Wednesday, January 25th, 2023 Edition

Atiku in Delta, restates commitment to Nigeria’s unity, security, resource control

By Lateef Ibrahim, Abuja

Presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar has assured that the unity of the country as well as the security of the people will be top most on the agenda of his administration, if elected the next President of Nigeria.

Atiku also listed restructuring, development of the education sector through massive investment and resource control as things that will be in the front burner under his government, among others.

The former Vice President said these on Tuesday while addressing the PDP presidential campaign rally held in Asaba, the Delta State capital.

The PDP presidential flag bearer for the February 25 election told the people of Delta State and other chieftains and members of the party in attendance that he will not betray the trust the people reposed in him, saying, “Delta State has never failed me and I want to tell you that I shall not betray the trust of Delta State and in fact united Delta sub-region all together”.

While lamenting that the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC, has disunited Nigeria in all respects, Atiku promised to reunite all again.

In the words of the erstwhile Vice President of Nigeria between 1999 and 2007, “We are in Delta State to show our gratitude and also to say that we are with you

in all respect. Because of the support we have received all along, particularly in my entire political career from 1999 till date

“Delta State has never failed me and I want to tell you that I shall not betray the trust of Delta State and in fact united Delta subregion all together.

“That is why, as my modest contribution for your support over the years, I decided to take one of you as my running mate, as you know a running mate is always a stepping stone, is up to you to give Governor Okowa the massive support that he needs to show the people of this country that he has committed to your own future.

“I want to assure you that in my agenda is education. In my policy document, there shall be no more ASUU strike.

“One of the items that are of benefit to you is the issue of resource control or restructuring. You as Niger Delta shall benefit from that policy because it is our intention to devolve more powers and more resources to your respective states to deal with to your problems instead of waiting for the federal government to do so.

“This APC government has disunited Nigeria, north-south, has disunited Nigeria ChristianMuslim, has disunited Nigeria in all respects. It is our commitment to restore the unity of this country.

“How do we do it? How do we achieve it? We will make sure every part of this country, every religion in this country has a sense of belonging in the federal government, that one I promise you.

“I said the security of this country is paramount. You cannot develop education, the economy and cannot live in peace without security.

“It is our responsibility and commitment to make sure we secure this country, make the nation safe, wherever you may live.

“You must believe in PDP. Do you know why? Delta State has been PDP since 1999, have you seen the kind of progress that has been achieved in Delta State? Is that not PDP?

Why will you go to another party for God sake? You have no reason to do so. I promised in my five point agenda to make sure the economy has a commanding height. Once you improve all those things, I am saying you will see foreign investment trooping in. Just like when the PDP was in power, we had the biggest economic growth until we became the biggest economy in Africa. Is that not so?

“We had no problem about foreign exchange, high inflation, scarcity of goods, prices of goods and services. Why will you go to another party that has now

suffered us in the last eight years?, Atiku asked.

The Chairman of the PDP presidential campaign council, PCC, and Governor of Akwa Ibom State, Mr Udom Gabriel Emmanuel, while addressing the rally, assured that with Atiku as President, the nation’s refineries will work again.

According to Governor Emmanuel, “I want assure you that with our incoming President, our Refineries will work again, we will take the Refineries back to production, you can imagine how many youths will be employed.

“Students that want to do research will benefit from it also. The Niger Delta will give Atiku not less than 5milliom votes”, he said.

Also speaking at the rally, the PDP National Chairman, Dr Iyorchia Ayu appealed to the people of the state to come out, massively, on the election day, with their PVC so that they can give Atiku nothing less than 2 million votes.

Ayu said, “Last year in April, I came here and I commissioned so many projects executed by your governor. Last month I was in Warri, it was my first time to enter boat for two hours,I have never seen a market floating on top of water before but this time I commissioned a market in Warri floating on top of water, I commissioned roads and schools.

Foundation feeds IDPs with rice, chicken

From: Shehu Abubakar,

ANigerian Foundation, T 200 foundation, has fed 4,195 IDPs children with rice and chicken in Maiduguri

metropolis.

The children are within the age range of 0-5 and 5-17.

They are among the 8000 persons impoverished by the Boko Haram insurgency catered for by the foundation.

Meanwhile, the remaining 2,805 comprised 1, 555 women and 2, 250 men received bags of rice, cartons of spaghetti and other food items.

The Executive Director of the Foundation, Emmanuel

Osadebey, said during the feeding session at the non-formal CAN IDPs camp in Maiduguri that the novel outreach was aimed at “spoiling the children a little” by feeding them the same way their friends in affluent homes feed.

military’s fight against piracy in Gulf

Maiduguri

The CEO of IHS company, Dr Mohammad Darwish, handing over one of the first class communications gadget to the Comptroller General, Nigeria Immigration service ( NIS) Mr. Isah Jere Idris at the headquarters of the Service, yesterday in Abuja

•As Gov Emmanuel says Niger Delta will give Atiku 5 million votes •Ayu lauds Okowa’s performance

APC Presidential Campaign Council to mobilize 1m for Tinubu’s rallyin Zamfara

From Ibrahim Sidi Muh’d, Gusau

The Tinubu/Shettima Presidential Campaign Council in Zamfara State has promised to mobilize over one million people from the 14 local government areas of the state to welcome the campaign visit by the APC Presidential candidate Saturday.

This was disclosed by the Coordinator of the Presidential Campaign Council in the state, Senator Kabiru Garba Marafa at the Garba Nadama Conference Hall, Gusau, assuring that, Zamfara will continue to remain one of the APC stronghold states.

Marafa said, Zamfara has never been won by any political party in any election since 1999, adding that, “As you can see, the state capital Gusau is already agog and wearing a new look in preparation to our candidate’s visit on Saturday. Over one million people are expected to participate in the campaign rally. Zamfara is for APC and APC is for Zamfara,” Marafa stated.

He called on the people of the state to continue to pray for the growth, development, security, peace and unity of the country and the state as it is obvious that, the APC has conquered Boko Haram and now just to consolidate the defeat on banditry, kidnapping and cattle rustling especially across the northwest.

The state Coordinator also said Tinubu will fight the insecurity situation bedeviling the state as well as create more economic opportunities to the people of the state, describing Asiwaju as a politician who values those who work for/with him and his reward system is exceptionally worth struggling for in the country’s political arena.

Marafa further informed that, the Presidential Campaign Council has already issued appointment letters to over 2,000 top party leaders drawn from all the 14 local government areas of the state to promote the candidature of Bola Tinubu in the state.

CBN Deadline: NASS want extension of old Naria note to six months

By Christiana Ekpa

The Senate and House of Representatives have asked the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) to extend the deadline for the withdrawal of old naira notes from circulation.

The resolution was passed on the floor of the senate and house of representatives on Tuesday.

The House of Representatives on Tuesday called for extension of the deadline fixed by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) for Nigerians to exchange old currency notes for the redesigned.

The affected notes are N200, N500 and N1,000.

The House equally constituted an Ad hoc committee

•Invites CBN

mgt,

headed by its Majority Leader, Alhassan Ado Doguwa to meet with management of the CBN and all the Chief Executive Officers as well as Managering Directors of deposit banks in the country to address the issues.

CBN had issued January 31, 2023 deadline for the old affected currency notes to cease to be legal tender in the country.

Raising concern on the expected negative impact on the citizens, as the deadline draws closer, a member of the House, Sada Soli in a motion under matters of urgent public importance on Tuesday, demanded an extension of not less than one year for the

CEOs of banks for hearing

process to be concluded.

He said it was time the House urgently intervene to avert a possible economic chaos, as Nigerians would be forced into stampede and desperate moves to beat the deadline’ citing the conflicting argument between the commercial banks and the CBN on availability of the redesigned notes as a good reason to intervene.

While agreeing that the move towards cashless economy was in tandem with global best practices, the lawmaker argued that “for such a policy to be successful, it should not be overbearing on the people and the economy”, adding that

“the financial institutions in Nigeria lack the infrastructure to handle a sudden increase in customer base as well as adequate employees to handle any challenges that could arise in the process of implementing the cashless policy within the limited time given by the CBN”.

He also prayed that President Muhammadu Buhari should intervene in the insistence of the CBN on the tight deadline for the implementation of the sashless policy and currency swap.

In his intervention, Speaker Femi Gbajabiamila posited that it was important for both management of the CBN, as

NGO urges Buhari to appoint substantive leadership for Ajaokuta steel company

ANon-governmental Organization, NGO, Buhari Legancies Implementation Initiative, has called on President Muhammadu Buhari to effect a speedy and expeditious change of guard at moribund Ajaokuta Steel Rolling Mills for a substantive leader to take its mantle of leadership.

The Secretary General of the NGO, the Abubakar Assaddeeq made the call in a statement he signed in Kano over the weekend.

He said there is nothing that could turn the fortune of the Ajaokuta Steel Company than the appointment of a professional to run its affairs.

According to him, the government seems to be in dire need of reviving the company, advising it to appoint substantive leadership to achieve the desired goals.

According to him, the famous Ajaokuta Steel Company had over the years suffered a serious neglect in the hands of past successive administrations at the expense of national interest pointing out that running the affairs of such a gigantic outfit is not the business of greenhorns.

He said “lack of a substantive leader had been the bone of the company for inexplicable economic progress, reasons and that given a professional and experience with considerable

expertise would be the best way forward to prove the efficiency of the organization for greater result stressing that entrusting unit affairs in the hands of mediocres would not be the answers,”

Mr Assaddeeq noted that the reappointment and extension of another two years to the sole-administrator of the company after five years of what he described as mischievous and incompetence in running the affairs of the company had deterred the Buhari administration ‘s resolve to make it functuonal before the president leave office.

“Furthermore, with the recent fire disaster that ravages the

steel complex last week Tuesday for twelve hours, razing down some sections of buildings which took fire services six hours the following days before everything was brought under control, it butress my point, over the issue of gross incompetence.

“ The damage inflicted by the disaster could have been ratified if concerted efforts were made at the top of the leadership. While calling on the Federal Government to avoid the mistake of planting a neophyte at the centre of the leadership of the company, i further stressed that the issue of incompetence must be taken into cognizance for the much pronounced goal to be achieved,” he said.

From Mustapha Adamu, Kano

L – R : Chief Executive Officer, InfraCorp, Lazarus Angbaso ; Chairman, Africa Plus Partners,Anhad Narula; Chief Executive Officer, Nigerian Exchange Limited,Temi Popoola ; Managing Director, Africa Plus Partners, Adeniran Ajakaiye; Senior Country Manager, Nigeria, International Finance Corporation (IFC), Kalim Shah, and Managing Director, Afrinvest West Africa Limited, Ike Chioke, during a Closing Gong Ceremony in commemoration for the Memorandum Listing of its Africa Infra Plus Fund 1 at the Exchange in Lagos, yesterday.

Rice Mill inauguration excites Lagos traditional rulers

Some traditional rulers in Lagos have applauded the Lagos State Government for the completion and inauguration of the Eko Rice Mill in Imota community, Ikorodu.

The traditional rulers described the project which was launched on Monday, Jan. 23, 2023 as a landmark achievement.

The traditional rulers include Oba Kabir Shotobi, the Ayangbure of Ikorodu; Oba Ajibade Agoro, the traditional ruler of Imota and Oba Omogbolahan Lawal, the Oniru of Iruland.

Speaking at the inauguration, Shotobi commended both the Federal and state governments for siting the rice mill in Imota and promised that the project would be maintained by the community.

He said the rice mill would bring enormous economic opportunities to the community and jobs for the teeming youths in the area.

According to him, the rice mill will bring great opportunity to Imota especially on employment.

“I urge our youth to stop searching for white collar jobs but focus on agricultural or study agric to increase the country’s food chain,” he said.

Also, the host traditional ruler of Imota, Oba Ajibade Agoro, said the project would boost the commercial and economic development of the Imota community.

He commended Gov. Babajide Sanwo-Olu of Lagos for initiating and seeing to the completion of the rice mill, saying the facility would have multiplier positive effects on the community.

“I am the happiest man on earth today because it was during my reign as the Oba of Imota that this is happening.

“I am 30 years on the throne and I am going to celebrate it with this inauguration because it is a landmark achievement bestowed on the people of Imota during my tenure.

“This plant will bring about those factors of production that will promote commercial and economic development.

“This mill is projected to create up to 250,000 jobs, just imagine the multiplying effect of such number if added to our community with their dependents,” Agoro said.

Also speaking, Oba Lawal, the

Buhari inaugurates phase 1 of Lagos blue rail line

President Muhammadu Buhari on Tuesday inaugurated the first phase of the Lagos Blue Rail Line, taking a ride from the Marina Station to National Theatre Station.

The President was aboard the trip with Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, Deputy Governor of the State, Dr Obafemi Hamzat, members of the Federal and State Executive Councils, members of the Federal and State Legislative Assemblies, President of China Civil Engineering Construction Company (CCECC), Chen Sichang and journalists, among others.

The first phase of the project, executed by the State Government, which spans 13 kilometers, has five stations - Mile 2, Suru-Alaba, Orile Iganmu, National Theatre and Marina.

President Buhari also witnessed the signing of the contract for the construction of second phase of the Lagos

Blue Rail Line by the Managing Director of Lagos Metropolitan Area Transport Authority (LAMATA), Engr. Abimbola Akinajo and President of China Civil Engineering Construction Company (CCECC), Chen Sichang.

In his remarks, Governor Sanwo-Olu thanked the President for the State Visit to commission several landmark projects, noting that since 1999 the State has not enjoyed this level of support from the Federal Government.

On the benefits of the project, the Governor stated that it would reduce travel time, improve the quality of life of citizens and make Lagos one of the most resilient mega-cities in Africa that would compete favorably with other megacities around the world.

Sanwo-Olu hinted that he would invite the President again to Lagos to commission the Red Line, which he described as a bigger rail corridor project compared with the Blue Rail

Line.

‘‘This iconic Marina Station would be the largest and busiest in Africa. It has the capacity to process about 450 passengers per minute, meaning that in an hour this station can process about 25,000 passengers,’’ he said.

Hamzat, the Lagos Deputy Governor, traced the pioneering role of the presidential candidate of the APC, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, in envisioning and laying the foundation for the project, as governor of Lagos State.

‘‘Talking about the Blue line without making a reference to the ground-breaking contributions of the presidential candidate of our great party, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, is like talking about the beach without the ocean.

‘‘A visionary leader, Asiwaju Tinubu pioneered the idea of the Lagos Blue Line and many other revolutionary initiatives.

‘‘The Tinubu administration developed the Strategic

Transport Master Plan (STMP), which laid out the foundation for a network of robust and modern transport infrastructure befitting a 21st century City-State, such as ours.

‘‘The master plan has six rail lines and one monorail, 14 Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) corridors, over 20 water routes and a number of major roads.

‘‘Thanks to Asiwaju’s creative leadership, today, we are making history with the completion of this rail line,’’ he said.

Chinese Ambassador to Nigeria Cui Jianchun said the completion of the first phase of the project is a demonstration of the harmony in the bilateral relations between Nigeria and China.

‘‘It is a harmony in integration, diversity, and development,’’ he said.

Earlier, before leaving Lagos for Dakar, Senegal, President Buhari also inaugurated John Randle Centre for Yoruba Culture and History, after which he toured the facility.

PICS..1 L-R: Minister of Defence, Major. Gen. Salihi Magashi (rdt), Governor of Plateau/Chairman of the Occasion, Barr. Simon Bako Lalong, Governor of Kano state, Dr. Abdullahi Umar Ganduje, his Deputy/ APC governorship candidate, Dr. Nasiru Yusuf Gawuna and APC Deputy National North, Senator Abubakar Kyari, during the presentation of the APC Kano state governorship candidate and fundraising dinner, in Abuja yesterday.

L-R: Minister of Environment, Barr. Mohammed Abdullahi, Executive Secretary, Joint Tax Board, Mrs Nana- Aisha Obomeghie and the Implementation Engineer, National Vehicle Emission Control Programme, Engr. Adeyinka Adegbenro, during the official flag- off of the National Generator Emission Control Programme and the National Vehicular Emission Control Programme Organise by the National Environmental Standards and Regulations Enforcement Agency (NESREA), held on Monday in Abuja. Photo: Justin Imo-owo

2023: Ongoing Military operations across Nigeria will ensure peaceful polls —SEAG

By Tobias Lengnan Dapam

Elated by the successes recorded by the Nigerian military in the country, a civil society organisation, the Socio-Economic Analysis Group (SEAG) said the ongoing military operation will ensure a peaceful 2023 polls.

The CSO in a statement issued on Monday indicated that its findings revealed that the military has significantly reduced the capacity of bandits, insurgents and other criminals to undermine the conduct of the general elections.

The statement issued by the Convener, Olatunde Morayo and

Co-coveners, Hajara Abubakar and Obidi Ifuko said it embarked on the study after a promise by the Chief of Defence Staff, Gen. LEO Irabor that the Armed Forces of Nigeria will work with the other security agencies to ensure peaceful conduct of the general elections.

“We discovered that the Armed Forces of Nigeria has continued to deepen its loyalty to the constitution of the country, while conducting in-house education for it’s personnel on the benefits of total respect and support for the democratic process.”

SEAG said it is now left for Nigerians to cooperate fully with

the Armed Forces of Nigeria to ensure a peaceful transition process.

The statement said “SocioEconomic Analysis Group (SEAG) study of the situation was prompted by the promise made by the Chief of Defence Staff, Gen. LEO Irabor that the Armed Forces of Nigeria will fully support the democratic process to a logical conclusion.

“Though some skeptics wanted to raise dust where there is none, our study reveal that the Armed Forces of Nigeria is fully prepared for the elections.

“A critical study of the security situation reveal that we are winning the war in all the

troubled spots. Using kinetic and non-kinetic approach, normalcy is gradually returning.

“Though there are still traces of the security challenges, but we say the capacity of the military to deal with them is not in doubt.

“We must give kudos to the Chief of Defence Staff for constantly reminding Nigerians that the AFN has fully keyed into the democratic process. It is indeed a morale booster and an assurance.

“SEAG urge Nigerians to support and cooperate the AFN and other security agencies to ensure a peaceful general election.”

Troops rescue 16 kidnapped victims in Kaduna

From: Femi Oyelola, Kaduna

Troops of Operation Forest Sanity have rescued 16 victims in operations spanning Birnin Gwari-Kaduna Road and location in Igabi Local Government Areas of Kaduna State.

This was contained in a statement by the State Commissioner, Ministry of Internal Security and Home Affairs Samuel Aruwan and made

Buhari:

By Egena Sunday Ode

available to the media in Kaduna yesterday.

The statement stated that the troops responded to a distress call along the Udawa-Manini axis of the Birnin Gwari-Kaduna Road.

The statement further stated that troops arrived to foil the attack, rescuing 15 persons in the process. Some of the rescued persons who sustained injuries were rushed to hospital for treatment.

The statement added that

troops of Operation Forest Sanity responded to a distress call from Gonan Doctor village, Igabi LGA, and laid an ambush at a likely crossing point in the Maraban Huda village.

“Contact was made with the bandits, and following a firefight, one bandit was neutralized.

“A kidnapped victim was rescued, though injured by the bandits, and was rushed to the Jaji Cantonment Hospital for treatment. One motorcycle was

recovered.

“Furthermore, in response to credible intelligence of bandits’ movement around an interstate boundary area, troops of Operation Forest Sanity set up ambush positions around Mangoro general area around Chikun-Birnin Gwari LGA, on the boundary with Shiroro LGA of neighbouring Niger State.

“The troops engaged the approaching bandits, and neutralized two. The troops also

recovered one AK47 rifle, one pump action gun, one Improvised Explosive Device, one Baofeng Radio, and 10 motorcycles.

Governor Nasir El-Rufai received the reports with gratitude, and expressed satisfaction at the breakthroughs recorded by the security forces. The Governor commended the troops for the successful rescues, and prayed for the quick recovery of injured victims,” the statement said.

mill will provide 300,000 jobs, yield economic benefit of over $200b

President Muhammadu Buhari says the newly inaugurated Lekki Deep Sea Port and the Imota Rice Mill are projected to create more than 300,000 direct and indirect jobs, and generate economic benefits valued at well over 200 billion dollars.

The President spoke at a State Dinner in his honour on Monday night during his two-day official visit to Lagos State to commission landmark infrastructure projects undertaken by the State Government and the private sector, MRS Holdings Limited.

The President said these labourintensive projects, which will contribute to job creation in the country, fit well to his Administration’s plan to lift 100 million Nigerians out of poverty in 10 years.

He expressed delight that the alignment between Lagos State and the Federal Government, since 2015, has more than delivered on the dividends of democracy for the good people of the State.

‘‘These projects commissioned today would not have happened without close collaboration between the Federal and Lagos State Governments, and the involvement of the private sector as well.

‘‘Indeed, our commitment to unleashing the full potential of Nigeria’s private sector should never be in doubt. Through various policies, legislation and executive orders, we have worked very hard to facilitate private enterprise in Nigeria.

‘‘The results of this can be seen in the many thriving businesses across Lagos State, in manufacturing, oil and gas, creative industries, services, digital economy and many more, creating tens of thousands of jobs and economic opportunities for Nigerians.

‘‘I have no doubt whatsoever that posterity will be kind to us on account of these landmark projects and successes.’’

President Buhari also listed the achievements of the Federal Government and support to Lagos State during his two terms in office, promising to work with

unwavering vigour and commitment to fulfill the promises made to Nigerians, until the end of his administration.

‘‘I would like to start by thanking the Governor of Lagos State, His Excellency, Babajide Sanwo-Olu and the good people of Lagos, for the colourful reception that my team and I received today on our arrival in the state.

