Friday, March 31, 2023 Edition

Reps approve presidential declaration designating 10 parks with national status

By Christiana Ekpa

The House of Representatives on Thursday approved the Presidential Declaration Order, 2022 designating 10 named Parks with the status of National Parks.

These are: Allawa Game Reserve, Niger State; Apoi Forest Reserve, Bayelsa State; Edumenum Reserve, Bayelsa State; Falgore Game Reserve Kano State; Baturiya Wetland game Reserve, Jigawa State and Kampe Forest Reserve, Kwara State.

Others include: Kogo Forest Reserve, Katsina State; Marhai Forest Reserve, Nasarawa State; Oba Hill Forest Reserve, Osun State and Pandam Forest Reserve, Plateau State.

The resolution followed adoption of a motion moved by the House Leader, Alhassan Ado Doguwa at plenaryThursday.

Moving the motion on behalf of the House Leader, the Deputy Leader Peter Akpatason said

President Muhammadu Buhari had on November 16, 2022 signed a Declaration Order, designating 10 parks across Nigeria as national parks.

He said in consonance with the provisions of Section 18 of the National Park Service Act, the President, communicated in writing requesting the concurrence of the House on the ten New National Parks.

“Subject to this Act, the President with the concurrence of the National Assembly, may by order published in the gazette -

(a) declare such areas in the Federation as he may deem fit as National Parks which shall be subject to the provisions of the Act.

“Or, an order made under Subsection (i) of this section shall -

(a) set out the situation limits of each National Park;

(b) specify the intern management policy for the National Park, and

(c) specify the classification of the “National Park,” the lawmaker

stated.

Akpatason said the Declaration Order, 2022 set out: (a) the Declaration of new National Parks;

(b) name, situation and limits of the new National Park; and

(c) constitution of the National Parks Management Committee.”

Kicking against the motion, the Deputy Minority Leader, Toby Okechukwu said it raises issues regarding the practicality of establishing additional national parks.

Okechukwu acknowledged the right of the President to create such parks subject to the approval of Parliament but expressed concern at the dilapidated states of the existing National Parks.

He also wondered if the provisions made to ensure the additional ones will be “effectively managed” and called on the House to decide from a position of knowledge and ensure a “framework for effective management and safety of the parks is practiced.”

The lawmaker said the parks

which are ungoverned spaces can be taken over by “bandits and terrorists”, if not carefully taken care of.

The Deputy Speaker of the House, Ahmed Idris Wase said the motion seeks to promote employment as well as the beauty and serenity of Nigeria.

According to him, the framework will be put in place and that the President seeking to help the States in managing the parks will ensure they thrive.

The Chairman House committee on Navy, Yusuf Gagdi in his contribution stated that the motion is in line with the constitutional powers of the President.

Gagdi stated that the aim of the Federal Government to aid the states in managing the Parks will ensure their success.

Also, Munir Dan-Agundi (APC, Kano) cited Baturiye Game Reserve, in Jigawa where people always have a good and relaxing experience when they visit.

L-R: Vice President elect Sen. Kashim Shetima congratulating the Niger state Governor Elect, Hon UMAR Mohammed Bago shortly after receiving his certificate of return, in Government House Minna, yesterday.

Court injunctions by politicians stall fight against corruption -Coalition

By Joy Baba Yesufu

Corrupt politicians, procured court injunctions, inter agency rivalry and the ‘cabals’ have been identified as the bane behind the several stalls in the fight against corruption in Nigeria.

This was disclosed by a coalition of Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) under the aegis of ‘Civil Society Alliance for Eradication of Corruption’ while addressing press on Thursday in Abuja on the calls from some quarters for the removal of Abdulrasheed Bawa, as the head of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

The coalition said these forces influence outcome of investigations and situations whereby the commission goes ahead, they come up with procured court injunctions to stall further investigations.

They maintained that this attitude has stalled several anti-corruption battles been investigated upon by the commission, and has often times led to collision of interest as Bawa is left with no option to either respect court order or go ahead with the investigation so as to recover the looted loot.

The CSOs further said that, calls for sack and removal of Bawa at this transition period is a wrong idea that will further defeat the already established fight against some political office holders most of whom will no longer enjoy immunity and thus makes investigation easily done.

