Monday, January 23rd, 2023 Edition

in

L - R: Barr. Adeleke Adewolu, Executive Commissioner, Stakeholders Management, Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC); Mr. Lanre Gbajabiamila; Director General, National Lottery Regulatory Commission (NLRC); Prof. Umar Garba Danbatta; Executive Vice Chairman/CEO, NCC, Mrs. Olayemi Ajayi; Director, Legal Services, NLRC at the signing of a renewed Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the two agencies to forestall illegal lotteries and games on mobile telecoms networks in Nigeria, at NCC HQ on January 18, 2023.

Police rescue two of six abducted Nasarawa pupils

From Victoria Ngozi Ikeano, Lafia

The Nasarawa State Police Command on Saturday said it rescued two female pupils out of six abducted pupils of the Local Government Education Authority Primary School, Alwaza, in the Doma Local Government Area of the state.

Gunmen invaded the school premises on Friday and whisked away six of the pupils.

The state police spokesperson, Ramhan Nansel, confirmed the rescue of the two pupils in a statement on Saturday in Lafia. He stated that the pupils, namely; Vision Judge and Peace Amos, were rescued on Saturday at Sabon Kwara village in the Obi

LGA of the state.

He added that sustained pressure on the kidnappers by the police and other security agencies led to the rescue.

He said, “The Nasarawa State Police Command in collaboration with its sister security agencies rescued two females among the six pupils abducted yesterday (Friday) at LEA Primary School,

Alwaza Village, Doma LGA. The victims have been taken to the hospital for medical examination and shall be handed over to the Doma LGA chairman to reunite them with their parents.”

Nansel added that efforts were ongoing to rescue the other pupils still in captivity unhurt and arrest the perpetrators of the act.

Buhari’s loans justifiable, not liability on Nigeria - Rep

Mustapha Adamu, Kano

Amember of the House of Representatives, representing Tarauni Federal Constituency, Hafiz Kawu Tarauni has said that the loan profile of President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration is justifiable, insisting that it remains very healthy to the country’s economy.

Tarauni, who spoke at Kano NUJ Press Centre, yesterday, during the 2023 Dialogue Series with politicians, organized by Kano NUJ Correspondents’ Chapel, took a swipe at those criticizing Buhari’s quest for foreign loans.

The lawmaker, who was Personal Assistant on Economic Matters in the office of the Vice President between 2015 and 2019, said Buhari’s loans were meant to improve the nation’s economy through infrastructure, not liability on the government.

According to him, Buhari was not borrowing to pay salaries like the previous administration under the banner of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP).

He said that the Buhari’s administration had taken loans to execute critical infrastructural projects that have positive impacts on the economy.

“As a lawmaker, I know that most of the loans are taken to execute critical infrastructural projects. Some of these projects are done through build, operate and transfer. The Buhari adminsitartion is unlike the previous administrations who borrow to pay salaries,” he said.

The lawmaker who is seeking to represent his constituency for the second time at the House of Representatives on the platform of the All Progressive Congress (APC), also lauded Buhari’s administration for blocking leakages in the channels through which money flows in the system of governance, urging the incoming administration to maintain the tempo.

According to him, such steps by Buhari administration added value to the nation’s economic growth, adding that diversification of the economy through boosting the agricultural sector and opening more windows to revenue

generation was another plus to the nation’s economic development under the Buhari’s administration.

He further described nonoil revenue generation as key to economic development for a country like Nigeria which has depended so much on oil for survival over the years.

Hon. Hafiz who promised to dwell more on human capital development if given the chance by his people to represent them at the lower chamber for the second time, said he has executed over 50 capital projects in his constituency ranging from road construction, education development, to primary healthcare.

According to him, these projects spread across the 10 Political Wards that made up Tarauni Federal Constituency.

Hon. Hafiz hinted that he has also sponsored a number of bills at the floor of the House, some of which include a bill to establish a Federal University of Agriculture in Tarauni, a bill to establish a Federal Medical Centre in Kano, a bill for the establishment of Entrepreneurship College in Kano, among others.

The lawmaker said he is also enhancing security of lives and property within his constituency by constant provision of logistics to the local vigilante group and the Nigeria Police Force.

He said he has also used his influence and good office to secure employments for the people, particularly youths, within his constituency in various ministries, agencies and parastatals, including the Department of State Service (DSS), Nigeria Police Force, Army, Civil Defence, among others.

The young politician who does not hide his admiration to President Buhari’s administration, urged Nigerians to appreciate Buhari’s modest achievements, insisting that, “so far, so good, you know you cannot say that everything is hundred percent done right.

“The President Muhammadu Buhari government has transformed Nigeria in the area of critical infrastructure. You can feel the presence of critical infrastructure across the country---from East, South, West to the North.”

Director, Internal Audit department of Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Mrs. Alfa Lydia (middle), speaking on the new redesigned Naira notes, during the CBN team sensitisation campaign to the public and the sport assessment to Adamawa state, at the weekend.

From

Kano govt unveils State Anthem

Gov. Abdullahi Ganduje of Kano State on Saturday unveiled the State Anthem to inculcate patriotism and discipline among the citizens.

Ganduje, who spoke at the inauguration of the State Anthem in Kano, reiterated readiness of his administration to preserve historical and cultural heritage of the people of the state.

“We will dutifully and jealously protect and preserve our good name and the excellence we have recorded in business and scholarship” he said.

The governor applauded his his wife, Hafsat Ganduje, for her ingenuity in kick starting the process that culminated to the development of the State Anthem.

“I am glad to see that, my dear wife, initiated the idea of the state Anthem, which has now come to fruition. She did well hence our commendation on her.

“We are here to show love for our state, our culture, our costumes, our history and to appreciate our state in general.

“Ours is to promote love, deep sense of responsibility

and to also show the greatness of our dear state.

“As our national Anthem is bringing us together for the service and unity of our motherland, so also this state Anthem will follow the same pattern at the state level,” he said.

According to him, the state government will transmit the State Anthem to the

State House of Assembly for appropriate legislations.

“Whenever we have any public function, after singing the National Anthem, the State Anthem will always follow,” he said, adding the Anthem would showcase how the state excels in commerce, traditional leadership, scholarship, agriculture and hospitality. (NAN)

Election Security: Police train 518 constables in Borno

The Borno State Police Command has trained 518 constables to ensure a secure, hitch-free and credible 2023 elections in the state.

The State Commissioner of Police, Abdu Umar, told newsmen in Maiduguri, Friday, January 20, that the constables would be deployed to their respective local government areas for the exercise.

He said their deployment had been approved by the Inspector-General of Police, Usman Alkali Baba.

The CP said the constables had been properly trained on the dos and don’ts of election security, the general conduct of their job and the need to shun all forms of corruption throughout the election exercise.

Umar said the deployment of the constables for the election duty stemmed from the urgent need for more security personnel to augment the existing manpower preparing for the exercise.

He assured that all the security agencies in the state would collaborate and make joint efforts to ensure a hitch-free and credible 2023 elections in the state.

NIGCOMSAT partners Hydorpolis Free Trade Zone on business interests

Nigeria Communications Satellite (NIGCOMSAT)

Limited is collaborating with Hydropolis Free Trade Zone with the view to exploring areas of business interest. This is contained in a statement signed by the General Manager , Corporate Affairs and Special Project of NIGCOMSAT, Dr Adamu Idris on Sunday in Abuja. He said the management of Hydropolis Free Trade Zone, a subsidiary

of Mainstream Energy Solutions planned to generate a world-class business hub in the country. “The Free Trade Zone sits on more than 2000 hectares of land, located at Amfani, in New Bussa Local Government Area of Niger, after the famous Kainji Dam. ” It is expected to accommodate a smart city, cargo airport, car race (Formula 1) race track, etc.,” Idris said. He said the proposed collaboration with NIGCOMSAT Ltd was for the

deployment of full broadband services for the proposed smart city. The Managing Director, NIGCOMSAT Ltd, Mr Tukur Lawal, expressed its readiness to provide the necessary services needed for the city. He described the gesture as the ‘Game Changer’ for NIGCOMSAT Ltd. Lawal said that with such massive project, NIGCOMSAT doors were opened for discussions on areas of mutual benefits. Earlier, the Managing

Director, Hydropolis Free Trade Zone, Dr Abdulmalik Ndagi, said that the visit was to seek collaborations for internet broadband services for the smart city. “NIGCOMSAT Ltd has requested for a formal proposal which Hydropolis agreed to provide before setting a technical committee to discuss the takeoff of business transaction. ” Hydropolis has also invited NIGCOMSAT Ltd to visit the project site in due course,” he said. (NAN)

Director, Human Resources Department, Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN)/A Team lead, Hajia Amina Habib (middle), presenting a gift to the Emir of Hadejia, Alhaji Adamu Abubakar Maje, who was represented by Galadiman Hadejia, Alhaji Usman Abdulaziz, during the CBN team visit to the Emir’s Place on the enlightenment campaign on redesign currency and federal government dateline on the old currency validation, at the weekend in Jagawa state

From: Shehu Abubakar, Maiduguri

Tinubu set to transform Nigeria into Africa’s first smart nation

The APC flag bearer in the 2023 presidential election, Bola Tinubu has outlined his plan for a digital revolution that will transform Nigeria into Africa’s first smart nation.

Tinubu’s plan was made known in a statement on Saturday in Abuja issued by Mr Josh Audu, the Director-General of “Youths In Technology Support Organisation”.

He said the APC standard bearer had set up a smart nation programme office and website to

lead the change in reviving the nation with the initiative.

“This is a continuation of my plan and policies for a new Nigeria. I am in charge of the national rebirthing agenda, which aims to champion the new Nigeria of our dreams.

“This is aimed at establishing goals, such as becoming Africa’s first world-class tech-driven state and a transformation plan to become a smart nation, utilising technology to transform how our

families, businesses.

“We must lead the way in envisioning, imagining and innovating in Nigeria if we are to fully appreciate the boundless opportunities that come with the smart nation and digital realities,” Audu quoted Tinubu as saying.

Audu said the Bola Ahmed Tinubu Centre for Smart Nation Initiative confirmed Tinubu as a master builder and visionary.

He said the APC flag bearer would take Nigeria to a new height,

with his love for technology and creativity.

Audu disclosed that a website had been built for volunteers to sign up to become smart nation ambassadors and learn soft skills as well as help spread smart nation awareness in their neighbourhood.

He urged volunteers to register for their preferred role at www. batcentre.org to help make Nigeria a better place in 2023 and beyond.

(NAN)

Ekweremadu: Minority Caucus hails judgment vacating assets forfeiture order

By Christiana Ekpa

The Minority Caucus of the House of Representatives has applauded the judgment of the Federal High Court, Abuja, which vacated the Court’s earlier interim assets forfeiture Order on

40 properties allegedly linked to former Deputy President of the Senator, Senator Ike Ekweremadu.

The Caucus in a statement issued by it’s leader Hon. Ndudi Elumelu, commended the Judiciary for its courage in again reinforcing the tenets of fairness

and even-handedness in the pursuit of justice as demonstrated in this Judgment.

He said “As lawmakers, our Caucus further holds that the Federal High Court has, by this judgement, further strengthened the confidence and trust of the

citizens in the Judiciary as the last hope of the common man, particularly in a democratic setting.

“The Caucus strongly hopes and believes that in all, justice will prevail at the end of the day in Sen. Ekweremadu’s matter”.

Association seeks establishment of National Minority Tribes Devt. Commission

The Zabarkano Association of Nigeria has called for the establishment of a National Minority Tribes Development Commission (NMTDC).

“To this effect, we are urging that lets an executive bill be sent to the National Assembly for the immediate establishment of the proposed commission.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN)reports that the National President of the association, Alhaji Isa Sahabi-Bankanu made the call on Saturday in Abuja at the inauguration of its national and state executives.

NAN also reports that the association is the umbrella of all Zarma/Zabarmawa associations in the country.

Zarma is one of the most languages in Kebbi, Sokoto, Zamfara and Niger States.

Isa-Bankanu said:”The proposed commission will help to preserve the national heritage of the country and foster sustainable harmony.

“It will also bolster national unity, cement the relationships between the various ethnic groups and boost socioeconomic prosperity of Nigeria.”

Isa-Bankanu also commended the efforts of the Federal Government under the leadership of President Muhammadu Buhari and the Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Sa’ad Abubakar III in keeping Nigeria as an indivisible nation.

He said that the association was formed 17 years ago to unite the Zabarma people and emble meaningfully contribute their quota to national development.

Isa-Bankanu urged the members of the association to united and work for its progress and facilitating peace and unity of Nigeria.

Gunmen kill elected Councillor in Niger Community

From Yakubu Mustapha Minna

An elected councillor Saleh

Alawa has been killed by unidentified gunmen suspected to be bandits in Shiroro local government area of Niger state.

It was gathered that the councillor was on his way to his village Alawa when they ran into them around Zumba road where he was murdered, although his personal assistant escaped the attack.

However, youths in their

numbers in search of the criminals out of anger apprehended an informant at Gwada town and handed him over to the police for more investigation and prosecution.

Sources said that the youths in the area are frustrated over the

inccessant attacks and killing of innocent people.

The Commissioner for Internal Security and Humanitarian Affairs, Emmanuel Umar has confirmed the incident, saying that efforts is ongoing to apprehend the criminals in no distant time.

Also speaking, the Secretary General of the association, Dr Lawwal Sani-Kasgada said:”We are people that have been coexisting peacefully with our fellow citizens.

“The need for this association and the need for us to support the democratic values of our dear nation cannot come at a better time than now,”he said.

The Guest Speaker, Mr Aliyu Ishaq-Lolo urged the new leaders to build bridges of unity and give all the members a sense of belonging.(NAN)

L-R: Executive Director, International Press Centre (IPC), Mr. Lanre Arogundade, CEO/Founder, The Albino Foundation, Ambassador Jake Epelle and National President, Nigeria Union of Journalist (NUJ), Comrade Chris Isiguzo, during the one-day capacity building workshop on inclusive media reportage on 2023 General Elections. Theme: disability-inclusive reporting for journalists for the electoral process, in Abuja at the weekend. Photo: Mahmud Isa

Gunmen kill hamlet head, 4 others, abduct one in Bauchi

From Ahmad Muhammad, Bauchi

Unknown gunmen suspected to be kidnappers have invaded Gambar Sabon Layi community in Tafawa Balewa local government area of Bauchi State and killed the hamlet head of the area and four other residents on Saturday night.

SP Ahmed Mohammed Wakil, Police Public Relations Officer, Bauchi State Police Command confirmed the incident in a statement.

He said “A distress call was received by the command on the 22nd January 2022 at about 3;45am indicates that on the same date at about 2:00h, some unknown gunmen invaded Gambar Sabon layi village and attacked innocent residents.

“On receiving the report, detectives of the command were drafted to the scene led by the Divisional police officer DPO Tafawa Balewa Divisional Police Headquarters evacuated the victims to the Tafawa Balewa General Hospital for

medical treatment.

“ Unfortunately, four victims were certified dead by the medical doctor, while one person sustained various degrees of injury during the attack.”

Wakil said one person was confirmed to have been kidnapped to an unknown destination by the assailants.

The Commissioner of Police CP Aminu Al-Hassan, directed a discreet investigation to commence in earnest to arrest the perpetrators of this dastardly act to face the wrath of the law.

Our correspondent gathered that the gunmen also kidnapped one person.

In their separate reaction, residents of the community told journalists that the gunmen came in the night and shot sporadically into the air to scare residents away before carrying out their nefarious activities.

Another eyewitness, Mr Manasseh Danladi, said: “Yesterday (Saturday), some people came to our village and killed my uncle with four others while Mr Daniel was taken away.”

Front row on seat, L- R; Deputy Director, market access department, Peter Njoku, Deputy Director, state offices coordinating department, Samuel Oyeyipo, Director, product development department, Obidike Evelyn, Director, corporate service department, Uduak Etokowoh, Director, export development and incentives department, Gertrude Ukoanam, Director trade information department, Andy Ambikputen and Deputy Director, Ben Anani and other staff, participant and stakeholders, during the Nigerian Export Promotion Council (NEPC) 2023 workplan review, harmonization and validation session, held in Abuja.

Diphtheria death toll hits 34 – NCDC

The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC) said that the death toll from Diphtheria disease across the country was now 34, as Kano State registered 100 cases.

The NCDC, via its official website on Sunday, said that the deaths were between December 2022 and early January 2023; from Lagos, Kano, Yobe and Osun, and had reported cases of the disease, with Kano State alone, registering 25 deaths.

The agency also blamed the increase in the infection and resurgence on the low vaccination coverage across the country.

Diphtheria is a vaccine-preventable disease that was common decades ago.

Due to the effectiveness of childhood vaccination programmes, most people have forgotten what diphtheria looks like.

“The fact that we are having a resurgence of diphtheria now suggests that there have been critical reductions

in vaccination coverage among pockets of our population.

“This reduced level of population immunity has given rise to the cases that we are seeing.

“It is not a matter of diphtheria spreading from state to state, the bacteria that causes the disease is present everywhere in our environment.

“Any state where you find diphtheria now, you are likely to find that it will be associated with suboptimal vaccination coverage, either in general or in pockets of the population,” it said.

Meanwhile, the identified cases of diphtheria in Kano have risen from 25 to 100 in less than two weeks.

Three persons in 13 local government areas of the state have died.

The local government areas where the diseases are ravaging include Ungogo, Nassarawa, Bichi, Dala, Dawakin Kudu, Fagge, Gwale, Kano Municipal, Kumbotso,

Rano, Dawakin Tofa and Gwarzo.

Of the 100 cases, the state health ministry said eight were confirmed, while awaiting more results.

Three among the eight have also been confirmed dead and 22 among other suspected cases.

Currently, 27 patients are on admission receiving treatment while 41 have been managed and discharged successfully.

Diphtheria is defined as an acute toxic infection caused by the corynebacterium species, transmitted from person to person through respiratory droplets and contact with contaminated clothing and objects.

Symptoms range from mild to severe fever, cough, sneezing, sore throat, neck swelling, and difficulty in breathing.

Complications may include damage to the heart, kidney, and bleeding with death in up to 21 per cent of cases.

Diphtheria is a vaccine-preventable

disease, and its antigens are among the pentatonic vaccine (PETA) taken three times (PENTA-3) before the age of one year.

Meanwhile, experts have said that most of the patients are not being fully vaccinated, and those vaccinated are resisting being protected.

This has shown that immunisation is highly effective and protective against all vaccine-preventable diseases.

They said that the spread of diphtheria infection can be prevented via the use of improved personal hygiene, the use of face masks, especially among older children, proper handling of respiratory secretion, appropriate handling of suspected cases by healthcare workers.

Prompt referrals, proper cases management, using recommended and above all, getting all eligible children vaccinated are necessary for prevention.

(NAN)

Photo: Justin Imoowo

From: Shehu Abubakar, Maiduguri

Borno and Yobe states may not beat the deadline for the expiry of old naira notes and the circulation of the new ones.

Governor Babagana Umara Zulum of the state has listed challenged he described as insurmountable for the end of the circulation of the old notes.

He was speaking in Maiduguri on Friday, January 20, when a team of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), led by the CBN’s Director of Statistics, Muhammad Tumala, to monitor compliance with directive on the deadline paid him a courtesy call.

He said apart from the nonavailability and circulation of the new notes, only three of the 27 Local government areas of the state - Maiduguri Metropolitan, Here and Biu, have functional banks due to insecurity which has rendered majority of the communities in the state inaccessible.

Zulum said the remaining 24 LGAs have been without banks for the past one decade, apart from the lack of communication service due to destructions of telecommunication facilities and financial institutions by Boko Haram insurgents.

“Borno State Government is really in support of the CBN policy in redesigned new naira notes, as it will have a long run positive effect on Nigerians, but sincerely speaking, all the infrastructures needed to implement this new CBN’s policy are not in existence in many parts or communities of Borno,” Zulum stressed.

“If as governor, I do not possess the new naira notes currently, what of a poor person in the village or on the streets?,” he lamented.

“Just last week, the Borno state government under my leadership has approved the release of the sum of N800 million to cushion the hardship faced by our repentant Boko Haram Terrorists,” the governor disclosed, querying, “so how does CBN expect these repentant terrorists who are still under the custody of our security operatives come out to exchange their old naira notes or open an account with commercial banks?”

He continued: “Secondly, it is disheartening to inform you that there is no vehicle that had access to Kala- Balge local government area for the past seven (7) months due to the terrain and insecurity.”

Zulum explained: “There are thousands of IDPs in Kala- Balge who are currently faced with

Borno, Yobe can’t beat deadline on new Naira notes circulation - Zulum

hunger. This is because, they only travel about 16kms by canoe to buy food items from neighbouring

communities of Cameroun Republic.

“Unfortunately, I was told last

week that these traumatized people could no longer buy food items from neighbouring Cameroun

communities who are largely rejecting the old naira notes,” he lamented.

Lagos Govt, NPHCDA respond to polio outbreak

The Lagos State Government, in collaboration with the National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA), has started Polio Outbreak Response (OBR) Campaign following discovery of circulating poliovirus strains in the state.

The Permanent Secretary, Lagos State Primary Health Care Board (LSPHCB), Dr Ibrahim Mustafa, disclosed this in a statement on Sunday in Lagos.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Nigeria was certified Wild Polio Virus (WPV)

free on Aug. 25, 2020, after three consecutive years of reporting no case of WPV.

Mustafa, however, said some countries still transmitted the wild polio variant, which had been on increase in some states across Nigeria due to low routine immunisation coverage.

He noted that the campaign was necessary to prevent a setback in the country’s laudable achievements, and critical to maintain the country’s polio-free status, following the certification received in August 2020.

According to him, the campaign

will take place between Jan. 21 and 24 in all Local Government Areas and Local Council Development Areas of the state.

“The campaign aims to vaccinate all children, aged 0 to five years, with two drops of the oral polio vaccine, regardless of their previous vaccination status to prevent poliomyelitis that may result in paralysis of the limbs or death,” he said.

He said that vaccination teams would visit residential homes, schools, Churches, Mosques, gated estates, and all public places where eligible children could be

found.

“In view of this, we solicit all parents, guardians, community leaders, pastors and imams to ensure that all eligible children are vaccinated during the campaign in all our communities,” he said.

Mustafa added that routine immunisation services would be available at the primary health centres during the campaign.

He advised that all children under the age of two years must complete their routine immunisation as scheduled, saying that immunisation was effective, safe and free. (NAN

L-R: The Representative of the Executive Director / CEO Nigerian Export Promotion Council (NEPC), Mr Babatunde Faleke, Managing Director / CEO, Zeenab Foods Ltd, Mr Victor Ayemere and the Representative of the National Youth Service Corp (NYSC), Mrs Ngozi Dorathy, during the Official Launch / Export of Ginger and other Nigerian product to China under a Private-Public- Partnership (PPP) scheme between the NEPC & Messrs. Zeenab Foods

Abuja..

From

As part of the effort to ensure revenue generation, Gombe state Internal Revenue Service has generated N13.143billion in 2022.

The Executive chairman of the service Alhaji Salihu Baba Alkali made this known at the weekend in Gombe while fielding question from Journalists.

He said the remarkable achievement started from 2019

when Gombe state governor Muhammadu Inuwa Yahaya took mantle of leadership.

The chairman while appreciating the good work of the governor Alh Muhammadu Inuwa Yahaya said his style of leadership has improved Gombe

ETH

Chairman

state Internal Revenue Service which the internal revenue generation (IGR) in 2021 was increased to N13billion.

According to him, the tremendous achievement would have not be achieved without the foresight of the governor.

Insecurity: Kaduna Hospital gets telemedicine machine to treat patients in terrorized area

By Abubakar Yunus Abuja

Barau Dikko Teaching Hospital Kaduna (BDTH) have acquired telemedicine machine for treatment of patients in Birnin-Gwari council ravaged by insecurity and other hard to reach areas in the state.

The hospital also launched Professor Tabari Telemedicine Centre to enable residents of the State have access to healthcare services without barriers.

The telemedicine equipment was donated to Barau Dikko Teaching Hospital by World Telehealth Initiative through Concern Medics Foundation, United Kingdom (UK).

Speaking at the launching of the telemedicine centre and the equipment in Kaduna his address, the Chief Medical Director (CMD), BDTH, Prof. Abdulkadir Musa Tabari said the patients from those remote communities affected with insecurity can be treated without difficulties.

Professor Tabari said very soon they will start to treat patients from Birnin Gwari town without necessarily coming to Barau Dikko teaching hospital.

“With this telemedicine, we can reach out to the 23 local government of the State, we are going to link up with the patients from remote areas. They don’t need to

come here to access healthcare services”

He thanked the foundation for bringing the telemedicine to hospital which made it the first of it kind in the north.

In her remarks,the Founder of Concerned Medics Foundation, Dr. Halima Sadiyah Gumi described the launching of equipment and centre as an added advantage for BDTH,

Dr. Gumi who is also Paediatric Consultant for the hospital said it will cushion the effect of brain drain and as well avail medical practitioners in the hospital with the opportunity to link up with their counterparts abroad for joint operation on patients from distance.

According to her, they are trying to improve healthcare services in Nigeria and to support those doctors that are actually doing the work and one of the ways to support them is provision of this machine.

“We are supporting them to improve healthcare services in Nigeria, when I saw this webinar of telemedicine being done in other countries, I felt we should do it here in our country and that is why I came.

“I should be part of volunteering to support in any difficult cases, many other Nigerians and non Nigerians are also volunteering, we have a timetable if there is a need for specialty we will get the specialty from UK and US”.

