Friday, April 21, 2023 Edition

Governor, Central Bank of Nigeria, Godwin Emefiele, (fourth from left) flanked by Honourable Minister of Trade and Industry, Otunba Niyi Adebayo (third from right) and other participants at the Business and Investment Forum 2023 organized by the Embassy of Nigeria in Hague, Netherlands, yesterday. Photo: CBN

Akoh seeks Buhari’s assent to Nigeria Peace Corps Bill

By Vivian Okejeme

TheNational Commandant of the Peace Corps of Nigeria (PCN), Professor Dickson Ameh Akoh, has appealed to President Muhammadu Buhari to assent to a Bill for an Act that would make the organization a statutory body.

The Bill for an Act to Establish the Nigerian Peace Corps (NPC) passed by the two Chambers of the National Assembly is currently on the table of President Buhari for assent having been transmitted to him last week.

However, addressing a World Press Conference on the development in Abuja on Thursday, Prof Akoh noted that President Buhari will bequeath a lasting parting gift to the Nigerian youth and would be remembered for good when he assented to the Bill.

Justifying the need for Buhari to sign the Bill, Akoh explained that its entire contents, especially the functions contained in the Bill is a summation of an inclusive empowerment programmes for the youth and on how to harness their innate potentials for the over all tasks of nation-building.

According to him, the passage of the Nigerian Peace Corps Bill is not only timely, reassuring and a renewed hope for the Nigerian youth, but also a pointer to the fact that the political elites is still very much conscious of the social challenges confronting the youth and therefore, passionate on proffering solutions to the challenges to same in order to place the youth in the front burner of our national life.

Akoh said to underscore the high level of acceptability of the Nigerian

Peace Corps Bill, opinion polls conducted in 2017 by The Nation Newspaper, Naija. com and Nigerian Television Authority (NTA-Good Morning Nigeria) revealed that 89%, 76% and 97% respectively supported the establishment of the Nigerian Peace Corps.

Similarly, he said that Premium Times, an online publication and Punch Newspaper conducted opinion poll on the Bill and returned a favourable verdict of 85% and 93% respectively in its support.

“Concerned with the increasing waves of unemployment and high level of poverty in the land, both past and present administrations initiated different intervention policies to mitigate these challenges.

“Some of these initiatives are Subsidy Re-investment Programme (SURE-P), You- Win, Conditional Cash Transfer (CCT), N-Power, Government Enterprise and Empowerment Programme (GEEP), Government Intervention Funds (GIF), Nigerian Youth Investment Fund (NYIF) and Social Safety Net (SSN).

“It is a proven fact and incontrovertible reality that once these ‘Financial Handouts’ are no longer forthcoming or delayed in coming, these same Youths go back to the streets on protest or quickly revert to social ills and unproductive preoccupations, and even sometimes back-lashing the Government.

“However, it is advisable that a more robust, sustainable and institutionalized approach be adopted to ensure irreversibility of conditions and welfare status of our youths. In more developed economies, efforts are tailored towards the pre-occupation of the youths in

productive ventures where they will be economically useful to themselves and the larger society.

“This is in addition to engaging them in moral, citizenship and leadership training aimed at character building and their valuable participation in nationbuilding.

“In the United States of America, for instance, the American Peace Corps was created as an agency to promote World Peace and Friendship by training American youths as volunteers to perform social and humanitarian services overseas, including Nigeria.

“The volunteers help communities in Developing Countries improve their Social and Economic conditions.

“The dynamic nature of insecurity in Nigeria today requires role differentiation as a panacea to expertise in addressing security challenges. It also requires multi- sectoral, multi- lateral and multidimensional approaches to tackle.

“In more advanced societies, Youth Based Organisations like the Nigerian Peace Corps, are established with the sole aim of engaging and pre-occupying the youths as a panacea to the social consequences of been unemployed.

“Similar organisations that exist in other parts of the world are: the American Peace Corps, Canadian Peace Corps, Bangladesh National Cadet Corps, Peace Officers Commission in China, Chinese Labour Corps, Lera Uniform Corps of Malaysia, Malaysian People Volunteer Corps, Production and Construction Corps of China.

“All these are consciously and deliberately designed to empower and socially pre-occupy the youths so that their state of idleness won’t be exploited

adversely.

Akoh thanked the leadership and entire members of the 9th National Assembly for the extraordinary and unanimous support given to his Organisation all through the legislative processes leading to the eventual passage of the Bill for an Act to Establish Nigerian Peace Corps.

He said that the overwhelming support accorded the Bill by the members of the Senate and House of Representatives would be recognised and celebrated by all bonafide members of the Corps.

“While we particularly note with deep appreciation, the cordial efforts and support for our Bill, it is our most considered view that the members of the 9th Assembly, have through the passage of the Bill, demonstrated their strong passion and commitment to the emancipation of Nigerian Youth through genuine youth empowerment and development, which are prerequisite for addressing the increasing wave of unemployment and its social consequences upon the nation.

“However, we assure them that when the history of this Organisation is written, their names will have a pride of place and be written in gold.

Akoh also thanked media in the country for the support to the Peace Corps and the eventual passage of the Bill.

“II wish to re-assure you that we will remain a veritable partner as we hope to transit from a Non-Governmental Organisation to a Government Agency with the anticipated assent of the Bill by Mr President”.

First lady inspects ongoing construction of AFLPM Secretariat in Nigeria

The President, Africa First Ladies Peace Mission (AFLPM), Aisha Buhari of Nigeria, on Wednesday visited the site of the ongoing construction of the new Permanent Secretariat of the Misson in Abuja.

The first lady, who was accompanied by the Minister of Finance, Budget and National Planning, Mrs Zainab Ahmed, expressed happiness with the progress of work done so far.

Mrs Buhari commended the construction firm handling the construction of the project for working assiduously to deliver the project within the timeframe.

”I thank the Almighty Allah

for giving me the opportunity to construct the Secretariat of the Africa First Ladies Peace Mission during my tenure as the first lady of Nigeria which will be inaugurated in few weeks time.”

While commending the contribution of the federal government towards the execution of the project, the first lady expressed the need for the minister of women affairs to expedite action towards the release of funds donated by the Nigerian government to ensure the completion of the project.

”I will like to thank the Nigerian government for their intervention. We also understood that some funds amounting to N500 million was

allegedly received by the Honourable Minister of women affairs on behalf of the Africa First Ladies Peace Mission.

”We therefore appeal to her to immediately credit the account of the peace Misson for us to adequate compilation, auditing and handing over process” she said.

The first lady therefore expressed gratitude to other stakeholders for their contributions towards the successful construction of the new Permanent Secretariat.

On her part, the Minister of Finance, Zainab Ahmed, commended the courage and tenancy of the first lady in delivering the multi-million naira project.

Ahmed expressed optimism that the project will add value to the efforts of African women in peace building across the continent.

”We are very pleased with the progress of work that has been done here. This project started a year ago and it is within the time frame and is going to be commissioned very soon.

“And it is really a credit to our First Lady, that this project has been pushed so fast, and the quality of work here is very much.

”It is good that Nigeria is actually showing leadership and we see this mission as our own and it’s a representation of peace in Africa,” she said. (NAN)

L-R: Chairman Juhel Nig LTD, Dr. Eric Okoye; Chairman, Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN), Lady Ada Chukwudozie; Executive Director, MRS, Chief Amobi Ozor, President, MAN, Otunba Francis Meshioye & the DG of MAN, Segun Ajayi Kadir, during a Factory tour at Juhel Nig LTD yesterday, ahead of the National Council Meeting in ANAMBRA

Troops kill 24 terrorists, arrest 40 logistics suppliers

As 501 surrender

By Tobias Lengnan Dapam

The Nigerian military said its troops have killed 24 terrorists and arrested 40 logistics suppliers in Borno. Director, Defence Media Operations, Maj-Gen. Musa Danmadami, made this known yesterday, in Abuja, while giving update on two weeks Military operations in the country.

He added that those arrested included one female, 4 terrorists informant.

He further revealed that the troops rescued 206 civilians, while a total of 501 Boko Haram/Islamic State of West Africa Province terrorists and their families comprising of 60 adult males, 176 adult females

and 266 children surrendered to troops at different locations within the theatre of operation.

“All recovered items, arrested Boko Haram/Islamic State of West Africa Province terrorists, terrorists logistics suppliers, were been handed over to the relevant authority for further action.

“The surrendered Boko Haram/Islamic State of West Africa Province terrorists and members of their families were profiled for further action.

“The rescued civilians were given medical attention before been handed over to relevant authority for further action.

“In a related development, the air component of Operations HADIN KAI equally conducted

Ramadan Timing Day 30

several air interdiction operations against terrorists enclaves and logistics in other to degrade them.

“Notably, on 9 April 2023, air recce operation was conducted over Konduga, Gargash, Gulumba Gana, Sabil Huda, Njimia and Sambisa South general area.

“ Terrorists were seen running to take cover at nearby vegetation. Consequently, following the outcome of the recce these locations were engaged with rockets and bombs.

“Feedback revealed that several terrorists were neutralized with their structures and logistics destroyed in the air strikes”, he affirmed.

Ramadan: Only poor, needy deserves Zakat-Al-Fitr- Islamic cleric

An Abuja based Islamic cleric, Malam Yahya Al-Yolawi, has advised Muslims to give Zakat-al-Fitr only to the poor and needy in the society.

Al-Yolawi gave the advice in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Wednesday in Abuja.

NAN reports that Zakat-alFitr, or the zakat of breaking the fast of Ramadan, is a special obligatory alms paid by all Muslims at the end of the month of Ramadan regardless of age or gender.

The cleric said that Prophet Muhammad enjoined the

payment of one Sa’a of dates or one Sa’a of barley as Zakat al-Fitr on every Muslim, young and old, male and female, free and slave.

He said that the purpose of Zakat al-Fitr was to purify the one who has fasted from any type of indecent act or speech he might have committed while fasting.

Al-Yolawi also said that Zakat-al-Fitr helps the poor and the needy, adding that the material of the zakat can be either barley, wheat, rice, corn or similar items considered as basic foods for people residing in a particular place or society.

” Zakat al-Fitr has to be paid by the end of ramadan either one or two days before Eid or the day of Eid before the Eid prayer.

”However, If one pays zakat al-Fitr before the eid salat, it is considered an accepted zakat, if he pays it after the Salat, it is considered an ordinary charity.”

Al-Yolawi encouraged all Muslims to take their wives and children to the eid prayer area, saying that Prophet Muhammad used to take his wives and daughters to the Eids ground. NAN

Media Pilgrimage package underway -NCPC Boss

Rev. Yakubu Pam, the Executive Secretary, Nigeria Christian Pilgrim Commission (NCPC) has said it would initiate a media pilgrims package for journalists.

Pam stated this at a news conference on the conclusion of the December 2022 main pilgrimage to Israel and Jordan, and the unveiling of the commission’s 2023 Easter pilgrimage on Monday in Abuja.

He said journalists would embark on the exercise to do a proper coverage and documentation of holy sites for documentaries for the country’s benefit.

Pam said more holy sites would be explored soon for pilgrimage, as

the commission intended to enter more bilateral ties for Nigeria and other nations.

He said that 4,000 Nigerians had embarked on the first phase of the main pilgrimage, as more are expected in the second phase , making the 10,000 target by the commission achievable.

Pam said the commission has better standard now for the welfare of pilgrims and also have zero abscondment.

“We have prioritised the welfare of pilgrims and have better security watch to ensure there are no records of abscondment”, he said

He thanked all the states, individuals and organisations for their partnership with the

commission for the success of the exercise.

Pam commended Air Peace Nigeria and the Israeli government for initiating the historical direct flight from Nigeria to the State of Israel.

The NCPC Boss said the flight between the two countries would cut travel time from 27 hours to five hours.

Pam said this would be a historical feat, as there had never been a direct flight between the Middle East nation and Nigeria.

He said Israel has started opening new routes to connect the world, and identified Nigeria as one of the leading countries in Africa that maintained close ties with Israel. NAN

IWS reiterates commitment to empowering women

The International Women’s Society (IWS) has pledged to continue to empower the disadvantaged in the country, particularly women and children.

The President of IWS, Mrs Izabella Abia-Okon, said this during the association’s April meeting and cultural exchange programme in collaboration with the Nigerian-Hungarian Chamber of Commerce, on Tuesday in Lagos.

According to Abia-Okon, IWS in 1999 established a skills acquisition centre in Lagos State, to elevate the socio-economic status of women in the state and country at large.

She said an average of 100 students graduate annually from the centre which offers vocational training in catering and events management, sewing and fashion designing; makeup; adult literacy; and computer related courses, among others.

Abia-Okon said that the exercise had helped to promote the springing up of more micro enterprises, thereby addressing the scourge of unemployment in the country, especially among the womenfolk.

She noted that the skills centre was NABTEB certified, which enables graduates to work anywhere in the world.

She, however, called on wellmeaning Nigerians to support the association so as to continue its mission of empowering the underprivileged in the society.

“As an NGO project, we face significant financial challenges in sustaining our operations and providing quality hands on training, scholarships, and startup support for our graduates.

“We rely on the support of generous donors, and together we can make a difference in lives of the less privileged in our society,” she said.

IWS was founded in 1957 in Lagos by a group of publicspirited women set out to champion women’s courses using its cut clear programmes that generally focus on providing for the less privileged; supporting widowed women financially; and providing avenues for acquisition of productive skills toward financial independence and development of their respective communities.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that highlight of the meeting was networking and understanding the opportunities of a Nigerian and Hungarian collaboration. NAN

SOKAPU fumes over resurgence of killings in Southern Kaduna

From Femi Oyelola, Kaduna

The Southern Kaduna Peoples’ Union, (SOKAPU), has expressed dismay of the resurgence of terrorist activities in the area, after what it termed as electioneering break.

President of the union, Mr Awemi Dio Maisamari, asserted this during a press conference held in Kaduna yesterday.

Maisamari, opined that the latest sad event is the invasion of Runji village (Sankwab) in Atyap land Zangon Kataf LGA in Southern Kaduna, which was invaded by marauding armed herdsmen.

According to him, no fewer than 42 houses were burnt with 17 women and children roasted beyond recognition; 12 corpses mutilated by machete cuts and bullet shots were picked on and around the village.

He added that later in the day, 4 persons that were rushed to hospitals, died of their wounds, bringing the death toll to 33.

“The victims were buried in a mass grave on the eastern edge of the village. Southern Kaduna is dotted by numerous mass graves of such kind of victims.

“As usual, the Kaduna State Government and the Federal Government have not visited

the place, nor send any form of assistance to the scores that have been rendered homeless.

“So far, there has been an apparent failure or refusal by the Kaduna State government under the Mallam Nasir El-Rufa’i and the Muhammadu Buhari led Federal Government to apprehend and prosecute the killers.

“We interpret this as a clear indication of their complicity in the genocide in various parts of Southern Kaduna,” he said.

Furthermore, the union expressed sadness over purported silence of the Economic Community of West African States, (ECOWAS), the Africa Union (AU),

the CommonWealth of Nations and the United Nations (UN) over the unrelenting pogrom in Southern Kaduna.

He therefore, called for a UN or AU Peace Enforcement Operations Base in Southern Kaduna.

“This will in practicality demonstrate that the world is interested in our collective survival as minority ethnic groups.

“ECOWAS, UN or AU must not abandon us to be hounded by well funded and well-armed herdsmen who are being encouraged and protected by their powerful kinsmen and collaborators and outside Nigeria”, SOKAPU added.

L-R: Chairman, House of Representatives Ad-Hoc committee to investigate oil theft, Hon. Mark Gbillah, members of the committee, Hon. Jimoh Olajide and Hon. Oghene Egoh during a meeting of the AdHoc Committee to investigate Alleged theft of over 2.4 Billion in revenue from illegal sales of 48 million barrels of crude oil, at the National Assemblyin, yesterday in Abuja.

NGO tasks media, CSOs on eliminating SGBV, child marriage

ANon Governmental Organisation (NGO), Palladium Nigeria, has tasked the media and critical stakeholders on the need to eliminate Sexual and GenderBased Violence (SGBV), and Child Early and Forced Marriage (CEFM) in the country.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the stakeholders were trained in Abuja on Wednesday under Palladium’s Strengthening Civic Advocacy and Local Engagement (SCALE) project, sponsored by USAID.

Other stakeholders trained were Civil Society Organisations (CSOs), Business Member Organisations (BMOs) on reporting Sexual and Gender-Based Violence (SGBV), and Child Early and Forced Marriage (CEFM).

Mr Eric Umoru, the Social Protection Adviser, Palladium’s SCALE project, said the exercise aimed at encouraging more reportage, sensitisation and advocacies on policy reforms and implementation that would eliminate SGBV and CEFM cases.

Umoru said the exercise was necessitated due to the increasing cases of SGBV, child early and forced marriage, trafficking in persons and so many other forms

of violence in the society.

“These cases are increasing because of the spate of insecurity and poverty, which has increased the rate of abuse.

“So we decided to organise this training for these critical stakeholders so that they are better aware of some of the dynamics of abuse and some of the antics that exploiters use in carrying out their cases.

“Following this improved learning, we expect participants to develop reports, media contents from a trauma informed perspective on the extent of damage, that SGBV causes on victims,” he said.

Stressing the need for collaboration between key stakeholders, Umoru urged them to amplify their voices on improving policy implementation towards ending violence and harmful practices in Nigeria.

“There are a lot of policies around SGBV and CFM that have not been implemented adequately.

“So they need to, as active stakeholders in response, call out stakeholders to push for reforms and implementation as the case may be,” he said.

Umoru also encouraged media organisations to highlight the

drivers, indicators, effects and the long term effects of violence in their work.

“They should be able to amplify the voices of survivors, where they are not able to speak, they’re able to call out irresponsive government attitudes and behaviour that is facilitating that.

“We are localising the responses by working with local organisations, media practitioners and grassroots base structures that can help to amplify it.

“So we continue to engage government for accountability and increased great response,” he said.

Dr Maji Peterx, the Country Director, Equal Access International, described SGBV and CEFM as an endemic, hence the need to sensitise the public on its negative impacts in the psyche and societal structure.

Peterx, also a facilitator, said the workshop would raise consciousness around negativities in the society and create a system that was more appealing to younger people.

“This is to raise awareness, reconscientise people to increase knowledge about the ills of SGBV,” he said.

Ms Ene Oshaba, a gender

advocate, said the training had further enlightened her on new ways of reporting SGBV, especially the need to understand issues and why people behave the way they do.

“One need to be very conscious of the fact that our society is context based and that shapes our attitudes and behaviour.

“As a journalist, I have a huge responsibility in changing the narratives with very impactful and issue based reporting on women and girls.

“Amplifying the voices of women and girls is a key step to finding lasting solutions to their societal challenges,” she said.

Mrs Maureen Okpe, a gender reporter, said: “We discussed about conflict, which we always tie to negative outcome, but the training made me understand things differently as conflict in itself is neutral.

”But the outcome which is determined by our response is what makes the difference.

“During conflict our response is influenced by so many things by our experience, educational qualification, exposure and environment; these determines how we react to things,” she said.

Photo: Mahmud Isa

Ortom chides Presidency over insecurity in Nigeria

From Uche Nnorom, Makurdi

The Benue State Governor, Samuel Ortom has accused President Buhari of having woefully failed in its attempts to secure Nigeria, and Benue state in particular.

Ortom made this assertion in response to allegation by Shehu Garba, Senior Special Assistant to the President titled, ‘President Buhari’s Benue Record Speak For Itself. Let Benue people speak for themselves too’.

However, the Governor in w statement which was signed by his Chief Press Secretary, Nathaniel Ikyur, and made available to People Daily on Thursday, described Garba’s statement as a reckless stab by agents of genocide against the Benue people by blaming the victims.

He said Garba’s infantile statement on the security situation in Benue State has once again confirmed the State position that the killings; mass murder in Benue by the Fulani militia has the full endorsement of the Buhari government.

He added that it also goes to confirm that the Presidential spokesman does not only speak for Buhari but for some terrorist Fulani groups too.

He said, “Indeed, the Presidential spokesman’s futile attempts to twist events and history in Benue State is unfortunate and reprehensible.

“ It shows how much he and others in that league have misled the government and Nigerian people in the last inglorious eight years.

“It is common knowledge that as

the Commander-in-Chief, Buhari has empowered and emboldened the Fulani pastoralists in their expansionist agenda including killings.

“It is equally a known fact that it is on record that Governor Samuel Ortom has repeatedly pleaded with the Buhari government to intervene in the incessant invasion of Benue State by Fulani militias.

“The President sadly chooses to endorse the invasion and merely asks our people to learn to accommodate their neighbours who derive pleasure in killing and dispossessing them of their ancestral lands.

“What the Buhari administration has done to our people through the Fulani militants as confirmed by Shehu Garba is to spit on the graves of our compatriots mowed down

needlessly by Fulani militia. We shall not forget these atrocities.

“Besides unleashing Fulani@ killers on our people, the Buhari government denied Benue State any meaningful project in the last eight years, including the repair of federal government roads in the state which are now death traps. We have tried in vain to find out the offense of Benue people, but we found none, except that our people are responsible, law abiding citizens”.

He continued: “For the avoidance of doubt, Governor Samuel Ortom was elected in 2015 and re-elected in 2019 to defend the interest of the people of Benue and never to be a lackey in the hands of expansionists using every means to perpetrate evil against the Benue citizens.

“By Garba Shehu’s latest

statement, the presidency has clearly demonstrated that Governor Ortom is right when he consistently accused the APC-led federal government of complicity in the killings orchestrated against Benue people by the Fulani herdsmen as represented by Miyetti Allah Kautal, Fulani Nationality Movement, FUNAM and other Fulani socio cultural groups.

