Tuesday, May 23, 2023 Edition

Speakership: We’ll consult governors, party leaders before we adopt a candidate - Reps-elect

By Christiana Ekpa

The Convener of “Greater Majority” Rep. Fredrick Agbedi (PDP-Bayelsa), on Monday said that the group has not adopted any candidate for the 10th speaker of the House of Representatives ahead of the June 13 inauguration, even as he said that, the Caucus will consult their Governors and Party Leaders before endorsing any Candidate for the Speakership position .

Agbedi who disclosed this at a meeting of the greater majority caucus in Abuja yesterday said the caucus had not adopted anybody for the office of the presiding officer, adding that such would only take place when the agreement was reached and it would be a collective decision.

According to him, if we must get it right or do the right thing, we need to be guided and we need to interact with our colleagues from various states.

He further said that party and other critical stakeholders would be

consulted in arriving at a decision that would be a win for the group.

He said: “Let me quickly say that if we must do the right thing, if we must actually represent our people, we need to be guided and to be guided, we mean that we need to interact with our leaders in our constituencies, we need to interact with our colleagues from the various States, we need to interact with our party stakeholders and all that in arriving at a decision that will be well for us.

“Your conveners and other leaders have not either on your behalf or for you adopted anybody for the office of presiding officers. That will only take place when that agreement is reached by all of us. That decision will be our collective decision. But I am even saying before we get to that decision, we are going to ensure that take for example, I come from Bayelsa State, I should be able to speak with my governors, party leaders so that whatever I key into is with the understanding that my state leaders are on the same page with and

that’s what we expect of all of us to do. So, that we don’t ambush Mr. A or Mr. B.

“So, I wan to assure you that we will lead ourselves to arrive at a collective decision and in doing that, we have also resolved to have State coordinators who are going to meet at their different State levels, eventually also have zonal coordinators who will also work at the zonal level in collating decision that they will finally come up with after due consultation. And that’s why we have invited all of us to this meeting so that we all know who and who will coordinate our States and also who will coordinate our zones so that we give the responsibility back to you, interact, consult and then chose the direction to go.

“In all the interactions we have made, our leaders have authoritatively told us that they have not given mandate to their members-elect to identify with Mr. A or Mr. B. The only mandate and directive they gave to our people is to network, interact and give them the

feedback. And at the appropriate time, decisions will be made, agreements will be reached, alliances formed and then as minorities, we will be doing some sort of agreement as to what direction to go. So, as I stand here, I have not been given any mandate by my party ot governor as to what to do.”

He said the coordinators would ensure that the decision of stakeholders were collated and communicated to members.

He said the caucus would in addition, have a retreat at Uyo, the Bayelsa State capital, adding that all the opposition parties had been communicated about the retreat.

According to him, in all interaction our leaders have told us that they have not giving mandate to our memberselect to identify with anyone but to network and collate what is going on

He said the caucus had been able to show that it was a strong minority group and would deepen democracy and stand up for the teaming Nigerians that were suffering.

Jack-Rich celebrates wife, Elizabeth on her birthday

By Ikechukwu Okaforadi

ARivers State born oil magnet, Tein Jack-Rich has celebrated his wife on her birthday, saying she remains instrument to gather people in leadership together.

The birthday message which he wrote to her says “Dear Dr. Mrs. Elizabeth Itunuayo JackRich, Your birthday is here again, at a time so needed as instrument to gather Nigerians in leadership, not leaving behind dreamers of all works of life, to share love and break bread.

“I am greatly honored and privileged to say that it came at an occasion of good feat to continue to speak to Nigerians at home and abroad, sharing the need for a new dawn in our great Country.

“Your service to humanity shall fetch the needed cohesion for a rebirth and achieve public good. As your birthday throws the smiles of a new beginning needed for a prosperous and more sustainable future under cutting-edge visionary leadership, participants

shall leave with an embodiment of fulfillment.

“I am sure your birthday celebration shall usher in that hope

for secured peace, renewed hope for the less opportune, supplies for the good and advancement of society. May the smiles of love

on your birthday beautify all in need, filling us with the true love of life and Let Love Lead. Happy Birthday Love”

APC, Tinubu, others oppose consolidation of election petitions

By Vivian Okejeme, Abuja

The All Progressives Congress and it’s presidential candidate in the February 25, presidential election, Bola Tinubu, has opposed the issue of consolidating the petitions as raised by the Presidential Election Petition Court.

The court, had on May 18, disclosed its intention to consolidate all the petitions.

The Justice Haruna Tsammaniled five-member panel of the court said it was empowered by Paragraph 50 of the First Schedule to the Electoral Act, to merge all the petitions and determine them together.

It, therefore, gave counsel for all the petitioners the permission to consult their clients and report back to it with the outcome of the meeting.

Consequently, at the resumed proceedings on Monday, Tinubu’s lawyer argued that provision of the Electoral Act the court referred to, was not absolute.

Arguing through his counsel,Chief Akin Olujinmi, SAN, held that merging all the petitions would adversely affect his ability to effectively defend all the issues that were raised against him by the petitioners.

“My lords, when the exercise of power is subject to limitation of some conditions, then it cannot be

said that the exercise is mandatory.

“There are issues raised in one petition that are not there in others. The issues vary. The same goes for evidential issues that are based on pleadings that have been exchanged by parties in this case.

“My lords, the issue of justice should be a restraint on the power of this court to exercise its discretion in granting the order for consolidation,” Tinubu pleaded, stressing that the petitioners did not only raise various issues against him, but equally seeking different reliefs.

Counsel to the Allied Peoples Movement, S. A Abubakar said the party will not be opposed to consolidation of the petition, while

the INEC’s lawyer, said “We are neither in support or opposition but however, we leave it at the PEPC’s discretion. We are neutral on the issue” Pinhero said.

However, the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, said though it was not opposed to the proposed consolidation of the petition, it would leave the issue to the court’s discretion.

Aside from Alhaji Atiku Abubakar of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, who came second in the election, and Mr. Peter Obi of the Labour Party, LP, who came third, the Allied Peoples Movement, APM, equally lodged a petition to challenge the outcome of the presidential election.

Chairman, APC Presidential Support Committee Chairmen Forum (PSCCF), Oyo State and South-west Leader, Iyiola Aremu-Olayiwola (4th L); Chairman of the Forum, Mr Elijah Ettah-Thompson (5th L); Chairman, Kaduna State and North-west Leader, Alhaji Abdulmajeed Buhari (M) and others, during

UBEC boss calls for strategies to tackle basic education challenges

Maryam Abeeb

The Executive Secretary, Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC), Hamid Bobboyi has called on the need to strategise and finding ways to understand the educational challenges in basic education and how best to address them.

Bobboyi disclosed this in Abuja at a One-Day Basic Education Colloquium in honour and memory of the pioneer executive secretary of the commission, Prof. Gidado Tahir.

The Colloquium has the theme:’The Nigerian Child: Dynamics of Educational Opportunities.

Bobboyi said that the idea of the colloquium was to project the kind of dynamics and challenges within the basic education subsector in the area of funding, school attendance and teacher development within the context of the legacies of Tahir.

He said the late Tahir through his giant stride in the sector was able to bring a minimum of five million children back to school.

According to him,Tahir has been one of the key promoter of basic education in the country

as he founded the National Commission for Normadic Education (NCEE) and UBEC .

Speaking on the number of out-of-school children in the country, he said that the National Population Commission (NPC) through the conduct of census could give the accurate figure of the Out-of-School children.

‘’ There is need for us to strategies and get involved in projects, we need to engage, discuss and strategies in the project that can help understand these challenges and how best to address them.

‘’We have just finished the report for 2022 National

Personnel Audit (NPA)- the schools census and assessment of learning in the education sector that will give us idea on the extent the children are learning and areas of difficulties.

‘’The report is almost ready but we need the population figure of the different age group to ascertain the actual number of out-of-school children because the estimate they are making is no longer reliable.

‘’It is the population commission that can give us the accurate figure of the out-ofschool children in the country based on the population of the various local government,” he

said.

The Director of Basic Education, Federal Ministry of Education, Dr Folake OlatunjiDavid, said there was need to tap into the potential of the Nigerian child for local and global opportunities.

Olatunji-David said that the dynamics of these opportunities if harnessed would expose the multidimensional goals of the Nigerian child.

‘’There are dimensional challenges facing the basic education ranging from high level of poverty, high number of Out-of-School Children and others.

‘’The Nigerian government established the commission to tackle some of these challenges and over the years the commission has been working to address these problems.

‘’It is therefore the responsibilities of stakeholders to have a proper study and information in order to understand the challenges and opportunities that we still have,” she said.

Until his death on Jan.13, 2022, the deceased was the Chairman Board, National Commission for Normadic (NCNE) and the pioneer Executive Secretary, UBEC.

Plateau govt promises to end attacks on communities

From Yakubu Mustapha Minna

Plateau state Governor, Simon Bako Lalong has reiterated his commitment and capability in handling the criminals involved in the attacks on communities across Plateau state before leaving office. He was speaking with newsmen after the 4th convocation ceremony of the Ibrahim Badamasi

Babangida University Lapai.

Lalong declared that his government will not fold its hands to see its citizens killed, maimed and displaced.

The Governor stated that the recent attacks by gunmen which left over 117 people dead, several people injured and 20,000 people displaced, said the criminals have started resurfacing because he is about to exit office.

Speaking about his award, Lalong appreciated the state government for honoring him and other awardees with the prestigious Doctorate Degrees saying they would be good ambassadors of the institution.

The Niger state Governor, Alhaji Abubakar Sani Bello said that the IBB University Lapai is working to address the personnel gaps needed in several critical

sectors especially the medical field.

He added that the IBB University is working to improve skills so that graduates will stop the reliance for white collar jobs.

He appreciated the Plateau state Governor and the Chairman, BUA Group, Alhaji AbdulSamad Isyaka Rabiu for their generosity towards the development of the university and its students.

L-R: Administrator, National Judicial Institute(NJI), Justice Salisu Garba Abdullahi; President, National Association of Women Judges, Nigeria, Justice Jummai Sankey; Judges of the Supreme court, Justice Uwani Abba Aji; Justice Kekere-Okun; chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Olukayode Ariwoola and other Judges. during the opening ceremony of the Biennial Conference of the National Association of Women Judges in Nigeria, held at the National Judicial Institute, yesterday in Abuja. Photo:: Mahmud Isa

Bandits kill 17 In Benue community

Guma local government area of Benue State.

A source who pleaded anonymity said the incident occurred on Sunday 21st May, 2023 in the evening.

Confirming the incident Benue State Police Commissioner Julius Okoro said they received information that some persons attacked Nyiev Community on Sunday

night. The CP intimated that seven dead bodies have been found, adding that one of the attackers was killed.

“They were confronted by

men of Operstion Whirl Stroke, OPWS, 401 Special Brigade Forces, the Police and state volunteer guard. Investigations into the incident is ongoing”, CP Okoro said.

Dangote refinery, game changer for Nigeria’s economy -Buhari

By Egena Sunday Ode

President Muhammadu Buhari Monday

inaugurated Dangote Petroleum Refinery in IbejuLekki, Lagos, which is expected to enable Nigeria to achieve selfsufficiency in refined products and even have surplus for export.

Speaking at the occasion attended by Heads of State from Ghana, Togo, Niger, Senegal and a representative of the President of Chad, the President described the feat as a significant milestone for Nigeria’s economy and a game changer for the downstream petroleum products market in the entire African region.

‘‘This mega industry we are commissioning today is a clear example of what can be achieved when entrepreneurs are encouraged and supported and when an enabling environment is created for investments and for businesses to thrive.

‘‘I am confident that my successor, His Excellency Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, will sustain the improvement in our economic and business environment and strengthen the framework of our public private partnership policies to accelerate the pace of our economic growth and development.

‘‘I am happy to leave our economy in very competent hands,’’ he said.

The President who commended Alhaji Aliko Dangote’s leadership in executing the 650,000 barrels per day refinery urged other entrepreneurs to emulate his example in driving economic growth and realizing Nigeria’s economic potential.

He stressed the need for African countries to come together, integrate their economies, eliminate trade barriers, and rally their populations to achieve Agenda 2063 for the continent’s prosperity.

‘‘I urge and encourage our other great entrepreneurs to emulate this iconic Nigerian industrialist and join the Government in accelerating our growth in order to realize our country’s globally recognized economic potential.

‘‘When I travel around Africa and meet and engage

my brother Heads of State (and I am delighted some of their Excellences are here) I often sense a quiet expectation that our country is blessed with resources and human capacity to lead Africa’s rise to economic prosperity and the attainment of Agenda 2063 - ‘The Africa we all want.’

‘‘But to achieve the goals of Agenda 2063, Africa must come together - we must integrate our economies, eliminate barriers to trade and energize our youthful population to scale up our productive capacity.

‘‘We must create necessary conditions for our private sector to grow and partner with the public sector to accelerate economic growth across the continent.

‘‘We must not allow outside powers to use some of our leaders to destabilize our economic and political trajectory,’’ he said.

President Buhari acknowledged the visionary investments made by the Dangote Group, under the leadership of Dangote, in transforming Nigeria’s economy through its involvement in critical industries such as cement and fertilizer.

He noted that investment in these sectors have played a crucial role in shifting Nigeria from heavy import dependence to becoming a net exporter.

President Buhari acknowledged that Nigeria’s economy has faced significant challenges over the years, including deficits in economic infrastructure, insurgency, and external crises such as the Global Financial Crisis, oil price collapses, the COVID-19 pandemic, and the RussiaUkraine war.

‘‘The consequence of these challenges constitute a severe strain on our economy, limiting Government’s ability to provide basic infrastructure without resorting to huge borrowings.

‘‘Our Government, therefore, took the decision to focus attention on creating an enabling environment for the private sector to thrive and fill the enormous gap in investments not only in infrastructure but also in all critical sectors.

‘‘We recognize that without the active participation of the private sector and a strong

commitment to public private partnership, our economy would continue to remain severely challenged and our economic growth impeded.

‘‘Government therefore, will and should continue to provide an enabling environment and encourage innovative public private partnerships in all sectors of our economy,’’ he said.

The President emphasized the administration’s commitment to this approach, citing Executive Order 007 of 2019 which facilitated the rehabilitation/construction of many roads by private sector investors using a Tax-credit scheme.

‘‘It is my hope that the succeeding Administration will continue to apply such innovative schemes in partnership with the private sector to accelerate the provision of critical infrastructure in particular roads, power and gas pipelines,’’ he said.

Alhaji Aliko Dangote emphasised the refinery’s role in fulfilling the group’s corporate vision of promoting self-sufficiency and global competitiveness.

‘’We have built a Refinery with a capacity to process 650,000 barrels per day (plus 900,000 tonnes of polypropylene) in a single train

– which is the largest in the world. We have selected the best plants and equipment and the latest technologies from across the world.

‘’Our products slate is designed to meet the highest quality standards and highvalue products including Premium Motor Spirit (PMS), Automotive Gas Oil (Diesel), Aviation Turbine Kerosine (ATK); all of Euro V Standards that will enable us not only meet our Country’s demand but also to become a key player in the African and global market.

‘’Our coastal location and offshore loading and offloading (SPM) facilities with a capacity to receive all our crude oil supplies and evacuate up to 75% of our liquid products give us direct access to the rest of Africa and the global market for exports. In addition, 80 percent of our production can be discharged through trucks nationwide.’’

He disclosed that the huge investment of over $18.5billion in this industry was prompted by the company’s desire to support and contribute its quota to the Federal Government’s sustained effort to transform the economy and reposition Nigeria as the leading nation in Africa, and a respected member among emerging economies in the

world.

According to him, apart from ensuring a consistent supply of high-quality fuels for the transportation sector, the refinery will provide essential raw materials to a wide range of manufacturing sectors, including plastics, pharmaceuticals, food and beverages, packaging, construction, and more.

He further stated that the refinery’s operation and related businesses would generate a substantial number of job opportunities, while the downstream supply and distribution of its products would significantly contribute to the absorption of labor, potentially benefiting hundreds of thousands of individuals.

‘’Once our plant is fully on stream, we expect that at least 40% of the capacity will be available for export and this will result in significant Foreign Exchange inflows into the country.

Overall, we are committed to operating our Plant in line with international best practice requirements, recognizing the importance of protecting the environment, and putting in place stringent environmental, health and safety policies to ensure that the Refinery operates in a safe and sustainable manner,’’ he said.

Representative of the Governor of Plateau, Bomkam Wuyep (L) with the representative of the DirectorGeneral, Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON), Sale Babaji, during the signing of Memorandum of Understanding between Plateau State Government and SON in Jos on Monday (22/5/23). 01681/22/5/2023/Sunday Adah/JMH/NAN

From Uche Nnorom, Makurdi

More than 17 persons have been reportedly killed by unknown bandits in Nyiev Community of

We’ll continue to ensure safety of schools —NSCDC boss

By Tobias Lengnan Dapam

The Command General Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) Ahmed Audi, has said that the corps will continue to ensure safety of schools in the country:

Audi, stated this on Monday in Abuja, during the opening session of the capacity building courses for safe schools administrators and managers.

He said today’s event marks the commencement of a series of training programmes lined up for Critical Stakeholders to support in driving the process of implementation of the National plan on Safe School (NPSS) in Nigeria.

“The National plan on Safe School is a product of series of consultative engagement with relevant stakeholders at National and sub–National levels of government in Nigeria, aimed at protecting school, learners, teachers, non–teaching staff and host communities from attacks.

“The whole idea of the Safe

School plan is in recognition of the prevalence of cases of attacks and violence in Nigeria schools and its devastating impact on schools and host communities. It is estimated that 75% (according to the UNDP) of children are in IDP Camps without access to learning. To further worsen the situation, parents are scared to send their children to schools thereby contributing to the high rate of out – of school children in the country.

“The National Safe School Plan being financed by the Federal Ministry of Finance, Budget and National Planning rolled out strategies for implementation assigning the NSCDC the role of the lead agency. This decision was taken cognizant of the Lead Role of the Corps in the protection of Critical National Assets and Infrastructure inclusive of schools/ educational institutions.

“It is worthy of mention that the National Safe Schools Response Coordination Centre (NSSRCC) is one of the critical components of the implementation strategy saddled with the responsibility of

coordinating Safety and security responses for schools and host communities in collaboration with all security agencies and other relevant stakeholders.

He added that the centre was flagged off at the Headquarters of the NSCDC on 13th February, 2023 by the Minister, Federal Ministry of Finance, Budget and National Planning, Mrs (DR) Zainab S. Ahmed. “The flag off signalled the commencement of implementation of the Safe School Program. To underscore the importance attached to this program, I immediately inaugurated a Committee of Experts to develop a Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) and implementation framework to guide the operation of the centre in line with global best practise.

“The Committee had since completed its assignment and had officially presented the draft SOP on the 7th of March 2023. The Draft SOP was further subjected to Validation by Relevant Stakeholders through a Validation Workshop held

on 23rd March, 2023. I have further directed the Commander of the NSSRCC to ensure that the SOP is disseminated to all the stakeholders for proper utilization/implementation.

“Honourable Minister, Distinguished Guests, the implementation strategy for the Safe School Plan emphasises capacity building and awareness creation of stakeholders at the first phase of the implementation.

“I want to use this opportunity to inform this gathering that the task ahead of the Corps as the lead agency is onerous. Let me further stress the fact that the NSSRCC is the Government Institution saddled with direct responsibility of protecting schools and host communities. The whole world is now looking upon the Corps and Nigeria as a Nation on how effective coordination of responses to school attacks and violence could be achieved. I Therefore charge all course participants who have been carefully selected to be committed and dedicated to the success of this project.”

Representative of the Chief of Army Staff, Maj.-Gen. Musa EtsuNdagi (5th R); former Chief of Army Staff, and Chairman of Board of MLAILPKC, representative of the Minister State for Budget and National Planning, Dr Philip Ugbodaga (4th L); retired Lt.-Gen. Martin Luther Agwai (5th L); Team Lead Peace and Security, United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), Mr Matthew Alao (2nd L) and dignitaries and participants, during the opening ceremony of the protection of Civilian in Armed Conflict Course organised MLAILPKC in partnership with UNDP and Embassy of Japan, yesterday in Abuja.

FG launches passport front office in Auchi, promises home delivery of passport

The Federal Government has launched an additional Passport Front Office in Auchi, Edo State, as part of it’s effort towards effective service delivery to Nigerians. This is just as it promised to launch a home delivery service of passport.

The Minister of Interior, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, who spoke at the opening of the Nigeria Immigration Service Passport Front Desk Office in Auchi, Edo State, on Saturday, 20th May, 2023, said that it is the intention of the Government to provide the passport for anyone desirous of it within reasonable time, at affordable price and without any stress.

According to him, the launch of another Passport Front Desk Office is significant as the Nigerian Passport is a proof of existence especially for those outside the country as Inability to produce it on demand may bring untoward consequences.

“What we are doing here is significant for two main reasons. The first is the right (and even the necessity) of Nigerians, especially those in the diaspora to hold the Nigerian passport. Except for those

SCI took road safety campaign to Abuja schools

By Tobias Lengnan Dapam

Save the Children International (SCI), on Friday took road safety campaigns to schools in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).

