Meanwhile, in a related development, the FAAC subcommittee said it also observed that within the post-mandated period, the issue of nonapplication of mandated rates by CBN for the months of March, April, and May 2020 resulted in the underpayment to the forex equalisation account by N67. 1 billion.

The sub-committee said it had earlier submitted its report to FAAC and awaits its investigation with CBN to ascertain why mandated rates were not used in the months under reference.

L-R: GMD/CEO, Access Corporation,Herbert Wigwe; MD/CEO, Access Bank Plc, Roosevelt Ogbonna, and executive director, African Subsidiaries, Access Bank Plc,Seyi Kumapayi, during the presentation of the Access Corporation’s 5-year Corporate Strategy (20232027) in Lagos, yesterday.

METRO

DRTS promotes 386 personnel to boost traffic mgt in Abuja

By Stanley Onyekwere

exercise coming up later in the year.

As

part of measures to ensure effective regulation of road traffic management, the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Directorate of Road Traffic Services (DRTS) has promoted 386 officers and men of the Directorate, to help bolster its effort towards better service delivery to residents of Abuja.

It was gathered that the 386 promoted personnel were among the 405 officers and men of the Directorate, who sat for promotion exams in 2022, and emerged successfully.

Speaking at the rank decoration ceremony for the newly promoted officers, yesterday, DRTS Director, Dr. Bello Abdulateef, noted that the promotion will indirectly or directly translate into productivity and service delivery to the public, so people should be rest assured that DRTS is posed for better service going forward.

He disclosed that the Directorate is preparing other trainings for capacity development, to enable those who have been promoted and those waiting to be promoted to equally be on the side of productivity for the DRTS.

“If we have well informed

“To whom much is given, much is expected. We expect them to display some level of responsibility in terms of discretion and repositioning the Directorate for effective service delivery”, he

stressed.

He added that the leadership of the DRTS will keep reminding its officers and men to maintain the best standards, inline with the rules and regulations guiding the Service, warning that erring DRTS personnel risks variety of sanctions which may include dismissal from service.

She also urged the newly promoted officers, to be committed to their responsibilities and put in required sacrifice to uplift the Directorate to achieve set goals.

On her part, Osho Deborah, who was promoted from Assistant Director of Operations to Deputy Director, DRTS Operations, advised her colleagues to continue doing their job with renewed vigor.

Osho added that they should be patient, and continue doing what they have been doing in the right and positive light, certainly, they will be encouraged and motivated at the right time.

“I received the promotion with a grateful heart, because it came at the right time, as I was supposed in 2022, and I was promoted now. It means a lot to me, it means hope and encouragement to do more and inspire others to know that when you are working hard and diligently, you will always be motivated to do more.

“What I would do differently is to make sure effective operations in terms of dedication, discipline and compliance to the guidelines, take place within the Service”, she expressed.

AMAC frowns at FCT Transport Secretariat over return of park-and-pay policy

BY Usman Shuaibu

The administration of Abuja Municipal Area Council (AMAC) in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) has frowned at the Mandate Secretary in charge of Transport Secretariat of the FCT Administration, Hon. Abdullahi Adamu Candido over the return of Park-and pay policy. This was contained in a press statement signed by Senior Special Assistant on Community Development to the Chairman

of AMAC, Mr. Yunusa Yusuf Ahmadu and made available to Peoples Daily Correspondent in Abuja.

According to the statement, it is worrisome for the FCT Transport Secretariat to cook up a Kangaroo way to begin park-andpay which ideally the law does not permit them to do, because they do not have the power to do that.

The statement said “Candido should know clearly that gone are those days when he was the Chairman, he cannot be mandate

Secretary and be the Chairman of AMAC at the same time, it is not allowed, it is either he is mandate secretary.

“There are so many laws he should concentrate on, we have issues in train station, people are dying, neighboring communities are sacrificed for train stations and railway, let him go and attend to those issues, we know how people’s bags are being snatched in train stations. I think he has enough job to do rather than concentrating on how to collect

Our tenure will expire this

By Usman Shuaibu

The national president of the National Association of Nigeria Traditional Medicine Practitioners (NANTMP), Dr Shaba Maikudi, has disclosed that the current

executives of the association under his leadership would end their tenure in November, 2023.

Maikudi made the disclosure while briefing newsmen on Sunday in Abuja, pointing out that due to the certificate of return signed by the electoral committee

park and pay or co-operate parking or whatever he calls it, it solely the responsibility to enforce it and ensure that we get it done”.

It said; “We want to warn clearly that we know the Minister as a law-abiding citizen and nobody should cajole the Minister to do wrong thing, we want to tell Candido that we have records of how he never allowed the park and pay to see the light of the day when it was initially introduced by the FCDA”.

The statement urged the FCT

Administration to hands off the policy planned which may take-off by the end of the first quarter of the year and described the act as unjustifiable capable of denying AMAC to get its legitimate revenue in order to provide basic amenities to the residents.

The statement, however, noted that plan if allowed to come back, it would affect the revenue generation in the council, pointing out that the law did not permit another body to collect or manage motorists’ activities especially on

says NATMP President

chairman, the secretary of the committee, as well as the Board of Trustee (BOT) Chairman of NANTMP showed that the tenure of the present officials would expire in November, 2023.

He said: “I wish to inform the members of the association and

the general public that no election will hold on the 28th of January, 2023 as was spearheaded by a few dismissed executives of the association”.

He further pointed out that the so-called election by a few dismissed executives of the

association is a scam capable of defrauding the members.

Maikudi, however, appealed to the entire members of the association not to purchase nomination form from any dismissed members for an election.

FCTA vows to eradicate illiteracy in rural areas

By Stanley Onyekwere

The FCT Administration has reiterated its desire to intensify efforts at eradicating illiteracy especially in all the rural areas of Abuja, the

nation’s capital.

This position was made known by the Permanent Secretary for FCT Administration, Olusade Adesola during a recent fiesta organised by FCT Department of Mass Education in Karu, in Abuja

Municipal Area Council (AMAC).

Adesola, who was represented by Faseyi Nathaniel explained that the department, which is saddled with the responsibility of making sure that people at all levels know how to read and write will always

be supported to do more.

He however, commended the efforts of the current director of the Department, Titilayo Alayande for her innovations that had repositioned all the centres across the Six Area Councils.

He noted that a better future could only be achieved when people get the requisite knowledge, which he said FCT Department of Mass Education was driving the programme well.

DRTS officers maning our roads, ensuring regulation of road traffic management, and motor vehicle administration.