David Hassan, Gombe

Limited operators of the

House, held in

Photo: Justin Imo-owo

EXPRESSION OF INTEREST/INVITATION FOR PRE-QUALIFICATION FOR THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE FEDERAL POLYTECHNIC UKANA YEAR 2023 CAPITAL AND ZONAL INTERVENTION

PROJECTS

A. INTRODUCTION: The Federal Polytechnic UKANA. In keeping with its mandate and in compliance with the provisions of the Public Procurement Act, 2007, intends to implements the Polytechnic Year 2023 Capital and Zonal Intervention Projects. The Polytechnic hereby invites interested, competent and reputable contractors and consultants with relevant experience and good record of accomplishment for the Procurement of the under listed:

CONSULTANCY SERVICE:

LOT NO. PROJECT DESCRIPTION

C1 MEDICAL CHECKUPS, PROVISION OF MEDICATIONS AND PRESCRIPTION GLASSES IN EWU, OSHODI/ISOLO FEDERAL CONSTITUENCY 1, LAGOS STATE

C2 TRAINING AND EMPOWERMENT OF UNEMPLOYED YOUTHS WOMEN ON VARIOUS SKILL ACQUISITION IN OBAWOLE, LAGOS STATE

C3 THE TRAINING AND EMPOWERMENT OF YOUTHS ON CASSAVA PROCESSING, AND SUPPLY IN OBAWOLE, LAGOS STATE

C4 PROVISION OF INSTRUCTIONAL MATERIALS AND TRAINING OF PRIMARY SCHOOL TEACHERS IN VARIOUS SCHOOLS IN OSHODI - ISOLO CONSTITUENCY 1, LAGOS STATE

ZIPC5 TRAINING OF YOUTH AND WOMEN IN VARIOUS SKILL ACQUISITION IN EDU /MORO/PATIGI FEDERAL CONSTITUENCY, KWARA STATE.

ZIPC6 EMPOWERMENT OF YOUTH AND WOMEN IN EDU/ MORO/PATIGI FEDERAL CONSTITUENCY, KWARA STATE

ZIPC7 MEDICAL AND SURGICAL OUTREACH IN ABAK/ETIM EKPO/ IKA FEDERAL CONSTITUENCY, AKWA IBOM STATE

ZIP C8 SCHOLARSHIP AND BURSARY FOR STUDENTS OF TERTIARY INSTITUTION IN ABAK/ETIM EKPO/ IKA FEDRAL CONSTITUENCY

ZIP C9 TRAINING OF YOUTHS AND WOMEN ON DIGITAL MARKETING IN BOKKOS AND MANGU LGAS OF PLATEAU STATE

ZIP C10 TRAINING OF YOUTHS AND WOMEN IN SOAP-MAKING IN KANKE AND KANAM LGAS, PLATEAU STATE

ZIPC11 BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT TRAINING OF YOUTHS AND WOMEN IN PANSHIN LGA, PLATEAU STATE

W1

W3 CONSTRUCTION OF ALL IN ONE HIGH ICENT SOLAR LIGHTS IN SELECTED AREAS OF OROLU LGA, OSUN STATE

W4 PROVISION OF SOLAR POWERED STREET LIGHTS AT IKOT AKPAN ISHIET, EDIMIDIM,

Procurement is a former or present director, shareholder or has any pecuniary interest in the bidder and to confirm that all information presented in its bid are true and correcting all particulars; - that none of the directors of the Company has been convicted for criminal offense in relation to fraud or financial impropriety in any court I; Nigeria or elsewhere.

h. Company’s audited account for the last three (3) years (2020, 2021 and 2022),

i. Reference letter from a reputable commercial bank indicating willingness to provide credit facility for the execution of the project when needed;

J. Company’s profile with Curriculum Vitae of key staff to be deployed for the project, including copies of their Academic/Professional qualifications;

k. Consultancy service: Evidence of Firm’s current registration with the relevant regulatory professional body(ies):

l. Electricity Jobs: Evidence of current license issued by Nigerian Electricity Management Services Agency (NEMSA);

m. For Supply of Equipment: Letter of Authorization as representative of the original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs)

n. Verifiable document evidence of at least three (3) years similar jobs executed in the last two (2) years including letter of award, Valuation certificates, Job completion certificate and photographs of the projects.

o. Only companies included in the National Automotive Design and Development Council’s approved list of local manufacturers of vehicles or their authorized representatives should bid for the vehicles;

p. All documents for submission must be transmitted with a covering/forwarding letter under the company/firm’s letter head paper bearing amongst others, the registration number (RC) as issued by the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC), Contact Address, Telephone Number (preferably GSM No.) and email address. The letter head paper must bear Names and Nationalities of the Directors of the company at the bottom of the page, duly signed by the authorized officer of the firm.

COLLECTION OF TENDER DOCUMENTS FOR WORKS AND GOODS

Interested Company should collect Standard Bid Documents (SBD) for Lots 1-2 only from the Procurement Department of the National Sugar Development Council, First Floor; Block A, after payment of a non-refundable fee of N10, 000 (Ten Thousand Naira only) per Lot paid into Polytechnic’s Remita account in any commercial bank. While Interested Consultant for consultancy would not pay tenders fee at this stage until after shortlisting.

F. SUBMISSION OF EOI

DOCUMENT

– CONSULTANCY SERVICE

Interested firms are to submit two (2) bound of Expression of Interest documents separated by dividers and arranged as indicated above. The documents should be submitted in a sealed envelope and addressed to The Rector, FEDERAL POLYTECHNIC UKANA, AKWA IBOM STATE, and clearly marked with (the name of the project and the Lot number). Furthermore, the reverse of each sealed envelope should bear the name and address of the bidder and drop in the designated tender box in the office of the Rector by an authorized staff of the company not later than 12.00pm, Friday 27th January, 2023.

G. SUBMISSION OF DOCUMENTS – WORKS & GOODS

Prospective bidders are to submit pre-qualification documents for each Lot desired; two (2) hard copies each of the technical bids packaged in sealed envelopes and clearly marked as “Invitation for Prequalification” and addressed to The Rector, FEDERAL POLYTECHNIC UKANA, AKWA IBOM STATE and clearly marked with (the name of the project and the Lot number). Furthermore, the reverse of each sealed envelope should bear the name and address of the bidder and drop in the designated tender box in the office of the RECTOR by an authorized staff of the company not later than 12:00pm Tuesday 7th February, 2023.

I. OPENING OF EOI AND PRE-QUALIFICATION DOCUMENTS:

The EOI/Prequalification Documents will be opened immediately after the deadline for submission of bids in the in the conference hall of the Polytechnic. Please, ensure that you sign the Bid Submission Register in the office of the Rector, as the Institute will NOT be held liable for misplaced or wrongly submitted bids.

J. GENERAL INFORMATION

E. ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS:

Prospective bidders should submit the following documents:

a. Evidence of Certificate of Incorporation issued by the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC)including form CAC1.1 orCAC2 andCAC7. Business Name is also acceptable for Services;

b. Evidence of Company’s Income Tax Clearance Certificate for the last three (3) years valid till 31st December, 2023;

c. Evidence of Pension Clearance Certificate valid till 31st December,

d. Evidence of Industrial Training Fund (ITF) compliance certificate valid till 31st December, 2023

e. Evidence of Nigeria Social Insurance Trust Fund (NSITF) Clearance Certificate valid till 31st December, 2023;

f. Evidence of registration on the National Database of Federal Contractors, Consultants and Service Providers by submission of Interim Registration Report (IRR) expiring on 31/12/2023 or valid certificate issued by BPP;

g. Sworn Affidavit: - certifying that the company is not in receivership, insolvency or bankruptcy; - disclosing whether or not any officer of the relevant committees of the FEDERAL POLYTECHNIC UKANA, AKWA IBOM STATE or the Bureau of Public

financial bids opening, while the financial bids of un-successful bidders will be returned un-opened; g. Services: Only shortlisted firms will be invited at a later date for collection of requests for proposal;

f. Arrangement of EOI/Technical Document in hard copies should follow the order in the list above and appropriately paged. The EOI/ technical document should have a table content indicating the pages, which these items are to be found. Failure to comply with this directive will be resulting dis-qualification of the bidder.

i. Federal Polytechnic Ukana, Akwa Ibom State is not bound to pre-qualify/shortlist any bidder and reserves the right to annul the procurement process at any time without incurring any liabilities in accordance with Section 28 of the Public Procurement Act, 2007.

From Yakubu Mustapha, Minna

Presidential Candidate of the Labour Party, Mr Peter Obi has promised to put an end to the security challenges bedeviling the country and assured to complete the Baro Port project in Niger state.

The presidential candidate made this known during a town

Peter Obi promises to ensure security in Nigeria

hall meeting with women and youths in Minna, saying that if elected in the forthcoming presidential election, women would be given the needed priority in the governance of Nigeria.

He further said he would ensure that Nigeria utilizes its abundant natural resources to grow its economy, calling on eligible voters to vote for competency rather than looking at the tribes, religion

or regional affiliations of candidates.

Peter Obi and his Running mate, Senator Datti Ahmed later moved to the Minna Polo Ground where they addressed his supporters in Niger State.

Earlier in his welcome address, the Labour Party gubernatorial candidate in the state, Joshua Bawa accused the leadership in the state for poor economic development and high poverty rate in the state.

2023: Yiaga Africa to deploy technology to monitor in 774 LGA’s

By Tobias Lengnan Dapam

To ensure integrity in the 2023 Presidential Election, Yiaga Africa said Watching The Vote will deploy 3014 stationary and 774 LGA’s and 48 mobile citizen observers to a representative random sample of 1507 polling units across all 36 States and the FCT.

Speaking at a media round table yesterday in Abuja, the Executive Director of Yiaga Africa, Samson Itodo, said the the sample is carefully constructed by a trained statistician to ensure every LGA is included proportionally in the sample.

“The number of sampled polling units for each LGA is therefore based on the percentage of polling units and registered voters in that LGA. WTV observers will use their mobile phones to send coded text messages (SMS) of observation reports to Yiaga Africa’s WTV National Data Centre in Abuja.

“Each observer will receive a structured observation checklist and a critical incident form to ensure uniformity in the observation process.

WTV Observers will report on the opening of polling units, accreditation, and voting, counting and the announcement/ posting of results.

“WTV Observers will also send in official results as announced by the election officials at polling units to the WTV Data Center Data Center.”

He added that for additional oversight, WTV will also deploy 774 observers to LGA collation centers to observe the result collation process and 48 observers to observe at the State Results Collation Centres.

Speaking further, he said, “This methodology, when matched with the latest technology-text messages transmitted by cell phones to a central data base enables #Watching The Vote to present an objective, nonpartisan, real-time picture of the election’s conduct and verify the accuracy of the official results. The project will not announce the official results, this is the responsibility of INEC.

“Using the PVT, Yiaga Africa is able to provide independent information to voters, candidates, political parties, and INEC about whether the official results for

the Presidential Elections truly reflect the ballots cast at polling units and to. If INEC’s official results fall within Yiaga Africa’s estimated range, then the public, political parties and candidates should have confidence that the official results reflect the ballots cast at polling units. If the official results do not reflect the ballots cast, #Watching The Vote will expose it.

#Watching The Vote is not an exit poll. No voter is asked for whom he/she voted. #Watching The Vote uses the official results

as announced and posted at polling units. INEC poll officials at polling units are the ones who count the ballot papers.

#Watching The Vote citizen observers do not count the ballot papers themselves. Rather they observe the counting process and report on the conduct of that process and the official result for polling units as announced by the poll officials.

“The PVT methodology was first developed by citizen observers in the Philippines in 1986 and has now been used by

civic organizations around the world - more than 200 PVTs have been conducted in 52 countries.

In Africa, the methodology has been deployed in Burkina Faso, Côte d’Ivoire, Ghana, Kenya, Malawi, Tunisia, and Zambia.

In Nigeria, the PVT has been deployed in three presidential elections and has been adopted for 18 off-cycle elections and Yiaga Africa has so far adopted the PVT in the 2019 Presidential election and in 10 off-cycle elections including the 2018 Ekiti and Osun governorship election.”

Also speaking, the National President of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Comrade Chris Isiguzo, Urged journalists not allow politicians to frustrate the process.

He urged them to work towards ensuring free and fair polls in 2023.

“We should work to promote national interests and not to project the interests of politicians. We need to team up and educate people on the need to participate in the interests of the country.”

L-R: Nollywood actor, Uzzy Usman; Globacom’s State Activation Manager, Mr. Ibrahim Katsina; house winner in Glo Festival of Joy promotion, Ridwan Bello; Former Director General of National Lottery Regulatory Commission, Mr Peter Igho, and Nollywood actress and brand influencer, Uche Nwaefuna, at the presentation of the house by Globacom to Bello on Friday in Abuja

The Zabarkano Association of Nigeria has called for the establishment of a National Minority Tribes Development Commission (NMTDC).

“To this effect, we are urging that lets an executive bill be sent to the National Assembly for the immediate establishment of the proposed commission.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN)reports that the National President of the association, Alhaji Isa Sahabi-Bankanu made the call on Saturday in Abuja at the inauguration of its national and state executives.

NAN also reports that the association is the umbrella of all Zarma/Zabarmawa associations in the country.

Zarma is one of the most spoken languages in Kebbi,

Sokoto, Zamfara and Niger States.

Isa-Bankanu said: “The proposed commission will help to preserve the national heritage of the country and foster sustainable harmony.

“It will also bolster national unity, cement the relationships between the various ethnic groups and boost socio-economic prosperity of Nigeria.”

Isa-Bankanu also commended the efforts of the Federal Government under the leadership of President Muhammadu Buhari and the Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Sa’ad Abubakar III in keeping Nigeria as an indivisible nation.

He said that the association was formed 17 years ago to unite the Zabarma people and emble meaningfully contribute their quota to national development.

Isa-Bankanu urged the members of the association to united and work for its progress and facilitating peace and unity of Nigeria.

Also speaking, the Secretary General of the association, Dr Lawwal Sani-Kasgada said: “We are people that have been coexisting peacefully with our fellow citizens.

“The need for this association and the need for us to support the democratic values of our dear nation cannot come at a better time than now,” he said.

The Guest Speaker, Mr Aliyu Ishaq-Lolo urged the new leaders to build bridges of unity and give all the members a sense of belonging.

Ishaq-Lolo, who is also the Senior Special Assistant to the

President on SDGs said: “All hands must be on deck to ensure peace of love and patriotism.”

The Traditional Ruler of the Zabarma people in Abuja, Alhaji Aminu Maizinari described the members of the association as peace loving, industrious and patriotic.

The national leader of the association (Jagaban), Alhaji Murtala Hassan-Tela cautioned the members against involvement in criminal activities and any untoward activity.

NAN further reports that the event was attended by delegates from the 36 States and FCT, as well as Canada, Belgium, Sudan, Niger Republic, Ghana, Chad and Saudi Arabia, among others. (NAN)

Association seeks establishment of National Minority Tribes Devt. Commission

Foundation trains 30 Benue school kids in table tennis

From Uche Nnorom, Makurdi

Afoundation known as Triangle Tennis Foundation, TTF, has planned to train 30 school children drawn from the 23 local government areas of Benue State in table tennis as a way of developing their skills in the game.

The training is also, expected to also expose the kids to basic education, tournaments and provide them with essential training and basic needs to be the best they can become.

Founder of the programme, Coach Kabiru Ibrahim of the Triangle Tennis Academy, who disclosed ths in an interview with newsmen in Makurdi, the Benue State capital said the Foundation is committed to supporting kids from other states of the federation.

Coach Ibrahim said that the initiative is a deliberate strategy to fulfill his tennis ambition, stressing that the game “provides both physical and mental development for any child and help develop great character, problem solving skills, build self esteem and for those that are fortunate to compete at higher level. Coach Ibrahim said that the initiative is a deliberate strategy to fulfill his tennis ambition, stressing that the gagreat character, problem solving skills, build self esteem and for those that are fortunate to compete at higher level.

Police uncover armoury of kidnappers, recover arms, ammunition in Bauchi

From.Ahmad Muhammad, Bauchi

Bauchi State Police Command has uncovered the armoury of suspected kidnappers and recovered arms and ammunition in its recent sustained operations.

The police have recorded a tremendous success by denying the miscreants a breathing space

to carry out their nefarious activities in the State, Police Public Relations Officer, SP Mohammed Ahmed Wakil stated this in a statement.

In the statement made available to reporters in Bauchi, Wakil said “Operatives attached to the command acted on credible intelligence and uncovered an armory of suspected kidnappers”.

Wakil said the discovery was made “On the 22nd January 2023, by a patrol team attached to Liman Katagum Divisional Police headquarters led by the DPO while on patrol around the Tudun Wada area of Liman Katagum, Bauchi LGA.”

He said, “an underground armory was uncovered, and the following items were recovered: Three (3) AK47 rifles, one (1)

LAR rifle, forty-nine (49) rounds of 7.62mm ammunition, Nine (9) AK47 magazines, one (1) pair of army camouflage jacket and one (1) pair of Police camouflage trousers”.

While commending the operatives, the Commissioner of Police, CP Aminu Alhassan ordered round-the-clock surveillance around the area in a bid to arrest the miscreants.

Adamawa

farmers endorse Ardo of SDP as gubernatorial candidate

From Umar Dankano,Yola

The United Progressives Farmers Association of Nigeria(UPFAN) has officially endorsed the gubernatorial candidate of the Social Democratic Party,SDP,Dr.

Umar Ardo as its preferred governorship candidate for 2023 elections in Adamawa state.

Disclosing the resolution of the Association in Yola at the weekend after a crucial meeting. National Chairman of the Association,Sheikh Muhammad

Nurudeen Abubakar declared that the congress of the group had critically examined and deliberated on the political events.

Sheikh Abubakar said that the candidates of the Peoples Democratic Party, Governor

Ahmadu Umaru Fintiri and Senator Aishatu Dahiru Binani of the All Progressives Congress,APC have consulted the Association for support but couldn’t meet the terms and conditions laid down by the Association.

Naira redesign: CBN takes sensitisation to Kaduna Market

From: Femi Oyelola, Kaduna

The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has taken its sensitisation on the new Naira notes to Abubakar Mahmud Gumi market, Kaduna to encourage the traders to change their old notes.

The event is part of the sensitisation of stakeholders on the currency redesign held simultaneously at various locations across the country.

Speaking to Journalists during the sensitisation exercise at the Central

Market Motor Park, Kaduna yesterday, the Director, Capacity Development Department, CBN, Mohammed Abba urged Nigerians to change their old notes, saying that there is no going back on the January 31 deadline.

“We are not just starting the sensitisation, we have involved the National Orientation Agency (NOA) and some other media houses since when the CBN governor made the announcement.

“We are just trying to consolidate that effort now. The deadline is getting closer and people need to be carried along”.

He also urged traders to visit their banks, deposit the old notes and get the new ones so that at the end of the month, their monies will not become useless, he added.

According to Abba, the CBN is working assiduously to ensure that the banks in Kaduna seize to dispense old Naira notes.

“We are going round the banks to ensure that new notes are available in their Automated Teller Machines (ATM) and if we found any bank that is breaking this rule, we will put sanctions on them.

We have enough money in the Central Bank.

“We believe that by Monday all those banks that are dispensing old notes will stop doing that”.

He said that CBN would reach out to people in rural areas through their traditional rulers so as to sensitize them on new notes and deadline.

The Chairman of Kaduna Market Development Association, Abdulrahman Mohammed urged members to go to the nearest commercial to deposit their old notes in order to beat the deadline.

The recovered arms and ammunition

B: GOODS

SCHOOLS IN GAMAWA. FED. CONST. BAUCHI STATE

B144 SUPPLY OF TRICYCLE PICKUP TO YOUTHS OF UGBO AND MAHIN ILAJE LGA OF ONDO STATE

B145 SUPPLY OF EMPOWERMENT MATERIALS FOR YOUTH IN KIRU/BEBEJI FEDERAL CONSTITUENCY, KANO STATE

B146 AGRICULTURAL EMPOWERMENT ON FERTILIER AND BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT TRAINING OF YOUTHS AND WOMEN IN PANSHIN LGA, PLATEAU STATE

B147 SUPPLY OF TRICYCLES TO RIMI/CHARANCHI/BATAGARAWA FEDERAL CONSTITUENCY, KATSINA STATE

B148 SUPPLY OF SCHOOL FURNITURE TO SOME SELECTED PRIMARY SCHOOLS IN ABI/YAKURR FEDERAL CONSTITUENCY OF CROSS RIVER STATE.

B149 SUPPLY OF FOOD ITEMS (RICE) TO LESS PRIVILEGED PERSONS IN ABI/YAKURR FEDERAL CONSTITUENCY OF CROSS RIVER STATE.

B150 FURNISHING OF PRIMARY HEALTH CARE CENTRE IN AKWOCHA, ESAN SOUTH EAST LGA, EDO STATE.

B151 FURNISHING OF PRIMARY HEALTH CARE CENTRE IN OLOSHI, ESAN SOUTH EAST LGA, EDO STATE.

B152 FURNISHING OF ONE BLOCK OF 6 CLASSROOMS, OTOIKHIMHIN PRIMARY SCHOOL, UGBOHA, ESAN SOUTH EAST LGA, EDO STATE.

B153 SUPPLY OF MOTORCYCLES IN ALIMOSHO FEDERAL CONSTITUENCY, LAGOS STATE.

B154 FURNISHING AND EQUIPMENT OF LEATHER CENTRE IBILLO IN AKOKO-EDO FEDERAL CONSTITUENCY

B155 PROCUREMENT OF LABORATORY EQUIPMENT AT NICTM, UROMI, EDO STATE

B156 PROCUREMENT OF FURNITURE FOR OFFICES AT NICTM, UROMI, EDO STATE

B157 PROCUREMENT OF VEHICLES FOR NICTM, UROMI, EDO STATE

B158 PROCUREMENT OF BLOCK MOULDING MACHINES FOR NICTM, UROMI, EDO STATE

C. SERVICES

C159 TRAINING AND CAPACITY BUILDING IN AGRICULTURAL VALUE CHAIN FOR YOUTH AND WOMEN IN ILAJE LGA, ONDO STATE

C160 DIGITAL TRAINING FOR SELECTED SCIENCE TEACHERS IN RURAL AREAS OF GUNS IN LAGOS STATE

C161 SKILL ACQUISTION AND VOCATIONAL TRAINING OF YOUTHS AND WOMEN IN ILEH, EKO-INE, EDO STATE

C162 SOCIO-ECONOMIC EMPOWERMENT TO THE YOUTH OF GAMAWA. FED. CONST. BAUCHI STATE

C163 TRAINING AND EMPOWERMENT OF WOMEN AND YOUTHS ON MECHANISED FARMINGS IN OGOJA/ YALA FEDERAL CONSTITUENCY

C164 ENTREPRENEURSHIP TRAINING FOR YOUTHS IN OKPE/ SAPELE/UVWIE FEDERAL CONSTITUENCY OF DEL19TA STATE

C165 ENTREPRENEURAL TRAINING FOR YOUTHS, WOMEN INCLUDING PEOPLE WITH DISABILITY IN ETHIOPE EAST AND WEST FEDERAL CONSTITUENCY, DELTA STATE.

C166 TRAINING AND EMPOWEEMENT OF WOMEN FOR SELF RELIANCE IN KARAYE/ROGO FEDERAL CONSTITUENCY OF KANO STATE

C167 TRAINING OF YOUTHS AND WOMEN IN VARIOUS SKILLS IN YAKUR CROSS RIVER STATE

TRAINING

FEDERAL CONSTITUENCY, KOGI STATE.

C182 VOCATIONAL TRAINING FOR YOUTH AND WOMEN IN SUMAILA/TAKAI FEDERAL CONSTITUENCY, KANO STATE

C183 TRAINING AND EMPOWERMENT OF YOUTHS FOR SELFRELIANCE IN KARAYE AND ROGO FED CONSTITUENCY, KANO STATE.

C184 TRAINING OF YOUTHS ON ICT IN OBINGWA/ UGWUNAGBO/OSISIOMO FEDERAL CONSTITUENCY, ABIA STATE.

C185 EMPOWERMENT OF YOUTH AND WOMEN ON AGRICULTURAL INPUT IN AJEROMI/IFELODUN LOCAL GOVERNMENT, LAGOS STATE.

C186 TRAINING AND EMPOWERMENT OF SELECTED YOUTHS AND WOMEN IN IREPODUN/OLORUNDA/ OROLU/ OSOGBO FEDERAL CONSTITUENCY.

