Wednesday, March 22, 2023 Edition

President Buhari Commissioning the new office of the National Security Adviser (NSA) and National Counter Terrorism Centre headed by NSA Maj Gen Babagana Monguno Rtd, yesterday in Abuja.

PHOTO: Photo: State House

Polls: Yiaga Africa urges INEC to prosecute officers who violate guidelines on results collation

By Tobias Lengnan Dapam

As Nigeria’s gubernatorial elections are concluded in most states with glaring irregularities, Nigeria’s frontline election observer, Yiaga Africa has called for immediate investigation and prosecution of collation and returning officers flagrant violations of the guidelines on results collation and results

manipulation.

“INEC should, in line with Section 64 of the 2022 Electoral Act, review cases where legitimate concerns have been raised on the conduct and declarations made by collation and returning officers, especially cases where declarations were made in violation of the electoral legal framework.”

Yiaga Africa stated this in its results statement on the March

2023 Governorship Election in Benue, Delta and Kano.

It said a comprehensive and independent audit of the 2023 general election is imperative for inspiring public confidence and ensuring accountability for operational lapses, disregard for the constitutional and electoral legal framework and cases of subversion of the people’s vote.

“Security agencies should thoroughly investigate cases

Elumelu congratulates Makinde, Sheriff, Bala Mohammed, others

By Christiana Ekpa

The Minority Leader in the House of Representatives, Hon. Ndudi Elumelu, on Tuesday, congratulated all the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Candidates who won during the just-concluded Governorship election.

Hon. Elumelu, in his congratulatory message statement made available to Nigerian Tribune, however, vowed that PDP Candidates, including Nasarawa, Ogun, and other States who were allegedly deprived of victory during the polls, will retrieve their mandates at the Court.

of abductions and killings recorded during the election to ensure perpetrators are brought to justice.

“Members of election tribunals and appellate courts should demonstrate courage as a fundamental pillar of democracy to insulate the courts from the influence of politicians and uphold the rule of law to the highest standards in determining election petitions.”

on election victory

•Says PDP Candidates will retrieve their stolen mandate

“On behalf of the Minority Caucus and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) family in the House of Representatives, I congratulate the Governorelect of Delta State, Hon. Sheriff Oborevwori, and others so far declared on the platform of the PDP for their victory at the election.

“I also congratulate Governors Bala Mohammed and Seyi Makinde of Bauchi and Oyo States, respectively, and governors-elect of Akwa Ibom State, Pastor Umo Eno and his Plateau State counterpart, Caleb Mutfwang, for their

success at the polls.

“From the results obtained directly from Polling Units across the country, we are optimistic about the victory of PDP Candidates in other States, as the nation awaits final declaration in Adamawa, Taraba, Rivers, Zamfara, Enugu, and other states.

“The victory being recorded by PDP Governorship candidates is a resounding reaffirmation that they are persons of proven integrity, capacity, competence, commitment to duty, and political will to ensure that

the aspiration of the people prevailed in governance.

“The PDP Caucus is deeply saddened by the manipulations in Nasarawa, Ogun, and other States where our Candidates were denied victory in the election but we remain confident that the stolen mandate will surely be retrieved at the Court.

“I, therefore, congratulate our already declared Governorselect as well those awaiting declaration by INEC and charge them to double their efforts to deliver democracy dividends to the people,” the Minority Leader said.

Lagos State Governor, Mr Babajide Sanwo-Olu (right) receives supporters who came to congratulate him for his re-election victory in the governorship poll, at the Lagos House, Marina

By Albert Akota

The Minister of Aviation, Sen. Hadi Sirika, says he will host an aviation stakeholders forum on Thursday, March 23, in Abuja.

This is contained in a statement yesterday by Mr James Odaudu, the Special Assistant to the Minister on Public Affairs.

Sirika said the move was in continuation of the established tradition of regular interactions with major players in the aviation industry in Nigeria since the inception of Muhammadu Buhari’s administration.

“The idea of the regular meetings has been to ensure that all industry stakeholders are carried along, and make inputs in the development and implementation of programmes and policies for the success of the industry.

“This Ftakeholders’ Forum, the 10th of its kind, is therefore, an Interactive Session conceived to bring together all relevant industry players to brainstorm on the policies and programmes,” he said.

He said efforts had and would continue to move the nation’s aviation industry forward and set it as one of the bests in the global aviation community.

He further said the forum would assist the Federal Ministry of Aviation and all its agencies to have direct contact with the very important stakeholders in and outside the industry.

”He said the forum, which would be declared open by the Vice President, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo, would bring together all relevant industry players within and outside the industry.

“These include: the Ministers of Finance, Budget and National Planning, Labour and Employment, Health, Agriculture, Transportation and Environment.

“Also expected at the forum, aside the regular aviation sector players, are the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, the Head of Civil Service of the Federation, Accountant General of the Federation.

“Chairman, National Salaries, Income and Wages Commission, Director-General, Budget Office, Presidential Committee on Salaries, and CEOs of Media Establishments are also expected,” he said.

The Commandant National Defence College (NDC), Rear Adm. Murtala Bashir, says Nigeria currently contributes 679 peacekeepers, deployed to various missions to enhance global Peace Support Operations.

Bashir said this at the opening of the seminar on “Future of Peace Support Operations”, for participants of Course 31 of the college on Tuesday, in Abuja.

“Nigeria currently has 310 peacekeepers which is inclusive of military, police and civilians in UN missions, 200 in ECOWAS missions, 54 in UN/AU Hybrid missions and 115 in the Multinational Joint Task Force (MNJTF),” he said.

He noted that the internal security challenges had reduced the number of troops contributed by Nigeria to the global peace keeping operations.

The commandant added that Nigeria now ranked 44 instead of 4th globally and 19 instead of 1st in Africa.

“As at 2010, Nigeria was the 4th global contributor to peacekeeping and 1st in Africa with 5,815 troops deployed to various missions.

“However, due to the internal security challenges, which the country is grappling with, the country as at 2022 is now ranked 44

globally, and 19 in Africa.

“The UN General Assembly notes that PSO development has declined in about 10 countries globally which calls for alarm,” he said.

According to him, presently, the future of PSOs is uncertain because the threats to world peace and security, which require such interventions do not only continue to occur, but also present new and frightening dimensions particularly since 9/11.

“The future is also uncertain for the same reasons, as these new threats challenge state sovereignty, for example, the case of Somalia.

“More so, the combined international assets deployable in the planning and execution of peace operations are under increasing pressure to cope.

“In addition, owing to the digital era we are in, technology in the hands of the non-state armed groups have made peace difficult to keep,” he said.

Bashir said the development had queried the place for preventive deployment in diplomacy, protecting the protectors and also protection of civilians in peace operations.

“It is, therefore, important that the peacekeeping landscape leverage on the Fourth Industrial Revolution to improve on the protection of

civilians as well as the protection of the protectors.”

He said that the current realities and the projections for the future of PSOs had great implications globally, regionally and also for Nigeria.

According to him, the seminar is borne out from the burning contemporary issues that have limited the operations of Peacekeeping, the uncertainty of the safety of peacekeepers and the attainment of its objectives.

The Deputy Director and Coordinator of PSOs, Ministry of Defence, Col. Abdulmalik Adamu, lauded Nigeria’s participation in the peace operations in spite of its internal security challenges.

He, however, noted with concern that in spite of its contribution to global peace, Nigeria was yet to have policy on PSOs, calling on the NDC to ensure workable policy on PSOs.

Another discussant, a former Ghanaian High Commissioner to Nigeria, Amb. William AwinadorKanyirige, said that Nigeria like any other pivotal country in Africa had a critical role to play in PSOs.

Awinador-Kanyirige, while stressing the need for Nigeria to occupy its divine position in peace keeping operation, advised African Union on reviewing its standby

force.

Nigeria currently has 679 peacekeepers in global operations – NDC commandant Aviation minister to hold 10th stakeholders forum in Abuja

He said that there was also the need for collaboration and partnership with peer review mechanism.

He said, “we are part of history, the world is changing and Africa must occupy its strategic position. It is supposed to be strategic and take its positing like China and India.”

Amb. Abdul-Fatau Musah Commissioner for Political Affairs Peace and Security, represented by Coulibacy Bekaye, Acting Head, Peace Support Operations Division ECOWAS, highlighted the issue of preventive security.

Musah, while commending Nigeria’s intervention in different countries of West Africa, where it had maintained peace, stressed the need to fortify the ECOWAS standby force to actualise its goal.

Also speaking, retired Lt- Gen. Chikadibia Obiakor, stressed the need for experts to deal with PSOs, adding that there was the need to interface with the UN and project Nigeria participation in peace keeping.

Obiakor said that there was the need for robust peace keeping, adding that the nation was yet to exploit all its capabilities, especially in the area of civilians participation. (NAN)

Buhari inaugurates National Counterterrorism Centre

By Egena Sunday Ode

President Muhammadu Buhari on Tuesday in Abuja inaugurated the new Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA) and National Counterterrorism Centre (NCTC), two state-of-the-art facilities to optimize efforts at addressing evolving security challenges in the country, especially terrorism and violent extremism.

Speaking at the inauguration of the two world-class facilities, the President said it would serve as a major legacy to provide the incoming administration with infrastructure to effectively coordinate national security and counterterrorism efforts.

The President also used the occasion to outline significant milestones achieved by his administration on National Security, including gains in combating terrorism, armed banditry, kidnapping, separatist tendencies, crude oil theft, piracy as well as militancy in the South-South and cyber-security.

On the threat of terrorism, which was labelled as a major security challenge facing the country when he assumed office in 2015, the President said:

‘’I can confidently state here today that we have achieved significant milestones in degrading the major threat and restoring normalcy to most of the hitherto securitized areas in the North East.

‘’These areas previously occupied by terrorists have been freed and Internally Displaced Persons are voluntarily returning to their homes.

‘’This was largely achieved through the valiant efforts of our Armed Forces and other security agencies, in collaboration with our regional and international partners but above all, the support and cooperation of the Nigerian citizens.’’

Apart from the degraded threat of terrorism in the North East, President Buhari also expressed delight that government has curbed the series of armed banditry and kidnapping cases in the North West and North Central zones.

He noted that these criminal acts had emerged as a result of the scattering of Boko Haram in the North East and the implosion of Libya in the Maghreb.

On separatist agitations, the President noted that agitators in the South East and to a much lesser extent the South West, who have been experiencing concerns of separatist tendencies, are being checkmated.

‘’Meanwhile, issues of crude oil theft, sea robbery, piracy and militancy in the South-South are equally being addressed.

‘’Most of these threats have transnational linkages thereby reinforcing the need for regional and international cooperation as critical enablers to enhance our national security,’’ he said.

On maritime security, President Buhari expressed delight that some key threats within Nigeria’s Maritime Environment such as piracy, sea robbery, crude oil theft as well as illegal unregulated and unreported fishing are being effectively tackled.

He said between August 2018 and March 2023, over 220 vessels involved in maritime criminality within Nigeria’s Exclusive Economic Zone, up to the Republic of Togo, had been prosecuted.

He commended the Falcon Eye maritime domain awareness project, domiciled with the Nigerian Navy and coordinated by ONSA, for providing high-quality real-time intelligence, leading to the arrest and prosecution of economic saboteurs.

He added that over 87 oil tankers involved in various crude oil and product theft have been arrested, the theft of over 3 million barrels of crude oil was prevented and 15 million litres of petrol and diesel recovered.

‘’Recent commendations from the International Maritime Organization, European Union and United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime to Nigeria on our efforts in reducing maritime criminality in the Gulf of Guinea and successful prosecution of pirates in the region are worth mentioning,’’ he said.

On cyber threats, the President underscored the importance of protecting Nigeria’s cyberspace from all forms of intrusion.

To this end, he said in addition to receiving regular briefing from the Cybercrime Advisory Council, the government had established the Nigeria Computer Emergency Response Team and revised the National Cyber Security Policy and Strategy in February 2021.

‘’To further complement these efforts, I will soon be endorsing the Presidential Order for the Designation

and Protection of Critical National Information Infrastructure. This is bearing in mind that cyberspace creates a nexus for synchronizing efforts of our security and law enforcement agencies towards addressing numerous security challenges,’’ he said.

On the newly inaugurated top grade facilities, President Buhari described the secure and hi-tech offices as a demonstration of his administration’s firm commitment to ensure national security capabilities are kept abreast with the highest global standards.

He said the offices are designed to enhance strategic response to a broad range of current and emerging security concerns, noting that Nigeria exists in an interconnected world and therefore must be able to face and respond to both domestic and global security challenges.

Congratulating the National Security Adviser, Major General Babagana Monguno (retired) and his team for this noble achievement, the President expressed confidence that the new facilities would in no small measure enhance the desired peaceful and secure environment for our country.

He also commended some of the key security policy documents either produced or revised by this administration and supervised by ONSA including the National Counterterrorism Strategy 2016, National Security Strategy 2019, National Cyber Security Policy and Strategy 2021 and the National Crisis Management Doctrine 2022.

Alia’s victory confirmation of yearnings, aspirations of Benue people – Akoh

An elder statesman, Prof. Dickson Akoh, has congratulated Benue Governor-elect, Rev. Fr Hyacinth Alia, and his Deputy, Dr Sam Ode, on their victory at the just-concluded governorship election in the state.

Akoh, in a congratulatory message issued in Abuja on Tuesday, said that Alia’s emergence as governor-elect was a confirmation of the yearnings and aspirations of the people of the state for positive change and development.

According to him, Alia’s victory signifies the birth of a new Benue where democratic dividends and tangible development are expected to prevail over mediocrity and under-development.

Akoh expressed confidence in the ability of the governorelect to change the rhetoric in Benue through human capital and infrastructural development in all nooks and crannies of the state.

He said Alia’s intimidating credentials would, in no distant time, become manifest in the state.

He advised the governorelect to assemble a credible team of technocrats and policy makers with vast experience into the governance of the state so as not to dash the high expectations and the goodwill, as demonstrated by those who elected him.

Akoh also congratulated all the House of Assembly members-elect on the platform of All Progressives Congress (APC) in the state.

He urged them to be prepared to give their best in enacting laws that would meet the yearnings and aspirations of the people of the state.

The Oyachaba K’Idoma also felicitated the APC leader in the state, Sen. George Akume, and the Chairman, Austin Agada, for working round the clock to secure the landmark victory for the party.

He also commended major stakeholders and the entire APC family for the party’s victory which, he said, was welldeserved. (NAN)

Tukur Mamu, ex-terrorist negotiator, on 10 counts

The Federal Government will, today, arraigned Mr Tukur Mamu, exterrorist negotiator, on 10-count charge bordering on terrorism financing among others.

Mamu, who will be

arraigned by the office if the Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF) on behalf of the FG, will be arraigned before Justice Inyang Ekwo of a Federal High Court, Abuja.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Justice

Nkeonye Maha of a sister court had, on Sept. 13, 2022, gave the Department of State Services (DSS) a go-ahead to detain the former terrorists’ negotiator for 60 days to enable it conclude its investigation on Mamu, who led the negotiation

with the terrorists for the release of the Abuja-Kaduna train passengers kidnaped in March 2022.

The charge was signed by Director of Public Prosecution of the Federation, Mr M.B. Abubakar. (NAN)

Rotary Club to build Peace Garden in UNIABUJA

The Rotary Club of Abuja Maitama yesterday unfolded plans to build a Peace Garden in the University of Abuja.

It also planted some fruit trees for the benefit of the university community.

It appealed to Nigerians to go back to the basics to protect and save the environment to live healthy.

The President of the Rotary Club of Abuja Maitama, Rtn. Yusuf Alli, unfolded the plan at the foundation laying ceremony for the garden and tree planting to mark this year’s International Day of Forests.

He said: “Our club decided not to plant only trees but to

leave permanent footprints by building a Rotary Peace Garden in UNIABUJA. This project is embarked upon to serve as a garden of peace, friendship, unity and a connecting point for the town and the gown.

“I urge the university community to take advantage of this partnership to save our environment and guarantee its peace.”

Alli said the project was in fulfillment of one of the Seven Areas of Focus of Rotary International. He said there will be less health challenges if the environment is protected globally.

He added: “It is a historic day in the life of our great club, RC

Abuja Maitama. We have come to fulfill one of our obligations. We have seven areas of focus. One of it is supporting the environment.

“Today, we live unhealthy life because we have been carried away by the allure of Industrial Revolution.

“We have neglected the environment to our own detriment. We are now afflicted with terminal diseases because of the contempt for the environment.

“As a club we have today renewed our commitment to Green Life. To us, we must go back to the basics to protect and save the environment.

“ No armour, no shield and no other Arsenal can save humanity

other than supporting the environment. In fact, the oxygen we need to survive comes from the environment.”

On his part, the Vice Chancellor of the University of Abuja, Prof. Abdul-Rasheed Na’Allah said the university has been foremost in protecting the ecosystem.

Na’Allah, who was represented by a Deputy Registrar, Dr. Idris Jibrin said the institution will soon begin a degree programme on Tourism.

He said: “We share the same global vision with Rotary International on supporting the environment. We will ensure the judicious use of this garden when completed.”

L-R): The representative of the Vice Chancellor of the University of Abuja and Senior Deputy Registrar, Dr. Idris Jibrin, the Charter President, Rotary Club of Abuja Maitama, Joy Okoro, the President, Rotary Club of Abuja Maitama, Yusuf Alli and others during the foundation laying of Rotary Peace Garden and tree planting in the university yesterday

We must take action on Electoral Offences Act before culmination of 9th Assembly - Gbajabiamila

By Christiana Ekpa

The Speaker of the House of Representatives, Femi Gnajabiamila, on Tuesday disclosed that the Electoral Offences Act is one area where the 9th House must take action before the end of the Assembly, even as he said that the Act is necessary to ensure effective enforcement against individuals and organisations whose violate electoral laws, undermine constitution and threaten democracy.

He stressed that a system of vigorous prosecution and punishment of electoral offenders will serve as a deterrent to others in the future and help build confidence in our elections.

He equally noted that the outcome of the 2023 general elections showed a marked improvement in previous elections in the country despite the challenges associated with the elections.

Gbajabiamila who spoke at the resumption of plenary after the conduct of the general elections also noted that the lawmakers and those in government failed in their commitment to ensuring political empowerment and representation for women and other marginalised groups in the country.

The Speaker said it was unusual for states to flip from one party to the other as was witnessed during the last elections, attributing it to the use of technology made possible by the Electoral Act passed by the National Assembly.

He however said it was unfortunate that people see the elections as manipulated, alleging voter suppression in places where they lost elections, while the outcome was perfect in places where they won.

He said “the 2023 general elections have effectively come to an end, with the exception of those areas where the electoral body has declared elections inconclusive or scheduled reruns. As I said two weeks ago, this has been a hardfought election season.

“Expectedly, the declaration of results will not by itself suffice to assuage the passions or calm the tensions aroused by this

•says 2023 elections marked improvement on past elections

electoral competition. For that, we need time and the deliberate efforts of political, religious, social and economic leaders acting in recognition of the fact that while elections will come and go, our highest imperative remains the progress of Nigeria and the prosperity of her people.

“I wish to thank the chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and all the staff of the commission for their hardwork and commitment to ensuring free and fair elections across the country.

“I wish to also express my gratitude to the men and women of the security agencies who ensured the worst predictions of crises and conflict did not come to pass.

“Any objective assessment of these elections will show marked improvements from prior outings. This is not to suggest perfection but to acknowledge evident progress in our collective efforts to ensure elections we can all be proud of.

“Amendments to our nation’s electoral laws by the legislature, pronouncements by the judiciary and operational reforms by the electoral commission have significantly improved elections in Nigeria since 1999.

“The amendments to the Electoral Act by the 9th National Assembly have been particularly

instrumental in improving the elections process through the use of technology tools to facilitate voter accreditation and transmission of results.

“With each new election season, we become more aware of areas requiring changes to ensure a better outing next time. This process of ongoing reform and continuous improvement must continue.

“As a necessary first step, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) should collaborate with stakeholders to conduct a meticulous assessment of the election process. This is necessary to inform further reforms and improvements.

“The Electoral Offences Act is one area where we must take action before the culmination of the 9th House of Representatives. The Act is necessary to ensure effective enforcement against individuals and organisations whose violations of our electoral laws undermine our constitution and threaten our democracy.

“A system of vigorous prosecution and punishment of electoral offenders will serve as a deterrent to others in the future and help build confidence in our elections.

Speaking on the constitution review, Gbajabiamila said “When

we began the constitutional review process in the 9th House of Representatives, I said this was an opportunity to achieve a constitution that resolves many issues that fracture our nation and hinder our progress.

“Last week, His Excellency Muhammadu Buhari, President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, signed into law constitutional amendments enacted by the National Assembly and ratified by the state legislatures across the country.

“These constitutional amendments include consequential reforms to the design and operations of the Nigerian state, particularly with regards to the devolution of powers to the states and strengthening the judiciary and legislature at the subnational level. Taken together, they advance the cause of our federation, bringing us closer to achieving our highest national ambitions.