“If the Presidency can find it convenient to lay the blame of the massive killings that the Fulani have continued to perpetrate in Benue on Governor Ortom, what can it say of the massacre and kidnappings in Plateau, Southern Kaduna, Niger, Sokoto and President Buhari’s home state of Katsina among other states where the killing of innocent citizens has continued unchallenged?”

Governor of Kebbi State, Abubakar Atiku-Bagudu and First Lady of Kebbi State, Dr Zainab Shinkafi Bagudu, during the Seventh Kebbi Women’s Ramadan Lecture in Birnin Kebbi recently.

NGO offers free hepatitis B vaccination in police barracks, hospitals in FCT

The Daniel Onoja Foundation (DOF), an NGO, has organised free Hepatitis B vaccination and awareness campaign for police officers in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the event took place simultaneously in the Force Headquarters, Force CID Clinic, Dei-Dei Police Barracks and the Muhammadu Buhari Police Hospital, Area 11.

NAN also reports that the event was organised in commemoration of the 2023 World Health Day, usually celebrated on April 7.

Founder of the NGO, Mr Daniel Onoja, said the medical

intervention would afford the personnel the opportunity to know their status and get vaccinated.

He added that the hepatitis B virus which is deadly and dangerous had not received the most needed awareness and sensitisation it requires.

Onoja added that having being a product of a Police father and living in a Barracks, it promoted him to give back to the society which made him what he is.

“We are doing this for humanity sake because we understand that the cardinal point of every nation’s development is dependent on the security, health and growth of its economy.

“If the people who make up the country, do not have good health enough to carry out their duties, then there will be a challenge.

“We also understand that the growth of every country is largely dependent on its security and it is well known that the Nigerian police force is saddled with that responsibility for internal security.

“This means that their health cannot be taken for granted and we cannot leave that responsibility to the government and the personnel alone.

“We know how expensive this vaccines are and how their work schedule is also tight, that is why we brought this medical intervention

to where they are working, so that they can easily get tested and start their vaccination.

“We want them to live a healthy life, so that they can carry out their responsibilities effectively,” he said.

Onoja added that the foundation had already made arrangements for the three doses of the vaccine for those who are negative, while assuring of its continuous support to the police.

Also speaking, Dr Emmanuel Garba, 15th Force Medical Officer, appreciated the foundation for the medical intervention.

Garba said it would go a long way in protecting the health of the police personnel.

“We all know the seriousness of hepatitis B and we appreciate you for taking steps in ensuring that we are not exposed to this infection,” he said.

NAN reports that hepatitis B is a potentially life-threatening liver infection caused by the hepatitis B virus (HBV).

Hepatitis B is spread when blood, semen, or other body fluids from a person infected with the virus enters the body of someone who is not infected.

This can happen through sexual contact; sharing needles, syringes, or other drug-injection equipment; or during pregnancy or delivery.

NAN

Fintiri, deputy get certificates-of-return

•

As Governor vows to ensure REC goes to jail

By Lateef Ibrahim, Abuja

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) on Wednesday presented Certificates of Return to Gov. Ahmadu Fintiri of Adamawa State, and the Deputy Governor-elect, Prof Kaletapwa Farauta.

The certificates were presented to the duo at the INEC headquarters in Abuja by a National Commissioner, Dr Baba Billa, who stood in for the Commission’s Chairman, Prof Mahmood Yakubu.

Speaking at the colourful ceremony, the Adamawa State Governor, Fintiri described the his re-election as the toughest election because of attempts by some external manipulation he alleged came from Abuja.

The Governor noted that he won the election on March 18 at the first balloting, stressing however that the INEC Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) Hudu Yunusa-Ari, tried to manipulate the process.

According to him, “They were interested in seeing that they strangle the democracy and you

Eid-el-Fitr: Edo NSCDC deploys 1,500 personnel

The Edo Command of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), has deployed 1,50O personnel to provide security in the state during the Eid-el-Fitri celebrations.

This is contained in a statement by the command spokesman, Mr Efosa Ogbebor, and made available to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja, yesterday.

The state Commandant, Mr Samuel Dan, said the personnel would man strategic public places including Eid grounds, malls, markets and recreational centres.

“Mobile and static patrol will be mounted and a stop-andsearch operation will also be placed at various locations.

“The personnel will work in synergy with other law enforcement agencies in providing security,” he said.

The commandant urged all component commanders, heads of tactical units, area commanders and divisional officers to ensure smooth, crime free and secure celebrations.

He appealed to members of the public to give maximum cooperation to the NSCDC personnel during the festive period and beyond.

Dan however, warned parents to monitor and regulate the movements of their wards, while assuring residents of the state of 24-hour surveillance during the period. NAN

can see, to your dismay, that even the security agencies that are supposed to protect our democracy were involved in strangling the democracy in Nigeria.

“Unfortunately, the military had to get involved to save the democracy in Adamawa. It is quite unfortunate.

“I have become a veteran of inconclusive elections and I have learnt a lot”, he said.

Fintiri said that the REC became confused and had to declare the election inconclusive, “but to the glory of God we won again at the supplementary election”

Continuing, the Governor said, “I think INEC has taken steps and that they are going to prosecute him. But I think the right place to prosecute him is in Adamawa because he committed the offence in my land.

“I am going to instruct the state Ministry of Justice to ensure that he is prosecuted and taken to jail,” Fintiri said.

He insisted that Yunusa-Ari should be prosecuted along with the security chiefs that protected him to commit the electoral offence when they ought to have been the one to

protect democracy.

His words, “If the police and the security agencies will be the ones to connive with INEC officials to scuttle our democracy, I think it’s unfortunate and the wrong must be corrected by all of us.”

Fintiri however profusely apologised to the Commission

over the attack on its two National Commissioners in the state because of the illegal action of Yunusa-Ari.

He said, “One apology I have to make is what happened to the two excellent commissioners in my state.

I take the blame, and I apologize. Sorry for what the hoodlums did for the mistaken identity that they

thought they were Yunusa-Ari”

The governor appreciated God for what he did for him and for Nigerians saying democracy has come to the stay.

He also Nigerians and the international community for standing for Nigeria’s democracy.

Tackle insecurity, boost socioeconomic dev’t, Agbaje tells Tinubu

By Vivian Okejeme

An expert on the economy, Opeyemi Agbaje, has advised the President-elect, Senator Ahmed Bola Tinubu, to tackle security challenges, in order to boost social-economic development in the country.

Agbaje submitted that available data indicates that Nigeria is engulfed in an economic crisis, and thus, needs a capable leadership to bail it, through

decisive moves against prevailing insecurity.

The economic expert made this know while delivering a paper, titled, ‘Crime and Insecurity: Understanding Nigeria’s Socioeconomic Crisis’ as the guest lecturer, at a media parley, organised by First City Monument Bank (FCMB).

Speaking at the event, he stressed that if the security challenges are not tackled, they would have cascading effects on

socio-economic development of the nation.

Agbaje observed that the subsisting security architecture was potent and only needed the political will to drive the entire process.

He stated that as long as there is a dysfunctional economy with weak leadership, crime rate would continue to increase.

He added that to address the current economic quagmire, a mix of market and social policy

was needed to move the country forward.

In his welcome address, the Vice President, Corporate Affairs of the bank, Diran Olojo, submitted that an informed media would aid nation’s growth and better the society.

Therefore, he charged reporters on responsible journalism for good of the citizenry and image of their brands.

Seplat trains additional 271 science, arts teachers in Edo, Delta

Nefishetu Yakubu

Seplat Petroleum Development Company, a Nigerian independent oil and gas company, says it has graduated additional 271 teachers in Science Technology, Engineering, Arts and Mathematics from its Seplat Teachers Empowerment Programme (STEP) in Edo and Delta.

It said further that a graduation and award ceremony was organised by Seplat in Benin on Wednesday for the beneficiaries of the 2022/2023 session of the STEP initiative.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that about 634 teachers and Chief Inspectors of Education (CIEs) had benefited from STEP empowerment since inception of the programme in 2020.

The Director, External Affairs and Sustainability, Seplat Energy, Dr Chioma Nwachuku, said that the 271 beneficiaries comprised 260 teachers and 11 CIEs. Nwachuku said that teachers in public and private secondary schools in the host states were opened to benefiting from the programme.

She noted that STEP had impacted on more than 25,000 students within the third year of the programme.

“Over the years, Seplat Energy invested significantly in other educational Corporate Social Responsibility such as the PEARLS quiz competition to support the UN Sustainable Development Goals 4, which promotes education for all,” she said.

The Managing Director, NNPC E&P Ltd., Mr Ali Zarah, said that teachers were critical stakeholders

in the educational system and that education was the bedrock of every society.

Zarah, represented by Chinedu Emelife, a senior officer in the company said; “we at NNPCE&P and Seplat have chosen to appreciate the work and contributions of teachers in shaping the future of our nation by training them to teach students’’.

Also, in her Keynote address, the Edo Commissioner for Education, Dr Joan Oviawe, said that technology was critical to transforming the education workforce.

Oviawe pointed out that the 21st century interaction between teachers and students could be improved, leveraging the right technologies and methods.

However, Gov. Ifeanyi Okowa of Delta, commended Seplat for the initiative, adding that teachers and

students needed to be equipped with relevant skills to become global champions.

Okowa was represented by the Permanent Secretary, Delta Ministry of Basic and Secondary Education, Mr Augustine Oghoro.

Meanwhile, Seplat hosted a roundtable with the theme: “The role of technology in transforming the education workforce”.

The panelists at the session that included professionals, educational and technological experts discussed the role of technology in transforming education workforce.

The panelists agreed that leveraging technology to drive the educational workforce will impact positively on the nation’s economy. The highpoint of the event was the presentation of certificates and awards to 10 outstanding teachers. NAN

President Muhammadu Buhari hosted some Amiras and Islamic Scholars for the Ramadan break of fast in Makkah in Saudi Arabia on Monday

Estate developer, Olafisoye, others, sued N1.10bn over alleged contract breach

By Vivian Okejeme

The Nelson Mandela Gardens Estate project subscribers in Abuja, have dragged the developer of the Estate, Otunba Adebiyi Olafisoye and A & G Estate Development Company Limited, before a High Court of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) over alleged breach of contract.

The aggrieved subscribers are asking the court to compel Olafisoye and A & G Estate Development Company Limited to pay them a whopping sum of N1.10billion in damages as a result of the alleged contract breach.

Sued along with Olafisoye and A & G Estate Ltd is the African University of Science and Technology (AUST) described as the original owner of the land, which it sub-leased to the property development firm and on which the estate is built.

In the suit marked: CV/328/2022 filed by Mr Ibrahim Idris SAN, the subscribers, accused Olafisoye and A & G Estate Ltd of breaching the terms and conditions contained in the letters of offer issued to them.

They contended that Olafisoye and A & G Estate have refused to keep their promise to provide necessary facilities in the estate, declined to execute deeds of sublease of the unexpired terms granted A & G Estate Ltd by African University of Science and Technology and had attempted to alter the name of the estate.

Listed as claimants are Mrs. A. N. Ijadunola, Alhaji Yusuf Yahaya, Mr. John Mshelia, Mr. Gabriel Afolabi, Mr. Akeem Atanda, Mr. Festus Ojekhephen and the Registered Trustees of Nelson Mandela Gardens Residents Association, Abuja.

The claimants, in their statement of claim, described Olafisoye, who they claimed owns A & G Insurance Plc, as an individual with “an unimpressive and sordid

track records in his business or commercial dealings”.

They claimed to have subscribed to the estate project between 2013 and 2019, and that soon after they “entered into the contractual relationship with the 2nd defendant (A & G Estate Ltd) they realized that they had been sold a dummy by the defendants, as the defendants, in a most bizarre manner, kept frustrating the claimants.”

They claimed to have complied with the terms and conditions contained in their various letters of offer by, amongst others, paying fully for the various allocated houses.

The claimants stated that the 2nd defendant, in alleged connivance with the 1st defendant (Olafisoye), failed to abide by the terms and conditions contained in the said letters of Offer.

They further stated that after receiving from them full payments in respect of the various allocated units of houses, the 2nd defendant unapologetically declined to provide any of the facilities or amenities it promised to provide in the estate

The claimants added that part of the effects of the alleged continuous and unjustified refusal of the 2nd defendant to provide essential social facilities it promised, has exposed their lives, those of their families and their properties to great risk and jeopardy.

They stated that till date, the exact tenor or term of the lease, donated to them by the 2nd defendant has been kept away from them because the 2nd and 3rd defendants have been unwilling to disclose “the accurate tenor in the head lease and by extension, the sub-lease between the 2nd and 3rd

defendants.”

They want the court to among others, compel A & G Estate Ltd “to forthwith make available to the claimants, their various and respective duly executed deeds of sub -lease of the unexpired term granted to the 2nd defendant by the 3rd defendant in respect of Nelson Mandela Gardens Estate situate at Industrial Area II, Abuja.”

They are also seeking for an injunction restraining the property owner from changing the name of the estate to Steamwood Garden, and to desist from collecting any form of money from the claimants under the guise that it would be used for development purposes.

They are claiming N1billion in damages and N10m as cost of prosecuting the suit.

The defendants have however denied the claimants claims, insisting that they did nothing

wrong.

In their joint statement of defence, Olafisoye and A & G Estate Ltd claimed to have provided a number of facilities but that their plan to do more was hampered by the alleged inability of some of the subscribers to fully pay for their houses.

AUST in its statement of defence stated that it was not privy to the contractual agreement between the claimants and the 2nd defendant. It blamed the subscribers for not exercising due diligence before subscribing to the project.

The 3rd defendant also queried the competence of the suit, arguing among others that it amounted to an abuse of court process and that it was caught by statute of limitation.

Meanwhile, Justice Modupe Osho- Adebiyi has fixed April 26 for hearing into the suit.

Nigerian Breweries commits to local sourcing of raw materials

The Nigerian Breweries Plc has expressed commitment to import substitution by investing in local sourcing of raw materials to support the growth and development of Nigeria’s agriculture sector.

The Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer, Mr Hans Essaadi, gave the assurance on Wednesday in Lagos at the company’s 2023 pre-Annual General Meeting media parley.

Essaadi said that the company would continue to invest in the development, improvement and commercialisation of its agricultural raw materials.

He said that the company’s collaboration with relevent local and international research institutes had been expanded to further assess and improve the performance and adaptability of selected registered

local sorghum varieties.

According to him, the collaboration will help in the development of new sorghum varieties with improved quality for the industry and increased yield for farmers.

“To increase the positive impact of local sourcing of its agricultural raw materials, Nigerian Breweries has also continuously expanded its sorghum sourcing areas to new communities,” he said.

Essaadi disclosed that the company had been working with some institutes on trials for sorghum with higher yield varieties in northern Nigeria.

He said that the outcome of the trials was beneficial to farmers, adding that it would be made known soon.

Essaadi also said that the company was working with its

packaging partners to ensure local sourcing of raw materials.

On outlook for 2023, he said that the first quarter of 2023 was difficult due to foreign exchange scarcity, cash scarcity, high inflation rate and insecurity, among other challenges.

“We are not the only business that experienced the difficulties.

“We moved from forex scarcity to money scarcity. This is a fragmented market, and what that means is that there are thousands of small outlets that operate with just cash, and it is a known fact Nigeria is an informal economy.

“This has been very tough for us. The good thing is that we are coming out of it but I am very cautious.

“Cash is slowly coming back in the economy and we are seeing our numbers improving.

“We had to take a loan consideration which will go through

the process of approval including financing cost, our business is under pressure for profitability,” he said.

He said that in spite of the challenges, the fundamentals of the beer market were positive with a good enabling environment.

Essaadi said that the company would remain committed to longterm value creation for shareholders and all its stakeholders.

The Corporate Affairs Director of Nigerian Breweries, Mrs Sade Morgan, said that the company had invested much in renewal energy across its breweries to reduce carbon emissions.

“We kicked off this investment in 2019 and it is a significant investment on renewal energy sources to be able to power our breweries with solar power, hydro power in key investments.

“In addition, we are replacing our

machinery and lines with equipment that can run on less energy.

“They are much more efficient and recapturing energy as well throughout the production process.

“When heat is giving up from various machines, we use it to also power other machines,” she said.

Morgan said that Nigerian Breweries and Crossboundary signed a $10 million renewable energy contract (solar and battery storage hybrid) for its Ibadan and Ama breweries in Oyo and Enugu states, respectively.

She said that 14,600 tonnes of carbon emissions would be saved annually from Kakuri, Kudenda, Ibadan and Ama breweries.

She added that the company and Konexa signed a power purchase agreement to provide 100 per cent renewable electricity to two breweries through hydro power. (NAN)

L-R: Chief Legal Officer, Speak Out Africa Initiative (SOAI), Hyginus Ibega; member SOAI, Esther Ogbomo; Executive Director, SOAI, Kenneth Eze and Program Assistant, SOAI, Oluchi Alphonsus, during the official launch of #310DaysActiveCivicAction, FixJusticeProject. Ng, held yesterday in Abuja. Photo-: Justin Imo-owo

ICPC tasks traditional rulers, CSOs, others

May 29: Benue Gov-elect constitutes 29-man transition committee

on

fighting corruption

The Chairman, Independent Corrupt Practice and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), Prof. Bolaji Owosanoye, has tasked traditional rulers, Civil Society Organisations (CSO) and other stakeholders on supporting government in fighting corruption.

Owosanoye gave the charge on Tuesday in Abuja, at a training for CSOs, Faith Based Organisations (FBOs), Community Based Organisations (CBOs) and the Organised Private Sector (OPS) on strategies for the implementation of National Ethics and Integrity Policy (NEIP).

The training was organised by Anti-Corruption Academic (ACAN), the research and training arm of ICPC with the support of MacArthur Foundation.

The ICPC boss said that the design and implementation of NEIP identified and recognised, society leaders, religious leaders CSOs, FBOs, OPS and Civil Society Organisations as critical stakeholders.

He said that aim of the policy was to promote the core values such as human dignity, voice and participation, patriotism, personal responsibility, integrity, national unity, professionalism, and human dignity.

While urging them to own, drive the NEIP and to promote its success, Owasanoye said that everybody had a role to play in fighting corruption in the country.

He said that the fight against corruption should not be left in the hand of the government alone adding that“it takes collective responsibility to stamp out corruption in the society.”

He said the general perception that corrupt practices were solely perpetrated by the government officials was a fallacy, as there was no corrupt act that could be successfully carried out without the support of non-government officials.

values and integrity, the fight against corruption will be lost.”

He, therefore. called for more public awareness on the policy and the penalty on whoever is found guilty, adding that this could be achieved either through town hail, student and street enlightenment programmes.

“I want to use this medium to appeal to this academy to reach out to all relevant bodies and organisations for their positive contributions towards the implementation strategies.

“I therefore urge this organisation to concentrate on those values, that add to the success of our fight against corruption, indiscipline, maltreatment, sectional differences and disunity in national unity, growth and development,” he said. NAN

From Uche Nnorom, Makurdi

Ahead of May 29 official swear-in day, Benue State Governor-elect, Rev. Fr. Hyacinth Lormem Alia has constituted a 29-mwn transition Committee.

A statement signed by the Director of Communications to the Governor-elect, Kula Tersoo, and made available to the media,said the 29 Committee has a mandate to collaborate with the outgoing government’s Transition Committee to ensure a seamless

handover of power.

According to him, the committee has former Head of Service of the State Chief Mike Iordye as chairman while Dan Ashiekaa is to serve as secretary.

The Committee is to be formally inaugurated today, Friday 21st

April 2023.

It could be recalled that Governor Samuel Ortom had constituted his Transition Committee headed by Secretary to the State Government Prof. Anthony Ijohor.

DSS arrests gunmen in Kano, urges vigilance at Eid

The Department of State Services (DSS) says it had arrested two gunmen in Kano.

According to a statement signed by Public Relations Officer of the DSS, Peter Afunanya on Thursday, the suspects were on transit to deliver the arms for a planned

deadly attack in one of the states in Northern Nigeria. The statement reads: “Department of State Services (DSS) hereby informs the public that it has arrested two gunmen in Kano today, 20th April, 2023. Items seized from the duo are: i. Two (2) AK-47 assault rifles; ii. Two (2) Empty AK47

Magazines; iii. A red boxer motor cycle; iv. A sack of yams in which the guns were concealed.

The suspects were on transit to deliver the arms for a planned attack in one of the States in Northern Nigeria.

This development underscores the need for citizens to be extra vigilant and

report any unusual or suspicious movements, persons or acts to the security agencies nearest to them.

Operators and patrons of fun, hospitality and tourism centres are enjoined to be cautious during the festive periods. They should scale up measures to ensure safety of their facilities.

PAP: N/Delta group lauds Buhari over Ndiomu’s appointment

The Niger Delta Rights Assembly (NDRA) has lauded President Muhammadu Buhari for the appointment of retired Maj.-Gen. Barry Ndiomu as the Interim Administrator of the Presidential Amnesty Programme (PAP).

This is contain in a statement signed by the President of NDRA, Chief Israel Bokromo and made available to News Agency of Nigeria on Tuesday.

The group described the appointment of Ndiomu as a blessing to the Niger Delta region and the nation in general.

Bokromo expressed the group’s appreciation to the president for the appointment.

“We thank President Buhari for overlooking primordial sentiments and self-serving lobbyists in his choice of Ndiomu, whom it said has brought sanity and order into the Programme.

“We also want to thank also laud Ndiomu for rising to the occasion of tackling the challenges

facing the Amnesty Programme.

“We recognise the pressure mounted on Buhari to discontinue the programme by persons who do not mean well for the nation and Niger Delta people in particular.

“The President did not only snub the lobbyists, he appointed Ndiomu, a man of proven military discipline and integrity.

“We wish to place on record that Ndiomu’s appointment is not misplaced.