Earlier, in a welcome address, Deputy Director, Human Resource Management (HRM) of the Directorate, Francisca Samuel, who noted that the number of the promoted personnel represents a success rate of 95.30%, said it is the desire of HRM of the Administration Division to surpass this mark in the next promotion

DRTS Director and other senior officers of the Directorate in a group photograph with some of its newly promoted personnel decorated with their new ranks, yesterday, in Abuja.

year,

world news

Further delays to US flights expected after FAA issue

Normal air traffic operations are slowly resuming in the US after flights were halted on Wednesday, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) said.

It follows a problem with the system that alerts pilots to potential hazards on flight routes.

The FAA had said flights would begin to take off again from 0900 ET (1400 GMT), though further delays are expected due to a backlog of flights.

Airports nationwide were affected, from Denver to Atlanta to New York City.

As of Wednesday morning east coast time, more than 6,700 flights in and out of the US had been delayed and more than 1,000 were cancelled.

One issue airlines are facing is trying to get planes in and out of crowded gates, which is causing

further delays.

US President Joe Biden has been briefed on the FAA glitch, and the White House said there was no evidence of a cyberattack “at this point”.

Speaking to reporters, the president said the FAA “expect [that] in a couple of hours they’ll have a good sense of what caused it, and we’ll respond at that time”.

In a tweet, the White House Press Secretary said the president had called for a “full investigation”.

The FAA said the source of the problem was its Notice to Air Missions System.

According to the FAA, the system provides real-time safety information to pilots “about closed runways, equipment outages, and other potential hazards along a flight route or at a location that could affect the flight.”

Elon Musk’s drop in fortunes breaks world record

From November 2021 to December 2022 he lost around $165bn, Guinness World Records said in a blog on its website.

The figures are based on data from publisher Forbes, but Guinness said other sources suggested Mr Musk’s losses could have been higher.

It follows a fall in value of shares in Mr Musk’s electric car firm Tesla after he bought Twitter last year.

His $44bn (£36bn) takeover of the social media company has sparked concerns among investors that Mr Musk is no longer giving Tesla enough attention.

Mr Musk’s losses since November 2021 surpass the previous record of $58.6bn (£47bn), suffered by Japanese tech investor Masayoshi Son in 2000.

The estimated loss is based on the value of his shares, which could regain their value, meaning Mr Musk’s wealth would increase again.

In December, the Tesla boss lost his position as richest person in the world to Bernard Arnault, the chief executive of French

The value of Tesla shares dropped around 65% in 2022, in part because of Tesla’s performance. The firm delivered just 1.3 million vehicles during the year, falling short of Wall Street expectations.

However, Mr Musk’s takeover of Twitter - where he has sparked controversy by firing large numbers of staff and changing content moderation policies - is behind most of the share slump.

Many Tesla investors believe he should be focusing on the electric vehicle company as it faces falling demand amid recession fears, rising competition and Covidlinked production challenges.

“Long-term fundamentals [at Tesla] are extremely strong. Short-term market madness is unpredictable,” Mr Musk tweeted after the stock markets closed for the year in December 2022.

Mr Musk is now worth about $178bn (£152bn), according to Forbes, while Bernard Arnault has an estimated value of $188bn (£155bn).

Major US airlines said they were closely monitoring the situation. American Airlines, which carries the most passengers annually in North America, said it was working with the FAA to minimise customer disruption.

United Airlines said it would waive change fees and any difference in fare for customers rescheduling flights departing on or before 16 January, 2023.

Delta said it was “safely focused on managing our operation during this morning’s FAA ground stop for all carriers”, adding it would provide updates as soon as possible.

For international passengers, Air Canada - the foreign carrier with the most flights into the US - said the outage would impact on cross-border operations on Wednesday, but it couldn’t initially say to what degree. The

carrier said it would put in place a “goodwill policy” so affected passengers can change their travel plans.

Meanwhile, airports in Paris - Paris Charles de Gaulle and Orly - said they expect delays to US flights. Air France said it is monitoring the situation.

For UK passengers, British Airways said its flights to and from the US will operate as planned, and Virgin Atlantic said it was continuing to operate its schedule of US flights departing from the UK. However, some US departures, the airline said, may be affected by delays.

Germany’s Lufthansa and Spain’s Iberia said they are still operating flights to and from the US as normal for now.

US Department of Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg said he had been

in contact with the FAA on Wednesday morning, and that they were working to resolve the issue “swiftly and safely”.

Passengers have posted on social media that they are experiencing delays.

“Always great to get up at 0400 to be at the gate in plenty of time for your flight that is now delayed by 37 minutes and counting,” said Daniel Huard in a Facebook post. “This will be a long day of travel.”

Michael Remy arrived to an airport in Virginia at 0600 ET (1100 GMT) planning to head to North Carolina for vacation. His flight was delayed right before boarding. “It is what is, so, you can only get so upset,” he told the BBC. “I may have seen it differently if I was headed to a wedding or a funeral, though.”

The mystery buses behind Brazil Congress attack

Hundreds

of the protesters who stormed Brazil’s Congress have been arrested but mystery still surrounds the identity of the people pulling the strings. Could a fleet of buses seized by police hold the key?

Two months ago, 60-yearold Odair boarded a bus in the southeastern state of Parana, bound for Brazil’s capital more than 1,460 km (907 miles) away.

His mission: to spend weeks showing his support for a man he affectionately refers to as “the Captain” - former President Jair Bolsonaro.

For Odair, the trip ended badly.

While he claims he did not participate in the riot at Brazil’s Congress on 8 January, he was among the more than 1,500 taken into custody by police at nearby Bolsonaro supporters’ encampments - where many had been for weeks - in the immediate aftermath.

“There were old ladies in there, crying. They had lost contact with everyone,” he told the BBC after his release, clad in the blue and yellow Brazilian football gear that has become synonymous with Bolsonaro supporters. “This is really sad business.”

Those detained hail from at least 10 Brazilian states and like Odair they made a long journey to Brasilia.

Four days before the riot, a video inviting people to the Brazilian capital for a “party” went viral. It promised free buses would take people from different parts of the country, with coffee and food laid on.

Who or what group was behind this idea, and financed it, remains something of a mystery - one that has gripped the attention of people across the country.

“It’s obvious to everyone they didn’t do it themselves,” Alice Teixeira, a Brasilia resident, told the BBC at a local filling station. “They were from many places.”

What have authorities said?

Earlier this week, Brazil’s current President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva said the rioters are “possibly victims” of manipulation at the hands of still-unknown financiers. So far, much of the investigation

has focused on a fleet of approximately 40 buses seized by authorities after the riot. Many of these brightly-coloured buses are currently parked in a police lot on the outskirts of the city, where they are clearly visible from the highway.

At a news conference on Tuesday, Justice Minister Flavio Dino said that unnamed “business executives” rented the buses to transport Bolsonaro supporters to Brasilia from across the nation who had been offered “free trips” on social media.

