Thursday, December 22nd, 2022 Edition

Photo: State House

Dangerous group behind attack on INEC facilities – NSCDC boss reveals

By Tobias Lengnan Dapam

The

CommandantGeneral, Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps ( NSCDC) Dr. Abubakar Audi, has revealed that there is a dangerous group behind attack on the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

Audi made the revelation on Wednesday in Abuja, during his last progress review / appraisal conference with zonal and states commandants for the year 2022.

He charged the zonal and states commandants to buckle up and fish out the criminals.

While making the revelations, Dr Audi, also said, “Intelligence gathered revealed that a group of criminals disguise and dress like security operatives to unleash mayhem.”

The NSCDC boss,

threatened to hold zonal and state commandants responsible if the attacks persists.

He said, “There’s no way non- state actors who are bent on destroying our nation can surpass the state forces. Yes, it is true that the year 2022 has been very challenging as it is characterised by all manner of security threats , in spite of this, we must be conscious of the fact that the Corps has made a positive mark.

He lamented that the persistent attacks on INEC facilities nationwide is of great concern to the Corps as the spate of attacks on INEC facilities masterminded by some disgruntled elements to frustrate successful conduct of the 2023 election has led to both material and human losses and must be effectively checkmated and addressed to ensure a successful and a hitch

free 2023 elections.

Audi pledged that the Corps under his watch will continue tosynergise with the Police and other sister agencies and Stakeholders to safeguard INEC facilities nationwide.

“We have been told that those who attack INEC offices soak bread in either gas or petrol , light it up before throwing it into these buildings. All I am saying is that somebody ought to have seen and stopped them . You have to be proactive and not reactive. Damage control is capital intensive.

Audi , who stressed that the Corps cannot afford to fail the nation at this critical time further reminded his men and officers that by the virtue of the NSCDC Acts, they are the lead agency in the protection of Critical National Assets and Infrastructure of government.

He said, the nation is

preparing for the 2023 election campaigns, so, you must organise conferences / workshops for officers in your states on the need to observe electoral acts in line with our mandates.

While charging the commandants to work on their intelligence,and coordinate their states and formations effectively , he demanded a minute - by - minutes update of their findings to the national headquarters.

“I want to particularly warn you against molestation, intimidation or harrassment of innocent Nigerians . You are only permitted to provide a level playing ground for all political actors. We must be civil as our name implies. Anyone who decides to be partisan during this political season would have questions to answer.”

Jack-Rich advocates admission of Nigeria into G-20

Mr

Jack-Rich made the appeal in a statement on Wednesday while highlighting the outcome of a U.S.Africa Leaders’ Summit which held in Washington DC on Dec. 15.

The frontline Nigerian politician and philanthropist noted that the inclusion of Nigeria and the African Union into the G-20 would be a milestone in global economic acceleration.

He urged Africans in the Diaspora to work towards achieving this goal.

Jack-Rich said Africa will be a force to reckon with if Pacific and Caribbean countries are also integrated into the

continent.

”Nigeria is the heartbeat of Africa when you talk about trade. We need to integrate the diaspora countries, and I haven’t heard anyone talk about the pacific countries.

”We have about 15 countries there, and we have 16 countries in the Caribbean, so it’s important to integrate these two diaspora countries with the African continent.

”As part of African continent free trade area, it is important to recognise the potential these two diaspora countries actually have so that we can have a strong bloc. That makes Africa about 85 countries.

”Today Africa is about 30 per cent of global GDP, that is about two and half trillion dollars, that is not strong for us,” he said.

Jack-Rich, however, said Africa needed the right collaboration to achieve the goal.

He said admitting Africa into the G-20 would help the continent a lot and would go a long way in ensuring its technological advancement.

”Another appeal I want to make is to see that Nigeria is also part of G-20. It is going to go a long way because Nigeria is about 19.3 per cent of Africa’s total GDP and that is a strong economy.

”I am in the energy business; one thing we need right now is the technological collaboration from the G-7 point of view and we can actually be employed into enabling Africa to build the right economic gateway.

”As we talk about Climate Change today, one thing you can recognise is, in spite of the fact that Africa only

admits about three per cent of global greenhouse gas.

“We have a youth population that needs to be engaged and to engage the population, we need jobs, and to create that, we need industries,” Jack-Rich said.

Speaking earlier, an American businessman, Arnold Donald, admitted that Africa was a fertile ground for any business to thrive.

Donald said it was encouraging that in spite of the current global economic crises, businesses globally were investing in Africa.

He said the U.S.-Africa Leaders’ Summit creates a window for partnerships and collaborations between the public and private sector, and subsequently accelerates economic growth. (NAN)

L-R

The Chairman, National Drugs Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), Brig.Gen.Buba Marwa (Rtd) presenting commendation letter of

Performance

Dedication to duty to the Assistant Commander of Narcotics & principal stàff officer Media & Advocacy

Chidi Ndukwu, during the Chairman annual special recognition ceremony, held yesterday in Abuja. Photo: Justin Imo-owo

Tein Jack-Rich, the President and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Belema Oil, has advocated the admission of Nigeria into the G-20 economic group.

Canada’s collaboration with Nigeria on Africa’s 1st humanoid robot

worth $12.6bn

The Uniccon Group of Companies says that its collaboration with Canada Trade Commission on Africa’s first humanoid robot “Omeife” is worth $12.6 billion.

The Chairman of group, Mr Chuks Ekwueme, said this when the Canada Trade Commissioner from Global Affairs Canada, visited its facilities in Abuja.

Chuks said that the projected value of the humanoid robot was worth it due to its Africa-centric design and capability features that were the first of its kind within and outside Africa.

He said that the visit was to discuss possible collaboration opportunities between the Canadian and Nigerian markets, on projects like Omeife and the company’s array of technologically-advanced products and services.

Chuks said: “Since the official unveiling of Africa’s first Humanoid Robot, Omeife, the invention has garnered interest all around the world, with various prestigious organisations pledging their support in advancement of the project.”

The chairman said that in the future, the robot’s shares would be owned by investors, partners, the public, and organisations supporting the project.

He said that a military version of Omeife would be launched in 2023 to aid intelligence gathering and other investigative processes.

Chuks said some of group’s upcoming projects for 2023 include: Special UAVs/Drones for security surveillance, SmartAfri, an e-commerce platform that was designed to be the one-stop shop for African-made goods/services.

He called for the support of the Federal Government to facilitate the availability of a database in Nigeria to aid in the area of intelligence gathering.

“The merging of Web 2.0 (SmartAfri) and Web 3.0 (Blockchain) into one product will make it possible for people to shop on SmartAfri and make payments using the SmartAfri token.

“This is one of the reasons behind the upcoming launch of SmartAfri Chain (Africa’s 1st Blockchain technology) that is slated for the first quarter of 2023,” he said.

The Canada Trade Commissioner from Global Affairs Canada, Temitayo Dada said that it sought to explore areas of collaboration after learning about the group’s marketable and impact-driven products and services.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the duo took a tour of the company’s facilities, including the Chemistry research laboratory and the Robotics laboratory. (NAN)

Reps propose 4 years jail term, N200,000 fine for female mutilation offenders

By Christiana Ekpa

The House of Representatives on Wednesday passed through second reading a Bill for an Act to amend the Violence Against Persons (Prohibition) Act, 2015 to increase the penalty for the offence of female genital mutilation.

The bill Sponsored by Ganiyu Johnson from Lagos, seeks imprisonment of four years or a fine not exceeding N200,000.00 for any person who performs female genital mutilation or engages another to carry out such circumcision.

In his lead debate, Johnson said the amendment proposed to section 6(2) of the Act is as

follows: “6 (2) Any person who performs female circumcision or genital mutilation or engages another to carry out such circumcision or mutilation commits an offence and is liable on conviction to a term of imprisonment not exceeding five years or to a fine not exceeding one million naira or to both”.

The lawmaker expressed optimism that an amendment of the said section 6 will go a long was in deterring persons from engaging in the unwholesome practice of female genital mutilation.

“A UNICEF survey recently revealed that in Nigeria, one out of four girls and one out

of ten boys suffers from sexual molestation and about one out of ten children will be sexually abused before their 18th birthday. Among factors that encourages the commission of such unwholesome practices like female genital mutilation is lack of adequate sanctions.

“Female genital mutilation, also known as female circumcision, excision or genital cutting, comprises all procedures that involve partial or total removal of the external female genitalia, or other injuries to the genital organs for non-medical reasons, mostly carried out between infancy and age 15.

“The procedure has no

health benefits for girls and women. Because it is usually performed without permission and often against will, it violates girls’ right to make important decisions about their sexual and reproductive health. Reports show that, 200 million girls and women alive today have undergone a form of genital mutilation (FGM).

“An additional 2 million girls could undergo female genital mutilation by 2030 as a result of Covid-19. It is for this reason that this Bill is proposed, to review the sanctions provided within the VAPP Act, so as to give it the required deterrence it deserves,” he said.

LIFE-ND disburses N819.4m, empowers 1,220 youths, women in Delta

The Livelihood Improvement Family Enterprises in the Niger Delta (LIFE-ND) has disbursed the sum of 2.1 million dollars (N819.4 million) and empowered 1,220 youths and women in agribusiness in Delta since inception.

The State Project Coordinator, Mr Collins Ashoro, disclosed this on Wednesday in Asaba, at a Media Roundtable on LIFE-ND Project Achievement in Delta since inception.

Ashoro explained that the project was co-sponsored by the Federal Government, International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD), Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) and the participating State Government with the major objective to ensure food security, fight poverty, create jobs in the Niger Delta religion.

He said that the project which had six years life cycle, began in 2019 and would end in 2025 in the first phase, adding that it had the projection to run for a second phase from 2025 to 2031.

Ashoro disclosed that Delta government had paid the mandatory counterpart cash contribution of N49 million for year 2020 which had facilitated project implementation in 58 incubation centres in 52 communities in 10 local government areas.

He added that a memo for the request for the 2022 counterpart fund payment had been sent to Gov. Ifeanyi Okowa for his approval to enable the project drawn down fund to pursue another engagement.

He said that the 10 selected local government areas to participate in LIFE-ND Project in Delta were Bomadi, Burutu, Ethiope East, Ika North East, Ika South, Ndokwa West, Ndokwa East, Okpe, Sapele and Ughelli North.

He added that in each local government areas LIFE-ND implemented project activities in 10 communities.

According to Ashoro, the sum of N819.4 million was disbursed based on the following categories; N102.1

million for civil works; N18.8 million for equipment and materials; N248.8 million was for consultation(training and workshops), while N89.9 million was for operating cost and N359.9 million for grants and subsidies.

“From our last round table discussion in 2021, we had 320 incubatees and 58 incubator, but now we have 98 incubators and new 900 incubatees making it 1,220 incubatees so far

“Delta State LIFE-ND Project has recorded a total of 1,220 (28.7 per cent) beneficiaries (incubatees) since Inception against 4,250 for the Project’s life cycle.

“These beneficiaries are categorized into producers, processors and service enterprises in line with the value chain.

“The state has a total of 790 producers, 220 processors and 210 service enterprises.

“Similarly, the beneficiary gender disaggregation has 521 male youth, 601 female youth, 92 Female Household

and six Persons With Usability ( PWD) which purposively targeted 5 per cent.”

Ashoro said that the project was ready to recruit a new set of incubatees targeting the state projections to empower a total number of 4,250 youths and women before 2025 under the LIFE-ND project in the state.

“Resulting from the support given to incubatees in Delta, over 397 individual enterprises established by project beneficiaries in the state are at various stages of development.

“These enterprises were established in the areas of Cassava production and processing, Oil Palm processing, Fish and Poultry production (Broiler) and homestead vegetable gardens.

“On cassava production, 70 hectares of land has been cultivated with TME-419 cassava variety by 30 beneficiaries, in Ossissa, Urhuoka and Urhuagbesa communities in Ndokwa East and Ethiope East LGAs respectively for the first cycle of production,” he said.

L-R: The President, Abuja Original Inhabitants Youth Empowerment Organisation (AOIYEO), Amb. Issac David, the Representative of CHRICED, Comrade Armsfree Ajanaku, The Project Manager AOIYEO, Comrade Bitrus Lawrence and a member of AOIYEO,. Sanha Hajaratu, during the Public Presentation of FCTOIs Charter of Demands, in Abuja. Photo: Justin Imo-owo

Buhari launches eyemark, an APP for citizens, CEOs to monitor capital projects Real -Time

By Egena Sunday Ode

President Muhammadu Buhari Wednesday in Abuja said the Government edged forward in promoting sustainable development by creating a digital application, Eyemark, that enables citizens to monitor and evaluate capital projects, in real-time, with unimpeded access to information on stakeholders, including contract terms and the contractors.

President Buhari, who launched the digital application at the Council Chamber of the State House, said the innovation would help to forestall the practice of abandoning projects as all stakeholders, like communities, Civil Society Organizations (CSOs), contractors, Ministries, Departments, and Agencies, and citizens would continually interact on one platform.

The President said Eyemark, which would provide a regular update on the status of capital projects across the country through bottom-up interactive processes, would be fully involved at every stage, including knowing the cost, structure, benefit, and framework for maintenance after completion.

“The Eyemark application tackles the two major constraints we have faced as a country in our monitoring and evaluation efforts. Eyemark introduces a digital approach to monitoring & evaluation in the Federal Government that gives MDAs the ability to harness geospatial and project implementation data on a continuous basis.

“Furthermore, the constraint of limited monitoring and evaluation personnel is addressed by utilizing a bottom-up approach through crowdsourcing geotagged data from Nigerians in every part of the country. Not only does this address the pressing monitoring and evaluation issues, but it also institutes accountability and transparency in the system, in line with my commitment to Nigerians and the Open Government Partnership.

“With the Eyemark application, Nigerians worldwide can access project information with the click of a button. Project data such as its status, timeline, executing contractors, the amount appropriated and spent so far, amongst others, are now available in the public space.

“With the ability for citizens to give reviews and feedback in real-time on projects around them, we are closing the existing gaps and promoting participation in governance. Due to its decentralised nature, the

Eyemark application brings together all project stakeholders to the table, such as Contractors and Civil Society Organisations in addition to MDAs and Citizens.

“This means that we must all play our roles in the success of project implementation through Eyemark. As such, the Eyemark application should be used by all Federal MDAs as the primary tool for project monitoring and evaluation,’’ he said.

President Buhari implored all MDAs to furnish the application with the relevant data and information for all current and future projects, as the Eyemark application offers an opportunity to sensitise and advertise to the world the goals and magnitude of infrastructure projects being carried out by the government.

He urged the MDAs to work closely with the Ministry of Finance, Budget and National Planning through the National Monitoring and Evaluation Department to continually build upon current efforts.

“On their part, the contractors should similarly utilise the platform as a means to keep citizens abreast of your good works, updating them regularly as projects progress or unforeseen circumstances arise.

“We are spotlighting our collaboration on infrastructure delivery, and your role in this cannot be understated. To my fellow Nigerians and CSOs that speak on behalf of those that cannot, you are the main stakeholder in every project we undertake. As I encourage you to review our projects, I also assure you that your constructive feedback will not be met with deaf ears but an M&E team eagerly ready to respond to you and take action.

“Let me now use this opportunity to commend the Minister and Minister of State of Finance, Budget and National Planning, their dedicated team, and the brilliant minds that made this a reality, for this feat which is in line with our transparency, inclusiveness and participation policy of our Government, especially the Budget and National Planning arm, for delivering on this key mandate and their commitment and efforts towards a more thorough and prosperous Nigeria,’’ President Buhari stated.

The President charged MDAs and the State Governments to work together in extending the effort across all tiers of government to promote a more robust and contextual database of projects.

“I am extremely delighted to launch and deploy the Eyemark application as the primary tool

for Monitoring and Evaluating Federal Government Projects. I do this remembering the words of the Global CEO of the Open Government Partnership as he mentioned that the Eyemark application is “the first nationally coordinated citizens’ driven web application that aligns with Open Governance Partnership Strategy that he has come across in the World” and that he believes “it is an excellent innovation that Nigeria can share with other nations of the World.” Let us make the system work,’’ he added.

The President said Eyemark would remain an official tool for Monitoring and Evaluating Federal Government’s capital projects.

“The aim of this Government is to secure its people through providing a strong economy, protection from external forces and an enabling environment for citizens and businesses to thrive. To achieve this goal, we embark on multiple large, medium, and small-scale projects, running into tens of thousands of projects yearly. These projects are carefully planned collaborative efforts, each aimed at achieving a predetermined goal.

“To ensure that these projects are successful and impactful to Nigerians and our economy, I believe it is critical for their implementation

to be monitored and evaluated at their various stages. However, the state of the country’s Monitoring and Evaluation method has seen thousands of well-meaning capital projects abandoned or poorly implemented over the years.

‘Although corruption, which this administration has fought and continues to fight, has played a role in the alarming number of poorly executed and abandoned projects in the country, we must look beyond it and simultaneously tackle the other contributing factors.

“Top of which is our current paper-based method of Monitoring and Evaluation coupled with the overwhelming ratio of projects to Monitoring and Evaluation personnel. We cannot realistically expect a few individuals to effectively monitor tens of thousands of projects appropriated for during each budgetary cycle,’’ President Buhari said.

The President noted that his administration had invested more than any administration in infrastructure, adding, “but unless we closely monitor our investments, they will yield less value.’’

“It was with this backdrop that I mandated the Minister and Minister of State, Finance, Budget, and National Planning in 2019 to address our issues and constraints

of monitoring and evaluating capital projects.

“I am delighted to say that the mandate has been delivered through the deployment of EYEMARK,’’ he said.

In his remarks, the Minister of State, Budget and National Planning, Prince Clem Agba, said the Eyemark project was inspired by the monitoring and evaluation during the Covid-19 pandemic by the ministry and realized by talented young Nigerians.

He said the “homegrown and nationally coordinated’’ application had transited governments from the era of “earmarking’’ projects, with little or no monitoring tools, to “eye marking’’, where all stakeholders will be fully involved at every stage.

Agba explained that citizen empowerment begins with ownership, where people can freely take photographs of projects, upload them for review and also post comments, and the feedback loop will be sustained by all stakeholders.

The minister thanked President Buhari for his interest and endorsement of the project, which practically reflects his position on transparency and accountability, particularly with citizen participation.

Agba said the digital application will be extended to states and development partners for free.

Saudi restores 95,000 Hajj slots to Nigeria

The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, has restored 95,000 Hajj slots to the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON),ahead of the 2023 Holy pilgrimage.

Assistant Director, Information and Publications, NAHCON, Mousa Ubandawaki, said this in a statement on Wednesday in Abuja.

“The Saudi Ministry of Hajj and Umrah has granted Nigeria its usual allocation of 95,000 slots in 2023 holy pilgrimage.

“The hopes of many

prospective Nigeria pilgrims to perform the 2023 Hajj may have been answered as the Saudi Ministry of Hajj and Umrah has approved the pre-COVID-19 allocation NAHCON.

“The good news was announced by Bahauddeen Alwani, the Director-General in charge of Hajj Missions at the Saudi Ministry of Hajj and Umrah, during a preparatory meeting for hajj via a video conference with the Chairman of NAHCON, Malam Zukrullah Hassan.

“Other guidelines released

for the 2023 Hajj by the Ministry included the removal of age barrier or limit and cancellation of PCR Test for the Hajj,” Ubandawaki said.

Similarly, he said that the Saudi Hajj Ministry had also granted the commission the right of choice of package for pilgrims’ services from the Mutawwiffs of African Non-Arab countries.

“In addition, the Ministry also stated that henceforth, any payment to service providers must be through the e-track or e-wallet platforms as the Kingdom will not

take responsibilities for payment outside the two platforms,” he said.

In his response, the NAHCON’s Chairman, Hassan expressed gratitude and appreciation to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia for the early preparation and restoring of the country’s Hajj allocation.

He said that it was heartwarming that the Kingdom through the Ministry of Hajj has restored the hope and confidence of many prospective Nigerian pilgrims that desired to perform the Hajj this year.

He also thanked the Ministry for its consistent supports and cooperation in serving the guest of Allah.

The chairman, however, appealed to the Ministry to allow the commission to handle the feeding management during the Mashair activities.

This, according to him, will enable the commission to serve Nigeria’s pilgrims better than what obtained at the 2022 Hajj. (NAN)

L-R: Deputy Governor of Kano state/APC Gubernatorial Candidate of Kano state, Dr. Nasiru Yusuf Gawuna, Director General, Gawuna/Garo Campaign Organization, Engr. Rabiu Bichi and Chairman of the Occasion, Prof. Munzali Jibrin, during the Gawuna’s Town Hall meeting with Kano Stakeholders on Tuesday in Abuja.

Photo: Mahmud Isa

Akwa Ibom guber: Enang prays court to strike out Udofia’s suit

Sen.

Ita Enang, former Special Adviser to the President on Niger Delta, has prayed a Federal High Court, Abuja to strike out a suit filed by Mr Akanimo Udofia to compel Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to accept his name as the APC governorship candidate for 2023 election in Akwa Ibom.

Mr Enang, who was joined as 2nd defendant in the suit, told Justice Emeka Nwite that Udofia’s suit was frivolous and had no life any more after a judgment delivered in his favour by a sister court sitting in Uyo.

The ex-lawmaker’s oral application followed the failure of Udofia’s counsel, Umeh Kalu, SAN, to respond to his counter affidavit served on the plaintiffs upon resumed hearing in the matter. No sooner had Kalu prayed the court for an adjournment to enable him respond to Enang’s counter affidavit, which he said was served on him last Friday, than Enang sought a court order striking out the entire suit.

“Following your ruling on Dec. 6 that the 2nd defendant be joined, we have amended our originating summons and parties were served. “But about 5pm on Friday, we got a process from the party that had been joined. We asked for little time to respond, may be after the courts resumption from vacation in January,”

Kalu had said shortly after the matter was called. But the ex-presidential aide, who argued that the case was a pre-election matter which must be determined within a timeframe, said Udofia was no longer ready to prosecute the suit but only employing a delay tactic. He said that though he received the amended application from the plaintiffs last Thursday, he filed and served his processes the next day (Friday).

“If the plaintiffs are not serious, this matter should be struck out. “There is no new thing in this matter as judgment had been delivered by your learner brother at Uyo division of this honourable court. “They are only using this to delay the matter I will pray that this matter be struck out,” he said.

Justice Nwite, however, said that it would be in the interest of justice to give the plaintiffs more time.

“Your case should have been considered more strongly if they (plaintiffs) had not filed anything or were not represented here in court.

“I think it will not be fair to shut them out; let us hear them out,” the judge said.

But Enang urged the court to give Udofia 48 hours to respond to his counter affidavit, the suit, being a pre-election matter. According to Enang, I am the party that is affected in this matter because they are not a member of the party (APC), and a court judgment has declared that he is not a member of the party.

Therefore, this suit becomes a vexatious proceeding, “I will plead that we should give them 48 hours to file,” he said.