C187 MANPOWER TRAINING AND EMPOWERMENT FOR YOUTHS AND WOMEN IN AKOKO-EDO FED, CONSTITUENCY

C188 TRAINING & EMPOWERMENT OF YOUTHS IN MODERN FARMING ACROSS JABA LGA KADUNA STATE

C189 DEVELOPMENT OF A DIGI-REPOSITORY FOR THE NIGERIAN CONSTRUCTION INDUSTRY

C190 DEVELOPMENT OF A 20-YEAR STRATEGIC PLAN FOR NICTM

3.0 ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS

Interested and qualified Contractors/Suppliers/Service Providers are required to submit the following documents for evaluation:

a. Evidence of Certificate of Incorporation issued by the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC) including Form CAC1.1 or CAC2 and CAC7;

b. Evidence of Company’s Income Tax Clearance Certificate for the last three (3) years valid till 31st December, 2022;

c. Evidence of Pension Clearance Certificate valid till 31st December, 2022 (this requirement is only applicable to bidders whose number of staff is 15 and above);

d. Evidence of Industrial Training Fund (ITF) Compliance Certificate valid till 31st December, 2022 (this requirement is only applicable to bidders whose number of staff is 5 and above or the bidder’s annual turnover is N50m and above);

e. Evidence of Nigeria Social Insurance Trust Fund (NSITF) Clearance Certificate valid till 31st December, 2022;

f. Evidence of Registration on the National Database of Federal Contractors, Consultants and Service Providers by submission of Interim Registration Report (IRR) expiring on 31st December, 2022 or valid Certificate issued by BPP.

g. Sworn Affidavit:

- disclosing whether or not any officer of the relevant committees of the National Institute of Construction Technology and Management (NICTM), Uromi, Edo State or the Bureau of Public Procurement is a former or present Director, shareholder or has any pecuniary interest in the bidder and to confirm that all information presented in its bid are true and correct in all particulars;

- that no Director has been convicted in any Country for any criminal offence relating to fraud or financial impropriety or criminal misrepresentation or falsification of facts relating to any matter;

- that the Company is not in receivership, the subject of any form of insolvency or bankruptcy proceedings or the subject of any form of winding up petition or proceedings;

- That the company does not have existing loan or financial liability with a bank, other financial institution or third party that is classified as doubtful, non-performance, bad or whose repayment portion has been outstanding for the last four (4) months;

h. Company’s Audited Accounts for the last three (3) years - 2019, 2020 & 2021, duly acknowledged by the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS);

i. For Supply of Equipment: Letter of Authorization as representative of the Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs);

j. Services: Evidence of Firm’s current registration with relevant regulatory professional body(ies) such as

- Training: Evidence of Firm’s current accreditation by the Centre for Management Development (CMD);

k. Reference Letter from a reputable commercial bank in Nigeria, indicating willingness to provide credit facility for the execution of the project when needed;

l. Company’s Profile with the Curriculum Vitae of Key Staff to be deployed for the project, including copies of their Academic/Professional qualifications such as COREN, QSRBN, ARCON, CORBON etc.;

m. Verifiable documentary evidence of at least three (3) similar jobs executed in the last five (5) years including Letters of Awards, Valuation Certificates, Job Completion Certificates and Photographs of the projects;

n. Works: List of Plants/Equipment with proof of Ownership/Lease Agreement;

o. Only Companies included in the National Automotive Design and Development Council’s approved list of local manufacturers of vehicles or their authorised representatives should bid for the vehicles;

p. For Supply of Equipment: Letter of Authorisation as representative of the Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs);

q. ICT jobs: Evidence of Firm’s current registration/accreditation with Computer Professionals Registration Council of Nigeria and National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA);

r. Evidence of current Licence issued by Nigerian Electricity Management Services Agency (NEMSA);

s. For Joint Venture/Partnership, Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) should be provided indicating among others the Lead Partner (CAC, Tax Clearance Certificate, Pension Clearance Certificate, ITF Compliance Certificate, NSITF Clearance Certificate, IRR & Sworn Affidavit are compulsory for each JV partner);

t. All documents for submission must be transmitted with a Covering/Forwarding letter under the Company/ Firm’s Letter Head Paper bearing amongst others, the Registration Number (RC) as issued by the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC), Contact Address, Telephone Number (preferably GSM No.), and e-mail address. The Letterhead Paper must bear the Names and Nationalities of the Directors of the Company at the bottom of the page, duly signed by the authorised officer of the firm;

4.0 SUBMISSION OF PRE-QUALIFICATION DOCUMENTS AND EXPRESSION OF INTEREST (EOI)

All Tenderers are to submit Pre-qualification documents/EOIs for each of the Lots desired in two hard copies, each packaged in sealed envelopes and clearly marked “Invitation to Pre-qualification” or “EOI” and addressed to the: The Registrar, The National Institute of Construction Technology & Management (NICTM), Uromi, Edo State. The top left-hand corner of the envelopes shall bear the name of the Project/Lots for which you are applying and the reverse of each sealed envelope shall bear the name and the address of the bidder. The documents shall be dropped in Tender Box Marked “TENDER 2023” in the Procurement Unit not later than 12:00 noon, Monday, 6th February, 2023.

5.0 OPENING OF PRE-QUALIFICATION DOCUMENTS AND EXPRESSION OF INTEREST (EOI) The EOI and the Pre-Qualification documents shall be opened immediately after the deadline for submission at 12:00 noon, Monday, 6th February, 2023, at the Institute’s Board Room in the presence of Observers, Bidders or their representatives.

6.0 GENERAL

The currency of life and the leadership question

By Abiodun Komolafe

In one of his New Year sermons, Pastor Adeniyi Ajayi of the Gospel Promotion Outreach, Ori Oke Baba Abiye, Ede in Osun State numerated ‘The Currency of Life’ as ‘time, money, knowledge and relationship.’ According to the cleric, while “time is money and should not be wasted, wisdom entails the correct application of knowledge.” Also, while “time and knowledge bring money, time and money yield knowledge. On the whole, “money and knowledge create and, ultimately, save time.”

“Relationship can get something for a man without having to spend a dime! The evil ones can waste one’s time; thus wasting one’s life.” Taken together, “whatever happens to one’s time happens to one’s life.” Therefore, knowing how to “organize one’s time as well as manage one’s money is important in a race of life.”

Without being immodest, I also share Pastor Ajayi’s views! Take for instance, when the people talk about leadership in Nigeria, they sometimes forget that ‘the wrong we see are symptoms of a deeper root cause of an ailment’ and that it is not just the leadership but also the prototype of our leadership that is fraught with flaws. And when a prototype is designed to fail, shifting the responsibility of that failure to the leadership can be likened to abandoning the object for the shadow. Again, it is as if we are no longer taking cognizance of the fact that this ‘mere geographical expression’ is a peculiar country, inhabited by peculiar people and that it is from the pool of this population that we draw the willing and available individuals who eventually rule the mass of the people. Without doubt, ours is a country which looks like a ship in a vast ocean without a rudder. And, as we are aware, a rudderless ship is bound to surrender its destiny to the dictate of the waves.

‘Idalu n’iselu, bi a ti n se nile yii, eewo ibomiran ni’ (The constitution for administering any place must be indigenous to its cultural foundation). If we have agreed that “whosoever desires the office of a Bishop … must be blameless, the husband of one wife, vigilant, sober, of good behaviour, given to hospitality, apt to teach …”, then, whosoever wants to be, say, a governor in Nigeria must not be a criminal, must be kind to all without exception, and must not be self-centred or nepotistic. Once these requirements are there, we ought not to be complaining about leadership in Nigeria. After all, no leader comes to power without knowing what he or she

signed for!

Remember the British system of government where, deliberately, an intending leader must come from a cadre of the people! Of a fact, it prefixes certain social structures in the society for a man to emerge as a Prime Minister in England. For example, a man who must aspire to hold such a high office must be somebody who can debate anybody, anywhere in the world; and must have been tested. To that extent, every member of the British Parliament is a potential prime minister.

To be frank, the fundamentals of public administration in Nigeria are not rooted in wisdom. In other words, there is no sound fundamental philosophy. People just come into government, run it the way they like and leave it even worse than they met it. Contrary to the vision of the man who turned Dubai to the wonders of the 21st century, there’s no hardcore pattern that is followed by aspiring leaders in Nigeria with regard to how the government is run. Through the systemic understanding of the powers of the state, governance is also about aggregating the people’s views such that, by the time it comes out with a policy, it will go a long way in addressing the yearnings of the people.

It is because our leaders do not have a sure pattern of what to do that they mess up in government. At the end of the day, they would have wasted the four or eight years – as it were – as prescribed by the constitution. Besides, they would have also succeeded in wasting the time of the citizens as a whole. For instance, a citizen with a hope that a particular government would address a particular matter of his or her life would wait for eight years only to have the matter unaddressed even as there is no assurance that the next government will even think about it.

Obafemi Awolowo! Ahmadu Bello! Nnamdi Azikiwe! We need to bear in mind that politicians are not necessarily leaders; for, while leaders are always conscious of the fact that they are leading a people and that it behoves them to strive to build a future for those they are leading, politicians are only thinking of how their pockets can be lined with the people’s commonwealth. So, when a supposed leader comes with a moribund idea, of course, the people will just be running upandan, without being able to clearly define anything. So, such ‘leaders’ are most likely to waste the four or eight years constitutionally approved for them to govern. From independence till date, Nigeria’s problems remain largely unaddressed! The

politicians are just using excuses as smokescreens to deceive the people. In our fatted clime, democracy has been misconstrued for the will of ‘Mr President’ or ‘Mr Governor!’ And that’s the issue! It’s an unending circle; and it will just be repeating itself until the people come together.

Of course, it is not as if Nigerians are daft! If somebody like the inimitable Awolowo could think of establishing the first television station in Africa; Liberty Stadium, Cocoa Board and many others, by now, his descendants ought to be thinking of accessing the moon, because the thinking should be on how to be better than their forefathers. But, here we are, without our being better than our forebears. And that’s a shame! In Osun for instance, the State Broadcasting Corporation came long before ‘Channels Television.’ Now, the difference between the two organisations is clear! Even ‘Rave FM’, which came into the business only yesterday, has continued to make waves while the state-owned Radio Station is almost becoming a distraught, disorganized and laughable news station.

Right from the beginning of the Fourth Republic, observers were of the opinion that Bisi Akande came with his own dream which, from all indications, successive governments did not buy into. So, for Osun, it was always a case of ‘start-all-over-again’, each time a new government took over! By the time Olagunsoye Oyinlola was being booted out of office on November 26, 2010, he was in such a hurry to leave ‘Bola Ige House’ that he forgot to drop his bag of dreams (and that’s if he ever had any). So, there was no dream in place for a Joseph to interpret for Rauf Aregbesola, his successor in office. ‘Oranmiyan’ also came in with his own ‘Government Unusual’, which the immediate past Governor Gboyega Oyetola did not embrace. So, the ‘State of the Virtuous’ was observably fated! Now, Ademola Adeleke is in the saddle with his long cap, dancing, histrionically; and banning everything ‘bannable.’ So, where lies growth in the pattern of development in Osun since the time of Akande? One can only pray the ‘Dancing Senator’ changed his ways! Otherwise, that’s how things will continue until he, too, finds his way out of government.

May the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world, grant us peace in Nigeria!

*Komolafe wrote in from Ijebu-Jesa, Osun State, Nigeria (ijebujesa@yahoo.co.uk)

CEO of Nigeria – The recruitment protocol

By Tony Osakpamwan Agbons

In recruiting the next CEO of enterprise Nigeria, we the people (employer) of the CEO must recognise our innate powers ‘to hire and to fire’ ipso facto. We the people hold the aces and not the other way round. The politicians applying for the top job must be put at the station where they belong. They are being recruited to serve us and will not be imposed on us to be served. The cart must not be placed before the horse.

It was nearly a year ago, I penned a literary piece, ‘The Office of the King of Nigeria’. The piece articulated some of the core competences and persona externalities required of the occupant of the ‘exalted’ office of ‘The King of Nigeria’. There was countless feedback for and against my advocacy, depositions, and postulations. A lot however has changed since then. The dynamics of our political landscape has shifted dramatically with much frenzy. The political parties have since conducted their primaries at all levels and flagbearers emerged. The ‘political premier league’ transfer season has been buzzing with the good, bad and ugly jostling for attention and prime position.

Worthy of note in this political season is the seeming high level of awareness by the citizenry. Citizen participation in the electoral process has witnessed a seismic trajectory from new voters’ registration, enlightenment, and engagement both online and offline. Another significant feature is the buy-in from the borderless Nigerian Youths. These youths, irrespective of their geographical locations globally, are coalescing, they are raising their shoulders, showing their chest, flexing their muscles, and standing up to be counted. Their involvement in this oncoming 2023 election is sending shivers down the spines of the ‘satanic ruiners’ who have been pressing down their necks and suffocating them. It is now “business unusual” because Nigerian youths have collectively decided they must breathe.

The youths have woken up to demand that which rightly belongs to them and rightly so. It was therefore with jubilation that the news of over 37 million youths (ages 18-34) on the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC register was received. Add that to the over 33 million middle age (35 – 49 years) citizens also in the register, then you will agree with me that this 2023 General election is Game! No ifs, no buts. A simple data analysis shows that this combined age bracket (18-34 and 35-49) make up over 70 million voters. They represent 75% of the total 93.4 million eligible registered voters for the 2023 elections in Nigeria. These no doubt are significant and relevant emerging statistics the old order is trying to drown with their usual noise and money sharing smoke screen!

The 2023 election is turning out to be a watershed and defining moment for Project Nigeria. It is panning out to be a ‘clash of the titans’ as well as a ‘battle for the soul and existential survival’ of our nation. To undermine it, is akin to a suicidal jump from a rocky cliff to the ocean depth. As Nigerians scan through the numerous choices in front of them, all eyes are on the top job, the Office of Chief Executive Officer, CEO of Corporation Nigeria – the President. This is not to downplay the adjuncts departments of State Governors, National and State Legislators as well as Local Government Areas.

Some members of these latter ‘departments’ above are part of the major problems bedevilling our country. Many of them have turned to ‘tin gods’, ‘imperial lords’ in ‘fiefdoms’ who bear the badge of ‘Your Excellency’ without being excellent in service delivery to those (the people) they are meant to serve. Instead of being servants of the people who elected them, these tin gods are the ones constantly served. Their plate is not what is being ‘cooked’ on this menu. That surely is a matter for another day. It is frequently posited that a people who do not understand their past or know their present cannot prepare for their tomorrow. Like it is often said in executive business management parlance, `those who don`t see the picture, cannot fit into the future`.

The pertinent questions for the business entity called Nigeria are viz: How did we get here? What is the current state of play? Where is it we are going? Perhaps some clear answers to these begging questions would suffice. You be the judge, based on empirical evidence all around us without a crystal ball. The business enterprise called Nigeria is failing. Some even say it has failed. The enterprise debt currently stands at over 70 Trillion Naira, and revenue receipts continue to dwindle. Budget deficit is at an all-time high and unemployment rate at 33% breaking point. 67% of the population is in multi-dimensional (absolute) poverty and insecurity prevails at unprecedented record levels.

The company called Nigeria is bleeding financially as a result of executive recklessness and profligacy. The entity is going bankrupt at the speed of light. The jury is out. The Chairman and Board of Directors urgently desire a competent CEO to take Corporation Nigeria out of the woods. What then are the potentates required for the position of CEO of Corporation Nigeria? The specifics are clear.

We take the first on the cards. The enterprise called Nigeria needs a qualified, mentally, and physically fit CEO. The job is a 24-hours-365-days role. A sick enterprise like Nigeria PLC cannot survive another four business years with a sick boss at the helm of affairs. Secondly, the enterprise requires a savvy Chief Executive Officer with requisite knowledge of the dynamics of a 21st century

conglomerate. Third and perhaps the most important, is that the enterprise called Nigeria is in urgent need of a brand-new way of doing things. A failing/failed system like this will implode into oblivion soon (without sounding alarmist) if the current approach to its governance continues. The present approach of political patronage, mediocrity and the hatred for integrity, honesty, and decency must give way.

In recruiting the next CEO of enterprise Nigeria, we the people (employer) of the CEO must recognise our innate powers ‘to hire and to fire’ ipso facto. We the people hold the aces and not the other way round. The politicians applying for the top job must be put at the station where they belong. They are being recruited to serve us and will not be imposed on us to be served. The cart must not be placed before the horse. Power belongs to us the people. If se(elected) and a CEO fails to deliver, we the people have no choice than to kick him or her out in the next se(election) cycle. That is the beauty of democracy! The Power To Hire And Fire!!!

Also, we the owners of enterprise Nigeria reserve the eternal right to see, scrutinise and access the suitability of any aspiring candidate for the highest office in the land. Consequently, we warn without any ambiguity that whosever desires the plum job should be prepared ab initio on submission of their CV to present themselves for an interview whenever wherever by the Nigerian people. All applicants must be interrogated for the CEO job. Any attempt by an applicant to’ Emilokunize’, or ‘Experiencize’ the process by dodging Q&A will neither be tolerated nor accepted. Leadership is not by force. The se(election) and recruitment process remains sacrosanct.

As we move decisively into the business end of the current recruitment of a CEO for corporation Nigeria on 25th February 2023, it behoves on all of us to be thorough and circumspect. We must change the status quo. We cannot keep doing the same thing and expect a different result. Individually, we must do what we can such as collect our PVC (despite the delays/frustrations), talk to our undecided relatives and neighbours, forward that message on your phone to as many contacts and groups possible, because each additional vote counts in this se(election). The running of Nigeria PLC like all leading business organisations requires a persona with character, competence, and capacity. Let’s not look too far away, the candidate of choice is here and clear. He is a tried and tested hand full of vibe and gusto. So, take a bow Mr Peter Gregory Obi and team.

Dr Agbons is Lead Institute of Good Governance & Leadership @www.twin2.org

When the people shall have nothing more to eat…

By Charles Dickson

We pray to a Christian God at the beginning of a function, and close the same with a prayer to a Muslim AILah and then in the same function discuss how to steal because really it’s nobody’s business how anything is run.

One who believes that the earth is chasing him, where did he put his feet while running?

Many years ago, I was driving back from Gombe, and on the highway was this public/commercial Opel car carrying 5 Nigerians. It was at ‘high’ speed, I overtook the car, blocked them in commando style and came down.

I asked the driver, “do you want to kill these passengers, is your speed check working…” and I turned to the passengers to scold them for not warning the driver.

Before I could finish, they descended on me, “Oga how e concern you, (what’s your business), get out of our way, bla bla and bla.”

I left them, jumped into my car and drove off, thirty minutes later in front of me was a ghastly motor accident, 2 dead, others with various degrees of injuries.

The driver survived, the car, totally damaged. Don’t ask me how I felt, and what I told the survivors. If I waited to help and all that emotional homily.

However, I can tell you that, between that stretch of road, were a couple of police checks, Federal Road Safety Marshals, so how they navigated all these with such speed to meet death remains the story of Nigeria, and before I forget to tell, there was no hospital of minimal standard, and the closest primary healthcare facility was not even good enough for description as a chemist.

The Gas Station: For a nation that was promising that fuel crisis ‘may be over next year’ in 1977, it is 2023 and we still have fuel crisis, and the unbelievable fact is that we have the same man, running the Petroleum Ministry in 1977 doing it in 2023, so with fuel scarcity for the hundredth time, this is the final corner in the long eight years that promised refineries, removal of subsidies, free market for energy products, and delivered none. And here I was at the gas station to buy PMS, and for the umpteenth time I noticed that only two of the machines were working, it was supposedly a “mega” station, and we know what mega means.

And that cost me an extra one hour on the ‘short queue’ (and yes I must say ‘short’) and Nigerians know what I mean. The two machines that were working had only two pumps with attendants, instead of four.

So, do the math if the four machines were working, that would be eight attendants, and yet we complain of lack of jobs. Do the math, and tell me how much I have lost in time and

productivity, tell me the effect on my mental health.

The Bank: Similar to the gas station was the experience at the Bank, plenty of customers, and few tellers. The teller space was seven and only three were functional with humans. I refused to use my ‘bulletproof’ influence, so I spent 40 minutes in the bank for a six minutes transaction.Add that to the whole drama of new notes, you drop the old notes at the bank, and then use an ATM POINT and it dispenses the old notes again. We are the only country that gives deadlines on matters that are civil, fallout of decades of military rule and civil dictatorship.

Add that to some saucy and ill-mannered tellers. The reason for their frustration as much as they vary are clear for all to see, some have been tellers for years, and still on some very inhuman labour contracts that defies logic. They could serve us better, but how can they, when they work every day, 24hours away from the sack from an industry that declares crazy profits every year and the economy remains bad.

We are in the digital age, but the kind of fraud, and inefficiency that plagues our mobile banking is second to none yet our banking system seems to function better than our political and governance space because you could get a card that functions anywhere but cannot get a voters’ card in the same manner!

My neighborhood, If you have lived in the North, we call it ‘angwa’. In my hood, my street, my angwa, there’s no water, and yet my house overlooks the water management board saddled with the responsibility of providing potable water (sic), the roads are bad, and the security is best described as ‘hmmmm’.

The two DISCO transformers are often vandalized, local crooks break into houses when you leave the house without a living being or at least a dog, they pick items and the trauma of coming home to a vandalized home is better imagined than experience.

We blame the National Assembly, at the local newspaper shop we argue about the merits of that presidential candidate and the other gubernatorial candidate, and demerits, and yet we are saddled with all the problems of the angwa.

We are simply blind to the problems under our noses. Finally Whose Business

In the case of the driver, the road was not exactly bad. But he just would not obey the speed limits, he lost control, two lives were lost, he was reckless, it really was not the government. It was our business, not the government. Not Nigeria but us.

Maybe the Road Safety’s presence on the highway could have helped, maybe available/functional speed cameras would have saved those two lives and the carnage.

But the truth is, if the passengers valued their lives, and been responsible, a collective caution from the five passengers could have done it.

Curbing prostitution in the society

By Olayode Inaolaji

One of the perils that is attached to whoredom is, it can swiftly lead to infection of Sexually Transmitted Diseases (STDs) like Gonorrhea, Human Immune-Deficiency Virus (HIV) to mention but a few. The victim of such disease(s), without ounce of any reasonable doubt, will shed a disgraceful and regretful cry. Albeit, countless number of people are infected with HIV without engaging themselves in prostitution.

The popular maxim by Albert Einstein, a Germanborn theoretical physicist that states “the world will not be destroyed by those who do evil, by those who watch them without doing anything”, thrusted me to get this piece of article written, perchance, it will amount to the alleviation of “sex for money” business which is not uncommon in this country. It will be unpleasant to its extremity if this essayist could keep mum on this matter.

Morally and religiously debased ladies exchange their bodies for money; they trade their dignity for token, you will see them at hotels, barrooms among other social gatherings, dressing half-naked to entice asinine guys; they will be parading and looking like a bush fowl in search of whom to call them for business – sex for money. It didn’t just start, prostitution had been in existence since donkey years back.

Some days ago, I was cogitating on the rampancy of unscrupulous, ludicrous and unreligious job “prostitution” engaged upon by young ladies in this epoch, it threw me off-balance mentally. What is sanely viewed as “immorality” has spuriously become what is

‘moral’; the parts of the body that ought to be considered private become public display and consumption. They possess the attitude of a dog that has no sexual timidity, so to say.

The parents have strenuous responsibility to contribute to halt the odoriferous business called “Sex for Money” perpetrated by young ladies. Charity, they said, begins at home. A child that lacks proper home-training will, indubitably, end up committing unscrupulous attitudes in the community. A responsible mother should feed her children, especially ladies, with moral and religious lessons; it is better they are tutored morally and religiously at infant stage. This is in deference to an apothegm that states that, Iroko tree can only be cut at the ‘childhood stage’, when it fully develops or reach its adulthood, cutting it will require a laborious effort which may even be rendered effortless. Saying parents who fail to educate her children (ladies) are contributors to the aggravation of the foul-smelling business is to deny the obvious.

On the other side, those whores should be draconianly castigated as well. It is believed that larger percentage of them ventured in the immoral act in discourse because of their poor conditions of living which shouldn’t be so, because decapitation, they said, is not the panacea to headache. Engaging in prostitution may provide for urgent needs but it is capable of obliterating their probity to an irreparable manner.

One of the perils that is attached to whoredom is, it can swiftly lead to infection of Sexually Transmitted Diseases (STDs) like Gonorrhea, Human Immune-

Their lives as Nigerians was their business. In the gas station, and bank, the key issue was ‘us’. From investigation, both were cutting costs, they refused to employ more hands. It was about profits at customers expense. It was about greed, not Nigeria.

For all the blames we put on the government, we are the government. The enterprise called Nigeria is our business, not some folks in Abuja or state governors (both those that stay in their states, and those abuja and foreign investor nation based governors).

If my angwa is to have good roads, it is the council man/ woman, chairman/woman, state legislator who should be liable. It is about a small conglomerate of leaders close to me. It’s our business not some ‘bullet proofers’ far away.

We can’t change if we are not the change we want. There can’t be change if banks can’t treat customers right. When gas stations cheat by a litre, by two/three naira. When banks charge some phony verve enhancement fee amongst many mysterious charges.

We can’t complain about the government in Abuja when we don’t know who our ward councillor is, when we have never confronted local government leaders. When governors are alleged to be corrupt, we keep mute because they are our kinsmen, and when they are confirmed looters we say leave them because we are of the same faith.

How many times have we boarded a vehicle and the driver insisted on two in front instead of the mandated one. Did we complain, and insist the right thing be done.

Have you contributed towards your local security by calling locals to enforce certain simple rules. We are the government, so Nigeria should be our business.

We pray to a Christian God at the beginning of a function, and close the same with a prayer to a Muslim AILah and then in the same function discuss how to steal because really it’s nobody’s business how anything is run.

It is not just leadership problems that worry Nigeria. No, it’s the problem of you, me and us. The ‘you’ that becomes a Minister and suddenly you need a bulletproof car, and you get two. We are plagued by our lack of simple ethics. We are willing to offer a bribe even when not asked, because often than not we are guilty until presumed innocent. So we blame our ineptitude on every other person but us.

When the people shall have nothing more to eat, they will eat the rich… we are not there yet, to treat Nigeria as our business, and not some prodigal orphan, we may be just going round in circles, as it is, we are just a people with some personal interests, for now, is there a Nigeria, and whose business she is, remains a question–only time will tell.

Prince Charles Dickson is a Public Policy Analyst.

Deficiency Virus (HIV) to mention but a few. The victim of such disease(s), without ounce of any reasonable doubt, will shed a disgraceful and regretful cry. Albeit, countless number of people are infected with HIV without engaging themselves in prostitution.

Many guys are desperately thirsty for acquisition of sudden opulence, with that, they engage in money ritual which I believe its repercussion is inevitable. Sadly, avalanche of prostitutes, which are regarded in the street lingo as “Olosho or Ashewo”, had fallen prey of being used as a material for money ritual.