While Mr Dino offered no names amid the ongoing investigation, he described the alleged organisers as being involved in the agriculture industry and the gun lobby in Brazil’s conservative midwestern and southern states. Othersincluding President Lula - have suggested that mining and logging firms may also be involved.

Politically, these regions are considered bastions of support for Mr Bolsonaro.

Paulo Abrão, a Brazilian law professor and human rights expert, said that backers are likely from groups that “benefited from a lack of government control” under the Bolsonaro government.

“The financiers of this incident could be groups that harm the environment, or who violate human rights in their work,” he said. “These groups would benefit from attacking the institutions of the state.”

Denials from ‘Bolsonaristas’

Many hardline supporters of the former President continue to cling to the narrative that the events of 8 January were the work of leftist provocateurs who, they say, wanted to derail peaceful protests against the Lula government.

Among them is Telma Viera, a Sao Paolo resident who spent weeks at a camp in the city alongside other Bolsonaro supporters. On Tuesday, she was in Brasilia, where she was visiting two friends taken into custody following the riot.

“This was not something done by our patriots,” she said outside the police facility where the alleged rioters are being held. “There were people from the left there, before ours.”

Another Bolsonaro supporter,

Edson Varela, echoed Viera’s statement, saying that “infiltrators” started the violence at the riot “to give the government another reason for coming after Bolsonaro”.

As evidence, Ms Varela and Ms Viera both pointed to Instagram and social media videos which purport to show known Lula supporters among the crowd.

While none of these videos have been substantiated, these opinions are being widely shared and gaining traction among large swathes of Brazilians, both at home and abroad.

Juscelino Colares, a US-based Brazilian law professor, told the BBC that his numerous Brazilian friends have sent him “videos that document Bolsonaristas telling rioters how to burn or destroy public property”.

“Like me, they all believe many agent provocateurs from the left took advantage of frustration among some native right-wing protesters,” he said.

What’s next?

While Brazilian officials have vowed to identify and punish those responsible, they have so far offered little detail on the investigation, although Brazilian telecom carriers have been ordered to preserve data that may be related to the riot.

Any potential penalties for those who organised the riot remain unclear.

Some Brazilians, like Mr Abrão - a former executive secretary of the Inter-American Commission for Human Rights - are now calling for a congressional commission to probe the riot and what led up to it, as was the case in the US with the committee that looked into the 6 January 2021 riot.

“This country really needs to establish an instrument like that, that involves the judiciary and other government powers,” he said. “We need to create the conditions to make that possible. It’s vital.”

In the meantime, many Brazilians will be anxiously waiting for answers.

“I believe some will [eventually] be identified,” said Geomar Andre Bender, a lawyer and author. “But some will never leave their mark.”

luxury goods company LVMH, which owns fashion label Louis Vuitton.

2023: IGP orders election security duties guidelines released to police officers, others

The Inspector-General of Police, IGP Usman Alkali Baba has ordered the distribution of more than a million copies of a handbook produced by the Nigeria Police Force on “Revised Standard Operational Guidelines/Rules for Police Officers and Other Law Enforcement Agents on Election Security Duties ahead of the 2023 General Elections.

A statement by CSP Olumuyiwa Adejobi, Force Public Relations Officer, Force Headquarters in Abuja said yesterday.

The 36 paged handbook, the statement

said, contains a page for the details of the officer to whom it is issued, a foreword by the IGP, rules on general conduct, duty parade, briefing/debriefing, dress and accoutrement, managing political parties’ convention/rallies, and crowd control, use of force and lethal weapon, escorting and protecting election materials, the procedure of arrest, command and control and other salient electoral security rules.

The strategic distribution covers the Force Headquarters, Zonal and State Police Commands, Formations and trickles down

to Units of the Force and Divisional Police Stations to ensure that every police officer will have a copy of the guidelines for ease of reference before the commencement of deployments. Similarly, the IGP has ordered distribution to the Presidency, Ministry of Police Affairs, Police Service Commission, the Military, and all other security agencies engaged alongside the Police in election security management based on their expected deployment for the elections.

According to the statement, the

Inspector-General of Police reiterates his expectation that the Police and other security agents involved in election security management will find the handbook to be a valuable operational companion.

Also, the book could act as a standard in holding them accountable in the line of their electoral duties, as all hands must be on deck to actualise the mandate and commitment of the NPF to have free, fair and credible elections in Nigeria, the statement said.

How we can overcome religious sentiments, by Buhari

By Egena Sunday Ode

President Muhammadu Buhari has alleged that some people hide under the canopy of religion to advance their economic and political agenda, and continuous education is needed so that the larger populace would not be hoodwinked.

The President spoke at Nouakchott, Mauritania, Tuesday, while meeting with Rashad Hussain, United States Ambassadorat-Large for International Religious

Freedom.

Recounting his private meeting at the White House with former President Donald Trump, the Nigerian leader recalls Trump asking him: “why are you killing Christians in Nigeria,” and how he proceeded to tell him that the issue in the country was not religious, but rather criminal, and a usage of religion by some elements to further their economic, and sometimes, political interests.

“It’s a problem Nigeria has been struggling with for a long time, and it is

completely unnecessary,” President Buhari said. “Some people use religion as sentiment, but with adequate education, people are seeing through it now. Majority of the people just want to practice their religion without problem, but some people cash in on religious misunderstanding for their own ends.

“When people are educated, they are able to discern when others want to use religion for certain ends. They do it mostly for material reasons.

“Also, when some people are incompetent,

they bring in all sorts of excuses, including religion.”

Ambassador Hussain said the United States of America is interested in partnering with Nigeria in the areas of formal and non-formal education, towards religious harmony.

“There’s so much we can do together to promote peace, promote communal harmony. We love what you are doing, and we would be glad to assist as appropriate,” he said.

L-R: Director General / CEO, Federal Institute of Industrial Research Oshodi (FIIRO), Dr. Jummai Adamu Tutuwa, Minister of Science ,Technology and Innovation (STI) Sen. Olorunimbe Mamora, Director Finance and account FIIRO, Mr. Joshua Oderinde, Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Science Technology and Innovation (FMSTI), Mrs Monilola Udoh, Director Chemical Technology FMSTI, Mr. Mej Bassey and the Board Chairman, FIIRO, Alh. Ibrahim Gwarzo, inspecting products develop by FIIRO, during the FIIRO day at the ongoing 7th Edition of the Science, Technology and Innovation Expo 2023, theme: Actualizing Effective Diversification of Nigeria Economy through Science, Technology and innovation, held in Abuja. Photo: Justin Imo-owo.

Asia&Middle-East

Soledar: Ukraine battle hints at rift in pro-Russian forces

Russia’s defence ministry says its forces are taking part in the battle for Soledar, a town north of Bakhmut in east Ukraine which has been the focus of recent fighting.