The campaign which was in line with United Nations (UN) week for road safety was meant to sensitize road users on the need to observe road safety rules.

Speaking at Junior Secondary School Life Camp, FCT, SCI Head of Safety and security, Peter Adomi, said SCI focused on children to ensure their safety on the road and at traffic areas.

“We are sensitizing them to observe various rules on the roads. We have been to other schools and we are happy with the campaign because we are educating the children to understand the various challenges on the roads.”

Speaking on the theme, ‘Zebra crossing’, he said SCI is educating them on Zebra crossing because “our drivers don’t understand road signs. If the children know how to use the Zebra crossing, it will be easier for them to access the road.”

He said they are not only talking to the children but also talking to drivers, road users and commuters.

He said statistics revealed that road transport crashes are more around private schools.

travelling outside the country or intend to, most of those who hold the passport do so for identification purposes. For some, it is also a thing of pride to be able to brandish the green back of the passport. But for those outside the country, the passport is the proof of their existence. Inability to produce it on demand may bring untoward consequences. The government therefore wants to provide the passport for anyone desirous of it within reasonable time, at affordable price and without any stress whatsoever.

The second is the need, flowing from the first, to break out of the regular”, he maintained.”

While speaking, the Minister promised to conclude negotiations with NIPOST on the usage of its speedy mail service to start delivering passport to Nigerians who opt for such service.

“We are in the final stage of concluding negotiations with NIPOST to begin using its speed mail service to deliver passports to Nigerians wherever they are in the world after production,” the Minister remarked.

Aregbesola, while stating that Edo State has one of the highest passport applications in Nigeria, revealed that the waiting period between application and collection would likely increase due to the recent increase in demand.

In his words; “Our current working schedule is that fresh application would take six weeks after biometric data registration and three weeks for renewal. This is reasonable, competitive and in line the global best practices.

The challenge however is the waiting period at the point of application and data registration.

All applicants will be put on a queue, depending on the centre of their choice, to determine the registration date. Regrettably, it might take two months in some highly competitive centres where application is very high. We have no control over this.

He however said that the Federal Government is intentional about opening more front desk offices, in order to increase the registration centres and reduce the waiting period before biometric data capture.

“It is our projection that by the time we open more front offices like this, the waiting period will not be more than three days. Indeed, the more front offices we have, the less the waiting period. Our long term plan will be to involve private operators who will provide the lounge for a fee, but the equipment and personnel will be provided by the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS)”, he added.

Commending the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) for improving on their services, which includes issuance of top quality passport booklet, Aregbesola affirmed that Nigeria is among the first five countries in the world and the first in Africa to have the enhanced e-passport.

Adding that “The reform introduced to the NIS led to the Automated Passport issuance process which has eliminated touts and racketeers in Passport administration, introduction of E-border Management, MIDAS and the commencement of E-Passport across Passport Control Offices and Diplomatic Missions.

“That’s where you have the largest traffic of school pickup and drop off and that’s where you find people being in a hurry to dash in and out to pick their children . Our focus is that children needs to know what to do.”

Also speaking, Advocacy Campaign and Policy Manager, SCI, Edith Gumut Nankiling, said the week was a busy week as SCI engaged with organisations like Federal Road Safety Corps, FRSC, VIO and Secondary schools in the FCT to create awareness on why children should obey road safety rules.

“We will continue to work with the FRSC and school management to see how we can establish a road safety club and use those platforms to engage with the children and consistently see how they get to obey with road safety rules.

“We also had a quiz and gave gifts of T-shirts to 10 students from each schools who answered our questions on road safety.”

FG inaugurates ‘NigComHealth’ to improve health sector

The Federal Ministry of Communications and Digital Economy on Monday inaugurated “NigComHealth’ platform to transform the healthcare sector in the country.

The Minister, Prof. Isa Pantami, unveiled the Nigeria Communications Satellite (NIGCOMSAT) Limited virtual health platform (NigComHealth) in Abuja.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports NigComHealth is a telehealth service which provides a platform for Nigerians to book appointments, receive medical advice or recommendation and consult with physicians and other healthcare practitioners from their homes, offices schools and localities.

Represented by his Chief of staff, Prof. Sahalu Junaid,Pantami said

the platform would promote a more efficient and effective healthcare system that could be accessible to all Nigerians.

” This will also improve the capacity of our healthcare professionals to deliver quality services, by leveraging technology to reach out to patients in the remote areas with less cost and physical stress.

“NigComHealth is a significant milestone in our efforts to improve the quality of life of all Nigerians.

” This platform will enable us to harness the benefits of technology and access a broader range of doctors and medical experts to deliver quality healthcare services, thereby ensuring that every Nigerian can access the care they need, when they need it,” Pantami said.

He said that NigComHealth would bridge the gap in healthcare access and promoting health equity across the country.

The minister also said access to the services would not only reduce the burden of physical hospital visits but also enhance the overall quality of healthcare services for citizens.

He said that the launch of NigComHealth aligns with the Federal Government’s vision to promote digital transformation and boost economic activities in Nigeria.

Pantami commended the private sector partners who had collaborated with the government to make NigComHealth a reality.

” I also urge all Nigerians to embrace this service and take advantage of the opportunities it presents to achieve our goal of

promoting health equity throughout the country.

” Let us work together to promote a healthier Nigeria through digital transformation,” Pantami said.

The Canadian High Commissioner to Nigeria, James Christoff, said the NigComHealth would be a changer in improving health outcomes, especially in underserved and remote areas.

“The technology has been developed with the vision and strategic objective of having over 80 Federal and state owned government hospitals coexist on the platform.

” And the platform is also meant to provide digital health services to 1.7 million public sector workers and their families in Nigeria,” he said.

FG unveils gender, environmental reporting framework for extractive industries

The Federal Government on Tuesday launched Gender and Environmental Reporting Frameworks in Extractive Industries to meet Nigeria’s reporting obligation to the global Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (EITI).

The Minister of Finance, Budget and National Planning, Dr Zainab Ahmed unveiled the frameworks in Abuja during her visit to the Nigeria Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (NEITI) permanent office.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the frameworks were developed by NEITI in line with global EITI requirements and standards to resolve lingering issues and enhance reporting in areas of gender and environment in the oil, gas and mining sectors.

She said the frameworks would help in resolving lingering negative impact of oil, gas and mineral exploration in host communities, and reduce widening gender disparity in extractive industries.

The minister, who served as NEITI’s Executive Secretary before being appointed in 2015 as a member of the cabinet, lauded NEITI’s management’s achievements, adding that the frameworks represented another milestone recorded by NEITI.

She commended President Muhammadu Buhari’s commitment towards strengthening Nigeria’s EITI as evident in the government’s prioritisation of NEITI in allocating resources to enable the agency execute its role in the industry.

“From its initial mandate to disclose extractive output and revenue, to data mainstreaming, contracts and beneficial ownership disclosure and currently, gender and environmental reporting and energy transition, I have been part of the process,” she said.

Buhari commission’s NSCDC’s command, staff college

By Tobias Lengnan Dapam

President Muhammadu

Buhari, on Friday, commissioned the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps’ Command and Staff College, Jos, Plateau State and inaugurated 500 Course 1 participants, nominated from various commands and formations of the Corps across the nation.

The President who was ably represented by the former Head of State, Gen. Yakubu Gowon (Rtd), GCFR, commended the CG and the Corps for its steady growth and urged full compliance with the demands of the training program.

“I encourage all participants to ensure they maximise the opportunity afforded them by the training and ensure they exhibit high level of discipline during the course and in the discharge of their

duties.

“The command and staff college will provide you with the knowledge and opportunity you need to progress in your career.

“It will make you more disciplined, professional, and proactive on the job and your service to the nation” the President said.

Speaking during the inauguration of the course 1 participants, the Governor of Plateau State, RT. Hon. Barr Simon Lalong, said that the Corps’ contribution to peace building in the state informed his decision to construct and donate the command and Staff College to the corps.

The Governor expressed optimism that the Command course will further enhance effective performance of duties and improve the regimental orientation of personnel of the Corps.

“I am optimistic that the training meant for the participants will further emboldened them to contribute their quota in a professional manner that will bring about peace in the state and the country,” Lalong said.

The Commandant General (CG), Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) Dr Ahmed Abubakar Audi, mni, OFR, appreciates President Muhammadu Buhari, for providing the enabling environment for the Corps to thrive.

“I thank Mr president for the provision of logistics support and for believing in the existence of the service as a full fledged paramilitary agency of the Federal Government.

“The Corps has been working in tandem with your vision of providing security for citizens and protecting critical national

assets and infrastructure and we will sustain this feat without disappointing you,” CG said.

Dr Audi appreciated the Executive Governor of Plateau State for constructing and donating the NSCDC’ Command and Staff College as part of his legacy projects.

He assured him that the Corps remained joyfully committed to the provision of safety and security of lives and property of the good people of Plateau State and Nigeria as a whole.

The CG urged the pioneer participants of the career progression development course at the Command and Staff College to be disciplined, committed, loyal and dedicated.

“As participants of course 1, you are going to be a model and a point of reference to others that will come after you.

Ahmed appealed to the incoming administration to strengthen anti-corruption agencies and reform-minded institutions like NEITI in its economic policy agenda considering the agency’s unique national and international mandates.

“Through its regular oil, gas and mining audits, publications of timely policy papers, NEITI is well-positioned to guide and shape government policies in the energy sector and contribute to robust economic and public finance management in Nigeria,’..

Earlier, Mr Olusegun Adeyemi, Chairman, National Stakeholders’ Working Group (The Board) of NEITI), said the frameworks would guide stakeholders to disclose data and information on environment payments in extractive industry.

He said it would guide stakeholders on impacts, monitoring and management as well as information disclosure on gender parity, participation and employment in the industry.

From left: Member, House of representing Ilaje/ẸsẸ Odo Federal Constituency, Victor Akinjo; representative of Minister of Niger Delta Affairs, Mr Tajudeen Fasasi; Head of Operations, National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), Èkìtì and Ondo States, Mr Olanrewaju Kadiri; Deputy Director, Planning and Statistics, Ministry of Niger Delta Affairs, Mr Yinka Arogundade and representative of BalẸ Aiyetoro, Igbokoda LG, Mr Sunday Omogbemi, during at the distribution of Presidential Palliatives to 2022 Flood Victims yesterday in Akure, Ondo State.

By Vivian Okejeme, Abuja

The President, National Association of Women Judges, Nigeria (NAWJN), Hon. Justice Jummai

Hannatu Sankey has described as impressive the statistical breakdown of women Judges in the country, urging women not to rest on their oars but strive to excel in their various jurisdictions.

Sankey stated this on Monday while delivering a welcome address at the 2023 biennial national conference/general meeting of the association held at the National Judicial Institute (NJI) in Abuja.

The theme of the conference is: The Woman Judge in the 21st century.

Sankey, who harped on the urgent need to end violence

Group calls for immediate suspension of EFCC chairman

By Abubakar Yunus, Abuja

North Central Citizens Council,(NCCC) has called for the immediate suspension of the Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, Mr. Abdulrasheed Bawa.

The group also demanded the federal government to begin a thorough investigation into several allegations against him, especially for the fact that the commission has suffered a lot of setbacks as it relates to corruption.

The National Coordinator of the group,Comrade Mohammed Eneji made the call while addressing journalists in Abuja.

He said one of the allegations is that the Chairman recently spent a large amount of money to the tune of $300,000 for hotels and other activities, which is far and beyond his income as a civil servant, during a visit to Mecca with his family on a lesser Hajj.

According to him, “We are calling on the relevant authorities to initiate a proper investigation into Bawa’s spending spree in Saudi Arabia and also his involvement in concealing and/or obstructing the investigation into the death of Abel Isah.

“We are also calling on the Senate Presidency to halt any plans for the confirmation of Bawa as a substantive EFCC Chairman until the conclusion of the investigation, as doing so will send the wrong signal to Nigerians”.

Speaking,Muhammed explained that the flamboyant lifestyle of Abdulrasheed Bawa has always raised suspicion as to the income of the embattled Chairman.

Women Judges closer to 35 percent affirmative action – NAWJN President

against women and children in the society, assured participants that the conference would better equip them to overcome challenges in the line of duty as judges, wives, mothers, daughters, sisters and leaders serving humanity.

On the much craved gender inclusion, Sankey noted that the number of female judges, head of courts judiciary officials both at states and federal level has been commendable so far,

urging appointments of more women judges to leadership positions in the judiciary to enhance gender inclusivity.

She said: “Currently, the percentage of women judges in Nigeria is 32% just as the number of judicial officials, head of courts has also been encouraging.

“Statistics discloses that in the judiciary, women are closer than other arms of government to the 35% affirmative action

advocated,”

“It is apparent that gender inclusivity in the composition and leadership of the bench at all levels has been embraced in the Nigerian judiciary,”

She then thanked the administrator of the institute, Justice Salisu Garba Abdulahi for readily collaborating with NAWJN and for facilitating the conference.

Giving a keynote address, the Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice

Olukayode Ariwoola noted that beyond building their capacity, the meeting would also be an avenue to cross fertilize ideas on how to eradicate violence against women and girl- child in the country.

In a brief speech, the current President, International Association of Women Judges (IAWJ), Justice Binta Nyako tasked women judges to rally support and directions to attain success.

Confusion in the Kaduna community as bulldozers set to demolish structures

From Femi Oyelola, Kaduna

There was pandemonium in the Gbagyi Villa community on the outskirts of Kaduna metropolis, as bulldozers allegedly on the orders of the Kaduna State Urban Development Authority (KASUPDA) reached the area with an intent to demolish buildings.

According to a source, “the Kaduna State Government has started embarking on demolition exercise in the Gbagi Villa community and the affected people in the area took to the street to resist the bulldozers.”

“An eye witness in the community said women barricaded the roads and youth in the area started stoning at the bulldozers trying to stop the demolition from happening.”

However, in response to the aggrieved youth, “security personnel started shooting at protesters to scare them off.”

Women were heard in a video that went viral on Monday afternoon, wailing and shouting that “ they have started shooting, they’ve come to kill us!”

ProHealth stakeholders must be adequately rewarded for investment, Chairman re-assures

By Albert Akota

The Board Chairman of the proHealth HMO limited

,Gabriel Okonwa has vowed to do everything possible within his reach to ensure stakeholders are rewarded adequately for smooth running of the company as well as meeting its laid down aims and objectives.

The Chairman who disclosed this yesterday during its 13th annual meeting in Abuja, said he would galvanized all performances center of the company to meet its target.

According to him, the year under review was one of mixed

fortunes for the Company; Profit before Tax (PBT) increased from Thirty Million, Four Hundred and Twenty Six Thousand and Fourteen Naira (N30, 426, 014) to Forty Million, One Hundred and Twenty-Five Thousand, Three Hundred and Forty-One Naira (N40, 125, 341), representing a thirtytwo percent (32%) increment. But the Company’s revenue in the area of its core business decreased by one percent (1%) from Nine Hundred and SixtyTwo Million and Five Thousand, Seven Hundred and Ten Naira (N962, 005, 710) to Nine Hundred and Fifty-two Million, Four Hundred and Nineteen

Thousand, One Hundred and Ninety-Two Naira (N952, 419, 192).

He noted that, other sources of income decreased by five percent (5%) from Sixteen Million, Six Hundred and Two Thousand and Twenty-Eight Naira (N16, 602. 028) to Fifteen Million, Seven Hundred and Fifty-Four Thousand, Nine Hundred and Fifty-Two Naira (N15, 754,952).

“The total revenue accruable to the Company reduced from Nine Hundred and SeventyEight Million, Six Hundred and Seven Thousand, Seven Hundred and Thirty-Eight Naira (N978, 607, 738) to

Nine Hundred and Sixty-Eight Million, One Hundred and Seventy-Four Thousand, One Hundred and Forty-Nine Naira (N968, 174, 149), representing a one percent (1%) decrease.”

However, he said there was a marginal increase in the total assets from Nine Hundred and Ninety-Nine Million, Five Hundred and Twenty-Six Thousand, Seven Hundred and Eighty-One Naira (N999, 526, 781) to One Billion and TwentyThree Million, Nine Hundred and Seventy-Three Thousand, Two Hundred and Eighty Naira (N1, 023, 973, 280), representing a two percent (2%) increase.

There was no report of any casualty so far, but some residents of the community were seen in groups on Monday evening, discussing over the development.

Inauguration of 150 Seater Hall for NUJ Oyo State Council Pic.12. From left: Former National President of NUJ, Prince Lanre Ogundipe; Founder, Ibadan Central Hospital, Dr Abib Olamitoye; Chairman NUJ, Chief Demola Babalola, during the inauguration of 150 Seater Hall for NUJ Oyo State Council, yesterday

Climate Change: FMARD trains 40 farmers on resilient practices in Yobe

From Mohammed Maitela, Damaturu

To address climate change and boost agricultural productivity, the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (FMARD) in collaboration with Yobe state government on Thursday held

a two- day emergency training and demonstration of climate resilient practice in maize and wheat production.

The FMARD also empowered farmers and agric extension agent with starter packs (input) in Damaturu, Yobe state capital.

While opening the training, the Minister of Agriculture

and Rural Development, Dr. Mohammad Mahmood Abubakar said the training was initiated to teach farmers smart agricultural practices to mitigate the negative impacts of climate change on crops production nation wide.

The Minister, represented by FMARD’s assistant director,

Sulaiman Musa, said that at the end of the training, farmers would be empowered with agricultural inputs such as fertiliser, herbicide, wheat and maize improve seed as stater pack to boost wheat and maize production in the state.

For his part, the Programme Manager, Yobe state

Former Agric Minister urges govt to prioritize education

From Yakubu Mustapha, Minna

Former Minister of Agriculture, Professor Sheikh Ahmed Abdullah has urged the governments at all levels to give the required priority to educational sector to achieve development, promote social harmony and curb social vices especially among the youth.

He made this known while delivering the 4th combined convocation lecture, themed: ‘Building Bridge Between Community Elites, Education, Youth, University and

Challenges for Development in the 21st Century’, at the Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida University, Lapai, Niger State.

Prof Abdullah further revealed that neglecting the youth portends a great risk to the progress of the country and her image at the international community, hence the need for community renewal, empowerment of Nigerian youth and building of a solid interconnectivity between ruling elites and the ordinary citizens to make Nigeria.

Sheikh Abdullah who lectures in ABU Zaria challenged

Nigerian Universities to adapt to changes in teaching and learning across the world especially the full adoption of ICT to enable their graduates fit into global ways of doing businesses and make themselves relevant to the country’s development.

He said about 70 percent of qualified Nigerians lack access to quality and skillful education that would make productive citizens after graduation, lamented that obtaining certificates in Nigerian schools have been monetized leading to production graduates without skills even in the areas they have studied.

In his remarks, the Vice Chancellor of IBB University, Professor Abu Kasim Adamu has applauded the state government for its support thus far, adding that the 4th combined convocation marked another milestones in the journey of development of the Institution .

The chairman of the event and Niger state deputy governor, Alhaji Ahmed Mohammed Ketso stated that building bridges between community elites, youths and university students required intentional effort and a commitment to working together towards common goals.

Agricultural Development Programme (ADP), Alhaji Ali Kolo Geidam show that, the training in the state on climate resilient practices will boost productivity of farmers in the two crop value changes.

Represented by the director agric services, Mohammed Mallam, he commended the ministry for initiating such a Programme in the state.

He adds that the knowledge and experience acquired by the farmers would go along way to boost production and yields in the state.

Plateau govt promises to end attacks on communities

From Yakubu Mustapha Minna

Plateau state Governor, Simon Bako Lalong has reiterated his commitment and capability in handling the criminals involved in the attacks on communities across Plateau state before leaving office.

He was speaking with newsmen after the 4th convocation ceremony of the Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida University Lapai.

Lalong declared that his government will not fold its hands to see its citizens killed, maimed and displaced.

The Governor stated that the recent attacks by gunmen which left over 117 people dead, several people injured and 20,000 people displaced, said the criminals have started resurfacing because he is about to exit office.

Speaking about his award, Lalong appreciated the state government for honoring him and other awardees with the prestigious Doctorate Degrees saying they would be good ambassadors of the institution.

Director of Legal, Ministry of Niger Delta Affairs, Mrs Serah Okunade (4th R), handing over signed documents for the distribution of Presidential Palliatives for Year 2022 flood victims in Imo State, to the Head of Operation National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), Owerri, Mr Nnaji Ifeanyi (2nd L), during the ceremony at the NEMA ware house in Owerri on Monday (22/5/23). With them are, Commissioner, State Ministry Niger/Delta, Dr Henry Okafor (L) and other government officials.

Gbajabiamila felicitates Falana at 65

By Christiana Ekpa

The Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rep. Femi Gbajabiamila, has congratulated legal icon and human rights activist, Femi Falana, on his

65 years birthday celebration.

Gbajabiamila said Falana’s footprints in the sands of time in the development of law and Nigerian society are undeniable.

The Speaker said: “I join millions of Nigerians to celebrate

our legal luminary, Femi Falana, who has spent his whole life advocating for a fair and equitable society.