Parents should relentlessly monitor the caliber of the friends their children keep. It is not unbeknownst to us that pressure group influences the most. Government also has prominent roles to play in the scene of curbing the immoral business by not taking the matter with levity; they should take legal action on them. They can be penalized as glaringly highlighted in the Nigeria’s 1999 constitution of Section 223, 224, 225 this will make young ladies to desist from the bad stuff and it will barricade the opportunity of influencing the generation to come.

Also, it is now pertinent for the religious leaders e.g. pastors, evangelists, alfas, imams to start or continue to preach against prostitution. It is high time those committers of prostitution thought more than twice and desisted from such act of immorality and should be contented with their possessions. Health-wisely, morally, religiously prostitution is unsavoury and doggish, ladies should distance themselves from it.

Olayode Inaolaji, Ogbomoso, Oyo state. inaolajiolayode@gmail.com

Northeast secretary, supporters of NNPP defects to PDP in Gombe

From David Hassan, Gombe

The North east zonal secretary of the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) Dr. Babayo Liman alongside hundred supporters were said to have defected to People’s Democratic Party (PDP ).

Dr. Liman made the declaration at at the media briefing in Gombe at the weekend.

His defection into the Peoples Democratic Party was aimed at showing unalloyed loyalty for Atiku Abubakar.

Former member and Presidential Campaign Council of Kwamkwaso Liman said he resigned his appointment with the NNPP to enable him support Atiku Abubakar the candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party.

According to him, no fewer than 3.6 million in the northeast were registered under NNPP and that Gombe is one of the state in his zone he have the mandate to inform his supporters that he have defected to PDP.

I tendered my resignation as the north east zonal secretary of the NNPP as a member of the Presidential Campaign Council of the NNPP as a coordinator of Kwamkwasiya in the zone.

We have nothing to do with NNPP and Kwamkwasiya again is not only me that defected I defected alongside the zonal Public Relations Officer Ibrahim Talk who also resigned to support Atiku Abubakar.

I will seized this opportunity to called on more than 600,000 supporters of NNPP members in Gombe to defect and obtained PDP membership cards.

He called on the Presidential candidate of NNPP Alh. Rabiu Kwamkwaso to withdraw from the race and support the candidature of Atiku Abubakar.

C/River: NSCDC impounds 8 trucks, arrests many suspects in 2022

The Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), Cross River Command, impounded 8 trucks laden with suspected adulterated petroleum product in the state in 2022.

Commandant of NSCDC in Cross River, Mr Samuel Fadeyi, disclosed this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on his achievements in office in 2022.

Fadeyi told NAN on Sunday in Calabar that over 10 suspects were arrested in connection with the crime during the period under review.

According to him, the trucks were conveying premium motor spirit and suspected adulterated diesel.

He told NAN that the cases were charged to court in line with the

Corps mandate.

Fadeyi explained that NSCDC has the mandate of providing protection to federal, state and local government infrastructure including petroleum product, energy and telecommunications facilities nationwide.

“In the year 2022, we impounded 8 trucks conveying suspected adulterated petroleum products and we arrested over 10 suspects.

“The trucks were conveying premium motor spirit and suspected adulterated diesel.

“We also arrested 13 suspects for vandalising the Portharcourt Electricity Distribution Company cables and other facilities.

“Also in 2022, we arrested some suspects for attempting to vandalise the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation pipeline at Esuk Utan

community in Calabar Municipality.

“During the period under review, NSCDC officials were also involved in rescue operations of most kidnapped cases in the state,” he said.

On capacity building, he told NAN that over 25 officers were trained on Safe School Initiative which was geared towards the protection of secondary schools against insecurity.

Similarly, he said that the command trained all divisional officers in the state and over 30 desk officers on gender based violence.

“Also in 2022, we launched operation flush on trailer parks in the state in line with the Commandant General’s directive to flush out illegal bunkers in the state.

“The teams carried out raids in various trailer parks in Biase,

Akamkpa, Calabar South and Municipal local government areas which led to the discovery and destruction of adulterated petroleum product.

“During the period under review, the private guard department monitored, supervised, trained and inspected some private guards companies in the state at their various beats.

“The department aided the internally generated revenue of the federal government arising from license issuance and renewals with about N5million despite the lull in the industry in the state,” he added.

He gave assurance that the command under his leadership would continue to employ new strategies targeted towards crime prevention and control in the state. (NAN)

20th Daily Trust Dialogue: Experts analyse presidential promises

Four eminent Nigerians would on Thursday in Abuja evaluate the areas that the top contenders for the Presidency in the 2023 general elections have so far listed as their priorities, and propose what they feel the next President of Nigeria should focus on to positively transform the country.

The four panellists selected for this year’s Daily Trust Dialogue, which has the theme Interrogating the 2023 Presidential Agenda, are: a very experienced university professor and member of the Board of the Centre for Democracy and Development, Mr. Jibrin Ibrahim; a foremost entrepreneur and former Chairman of the Board of Directors of First Bank of Nigeria (FBN), Mrs. Ibukunoluwa Awosika; a human capacity development specialist and scion of the Enahoro family, Dr. Eugene Enahoro; and a lecturer in Analysis of Business Problems at the Lagos Business School, Dr. Yetunde Anibaba.

The Archbishop Emeritus of

the Catholic Church in Abuja, John Cardinal Onaiyekan will preside over the 20th edition of the annual Dialogue, which is to be moderated by Dr. Suleiman Suleiman, the Deputy Editor-in-Chief and Chairman of the Editorial Board of the newspaper.

A veteran journalist, now Sarkin Karshi, Abuja, Alhaji Ismaila Mohammed, MFR, will serve as Royal Father at the event, which will hold at the NAF Conference Centre and Suites, on Ahmadu Bello Way, Kado, Abuja, and will start as from 10am.

Expected to grace the occasion are leaders of prominent sociocultural and political groups in Nigeria, the National Council of Traditional Rulers of Nigeria (NCTRN), the National Council of Women Societies (NCWS), as well as the National Youth Council of Nigeria (NYCN).

Other dignitaries expected at the 2023 Dialogue include serving and past state governors, serving and former lawmakers, chairmen, women and youth leaders of the

major political parties in the country, members of civil society organisations, development partners and diplomats.

A statement signed by the Group Chief Executive Officer of Media Trust Limited, owners of Daily Trust and Trust Television, Mounir Gwarzo, said however that, “unlike in the past two years, this year’s Dialogue will have physical convergence, now that restrictions imposed during the Covid-19 pandemic have been lifted”.

The statement also disclosed that this year’s event will be broadcast live by Trust Television, which is on StarTimes Channel 164; NigComSat’s Free TV; Moreplex 715; ArabSat Badr Sat7; AVO TV; and LIMEX World TV, as well as on YouTube and other social media platforms.

The annual Daily Trust Dialogue is part of Media Trust Limited’s contributions to stimulating discussions by Nigerians and fellow Africans towards enhancing national, and indeed, African integration and cohesion, which

are crucial for sustainable sociopolitical growth and economic development of Nigeria, and the African Continent at large.

Since 2002, Media Trust has hosted the annual public lecture series to discuss topical issues on various aspects of governance. The series of Dialogues had been attended by past Heads of Government, the leadership of the National Assembly as well as captains of commerce and industry, aside members of the diplomatic corps.

The Daily Trust Dialogue had equally been graced at different times by eminent personalities from across Africa. They include Mr. Festus Mogae, former President of Botswana; late Flt. Lt. Jerry Rawlings, former President of Ghana; and Dr. Salim Ahmed Salim, former Prime Minister of Tanzania. Others are late Mrs. Winnie Mandela of South Africa’s anti-apartheid struggle; Dr. Mo Ibrahim; and Mrs. Samia Nkrumah, daughter of late Dr. Kwame Nkrumah.

The CBN has enlisted the support of the Olubadan of Ibadanland, Oba Lekan Balogun and Olubadan-inCouncil, on the advocacy of the newly designed naira notes in Ibadan.

Mrs Olufolake Ogundero, the CBN Ibadan Branch Controller, told said this after an advocacy visit to the Olubadan on Saturday at his Alarere Palace, in Ibadan.

The News Agency of Nigeria(NAN) reports that the apex bank’s sensitisation train, which took off from the popular Dugbe Market on Thursday, had visited major markets across the state and other important institutions.

It would be recalled that the CBN Governor, Mr Godwin Emefiele, had announced the introduction of redesigned N200, N500 and N1000 notes with a directive that all old notes would be out of circulation by Jan. 31.

Ogundero said that the CBN had disbursed enough of the redesigned notes to banks in the country.

She said that heavy sanction awaited any commercial bank that hoarded or engaged in any sharp practice on the newly introduced naira notes.

The branch controller said that the apex bank had provided sufficient liquid cash for the smooth running of the nation’s economy.

“We have also disbursed adequate newly redesigned naira notes to all banks in Nigeria. They have no excuse not to pay customers or load it in their ATMs.

“We are tracking and monitoring these banks on compliance and commensurate sanctions awaits any bank or individual that is found engaging in any sharp practice,” she said.

Ogundero said that they were at the palace on the instruction of the CBN governor to sensitise the Olubadan-inCouncil and seek their valuable support for the newly redesigned Naira notes.

She reaffirmed that the Jan. 31 deadline for the legal tender of the old naira notes remained sacrosanct.

Ogundero encouraged Nigerians not to wait until rush hour to deposit their old notes, saying there would be no extension beyond Jan. 31.

“We have come here on the instruction of the CBN governor, Godwin Emefiele to sensitise the Olubadan-in-Council and seek their valuable support for the newly redesigned Naira notes.

“We are also using this occasion to reaffirm that the Jan. 31 deadline for the legal tender of the old naira notes remains sacrosanct.

“These new notes are available in

the ATMs and there is no limit for the amount of deposit and no charge or charges for the deposit made by bank customers,” she said.

The Olubadan said that some banks were still dispensing old notes in their ATMs, urging the CBN to ensure banks paid customers with new notes.

Oba Balogun, who spoke through the Otun Balogun of Ibadan, High Chief Tajudeen Ajibola, expressed readiness to sensitise and create more awareness on the part of Ibadan indigenes as well as residents.

Among those who joined the Olubadan in receiving the CBN delegation were Osi- Balogun, High Chief Gbadamosi Adebimpe; OsiOlubadan, High Chief Eddy Oyewole; Ashipa-Balogun, High Chief Kola Adegbola and Maye-Olubadan, Senior Chief Lekan Alabi, among others. (NAN)

Olubadan supports CBN over redesigned naira notes, accepts Jan. 31 deadline

By Ikechukwu Okaforadi

An All Progressives Congress (APC) Board of Trustees (BoT) and the National Caucus member from Abia state, Chief Ochiagha Benjamin Apugo, has foretold that the presidential candidate of the Labour Party, Peter Obi and the party’s governorship candidate in Abia, Alex Otti will win the State in the forthcoming general elections.

Apugo stated this in a press statement made available to journalists in Abuja on Sunday. In the statement, he dissociated himself from a report that linked him with the endorsement of the candidate of the APC in Abia state, Chief Ikechi Emenike.

Apugo further explained that he was not supporting any political party in the 2023 general elections but individuals with a track road of performance.

He said “Chief Ikechi Emenike and his team paid me a courtesy visit

APC BoT member, Apugo backs Peter Obi, Alex Otti in February election

as a Chieftain of the party to inform me of his governorship ambition as well as the proposed visit of the APC Presidential candidate, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu to Umuahia, Abia state.

“I emphatically told Emenike that the APC would lose both the Abia governorship and Presidential elections, and restated my uncompromising support for the Labour Party governorship candidate in Abia state, Dr. Alex Otti and its Presidential Candidate, Mr. Peter Obi.

“APC will fail woefully in Abia State. PDP is already dead. I am supporting Otti. I didn’t endorse him

(Emenike). I told him that APC will not win because there is nothing to show APC people. So, forget about endorsement.”

Giving reasons for supporting Obi and Otti, Apugo said ” If you check my political history, you would discover that I have always associated with people of high moral standing and integrity, hence my support for Otti whom I believe will develop this land when he becomes governor”.

Apugo said it would not be politically reasonable to support a party that could not fix the strategic Umuahia-Ikot Ekpene road and the Umuahia-Ohafia-Aro chukwu road respectively, maintaining that

both the APC and the PDP have failed Abians and should be roundly rejected.

The elder statesman, widely respected for his candour and firm stance on critical national and state issues, insisted that Otti was the only outstanding personality in the Abia governorship race with proven capacity and passion to develop the state, stressing that though he was a member of BOT and National Caucus of the APC, the development of Abia, including Ibeku land was of paramount importance hence his decision to support the former managing director of Diamond Bank.

He also vehemently refuted the

idea of anti-party when reminded about that.

“What is anti-party? What I am telling you is the correct thing. They haven’t done anything here. I am saying it with annoyance. With the position that I held in APC, nothing. I am not talking about myself. I have not gotten even one contract from them. No employment for one single person since 8 years. So, what are you talking about anti-party? They know that what I am talking is the correct thing. They have not done anything to my people here. They didn’t do one single thing here in my home town which is the capital of Abia State. No federal presence”, he said.

BVAS, IReV make northern Govs impotent – Ohanaeze warns Tinubu, Atiku, Obi

By Christiana Ekpa

Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide, on Sunday, warned frontline presidential candidates, Bola Tinubu (APC), Atiku Abubakar (PDP) and Peter Obi (LP) against relying on northern governors to win the 2023 election.

Okechukwu Isiguzoro, the Secretary-General of Ohanaeze, said with the introduction of BVAS by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Tinubu, Atiku, and Obi are doomed if they depend on governors in the North.

According to Isiguzoro: “Those presidential candidates counting on the old arrangements of Northern Governors’ scheming moves to manipulate and rig the elections for them on February 25th Presidential elections 2023 will be disappointed with the realities on the ground. The Arewa and Northern Youths led by Yerima Shettima are the street generals that will decide which of the presidential candidates will win the 2023 presidential elections based on the voting strengths of the North.

“Ndigbo has observed that

INEC was right in [its] assumptions that 2023 is for the Nigerian youths, as they will play a critical role in whoever will win the 2023 elections.

“Northern governors are

helpless to help Tinubu, Atiku, or Obi, to win the 2023 elections, and the Southern governors are in disarray and confusion about the choice of the presidential candidate to work for.

“If Atiku, Obi, and Tinubu are counting on the governors they are doomed, the governors are encountering complications on how most of them will win the senatorial seats of their

various constituencies with the introduction of INEC BVAS; only the youths and women will decide what will happen at polling units across the country in the Presidential elections.”

Rivers PDP Chieftain, Dike says party’s guber candidate better than APC’s Cole

By Musa Baba Adamu

Achieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Rivers State, Princewill Dike, has told the governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the state, Tonye Cole, to leave Sim Fubara alone.

Dike, who is the Secretary of the New Media Directorate of the PDP Campaign Council, described the party’s governorship candidate, Siminialayi

Fubara as a man of action.

Dike in a statement on Sunday, reacted to Cole’s invitation to Fubara to address Rivers people on radio or television, promising to foot the bills.

He said “Nothing can be more hilarious, or should we say, ludicrous than that public dramatisation. Must everybody be loquacious? Does speaking on radio or television make a good political leader?”

“Unlike Cole, Fubara is a man of

few words, but action filled. The Great Abraham Lincoln of evergreen memory asserts that ‘actions speak louder than words’. Back home, our own Kongi, Prof. Wole Soyinka in the Lion and the Jewel opines that the strength of the lion is not in its mien but in the tail.”

Dike said instead of chasing shadows, Cole should dissipate his energy explaining how he became a billionaire and furnishing details of how he used his company, Sahara Energy, to purchase

state assets such as the Olympic Hotel [and] the gas turbine among others at the expense of the people.

Dike argued that Fubara remained poles ahead of Cole in popularity explaining that while the APC candidate is an alien, his PDP counterpart is a thoroughbred Rivers man.

He said: “Fubara grew up here, had all his schooling here, worked here, retired here, joined active politics here. A Port Harcourt homeboy, a grassroots fellow.”

Members of Abuja Original Inhabitants Youth Empowerment Organisation AOIYEO olin collaboration with the FCT Admimistration led by their President, Amb. Issac David (left), during the their ongoing PVC collection sensitization campaigns across FCT, yesterday in Gwagwalada area Council Abuja. Photo; AOIYEO

POLITICS

By Christiana Ekpa

President Muhammadu Buhari will today lead the presidential and governorship campaign of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Bauchi, according to a campaign programme released by the secretary of the Presidential Campaign Council, James Faleke.

A statement issued by Director, Media and Publicity, APC Presidential Campaign Council, Bayo Onanuga said Buhari will be at the rally scheduled for 8.30am to 11.30 am.

“The rally will take place earlier than other rallies, as Buhari is also expected in Lagos on Monday to begin a two-day visit.

“In Lagos, he will commission the Lekki Deep Sea Port, a PublicPrivate Partnership (PPP) venture, involving the Federal and Lagos State governments and a private company, Tolaram.

“Buhari will also commission the 32-metric tons per-hour Lagos Rice Mill, one of the largest in the world and the 18.75-kilometer

Yoruba Leader tasks politicians on electioneering promises

By Usman Shuaibu

The Otunba of Yoruba community in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Dr Wasiu Tunwase, has charged Nigeria Politicians who are seeking for political offices to fulfil their campaign promises when elected in 2023 general elections.

He also urged the elected politicians in 2023 to remain committed in providing gains of democracy for the people in the country.

Tunwase gave the charge while speaking with Peoples Daily correspondent to mark the new year celebration in his residence in Zuba, further tasked Nigerians to pray for the nation for peaceful election in 2023.

He then called on the youths to shun any act capable of causing rancor and acrimony in the country during the 2023 election, pointing out that nobody is above the law of the land.

He solicited the co-operation of the traditional rulers to counsel their subjects for the smooth conduct of the 2023 general elections, while advising the parents on moral upbringing of their children in order to shun act of thuggery in the society.

Dr. Tunwase, however, appealed to Yoruba people to come out in 2023 election to vote for the candidates of their choice and described the Yoruba people as peace-loving citizens everywhere they live.

Commenting on the security challenges confronting the country, Otunba asked Nigerians especially the youths to join hands with the security agents to fish out the bad eggs in our communities.

Buhari to rally for Tinubu/ Shettima today in Bauchi

6-lane rigid-pavement Eleko Junction to Epe Expressway.

“He is expected to commission the first phase of the iconic Blue Line on Tuesday, as well as the John Randle Centre for Yoruba Culture and History.

“For the APC, the presidential candidate, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu will take his campaign on Tuesday to Abia state and Ogun

state on Wednesday.

“It will be a busy week of electioneering as the candidate and his running mate, Senator Shettima, will also canvass for votes in Benue and Taraba on Thursday.

“While the Benue rally is billed for between 10 a.m and 1pm, Taraba’s will take place between 2.30pm and 4.30pm.

“The campaign train returns to Abuja on Friday for the launching by the vice-presidential candidate, Kashim Shettima, of the All Farmers Progressive Association and commissioning of tractors for members.

“On the same day, Shettima will hold a Town Hall meeting with Livestock Development Group.

“The APC in its Action Plan

pledges to consolidate on President Buhari’s huge investments in agriculture by setting up commodity exchanges and agricultural hubs in Nigeria’s six geo-political zones.

“Zamfara state, where all the APC tendencies in the state have united, will host the last rally of the week on Saturday in Gusau, the capital”, the statement said.

AMAC Chairman drums support for PDP candidates

By Usman Shuaibu

The Chairman of Abuja Municipal Area Council (AMAC) in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Hon. Christopher Zakka Maikalangu, has charged the women as well as the party supporters to vote for the presidential candidate of PDP, Alhaji Abubakar Atiku in the forthcoming general election this year.

He also urged the women and his

supporters to come out in mass to vote for the senatorial candidate of PDP in the FCT, Hon. Philip Tanimu Aduda as well as the candidate of PDP representing AMAC/Bwari federal constituency at the National Assembly, Hon. Micah Y. Jiba during the polls.

Maikalangu, who gave the charge while addressing the PDP women ward leaders in politics at a meeting held at Apo Resettlement town hall in Abuja on Tuesday.

He assured the women that his administration would not hesitate to put smiles on the faces of the women, and thanked them for their support in all ramifications.

His words: “With the challenges we are facing now, we cannot give up, l am being denied some things, maybe because I am in PDP”.

While fielding questions from newsmen after the occasion, the Chairman frowned at votes buying during the polls.

Maikalangu, however, advised the entire residents of Abuja to shun any act capable of generating tension during the election.

Also speaking, the candidate of PDP representing AMAC/ Bwari federal constituency at the National Assembly, Hon. Micah Y. Jiba said if elected into the House of Representatives for the second term, he would provide purposeful leadership for the people of his constituency.

Enugu State Governor and candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) for Enugu North Senatorial District, Rt. Hon. Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi (2nd left) with the Deputy Governorship Candidate of the PDP, Barr. Ifeanyi Ossai (3rd left), Chairman of Udenu Local Government Area and PDP candidate for Udenu Constituency, Hon. Solomon Onah (left), being cheered by teeming supporters when the governor visited his kinsmen and constituents in Udenu LGA to seek their blessings preparatory to flag off of campaign for the forthcoming elections in the state, yesterday.

2023 presidency: No alternative to Tinubu, Yahaya Bello insists

By Ikechukwu Okaforadi and Christiana Ekpa

The Governor of Kogi, Alhaji Yahaya Bello has said that the Presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress, APC, Asiwaju Ahmed Bola Tinubu remains the most credible presidential candidate, and that there is no alternative to him.

Yahaya Bello spoke as Guest on Channels Television programme on Political matters yesterday.

He also described report of his withdrawal from the APC Presidential campaign as ‘desperate concoction of political jesters’ which should not be taken seriously.

Yahaya Bello, while making case for the emergence of Tinubu also disclosed that Northern governors are ready to deliver

massively for his success in the February presidential election.

Meanwhile, the All Progressives Congress (APC), has denied report that Governor Yahaya Bello of Kogi state has withdrawn his support for Sen.Bola Ahmed Tinubu, the APC Presidential Candidate for the forthcoming general election.

This was made known in a statement made available to newsmen by the National Publicity Secretary, All Progressives Congress (APC), Barr. Felix Morka.

Morka stressed that the publication is a fake news and a figment of imagination of it’s author and sponsors.

He assured that Governor Bello who serves as the National Youth Coordinator of the TinubuShettima Presidential Campaign Council, is a solid, resourceful and committed campaigner for the

Party’s Candidate.

He stated,”Our attention has been drawn to a front page report in Sunday Tribune of today, January 22, 2023, that the Governor of Kogi State and member of the All Progressives Congress (APC) Presidential Campaign Council, His Excellency, Yahaya Bello, has “tactically” withdrawn support for our Presidential candidate, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu over imagined political permutations on the Kogi State Governorship election scheduled for November.

“The story is maliciously false and a figment of the imagination of it’s author and sponsors.

“Governor Yahaya Bello who serves as the National Youth Coordinator of the TinubuShettima Presidential Campaign Council, is a solid, resourceful and committed campaigner for

our Party’s Candidate, leading a massively successful outreach to youth voters across the country.

“This FAKE NEWS, ostensibly intended to float an imagined rift between Governor Yahaya Bello and Honourable James Faleke, Secretary of the APC Presidential Campaign Council, is the desperate and disgraceful conjecture of opposition elements unsettled by our Party’s giant campaign strides. Both loyal Party men are unquestionably committed and working tirelessly for the resounding victory of Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu in next month’s presidential election.”

Morka urged party compatriots and all Nigerians to disregard what they described as fake news.

“We urge our Party compatriots and all Nigerians to disregard this fake news.,” he stated.

POLITICS

Shehu Abubakar, Maiduguri

The New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) in Borno State has complained of the persistent destruction of its campaign structures and attacks on its candidates in the state, allegedly by the governing All Progressives Congress (APC).

“The New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) Borno state chapter finds it highly imperative to draw the attention of the good people of Borno to the dangerous political trends capable of plunging our dear state into wanton violence and disruption of the emergent fragile peace that we have collectively fought for,” the party complained in a statement signed

return Kano to trade and industry hub if electedObi assures electorate

By Musa Baba Adamu

The Presidential Candidate of the Labour Party, Peter Obi and his campaign train arrived at the North’s commercial nerve center, Kano on Sunday, where he assured the people that Kano will regain its old enviable status in trade and industry.

Obi told the jubilant crowd in the ancient city that he drove round Kano before coming to address them and he found all the industries in the City shutdown, promising that if elected in February, he and Datti will restore them.

He said that the trading status of Kano will return and will remain the center of cash, adding “Before, if you want cash, you come to Kano, but what you see today is poverty everywhere. Datti and I will restore the old glory of Kano.

“We will secure and unite Nigeria where people will be proud to say I am a Nigerian. We will kill the sentiments of tribes and religions which they have been using to deceive us.”

The former Anambra Governor told the people amidst shouts of ‘Sai Obi’ that under the Presidency of he and Datti, there will be one Nigeria where the people will be free to move and do their business unmolested.

Obi said that they will be able to do what they are preaching because they have done it in public and private sectors and succeeded, referring to his record in Anambra state where he was governor for eight years and no kobo was missing.

“Datti and I will not allow wastages. We will do exactly what we are saying”, Obi stressed.

He told the people that this election is going to be about character you can trust not people who will come to talk about religion and tribe which they have been using to deceive us.

2023: Borno NNPP alleges APC destroying its campaign structures

by its State Chairman of the party, Barr. Mohammed Mustapha, and circulated to newsmen.

“On Friday, January 20, 2023, the campaign billboards of our Presidential candidate, His Excellency Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, and that of the Borno Central Senatorial candidate, His Excellency Attom Magira Tom, were violently attacked and destroyed in strategic locations across the Maiduguri Metropolis and other major communities within the constituency,” the party said.

“This attack on our campaign structures was coming barely two weeks after similar destruction was

carried out on the same number of billboards,” the party complained further.