“Whilst these amendments represent a significant step forward for our country, the work is not yet done because nation-building is a continuum. Each new generation must build on the efforts of the past until, by our common endeavour, we achieve a just, peaceful, and prosperous society.

“We fell short this time in our commitment to ensuring political

empowerment and representation for women and other marginalised groups in our country. In the time we have left, we will work to understand why, as a first step towards ensuring the success of subsequent efforts.

“Nation-building is also a joint effort; every significant advancement is the product of collaborative efforts by numerous people acting in different capacities. I wish to thank all those who worked to facilitate these amendments.

“I want to especially thank my brother, the Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rt. Hon. Ahmed Idris for leading the constitutional review process with courage and determination.”

The Speaker said now that elections are over, the lawmakers and other political actors must return to the issues of governance, ensuring that the institutions of government work towards the ends of development, national security and the welfare of the Nigerian people.

“As representatives of the people, this is our highest obligation; it is a duty that persists so long as we hold office in the government of our republic. I am confident that all of us in the 9th House of Representatives recognise this and will continue to act accordingly as we have always done”, he said.

L-R: Chief of Staff to the President Prof. Ibrahim Gambari; National Security Adviser (NSA) Maj.-Gen. Babagana Monguno (rtd); President Muhammadu Buhari;SGF, Boss Mustapha, and others Commissions the New Office of the National Security Adviser and National Counter Terrorism Centre, yesterday in Abuja.

Obi heads to Tribunal seeks nullification of Tinubu’s election

By Vivian Okejeme, Abuja

The presidential candidate of the Labour Party (LP), Mr Peter Obi, has approached the Presidential Election Petition Tribunal, challenging the victory of Senator Bola Tinubu, as the president-elect.

Mr Obi who came third in the election with a total of 6,101,533 votes alleges gross irregularities in the conduct of the February 25 elections.

The Labour party candidate, in the petition sought five prayers which he filed to beat the 21-day deadline that elapses Tuesday.

Principal among the prayers is his call on the court to cancel the 25 February presidential election and an order a fresh poll.

The petition, jointly filed by Mr Obi and the Labour Party as co-petitioners, joined the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Mr Tinubu, Shettima Kashim (vice president-elect), and the All Progressives Congress (APC) as the respondents.

Tuesday, being the 21st day after the declaration of the results of the election on 1 March, is the last day he and any other aggrieved candidates and political parties

had to file their petition in court.

Tinubu, the presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), was declared winner of the presidential election by the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, after he scored over 8million votes

INEC Chairman, Mahmood Yakubu, who announced the final results in the early hours of Wednesday in Abuja, said Atiku Abubakar of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) PDP came second in the elections.

Atiku polled a total of 6,984,520 votes in the election, while Rabiu Kwankwaso of the NNPP came fourth with 1,496,687

votes.

Setting out the grounds for the petition, Mr Obi’s lead lawyer, Livy Ozoukwu, said Mr Tinubu “at the time of the (presidential) election was not qualified to contest the election.”

Mr Ozoukwu, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), argued that the presidentelect “was not duly elected by majority of the lawful votes cast at the time of the election.

The senior lawyer led Atiku’s legal team when the former vice president unsuccessfully challenged the victory of President Muhammadu Buhari in 2019.

Photo: State House

From Mustapha Adamu, Kano

The All Progressives Congress (APC) in Kano state has rejected the announcement of Abba Kabir Yusuf of the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) as the winner of the March 18 governorship election.

The Returning Officer of the election, Professor Ahmad

Provide measures to curb repeated Train accidents - Reps tell NRC

BY Christiana Ekpa

The House of Representatives, has urged the Nigeria Railway Corporation (NRC), to provide measures to curb repeated train accidents with other vehicles.

The House which on Tuesday, observed a minute silence in honour of the casualties of the various train mishaps in Nigeria,also directed the Nigerian Safety Investigation Bureau to investigate the causes of the various train incidences.

The resolution was fallout of a motion under matters of urgent public importance, sponsored by Hon. Unyime Idem, who noted the urgent need to curb the incessant loss of lives in train mishaps.

The lawmakers recalled that in January 2023, a train accident was reported in the Kubwa axis of Abuja, which claimed the life of Selimota Suleiman, a staff of the Nigerian Television Authority, while on Thursday, March 9, 2023, a moving train rammed into a BRT bus in Lagos State, claiming about six lives and many others injured.

He further recalled that on March 28, 2022, an AbujaKaduna train was attacked, and many Nigerians lost their lives while others were either injured or abducted, and also that a Warri - Itakpe train derailed in Kogi forest, leaving not less than 300 passengers stranded barely a month after about 20 passengers were abducted from a train station in Igueben, Edo State.

“In spite of these unfortunate trends, which are, as a result of the carelessness of some individuals, no one has ever been held to account for the unfortunate loss of lives”, he lamented, adding that these unfortunate incidents are occurring very often because not much seems to be done to forestall the occurrence.

APC gives INEC 7 days to declare Kano guber election inconclusive

Dokko Ibrahim, on Monday declared Yusuf as a winner with 1,019,602 votes, while the APC candidate, Dr Nasiru Yusuf Gawuna polled 890,705 votes.

However, the party, at a press conference in Kano yesterday, disputed the election outcome and gave the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) seven days to review the result and declare the election in conclusive.

Speaking on behalf of the APC Chairman in the state,

legal adviser of the party, Abdul Adamu Fagge, said the election should have been declared inconclusive because the cancelled votes, which are more than 270,000 is higher than the 128,897 margin between the winner and runner up.

The party then hinged its argument to the cancellation of sixteen House of Assembly elections in the state due to violence and over-voting as the reason, adding that “while the same votes were considered

in collating the governorship election ‘, as the two elections took place same day, same time, same places and under the same circumstances.”

Fagge Esq said, “based on section 65 of the Electoral Laws 2022, we have written to INEC to revisit and cancel the hasty, wrong and selfish declaration of the NNPP as winner of the elections, and declared the conduct inconclusive”.

In his remarks, Gawuna, who is the Deputy Governor of

the state, admitted that power comes from God, but that would not stop the party from following legal process to challenge the outcome of the hard-fought election.

According to him, even though he had said severally during his campaign that he would accept whatever God has destined to him in the election, but it is expedient for him to follow the any legal means to challenge attempt to subvert the people’s mandate.

Imo guber: I won’t step down for Emeka Ihedioha, PDP National Scribe vows

By Lateef Ibrahim Abuja

National Secretary of the Peoples Democratic Party, Senator Sam

Anyamwu has ruled out the possibility of consensus ahead of the Imo state governorship election scheduled to hold on 11th November, 2023.

Anyanwu specifically said that the erstwhile Governor of the State and another aspirant, Hon. Emeka Ihedioha has no option than to step down for him, as the people of the state want a new blood Answering questions from

journalists after undergoing screening before the Senator Gabriel Suswamled PDP screening committee for Imo state Governorship election, Senator Anyamwu pointed out that the people of Imo are already agitating for a new person that will give them sense of belonging.

The two aspirants (Anyanwu and Ihedioha) who are currently jostling for the governorship ticket of the party were screened for the Imo State Governorship Primary Election at the party’s national secretariat, Wadata, Abuja.

According to Anyanwu, “Yes, I have been screened, it’s almost took a bow and go , because I have passed through different screenings, before becoming national secretary, I have served in different capacity. I have been a two term local government chairman, two term state house of Assembly member and a senator.and I also ran for governor with Emeka Ihedioha in 2019.

“So, I passed through the screening, even the screening panel said they don’t have an issues with me.

“Today (yesterday), I even

let them know what they didn’t even know before about the issue of tax clearance. Tax clearance can be forged out there, but I told them to always demand for the receipt.

“We are only two in the Governorship race, Emeka Ihedioha and myself.

“On the possibility of consensus , the only consensus is when he steps down for me because he has done it three times. That is why Imo state people are agitating. And how can you give one person ticket for three times? So, this time, let new person go “, he declared.

How dynamic security environments broadened ONSA’s functions – Monguno

The National Security Adviser (NSA), retired Maj.-Gen.

Babagana Monguno, says the dynamic nature of the security landscape over the last three decades has necessitated the broadening of the mandate of his office.

The Head, Strategic Communication, ONSA, Mr Zakari Usman, explained that Monguno said this in a statement on Tuesday in Abuja.

Monguno was speaking at the inauguration of the new Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA) and the National Counterterrorism Centre (NCTC) building complex on Tuesday in Abuja.

He said the mandate of ONSA had been broadened to accommodate the needs of emerging security threats.

The NSA said that ONSA’s core mandate was to assess the security concerns of the country and advise the president on all matters bordering on national security.

“The dynamic nature of global and domestic security environments has necessitated the modification and expansion of some of the functions of ONSA.

“The office, through the activities of key interagency intelligence-

sharing platforms, assesses the security concerns of the country and advises the president on all matters bordering on national security.

“The platforms are the Intelligence Community Committee, Joint Intelligence Board, General Security Appraisal Committee and the Cybercrime Advisory Council.

“However, the series of amendments incorporated in the Terrorism Prevention Act in 2011, 2013 and 2022 have broadened the counterterrorism responsibilities of ONSA,” he said.

Monguno said the National Centre for the Control of Small Arms and Light Weapons (NCCSALW) was established to meet the regional and global requirements as well as Nigeria’s commitments to the control of small arms and light weapons.

He added that the establishment of Cybersecurity Coordination Centre and NCTC to coordinate Nigeria’s counter-terrorism efforts as well as the upgrade of the Intelligence Fusion Centre (IFC), generated the need for larger, more secure and better-equipped facilities to optimally discharge the functions of ONSA.

“The new office is designed

to accommodate the additional workforce and improved technological capabilities of the centre, particularly the Explosive Devices Analysis Office (EDAO), increasing activities of the Countering Violent Extremism –(CVE) department and the Joint Terrorism Analysis Branch.

He said that the new ONSA and NCTC building complex boasts of office spaces, a world-class hall, conference rooms, team rooms, laboratories, an auditorium, and an operations/crises centre.

Monguno said the facilities would further enhance Nigeria’s already recognised contribution to global counterterrorism policy and practice efforts and give impetus to Nigeria’s internal, bilateral, and multilateral cooperation and collaboration in tackling the menace of terrorism and violent extremism.

He commended President Muhammadu Buhari for his administration’s investment strategy in legacy infrastructure projects.

He said the conceptualisation, design and development of the new ONSA and NCTC buildings were based on Buhari’s vision of ensuring a robust national security enterprise

for the country.

NSA also acknowledged the support of the National Assembly.

While inaugurating the projects, President Buhari said that delivering on the new state-of-theart facilities had demonstrated his administration’s firm commitment to ensuring that Nigeria’s national security capabilities were kept abreast with the highest global standards.

According to him, these two world-class facilities will no doubt optimise our efforts at addressing the dynamic contemporary security challenges in our environment, especially countering terrorism and violent extremism.

The president congratulated Monguno and his team for the noble achievement, saying that the new facilities would enhance the desired peaceful and secure environment for the country.

In attendance at the commissioning ceremony were service chiefs, heads of the security and intelligence community, ministers, legislators, and representatives of bilateral and multilateral partners from the UN, AU, ECOWAS and other foreign missions. (NAN)

APGA governorship candidate, Joseph Waya, congratulates rival, Alia over victory

Mr Joseph Waya of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), on Tuesday in Makurdi, congratulated the winner of the Benue Governorship election, Rev. Fr. Hyacinth Alia, of the All Progressives Congress (APC), and called on all Benue people to support him in the task of governance.

In a statement, Waya alleged widespread irregularities such as ”heavy militarization of the electoral process, suppression, intimidation, vote buying, tampering with electoral materials, but said he was still committed to the Benue project and appealed to other contestants to ”set aside partisan rancour and rally round Fr. Alia for the overall interest of the state”.

He said his desire to lead the state was never borne out of a conviction for personal aggrandizement but for the wellbeing, peace and security of the people.

“I came into the race by the beckoning of my kinsmen and God’s guidance. To be clear, I did not come to seek prominence, political power for its own sake or personal aggrandizement. We ran a campaign based on issues, facts and utterly devoid of insults,” he said.

Waya, who emerged the fourth in a competitive electoral process, said his message to the people would never be easily forgotten within the period of an election circle.

“My ideas remain as feasible and practicable then as they are now,” he explained.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the INEC returning officer for Benue, Prof Adamu Kuta, declared Alia winner, having polled majority of votes of the rescheduled election.

Alia pulled 473,933 to defeat his closest rival and Speaker, Benue House of Assembly, Mr Titus Uba, who had 223,913 votes.

NAN reports that Uba enjoyed massive backing of the incumbent governor, Samuel Ortom, who himself lost to APC in a Senatorial contest. massive backing of the incumbent governor, Samuel Ortom, who himself lost to A.(NAN)

Thugs set Rara’s office, house ablaze in Kano

From Mustapha Adamu, Kano

Some thugs in Kano have set the house and office of a popular political singer, Dauda Kahutu Rarara on fire on Monday.

The incident happened barely an hour that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) declared the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) candidate as winner of the governorship election in the state.

This is coming after an early morning declaration of a dawn to dusk curfew imposed by the

state government.

Rarara is a stalwart music artiste of the All Progressives Congress (APC) who performed during many of the party’s rallies across the North.

An eye witness who begged for anonymity told this reporter that the arsonists invaded the house and started destroying valuables and looting before setting it ablaze.

The security agents arrived at the scene minutes after the residence was set ablaze, to disperse the hoodlums, but the firefighters were yet to be there then.

The spokesman of the Kano State Fire Service, Yusif Abdullahi confirmed the incident explaining why the fire fighting team could not get to the place at the point of distress call.

“When our attention was called to the incident, we were informed that it was not an outbreak but that it was set on fire by hoodlums.

“As a result of this we could not go there without security cover from the police which took longer time before a synergy could be established” he said.

“We received the distress

call from the Divisional Police Officer of the area that the place was on fire around 10:00am. We arrived at the place, which is a one storey apartment used by Rara the political singer, as an office.

“On our arrival the top floor was on fire and we were able to put it out. The entire place was vandalised before it was set ablaze” he added.

The Police Public Relations Officer, SP Abdullahi Kiyawa, confirmed the incident on his Facebook page, adding that some of the suspects had been arrested.

Learn preventive oral healthcare practices, expert advises

The Director of Intercountry Centre for Oral Health (ICOH) for Africa, Dr Balarabe Sani, says Nigerians should learn preventive oral health practices.

Sani said this on Monday in Jos at the World Oral Health day with the theme: “Be proud of your mouth for a lifetime of smiles”.

According to him, preventive oral health practices are cost

efficient and contributed immensely to continuous healthy living.

He said that preventive practices such as brushing twice daily, using a fluoridated toothpaste, adoption of healthy diet, lifestyles and keeping dental appointments twice yearly should be adopted for a healthy oral.

“Nigerians must regularly take care of their oral health

by ensuring they adopt healthy oral practices, such as brushing twice daily.

“They should avoid very hot meals, avoid harmful oral practices such as teeth filing by unprofessionals and inculcating the act of visiting the dentists and institutions responsible for oral care,” he said.

Sani said that problems related to oral diseases could lead to pain, discomfort, social

isolation and loss of selfconfidence, which would also lead to other serious health issues.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the organisation is a Federal Government Agency with the Federal Ministry of Health and it is responsible for oral health research and training initiatives.

(NAN)

R-L: Director CDD, Idayat Hassan Chairman CDD, Prof. Adele Jinadu, Member EAC, Dr. Joe Abah, during the CDD final report on the Governorship / States Assembly election media briefing, held yesterday in Abuja. Photo: Justin Imo-owo

Zamfara Governorelect assures rapid positive change

From Ibrahim Sidi Muh’d, Gusau

Governor-elect Dr. Dauda Lawal Dare of Zamfara State has assured of immediate positive change of the entire face of the state with a view to fulfilling the dreams peoples have for their living in terms of providing adequate security and other most needed demands.

Dr. Dare made the declaration on Tuesday in Gusau during his maiden broadcast to the state, saying his first priority are security, education, health and agriculture as the sectors have been marked as the pivot of economic progress.

“We are all aware of the security situation our beloved state is facing, our farmers have been compelled to vacate their farmlands, the situation which rocked our good people across the fourteen local government councils of the state into abject poverty and hunger.

“After taking Oath of Office, my administration will strive to rescue and protect the integrity of our teeming people whose lives were devastated by the lingering insecurity and are currently stranded while wandering for survival in the state’ the Governor-elect has assured.

He further informed of his determination to address problems that hinder the education sector from meeting the required volume of global standardization, adding that, “Zamfara State has been left far behind in the national education ranking mirror”.

The Governor-elect thanked all the good people of the state for giving the mandate to run the affairs of the state to the next four years, assuring that he will run an opened door and all inclusive government with a view to move the state to the expected level.

He called on all his supporters and that of the PDP in the state to remain law abiding and not to engage in any activity that will lead to break of law and order in the name of jubilation for his victory.

78m children in Nigeria at risk of water related challenges

By Tobias Lengnan Dapam

As World leaders and relevant organizations convene for the UN 2023 Water Conference, UNICEF is calling for urgent action to address the water crisis in Nigeria.

A statement by Dr. Jane Bevan, UNICEF Nigeria Chief of WASH as world leaders prepare to attend the historic UN Water Conference, said 78 million children in Nigeria are at the highest risk from a convergence of three water-related threats – inadequate water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH); related

diseases; and climate hazards – according to a new UNICEF analysis.

“In Nigeria, one-third of children do not have access to at least basic water at home, and two-thirds do not have basic sanitation services. Hand hygiene is also limited, with three-quarters of children unable to wash their hands due to lack of water and soap at home. As a result, Nigeria is one of the 10 countries that carry the heaviest burden of child deaths from diseases caused by inadequate WASH, such as diarrhoeal diseases.

“Nigeria also ranks second

out of 163 countries globally with the highest risk of exposure to climate and environmental threats. Groundwater levels are also dropping, requiring some communities to dig wells twice as deep as just a decade ago. At the same time, rainfall has become more erratic and intense, leading to floods that contaminate scarce water supplies.

“I believe we need to rapidly scale-up investment in the sector, including from global climate financing, strengthen climate resilience in the WASH sector and communities, increase

effective and accountable systems, coordination, and capacities to provide water and sanitation services, and implement the UN-Water SDG6 Global Acceleration Framework.

“If we continue at the current pace, it will take 16 years to achieve access to safe water for all in Nigeria. We cannot wait that long, and the time to move quickly is now. Investing in climate-resilient water, sanitation, and hygiene services is not only a matter of protecting children’s health today, but also ensuring a sustainable future for generations to come.”

Diaspora group tasks Plateau governor-elect on effective, inclusive govt

Some indigenes of Plateau living in the U.S., on Tuesday, charged the Governor-elect, Mr Caleb Mutfwang of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), on effective and inclusive government that would reflect the will of the people. The group, under the auspices of Plateau State Association USA, Inc. (PSA-USA), gave the advice in a congratulatory letter signed by its National President, Dr Barth Shepkong and addressed

to Mr Mutfwang. A copy of the letter was made available to News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja. It reads: “On behalf of the members of Plateau State Association USA Inc (PSAUSA), please accept our sincere congratulations on your success in being elected as governor and deputy governor of Plateau State in the just-concluded 2023 Gubernatorial elections. “It is time to come together to build a better, united, and more

inclusive Plateau State. “The future belongs to us all. Let us work together to make it what we desire. “The people of Plateau have spoken! We are aware that your service to the state does not come without sacrifice. “We wish you God’s guidance, strength, direction, and the wisdom to deliver on your mandate to the people of Plateau. “We look forward to an effective and inclusive government that reflects the will of the people. “Best

wishes and we look forward to working with you.” The group also congratulated the Labour Party governorship candidate, Dr Patrick Dakum, and his counterpart in the All Progressives Congress (APC), Dr Nentawe Yilwatda, for running exemplary campaigns.

NAN reports that Mutfwang polled 525,299 votes to defeat his closest rival and the candidate of the ruling APC, Yilwatda, who polled 481,370 votes. (NAN)

Governor Muhammadu Inuwa Yahaya being cheered by the people during a thank you rally in Gombe after he was declared winner of Governorship election, yesterday

By Christiana Ekpa

The House of Representatives has asked the Federal Road Maintenance Agency, FERMA to urgently rehabilitate the JosBauchi road as well as enlighten commercial and heavy trucks drivers to ensure safety-drive and vehicle maintenance.

The House equally resolved to urge the Federal Road Safety Corps, to introduce regular vehicular checks, and also intensify highway patrols on the road, to ensure strict compliance to traffic regulations;

The House resolutions followed a motion of urgent National Importance moved by Honourable Muhammad Adam Alkali.

Reps want urgent rehabilitation of Jos-Bauchi road

Hon. Alkali, while moving the motion decryed continious loss of lives through fatal accidents, along the Jos-Bauchi Road on daily basis.