“It is no mean feat to be dedicated to advocating for good governance and a better life for the

poor and underprivileged because it is a big sacrifice.

“It is my prayer that the almighty God will grant the Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) longer life, good health and more wisdom to keep serving the country”.

The Niger state Governor, Alhaji Abubakar Sani Bello said that the IBB University Lapai is working to address the personnel gaps needed in several critical sectors especially the medical field.

He added that the IBB University is working to improve skills so that graduates will stop the reliance for white collar jobs.

He appreciated the Plateau state Governor and the Chairman, BUA Group, Alhaji AbdulSamad Isyaka Rabiu for their generosity towards the development of the university and its students.

SOFPON provides free surgical intervention for Lagos residents

The Society of Family Physicians of Nigeria (SOFPON) has conducted free surgical intervention for 60 residents of Lagos State to reduce morbidity and risk of death from common medical conditions.

Dr Sixtus Ozuomba, Chairman, SOFPON, Lagos chapter, said this during the association’s surgical outreach in celebration of the World Family Doctors Day on Saturday in Lagos.

The day celebrated annually on May 19 has as its theme: ‘Family Doctors: The Heart of Primary Care’, emphasising the critical role of family doctors in delivering compassionate and patientcentred care to their patients.

Ozuomba noted that basic surgical procedures were among the most cost-effective health interventions that could prevent avoidable deaths, boost welfare and economic productivity.

He, however, said that poverty

and affordability of surgical care was a huge challenge for many Nigerians, irrespective of the part of the country where they resided.

According to him, to bridge the gap of accessibility to surgical procedures, SOFPON organised free surgical intervention for lipoma, breast lump, ingrown toenail, ganglion, hernia and other day cases surgery.

He said that 60 people would benefit from the intervention which was held at Onikan General Hospital and General Hospital, Odan, Lagos.

Ozuomba said the surgeries funded from the dues and levies of SOFPON members was to complement the Lagos State Government’s efforts in ensuring qualitative healthcare for its citizens.

Speaking on the theme of the 2023 celebration, Ozuomba said that family physicians were reputed for providing comprehensive,

continuous and coordinated healthcare to individuals, families and communities.

Ozuomba said that family doctors also advocated on behalf of their patients as it regarded government’s policies and actions.

“We have a lot of competent areas, what people have been saying is the medical aspects, we are not limited by disease entity, age or sex of the patients.

“Surgery is also an aspect of the competent areas of a family physician. We decided to showcase that this year and let people benefit from it.

“Some people that have been finding it difficult to get into the healthcare system are seizing the opportunity to come in,” he said.

He noted that brain drain was affecting all specialties of the health sector, especially the family doctors whom he said were in high demand due to their competence that cuts across specialties.

Similarly, Dr Oghide Oziegbe, Secretary of SOFPON, said the free surgical intervention would relieve many beneficiaries from pain and discomfort which they have had for years but could not treat due to paucity of funds.

Oziegbe noted that the beneficiaries had undergone free laboratory tests and assessments to assess their fitness for the surgery.

He noted that 40 per cent of the patients were booked for hernia surgery, while breast lumps took the other number followed by procedures for ganglion, lipoma and ingrown toenail.

Also, Dr Madewa Adebajo, Medical Director, Onikan General Hospital, said the surgical intervention had assisted to eliminate out-of-pocket expenses for beneficiaries, advising residents to register for the Ilera Eko health insurance plan to ensure access to healthcare

services.

He also appealed to healthcare personnel to shun braindrain, saying that the state had improved its infrastructure and curriculum to encourage career progression.

Earlier, Prof. Akin Abayomi, Lagos State Commissioner for Health, said the state was committed to ensuring the provision of quality and affordable healthcare services to residents, irrespective of their socioeconomic status.

Abayomi said that Ilera Eko which connoted the wellbeing and health of all residents of Lagos state was created to achieve universal health coverage for Lagos residents.

He called on all residents to prioritise their health and buy into the Lagos State Health Scheme, while commending SOFPON for its efforts in supporting government to bridge access to quality medical care for citizens. (NAN)

PEPC:

Court dismisses request for live coverage of proceedings

By Vivian Okejeme, Abuja

The Presidential Election Petition Court, PEPC, sitting in Abuja, has dismissed the application seeking for a live telecast of the proceedings on petitions challenging the outcome of the 2023 presidential election.

The two contenders, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and Peter Obi of the Labour Party(LP) had in separate applications asked the court for a live broadcast of the proceeding.

However, the Justice Haruna Tsammani-led five member panel in a joint ruling dismissed the application for lacking in merit, adding that no regulatory framework or policy direction, permitted it to grant such application.

Dismissing the motion, the court held that allowing

cameras in the court room is a major judicial policy that must be supported by the law.

Further in the ruling, PEPC held that the application, albinitio, was not part of any relief in the petitions before it.

According to the panel, the petitioners failed to establish how live broadcast of the proceedings would advance their case, as well as add value to the determination of the petitions.

“ The application was merely hinged on sentimental claim that it would benefit the electorates.

“The court can only be guided and act in accordance with the practice directions and procedures approved by the President of the Court of Appeal.

“We cannot permit a situation that may lead to dramatization of our proceedings,” Justice Tsammani held.

Director of Legal, Ministry of Niger Delta Affairs, Mrs Serah Okunade (R) with the Head of Operation National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), Owerri, Mr Nnaji Ifeanyi (L), signing documents for the distribution of Presidential Palliatives for Year 2022 flood victims in Imo State, during the ceremony at the NEMA ware house, yesterday in Owerri on

Police arrest two wanted Kuje prison inmates in Adamawa

From Umar Dankano,Yola.

Two wanted Kuje Persons jail break inmates have been arrested by police in Adamawa state.

Disclosing the development through a press statement in Yola Monday, Spokesman of the Command SP Suleiman Nguroje said police detectives attached to

the command’s crack squad on May 19, 2023 arrested one Atiku Ibrahim, 37 years and Adamu Ibrahim, 40 years, identified as inmates who escaped from Kuje correctional facility.

Recall that following the widely reported jail break attack on the Kuje Correctional facility on the 5th June,2022 where over 500 inmates were freed and thought some

were said to have returned voluntarily.

“The escaped suspects, were arrested for Cattle Rustling and other nefarious activities. During interrogation they confessed to have been in Kuje Correctional custody since 2021, following allegation of Arms dealing against them. they also confessed to have escaped into Adamawa state until their arrest.

“They further stated that they were awaiting trial in a case of Arms dealing and Unlawful possession of firearms.

“The Commissioner of police, CP Afolabi Babatola directs for immediate handing over of the escapees to the Nigeria Correctional Service (NCS), Adamawa state for further necessary action”, the statement added.

Police rescue medical doctor, arrests cultists in Benue

From Uche Nnorom, Makurdi

Benue State Police Command has secured the rescue of a popular doctor in the State Dr. Etito Obadiah from the den of kidnappers.

Dr. Etito who is the Director of Hope Hospital located in Wadata area of Makurdi, Benue State capital was kidnapped alongside his driver and personal aide on 13th May, 2023.

It was learnt that 40 million was demanded as ransom.

Briefing newsmen during a maiden interaction with the media, the new Police Commissioner Julius Okoro said the command has re-strategized and drawn a plan to rid the state of criminality.

Narrating how Dr. Etito was kidnapped, he said, “on 13/05/2023 at about 1900 hours, information was received that Dr. Etito Obadiah, a medical doctor with Federal Medical Center, Makurdi was kidnapped Zaki Biam in Ukum local government area and his Kidnappers had started negotiation for ransom.

During investigation, a team of Operation Zenda JTF trailed the Kidnappers to their hide out at Gaya Village, Utange council ward in Kastina-Ala Local Government Area of Benue state. On sighting the Police, the kidnappers engaged them in a gun duel that claimed the life of one (1) of the kidnappers; three (3) suspects were arrested while others escaped into a nearby

bush with bullets wounds. Ten (10) kidnap victims including the doctor were rescued unhurt.

Items recovered from them include; one (1) locally fabricated AK47 rifle with 10 rounds of 7.62mm live ammunition, two single barrel riffles, one locally made barrette pistol loaded with three (3) rounds of .9mm live ammunition and two military uniforms. Investigation is ongoing”.

The CP also, said the command succeeded in arresting suspected killers of one Babatunde Moses by cultist

According to him, on 20/05/2023 at about 13:45hrs, information was received at Otukpo Police Division that an unknown corpse was seen at

Edikwu river bank with internal organs removed. A team of detectives were deployed to the area for investigation. During investigation, it was revealed that the lifeless body was one of Babatunde Moses aged 29years who was last seen sitting with his friends in a burial ceremony.

The following suspects have been arrested in connection with the case; Idoko Omoru, Eze Emmanuel, Obande Emmanuel, Ameh Peter, and Sunday. Investigation is ongoing to unravel the mystery behind the death and removal of internal organs.

Furthermore, the command folled an attempted kidnap of commuters along Makurdi-Lafia road.

Okoro said, “on 21/5/2023 at about 1200hrs, while Police teams were on patrol along Makurdi-Lafia road, information was received that some gun men had accosted a vehicle conveying passengers to Enugu at Daudu with intent to move these passengers to an unknown destination and request for ransom. The Police swiftly moved to the scene. On sighting the Police, suspects abandoned their victims and took to their heels. They also abandoned a bag containing military camouflage uniforms and wooden guns. Victims have since been released to continue with their journey while investigation is ongoing to arrest suspects who are at large”.

Niger community raises alarm over bandits position in Kainji National

From Yakubu Mustapha Minna

The Kainji National Park in New Bussa, Borgu Local Government Area of Niger State, has been purportedly taken over by armed bandits, who have equally established their camp in the hitherto famous games reserve.

It was reliably gathered that the communities around the National Park alleged that over 200 gunmen are currently occupying the games reserve and have established their camp therein.

Sources revealed that the bandits usually come out from their hideout in the National Park to attack innocent travellers along the busy WawaLuma highway, connecting Benin Republic.

Similarly, another source disclosed that, due to the activities of the bandits, farmers have abandoned their farms, no single staff of the National Park is left behind in the park, including the forest guards providing security for the park as well as the Nigeria Customs Service check point have disappeared, hence the abduction of many victims and several injured who are

receiving treatment in New Bussa government hospital.

When contacted, Vice Chairman of Borgu Local

Government Area, Mallam Abdullahi Mohammed Nasir, confirmed the development which he described as very

worrisome and disturbing. Also, the Niger State Command, Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO) DSP

Park

Wasiu Abiodun could not be reached for confirmation at the time of filing in the report as his phone number was switched off.

Ondo seaport: Ajulo calls for prompt action on project

By Christiana Ekpa

Kayode Ajulo, a legal practitioner has called for prompt action to execute the Ondo Seaport project, recently approved by President Muhammadu Buhari, beyond the paper work.

Ajulo in a statement on Monday in Abuja commended Buhari for the approval and

urged for quick action on the Seaport project.

He said, “for me, I think it is time to take a break from the honeymoon that comes with the good tidings and face the facts to be able to see the approval beyond the papers.”

According to him, we must begin to ask what are the clauses to the approval, what is the modality of operations after now, what would it take

for the potential contractor to move to site.

Ajulo further said that what was required of both the Ondo State and the Federal Government should be fine tuned in order to ensure fast realisation of the project.

He said the achievement of the Seaport would be of no value if there was no appropriate plan to execute the project pronto.

“Though I am optimistic about this but, we must be vigilant and maintain our sense of critical and constructive analysis.”

Ajulo said the state had had different approvals for resource exploitation that never developed beyond the approval and celebration stage.

“A good example of this is in the proposed Bitumen exploitation that later became

a sour story after it got us excited for a few days.

“This development gladdens my heart but these concerns must be raised to know if we’ve got to celebrate the more or move on like we did on bitumen,” he said.

Buhari approved Seaport in Ondo State with a projected investment of about one billion naira, to be sourced through a public-private partnership.

Gov. Simon Lalong of Plateau (M); Marketing Manager, Cold Stone and Pinkberry, Maruf Lamidi (L) and other dignitaries, during the inauguration of Domino’s Pizza and Cold Stone in Jos. 01680/22/5/2023/Sunday Adah/JMH/JAU/NAN

AZ Gambo: Celebrating a peer @57

By Ali M.Ali

Vice Admiral Awwal Zubair Gambo, the 16thand current Chief of Naval Staff turned a year older recently. He is a peer in whom all of us peers from Gwagwarwa primary school, through transit school at Kawaji and the prestigious Rumfa College all in Kano, are well pleased. Looking at his towering profile as the number one sailor in the land, one wouldn’t have thought that “Rizi”, would take on a career in soldering and attaining the mountain peak as a service chief.

He was reticent and unobtrusive and loved to “mind his business”. I was among the “noisy’’ ones making fun of teachers, poking others. Physically, Awwal was almost diminutive, fair skinned and slightly plump. He cut the image of “Dan gata” (Ajeboh) these attributes didn’t mark him out for soldering. They marked him out for leadership. He used to listen more than he talked. This discreet demeanor and ‘harmless’ appearance helped him navigate dangerous waters, literally and figuratively and berthed his ship at the dockyard of success.

He manifested that leadership trait early from being class monitor in primary school, a feat he replicated in Secondary School. We were always in different arms of same class. For example, he was in form one I while I was in 1D.

By the third year, we moved to Rumfa College. Only the brightest got into that prestigious school. Tough exams were set going into the third year. In modern times, sitting for that kind of tough exams is the equivalent of heading into senior secondary school. The idea was to select young bright minds regardless of social and economic background and blend them into future leaders. It worked because at Rumfa were princes and sons of paupers. Scions of the merchant class and wards of top civil servants. Children of Islamic scholars and jurists all dissolved into unidentifiable powder of scholarship.

You are only recognizing by your brainpower not the power of your surname.

Most of our tutors were Brits, Canadian and Asians with a no nonsense Principal, Ado Gwaram of blessed memory.

Established in 1927,Rumfa College was second only to Barewa College established in 1921.Late General Abacha was a product of Rumfa College.

Again, I was in 3H,Awwal was 3F. In my class were the likes of AVM Ali Bello Gaya. We finally passed out with me in 5D and “Rizi” in 5F.

As teen, Awwal was a shoulder above in the “swag’ department. He was a guy man. His sparkly white school uniform attested to that. He was neat all the time. That was the time he fell in love with the Navy. He had a fascination for white color.

At Rumfa College, his love for the military received a major boost when he joined the schools’ long standing Cadet. He, again, excelled. He was a mix of grit and tenacity. We had a stern unsmiling Cadet “NCO”. He took no prisoners. He had a mirthless pate. Rizi survived him. That prepared him eventually into becoming a member of the 36 regular course of the Defense Academy.

At the time, the dream was to proceed to SBS, ABU Zaria to study medicine. Rumfa was largely a science college. The likes of Professor Abba Sheshe, currently the CMD of Aminu Kano Teaching Hospital (AKTH), Sammani Ali Muhammad became outstanding in Medicine. Others studied engineering like Awwal Sarki who headed the Department of Petroleum Resources (DPR).

There are others in other sectors. There is Dr Yakubu Kofar Mata, a federal Permanent Secretary and foremost, banker Rabiu Tata. Without prejudice to the others not listed here who have taken the Rumfa college flag to great heig

Only Ali Baba Inuwa of News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) and myself chose Journalism.

Awwal was commissioned a sub-lieutenant in 1989. That marked his steady rise in the Navy culminating in his appointment as the 16thindigenous Chief of the Naval Staff in January 2021.

As a young officer, he was often “at sea” literally leaving family and friends “onshore”. He therefore, missed most class annual re-unions. But then, he always kept in touch with peers. He holds this dear. Rizi is sentimental. He has the memory of an elephant. He remembers names of teachers from primary school. The kind ones and the mean ones. He doesn’t forget a good turn. He rarely

remembers the bad ones like the rough deal from our Cadet master. He is the sort that would swim the sea the save a peer from distress. He would break his back for this.

And the icing on the cake? He never forgot where he came from. All his alma mater can bear testimony.

Gentle as dove but tough as nails, I often wonder how he reconciles his jocular private persona and the stony persona of a military chief. ‘Eze” for AZ Gambo is funny once is comfortable with the company. He is sublimely witty. He has some funny sailors jokes he shares. He is a dotting father and a loving husband. Military husbands are unusual spouses. His tough guy stance melts at the sight of Nana, his wife and three children.

Expectedly, his dawn at the Naval change has changed the narrative. His leadership improved greatly maritime security. He dared to tread where angels falter. Under his watch, vessels stealing Nigeria’s crude in Niger Delta were arrested and destroyed; illegal pipelines dotting that landscape were similarly discovered.

He similarly focus his attention on fleet renewal. Thanks to his tenacity the NNS acquired NNN Kada, a multi purpose warship. She is the biggest frigate in West Africa and one of the biggest on the Continent.

He emphasized training. Today, the Naval elite FORCE, the SBS, (Special Boat Service) is helping change the tide of insurgency and maritime insecurity.

Not done yet, infrastructural development in all facets have been frenetic. It didn’t come as a surprise therefore; our peer is recipient of global accolades.]

In 2022, the Africa Security Watch Initiative nominated him. This was not lost on the federal government back home as he was also given the national honour of Commander of the Order of the federal Republic (CFR).

In our circle, AZ assumes no airs. He remains down to earth. He is buoyed by the belief that Allah gives, Allah takes. And that ultimately to HIM, we shall return and account.

Happy birthday Admiral. Our class chapter is proud of you!

Ali M.Ali is the former Deputy President of the Nigerian Guild of Editors

Tinubu, Kwankwaso and politics of who gets what, when, how?

By Abdu Abdullahi

Both Tinubu and Kwankwaso are building the political blocks to consolidate their future politics. Reinventing Kwankwaso back into the APC will be of immense political value for Tinubu in the next election. This is because of Tinubu’s unsatisfactory performance in Lagos State in the last presidential election.

Eventually, the France political encounter had come and gone, except for the emotional turmoils and political dislocations it has generated. Mixed reactions will, therefore, continue to trail the talk to unravel its mysterious content.

Getting the president-elect Bola Ahmed Tinubu and the NNPP presidential candidate Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso engaged in a four hour tete-a-tete in far away France would not have been a raw news for its own sake. If it were an interaction between Tinubu and any other APC stalwart, nobody would have raised an eyebrow. It is therefore not erroneous describing the France meeting as a ‘ political capital’ for the two politicians, for they know where to reap to enhance their political investment. In political terms, they have their want, when and how to achieve it is just a matter of time.

Consequently, there were and still are unfolding occurrences in vehemence to this political amalgamation. Expressed dissatisfaction by some APC members who will never welcome Kwankwaso back to the APC is putting party members in disarray. Already, they have now drawn a battle line to wage a war against this bewildering fraternity if it is not cut off. As a result, Tinubu is seen by some party members as sending a wrong signal ahead of his inauguration.

But Tinubu may not find his way between the devil and the deep blue sea because it is a well orchestrated political plan that will work in favour of each side. Tinubu has political power at the centre while Kwankwaso has an influence on the political power in Kano State. The last presidential election results show the political relevance of Kwankwaso in Kano politics and how it will be harnessed to benefit Tinubu whose unimpressive performance in Lagos leaves much to be desired. In a way, it is partly a projection of the next election. Recall that a philosophy has it that an average politician always thinks of the next election.

Already, Tinubu had defined his incoming government as not unity in form but competence in overall outlook. If, therefore, it is the question of unity, other political actors from all the parties that fielded presidential candidates would have been invited to join the meeting. What then was the real motive behind the closed door discussion? For instance, if Atiku Abubakar had been the winner of the presidential election, would Kwankwaso have extended a similar hand of political cordiality?

Sometimes, circumstances outweigh the dynamics of politics. Thus, the prevailing circumstance has given Kwankwaso the opportunity to hit the nail on its head to confer credence to his emphatic and enigmatic political ambition. In this case, political dynamism has, therefore, been defeated by the forces of opportunism to elavate self esteem.

It has always been suggestive that in contemporary politics, what mostly gingers the political spirit of the elites is power control, distribution and application to make ends meet. This dictum has been occupying the central stage of politics of the political elites. That is why politics is rapidly dwindling towards ideological disorders and the elites use the spoilage to boost their political empire of self-indulgence. And this is why the masses are always the victims of political monopolisation of the elites.

In his work, ‘Politics: who gets what, when, how,’ Harold Laswell updates us with the standard definition of politics and elaborates the negative pattern politics is manoeuvred to yield a badly end result. It has to do profoundly with the prime variables of influence, influencer and the influential and how they corroborate with the consistent overzealousness for power control, governmental impacts not on the people but on the political elites’ interest. The consumption of ideas for the politics of what to get, when and how to get it has been the universal message the political elites have been obsessed with for quite a long time. Their political odysseys have substantially and ultimately attained the status of ego-centrism.

Kwankwaso with an NNPP Kano government at his disposal wants to be a new political friend to Tinubu to kill two birds with a stone. First assault is dislodging Ganduje’s political remnants. The unity of Tinubu and Kwankwaso will be like a political cancer in Ganduje’s heart. While Ganduje accuses Tinubu of abandoning him after making

things possible for his political aspirations to scale through, Kwankwaso is now like a new bride in the continuous restructuring and consolidation of Tinubu’s politics.

