Tuesday, February 21st, 2023 Edition

President Muhammadu Buhari returns, after the AU meeting. He was received by the FCT Minister, Malam Mohammed Musa Bello, Inspector General of Police, Usman Alkali Baba and other service Chiefs, at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, yesterday in Abuja.

Photo: State House

Alleged N3bn fraud: Court grants Ali Bello, others N500m bail

By Vivian Okejeme, Abuja

Justice Obiora Egwuatu, of the Federal High Court, Abuja, has granted Ali Bello and 3 others bail to the tune of N500 million each with two sureties in the like

sum

The Economic and Financial Crime Commission (EFCC) is prosecuting Bello alongside Abba Adauda, Yakubu Siyaka Adabenege and Iyadai Sadat, on an 18-count criminal charge to the tune of N3billion.

Sequel to not guilty plea, the court granted them bail on the grounds that the charges against the defendants are bailable, adding that bail is to enable defendants charged with an offense prepared adequately for their trial.

According to the court, the sureties should be resident in Abuja, with identifiable address and own landed property worth N500 million within the jurisdiction of the court.

The condition of the bail also stated that the original title documents to the said property must be deposited with the Registrar of the court, as well as evidence of tax

payment for three years running from 2020 to 2022.

Also, the defendants are to deposit their international passport with the court and can only travel after due permission from the court.

Meantime, the matter was adjourned till April 16, for commencement of trial.

Recall that a senior advocate, Mr Ahmed Raji, SAN, who had argued the bail applications of the four defendants observed that the offences brought against his clients are ordinarily bail-able and as such should be considered and granted.

He also stated that bail is at the discretion of the court and that the court should use its discretion in favour of the defendants.

Raji submitted that the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has been investigating the defendants in the past one year without any interference from the defendants.

The senior lawyer disclosed that the anti-graft agency on its own admitted the defendants to administrative bail prior to their arraignment, adding that throughout the period of the administrative bail, the defendants

did not do anything untoward.

Besides, Raji argued that EFCC granted one of the defendants permission to travel to Saudi Arabia, adding that the defendant kept faith by returning to Nigeria and surrendered his traveling passport to the commission.

He dismissed the allegations by EFCC that the defendants are flight risk and would tamper with witnesses if granted bail adding that apart from being mare allegations, the anti-graft agency did not support the claim with any evidence.

Raji accordingly urged the court to admit the defendants to bail in liberal terms.

Responding, counsel to the EFCC, Mr M. K. Husseini, had vehemently opposed the request, claiming that if admitted to bail the defendants will tamper with evidence as well as interfere with witnesses.

He also argued that the defendants are likely going to jump bail and not make themselves available for trial.

Husseini accordingly urged the court to deny the defendants bail.

In a short ruling, Justice Egwuatu announced that ruling

in the bail applications would be delivered on Monday, February 20, 2023.

The defendants were in count one charged with procuring, “ETraders International Limited to retain the aggregate sum of N3,081,804,654.00 which sum you reasonably ought to have known forms part of proceeds of unlawful activity to wit: criminal misappropriation, and you thereby committed an offence contrary to sections 18(a), 15(20)(d) of the Money Laundering Prohibition Act, 2011 as amended and punishable under section 15 (3) of the same Act.

They were also charged with procuring, “E-Traders International Limited to transfer the aggregate sum of $570,330 to account number no; 426-6644272 domiciled in TD Bank, United States of America, which sum you reasonably ought to have known forms part of proceeds of unlawful activity to with: criminal misappropriation, and you thereby committed an offence contrary to section 15(2)(d) of the Money Laundering Prohibition Act, 2011 as amended and punishable under section 15 (3) of the same Act”, in count three.

Sen. Moro counters Ortom, says Atiku best candidate

Senator representing Benue South District Sen. Abba Moro has countered Governor Samuel Ortom insisting that former

Vice President Atiku Abubakar remains the most experienced person to lead the country.

Recalled that last week, at a town hall meeting in Makurdi, Governor Ortom had endorsed Peter Obi of the Labor Party, LP

as the most competent candidate to win the Presidential contest.

In a swift reaction, also at a town hall meeting organized by Professionals For Atiku Abubakar, Sen. Moro maintained that all the other

candidates do not have the experience and capacity to lead the country.

He noted that at this defining moment of the country, Nigeria needs a stabilizer and matured hand to rescue her.

L-R: Executive Director, Resource Centre for Human Rights Civil Education, Dr. Ibrahim M. Zikrullahi, Executive Director, Civil Society Advocacy Centre (CISLAC), Auwal Musa (Rafsanjani), Director, Praxis Academy, Comrade Jaye Gaskiya and Director, Centre for Journalism Innovation and Development (CJID), Dr. Tobi Oluwatola, during the press conference by Civil Society Organizations on the State of the Nation, yesterday in Abuja. Photo: Mahmud Isa

From Uche Nnorom, Makurdi

Buhari to brief successor on Nigeria -Comoros ties

By Egena Sunday Ode

President Muhammadu Buhari

said he took the existing good neighborly relations between Nigeria and the Union of Comoro Islands to be very important, for which reason he would be briefing his incoming successor on the need to keep them.

Speaking to Azali Assoumani, the President of the Union of Comoros who just took over as the Chairperson of the African

Union for the year 2023 shortly before his departure from Addis Ababa, President Buhari thanked the Island nation for being a good neighbor.

“As developing states, we have to follow through on the correct steps to achieve development. I thank you for being a good neighbor and the consistency of your friendship.

I will brief my next successor from my Party on keeping this important relationship. Congratulations on your emergence as the Chairperson

of the AU.”

A statement by the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, Garba Shehu, the new AU leader, President Assoumani said he chose to make his first visit to President Buhari after emerging as the Chairperson in view of the enormous respect he had for the President and the existing cordial relations between the two states. He commended the President for leaving behind a worthy

legacy of organizing an election in preparation for a timely departure in line with the country’s constitution.

“You have achieved something exceptional. You came in through a good door and you are leaving through a good one. This is what we will be doing in my country as we approach our own elections. What you have achieved is a good lesson for Africa to borrow.

“You have also achieved so much fighting against terrorism,

Borno APC, PDP disagree over thuggery allegation

From: Shehu Abubakar, Maiduguri

Less than a week to the general elections, the Peoples Democratic Party in Borno State has alleged that the ruling All Progressives Congress in the state is sponsoring thugs to perpetrate violence aimed at disrupting the elections.

The Legal Adviser, Borno State PDP Gubernatorial and Legislators Campaign Council, Barrister Kashim Mustapha Haruna, expressed the allegation

in a press statement signed by him.

Haruna alleged that APC had thrown the peace accord signed by all political parties in the state to the winds by instigating thugs to ignite violence aimed at disrupting the forthcoming elections.

“We wish to bring to the attention of the general public the unfortunate actions of thuggery and violence that is continuously being perpetrated by the APC against the legitimate and peaceful campaigns of the PDP in Borno

State,” he alleged.

Haruna alleged instances:

“On Sunday, 12th February, 2023, the convoy of the PDP comprising the Gubernatorial and other candidates of the party was attacked by sponsored thugs of the APC in Gwange I, II & III wards of Maiduguri, injured many PDP supporters and vandalized an uncountable number of vehicles in the convoy.

“Equally, on Tuesday, 14th February, 2023, the campaign rally of the party was disrupted and

attacked by the same sponsored thugs of the APC in Bolori II ward of Maiduguri, as a result of which several party supporters sustained various degrees of injuries and more than 10 vehicles were vandalized by the APC thugs.”

He also alleged that on Friday, January 27th the PDP campaign rally in Mafa Local Government was attacked by APC thugs.

“We reported the incident to the police authorities, but no single APC thug was arrested nor prosecuted,” Haruna said.

which is yet another example. Terrorists have no boundaries. Countries have to work together. You are fighting out of conviction and I hope you will continue to do so even after leaving office.

“You will be handing over but relations between our countries will continue. I commend your respect for term limits and I assure you that as AU Chairperson, I will be in attendance at your handing over.”

President Assoumani thanked President Buhari for the encouragement and support he received leading to his emergence as the leader of the continental body.

Nigeria’s box office records

N819m sales in January

The Cinema Exhibitors Association of Nigeria (CEAN) says it recorded total sales of N819 million in January, across cinemas within the country.

Its National Chairman, Mr Ope Ajayi, disclosed this during an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Monday in Lagos.

“We had an increase in sales in January with N819,154,913.00. The month was a beautiful one, with 324,408 total number of admissions at the cinemas.

“The top five films for the month of January were: Battle on Buka Street, Ijakumo, Avatar, Black Panther and Plane.

“February promises to be better with thrilling and action packed films for the month,” he said.

Ajayi said that the films cinema lovers could watch out for in the month of February included: Titanic remastered, Antman vs Wasp quantumania, Cocaine bear, Luther, Die Hart and Love in a pandemic. (NAN)

Lagos Guber: Sanwo-Olu defeatable with our strategies, says AA Chairman

The Action Alliance (AA) in Lagos State says Gov. Babajide SanwoOlu will be defeated with the action plans and strategies the AA party has put in place in the forthcoming March 11 governorship election.

Alhaji Nureni Ayinla-Oniru, the Lagos State Chairman of the party, stated this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Sunday in Lagos.

“Noises and dances on the streets in the name of campaign do not translate into votes. The voters are indoors and those are our target.

“We have our own strategies and we are working on them and they are very sweet and they will give us what we want. We don’t have money but we have our

game plan.

“We have plans to defeat Sanwo-Olu. To some people, it is difficult but it is not impossible.

“I can assure you that Action Alliance will win 13 local government areas of Lagos during the polls,” he said.

According to him, the party is concentrating only on the March 11 governorship and house of assembly elections.

He expressed confidence that the party would emerge winners of the governorship election in the state, considering its homework of reaching out to the masses.

On campaign, Ayinla-Oniru said that the party had adopted a campaign

strategy different from the usual rallies, to reach the people at the grassroots.

“Our mission is to get Lagos State back to the people and residents of the state rather than the few it is currently working for.

“We are touched by the suffering of the poor masses and want to lead a government that will make the poor live a comfortable life. To us, lives of the masses is very important.

“The masses are entitled to their rights and what belongs to them in terms of welfare, hence the reason why AA is on the ballot.

“The party is not for the rich, it is for the poor to unite and rescue themselves from hardship. We have taken our

governorship candidate from the masses.

“We have trust and confidence that the masses will prevail in the election, defeating the ‘money bags’.

“No matter how hard the ruling party try, the masses will defeat Gov. Babajide Sanwo-Olu at the polls,” he added.

He said that the party had developed REBIRTH AGENDA.

Explaining the REBIRTH agenda, Ayinla-Oniru said that R stands for Restoration of Security, E for Energy and Education, B for Broad- Based Governance, I for Infrastructure and Traffic Management, R for Rural Development, T for Tourism and Transportation while H- stands for Housing and Health system. (NAN)

LR : Representative of the FCTA Permanent Secretary, Mr Samuel Atang, ES FCDA Engr Shehu Hadi Ahmed, FCT Commissioner of Police Abubakar Sadiq, FCT Minister, Malam Muhammad Musa Bello, Chief of Jiwa HRH (Dr) Musa Idris, Minister of Aviation SEn Hadi Sirika Project Manager Yang Yongtao and Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Aviation Dr Emmanuel Meribole during the visit to the construction site of the 2nd Runway for Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, yesterday in Abuja.

Photo: Mahmud Isa

From: Femi Oyelola, Kaduna

Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF) has admonished Nigerians on the need to accept the principle of power rotation between the North and the South.

The ACF Secretary General, Murtala Aliyu, in a statement issued in Kaduna, said it is the only way in ensuring that Nigerian citizens choose whatever he or she believes to be in the best interests of themselves and their followers.

He recalled, “When 17 State Governors from Southern part of Nigeria, and from different political parties met last year and demanded that a southerner must be elected as the president of Nigeria, the heavens did not fall. It was accepted that as we are in a democracy, they were entitled to their views and opinions.

“Quite recently also, some 14 northern Governors belonging to the ruling All progressives Congress Party, (APC), came out with the announcement that they had committed themselves to ensuring that a candidate of their party from the southern part of the country is elected president of the country. Their reason was that the emergence and subsequent election of a person from the southern part of the country will

Zenith Labour party presidential candidate promises to fight insecurity

From Gambo Ahmed, Lafia

The presidential candidate of the Zenith Labour party

Mr Dan Nwanyanwu has promised to combat insecurity across the nooks and crannies of Nigeria if voted as president come Saturday 25 February general elections.

He made the assertion during a presidential Town Hall meeting held at the lafia city Hall Monday with a call on Nigerians to vote massively for the party.

“Vote for zenith Labour party for a better Nigeria.We Wii bring back the unity of Nigeria. We will bring back the trust amongst Nigeria.” He maintained.

The Presidential candidate also affirmed that his administration would focus on Agriculture by making fertilizer available and affordable for rural farmers inorder to boost food production for consumption and commercializarion.

He however lamented on the current predicament Nigeria is passing through as a result of the monetary policy.

Mr Nwanyanwu also vowed to fight corruption headway and reduce the price of petroleum product to 100 Naira per litre if voted as president.

Accept power rotation between North and South ACF admonishes Nigerians

serve to entrench the principle of North/South power rotation in Nigeria.

“Though the principle of power rotation is still largely and somewhat controversial, nonetheless, under our democratic dispensation we must reconcile ourselves to accepting

that Nigeria is a country for all its citizens, and each citizen has right to choose whatever he or she believes to be in the best interests of themselves and their followers. At the same time, however, they also have to accept the principle of power rotation between north and south.”

While praying for a peaceful outcome of the elections, he hoped it will help take the country closer to its main development goals of building a free, just, democratic, and egalitarian society saying, “Clearly, the necessary requirement for achieving success in the elections

is the determination of Nigerians to ensure it actually succeeds.”

He called on the federal government to commit itself to delivering what should turn out to be a fair, transparent, credible and hitch-free election the outcomes of which must be decided only by the votes cast.

NIPC engages diplomatic community on FDIs

The Nigerian Investment Promotion Commission (NIPC) ,has reinstated its commitment to position Nigeria as a preferred investment destination.

The Executive Secretary of NIPC Saratu Umar, said this at the NIPC Stakeholder Engagement Forum/Business Meeting with the Diplomatic Community in Abuja.

According to Umar, the commission is strategising to increase attractiveness and branding to position Nigeria as a constant preferred investment destination of choice.

She said that NIPC was developing strategies to deepen Nigeria’s investment promotion drive critical for day-to-day problem-solving for established and incoming investors.

“NIPC recognises the role of the diplomatic community as critical stakeholders in investment promotion, considering that economic diplomacy is one of the pillars of the mandate undertaken by Diplomats in host countries.

“Not only do diplomats assist in delivering marketing messages to target groups of potential

investors, they also manage relationships and provide the relevant information required for investors to make informed investment decisions.

“This has equally aided reinvestment and retention of investors within the aftercare strategy.

“We thank the diplomatic community for this mutually beneficial service to both the host country, in this case, Nigeria, as well as to their home countries.

“We also acknowledge that diplomats and international

development partners have successfully channelled the views of investors about the investment climate of Nigeria.

“This is by working in tandem to meet mutually beneficial goals, especially through their support in policy advocacy.

“All of these remind us that investment promotion rests on good teamwork between the National Investment Promotion Agency, the embassies/diplomatic missions, and other stakeholders to ensure a win-win situation,” Umar said.

L-R: Kogi State governorship

Aspirant, Senator Smart Adeyemi; flanked by his supporters Hon Taiye Okupelaye and Hon Raphael Olamife after the aspirant purchased his nomination and expression of interest forms at the APC national Secretariat, yesterday in Abuja.

Kano govt reacts to death of pregnant woman in hospital over old notes

From Mustapha Adamu, Kano

Kano state Ministry of Health has reacted to the allegations that a pregnant woman, Shemau Sani Rabiu died because her husband could not pay her medical bills with new notes.

Reports last week had alleged that the 32-year old deceased was left in pains for more than eight hours without attention from medical personnel on duty.

According to the reports, the deceased’s husband, Bello Ali Baffa alleged that she bled to death while he was struggling to settle medical bills at the pharmacy through transfer.

The reports firther alleged that the husband revealed how

he spent hours waiting for the cashier to confirm payment alert of N8,528 for drug because he did not have the new naira notes and that the hospital had allegedly stopped receiving the old currency.

However, reacting to the allegations at a press briefing on Monday, the state Commissioner for Health, Dr Aminu Ibrahim Tsanyawa described the reports as a lie.

According to him, the deceased was given maximum attention when she was brought to the hospital but unfortunately died.

The commissioner stressed that the deceased was brought to the hospital unconcisous on February 5, with a complain of

PV bleeding and cessation of fetal movement.

Dr Tsanyawa added that the deceased was attended to by the doctor on call, who gave her all the necessary first aid, including “setting of IV Lines, taking of Blood Samples for grouping and crossmatching in preparation for blood transfusion, took urine sample and did a bedside analysis where he confirmed presence of protein in the urin.”

“He later did the detailed clinical examinations where he found her to have mild anaemia, a BP of 150/90mmhg with tachycardia and marked abdominal pain with absent of fetal heart sound,” he said.

The commissioner emphasized that after the diagnosis, the doctor

on called tried his best, with the support of other doctors but the deceased eventually have up.

He therefore debunked the media reports that she died for failure of her husband to pay new naira notes for drugs.

He also stated that it is the policy of the state government to give priority to the patients at the emergency level without requesting any amount of money.

“The policy of the government on management of all medical emergencies is clearly known and practice by all the staffs especially those working in the accident and emergencies, emergencies Units and Labor rooms, thaf first aid management must be instituted to save life before any formality, “ he said.

Photo: Mahmud Isa

2023: Army will ensure level playing field for peaceful, free, fair polls -GOC

From :Femi Oyelola, Kaduna

The Nigerian Army has assured that, it will ensure a level playing field and peaceful atmosphere in the next Saturday Presidential and National Assembly elections, as well the March 11 governorship and state assembly polls.

The General Officer

Commanding 1 Division Nigerian Army, Major General Taoreed Lagbaja gave the assurance in Kaduna while fielding questions from Journalists during the annual West African Social Activity (WASA), held at Ribadu Cantonment, Nigerian Defence Academy (NDA) Kaduna.

According to General Lagbaja, “We have achieved a lot in bringing peace and stability to Kaduna State, to our immediate community,

but the troops still need to do a lot more to bring stability to our communities.

“In the immediate term is the 2023 general elections that is before us, and I want to say it very clear that, the troops of 1 Division will continue to remain apolitical and they will be professional in the discharge of their task of providing an enabling environment for the conduct of a peaceful, free and fair election come Saturday the 25th of February and March 11.

“The WASA that we just witnessed is just an initiative of the Nigerian Army high command of saying thank you to the troops for what they have done in the previous operational year and to also remind them that, there is still a long way to go,” he said.

Also speaking at the event, Kaduna State Governor Nasir El-

Rufai who was represented by the state’s Commissioner for Internal Security and Home Affairs, Samuel Aruwan commended the Army for restoring peace in the troubled areas of the state.

According to the Governor, “It is pertinent to mention that 1 Division has very cogent reasons to celebrate the activities that ended Year 2022 as its officers and soldiers have so far, remained resolute in the discharge of their constitutional roles, especially in ensuring that there is relative calm in Kaduna State and environs. I am aware of your tremendous achievements in combating the myriad of security challenges that have bedevilled our dear fatherland which are manifested in the forms of kidnapping, terrorism and other sundry crimes capable of disrupting public peace.