Responding, Kalu said Enang was only being emotional, having appeared for himself in the matter.

“And this is what happens when lawyer takes up his own matter. He is a politician and I am not. Let us wait till January,” he said.

Why we can’t deliver $1.96b Eastern railway corridor by May next year – FG

By Egena Sunday Ode

TheFederal Government on Wednesday said that the promise to complete the narrow guage Eastern railway corridor before the end of the President Muhammadu Buhari administration is no longer feasible.

The Minister of Transportation, Mu’azu Jaji Sambo, stated this while fielding questions at the end of the Federal Executive Council (FEC) at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

Recall that President Buhari

Buhari

had two years ago performed the groundbreaking of the $1.96 billion railine project saying that it would stimulate economic activities in 14 states it covers.

Then Minister of Transport, Rotimi Amaechi, had said that the Port Harcourt-Maiduguri line would be delivered before the end of the tenure of the present administration.

But speaking on the project during the post-FEC briefing, Sambo said financing the project has become an issue.

He said the Federal Government had not been able to obtain the foreign counterpart

funding embedded in the project, making it impossible to fund it as envisaged.

His words: The question relating to the promise to deliver the Eastern line narrow gauge before the end of this administration. Now, the Eastern line is the line from Port Harcourt-Maiduguri, it has been segmented in such a way that the first part of the works covers from Port Harcourt to Enugu.

“Now, the truth of the matter is that if there was a promise to deliver this line before the end of this administration, this

promise is no longer feasible because, when the contract was approved, it was approved on the premise that 85 percent will be funded through foreign loan, while 15 percent will be the counterpart funding from the national budget.

“Since that approval, we have not been able to obtain that 85 percent foreign loans for this project. We have been funding it through the national budget on the bases of the 15 percent counterpart funding of the federal government. And therefore, funding has been a major challenge for this project.”

transmits N819.5bn supplementary budget to NASS

By Christiana Ekpa

President Muhammadu Buhari on Wednesday transmitted additional supplementary budget of N819, 000, 536, 937 for 2022 to National Assembly.

In the letter to the House read by the Speaker, Femi Gbajabiamila, during plenary, the President said supplementary would be financed through additional domestic borrowings.

This would raise the

budget deficit for 2022 to N8.17 trillion and deficit GDP ratio to 4.43 percent.

Buhari wrote that the year 2022 has witnessed the worst flood incidents in recent history in the country which has caused massive destruction of farmlands at the point already close to the harvest season.

This, he said, may compound the situation of food security and nutrition in this country.

He said the flood

also devastated the road infrastructure across the 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) and it affected several sections of major roads and bridges nationwide that are critical to movement of goods and services.

He said the water sector was also affected by the flood and there is the need to complete some ongoing critical projects that have achieved about 85 percent completion.

He said the nine critical projects proposed in the sector cuts across water supply, dam projects and irrigation projects nationwide.

“I have therefore approved the supplementary 2022 Appropriation of N819, 000, 536, 937, all of which are capital expenditure,” the President said.

The Speaker referred it to the Committee on Appropriation for further legislative action.

Managing Partner/ CEO Afe and Partners, QS (Dr.) Otaru Joseph Omokhagbo (middle) flanked by widows of All Saints Anglican Church Ikpena Ososo, during the felicitation visit on behalf of late Mrs Esther Afe Otaru Foundation as part of the activities to mark the foundation’s celebration of Christmas with widows and the less privileged, Akoko Edo, Edo state

Cash policy: Finally, House admit CBN deputy governor for briefing

...as Emefiele cites ill health, official trip abroad for absence

By Christiana Ekpa

TheHouse of Representatives, Wednesday resolved to admit a deputy Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN in charge of Financial System Stability, Mrs. Aisha Ahmed in place of the governor, Mr. Godwin Emefiele to brief the lawmakers on the recent monetary policies of the apex bank especially the cash withdrawal limit of N100,000 weekly.

Recall that Emefiele had on Tuesday told the House which summoned him last week that he was outside the country on official engagements.

The communication necessited a reinvitation of the governor for appearance before the House either in person or by proxy on Thursday.

But at Wednesday plenary, Emefiele wrote the House that he was still abroad, adding that he was attending to some health challenges and would therefore delegate Mrs. Ahmed to led a committee of governors to the briefing.

Reading the letter, Speaker Femi Gbajabiamila said “The Clerk has just received a letter and his letter says We refer to your letter of December

FCT: Gwagwalada okada union forum gets new executives

By Usman Shuaibu

A legal luminary, Barr Andrew Ofoji on Saturday swore-in the newly elected officials of Gwagwalada Okada Union Forum in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).

Some of the newly elected officials are: Mallam Yushua Hassan Akula; Chairman, Mr Owudah Hassan; ViceChairman, Mr Abubakar Muhammad; Secretary-General, Mr Sani A. Isah; Treasurer and the position of Assistant Secretary went to Mr Emmanuel Moses.

Speaking at the occasion, the Aguma of Gwagwalada, Alhaji Muhammadu Magaji who was represented by the District Head of Gwagwalada, Mallam Muhammad Lakai, advised the okada riders to carry out their duties with the fear of God.

Also speaking, the Chairman of Gwagwalada Area Council, Hon. Abubakar Jibrin Giri, who was represented by his Protocol II at the occasion, said his administration would take the okada riders along in the affairs of things in the area.

In an interview, the Chairman of Okada Union Forum in Gwagwalada, Mallam Yushau Hassan Akula, said he would provide purposeful leadership capable of satisfying the aspirations of okada riders in the area.

Akula, therefore, appealed to the administration of Gwagwalada Area Council to assist the union with a bus for the smooth running of the union.

On his part, the Unit Head Operation of FRSC in Gwagwalada, Mr Salihu Abubakar Gada, charged the okada riders to avoid riding in oneway, as he counselled them against riding at 11pm.

20, 2022 on the above subject matter inviting the governor of Central Bank of Nigeria to appear before the House on Thursday, December 22.

“Regrettably, the Governor is out of the country on official engagement as well as attending to the some health challenges. He is therefore unavailable to attend this briefing.

“Giving the urgency associated with the briefing, the committee of governors led by Mrs. Aisha Ahmed deputy governor, Financial System Stability is prepared to brief the House”.

Buttressing the point, Gbajabiamila pleaded with his colleagues to allow Emefiele’s representative to brief the House tomorrow.

He said: “Honorable Colleagues, at this stage, we have to rise above certain things and not make it personal anymore in the sense there is a very critical issue which is the the issue of this new cash policy. If the governor has said he is out of the country and in good faith, he is attending to health conditions, if that is the case, would it serve this house to continue to insist on his physical appearance? Two: would it serve the interest of the country

to say we will wait whenever he comes back in January because a lot would have happened between now and then?

“But if he’s asked somebody who’s fully equipped with all the facts, who can be questioned by the House, who’s the deputy governor, Financial System Stability which is what this is all about and who is coming with the committee of governors, I think the point has been made. Let’s hear from her because if we hear from her, we are hearing from the governor. It is akin to me going somewhere and I ask the deputy speaker to represent me and they said no, deputy cannot come. I think under the circumstances, if he had said he was in Nigeria and could not make it, that will be unacceptable. So, I think we should consider it. Whatever the resolution of the House, we will go with it.”

But the House became divided with some agreeing to Gbajabiamila’s position and others suggesting the representative briefed the House Committee on Banking and Currency instead of the whole House.

Hon. Segun Odebunmi who made the suggestion said “Mr. Speaker, Hon.

Colleagues, I want to remind you that millions of Nigerians are looking up to the House as the House of the masses and I believe that you always stand by the masses of this nation. I am a member of the House Committee on Banking and Finance and I can tell you authoritatively, this is my 12th year in the House, I have never seen the kind of the CBN governor we have today in terms of respecting the constitution of this country. The whole House is not inviting the governor and he is giving excuse upon excuse. If the House wants to consider the representative of the governor, then, I will suggest you refer him to the committee of the House so that they can report back to the House. But if you are now inviting the representative of the governor to come and speak to the House, Mr. Speaker, it will not augur well with the institutions of the House. I want to suggest that if that is the opinion of the House, then we refer them to the committee of the House.”

But Hon. Olajide Jimmoh said it was not out of place to allow Emefiele’s representative to brief the House.

“Mr. Speaker, I want to suggest that considering the fact that we have

heard from the letter sent to us, this is an institution, the CBN is also an institution, we should not go on personality. We have invited the CBN governor. If he’s not going to be around and they have promised that another body from the CBN will come and address this institution. For purpose of clarity and other germane issues that are of necessity, I think we should allow that to happen”, he said.

Similarly, the chief whip of the House, Hon. Mohammed Mongunu in his remarks said that it was the resolution of the House on Tuesday to allow representative.

“The Human memory is momentary. If I refresh our memory, yesterday, our resolution is to the effect that if the CBN governor is still out of the country, he can nominate a competent official of deputy Governor that can come and brief the House. Now, he’s still out of the country. He has nominated a deputy Governor to come and brief the House as per our resolution. So, what he has done is in consonance with the resolution that was passed by this House. We should allow the deputy governor to come and brief the House. We are only interested in the facts, not the personality. In that sense, we should allow resolution to stand”, he said.

2023: Group says desperate politicians behind CBN, DSS face-off

By Tobias Lengnan Dapam

Acitizens

led anti sabotage organisation under the aegis of The Natives, has said some desperate politicians responsible for the face-off between the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) and the Directorate of State Security Service (DSS) to sabotage the forthcoming general elections.

The Natives, however, warned those involved in the act to stop or else they will be exposed.

Addressing a joint press conference Wednesday in Abuja, with other Civil Society Organisations, youths groups, National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS), Lawyers, among others, leader of The Natives, Hon. Smart Edwards, urged citizens to be weary of calculated plots that may not be the reason or hidden interest behind the recent turn of events and ignition of heat in the country by elements of confusion.

According to Edwards, All agencies have their modus operandi guiding their operations. The CBN is insulated to be independent in developing its policies and so is the DSS empowered with capabilities to interrogate issues of concern, so also are the courts approachable in cases of infractions. This are not any reason to call for protests.

The group expressed worry that certain Nigerians are being hog washed into another debacle of a non-existing threats to the CBN, in another permutation to keep the streets in chaos as the Yuletide season approaches, “this is political gymnastics and we are not ready for it.

“The story of Nigeria is not all gloom today, our Air Force is making superior strides in the North-east and forests, the Military and Defence Intelligent forces are recovering lost grounds, peace is gradually returning to Nigeria and people are travelling the roads home for the holidays. The Kaduna Trains have resumed and

working, the EAST-WEST Road is almost completed, security situation is improving, the NDDC Board is reconstituted, our Naira is slightly recovering, our elections are around the corner, politicians have come to their seasons, Nigerians must come to their senses.

“Indeed, politicians can be mischievous, I mean the Youths Population are the largest voters in this country, particularly the Students, and rather than politicians and political parties reaching out to them with their well-defined manifestos and water tight integrity based assurances of a visionary government and campaigns that should rest on their records, so as to gain their acceptance, they are busy sponsoring chaos.

“Let it be made abundantly clear that as a Citizens led Anti Sabotage Organisation we are fully motivated and committed to free and fair elections. We are fully aware of saboteurs in nocturnal meetings, preparing to scandalise and

blackmail persons of high reputation as a precursor to sponsor protests across the country, this has already failed because we will resist.

“During the EndSars youths suffered the most, whilst politicians sat in the comfort of their homes either financing and dishing out commands, this is our only country, we will not allow agents of destructions to distribute crisis across the Nation.

There is no Political Party, Politician or Candidate new to us, they have all been around, therefore our country and the country all seek to govern must not explode in the name of their ambitions.

“As Citizens, we know that this Nation has reached combustion stage in the past few years, however the security agencies in our country have been faced with challenges on all fronts, we will not allow the relative peace being enjoyed to be truncated, in the roll down to the General Elections in February.

Muslim woman Ramatu Tijjani,Presented bags of Rice, to one of the widows beneficiary, Dokas Auta,- at Christ evangelical and life intervention ministry church in kaduna on wenesday 21/12/22

Canada’s collaboration

with Nigeria on Africa’s 1st humanoid robot worth $12.6bn

The Uniccon Group of Companies says that its collaboration with Canada Trade Commission on Africa’s first humanoid robot “Omeife” is worth $12.6 billion.

The Chairman of group, Mr Chuks Ekwueme, said this when the Canada Trade Commissioner from Global Affairs Canada, visited its facilities in Abuja.

Chuks said that the projected value of the humanoid robot was worth it due to its Africa-centric design and capability features that were the first of its kind within and outside Africa.

He said that the visit was to discuss possible collaboration opportunities between the Canadian and Nigerian markets, on projects like Omeife and the company’s array of technologically-advanced products and services.

Chuks said: “Since the official unveiling of Africa’s first Humanoid Robot, Omeife, the invention has garnered interest all around the world, with various prestigious organisations pledging their support in advancement of the project.”

The chairman said that in the future, the robot’s shares would be owned by investors, partners, the public, and organisations supporting the project.

He said that a military version of Omeife would be launched in 2023 to aid intelligence gathering and other investigative processes.

Chuks said some of group’s upcoming projects for 2023 include: Special UAVs/Drones for security surveillance, SmartAfri, an e-commerce platform that was designed to be the one-stop shop for African-made goods/services.

He called for the support of the Federal Government to facilitate the availability of a database in Nigeria to aid in the area of intelligence gathering.

“The merging of Web 2.0 (SmartAfri) and Web 3.0 (Blockchain) into one product will make it possible for people to shop on SmartAfri and make payments using the SmartAfri token.

“This is one of the reasons behind the upcoming launch of SmartAfri Chain (Africa’s 1st Blockchain technology) that is slated for the first quarter of 2023,” he said.

The Canada Trade Commissioner from Global Affairs Canada, Temitayo Dada said that it sought to explore areas of collaboration after learning about the group’s marketable and impact-driven products and services.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the duo took a tour of the company’s facilities, including the Chemistry research laboratory and the Robotics laboratory. (NAN)

Reps propose 4 years jail term, N200,000 fine for female mutilation offenders

By Christiana Ekpa

The House of Representatives on Wednesday passed through second reading a Bill for an Act to amend the Violence Against Persons (Prohibition) Act, 2015 to increase the penalty for the offence of female genital mutilation.

The bill Sponsored by Ganiyu Johnson from Lagos, seeks imprisonment of four years or a fine not exceeding N200,000.00 for any person who performs female genital mutilation or engages another to carry out such circumcision.

In his lead debate, Johnson said the amendment proposed to section 6(2) of the Act is as

follows: “6 (2) Any person who performs female circumcision or genital mutilation or engages another to carry out such circumcision or mutilation commits an offence and is liable on conviction to a term of imprisonment not exceeding five years or to a fine not exceeding one million naira or to both”.

The lawmaker expressed optimism that an amendment of the said section 6 will go a long was in deterring persons from engaging in the unwholesome practice of female genital mutilation.

“A UNICEF survey recently revealed that in Nigeria, one out of four girls and one out

of ten boys suffers from sexual molestation and about one out of ten children will be sexually abused before their 18th birthday. Among factors that encourages the commission of such unwholesome practices like female genital mutilation is lack of adequate sanctions.

“Female genital mutilation, also known as female circumcision, excision or genital cutting, comprises all procedures that involve partial or total removal of the external female genitalia, or other injuries to the genital organs for non-medical reasons, mostly carried out between infancy and age 15.

“The procedure has no

health benefits for girls and women. Because it is usually performed without permission and often against will, it violates girls’ right to make important decisions about their sexual and reproductive health. Reports show that, 200 million girls and women alive today have undergone a form of genital mutilation (FGM).

“An additional 2 million girls could undergo female genital mutilation by 2030 as a result of Covid-19. It is for this reason that this Bill is proposed, to review the sanctions provided within the VAPP Act, so as to give it the required deterrence it deserves,” he said.

FG/IFAD LIFE-ND disburses N819.4m, empowers 1,220 youths, women in Delta

The Livelihood Improvement Family Enterprises in the Niger Delta (LIFE-ND) has disbursed the sum of 2.1 million dollars (N819.4 million) and empowered 1,220 youths and women in agribusiness in Delta since inception.

The State Project Coordinator, Mr Collins Ashoro, disclosed this on Wednesday in Asaba, at a Media Roundtable on LIFE-ND Project Achievement in Delta since inception.

Ashoro explained that the project was co-sponsored by the Federal Government, International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD), Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) and the participating State Government with the major objective to ensure food security, fight poverty, create jobs in the Niger Delta religion.

He said that the project which had six years life cycle, began in 2019 and would end in 2025 in the first phase, adding that it had the projection to run for a second phase from 2025 to 2031.

Ashoro disclosed that Delta government had paid the mandatory counterpart cash contribution of N49 million for year 2020 which had facilitated project implementation in 58 incubation centres in 52 communities in 10 local government areas.

He added that a memo for the request for the 2022 counterpart fund payment had been sent to Gov. Ifeanyi Okowa for his approval to enable the project drawn down fund to pursue another engagement.

He said that the 10 selected local government areas to participate in LIFE-ND Project in Delta were Bomadi, Burutu, Ethiope East, Ika North East, Ika South, Ndokwa West, Ndokwa East, Okpe, Sapele and Ughelli North.

He added that in each local government areas LIFE-ND implemented project activities in 10 communities.

According to Ashoro, the sum of N819.4 million was disbursed based on the following categories; N102.1

million for civil works; N18.8 million for equipment and materials; N248.8 million was for consultation(training and workshops), while N89.9 million was for operating cost and N359.9 million for grants and subsidies.

“From our last round table discussion in 2021, we had 320 incubatees and 58 incubator, but now we have 98 incubators and new 900 incubatees making it 1,220 incubatees so far

“Delta State LIFE-ND Project has recorded a total of 1,220 (28.7 per cent) beneficiaries (incubatees) since Inception against 4,250 for the Project’s life cycle.

“These beneficiaries are categorized into producers, processors and service enterprises in line with the value chain.

“The state has a total of 790 producers, 220 processors and 210 service enterprises.

“Similarly, the beneficiary gender disaggregation has 521 male youth, 601 female youth, 92 Female Household

and six Persons With Usability ( PWD) which purposively targeted 5 per cent.”

Ashoro said that the project was ready to recruit a new set of incubatees targeting the state projections to empower a total number of 4,250 youths and women before 2025 under the LIFE-ND project in the state.

“Resulting from the support given to incubatees in Delta, over 397 individual enterprises established by project beneficiaries in the state are at various stages of development.

“These enterprises were established in the areas of Cassava production and processing, Oil Palm processing, Fish and Poultry production (Broiler) and homestead vegetable gardens.

“On cassava production, 70 hectares of land has been cultivated with TME-419 cassava variety by 30 beneficiaries, in Ossissa, Urhuoka and Urhuagbesa communities in Ndokwa East and Ethiope East LGAs respectively for the first cycle of production,” he said.

L-R: Chief of NAVAL Staff, Vice Admiral AZ Gambo, with Chief of Defence Staff/Special Guest of Honour, General Leo Irabor, during the ceremonial Sunset/NAVY Ball 2022, held at the NAVAL Unit Asokoro, yesterday in Abuja. Photo; Mahmud Isa

NGO empowers 180 vulnerable people in Niger

From Yakubu Mustapha Minna

Founder and Chief Executive Officer Ayewosai Global Foundation, Mary Noel Berje said the mission of the foundation is to empower Nigerians at the grass-root level.

She stated this during the maiden official lunching of the Foundation’s magazine and relief distribution to about one hundred and eighty beneficiaries in Minna.

The CEO who is also the governor’s Chief Press Secretary noted that it’s further to make information available, embarked on sensitization,education, resources as well as create opportunities for them to succeed in their businesses.

Mary Berje stated that Ayewosai Global Foundation has over the years embarked on humanitarian support to the vulnerable groups in the society.

She explained that they have courageously gathered widows/ orphans and the less privileged yearly to support them with foodstuff and other non-food items, adding that this year, the foundation has provided for 180. families.

Insecurity: Defence minister seeks adequate funding for space technology

The Minister of Defence, retired Maj.-Gen. Bashir Magashi, has sought for more funding of satellite space technology to enhance operational capacity of the Nigerian Armed Forces.

Magashi, who was represented by the Chief of Defence Staff, Gen. Lucky Irabor, made the call at the inauguration of operational facilities for the Defence Space Administration (DSA), on Tuesday in Abuja.

The minister stated that satellite and space technology remained key to increasing the capacity of the

armed forces and enhancing their operations across the country.

He also called for the protection of the nation’s investment in satellite and space technology, so as to enjoy the full spectrum of its benefits.

Magashi commended the DSA for the technical expertise it had continued to exhibit, urging them to work more and build more capacity.

The Minister of Interior, Rauf Aregbesola, in his goodwill message, said Nigeria’s satellite space project would aid the military and other security agencies to

combat the menace of insecurity bedeviling the country.

He emphasised the need for more collaboration between the armed forces in protecting critical national assets across the country.

In his remarks, the Chief of Defence Administration, Rear Adm. Nnamdi Muogilim said the project was the first of its kind anf would support the operations of the armed forces in addressing insecurity in the country.

He said that the objective was to create a robust indigenous space competence capable of producing and utilising space assets to meet

the operational requirements of the military and other security agencies.

He said the DSA was committed to supporting the armed forces and other security agencies with relevant space products and solutions necessary for the conduct of operations in space and wartime, in line with the national space policy.

Highlights of the event were the inauguration of DELSAT-1, Project and Access Control and Surveillance BuiBuildin, Satellite Ground Station and road network, among others. (NAN)

By Abubakar Yunus, Abuja

Tinubu/Shettima solidarity group called Friends of Kashim Shettima Mustapha (KSM) has said Nigeria at this

By Abubakar Yunusa

Coalition of Civil Society Group for peace, security and good Governance,

time, needs a liberal and fairminded Vice President like Senator Kashim Shettima to complement the nation-building and national integration efforts of the president.

equity and justice has commended President Muhammadu Buhari over the appointment of the acting Clerk to the National Assembly, Mr. Sani Magaji Tambuwal.

Its National Coordinator, Arc. Waziri Bulalma stated this during a press briefing in Abuja yesterday.

“We are convinced that in a diverse, and complex country like

The national coordinator of the group, Comrade James Okoronkwo made the commendation during a press conference in Abuja.

Nigeria, we need a liberal and fairminded Vice president that will complement the nation-building and national integration efforts of the president.”

2023: Nigeria needs a liberal, detribalize vice president -Group Coalition lauds Buhari over appointment of NASS acting clerk

He said Tambuwal is the most qualified and transparent management staff for the Clerkship to the National Assembly).

Coalition of Civil Society groups and youth leaders in a protest against the alledged trump up charges by the Department of State Service (DSS) against the CBN Governor, yesterday in Abuja. PHOTO: Mahmud Isa

From Mika’il Tsoho, Dutse

No fewer than 71,000 pregnant women, parent and care givers in Jigawa state, are targetted by the Society for Women Development and empowerment in Nigeria, on behavioral change towards increasing Iron Folic Acid uptake and Anti-natal care.