Second, Kwankwaso’s presidential ambition can only be sustained through going back to the APC. Having calculated his performance in the last presidential election, the NNPP and any other small party will never be the platform for achieving his political dreams. Being a prominent northern politician, it is only in the APC that he will have less challenges. Going back to the PDP means fighting to dismantle the structures of Atiku Abubakar, Sule Lamido, Aminu Waziri Tambuwal and Bukola Saraki among others

Both Tinubu and Kwankwaso are building the political blocks to consolidate their future politics. Reinventing Kwankwaso back into the APC will be of immense political value for Tinubu in the next election. This is because of Tinubu’s unsatisfactory performance in Lagos State in the last presidential election. To bridge that political gap, he will look for a formidable force as in Kano through Kwankwaso. They may be undertaking the journey of a political lottery but what matters in the end is personal fulfilment, a political chemistry through which they know what to get, when and how to get it.

If Abraham Lincoln emphasises on the people’s government to give popularity to his idea about democracy, then Harold Laswell is spelling out a new version of politics that ensures politics as the practice of the elites to own government and all its apparatuses that may have a direct bearing on their political interests. This protruding conflict of ideas between Lincoln and Laswell about politics and democracy is consistently presented to showcase the prosperity of the political elites and the adversity of the political masses.

Call it political craftsmanship. Tinubu and Kwankwaso have the capacity to exhibit their political ingenuity. They did it in the past. They are now enacting it in collectivity. Their companionship may puzzle many of us, but they know the inner side of their political romance and how it will gather political fortunes for them now and in the future. They are indeed succumbing to the real politics of who gets what, when and how.

Abdu Abdullahi is a Public Affairs Analyst.

BRICS: An alliance for new world order

By George Opeyemi

Jim O’ Neill, the Chief economist of the multinational investment bank, Goldman Sachs, in 2001 coined the acronym BRIC, which initially stood for Brazil, Russia, Indian and China. At the time, the four countries were reported to have sustained rates of high economic growth and the acronym stood for economic hope about the future of these nations.

Many dismissed BRIC then as just Goldman Sachs’ marketing strategy to encourage investors. But what may have started as a marketing ploy has grown now into a forum for inter-governmental co-operation similar to the G7, the informal forum of heads of state of the world’s most advanced economies founded in 1975. Germany , France , Britain , Italy, Japan, Canada and the US are members, as the European Union.

In 2009, the four nations of BRIC had their first summit in Russia. The following year, South Africa was invited to join the group, adding the “S” to BRIC to become BRICS [Brazil, Russia, India, and South Africa]. It is today a modern interstate association whose goal is to create and support mutually beneficial partnership to ensure the financial and social stability of the participating nations.

Within the framework of BRICS, integration ties between national economies are developing, mutual trade is being supported , and favourable conditions for investors are being created. All these make the economies of the countries even more stable in the face of external financial and other economic shocks.

Based on the data of the international monetary

fund (IMF), Bloomberg, the high – tech , marketmoving , data-driven, and cross-platform, information Company designed to solve global problems , said that by 2028 the BRICS countries will have a share in global economic growth of more than 33% , and the G7 countries – less than 28% . For 17 years BRICS have been demonstrating steady economic growth and becoming a pillar of support in the modern world.

In 2014, with $ 50 billion in seed money, the BRICS nations launched the New evelopment Bank as an alternative to the World Bank and the IMF. In addition, they created a liquidity mechanism called the Contingent Reserve Arrangement to support members struggling with payments. These offers were not only attractive to BRICS countries but to many other developing and emerging economics that have had painful experience with World Bank’s structural adjustment programs and IMF austerity measures.

It is clear that the economic potential of each of the BRICS countries can be realized with the support of the National Development Bank, which previously had approved the financing of infrastructural projects of participating countries to the tune of $ 87 million.

This is why the number of developing countries interested in joining BRICS is increasing. Observer countries positively assess the prospects for cooperation and participation in the organization as they recognize the growing influence of BRICS, especially in the current geopolitical situation.

The formats of cooperation with BRICS vary depending on the wishes of the interested parties. Such formats as ‘’ BRICS outreach’’ (Bricks in Africa working towards the realization of African

Goodbye to bad policies

By Yakubu Almustapha

To add insult to injury, the controversial currency swap policy introduced by CBN with the connivance of Mr President became a nationwide disaster that pushed the citizens in rural areas resorted to the practice of trade by barter conundrum.

I have been subjected to a mental stress for nearly eight years as a result of serious misgovernment under the Buhari’s presidency, despite I initially afforded him the benefit of doubt.

But as time went on, it dawn on me the situation would continue like that and there’s nothing I can do about it, so I became carefree to whatever his policies would bring about since I know it is just a matter of time before his leadership will come to an end, being we are practicing a system which stipulated a specific duration for the elected officials.

And much to my relief now is that this time next week I will be celebrating as he leaves Aso Rock come rain or shine, and go into retirement in either Daura, Niger Republic, or wherever he sees it fit.

In other words, it is fair to say that I always take a great joy whenever I reminiscent that by May 29, a new administration will come onboard.

This happy thoughts that run through my head flashed back my memory to a quasi comedy story that seems to resemble my enthusiasm of seeing the end of Buhari’s maladministration.

There was an amusing drama which occurred at the facade of the White House, U.S. and the incidental event is somewhat showed how overly fed up most of the Americans got with the former President George W. Bush.

It was reported that in the following day after the termination of his tenure, an unnamed person went to the White House when the first light of dawn appears in joyful mood, and asked one the securities to vouch for him on whether the POTUS has truly vacated the

presidential resident or not.

As expected, the respond he has gotten was in the affirmative, but it doesn’t prevailed upon him to stop coming the next day and the days that followed to inquire about the same thing once more.

Consequently, in the last day in which he never repeated the mundane, he intimated the security guard about what elicited his psyche to behave weirdly.

The funnyman emphatically confided that his impelling factor is largely tied to the excitement he used to get every time he heard that Bush was no longer lodges in the White House.

In similar manner, it’s never been a secret that since the Buhari-led government was voted into office, there was a bizarre rants echoing from the masses that even the deaf could hear it because of unbearable hardship meted out on them due to his abysmal incompetence.

However, in order to elaborate on how displeased most Nigerians are with him, let’s have a recap from a repute independent opinion research think-tank.

In January last year, an opinion polls was conducted by Africa Polling Institute (API) about the generality well-being of the citizens.

The research which is dubbed “Nigeriaspeaks” covered a topical issues such as, economic, political, governance and public life issues.

And the report revealed that only one in ten Nigerians are happy with the government, which translates that only 8 per cent are happy with the state of affairs in Nigeria.

While the vast majority that constituted 78 per cent are confirmed to be unhappy or depressed under the current leadership.

The sad respondents have however, cited heightened insecurity, inability to meet basic needs, and unemployment as the reasons for their unhappiness.

Meanwhile, the fact that cannot in anyway be sever from reality, is that those unlivable conditions

aspirations) and ‘’BRICS PLUS’’ (a platform for greater interaction and partnership amongst countries of the global south to shape the agenda to effect changes in the global economy, notably for development and economic growth through trade and investment integration and cooperation) contribute to increasing trade turnover between the countries, increasing the effectiveness of economic, political, scientific and technical cooperation.

Informed international analysts say the participation and accession of African countries and regional organisations of the continent like the Economic Community of West African States [ECOWAS] , Southern African Development Community (SADC) , and the African Continental Free Trade Area (AFCTA) to BRICS formats, will enhance the organization’s international prestige and independence.

This will equally powerfully boost the development of participating African Countries and the capability of their regional organizations to solve problems aimed at improving the lives of Africans in various fields of life- green energy, transport infrastructure, agriculture, medical support and others.

Indeed what was seen in 2001 as Goldman Sachs’ marketing hype is increasingly gathering momentum to dominate the global economy as the growing number of BRICS nations offer a source of foreign expansion for firms and strong returns for institutional investors.

Opeyemi writes from Abuja.

which the Buhari’s misrule plunged the people had contributed in no small way to the upsurge of suicide among the Nigerians from all walks of life.

Proof of this was contained in the research carried out in 2020 by Daily trust which uncovered that 264 Nigerians committed suicide in four years.

Not to mention that it’s hardly a day starts and ends without a gory news of some individuals that commits suicide in Lagos lagoon.

A sequence in which psychologists attributed to financial hardship and depression.

It’s worthy to note that all these unpleasant situations are coming on the heels of his failure in everything he has touched like our economy once among the best performing in Africa, and today the reverse is the case.

To add insult to injury, the controversial currency swap policy introduced by CBN with the connivance of Mr President became a nationwide disaster that pushed the citizens in rural areas resorted to the practice of trade by barter conundrum.

In all honesty with regard to what transpired in the past eight years, I can say it’s only a masochist who will denied that Buhari’s government translate to nothing other than a potpourri of suffering, kidnapping for ransom, killings by act of banditry, and world of sorrow to Nigerians.

To say the least, his two terms tenure is unfortunate to the country and nothing less.

However, the beauty of democracy is that in months to come, we can kiss goodbye to his bad policies, and hopefully the better life that we want will get the ball rolling.

Hence I can’t wait for his Inglorious exit from Aso Rock Villa to come because it will surely be my dream come true.

Almustapha, a political analyst writes from Bauchi and can be reached at talk2almustapha016@ gmail.com

Expert charge FG on more collaboration with education Stakeholders

By Maryam Abeeb

The Convener of Annual School Needs Expo, ASNE, Emem Opashi has charged the Federal Government to collaborate more with relevant stakeholders in order to bring about unique innovations that will develop the Education sector.

The education expert made this call while briefing newsmen during the 2023 ASNE event sponsored by WOWbii interactive in Abuja.

Emem while speaking about the theme of the event which is “Towards Education Agility – The Beginning of Change is CONVERSATION” she explained that its goal to foster a culture of conversation in education to promote agility, collaboration, and knowledge sharing. She concluded on this note.

She explained that there is urgent need for Stakeholders in the Education sector to design policies and program that will bring about development in the sector.

“I am apparently the founder of the annual school needs expo. So at the moment, we’re having a discourse on education, leadership development. And our focus is to have these conversations with the different stakeholders in education.

“We have the top level school owners and we are coming here to also learn how we can collaborate even with the government, other businesses, and then amongst ourselves to make sure that we are able to actually see the results.

“So we wanted to have all this selected people to an extent in the room and we have a range from the highest range of private schools, to the grassroot schools all represented here. We have businesses that are just doing little things to the really big ones, and there’s so much to learn from there. At the end of this one to be able to have a communique that we can even present to even the incoming government, for example.

According to her, this is an opportunity for public and private schools to synergize, noting that it can also help school proprietors to upgrade their schools and make it a better one.”

Nigerian women extol Tallen’s virtues as she bows out

By Joy Baba-Yesufu

As the administration of President Muhammadu

Buhari winds down in a few days, several Nigerians women thought it wise to come together and celebrate their minister, who made the last four years worth the while.

Chief amongst them was the Director General, National Centre for Women Development (NCWD) Dr Asabe Vilita-Bashir who said the current minister of women affairs, Dame Pauline

Tallen has impacted the lives of the poor, vulnerable and down trodden in the last four years and her leadership style will be missed.

Bashir stated this in Abuja at an evening farewell dinner organized by Nigerian women to appreciate the minister for lifting their status and making life better for them.

She also said that the past four years has been impactful to the physically challenged as the disability bill that concern them was passed during her tenure as

minister.

According to the DG, “mummy Tallen has done so well for the Nigerian women and children. The four years of her excellency as minister of women affairs has been a very impactful one for Nigerian women, Nigerian children, the vulnerable and the poor.

“She has brought the issues of all our women, children and the less privilege to the front burner of national discuss. No woman was left behind in her time. She takes whatever concerns women

upon herself. It has been a very successful period for Nigerian women in the past four years”

In her response, the minister said her aim when she assumed office was to ensure Nigerian women love each other, start a new chapter of zeal and continue to support each other. She urged those that have contested elective positions and lost to keep hope alive and not give up while calling on their male counterparts to give women the percentage they deserve.

Stakeholders applaud UNICEF intervention on personal hygiene to schoolgirls in Adamawa

From Umar Dankano,Yola

Critical stakeholders in education sector have expressed gratitude with the continued support and interventions being rendered by UNICEF in Adamawa state.

Teachers and schoolchildren registered their appreciation during a field visitation by team of UNICEF officials and journalists to some schools in Jada and Guyuk local government areas to observe the impact of the training to curb the incidences of stigmatization, non attendance of school, non adherance to hygiene during menstrual periods and other harmful practices.

The training for the stakeholders was funded by the Netherlands Directorate-General for International CooperationAccelerated Sanitation and Water for All programme ll (DGIS-ASWA

II) in conjunction with UNICEF.

Teachers, male and female schoolchildren were trained on the need to adhere to best practices in Adamawa State especially on personal hygiene of female schoolchildren relating to menstruation during school hours and even at home.

Perceptions on the primitive and negative beliefs on menstruation by female in our societies have been changed with these training as it’s discussion is done in the open not as it used to be in the past.

“But with the UNICEF intervention, stakeholders are now on the same page and discussing the issue freely without any “strings attached”. The outcome according to the stakeholders has become a win-win situation for the growth of education in the area.

“Now, young girls are making

money as a result of the training from the new entrepreneurship opportunity owning to their abilities to manufacture reusable menstrual pads locally which is cheaper and can be reused for up to six months”.Opined by a stakeholder.

During a one day field visit to Tsohon Tikke Primary school, one of the schools which benefitted from the trainings by UNICEF, stakeholders regaled the visiting team of reporters how the intervention changed their world views about menstruation completely.

Musa Umar,head teacher of the school noted that the contributions of the partners especially UNICEF can never be over emphasised explaining that what used to be in the dark has been brought to the daylight courtesy of the training as issues surrounding menstruation are

freely table in the open.

“In a conservative society such as ours, it was hitherto seen as moral bankruptcy to talk about issues like that. In fact, when the issue was first muted to me I shrank with excitement and fear because I could not see myself, a Fulani man discussing such issue with my students.

“But as it is now the training has led to a seamless relationship between the parents, teachers and the students and whenever any friction arises as a result of misconception, we usually address that amicably in a family way,” he said.

He noted that most of the issues around menstruation especially concerning new starters have been nipped in the bud because of the massive awareness as both students, teachers and parents have built mutual trust on the subject.

Representative of the Chief Executive Officer of NMDPRA, Dr Mustapha Lamorde (M); Convener/Executive Director, Finance and Accounts, NMDPRA, Mr Abiodun Adenji (6th, L); Regional Coordinator, North Central, NMDPRA, Ms Maijidda Abdulkadir (6th, R); Chairman, Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria (IPMAN) Suleja and Abuja Units, Alhaji Yahaya Allhassan (5th, R) and other participants during the NMDPRA Stakeholders Engagement on Gas Utilization in Nigeria at the Authority’s headquarters, yesterday in Abuja

By Ikechukwu Okaforadi

Ondo election tribunal strikes out NNPP’s petition against Senator-elect Ipinsigba

senatorial district, Pastor Jide Ipinsigba.

Buhari signs

NIPA, NSSE bills, six others

By Musa Baba Adamu

President Muhammadu

Buhari has assented to the National Social Investment Programme Agency, National Senior Secondary Education and six other Bills, passed by the National Assembly, in furtherance of the provisions of the Acts Authentication Act Cap. A2, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria 2004.

The National Social Investment Programme Agency is established to assist and empower the poor and vulnerable in Nigeria. The objective of the Act is to provide a legal and institutional framework for the establishment and management of the National Social Investment in Nigeria.

The National Senior Secondary Education Act establishes a Commission, prescribes minimum standards for senior secondary education in Nigeria and the management of National Senior Secondary Education Fund.

The Chartered Institute of Power Engineers of Nigeria Act establishes the Chartered Institute of Power Engineers of Nigeria and is charged with the responsibility for determining the standard of knowledge and skill to be attained by persons seeking to become chartered power engineers.

The President also assented to the Federal University of Health Sciences Ila-Orangun (Establishment) Act, the Federal University of Health Sciences, Azare (Establishment) Act, the Chartered Institute of Development Studies and Administration of Nigeria (Establishment) Act, the Federal Institute of Industrial Research (Establishment) Act, and the Institute of Strategic Management of Nigeria Act, respectively.

Ruling on the case, Mrs Rose Soji, the chairman of the tribunal, said: “The motion on notice filed by the first petitioner, the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP), praying the tribunal to withdraw the petition is granted as prayed. The petition is hereby dismissed.”

Earlier, NNPP counsel, Mr Segun Ogodo, had applied to withdraw the case and told the tribunal of his client’s interest in

discontinuing the petition.

“The party, which is the NNPP that I’m representing, has shown interest in withdrawing the petition against the respondents, Pastor Ipinsigba, the All Progressives Congress (APC), and INEC, and accordingly, the court has granted the application.

“The second petitioner, Mr Phillip Alonge, earlier on also brought an application to discontinue the petition, but he had no appearance in court today, and the petition literally

appears to be abandoned.

“If the second petitioner does not appear in person in court at the next adjourned date, the court has the discretion to do what it likes, and it may strike out the petition,” he stated.

The respondent’s counsel, Mr Moradele Oke, said that he would not oppose the application.

“This should be the fourth proceeding that we would be appearing in. The first petitioner’s application has been granted, and the second petitioner has

also filed an application to withdraw further presence in the case. The tribunal took a careful examination of the process and duly struck out the name of the first petitioner.

“The implication is that the petition subsists because the second petitioner is still on record and he has the liberty to be given a hearing,” he said. The tribunal, therefore, adjourned the case until May 24 for the continuation of the hearing on the second petition.

10th NASS leadership must

By Christiana Ekpa

The Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), Kaduna State chapter, has warned that the incoming leadership of the 10th National Assembly, NASS, should not be used as a divisive tool.

The Chairman of CAN, Kaduna State, Rev. John Hayab stated this in a statement on Monday in Kaduna.

Hayab said he had been following the developments in the leadership race for the 10th national assembly with dismay

not be

and wished to counsel all interested persons not to allow their quest to divide Nigerians along ethnic, regional, or religious lines.

He explained that CAN believed that Nigeria’s elected representatives, both from the upper and lower chambers, were politically mature and responsible enough to do what would make Nigeria great by choosing competent leaders.

However, some inciting messages now going around could create unnecessary tension and disunity among

divisive tool – CAN

Nigerians.

He said, “CAN as a body has earlier advocated for fairness before the general elections and believes strongly that a fair and just Nigeria is beneficial to Nigeria’s unity and growth.

“CAN, therefore, appeals to the political class to discontinue any action that can further divide Nigerians, rather, the elected representatives need to promote matters that can support the citizenry to attain the goals of a unified nation.”

He said those who eventually became leaders of the national

warns

assembly must be lawmakers who would guide their colleagues to make laws for the common good of the country, not as representatives of their regional or religious enclaves.

According to him, to attain a cohesive nation, CAN will pray and work for the unity, peace, and progress of Nigeria and speak truth to power.

“CAN strongly appeals to the political class to consider the entire country as their most important constituency, instead of promoting primordial sentiments,” Hayab said.

L-R: Special Assistant to Minister of Niger Delta Affairs on Media, Mr Iboro Otongaran , Director Press, Ministry of Nigee Delta Affairs (MNDA) Mrs Patricia Deworithse.Representative of the Minister of Niger Delta Affairs, Dr. Emem Wills and the Representative of the Director General , National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), Mr Demian Egwu, during the official flag-off the distribution of the Presidential Palliative to the 2022 flood victims in Akwa Ibom State, by the MNDA held yesterday in Uyo.

The Ondo State Election Petition Tribunal on Monday struck out a petition filed by the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) against the senator-elect of Ondo North

Why Akpabio will not be elected as Senate President – Bwala

By Musa Baba Adamu

An aide of Atiku Abubakar, the presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, in the just concluded February 25 election, Daniel Bwala, has claimed that Godswill Akpabio

would not be elected as Senate President.

Bwala gave this hint on Monday in a post via his Twitter handle.

Recall that Akpabio, a former Governor of Akwa Ibom State, had been penciled down by his party, the All Progressives Congress, APC, to become the Senator

President.

He is currently facing opposition from the likes of Senators, Ali Ndume, Orji Uzor Kalu, Jibrin Barau, amongst others.

However, Bwala claimed that “the cloud gathering against his aspiration is heavy and thick.”

He wrote, “Godswill Akpabio would not be elected as Senate President. The cloud gathering against his aspiration is heavy and thick. It is not motivated by religion, but regional and as well as the revenge of the coalition of all foes. Most of the senators following him are not with him.”

My emergence as Deputy Speaker will encourage South-East youths – Kalu

Rep. Benjamin kalu (APC-Abia), and the spokesperson of the House of Representatives, says his emergence as the Deputy Speaker of the 10th National Assembly will make South-East youth believe in the Nigerian project.

Kalu said this in a statement which was made available to newsmen on Wednesday in Abuja.