”Since his arrival at the Amnesty office, he has allowed an audit of the Programme’s activities which has exposed several fraudulent activities.

“He brought a regime of reforms that has helped to block the leakages and conduits through which many criminal-minded persons have been profiting and stealing money meant for the genuine ex-militants,” Bokromo said.

According to him, the assembly commended the Buhari government for involving

critical stakeholders in the Niger Delta in maintaining peace and ensuring security of oil and gas infrastructure as well as stemming the tide of stolen crude in the creeks.

He noted that the involvement of stakeholders like Mr Government Ekpemupolo also known as Tompolo to secure oil and gas infrastructure in the creeks was a masterstroke that had significantly reduced the incidence of oil theft.

“The group noted that the culture of probity, accountability and transparency instituted by Ndiomu is yielding anticipated results, especially the exposure of monumental fraud bordering on flawed payment systems and contract inflation.

“The group listed some of the achievements recorded by Ndiomu to include, earning the confidence and support of Buhari and timely payment of monthly allocations.

“Another achievement is

sustaining peace in the region leading to increased production of crude oil at an average of 1.67million barrels per day.

“Other achievements are the new policy initiatives on cooperative, completion of five vocational training centres and data sanitisation to verify genuine ex agitators, among others,” he said.

He further explained that barely six months, Ndiomu had saved the programme over N1.5 billion from inflated contracts.

Bokromo added that Ndiomu had effectively positioned the programme towards achieving its core mandate of addressing the needs of ex-militants rather than meeting the needs of a few emergency contractors who lack both competence and capacity.

He, however, urged the incoming government to sustain the culture of probity and fiscal responsibility instituted by Ndiomu to stave off agitations in the future. NAN

L-R: Chairman, Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF) Kano Chapter,, Dr. Goni Faruq Umar, Deputy- Mayor , Changsha Municipal People’s Government China, Mr. Kang Zhenlin, the Representative of the Permanent Secretary Federal Ministry of Trade and Investment. Mr Suleiman Audu, and the Director Product Development, Nigerian Export Promotion Council (NEPC), Mrs Obidike Evelyn, during the China (Changsha)- Nigeria Investment Economic and Trade Promotion Conference, held yesterday in Àbuja. Photo: Justin Imo-owo.

Why Buhari won’t interfer Adamawa election saga -FG

By Egena Sunday Ode

The federal government, on Wednesday, explained that President Muhammadu Buhari would not interfere with the developments that trailed the just concluded governorship election in Adamawa State, saying it was strictly the responsibility of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to sort out.

Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, who stated this while responding to questions from correspondents after the week’s Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, said it is not in the character of President Buhari to micromanage government’s institutions.

A scenario had emerged on Sunday in Yola, the Adamawa State capital, when the INEC Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) for the state, Mallam Hudu Yunusa Ari, declared the governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Senator Aishatu Dahiru (Binani), winner of the election, an action that was immediately voided by by the electoral umpire.

It would also be recalled that the INEC had on Tuesday, after final collation of results, announced the candidate of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), Governor Ahmadu Fintiri, winner of the election.

However, reacting to a query from journalists as to why President Buhari had not intervened in the debacle, the Minister of Information, Mohammed, said he was not aware that a petition had been written to the President on the need to take action against Ari, who he pointed out is an employee of the electoral body.

Pressed to give the reaction of the federal government to the matter, the government’s spokesman said: “I don’t think that this government has ever intervened in the way the Independent National Electoral Commission conducts its elections.

“So, there’s no need for us to intervene. It was an entirely an INEC matter and INEC handled it.

“The chairman of INEC is in

charge of all employees INEC and he’s handling it. So, what do you want the government to do?”

Pressed further on whether Buhari was disappointed at the attitude of the REC, Mohammed added: “The President does not micromanage any institution,” noting on INEC’s report to appointing authority: “I think you go ask INEC. INEC handles all these businesses. Honestly, if I were you, I will ask INEC that question.

“You said INEC took certain steps, right, it in the context of INEC to so do. I’m not aware that there’s a petition. It was not addressed to me. That’s why I said your best bet is probably to ask INEC.

“You see, the President does not

micromanage every institution...I think I’m the wrong question you are asking this question”, Mohammed asserted.

The Minister also explained why he accused the presidential candidate of the Labour Party (LP), Peter Obi, of committing treason, saying that if his running mate had called for insurrection and he did not react, he is guilty as charged.

Asked why he accused Obi of treason during his recent trip to the United States, he said: “What I said about Mr Peter Obi is very clear. I said Mr Peter Obi has every right to seek redress in court like Labour Party, but nobody has the right to call for insurrection or to threaten to say that if the President-elect is sworn in, that

will be the end of democracy.

“That was precisely what the running mate of Mr Peter Obi said on live television and I have not heard Peter Obi rein him in or correct him.

“So, if your running mate said something, of course, he is saying it on behalf of the party and that of the candidate. That’s why it’s an act of treason, for anybody to say if a duly elected president in Nigeria is sworn in, that will be the end of democracy.

“It’s treason for anybody to say if you swear in a duly elected president, you’re swearing in the military. It is crazy. So, I don’t see anything controversial in that”, he said.

Mohammed asserted that he went to the United States

to balance what he called the skewed reports on the recent general election, which he said was “the most transparent, freest and authentic ever held despite the effort of the opposition to delegitimize or discourage the election. “

Also speaking at the briefing, the Minister of Interior, Rauf Aregbesola, said he was not aware that the Comptoller General of Immigration, Idaho Jere Idris, has been removed. Report had emerged earlier in the day that Immigration boss had been asked to leave office following the expiration of his initial extended one year tenure. But when asked to clarify the matter, Aregbesola said: “It is Greek to me.”

NOUN VC charges new students to elevate Nigeria to greatness

The Vice-Chancellor, National Open University of Nigeria (NOUN), Prof. Olufemi

Peters, has enjoined the new students of the institution to strive to elevate Nigeria to its deserved place of greatness in Africa and the world.

Peters said this on Tuesday, at the 24th matriculation of the university, which took place virtually across its various study centres nationwide.

“As you pass through our university, I am hopeful that you will acquire the appropriate knowledge and skills, as well as the requisite strength of character and tenacity, to sail through the challenges of global competition,” he said.

Peters said knowledge and skills were the weapons needed to make positive mark to elevate the country to its deserved place of greatness in Africa and the world.

The vice-chancellor also urged the new students to utilise the opportunities offered by the flexibility and openness of their study in NOUN to excel more than their peers elsewhere.

“For those that are engaged in a vocation and or employment, it is an opportunity to excel in your career.

“It is also an opportunity to demonstrate the efficacy of continuous education through open and distance learning, in adding value to your competence at work, to the delight of employers,”

Peters said.

The new entrants, comprising of 12, 954 undergraduates, 4, 716 postgraduates and four Ph.D students in various faculties, would join an already existing population of over 150,000 students studying for various degrees in the university.

“The uniqueness of the university should evoke special interests in the students especially from people who are eager to know how qualitative academic training is in the university.

“I enjoin you, therefore, to be dedicated to your studies and be good ambassadors of this university,” he said.

Speaking on the marked attributes of NOUN, Peters said

the university’s mode of teaching and service delivery cannot be restricted by the barriers of distance, location, or the bias of race and creed.

He said: “I am particularly glad to inform you that your university is privileged to operate in sync with the emerging world order of a global village in the information age.

“NOUN takes the ‘Gown to the Town’ dictum by providing equal access to quality education for all citizens, irrespective of their social circumstances, their creed, and wherever they are located.”

He advised the new entrants to form peer groups where common issues relating to their study can be shared and discussed.

Peters added that the university had provided an e-ticketing feedback system to resolve complaints encountered during the course of their studies.

He also said that other delivery applications, including the simplified assessment processes (tutorials, tests and examinations) would make study at NOUN a most rewarding educational experience for the students.

The Registrar of the university, Mr Oladipo Ajayi, administered the matriculation oath on the students via the Zoom platform.

Ajayi urged them to abide by all the rules and regulations of the university in order to avoid expulsion. NAN

Victims of 2011 post Election violent (IDP’s) organised 2 days prayer in Commomeration of love ones and brothers, in kaduna on thursday 20/4/23

COREN elects Prof. Zubair as new president

By Mashe Umaru Gwamna

The Council for the Regulation of Engineering in Nigeria (COREN) has elected Professor Abubakar Sadiq Zubair as the council’s new president.

Zubair takes over from Engr. Ali Rabiu, who served as President of COREN from April 2019 to April 2023.

Zubair who was born 61 years ago, is a graduate of the Ahmadu Bello University (ABU) Zaria, where he obtained a Bachelor of Engineering Degree in Agriculture and Bio-Resources Engineering in 1987, an MSc in Agriculture and Bio-Resources Engineering in 1992 and a PhD in Agriculture and Bio-Resources Engineering in 2002.

In a bid to enhance his erudition, competence and capabilities in teaching, research, and professional services, he

attended several academic and professional courses locally and internationally (Israel, France, India, Japan, USA, UK and Brazil).

He is also a COREN registered engineer and a registered member of many professional bodies including Nigerian Institution of Agricultural Engineers (NIAE), Nigerian Society of Engineers (NSE), Agricultural Extension Society of Nigeria (AESON), Nigerian National Committee on Irrigation and Drainage (NINCID).

He is also a member of International Commission on Irrigation and Drainage (ICID), International Soil Tillage Research Organisation (ISTRO), American Society of Agricultural and Biological Engineers (ASABE).

The Council President is a fellow of the Nigerian Institution of Agricultural Engineers (NIAE),

Nigerian Society of Engineers (NSE) and just elected fellow of Nigerian Academy of Engineering (NAE).

Professor Abubakar joined the service of ABU, Zaria in 1988 as assistant lecturer with triple tasks of teaching (AED), research (IAR) and extension service delivery (NAERLS). He rose to the rank of professor in 2006 in ABU Zaria through diligence, hard work and rich outputs in his area of competence establishing a niche for himself in and outside Nigeria.

He supervised and mentored several postgraduate and undergraduate students and assessed candidates for professional positions in Agricultural and Bio-Resource Engineering across many universities.

The new COREN also president held various leadership positions during his 34-year academic career and counting.

He was the Head of Department of Agric Engineering Department in Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria; N-W Zonal Director, Deputy Director, and Executive Director, all in (NAERLS) spanning 1996-2012.

Equally, he was further elevated to the position of provost of Agric Complex and Dean, Faculty of Engineering in ABU between 2012 and 2014. He was appointed the pioneer Vice Chancellor of Alvan Ikoku Federal College of Education, Owerri in early 2015.

However, the appointment was short lived due to Federal Government policy change.

He returned to ABU and was appointed as the Dean, School of Postgraduate Studies between 2017 and 2019.

He subsequently became Deputy Vice Chancellor, Admin, from 2019 to 2021.

He was appointed as pioneer

Vice Chancellor of Capital City University, Kano in January 2022 where he is currently serving.

Professor Abubakar led the development of several research/ development project grant proposals which were won and successfully implemented.

Professor Abubakar led the packaging and publication of Outcome Based Education (OBE) Implementors Manual and Programme Evaluators Guidelines used to create awareness on and campaign for change in the accreditation process of Engineering Programmes in the Nigerian University system from input based to Outcome Based Education (OBE) and also led the conduct of the 6 regional and 2 national training workshops where 734 University lecturers and 217 evaluators of engineering programmes in tertiary educational institutions were trained on OBE.

L –R , Vice President , Women Development , Abuja Chambers of Commerce and Industry , Mrs. Rose Nwosu ; Director General , Governors Forum , Asishana Okauru ; Nate Okauru ; former Executive Chairman , Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) , Mrs. Ifueku Omoigui –Okauru and the Executive Secretary , Guaranty Trust Bank , Oseni Elamah at the 2nd. Memorial mass service of Dr. Nowamagbe Austin Omoigui held at the Holy Trinity Church Maitama , Abuja ….yesterday ( 18th. APRIL 2023 )

Association harps on prioritising development of mining sector

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

The GMPMA president, Mr. Auwal Bununu, stated this when he spoke with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), recently, in Abuja.

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

“The sector is expected to be a major contractor to the country’s

Gross Domestic Product (GDP).

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

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

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

Bununu, also the Technical Adviser to Nigeria Association of Chambers of Commerce, Industry, Miners and Agriculture

(NACCIMA), a mining group, said the association’s target was to promote the economic development of the country.

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

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

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

competence.

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

“So, in as much as the president elect has promised a government of competence, it means that he will not only bake the cake but everybody will benefit from the sharing.

“So, if he is baking the cake, mining is the most important sector that brings not only revenue generation but also industrial development,” he said.

Bununu added:“The president-elect cannot bake the cake without developing the mining industries where the country benefit from with heavy revenue and creating job opportunities.

“The association is now developing a private sector framework of mineral and metal development which will serve as a cake baking alternative for the new administration.

“The framework is a very critical thing, so we are working on the strategy to ensure it brings good result.

“We are also going to dialogue with the incoming administration as soon as he sworn-in.” NAN

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The effects of modernism on marriage and family life

By Adeleke Oluwaseyi James

Needless to affirm that a lot of lies amidst truth and a bit of truth amidst lies prevail in our modern time. Nonetheless, the Catholic Church in her wisdom, possessing the fullness of truth has made provision for a proper orientation of intending couples in the marriage course.

The Moroccan footballer, Achraf Hakimi and his Spanish wife, Hiba Abouk are on the verge of separation after Hakimi was accused of raping a 24-year-old lady in his home in Boulogne, Paris, on February 25. Following this alleged report of Hakimi’s sexual misdemeanour, Hiba took a legal step and filed for a divorce from her husband, demanding more than half of his properties. She, however, was taken aback when it was discovered that her husband’s net worth on paper was zero and the court confirmed that all of Hakimi’s assets were acquired in his mother’s name. These events which surrounded the imminent divorce of Achraf Hakimi and Hiba Abouk have taken the internet by storm and different reactions have followed ever since.

Hiba Abouk forced to give half of her assets to Achraf Hakimi The divorce becomes trending news because of a surprising tone of naming all his assets in his mother’s name as a benefactor, resulting in frustration on the part of his wife’s efforts to claim 50% of their estate. Meanwhile, Hiba Abouk, the wife of Achraf Hakimi is a professional actress. She has her own money hence she never cared about Hakimi sending all his money to his mother while she uses hers to run the home. In fact, in 2020, sports mob called Hiba one of the richest Spanish actresses. Hiba has reportedly been asked to give half of her property to Hakimi as the player’s net worth is much lower than hers on paper. The actress’s net worth has been calculated to be around $2 million. She would have had to give half of this to Hakimi while also covering his legal fees. The move has received a divided response from fans as some believe that this is a masterstroke by Hakimi. The soccer player is estimated to be worth around $17 million but all of it is owned by his mother.

Hakimi’s Case: A Modern Bane of Commitment It is important to state

here that practices of sharing from one place to the other because it is pegged on a matrimonial property system. And sharing too depends on the particular type of system the parties chose when they were embarking on the marriage. Alimony, a financial support, which is common in the North America was usually ordered by the court to be given to the female spouse for the care of the children by the male partner after a divorce is granted. The alimony principle is justice driven. In the case of Hakimi, justice and fairness demand that Hiba be supported because she has to cater for two children which are the fruits of the union; let alone forcefully ordered to yet support Hakimi because papers prove Hakimi broke. Subsequently, men who try to be smart like Hakimi may not be lucky, as potential wives will most certainly begin to poke their noses, with audacious scrutiny, into the process and procedure of acquirement of the wealth of their future husbands.

All said many had referred to Hakimi as only a boy who gives his money to his mother to hide it from his wife and also exposes his level of maturity. Many had claimed that real men don’t give their mothers money to keep away from their partners. They said: “We give our spouses the right to our wealth and if they ever ask for a divorce, we give them a reasonable portion of the wealth we built together, say goodbye and continue to be friends for the sake of the kids.”

Needless to affirm that a lot of lies amidst truth and a bit of truth amidst lies prevail in our modern time. Nonetheless, the Catholic Church in her wisdom, possessing the fullness of truth has made provision for a proper orientation of intending couples in the marriage course. With proper teaching, assimilation and

practice on issues bothering finance, couples should find a leeway to surmount financial matters alongside other rights and privileges to possessions.

Ultimately, there are salient points to raise about some of these destructive philosophies of our time. In the words of Pope St. John Paul II, our time is a moment of the reign of instrumental reason which has its ends in enjoyment and power, ultimately the love of self without attention to other’s situation and this, marks the beginning of the end of definitive commitment because everything is fleeting and provisional for the modern self.

Rescuing Marriage and Family from the Crises of Modernism

Hakimi’s Case: A Modern Bane of Commitment

Conversely, there is no doubt that Hiba demonstrated a modicum of impatience and neglected permanence as an element of marriage. Nothing stops her from staying with her spouse at such a trying moment, whether he is supposedly guilty or not. But her attitude could be tagged as that of impatience and disservice to the promise of marriage. It will suffice to conclude, hence, that these two are neither our heroes nor even if many modern ‘smart’ minds celebrate them. We must reemphasize that, though there is no perfect family. Spousal bond, commitment to love and self-giving is not an option in any relationship either in health or sickness, joy or sorrow, or in allegations or no allegation and accusation or no accusations. At the exchange of consent, both parties become one and thereby embrace two properties of marriage which are unity and indissolubility. Hence, intending or married couples should never be carried away or indoctrinated by false practices celebrated in the modern world especially those against marriage and family life. Beware of false teachings. Marriage is a covenant made by two; a man and a woman before God. Nothing should break this covenant; not even any of the couple. Care must be taken, therefore, that though many of these widely celebrated mentalities about marriage and family life may vindicate the two couples in question, the truth remains that both have shown a seeming dearth of definitive commitment in our modern world where legalism, nihilism, relativism and individualism has become the new world order. Consequently, we are becoming less and less humane as the days pass by.

Adeleke Oluwaseyi James is a Public

Legal Aid Council and administration of Third-Party motor insurance

By Amaka Agbaih

It was a brain storming session at the conference hall of Legal Aid Council recently during a stakeholders meeting on the administration of third-party motor insurance and rights Abuses on our roads.

The meeting was organized by one world initiative for sustainable development in collaboration with the Legal Aid Council. The Director General of Legal Aid Council Aliyu Bagudu Abubakar in his opening speech emphasized and stated that the essence of the meeting is to achieve collaborative frame work between different government agencies, insurance companies and Non- government organizations (NGOs) to bring the best services to the teaming population of Nigerians following international best practices.

This meeting is therefore urgent because LACON needs to find lasting solution to problems associated with her mandate on the road. Accident victims need help but there are bottlenecks which need to be removed. It might interest you to know that since LACON acquired Oscar in 2007 about #60, Million Naira has been paid to victims of accident as claims by various insurance companies through the efforts of Legal Aid Council so if the challenges are tackled the common man on the street will be in the picture of what insurance cover is all about and thereby benefit more.

In continuation, the president of one world Mr. Timothy Achana in his opening remark stated that the main reason for the meeting was to deliberate and chat the way forward to the various challenges the masses face as touching to insurance claims and

payments. The project is a six (6) year intervention on the administration of third- party insurance. Why is it not working and why are people collecting money and nothing is seen. Well, I believe that there will be light at the end of the tunnel, he said.

The stakeholders that were present at the meeting include NAICON, Nigeria Police Force FCT, Health and Human services secretariat, National Insurance Commission, Human Right Radio (Brekete Family) FRSC, VIO, Civil Defence etc.

The stakeholders deliberations centered on challenges around compliance, claims/payments Right Abuses by relevant state Actors: Hospital insurance companies, Area boys –Touts and issuance of fake insurance certificates After the brain storming session, DG LACON suggested that a committee should be set up to find out the problems and challenges with various stakeholders in the bid to finding lasting solutions to the problems that needs to be solved. On this note, a

six (6) man committee was set up to address / tackle the issues relating to compliance, claims, Right abuses and other challenges as discussed. They are to liaise with the relevant stakeholders and dialogue on the need for National sensitization and awareness campaign to educate the end users publics on the needs for third party insurance lover and mostly important on why they should pay as high as #5,000 as against #5,000 with emphasis on the benefits.

Nigerians have negative attitude toward taking insurance cover why, because the insurance industries have loopholes while NIACOM that supposed to be the watchdog to the industry are not living up to expectations. Recall that the Legal Aid Council has a unit which is wholly dedicated to helping victim’s road accident by facilitating the payment of compensation to innocent third parties permanently disabled or relatives of victims who are killed by insured drivers in hit and run accidents cases. VIO mediation process and motor accident victims insurance compensation scheme (MARVIS). Also the unit headed by Bar. Mrs. Latifat Salau, a Director assists accident victims to file claims with insurance companies and facilitate payment where the valid insurance covers among other functions. Recall that Legal Aid Council remains the official voice of the indigent citizens of Nigeria.

Right

Abuses by relevant state Actors: Hospital insurance companies

It is important to state here that practices of sharing from one place to the other because it is pegged on a matrimonial property system

“

The stakeholders deliberations centered on challenges around compliance, claims/payments

“

Amaka Agbaih writes in from Abuja.

By Caleb Onah

Thesepsychosocial interventions should be targeted at children, mostly the vulnerable, especially in areas and communities of violence, and need to be strengthened where few exist already. Additional livelihood, nutrition and child protection programs are therefore needed to address the current challenges facing many Nigerian children in mostly Northern Nigeria states to help carter for national security as well.

What comes to mind when you think back to your childhood? For me, memories can be fun to look back on. It’s like smiling while listening to your famous Nigerian singer or artist, or like playing outside in the rain, it melts your heart to an extent you often want to listen or play again and again. However, not everyone has a childhood that is accompanied by a smile. Some remember their childhood memories, their faces darken and their hearts in despair.