This was announced by the Nutrition International (NI) coordinator Mr Patrick Odeli during a meeting with stakeholders to disseminate the outcome of the desk review at state Secretariat Dutse.

The NI coordinator who was represented by SWODEN program officer comrade Lawan B. Ahmad said, ten communities from two local governments of Ringim and Dutse will benefit from the intervention.

He explained that, SWODEN in collaboration with Nutrition International (NI) is implementing a project to reach over 71,000 pregnant women, parent and care givers with behavioral change messages towards increasing Iron Folic Acid IFA uptake and Anti-natal care, LO-ORS/ZINC intake.

The Federal Government says the newlycommissioned National Shared Service Centre, (NSSC) will tackle emerging cyber threats on digital infrastructure in Nigeria.

The Managing Director, Galaxy Backbone Limited, Prof. Muhammad Abubakar, stated this while speaking with newsmen after President Muhammadu Buhari commissioned the NSSC, on Tuesday in Abuja.

Abubakar said that the Agency completed the project with 99 per cent of its internallygenerated revenue.

He said that the centre would protect all government digital data from cyber-attacks and foster adequate data storage.

Mohammed said the centre was imperative as all government Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) were digital.

According to him, “today’s 4th Industrial-Revolution world of rapid changes is driven by

ubiquitous connectivity to the cyberworld and advanced digital technologies.

New services centre will tackle cyber threats on digital infrastructure, says FG Nutrition: SWODEN targets 71,000 pregnant women in Jigawa

“As the Minister of Communications and Digital Economy said, the entire building was 99 per cent funded by Galaxy Backbone limited internally generated revenue. There was no intervention from anywhere.

“The remaining one per cent is the provision of some equipment. We have a security operation centre inside the

newly commissioned NSSC, built mainly to curb cyber threats.

“We have seen a number of emails coming into Galaxy’s network and other government agencies,” he said.

He added that some of the equipment and devices were put in place to ensure that those emails did not threaten the government’s system.

“Nigeria is certainly becoming well-placed to take its pride of place in the emerging digital world,” he said. (NAN)

PDP Guber candidate condemns attack in Kaura

From: Femi Oyelola, Kaduna

ThePeople’s Democratic Party, PDP gubernatorial candidate in Kaduna, Isa Ashiru has condemned the attack in Malagum 1 and Sokwong communities in Kagoro Chiefdom in Kaura Local government area of Kaduna State.

Ashiru expressed dismay over the loss of lives during the attack

and extended condolences to the Chief of Kagoro, the families of the victims and the entire people of Kaura Local Council.

In a statement he personally signed in Kaduna, the guber hopeful said it is disheartening and reprehensible that such senseless act could still be found within societies.

“This is totally condemnable

and should have no place among civilized people like us.”

Ashiru disclosed that the party has suspended the town hall meetings scheduled to commence in Kaduna South Senatorial Zone on Tuesday, 20th December, 2022, as a mark of respect to the deceased, the injured and those grieving.

“Also, all the PDP party offices in Kaduna South Senatorial zone

have been advised to fly their flags at half-mast as a mark of respect to those that have been affected by this incident.”

“It is my sincere hope that as we work together to bring on board a new government at the state and federal levels by the special grace of God, we would be able to collaborate and develop strategies that would curtail future incidents,” he stated.

ACF BoT chairman Shehu Malami dies at 85

From: Femi Oyelola, Kaduna

Chairman of the Arewa Consultative Forum, ACF, Board of Trustees, BoT, Ambassador Shehu Malami has died at the age of 85.

ACF said Ambassador Malami who was the Sarkin Sudan Wurno, died on Monday in Cairo, Egypt. A statement issued by the

Secretary General of the ACF, Murtala Aliyu, said Malami would be missed especially for his extraordinary leadership skills.

According to the statement, ‘the Arewa Consultative Forum, ACF, regrets to announce the demise of our Chairman, Board of Trustees, Ambassador Shehu Malami, OFR, CON, Sarkin Sudan Wurno. He died Monday, the

19th of December, 2022 in Cairo, Egypt.”

“Ambassador Shehu Malami was born in Sokoto in 1937 as a Prince of the Sultanate dynasty. He had his early education in Sokoto, Bida and Katsina. He also attended various Colleges in the United Kingdom. He had a degree in law from the Middle Temple. Amb Shehu Malami worked as

private Secretay and then as Special Assistant to Sultan Saddiq Abubakar III.”

”He had earlier worked for the BBC as a broadcaster. At various times he was Nigeria’s Ambassador to the Republic of South Africa; Chairman, Assessment Committee of the Nigeria National Merit Award, Director, the Nigerian Industrial

Development Bank, Chairman, Union Bank of Nigeria, Chairman, PZ Industries, among many other top leadership positions during his long public service career that spanned several decades.

” The nation will undoubtedly miss Ambassador Shehu Malami’s extraordinary leadership skills, his generosity, his sense of justice and fair-play”.

Kano radio station condemns Police attack on staff

From Mustapha Adamu, Kano

Premier Radio, a Kano -based FM radio station has condemned alleged brutal attack on its staff, Muhammad Bello Dabai in front of the Station while carrying out his lawful duties on Monday afternoon.

This is contained in a statement by Mukhtar Yahaya Usman, Manager, News & Reports on Tuesday.

“The unfortunate incident

happened at around 3.30 pm when the attention of Muhammad Beelo Dabai was called to witness an escaping thief that was being pursued by the public as he was running away from Nassarawa Hospital where the Police have taken him for treatment.

“As the members of the public were in his pursuit and pelting him with stones, the thief fell down in front of our Station. Our staff, including Muhammad Bello Dabai were at the scene

as witnesses before the Police Officer on duty in our station called the Area Command for Police intervention,” part of the statement reads.

When the Policemen arrived to take away the culprit,, according to the statement, Dabai was snapping the incident as a journalist for his news beat.

“Surprisingly, without any provocation one of the police officers confronted him to stop him, and a fracas ensued. Even after Mr Dabai showed him his

ID Card, and identified himself as a journalist, he was forcefully manhandled by the policeman, who pushed him into their service vehicle, declaring that they would take him to the Police Station for interrogation and detention.

“Mr Dabai was beaten and slapped severally on their way to the office, where he was also forced to lie on the vehicle floor.

“When Premier Radio quickly reported the matter to the Area Commander of the Metro

Police Command to secure the release of Mr Dabai, the Area commander rebuked his officers for their high-handedness. The recalcitrant police officers were however non-repentant and unapologetic.

“Accordingly, we hereby demand a verifiable action on these unrepentant and brutal officers, including an unconditional apology without which we reserve the right to seek legal redress,” the statement added.

Ekiti State First Lady, Dr Olayemi Oyebanji (right) presenting cash and food items to Principal of Government Special School for the Blind, Ikere Ekiti, Mrs Felicia Amogbojaye; during a visit to the school to commemorate Governor Biodun Oyebanji’s 55th birthday, yesterday

Your loyalty is to Nigeria, not individuals —CSOs tell protesters

...want CBN Governor to resign

By Tobias Lengnan Dapam

Civil

Society

Organisations (CSOs), have called on groups, individuals and organisations in the country to encourage persons accused of alleged crimes/ offences by law enforcement agencies, to answer to charges before properly constituted courts, rather than resort to protests, propaganda and blackmail.

The charge was given by two civil society organisations - Citizens United Against Subversion (CUAS), and Coalition for Peace In Nigeria (COPIN) - in reaction to Monday’s protest by some persons in Abuja.

It will be recalled that the protesters had predicated their action on what they claimed was the discovery of a charge against the Central Bank Governor (CBN), Mr. Godwin Emefiele pending before the Chief Judge of the Federal High Court, Justice John Tsoho.

Besides, the protesters also called for the removal of the Director-General of the State Service (DG SS), Alhaji Yusuf Magaji Bichi (fwc).

In separate statements signed by the National Coordinator and Secretary of CUAS, Dr Abu Mallam, and Mrs Chinonyelum Ogundele, National Coordinator and Secretary of COPIN, Pharmacist Emeka Akwuobi, as well as Hajiya Fatih Yakub, respectively, the CSOs wondered why a charge filed against a public office holder by an established agency of government, will attract protest.

“For the records, we at Citizens United Against Subversion (CUAS) know that the Nigerian jurisprudence is accusatorial in nature, and not inquisitorial.

“Simply put, an accused person is innocent until proven otherwise, upon the conclusion of a judicial process.

“Therefore, the irreducible minimum, having regard to the submission above, will be for the CBN boss to submit himself for trial, as he has a right to get the best lawyers to defend him”, CUAS said in the statement.

On its part, COPIN said the purported demand by the protesters for the sack of the DG SS, a man generally acclaimed as a core professional, reformist and patriot of no mean repute, leaves much to be desired.

The statement said: “It is difficult to reconcile the pendency of a suit, with the protest embarked upon by those captured to have participated in the march.

“We, like most Nigerians, are curious about the kind of interest that a mere suit generated,

leading to the security-threatened protest that happened in Abuja, the nation’s capital, on Monday.

“Consequently, we call on the CBN Governor to clear the air on why a charge against him, will trigger protest of the magnitude witnessed in Abuja on Monday.

“Above all, we call on the CBN Governor to, as a matter of honour and urgent national importance, resign his appointment, as we feel strongly that that is the basic requirement, where there is (alleged) conflict of interest”.

Okupe resigns as DG, Labour Party Presidential Campaign Council

By Lateef Ibrahim, Abuja

Former Senior Special Adviser, SSA, to immediate past President, Dr Goodluck Jonathan, Dr. Doyin Okupe has stepped down from his position as the Director-General of the Labour Party presidential campaign council, PCC.

Okupe, a renowned Medical Doctor, tendered his letter of resignation on Tuesday.

The letter was addressed to Mr Peter Obi, LP presidential candidate, and dated December 20, 2022.

Okupe’s resignation came on the heels of his conviction for money laundering charges by an Abuja High Court.

Okupe, it will be recalled, went for an option of of paying N13m fine in lieu of going to the correctional center in Kuje, Abuja.

The amount reportedly laundered was N240m which he was said to

have received from the Office of the then National Security Adviser, Col. Sambo Dasuki (retd), during the 2015 presidential election.

He has consequently, informed the party’s Presidential candidate, Mr. Peter Gregory Obi of his decision to quit his post.

In a four paragraphs letter addressed to Mr Obi, on Tuesday evening, Okupe pointedly said he will not allow his personal travails to affect his political fortunes in the 2023 Presidential Election.

He also advised him to appoint a new Director General for the Presidential Campaign forthwith.

Justice Ijeoma Ojukwu, it will be recalled, had on Monday, found Okupe guilty of contravening Sections 16(1)&(2) of the Money Laundering Act, for accepting cash payments without going through financial institution, in excess of the threshold allowed under the Act.

2023: Accord set for mega rallies in S/West

The Accord Political Party on Tuesday said it had concluded arrangements to hold mega rallies in three South West States, to mobilise votes for its candidates ahead of 2023 general elections.

The party, in a communique issued after Accord (South-West) Stakeholders meeting held in Lagos on Monday, said that the rallies would hold in Oyo, Ogun and Lagos States.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the communique was signed by the National Chairman, Rev. Isaac

Adeniyi, and the South West National Vice Chairman, Mogaji Sunday Igbinsola.

“The South West caucus of Accord pledges unreserved allegiance to total adherence to party’s constitution and the leadership of the National Chairman, Rev’d Isaac Adeniyi.

“The National Chairman mandates all candidates of the party to align themselves to the new leadership of the party in their states, towards necessary rectification of their candidacy.

“The South West Zonal

working committee will organise a South West mega campaign for all the candidates of Accord in the South West zone in Ibadan, Lagos and Abeokuta in January 2023 ahead of the general elections,” the communique read in part.

It called on the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to respect the rule of law concerning the Sept. 1 court orders on the Accord party’s legitimate leadership.

The communique said that some of the party leaders in

attendance at the zonal meeting include: Rev’d Isaac Adeniyi, the new National Chairman of Accord; Mogaji Sunday Igbinsola, the South West, National Vice chairman and Mr Dele Oladeji, the Chairman, Accord, Lagos State.

Others are: the Accord Chairmen of Oyo, Ogun and Ekiti States, Messrs Ademola Adeniji, Michael Oke and Sunday Fasae respectively, representatives from Osun and Ondo States and candidates of the party from the zone. (NAN)

From left, Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde; his Special Adviser on Labour Matters, Alhaji Titilola Sodo; Oyo State Chairman, Nigeria Labour Congress, Com. Kayode Martins and State Chairman, Trade Union Congress, Com. Bosun Olaniyi during the labour leaders visit Governor’s Office, Secretariat, Ibadan. PHOTO: Oyo Gov’s Media Unit.

The highs and lows of Nigerian football in 2022

By Ayobami Okerinde

Nigeria’s failure to qualify for the 2022 World Cup held in Qatar will always be the highlight of the year 2022. 2023 will be a busy year for football across the world and in Nigeria. The 2023 Women’s World Cup draw has been made with Nigeria drawn in group B alongside Co-host Australia, the Republic of Ireland, and Canada.

The year 2022 will remain an unforgettable year in the history of football in Nigeria. It’s a year when many argued that football in the country took two a step forward and two steps backward. Top of the highlights for the year was the country’s failure to qualify for Qatar 2022, also coupled with some not-so-good outings at regional tournaments. This article highlights the highs and lows of Nigerian Football in 2022.

Lows ‘No Show’ at the World Cup

The Super Eagles’ failure to qualify for Qatar 2022 World Cup could best describe how the country’s football panned out in 2022. After qualifying for the last three editions in 2010, 2014, and

2018, Nigeria failed to qualify for the World Cup, despite a promising start. The Super Eagles were drawn in Group C of the 2022 Second round qualifying round alongside Cape Verde, Liberia, and the Central African Republic (CAR). With only the first-placed team in each group (of 10) eligible to qualify for the final qualifying round, the Super Eagles finished top of the group with 13 points having won 4, drew 1, and lost 1. The 10 group winners were paired to fight for the 5 spots allocated to CAF at the World Cup.

Nigeria was drawn against familiar neighbors Ghana in the final qualifying round. After a 0-0 draw in the first leg in Ghana, the Super Eagles played out a 1-1 draw at the MKO stadium in Abuja. With the result, Nigeria lost on away goal rule, having failed to score in Ghana.

AFCON round of 16 exit, The 2021 AFCON was originally scheduled to hold between June and July 2021 but was rescheduled due to the unfavorable climate at the time in the host country and the ripple effects of the COVID -19 pandemic. The event eventually was held between 9 January and 6

February 2022. The Super Eagles qualified for the tournament having won 4 and drawn 2 in a group alongside Sierra Leone, Benin, and Lesotho.

In the tournament, the Super Eagles were drawn in Group D, alongside Egypt, Sudan, and Guinea Bissau. The Super Eagles were the only team to have won all games in the group stage, raising hopes of another tournament win since 2013. However, the journey ended in the round of 16 after a 1-0 loss to Tunisia. The outcome was one of Nigeria’s lowest finishes at the AFCON, having finished third in the 2019 edition.

AWCON 4th place finish, The 2022 CAF Women’s Nations Cup was held in Morocco between 2 to 23 July 2022. The Super Falcons qualified for the tournament as the best-placed team on the continent and the most successful, having qualified for all editions, and won 11 out of 14 editions. The Super Falcons finished second in a group with South Africa (first) Botswana and Burundi. The team also defeated Cameroon 1-0 in the Quarter-final, but lost 5-4 on penalties to Morocco (host) in the Semifinal, after 120 minutes of

play. In the third-place game, the Super Falcons lost 1-0 to Zambia, thereby settling for fourth place. A fourth-place finish considering Nigeria’s history and reputation at the AWCON was a low for the country’s football.

Highs, Record-breaking Flamingoes team

The Women’s U-17 team also known as the flamingoes recorded one of the highs for Nigerian football in 2022. The team led by Fatai Olowookere finished third at the U-17 Women’s World Cup in India. The team was drawn into Group B alongside Germany, Chile, and New Zealand in the group stage. With 6 points, the Flamingoes finished second and faced the U.S.A in the quarterfinals. The team defeated U.S.A 3-4 on penalties to advance to the Semi-final before eventually losing to Colombia 5-6 on penalties. The Flamingoes claimed third place after beating Germany 3-2 on penalties in the third-place match, despite losing a 3-goal lead. The tournament was the first time the Flamigoes moved beyond the Quarter-final stage in the competition.

Most goals in a single game, Another high point of the year was the Super Eagles recording her biggest win in a single game. During an African Cup of Nations qualifying match against Sao Tomé and Principe on 13 June, the Super Eagles defeated their opponent 10-0 with Victor Osimhen scoring four goals, Terrem Moffi scoring twice, Moses Simon, Oghenekaro Etebo, Ademola Lookman, and Emmanuel Dennis were also on the scoring list. The win saw Nigeria record its biggest win in international football.

Nigeria’s failure to qualify for the 2022 World Cup held in Qatar will always be the highlight of the year 2022. 2023 will be a busy year for football across the world and in Nigeria. The 2023 Women’s World Cup draw has been made with Nigeria drawn in group B alongside Co-host Australia, the Republic of Ireland, and Canada. Also, 2023 will see a resumption of FIFA’s men’s age-grade competition with the U-17 and U-20 World Cups scheduled to hold in Peru and Indonesia respectively.

Ayobami Okerinde is a Public Policy Analyst.

Beyond the razzmatazz, there is a purpose for Christmas

By Isaac Asabor

We should not forget that through the birth of Christ, God enters our time and history, and more importantly each of our own personal lives. Christ is Emmanuel, God is with us, and God is with each of us today in a very personal and intimate way.

There is no denying the fact that the celebration of 2022 Christmas is already waiting at everyone’s doorstep as Sunday marks the birth of our savior, Lord Jesus Christ. Christmas, which is invariably the worldwide religious holiday that is acceptably celebrated by both Christians and non-Christians is around the corner and the mood in the country cannot be flawed. There is a lot of hysteria in the air but in some instances, for the wrong reasons altogether.

Were it to be in the era when Nigeria’s economy was by all indications buoyant, and characterized by a lot of trade and economic activity, most supermarkets would have by now been packed with shoppers who will be buying presents for their family members, friends, and relatives. Some Restaurants would have by now been teeming with hungry guests looking for the best cuisines. Everywhere you go, people would be seen buying and stocking their stores for the special occasion.

Most cities and towns would have literarily turned into ghost places by now as usually congested streets would be seen to be almost

empty and traffic seen to be moving at a reasonable pace and with much ease. Along the highways, lines of vehicles moving to farflung towns and villages would be a common sight. They include buses and mini-busses that are laden with human cargo and goods.

For bus owners, business by now would have been brisk, and that would have been what they usually waited for.

For the sake of clarity, even if not a few people know the essence of Christmas; that is, the reason why it is every year celebrated across the world, it is the time of the year when Christians from all denominations celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ. Despite the fact that Christmas is religious many fun-seekers have turned it into a time for partying and making merry while not a few unscrupulous people have turned the special season into times of horror through sheer mischief. They go out to commit the most serious crimes against fellow citizens. They rape, kill and maim. Others loot property and take that which does not belong to them. These acts are likely to spoil what was otherwise a good year this time around.

In a similar vein, the season usually ushers the New Year into being and is naturally a special season for joy and celebration for both believers and non-believers.

Yet, instead of Christmas and New Year celebrations becoming times for peace, love, compassion, and family occasions, they are usually marred by gruesome road accidents and heinous acts of

crime.

At this juncture, it is expedient to advise everyone in the Christendom, and non-adherents to the Christian faith who always join us by each passing year to celebrate the Christmas season, that they should not despair despite the ominous bleakness that will characterize the festive season due to the current economic woes.

Given the deepening economic hardship which not a few people are already facing due to the wobbling state of the economy, it is not an exaggeration to say that not a few of them have become confused about how they can wind down. To my view, the Christmas period is beyond the razzmatazz and Joie de Vivre people erroneously associate with it. Without sounding sanctimonious in this context, it is expedient to say that it is a season that provides the ambience for people to reflect on God, and His only begotten, Jesus Christ.

The reason for the foregoing cannot be farfetched. After all, when we have a birthday in our own family, what do we do? We gather around the person whose birthday it is and as a family, then we do one or two things. We remember and we celebrate. We remember the time and date the person was born. We look back and remember the day he or she came into our family. We might look at his or her photographs and recall how such a person looked when he or she was young. As can be recalled in this context, most birthdays are highlighted with stories about when the celebrants

were young and even afford parents the opportunity to remember the celebrant’s first words, the first days at a school, and other significant events in a celebrant’s early life. Then we celebrate with them. We give thanks and celebrate the difference they have made and continue to make to our family. Given the foregoing graphical picture painted of a birthday celebrant, it is not a misnomer to say we don’t resort to stealing, cheating, becoming drunk and sexual perverts because any of our relatives’ birthday beckons. If that is not the case, then why do we love to be celebrating our Lord Jesus Christ’s birthday this way?

Against the foregoing backdrop, not a few readers of this piece would be pondering over what people should reflect on during the Christmas season. However, unknown to this category of people, there are so many things to reflect on at Christmas. In fact, as the Christmas season is about to begin in the next few days, it will not be ill-advised to urge people to begin to remember and celebrate things that pertain to the birth of Jesus. Against the foregoing backdrop, it would be expedient to begin to remember the story of how and when Jesus was born. It will also be edifying to be remembering the story of Mary and Joseph being turned away from the inn, even as we can remember that the angels appeared with good news and we remember how shepherds and the kings visited the stable. Then we celebrate the difference Jesus has made not only to the world but to our personal lives.

In fact, we have to be careful that we don’t look at Christmas as if it were just a historical event that happened in the past. The birth of Jesus is an event that echoes and ripples through the centuries right down to us today. It is wise for most of us to eschew experiencing Christmas and the birthday of Christ as a nice romantic thing as is often depicted on Christmas cards.

We should not forget that through the birth of Christ, God enters our time and history, and more importantly each of our own personal lives. Christ is Emmanuel, God is with us, and God is with each of us today in a very personal and intimate way.

As pope, John Paul II, wrote, ‘The mystery of the birth of Jesus that took place over 2000 years ago must be lived today and every day. The Word that found a dwelling place in and through Mary comes to knock on our hearts this Christmas and every Christmas, today and every day.

This Christmas, while all the celebrations and festivities are taking place, let’s stop, take some time and ask ourselves, what am I remembering? What am I celebrating?

While saying in this context that beyond the razzmatazz that usually characterize Christmas that there is a purpose for it, it is germane to pray that may the Light of Christ and Christ the Light bless our world and fill all our homes and families as 2022 Christmas is a few days away. Amen.

Isaac Asabor is a Public Policy Analyst.