Kalu was on May 8 announced as

the consensus deputy speaker of the 10th national assembly by the National Working Committee of ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).

He said the youths on the street of the South East who were agitating would see a fellow youth piloting the affairs of the nation in this capacity.

According to him, “they will see us display excellence and that will encourage them to believe more in

Nigeria which is what the younger south easterners are looking for.

“I can assure you that we are bringing South-East to the centre. We are going to use it and bring our brothers who are agitating to the centre so our administration will be based on inclusiveness.”

He said contrary to insinuation, the coming 10th assembly would not be a rubber stamp, adding that the principle

of separation of powers would be respected.

He said that the legislative arm of government would not be confrontational as some would want but partner to ensure the dividends of democracy are delivered across the country.

Kalu, however, promised to revisit the gender bill in the 10th assembly (NAN)

L-R: Co- Convener of the greater majority caucus, Hon. Ali Isa JC; spokesperson of

Agbedi, during their caucus meeting over the leadership of the 10th

Gov

El-Rufai deposes two Kaduna monarchs

By Ikechukwu Okaforadi

Kaduna State Governor, Malam Nasir El-Rufai, approved on Monday the deposition of the traditional rulers of Piriga and Arak chiefdoms, His Highness, Jonathan Paragua Zamuna, and His

Highness, General Aliyu Iliyah Yammah (retd), respectively.

The Kaduna State Government disclosed this tweet via its Twitter handle. This means that both Zamuna and Yammah have ceased to hold their respective offices starting today.

“The Kaduna State Ministry of Local Government has announced that Malam Nasir @elrufai has approved the deposition of His Highness Jonathan Paragua Zamuna, the Chief of Piriga, and His Highness General Aliyu Iliyah Yammah, the Chief of Arak, with effect from Monday, 22nd May

2023,” Kaduna Government tweeted.

This is coming less than 24 hours after El-Rufai expressed his readiness to continue sacking bad workers in the state government and demolishing illegal structures in Kaduna until his last day in office as governor.

the caucus, Hon. Bagus Dachung and the convener, Hon Fred

National Assembly, yesterday in Abuja.

Photo: Mahmud Isa

History as Buhari commissions 7 legacy projects Tuesday

By Egena Sunday Ode

President Muhammadu Buhari will Tuesday

commission seven legacy projects completed by the Federal Ministry of Works and Housing across the country.

This was disclosed by the Senior Adviser ro the President on Media and Publicity, Femi Adesina on Monday.

Comprising three major Bridges, three Federal Secretariats and a Road, the historic event will be headlined by the Second Niger Bridge which was conceptualized in 2005. In 2014, there was an attempt to begin the project through Public Private Partnership (PPP) but this was not successful. The construction began in 2016 with the Presidential Infrastructure Development Fund (PIDF), the statement said.

Others are the Loko-Oweto Bridge across River Benue to link Benue to Nasarawa State and the Ikom Bridge in Cross River State while the Road project is the completed Section of the over 200 kilometres of Kano-Kaduna Dual Carriage Expressway and three new Federal Secretariats.

The first of the Federal Secretariats at Awka is located at Executive Business District Layout, Awka South Local Government Area, Anambra State and is situated on a 5.106 Hectares of land. The project was first awarded on 9th December, 2011 but was practically completed and taken over by the Ministry of Works and Housing on 14th July, 2022, it added.

The Secretariat has a total of 498 Office Space, a Conference Hall, four Committee Rooms, an Exhibition Hall, a Banking Hall, a Post Office and befitting Reception. In addition, the Secretariat has lift facilities, well laid out parking spaces and drainages, staff canteen, fire hydrant and other vital facilities.

According to the statement, the second, Federal Secretariat Gusau, Zamfara State is located at Unguwan Dan Lawan, off Sokoto By-Pass Road, Gusau, Zamfara State. The project is situated on a 7.5 Hectares of land and was awarded also on 9th but was practically completed and taken over by the Ministry on 30th November, 2022.

Doguwa’s murder charges unconstitutional, court declares

From Mustapha Adamu, Kano

AFederal High Court sitting in Kano, has declared Culpable Homicide charges, including Criminal Conspiracy Prosecution against the House of Representatives Majority Leader, Alhassan Ado Doguwa as Unconstitutional.

The Presiding Judge of the Court, Justice Mohammad Yunusa, on Monday, further declared jurisdiction to hear and grant the N500 million bail on exparte application on the embattled majority leader of the house of representatives Hon. Alhassan Ado Doguwa.

Delivering judgement on the motion on notice filed by Doguwa against his fundamental right and unlawful detention by the lower court, Justice Yunusa held that Chief Magistrate Court lack the jurisdiction to preside over any charge bordering over criminal conspiracy.

Justice Yunusa equally cited section 251 (1) which exclusively granted the Federal court jurisdiction to hear case on firearm as contain in the charges filed against Doguwa. Although, the judge emphasized that granting Doguwa bail was not meant to prevent him from trial, Justice Yunusa insisted that due process must be followed.

In an affidavits submitted before the court, Doguwa through his attorney, Nureini Jimoh, Senior Advocate of

Nigeria, sought the enforcement of fundamental right of his client as guaranteed by the constitution and other lawful charter.

The Senior lawyer claimed that Doguwa was detained by the police unlawfully and against his right to liberty and freedom as allowed under several provisions of the 1999 constitution as amended. As contained in the affidavits, the applicant lawyer, had insisted the incarceration of his client by the Chief Magistrate was null and void and unconstitutional because lower court lack the competence to trial criminal charges.

Dissatisfied with order of the court setting Doguwa free, the prosecution counsel AB Saleh had queried the jurisdiction of the Federal high court to exercise the orders, insisted the action of Justice Yunusa amounted to gross abuse of court process.

The prosecution, in his 26 paragraphs counter-affidavits, maintained that police possess statutory duty to investigate any related case on criminal conspiracy for any period of time adding that such action does not constitute any infringement to fundamental right of the citizen.

In his Judgement, Justice Yunusa declared that citizens reserved the right under the provisions of section 46 (1) of the 1999 constitution as

amended to approach any high court to challenge attempt or breach of he or her fundamental right.

Although, Justice Yunusa admitted the provisions of the law which specifically mention the state high court within which offenses on fundamental right can be challenged, he however revealed that both State and Federal high share concurrent jurisdiction to hear matters on fundamental right.

Justice explained the Doguwa

ought not to be remanded in the correctional facility in the first place because he was not arraigned and properly charge, adding that police argument on holding charge before the lower court was not recognized by the constitution of the land.

The court therefore granted the application of the applicant, restraining the police from arresting, harassing, detaining or taken further action against Doguwa.

May 29: Kwankwaso, Peter Obi helped Tinubu become president – Deji Adeyanju

By Christiana Ekpa

Ahead of the May 29 inauguration of a new administration, the presidential candidates of the New Nigeria Peoples Party

(NNPP), Rabiu Kwankwaso, and the Labour Party, LP, Peter Obi, have been accused of making Bola Tinubu the President-elect.

Deji Adeyanju, a sociopolitical activist, said Kwankwaso and Obi made

Tinubu president-elect by reducing Atiku’s votes.

Tweeting, Adeyanju said Obi went further by using religious bigotry to help Tinubu.

According to Adeyanju:

“Tinubu will be president in 8

days. Kwankwaso and Obi made it possible by reducing their oga, Atiku’s votes.

Tinubu defeated Atiku, Obi and Kwankwaso during the last presidential election.

Peter Obi never requested for seven weeks to to produce witnesses at tribunal

By Ikechukwu Okaforadi

Labour Party (LP) has said the presidential candidate of the party, Peter Obi never requested for seven weeks to enable him present his witnesses contrary to some media reports on Sunday.

In a statement issued yesterday by the Head, Obi-Datti Media, Diran Onifade, which is titled ‘Misquotation of Peter Obi/LP Legal Counsel by Punch Newspapers’, the party said the

report was a misrepresentation of what the Labour Party Counsel presented at the Presidential Election Petition Tribunal.

The statement said “Our attention has been drawn to a misleading report in the Punch Newspaper of 20th May 2023, captioned “Give me seven weeks to produce witnesses, Obi tells Tribunal” which is a misrepresentation of what our Counsel presented yesterday, before the Election Petition Tribunal.

“Peter Obi did not ask the court to give him seven weeks to bring in his witnesses. He only implied he will be through with all 50 of them in seven weeks.

“In proposing his schedule of witnesses, Eme Awa Kalu, SAN leading the team in court, had told the court that Peter Obi and Labour Party would be presenting 50 witnesses and that these 50 witnesses, will require 7 weeks to present their evidence before the Tribunal.”

It said at no time did the

Counsel say that he required ‘Seven weeks to produce witnesses’ as misreported in the media, pointing out that the correct interpretation of what LP lawyers told the court unambiguously is that the presentation of its witnesses, from start to finish, will take seven weeks.

“We are not asking the court to wait for seven weeks before we bring in the first witness as the story tries to imply”, the statement by the party said.

LP:

Alhassan Ado Doguwa

IMF says eNaira adoption disappointingly low

From Abubakar Yunus, Abuja

The International Monetary Fund (IMF) says 98.5 percent of eNaira wallets have not been used even once.

In its recently released working paper titled ‘Nigeria’s eNaira, One Year After’, the Bretton Woods institution took stock of the first year of the eNaira —the first central bank digital currency (CBDC) in Africa.

President Muhammadu Buhari formally launched the digital currency at the state house in Abuja on October 25, 2021.

The IMF said despite the laudable undisrupted operation for the first full year, the CBDC project has not yet moved beyond the initial wave of limited adoption.

The fund said the take-up of the eNaira by households and merchants has been slow.

The IMF described the public adoption of the eNaira as “disappointingly low” due to the levels of wallet downloads and transactions.

The fund said as of endNovember 2021, the total number of retail eNaira wallets amounted to about 860,000 — a figure equivalent to just 0.8 percent of Nigeria’s active bank accounts.

“The retail wallet downloads saw a few weeks of initial surge before tapering off. More specially, it only took 25 days for the number of downloaded wallets to reach 500,000 units— but going from there to 600,000 units took another 63 days; and to 700,000 units yet another 143 days,” the paper reads.

“As of end-November 2021, the total number of retails eNaira wallets amounted to about 860,000. This is just 0.8 per cent of Nigeria’s active bank accounts.

“Merchant wallet download has reached about 100,000 in end-June, which is about one eleventh of the number of

merchants with Point-of-Sales (POS) terminals—which enables credit or debit card payments.”

On transactions, the IMF said most wallets appear to remain inactive except for a limited window of weeks of activity surge.

The institution said the average number of eNaira transactions weekly were

carried out only by 1.5 percent of downloaded wallets.

“The average number of eNaira transactions since its inception amounts to about 14,000 per week—only 1.5 percent of the number of wallets out there. This means that 98.5 percent of wallets, for any given week, have not been used even once,” the paper further reads.

“The average value of eNaira transactions has been 923 million naira per week—0.0018 percent of the average amount of M3 during this period. The average value per one transaction has been 60,000 naira.”

The IMF said network effects suggest the initial low adoption spell would require a coordinated policy drive to break it.

“The eNaira’s potential in financial inclusion requires a strategy to set the right relationship with mobile money, given the former’s potential to either complement or substitute the latter,” the institution said.

“Cost savings from integrating CBDC—as a bridge vehicle—in the remittance process may also be substantial.”

No license,No loading any petroleum products from June 1st —NMPDRA warns

By Abubakar Yunus Abuja

The Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMPDRA) has warned that from the 1st of June,2023,anybody who wants to handle petroleum products must obtain a license because no license,no loading of any petroleum products.

NMPDRA, Executive Director -Distribution Systems, storage and retailing Infrastructure,Ogugo K. Ukoha stated this at the stakeholders engagement on Gas utilization in Nigeria,in Abuja on Monday.

The objective of the engagement is to enlighten this end-user category on the need to urgently obtain the requisite petroleum storage license and to engender the transition from white products to gas at the last mile.

According to Okoha, “No license, no loading. So we still have like 9 days to do the right thing and comply. As the scripture says obedience is better than sacrifice. As a regulator we prefer for people to comply so that it doesn’t have adverse effects on your businesses.

“If there is no compliance, we can assure you from the Authority that from 1st June, there will be no license no loading.Any depot, any licensed operator who supplies petroleum products to an unlicensed facility we will shut down that operator.

“I want to make a special appeal that anybody who wants to handle petroleum products in excess of 500 liter storage is required to obtain a license. Our license procedure will go through what your equipment is, the distance, the hazards, procedures and everything.

“We encourage operators and

businesses to take advantage of the evolving opportunities in the gas value chain for sustainable business growth by positioning their energy needs to embrace gas derivatives (LNG, LPG, CNG, Auotogas, Propane & Butane in order to hedge against future global uncertainties to diesel supply.”

He appeals to all petroleum handlers to fully comply with the provisions of the PIA and NMDPRA regulations and thereby avoid strong regulatory enforcement which may adversely impact on business operations.

Speaking further, Okoha said the authority’s twelve gazetted regulations define the licensing

regimes, procedures and standards for handling petroleum products which when breached pose increased risks.

Earlier,NMDPRA the Chief Executive Officer, Engr.Farouk Ahmed said the Federal Government has put in place various initiatives and policy frameworks including the National Gas Expansion Programme (NGEP) and the Decade of Gas Programme (DOCP).

Farouk, represented by the NMPDRA Executive Director health, safety, environment and Community,Dr Mustapha Lamorde said it is our hope that this engagement will create the necessary awareness and make the compelling

case for industry operators to foster a compliance culture which alone guarantees safer and sustainable facilities.

He said the authority empowered by the Petroleum Industry Act (2021) is poised to enable the growth of the industry. The twelve (12) regulations recently gazetted unlock the golden opportunities and signpost the pathway to energy security.

“According to PIA 2022,the Authority the Midstream and Downstream Gas Infrastructure Fund to catalyze gas investments and these efforts are yielding significant results, yet more collaborations and interventions are needed to improve domestic gas utilization”,he stated.

€1.2bn fine slammed on Facebook for mismanaging users’ data

From Abubakar Yunusa ABUJA

Facebook’s parent company, Meta, has been fined €1.2 billion (£1 billion) for mishandling people’s data when transferring it between Europe and the United States.

Issued by Ireland’s Data Protection Commission, it is the largest fine imposed under the EU’s General Data Protection Regulation privacy law.

GDPR rules require companies to seek people’s consent before using their personal data.

Meta says it will appeal against the “unjustified and unnecessary” ruling.

At the crux of this decision is the use of Standard Contractual Clauses to move EU data to the US.

These legal contracts, prepared by the European Commission, contain safeguards to ensure personal data continues to be

protected when transferred outside Europe.

But there are concerns that these data flows still expose Europeans to the US’s weaker privacy laws – and US intelligence could access the data.

Most large companies have complex webs of data transfers – which can include email addresses, phone numbers, and financial information -to overseas recipients, many of which depend on SCCs.

And Meta says their broad use makes

the fine unfair.

Facebook president Nick Clegg said, “We are therefore disappointed to have been singled out when using the same legal mechanism as thousands of other companies looking to provide services in Europe.

“This decision is flawed, unjustified, and sets a dangerous precedent for the countless other companies transferring data between the EU and the US.”

From Abubakar Yunus, Abuja

The Director-General of the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control, NAFDAC, Mojisola Adeyeye has disclosed that over 70 percent of food exports from Nigeria are rejected abroad.

Mrs Adeyeye disclosed this at the official commissioning of the New NAFDAC Office complex for the Murtala Muhammed International Airport/NAHCO in Lagos.

According to a statement released by the resident media consultant to NAFDAC, Sayo Akintola, Mrs Adeyeye was quoted as saying the incidence of rejection of food exports from Nigeria in some European countries and the United States

Over 70% of Nigerian food exports rejected in foreign countries, says NAFDAC DG

of America may soon become a thing of the past if collaboration between the agency and other government agencies at the ports is strengthened.

She added that the deplorable state of export trade facilitation for regulated products leaving the country has continued to be a serious cause for concern for the agency.

Mrs Adeyeye, however, noted that the agency is responding to the challenge by collaborating with the agencies at the ports by ensuring that goods meet

the regulatory requirements of the importing countries and destinations.

“The mandate to safeguard the health of the populace through ensuring that food, medicines, cosmetics, medical devices, chemicals, and packaged water are safe, efficacious, and of the right quality in an economy that is overwhelmingly dependent on the importation of the bulk of its finished products and raw materials could never have been actualised without the effective presence of NAFDAC at the ports

and land borders,” she said.

“Without customs, we will not be able to do a lot of what we have been able to do. The collaboration between Customs and NAFDAC is huge. NAFDAC is a complex organisation. We are scientific. We are police and we work with the Department of State Services. We work with Interpol and the Federal Bureau of Investigation because of the few unscrupulous stakeholders.

“NAFDAC collaborates with Nigeria Agricultural Quarantine Services to ensure that due

diligence is done because over 70 per cent of the products that leave our ports get rejected. Considering the money spent on getting those products out of the country, it is a double loss for both the exporter and the country.

“Without the police, we cannot do much in terms of investigation and enforcement. We have over 80 policemen with us in NAFDAC. They help us a lot when we are doing raids or investigations as the case may be.”

Dangote Refinery: Buhari charges incoming govt on economic improvement

From Abubakar Yunus, Abuja

The President Muhammadu Buharihas urged the incoming government to build on the success of the Dangote refinery.

Buhari made the statement during the commissioning of the Dangote refinery situated in the Ibeju-Lekki area of Lagos State.

He said, “I have confidence that my successor, His Excellency, Bola Tinubu will sustain the improvement in our economy and business environment and stress on the framework of our government partnership to accelerate the growth of our economic development.

“I am going to be leaving our economy in competent hands and I congratulate the Chairman and the Board of Directors and the management of Dangote Group for their notable contribution to the industrialisation of our economy and that of our continent.”

Buhari was received by the state Governor, Babajide SanwoOlu, and accompanied by the President/CEO, Dangote Group, Aliko Dangote, among other dignitaries.

Five African presidents including the President of Togo, Gnassingbé Eyadéma; President

NNPCL announces 20% stake in Dangote Refinery

The organisation had asked to know how long such was going to continue; saying “Oil swaps are wastages compared to self-oil refining.”

The Nigeria National Petroleum Company Limited, NNPC, has said that it has purchased a 20% stake in the Dangote Refinery and Petrochemicals. The organisation had asked to know how long such was going to continue; saying “Oil swaps are wastages compared

to self-oil refining.”

However, the Group Chief Executive Officer of Nigeria National Petroleum Company Limited, NNPCL, Mele Kyari while delivering his Industry address at the ceremony on Monday, at the Lekki free trade zone in Lagos, noted that NNPC has 20 per cent stake in the Dangote Refinery and Petrochemicals.

According to the statement posted on the company’s verified Twitter

handle, he explained that as part of the significant project, NNPC Limited is permitted to operate in advance in line with international best practice, recognising the importance of protecting the environment.

He said; “The Dangote Refinery with the new deal that we have been building, supported by the enabling Petroleum Industry Act, will surely provide domestic security of supply in

our country. The lingering challenges of petroleum subsidies are clearly getting out of the capacity.

“NNPC will continue to support investment in domestic refining to satisfy the growing demands for refined petroleum products in both local and regional markets as against simply exporting unprocessed crude to diminishing markets, overseas,” the statement added.

Nana Akufo-Addo of Ghana, President Macky Sall of Senegal, President Mohamed Bazoum of Niger Republic; President Mahamat Déby of Chad, and President Paul Kagame of Rwanda, are expected to attend the inauguration on Monday.

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FCT youth, vulnerable groups charged to shun irregular migration

By Stanley Onyekwere

Hundreds of youth, women and vulnerable groups drawn from across the six Area Councils of Abuja, the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) have sensitised on the dangers of irregular migration to foreign countries otherwise known as ‘japa’ sydrome.

Stakeholders during a sensitisation/enlightenment programme with the theme: Japa sydrome: Pains and Gains, organised for the teeming participants and integrated returnees, took turns to encourage the target groups to be always weary of the trend, in the best interest of themselves and the society in general.

In her remarks at the event organised by the FCT Administration Diaspora Desk Office, Chairman/CEO, Nigerians in Diaspora Commission, (NIDCOM), Abike Dabiri-Erewa, while noting that no one can stop migration illegal or legal as there will always be such challenges, said people should always weigh the option and the consequences, to know which one is better for them.

Dabiri-Erewa, who said there are pains and gains and pains of Japa syndrome, which has always been there, commended the FCTA for putting the programme together, while expressing hope that at the end of it, there would be recommendations that the the Commission would be able to work on and implement.

She noted that: “The most important thing is that we have to collectively as a people and government play our roles to ensure that we will shine and be the best in the world, and we will get the recognition that we deserved.

“We need to encourage the young ones in particular to do the same thing. There are frustrations, and no doubt about it, but please note that idea is that there is also opportunities that we are not seeing, and let us as a people and

1,485

By Stanley Onyekwere

government open our eyes to those opportunities.

“And let us show the younger ones that maybe there is something that you can do rather than japa especially in an irregular and terrible way, so that can be better persons”.