“Your dogged determination in curbing these anomalies within your area of responsibility and beyond, has brought tremendous positive change in the general security situation, and created a favourable environment for economic and socio-political activities to thrive. I must therefore sincerely commend your efforts in fostering synergy and collaboration between your institutions and other security agencies. This is evident in the conduct of various joint operations leading to the peaceful atmosphere we are enjoying today. I salute the gallantry recently displayed by your troops to ensure that the Yuletide season was celebrated with minimal security challenges.

“As you commence the activities for the year 2023, let me remind you of the need to be more focused

Police arrest 3 with 17m fake currency in Kebbi

From Ahmed Idris, Birnin Kebbi

The Kebbi State Police command on 29/01/2023 at about 0910hrs, arrested 3 persons in possession of fake new currency notes worth Seventeen Million Naira (N17,000,000), reasonably suspected to be counterfeit.

The arrest was made by the Police personnel attached to Warrah Police Station with the help of National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW) at Warrah Motor Park.

Addressing journalists on Monday at the headquarters, the

Kebbi State Commissioner of Police Ahmed Magaji Kotangora said that the suspects are: Faruku Zubairu (2) Ibrahim Musa and (3) Salisu Mohammed all ‘m’ of Gungun Tawaye and Chupamini villages, Ngaski LGA respectively.

Investigation has been completed and the suspects will soon be charged to court for prosecution.

The CP stated that on the 29th January, 2023 at about 1200hrs, one Yunusa Adamu ‘m’ aged 25yrs of Bumawa area of Koko town, used to give one Fatima Abdurrahman ‘f’ aged

5yrs, the sum of N 20, N30 and N 50 to lure her into his mother’s room and had sexual intercourse with her. While the suspect threatened to deal with her if she reveals his secret.

Meanwhile, investigations have been concluded and the suspect will be arraigned in court with immediate effect.

“Another conspiracy case happened on the 30th January, 2023 at about 2100hrs, one Yunana Ayuba of Kyaun village, Ngaski LGA, went to Mokoto village, Ngaski LGA, entered into the residence of one Yohana Musa and called his wife named

and determined in confronting emerging challenges. There is no doubt that 2023 is an eventful year, especially considering the political landscape of the country, accentuated by the approaching general elections. I therefore urge you to remain vigilant, apolitical, and steadfast in discharging your constitutional responsibilities. I further implore you to remain proactive, professional and above all prayerful in your approach to divergent situations which may arise,” El-Rufai said.

2023 UTME: JAMB arrest 15 collaborators for alleged malpractice

By Maryam Abeeb

The Registrar of the Board, Prof. Ishaq Oloyede, has disclosed that in the cause of registration, 15 culprits were discovered and apprehended to be defrauding the process.

He made this known at the end of a joint monitoring exercise with the Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Education, Mr David Adejo, in Abuja .

According to him, the culprits have been apprehended and were currently detained.

He noted that no fewer than 1.6 million candidates have been registered for the 2023 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examinations (UTME) at the close of the registration.

He also disclosed that registration for direct entry candidates commenced this Monday.

According to him, “So far we have registered about 1.6 million candidates because we do not expect more than that, and that is because the direct entry starts today.

“We have the challenge of the normal people who want to defraud the process as we have been monitoring what has been happening.

We are ahead of them even when they think they are clever.”

Abigail Yohana to the backyard of his house. When sighted, the husband, Yohana Musa, called his brothers namely; Bawa Yawani, Solomon Moses and Luka Musa all ‘m’ of the same address, they pursued and lynched Yunana Ayuba into a state of coma. On receipt of the report, a team of Policemen was mobilized to the scene; they removed the victim and rushed him to General Hospital, Warrah, where a Medical Doctor certified him dead.

“The suspects have confessed to crime and will soon be charged to court for prosecution”, he said.

The Permanent Secretary in his remarks said that there was a need to extend the registration to give others faced with the challenge of naira redesigning the opportunity to register.

“This is especially because the registration process is dependent on bank operations and we’ve not had the top level of bank operations in the last two to three weeks for understandable reasons,” he said.”

Adejo noted that before the extension of registration for one week, JAMB had actually registered about 98 percent of candidates, saying that no one would be left behind in its registration process.

Gov. Aminu Waziri Tambuwal (2ndleft) His Deputy, Hon. Manir Muhammad Dan’iya (left) Sokoto State PDP Governorship Candidate, Mallam Saidu Umar (4thright), his running mate, Hon. Sagir Bafarawa (3rdright), with others, during the PDP Governorship Campaign rally at Gudu Local Government area of Sokoto State, yesterday

From Mustapha Adamu, Kano

Afaction of Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, led by Shehu Wada Sagagi has collapsed its entire structure to join the New Nigeria Peoples Party, NNPP, barely six days to the presidenational and national assembly elections.

The PDP executive members decided to dump the party as a result of improper internal democracy and nepotism by the national leadership of the party.

In a grand rally on Sunday, the National Chairman of the NNPP Prof. Rufa’i Alkali and

2023: Adamawa state INEC receives 4,104 BVAS,IRev technology for Saturday election

From Umar Dankano,Yola

Ahead of the 2023 general elections, the Independent National Electoral Commission,INEC Adamawa state Chapter has taken delivery of 4,104 Bimodal Voter Accreditation System(BVAS).

Resident Electoral Commissioner in charge of the state (Adamawa),Barrister Hudu Yunusa Ali disclosed the development at a press conference in Yola Monday explaining that additional 275 BVAS are expected from the INEC headquarters as a back up.

Barrister Ali said the commission will deploy all the configured BVAS to all the 21 local government areas this midweek for charging in readiness for the election noting that it will also deploy technology for transmitting election results from the polling units known as “IRev”.

Ali confirmed the receipt of non- sensitive materials from the Zonal office in Gombe state including ballot boxes,Voting cubicles,Election bags,Liquid gum,colour printer,maintenance kits,Toners,and Micro Dry Dip,First aid kits among others.

“Over 80% of our nonsensitive materials have been supplied and moved to the 21 LGAs in the state while sensitive materials for the 25th Febuary,2023 presidential/ NASS election has been delivered to the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Yola.

PDP faction collapses structure to join NNPP in Kano

the party’s deputy presidential candidate, Bishop Isaac Idahosa received the decampees in Kano.

Speaking at the rally, Sagagi said himself, along with 36 Kano state executive members of the PDP, over 700 local government executives, over 8,000 ward executives, 44 national delegates

and 1,452 ward delegates have joined the NNPP.

“Politics is game of numbers, we are optimistic that Sen. Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso would take us to victory at both national and state level” said Mr Sagagi.

He further accused the PDP for sabotaging itself in states

like Kano by allowing the likes of Sen. Kwankwaso to dump the party despite their massive followership not only in the state but the nation at large.

“To us this is a home coming, we are real politicians and we have joine a political party that plays the real politics, I am today

very much happy rejoining Sen. Kwankwaso once again a year after our departure”

In a statement issued by Sanusi Bature Dawakin Tofa, Chief Spokesperson of the NNPP Campaign Council in Kano state quoted the NNPP national chairman congratulating the

2023: Action Alliance distances self from adoption of Atiku

From: Femi Oyelola, Kaduna

An opposition party, Action Alliance (AA), has disclaimed the purported adoption of former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar as its presidential candidate in the Saturday’s election. This was contained in a statement by the National Chairman of AA, Dr Adekunle Omo-Aje, and made available to the media in Kaduna yesterday.

The statement insisted that the party, neither had such arrangement nor did it plan to adopt any other person in the place of its presidential candidate.

Recalled that AA, led by the sacked national chairman, Mr Kenneth Udeze, alongside other four political parties, had, on Saturday, adopted Mr Abubakar as their presidential candidate for the Feb. 25 poll. Other parties included Allied Peoples

Movement (APM), African Democratic Congress (ADC), Action, Peoples Party (APP) and National Rescue Movement (NRM).

But while reacting to the claims, Omo-Aje said: “Our attention has been drawn to a fabrication and fraudulent arrangement, purportedly with some named political parties touching on stepping down for presidential candidate of People Democratic Party Alhaji Atiku

Abubakar.

“We make bold here to say emphatically that our party, Action Alliance, has no such arrangement at all, nor was anything as such ever contemplated among our ranks.

“This is to further reiterate for the umpteenth time that our party, Action Alliance, is never thinking of any kind of collaboration with any political party or any candidate whatsoever.”

Mustapha Lamido disburses 6,000 liters of fertilizer to farmers

From Mika’il Tsoho, Dutse

The Jigawa state gubernatorial candidate of People’s Democratic Party (PDP), Alhaji Mustapha Sule Lamido disbursed 6,000 liters of agro-fertilizer to farmers in the state.

Speaking during the disbursement held at his campaign office in Dutse, Alhaji

Mustapha Sule Lamido who was represented by his running mate Alhaji Babandi Gumel said, over 365 farmer’s associations will benefit from the fertilizer.

According to him, this is part of effort to unite Jigawa people, and a move to fight against hunger as well as to boost the economy of teeming population of the state.

Alhaji Mustapha Sule

Lamido added that, the 6,000 liters fertilizer will be distribute to all farmers in the state, regardless of what political party the farmer came from.

He then urged the beneficiaries to use the fertilizer appropriately to achieve the desired goal of fight against hunger in the state.

While making his remarks, the agricultural consultant

who was assigned to lead the distribution, Alhaji Muhammad Ahmad Adamu said, the fertilizer will be disburse across three Senatorial zones adding that, North-east zone will take the larger share.

The agricultural consultant explained that, the 500 cartoons of fertilizer contained 6,000 litres that would cover about 3,000 hectres of farm.

President Muhammadu Buhari during a meeting with Ethiopian Airlines Board Chairman Girma Wake in Addis Ababa, yesterday.

Photo: State House

Ensue peace as elections approach, Anglican Bishop charges Nigerians

The Bishop of Ibadan Anglican Diocese, Most Rev. Joseph Akinfenwa, on Monday urged the Church and Nigerians to keep their peace and not to lose hope at the approach of the 2023 elections.

Akinfenwa gave the advice in his pastoral message to the Church and to country in Ibadan where he noted that the past few weeks had been quite traumatic for most Nigerians.

He blamed the trauma on fuel and cash scarcity.

“In several places nationwide, the frustration has boiled over, and outbreaks of violence have been the consequence.

“As we approach general elections, however, we hereby appeal to all Nigerians to please remain calm in the face of all provocations.

“As a people, we have been through a lot in times past, and we have always

proven ourselves to be a very resilient people. Time has come for us to demonstrate that resilience once again.

“Let us encourage one another to eschew violence, to keep the peace, and to resist every machination or manipulation to incite upheaval so that the general elections would not hold.

“In the face of widespread deprivation of cash, let us resort to our native communality and generosity; and at least for these few days let us reenact Acts 2:44-47 and Acts 4:32,’’ he stated.

44 And all that believed were together, and had all things common;

45 And sold their possessions and goods, and parted them to all men, as every man had need.

46 And they, continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house,

did eat their meat with gladness and singleness of heart.

47 Praising God and having favour with all the people. And the Lord added to the Church daily such as should be saved.

Acts 4:32 states: All the believers were one in heart and mind. No one claimed that any of their possessions was their own, but they shared everything they had.

“Let us share with one another out of the little that we have, and ensure that extreme hunger and or frustration does not tip our neighbours over,’’ Akinfenwa added. He advised that rather than allowing on-going adversity to incite us against one another, Nigerians should bond together in love across ethnic and religious boundaries, focusing on supporting one another to overcome the adversity.

Vote Obi for youth, sports development

The Ibadan Anglican Bishop recalled periods in Nigeria’s history when agents of evil exploited Nigerians vulnerability to set them against one another, to set back the nation, and to truncate the will of the people.

“Do not let us allow them this time around. As a people, let us unite to say no to provocation and incitement, and to insist on peaceful change and democratic transition according to civilised norms.

“On account of this, let us by all means remain peaceful and law-abiding, while trusting that government shall keep faith with the election timetable.

“When we go to the polls on Feb. 25 and March 11, let us vote according to the dictates of our conscience, and in tandem with our collective desire for a better Nigeria.

Rojenny Stadium MD urges sports enthusiasts

Rommy Ezeonwuka, the Managing Director of Rojenny Stadium and Games Village, Oba in Idemili South LGA of Anambra has urged sports loving Nigerians to vote massively for Mr Peter Obi, the presidential candidate of the Labour Party.

Ezeonwuka, in a statement made available in Awka on Monday, said Nigerians should vote Obi in the interest of the nation’s talented youths and of the growth of the sports sector.

He said Peter Obi’s contributions to the sports sector both as a governor of Anambra and a private citizen had remained uncelebrated.

Ezeonwuka said Obi not only built sports infrastructure in Anambra but was the first governor to visit Rojenny Stadium and approved grant for upgrading of the facilities at the stadium.

According to him, when Peter Obi came to Rojenny he said that the person who invested such an amount of his personal money on sports facility should be recognised as one of the highest developers of Nigeria youth talents.

“Peter Obi loves sports, he represents the best interest of sports among all the candidates, so as an authority in the development of sports in Nigeria, I endorse him and call on all lovers of sports to vote massively for him.

“As a governor, Peter Obi built two mini stadiums, the Chuba Ikpeazu Stadium and Godwin Achebe stadium from scratch at a time when Anambra did not have a playground not to talk of stadium.

“He went further to commence the Awka Township Stadium and built it to a point before leaving office.

“Under Peter Obi, school sports and state sports festivals were regular and a lot of talented athletes were discovered,” he said.

Ezeonwuka said that if well developed, the sports sector could be used to create wealth opportunities as the United States of America, Jamaica and Brazil had done for their youth.

He said Nigeria needed a president who would give priority to sports as an

L-R: Commissioner for Finance and Economy Development, Mr Akin Oyebode; Ekiti State Governor, Mr Biodun Oyebanji; Head of New Product Experiment, Meta, Emeka Okafor; and a Beneficiary , Omotade Omolade; during the launch of Ekiti State Digital Skills Academy and presentation of 100 units of laptop computers, yesterday in Ado Ekiti.

PDP presidential campaign rally in Rivers cancelled to avert bloodshed, by Atiku

By Lateef Ibrahim, Abuja

Presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Alhaji Atiku has explained that the decision to cancel PDP presidential campaign in Rivers State was to avert bloodshed.

Atiku made the explanation during a meeting he had with Rivers State Stakeholders on Sunday night in Abuja.

The PDP presidential flag bearer, who pointedly declared that his political ambition was not worth the blood of any Nigerian, stressed that the PDP presidential campaign rally was shelved to avert possible unleash violent attacks on PDP supporters by enemies of the party during the aborted rally.

Atiku stated that the unique means of meeting with Rivers PDP leaders in Abuja was a sacrifice he has to make for the sake of the nation’s democratic process.

In his words, “Although, we did not wish for this, it became expedient that we think and act innovatively to protect the lives of our people from the mindless violence and bloodshed instigated

by the very persons who have the primary responsibility for their security and wellbeing.

“Our campaign and indeed the PDP subscribe fully to the position that no political ambition is worth the blood of any Nigerian.”

“Clearly, events on the ground in Rivers State and this gathering here at the insistence of our Rivers PDP family, confirm the historic relationship between me and Rivers state,” he said.

Atiku made it clear that his relationship with the people of Rivers State has endured for decades, stressing that he was not surprised that Rivers State and Rivers people are bound by destiny to be critical stakeholders and beneficiaries of the Atiku/Okowa presidency in multiple ways.

He reassured Rivers people that the state will regain its preeminent position in the governance and politics of Nigeria.

Amongst other dividends to be expected, he said the transportation infrastructure in Rivers State will receive priority attention.

The PDP presidential campaign assured further, “the existing seaports will be expanded to

increase economic activities that will have multiplier effect on the economy of Rivers State for the prosperity of our people.

“The uncompleted rail line from Onne Port to join the Port Harcourt – Maiduguri rail line, which has been on the drawing board for decades will be completed speedily, while the deep seaport in Bonny will receive immediate attention.

“The completion of the East West Road will be a cardinal priority commitment for our presidency. The international airport in Port Harcourt will receive increased attention and investment to become a truly regional hub.

“The youth of Rivers State, like other states in the Niger Delta will benefit from our dedicated economic empowerment scheme as a means of dealing with the persistent youth restiveness and discontent which has sometimes created security challenges.

“Among other initiatives, the Presidential Amnesty Programme (PAP) will be revamped and restructured to become an enduring platform for unleashing the boundless creative energies and potentials of our youth in Rivers

State.

“Our recovery agenda for Nigeria has a front row seat for Rivers women who are brilliant, talented and hardworking. The women of Rivers State will benefit from our special entrepreneurial funding targeted at women in addition to being considered for appointments to various offices.

“As a corporate citizen of Rivers State for many decades, I know that Rivers people appreciate that an Atiku presidency is inherently in their best interests, which is why you have made it your own project at great human and material sacrifice”, he said.

The PDP presidential candidate assured that their sacrifice and support will be fully rewarded with good governance that will allow their aspirations to be realized.

He, however, urged Rivers PDP members to keep the faith, even in the face of harassment and needless violent intimidation, turn out massively on Saturday, 25th February, 2023 and cast their votes as usual for PDP.

“I assure you that your sacrifice and support will be fully rewarded,” he promised.

2023; ACF urges media to douse tension during elections

From: Femi Oyelola, Kaduna

The Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF) has urged the Media to play a responsible role in reporting to douse any tension that may arise as a consequence of the forthcoming elections and results.

The Secretary General of the Forum Murtala M. Aliyu stated this in a press statement made available to the media in Kaduna yesterday.

The ACF Secretary General explained that some 93 million Nigerians will go to the polls to elect a new President, 31 State Governors, 469 Members of the National Assembly, and 990 Members of the 36 State Houses of Assembly.

According to him, there is is no doubt that this is a gigantic and important exercise and Nigerians hope and pray that the elections will be held peacefully, and will produce outcomes that will help take the country closer to its main development goals of building a free, just, democratic, and egalitarian society.

Gov Sule prioritizes security, rural roads

From Gambo Ahmed Lafia

Patriotic Visioners Foundation sensitizes Benue Schools on ‘Save The Child Initiative’

From Uche Nnorom, Makurdi

The National Schools Security and Emergency Response Initiative of the Federal Government has been launched in Benue State.

The event was organized

by the Patriotic Visioners Foundation, PVF, under the Save the Benue Child, Save and Violence Free School Initiative.

Head of Project, PVF Obenoh Jonah explained that the program was aimed at sensitizing schools in the State in ensuring

safe learning environment.

He decried that non safety of schools affects enrolment especially amongst the girl child, averring the need to evolve implementable actions as well as curriculum for safer schools in the State.

Benue State Commandant, Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps Philip Okoh said the initiative is domiciled under the outfit which had gone ahead to train a female Strike Force to tackle attacks on schools in the country.

Count down to the general polls, Nasarawa state Governor Engr Abdullahi Sule has reassured the people of the state of his total commitment and the continued effort toward tackling insecurity as well as the construction of rural roads to communities if given the second mandate.

He made the pledge during a Town Hall meetings held in Agbashi Town of Ekye Development Area and ASsakio Town of Lafia East Development Area at the weekend.”

“You should be watchful with those bad elements who want to create disunity amongst you.”