By Matthew Ma

“I am not here to debate who is the GOAT, COW, ANTELOPE, LEOPARD, or LION. Those silly exercises of banging heads against each other are worthless. I am here to talk about what makes this tournament run so special. I am here to talk about what no media has applauded Qatar for and to thank them for hosting a successful World Cup and using it to promote peace. Qatar, which has no ties with Israel, allowed Israeli fans to enter the games in an unprecedented move. Palestinian flags were visible in Qatar to show solidarity, even though they were not in the World Cup. The peace move shown by Qatar tells us why, in a chaotic world, sport is a unique and vital connective tissue that brings people together both across and within societies.

Soccer

fans will remember the just concluded 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar as a showcase of the good, the bad, and the ugly sides of the most beautiful game on this planet. On the pitch, Lionel Messi ended his long wait for the World Cup. Beyond that, the tournament had several controversies with international observers criticizing the Gulf state for human rights violations. Some may argue that the World Cup has boosted Qatar’s international reputation. But others allege that it has served as a spotlight on issues that Doha would rather keep hidden from the world’s view. However, from my point of view, there are positive takeaways we can draw from this World Cup. Here are some memorable moments from the Qatar 2022 World Cup that we may have likely overlooked.

A World Cup that opened without a beer ban ended without a champagne toast. A tournament that started with a call for cultural sensitivity ended up celebrating a cultural icon. The first World Cup held in the Middle East and the first played in a majority-Muslim country will someday be remembered for many things. First, Qatar defeated the United States, South Korea, Japan, and Australia to win the bid in 2010. A bid awarded by Sepp Blatter-led FIFA. It is the first World Cup to be played during the winter months. The idea of hosting it during this time was to beat the heat of June and July that Qatar experienced and to avoid the potential health risks of playing in such extreme heat. Even at that, there was still the possibility of heat. Hence, to contain the heat, the stadiums had an air conditioning system, among other unique features. Thirty-two teams competed for the final showdown. This year, how the small country of Qatar managed the FIFA World Cup is unquestionably remarkable and teaches

many salient lessons. But what is the size of Qatar compared to past hosts? Qatar is ranked 164th in the area and 148th in the population if compared to the world’s sovereign states. The United States is about 849 times bigger than Qatar. The U. S. state of Connecticut is the closest comparison to the size of Qatar. And even then, Connecticut is 8% larger than the host nation, with a population of 1.1 million. Qatar will be several times or more the size of Nigeria. It has a population of almost three million, many of whom are expatriates. Nigeria is about 80 times bigger than Qatar. Qatar is more or less 11,586 sq km, while Nigeria is about 923,768 sq km, making Nigeria 7,873% larger than Qatar. Many people expressed that Qatar was too small to host 32 other countries, which included players, coaches, administrative staff, medical teams, caretakers, security, and thousands of supporters. Before the tournament, analysts estimated that over one million foreigners would descend on Qatar for this prestigious event. It was a huge undertaking. However, after the World Cup, the planning and execution of the event were superb. In my opinion, it outclasses many traditional hosts in the past.

Drinking alcohol in public and getting drunk in public is illegal in Qatar. The G-7 countries and their liberal counterparts thought they could arm-twist the Qatari authorities into condoning drinking alcohol inside the stadium. Qatar put its foot down and stuck to its principle by forbidding alcohol in public places. According to the officials, people and large crowds can still enjoy themselves without alcohol. Many thought this law would go against the local rhetoric that fun cannot be if alcohol is not present. Qatari leaders did not bow to pressure. The Qatari authorities reiterated that you could face a six-month prison sentence or be charged as much as $850 if anyone disobeyed the law. From the beginning of the tournament to the end of it, the authorities did not allow alcohol during matches. However, they set up fan zones around the country where fans could have a drink in designated areas.

Before the tournament, Qatari World Cup chief Nasser Al Khater confirmed there were designated areas for drunken fans to get sober. So, we did not see the usual drama with naked or half-naked spectators running onto the field. There were no fights between supporters or people throwing missiles on the field. Also, there were no stampedes among the crowds. Qatar set the example for others to follow in good planning, commitment, discipline, and top-notch execution.

This World Cup will stay in the collective memory as a tournament of upsets. This year, Morocco ripped up the history books by becoming the first

African country to reach the final four of the World Cup – beating European heavyweights Belgium, Spain, and Portugal. Their run – ended with a 2-0 defeat to France – overturned all expectations. Morocco won its first World Cup match since 1998 – its third ever –by securing a sensational 2-0 victory over Belgium, knocking the world’s secondranked team out of the competition. Things get even better for Morocco: A draw against the 2018 finalists Croatia and another victory against Canada saw the Lions roar to the top of their group. Images of players tossing the coach joyfully into the air in celebration – and the players prostrating on the lawn in prayer became viral, not only to Africans and Arabs from across the globe but to everyone who loves to root for an underdog. Hence, the 2022 FIFA World Cup became the best tournament Africa has ever participated in.

Qatar 2022 made history as the first men’s FIFA World Cup to have female referees in charge of matches. For the first time at the men’s World Cup, FIFA included three women among the 36 referees selected for Qatar 2022. Stephanie Frappart from France, Yoshimi Yamashita from Japan, and Salima Mukansanga from Rwanda have had a good reputation in the previous tournament when they officiated some games. Frappart is arguably the most high-profile of the trio. She took charge of the 2019 Women’s World Cup final before officiating the UEFA Super Cup between Liverpool and Chelsea later that year. In December 2020, Frappart became the first woman to referee in the men’s category of the UEFA Champions League when she oversaw a 3-0 win for Juventus against Dynamo Kyiv. Japanese official Yamashita has also made Champions League history, albeit on a different continent. She was the first female referee to take charge of a match in Asia’s AFC Champions League earlier this year. For Mukansanga, the 2022 World Cup will be her second crucial men’s international tournament in less than 12 months. Mukansanga from Rwanda led an all-female officiating team at the Africa Cup of Nations in January when Zimbabwe met Guinea in the group stage.

In perhaps the most unexpected upset of the tournament, Saudi Arabia beat two-time World Cup winner Argentina in a Group C encounter. Led by Lionel Messi and ranked third in the world, many had expected Argentina to sweep aside Saudi Arabia, especially as Argentina was unbeaten for three years and among the favorites to win the tournament before kickoff, while 48 places separated the two teams in the world rankings. But what would a World Cup be without a did that happen

moment? As the game progressed, other underdog teams made history. For example, for the first time, teams from all continents advanced to the round of 16. Teams like Australia, Japan, and the Korean Republic reached the knockout stages – a competition record for the Asian confederation, which in previous tournaments only had two, in 2002 and 2010. The outcome of the group stage shows the extent to which more countries have acquired the tools to compete at the highest level. This success is because of better preparation and analysis of the opponents, which is also a reflection of equal access to technology. It is very much in line with the efforts of FIFA to increase the competitiveness of football on a global scale.

Qatar 2022 produces another new kid on the block. For fans who have not been paying attention for the last three years, Kylian Mbappe proved he is as good as his potential suggested back in 2018. The 23-year-old led France to its second straight appearance in the World Cup Final, scoring several goals. Mbappe was unstoppable at the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar. The eight goals from the games he played put him in a better position to claim the Gold Boot. Despite France missing the likes of Paul Pogba and Karim Benzema, Mbappe did not miss a beat as he gave defenders headaches. The 23-year-old already picked up two Man of the Match awards at the 2022 World Cup and turned more heads with a very subtle act. Throughout the tournament, Mbappe showed he could score with skills and grit when his team needed it most. He became the second man to score a World Cup final hat-trick – winning the Golden Boot in the process – with still plenty of time and energy to play in subsequent world cups before retirement. While he left Qatar without a first-place medal, he gave the world plenty of entertainment on the pitch throughout the month. Watch this kid in the next four years or subsequent World Cups.

Lionel Messi is widely considered one of the greatest soccer players in the history of soccer. He has the statistics and accolades to back it up. But the global icon left out one essential item on his resume: a World Cup winner. But on Sunday, December 18, the Argentinian forward filled that void in the World Cup final against France. In the 2018 World Cup, the French team knocked out Argentina in the round of 16. The French later went on to win the title. If France won this year, it would have been only the third team, and first since Brazil in 1962, to win back-to-back titles. Messi was in this same position eight years ago, but Argentina fell to Germany in the final. He won the Golden Ball, awarded to the best player of the tournament but

was despondent during the post-game trophy presentation, having missed out on the bigger prize. His Paris SaintGermain teammate Kylian Mbappe won the Golden Ball this year after a hat trick in the final gave him eight goals for the tournament. Messi finished second with seven goals but was happy to cede the individual award in exchange for the big prize. The 35-year-old Messi confirmed after their semifinal win that this World Cup would be his last World Cup. He told the media that there are several years until the next one, and he does not think he will be at his best in the next world cup. Sometimes, it feels as if we are living in two parallel worlds. When you listen to western media news about countries, you will notice an inevitable bias that reflects where they are based, who works for them and who their audience is. Just as beauty, the question of balance in media coverage is in the eye of the beholder. What the western media determines to be fair may be seen as deeply unfair by an African viewer. For example, years ago, when an organization invited me to a conference in Egypt, I was going with the mind to see a shattered Egypt with bombs and dead bodies scattered everywhere on the street. On arrival, I asked the taxi driver who came to pick me up at the airport to show me where the chaos was. He told me what I heard in the news only happened in a small fraction of Egypt. According to him, the western media magnified the story as if it was happening in all corners of Egypt. He drove me around Cairo before taking me to the hotel, yet I never saw a single bomb.

What is the most important legacy of this World Cup that Nigeria and other countries could emulate? Maybe our countries could take a page out of the Qatari book. Instead of teaching young people to jump up and wine at everything or mash up the place and cause mayhem, we could organize sporting activities to develop the “grit” that helps them overcome challenges as adults.Hosting sporting events can create new jobs, improve infrastructure, aid local development, and increase visibility for the cities and countries that host them. However, these benefits are not automatic. The peace move shown by Qatar tells us why, in a chaotic world, sport is a unique and vital connective tissue that brings people together both across and within societies.Therefore, despite all the controversy surrounding this World Cup, I am here to say to Qatar in Swahili Asanteni wote. Thank you all!

Rev. Ma, S.J, is a Jesuit Catholic priest and doctoral student in public and social policy at St. Louis University in the state of Missouri, USA

Why politicians need to address poverty during campaign

By Stanley Achonu

As candidates campaign ahead of the general elections, they must prioritise discussing their plans and ideas to lift Nigerians out of poverty. Extreme poverty is surmountable if there is intentionality about policies and promises during election campaigns and implementation and accountability afterward. This election cycle is a fresh opportunity to start over; we cannot afford to miss it.

The 2023 elections loom, with politicians making campaign promises that offer hope. Yet, poverty, probably the biggest threat to Nigerians today, has gone unaddressed.

In October, the World Bank released its ‘Poverty and Shared Prosperity’ report outlining progress in the global fight against extreme poverty. According to the report, the world is unlikely to meet the goal of ending extreme poverty by 2030, with COVID-19 as a major factor in upending progress made in recent years. The total number of people living in extreme poverty has risen to 719 million globally, with 71

million people added in 2020 alone.

The COVID-19 crisis and the effects of the war in Ukraine may have pushed over five million more Nigerians into poverty since 2020, according to the World Bank.

The poverty map by the National Bureau of Statistics further reveals that while four in 10 Nigerians experience monetary deprivation, six in every 10 Nigerians (or 133 million Nigerians) are multidimensionally poor due to lack of access to basic amenities.

This staggering number is fueling insecurity and stealing our future.

This election presents fresh opportunities to address the poverty crisis. Nigerians should not be lulled into complacency by campaign promises devoid of practical solutions. Instead, voters must ask all candidates: how do we lift Nigerians out of poverty over the next decade?

The good news is that Nigeria can learn from countries that have successfully reduced widespread poverty.

In the 1980s, Vietnam was one of the poorest countries in the world, with a 75 per cent poverty rate, stagnant economic growth, hunger, and mass migration.

However, in over 30 years, Vietnam’s economy grew with GDP per capita rising from $481 in 1986 to $2,655 in 2020, and the poverty rate falling to around 5 per cent. Turning the Vietnamese economy around was a deliberate action based on a well-thought-out sequence of policies. Vietnam struck the first chord of development by ensuring food security and producing enough for export. Next, it provided a strong basis to develop labourintensive manufacturing and brought more rural poor and young people into the country’s workforce. This caused the GDP to grow at an average rate of 7 per cent per annum for about 30 years. With its burgeoning young population, Nigeria can take a cue by opening up sectors that can provide millions of decent jobs.

What about India, where similarities exist in the complexities of culture and population size? Unlike Nigeria, which largely depends on oil exports, India prioritises ideas and innovation, exporting more than 5,000 different products through Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises. MSMEs contributed over 44 per cent of

India’s total export in 2020, and large-scale industries rely on their ancillary services to ensure continued survival.

Another critical component of India’s success is its approach to healthcare. Government-funded health insurance saves lives and keeps people from falling into poverty due to expensive out-ofpocket health spending. In Nigeria, if poor households are covered by governmentfunded health insurance, Nigerians can focus on improving productivity rather than worrying about out-of-pocket health spending.

And then, there is China, which has lifted 850 million people out of poverty in the last four decades. China created millions of jobs using its large pool of educated and low-wage workers to attract foreign investment in factories. China improved the growth rate of farmers’ income in poorer areas more than the national average to stimulate food security. It also made essential public services available in rural areas to reduce the rural-urban exodus of young people.

A common thread across these

countries is a shared commitment at all levels of government and society to combat extreme poverty. Such effective political will and leadership are required to turn the poverty index around in Nigeria. Several past poverty alleviation programmes failed because of this lack of shared political commitment and vision at all levels.

As candidates campaign ahead of the general elections, they must prioritise discussing their plans and ideas to lift Nigerians out of poverty. Extreme poverty is surmountable if there is intentionality about policies and promises during election campaigns and implementation and accountability afterward. This election cycle is a fresh opportunity to start over; we cannot afford to miss it. Therefore, candidates must answer the all-important question: how would you lift Nigerians out of poverty?

Stanley Achonu is the Nigeria Country Director at The ONE Campaign

As the World Cup comes to an end: What is the most important legacy of Qatar 2022

Gusau Varsity matriculates

1945 students, warns against social vices

From Ibrahim Sidi Muh’d, Gusau

The Federal University Gusau (FUGUS) has matriculated 1945 fresh students to study various courses under the faculties of education, science, humanities, management and social sciences.

Addressing the students shortly after matriculation ceremony at the University’s Matriculation/Convocation ground on Tuesday, the Vice Chancellor, Professor Mu’azu Abubakar Gusau, charged the students to stay away from all social vices during their stay in University.

Professor Gusau further warned that, steps have been laid amongst which are; ensuring hard work for the new students, strict adherence to the rules and regulations of the University, personal discipline, high moral standard and respect for the constituted authorities.

He added that, “Besides that, students must not indulge in examination malpractice and other social immoralities such as; cultism, indecent dress, sexual harassment, theft and drug abuse amongst others.

JAMB rolls out dates for major activities in 2023

By Maryam Abeeb

The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board(JAMB) has, at the end of its management meeting held on Tuesday, 20th December, 2022, rolled out some major dates for its activities in 2023.

Consequently, the Board has approved the commencement of registration for the 2023 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) from Saturday, 14th January to

Tuesday, 14th February, 2023. This, however, does not include registration for Direct Entry (DE) application documents as the DE registration would commence from Monday, 20th February to Thursday, 20th April, 2023

The Board also fixed Thursday, 16th March, 2023, for the conduct of its optional mock-UTME.

Candidates are to note that they would be required to pay the sum of N1000 service charge for CBT centres for the conduct of mock examination at the point

of registration so as to prevent a situation where candidates would indicate their interest to sit the mock-UTME leading the various centres to commit human and material resources only for them to stay away on the day of the examination.

With the new arrangement, candidates indicate their interest by paying for the mock at the point of UTME registration, therefore, precluding the centres from incurring any loss whether candidates turn up or not.

Also, the Board, after considering its other commitments, fixed Saturday, 29th April, 2023, for the conduct of the 2023 UTME, which is expected to end on Monday, 12th May, 2023.

The Board advises all candidates, who desire to register for the 2023 UTME to immediately embark on the creation of their respective profiles ( creation of profile code) ahead of the formal commencement of the registration exercise to avoid being caught up in any ensuing bottleneck.

NYSC to partner Anambra govt on establishment of skill acquisition centre

By Albert Akota

in the State.

Uba disclosed this when she paid a courtesy visit on the wife of Anambra State Governor, Mrs Nonye Soludo at the Government House, Amawbia, Awka.

The Acting DG added that citing a Skill Acquisition Centre in the State will further boost the business

climate and skills of the youth population in the South-East region and the country at large.

Mrs Uba, who is a native of Anambra State expressed joy to be back home while she urged other State Governments to emulate Governor Charles Soludo in the provision of critical Camp facilities

and other support for the Scheme in the State.

Responding, the wife of Anambra State Governor, Mrs Nonye Soludo congratulated Mrs Uba on her appointment as the Acting Director General of the Scheme and equally commended her for the visit.

Child abuse: PLANE moves to safeguard school children in Jigawa

From Mika’il Tsoho, Dutse

As part of effort to ensure a safety learning environment, a non governmental organization known as Partnership for Learning has moved the

safeguard children in Jigawa.

The move was announced by the safeguarding adviser for PLANE, Jummai Joseph while speaking at the stakeholders meeting on developing safeguarding mechanism held at plane office in Dutse.

She explained that, the meeting comprised all the relevant stakeholders, aimed at designing a safeguarding mechanism for at Jigawa communities.

According to her, it is right time to provide a

better protection for schools children and other survivors of rape in community, through introduction of new and simpler process that would make them feel comfortable to channel their complains for appropriate actions.

The Acting Director General of National Youth Service Corps, Mrs Christy Ifeyinwa Uba has expressed willingness of the Scheme to collaborate with Anambra State Government to establish Skill Acquisition Centre

Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde (second right); Secretary to the State Government, Mrs Olubamiwo Adeosun (left); Oyo State Chairman, Nigeria Labour Congress, Com. Kayode Martins (right) State Chairman, Trade Union Congress, Com. Bosun Olaniyi (second left) and others during the labour leaders visit Governor’s Office, Secretariat, Ibadan. PHOTO: Oyo Gov’s Media Unit.

APGA faithful boo Anambra

Deputy

Gov, Ibezim over comments against Peter Obi

By Christiana Ekpa

It was sheer resentment at Central School Amawbia in Awka-South local government area of Anambra state during an empowerment programme put together by the lawmaker representing AwkaSouth 2 state constituency, Hon. Pius Chukwuma Okoye, as APGA faithful booed the Deputy Governor Dr. Onyekachukwu Ibezim over what they saw as careless comments against the presidential candidate of the Labour Party, Mr. Peter Obi.

The Deputy Governor, while making few remarks on the occasion, allegedly attempted to discredit Mr. Peter Obi, saying that the Labour Party presidential candidate should not be voted for instead they should channel their votes to the APGA presidential candidate on the grounds that the APGA government has done massively well in Anambra state.

The Deputy Governor said, “Anambra is APGA. Don’t allow the minority to deceive you. APGA government is working for Anambra state. Labour Party is not known in the North. It is either Tinubu or Atiku or Kwankwaso. Therefore you all should hold on to APGA.

“Initially APGA had two states in Nigeria but Rochas Okorocha deceived us and sold Imo state to APC. So what Governor Soludo is saying is that we should try and secure the Southeastern states to enable us get our fair share at the central.”

But on the contrary, some APGA faithful on the occasion countered the Deputy Governor maintaining that although they are members of the All Progressives Grand Alliance, they would vote for Peter Obi.

They said nothing can change it; that they will vote Peter Obi at the presidential election irrespective of his political party and vote for APGA at the senatorial, House of Reps and House of Assembly elections.

They said it is Peter Obi they want as the next president of Nigeria; that all the Igbo nation are solidly behind Peter Obi, and that the APGA cannot stop them from voting Mr. Peter Obi.

They unanimously concurred that the Deputy Governor erred in his comments instead he would have said that they should vote Peter Obi for president and vote APGA in other categories of the election.

Buhari asks Senate to okay restructuring of N23.7tr Ways and Means Advances

By Musa Baba Adamu

President Muhammadu Buhari has forwarded to the Senate request for approval of restructuring of N23.7trillion Ways and Means advances given the federal government by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN).

The President as stated in a letter read in Senate Plenary on Wednesday, said Ways and Means are advances from the Central Bank of Nigeria to the federal government for emergency funding of delayed receipt of fiscal deficit.

The letter titled “Restructuring of ways and means advances”, reads in part “The ways and means advances by the central bank of

Nigeria, to the federal government has been a funding option to the federal government to cater for short term or emergency finance to fund delayed government expected cash receipt of physical deficit.

“The ways and means, balances as at 19th December 2022 is 22.7 trillion.

“I have approved the securitization of the ways and means balances along the following terms ÷ Amount. N23 .7 trillion ,

Tenure 40years, Moratorium on principal repayment, three years, Pricing interest rate 9%.

“Your concurrence and approval is sought to allow for the implementation of the same”.

For expeditious consideration , the President of the Senate , Ahmad Lawan forwarded the request to the Senate Committee on Finance for report consideration and passage in plenary Thursday.

He said the request and the N819.5billion supplementary budget will be considered required passage in plenary Thursday along with the N20.51trillion 2023 appropriation bill and other critical ones .

We are referring these letters to our committees on Appropriation, Finance, works, water resources and Agriculture today.

“They have to work on it and ensure that we follow the due processes. In that respect, the Minister of Finance, the CBN,

misters of Agriculture, water resources and works to be invited and make themselves available for this process and to ensure that we get the right information between today and tomorrow.

“Tomorrow (Thursday) by the grace of God, will be the last legislative day for the 9th senate this year. It will be quite busy for us because we have to receive the report of the 2023 Appropriation Bill from our committee on Appropriations.

“We will also receive a report on Finance Bill, 2022 from our committee on Finance.

We will also receive the report from the appropriation committee on the two reports that I have just read”, he said.

L-R: Amb. Babangida Ibrahim; National Coordinator, Friends of Kashim Shettima Mustapha(KSM), Arc. Waziri Bulama; and Engr. Muhammadu Suraj during the Inaugural press conference Organized by Friends of KSM for Solidarity Group to support the Tinubu – Shettima Presidency in the February, 2023 Presidential Election, on Tuesday in Abuja.

By Ikechukwu Okaforadi

TheCoalition of National Civil Society Organisations (CNCSOS)

has cautioned the Department of States Services (DSS) that Nigerian masses will vehemently resist any attempt by politicians to derail the cashless policy of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) ahead of the 2023 general election.