It comes after the head of Russia’s notoriously brutal Wagner mercenary group, Yevgeny Prigozhin, claimed his fighters were in full control there and boasted that only his troops took part.

Mr Prigozhin will most likely use any victory to bolster the reputation of Wagner as an effective fighting force in the eyes of President Putin.

But the Russian defence ministry appeared to contradict the controversial oligarch’s claims.

Spokesman Igor Konashenkov said in the military’s daily update that: “Soledar has been blockaded from the north and the south by units of the Russian Airborne Forces.

“The Russian Air Force is carrying out strikes on enemy strongholds. Assault troops are taking part in battles inside the town.” There was no mention of Wagner forces.

Ukraine’s defence ministry also said on Wednesday that heavy fighting continues, and Wagner forces have had no success in breaking through its defences.

If Soledar falls, it will be a boost to Mr Prigozhin. In a statement released on Tuesday night, he boasted that “no other units took part in the storming of Soledar apart from Wagner”. Ukrainian and US officials have said that Wagner units make up a large part of forces fighting in the area.

Analysts have long spoken of tensions between the military and Wagner, and Mr Prigozhin has publicly criticised generals for allegedly being out of touch with the realities of the war in Ukraine.

While it is difficult to know for sure exactly whether infighting is going on in the corridors of power, there are some clues.

Yesterday, news agency Tass reported that Colonel-General Alexander Lapin was appointed as Chief of Staff of the Ground Forces. Russian media quoted sources who claimed that the announcement of Gen Lapin’s position - he was one of those slammed by Mr Prigozhin last year - was made as a warning to the oligarch: don’t mess with the military.

But many here have been quick to praise Mr Prigozhin and Wagner for their apparent progress in Soledar. Influential media boss Margarita Simonyan gushed about how “polite” he is, signing off with a thanks to Wagner fighters, who she called “my little darlings!”

Likewise, pro-Kremlin military bloggers on Telegram lavished praise on the mercenary group. One blogger thanked them for “the emotions you’ve given us

tonight”.

Another said “When Soledar and [Bakhmut] are liberated, it will be a new chapter in Russian military history. The first time that a private military company

has shown such results in a highly intensive military conflict”.

The strategic significance of Soledar is disputed by military analysts. But if Russian forces do succeed in establishing

full control over the town, it will certainly be a symbolic victory for the Kremlin. That is because Moscow’s troops have failed to take a single significant town from Ukrainian forces since the summer of 2022.

Alireza Akbari: Iran preparing to execute British citizen - family

The family of a British-Iranian dual national sentenced to death in Iran have told BBC Persian that authorities are preparing to execute him.

Alireza Akbari’s wife, Maryam, said she had been asked to come to his prison for a “final meeting” and that he had been moved to solitary confinement.

The ex-deputy Iranian defence minister was arrested in 2019 and convicted of spying for the UK, which he denied.

The UK urged Iran to halt the planned execution and immediately release him.

“This is a politically motivated act by a barbaric regime that has total disregard for human life,” Foreign Secretary James Cleverly tweeted.

Earlier, a Foreign Office spokesperson

told the BBC that it was supporting Mr Akbari’s family and had repeatedly raised his case with Iranian authorities.

It has requested urgent consular access, but Iran’s government does not recognise dual nationality for Iranians.

BBC Persian also broadcast an audio message on Wednesday from Mr Akbari in which he says he was tortured and forced to confess on camera to crimes he did not commit.

He says that he was living abroad a few years ago when he was invited to visit Iran at the request of a top Iranian diplomat who was involved in nuclear talks with world powers.

Once there, he adds, he was accused of obtaining top secret intelligence from

the secretary of Iran’s Supreme National Security Council, Ali Shamkhani, “in exchange for a bottle of perfume and a shirt”.

The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites.View original tweet on Twitter

Mr Akbari served under Mr Shamkhani when the latter was defence minister during the presidency of Mohammad Khatami, a reformist who was in office for two terms between 1997 and 2005.

Hours after the audio message was broadcast, the Iranian judiciary’s Mizan news agency confirmed for the first time that Mr Akbari had been found guilty of espionage, and that the Supreme Court had rejected his appeal.

It cited Iran’s intelligence ministry as

saying that Mr Akbari had been “one of the most important infiltrators of the country’s sensitive and strategic centres” for the UK’s Secret Intelligence Service, better known as MI6, and that he had been “compiling and consciously transferring sensitive information”.

Iran is second only to China in the number of executions carried out annually.

At the end of November, state media reported that authorities had hanged four men convicted of “co-operating” with Israeli intelligence.

Another four have been executed since December after being sentenced to death in connection with the anti-government protests engulfing the country.

Source: BBC

The battles around Bakhmut are among the fiercest of the war

Ukraine cast doubt on a photo claiming to show Yevgeny Prigozhin inside a Soledar salt mine

NEMA commences food distribution for Internally Displaced person’s in Borno

By Mashe Umaru Gwamna

Following an approval by the Director General National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) Mustapha Ahmed Habib and staff of NEMA North East zonal office led by the Zonal coordinator Muhammad Usman Muhammad Aji have commenced the routine distribution of food items for Internally Displaced person’s in camps, host communities and liberated communities in Borno state with Shuwari / Ngwom Host communities.

Aji said each benefitting household is expected to recieve a ration consisting of Rice, Beans,Maize, vegetable oil, salt, Tomato paste and seasoning.

FG inaugurates presidential committee on Nguru ecological intervention

By Mashe Umaru Gwamna

Federal government has inaugurated the presidential committee on the implementation of the “Nguru ” ecological intervention programme.

The Minister of Environment Muhammad Abdullahi inaugurated the committee for the project in Abuja, recently.

He said the programmme is a collaborative partnerships of all stakeholders including Royal Fathers as government alone cannot solve and mitigate afforestation.

According to the minister, “You may recall that the Emir of Nguru, His Royal Highness, Alhaji Mustafa Ibn Mai Kyari on behalf of the Forest Farmers (Nguru) Cooperative Society, requested ecological funds for the afforestation of degraded land to mitigate climate change impacts within the Emirate.

“He said the land was cleared in 2017 through the intervention of the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development to enable implementation of the livelihood project called Rural Agriculture Re-modelled Project Strategies Since this request conforms with the vision and developmental agenda of the present administration especially the attainment of the NDC and global emission reduction.”

He said that President Muhammadu Buhari has directed that an interministerial committee comprising relevant Ministries

and Agencies be set up to consider this lofty request and come up with recommendations that must include but not be limited to the modalities for its implementation and cost implications.

“I am confident that the Committee being inaugurated today is composed of seasoned professionals and bureaucrats that would produce results that would assist not only in the delivery on the assignment at hand but also in the achievement of the far-reaching Government policies” He stated.