L-R: Former President South Africa/Lader of the delegation of the Commonwealth Observers Group, Mr. Thabo Mbeki, with Chairman, Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, during the visit of Commonwealth Observers Group visit to the Commission, yesterday in Abuja. Photo: Mahmud Isa

3 guber candidates dump parties to join ADP in Kano

From Mustapha Adamu Kano

Three governorship candidates in Kano state have dropped their ambitions and joined forces with the ADP governorship candidate, Sha’aban Ibrahim Sharada, according to statement by Abbas Yushau Yusuf, pokesperson for the ADP Gubernatorial Campaign Council in the state.

The candidates, who shelved their ambition and endorsed Sharada for the March 11 governorship elections are Furera Ahmad of the Booth Party

(BP), Ashatu Mahmud of the National Reformation Party (NRM), and Ibrahim Muhammad of the All People’s Party (APP).

Also, the Deputy Governorship candidate of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), Abdussalam Gwarmai, has withdrawn his ambition and joined Sha’aban in his effort to rescue Kano.

Receiving the candidates, according to the statement, Sharada, the Kano ADP governorship candidate and a member of the House of Representatives for

the Municipal Federal Constituency, Honourable welcomed the three candidates in their effort to join forces with him to rescue Kano.

He told them that the moment he is sworn in as governor of Kano State, he is going to hit the ground running by going about civil service work and reform through reward and punishment.

“Honorable Sha’aban Sharada added that next week he is going to inaugurate a digital platform for empowerment where 50 thousand people are going to

be empowered in Kano.

“The ADP Governorship candidate also challenged Ganduje’s administration to explain to the people of Kano what his government did with the bailout funds of President Muhammad Buhari’s administration,” the statement reads in parts.

In their separate remarks, Mrs Mahmud of NRP and Mrs Ahmad of the Booth Party said they decided to forego their ambitions and support Sharada because he has programs for women and orphans with his good intentions.

The Representative of the National Coordinator / CEO AUDA-NEPAD / APRM, Mr. Hakeem Akande (middle) with the Cross section Participants and other stakeholders, during the Nation- Wide Workshop on effective Implementation of the National Programme of Action / Sensitization and awareness campaign on violence Free Election, Organise by AUDA- NEPAD, held yesterday in Abuja.

Ecobank Kenya appoints Josephine Anan-Ankomah as new MD

Ecobank Transnational Incorporated (ETI) has appointed Ghanaian career banker, Mrs Josephine Anan-Ankomah as the Regional Executive, Central, Eastern and Southern African (CESA) and Managing Director, Ecobank Kenya.

Her appointment has since received clearance from the Central Bank of Kenya, a statement by the Ecobank Kenya said on Monday.

Anan-Ankomah leaves her role as Ecobank Group Executive, Commercial Banking, replacing Cheikh Travaly who retired in December 2022 after 21 years at the bank.

She has served the Bank for the past 30 years in various capacities and replaces Mr Cheikh Travaly who retired at the end of 2022 after attaining the mandatory retirement age of 60 years in accordance with Ecobank Group policy.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Anan-Ankomah, who is a Fellow of the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants, holds an MBA in Finance and a Bachelor of Arts in Economics and Sociology, both from the

University of Ghana.

She will be responsible for leading and growing the Bank’s business in Kenya and the wider CESA region constituting 18 out of 33 Ecobank affiliates and one representative office.

Her career in Ecobank began at Ecobank Ghana in 1992 following her appointment as a Treasury Officer.

She has held other senior positions within the bank, such as Managing Director for Ecobank Gambia, Regional Treasurer – (Ghana, Liberia, Sierra Leone, Guinea and The Gambia), Chief Operating Officer – (Ecobank West African Monetary Zone/East & Southern Africa).

She had been Head of Corporate Strategy and Business Development (Ecobank Ghana) and Head – Investment Banking Group (Ecobank Ghana).

Anan-Ankomah wields a wealth of experience in treasury management, commercial banking, investment banking and possesses a sharp business acumen that will immensely benefit the Bank.

Ecobank Kenya Board of Directors Chairman, Mr Martin Mbogo, said: “The

Board of Ecobank Kenya congratulates Josephine on her appointment.

“We are confident that Josephine is the right person for the role and has what it takes to further boost the Ecobank brand in Kenya and the CESA region to even greater heights.

“She is a leader with a proven track record of execution, great leadership skills and a deep understanding of customer dynamics, our products, and markets.”

Accepting her appointment, AnanAnkomah said: “It is an honour to serve as Ecobank Kenya’s Managing Director and Group Executive for the CESA Region.

“I look forward to working with the Board, management and fellow Ecobankers to grow our business in Kenya and leverage the vast opportunities within the region to actualise Ecobank’s broader vision of fostering financial and economic integration.”

While thanking Travaly for his immense contribution and dedication to the Group for more than 21 years of service, outgoing Ecobank Group CEO,

Ade Ayeyemi said the former Ecobank Kenya MD was instrumental in turning around the Kenyan and regional business especially after the COVID-19 pandemic and a prolonged economic slowdown.

Ayeyemi said: “Ecobank’s performance in the CESA region is a testament to Cheick’s turnaround capabilities.

“Following Cheick’s restructuring efforts, CESA’s Return on Equity (ROE) rose from a low of 2.3 percent in 2016 to 22.3 percent in 2021. Under his leadership, Ecobank Kenya’s Profitability rose from KES 127 million in 2019 to KES 677 million in 2021.

“Josephine will be building on this performance to elevate Ecobank to a position of leadership in the region.”

On his part, Travaly said: “It has been a privilege serving Ecobank for over 21 years as well as leading the Kenyan team and the regional business back to steady performance.

“I wish Josephine great success as she assumes the leadership of Ecobank Kenya and the CESA region,” he said. (NAN)

Photo: Justin Imo-owo

Elections 2023: IPI Nigeria writes security agencies on journalists’ safety

By Ochiaka Ugwu

The Nigerian National Committee of the International Press Institute (IPI) has asked the Nigerian government and all security agencies in the country to respect the constitutional rights of journalists to freely cover and report on the

Fulani group promises 7 million votes for Kola Abiola

Sen. Aliyu Wamakko (APC-Sokoto North) says the party’s presidential candidate, Sen. Boils Tinubu will win Saturday’s poll at first ballot.

This is contained in a statement issued on Monday in Abuja by Dr Danladi Bako, Chairman, Publicity Committee, Sokoto State APC gubernatorial campaign council.

”The Leader of APC and former Governor of the State, Sen. Aliyu Wammako has reaffirmed that Tinubu will not only win the presidential ticket in the state, but will on the first ballot in the Feb. 25 presidential race.

Bako said: ”’Wamakko, who was speaking to newsmen on Sunday in Sokoto commended President Muhammadu Buhari for endorsing Tinubu for president even while out of the country in Addis Ababa.”

He quoted Wamakko as reiterating that Buhari has not only shown his astute leadership qualities but has also boosted the ego of all APC members across the country as we march towards Saturday’s general elections.

”Sen. Wamakko, who is also the APC Senatorial candidate for Sokoto North assured Nigerians that he will not only win his seat but will also ensure that the party wins all tthreehe Senatorial seats in Sokoto as well as majority of the House of Representatives seats.

“He reaffirmed that the Sokoto State Government House will be occupied by the APC by May 29 , 2023,” Bako added.

It will be recalled that APC had a very successful Presidential and Governorship rally in the state last week.(NAN)

general elections commencing this Saturday, 25 February, 2023, without obstruction or impediment.

In separate letters to heads of all security organisations in the country and the electoral management body, IPI Nigeria reminded the agencies that just as they are duty bound to ensure the elections are conducted peacefully, journalists are also under duty to keep the public informed.

The letters, which were jointly signed by the IPI Nigeria President, Musikilu Mojeed, and its Legal and Advocacy Officer, Tobi Soniyi, were addressed to the Inspector General of Police, the Director General, State Security Service (SSS), the Commandant General of the Nigerian Security and Civil

Defence Corps (NSCDC) and the Chief of Defence Staff.

Similar letters were written to the Minister of Information and Culture, the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, as well as the Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

Citing the 1999 Constitution, as amended, precisely Section 39(1) and (2), Article 9 of the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights and Article 19 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, which also guarantee this right, IPI Nigeria reminded the agencies that journalists are under legal obligation to cover the elections.

A press statement signed by IPI Nigeria Secretary, Ahmed I. Shekarau, quoted

the organisation’s president and legal officer as stating that: “When journalists cover elections, they are performing a constitutional duty. Just like it behoves on security agencies to protect lives and property, journalists are duty bound to provide the public with accurate information not just during elections but at all times”.

The Nigerian chapter of the global media body emphasized that to discharge their statutory responsibility, journalists must be allowed to go about their business freely and must have unrestricted access to cover the elections, stressing that “When journalists are allowed to cover elections, transparency is enhanced, thereby resulting in credible elections”.

IPI Nigeria said that since

the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has accredited journalists to enable them cover the elections, security operatives must not obstruct such journalists from performing their constitutional duty.

The media body further requested the security operatives and INEC to ensure the safety of journalists during the elections.

“Our organisation will take every legitimate measure to hold to account anyone whose action or inaction leads to the violation of the rights of any journalists during the electioneering period and afterwards,” the letter to the government, security agencies and INEC said.

MNCHW: Kano govt targets 2.8m children for 2023 campaign

From Mustapha Adamu, Kano

The Kano state government and health development partners in the state are going to target 2.8 million children on the first round of 2023 Maternal Newborn and Child Health Week.

This was made known by the Commissioner for Health, Dr Aminu Ibrahim Tsanyawa at a press briefing on the Maternal Newborn and Child Health Week (MNCHW) campaigns on Monday in Kano.

The campaign which will take place from Monday 20th February to 24th February

2023 is targetting 2.8 million children that are under 5 years

of age and 400,000 pregnant wonen.

“The Kano state government along with health development partners will spend about N1 billion on 2.8 million children and 400,000 pregnant women in the 44 local government areas of the state” he said.

Addressing newsmen earlier, the commissioner gave a breakdown of the activities he described as cost effective and of high impact.

“The MNCHW campaign is a high impact, cost effective, and client centered maternal child health and nutrition intervention aimed at reaching out to all women and children of the state with intensified

maternal and health services.

“It is a week-long intervention during which free services such as vitamin A supplementation, deworming, nutritional assessement, free antenatal drugs such as fesolate and folic acid for prevention of anemia in pregnancy, free zin and ORS will be distributed to parents, care givers, children and pregnant women across the state.

“Other services include distribution of free insecticide treated nets to children and pregnant women as one of the effective malaria control strategies, family planning services, immunization against killer diseases, nutritional

SSANU elects officials in UniAbuja

By Usman Shuaibu

The Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities (SSANU), University of Abuja Chapter has elected nine executives to pilot the affairs of the association for four years.

Some of the elected executive members are Mr. Nurudeen Yusuf; Chairman, Rita Ngoba Ikiroma; Vice-Chairman, Acc Amdii Amdii; Secretary and the position of public

Relations Officer (PRO) went to Mohammed Sani El-Yaqub.

In an interview with newsmen after the election, the newly elected chairman of the association, Mr. Nurudeen Yusuf, said his leadership would carry the members of the association along in the affairs of things.

He also said he would not hesitate to work hand in hand with the management of the University to fight for the welfare of the staff at all times.

He further charged the entire

members to co-operate with him in order to move the association to the next level, and called for the support and unity of all the members.

Nurudeen, however, appealed to those who lost the election to join hands with him for the overall progress of the association.

Also speaking, the Public Relations Officer of the association, Mr. Mohammed Sani El-Yaqub, said he would always work towards the unity of

assessment and other health promotion interventions” he explained.

On how it will take place, the commissioner further explained that the services will be provided in all the more than 1300 health facilities of the state as part of the continuous commitment of the state government in improving the maternal and child health indices in the state.

On how it will take place, the commissioner further explained that the services will be provided in all the more than 1300 health facilities of the state as part of the continuous commitment of the state government in improving the maternal and child health indices in the state.

the association.

He then pointed out that he would be relating with the executives as well as the members of the association for the sake of togetherness.

El-Yaqub, therefore, advised members to burry their differences and work for the oneness of the association.

However, it was observed that the voters conducted themselves peacefully and voted for the candidates of their choice without rancor and acrimony.

Election and it’s great corollary on a nation

By Kasali Oluwasegun Oluwajuwon

The ability to have a say in who runs your government is a human right. Without voting people cannot participate in government. Voting matters because human rights matter. Speaking of how much things cost, voting also has a direct effect on our money.

According to Harry Emerson Fosdick, ”Democracy is based upon the conviction that there are extraordinary possibilities in ordinary people.” We have heard a lot of people complained about bad governance, yet they do not vote those they call the good one. We have seen bad people call others bad, then who is the bad person? Election is a formal and organized process of electing or being elected, especially of members of a political body. Voting is a formal indication of a choice between two or more candidates or courses of action, expressed typically through a ballot or a show of hands or by voice. In subsequent paragraphs emphasis will be made on the reason why voting is important. Voting protects democracy, voting impacts the present and the future, and voting is part of protecting human rights.

First off, one of the characteristics of democracy is by voting leaders. Democracy is a system of government by the whole population or all the eligible members of a state, typically through elected representatives. According to Larry J. Sabato, ”Every election is determined by the people who show up.” The more people vote, the more their voices will be heard. The more people participate in elections, the more it is important they are well represented by whoever they choose as their leader. Generally, people who choose not to vote fall into “several camps,” says Leonie Huddy; a professor and the chair of the department of political science at Stony Brook University and an expert in the psychology of elections.

Moving on, voting impacts the present and the future. If the people fail to vote, the the chance of having a bad leader becomes high, which will in turn affect the present and the future of the country. If the people did not vote, and the politician go ahead to pay some people to buy their votes from them at the end of the political rally, once he or she gets into power such person is likely not to care about the people. But if the people vote their candidate without being paid

Tinubu’s coldest war

By Gimba Kakanda

The blade Buhari brandishes at Bola Tinubu is a two-faced weapon. Despite being willing to play down the electoral ramifications and cast aside his former ally, the other side of this weapon cuts open his true nature: a selfish and entitled individual who exploits the suffering of the less fortunate without any genuine intention of alleviating their hardship.

In June 2022, Senator Bola Tinubu took to the stage in Abeokuta, Ogun State, amidst rumours of a conspiracy to eliminate him from the APC presidential primaries. The former Lagos State governor addressed the gathered delegates with a confident “Emi lo kan,” emphasizing his contributions to the party and asserting his deserving position as a potential presidential flag-bearer of the party. This audacious display, paired with the fervent endorsement from his would-be running mate, Senator Kashim Shettima, in a widely-analysed Channels TV interview, set the tone for an election predicted to be hijacked by certain powers in Abuja. Their resort to blowing the whistle before the crime was, at first, dreaded as the end of the road for them, but it garnered the intended sympathy, resulting in a convincing victory against formidable odds.

The same historic town is the venue of Tinubu’s enigmatic declaration last week, while canvassing for votes ahead of the forthcoming elections. He aimed his words at “the traitors who wanted to contest with us,” reminding his audience of his innocence in their economic struggles. “Let them increase the price of fuel,” he declared, adding that “only they know where they have hoarded it.” In reference to the timing of the Naira redesign, Tinubu proclaimed with confidence, “Their plans will come to nothing. We are going to win.” With his bold words and unwavering resolve, Tinubu sought to rally the voters of Abeokuta to his cause.

Tinubu’s actions and words in Abeokuta were a response to the prevalent attempts to thwart his political aspirations. These events brought to light the perceived lack of gratitude for the sacrifices he made in support of President Buhari, including using his extensive resources to secure Buhari’s victory in the 2015 primaries held in Lagos, where Tinubu held significant influence. Additionally, he stood steadfastly by President Buhari in the face of the formidable challenge posed by Atiku Abubakar of the PDP in the 2019 elections.

But the most significant obstacle in Tinubu’s

political journey remains unnamed, for political expediency. This individual, none other than President Buhari himself, seems to have been at Cold War with Tinubu. Despite Tinubu’s support for Buhari in previous elections, the president failed to repay the favour ahead of the presidential primaries last year. Moreover, Buhari’s recent implementation of policies and programmes that negatively impact the masses, seemingly done with ease, can be attributed to his lack of presence on the ballot paper this year and his motives are not difficult to discern.

President Buhari had seven years to authorise the redesign of the Naira notes, but instead chose to do so during an election period, despite the potential consequences of inciting public anger towards his government. This calculated decision is seen by some as an attempt to undermine not only the general voting public, but also the presidential candidate of his own party. The fashion in which the Central Bank of Nigeria’s governor, Godwin Emefiele, has implemented the new and scarce Naira notes in the midst of widespread public opposition, further confirms the perception that Tinubu is alone in this war to advertise himself as the best option for Nigeria.

During the midpoint of President Buhari’s first term, there was an expectation for him to sign the Electoral Act Amendment Bill into law. However, he hesitated, as some of the provisions in the bill could potentially harm his chances of re-election. He waited until after he was re-elected before giving his assent. The fuel subsidy regime was also on the brink of ending due to the global instability of oil prices, but as Buhari had an election to win, he refrained from removing the subsidy.

President Buhari is well aware of the impact of anti-people policies on elections. However, as this particular election does not directly involve him, he has displayed a marked indifference towards its outcome. His sudden disregard for the electoral prospects of his party through these ill-timed policies and programmes may be an attempt to demonstrate his self-serving nature to Tinubu, but it has also revealed him as a false progressive who merely feigned support for the masses. Despite this, the masses were too consumed by sectarian sentiments to see through his true intentions, which are now becoming increasingly evident.

The blade Buhari brandishes at Bola Tinubu is a two-faced weapon. Despite being willing to play down the electoral ramifications and cast aside his former ally, the other side of this weapon cuts open

to vote then they can question their leader when the leader is not doing what the people want. The more the people vote and participate in politics the more their leaders know what they want. A leader will work on the country economy if that is what the people want, and not to change the country’s currency when the country is suffering bad economy.

In conclusion, voting is part of protecting human rights. According to Peggy Noonan, ”Our political leaders will know our priorities only if we tell them, again and again, and if those priorities begin to show up in the polls. The ability to have a say in who runs your government is a human right. Without voting people cannot participate in government. Voting matters because human rights matter. Speaking of how much things cost, voting also has a direct effect on our money. Voting holds leaders accountable, in places where voters fill out the government. It is the people’s right to vote, so voting matters. A vote is not only a fundamental right, it is a weapon in the hands of those fighting for justice.

his true nature: a selfish and entitled individual who exploits the suffering of the less fortunate without any genuine intention of alleviating their hardship. The notion that he stands in solidarity with the masses has been nothing more than a facade, and it is shocking that it has taken until now for the truth to become apparent to a majority of the population.

The protesting youths who, according to reports, pelted Buhari’s motorcade and chopper with stones during his visit this week to Kano chose the wrong time, medium, and avenue to demonstrate their anger. The North, unfortunately, has no moral justification to hold Buhari to account with only a few months left in his eight-year reign. His trademark indifference to national tragedies and grievances now is as dreadful as it was ahead of the 2019 elections, and, despite that, he was given a second chance overwhelmingly across the region. It’s one perplexing case of Stockholm Syndrome that is now coming to a close.