Similarly, in his keynote presentaion, Ambassador Joe Keshi attributed the Japa syndrome to the unconducive situation of virtually every stratal of the society, in spite of the resources of the country.

Keshi said: “When we preach against the trend, we mus try and balance it, and we must hold those responsible, who over the last couple of years have not made the country conducive enough for people to make ends meet without much stress.

“But if we don’t address the internal contradictions of the country, people will continue to jappa, no matter what you say

to them. But we can hope that leadership of the at every level particularly the states to begin to create the environment that ensures that people can wake up in the morning, and be confident about what to do to fend for themselves”.

Also speaking, the FCTA Permanent Secretary, discloaed that the FCTA is paying attention to the trend, because when migration it is done illegally, it portends grave dangers to the illegal migrants ranging from abuse, exploitation, kidnapping, phycological disorders to even death as well as the effect it has on the depletion of human resources required for nation building.

Represented by Mr. Abdulrazak Leramo, who is the Director of Administration and Finance, FCT Education Secretariat, Adesola said however, enjoined all the youth and other relevant groups to be rightly guided in making well

informed decisions on migration (Japa).

The Permanent Secretary added that the FCT Administration is open and welcomes useful collaboration with enterprising diasporans and other partners for the growth and development of the FCT, given its vast potentials for investments and wealth creation.

Earlier in her welcome address, FCT-Diaspora Focal Point Officer, Sarah David Areo, reiterated that her office provides opportunities to handle Diaspora matters in relation to indigene/indigent members of the FCT, in line with the vision and mission of NiDCOM.

Areo explained that the office work in line with existing guidelines to positively engage Nigerian teeming youth and women to check the dangerous trend of illegal migration to foreign countries where they face very unhealthy living conditions and become very vulnerable to diverse

dangers.

According to her, FCT is a place with the dire need of these potentials, abilities and energy most especially at this critical period in the nation’s history.

Not left out, Sarkin Gabas of Abaji, Alh. Kamal Adamu Shuaibu, who represented the Chairman FCT Council of Chiefs, and Ona of Abaji, Dr. Baba Yunusa, noted that the youth must be made to understand no matter where they go in the world, nowhere is sweet as home, outside of which they would always be visitors.

The Paramount ruler advised them to stay back home, and ensure that the right thing is done, and people we come to Nigeria to live and do business , as the country has all it takes to be the be viable, more than any part of the world.

According to him: “ We have to look inwards, and believe in the nation and ourselves, and if we can this, we can get to places”.

No fewer than 1,485 healthcare workers will be deployed to provide free healthcare services to children under 5, pregnant women, nursing mothers as well as the general public, that will benefit from this year’s Maternal, Newborn and Child Health week (MNCHW) in the nations capital, Abuja.

This was disclosed by the Executive Secretary, FCT Primary Healthcare Board

(FCT-PHCB), Dr. Isah Yahaya, who briefed Journalists yesterday, on its level of preparedness towards the health week.

Yahaya said the healthcare workers will provide health interventions, which include but not limited to maternal health education, immunisation, nutrition, antinatal care among others.

He explained that residents in the FCT in need of these healthcare services can access primary health centres which makes up 297 fixed post across the 6 Area Councils across the FCT.

He also maintained that the MNCH week is primarily aimed at reducing Newborn and child mortality rate in the FCT, while improving Maternal healthcare.

According to him, to reduce the 568 mortality rate recorded for the Federal Capital Territory in 2022, collaborative effort is crucial for such intervention project.

Furthermore, FCT-PHCB boss noted that the week long programme will create not just sensitization on Maternal health,

but also provide free medication like iron foliate supplements for pregnant women, ORT, DeWorming tablets for children from 12-59months and immunisation. He therefore enjoined residents to take advantage of the free healthcare services, noting that the FCT Administration has continued to demonstrate its priority in healthcare service delivery in the 6 area councils and 62 wards, given the recent improvement of the primary healthcare structure through the basic healthcare provision fund.

Healthcare workers to render free maternal care in Abuja

L-R: Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu; Senate President, Sen. Ahmad Ibrahim Lawan; President/Chief Executive, Dangote Industries Limited, Aliko Dangote; President of Federal Republic of Nigeria, Muhammadu Buhari, cutting the tape; President of Togo, Faure Gnassingbe; Ogun State Governor, Dapo Abiodun; and Group Executive Director, Strategy, Capital Projects & Portfolio Development, Dangote Industries Limited, Devakumar Edwin, at the commissioning of Dangote Petroleum Refinery and Petrochemicals FZE, (650,000 barrels per day Petroleum Refining and 900,000 tonnes per annum Polypropylene Production) in Lagos , yesterday.

Madeleine McCann: Police to search Portuguese reservoir

Police investigating the disappearance of Madeleine McCann are to carry out searches at a reservoir in Portugal.

A search of the Arade dam will begin on Tuesday, 50km from where the toddler went missing in Praia da Luz in 2007.

Christian Brueckner, 45, was made a formal suspect, or an “arguido”, by Portuguese prosecutors in 2022.

The search was requested by German police as the area was visited by Brueckner when Madeleine, then three years old, disappeared.

Madeleine, from Rothley, Leicestershire, had been on holiday with her family in Portugal’s Algarve when she went missing on 3 May 2007.

Portuguese police said in a press statement that it is co-ordinating searches in the Algarve over the next few days, also in the presence of British officers.

Hans Christian Wolters, German state prosecutor in Braunschweig, told the BBC a short statement of confirmation would be released by the German authorities on Tuesday morning.

An area of the reservoir’s peninsula just over a mile long was sealed off by police shortly after midday on Monday, Portuguese television network SIC reported.

The search is expected to take place on Tuesday and Wednesday, it said.

Police have erected blue tents and are closing off roads leading to the man-made dam, while a total of 20 police officers have been assigned to the search.

Mr Wolters is treating Brueckner as the main suspect in the McCann case, although he has never been charged over Madeleine’s disappearance and has denied any involvement.

The state prosecutor said a growing amount of evidence had connected Brueckner to the case, including his mobile phone records showing he was in the Praia de Luz area at the time of Madeleine’s disappearance.

Brueckner, a German national, is currently in prison in Germany for the rape of a 72-year-old woman in 2005 in the same area where Madeleine McCann went missing.

He was living near the Praia da Luz resort when the McCann family was on holiday, and spent time in the area between 2000 and 2017.

It is not the first time the reservoir has been searched as part of the investigation.

In 2008, Portuguese lawyer Marcos Aragao Correia paid for specialist divers to check the waterway after he claimed to have been tipped off by criminal

contacts that Madeleine’s body was in the reservoir.

The most recent search in Portugal in relation to Madeleine’s disappearance was in 2014, when British police were given permission to examine scrubland near where she vanished.

Earlier this month, Madeleine’s parents, Kate and Gerry, held a vigil to mark the 16th anniversary of her disappearance.

They also marked their daughter’s 20th birthday in May, vowing to “never give up” on finding their daughter.

“Happy birthday Madeleine. Still missing. Still very much missed. Still looking. For as long as it takes,” they said in a post on the official Facebook page of the Find Madeleine Campaign.

“We love you and we’re waiting for you. We’re never going to give up.”

Tim Scott: Republican senator is running for president

Senator Tim Scott has become the latest Republican to join an increasingly crowded 2024 race for US president.

Mr Scott, 57, who has represented South Carolina in the chamber since 2013, promised to revive America’s “culture of greatness”.

With about $22m (£18m) in cash on hand, he enters the fray with more campaign funds than any of his rivals.

Ex-President Donald Trump is currently the runaway front-runner among Republicans for the party’s nomination.

Mr Scott is garnering less than 5% support in the race, according to national opinion polls.

At a launch event in his hometown of North Charleston on Monday, Mr Scott, who is black, touted his personal storythe grandson of a Deep South cotton field worker who rose to the US Senate - as an embodiment of the American dream.

He spoke of being raised by a single mother and how his family went “from cotton to Congress” in his grandfather’s lifetime.

Mr Scott has spoken often of his experience as a black man in America, from being pulled over by police seven times in one year to being stopped inside the US Capitol building.

But in his campaign launch speech, he rejected the idea that the nation is defined by racial division.

“I am living proof that America is the land of opportunity, not a land of oppression,” he said, railing against the political left. “The truth of my life disproves their lies.”

He vowed to turn around “a nation in retreat”.

“Joe Biden and the radical left are attacking every rung of the ladder that helped me climb,” he said. “We are not in decline. We are in a Biden retreat. So all we need to do is turn around.”

Mr Scott is one of three sitting black US senators in the 100-member upper chamber of Congress, alongside Democrats Cory Booker and Raphael Warnock.

The mild-mannered lawmaker, a teetotalling bachelor, has already picked up endorsements from two of his Senate colleagues, including John Thune, the chamber’s second highest-ranking Republican.

“There may be somebody in the United States who doesn’t like Tim Scott, but I’ve never met them,” long-time Republican consultant Whit Ayres said. “He’s got the potential to be a very strong candidate.”

“For the Republican Party to be competitive in a rapidly changing America, it needs to present a different face to the electorate, and Tim Scott clearly represents a different face,” he added.

Mr Scott will be heading later this week to Iowa and New Hampshire, the first two states to vote in Republican primary elections.

Having already filed paperwork to run for president with the Federal Election Commission, he has also snapped up $6m of air time in both states. It is the largest single ad buy in the 2024 race to date.

He has the backing of some of the right’s wealthiest donors, including Oracle cofounder Larry Ellison, and is expected to compete for the evangelical Christian vote, a key Republican bloc.

The former insurance salesman joins a field that also includes ex-US ambassador

to the United Nations Nikki Haley, former Arkansas Governor Asa Hutchinson, tech entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy and radio host Larry Elder.

Others such as Florida Governor Ron DeSantis and former Vice-President Mike Pence are also expected to run.

“Senator Scott is going to have a huge impact on this race because he’s got the dollars behind him,” Dave Wilson, a South Carolina-based Republican strategist, told the BBC.

“When you look at the fact that he has more money than the other candidates out there, he is going to have an easier time putting the optimistic message he has out there.”

The South Carolina native’s campaign is expected to centre on a more positive, less

populist form of conservatism.

Mr Scott told Fox News last year he “has not very many” policy differences with Mr Trump. He was a key Senate backer of the then-president’s 2017 tax cuts.

If he does not win the nomination, the senator has been tipped as a potential running mate for the party’s eventual 2024 nominee.

“Good luck Tim!” Mr Trump wrote on social media, his friendly message a stark contrast to the attacks he usually launches at rivals.

Governor DeSantis, who is polling in second place but has lost ground to Mr Trump in recent weeks, is expected to formally join the race later this week.

Source: BBC

Police have cordoned off a stretch of the reservoir and set up blue tents to conduct the search

Raised in a single-parent household, Mr Scott invited his mother on stage

Sudan conflict: The Eritrean refugees caught between two crises

It is the airport wait from hell. Paloich Airport, which usually buzzes with the sound of well-heeled workers serving South Sudan’s oil fields, has turned into a camp for thousands of people fleeing the conflict in neighbouring Sudan - now more than a month old.

There are no toilet facilities, no running water, no kitchens - just crowds of people living around their bags, resting on luggage trolleys, or sleeping under makeshift tents while waiting to catch a flight.

They have ended up here, four hours from the border with Sudan, in the hope of finding a way out.

But there are few flights and little information about when people may be able to leave.

Among these refugees are Eritreans who have been uprooted for a second time after previously arriving in Sudan to escape the situation at home. And these people are stuck in limbo.

According to the UN, there were over 136,000 Eritrean refugees and asylum seekers in Sudan before this war.

Most Eritreans do not want to give their names to journalists because they are scared of retribution from the Eritrean authorities. Eritrea is a highly restrictive state that controls almost all aspects of people’s lives, and many want to avoid the prospect of compulsory national service.

But Tesfit Girmay agreed to speak to me. He had arrived in Paloich five days earlier.

“The kind of life around here, you wouldn’t wish it for animals let alone

humans,” he said looking at the tents around him.

As a single man he recognised that he was luckier than some.

“Maybe I can stand it. Sleeping outside, eating once a day, maybe I can stand it. But the biggest problem, there are people with children. There are people with four or five children,” Mr Tesfit told me.

He fled the deteriorating economy in Eritrea at the end of last year and headed to Sudan, hoping to find work and maybe travel on to another country.

But in South Sudan, Eritreans find themselves trapped.

Over 700 have arrived in the country.

Other nationals who fled the conflict in Sudan such as Kenyans, Ugandans and

Somalis have been repatriated by their governments. But many Eritreans in Paloich said they were terrified to go back home, or see no future there.

Mr Tesfit said that Eritreans at the airport were banned from getting onto flights to South Sudan’s capital, Juba. At the same time they have refused to go to the designated refugee camps in the country.

Ethiopia’s Prince Alemayehu: Buckingham Palace rejects calls to return royal’s body

Buckingham Palace has declined a request to return the remains of an Ethiopian prince who came to be buried at Windsor Castle in the 19th Century.

Prince Alemayehu was taken to the UK aged just seven and arrived an orphan after his mother died on the journey.

Queen Victoria then took an interest in him and arranged for his education - and ultimately his burial when he died aged just 18.

But his family wants his remains to be sent back to Ethiopia.

“We want his remains back as a family and as Ethiopians because that is not the country he was born in,” one of the royal descendants Fasil Minas told the BBC.

“It was not right” for him to be buried in the UK, he added.

But in a statement sent to the BBC, a Buckingham Palace spokesperson said removing his remains could affect others buried in the catacombs of St George’s Chapel in Windsor Castle.

“It is very unlikely that it would be possible to exhume the remains without disturbing the resting place of a substantial number of others in the vicinity,” the palace said.

The statement added that the authorities at the chapel were sensitive to the need to honour Prince Alemayehu’s memory, but that they also had “the responsibility to preserve the dignity of the departed”.

It also said that in the past the Royal Household had “accommodated requests from Ethiopian delegations to visit” the chapel.

How Prince Alemayehu ended up

in the UK at such a young age was the result of imperial action and the failure of diplomacy.

In 1862, in an effort to strengthen his empire, the prince’s father Emperor Tewodros II sought an alliance with the UK, but his letters making his case did not get a response from Queen Victoria.

Angered by the silence and taking matters into his own hands, the emperor held some Europeans, among them the British consul, hostage. This precipitated a huge military expedition, involving some 13,000 British and Indian troops, to rescue them.

The force also included an official from the British Museum.

In April 1868 they laid siege to Tewodros’ mountain fortress at Maqdala in northern Ethiopia, and in a matter of hours overwhelmed the defences.

The emperor decided he would rather take his own life than be a prisoner of the British, an action that turned him into a heroic figure among his people.

After the battle, the British plundered thousands of cultural and religious artefacts. These included gold crowns, manuscripts, necklaces and dresses.

Historians say dozens of elephants and hundreds of mules were needed to cart away the treasures, which are today scattered across European museums and libraries, as well as in private collections.

The British also took away Prince Alemayehu and his mother, Empress Tiruwork Wube.

The British may have thought this was to keep them safe and prevent them being captured and possibly killed by Tewodros’

enemies, who were near Maqdala, according to Andrew Heavens, whose book The Prince and the Plunder recounts Alemayehu’s life.

Following his arrival in Britain in June 1868, the prince’s predicament and his status as an orphan elicited the sympathy of Queen Victoria. The two met at the queen’s holiday home on the Isle of Wight, just off England’s south coast.

She agreed to support him financially and put him in the guardianship of Captain Tristram Charles Sawyer Speedy, the man who had accompanied the prince from Ethiopia.

They first lived together on the Isle of Wight and then Captain Speedy took him to other parts of the world, including India.

But it was decided that the prince should have a formal education.

He was sent to the British public school Rugby but he was not happy there. He later moved to the Royal Military College in Sandhurst where he was subjected to bullying.

The prince had a “hankering” to return home, correspondence quoted by Heavens says, but that idea was swiftly quashed.

“I feel for him as if I knew him. He was dislocated from Ethiopia, from Africa, from the land of black people and remained there as if he had no home,” Ethiopian royal descendent Abebech Kasa told the BBC.

Eventually, Alemayehu ended up being tutored in a private home in Leeds. But he became ill, possibly with pneumonia, and at one point refused treatment thinking he had been poisoned.

After a decade in exile the prince died in 1879 at the age of just 18.

His illness had become the subject of articles in the national press and Queen Victoria wrote in her diary of her sadness at his death.

“Very grieved and shocked to hear by telegram, that good Alemayehu had passed away this morning. It is too sad! All alone, in a strange country, without a single person or relative, belonging to him,” she said.

“His was no happy life, full of difficulties of every kind, and was so sensitive, thinking that people stared at him on account of his colour... Everyone is very sorry.”

She then arranged for his burial at Windsor Castle.

Demands that the body should return are not new.

In 2007 the country’s then-President Girma Wolde-Giorgis sent a formal request to Queen Elizabeth II for the body to be sent back, but those efforts proved fruitless.

“We want him back. We don’t want him to remain in a foreign country,” Ms Abebech said.

“He had a sad life. When I think of him I cry. If they agree to return his remains I would think of it as if he came home alive.”

She had hoped that she would get a positive response from newly crowned King Charles III.

“Restitution is used as a way to bring reconciliation, to recognise what was wrong in the past,” says Professor Alula Pankhurst, a specialist in British-Ethiopian relations.

He believes the return of the body would be “a way for Britain to rethink its past. It’s a reflection and coming to terms with an imperial past.” Source: BBC

These children are among thousands of people stuck at Paloich Airport in South Sudan after fleeing Sudan

F rom A si A

Ukraine war: Saboteurs cross into Russia’s Belgorod, governor says

A group of saboteurs has crossed from Ukraine into Russia’s Belgorod region and clashes there have injured a number of people, Russian authorities say.

Local governor Vyacheslav Gladkov said Russian forces were searching for the group, which he said had attacked Grayvoronsky district by the border.

Vladimir Putin’s spokesman said the Russian president had been informed.

Ukraine denies responsibility and said Russian citizens from two paramilitary groups were behind the attack.

Mr Gladkov said eight people had been hurt, including two people admitted to hospital after a village was shelled and three people who were hit by shrapnel in the town of Grayvoron.

Fighting had also damaged three houses and a local administrative building, and the situation remains “extremely tense”, he said.

The governor said a “counterterrorist operation” had been launched in the region, giving special powers to the authorities including on identity checks and communications surveillance.

BBC Verify has been analysing footage from the Belgorod region that emerged on social media on Monday.

So far, the team has located a video apparently filmed from a drone that features several armoured vehicles near a border checkpoint south of Belgorod. Additionally, BBC Verify has geolocated footage of helicopters operating in the region.

The footage is recent, but it is hard to say for certain from the videos what the exact sequence of events is.

Kyiv said those behind the ongoing incident were from groups called the Liberty of Russia Legion and the Russian Volunteer Corps (RVC).

The Liberty of Russia Legion - a Ukraine-based Russian militia which says it is working inside Russia to overthrow President Putin - said on Twitter on Monday it had “completely liberated” the border town of Kozinka. It said forward units had reached the town of Grayvoron, further east.

However Mr Putin’s spokesman Dmitry Peskov told Russian news agencies that efforts were underway to eliminate the sabotage group, and said its purpose was to draw attention away from the eastern Ukrainian town of Bakhmut - which a Russian mercenary group claims to have taken control of after months of intense and bloody fighting.

“We perfectly understand the purpose of such sabotage - to divert attention from the Bakhmut direction, to minimise the political effect of the loss of Artemovsk [Bakhmut] by the Ukrainian side,” he said.

Kyiv says it still controls parts of the city.

Ukrainian presidential advisor Mikhaylo Podolyak said his country was watching events in

Belgorod “with interest”, but “has nothing to do with it”.

“As you know, tanks are sold at any Russian military store, and underground guerrilla groups are composed of Russian citizens,” he added.

Ukraine has previously denied responsibility for reported sabotage attacks on Russian territory.

The latest incident comes

ahead of a widely expected counter offensive by Kyiv against invading Russian forces.

In April, Russia accidentally dropped a bomb on the city of Belgorod, which lies 40 km (25 miles) north of the border with Ukraine.

More than 3,000 people were evacuated from their homes after an undetonated explosive was found days later.

Ukraine war: Satellite images reveal Russian defences before major assault

Abeach resort bristling with fortifications. A major road lined with anti-tank ditches. Satellite analysis by BBC Verify has uncovered some of the extensive defences built by Russia as it prepares for a major Ukrainian counter-attack.

After months of stalemate, the expected assault is likely to be a crucial test for Ukraine as it seeks to prove it can achieve significant battlefield gains with the weapons it has received from the West.

By examining hundreds of satellite images, the BBC has identified some key points in the significant build-up of trenches and other fortifications in southern Ukraine since October.

These four locations offer an insight into what Russia expects from the counter-offensive, and what defences Ukrainian forces might encounter.

1. Crimea’s west coast

Seized by Russia in 2014, Crimea was formerly known for its beach resorts.

Now, instead of sun loungers and parasols, the coastline stretching for 15 miles (25km) is littered with defence structures installed by Russian troops.

The image below shows the only open sandy beach on the west coast without natural defences such as cliffs or hills.