‘‘Earlier today, it was my pleasure to commission the Lekki Deep Sea Port, and the Imota Rice Mill, two projects that are very much in line with our administration’s vision of economic diversification and food security.

‘‘The Lekki Deep Sea Port is driven by my vision to bequeath a legacy of poverty elimination through provision of jobcreating infrastructure. I placed all matters related to the operationalization of Lekki Deep Seaport on top priority by giving unalloyed backing to the Nigerian Ports Authority and its supervising ministry, the Federal Ministry of Transportation.

‘‘With the commencement of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) Agreement which we are signatory, the distinctive features of Lekki Deep Seaport such as full automation which positions it for quick cargo and vessel turn around will greatly enhance the competitiveness of Nigeria’s exports especially agro-allied products in the international marketplace, grow local jobs, increase FOREX inflow and position Nigeria to maximize the opportunities inherent in the AfCFTA Agreement.’’

The President described Bestaf Lubricant at MRS Holdings Company Limited, Apapa, earlier commissioned by him as a testament to provision of enabling environment for private sector businesses to thrive.

He noted that the 200m litre lubricant plant, which covers the whole value chain of lubricants and the first of its kind in West Africa, would prevent the importation of sub-standard products, stop capital flight, and contribute to generation of foreign exchange for the country, through products exports.

‘‘This plant will go a long way in ensuring that the plants and machinery

which are used in Nigeria, have extended lifetime from the use of high-quality lubricants,’’ he said.

President Buhari, who is also scheduled to inaugurate the historic first Phase of the Blue Line of the Lagos Rail Mass Transit and the John Randle Centre for Yoruba Culture and History on Tuesday, praised Lagos for maintaining its status as Nigeria’s economic nerve center and leading subnational economy in Africa.

‘‘It is also a place with which I am very familiar, having lived and served here for long periods during my military career.

‘‘I am therefore no stranger to the rich culture and remarkable hospitality for which Lagos and its people are famous. It is therefore always a pleasure for me to return to Lagos, and to see the remarkable changes taking place constantly.’’

Highlighting the Federal Government’s support to the growth and development of Lagos State, under his watch, the President said:

‘‘We have approved important fiscal waivers required to deliver on key infrastructure projects, including customs duties for BRT Buses, LAG-RIDE vehicles, as well as Rolling Stock for the Blue and Red Rail Lines.

‘‘Lagos was one of the pioneer beneficiaries of our Road Infrastructure Tax Credit Scheme, which has transformed the Apapa-Oshodi-Oworonshoki Expressway, and will deliver a brand-new access road to the new Lekki Deep Sea Port.

‘‘Lagos has benefited from our Sukuk Bond projects – the nearby Ahmadu Bello Way being one of the major roads reconstructed using Sukuk funding.’’

In addition, the President said the Federal Government allocated the Right of Way of the Lagos-Ibadan Standard Gauge Railway Line, for use by the Lagos Mass Rail Transit’s Red Line, while also extending substantial financial support to the State at the height of the Covid-19 pandemic.

On other notable strides of this administration, the President said the Federal Government has handed over the

International Airport Road to the Lagos State Government, for reconstruction while the ongoing redevelopment of the National Theatre, Iganmu is in partnership with Lagos State Government.

‘‘We have been very clear that our administration is one that will support and work with State Governments to achieve our mutually-held goal of laying a sustainable foundation for lasting progress and development in Nigeria.’’

The President commended Governor Sanwo-Olu for the impressive projects and keeping the electoral promises made to Lagosians.

‘‘You have been a true Ambassador of the progressive politics that defines our party, and which has been the guiding vision of my administration, from Day 1.

‘‘I also acknowledge the excellent work that you did, working closely with the Federal Government and other stakeholders, to protect Lagos State from the worst effects of the Covid-19 pandemic.

‘‘There is so much for us to be proud of, that we have worked hand-in-hand to achieve. Equally, there is still so much ahead for us to collaborate on,’’ he said.

President Muhammadu Buhari

Lekki Port, Imota rice

NDLEA decorates NAN bureau chief as Ambassador of War Against Drug Abuse

The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has decorated the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) Kano Bureau Chief, Aminu Garko, as the agency’s “Ambassador for War Against Drug Abuse” in the state.

The Chairman/Chief Executive Officer, NDLEA, Brig.-Gen Mohammed Buba-Marwa, performed the decoration on Tuesday in Kano.

Buba-Marwa, represented by NDLEA State Commander, Mr Abubakar Idris-Ahmad, said the agency seized nine tonnes of illicit drugs worth N1.5 billion and arrested 1,078 suspects in Kano State in 2022.

He said the agency also discovered and destroyed six farms of Cannabis sativa in five local government areas of the state.

“Adequate and proper measures have been taken in engaging political party leaders to know the implications of drug abuse as 2023 general election approaches.

“Production, transportation, selling and offering narcotics is criminal offence.”

He alleged that some unpatriotic politicians used the youth as thugs during election campaigns.

“Drugs are given to the youth to cause confusion and snatching of ballot papers among others, especially when they feel they are likely to loose election,” he said.

The Chairman called on parents and guardians to enlighten their wards against engaging themselves to be used by unpatriotic politicians before, during and after the elections.

Earlier, the Kano NAN Bureau Chief, appreciated the Command and officers for working as a team in the fight against drug abuse.

“We are in political dispensation, some politicians use the youths to get what they want; Let’s work together in the areas of preventing drug abuse among youths.

He urged for continued synergy between NAN and the agency, adding that talking to NAN, amounted to talking to the world.(NAN)

Zamfara NUJ donates N50,000 to families of child with imperforate anus

The Correspondents

Chapel of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) Zamfara State Council has donated N50,000 cash to the families of a nine month old child suffering from imperforate anus in Gusau, the Zamfara State capital.

Presenting the donation to the parents of the affected child

at Saminaka area of Gusau, the Chairman of the Correspondents Chapel, Comrade Sani Haruna Dutsinma, called on three tiers of government, wealthy individuals, groups and organizations to also follow suit to help the affected baby.

Comrade Dutsinma said, the child was born with imperforate anus which makes it difficult for him to excrete, this compelled his parents to take him to the Federal Medical Center (FMC)

Gusau for medical attention, but later transferred to Usman Danfodio Teaching hospital Sokoto.

The father of the child, Malam Lawali Ibrahim told newsmen that, three hundred thousand naira was spent at UDUS for the child to have a temporary excretory system, adding that, “After series of medical tests and diagnosis at Usman Danfodio Teaching Hospital Sokoto, three hundred

thousand naira was projected for emergency operation to provide a temporary excretory system by the side of his ribs”.

According to him, he was left with no option than to sell his motorcycle which he is using for commercial purposes to feed the family.

“We are also directed to take the child back after three month for another round of surgeries and N500,000 bill is given to us”.

Election: SDP senatorial candidate cautions youths against violence, thuggery

Ahmed Wadada, the Social Democratic Party (SDP) Senatorial candidate for Nasarawa Western Zone, has cautioned youths against involvement in all forms of electoral violence during the forthcoming general elections.

Wadada made the call while addressing his teeming supporters at Aso/ Kodape Ward in Karu Local Government Area of Nasarawa State, on Tuesday.

He also enjoined the youths not to allow any desperate groups or politicians to instigate them to disrupt peaceful atmosphere in the state as the preparations for the forthcoming election

gathered momentum.

Wadada, who described youths as the most important segment of every society, urged them to use their numerical strength to ensure the actualisation of the desired change in the senatorial district.

The former two-term member of the House of Representatives also admonished the youths to shun thuggery, hate speech and any form of action that could trigger violence.

Wadada said: “My usual appeal to the youths in Nasarawa West Senatorial district and the state in general is that they shouldn’t allow themselves to be use by

desperate politicians to cause violence.

” Election is not a war. It’s like a sports and it’s also about dialogue, negotiations and exchange of ideas aimed at improving the living conditions of the ordinary citizens, thereby adding value to the society.”

The SDP chieftain reiterated his commitment to ensure better representation to the people of the district, if given the mandate.

Wadada added: “I represented Kokona, Keffi and Karu Federal Constituency at the House of Representatives from 2003 and 2011 and my representation was felt not only in my constituency, but

in the entire Nasarawa and the country at large.

” Therefore, my antecedents speak for me. I have added the needed value to the lives of my people and God willing, if I am giving another mandate, I will not fail my constituents.

“I will redouble efforts in ensuring that my Senatorial dustrict enjoy more dividends of democracy.”

On his part, Rep. Jonathan Gaza, who is seeking reelection enjoined the electorate not to sell their votes.

Gaza also promised to attract more constituency projects, if given the mandate for the third term under the platform of SDP.

(NAN)

From Ibrahim Sidi Muh’d, Gusau

L-R; Chinese Ambassador to Nigeria, Mr Cui Jianchun, Governor of Lagos State Mr Babajide Sanwo-Olu and President Muhammadu Buhari during the commissioning of Lagos Rail Mass Transit Blue Line yesterday in Lagos. PHOTO; State House

NAHCO workers suspend strike

From Abubakar Yunusa Abuja

The Nigerian Aviation Handling Company Plc (NAHCO) staff members have suspended their industrial action.

The aviation workers, under the aegis of the national union of air transport employees (NUATE) and air transport services senior staff association of Nigeria (ATSSSAN), said the management of NAHCO had commenced negotiations with its workers.

Frances Akinjole, deputy general secretary, ATSSSAN, disclosed this to journalists on Monday.

“It has been suspended, and they have agreed to commence negotiation on the salary issue with us,” Akinjole said.

Peoples Daily had reported that flights at the Murtala Mohammed International Airport were disrupted earlier on Monday when the NAHCO staff members walked out of the international airport.

Adamawa Police Commissioner tasks new constables to uphold professionalism

From Umar Dankano,Yola

The Adamawa state Police Commissioner, Siriku Akande has challenged the

431 newly recruited and posted constables to maintain high level of professionalism and patriotism in the discharge of their duties.

CP Akande while addressing

the new constables at the police headquarters in Yola Monday charged them to ensure safety of the communities they are posted to and to shun all corrupt

tendencies.

Akande wished them successful days in their carrier, advising them to be good ambassadors of their families.

650,000 barrels per day Dangote Refinery not commissioned yet, says coy

By our correspondent

The Dangote Group, owners of the Dangote Refinery in Lagos, has dispelled reports that the Refinery has been commissioned by President Muhammadu Buhari.

A statement yesterday by Anthony Chiejina, the Group Chief, Branding and Communications Officer of the Dangote Industries clarified

that the Refinery was not among projects commissioned by the President.

The statement reads: Our attention has been drawn to some misleading reports regarding the commissioning of our Dangote Refinery during the present working visit of President Muhammadu Buhari GCFR to Lagos State.

“We want to state categorically that our 650,000 barrels per day

(bpd) Refinery project was never part of the President’s programme on projects to be commissioned.

“ For the record, the projects slated for commissioning in Lagos State by President Muhammadu Buhari GCFR include: Lekki Deep Sea Port; 32-Metric Tonnes Lagos Rice Mill, Imota; 18.75km Eleko to Epe T Junction Express road; John Randle Centre for Yoruba Culture and History, Onikan, Blue Line Rail (Phase

1) commissioning (Marina to Mile 2); Groundbreaking for the Blue Line Rail Phase 2 (Mile 2 to Okokomaiko), and MRS Lubricant, a private project in Apapa.

“However, our Refinery will be commissioned before President Muhammadu Buhari GCFR formally leaves office in May, 2023, and the public will be duly informed and invited to the epic event.”

Benue Paramount

Ruler Cautions Against Rigging Election In State

From Uche Nnorom, Makurdi

Chairman Benue State Traditional Council

Ochivirgh James Ayatse has warned that any attempt to rig the 2023 election in the State will be resisted and frustrated.

He gave the warning yesterday in Makurdi at the commissioning of the Christian Association of Nigeria, CAN, Secretariat.

The paramount ruler called on the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, as well as all security outfits to ensure that the elections are free and fair.

Ayatse also, cautioned politicians to desist from use of derogatory words and slandering of personalities, urging them to focus on issues.

Adamawa farmers endorse Ardo of SDP as gubernatorial candidate

Umar Dankano,Yola

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

its preferred governorship candidate for 2023 elections in Adamawa state.

Disclosing the resolution of the Association in Yola at the weekend after a crucial meeting.

National Chairman of the Association,Sheikh

Sheikh

had

and

From

Muhammad Nurudeen Abubakar declared that the congress of the group

critically examined

deliberated on the political events.

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

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

L-R: Executive Vice Chairman, Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), Prof Umar Danbatta; Minister of State for Works and Housing, Ibrahim Yakubu; Chairman MAFAB Communications, Dr. Musbahu Bashir and Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Prof Isa Ali Pantami during the Launching of MAFAB 5G network, yesterday in Abuja

. Photo: Justin Imo-owo

2023: No shaking, Gov Yahaya tells supporters

From David Hassan, Gombe

Governor Muhammadu

Inuwa Yahaya has assured his supporters of winning the 2023 general elections without hitches.

He gave the assurance in Billiri east and west on Tuesday when he went for second round of his campaign.

He said time has come where his supporters will come out and vote for his re-election in the forthcoming general elections.

While addressing them, he said the campaign train which landed at Billiri for the second time was aimed at giving APC flag to candidates vying for political offices in the area.

Appeal Court Judgement: My Name is already on the ballot, Rev. Fr. Alia

From Uche Nnorom,, Makurdi

Governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress, APC, in Benue State, Rev. Fr. Hyacinth Iormem Alia has said he is unperturbed by the Appeal

Court Judgement ordering fresh conduct of primaries in 11 local government areas of the State.

Reacting to the judgement on Monday at a press conference in his residence in Makurdi, Rev. Fr. Hyacinth Alia, who expressed his respect for the

judgement, urged all APC members and supporters to remain calm as he is still on the ballot.

He said, “all the other prayers against him were all thrown out except one in which the Court directed that the APC

should go back to the 11 LGAs to conduct a rerun of the elections.

“We respect the judgement so far and I am appealing to my party faithful and fans to simply remain very calm as everything is still under control. I am still on the ballot.”

Over 5,000 women ready to vote APC in Kebbi

From Ahmad Idris, Birnin Kebbi

No fewer than 5,000 women from different parts of the State have said they will use their PVC to vote All Progressive Congress (APC).

This was disclosed yesterday at the women wing governorship campaign flag off in Arugungu Local Government area of the state.

The leaders of the movement and the wife of the Kebbi State Governor Dr. Zainab Bagudu Shankafi said that the women in Kebbi State are ready to give APC over thousand votes.

Downsized Immigration officers send SOS to Buhari

By Usman Shuaibu

The downsized immigration officers have sent Save Our Soul (SOS) to president Muhammadu Buhari for the payment of their wages.

Speaking on behalf of the downsized immigration officers on Saturday in Abuja, the retired

DSI Arma Yau Ninge Mashi said they were suffering in silence since their retirement on the 31st of January, 2007.

His words: “The forms of payment on hold are severance package allowance, repatriation allowance, domestic servant allowance and monthly payment on the situation presented as a

gross under payment between we staff of Immigration Service and the Customs service/Correctional Service who were treated the same process of downsizing”.

He appealed to president Muhammadu Buhari to give directive to the comptrollerGeneral of Immigration to pay incidental arrears in short

payment from the period of the exercise till date so as to redeem their trust in Nigeria.

Mashi, however, recalled that the former Minister of Finance, Kemi Adeosun had given order for the payment of their arrears, as he said the order was emasculate.

L-R: Minister of Aviation, Sen. Hadi Sirika; Minister of State for Niger Delta Affairs, Sharon Ikeazor, Minister of Interior; Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola and other dignitaries during the public presentation of the NIMET 2023 Seasonal Climate Prediction (SCP), yesterday in Àbuja.

Photo: Justin Imo-owo

Ohanaeze Ndigbo Council of Elders to hold peace summit

By Usman Shuaibu

The leadership of Ohana Eze Ndigbo Worldwide has concluded plan to hold peace summit this year in Abuja.

The Chairman of Ohanaeze Council of Elders, Chief Emmanuel Iwuanyanwu made the disclosure while briefing newsmen after an emergency meeting of Ohanaeze Ndigbo council of Elders at NICON Luxury Hotel in Abuja.

Iwuanyanwu said the Ohanaeze Ndigbo Council of Elders would deem it necessary to brainstorm on the security challenges facing the country as well as South east during the peace summit.

He then appealed to the Federal Government to redouble its efforts to arrest the problem of insecurity confronting Nigerians for the overall development of he country.

He further called on the government of the day to release the indigenous leaders of Biafra, Mr. Nnamdi Kanu for the sake of peace to reign in the Igboland and the nation at large.

Speaking on the unemployment facing the youths in the country, Iwuanyanwu pleaded with the Federal Government to gear towards providing jobs for the youths roaming about on the streets.

On education, he tasked the government to provide the needed facilities in the institutions of higher learning in order to encourage the students in their studies, and also charged the government of the day to give priority attention to the lecturers of the universities, so as to stop perpetual ASUU Strikes in our higher institutions.

He, however, informed that the Ohanaeze Council of Elders would engage the governors of south east on the need to bring back the annual cultural festival of the states to boost the cultural heritage of Igbo

The chairman of Ohanaeze Council of Elders used the press briefing to describe the Igbo as peace-loving people, and warned those who are using negative utterances or words against the Igbo to

The Minister of State, Budget and National Planning, Mr Clem Agba, has commended Martin Luther Agwai International Leadership and Peacekeeping Centre (MLAILPKC) toward building capacity to defeat piracy in the Gulf of Guinea (GoG).

Agba, who was represented by his Special Assistant, Mr Rajab Abdulrahaman, gave the commendation at the inauguration of the Anti-piracy Course 4/23 organised by MLAILPKC, on Monday in Abuja.

The course was organised by the Martin Luther Agwai International Leadership and Peacekeeping Centre (MLAILPKC) in collaboration with the United Nations Development Project (UNDP) with support from the Government of Japan.

He said the centre had been recognised for providing a world class e-learning platform, focused mainly on courses related to peace support, humanitarian relief, and security operations.

Agba said that the MLAILPKC had remained a reliable training centre for leadership and peacekeeping operation in Nigeria considering the prevalence of insecurity, humanitarian crisis and displaced communities.

The minister commended the support of international organisations for their commitment to sustaining the centre.

The Director-General, Nigerian Army Resource Center (NARC), retired Maj.-Gen. Garba Wahab, urged the participants of the course to open their minds to acquiring the requisite knowledge needed to deal with piracy in the GoG.

Wahab said that maritime environment had been one of the mainstay of the nation’s economy, adding that no nation could develop without security.

He said if the maritime environment was not secured economically, Nigeria will be in crisis and so, we must find a way of ensuring that the Gulf of Guinea is secured.

“Whether we like it or not for so many reasons, we must ensure that the sea is secured and everybody must come around to assist those who are responsible, particularly Nigerian Navy,“ he said.

“It is the responsibility of every Nigerian. Nobody will come from outside, they can assist us in funding but the onus of performance is on Nigeria and other member states to ensure that the Gulf of Guinea is

secured,” he said.

The UNDP Team Lead, Governance, Peace and Security, Mr Matthew Alao, in his remarks said that the activities of pirates in Gulf of Guinea (GoG) had persistently been in the downward trends in the past

Alao said the International Maritime Bureau (IMB) of the International Chambers of Commerce (ICC) 2022 annual report indicated that 115 incidents of piracy and armed robbery against ships and seafarers were recorded globally in 2022

compared to 132 recorded in 2021.

He said the report stated that the GoG continued to experience desirable reduction in maritime crimes in 2022 as the region accounted for 19 incidents as against 35 incidents recorded in 2021.

The feat, according to him, was achieved through unrelenting efforts, partnerships and investments against piracy by the Member States particularly Nigeria.

(NAN)

Minister hails military’s fight against piracy in Gulf of Guinea Benue APC guber: Appeal court orders fresh primaries in 11 LG

From Uche Nnorom, Makurdi

The Court of Appeal sitting in Makurdi, has ordered All Progressives Congress, (APC), to conduct fresh governorship primary elections in 11 Local Government Areas, (LGAs).

The Appellate court, in it’s judgement lead by Justice Mohammed Danjuma, agreed that there was no valid primary election held on the 27th of May by APC for the nomination of its Gubernatorial Candidate which Fr. Alia was declared winner.

However, the court agreed with APC on the rerun of 9th June 2022 which took part in 12 LGA saying it was very valid and still stands.

“Yes I have seen that APC did not conduct a valid primary election on the 27th May, 2022, reasons why the appeal panel ordered a fresh election that was conducted on the 9th of June 2022 in some Local Governments.

“In the interest of justice, I can not allow those voters in the remaining 11 LGs to be

disenfranchised, therefore, APC should go back and conduct elections in 11 LGs within 14 days and INEC should recognize the winner after adding both election results as the Gubernatorial candidate of the Party,” he said.

The local governments where the fresh primary election was ordered include, Gboko, Gwer- East, Gwer-west, Guma, Katsina, Logo Makurdi, Otukpo, Ukum,Tarka and Vandeikya.

The court had earlier dismissed Senator Barnabas Gemade Appeal and upheld the judgement of federal High Court which dismissed his suit against Fr Alia for Being Statute Barred.

The Appeal of PDP against APC, House of Assembly Candidates and House of Representatives Candidates was Also dismissed. The court held that PDP has no locus standi whatsoever to meddle in APC or another political party’s affairs.

Responding to the judgement, the governorship candidate of the APC, Rev. Fr. Hyacinth Alia, who expressed his respect for the judgement,

urged all APC members and supporters to remain calm as he is still on the ballot.

Alia said “All the other prayers against him were all thrown out except one in which the Court directed that the APC should go back to the 11 LGAs to conduct a rerun of the elections.