He said; “Early this year, over 20 persons died on the spot, with scores injured due to the abandonment of brokendown trailers on the highway in Anguwan Rogo/Rimi, and its environs within Jos North Local Government Area of Plateau State. Further notes that eight family members of the late Alhaji

Sule Kayarda met their untimely death on the Jos-Bauchi Road due to the dilapidated state of the road.”

“Aware of the Blueprint Newspaper, publication of August, 18 2022 of an accident that claimed the lives of 10 persons along Babale Village on the Jos-Bauchi highway which was confirmed by the Plateau State Sector Commander of the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), Alphonso Godwin.

“Recalls the car accident that

led to the death of the late Doctor Zuwaira Hassan, the former Bauchi State Commissioner of Health, another accident claimed the lives of about 20 travellers, similarly some members of an Islamic organization, JIBWIS lost their lives in a separate accident while others were left severely injured.

“Worried that the dilapidated state of the road, coupled with reckless driving, abandoned broken down trucks on the road, as well as other traffic violations

endangers commuters and residents of the surrounding villages from Kunga hillsZakaliyo-Babale, linking Jos North Local Government Area of Plateau State to the entire North East and some parts of the North Western States in grave danger.”

The House however mandated the Committees on Federal Road Maintenance Agency (FERMA) and Federal Road Safety Commission to ensure compliance.

Norrenberger completes takeover of 60% equity in Infrastructure Bank

Norrenberger, a financial services group, has taken over a controlling equity stake of 60 per cent in The Infrastructure Bank (TIB).

The group in a statement on Tuesday, said the take-over followed a concluded acquisition arrangement which began in 2019.

The statement said that the Chairman of Norrenberger Group, Alhaji Ibrahim Aliyu, said the group would leverage the acquisition to bring about new opportunities and growth.

Aliyu said the growth would be beneficial to both the group, the infrastructure space and the general public.

He said that the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) approved the acquisition of the 60 per cent controlling stake in the bank on March 10.

Aliyu said that the transaction followed established protocols and necessary regulatory procedures.

He said the admission of private capital in TIB Plc equity as permitted in its Act had created the first Public-Private Partnership spectacle of reform and innovation in the infrastructure finance space.

The chairman said it would also position the institution for greater engagement.

Aliyu said the bank was a private sector-led, but Governmentsponsored Development Finance Institution (DFI), whose previous ownership structure comprised the three tiers of government, the Nigeria Labour Congress and the private sector.

“As a group, this takeover marks a milestone toward Norrengerger’s strategic infrastructure mission.

”TIB, formerly known as Urban Development Bank of Nigeria Plc was established in 1992 under Decree 51, as Urban Development Bank Ltd.

“It has a mandate to foster the rapid development of infrastructure across the country.

“In line with its establishing Act, the bank has the mandate to raise and manage funds for infrastructure development projects in the country.

“The bank provides custommade financial solutions to projects in its focus sectors namely

transportation, mass housing and district development, urban infrastructure and municipal finance projects.

“The bank will also lend its expertise to contribute to discourse on development strategy, with associated policy formulation and guidelines,” he said.

The statement quoted the

Chairman of TIB, Alhaji Lamis Dikko, as saying “we are looking forward to a brighter future as part of the Norrenberger group”.

Dikko said the new umbrella which the bank would be operating would be a springboard for them.

“This transaction brings a winwin for everyone, the Norrenberger group, selling shareholders,

remaining shareholders and the infrastructure space in Nigeria especially at a time where the infrastructure deficit is huge,” he said.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Norrenberger is an independent financial services group in Nigeria which provided bespoke financial

solutions to its individual and institutional clients.

The group’s subsidiary companies are licensed and regulated by key financial services regulators including the Securities & Exchange Commission, the National Pension Commission and the National Insurance Commission. (NAN)

President Muhammadu Buhari with Governor of Katsina State Aminu Masari departing Katsina to Abuja at the conclusion of the Governorship and State Assembly Elections yesterday.

Uba Sani promises to remain focused, dedicated in governance

The governor-elect of Kaduna State, Senator Uba Sani has promised to govern the state with a focused and unrelenting dedication.

He asserted this during his acceptance speech delivered in Kaduna on Monday night when the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) declared him the winner of the governorship election.

The Governor elect expressed utmost gratitude to Almighty Allah for His many blessings and for making this day possible, saying he is overwhelmed by the affection of the people of Kaduna State who have made their democratic choice loud and clear.

He added that people of Kaduna State have given him their mandate

to lead in serving them for the next four years and accept this privilege as a heavy responsibility.

“We shall carry out the people’s democratic directives with focus and unrelenting dedication. We shall govern for all, no matter how they voted, no matter how they worship or which of our many tongues they speak. Our gaze will be firmly in the direction of continued progress, peace and prosperity of the state.

“We shall get straight to work on sustaining and strengthening the path to development that our beloved leader Malam Nasir El-Rufai has so brilliantly opened for Kaduna State. I thank Malam Nasir El-Rufai and his executive team for their collective efforts since 2015 to build the foundations for a new Kaduna State.

“I thank every resident of Kaduna State who helped to make the 2023

elections a largely peaceful exercise.

I acknowledge the efforts of APC leaders at all levels and the tireless work of the members of our campaign council and party supporters across the state who helped to carry our message to the people.

“The teeming youths, women, civil society and our many support groups worked for this victory, and we thank them. We are indebted to traditional, community and religious leaders who helped to foster an atmosphere of peace.

“I salute all APC candidates in the 2023 elections for their hard work and contributions to this overall success, despite some setbacks.

“ I am grateful to Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, the president-elect, for his consistent support. I wish to specially acknowledge the support of President Muhammadu Buhari

who even took the time to record a message of endorsement for my campaign.

“It is in the nature of democratic contests that they are concluded with the declaration of one candidate as the winner. But we are all winners when the people freely declare their preferences on the ballot. I note the energetic campaigns of fellow contestants and call on them to continue to make their contributions to Kaduna State.

“Much has been achieved since 2015, but much remains to be done to drive Kaduna State closer to its potential. Therefore, we shall be devoting efforts in the next few days to ensuring that we can begin to govern effectively from 29th May 2023 with the standards of efficiency and clarity set by the current government.

From: Femi Oyelola, Kaduna

PHOTO BY STATE HOUSE

Centre partners agriculture agencies, others to support aged mothers

The National Senior Citizens Centre (NSCC) says it is partnering with relevant agriculture agencies, health sector and traditional leaders to provide conducive work environment for aged mothers.

Dr. Emem Omokaro, the Director-General, NSCC stated this in Bwari on Monday, during a town hall meeting on the implementation of its programme tagged: “Grandmothers Arise for Good” initiative, an Economic TreeCrops Planting Project in Bwari, FCT.

Omokaro said the centre was determined to support senior citizens, especially aged mothers to boost their agricultural business and ensure decent living.

“ We took time to develop a wide sector intervention for communities; we call them grandmothers arise for good. Principally, the focus is for all the women who we know are assets in their communities.

“ Most of them who are farmers and engaged in crafts have been doing their businesses individually, not really making a headway in terms of breaking even but at least, mitigating multidimensional competition.

“So, we call in the royal fathers to work with the community to end open defecation through the primary healthcare to institute a national health insurance and access to health,” she said.

The NSCC boss said that the essence of the partnership was to converse with the senior citizens in the community, support them and organise their farming to attract more fund for them.

“And we bring in all the agencies to fulfill our mandate which is to improve the quality of life ” she said.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that participants at the meeting include representative from the Federal Capital Territory Primary Healthcare Board, Water Aid, FCT Head of Agricultural Services and Sanitation; and Small and Medium Enterprises Development Agency.(NAN)

Expert seeks use of innovation to improve livelihoods

Prof. Olalekan Akinbo, Supervisor at Centre of Excellence in STI, African Union Development Agency (AUDA –NEPAD), has called on Nigeria and other African countries to take advantage of innovation to improve livelihoods of citizens.

Akinbo made the call while responding to questions on genome editing technology in a telephone interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Sunday.

He said: “Since Africa is naturally agrarian, the opportunity this technology offers should be utilised.

“This is by adding value to the available rich natural resources through innovation, in order to improve the livelihood of the citizenries.”

Akinbo noted that many African governments had strong policies for innovation as a milestone that would improve the economy as well as create enabling environment to support innovative ideas.

“I’m talking about innovation in technology, agriculture, petrochemical among others because innovation is the pathway that many African countries have now taken in trying to improve the lives of citizens.

“A case in point are countries that have established ministries and parastatals that focus specifically on innovation and some of these ministries

have added innovation to the name of the ministry.

“That shows government’s commitment to innovation and in most of the AU decision process, there have been decisions that support innovations for the improvement of livelihoods,’’ Akinbo said.

The AU Official stated: “African countries also commit some percentages of national budgets to support innovation but in this context, nothing is too much as there is always scarcity of resources.

“Governments have been making efforts to ensure that they are part of the agenda, as well as creating enabling environments to enhance innovation.

“Nigeria is an example, Nigeria is a leader and we witnessed how the Ministry of Science and Technology was changed to Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation, indicating that the government supports innovation.

“There are also many startups in Nigeria these days and Nigeria is actually a leader in so many things in Africa especially in the area of innovation and creating enabling environment”.

According to him, out of the 55 member states in Africa, South Africa had taken advantage of innovative way of breeding plants.

Akinbo listed other countries that had also moved in this direction to include: Ethiopia, Malawi and Eswatini, who had all adopted biotechnology crops.

He said Kenya had not only adopted biotechnology crops but had also established research institute that focuses on biotechnology.

The AU Official recalled that Nigeria had adopted two biotechnology crops, both for feed and food while others were in the pipeline.

He said: “Looking at this, for a government to have approved these biotech crops is indicative of its willingness and even establishing an agency that sees about safety.’’

He maintained that Nigeria’s National Biosafety Management Agency (NBMA) was also responsible for the approval of biotechnology related products.

Akinbo re-iterated that Africa, especially Nigeria had given a supportive role to the improvement of biotechnology adoption which would also influence the pathway genome editing technology would go.

The expert said genome editing was an emerging technology with a new innovation that would help in various areas of improvements.

They include; agriculture, climate change and health, among others, all geared towards improving livelihoods.

On the safety of genome editing technology, he said people usually have a phobia and skeptical about the advent of every new technology.

“That something is new doesn’t mean it is not safe,’’ he said.

According to Akinbo, some food crops that people initially thought to be unsafe are now being eaten by them.

Citing an example, he said cassava, which has become a staple in numerous homes in Nigeria contains cyanide acid, adding, “but, due to its importance, scientists were able to manage this acid through processing for safety.

“Though nothing is safe as people are bound to entertain some doubt, genome editing does not include any external introduction.”

Akinbo assured that the technology of genome editing made use of information stored in the DNA to improve on its usage.

“So, from the scientific point of view, genome editing is safer compared to other imagined technology that had been in existence,”he said.

Akinbo added that apart from Nigeria that had already developed the guidelines for the adoption of genome editing, Ethiopia had also done so while others were either at the drafting or signing stages. (NAN)

Guber Polls: CODE commends INEC over BVAS

By Abubakar Yunusa, Abuja

ACivil Society Organisation (CSO), Connected Development (CODE) has commended the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) over prompt deployment of election materials in the gubernatorial and the State House of Assembly elections, stating that the BVAS machines function well.

Speaking at a press conference to give an update on the election, the Chief Executive of CODE, Hamzat Lawal, said the BVAS functioned well.

“Successfully, we deployed 20,000 citizen observers who to this hour keep populating our database with reports from various polling units across the country.

“Despite all of these faults that we have observed we cannot say that the commission has not done well in some areas.

“For example we observed that we recorded the early opening of polls in 79% of polling units observed by CODE as opposed to the less than 30% in the February 25th general elections.

“We must commend the functionality of the BVAS in this election. This indicates the commission’s commitment to embracing this new technology in our electioneering process.

“Officially all polling units across the country are closed even though voting is still ongoing in some polling units. We want to remind INEC of their promise of electronic transmission of results for the gubernatorial elections. While we still debate the issues

around the February 25th Elections it is not too late for INEC to redeem itself. We would like to remind INEC that they set these standards for themselves and asked us to trust them in executing them, “ Lawal said.

According to him, “Because we observed in the morning at the junction of Odogbolu/Iyarere, PU: 093, Aguda, Surulere area of Lagos, where at the opening of polls the presiding INEC official announced that there would be no uploading of results. Our observer at this polling unit has just updated us that counting, sorting and announcement of results have been made, and the INEC staff lived up to their earlier warning by refusing to upload. While citizens insisted they upload, the Nigeria Police put them in their cars and drove

off.

“We must, however, commend INEC on the uploads of results on the IReV. We have noticed that as of 3:30 pm this afternoon, some results from various polling units have already been uploaded on the IReV portal. We are watching this progress very closely.

“We are on the precipice of monumental change in our democracy right now. The dynamics of our voting pattern and our electioneering processes are improving significantly and we must not allow logistical failures to thwart necessary change.

“The people have done their part, they are out there either still voting or counting their votes, and following the results, it is time for the commission to do its part as well, “ Lawal added.

Dauda’s victory in Zamfara State: The long walk to freedom

By Ibraheem Olasunkanmi Qoseem

Dear Dr Dauda Lawal, congratulations on your victory as the Zamfara State Governor elect, I wish you a peaceful stay in the office with swarming developmental and sustainable projects in the State.

Late last year when Governor Mutawallee was asked if the PDP flagbearer Dr. Dauda Lawal being a threat with his rising popularity and acceptability by people, he confidently said, who is he, and as a matter of he didn’t has opponent not even in PDP. He was sure of his victory.

At the time, lot of ill ploys were plotted against Dauda, moving from one court to another. Party crisis and having to deal with palm urchin politicians and other attendant challenges. Amidst all these crisis, his admiration and passion to make changes in his people, he never allowed unstable political waves to vitiate him. He was equally loved and encouraged by people.

Making the victory more relatable to people outside Zamfara State, I will describe it with the book written

by Nelson Mandela: the Long Walk to Freedom. He triumphed above propaganda, political vendetta and party impediment. Buttressing it with Arabic axiom: “he who Allah is with, nobody can stand against him”.

Amazingly, he won without holding any political position in the past. He unseated the sitting governor and almighty APC campaign coordinator of Northwest. He was being against by all former governors. He enjoyed neither the support of traditional rulers and nor with the acknowledgment of other key stakeholders in the State. But his ideas and youthfulness are overwhelmingly accepted by the people. They fought and won him the mandate. Is God not great? He is!

Honestly, what is really happening in the political space is a very different thing entirely, especially that of Zamfara State, Kano State and others. It may not be enough but political sensitization really made huge difference. People did not only voted but monitor their votes from polling units to coalition center to ensure their voices aren’t tampered. They even went as far as they could by sleeping

outside of the coalition center till daybreak.

Indeed, it was a long walk to freedom. The people of Zamfara State is presently in the excited mode of new dawn. Celebrating that their voices were counted. It is in their hope that with the new leadership, they won’t have to seek refuge in the city. Live in their respective homes without palpable tension and have their educational and health sector improved from its bottom state.

Dear Dr Dauda Lawal, congratulations on your victory as the Zamfara State Governor elect, I wish you a peaceful stay in the office with swarming developmental and sustainable projects in the State. Zamfara people long suffered enough from inhumane leadership. Remember the believe they have in you, do not let them down. I wish you the best!

Ibraheem Olasunkanmi Qoseem is a medical laboratory scientist and young health journalist from Ilorin, Kwara State. He can be reached via: 08084683622, hernnany2016@gmail.com

Russia’s politics of writing off African debts

By Kestér Kenn Klomegâh

During the International Parliamentary conference RussiaAfrica held March 19-20 in Moscow, Russian President Vladimir Putin, in a speech at the plenary session, reminded African parliamentarians that the partnership between Russia and African countries has gained additional momentum and is reaching a whole new level. That the current geopolitical changes present an opportunity to build on the strong momentum in boosting economic cooperation.

“We are ready to jointly shape the global agenda, work together to strengthen fair and equal interstate relations, and improve mechanisms for mutually beneficial economic cooperation. Thanks to our assistance, many industrial enterprises have been built on the continent, entire industries have been created, and vital infrastructure and social facilities have been built. At the same time, Russia wrote off the debt to African states in the amount of more than $20 billion,” Putin emphasized, copy of his text posted to Kremlin’s website.

Putin further offered spiteful goal-setting policy outlines and some aspects of lofty Russia’s economic policy directions for Africa. Most of these directions considered significant have, over these years, featured prominently in all his previous speeches on Russia’s relations with Africa. But what strikes many listeners and readers relates to historical references intended to draw on the sympathy and enlist support from Africa. By simple description Africa consists of 55 member states. African is not a country but a continent, thus Africa’s debt could mean the entire Africa.

Long seen as a strategic partner, Russia has opened a new chapter and started building better relations with Africa, and most significantly made its move by writing off a number of African countries’ debts accumulated from Soviet era. After the Soviet collapse, Russia first attempted at collecting its debts. Indeed, these Soviet-leaning debt-trapped African countries were unable to pay them (these debts) back to Russia.

During the Soviet era, Moscow forged alliances with African countries, especially those that supported its communist idealogy, and supplied them with military equipment and offered technical assistance on bilateral basis. In particular, supplied arms went to Angola, Algeria, Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), Ethiopia, Namibia, Mozambique, Morocco and South Africa. That Sovietera form of diplomatic engagement left those African countries indebted to an amount of $20 billion, according to official documents.

In an interview with TASS, Russian State News Agency, ahead of the first Russia-Africa Summit, Russian President Vladimir Putin explained Soviet’s role in the liberation of the continent, support for the struggle of their people against colonialism, racism and apartheid. In addition, the enormous help offered those African countries to protect their independence and sovereignty, gain statehood, support for national economies, and created capable armed forces for Africa.

“Our African agenda is positive and future-oriented. We do not ally with someone against someone else; and we strongly oppose any geo-political ‘games’ involving Africa,” he said during that interview and categorically referred to the debts write-off to Africa. “Let me point out that in the post-Soviet period, at the end of the 20th century, Russia cancelled $20 billion of African countries’ debts to the Soviet Union. This was both an act of generosity and a pragmatic step, because many of the African states were unable to service those debts. We, therefore, decided that it would be best for everyone to start our cooperation from scratch,” said President Putin during that interview in 2019.

On 23 October 2019, President Vladimir Putin and President of the Arab Republic of Egypt, African Union Chairman and CoChairman of the Russia-Africa Summit Abdel Fattah el-Sisi took part in the Russia-Africa Economic Forum. During the plenary session held under the theme “Russia and Africa: Uncovering the Potential for Cooperation” and attended by top officials, politicians and business leaders, and almost 2,000 Russian and foreign companies, the question of debts write-off as basis for economic growth and for developing long-term relations featured prominently.

“Economic issues are an integral part and a priority of Russia’s relations with African countries. Developing close business ties serves our common interest, contributes to the sustainable growth, helps to improve quality of life and solve numerous social problems,” Putin said, and then added, “Russia provides systematic assistance to developing the African continent. Our country is participating in an initiative to ease the African countrie’’ debt burden. To date, the total amount of write-offs stands at over $20 billion. Joint programmes have been launched with a number of countries involving the use of debts to finance national economic growth projects.”

On 5 September 2017, President Putin attended a meeting of BRICS leaders with delegation heads from invited states, including the Heads of State and Government of Egypt, Tajikistan, Mexico, Guinea and Thailand. The meeting discussed the implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and prospects for further developing their partner relations. Before the meeting, the BRICS leaders and delegation heads form invited states had a joint photo session, President Putin informed that “Russia has been working actively to implement the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. We have written off over $20 billion of African countries’ debts through the Heavily Indebted Poor Countries Initiative.”

On 30 January 2015, President Putin sent his greetings to the 24th Ordinary Session of the Assembly of the African Union Heads of State and Government. The message stated in part: “The Russian Federation’s relations with our African partners are developing positively. We have established a substantial political dialogue and work actively together in international affairs. Russia’s decision to write off much of African countries’ debt and the preferential conditions we offer the majority of Africa’s traditional export goods open up new possibilities for trade, economic and investment cooperation.”

On 27 March 2013, in Durban, South Africa, in a speech at meeting with Heads of African states, President Putin explicitly noted “Over the course of many decades, Russia has provided direct assistance to the African continent. I would like to note that we have written off over 20 billion dollars in debt; we have written off far more than any other G8 nation. We plan to take additional measures to ease the debt burden.”

According to the Russian leader, the BRICS group’s companies are working actively in the African market; there is a growing influx of investments into various sectors in Africa’s economies, from traditional mineral extraction and farming to high technologies and banking. He added BRICS countries are championing the rights and interests of Africa and other nations with emerging economies, speaking out in favour of increasing their role and influence in the global governance system, particularly international financial and economic organizations.

On 28 June 2002, in Kananaskis, Canada, there was a media conference after the G8 Summit. There was one specific question regarding Africa. The G8 approached the plan submitted by African countries in a creative way. What can be Russia’s role and

place in addressing the global problem of combating poverty?