Briefing journàlists yesterday in Abuja, the National Convener of CNCSOs, Willy Ezugwu, flanked by the National Secretary, Ali Abacha, said “We assure Mr. Godwin Emefiele that Nigerians on the streets, who are in pains of starvation and hunger due to the continued looting of public funds meant for their well-being by some politicians, are standing with him and will vehemently resist any attempt to derail the cashless policy of the Federal Government of Nigeria.”

The Coalition also commended the federal government on its exemplary leadership with the ban on cash withdrawals from public accounts, adding that the stoppage of cash withdrawal from all public

accounts is another legacy in the war against corruption and electoral fraud by the President Muhammadu Buhari administration.

“The ban on cash withdrawals and subsequent directive to public officers to immediately open domiciliary accounts in foreign and local currencies ahead of the commencement of the cash withdrawal policy will deepen the gains of the cashless policy of the federal government through the CBN”, the group said.

Speaking on the new twists and controversies trailing the readiness of the Central Bank of Nigeria to fully implement the cashless policy, Ezeugwu alleged that some politicians who are bent to manipulate the 2023 general election are plotting to use DSS to remove the CBN Governor and bring in anybody who will do their bidding.

Recall that the DSS had allegedly sought a warrant from the Court to arrest Emefiele and detain him for at least 60 days, after the 2023 general election.

Condemning this development, CNCSOs said, “This should ring a bell

when we recall that this alleged plot is coming immediately after the redesign of the naira notes and the review of the cash withdrawal limits for both individuals and organisations.

“We have all hailed the cashless policy of the Central Bank of Nigeria such that even the corrupt politicians who are opposing the cash withdrawal limits acknowledge that it is the way to go but that the timing was wrong. They also sort to get wavers for election spending. Why are they looking for wavers? They want to use our stolen commonwealth to buy our votes.

“In view of the current revelation, we are afraid that the State Security Service is derailing from its statutory role to becoming a tool in the hands of desperate politicians. This is dangerous for the country and must be discouraged at any cost.

“Those who wants to receive and spend money without any traces are those who have been kicking against the cashless policy of the CBN. If you have legitimate money, why are you afraid to wire the money through bank transfers? Why are you afraid of cash withdrawal limits? There is no limit to

the amount you can transfer through the bank but because they are having our stolen money, they don’t want to make traceable transactions and that is the sin of Godwin Emefiele.

“That’s why they want him out of the way before the election so that someone who can do their biddings is appointed to reverse the cashless policy implementation.

“At this juncture, we hail the Nigerian judiciary for refusing to be used for the planned hatchet job. It is unfortunate but it happened.

“According to reports, the affidavit filed by the State Security Service in support of its application claimed that preliminary investigation had revealed various acts of terrorism financing and fraudulent activities perpetrated by Godwin Emefiele and his involvement in economic crimes of national security dimension but there was no evidence. Hence, the court rejected to issue order for the arrest of the CBN Governor. Even, the identity of the said Godwin Emefiele, as the sole respondent, was not clearly stated in the affidavit according to the court, which made the plot more of a shoddy deal.

Photo: Mahmud Isa

Nigerians will vehemently resist attempts to detail cashless policy - CNCSOS

Okupe’s fraud conviction won’t stop

Adeyanju, Ibegbu

TheLabour Party, LP, campaign Director-General, Doyin Okupe was on Monday convicted for fraud.

An Abuja Federal High Court sentenced Okupe to two years imprisonment for breaching the money laundering act.

Okupe was found guilty of 26 out of the 59 count charges preferred against him by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

Justice Ijeoma Ojukwu ordered that the 26 counts, which attracted 2-year jail terms each, would run concurrently.

Ojukwu, however, gave an option of N500, 000 fine in each of the counts, amounting to N13 million.

She ruled that Okupe should be taken to Kuje Correctional Centre to serve his prison term if he fails to meet the option of fine within the time frame.

The judgement has been attracting reactions.

Speaking on the matter, a former Deputy National Publicity Secretary of Ohanaeze Ndigbo, Chuks Ibegbu said: “Okupe’s conviction would not affect Peter Obi’s chances. Obi is a hurricane, a tornado, a bandwagon, a pan-Nigerian movement, so Okupe’s conviction will not affect him.

“He is a movement which has shown that Nigerians want to take back their country from the criminals that have held us down for the past years.

“Okupe has the right to appeal, and until he explores all his legal rights, Nigerians can’t conclude whether he’s guilty or not guilty.

“We are waiting for him to exercise his rights; hence we can’t conclude now, but for the hurricane, nothing will stop him because Nigerians want to recover their country from these vagabonds in power that have held us down for the past 50 years.”

Corroborating Ibegbu’s stance, an Abuja-based activist lawyer, Deji Adeyanju said Okupe’s conviction would not affect the chances of Obi in 2023.

He, however, stressed the need for candidates to do due diligence before appointing people into their campaign council.

In an interview, the activist insisted that the LP Presidential campaign DG cannot be accused of corruption because he could not decipher if the money he received from ONSA was an illicit fund.

Adeyanju said: “I have now studied excerpts of My Lord, Justice Ijeoma Ojukwu’s judgment in Okupe’s case and can confirm it is a sound decision. The basis of her conviction of Okupe is on the issue of receiving cash above the prescribed N5m for individuals as stipulated in the Money Laundering Act.

“I insist that Okupe wasn’t in a position to know whether the money from ONSA was from an illicit fund and as such no burden can be placed on him because the duty of care will always be on Dasuki, who ought to know.

“However, a crime was committed by accepting cash above N5m by Okupe. Doyin Okupe cannot be accused of any corruption whatsoever because he was not the NSA who stole public funds, but his only mistake is breaching the MLA by receiving cash above the lawfully prescribed sum. And almost all Nigerians make this mistake.

“Furthermore, it is my measured view that keeping Okupe on as DG of Obi’s campaign will not affect him in any way. Yes, I agree that candidates should normally do due diligence before appointing people into their campaign councils.”

Taraba Assembly gets new Speaker as Kunini resigns

By Christiana Ekpa

Speaker of Taraba State House of Assembly, Joseph Albasu Kunini on Wednesday resigned.

The house immediately elected the member representing the Zing constituency, John Kizito Bonzina, as the new Speaker.

Kunini was elected on the

platform of the Peoples Democratic Party in 2019.

His letter of resignation, which he read on the floor of the House, took everyone by surprise as there was no form of skirmishes among the members of the House.

“My resignation is on personal ground. I wish to thank honourable members for their support and cooperation while I served as the

speaker of this honourable House,” he said.

Bonzina, while speaking after his emergence as the new speaker, denied the allegation that a palace coup was staged by the members to remove the speaker from office. While soliciting the support of his colleagues, he promised to work round the clock to build on the achievements of the former

speaker.

Though no reason was given for the former speaker’s resignation, it was gathered that his quest to stand solidly behind the parliamentary workers who have been demanding for their unpaid seven years outfit allowances necessitated his resignation as plans to impeach him were said to already be in the pipeline.

2023: Vote for candidate with mental, physical energy – Peter Obi advises

By Ikechukwu Okaforadi

The presidential candidate of the Labour Party, Peter Obi said Nigeria is in dire need of a president who has the necessary mental, physical energy and capacity to take it out of the quagmire.

He noted that the people have moved beyond voting on sentiments based on religion, state of origin or entitlement mentality.

Addressing a crowd in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State capital, the presidential candidate said that old politicians have continued to

divide Nigeria along ethnic and religious lines for their selfish interest saying that hunger and hardship do not recognize ethnicity and religion.

Obi who expressed hope that Nigeria will be great again irrespective of what it is currently facing said his first priority when elected will be to unite the country and restore peace.

He said he will ensure that the educational system and the currency are strengthened as well as ensure an increase in the manufacturing and production capacity of the country.

His words: “[The] 2023 elections will be the turn of the people to elect who will be their leaders and not for any candidate’s turn; it is not going to be by tribe, religion because poverty and hardship do not recognize such things. Rather people should consider competence, capability and capacity. It is going to be based on whoever has the required mental and physical energy and capacity.”

Obi also promised to ensure the full operations of the ongoing Ibom Deep Seaport and turn Akwa Ibom into an

export processing centre if elected the next president of Nigeria.

Speaking earlier, the national chairman of the party, Julius Abure lauded the people for coming out en masse to support the party’s presidential candidate promising that Obi will never betray their trust if elected.

Attributing the insecurity, and poverty in the country to bad leadership, Abure urged the people not to vote for those who lack the capacity to address the problems in Nigeria and who do not have their interests at heart.

Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde (third left); his Chief of Staff, Hon Segun Ogunwuyi (left); Director of Finance, Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN), Mrs Adenike Aboderin (middle); acting General Manager, Corporate Affairs, Mrs Hope Ivabaze Faithful (third right); Director of Legal, Mrs Bridget Gold (fourth right); Ibadan Airport Manager, Mr Afolabi Adedeji (third left) and others cutting the cake during the 40th anniversary of Ibadan Airport, Alakia, Ibadan.

PHOTO: Oyo Gov’s Media Unit.

Buhari ready to campaign for Tinubu, APC candidates -Presidency

By Egena Sunday Ode

PresidentMuhammadu Buhari has restated his disposition to campaign for the All Progressives Congress, APC, Presidential Candidate, Bola Ahmed Tinubu as well as other flag bearers of the ruling party in the forth coming elections.

This was disclosed in a statement by the Presidency on Wednesday.

According to the statement signed by the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, Garba Shehu, the President also described the APC

campaigns as the most aggressive, assuring that the party would win the presidential election "fairly and squarely."

Shehu said the reassurance was necessary in order to dispell misgivings in some quarters that Buhari was not showing appearances in the campaign rallies as he ought to do.

The statement, however, explained that in spite of the campaigns, the functions and duties of the president would equally be upheld.

The statement read: "President Muhammadu Buhari assures

the All Progressives Congress (APC) and its candidates in the elections next year that he is ready at all times to campaign for the Presidential Candidate and all party candidates with “full energy and conviction.”

"This is to dispel expressed concerns in certain quarters that the President has not featured in campaigns since the national launch in Jos, Plateau State and to stress that while he remains committed to party politics, the functions and duties of the President will equally be upheld at times.

"Speaking to the Nigerian

community in Washington DC in the course of his recent visit to the United States, President Buhari stressed what he said all the time that he is ready to campaign for the party’s victory in the general elections next year.

"The President noted that the APC campaigns have so far been the most aggressive in recent history.

“They have been impressive and of a high voltage,” compared to the opposition that seems to be playing catch-up.

"He expressed strong optimism that the party will win all the elections fairly and squarely."

Tinubu will win in Cross River like MKO Abiola – Ndoma-Egba

By Ikechukwu Okaforadi

All Progressives Congress (APC) chieftain, Victor Ndoma-Egba has assured presidential candidate Bola Tinubu of victory in Cross River State.

The politician is the Secretary, Campaign Planning Directorate of the APC Presidential Campaign Council

(PPC).

The former Senate Leader and Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) spoke on Tuesday at the town hall meeting in Calabar.

The gathering was attended by Tinubu, his running mate, Senator Kashim Shettima, and other party stalwarts.

Ndoma-Egba said Cross River people would vote for Tinubu as they did for the late

Moshood Kashimawo Olawale (MKO) Abiola, who won the 1993 presidential election.

He recalled Tinubu visited Cross River with MKO before the poll, and though the state was NRC (National Republican Convention), “you were received like a brother and a friend.”

“After that visit, for the presidential election, Cross River voted SDP (Social Democratic

Party) because of your visit.

“Today you are here to canvass votes for yourself. If we did it for another person on your recommendation, we will do it for you too this time around.”

The former Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) Chairman thanked Tinubu for using the parley to settle party members who had differences.

Peter Obi –

POLITICS

Tinubu Campaign Council slams opponent for politicising alm to physically-challenged

By Ikechukwu Okaforadi

The APC Presidential Campaign Council (PCC) has condemned the negative spin which opposition parties have foisted on an act of charity by the All Progressives Congress (APC) presidential candidate, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu and his running mate, Sen. Kashim Shettima, who gave alms to a poor, physically-challenged old man at a townhall with the persons living with disability.

Deputy Spokesperson cum Deputy Director, Public Affairs of the PCC, Barr. Hannatu Musa Musawa, issued the reprimand via a statement in Abuja on Wednesday 21 December, 2022.

Musawa wrote: “My attention has been drawn to the dishonest, erroneous and incorrect narrative spun by unctuous, dissipated, debauched and desperate elements

INEC’s

may stall 2023 election- AA chair, Omoaje

By Musa Baba Adamu

NationalChairman of the Action Alliance (AA), Adekunle Rufai Omoaje, has blasted the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) over its disobedience to a court judgment.

He observed that the commission was bent on jeopardizing the 2023 general election through its actions.

Featuring on Silverbird TV’s “News Hub”, he expressed concern that the electoral body was disobeying many court rulings that ordered it to recognize the candidates, saying that it is not good for the development of democracy in the country.

He noted that the judgment of a Federal High Court, Abuja and those of the Ogun State High Court sitting in Abeokuta and the Abuja division of the Court of Appeal that ordered INEC to publish the names of candidates he submitted on its website and also paste same in all its offices.

According to him, the action of INEC could jeopardise next year’s general elections, alleging that the election may not hold should INEC fail to respect court orders in the country.

The AA National Chairman said INEC gave no reason for not obeying all the judgments delivered in his favour by the courts.

He opined that the ongoing political campaigns of the presidential candidates of various political parties and other candidates in the 2023 general elections might be in futility if INEC does not do the needful.

Omoaje assured that there was no faction in the party as Mr Kenneth Udeze, who claimed to be a factional national chairman of the party, had long been suspended and subsequently expelled from the party.

He declared that the Action Alliance is under his leadership, and various court judgements affirmed his position, saying that INEC was fully aware of the development.

He said INEC was well represented at the meetings where Udeze was suspended and expelled, adding that INEC should respect court judgment for it to earn the respect of the masses ahead of next year’s general elections.

within the opposition to turn a perfectly innocent video I posted of a kind act I witnessed my Principals carrying out into something mendacious and devious.

“As I watch the negative chronicle being spun by the opposition Svengalis, trying to enforce a specific negative narrative on the public, it is clear that the falsehood being spread stems from the devious imagination and wicked machinations of a desperate and self-combusting opposition.

“I would have dismissed the musings as the ranting of an inconsequential opposition, however I am compelled to make this response because of innocent Nigerians that may be misled by such devious rhetoric.”

The PCC spokesperson continued: “On Monday the 19th December 2022 at approximately 4:48 pm, I watched with

appreciation and approbation as my two principals, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu and Alhaji Kashim Shetima performed an act of kindness towards a poor and disabled man who was truly in need. After watching them, I was further convinced that these were two men of precious faith that have the heart of kindness, empathy and compassion. And I believed it was a story that needed to be told.

“In the Bible under Psalm (112:5-9), it is written “It is well with the man who is gracious and lends; He will maintain his cause in judgment. For he will never be shaken; The righteous will be remembered forever. He will not fear evil tidings; His heart is steadfast, trusting in the Lord.”

“Equally under Proverbs 19:17, it is taught, ‘One who is gracious to a poor man lends to the Lord, And He will repay him for his good

deed.’

“In Islam we are taught that The Prophet (PBUH) says the following in a hadith: “Muslims help each other only by passing the bridge of almsgiving.”

“Furthermore, in the Holy Quran (2:274) it is expressed that,”Those who in charity spend of their goods by night and by day, in secret and in public, have their reward with their Lord: on them shall be no fear, nor shall they grieve.”

“Almsgiving by virtue of the two holy teachings, giving charity and alms specifically to help the poor become a core tenant for Muslims and Christians to abide by.”

Musawa added: “A few days ago I attended a gathering with the Presidential candidate of the APC Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu and his running mate, Alhaji Kashim Shetima where they had a robust

engagement with persons with disability. During the event, our principals had the opportunity to interact with a poor and disabled elderly gentleman. Borne purely out of compassion, my principals spoke to this gentleman, listened to him and performed the tenet of charity and alms giving towards him.

“As I watched this tender moment between the three men, I wanted to capture it and show the world the empathy that organically runs through the veins of my principals, and that raw spirit of charity that they both imbibe.

“I posted the video, not out of mistake, but with the intention of telling the compassionate story of the empathetic leadership that Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, supported by Alhaji Kashim Shetima will surely give to Nigeria after they emerge victorious in the upcoming election, by the grace of The Almighty.

Strike out ex-Minister Nwajuba’s suit against Tinubu – APC tells court

By Musa Baba Adamu

TheAll Progressives Congress (APC), on Wednesday, prayed a Federal High Court, Abuja, to strike out a suit filed by former Minister of State for Education, Emeka Nwajuba, against its presidential candidate, Sen. Bola Tinubu.

Julius Ishola, counsel to the APC in a suit filed by Nwajuba against Tinubu and others, told Justice Zainab Abubakar shortly after the matter was called for parties to adopt their processes.

The development followed nonappearance of Nwajuba or his lawyer in court.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the ex-minister, was one of the presidential aspirants in the party’s primary conducted to elect its candidate for the 2023 presidential election.

Nwajuba, in an amended originating

summons marked: FHC/ABJ/ CS/1114/2022, had sued Mr Tinubu, APC and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) as 1st to 3rd defendants respectively.

Nwajuba is seeking an order of perpetual injunction restraining INEC from accepting the candidacy of Tinubu, who he said was nominated in breach of the law.

The ex-minister, who sought an order mandating INEC to immediately expunge Tinubu’s name from the list of candidates for the 2023 presidential election, sought an order returning him (Nwajuba) to the electoral umpire as the APC presidential candidate on the grounds that his nomination met the requirements of the provisions of Section 90(3) of the 2022 Electoral Act.

NAN, however, observed that when the matter was called for hearing, only the lawyer representing the APC, Julius

Ishola, was in court.

Ishola said that he received the notice of hearing of the court that the matter would be coming up at 12pm for adoption of processes.

He said he was ready to proceed on the case.

The lawyer, who said his counter affidavit and preliminary objection were filed on Dec. 19, adopted all his applications.

Justice Abubakar then asked Ishola about his submission on Nwajuba’s lawyer’s absence in court.

Responding, Ishola prayed the court for an order striking out the suit for want of diligent prosecution.

The lawyer said since the plaintiff received the court’s hearing notice and they failed to appear in court showed that they were either not ready to prosecute the case or they had abandoned the matter.

The judge, therefore, asked the lawyer if his processes were served on the plaintiff but Ishola said he could not confirm.

Abubakar, however, said that if she struck out the matter, the plaintiff would complain of lack of fair hearing.

Besides, she said that she was not sure if the plaintiff had received the APC’s application.

“And it is as if they have not received your processes because they have the right to reply,” she said.

In a short ruling, the judge held that since the application filed by the APC, which was adopted by Ishola, had not been served on the plaintiff, “it is here by set aside to give the plaintiff right of reply.”

Justice Abubakar ordered that hearing notices be served on the defendants and adjourned the matter until December. 22. (NAN)

Managing Partner/ CEO Afe and Partners, QS (Dr.) Otaru Joseph Omokhagbo (middle) flanked by widows of All Saints Anglican Church Ikpena Ososo, during the felicitation visit on behalf of late Mrs Esther Afe Otaru Foundation as part of the activities to mark the foundation’s celebration of Christmas with widows and the less privileged, Akoko Edo, Edo state

disobedience of court judgements

FG to borrow more as Buhari asks N’Assembly to approve N819bn supplementary budget

By Abubakar Yunus, Abuja

President Muhammadu

Buhari has asked the national assembly to approve a supplementary budget of N819 billion.

Buhari’s request was read by Femi Gbajabiamila, speaker of the house of representatives, during plenary session on Wednesday.

He said the 2022 supplementary budget would be

used to finance infrastructural projects across the country.

The national assembly had passed N17.12 trillion as the 2022 budget, but it was later revised to N17.31 trillion on Buhari’s request who cited the impacts of the Russia-Ukraine war on the country’s economy.

In the latest request, contained in a letter to the national assembly, Buhari said the 2022 flood has affected infrastructure across the

nation.

He said the supplementary budget would be financed through additional domestic borrowings and this would raise the budget deficit for 2022 to N8.17 trillion and the deficit GDP ratio to 4.43 percent.

“The year 2022 has witnessed the worst flood incidents in recent history which has caused massive destruction to farmlands at the point close to harvest season.

This may compound the situation of food security and nutrition in this country,” the letter reads.

“The flood also devastated the road infrastructure across the 36 states and the FCT, [and] has affected sections of major roads and bridges nationwide that are critical to the movement of goods and services.

“The water sector was also affected by the flood and there

is a need to complete some ongoing critical projects that have achieved about 85 project completion.

“The nine critical projects proposed in the sector cut across water supply, dam projects and irrigation projects nationwide.

“I have, therefore, approved the supplementary 2022 appropriation of N819,536,137,812 all of which are capital expenditure.”

Elon Musk, the billionaire founder of Tesla Inc., says he will resign as Twitter’s chief executive officer when he finds someone “foolish enough to take the job”.

Musk said this in a tweet on Wednesday morning.

He said he would still run the software and servers teams after his replacement is found.

“I will resign as CEO as soon as I find someone foolish enough to take the job! After that, I will just run the software and servers teams,” Musk tweeted.

Commenting on the development, Dan Ives, managing director of Wedbush Securities, described Musk’s announcement as a step in the right direction.

“Musk announces he will resign as CEO once successor is found. Finally a good step in the right direction to end this painful nightmare situation for Tesla investors,” Ives wrote on Twitter.

The billionaire had promised to abide by the result of a Twitter poll which saw 57.5 percent of 17.5 million users vote “yes” to him stepping down from the position.

“Should I step down as head of Twitter? I will abide by the results of this poll” he had asked Twitter users when he launched the poll on Monday.

In the past, Musk has used Twitter polls to take decisions including the reinstatement of the account of former US president Donald Trump, selling Tesla stock to clear his tax bill, among others.

FG targets 3m bpd oil output, seeks companies’ return to full production capacity

Timipre Sylva, minister of state for petroleum resources, says the federal government is committed to ensuring that all local and international oil companies return to full domestic oil production.

Sylva, according to a statement by Horatius Egua, his senior adviser on media and communications, spoke while receiving the new managing director of Eni SpA, in his office, on Monday in Abuja.

The minister said oil majors have slashed crude oil production due to massive vandalisation of pipelines and theft of crude oil in the Niger Delta region by “criminal elements”.

The decisions of the companies,

he noted, have affected the volume of daily crude oil production and, unfortunately, led to revenue losses.

However, Sylva said in recent months, improved security surveillance along major pipelines has boosted crude oil production from just 900,000 barrels per day (bpd) to 1.4 million, and to 1.6 million (bpd).

He restated the federal government’s readiness to further improve security along the tracks of major crude oil pipelines and block leaks that would allow oil thieves and pipeline vandals to steal crude oil.

“I am happy to hear from you (Eni) that you have increased your crude oil production to 15,000 barrels per day as a result

of the efforts of the government in protecting the pipelines in the region. I assure you that this trend will continue,” the minister said.