He noted that the government is committed to tackling climate change and environmental challenges, food security, as well as other socioeconomic problems across the country while improving the general well-being of the people.

“This is being demonstrated through our various policies,

programmes and initiatives some of which as you are aware, are inter-sectoral”.

He said this has also being demonstrated by Mr. President’s directive to the effect that this committee should be established.

The minister said the committee membership is consists of the Federal Ministry of Environment represented by the Department of Forestry, Forestry Research Institute of Nigeria, National Agency for the Great Green Wall, Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, Federal Ministry of Water Resources, Agricultural and Rural and Management Training Institute Forest Farmers of “Nguru” in Yobe State Northeast Nigeria.

He said on this note, I have the pleasure to inaugurate the Presidential Committee on the Implementation of

Nguru Ecological Intervention Programme as follows while it is expected to submit its report by the 27th January, 2023:

They are Sami Hajara Umar - Director, Forestry (Chairperson),

Aiwuyo Christopher O. - Deputy Director, Forestry (Member) , Bagudo Ahmed Majidadi - Deputy Director, NAGGW (Member) and Mustapha Iyabo - Assistant Director, FMA&RD (Member).

Others are: Engr. Peter Henry Sule - Chief Irrigation Engineer- Federal Ministry of Water Resources (Member)

Bayo David - Head Montane Research Outstation, FRIN (Member), Dr. Olufemi A. Oladunni – ED. ARMTI (Member)

Mm,Representative - Forest Farmers of Nguru (Member)and Dr. Innocent Alenyi - Assistant Director, NGGW (Secretary).

Decorated NPS assured of environment minister’s support

The Minister of Environment, Mr Mohammed Abdullahi, has given assurance of more support from his Ministry to the National Park Service (NPS) for efficient performance in its duties.

Abdullahi gave the assurance at the NPS’s presentation of some international awards won by the Service, to him recently in Abuja.

He assured the officers of the Service of his ministry’s support in the area of better equipment, trainings and orientation.

“I know that the officers are faced with danger and their lives are being threatened in most places due to the hazards of the job,” Abdullahi said.

The Minister commended the NPS for the outstanding awards and performances in spite of the limited resources within their reach.

He added that the awards were certainly testimonies of their hard work.

”There is an unrelenting commitment to achieving the core objectives for which the National Park Service is set up over the years.

”Therefore, it is no gainsaying that the Service has taken its rightful position in the comity of conservation enclaves across the globe and has successfully written its name in gold in the international arena.

“I also want to use this

occasion to call on spirited individuals and organisations to come to the aid of the National Park Service,” Abdullahi said.

He said aid could be given by donating projects and programmes that would foster conservation and ecotourism in national parks across the country.

The Minister thanked President Muhammadu Buhari for always prioritising the programmes and activities of the Ministry whenever the need arose.

Dr Ibrahim Goni, the Conservator General (CG) of NPS, while presenting the three international Conservation Awards from 2018 to 2022,

commended the Minister for the support given to the Service which enabled it to achieve the feat.

The three awards are the 2018 African Ranger Award, Wildlife Ranger Challenge Award and the Service Management Team award.

Goni said that the Service emerged 2nd runner-up out of the 80 nominations across Africa for the African Ranger Award under the category “Best Conservation Team in Africa”.

“The contest involved 88 teams from 20 African countries in a 21-kilometre marathon race,” the CG said.

The inaugurated presidential committee on the implementation of the “Nguru ” ecological intervention programme and the minister of Environment Muhammad Abdullahi, recently in Abuja .

NEMA officials carrying out post assessments at sagamu market fire incident in Ogun state, recently.

26 Feature

Nepal air crash: Who were the victims?

Seventy-two people are believed to have died in the Nepal air crash, the country’s worst air disaster in three decades.

Officials said 53 of the passengers were Nepalese, along with five Indians, four Russians and two Koreans. Others on board are reported to have included one passenger each from the UK, Australia, Argentina and France.

The plane came down in a gorge near the airport of Pokhara, a tourist town. It is not yet known what caused the crash.

However searchers have recovered the Yeti Airlines plane’s voice and flight data recorders and both are said to be in good condition.

Here are some of those on board who lost their lives.

Australian Myron Love Australian authorities have confirmed Sydney teacher Myron Love, 29, was among those killed.

Friends have paid tribute to avid cyclist and surfer as a “truly kind, fun, energetic man”, with one telling local media he had “never met a more genuine bloke in my life”.

In a statement, his family said Myron had been their rock.

“He has put so much into his short life that most of us couldn’t fit into our lifetime.”

A South Korean soldier and his son

The 45-year-old father surnamed Yoo was a sergeant in the South Korean army. He was on holiday with his 14-year-old son during the son’s winter break from school.

The two left South Korea on 14 January for a hiking trip in the Himalayas. They had been messaging their families on the day when the incident happened, but the families didn’t hear anything from them after the flight’s

scheduled arrival time passed, South Korean media reported.

They told their families that they travelled from India to Nepal that day. They had planned to visit several places in Nepal, the reports said.

Sonu Jaiswal, Abhishek Kushwaha, Anil Rajbhar and Vishal Sharma

The four men, all thought to be in their 20s or early 30s, were from Ghazipur in India’s Uttar Pradesh state. They were among five Indians on board.

Locals in Ghazipur said they had gone to Nepal on 13 January to visit the Pashupatinath temple, a grand shrine on the outskirts of Kathmandu which is dedicated to the Hindu god Shiva.

The trip was reportedly Jaiswal’s idea - a father of three, he wanted to pray at the temple for another son.

They planned to go paragliding in Pokhara. Jaiswal was livestreaming as the plane came in to land.

Several villagers remembered the four men as “kind, fun-loving souls”.

Co-pilot Anju Khatiwada

Anju Khatiwada was copiloting Yeti Airlines flight 691. A trailblazer, Anju was one of just six women employed by the airline as pilots, and had flown close to 6,400 hours.

“She was a full captain at the airline who had done solo flights,” Sudarshan Bartaula from Yeti Airlines said. “She was a brave woman.”

It has emerged that her husband Dipak Pokhrel had also been co-piloting a Yeti Airlines flight when it crashed in 2006 - and it was his death that spurred Anju to pursue a career in aviation.

Singer Nira Chhantyal

Nira was a singer who often flew with Yeti Airlines. Low cost air travel has become an affordable and popular way

“ Seventy-two people are believed to have died in the Nepal air crash, the country’s worst air disaster in three decades. Officials said 53 of the passengers were Nepalese, along with five Indians, four Russians and two Koreans. Others on board are reported to have included one passenger each from the UK, Australia, Argentina and France.

for Nepal’s middle class to traverse the mountainous nation.