Firstly, there are “dragon’s

teeth” along the shore: pyramidshaped blocks of concrete, designed to block the path of tanks and other military vehicles.

Behind them is a line of trenches, providing cover from incoming attacks. Several bunkers can also be spotted along the trenches.

Stacks of wood, digging machines and stores of dragon’s teeth along the coast suggest building work was still in progress when the image was taken in March.

Some military experts suggest the defences are likely to be a precaution, rather than a sign that Russia expects to defend a seaborne assault, since Ukraine has little naval capacity.

Intelligence analyst Layla Guest says: “The fortifications are likely in place to deter any bold Ukrainian operation to attack Crimea via the sea rather than on land.”

The beach fortification is just one example of a vast network of trenches, as shown by the black dots in the map below, based on work by open-source analyst Brady Africk.

BBC Verify has been able to identify other key fortification sites by pinpointing individual trench locations from videos on social media.

Once an exact location was

discovered it was then possible to trace an entire trench network using satellite images.

2. Tokmak

The small city of Tokmak lies on a key route in the south-east of the country that Ukrainian forces may want to use to cut off Crimea from other Russian-held territories.

There have been reports that Ukrainian civilians have been moved out in order to turn the city into a military fortress. This would provide soldiers with access to supplies and a base to retreat to.

The satellite image above shows that a network of trenches in two lines has been dug north of Tokmak - the direction Ukraine would have to attack from.

Behind these trenches is a further ring of fortifications around the city, with three layers of defences that can be seen distinctly in this close-up satellite image.

The top of the satellite image shows an anti-tank ditch. These are usually at least 2.5m deep and designed to trap any enemy tanks

that attempt to cross.

Behind the ditch are several rows of dragon’s teeth and another trench network.

But Ukrainian forces are likely to face further traps.

It’s highly likely that mines have also been hidden between Tokmak’s three defence lines, says Mark Cancian from the Center for Strategic and International Studies.

“Minefields are a standard part of every defence, and the Russians have used them extensively throughout the war. BBC

Verified footage showed a helicopter flying low over the area

Dangote Refinery will generate $21billion, to employ over 100,000

By Abubakar Yunusa, Abuja

President of the pan-African Conglomerate, Dangote Industries Limited (DIL), Aliko Dangote disclosed yesterday that the newly commissioned 650,000pbd refinery would employ over 100,000 Nigerians youths as well as generate over $21 billion, therefore saving the country huge forex, that would have been used for fuel importation. The company, according to him, now has over 33,000 employees.

Much to the excitement of Nigerians, Dangote said the commissioning has marked the beginning of the new journey of the self-sufficiency in refined petroleum products and exportation of same just as been achieved in Cement and lately fertilizer.

Dangote lamented that the current fuel crisis has had negative impact on the nation’s economy and that informed his decision to build a world class refinery that would change the trend and that though faced challenges but decided to trudge on.

He highlighted events leading to his firm deciding to build its own refinery after his attempt to acquire one of the existing moribund did not materialize noting that he decided to change marketing strategy and settle for gigantic project ever undertaken by an individual world over.

According to him, the refinery plant would be run at the highest effective and efficient level for maximum benefits to all Nigerians noting “we will replicate what we achieved in cement and fertilizer by attaining self-sufficiency and becoming net exporter.

Dangote assured Nigerians that 40 per cent of the production capacity will be available for export with the coming on stream of the plant guaranteeing raw materials for plastic, and pharmaceutical industries.

In his remark, President Buhari congratulated Dangote Group, saying “the 650,000 barrels a day of crude which will enable our country to achieve self-sufficiency in refined products and even have some supplies for export saying the government and people of Nigeria are proud of the doggedness and tenacity of Dangote as entrepreneur.

Said he; “This feat at this time of the nation’s economic development clearly made this event a notable milestone for our economy and the game changer for the downstream petroleum products not only for

Nigeria but the entire African continent. Dangote Group has helped transform our economy from heavy import dependence to a net exporter in some critical industries, including cement and Fertiliser.”

He noted that the economy which has been stressed for many decades by huge deficits in economic infrastructure and over a decade of insurgency has also been severely impacted by several external crises, including the global financial crisis, the collapse of world crisis the Coronavirus pandemic and the Russia Ukraine war.

“The consequences of these challenges constitute a severe strain on our economy and limiting government’s ability to provide basic infrastructure without resorting to borrowing. Government therefore decide to focus attention on creating an enabling environment for the private sector to thrive and fill the enormous gap in investments not only in infrastructure, but also in all critical sectors.

“We recognize that without active participation of the private sector and a strong commitment to public-private partnership, the economy will not be able to continue to meet the challenge and economic growth”, while expressing the hope that the coming administration will continue to apply such innovative schemes to accelerate the fruition of critical infrastructure, in particular roads and gas pipelines.

Governor of Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Mr. Godwin Emefiele while commending Mr. Dangote for the successful completion of the refinery project said it would not only aid that nation’s domestic petrol needs, but also help in generating export revenues for our country.

Emefiele recalled; “In September 2013, when Alhaji Aliko Dangote announced his plans for the refinery, it was estimated to cost about US$9 billion, of which US$3 billion was projected as equity investment by the Dangote Group and the balance financed through commercial loans. Due to an array of factors, the project was eventually completed with a total of US$18.5 billion with funding distributed into 50 percent equity investment and 50 percent debt finance. I am proud to state that the commercial loan component of the project was financed majorly by our domestic banks with the balance sourced from foreign banks. The Central Bank of Nigeria also partnered, as always, with the Dangote Group in ensuring the successful completion of the project by providing about N125 billion, to cover domestic currency requirements for the venture.

“What you may not be fully aware of, Your

L-R:

State Governor,

President,

Lawan; President/Chief Executive, Dangote Industries Limited,

Dangote; President of Federal Republic of Nigeria, Muhammadu Buhari, cutting the tape; President of Togo, Faure Gnassingbe; Ogun State Governor, Dapo Abiodun; and Group Executive Director, Strategy, Capital Projects & Portfolio Development, Dangote Industries Limited, Devakumar Edwin, at the commissioning of Dangote Petroleum Refinery and Petrochemicals FZE, (650,000 barrels per day Petroleum Refining and 900,000 tonnes per annum Polypropylene Production)

Excellencies, is that the Dangote Group has started repaying some of the commercial loans even before the commissioning of this facility. This reflects the commercial capability of the Group and its Chairman. I am pleased to inform everyone today that, following extensive repayments, outstanding debt has dropped appreciably from over US$9 billion to US$3 billion.”

The CBN Governor commended Nigerian banks saying they did not only partnered with the project through effective financing but were keenly aware of the importance of the project for our nation. “They provided immense support and exceptional understanding, even when interest payments and principal repayment had fallen due.”

He described the successful completion of the refinery to President Buhari’s astute vision to ensure that Nigeria produces what Nigerians consume and that we consume what we produce. “The refinery and petrochemical project by the Dangote Group is a testament to your vision for Nigeria. It shows that, regardless of what the world thinks, Nigeria can be self-sufficient in all products that we consume and at the same time export our excess output to the rest of the world.”

“Aside enumerating our strategic efforts in the agriculture and other critical sectors, a sterling projects that we highlighted was the

gigantic Dangote Refinery and Petrochemical project. The world doubted our willpower to succeed with this project. In hindsight, I could appreciate their skepticism because they do not understand how a single individual could build a refinery capable of serving an entire nation. To them, projects of this magnitude are usually only undertaken by sovereigns not individuals.”

Group Managing Director of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Ltd (NNPC), Mele Kolo Kyari said the NNPC was happy to partner Dangote Refinery because the project has potentials for smooth supply of petroleum and it would guarantee healthy competition for the benefits of the nation’s economy.

He said the NNPC Ltd. was committed to value addition to the potentials of the project noting that the new Petroleum Industry Act will provide security of supply of refined products and protect the plant. The NNPC boss added that his was happy the refinery is coming on board at a time the subsidy on imported products has become unbearable for government.

In their respective goodwill messages, Presidents of Ghana, Senegal, Niger, Benin Republic and Chad expressed satisfaction that the Dangote Refinery will serve the West African region and that their countries would be beneficiaries saying the Dangote Refiner is an African company for Africa by an African entrepreneur.

Dangote refinery to generate 12,000 megawatts of electricity – CBN

From Abubakar Yunus, Abuja

The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has said that the newly inaugurated Dangote Petroleum Refinery and Petrochemicals will help Nigeria generate more power for its electricity sector.

Speaking today at the inauguration in Lagos State, Governor of the apex bank, Mr Godwin Emefiele, said the Dangote Refinery is expected to generate 12,000 megawatts of electricity.

He further stated that over 135,000 permanent jobs will

be available to Nigerians as operations get underway.

According to him, it is also expected that the refinery saves Nigeria between $25 and $30 billion in forex annually.

Like a venture that continues to give, the refinery Emefiele says will further give the economy an

inflow of $10billion yearly.

In his opinion, the Dangote Refinery is an indication that Nigeria can produce whatever it Needs.

Take a listen below to the CBN Governor as he gives his speech at the commissioning of the Dangote Refinery.

Lagos

Babajide Sanwo-Olu; Senate

Sen. Ahmad Ibrahim

Aliko

in Lagos on Monday, May 22, 2023.

Chile’s new law blazes trail for children of femicide victims

To her friends and family in the Chilean capital of Santiago, 25-year old Silvana Garrido was a radiant, happy and beautiful woman full of life and love for her threeyear-old daughter.

They were immediately suspicious when they were told that she had died by suicide.

“From the first instance, her family and closest friends believed it was a femicide perpetrated by her partner,” says Francisca Millán Zapata of AML Women’s Defence, who represented Ms Garrido’s family in court.

Ms Millán Zapata says that the police and prosecutors did not take the concerns of Ms Garrido’s family and friends seriously, instead opting to believe the version of events put forward by the victim’s expartner, Fernando Flores.

The family had to “fight ruthlessly” for four years to achieve justice, she says. But in April 2023, Fernando Flores was found guilty of pushing her to her death from her 23rd-floor apartment. He was sentenced to life in prison.

The crime was classified as a femicide, which under Chilean law is defined as the murder of a woman by her partner or former partner.

Not only did Fernando Flores get a tougher sentence because the murder was ruled a femicide, but under Chile’s new Reparation Law for Victims of Femicide, Ms Garrido’s daughter will qualify for financial support.

The girl, who is seven now, is eligible to receive a monthly state allowance of 160,000 Chilean pesos ($200; £160) until she is 18 years old.

The law was passed in April, and is one of the most comprehensive legal measures in Latin America to support relatives in a region with some of the highest femicide rates in the world.

Danitza Pérez Cáceres, the executive director of Abofem, a Chilean network of female

lawyers that specialise in gender rights cases, says the reparation law sets an important precedent in Latin America.

“This is the first [which provides for] a permanent state allowance for the affected child,” she explains - but warns it remains to be seen how it works in practice.

Chile’s Minister of Women and Gender Equity, Antonia Orellana, says that the law was brought in to lend support to children whose mothers have been killed by their partners, leaving the child with no mother and a violent father behind bars.

Minister Orellana says the aim is to go further than just providing financial aid - and to recognise violence as a structural problem.

She insists that the problem is wider than the approach which the justice system has typically taken in femicide cases, focussing on “a victim and an aggressor”.

According to Minister Orellana, the core focus of the law is to protect children’s wellbeing and to break the cycle of violence, which can see children of aggressors turn into violent adults.

“The most effective measure in the long-term is avoiding the intergenerational transmission of violence,” she argues.

As well as an allowance for the children of murdered women, the law also grants employment protection to survivors of attempted or frustrated femicides.

And under the new provisions, family members are offered priority access to social services, such as psychological counselling and support.

Ms Orellana hopes that lawmakers will also pass a bill aimed at preventing femicides and abuse. The Right For A Life Without Violence law, which is backed by the Ministry of Women, seeks to strengthen the institutional support offered to women to help them escape violent circumstances.

She believes that the number of femicides can be reduced,

but in her view gender-based violence is a global challengenot restricted to Latin America.

In the meantime, the monthly allowance which the daughter of femicide victim Silvana Garrido will now receive is welcomed by her family.

Silvana Garrido’s mother (second from right) and her sister Brenda (right) were joined in their fight for justice by lawyer Francisca Millán (left) and prosecutor Paula Rojas (second from left)

The girl is being looked after by her grandmother and her aunt, Brenda Garrido - the two women who led the fight for justice for Silvana Garrido.

“It’s a support. Even though with today’s inflation it’s not that much, it does help,” Brenda Garrido says.

“The institutions failed my sister, the state failed her, we said it [her death] wasn’t suicide

and they didn’t listen. So I think this is something good for my family.”

Silvana Garrido’s Instagram page is open to the public and has become a space of memory and activism for femicide victims.

Before her death, Silvana Garrido had posted dozens of selfies with her daughter,

laughing at the app’s humorous filters, with heart emojis dotted across each image.

Brenda Garrido smiles when she thinks of her sister: “She was full of joy, and was the best mum in the world.”

“Her daughter is just like her, they are like two peas in a pod.”

Source: BBC

According to Minister Orellana, the core focus of the law is to protect children’s wellbeing and to break the cycle of violence, which can see children of aggressors turn into violent adults.

Silvana Garrido was killed by her former partner

Relatives and supporters of Silvana Garrido said justice was done

Antonia Orellana says reducing the number of femicides is s “global challenge”

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THE AIMS AND OBJECTIVES ARE :

1 TO GIVE HOPE TO THE HOPELESS, BUILDING FAMILIES, DESTINES AND MAKING THE WORLD A BETTER PLACE.

2. TO LEAD A SPIRITUAL ATMOSPHERE OF PRAISE AND WORSHIP UNTO THE LORD TO PROMOTE PROMOTE A SUITABLE BIBLICAL ATMOSPHERE FOR THE EXERCISE OF SPIRITUAL AUTHORITY OVER SATAN, SIN, SICKNESS, POVERTY, CURSE, OPPRESSION, DEATH AND SUCH VICES.

3. PREACHING AND TEACHING THE WORD OF GOD TO ALL THE NATIONS OF THE EARTH.

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

AR - RAYYAN CENTRAL MOSQUE

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. SOMUYIWA ADEBOYE WALIYULLAHI

2. OGUNREMI AZEEZ ABIOLA

3. SOMUYIWA AZEEZAT MOSUNMOLA

THE AIMS AND OBJECTIVES REMAIN THE SAME.

1. TO PROPAGATE THE ISLAMIC RELIGION IN ACCORDANCE WITH QURAN AND SUNNAH.

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.

CLASSIFIED

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NOSAGIE DEVELOPMENT FOUNDATION

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THE TRUSTEES ARE :

1). AKHIMIEM JEFFERY

2). PETER-TONGO ISOKEN LINDA

THE AIMS AND OBJECTIVES ARE :

1). WE SEEK TO SUPPORT WOMEN AND YOUTHS TO BECOME GREATER VERSIONS OF THEMSELVES FOR SOCIETAL GROWTH.

2). TO REPRESENT THE UNDER REPRESENTED YOUTHS IN THE SOCIETY FOR GOOD GOVERNANCE.

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

THE OLD NAME : SEYI ODEYEMI FOUNDATION

THE NAME NAME : LANRE AND SEYI ODEYEMI FOUNDATION CAC/IT/NO. 163687.

THIS IS TO INFORM THE GENERAL PUBLIC THAT THE ABOVE NAMED HAS APPLIED TO THE CORPORATE AFFAIRS COMMISSION (CAC), ABUJA FOR CHANGE OF INCORPORATED TRUSTEE NAME (IT) UNDER PART ‘F’ OF COMPANIES AND ALLIED MATTERS ACT, ( CAMA 2020).

THE TRUSTEES ARE :

1. TIMOTHY OMIWOLE

2. ATINUKE SIJUWADE

3. OLANREWAJU ODEYEMI

THE AIMS AND OBJECTIVES REMAIN THE SAME.

ANY OBJECTION TO THIS APPLICATION 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.

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GIDAUNIYAR AGAJI GA MARAYU DA MABUKATA CHARITY FOUNDATION

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THE TRUSTEES ARE :

1. HAMMAN - ADAMA MAS’UD. - CHAIRMAN

2. UMAR SAFIYANU. - SECRETARY

3. ADAMU AMINU KALAJANGA

4. INUWA ANAS USMAN

5. ISMAIL USMAN

THE AIMS AND OBJECTIVES ARE :

1.TO ASSIST NEED AND LESS PRIVILEGED.

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.

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THE STRANDFOLD SUPPORT FOUNDATION

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THE TRUSTEES ARE :

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2.ADEYANJU OMOLOLA FUNMILOLA - SECRETARY

3.OGBUM JOHNSON OKWUCHUKWU

4.OSASONA EMMANUEL AYODEJI

THE AIMS AND OBJECTIVES ARE :

1.TO IMPROVE THE EDUCATIONAL STANDARD OF THE LOCAL GOVERNMENT, STATE AND THE NATION AT LARGE.

2.TO PROVIDE CARE, THERAPY , SKILLS TO VULNERABLE WOMEN AND THEIR CHILDREN.

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.

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DE RENAISSANCE BEACH KLUB

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THE TRUSTEES ARE :

1.BOYO ISAIAH BAWO - CHAIRMAN

2.OMADOYE GODWIN BAFOR - SECRETARY

3.ILUWA SIMEON KUTU

4.ARUBI JOE EYEWUMI

THE AIMS AND OBJECTIVES ARE :

1.TO ASSIST OUR MEMBERS IN TIMES OF NEED

2.TO FOSTER UNITY, PEACE, LOVE AND PROGRESS OF ITS 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.

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TREASUREWELLS YOUTH EMPOWERMENT FOUNDATION

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THE TRUSTEES ARE :

1. IKE NNAEBUE (CHAIRMAN)

2. DR. PRINCESS EZINNE AGWU SOLOMON (SECRETARY)

3. DR QUEEN ELIZABETH AGWU

THE AIMS AND OBJECTIVES ARE : TO PROVIDE EDUCATION AND CAPACITY BUILDING OPPORTUNITIES FOR AFRICAN YOUTH IN RURAL AND SEMI-URBAN AREAS THROUGH TREASUREWELLS LEADERSHIP AND YOUTH DEVELOPMENT CENTERS.

TO EMPOWER AFRICAN YOUTH IN RURAL AND SEMI-URBAN AREAS WITH THE KNOWLEDGE AND SKILLS NEEDED TO CONTRIBUTE TO THEIR COMMUNITIES AND BECOME LEADERS OF TOMORROW.

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

SAED CHARITY FOUNDATIONA

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. AL-RACHID MOAYAD - CHAIRMAN

2. AL-RACHID MOHAMMED MOAYAD

3. ALRACHID MOHANAD

4. JIBRIL ABUBAKAR IDRIS - SECRETARY

THE AIMS AND OBJECTIVES ARE :

1. TO BUILD HOMES FOR LESS PREVILLAGE.

2. TO FEED AND EDUCATE ORPHANS.

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

BLUE GIRL CARE INITIATIVE

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.OKONKWO THELMA NCHEDOCHUKWU-TRUSTEE /CHAIRMAN

2.NWABUEZE ADAEZE AMAKA- TRUSTEE /SECRETARY

3.NWABUEZE AMARACHI AWELE- TRUSTEE

AIMS & OBJECTIVES: (DESCRIBE WHAT YOUR NGO IS ABOUT ): EDUCATION AND EMPOWERMENT: PROVIDING EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES AND RESOURCES TO GIRLS TO HELP THEM ACHIEVE THEIR FULL POTENTIAL AND BECOME LEADERS IN THEIR COMMUNITIES.

HEALTH AND WELL-BEING: PROMOTING THE HEALTH AND WELL-BEING OF GIRLS THROUGH ACCESS TO QUALITY HEALTH SERVICES, NUTRITION, AND HYGIENE EDUCATION.

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.

ACCORD OF LOVE FOUNDATION

OBJECTIVES ARE : TO BE A FOUNDATION THAT EXPRESSES LOVE TO EACH OTHER AND BE EACH OTHER BURDEN BEARER. TO BE A PILLAR OF SUPPORT TO ONE ANOTHER WHENEVER ANY OF OUR MEMBERS CHILDREN ARE GETTING MARRIED AND ANY OTHER SPIRIT OF LOVE, BETTER UNDERSTANDING AND GOODCELEBRATIONS. TO FOSTER AND PROMOTE THE RELATIONSHIP AMONG THE MEMBERS OF THE FOUNDATION TO INITIATE AND EXECUTE PLANS FOR THE PROGRESS, DEVELOPMENT AND WELFARE OF THE MEMBERS, ECONOMICALLY AND SOCIALLY TO THE EFFECTIVE REALIZATION OF THE AIMS AND OBJECTIVES OF THE FOUNDATION AS THE CIRCUMSTANCES DEMAND TO PROMOTE PEACE AND HARMONY AMONG MEMBERS OF THE FOUNDATION. 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

THIS IS TO INFORM THE GENERAL PUBLIC THAT THE ABOVE NAMED HAS APPLIED TO THE CORPORATE AFFAIRS COMMISSION (CAC), ABUJA FOR AMENDMENT OF CONSTITUTION UNDER PART ‘F’ OF COMPANIES AND ALLIED MATTERS ACT, ( CAMA 2020).