Buhari’s misreading of the Nigerian room cannot be attributed solely to the idolising support from the North, including the youthful protesters in Kano. It must be shared among those who have allowed his actions to go unchecked and excused his excesses. This enabling attitude is the reason he’s operated in an insulated environment, oblivious to the pleas, frustrations and cries of a nation that yearns for his presence and voice when they matter. Buhari’s last dance is painful to watch because he’s not the same advertised ascetic his enablers met in 2003, 2007, 2011, 2015, and 2019. This Buhari no longer dances to impress. So, the protest in Kano is as ill-timed as recolouring the Naira. The youths in Kano were merely asking to board a plane that had long taken off.

Tinubu’s good fortune in this long and winding road to Aso rock lies not only in his ability to recognise President Buhari’s self-interest before he officially announced his intention to succeed him, before reminding his party that it’s “Emi lo kan” season,” but also in his prior establishment of a strong network of allies and a formidable political pedigree to lock horns with his major challenger, Atiku Abubakar of the PDP. He’s not the only individual in Nigeria having a bitter taste of Buhari’s peculiar loyalty, the vast majority of Nigerians are also left to regret their unwavering support for his serial presidential dreams.

Gimba Kakanda is a Public Policy Analyst.

Kasali Oluwasegun Oluwajuwon is a Public Policy Analyst.

Can next president kill the ethnic cankerworm?

By Azuka Onwuka

Human beings are not born with ethnocentrism, racism, bigotry or xenophobia. We acquire these vices from our environment. Those who acquire true education – not just that which is available in classrooms – either refuse to acquire these vices, or drop them when they become conscious of the worthlessness of possessing such vices.

Ethnic divisions and supremacy contests have been a challenge for Nigeria since the 1914 amalgamation of the Southern and Northern Protectorates by the British. However, many analysts are unanimous in their view that the leadership style of the President, Major General Muhammadu Buhari (retd), has worsened a bad situation. In addition to the challenges of insecurity, strained economy, and huge debt, one huge challenge the next president of Nigeria will face is that of eradicating the ethnic cankerworm.

Most Nigerians have grown up with the implantation that their ethnic group is superior to others. Nigeria is not alone in this. The greatest threat to world peace is the belief that one’s religion or culture is the best and that it must be foisted on others willy-nilly. It has been the biggest hindrance to Nigeria’s unity and peace even from pre-independence days. Sometimes, it manifests in violence and bloodshed, but most times it manifests in hatred, intolerance and distrust, which are no less dangerous than physical violence.

Even from seemingly educated minds, you regularly hear egocentric comments like: “The Yoruba are the most civilised or most cultured in Nigeria,” “The Igbo are blessed by God and ahead of others in Nigeria,” “The Hausa/Fulani are the most dignified people and blessed with the power to rule,” and “The Niger Deltans are the smartest people in Nigeria.” Those who say this usually castigate other ethnic groups as uncivilised, uncultured, uneducated, uncouth, dumb, and barbaric, while justifying it with a statement like: “This is a simple statement of fact. I don’t pander to sentiments. If you don’t accept it, then you don’t like to hear the truth.”

Tribalists can pretend but can never hide. Their illness manifests at the least “provocation.” For when tribalists or sufferers of xenophobia are offended by Dalung, they respond by attacking Dalung’s people (village, town, state, ethnic group, country, race, continent, or religion). Their comments usually contain “You people” with a derogatory connotation.

But whatever Dalung has said or done was not a collective action of the group he comes from. Everyone from that group cannot be like Dalung. Even if there may be many from Dalung’s

ethnic group who act like him, there must be some others (even if in the minority) who do not act like him. Tarring Dalung’s group with the same brush is unjust, myopic, uncultured and uneducated, yet it is rife in Nigeria.

Education and travelling usually open people’s eyes. An open mind makes one understand other people and see things from their perspectives. For example, a close-minded Nigerian will think that the Hindu man in India is foolish for not killing the cow or eating its meat. Such a person would imagine how tasty and delicious the suya, kilishi, and pepper soup, made from beef, are, and then wonder why sane people should ever think of denying themselves such.

In the same vein, a myopic Yoruba or Hausa who prostrates or kneels down to greet an elder would see an Igbo man or Efik man who stands to greet elders as lacking in respect, while the Igbo or Efik man would see such a Yoruba or Hausa as blasphemous for giving to a mortal an honour only reserved for God. To some Yoruba, greeting an elder without prostrating, kneeling or at least bowing or curtsying is a sign of ill-breeding. But to someone from the old Eastern Nigeria, such acts are reserved only for God. An elder is to be properly greeted, but prostrating or kneeling down is for God alone: not even a king deserves such divine courtesies.

Another example is the bride price. A Nigerian whose people don’t pay any bride price to marry may look down on those who do so as buying their wives. But that is why cultures differ. For example, an Igbo woman whose bride price has not been paid feels miserable and cheap. She may have 10 children with the man, but in the eyes of the man’s kinsmen, the woman has not been married: the two are just cohabiting. It does not matter if they are married in the registry or church. It doesn’t even matter how much the bride price is: it can be N100. You can give your in-laws a car or a house, but if you have not done the rite of paying the bride price, all the children delivered by your so-called wife actually belong to her father, because you have not married her. Many believe that such rigorous practices in Nigerian cultural marriages make marriages more enduring.

Another example is the act of whipping a suitor by the Fulani. You may frown at it but that is their culture. To them, it is a noble part of their culture. They may actually look down at your so-called more civilised culture as that of weaklings who cannot endure pain in a world filled with pain.

When people from outside Delta State, for example, hear that human beings eat starch, they may make a face. But starch is a delicacy, prepared specially and savoured by the people, especially

BRICS: The opponent awe of the West

By Karderinis Isidoros

India is an emerging world power with an ever-growing economy. It is currently the fifth largest economy in the world based on its GDP, while its territory is home to the second largest population in the world, after that of China, reaching close to 1.4 billion people.

Brazil, Russia, India and China originally formed the bloc in 2009 after a series of meetings and understandings. The first BRIC Summit was held in Yekaterinburg, Russia on June 16 of the same year, where the heads of states in question agreed to strengthen dialogue and cooperation between them.

The following year, in Brasilia, Brazil in April 2010, the second Summit was held, where the leaders of these countries emphasized the necessity of a multidimensional global intergovernmental system.

Then, at their third meeting in New York in September 2010, the BRICs agreed on the entry of South Africa. South Africa managed to join after a strong effort as a result of its active foreign policy, this coalition of states changing it from “BRIC” to “BRICS”.

At the Fourth Summit in March 2012 in New Delhi, India, a first announcement was made of the establishment of a New Development Bank (NDB), which was formalized at their Fifth Summit in Durban, South Africa in 2013, with the clear intention ofindependence of BRICS by the International Monetary Fund, the World Bank, the US and the European Union. The agreement for its establishment, after resolving disputes over organizational issues, was finally reached in 2014, during the sixth BRICS meeting in Fortaleza, Brazil.

The BRICS countries comprise 40% of the world’s population, which amounts to over 3.1 billion people. BRICS co-exists countries with different degrees of development and different strategies.

Brazil is the largest country in South America, both in population (about 213 million) and in area, since it occupies 1/3 of South America by itself. It is also the fourth richest country in the Americas in terms of GDP. However, it does not have the appropriate infrastructure (inadequate road and rail network, inadequate port infrastructure, etc.) and in combination with

extreme economic inequality (1 in 4 citizens lives in absolute poverty) do not allow it to emerge as a economic superpower. According to the World Competitiveness Index of the World Economic Forum, Brazil ranked 108th among 137 economies in 2017 in terms of the general quality of its infrastructure. Corruption scandals are also present in the country. Brazil deals with regional issues.

Russia, which is the world’s largest transcontinental country of global influence and a large economy, also possesses the largest nuclear arsenal on the planet and enormous military power, which it has used in Syria and now in Ukraine. Russia provides the best standard of living for its residents, compared to the rest of the BRICS countries, with 3.5% of GDP spent on education and 3.1% on public health. The number of residents living below the poverty line amounts to just 0.2% of its population. The Russian economy suffers, however, from the critical problem of corruption-which exists in all countries to a greater or lesser degree-as well as from the significant lack of banking infrastructure, due to insufficiently developed financial markets, difficulty in obtaining loans and limited investment options.

India is an emerging world power with an ever-growing economy. It is currently the fifth largest economy in the world based on its GDP, while its territory is home to the second largest population in the world, after that of China, reaching close to 1.4 billion people. The country’s GDP growth has been among the highest in the world over the past decade, achieving an annual growth of between 6-7%. However, India has one of the lowest per capita incomes in the world, while facing huge social problems at home due to poverty. India has the lowest percentages of GDP spent on education and health among the BRICS, at 2.7% and 1.2% respectively. India is regionally oriented.

China, which is home to 1.4 billion people, is expanding rapidly with economic penetration in Asia, Latin America, Africa and other regions of the world. It is the economic giant of the East with an annual growth rate of 6.6%, thus threatening the economic primacy of the USA. China has been the world’s leading exporter since 2014. At the same time, China, although it is the second largest economy in the world, remains a middle-

with banga soup. You cannot teach people what to eat and what not to eat, as long as it is not human flesh.

What about those who eat dog meat or snake meat? Before you wince or sneer, ask yourself, is the meat poisonous to human beings? Just as you find beef delicious, so do the Hindus find it a taboo. Just as you find pork tasty and healthy, so do Muslims and Jews find it abominable. The same thing applies to snails for some people.

The bottom line is that no culture is better than the other. People do certain things over the years which become part of their culture. Some of these things are not logical or explicable. But as long as these customs don’t involve the taking of human lives or the exploitation of the weaker members of society, it should be respected by people from outside that culture. Not doing so portrays one as uneducated and crude.

When the children of the Yoruba, Hausa, Igbo, Tiv, Ijaw, or Urhobo play together, there are usually no barriers: no race, no ethnic group, no class, no religion. But as they grow, they are fed with prejudices and consciousness of race, religion, class etc. Some use this consciousness to achieve noble results; others use it to achieve ignoble results.

Here is where the next president of Nigeria should come in. Politicians have exploited the ethnic and religious divides for decades to achieve their narrow goals. To succeed and be a different president, the next president should act differently by making it clear in word and deed that all Nigerians are one and equal. Appointment of aides, siting of projects, fighting of crime, etc, should never be done with any trace of ethnic or religious preference or prejudice.

It will not be easy to eradicate the ethnic and religious cankerworm from the Nigerian blood stream, but if the people see that the president is sincere and even-handed, they will adjust to the new reality. Most Nigerians will even be willing to help in killing that cankerworm anywhere it manifests, as long as they are convinced that the president means well.

Human beings are not born with ethnocentrism, racism, bigotry or xenophobia. We acquire these vices from our environment. Those who acquire true education – not just that which is available in classrooms – either refuse to acquire these vices, or drop them when they become conscious of the worthlessness of possessing such vices. And if we truly want to make this nation grow, many of us need to drop these vices and fight against those who exploit them to cause divisions and bloodshed.

Twitter: @BrandAzuka

income country as its per capita income is still only about a quarter of that of countries with high income and about 375 million Chinese live below the poverty line of $5.50 a day. Finally, corruption appears at particularly high rates. South Africa, due to its geographical position at the southern tip of the continent, which gives it access to two oceans, is a hub country. South Africa is China’s largest trading partner in Africa. At the same time, hundreds of Chinese companies, both stateowned and private, are currently active in the country. South Africa’s economy is the second largest on the African continent behind Nigeria’s. It has natural wealth in gold, silver and coal but also one of the highest rates of inequality in the world. The richest 10% of the population owns about 71% of the net wealth, while the bottom 60% owns 7% of the net wealth. It is a country with particular political weight in Africa as the only African member state of the G20 group, which, however, needs a reform effort for its further economic development.

The BRICS are, therefore, the opposing camp of the West, whether this is expressed politically, by the US-Anglo-Saxon countries-European Union alliance, or militarily, with NATO, or economically, with the international economic organizations of American origin, such as the IMF, the World Bank or the World Trade Organization. The bloc’s strategic direction is close cooperation to effectively and successfully counter the USdominated international financial architecture.

After fifteen years, during which many questioned the viability of the scheme, the existing global balances lead to the enlargement of the bloc. Many countries have expressed their desire to become members of BRICS, such as Argentina, Egypt, Venezuela, Mexico, Iran, Vietnam, Bangladesh and others.

In closing, I would like to emphasize that the agenda of the BRICS, which have succeeded in consolidating their position on the global political and economic scene, leads to the reduction of the dominance of the USA and the Western world in general and to the establishment of a new multipolar reality.

Isidoros Karderinis was born in Athens in 1967. He is a novelist, poet and columnist. He studied economics and completed postgraduate studies in tourism economics

Enemies of democracy using challenges to truncate democracy -AA

From: Femi Oyelola, Kaduna

The Action Alliance Party AA has said the enemies of Nigeria are using the incessant fuel scarcity and inability of the citizens to access the new Naira note to

From Umar Dankano,Yola

Ahead of the Saturday 25th Febuary 2023 general elections, five(5) political parties have adopted the People’s Democratic Party’s (PDP) presidential candidate,Atiku Abubakar as their parties presidential hopeful.

National Chairman of the Allied Peoples Movement, APM, Yusuf Dantalle disclosed the development at the PDP’s presidential campaign grand finale held in Yola.

“We are proud to identify with this movement that will set the country’s democracy to the next level and bring fresh air to Nigerians”.

2023: Five political parties adopt Atiku in Yola NPC partners media for effective coverage

From Gambo Ahmed lafia

Ahead of the National Population Census 2023, the Federal Commissioner representing Nasarawa state Mr Silas Ali Agara has called on the media managers and practitioners in the state to contribute their quota through effective reportage.

Mr Silas made the call at the weekend during a one day capacity building for media executives and Journalists in the state with the aim of creating awareness to the people on the significance of the census and to ensure a smooth conduct of the exercise across the state.

The state NPC commissioner also assured that preparation have reached topgear for the conduct of the census in the state.

truncate the democracy.

The Chairman of the Party, Dr. Adekunle Rufai Omo-Aje, asserted this during a live program aired on Procyon Radio and TV stations Kaduna, yesterday.

According to him, the

deadline for old notes will socially and economically affect vulnerable people in the country.

Omo-Aje berated the Federal Government over the scarcity of three newly redesigned Naira notes,

saying he believes that President Muhammadu Buhari was misled to approve the policy.

He explained that the whole scenario was a part of a long term agenda of these enemies of Nigeria.

L-R: (sitting) Founder, Islamic Research and Da’awah Foundation Ambassador of Peace, Sheikh Mohammad Khalid and the founder, Cardinal Onaiyekan Foundation for Peace (COFP), John Cardinal Onaiyekan, (standing) Participant, Abdullahi Hussein, National President Catholic Women Organisation of Nigeria (CWON), Dame Mary Asibi Gonsun, Women Leader Bachama kingdom of Adamawa State, Eucharia Solomon, Executive Director COFP, Sir.Agatha Chikelue, Dean Faculty of Agriculture University of Ilorin Kwara State, Prof. Olayinka Karim and the Plateau State Chairperson of the Women Wing of the Christian Association of Nigeria, Amb. Rhoda Godwill Jahota, during the COFP National Training Workshop on 2023 Election Observation / Monitoring in Nigeria, Theme: “Arise, O Compatriots, Nigeria’s call obey”, , held yesterday in Abuja.

NOA, CSOs want counter-narratives to end insurgency

The Director-General, National Orientation Agency (NOA), Dr Garba Abari, Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) and other stakeholders, have advocated intensified efforts on counter narratives to end violent extremism in Nigeria.

They made the call at the inauguration of “Time to tell the Truth Campaign” by Truth Alliance, a coalition of civil society organisations (CSOs) and critical stakeholders in Northeast Nigeria and in Niger Republic, on Wednesday in Abuja.

Abari said the issue of violent extremism had taken a toll on Nigeria’s landscape in so many forms like social, economic, and political dislocations which he said had become of great concern not only to Nigeria but across the entire West African region.

He said that violent extremism activated by the Boko

Haram and Islamic State of West Africa Province (ISWAP) had also become part of a global terrorist franchise.

According to him, to actually beginning to tell the truth in addition to what has been done by the government, civil society and donor agencies are to have a deeper interrogation of the processes leading up to what we are seeing today.

Abari said the Borno Model of the state government had in recent time attracted a large turn out of the repentant Boko Haram terrorists in their thousands who had surrendered.

He said the Federal Government had also developed a home grown response to reducing the fighting capacity of Boko Haram under the Operation Safe Corridor as a direct policy response to get them out, deradicalise them.

He said the inauguration was an attempt to interrogate

how far the efforts had reduced the fighting ability of those elements that had taken arms against the states.

“We in NOA have a sense that we must actually begin to complement the efforts of what the Neen Foundation and Truth Alliance are doing to get community buy in.

“This is because, it is important that to deradicalise, reintegrate or integrate as the case may be, it must be community driven, because the community is essentially the very first recipient of the devastation of this.

“How do we strike the very delicate balance between the feeling of the victim and that of the perpetrator? Because this is a very hot potato in the hand of Government, the donor agencies and peace building institutions.

“Boko Haram is an ideologically driven rebellion against the state and what we in

the National Orientation Agency have just have discovered is counter narrative and this is one thing that neither government nor all was involved in countering violent extremism.

“Dealing with terror groups have succeeded over the years but alternative narrative is one area that we need to emphasise and develop more competencies and the capacity around it,” he said.

The Federal Commissioner, National Commission for Refugees, Migrants and Internally Displaced Persons, Imam Sulaiman-Ibrahim, said that violence, extremists, had perpetrated mass atrocities, internal displacement and refugees.

Sulaiman-Ibrahim, who was represented by his Chief of Staff. Ms Grace Ukpong, said that the commission’s responsibility was to protect and assist victims of violence, especially the IDPs and refugees.

Photo: Justin Imo-owo

Court bars INEC from contracting MC Oluomo for electoral items distribution

By Musa Baba Adamu

The Federal High Court sitting in Lagos has granted an order restraining the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) from engaging, using, or further dealing with the chairman of the Lagos Parks and Garages, Musiliu Akinsanya, better known as MC Oluomo, in the distribution of election materials and ad-hoc staff for the forthcoming polls in the state.

The injunction was granted by Justice Chukwujekwu Aneke following an application filed by the Labour Party (LP) and its gubernatorial candidate in Lagos State, Gbadebo Rhodes-Vivour.

A lawyer for the Labour Party told the court that the commission was served with the court papers.

In urging the court to grant the interim order, the applicant’s counsel moved the application with an affidavit of urgency and told the court the grounds for orders sought included the fact that his clients will be severely threatened by a lack of free and fair elections in Lagos State, adding that “it is in the interest of justice to restrain INEC from taking any step or further steps that may foist a fait accompli on the substantive suit.”

After listening to the counsel, Justice Aneke granted the application for abridgement of time and adjourned the hearing of the substantive suit to February 22, while ordering that all the processes in the suit be served on INEC.

INEC Resident Electoral Commissioner in Lagos, Olusegun Agbaje, had earlier in February, said the electoral body would work with the Lagos State Parks Management Committee headed by MC Oluomo for the distribution of election materials and personnel across the state.

INEC to deploy 4,104 BVAS for Adamawa’s 2,196,566 voters

By Musa Baba Adamu

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has said it will deploy 4,104 Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) for use in the same number of polling units for the conduct of the coming elections for which 2,196,566 residents have been registered as voters in Adamawa State.

The INEC Resident Electoral

Commissioner (REC) in the state, Barr Hudu Yunusa said during a press briefing in Yola on Monday that INEC is ready for the tasks ahead.

“The commission in the state is poised to conduct a successful election not only for the presidential election but also in all the 37 constituencies in the state,” Yunusa said.