President Vladimir Putin answered: “As regards Russia, it has traditionally had very good relations with the African continent. We are very perceptive of the problems on the African continent. I must say that Russia has been making a very tangible contribution to solving Africa’s problems. Suffice it to say Russia is making a big contribution to the initiative adopted here, a multi-lateral initiative, including the writing off part of African debts. Of all the African debts that are to be written-off, 20% are debts to the Russian Federation. That is $26 billion.”

On 21 May 2007, The Kremlin made available Excerpts of the Transcript of the Cabinet Meeting. Finance Minister Aleksei Kudrin on the meeting of G8 finance ministers. The issue about supporting and helping African countries. Minister Kudrin told the cabinet meeting; “We discussed the implementation of a number of initiatives that should improve the management and transparency of public finances in those countries, including by better employing revenues from the extraction of mineral resources in Africa to fight against poverty.”

“We discussed responsible lending and relations with countries that have benefited from debt relief. We are writing off debt, reducing these countries’ debt burden, and meanwhile their opportunity to incur new debts is increasing simultaneously. And a number of countries are starting to make huge loans to these countries, taking advantage of the fact that they are no longer in debt and lending to them at such a rate that these countries will once again require help. These instances exist. In fact, this practice is liable to be perceived in a negative way. A number of leading countries in the world are engaged in this practice,” he said.

At Sochi summit, Putin’s announcement about “debt writeoff” was, therefore, nothing new. The Africa’s debts write-off debt has been played for years. It has, several times since his appointment, re-occurred in Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov’s speeches, these texts are available at the official website of the Foreign Affairs Ministry.

He said: “Russian development assistance is invariably aimed at solving the most pressing challenges faced by the countries in need. In these efforts, we are neither trying to lecture our partners on how they should build their lives, nor impose political models and values. Poverty eradication is the key objective of Russia’s state policy in the area of international development assistance at the global level.” (Remarks by Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov at the UN Summit for the Adoption of the Post-2015 Development Agenda, New York, September 27, 2015 (1814-27-09-2015).

“Debt relief is an effective tool in this regard. Under the Heavily Indebted Poor Countries Initiative (HIPC), our country has written off over $20 billion of the principal debt owed by African countries alone. Russia also contributes to reducing the debt burden of the poorest countries beyond the HIPC through debt-for-aid swaps. We also take other steps towards the settlement of debt owed to Russia, both within multilateral and bilateral formats,” he added.

As it is known, Russia has written off over $20 billion debt of African states. We are undertaking steps to further ease the debt burden of Africans, including through conclusion of agreements based on the scheme “debt in exchange for development,” according to the Foreign Minister (Speech by the Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov at the reception on the occasion of Africa Day, Moscow, 22 May 2014 (1243-22-05-2014).

Kestér Kenn Klomegâh an Int’l Affairs Analyst.

COMMENT

Policies making and common man

By Ikpang Sunday

The situation of the issue of societal interest, I will say is at stake when it comes to policies making and the common man in Nigeria. The government of this country in as much as is trying to alleviate and appropriate the beneficial magnitude of the populace share of the national cake or resources; should have it at the back of its mind that the common man feels the heat of every single policy being execute. As a concern citizen of this country and a proud Nigerian youth, I will tell you that the situation of all the policies being made concerning any issue in this country, is misappropriate, disarray and lack coordination.

Most times we all know that people at the grass root suffered despicable and undisputable, inhuman suffering that cannot be fathomed when wrong policies are made. Let’s look at the concurrent events which have and still dissolving, the enthusiasm, the charismas of every individual and also slowing down so many businesses and human activities; that’s necessary to human existence.

I am writing from the grassroots and I will say it the way, it is from the bottom, because, I belong to this category, a lot of people at the grassroots are really passing through rigorous experiences as regard to the policies made with the notion of trying to comb down hardship and unbearable situations of the citizens of this country by regulating the flow of money.

I had reard through many articles posted on the internet from various websites, belonging to difference news agencies and information agency (press and media) and trace the jargons being express by our leaders or better still politicians. Before the election of march 11th a lot of rumors of threats, malicious set up, hate speeches, kidnapping and demanding for ransom, killing or assassinations, sabotaging in order to jeopardize the election permeated the internet, news papers and magazine like whirl fire. And these were traceable to the fact that some politician and party agents want to do everything possible to deliver for their party. And we all behave as if it is a normal thing; after all we are use to these menaces.

We forget that these disgusting things are already demolishing and obstructing the status quo and structure of our beloved country. Some weeks ago after the election of March 11th 2023, some so call honourable politicians who are governors of three northern states on the platform of All Progressive Congress, APC; Nasir El-Rufai of Kaduna State, Yaya Bello of Kogi State and Bello Matawalle of Zamfara State, which later were joined by Ondo, Kano, Ekiti and River State governors; they came up to sue the federal government to the supreme court as regarding the redesigning of currency and circulation of both old and new notes and the hardship it had brought on the masses.

These states governors were bold enough to go to court against the central bank of Nigeria, CBN and against the federal government FG (which was bravely, I comment that) on the issue of old and new naira notes problems. And apologies were tender inconsequentially by the federal government to the barricade of lack of money circulations; this is happening as a result of waylaying some conspirators who were planning to sabotage or rigging the elections. And that the president of this country was cleverly deceived to succumb to this inhuman suggestions and maltreatment.

Putting every citizens of this country, into an untold hardship; even though he had apology on the state of the nation. If they should be such decision which I believe was however beneficial to the nation; proper modality should have been put in place so as to reduce the advent events of this selfish-looking-ambitious decisions carried out by some individuals with some myopic interest; which cannot be quantified with the interest of the citizens and values of this country.

I want to say that what we are experiencing in this country is too shameful, undeserving, outrageous and very callous. Our leaders seem to allow a lot of unscrupulous ideas and decision to parade confidently to the detriment of the common man. I want to also bring to the notice of his Excellency and the entire world, that, any policy made in this country had a lot of effects on the masses more than the policy makers. Most especially the negative traumatizing policies. What is a policy? A policy is a course or principle of action adopted or proposed by an organization or individual. It is a deliberate system of guideline to guide decisions and achieve rational outcome. I underline rational intentionally, because, I want us to know that policies when making it or should be made, should have a rational outcome. And synonyms to rational are; wise, judicious, common sense, well advised, well grounded and sound etc.

So, any policy or policies made that is not sound, without commonsense, not well grounded, not well advised or lack wise back ground should not be introduce, because, the advent events of such policies is catastrophically intrigue and the common man suffered the consequence severely. This money policy is causing havoc untold hardship everywhere here in Ogoja where I lived it is awful, and, posterity will be told the scorching experience this have done on Nigerians; even if we are trying to safeguard our economic and security incapacitations.

It had come to a point that Nigerian now buy their own currency in order to make ends meet. Thirty percent is charge on any money transactions made from the point on sales service popularly called P.O.S. and the queue in bank is a lifelong experience where it is either you are told by the bank to make a maximum withdrawal of five thousand naira and a minimum withdrawal of two thousand.

Rejuvenating Nigerian railway system

By Femi Oluwasanmi

Nigeria as giant of Africa ought to learn from the success story of other countries operating railway system particularly, the UK, US, Canada, Japan, South Korea, and others where it’s almost impossible for any criminal gang irrespective of their manifestations to halt a moving train and abduct passenger(s) on board not to talk of taking them hostage for months like the one witnessed in Nigeria.

The need to preserve lives and livelihood of people across the globe has made transportation system an indispensable factor in assessing the development and progress of a country. It has shown that no country can perform optimally without proper planning for transportation because it shapes and reshapes not only a nation but also the nature and character of its people and her relations with other countries. That is the reason most developed countries invest heavily in transportation system. However, experiences over the years seem to portray that Nigeria is yet to harness great opportunities embedded in transportation system, especially, the railway system.

On 24th January, 2023, President Muhammadu Buhari alongside Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu of Lagos State commissioned the Lagos Blue Rail Line at Marina, Lagos State and witnessed the signing of the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for the second phase which will run from Mile-2 to Okokomaiko. While commending the president for honouring his invitation, Sanwo-Olu stated that the Blue Line is a product of his timeless vision for Lagos State, though, it predates the birth of his administration.

Lagos Blue Line is the first light rail system in Nigeria expected to carry more than 500, 000 passengers daily when completed, reduce traffic gridlock and increase the internally generated revenue (IGR) of the State. Replicating this project at the national level will improve inter/intra-city movement, provide comfort for long distance traveling, accelerate the movement of bulk goods at a low cost, reduce environmental pollution/cost of transportation

and boost the economy strength of the country.

At present, the debt profile of Nigeria is above 44 trillion naira and it is expected to hit 77 trillion naira before December, 2023, because out of the over 21 trillion naira estimated budget for 2023, only 9 trillion naira will be accrued from the government generated revenue while closed to 13 trillion naira is expected to be sourced from loans.

Meanwhile, if the railway system is rejuvenated, Nigeria can generate up to 7.5 trillion naira annually from the system because of her population. That is equivalent to a quarter of the 2023 budget of the country. This is not to talk of other sources of revenue generation that are yet to be properly harnessed in Nigeria.

Also, it will surely reduce the rate of unemployment and underemployment because more hands will be employed to operate the train and work at the stations. Currently, the population of Nigeria is estimated to be hovering around 200 million and based on the last report of the National Bureau Statistics (NBA), more than 33% of the population are unemployed while over 20% are underemployed. By calculation, this suggest that more than 100 millions of the country’s population are struggling to survive. No wonder, the more the government claimed to invest in security, the more insecurity continues to spread across the country.

In the South East for instance, the agents of terror seem to appear in forms of unknown gunmen/kidnappers while in the South West, it is manifestating informs of ritual killing/kidnapping and in the North it seems to take the forms of banditry, Boko Haram, killer herdsmen among other unscrupulous elements that poses great threat to the smooth running of railway system in Nigeria.

In March 2022, more than 100 passengers out of the passengers on board were abducted while 8 were killed when a train conveying people through Kaduna – Abuja rail track was attacked. It took more than 6 months before the abductees were released in batches through the help of some well meaning Nigerians who met the abductors and begged them with huge ransom. The same would have happened if not for the rapid response of the security personnel when a train traveling through Lagos – Ibadan line ran out of fuel

How can these amounts of money, be helpful to a family with five or eight children where almost all their dependence is more than this. Or enough for an individual needs.

How can you explain situation whereby you walks to a trader in the market and request for his or her account number to do electronic money transfer and the trader or motorist will tell you he or she does not have an account number or complain of some unfinished transaction due to some network hitch. And another thing we should know is that fraudulent, cheating and stealing can not be over emphasize in this kind of cashless practice; if proper modality are not put in place.

Every citizen of a country is entitled to right to life, sustenance and liberty. Due to austerity measure a lot of people in this country took laws into their hands, and makes life difficult for others, petty traders now skyrockets the price of things they sells to the pains of their fellow Nigerian.

To conclude this article, I will want the federal government, and, all arms of government to look into the following suggestions I came out with that can address the challenges we have at hand;

1. Currency circulation: due to the numerous challenges we face in issue of money circulations; I suggest there should be a reliable monitoring and evaluation team that, should carry a thorough evaluation and a task force activity, to ensure compliance. The problem of old and new naira notes acceptances by the masses; should be taken into considerations. Because it is a hustle and bustle in some areas of this country, where people reject old notes and some even reject the new notes because of it redesigning impotency. This I think should be disabused

2. Extortion: just like I had written earlier on extortion of almost point of sales agents knows as POS should be put to check, because, of over charge fee for the services render to customers, which is very very unsatisfactory; a situation whereby you are ask, to pay thirty percent for each deposit or withdrawal is unacceptable, take for instance if you are making a withdrawal of a hundred thousand naira, you will pay thirty thousand for charges, it is extortion and dehumanization.

Some of these agents gives excuses base on the fact, that, they had been on a long queue all day to get this monies from banks which they are agents to and some will boldly tell you, they bought the money from other sources which they pay some percentage before, the monies was given to them. I tell you what had happened in this country in the past weeks, is a memorial events that will take duration of time to be erase from the minds of Nigerian.

3. The Reputation of this country should always be put in forefront, when we are dealing with national interest. The state of the nation is unbearable, and to be sincere, it is throwing a heavy blow on the structure of both businesses and human life all over. Ikpang Sunday is a Public Policy Analyst.

and stopped in the bush in 2020. Unfortunately, the report of the committee set up to investigate the cause of the incident is yet to be made known to the public till date.

Nigeria as giant of Africa ought to learn from the success story of other countries operating railway system particularly, the UK, US, Canada, Japan, South Korea, and others where it’s almost impossible for any criminal gang irrespective of their manifestations to halt a moving train and abduct passenger(s) on board not to talk of taking them hostage for months like the one witnessed in Nigeria. Apart from the security mechanism installed that guaranties safety, proper planning that has made avoidable accident like the one that happened in Lagos State of recent where more than 6 persons were reported dead and scores of Lagos State workers injured impossible needed to be emulated.

This will not only prevent the occurrence of similar incident, it will also contribute to the economic growth of the country. For instance, based on the Oxford Economics Finds report, “the UK railway sector supported £42.9 billion of economic production and was associated with 710,000 jobs and £14.1 billion in tax revenues in 2019.” The same could said of other countries running an effective and efficient railway system. Unfortunately, the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) stated in its reports in 2019, that the “Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC) only generated N2.41 billion in revenue from passengers, N362.88 million from goods or cargo and N64.58 million from other income receipts in 2019” despite the size of her population.

Under the current administration, about 156km Lagos-Ibadan Standard Gauge Rail, 327km Itakpe-Warri Standard Gauge Rail, Abuja Light Rail have been commissioned while a ground-breaking done for the construction of Kano-Maradi Standard Gauge Rail, and revamp of Port-Harcourt-Maiduguri Narrow Gauge Rail and financing negotiations for Ibadan-Kano Standard Gauge Rail project are in progress though, the realities on ground suggest that the desired result is yet to be achieved.

Femi Oluwasanmi writes in from Ibafo,

The Economic Commission for Africa (ECA), says Africa requires an innovative people-centred development model to integrate poverty and inequality reduction into national and regional development strategies.

Antonio Pedro, the Acting Executive Secretary, ECA, said this at the 55th session of the Conference of African Ministers of Finance, Planning and Economic Development in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, on Monday.

According to Pedro, Africa is at the centre of a global sustainability transition, underpinning its path toward recovery, ensuring structural transformation and economic diversification.

He said the transition would enable the continent to build resilience, and achieve sustainable and inclusive growth, in line with Agendas 2030 and 2063.

“There is moderately good news as Africa’s growth is rebounding at 4.1 per cent, and inflation has reduced to 12 per cent so far.

African development: ECA calls for innovative people centered model

“However, pundits argue that we need double-digit growth rates to achieve a breakthrough and promote a new cycle of sustainable growth and a reinvigorated business and innovation climate.

“This will require paying detailed attention to ensuring that strong macroeconomic fundamentals are in place to allow for structural transformation.

“We also need adequate financing and push for a reform of the global financial architecture to unlock long-term financing, green jobs, pro-poor policies, tax mechanisms and curbing illicit financial flows,” he said.

The acting secretary said there was the need to de-risk investment on the continent for both domestic

and foreign investors, adding that immense efforts were required to develop a credible pipeline of bankable projects.

Pedro said that with limited fiscal space, every dollar spent must generate maximum socioeconomic impacts and cobenefits beyond Gross Domestic Product (GDP) metrics and profit maximisation.

He said it was for this reason that this year’s theme, “Fostering Recovery and Transformation in Africa to reduce Inequalities and Vulnerabilities,” was pertinent.

According to Pedro, poverty and inequality are already significant in Africa before the recent global crises. These overlapping crises worsen and threaten to reverse two

decades of hard-won progress.

He said Africa was facing a future where the total population of poor and non-poor who faced the risk of falling into poverty was nearly 695 million.

Pedro said that those hardest hits were the ones who recover the slowest, and getting back on track would require years of urgent action and coordination at the global, regional, and national levels.

The ECA boss said Africa needed to adopt measures to mitigate the economic and social vulnerability, reduce economic inequality, foster inclusive and resilient growth, and accelerate poverty reduction.

“To strengthen social compacts,

we need to improve the quality of multi-stakeholder dialogues and participation in policy and decision-making. We need a social state!

“`We need to improve our understanding of the political economy of change and how to use behavioural incentives and nudges to achieve our strategic goals.

“We see the existential threat climate change continues to pose to countries, yet, the financing available to African countries to combat climate change and ensure a green recovery is insufficient and inadequate.

“But leveraging green finance to accelerate the possibility of a green recovery can be within reach,’’ e said.

Experts call for urgent solution to naira scarcity as MPC holds meeting

Some financial experts have urged the Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) to take urgent steps to address the perennial shortage of cash.

The experts spoke to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Monday in Abuja, against the backdrop of the 290th meeting of the MPC.

The meeting is scheduled to hold on Monday and Tuesday.

According to a financial expert, Mr Okechukwu Unegbu, the MPC should discuss the cash situation as a matter of priority.

Unegbu, a past president of the Chattered Institute of Bankers of Nigeria (CIBN), said that the apex bank’s claim of circulating more than N900 billion did not reflect on the Nigerian economy.

He, however, said that the problem would likely ameliorate as elections had been concluded in the country.

“Our biggest challenge presently is the cash situation, and I think the committee should discuss it as a matter of urgency.

“The CBN says it has over N900 billion in the system, but it is not reflecting because cash is still scarce.

“But I believe that with the elections over, cash will start to circulate,’’ he said.

He urged the committee to also address the “rumblings in the economy’’ in terms of inflation and exchange rates.

On the policy rates, Unegbu advised for retention of all existing parameters until the next meeting.

“I suspect that because of rising inflation, which is now 21.91 per cent, according to the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS), the MPC may be tempted to raise the rates again.

“But my suggestion is that all the rates should be held constant to allow the MPC study the situation until its next meeting,’’ he said.

Another financial expert, Mr Muktar Muhammed, urged the

apex bank to explain to Nigerians the reasons why Naira notes were still scarce.

On policy expectations, Muktar said the MPC would have liked to increase the prevailing rates but could be discouraged by the already high inflation rate.

Ordinarily, we could see a hike in rates but as it stands now,

because of the Naira shortage and what it has done to the economy, I do not think they will want to do that.

“Again, inflation is already high and I do not see how hiking rates, alongside the cash shortage will help the economy grow better,’’ he said.

According to Uche Uwaleke, a

Professor of Capital Market at the Nasarawa State University, Keffi, the use of cash scarcity to stifle demand is not a sustainable way to tackle inflation.

Uwaleke said that such a step could hurt economic growth and could lead to loss of jobs thereby, fuelling unemployment.

“Going forward, the CBN

should ensure that measures are put in place to ease the cash crunch while gradually implementing its cashless policy.

Inflation rate rose from 21.82 per cent in January to 21.91 per cent in February, the economy witnessed a slight downward pressure in the general prices of commodities.

Global Surveyors’ Day: NIS tasks Nigerians to engage qualified Surveyors, donates food items to orphanage

From: Femi Oyelola, Kaduna

The Chairman of Nigerian Institution of Surveyors (NIS) Kaduna state Chapter Surv. Daudu Andrew has charged members of the public to always engage qualified surveyors in their building projects to avoid incidents of

building collapse. He asserted this during a press Conference to commemorate the 2023 Surveyors Global Day held in Kaduna yesterday.

Surv. Daudu Andrew explained that surveyors and survey plans were crucial in any building construction all over

the world.

He said Surveyors were indispensable experts needed for accuracy in infrastructural planning and development across all sectors in the nation.

The NIS Chairman also advised surveyors, to take their rightful place as the bedrock of development, while calling on all

professionals in the construction industry to restrict practice areas of competencies.

He, however expressed dismay over not being carried along by the government, but said the institution is working tirelessly to turn the clock around and surveyors are accorded their right places by government.

Peoples democratic Party (PDP) state Zone 1 chairman, Musa Danbaba,-PDP State Chairman, Hassan Hyet,- and PDP Stakeholders Chairman, Dr. Sale Pastu,- during the Press Conference on Rejection of the Declaration of Sen. Uba Sani, of APC as Elected Governor, in kaduna on tuesday 21/3/23

By Christiana Ekpa

The Presidential Candidate of the Labour Party, Peter Obi has frowned at the continued delay in releasing the governorship results of Abia and Enugu states and charges the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, to accelerate their action and announce his party as winner.

He noted that further delay will question the commission’s intent and credibility of the election.

The Former Anambra state

Abia/Enugu guber: Stop further delay, announce LP winner - Obi tells INEC

governor urged the commission to FasTrack their review and quench the anxiety of Nigerians particularly citizens of the two states.

“Having carefully followed the unfolding Events relating to the Gubernatorial Elections in the above two States, let me categorically emphasize the

imperative of releasing the Gubernatorial Election Results of Abia and Enugu States immediately.