“We respect the judgement so far and I am appealing to my party faithful and fans to simply remain very calm and every is still under control. I am still in the ballot.

“I am going to so further consultation with party’s leadership and speak to you further. So stay very calm. Nothing has gone that wrong at all. Let’s remain law abiding. Do not not disturb anyone and in a matter of hours, In will speak on the way forward.

He thanks all party members for standing by him and urged them to continue to keep faith to the end.

The APC chairman in the state, Austin Agada said “ we as a political party, the APC in Benue state, believe that the voice of the people is the voice

of God.

“We created an enabling environment where the people exercised their franchise by voting enmasse for the person and candidate of Rev Fr Hyacinth Alia and my appeal to APC supporters is that nothing has happened. So they should remain calm, be law abiding and by God’s special grace, Fr Alia would be on the ballot for them to happily vote him governor of Benue state in the elections,” Agada said.

Also speaking, the Legal Adviser to the APC, Fidelis Mnyim, said there is no cause for alarm. According to him, the judgement has opened two options to for APC.

“The first option is that we will comply with the court directive and conduct a rerun primaries in the 11 LGs within the next 14 days and the second is to approach the supreme court within 14days.

“We, however, would apply for the hard copy of the judgement, study it critically and advise the party accordingly. are in favour of the party,” he said.

Martin Luther Agwai

2023: Consider yourself lucky if

3rd in Kano guber poll,

From Mustapha Adamu, Kano

The Campaign Council of the gubernatorial election of All Progressives Congress (APC) in Kano State has told the opposition New Nigeria People’s Party (NNPP) to stop counting itself as the winner of the governorship election, coming up in March in the state.

Spokesman of the campaign council, Malam Muhammad Garba, who is the Commissioner of Information and Culture, stated this during a chat with members of the Kano Correspondents’ Chapel at his office yesterday.

According to Garba, the NNPP’s governorship candidate, Abba Kabir Yusuf, does not have the political mettle to defeat Nasiru Yusuf Gawuna of the APC in the state.

The Commissioner stated that NNPP in the state, which is the second most populous in Nigeria is sinking and becoming unpopular, saying “ the party should consider itself lucky if it comes 3rd or even 4th in the forthcoming election.”

He added that “APC will take NNPC by surprise. Even Kwankwaso will be taken by surprise because he will lose Kano. I will not say Kwankwaso will get zero vote, but I am telling you that he will be defeated with a landslide by Tinubu in Kano.

“APC is really on ground. We are well prepared for the election and we shall win by landslide in the presidential and gubernatorial election,” the Campaign Council spokesman said.

Garba also stated that with the impressive turnout of supporters in the APC gubernatorial campaign rally in the Local Government areas the campaign train has visited so far, the party has got confidence that it would sweep all the elective positions from top to bottom in the coming elections.

He also said that the era of inconclusive election is over in the state as the party has set aside a mechanism to avoid repetition, noting that “we have discovered the Kwankwaso-led PDP’s election manipulation and would not succeed this time around.”

The Commissioner also stated that in all the governorship

You lack legal right to institute case on behalf of AA —Court tells Udeze

From: Femi Oyelola, Kaduna

AFederal High Court, Abuja, on Monday, awarded a N1 million fine against the expelled National Chairman of the Action Alliance (AA), Mr Kenneth Udeze, for instituting a suit in the name of the party against Sen. Bola Tinubu, presidential candidate of All Progressives Congress (APC) and his vice, Mr Kashim Shettima.

This was contained in a statement signed by the National Chairman of AA Dr Adekunle Omo-Aje and made available to the media in Kaduna yesterday.

The statement stated that Justice Binta Nyako, held that the plaintiff lack the locus standi to institute the case.

Justice Nyako further held that the suit was instituted by a busybody, just to waste the judicial time of the court.

It would be recalled that Udeze, through his lawyer, Kalu Kalu Agu, had, in the originating summons marked: FHC/ABJ/CS/1256/22, sued

the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), APC, Tinubu and Shettima as 1st to 4th defendants respectively.

He had filed the suit in the name of AA as plaintiff in the matter.

In the suit, he sought a declaration that the nomination of Shettima by Tinubu as his vice presidential candidate is void arising from the express provision of Section 35 of the Electoral Act, 2022 in that Shettima allowed himself to be nominated in more than one constituency for the 2023 elections.

He averred that having been nominated as senatorial candidate for the Borno Central District, his subsequent nomination as vice presidential candidate of the APC contravened the law.

He had sought an order of perpetual injunction, restraining Tinubu and Shettima from holding out themselves as presidential and vice presidential candidates for the Feb. 25 election.

He also sought an order of perpetual injunction, restraining INEC from listing their names as presidential and vice presidential candidates in the final list of candidates in the said election.

Besides, he sought an order, restraining the electoral umpire from placing the APC on the ballot for the said poll.

But the defendants urged the court to dismiss the suit for being statute barred, having failed to file within 14 days of the nomination.

They argued that the suit was non-justiciable as the plaintiff lacked the locus to challenge the nomination of the candidates, which bordered on the internal affairs of the party.

They asked the court to dismiss the suit.

The Omo-Aje leadership of the party, in their preliminary objection, also urged the court to dismiss the suit on the ground that the action was purported to have been commenced by AA.

They argued that by the constitution of AA, only the national legal adviser on the

instructions of the national chairman of the party could institute an action for the party.

They further argued that neither the national chairman nor the national legal adviser instructed that the instant suit be instituted.

They said the suit was incompetent, praying the court to dismiss it

Justice Nyako agreed with the Omo-Aje leadership of the party that the suit did not emanate from the authentic party’s executives.

She held that Udeze-led AA, as “a busybody who goes to different courts filing cases to waste the time of the court,” lacked the legal right to institute the matter.

She, therefore, dismissed the suit for lack of locus standi.

The judge, who condemned Udeze’s lawyer, Agu, for failing to properly guide his client, gave a consequential order of N1 million fine against the duo.

She directed that the money should be paid into the Treasury Single Account of the Federal Government.

Naja’atu Mohammed sacked over incompetence –

The All Progressives Congress (APC) Asiwaju/ Shettima Presidential Campaign Council (PCC) on Tuesday said Naja’atu Mohammed, its former Head of Civil Society Organisations Directorate, was sacked due to incompetence and for leaking vital information.

Mahmud Jega, Adviser Public Affairs Tinubu Media Office, said this in a statement in Abuja.

Jega described Mohammed’s resignation as hasty and preemptive after the campaign council had discovered her leakage of sensitive information to opposition political parties.

He charged APC supporters to ignore the antics of political jobbers like Mohammed and concentrate on delivering the Tinubu-Shettima presidential ticket in the coming presidential election.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Muhammed who claimed to have resigned from her position on Saturday also alleged that Tinubu is suffering from dementia.

“The Asiwaju/Shettima Presidential Campaign Council received with amusement the hasty resignation of Hajiya

Naja’atu Mohammed from her position as Director of Civil Society Organisations.

“This was just before she was sacked for incompetence, quarrelsomeness and after being uncovered to be a mole planted in the winning campaign council to leak sensitive information to our desperate opponents,”Jega said.

Jega said Mohammed had succeeded in deceiving the gullible public by claiming that she resigned, when her sack letter had arrived at her desk.

He added that her desperate, fact-free, machination-filled and imaginary utterances since her sack from the PCC had proved beyond doubt that she was unfit to serve in the first place, until it was discovered that she was actually a mole.

“Not being a medical doctor but one whose profession in the last three decades was as a political jobber and expert name dropper.

“She nevertheless issued a pseudo-medical report on our presidential candidate, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, after a brief meeting in London.

“Even the association of native doctors would sack her

for quackery and for reaching a medical conclusion without any test,”Jega said.

He added that in contrast to Mohammed’s claim; Tinubu had been running the most punishing campaign schedule than any of the presidential candidates.

According to Jega, Tinubu’s stamina had taken him to many parts of the country; with an almost non-stop schedule of political rallies, town hall meetings with business and cultural stakeholders.

On her claim that Tinubu has no plan for the north, Jega said “Hajiya Naja’atu Mohammed claimed that when she asked Asiwaju what plans he had for the North, he answered that he had none, this is strange and questions the integrity of the woman and her story.”

He said that Tinubu had unfolded an action plan for the whole country, in which problems bedeviling the North got a very comprehensive attention.

The APC PCC Adviser Public Affairs recalled that Tinubu also attended the Arewa Summit in 2022 where he unfolded and elaborated on his action plan and programs.

APC PCC

“As conclusive proof of her unstable and unreliable character. Naja’atu said in her pre-emptive resignation letter that she was quitting party politics as the political parties have no ideological differences and her values and beliefs no longer align with party politics.

“Within a day, pictures surfaced in the media showing her meeting with Alhaji Atiku Abubakar,the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) presidential candidate and declaring her support for him,” he said.

He added that Nigerians must be wondering what kind of values and beliefs she has apart from opportunism, selfishness and greed.

“We were least surprised about her dramatic exit, coming after she went on television to disparage our party and President Muhammadu Buhari, only a mole could behave in such a manner.

“We urge our supporters across the country to ignore the antics of this political soldier of fortune and concentrate on the job of delivering the Tinubu/ Shettima ticket at the polls in barely a month from now,” Jega said.

(NAN)

you come

APC tells NNPP

Who has seen the new Naira Notes?

By Ezinwanne Onwuka

Have we entered ‘one chance’? Most likely and most likely not. We still have seven days to 31 January, let’s keep our fingers crossed that the CBN will either extend the deadline or print and disburse a sufficient amount of the new notes to banks that will be enough to go around.

This is a hard time for Nigerians. We are not only grappling with worsening fuel scarcity but also the scarcity of the redesigned banknotes. Between the two economic crises, I can’t say which is intolerable.

With less than ten days to the deadline given by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) for the use of the old series of N200, N500, and N1000 notes, it is distressing that the new notes seem to be relatively scarce. Worst, some commercial banks are still issuing the old denominations over the counter and through Automated Teller Machines (ATM) despite the CBN’s threat to sanction banks over failure to issue the redesigned naira notes; and although most commercial banks have started issuing the new notes, the outflow remains largely insufficient.

From the foregoing, one might likely conclude that the CBN is rationing the distribution of the new naira notes. But this would be absurd as the CBN governor, Godwin Emefiele has insisted that there will be no extension after the 31 January deadline in the face of continuous debate on the appropriateness of the rigid timeline and pleas to either extend the deadline or allow for a flexible process that would allow the old naira notes to phase out over time. Given his insistence, Emefiele should intensify efforts to see to the mass production, distribution and circulation of the notes. Surely, rationing the distribution would only constrain circulation.

There are controversies as to whether the window given by the apex bank is feasible. Though most Nigerians have expressed optimism that the new notes would be fully in

circulation on or before next Tuesday, I dare say that such hope is bleak given the outcry in all parts of the country which speaks of frustration with the short timeframe. 31 January is a very ambitious and unrealistic time frame. Many Nigerians are yet to set their eyes on and transact with the redesigned legal tenders. I, myself, have withdrawn from ATMs and point of sale (POS) merchants since the unveiling of the new notes, but I have not had the privilege of being paid with them. The last time I used a POS for a transaction, I inquired from the merchant why I was still being given old notes a few days before the deadline and he replied, “na wetin bank give me, I go give you.”

A week to 15 December, the official start date for the circulation of the new naira notes, Emefiele had said the notes have been distributed to banks and were ready for disbursement to the public. It is, therefore, bothersome that commercial banks are yet to receive a reasonable share of the currency to facilitate its circulation. Consequently, the demand for the new notes has exceeded supply – a week to the day the old notes would cease to be legal tender! I do not want to think that people, especially politicians, are already stockpiling the new notes though speculations that many people in possession of the new notes are reluctant to spend them, deciding instead to hoard them might be plausible.

Whether the CBN is prepared for the transition from the old notes to the new ones within the stipulated period remains unclear. Though the CBN governor has stated and restated the apex bank’s readiness for the transition, the situation proves otherwise. Let me mention that about a month after the president, Major General Muhammadu Buhari (retd.) unveiled Nigeria’s new banknotes in the N200, N500 and N1000 denominations, the Bank of England (BoE) also unveiled its banknotes featuring Britain’s new monarch, King Charles.

However, unlike the CBN which was hasty in unveiling and circulating the new notes with short notice for old notes

to be returned to the vaults, the BoE said its new designs will be in circulation by mid-2024, noting that the new five, 10, 20 and 50-pound polymer banknotes will continue to circulate with the notes with Queen Elizabeth’s image for some years and that the new notes would only be printed to replace worn notes or to meet increased demand, to minimise the environmental and financial impact of the change. Talk about preparation for a change!

That is by the way. It is ironic that as many Nigerians are lamenting the scarcity of the new notes, some who have had the privilege of seeing and touching them are rejecting them because it is a scam and fake, especially as the colours reportedly fade when it comes in contact with water. I followed a challenge on Twitter some weeks ago where Nigerians shared the results of their experiment to ascertain the quality of the redesigned naira notes. The challenge was sparked by an alarm raised by someone who claimed that her sister forgot the new N500 banknote in her pocket and washed the cloth only for the ink to wash off. While some who experimented countered the claim, others confirmed it.

For some people like myself, who are still hoping to come in physical contact with the notes ahead of the earmarked deadline, such experiments are amusing. What is even more amusing is that the Nigerian Security Printing and Minting (NSPM) Plc., in a bid to allay the fears of Nigerians over the quality of the redesigned naira notes, said the new notes are insoluble in water as a security feature to differentiate them from forged or counterfeited notes.

Have we entered ‘one chance’? Most likely and most likely not. We still have seven days to 31 January, let’s keep our fingers crossed that the CBN will either extend the deadline or print and disburse a sufficient amount of the new notes to banks that will be enough to go around.

Ezinwanne may be reached via ezinwanne. dominion@gmail.com.

The APC and its philosophy of projects continuation

By Tom Ohikere

it is trite that no single government can address all the challenges and deliver all democratic dividends; hence, the needs to focus on critical issues that will impact efficient service delivery and lay a foundation for sustainable national propensity .

The role of succession and transistion planning is important for the continuity of governance in the country. Such always brings to note the role of collective efforts to achieve developmental programmes.

The All Progressives Congress (APC) came to power promising change in the polity.

One of the ways of bringing about this promised change is the adoption of a systematic and pragmatic approach in project execution through emphasis on completion of projects not finished its predecessor.

Many will argue that this approach was a rapid departure from our old ways of doing things in this country where projects left behind by previous governments are abandoned and new ones conceived, to a systematic approach of the APC which emphasized the completion of projects, especially as government is a continuum.

The APC has this philosophy, which must be applauded by all, because no government can solve all the problems of its people; however, what matters most is the focus on delivery in critical areas that would improve public welfare.

The APC is therefore a party that opined through its good governance philosophy that continuity and succession planning should be given high premium in order to build on lasting foundation for prosperity.

The APC also has a philosophy that understands the need for collaboration among government agencies in the attainment of governnent’s policies and programmes.

Therefore,one can perfectly say that herein lies the success story of the APC government in itsbinfrastructural projects execution throughout the nooks and crannies of the country.

Many have applauded the outgoing government of President Muhammadu Buhari for its dedication and patriotism in delivery of its nine-point agenda---an agenda

that has turned around the nation’s fortunes for good.

It is expected that the next government, which, by the grace of God, would be formed by the APC,will build on all legacy projects of its predecessor by providing progressive governance to Nigerians.

Nigerians are therefore urged to vote for continuity because the presidential candidate of the APC in the February 25,2023 election, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, has promised that his government would be devoted to continuity, particularly of projects that will bring prosperity to the citizenry.

He added that his guiding principle will be anchored on providing the best of progressive governance and also reform the nation from where the Buhari Administration left.

The APC is a party that has shown by the performances of President Buhari that sustaining its commitment to infrastructural development, which are evident in the handling of many projects nationwide,is the road to follow.

The APC-led Buhari Administration has handled over 914km of completed SUKUK road projects nationwide; embarked on reconstruction of 21 selected federal roads totalling 1; 804.6km under its road infrastructural development refurbishment investment tax credit policy.

The roads, which are funded by the NNPC Ltd , are in addition to similar existing collaborations with Messrs Dangote Industries Limited and other corporate organisations, to improve the state of our road infrastructure.

On roads projects, the APC administration has also constructed 408km of roads, 2,499km of SUKUK roads and maintenance of 15,961km of roads across the country.

Key among these projects are the construction of the 1.9 km 2nd Niger bridge linking Anambra and Delta States with 10.30 km approach road; rehabilitation, construction and expansion of Lagos/Shagamu/Ibadan dual carriageway as well as the ongoing rehabilitation of the Abuja/ Kaduna/ Zaria/ Kano road, among others. These projects will never be abandoned by any successive APC governments when elected

The Federal Government is executing a number of critical projects in the power sector through its transmission, rehabilitation and expansion program which will result in achievement of the national goal of improved power supply by 2025 and the Tinubu administration would never abandon such.

Also on the power sector, the implementation of the “willing buyer- willing sellers” policy introduced by the Buhari Administration, which has opened up opportunities for increased delivery of electricity to under- served homes and industries, would be sustained and many more projects--too many to mention-- executed and ongoing by the Buhari Administration.

Finally over the years, Nigeria’s Federal Governments have invested huge sums of money in programs and projects for socio- economic development to improve her citizens’ well-being.

However, the implementation of most of these programs failed or were abandoned.

There is a lack of commitment in addressing those lacuna and the specific mechanisms through which politics and culture shaped these failed implementations and projects abandonment.

Partisan politics which demonstrated strong favouritism towards one preferred political party, adherence to party policies and reluctance to compromise with political opponents provided appropriate framework to clarify the role of politics in programs and project abandonment and ineffective implementation debates. The APC, after careful analysis, revealed three causative factors-- political culture, political corruption and poor planning and implementation which are shaped by partisan politics in the Nigeria contest--- and moved to address them.

These anomalies impacted negatively on the unity and socio- economic development of the country. The APC stated its position on government as a continuum and we shall do well as a nation if we let the party continue in national governance by renewing its mandate from next month.

Dr Tom Ohikere is the Executive Director, APC Good Governance Campaign.

Impact of politics, sports & music on the Nigerian youths

By Samuel Ajani

Ultimately, a key learning point for Nigerian youths is to be discerning consumers of music and to be aware of the impact that the music they consume can have on their beliefs, attitudes and behaviours.

The impact of politics, sports and music on Nigerian youths is undeniable and far-reaching. Nigeria is Africa’s most populous nation with over 200 million people and is home to the world’s youngest population with over 70% of the population aged under 25. The Nigerian youth are known for their enthusiasm, hope and confidence and this energy has been channelled into several areas, including sports, music and politics.

In this article we will be looking at how these elements have impacted the Nigerian youth and the gains, mistakes and learnings points associated.

Firstly, politics has had a significant impact on Nigerian youths. With such a young population, it is no surprise that the youth take an active role in politics and are keen to be involved in decisionmaking processes. Despite the political corruption and mismanagement that plagues Nigeria, there is still a high level of engagement in politics amongst the youth. In the 2019 elections, over 67% of people aged 18 to 24 were registered to vote and this demonstrated just how engaged the youths are in the political process. The impact of politics on the Nigerian youths isn’t all positive though; corruption, malpractice and ethical misconduct have all been issues linked to the political process. The youth are aware of this and are keen to fight for a better and more transparent system. There is a strong sense of idealism amongst the youth who are looking to go

beyond the status quo and create a better future for themselves and the country as a whole. Nevertheless, mistakes have been made, and there have been times where the Nigerian youths have gone too far and have become too politicised.

This is particularly evident in some aspects of the education system, with students becoming increasingly focused on engaging in political debate and activism rather than engaging with their studies. Thus, a key learning point for Nigerian youths is to try and find a balance between political engagement and academic study. This can be achieved through finding ways to incorporate politics into academic activities, such as debating social issues and engaging in writing political essays. Secondly, sports has had a huge influence on Nigerian youths. There are a wide variety of sports enjoyed by Nigerian youths, such as football, basketball and cricket. Nigerian sportsmen and women have achieved great success, with Nigeria being African champions in both football and basketball. The country also won a bronze medal at the 2016 Olympic Games. The Nigerian youth have been inspired by the success of the nation’s athletes and have become increasingly engaged in physical activities. There has been a surge in interest in organised sports as well as casual exercise and sports have become an important part of the youths’ social lives. The impact of sports on the Nigerian youth has mainly been positive, with many citing increased physical health, self-confidence and social relationships as benefits that have been gained from sports. However, there have been some mistakes made, such as the lack of facilities and resources available in poorer areas of the country. This has meant that the youth in these areas have not had the same opportunities as those in more affluent areas

and this has led to inequalities in terms of access to sports. One key learning point here is the need to ensure that all areas of the country have access to the same resources, whether it be sports or education. This can be achieved through investing in sports facilities in poorer areas and ensuring that more people have access to educational opportunities.

Thirdly, music has been a major source of influence for the Nigerian youth. Hip-hop, gospel and afrobeat are just some of the genres of music popular amongst the youth. Music has become integral to the Nigerian youth culture, providing an outlet for self-expression and creativity.

The impact of music on Nigerian youths has been both positive and negative. On one hand, music has been credited with uniting people and creating a sense of community and harmony amongst the youth. This has been especially evident during the #Endsars movement, with musicians producing powerful songs that spoke to the struggles of the youth. However, some negative aspects of music have also been identified, such as certain genres of music promoting misogynistic and homophobic views. Ultimately, a key learning point for Nigerian youths is to be discerning consumers of music and to be aware of the impact that the music they consume can have on their beliefs, attitudes and behaviours.