(A) AMENDMENT OF CONSTITUTION : AMENDMENT OF THE ENTIRE CONSTITUTION.

(B) CHANGE OF TRUSTEES.

OLD TRUSTEES

1,.ELDER TIMOTHY AYINLA OGUNYOOLU...REMOVED.

2,. CHIEF A.E EGBEYEMI...REMOVED.

3,. ELDER A.A AKINBIYI.... RETAINED.

4,. PASTOR EMMANUEL ABOLANLE AKANBI... REMOVED

5,. AKANBI ADEDOYIN ADEYINKA MRS...REMOVED.

THE NEW TRUSTEES ARE :

1,. PASTOR ABEL ADELEKE AKINBIYI ..REAPPOINTED.

2,. IJAOYE AYODELE SUNDAY ( SECRETARY)...APPOINTED

3,. DAVID OLUWADARE FALANA. (CHAIRMAN). ...APPOINTED.

4., OLAKANMI MOSES OYEWOLE...APPOINTED.

5,. ESTHER THERESA ADEYEMI... APPOINTED.

THE AIMS AND OBJECTIVES REMAIN

PUBLIC NOTICE

PLANET BRIEFING, CONSERVATION AND EDUCATION INITIATIVE

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.TEMILOLUWA OLAOLUWA BAMGBOSE-TRUSTEE /CHAIRMAN

2.ISAAC IFEANYI ANYAOGU- TRUSTEE /SECRETARY

AIMS & OBJECTIVES: (DESCRIBE WHAT YOUR NGO IS ABOUT ): -TO PROTECT THE ENVIRONMENT AND PROMOTE SUSTAINABLE PRACTICES IN ORDER TO PRESERVE NATURAL RESOURCES FOR FUTURE GENERATIONS.

-TO INFLUENCE POLICY MAKERS AND RAISE AWARENESS AMONG THE PUBLIC ABOUT ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES, IN ORDER TO BRING ABOUT POLICY CHANGE AT THE LOCAL, NATIONAL, AND INTERNATIONAL LEVELS.

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.

CBN STAFF GOLF 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. BADMOS OLUSEYI ADEMOLA- CHAIRMAN

2. ISHAKU HAUWA AJI- SECRETARY

AIMS & OBJECTIVES:

THE AIM OF THE ASSOCIATION IS TO PROMOTE AND FOSTER THE GAME OF GOLF AMONGST THE STAFF AT THE CENTRAL BANK OF NIGERIA.

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.

THIS IS TO INFORM THE GENERAL PUBLIC OF THE LOSS OF ORIGINAL RIGHT OF OCCUPANCY OF PLOT NO: 1204 CADASTRAL ZONE A07 WUSE II DISTRICT, FILE NO: MISC: 54972.

ALL EFFORTS MADE TO TRACE THE SAID DOCUMENT HAVE PROVED ABORTIVE. IF FOUND PLEASE, KINDLY RETURN TO THE NEAREST POLICE STATION.ALL AUTHORITIES CONCERNED AND GENERAL PUBLIC SHOULD PLEASE TAKE NOTE.

PUBLIC NOTICE

GRACE OTUKA 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 AGOMOH GRACE CHIBUZOR

2 ODEY CHRISTIANA BOSEDE

3 ITAM ROSALINE ENEYO

AIMS & OBJECTIVES:

TO CATER FOR THE LESS PRIVILEGED.

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.

LOSS OF DOCUMENT

THIS IS TO INFORM THE GENERAL PUBLIC OF THE LOSS OF OFFER OF TERMS AND CONDITION OF RIGHT OF OCCUPANCY BELONG TO HAJIYA AISHAT ADAMU IN RESPECT OF PLOT NUMBER 39370 WITHIN KORODUMA ESTATE AND DATED 21/11/2019. FILE NUMBER: NS 39370 GOT MISSING.

ALL EFFORT MADE TO TRACE THE SAID DOCUMENT PROVED ABORTIVE, PLEASE IF FOUND KINDLY REPORT TO THE NEAREST POLICE STATION. GENERAL PUBLIC AND ALL AUTHORITY CONCERNED SHOULD TAKE NOTE.

Olympics Qualifier: NWF President, Dr Ibrahim Abdul

Lauds Weightlifters After Tunisia Medal Haul

By Amaechi Agbo

The President, Nigeria Weightlifting Federation, NWF, Dr Ibrahim Abdul, FCISM, OCP, CMC; has commended Nigeria weightlifters who won 12 medals at the just concluded 2023 Senior Africa Weightlifting Championship in Tunisia.

Five Nigeria athletes, Lawal Rufiatu, Olarinoye Adijat, Eze Joy Ogbonne, Edidiong Umoafia and Akano Desmond represented Nigeria at the championship which also served as the 2024 Olympic Games qualifier.

They competed in 59kg and 71kg women’s categories as well as 73kg and 89kg men’s categories.

They won a total of 12 medals made up of three gold, seven silver and two bronze medals to put Nigeria’s quest for the 2024 Olympic Games qualification on sound track

In a release signed by the Media Officer, Nigeria Weightlifting Federation, Mr Amaechi Agbo, the President charged the weightlifters to buckle up ahead of more qualifiers.

“First and foremost, I want to commend the athletes for doing their best, considering the circumstances.

“As the president and someone who aim for the best, I wanted all of them to win gold medals in Tunisia. Nevertheless, I am proud of what they achieved.

“However, I urge them to buckle up. We have just started the race to Olympic Games qualification and there is a long way to go. They should remain active, sustain their training schedules and strictly follow them.

“As a federation, we will continue to provide, within our powers, all that are necessary for them to excel. We cannot afford to miss out on Olympics again after what happened in Tokyo Olympics qualifiers.

“I have no doubts in their abilities and

I believe that once they remain focused, we will get there,” he said

Meanwhile, Nigeria ambassador to Tunisia, Amb. Asari Edem Allotey has charged the weightlifters to remain focused in their quest for 2024 Olympics tickets.

Amb. Allotey stated this on Thursday while hosting the Nigeria Weightlifting contingent in her house.

The Ambassador who expressed delight with the performances of the lifters, also

cautioned them to make improvements if they must become Olympic medalists in Paris next year.

Nigeria weightlifters are expected to participate in five other weightlifting qualifying championships as they seek a return to Olympic Games medal podium in Paris next year.

The championships/Olympics qualifiers are:

1. IWF Grand Prix Havana, Cuba June 2-12, 2023

2. IWF World Championships Riyadh, Saudi Arabia -September 2-17, 2023

3. IWF Grand Prix Doha, Qatar December 1-17, 2023

4. African Championships February 25 March 02, 2024 (host to be confirmed)

5. IWF World Cup Phuket, Thailand April, 2024

U-20 World Cup: How Flying Eagles came from behind to beat Dominican Republic

By Amaechi Agbo

Nigeria’s Flying Eagles earned the first three points of Group D of the ongoing FIFA U20 World Cup in Argentina after an own goal by Guillermo De Rena and a smart finish by Samson Lawal steered them beyond Dominican Republic in Mendoza.

Ibrahim Muhammad’s shot had been firmly held by goalkeeper Xavier Valdez and Jude Sunday and Tochukwu Nnadi had threatened in the fore

within the first quarter-hour, before Japanese referee Yusuke Araki opted to consult the Video Assistant Referee and then award a penalty to Dominican Republic in the 20th minute, after a tackle by Daniel Daga. The resultant penalty was brilliantly converted by Edison Azcona.

Sunday, Nnadi, Fago Lawal, Samson Lawal and Muhammad all doubled their efforts with onslaughts launched towards the opposition, but goalkeeper Valdez was brilliant on the day, especially

in tipping over Sunday’s dipping shot from outside the box in the 37th minute.

Defender Solomon Agbalaka, who headed the goal that sank hosts Egypt at the Africa U20 Cup of Nations in January, attempted a similar effort in the 58th minute but found Valdez capable. From a dashing run in the 61st minute, substitute Emmanuel Umeh should have done more than place the ball in the keeper’s waiting hands.

Daga, Sunday and substitute Haliru Sarki all tested the keeper

in a second half dominated by Nigeria, but Samson Lawal was very alert to smell blood and capitalize on a defensive lapse by the boys from Dominican Republic to score Nigeria’s winner in the 68th minute. This was a minute after Jude Sunday had the ball in the net from a flowing team move, but it was ruled offside.

“We are happy with the three points though we wanted the boys to win by a higher margin as goals advantage do matter along the line in a competition such as this. The next two matches will be much

tougher and I expect the Flying Eagles to also show sterner stuff,” said NFF General Secretary, Dr. Mohammed Sanusi who watched the encounter at the Estadio Malvinas Argentinas in Mendoza. Next up for the two-time runners-up of the FIFA U20 World Cup is a clash with Italy at the same venue on Wednesday evening. A draw will most certainly guarantee a place in the knockout rounds for the Flying Eagles, ahead of their final group phase encounter with Brazil in La Plata on Saturday.

Nigeria Weightlifting contingent with the Ambassador during the latter’s visit in Tunisia on Thursday

•Ambassador charges lifters to remain focused

Côte d’Ivoire to host 2023 CAF Women’s Champions League

Côte d’Ivoire will host the third edition of the CAF Women’s Champions League, the Executive Committee has announced. The prestigious inter-club competition for women was first hosted by Egypt in 2021 with Morocco hosting last year’s edition.

The dates for the tournament will be announced soon, but the eight-team tournament will help the Ivorians test their systems ahead of the TotalEnergies Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) which kicks off in January 2023.

The format will remain unchanged with the eight teams drawn into two groups. The top two in each will progress to the semi-finals.

The champion of the host country will be joined by seven other teams from the zonal qualifiers which will be held in due course as well.

Morocco’s AS Far are the defending champions, having clinched the crown on home soil, beating holders Mamelodi Sundowns Ladies. The format will remain unchanged with the eight teams drawn into two groups. The top two in each will progress to the semifinals.

The champion of the host country will be joined by seven other teams from the zonal qualifiers which will be held in due course as well.

Morocco’s AS Far are the defending chamhed the crown on home soil, beating holders Mamelodi Sundowns Ladies.

WAFU U-20: Five-star Falconets Wallop Niger 7-0 In Group B Opener

Nigeria’s U-20 girls celebrating none of their goals on Sunday

In a jaw-dropping showcase of attacking prowess, Nigeria’s U-20 women’s team kicked off their campaign at the WAFU B U-20 Girls Cup of Nations in Ghana with an emphatic 7-0 victory over Niger on Sunday.

The Group B match, held at Kumasi’s Baba Yara Stadium, witnessed a masterclass performance by the Nigerian side, leaving their opponents in awe.

From the opening whistle, Nigeria displayed their intent to dominate the game. Wave after wave of relentless attacks bombarded the Niger defence, setting the tone for the rest of the match.

In just the fourth minute, Esther Opeyemi Akajaye announced her presence with a clinical finish, marking the beginning of a remarkable individual performance.

Akajaye continued her assault on the Niger defence, netting two more goals in the 13th and 54th minutes to complete a sensational hat-trick.

Her exquisite finishing left Niger reeling, struggling to find answers to Nigeria’s relentless onslaught.

The Nigerian team’s dominance extended beyond Akajaye’s heroics. In the 30th minute, Mercy Kalu added to the growing tally, further extending

Nigeria’s lead.

The fluidity and cohesion displayed by the Nigerian players were a sight to behold, as skillful dribbling, incisive passing, and deadly finishing overwhelmed their opponents.

As the second half commenced, there was no respite for Niger. In the 49th minute, Adoabi Okah confidently converted a penalty kick, compounding the woes of the Niger team and solidifying Nigeria’s supremacy on the field.

Victoria Alani joined the goal-scoring spree in the 64th minute with a sensational strike that shattered the Niger defence.

Nigeria’s relentless pursuit

of goals found its culmination in stoppage time. In the 91st minute, Chioma Olise added the finishing touches to the victory with a clinical finish, leaving no doubt about Nigeria’s superiority in the match.

This resounding victory serves as a statement of intent from Nigeria’s U-20 women’s team.

Meanwhile in the group’s other game Burkina Faso defeated Togo 2-0 thanks to goals by Mounifatou Helbi and Alimata Belem.

The competition continues on Tuesday when Benin take on Cote d’Ivoire in the three-team Group A.

“Arsenal Don’t Want To Win Titles” - Gift Orban

Nigeria player, Gift Orban has disclosed that his ambition remains to play in the English Premier League, EPL stressing that joining Manchester United, Liverpool or Manchester City is ideal prospect for him.

But the 20-year-old striker took a swipe at Arsenal’s lack of trophy in the league to state that he would not want to join the North London side because they don’t have ambition to win titles.

“The Premier League is my ultimate

dream. Man United, Liverpool or Man City,” he told hlnsport

“I don’t really like Arsenal that much – it’s like they don’t want to win titles”.

“I want to go somewhere where they win titles.”

Chelsea are reportedly preparing a bid to bring the striker to Stamford Bridge, but the Blues are considering sending him out on loan if they successfully complete the transfer.

Gift Orban emerged into the global football following his eye-catching

performances with his Belgian club, Gent.

He joined the Belgian Pro League side in January and scored 14 goals in 13 appearances in the domestic league as well as 5 goals in the Europa Conference League

On 15 March, he scored a firsthalf hat-trick in 4–1 away win over İstanbul Başakşehir in the UEFA Europa Conference League round 16. The hattrick was scored within three minutes and 25 seconds, setting a new record for the fastest hat-trick in UEFA club

competitions, breaking the previous record of six minutes and 12 seconds held by Mohammed Salah in the Champions League.

Orban’s comment might not go down well with some Arsenal faithfuls who saw their title ambition in the current season dealt a huge blow following their recent poor performances.

Their “unexpected” 3-0 bashing by Brighton on Sunday at the Emirates Stadium appeared to be the final nail that sealed their coffin away from the title.

PUBLIC NOTICE

ASSEMBLIES OF CHRIST TABERNACLE GOSPEL 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. AMEH ABRAHAM - CHAIRMAN.

2. BAKO EMMANUEL OGU - SECRETARY.

3. ABRAHAM THANK GOD GODIYA.

AIMS & OBJECTIVES:

1. TO ORGANISE BIBLE STUDIES , TEACHINGS, SEMINARS, DISCUSSIONS AND ANY OTHER PROGRAM TO FACILITATE THE STUDY OF THE BIBLE.

2. TO ORGANISE PRAYER PROGRAMS, ESTABLISH CAMPS, AND CONDUCT PRAYER SESSIONS ON ANY MATTER AT ANY PLACE AND FOR ANY ADEQUATE PERIOD.

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

GREAT IGALAMELA OFU YOUTH EMPOWERMENT 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. UMORU ABEL -CHAIRMAN

2. UMORU CORNELIUS ONUCHE- SECRETARY

3. KADIRI AMINU

4. ADOJO

& OBJECTIVES:

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The Hour cometh for Tinubu as Buhari exits

Real Madrid report racist abuse Against Vinícius Jr incident to prosecutors

The latest incident of racist abuse towards Real Madrid

forward Vinicius Jr has been reported to the Spanish prosecutor’s office as a hate crime, the club says.

Real’s La Liga match at Valencia on Sunday was paused in the second half as an incensed Vinicius reported opposition fans to the referee

Following the match, in which the 22-year-old Brazil international was later sent off for violent conduct, he said “La Liga belongs to racists”.

Real Madrid issued a statement on Monday stating that it “considers that such attacks also constitute a hate crime”.

Spanish prosecutors will now decide whether to pursue a criminal investigation.

“Real Madrid shows its strongest revulsion and condemns the events that took place yesterday against our player Vinicius Junior,” the club said.

“These facts constitute a direct attack on the coexistence model of our social and democratic state of law.”

Vinicius has been the target of racist abuse multiple times this season.

La Liga said in a statement it would investigate and take “appropriate legal action” if a hate crime was identified, calling on people to submit any relevant footage.

Valencia said police had “identified a fan who made racist gestures” and that the “club are also working along with the police to confirm the identity of any other potential offenders”.

The club added: “Valencia CF have proceeded to open a disciplinary case, will apply the maximum level of severity, including a lifetime stadium ban against the fans involved, and is working closely together with the authorities.”

This coming weekend marks a turning point in the nation’s political history, specifically the its democratic journey and in particular the fourth Republic which started in 1999. A week-long series of events that would culminate in official termination of President Muhammadu Buhari’s tenure at 11.59 p.m. on Sunday May 28 and swearing in of a new president on Monday morning, May, 29, began two days ago. There is a flurry of activities by the outgoing president as he scrambles to clear his table of pending approvals and appointments, pending bills passed by the National Assembly awaiting his assent and commissioning of a number of what may be termed landmark projects to his name.

It is as though President Buhari is racing against time to ensure that he does all that is necessary to assure his legacy before he cedes power, authority to the new man as constitutional required. Thus the last ten days of Buhari’s administration are arguably, the busiest for him throughout his tenure.

On Monday, 22 May 2023, the president formally commissioned the Dangote Refinery and Petrochemicals in Lagos, reputed to be the biggest in Africa. Nigerians are eagerly looking to this refinery actually starting production (projected to be sometime in June) as it would help to reverse our embarrassing tag as a nation that imports what it has, fuel. It would also help mitigate capital flight by way of scarce foreign exchange used in importing various kinds of fuel (PMS, aviation fuel, diesel, kerosene). Noteworthy is the fact that this Refinery is coming on stream at a time when government is primed to remove the controversial fuel subsidy that has been gulping trillions of naira. Recall that all four of Nigeria’s public-funded refineries, Warri, Kaduna, Port Harcourt 1 and 2, had been moribund for years. They can now be technically described as scraps.

Later this week, the outgoing president would also commission the Second Niger Bridge that

By VICTORIA NGOZI IKEANO

connects the southwest and the south east, the busiest route in the country. This would be President Buhari’s gift to south easterners. Although it was not conceived by his administration, it had been dragging on for so long at snail speed with previous governments. It was more or less like an abandoned project. But the president on assuming office and despite the paucity of funds, took up the gauntlet revived it, committing funds to it and completed it with zeal and tenacity of purpose. Kudos to him and his Minister of Works, Raji Fashola for their zeal and dedication towards the project’s completion. It would not be out of place if the Third Niger Bridge is named after Muhammadu Buhari.

There are other important projects being commissioned by Buhari in this last week of his presidency. They include the Kajola Wagon Plant in Ogun state, the rehabilitated LagosIbadan Expressway, etc. A valedictory Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting is holding today (Wednesday, May 24) during which I guess, President Buhari would officially dissolve his cabinet. Yesterday, Tuesday, at the Armed Forces Officers Mess, there was a Regimental Dinner in honour of the president as Commander in chief (C-in-C) of the armed forces of Nigeria.

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on Sunday the 28th with an interdenominational church service at the International Christian Centre and an Inauguration Dinner/Gala Night at the state House Conference Centre.

Buhari’s last set of duties as President and Commander –inChief of Nigeria’s armed forces continues tomorrow, Thursday as he confers on the PresidentElect and Vice President-Elect, National Honours of Grand Commander of the Order of the Federal Republic (GCFR) and Grand Commander of the Order of the Niger (GCON) respectively. He will also at same event handover the Transition Documents to the PresidentElect, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

Friday is devoted to Jumaat prayer at the National Mosque. On Saturday May 27, immediate past president of Kenya, Uhuru Kenyatta would deliver the inauguration lecture titled, ‘Deepening Democracy for Integration and Development. This is apt as Nigeria is now witnessing 25 years of uninterrupted democratic rule since 1999. That day being International Children’s Day too, there would also be a Children’s Day programme to commemorate it. It would consist of a Children’s Day parade (marchpasts) at the Abuja Old Parade Ground and State House Conference Centre, respectively. Hosting the children at this get together would be Mrs. Aisha Buhari’s last official duty as Nigeria’s First Lady. The transition programme would end

In all of above transition programmes, the President-Elect would play only a passive role, the outgoing president would still be in the commanding seat. Tinubu’s Hour would come at about 11a.m of Monday May, 29 when he would be sworn in as President and Commanderin-Chief of the armed forces of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. Out-going President Buhari had said that he is eager to leave the presidential villa for his country home in Daura. This journey begins in the morning of May 29 when he heads to the swearing-in ceremony, still being driven in the presidential vehicle. Immediately after the inauguration and formal handing over, Buhari would depart to the airport in a different vehicle for onward transportation in the presidential jet to Daura. It would be the last time he would ride in the presidential jet.

Tinubu’s first duty as president would be hosting presidents, Heads of Government and other invited guest to a post-inauguration luncheon at the State House Banquet hall. His first full working day as president would be on Tuesday, May 30, 2023. Thence would begin tabulation of the Tinubu presidency. What would his presidency bring for Nigeria and Nigerians? Only time would tell.

Friday is devoted to Jumaat prayer at the National Mosque. On Saturday May 27, immediate past president of Kenya, Uhuru Kenyatta would deliver the inauguration lecture titled, ‘Deepening Democracy for Integration and Development