“I am aware that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) said they are reviewing the Collation of the Results in these two States. However, I would like to urge

them to accelerate action on this, as their continued delay is questioning INEC’s intent and the credibility of the Election.

Obi expressed disappointment that Forty-Eight hours after the Elections were conducted, it is disheartening that the Commission is yet to resolve whatever Issues that are

holding back the release of the Results.

“The Records of the Elections from Polling Units should not be difficult to calculate if the Electoral Officials are committed to the integrity of the Exercise in line with the stipulated Guidelines.”

Chimaroke Nnamani’s Ebeano political group moves to APC

By Ikechukwu Okaforadi

The Ebeano political structure founded by the former governor of Enugu State, Senator Chimaroke Nnamani, has joined the All Progressives Congress, APC.

The announcement was made by Chief Emmanuel Okwor, Chairman of Ebeano, on Tuesday in Enugu.

The announcement is coming a day after its leader, Chimaroke, announced his decision to dump the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP.

The former Enugu governor had been groaning over his loss of the Enugu East senatorial district seat to Kelvin Chukwu of the Labour Party, LP.

”The alliance with APC is to consolidate the partnership with President-Elect Bola

Ahmed Tinubu to achieve good governance in the country,” Okwo said.

He further added that members of the ‘Ebeano’ political family across the country had

been consulted and in agreement with the alliance in the interest of the people.

National Assembly: Election tribunal receives 20 petitions in Oyo

By Ikechukwu Okaforadi

The election petition tribunal in Oyo State has received no fewer than 20 petitions.

The petitions were received following the National Assembly, gubernatorial and state House of Assembly elections held across the state.

The National Assembly election was held on February

25 this year while the gubernatorial and state House of Assembly elections were held on March 18 across the 33 local government areas in the state.

The tribunal disclosed it has received 20 petitions from different political parties that participated in the elections.

Secretary of the tribunal, Mr Ibrahim Sada, who made these disclosures on Tuesday, said six petitions were received for

the Senate while 14 petitions were received for the House of Representatives.

The petitions for the Senate, he further revealed, were received from Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) and Accord party.

Two of the petitions were from PDP, three from NNPP and one from Accord.

Four petitions filed for

the House of Representatives were from the All Progressives Congress (APC), while PDP filed three and NNPP and Accord respectively filed six and one.

Sada noted that the 21 days stipulated by the law for filing of election petitions from the day of announcements of result has lapsed for the National Assembly elections conducted on February 25.

INEC denies Prof Yakubu issued directives to Abia REC to rig guber results

By Musa Baba Adamu

The Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, has clarified some issues surrounding the controversies over the governorship election in Abia State.

One of the issues was that the Chairman, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu had called the Returning Officer, Professor Nnenna Oti to give her directives on guidelines to follow in ensuring that Abia governorship election

results were collated based on some certain criteria.

However, in a statement by INEC Chief Press Secretary, Rotimi Oyekanmi,the Commission said its chairman never called the REC.

Rather, INEC said that it was the Returning Officer that called the Chairman when she wanted the official communication on the Commission’s decision to suspend the collation of results in the State.

“The Chairman then directed that

pending the delivery of the hard copies, the soft copies of the Commission’s letter be forwarded immediately to the Resident Electoral Commissioner of Enugu State and the Administrative Secretary of Abia State.

“The Returning Officer for Abia State then directed that the content of the letter should be read aloud by the Administrative Secretary in the presence of agents of political parties, observers, the media and security personnel at the Collation Centre.

“This is what is now being mischievously

interpreted as a directive to the Returning Officer on some phantom criteria at variance with the approved guidelines. There is nothing like that.

“In fact, the content of the letter is basically the same as the Commission’s press release dated Monday 20th March 2023 which has since been uploaded to the Commission’s social media platforms and is already in the public domain.

“The public should disregard the story as fake news,” the Commission said.

No electoral irregularities in Bauchi – Observers

By Christiana Ekpa

Foreign and domestic observers who observed last Saturday’s governorship and state assembly elections in Bauchi State have denied the allegation made by the All Progressive Congress (APC) that the elections were marred by violence, voter intimidation and ballot snatching.

According to the group of observers, the March 18 elections were generally

peaceful in Bauchi State without any rancour.

The group was reacting to an allegation made by the APC governorship candidate, Air Marshal Sadique Baba Abubakar (retd), who claimed that there was violence in some local government areas of the state as well as intimidation of APC voters, incidence of ballot box snatching and electoral fraud.

Abubakar had called for the outright cancellation of the governorship election

result in the state.

While addressing a press conference at the Press Centre of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) in Bauchi, the coordinator of INEC Accredited Foreign and Domestic Observers Forum, Ambassador Charity Erhire, said though there was issue of crowd control in some units, they observed that the elections were conducted in a peaceful and conducive atmosphere in the state.

Ambassador Erhire informed that

sensitive and non-sensitive materials for the elections were not only promptly distributed but also adequate, adding that electoral officials arrived in most of the polling units in time.

“We observed that the election was conducted in a peaceful and conducive atmosphere and all the political parties that participated in the election had their party agents in most of the polling units, especially APC, PDP, LP and NNPP,” she said.

Accept PDP’s victory in the interest of Taraba – Bwacha begs supporters

By Ikechukwu Okaforadi

The All Progressives Congress (APC) gubernatorial candidate in the just concluded election, Senator Emmanuel Bwacha has asked his supporters and party members to accept the reality of the latest developments in the interest of the state.

He made the call, Monday in a press statement issued to journalists in Jalingo, through the Director, Media and Publicity of his campaign council, Aaron Artimas.

Bwacha, who had earlier called the governor-elect to congratulate him on his election victory, told his political caucus and the APC State Executive Committee that he took the decision to congratulate Agbu in the interest of the peace and tranquillity of the state.

He reasoned that the state is in dire need of peace and unity “at this critical period of political experience,” hence his decision to congratulate him.

Bwacha was among the numerous candidates who jostled for the number one position of the state in last Saturday’s governorship election. He reasoned that the state is in dire need of peace and unity “at this critical period of political experience,” hence his decision to congratulate him.

Bwacha was among the numerous candidates who jostled for the number one position of the state in last Saturday’s governorship election.

We’ll occupy Enugu until Peter Mbah is declared winner – PDP to INEC

By Musa Baba Adamu

The Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, has again called on the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, to, without further delay, announce its candidate, Barr.

Peter Mbah the winner of the Saturday March 18 governorship election in Enugu State.

Recall that the winner of the Enugu guber polls is yet to be announced following controversies over the results from Nkanu East and Nsukka Local Government Areas.

While the Labour Party had written a petition rejecting the Nkanu East result, the PDP is also questioning the result from

Nsukka LGA. The INEC national headquarters has since yesterday, Monday, taken charge of the collation.

Both camps have been holding protests a few metres away from the INEC Enugu headquarters demanding that their candidate be declared winner.

Addressing journalists on Tuesday, a chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, and former member, House of Representatives, USA Igwesi said the people were running out of patience.

Igwesi said collation of the governorship election results had been completed, adding that INEC had no other thing to do than declare Mbah winner.

“This is the second phase of our protest, of our demonstration, that INEC should forthwith declare Peter Mbah as the winner of the March 18, 2023 gubernatorial election in Enugu State.

“We went to the polls on the said day, and with the results collated, we needed to necromancer or a soothsayer to tell us that Peter Mbah won that election/

“We are perplexed; we are surprised that INEC is still holding this result undeclared and we are aware of the Electoral Act, Section 64, Sub Section 8 that says that once the State Returning Officer collates the result, he doesn’t have to waste a minute in announcing

and declaring that result. That is why we are surprised that up till this movement, INEC has refused to declare Peter Mbah as the winner of the election.

“We are also aware of the provisions of Section 103, Sub Section 1 of the same Electoral Act that said that if you are aggrieved, if you have petitions, you should go to the Election Petitions Tribunal. INEC does not usurp the power of the Election Petition Tribunal.

“INEC can only receive results; they don’t have power to look at the result; they should not look at petitions; I was a member of 5th National Assembly that helped in authoring this particular Electoral Act.”

LP’s Otti wins 10 of 16 LGAs as INEC reviews results

By Ikechukwu Okaforadi

Alex Otti of the Labour Party, LP, is currently leading after collation of results of Saturday’s governorship election from 16 of 17 local government areas of Abia State.

There was suspension of collation of the gubernatorial election result from Obingwa Local Government Area.

INEC cited the attack and

invasion of its office in the council area by suspected political thugs as the reason for the suspension.

The electoral commission is currently reviewing the governorship election result from Obingwa LGA.

However, the result announced by the State Returning Officer, Nnenna Oti, indicated that Otti is leading by a wide margin after winning 10 of

the 16 local government areas in the state.

On the other hand, Okey Ahiwe, the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, candidate won in five local government areas.

The results collated from the 16 LGAs showed Otti is leading with 172, 246 votes while his main challenger, Ahiwe of the PDP, polled a total of 78,628 votes.

The difference in the margin between the LP and the PDP

candidates stands at 93,618 votes. It is, however, unclear how PDP could win about 94, 000 voters without LP securing additional votes.

The contentious Obingwa LGA has 157, 390, registered voters, out of which 154, 966 voters collected Permanent Voters Cards, PVCs, but only 26, 845 voters were accredited for the exercise in the area during the March 18 election.

Lagos State Governor, Mr Babajide Sanwo-Olu (right) acknowledging supporters who came to congratulate him for his re-election victory in the governorship poll, at the Lagos House, Marina,

Wike berates Amaechi, Tonye-Cole, Abe after their loss to PDP

By Musa Baba Adamu

Rivers State governor, Nyesom Wike, has criticised the governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress, Patrick Tonye-Cole for losing to the candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, Siminalayi Fubara.

Wike said Tonye-Cole never ran any effective political campaign and was relying on the former governor of Rivers State, Rotimi Amaechi to make him

governor.

He said Tonye-Cole and Amaechi caused a split in the party, which led to their inability to face the PDP in the last election.

Wike averred that Amaechi’s comment on compensation for Igbo over their abandoned properties during the civil war further angered the people against him and his candidate.

Wike said: “The APC gubernatorial candidate, TonyeCole, lost in his Ward and local government area. He lost in

almost all electoral units, wards and local government areas of the state.

“Tonye-Cole never ran any effective political campaign. His party was fractured beyond redemption. He was literally waiting for his godfather and business partner, Rotimi Amaechi to magically make him governor.

“Rotimi Amaechi also lost to the PDP in his community, Ubima, his ward and the local government area.”

The Rivers State governor also

took a swipe at the governorship candidate of the Social Democratic Party, Magnus Abe, who he mocked for his ambition to be named as a governorship candidate of any party after he was twice denied the ticket in APC.

He further accused Abe of allegedly obtaining fake election tags with the help of Lebara Ndu, described as INEC’s Director of Security.

Wike, in his commentary, said: “The electoral fate of the

SDP candidate, Senator Magnus Abe, was not better either. He lost woefully in 15 out of 17 wards in his native Gokana Local Government Area. He lost in all 23 local governments of the state. His party did not win a single state constituency.

“Magnus’s ambition was to have a chance to be named on the ballot as a gubernatorial candidate of any party, having twice been denied the APC by his former friend, political leader and associate, Rotimi Amaechi.”

Enugu guber: IPAC asks INEC to announce collated results

By Ikechukwu Okaforadi

Political parties in Enugu State under the auspices of Inter-Party Advisory Council (IPAC) have asked Chairman Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof. Mahmood Yakubu to direct the Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) in Enugu State, Chukwuemeka J. Chukwu and the State Returning Officer, Prof. Maduebibisi O. Iwe to as a matter of urgency announce the already collated results of governorship election from the 17 local government areas and declare the winner of the election without further delay.

IPAC, which made the call during a press conference in Enugu, on Tuesday, stated that “any action short of this will be outside the law and could bring anarchy to an already fragile situation,” stressing that “INEC has no power under our laws to review collated results.”

The parties maintained that “the results of the 17 Local Government Areas (LGAs), including those of Nkanu East and Nsukka LGAs, were all collated by the State Returning Officer on March 19, 2023” stating that “by the provisions of the Electoral Act 2022, the only other duty remaining for the State Returning Officer, who is acting on INEC’s behalf is to add up the figures, announce them, and declare the winner in line with Section 65 and 66 of the Electoral Act 2022.”

Describing the delay in the announcement of the final result of the March 18, 2023 governorship election in Enugu State, as “needless confusion and restiveness”,

IPAC said: It is our strong view that the INEC State Returning Officer has discharged his statutory responsibility by collating the results of all the 17 local government areas, including those of Nsukka and Nkanu East Local Government Areas. The remaining responsibility for the State Returning Officer is to

It’s my turn to become Nigeria’s Senate President - Orji Kalu tells colleagues

By Musa Baba Adamu

As battle for the leadership of the 10th National Assembly continues, the Chief Whip of the Senate, Orji Kalu, on Tuesday claimed it is his turn to be Senate President.

The former Abia State Governor, who spoke with journalists at the National Assembly, urged his party, the ruling All Progressives Congress,

to zone the Senate Presidency to his district.

Kalu opined that if elected president of the Senate, he would work for the development of the entire nation.

He said, “It is my turn to become the Senate President. If I’m elected Senate President, I will be Team Nigeria. I’m going to work in every corner of Nigeria.

“I schooled in Maiduguri, Borno State. I started my

business in Lagos and spread it across all state capitals. My first name will be team Nigeria, my last name will be team Nigeria”.

Kalu said he was ready to run for Senate President if the party zones the position to his South East geopolitical zone because the party’s decision was supreme.

“And So I will like the party to zone it to my zone, to my village in Igbere because President Tinubu

needs people of high character to turn around the economy and work for the masses, make laws that will enable him to turn around the economy, because, I am an economic person, an entrepreneur.”

Kalu said he had sponsored bills that can boost the economy like the railway bill that would enable state governments and private sector entities to build railways.

Abia election: PDP accuses INEC of partiality

By Musa Baba Adamu

The Abia chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has accused the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) of bias in the ongoing collation of the results of Saturday’s governorship election in the state.

The party made the accusation in a statement issued on Tuesday by its acting Publicity Secretary and Vice Chairman (Abia North), Chief Abraham Amah.

The party regretted that the audit was being carried out in the absence of its agents.

The statement, captioned, “2023 Abia Guber: INEC’s impartiality is highly questionable,” reads in part: “Abia PDP is constrained to state in very unequivocal terms that the impartiality of INEC in the ongoing collation of the 2023 Abia governorship election results is very questionable because of recent decisions it has taken to favour a particular party.

“In the process of the collation, the Labour Party (LP) prayed to INEC to audit the BVAS accreditation of Obingwa Local Government Area, which INEC graciously granted and has already started the audit. The PDP agents

have been shut out of the process, while the LP agents are involved.

“But to the chagrin of PDP, its request for INEC to subject the results of Aba North, Aba South, Umuahia North, Umuahia South, Osisioma and Arochukwu has been blatantly rejected. This is a clear case of partiality on the part of INEC in favour of the LP.”

The ruling party, therefore, asked INEC to stop the audit and admit its agents into the exercise.

It further asked the commission to allow it time “to fly in its IT experts from the UK” while also asking INEC “to announce the results as they are and subject

them to the judiciary for final adjudication.”

The statement added: “We also warn INEC to be mindful of the legal implications of tampering with the BVAS machines without a judicial clearance as this is clearly against the Electoral Act.”

PDP avowed that INEC’s recent behaviour is destructive to the nation’s democracy and would only serve to reverse the gains made in the past 24 years.

It warned that any attempt to subvert the popular will of the people by skewing the electoral process in favour of a particular candidate would be resisted.

From left : Director General, Small and Medium Enterprise Development Agency of Nigeria SMEDAN ,Olawale Fasanya with his predecessor and Governor Elect of Katsina State , Dr Dikko Umaru Radda during a congratulatory visit to the governor Elect at Government House Katsina , 21st March, 2023

From Abubakar Yunusa Abuja

Garba Deen Muhammad, the chief corporate communications

CBN increases benchmark interest rate to 18%

From Abubakar Y Ojimaojo ABUJA

The Central Bank of Nigeria on Tuesday raised its benchmark lending rate to 18 per cent in an aggressive push to contain the nation’s inflationary pressure.

The CBN governor, Godwin Emefiele, announced this Tuesday after the apex bank’s Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) meeting that began Monday.

Addressing journalists at the end of the two-day meeting in Abuja, Mr Emefiele said the committee voted to keep the asymmetric corridor at +100 and -500 basis points around the MPR.

He also disclosed that the MPC voted to keep the Cash Reserve Ratio (CRR) at 32.5 per cent, as well as the Liquidity Ratio at 30 per cent.

The CRR is the share of a bank’s total customer deposit that must be kept with the central bank in form of liquid cash, while the bank’s liquidity ratio is the proportion of deposits and other assets they must maintain to be able to meet short-term obligations.

In January, the MPC raised its benchmark lending rate from 16.5 per cent to 17.5 per cent in a sustained push to control inflation and ease pressure on the naira.

Amid the uncertainties being faced by Nigerians due to the scarcity of the redesigned Naira notes, the nation’s inflation rate rose to 21.91 per cent in February compared to 21.82 per cent in January.

According to Nigeria’s statistics bureau last week, the February inflation rate showed an increase of 0.09 per cent points when compared to January’s headline inflation rate.

Former ADNOC Vice President joins NNPCL

officer of NNPCL, in a statemen t, said Mr Cordier joined the company as head of its oil trading arm, NNPC Trading Ltd.

The statement noted that the appointment is in furtherance of the ongoing repositioning drive in the company towards improved growth, better performance, and service delivery.

It added that Mr Cordier,

a renowned international oil trader and a French/Swiss national, holds a Master’s degree in Corporate Finance with distinction from Paris 9 University.

“He comes into the role with a rich background spanning over 30 years in physical oil, oil derivatives, and risk management, with significant

experience in reorganizing and creating a trading business.

“He spent 24 years with Elf Trading/Total Trading in various positions as Trader, Trading Desk Manager in Geneva, and four years as the Global Trading Manager at Addax Energy in Geneva,” the statement said.

At Abu Dhabi National Oil Company (ADNOC) in Abu

Dhabi, UAE, Mr Cordier served as Vice President of Middle Distillates, Senior Vice President of Risk Management, Senior Team Member in charge of building the trading activity for ADNOC and the launch of ADNOC Global Trading (AGT) in December 2020.

Mr Cordier has since assumed duty, the NNPCL said.

Average retail price of petrol in Nigeria up 54%

From Abubakar Yunusa ABUJA

The average retail price paid by consumers for petrol rose by 54.76 per cent in February, the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) has said.

The bureau said this in its “Premium Motor Spirit (Petrol) Price Watch” for February 2023 released on Monday.

The NBS said the average retail price paid by consumers for petrol in February 2023 was N263.76, indicating a 54.76 per cent increase when compared to the value recorded in February 2022 (N170.42).

The bureau also said that

comparing the average price with the previous month (.i.e. January 2023), the average retail price increased by 2.58 percent from N257.12.

On state profile analysis, the report said Jigawa state had the highest average retail price for petrol at N329.17, followed by Rivers and Ebonyi at N323.33 and N317.14, respectively.

On the other hand, Niger State recorded the lowest average retail price at N198.50, followed by Plateau at N198.71 and Abuja at N200.00.

The NBS said that the highest average retail price was recorded in the South-East at N306.86,

while the North-Central had the lowest at N215.01.

In its Automotive Gas Oil (diesel) Price Watch report for February 2023, the NBS said the average retail price of diesel paid by consumers increased by 168.26 per cent on a year-onyear basis. The bureau said the price moved from a lower cost of N311.98 per litre recorded in the corresponding month of last year to a higher cost of N836.91 per litre in February 2023.

On a month-on-month basis, the NBS said an increase of 0.98 per cent was recorded from N828.82 in the preceding month of January to an average

–

NBS

of N836.91 in February 2023.

According to the report, the top three States with the highest average price of the product in February 2023 include Bauchi at N904.33, Abuja at N885.00 and Adamawa at N873.33.

It said the lowest price was recorded in Bayelsa at N767.14, Katsina at N778.75 and Edo at N789.43.

“The Zonal representation of average price of diesel shows that North Central has the highest price of N850.65 while the South-South zone has the lowest price of N814.63 when compared with other zones,” it said.

Jean-Marc Cordier, a former Vice President of the Abu Dhabi National Oil Company (ADNOC), has joined the services of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC) Limited.

Investment firm acquires controlling stake in Infrastructure Bank

From Abubakar Yunusa ABUJA

An investment firm, Norrenberger group, has taken over a controlling equity stake of 60 per cent in The Infrastructure Bank.

The process of acquiring the majority stake in TIB started in 2019.

In a statement made available to journalists, the Chairman, Norrenberger Group, Ibrahim Aliyu, stated that the Central Bank of Nigeria approved the acquisition of 60 per cent controlling stake in the bank on Friday March 10, 2023.

He noted that the transaction followed established protocols and the necessary regulatory procedures.