Aside from the presidential and governorship polls,

Adamawa voters will also cast their votes for three Senate, eight House of Representatives, and 25 state House of Assembly polls.

Yunusa explained that INEC had taken delivery of 4,104 BVAS for the 4,104 polling units and is expecting 275 extra as backup.

INEC in Adamawa, he said, had received some non-sensitive materials which include ballot

boxes, election bags, voting cubicles, apron vests, and staff identity cards for the elections, among other relevant items.

“Sensitive materials for the February 25 presidential election, including result sheets for presidential, senatorial and House of Representatives elections, have been delivered to the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) branch in Yola,” he added.

APC diaspora campaign Director, Omole says one million members to vote Tinubu

By Ikechukwu Okaforadi

The Director, Directorate of Diaspora Affairs of All Progressives Congress (APC) Presidential Campaign Council (PCC), Ade Omole yesterday said about one million Nigerians living abroad have indicated interest to return to vote APC presidential candidate, Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

Speaking to journàlists at the APC National Secretariat, Omole, flanked by other members of his group, said the next Saturday election has been won and lost, adding that the APC candidate has an upper hand over other aspirants.

He also dismissed the possibility of a runoff in the election, saying that before 6pm on the election day, it will be done and dusted, with Tinubu emerging winner with a very wide margin.

“I strongly believe that by 6pm on Saturday, the 25th of February, we will be celebrating the election. Remember we can actually view the result in real time online, Yes! INEC may still

take their time because they have to do the collation obviously officially, but I strongly believe that this election would be done and dusted by 6pm”, according to him.

While pointing out that his conviction was based on the feedback he observed from the people in Jos, Kano, Minna, Borno, among others, who trooped out in mass to welcome Tinubu during the campaign in their respective States.

“Why do I say that? Like I mentioned earlier on, you need to see the feedback from the people. We were at the flag off in Jost, I was in Kano, I was in Minna, I was in Borno, you need to see the response from Nigerians. They just can’t wait. I don’t see any runoff in this election and I believe that by 6pm, we will be done and dusted.

“Obviously, our principal is head and shoulder above any other person out there and Nigerians have actually responded well and I’m sure that they will come out en masse to vote for him.

“Not all the all 1.6 millions

Bola Ahmed Tinubu

Nigerians in diaspora with PVCs would surely come in, but at least some of them are here and they are all voting for our principal, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu.

“Probably on Monday, we would be back here and I am going to refer to this day that I said that we will be done by 6p.m”, he said.

Sen. Smart Adeyemi joins Kogi guber race, picks N50m nomination forms

By Christiana Ekpa

The senator representing Kogi West, Smart Adeyemi has joined the race to take over from Governor Yahaya Bello, as he stormed the All Progressives Congress (APC) Secretariat yesterday, accompanied by his supporters to pick the governorship nomination and expression of interest forms. While upbeat to defeat other aspirants, senator Adeyemi said he remains the best among all the contestants, adding that for fairness and equity, Kogi West should be allowed to produce the next governor of Kogi since the two other zones have occupied the position at different times.

According to him, of all the aspirants that had obtained expression of interest form of the APC for the governorship position, he is the most qualified in terms of exposure and wherewithal to turn things around for better Kogi State as far as good governance and genuine development are concerned.

He said “I joined the Kogi Guber race today with procurement of expression of interest form from our great party, APC.

“Some other aspirants have also collected the form but I am the aspirant to beat as far as required supports and goodwill across the state are concerned.

“I am the aspirant representing the Kogi people in the race while others are not

and on the basis of this incontrovertible fact, I challenged other aspirants to public debate where they should tell Kogites and by extension Nigerians , what they have done for people of Kogi State in the past and what they want to do now.

“As for me, the proof of such is all of the various communities across the three senatorial districts in the State like road construction , sinking of boreholes , provision of Hospital beds and other health care delivery facilities across the three senatorial zones etc.

“My vision for Kogi State is total development - driven transformation being a State enormously endowed with solid

minerals.

“People of Kogi State have no business with backwardness and poverty if the naturally endowed resources are well harnessed.

“Kogi State alone has 32 out of the 37 mineral resources in the country which are going to be galvanized for wealth creation and development in the state if elected as governor”.

He added that the various political stakeholders in the State , should for the purpose of equity , fairness and justice , cede the governorship position to Kogi West this time around since Kogi East and Central have produced governors.

I know nothing about Sagamu protests – PDP candidate Bola Oluwole

By Musa Baba Adamu

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) House of Representatives candidate in Remo, Ogun State, Bola Oluwole, has denied claims that he sponsored the violent protest that rocked Sagamu over cash scarcity on Monday.

It was reported that an aide of Governor Dapo Abiodun, Emmanuel Ojo, had accused the PDP candidate of sponsoring violent protests in Sagamu over the scarcity of new naira notes.

Reacting, Oluwole said the accusation was aimed at tarnishing his reputation ahead of Saturday’s elections.

He said “My attention has been drawn to a broadcast message circulating around that I masterminded the violent protest in Sagamu Remo. This action is the handiwork of opposition in the ruling party, APC, who were hellbent on destroying and smearing my image. They are afraid of my growing popularity as we approach the 2023 general elections on Saturday.”

The PDP member stated that he was not in any way connected to the protest, saying Nigerians are only angry over the nation’s economic hardship and their inability to access their money and the lingering fuel scarcity.

Oluwole stated further “As of yesterday evening, our presidential candidate, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, met with all National Assembly candidates to strategise for the election; so where will I have the chance to mobilise for the violent protest?”

He condemned the attacks on commercial banks in Sagamu and appealed to youths to shun violent activities and be patient.

Addressing the accusation levelled against him by members of APC, he said: “I want to urge the general public and the people of my constituency to disregard the message and go about their daily activities in peace.”

ADC expels own presidential candidate, endorses Peter Obi

By Christiana Ekpa

The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has endorsed Peter Obi, Labour Party presidential candidate for the Saturday poll.

The development is sequel to the formation of a grand coalition, which aims at propelling Obi and his running mate, Datti BabaAhmed for the nation’s top job.

The endorsement was held at the River Plate Gardens in Abuja on Monday morning.

The coalition, which is made up of several star alliance partners such as Nigeria Mothers for Good Governance, Fulani United, and League of Imams, among others, said they seek to create a formidable force for the Obi-Datti ticket.

The event was attended by prominent figures such as the ADC National Chairman, Chief Raphael Nwosu, BoT Chairman, Dr Mani Ibrahim Ahmed and

Prof Pat Utomi.

Meanwhile, the National Vice Chairman, South-South, of the African Democratic Congress, ADC, Elder Festus Igbinoba, has disclosed that having expelled their own presidential candidate over his conduct, members of the party are now rooting for Mr Peter Obi, the presidential candidate of Labour Party, LP. He made this disclosure in Calabar where he spoke o journalists. He said they are galvanising total support for Obi because he possesses the necessary qualities and credentials needed to redeem the country from the present situation.

“Of all the presidential candidates contesting for Nigeria’s presidency, we cannot but give it to Peter Obi of LP.

“Since we expelled our own candidate over his conduct, we decided as a party to align ourselves with the LP presidential

candidate who is the best of the three,” he stated.

The governorship candidate of ADC in Cross River State, Effiong Nyong also corroborated this position when he said: “We are entirely part of the Obidient movement. We’re canvassing

votes for Peter Obi

It’s our last chance to redeem this country from the total mess it has been plunged [into].”

They further disclosed that they have 1, 411 candidates contesting for other elective positions in the country

endorsement of Mr. Peter Obi of Labour party as their Presidential Candidate for the February 25th election as the sole ADC Presidential Candidate. held yesterday in Abuja.

2023 elections:

New AIG assures Akwa Ibom, Cross River of adequate security

By Ikechukwu Okaforadi

The newly appointed Assistant Inspector General of Police for Zone 6, Jonathan Towuru has assured the people of Akwa Ibom and Cross River states of adequate security, before, during and after the general elections.

His assurance was

contained in a statement signed by the Zone 6 Police Command PRO, SP Nelson Okpabi which conveyed Towuru’s formal resumption of duty at the command.

He further urged Nigerians in the two states, which make up the command, to cooperate with the Police and other security agencies in the area of information sharing

to enable them to provide the desired citizen-led policing.

Towuru succeeded AIG Okunlola Kola Kamaldeen who retired recently.

According to the statement, the new AIG hails from Ughelli South in Delta State and was appointed into the Force as Cadet Assistant Superintendent in 1990.

An alumnus of the

University of Calabar, Towuru holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in History.

“Before being posted to the zone, the AIG held several Command and Staff appointments and attended several professional courses, international conferences and missions. He is the 31st AIG,” the statement informed.

Peter Obi

L-R: National Chairman, African Democratic Congress (ADC), , Chief Ralph Nwosu, National Secretary, Labour Party, Alh. Umar Farouk Ibrahim,The BOT Chairman ADC, Dr. Ibrahim Mani and the Labour Party Chieftain, Prof. Pat Utomi, during the

Photo: Justin Imo-owo.

Blacksmiths, thinkers union endorse Tinubu, Shettima’s presidential ticket

By Usman Shuaibu

The National Union of Blacksmiths and Thinkers Workers of Nigeria (NUBTWN) has endorsed the candidacy of Senators Bola Tinubu and Kashim Shettima for the Feb. 25 Presidential election.

National Secretary of the union, Alhaji Ishaku Kontagora, announced the endorsement on behalf of other members at a forum in Abuja on Monday.

The forum attended by blacksmiths across the 19 northern states was organised by project 774, a National Support Group for Tinubu’s presidency.

Ishaku said the union was established in 1987 to improve standard of its production from old method to new technology to meet the demand of the nation.

According to him, the association has more than 4 million members in Nigeria, with experience in production of cutlasses, planting machines, holes, harrowing tools, fertilizer application machines and among other simple implements.

He said it was the vision of the union to be the formost technological producer and consistently offer services both locally and international by supplying quality products to practitioners in agriculture and other sectors.

He said given the current development and support by the current government, the union was endorsing the candidacy of Tinubu and Shettima for the presidential election.

He said the endorsement wound ensure the APC government continue the good work started by President Muhammadu Buhari.

He said members of the union, who were blacksmiths and thinkers across the nation were satisfied with antecedent of Tinubu and his agenda for Nigeria expecially his plan for a bottom up approach of development.

The National Coordinator of Project 774, Sen.Sabi Abdullahi said project 774 was designed to mobilise grass roots support for politics, to positively affect the local people.

According to him,project 774 for Tinubu and Shettima , which is a national grass root support group was designed to mobilise grass root support for Tinubu and Shettima.

Abdullahi, expressed gratitude to members of the union for making the endorsement possible.

“We believe that the project 774 should be local ,it should be butoom up and our hope is to make sure we get to those, who are affected with what ever we do in our government.”

Abdullahi said Nigeria and most part of the north was

reputed for agriculture, adding that buck of the rural populace, who engage in agriculture can not do so without the tools produced by the blacksmithers.

“There is no village or market that you go to, that you not will see the blacksmith or the

Thinkers.

“This informed their desire to stand with our presidential candidate Sen.Tinubu who has shown tremendous interest in the development of this nation, and he does that via bottom top development process.”

He said Tinubu has demonstrated his bottom up development approach with what he has done in Lagos state, adding that his running mate Shettima has also shown knack to bring development from the bottom up approach.

Naira scarcity: Tinubu doesn’t have much money than Atiku - Osita Okechukwu

By Christiana Ekpa

Achieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Osita Okechukwu, has called on the APC governors to remain calm over the naira standoff between them and the Federal Government.

Osita made the appeal while fielding questions on Arise Television’s Morning Show programme on Monday.

The Director-General of the Voice of Nigeria (VON) was reacting to Kaduna State Governor, Nasir El-Rufai’s decision to kick against the new monetary policy by the President Muhammadu Buhari administration.

Recall that the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) had warned that old notes would no longer be accepted as legal tenders by February 10, 2023, a declaration

that led to a suit at the Supreme Court.

The Supreme Court had given an interim injunction against the CBN, halting the ban on old N200, N500 and N1000 notes after the February 10 deadline.

But President Buhari, during a national broadcast last Thursday, overruled the Supreme Court, insisting that the old N500 and N1000 notes were no longer legal tenders but extended the validity of only the old N200 notes.

However, El-Rufai, in an address to the people of Kaduna, emphasised that the old notes remain legal tender until the Supreme Court decides otherwise.

Speaking on the development, Osita insisted that Sunday’s meeting between Abdullahi Adamu, the national

chairman of the APC, El-Rufai and other governors of the party had put everything to rest.

Osita said “National chairman of our great party have had a meeting with all of them [APC governors] yesterday and they have come to a middle ground, and also, listening to Mr President in faraway Ethiopia, I agreed he is aware of the hardship and feels it and he is trying to gather all necessary indicators to get it eased.

“So let’s not go too deep. I think yesterday’s meeting, which distinguished Senator Abdullahi Adamu, the national chairman of our party, conveyed, had put that to rest because far back in the United Nations General Assembly, Mr President had insisted that he wants to bequeath to Nigeria a legacy of a free and fair election.

“My only appeal to my

governors is that nobody has more money for this election than Atiku Abubakar, but luckily, he has managed to keep calm, so if you are talking about money, I don’t think his Excellency Asiwaju Bola Tinubu has more money than Alhaji Atiku Abubakar.”

The Chief of Jiwa, HRH (Dr) Musa Idris flanked by the FCT Minister, Malam Muhammad Musa Bello (left) and the Minister of Aviation Sen. Hadi Sirika during visit to the construction site of the 2nd runway for the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, yesterday in Abuja. Photo: Mahmud Isa

Osita Okechukwu

From Abubakar Yunusa Abuja

Mark Zuckerberg, chief executive officer (CEO) of Meta, says Facebook and Instagram users will start paying a monthly subscription fees of $11.99 to verify their accounts.

The new subscription service will first begin in Australia and New Zealand this week,

PDP presidential candidate backtracks, says CBN naira redesign policy hurting ordinary citizens

From Abubakar Y Ojimaojo ABUJA

Atiku Abubakar, presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), has appealed to the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) to allow commercial banks to accept deposits of the old naira notes.

Over two weeks ago, Atiku backed the currency redesign policy, advising the apex bank not to extend the February 10 deadline for the demonetisation of the old naira notes.

The former vice-president also said any further extension would destroy the purpose and objective of the policy.

“I am totally in support of building a cashless economy and reducing the amount of cash in our economy,” Atiku had said.

But in a social media post on Sunday, he called on the CBN to release the new notes as “a matter of urgency”.

This, he said, would ease the suffering of the masses in getting access to their “legitimately earned money”.

“The CBN currency policy is hurting ordinary citizens and those who legitimately earned their money,” Atiku said.

“The apex bank should, as a matter of urgency, allow commercial banks to join the CBN in the collection of the deposits of old N500 and N1000 notes.

“The new currency should be immediately made available in sufficient quantities to alleviate the suffering of the masses.

“I assure you that when we come to power by the mandate of your votes, the PDP administration will not allow any Nigerian who legitimately earned their money to lose a single kobo of it.

iPhone users to pay $15 monthly for verification as Meta launches subscription service

Zuckerberg said in a Facebook post.

He said subscribers to the service will get extra security on their accounts.

“This week we’re starting to roll out Meta Verified — a subscription service that lets you verify your account with a government ID, get a blue

badge, get extra impersonation protection against accounts claiming to be you, and get direct access to customer support,” Zuckerberg said.

“This new feature is about increasing authenticity and security across our services. Meta Verified starts at $11.99/ month on the web or $14.99/

month on iOS. We’ll be rolling out in Australia and New Zealand this week and more countries soon.”

The revenue-generating move comes months after, Meta’s rival, Twitter launched an $8 monthly subscription service that includes a blue checkmark for subscribers.

Last year, Meta sacked more than 11,000 of its employees, representing about 13 percent of the total workforce.

The company said the decision would enable it to take “additional steps to become a leaner and more efficient company by cutting discretionary spending”.

Bank workers union asks CBN to clarify directive on collection of old naira notes

From Abubakar Yunusa ABUJA

The Association of Senior Staff of Banks, Insurance and Financial Institutions (ASSBIFI) has urged the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) to make clarifications on the deposit of old naira notes.

Olusoji Oluwole, president, ASSBIFI, made the call in an interview with NAN recently.

The apex bank had said it designated commercial banks to assist in the collection of the old N500 and N1,000 notes from members of the public.

It said the banks were only allowed to accept a maximum deposit of N500,000 from each customer.

But the CBN later denied directing banks to collect the old notes from members of the public, leaving Nigerians to question the apex bank’s true position.

Despite the apex bank’s rebuttal, TheCable reported that commercial banks began collecting the old N500 and N1,000 naira notes from their customers.

Reacting to the development, Oluwole said the CBN must be clear on whether banks are to receive old notes to avoid problems.

“The CBN needs to provide clarity because some banks are receiving, some are not receiving, and these are the things that could cause problems if they do not come out clearly and say, this is what is expected of everybody,” he said.

“By the pronouncement of the CBN governor, the validity of the old currency ended on Feb. 17. So, are people still going to be able to pay in for the next 60 days just as the N200? Are they going to be allowed to pay in through the rest of the week? Will it end on Saturday?

“Those are the things they need to come out with, clearly and publish it; put it on their website, twitter because normally, CBN issues notices and circulars.”

Meanwhile, in a statement, Oluwole said the association had received assurances that adequate security to protect lives and property would be put into place with immediate effect.

This was after several meetings were held with various bodies and individuals to address recent bank branch attacks in some states, he said.

Oluwole noted, however, that in the event of an attack by the public without visible protection, members had been advised to shut down and relocate to safe locations until their safety could be guaranteed.

“Our central working committee has also met to review these engagements and

immediate implementation of some of the assurances by various stakeholders,” he said.

“Based on the outcome of our discussion we hereby release the following statements: while our members will resume at their functional branches immediately, the safety and security of their lives remain paramount to us.

“Also, we continue to demand that visible and adequate security is provided in all operational areas, particularly places that are traditionally known to be volatile.

“While our members in locations that were attacked and assets destroyed may be unable to operate, we have advised other members to assess the security situation in their environments before opening for business.”

Last Friday, the association directed bank staff to stay away from work in any state where their branches are attacked.

From Abubakar Y Ojimaojo ABUJA

Some traders who sell food items and perishable agricultural produce in Nigeria’s capital city have lamented the losses they incurred due to the scarcity of naira notes in the country.

In a market survey conducted by the Centre for Journalism Innovation and Development (CJID), the traders explained how they have recorded losses in their businesses in recent time as customers face difficulties accessing cash to buy food items.

Although some of the traders adopted the use of electronic transfers in some of the markets, many of them complained about network challenges during online transactions while others do not even have bank accounts.

The most affected category of traders, the survey showed, are those who sell perishable food items such as tomatoes, vegetables, pepper, fruits, among others.

Multiple interviews with traders

Abuja market traders groan as naira scarcity persists

in the market showed that in recent weeks, many of them have had to slash the prices of their goods in order to minimise losses due to poor patronage.

“I do not have many sales this period; many customers are not coming to the market. I have to reduce the price of my fruits so as to sell them out immediately, if not, many of them will spoil,” Usman Mohammed, a fruit seller in Kubwa market, said.

In October 2022, the Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, Godwin Emefiele, announced the introduction of new N200, N500 and N1000 notes.

Mr Emefiele said that the decision would address cases of kidnapping, terrorism and other

financial crimes.

