Monday, March 20, 2023 Edition

casting his

President-Elect Asiwaju Bola Tinubu casting his vote during the governorship and House of Assembly election at Sunday Adigun Street in Alausa Ikeja Polling Unit 085 Ward C in Lagos on

EFCC operatives attacked by alleged vote buyers in Kaduna

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) says its operatives on election monitoring duty were on Saturday attacked at School Road, Unguwan Rimi Kaduna, while attempting to arrest a suspected vote buyer.

The EFCC Spokesperson, Wilson Uwujaren, said this in a statement in Abuja.

“The team, working on intelligence on the alleged activities of one Kabiru Musa who was seen in an amateur video allegedly inducing eligible voters by using his

phone to transfer money into their accounts as they cast their votes, had mobilized to the scene to arrest the suspect.

“However, immediately he was accosted by the operatives, Musa became unruly and screamed to attract the attention of his syndicate members, who descended on the operatives, using all manner of weapons that left some of them injured.

“It took great restraints for the operatives to ignore the unprovoked attack but insisted on

arresting the suspect.

“As the team drove away with the suspect, their vehicle was pelted with stones and other dangerous objects that damaged the windshield and three operatives suffered varying degrees of injuries in the process,” he said.

According to him, the injured operatives are currently receiving medical attention at the Medical Centre of the Kaduna Zonal Command, while the suspect is in custody, pending conclusion of the investigation.

He recalled that EFCC teams were similarly attacked during the presidential and national assembly elections, leaving some of its vehicles badly damaged.

He quoted the Chairman of the Commission, Abdulrasheed Bawa as commending the operatives for exercising great restraint under extreme provocation.

Bawa, however, appealed to the public to desist from attacking officers of the Commission as such action would no longer be tolerated. (NAN)

LG chairman lauds officials for recording no security breach in Keffi

Chairman of Keffi Local Government Area (LGA) of Nasarawa state, has praised concerned officials for ensuring there was no security breach during Saturday’s elections in the area.

Baba-Shehu gave the commendation while speaking with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Saturday in Keffi after the state’s Governorship and House of Assembly elections in

the area.

He said the success recorded was as a result of the zeal and commitment of security agencies in the area.

The LGA Chairman said officers of the concerned security agencies worked hard to ensure no one carried out any act that would destabilise the peace being enjoyed in the area.

“So far, as the chief security

officer of the area, I have not received any report of any breach in security and that is because our security personnel are up and doing.

“All the security agencies in Keffi LG did what they know best and what was expected of them. They were in every corner of the community,” he said.

Baba-Shehu added that the peaceful conduct of the elections in the area was

commendable, and lauded the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) for ensuring the process met Nigerians’ expectations.

“I also have to commend INEC officials because the electoral materials reached polling units in good time and the election process also started early.

So, there was no complaint of delay of accreditation or voting in Keffi,” he said.(NAN)

R-L: Director CDD, Idayat Hassan Chairman CDD, Prof. Adele Jinadu, Member EAC, Mr Victor Adetula, during the CDD preliminary Governorship/States Assembly election media briefing in Abuja.

Photo: Justin Imo-owo

CBN restricts journalists from inspection of election materials, distribution in Jigawa

From Mika’il Tsoho, Dutse

The team of journalists from different media organizations covering Jigawa state have been restricted at the gate of Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) when the distribution of election materials was going on in the bank.

While speaking to the Journalists outside CBN gate after distribution, the state Electoral Commissioner, Professor Lawal Bashar said, the instructions was from CBN.

He explained that based on the instruction given by the CBN, Journalists are not allowed to enter and inspect the distribution and the evacuation of the materials which include the result sheets and other auxiliaries.

Fish out perpetrators of Zangon Kataf killing, Uba Sani tasks security operatives

From: Femi Oyelola, Kaduna

The Senator representing Kaduna Central Senatorial District and the State APC Gubernatorial Candidate, Senator Uba Sani has called on security agencies to move into action to fish out the perpetrators of attack on Zangon Kataf Community and the wanton destruction of innocent lives and property.

He stated this in a statement made available to the media in Kaduna yesterday.

The statement stated that such elements have no place in a decent society.

He added that the inability of security agencies to fashion effective strategies to degrade or decimate terrorists and bandits has rendered most of the communities desolate.

UBEB to make Peace Club part of extracurricular programmes in FCT schools

Mr Chijoke Nnanna-Ibeku, Founder/Principal Partner, Three C’s Met , alongside UBEB Director, Fr Hassan Sule and other members of the board.

By Patricia Amogu Dr Hassan Sule, Director, FCT Universal Basic Education Board (UBEB),

says plans are being made to make Peace Club part of extracurricular activities in schools within the FCT.

Sule disclosed this when the Three C’s Met, an institute that engages in mediation, negotiation, counselling, and conciliation, paid him a courtesy visit in his office in Abuja.

According to him, education is not only about offering children the opportunity to explore their potentialities, but also about helping them to build on core

foundational values including discipline and ethics.

“Inculcating discipline and ethics, building their psyche about the society, and doctoring their mindset on avoiding bias on religion, tribe, and culture, will foster understanding that we are all Nigerians.

“We are looking to actually streamlining into the education system as a club for now, as an extra-curricular activity.

“We will write formally and follow adequate procedures to get it into the system,” he said.

The UBEB director added that plans were also being made to ensure sustainability, to see that peer mediation and the Peace Club initiative is completely absorbed into the system even in future administrations.

Founder/Principal Partner

at the institute, Mr Chijioke Nnanna-Ibeku, who led the team, praised the board for a job well done.

Nnanna-Ibeku said the board had offered the institute a platform upon which to run the Peer Mediation programme in schools.

“We are here to say a big thank you for your support and for the resources you have given us to build this programme on, to ensure that there is no generational gap in the practice of mediation.

“Mediation has come to stay. Our aim is to make sure these children relate peaceably across the borders of religion, culture, tribe, and race, especially in Nigeria.

“As much as within the practice of mediation can get, we hope that

when these children grow up and get into positions of authority, they will know how to manage issues and prevent rancour degenerating into disputes and conflicts,” he said.

Nnanna-Ibeku observed that If children were well taught at their formative years, the society would be sure to have a peaceful and accommodating environment in the future.

He explained that the institute’s mantra is “there is no better time to practice mediation than now”.

Nnanna-beku, therefore, called on stakeholders and other sectors to form partnerships with the institute and make peace the foundation upon which Nigeria should thrive and explore its rich potentialities. (NAN)

Sorting out going on at Unit 101 opposite Government House in Yola North, during the Governorship and State House of Assembly on Saturday in Adamawa state.

Expert decries continuous cash scarcity, tasks CBN on circulation of naira notes

Afinancial expert, Mr Muktar Muhammed, has urged the CBN to take urgent steps to address continuous shortage of naira notes in circulation.

Muhammed, also an investment banker, made the call on Sunday in Abuja when he spoke with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN).

According to him, refusal by the CBN to obey a Supreme Court order legalising the old naira notes on time is partly responsible for the continuous scarcity of naira notes.

He said that inadequate circulation of the new notes was also an indication that the Nigeria Security Printing and Minting Company (NSPMC) had limited capacity to produce the required quantity of currency notes.

“The CBN was not ready to obey the Supreme Court order

until the presidency made a pronouncement.

“Even after that, the circulation is inadequate and we see more of the old notes than the new ones.

“This implies that the NSPMC lacks capacity to print the required quantity of naira notes within a specified period,’’ he said.

Muhammed added that though the naira redesign policy had enormous economic advantages, its lacklustre implementation made it problematic.

The expert said that the fact that the policy was driven by some other factors that were not strictly economic also created problems.

“The policy had to do with fighting inflation. One of the tools to fight inflation is to mop up liquidity.

“It is a good policy but poorly implemented because we did

not take into consideration the Nigerian factor.

“It was not driven entirely by economic considerations. We had to contend with political considerations as it relates to votebuying and we had the security consideration,’’ he explained.

Muhammed said that the policy had done great harm to the informal sector of the economy, which is the driver of the economy and which mainly does cash transactions.

“That sector suffered during this period because of the scarcity of cash, and even the digital platforms that were created did not have capacity to handle a lot of transactions from the informal sector.

“The CBN should have collaborated with the Bankers Committee to build a strong infrastructure that can

accommodate the cashless policy and the naira redesign robustly.

“They should have come together to build the Nigeria Interbank Settlement that would make digital transactions seamless for Nigerians,’’ he stressed.

Muhammed noted also that many Nigerian youths had become jobless because of the naira redesign policy and the scarcity of naira notes.

He said that the policy had also not worked well in checking rising inflation because of its negative effect on the informal sector, which is integral to checking inflation.

He noted, however, that in spite of the difficulties that the policy inflicted on Nigerians, it recorded some gains.

According to him, a lot of Nigerians have now moved into the digital space, especially small

businesses.

“Some of the small businesses have started to open bank accounts because they realised that it is the only way they can do business.

“It has also helped in stabilising the exchange rate, from between N800 to N900 to the dollar to around N750 to the dollar.

“That is still not good enough, but it is better considering where we are coming from,’’ the investment banker said.

He also told NAN that the naira redesign policy had also helped to improve government’s revenue generation.

“The Value Added Tax, for instance, has improved within the last few months.

“The Federal Government said it recorded 160 per cent increase in VAT collection for the month of January 2023,’’’ he said. (NAN)

Photo: Mahmud Isa

Former Vice President/PDP Presidential Candidate, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar been accredited and casts his vote, at Ajiya Award 012 Poling Unit, in Yola North, during the Governorship and House of Assembly elections on Saturday in Adamawa State

Niger PDP guber candidate congratulates Bago

From Yakubu Mustapha Minna

The governorship candidate of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) in Niger state, Alhaji Isah Liman Kantigi has reportedly called to congratulate his counterpart from the All Progressives Congress APC, Umar Mohammed Bago the presumed winner amid the final announcement.

Bago who confirmed this in a telephone conversation described Kantigi as a very gentle, humble man who is interested in the development of Niger state.

He urged the APC members to remain calm in the conduct of their affairs as they await official results and announcement from the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

Jigawa PDP rejects governorship election results of 5 LGAs

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has rejected the results of the governorship election in five local government areas of Jigawa.

Jigawa has a total of 27 local government areas out of which results of 26 LGAs have been presented at the ongoing collation in Dutse.

The PDP agent at the State Collection Centre, Mr Aminu Abubakar, announced the rejection of the results on Sunday.

The results had been presented to the Returning Officer, Prof. Zaiyan Umar of Federal University, Birnin Kebbi by the local government collation officers.

The local government areas are Kazaure, Yankwashi, Birnin Kudu, Gwaram and Dutse.

Abubakar accused INEC of “unjustified” cancellation of more than 22 polling units results in Birnin Kudu LGA alone, where the PDP candidate came from.

He also argued that the

results were characterised by “a lot of abnormalities” in the five LGAs and called on the returning officer to declare the election in those areas inconclusive.

The PDP agent alleged that the abnormalities committed in those areas were deliberate, because the areas were stronghold of the party.

In his reaction, the All Progressives Congress (APC) agent, Dr Abdullahi Kainuwa, dismissed the objection raised by the PDP.

He said that there were rules and procedures provided by the Electoral Act for tackling such issues which PDP ought to have followed when collation was concluded.

Kainuwa said that it was very clear that the PDP was fretting having realised that it had lost the governorship election.

Responding, the returning officer said all the issues raised by the PDP agent will be given attention immediately after the full collation of the governorship election results. (NAN)

Expert wants Nigeria, Qatar to take advantage of EU gas market

Prof. Olanrewaju Aladeitan has urged other gas producing countries to take advantage of the vacuum created by the non-supply of oil to Europe by Russia and expand their gas projects to penetrate the European market.

“This is where countries like Qatar and Nigeria come in,” Aladeitan, an oil and gas expert said in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja on Sunday.

Aladeitan, a Professor of Energy and Natural Resources, University of Abuja said the major off-taker of Nigerian gas was in Europe and there were on-going viable projects to actualise that.

On issues bordering the Russian-Ukraine war and the

strategic position of Russian Gazprom, the strategic producer and supplier of gas, he said the crisis left some shortfalls in continental Europe, the UK and NATO allies.

“Now ordinarily, it is elementary business logic that vacuum created by the nonsupply of oil by Russia should be taken advantage of by any other gas producer and this is where countries like Qatar comes in.

“So North Europe is looking at where to readily get supply to make up for the shortfall or nonsupply from Russia.

“So, definitely, there is an implication, there is an effect of the Russian special operation or invasion on Ukraine on gas supply.

“Now gas countries, of which Nigeria is one and a country like Qatar are willing to take advantage of that opportunity of course, because there is a demand.

“But how do you take advantage of that particular gap that has been left as a result of the decision of Gasprom to withdraw supply from that region,” he asked.

On Nigeria’s preparedness to catch in on that opportunity, he said Nigeria would have been prepared if it had done what it needed to do as far back as the 1970s, or even in the early 1990s and 2000.

He said that these periods were when the whole idea of the Trans-Sahara Gas Pipeline (TSGP) project was mooted and

revisited again which would have aided penetration to the EU market.

“If we had done that then, by now we would be smiling to the bank because we would have utilised the opportunity of market that was left by the withdrawal of Russia,” he said.

He said Nigeria took deliberate action, starting with the Nigerian Liquefied Natural Gas (NLNG) company in developing the gas sector.

This he said was in a bid to cut down on gas flare, and also to take advantage of the economic potential of the gas reserves in the country.

He said the major off-taker of Nigerian gas was in Europe, but how to reach there, and derive the

utmost benefit, had also been of concern to the country.

According to him, it is why the idea of the TSGP project has always been there as piping the gas all the way through will cost less because the cost of transportation through the vessel is something else.

“So if we can achieve the same aim through the Trans-Sahara pipeline, it will be fine.

“We also have the West African Gas Pipeline, which passes through Benin Republic, Togo to Ghana, and that has also been in the works for some time.

“This is what has informed Nigeria looking at constructing these pipelines to Europe and the gas can flow from there,” he said. (NAN)

Photo:Mahmud Isa.

NDLEA arrests 2 members of Afro-Europe cartel, 9 others over drug trafficking

By Mashe Umaru Gwamna

No fewer than One Million Two Hundred and Five Thousand Two Hundred and Sixty (1, 205, 260) pills of opioids were seized in two interdiction operations in Kogi and Gombe state by operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, NDLEA, just as antinarcotic officers at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Ikeja Lagos disrupted the activities of a drug syndicate that operates between Nigeria, East Africa, and Europe, with the arrest of two members of the cartel.

NDLEA in a statement issued on Sunday by Femi Babafemi Director, Media & Advocacy, said operatives at the Lagos airport had on Monday

13th March intercepted a member of the drug syndicate, Ejezie Vitus Ifeanyi, during screening of inward passengers on Ethiopian Airline flight from Malawi via Addis Ababa at the arrival hall.

“When a search was conducted on him, it was discovered that one of his two bags has a false bottom concealment. During preliminary interview of the suspect, he confessed that a member of the syndicate was waiting at the airport carpark to pick him. An immediate follow up operation led to the arrest of Chukwu Franco Bright, who was waiting in a grey colour Mercedes Benz C180 coupe, marked EKY 973 GQ to receive the drug consignment.

“After his arrest, a proper search of the bag was conducted

before the two suspects leading to the recovery of 3.00 kilograms of heroin. Findings reveal that the drug syndicate networks between Nigeria, and Malawi, Mozambique in East Africa and Europe. While Chukwu who lives in Lagos is responsible for the recruitment and coordination of the activities of mules on behalf of other members of the cartel based in Mozambique and Malawi, another set operates from the South-Eastern part of Nigeria.

“Meanwhile, NDLEA operatives at the SAHCO export shed of the MMIA on Wednesday 15th March intercepted a jerrycan of palm oil going to Dubai, United Arab Emirates. At the point of examination, it was discovered that 600 grams of cannabis sativa

were concealed inside the jerrycan of palm oil. A suspect, Tunde Ogunbowale who presented the consignment for export to Dubai was immediately arrested. This is even as attempt to export 2.7kg cannabis packaged as part of dried onions to Dubai through a postal service firm was frustrated by NDLEA officers attached to the courier company, who seized a carton filled with colourful sachets of dried onions, used to conceal the illicit consignment.

“In Kogi state, a total of 530,160 pills of tramadol and 99,000 tabs of diazepam were seized along OkeneAbuja highway from a bus driver, Suleiman Oyedokun, 41, coming from Onitsha, Anambra state and going to Kontagora in Niger State on Monday 13th March. Same day,

576, 100 pills of tramadol concealed in bags of rubber slippers were intercepted by NDLEA officers at trailer garage, old mile 3 road area of Gombe metropolis, Akko LGA, Gombe State. Four suspects: Usman Suleiman; Ya’u Yusuf; Saidu Suleiman and Abubakar Umar have so far been arrested in connection with the seizure.

“In Kaduna, 367 kilograms of cannabis sativa were recovered from a vehicle with registration number FKJ141DX. Two suspects: Monday Suleiman, 62, and Sama’ila Mohammed, 30 were arrested while a bribe of One Million Two Hundred Thousand Naira (N1,200,000) offered NDLEA officers were documented as part of exhibits to prosecute the suspects.”

APC Gubernatorial Candidate, Hajiya Aishatu Binani casting her vote at Kafar Mahmdu Ribadu at Polling Unit 006, at Yola South, during the Governorship and House of Assembly elections on Saturday in Adamawa state,

ICPC arrests 4 vote buyers in Sokoto, Katsina As officers suffer attack

By Tobias Lengnan Dapam

The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) said its operatives arrested four vote buyers in Sokoto and Katsina States during the governorship and houses of assembly elections on Saturday.

ICPC stated this in a statement issued on Saturday by its spokesperson, Mrs. Azuka Ogugua.

It said in its election monitoring operations across the States of the Federation, officers of the anticorruption agency encountered some vote buyers at Kauran Miyo Primary School in Bodingo Town of Bodinga Local Government Area of

Sokoto State.

“The Sokoto State Monitoring Team of the Commission arrested the three male vote-buyers – Mahe Bello, Musa Adamu and Mustapha Mohammed, all of Kauran Miyo Bodinga.

“Mahe Bello was caught in possession of a cash sum of #38,000k, two PVCs, one ATM Card and an Infinix phone while Musa Adamu had CFA 228,000 in his possession which was being offered to voters. The third suspect, Mustapha Mohammed, was arrested with some PVCs in his possession.”

The statement said ICPC Monitoring Team, however, came under attack while carrying out the

arrest of the three vote-buyers. “An officer of the Commission, Rabiu Ibrahim, suffered a head injury from being hit by stones. He has been admitted into a hospital and he is in a stable condition.

“The three voters were kept in the custody of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) before being conveyed to ICPC’s detention facility in Sokoto.”

In a related development, the statement said the ICPC Katsina State Election Monitoring Team arrested one Tanimu Tabale for vote buying at Tashar Yamma Polling Unit in Zango Local Government Area of the State.

“Tabale, a 35-year old man,

claimed he was an observer in Makama Polling Unit but was arrested at Tashar Yamma Polling Unit with the sum of Twenty Thousand Naira (N20,000.00) in different denominations attempting to buy the votes of the electorate.

“One of the ICPC Monitoring Teams in Delta State rescued a female voter, Oge Nwaomose, from mob action by agents of some parties who accused her of vote-buying.

“Nwaomose was seen parading herself at Unit 13 Ward 6, shortly after casting her vote at Unit 8 Ward 13, Ogbu-Utu Primary School, Issele-Uku, Aniocha North Local Government Area, Delta State

“The officers of the anti-

corruption agency at Polling Unit 13 Ward 6 in Issele-Uku, Aniocha North Local Government Area, Delta State, prevented further attacks on the lady, who was thereafter whisked her away to the State Office for interrogation.

“During a search conducted on her, the sum of Six Thousand Naira (₦6,000) in 500 naira note denominations was found on her. Her statement was obtained and was granted bail.

“The Commission had on February 25 arrested nine votebuyers in Osun, Ondo, Borno, Akwa Ibom and Sokoto States during the Presidential and National Assembly elections.”

Photo: Mahmud Isa

Guber/States Assembly polls: INEC staff were abducted, intimidated killed, Yakubu laments

Frowns at activities of thugs Vows to keep protecting integrity of votes

By Lateef Ibrahim, Abuja

The Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, yesterday lamented that some of its staff, both regular and ad hoc, were victims of violence in the Saturday’s governorship and State Houses of Assembly elections.

The Chairman of INEC, Prof Mahmood Yakubu, who said this at a press conference in Abuja, noted with sadness that some of the Commission’s staff were abducted, harassed, intimidated, hospitalized and in one case killed.

Prof Yakubu, nonetheless, declared that INEC will continue to take steps to protect the integrity of the vote and consolidate the progress made so far in the electoral process.

The INEC Chairman, at the Press conference held late Sunday regarding the governorship and State Houses of Assembly polls, said, “We have left no stone unturned as far as the processes and procedures under the control of the Commission were concerned. His words:

“However, for difficult and unforeseen circumstances outside

INEC declares Dammodi of APC as winner of Jigawa Guber poll

From Mika’il Tsoho, Dutse

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) declared Alhaji Umar Namadi Dammodi as winner of 2023 Gubernatorial election in Jigawa state.

Announcing the result, the INEC Collation officer in Jigawa state, the vice Chancellor Federal University Birnin Kebbi professor Zayyanu

Umar Birnin Kebbi said, Malam Umar Namadi of All Progressive Congress (APC) having scored the high votes of 618,449 emerged winner and new elected governor of Jigawa state.

He explained that, the total registered votes is 2,351,298 while the total accredited votes stands at 1,073,540 votes while the total votes cast stands at 1,052,793 votes.

Professor Zayyanu Umar said, the candidate of All Progressive Congress (APC) Namadi Umar Alhaji scored 618,449 to beat his closest rivals of People’s Democratic Party (PDP) Lamido Mustapha Sule who scored 368,726 votes and Ibrahim Aminu Ringim of New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) who scored 37,156 votes.

“That Namadi Umar Alhaji of All Progressive Congress (APC) having satisfied the requirements of the law and scored the higher votes is hereby declared winner and returned elected,” he said.

the Commission’s control, we did our best to respond, especially where processes were disrupted by actors over whom we have little or no control.

“Such diabolical behaviour did not only affect citizens but also impacted on the Commission’s officials and processes.

“INEC staff, both regular and ad hoc were victims of violence. Some of our staff were abducted, harassed, intimidated, hospitalized and in one case killed.

“Nevertheless, where we could not deploy to enable citizens to vote, the Commission took the decision to remobilize to such places to enable citizens to exercise their franchise.