About the deal, Aliyu said, “The Infrastructure Bank PLC (formerly known as Urban Development Bank of Nigeria Plc) was established in 1992 under Decree 51, as Urban Development Bank Ltd. with the mandate to foster the rapid development of infrastructure across the country. The Bank is a private sector-led, but Governmentsponsored Development Finance Institution, whose previous ownership structure comprises the

three tiers of Government (Federal, State and Local Governments), the Nigeria Labour Congress, and the Private Sector block.

“As a group, this takeover marks a milestone toward Norrengerger strategic infrastructure mission. We look forward to leveraging this acquisition to bring about new opportunities and growth that will be beneficial to Norrenberger, the infrastructure space and the general public.”

Responding, the Chairman of The Infrastructure Bank, Lamis Dikko, said, “We are looking forward to a brighter future as part

of the Norrenberger group.

“This transaction brings a win-win for everyone involved, the Norrenberger group, selling shareholders, remaining shareholders and the infrastructure space in Nigeria especially at a time where the infrastructure deficit is huge. Norrenberger has differentiated itself through excellent service delivery, and we will continue in that culture.

I believe that the new umbrella under which The Infrastructure Bank will be operating will act as a springboard for us and our mission.”

Africa accounts for more than half of world’s poor, says UNECA

Hanan Morsy, chief economist, United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (UNECA), says Africa currently accounts for more than half of the world’s poor.

Morsy spoke at the 55th session of the conference of African ministers of finance, planning, and economic development in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, on Monday.

“The continent faced a tsunami of global shocks that have exacerbated existing socioeconomic operation and equity,” Morsy said.

“Africa, as a result of these shocks, currently accounts for more than half of the world’s poor at 54.8 percent.

“And we have estimated 548 million Africans living in poverty in 2022 and 149 million at risk of falling into poverty in the same year.

“There is a skewed distribution across the continent in terms of concentration of these issues, with particularly East and West Africa having a higher share of poverty across regions.”

Report: Hedge fund admitted P&ID made unlawful payments to Nigerian officials in 2021 lawsuit

From Abubakar Yunusa ABUJA

VR Capital, a hedge fund firm, says payments made to Nigerian officials by Process & Industrial Developments (P&ID) violated the law, Semafor Africa is reporting.

VR Capital, a major stakeholder in P&ID, made the allegation in a separate lawsuit against “business partners it bought its stake in the company from”.

Nigeria is seeking to overturn a 2017 arbitration award of $6.6 billion plus interests in favour of P&ID, over a failed gas supply and processing agreement (GSPA).

The country is alleging that the contract was secured through dishonest means that included bribery and perjury and that the

arbitration award, which has now risen to $11 billion because of interests, should be quashed.

In 2019, the hedge fund managed by VR Capital Group, bought a large stake in P&ID.

Subsequently, the company stepped into the case between P&ID and Nigeria and has since backed the company for the $11 billion payout.

In a move to overturn the arbitration award, Nigeria got a court clearance to request documents from P&ID stakeholders.

However, the New York district court vacated its order in November 2020, on the grounds that Nigeria had not “provided a good reason” for bypassing the procedures set out in a mutual legal assistance treaty (MLAT) between the US and Nigeria.

But in February 2022, a US

court of appeal for the second circuit permitted Nigeria to request documents from P&ID stakeholders, including VR Capital.

According to Semafor Africa’s report on Monday, details of the previously-confidential case between the P&ID shareholders emerged due to Nigeria’s request.

It said the filing came to light in New York in December following a two-year long disclosure battle between the two parties.

A division of VR Capital wrote in May 2021 in a confidential London court of international arbitration filing that “regardless of whether or not these payments were made for corrupt purposes, they were unlawful”.

“As a matter of Nigerian law, any undisclosed payments

to a public official by someone seeking a government contract is prima facie unlawful,” the court document reads.

The report said the payments VR Capital referred to as “unlawful” in its May 2021 filing, were those made by companies linked to P&ID to Grace Taiga and Taofiq Tijani — two petroleum ministry officials around the time the gas contract was signed.

Taiga is facing prosecution for allegedly taking bribes to facilitate the award of contract in the P$ID case.

Meanwhile, Mark Howard, lawyer representing Nigeria, had told a high court that VR Capital is “cynically pursuing” vast damages from Nigeria in open court while alleging behind closed doors that Nigeria was indeed wronged by P&ID.

Morsy said the situation was further exacerbated by existing inequalities, adding that even in times of high economic growth in Africa, the rate of inequality still rose.

She explained that several recommendations, both domestic and international, had been put in place to help tackle poverty.

“We need to pursue inclusive macroeconomic policies such as targeted and efficient spending and build resilience to future shocks at the household and community level,” Morsy said.

“African governments need to enhance resource mobilisation. To do that. I think several measures would help, including closing tax loopholes. “We need to pursue inclusive macroeconomic policies such as targeted and efficient spending and build resilience to future shocks at the household and community level,” Morsy said.

“African governments need to enhance resouholes.

Road traffic rules: Security agencies, others charged to tame violators

By Stanley Onyekwere

Minister of the FCT, Malam Muhammad Musa Bello, has charged the FCT Directorate of Road Traffic Services and other security agencies involved with traffic management to redouble their efforts in curbing the activities of these violators of traffic rules and regulations in Abuja, the nation’s capital city.

Bello who gave the charge at the official unveiling ceremony of FCT DRTS online vehicle and license registration service portal, said such activities left unchecked, have the capacity to roll back all the gains made by the various traffic regulation agencies over the years.

He noted that the FCT holds an unenviable position as one of the sub-nationals with a disproportionately high number of road accidents in the country.

According to him, it is quite disheartening to see drivers (in total disregard for road rules and regulations) drive right through red lights as if the lights were either non-existent or that the rules do not in any way apply to them.

He added that even worse is the nonchalance of some drivers who have formed the unhealthy habit of driving against the traffic often with very unpleasant consequences, saying that a recalcitrant driver not only endangers his or her life but also those of the passengers and other road users as well.

Stressing the need for residents to comply with all rules regulating road usage in the FCT, the Minister said it is also imperative that they join in this crusade to ensure safety

on FCT roads by ensuring that drivers obey traffic rules at all times.

Commenting on DRTS online registration platform, he said it is a part of the Administration’s overall ease of doing business strategy will not only save countless man hours, but also tremendously improve the overall motoring experience for drivers in the FCT.

“Leveraging technology in this manner is therefore

unavoidable in order to improve efficiency within the system and it is our intention to deploy similar measures for other service providing sectors of the FCT Administration as well.

“On our part the FCT Administration will continue to place road safety and proper traffic management services on the front burner of its development agenda and I call for the cooperation of all road users in the FCT to make our

roads as safe as they can be”, the Minister stressed.

Earlier, in his welcome address, the DRTS Director, Dr. Bello Abdul-lateef, opined that the introduction of the Self-Service vehicle registration portal in the FCT will be a game changer for motor vehicle registration with all the multiplier advantages.

He said: “Online Vehicle registration will allow a client to register his or her vehicles

from the comfort of their homes in real-time; It reduces multiple registration of vehicles as this will further strengthen the integrity of the FCT database.

“Furthermore, unwholesome activities as well as touting and other human errors will be drastically reduced to the barest minimum; it will be time and energy saving; and It will in no doubt, stimulate revenue generation as all leakages are drastically reduced”

FCT Fire Service sensitises residents on curtailing fire disaster

By Stanley Onyekwere

Apparently disturbed by the recurring fire incidents in parts of the nation’s capital in recent time, the FCT Fire Service has commenced intensive sensitisation of residents, aimed at to reducing the menace, in order to save life and property.

Acting director, FCT Fire Service, Engr Sani Saidu, noted that there are over 20 cases of fire outbreaks in the area alone, from January to the end of February this year.

Speaking during one of the exercise held, in Dutsen Alhaji community in Bwari area council recently, Saidu explained that the sensitisation exercise was meant to address the frequent fire outbreaks in Dutsen Alhaji community and other communities in the area.

Saidu, who was represented by Head of fire prevention and protection unit of the service, Timveh Jeremiah, bemoaned that the access road into the community has been blocked by traders, hawkers and Okada riders, making it difficult for the fire service trucks to access

the community anytime there are fire incidents or other emergencies in the area.

He called on the Hakimi of the community, to warn residents of the area against blocking the only access road into the community, adding that the sensitisation exercise would continue in other communities in the area.

Responding, the Hakimi of Dutsen Alhaji, HRH Alhaji Abbubakar Bako, thanked the FCT Fire Service for organizing the sensitisation exercise in the community, adding that the would

help reduce frequent fire outbreaks in the area.

Represented by the Waziri of the community, Mallam Ibrahim Sarki, Bako, however, called on the FCT administration to help in removing all structures and obstructions, as well as all those blocking the access road into the community.

The sensitisation exercise, which took place at the palace of the Hakimi of Dutsen Alhaji, attracted residents of the area, including the village heads and leaders in the community.

L-R: Permanent Secretary, Inter-parliamentary Relations and protocol, National Assembly,Felix Orumwense; Ag. Deputy Clerk, National Assembly, Barr. Kamoru Ogunlana and Ag. Secretary, Human Resources and staff development Directorate, Barr Birma Maina, during the 2023 Commonwealth Day celebration at the National Assembly, yesterday in Abuja. Photo: Mahmud Isa

Why Trump supporters are wary of joining protests he called for

Donald Trump called for protests against his possible imminent criminal indictment, and police in major cities are preparing for unrest.

But the prevailing message from some of his most fervent supporters is: stay home.

It’s a contradiction that makes sense after investigating pro-Trump spaces online.

On mainstream social networks, messaging apps and Trump’s own Truth Social, rumours are swirling.

There’s breathless chatter about double agents and “false flags” - attacks carried out with the intention of blaming opponents for the violence.

Many of the former president’s steadfast supporters believe that the Capitol riot on 6 January 2021 was instigated not by Trump fans and far-right groups such as the Proud Boys and Oath Keepers, but instead by federal agents or left-wing “antifa” - anti-fascist activists who hoped to discredit Mr Trump.

They point to the presence, revealed in court documents, of confidential FBI sources in the crowd that day.

But that’s very different to saying there was a plot by federal authorities to spark violence. While there’s no evidence of that - and voluminous evidence that the more than 1,000 people arrested in connection with the Capitol riot were Trump supporters - fringe news sites have been filled with wild speculation and suggestions about “deep state” plots.

Some of the coverage has even filtered up to more mainstream outlets such as Fox News.

The rumours, and fear of a repeat of the events of January 2021, have dissuaded many of those who would be out on the streets protesting over Mr Trump’s possible arrest.

Ali Alexander, a far-right activist who organised protests leading up to the Capitol riot, announced that he wasn’t planning to

protest and said that conspiracy theorist Alex Jones of Infowars was also staying home.

Georgia Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene, a Republican known for her loyalty to Mr Trump, repeated similar concerns:

The same sentiments were rife in proTrump Facebook groups, on Telegram channels, on sites like 4chan, and on Truth Social.

“Most of the chatter I’ve seen about protests is that they’re all going to be crawling with feds or set ups by the deep state to pull off false flags and make ‘peaceful protestors’ look bad,” says conspiracy theory expert Mike Rothschild.

Mr Rothschild, author of The Storm is Upon Us, a book on the QAnon conspiracy theory, noted that a protest on Monday held by the New York Young Republican Club drew

only a few dozen supporters.

“I think some of this is genuine paranoia over being arrested, and some of it is that there’s just fewer people with the fanatical devotion to Trump that drove January 6th,” he says.

In contrast with his messages prior to the Capitol riot, Mr Trump has not been specific about a focal point or timing of any potential protest.

But there are indications that talk of violence against Trump’s opponents is rising. Advance Democracy, a non-partisan research group, found a spike in mentions of violence trebled on Truth Social after Mr Trump declared on Saturday that he would be arrested and urged his supporters to “PROTEST, TAKE OUR NATION BACK!”

Law enforcement seem to be taking such

Gwyneth Paltrow in court as ski crash trial starts

Gwyneth Paltrow is in a US court as a civil trial begins over claims she seriously injured a man in a “hitand-run” skiing accident in Utah in 2016.

The actress is being sued by retired optometrist Terry Sanderson, who has alleged Paltrow crashed into him at the Deer Valley resort in Park City.

He claims she skied “out of control”, causing “a brain injury, four broken ribs and other serious injuries”.

Ms Paltrow has counter-sued, claiming he hit her with a “full body blow”.

Opening statements in the jury trial are expected to be made on Tuesday, with proceedings scheduled to last for eight days. The Oscar winner is expected to testify.

Mr Sanderson, 76, is seeking damages of $300,000 (£245,000), having had a previous claim for $3.1m (£2.5m) dropped.

The original claim, filed in 2019, said: “This case involves a hit-and-run ski crash at Deer Valley, Utah, where defendant Gwyneth Paltrow skied out of control and hit the back of Terry Sanderson, another

skier, who was downhill, knocking him down hard, knocking him out, and causing a brain injury, four broken ribs and other serious injuries.

“[Ms] Paltrow got up, turned and skied away, leaving Sanderson stunned, lying in the snow, seriously injured.”

The filing also claimed that a ski instructor, who had been training Ms Paltrow, saw Mr Sanderson injured but also made no attempt to help him.

It also claimed the instructor did not send for help and later accused Mr Sanderson of having caused the crash in

threats and the possibility of large protests seriously.

New York police are bolstering security around the courthouse where Mr Trump would be arrested. Police in Los Angeles are preparing for a pro-Trump protest on Tuesday outside a federal building, the LA Times newspaper reports.

In Washington, police say they have no specific information about pro-Trump protests but civil disturbance officers are on standby.

On Saturday, Mr Trump is scheduled to hold a rally in Waco. The central Texas city was the site of a raid on a Christian cult in 1993 which resulted in the deaths of 82 cult members and four federal agents, an incident that has long been a rallying cry for antigovernment and anti-law enforcement groups.

a “false report to protect his client”.

Mr Sanderson previously said he waited for almost three years to file the lawsuit because he could not function properly because of the concussion, and also had some problems with lawyers.

Ms Paltrow later filed a counterclaim, alleging that Mr Sanderson had hit her.

The claim says she was shaken by the collision and stopped skiing with her family for the day.

It added that Mr Sanderson apologised to her and said he was fine.

Fungal infections spreading in US at ‘alarming’ rate, says CDC

Adeadly fungal infection that is hard to treat is spreading rapidly at an “alarming” rate, says the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

US cases nearly doubled in 2021 from 756 to 1,471, says the CDC report.

Healthy people are not at risk from Candida auris but those with weak immune systems or using medical devices like ventilators or catheters can suffer severe illness or die.

The majority of cases tested were

immune to anti-fungal treatment.

For this reason the CDC has called it an “urgent antimicrobial resistance threat”. Many patients are in hospitals and elderly care homes.

One in three patients with invasive infections die but it can be difficult to assess the exact role Candida auris played in vulnerable patients, said CDC epidemiologist Dr Meghan Lyman, the report’s lead author.

The infection was first reported in the US in 2016. The most rapid rise in cases

was from 2020 to 2021, according to CDC data which was published in the Annals of Internal Medicine.

Another reason for concern was the increase of cases that became “resistant to echinocandins” which is the antifungal medicine most recommended for treatment of the infection.

The CDC attributes the rise to poor infection prevention at healthcare facilities and enhanced screening efforts.

It also may have worsened due to strain

on healthcare and public health systems during the Covid-19 pandemic.

Dr Lyman, told CBS News the rise “emphasises the need for continued surveillance, expanded lab capacity, quicker diagnostic tests, and adherence to proven infection prevention and control”.

Other countries have also been seeing an increase in Candida auris cases.

Last year, the World Health Organization included it on its list of “fungal priority pathogens”. Source: BBC

The South African choir that performed for Queen Victoria

An unearthed cache of century-old photographs of a South African choir that had performed in Victorian Britain inspired a choreographer to reimagine what they went through as they toured the country.

Gregory Maqoma remembers going into his favourite space in the Apartheid Museum in South Africa’s main city, Johannesburg, five years ago.

It is a room in the round - with only one way in and out and gently curving walls that, he says, fills him with a sense of serenity and privacy.

The South African choreographer was drawn to the centre of the room by the sound of music and singing voices.

It was a sound installation by composers Thuthuka Sibisi and Philip Miller. They had worked with contemporary singers to reinterpret the performances of a 19th Century South African choir - based on songs listed on a surviving concert programme.

Captivated, Maqoma danced for 40 minutes - before he sensed another presence.

Looking down on him from around the room was a series of 20 photographic portraits of the members of the original choir, a group of young, black intellectuals who had toured England, Scotland and Ireland between 1891 and 1893 under the name of the African Native Choir.

“The intensity of how they were looking at me dancing made me start asking questions about ‘the gaze’ - how we are looking at each other and how people had looked at them at the time,” Maqoma says.

A series of images show the two young members of the choir playing around in the studio

The photographs were taken by the London Stereoscopic Company, but they had laid unseen for over 100 years until

2014.

Autograph ABP - a London gallery that was researching the presence of black people in Britain before 1948 - unearthed the original glass plates wrapped in parchment paper in the Hulton Archives in London, now part of Getty Images.

There are more than 30 individual and group photographs of 16 choir members - seven women and seven men and two young choir boys.

Some images are expressive close-ups, some are playful - especially with the two young boys, Albert Jonas and John Xiniwe.

In one photo one of them relaxes, smiling, in front of the camera while the other stands behind it posing as the photographer.

But most of the photographs conform to Victorian stereotypes and expectations of people from Africa as “traditional” and “tribal”.

In one group photo, the choir are wrapped in animal skins, some with feather and bead headdresses.

And they have been seated in front of a tiger skin - despite there being no tigers anywhere in Africa and despite the choir members coming from urban areas such as Kimberley, and having been educated at missions including Lovedale in what is now the Eastern Cape.

“That tiger - well, that was just very odd,” Maqoma says.

This image in the archive appears to show the group chatting to each other as an alternative to the more formal portrait (at the top of the page)

His first encounter with the portraits also sparked a feeling in him that he was the “carrier of their spirits”.

“I wanted to answer so many questions: what happened to them travelling from South Africa by boat to arrive in the UK, in a country of the coloniser? How were they

received?”

And so he went to composer Sibisi, and together they created a piece of work that reimagines the physical and spiritual journey of the African Choir.

Broken Chord is a 60-minute production, in which Maqoma is the central dancer alongside four soloists and a chorus.

It is a highly physical, deeply emotional performance, which combines Xhosa and contemporary dance styles, musical harmonies from South Africa and Western classical traditions, English and Xhosa languages along with atmospheric sounds and smells.

On the face of it, the trip of the African Choir was a triumph.

One British newspaper, the Standard, described it in 1891 as a “unique performance, and the audience followed the various items in the programme, some of which were sung in the native tongue, and others in almost faultless English, with

warm tokens of interest and approval”.

Queen Victoria asked them to perform for her at Osborne House, the Royal residence on the Isle of Wight, off the south coast of England.

But years later - in a memoir of her life, including describing her work in medicine and nursing - one of the singers, Katie Manye, recalled how after that performance on 24 July, a granddaughter, accompanying the Queen, made a comment using a derogatory term about how she did not like people from Africa.

It was not an isolated experience.

Manye also recounts how the choir members objected to the use of another derogatory and contemptuous word to describe them.

Her memoir says the tour manager Mr Howells ignored their objections saying: “That’s what you are - the English... will be curious to hear you sing.”

Overall, the trip was difficult.

2030 World Cup: ‘Right time’ for Morocco’s sixth bid

Morocco’s sports minister has said he is “confident” now is the “right time” for the country to launch a sixth attempt to host football’s men’s World Cup.

The North African nation have joined Spain and Portugal in a joint bid for 2030, replacing Ukraine who have been forced to pull out due to the ongoing war with Russia.

“It’s a natural bid - Spain, Portugal and Morocco have close ties,” Chakib Benmoussa told BBC Sport Africa in the Rwandan capital, Kigali, where Morocco’s part in the bid was announced last week at World Cup organisers Fifa’s annual congress.

“(Spain and Portugal) have invested a lot in infrastructure and in developing football and we think the bid has a lot of chance.”

Morocco joining its two European neighbours makes this the first confirmed transcontinental bid in World Cup history.

“Geographically, distances are closer than other groups where we are and which will organise the World Cup in future,” Benmoussa explained.

“We are confident that it will be the right time.”

South Africa is the only African nation ever to win the right to host a World Cup, holding the 2010 edition after beating, among others, Morocco and Egypt in the bidding process.

“I think it is a unique proposal,” South Africa Football Association (Safa) president Danny Jordaan, the man who led organisation of the 2010 tournament, told BBC Sport Africa.

“Portugal and Spain are members of Uefa and Morocco is a member of the Caf, so it brings together for the first time in the history of world football two continental bodies.”

“We want to wish Morocco well, and of course Portugal and Spain will give them a significant boost.”