“As law-abiding members of a party whose principles have resonated with the electorates, we did not call for counter-violence,” saying, “Instead, we urged our teaming supporters to remain calm and law-abiding while the leadership of NNPP reported the matter to the concerned security agencies.”

The party expressed shock that “The Friday incident of an attack on our billboard was carried out in a coordinated fashion on the night of the very day we replaced our duly authorised billboards.”

The party alleged: “It is even more saddening to note that the APC and its thugs did not only destroy our billboards, but they also went ahead to replace the banners on them with those of some of their own APC candidates, even though we have paid the Borno state government all the required fees for the advertisement permit.”

The party listed some of the locations where its billboards were destroyed within the Maiduguri metropolis alone.

“For the avoidance of doubts, we want the public to fact-check our claims by visiting the WestEnd Roundabout, the Dandal

Police station Roundabout, the Post Office Roundabout, Opposite Metro Police Division, the Adjacent Government College Maiduguri, Adjacent FGC Monguno, Adjacent Umaru Shehu General Hospital, Airport Roundabout, LM Bakery Junction at GidanMadara, Bulunkutu YanNono, Bama Road/Lagos Street Junction, Adjacent UBA along Sir Kashim Road, and host of many other places to verify our claims.”

NNPP alleged further: “We want to kindly remind the general public that this attitude of violence by the APC and its government did not start today.”

Cross River State governor/ Candidate for APC North Senatorial district, Prof Ben Ayade during his campaign tour of the Senatorial district at weekend in Ogoja Township stadium.

Ogun declares holidays for PVC collection ahead of February, March general election

By Christiana Ekpa

The Ogun State Government has declared Tuesday and Wednesday as work-free days for workers in the state public service.

This is to enable them to visit the offices of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) or other designated places to collect their permanent voter’s cards.

According to a statement issued on Sunday by the Chief Press Secretary to the governor, Kunle Somorin, the declaration followed the extension of Permanent Voter Cards collection till Sunday, January 29, 2023 by INEC.

“Governor Dapo Abiodun has

graciously approved two days –Tuesday, 24th and Wednesday, 25th January as work-free days to enable public servants to collect

their PVCs from their respective local government,” Somorin said.

He stated that Gov Abiodun enjoined all heads of public markets

and private establishments in Ogun to allow flexibility in their schedules for residents to have the opportunity to go and get their PVCs.

Lack of grassroots politics affects political development in Nigeria – Sheikh Gumi

By Ikechukwu Okaforadi

AKaduna-based Islamic cleric, Sheikh Ahmad Gumi, has identified lack of grassroots politics as a major problem affecting political development in the country.

According to the Islamic cleric, for grassroots politics to succeed, politicians need to build a strong contact with people at the rural areas in order to carry them along of the

political system in Nigeria.

Receiving the delegation of the Kaduna Governorship candidate of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), led by Isa Mohammed Ashiru, the state gubernatorial candidate of the party in his residence, he opined that there was the need to have connection with the people at the grassroots level for any leader to understand the problems facing the people.

He explained, “Kaduna needs

leadership with the grassroots connection. You don’t govern people on papers, you must have contacts with the grassroots. Lack of grassroots politics is what brought these problems in the country.”

Sheikh Gumi advised the next governor of the state to look at the insecurity in Birnin Gwari and other parts of the state with a view to tackling it for the peaceful coexistence of the citizens.

2023 is time for North to repay Tinubu’s support – Shettima

By Musa Baba Adamu

The vice presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Kashim Shettima said President Muhammadu Buhari would not have been the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria without the support of Bola Tinubu.

Shettima stated this while addressing supporters at the APC presidential rally in Dutse, the capital of Jigawa at the weekend.

He said 2023 is a payback time for the northern part of the country for what the APC

presidential candidate did to the region in the past.

Shettima explained that since 2007, Tinubu has been supporting northerners.

According to him: “Tinubu in 2007 backed Atiku; he also supported Nuhu Ribadu in 2011, and in 2015, if Bola Ahmed Tinubu didn’t support Buhari during the APC presidential primary election, he would have not been the president,” he said.

He said that 2023 is a payback time and northerners must prove that they are promisekeepers.

Shettima said Nigeria needs somebody who has vast experience and can solve all the problems of the country like Tinubu.

He said President Buhari has done remarkably well in the development of the country and Governor Mohammed Badaru Abubakar has also achieved a lot, therefore, they need somebody who will continue from where they stopped.

The APC vice presidential candidate urged the electorate in the state to vote for all APC candidates as a token of appreciation for what the APC administration has achieved in the last seven years.

I’ll

NFIU: Ban on cash withdrawals from public accounts NOT against governors

By Abubakar Yunus Abuja

The Nigerian Financial Intelligence Unit (NFIU) says the proposed plan to ban cash withdrawals from all federal, state, and local government accounts is not against governors.

Modibo Tukur, NFIU directorgeneral, disclosed this to journalists, according to a statement issued by Ahmed Dikko, chief media analyst, on Saturday.

Last month, the NFIU had disclosed the government’s plans to stop cash withdrawals from all public-run bank accounts.

This was later followed by an official directive banning transactions on all government accounts from March 1, 2023, with NFIU gearing for enforcement.

At a recent virtual meeting with Godwin Emefiele, governor, Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Nigeria Governor’s Forum (NGF) said the advisory and guidelines on cash transactions were simply outside the NFIU’s legal remit and mandate.

However, reacting to the NGF statement , Tukur said the plan was not against the governors.

He also said every decision made was to stop challenges in the financial system in the most “progressive manner.”

“First of all, we are ready to partner with the six-man committee they set up. We will enlighten them,” he said.

“Secondly, we acted within our functions and the law. We issued the guidelines to control the barrage of investigations that we saw coming. Our guidelines were meant to help the governors not to fight them or any public servant.”

“We reached a stage that if we allow the present scenario to continue, all public institutions will drift into structured cash withdrawals of certain amounts of money which by law, standards, and best practices, must be investigated continuously which is neither desirable nor reasonable.

“We feel communities must move on by accommodating changes and adjusting to new developments.

“Last time we issued the local government guidelines we were taken to court but we won the case.

“But more importantly, we need to understand that in the recent past, the United States FIU and United Kingdom FIU penalised Nigerian banks with fines of

DisCos blame low power supply in parts of Nigeria on ‘insufficient load allocation’

Electricity distribution companies (DisCos) in the country say customers will experience a reduction in power supply for an indefinite period.

This is contained in separate statements issued on Saturday by Kano, Abuja, and Ikeja electricity distribution companies (KEDCO, AEDC, and IKEDC).

According to the DisCos, the shortage of electricity supply is due to “insufficient load allocation received”.

“We apologise for the current poor power supply you have been experiencing in certain parts of our network lately. This is due to the inadequate allocation received, hence

the load shedding,” IKEDC said.

“We regret the inconvenience this has caused and wish to assure that we are engaging the responsible stakeholders in the electricity value chain to improve the situation.”

Also speaking on the issue, KEDCO said the load allocation had constantly reduced, and therefore, became inadequate to supply all customers.

“This is to kindly inform our esteemed customers that the low power supply currently being experienced across our franchise is due to low power generation nationwide,” it said.

“Consequently, the load allocation to KEDCO has drastically reduced and is barely adequate to supply all

our customers sufficiently, thus the massive load shedding.

“We reassure our esteemed customers of our uninhibited commitment to providing quality electricity supply as soon as generation and allocation from Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) improves.

“We sincerely apologise for all inconveniences resulting from this regrettable development.”

Peoples Daily understands that the load allocation is received by the DisCos from the generation companies (GenCos).

The load allocation formula is contained in the multi year tariff order (MYTO), which guides the power sector.

Under the MYTO load allocation,

the DisCos in Nigeria share the total volume of power generated by the GenCos on a ratio based on their customer base.

It was also observed that the ‘insufficient load allocation’ being reported by DisCos had persisted for two weeks as the Port Harcourt electricity distribution company (PHED) had notified customers of low power supply in a statement dated January 14, 2023.

However, PHED blamed the decline in supply on “constrains on the grid”.

Meanwhile, some of the distribution and generation companies did not respond when TheCable contacted them for comments on the matter.

Emir of Hadejia urges CBN to increase banks working hours

By our correspondent

The emir of Hadejia Alhaji Alhaji Adamu Abubakar Maje, has urged Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) to increase working hours of Banks with a view to allow people deposites their old currency notes.

Maje made the call during a town hall meeting with to him by the CBN officials in his palace Hadejia, Jigawa state on Friday.

The emir who was represented by the senior councilor of his palace and Galadima Hadejia, Alhaji AbdulAziz Zakari commended the effort of CBN for enlighten people on the importance of naira redesign.

Maje said ‘banks don’t put new currency in ATM point in Hadejia and the time is expiring’, “ CBN should address banks to immediately

comply to the policy by given out new currency”.

He then urged the general public to take their old N200, N500, and N1000 notes to bank or POS and get the new ones before January 31st 2023 to avoid lost.

On her part, director human resources of CBN, Hajiya Amina Habib, said the benefits of the currency redesigned to Nigerian economy are enormous given that; “ this policy will help to control inflation as the exercise will bring the hoarding currency into the banking system, thereby making monetary policy more effective”

“It will also help with better designed and implementation of monetary policy as we would have much more accurate data on money supply and monetary aggregate”

“ We believe that this exercise would help in increasing financial inclusion, moving towards a more cashless economy, and ensuring greater formalization of the Nigerian economy” .

The head development finance department of the Apex Bank, Mr. Abdu Amadu at ‘yanleman of Kaugama local government during the enlightenment told the worshippers of the Yalleman Tijjanai Friday Mosque danger of any delay in depositing an old currency in their custody.

Mr Abdu Amadu asked the public to patronize bank share agents and Point Of Sales (POS) and other means provide and certified by the central bank.

“Today is 20th, it’s remains only 11 days from today, so the time is very

limited considering the importance and urgency needed to avoid any lost of their moneys”.

He said the federal government is serious about the deadline, there is no intention of any extension as directed by Mr President.

The central bank team earlier met with the Point Of Sales (POS) operators and sensitized them of and extra responsibilities for opening bank account and depositing moneys to the people and customers.

The head of finance department appealed to those has no bank account to do so without further delay, “that would give good opportunities for so many economic and social government interventions”.

“Part of the reasons for the redesign currency is to recieved back currency. For your information

Stakeholders urge Police to not exit contributory pension scheme

By Abubakar Yunus Abuja

ANon-Governmental Organization (NGO), Contributory Pension and Happy Retirement Advocacy (COPEHRA) has said that the grievances of the police force with regards to Contributory Pension Scheme (CPS) can be resolved within the system.

This was the submission of COPEHRA at a public hearing on Police Pension Board (Establishment) Bill, 2022 (Sb 1009) and Nigeria Police Special Forces (Establishment) Bill, 2022 (Sb 846) held by the Senate committee on Police Affairs yesterday.

The bill, which was jointly sponsored by Senators Ishaku Abbo, representing Adamawa North and Mohammed Ali Ndume, Borno South is seeking the establishment of a Police Pension Board that will serve as an exit plan for the Nigeria Police Force from the Contributory Pension Scheme and, establishment of Nigeria Police Special Forces for training of police officers.

Member of COPEHRA) Project

Advisory Team, Mahmud Ayinla while making the presentation said all the grievances of the police can be corrected within the current contributory pension scheme.

He said one of the grievances of the police is the poor monthly pension of a corresponding officer grade in CPS. He maintained that this only calls for the government to increase the funding of the Retirement Savings Account (RSA), not to take over the whole pension payment including its administration.

Stating why the police should not be allowed to exit, he cited global best practice, issues of unfunded pension liabilities; statutory government disbursements /deliverables; sustainability and cost of governance.

Ayinla explained that ever since the global crisis in pension management, which is majorly funding, Latin America has led in policy reforms that has had their pensions management and administration switch from the pay-as-you-go / Defined Benefit System to the contributory pension schemes (CPS) where, in typical cases, worker

and employer partly contribute to a fund to be invested in relevant mix of portfolio of assets.

Consequently, he said, the divergence in pension administration from it being the sole responsibility of the Government or employer to a joint contributing system (Retirement Savings Account – RSA) has been met with an increase in patronage and adoption world over, be it in the private or public service.

Speaking on issues of unfunded pension liabilities, statutory government disbursements or deliverables, he noted that currently, the Government is saddled with heavy recurrent statutory expenditures as well as providing funding for necessary and important capital projects.

He said: “Currently, the Government is saddled with heavy recurrent statutory expenditures as well as providing funding for necessary and important capital projects. A 3–year review of our country’s budget performance has shown that a large chunk of the budget is dependent on

borrowed funds by virtue of rising budget deficits..

On sustainability and cost of governance, he said there is no sustainability in budgeting for a monthly pension, adding that the Sustainability of a non- terminal pension scheme such as the defined benefit scheme in the midst of the various modern challenges in a developing country like Nigeria is simply non-existent.

“The Government is always finding ways to cut down cost of governance, overhead and recurrent expenditures in a bid to provide more for capital and developmental programs and projects. Incurring a life-long recurrent pension liability with increasing funding by the year is of no benefit to the economic viability of the nation as it also incurs its associated administrative costs.”

He further stated that DBS, which is where the police want to be, comes with the risk of fraud, corruption and lack of transparency as the government continually budgeted monies with no corresponding reduction in pension liabilities.

Abubakar Yunus Abuja

BU$IN€SS

Amidst scarcity Nigerian govt denies increasing petroleum pump price

By Abubakar Yunus Abuja

The Nigerian government on Friday said it has not approved any increase in the pump prices of petrol across the country.

The Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Timipre Sylva, disclosed this in a statement issued by his senior adviser on media and communication, Horatius Egua.

Mr Sylva spoke as Nigeria continue to queue for fuel in filling stations amidst reports of increase in the pump price of petroleum products.

Mr Sylva claimed that President Muhammadu Buhari has not approved any increase in the price of PMS or any other petroleum product.

“There is no reason for President Muhammadu Buhari to renege on his earlier promise not to approve any increase in the price of petroleum motor spirit (PMS) at this time,” the minister was quoted as saying.

According to him, the president is sensitive to the plight of the Nigerians, and has said repeatedly that he understands their challenges, and would not want to cause untold hardship for the people.

A Guardian report said Thursday that the Nigerian government quietly approved ₦185 as the new petrol pump price per litre. The newspaper reported that the approved pump price was communicated to major marketers in a memo early Thursday.

But Mr Sylva on Friday claimed that the government will not approve any increase of PMS secretly without due consultations with the relevant stakeholders.

“The President has not directed the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority or any agency for that matter to increase the price of fuel.

“This is not the time for any increase in the pump price of PMS,” he said.

He noted that what was playing out was the handiwork of “mischief makers and those planning to discredit the achievements of the president in the oil and gas sector of the economy.”

Banks to pay N1m fine daily over failure to collect redesigned Naira notes, says CBN

By Abubakar Yunus Abuja

The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) said any commercial bank that fails to pick up the new naira notes for distribution will be fined N1 million daily.

Adeleke Adelokun, a deputy director at CBN, made this known while sensitising traders on the need to embrace the new currency and return old ones to banks, at Ayegbaju International Market in Osogbo, the Osun state capital, on Friday.

Two weeks ago, the CBN ordered banks to halt dispensing the new currency notes over the counter, and only make them available via automated teller machines (ATMs).

It further threatened to penalise commercial banks who fail to comply with the directive of loading the redesigned naira notes in their ATMs.

Speaking with the traders, Adelokun said the apex bank had printed enough naira notes but observed that commercial banks were not collecting them.

“As at today, CBN has printed enough new naira notes of N200, N500 and N1,000,” NAN quoted the CBN official as saying.

“But, what we discovered was that most of the banks that are supposed to collect the new notes have not collected them. So, we have put a sanction on the banks.

“Any bank that fails to collect

the new notes from CBN will pay N1 million as sanction per box, per day and the amount they are to pay now will depend on the number of days they have not collected the notes.

“We also mandated the banks to put new naira notes in their ATMs all over Nigeria so that Nigerians will have access to the new naira notes.”

Adelokun said the CBN team from Abuja, which had been in Osun since Wednesday, had been going round commercial banks in the state, meeting with their officials to ensure that they were paying out the new naira notes to customers.

He said the team was at Ayegbaju market to sensitise traders on the newly-redesigned

naira notes, the eNaira app, as well as how they can subscribe to it for their business transactions.

In her remarks, Daphne Madojemu, CBN branch controller in Osun, said currency management had faced several challenges, hence the need for the redesign of the naira notes.

Madojemu explained that the exercise would bring the hoarded currency into the banking system, thereby making monetary policy more effective.

“The currency redesign would assist in the fight against corruption as the exercise would rein in the higher denomination used for corruption, and the movement of such funds from the banking system could be tracked easily,” she added.

MTN set to allot incentive shares to eligible shareholders

By Abubakar Yunusa,Abuja

MTN Nigeria Communications Plc is on track to allot incentive shares to investors who partook in its initial public offering completed last January and met the conditions entitling them to additional shares, the telecom company said in a statement Saturday.

The local unit of Johannesburg-based MTN Group Limited concluded its first public shares sale a year ago, an offer 139.5 per cent oversubscribed necessitating allocation of extra 86.3 million

shares.

It had set out to sell 575 million ordinary shares then held by MTN International (Mauritius) Limited but ended up allotting 661.3 million to retail and institutional investors, the latter category of investors comprising pension funds, asset managers, insurance firms, corporates and foreign portfolio investors who participated in the bookbuild.

As it promised investors at the point of the public offer launch, MTN said it will allot the shareholders one additional share for every 20 purchased

and allotted up to a maximum of 250 shares.

Meanwhile, eligible shareholders must have bought and were allotted at least 20 ordinary shares in the offer, the statement said.

Additionally, they must hold a portion or all of the shares allotted to them from the offer as of 31 January, 2023 (the qualification date) subject to holding a minimum of 20 ordinary shares.

The telecom company added that the shareholders must have their names appear in the company’s register of members on the qualification date.

“Qualified shareholders will have their incentive shares credited to their CSCS accounts after the qualification date and obtaining the requisite regulatory approvals,” the document said.

The offer saw 114,938 new CSCS accounts opened for representing new market participants, with roughly 76 per cent of successful applicants via digital platforms being women and 85 per cent below the age of 40.

MTN is currently Nigeria’s second biggest company by market value with a market capitalisation of N4.7 trillion.

Chief of the Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Awwal Gambo and the Managing Director, Nigerian Ports Authority, (NPA) Mohammed Bello-Koko during the signing of MoU between the Nigerian Navy and the NPA at the Naval Headquarters in Abuja at the weekend.. Photo: DINFO

BU$IN€SS

Nigeria governors forum denies opposing naira redesign

By Abubakar Yunusa, Abuja

The Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF), says it is not opposed to the Naira redesign policy currently being implemented by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN). The body of the country's 36 State Governors made this known in a communique issued by its interim Chairman, Aminu Tambuwal of Sokoto State. The NGF said the forum received a briefing from CBN Governor, Godwin Emefiele on the Naira redesign policy, its economic and security implications.

It will be recalled that on October 26, 2022 Emefiele, announced the CBN's plan to redesign the Naira in order to control the money supply and aid security agencies in tackling illicit financial flows.

The CBN governor had explained that the introduction of new notes was a deliberate step by the government to check corruption and counterfeiting of the notes. The NGF has however clarified its position on the policy it was not opposed to the objectives of the Naira redesign policy.

The NGF said: “However, we observe that there are huge challenges that remain problematic to the Nigerian populace. In the circumstances, governors expressed the need for the CBN to consider the peculiarities of states especially as they pertain to financial inclusion and under-served locations and resolved to:

“NGF will work closely with the CBN leadership to ameliorate areas that require policy variation particularly the poorest households, the vulnerable in society, and several other citizens of our country that are excluded.

“NGF will collaborate with the CBN and the Nigerian Financial Intelligence Unit (NFIU) in advancing genuine objectives within the confines of our laws, noting that the recent NFIU Advisory and Guidelines on cash transactions were simply outside the NFIU’s legal remit and mandate.

“Finally NGF has set up a sixmember Committee to be chaired by the governor of Anambra state, Charles Soludo, and the governors of the following states: Akwa Ibom, Ogun, Borno,

CBN launches cash swap programme in all LGAs

By Abubakar Yunus Abuja

The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) in partnership with super agents and deposit money banks (DMBs) have launched a cash swap Programme all 774 local government area in Nigeria

The apex bank said this in a circular , jointly signed by Haruna Mustafa, director, banking supervision department; and Musa Jimoh, director, payments system department.

The circular was addressed to all DMBs, mobile money operators (MMOs), super agents and agents.

Super agents are companies licensed by the CBN to recruit agents for the purpose of agency banking.

The CBN said the cash swap

programme will be effective from Monday, January 23, 2022.

It said the initiative is aimed at enabling citizens in rural areas or those with limited access to formal financial services to exchange old naira notes for redesigned notes.

The old notes are expected to be out of circulation by January 31.

“The old N1000, N500, N200 notes can be exchanged for the newly redesigned notes and/or the existing lower denominations (N100, N50 and N20, etc) which remain legal tender,” the circular reads.

“The agent shall exchange a maximum of N10,000 per person. Amounts above N10,000 may be treated as cash-in deposit into wallets or bank accounts in line with the cashless policy. BVN, NIN, or Voter’s card details of the

customers should be captured as much as possible.”

To promote financial inclusion, the CBN said the service is also available to anybody without a bank account.

It said agents may, on request, instantly open a wallet or account, leveraging the CBN tiered know your customer (KYC) framework.

This, according to bank, will ensure that this category of the populace (unbanked citizens) are able to exchange or deposit their cash seamlessly without taking unnecessary risk or incurring undue cost.

CBN also directed agents to sensitise customers on opening wallets/bank accounts and the various channels for conducting electronic transactions.

“Designated agents are eligible to collect the redesigned

notes from DMBs in line with the revised cash withdrawal limit policy,” the circular adds.

“Agents are also permitted to charge cash-out fees for the cash swap transactions but prohibited from charging any further commissions to customers for this service.

“Agents shall render weekly returns to their designated banks regarding the cash swap transactions. DMBs shall in turn render same to the CBN on a weekly basis.

“Principals (super sgents, MMOs, DMBs) shall be held accountable for their agents adherence to the above guidelines.”

CBN said cash swap agents would be readily identifiable in all local governments, particularly those in the rural areas.

Average retail price of petrol up 24.38% in December – NBS

By Abubakar Yunusa,Abuja

The average retail price paid by consumers for petrol rose by 24.38 per cent in December, the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) has said.

The bureau said this in its “Premium Motor Spirit (Petrol) Price Watch” for December 2022 released on Saturday.

The NBS said the average retail price paid by consumers for petrol for December 2022 was N206.19 per litre, indicating a 24.38 per cent increase when compared to the value recorded in December 2021 (N165.77).

The bureau also said that comparing the average price value with the previous month (.i.e. November 2022), the average retail price increased by 1.83 per cent from N202.48.

Meanwhile, the report said the highest average retail price for petrol was recorded in Gombe State at N218.89, followed by Kwara with N216.36 and Kogi at N216.00.

On the other hand, it said the lowest average retail price for petrol was recorded in Ebonyi with N195.83, followed by Abuja with N196.00 and Bayelsa with N196.14.

The NBS said that the highest average retail price was recorded in the North-east at N209.64, while the South-South had the lowest at N200.02.

In its Automotive Gas Oil (diesel) Price Watch report for December 2022, the NBS said the average retail price of diesel paid by consumers was N817.86 per litre, an increase of 182.64 per cent from N289.37 per litre recorded in the corresponding month of the previous year.

On a month-on-month basis, the NBS said this increased by 1.11 per cent from N808.87 per litre reported in November

2022.

The report noted that the highest average price for diesel in December 2022 was recorded in Ebonyi at N869.25, followed by Bauchi at N860.00, and Ondo at N856.36.

It said the lowest price was recorded in Akwa Ibom with N773.75, followed by Benue with N777.50 and Borno with N785.00.

“Furthermore, analysis by zone showed that the SouthWest had the highest price at N841.35, while the South-South recorded the lowest price at N798.54,” it said.

Why fuel scarcity persists across Nigeria — Marketers

Abubakar Yunus Abuja

The Major Oil Marketers Association of Nigeria, (MOMAN), has attributed the lingering fuel scarcity in the country to high costs of vessels and inadequate trucks to deliver petroleum products from depots to filling stations across Nigeria.

The marketers explained that these high logistics and exchange rate costs continue to put pressure on their operations with ripple effects on the pump price.

In a statement , the marketers said the fuel queues are caused by exceptionally high demand and bottlenecks in the fuel distribution chain.

“The major cause is the shortage and high (US Dollar) costs of daughter’s vessels for ferrying product from mother vessels to depots along the

coast,” it said.

“Next is the inadequate number of trucks to meet the demand to deliver products from depots to filling stations nationwide.”

MOMAN said it sympathises with Nigerians over the challenges they are facing in the purchase of petrol at filling stations across the country.

Over the past three months, it said its staff members have worked diligently at depots and filling stations to relieve the stress faced by Nigerians through the Christmas and New year periods.

“Our members have again agreed to extend depot loading hours as well as keep strategically situated service stations open for longer hours to ease access to fuels for our customers,” the association said.

It noted that it shall continue

to use its best endeavours to ensure that product is sold at the pump at prices currently approved by the regulatory authorities, despite pressure on price by demand and costs in immediate operating environment.

“A final resolution to these challenges will be the full deregulation of the petroleum downstream sector to encourage liberalisation of supply and longterm investments in distribution assets. We urge the government to work towards this end goal,” it said.

In recent months, especially since the government announced plans to remove fuel subsidies, Nigerians have had a hard time getting petroleum products at filling stations.