Sylva added that the desire of the federal government is to “see all the oil majors in the country return to their full production capacity to boost revenue for the government”, and also help the country meet its Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) obligations.

“We will continue to work to bring stability and build confidence for everyone to return to the field to produce their maximum capacity,” he said.

By this effort, Sylva said the federal government is targeting full production capacity of up to 3

million daily crude oil production.

On his part, Mario Bello, head of the sub-Saharan Africa region of Eni SpA, expressed gratitude over the improved security situation at oil fields.

“We are happy that the security situation is improving and we will be willing to be back fully,” Bello said, adding that as of last month, the company cried to the minister over the vandalisation and theft of their products.

“At a point, we were producing almost nothing but today, with the improved security situation along the pipelines, we are able to produce and export about 15,000 barrels of crude oil and if this trend continues, we will be able to reach our 30,000 barrels crude oil production.”

Abubakar Yunus Abuja

I’ll resign as Twitter CEO once I find ‘foolish enough’ successor, says Elon Musk

L-R: President Muhammadu Buhari, Sheikh Muhammad Khalifa Niass, Sheikh Tijjani Shehu Hadi Almauritany, Sheikh Sirajuddeen Niass, Sayyidi Muhammad Kasim Yahaya, Sayyidi Muhammad Nuru Murtala during a courtesy visit with members of Jam’iyyatul Ansarudeen (Attijaniyya) at the State House Abuja.

Court Orders Interim Forfeiture of $899,900, 15 Properties Recovered from Ex-AGF Idris

Abubakar Yunus,Abuja

AFederal Capital Territory High Court has ordered the interim forfeiture of $899,900 and N304, 490,160.95 recovered from a former Accountant General of the Federation (AGF) Ahmed Idris, by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

The court also forfeited 15 properties recovered from Idris in Kano and Abuja.

The properties linked to Idris which were listed in the Schedule for forfeiture include Kano City Mall/Al Ikhlas Shopping Mall at Mandwawarti, Kano; one storey Shopping Complex at Ladanai, Kano; Corner Shops at Ladanai, Kano; a duplex at Karsana, Abuja; Royal Duplex at Deneji Quarters, Kano and a Duplex at Plot 271, New Jersey Street, Efab Blue Fountain Estate, Abuja.

Idris and others are being prosecuted by the EFCC on 14 counts of stealing and money laundering to the tune of N109billion.

Justice M.A Hassan gave the Order on Tuesday, December 13, 2022 while ruling on a motion exparte no. M/1149/2022, filed by the EFCC. This was according to a statement by the anti-graft spokesman, Wilson Uwujaren.

In the motion, the EFCC had prayed the Court for an Order of interim attachment/ forfeiture of the properties in the Schedule to the application, pending the hearing and determination of the substantive case in Charge No. FCT, HC/ CR/299/2022, Federal Republic of Nigeria V. Ahmed Idris and Others.

The Commission had requested the court to grant among others, an Order approving the interim “management of the assets and properties in the Schedule to this application to the applicant”, an order “to open an interest yielding account where monies realised from the management of the assets and properties of the persons stated in the Schedule to this application shall be paid”, and an order “freezing the Bank Accounts of the persons referred to as account holders/ or the bank accounts set out in the Schedule to this application”, pending the hearing and determination of the substantive case.

Justice Hassan granted the motion as prayed but further ordered that the recovery account sought to be opened by the applicant, ”shall be in the name of the Commission as Recovery Account and the details of the Account shall be reported back to the Court within one week of opening”.

Nine properties linked to the second respondent, Mohammed Kudu Usman, located in Abuja, Niger and Nasarawa States, were also forfeited in the interim.

They include plots of land with shops in Chanchaga Local Government Area of Niger State, a 37 hectares of farmland with livestock located along Minna-Bida Road in Niger State, Bungalow flats at Gwarimpa, Abuja, Bungalow Buildings at Masaka, Nasarawa State, plots of land at Dutse Alhaji Abuja and 13 plots of land at Integrated City, Minna, Niger State.

Airline operators warn passengers of imminent flight delays over aviation fuel scarcity

Nigerian airlines, under the aegis of Airline Operators of Nigeria (AON), say there will be major disruptions of flights due to persistent scarcity of aviation fuel, also known as jet-A1.

Obiora Okonkwo, spokesperson, AON, said this in a statement on Tuesday.

This would be the third time aviation fuel scarcity would be linked to disruptions in the sector in 2022.

In May and July, AON had warned passengers of disruptions in flight operations

due to scarcity of fuel, leading to “flight rescheduling, and, or, cancellations”.

The development also led to a hike in domestic flight tickets.

Speaking in the statement on Tuesday, Okonkwo disclosed that scarcity of jet fuel returned in the past few days.

He also said passengers should expect flight reschedules and cancellations.

“We wish to inform the general public of impending disruptions in scheduled flight operations due to the scarcity of aviation fuel,

otherwise known as jet-A1, which reared its ugly head again in the last few days,” he said.

The scarcity, Okonkwo said, would force airlines to reschedule flights, leading to late operations and in extreme circumstances, to cancellations.

He said the unintended development was a pain on airline operators and a stain on the industry, especially at this time of mass movement of people for the Christmas and New Year festivities.

“While we do our utmost best

to manage the situation and ensure safe flight operations, we plead the understanding of the travelling public in the circumstance,” Okonkwo added.

“We also call on the concerned authorities including product importers and marketers to do their best to resolve this ugly situation so as to ease the stress it brings on the travelling public.”

However, he said AON is “committed to doing all that is necessary to ensure seamless services and safe air travels in our dear country”.

NBS: FG generated N2.1trn from company income tax in first nine months of 2022

Abubakar Yunus, Abuja

The federal government generated N2.1 trillion from company income tax (CIT) in the first nine months of 2022.

The National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) disclosed this in its recent CIT report for the third quarter (Q3) of 2022.

Poor revenue generation has continued to pose a challenge to Nigeria’s finances, ultimately affecting its capability to finance its budget — hence the resort to debt acquisition.

President Muhammadu Buhari had said the country’s poor performance in resource mobilisation was a source of concern, as “tax revenues are approximately 8 percent of our output”.

Buhari, in September, inaugurated a presidential committee on the national economy, to provide solutions to the country’s economic troubles, especially in the area of getting revenue.

As one of the government’s revenue-generating mechanisms, the CIT is a tax on the profits of

registered companies in Nigeria. It also includes the tax on the profits of foreign firms operating in the country.

The tax is currently charged at the rate of 30 percent for companies having more than N100 million in turnover, and 20 percent for companies with a turnover ranging between N25 million and N100 million.

In the latest CIT report, NBS said in Q1, the federal government got a total revenue of N551.5 billion; and in Q2, the figure increased to N714.4 billion.

As at Q3 of 2022, the CIT revenue increased to N810.2 billion. This gives a total of N2.1 trillion revenue yield from tax in nine months (Q1,Q2, and Q3).

The NBS said the figure represents an increase of 55 percent when compared to the N1.3 trillion generated in the first nine months of 2021.

For the period under review, local payments contributed N1.3 trillion while foreign CIT payments amounted to N749.82 billion.

Despite foreign exchange (FX) challenges, the manufacturing sector led the list of sectorial

contributions with N358.2 billion in income tax paid to the federal government in nine months. According to NBS, the revenue from this sector represents an increase of 121 percent compared to the N162.2 billion recorded in the same period in 2021.

The information and communication sector followed with N131.2 billion in income tax paid to the federal government.

The report said the financial and insurance sector remitted a sum of N163 billion as CIT, followed by mining quarrying with a remittance of N114.3 billion.

Other sectors with increased tax revenues include; the public administration and defence, compulsory social security with N68.3 billion remitted; other service activities generated N56 billion; and transportation and storage sector remitted N56.3 billion.

In 2021, Nigeria held 97 percent of the box office revenue from movies in West Africa, whereas in 2020 it accounted for 99 percent of the revenue. Due to the coronavirus pandemic, movie theatres were closed in

Liberia, Ghana, and Nigeria. They reopened only in Nigeria in September 2020.

Analysis of the NBS data by TheCable Index, shows that the arts, entertainment and recreation sector, which comprises the fashion, music and movie industries, recorded the highest growth rate on quarter-on-quarter (q-on-q) basis.

In Q1 of 2022, the sector remitted N2.1 billion to the federal government and by Q2 of the same year, the figure increased to N3.38 billion.

More so, in Q3, the figure doubled to N6.54 billion, which makes a total of N11.99 billion in nine months.

This also means that the sector increased its remittance to the government in Q3 2022 by 93 percent, when compared to Q2; followed by agriculture, forestry, and fishing with 75.38 percent.

On the other hand, accommodation and food service activities had the lowest growth rate at -64.81 percent, followed by water supply, sewerage, waste management, and remediation activities at -64.75 percent.

President Muhammadu Buhari commissioned the national shared services center by the Ministry of Communication and Digital Economy at the Galaxy Backbone, yesterday in Abuja

PHOTO; State House

BUSINESS

CBN increases cash withdrawal limit to N500,000 weekly

By Abubakar Yunus, Abuja

The Central Bank of Nigeria has increased the maximum weekly limit for cash withdrawals across all channels by individuals and corporate organisations to N500,000 and N5 million, respectively.

The directive is contained in a circular issued by the bank on Wednesday and signed by the director of banking supervision department, Haruna Mustafa.

The development is coming two weeks after the CBN reduced the weekly over-the-counter cash withdrawal limit for individuals to N100,000 and that of corporate organisations to N500,000.

PEOPLES DAILY reports that the apex bank also reduced

withdrawals at Automated Teller Machines and point-of-sale terminals to N20,000 daily.

The policy had generated mixed reactions among Nigerians, with the House of Representatives also wading into the matter.

In the Wednesday circular, the apex bank said it made the upward review based on feedback received from stakeholders.

“The CBN hereby makes the following reviews: (1) the maximum weekly limit for cash withdrawal across all channels by individuals and corporate organisations shall be N500,000.00 and N5,000,000.00 respectively.

“2. In compelling circumstances where cash withdrawal above the limits in

(1) is required for legitimate purposes, such requests shall be subject to a processing fee of three per cent and five per cent for individuals and corporate organisations, respectively.

“Further to (2) above, the financial institution shall obtain the following information from the customer, at the minimum, and upload same on the CBN portal created for the purpose: valid means of identification of the payee (national ID, international passport, or driver’s license), bank verification number of the payee, tax identification number of both the payee and the payer, and an approval in writing by the MD/ CEO of the financial institution authorising the withdrawal.

“Third party cheques above

N100,000 shall not be eligible for payment over-the-counter, while the extant limit of N10 million on clearing cheques still subsist.”

The CBN also said monthly returns on cash withdrawal transactions above the specified limits should be rendered to the banking supervision department, other financial institutions supervision and payments system management departments.

It added, “Compliance with extant AML/CFT regulations relating to the KYC, ongoing customer due diligence and suspicious transaction reporting etc. is required in all circumstances.

“Customers should be encouraged to use alternative channels (internet banking,

mobile banking apps, USSD, cards/POS, eNaira, etc.) to conduct their banking transactions.

The apex bank noted that it recognised the vital role that cash played in supporting underserved and rural communities and would ensure an inclusive approach as it implemented the transition to a more cashless society.

“All banks and OFls are to note that aiding and abetting the circumvention of this policy will attract severe sanctions,” CBN said.

“The above directives supersede that of December 6, 2022 and take effect nationwide from January 9, 2023,” the CBN said.

NDE trains 25 graduates on Solar installation in Kaduna

National Directorates of Employment (NDE) has trained 25 graduates on Solar installation as a means of making them self reliance in the country.

Speaking at the Flag off of the Solar Power Installation and maintenance training in

collaboration with Abuja Graduate School in Kaduna,NDE Acting State Coordinator Mrs Victoria.W

. Dada said the participants were selected from science oriented courses.

The Acting Coordinator, said power output needs to be complimented with other

renewable sources of power hence the need for the solar training.

"It is not news to anyone that the growing rate of unemployment among graduates is ever increasing with statistics not looking good and putting a dent to unemployment figures in our country," he said.

She explained that the

Directorate observed that abundant untapped energy lies in Solar system which is the sun.

In his remarks, NDE Director General Abubakar Nuhu Fikpo represented by the Zonal Director , Hassan Mustapha said it's NDE mandate to creat job opportunities for the youth.

He urged the participants to take the training seriously so as to be self dependent as well as employers of Labour.

" This training is to avail you with modern challenges so as to provide chances of getting electric power. The essence is to make you self reliance," he said.

L-R: Panelist, Cristie Adejoh; the celebrant, Eugenia Abu; Special guest of honour Minister of State for Industry, Trade and Investment, Hajiya Mariam Katagum and another panelist, Cyril Stober, during the 60 for 60 the wisdom Conversation Eugenia Abu @ 60 in Abuja, On Monday.

METRO

Service delivery: FCT receives 40,000

complaints daily

By Stanley Onyekwere

The Director, FCT Reform Coordination & Service Improvement Department (RCSID), Dr. Jumai Ahmadu has disclosed that the department daily receives a total of 40,000 complaints from the residents on service delivery.

Ahmadu, explained that out of the 40,000 calls, genuine issues are promptly responded to by the FCT Administration, as some of them are not registered as complaint but errors, which emanated as a result of some residents calling to confirm whether the FCT Call line really existed.

Disclosing this to Journalists, during a briefing on the activities of the department in the last one year, yesterday, the Director further explained that most of the complaints received are for Abuja Environmental Protection Board (AEPB), considering the role it plays.

She however, linked the endless complaints about the board to traders that come out side Abuja for their businesses in the territory, which they litter the city after their day transaction.

In her words: On a daily basis we receive so many calls, in a year if we put everything together we receive over 100,000 calls.

“These calls are not mainly on the services we render, somebody will Just get the number on radio and call to know whether the number is working, not complaints.

“When we talk about the real calls receive and actions taken, we can put them at 40,000”.

FCTA ranks high on implementation of new teachers’ policy

By Stanley Onyekwere

The Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) has received pass mark from the Office of Head of Service of the Federation(OHSF), for the prompt implementation of the new policy for teachers in the Territory.

In particular, Head, Civil Service of the Federation, Dr. Folasade Yemi-Esan acknowledged that the administration is first in the Federation to implement the 65 years /40 years as the new retirement age and years of service for teachers as approved by the Federal Executive Council in 2021, according to the Director, FCT Human Resource Management, Mallam Muhammad Bashir.

Bashir made this disclosure

during FCT Education Secretariat end of the year media briefing and honour for the retired / outstanding staff, on Tuesday.

According to him, the Education Secretariat has been able to record a lot of achievements as a result of the cooperation and support of the Minister of the FCT, Mallam Muhammad Bello, the FCT Minister Of State and the Permanent Secretary.

” This is a clear indication that the FCT Administration does not joke with the welfare of Teachers.

“The Administration has directed that Staff Welfare should be improved especially that of Teachers, and that is why today, teachers in FCT are being paid the approved minimum wage for education Officers”, he stressed.

Also, the Director commended the dexterity of the Education

Secretary, Sani Dahir El- Katuzu whose tenure witnessed the clearing of arrears being owed to teachers.

He described the award conferred on retired and serving staff of the Secretariat as a lofty idea that should be emulated by other Secretariats, Departments, and Agencies of the FCT Administration.

He, therefore, charged the awardees to redouble their efforts in the service of the Administration; saying it is a lesson in honesty and hard work.

Earlier in his remarks, the mandate Secretary, FCT Education Secretariat, Sani Dahir El- Katuzu, noted that the teachers will now have the opportunity of serving at 40 years and 65 years of age; as against 35 years in service and 65 years of age.

On the Secretariat’ s achievement in the last past one year, El- Katuzu listed installation of hybrid solar system in 59 Secondary Education Board (SEB -Schools) across the six Area Councils.

He listed others to include, “establishment of solar hub at incubation centre, Karu in collaboration with Verysol Energy Technologies, construction and furnishing of 1000 capacity GSE hall, Zuba and construction of School of languages.

Furthermore, he said the in the year under review, revealed that the secretariat commissioned a renovated Lugbe learning centre, establishment and take -off of Government Science and Technical College, Kogo- Bwari for 2022/2023 academic with many others.

FCTA, SMEDAN, ACGEL partner to empower ‘poor’ people

By Stanley Onyekwere

The FCT Administration has disclosed strategic collaboration with the African Center for Global Entrepreneurial Leadership (ACGEL) and the Small and Medium Enterprise Development Agency of Nigeria (SMEDAN) to empower millions of Nigerians in the Territory and beyond.

FCT Minister of State, Dr. Ramatu Tijjani Aliyu, disclosed this during commissioning of Leadership Entrepreneurial Game Show (LEGS) on Tuesday

at the Cyprian Ekwensi Centre for Arts and Culture, Area 10, Garki, Abuja.

Aliyu noted that the collaboration was aimed at lifting millions of Nigerians, especially the youth, out poverty in line with President Muhammadu Buhari’s commitment to empower 100 million Nigerians before year 2030.

She said the FCT Administration, in February this year, received over one hundred thousand applications for registration through its Call Center within three months of

announcement for registration.

She further explained that, within the same period, “about 12 contestants garnered the required 6,000 votes benchmark to get into the Job Creation Studio and qualify for the grand prize of Five Million Naira (N5,000,000.00) worth of Business tools and Working Capital after answering about 12 incremental questions bothering on their field of entrepreneurial choice.”

Aliyu restated FCT Administration commitment to partnering any organization

desirous of banishing hunger, arresting idleness and poverty, as well as generating employment and engendering self-sufficiency among the youths and residents of the FCT through entrepreneurship.

She therefore called on corporate entities, nongovernmental organizations, stakeholders and other critical partners operating and doing businesses with the FCT Administration, and indeed all men of goodwill, to key into this initiative, and sponsor some sizeable number of youths

across the six Area Councils, as part of their Corporate Social Responsibilities (CSR).

She equally urged the Chairmen of the six Area Councils of the FCT to identify youths in their respective Council and sponsor them to participate in this scheme.

“By so doing, we have begun in earnest the journey to reduce drastically the rate of poverty, joblessness, restiveness among our youths and create employment in the FCT”, she stressed.

Coalition of Civil Society groups and youth leaders in a protest against the alledged trump up charges by the Department of State Service (DSS) against the CBN Governor, yesterday in Abuja. PHOTO: Mahmud Isa

world news

Ukraine war: Russia not to blame for conflict -Putin

Vladimir Putin believes Russia is not to blame for the war in Ukraine, adding both countries are “sharing a tragedy”.

During a televised address with senior military officials, the Russian president said he continued to see Ukraine as a “brotherly nation”.

He claimed the conflict was “the result of the policy of third countries” and not down to Russian policy.

The theory, which implies Western expansion is the cause, has been repeatedly dismissed outside Russia.

President Putin claimed the West had “brainwashed” post-Soviet republics, starting with Ukraine.

He said: “For years, we tried to build good-neighbourly relations with Ukraine, offering loans and cheap energy, but it did not work.

“There’s nothing to accuse us of. We’ve always seen Ukrainians as a brotherly people and I still think so.

“What’s happening now is a tragedy, but it’s not our fault.”

President Putin’s longstanding concerns appear to stem from Nato’s growth since the Soviet Union collapsed in 1991.

Nato’s original goal was to challenge Russian expansion after World War Two, but the Kremlin has long argued Nato’s

acceptance of former Soviet allies as members threatens its security.

Tensions between the Kremlin and the West increased after the overthrow of pro-Kremlin Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovych in 2014, following months of street protests.

During the address military officials vowed to continue the so-called “special military operation” into 2023.

President Putin added there was no limit to the amount of money Russia was willing to spend.

Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu proposed raising the age range for mandatory Russian military service.

Under the current law, Russians aged 1827 can be called up for mandatory military service - Mr Shoigu is now proposing this covers citizens aged 21-30.

Mr Shoigu also announced plans to establish bases in two port cities - Berdyansk and Mariupol - seized during the Russian offensive.

The address came as Ukrainian leader Volodmyr Zelensky travelled to the US Capitol in Washington.

It is his first visit outside of Ukraine since Russia invaded 10 months ago.

Afghanistan: Tears and protests as Taliban shut universities to women

It’san order that girls and women across Afghanistan had been dreading ever since the Taliban returned. On Wednesday, girls in their hijabs turned up to their university campuses to be blocked and turned away by Taliban guards.

Footage shows groups weeping as they’re led away.

After excluding girls from most secondary schools these past 16 months, the Taliban this week also banned university education for women.

“They have destroyed the only bridge that could connect me with my future,” one Kabul University student told the BBC.

“How can I react? I believed that I could study and change my future or bring the light to my life but they destroyed it.”

Authorities issued the order on Tuesdayand by the following day other places of learning, including Islamic religious schools and private tuition colleges in several provinces, were also carrying out the ruling.

Sources from three provinces - Takhar in the north, Ghazni in the south-east and the capital Kabul - confirmed to the BBC that the Taliban had stopped girls from attending private education centres there.

All avenues of formal education for women are being shut down, it appears.

It led some women to dare to protest on Wednesday on the streets in Kabul - a dangerous act given the Taliban’s record for detaining protesters. The small demonstrations were quickly shut down by Taliban officials.

This generation had thought they were the lucky ones - getting the education denied to their mothers, older sisters and cousins.

Instead, they’re seeing their future crumble.

The Taliban, which began as a hardline Islamist militant group, had promised to respect women’s rights when they swept back to power in August last year - after the horrors of their previous rule from 1996-2001 when women couldn’t work or study.

But their latest decree again strips away whatever scant freedoms and rights had been afforded to women after US-led forces withdrew from Afghanistan and the Taliban returned.

Yet only three months ago, the Taliban had conceded to allowing university entrance exams to go ahead.

Thousands of girls and women sat the tests in provinces across the country. Many had

studied in secret - at home or risking venturing to hidden tutoring colleges set up for girls.

The danger was always present. During some of the exams bombers targeted schools, killing pupils.

But still the young women persisted.

Even when the Taliban in November brought in last-minute restrictions on subjects - barring girls from courses like economics, engineering and journalism - they kept trying, many applying for teaching and medicine.

As another female student put it to the BBC: “Why should we always be the victim? Afghanistan is a poor country. But women in this country have accepted poverty alongside every other problem and they still they have to suffer.”

Girls’ schooling has long been a point of contention between conservative and more moderate factions in the Taliban.

The university ban now indicates a win by the more fundamentalist in the Taliban, whose supreme leader Hibatullah Akhundzada believes modern education - particularly for women and girls - is wrong in Islamic teachings.

Yet not everyone in the ruling movement

thinks like him - and there were reports more moderate officials in cities like Kabul had wanted girls over the age of 12 to get an education.

As rights advocates have warned, the decision has an impact on the whole country’s future. “No country can thrive when half of its population is held back,” US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken warned.