Moroccans confident

Morocco’s failed bids have all come in the last 30 years, having previously put their hat in the ring to host World Cups in 1994, 1998, 2006, 2010 and 2026.

But this is a first joint bid, something which is raising hopes inside the country itself, according to Moroccan football journalist Amine El Amri.

“People are generally really confident compared to the other bids in the past,” he said, pointing to the expansion of the competition due to take place in 2026 when the USA, Canada and Mexico will also join forces as part of a tri-nation bid.

“With the passing of time and the passing of bids, the general public in Morocco have understood that it doesn’t need to be as costly as it is for one country to host the World Cup,

especially a format where there are 48 teams instead of 32.”

“Especially because the other two partners, Spain and Portugal, have infrastructure (and) logistics to help Morocco, so I think it’s a very strong bid.”

Morocco’s recent performance in Qatar could also boost their chances, having become the first Africans to reach the semi-finals of a World cup - a success that was attributed to the country’s development at all levels of the game.

Morocco also successfully hosted last year’s Women’s Africa Cup of Nations with the Atlas Lionesses reaching the final where they lost to South Africa.

A centennial rival

The Morocco-Portugal-Spain proposal is one of two confirmed bids for 2030, taking on another multi-nation pitch from South America featuring Argentina, Chile, Paraguay and Uruguay.

Uruguay hosted, and won, the first World Cup in 1930, a fact that makes the 2030 edition a centennial anniversary, something that will lend their bid stronger sentimental value.

For now at least, Benmoussa has refused to be drawn on the opposition.

“We don’t know all the groups who will be bidding.

“We work until next year, maybe spring 2024, before knowing all the competitors, but of course we have to do our best to have the best bidding documents.”

A split in African support?

The waters could yet be muddied further by another potential North African challenger, with an additional multi-nation being mooted - but this time one that spans three continents, with speculation that Egypt could team up with Greece and Saudi Arabia.

So could the support of Fifa delegates in Africa be split? Not according to the man in charge of African football, Patrice Motsepe.

“From an African perspective, we really want to make sure that an African nation is indeed part of a successful bid,” the president of the Confederation of Africa Football (Caf) told BBC Sport Africa.

“We will engage and make sure that we don’t get our votes dispersed, that there’s a focus, and that’s why I’m encouraging and welcome the announcement by Morocco, as well as the expression of interest and engagements that Egypt has been busy with.”

The 2030 World Cup host will be decided by Fifa’s member associations at next year’s congress which will be held in Osaka, Japan.

Source: BBC

Putin: China peace plan could be basis to end war

China’s peace plan for Ukraine could be used as a basis to end the war, Vladimir Putin has said.

The Russian leader met Chinese President Xi Jinping on Tuesday in Moscow to discuss the conflict, and relations between the two countries.

Mr Putin said the peace initiative could be put forward “when they are ready for it in the West and in Kyiv”.

But China’s plan - published last month - does not call for Russia to leave Ukraine.

Listing 12 points, it calls for peace talks and respect for national sovereignty.

It also condemns “unilateral sanctions”, in what is seen as a veiled criticism of Ukraine’s allies in the West.

Ukraine has insisted on Russia

withdrawing from its territory as a condition for any talks.

And the US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said calling for a ceasefire before Russia withdrew “would effectively be supporting the ratification of Russian conquest”.

In a joint news conference after talks with Mr Xi ended, Mr Putin said: “Many provisions of the Chinese peace plan can be taken as the basis for settling of the conflict in Ukraine, whenever the West and Kyiv are ready for it.”

But Russia had yet to see such “readiness” from the other side, he added.

Standing alongside the Russian leader, Mr Xi said his government was in favour of peace and dialogue and that China was on the “right side of history”.

He again claimed that China

had an “impartial position” on the conflict in Ukraine, seeking to cast Beijing as the potential peacemaker.

The pair also discussed growing trade, energy and political ties between the two nations.

“China is the leading foreign trade partner of Russia,” President Putin said, pledging to keep up and surpass the “high level” of trade achieved last year.

There are growing concerns in the West that China might provide military support for Russia.

“We haven’t seen any proof that China is delivering lethal weapons to Russia but we have seen some signs that this has been a request from Russia, and that this is an issue that is considered in Beijing by the Chinese authorities,” Nato chief Jens Stoltenberg told reporters in Brussels.

A joint statement released by China and Russia after the meeting between the two leaders said the close partnership between the two countries did not constitute a “military-political alliance”.

Relations “do not constitute a bloc, do not have a confrontational

nature and are not directed against third countries,” they added.

On Tuesday morning, Mr Xi was given a fanfare welcome when he arrived at the Kremlin for a second day of talks.

He said he was “very happy” to be in Moscow and described talks

Memorial raids: Russia targets leaders of banned Nobel Prize-winning group

Nine leaders of one of Russia’s oldest human rights groups, Memorial, have been targeted in raids on their homes, 15 months after their organisation was shut down by the courts.

Among them was Memorial’s co-chair, Oleg Orlov, who is facing a criminal case for “discrediting” the military.

Founded in 1989, Memorial aimed to remember millions of innocent people persecuted by Soviet repression.

But it was liquidated ahead of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine.

The raids took place after Russia’s investigative committee opened a criminal investigation against Memorial for alleged “rehabilitation of Nazism”.

Memorial has come under political pressure for years and that intensified in 2014 when Russia

annexed Crimea from Ukraine and Russian proxy forces seized areas of eastern Ukraine.

It won the 2022 Nobel Peace Prize jointly with Ukraine’s Centre for Civil Liberties and Belarusian civil rights activist Ales Bialiatski.

Mr Bialiatski was sentenced to 10 years in jail this month in a trial condemned beyond Belarus as a sham.

Memorial chairman Yan Rachinsky was one of the leaders targeted in Tuesday’s raids. When he picked up the Nobel Prize in Oslo last December, he told the BBC the group had been advised by Russian authorities not to go Liberal outlets in Russia described the searches as part of a new crackdown by the authorities on dissent.

President Vladimir Putin recently accused the West of seeking to provoke civil unrest by

using a fifth column of “scum and traitors”.

Oleg Orlov is being investigated under a law introduced days after Russian troops marched into Ukraine last year.

The offence of “discrediting the military” has been used repeatedly to give long jail terms to Russians who have dared to criticise the war, including opposition figure Ilya Yashin and Moscow councillor Alexei Gorinov.

Last week the former mayor of Yekaterinburg, Yevgeny Roizman, was jailed for two weeks for posting “extremist” symbols on social media, which he denied.

Allegations of “rehabilitation of Nazism” levelled at Memorial appear to date back to 2021.

According to Memorial, its exstaff were accused of having three men on its database - of more than three million victims - who

authorities took issue with. They included two sentenced for treason and another convicted of working for a Nazi police unit.

The three names in question were highlighted at the time by

President Putin. Memorial said the men had been blocked from the database. With such a large database there were always errors, it said, which it was trying to identify and correct.

Ukraine says Russian missiles destroyed in Crimea

An explosion in the north of annexed Crimea has destroyed Russian missiles being transported by rail, Ukraine’s defence ministry has said.

The Russian-installed head of the city of Dzhankoi said the area had been attacked by drones.

Ukraine announced the explosions but, as is normal, did not explicitly say it was behind the attack.

If confirmed, it would be a rare foray by Ukraine’s military into Crimea, which has been annexed since 2014.

Russia has suffered attacks in Crimea before, but in most cases, responsibility has either been unacknowledged by Ukraine or blamed on some kind of partisan sabotage.

This strike, if confirmed, suggests that the capacity of the Ukrainian air force to deploy drones has increased.

Until now, Crimea has largely seemed out of the range of Ukrainian missiles. But this attack indicates that a drone at least can reach deeper behind Russian lines than previously thought.

The “mysterious” explosions destroyed Russian Kalibr-NK cruise missiles, intended for use by Russia’s Black Sea Fleet, Ukrainian defence intelligence said. Kailbr missiles have been widely used in attacks on Ukrainian cities and infrastructure in recent months.

One unconfirmed report from a resident cited on Ukrainian TV spoke of “booms” that went on for 30 minutes, leaving part

of Dzhankoi with no electricity. The blasts “continue the process of Russia’s demilitarisation and prepares the Ukrainian peninsula of Crimea for de-occupation”, the defence ministry said.

Dzhankoi has been used by Russian forces as a rail hub between Crimea and other areas of occupied Ukraine. Russian TV reports said that Tuesday’s strike had not caused any damage to rail infrastructure.

Russia’s investigative authority said a residential building and a shop were damaged, according to initial findings. All the targets were civilian, it claimed.

Ihor Ivin, the Russian-installed administrator, said a 33-year-old man was taken to hospital for treatment for a shrapnel injury

from a downed drone. He made no mention of any military targets being damaged.

Several buildings caught fire and the power grid was damaged, Mr Ivin was quoted as saying by local media. Another Russianappointed official said a drone had been hit over a technical school, between an instruction area and a student residence.

Russia’s top official in occupied Crimea, Sergei Aksyonov, said air defences near Dzhankoi had been activated and the situation was under control. He urged residents not to pay attention to “fakes disseminated by Ukrainian propaganda”.

Last August, an ammunition depot was targeted near Dzhankoi. Weeks later, Russia blamed Ukraine for carrying out

a drone attack on the Black Sea Fleet in the Crimean port city of Sevastopol in which a warship was damaged.

This latest attack suggests Kyiv is determined to continue harrying the supply chains of Russian forces, targeting in particular its stock of missiles, as well as the routes along which they may be transported into southern occupied Ukraine via Crimea.

Speaking on Ukrainian TV, military spokeswoman Natalia Humeniuk reminded viewers that Dzhankoi was a hub station for the occupying force and that, from the start of the Russians’ full-scale invasion, it had been made clear that defeating their logistics would play a big part in the future status of Crimea. BBC

President Putin and President Xi in Moscow on Tuesday

Oleg Orlov, co-chair of the banned Memorial rights group, being taken to the Russian Investigative Committee in Moscow

Appoint Estate Surveyor to manage your property — ESV. Agu advices Nigerians

By Mashe Umaru Gwamna

An Estate Surveyor and Valuer, ESV Tochukwu

Emmanuel Agu, has advised Nigerians to always appoint an estate surveyor to manage their property.

ESV. Agu gave the advise during a chat with Peoples Daily in Abuja, yesterday.

He explained that ”An estate surveyor and valuer is a professional trained in art and science to manage, direct, supervise, organize and control an individual’s interest in Real Estate with the sole aim of maximizing profits and obtaining optimum returns for the owners of properties”.

He said the services of an Estate Surveyor and Valuer, is ambiguous.

“ The services includes property management amongst many others “.

Speaking on Property Management,the Surveyor stated that, Property management is the daily oversight, control, maintenance and supervision of either a residential, commercial and industrial real estate by a third party.

“They take up responsibilities such as, day to day repairs, ongoing maintenance, security and upkeep of the property”.

He said property management has roles, such as rent determination screening and selection of tenants routine maintenance, management.

Others are preparation, maintenance of vacant property to keep in good tenantable condition advertising, marketing of properties to let, lease, for sale, estate agency preparation and enforcement of tenant agreement eviction of tenant rent disbursement and lots more.

He also spoke on the reasons why hiring an Estate Surveyor is key than hiring Lieu of a Lawyer or other Professionals to manage property.

“An Estate Surveyor and Valuer is the only individual who has undergone professional training and academic knowledge for a duration of five (5) years in a prestigious university or polytechnic and awarded a certificate to practice Estate Management.

And further undergone professional practice examination (PPE), registered with the national body; Nigeria

Institution of Estate Surveyors and Valuers (NIESV) and also registered with the board; Estate Surveyors and Valuers Registration Board of Nigeria (ESVARBON) to practice the profession”.

“Therefore, the knowledge and expertise of property management is professionally embedded in an Estate Surveyor and Valuer who is also the Property Manager.

“It is the rightful job of an Estate Surveyor and Valuer to handle property management because of his accrued skills, experience, academic qualification and expertise in the profession over time”,he said.

He maintained that,an Estate Surveyor and Valuer will go through rigorous mathematical processes to determine the value and rental value of a property.

“This is because he was trained in art and science to place value on a property.

The demand of the property in the property market, location of the property, physical conditions

of the property, economic, social and aesthetic value of the property will be considered before determining the rental value of a property.

Property manager will be concerned with getting initiatives to obtain and maximize returns for the property owner,client.”

He noted that, management of a property entails duties like listening to tenants complaints, rent reminders, facility management, routine maintenance and other forms of routine management.

He maintained that, reverse is the case for a Property Manager because it is their full responsibility and one of the services rendered in the profession.

“An Estate Surveyor has the skill to build tenant and landlord relationships.

Property managers understand landlords and tenants which can help property owners avoid potential lawsuits which will save time, resources and energy in the long run.”

Impact of land administration on economic devt enormous —ESV. Okechukwu Madubuko

By Mashe Umaru Gwamna

An Estate Surveyor and Valuer ESV. Okechukwu

Simon Madubuko said the impact of land administration on economic development is enormous.

He said there are various objectives associated to land administration use such as ensuring security for credit system, considering the wellbeing of the environment, developing land market.

Others are guarantees ownership, improves planning and infrastructure and reduces dispute and poverty.

Speaking yesterday in Abuja, ESV. Madubuko stated that “Land administration is the process of determining, recording and disseminating information about ownership, value and use of land and land resources”.

He explained that land is a fundamental resource without which life on earth cannot exist.

It also provides space and materials for the existence of all living beings.

He said access to land is very important for human beings as it provides shelter and a means for their livelihood.

He said land policy of a country is guided by its national political objectives.

He also mentioned the environmental preservation and sustainable pattern of land use.

Similarly, he said land policy is a highly political document that concerns with the economy, society and environment.

“Therefore specific tools and techniques are required for its implementation. “Hence, a good land administration requires the intervention measures of a more technical nature which concerns the application of property rights regimes and security of those rights, access to credit markets, regulations of land sales and rental markets, and measures to enhance sound land use planning, Land reform, Land Taxation and management of natural resources”.

He emphasized that “A sound operational land policy is formulated in accordance with

national political objectives in order to bring about eradication of Poverty, promotion of sustainable housing, sustainable agricultural policy, economic growth and social equity.

Meanwhile, Madubuko stressed that”it is important when a government of the day operates in the instruments of

land tenure security, land market, land taxation, land use planning and development regulation,land reform and management of natural resources to fulfill these objectives.

“If and when a government fulfills those political objectives, it will impact directly and contribute to the economic development of a country”.

An Estate Surveyor and Valuer, ESV Tochukwu Emmanuel Agu,

An Estate Surveyor and Valuer ESV. Okechukwu Simon Madubuko

What a man freed from a 241-year prison sentence finds strangest of all

When Bobby Bostic was released from prison in November, 27 years into a 241-year sentence, lots of things seemed strange.

From wireless earphones (“Why are dudes talking to themselves?”), to people talking to their speaker (“I’m like, what is Alexis?”), to selfservice drink machines (“You wave your hand and the water comes out?”), the world is much changed, compared to December 1995.

But strangest of all were the people.

“It’s how friendly they are, compared to prison,” the 44-yearold says. “You go into a grocery store, and it’s ‘Sir, can I help you?’ In prison, you got nothing but mean mugs [faces] and harassment…”

He is still adjusting to hearing “Hey, how you doing?” instead of “Don’t walk too close to me.”

“Out here, it’s just good things. People smiling. Little kids waving at you. It’s like, this is what life is. This is normal. This is how things are supposed to be.”

Presumably, then, it’s hard to adapt after 27 years of ingrained, institutional aggression…

“No, because deep down inside, you always wanted that humanity. You wanted that human connection…that’s life. That’s beauty. That’s the joy of being a human.”

After almost 10,000 nights in a cell, November 8, 2022, was Bostic’s last. But he was too busy dreaming of freedom to sleep.

Instead, he spent the long, dark night packing his cell. He left his possessions for other prisoners, but kept one thing. His typewriter held too many memories - too many stories - to leave behind.

At sunlight, with his cell packed, he looked at the board setting out which prisoners were moving cells. Next to his name was one word: released.

“It wasn’t real until I seen the words,” he says. “When I did, it was like music to my soul.”

His departure now a reality, Bostic put on his going-home outfit. After 27 years in grey prisonwear, he had chosen a three-piece blue suit.

“It represents the new chapter of my life,” he says. “The new business of life.”

Twenty-five years earlier, Judge Evelyn Baker told Bostic he would “die in the department of corrections”. But now, at 7.30am on a November morning, Bobby walked out of prison a free man, his suit and smile as bright as the Missouri sunshine.

As he did, a woman in a black hat stepped forward to hug him. Her name was Judge Evelyn Baker.

The journey that ended with a hug outside prison began in December 1995, on a long, drugfuelled day in St Louis.

After drinking gin, and smoking weed and PCP, the 16-year-old Bostic and his friend Donald Hutson went on an armed robbery spree. They stole from a group giving Christmas presents to the needy. They fired a gun (not causing injury, thankfully). They took a car from a woman at gunpoint.

Bostic was offered deals if he pleaded guilty, including a 30-year sentence with the chance of parole. He turned them down. He was, of course, found guilty. Judge Baker gave him consecutive sentences for his 17 crimes, adding up to 241 years.

Hutson took a deal, pleaded guilty, and got 30 years.

When the BBC first interviewed Bostic in 2018, he had glimmers of hope. In 2010, the US Supreme Court ruled that juveniles should not get life sentences without parole for non-homicidal offences. In 2016, it was confirmed the ruling should apply to past cases, such as Bostic’s.

But the state of Missouri was unwilling to release Bostic. It argued, in effect, that he didn’t have a life sentence - he had multiple sentences, for multiple crimes, that happened at once.

It even claimed he had the chance of parole in “extreme old age”.

In April 2018, a month after the BBC interview, the US Supreme Court dismissed Bostic’s appeal. It did not say why.

“Most people at that time will give up,” Bostic says. “Once they deny you, there’s nothing left.”

But Bostic did not give up. He went back to his self-help booksNapoleon Hill is a favourite - and back to his typewriter. The hope stayed alive, one letter at a time.

It was an amendment to a new Missouri law, offering parole to prisoners given long sentences as children, that gave Bostic another chance.

Yet by 14 May 2021 - the last day of Missouri’s legislative session - it had still not passed.

“I didn’t have a lot of faith,” Bostic says. “Usually, if it doesn’t pass by January or February, there’s no chance of it getting there.”

And then Bostic got a message from a pen-pal.

“The prison started letting us get emails,” Bostic says. “Someone emailed me an article in the Missouri Independent, telling me the law had actually passed…it was a miracle. I was like, man is it going

Judge Baker - who, in 1983, became the first black woman appointed judge in Missouri - began to question Bostic’s sentence around 2010, two years after retiring, when reading about the difference between teenage and adult brains. In her 25-year career, it is the only sentence she regrets.

to really happen? Is the governor going to sign?”

The governor, Mike Parson, did sign. Thanks to “Bobby’s Law”, Bostic - and hundreds of othersbecame eligible for parole. Bostic’s hearing was set for November 2021.

“But I didn’t know what to expect,” he says. “The parole board is not a get out of jail free card.”

At hearings, inmates are allowed one delegate to help them. Bostic knew who to ask - the judge who told him he would die in prison.

Judge Baker - who, in 1983, became the first black woman appointed judge in Missouribegan to question Bostic’s sentence around 2010, two years after retiring, when reading about the difference between teenage and adult brains. In her 25-year career, it is the only sentence she regrets.

In February 2018, she wrote an article for the Washington Post, calling Bostic’s sentence “benighted and unjust”. A month later, she spoke to the BBC, repeating the message.

So what did she say in the parole hearing?

“Bobby was a 16-year-old child who I treated as a full-fledged adult, which was wrong,” she tells

the BBC now. “I’ve gotten close to Bobby and his sister. I’ve seen him turn from basically a juvenile delinquent into a very thoughtful, caring adult. He grew up.”

As well as Judge Baker, one of Bostic’s victims from 1995 wrote to support his case (the BBC has previously contacted some of Bostic and Hutson’s victims, but none wished to speak publicly). With their help, the parole hearing was successful.

“If I could have turned cartwheels, I would have,” Judge Baker says.

It meant, exactly one year after the parole hearing, the person she hugged on that sunny November morning was a free man.

“That was like Christmas, New Year, every holiday rolled into one,” she says. “I started crying. Bobby was free.”

After meeting Judge Baker, plus friends, relatives, and supporters, Bostic went to eat his first nonprison meal since 1995. A vegan for 24 years, he chose an Impossible Taco. But there was a problem.

“I got in the car and threw up my whole meal,” he says. “When you leave prison, you haven’t rolled on the highway for 27 years. There’s this thing called motion sickness.”

After recovering, he went to his sister’s house on the south-side of St Louis, the city where he grew up. Over the day, he says, more than 400 people came to greet him.

“They were lined up round the block,” he says. “When I turned this way, I shook this person’s hand, this cousin, this aunty, this uncle, this friend… I was up until two in the morning.”