“Unfortunately, we could not extend the same to areas where voting was disrupted, and election materials destroyed.

“We are keeping our eyes on those areas and would not hesitate to remobilize where the outcome of the election is affected.

“At the moment, collation of results and declaration of winners for the 28 Governorship and 993 State Assembly elections are ongoing nationwide.

“We are committed to the sanctity of the process and will not

hesitate to take drastic measures against proven irregularities.

“Allegations of voter inducement, harassment and manipulation of results will be reviewed and addressed.

“Earlier today (yesterday) the Commission alerted the nation to the invasion of our Obingwa Local Government Area office in Abia

State by thugs during the collation of results for the Governorship and State Assembly elections.

“In contention was the collated result from the Registration Areas for the Governorship election in that Local Government Area.

“The intention was to force the collation of these contentious results.

“The behaviour of these thugs is unacceptable and there will be a thorough review of the results.

“The Commission does not take the patience of citizens for granted and will continue to take steps to protect the integrity of the vote and consolidate the progress made so far in the electoral process”.

Elections: 6 missing as gunmen attack INEC officials in Kogi

Six persons are allegedly feared missing when unknown gunmen attacked six Hummer Buses carrying INEC officials in Kogi in the early hours of Sunday.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports on Sunday that the incident, which occurred around 2 a.m of March 19 at Abajana, left several officials with gun shot wounds including policemen and drivers.

The six missing persons include two serving NYSC corps members and four ex- youth corps members.

The injured persons are already on admission at the Federal Medical Centre (FMC),

now Federal University Teaching Hospital, Lokoja.

Mr Salisu Ibrahim, one of the bus drivers, who was shot on his right leg, and recuperating at the hospital, told NAN that the attackers took them by surprise.

“We were on our way back to Lokoja from Abujor RAC with the results of the House of Assembly election held there, when we were attacked by some people.

“All the six buses moving in a convoy were attacked and in the process many of us sustained injuries.

“Thank God, none of us died in the process but I learnt some youth corps members are missing during the attack on us this early

morning,” Ibrahim narrated.

Mr Dare Owofadaju, a youth corps member who was shot on his left thigh, said: “It is only God that kept us alive considering the way and manner the gunmen attacked us.”

Owofadaju said that the election was conducted peacefully and counting was completed, and “it was when we were returning to Lokoja that we were attacked at Abajana”.

“Thank God some security operatives came to our rescue and rushed those of us injured to this Federal University Teaching Hospital Lokoja for immediate treatment,” he narrated.

NAN also gathered that the

Commander, Headquarters Command Army Records (CAR), Maj-Gen. Sunday Igbinomwanhia, Kogi INEC REC, Dr Hale Longpet, and the Kogi NYSC Coordinator, Mrs Mofoluwaso Williams, have visited the injured in the hospital.

The REC and the state NYSC coordinator declined to respond to NAN enquiries on the incident.

But the Spokesman of Kogi Police Command, SP Williams Ovye-Aya, confirmed the incident, saying that the police was on top of the situation.

“We are aware of the sad incident and preparing to issue a statement on the attack,” he said. (NAN)

NYSC boss lauds corps members for election performance

By Albert Akota

The Director General of National Youth Service Corps, Brigadier General YD Ahmed has hailed the selfless and tremendous contributions of Corps Members across the country during the Governorship and State

House of Assembly elections held yesterday.

He said their participation in the elections has earned the Scheme another accolade in its giant strides for national unity and socio-economic development of the country.

General Ahmed, who monitored

the performances of Corps Members that served as INEC ad-hoc staff during the elections in Bunu East Ward 012 Shalgwatar, Dass Central Ward 005 and other areas in Polling Unit 003 Botong Tapshin Ward, Polling Unit 001 Kofar Sarkin Fada Tapshin Ward in Tafawa Balewa Local Government Area of Bauchi

State also lauded their resilience while the period lasted.

The Director General also monitored the Corps Members that worked at as electoral officers at Government Junior Secondary School Bogoro and Polling Unit 003, Gwaranga in Bogoro Local Government Area of the State.

Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde; his wife, Tamunominini (right); Senator Mosurat Sunmonu and others jubilating at his permanent residence, immediately he was declare the winner for second term by INEC.

Galaxybone a digital component of Nigeria— Minister

From David Hassan, Gombe

The Minister of communication and digital economy Prof. Isa Ibrahim Pantami has assured Nigerians that Nigeria Galaxybone is a digital component that will serve the country for the better.

Prof. Pantami stated this in Gombe on Friday when he officially launched the Galaxybone northeast regional office aimed at bringing the people first.

He said the commencement of the regional office in the northeast will bring an adequate achievement within the zone.

INEC, electorates commends peaceful conduct of the election in Bauchi

From Ahmad Muhammad, Bauchi

The Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) in Bauchi

State Alhaji Mohammed Nura and the electorates commended the peaceful conduct of governorship and state assembly election in the state.

Nura appreciated the electorates while briefing journalists after monitoring the election process in some polling unit (PU) on saturday in Bauchi.

He said it was peaceful and that the voters conducted themselves on all the polling units visited in Bauchi metropolis.

The REC was represented by Deputy Director Voter Education Mr Aliyu Shaba.

Elections: Deployment of braille ballot, magnifying glasses for PWDs was inadequate – TAF Africa

The Albino Foundation (TAFAfrica) on Saturday said that braille ballot guide for visually-impaired voters was not available in 75 per cent of the polling units nationwide for the March 18 elections.

Prof. Vincent Anigbogu, Board chair, TAF Africa, said the Foundation expressed worry over the inadequate deployment of assistive tools at the polling units.

Anibogu said that 87 per cent polling units had no magnifying glasses for PWDs with Albinism and 63 per cent had no large font

graphic posters for the deaf.

He said that TAF Africa’s observation of the election showed prompt arrival of INEC officials and commencement of polls, however, there were shortage of election material in some areas.

He added that TAF Africa observers reported the accessibility of the polling units at 94 per cent of the polling units while priority voting was observed in 76 per cent of the units.

“Given the emerging issues, TAF Africa’s PWDs Election Hub makes the following recommendations;

that INEC should investigate the reason for the inadequate deployment of assistive tools to polling units with registered PWDs which can disenfranchise them.

“INEC should ensure prompt response to the issues raised at the polling units, particularly the shortage of election materials in some polling units.

“Security agencies are reminded of their primary responsibilities to the citizens of Nigeria.

“We expect security agencies to be present at all the polls and ensure the safety of everyone with

competence, professionalism and neutrality, especially the violentprone ones.”

Anibogu said TAF Africa commended the community of PWDs for their show of strength and commitment towards the election in spite of the unfavourable conditions.

He said TAF Africa called on security agencies, INEC, other stakeholders, political parties and their ardent supporters to work together in ensuring that the election was credible and peaceful.

INEC collates election results, APC, PDP trade tackles over malpractice in Adamawa

From Umar Dankano,Yola.

Asthe Independent National Electoral Commission,INEC collated the results of the governorship and state Assembly elections across the country, the All Progressives Congress,APC and Peoples Democratic Party,PDP in Adamawa state are at each other’s throat over alleged electoral malpractices.

A press statement signed and issued by Martins Yanatham Dickson of the Binani campaign Organisation media team alleged that the incumbent Governor Ahmadu Umaru Fintiri of the PDP had his loyalists thumb printing and stuffing ballot papers in boxes in a desperate move to rig the governorship election.

Dickson expressed disappointment stressing that the organisation was worried that a private residence situated behind

Muna Hotel at Dougirei quarters in the state capital was the venue of the electoral offence, calling on the relevant authorities to investigate the allegations.

“The campaign organisation has condemned in strong terms the unacceptable rigging machine of desperate politicians, clandestinely struggling to force themselves on Adamawa people.

“We are calling on INEC to swiftly respond along with relevant security agencies and stop this ugly and desperate move to tamper with the integrity of the Adamawa governorship election.

“The votes of Adamawa electorate must be allowed to count in a free, fair, credible and acceptable contest. The people of Adamawa state should be allowed to decide who leads and governs them”, the statement said.

In a swift reaction by the Director General, Media and Communications

to Governor Fintiri , Mr.Solomon Kumangar, the PDP and the government debunked the allegations by the APC governorship candidate distancing themselves from any wrongdoing.

Kumangar in a press release issued in Yola yesterday said the claim by the opposition APC was nothing more than desperation in display insisting that the said private house is the PDP presidential and governorship elections situation room where electoral processes are being monitored.

“For the avoidance of doubt, the property in question houses the situation room of the PDP presidential and Governorship campaigns council for monitoring, documentation and field location and coordination.

“Furthermore, the DSS, Police and several security personnel had stormed the situation room in gestapo style and turned the place upside

down on the excuse that it was being used for clandestine purposes.

“While the the security are yet to make their findings public, the government strongly condemns this act of desperation and intimidation.It is further proof of the fact that having sensed defeat the APC is clutching at every straw to prevent it from drowning”?the statement added.

Another allegation that created tension during the electoral exercise, was a video of a close Associate to Governor Fintiri that went viral on the social media claiming he was buying votes under the protection of two police officers in Hong local government area.

When contacted on the development, spokesman of the Adamawa state police command, SP Suleiman Nguroje said the matter was being investigated promising to brief the public as soon as investigators are done with their job.

Voters apathy: We will change situation for future elections- Ogunleye

Aformer Deputy Governor of Lagos State, Prince Abiodun Ogunleye, says the All Progressive Congress (APC) will ensure Nigerians enjoy more dividend of democracy that will change the narrative for future elections.

Ogunleye, Chieftain of APC and member of the state Governors Advisory Committee, disclosed this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Saturday in Lagos.

The APC chieftain said this after casting his vote during the

Governorship and House of Assembly Election at PU 012, Solomade, Ikorodu.

Ogunleye, who said that though voters’ turnout was low compared to the presidential election, noted that the electoral process was peaceful.

“The job we have to do now, not only in Lagos, is to make sure we energise and encourage voters to come out and vote.

“Things were different during the times of Chief Obafemi Awolowo and the early days of Mr Babatunde

Fashola.

“I’m a party man and I know some reasons I can’t be saying in the public.

“We have the blueprint, my colleagues and I will sit down and work with it to change the situation in future election,” he said.

Ogunleye said that he believed in a free, fair and transparent electoral process, noting that the deployment of BVAS had reduced electoral malpractice.

He advised the citizens to vote for a competent leader who had the

interest of the people in mind and could also drive development.

He also urged the youth to shun violence and inciting statements that could lead to chaos and disruption of electoral process.

According to him, when you have violence, you are enthroning mediocrity and those who aren’t qualified to rule will be put in the position to lead.

He noted that even if a leader was a PhD holder but don’t take care of people at the grassroots, citizens

would suffer.

“I believe that development should start at the grassroots, and for this kind of country, Nigeria, we shouldn’t be suffering.

“What has been missing is a leader that has strong-will, ready and courageous to take decisions.

“I know that the president-elect, Sen. Bola Tinubu, is a courageous person and have strong-will. We will continue to pray for him and for his success,” he said. (NAN)

L-R: Director, Democracy & Governance,Connected Development(CODE), Njoku Emmanuel;chief executive,CODE, Hamza Lawal and Country Director, Accountability LAB Nigeria, Odeh Friday, at a press conference Observing the Gubernatorial Election process in Abuja. Photo: Justin Imo-owo

As

Polls: Brand strategist scores INEC high

ABrand Strategist, Dr Abiola Olaoluwakitan, has scored Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) high in the conduct of the governorship and house of assembly elections.

Abiola, who spoke with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) shortly after exercising her franchise at Polling Unit 26, Ward 11, Abidiogun, New Adeoyo, Ring Road, Ibadan, said INEC had improved in the conduct of elections in Nigeria.

“This election has shown great improvement on the part of INEC, compared with the past ones, including the Feb. 25 presidential and national assembly elections.

“I will say that INEC has greatly improved. The elections went well, though there were challenges and some infractions.

“But, on the whole, I will score INEC as having performed above 80 per cent in the last two polls and that is an ‘A’ for every examination.

“I am advising INEC to take note of those identified challenges and do necessary amendment in order to sustain voters’ confidence in the process,” she said.

Olaoluwakitan described the accreditation and voting as very smooth, while the electorate turned out as much as they could.

“So, what we are hoping for is that as the process was, the acceptability of the results would be welcome by the candidates and their supporters,” she said.

The brand strategist advised candidates to accept the outcome of the elections in good faith, saying, “the development of Oyo State should be paramount than that of any Individual.” (NAN)

Performance Management System will boost performance in service - Dr. Kana

By Tobias Lengnan Dapam

The Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Defence, Dr. Ibrahim Abubakar Kana has said that Performance Management System (PMS) will boost performance in the service, describing it as most important in the lives of Civil Servants.

A statement issued on Friday by Victoria Agba-Attah Director (Press), said Dr. Kana stated this while inaugurating the Core Performance Management Team in line with the Federal Civil Service Strategy and Implementation Plan 2021-2025 (FCSSIP-25) on Thursday 16th March, 2023 at Ship House, Abuja.

“He said the purpose of setting

up the committee is to galvanize the service to greater heights while transcending from analog to digital that will bring about the attainment of a professional and technologically driven world class institution for sustainable national development and global competitiveness.

“According to the Permanent Secretary, “the Ministry of Defence (MOD) Core Performance Management Team is inaugurated as a directive from the Office of the Head of Civil Service of the Federation that will drive the process of implementing the Performance Management System (PMS)”.

“He charged the Committee members to be responsible in developing the Sector Strategic

Plan, develop Job description template for each cadre and Officers, assign Supervisors to Officers, ensure Supervisors are properly trained and cascade their activities to the various Departments in the Ministry.”

The statement added that, Dr. Kana admonished the Committee members to put in place appropriate Change Performance Plans, adding that the new PMS is enshrined in the New Public Service Rule (PSR).

Also, the statement said the Director, Human Resource Management Department, Mr. Hassan Ibrahim Baba, in his welcome address, said Civil Service is transiting from the use of the old Annual Performance Evaluation Report (APER) framework to the

new Performance Management System.

He added that promotion will be based on performance and not on quota system.

He stated that the PMS is a new method of evaluating staff which aligns with the Ministry’s Strategic Plans, where each staff assessment is based on task unlike the APER where staff assessment is done without any recourse to the job description. In his remarks, Director, Planning, Research and Statistics of the Ministry, Mr. Olusa Dada Joseph said that the importance of the MOD Core Performance Management Team is to make all staff of the Ministry get acquainted with the new form of appraisal.

El-Rufai, Uba Sani deliver polling unit to APC in Kaduna

From Femi Oyelola, Kaduna

Kaduna State Governor Nasir El-Rufai, has delivered his Polling Unit 024 Ungwan Sarki,

Kaduna to the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the Saturday governorship and state assembly elections.

The Presiding Officer Haruna Shafiu who announced the results, said the APC

candidate, Senator Uba Sani polled 257 votes as against the PDP Candidate, Isa Ashiru who scored 81 votes in the governorship poll.

He announced that, New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP)

got 2 votes, while ADP scored 3 votes and PRP 4 votes.

In the same vein, the APC also won in polling unit 026 next to where Governor ElRufai voted, with 146 votes, while PDP scored 61 votes.

Niger NUJ condemns military attack on journalists

Nigeria Union of Journalists, NUJ Niger State Council has condemned in strong terms , the attack on some journalists of Landmark FM Kontagora,

covering the Governorship and State House of Assembly Elections in Kontagora by a military personnel.

A statement by the State Secretary of NUJ Comrade Usman Chiji, described the attack as unfortunate and barbaric, considering the

importance of general elections to national development.

The Union said it was worried because the attack on the innocent journalists negates the collective resolve by Nigerians to guarantee the sustenance of democracy in the country.

The statement lamented that, despite the fact that, the journalists presented their identification cards, as well as wearing press jackets and tags , the military personnel could not listen but threatened to deal with them.

From Yakubu Mustapha Minna

Vice President Yemi Osinbajo(middle) his wife Dolapo Osinbajo with Other Women attends the Mother’s Day Service at the Aso Rock Villa Chapel, yesterday in the state house, Abuja,

Vote Buying: The cancer in Nigerian democracy

By Auwal Ahmed Ibrahim

From the horses mouth of the EFCC, not fewer than 65 persons were arrested on Saturday’s 18th March 2023 elections across the 28 states where governorship and state houses of assembly elections were conducted, for alleged voter inducement.

The 18th of March, 2023 state governors and national assembly members elections were characterized by vote buying and selling. The elections were the kinds I have never seen in all my years of existence, before my eyes people bargaining for the price of their rights for peanut and I wondered where the future of Nigeria goes to?

Democracy is constituted base on interest and choice but because of poverty people sell their rights and the dignity they have for money and food.

For me, money is the only winner of the 18th state governors and national assembly members elections and the people that sold their rights have no reason to cry when policies of government affected everything about their lives or watch the leaders spending exuberantly and having a live of extravagant with their family because they gave them their own share of the national cake.

And, if leaders could secure power through the means of irregularities, then who is a saint and who is a satan in everything good and bad in Nigeria? If that was how some politicians get power through buying votes then who is wrong and who is right in this country, and how our courts, the authority and the people could harbor for the development of this country? Truly, my dream for seeing bright future for Nigerians is shattered, I am only caged in my dream because I was convinced that money is the cancer that is eating deeper into Nigeria’s flesh.

You may be confused to figure out who is a criminal in Nigeria between a thief of a goat that is charged to court and imprisoned and a politician that squandered billions, charged to court, get bail and acquittal for his money. Indeed, the future of Nigeria is in a state of illusions in our dreams of having a prosperous and developed nation.

The attacked on Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) staff in Kaduna state is only just one evidence of how the Saturday’s elections was characterized by vote buying inducement in the state. The staff were attacked by hoodlums in a broad day light in Unguwar Rimi in their efforts to arrest vote buyers.

A woman I chatted with confirmed to me in excitement that ” before they promised to give us N10, 000 for every vote but now they said they don’t have much money and promised to give us N500 to enjoy our day and celebrate,” I was agape to think of what N500 could do for one day?

Money really worked in almost every state that the elections held and I gave victory to the shared money not the political contestants because it has been reported from various corners of Nigerian states that the higher bidder decides the vote.

In their efforts to fish out vote buyers, the Economic and Financial Crime Commission (EFCC) has arrested 10 people suspected of vote buying with N1.9 million cash in Gombe State. The EFCC Kano Zonal Commander, Faruk Dogondaji disclosed this to newsmen.

Also in Kano state, the operatives of the Kano State Police Command have arrested the Managing Director of the state owned transport service, Bashir Nasiru Aliko who was allegedly disrupting the voting process and snatching ballot boxes.

Meanwhile, At least three women have been beaten up at different polling units in Kano for alleged vote buying. The incident occurred at Giginyu ward, where a woman identified as Zubaida was bundled out of the polling unit for alleged vote buying at various polling units in Kano state.

In Kwara state, Illorin, the operatives of the Economic and Financial Crime Commission (EFCC) have arrested 20 suspected vote buyers during the gubernatorial and house of assembly elections in the state.

In Niger, it was reported that one was killed, another arrested for vote buying during the Saturday’s elections.

“Operatives of the Economic and Financial Commission (EFCC), monitoring the ongoing governorship and state house of assembly elections have intercepted bales of fabric meant for voter inducement and arrested a number of persons suspected to be involved in vote buying in some states across the country on Saturday.”

Report by Nigerian Newspapers say that not fewer than three ballot snatchers were killed In kano, Benue, Lagos and stray bullet hits police officer in Ondo, two Shot In A/Ibom, INEC Staff abducted in Imo.

From the horses mouth of the EFCC, not fewer than 65 persons were arrested on Saturday’s 18th March 2023 elections across the 28 states where governorship and state houses of assembly elections were conducted, for alleged voter inducement.

With the few reports on what happened in the just concluded elections, then where is the future of our country is heading to? Poverty is ravaging the voters while politicians use that as their bet. Then, there is much to do than cash crunch to sanitize Nigerian democracy for the growth of the country because with glare misconduct of elections corruption will never cease to flourish in Nigerians and Nigeria.

First, elections must be sanitize before anything to address Nigeria’s problems because the efforts of security and financial bodies are waste of time if they voters are very hungry to collect N200 to vote out of interest.

While the victory of the just concluded elections goes to money the commendable efforts of assured transparency goes to EFCC despite its limited staff but worked round the clock and tirelessly to make things work right, special appreciation goes to all media organizations and media men for updates and awareness to Nigerians, and may the continues efforts of Nigerian media outlets make Nigerians take good lesson from the 18th state governors and national assembly members elections.

Auwal Ahmed Ibrahim (Goronyo) is a lecturer of Mass Communication Department, Kaduna Polytechnic and writes from Kaduna state. Auwal can be reached on auwalahmed@kadunapolytechnic.edu.ng

Lessons from gubernatorial polls

By Ibrahim Mustapha Pambegua

The Independent Electorate Commission (INEC), deserves a pat in its back. In the last eight years, the commission has improved its operation significantly. Through the deployment of technology by the commission, the incidences of over voting and ballot snatching have been addressed.

On 18th March, the Independent National Electorate Commission (INEC) conducted gubernatorial and states assembly elections. Unlike the presidential and National assembly polls which witnessed low voters turn out, the voters apathy has reared its ugly head or became worse in the just concluded elections. There was reported cases of violence and votes buying which marred the exercise across the country. Though, some politicians have been arrested by operatives of anti-graft agency (EFCC), for alleged votes buying, the elections’ could be described as huge joke taking too far. In the last presidential and National assembly elections, Nigerians did not experience voters buying or inducement due to cash scarcity which hit the country. The naira redesign policy was a big blow to money bag politicians who take any chance to throw money during elections in anticipation of votes. There was no cash to induce voters. The measure

had helped greatly towards conducting free and fair elections by electorate umpire.

The cash-swap policy has adversely or negatively affected the lives of Nigerians in different ways. But implementing it at the eve of elections’ year has reduced the menace of votes buying especially in presidential and National assembly elections. Regrettably, the supreme Court ruling which compel CBN to extend the validity of old currencies until 31 December has provided an ample opportunity for desperate politicians to use their stashed currencies for votes buying. The glaring and annoyingly votes buying across the polling units have erode the gains recorded by INEC in the last elections. Votes buying has mocked our democracy. It has further monitised our elections. Politicians with high stake count themselves as potential winners. However, INEC should not be blamed for this mess. Our poverty stricken electorates should take the blame for selling their votes to high bidders. It is reported that, in many polling units, voter is induced with little token. Some voters collect as little as 200 or one packet of spaghetti to vote. This is a sad!