Nira, who had moved to

Kathmandu, had been on the fight on her way to perform at a music festival in Pokhara.

“She was a very talented

artist, and used to sing folk songs. She would often sing spontaneously,” her friend Bhimsen told the BBC.

Australian Myron Love was on the flight

Sonu Jaiswal livestreamed from the plane seconds before it crashed

Sonu Jaiswal livestreamed from the plane seconds before it crashed

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Saudi Arabia businessman buys VIP Ticket for N1.5 billion to watch Ronaldo vs Messi match

By Amaechi Agbo

ASaudi Arabia businessman Musharraf bin Ahmed Al-Ghamdi, General Manager of the Aqar One group of companies, has paid £2.6 (N1.482 Billion) for VIP ticket to watch Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi exhibition match today.

Al-Ghamdi paid $2.6m (SR10,000,000) for a VIP ticket to watch an all-star team captained by Cristiano Ronaldo take on Lionel Messi’s PSG in Riyadh.

The exhibition game will see an all-star team made up of players from Saudi clubs sides, Al Nassr and Al Hilal take on PSG as part of the French side’s Middle East tour.

It could see Ronaldo and other players from the Saudi pro football league take on PSG stars such as Kylian Mbappe and Neymar.

PSG, owned by Qatar Sports Investments, are on a tour of the Middle East which will see the club earn a reported £8.7m

Turki Al-Sheikh launched the charity bid for a very special match ticket that grants VIP access to the stadium as well as the opportunity to meet the players, go into changing rooms and even be a part of the winning team photo.

It is the most expensive football match ticket ever bought and was part of a fundraising venture launched by Turki Al-Sheikh, the head of the Saudi General Entertainment Authority.

Al Sheikh started the bidding at €250,000 ($268,000) and has been updating Twitter followers throughout the week. The match will see an all-star Saudi Arabia league team made up of players from Al Nassr and Al Hilal take on PSG, with Messi, Kylian Mbappe, Neymar and more world stars.

A post on Twitter said: “Real estate businessman Musharraf bin Ahmed AlGhamdi, General Manager of the Aqar One group of companies, has so far made the highest offer on the charity ticket “Beyond Imagination” at 10 million Riyals.”

Proceeds from the sale of the ticket, known as the Beyond Imagination Ticket, will be donated to Saudi Arabia’s Ehsan charity fund. Organisers had more than 1.5m requests for the ticket within hours of it going on sale.

On Saturday the bidding reached $2.6m (SR10,000,000) with a bid from real estate

Al Sheikh confirmed that Al-Ghamdi’s bid was the winner in a Twitter post on Tuesday night deadline day for budding to end.

It means the real estate boss now has a very special match ticket that grants VIP access to the stadium as well as the opportunity to meet the players, go into changing rooms and even be a part of the winning team photo.

Full VIP Ronaldo v Messi matchday

ticket benefits include:

Opportunity to meet Ronaldo, Messi, Neymar, and Mbappé; Attending the opening ceremony

VIP match seats alongside Turki Al Sheikh:

Gala lunch; Exclusive entrance to both teams matchday changing rooms; trophy award access and team photo with winning side

Ronaldo v Messi matches in Saudi Arabia could become a common sight if the Argentine World Cup winner takes up the rumoured offer of a $299m a year contract to follow his old rival to the Middle East.

Ronald signed for Al Nassr shortly after the 2022 World Cup in Qatar and Thursday’s highly anticipated clash with Messi will be his debut for the Saudi Arabia Pro League winners.

beIN Media Group has announced that its flagship channel, beIN Sports, has acquired the rights across all its territories (Middle East and North Africa, France, Turkey, Asia, North America, and Australasia) to broadcast the highlyanticipated Riyadh Season Cup.

The match will be played in Saudi Arabia’s King Fahd International Stadium on Thursday, January 19.

NOC mourns Barcelona Olympic handball coach Ephraim Chukwuemeka

By Amaechi Agbo

The Nigeria Olympic Committee (NOC) will join the Handball family in mourning a top Olympic Coach Ephraim C Chukwuemeka, 82, that led a National Handball team Team to the 1992 Barcelona Games.

A statement signed by Tony Nezianya, the Public Relations Officer of the NOC, said that Coach Chukwuemeka who died on January 2, during a brief ill-health in Isikwuato, Abia State was one the two

coaches that led the first-ever national team sport to the Olympic Games.

He alongside his partner, Late Coach Paulinus Chukwu from their days at the Grasshopper’s Handball club of Owerri led the national team to the Barcelona Games.

They had paired to lead the squad that defeated the then-highly-rated Angolan side at the African Championships in Egypt in 1991 to qualify for the Olympic Games, making handball the first team sport to qualify for the Games.

During his illustrious sporting career

that spanned more than three decades, he doubled as FIFA Badged Soccer Referee.

A well-known patron of the NOC, Dr LanrecGlover was then the National Chairman of the Handball Association of Nigeria (HAN). And Myself, the spokesman of the Association.

According to Glover the coaches had done consistently well with the popular Grasshoppers and thought they deserved the right to be provided with the opportunity to lead the National squad to the Games.

Before then, no Nigerian team sports had ever made it to the Olympic Games.

Dr Toyin Esther Aluko, the Chaperon of the team to the Barcelona Games, remarked that Coach Chukwuemeka lived a good life. He knew how to take care of himself while donning his golden b red hallmark Golden bracelets.

Coach Chukwuemeka will be buried on February 10, at his ancestral home, Amiyi, Obilohia Isikwuato, Abia State according to his son in Law, Christian Ihememegbulam.

businessman Musharraf bin Ahmed AlGhamdi, General Manager of the Aqar One group of companies and it has not been topped.

Photo: Ronaldo and Messi rivalry has electrified the football world.

2023 U-20 AFCON: Flying Eagles battle Zambia in a friendly

Flying Eagles Team

By Amaechi Agbo

Seven-time African champions, Flying Eagles of Nigeria will take on their Zambian counterparts in two friendly games in the Nigerian capital city as part of preparations for this year’s Africa U20 Cup of Nations.

The tour has been consummated following a request letter from the Nigeria Football Federation on 13th

January, and which met with the ready acceptance of the Football Association of Zambia.

Through a letter dated 14th January 2023, Adrian Kashala, FAZ’s General Secretary, said the Zambia football-ruling body was agreeable to the proposal. The proposal for the tour includes FAZ flying the Junior Chipolopolo to Nigeria while the NFF will bear the cost of accommodation, feeding and other logistics for the Zambia

delegation.

The two matches will take place on Friday, 27th January and Monday, 30th January 2023 respectively.

Free-scoring Flying Eagles have scored a total of 10 goals in two friendly games since resuming camp after the yuletide period – the latest being a 5-1 mauling of Galadima FC in Abuja on Wednesday.