Western countries had insisted on women’s education as a condition the Taliban would need to meet if they wanted global recognition. However the Taliban have ignored the criticism so far.

For Afghan families, both in the country and around the world, seeing the future for their daughters slide back into the “dark ages” has ignited fear and anger.

News of the university ban prompted some Afghan women activists to post stories of their own university graduation days - in cap and gown.

The pushback against the Taliban since they seized power again has not been enough, they say.

And it’s part of a rising tide of restrictions on women’s daily lives in recent weeks. In

November, women in Kabul were also stopped from entering public places such as parks and gyms. Women are increasingly being confined to their homes in policies tantamount to imprisonment, says the UN.

‘Action is not Islamic’

For one law student, her higher education path seems over now. Her university term had ended for the winter break and wasn’t due to recommence until March.

But now she’s not allowed to step foot back onto campus - she has “lost everything”. As a Sharia law scholar, she told the BBC she was struggling to make sense of it according to Islamic teachings.

“The Taliban have taken the rights that Islam and Allah have given to us,” she told the BBC.

“They have to go to other Islamic countries and see that their actions are not Islamic. According to what they say this is Sharia. But why do they want to practise it only on women? Why don’t they apply it to men?”

Other religious scholars back up her point. Nawida Khurasani, one of the few female Afghan religious scholars, says the decree defies Islamic values. “It has no place in Islam - because Islam commands both men and women to get an education,” said Ms Nawida, who now lives in Canada.

Another religious scholar who the BBC spoke to - a male imam living inside Afghanistan - agreed that both men and women should be able to be educated under Islam.

For many Afghanistan watchers howeverthere’s no point in trying to explain the Taliban’s actions under supposed Islamic teachings. They say the university ban is just a continuation of the movement’s aims to completely suppress women and erase the freedoms they’d had in the years between periods of Taliban rule.

Closing the door on university education is the Taliban completing their control over women.

“Afghanistan is not a country for women but a cage for women,” said Afghan academic and activist Humaira Qaderi, who lives in the United States.

“There’s no social life left for Afghan women. The streets are now dominated by men.

“This was the last thing that the Taliban could do. But they did it.”

Source: BBC

Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu proposed beefing up the armed forces

President Putin said Russia would not militarise the country’s economy

Female university students were stopped by Taliban security personnel in Kabul on Wednesday

F rom A F ric A

Gambia coup attempt foiled - government

The Gambia’s government says it has thwarted an attempt to stage a coup.

Four soldiers had been arrested and three alleged accomplices were on the run, a statement said.

It is unclear who exactly was behind Tuesday’s attempt to overthrow President Adama Barrow, who won a second term in elections last year.

The Gambia is a largely stable country in West Africa which is popular with holidaymakers because of its beaches and wildlife.

The capital, Banjul, is peaceful, with life going on as normal.

No gun shots have been heard, and there is no sign that loyalist forces have been deployed to secure strategic sites.

The government statement, however, said that military reservists had been put on stand-by.

“The situation is under total control,” it added.

When reports of a coup attempt first surfaced on Tuesday, the army denied it,

saying it had only carried out a “military drill”.

Equatorial Guinea, though he remains an influential figure in The Gambia, one of Africa’s smallest countries.

Many senior officers left the army after Mr Barrow took office.

He has been distrustful of the military, with troops from neighbouring Senegal in charge of his personal security, while the main international airport and sea port are guarded by troops from Nigeria and Ghana respectively.

This has made him unpopular with many Gambians, who feel that he has undermined the country’s sovereignty by relying on foreign forces.

Mr Barrow also became unpopular after he broke away from the United Democratic Party (UDP), which propelled him to power in 2016, and formed the National People’s Party (NPP) to contest last year’s election.

His popularity plummeted further when he announced that he had formed an alliance with Mr Jammeh’s old party, in what was seen as an attempt to boost his chances of securing a second term.

African, Arab or Amazigh? Morocco’s identity crisis

It is fair to say that the World Cup in Qatar this year has been defined by controversy like no other tournament before.

From the controversial decision to grant Qatar the privilege of hosting the event despite its poor human rights record to the very last moment when the Emir of Qatar put an Arab cloak on the shoulders of the Argentinian football legend, Lionel Messi, as he was about to lift the trophy on Sunday.

But there is one controversy that attracted little or no attention outside North Africa. It started with the simple question: how do you describe the Moroccan team, the Atlas Lions, which stunned the whole world by its sterling performance - defying the odds to beat heavyweights such as Spain and Portugal? The “first Arab” or “African” team to reach the semi-final?

Culturally many Moroccans see themselves more as Arabs than Africansand some sub-Saharan Africans in Morocco complain that racist attitudes are never far from the surface.

But comments by Moroccan winger Sofiane Boufal after their World Cup victory over Spain brought the debate about the country’s continental identity to the fore. He thanked “all Moroccans all over the world for their support, to all Arab people, and to all Muslim people. This win belongs to you.”

After a social media backlash, he took to Instagram to apologise for not mentioning the African continent’s backing of the teamexpressed at one stage by Nigeria’s President Muhammadu Buhari when he said Morocco had “made the entire continent proud with their grit and dexterity”.

Chastened, Boufal posted: “I also dedicate the victory to you of course. We are proud to represent all our brothers on the continent. TOGETHER.”

The furore reflects recent efforts by the monarch to encourage closer ties with the rest of the African continent. “Africa is my home, and I am coming back home,” King Mohammed VI said in 2017 as Morocco was re-admitted to the Africa Union after a 30-year absence in a row over the disputed territory of Western Sahara. This rapprochement has allowed business links to flourish, especially with West Africa.

But Morocco is also a member of the Arab League - so officially belongs to both cultural spheres.

While the adjective “African” to describe Morocco is a geographical fact, the use of “Arab” has also alienated many Moroccans

who do not identify as such.

On the streets of Rabat

As Atlas Lions prepare to take France in the #FIFAWorldCup semi-final, their success has sparked a discussion about Moroccan identity. We took to the streets of Rabat to find out how people felt.

Posted by BBC News Africa on Wednesday, December 14, 2022

The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites.View original post on Facebook

Morocco has a substantial population of Berbers, or Amazigh as they prefer to be called - some estimates put it at nearly 40% of the country’s population of more than 34 million. One major Amazigh languageTamazight - is now recognised as an official language alongside Arabic.

But this was a controversy long time in the making. Immediately after Qatar was awarded the right to host the 2022 World Cup, its media framed the event as a “Victory for Islam and pan-Arabism”, as a headline put it back in 2010.

As the tournament got under way, the vocabulary of pan-Arabism and Islamism crept back to the front. In the conflict over the ban on alcohol or the use of the OneLove armband of the LGBTQ, advocates of Islamism and pan-Arabism came to the defence of Qatar, Islam and traditional values against “the imperialist West”.

But the initial framing of the event by the Qatari media as an “Islamic or Arab Conquest”, which had gone largely

unnoticed, provoked an angry reaction when it became part of the language of running commentary on the games.

So, when the Atlas Lions made history by becoming the first men’s team from Africa and the Middle East to qualify for the World Cup semi-final, it was hailed as a victory for the Muslim and Arab nations.

After other teams from the regionTunisia, Saudi Arabia and Qatar - were disqualified early in the race, it was only natural that football lovers in neighbouring countries would rally behind Morocco.

But some vocal groups sought to portray the Moroccan success as something much larger, more ideological and political. Consequently, the Moroccan team was assigned the role of the standard-bearer of Islam and pan-Arabism.

This argument was strengthened when some of the Moroccan team’s players celebrated their successes by unfurling a Palestinian flag on the pitch.

This kind of rhetoric outraged many in North Africa, but particularly among Moroccans who do not subscribe to these ideologies and their worldviews.

‘Culture war’

In an hour-long tirade, one dissident Moroccan YouTuber blasted those who sought to politicise the game and turn it into a global culture war.

Brother Rachid also reminded his 385,000 subscribers that half of the Moroccan team, including their coach, were in fact born and bred in Europe, the children of Moroccan migrants who learned the

game and became professional footballers in Europe.

“If you were to do a DNA analysis of the Moroccan team, you would find that most of them are Amazigh. Most of them don’t speak Arabic. And if they did it will be ‘broken Arabic’ because they grew up in the West,” he said.

The role of Islam and freedom of speech are sensitive in Morocco, where the royal dynasty regards itself as the Prophet Muhammad’s descendants, and the king retains the title of The Commander of the Faithful - an historic term for early Muslim rulers. Yet the YouTuber was not afraid to tackle thorny issues:

“Morocco is different from the Middle East, because it is fundamentally a Berber society, the Arabs came as outsiders in the 7th Century. Today in Morocco there are Arabs, Berbers, Muslims, Jews, atheists, non-religionists and Baha’is, there are Shias and Sunnis.”

Considering this Moroccan success “a victory for Arabism and Islam is an attack on the various components of the Moroccan society”, he went on to say.

In response to the pan-Arabists or Islamists seeking to hijack the Moroccan triumph for their own use, posts on social media proliferated to claim back the team as Morocco’s. Some posted pictures of the team emblazoned with Amazigh symbols.

Other critics highlighted the absurdity of turning a game of football into a religious or ethnic war, arguing that it is inconceivable that a win by France, Brazil or Argentina could be considered a triumph of Christianity.

They pointed out that would be impossible, given the ethnic and religious mix of some of the national football teams in Europe for example.

The controversy over the true identity of the Moroccan team is the latest manifestation of a “culture war” that has raged for decades across North Africa and the Middle East.

National identity has been central to the two ideologies - Islamism and pan-Arabism - that shaped political discourse in the region for decades.

While they made sense during the struggle for national liberation, prioritising social cohesion over individual freedom, they seem to have outlived their usefulness and become irrelevant in an increasingly globalised world - as the row over a football match clearly demonstrates.

Source: BBC

Mr Barrow defeated long-serving

President Yahya Jammeh in a shock election victory in December 2016. Mr Jammeh was forced into exile in

President Adama Barrow first came to office in January 2017

Morocco garnered support from the rest of Africa - including from this crowd in Senegal - as they took on France

ews F rom A si A

Donki discount store mascot survives axe after Japanese uproar

Ancient South Australia cave art destroyed by vandals

Vandals have destroyed sacred artwork in South Australia thought to be about 30,000 years old.

The Nullarbor Plain art, which are designs carved into the chalk limestone walls of the Koonalda Cave, has special significance for the region’s Aboriginal Mirning people.

The vandals are thought to have dug under a steel gate before scrawling “don’t look now, but this is a death cave” on the walls.

The authorities are investigating.

“This is quite frankly shocking,” South Australia Attorney-General and Aboriginal Affairs Minister, Kyam Maher, told ABC Radio. “These caves are some of the earliest evidence of Aboriginal occupation of that part of the country.”

Japan’s largest discount chain has reversed a decision to replace its mascot after outrage from fans online.

Don Quijote, called Donki in Japan, has over 600 stores in the country and is known for selling a huge range of products at cheap prices.

Its mascot Donpen, a blue penguin which wears a Santa hat, has become synonymous with the store.

So an announcement that Donpen would be replaced sparked widespread shock on Japanese social media last week.

The company announced on Twitter it had decided to replace the penguin with “Dojo-chan” - an anthropomorphic representation of the Japanese katakana character “do”.

It did not give a reason for the change.

The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites.View original tweet on Twitter

That prompted an outpouring of dismayed reactions online. Some fans posted photos of themselves in Donpen onesies, while others threatened to boycott Donki stores.

Another user launched a poll asking which mascot Donki fans preferred. That attracted more than 33,000 clicks with Donpen winning 93% of the vote.

The change also appeared to have blindsided Don Quijote president Naoki Yoshida. He said on Twitter he didn’t “understand the situation either” and had asked “relevant departments” for clarification.

A few hours later, Mr Yoshida announced that Donpen would remain as the company’s mascot.

“We have taken the opinions of many of you very seriously and have discussed them with our board members. As a result, it was decided that ‘Donpen’ would continue as the official character,” he said.

The company behind Don Quijote, Pan Pacific International Holdings, also apologised for the incident and said they appreciated fans’ support for Donpen.

Donpen was born in Antarctica and raised in Tokyo, according to the official Donki website. He enjoys taking “walks at night” and “it’s rumoured his appearance changes”, the store says.

Don Quijote was one of the few stores in Japan to turn a profit during the Covid-19 pandemic.

Source: BBC

Senior Mirning elder, Uncle Bunna Lawrie, told the BBC he first heard about the “devastating” vandalism from the media and said it was another example of “the constant disrespect” his people had experienced.

“It’s abuse to our country and it’s abuse to our history,” he said. “What’s gone is gone and we’re never going to get it back.”

The Koonalda Cave has been listed as a National Heritage site since 2014.

Mr Maher said that those found responsible for the vandalism could face prosecution, something Mr Lawrie says he would welcome.

But Mr Maher and the federal government have been criticised both by elders and cave experts who say they raised the issue of poor security around the site months ago.

Individuals found to have damaged an Aboriginal site or item currently face a fine of A$10,000 ($6,700; £5,500) or up to six months in prison under South Australia’s Aboriginal heritage laws.

However, the authorities have vowed to strengthen these laws following an inquiry

into the destruction of the 46,000-year-old Juukan Gorge rock shelters.

Mining giant Rio Tinto was ordered to rebuild the Western Australian site after blowing the shelters up as part of an iron ore exploration project in 2020. Several senior figures from the company resigned over the incident.

Mr Lawrie said better laws to protect Aboriginal culture should have been put in place a long time ago.

Maiden Pharmaceuticals: Gambia panel says India firm culpable for cough syrup deaths

Aparliamentary

committee in The Gambia has recommended prosecution of the Indian manufacturer of cough syrups suspected of causing the deaths of at least 70 children in the country.

It said Maiden Pharmaceuticals should be held accountable for exporting what it called contaminated medicine.

The WHO had issued an alert in October advising regulators to stop the sale of the syrups.

Maiden Pharmaceuticals had denied the allegations.

Government labs in India said their tests on the syrups found that they were “complying with specifications”. An Indian official said last week that the WHO was “presumptuous” in blaming the syrups.

But the global health body told the BBC it was only following its mandate and “stands by the action taken”.

After weeks of investigation, the Gambian parliamentary committee has now recommended that authorities should take tough measures, including banning all Maiden Pharmaceuticals products in the country and taking legal action against the firm.

The committee said it “is convinced that Maiden Pharmaceuticals [is] culpable and should be held accountable for exporting the contaminated medicines”.

“The findings remain the same with the previous reports which indicates that Promethazine Oral Solution, Kofexmalin Baby Cough Syrup, Makoff Baby Cough Syrup and Magrip N Cold Syrup were contaminated with diethylene glycol and ethylene glycol,” the parliamentary committee said in its report.

Diethylene glycol and ethylene glycol are toxic to humans and could be fatal if consumed. But the panel added that the exact scientific cause of the children’s deaths was still under investigation.

The committee also wanted the country’s Medicine Control Agency to ensure all medicines imported into the country are properly registered and background checks conducted on manufacturers - including visiting their facilities.

The report also revealed inadequacies in

the country’s healthcare system urging the government to strengthen it and provide better equipment and medicines to the country’s hospitals.

What happened?

In late July, The Gambia detected an increase in cases of acute kidney injury among children under the age of five. The government later said around 69 children had died from these injuries.

The WHO then identified four of the Maiden Pharmaceuticals’ medicines as potentially linked to the deaths of the Gambian children and issued a global alert.

After the news broke in October, India said that it was investigating the products and ordered Maiden Pharmaceuticals to stop production at its main factory in the northern state of Haryana.

On 13 December, Dr VG Somani, India’s drugs controller general, wrote a letter to the WHO saying that the samples it tested at a government laboratory “were found not to have been contaminated” with the compounds.

“As per the test reports received from [the]

government laboratory, all the control samples of the four products have been found to be complying with specifications,” he added.

The test results are being further examined by a panel of Indian experts.

A senior adviser to India’s information and broadcasting ministry told the BBC last week that the WHO had been “presumptuous” in blaming the cough syrups for the deaths of the children.

“Subsequent inspections, tests and studies by Government of India’s notified bodies and technical team have shown that WHO’s presumptuous statement was untrue and incorrect,” said Kanchan Gupta, adding that the health body had “[jumped] the gun without valid scientific reasons”.

India produces a third of the world’s medicines, mostly in the form of generic drugs.

Home to some of the fastest growing pharmaceutical companies, the country is known as the “world’s pharmacy” and meets much of the medical needs of African nations.

Maiden Pharmaceuticals: Gambia panel says India firm culpable for cough syrup deaths

Elders and cave experts say they raised concerns about security at the site months ago

The WHO had advised regulators to stop the sale of the four Indian-made cough syrups

Environment

COP27: Ministries partners on youth climate action

By Mashe Umaru Gwamna

The Federal Ministry of Environment and Ministry of Youth and Sports Development have partnered on youth climate action.

This was contained in a statement signed and signed by Akintunde Martins For Head Press and Public Relations.

They said this will forged a common ground to acknowledge, intensify and harmonize the contributions of young people to mitigating climate change in Nigeria.

Speaking at the event organized by the Federal Ministry of Youth and Sports Development, Minister of Youth and Sport.

The minister of sports Sunday Dare acknowledge the critical role of the youth in climate change mitigation, during a side event on intergeneration dialogue between leaders and the youths.

He said “Young people are not only victims of climate change. They are also valuable contributors to climate action as agents of change, entrepreneurs and innovators.

Hence, their unprecedented mobilization around the world shows the massive power they possess to contribute meaningfully in achieving the objectives of COP 27 and beyond”

While commending the youth for their resilience, tenacity and forward-thinking in the areas of climate change mitigation, the Minister appeal to the youth to support the efforts of the Federal Government at ensuring not just a better future for all but more importantly a better world for them and those that will come after.

Adding that COP27 is happening during a time when Nigeria is grappling with the multi-faceted impacts of Climate Change ranging from flooding, drought, deforestation and heat waves, the Minister assured of maximum support and contribution of his Ministry to recognize and amplify the indispensable role of young people in driving sustainable development and sustainable environments.

He used the occasion to announce the launch of Project 250k for Climate Change, a project that will support Nigerian youth to plant and nurture two hundred and fifty thousand trees across the federation.

Welcoming the Minister of Youth and Sports development as well as youth representatives to the Nigeria Pavilion, the Minister of Environment, Mohammed Abdullahi echoed that for Nigeria to achieve its climate change mitigation target, the role and contributions of the youth must be recognized and enlisted.

“The truth is that the youth must be involved in all climate change mitigation efforts of the Federal Government of Nigeria going forward.”

COP27: Buhari urges developed countries on adaptation acceleration programme

By Mashe Umaru Gwamna

President

Muhammadu

Buhari MUHAMMADU , said there is a dire need for developed countries to expand existing adaptation acceleration programmes for developing countries.

He made the called recently at the at the high level segment of the 27th session of the conference of parties(COP27), to United Nations framework convention on climate change .

Buhari represented by the minister of environment, Mohammed Abdullahi,said “Africa contributes about 3% to the global emissions but is left to cope with the devasting impacts of climate change.

Nigeria and the rest of Africa, call for an effective and sustainable framework that will address the socio-economic effects of energy transition including energy poverty, loss of jobs and livelihoods.

“Nigeria has spearheaded initiatives aimed at recovering degraded land for the Sahara and the Sahel such as the Great Green Wall”.

He maintained that as the largest economy in Africa, we are engaging the G7 to request the inclusion of Nigeria in the G7’s Climate Partnerships List for the co-creation of a Just Energy Transition Partnership.

The president recalled that “At COP26, I did say for Nigeria, climate change is not about the perils of tomorrow but what is happening today.”

“Today, Nigeria is currently grappling with devasting effects of terrible flooding which has affected 3.2 million persons, over 600 lives lost, over

100,000 persons displaced and over 300 hectares of farmlands destroyed”.

He explained that Nigeria and indeed the rest of Africa, from the Sahara to the Cape, is living with increasing fear of food insecurity as a result of the floods.

He said the economic cost for Loss and Damage for Africa is estimated at almost USD 2 Trillion excluding noneconomic losses.

“Developed nations must not ignore the demand from developing nations to establish a Loss and Damage finance facility to help developing nations recover from the adverse effects of climate change, particularly the devastating floods, worsening desertification, and rising sea levels”.

“At COP26 in Glasgow, I announced Nigeria’s commitment to net-zero by 2060 on the basis of a detailed Energy Transition Plan (ETP). This plan, the first of its kind in Africa highlights the significant scale of resources required to attain both development and climate ambitions by 2060”.

He said however, the public finance urgently needed to fund energy transitions and climate action is lacking – a situation compounded by debt distress affecting many low- and middleincome countries.

“We are therefore taking bold steps to pioneer innovative climate finance instruments such as debt for climate swaps; and championing the development of the African carbon market initiative. In

support of this, Nigeria has enacted the climate change law alongside the initial governance framework and launched the Nigeria Emission Trading Scheme (ETS).

To signal investment readiness, we have made significant progress in creating the enabling policies and incentives to advance a shortlist of priority projects, including Renewable Solar Independent Power Plants (IPPs), scaled Decentralized”,said .

He added that renewable Energy (DRE) projects and gas flare commercialization opportunities, to name a few. We are hopeful that investors at the global community will recognize the immense investment opportunities and potential for impact.

COP27 : African environment ministers form common ground to negotiate for loss, damage

By Mashe Umaru Gwamna

African Ministers of Environment have forged a common ground to drive and negotiate for loss and damage, just energy transition, food security; climate finance, land degradation, and biodiversity conservation, as COP 27 enter the second week and final phase that will see heated negation and critical decision being made.

The renewed call for a united African position was made at a consultative meeting

of the African Ministers of Environment-High level segment organized to reiterate the African position as well as to receive briefs from African negotiators and chart a common course for harmonization ahead of the final phase of negotiation.

Addressing the meeting of African Ministers, Nigeria’s Minister of Environment, Mohammed Abdullahi acknowledged that Nigeria will align itself with the African position.

“We are not going to take a know it position and that is why

we are here at the levels of Africa’s Ministers of Environment to meet and harmonize our position especially focusing on loss and damage”

“You are quite aware of the devastating flood in Nigeria and other parts of the world, basically Nigeria remains focused on loss and damage, climate finance, and biodiversity conservation. We are on course on our position” Abdullahi stated.

The Minister speaking on the effort put in place to ensure that COP 27 is indeed a COP of implementation for

Nigeria, expressed that Nigeria is holding specific meetings with developed countries, donor partners, development partners, multi-national companies, and other stakeholders in the environment sector both local and international, to ensure that firm implementable commitments and decisions geared toward Africa’s agenda are reached.

“We are also putting pressure on developed countries to ensure that commitments are firmed and implementable.” The Minister avowed.

Some Nigeria Delegates at COP27 at Sharm El-Sheikh, Egypt.

El Salvador: The people caught up in the gang crackdown

When El Salvador’s President Nayib Bukele attended a graduation ceremony for military officers last week, he brought more than just warm words for their future careers in law enforcement.