The electorates have never paused for a minute to ask themselves a simple question on what will be their fate if they sell their votes for peanut. These desperate politicians are ready to invest their last kobo in a other

to win elections. After winning the poll, one should not expect them to work for the common man. They have to first recoup their investment along with their profit before dropping crumbs to electorates. While votes buying is a serious electorate offense punishable by law, Nigerians are yet to see any offender faces the full weight of laws. Unless we strengthen our laws to prosecute those who engage in elections malpractice, including votes buying, Nigerian elections will go back to square one. The Independent Electorate Commission (INEC), deserves a pat in its back. In the last eight years, the commission has improved its operation significantly. Through the deployment of technology by the commission, the incidences of over voting and ballot snatching have been addressed.

Unfortunately, the return of votes buying as witnessed in the just concluded gubernatorial poll will become cog in the wheel of free and fair election in the country. It is high time government fashioned out workable solution to the problems of votes buying in the country. The menace if left uncheck, will affect the conduct of credible elections in the future.

Ibrahim Mustapha Pambegua, Kaduna state. 08169056963.

Topical issues in construction and infrastructure law

By Adewale Kupoluyi

The Nigerian Bar Association Section on Business Law had the Series 14 of the Business Law Weekly titled, “Topical Issues in Construction and Infrastructure Law & Practice in Nigeria”, which was facilitated by Andrew Odum (SAN); Vice Chair, Construction Project and Infrastructure Committee of NBA-SBL, and Emmanuel Dike, Managing Partner, Jasmine Advocates. The Chairman, Media and Publicity Committee of NBA-SBL, Dayo Adu, has identified key takeaways from the fireside chat, as follows:

Between Construction Contracts and Regular Contracts

Emmanuel Dike began by stating that every construction transaction begins with a contract between the parties; contractor and project owner, known as construction contract. Unlike the regular contract that is governed by a single legislation such as the Contract Law of the various states, the construction and infrastructure sector is not governed by a comprehensive legislation, but by diverse legislation, regulations and ethical guidelines. A fundamental disparity between these two forms of contract is the presence of specific industry/trade terminologies, the omission of which renders the meaning and intentions of the contract incomplete. He observed that a complete construction contract must cover the parties’ intentions and operations from conception of the idea to the commissioning/handover of the project without any complication arising from it.

Dike added that it is not a pre-requisite that all the terms and conditions of a construction contract must be contained in a single document. He posited that terms of the contract can be scattered across several documents so long as reference and referral is made to the various connecting documents. Construction deals with a lot documentation such as letter of award and tender document. He emphasised that all these documents must contain specific terms such as “lump sum”, which indicate that the terms cannot be subjected to variation or “reimbursable contract” to indicate contracts that the entire cost plus a small margin, may be refunded to the contractor. Other terms include “design contract”, “design and build contract”, and “engineering procurement contract”, among others.

Dispute in Construction Agreement

The Managing Partner of Jasmine Advocates while discussing the factors that cause dispute and conflict in construction agreement, stated that the first and foremost factor is the issue of variation of order. “This is the change in choice of design or terms by any of the parties usually the project owner. The second factor is the inability to meet deadline. This could be either on the part of the contractor or the project owner. Progress in construction is calculated in mileage. Failure of contractor to complete a specific work within the expected schedule of the work impacts on the speed of the work

and that creates conflict especially when payment is based on the completion of each mileage”, he said. On the part of the owner of the project, Dike opined that delay in payment can equally result in an inability to meet deadline, suggesting that to resolve these conflicts, contracts should provide for compensation in the form of liquidated damage, where costs is specified, or ascertainable damages using an independent valuer, if the amount is not included in the contract.

Limiting Disagreement Arising from Change Order (Variation)

Speaking further, Dike hinted that change order, also known as variation, is an administrative issue, usually between the contractor and the supervisor, or project owner and that, this takes place when the project owner instructs the contractor to change either the scope or the terms of the project resulting in a party incurring expenses and cost. He proposed that, to avoid the incidence of change order, contracts should provide for remedies for variation and where the variation is of a minor scope, an extension of time should be provided for and this would enable the contractor complete the project. The learned counsel informed that terms of the contract should also allow for employment of extra labour where necessary. However, if the scope is of a large nature, to incur additional cost, then compensation for additional cost is to be given to the party bearing the cost. He mentioned that the absence of remedial measures can lead to an interpretation of the change order to be an alteration of the contract.

He expounded that variations having such large scope is usually found in bespoke contracts. This is because bespoke contracts do not contain familiar terms, as found in standard form contracts, which are used as models by other contractors. “Standard form contracts are pre-negotiated contracts. which form has been tested and approved as a result of long and satisfactory usage, then further reduced into printed forms for subsequent use. There is an assumption of understanding of the terms contained in it by the parties. Two factors impact the choice of a standard form contract. They are nature of the work or project, parties involved, that is whether they are private persons or government entities. The Federal Government has contract forms for building works, roads and bridges. The Bureau of Public Procurement (BPP) also has contract forms for public works. Where the parties are private persons”, he stated.

Dike advised that contract forms by the Joint Contract Tribunal should be adopted, saying that every lawyer must understand the nature of his client’s work in order to advise correctly on the appropriate standard form to adopt. He further stated that contrary to the belief on the rigidity of standard form contract, the terms of a standard form contract can be negotiated. This is to be done by drafting an additional agreement by amending the standard form contract where the latter contains terms that cannot be executed and where there is conflict between the standard form contract and the additional agreement, the latter document prevails.

Adjudication as a Means of Resolving Construction Dispute

The Managing Partner of Jasmine Advocates enumerated the methods of resolving disputes in construction to include litigation, arbitration and adjudication. According to him, the most preferred method is litigation. He further stated that arbitration would come in to solve the inadequacies of litigation. Adjudication, on the other hand, is the bridge between negotiation and arbitration, noting that is the simplest, fastest and cheap method of dispute resolution. He emphasised that adjudication is necessary in a project to prevent abandonment of the project. “The adjudicator should always be present at the site to attend to conflicts at the site. After adjudication, the resulting decision is usually temporary and the duration to challenge it is short. However, if it is unchallenged upon expiration of the stipulated period, the decision becomes binding on the parties”, adding that in Nigeria, “We practice contractual adjudication, as opposed to statutory adjudication, being practiced in other jurisdictions. Contractual adjudication simply means that the decision of the adjudicator can be enforced as a contract”.

Construction Law and Public-Private Partnership (PPP) Arrangement

Dike explained further that the PPP arrangement is an investment by private individuals in public; government-owned infrastructures, to either build, renovate or complete such infrastructure and where the infrastructure sought to be built is a new one, it is known as a ‘green field’. If it is an existing project, it is known as ‘brown field’, but where the infrastructure is a dilapidated project, it is called a ‘yellow field’. He highlighted that, at the core of every public-private partnership arrangement is the building of infrastructure that can evolve into a huge dependability on construction law. For better emphasis, Dike pointed out that in carrying out projects on a ‘green field’, one must consider matters like acquisition of land, licences and approval, among others.

He stated that after building, most contractors are expected to operate and maintain the project. At this stage, there would still be issues of contractual agreement, hence the need for construction law, at every stage of the project. On a final note, the learned silk, Andrew Odum (SAN), while rounding off the session, said that the key to building a great practice in construction law is networking and mentoring. He stated that, this is where the importance of the NBA-SBL cannot be over emphasised. “Young lawyers seeking to build a career in construction law must endeavour to be members of the Construction and Infrastructure Law Committee of the NBA Section on Business Law”, Odum added.

Dr. Kupoluyi is a member of the Nigerian Bar Association Section on Business Law (NBA-SBL)

Hospitality business: A diverse panacea for youth employment and development

By Adeleke Azeez Olalekan

TheWorld Travel & Tourism Council estimates that the hospitality industry accounts for 10 percent of global GDP and provides 1 in 10 jobs worldwide. This suggests that one in 10 workers in Nigeria is directly or indirectly employed in the hospitality industry. PriceWaterhouseCoopers (PWC) also projected that between 2019 and 2023, Nigeria is expected to be the fastest-growing hospitality market with a projected 12 percent compound annual increase. (Moyo, 2022).

The youth population is the major human capital hub of every nation’s present and future. The rate at which youth development project is being taken seriously in a society is a yardstick as to the level at which the society is concerned about the quality of its future. Youth is a period of change from the reliance of childhood to adulthood’s freedom and being aware of the need to work with other members of the society to help achieve the aims and objectives of the society (United Nations Youth, 2019).

In every society, youthfulness is very important. The roles of youths are very many as they include maintenance of law and order, preservation of societal culture, promoting knowledge, partaking in communal politics, developing projects, participating in cultural festivals, involving in local sports events, amongst others (Raymond & Austin, 2020). The cause as to developing Nigerian youths in core areas has been a serious, if not a herculean task. As a matter of reality, it’s a common national concern and one of the major objectives of every government of the federation, state and local. Eugene & Eme (2014) posit that one of the greatest challenges facing governments and policy makers in Africa today is how to provide opportunities for the continent’s more than 200 million youths so that they can have decent lives and contribute to the economic development of their countries. Underdeveloped youth population in a country will result to various social vices such as insecurity, illiteracy, high rate of unemployment, crime, kidnapping, social stagnation, and to a large extent, an undeveloped nation as the consequences of an underdeveloped youth population directly affects the entire country’s population. Eugene et al (2014) submit that despite the elevated awareness of the challenges confronting Nigerian and Africa’s youths noted by previous studies, several African countries like ours still do not seem to have developed comprehensive and effective policies

to deal with the issues facing this large and growing segment of the African population or to have in place a means to assess the progress made.

Several efforts have been made by Nigerian government, corporate organizations, international bodies and reputable individuals in the society to aid the developments of youths in Nigeria. This is evident in programmes tailored towards youths’ development, business grant for youths, empowerment programmes, scholarships, among many others. However, these efforts are channeled towards areas such as Education, Health, Agriculture, Poverty Alleviation, Technology, Participation in Political activities, Employment, among other core areas while Hospitality industry being a labor intensive industry with great economic potentials. This piece of work intends to draw the attention of the critical stakeholders in Nigerian youths’ development and the general public to a critical and fast-growing hospitality business in the country and how it can develop a large part of the youth population in Nigeria.

Hospitality industry encompasses a wide range of businesses that render services to customers. The industry is concerned with provision of service in areas such as Entertainment and Recreation, Travel and Tourism, Event Planning and Food and Drink service. The hospitality business is peculiar among a subsector of hospitality, catering and tourism that includes fast food outlets, clubs, snack bars, guest houses, banquet halls and event tents, among others (ILO, 2010).

The World Travel & Tourism Council estimates that the hospitality industry accounts for 10 percent of global GDP and provides 1 in 10 jobs worldwide. This suggests that one in 10 workers in Nigeria is directly or indirectly employed in the hospitality industry. PriceWaterhouseCoopers (PWC) also projected that between 2019 and 2023, Nigeria is expected to be the fastest-growing hospitality market with a projected 12 percent compound annual increase. (Moyo, 2022).

Hospitality business is fast thriving in Nigeria and provides various job opportunities for the graduate and non-graduate youths and Nigerians at large spread across waiting job opportunities, security, receptionist, ushering service, event hall management, hotel attendants, catering service, drinks service, music, dance and comedy, travel consultancy service, among many other job opportunities provided in the hospitality industry.

According to National Bureau of Statistics (2018), tourism sector accounted for 34 percent of GDP and about 20 percent of the nation’s employment creation in 2017. These revelations are testaments to the fact that the hospitality industry does not only generate revenue to the country’s GDP but create numerous employment opportunities for the Nigerian masses across its diverse areas. Thus, if the potentials of hospitality business are fully utilized in Nigeria, there is a great possibility that it can drastically strengthen and improve the task of youths’ development in all areas such as employment, skill acquisition, increased standard of living, personal development, wealth creation, mental and health stabilities, among others. Additionally, the utilization of the full potentials of hospitality business in Nigeria will significantly reflect on the nations’ employment status, level of security, economy status, crime rate and at large the image of the country in the global space.

Having established the great importance of hospitality business in Nigeria on youths’ development, the following recommendations are put forward:

Government at all levels; Federal, State and Local should set aside an Hospitality Trust Fund in their respective capacities tailored towards financially supporting Nigerian youths who are willing to venture into the business or need to expand their existing hospitality businesses

Successful stakeholders in the hospitality industry, as part of community service should initiate a charitable foundation that can help the youths in the areas of empowerment, financial support and mentorship in running a successful hospitality business in Nigeria

Financial institutions, both local and international as well as other non-government organizations should channel more attention towards hospitality business and provide adequate support system for youths in the industry

Government policies in terms of taxations, market access policy and required certifications for business operations in the hospitality industry should be friendly and made easy to attract more youths into the business

ADELEKE Azeez Olalekan is the Managing Director, Klassic Chillz and can be reached atadelekeolalekan2000@yahoo.com

LG chairman lauds officials for recording no security breach in Keffi

Chairman of Keffi Local Government Area (LGA) of Nasarawa state, has praised concerned officials for ensuring there was no security breach during Saturday’s elections in the area.

Baba-Shehu gave the commendation while speaking with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Saturday in Keffi after the state’s Governorship and House of Assembly elections in the area.

He said the success recorded was as a result of the zeal and commitment of security agencies in the area.

The LGA Chairman said officers of the concerned security agencies worked hard to ensure no one carried out any act that would destabilise the peace being enjoyed in the area.

“So far, as the chief security officer of the area, I have not received any report of any breach in security and that is because our security personnel are up and doing.

“All the security agencies in Keffi LG did what they know best and what was expected of them. They were in every corner of the community,” he said.

Baba-Shehu added that the peaceful conduct of the elections in the area was commendable, and lauded the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) for ensuring the process met Nigerians’ expectations.

“I also have to commend INEC officials because the electoral materials reached polling units in good time and the election process also started early.

So, there was no complaint of delay of accreditation or voting in Keffi,” he said.(NAN)

School takes steps to promote retention of students in school

In an effort to promote the retention of children in school, Broadoaks British School (BBS), Abuja, says it will offer scholarships to selected students for its September 2023 admission.

The Head Teacher of the school, Mr Franklin Adjetey, disclosed this in Abuja at a news conference organised to invite members of the public to the school’s open day.

Adjetey said the scholarship offers would enable the Nigerian child to access world-class education and serve as support to those families in need of it the most.

“Currently, in Nigeria, there are 20 million children out of school.

“This is millions of potential doctors, lawyers, accountants, business gurus, technology experts, and so much more that have their potentialities untapped.

“We believe that every child needs a safe and secure environment where they can access high-quality education.

“We understand that 20 million children out of education are a very big problem and one which will take more than one person to solve.

“We seek to be a contributor to

the solution as we aim to educate one million children for free in Nigeria.

“One way that Broadoaks British school seeks to do this is through our scholarships,’’ Adjetey said.

The head teacher noted that BBS is a school where the educational, social, and emotional development of the child is key.

He described the school as an institution “where solid foundations are set for life; where children are encouraged to become all-round achievers; and where all individuals have a high expectation of themselves.’’

According to him, BBS offers the opportunity for students to show respect for themselves and others, and where children can pick up life skills that enable them to thrive in the 21st century.

BBS was founded on Sept. 13, 2016, out of a passion to deliver a five-star standard of education in Abuja with a strong focus on academic excellence and a holistic approach to learning.

The school was established with a vision to provide a globally sound educational experience that inspires all children to achieve their potential in an increasingly innovative world. (NAN)

2023 polls: IPCR commends Nigerians on peaceful conduct

By Ochiaka Ugwu

The Institute for Peace and Conflict Resolution (IPCR) had commended Nigerians for their peaceful conduct during the Saturday 25th February 2023 presidential and National Assembly elections.

It also praised the people for their peaceable disposition after the election results were declared by the Independence National Electoral Commission (INEC).

In a statement released in Abuja Thursday by the Institute signed by the Director Overseeing the Office of the Director-General, IPCR, Gabriel B. Jiya, Esq, it

noted that typical of electoral contest, a winner will emerge and declared by the electoral body, who is expected to be magnanimous in victory while other candidates demonstrate sportsmanship and patriotism in exploring constitutional channels for ventilating their grievances. According to the statement, “As a public-oriented institution, the Institute believes in the improvement of our electoral system and therefore urges INEC to learn from the experience of the last presidential and National Assembly elections in organising, conducting and ensuring that Saturday 18th March 2023 for

the gubernatorial and Houses of Assembly election is both peaceful and credible.

“This is fundamental for democratic consolidation, representational governance, entrenching the culture of peace and sustaining the electorates’ confidence in the electoral process.

“We have also noted the conduct of the security agencies in mitigating violent incidents and securing the electoral space from the activities of political thugs and other criminal elements.

“Once again, the Institute urges the security agencies to improve on their election duty by

being professional and civil in the discharge of their responsibility throughout the exercise in order to protect lives and property as well as safeguard the sanctity of the election.

“The Institute notes with appreciation the conduct of political parties, their candidates and supporters in receiving, appreciating and modestly celebrating the outcome of the presidential and National Assembly election, which is a sign of their firm believe in the capacity of the electoral process, including the judiciary, to deliver on credible outcomes. “We call on them to continue to exercise confidence

in the country’s democracy and support INEC in ensuring that the state-level election is both peaceful and credible.

“As a people, we have chosen constitutional democracy because it affords us the opportunity to collectively chart a future for ourselves through consensus building and the rule of law.

“Therefore, we must individually and collectively conduct ourselves peacefully and eschew any form of violence during and after the Saturday 18th March 2023 gubernatorial and state Houses of Assembly election” the statement concluded.

President Muhammadu Buhari commiserates with the Emir of Daura HRH Alhaji Faruk Umar Faruk over the Passing of his Daughter on Friday in Daura. Katsina State

Man who tweeted against Gov Soludo, APGA arrested, moved to Abuja

By Christiana Ekpa

Police in Anambra State on Saturday arrested a suspect, Nnamdi Chude, for tweeting against Anambra State governor, Prof Chukwuma Soludo.

Chude, a fervent supporter of the Labour Party tweeted on Saturday, alleging that Soludo’s party, the All Progressives Grand Alliance, APGA, was involved in the rigging of the House of Assembly election.

He insisted that Soludo was instrumental to the rigging, and that some thugs carted away ballot boxes. He described such action as dragging Anambra back to the era of former governor, Dr Chinwoke Mbadinuju.

Chude was later arrested in Onitsha by police operatives and moved to the state capital, Awka.

Meanwhile, a message by the Press Secretary to Anambra State governor, Mr Christian Aburime avowed that the suspect has been moved to Abuja on Sunday, and that the governor neither had a hand in his arrest nor aware of his crime.

Aburime said: “The Commissioner of Police, Anambra State Police Command has confirmed to the Governor of Anambra State, Prof Chukwuma Charles Soludo, CFR, that one Mr Nnamdi Chude was arrested yesterday (18/03/23) in Anambra by the Cyber Crime Unit of Interpol and taken to Abuja today (19/03/23).

“Anambra State Government has no information about any specific allegations or basis of his arrest.”

From results already declared by the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, Governor Soludo’s APGA won a majority of the state assembly seats in the state, followed by the Labour Party.

Makinde wins Oyo guber election again

By Ikechukwu Okaforadi

Governor Seyi Makinde of Oyo State has won the gubernatorial election in the state for another term. The election was conducted in all the 33 local government areas of the state on Saturday.

Makinde who contested on the platform of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has been declared the winner of the election.

The returning officer in the state, Professor Adebayo Bamire who announced the result of the election, declared

that Makinde who is seeking another term in office defeated all other candidates to win the election.

Bamire, the Vice Chancellor of Obafemi Awolowo University, announced that Makinde scored a total of 563,756 votes to defeat all

APC will win not less than 28 states, Senate President boasts after voting

By Musa Baba Adamu

The President of the Senate, Ahmad Lawan said after casting his vote on Saturday that his party, the ruling All Progressives Congress(APC) will win not less than 28 states.

“We are in control of the National Assembly. We have won the Presidency. We are going to win nothing less than 28 states at the end of this election,” Lawan said.

The Senate President made the statement in response to questions from journalists at the Katuzu ward polling unit in Bade Local Government Area of Yobe State where he cast his vote during the Governorship and State House

of Assembly elections.

The APC currently controls 21 of the 36 states and had an outright win in 12 states during the last Presidential vote.

Lawan said the APC and the administration of President Muhammadu Buhari as well as the ninth National Assembly deserved some credit for the improvement witnessed in the country’s electoral process.

He said: “The APC and the administration of President Muhammadu Buhari deserve credit, that we have allowed the process to be entirely determined by the guidelines and regulations of INEC. That we don’t use our incumbency factor to stop other political parties or opposition

from winning in areas that are strong APC enclave.

“The ninth National Assembly also deserves credit for passing a law that has made the process of our elections better.

“I think there are still rooms for improvement but kudos to the ninth National Assembly for producing an Electoral Act that is giving more roles to technology to decide and influence the outcome of our elections rather than some kind of fraud.”

Commenting on the electoral process of Saturday, the Senate President said he was “happy that the BVAS is working here. I’m yet to hear any report about the failure of the process anywhere in my Local Government so far.”

APC scribe, Morka wins Polling Units for APC, Omo-Agege, Ofume

By Ikechukwu Okaforadi

The National Publicity Secretary of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Barr. Felix Morka, won his polling units for the Party in yesterday’s Governorship and House of Assembly elections.

Morka voted at his unit 5, Ward 8 polling booth located at Odili Primary School, Agbor in Ika South Local Government Area of Delta State.

The party spokesman also won the two units in both elections in his native Alidinma community in ward 5 of same local government area. Although Morka hails from Agbor Alidinma in ward 5, he votes in ward 8, Boji-Boji metropolis where he resides.

He attributed the victory of APC in the units to the undeniable legacies of the President Muhammadu Buhari-led administration which the people of the area believe can be replicated

by an APC administration in the state.

According to him, the APC appeal as well as the people’s faith in the capacity of the “in-coming Governor to transform the State” also factored in the victory.

Whereas the APC polled 86 in the governorship election in unit 5, ward 8, to defeat the PDP and LP who polled 72 and 44, respectively, it garnered 80 votes in the House of Assembly election to dwarf PDP’s 71 and LP’s 49 votes.

other candidates.

Bamire while speaking announced that the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate, Senator Teslim Folarin scored 256,685 votes.

The Accord candidate, Adebayo Adelabu scored a total of 38,357 votes.

Senate President: Don’t blackmail, focus on differences you can make – Orji Kalu

By Musa Baba Adamu

Orji Uzor Kalu, the Chief Whip of the Senate and the Senator representing Abia north senatorial district in Abia State, has implored colleagues who have an interest in the presidency of the senate to focus more on the difference they can make rather than exerting energy on blackmails.