Had a contact with an abused lady and how she felt in the situation, she said, “At about 8 years old, I was introduced to sex by abuse by our house maid, and he must have been in his late twenties then. I had gone to my dad’s house for the holidays as we lived apart from each other and they had this house help hired by my stepmom. Can’t actually remember the exact point of how it all started, but it happened repeatedly and he would threaten to kill me if I told anyone.

Somehow, I believed him and couldn’t tell anyone, but remember that I would cry whenever I was to be left alone with him at home. My family members probably thought I was just throwing childish tantrums.

All my crying kind of added to his pleasure as he would dip my head in-between his thighs to make me suck on his manhood. It was as if he had a built-up fantasy and eagerly wanted to experiment. He made me do all sorts afterwards, I later resigned myself to my fate with him because I was then too weak – emotionally and physically to fight, and it continued till the end of my 2 months holiday.

I remember the fears I had and the helplessness of my feelings was second to none at a sight of him. My peers and family members never suspected anything was wrong. Years later, I still shiver whenever I remember my helplessness. Well, this experience was like a forerunner to others that followed”.

This is one of many experiences of practical abuse in our Nigerian society and the girl child is already at a disadvantage more or less the boy. In Nigeria or growing up as a Nigerian, all kinds of violence and abuse are experienced daily and only very few of the many Nigerian children receive help when going through difficult mental health or unpleasant experiences. Out of 10, 7 forms of violence or abuse are experienced by children. 1 in 4 are girls and 10% of boys are victims of sexual violence and 70% of Nigeria’s 13.2 million out-of-school children are traumatised.

The causes of violence and abuse can be said to be rooted in societal norms, including violent discipline, violence against women, girls, and societal beliefs about witchcraft increases children’s vulnerability to constant abuse.

On the other hand, children from less precarious backgrounds suffer more from structural and cultural discrimination or are victims of domestic and sexual violence leading to traumas afterward. In addition to political representation, many underprivileged children do not have sufficient access to appropriate psycho-education and human rights support.

Lack of access to this education makes it difficult to access quality healthcare, sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR) education, employment, make informed decisions, and maintain stable family relationships, which increases the level of childhood trauma. For example, according to the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), only about 46% of Nigerian married or cohabiting women between the ages of 15 and 49 make their own SRHR decisions, which isn’t worth living a healthy life. A number of Nigerian trauma survivors have identified emotional risk as another leading cause of traumatic experiences in Nigerian adults, which comes also as a result of emotional suppression/or segregation.

“Some of us adults have desires and dreams, and when we get the opportunity to fulfill our dreams, we rejoice but majority of the time we are scared and feel inadequate to go alone”, a survivor of sexual abuse noted during one of his mental health counselling session in March, 2023. However, some results of these traumas in Nigeria as we can see in our everyday interaction includes:

Inability to establish or maintain satisfactory interpersonal relationshipswith friends and colleagues;

Inability to act or respond that cannot be explained by intellectual, sensory, or physical factors;

Behaviour or feelings that are not normally appropriate; a common general mood of sadness or depression;

Tendency to develop physical symptoms of mental disorders or fears related to personal problems and hyperactivity (short attention span, impulsivity);

Aggressive/self-injurious behaviour (acting out, always fighting);

Learning disorders (academic results below grade level).

Experiencing abuse, childhood trauma in Nigeria Mental health system in Nigeria, One sin too many

By Caleb Onah

The Federal Neuro-Psychiatric Hospital in Yaba, Lagos State, Nigeria, looks peaceful from the outside, but inside this centuries-old facility – one of six psychiatric centres in Lagos and one run by the federal government of Nigeria – tensions are high. At the outpatient clinic, an experience I will never forget as a young mental health counsellor fresh out of college. The line of people waiting to see the doctors was so large that it spilled out into the corridor. The number of cases is so overwhelming that Dr. Adegbaju, a psychiatrist and other mental health professionals rushed to take care of an agitated patient, who had to sleep in the hospital for the past two days. In the emergency room, a patient named Jide languished in queues since 7 a.m.

It wasn’t noon yet at Yaba Hospital’s Neuro-Psychiatric Hospital, but business went on as usual. Since 2018, the hospital has seen a more than 20% increase in the number of new patients suffering from various types of mental illness, and a 60% increase in the number of patients struggling with drug addiction, alcoholism and cravings for other psychoactive drugs. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), 1 in 4 Nigerians (approximately 50 million people) suffers from some form of mental illness. Not long ago, the President of the Psychiatric Association of Nigeria (APN), Taiwo Obindo, noted in September 2022 that more than 60 million Nigerians suffer from mental illness. Obindo and the head of the Department of Psychiatry at the West African Medical College of the Nigerian branch told the Nigerian News Agency (NAN) in Abuja one Sunday.

“Mental health care is in bad shape as we have over 60 million Nigerians with various mental illnesses and only 10% of them can get proper care, we end up with over 90% of people unable to access care, and this group is called the mental illness treatment gap,” says Obindo. He said this gap stems from a variety of factors, such as a lack of understanding in which people don’t have accurate information about the causes and treatment of mental illnesses. The 2023 World Population Assessment shows that Nigeria, the sixth largest country in the world with 222,666,814 people, has the highest number of depression cases in Africa and ranks 15th in the world in terms of suicide frequency, according to WHO. There are fewer than 150 psychiatrists in this country of 200 million people, and WHO estimates that less than 10% of Nigerians with mental disorders have access to the care they need.

A study conducted by the African Institute in collaboration with EpiAFRIC found that many Nigerians still associate mental illness with demons, witchcraft and related supernatural causes. This misconception leads many people to seek treatment from religious leaders, healers, and the like. According to Nigerian mental health expert Aisha Bubah, “People have no idea about mental health and its origin but presume faith, superstitious belief and evil. And people’s ideas about mental health are always extreme cases”. In 2019, Human Rights Watch reported that thousands of people with

mental illness live in shacks in facilities designed for treatment, often run by missionaries. These centres are the only option available to many families.

The people of Nigeria have to live with the unresolved, multigenerational traumas caused by the legacy of slavery and colonialism, as well as the daily struggles for sustenance and survival, and lack of full access to psychosocial services. As we’ve seen before, our overworked psychiatrists, psychologists, therapists, social and other healthcare workers who have yet to succumb to the effects of brain drain, condemning funding shortages and a shrinking workforce.

Psychological treatments are also very expensive, and in addition, private psychologists are expensive, health insurance does not cover the cost of mental health treatment, and other comprehensive techniques are not common. However, decades after mental health regulatory reforms were delayed in legislative chambers with failed overhaul efforts in 2003 and 2013; President Muhammadu Buhari finally signed into law the Harmonised Mental Health Bill through both Houses of Parliament in January 2023. The signing appears to be a parting gift to Nigerians from the President who is also the first Post-Independence Mental Health Act/Act and will also replace the Insanity Act 1958. The new law emphasises the rights of people with mental disorders and addictions, such as the right to basic and constitutional human rights without discrimination, regardless of cause, nature or severity of mental disorders, and bans the expulsion of persons with mental disorders from residence or workplace due to a mental disorder. According to the bill, patients should be treated in the safest and least restrictive environment, receive follow-up care and rehabilitation, and have access to psychotropic medications and psychophysical therapies.

The Mental Health Act also addresses issues such as patient confidentiality and autonomy, access to patient data, labour rights for persons with mental illness, treatment plans, consent of minors to treatment, voluntary and involuntary hospitalization of persons with mental illness, and ad hoc courts. Recommendations. compulsory treatment. The telling effects of isolation and loneliness on mental wellbeing, and a plethora of domestic violence incidents during the present economic hardship should have served as a wake-up call to fully implement the current mental health and substance abuse bills. However, this has turned out to be a missed opportunity to introduce comprehensive mental health legislation.

Likewise, both the World Health Organization’s global mental health insurance initiative as well as the prevalence of substance abuse among young Nigerians have led the federal government to be pragmatic. Also, families, parents, teachers, and religious leaders have failed to understand the seriousness of what children, adolescents, and young adults sometimes experience and how this affects their relationship with their children, pushing them to the brink of loneliness, emptiness, depression and even worse, by committing suicide.

Today, despite the signing of mental health laws and legislation

Besides, the suffering of many Nigerian children is appalling, hence in helping our children; threats to the survival and well-being of Nigerian children must be addressed as key national issue as they affect survival, potential of becoming future leaders of our nation as well as hinder economic growths.

Many people/children of which are victims of endless conflicts, lose parents and guardians, and many face difficult living conditions hence, should be given optimal psychosocial support in schools, churches, mosques or by extended family members.

These psychosocial interventions should be targeted at children, mostly the vulnerable, especially in areas and communities of violence, and need to be strengthened where few exist already. Additional livelihood, nutrition and child protection programs are therefore needed to address the current challenges facing many Nigerian children in mostly Northern Nigeria states to help carter for national security as well.

The future of children in “at-risk” areas which seem uncertain, with appropriate responses and joint collaboration by citizens, government and non-governmental organisations, positive results can be achieved in eliminating abuse, reducing the level of trauma and punishing offenders or culprits of all forms of abuse. Also, rapidly addressing the various conflict issues in different parts of Nigeria communities according to cultural norms and principles will help prevent impacts of trauma and other mental health challenges.

Caleb Onah is a Digital therapist, content and academic writer with over 6 years of hand-on counselling services to individuals and groups and can be reached at calebandonah@gmail.com

and the traditions of people and institutions all over the world, implementation remains an ongoing ‘sin’ for many years. 10 years. There are many issues that limit the application of fundamental rights to rather common mental health legislation. These problems continue to interfere with the administration of justice for claims of rights that would benefit from expedited hearings and proceedings. Continuing to contribute to the conversation about the flaws in justice.

Aside from the technical challenges, there are constant problems and ‘sins’ we face as a nation: a lack of knowledge of governance and a strong civic culture of mental health and its ignorance of application in our society. Many Nigerians do not receive good psychological education, particularly about citizens, to fully appreciate citizenship and the rights, duties and responsibilities of being a citizen. Therefore, they do not value and do not properly understand their rights. On the other hand, the savvy few use this knowledge, authority, or influence in violent ways. For example, using law enforcement as a tool for harassment, intimidation, or intimidation. Security and freedom of movement and freedom of speech.

Our country’s political elites seem to be included in this trend as are corporations and individuals whose motives are largely based on economic considerations. In many cases of mental health rights violations, people resort to self-help, alternative treatments, and often the perpetrators of psychological abuse go unpunished. Poverty is another challenge to the enforcement of mental health rights. A large percentage of Nigerians live in extreme poverty and therefore cannot afford the necessities of life. These abused Nigerians, despite being victims of some form of abuse, are unable to claim their rights due to being too poor, resulting in their inability to pay for psychologists, psychologists, therapist, psychiatrist, mental health counsellor or good legal representative.

Though various NGOs have consistently risen to the challenge in this regard, there is a limit to which they can go considering the massive population of the citizenry and limited funding at the disposal of many NGOs. Also, enforcement of judgments of the ECOWAS Court, as already stated in Article 19(2) of the Protocol (A/P1/91), Article 24(2) and (3) of the Supplementary Protocol and Article 22(3) of the Protocol and Article 5(2) of the ECOWAS Revised Treaty mandates member states has been another major problem and this relates to the fact that neither the ECOWAS Revised Treaty, Supplementary Protocols or other legal instruments makes provision regarding the means of enforcing the issued writ of execution where member states as Nigeria fail to voluntarily comply with the terms of the judgment of the Court. Nigerian judiciary systems especially over the years are reluctant to enforce the judgments of ECOWAS Court and this poses a difficult challenge for the judgment creditor to reap the fruits of the judgment in mental health.

Caleb Onah is a Digital Psychologist & writer with over 5 years of hand-on counseling services to individuals and groups and can be reached at calebandonah@gmail.com

By Christiana Ekpa

Bashir Usman Gorau, a member-elect, House of Representatives, representing Gada-Goronyo federal Constituency of Sokoto State, has vowed to ensure the review of the Act establishing National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) when sworn into office.

Gorau, a former Senate President and National Vice President of the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS), SSA on Students Matters, and Commissioner for Youth and Sports, Sokoto State, defeated his All Progressives Congress (APC) opponent, Musa Adar, who was seeking a fifth term in the Green Chamber.

Speaking on his plans to empower Nigerian youths, among other objectives, he said as an activist, who knows the problems facing Nigerian youths from all angles, both in the North, West, South and East where he had traveled, he will push to see that Nigerian youths progress across the country.

“I have it in mind, this NYSC Act, I will ensure that the NYSC Act is reviewed. I have it in mind that when finally sworn into the National Assembly, I will make sure we review the Act because a lot of money is being spent and that money does not impact the lives of Nigerian youths.

“So I have that in mind, we are going to push for the review of that Act and to make sure that the resources spent there are adequately utilized by Nigerian youths. More importantly, as a young person, I have a very strong passion for sport and youth empowerment.

“If you look at it critically, the Nigerian youths are being neglected by government activities and programmes. In the whole of President Mohammadu Buhari’s eight years’ government, you cannot count five programmes that have impacted positively on the lives of Nigerian youths.

“We need to look into it, even if it warrants appealing to the President-elect, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, to come up with programmes that will have a direct impact on the lives of Nigerian youths, and make sure that empowerment of Nigerian youths is put into place”, he said.

By Musa Baba Adamu

The Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, in Kano on Thursday presented certificates of return to an additional 13 memberselect of the Kano State House of Assembly.

The Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC), Abdu Zango, presented the certificates to

the elected members across NNPP and APC at the commission’s headquarters in Kano.

Zango charged them to rise above political allegiance and place the interest of the people first.

“When I came to Kano State about five months ago, I promised to conduct an election that everyone would be proud of.

“Though it has not been easy,

Alhamdulillah, that promise has been kept. As you can see, the state remains peaceful today because the right thing was done by the commission.

“Kano State is unique and everything about it comes with new dimensions. Yet, we were able to meet up to both the parties’ and the general public expectations.

“Though we had to go for supplementary elections in some

polling units, which represent only two per cent of the total polling units in the state.

13 Kano Assembly memberselect receive certificates of return Rep elect, Gorau vows to ensure review of NYSC Act

“Today, every winner has been declared and issued his Certificate of Return which marks the end of the 2023 election activities in Kano state,” the REC said.

Zango lauded leaders of political parties for demonstrating political maturity during and after the election.

Tinubu: APC supporters kick against calls for interim government, military invasion

By Ikechukwu Okaforadi

Some supporters of the All Progressives Congress (APC) on Thursday took to the streets to protest against the call for an interim government ahead of the expiration of President Muhammadu Buhari’s tenure on May 29, 2023.

The protesters, under the aegis of Amalgamated APC Support Group, protested in Abeokuta, the Ogun State capital.

Led by its South-West

Chairman, Ganiu Akeem Adesina, the group vowed not to support any call for an interim government in the country.

With their placards, members of the group said: “No to Military invasion in Politics”, “On Asiwaju Bola Tinubu’s mandate we stand”, “We believe Judiciary to uphold Democracy”, “Go to court, don’t cause War“, “gbega Ipinle Ogun continuity is our project”.

From Ori Omi in Oke-Sokori, the protesters marched through Oke-Ilewo and terminated at the

Governor’s Office in Oke Mosan.

Addressing newsmen, Adesina said the walk was necessitated to defend the Tinubu-Shettima mandate, saying that the election must be upheld.

“The reason we are here is to defend our mandate.The election in which the Presidentelect, Bola Tinubu emerged must be upheld.

“Some people are calling for an interim government and we supporters of Tinubu since 2019 are saying Tinubu must be sworn-

in. These people are calling for the cancellation of the election which is against the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

“We are here at the governor’s office to pass our message through the state governor, Prince Dapo Abiodun to pass the message to President Muhammad Buhari that we in the South-West are saying no to an interim government in Nigeria”, he noted.

The group also said they stand on the reelection of Dapo Abiodun as the governor of Ogun State.

Campaign DG, SSG to head Fintiri’s 2nd term inauguration committee

By Musa Baba Adamu

Governor Ahmadu Fintiri of Adamawa State on Thursday ordered the immediate formation of a committee for the inauguration of his second term on May 29, 2023.

Giving the directive during a meeting with Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) critical stakeholders

at the Government House, Yola, Fintiri instructed that the committee be co-chaired by Secretary to the State Government (SSG) Malam Bashiru Ahmad, and Director General of the PDP Campaign Council, Malam Auwal Tukur.

The governor thanked the stakeholders for their contributions to his victory and

assured them that he would continue to work with them towards deepening democracy, including working for the interest of Adamawa people from all walks of life.

“Whichever way you voted, Adamawa is for all of us. I’m the Governor for all of you. We must put hands on deck to build the state that our yet unborn

generation will be proud of,” Fintiri said.

The PDP Campaign Council DG, Auwal Tukur, thanked the stakeholders for their support throughout the electioneering period.

On a separate occasion, on Thursday, in Yola, first-class emirs and chiefs visited the state capital to congratulate Fintiri over

his victory at the just concluded governorship poll.

The Emir of Mubi, Alhaji Abubakar Isa Ahmadu who spoke on behalf of the traditional leaders, thanked God that the election ended peacefully in the state.

Responding, Governor Fintiri thanked the traditional rulers for the congratulatory visit.

Hon Aliyu Muktar Betara ( Middle) with other Members-elect in Saudi Arabia, yesterday.

Adamawa: INEC denies officials’ alleged meeting

in

govt house before results

By Musa Baba Adamu

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has denied allegations that its officials deployed to conduct the just concluded governorship elections in Adamawa State paid a nocturnal visit to the state Government House before the conclusion of the poll.

Reports had said that the alleged meeting aimed to ostensibly rig the polls for the incumbent Governor, Ahmadu Fintiri.

It was alleged that the officials met with some persons at the government house, where they received a list of “collation and returning officers”.

But the commission, in a statement issued on Wednesday by its National Commissioner and Chairman Information and Voter Education Committee, Festus Okoye, said there was no such meeting.

The commission noted that though it does not join issues with partisan actors, particularly where no evidence has been provided, the allegation was false.

“To set the record straight, no such visit or meeting took place, let alone the compilation of any purported list of collation and returning officers.

“Such a meeting could have been contrary to the oath of neutrality that we all swore to,” he said.

Oyetola vs Adeleke: Osun APC berates Frank for alleging judges’ inducement

By Ikechukwu Okaforadi

The Osun State chapter of All Progressives Congress

(APC) has taken a swipe at former publicity secretary of the party, Timi Frank for alleging the inducement of judges in the petition by ex-Governor Gboyega Oyetola against Governor Ademola Adeleke.

Frank, a former Deputy National Publicity Secretary of the party, claimed some politicians are planning to bribe and intimidate Supreme Court judges.

The APC noted that the “self-

acclaimed political activist” further alleged that the monetary inducement was $2 million per judge.

On Thursday, Osun APC acting chairman, Tajudeen Lawal, in a statement by Director of Information, Kola Olabisi, debunked the claim as “false and spurious [and] borne out of desperation of Frank and his sponsors.”

Lawal said he was trying to blackmail Oyetola from going to the Supreme Court and “deliberately blackmailing the revered highest judicial officers.”

The APC chairman lambasted the politician for “dragging the judiciary in the mud because of his own political interest.”

“When did it become a norm for a character like the loquacious and irritant former Deputy National Publicity Secretary of the APC to be dictating professional pace for the judiciary?

“In saner climes, he should be the guest of the security agencies by now so that he could tell the world what he knows about his reckless, cooked-up and fabricated allegation.”

Lawal said it was “awful for

Frank to always allow himself to be used for unpalatable and dirty jobs capable of spoiling the reigning peace in society.”

The invention of cock-and-bull story to rubbish the reputation of judicial officers on the altar of politics would not attract Frank any positive estimation, he stressed.

“Frank is knowledgeable and experienced enough in the field of partisan and theoretical politics to know that litigation is a veritable aspect of the election process in Nigeria,” the statement added.

Peter Obi tells why violence is not the best option against 2023 presidential election

By Christiana Ekpa

The Presidential Candidate of Labour Party, Peter Obi has encouraged Nigerians who are going through traumatizing pains since the general election to cheer up, assuring them that with hope in the God of justice, better and happier years await all.

Obi in a series of tweets last night in reaction to the show that went on in the rerun election in Adamawa state last weekend, noted that the intention of all electoral brigandage is to provoke the people to violence, but said it is not the best option for those who believe in the rule of law with faith in God.

He said “We were provoked during the elections, but we showed restraint, patriotism, and wisdom because we were voting for a greater Nigeria and not for the destruction of Nigeria. They deployed agents who killed and maimed many, including innocent women, but we kept our cool”.

While assuring the people that he is on this journey of rescuing Nigeria together with them, Obi noted that the recent events in the country, including political developments in Adamawa state, underlines the importance of adhering to the rule of law.

“As a patriotic Nigerian who has served this country diligently, I remain committed to serving the

Nigerian people and achieving a greater Nigeria in which everyone will be a beneficiary of our Godgiven wealth of abundant human and natural resources”, he said.

In appreciating the huge potential in the country, the LP standard bearer noted that “Nigeria is a truly blessed and potentially great nation. With the Almighty God on our side, Nigeria’s greatness will soon manifest fully, thus ensuring that she is well-respected globally. In view of this, l ask all well-meaning Nigerians to commit their heart to prayers for a better and greater Nigeria.

“It bears reiterating as I did on Tuesday at the National Executive

Council Meeting of the Labour Party held in Asaba, that the millions of Nigerians who voted for Datti and I did not just cast their votes, but they invested their hope in us for a new Nigeria, So we must stay the course.”

The former Anambra state Governor recalls President Muhammadu Buhari’s admonishing to Nigerian youths when he signed the ‘Not Too Young to Run Act’ into law, that they should have faith in Nigeria and prepare for leadership roles.