The scarcity has persisted despite the government’s repeated claims it had enough

petroleum products in stock. In many parts of the country, operators of filling stations sold at prices higher than the government’s pump price.

The Nigerian government Friday night said it has not approved any increase in the pump prices of petrol across the country.

The Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Timipre Sylva, made this disclosure even as Nigerians continue to queue for fuel in filling stations amidst reports of increase in the pump price of petroleum products.

Earlier on Thursday, reports claimed that the government quietly approved ₦185 as the new petrol pump price per litre.

But Mr Sylva claimed that President Muhammadu Buhari did not approve any increase in the price of PMS or any other petroleum product.

METRO

Dry season farming: ARDS unveils irrigation scheme committee

By Stanley Onyekwere

In furtherance to measures targeted at boosting Agricultural Production in Abuja, the nation’s capital city, the Secretary for FCT Agriculture & Rural Development (ARDS), Mallam Abubakar Ibrahim has set up an Inter-Departmental Committee on irrigation, aimed at supporting farming activities during the dry season.

Abubakar explained that the objective of setting up the

Committee was to look into ways that FCT Administration can support more farmers engage in all season farming, not only during the dry season.

He added that the Committee will need to conduct a geographic assessment of the FCT, in order to recommend support strategies through improvement of the irrigation systems

The ARDS boss in a statement from the Deputy Director, Information & Communications at the Secretariat, Zakari Aliyu,

disclosed that constitution of the Committee was an outcome of the Management meeting where he stressed the need for farmers to be encouraged to engage in farming during the dry season.

He opined that with the rising cost of food items and growing population farming during the dry season will help not only bolster food production but make the prices more affordable for residents.

According to him, the FCT Administration has approved the

procurement of some critical farm inputs such as Agro-chemicals as well as water pumping machines which will be sold to FCT farmers at 50% subsidized rates.

He adds: “Our plan is to distribute some of the inputs we have procured during this dry season in February while we prepare for a major support for farmers on time before the commencement of rain in March.”

Furthermore, the Secretary opined that the Committee he noted will be supported by

the expertise of Agricultural engineers to ensure that the intervention of the Secretariat will meet required standards for durability and effective utilisation.

He therefore, charged the Committee to explore partnership with investors to support to initiative.

“The Committee, which is chaired by the Secretary, consists of membership from the technical departments of the Secretariat”, the statement added.

Permanent Secretary, FCTA, Mr Olusade Adesola (5th left) flanked by FCT INEC REC, alh. Yahaya Bello (4th left) and Executive Secretary, FCDA, Engr Shehu Had Ahmed (6th left) and other senior officials of the FCTA and INEC during the REC’s visit to the FCTA. Abuja at weekend

2023 Elections: FCT Minister declares support for INEC

By Stanley Onyekwere

Minister of the FCT, Malam Muhammad Musa Bello has pledged the support of the FCT Administration to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) for the successful conduct of the 2023 elections in the nation’s capital.

Bello declared this support when a delegation from the FCT Independent National Electoral Commission led by the FCT Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) Alh. Yahaya Bello paid a courtesy visit to the FCTA.

The Minister, who was represented by the FCTA Permanent Secretary, Mr Olusade Adesola, opined that the FCT Administration and the FCT INEC have enjoyed a worthwhile working relationship and thanked the REC for the public acknowledgement of the support the FCT Administration had rendered to the Commission.

While thanking the Commission for the preparations made so far for the conduct of the elections, he said the FCT had also made efforts at sensitising members of the public on the collection of their Permanent Voters Cards (PVCs).

Accorfing to him: “I want to believe that

the FCT is among the States with a very low uncollected PVC, but we still believe that much can be done. We want a situation where hundreds of PVCs will be collected so that, nobody would say it is because I did not get my PVC, that’s why I did not vote.

“That is why we empowered the Special Assistant to the Hon. Minister to start ward to ward sensitisation in the FCT to engage the people so that everybody can collect their PVCs and get ready for the election”.

The Minister also noted that remarks from the REC that INEC was fully prepared for the election lends credence to the commitment of President Muhammadu Buhari that he will bequeath to Nigeria, a very credible and transparent election.

He equally commended the FCT INEC for its overall efforts in ensuring the success of the 2023 elections, adding that “We want to thank you for all the arrangements that have been put in place and more importantly, thank FCT INEC under your watch for giving great support to the National INEC to ensure that the conduct of election in FCT is done with precision”.

Speaking earlier, the FCT REC, Yahaya Bello, said the INEC delegation was at the FCTA to acquaint the FCT Minister on the

level of preparedness of the FCT INEC for the 2023 elections and also to thank the Minister for the support granted to the Commission so far.

He said: “One of the reasons we are here is to express our appreciation and gratitude to the Hon. Minister and the Ministry, especially when we conducted our continuing voters registration exercise.

“We had received all the cooperation that we needed from the Hon. Minister and the Ministry in the conduct of the exercise, in terms of venue and everything”.

He was particularly appreciative of the Minister’s approval for the use of the Old Parade Ground for the continuing voters’ registration exercise.

“The Minister and the Ministry graciously, not only availed us the use of the Old Parade Ground but shouldered the responsibility of maintaining law and order and security during the days that we used it to conduct continuing voters registration exercise.

“In fact, without that gesture, so many other people would not have been in a position to have participated in the programme and collect their PVCs”, he added.

While assuring the FCT Minister of the preparedness of INEC to successfully

hold the elections, the FCT REC reiterated that the under performance of the BVAS machine during the FCT Area Council elections had led to improvements being made on the equipment.

“The non-performance of the BVAS as we expected has resulted in a lot of improvement of the machinery itself, which was very amply demonstrated when we conducted other separate elections after the FCT.

“We went to Ondo, we went to Ekiti, we went to Anambra State and we went to Osun State. I will say that I was opportune to have gone to these three States as a supporting REC and I witnessed the performance of the BVAS as against what transpired during the FCT elections, and I want to assure you that this time around, the Presidential elections, the BVAS will perform very well in the FCT”, he stressed.

Also present during the courtesy visit were the Chief of Staff to the Minister, Malam Bashir Mai Bornu, the Executive secretary, FCDA Engr Shehu Hadi Ahmed, SSA on Security to the Minister Amb. Abu Muhammed, Director of Security Services, FCTA, Mr Adamu Gwary, FCT INEC Administrative secretary, Mr Godwin Wada Edibo and other senior officials of the FCTA and INEC.

Transportation minister support NPA’s staff welfare initiative

By Albert Akota

Minister of Transportation, Mu’azu Jaji Sambo has pledged the support of the Ministry of Transportation to the Nigerian Ports Authority on its initiatives on staff welfare.

Sambo made the pledge at the 2022 Year Long Service/Merit Award of the Nigerian Ports

Gombe NNPP gubernatorial candidate task supporters to vote credible leaders

From David Hassan, Gombe

The gubernatorial candidate of the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) in Gombe state Hon. Khamisu Mailantarki has called on his supporters not to relent in voting credible leaders in the forthcoming general elections.

He made the appeal at the weekend in Billiri while flagging off his campaign.

Mailantarki while addressing the crowd, assured them that if elected into office, his administration will do as much as possible to change the narrative of the state.

He said in the recent times, the state has witnessed bad governance and that something has to be done to ensure that people benefit from the dividend of democracy.

According to him, the campaign promises that was made by the present administration to the people has failed.

Authority.

The Minister further congratulated awardees and the entire workers of the NPA for their teamwork and contributions to the successes being recorded.

“Let me pledge to you all that the Ministry under my watch will continue to provide unflinching support for all initiatives of the Authority’s management geared towards the promotion of staff welfare.

“As someone that loves to identify with human virtues, I was highly elated when I received the invitation from the Management of the Nigerian Ports Authority to be part of this noble effort.

“Today, we celebrate employees who have dedicated twenty years of their lives to the service of Nigeria through the Authority for twenty years and those in the merit category who

have accomplished exceptional feats through uncommon dutifulness,” he said.

Sambo recalled that he had during his maiden visit to NPA, commended the Managing Director for his performance and was glad that he had not relented in his efforts, especially in the aspect of staff welfare.

“In my maiden visit to the Authority upon appointment as Minister of Transportation,

whilst, I had commended the Managing Director for the unprecedented performance in revenue generation and remittance.

“He had solicited my backing and support to fast track the processes and procedures necessary for the implementation of staff salary increase which I immediately acceded to, and today I am delighted it has been achieved,” he said.

Bishop warns Clerics against partisan politics

From:

Femi Oyelola, Kaduna

Bishop Timothy Yahaya of Anglican communion, Kaduna Diocese has warned Nigerian clerics against using the altar to preach partisan politics.

He gave the warning yesterday in Kaduna during the installation of venerable Joseph Dele Olorunfemi as the Provost of the Cathedral.

According to him, it was wrong for men who are called to serve in the vineyard of the Lord to use the altar to preach partisan politics, adding that they should maintain neutrality when it comes to partisan politics, but rather tell the politicians the truth as expected.

Bishop who fumes about the ways some clerical are careless through their actions and words

said they should remember that there is certainly a day of Judgment.

He advised the new Provost to shun all forms of being spiritually ignorant, saying it It is worst for a him to be spiritually ignorant because it will not only affect him and his family but also the Church.

Admonishing him to diligently seek God’s face, discern the devices of the Devil

and teach the wisdom of men.

Speaking after his installation, the New Provost Joseph Dele Olorufemi thanks the Bishop and entire members of the Diocese for the confidence implores in him.

Olorufemi promised not to let them down with the help of God, saying prayers and submission to those God has placed above him would be his cardinal point.

CBN urges Jigawa marketers to comply with 31st January order

From Mika’il Tsoho, Dutse

The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), has urged the marketers and stakeholders in Jigawa state to comply with January 31st order as final day of using old N1000, N500 and N200 bank notes.

The call was made by the CBN Dutse area controller, Hajiya Sa’adatu Ibrahim Amin during the stakeholders sensitization at Dutse ultramordern market in the state capital.

She explained that, currency management as a key function

of the Central Bank of Nigeria recieved directive from president Muhammadu Buhari to redesign denominations of N1000, N500, and N200 which was unveiled on November 23,2022.

According to her, in recent times the currency management

in Nigeria has faced several challenges by members of the public, including hoarding bank with statistics showing that N2.72 trillion out of the N3.26 trillion currency in circulation.

Mrs Ibrahim added that, the redesignation of new notes will also adress the challenges of

worsen shortages of clean and fit banknotes and increase risk to financial stability.

She maintained that, it would reduce risk of counterfeiting and increase evidences for security reports received at the Central Bank of Nigeria.

L-R: Immediate Past President, Ijebu-Ode Grammar School Old Boys Association (JOGSOBA),Engr. Ebenezer Osoba; National president, JOGSOBA, Prof. Olabosipo Adekoya; Representative of MD, BoI/Tech Hub & CSR Prog. Coordinator, Mr Oluwaseun Tubi; and National Vice President, Otunba Kunle Bolujoko, during the opening ceremony of Bank of Industry (BoI) funded JOGSOBA centenary Complex, held in ijebu-Ode, Ogun state.

UNICEF, WHO, pledges continued support to Kaduna on maternal, child health

From: Femi Oyelola, Kaduna

The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), World Health Organisation (WHO) and other development partners have pledged continued support to Kaduna state Government to improve maternal and child health as well as nutrition status in the state.

The other partners included the Society for Family Health (SFH) and Civil Society-Scaling Up Nutrition in Nigeria (CS-SUNN).

The development partners made the pledge yesterday in Kaduna during the dissemination of November 2022 Maternal Newborn and Child Health (MNCH) Week Report, organised by the State Primary Health Care Board (SPHCB).

Mr Donald Burgess, Chief of Field Office, UNICEF Kaduna, commended the Kaduna State Government for taking ownership of the MNCH Week.

Burgess added that the state was doing very well in implementing the bi-annual programme, considering the huge number of pregnant mothers and children reached with different critical services during the week.

“The good thing is that the state is reviewing its performance to determine the challenges, lessons learned and how they can improvise.

“This is very helpful, and it shows that the state is proactive.

“UNICEF is one of the key partners supporting the effort and will continue to provide Vitamin A supplement and deworming tablets to improve nutrition indices among women and children in the state.

“This is one of the core areas where UNICEF is working in collaboration with the state government, and I think the collaboration is good and we will continue to provide the needed support,” he said.

Dr Umeh Gregory, Assistant Public Health Officer, WHO Kaduna, who also pledged the organisation’s continued support, said the biannual event was increasing the uptake of health and nutrition services.

Gregory commended the SPHCB for disseminating the report to relevant agencies and partners and urged the government to make the event regular to share opportunities, knowledge, and best practices.

“We are on ground to support the MNCH Week activities particularly at local government level. If there are gaps, let us know so that we can fill such gaps,” he said.

Similarly, Mr Muhammad Ibrahim, Project Director, SFH/ Accelerating Nutrition Results in Nigeria (ANRiN), said that SFH was providing integrated basic nutrition and adolescent health services at community level under the ANRiN project.

Ibrahim pledged continued partnership with the state

government for the success of the MNCH week and support at community level to ensure that the target populations were reached with the needed services.

On her part, Hajiya Fatima Mohammed, Adolescents, Sexual and Reproductive Health Specialist, SFH/Lafiya programme, stressed the need to strengthen health promotion and community mobilisation for improved coverage during the MNCH Week.

Mrs Chinwe Ezeife, Nutrition Specialist, UNICEF Kaduna, also noted the need for active participation of Local Government Chairmen in the provision of commodities, logistics and community mobilisation.

Ezeife commended the consistency in organising the event, adding however, that much was need to be done in the screening of children for malnutrition and community mobilisation to achieve better results.

The Coordinator of CS-SUNN in the state, Ms Jessica Bartholomew, said that the MNCH week was very important to addressing the problem of malnutrition in communities.

Bartholomew pointed out that the dissemination of the MNCH report was vital, adding that it would strengthen collaboration and partnership for better results in the next round of events scheduled for May 2023.

Dr Hamza Abubakar, Executive

Secretary, SPHCB, said that planning for the next round of MNCH Week coming up in May should begin immediately at the Zonal level.

Abubakar, who was represented by Malam Hamza Ikara, Director, Diseases Prevention and Control in the board, called for proactive steps to addressing the high number of malnourished children identified during the week.

The MNCH Week is a week-long event organised by the SPHCB in collaboration with other government agencies and development partners.

The event is designed to deliver an integrated package of highly cost-effective and curative services and interventions to strengthen the routine services being provided at

Primary Health Care centres.

Presenting the November 2022 MNCH Week Report, Mr Usman Garba, acting Deputy Director, Monitoring and Evaluation, SPHCB, said that the event recorded impressive performance in Vitamin A supplementation to children six to 59 months.

Garba added that deworming and iron folate recorded 43 and 41 per cent performances respectively, health promotion activities recorded 32 per cent, while birth registration recorded only two per cent.

He added that screening for malnutrition also showed a disturbing number of children less than five years found with severe acute malnutrition.

Minister of works and Housing, Babatunde Raji Fashola (middle) flanked by the Executive Secretary, Federal Government Stàff Housing Loans Board (FGHLB), Alh. Ibrahim Mairiga (right) and the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, Dr. Folasade YemiEsan (left) with other stakeholders, during the Ground Breaking Ceremony of the Federal Integrated Staff Housing (FISH) programme Housing Estate, in Gwagwalada Àbuja.

Kano guber race: Why i’ll suspend preaching if elected - Sheikh Ibrahim

From Mustapha Adamu, Kano

Afamous Islamic scholar and governoship candidate of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) in Kano state, Sheikh Ibrahim Khali has said that if elected as the governor, he will suspend all his preaching sessions to concentrate on governance.

He stated this during a 2023 Dialogue Series, organized by the Kano Correspondents’ Chapel of the Nigerian Union of Journalists, NUJ, in Kano on Friday.

For over two decades, Sheikh Khalil has been going preaching sessions at various schools and even radio and Television in Kano and beyond.

However, while responding to a question by a journalist at the interactive session, Sheikh Khalil said he would suspend all his preaching schools if elected as governor.

According to him, governance

is more important than breaching because it is an opportunity to serve humanity.

“It is not going to be possible to combine preaching with running a government as a governor. You can only do something that you think is doable.

“Being a governor is more important than preachings because i preaching, not everybody will listen to you and benefit from it. However, leadership will impact and benefit everybody,” he said.

The ADC gubernatorial candidate also pledged good and quality leadership that will translate into living a good life, if elected as the governor of the state.

He said, he also aims to give priority to improving economy, agriculture and health sectors of the state, adding that he would entrench rule of law as well as fight corruption.

“The reason why i want to contest and become the Governor of Kano state is because I want to make

sure that the life of our people is improved.

“Our people need good leadership and they need somebody who will take care of them properly and who is not corrupt. Corruption drains resources meant for the people. It brings disgrace to the state and the country.

“So people are looking for someone who can help thier lives. I’m contesting because I want to make sure people of Kano state have a good life.

“90 percent of our problems including corruption emerge from disregard to law and order. Disobedience to law amd order stalls development and progress. If people obey law and order most of our problems will be solved including corruption,” he said.

On his chances of winning the election amidst political gladiators in the state like Rabiu Kwankwaso of NNPP, Ibrahim Shekarau of PDP and Abdullahi Gandujeb of APC and

their Governorship candidates, Khali expressed optimism of winning the election, stressing that Kano people are tired of them and their candidates because of their weaknesses.

“I’m very confident that I will win because Kano people are looking for the right person to lead them and I’m sure I am the right person.

“I am not afraid of them and their candidates because I know their weaknesses. They lacked the required leadership capacity.

“You can see their weaknesses in the way they dumped each others projects when they became governors in the state and shattered continuity that affected development in the state,” he said.

The ADC Governorship candidate denied allegations of supporting the presidential candidate of the ruling All Progressives Congress ,APC, Bola Ahmed Tinubu, stressing that their party ADC has it’s own Presidential candidate, although the case is in the court.

Khalil

..Photo: Justin Imoowo

world news

Monterey Park shooting: Local residents in shock and sorrow

Local residents are expressing their shock after a mass shooting in Monterey Park, California, that left at least 10 people dead and at least 10 others wounded.

The incident on Saturday night happened as thousands were gathered downtown in the majority Asian-American city to mark the Lunar New Year state holiday.

The gunman is said to have entered Star Ballroom Dance Studio, a popular club, and fired multiple rounds at patrons before fleeing the scene.

Wong Wei told the Los Angeles Times that his friend was at the club but had been in the bathroom when the shooting began.

He said that when she came out, she saw the gunman firing indiscriminately from a long gun, and she also saw three people lying dead, including a boss of the club. She escaped to Mr Wei’s nearby home, he said.

The gunman remains on the loose after the attack, which took place on Garvey Avenue, home to several Asian-owned businesses.

Seung Won Choi, the owner of a seafood barbecue restaurant across the street from the club, told the newspaper that three pedestrians

had run inside and asked him to lock the door.

They said they had seen a man with a semi-automatic gun and multiple rounds of ammunition, he said.

A nearby resident by the name of John claimed he was home when he heard several gunshots ring out, followed by the sound of police cruisers arriving.

He said he saw at least two people with injuries at the scene.

Los Angeles County supervisor Hilda Solis told CBS Los Angeles that she was at Lunar New Year celebrations in Monterey Park but left before the shooting.

“It was a beautiful, festive occasion because, [for] two and a half years of the pandemic, they had to postpone [it]. You could see the smiles and everyone just so happy… that they could come out and celebrate,” she said.

“We pray for those that are still recovering. It’s tragic.”

Monterey Park is home to about 60,000 people, of which roughly two-thirds are of Asian descent.

Representative Judy Chu, who chairs the

First woman pastor in Holy Land ordained

In many parts of the Christian world, female church leaders are no longer unusual. But until now, the Holy Landwhere events in the Bible are set - had not seen a local woman ordained.

On Sunday, a Palestinian from Jerusalem, Sally Azar, became its first woman pastor at an event at the Lutheran church in the heart of the Old City, attended by hundreds of international well-wishers.

“I got more excited seeing the excitement of other people,” Reverend Azar told me. “It’s an indescribable feeling to take this step with the support of the church.”

“I hope that many girls and women will know this is possible and that other women in other churches will join us. I know it will take a long time, but I think it could be exciting if this changes in Palestine.”

Christians make up a minority in the

Palestinian Territories, Israel and Jordan. Most Christians here belong to the Greek Orthodox and Latin Catholic Churches, which do not allow women priests.

However, the ordination of women has been taking place in a growing number of Protestant Churches in the past few decades. These have small local congregations and run schools and hospitals in the Holy Land.

“Everywhere where you have a patriarchal society and culture this is a major step,” says the recently retired Archbishop of the Church of Sweden, Antje Jackelen.

“Since I’ve been ordained for over 40 years, I’ve met many people who didn’t think it was possible. But now they’ve seen women actually serving as pastors, as bishops, as archbishops, we know it works and we know that it’s actually in accord with the Bible.”

In the Middle East, churches in Lebanon

and Syria have already conferred holy orders on women, while at least one Palestinian woman is known to serve in the US.

Ms Azar was ordained by her father Bishop Sani Azar. She insists that while his example inspired her, she never felt pressured into studying theology.

“It’s what I wanted, what I was called to do,” she says.

As a pastor she will take on different duties including leading services and bible studies in Jerusalem and in Beit Sahour, in the occupied West Bank, for English speaking congregations.

“It’s a big, big day for the life of our Church, it’s an important step forward and it’s overdue,” comments Reverend Dr Munther Isaac, Lutheran Pastor of Bethlehem and Beit Sahour.

He says he looks forward to introducing

Reverend Azar as a role model at local Lutheran schools - which teach children who are Christians of all traditions and Muslims.

Rev Dr Isaac has written a book in Arabic about women’s leadership in the Bible and in support of women’s ordination.

“We accept women ministers, we accept women professors, we accept to go in surgery performed by women and it’s strange that we still have to argue that women can teach the Bible or perform the sacraments,” he says.

“This tells me that despite the progress we’ve made as Palestinians, when it comes to empowering women and women rights, that there is still work to be done.”

Supporters of Rev Azar believe she is the right person to challenge stereotypes and break the mould.

US air strike in Somalia ‘kills 30 militants’

AUS air strike assisting government troops in Somalia has killed about 30 Islamist al-Shabab militants, the US military says.

The operation happened near the town of Galcad, about 260km (162 miles) northeast of the capital Mogadishu.

Over the past few days, the Somali army and

al-Shabab militants have fought for control of the town.

Friday’s air strike came as the army was being attacked by more than 100 militants, the US Africa Command says.

Earlier the Islamists killed seven soldiers after storming a military base in Galcad. Somalia’s Information Ministry said dozens of

the militants were killed.

Al-Shabab has been fighting Somalia’s central government since 2006, aiming to impose an extremist Islamist regime. While it has been pushed out of Mogadishu and other areas it continues to attack military and civilian targets.

Last Monday the government said its army

and local militias had captured the port town of Harardhere, which had been a key al-Shabab supply centre since 2010.

In its report on the Galcad fighting the US Africa Command said three al-Shabab vehicles were destroyed and “the command assesses that no civilians were injured or killed”. The details have not been independently verified.

Postpartum haemorrhage: Niger halves blood-loss deaths at clinics

Researchers working with Niger’s health ministry say they have managed to more than halve the number of women who bleed to death after giving birth in health facilities.

Blood loss is the leading cause of maternal deaths in low-income nations.

Those behind the initiative say it could dramatically lower mortality rates elsewhere too.

It relies on following a simple three-step process including the use of a low-cost drug.

The research has taken place over the last

six years and the findings - published in the medical journal the Lancet - are extremely encouraging.

Over the research period in Niger, an estimated 1,417 fewer women died from bleeding after childbirth - known as postpartum haemorrhage (PPH) - than otherwise would have.

It also prevented tens of thousands of other women from experiencing abnormally high blood loss.

PPH now accounts for one in 10 of maternal deaths in Niger, whereas before

the project began it accounted for more than three times that.

Working with doctors and nurses across the country, the NGO Health and Development Initiative (HDI) introduced a combination of treatments.

The first step is to give a dose of cheap and easy-to-store misoprostol tablets, which should reduce the bleeding.

If after 20 minutes the bleeding has not stopped, then a condom attached to a catheter is inserted into the uterus and then inflated.

If this does not work, then what is called

a non-inflatable anti-shock garment is used to give the mother time to get to surgery for blood transfusions.

Expectant mothers are also handed a dose of misoprostol when they visit a clinic towards the end of the pregnancy, which they are asked to bring back for the birth - but it can be taken at home.

The researchers say that the approach should be tried in other countries.

“Niger has done it and other countries can too,” said Dr Zeidou Alassoum, HDI’s Resident Technical Advisor in Niger.BBC

Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus and is a former mayor of the city, tweeted: “My heart is broken for the victims, their families, and the people of my hometown Monterey Park.”

The state’s governor Gavin Newsom wrote: “Monterey Park should have had a night of joyful celebration of the Lunar New Year. Instead, they were the victims of a horrific and heartless act of gun violence.”

An injured festival attendee is loaded onto a stretcher

Yobe Commissions 8 Girls Senior Secondary Schools

By Maryam Abeeb

The Honourable Commissioner Ministry of Basic and Secondary Education, Yobe state, Dr. Muhammed Sani Idriss, has commissioned eight (8) newly established Government Girls Day Senior Secondary Schools across the state as part of commitment to promote girl child education.

While performing the symbolic commissioning of the new schools at Government Girls’ Day Science and Technical College, Gashua on reiterates for more investments by the Buni administration in girl-child education.

According to him there is no reason why education shouldn’t be given the priority attention it deserves by the Buni administration because of its important as the bedrock of all development. That is why Gov. Buni declared a state of emergency on the education sector on day one. That is why girl child-education is important to us.Without girl-child education, our society cannot thrive”.