Kalu’s latest statement comes on the backdrops of current political intrigues and power tussle among the Nigerian senators over the position of the President of the Senate in soon-to-be inaugurated 10th national assembly.

Kalu, who was also former Governor of Abia State between 1999 to 2007, while speaking against the undemocratic activities in a statement posited that a nation cannot progress and succeed under the atmosphere of hatred, lies and propaganda.

He frowned in strong terms the latest falsehoods, high-level and low-level character assassination and defamation of his person, wherein, some disgruntled individuals had resorted to using his name for gossip in a desperate bid to clinch the exalted position of the President of the 10th Nigerian senate.

The federal lawmaker warned, “we should always remember God’s authority in our lives.

“We should remember that the life we live is not for ourselves alone but for God and then accommodate other people.

The Party fielded the Senator representing Delta Central and Deputy Senate President, Sen. Ovie Omo-Agege, as its governorship candidate in Delta State, while a Canadian-trained lawyer, Barr. Festus Ofume, was on the ballot for the House of Assembly for Ika South constituency.

The collation for the entire local government council as well as that of the State was still ongoing as at the time of filing this report.

“We should remember that any wealth, power, or strength we have originated from God.

“Any gift or talent we havethe same is true(James 1:17; and 1 Corinthians 12:1-11).

“Even our ability to give generously comes from God (Deuteronomy 8:18; 2 Corinthians 9: 10-11).

“Everything we have, when we know and embrace this, we would better people with better minds”, the chieftain added.

President-Elect Asiwaju Bola Tinubu casting his votes during the governorship and house of assembly election at Sunday Adigun Street in Alausa Ikeja Polling Unit 085 Ward C in Lagos on Saturday

Rivers Election: Kidnapped APC campaign director shot dead

By Ikechukwu Okaforadi

Mr Chisom Lennard, the Campaign Director of the All Progressives Congress, APC in Ahoada-West Local Government Area of Rivers State who was abducted by gunmen on Saturday has been killed.

The deceased was reportedly abducted by the unknown gunmen who were dressed in police uniform while he was casting his vote at Ibagwa polling unit 2, Ward 10 in Ahoada West LGA.

Lennard was exercising his franchise during the governorship and state assembly elections when the incident happened.

According to reports, the APC chieftain was making efforts to stop the gunmen from snatching election materials when he was whisked away to an unknown destination.

The state Publicity Secretary of the party, Darlington Nwauju confirmed the incident to Daily Trust on Sunday.

Nwauju stated, “He was abducted from his polling unit during the voting process and taken away.

“Nobody knew where they took him to. It was later yesterday evening (Saturday) that his body was discovered. He was the APC LGA caretaker chairman and a PhD student at Rivers State University.”

Ekiti State Assembly: Ekiti APC captures 23, SDC wins 2 seats

By Christiana Ekpa

The Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, in Ekiti State has released the results of the House of Assembly election held yesterday.

A statement by the commission’s Head of Voters Education and Publicity, Mr Temitope Akanmu said All Progressives Congress, APC, won 23 seats out of the 26 seats in the assembly. Also, Social Democratic

party, SDP, won two seats while elections for Ido/Osi Constituency I was declared inconclusive due to disruption of the exercise by hoodlums.

Some of the candidates of the APC who won the election include Babafemi Fatula (Ikole

Constituency I), Ayo Adegbite (Ado Constituency I), Mrs Iyabo Fakunle Okieimen (Ilejemeje Constituency), Idowu Odebunmi, (Oye Constituency II), Princess Teju Okunyiga (Gbonyin Constituency) and Mrs Abimbola Solanke (Moba Constituency I).

PDP gubernatorial candidate Isa Ashiru in early lead in Kaduna

By Musa Baba Adamu

Isah Ashiru Kudan, the gubernatorial candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), is in an early lead in seven local government areas of

the state, after the Independent National Electoral Commission, (INEC) released some results.

The INEC Returning Officer, Kaduna State in the ongoing coalition exercise, Prof. Lawal Suleiman Bilbis of Usman

Danfodio University, Sokoto, declared the results at the commission’s state headquarters on Sunday.

The local government areas already declared are Giwa, Sanga, Kajuru, Ikara, Makarfi, Jaba and

INEC declares APC winner of 26 Imo

By Ikechukwu Okaforadi

Twenty-six candidates of the All Progressives Congress, APC, in the Imo State House of Assembly election have been declared winners by the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC.

A statement by the Imo State INEC Commissioner, Prof. Sylvia Agu, declared that APC won 26

out of the 27 seats in the assembly while election in Ahiazu Mbaise Constituency was declared inconclusive.

Some of the candidates of the APC who won their reelection bids include Ibeh Kennedy C. (Obowo), Onyemachi Kanayo (Owerri West), Hon. Eddy Obinna (Aboh Mbaise), Nwaneri Chigozie Reginald (Oru East), and Amara Iwuanyanwu, Deputy Speaker of

Kaura.

PDP so far has won five out of the seven LGAs declared, while the governorship candidate of the ruling All Progressive Congress, (APC) Senator Uba Sani trails behind with wins in two LGAs.

PDP won in five local government areas of Kaura, Sanga, Jaba, Kajuru and Makarfi, while APC won in Giwa and Ikara local government areas with slight margins.

Assembly seats, Ahiazu Mbaise pending

the House.

However, the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, on Sunday alerted Nigerians that INEC officials posted to Aboh Mbaise LGA of the state for yesterday’s House of Assembly elections was abducted allegedly by agents of Imo APC and taken to a location in Owerri, where they rewrote the results already won by PDP to favour APC.

The opposition party accused the Imo State governor, Senator Hope Uzodinma, and security agencies of collusion in a release issued by the party’s Publicity Secretary, Collins Opurozor, and made available to journàlists in Owerri, the capital of Imo State.

PDP claimed the results announced at the various voting places in Aboh Mbaise and relayed to iREV Portal showed that the

party won the area’s House of Assembly seat with more than 90 per cent of the total votes cast.

The opposition party alleged that as final collation was being awaited at the Collation Center, armed thugs, security agents and Ebubeagu militiamen, led by APC stalwarts, stormed the venue in the middle of the night, attacked party agents and took away INEC officials with election materials.

Kano: Why Takai constituency election is inconclusive – INEC

By Musa Baba Adamu

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) on Sunday said it declared as inconclusive the election for the Takai Constituency seat in the Kano State House of Assembly because of over voting in five polling units leading to cancellation of results.

INEC Returning Officer, Professor Usman Ibrahim, announced this in the commission’s office in Takai.

Ibrahim said: “Even though the candidate of APC, Musa Ali, scored 24,573 votes while NNPP’s candidate scored 23,569 votes, we still have no other option than to declare the poll inconclusive.

“This is because elections in

five polling units were cancelled due to over voting. Now, the election will be conducted again in the five polling units.”

In a related development, INEC declared Mr Garba Gwarmai of the APC as the winner of the Tsanyawa/Kuchi Constituency seat in the Kano State House of Assembly.

Professor Ganiyu Shokobi, the

Returning Officer for Tsanyawa/ Kunchi Constituency, announced the result at the commission’s Collation Centre in Tsanyawa.

Shokobi said Gwarmai polled 31,471 votes to beat his closest rival, Mohammed Ali of the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP), who got 27,864 votes, while Bello Abdullahi of the PDP polled 136 votes.

Also, INEC on Sunday declared the election results of the Shanono/Bagwai Constituency.

Professor Ahmed Iliyasu declared Ibrahim Kundila of APC as winner of the election after he got 38,021 votes, while Musa Aliyu of NNPP polled 29,983 votes.

The National Coordinator and Chief Executive Officer, AUDA-NEPAD Nigeria, Princess Gloria Akobundu, fsi (middle) and her management team received Members of the AUDA-NEPAD Continental team led by the Ag. Director Knowledge Management and Program Evaluation, Mrs. Florence Nazare (3rd left) with other team members, on courtesy visit to the Agency’s National Secretariat recently in Abuja . Photo: NEPAD

Guber polls: LP vows to resist moves to upturn election results in Abia, Enugu

The Labour Party has warned that it would resist any attempt to upturn the results of the gubernatorial election in Abia and Enugu States.

The National Chairman of the Labour Party, Barr Julius Abure, accused the Governor of Abia State of moves to upturn the victory of the Labour Party, Alex Oti in the gubernatorial election in Abia State in a statement on Sunday.

Abure said that similar attempts are being made to scuttle the lead of the Labour Party’s candidate Chijioke Edeoga.

He said that Edeoga was leading at the polls in all the Local Governments areas whose results has been released.

The LP Chairman alleged that “some

INEC staff are held hostage at Obingwa Local Govt by Governor Ikpeazu and his cohorts to rewrite the results already compiled by INEC officials despite an order from the election body asking their staff to head to Umuahia to collate results for the election, which is in favor of Labour’s Alex Otti.”

He called on the Inspector General of Police, to intervene and ensure the transfer of the

electoral materials to Umuahia for safety.

Abure warned further the LP would resist attempts by the PDP to rob the party of its victory in Enugu and Abia States.

He said that the LP had reviewed all infractions and would not be satisfied with being asked to go to court after the Presidential elections.

He warned that if not addressed the LP Will have no better choice than “to mobilize OBIdients all over the country to take over the streets across the length and breadth of the country.”

The full statement, “Gentlemen of the Press. We have come to day two of the ongoing governorship and state house assembly elections and what we have continued to witness across the country and reports from our party men on the ground, are not in any way different from the criminality orchestrated against our presidential candidate, Mr. Peter Obi, during the February 25 presidential election.

“Today, we are again witnessing a situation where a sitting Governor in Abia state is fully involved in an attempt to upturn the victory of the Labour Party candidate, Alex Otti, in the Abia State governorship

election that has been won by our candidate.

“The same scenario is presently playing out in Enugu state where Labour Party’s candidate Chijioke Edeoga is presently leading in virtually all the Local Governments so far announced.

“As we speak, INEC staff are held hostage at Obingwa Local Govt by Governor Ikpeazu and his cohorts to rewrite the results already compiled by INEC officials despite an order from the election body asking their staff to head to Umuahia to collate results for the election, which is in favor of Labour’s Alex Otti.

“This is one robbery too many. While Nigerians are yet to get over the ugly rape of a democratic process in last month’s presidential election by the ruling party at the center, the PDP has been found engaged in the most shameless manner and disregard for the rights of the citizens.

“We, therefore call on the Inspector General of Police to intervene and ensure the transfer of all electoral materials to Umuahia where the sanctity of the election and the safety of the officials in charge can be guaranteed.

“Ikpeazu cannot rig election in his local government which he lost in the Senatorial elections on the 25th.

“Similarly, Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi who lost woefully in the last election in the Enugu North Senatorial zone is presently doctoring the results from the zone with the help of some compromised INEC staff and Police to ensure that PDP is returned elected in the state against the wishes of the electorate.

“We have endured what no other political party in the country has endured in the last few weeks because we believe in due process but it appears this is taken for granted. But we may not be patient for too long.

“Let me sound it for the first time we will resist every attempt by the PDP in Abia and Enugu States to upturn our mandate.

“It should be recalled that the PDP in both states had issued a threat to opposition parties, which was specifically targeted at Labour Party after sweeping the states during the presidential election, this threat is already manifesting that the ruling party was only interested in rigging elections.

“The Labour Party had thoroughly reviewed all

infractions and we have vowed to never again allow the use of foul means to usurp power as it was done in the past and merely ask us to go to court.

“If this is not addressed, we will be left with no choice other than to mobilize OBIdients all over the country to take over the streets across the length and breadth of the country.

“We have particularly reviewed the rigging of Edo state house assembly elections election, including other affected states and we are putting pieces of evidence of infractions in place to name and shame all democratic criminals.

“We have therefore, resolves that in as much as we remain a law-abiding political party, conducting our affairs strictly within the ambit of our nation’s electoral laws, the party will henceforth resist rigging and we will move to the streets to reclaim our stolen mandates.

“We will henceforth directly and physically confront and resist the election riggers from always having a field day in seizing our democratic institutions and circumventing the rules during elections. We have directed our supporters across the country to get ready for our signal to take over the streets

Global money week: SEC highlights savings, personal finance

From

Abubakar Yunusa, ABUJA

As the world celebrates the Global Money Week from March 20-26 2023, the Securities and Exchange Commission has again emphasized the need for children and young people to develop sound financial habits, knowledge, attitudes, and behaviours from a young age.

This the Commission said will help them to know how to manage their personal finances throughout their lives and be empowered to make better financial decisions for their future.

Director General of the SEC, Mr. Lamido Yuguda commenting on the weeklong commemoration of the event, stated that the earlier children & youth learn about money, saving, investment and budgeting the better they will manage their personal finances throughout their lives.

The GMW is an event organized by the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development

(OECD)International Network on Financial Education with the Central Bank of Nigeria responsible for coordinating the event in Nigeria. It is an annual global awareness-raising campaign on the importance of ensuring that young people, from an early age, are financially aware, and are gradually acquiring the knowledge, skills, attitude and behaviors necessary to make sound financial decisions.

According to the DG, “Plan your money, plant your future” is the official theme of GMW2023. This theme aims at raising awareness about the importance of adopting a responsible, informed and forward-looking approach in making financial decisions. It also recognises that future individual financial wellbeing is strictly linked to the health of the planet and of the society as a whole

“This year’s Global MoneyWeek2023 GMW2023 is a great opportunity for everyone to

Aviation workers sue FG over Airports concessioning

From

Abubakar Yunusa ABUJA

Aviation workers in Nigeria have sued the federal government at the National Industrial Court in Lagos over the planned concessioning of airports in Nigeria and the nonpayment their arrears of pensions totalling N150 billion.

Junior, senior and professional staff of airports brought the suit under the aegis of the Air Transport Services Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (ATSSSAN), the National Union of Air Transport Employees (NUATE), the Association of Nigerian Aviation Professionals (ANAP), and the Nigerian Union of Pensioneers (NUB-FAAN Branch).

The suit, which was filed by their counsel, Femi Falana (SAN), has the Minister of Aviation and the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) as defendants.

The aviation workers are seeking for an injunction of the court that the major airports in Nigeria, including the Aminu Kano International Airport, Kano, Kano State; Port Harcourt International Airport, Port Harcourt, Rivers State; Murtala Mohammed International Airport, Ikeja, Lagos State and Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja, cannot be concessioned by the federal government without the consent of the federation of Nigeria.

While contending that the concession to foreign entities was being planned without factoring the severance benefits to members, including pension arrears owed former and present staff of the agency currently estimated at over N150 billion, they averred that the FAAN generates an average of N70 to N75 billion annually and remits an average of N1 billion monthly into the Federation Account while monthly salaries of its 8,000 staff currently stand at over N2.3 billion.

Among their reliefs is “An order of injunction restraining the defendants from determining the employment of

engage children, youth & young people in activities around the theme.

Yuguda stated that the celebration of the weeklong event by the Commission will include visits to schools in Nassarawa and Gwagwalada, a visit to the NGX by 150 students and ringing of the bell at the NGX among other activities.

Global Money Week (GMW) promotes efforts aimed at improving the financial literacy of young people. The ultimate goal of the campaign is to ensure that all children and young people have access to high-quality financial education, they learn about money matters and are able to take smart financial decisions that can improve their future financial resilience and financial well-being.

The week is the world’s largest money awareness campaign for children youth to learn about money managing skills through fun events and activities in over

100 countries worldwide adding that the earlier children & youth learn about money, saving, investment and budgeting the better they will manage their personal finances throughout their lives.

“We are proud to be part of this annual financial awareness campaign highlighting the importance of teaching children & youth about financial education & financial literacy. These sensitisations to Gwagwalada and Nasarrawa to directly speak to the children and youths is another way of highlighting how important this is to the SEC.” he stated.

Yuguda emphasised that the Commission is encouraging capital market operators to develop technology so that the market will become more attractive to youths saying, “That is why we are improving our Know Your Customers; we are improving so many things to make it easier for them. That is why we

are introducing these fintechs. We are allowing these fintechs to come because we see the fintech as an important gateway for youths to enter the market. We are conscious of that and we are working towards it.”

According to him, the commission is implementing various initiatives to ensure that products and offerings in the market are accessible to both the young and old which will further deepen the market.

Yuguda said, “The average age of that account holder was over 50, and that made us realise that the young people were not participating in this market and when young people are not participating in any market, that market is doomed to fail.

“And young people today prefer to do things on their phones; if you have to fill a stack of forms manually young people won’t do it. We want to make investing in the capital market a fun experience.”

the members of the claimants without complying with the provisions of the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria Act (CAP F5) Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004 and the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria Reviewed Conditions of Service 2021 in any manner whatsoever and howsoever.”

No date has been fixed for the hearing.

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Mr. Solomon Edet Solomon Staff Vektr Group (right) during the commencement of his trial on allegations bordering on operating as fund managers without registration by the Securities and Exchange Commission among others at the Federal High Court Abuja at the weekend

NCC set to curb data depletion for telecom consumers

The Nigerian Communication Commission, (NCC) on Thursday announced plans to introduce measures to curb data depletion for telecom consumers.

The NCC disclosed this during the 91st edition of the telecom consumer parliament (TCP) tagged “Data depletion: discussion on the various perspectives”, held at the NCC’s Communications & Digital Economy Complex, Abuja.

Speaking at the event, the Executive Vice Chairman/Chief Executive Officer of NCC, Umar Danbatta, said the issue of data depletion has become one of the most prevalent complaints received from telecom consumers in the wake of their recent migration to 4G/LTE technology.

Data Depletion occurs when a subscriber exhausts his or her data bundle before the expiration date or when more data volume is utilised for accessing an online content.

Mr Danbatta, represented by Muhammed Babajika, the director of licensing and authorisation at the NCC, said consumers have been experiencing depletion of their data either as a result of data usage or

consumption, and are constantly informing the commission of their experience through various complaints channels.

He explained that the COVID-19 pandemic was the catalyst for the global explosion of new technologies which opened up an array of services, dynamic business models and new opportunities and markets globally.

“The Nigerian telecom industry was not left out, going by the documented upsurge in the use of computers, smartphones, smart watches, and other technologydependent devices which have given consumers access to multi-functional comfort and utility.

“Technology has eased interaction for a majority of the populace using social and instant messaging applications. No doubt, the underlying technology for these services is the internet, which drives connectivity.

“It is within the context of the subscription and usage of the internet that consumers are experiencing what they refer to as abnormal depletion of their data, which gives rise to the reason we are here today,” he said.

He added that Mobile Network Operators all over the world have had to face challenges occasioned by emerging technologies.

“This deliberation could therefore not have come at a more auspicious time, as Nigeria moves with the rest of the world towards 5G technology following the issuance of 3.5GHz spectrum licenses to MTN Nigeria Communications Limited, MAFAB Communications Limited and Airtel Networks Limited,” he said.

He noted that while 4G offers better download speeds, higher bandwidth and voice quality than 3G technology, 5G technology provides the additional benefits of ultra-high speed data, low latency and higher bandwidth over 4G technology.

“It is therefore important that we completely appreciate and understand the issues surrounding data depletion, its usage and consumption in the era of 4G technology before we fully commence 5G usage.

“The interests of the telecom consumer is of paramount importance to us and as the telecom regulator, we have the

responsibility of ensuring that the consumer’s voice is heard, and that the relevant authorities address their complaints,” he added.

He explained that it is against this backdrop that the commission invited the key industry players today to dialogue to understand the various perspectives to this prevalent issue, identify the possible causes, and brainstorm on the way forward.

“As much as the Commission has an obligation to the telecom consumer, it also has an obligation to the Industry a symbiotic relationship in which one party cannot survive without the other.

“The consumers are the basis for the operators’ business if their interests are ignored, the operators’ investments would collapse, and there would be no industry for the commission to regulate.

“It is thus expedient that we utilize opportunities presented by the commission’s high-level outreach events such as this parliament to genuinely exchange ideas on how to reduce the challenges militating against effective service provision to the barest minimum,” he said.

Unity Bank gets acting chairman, appoints Obasanjo’s

From Abubakar Yunusa Abuja

Unity Bank has announced that the chairman of its board of directors, Aminu Babangida, will be retiring from the organisation with effect from 18 March.

Oluwafunsho Obasanjo, a nonexecutive director at the lender, will also exit by way of retirement on the same date, according to a statement issued by the bank.

The two board members’ departure “follows the expiration of their tenure as directors on the board of the bank and in compliance with the prescribed tenure for non-executive directors under the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Code of Corporate Governance for Banks,” the document added.

Meanwhile, the lender has appointed Hafiz Mohammed

daughter as non-executive director

Bashir, a former chairman of the bank’s Board Finance & General Purpose Committee, as its acting chairman.

He joined Unity Bank’s board in November 2017 and was previously a member of Board Credit Committee, Board Governance & Nominations Committee and Board Risk Management & Audit Committee.

Mr Bashir has profound experience in the public and private sectors, and holds a postgraduate diploma from Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University, Bauchi as well as a Master’s of Business Administration degree from the Business School of Netherlands.

The bank has also announced the appointment of Iyabo Obasanjo, a daughter of Former President Olusegun Obasanjo, as a non-executive director.

An associate professor,

Africana Studies programme at College of William & Mary, Williamsburg, Virginia, USA, Ms Obasanjo was previously Ogun State’s commissioner for health and the senator representing Ogun Central Senatorial District from June 2007 to June 2011.

She is a graduate of Veterinary Medicine at the University of Ibadan and holds a Master’s in Preventive Veterinary Medicine as well as a PhD Epidemiology, Minor: Immunology from Cornell University, Itacha, New York, USA.

Unity Bank disclosed in the same statement the appointment of Halima Babangida as a nonexecutive director of the bank.

Ms Babangida is a graduate of Business Management at the AGSB University, Switzerland and Business Administration from Montruex School of Business,

Switzerland.

“She has cognate experience in stevedoring, logistics, farming/ food chain industry and in the real estate and property management businesses,” the statement said. Obasanjo, Babangida’s Interest.

Mr Obasanjo and ex-military President Ibrahim Babangida, who have both ruled Nigeria at different periods in the past, have interests in the lender.

In October 2017, a former Chairman, Board of Directors of the bank, Thomas Etuh, explained the role played by both men as major co-shareholders of the bank.

In a post-retirement interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja, Mr Etuh said the successes recorded by the bank at the time did not come without the contributions of both men.

He said: “Obasanjo and Babangida came up with that name `Unity’ after the merger of some Southern and Northern banks.

“The merger means a lot for Nigeria’s unity. So, having nine banks from different entities, it behoves on the board to also merge the different banks culture into one; and that, we did to make it a national bank.

“You can see that the bank has flourished in various products which have brought it to stability, and I won’t say it was achieved singlehandedly; it was a collective effort of the board and management.”