He said he agreed with the President that we have enough vibrant and intelligent Nigerian youths ready to propel Nigeria to greatness, and it is my desire

and commitment to empower Nigerian youths to leadership.

According to him, “Even in the face of provocations”, Obi appealed to the youths for calm, “We must do our utmost to be calm even under provocation; we must also not allow those bent on using any pretext to plunge our country into chaos and leave our youths without a future to succeed.”

He declared therefore “I plead to every Nigerian to keep the faith and hope in Nigeria alive. We are on this journey together, and better and happier years await all of us. God bless the good people of Nigeria and the Federal Republic of Nigeria”.

From left, Country Director, Small Grant Programme (SGP) Engr Adeolu Adusotu and Chief Executive Officer, SGP, Mrs Ibukun Odesote during a training programme on deploying the power of IT -Engaged youths in effective use and plastic waste management, in Abuja yesterday.

Suspended REC, Hudu an embarrassment to Bauchi – Gov Mohammed

By Musa Baba Adamu

Governor Bala Mohammed of Bauchi State says the act of Hudu Ari in seeking to manipulate the outcome of the just concluded governorship election in Adamawa State, is an embarrassment to Bauchi State where Hudu comes from.

Bala, who spoke to newsmen in Yola when he paid a congratulatory visit to his Adamawa State counterpart, Ahmadu Fintiri, after Fintiri’s reelection earlier on Tuesday, stressed that Hudu’s kith and kin back home are depressed by his action.

“For us in Bauchi we are highly embarrassed and disgruntled. We feel ashamed that one of our own came and perpetrated this action,” Governor Bala Mihammed said.

He described corruption, which is believed to have driven Hudu’s action, as a condemnable act that must be rejected by every right thinking person.

“Corruption is temporary and whatever is gotten through such means will not stand,” he asserted.

He urged fear of God and adherence to playing the game by the rules, and commended Governor Fintiri for staying true to himself and believing in God and the people through which he emerged victorious.

Hudu Ari stepped into much national infamy on Sunday when he declared winner of the governorship election in Adamawa State when collation of results had not been concluded.

He declared as winner the APC candidate, Sen Aishatu Ahmed Binani, who was not even in the lead at the time and was never in the lead anytime throughout the collation exercise.

As the state Resident Electoral Commissioner, he was not empowered by law to declare results nor announce winners.

His act was immediately dismissed by INEC which on Tuesday concluded the result collation and declared PDP’s Ahmadu Fintiri as winner.

Oro festival: Politics reduced traditional rulers to ballot box snatchers – Rhodes-Vivour

By Christiana Ekpa

The Labour Party governorship candidate in the recently concluded gubernatorial election in Lagos State, Gbadebo Rhodes-Vivour has accused some traditional rulers in the state of reducing themselves to ballot box

snatchers.

The LP candidate stated this in a tweet on Thursday while reacting to a video clip of residents running away from Oro masquerades. Recall that prior to the conduct of the March 18 elections, reports emerged that some traditional rulers fixed the Oro festival on election day to scare strangers

from participating in the poll.

The traditional rulers, however, debunked the report saying Oro was only meant to take place at night.

But in his tweet, RhodesVivour claimed that politics made some traditional rulers fix the festival in the daytime, stressing that they have been reduced to

ballot snatchers.

He wrote: “I have respect for our traditional institutions and our culture. It is politics and politicians that have denigrated our traditional institutions.

“It is politics that would make kings do ORO during the DAY! It is politics that would reduce a baale to a ballot snatcher #ourlagos.”

Two Kogi APC members ask court to void guber primary won by Ododo

Two aggrieved members of the All Progressives Congress (APC) have pleaded with an Abuja High Court to void and cancel the party’s Kogi governorship primary election, which was held on April 11.

Realwan Akpanachi and Yahaya Seidu-Nuhu, in an originating summons filed by their Counsel, Mr Promise Ogbodu, sued six of the contestants as 1st – 6th defendants, APC and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) as 7th and 8th defendants respectively, for what they called a violation of the Electoral Act 2022 and the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

The six contestants are Abdulkareem Jamiu (Chief of Staff), Jibril Momoh (AccountGeneral), Yakubu Okala (Auditor-General), Asiwaju Idris (Finance Commissioner), Salami Ozigi (Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs) and Ahmed Usman-Ododo (AuditorGeneral for Local Government Areas).

They specifically prayed the court to disqualify the 1st – 6th defendants.

They claimed that the six defendants were still political appointees/public servants at the time they contested the governorship primary election of April 11.

They asked the court to determine whether the 1st –6th defendants, “being political

appointees/public officers currently in the service of the Kogi Government, can validly participate in the convention or congress of the APC for the purpose of vying for the nomination as the governorship candidate for the Nov, 11 governorship election.”

“Whether having regard to S 84 (12) of the Electoral Act (2022), the 7th Respondent (APC) can validly nominate any of the 1st to 6th Respondents as her Candidate for the Kogi State Governorship Election in the face of their failure as political appointees/public servants, to resign from service of the Kogi State Government at the time of the primary election,” they asked.

They also prayed the court to make a declaration that “being political appointees/ public officers currently in the service of the Kogi Government, the 1st to 6th respondents, cannot validly vie for the APC’s nomination as its Governorship Candidate, for the Kogi Election Governorship scheduled for November 11.”

“A declaration that the 7th Respondent cannot validly nominate any of the 1st to 6th Respondents as her Candidate for the Kogi State Governorship Election in the face of their failure as political appointees/ public servants, to resign from service of the Kogi Government at the time of the primary election.

“An Order disqualifying any of the 1st to 6th Respondents from seeking for the nomination of, and being nominated by the 7th Respondent as its Governorship Candidate for the Kogi Governorship Election, scheduled for November 11, ” they further prayed.

The court, however, has reportedly directed that a notice of hearing be immediately served on all the respondents to appear before it on April 27 for the hearing of the originating summons of the plaintiffs.

NAN reports that UsmanOdodo had emerged winner of the Kogi APC governorship primary election after the other five respondents, including the Deputy Governor, Chief Edward Onoja, and one other, stepped down for him.

According to Mr Patrick Obahiagha, Secretary of the Kogi APC Primary Election sevenMember Committee, UsmanOdodo scored 78, 704 votes to beat six other contestants.

Obahiagha, who announced the result of the governorship primary on Saturday morning in Lokoja, said Momodu got 1, 506 votes, Yahaya-Ashemogu, 1, 159, and Abubakar-Audu, 763 votes.

He added that Stephen Ocheni garnered 552 votes, Sanusi Ohiere, 424, and Smart Adeyemi, 311 votes.

Obahiagha said that out of the 93, 729 voters, 83, 419 who were accredited voted for candidates of their choice.

APC wins 22 seats, PDP gets 12 in Kaduna Assembly

By Ikechukwu Okaforadi

Following the completion of re-run elections into the Kaduna State House of Assembly, the All Progressive Congress (APC) has 22 elected members, while the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has 12 elected members of the total 34 seats.

In a statement signed by Malam Yahaya Baba Pate, the Kaduna State Secretary of the APC, he said the party won in the supplementary elections conducted in four

constituencies.

He commended the electorates for voting for them and assured residents of the state of the dividend of democracy as they resume office in May.

He further thanked the residents of Giwa West, Kudan, Kauru and Sanga state constituencies for voting for them during the supplementary elections in spite of intimidation and monetary inducement to persuade voters.

‘’The people of Kudan

constituency showed an uncommon resolve in the last supplementary election by voting for APC, in a local government where the gubernatorial candidates of PDP and NNPP hail from,” he said.

According to him, with APC’s victory at Giwa West, Kudan, Kauru and Sanga state constituencies, the party now has 22 House of Assembly members-elect in a state legislature that has 34 members.

PDP chieftain, Okoro criticises Gowon’s invitation to lead inaugural prayer for Otti

By Musa Baba Adamu

Achieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and immediate past Deputy Chairman of Bende Local Government Area, Hon Promise Uzoma Okoro has advised the Abia State Governor-elect, Alex Otti to rescind his decision of inviting a former Head of State, General Yakubu Gowon for an inaugural prayer ahead of his swearing-in.

Eid-el-Fitr:

Okoro, in a statement made available to journàlists on Thursday, said the handlers of the Abia State Governor-elect, Otti, must consider the feelings of Abians and Ndigbo to avoid the negative backlash it would bring to them.

He wondered why the Abia State Governor and his team did not find any revered man of God from the state to lead prayer heralding Otti’s inauguration instead of projecting the former Head of State.

Gbajabiamila

felicitates

Muslims, calls for unity

By Christiana Ekpa

The Speaker of the House of Representatives Rep. Femi Gbajabiamila has rejoiced with Muslims across the country on the occasion of this year’s Eidel-Fitr, marking the end of this year’s Ramadan.

Gbajabiamila also congratulated the Muslim faithful for the successful completion of the 1444/2023 Ramadan, in which he said lessons must have been learnt.

Reflecting on the significance of the just concluded Ramadan fasting, the Speaker said Muslims should internalize the lessons and good habits that usually come with the religious practice.

He called on Muslims across

the country to use the occasion of Eid-el-Fitr to pray for the country.

Gbajabiamila noted that periods like this call for sober reflection and unity from all citizens irrespective of their religious beliefs.

The speaker said, “Nigeria is the only country we can call ours, hence the citizens, especially Muslims at this time, must work together and pray assiduously for continuous peaceful coexistence among the people.”

He noted that one of the lessons learnt during the holy month of Ramadan was that of compassion and care for the needy, urging Muslims to continue to be their brother’s keepers as enjoined by the Almighty Allah through the Holy Prophet Muhammad (SAW).

The prayer, tagged: “When the Righteous Are In Authority” is being organized by a non-governmental organization, Nigeria Prays.

The rally by Nigeria Prays, a pet project of former Head of State, Gen Dr. Yakubu Gowon, will be at the Master’s Vessel Church, Umuahia, on Sunday, April 23, 2023, according to a release by the Abia State Coordinator of Nigeria Prays, Apostle Chuks Alozie.

Drawing his reference to the

rally from the biblical passage of Proverbs 29 vs 2, Alozie revealed that the former Head of State and the Governor-elect of Abia State, Dr. Alex Otti are special guests expected to deliver talks at the prayer rally, even as Alozie disclosed that the Vice Chancellor of Michael Okpara University of Agriculture Umudike, (MOUAU), Prof Madu Ofo Iwe will be the guest speaker at the event. However, Okoro, who condemned the invitation of Gowon,

described it as “insensitive to the feelings of the people,” adding that the action of the organisers would hurt deep the feelings of the people. He wondered if “there is no man of God in the entire Abia State and Igbo land, which should necessitate the invitation of Gowon, a man who is yet to rights the wrongs of the civil war.”

Okoro urged Otti’s handlers not to start with what he called “fundamental errors.”

House Speaker: APC group wants slot for North-Central, Kwara

• Backs Kwara lawmaker Olawuyi for Speaker

Asupport group of the All Progressives Congress (APC), under the auspices of the APC Patriotic People’s Forum yesterday asked the party to concede the position of the next Speaker of the House of Representatives to the NorthCentral.

The group said the office should be micro- zoned to Kwara State which it rated as the bridge between the north and the south.

Only Hon. Abdulraheem Tunji Olawuyi has so far indicated interest in the office from Kwara State.

The Acting Director- General

of the group, Prof. Husseini Garbo-Dokko pleaded for concession for North-Centrai and Kwara State at a news conference in Abuja.

He said the group has subscribed to Olawuyi’s Legislative Agenda tagged agenda P.E.A.S.E (Power, Education, Agriculture, Security, Employment).

He said the party must demonstrate to Nigerians a process whose outcome will give a sense of belonging to all.

He said: “We wish to use this medium to solicit for the leadership of the ruling party to

support the zoning of speakership position to North-Central going by the roles the zone played in the just concluded general elections.

“As formidable forum, Patriotic Peoples Forum (PPF) we are lending our voice in support of a young, promising, vibrant and true democrats in person of Rt. Hon Abdulraheem Tunji Olawuyi.

“ Even though APC leadership is yet to zone the position of Senate President snd Speaker to the South East and North Central respectively, there is need to uphold same dispositions in the interest of national unity and

cohesion.

“Above all, the 10th Assembly needs someone whose humility and interpersonal relationship with fellow colleagues is equal to none. This is because humility leads to unity, and unity leads to peace.

“The task really needs a parliamentarian that will deliver as at when due and should be willing and determined to get work accomplished.

“ We therefore please beg that the 10th House of Representative members should join our *PEASE* agenda code, to complement the RENEWED

HOPE of Mr President-elect.

He said among the current Chairman of the House of Representatives Committee on Emergency and Disaster Preparedness, Abdulraheem Olawuyi should be given the mandate to lead the House.

He described Olawuyi as a man who has demonstrated that “leadership is an action but not a position occupied.”

He said since the Tinubu Presidency has inspired positive hope among Nigerians, there was the need to be introspective about the leadership of the National Assembly.

Gbagi: Tribunal Orders Substituted Service On Oborevwori, Omo-Agege, Others

The Governorship Election Petition Tribunal has ordered a substituted service on the Delta State governor-elect under the Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP), Sheriff Oborevwori, and candidates of other political parties in the March 18 governorship poll.

The order comes on the heel of a suit challenging their eligibility to contest the just concluded governorship election in the State.

Amongst those also to be served are the candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC),

Ovie Augustine Omo-Agege, that of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), Chief Great Ovedje Ogboru and their counterpart in Labour Party (LP), Ken Pela.

The Tribunal has also granted that the Defendants be served with Gbagi’s petition through substituted service on the notice board of the tribunal, which has been complied with in Asaba, the State capital.

The Governorship candidate of the Social Democratic Party (SDP), Olorogun Barr. Kenneth

Gbagi, who made this known on Wednesday, shortly after the tribunal granted the application, said trial has commenced in ernest for them to show cause that those evidences as contained in his petitions are to the contrary.

The order of the tribunal followed an ex parte application moved by Chief Chris Uche, Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), Gbagi’s counsel.

The senior lawyer had specifically sought the leave of the tribunal to serve the notice of substituted service on the walls of

the notice board of the tribunal on the Defendants by substituted means after all efforts to serve them directly failed.

According to him, “What has played out is that, in the last nine and 10 days, efforts to serve these petition on the runaway faceless candidates have resulted into so much futility in that they have been hiding.

“They have come up with various excuses as some of them are abroad, some of them disappeared into thin air.

“The tribunal faced with

time issue has today, granted the application asking that these characters be served these petitions on the notice board of the tribunal.

“By singular arrangement, the trial in ernest has begun for them to show cause that those evidences as contained in those petitions are to the contrary.

“There is no need to run. It is a thing of joy that the tribunal has heeded substituted service which is now and has been pasted on the notice board of the tribunal in Asaba,” he added.

L-R,. Director General National Council for Arts and Culture (NCAC), Otunba Olusegun Runsewe, Director Special Duties, Office of Director General, Mr Gerald Adewole and the President Society of Nigerian Artists , Mr Muhammed Sulaiman during the Press Briefing on the official Re- opening of the NCAC Cultural Village , held yesterday in Abuja. Photo: Justin Imo-owo

FG approves N1.5trn for construction, rehabilitation of over 700km roads

From Abubakar Yunusa Abuja

The federal executive council

(FEC) has approved the sum of N1.535 trillion for the construction and rehabilitation of eleven roads across the country.

The construction would be enabled under the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) tax credit scheme.

Speaking after the council meeting, Babatunde Fashola, the minister of works and housing, said over N1.5 trillion would be spent on some major roads in Nigeria, totalling over 700 kilometres linking 11 states.

The states include Edo, Delta, Kano, Kaduna, Borno and Adamawa among others.

“The council gave approval for the construction and rehabilitation of 11 roads totalling 737.242 kilometres in the sum of N1, 535, 154, 247, 234.48 under phase II of the NNPC tax credit scheme,” Fashola said.

“Recall that in January this year, the council approved a memo for the NNPC to invest N1.9 trillion on our roads. That amount was then about 44 roads that had been awarded and the balance of those roads that had to go through procurement between then and now are the 11 that have now been approved by the council.”

In a report by TheCable, Fashola said in November 2022 that NNPC Limited has released N196 billion for roads under the tax credit scheme out of the N662 billion approved by the FEC.

He added that the ministry needed N1.2 trillion for the execution of highway projects, but only N198.9 billion has been allocated under the budget envelope in 2023 for the roads.

ISB Provides More Investment Opportunities - SEC

From Abubakar Yunusa Abuja

The Securities and Exchange Commission has said that the Investments and Securities Bill 2023, recently passed by the National Assembly is geared to improve the capital market to make it improved for investors, to provide more opportunities for investors.

Chief Economist, SEC Dr. Okey Umeano stated this in an interview in Abuja Thursday.

Dr. Umeano said the ISB 2023 has updated the powers of the SEC as well as made provisions to encourage new products in the capital market as well as encourage development of the commodities ecosystem among others.

According to him, “The ISB became necessary because the 2007 Investments and Securities Act became outdated. This is a dynamic market; the market changes every day. It got to a point the Act was no longer sufficient to cover some of the new things happening in the market. For

instance, we have new products that were not there when that Act was put in place. We have new actors in the market; you can see how Fintech is permeating the market. These things were not there in 2007 when that Act was passed.

“This ISB is supposed to accommodate these new operators, these new instruments and new happenings in the market. The Act is now more up to date and in line with present happenings in Nigeria and the global level. This Act also protects the investors more because we have made certain provisions in that Act that strengthens the SEC to ensure that they are better able to carry out their investor protection activities.

Umeano disclosed that the new Bill has amended some of the provisions around Ponzi schemes, illegal fund managers, and certain unwholesome practice in the market to ensure that these practices no longer happen.

“This bill is for everyone, not just investors. It is also to

encourage issuers to be more active in the market. It also provides better opportunities for operators, it is a bill that works for everyone. Yes, this bill has a lot of differences, there are many things we have updated for instance we have updated the powers of the SEC to cover the new product and new areas.

He emphasized that the ISB also has provisions that encourages the commodity ecosystem which is a viable means of diversifying the nation’s economy away from crude oil especially given the various commodities available in the country.

“Nigeria is a commodity driven economy, we have oil, we have coal, and we have other minerals. We are blessed with agricultural production; we are able to make agricultural products in very large quantities. In fact, Agriculture employs the larger number of working population of the country. Yet before now, we did not have organized commodity market, to aid this Agriculture.

“Successive government

especially this present government have spent a lot of money to support Agriculture but then we a market. When you have a commodity market, it helps price discovery, it helps financing for things like agriculture and that is what we have done in this bill. The ISB has strengthened the capital market to be able to drive the commodities trading ecosystem. We have things around ware house receipts, collateral management, setting up commodities exchanges, other players in the commodity market among others” he stated.

Dr. Umeano disclosed that the Bill also tries to align the capital market with the pension industry by providing that the DG of the Pensions Commission will become a board member of the SEC.

This he said will ensure close relationship and will also help to attract more of the pensioner’s assets into the cattle market, which will also help in capital formation and aid economic development.

FAAC Shares N714bn March revenue to FG, States, LGAs

From Abubakar Yunusa Abuja

The Federation Accounts Allocation Committee (FAAC) has shared a total of N714.629 billion as March 2023 federation revenue to the federal, state, and local government councils and other relevant agencies in the country.

This was disclosed in a communiqué issued at the end of the FAAC meeting for April 2023.

The amount includes gross statutory revenue, value-added tax, exchange gain, and electronic

money transfer levies.

A breakdown of the figure showed that the federal government received N276.141 billion, the states received N232.129 billion, the local government councils got N95.243 billion, while the oil-producing states received N35.102 billion as derivation (13 per cent of Mineral Revenue).

“The N714.629 billion total distributable revenue comprised distributable statutory revenue of N497.448 billion, distributable Value Added Tax (VAT) revenue of N202.693 billion

and Electronic Money Transfer Levy(EMTL) of N14.488 billion,” the communique said.

In March 2023, it said the total deductions for the cost of collection was N31.355 billion and total deductions for transfers, refunds, and consultancy fees were N126.567 billion.

The balance in the Excess Crude Account (ECA) was $473,754.57.

The communiqué added that the gross statutory revenue of N638.673 billion was received for March 2023. This was higher than the sum of N487.106 billion

received in the previous month by N151.567 billion.

For March 2023, it said the gross revenue available from the Value Added Tax (VAT) was N218.786 billion, a figure lower than the N240.799 billion available in February 2023 by N22.013 billion.

The federal government received N30.404 billion, the state governments received N101.347 billion and the local government councils received N70.943 billion from the N202.693 billion distributable Value Added Tax (VAT) revenue.

Of the N14.488 billion Electronic Money Transfer Levy (EMTL), the federal government received N2.173 billion, the state governments received N7.244 billion and the local government councils received N5.071 billion. According to the communiqué, in March 2023, Petroleum Profit Tax (PPT), Companies Income Tax (CIT), Oil and Gas Royalties, Import and Excise Duties, Electronic Money Transfer Levy(EMTL) increased remarkably while Value Added Tax (VAT) decreased considerably.

Delegation of Kogi State Government led by Executive Officer, Kogi State Investment Promotion and Public Private Partnership Agency, Abdulkareem Siyaka and Members of the CCECC team led by Its Deputy Managing Director Guo Wenjun (middle) in a group photograph.

Nigerian fined £26,835 for smuggling cigarettes into London

AUnited Kingdom tribunal has held that a Nigerian be fined the sum of £26,835 (over N15 million) after being charged in relation to 61,800 cigarettes found in his bag without appropriate disclosure to relevant revenue authorities. The cigarettes were seized at Heathrow Airport, London, in February 2020.