Overall, politics, sports and music have all had an undeniable impact on the Nigerian youth and the gains, mistakes and learnings points associated with these elements are extremely important. Nigerian youths must strive to create a balance between these elements, as well as being aware of the impact each can have on their lives.

Samuel Ajani is a Public Policy Analyst.

2023: Who is instilling fear in Nigerians?

By Isaac Asabor

At this juncture, it is germane to let those at the helm of affairs of this nation know that not a few Nigerians have lost faith in their government. This administration cannot be trusted to do right by ordinary citizens, and neither will anyone campaigning to start from where it stops erroneously thinking he is giving most Nigerians hope. No, he is instilling fear in them.

It is not an exaggeration to say that not a few Nigerians have since Nigeria embraced a democratic system of government in 1999 been wondering why is it that political leaders, regardless of the promises made during electioneering easily forget about such promises once they are voted to power through popular votes by the people, even as they usually, to the astonishment of many, become dictatorial, anti-people and inaccessible.

It is against the foregoing backdrop of Politicians’ metamorphosis that most people find it difficult to trust any politician; no matter how serious and sincere he or she seems to appear before the electorates during electioneering. Without a doubt, it appears Nigerian politicians have been finding it difficult to keep promises made during electioneering. The reason for the foregoing cannot be farfetched in this context as we all know that there have been many issues and problems that have arisen before “promise and fail” politicians threw their hats into the rings to contest for varied political leadership positions within the various spheres of their constituency of influence. But the seeming reluctance to take the necessary steps to resolve or, at least, forthrightly address them is baffling, to say the least.

In fact, it is not mischievous to say that Nigerians, since democracy became the adopted system of government, have not had the privilege of witnessing a president that satisfactorily performed to their expectations or lived up to promises made during electioneering.

For the sake of clarity, it is expedient to make reference to former President Jimmy Carter’s address in 1979, widely

referred to as “The malaise speech.” In it, he bemoaned the deepened dispiritedness and disenchantment that he claimed gripped the body politic, particularly as highinterest rates, high energy prices, high unemployment, high inflation, a moribund economy, and a prevailing mood of doom and gloom were unprecedentedly witnessed. Conceivably, he spoke at the time from the perspective of the fact that America was weak and ineffective as a world power so much so that Iranian students seized 52 Americans and hold them, hostage, for some 444 days. The semblance of the foregoing crass effrontery is what is couched in Nigerian slang as “See Finish”. America’s government at the time, under Jimmy Carter’s watch was analyzed by not a few political commentators to be a stagnant, bloated bureaucracy that failed to serve the people. It was seen by some other analysts, who were unarguably blunt in their comments to be corrupt, inefficient, and evasive. As political historians will unanimously agree today, the crisis led to domestic turmoil and the loss of a unity of purpose for the nation.

Now if the foregoing analysis of American economy under Carter’s watch sounds familiar with the state of Nigeria’s contemporary economy, it can be made bold to say in this context that we it pragmatically seems so, and that is because it is. In fact, there is a crisis of confidence here in Nigeria. The citizenry is in a foul mood because we are saddled with the kind of government that existed during the Jimmy Carter years – “corrupt, inefficient and evasive.” Just read the text of letters and messages from those in high places. Just read the letter with its sordid claims in today’s paper. This writer cannot vouch for its veracity, but it speaks to the squabbling and the fingerpointing and the infighting and the accusations amongst the ruling cabal.

In case we had doubts before, our worst fears have been confirmed. It is expedient to submit in this piece that Charles Dickens would recognize much of the conditions that exist today, promises made, precious little kept; many investors promised, very few actually arrive with their

briefcases and three-piece suits, (for whatever that’s worth), pensioners and public servants bawling for their pensions and remunerations, the woeful lack of transparency, the cronyism, the double-speak by those in high places, the AWOL-ism by the constituency representatives of the ruling party. And on and on it goes. It is quite sad!

Since the economy became what it is today, not a few Nigerians have been keeping their ears to the ground waiting for what happens next, and it is manifest that they are not amused. Who could not be melancholic given the prevailing situation, which has remained the worst political dispensation that Nigerians had not seen in a long time; even under the much-blamed Gen. Sanni Abacha? Who could be amused by campaign promises made from far away Chattam House that the economy would be better again? At the moment they are encouraging or cajoling the poor to return their saved old Naira notes thinking they indeed tightened their belts to get by. The poor have neither savings nor belts. What little they had put away has already been depleted by the high cost of governance orchestrated and exacerbated by clueless and corrupt leadership. Ask the Journalist that hardly gets paid at the end of the month so much that some are owed salaries consecutively for close to 2 years but paradoxically do reportages about workers in other sectors of the economy that are owed mere 2 or 3 months. Ask a truly practicing Journalist like this writer, he will tell you that the belts have already been tightened to their limits on his waist. But the trousers are yet falling to the floors.

At this juncture, it is germane to let those at the helm of affairs of this nation know that not a few Nigerians have lost faith in their government. This administration cannot be trusted to do right by ordinary citizens, and neither will anyone campaigning to start from where it stops erroneously thinking he is giving most Nigerians hope. No, he is instilling fear in them.

So, who is instilling fear in Nigerians by promising to start from where the existing government stops?

Isaac Asabor is a Public Affairs Analyst.

From Yakubu Mustapha, Minna

Senator representing Niger East Senatorial District, Senator Mohammed Sani Musa has promised to consolidate on his achievements recorded in the last four years in the national assembly.

El-Rufai pledges commitment to health care delivery

Femi Oyelola, Kaduna

Kaduna state Governor, Mallam, Nasiru ElRufai had reiterated his Government commitment to support the health sector to improve the well-being of citizens of the state.

He asserted this during an opening remarks at the 12th Kaduna State Council on Health, with the theme: “Health System Strengthening; Key to achieving Universal Health Coverage” held in Kaduna yesterday.

El-Rufai said the State Council on Health has the responsibility for the formulation and implementation of health policies and guidelines to ensure the delivery of basic health services.

Nasarawa SDP guber candidate vows to revamp education

Niger Senator, Musa pledges to sustain achievements

Senator Musa who currently represents the Niger East is seeking reelection for the second term.

He gave the assurance while flagging off his campaign for reelection in the forthcoming

2023 general elections at Suleja.

Overwhelmed by the crowd, he however, called on them to vote APC at all levels for the continuity of good governance and progress of the state and Nigeria at large.

Earlier, the Gubernatorial

candidate of the APC in the state, Umar Mohammed Bago called on the electorates to vote APC candidates if they expect progress and development in the forthcoming general elections.

The National Vice Chairman of

the North-Central Zone, Mu’azu Bawa said both Senator Musa and Umar Mohammed Bago are young and vibrant candidates who are ready to deliver on the campaign promises of the APC if elected.

The Social Democratic Party Governorship candidate in Nasarawa state Mustapha Muhammed Alfa has vowed to declare state of emergency in the education sectorif elected as governor in February 2023 elections.

He made the assertion during a media dialoque held at the NUJ press centre in Lafia on Tuesday.

“I call on the people of Nasarawa state to vote for SDP so as to revamp the education sector from collapse.”

SOKAPU expreses worry over selling of PVC

The Southern Kaduna Peoples Union (SOKAPU) has raised the alarm that some members of their communities are selling their permanent voters cards to some unscrupulous politicians to unknown destinations.

SOKAPU, further alleged that the move is being perpetrated in order to deny the people voting rights in other political parties’ strongholds.

They called on the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to investigate the situation and punish those responsible.

It also called on voters in the

area to stop selling their PVCs as it was tantamount to selling their future and destiny

This was contained in a statement made available to newsmen yesterday by the Acting President of SOKAPU, Comrade Elisha Rosi,who further noted that there are large uncollected PVCs at certain collection centres,

especially in the rural areas, urging INEC to make it easy for voters to collect their cards.

“The Southern Kaduna Peoples Union (SOKAPU) has observed with concern very worrying issues concerning the collection of the Permanent Voters Cards (PVCs) in Kaduna State.”

From:

From Gambo Ahmed lafia

From:Oyelola, Kaduna

Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde (middle); acknowledging the people of Kisi during his campaign for second term in Irepo Local Government Area of Oyo State held at Kisi. PHOTO: Oyo Gov’s Media Unit.

February elections important to S’West – Ekiti Gov, Oyebanji

By Musa Baba Adamu

The Ekiti State Governor, Biodun Oyebanji, has described citizens’ reluctance to exercise their franchise rights during elections as a trend that must be tamed by stakeholders, saying it portends grave danger to electoral growth.

Oyebanji who praised the people of the state for trooping out to collect their Permanent Voter Cards, PVCs, to participate in the 2023 impending polls, described

the public holiday declared by the government, on Tuesday, as a huge success, due to the impressive turnout recorded.

The governor, represented by his deputy, Mrs Monisade Afuye, said this on Tuesday when she visited INEC offices to monitor compliance with the directive of the state government

The INEC local government headquarters visited included that of Ikere, Ado, Aramoko, and Ido Ekiti.

Afuye while addressing the

electorates maintained that collection of PVCs is one of the ways to strengthen the country’s electoral system, saying no nation experiencing voter apathy can grow and develop.

She said: “Governor Oyebanji has demonstrated leadership by declaring today (Tuesday) a public holiday for you to collect your PVCs. It is good that you have come in large numbers. It is for your own benefit, but some don’t value it.

“We are moving round so that the purpose for which this holiday

was declared will be met and we have no reason to regret with the population of registrants that we are seeing at all INEC offices that I have visited.”

She further stated: “This year’s elections are very important to us in Ekiti and Southwest and poor interest to vote will not help our cause. We also commend the staff of the Independent National Electoral Commission for making themselves available for this exercise.

“You should not only collect these PVCs, come out on the day

of elections and vote, this is the best way for you and I to build our nation”.

The INEC Electoral Officer, Ido/Osi Local Government, Mr Chris Ogunmakinwa, applauded the state government for declaring a public holiday for the collection of PVCs.

Ogunmakinwa said the gesture has helped in increasing the number of PVCs seekers considering the large number of registrants that besieged the INEC office.

By Musa Baba Adamu

Aformer stalwart of PDP in Cross River State has said that the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC, in the state to which he now belongs will work hard to ensure that PDP does not win the governorship election in March 2023.

Former Commissioner for Lands and former Managing Director of Tinapa Business Resort, Bassey Ndem stated in an interview in Calabar that it would amount to gross injustice for PDP to return to power in the state.

According to him, allowing PDP to win will deny those in the Southern senatorial district access to power for several more years.

He said: “PDP was wrong to have decided to zone power to Cross River Central thereby denying the southern district [the] opportunity to access power whereas it is their rightful turn.

“We will do everything legally and electorally possible to discourage voters from voting for their governorship candidate. We will block them.

“I believe much in merit. I believe much in rotation. This is why the APC will win the governorship election in March 2023 because they have rightly zoned the governorship to those whose turn it is in the southern district. This is why the people are happy and ready to vote massively for their son, Prince Bassey Otu.”

Ndem, now a traditional title holder in the Efik Kingdom further explained why he refused to defect from APC to Labour Party as

rumoured.

He said he had to ponder over such a decision deeply, saying if he had done that in order to run for

By Ikechukwu Okaforadi

The Director General of AtikuOkowa Presidential Campaign Council in Anambra State, Prof Obiora Okonkwo has said that only the candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, can truly unite Nigeria.

This was contained in a press statement, released on his behalf by the deputy spokesperson of the council in Anambra, Mr Chibuike Uloka.

Okonkwo avowed that: “The unrest in the South East and other parts of the country is believed to be a failure of the central government, and has continued to threaten the unity of the country and affect the economy of the region and the country. Only the victory of Atiku Abubakar will be enough to appease the South East and restore the stability of our democracy.”

Okonkwo urged for more support for the presidential candidate of the PDP, insisting that Atiku’s presidency will reorganize the nation and stabilize our nascent democracy.

According to the statement, Okonkwo had earlier reminded members of the Inter-Party Advisory

governorship on the ticket of LP, he would have slashed the votes for other southern guber candidates thereby reducing their chance to win.

in Delta

“It was for this reason that I had to invite other governorship aspirants from the southern district in both

Why PDP will lose C’River guber election – Former party stalwart, Ndem Only Atiku Presidency can unite Nigeria – Prof Okonkwo

APC and PDP to a meeting, hoping to persuade them to collapse structures for one candidate from the South as a way of ensuring bloc vote.”

Committee,

“Nigerian president of South East extraction is achievable in no distant time; rather, it’s for us to be strategic and intentional in forming the necessary alliance, as it was with our founding political fathers, Nnamdi Azikiwe and Alex Ekwueme.

“Given our political complexities, no single region can win the presidency alone, hence, the need for an alliance, which we must begin to cultivate with the support for Atiku Abubakar,” he stated.

I’ve no regret leaving APGA for APC – Taraba senatorial candidate, Danjuma

By Christiana Ekpa

The lawmaker representing Wukari/ Ibi Federal Constituency, Danjuma Usman Shiddi, has debunked the rumour that he is regretting pitching his tents with the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).

It was recently reported by one of the

national dailies, that the former member of the All Progressive Grand Alliance (APGA), is regretting his decision to join APC.

Describing the allegations as ”fake, baseless, misleading and malicious” Shiddi who is APC senatorial candidate for Taraba South said he has never, and will never regret his decision to join forces with the APC.

A statement issued by Tanko Kyen-Emoh

Danjuma Ambi-Usi, Director of Media and Strategic Communication of his campaign in Jalingo on Tuesday denied the assertion attributed to Shiddi.

The statement attacked the rumour as a “lame narrative” that is “fake, false, baseless and ludicrous” stressing that the lawmaker will continue to “build and consolidate on the gains of the APC, Taraba State, Wukari/

Ibi Federal Constituency and make valuable contributions to the party at the national level.”

The statement further urged both the discerning and unsuspecting public not to give credence to the “fake, false, baseless and ill-motivated publication” that was nothing but a figment of the imagination of those who concocted the lie.

IPAC, and other Atiku support groups in Anambra State that what is paramount for the South East at this time is true federalism and a liberalized economy, which Atiku has made the core of his campaign and manifesto.

Alhaji Abubakar Atiku

Benue APC guber: Gemade heads to Supreme Court

By Ikechukwu Okaforadi

The senator representing the Benue North East constituency, Barnabas Gemade, has disclosed that he is proceeding to the Supreme Court to challenge the case of the Appeal Court, Makurdi Division which struck out his suit challenging the gubernatorial primary election of the All

Progressives Congress, APC, that produced Hyacinth Alia as its candidate.

Gemade disclosed this in a statement issued by his media aide, Solo Dzuah, after consultations with his legal team on the need to pursue the case to its logical conclusion.

According to the former lawmaker, the main issues he raised in his suit and subsequent

prayers were not addressed at the appeal court.

He expressed confidence in the judiciary as a system that guarantees justice and hope for the common man through diligent adjudication and interpretation of the law.

He also reiterated the justification for his legal actions as a loyal party man, and fully recognized aspirant for APC

Benue State governorship primaries who feel shortchanged by the alleged manipulation of the nomination process.

Gemade concluded that his decision remains the only option to sanitize the electoral system and reposition the integrity of internal democracy which the state yearns for.

Account for N84bn Bakassi funds – C’River ADC challenges APC, PDP

By Musa Baba Adamu

The ruling APC in Cross River State and the opposition PDP have been charged to give accounts of the cumulative sum of N84 billion Bakassi Stabilization Fund which the state has received so far from the federal government since 2008 to date.

The governorship candidate of the African Democratic Congress, ADC, in the state, Mr Effiong Nyong made the charge in a statement released

in Calabar.

He said at different times members of the two parties have belonged to either party and have been privy to the receipts and disbursements of the special fund meant for the development of Bakassi.

He said: “The two so-called big political parties in Cross River State know what has been happening to the Bakasssi Stabilization Fund of N500 million monthly collection from the federal government.

“Since 2008, a total of N84

billion, at N6 billion per year, has been received in the state, and there is nothing to show for it.

“These same individuals are campaigning in Bakassi and other parts of the southern senatorial zone of the state, pledging and promising all manner of things, and they know they are lying.”

Nyong, a journalist, maintained that people in the state are undermined and taken for granted by the political class.

He charged the people not

to be sentimental with their Permanent Voter’s Cards.

Said he: “Vote out corruption; vote to restore the civil service; vote to ensure our elders get their pension and gratuity. Vote to ensure sanitation in our environment.

“Vote to change our tourism narrative for the better. Our economy can be better managed. Enough is Enough.”

Nyong lamented that Nigerians never envisaged in their wildest dreams that things could be this bad in the country.

I have no godfather –NNPP senatorial candidate, Nesiama tells Delta traders

By Christiana Ekpa

The Delta South senatorial candidate of the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP), Commodore Omatseye Nesiama (Rtd) yesterday told traders in Igbudu market, Warri, that he does not have a godfather and financier bankrolling his political ambition.

Nesiama made the remark during his consultative visit to the Igbudu Market Traders Association (IMTA).

The NNPP candidate promised to be accountable to the traders and people of Delta South Senatorial District if voted into office as the next senator.

He said “I don’t have a godfather. I don’t have a financier. I have no structure. Nobody anointed me for the game but God Almighty did,” he said, assuring the people that “I will not be accountable to any godfather but to the people who will believe in my message.”

He appealed to the traders to give him their support and cast their votes for him in the forthcoming elections.

Kwara declares Wednesday work-free day for PVC collection

By Ikechukwu Okaforadi

Why Ogun APC took ADC candidates to court – Otegbeye

By Musa Baba Adamu

The governorship candidate of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Biyi Otegbeye, has revealed why he and other candidates of the party were dragged to court by the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).

Otegbeye was reacting to Monday’s appeal court judgment, which set aside the order of an Abeokuta Federal High Court that the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, should delist all ADC candidates

in Ogun.

The APC had gone to court saying Otegbeye and others did not emerge through a credible primary in accordance with the new Electoral Act.

Addressing newsmen on Tuesday, Otegbeye said the APC filed 26 pre-election cases against the ADC and its candidates.

This, he said, was because the party did not want to be on the ballot with a formidable opponent.

“To our consternation, 21 lawsuits were filed against us by the APC, apparently to preclude

us from contesting the March 11th, 2023 elections,” he said.

Otegbeye maintained: “The ruling APC have run out of ideas and they needed justification to demand the people’s mandate for a second term; hence, the desperate effort, at taxpayers’ expense, to take us out of the ballot.

“Unfortunately, they have failed and must now test their much-diminished popularity and integrity at the polls.”

Otegbeye regretted the blatant attempts to reverse the gains of democratic evolution in the

country through dubious schemes calculated at eliminating electoral competition.

He noted that any attempt to grab the people’s mandate by running away from legitimate competition is a mockery of democracy.

The ADC, he declared, is ready to take over Ogun from APC in 2023, counting on the support of former governor Ibikunle Amosun and the people of Ogun State.

According to him, ADC is the party to beat in the forthcoming election.

Governor Abdulrahaman Abdulrazaq of Kwara State has declared Wednesday, a work-free day to enable civil servants to get their Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs), from the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), which will ensure their participation in the upcoming general elections.

This was announced in a statement in Ilorin on Tuesday by the Kwara State Head of Service, Susan Modupe Oluwole.

“All those that are yet to get their voter cards are admonished to immediately do so before the expiration of the collection date,” she stated.

INEC said there will be no further extension of the date for the collection exercise.

L-R: Director General / CEO, Federal Institute of Industrial Research Oshodi (FIIRO), Dr. Jummai Adamu Tutuwa, Minister of Science ,Technology and Innovation (STI) Sen. Olorunimbe Mamora, Director Finance and account FIIRO, Mr. Joshua Oderinde, Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Science Technology and Innovation (FMSTI), Mrs Monilola Udoh, Director Chemical Technology FMSTI, Mr. Mej Bassey and the Board Chairman, FIIRO, Alh. Ibrahim Gwarzo, inspecting products develop by FIIRO, during the FIIRO day at the ongoing 7th Edition of the Science, Technology and Innovation Expo 2023, theme: Actualizing Effective Diversification of Nigeria Economy through Science, Technology and innovation, held

Shehu Abubakar, Maiduguri

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

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

I’ll return Kano to trade and industry hub if electedObi assures electorate

By Musa Baba Adamu

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

2023: Borno NNPP alleges APC destroying its campaign structures

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

By Musa Baba Adamu

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

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

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

presidential candidate did to the region in the past.

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

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

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

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

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

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

The Acting Director General of NYSC, Mrs Christy Ifeyinwa Uba presenting a copy of NYSC publications to the Deputy Director, Information Technology Department, Central Bank of Nigeria, Mr Habib Yusuf when he led a delegation of some staff on a courtesy visit to the NYSC National Directorate Headquarters, yesterday in Maitama Abuja . Photo; NYSC

Former Immigration boss bemoans scarcity of new Naira notes in Yobe community

From Abubakar Yunusa Abuja

Muhammad Babandede, former comptrollergeneral of the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS), says residents of Geidam, Yobe state, are suffering due to the scarcity of redesigned naira notes.

He said this in a recent tweet.

In line with its naira redesign policy, the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) had said the old series of N200, N500, and N1,000 naira notes will cease to be legal tender in the country after January 31.

Describing the situation in Geidam as “critical”, Babandede said there are no banks in the local government area (LGA) as a result of insecurity in the region.

He added that point of sale (POS) operators in the state have stopped collecting the old naira notes but do not have the new ones.

“Spoke to a few in Geidam, Yobe state — the situation is critical. No single bank in town due to insecurity. POS has stopped collecting old notes, and they don’t have the new ones. Transaction has stopped. Children, old and poor, are crying because they can’t sell or buy food,” he tweeted.