However, since the policy took effect, the scarcity of both the old and new naira notes has affected a lot of businesses in the country. The situation further worsened the problems being faced by traders in the market, especially due to the challenges of inadequate storage facilities that lead to post-harvest losses.

Salusi Sanni, a trader at Arab market, Abuja, said he loses about N3,000 to N4,000 daily due to poor sales and damaged farm produce, ostensibly due to the cash crunch.

“During this period, my goods spoil every day because I don’t sell much and people are not buying. Like these tomatoes, before

tomorrow morning, many of them will spoil. Look at the floor, those ones spoiled yesterday, I separated them this morning,” he said.

“The spoiled goods are like 2000, 3000 to 4000 daily. Only onions can last longer for us here.

“Problems are too much now, someone will come and buy tomatoes and Tatashi (pepper) with no cash to pay, the person will try to transfer and even when I collect the transfer; when I go to the market to get new goods, some wholesale people will not collect transfer from me, ” he added.

Another trader, Mary Ann, who deals in yam and plantain in the same market, explained that the situation has affected her daily sales.

“Since morning, I have not sold any tuber of yam. Normally, I do sell up to 15 to 20 tubers of yam daily, but until now (5:13 pm) nothing has been sold,” Mrs Ann said.

“If I want to explain how it affects me, I will cry. You see this car, the owner of the car brought me back from where I bought yam now, what is keeping him now is money, he said he does not collect transfers, so currently, I’m looking for cash to give him. He said if he collects cash transfers now and they will charge him N1500 for N5000, what will be his gain? So the man said he will not collect. He has been here for more than one hour, he just left now for the mosque for prayers.”

Allow commercial banks process old note deposit, CPPE urges Buhari

From Abubakar Yunusa Abuja

The Centre for the Promotion of Private Enterprise [CPPE] on Sunday urged the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) to allow Nigerians deposit their old N500 and N1,000 notes at commercial banks across the country.

In a statement signed by Muda Yusuf, director of CPPE, the think tank said that the confusion caused by the CBN is inflicting additional pain on already traumatised millions of innocent Nigerians seeking to return the old notes.

Last Friday, reports claimed that the CBN had ordered banks to start collecting the old N500 and N1,000 notes from the public. The reports claimed that the apex bank pegged the maximum amount the banks could collect from their customers at N500,000.

But in its reaction, the apex bank urged Nigerians to disregard the claims as it never authorised the banks to take such decisions.

The developments come amid tension generated by the cash redesign policy in recent weeks.

Recently,the CPPE called on the CBN to consider the plight of Nigerians.

“Amid the chaos which the badly implemented policy has created, it is evidently impractical for the CBN offices to properly handle this process of receiving old currency notes which are still in abundance in the hands of millions of Nigerians,” the statement said.

“There is only one branch of the CBN office in each state of the federation and the FCT. It is practically impossible for the CBN to manage this process without subjecting our citizens to another round of harrowing experience.”

The statement explained that the experience and images of disorderliness of the past few days at the CBN offices graphically illustrate the CPPE’s position.

“We appeal to President Muhammadu Buhari and the

CBN to give this process a human face. The agony and trauma inflicted by the entire management of the policy are unspeakable.

“Accordingly, we plead with the CBN to allow the old notes to be deposited at the commercial banks to ease the current pains and ordeal of returning the old notes,” it said.

In October 2022, the federal government through the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) announced the redesign of the N200, N500 and N1000 notes.

A deadline of 31 January was given but it was later extended to 10 February following public outrage. Three governors of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) ran to the Supreme Court to oppose the policy and after the first sitting on 15 February a new date, 22 February was fixed for a hearing.

However, President Muhammadu Buhari last Thursday approved the continued use of the old N200 note as the CBN also launched a portal for bank customers to

deposit their old naira notes amid a scarcity of new notes.

The president announced that the CBN deadline for the phasing out of the old N500 and N1,000 remains.

Amid the confusion, Mr Yusuf noted Sunday evening that the apex bank’s stipulated process should be simplified to accommodate millions of rural dwellers, the informal sector players, the over 30 million unbanked Nigerians and several million that are not literate.

According to him, the current guidelines which require filling of forms on the CBN portals, generating codes etc do not reckon with millions of Nigerians that seek to return their old notes who are not literate, who don’t have internet access and who are in very remote locations in various parts of the country.

“They are Nigerians and are entitled to fair consideration in the implementation process. Most of them are women, microenterprises and small businesses contributing immensely to employment,

poverty reduction and social stability at the bottom of the economic pyramid of our country.

“It is bad enough that their lives and livelihoods have been terribly disrupted and disoriented.

“We plead with the CBN to review its processes in the interest of fairness, justice and social inclusion,” he said.

Aisha Dahir-Umar, PenCom DG, inducted into NANS Hall of Fame

From Abubakar Yunusa Abuja

The National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) has inducted Aisha Dahir-Umar, director-general of the National Pension Commission (PenCom), into its Hall of Fame.

The association said Dahir-Umar was granted the honour in recognition of her professional service and purposeful leadership in the pension industry.

NANS also gave Dahir-Umar a merit award for her contributions to national development and support for young

people and students.

Speaking during the award ceremony held in Abuja , Attah Nnalue, senate president of NANS, commended the PenCom DG for her hard work, exemplary lifestyle, contribution to nation building and the advancement of Nigeria’s pension industry.

“Dahir-Umar has been part of the journey to reform pension administration and management in Nigeria,” Nnalue said.

“Under her leadership as the Director General, PenCom has attained significant milestones in its diligent implementation

of the Pension Reform Act (PRA) 2014 through the successful conclusion of several critical initiatives.

“Pension fund assets have been on a sustained growth trajectory, increasing from N6.15 trillion in 2016 to N14.99 trillion as of December 2022.

“Similarly, the number of registered pension contributors grew from 7.41 million to 9.86 million over the same period.

“The launch of the Micro Pension Plan (MPP) by President Muhammadu Buhari in March 2019 was another significant step under her towards the promotion

of financial inclusion for self-employed persons and workers in the informal sector.”

Nnalue said the induction of DahirUmar into NANS Hall of Fame and the presentation of NANS merit award to her were in line with the resolution of the 68th senate meeting of the association held on January 25, 2023 at the University of Abuja.

He said the NANS merit award is presented to individuals whose lives exemplifies the ideas of living for the sake of others and dedicate themselves to national building and service to humanity.

President Buhari

METRO

AMMC begins intensive traffic enforcement along Airport road

By Stanley Onyekwere

In order to ensure sanity is restored along Airport Road, the Abuja Metropolitan Management Council (AMMC) has commenced intensive enforcement of traffic and environmental regulations.

In particular, the Council declared that henceforth, anybody that is driving counter traffic, will not only be told to go back, but will be arrested and the vehicle impounded, just as it warned uniform personnel to desist from violating the traffic, as the enforcement against the violation is not a respecter of rank.

It added that no vehicle

....Reads riot act to security personnel

is allowed to park or ply on undesignated area, along this Airport Road, no passenger should stand and flag a vehicle to pick him or her except is an area designated for such.

Flagging off the exercise yesterday, AMMC Coordinator, Umar Shuaibu, said the exercise, which is going to be continuous, had commenced with sensitisation of the public and engagement with the transport operators along the busy road.

Shuaibu disclosed that there enough lay-bays along the road, sufficient to serve the public, but

what is lacking is discipline, in order to make out environment decent.

He said: “We engaged the stakeholders, which are transport operators along this road. We called them, and we have all agreed that this assignment is important, in order to make sure that sanity is restored.

“Whatever image you see on Abuja Airport Road, is the image of Nigeria. If the traffic along the Airport Road is free, Nigeria traffic is free; and if the Airport Road is clean, Nigeria is clean. So we must make sure that it is

clean and free always, in order to have a very good image of our country.

“Secondly, the Airport road is the one that conveys traffic from the north and south along Kaduna-Lokoja expressway, so it has multiple roles. That’s why the traffic along this road is heavy.

“We are aware that most of these violations are committed by people in uniform. So no matter your rank, enforcement against the violation is not a respecter of rank. We will make sure that we show example. If you are a man in uniform show

example to people that are not in uniform. So anybody, no matter how highly placed, must respect our regulations.

“Henceforth, anybody that is making the Airport Road unsafe and unclean, is going to be arrested. From now on, this exercise is going to be continuous.the officers in charge of this enforcement, we count on you. We need your support, in order to make it work.”

On his part, Deputy National President, Chief Abubakar Sadiq, Road Transport Employers Union, who described the exercise as a welcome development, said they are quite ready to cooperate in any form, to make sure that it is successful.

Ministers visit 2nd Abuja Airport runway site

By Stanley Onyekwere

Both Ministers of FCT and Aviation, Malam Muhammad Musa Bello and Senator Hadi Sirika have paid a visit to the construction site of the 2nd runway of the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport Abuja, and charged the construction company in charge of the project to double its efforts and ensure its completion by the May 29th handover date.

This was disclosed in a statement from Director of Press, Office of the FCT Minister, Anthony Ogunleye, which was made available yesterday to the PeoplesDaily.

Describing the project as a legacy project, whose scope went far beyond the runway alone, the Aviation Minister while thanking the FCT Minister for the allocation of 12,000 hectares of land, said the project was actually an aviation city containing everything a modern city has including hotels, shopping malls, schools, cinemas and hospitals;

an Aerotropolis.

Designated as a Free Trade Zone, Senator Sirika said the project will tremendously boost economic activities not just in the FCT but across the country, stressing that the facilities will also include a cargo hub and also serve as the hub for the national carrier.

The Aviation City, the Aviation Minister also said will also serve as a base for the aviation leasing company and it already had within it the Nigerian Safety Investigation Bureau offices.

Also speaking, the Project Consultant, Engr R. Baba said that the 2nd runway was a 4.2 kilometer stretch and will contain all modern associated facilities, including a CAT III ILS landing aid that will enable aircrafts land with minimal visibility and other facilities like a new control tower and fire station.

The Chief of Jiwa Dr Musa Idris, who was also present during the site visit, said that the indigenous

community will cooperate with the Administration for the construction of the 2nd runway project and the Aviation City.

He said that enumeration has been carried out on the land acquired for the project, save for 20 hectares and urged that compensation be paid to the communities.

In his remarks, the FCT Minister pledged the Administrations total support for the project and said that the indigenous communities and people stood to benefit the most from the project as it will bring about huge economic activities and employment opportunities to the people.

While urging the contractor to work round the clock to ensure its completion on schedule, he said that all matters of compensation will be handled by the FCT Administration as it has a robust resettlement and compensation Department with the requisite experience of over 40 years in such matters.

In the words of the Minister,

“We have a standard procedure for compensation and never in the history of the FCT has issues of compensation stopped a project”.

He thereafter called on the Chief of Jiwa to continue to provide the needed leadership to ensure that the project is successful, saying that it was “a golden opportunity to be part and parcel of a legacy project that will transform the social, economic and political landscape of the FCT”.

He further assured that the project will not be hindered in any form as all stakeholders including the traditional authorities were committed to its success.

Also present at the site visit were the Executive Secretary of the FCDA, Engr Shehu Hadi Ahmed, the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Aviation, Dr. Emmanuel Meribole the FCT Commissioner of Police Abubakar Sadiq, the State Director of the DSS Mr Ado Muazu, the SSA to FCT

on Security Amb. A.S Muhammed and other senior officials of the FCTA and the Federal Ministry of Aviation.

Fire Service seeks stiffer measures to curb inferno at petrol stations

By Stanley Onyekwere

The Department of Fire Service in the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) has sought for amendment to its fire prevention and fighting laws, to provide for stiffer enforcement and punishment for Petrol Stations owners, who violate safety rules. Also, the Service lamented that despite

its routine sensitization, fire inferno at Petrol stations around the nation’s capital has continued to increase.

Making this assertion, the Director and Controller of the Service, Engr. Sani Saidu, who briefed the press in Abuja, decried the weakness of the existing laws, saying it was not enough to curtail the level of negligence by operators, which obviously has always been responsible for

the disturbing fire incidents. Saidu noted that while firemen has intensified its monitoring and supervision at the petrol stations, it has become necessary to ask for amendment to the existing legislation.

He noted that the standard best practice of allowing a petroleum products loaded truck that just arrived its destination to cool down before discharging, has always

been flouted.

According to him, discharging of the contents of the truck is usually best done in a conducive weather temperature, but owners and operators always disregard it.

Saidu further opined that while it will be absolutely difficult to post firemen to all Petrol Stations for close Monitoring, it would be important to have a law for punishing those who discard the rules.

Minister

Senator Hadi Sirika

Juniors doctors vote for strikes in England

Junior doctors in England have voted in favour of taking strike action in their fight to get a pay rise of 26%.

Members of the British Medical Association are now expected to take part in a 72-hour walkout, possibly as early as mid March.

The union said the rise being asked for was to make up for pay cuts since 2008 once inflation is taken into account.

But experts said if a different measure of inflation is used the fall in pay for junior doctor roles is lower.

The ballot by the BMA involved nearly 48,000 members working across hospitals and the community - more than two-thirds of the junior doctor workforce.

More than three-quarters of those balloted took part with 98% voting in favour of action.

BMA junior doctors committee co-chair Dr Robert Laurenson said the vote showed the strength of feeling about the issue.

“We are frustrated, in despair and angry and we have voted in our thousands to say, ‘in the name of our profession, our patients, and our NHS, doctors won’t take it anymore.’

“The government has only itself to blame, standing by in silent indifference as our members are forced to take this difficult decision.”

The results come as nurses and ambulance staff are warning they will

escalate their industrial action in their dispute over pay.

Members of the Royal College of Nursing will walk out across half of frontline services in England next week for 48 hours.

Meanwhile, Unison, the biggest union in the ambulance service, is expected to announce more strike dates now that its mandate has increased from five of England’s 10 ambulance service to nine.

The last time junior doctors, which covers everyone who has just graduated from medical school through to those with many years’ experience on the front line, went on strike was in 2016 over a new contract that was introduced.

This year junior doctors saw pay increase by 2% as part of a four-year agreement that saw an overall rise of 8.2% between 2019-20 to 2022-23.

Currently, the basic starting salary for a junior doctor is £29,000, but once extra payments for things like unsociable hours is taken into account average earnings exceed £40,000.

By the end of their training, which can last 15 years for some, basic pay is more than £53,000.

These are doctors with huge responsibility, leading teams, carrying out surgery and making life-and-death decisions.

The Department of Health and Social Care said alongside an 8.2% pay rise

over four years the current deal also introduced higher bands of pay for the most experienced staff and increased rates for night shifts.

A spokesman said the health secretary had met with the BMA to discuss pay and conditions. The pay award for the 2023-24 financial year is expected to be announced in the coming months.

“We hugely value the work of junior doctors and we have been clear that supporting and retaining the NHS

workforce is one of our main priorities,” the spokesman added.

Sources at the BMA have said the 26% pay demand does not necessarily need to be paid in one go, but until the government agreed to restoring pay action would continue.

The BMA has yet to decide whether to strike elsewhere in the UK as it awaits more information from ministers about their pay plans in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.

Plymouth shooting: Families say warning signs were ignored

Breathtaking incompetence and failings by police allowed a gunman to kill five people during a mass shooting in Plymouth, victims’ families have said.

Jake Davison killed his mother and four other people, including a girl aged three, with a shotgun in August 2021.

Families of four of the victims said: “Warning signs were ignored and a licence to kill was granted.”

The inquest jury said there had been a “catastrophic failure” at Devon and Cornwall Police.

At the conclusion of a five-week inquest at Exeter Racecourse jurors said the deaths of the victims were “caused by the fact the perpetrator had a legally-held shotgun”.

All five of the victims were unlawfully killed, the jury concluded.

‘Pure evil’

Davison killed his mother Maxine, 51, Sophie Martyn, three, her father Lee, 43, Stephen Washington, 59, and Kate Shepherd, 66, in the Keyham area of Plymouth before turning the gun on himself.

In a joint statement read outside the

hearing, the Martyn, Washington and Shepherd families said the shooting “was an act of pure evil”.

They added: “However, we now know that this evil act was facilitated and enabled by a series of failings and incompetence from the people and organisations that are supposed to keep us safe.”

Delivering a narrative conclusion on behalf of the jury, Ian Arrow, senior coroner for Plymouth, said: “There was a serious failure by Devon and Cornwall Police’s firearms and explosive licensing unit in granting and later failing to revoke the perpetrator’s shotgun licence.”

After hearing evidence from more than 50 witnesses the jury concluded there was “a lack of scrutiny and professional curiosity at all levels” and a “seriously unsafe culture of defaulting to granting licences and returning licences after review”.

The jury said there was a “catastrophic failure in the management of the Firearms Licensing Department at Devon and Cornwall Police”.

Davison applied to Devon and Cornwall

Police for a shotgun certificate in July 2017 aged 18, saying he wanted to go clay pigeon shooting with his uncle.

As part of the application process Davison

had declared his autism and Asperger’s but when police sought relevant information from his GP, the doctor declined to provide any as it was not mandatory.

Nicola Bulley: Missing woman’s partner says family in ‘agony’ after body found

Nicola Bulley’s partner has spoken of his family’s pain after a body was found in the river near where she disappeared three weeks ago.

Paul Ansell wrote that he had “no words right now, just agony”, in a statement he shared with Sky News.

Ms Bulley disappeared while walking her dog in St Michael’s on Wyre in Lancashire, sparking a major search.

On Sunday, Lancashire Police said they “sadly recovered a body” from the water after being called to the River Wyre.

A statement said formal identification had not yet been carried out “so we are unable to say” if it was her at the time.

The death is currently being treated as “unexplained” and officers have begun the process of identifying the body.

But Lancashire Police also said Ms Bulley’s family “have been informed of developments and our thoughts are with them at this most difficult of times”.

In the statement to Sky, Mr Ansell added: “We’re all together, we have to be strong.”

Former Lancashire Police chief superintendent Bob Eastwood defended the force’s investigation amid “an absolute onslaught” of criticism.

Asked how it was possible a body could be found a mile from Ms Bulley’s last known location - despite an extensive river search - he

told BBC Breakfast that the river is tidal and fast flowing.

“The way the tide comes and goes…it is possible that the body could have flowed in and flowed out and has eventually been given up by the water”, he said.

“To jump in…and automatically assume that the body was there the whole time is a step too far.”

He said detective superintendent Rebecca Smith, the senior investigating officer on the case, had been subjected to misogynistic abuse during a three-week search that has attracted national attention.

Speaking to BBC Radio 4’s Today programme, Mr Eastwood also accused “so-

called specialists” of imposing themselves on the investigation and Ms Bulley’s family.

He said they “fed into a lot of people’s obsessions”, adding: “I’m hoping their consciences are currently in overdrive.”

Ms Bulley, who worked as a mortgage adviser, was last seen walking her springer spaniel Willow after dropping off her two daughters, aged six and nine, at school on 27 January.

Her dog was found shortly after, along with her phone - still connected to a work conference call - on a bench by a steep riverbank.

Police previously said they believed the 45-year-old had gone into the river and that her disappearance was not suspicious.

Ukrainian troops are doggedly holding onto Bakhmut amid fierce Russian attacks

Maxine Davison, Sophie and Lee Martyn, Kate Shepherd and Stephen Washington were killed in August 2021

ews F rom A F ric A

True cost of our tea: Sexual abuse on Kenyan tea farms revealed

Sexual exploitation has been uncovered on tea farms that supply some of the UK’s most popular brands, including PG Tips, Lipton and Sainsbury’s Red Label.