Details of the judgement are contained in an appeal filed by the Nigerian, Oladipupo Fagbewesa, against the civil evasion penalty issued on 21 June 2021.

In court documents seen by PREMIUM TIMES, the tribunal judge, Abigail Mcgregor, held that Mr Fagbewesa owned the cigarettes that were seized from his bags and subsequently upheld the penalty.

According to the court document dated 12 April, the Notice of Appeal was submitted to the tribunal just over a month late and was received on 23 September 2021. An explanation for the lateness was given in the Notice of Appeal, the document said.

The reasons for the lateness include, among others, the fact that the conclusion letter, dated 14 July 2021, was not received by Mr Fagbewesa until 14 August 2021 because he had been away in Nigeria caring for his sick mother for a 3-week period from 25 July 2021. Similarly, the document said Mr Fagbewesa works at night and therefore has limited time in the day to seek legal advice; he found affordable legal advice on 27 August 2021; English is not his first language and he had trouble understanding the procedure.

Based on the reasons given and the absence of objection from the HM Revenue and Customs, a non-ministerial department of the UK Government responsible for the collection of taxes, the court decided to admit the appeal late.

But after hearing arguments from the parties, the tribunal ruled that the seized cigarettes belonged to Mr Fagbewesa and upheld the £26,835 penalty against him.

Union Bank’s annual profit doubles as trading income hits N24bn

From Abubakar Yunusa, Abuja

Nigeria’s second oldest lender Union Bank built a more than two-fold surge in net profit substantially from a strong net trading income in 2022, it’s audited financial report has shown.

Standing at N23.6 billion, net trading income – the money earned from transactions in financial instruments –accelerated by 173.3 per cent compared to interest income, typically the biggest contributor to banks’ revenues, which only grew by 29.5 per cent.

Within the period, many other banks boosted profit through

hikes in lending rates that enabled them to charge more for loans.

Gross earnings were up by 18 per cent at N209.1 billion, noninterest income contributing twofifths of that, according to the audited financial report published on Wednesday.

The bank’s impairment charge, which accounts for the cash it provisioned for defaults by borrowers, totalled N3.2 billion in contrast to a net impairment reversal of N34 million a year earlier.

Net fees and commission marginally declined by 6.6 per cent, following a drop in creditrelated fees and commission.

“In 2023, we will remain

focused on executing our strategic initiatives, which are centred on pursuing additional opportunities to diversify our revenue sources while strengthening our core business,” said Mudassir Amray, Union Bank’s managing director, in a separate document.

“We also look forward to completing the merger of Union Bank of Nigeria and Titan Trust Bank, which began in 2022,” he added.

The business combination involving the two lenders is to be delivered this year, well over a year after the deal of relatively new Titan Trust acquiring Union Bank was announced.

Last year, a board member of

Union Bank who does not want his name in print, told Nigerian online newspaper that the corporate name “Union Bank” will be retained after the merger.

Titan Trust Bank, a subsidiary of the conglomerate TGI Group, backed by Dutch-Nigerian magnate Cornelius G. Vink, has 94.1 per cent ownership in Union Bank.

After-tax profit for the period climbed 131.6 per cent to N39.2 billion from N16.9 billion a year earlier.

The bank is not paying dividend for 2022 the same way it did not announce cash rewards for shareholders for 2021, according to its annual report.

Nigerian Breweries laments dollar scarcity amid hike in cost of raw material

From Abubakar Yunusa

Abuja

Nigeria’s prolonged foreign exchange squeeze is forcing its biggest beermaker to source raw materials at phenomenally high costs, Nigerian Breweries CEO Hans Essaadi told journalists in Lagos Wednesday.

Cost of sales spiked by 21.8 per cent or N60.4 billion in 2022, driving margin low and hurting gross profit, as the company now deploys tough measures to keep operations going,

“We’ve been faced and we are not going to stop being faced with a very significant storm,” Mr Essaadi said on Wednesday at a media briefing preceding its annual general meeting.

He remarked that Nigeria’s

foreign exchange crisis in 2022 caused a shortage of dollars and euros for a business where “roughly 50 per cent of our input costs is imported.”

The condition reflects the ordeal of many manufacturers in Africa’s largest economy who turn to the parallel market, where the dollar sold for N740.6 at 11:05 WAT, according to @naira_rates, compared to N462.5 on the official market because the latter did not have enough to meet demand.

This month, the World Bank stated in its publication Africa Pulse the naira shed 10.2 per cent against the dollar in 2022.

But that could be way higher considering that the exchange rate used by such organisations in their reviews belongs to the autonomous forex market, a window closely controlled by the

government, unlike the parallel market rate, which is driven by the forces of demand and supply and is more widely used.

The dilemma has sharply shot the brewer’s outstanding payable for business-critical imports upward, with overdue debt to Ibecor, its overseas buying agent, now as high as €110 million.

To settle the debt, Nigerian Breweries is looking unto Heineken NV, its parent company, to convert the credit to an intercompany loan, a lifeline the consumer goods giant hopes to get around May.

Heineken majority-owns the company, holding about 54 per cent of the issued shares. According to a presentation slide, that urgency needs to be quickly addressed to avert a partial or total shutdown of operations.

Meanwhile, the company is partnering with New York-based Africa-focused renewable energy developer CrossBoundary Energy for two solar power projects, eight and a half times the size of a football field, said Martin Kochl, the supply chain director.

“CrossBoundary Energy will fully finance the development and construction of the Ibadan and Ama renewable energy facilities, and will operate both facilities as part of a 15-year solar services agreement with NB,” the company stated on its website.

The sustainability move is targeting 10-gigawatt hours of electricity for both plants.

Through the solar and battery storage hybrid system, Nigerian Breweries expects to pare down carbon emissions by 100,000 tonnes as long as the plants exist

in a push to dilute its energy mix further and boost its climate credentials.

But the energy ambition is much larger with a power purchase pact with Konexa that will fully convert the energy source for operations at the two breweries in Kaduna to hydropower already in place.

That is being extended to its distribution chain where a good number of trucks are set for conversion to gas from diesel, whose price jumped by almost threefold in 2022 alone.

The brewer, which grew property, plant and equipment by about 40 per cent or N101.8 billion last year, committed a huge investment to the extension of Ama plant, the biggest of its nine factories.

L-R,. Director General National Council for Arts and Culture (NCAC), Otunba Olusegun Runsewe, Director Special Duties, Office of Director General, Mr Gerald Adewole and the President Society of Nigerian Artists , Mr Muhammed Sulaiman during the Press Briefing on the official Re- opening of the NCAC Cultural Village , held yesterday in Abuja . Photo: Justin Imo-owo

Kogi,China to scale up business relationship in Transport, infrastructure dev’t ...Moves to makes Kogi industrial hub of north

By ABUBAKAR YUNUSA YOU

The Kogi State Government and the Chinese Construction giant, CCECC have met to finalize arrangements to scale up business relationships in the areas of planning, financing and execution of transport infrastructure in the state.

In a meeting held at the headquarters of the China Civil Engineering Construction Corporation along Airport Road, Abuja on Thursday, the Executive Officer of the Kogi

State Investment Promotion and Public Private Partnership Agency, Abdulkareem Siyaka who led the government’s delegation disclosed that the first line of business upscaling and partnership is the construction of Inland Transit Port in Lokoja to link Warri - Burutu/Port Harcourt via Onitsha. This he said will rapidly develop the movement of agricultural produce and solid mineral cargo to and from northern and southern Nigeria.

He said the partnership was in line with the Kogi State’s mediumterm economic development

goals which within a 5-year time frame will want to rapidly develop her infrastructure outlay, citing transport infrastructure as the bedrock of economic development.

Speaking to journalists at the end of their meeting, Abdulkareem said the upgrade of Adogo Airstrip to a commercial Cargo Airport to facilitate growth in cross-border trade and investment and boost real sector productivity was discussed.

Another infrastructure to be executed under the partnership is the construction of Electrified

Rail Project between Jeba and Lokoja This will reduce haulage costs within Nigeria by freeing excess pressure on road transport infrastructure.

Speaking on the business models, Abdulkareem stated that Kogi State is in the process of building its economy from a conservative civil service state to an Industrial giant in northern Nigeria.

He said the ‘Build -OperateTransfer’ model or similar model that will be economical for both parties would be ideal while

involving the Federal Government to provide sovereign guarantees including counterpart funding in any or all the projects.

On his part, the Deputy Managing Director of CCECC, Guo Wenjun commended the state government for its vision while expressing readiness for the relationship.

oted that the Kogi State Government has been a friendly business partner of CCECC over the years with mutual understanding and benefits.

By Stanley Onyekwere

The National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) has urged the National Assembly to fast-track the process of establishing the Outdoor Advertisement and Signage for the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), as an agency to institutionalized its mode of operation.

The Vice President of NANS, Mr Victor Ezanagu, who made the call at a news conference, yesterday in Abuja, noted that the establishment of the agency by the National Assembly would free its operation from external interference.

Ezanagu dismissed the called for the disbandment of the Federal Capital Territory Administration Department of Outdoor Advertisement and Signage (DOAS), as such would return the FCT to the “days of unkempt environment”.

He added that DOAS served

METRO

NANS urges NASS to fast-track establishment of FCT Outdoor Advertisement, Signage

as platform of engaging young people who are fresh graduate and unemployed knowing fully well that majority of the activities of the department revolve intellectual contributions and ability of young people.

According to him,” NANS has taken it union herself to embark on fact finding mission to dissect the activities of FCTA Department of Outdoor Advertisement and Signage thereby aiding our understanding on misconceptions and grievances from different quarters beyond what is reported on social media”.

He called on mischievous people who are causing unrest within the

FCT to put an end to their ugly acts, since the issue was presently before National Assembly for thorough action as We crave for a speedy process in the betterment of Nigerian society.

“ It has come to our notice issues revolving FCTA Department of Outdoor Advertisement and Signage and this has attracted the attention of every discerning Nigerians of which the students populace are not excluded.

“It is on record that the Department of Outdoor Advertisement and Signage (DOAS) is saddled with the responsibility to control, curb indecent activities and

poor procedures and regulate adverts and signage practices in Abuja and its six Area Councils.

“Aside from the professional practices of DOAS, it is pivotal to state that this initiative has helped in generating meaningful revenue in FCT since establishment and this has made the body a key source of generating funds for the government in the whole of Abuja”, he stressed.

The students leader, therefore, appealed to every warring parties to sheath swords and embrace peace in the interest of a greater Nigeria and betterment of all and sundry.

Ezanagu opined that NANS had reliably gather that all signage

and billboard payments are made into the TSA through the REMITA platform, DOAS does not collect cash from clients.

He explains: “ Considering the benefits being enjoyed by Nigerians under DOAS, We perceive it is inhumane and maligning to call for this disbandment of such body, as such would return the FCTA to the days’ unkempt environment.

“It will also lead to the proliferation and unprofessional activities of Outdoor Advertisement and Signage and further endangers an average Nigerian doing business by falling prey into hands of underworld agents”.

The Vice President of National Association of Nigeria Students(NANS), Mr. Victor Ezanagu (middle) with other officials of the Association, at a news conference on fast-tracking the establishment of the Outdoor Advertisement and Signage as an agency to institutionalized its mode of operation, yesterday in Abuja.

NGO sensitises students, persons with disabilities

By Stanley Onyekwere

ANon- Governmental Organisation (NGO), Abiodun Essiet Initiative for Girls (AEIG) took strategic awareness campaign on mitigating Sexual and Gender-Based Violence (SGBV, to hundreds of indigenous students and persons with disabilities, as part of its project targeted at strengthening traditional justice systems to combat the menace.

The stakeholders were engaged at a town hall meeting organised by AEIG organised on gender and social inclusion with the theme: “Engaging the youths as anti SGBV Ambassadors on Gender

Equality and Social Inclusion in Their Community”, recently in Gwagwalada, Abuja.

Speaking at the event, AEIG Founder, Abiodun Essiet, disclosed that protection officers from NAPTIP and Nigeria Correctional Service officers, shared their contact detail with some of the Ambassadors, so that even during their long holidays they will help break the culture of silence, by reporting accordingly on any form of violence that is happening within their community and sphere.

Essiet added that in attendance were 100 students from majorly schools attended by indigenous children from across six Area Councils of the FCT, and people

with disabilities, “because we don’t want to leave anyone behind, as SGBV doesn’t have limitation, so even people with disabilities are also being violated, and they need to be exposed to what they need to do.

“And since we introduced this project to some of the ambassadors, we have gotten feedback from various schools about SGBV issues such as sex for marks and sex for grades, that have been reported to us, which we have also skyrocketed the report the education board in the FCT.

“So there have issues about SGBV within the schools premises, which we envisaged that it couldn’t happen, but we have strengthened

on SGBV

our ambassadors to be able to know what to do at every point in time”.

On her part, AEIG Executive Director, Mayowa Akpati, disclosed that the Organisation has reached over a thousand students and raised about thirty anti- SGBV ambassadors in these schools to become change agents not only in their schools, but also in their respective communities and the world at large.

Also speaking, AMAC Desk Officer, Non Custodial unit of the Nigeria Correctional Service (NCS), Grace Okpor, described the engagement of youth on SGBV issues, will go a long way to mitigating the menace.

Okpor, who commended AEIG for the initiative, also called other stakeholders to promote measures that would help to effectively reduce its prevalence in the society.

Not left out, a student and SGBV Ambassador, Abdulmu’min Zulfa, from Government Secondary School, Gwagwalada, noted that because of the project, they have gotten involved in educating fellow youth on the menace especially how to promote gender equality and social inclusion in the society.

She adds: “There have been some records of SGBV from students, and as ambassadors, we talk and direct them to go to zhe guardian counselling unit, where they are properly advised on what to do.”

Jack Teixeira: Suspect in Pentagon documents leak named

The suspect in the leaking of highly sensitive US defence and intelligence documents is named as Jack Teixeira, US officials tell CBS News.

The New York Times earlier reported that the leader of an online gaming chat group where the files leaked in recent months had the same name.

The paper said he is a 21-year-old member of the intelligence wing of the Massachusetts Air National Guard.

Its report did not identify Mr Teixeira as the alleged leaker.

The New York Times cited interviews with other members of the online group, one of whom said he had known the person who leaked the files for at least three years.

At least 50 but perhaps more than 100 secret documents were posted on Discord - a social media platform popular with gamers.

The documents contain a range of intelligence assessments about the war in Ukraine, but also sensitive intelligence about countries around the world, including US allies.

On Wednesday, the Washington Post published an interview with one of the

members of the chat room where the documents initially appeared.

He described the leaker as a young, charismatic gun enthusiast in his early to mid-20s who works at an unnamed military base.

The Post reported that the man was the leader of a Discord chat room including roughly two dozen members who swapped “memes, offensive jokes and idle chitchat” and prayed and watched movies together.

The members included people from Russia and Ukraine and a number of other countries in Europe, Asia and South America, the paper reported.

At first the leaks were kept inside the small chat room, but in early March members began posting them on other Discord servers, including ones dedicated to the game Minecraft and a Filipino YouTuber.

From there they were posted on the fringe message board 4chan and on the Telegram chat app, particularly on proRussia channels. In some cases they were altered to increase Ukrainian casualty counts.

Earlier, while on a trip to Ireland, US

President Joe Biden said investigators were close to finding the person who leaked the documents.

“There’s a full blown investigation going on, as you know, with the intelligence

community and the Justice Department, and they’re getting close,” Mr Biden told reporters.

The FBI has not identified a suspect in the leak.

Joe Biden in Ireland: President says ‘I’m at home’

US President Joe Biden has declared “I’m at home” as he made an historic address to the Irish Parliament.

Mr Biden said he has returned to his ancestral home and his only wish was that he could stay longer.

In his speech to a joint sitting of the Oireachtas (both houses of the Irish parliament), he spoke of his pride in his Irish roots and support for the peace process in Northern Ireland.

He said the UK “should be working closer” with Ireland to support NI.

President Biden praised the huge strides that have been taken since the signing of the Good Friday Agreement in 1998, which largely ended decades of violent conflict in Northern Ireland.

His address in Leinster House was one of a number of events scheduled during his visit on Thursday.

“People of Ireland, it’s so good to be back in Ireland,” he told the Oireachtas, making a remark in Irish which translated as: “I am home.”

Mr Biden went on to say that the United States was “shaped by Ireland”.

“The values that we share remain to this day - the core of our historic partnership between our people and our governments,” he said.

“As nations, we have known hardship and division, but we have also found solace and sympathy in one and other.”

Mr Biden said he can define the USIreland relationship with just one word: “Possibilities”.

“There is nothing beyond our capacity if we work together. Now is the time to meet every challenge together,” he said.

‘Peace is precious’

President Biden praised the Good Friday Agreement, which, he said has ensured that an “entire generation of young people’s lives have been shaped by confidence that there are no checkpoints on their dreams”.

“Political violence must never again be allowed to take hold on this island,” Mr Biden

told those present, to rapturous applause. “Peace is precious but still needs a champion.”

Former Irish president Mary McAleese, former (Irish prime minister) taoiseach Bertie Ahern and Marie Heaney, the widow of the late poet Seamus Heaney were among those in attendance.

Stormont leaders such as Sinn Féin’s Michelle O’Neill, the SDLP’s Colum Eastwood and Naomi Long from Alliance were also there.

Joe Biden was only the fourth US president to ever address the Irish parliament after John F Kennedy, Ronald Reagan and Bill Clinton.

Later, President Biden is to be the guest of honour at a state function in Dublin Castle, the former seat of British power in Ireland.

He began his working day with a visit to Áras an Uachtaráin - the home of the Irish president in Phoenix Park.

President Biden inspected a military guard of honour, and signed the visitors’ book. He also planted an oak tree and rang the Bell of Peace.

The bell was erected in 2008 to commemorate the tenth anniversary of the Good Friday Agreement.

After ringing the bell, President Biden gave it another ring, saying: “One more for peace”.

He said he was feeling “great” and that he had “learned a lot from the president”.

President Higgins then gave President Biden a quick tour of the grounds around his official residence and introduced him to one of his dogs.

The two men discussed the importance of the meeting 25 years on from the Good Friday Agreement, the strong connection between their two countries and their shared love of Irish poetry.

President Biden then met Leo Varadkar at nearby Farmleigh House. The two leaders shook hands and exchanged a few words before posing for pictures.

Mr Biden remarked that it was “a beautiful day”, the weather a contrast to the conditions that greeted him as he arrived in Dublin on Wednesday.

Mr Varadkar said it was “great” to have the US President back in Ireland and that the visit was going “very well”.

Mr Biden described the meeting as an opportunity to make “tremendous progress”.

He said he was not just commemorating the 25th anniversary of the Good Friday Agreement - but also wanted to hail Ireland’s “leadership” on world issues such as taking in Ukrainian refugees.

‘America and Europe working together’

Speaking afterwards, Mr Varadkar hailed the importance of both the US and European leadership, praising the vital role that the US has played in helping Ukraine since the Russian invasion last year.

Earlier, Mr Biden said he had quoted an Irish proverb, in his message in the visitors’ book - “your feet will bring you where your heart is”, adding that it was “an honour to

return”.

He made a reference to returning to the home of his ancestors, pledging to recommit to peace, equity and dignity.

Mr Biden added: “I’m not going home. Isn’t this an incredible place, all you American reporters, it’s just like the White House, right?”

A delegation attending the event included Tánaiste (Irish deputy prime minister) Micheál Martin, US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken and former Irish football star Paul McGrath.

President Biden visited both Dundalk and his ancestral roots in the town of Carlingford in County Louth on Wednesday.

He met distant relatives in the Cooley Peninsula, where crowds lined the quayside as the presidential motorcade arrived.

Later in Dundalk, there were shouts of “welcome home, Joe” when Mr Biden arrived to address an audience at the town’s Windsor Bar.

Source; BBC

Jack Teixeira in a photo posted on social media

Joe Biden arrives at Leinster House, the home of the Irish parliament

Thabo Bester: South Africa’s ‘Facebook rapist’ deported from Tanzania

Tanzania has deported one of South Africa’s most-wanted fugitives, the rapist and murderer Thabo Bester, who faked his death in prison and fled to the East African state.

Bester was flown to South Africa in a specially chartered plane, following his arrest in Tanzania last week.

His girlfriend, celebrity doctor Nandipha Magudumana, who was arrested with him, has also been deported.

Her father has been charged with helping Bester escape from prison.

Bester was at large for a year after it was thought he died by setting himself on fire in his prison cell in the South African city of Bloemfontein.

A manhunt was launched last month after a new post-mortem investigation revealed the body was not actually his.

The celebrity doctor’s father, Zolile Sekeleni, and a suspended prison

warden, Senohe Matsoara, have been charged with murder, arson and aiding and abetting Bester’s escape.

The two men appeared in a magistrate’s court in Bloemfontein earlier this week.

They were not asked to plead, and no further details were given of the charges.

The case was postponed to 17 April for a possible bail application.

Two other people have also been arrested in connection with Bester’s escape.

Bester has been taken to a highsecurity prison in the capital, Pretoria, while his girlfriend has been taken to court in Bloemfontein.

She will be charged with murder, fraud, helping Bester escape and “violation of bodies”, police said.

Bester is also expected to face fresh charges following his shocking prison break.

Libya arrests two over alleged conversion attempts

Libyan security forces have arrested two American citizens for allegedly trying to convert Muslims there to Christianity.

Neither have been named by the authorities. Both are reported to have worked at the same private language school in the capital Tripoli.

One of the men is accused of working as a missionary for the Assemblies of God organisation - based in the US state of Arkansas.

Two Libyans were also arrested on similar charges. Islam is the state religion of Libya.

While Christians are free to worship there, attempting to convert Muslims to other faiths is banned.