Champions of the WAFU B U20 Championship held in

Niger Republic in May 2022, the Flying Eagles have been drawn to play hosts Egypt, Senegal and Mozambique in Group A of the Africa U20 Cup of Nations taking place 19th February –11th March this year.

Zambia, champions of the 2017 Africa U20 Cup of Nations which they hosted, reached the quarter-finals of the FIFA U20 World Cup in Korea Republic the same year, before losing to Italy after extra time in Suwon.

In Egypt, Zambia will be up against Tunisia, Benin Republic and The Gambia in Group C, while Uganda, Central African Republic, South Sudan and Congo battle things out in Group B.

All four semi-finalists in Egypt will qualify to represent Africa at the 23rd FIFA U20 World Cup finals slated for Indonesia 20th May -11 June this year.

FCT High Court orders fresh election into Handball Federation Players’ rep

By Amaechi Agbo

An FCT High Court, sitting in Nyanya has nullified the Players’ Representative election, for a place on the Board of the Handball Federation of Nigeria, HFN

Ruling on the case filled after the election in September 2021, the trial judge, Justice Alfred Okpe upheld that the then Secretary-General of the HFN, Alhaji Mohammed Maigidansama, had no powers,

or legitimate right, drawn from the electoral code, to by himself draw up guidelines or modalities for the elections of both Players’ and Technical representatives for places on the HFN Board.

Based on this, he ruled that the processes leading to the elections of Joseph Udalle of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) De Defenders, was flawed, defective and void.

The court then gave an ordered for a fresh elections for the election of a new

Players’ representative, in strict compliance with the existing rules and regulations, be held within 30 days.

The court also awarded as damages, the sum of N500,000 in favour Of Sam Abua (the claimant), and against Alhaji Maigidansama, the immediate past Secretary-General of the HFN.

Reacting to the judgement, Mr. Udale called it a miscarriage of justice, that won’t advertently stand, because it lacked substance.

“I am yet to brief the HFN President, but be rest assured that once that is done, we will be heading back to the Courts, to enter our appeal and file for stay of execution,” Udalle said.

According to him, Alh. Maigidansama, acted in line with a circular of the Ministry of Youth and Sports Development, directing all scribes of sporting federations, to work out modalities for the elections of Players’ and Technical Representatives into all the sports federations, HFN

inclusive.

“How then has he committed an offence, or how fair is it that I am singled out for punishment, when the elections of the other 30 sports federations, heeded the said circular from the ministry” he queried.

Udalle, a former international handball player for Nigeria, noted that if the judgement of the lower court is not challenged and vacated, it may have ripple effect on other elections, held within the same time frame, and guidelines.

NNL lists guidelines for Stadium Approval ahead of new season

Seventeen criteria to be met by the forty-three clubs expected to feature in the 2022/2023 season of the Nigeria NAtional League, have been reeled out by the management of the nation’s second tier domestic football league.

Fresh from the tripartite meeting on Monday with the leadership of the Nigeria Football Federation and representatives of the NNL club Presidents, head of Operations Mr. Emmanuel Adesanya said swinging into action is to also ensure the league catch up with the calendar for the season under review.

“We have a road map to navigate and the calendar period to start and end the league, so it is important we begin by ensuring that our stadium facilities that will host our games meet required standard “

Some of the criteria listed are quality playing pitch, standard changing rooms with modern toilets facilities, medical facilities, Safety and crowd control, controlled perimeter fencing amongst others.

In a strong letter to the clubs, the NNL warned that clubs who fall short of the needed items, will be sent to alternative venues to play their homes matches.

VAR decisions to be explained to fans

Decisions made by the Video Assistant Referee are set to be explained to television viewers and those in the stadium at next month’s Club World Cup.

International Football Association Board (IFAB) says if the trial in Morocco is a success then it could be rolled out at other Fifa competitions

That could include this summer’s Women’s World Cup.

Meanwhile, a temporary concussion substitute trial in the Premier League next season has been ruled out.

It was discussed when IFAB met at Wembley on Wednesday following a request from world players’ union Fifpro and the World Leagues Forum to test

the protocol in the English top flight, Ligue 1 in France and Major League Soccer in the United States.

The current concussion protocols, which allow an additional permanent substitutions to be made, have come in for criticism since they were approved in 2020, with campaigners highlighting instances where a player has been allowed to stay on the pitch before later being substituted.

However, Football Association (FA) chief executive Mark Bullingham, who supported the idea of a trial, says no consensus could be reached and instead the current permanent concussion substitute trial will continue

indefinitely.

“Myself and others hold the view it would be worth trialling [temporary concussion substitutes] because we think there are instances of players who have appear to have been concussed and have not been taken off,” Bullingham told BBC

“The argument is that you learn more in 15 mins than three and there is merit in an evaluation away from the pitch.

“However, the decision was taken to strengthen the application of the permanent model through more education, more evidence and more impetus, so that the idea of the right decisions being made becomes reality.

“If permanent substitutes

were done right, that is the safest option because at the point there is any suspicion, the player would come off.”

The Professional Footballers’ Association’s (PFA) Head of Brain Health, Dr Adam White, said it was “extremely disappointing” that a trial of temporary concussion substitutes was not approved.

“There is a fundamental issue if player unions and leagues feel football’s lawmakers are holding them back from doing what they collectively agree is best to protect the safety of players,” said White.

“The next step will be for unions and leagues to discuss what this means and what options are available to them.”

2023 Season: NLO Releases Registration Guidelines For Division One Clubs

The Secretariat of the Nationwide League One (NLO) has released a strict registration guidelines for clubs in Division One, as it prepares to kick start the 2023 season in April.

The development arose after the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) directed the NLO Secretariat to commence registration for the 2023 season

with amendments to registration charges after seven (7) years of maintenance due to current inflation in the prices of materials used for clubs’ registration.

Sequel to the above, the NLO has informed all the clubs in the nation’s third-tier league that preparation for the 2023 season has commenced, and made the registration procedures and guidelines public on Monday.

According to a correspondence issued by the NLO media department, players must be registered on the NLO database at www.nigerianationwideleague. com.

Clubs must make their registration fee payments to (FCMB Bank, Nationwide League One account number3267800014) to enable them to obtain a registration code for

access to the database.

All clubs’ must present their Certificate Of Incorporation as a football club any club, not on FIFA CONNECT will not be registered.

The collection of players’ hard copy licenses will be made available from 13th February.

The NLO has also warned that no club will be registered without payment of registration

fees, as club registration closes on Monday 6th March 20223.

Lastly, the Two Hundred Thousand Naira (200,000) registration fees - Division One includes pre-competition medical assessment, comprehensive insurance cover for players and officials, tamper-proof hologram security seal and other materials ( for 35 players and 7 officials).