The merged banks include Bank of the North, Tropical Commercial Bank, Intercity Bank, African Merchant Bank, First Interstate Bank, New Nigerian Bank and Societe General Bank.

CBN: N982bn currency now in circulation

The currency in circulation in the country dipped by a 235.03 per cent to N982.09bn at the end of February from N3.29tn at the end of October 2022, on the back of the naira redesign policy of the Central Bank of Nigeria.

Figures obtained from the CBN revealed that N2.3tn was mopped up from circulation during the period under review.

According to the CBN, the currency in circulation moved from N3.16tn to N3.29tn and N1.38tn in November 2022, December 2022 and January 2023 respectively.

The Governor of the CBN, Godwin Emefiele, had in October

2022, announced plans to redesign the old N200, N500 and N1,000 notes.

Emefiele also announced deadlines for Nigerians to swap their old notes with the new notes.

The governor decried the challenges associated with currency management, including the hoarding of banknotes by members of the public, with statistics showing that over 80 per cent of currency-incirculation was outside the vaults of commercial banks.

Other challenges, he added included a shortage of clean and fit banknotes with an attendant negative perception of the CBN and increased risk to financial stability and increasing ease and risk of counterfeiting evidenced by several

security reports.

In the last few years, the CBN has recorded significantly higher rates of counterfeiting, especially in regard to the higher denominations of N500 and 1000 notes, he said.

At the expiration of the deadline for the old notes, due to the scarcity of the new naira notes, which subjected Nigerians to hardship, the President, Major General Muhammadu Buhari (retd) approved the continued use of the old N200 as legal tender till April 10.

However, after some state governments sued the Federal Government over the naira redesign policy, the Supreme Court in its ruling on March 3 extended the legal tender status of the old

N200, N500, and N1,000 notes to December 31.

On Tuesday, 10 days after the Supreme Court judgement, the CBN officially ordered commercial banks to comply with the court verdict.

According to the CBN, currencyin-circulation is defined as currency outside the vaults of the central bank; that is, all legal tender currency in the hands of the public and in the vaults of the Deposit Money Banks.

The CBN stated that it employed the “accounting/statistical/ withdrawals and deposits approach” to compute the currency in circulation in Nigeria.

This approach involved tracking the movements of currency in circulation on a transaction-by-

transaction basis.

It said for every withdrawal made by a DMB at one of CBN’s branches, an increase in the CIC was recorded, adding that for every deposit made by a DMB at one of CBN’s branches, a decrease in the CIC was recorded.

The transactions are all recorded in the CBN’s CIC account, and the balance on the account at any point in time represents the country’s currency in circulation.

The apex bank said analysis of the currency in circulation showed that a large and increasing proportion of the naira outside the commercial banking system was held by the public who hoard a lot of the new banknotes.

From Abubakar Yunusa ABUJA

L-R: FCT Co-ordinator, Ready to Lead Africa, Comrade Garba Abdullahi, The Representative, National Voters Drive Coalition (NVDC), Comrade Ekejiuba Daberechi Kingsley, Global President, Ready to Lead Africa, Godbless Otubure and the Program Manger, Readye to Lead Africa, Chiamaka Jonathan, during the Ready to Lead Africa in partnership with the National Voters Drive Coalition (NVDC) Pre-Election Press Conference, theme: *Democracy is not a 100 Meter dash, but a life’s race worth investing on* (calling for Peace & Voters Participation in 2023 Nigerian Governorship Elections, held recently in Abuja. Photo-: Justin Imo-owo

Kogi commissioner, senator-elect commend INEC for improvement, decry low turnout

Kogi West senator-elect, Mr Sunday Karimi, and the state’s Commissioner for Information and Communication, Mr Kingsley Fanwo, on Saturday commended INEC’s conduct of the House of Assembly elections in the state.

Governorship election in Kogi is off-cycle and would not hold until November.

The duo gave the commendations in separate interviews with newsmen after casting their ballots at Egbe, Yagba West and Takete in Mopamuro Local Government Areas of Kogi, respectively.

Karimi said the election was peaceful but noted voter apathy as many eligible voters did not turn up at the polling units.

He said the low turnout might not be unconnected with the fact that governorship election did not hold in Kogi on Saturday.

He added that the poor turnout on Saturday could also have resulted from the shock of the victory of the All Progressives Congress (APC) at the Feb. 25 presidential and National Assembly elections.

“There was low turnout of voters compared to the large turnout at the presidential and National Assembly elections on Feb. 25.

“There was an improvement in logistics by INEC, however. There was early arrival of election officers at the polling units contrary to what obtained on Feb. 25.

“Also, the Bimodal Voters Accreditation System (BVAS) machines worked perfectly on Saturday, except in few cases where it rejected fingerprints,’’ Karimi said.

On his part, Fanwo commended INEC for organising credible, free and fair elections.

“Materials were brought on time and the BVAS worked perfectly. The electoral officers were very professional as they provided a level playing ground for everybody to exercise their franchise.

“We also want to commend the security operatives; they were very professional in their conduct, and the voters conducted themselves very well.

“I commend INEC for organising this very credible, free and fair elections,’’ Fanwo said. (NAN)

Benue Governorship: Alia in early ead

From Uche Nnorom, Makurdi

All Progressives Congress, APC Governorship candidate Rev. Fr. Hyacinth Alia is in an early following results declared by the Independent National Electoral Commission,INEC in 17 local government areas of Benue State.

The result indicates that APC has so far won 14 local governments while the Peoples' Democratic Party 3. The APC has clinched Apa,Ado,Gwer East, Ukum, Obi, Tarka, Katsina-Ala and Buruku, Ohimini, Gboko, Ushongo, Ogbadibi and Oju, PDP secured Logo, Gwer West, Guma and Agatu.

It also, shows from the result

declared that the APC is leading with 327,962, PDP 171,223 and Labour, 13,128 the Margin of lead is 156,739 votes.

It should noted that election in Kwande local government has been rescheduled but according to Resident Electoral Commissioner for Benue State, Prof Sam Egwu, the winner of the 2023 Benue Governorship may be declared on

theoretical probability.

He averred that this only can be done if the margin of win is greater than the number of total Registered voters from Kwande which has 15 Registration Areas (RAs)and a voter population of 172,294.

The final result is to be announced Monday 20th March, 2023 by INEC.

ECA report urges Africa to tackle poverty, social inequality

The Economic Commission for Africa (ECA), says many African countries are struggling to meet the continent’s development goals due to the impact of severe and mutually reinforcing shocks.

Mr Adam Elhiraika, ECA’s Director, Macroeconomic Policy Division, in a statement said the continent encountered severe developmental challenges due to increased poverty, high inequality rates and lack of decent jobs.

Elhiraika said that the COVID-19 pandemic, the Ukrainian war and resultant food and energy crisis, rising inflation, debt tightening, and natural disasters were critical factors to the challenge.

The director said this while presenting an overview of recent

Economic and Social Conditions in Africa at the ongoing meeting of experts.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the meeting was held to herald the 2023 Conference of African Ministers of Finance, Planning and Economic Development in Ethiopia.

According to the Report, growth in Africa dwindled from 4.6 per cent in 2021 to 3.6 per cent in 2022.

“In 2022, an additional 18 million new poor emerged in Africa, with more than half the highest proportion of the world’s poor at 54.8 per cent.

“This is alarming because 546 million people were living in poverty in 2022, which is more than half of the continent’s population,” Elhiraika said.

According to the director, women and girls remain particularly vulnerable, and the continent is facing a potential reversal of the hard-won gains made on gender equity.

He said another challenge stressed during the meeting was inequality which remained pervasive across all African subregions and was exceptionally high in Southern Africa.

“Among the top ten countries where wealth inequality is the highest, seven of them, South Africa, Mozambique, Namibia, Zambia, Botswana, Angola and Malawi, are in Southern Africa.

“While two are in west Africa, Guinea-Bissau, and Sao Tome.

“ECA estimates that although the economic outlook remains bleak, Africa is anticipated to

grow by 3.9 per cent in 2023,” he said.

Elhiraika said the commission had cautioned that the growth might experience headwinds.

“Especially with an unfavourable external environment created by the recession in both the United States and the Eurozone and expected to weigh on commodity prices,” he said.

Fostering recovery and transformation in Africa to reduce inequalities and vulnerabilities is the theme of the ongoing meeting in Addis Ababa.

At the meeting, countries were urged to pursue pro-poor and inclusive macroeconomic policies and ensure access to affordable and innovative finance for an inclusive recovery. (NAN)

PRESIDENT MUHAMMADU BUHARI RECEIVES IN AUDIENCE NIGERIAN FORMER AMBASSADOR TO BENIN REPUBLIC

AND CHIEF OF ARMY STAFF, LT GEN Tukur Yusuf Buratai at the State House on Friday in Àbuja. Photo State House

METRO Embrace sports to be more productiveDRTS Boss charges VIO personnel

By Stanley Onyekwere

The Director, FCT Directorate of Road Traffic Services (DRTS) otherwise known as Vehicle Inspection Office (VIO), Dr. Abdul-Lateef Bello has charged officers and men of the Directorate to actively engage in sporting activities, in order to improve their health, social cohesion and service delivery.

Bello who described sports as life, expressed disgust with the level of sickening that is associated with some of DRTS staff, as it has all been work, with less or zero involvement in sporting activities.

Making this point during the maiden edition of the DRTS Director’s Table Tennis Championship at the weekend, he said the Directorate will be providing certain basic support and facilities to assist some of its staff willing to go into sports.

According to him, the DRTS has made a special provision for sporting equipment in the proposed 2023 budget, to enable it create an environment that is very virile and relaxed, in terms of service delivery, friendly and social cohesiveness.

He said: “We may be starting with the table tennis because of the fact it required small space, to able to put up the game, but subsequently, we are looking at other sporting activities like football, volleyball, lawn tennis and basket ball. In short, we want to dominate and participate in every other sporting activities like every other service agency. But, we have to start incrementally.

“It is a testimony of our willingness to spice up the activities of members of the DRTS, and to find a way of generating an interaction between our officers and men with those outside this particular service. It is another way of fostering relationships and

equally developing our staff in terms of social cohesion.

“I want to assure everyone of you that we are going to be participating in several sporting activities both within and outside the premises of the DRTS. And, of course I should encourage everybody to show willingness, because sport is life.

“ I’m not particularly very happy with the level of sickening that is associated with some of our staff, as it has all been work, work and chasing money, so I think we should relax and play with ourselves, so that we can be more

productive.”

The Director specially thanked those who had found it very necessary to participate in the competition, out of their very tight and demanding schedules.

Earlier, in his remarks, Assist Chief VIO, Head of Sports DRTS, Rimdan Nanjul, said the table tennis Competition is one of the cardinal programmes of the directorate, which is designed to improve the physical fitness and general wellness of all staff of road traffic services.

Nanjul noted that the Competition, has helped

to enhance good working relationship and mutual coexistence amongst officers and men, and a crave for better participation in other sporting activities.

He disclosed that in view of the Director’s strong desire to encourage staff sports and recreational activities amongst themselves, he assigned a new Head of the Unit, and approved every Wednesday of the week 3-6pm for sporting activities.

At the end of the competition, which commenced 6th March, 2023, Mr. Andrew Akene

(Finance and Accounts) emerged the champion, while Omole Olaitan (CMR) took the second position, and Olaitan Wasu ((admin and store) finished third. In addition to the presentation of the winner’s trophy and special gifts, they received cash token of N20,000; N15,000; and N10,000 respectively.

Akene, who spoke with newsmen on 5he sideline of the event, noted that competition will be a moral boosting as it actually enhance his capacity as a road traffic officer to enable him and his colleagues function better.

2023 Hajj: FCT Pilgrims Board to sanction “no-show” passengers during airlift

By Stanley Onyekwere

The FCT Muslim Pilgrims Welfare Board (MPWB) has stepped up measures to sanction intending Pilgrims who deliberately miss their flight schedules during airlift for this year’s hajj operation.

The Director of the Board, Mallam Abubakar Adamu Evuti disclosed this at meeting with Islamic Scholars mobilized to conduct the education and orientation exercise for the 2023 intending pilgrims from the FCT.

Mallam Evuti said the attitude of some Intending Pilgrims who refuse to come out for airlift would no longer be

tolerated as such behaviour destabilizes the arrangement for the operations.

The Director disclosed that the Board would introduce measures against such behaviours, among which is, each Intending Pilgrim would be given a chance to select the flight he or she intends to travel to Saudi Arabia.

He stressed that any Intending Pilgrim who refuses to come out for the airlift after being scheduled in such flight would be sanctioned in line with international travel standard.

He added that the Board would continue to improve on its policy of educating the intending pilgrims on how to perform the religious obligation for them to attain an

acceptable Hajj and get value for their money.

The Director called on the Islamic Scholars who would serve as Resource Persons to strive hard to ensure that those who partake in the hajj exercise through the Board achieve the desired goal.

He also recognized the experience of the Scholars in all aspects of Islamic religious knowledge and expressed the hope that they utilize their wealth of knowledge and experience in educating the intending pilgrims, not only on religious matters, but also in the operation in general.

He disclosed that the Board was committed to conducting the education and orientation exercise in phases using

seven languages of English, Hausa, Yoruba, Nupe, Ganagana, Egbra and Fulfulde for the benefits of the intending pilgrims.

In his remark at the meeting, the leader of the scholars and the Chairman of committee of Imams in the FCT, Sheikh Tajuddeen Bello Adegun pledged to do everything possible to ensure that the Intending Pilgrims from the Territory get the basic rudiments of hajj that would guide them to achieve acceptable hajj in line with Islamic injunctions and teaching of the noble Prophet Muhammad (SAW).

Tajuddeen emphasised the determination of the resource persons in providing proper guidance for the Intending Pilgrims throughout the hajj exercise.

DRTS Director, Dr. Abdul-Lateef Bello presenting winner’s trophy to Mr. Andrew Akene, who won the maiden edition of the DRTS Director’s Table Tennis Championship, at the weekend, in Abuja.

Ex-US President Donald Trump expects to be arrested on Tuesday

However his lawyer said there had been no communication from law enforcement and the former president’s post was based on media reports.

Prosecutors have been looking at a possible indictment of Mr Trump. Reports say it could come next week.

If he is indicted, it would be the first criminal case ever brought against a former US president.

This case focuses on alleged hush money paid on Mr Trump’s behalf by his lawyer to porn star Stormy Daniels prior to the 2016 presidential election.

It is one of several cases in which the 76-year-old is currently being investigated, although he has not yet been charged in any and denies wrongdoing in each.

Mr Trump has pledged to continue his campaign to become the Republican nominee in the 2024 presidential election, even if he is indicted.

Past efforts to investigate him, including two impeachment trials, the Russia investigation and the Mar-a-Lago raid, have tended to make him more popular with his base, so an indictment could have a similar effect.

It is not yet known if he is going to be criminally charged this week or even, beyond broad strokes, what those charges might be.

But with the former president predicting an arrest, and calling for mass protests, this is a journey into unknown territory.

Mr Trump has a loyal base of followers, and the 6 January 2021 attack on the US Capitol by his supporters following his repeated calls to protest has proven that a fraught situation can quickly escalate into violence.

On Saturday Mr Trump wrote

on his social networking site Truth

In a tweet, he also promised

the former president declined an

Mr Trump’s lawyer said he would follow normal procedure. Typically, a defendant is either arrested or surrenders to the authorities - if they are facing a more serious felony charge they would be handcuffed. They then have their photo and fingerprints taken. After an initial hearing - called an arraignment - a defendant in a white-collar crime case like this is usually released until the next court date.

The Stormy Daniels case is about how Mr Trump reimbursed his lawyer Michael Cohen after Cohen paid Ms Daniels $130,000. The record for the payment reimbursing Cohen says the payment was for “legal fees”. Prosecutors may say this amounts to Mr Trump falsifying business records, a misdemeanour in New York.

Social that “illegal leaks” from the Manhattan district attorney’s office “indicate” he would be arrested on Tuesday.

The district attorney’s office has not yet commented. Mr Trump’s lawyer, Susan Necheles, said her team had not heard anything from law enforcement officials.

“Since this is a political prosecution, the district attorney’s office has engaged in a practice of leaking everything to the press, rather than communicating with President Trump’s attorneys as would be done in a normal case,” she said.

The Republican Speaker of the US House of Representatives, Kevin McCarthy, has hit out at the investigation, calling it “an outrageous abuse of power by a radical DA [district attorney]”.

to investigate whether federal money was being used to interfere in elections “with politically motivated prosecutions”.

Any indictment would create a complicated calculation for Mr Trump’s rivals within the Republican Party, as they decide whether to up their attacks on the former president while he is potentially distracted or keep their heads down and hope for the best.

If history is any guide, it will be the latter.

What happens next?

• Grand jury finishes its investigation Trump’s former personal lawyer, Michael Cohen, and exaides Kellyanne Conway and Hope Hicks, are among those understood to have given evidence so far. The Trump team has said

invitation to appear, a sign the case is almost over, according to experts. Reports suggest one final witness could give evidence, possibly on Monday.

• Prosecutors decide whether to indict

Once the investigation is complete, the grand jury votes on whether to recommend criminal charges. However, their verdict is not binding. Ultimately, it is up to Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg to determine what, if any, charges to bring. There is no deadline for this. It is a legal decision - what does he believe can he prove beyond a reasonable doubt to win a conviction - but also a deeply political one.

• A possible Trump court appearance in New York

A former US president has never been indicted before but

US media organisations say law enforcement agencies in New York are preparing for the possibility of Mr Trump being indicted and appearing in a Manhattan courtroom as early as next week.

According to the Associated Press, they are considering the practicalities of taking a former president into court, including questions around security.

Donald Trump faces a separate criminal investigation over efforts to overturn his narrow loss in the state of Georgia in the 2020 presidential election - though it is not known if the former president is being directly investigated.

The Department of Justice is also looking at whether classified government documents were handled incorrectly after Mr Trump left office, as well as broader efforts to undermine the results of the presidential election three years ago - including the 6 January attack.

Credit Suisse bank: UBS is in talks to take over its troubled rival

Switzerland’s

biggest bank, UBS, is in advanced talks to buy all or part of its troubled rival Credit Suisse.

Credit Suisse, the second largest Swiss bank, is facing a crisis of confidence and its shares have fallen sharply in recent days, sending ripples of concern through the markets.

According to the Financial Times UBS is offering to pay up to $1bn (£820m) for Credit Suisse.

Regulators are trying to facilitate a deal before markets reopen on Monday.

The trouble at Credit Suisse, combined with the failure of two smaller US banks during the last two weeks, have thrown the health of the global financial system into doubt.

Credit Suisse is one of around 30 banks worldwide deemed too big to fail because they are of such importance to the banking system.

But the 167-year-old institution is loss-making and has faced a string of problems in recent years, including money laundering charges.

An emergency $54bn (£44.5bn) lifeline from the Swiss

National Bank on Wednesday failed to reassure markets and Credit Suisse shares tumbled 24%, prompting a wider sell-off on European markets.

A deal could be signed as soon as Sunday evening, according to the FT, which first reported that regulators and the Swiss National Bank were facilitating talks between the two Swiss banking giants.

The deal currently believed to be on the table would value Credit Suisse shares at less than a seventh of the price they were on Friday. However the FT said terms could change and a deal had not yet been reached.

UBS shareholders would normally have six weeks to consider a deal on this scale, but the FT says the Swiss authorities are planning to change the country’s laws to bypass a shareholder vote on the transaction.

Bank of England officials have confirmed they are in close contact with their counterparts at the Swiss National Bank while regulators and management discuss Credit Suisse’s future. The UK Treasury is also monitoring the situation.

The deal would amount to a significant intervention from the Swiss authorities, said Mohammed El-Erian, chief economic advisor to German financial services firm Allianz.

“This is not a voluntary action, this is a shotgun wedding and it’s being done in order to restore financial stability,” Mr El-Erian told the BBC. “Without it Credit Suisse may end up in a death spiral,

in which it finds it much harder to undertake its banking activities.

“That could raise questions about other banks at a time when there are also banking concerns in the United States.”

Mr El-Erian said the current turmoil could lead to banks becoming more “risk averse”, leading to a fall in credit availability.

But that amounted to a

“headwind” for the global economy, rather than something like the sudden stop experienced during the 2008 financial crisis, which was “in a completely different league” to today’s problems, he said.

UBS is said to have asked the Swiss government to cover about $6bn (£4.9bn) in costs if it were to buy Credit Suisse, according to sources quoted by Reuters.

Credit Suisse reported a loss of 7.3bn Swiss francs ($7.9bn; £6.5bn) in 2022 - its worst year since the financial crisis of 2008and has warned it does not expect to be profitable until 2024.

UBS, however, made a profit of $7.6bn in 2022.

Any deal may also result in significant job losses.

As well as being a domestic bank with 95 branches, Credit Suisse has a global investment banking operation and manages the assets of rich clients.

At the end of last year Credit Suisse had a global staff of 50,480, including 16,700 in Switzerland, though 9,000 jobs were to be axed, the Swiss broadcaster SRF reports.

Source: BBC

Donald Trump says he expects to be arrested on Tuesday and has urged his supporters to launch mass protests.

Credit Suisse has faced a string of scandals in recent years, including money laundering charges

Kenya’s plan to curb alcohol abuse: One pub per town

Kenya’s deputy president has tried to take a radical step to reduce alcohol abuse in the country’s central region by saying that county governments should only allow one pub per town, but not everyone is convinced that this is a good plan.

“Even if they shut down all these bars, we will still drink,” Charles Ngugi tells me as he sips a local popular draft beer.

It was dark in the bar, but the morning light came through as the blinds flapped in the wind.

“This is not cheap or illegal liquor, so why do they want to interfere with my lifestyle and my party mood?” he asks as he raises his voice to be heard above the music blaring from the counter that nearly drowns out our conversation.

There are four other men in the small bar, all drinking as they sit at wooden benches set next to long tables.

A middle-aged man staggers into the bar and dances and sings along to a song in the Kikuyu language before slumping on one of the benches to join his friends.

In a few minutes, he is asleep.

It is 11 o’clock in the morning. According to the law this bar should not be open for another six hours. And it should shut by 23:00.

Three other small bars in the village of Kanderendu, in Muranga county some 70km (43 miles) from the capital, Nairobi, are also open with revellers inside.

It is places like these that are the target of Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua’s ire. In January, he said that the number of bars and restaurants allowed to operate in each town should be limited to just one.

But those who drink do not agree that this will help stop them imbibing.

“If small bars like this are closed down, more people like me will resort to going down the river to get changaa [the local traditional brew],” Mr Ngugi says.

Illegal brewers have traditionally used riverbanks to make changaa. There is easy access

to water and in most places, it is hard for the authorities to reach the brewing dens.