Yet the outside world was not a never-ending party. There was, you could say, some motion sickness.

Bobby and his sister run a charity, Dear Mama, which gives food, toys, and other support to low-income families in St Louis (it is named after his late mother Diane who, Bobby says, “gave to lots of people, even though we didn’t have much”). He runs a writing workshop every Thursday at the city’s juvenile detention centre, and hopes to do more. But like the charity, it is voluntary work.

His gets money from book sales - he has seven on Amazon, all written on his prison typewriterand occasionally from giving talks. From that, he rents a one-bedroom apartment and pays bills.

“What I’m doing now, I’m barely surviving,” he admits.

Source: BBC

Bostic outside a shopping mall in St Louis last month

Judge Evelyn Baker meeting Bobby Bostic inside prison in 2020

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2023 polls: The submissions, the lessons (1)

Cont. from back page

who apparently explored and exploited regional affiliation of the Nigeria population and went too deep into capitalising on our religious differences to carve out a virulent and equally violent support base for his presidential candidacy. Nigeria witnessed this disturbing situation where he and his covert backers prevailed on the Christian associations and clergies, who turned their pulpits to campaign podiums and sites for the propagation of religious hate messages. We got low to the point that the candidate told the Christian to take back their country. It was a low for the country; a return to the errors we thought we could finally eliminate from our system as we approached a new dispensation of national healing and togetherness.

The victory of the Labour Party candidate in Lagos, as sweet as it may be to the nation’s political evolution, is actually a negative because it emanated from a systemic error in the balancing of the country, particularly with regard to regional advancements. The historical victory was carved out of a combination of religious and tribal display of bigotry. The victory came from some segments of the population that planned a silent coup to upset the seat of Yoruba democracy. The Yoruba see this as a clever and painstaking tribal attack on the Yoruba nation; but much more a signal to the bottled regional superiority war among the Nigeria regions and tribal men.

The ensuing Lagos state governorship elections became a reflection of the extent and intents of the players and participants in the game. It appeared at a time, it wasn’t democracy again but a war of tribal, religious and regional control. The Obedients, having the full backing of their self-styled lord Obi, became hell bent on displacing the Yoruba leadership in Lagos, and leveraging on the presidential win in the state grew wings to the extent of publicly declaring that Lagos state is a ‘no man’s land.’ That the Yorubas considered it an absurd; as a believer in One Nigeria, I find it impossible to understand the basis for the Obedients to feel so confident to encroach into the basic life of a people in such a way that angers all, particularly the sensibility of the dominant Yorubas in the South West. It is a fact that no state or region in the country would accept such without corresponding effect ; and definitely the South-East, where even an Ebonyi man would not be allowed to contest in Enugu state. It was an affront, but it has become yet a fundamental challenge to the entire country. We will have to deal with the aftermath of this ugly development, both oral outbursts and actions from all the tension points. This is as the Labour Party or its leadership allowed it to be hijacked by political opportunists who leveraged on the ruling party’s same religion ticket to evoke and organise ethnoreligious sentiments among the people of Southwest. At the end, the support

for the messiah figure in Peter Obi was not about capacity or antecedents but divisive religious and regional affiliation sentiments that became virulent before, during and after the elections.

The 2023 elections would be very difficult to analyse; we just saw an election that appears to present a large level of citizens’ awareness and desire to effect changes via the power of the ballot. The elections have ended and we have continued to see the same outburst that characterised the preelection time, but the figure of election participation has a different story to tell. In reality, the 2023 elections recorded the highest level of voters’ apathy in the country since the 1999 elections. INEC announced that over 90 million Nigerians registered as voters; we had expected a massive voting population but ended up recording 77.78 voters’ apathy in the presidential election. Where were the populations who wanted to take back the country? Was it just a social media gyration that has no bearing with reality? Has Nigeria been swindled of a chance to have a real reawakening? These and many questions seriously beg for answers.

Another development worthy of discussion as far as the 2023 elections is concerned is the rise and impact of the Obedient movement in the entire permutation of events before, during and now, after the elections. It is not panning out what the movement was really about; results and outcomes of polls were a complete deviation from

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what such a movement could have achieved if it is for real. After a series of unbelievable wins at unexpected sections of the country during the presidential election and for the first time, having a third party having such a strong, formidable appearance in an election at that level in the country, the party and the movement went out of fire and couldn’t achieve anything at the state level where wins could have strategically become the structure the party has always been accused of lacking. Where were the same people that gave the Labour Party above 90 percent of the presidential ballots in the entire South-east states, and overwhelming victories in the SouthSouth states? It appears the Obedient movement is just as it was summarised, “a fluke and spaghetti movement.”

There is so much to be studied about the 2023 elections across the country; the result itself, the discussions around voters’ intimidations, the glaring variation in the presidential and governorship election outlooks. There would be the need to ask and answer the question, as to what extent the 2023 elections is peaceful, free, fair and credible based on recorded realities and facts and without spaces for emotional biases. We must learn every lesson embedded in the election term and we must evolve a better Nigeria from it.

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Paris 2024: Yusuf confident Olympic Eagles will scale Guinea hurdle

By Albert Akota

Twenty-four hours before his wards are due to take on Guinea’s Olympic squad in a final qualifying fixture, first leg duel at the Moshood Abiola National Stadium, Head Coach Salisu Yusuf said his Nigeria U23 boys are very much up to the task of grabbing one of the tickets to this year’s Africa U23 Cup of Nations in Morocco.

“I am satisfied that we have been able to work hard these past days and are now set for action. The players know that reaching the Africa Cup of Nations presents them a tremendous opportunity to fight hard for a ticket to the Olympics, which is a global tournament.

“We have invited a number of players from overseas that we believe can help us stake a very strong claim to the ticket, and we will be aiming for a good win on Wednesday. The second

leg is on neutral ground, but we don’t want to entertain that in our minds. We have the objective of working assiduously to wrap up things in this first leg.”

Guinea’s U23 squad had their official training at the Moshood Abiola National Stadium on Saturday evening, hours before the Olympic Eagles took to the same pitch for their final workout ahead of the encounter.

Nigeria have won all the available medals in the Men’s Olympic Football Tournament, taking the gold in Atlanta, USA in 1996 and the silver medal in Beijing, China in 2008. Eight years later, in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, the squad led by John Mikel Obi won the bronze.

The return leg of the Nigeria/Guinea has been scheduled for the Complexe Sportif Prince Heritier Moulay Al Hassan starting from 7pm Morocco time (8pm Nigeria time) on

Tuesday, 28th March. For Wednesday’s encounter in Abuja, CAF has appointed Sabri Mohamed Fadul from Sudan as referee. His compatriots Abdelgabar

Mohamed Abdelgabar and Ahmed Subahi will serve as assistant referee 1 and assistant referee 2 respectively, while Ring Akech Malong from South

Sudan will work as fourth official.

Munkaila Nassam Adam from Ghana will be the match commissioner.

AFCON 2023 Race: Fans to pay N2,000 and N10,000 to watch Super Eagles take on Wild Dogs

Tickets for Friday’s 2023 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying match between the Super Eagles of Nigeria and the Djurtus (Wild Dogs) of Guinea Bissau have been calibrated in price ranges of N2,000 and N10,000 for ordinary and VIP seats respectively.

The tickets are available at the secretariat of the NFF at the Package B of Moshood Abiola National Stadium, Abuja, Old Parade Ground, NFF’s former office at Wuse Zone 7 and other designated places which details will be announced on broadcast stations nationwide.

Nigeria, on six maximum points from their previous two matches, take on Guinea Bissau in a top-of-the-table fixture that will largely determine the swing of the pool, with the Super Eagles favoured to pick all six

points and guarantee their passage to Cote d’Ivoire early next year.

As at 15:33 hours on Tuesday, there were 21 players in the Super Eagles’ John Wood Hotel abode in Abuja. Only forward Victor Osimhen, who was already in Lagos and waiting to board his flight to the nation’s capital, and Portugalbased defender Zaidu Sanusi, were still being expected.

Egyptian referee Mahmoud Elbana will be in the centre, with his compatriots Youssef Elbosaty, Sami Halhal and Ahmed El-Ghandour to function as assistant referee 1, assistant referee 2 and fourth official respectively.

Prosper Harrison Addo from Ghana will be the match commissioner and his compatriot Kotey Alexander will be the referee assessor.

Olympic Eagle players

S P R T

FIFA President, Infantino, rains encomiums on late Ismaila Mabo

By Albert Akota

President of world footballgoverning body, FIFA Mr. Gianni Infantino has described the former Super Falcons’ Head Coach, Ismaila Mabo who died recently as “one of the best coaches of his generation.”

In a letter of condolence that he personally signed and addressed to President of NFF, Alhaji Ibrahim Musa

Gusau on 20th March 2023, Infantino expressed, on behalf of the international football community, FIFA’s deepest sympathy to the NFF, family, friends and loved ones on the passing of the titan.

“I would like to express my sincerest and heartfelt condolences on the passing of the former women’s national team coach, Mabo Ismaila. Words seem inadequate to express the sadness we

feel for this loss. Former international player with regular appearances in the senior national team, he notably defended the colours of Mighty Jets FC in the late 1960s and 1970s.

“As a coach, Mabo Ismaila led the senior women national team, the Super Falcons, to the quarter finals of the FIFA Women’s World Cup in 1999, to two Olympic Football Tournaments in 2000 and 2004, as well as to the 1998 and

2000 women’s Africa Cup of Nations titles.

“Considered as one of the best coaches of his generation, inspiration to younger generations of coaches, having contributed to the growth of women’s football in the country and around the world, his legacy and achievements, and in particular his personality, his loyalty and his human qualities will not be forgotten and he will be truly missed.”

NFF explains situation in Super Eagles’ technical crew, says nobody was sacked

The Nigeria Football Federation has issued a statement decrying media reports that it sacked two members of the Super Eagles’ technical crew, Messrs Finidi George and Ike Shorounmu from the team.

The statement read: As part of cost-cutting measures instituted at the beginning of the new administration, we established a rotation policy among the assistant coaches, based on the high number, which was agreed with all of them. The last time that the team had a

programme, Mr. Finidi George was the person who travelled for the friendly match in Portugal. This rotation policy is only for matches. When there is a tournament, all of them will be with the team.

He knew at that time that the next trip would be that of Mr. Usman Abdallah. Abdallah is simply taking his turn to be in the camp for the program of Super Eagles Vs Djurtus of Guinea Bissau, and Mr. George will be around for the next program.

The other person who could have

been contending, Mr. Salisu Yusuf, has been sent to the U23 team. There was no victimization, sleight of hand or any disrespect meant to our illustrious exinternational players.

The case of goalkeepers’ trainer, Ike Shorounmu is somewhat peculiar, as the former Nigeria goalkeeper showed a clear lack of desire to be in camp for the matches against Guinea Bissau.

We do not want to go into any details because we have the utmost respect for all our ex-internationals, including Mr.

Shorounmu. It was only when we got the clear signal that he was unwilling to come, and the Head Coach was in a quandary, that he (Coach Peseiro) requested for the services of Olatunji Baruwa, who he had seen at work during the U20 AFCON in Egypt, to help do the work of training the goalkeepers.

We agree there are a number of challenges concerning contracts of coaches of National Teams that we need to speedily resolve. The NFF is working on these and the issues will soon be in the past.

Gianni Infantino

Discourse

A look at China’s democracy: How are people’s voices heard?

Xi Jinping

By Mr. HE Hong

Deliberating on a draft amendment to China’s Legislation Law during the National People’s Congress (NPC) session, Sheng Hong, an NPC deputy and Party chief of a residential community in Shanghai’s Hongqiao subdistrict, noticed that some suggestions put forward by her community’s residents had been included.

Last November, at the legislative outreach office set up in Hongqiao by the Legislative Affairs Commission of the NPC Standing Committee, a total of 45 suggestions regarding the draft amendment to the Legislation Law were collected through seminars and online opinion solicitation, and directly delivered to the commission, according to Sheng.

This offers a glimpse into how Chinese citizens’ voices are heard and how they are engaged in the country’s whole-process people’s democracy.

In 2019, Chinese President Xi Jinping visited a residential community’s civic center in Shanghai at a time when a consultation meeting on the draft law was being held. He told residents attending the meeting that China’s people’s democracy is a type of whole-process

democracy.

Legislation on doorstep

“The legislative outreach office acts as a direct link between ordinary people and China’s top legislature,” said Sheng.

The Legislative Affairs Commission of the NPC Standing Committee has set up 32 legislative outreach offices, covering all provincial-level regions on the Chinese mainland so that more people can take part in drafting, reviewing, debating and implementing national laws.

The top legislature’s move has also inspired standing committees of provincial and municipal people’s congresses to establish more than 5,500 legislative outreach offices of their own.

“China is on the path of socialist political advancement with Chinese characteristics, where all major legislative decisions are made after

going through procedures and democratic deliberations to make sure the decision-making is sound and democratic,” President Xi said.

Governance by public will

To evaluate whether a country’s political system is democratic and efficient or not, President Xi said one should observe whether all the people can manage state and social affairs, economic and cultural undertakings are in conformity with legal provisions, the public can express their requirements without hindrance, and all sectors can efficiently participate in the country’s political affairs. Ding Xiangyun, 87, lives in an old building in Shanghai. Her life has become much easier since an elevator was installed in her building last year.

In recent years, Shanghai authorities have been installing

elevators in old communities to help senior residents. Project details are announced in advance in each community. But not everyone necessarily supports it.

Shanghai authorities came up with the “three-meeting” system to reach decisions in residential neighborhoods, which serves as an example of whole-process people’s democracy at the grassroots.

The meetings, focused on hearings, coordination and deliberation, gather neighborhood residents for discussions on issues related to community construction. The practice, promoted citywide, allows subdistrict authorities to make local decisions.

Close consultation

There is a consultation room in Hengbei Village of Yancheng City, east China’s Jiangsu Province, where people can discuss issues, such as improving

The meetings, focused on hearings, coordination and deliberation, gather neighborhood residents for discussions on issues related to community construction. The practice, promoted citywide, allows subdistrict authorities to make local decisions

the village’s living environment and making villagers richer by developing local industries, with local political advisors.

During the latest meeting of the village’s consultation council, village locals sat down with members of the city and district committees of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) to discuss enriching rural cultural life.

In Yancheng, political advisors at all levels are mobilized to join 2,693 consultation councils like that of Hengbei. Each political advisor is expected to visit and contact at least 30 locals every year, participate in at least two consultations, and undertake one practical task for residents.

These are practices showing how CPPCC members perform their duties at the grassroots levels.

In his report to the 20th National Congress of the Communist Party of China, Xi vowed to give play to the CPPCC’s role as a specialized consultative body, and to see that it coordinates efforts to promote democracy and unity while making proposals on state affairs and building consensus.

Hong is an international observer based in Beijing.

PEOPLES DAILY

PEOPLES DAILY, WEDNESDAY MARCH 22, 2023

2023 polls: The submissions, the lessons (1)

Antonio Conte: Tottenham boss needs to be ‘more precise’, says midfielder PierreEmile Hojbjerg

Well, the 2023 general elections ended last weekend with the statewide elections; expectedly, winners and losers alike have emerged. There were jubilations and lamentations, varying moods and responses across the states. And there are questions that beg for answers; realities that must be brought to the fore for the service of understanding what the 2023 elections have brought to the table for Nigeria and Nigerians in terms of factors that matters to the sanctity of the national processes; factors that talk to the unity and peace of the country and the legitimacy of its government.

Tottenham midfielder PierreEmile Hojbjerg has called on manager Antonio Conte to be “more precise” following the Italian’s rant on Saturday.

After Spurs gave up a two-goal lead in a 3-3 draw at Southampton, Conte called his players “selfish” and criticised the club’s culture.

Reports suggest the 53-yearold, who has returned to Italy during the international break, will be sacked.

“I think we’ve all seen it [Conte’s comments],” said Hojbjerg.

“He gave a very honest and very open press conference. It is because he is not satisfied. You don’t do that if you’ve reached the quarter-final of the Champions League and if you’re in the semifinal of the FA Cup.

“It comes from the fact that, unfortunately, we did not get the results we as a team and club wanted. We are still where we want and need to be in the Premier League. But yes, it’s hard.

“I understand that if you want to be successful as a team, you need 11 men who are committed to a project and a culture.

“But I think he has to elaborate on how he feels before you as a player can start measuring and weighing.”

Conte criticises ownership and calls Spurs players ‘selfish’

Was Conte ‘spot on’ or is it P45 time?

Former midfielder Ryan Mason, currently a first-team coach under Conte, is reportedly set to be appointed on an interim basis if Conte is sacked.

There were so many expectations from the 2023 elections. The drives from many quarters to have the electoral acts passed and signed by the president began the manifestation of the many expectations. The discussions surrounding the emergence of the BVAS device and electronic transmission of results via IReV portal were a part of the front burners.

The process began with many dramas; from the party primaries, the tensed and even mix of healthy and unhealthy campaigns from many parties’ camps and the eventual abuse of demographic factors within the country; and now, it has ended with outcomes that many have chosen to reject for whatever reasons they have and are giving.

So many gains and yet so many setbacks; so many submissions and so many lessons. We must move away from these elections with a readiness to learn from the positives and the misdeeds alike in preparation for all future election outings in the country.

Again and again, the question has been asked, if the 2023 elections were free, fair and credible enough to receive a pat from Nigerians. The answer would remain relative in a partitioned community as ours with partitioned and differing emotional support and deep biases for preselected outcomes. It would be a near impossible task to get certain losers to see realities and appreciate the many

positives thrown up by the just concluded elections; and there are many positives.

Top of the list of misunderstanding and grievances of a section of the country about the just concluded elections arise from the issue of election result uploading by BVAS and transmission to the IREV. There have been differing interpretations of the Electoral Act to the effect of the possibility of INEC erring or otherwise on the subject matter. Unfortunately, we have also learned men across the country taking opposing sides on the topic and fueling the already volatile discussion. Nigerians need proper education on the exact interpretation of the Electoral Act; and perhaps, maybe a sizeable number of the uninformed and the disillusioned citizens would regain confidence in the system if they could realise they have been misled by emotions and rushed propagandas.

The Electoral Act is bold in its provisions that the electoral umpire, INEC would coordinate the elections including, handling results transmission or transfer as the case maybe in full accordance to its regulation; so, the question to ask at this point would be what have been provided for with regard to in INEC election regulation and which INEC repeatedly promised Nigerians to strictly abide by the provisions. The INEC regulation regarding the handling of election results is in three parts; one and the first states that after counting of ballot, the results must be recorded in form EC08A and duly signed by a polling unit (PU) chief election officer and the various agents of the partaking political parties.

Secondly, the signed form EC08A must be scanned with the BVAS devices and

uploaded on the IReV portal, that is, INEC Result Viewing Portal. The third states that the duly signed form EC08, and the BVAS devices in deployment must be packaged and transported to the ward collation center where they are submitted to the ward collation officer.

So, the question is, did INEC comply with its regulations? Let’s pick it one after the other; one, the EC08A forms were duly filled and signatures appended in PUs as prescribed. So, regulation one was fulfilled. Secondly, signed EC08A forms were scanned with the BVAS devices at all PUs but were not uploaded real time to the IReV as expected by many citizens. This is where many parted with the system in ignorance; the regulation says PU results would be transmitted to the IReV portal, but did not expressly state in real time; in practice, what is sacrosanct is that all scanned results on BVAS must be uploaded to IReV. Nigerians did have so much expectation and were fixated on electronically transmitted results but INEC till now and by law has not disregarded any of its regulation. The third; all the form EC08A and packaged BVAS were submitted to the designated officers at the ward collation center and onward collation up to the State and national Collation center in the case of Presidential Election respectively .

Another question then pops up; is it possible that nontransmitting of the results real time upset the genuineness of the election projected results? Definitely not. The law also prescribes that form EC08A must be relied on at the collation centers in collating results manually up to the State and national collation center respectively. The most important document in the log is the form EC08 duly signed

as prescribed. In a situation where this form is not found or becomes contentious, the agency would resort to accessing copies of the results from the political parties or the police who are given copies of the polling units’ results. By this, the uploaded results on the IReV portal are merely for the public view, comparison and evaluation if they are able to do so, and of no importance in the collation duties of INEC as assumed by many.

I would also state clearly that all political parties, particularly the most active ones, are in possession of copies of the election results from all the polling units state and nationwide or as it may affect them. At whatever time the results are uploaded on the IReV portal, comparison can always be made and allowable actions taken to redress errors if any had been committed.

A very disturbing pattern that was obvious in the just concluded elections is the awful regional and tribal colourations of the outcomes. As much as we preach unity and togetherness, and we hope we would get to the point where our regions, tribal affiliations and even religions would play minimal role in our practice of democracy, it has again turnout, that these divisive demographics are the major influencers of the responses and outcomes of our polls. We witnessed on a very large and disturbing level, the presidential candidate of the Labour Party, Peter Obi,

Cont. on page 28

DAN GAYE

DAN GAYE

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