West Ham Target Maguire

Power sector privitization: Challenges, recommendations

he need for power (electricity) cannot be underrated especially when it comes to the development of a nation. The power sector is therefore very essential to the development of the nation, Nigeria. Power is sought for in individuals’ daily businesses, infrastructural and industrial activities.

Many nations in the world have adequate supply of electricity. Apparently, Nigeria has been an exception. Despite her naturally blessed resources, it has been a struggle for Nigeria to maintain a stable and efficient power sector. This becomes even more hurtful, considering the array of technocrats the nation parades both in the local and foreign fronts, series of meetings between stakeholders and even regulatory interference all availing to nothing.

By Rachel Mujong

by the government through the Nigeria Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC), however it is owned by individual stakeholders who were granted certificates of ownerships.

billion transitional subsidy to DISCOs that will prevent rate shock, DISCOS were assumed to be financially viable.

fulfilling their promises.

The problem of revenue generation and collection is another issue that has destroyed the power sector.

Despite holding the ninth largest gas reserves in the world, one of the main challenges currently faced by thermal GENCOs is insufficient gas supply. Due to poor gas infrastructure, domestic gas supply has been a major challenge in Nigeria.

the 29-year-old as an attractive option losing his starting place at United.

Maguire has fallen out of favour under Erik ten Hag, starting just two Premier League games since August.

Ten Hag’s decision to play left-back Luke Shaw at the heart of the defence in recent matches has effectively made Maguire a fifth-choice centre-back, and West Ham are hoping to use that lack of game time to tempt the England international into a move to London.

However, sources have told ESPN that United are reluctant to part company this month, and Maguire is thought to be willing to fight for his place and review the situation in the summer unless told otherwise by Ten Hag.

United are still involved in four competitions, and Maguire believes that as things stand there is still a chance he could revive his fortunes in the coming months.

Another relevant factor is Moyes’ uncertain future at West Ham. The 59-year-old is under mounting pressure with his side having lost six of their last seven Premier League games to fall to 18th place in the table, and a change of manager would prompt the club to revise their transfer targets.

African countries like Ghana celebrated uninterrupted power supply for more than three years. South Africa with a population of about 60 million produces 51,309MW while Nigeria with a population of about 190 million produces just 4000MW. As the supposed giant of Africa, we still are unable to produce sufficient megawatts for more than half of the population. The privatization process was fundamentally embarked upon to ensure stable electricity supply of power to both homes and industries.

Over the years the government has undertaken various means, strategies and reforms to grow the power sector and see to it that it works, but all attempts have been an exercise in futility. Under the Electric Power Sector Reform (EPSR) act of 2005, the Power Holding Company of Nigeria (PHCN) was established to take care of the functions, assets, liabilities and employees of National Electric Power Authority (NEPA), a onetime national holding company. The government then unbundled the PHCN into eighteen successor companies; six generation companies (GENCOs), eleven distribution companies (DISCOs) and one national power Transmitting Company of Nigeria (TCN).

By 2010, the power sector still yielded no tangible result. This called for another reform; the Roadmap of the power sector reform. This reform set the momentum for further privatization and by 30th September 2013, the PHCN successor company’s aside transmission company was privatized with a US 2.5 billion transaction. PHCN therefore ceased to exist. The legal control of the power sector is regulated

Following the privatization process, more problems where created in the power sector. Rather than healing the wounds of the power sector more wounds where created. The privatization process has been a massive catastrophe for the nation’s economy. It has caused untold hardship for the people already living on the fringe of poverty. More than 60 per cent of Nigerians have no access to electricity. Those who have, hardly enjoy its benefits due to erratic supply.

The process of privatization itself was not effective; it featured a flawed process that worked on the bases of estimation and assumptions. Members and information used comprised of only the federal government. In reality most technical partners were invited only as technical operators. As one Omofoma observed, the hostility of some Electricity Union workers prevented physical inspection of assets by bidders as part of the process initiated by the Bureau of Public Enterprise (BPE).

The administration that carried out privatization exercise is accused of selling the companies to cronies of the past administration. The process was therefore for the few privileged elites. Some of the estimations include: Multi Year Tariff Order (MYTO) assumed to be sufficient to raise enough revenues from DISCOs in order to fund the value chain, a N100

Power sector lacks cost reflective electricity tariffs. Nigerians are groaning over costly electricity tariffs despite the fact that they do not enjoy adequate power supply. The government hike electricity tariff by up to a hundred percent claiming to make profit for the private enterprise. This has rather subsidized public suffering for private gains.

Based on the operations of the privatized power sectors especially amongst the DISCOS, it is obvious that funds have been mismanaged and mishandled. There has been a mismatch between the funds channeled by the government towards restoring the sector and the service currently provided by the operators. In the last five years there has been a consistent supply of funds by the federal government through the CBN, USAID- funded energy initiative, the Japanese government and the World Bank amongst others.

According to the Nigerian Electricity Supply Industry (NESI), the losses recorded by the sector translate to an average of about N1.5 billion monthly, totaling about N90 billion in five years. This loss is attributed to water, gas and transmission line constraints. Despite the release of funds to the DISCOs, they have not effectively distributed the generated energy. While about 7000MW is generated only 4000MW is distributed. Also, the meters have not also been installed in many areas. DISCOs undertook to provide meters and they are not

As a point of inferred probity, these recommendations are made: ruling elites should reduce their level of intervention in the privatization process as it has only been for their advantage. Secondly, there is need for the DISCOs to be more transparent and accountable in their dealings with finances. Thirdly an agreement be reached by the NERC and DISCOs to ensure that only prepaid meters are used, billing and estimation have proven to be ineffective. Lastly, administration and management of the power sector should be effectively reviewed to ensure proper maintenance and positive output.

In conclusion, the power sector is indeed capable of bringing rapid transformation to the economy due to its multiplier and tickle down effects on the society. Despite the privatization of Nigeria’s electricity industry, it is still plagued by numerous challenges such as: mismanagement of funds, poor administration, it was formed on the bases of estimations and assumptions, poor revenue generation and collection. However these challenges can be resolved. If the recommendations listed above are duly put into consideration, it will go a long way in bringing stability in the power sector and promote overall development of the country.

Humwapwa, is a Batch “C” National Youth Service Corper with the Institute for Peace and Conflict Resolution, Abuja

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The administration that carried out privatization exercise is accused of selling the companies to cronies of the past administration. The process was therefore for the few privileged elites

Guest Columnist

Humwapwa

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Manchester United captain, Harry Maguire’s Manchester United career could be coming to an end as the Red Devils have offered to let the defender leave West Ham head coach David Moyes is keen on strengthening his backline this month and views