He also delivered the latest escalation in his ruthless crackdown on the country’s street gangs which has seen a staggering 57,000 people arrested on suspicion of gang affiliation since March.

Yet Mr Bukele’s self-proclaimed “war on gangs” has also given rise to some disturbing cases of wrongful arrest.

“Thanks to God and thanks to you, Salvadoreans have true peace”, President Bukele told thousands of soldiers and police officers in a slickly produced nighttime event to launch the fifth phase of his controversial “Territorial Control Plan”.

Called “Extraction”, it is intended to tighten the military’s control of El Salvador’s major cities using high-tech surveillance equipment, ostensibly to prevent gang members from coming in or out. The operation began this weekend with 10,000 members of the security forces descending on the town of Soyapango where they started rounding up alleged gang members.

President Bukele dismissed the concerns of international human rights organisations and foreign governments over the “state of exception” he introduced nine months ago, following a weekend of extreme gang violence in which more than 70 people were killed.

The emergency measure granted the police sweeping new powers, including the right to detain suspects without due process. Mr Bukele told the officers it was supported by more than 95% of Salvadoreans.

It is undeniably popular. Murder rates are falling to new lows. Neighbourhoods which have endured years of extortion and violence at the hands of the brutal MS13 and 18th Street gangs are enjoying an unprecedented period of calm.

However, El Salvador’s prison population is now proportionally the highest in the world. Already overcrowded facilities are heaving under the new intake, prompting the government to announce the construction of a major new penitentiary.

Evidence suggests hundreds, perhaps thousands of people with no discernible link to gang crime have been caught in the dragnet.

When police officers came crashing through Zoyla Torres’s front door in April, she thought they must have made a mistake.

“We don’t make trouble for anyone,” she insists. “My husband has nothing to do with the gangs. He works in a factory making sacks for transporting crops.”

Nevertheless, the police stormed their cramped home and detained her husband Manuel and her brother-in-law while her children were eating breakfast.

Over the road, at her brother’s house, the same thing was happening - all on the strength of an anonymous tip.

The three men spent almost a month in the harshest prison conditions in Latin America. Zoyla says that they were regularly beaten in jail and have been left traumatised by the experience.

Yet they were among the lucky ones. Zoyla managed to get them freed them after their employer provided assurances that they were not involved in gang activities.

Marta, an 18-year-old psychology student, was not so fortunate. Her father Oscar says that Marta - not her real name - was taken her from her home after the police tried to force her to name a gang member.

As she did not know any gang members and was not prepared to falsely accuse anyone, they simply arrested her instead, Oscar says.

“In late December she’ll have been in prison for six months. They arrested her for illicit association. But they provided no proof, no evidence at all.”

Oscar’s attempts to secure his daughter’s release - providing evidence of her enrolment in university and testimony from her church group as to her good characterhave so far fallen on deaf ears.

And now Marta, like thousands of other prisoners, is facing a further six months in legal limbo as the state of exception is to be extended again this year.

Lucrecia Landaverde, a pro-bono lawyer representing scores of detainees, says that the policy is causing lasting damage to El Salvador’s judicial system.

“So far, there have been involved thousands of arbitrary arrests, unfounded accusations, and illegal detentions. There haven’t even been preliminary investigations to check that those arrested form part of the gang structures,” she argues.

With habeas corpus all but suspended and some police reportedly justifying the arbitrary detentions as simply “the president’s will”, the road to full-blown totalitarianism is short, warns Ms Landaverde.

The crackdown has also targeted scores of ex-gang members too, many of whom had renounced the gang life decades earlier and were attempting to make amends for their past crimes.

Among them is William Arias, an evangelical pastor and former MS-13 member the BBC interviewed in 2018.

A tattoo of the gang’s initials still visible on his forehead, William fully admitted to having carried out some heinous crimes in his youth. Yet he insisted that for 18 years, he had entirely dedicated himself to dissuading other young people from following his path into the group.

He was arrested in April, his whereabouts are currently unknown. “If he hasn’t been released, he doubtless still had charges to answer,” the vice-president of the National Assembly, Guillermo Gallegos, said.

“And remember, many gang members use the church as a pretext,” he alleged. The staunchly pro-Bukele deputy has repeatedly advocated for the death sentence for El

Salvador’s gang members.

“The gang members never cared less about their victims’ human rights,” says Mr

Gallegos, echoing the president’s line. “So, now

we

consider their human rights to be reduced to the bare minimum.” BBC

President Nayib Bukele has made cracking down on gang violence his priority

Soldiers stood to attention as the president delivered his speech at the nighttime event

With the new influx of detainees, some inmates have had to be transferred to make space for new arrivals

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wins World Sport Star of the Year after World Cup triumph

Argentina’s World Cupwinning captain Lionel Messi has been named BBC Sports Personality’s World Sport Star of the Year for 2022.

Messi, 35, led Argentina to their first World Cup triumph in 36 years in Qatar on Sunday

The Paris St-Germain forward won the tournament’s Golden Ball - awarded to the best player - after scoring seven goals at his fifth World Cup.

The former Barcelona star is widely acknowledged as one of the greatest footballers of alltime.

Messi scored twice in the World Cup final and also converted a penalty in the shootout as Argentina beat holders France 4-2 on penalties following a thrilling 3-3 draw.

It meant he added football’s biggest prize to a list of trophies that includes seven Ballons d’Or titles - awarded to the best footballer each year - four Champions Leagues, one Copa America, 10 La Liga titles with Barcelona and a Ligue 1 crown with PSG.

In addition, he has scored a staggering 793 goals in his career.

“It’s everyone’s dream when they’re little. I’ve been lucky enough to achieve everything and what I was missing, I found here,” Messi said after lifting the World Cup on Sunday.

With Paris St-Germain, Messi won a first French title in April and since the 2022-23 campaign began in August, has scored 12 times and provided 14 assists in 19 club appearances.

Messi will turn 39 during the next World Cup in 2026 and had hinted previously the finals in Qatar would be his last. If it was, it truly was the perfect way to end his international career following Argentina’s Copa America victory last year.

He does not plan to retire from the national team just yet, saying after lifting the World Cup that he would like “to continue by experiencing a few more games as a world champion”.

The BBC World Sport Star of the Year is awarded by a panel to the athlete who has achieved the most notable sporting success on the world stage during the course of the year.

The 2021 winner was Irish jockey Rachael Blackmore.

By Amaechi Agbo

The International Olympic Committee (IOC), President, Dr Thomas Bach, OLY, has congratulated President of the Nigeria Olympic Committee Engr. Habu Gumel on his re-election.

Dr Bach conveyed his congratulatory letter to Engr Habu Ahmed Gumel who is an a Honorary Member of the IOC from Lausanne, dated December 20.

In the letter personally beside by the IOC Boss, added that the International Olympic Committee is predisposed to collaborating with Nigeria Olympic Movement to continue to support and assist

NOC in performing its mission and daily activities.

‘’Please allow me to extend my sincerest congratulations to you on your re-election as President of the Nigeria Olympic Committee on 15 December 2022, and my very best wishes for a successful term.

‘’The IOC looks forward to pursuing its fruitful collaboration with your NOC and remains fully at your disposal to continue to support and assist your NOC in performing its mission and daily activities.

‘’Wishing you and your NOC a happy and successful New Year 2023, remain, Thomas Bach,’’ the statement stressed.

Super Eagles Would Have Suffered Embarrassment In Qatar World Cup – Siasia

By Amaechi Agbo

ExSuper Eagles Coach, Samson Siasia has stated that Nigeria’s Super Eagles 2ouodbhave suffered humiliation had they participated in the just concluded 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar.

Argentina no Sunday beat France 4-2 on penalties to win their 3rd World Cup diadem after regulation and extra time had ended 3-3 apiece.

Although Nigeria failed to qualify for the tournament - the second time they are missing out since they debuted in 1994the 2008 Olympic silver winning coach noted that they would have exited the World Cup from the group stage.

The Bayelsa born coach made this known to journalist at a football event in Lagos.

Recall that the Super Eagles failed to qualify for the global soccer fiesta after losing to perennial rivals, Black Stars of Ghana in the playoffs.

Super Eagles had played a 0-0 draw in Kumasi but played out a 1-1 draw in Abuja to miss making it to the Mundial on away goal rule. The Atlas Lions of Morocco made history at the competition by becoming the first African team to reach the semi-finals.

Siasia dismissed talks the Super Eagles would have done well if they had qualified for the mundial.

“We would have been embarrassed out of the World Cup with shocking scorelines,” Siasia told Football Live.

“The Super Eagles have no business going to the World Cup and losing out to the Ghana team we played against is enough proof.”

The Super Eagles had made it to the second round on three occasions at the World Cup in 1994, 1998, and 2014.

Current African champions, Teranga Lions of Senegal made it to the second round. Cameroon and Tunisia although failed to progress beyond the group stage, recorded victories against former champions, Brazil and France.

IOC boss, Bach congratulates Gumel on re-election as NOC President

Right, Engr Habu Gumel, NOC President in a handshake with IOC President, Dr Thomas Bach recently

2025 AFCON:

if Morocco becomes an obstacle, we’ll crush them –Peseiro

Super Eagles Head coach Jose Peseiro has vowed to “crush” any team that will stand in the way of the Super Eagles as they prepare to go all the way and win the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations, AFCON title

Giving credit to Morocco, the Portuguese tactician agreed that Morocco has put football in Africa on a higher pedestal; but he still insists that Morocco will be crushed should they pose an opposition to his team.

“Morocco’s performance as the World Cup shows African football has come of age and many teams especially from the rest of the world will now show more respect to teams from the continent,” Peseiro told the Media.

“On our part, the aim still remains to win the next AFCON and we are ready to beat any team that comes our way.”

“That’s the target and it remains the same,” he added.

The gaffer further stated that he’s got his tactics, which will be transmitted to the players, and when the transmission is finally over with everybody understanding each other, even Argentina will not stop them.

Peseiro was in Qatar during the 2022 World Cup which ended on Sunday to understudy teams and their tactics.

I don’t wear masks to scare defenders - Osimhen

Amid speculations that Osimhen has stuck to his facial masks because he thinks defenders will be more scared of his abilities, the Super Eagles striker has come out to debunk the rumours.

Osimhen has explained that he is still wearing the mask because it protects his face and he feels comfortable with it.

“The injury was heavy, that was the reason for the operation and the long period in which I was out,” Osimhen said as per Napoli Magazine.

“I really don’t think about removing the mask for now. The mental aspect has nothing to do with it. The mask is physical protection and I wear it I keep it. It’s not a superstitious thing, I’m more relaxed like this.

“I protect my face better by wearing it and I don’.

Osimhen has been wearing a face protection since he had injury in November 2021

Ahmed Musa unveils ultra-modern sports complex in Kaduna

Super Eagles captain and Nigerian star, Ahmed Musa, shared a video of the imposing, ultra-modern sports complex that he built and which was unveiled in Kaduna State.

On account of how frequently he has given back to society, the 30-yearold has managed to capture the hearts of many people in Nigeria and all across the world. The latest facility is situated in Kaduna, Kaduna State, Nigeria, in the Old Kamazo, Janruwa Layout, along the Yakowa motorway.

In the video of the complex that the former Leicester City forward shared on Twitter, courts for badminton court, volleyball, lawn tennis, squash court, and a football field can all be seen with an embedded gymnasium to complete the top-of-theline facilities.

Musa is a forward and left winger for the Nigerian national team as well as Sivasspor in the Turkish

Super Lig. He is one of only three Nigerian centurions crossing the 100-cap mark, having played in 107 games

so far, scoring 16 goals, and helping the Super Eagles to lifting the Africa Cup of Nations.

National Sports Festival: Okeke Vivian wins Team Enugu’s first medal in Asaba

By Amaechi Agbo

Okeke Vivian Ijeoma has won Team Enugu’s first medal at the ongoing 2022 National Sports Festival, NSF in Asaba, Delta State.

Ijeoma won bronze medal in -63kg women category in Judo on Saturday.

The young judoist expressed delight over her feat and remained optimistic that it would spur her to do better in subsequent festivals.

“I feel very happy because this is my second time competing in judo. My first time was in Eko (2012) but I did not win any medal then; this one, is my second time and I won a bronze medal.

“I was very happy and I will make sure that in the next festival I pray to step up and win gold or silver,” she told our correspondent in Asaba.

Sharing her preparations and challenges, Ijeoma said “I prepared well but it was not easy. I have to transport myself from Onitsha to Asaba to train every time for this competition. I trained with some of the athletes and they helped me alot. Some

champions like Michael Agbo and Elizabeth, I trained with them. They thought me a lot and with the experience and training I was able to win.”

Her coach, Mr Johnson Mbah re-echoed her disposition but lamented that lack of training mats for the judoists in the state is hampering their performances and expectations.

“I feel happy. I tried my best to train the athletes. The problem that we have is we lack good mats in the state to train. We just managed the mats we have and trained with the athletes for the festival. It has been long we stopped attending National Sports Festival, that is judo team. But they gave us chance for this festival and we tried our best.

“Giving a good training mat, we will perform better in the next sports festival. If Enugu State can provide a better equipment for judo, our training will be fine and the nest festival, we will make it up and win more medals for the state,” he concluded.

As at the time of this report, Enugu State team are placed 31st on the medals table with one bronze.

FIFA has opened disciplinary proceedings against Uruguay’s football association and four players over their conduct at the end of their final World Cup group game against Ghana.

Uruguay beat Ghana 2-0 but went out on goals scored, finishing third behind South Korea in Group H.

Uruguay’s players reacted furiously at full-time, confronting the referee and appearing to manhandle an assistant after they failed to award a penalty after a coming together between Darwin Nunez and Alidu Seidu.

Jose Maria Gimenez, Edinson Cavani, Fernando Muslera and Diego Godin all face potential

punishments for breaches of Fifa’s disciplinary code relating to offensive behaviour and misconduct.

The Uruguayan FA faces action for the same breaches of the code, as well as another relating to discrimination.

Valencia forward Cavani was filmed pushing over the pitchside

Leon Balogun yet to overcome Super Eagles 2022 World Cup miss

Super Eagles defender, Leon Balogun has revealed that he held back tears while driving to the Abuja Stadium the day Ghana stopped Nigeria from qualifying for the 2022 World Cup.

Nigeria failed to qualify for the World Cup in Qatar after losing the spot to their West African neighbours Ghana ion away gold rule after 1-1 draw on March 29.

They played out a scoreless first-leg tie in Kumasi and a 1-1

draw at the Moshood Abiola Stadium, Abuja.

Balogun said the supporters of the National team showed overwhelming support for the players which made the 1-1 draw a bitter pill to swallow.

Speaking on The Beautiful Game Podcast, Balogun, “Driving to the stadium on that day I was holding back tears because I was touched by the support.

“I’ve played with great support, I’m not trying to be disrespectful to any other place

we’ve played with the national team before but Abuja that day was packed.

“I saw little boys, girls, families, elders, everybody rooting for us. The stadium was packed, it was unreal and I said to myself just for them we have to make it.

“Obviously it was heartbreaking when we conceded that first goal, it was a tough one to take, and came back with a penalty, we couldn’t just break them down.”

monitor as he walked down the tunnel after the match, after which ITV pundit Ian Wright called him a “horrible guy”.

Fifa has also opened proceedings against Serbia’s FA relating to “incidents” during their 3-2 defeat by Switzerland in their final Group G game.

Football’s world governing body

has not specified the incidents, but fans were told during the match to “stop all discriminatory chants and gestures”.

Serbia were already under investigation by Fifa after the team hung a controversial flag depicting Kosovo in their dressing room before their defeat by Brazil earlier in the tournament.

Okeke Vivian Ijeoma won bronze in Judo at the National Sports Festival in Asaba

Leon Balogun, Super Eagles defender

World Cup 2022: FIFA opens disciplinary proceedings against Uruguay, others

Russian Athlete Natalya Antyukh stripped

of London 2012 Olympic gold medal

Beyond the razzmatazz, there is a purpose for Christmas

We should not forget that through the birth of Christ, God enters our time and history, and more importantly each of our own personal lives. Christ is Emmanuel, God is with us, and God is with each of us today in a very personal and intimate way.

Guest Columnist

has been stripped of 400m hurdles gold from London 2012 on the basis of historical data from a Moscow testing laboratory.

Antyukh, now 41, is already serving a four-year ban after being named in a World Anti-Doping Agency (Wada) investigation into cheating by Russia.

American Lashinda Demus will be promoted to gold in her place.

All three gold medals won on the track by Russian athletes at London 2012 have now been rescinded on doping grounds.

Mariya Savinova and Yuliya Zaripova, the initial winners of 800m and 3000m steeplechase gold, have been disqualified.

Ivan Ukhov’s high jump title and Tatyana Lysenko’s hammer victory in the field have also been wiped from the record books.

The McLaren Report, commissioned by Wada and published in 2016, claimed that more than 1,000 Russian athletes across various sports had been involved in a state-sponsored programme of systematic doping

It added that London 2012 was “corrupted on an unprecedented scale”.

Brett Clothier, the head of the Athletics Integrity Unit (AIU), which disqualified Antyukh, said it was committed to “clean and fair competition and results, even if a decade later”.

“The AIU remains committed to investigating all cases of potential violations and securing the appropriate outcomes,” added Clothier.

“The integrity of the sport of athletics is our utmost priority and we are pleased, in this instance, that athletes who competed fairly at the highest level will ultimately be acknowledged as the rightful medal winners.”

Antyukh has struck a defiant tone on social media. Her last Instagram post on 18 August is a photo of her showing off her silver and bronze medals from the 2004 Olympics. Those medals remain unaffected by the latest AIU decision.

There is no denying the fact that the celebration of 2022 Christmas is already waiting at everyone’s doorstep as Sunday marks the birth of our savior, Lord Jesus Christ. Christmas, which is invariably the worldwide religious holiday that is acceptably celebrated by both Christians and non-Christians is around the corner and the mood in the country cannot be flawed. There is a lot of hysteria in the air but in some instances, for the wrong reasons altogether.

Were it to be in the era when Nigeria’s economy was by all indications buoyant, and characterized by a lot of trade and economic activity, most supermarkets would have by now been packed with shoppers who will be buying presents for their family members, friends, and relatives. Some Restaurants would have by now been teeming with hungry guests looking for the best cuisines. Everywhere you go, people would be seen buying and stocking their stores for the special occasion.

Most cities and towns would have literarily turned into ghost places by now as usually congested streets would be seen to be almost empty and traffic seen to be moving at a reasonable pace and with much ease. Along the highways, lines of vehicles moving to farflung towns and villages would be a common sight. They include buses and mini-busses that are laden with human cargo and goods. For bus owners, business by now would have been brisk, and that would have been what they usually waited for.

For the sake of clarity, even if not a few people know the essence of Christmas; that is, the reason why it is every year celebrated across the world, it is the time of the year when Christians from all denominations celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ. Despite the fact that Christmas is religious many fun-seekers have turned it into a time for partying and making merry while not a few unscrupulous people have turned the special season into times of horror through sheer mischief. They go out to commit the most serious crimes against fellow citizens. They rape, kill and maim. Others loot property and take that which does not belong to them.

By Isaac Asabor

These acts are likely to spoil what was otherwise a good year this time around.

In a similar vein, the season usually ushers the New Year into being and is naturally a special season for joy and celebration for both believers and non-believers. Yet, instead of Christmas and New Year celebrations becoming times for peace, love, compassion, and family occasions, they are usually marred by gruesome road accidents and heinous acts of crime.

At this juncture, it is expedient to advise everyone in the Christendom, and non-adherents to the Christian faith who always join us by each passing year to celebrate the Christmas season, that they should not despair despite the ominous bleakness that will characterize the festive season due to the current economic woes.

Given the deepening economic hardship which not a few people are already facing due to the wobbling state of the economy, it is not an exaggeration to say that not a few of them have become confused about how they can wind down. To my view, the Christmas period is beyond the razzmatazz and Joie de Vivre people erroneously associate with it. Without sounding sanctimonious in this context, it is expedient to say that it is a season that provides the ambience for people to reflect on God, and His only begotten, Jesus Christ.

The reason for the foregoing cannot be farfetched. After all, when we have a birthday in our own family, what do we do? We gather around the person whose birthday it is and as a family, then we do one or two things. We remember and we celebrate. We

remember the time and date the person was born. We look back and remember the day he or she came into our family. We might look at his or her photographs and recall how such a person looked when he or she was young. As can be recalled in this context, most birthdays are highlighted with stories about when the celebrants were young and even afford parents the opportunity to remember the celebrant’s first words, the first days at a school, and other significant events in a celebrant’s early life. Then we celebrate with them. We give thanks and celebrate the difference they have made and continue to make to our family. Given the foregoing graphical picture painted of a birthday celebrant, it is not a misnomer to say we don’t resort to stealing, cheating, becoming drunk and sexual perverts because any of our relatives’ birthday beckons. If that is not the case, then why do we love to be celebrating our Lord Jesus Christ’s birthday this way?

Against the foregoing backdrop, not a few readers of this piece would be pondering over what people should reflect on during the Christmas season. However, unknown to this category of people, there are so many things to reflect on at Christmas. In fact, as the Christmas season is about to begin in the next few days, it will not be ill-advised to urge people to begin to remember and celebrate things that pertain to the birth of Jesus. Against the foregoing backdrop, it would be expedient to begin to remember the story of how and when Jesus was born. It will also be edifying to be remembering the story of Mary and Joseph being turned away from the inn, even as

we can remember that the angels appeared with good news and we remember how shepherds and the kings visited the stable. Then we celebrate the difference Jesus has made not only to the world but to our personal lives.

In fact, we have to be careful that we don’t look at Christmas as if it were just a historical event that happened in the past. The birth of Jesus is an event that echoes and ripples through the centuries right down to us today. It is wise for most of us to eschew experiencing Christmas and the birthday of Christ as a nice romantic thing as is often depicted on Christmas cards.

We should not forget that through the birth of Christ, God enters our time and history, and more importantly each of our own personal lives. Christ is Emmanuel, God is with us, and God is with each of us today in a very personal and intimate way.

As pope, John Paul II, wrote, ‘The mystery of the birth of Jesus that took place over 2000 years ago must be lived today and every day. The Word that found a dwelling place in and through Mary comes to knock on our hearts this Christmas and every Christmas, today and every day.

This Christmas, while all the celebrations and festivities are taking place, let’s stop, take some time and ask ourselves, what am I remembering? What am I celebrating?

While saying in this context that beyond the razzmatazz that usually characterize Christmas that there is a purpose for it, it is germane to pray that may the Light of Christ and Christ the Light bless our world and fill all our homes and families as 2022 Christmas is a few days away. Amen.

Isaac Asabor is a Public Policy Analyst.

Russia’s Natalya Antyukh

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For the sake of clarity, even if not a few people know the essence of Christmas; that is, the reason why it is every year celebrated across the world...