More than 70 women on Kenyan tea farms, owned for years by two British companies, told the BBC they had been sexually abused by their supervisors.

Secret filming showed local bosses, on plantations owned by Unilever and James Finlay & Co, pressuring an undercover reporter for sex.

Three managers have now been suspended.

Unilever faced similar allegations more than 10 years ago and launched a “zero tolerance” approach to sexual harassment as well as a reporting system and other measures, but a joint investigation for BBC Africa Eye and Panorama found evidence that allegations of sexual harassment were not being acted on.

The BBC’s Tom Odula spoke to women who worked on tea farms run by both companies. A number told him that because work is so scarce, they are left with no choice but to give in to the sexual demands of their bosses or face having no income.

“I can’t lose my job because I have kids,” said one woman.

Another woman said a divisional manager stopped her job until she agreed to have sex with him.

“It is just torture; he wants to sleep

with you, then you get a job,” she said.

One woman also told the BBC that she had been infected with HIV by her supervisor, after being pressured into having sex with him.

To gather more evidence about the allegations of sexual abuse taking place, the BBC recruited undercover reporter Katy - not her real name - to work on the tea plantations.

In one instance, Katy was invited to a job interview with a recruiter for James Finlay & Co called John Chebochok. The interview turned out to be in a hotel room.

Mr Chebochok, who has worked on Finlay’s plantations for more than 30 years, first as an estate manager and then as the owner of a contracting company, had already been flagged as a “predator” by a number of women who spoke to the BBC’s Tom Odula.

Katy was pinned against a window by Mr Chebochok and asked to touch him and undress.

“I’ll give you some money, then I’ll give you a job. I have helped you, help me,” he said.

“We’ll lie down, finish and go. Then you come and work.”

Katy made it clear she did not consent. Eventually he gave up and a member of the production team - stationed nearby for her safety - made a phone call to give her an excuse to leave.

“I was so scared, and so shocked. It must be really difficult for the women who

work under Chebochok,” said Katy. James Finlay & Co said Mr Chebochok was immediately suspended after the BBC contacted the company. The company said it also reported him to the police and was now investigating whether its Kenyan operation has “an endemic issue with sexual violence”.

Katy also experienced sexual harassment when undercover at a farm, which was at the time run by Unilever.

She was invited to an induction day where a divisional manager called Jeremiah Koskei gave a speech to his new recruits about Unilever’s zero-tolerance policy towards sexual harassment.

Robert Mugabe’s son arrested in Zimbabwe over cars trashed at Harare party

Ason of Zimbabwe’s former President, Robert Mugabe, has been arrested over allegations he damaged property at a Harare party.

Robert Mugabe junior, thought to be 31, faces three counts of malicious damage to property and two charges of assault on a police officer, his lawyer says.

Car windscreens were allegedly smashed and an officer spat on.

He denies the charges and says he is innocent. He has been freed and is trying to reach an amicable settlement.

The arrest came after a complaint from his friend, Sindiso Nkatazo, also 31, police said in a tweet. They also said the damaged property was valued at $12,000 (£10,000).

Mr Mugabe junior is the second child of the former president with his widow, Grace.

News site ZimLive posted a video of Mr Mugabe junior walking to Harare Magistrates’ Court wearing a suit and facemask, followed by a throng of people, as others stood on the sidelines taking pictures of him on their phones.

In court, his lawyer Ashiel Mugiya argued that the prosecutors had not done a thorough investigation and suggested an out-of-court settlement as Mr Mugabe junior and the complainant are friends.

If these negotiations fail, the former president’s son will be summoned back to court, Mr Muyiga said. He added that the charges of assault against an officer and resisting arrest were likely to be dropped.

Former President Robert Mugabe died in 2019 at the age of 95, two years

after being forced to resign following 37 years in power. He led the 1970s fight against white-minority rule in what used to be called Rhodesia but was later accused of using violence to win elections and destroying Zimbabwe’s economy.

It is extremely unlikely that his son would have been arrested if his father was still president, analysts say.

Mr Mugabe was replaced by his former right-hand man Emmerson Mnangagwa.

Relations between him and the Mugabe family had been fraught after they accused him of betraying Zimbabwe’s long-time leader.

His widow, Grace, had harboured ambitions of succeeding her husband

but was sidelined by supporters of Mr Mnangagwa.

However, Mr Mugabe junior has since reconciled with President Mnangagwa and last year attended a rally where he was publicly welcomed back into the ruling Zanu-PF party.

Source: BBC

Some female workers on tea farms said they have no choice but to give into sexual demands of their bosses

Robert Mugabe (L) with his son (R)

Ukraine war: Blinken says China might give weapons to Russia

The US says China is considering supplying weapons and ammunition to Russia for the Ukraine war - a claim strongly denied by Beijing.

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said Chinese firms were already providing “non-lethal support” to Russia and new information suggested Beijing could provide “lethal support”.

Such an escalation would mean “serious consequences” for China, he warned.

Beijing said the claims were false and accused Washington of spreading lies.

“We do not accept the United States’ finger-pointing on ChinaRussia relations, let alone coercion and pressure,” China’s foreign ministry spokesman Wang Wenbin said at a regular press conference on Monday, when asked about the allegations.

China has also denied reports that Moscow has requested military equipment.

Chinese President Xi Jinping is an ally of Russian President Vladimir Putin and is yet to condemn Russia’s invasion of Ukraine - but he has sought to remain neutral in the conflict and has called for peace.

Mr Blinken was speaking to CBS News after he met China’s top diplomat, Wang Yi, on Saturday at the Munich Security Conference.

He said that during the meeting he expressed “deep concerns” about the “possibility that China will provide lethal material support to Russia”.

“To date, we have seen Chinese companies... provide non-lethal support to Russia for use in Ukraine. The concern that we have now is based on information we have that they’re considering providing lethal support,” he said.

He did not elaborate on what information the US had received about China’s potential plans. When pressed on what the US believed China might give to Russia, he said it would be primarily weapons as well as ammunition.

The US has sanctioned a Chinese company for allegedly providing satellite imagery of

Ukraine to the mercenary Wagner Group, which supplies Russia with thousands of fighters.

Mr Blinken told CBS that “of course, in China, there’s really no distinction between private companies and the state”.

If China provided Russia with weapons, that would cause a “serious problem for us and in our relationship”, he added.

Relations between Washington and Beijing were already poor after the US shot down an alleged Chinese spy balloon in early February. Both sides exchanged angry words, but equally both sides appeared embarrassed by the incident and seemed ready to move on.

But if China were to deliver weapons to help Russian forces in Ukraine, then US-Chinese relations would deteriorate much more severely.

It would be the most “catastrophic” thing that could happen to the relationship between the two giants, said top Republican senator Lindsay Graham.

“It would be like buying a ticket on the Titanic after you saw the movie,” he told ABC News. “Don’t do this.”

Mr Blinken’s warning seems to be clearly designed to deter China from doing that.

Mr Blinken also said the US was worried about China helping Russia evade Western sanctions designed to cripple Russia’s economy. China’s trade with Russia has been growing, and it is one of the biggest markets for Russian oil, gas, and coal.

Nato members, including the US, are sending a variety of weapons, ammunition and equipment to Ukraine, including tanks. They have stopped short of sending fighter jets, and Mr Blinken would not be drawn on whether the US would help other countries supply jets.

“We’ve been very clear that we shouldn’t fixate or focus on any particular weapons system,” he said.

He did, however, say that the West must ensure Ukraine had what it needed for a potential

counter offensive against Russia “in the months ahead”. Russia is currently trying to advance in eastern regions of Ukraine, where some of the fiercest fighting of the war has taken place.

The top US diplomat’s remarks come ahead of a scheduled visit by Mr Wang to Moscow, as part of the Chinese foreign policy chief’s tour of Europe.

Mr Wang said in Munich on Saturday that China had “neither stood by idly nor thrown fuel on the fire” for the Ukraine war, Reuters reported.

China would publish a document that laid out its position on settling the conflict, Mr Wang said. The document would state that the territorial integrity of all countries must be respected, he said.

“I suggest that everybody starts to think calmly, especially friends in Europe, about what

kind of efforts we can make to stop this war,” Mr Wang said.

He added that there were “some forces that seemingly don’t want negotiations to succeed, or for the war to end soon”, but did not say who he meant.

The Chinese President, Mr Xi, is scheduled to deliver a “peace speech” on the anniversary of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine on Friday, 24 February, according to Italy’s foreign minister Antonio Tajani.

Mr Tajani told Italian radio that Mr Xi’s speech would call for peace without condemning Russia, Reuters reported.

During their meeting, Mr Blinken and Mr Wang also exchanged strong words on the deepening row over an alleged Chinese spy balloon that was shot down over the US.

Mr Blinken said during the meeting that the US would

not “stand for any violation of our sovereignty” and said “this irresponsible act must never again occur”.

Mr Blinken told CBS that other nations were concerned about what he called China’s “surveillance balloon program” across five continents.

Mr Wang, meanwhile, called the episode a “political farce manufactured by the US” and accused them of “using all means to block and suppress China”. China has denied sending a spy balloon.

And on Sunday morning, Beijing warned that the US would “bear all the consequences” if it escalated the argument over the balloon. China would “follow through to the end” in the event “the US insists on taking advantage of the issue”, it said in a foreign ministry statement reported by Reuters.

Papua New Guinea: Local researchers and Australian professor taken hostage

Several researchers including local academics and an Australian professor have been taken hostage at gunpoint in Papua New Guinea (PNG).

The group was on a study trip in remote highlands when captured by armed men, according to media reports.

A ransom has been demanded for their release, officials say.

PNG Prime Minister James

Marape says authorities are in contact with the kidnappers and hope to have the hostages released “alive and safe”.

A larger group was initially taken captive but some local guides have since been released, according to reports.

It is unclear exactly how many people remain held, but Australian news outlets put the number at four or five. They

include an archaeologist from an Australian university and academics and students from PNG.

Mr Marape told reporters that PNG authorities had heard from the Australian man who confirmed the group was alive.

He said there were “running conversations” between officials and the kidnappers, and police and the military were on stand-by

to assist.

“But, in the first instance, we want those criminals to release those who are held in captivity,” he said.

“There is no place to run, there is no place to hide.”

Mr Marape did not say when the group was taken and said the situation had been kept “under close wraps because of the sensitivity”.

But he sought to reassure families of the hostages, saying: “I’m confident, I’m optimistic, I’m prayerful that we get… them out.”

Australia’s Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade is yet to comment.

Earlier this month a New Zealand pilot was taken hostage by separatist fighters in Indonesia’s nearby Papua region.

Source: BBC

Why is South Africa’s navy joining exercises with Russia and China?

South Africa is holding a joint military exercise with Russia and China that opposition figures say amounts to an endorsement of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.

The US has also criticised the 10-day naval drills, which will continue over the first anniversary of the war in Ukraine.

But South Africa’s government says it remains neutral regarding the conflict, and that it routinely hosts similar drills with other countries, including France and the US.

What are South Africa, Russia and China doing?

The naval exercises, called Mosi, which means “smoke” in the Tswana language, are taking place in the Indian Ocean, off the South African coast.

The South African National Defence Force (SANDF) says 350 members of its armed forces will take part.

Russia has announced it will send its Admiral Gorshkov warship, which carries Zircon hypersonic missiles. These fly at nine times the speed of sound and have a range of 1,000 km (620 miles).

Moscow “will be trying to show that despite its setbacks in the war in Ukraine, its armed forces are still very powerful”, says Denys Reva from South Africa’s Institute for Security Studies.

The SANDF has said little about the forthcoming exercise, but a 2019 joint drill between the three countries involved seven ships - one warship from each nation, plus fuelling ships and survey ships.

They practised tackling coastal fires and floods, and recapturing ships from pirates.

Why is this exercise controversial?

A White House spokesperson said in January: “The United States has concerns about any country... exercising with Russia as

Russia wages a brutal war against Ukraine.”

South Africa previously abstained from a UN vote condemning the invasion. It also refused to join the US and Europe in imposing sanctions on Russia.

The South African government sparked a political row when it gave permission for a superyacht called the Nord, which is linked to the sanctioned Russian oligarch Alexey Mordashov, to dock in Cape Town - although it is thought the vessel did not actually go there.

The sanctioned Russian cargo ship, Lady R, was also allowed to unload supplies at a South African naval base. The government said it contained a delayed order for ammunition.

South Africa points out it has held four joint exercises with the US since 2011, as well as drills with France and Germany.

“All countries conduct military exercises with friends worldwide,” said Foreign Minister Naledi Pandor, during a visit to her country by her Russian counterpart Sergey Lavrov in January.

She said that trying to stop South Africa from conducting joint military exercises with the countries of its choice amounted to “an abuse of international practice”.

Why is South Africa taking part?

South Africa is also taking part because its armed forces are underfunded and overstretched, according to Elizabeth Sidiropoulos, head of the South African Institute of International Affairs.

The navy’s priorities are to protect fisheries in its home waters and combat piracy in the Indian Ocean.

“It needs to team up with other nations to have the capacity to deal with things off its coast such as piracy,” she says.

South Africa’s governing African National Congress

(ANC) also has long-standing ties with Russia.

These date back to the years of white-minority rule before 1994, says Dr Alex Vines from the Chatham House thinktank in London.

“The older leaders in the ANC still have an emotional attachment to Moscow, because it constantly

The older leaders in the ANC still have an emotional attachment to Moscow, because it constantly supported their struggle,” he says.

“That makes it very difficult for South Africa to turn its back on Russia over Ukraine

supported their struggle,” he says. “That makes it very difficult for South Africa to turn its back on Russia over Ukraine.”

Russia, China and South Africa also have modernday ties because they are all members of the Brics alliance.

The group - which also includes Brazil and Indiarepresents some of the world’s leading emerging economies.

What do Russia and China want?

Ms Sidiropoulos says Russia has more to gain than anyone from this year’s exercise.

“It shows that Russia can still project its power far away, and that it still has allies

around the world.

“It lets them say that it’s not the world that’s against Russia. Only the West is against Russia.”

China is keen to keep shipping lanes open for commercial vessels travelling from its ports to African destinations, says Dr Vines.

It also wants to establish its naval power in the Indian Ocean, off the African coast.

“It’s about getting its navy out into international waters.

“China already uses Djibouti on the East African coast as a naval base to combat piracy, and perhaps it is hoping to get more bases.”

Source: BBC

The Russian fleet, led by the Admiral Gorshkov warship

South African foreign minister Nalida Pandor hosted a visit from her Russian counterpart Sergei Lavrov in January

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Christian Atsu’s body arrives Ghana, Govt. promises “befitting” burial

By Amaechi Agbo

Former Chelsea, Newcastle and Ghana Black Stars player, Christian Atsu’s body arrived Ghana on Sunday as the Ghanaian government promised a befitting burial for the ex player.

Atsu, 31, who died after an earthquake hit Turkey two weeks ago, has been returned to his native Ghana via a Turkish airline.

The flight landed in Accra late on Sunday, and his coffin was carried away by members of Ghana’s armed forces.

Atsu was found dead on Saturday under his home in southern Turkey. He had been playing for the Hatayspor club of Turkey and scored in what became his last football match on earth in Hatayspor’s 1-0 home win against Kasımpaşa on Sunday, February 5.

The winger played 65 times for Ghana’s national team and helped his side reach the 2015 Africa Cup of Nations final.

Speaking at Kotoka airport in the capital Accra, Ghana’s VicePresident Mahamudu Bawumia said: “We hoped against hope, every day that passed, we prayed and prayed. But alas, when he was found, he was no more.”

Mr Bawumia added the late footballer was much loved and would be sorely missed. “It is a painful loss, a very painful one.”

He promised Atsu would be

•FIFA, NFF, GFA, Chelsea, Newcastle, Everton, others pay tributes

given a “befitting” burial.

Atsu had been missing since the devastating 7.8 magnitude earthquake on 6 February caused the collapse of his apartment in Antakya, in hard-hit Hatay province.

The Hatayspor club initially reported the player had been rescued with injuries, but this position was later changed - and his agent confirmed the news of his death on Twitter on Saturday.

Over 44,000 people are confirmed to have lost their lives across south-eastern Turkey and northern Syria.

The footballer’s remains were accompanied from Turkey by his family and Ghana’s ambassador to Turkey, Francisca AshieteyOdunton, Ghana’s foreign ministry said.

The plane landed at 19:25 GMT in Accra where it was met by relatives, government officials and representatives of the Ghana Football Association.

The coffin was later due to be transported to a military hospital morgue.

On Saturday, his wife MarieClaire Rupio and their three children joined fans marking a minute’s silence in Newcastle, before the side’s Premier League match against Liverpool. Atsu played for Newcastle from 2016 to 2021.

Atsu’s face was shown on the big screen and away fans chanted “you’ll never walk alone”, before breaking into applause.

On Sunday, Ghana captain Mohammed Kudus paid tribute to his former teammate after scoring for Dutch side Ajax, removing his

jersey to reveal a white shirt with “RIP Atsu” written on it.

Meanwhile, the charity Arms Around The Child haled Atsu - who has been an ambassador for the organisation since 2016 - and said he had been the “main benefactor” of a school in Ghana that supports

abandoned children, orphans, the chronically ill and those rescued from trafficking. Atsu, they said, was “a young boy from poverty in Ghana who followed his dreams and used his talent and platform to help others”.

FIFA, NFF, GFA, Chelsea, Newcastle, Premier League, others pay tributes

The world football fraternity have continued to express their grief and condolences following the death of Christian Atsu, a former Chelsea, Newcastle and Ghana Black Stars player whose death was confirmed on Saturday, February 17, 2023.

Atsu, 31, was among thousands of persons trapped in the rubble of 7.8 magnitude that hit Turkey and Syria on Monday 6.

Following 11 days of efforts to rescue him and others, Atsu’s dead body was found on Saturday as confirmed by his agent, Nana Sechere and his last club, Hatayspor of Turkey

The Ghanaian footballer had been missing since the 6 February quake that caused the collapse of his apartment in Antakya, Hatay, Turkey.

His agent Nana Sechere, who has been in Hatay, confirmed the news on Saturday on Twitter, writing: “It is with the heaviest of hearts that I

have to announce to all well wishers that sadly Christian Atsu’s body was recovered this morning.

“My deepest condolences go to his family and loved ones. I would like to take this opportunity to thank everyone for their prayers and support.”

World Football governing body

FIFA, Ghana Football Association, GFA, Nigeria Football Federation, NFF as well as Chelsea, Premier League, Newcastle, Everton Football Clubs have paid their tributes and expressed sadness over his death.

“We are deeply saddened to hear of the passing of Christian Atsu.

“Our thoughts and condolences are with his family, friends and all those affected by the earthquake in Türkiye and Syria,” FIFA said via tweet.

The Nigeria Football Federation, NFF said “We Are sending our deepest condolences to the family of Ghanaian international Christian

Atsu, his friends and our brothers @ghanafaofficial. May his soul rest in peace.” the federation said via it’s Twitter handle

“The Ghana Football Association has received the sad news of the recovery of the body of Christian Atsu from the rubble following the earthquake that struck Southern and Central Turkey on Monday, February 6, 2023.

“The Ghana Embassy in Turkey, his club Hatayspor and his agent Nana Sechere have confirmed that the body was recovered early this morning, Saturday, February 18, 2023 after almost two weeks of emotional torture.