Central Kenya is battling what the government warns is an alcohol and drugs epidemic.

The authorities have not provided any data to back this up but they say there is a problem, which they blame on the high number of unregulated bars and pubs and an influx of cheap, illicit brews.

It is also not clear why central Kenya was singled out - but a visit to the region shows there is a proliferation of drinking dens. The Muranga county authority says the number of pubs, as well as wine and spirit shops, has grown exponentially since the Covid 19 lockdown.

‘Destroying a generation’ Liquor licences have become the most sought-after business permit in the county, the BBC has been told.

Technically, it is the counties which have responsibility for licensing, but as he comes from the central region, Deputy President Gachagua has a lot of influence here.

“[County] governors must make a decision, that in the pursuit of generating revenue, licensing every kiosk, every outlet to be a

bar and restaurant, is a way of destroying an entire generation and that is not right,” he said.

She says she lost her husband to alcoholism. Three of her children, including her daughter, are all battling dependency.

“That river and these bars will be the end of us all,” she says in her home in Kiunyu village. She moved there in the early 1990s to start a family.

“We can’t even fetch water from there because the gangs that control illegal breweries have taken over.

“You won’t see many young people here in Kiunyu with girlfriends, or with families. All

they do is wake up and go to bars to drink,” she adds.

“How are we going to get grandchildren if our own children have abandoned their wives, have no desire for sex and only drink and sleep all day?” she asks.

Ms Kimani backs the national government’s move to close down what she calls “killer dens”.

The central government wants all places where drinks are available to be limited to selling alcohol between 17:00 and midnight.

There is some evidence that licences are gradually not being renewed, but there has not yet been a mass shut-down of drinking places.

Bar and restaurant owners say the government has got its priorities all wrong by targeting legitimate businesses.

“The problem is not bars and pubs, because we provide social places where people can mingle, we pay taxes for development of the nation and we employ tens of thousands of people,” argues Simon Mwangi Njoroge, national chairman of the Bar Owners Association.

“In the central region alone, we have around 17,000 businesses employing a workforce of 100,000 people.”

Local NGOs and the church have intervened to set up rehabilitation centres, but they are expensive and out of reach for many addicts.

“We genuinely want to deal with alcoholism and its negative social effects but we have to be very careful about knee-jerk reactions. Is our issue with legitimate businesses or illicit drinks?” says Steven Kimani, the politician with responsibility for health in Muranga county.

“At the moment we do not have a rehabilitation centre sponsored by our county government, because this is not our priority. Our focus is to limit access to illicit brews that’s plagued our county and the rest of central Kenya.

“But this discussion about bar closures is premature. What criteria do you use to shut down businesses? What data are you using to claim that we are most affected? There’s none,” he tells the BBC.

The National Authority for the Campaign Against Alcohol and Drug Abuse is currently collecting data, but says it has been concerned about the mushrooming of bars, and is worried about the prevalence of illicit brews in central Kenya.

Experts are warning that an entire generation could be lost if nothing is done to tackle the issue. For those who have already been affected, change cannot come soon enough.

“It’s a national disaster,” says widow Rosemary Kimani.

Cyclone Freddy in Malawi: Searching for my daughter-in-law in the mud

Itis feared her name will be added to those of more than 300 who died when Cyclone Freddy struck Malawi at the beginning of the week.

The youngsters had gone to stay with Violet just days before and escaped the fate of their mother, who fell victim to the unforgiving power of a landslide.

“She was with my son in their matrimonial home in Chilobwe. He stepped outside their home when he heard neighbours screaming and things falling with a loud bang outside their house,” Violet said.

“Luckily, he survived. He was taken to hospital by well-wishers. But we do not know where his wife is.”

When we met Violet, she was staring at what was left of her son’s home. A huge boulder sat in the middle of the two-bedroom house, the memories there smashed to pieces.

A few metres away, rescue teams were retrieving a body from the rubble and mud. It was not Violet’s daughter-in-law.

She asked one of the officials to

help look for her loved one, but she did not get an answer.

“When you tell [the rescue teams] where to look for people, they do not go there. They are only retrieving bodies in the places that are not as badly affected.

“But what about our people? When will they go to look for them?”

Chilobwe was one of the areas worst affected by the landslides that hit Malawi’s commercial hub, Blantyre.

The advice that most residents received from the authorities before the cyclone struck was to stay indoors, but that was not much help.

It is not clear how many houses were destroyed in Chilobwe, but we saw huge piles of boulders and trees that had flattened people’s houses.

Other homes were washed away by torrents of water or buried under mudslides.

Areas that had been green and bustling with small businesses were in a sombre mood.

There was still activity - but of a different kind, with the community helping to look for the missing.

Those whose houses are still standing carry hoes and shovels to comb through the debris looking for bodies.

When we met Richard Galeta, 34, he was dressed in a white protective suit, worn by people who have volunteered to help bury victims. Richard buried his wife and child on Wednesday.

“I was working hard for them. Now that they are gone, I don’t know what to do,” he said.

“The last thing that I told my wife is that I am going to give her money this week to go and visit her parents. But now I must be the one to go and visit them and share the bad news.”

He is now living in a temporary camp set up at a local primary school.

Richard said life there was not easy. He accused those running it of not looking after the victims properly, saying that getting enough food was a major challenge.

“A lot of organisations have brought us food. But it is just rotting in one of the classrooms that have

been turned in storage facilities,” he added.

Malinga Namuku, who is in charge of the camp for the Malawi Red Cross, said they were feeding people, but it was sometimes “hard for volunteers to keep track of who has been fed and who hasn’t”. “But we are trying our best.”

There were a lot of children at the shelter running around and playing with makeshift balloons created out of surgical gloves. Looking at them it did not feel like it was a disaster zone. This is something some experts say will probably register in their minds later.

Dr Charles Mwansambo, Malawi’s Principal Health Secretary, said the mental health of the survivors was a critical issue that the authorities will need to attend to over the next few weeks.

The camp houses about 5,000 people and many others were arriving in the hope of finding a dry place to stay.

Most of the people living in the camp have nowhere else to go and are in distress, as they are unable to

trace their loved ones.

This weather is making it difficult for search-and-rescue teams to find people. On some days teams would stop halfway through the activity either because it had rained, or there was too much fog. Those helping with the search include the police service, the military and international organisations. The police are also using dogs to locate bodies.

As of Friday, more than 300 deaths had been confirmed in Malawi, with more in neighbouring Mozambique, and more than 80,000 people had been forced to leave their homes.

The death toll is likely to rise over the next few weeks as the weather clears and makes it easier for rescuers to continue their grim work.

At least 200 people are still missing - among them Violet’s daughter-in-law. She just hopes her body will be found so that she can be given a fitting burial.

Source: BBC

The impact of the excessive consumption of alcohol can been seen on the streets

Cyclone Gabrielle: The New Zealand flood victims too scared to go home

Last month, Cyclone Gabrielle smashed into New Zealand’s North Island - killing 11 people and displacing at least 10,000 more. It’s triggered a national debate about climate change and whether vulnerable homes should be rebuilt or written off.

“I don’t want to go back there,” said Amy Bowkett.

The mother of two lived in the Hawkes Bay area, one of the regions worst hit by Cyclone Gabrielle. When the Category 3 storm hit with wind speeds of up to 159km/h (99mph), her home was completely destroyed.

Along with 50 of her neighbours she spent a terrifying 48 hours trapped without power, water or phone signal.

Eventually she was able to make a call and a friend organised a helicopter rescue from a neighbour’s backyard.

“I feel like if we get flooded a third time, it would be our fault,” she told the BBC from her mother’s home in the nearby city of Napier. “Unless we put our house on stilts, I’d be terrified every time it rained.”

She’s not alone in fearing to return. Many of the victims of New Zealand’s recent floods lost all of their possessions in the disaster and believe the area their homes are built on has become too dangerous for them to go back.

The damage caused by the cyclone is forecast to cost NZD$13.5bn ($8.4bn; £6.9bn), similar to the financial impact of the Christchurch earthquake in 2011 - the costliest natural disaster in New Zealand’s history. Last month’s event prompted a nationwide state of emergency that only ended on Tuesday.

Cyclone Gabrielle also struck within weeks of unprecedented flooding in New Zealand’s biggest city, Auckland, when an entire summer’s worth of rain fell in a single day.

New Zealand’s climate change minister, James Shaw, attributed the scale of the disaster to climate change, exacerbated by global temperature increases.

“There will be people who say it’s too soon to talk about these things… but we are standing in it right now. This is a climate changerelated event,” he said in a speech to parliament last month.

Speaking to the BBC, Mr Shaw said that while many homeowners have taken out a “total replacement” insurance policy, which compensates them if their house is destroyed or made uninhabitable, it only covers the cost of the property - not the value of the land it’s built on.

This means people feel “they have to rebuild on the current land and of course, they’re really frightened”, he added.

The country is likely to experience more extreme rainfall events and regional cyclones are likely to become more frequent by 2100, according to New Zealand’s National Institute of Water and Atmospheric Research. During warm months days are already hotter, drier and windier, increasing the risk of bushfires.

Some 55,000 homes in Auckland are prone to flooding,

according to government data. Another 76,000 homes across the country are in coastal areas, vulnerable to erosion and sea level rise.

“[When] people are sleeping with lifejackets by the door, you know it’s bad,” said displaced West Auckland resident Morgan Allen. “The anxiety has reached peak levels.”

Alongside a group of dozens of Auckland flood victims, Morgan

has launched a campaign calling on the government to buy out their homes and turn the high-risk areas into parks or nature reserves. The audio engineer says some of his neighbours spent a year rebuilding their homes only to lose everything again in January.

Morgan blames climate change for recent events, but also tightly packed housing developmentswhere rows of homes have been built on concrete, replacing single

homes on grass areas.

“Our city has lost a huge amount of capacity to sponge up all of this water.” He said this had increased the flood risk for homes built near valleys and wetlands.

Consequently, in the days after the cyclone and the Auckland floods, the government announced a NZD$300m ($185m) package for affected regions.

It also introduced new Severe Weather Emergency legislation, designed to help rural landowners fix their properties and rebuild, without the usual red tape.

The impact for the foodgrowing regions of New Zealand has also been significant. In just one sector, half of the Kumara crop, a type of sweet potato found in New Zealand, was wiped out.

Just down the road from Amy Bowkett in the small rural community of Puketapu were two orchards owned by Brydon Nisbet, blooming with apple trees ready to harvest.

When the cyclone hit, the infrastructure designed to stop the main rivers from flooding collapsed, completely burying his orchard in mud and potentially toxic silt.

“It was just a disaster zone and pretty shocking really,” said Brydon, who couldn’t reach his property until three days after the disaster. “Everything was ruined. The water went up around three to four metres in the house.”

Brydon, who represents fruit growers in Hawkes Bay, estimates up to half of the region’s fruit orchards have been hit, some of them totally wiped out. Farmers are desperate to salvage what they can.

“We’re all pretty resilient. I’ve still had plenty of cries and hugs with my wife and different people. But we need to remain positive and have hope.

“When we made the decision to try and save this orchard, that actually brought hope,” he said.

“We thought, we want these trees to bloom again, we don’t want them to die.”

Ukraine war: Putin pays visit to occupied Mariupol, state media reports

Russian President Vladimir Putin has paid a surprise visit to Mariupol, a Ukrainian port captured by Russia after its forces pounded much of it to ruins.

An official video shows Mr Putin driving a car through streets at night and speaking to people. The Kremlin says it happened late on Saturday.

It is believed to be his first trip to a newly-occupied Ukrainian territory.

Mariupol’s exiled mayor told BBC News that Mr Putin was a “criminal” who had “returned to the scene of the crime”.

“He has come in person to see what he has done,” Vadym Boychenko said. “He’s come to see

what he will be punished for.”

Other exiled Ukrainian city officials said Mr Putin had visited at night so he would not see the destroyed city in daylight.

Tass news agency says he travelled to Mariupol by helicopter. In the video he is in the car with Russia’s Deputy Prime Minister Marat Khusnullin, who explains how the city is being rebuilt.

The Kremlin has said the decision to drive round the city was made spontaneously by the Russian leader.

Putin also appears to visit the Philharmonic Hall, which was used to stage trials of defenders of the Azovstal iron and steel plant, a huge industrial complex where Ukrainian troops held out before

eventually surrendering.

The Russian leader is also reported to have met top military commanders in Rostov-on-Don, a Russian city just east of Mariupol.

Mariupol has been under Russian occupation for more than 10 months after being devastated in one of the longest and bloodiest battles of the conflict. Ukraine says more than 20,000 people were killed there.

UN analysis estimates that 90% of the buildings were damaged and around 350,000 people were forced to leave, out of a pre-war population of about 500,000.

A group of locals have told the BBC that Russia is conducting an expensive campaign to rebuild the city and win over the hearts and

minds of its people. The purpose is to assimilate Mariupol and make it Russia’s own. Russian authorities say 300,000 people are now living there.

The fighting saw Russia strike a Mariupol theatre where hundreds of civilians were sheltering. The building collapsed, and at least 300 are believed to have died there.

Ukraine and human rights groups say the attack amounted to a war crime.

It is among incidents for which Mr Putin and his regime could be held legally responsible, the United Nations has said.

The International Criminal Court said on Friday it had issued a warrant for the arrest of Mr

Putin over involving the illegal deportation of Ukrainian children to Russia. It means he could now be arrested if he sets foot in any of the court’s 123 member states.

On Saturday Mr Putin made an unannounced visit to Crimea, to mark the ninth anniversary of Russia’s annexation of the territory from Ukraine.

He visited a new Russian arts school, a children’s summer camp and future cultural projects, such as the New Russia museum and museum of Christianity, Russian state media reported.

The Kyiv authorities have vowed to liberate all Russianoccupied territories, including Crimea, which was annexed by Russia in 2014. Source: BBC

Amy, Celia, Richard and Stanley Bowkett all had to flee their home when the cyclone hit

Tens of thousands of homes are now thought to be at risk in New Zealand

Minister laments rising cases of examination malpractice in schools

By Maryam Abeeb

The Federal Government has expressed worries over the rising cases of examination malpractices in educational institutions in Nigeria.

The Minister of Education, Malam Adamu Adamu, in Abuja, speaking on the efforts of the Federal Ministry of Education and its agencies in the last few years to improve on the quality of education in Nigeria, noted that examination malpractices were still endemic in the nation’s educational system.

He said the Federal Government was particularly worried about the development.

He, however, noted that the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) and West African Examination Council (WAEC), were already advanced and applying digital technology to their processes.

Examination malpractices are still endemic in our educational system. May I use this opportunity to direct the examination bodies to tighten the noose on perpetrators of examination malpractice, be they parents, students, their proxies or agents.

“I charge the chief examiners to work closely with law enforcement agencies to track down and prosecute those who perpetuate this evil,” he said.

Adamu said that in basic and secondary education, the government had invested heavily in the construction, renovation and rehabilitation of classrooms, hostels, laboratories, security and other infrastructural facilities.

He stated further that the national examination bodies, namely: Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB), National Examination Council (NECO), West African Examination Council (WAEC), National Business and Technical Education Board (NABTEB), had done creditably well, especially in the operations of the various examinations they conduct.

According to the minister, one of the greatest achievements recorded by the current administration of President Muhammadu Buhari in the education sector was the development and launch of the e-learning website for all levels of the educational system.

He therefore directed all regulatory agencies in the sector to ensure that all educational Institutions under their supervision interface with the ICT department of the federal ministry to develop and deploy relevant content on the website.

Ondo, Ebonyi, FCT top basic education ranking

By Maryam Abeeb

Ondo, Ebonyi and Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja, have topped Nigeria’s Basic Education Ranking for 2022 conducted by a Civil Society Organisation, Youthhub Africa with support from Christian Aid.

The Basic Education Performance Ranking highlights the performance of public schools across 36 states of the federation and the FCT.

At the launch of the report in Abuja, Executive Director of Youthhub Africa, Mr Rotimi Olawale, said the ranking was

based on comprehensive data collection process, which involved using surveys and other relevant data sources.

He said the ranking was detailed with an explanation of its methodology, which involved analysis of several factors, including access to education, quality of teaching and learning outcomes.

According to the report, the best performing 11 states are Ondo (98%), FCT (96%), Ebonyi (90%), Rivers (85%), Imo (80%), Anambra (79%), Enugu (77%), Ekiti (77%), Bayelsa (75%), Delta (75%), and Lagos (75%).

The report noted that Gombe,

Katsina, Sokoto and Zamfara States did not score any points. He said it meant that the four states did not meet minimum basic education recommendations and majority of their learners neither have foundational literacy nor numeracy skills required to function in the society.

According to Olawale, many states have failed to provide quality education. He said: “Education financing should be more specific on how states allocate, disburse and utilise funds to improve learning quality. Transparency in the budgetary process means states are held more accountable and

also develop programming based on investments in education financing, teacher certification, learning outcomes and infrastructure.”

Stakeholders who spoke at the public presentation and launch of the basic education performance ranking emphasised the need for increased funding of basic education and ensure that the funds are used for what they were meant for.

The launch had in attendance key stakeholders in the sector, including representatives of the Universal Basic Education Board (UBEC), partner organisations, students and teachers.

UTME: JAMB trains 2000 proctors nationwide

By Maryam Abeeb

The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board(JAMB) has trained over 2000 proctors nationwide, for the forthcoming 2023 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME),

According to the board’s bulletin obtained in Abuja, the training which was virtually held simultaneously in three batches across the six geopolitical zones. The training was part of the board’s efforts to equip all officials, particularly the proctors, on the rudiments of computer appreciation and measures to address any technical issues that might arise during the conduct of the examination.

According to the registrar the role of proctors in any examination is not to be taken lightly as they are critical stakeholders in the

examination value chain.

“As a proctor, you need to see your role as a privilege, as you have been selected based on your perceived integrity and dedication to duty and I want to believe that you would see your job as a call to national service,” he said.

He explained that at any particular centre, the primary job of the proctor is to monitor candidates during the examinations, ensure that they follow all the examination rules and regulations, as well as prevent them from engaging in any form of examination misconduct and, if such were to occur, he is to promptly report such cases through appropriate channels.

He pointed out that the proctors, during the conduct of the examination represent the examination body, their localities, communities, or institutions as they are selected from contiguous

tertiary institutions to the examination centre.

The registrar congratulated the proctors on their being adjudged capable of delivering on the crucial national assignment.

He noted that their appointment was based on the recommendations of the Chief External Examiners(CEEs) made up of vice chancellors, rectors and provosts across the country.

In his remarks, the chairman of the CEEs, Professor Mukthar Kurawa, expressed appreciation to the board for the opportunity given to them to serve the nation and pledged that the proctors would live up to expectations.

While putting the proctors through their roles in the administration of the examination, the chief technical advisor, Professor Bashir Galadanci, and the consultant, Information Communication

Technology (ICT), Mr Damilola Bamiro, stressed that to ensure superlative success in the examination, the key word for everyone is vigilance.

Professor Galandanci urged the proctors to exercise a high sense of vigilance, integrity, honesty from the point of screening candidates’ examination slips for the purpose of checkmating any form of impersonation as well as monitor them to ensure they do not bring any prohibited item into the examination hall.

He stated that any candidate who does not comply with examination rules should be duly reported and that all examination officials must display a high sense of moral integrity, professionalism and familiarity with all the rules and regulations of the examination for them to perform their roles without any encumbrances.

From Left; Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, Otunba Niyi Adeniyi, Minister of Finance, Mrs Zainab Ahmed, Chief of Staff Prof Ibrahim Gambari, President Muhammadu Buhari during a courtesy visit by the Governing Council of the IoD to the President held at the Council Chambers, State House yesterday in Abuja. PHOTO; State House

Feature

French pension reforms: Is Macron’s government doomed by crisis?

“What this crisis goes to show,” veteran political commentator Alain Duhamel said recently, “is that there are two Frances out there. They live in completely separate mental worlds, and find it impossible even to communicate.”

As the country teeters on the edge of civil unrest, his verdict echoes like a gloomy premonition. France’s demons are back, and stalking the land.

The anger and mutual incomprehension over President Emmanuel Macron’s proposed reform of the pension age show how dangerously polarised the two factions have become.

The government says pushing back the pension age from 62 to 64 is vital in order to preserve France’s much-prized “share-out” system - based on a single fund that workers pay into and pensioners draw out of.

With people living longer, the only alternatives would be to cut the value of pensions, or increase contributions from those in work.

And both those options would be even more unpopular.

What’s more, says the president, France is merely aligning itself with every other European democracy - most of which have pension ages even higher than the proposed 64.

But none of this seems to have gained traction with the public, who continue to reject the reform by a margin of about 70% to 30%.

Instead, people seem more inclined to believe the arguments of the left and far-right: first that there is no urgency because pension finances are not as bad as they’re portrayed - but also that it’s unjust.

wrung under pressure during the long parliamentary process, that the savings it will make are now virtually meaningless.

In a functioning democracy the opposing arguments would surely find some form of compromise. After all, a

majority - making inevitable the use last Thursday of constitutional force majeure known as 49:3 to push the law through.

Meanwhile, the tenor of public debate was steadily debased.

The left tabled literally thousands of amendments to the pensions bill, making its conventional passage impossible. Opponents described as “brutal” and “inhuman” a reform which in other countries would have seemed perfectly anodyne.

One left-wing MP posed outside the Assembly with his foot on a ball painted with the head of the labour minister; fearing mob violence, a leading pro-Macron MP called on Friday for police protection for her colleagues.

With scenes of looting and urban violence, hills of rotting rubbish on the streets of Paris and other French cities, and the promise of more crippling strikes to come, this is the unedifying atmosphere as the country enters the next crucial phase in the crisis.

Following the president’s invocation of the 49:3 procedure, opposition parties have tabled two censure motions against the government which will be debated this week. In theory, if one of them passes that would lead to the fall of the government, and possible early elections.

In practice, even the socalled “transpartisan” motion tabled by a centrist group in parliament - supposedly more liable to create a consensus between the mutually hostile far-left and far-right - would be unlikely to get the numbers.

If the motions fail, then the opposition can continue to battle the reform by other means: for example by appealing to the Constitutional Council, which rules on the constitutionality of new laws, or by trying to organise a referendum.

The government hopes that reality will at some point set in, and that most people will dejectedly accept the inevitable.

On one side, many protesters are calling not just for an end to the reform, but actually for a lowering of the retirement age, back to where it was before 2010, when it was just 60.

On the other, voices from the right say that the Macron plan is already so riddled with concessions and exemptions,

majority of the population, while rejecting the Macron plan, also agrees that some reform of pensions is needed.

But is French democracy functioning?