While thanking the people of Gashua for their warm reception, he said he is genuinely pleased to be part of this historic development which will go along way to reduce out of school children and ensuring all round girl-child education in the state.

“I am particularly pleased that I am here for the commissioning of a girl’s school which Gov. Buni promised to give education. I know how important it is to see our girls educated and become productive. That they receive a minimum of 12 years of quality education.

“When they are educated, they will educate the whole family and the society. When they become very productive, they can contribute to the economy. They can fulfill themselves”, the Honourable Commissioner said.

Dr Sani, pointed out that all the needed facilities both academic and non academic has been provided added that the administration of Governor Mai Mala Buni is adequately prepared for the smooth take-off of the new schools, and would leave no stone unturned towards ensuring a successful academic activities in schools.

Skill acquisition, vocational training, empowerment, top priorities of FG -Minister

By Maryam Abeeb

Part of the programs of the Federal Government to create a self-reliant society capable of creating wealth and jobs, according to the Minister of State for Education, Rt Hon Goodluck Nanah Opiah, is to expand the frontiers of vocational education in Nigeria.

This was part of the speech the minister delivered at the formal flag-off ceremony of UNESCO Supported Pilot School Sewing Championship 2022/2023 Project held at the Women Model Skills Centre, Government Secondary School, in Abuja.

The minister said that it is for this reason that the Ministry of Education, its parastatals and agencies are working in tandem

with Development Partners towards a paradigm shift in the educational architecture that will institute “discovery of creative skills, aptitudes and competences necessary in converting the abundance of non-oil resources into wealth, which is a sure way of turning the economy of our country around”

According to him, “there is a major focus on Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) and Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET). These areas of focus are prioritized in the Ministry’s Ministerial Strategic Plan (MSP, Pillar 3), Education 2030 Agenda, Ministerial Mandate, Medium Term National Development Plan and other

relevant policy documents.

“Nigeria is making frantic efforts and synergizing with all relevant stakeholders to have a significant place in the global skills map. The participation of the Ministry in the event of today is a proof to that. Quality and functional education, complemented by relevant vocational training and skills development opportunities, prepare future generations for productive lives, empowering them with the core skills that enable them to continue learning, be self-reliant, contribute to national development and prepare them to participate in the global skills competition”

Speaking further, the minister expressed that the initiative is a project that is basic to building and sustaining individual and

societal development thereby leading to a new narrative of productive, qualitative, efficient and functional citizens who are better able to drive innovation, creativity and compete well in the world of skills.

Rt Hon Opiah who commended the efforts of Hon. Rosemary Ojochenemi Osikoya, the Executive Director of Ladi Memorial Foundation (LMF), for her innovativeness in initiating this type of championship in public schools within the 6 (six) Area Councils in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), also appreciated the support from FCT Education Secretariat, traditional rulers and other stakeholders who have contributed towards the success of the pilot stage of the Interstate competition.

L-R: National President (Worldwide), University of Lagos Alumni Association,Engr. Ifeoluwa Oyedele, and 13th & first female Vice Chancellor, University of Lagos (UNILAG), Prof. Folasade Tolulope Ogunsola, during the national president’s courtesy visit to the vice chancellor at the weekend in Lagos,

Exams malpractice: WAEC penalizes 13 senior Secondary schools in Gombe

Thirteen senior secondary schools in Gombe State have been de-recognised in four years, by the West Africa Examination Council (WAEC) over examination malpractices.

Alhaji Ali Yaya, the Director of Examination, in the Ministry of Education, Gombe State stated this in a meeting with all principals of secondary schools, and the management of the ministry held in Gombe.

According to him, examinations malpractice is currently the major challenge

facing most of the senior secondary schools in the state and which must be addressed to avert the re-occurrence of such in more schools by the examination body.

He explained that from the year 2018 to 2020, no fewer than seven of our public senior secondary schools were found to be involved in Exams Malpractice which led to their de-recognition by WAEC.

Similarly in 2022, the Ministry received a fresh set of six schools that committed the same offence and they were also de-recognised with

a penalty of N500,000 fee per school payable to WAEC.”

Also said the menace of examinations malpractice had impacted negatively on the overall student’s performance in 2022 Senior Secondary Certificate Examinations (SSCE) final result in 2022.

He therefore said the percentage of 2022 result was 55.6 per cent as against 79.5 per cent for 2021 and this is in connection with the examination malpractice recorded in six of our schools.”

Adding that in view of that the Examinations Directorate

of the ministry issued a sound warning to all principals in all schools to stay away from examination malpractice of any forms.

He stressed that “any principal found wanting again in any form of Exams Malpractice will be seriously punished and the penalty should be paid by the school.”

All efforts to get goverment reaction on how it intends to addressed the issue through the Commissioner for education Dr Aishatu Umar Maigari proved abortive.

Maryam Abeeb

When Zabarkano people gathered to advance common course

The people of Zarma/Zabarmawa are believed to be all over the nation in their millions contributing to the meaningful development, progress and peaceful co-existence of the society to the best of their ability. It was to advance the positive interest of these hardworking and progressive minded people that made them to converge in Abuja under the auspices of Zabarkano Association of Nigeria, Ochiaka Ugwu reports on the activities that made the event interesting

In his welcome remarks, National president of the association, Alh. Isah Sahabi Bankanu who welcomed all leaders from 36 States of the federation and Federal Capital Territory (FCT) said that he was delighted to see them representing their members which are in millions and spread all over the federation. He urged members to unite and work for the progress of the association and uphold its objectives.

Also speaking, Sarkin Zabarmawa Abuja, Alh. Aminu Maizinari Abuja who was the Chairman of the occasion called for peace and unity among the people. He asked members to strive, live in brotherhood and work hard towards achieving national peace and progress.

The highpoint of the event was a keynote address presented by the Legal Adviser, Office of the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Sustainable Goals (OSSAPSDGs), Bar. Aliyu Ishaq Lolo titled “Zarma/Zabarmawa People and their Ingenuity and Contribution in Nation Biulding: The Under-Used Conerstone in the Building of the Nigerian Nation”.

Again, the entire National executive was inaugurated to pilot the affairs of the association and engender national unity and transformation.

Lolo who took audience back memory lane on how the people came to be noted the Zarma were from Prophet Adamu (Adam) his wife Hauwa’u (Eve). He said their linage can be traced back to the two (Q. 4:1).

He stated the Zarma people are from descent historic background and are highly industrious and portray some qualities of good leadership and followership which are basic ingredients of human development.

His words, “Like all other tribes found in border towns of Nigeria, its neighboring states and are indigenous in both, and Zarma/ Zabarmawa are also found in Nigeria and other neighboring nations and indigenous to both places.

“It could also be observed that Zarma/Zabarmawa has always been part of the political and geographical entity known and called West Africa in general and Nigeria in particular. They ruled over territories spanning from Egypt in North Africa to Nigeria, Sudan and Cameroun during dynasties and empires that lasted over 2500 years before any of those

nations were born” he said.

Speaking on the aims and objectives behind the formation of zarma/Zabarmawa Associations, Bar. Lolo said the aims and objectives behind the Zarma/Zabarmawa associations is basically to create more awareness among their members and non members alike about the need for peaceful coexistence, tolerance, industry and productivity on one hand and the need to promote unity, progress and development of their members and the environments in which they find themselves on the other.

“It is to preserve the rich Zarma/Zabarmawa socio-cultural, educational, religious and linguistic values from extinction with the ultimate mission and vision of making their motherland, Nigeria one of the greatest nation states in human history.

“Before now, there was the belief in some quarters that among all languages spoken in Nigeria, it is only Zarma/Zabarmawa language that is looked at with scorn and suspicion. This stereotype is mostly observed to be attributable to the attitude of some Zarma/Zabarmawa themselves towards their language. They never cared to use the language in public places as their medium of communication either due to some complex or for some reasons best known to them.

“However, it may also be attributable to the reserved nature of Zarma/Zabarmawa as a people who, before now, never agreed to detach themselves from the traditional belief of not integrating themselves into new systems. A few agreed to attend western system of education. Those that cared to, feel more attached to westernization than to preserve their cultural and linguistic identity.

“This has created fertile ground for some semi-literate members of the society to embark on incessant attack, persecution and humiliation of innocent and gullible Zarma/ Zabarmawa people most of whom themselves, are hardly educated in western education.

While advising the newly inaugurated executive of Zabarkano Association of Nigeria, Lolo told them they are witnessing the inauguration of the National and State Executives of Zabarkano Association of Nigeria, the mother of all Zarma/Zabarmawa Associations in the country.

He urged them to remember that they are going to be leaders and not rulers and whoever is to lead, should lead by example and fear of and respect for the divine laws of his creator - Allah.

“They should always remember the Hadith of the Noble Prophet Muhammad (SAW) which says:“Kullukum Raa’in, wa Kullukum Mas’ulun an Ra’iatihi’, which means, “ All of you are pastoralists over your subjects and all of you will be put to question on the responsibilities you

are entrusted with”.

“Lastly, we should remember that leadership of an association is not hereditary or arbitrary. On this note, they should work tirelessly to build bridges and give all members a sense of belonging. All hands must be on deck to ensure the achievement of the common goal of our people which is peace, unity, love and patriotism in addition all other good qualities collectively geared towards the preservation of our rich ancestral core values leading to the ultimate development of our people and

nation.

“Therefore, whoever is found wanting by placing his personal interest over and above good objectives, may be sanctioned as appropriate either by removal or by surrendering him to the appropriate quarters for the disciplinary actions prescribed by law for his type of breach. That is not our wish anyhow” he noted.

However, after the inauguration of the Executive, Secretary General of the Association, Dr. Lawwal Sani Kasgada who addressed the press

Before now, there was the belief in some quarters that among all languages spoken in Nigeria, it is only Zarma/Zabarmawa language that is looked at with scorn and suspicion. This stereotype is mostly observed to be attributable to the attitude of some Zarma/ Zabarmawa themselves towards their language.

on behalf of the Board of Trustees, National and State Executives of the Association on the activities, modest achievements of the Association and the challenges that they face.

According to him, “As you may be aware, our Association has just concluded the swearing in activities of its National and State Executives today, which is another milestone in the history of our Association in particular and the Nigerian Zarma/ Zabarmawa people in general. Indeed, it is long overdue for the Zarma to have started engaging in» activities like this at the national level given that the level of awareness of many Nigerians about the tribe Zarma/Zabarmawa is very low even though it is one of the most important languages in the Nigerian Northwestern states of Kebbi, Sokoto and Zamfara as “well as the North-central State of Niger.

“Zarma/Zabarmawa has held very important and sensitive leadership positions in those states ranging from commissionership, Speakers of the State House of Assemblies, Chief Judge of the state, Solicitor-General and Commissioner of Justice of the State, Shariah Court of Appeal and High court judges etc.

“This is in addition to producing some of the most renowned business moguls in the oil and gas sector, the Agricultural sector as well as the commodity business sub-sector.

“At the national level, although at disjointed times, our people have been represented, most the level of representation is too scanty if viewed within the binoculars of the contribution, talent, industry, loyalty, sagacity, trustworthiness, reliability, innovativeness and resilience of our people towards the development of the different profession and executive responsibilities in which our people find themselves” he stated.

Members of Zabarkano Association in Group photo during the event

Bar. Aliyu Ishaq Lolo presenting his address

PUBLIC NOTICE

THIS IS TO INFORM THE GENERAL PUBLIC THAT THE ABOVE NAMED HAS APPLIED TO THE CORPORATE AFFAIRS COMMISSION (CAC), ABUJA FOR REGISTRATION UNDER PART ‘F’ OF COMPANIES AND ALLIED MATTERS ACT, ( CAMA 2020).

THE TRUSTEES ARE :

1.TRINITY LFEOMA OKONKWO - CHAIRMAN

1.OBIESIE CHUKWUDI UZODINM

3.IKEONWU CHIDIEBUBE IFEANYI - SECRETARY

THE AIMS AND OBJECTIVES ARE :

1.TO ASSIST AND PROMOTE THE BUSINESS OF THE MARKETERS.

2.TO ASSIST MEMBER TO SETTLEMENT ANY MINOR DISPUTE THAT MAY ARISE AMONG THEM.

3.TO PROMOTE PEACEFUL CO_EXISTANCE AMONG MEMBERS. ANY OBJECTION TO THIS REGISTRATION SHOULD BE FORWARDED TO THE REGISTRAR-GENERAL, CORPORATE AFFAIRS COMMISSION, PLOT 420, TIGRIS CRESCENT , OFF AGUIYI IRONSI STREET , MAITAMA , ABUJA WITHIN 28DAYS OF THIS PUBLICATION.

SIGNED : SECRETARY.

PUBLIC NOTICE

ANWAR-UL ISLAM COLLEGE, AGEGE OLD STUDENTS’ ASSOCIATION 1978-1983 SET

THIS IS TO INFORM THE GENERAL PUBLIC THAT THE ABOVE NAMED HAS APPLIED TO THE CORPORATE AFFAIRS COMMISSION (CAC), ABUJA FOR REGISTRATION UNDER PART ‘F’ OF COMPANIES AND ALLIED MATTERS ACT, ( CAMA 2020).

THE TRUSTEES ARE :

1. AJOSE OLABODE BABARINDE - CHAIRMAN

2. BELLO-ORO AKEEM MOBOLAJI - SECRETARY

3. OKOSUN JAMES EHIMARE

4. OLANIYAN RABIU ADEMOLA

THE AIMS AND OBJECTIVES ARE :

1. TO PROVIDE SUPPORT TO THE SCHOOL 2. TO STRENGTHEN, AND THE CONTINUOUS IMPROVEMENT OF THE ASSOCIATION.

ANY OBJECTION TO THIS REGISTRATION SHOULD BE FORWARDED TO THE REGISTRAR-GENERAL, CORPORATE AFFAIRS COMMISSION, PLOT 420, TIGRIS CRESCENT , OFF AGUIYI IRONSI STREET , MAITAMA , ABUJA WITHIN 28DAYS OF THIS PUBLICATION.

SIGNED : SECRETARY.

PUBLIC NOTICE

UPON MOUNT ZION CHRIST COVENANT ASSEMBLY

PUBLIC NOTICE

THE KINGDOM EKKLESIA MINISTRY

THIS IS TO INFORM THE GENERAL PUBLIC THAT THE ABOVE NAMED HAS APPLIED TO THE CORPORATE AFFAIRS COMMISSION (CAC), ABUJA FOR REGISTRATION UNDER PART ‘F’ OF COMPANIES AND ALLIED MATTERS ACT, ( CAMA 2020).

THE TRUSTEES ARE : 1. IRIMIYA EMMANUEL AGENEBE - CHAIRMAN 2. LINUS BLESSING AUDI - SECRETARY 3. KESSAN WAZIRI ALI 4.SIMEON YOHANNA AMANGELU 5. DANJUMA DAUDA YOLA 6. ISHAKU SOLOMON NYIFEN 7. SAMAILA TUNO BENEDICT 8. GARSAYA STEPHEN

THE AIMS AND OBJECTIVES ARE : 1. TO PREACH THE GOSPEL OF THE KINGDOM OF GOD THROUGHOUT THE WORLD.

SIGNED : SECRETARY.

PUBLIC NOTICE

PUBLIC NOTICE

OREOFE EKO TRUST FOUNDATION

THIS IS TO INFORM THE GENERAL PUBLIC THAT THE ABOVE NAMED HAS APPLIED TO THE CORPORATE AFFAIRS COMMISSION (CAC), ABUJA FOR REGISTRATION UNDER PART ‘F’ OF COMPANIES AND ALLIED MATTERS ACT, ( CAMA 2020).

THE TRUSTEES ARE :

1. AKEREDOLU YISA IDERA - CHAIRMAN

2. JEBE HALIMAT OLASATIMI - SECRETARY

3. ADEBAYO OLUSEYI JAKE - MEMBER

THE AIMS AND OBJECTIVES ARE :

1. THIS IS A NON-PROFIT ORGANIZATION IN NIGERIA THAT OFFERS HUMANITARIAN SERVICES, SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAMS, SKILL ACQUISITIONS, SAFETY AWARENESS AND REHABILITATING.

2. TO VOLUNTEERING ASSIST PARTNERS/CORPORATE ORGANIZATIONS IN COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMS.

ANY OBJECTION TO THIS REGISTRATION SHOULD BE FORWARDED TO THE REGISTRAR-GENERAL, CORPORATE AFFAIRS COMMISSION, PLOT 420, TIGRIS CRESCENT , OFF AGUIYI IRONSI STREET , MAITAMA , ABUJA WITHIN 28DAYS OF THIS PUBLICATION.

SIGNED : SECRETARY.

PUBLIC NOTICE

IDON PROGRESSIVE WOMEN ASSOCIATION

THIS IS TO INFORM THE GENERAL PUBLIC THAT THE ABOVE NAMED HAS APPLIED TO THE CORPORATE AFFAIRS COMMISSION (CAC), ABUJA FOR REGISTRATION UNDER PART ‘F’ OF COMPANIES AND ALLIED MATTERS ACT, ( CAMA 2020).

THE TRUSTEES ARE :

1. JOSIAH COMFORT – CHAIRMAN

2. MADAKI JOSEPHINE AKENOSI – SECRETARY

THE AIMS AND OBJECTIVES ARE :

1. TO PROMOTE THE INTEREST OF MEMBERS

2. TO PROTECT THE SOCIAL ECONOMIC INTEREST AND BENEFITS OF MEMBERS.

ANY OBJECTION TO THIS REGISTRATION SHOULD BE FORWARDED TO THE REGISTRAR-GENERAL, CORPORATE AFFAIRS COMMISSION, PLOT 420, TIGRIS CRESCENT , OFF AGUIYI IRONSI STREET , MAITAMA , ABUJA WITHIN 28DAYS OF THIS PUBLICATION.

SIGNED : SECRETARY.

THE AIMS AND OBJECTIVES ARE :

TO PREACH AND PROPAGATE THE GLORIOUS AND THE EVERLASTING GOSPEL OF OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST AS WELL AS TO EDUCATE AND TO REFORM PEOPLE THROUGH THE HOLY SPIRIT AS PRESENTED IN THE HOLY BIBLE IN ALL PARTS OF NIGERIA AND THE WHOLE WORLD AT LARGE. 2. TO PREACH AND REACH OUT TO THE UNCHURCH, UNSAVED, UNLOVED AND THE LOST SOULS IN ALL PARTS OF THE WORLD. (ROMANS 15:20, 2 CORINTHIANS 10:16, MATTHEW 9:35).

ANY OBJECTION TO THIS REGISTRATION SHOULD BE FORWARDED TO THE REGISTRARGENERAL, CORPORATE AFFAIRS COMMISSION, PLOT 420, TIGRIS CRESCENT , OFF AGUIYI IRONSI STREET MAITAMA ABUJA WITHIN 28DAYS OF THIS PUBLICATION.

SIGNED : DARAMOLA A.B, ESQ AB DARA & ASSOCIATES 08037384441.

PUBLIC NOTICE

AKURUEULO HUMANITARIAN FOUNDATION

THIS IS TO INFORM THE GENERAL PUBLIC THAT THE ABOVE NAMED HAS APPLIED TO THE CORPORATE AFFAIRS COMMISSION (CAC), ABUJA FOR REGISTRATION UNDER PART ‘F’ OF COMPANIES AND ALLIED MATTERS ACT, ( CAMA 2020).

THE TRUSTEES ARE :

1. OKATA ALLWELL CHIKEZIE - CHAIRMAN 2. OKATA CHINWE - SECRETARY 3. OKATA NDUBUISI NELSON - MEMBER

THE AIMS AND OBJECTIVES ARE :

1. TO PROMOTE AND ENCOURAGE IGBO CULTURAL FESTIVALS IN OTHER TO UNITE MEMBERS.

2. TO PROMOTE AND ENCOURAGE IGBO LANGUAGE SCHOLARS AND WRITERS WITH A VIEW TO STRENGTHEN INTEREST IN IGBO SPEAKING AND WRITING.

ANY OBJECTION TO THIS REGISTRATION SHOULD BE FORWARDED TO THE REGISTRAR-GENERAL, CORPORATE AFFAIRS COMMISSION, PLOT 420, TIGRIS CRESCENT , OFF AGUIYI IRONSI STREET , MAITAMA , ABUJA WITHIN 28DAYS OF THIS PUBLICATION.

SIGNED : SECRETARY.

PUBLIC NOTICE

PUBLIC NOTICE

FOR STRIKING OFF THE FEDERAL REPUBLIC OF NIGERIA COMPANIES AND ALLIED MATTERS ACT, 2020 COMPANY LIMITED BY SHARES SPECIAL RESOLUTION OF SUN NETWORKS LTD RC: 856702

AT THE EXTRA ORDINARY GENERAL MEETING OF THE ABOVE MENTIONED COMPANY HELD ON THE ………… DAY OF …………………., 2023, AT ITS REGISTERED OFFICE ADDRESS, THE FOLLOWING RESOLUTIONS WERE PROPOSED AND DULY PASSED:

1. THAT THE COMPANY SUN NETWORKS LTD RC: 856702 BE STRUCK OFF THE REGISTER OF THE CORPORATE AFFAIRS COMMISSION.

2. THAT APPLICATION WHICH HAS BEEN MADE FOR THE STRIKING OFF BE FILED WITH THE CORPORATE AFFAIRS COMMISSION.

3. THAT ADVERTISEMENT FOR THE STRIKING OFF SHALL BE MADE IN THREE (3) NATIONAL DAILY NEWSPAPERS AS RECOMMENDED BY THE COMPANIES AND ALLIED MATTERS ACT (CAMA) 2020.

4. THAT ALL THE NECESSARY DOCUMENTS IN RESPECT TO THE STRIKING OFF BE FILED WITH THE CORPORATE AFFAIRS COMMISSION, ABUJA.

DATED THIS………DAY OF………………2023.

AKULUEUNO INTERNATIONAL MARKET TRADERS ASSOCIATION NANDO ANAMBRA

ALAIYELUWA OBA BABATUNDE AKIOLU

MR. DAVE PINAKIN ANANTRAI DIRECTOR

IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUSTICE OF NASARAWA STATE OF NIGERIA IN THE PROBATE DIVISION

WHEREAS the person whose name is set out in the first column hereunder died intestate on the date place stated in the said in the column. AND WHEREAS the person(s) whose name (s) and address(s) and relation(s) to the deceased are set out in the second column hereto has/have applied to the High Court of Justice, Nasarawa State for the grant of Letters of Administration of the Real and personal properties/estate of the said deceased.

NOTICE: IS HEREBY GIVEN that Letter of Administration (without will) will be granted to such applicant/applicants unless a “NOTICE TO PROHIBIT” the grant is file in this Registry within Twenty- One (21) days from the date hereof.

SCHEDULE

AND ADDRESS (ES) OF APPLICANT(S)

NAME(S)

NAME OF DECEASED PERSON

Tanimu Audu Tsila late of Akwanga Died on the 10d day of December, 2022 at Akwanga

Bako Nabako late of Lafia, Died on the 2nd day of October, 2022 at Lafia

Usman Isa Awe late of Awe, Died on the 11th day of January, 2022 at Awe

Ahmed Naallah Alhaji late of Shabu, Died on the 19th day of May, 2022 at Lafia

Enje Bako Kasimu late of Keana, Died on the 14th day of January, 2022 at Keana

Idoko Pauline John late of Akwanga, Died on the 6th day of December, 2017 at Athome.

Okwoli Abubakar Sarduna late of Igyen, Loko, Died on the 14th day of May, 2022 at Igyem

Akintule Emmanuel Ayodele late of Akwanga, Died on the 20th day of December, 2022 at Akwanga

Akwayi Magaji Emmnuel late of Lafia, Died on the 10th day of November, 2022 at Ishugu

Joshua Aduka late of Wamba, Died on the 19th day of May, 2022 at Wamba

Paul Ajimba late of Agbashi, Died on the 7th day of March, 2020 at Lafia

Danjuma Amos late of Akwanga, Died on the 18th day of December, 2022 at Abuja

Angbashi Paulina Luka late of Lafia, Died on the 14th day of August, 2020 at Lafia

Joseph Tukur late of Azara, Died on the 26th day of January, 2017 at Garaku

Audu Dama James late of Keffi- Wamabi, Died on the 9th day of November, 2021 at Lafia

Echoda Mami Maureen late of Lafia Died on the 14th day of September, 2022 at Lafia

Onuku Joseph Emmanuel late of Agwatashi, Died on the 18th day of October, 2021 at Agwatashi

Audu Kogi late of Akwanga, Died on the 14th day of August, 2022 at Akwanga

Yaki Italia late of Akwanga, Died on the 11th day of October, 2019 at Kaduna

Tsaku Danlami Abu late of Sabongadi, Died on the 3rd day of December, 2021 at Shendam

Mukhtar Alhassan Lamus late of Lafia, Died on the 25th day of October, 2022 at Lafia

Ugwuangi Blessing late of Nasarawa, Died on the 10th day of October, 2022 at Enugu Muhammad Hamza late of Lafia, Died on the 23th day of December, 2022 at Lafia

Audu Samuel Tanimu of Akwanga the lawful Son of the said deceased

Aliyu Ibrahim Bako of Lafia the lawful Son of the said deceased

Usman Chiroma Dalhatu of Awe the lawful Brother of the said deceased.

Na’allah Abubakar Ahmed, Ahmed Umar Na’allah & Na’allah Hassan Ahmed all of Shabu the lawful Sons of the said deceased Kasimu Micah of Kadarko the lawful Son of the said deceased.

Idoko Samson John of Abuja the lawful Brother of the said deceased

Okwoli Abubakar Bashir of Loko the lawful Son of the said deceased

Akintile Ruth Ebun of Akwanga the lawful Widow of the said deceased

Magaji Christiana of Ishugu the lawful Widow of the said deceased.