Over the weekend, Mai Mala Buni, governor of Yobe state, appealed to the CBN to grant special concession to residents to enable them exchange their old naira notes for the redesigned notes.

Buni explained that only four out of the 17 local government areas (LGAs) in the state have banks, making it difficult for people in the remaining 13 LGAs to access banking services.

“The CBN should be considerate to provide special services to such areas with special needs to avoid making them victims and losing their money,” Buni said.

“The CBN and commercial banks should, as a matter of urgent public interest,

NRC: How off-spec diesel delayed train services on Abuja-Kaduna route

Abubakar Yunusa, Abuja

The Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC), says the delay experienced by passengers along the AbujaKaduna train route on Monday was caused by the poor quality of diesel it received.

Pascal Nnorli, manager, Abuja-Kaduna train service (AKTS), disclosed this while apologising to travellers in a statement.

Train services resumed on the route just last month after an eight-month suspension due to a terrorist attack, which claimed the lives of many and led to the abduction of several passengers.

The government had promised to improve its service delivery upon resumption.

Speaking on the latest development in Abuja, Nnorli said the delay was due to a shortage in the supply of diesel. He also apologised to

passengers for the corporation’s retarded services along the Abuja-Kaduna route on Monday.

“The management of the NRC sincerely apologises to our esteemed customers who may have experienced delay in our Abuja-Kaduna train service on Monday, Jan. 23,” the manager said.

“The delay was caused by the supply of diesel/AGO, which fell short of the specification required to operate our rolling

stock, which was outrightly rejected after statutory laboratory test.

“The compulsory laboratory test is carried out on all liquid that is used on the rolling stock, locomotives inclusive to ensure that the right specifications are utilised.’’

Nnorli, however, thanked passengers for the “continued patronage” and pledged the commitment of the corporation for better services going forward.

No going back on January 31 deadline for old notes, Emefiele insists

From Abubakar Yunusa Abuja

The Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Godwin Emefiele, on Tuesday said that the 31 January deadline it announced for the validity of the old N200, N500 and N1,000 notes remains.

Mr Emefiele made this known while addressing journalists after the apex bank’s Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) meeting in Abuja.

Peoples Daily reported how the CBN raised the Monetary Policy Rate (MPR), which measures interest rate, to 17.5 per cent as part of measures to contain inflation. The apex bank’s committee also voted to keep the asymmetric corridor at +100 and -700 basis points around the MPR, Cash Reserve Ratio (CRR) at 32.5 per cent as well as the Liquidity Ratio at 30 per cent.

Speaking on the new notes, Mr Emefiele claimed that kidnapping

and ransom-taking incidents have reduced since the three banknotes were redesigned. He also argued that the time given for the swap of the old naira notes with new ones was enough for Nigerians to get the new notes from commercial banks.

“I must say here that unfortunately, I don’t have good news for those who feel that we should shift the deadline. My apologies,” Mr Emefiele said.

“The reason is because 90 days, we feel it’s 100 days, should be enough for those who have the old currency to deposit it, the money, in the banks. And we took every measure to ensure that all the banks were open to receive all old currencies. 100 days, we believe, is more than adequate.”

Last November, weeks after the apex bank announced its plan to redesign the three banknotes, President Muhammadu Buhari unveiled the redesigned N200, N500 and N1,000 notes as the

apex bank fixed the January 31 deadline for the validity of the old notes.

Since the notes were introduced, many Nigerians on social media have expressed reservations about the circulation of the new notes. While many claim that they are yet to see the new naira notes, others complain of hoarding on the part of the deposit money banks even as the January 31 deadline for the rejection of the old notes approaches.

Last week, as part of measures to deepen circulation, the CBN warned banks to load their ATMs with the new notes and threatened to sanction erring banks. The CBN also recently directed commercial banks to halt over-the-counter payment of the old notes and load their Automated Teller Machines (ATMs) with the redesigned naira notes to boost circulation.

Similarly, the apex bank also launched a cash swap programme nationwide to enable those in

unbanked areas to exchange their old notes for new notes before the 31 January deadline.

However, the Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF) at the weekend set up a six-member committee to engage the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) to address anomalies in the country’s monetary management and financial system, especially in the issuance of new Naira notes.

The committee, according to a communique signed by NGF Chairman, Aminu Tambuwal of Sokoto State, is chaired by the Governor of Anambra State, Charles Soludo, with governors of Akwa Ibom, Ogun, Borno, Plateau and Jigawa states as members.

The governors said that while they were not opposed to the objectives of the Naira redesign policy, the apex bank should consider the peculiarities of households and states, especially pertaining to financial inclusion and under-served locations.

L-R: Lecturer, Department of Mass Communication, University of Lagos, Prof. Abigail Ogwezzy-Ndisika; Editor Nation’s Capital, THISDAY Newspaper, Dr. Iyobosa Uwugiaren; Coordinator, African Centre for Media and Information Literacy, Dr. Chido Onumah; Director, Broadcast, National Broadcasting Commission (NBC), Stella Erhunmwunsee and Director, International Press Center (IPC), Lanre Arogundade, during the Stakeholders’ roundtable on monitoring report of media coverage of 2023 elections and revised Nigeria media code of election coverage, held yesterday in Abuja.. Photo-: Justin Imo-owo

P&ID: Nigeria begins bid to overturn $11bn judgement debt

Nigeria on Monday argued before a London High Court that the country was a victim of bribery and deception in the controversial Process and Industrial Developments (P&ID) gas deal.

Africa’s largest economy this week seeks to overturn the $11 billion debt judgement awarded in favour of the company.

The P&ID controversy dates back to January 2010 when the company signed a gas supply and processing agreement with the Ministry of Petroleum Resources on behalf of the Nigerian government.

Under the terms of the agreement, P&ID was to build and operate an Accelerated Gas Development project to be located at Adiabo in Odukpani Local Government Area of Cross River State. The Nigerian government was to source natural gas from oil mining leases (OMLs) 123 and 67 operated by Addax Petroleum and supply to P&ID to refine into fuel suitable for power generation in the country.

However, P&ID alleged that after signing the agreement, the Nigerian government reneged on its obligation after negotiations were opened

with the Cross River State government for allocation of land for the project.

The company said the failure to construct the pipeline system to supply the gas frustrated the construction of the gas project, thereby depriving it of the potential benefits from over 20 years’ worth of gas supplies.

It added that attempts to settle out-of-court with the Nigerian government failed.

In August 2012, P&ID served the Nigerian government a Request for Arbitration but Nigeria argued before the tribunal that “the failure of P&ID to acquire the site and build Gas Processing Facilities was a fundamental breach and that no gas could be delivered until this has been done.”

The tribunal ruled that Nigeria’s obligations under Article 6B were not conditional upon P&ID having constructed the gas processing facilities.

In the tribunal’s eventual verdict, the damage suffered by P&ID was the loss of net income the company would have received if the government kept its side of the contract.

Two members of the threeman tribunal, Lord Hoffmann and Anthony Evans, held that

P&ID’s expenditure and income should have been about $6.597 billion if the GSPA was duly performed by the government.

Both officials said the award should be paid together with interest at the rate of 7 per cent from March 20, 2013.

The other member, who is Nigeria’s former AttorneyGeneral and Minister of Justice, Bayo Ojo, in his minority ruling, said although P&ID was entitled to compensation for the breach, its damages could not have been more than three years from the date of the alleged breach. Apart from being a new company incorporated in 2006, Mr Ojo noted the project could not have started yielding benefits earlier than 2015.

In September 2020, the Nigerian government secured a judgement of a British court to suspend the unfavourable ruling over the scandal. A commercial court in the United Kingdom granted Nigeria’s appeal for a stay of execution of the award of $8.9 billion (about N3.2 trillion) in favour of P&ID.

The interest has now grown to just over $11 billion, or around 30 per cent of Nigeria’s foreign exchange reserves, according to Reuters.

On Monday, at the start of an eight-week trial in London’s high court, Mark Howard, a lawyer representing Nigeria, told the court that P&ID obtained its contract “by telling repeated lies and paying bribes to officials.”

As a result, the lawyer claimed that P&ID “corrupted” Nigeria’s lawyers to obtain confidential documents during the arbitration,” Reuters reported.

Mr Howard noted in court documents that P&ID paid bribes and relied on false evidence “to dupe (Nigeria), the tribunal and this court into giving P&ID an extraordinary amount of money on the back of a campaign of bribery, corruption and deception”.

The company, however, said the gas processing agreement was “a genuine contract which P&ID genuinely wanted to perform”.

In court documents, P&ID lawyer, David Wolfson, said Nigeria’s loss in the arbitration “had nothing to do with any corruption”.

Mr Wolfson will make opening arguments on behalf of P&ID on Tuesday.

CBN increases benchmark interest rate to 17.5%

From Abubakar Yunusa Abuja

The Central Bank of Nigeria on Tuesday raised its benchmark lending rate to 17.5 per cent in an aggressive push to contain the nation’s inflationary pressure.

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

Addressing journalists at the end of the two-day meeting in Abuja, Mr Emefiele said the committee voted to keep the asymmetric corridor at +100 and -700 basis points around the MPR.

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

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

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

In December, the nation’s statistics bureau said Nigeria’s s inflation figure dipped to 21.34 per cent from 21.47 per cent in November after 10 straight monthly increases. In the same month, the statistics bureau said food inflation which is one of the driving forces of Headline Inflation dropped to 23.75 per cent from 24.13 per cent a month earlier.

On Tuesday, Mr Emefiele announced that the committee welcomed the recent deceleration in the nation’s inflation rates, noting that the persistence in the policy rate increase over the last few meetings of the committee has started to yield the expected decline in inflation.

The committee deliberated on either to hike rates further or hold to examine the impact of the last four rate increases, Mr Emefiele said, adding that the options considered were

BU$IN€SS

Ex-presidential aspirant asks Tinubu to sustain Nigeria-China economic ties if elected

From Abubakar Yunusa Abuja

Moses Ayom, a former presidential aspirant in the All Progressives Congress (APC), has asked Bola Tinubu, standard bearer of the party, to sustain the economic relationship that Nigeria has with China.

In 2016, Nigeria and China signed a number of agreements when President Muhammadu

Buhari visited Xi Jinping, his Chinese counterpart.

In a statement , Ayom, also the chief executive officer (CEO) of Granite and Marble, said the agreements, if sustained, would reduce unemployment in the country.

“As a member of the president’s entourage to the historic business trip to broker the agreement, I recalled that on the same trip, the $6

billion currency swap deal was achieved,” Ayom said.

“Also, a mining company, Granite and Marble, signed a business deal with one of the biggest manufacturer of mining equipment in the world, SBM China Ltd.

“I am delighted about the commissioning of the Dangote owned $2.5 billion fertilizer equipment plant in Lagos early last year. I am hopeful that the

SBM deal that is meant to be located in Abuja and supported by the central bank with RSSF, will soon take off.”

The former aspirant said Tinubu is the best candidate for the presidency.

“We believe that a Bola Tinubu is most suitable in consolidating on the economic foundation that Buhari had laid for this country. I also know that Tinubu is a leading light

in the business of attracting international investments to Nigerian,” he said.

“I have known Tinubu since the days of Iyorchia Ayu’s senate presidency when he, Tinubu, served as the chairman of finance, appropriations, banking and currency of the then senate.

“Tinubu has all it takes to rule this country because he has paid his dues as a leader of the party.”

Global tax rules skewed against developing countries, finance Minister

Zainab Ahmed, minister of finance budget and national planning, says global tax rules are uneven, especially for developing countries.

The minister said this on Monday at the 42nd Annual Technical Conference of the Commonwealth Association of Tax Administrators (CATA) in Abuja.

Ahmed said the current international tax rules were skewed against some countries, particularly developing nations, including Nigeria.

She also said taxation was a matter of domestic law, adding that disputes arising from the interpretation of domestic legislation should only be resolved within those domestic legislations and by people properly schooled to interpret them.

According to Ahmed, Nigeria

is committed to working with other jurisdictions and international bodies to achieve a win-win solution in the contentious matter.

She also called on the CATA to join forces with Nigeria in insisting that the skewed international tax rules be put in order for the good of all.

“Painfully, the skewness in the current international tax rules is again influencing the two-pillar solution of the inclusive framework,” she said.

“We have observed, for instance, that “Amount A” profit meant for market jurisdictions is progressively being chipped away in favour of jurisdictions where the multinationals are resident.

“Another example of skewness of the ‘Amount A’, rules are the requirement for jurisdictions to surrender domestic tax disputes to the mandatory and binding ruling of an arbitration panel

composed and sitting outside the legal system of the respective jurisdictions.

“The discussion to change the rules must start now; the world must rework the profit allocation rules used for transfer pricing and the sharing of taxing rights by tax treaty partners.

“Nigeria is of the view that CATA is that organisation that is best placed to start this dialogue. Nigeria is committed to working with other jurisdictions and international bodies to achieve a win-win solution.

“The ‘Amount A’ proposal being developed by the Inclusive Framework is not achieving consensus because it is founded on win-lose principles. Only rules that promote a winwin situation can achieve the support of all.”

The minister, however, said countries must cast aside their differences or individual self-interest to jointly develop a workable, simple, and fair

solution to the challenges confronting taxation.

She also highlighted other problematic areas, which include the digitalisation of tax administration, fair international tax rules, capacity development, and nomad workers.

She, therefore, urged delegates and experts to come up with an actionable communique that would help the government in formulating appropriate policies.

On his part, Muhammad Nami, executive chairman, Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS), said harmonisation of tax systems was on the front burner of the fiscal conversations in many jurisdictions.

Nami, who also doubles as the president of CATA, added that the harmonisation must happen for the governments to plug leakages and shore up revenue.

“Some jurisdictions have

achieved this, and they testify to its advantage over the fragmented system. Others need to learn how, why and what jurisdictions that have harmonised their tax systems have to share,” he said.

He said the upsurge of disruptive technological innovations in the business environment have triggered peculiar issues.

He said the business world was in a state of flux while the character of data and its management kept changing as tax administrators remained under compulsion to align their mandates with the changes arising from technological advancements.

Nami added that in matching the pace of technology advancement, tax administrators must remain bound by the laws, regulations, and codes that safeguard sourcing, storage, processing, and management of data.

Abubakar Yunus Abuja

METRO

FCTA urges pre-emptive measures against diphtheria

By Stanley Onyekwere

In what swift proactive steps to curtail deadly childhood disease known as Diphtheria, the FCT Executive Committee (FCT EXCO) has directed all relevant health agencies in the Abuja, the nation’s capital territory to take all necessary preemptive measures against its emergence.

In particular, the FCT Administration further directed its Health and Human Services Secretariat (HHSS) to ensure increased surveillance and awareness creation and sensitisation by all its relevant agencies, to curb the risk of the disease emerging and spreading within the territory.

Also, the FCTA urged HHSS to liaise with the Area Council Services Secretariat, as well as the Chairmen of the six Area Councils in the Territory to immediately convene an emergency meeting with relevant technical Partners and work out modalities to effectively confront the disease should it rear its ugly head in the FCT.

A statement from Director,

Information & Communication, FCT, Muhammad Hazat Sule, made available yesterday to PeoplesDaily, disclosed that the FCT EXCO gave this directive after its meeting held at Gwarinpa I District, Abuja, following a similar directive on the disease by the Nigerian Centre for Disease Control (NCDC), in the wake of its emergence in some states

It disclosed that the FCT EXCO meeting, which was presided over by the FCT Minister, Mallam Muhammad Musa Bello was attended by the FCT Permanent Secretary, Olusade Adesola, Chief of Staff to the FCT Minister, Mallam Muhammad Bashir Mai-Borno, Secretaries of FCT Mandate Secretariats as well as other Directors.

Also, the meeting enjoined the HHSS to galvanise the support of all stakeholders and ensure massive sensitisation of all residents to further minimize the risk of contracting the ailment as cases have been reported in some states around the FCT.

Furthermore, the EXCO also directed the Abuja Metropolitan Management Council (AMMC) to restrict the activities

of the Point of Sales (POS) operators scattered around the Federal Capital City to only commercial areas because of security concerns.

It equally observed that POS is a commercial enterprise, and, therefore, should be conducted only in the designated commercial areas, adding that aside from the security implications, the activities of POS operators also create environmental nuisances, as they serve to attract other commercial activities, thereby generating uncontrolled waste.

“The EXCO reemphasizes the importance that the present leadership of the FCT Administration places on the security and well-being of the residents and assures that it will take every necessary measure to protect all Nigerians and visitors residing in Abuja.

“Diphtheria is a bacterial infection caused by the organism referred to as Corynebacterium diphtheria which affects the throat, nose, and sometimes, skin of unvaccinated children and rarely adults with poor immunity.

“The symptoms of the disease also include fever, runny nose, sore throat,

cough, red eyes, neck swelling, and difficulty in breathing.

“Diphtheria spreads easily between people through direct contact with infected people, droplets from coughing or sneezing, and contact with contaminated clothing and objects, thereby underscoring the importance of hygiene and environmental sanitation in the prevention.

“The people most at risk are the unvaccinated and those who live in crowded areas and/or where there is poor sanitation.

“To reduce the risk of contracting the disease, children are expected to get fully vaccinated with three (3) doses of the Pentavalent vaccine as recommended in the National childhood immunization schedule.

“The FCT immunization coverage currently stands at 83%, against the national average of 57%, though at least 95% of all children are expected to be vaccinated to assure herd immunity, thereby preventing spread”, the statement explained.

FEMA harps on capacity building in disaster mgt

By Stanley Onyekwere

The Director General of FCT Emergency Management Agency, (FEMA), Dr Abbas Idriss has identified capacity building as a vital aspect of Disaster Management.

The FEMA DG stated this at the opening ceremony of the ongoing one week strategic Executive Seminar for Nigeria Emergency Management Stakeholders organized by the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) in Abuja.

Idriss noted that when the drivers of disaster management do not update

their skills or not knowledgeable enough, then they will continue to do the wrong thing in a wrong direction.

He commended the tenacity of the Director General of NEMA, Mustapha Ahmed Habib, for having keen interest in building the capacities of State Emergency Management Agencies.

In his words, “ I want to appreciate the Director General of NEMA for putting this executive seminar together for all the participants here.

“You will agree with me that capacity building is a very vital aspect of disaster management, if the drivers of disaster management can not

update it and are not knowledgeable enough then we will continue to do a wrong thing in a wrong direction.

“I remember last year, we had the multi agency coordination training and this year we are having another training. This has shown that the Director General is really very interested in building the capacities of the State Emergency Management Agencies.

“ It is very important to note that all of us seated here are the drivers of disaster race production at our local level. We take disaster management to be bottom up and that is how

it is suppose to be from the Local Emergency Management Committees to State Emergency Management Agencies then to National Emergency Management Agency.

“ That is how it is supposed to be. But if we are not educated and we are not trained definitely we will be left with nothing but serious disaster affecting multiple number of people in our communities”, he added.

He adds, “ I appeal on behalf of my colleagues that we need more training and capacity building. We thank you most sincerely for this and others that you have done and we look”.

L-R Chido Nwakanma, Prof. Abigail Ogweszzy-Ndisika, the Editor This Day newspaper Iyobosa Uwagiaren and the Director International Press Center Lanre Arogundade during The Launching of Nigerian Media Code of Electoral Coverage at the Stakeholders roundtable on monitoring report of media coverage of 2023 election,, held yesterday in Abuja .

Photo; Justin Imo-owo

world news

Beirut blast investigator charges key figures after long suspension

The judge leading the investigation into the devastating port explosion in Beirut in 2020 has reportedly charged more key figures as part of his probe.

Despite Tarek Bitar’s work being frozen for 13 months amid legal challenges, he unexpectedly said on Monday that he thought he could restart his inquiries.

But on Tuesday the public prosecutor told him that he had no jurisdiction.

More than 200 people were killed when ammonium nitrate that was being stored unsafely at a port warehouse ignited.

The blast it created was one of the worst non-nuclear explosions in recent history, and devastated a large area of the Lebanese capital.

There is no official confirmation of the identities of those who have been charged, or detail of what indictments they may face.

Instead, lists of names and potential dates for questioning sessions are being circulated among local journalists, apparently released by judicial sources.

Senior figures like the heads of the General Security and State

Security departments are new names to appear on the list.

Others have been called previously, like Hassan Diab, who was prime minister at the time of the blast. He has yet to appear before the judge to answer questions.

All those who have previously been linked to the investigation have denied any involvement.

Judge Bitar also apparently ordered the release of five men who had been arrested after the explosion, including port officials and maintenance workers.

The thousands of people who were wounded in the disaster, and the families of the deceased, have faced a long fight in their search for justice.

They have held regular vigils and protests in Beirut over the past two and a half years.

In recent days, they have demonstrated again outside the Lebanese parliament in a bid to get the official investigation restarted. Nobody has yet faced trial as a result of it.

The probe has been beset by delays, leaving families and survivors no closer to finding out

who was to blame

The inquiry has been dogged with problems since it was set up.

The first lead judge was removed. Several of the powerful politicians charged by his successor, Judge Bitar, have

brought legal complaints against him in response.

It means the investigation has been halted each time while a court rules on their veracity, to the frustration of victims’ groups.

Attempts have even been made

to remove Judge Bitar from running the investigation entirely, but despite the Higher Judicial Council approving the appointment of yet another new judge to take charge instead, that has not happened.

The public prosecutor at the Discriminatory Court sent a letter to Judge Bitar on Tuesday telling him that his investigation remained suspended and that no decision had yet been made on whether to remove him from his role.

Families have welcomed the renewed investigation, but some are still sceptical that it will achieve any results.

Hiam Kaadan’s son Ahmad was killed in the blast, as he delivered a birthday cake. Hiam rushed to the scene in the aftermath, and found him lying in a pool of blood.