Faith in conventional politics and the parliamentary system is in fact at rock-bottom.

How else to explain the collapse of Gaullists and Socialists, who ran France for half a century, and the rise of the far-right and far-left?

President Macron encouraged the death of the ancien régime, that old order which he exploited to pose as the lone moderate, picking sensible bits from programmes of left and right.

Hyper-intelligent and hyperkeen he may have been, but France never liked him and he was elected, twice, by default. Because the alternative, Marine Le Pen, was unacceptable to most.

By eliminating the moderate opposition, he made the opposition extreme.

At last year’s parliamentary election, he failed to secure a

Quite possibly a sacrificial victim will eventually have to made - no doubt in the form of Prime Minister Élisabeth Borne.

But for now, the mood is too ugly for that.

In the immediate term, to every petrol depot blockaded, to every bin uncollected, and to every window smashed will be joined the accompanying refrain: “Blame 49:3. Blame Macron.”

Source: BBC

PEOPLES DAILY , MONDAY, FEBRUARY 13, 2023

His last job in the academic world was at the Jozef Stefan Institute in Ljubljana where he worked as a PhD assistant, an institute spokesperson told the BBC. His contract ended in March 2020, just as the Covid-19 pandemic hit

President Macron was re-elected on a platform of raising the retirement age and yet his reforms are deeply unpopular

Prime Minister Élisabeth Borne addressed the National Assembly last week to a chorus of boos and chants of “Resign”

President Macron’s failure to secure a parliamentary majority in last year’s election means he will struggle to enact major reforms

Polls: Kano, Lagos top states with cases of voter intimidation, harassment

By Tobias Lengnan Dapam

As irregularity and flagrant abuse to the electoral law continues to cloud Nigeria’s electoral process, frontline election observer, Yiaga Africa said its observers listed Kano and Lagos as states with high cases of voter intimidation.

The NGO in its mid-day situational statement on the 2023 governorship election on Saturday, said in Kankarofi Quranic Sch III Polling Unit, Kano Municipal LGA in Kano state, party agents disrupted the voting process on the grounds that a closed ballot system should be adopted as opposed to open ballot.

“Reports of voter intimidation were also received from Ijando and ward 6/001 Akefan community in Alimosho LGA and Lekki area in Lagos state.

“In PU 06 Ward 03 Ndokwa

Bago of APC in early lead of Niger guber

From Yakubu Mustapha Minna

The governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), in Niger state is in early lead following the collation center results announced by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

The Returning Officer, Professor Clement Alawa, Deputy Vice Chancellor University of Abuja stated this while giving update.

Alawa said the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) Governorship candidate Umar Mohammed Bago is leading in no fewer than 9 local councils while the major opposition political party and the closest rival, the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) has 2 local governments.

The returning officer explained that 11 local government areas have been collated so far, adding that the results have continued to come in from the remaining local government areas of the state.

West in Delta State, an APC party agent prevented a Yiaga Africa observer from observing the process, stating that the LGA is under the control of the APC. Also, in Buhari Islamiyya School II Polling Unit, Madungurun Ward, Gwale LGA, Kano State, a Yiaga Africa observer was attacked by party agents.”

Yiaga Africa added that clash between party agents in Zango IV polling unit in Karaye Ward (19-22-03-021) of Karaye LGA in Kano, led to the disruption of the voting process. “The voting process was halted in Polling Unit IV in Sagamu LGA of Ogun State due to intimidation of voters and polling officials by supporters of the PDP.

“Party Agents also interfered with the process in PU 030 GRA Waterboard, Rimi ward, Keffi LGA, Nasarawa State, where party agents reportedly engaged

in folding the ballot papers for voters. Also, in Kankarofi Quranic Sch. III Kano Municipal, Party agents interfered with the process so they could see how voters mark their ballots.

Also in Kano, it said hoodlums destroyed ballot papers and ballot boxes for the Fulatan S/ Gari polling unit in Rogo LGA. “The process was halted as voters scampered for safety. At Kabuga PU 022, Gwale LGA of Kano State, thugs affiliated with the APC snatched ballot boxes for the PU resulting in voters fleeing for safety. “

“In Taraba, election materials for Wuryo Ward in Gassol LGA were hijacked by armed thugs during a clash between the residents of Wurya and Panya ward over the allocation of election materials. “One person was reportedly stabbed by the thugs.”

On cases of vote buying/ bribery, Yiaga Africa said it received 15 confirmed reports of vote buying across 8 states.

“In Sarkin Mudu Polling Unit (016) in Giade LGA of Bauchi, PDP agents were sighted bribing accredited voters with N1,000, a wrapper and a pack of spaghetti. The voters hand over their ballot papers to party agents in exchange for the bribe. A similar report of the distribution of wrappers, N2,000 and a pack of spaghetti to voters was received from PU 006 Rangan Ward, Warji LGA of Bauchi. Party agents for the APC and PDP party reportedly distributed food, cash and alcoholic drinks to some voters in exchange for votes in Apir market square 1, Makurdi, Benue state.

“A case of bribery was reported in PU O6 Ward 05 Isoko North, Delta State, where INEC officials received cash gift from the APC

party agent in the polling unit. “

Meanwhile, Yiaga Africa urged INEC to take urgent remedial actions in polling units where cases of infractions and non-compliance with the 2022 Electoral Act and INEC guidelines occured. “This will deepen the legitimacy of the final outcome of the elections.

“Security agencies should respond promptly to reports of voter intimidation and attacks at the polling unit to accord citizens the opportunity to exercise their constitutional right to vote.

“INEC should ensure strict compliance with the guidelines for the results collation. Specifically, party agents and accredited media and election observers should be granted access to the collation centers. Collation officers should verify the results on the hardcopy results sheets and results transmitted with the BVAS during results collation.”

Niger: Tafa LG Chairman impressed with peaceful polls

By Usman Shuaibu

The Executive Chairman of Tafa Local Government Area of Niger State, Hon. Danladi T. Iya, has expressed joy over the peaceful conduct of the Governorship/State House of Assembly elections in the area.

Iya, who stated this in an interview with newsmen while motoring the election in the Local

Government Area on Saturday, said he was impressed by the turned out of voters in some polling units.

He called on the electorates to always support the All Progressives Congress (APC) party in Tafa and Niger State at large and warned the electorates to shun electoral violence during the election.

He expressed the hope that

APC would emerge victorious in the state by the grace of the almighty God, noting that some electorates were still committed to the electoral process.

He then noted that in spite of the postponement of the election, some electorates came out to vote for the candidates of their choice, pointing out that people are truly desirous of change.

Iya, who voted in his polling

unit, however, said the process of the election had been impressive and very encouraging.

Also speaking to newsmen in Tafa, the APC Chairman in the area, Mr. Isyaku Suleiman expressed satisfaction over the conduct of the election in some polling booths.

He pointed out that APC would do well in the election, lamenting that good number of voters had

not come out to vote. when asked on the low turnout of voters, the Tafa APC Chairman said the inability of the electorates to come out to vote would not prevent Party candidates to win the election.

Meanwhile, it was observed that there was low turnout of voters in Seleja, Tafa and

during the poll.

Gurara

L-R: National President, Northern Youth Peace Ambassadors, Comrade Abdulmalik Usman , the President, Emerging Leaders Forum of Nigeria (ELFON), Comrade Godstime Chukwubuikem, The Senate President, National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS), Comrade Attah Nnalue Felix and the President, Ohaneze Ndigbo Youth Assembly,. Comrade Chigozie Uwaoma, during the ELFON and other stakeholders world press conference calling on opposition parties that lost the 2023 presidential election to give peace a Chance and fellow the rule of law if they are not satisfied, held recently in Abuja. Photo: Justin Imo-owo

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3. PASTOR OLAOLUWA OLAWALE DAVID

4. MR. EBOH CHUKWUNONSO NELSON

5. MRS CHIME ONYINYECHI CHIENYENWA

6. MR CHEJIEH CHIGBOGWU MATTEW

THE AIMS AND OBJECTIVES ARE :

1.TOADVOCATE FOR EQUAL OPPORTUNITIES, INCLUSIVE EDUCATION AND HEALTHCARE RESOURCE FOR ALL CHILDREN IRRESPECTIVE OF THEIR CONDITION.

ANY OBJECTION TO THIS REGISTRATION SHOULD BE FORWARDED TO THE REGISTRAR-GENERAL, CORPORATEAFFAIRS COMMISSION, PLOT 420, TIGRIS CRESCENT , OFF AGUIYI IRONSI STREET , MAITAMA , ABUJA WITHIN 28DAYS OF THIS PUBLICATION.

SIGNED : SECRETARY.

PUBLIC NOTICE

ABOR CLUB, CAC/IT/NO. 27324

THIS IS TO INFORM THE GENERAL PUBLIC THAT THE ABOVE NAMED HAS APPLIED TO THE CORPORATE AFFAIRS COMMISSION (CAC),ABUJA FOR CERTIFIED TRUE COPY (CTC) OF ITS LOST ORIGINAL CERTIFICATE OF INCORPORATION UNDER PART ‘F’ OF COMPANIES AND ALLIED MATTERS ACT (CAMA), 2020.

THE TRUSTEES REMAIN THE SAME.

THE AIMS AND OBJECTIVES REMAIN THE SAME. ANY OBJECTION TO THIS APPLICATION SHOULD BE FORWARDED TO THE REGISTRAR GENERAL, CORPORATEAFFAIRS COMMISSION, PLOT420,TIGRIS CRESCENT , OFF AGUIYI IRONSI STREET, MAITAMA , ABUJA WITHIN 28DAYS OF THIS PUBLICATION.

SIGNED : ADORNED CHAMBERS.

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DARATOLA SUPPORTIVE FOUNDATION

THIS IS TO INFORM THE GENERAL PUBLIC THAT THE ABOVE NAMED HAS APPLIED TO THE CORPORATE AFFAIRS COMMISSION (CAC), ABUJA FOR REGISTRATION UNDER PART ‘F’ OF COMPANIES AND ALLIED MATTERS ACT, ( CAMA 2020).

THE TRUSTEES ARE :

1. TOLUHI TOYIN FELICIA - CHAIRMAN

2. TOLUHI EMMANUEL - SECRETARY

3. TAIWO JONES OLAOLUWA

4. JOSEPH OLAMIDE SAMUEL

5. ABDULKADIR ADEKUNLE YISAU

THE AIMS AND OBJECTIVES ARE :

1, TO RENDER REHABILITATION SERVICES TO THE LESS PRIVILEGED AND VULNERABLE CHILDREN.

2 TO CATER AND IMPROVE THE SOCIAL WELFARE AND CONDITION OF THE LESS PRIVILEGED CHILDREN AND VULNERABLE IN THE SOCIETY

3 TO RENDER A HUMANITARIAN SERVICE TO THE LESS PRIVILEGED CHILDREN THROUGH GUALITY EDUCATION, HEALTH CARE AND NUTRITIONAL SERVICES.

4 TO PROVIDE MEDICAL EMERGENCY RESPONSE DURING NATURAL DISASTERS SUCH AS RAINSTORM, ACCIDENT AND EPIDEMIC. ANY OBJECTION TO THIS REGISTRATION SHOULD BE FORWARDED TO THE REGISTRAR-GENERAL, CORPORATEAFFAIRS COMMISSION, PLOT 420, TIGRIS CRESCENT , OFF AGUIYI IRONSI STREET , MAITAMA , ABUJA WITHIN 28DAYS OF THIS PUBLICATION.

SIGNED : SECRETARY.

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KOKODOS INITIATIVE FOR GROWTH AND EMPOWERMENT ORGANIZATION

THIS IS TO INFORM THE GENERAL PUBLIC THAT THE ABOVE NAMED HASAPPLIED TO THE CORPORATEAFFAIRS COMMISSION (CAC),ABUJAFOR REGISTRATION UNDER PART ‘F’OF COMPANIES AND ALLIED MATTERS ACT, ( CAMA 2020).

THE TRUSTEES ARE :

1. COUSIN SUNDAY (CHAIRMAN)

2. ETASHEMI GABRIEL

3. IDAMA SAMUEL OGAGA (SECRETARY)

THE AIMS AND OBJECTIVES ARE :

1. TO PROMOTE PEACE, UNITY, AMONG MEMBERS AND THE SOCIETY IN NIGERIA.

2. TO PROMOTE HUMAN DEVELOPMENT AND EMPOWERMENT FOR YOUTHS.

ANY OBJECTION TO THIS REGISTRATION SHOULD BE FORWARDED TO THE REGISTRAR-GENERAL, CORPORATE AFFAIRS COMMISSION, PLOT 420, TIGRIS CRESCENT , OFF AGUIYI IRONSI STREET , MAITAMA , ABUJA WITHIN 28DAYS OF THIS PUBLICATION.

SIGNED : SECRETARY.

BAWA

I, FORMERLY KNOWN AS UGBADA FAIZA ALHASSAN AND BAWA FAIZA ALHASSAN. NOW WISH TO BE KNOWN AS FAIZA ALHASSAN. ALL FORMER DOCUMENTS REMAIN VALID. ALL AUTHORITIES CONCERNED AND GENERAL PUBLIC PLEASE TAKE NOTE.

MRS. NGOZI

I, FORMERLY KNOWN AS MISS. EJIM, NGOZI NNEKA, NOW WISH TO BE KNOWN AND ADDRESSED AS MRS. NGOZI NNEKA CHRISTIAN BY VIRTUE OF MARRIAGE. ALL FORMER DOCUMENTS REMAIN VALID. THE NURSING AND MIDWIFERY COUNCIL OF NIGERIA AND THE GENERAL PUBLIC SHOULD PLEASE TAKE NOTE.

BAWA FATIMA

I, FORMERLY KNOWN AS UGBADA FATIMA ALHASSAN AND BAWA FATIMA ALHASSAN. NOW WISH TO BE KNOWN AS FATIMA ALHASSAN. ALL FORMER DOCUMENTS REMAIN VALID. ALL AUTHORITIES CONCERNED AND GENERAL PUBLIC PLEASE TAKE NOTE.

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MIYETTI ALLAH KAUTAL HORE SOCIO CULTURAL APPROPRIATION, CAC/IT/N0. 42948.

THIS IS TO INFORM THE GENERAL PUBLIC THAT THE ABOVE NAMED HASAPPLIED TO THE CORPORATEAFFAIRS COMMISSION (CAC),ABUJAFORAPPOINTMENT, REMOVALAND RETAINMENT OF TRUSTEE UNDER PART ‘F’ OF COMPANIES AND ALLIED MATTERS ACT, ( CAMA 2020).

THE RETAINED TRUSTEES ARE :

1. BELLO ABDULLAHI BODEJO. (RETAINED)

2. ALHAJI HASSAN ADAMU CHROMA. (RETAINED)

THE REMOVED TRUSTEE :

1. ALHAJI MUHAMMADU HUSSAINI. (REMOVED )

THE APPOINTED TRUSTEES ARE :

1. ALHAJI KUBAH SALEH ALHASSAN (APPOINTED)

2. DUGURI IBRAHIM MUHAMMAD (APPOINTED).

THE AIMS AND OBJECTIVES REMAIN THE SAME. ANY OBJECTION TO THIS APPLICATION SHOULD BE FORWARDED TO THE REGISTRAR-GENERAL, CORPORATE AFFAIRS COMMISSION, PLOT 420, TIGRIS CRESCENT , OFF AGUIYI IRONSI STREET , MAITAMA,ABUJAWITHIN 28DAYS OF THIS PUBLICATION. SIGNED : SECRETARY.

PUBLIC NOTICE

THE OLD NAME : IKUKUOMA FOUNDATION

THE NEW NAME : IKUKUOMA SPORTS DEVELOPMENT FOUNDATION

THIS IS TO INFORM THE GENERAL PUBLIC THAT THE ABOVE NAMED HASAPPLIED TO THE CORPORATEAFFAIRS COMMISSION (CAC),ABUJA FOR CHANGE OF INCORPORATED TRUSTEE NAME (IT), REMOVAL AND APPOINTMENT OF TRUSTEES UNDER PART ‘F’ OF COMPANIES AND ALLIED MATTERS ACT, ( CAMA 2020). THE TRUSTEES ARE :

1. AKWARANDU CHIEMEKA CHIBUNNA - REMOVED

2. IROEMEH GETRUDE KELECHI - REMOVED

3. AMIKE HENRY OCHUPEKHAI - APPOINTED

4. NWOGU BLESSING CHINELO - APPOINTED

5. NWOKIE SUMMERS VITUS(CHAIRMAN) RETAINED

6. NNAJI JULIUS KELECHI - RETAINED.

THE NEWLY APPOINTED SECRETARY IS :

1.NNAJI JULIUS KELECHI - APPOINTED THE AIMS AND OBJECTIVES REMAIN THE SAME. ANY OBJECTION TO THIS APPLICATION SHOULD BE FORWARDED TO THE REGISTRAR-GENERAL, CORPORATEAFFAIRS COMMISSION, PLOT 420, TIGRIS CRESCENT , OFF AGUIYI IRONSI STREET , MAITAMA , ABUJA WITHIN 28DAYS OF THIS PUBLICATION. SIGNED : SECRETARY.

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CHERUBIM & SERAPHIM CITY OF DAVID CHURCH OF ZION ABUJA

THIS IS TO INFORM THE GENERAL PUBLIC THAT THE ABOVE NAMED HAS APPLIED TO THE CORPORATE AFFAIRS COMMISSION (CAC), ABUJA FOR REGISTRATION UNDER PART ‘F’ OF COMPANIES AND ALLIED MATTERS ACT, ( CAMA 2020).

THE TRUSTEES ARE :

1. SAMAGBEYI SAMSON OLUBAMIGBE (CHAIRMAN)

2. METSANRUN ADELEKE DAMILOLA (SECRETARY)

3. AKINWANDE WALEOLA

THE AIMS AND OBJECTIVES ARE :

1. TO PREACH THE GOSPEL OF OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST, TO PROPHECY TO THE NEED OF THE PEOPLE FOR THE ELEVATION OF THE BODY OF CHRIST.

2. TO EMBARK ON EVANGELISM AND MISSION THROUGHOUT NIGERIAAND IN ANY PART OF THE WORLD WITH WINNING OF SOULS, FOR THE LORD JESUS CHRIST, HELPING THEM TO DISCOVER AND FULFILL THEIR PURPOSE ON EARTH AND PREPARING MEN AND WOMEN FOR THE MISSION WITH THE SECOND COMING OF OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST IN VIEW.

ANY OBJECTION TO THIS REGISTRATION SHOULD BE FORWARDED TO THE REGISTRAR-GENERAL, CORPORATE AFFAIRS COMMISSION, PLOT 420, TIGRIS CRESCENT, OFF AGUIYI IRONSI STREET , MAITAMA , ABUJA WITHIN 28DAYS OF THIS PUBLICATION. SIGNED : BARR. SAMUEL OLORUNFUNMI YUSUF 08035905279.

QUEEN

I, FORMERLY KNOWN AS QUEEN OJODOMO AMEH. NOW WISH TO BE KNOWN AS QUEEN AMEH. ALL FORMER DOCUMENTS REMAIN VALID. ALL AUTHORITIES CONCERNED AND GENERAL PUBLIC PLEASE TAKE NOTE.

BAWA MARYAM

I, FORMERLY KNOWN AS UGBADA MARYAM ALHASSAN AND BAWA MARYAM ALHASSAN. NOW WISH TO BE KNOWN AS MARYAM ALHASSAN. ALL FORMER DOCUMENTS REMAIN VALID. ALL AUTHORITIES CONCERNED AND GENERAL PUBLIC PLEASE TAKE NOTE.

JAMILO

I, FORMERLY KNOWN AS MUHAMMED ALIYU AND JAMILO MUHAMMED ADAMU. NOW WISH TO BE KNOWN AS JAMILO MUHAMMED ADAMU. ALL FORMER DOCUMENTS REMAIN VALID. ALL AUTHORITIES CONCERNED AND GENERAL PUBLIC PLEASE TAKE NOTE.

PUBLIC NOTICE

ABOR CLUB, CAC/IT/NO. 27324

THIS IS TO INFORM THE GENERAL PUBLIC THAT THE ABOVE NAMED HASAPPLIED TO THE CORPORATEAFFAIRS COMMISSION (CAC),ABUJA FOR REMOVAL AND APPOINTMENT OF NEW TRUSTEES (CHANGE OF TRUSTEES) UNDER PART ‘F’ OF COMPANIES AND ALLIED MATTERS ACT (CAMA), 2020.

THE RETAINED TRUSTEES ARE :

1. IBRAHIM SANI MOHAMMED

2. DR. MRS NNENNA EZEIGWE

3. BABATUNDE MOHAMMED

4. ANYAOKU GLORIA OJIUGO (MRS.)

THE REMOVED TRUSTEES ARE :

1. MRS. TINA NWODO

2. MR. AYO OYEDOKUN

3. MRS. BOLANLE AKANDE

THE NEWLY APPOINTED TRUSTEES ARE :

1. MR. IDRIS YAHAYA JOHN GIMBA

2. MR. OLAKUNLE OKETIKUN

THE AIMS AND OBJECTIVES REMAIN THE SAME. ANY OBJECTION TO THIS APPLICATION SHOULD BE FORWARDED TO THE REGISTRAR-GENERAL, CORPORATEAFFAIRS COMMISSION, PLOT 420, TIGRIS CRESCENT, OFF AGUIYI IRONSI STREET, MAITAMA, ABUJA WITHIN 28DAYS OF THIS PUBLICATION.

SIGNED: ADORNED CHAMBERS.

PUBLIC NOTICE

MADUX-OZE FOUNDATION

THIS IS TO INFORM THE GENERAL PUBLIC THAT THE ABOVE NAMED HASAPPLIED TO THE CORPORATEAFFAIRS COMMISSION (CAC),ABUJAFOR REGISTRATION UNDER PART ‘F’OF COMPANIES AND ALLIED MATTERS ACT, ( CAMA 2020).

THE TRUSTEES ARE :

1. OZE OGILE MADUX-CHAIRMAN

4. ETALOR ERICA-SECRETARY

2. OZE BEMONI MORRIS

3. AMI ONYENYENONIO NAHUM

5. EFERE NIMI

THE AIMS AND OBJECTIVES ARE :

1. TO PROVIDE RELIEF AND SUPPORT TO PEOPLE AFFECTED BY NATURAL DISASTERS, CONFLICTS, AND EMERGENCIES.

2. TO PROMOTE EDUCATION AND LITERACY AMONG CHILDREN, YOUTH, AND ADULTS IN UNDESERVED COMMUNITIES. ANY OBJECTION TO THIS REGISTRATION SHOULD BE FORWARDED TO THE REGISTRAR-GENERAL, CORPORATE AFFAIRS COMMISSION, PLOT 420, TIGRIS CRESCENT , OFF AGUIYI IRONSI STREET , MAITAMA , ABUJA WITHIN 28DAYS OF THIS PUBLICATION.