Auta Godwin Ezhim of Wamba the lawful Son of the said deceased

Tanko Paul & Kasuwa Paul both of Agbashi, Doma the lawful Sons of the said deceased

Obadiah Joseph Danjuma of Akwanga the lawful Son of the said deceased.

Envuladu E. Ibrahim of Lafia the lawful Widower of the said deceased

Akwanga David Tukur of Lafia the lawful Brother of the said deceased.

James Sabina Audu & James Emmanuel both of Keffi -Wambai the lawful Widow & Son of the said deceased respectively.

Echoda Anfofum Amedu of Lafia, the lawful Widower of the said deceased.

Emmanuel Elijah Ogashuwa of Agwatashi, Obi the lawful Son of the said deceased

Philip Audu of Akwanga the lawful Son of the said deceased.

Italia Martha of Akwanga the lawful Widow of the said deceased.

Asheazi Danlami of Sobangida Kogi, Lafia the lawful Daughter of the said deceased Murtala Hajara Lamus of Wamba the lawful Daughter of the said deceased

Ugwuangi Livinus Majifor of Nasarawa the lawful Widower of the said deceased

Yusuf Ahmed Hassan of Lafia the lawful Son of the said deceased

Umbugwu Christopher Okey late of Wamba, Died on the 28th day of October, 2022 at Aku, Enugu

Agyekonye Allanana Patrick late of Shabu, Died on the 9th day of December, 2022 at Keffi

Isiaka Safiyanu Magaji late of Keffi Died on the 12th day of November, 2012 at Keffi

Nuhu Danjuma Kasimu late of Akurba, Died on the 1st day of May, 2022 at Lafia

Entonu Ogolekwu late of Lafia, Died on the 15th day of November, 2022 at Lafia

Dauda Wen late of Lafia, Died on the 19th day of October, 2022 at Lafia

Joseph Kwanahwah late of Mama Died on the 29th day of December, 2022 at Wamba

Al-Hassan Mohammed late of Kadarko, Died on the 26th day of December, 2022 at Keana

Ajegana Malle Bitrus late of Gudi, Died on the 26th day of December, 2022 at Akwanga

Sarah Ali Tsalla late of Ola, Akwanga, Died on the 14th day of September, 2022 at Akwanga

Mailafiya Ehase late of Keana, Died on the 18th day of August, 2021 at Lafia

Audu Polycarp Dallah late of Mushi, Obi Died on the 30th day of October, 2021 at Lafia

Dardau Idris late of Shabu, Died on the 9th day of September, 2022 at Lafia

Kaika Ogene late of Lafia, Died on the 5th day of October, 2022 at Lafia

Lami Joseph Egga late of Akwanga, Died on the 21st day of July, 2022 at Akwanga

Obadiah Haruna late of Lafia, Died on the 6th day of August, 2022 at Imo

Ishaku Yahaya late of Ara, Sabo, Died on the 5th day of April, 2022 at Keffi

Zainab Talatu late of Doma, Died on the 25th day of May, 2022 at Doma

Yakubu Ladan late of Nunku, Died on the 24th day of July, 2020 at Gwantu

REPUBLICATION

Simon Aweli Chia late of Makurdi, Died on the 30th day of March, 2015 at Makurdi

Mal. Alhaji Dauro Mohammed Muhammadu Muhammad Lafia (Mohammmadu) late of Lafia, Died on the 2nd day of March, 2000 at Lafia Ogiri Moses Adamu late of Nasarawa, Died on the 26th day of March, 2019 at Jos

(Esther M. Ejeh. Esq.) PROBATE REGISTRAR NASARAWA STATE OF NIGERIA, LAFIA

Umugwu Cyprian Nnaemeka of Wamba the lawful Son of the said deceased.

Patrick Esther of Lafia the lawful Widow of the said deceased.

Safiyanu Alkali Salihu of Keana the lawful Brother of the said deceased.

Kasimu Idris of Akurba Osanya the lawful Son of the said deceased.

Entonu Joseph of Lafia the lawful Son of the said deceased.

Dauda Ishaya of Lafia the lawful Son of the said deceased.

Joseph Joshua Bakuisu of Lafia the lawful Son of the said deceased Mohammed Ali of Kadarko the lawful Son of the said deceased.

Bitrus Samuel Ajegana of Gudi the lawful Son of the said deceased.

Usman Ibrahim Umbugudu of Ola, Akwanga the lawful Son of the said deceased.

Mailafiya Ishaya Ehase, Mailafiya Ismaila Ehase & Bitrus Ehase Mailafiya all of Keana the lawful Sons of the said deceased.

Polycarp Daddy Wudu of Musha the lawful Son of the said deceased.

Idris Idris Shabu &Mohammed Idris Dardau both of Shabu the lawful Son & Brother of the said deceased respectively.

Ogbere Abraham Kanka & Ogbere Kaika Yuauf both of Mararaba Udege the lawful Sons of the said deceased.

Kande Catherine Arigu of Akwanga the lawful Sister of the said deceased.

Francisca Obadiah of Lafia the lawful Widow of the said deceased.

Zakari Suleiman, Aruwa Jamila & Aruwa Yahuza all of Karshi the lawful Sons & Daughter of the said deceased respectively.

Dalhatu Mohammed Abdul of Doma the lawful Son of the said deceased.

Yakub Douglas of Gwantu the lawful Son of the said deceased.

REPUBLICATION

Aweli Christopher Iorver of Dudugrur the lawful Brother of the said deceased respectively.

Ibrahim Mohammed Dauro & Muhammad Dauro Muhammad both of Lafia the lawful Sons of the said deceased.

Emmanuel Moses Ogiri & Daniel Moses both of Nasarawa the lawful Sons of the said deceased.

PUBLIC NOTICE

AYOWUNMI DEVELOPMENT FOUNDATION

ABBA

VALID. ALL AUTHORITIES CONCERNED AND GENERAL PUBLIC PLEASE TAKE NOTE.

AGUIYI IRONSI STREET , MAITAMA , ABUJA WITHIN 28DAYS OF THIS PUBLICATION.

ZEJE

I, FORMERLY KNOWN AS ALHASSAN MARY NOW WISH TO BE KNOWN AS ZEJE MARY. ALL FORMER DOCUMENTS REMAIN VALID. ALL AUTHORITIES CONCERNED AND GENERAL PUBLIC PLEASE TAKE NOTE.

SELIMAT

I, FORMERLY KNOWN AS SELIMAT NNAKOBABA ABDULLAHI. NOW WISH TO BE KNOWN AS SELIMAT NNAKOBABA ADAMU. ALL FORMER DOCUMENTS REMAIN VALID. ALL AUTHORITIES CONCERNED AND GENERAL PUBLIC PLEASE TAKE NOTE.

DHUL-JALAALU CHARITABLE FOUNDATION

NAME OF DECEASED PERSON

NAME(S) AND ADDRESS (ES) OF

Gusau extends tenure of IMC team till end of season

By Albert Akota

President of the Nigeria Football Federation, Alhaji Ibrahim Musa Gusau has extended the tenure of the Interim Management Committee of the Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL) till the end of the 2022/2023 League Season.

The NFF President said he decided to extend the IMC’s tenure in order to allow the team to concentrate fully on the organization and management of the ongoing NPFL season, which is only heading to its Matchday 3 this weekend.

It can be recalled that the NFF President had inaugurated the Interim Management Committee of the NPFL,

headed by Hon. Gbenga Elegbeleye, on 21st October 2022 with an initial mandate of three months, and a slew of terms of reference aimed at engendering a new life generally for Nigeria’s elite division.

At the Draw Ceremony for the new season, staged on 28th December 2022, the NFF President had thumbed up the IMC for the tremendous work it had been doing since inauguration and assured it of NFF’s support in turning around Nigeria’s domestic League for the better, including fostering a viable football economy.

Due to time factor, the IMC opted for an abridged format for the 2022/2023 NPFL Season, with 10 Clubs in Group A and 10 Clubs in Group B. The current season is scheduled to end in May.

Gbenga Elegbeleye

Haaland hat-trick helps Man City see off Wolves

Erling Haaland scored his fourth Manchester City hat-trick and took his goal tally for the season to 31 in all competitions as relegation-threated Wolves were swept aside by Pep Guardiola’s men.

By his own incredibly high standards, Haaland had been going through a barren spell.

But after ending a three-game drought against Tottenham on Thursday, the Norwegian demolished Wolves in a 12-minute spell either side of half-time.

Haaland initially rose to head home Kevin de Bruyne’s cross to put the hosts ahead at the break.

He then drove home a penalty after Ilkay Gundogan had been fouled by Wolves skipper Ruben Neves, before sweeping home his third after Jose Sa’s pass out of his six-yard box went straight to Riyad Mahrez.

Haaland has now scored 25 goals in City’s first 20 Premier League games. That is five more than Luis Suarez managed in 2013-14, the previous highest figure at this stage in the season.

The Norwegian striker’s current total would have been enough to earn him the Golden Boot in more than half of the 30 campaigns since the English top flight was renamed in 1992.

He has also already scored as many Premier League hat-tricks as Mo Salah, and a third of Sergio Aguero’s record 12, which the Argentine achieved across his magnificent decade with City.

Only Alan Shearer has scored more Premier League hat-tricks in a single season, with five.

When Guardiola came out with his extraordinary rant after the win over

Tottenham, he spoke about the difficulty of maintaining drive and determination when you are so used to winning.

That is why Haaland is so important to this team.

The Norwegian’s last league title was three years ago in Austria. His last trophy was the German Cup with Borussia Dortmund in 2021.

If the idea of a fifth championship in six seasons fails to motivate some City players, Haaland is not among them, and his thirst for goals could be a telling factor as the second half of this season unfolds.

Guardiola saw no point in pushing the striker, and replaced him with World Cup winner Julian Alvarez after an hour.

More good news for City is that Jack Grealish also seems to be finding more consistency.

His teasing advances from the left are more reminiscent of his Aston Villa days and would have brought him a first-half goal had Sa not made one superb save and Nathan Collins not been in the right place at the right time to head another effort off the line.

Mahrez had an effort ruled out for offside, after which City cruised home and Haaland was able to take the acclaim of the home fans at the end.

This was the first significant setback for Julen Lopetegui since he replaced Bruno Lage as Wolves boss during the World Cup.

If there is comfort for the former Spain and Real Madrid coach, it comes from the knowledge there are not many more demanding tests than this, even if his side only remain outside the relegation zone on goal difference.

The arrival of Craig Dawson for £3.3m from West Ham should help shore up a hesitant defence, while a first start for Mario Lemina here, plus a debut for Pablo Sarabia, further creates a team Lopetegui can work with - especially if his other transfer window target, Flamengo’s Joao Gomes, can be kept out of Lyon’s clutches.

He clearly wants more width from Wolves’ passing, although he does have a week to work on that, with his side not involved in the FA Cup fourth round next weekend.

February will then be a crucial month, with Wolves taking on two sides presently below them, Southampton and Bournemouth, in successive weeks.

Certainly no-one could accuse Lopetegui of not being invested in his job. He was booked along with Neves for arguing over an incident when City’s Rico Lewis appeared to bring down Hwang Heechan, when the South Korean was about to set off on a long run towards to City goal before Haaland changed the direction of the contest.

PUBLIC NOTICE

THIS IS TO INFORM THE GENERAL PUBLIC THAT THE ABOVE NAMED HAS APPLIED TO THE CORPORATE AFFAIRS COMMISSION (CAC),ABUJA, FOR REGISTRATION UNDER PART “C” OF THE COMPANIES AND ALLIED MATTERS ACT, 2020.

THE TRUSTEES ARE:

OGBU OKECHUKWU - CHAIRMAN

ORJI GEORGE IHECHILURU - SECRETARY

OKORO IHENDU - TRUSTEE

ONUOHA BARKLEYS NKWACHUKWU - TRUSTEE

NWAKILE CHUKWUEMEKA - TRUSTEE.

MGBEOJI AMAECHI MUNACHI - TRUSTEE.

NDUAGU UGWUNNA PRINCE - TRUSTEE.

AIMS AND OBJECTIVES: TO GIVE CHARITABLE SUPPORT TO OUR MEMBERS AND THE SOCIETY AT LARGE. ANY OBJECTION TO THIS REGISTRATION SHOULD BE FORWARDED TO THE REGISTRAR GENERAL CORPORATE AFFAIRS COMMISSION, PLOT 420 TIGRIS CRESCENT, OFF AGUIYI IRONSI STREET, MAITAMA, ABUJA WITHIN 28 DAYS OF THIS PUBLICATION.

SIGNED: GEORGE ORJI FIND-LAW CHAMBERS.

PUBLIC NOTICE

LOSS OF DOCUMENT

ADIE

I, FORMERLY KNOWN AS AJAR ONYI NOW WISH TO BE KNOWN AND ADDRESSED AS ADIE MICHAEL ADAHOSHI. ALL FORMER DOCUMENTS REMAIN VALID. AUTHORITIES CONCERNED AND THE GENERAL PUBLIC SHOULD TAKE NOTE.

OKUTA

I, FORMERLY KNOWN AS ODIDE GRACE IFAHERE NOW WISH TO BE KNOWN AND ADDRESSED AS OKUTA GRACE IFAHERE. ALL FORMER DOCUMENTS REMAIN VALID. AUTHORITIES CONCERNED AND THE GENERAL PUBLIC SHOULD TAKE NOTE.

PUBLIC NOTICE

UGO- CHRIS PHILANTHROPIC & EDUCATIONAL FOUNDATION.

THIS IS TO INFORM THE GENERAL PUBLIC THAT THE ABOVE NAMED HAS APPLIED TO THE CORPORATE AFFAIRS COMMISSION (CAC),ABUJA, FOR REGISTRATION UNDER PART “C” OF THE COMPANIES AND ALLIED MATTERS ACT, 2020.

THE TRUSTEES ARE:

1) NWAONU CHRIS UGO.

2) NWAONU EUCHARIA CHINWE.

AIMS AND OBJECTIVES:

1. TO ENABLE ALL CHILDREN, WOMEN & YOUNG PEOPLE GROW & FLOURISH UNDER CONDITIONS THAT ALLOWS THEM TO MAXIMIZE THEIR POTENTIAL.

2. TO ASSIST THE WINDOWS.

ANY OBJECTION TO THIS REGISTRATION SHOULD BE FORWARDED TO THE REGISTRAR GENERAL CORPORATE AFFAIRS COMMISSION, PLOT 420 TIGRIS CRESCENT, OFF AGUIYI IRONSI STREET, MAITAMA, ABUJA WITHIN 28 DAYS OF THIS PUBLICATION.

SIGNED: UGWUOKE MARTINS CHIJIOKE 08039228273.

PUBLIC NOTICE

CAVEAT EMPTOR

ATTAIB MAHMOOD IS THE BONA FIDE OWNER OF THE PROPERTY WITH C OF O NO: BA/23900 TITLE OF SAME HAS BEEN PURPORTEDLY TRANSFERRED TO ONE ABDULLAHI NUHU MALLAM BY THE MINISTRY OF LANDS & SURVEY, BAUCHI STATE ANY DEALING IN RESPECT OF THE SAID PROPERTY WITH ETHER ABDULLAHI NUHU MALAM OR ANY OTHER PERSON ASIDE ATTAIB MAHMOOD IS AT YOUR OWN RISK ATTAIB MAHMOOD

ISIYAKA

I, FORMERLY KNOWN AS IBRAHIM ISHAQ NOW WISH TO BE KNOWN AND ADDRESSED AS ISIYAKA IBRAHIM. ALL FORMER DOCUMENTS REMAIN VALID. AUTHORITIES CONCERNED AND THE GENERAL PUBLIC SHOULD TAKE NOTE.

NAFISAT

I FORMERLY KNOWN AS NAFISAT ADAM ABUBAKAR, NOW WISH TO BE KNOWN AND ADDRESSED AS NAFISAT ADAM ABDULAZIZ. ALL FORMER DOCUMENTS REMAIN VALID. NYSC AND GENERAL PUBLIC TO TAKE NOTE.

PUBLIC NOTICE

MBAISE BORN AGAIN CHRISTIAN ASSOCIATION.

THIS IS TO INFORM THE GENERAL PUBLIC THAT THE ABOVE NAMED HAS APPLIED TO THE CORPORATE AFFAIRS COMMISSION (CAC),ABUJA, FOR REGISTRATION UNDER PART “C” OF THE COMPANIES AND ALLIED MATTERS ACT, 2020.

THE TRUSTEES ARE:

1) IBEAWUCHI MICHAEL CHINENYE. 2) JOHNSON EJIKEME CHRIS.

AIMS AND OBJECTIVES: TO PROPAGATE THE GOSPEL OF OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST.

ANY OBJECTION TO THIS REGISTRATION SHOULD BE FORWARDED TO THE REGISTRAR GENERAL CORPORATE AFFAIRS COMMISSION, PLOT 420 TIGRIS CRESCENT, OFF AGUIYI IRONSI STREET, MAITAMA, ABUJA WITHIN 28 DAYS OF THIS PUBLICATION.

SIGNED: UGWUOKE MARTINS CHIJIOKE 08039228273.

DATOL STEPHEN

I, FORMERLY KNOWN AS STEPHEN SEMSHAK NOW WISH TO BE KNOWN AND ADDRESSED AS DATOL STEPHEN SEMSHAK. ALL FORMER DOCUMENTS REMAIN VALID. AUTHORITIES CONCERNED AND THE GENERAL PUBLIC SHOULD TAKE NOTE.

EMMANUEL

I, FORMERLY KNOWN AS EMMNAUEL CHINONSO NOW WISH TO BE KNOWN AND ADDRESSED AS EMMANUEL CHINONSO. ALL FORMER DOCUMENTS REMAIN VALID. AUTHORITIES CONCERNED AND THE GENERAL PUBLIC SHOULD TAKE NOTE.

MARY

I, FORMERLY KNOWN AS MARY OSITA NOW WISH TO BE KNOWN AND ADDRESSED AS MARY AMAKA OSITA. ALL FORMER DOCUMENTS REMAIN VALID. AUTHORITIES CONCERNED AND THE GENERAL PUBLIC SHOULD TAKE NOTE.

JOSEPH

I, FORMERLY KNOWN AS OGUDU CLEMENT AKPOBOME, NOW WISH TO BE KNOWN AND ADDRESSED AS JOSEPH ISOKOBOY CLEMENT. THAT I WAS BORN ON THE 12TH DAY OF JUNE, 1994, NOT 12TH, JUNE, 1992. ALL FORMER DOCUMENTS REMAIN VALID. GENERAL PUBLIC TAKE NOTE.

GOVERNMENT COLLEGE UMUAHIA, CLASS 91B.

PEOPLES DAILY

Wike’s sarcastic challenge to Rivers gods

Late Nketiah goal hands Arsenal win over Man Utd

Ezenwo Nyesom Wike, the Governor of Rivers State comes across as a relatively blunt man, even though I have never met him in person, or had any dealing with him. I encounter him only in the media. He seldom pretends especially when things go out of his control, much unlike the typical Nigerian politician always trying to speak nicely to be politically correct.

Monday Column

By

M. Bello, PhD

sentiments that Wike conveys in his characterisation of the gods, as somewhat powerless entities that may not be able to provide solutions to social problems. Otherwise, they could not have been perceived to be sleeping, as Wike suggested, when society is under threat of kidnapping of workers by agents of underdevelopment.

Arsenal retained control of the Premier League title race after Eddie Nketiah’s 90th-minute winner gave them a dramatic victory over Manchester United in a thriller at Emirates Stadium.

Manchester City’s earlier win over Wolverhampton Wanderers applied pressure on the Gunners but they responded with character and quality, even after going behind, to secure a five-point advantage at the top with a game in hand.

United’s man of the moment Marcus Rashford fired home a superb right-foot strike from 25 yards to give them a 17th-minute lead.

Arsenal responded fiercely and were level seven minutes later when Granit Xhaka’s cross created a heading opportunity for Nketiah, who got in ahead of Aaron Wan-Bissaka at the far post.

Bukayo Saka’s angled drive put Arsenal ahead eight minutes after the break but their advantage lasted only six minutes, with Lisandro Martinez heading his first goal for the club after keeper Aaron Ramsdale dropped a corner.

Arsenal looked the more likely winners in the closing stages, with Saka hitting the post and Nketiah denied by David de Gea’s outstanding save.

The pressure paid off in the closing moments when Nketiah - a striker who is doing an outstanding job filling in for injured Gabriel Jesus - turned in from close range to spark wild scenes of celebration at Emirates Stadium.

Wike’s utterances usually sound aggressive, but that is his linguistic stylistic, or his communicative idiosyncrasy. Everyone has his, what language use experts call ‘idiolect’ - unique style of speaking and writing peculiar to an individual. Others will prefer to call it speech mannerism. Whatever you choose to call it, the bottom line is that Wike speaks his mind and cares less about impressions, or whose ox is gored, not even the gods of Rivers, the state he governs. Those who follow his comments on issues around his party, the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, and his protest against what he considers injustice are already familiar with his implacable tirades against the PDP and its top guns. Not a few, however, are quick to dismiss his criticisms as products of vengeance arising from his failure to clinch the PDP flag for the 2023 presidential election. Well, that is different strokes for different folks.

Away from politics, Wike had penultimate week unleashed his acerbic words on the gods of Ikwerre land when he flagged off the construction of Obodhi-Ozochi road bridge in Ahoada Local government area of Rivers state. His scathing criticism of the gods, and the scolding of traditional rulers who are custodians of the gods, at the event reads in part:

“You are crying that Ozochi has no road linking them. And the government has come to do the road to link your community. Instead of you to come out and own the project, you are now kidnapping the workers to sabotage our own development. What kind of system is this? Sabotaging your own growth. And those of you who are traditional rulers, instead of you to talk to the gods of the land, what are the gods doing. You know the gods only when you want to go and share the chicken. Why not ask the gods what they are doing? Ask them, are they sleeping? Are

you not seeing these things that are happening? Everyday you go and pour libation. Tell the gods to wake up oh! Tell them. If they don’t wake up I will go and bulldoze where you people put all those things. Look at what is going on, nobody is saying anything. Tell your gods to wake up if not I will go there and flog them oh! Challenge the gods, tell them if you are the gods of our land why do you allow this to happen. That is why when you have problems you call the creator to show you that he is the creator. And call on him and see whether he will not come down. You too who are worshiping those your white white things, challenge them. Not when you come and present kola you tell me in Ikwerre land the gods said this. Tell the gods they should go and stop what those boys are doing, that is the only way I will know that the gods are there, not when you are presenting kola in Ikwerre land, you say the kola said this, bitter kola said that, in Ikwerre land alligator pepper said this. Show it in action.”

A number of inferences can be drawn from Wike’s stream of consciousness as conveyed by his utterances. Apart from expressing anger against forces of underdevelopment, he does not believe in the assumed ‘supernatural’ powers of the gods, otherwise they will not be sleeping as he queried. To ascribe to the gods human attribute of sleeping, as he did, is to ridicule their supposed godliness, and to render them undeserving of worship. He applied the same mocking attitude in his description of the gods as “white white things”

Wike also characterised the traditional rulers as turning to the gods only whenever they have appetite for chicken, without challenging them to deploy their godly powers to rein in youths who are sabotaging the development of their communities. This portrays the traditional rulers as greedy lots with voracious appetite for

chicken using sacrifice to the gods as decoy. Wike accordingly challenged the gods to wake up to their supposed responsibilities, failing which he threatened to flog them, as though the gods were some stubborn or undisciplined children deserving of corporal punishment to sit up. He also threatened to unleash bulldozers to demolish the shrines housing the gods and other items of godly worship if the gods fail to do the needful.

He also enjoined the traditional rulers to challenge the gods to prove that they are deserving of worship by coming down to answer the call to proffer solutions. He cited the instance of the creator answering to the prayers of believers, and insisted the gods should also do the same if they truly have solutions to the problems of society.

Wike’s comments: “Tell your gods to wake up” presupposes that they are not his gods. His reference to the Creator as responding in time to the call of men in need is a key pointer to that. Judging from the sentiments and emotions of his text, it will not be surprising if Wike someday proceeds to ban worship of the gods in Rivers state. However, he may have to contend with the constitutional guarantee of freedom of worship. The traditionalists may also square up with him, but I am not sure he is afraid of that, flowing from the tone and mood of his utterances about the gods and their custodians. Recall that in 2019, Governor Wike had declared Rivers State to be a Christian state because it is made up of 90% Christians and 10% orthodox with a few practising Islam. This shows that only less than 10% of the population of Rivers State worship the gods, while the dominant 90% (Christians) were devoted to the worship of God via Jesus Christ. Christianity is not compatible with godly worship, at least from the doctrinal point of view. Islam is not either. This explains the

To my mind, Wike’s challenge goes beyond the gods and traditional rulers of Rivers State. It is also an indictment of some politicians who resort to extraordinary means, including engaging the marabouts, or Babalawo to either gain undue political advantage, or to pull down opponents perceived to be threats to their ambition. Such politicians should learn from the seeming spiritual failure of Rivers gods and start to play straight politics. On this occasion, Wike’s challenge is worthy of attention.

Scholars have categorized worship of the gods as a type of polytheism, the belief in multiple deities, which are usually assembled into a pantheon of gods and goddesses, along with their own religious sects and rituals. Polytheism contrasts with monotheism, the belief in a singular God who is, in most cases, transcendent and omniscient. Polytheists do not always worship all the gods equally. They can be henotheists, specializing in the worship of one particular deity, or kathenotheists, worshiping different deities at different times. Polytheism was the typical form of religion before the development and spread of the Abrahamic religions of Judaism, Christianity, and Islam, which enforce monotheism - Belief in One God.