“We were surprised and happy to know that Judge Bitar resumed the investigation and that those responsible for the 4 August blast will be held accountable,” she told the BBC.

“We believe in Judge Bitar, and we hope he will be allowed to continue without hurdles and to summon all those he named.”

Half Moon Bay: Seven dead in another California mass shooting

The US state of California is reeling from its third mass shooting in eight days after a man shot dead seven former coworkers south of San Francisco.

The attacks took place in the coastal city of Half Moon Bay. The victims were all Chinese-American farm workers.

Suspect Zhao Chunli, 67, was arrested after driving to a police station.

It comes as the state mourns the death of 11 at Monterey Parkabout six hours south east of Half Moon Bay - during Lunar New Year celebrations.

And just over a week ago, six people including a teenage mother and baby were killed at a property

in Goshen, south of Los Angeles.

California Governor Gavin Newsom tweeted that he was at a hospital meeting with victims of the earlier mass shooting when he was pulled away to be briefed about the second attack, describing it as “tragedy upon tragedy”.

‘Unspeakable’

The latest bloodshed to hit the state took place at two farms around the Half Moon Bay community.

Four victims of the shooting attack were discovered at a mushroom farm while the other three were later found at a nearby trucking business. An eighth victim is being treated in hospital and is in a critical condition.

A number of children who had

recently been let out of school and lived on the rural property saw the attack take place, San Mateo County Sheriff Christina Corpus said.

“This kind of shooting is horrific. It’s a tragedy we hear about far too often, but today it’s hit home here in San Mateo County,” the office said.

“For children to witness this is unspeakable.”

After carrying out the killings, the suspect drove to a local police station where his arrest was caught on camera.

US news channels showed Zhao Chunli being pinned to the ground and arrested by police.

He was found with a semi-

automatic pistol that may have been used in the attack, and was co-operating with police, Sheriff Corpus said.

San Mateo County Board of Supervisors President Dave Pine told the Associated Press news agency that the attacks were committed by a “disgruntled worker”.

“We are sickened by today’s tragedy in Half Moon Bay,” Mr Pine said in a statement. “There are simply too many guns in this country and there has to be a change.”

Just hours after the attack, seven were injured and one person was killed in a shooting in Oakland - about 40 miles (64 km) northeast

of Half Moon Bay.

Zhao Chunli, seen in an undated driver’s licence photo

The Half Moon Bay attack is the 37th mass shooting in just 24 days, according to Gun Violence Archive. They define a mass shooting as four or more people injured or killed.

Even as details of the deadly attack in Half Moon Bay were coming in, detectives in the south of the state were still hunting for a motive for the killings in Monterey Park.

There, an elderly Asian immigrant murdered 11 people in a suburban dance hall, before killing himself as police closed in.

Top Ukrainian officials quit in anti-corruption drive

Several senior Ukrainian officials have resigned as President Volodymyr Zelensky begins a shake-up of personnel across his government.

A top adviser, four deputy ministers and five regional governors left their posts on Tuesday. Their departures come as Ukraine launches a broad anti-corruption drive.

Recently, authorities have seen bribery claims, reports of officials buying food at inflated prices and one figure accused of living a lavish lifestyle.

Senior aide Mykhailo Podolyak said Mr Zelensky was responding to

a “key public demand” that justice should apply to everyone.

The president has already banned state officials from leaving the country unless on authorised business.

The first to resign on Tuesday was Kyrylo Tymoshenko, the president’s deputy head of office, who oversaw regional policy and had earlier worked on Mr Zelensky’s election campaign.

After Russia launched its invasion of Ukraine last February he became a frequent spokesperson for the government. He was accused by Ukrainian investigative journalists of using of several expensive sports cars throughout the war- though denies

any wrongdoing.

In a Telegram post, he thanked Mr Zelensky for “the opportunity to do good deeds every day and every minute”.

Deputy Defence Minister Vyacheslav Shapovalov also resigned, following reports he oversaw the purchase of military food supplies at inflated prices from a relatively unknown firm. The department called this a “technical mistake” and claimed no money had changed hands.

The defence minister himselfOleksii Reznikov - has been under scrutiny for the same reason.

A host of other top officials were

dismissed on Tuesday, including:

• Deputy Prosecutor General Oleskiy Symonenko

• Deputy Minister for Development of Communities and Territories Ivan Lukeryu

• Deputy Minister for Development of Communities and Territories Vyacheslav Negoda

• Deputy Minister for Social Policy Vitaliy Muzychenk

• And the regional governors of Dnipropetrovsk, Zaporizhzhia, Kyiv, Sumy and Kherson

Ukraine has a history of corruption and in 2021 Transparency International ranked the country at 122 out of 180 countries in its ranking

of corrupt states.

A crackdown is one of the EU’s key demands if the country is to advance its application to join the bloc.

In an address on Sunday, Mr Zelensky promised there would be “no return to what used to be in the past, to the way various people close to state institutions” used to live.

His comments followed the arrest of Ukraine’s Deputy Infrastructure Minister Vasyl Lozinskyi on Saturday on suspicion of accepting a bribe worth over $350,000 (£285,000) over the supply of electricity generators. He has denied the charges. BBC

The devastating blast on 4 August 2020 was caused by chemicals unsafely stored at the port

Rwanda’s ex-minister jailed for corruption

Ahigh court in Rwanda has sentenced a former youth and culture minister to five years in prison over corruption charges, extending a previous sentence by a year.

The original sentence, which came last year, against Edouard Bamporiki was a rare case of a top official convicted over corruption in the country.

He was suspended from cabinet last May and put under house arrest while being investigated for corruption and misuse of power. He remained under house arrest until this ruling.

Bamporiki confessed to the charges on Twitter and asked President Paul Kagame for forgiveness, but in September a court sentenced him to four years - which he appealed.

On Monday, a high court judge in the capital, Kigali, said “justice needs to be served to set an example”.

The 39-year-old poet and filmmaker was previously a vigorous supporter of President Kagame and the ruling party and rose rapidly through the ranks.

His lawyer, Evode Kayitana, told the BBC that they had not decided on whether to appeal.

Top referee called ‘prostitute’ at Rwandan football

One of the first female referees ever to serve at a men’s World Cup has been insulted and physically threatened during a match in her home country, where some fans called her a “prostitute”.

Salima Mukansanga officiated a 0–0 draw on Saturday between Kiyovu Sport and Gasogi United, but “game reports show that she was insulted”, a Rwanda Football Federation (RFF) spokesman told the BBC

Rwanda’s football body is now investigating harassment and attempted assault by fans in the local male’s league against her, and it says measures will be taken by the disciplinary committee after investigation.

People who attended the game told the BBC that a group of Kiyovu Sport fans repeatedly chanted, calling Ms Mukansanga “a prostitute”. After the game security staff had to intervene to prevent some of them from physically attacking her,” Jules Karangwa of the RFF says.

In an open letter, Kiyovu Sport fans President Hemedi Minani condemned the “harassment and insults” against Mrs Mukansanga and apologised to her.

Last year in Qatar, Ms Mukasanga was part of the first team of three female referees to ever officiate a male’s world cup. Months earlier she had also become the first female to officiate the men’s Africa Cup of Nations.

China optimistic in debt talks - Zambia minister

Minister Situmbeko Musokotwane was among those who met Secretary Janet Yellen

Zambia’s finance minister says China has shown “optimism” in negotiations to ease the country’s debt, a day after US treasury secretary said Beijing was a barrier to ending the crisis.

The country is straining under an immense debt burden and became Africa’s first nation to default on its debts during the pandemic, when it failed to make a payment in 2020.

Talks to try to ease Zambia’s debt have been dragging on - with China being blamed by some.

But Finance Minister Situmbeko Musokotwane, soon after meeting Secretary Janet Yellen in the capital, Lusaka, told the BBC’s Newsday programme that he was encouraged by

the last meeting with the creditors:

Quote Message: I don’t want to accuse anyone... but there is an internationally constituted common framework which governs how countries should be able to access debt relief.

I don’t want to accuse anyone... but there is an internationally constituted common framework which governs how countries should be able to access debt relief.

Quote Message: What encourages me is that from the last meeting of the official creditors, there seems to be optimismincluding the Chinese.”

What encourages me is that from the last meeting of the official creditors, there seems to be optimism - including the Chinese.”

He added that talks on restructuring the debt could be completed by the end of March.

The mystery of ‘electricity-producing’ rock

Videos claiming to show rocks producing electricity have been viewed millions of times across and beyond Africa.

One appears to show electric sparks flying between two rocks as they come into contact and has the caption, “Electrically charged stones discovered in the Democratic Republic of Congo”.

This video went viral when South African businessman Daniel Marven posted it to his over 800k followers, adding “….now more trouble coming, cry my beloved Africa”.

Another Twitter user commented on Marven’s post with another video of a man apparently illuminating a light bulb by touching wires connected to it to a stone.

Marven also posted a tweet with this video a few hours later, garnering more than 1 million views.

Both videos were picked up and used in a thread by popular Twitter page African Archives. The thread went mega-viral, with one of the videos getting around 35 million views.

But the rocks may not quite be what they seem. A reverse image search reveals that the first video shared by Marven appeared on the Facebook page of the Mohamed First University , in Oujda, Morocco.

The caption read simply “Lithium!!?” without any more context.

BBC has contacted the university but

has yet to receive a reply.

But more importantly, is it likely the rocks in the videos could store or produce electricity?

No, says Dr Ikenna Okonkwo, a Geology lecturer at the University of Nigeria.

“The rock looks like zinc or lead ore, and they do not have that kind of property. Perhaps [they could hold] static electricity of the kind that happens to some fabrics, but it won’t keep an LED light bulb powered.”

Dr Okonkwo concluded that the video is “some kind of trick”.

Fighting erupts in eastern DR Congo despite truce

Fresh fighting has erupted in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo, despite an agreement between the government and rebel groups to end hostilities.

The fighting between the army and M23 rebels on Tuesday is said to have caused many people to flee their homes, according to local reports.

“There is mass displacement towards the town of Mweso,” a local journalist told the BBC on Tuesday morning.

The military has not commented on the latest fighting, but a spokesman for the rebels accused government forces of attacking their positions as they prepared to further withdraw as outlined in an agreement reached in Angola’s capital, Luanda.

Last week in Davos President Félix Tshisekedi said the rebel group was not

match

withdrawing but “moving around and redeploying to other areas”.

The rebels have accused President Tshisekedi of being more keen on “destroying the M23” instead of peacefully resolving the conflict.

The UN says more than 400,000 people have fled their homes in the conflict since last year.

Portugal announces debt-for-nature swap in Cape Verde

Portugal has announced that all debt repayments it receives from its former colony of Cape Verde will be fully reinvested into the African country to drive its transition to a greener and more sustainable future.

The archipelago of 10 small islands, off Africa’s west coast, owes Portugal more than $650m (£524m), of which $13m is due to be repaid by 2025.

Speaking in Cape Verde, Portugal’s Prime Minister António Costa said that money will now be ploughed back into Cape Verde to support renewable energy and other green projects.

Uganda to start drilling first oil well

Uganda will on Tuesday start drilling its first oil well in the Kingfisher oil field, the state petroleum agency said.

It is hoped that by 2025 the first of a potential 1.4 billion barrels of oil will be pumped from wells across the midwestern region.

“Today we mark another milestone and move a step closer to first oil with the launch of the drilling of development

Salima Mukansanga is a pioneering football official

Oscars 2023: RRR’s Naatu Naatu nomination makes history for India

The song Naatu Naatu from the hit Telugu-language film RRR has won a best original song Oscar nomination.

It’s the first Indian feature film to be nominated for anything other than best international film at the Academy Awards, which take place in March.

The song has been a favourite at award ceremonies and has already won a Golden Globe and a Critics’ Choice Award.

It will be up against heavyweights Lady Gaga and Rihanna, whose songs are nominated in the same Oscars category.

Hosts Riz Ahmed and Allison Williams announced the news at the nominations presentation in Beverly Hills on Tuesday. This year’s ceremony will be held in Los Angeles on 12 March.

The last time an Indian won an Oscar for a film’s music came in 2009, when composer AR Rahman won best original song and best original score for the song Jai Ho from the film Slumdog Millionaire, directed by Briton Danny Boyle.

Naatu Naatu has had thousands grooving to its beat. Ever since it made it to the Oscar shortlist in December, fans of the song have been hoping for a win.

Hours before the nominations were announced, #NTRforOscars trended on Twitter, as fans expressed their desire for an Oscar nomination and win for the film.

Their hopes are high as Naatu Naatu has been picked as a favourite to win this year by several Oscar prediction lists in trade magazines.

The four-and-a-half-minute song was filmed in front of Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelensky’s official residence in 2021.

The energetic dance moves performed by the film’s lead actors, Ram Charan and Jr NTR, have inspired viral trends on social media in India and globally.

After the film lost out to Gujaratilanguage movie Chello Show as India’s official entry to the Oscars, RRR director SS Rajamouli launched an intensive publicity campaign last year and submitted the film for nominations in 14 categories, including Best Picture, Best Director and Best Screenplay.

The historical fantasy film, which tells the fictional story of two real-life Indian revolutionaries fighting against British rule, has been one of India’s most expensive films.

It features dazzling action sequences and several peppy dance tracks and

patriotic anthems.

The film has been a rollicking success in India and abroad. Social media videos from screenings in the US have shown people hooting and cheering as they watch the movie.

The film has received rave reviews from critics and has also been praised by A-list Hollywood directors such as Edgar Wright and James Gunn.

After it won Best Foreign Language Film and Naatu Naatu won Best Song at the 28th edition of the Critics’ Choice Awards, MM Keeravani, the song’s composer, shared photos with James Cameron at the awards ceremony and said the Oscar-winning director had watched the film twice and had complimented him for his music.

China: Northern city of Mohe reports coldest temperature

China’s northernmost city, Mohe, has recorded its lowest temperature since records began.

Mohe - known as “China’s North Pole” - is in the province of Heilongjiang, close to the Russian border.

On Sunday, its local meteorological station recorded a record-low temperature of -53C (-63F) at 7am. The previous coldest temperature on record in the city was -52.3C, in 1969.

However, the temperature is probably still shy of China’s national record.

The coldest temperature ever recorded in China is -58C, in the city of Genhe, Inner Mongolia in December 2009, according to media reports of a visit by government meteorologists.

Other records, however, have the 1969 cold snap in Mohe as the lowest - meaning Sunday’s -53C temperature could be China’s lowest ever.

By contrast, the lowest temperature recorded in the UK is -27.2C, set in different parts of Scotland in 1895, 1982 and 1995.

Mohe is no stranger to cold weather: China Daily says the city is regarded as the coldest in China, and that its winter period “usually lasts eight months”.

As a result, it attracts tourists throughout the year with its “North Pole”, ice and snow parks, and skiing venues. In previous years, it has also hosted winter marathons.

This time of year, it is common for the city to see average temperatures of -15C.

In the past week, China’s meteorological authority issued alerts for plunging temperatures and cold winds in the region.

The Xinhua News Agency said a number of areas in the Greater Khingan mountain range, which spans Inner Mongolia and Heilongjiang, saw new record low temperatures over the weekend.

Since Friday, temperatures dipped below -50C in Mohe for three consecutive days, which outlets have said is unprecedented.

Beijing News reported on Friday that coal consumption has increased by a third in the city, as the cold weather bites.

Car companies also told the paper they had taken advantage of the cold to test the braking performance of vehicles.

One resident told Kanji Video that his hands had been numb within 10 seconds of stepping outdoors, but that he had seen very few other people around.

“It becomes hazy about 100m in front of you, you can’t see anyone,” he said.

A tourist, surnamed Li, told Beijing News that he had made a special trip from China’s southernmost province, Guangdong, to experience the extreme weather.

“I didn’t expect it to get below -50C this year, it was quite a surprise,” he told the paper.

Meanwhile, the official broadcaster, CCTV, showed a journalist breaking an egg on an outdoor surface - causing the egg to freeze within seconds.

More generally, the media are paying tribute to essential workers - including police officers, firefighters, soldiers and street cleaners - who are continuing to work outdoors during the cold.

China has seen record temperatures over the past year, for heat as well as cold.

Earlier this month, the Xinhua news agency said that the country had recorded the hottest summer and autumn in 60 years, with multiple cities breaking records.

Climate change increases the likelihood of extreme weather generally - and while scientists agree global temperatures are rising, that doesn’t mean we will stop having periods of very cold weather.

About 200 asylum-seeking children have gone missing, says minister

About 200 children, mostly Albanian teenage boys, remain missing from hotels housing asylum seekers, the immigration minister has said.

Robert Jenrick told MPs that of 4,600 child

asylum seekers who had arrived in the UK since 2021, 440 had gone missing and only half had returned.

He said it was “extremely concerning” but added he had not seen evidence the children were being abducted.

Labour’s Yvette Cooper accused ministers of a “dereliction of duty”.

The shadow home secretary said there was “a criminal network involved” in taking the children away from their accommodation and that the government was “completely failing to stop them”.

“They are letting these gangs run amuck.”

She urged the government to crack down on the gangs and end its contracts with hotels from where children had gone missing.

‘Challenge’

She also expressed concern about the lack of clarity over whether the Home Office or local councils were legally responsible for the children.

Mr Jenrick said he had not been presented with evidence that children were being abducted but would continue to make enquiries

adding: “I am not going to let this matter drop.”

He acknowledged there was “a challenge” about the status of the local authorities in this area but said the government’s overall objective was to ensure young people were only kept in the hotels “for a very short period of time”.

He told MPs that 88% of the children who had gone missing were Albanian; 13 of the children were under 16; and one of them is female.

He said the government had no power to detain unaccompanied asylum-seeking children but the police and local authority were “mobilised” to find missing children to ensure their safety.

‘Coerced’

Caroline Lucas - a Green MP in Brighton where some of the children are thought to have gone missing - accused the Home Office of “staggering complacency and incompetence”.

“This feels like the plight of girls in Rotherham who were treated like they didn’t matter,” she said, in reference to the widespread child sex abuse in the Yorkshire town.

Source: BBC

The four-and-a-half minute song has had thousands grooving to its beat

As Mohe is China’s northernmost city, it is often nicknamed ‘China’s North Pole’

FG committed to bridging infrastructural gaps – Fashola

By Mashe Umaru Gwamna

Federal Government said it remained committed to bridging the infrastructure gaps in the country, including those of institutions of learning.

This was contained in statement signed and issued by Blessing Lere-Adams, Director, Press and Public Relations.

The Minister of Works and Housing, Babatunde Fashola has said stated the importance of infrastructure to the learning environment and quality of education

He made the disclosure in Sokoto, on Thursday, at the formal handover of 0.92 kilometres internal road project constructed in the Usmanu Danfodio University Teaching Hospital (UDUTH) by the Federal Ministry of Works and Housing under its tertiary institution’s internal roads intervention initiative.

Fashola was represented at the occasion by the Federal Controller of Works in Sokoto State, Engr Kassim Maigwandu

Accordingly, the Minister explained that the gap in infrastructure was being bridged steadily by a gradual process of repairs, renewal and construction on major highways, which had now reached the schools.

He further revealed that the Federal government has provided 83 internal road intervention projects in various Federal tertiary institutions across the country.

over a total of 46 as at March 2022. Another 18 are now ready to be handed over, while 19 roads are currently being attended to in similar institutions across the country, making a total of 83 “he said

The road projects according to Fashola, benefited not only the students and the institution’s community but also provided jobs for youths, stating that 95 people were employed in the process of the construction of the road in the Teaching Hospital.

Earlier in his remark, the Chief Medical Director (CMD) of the University Teaching Hospital Sokoto, Professor Anas Ahmed Sabir, represented by Dr Usman Malami Aliyu, Chairman, the Medical Advisory Committee, said that the entire Hospital community were excited about the project.

He explained that the project had enhanced a significant part of the hospital more accessible and motorable with asphalt road which has also given room for expansion in the hospital as new projects can easily be sighted along the road

“The commissioning of this road project will obviously mark the beginning of other assessable and affordable health care services delivery to all Nigerians,” he said

He expressed profound gratitude on behalf of the UDUTH Board Management to H.E, President Muhammadu Buhari for all the support and for providing the enabling environment to operate and further improve specialist quality service delivery, while also praying for more interventions to be considered and executed for the hospital.

Professor Sabir also commended the Federal Ministry of Works and Housing and the Federal Controller at Sokoto office for ensuring that quality job was done at the appointed time and not compromised.

The 0.95 km road in UDUTH links the new female students hostel; new Multipurpose Center; School of Nursing and Midwifery; Sewage treatment plant; Renal dialysis center;” Aminity ward and Nutritions unit among others .

Aggregate testimonies gathered from staff and students of the hospital community pointed to the fact that the internal road intervention in the institution has positively impacted in no small measure to the working

and learning environment in the institution

According to the views expressed ” the road, before the intervention was not in good condition, it was wiry and scary access to clinical areas. But with the intervention, it

has now provided easy access and comfort of movement in the institution. It was well constructed, illuminated and has added improved security measures for the students in the institution “

FG task stakeholders on functional national physical planning standards

By Mashe Umaru Gwamna

Federal Government has tasked directors of town planning and other relevant stakeholders on the need for development of functional physical planning standards for Nigeria.

The Director Urban and Regional Development (URD), Federal Ministry of Works and Housing, Olasunkanmi Dunmoye, made the disclosure at a workshop, held in Ibadan, Oyo State,recently.

The two-day regional workshop was organised for directors and experts on preparation of national physical planning standards in Nigeria.