Press freedom in Algeria curbed further

Press freedom in Algeria has been further restricted following a law passed by the country’s parliament.

The measure tightens media ownership rules and empowers courts to force journalists to reveal their sources.

Domestic media outlets will be banned from receiving overseas funding and dual-nationals prevented from owning press or broadcasting companies.

Algeria ranks 134 out of 180 countries in the latest Reporters Without Borders World Press Freedom Index.

Chamisa to stand against Mnangagwa in Zimbabwe vote

Zimbabwe’s main opposition party says it is expecting Nelson Chamisa to stand for a second time against Emmerson Mnangagwa in presidential elections.

The Citizens Coalition for Change said Mr Chamisa - who’s a lawyer and a Christian minister - was the only nominee and would be vetted before being formally announced as a candidate.

The party has accused the governing

Zanu-PF party of carrying out a crackdown on its political opponents ahead of the election which is due in August.

Some opposition campaign rallies have been banned by the police.

Last week Mr Chamisa accused the government of weaponising the law and unjustly incarcerating a CCC lawmaker, Job Sikhala, who has been in prison since June after being accused of publishing falsehoods.

DR Congo president rules out talks with M23 rebels

The president of the Democratic Republic of Congo has ruled out political negotiations with the M23 rebel group.

As part of an internationally brokered peace deal the group has been withdrawing from areas it had captured.

President Félix Tshisekedi said according to the agreement the M23 rebels are to demobilise before returning to civilian life.

The group - which is widely reported to be backed by Rwanda - had previously said it was expecting negotiations with the Kinshasa government.

Correspondents say with the president ruling that out, the peace process could stumble.

Over the last 18 months around three quarters of a million people have been displaced by the fighting.

At least 25 dead after Sfax boat wreck - officials

Tunisian officials say 25 people are now known to have died after their boat was wrecked off the port city of Sfax on Wednesday.

Seventy-two of the 110 onboard were rescued. Several are missing.

All of them were from sub-Saharan Africa. Tunisia has taken over from Libya as the main departure point for people fleeing poverty and conflict in Africa and the Middle East.

The Tunisian National Guard says 14,000 migrants have been rescued in the first three months of this year – five times more than in the same period last year.

Kenyan LGBT activist to re-hoist pride flag on mountain

An activist who raised a rainbow flag on one of Kenya’s highest peaks, says she will climb up the mountain again to hoist it after it was taken down by traditional elders.

Juelz Nimo, was part of a team that climbed Mt Kenya in 2019 as part of a campaign to raise awareness on the safety of LGBTQ people and other human rights defenders.

But the flag was this week taken down and burnt by traditionalist elders, who claimed it desecrated the mountain which is considered a holy site by communities in central Kenya.

Nimo told the BBC that raising the flag again at the third highest peak of the mountain would be a sign of defiance in the face of growing hate against the gay community in Kenya.

On Wednesday, Kenyan MPs passed a motion to ban public debate and promotion of same sex relations in the country.

The vote was adopted by acclamation in the national assembly which had just slightly above the required quorum of 50 legislators.

But the resolution is largely symbolic and non-binding as it would require a bill to be drafted for it to become law.

The motion was tabled by Mohammed Ali, a former investigative journalist, who claimed that the LGBTQ community was growing in the country due to publication and broadcast of books and media promoting same sex relations.

During the motion’s debate MPs called for stiffer penalties against people in same sex relations.

Mozambique authorities seize drugs in banana truck

Police in Mozambique have seized 124kg (19.5 stone) of hard drugs hidden in a truck carrying bananas at the border with South Africa.

According to police, a drug that was presumed to be methamphetamine was found.

The truck was driven by a South African who managed to escape, however, the police are in possession of his documents and say they are on the hunt or the man.

Ethiopia rights body calls for probe on Amhara killings

Ethiopia’s state-linked rights watchdog has called for investigations into the killing of civilians and humanitarian workers during recent protests in Amhara region.

The killings were reportedly carried out by security forces and other unknown people

The Ethiopian Human Rights Commission said that worsening insecurity could lead to abuse of rights and urged security forces against using excessive forces.

Protests in Amhara began last week in opposition to moves by federal authorities to dissolve a regional paramilitary unit.

The government says the unit will be integrated with the army or police to create a unified force, but opponents argue its dissolution could leave the region vulnerable to attacks by neighbours.

Many of the major cities in the region appeared to have returned to normalcy on Wednesday afternoon after days of protests, with businesses and offices reopening.

A resident in the regional capital, Bahirdar, has told the BBC that the reduced protests could be linked to the upcoming Ethiopian Easter to be celebrated this Sunday.

Source: BBC

He is known as the “Facebook rapist” for using the social networking site to lure his victims.

He was convicted in 2012 for the rape and murder of his model girlfriend Nomfundo Tyhulu.

Thabo Bester escaped after his cell was set alight and a corpse was put in it to give the impression he had died

N ews F rom A s IA

Iran executions surged in 2022 to ‘spread fear’ - report

Executions in Iran rose by 75% in 2022, with at least 582 people put to death as authorities sought to “spread fear” among protesters, campaign groups say.

The figure was the highest since 2015, according to Norway-based Iran Human Rights (IHR) and France’s Together Against the Death Penalty (ECPM).

Their report is based both on official announcements and sources inside Iran.

Most of those executed were convicted of murder or drug charges, but two protesters were hanged in December.

Mohsen Shekari, 22, and Majidreza Rahnavard, 23, were found guilty of the vague national security charge of “enmity against God” following what the report said were “show trials” based on confessions obtained through torture.

Another two protesters were

executed at the start of this year, while dozens have reportedly been sentenced to death or charged with capital offences.

The protests swept across the Islamic Republic following the death in custody of Mahsa Amini, a 22-year-old Kurdish woman who was detained by morality police in Tehran in September for allegedly wearing her hijab “improperly”.

IHR and ECPM’s annual report on the death penalty in Iran says only 71 of the executions they recorded last year were announced by official sources.

The rest were “unannounced” or “secret” executions that were reported by sources including eyewitnesses, family members, lawyers and people working for prisons or the judiciary, it adds.

According to the report, 288 (49%) of those put to death were convicted of murder, which was the highest number in 15 years. They included 13 women and three

Bathinda Firing:

Police in India are searching for unidentified shooters after a firing at a military base in the border state of Punjab killed four soldiers.

The soldiers were shot at the military station in Bathinda on Wednesday.

Police say the incident, which took place in the base’s barracks, was “not a terror attack”.

No arrests have been made yet, but the army said it had found an assault rifle believed to have been used in the firing.

Ajay Gandhi, a senior police officer from Bathinda who is heading the investigation, told Reuters that a police complaint has been filed based on a statement of an army personnel, which refers to the involvement of “two unknown people” in the attack.

A search operation was underway all of Wednesday as authorities sealed the military station, set up barricades and deployed drones to locate the attackers.

Located about 280km (175

people who allegedly committed crimes when they were children.

Another 256 people (44%), including three women, were executed after being convicted of drug-related charges, up from 126 in 2021 and 10 times higher than the figure for 2020.

The report warns that the significant reduction in the number of drug-related executions that came as a result of a 2017 amendment to the Anti-Narcotics Law “has now been completely reversed in practice” and laments the “lack of reaction” from the United Nations.

The report also draws what it calls an “insidious link” between surges in executions and antigovernment unrest, with one coinciding with the start of protests by teachers in May and another beginning a month after the death of Mahsa Amini.

“The international reactions to the death sentences against protesters have made it difficult for

the Islamic Republic to proceed with their executions,” says Mahmood Amiry-Moghaddam, IHR’s director.

“To compensate, and in order to spread fear among people, the

What we know about the attack on

miles) from capital Delhi and 100km east of the border with Pakistan, the Bathinda Military Station is one of the largest army bases in India.

The base serves as a vital operational and logistics base for Indian army units in Punjab and parts of the neighbouring Rajasthan state.

What happened?

The army said the attack occurred 4:35am (2305 GMT Tuesday) on Wednesday when the soldiers were sleeping in their rooms.

The four soldiers succumbed to gunshot injuries sustained during the firing.

A police investigation was opened based on the statement given by Major Ashutosh Shukla, who said he had caught a glimpse of the shooters.

In his statement, Major Shukla said he rushed to the spot after a soldier informed him that there had been a firing in the officers’ mess.

He said he saw two men “of medium height and good build”

armed with a rifle and an axe fleeing from the site of the attack. The men wore kurta-pyjamas and had their faces covered with a cloth, he said in the complaint.

At the barracks, Major Shukla said he saw the bodies of two soldiers in one room and two more bodies in the adjacent room. All four of them had bullet marks, he said.

“We also found that a large number cartridges of the Insas rifle scattered in the rooms, which belongs to an open-ended Insas rifle,” he said in the complaint, adding that one such rifle had been reported missing from their unit two days previously.

On Wednesday evening, the army said it had recovered the missing rifle along with its magazine and that it would be subjected to a forensic analysis.

“The number of rounds (unused) in the weapon will only be available after forensic analysis. The joint investigation with Punjab police is in progress,” it said.

What is the police saying?

authorities have intensified the execution for non-political charges. These are the low-cost victims of the Islamic Republic’s execution machine.”

Indian army

base

The Punjab Police said that the incident was not a terrorist attack but a fratricidal incident.

On Wednesday, Punjab minister Anmol Gagan Maan told reporters that the firing was “a matter of an internal fight”.

Police said the bodies of the four soldiers were sent to the Bathinda civil hospital for an autopsy.

Mr Gandhi from Bathinda police told Reuters that the search for the assailants was still underway.

“The attackers had only one rifle. The weapon carried by the other attacker is still being investigated,” he added.

Meanwhile, the army on Thursday said that another soldier at the military station had died of a gunshot wound at around 4.30 pm on Wednesday.

However, it said the incident was not related to the shooting and “purportedly seemed to be of attempted suicide”.

North Korea missile launch sparks confusion in Japan

Amissile launch by North Korea sparked confusion in northern Japan, where an evacuation order was issued and then retracted within 30 minutes.

Sirens blared across Hokkaido and residents were told to “evacuate immediately” on Thursday morning.

Authorities later said the missile did not land near the island and withdrew the alert.

Tensions have been growing in the region, as North Korea has already fired 27 missiles this year.

The projectile flew about 1,000 km (620 miles), in what South Korea’s military called a “grave

provocation”.

The missile is believed to be of medium or longer-range, but details on which weapon was tested on Thursday morning have not yet been made public.

Meanwhile, Japanese coastguards said the missile had splashed into waters to the east of North Korea. Mr Hamada said he could not confirm whether the missile flew over Japan’s exclusive economic zone.

Schools in Hokkaido delayed their start times and some train services were suspended, Japanese broadcaster NHK reported.

Japan’s Foreign Minister

Yoshimasa Hayashi said Pyongyang’s repeated missile launches pose a “grave and imminent threat” to Japan’s security.

US National Security Council spokesperson Adrienne Watson said the latest launch “needlessly raises tensions and risks destabilising the security situation in the region”.

This latest launch came days after North Korean leader Kim Jong Un ordered his military to adopt a “more practical and offensive” manner in war deterrence, as reported by its state media agency KCNA.

For the past week, North Korea has not been answering twicedaily phone calls from South Korea, which has concerned the government in Seoul.

The two Koreas typically exchange calls at 09:00 and 15:00 local time (00:00 and 06:00 GMT) via a military hotline - these daily check-ins are intended to prevent clashes along the countries’ border.

Earlier this week, South Korea’s Unification Minister Kwon Youngse described the North’s suspension of communication as “unilateral and irresponsible”.

“Pyongyang’s provocations continue past its protest of US-

South Korea defence exercises because Kim Jong-un hasn’t finished demonstrating his nuclear delivery capabilities yet,” said LeifEric Easley, a professor at Ewha University in Seoul,

“However, with the North Koreans literally not answering the phone, the lack of hotlines and diplomacy increases the risk of unintended escalation,” he said.

This is an important week for North Korea as it celebrates Mr Kim’s 11th year in powerthe country tends to mark these anniversaries with displays of military progress.

Sourdce; BBC

A man protests in Lisbon against Iran’s execution in December of two men over the anti-government protests

The attack took place at the Bathinda Military Base in Punjab

Environment

COP15: High stakes in Montreal as negotiators seek new global biodiversity framework

The Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) convened for its resumed Fifteenth Conference of the Parties (COP15),yesterday in Montreal, Canada, and to close on Monday, 19. Negotiators will be working to clinch a new global biodiversity framework (GBF) that will set a series of goals and underlying targets for a “nature-positive future.”

The previous set of goals and targets that have guided international biodiversity conservation efforts in recent years, the 2011-2020 Strategic Plan for Biodiversity and its 20 Aichi Targets, expired in 2020, with the COVID-19 pandemic stymying plans to already have a GBF ready to take their place.

The first part of the CBD COP15 took place in Kunming, China, and online last year. While China is the meeting’s host, travel restrictions and other challenges related to the pandemic led to the resumed COP15 venue being moved to Montreal, where the CBD secretariat is located.

Discussions in Montreal are numerous and include issues related to addressing environmentally harmful subsidies; the final shape of the 30×30 target; the signals that COP15 sends for scaling up naturebased solutions, including naturebased infrastructure; the linkages between nature-based solutions finance and climate finance; and how the results of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change’s (UNFCCC) Twenty-seventh Conference of the Parties (COP27) can inform the Global Biodiversity Framework.

Johan Rockström, Director of the Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research (PIK), remarked: “We need a ‘Paris Moment’ in Montreal. Similar to the legally binding global climate agreement to hold global warming well below 2 degrees Celsius and aim for 1.5 degree Celsius, governments gathering at the world nature summit COP15 in Canada need to set a limit to nature destruction. To safeguard our life-support system on Earth, we need to halt nature loss to zero, which means protecting all remaining intact nature. Only if we protect and regenerate Earth’s nature, we can really protect Earth’s climate.”

“This is potentially an historic moment for biodiversity,” said Andrew Gonzalez, a professor in the biology department at McGill University in Montreal and founding director of the Quebec Centre for Biodiversity Science.

He added: “The rate of global change in nature during the past 50 years is unprecedented in human history,” the report said, pointing to five key drivers: land- and seause changes, direct exploitation of organisms, climate change, pollution, and invasions of alien species.

Environmental crisis: Nigeria seeks UN interventions on GGW, HYPREP issues

The Federal Government of Nigeria has called on the United Nations (UN) to assist in addressing Hydrocarbon Pollution Remediation Project (HYPREP) and Great Green Wall issues (GGW) to enable restoration of lost lands in the country.

Minister of Environment, Mohammed Abdullahi, said this while receiving the Deputy Secretary-General of UN, Amina Mohammed, on courtesy visit, in Abuja, recently.

Abdullahi said that the ministry was committed to ensuring that the two major projects were implemented effectively, adding that the UN’s intervention would boost the ministry’s efforts.

“There are two important projects which we will need more of your support, the HYPREP and GGW. We are doing our best to ensure that it’s working greatly.

We have the team for the HYPREP. We are doing our best to make sure that the structure put in place is maintained to ensure checks and balances for good governance and transparency.

“This is what we are doing and we hope we will get robust support from you.

“You have always been there for us and we still have hope that you will continue to give us your full support,” he said.

Responding, Mohammed said that the UN would give its best to support in restoring the loss lands.

“So, it’s really important that we put in place the teams that will help us to look at those programmes and to see that GGW issues is properly addressed.

She said the GGW project was an economic corridor, which would offer empowerment to both youth and women, if properly addressed in the country.

According to her, the GGW project will really empower our people, but at the same time, it is able to give less reason for people to destabilise countries when they get involved in conflicts of different types.

“So again, we are at your disposal; the UN will support any efforts that you want with the GGW, particularly the wetlands,” she said.

Mohammed, however, advised agencies, parastaltals and other relevant stakeholders to support the ministry in ensuring that the environmental programmes were implemented effectively.

She thanked the minister

for his strong leadership and commitment in ensuring that environmental crisis were being tackled as well as ensuring that Paris Agreement was achieved effectively.

HYPREP was established in 2012 under the Federal Ministry of Environment to achieve the under listed objectives in Ogoniland and other impacted communities:

“To determine the scope, means and modalities of remediation of soil and ground water contamination in impacted communities as may be recommended by HYPREP Governing Council and remedy them,

“Enhance local capacity for better environmental management and promote awareness of sound environmental management as

well as ensure livelihoods and sustainable development, and

“Ensure security and promote peace building efforts in impacted communities as well as strengthen governance, transparency and accountability in the region.”

The Great Green Wall (GGW) initiative, launched in 2007 by the African Union, aims to restore the continent’s degraded landscapes and transform millions of lives in the Sahel.

Its ambition is to restore 100 million hectares of currently degraded land, sequester 250 million tonnes of carbon, and create 10 million green jobs by 2030.

In Nigeria, the GGW Initiative also seeks to recover degraded land, preserve ecosystems, and provide sustainable livelihood opportunities for communities.

PILIWA launched in Nigerian

By Mashe Umaru Gwamna

Lawyers, civil society, and media executives converged to Benin, the Edo state capital recently for the launch of the Public Interest Lawyering Initiative for West Africa (PILIWA) Nigeria chapter.

The initiative which was founded in 2016 has a membership that cuts across nine West African countries including Cote d’ Ivoire, Ghana, Sierra Leone, Mali, and Niger, among others, and supports young lawyers interested in public interest cases technically, financially, and intellectually.

A member of PILIWA and Executive Director of the Environmental Rights Action/ Friends of the Earth Nigeria (ERA/ FoEN), Chima Williams said that public interest lawyering is a special area for legal practitioners

with passion for public good.

Williams explained that the PILIWA was particularly interested in Nigerian lawyers because of the peculiarity of environmental and human rights abuses perpetrated by big corporations aided by the state in all parts of the country where natural resources are found.

On the Nigeria launch of the PILIWA initiative, the ERA/FoEN boss said a desk office will be set up in Benin which will receive an endowment of N250,000 (two hundred and fifty thousand naira only).

The initiative will equally train young lawyers and imbue them with the relevant knowledge on sources of evidence, how to gather evidence and how to present it before a court of competent jurisdiction.

In his intervention, Jonathan Kaufman, Executive Director of

the Advocates for Community Alternatives (ACA) said that he owes his association with legal work and particularly public interest cases with his experience as a young lawyer, when he was conscripted into the cases filed by families associated with the Ken Saro Wiwa case as well as victims of the Parabe Oil Platform case caused by Chevron in Ondo State.

The two cases, Kaufman pointed out, encouraged him to reach out to and start associating with local lawyers that are classified as stubborn because of their quest for justice.

He revealed that many legal cases suffer because of information gathering deficit, financial constraints, and lack of thoroughness in terms of minute details. Sometimes lawyers are not able to obtain cross border information that their peers may

be able to obtain and pass onto them if a platform for cooperation exists.

He said that the PILIWA platform will bridge the identified gaps to help public interest lawyers secure what they need to push and win unconventional cases.

The highpoint of the event was the inauguration of zonal coordinators for the PILIWA in Nigeria. The nominated coordinators of the South-South, South-east and North Central Zones are Courage Nsirimovu, Kalu Emmanuel Chisom and Redzie D. Jugo respectively. The coordinators for the Northwest, Northeast and Southwest will be announced later.

Participants were drawn from the legal profession in Edo, Bayelsa, Rivers, Plateau, Imo, Enugu, Niger and Kogi states, among others.

Feature

On the hunt for the businessmen behind a billion-dollar scam

Aglobal scamming network has robbed ordinary investors of more than a billion dollars. BBC Eye identified a shadowy network of businessmen who appear to be behind it.

First, you hear a phone ringing. An elderly man answers.

The caller introduces himself as “William Grant”, from the trading firm Solo Capitals. He says he has a “great promotion” to offer.

The elderly man sounds vulnerable and confused. “I’m not interested, I’m not interested,” he says.

But William Grant is persistent. “I only have one question,” he tells the old man.

“Are you interested in making money?”

Jan Erik, a 75-year-old pensioner in Sweden, is about to get scammed, again. The call was made from the offices of Solo Capitals, a purported cryptocurrency trading firm based in Georgia. The recording is hard to listen to, because not only does the elderly man, Jan Erik, sound muddled, he tells the caller he has already lost one million Swedish Krona (about £80,000) in trading scams.

But the caller already knows this. And he knows it makes the pensioner a good target for a follow-up “recovery scam”. He tells Jan Erik that if he hands over his card details and pays a €250 deposit, Solo Capitals will use special software to track his lost investments and get his money back.

“We will be able to recover the whole amount,” William Grant says. It takes him a while to wear Jan Erik down. But after about 30 minutes on the phone, the pensioner begins reading out his credit card details.

The audio recording was saved by the company under the file name “William Sweden scammed”. The BBC obtained the file from a former employee, but the company had not tried hard to hide it. In fact, it had handed it out to new recruits as part of the company training package.

This was a lesson in how to scam.

The scam

For more than a year, BBC Eye has been investigating a global fraudulent trading network of hundreds of different investment brands that has scammed unwitting customers like Jan Erik

out of more than a billion dollars.

Our investigation reveals for the first time the sheer scale of the fraud, as well as the identities of a shadowy network of individuals who appear to be behind it.

The network is known to police as the Milton group, a name originally used by the scammers themselves but abandoned in 2020. We identified 152 brands, including Solo Capitals, that appear to be part of the network. It operates by targeting investors and scamming them out of thousands - or in some cases hundreds of thousands - of pounds.

One Milton group investment brand even sponsored a topflight Spanish football club, and advertised in major newspapers, lending it credibility with potential investors.