SIGNED : SECRETARY.

PUBLIC NOTICE

BEYOND THE FIELDS HUMANITARIAN FOUNDATION

THIS IS TO INFORM THE GENERAL PUBLIC THAT THE ABOVE NAMED HAS APPLIED TO THE CORPORATE AFFAIRS COMMISSION (CAC), ABUJA FOR REGISTRATION UNDER PART ‘F’ OF COMPANIES AND ALLIED MATTERS ACT, ( CAMA 2020).

THE TRUSTEES ARE :

1. SHETTIMA BABAGONI (CHAIRMAN)

2. OWONIPA TAIYE GIFT (SECRETARY)

3. OYINLOLA MICHAEL BOWOFOLA

THE AIMS AND OBJECTIVES ARE :

1. TO CREATE THE CONDITION NECESSARY FOR HUMANKIND TO HAVE ACCESS TO THE TOOLS THEY NEED FOR A STABLE MENTAL HEALTH AND WELL-BEING.

2. TO ENHANCE THE RESILIENCE OF FARMERS AND FARMING COMMUNITIES BY PROVIDING THEM ACCESS TO THE BASIS OF ORGANIC AGRICULTURE THROUGHOUT THE FARMING CYCLE.

ANY OBJECTION TO THIS REGISTRATION SHOULD BE FORWARDED TO THE REGISTRAR-GENERAL, CORPORATEAFFAIRS COMMISSION, PLOT 420, TIGRIS CRESCENT , OFF AGUIYI IRONSI STREET , MAITAMA , ABUJA WITHIN 28DAYS OF THIS PUBLICATION.

SIGNED : BARR. AGUGOESI VICTOR 08035757908.

MONDAY, MARCH 20, 2023

Pitch Awards: High expectations as Osimhen, Oshoala in hot race to retain titles

By Albert Akota

Reigning King of the Pitch and Queen of the Pitch, Victor Osimhen and Asisat Oshoala respectively are in with excellent chances of retaining their awards at the 9th Nigeria Pitch Awards Ceremony which holds at the Great Margaret Hall of the John Woods Hotel, Abuja on Friday evening.

Osimhen, with 23 goals in 28 matches for Italian Serie A side Napoli this season, is currently one of the world’s leading marksmen. His four goals have helped the Italian club reach the quarter finals of Europe’s top club competition, UEFA Champions League, for the very first time. At international level, his four goals against Sao Tome and Principe in a 2023 AFCON qualifier in Agadir, Morocco nine months ago helped Nigeria to a record international win of 10-0.

The gangling young forward has recently won the Best Foreign Athlete and Player of the Month awards in Italy.

He battles Ademola Lookman, Alex Iwobi and Paul Onuachu.

Oshoala, who features for FC Barcelona Femenin in Spain’s top division, scooped the Pichichi Award as the league’s joint-highest goalscorer with 20 goals, which helped her club win the league title. Her club also won the Spanish Super Cup. She is in a contest with Super Falcons’ team-mates Rasheedat Ajibade and Gift Monday.

There are 18 categories in all where winners will emerge on Friday night: King of the Pitch; Queen of the Pitch; Striker of the Year; Goalkeeper of the Year; Defender of the Year; Midfielder of the Year; Team of the Year; Coach of the Year; Sam Okwaraji Award; State With The Best Grassroots Football Development Programme; Football Pitch of the Year; Football-Friendly Governor of the Year; Corporate Sponsor of the Year; Sportsmanship Award; Football Journalist of the Year-Print; Football Journalist of the Year-TV;

Football Journalist of the Year-Radio and; Football Journalist of the YearOnline.

The four media categories hold interesting prospects, with Mr. Kunle Solaja, honoured by football’s worldgoverning body at last year’s World Cup finals in Qatar for having covered 10 FIFA World Cup finals, in the race for Football Journalist of the Year-Online. Tobi Adepoju and Shina Oludare are the other contestants.

In Football Journalist of the YearTV, SuperSport ace Mozez Praiz is in the race with TVC’s Promise Efoghe and Channels’ Cecilia Omorogbe. In Football Journalist of the Year-Print, The PUNCH’s Sports Editor Tana Aiyejina is in the contest with Charles Diya and Johnny Edward, while Emmanuel Etim tops the shortlist for Football Journalist of the Year-Radio, which also has Yinka Oyedele and Tony Bekederemo.

Three eminent personalities, viz Edo State Deputy Governor Philip Shaibu,

billionaire investor Kunle Soname and former NFF 1st Vice President Seyi Akinwunmi are shortlisted for Sportsmanship Award, as are MTN, Bet9ja, Coca-Cola and AITEO for Corporate Sponsor of Football.

Rivers State Governor, His Excellency Nyesom Wike, CON and Governors Babajide Sanwo-Olu and Godwin Obaseki of Lagos and Edo States respectively contend for FootballFriendly Governor while Edo, Lagos and Delta jostle for State With The Best Grassroots Development Programme. Mobolaji Johnson Arena, Remo Stars Stadium and Godswill Akpabio Stadium are in the race for Football Pitch of the Year.

The Flamingos, bronze medallists at the FIFA U17 Women’s World Cup in India, battle Rivers United and Remo Stars for Team of the Year, and Rivers United’s Stanley Eguma tops the list for Coach of the Year, which also has Gbenga Ogunbote and Bankole Olowookere.

Victor Osimhen – King of the Pitch?

Asisat Oshoala – Queen of the Pitch?

AFCON 2023 Race: Simon, Ndidi, Iheanacho early birds in Super Eagles’ camp

By Albert Akota

Wing impresario Moses Simon will be one of the early birds at the Super Eagles’ John Woods Hotel abode as invited begin to stream in for the quickfire double 2023 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying matches against Guinea Bissau’s Djurtus.

Simon, who plays for FC Nantes of France, will arrived yesterday alongside TSG Hoffenheim of Germany defender Kevin Akpoguma. Leicester City of England duo Wilfred Ndidi and Kelechi Iheanacho are also expected in town the same day.

The ambipedal Simon, one of the longestserving players in the team, is expected to play a key role in the two games that could see the Super Eagles snatch an early ticket to the 34th AFCON finals in Cote d’Ivoire early next year.

Akpoguma, who captained Germany at the FIFA U20 World Cup in New Zealand in 2015 before committing to Nigeria a few years, will be among the pillars at the rear.

With six maximum points from their previous two matches, victory in the top-of-the-table clashes will see the three-time champions soar to 12 points and most probably in an unassailable position. Sierra Leone could earn six points in their clashes with Sao Tome and Principe, but that still keeps them on seven points, and the Super Eagles still have a home game against bottomof-the-table Sao Tome and Principe on the final matchday of the campaign.

Majority of the remaining 19 invited players are expected in Abuja on Monday.

Paris 2024 Race: U23 Head Coach, Yusuf, calls up 16 overseas-based players

By Albert Akota

Head Coach Salisu Yusuf has invited 16 overseas-based players to the team’s camp in preparation for this month’s U23 AFCON final qualifying fixture against Guinea.

The Olympic Eagles trade tackles with their Guinean counterparts in a first leg encounter scheduled for the Moshood Abiola National Stadium, Abuja from 4pm on Wednesday, 22nd March, with the return set for the Complexe Sportif Prince Heritier Moulay Al

Hassan from 7pm Morocco time on Tuesday, 28th March. Guinea does not have any venue approved in the country for international matches.

Yusuf’s list of invitees is headed by team captain Success Makanjuola, whose two converted spot kicks against Tanzania earned the 1996 Olympic gold-medallists passage to this final round. There are also midfielder Abiodun Ogunniyi and Bello Babatunde, as well as Belgium-based new headline-grabber Gift Emmanuel Orban.

As happened against the Tanzanians in Dar es Salaam and Ibadan in October last year, Makanjuola is expected to lead the charge against the Guineans in Abuja on Wednesday, perhaps alongside Orban, with Babatunde and Ogunniyi (nicknamed OmoJesu) pulling the strings from the middle.

The winner on aggregate will qualify for the Africa U23 Cup of Nations scheduled for Morocco later this year, at which Africa’s flag bearers at next year’s Men’s Olympic Football Tournament will

emerge.

Guinea’s delegation for the encounter in Abuja is expected to arrive in Nigeria on Saturday evening.

ALL THE INVITED PLAYERS:

Success Makanjuola (FK Liepaja, Latvia); Bello Babatunde (Future FC, Egypt); Isaiah Ejeh (Mjallby Alf, Sweden); Abiodun Ogunniyi (FK Auda, Latvia); Monsuru Opeyemi Abdullahi (FC Vizela, Portugal); Omole Akinyinka Olaoluwakitan (Athletic Newham, UK); Owen

Tega Udoh (UD San Sebastian Reyes, Spain); Azeez Temitope Yusuf (Mjallby Alf, Sweden); Charles Uba (Lillestrom FC, Norway); Simon Omon (Clube Operation Desportivo, Portugal); Ihekuna Maximillian Ugochukwu (FC Sfintul Gheorghe Suruceni, Moldova); Chukwudi Goodluck Igbokwe (KAA Gent, Belgium); Abass Saidi (Zagalata FC, Azerbaijan); Ibrahim Buhari (IF Elfsborg, Sweden); Gift Emmanuel Orban (KAA Gent, Belgium); Samuel Amadi (Eramica Cleopatra, Egypt)

PUBLIC NOTICE

VEEKEE JAMES FOUNDATION

THIS IS TO INFORM THE GENERAL PUBLIC THAT THE ABOVE NAMED HAS APPLIED TO THE CORPORATE AFFAIRS COMMISSION (CAC), ABUJA FOR REGISTRATION UNDER PART ‘F’ OF COMPANIES AND ALLIED MATTERS ACT, ( CAMA 2020).

THE TRUSTEES ARE :

1.RUTH ERIKAN JAMES -TRUSTEE/CHAIRMAN

2.PRECIOUS NSEBONG JAMES - TRUSTEE/SECRETARY

THE AIMS AND OBJECTIVES ARE : SOCIETAL DEVELOPMENT THROUGH ENTREPRENEURIAL EMPOWERMENT, YOUTH SENSITIZATION AND CHRISTIAN ENGAGEMENT.

ANY OBJECTION TO THIS REGISTRATION SHOULD BE FORWARDED TO THE REGISTRAR-GENERAL, CORPORATE AFFAIRS COMMISSION, PLOT 420, TIGRIS CRESCENT , OFF AGUIYI IRONSI STREET , MAITAMA , ABUJA WITHIN 28DAYS OF THIS PUBLICATION.

SIGNED : SECRETARY.

OLUWAFEMI

I, FORMERLY KNOWN AS OLUWAFEMI FAVOUR OLUWATOBILOBA. NOW WISH TO BE ADDRESS AS OLUWAFEMI FAVOUR ENOCH. ALL FORMER DOCUMENTS REMAIN VALID. ALL AUTHORITIES CONCERNED AND GENERAL PUBLIC PLEASE TAKE NOTE.

ABUBAKAR

I, FORMERLY KNOWN AS ABUBAKAR KANKIA BLACK, DATE OF BIRTH, 01-01-1975, NOW WISH TO BE KNOWN AND ADDRESSED AS ABUBAKAR SHEHU KANKIA, DATE OF BIRTH 05-05-1972 ALL FORMER DOCUMENTS REMAIN VALID. AUTHORITIES CONCERNED AND THE GENERAL PUBLIC SHOULD TAKE NOTE.

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NEW TESTAMENT DELIVERANCE CHURCH A.K.A NEW TESTAMENT

THIS IS TO NOTIFY THE GENERAL PUBLIC THAT THE ABOVE NAMED TRUATEE HAS APPLIED TO THE CORPORATE AFFAIRS COMMISSION (CAC), ABUJA FOR CHANGE OF TRUSTEES UNDER PART ‘F’ OF THE COMPANY AND ALLIED MATTERS ACT (CAMA) 2020 (AS AMENDED)

THE NEW TRUSTEES APPOINTED ARE:

1. OBASSEH VERONICA ISEYEN- TRUSTEE

2. OBASSEH CHRISTIAN KEBE- TRUSTEE

3. OBASSEH BLESSING USOR- TRUSTEE

4. OBASSEH GLORY ETOM- TRUSTEE

5. OBASSEH ALEX EKEMINI- TRUSTEE

6. OBASSEH MAUREEN LEJIMOH- TRUSTEE

THE AIMS AND OBJECTIVES OF THE MINISTRIES REMAINS THE SAME ANY OBJECTION TO THIS APPLICATION SHOULD BE FORWARDED TO THE REGISTRAR- GENERAL, CORPORATE AFFAIRS COMMISSION, PLOT 420, TIGRIS CRESCENT, OFF AGUIYI IRONSI STREET, MAITAMA, ABUJA WITHIN 28 DAYS OF THIS PUBLICATION

SIGNED: SECRETARY

HALILU

I, FORMERLY KNOWN AS MUHAMMED HALILU MUSTAPHA NOW WISH TO BE KNOWN AND ADDRESSED AS HALILU MUSTAPHA MOHAMMED. ALL FORMER DOCUMENTS REMAIN VALID. AUTHORITIES CONCERNED AND THE GENERAL PUBLIC SHOULD TAKE NOTE.

AKUDIRIGAWA SOCIAL CLUB, ILARO

2. EKEMEZIE ONYEBUCHI CHIKE- TRUSTEE

3. NWOYE IKECHUKWU HENRY- TRUSTEE 4. AGBALIZU PRINCEWILL NNAEMEKA - TRUSTEE THE AIMS AND OBJECTIVES ARE :

1. TO PROVIDE A PLATFORM FOR MUTUAL ASSISTANCE AND RELATIVE DEVELOPMENT AND TO PROMOTE AND PROTECT THE INTEREST OF MEMBERS IN LINE WITH THE AIMS AND OBJECTIVES OF THE CLUB.

2.TO CATER FOR THE WELFARE AND OVERALL WELLBEING OF MEMBERS AND TO ASSIST MEMBERS FINANCIALLY AND IN ALL OTHER AREAS.

3. TO FOSTER LOVE, UNITY, UNDERSTANDING, ONENESS AND PROGRESS AMONG MEMBERS AND TO EMBARK ON DEVELOPMENTAL, CHARITABLE OR ANY OTHER INCIDENTAL PROJECTS THAY MAY ARISE IN LINE WITH THE AIMS AND OBJECTIVES OF THE CLUB.

4.TO PROMOTE AND ENSURE THE PRESERVATION OF IGBO CULTURE AND TRADITIONS. ANY OBJECTION TO THIS REGISTRATION SHOULD BE FORWARDED TO THE REGISTRAR-GENERAL, CORPORATE AFFAIRS COMMISSION, PLOT 420, TIGRIS CRESCENT , OFF AGUIYI IRONSI STREET , MAITAMA , ABUJA WITHIN 28DAYS OF THIS PUBLICATION.

SIGNED : SECRETARY.

SAMAILA

I, FORMERLY KNOWN AS ISMAIL TIJJANI AHMED, NOW WISH TO BE KNOWN AND ADDRESSED AS TIJJANI USMAN SAMAILA. ALL FORMER DOCUMENTS REMAIN VALID. AUTHORITIES CONCERNED AND THE GENERAL PUBLIC SHOULD TAKE NOTE.

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Man United reach FA Cup semi-finals vs nine man Fulham

All eyes on incoming NASS leadership

Manchester United earned a spot in the FA Cup semi-finals after beating Premier League rivals Fulham in a dramatic clash at Old Trafford whilst a takeover at the club appears to be taking a step closer to completion Manchester United reach the semi-finals of the FA Cup on Sunday after they beat Fulham at Old Trafford.

Aleksandar Mitrovic opened the scoring for the Londoners before he was sent off alongside Marco Silva and Willian in what was a minute of madness. Bruno Fernandes then scored twice, with Marcel Sabitzer converting an impudent flick to secure a 3-1 victory.

The Red Devils now take on Brighton in the semifinals at Wembley and could face rivals Manchester City in the final. As well as excitement on the pitch, there is also movement off the pitch in regards to United’s potential new owner with Sir Jim Ratcliffe and Qatari Sheikh Jassim amongst the frontrunners.

The duo have held talks with the United hierarchy over the past week and a deal could be finalised by the end of the month. More bids for the Red Devils are expected, however, over the coming seven days and it should then become clearer over who the new owners of the club will be. Source: mirror

Taye Taiwo and Oduamadi

Allthings being equal, the leadership of the 10th National Assembly comprising the Senate and the House of Representatives will be inaugurated by the current President-elect, Asiwaju Ahmed Bola Tinubu on June 13, after he himself would have been sworn in as substantive president on May 29. A day before he inaugurated the National Assembly, he would have carried out his first major public political assignment as president on June 12 by overseeing the Democracy Day celebration. Recall that President Muhammadu Buhari had previously approved the appointment of June 12 as the new democracy day in honour of the late Chief Moshood Kashimawo Olawale Abiola, adjudged to have won the June 12 1993 presidential election under the political platform of the Social Democratic Party, SDP. His running mate was Ambassador Baba Gana Kingibe. Unfortunately, their victory, believed to have been a product of a free and fair contest, was overturned by the regime of then Head of State and Military President, General Ibrahim Babangida, on grounds of preventing a coup. The rest is now history.

The big question is, upon inauguration, who will be the Senate President and the Deputy, the Speaker of the House of Representatives and the Deputy and the other principal officers of the National Assembly. It is unlikely that the current Senate President, Senator Ahmed Lawan from Yobe State and the North East will be returned considering that he is from the same zone as the Vice President-elect, Senator Kashim Shettima who hails from Borno state. The current Speaker, Femi Gbajabiamila will be out of the way too since he is from Lagos State and the South West zone as the President-elect, Bola Tinubu, except if the House will replicate the anti party maneuvering the way it did when it defied zoning arrangements to elect former Speaker Aminu Waziri Tambuwal as the 10th Speaker serving between June 2011 and 29 May 2015. Also, the Senate replicated the Tambuwal scenario when former Senate President Bukola Saraki was elected by some Senators while others were away at a meeting with party leaders to harmonize positions on choice of Senate President. Saraki was the 13th President of the Senate from 2015 to 2019 and Chair of the 8th National Assembly.

This is a good reason for the Bola Ahmed Tinubu Presidency to be smart enough to preempt this type of non conformist stand of some lawmakers who will discreetly set aside party position on the structure of governance. While the Tinubu presidency may not be interested in a rubber stamp Assembly, as some of his aides have claimed, I doubt if the

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Monday Column

By Hameed M. Bello, PhD

hamdbelo@yahoo.co.uk

regime will be comfortable with an Assembly that will be an obstacle to his governance agenda and initiatives. This is the reason it has to pick interest in who occupies what position in the leadership of the Senate and the House of Representatives.

As we hear from people close to the Tinubu presidential campaign team, the presidentelect has his eyes set on getting the right people in places in the 10th Assembly that will help deepen the achievement of his goals in the delivery of good governance. We hear also that he will like to provide a level playing field for all stakeholders across party lines to pave way for inclusive governance without undermining the interest of his party which is in a simple majority.

We hear also that the APC is treading lightly by exercising cautious discretion not to have a Senate President or Speaker who will be subject of consistent litigation on account of allegations of corruption around him. Senators-elect who have pending corruption cases may not be favoured by their party and colleagues in this respect. But again, the issue is that corruption cases are being taken for granted, normalized or given ‘safe landing’ when political interests are at stake.

Since the position of the Senate President is touted to go to the South East or the South South, names like Senators Orji Orji Uzor Kalu (Abia, South East), Godswill Akpabio (Akwa Ibom, South South), Adams Oshiomhole (APC Edo, South South) and Dave Umahi (APC Ebonyi, South East) are being mentioned as APC Senators under consideration.

In the House of Representatives, feelers are that the APC will likely Zone the Speaker slot to the North West, especially if the Senate President goes to the South East or South South. This is however not sacrosanct because of the unpredictable disposition of lawmakers in both chambers, especially the ‘hot headed’ green chamber legislators. Already, the current Deputy Speaker, Ahmed Wase, APC from Plateau State is eying the Speaker slot, believing that he has paid his dues as presiding officer for four years. From the North West, names linked to the Speaker race include the embattled majority leader, Hon Al-Hassan Ado Doguwa from Kano state, Hon Sada Soli from Katsina state, Hon Mukhtar Aliyu Betera from Borno state, Aminu Jaji from Zamfara State and Tajudden Abbas from Kaduna State.

That said, the final decider will be the zoning preference adopted by the party to share offices among the six geopolitical zones. Although, officially, the President-elect has said he would not interfere with the elections of the presiding officers into the National Assembly, it is clear that both Tinubu and Shettima, former senators themselves, will take a more active role in the process, at least.

From indications, the North West has some edge over the rest of the regions in the race for Speaker. The zone was able to provide the party, and thus the Presidentelect reasonable number of votes during the Presidential and National Assembly election of 25th February, 2023 and may well do so again in the Governorship and State Assembly elections. Also,

the northern governors, especially those from the North West have demonstrated profound leadership by insisting on power rotation to the South which eventually favoured Tinubu. He may want to reciprocate that warm gesture. However, in the end it may come down to who has the largest number of lawmakers in the National Assembly and in that case, Katsina State is ahead with its three Senators and nine members of the House of Reps, giving it the largest contingent of APC legislators from any zone. This will likely favour Hon Sada Soli, who represents Jibia/Kaita federal constituency in Katsina State and is the currently committee chair for Water resources. His name stands out in the House of Reps today because of the trust he elicits from colleagues and Assembly staff alike, but also as a result of his remarkable experience as a former civil servant who worked for a decade and a half in the National Assembly, serving as clerk for committees in both the Senate and the House of Reps. He also spent four years at the Nigerian Mission in Washington as Special Assistant and Minister Counsellor to Ambassador Jibril Aminu on the approval of President Olusegun Obasanjo through a Special Dispensation that is granted by only the president when a crucial need arises. After gaining crucial diplomatic experience, Sada returned to Nigeria and was posted as Clerk to the Senate Committee on Foreign Affairs. Three years later he resigned and joined politics. Hön Sada Soli was first elected into the green chamber in 2007. In 2011 he became Chief of Staff to the Speaker of the House of Reps, Hön Aminu Tambuwal. He returned to the House in 2019 where he was chairman of the House Committee on Water Resources. He also won election to return to the 10th House for a third term and has backing to run for the Speaker of the 10th Assembly. Going by his dexterity, experience, competence and the goodwill he enjoys among his colleagues, Soli may be the man to beat for the Speakership of the 10th House of Representatives.

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