Dunmoye, represented by an official of the ministry, David Olakunde, said the Federal Government had, in November 2021, mobilised national stakeholders to drive the process of developing common standards and guidelines that could be applied to moderate physical planning activities in the country.

He said that the efforts had resulted in the generation of a general framework of core thematic issues to be contained in the proposed document.

“It was agreed that the framework shall be subjected to reviews by stakeholder groups at regional levels and this explains why we are gathered here today.

“It is a clear fact that the federal government and all sub-national governments had been applying one set of standards or the other before now.

“But there is the need to synchronise these to reflect our federal character.

“There is also the need for federating units to work together more closely in order to guarantee smooth, sustainable and cohesive human settlements development across the country.

“You will all agree with me that one of the most popular global slogans amongst

developmental experts today is: ‘leave no one behind’.

“This is what the initiative for developing National Physical Planning Standards seeks to promote,” he said.

Dunmoye further stated that the Federal Ministry of Works and Housing viewed the physical planning standards preparatory process as a landmark event that would determine the destiny of human settlement development in Nigeria in the foreseeable future.

He reaffirmed the ministry’s commitment to driving the process to a logical conclusion.

The director said that the stakeholders were at the workshop to discharge the task of preparing a tool that had the potential of guaranteeing integrated and sustainable socio-economic and physical development for Nigeria.

According to him, it is a tool that several other African countries have embraced and applied successfully to move their respective countries forward.

Dunmoye urged the stakeholders to provide vital inputs toward improving the draft physical planning manual, such that it would become the springboard for engendering harmonious development in the region.

He also enjoined them to play their respective roles with utmost diligence, thereby setting a very clear direction for eventual national workshop.

“At the end of the series of regional workshops at regional levels, we are hopeful that a fully acceptable, practical and functional instrument for the management of physical development activities in Nigeria would emerge.

In his address of welcome, a Director in the Urban and Regional Development Unit of the ministry, David Olakunde, said that the workshop was aimed at formulating acceptable physical planning standards for

Nigeria.

He said that the ministry had, in 1992, initiated the annual forum of Directors and Heads of Town Planning Organisations in Nigeria to engender productive collaboration on physical planning issues.

“Since then, the enthusiasm and support to the vision of working together for common good have been very high. It is our earnest prayer that the zeal will not wane at any time.

“Our coming together today is to deepen the ongoing process of preparing the firstever compendium of standards that will help guarantee sustainable development of the different aspects of physical environment and human settlements across Nigeria.

“We are here to build on what had been done so far and to introduce the region’s specific character into the document in the making.

“In welcoming you, I want to pose this challenge that we apply the opportunity of this workshop for maximum benefit.

“In the course of this meeting, we shall be relying on each and every one of us to put forward his or her best efforts into the various discourses.

“If we are diligent with this request, we shall finish well by improving the quality of these national planning codes and regulations,” he said.

Olakunde added that the workshop would also be promoting the synergy amongst different tiers of government as well as building higher levels of partnerships between government and non-governmental agencies playing roles in the human settlement development sector.

In his goodwill message, the Federal Controller of Housing in Oyo State, Mr Jacob Gbolahan, stressed the need for Nigeria, as a rapidly growing and developing country, to prepare and implement the national physical standard.

They commended the federal government under President Muhammadu Buhari and described the tertiary institutions roads intervention initiative of the federal ministry of works and housing as excellent.

Representative of the Hon. Minister of Works and Housing, Federal Controller of Works, Sokoto State Engr. Maigwandu Kashim, Unveiled the Plague after the Official Commissioning & Handover of 0.95km internal road in Usman Danfodio University Teaching Hospital, Sokoto, recently.

What is the menopause and what are the signs?

Every woman goes through the menopause and symptoms normally start in the mid-40s.

Here’s our guide to what happens in the run-up to periods stopping.

What is the menopause?

The menopause is when women’s periods stop, which normally happens around the age of 51.

This signals the end of the reproductive years and the start of a new phase of life.

The lead-up to this happening, when periods become irregular, is known as the peri-menopause. It starts, on average, at 46.

This is when many women notice their periods becoming unpredictable or heavy, and have feelings or physical problems they haven’t experienced before.

When periods haven’t happened for 12 months, you can look back and say you’ve been through the menopause (the last period).

For some, it can happen earlier - either naturally, or after treatment for another condition.

What causes it?

Hormone levels are changing - specifically oestrogen, which controls the menstrual cycle.

As women age, the ovaries produce fewer eggs, oestrogen levels fluctuate and then gradually reduce, and this leads to menopausal symptoms.

This doesn’t happen overnight though.

It can take several years for this crucial hormone to fall to low levels - and then it stays that way - causing changes to the body along the way.

When the ovaries stop producing eggs altogether, pregnancy is no longer possible and the menopause happens.

What are the symptoms?

The menopause - and the years leading up to it - affect women in different ways.

The brain, periods, skin, muscles and emotions are all affected by falling levels of oestrogen.

There are lots of possible

symptoms and you can have some of them, all of them, or none - and for varied lengths of time.

The most common symptoms are:

• heavy or irregular bleeding

• hot flushes

• night sweats

• low mood

• vaginal dryness

• bladder problems

Poor memory and concentration, usually called brain fog, is also often mentioned, as are painful joints and dry skin.

Not all women get symptoms - but most do, around 75%.

And a quarter of women going through the menopause describe severe symptoms.

They can last for an average of seven years, with one in three women experiencing them for even longer.

If you’re taking a contraceptive pill, it may be more difficult to know when you’ve reached the menopause because they can affect your periods in different ways.

What causes hot flushes?

A lack of oestrogen. It is involved in the workings of the body’s thermostat in the brain.

Normally, the body copes well with temperature changes, but when oestrogen is lacking, the thermostat goes wonky and the brain thinks the body is overheating when it’s not.

Oestrogen can affect mood too. The hormone interacts with chemicals in brain receptors which control mood, and at low levels it can cause anxiety and low mood.

Are other hormones involved?

Yes, progesterone and testosterone - but they don’t have the same impact as low levels of oestrogen.

Progesterone helps to prepare the body for pregnancy every month, and it declines when ovulation ceases and periods stop.

Testosterone, which women produce in high levels, has been linked to sex drive and energy levels.

“

The tests measure levels of a hormone called FSH (follicle-stimulating hormones). However, hormone levels go up and down all the time, even during the course of a day, so the test can’t really pin down what’s going on

It declines from the 20s onwards, and some women need it topped up.

Is there a test for the menopause?

Tests are sold and marketed for diagnosing the menopause, but experts agree that they are not useful after the age of 45.

A better way is to talk to a GP or nurse about the pattern of your periods and any symptoms you are experiencing.

The tests measure levels of a hormone called FSH (folliclestimulating hormones). However, hormone levels go up and down all the time, even during the course of a day, so the test can’t really pin down what’s going on.

Women can still get pregnant if their periods are irregular - experts advise using contraception until the age of 55.

Are there treatments available to reduce symptoms?

Hormone replacement therapy (HRT) tops up hormones like oestrogen which start dipping around the time of the menopause, and help to relieve symptoms.

But it may not suitable for people who have a history of some cancers, blood clots and high blood pressure.

Women can improve how they feel by:

• eating a balanced diet, low in fat and high in calcium to strengthen bones and protect the heart

• exercising regularly, to reduce anxiety, stress and guard against heart disease

• stopping smoking, to

prevent heart disease and hot flushes

• avoiding alcohol, to reduce hot flushes

There is even research that suggests eating plant oestrogens - contained in soy and red clover - could help with symptoms, and vitamin D supplements could improve bone health.

What happens after the menopause?

One year after your last

period and you’re into the post-menopause stage.

With production of oestrogen having stopped altogether, there is a long-term effect on the bones and heart. Much of this is part and parcel of ageing.

With rising life expectancy, women are now living more than a third of their lives after the menopause.

Source: BBC

PUBLIC NOTICE

MANNY CARES 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.ACHII AKERANNAN MANASSEH - CHAIRMAN

2.IORNEM FANEN EMMANUEL - SECRETARY

3.GWAZA SADIQ ANYAMIKEGH

THE AIMS AND OBJECTIVES ARE : 1.TO HELP 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.

PUBLIC NOTICE

THIS IS TO INFORM THE GENERAL PUBLIC THAT THE ABOVE NAMED HAS APPLIED TO THE CORPORATE AFFAIRS COMMISSION (CAC), ABUJA FOR REGISTRATION UNDER PART ‘F’ OF COMPANIES AND ALLIED MATTERS ACT, ( CAMA 2020).

THE TRUSTEES ARE :

1. ONUMINYA JED ADAH

2. JED-ADAH VICTORIA OJEMA

3. IGWEBUIKE JOSEPH OBINNA

THE AIMS AND OBJECTIVES ARE : 1.TO PROVIDE A HOME FOR BELIEVERS TO MEET IRRESPECTIVE OF DENOMINATIONAL BACKGROUND FOR CORPORATE WORSHIP AND PRAYERS.

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 REGISTRATION UNDER PART ‘F’ OF COMPANIES AND ALLIED MATTERS ACT, ( CAMA 2020).

THE TRUSTEES ARE : 1. PASTOR TUKURA JAMES AJAMA 2. PASTOR MRS. TUKURA ELPHRIDA JAMES 3. PASTOR MRS. OSAGHAE ELIZABETH OSARIEBHEN

THE AIMS AND OBJECTIVES ARE : 1. TO PROMOTE THE IDEALS AND VALUES OF CHRISTENDOM. 2. TO SPREAD THE KNOWLEDGE OF CHRIST THROUGH EVANGELISM, PREPARING CHRISTIANS FOR THE SECOND COMING OF CHRIST.

3. TO WIN SOULS FOR THE KINGDOM OF GOD. 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.

HAMZA

PUBLIC NOTICE

PLOT 420, TIGRIS CRESCENT , OFF AGUIYI IRONSI STREET , MAITAMA , ABUJA WITHIN 28DAYS OF THIS PUBLICATION. SIGNED : SECRETARY.

PUBLIC NOTICE

LOSS OF DOCUMENTS

THIS IS TO INFORM THE GENERAL PUBLIC OF THE LOSS OF ORIGINAL APPLICATION FOR ISSUANCE OF CERTIFIED TRUE COPY (CTC) ON RE-CERTIFICATION AND RE-ISSUANCE OF C OF O. IN RESPECT OF PLOT NO. 1062, CADASTRAL ZONE A09, GUZAPE DISTRICT, ABUJA WITH FILE NO. KD 3390 & NEW FILE NO. KD 10005 OF PLOT NO. 1062. GOT MISSING.

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

MOUNTAIN OF

AND PEACE EMPOWERMENT 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. AMUSAT LATEEF BABATUNDE - CHAIRMAN

2. HAMZAT BOSEDE ADEOLA - SECRETARY

THE AIMS AND OBJECTIVES ARE :

1. PROPAGATION OF THE GOSPEL TO THE WORLD 2. HELPING THE NEEDY AND INDIGENT IN THE SOCIETY THE AIMS AND OBJECTIVES ARE : 1. PROPAGATION OF THE GOSPEL TO THE WORLD

2. HELPING THE NEEDY AND INDIGENT IN THE SOCIETY.

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 AIMS AND OBJECTIVES ARE : 1. TO INCULCATE IN ALL CHRISTIANS THE SPIRIT OF UNITY, AND TOGETHERNESS IN THE FELLOWSHIP OF JESUS CHRIST. 2. TO PROPAGATE CHRISTIAN DOCTRINES THROUGH THE TEACHINGS OF THE HOLY BIBLE, PREACHING OF THE GOSPEL OF JESUS CHRIST, AND EVANGELISM.

3. TO IMPACT THE KNOWLEGDE OF CHRIST ON THE POPULACE, THROUGH ORGANIZING MEETINGS, CHRISTAIN CONFERENCES, SEMINARS, WORKSHOPS AND OTHER RELATED ACTIVITIES TO REACH THE GOAL.

4. BRINGING THE LIGHT OF THE KINGDOM INTO THE SPHERE OF EVERY MAN, BY PREACHING AND TEACHING OF THE GOSPEL, EVANGELISM AND SPREADING THE WORD OF SALVATION EVERYWHERE

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.

KUNWE

DAVID OCHE

BAPPAH

FRANCIS

BETHEL NETWORK GLOBAL MINISTRIES

FOUNTAIN OF GOD LIFE INTERNATIONAL CHURCH

KINGDOM FAMILY GLOBAL MINISTRIES

NAVY TOWN PRIMARY SCHOOL, OJO CLASS OF 1988

PUBLIC NOTICE

THIS IS TO INFORM THE GENERAL PUBLIC THAT THE ABOVE NAMED HAS APPLIED TO THE CORPORATE AFFAIRS COMMISSION (CAC), ABUJA FOR REGISTRATION UNDER PART ‘F’ OF COMPANIES AND ALLIED MATTERS ACT, ( CAMA 2020).

THE TRUSTEES ARE :

1.REV. JEREMIAH BAKO NYIZOMA

2.PAST.(MRS) NYIZOMA LADI

3.GWATANA ISAIAH RIZAMA

THE AIMS AND OBJECTIVES ARE :

1.TO PREACH THE GOSPEL OF OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST.

ANY OBJECTION TO THIS REGISTRATION SHOULD BE FORWARDED TO THE REGISTRAR-GENERAL, CORPORATE AFFAIRS COMMISSION, PLOT 420, TIGRIS CRESCENT , OFF AGUIYI IRONSI STREET , MAITAMA , ABUJA WITHIN 28DAYS OF THIS PUBLICATION.

SIGNED : SECRETARY.

PUBLIC NOTICE

LOSS OF DOCUMENT

THIS IS TO INFORM THE GENERAL PUBLIC OF THE LOSS OF ORIGINAL RIGHT OF OCCUPANCY (R OF O) IN RESPECT OF PLOT NO: 1373 CADASTRAL ZONE B19, KATAMPE EXTENSION DISTRICT ABUJA WITH FILE NO: OG60148 MEASURING 1370.09SQM ISSUED BY AGIS (FCDA) DATED 5TH SEPTEMBER, 2008 BEARING THE NAME SARAFADEEN TUNJI ISOLA GOT MISSING.

ALL EFFORTS MADE TO TRACE THE SAID DOCUMENTS HAVE PROVED ABORTIVE. IF FOUND PLEASE RETURN TO THE NEAREST POLICE STATION, AUTHORITY CONCERNED AND THE GENERAL PUBLIC PLEASE TAKE NOTE.

I, FORMERLY KNOWN AS MISS. CHIDINMA NNEOMA OKWUBUNKA. NOW WISH TO BE KNOWN AS MRS. CHIDINMA NNEOMA CHINEDU. ALL FORMER DOCUMENTS REMAIN VALID. ALL AUTHORITIES CONCERNED AND GENERAL PUBLIC PLEASE TAKE NOTE.

AISHA

I, FORMERLY KNOWN AS AISHA IBRAHIM NOW WISH TO BE KNOWN AS AISHA IBRAHIM ABDULLAHI. ALL FORMER DOCUMENTS REMAIN VALID. ALL AUTHORITIES CONCERNED AND GENERAL PUBLIC PLEASE TAKE NOTE.

PUBLIC NOTICE

THIS IS TO INFORM THE GENERAL PUBLIC THAT THE ABOVE NAMED HAS APPLIED TO THE CORPORATE AFFAIRS COMMISSION (CAC), ABUJA FOR REGISTRATION UNDER PART ‘F’ OF COMPANIES AND ALLIED MATTERS ACT, ( CAMA 2020).

THE TRUSTEES ARE : 1.REV. JEREMIAH BAKO NYIZOMA

2.PAST.(MRS) NYIZOMA LADI

3.GWATANA ISAIAH RIZAMA

THE AIMS AND OBJECTIVES ARE : 1.TO PREACH THE GOSPEL OF OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST. ANY OBJECTION TO THIS REGISTRATION SHOULD BE FORWARDED TO THE REGISTRAR-GENERAL, CORPORATE AFFAIRS COMMISSION, PLOT 420, TIGRIS CRESCENT , OFF AGUIYI IRONSI STREET , MAITAMA , ABUJA WITHIN 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 REGISTRATION UNDER PART ‘F’ OF COMPANIES AND ALLIED MATTERS ACT, ( CAMA 2020).

THE TRUSTEES ARE :

1.IBRAHIM SADIQ OJIVO--CHAIRMAN

2.MUHAMMAD AHMAD RUFAI--VICE CHAIRMAN

3.ABDULSALAM BASHEER OWUDA--SECRETARY

4.MUHAMMAD SANNI NASIR--SPEAKER

5.SALL IBRAHIM BABA--PRO

6.ABDULSALAM OMENESA SHAIBU

7.LAWAL KAMARUDEEN MUHAMMED

8.SHAIBU ABDULAZEEZ

9.ISAH ZAKARIYAU

THE AIMS AND OBJECTIVES ARE :

1.TO ASSIST THE LESS PRIVILEGED IN THE SOCIETY

2.TO CATER FOR THE WELFARE OF MEMBERS. ANY OBJECTION TO THIS REGISTRATION SHOULD BE FORWARDED TO THE REGISTRAR-GENERAL, CORPORATE AFFAIRS COMMISSION, PLOT 420, TIGRIS CRESCENT , OFF AGUIYI IRONSI STREET , MAITAMA , ABUJA WITHIN 28DAYS OF THIS PUBLICATION.

SIGNED : SECRETARY.

IBRAHIM

I, FORMERLY KNOWN AS IBRAHIM UMAR NOW WISH TO BE KNOWN AS IBRAHIM UMAR DANDINA. ALL FORMER DOCUMENTS REMAIN VALID. ALL AUTHORITIES CONCERNED AND GENERAL PUBLIC PLEASE TAKE NOTE.

MR OLUBOYE

I, FORMERLY KNOWN AS MR FAKUNLE EMMANUEL SEGUN. NOW WISH TO BE KNOWN AS MR OLUBOYE EMMANUEL SEGUN. ALL FORMER DOCUMENTS REMAIN VALID. ALL AUTHORITIES CONCERNED AND GENERAL PUBLIC PLEASE TAKE NOTE.

MRS OLUBOYE

I, FORMERLY KNOWN AS MRS FAKUNLE JOY OLUSEUN. NOW WISH TO BE KNOWN AS MRS OLUBOYE JOY OLUSEUN. ALL FORMER DOCUMENTS REMAIN VALID. ALL AUTHORITIES CONCERNED AND GENERAL PUBLIC PLEASE TAKE NOTE.

MRS. ISAIAH

I, FORMERLY KNOWN AS MISS IGBOZURUIKE CHIKWADO BETTY NOW WISH TO BE KNOWN AND ADDRESSED AS MRS. ISAIAH CHIKWADO BETTY. ALL FORMER DOCUMENTS REMAIN VALID. AUTHORITIES CONCERNED AND THE GENERAL PUBLIC SHOULD TAKE NOTE.

PUBLIC NOTICE

THIS IS TO INFORM THE GENERAL PUBLIC THAT THE ABOVE NAMED HAS APPLIED TO THE CORPORATE AFFAIRS COMMISSION (CAC), ABUJA FOR REGISTRATION UNDER PART ‘F’ OF COMPANIES AND ALLIED MATTERS ACT, ( CAMA 2020).

THE TRUSTEES ARE :

1.IBRAHIM SADIQ OJIVO--CHAIRMAN

2.MUHAMMAD AHMAD RUFAI--VICE CHAIRMAN 3.ABDULSALAM BASHEER OWUDA--SECRETARY

4.MUHAMMAD SANNI NASIR--SPEAKER

5.SALL IBRAHIM BABA--PRO

6.ABDULSALAM OMENESA SHAIBU

KAMARUDEEN MUHAMMED

ABDULAZEEZ

ZAKARIYAU THE AIMS AND OBJECTIVES ARE : 1.TO ASSIST THE LESS PRIVILEGED IN THE SOCIETY

CATER FOR THE WELFARE OF MEMBERS. ANY OBJECTION TO THIS REGISTRATION SHOULD BE FORWARDED TO THE REGISTRAR-GENERAL, CORPORATE AFFAIRS COMMISSION, PLOT 420, TIGRIS CRESCENT , OFF AGUIYI IRONSI STREET , MAITAMA , ABUJA WITHIN 28DAYS OF THIS PUBLICATION. SIGNED : SECRETARY.

PUBLIC NOTICE

ASSOCIATION DES FRANÇAIS DE L’ETRANGER IN NIGERIA

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. PEYSSON ROMAIN OLIVER-CHAIRMAN

2. PATUREL NANA FATIMA-SECRETARY/MEMBER

THE AIMS AND OBJECTIVES ARE :

1. TO PROMOTE FRANCOPHONE CULTURE AND PRACTICES.

2. TO BE NON-POLITICAL, NON-RELIGIOUS, NON-GOVERNMENTAL, NONPROFIT MAKING AND NON-RACIAL.

3. TO OFFER SUPPORT AND SOLIDARITY TOWARDS THE INTEGRATION AND RECEPTION OF ALL FRANCOPHONES PERSONS.

4. TO PROMOTE RECEPTION, INFORMATION AND INTEGRATION OF PEOPLE ESPECIALLY NEWLY ARRIVED FRANCOPHONES FAMILIES IN NIGERIA.

5. TO AFFILIATE AND CO-OPERATE WITH OTHER SISTERS ASSOCIATIONS WITHIN AND OUTSIDE NIGERIA FOR THE PROGRESS AND DEVELOPMENT OF THE INTEREST OF THE ASSOCIATION

6. TO ORGANIZE AND HOST COCKTAILS, PROGRAMS INCLUDING MEETINGS AIMED AT ENHANCING INTER-PERSONAL CONTACT AND COMMUNICATION.