“We would like to express our deepest condolences to his wife and children, the family, loved ones and the football community,” Ghana FA said inna statement on their verified Twitter handle.

Premier League and Everton Football Club also expressed their condolences

“We are deeply saddened by the news Christian Atsu lost his life in the devastation of the earthquakes that have hit Turkey and Syria.

‘Our thoughts and condolences are with Christian’s family and friends and everyone affected by this tragic event,” Premier League said Everton expressed their sympathy to Atsu’s family, club and “everyone affected by his death”

“We are deeply saddened by today’s news that Christian Atsu has been found dead following the earthquake in Turkey earlier this month.

“Our thoughts are with his family, friends, colleagues at @ Hatayspor_FK and everyone affected by this tragic event that has claimed so many lives,” the club said on a tweet

“There are no words to describe our sadness,” tweeted his Turkish top-flight club Hatayspor.

“We will not forget you, Atsu.

Peace be upon you, beautiful person.”

Newcastle United also registered their condolences tweeting “We are profoundly saddened to learn that Christian Atsu has tragically lost his life in Turkey’s devastating earthquakes.

“A talented player and a special person, he will always be fondly remembered by our players, staff and supporters.”

In the aftermath of the quake, Hatayspor initially reported Atsu had been rescued “with injuries”, but a day later that position changed.

Christian Atsu won 65 caps for Ghana and helped the Black Stars reach the 2015 Africa Cup of Nations final in Equatorial Guinea where Ghana lost to Ivory Coast on penalties.

The earthquake and aftershocks in southern Turkey and northern Syria are known to have killed more than 40,000 people.

Christian Atsu’s body arrived Ghana on Sunday

S P R T

CAF Confederation Cup: Rivers United humble ASEC Mimosas in Uyo

By Amaechi Agbo

Goals from Malachi Ohawume, Ukeme Williams and Denis Ndasi saw Rivers United claim victory against ASEC Mimosa to register their first win out of two matches in the CAF Confederation Cup and move to the second place on the Group B table.

Two strikes in the first half did the damage as Malachi Ohawume netted in the first minute before Ukeme Williams followed up with superb second just before halftime to stun the Les Mimos.

Three minutes after the restart, Denis Ndasi netted his first CAF Confederation Cup goal for the Pride of Rivers to clinch the three points and complete a good night’s work for Stanley Eguma’s men.

Having made four changes from the side that lost in Brazzaville Congo on Sunday, Coach Stanley Eguma this time claimed the spoils in Uyo on Sunday to remember. Eguma’s new-look team were like wounded lion who wasted no time in feasting on it’s prey.

Atule, Umar’s

Malachi Ohawume showed excellent reaction to finish off a beautiful team play 60 seconds into the first half.

Nyima Nwagua was the orchestrator of the second goal in the 42nd minute as he produced a wonderful bit of skill and turn that was begging to be dispatched into the net, and Ukeme Williams was on hand to do just that to double United’s advantage.

With just three minutes into the second half, the third goal did arrive thanks to some Cameroonian magic. Denis Ndasi was well positioned to head in a well taken corner kick from Ebube Duru to complete an emphatic win.

Rivers United move into second position in group B with 3 points, one point behind Diables Noirs after 2 matches played.

Rivers United are guest to Bayelsa United in a rescheduled NPFL matchday 7 fixture at the Samson Siasia stadium on Wednesday 22nd February 2023, before a CAF Confederation Cup group B tie against Daring Club Motema Pembe of Congo DR on Sunday 26th February, 2023

goals hand Lobi Stars 2-0 Victory Against Doma United In NPFL23 MD 9 Clash

Lobi Stars continued their incredible home record following a 2-0 defeat of NPFL newcomers, Doma United at the new Jos Stadium, as a goal each from Joseph Atule and Umar Abba ensured the home team’s grip at the top of Group B table, going into the break.

The Makurdi-based side returned to winning ways once again after a temporary setback on matchday 8 against Wikki Tourists in Bauchi.

Interestingly, the host started the clash with great intent but it took the “Shoe get Size” boys less than ten minutes into the first half to seal the important points against the Savannah Tigers who came with a lot of intimidation.

In the 6th minute, Lobi Stars midfielder, Francis Odinaka maneuvered his way into the 18-yard box, skipping past the opponent’s defense, however, he was stripped from behind by Doma United’s Saifullahi Yusuf, leaving the center referee with an easy decision to point to the penalty spot.

Lobi Star’s winger, Atule, stepped up on the big occasion to give his side the lead in the 7th minute, sending goalkeeper Kingdom Osayi the wrong way to score his 4th goal of the season.

Two minutes after the first goal,

former Kastina United attacking midfielder, Umar Abba, having received a clever pass from Terdoo Shimagande, doubled the lead for the host with a fierce shot that was well taken 26 yards away from goal, leaving goalkeeper Osayi with no attempt, increasing his tally for the season to 4.

The visitors tried to regroup to fix things right after going down in quick succession, but they failed to create any meaningful chance as the Lobi Stars duo of Sunday Chinedu and Orji Kalu ensured the trio of Samuel Enefiok, Usman Musa, and Emmanuel Ogwuche had no threat on Goalkeeper Emmanuel Daniel as the first 45 minutes ended 2-0.

Upon resumption from the interval, Coach Onigbinde Akinade of Doma United made some tactical changes. He replaced Emmanuel Ogwuche with Bidemi Owoku in 45 minutes and Samuel Enefiok with Chibuke Charles in the 48th minute, but it was efforts in futility as the solidity of Lobi Stars’ back four gave no room for the visitors to exploit.

The host team, on the other hand had some opportunities to score more goals after the interval but Atule and Shimgande spurned many chances that would have seen the Makurdi-based side

increase their goal difference, going into the second half of the season.

Overall, Lobi Stars displayed quality football to secure the maximum points at the final whistle of regulation time.

With the result, Lobi Stars have secured 19 points to end the first round on position 1, after 9 matches played.

Second-placed Sunshine Stars have 15 points from 9 matches. Rivers United is in position 4 in the group with 13 points, with three outstanding games due to their Continental engagements.

Speaking to newsmen shortly after the match, Lobi Stars head Coach, Muhammed Baba Ganaru thanked God for the victory and appreciated the good character of players which made the result possible.

“We thank God for the match, a very good result...as usual, our boys were very disciplined, showing good character working in the defense and attack which gave birth to the result “, he said.

On his part, the Technical Adviser of Doma United, Onigbinde Akinade said in football, when you make unnecessary mistakes, you pay for it.

“First, we conceded too early, the penalty kick was a true one, and then the second goal which came after 2 minutes

from the first and so we ended up with the result”, says Doma United gaffer. With this game, Lobi Stars will join the rest of the NPFL team to embark on an election break and will resume back for the remainder of the matches on the 25th of March, 2023, and they will be hosted by the Savannah Tigers, Doma United, in Gombe State.

Nigeria’s Anuoluwa Opeyori retains Africa’s badminton Championship crown

Nigeria’s number 1 badminton player, Anuoluwa Opeyori has won his third African title in a space of five years to assert himself as Africa’s undisputable champion.

His latest victory came in South Africa at the weekend as he beat Mauritius Julien Paul 18-21, 2113, 21-18 to win the gold medal of the Men’s singles of the All Africa Senior Championships.

It was not an easy feat as the Nigerian delegation was psychologically drained even before the championship owing to nonissuance of travel visa to four of the ten-man team.

With his latest win, Opeyori has added to earlier titles won in Port Harcourt, Nigeria in 2019 and Kampala, Uganda in 2022.

He had also won the Men’s Singles title at the African Games in Morocco in 2019 to make it four titles in five years!

His spirit was initially dampened following the inability of four of his teammates to obtain entry visa into South Africa for the competition.

The affected players were:

Aliyu Alhaji Shehu, Dorcas Ajoke Adesokan, Sofiyat Arinola Obanishola and Ramatu Yakubu.

That reduced the Nigerian field and narrowed the possibility of the

country making a good impact.

It is worthy of note that this is the second time in recent years that a Nigerian contingent to the All Africa Senior Championships will have serious and demoralizing problems regarding their visas. The first was when the Team was traveling to Egypt for the All Africa Senior championships in 2020.

Anuoluwapo Opeyori in the 2022 edition arrived Uganda as the sole participant from Nigeria and went all the way up to clinch the Men’s Singles gold medal, thereby becoming King of African badminton for the second time after his feat in Port Harcourt, Nigeria.

His form was devastating to all that came his way. He easily dispatched his opponents with ruthless efficiency. They fell like packs of cards blown by the huricane.

Opeyori began the individual event easily outstroking Trinity Chimpumho of Zimbabwe 21-8, 219. Next to succumb to his firepower was homeboy, Ruan Snyman who also fell in two straight sets of 21-11 and 21-16 at the Round of 16.

Only Zambia’s Kalombo Mulenga showed a little resistance. But ‘Huricane Opeyori’ blew him away after the Zambian narrowly took the first set at 19-21.

Opeyori with fury of thunder smashed out the Zambian 21-10 in the next set and 21-19 in the third set of the quarter-final duel to win the match.

With the games getting tougher as the championship tie beckoned, Opeyori won the semi-finals against another homeboy, Robert Summers, 21-19 and 21-15 before his title match with the Mauritian.

It’s a new begining, remarked the Badminton Federation of Nigeria president, Francis Orbih who admitted that the sport in Nigeria suffered a setback following an initial internal wrangling that was only resolved last year.

Rivers United players (in blue) battle to dispossess ASEC Memosas player on Sunday

Anuoluwa Opeyori with his gold medal

Chelsea Board backs Potter despite poor run of form

Graham Potter still has the support of Chelsea chairman Todd Boehly and the club’s board despite their poor run of form in the Premier League

The Blues have won just two of their past 14 games in all competitions and were beaten 1-0 by Premier League strugglers Southampton on Saturday.

Potter was appointed in September following the sacking of Thomas Tuchel.

However, Chelsea’s owners have made it clear that hiring Potter was part of a long-term project.

It is felt the team needs an opportunity to gel after a rebuild that has seen £583m spent on new players in the past two transfer windows, with eight new signings arriving in January alone.

It is also recognised the unprecedented injury crisis has also contributed to difficult circumstances for Potter.

A head injury to Cesar Azpilicueta in Saturday’s match adds another name to Chelsea’s lengthy injury list, which includes Raheem Sterling, Kalidou Koulibaly, N’Golo Kante, Mateo Kovacic, Christian Pulisic, Wesley Fofana, Edouard Mendy, Denis Zakaria and Armando Broja.

Potter’s future at Stamford Bridge will not be determined by success in the Champions League this season or the team’s ability to qualify for European football next season.

Although it is accepted Saturday’s result was not good enough - Southampton are bottom of the Premier League table - it is felt there are encouraging signs at the club.

Potter left Brighton and

U-20 AFCON: ‘I’m confident in my team’s abilities’ –Bosso

Nigeria coach Ladan Bosso says he is confident of his team’s abilities despite going down to Senegal in their opening match of the U-20 Africa Cup of Nations in Cairo on Sunday night.

Sulaymane Faye scored five minutes before half-time to secure all three points for coach Malick Daf’s Cubs in the Egyptian capital in their Group A clash with the Flying Eagles.

The seven-time champions had to play the closing stages with a man down following Ahmed Abdullahi’s sending off for a dangerous challenge.

Despite the setback the Nigerian trainer insists they will recover to excel in the tournament being played in Egypt.

“We take advantage of tournaments like this in order to develop our level and work to fix our mistakes. In the end, I trust the team and their ability to qualify fto the next round, and that we will achieve our biggest goal, which is to reach the World Cup,’ said Bosso.

Bossu and his charges will be seeking to make up for Sunday’s loss in order to maintain a chances of reaching the quarter final.

The WAFU-A champions will battle against the hosts who were held to a goalless draw by Mozambique.

“The next match is very difficult, especially since it will be against Egypt, the host country,” Bossu told reporters.

signed a five-year deal with Chelsea following Tuchel’s sacking.

Chelsea have won nine of

their 25 games under Potter and sit 10th in the Premier League, 10 points off the Champions League places.

The Blues are next in action on Sunday at fourth-placed Tottenham (13:30 GMT).

Greenwood ‘meets’ with Man United team-mates

Suspended Manchester United striker Mason Greenwood has been in touch with some of his teammates while the club’s internal investigation continues.

Manchester United striker Mason Greenwood has caught up with some of his team-mates at the club after criminal charges against the 21-year-old were dropped.

Greenwood has met up

privately with some players and has also contacted others on social media in a bid to rekindle bonds, according to The Sun.

It is claimed the forward has reached out to some of those he’s known the longest at the club, and they met him to ‘hear him out’ so they can draw their own conclusions after the charges were dropped.

Greenwood remains

suspended while the club conducts its own process to determine whether he can continue his career at Old Trafford.

Manager Erik ten Hag is believed to have spoken with Greenwood already on the telephone to check on his physical and mental wellbeing.

Manchester United will discuss the possibility of Greenwood’s comeback with players from the

men’s and women’s teams to gauge opinion on his return as part of their ongoing process.

Goal claims players from the women’s team are said to feel “deeply uncomfortable” at the prospect of Greenwood wearing the famous red shirt again, while staff at the club are thought to be split on whether the striker should be allowed to resurrect his Manchester United career.

“Egypt’s the draw against Mozambique will make it more difficult because their desire to win will multiply.”

Chelsea manager, Graham Potter Bosso

Tobi Amusan nominated for 2023 Laureus

World Sports Awards

Nigeria’s 100 metres hurdles star, Tobi Amusan, has been nominated for the 2023 Laureus World Sports Awards 2023.

This was announced on the Twitter handle of Laureus on Monday, 20 February.

Amusan is shortlisted in the World Breakthrough of the Year category alongside five other contestants.

The other nominees in the category are tennis stars Carlos Alcaraz and Elena Rybakina, semifinalist at Qatar 2022 World Cup Atlas Lions of Morocco, American figure skater Nathan Chen and American professional golfer Scott Scheffler.

I want to win titles with MoroccoAchraf Hakimi

Moroccan international Achraf Hakimi, who plays as a right-back for French club Paris Saint-Germain, says his dream is to win titles with the Moroccan national team.

Speaking to Prime Video Sport France, Hakimi said he also desires to win the UEFA Champions League with his club.

When asked about his favorite moments throughout his career so far, the right-back mentioned Morocco’s run at the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar, where the team finished in fourth place.

The player also mentioned his winning the Champions League title with Real Madrid, despite not playing much for the team.

“I’d also like to thank my coach, Herve Renard, who gave me the opportunity to play for Morocco’s team the first time he called me up,” Hakimi said, also thanking Real Madrid ex-head coach Zineddine Zidane for also giving him the opportunity to play.

Cashless, hungry, humiliated

Starved of cash, Nigerians are now as broke as a church rat. The redesigned naira notes of N200, N500 and N1000 effectively replaced the equivalent old currencies and ceased to be legal tenders after February 10, 2023 according to the CBN governor. But some governors cried foul, stating that the highest court in our land, the Supreme Court had ruled that the status quo ante should remain pending determination of the suit they filed against outlawing the old notes. Some of them directed their citizens to continue using the old currencies for transactions; some others ordered arrest of anybody or organisation refusing to accept old notes while yet others like Lagos governor told those living within its boundaries that non acceptance of those notes is an ‘‘illegal’’ act.

When in a rare national broadcast President Mohammadu Buhari extended use of old N200 note to April 10, 2023 while declaring that the old N500 and N1000 were no longer legal tenders, the governors kicked further. They literally accused Mr. President of contempt of court. They again told residents in their various states that they should freely, without fear continue to use the old currencies for all transactions because according to them, the law is on their side. Not a few legal experts also averred that as per law, the old notes should still be in use until the Supreme Court gives its verdict on the matter on February 22, 2023, the adjourned date to consider the suit. And some other ‘experts’ are telling us that subject matter of the suit is not among issues that should be brought before our Supreme Court. That is, that the Supreme Court has no ‘jurisdiction’ on it. All of these leave the masses in a dilemma. They are confused as to which of the arguments and counter arguments, orders and countermands, they should align with.

Should they obey the number one citizens of the places where they reside and eke out a living who as state governors are directing them to continue doing business with their old currencies without let or hindrance? Governor of

By VICTORIA NGOZI IKEANO

the Central Bank who heads an institution that is said to be independent, on whose shoulders alone lie the task of directing the nation’s monetary policy and who is insisting that the old currencies of N500 and N1000 currencies can no longer be used for business transactions, effective February 10? Our president who reaffirmed the CBN governor’s position except to add that validity of old N200 is extended to April 10? Our legal luminaries who maintain that Mr. President in spite of his position as the number one citizen in Nigeria is duty bound to obey the highest court in Nigeria, the Supreme Court, which ordered according to them, that all the old notes are still valid as legal tenders until it determines the case filed before it on the matter? However, while above scenario is of great concern to the masses as it puts them at crossroads, their greatest concern for now is that the new currencies have become rare commodities, extremely difficult to find, let alone laying hands on them. Except perhaps for the politicians, every other Nigerian is as broke as a church rat right now in terms of cash at hand. You may be a millionaire fact of the matter is that 99.9 per cent of those huge sums in your bank account are cashless, not backed with cash and so, no more than promissory notes. The rich among us whose weekly

cash requirements is no less than N100,000 are lamenting that they have just N20,000 for these expenses. For the general masses however, some have no more than N5000 of the new currency to manage in a week and some others still less. And to get this little cash, has been/is a struggle. Consider this typical scenario in a typical community/town outside of the 36 state capitals that is lucky to have a commercial bank.

First you have to rise as early as 4.00a.m.to be amongst the first 50 persons on the queue to increase probability of you being served by the ATM if the bank happens to receive money that day. By sunrise and well before the bank officially opens its gate to customers at 8a.m., the crowd would have grown phenomenally. Thereafter you have to wait for hours for money to arrive. And it may well happen that after spending several hours inside the bank, an announcement is made that the bank would not get any cash for that day; then you have to go home empty handed. On a day that cash arrives in the bank after what seemed like an endless wait, you have to wait for another hour or so for the bank officials to put things in order. The ATM begins to dispense N5,000 to people on the queue; later, it is rationed further to N2,000 per person and a little later, people are told that the money is finished. There are

Nonetheless, new set of naira traders, profiteers have surfaced. They are retailers, including supermarkets. These are traders who buy their various products from distributors via transfer and sell the products to the final consumer via cash.

still multitudes unattended. On the average the bank dispenses money twice a week but you have to repeat the daily routine of going to the bank in the wee hours of the morning everyday to see if money would be available that day as there is no fixed time or day when the bank would have cash. And on a day when there is no cash in the bank, no cash left in your hand and no more foodstuff in your house, you are forced out of desperation and hunger to patronise the very few POS operators still in business who charge exorbitant fees: N1,500 for N5,000 or N3,000 for N10,000. Throughout last week there was no money in the bank neither was there any POS operator in sight.

Nonetheless, new set of naira traders, profiteers have surfaced. They are retailers, including supermarkets. These are traders who buy their various products from distributors via transfer and sell the products to the final consumer via cash. They gather their cash sales for the day and sell to people desperately searching for cash, at same cut throat price, that is, you transfer to them, N5000 to get N3, 500 cash. Also, this cash scarcity has brought about two parallel price lists in the market place. For example, a 4-litre paint bucket of garri goes for N1,000 if you are paying with new naira note and N2,000 for old notes. Cashless, hungry and humiliated in the desperate search for this elusive new naira notes, such is the plight of millions of Nigerians who live in the countryside, villages.