In November, BBC Eye accompanied German and Georgian police on call-centre raids in the Georgian capital Tbilisi. On the computer screens, we saw row after row of British phone numbers. We phoned several and spoke to British citizens who told us they had just invested money. On one desk, there was a handwritten note with a list of names and useful details for the scammers: “Homeowner, no responsibilities”; “50k in savings”; “From Poland, British citizen”; “50k in stocks.”

Next to the name of one British man, a note said: “Savings less than 10K, very pussy, should scam soon”.

The majority of victims sign up after seeing an ad on social media. Within 48 hours typically they receive a phone call from someone who tells them they could make returns of up to 90% per day. On the other end of the phone there is usually a call centre with many of the trappings of a legitimate business - a smart, modern office with an HR department, monthly targets and bonuses, awaydays and competitions for best salesperson. Some call centres play pumping music in the background. But there are also elements you won’t find in a legitimate business - written guidance on how to identify a potential investor’s weaknesses and turn those weaknesses against them.

From their first phone call, victims can be directed into regulated companies or sometimes unregulated, offshore entities.

Some victims who signed up to regulated brands within the Milton group are directed by their broker

to place high-risk trades likely to lose the customer money and make money for the broker. Some victims are instructed to download software that allows the scammer to remotely control their PC and place trades for them. And according to former employees of Milton group brands, some customers think they are making real trades, but their money is simply being siphoned away.

“The victims think they have a real account with the company, but there isn’t really any trading, it’s just a simulation,” said Alex, a former employee who worked in a Milton group office in Kyiv,

Ukraine.

In order to better understand how the scam works, the BBC posed as an aspiring trader and contacted Coinevo, one of the Milton group’s trading platforms. We were connected to an adviser who gave the name Patrick, and told us we could make “70% or 80% or 90% as a return in one single day”. He told us to send $500 worth of Bitcoin as a deposit to begin trading with.

Patrick pressed our undercover trader to provide a copy of their passport, and after providing a fake copy we were able to continue to operate the account for about two months before Coinevo appeared to detect the fake. At that point, Patrick wrote to us by email, swearing at us and cutting off contact.

But the BBC’s deposit money was already in the system. We were able to track it as it was divided up into small fractions and moved through many different Bitcoin wallets, all seemingly associated with the Milton group. Experts told the BBC that genuine financial institutions do not funnel money in this way. Louise Abbott, a lawyer

who specialises in cryptocurrency and fraud, examined the flow of the money and said it suggested “large-scale organised crime”. The reason the money was spread over various different bitcoin wallets, Abbott said, was to “make it as complicated as possible and as difficult as possible for either you, or the victim, or us as lawyers to find”.

The perfect target

The victims of these telephone trading scams often have their financial and social circumstances used against them. People who reveal large savings pots are pushed to make large investments. People who are lonely are befriended by the scammers. As a recent retiree, Jane (whose name we have changed for this story) was a perfect target. She had just taken voluntary redundancy and had a lump sum of nearly £20,000 that she thought, invested wisely, could supplement her pension in the years to come. In June 2020, during the first lockdown, she saw an ad online for a company called EverFX.

Source; BBC

Milton group brands had office space in this downtown Kyiv office building. (Alexander Mahmoud/DG)

Patrick pressed our undercover trader to provide a copy of their passport, and after providing a fake copy we were able to continue to operate the account for about two months before Coinevo appeared to detect the fake. At that point, Patrick wrote to us by email, swearing at us and cutting off contact

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ANY OBJECTION TO THIS REGISTRATION SHOULD BE FORWARDED TO THE REGISTRAR-GENERAL, CORPORATEAFFAIRS COMMISSION, PLOT 420, TIGRIS CRESCENT , OFF AGUIYI IRONSI STREET , MAITAMA , ABUJA WITHIN 28DAYS OF THIS PUBLICATION.

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ANY OBJECTION TO THIS REGISTRATION SHOULD BE FORWARDED TO THE REGISTRAR-GENERAL, CORPORATEAFFAIRS COMMISSION, PLOT 420, TIGRIS CRESCENT , OFF AGUIYI IRONSI STREET , MAITAMA , ABUJA WITHIN 28DAYS OF THIS PUBLICATION. SIGNED : SECRETARY.

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(

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I, FORMALLY KNOWN AS MUSA LAWALI NOW WISH TO BE KNOWN AND ADDRESSED AS MOUSSA LAWALY. ALL DOCUMENTS REMAIN VALID. ALL AUTHORITIES CONCERNED AND GENERAL PUBLIC PLEASE TAKE NOTE.

NIMLYAT

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FRIDAY, APRIL 21, 2023

Top ultrarunner Joasia Zakrzewski disqualified for using a car in race

Atop Scottish ultra-marathon runner has been disqualified from a race for using a car during part of the route.

Joasia Zakrzewski finished third in the 2023 GB Ultras Manchester to Liverpool 50-mile race - but is thought to have travelled by car for 2.5 miles.

The 47-year-old GP, from Dumfries, is understood to have been tracked on GPX mapping data covering a mile of the race in just one minute 40 seconds.

A friend said Ms Zakrzewski had felt sick and was sorry for any upset. The matter has been referred to UK Athletics.

Wayne Drinkwater, the director

of the GB Ultras race, said that after the ultramarathon he received information that a runner had gained an “unsporting, competitive advantage during a section of the event”.

‘Very disappointing’

He said: “The issue has been investigated and, having reviewed the data from our race tracking system, GPX data, statements provided from our event team, other competitors and from the participant herself, we can confirm that a runner has now been disqualified from the event having taken vehicle transport during part of the route.”

Mr Drinkwater said a report of the disqualification had been

submitted to the Trail Running Association, which provides the licence for the event and is an associate member of UK Athletics.

“The matter is now with the TRA and, in turn, UK Athletics (UKA) as the regulatory bodies,” he said.

Third place in the race, which was held on 7 April, has now been awarded to Mel Sykes.

Scottish Athletics chairman David Ovens said: “It is very disappointing to hear this, given Joasia’s had such a successful period over the last few years.

“I hope she can put this behind her and that there is an innocent explanation and she can resume her successful career.”

Adrian Stott, a running friend

who has been in contact with Ms Zakrzewski since the event, said she had arrived the night before the race after travelling for 48 hours from Australia.

‘Genuinely sorry’

“The race didn’t go to plan. She said she was feeling sick and tired on the race and wanted to drop out,” he said.

“She has cooperated fully with the race organisers’ investigations, giving them a full account of what happened.

“She genuinely feels sorry for any upset caused.”

And he added: “Joasia has been a great ambassador for British sport and has inspired so many women to run and achieve their goals.”

In February, at the Taipei Ultramarathon in Taiwan, Ms Zakrzewski won the 48-hour race outright - setting a world record across 255 miles (411.5 km).

Racing for Great Britain in the IAU World 100km Championships, she won individual silver in 2011 and bronze in 2014 and 2015. She also represented Team Scotland in the marathon at the Glasgow 2014 Commonwealth Games.

In 2020, aged 44, she won a 24-hour event in Australia with a distance of 236.561km. She has set a number of records including the Scottish 24-hour record, the British 200k and the Scottish 100 miles record.

S P R T

AC Milan Thrash Napoli In Victor Osimhen's Absence

Serie A league leaders, SC Napoli had a night to forget on Sunday as they were thrashed 4-0 by visiting AC Milan in what is regarded as the Champions League quarter-final rehearsal with their talismanic goals scorer, Victor Missing due to injury

In the first of three matchups between Milan and Napoli this month, the defending Serie A champion routed this season’s runaway leader 4-0 on Sunday ahead of two more clashes in the Champions League quarterfinals in two week's time.

Rafael Leão scored twice and Brahim Diaz set up one goal and scored another to hand Napoli its heaviest defeat of what otherwise has been an extraordinary season.

“We’re happy with the performance but it’s just one game,” Milan coach Stefano Pioli said. “Tonight’s result has nothing to do with the Champions League games, because that’s a different competition. That will be a very balanced contest.”

Napoli’s only other losses in the Italian league this season both came by scores of 1-0, to Inter Milan in January and to Lazio a month ago.

Napoli was also beaten 2-0 by Liverpool in the final match of the Champions League group phase but that loss came after the Partenopei had already clinched a spot in the round of 16.

Otherwise, Napoli’s only other defeat in 2022-23 came against Cremonese on penalties in the Italian Cup.

Milan moved up to third place, 20 points behind Napoli and four points behind Lazio.

Milan controlled from the start at the Diego Armando Maradona stadium and Diaz set up Milan’s early opener for Leão with a perfect through ball. Leão — last season's MVP — then did the rest by chipping in over Napoli goalkeeper Alex Meret.

Diaz produced some more fireworks when he faked out Mario Rui to score with a deflection from close range in the 25th.

Julian Nagelsmann: Chelsea hold talks with former Bayern Munich manager

Chelsea have held talks with Julian Nagelsmann as part of their search for a new manager.

The German was sacked by Bundesliga champions Bayern Munich in March after less than two years in charge.

BBC Sport understands Chelsea do not yet have a preferred option to replace Graham Potter, who was sacked in April.

Despite holding talks with Nagelsmann, 35, the process to find a new manager is ongoingwith Luis Enrique also reportedly of interest to Chelsea.

Potter left Stamford Bridge less than seven months after leaving Brighton & Hove Albion to replace Thomas Tuchel.

Nagelsmann, one of the highest-rated young coaches in the game, has also been linked

with Tottenham Hotspur. He worked with Chelsea sporting director Laurence Stewart and technical director Christopher Vivell while he was in charge at RB Leipzig.

Nagelsmann is regarded as one of the game’s brightest managerial talents, having taking charge of Hoffenheim aged just 28 before moving to RB Lepizig, whom he led to the Champions

League semi-finals. He then joined Bundesliga champions Bayern Munich in 2021, winning the league title in his first season alongside two German Supercups. Bayern, who appointed Tuchel after sacking Nagelsmann, have made an approach for Chelsea first-team coach Anthony Barry and negotiations continue between the clubs.

Bala Nikyu resigns as Nassarawa United Coach after poor run of form

With eight defeats, two wins and two draws in 12 matches, Bala Nikyu, Technical Adviser of Nasarawa United FC, has parted ways with the Club on mutual consent after three seasons at the helm of affairs.

New Jos Stadium.

Chief Barr. Isaac Danladi, has welcomed the decision of Coach Bala Nikyu to throw in the towel, and wished him the best in his future endeavour.

wisdom to step down from his role. Yes, the results are not what we ever envisaged, but we hope this is the best for both parties, going forward.

It marked the first time that Napoli conceded twice in the opening 25 minutes of a Serie A game since a match against Juventus in Aug. 2019.

The former Nigeria U-17 female national team coach’s exit from the Solid Miners followed the team’s extremely poor results in the ongoing 2022/23 Nigeria Premier Football League Season, particularly the 1-2 home loss to newcomers,

El-Kanemi Warriors FC of Maiduguri on matchday 12 on Saturday, 1st April, 2023, at the

Nassarawa United are in danger of relegation to the second division, Nigeria National League, NNL after collecting just 8 points from 36 in 12 league matches in the abridged league and are 9 on Group A table which has ten clubs Coach Nikyu thanked the Club and its wonderful supporters for the opportunity given to him to serve, describing Nasarawa United as a big and amazing club with so much to offer.

Subsequently, the Management has confirmed that Head Coach, Abubakar Arikya, will become Acting Technical Adviser pending the appointment of a substantive Technical Adviser, with Samson Keshi Marwa, Balarabe Ibrahim and Ibrahim Yahaya Sabo working as his assistants.

“We have but six league matches remaining and we have a herculean task on our hands to stabilize in the league.

“There is no better time to join forces than now. Everyone has to be at his best to ensure the highest possible result for our darling Club and our teaming supporters.”

The Management of Nasarawa United headed by

Barr. Danladi told the Club’s Media: “This is not the best time for us as a Club in the league.

Vinicius Jr scored his 20th goal of the season to put Real Madrid ahead in first-half stoppage time

“We thank the Coach for his

Bala Nikyu was first appointed as Nasarawa United Coach in November 2018 and later reappointed in 2021.

Julian Nagelsmann won the Bundesliga title in his only full season as Bayern Munich manager

European Championship 2024 qualifiers: Who do you think will reach Euro 2024?

Here we go again. Qualifying for the 2024 UEFA European Championship in Germany gets under way this week as 53 nations battle for 24 places.

In a repeat of last tournament’s final, England face holders Italy in their first Group C match on Thursday.

Scotland find themselves in a difficult group with Spain and Norway as they hope to reach just their second major tournament this century.

Wales, semi-finalists in 2016, are in Group D with Croatia, Turkey, Latvia and Armenia.

Northern Ireland, who made their only Euros appearance seven years ago, are in an intriguing Group H which includes Denmark and Finland.

Two teams from each group advance straight to the finals, plus there is a backdoor route via the Nations League for a handful of teams.

We want to know who you see booking their spot in next year’s tournament, plus you can have your say in the comments.

Group A

Who will reach Euro 2024?

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Group D

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Confirm selection Group E Group E

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Group F

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Group G

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Group I

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Group J

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England, Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales all start their qualifying campaign for Euro 2024 this week

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Hakimi’s ex wife breaks silence after failed move to get 50% wealth in divorce

Don’t delay developing world debt – cancel it

Evenbefore coronavirus started spreading around the world, dozens of developing counties were already close to a debt crisis.

Lebanon and Argentina have already defaulted on their debts this year; Ecuador and Zambia are on the edge. Behind them, a large group of countries could be pushed into default by the coronavirus crisis, including Angola, Tunisia and Ghana. Even rich countries like Italy face such serious debt crisis that it threatens to rip the Eurozone apart.

Before we had even heard of COVID-19, the International Monetary Fund (IMF) warned that 34 countries were at risk of debt distress.

Jubilee Debt Campaign, a group established in the late 1990s to campaign for debt cancellation for impoverished countries, suggested last May that this was an optimistic assessment. It said 31 counties were already in debt crisis, with another 82 at risk.

Guest Columnist

By Nick

Dearden

The global economy has become a Wild West of speculators and rentseekers. Business is incentivised to ruthlessly shift the costs of its operations onto the public sector, the environment and future generations. Wealth is hidden offshore, making redistribution impossible.

How does such an economy continue to operate? Through debt.

measures that countries need to so desperately deploy to control the markets and prevent massive outflows of wealth.

Debt cancellation is vital – it is the fastest way to free up spending space for governments. It will not be sufficient, though.

Estrangedwife of Paris SaintGermain (PSG) defender’s Achraf Hakimi, Hiba Abouk has broken the silence over her divorce from the Moroccan footballer.

The pair were in the news for days after the former wife filed for divorce with intent to get Hakimi’s 50% wealth

Abouk claimed that she was calm despite the rape allegation leveled against Hakimi, stressing that she needs time to recover from the shock.

Recall that the PSG player was accused of rape in February which eventually led to the divorce despite the case being under investigation.

Abouk was shocked when she filed for fifty per cent of Hakimi’s property, only for her lawyer to discover that his wealth was in his mother’s name.

Abouk and Hakimi have two children, Amín, 3, and Naim, 1, together after the pair married in 2020, two years after meeting in 2018.

Speaking to ELLE on Wednesday, Abouk said, “I am fine. There are days when it is like this, and others in which you’ve to know how to take blows and make decisions, sometimes complicated, and get used to new situations.

“Who would’ve imagined that in addition to facing the usual pain that separation entails and accepting the grief that the failure of a family project to which I had given myself body and soul entails, I would’ve to face this ignominy? I needed time to digest this shock.

She further said “When you separate, you restructure your life, but it’s not anything special either: you’ve to take iron out of the matter.

“It’s true that, with two children, it is emotionally complicated, but I’m not the first and I will not be the last. The important thing is that I have the peace of mind of having tried and done everything I had to do.

“There are decisions that cannot be made overnight. For me, it’s a premise not to rush in moments of crisis.”

After all, not being able to fund healthcare because of debt repayments is a crisis, and more than 60 countries that are struggling to build a basic health system were already spending more paying their creditors than they were on healthcare.

This includes Ghana, which is due to spend almost four times more servicing external debt than on public healthcare in 2020.

Many countries face dire health emergencies even at the best of times:

Burkina Faso has just 11 ventilators for 19 million citizens; Mozambique has no intensive care unit capacity at all; and Sierra Leone has only one doctor per 50,000 of its people.

That some of the world’s poorest countries are repaying vast sums year on year to rich countries, international “anti-poverty” funds – public bodies such as the IMF – and major banks, all while enduring this sort of permanent crisis, is a damning indictment on our global economy.

How can it be that only 15 years since billions of dollars of debt was cancelled for low-income countries, and 10 years since a debt crisis ripped through the developed world, we are back in the same place again?

It is not simply the impact of coronavirus that has created this debt crisis. Rather, the pandemic has exposed, once again, what a crisisprone and unsustainable global economy we have.

The solution to this crisis will indeed have to include sweeping debt cancellation. But it will also require fundamental reform to prevent the global economy from continuing to operate as a gigantic casino.

The root cause of these crises was usually not profligate government spending on the part of indebted countries, as is so often assumed. Rather, these crises have been built into the neo-liberal economy that emerged in the late 1970s.

Under this model, economic planning is not something done by governments on the basis of meeting human needs, but is handed over to Big Finance, where major decisions are made on the basis of short-term profitability.

Households that cannot make ends meet as wages are driven down by a global economy that has shifted wealth from the masses to the elite are households turning to credit cards or payday lenders to keep going.

Governments drained of taxes, even in rich countries, are forced to turn to the financial markets to provide healthcare and welfare to their citizens.

Debts spiral upwards. Eventually, financial markets look at the situation and realise it cannot go on. They panic, fuelling a downward spiral of economic collapse.

The 2008 global economic crash showed us how utterly chaotic and anti-social such a model is, and the devastation it drives through societies.

But even then, lessons were not learned. Governments stepped in to rescue the situation, pumping trillions of dollars into the very institutions that created the problem in the first place.

While the rest of us were paying for the crimes of these institutions through austerity imposed upon us by governments trying to “balance the books” – and, ironically, making society even less able to insulate itself from the power of these markets –financial institutions were scouring the world looking for new profits.

With interest rates close to zero in the rich world, emerging and even lowincome countries became attractive prospects for these financiers. The press celebrated an “African miracle” as investment poured into the continent.

Doubtless there were individual success stories. But a huge amount of this wealth poured into commodity markets, and into providing “publicprivate” services and infrastructure, creating a mountain of debt in its wake.

This brings us to now: A pandemic breaks out. Panic sets in. Funds relocate their cash to developed economies asfinance seeks the safety of the bigeconomic centres. Since the start of the recent crisis there has been a$95 billion financial outflow from emerging markets – four times the outflows in the same period after the start of the 2008 global financial crisis.

The average price of commodities on international markets has fallen by

37 percent, and developing countries stand to lose nearly $800bn in export revenues.

Dollars, needed for the repayment of much sovereign debt, are in short supply and, while new borrowing is effectively free for rich governments because of ultra-low interest rates, the price has just spiralled for developing countries whose economies are judged less “safe” by markets – countries that therefore have to pay hiked interest rates to borrow. A debt crisis is inevitable.

This week, Group of 20 (G20) ministers met again to discuss the crisis. Debt cancellation was on the agenda.

Oxfam warned that failure to address this situation would set some countries back 30 years.

African leaders called for a $100bn stimulus package from G20 countries; the United Nations for an even larger $2.5 trillion COVID-19 crisis package for developing countries.

The G20 agreed that debt was a problem. But its plan falls far short of what is necessary.

For a start, the G20 is talking about a “moratorium” of debt payments for this year. The debt will remain to be paid at a later date. Creditors will lose nothing. Much of the “relief” will be taken out of aid money: effectively, impoverished countries will be paying for their own debt suspension.

Many countries that require debt relief will not get anything at all. Think of countries like Iraq and Algeria, where the collapse in oil prices is already fomenting unrest. Remember that Algeria’s bloody civil war in the 1990s was partly triggered by an oil price collapse, and you realise how much is at stake in the coming years.

What is more, there is nothing to compel the banks to join in the debt relief, which means relief could simply be diverted into payments to some of the biggest banks in the world.

We could end up with the obscene spectacle of these debts being sold and speculated on in financial centres like London, with a number of “vulture” hedge funds profiteering from the crisis.

We need debt cancellation for sure. Real debt cancellation that does not simply kick the problem down the road.

Paid for not from aid budgets, which will be desperately needed, but from, for instance, the piles of gold that institutions like the IMF are sitting on.

Debt cancellation also needs to be free of the strings routinely imposed by the IMF – strings which force countries into austerity measures and which remove their power to take exactly the sort of interventionist

The IMF has the ability to inject large sums of money into the global economy through its reserve currency. Such a move, however, is being blocked by the richest country of all, the United States, on the grounds that Iran will benefit (along with every country in the world).

But, if we want this to be a permanent solution, and one that enables us to learn the lessons of our crisis-prone economy, we need to take this opportunity to enact structural reform.

This includes a proper international mechanism to deal with debt fairly and permanently, rather than leaving countries to stagnate in permanent crisis for decades, at the whims of creditor countries in the G20 and the IMF.

We need to hand power back to governments to intervene in their economies to constrain the irrational behaviour of markets. Right now, that includes imposing capital controls to stop the bleeding of wealth from less wealthy parts of the world.

And it means clamping down on tax dodging and allowing countries to begin funding themselves through taxation, rather than having to rely solely on borrowing to fund spending.

This is big. It requires a recognition that doing “just enough” to relieve the pressure, so we can return to the same old economy in 12 months’ time, is not just insufficient, but unrealistic.

Of course, most world leaders will not voluntarily choose this path. They benefit from the status quo ante. So it will be up to us to push them every step of the way, just as citizens and movements pushed governments after World War II to create a new international order.

When we say “no going back to business as usual” this time, we must really mean it.

Nick Dearden is a Public Affairs Analyst.