7. TO CARRY OUT ACTIVITIES, PROJECTS, AND PROGRAMS TOWARDS THE DEVELOPMENT AND ATTAINMENT OF THE AIMS AND OBJECTIVES OF THE ASSOCIATION.

ANY OBJECTION TO THIS REGISTRATION SHOULD BE FORWARDED TO THE REGISTRAR-GENERAL, CORPORATE AFFAIRS COMMISSION, PLOT 420, TIGRIS CRESCENT , OFF AGUIYI IRONSI STREET , MAITAMA , ABUJA WITHIN 28DAYS OF THIS PUBLICATION.

SIGNED : SECRETARY.

PUBLIC NOTICE

UFEDO ENYO OJO GLOBAL EVANGELICAL 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.SUNDAY AMEH 2.SUNDAY OJONE 3.SUNDAY JOSEPH

THE AIM AND OBJECTIVE : 1.TO PREACH THE GOSPEL.

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.

ISAIAH

I, FORMERLY KNOWN AS MISS IGBOZURUIKE CHIKWADO BETTY NOW WISH TO BE KNOWN AND ADDRESSED AS MRS. ISAIAH CHIKWADO BETTY. ALL FORMER DOCUMENTS REMAIN VALID. AUTHORITIES CONCERNED AND THE GENERAL PUBLIC SHOULD TAKE NOTE.

ASSOCIATION DES FRANÇAIS DE L’ETRANGER IN 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.

MRS. CHIDINMA

MRS.

DIVINE CORNERSTONE PRAYER AND DELIVERANCE MINISTRY

DIVINE CORNERSTONE PRAYER AND DELIVERANCE MINISTRY

TIJANIYYA YOUTH ASSOCIATION KOGI CENTRAL

TIJANIYYA YOUTH ASSOCIATION KOGI CENTRAL

Everton manager: Who will the Toffees turn to as their next boss after Frank Lampard’s sacking?

Everton owner Farhad Moshiri is in search of the seventh managerial appointment of his chaotic reign as owner at Goodison Park after sacking Frank Lampard.

Lampard’s successor will not only have to rescue Everton from a catastrophic run of form that leaves them 19th in the Premier League but also work to an owner who has already dismissed Roberto Martinez, Ronald Koeman, Sam Allardyce, Marco Silva, Rafael Benitez and now Lampard.

Who are the names under consideration to be Everton’s next manager - and who might come into contention?

Marcelo Bielsa

The 67-year-old former Leeds United manager is favoured by Moshiri but is understood to have reservations about the timing of the move and the composition of Everton’s squad, which does seem unfit for his very specific purposes.

Bielsa is revered at Elland Road for taking Leeds into the Premier League before he was sacked last February after a run of poor results.

The Argentine is believed to be interested in a return to England but any appointment would be loaded with risk on both sides as Bielsa is known for his demanding fitness regimes and trademark allout attacking style, requiring pace and fierce intensity.

Would he have enough time to impose that style? Would he have the players to impose that style?

Doubtful on both counts.

Dyche has been regularly linked with Everton but has never been approached by the club in the past - so what would persuade Moshiri and director of football Kevin Thelwell to do so now?

He would, in many ways, represent the confident personality needed to knock Everton’s unbalanced and nonperforming squad into shape for a survival fight, as his record at Burnley proved.

Dyche is available and would surely be interested in Everton - although anyone would need persuading to come in given the club’s current dysfunctional state - but would again have to impose his style swiftly. Also: Is Moshiri actually convinced by him?

Carlos Corberan

Corberan’s name may come

as a surprise to many but he has admirers at Goodison Park.

He has certainly been mentioned as a potential successor to Lampard after a superb start at West Bromwich Albion, taking them from the foot of the Championship towards the playoff places since his appointment in October.

The 39-year-old Spaniard guided Huddersfield Town to the Championship play-off final last season, losing to Nottingham Forest, then returned to England after a short spell in Greece with Olympiakos.

Corberan could almost be regarded as “Bielsa-lite”, a prodigy who worked with the Argentine at Leeds United and plays in a similar style. He would be a major gamble but would surely be interested in making the jump to the Premier League.

Ralph Hasenhuttl

Hasenhuttl’s name was discussed at Everton board level when they were searching for a successor to Rafael Benitez a year ago but it was accepted it would be impossible to get him out of Southampton, and the job went to Lampard.

The barrier has been removed after the Austrian, 55, was sacked in November. Despite a disappointing end to his near four-year tenure, he did a good job at St Mary’s.

Hasenhuttl is awaiting his next opportunity and might be receptive to any Everton overtures.

Rooney declined the opportunity to be interviewed to replace Rafael Benitez while he was Derby County but the answer would surely be different now he is manager at Washington-based Major League Soccer side DC United.

He might appeal to the sentimentalists after his two spells as a player at Everton but has no managerial experience at the highest level. He would bring passion to the job as an Everton fan but would he have the knowhow to get them out of their current deep hole? Very risky.

Duncan Ferguson

The romantics among Everton fans would welcome the idea of the great cult hero returning to the club he left in July 2022 to seek a managerial opportunity that has yet to materialise. He worked under seven managers at Goodison

Park but the realists would point out his only experience in the main job was two brief spells as a caretaker - the second for only one game, which was lost.

Ferguson would a punt into the unknown and another on the list of high-risk gambles. Would Everton be brave enough to take it? Unlikely.

Sam Allardyce

The mere mention of Allardyce’s name will have many Everton fans recoiling in horror after he was sacked in May 2018 after six loveless months in charge at Goodison Park.

This veteran football firefighter will point out, however, that Everton were eighth at the end of his short stint, riches compared to their current plight.

Drawbacks? Allardyce was hugely unpopular with Everton fans back then, so would a board besieged by protesting supporters potentially inflame the situation by going back to him?

He also played his part in Everton’s transfer profligacy by spending almost £50m on forwards Cenk Tosun and Theo Walcott in his one transfer window. Both were expensive

flops. Last resort. Desperate measure. Call it what you will but it would be a sign of the mess Everton are in if they seriously contemplated this one. Surely not.

The former Wolves manager was interviewed by Everton in summer 2021 after he left Molineux but was beaten to the job by Rafael Benitez. Since then, he has failed miserably at Tottenham, where he was sacked after only four months, and is now manager of Saudi club Al-Ittihad.

Would be a low-key choice but it would all depend on how far Everton got down their list of options as to whether they would turn to the 48-year-old.

Marcelino

Sources in Spain claim Everton have sounded out the 57-year-old, who has a good reputation but no experience in England - and that is before you get to the chaos that would await him at Goodison Park.

Marcelino certainly knows the ropes in Spain after working at Sevilla, Villarreal and Valencia. Stepped down at Athletic Bilbao in May 2022. Rank outsider.

Will one of Marcelo Bielsa (left), Sean Dyche (centre) or Wayne Rooney be Everton’s next manager?

Australian Open 2023: Victoria Azarenka supports Novak Djokovic and says players aren’t ‘villains’

Australian Open semi-finalist Victoria Azarenka says she feels sympathy for Novak Djokovic and pleaded for players not to be treated as “villains”.

Belarus’ Azarenka, 33, is in her first Melbourne semi-final since 2013 - when the legitimacy of her medical time-out against Sloane Stephens was questioned.

Serbia’s Djokovic has been accused of dramatising the extent of a hamstring injury during the Australian Open.

“We are regular human beings that go through many, many things,” she said.

“There is sometimes, I don’t know, an incredible desire for a villain and a hero story that has to be written.

“But we’re not villains and we’re not heroes.”

Azarenka beats Pegula to set up Rybakina semi-final

Nine-time men’s champion Djokovic, who plays Russian fifth seed Andrey Rublev in the men’s singles quarter-finals on Wednesday at 08:30 GMT, said earlier this week he was an “easy target to be the villain”.

Djokovic was reportedly unhappy the validity of his toilet break during a secondround win over France’s Enzo Couacaud was questioned.

The fourth seed has been wearing heavy strapping on his left thigh all tournament, taking a medical time-out against Couacaud and also during his third-round win over Grigor Dimitrov.

Following his fourth-round win over Australia’s Alex de Minaur, Djokovic was also reported to have told Serbian media that only his injuries “were doubted”.

“I leave the doubting to those people - let them doubt,” he added.

“Only my injuries are questioned. When some other players are injured, then they are the victims, but when it is me, I am faking it.”

Amid the discussion about Djokovic’s physical state, American world number nine Taylor Fritz said the majority of players are always a “little banged-up”.

“I don’t think people fake injuries, I do think sometimes players stretch the severity of the injury because it depressurises them and helps them play better,” he added.

Accusations taken Azarenka ‘10 years to get over’

Azarenka’s victory over Stephens in the 2013 semi-final proved controversial after she took a long medical time-out at a crucial juncture in the match.

After failing to serve out victory, the Belarusian had a 10-minute break and returned to break in the next game to secure her spot in the final.

Azarenka, now 33, went on to beat

China’s Li Na and clinch back-to-back titles at Melbourne Park.

“It was one of the worst things that I’ve ever gone through in my professional career, the way I was treated after that moment,” she said.

“The way I had to explain myself until 10:30pm because people didn’t want to believe me.

“I actually can resonate what Novak said the other day.”

Victoria Azarenka receiving treatment during a medical time-out in her Australian Open semi-final victory over Sloane Stephens in 2013

Victoria Azarenka receiving treatment during a medical time-out in her Australian Open semi-final victory over Sloane Stephens in 2013

Ten years on, Azarenka says she is “finally over” how she felt she was treated.

“I’ve been called that I’m cheating, that I’m faking, that I was trying to throw people off their game. It’s everything that is so wrong about my character if somebody actually knows me,” she said.

“At some points I’ve heard that, ‘she has this thing that is bad or this thing is bad’. At some point you’re like: ‘Really? Am I?’ Those doubts starts to creep in.

open for partnership in 2023 - Volleyball President, Nimrod

The President of Nigeria Volleyball

Federation, Engineer Musa Nimrod said the doors of the Federation are open to corporate organisations that are willing to partner for the development of the sports across the country.

In his New Year message, Nimrod said the aspirations of the Nigeria Volleyball Federation in 2023 is to make a meaningful impact at International Championships as well as qualify for the Paris 2024 Olympics.

He said Nigeria volleyball can achieve the desired goals when major stakeholders are committed to the same course.

The Secretary General of Confederation of African Volleyball (CAVB) Zone 3 lauded the commitment of players, coaches, referees, club owners, administrators, sponsors and board members for their contribution to the growth and development of the game since their inauguration.

He said, “Our doors are open for

sponsorship and support as well as seeking partnership and MOU with corporate organisations that wish to key into the sport as a social responsibility to the youths of Nigeria.

“Our aspirations this year includes making it to the numerous and important continental as well as global engagements vis a vis the 2023 African Games, 2023 African Youths Games and FIVB U19 Boys World Youths Championship, as well as series of Beach Volleyball events which will climax with the 2024 Olympics qualifiers in which Nigeria have registered to participate.

“The year 2023 is an opportunity to step up our commitment and dedication to our goals and objectives. This can only be achieved by our collective efforts and common desire for success as a federation.”

Nimrod said, “Appreciation goes to all clubs, sponsors with due recognition to all players for their patience, club owners and

administrators for their understanding, stakeholders for their support, coaches and referees for their sacrifices and to all members of the Board of Administration for their contribution to the growth and development of the game since our inauguration.

“No matter what challenges we faced, the past is now but a lesson. As we are ushered into the new year, we have a renewed hope for greater vision and better goals”, he added.

The member of Confederation of African Beach Volleyball Commission recounted some of the successes recorded by the Nigeria Volleyball Federation.

He said, “Without recounting all our success, I will on behalf of the Federation express heartfelt gratitude to everyone that played a different role in our successes last year, especially the triple international participation of our junior national teams in which Nigeria topped the podium at the U19 Championship in

Morocco.

“The senior beach volleyball teams also participated in the African nations cup in Morocco where they performed credibly well. Your various contributions and involvement are noble and deeply appreciated.

“In 2022, M we dared to expand our horizon to involve National Division 2 Volleyball League and the Beach Volleyball Tour which another category will be created this year for new entrants into the tour. The aim is to spread the opportunities of the game to all levels.

“Despite the lapses we hope and believe we can do better and be better, but everything better can only be achieved with unity of purpose and collective effort,” he said.

Nimrod advised clubs and sponsors to always get clearance for the Nigeria Volleyball Federation Secretariat before using the logo for competitions across the country.

Novak Djokovic plays Russian fifth seed Andrey Rublev in the men’s singles quarter-finals on Wednesday

KUNWE

IBRAHIM

I, FORMERLY KNOWN AS MUHAMMAD IBRAHIM GARBA NOW WISH TO BE KNOWN AND ADDRESSED AS IBRAHIM MU'AZU. ALL FORMER DOCUMENTS REMAIN VALID. AUTHORITIES CONCERNED AND THE GENERAL PUBLIC SHOULD TAKE NOTE.

PUBLIC NOTICE SPACE FOR SALE

MERCY

I, FORMERLY KNOWN AS MISS OKEKE CHIAMAKA PEACE NOW WISH TO BE KNOWN AND ADDRESSED AS MRS. OKEKEEZUMEZU CHIAMAKA PEACE. ALL FORMER DOCUMENTS REMAIN VALID. AUTHORITIES CONCERNED AND THE GENERAL PUBLIC SHOULD TAKE NOTE.

MRS. OKEKE-EZUMEZU

I, FORMERLY KNOWN AS KUMSE FLORENCE JUMAMAI NOW WISH TO BE KNOWN AND ADDRESSED AS KUNWE JESSICA KUMSE. ALL FORMER DOCUMENTS REMAIN VALID. AUTHORITIES CONCERNED AND THE GENERAL PUBLIC SHOULD TAKE NOTE.

I, FORMERLY KNOWN AS MERCY KEHINDE BELLO NOW WISH TO BE KNOWN AND ADDRESSED AS MERCY KEHINDE ADESINA. ALL FORMER DOCUMENTS REMAIN VALID. AUTHORITIES CONCERNED AND THE GENERAL PUBLIC SHOULD TAKE NOTE.

Gareth Bale to play in PGA Tour event after retiring from football

To anyone paying serious attention to Nigeria politics of late, the 2023 election is all about the APC candidate. It is understandable why all opposition and critics are bent on throwing stones at Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu. A cross section of Nigerians consider it an honour to be associated with the Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu presidential project despite the makebelieve antagonism built around his candidature by the opposition and a few of his enemies. It is either they are with him or are envious of him. And for those opposed to his candidature, there is a growing response from a greater population of Nigerians who know it is a project whose time has come and have solidly lined up to support his presidential aspiration.

Even the strongest of the opposition and the greatest of the critics of the Asiwaju project are silently in awe of the personality and capacity of man who has become the only stumbling block and an insurmountable one, to their aspirations.

The Asiwaju story did not begin today; it is a story of all times, dating back to the gloomy days of the fight for the soul of our dear country’s democracy. The days when compatriots stood at the expense of their lives against the power that be to rescue Nigeria and pave the way for the democracy we all enjoy today.

the country over the years, and who have become the backbones of the country’s survival across all the critical sectors of the country today.

One thing that would not cease to amaze me, of all your bold actions and reactions to issues, is how you began imagining, constructing and overcoming the coastal area of the Atlantic ocean to build a globally acclaimed city that you name the Atlantic City.

Your antecedents are parallel to non-other. You stand without equals and rivals in the position of builder of men and nation. That is why most people follow you and the same reason many on your team are currently taking too many things for granted. You are too high up the ladder for anyone to consider you not to get to the top.

these people far more than the crowds at rallies.

The Asiwaju project has got too many people where it matters to have a problem turning out people to vote for the ticket. Politics is local, it is about structure, about presentation, about reach and acceptance; you have ticked them all. There are people where it matters struggling to carry the Asiwaju banner; let hear them, let give them the opportunity. That is politics.

them out.

It is time we returned to the table to effect a comprehensive SWOT analysis of the influence of the Directorates and the campaign so far on the party control of the polling units.

This is not the time for us to create and fuel unnecessary internal battles and rancour. Leaders unduly arrogating authority, shutting others out and rumours of already shared political positions that are sending worrying messages to many committed and loyal members, would not aid our struggle as a party.

Former Wales captain Gareth Bale has announced he will play in a PGA Tour event just weeks after retiring from professional football.

Bale said he will compete in February’s AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am in California.

The 33-year-old retired earlier this month as Wales’ most-capped male player and record men’s goalscorer.

“Delighted to announce I will be playing in the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am at the start of next month! Let’s go,” he posted on social media on Monday.

A five-time Champions League winner with Real Madrid, Bale’s relationship with the Spanish giants suffered when he was pictured with a banner that read ‘Wales. Golf. Madrid. In that order’ while on international duty with his country in 2019.

There will be 156 amateurs participating at Pebble Beach and the same number of professionals, including US Open champion Matt Fitzpatrick, world number five Patrick Cantlay and three-time major winner Jordan Spieth.

Many still recall your strong voice in that struggle; both intellectually and financially. The story is told and will be told again of your relentless contribution to the efforts of NADECO and the sustenance of the struggle within and outside Nigeria.

Prof. Wole Soyinka, a great son of Nigeria once described your efforts in sustaining all exiled elements of the struggle financially through his business ingenuity, commitment and belief in the struggle.

It was only natural that you became one of the first beneficiaries of the ‘war’ you fought. After all, a labourer is worthy of his wages. At the return of the country to democracy in 1999, we all recall how you became the elected governor of Lagos state deservingly.

As governor of Lagos State, you threaded a developmental path alien to our system. Notably, you created a “first’’ in many desirables, pioneering most of the policy directions that are currently sought after by states across the country, and even the federal government.

Lagos state, known for its assuming unmanageable population size and its consequences received, under your watch, a long term development plan that has since then continued to transform the state to the enviable status it enjoys today, not only in Nigeria but globally.

It is unimaginable how the IGR of a state could be increased by a quantum stride as you did with Lagos state in such a period of time when others are living absolutely on the benevolence of the government at the center.

I cannot have space to list all your achievements in Lagos state, nor the ‘boys’ you transformed to men across

The Asiwaju project, I boldly tell you, has a great and the best team gathered already to win the 2023 election and to lead Nigeria beyond May 2023. But then, we have seen in history great teams losing critical games for a lack of operational coherence and unity. Therefore, Asiwaju, you must not allow this to happen to your team and your dream.

Asiwaju, people are leaving the fold. It is unspeakable of your strength and capacity that members of the campaign council are having reasons good enough to exit the platform. you need to ask pertinent questions; why? What did we not do right? What could we have done differently? Are there more disgruntled elements within our folds who are staying but not happy and may even work against us from within?

At this point, it becomes sacrosanct that you know that there are individuals who believed in the journey and stood by it from the very beginning, even when the road was rough. Elements who at the expense of their lives and safety, in those days when many were sitting on the fence or supporting others, stood by you, but today, no longer have a say in the process.

These people spend their personal resources to be part of the processes, be at all rallies, but when they wish to make input, their calls are not picked nor their messages responded to.

Why would anyone be disgruntled with a project as viable as the Asiwaju project? You need to find out and address that as soon as possible. It is never too late. As a party and a candidate, we must redress our action, call handlers of the campaign process to order, and accord your people the recognition they so deserve. We must make use of our people. Open our doors for inputs; make people feel important. We need

I cannot teach you politics and the game of politicking. You are an expert at that Sir; and that is why I am quite sure you would understand what the challenges are no matter how minute, even more than I do with this observation of mine. Certainly, Sir, you cannot be everywhere, you are a principal at delegating authority and allowing people to do the work, but this time, it is also necessary that you consider an oversight on some critical responsibilities you have delegated. Many of your campaign Directorates are doing very well and even beyond expectation but the same cannot be said of all.

Sir, you are a master at delegation and once again you have proved it, now at a larger scale, involving new individuals across the nation, to spearhead various arms of your campaign structures. The increased population has nevertheless created usefulness issues, as some leaders are beginning to use their position to exert undue authority, sidelining useful members and creating undue friction in relationships down the ladder.

Now, there is the need for a full peer review of the Directorates and individuals who have been picked among equals to oversee activities of the campaign; to what extent have they organised members across grassroots and polling units, and harmonise with others units to bring gains to the campaign.

Currently, there are too many sycophants and praise singers on the prowl and occupying positions on many campaign structures. The system, at present, has unfortunately built a pattern that punishes people of character and capacity to interrogate issues while celebrating sycophants. People selected among equal to lead chapters of campaign structure and units have duly arrogated power to themselves, personalise the campaign and shut out many who literally possess grassroots values and are more useful to the campaign. Elections are local, rallies are good but we need total connectivity to the grassroots and men that control the people at the ward level. We cannot afford to shut

This is the time for all our Directorates to wake up, build synergy and multi-operational fronts of cooperation that will maximise the efficiency and the effectiveness of the campaign. You must let them all know they are a team on the same side, and fighting the same enemies. This is not the time for us to play the game of criticising others, calling out ourselves, name dropping to amass recognition from the top. It creates within our cycle more ills than solutions that will help us. Why would some people boldly create and spread the fake news of the Kogi Governor backing out of your campaign? Definitely because they see the crack and trust gap already created and took advantage of it.

There would always be something and some issues to spy, but beyond them, and at this critical time, we need more of focus at our target trophy than at any other things.

Everyone is important to our campaign. Everyone cannot be a leader, we have picked among equal those that lead us. Let’s play the game as equal and as a team.

I stand tall to say and to repeat my belief in the Tinubu/Shetima ticket capacity to lead and transform Nigeria; to build upon and improve the foundation the current Administration has laid. This coming election is APC again and yours. But those issues must be addressed - and promptly too.

GOD BLESS THE FEDERAL REPUBLIC OF NIGERIA!