According to the coalition “Bawa should be allowed to complete the ongoing investigation of some of the political office holders, including that of the ruling

party. We are sure these are part of those calling for his removal, which we stand against and advice the outgoing government to ensure that such calls are not listened to but instead make him more focus in delivering his mandate.

“The flimsy excuse under which they are calling for his removal, is selective disobedience to court rulings. We all know, the standard rule if such occurs, it’s for the complainant to approach court and charge him for contempt not call for outright removal.

“At times, we also know that under corrupt charges some court rules need to be further tested before obeyed as it can truncate an ongoing investigation.

“Under same Bawa, the commission has recorded 3,785 convictions and still counting, but to our surprise this was not

celebrated by anyone but rather a frivolous call for his removal is what we are seeing. His removal now, will further portray us in bad light in the international community as not serious to build strong institution that we need to build to ensure that our looted funds are recovered and plunged back to the economy.

“We also, wish to advice the President elect not to listen to these nay sayers as Bawa will no doubt assist in bringing to book and make to face justice hidden corruption and recovery of loots that the government will need to stabilize with because we can’t be on a borrowing spleen again as a nation.

They passed a vote of confidence on Bawa urging him to him to carry on with delivery of his mandate and further deepen the anti-graft agency.

Pensioners demand separate ministry

Nigeria Union of Pensioners (NUP) has called on the Presidentelect, Sen. Bola Tinubu, to create a ministry with the responsibility of addressing the plights of retirees in the country.

The South-West zone of NUP made the call after its quarterly meeting in Abeokuta on Thursday.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the meeting was attended by chairmen and secretaries of NUP from Ogun, Oyo, Ondo, Osun, Lagos and Ekiti states.

Speaking with newsmen after the meeting, the Zonal Public Relations Officer of NUP,

Olusegun Abatan, said that the creation of the ministry would turn the fortunes of pensioners around in the country.

“President Muhammadu Buhari has done quite a lot for pensioners. He really helped them and so we are appealing to Tinubu to please give the matter of pensioners serious attention.

“We want a separate ministry that will be solely addressing matters that have to do with pensioners under the administration of Tinubu,” he said.

Abatan alleged that governors of South-West states were owing pensioners in the zone huge sums as gratuities and pensions.

Ramadan Timing Day 2

He urged all the governors in the zone to implement the consequential adjustment and the 35 per cent increment in pensions without further delay.

Abatan particularly cited Ogun, Ekiti and Osun states where he claimed that the gratuities of pensioners were paid last in 2012.

“They are owing arrears of pensions, gratuities and other entitlements, including gratuities and entitlements to the next of kin of some deceased pensioners.

“We want to appeal to our governors to step up their interests in the affairs of pensioners,” he said. (NAN)

NSCC sets to establish engagement bureau Programe portal for aging persons

By Albert Akota

The National Senior Citizens Centre (NSCC) has put all mechercies in place to establishment Continuing Engagement Bureau (CEB) Program to capture, aggregate and engage all Nigerian Senior Citizens in Nigeria.

The CEB Program will also help to provide platforms for incubating and utilizing the skills, talents, experiences and resources of retirees and other senior citizens for national and community development through volunteerism or paid employment.

The NSCC Director General, Dr. Emem Omokaro disclosed this in Abuja at the Service Level Collaborations and Review of the Dummy Portal and other Support Instruments for the Establishment of NSCC Continuing Engagement Bureau (CEB) Program.

The event which was aimed at building the foundational synergies between the National Senior Citizens’ Centre (NSCC) and its critical partners, was organized with the objectives of having an understanding of the input requirements and outputs of the CEB by its key partners; understanding the critical role of the data portal and the need

for its adoption and utilization, as well as understanding the need to engage for senior citizens.

Dr. Omokaro noted that the NSCC is focussing on the optimistic perception of Ageing which is the reason for the CEB Program, adding that it is also driving the Centre’s National Plan of Action and Strategic Roadmap.

According to her, “The Centre is shifting the pessimistic perspective about older persons and bringing the optimistic perspective on Ageing which should be the perspective that older persons are a force for development.

Berger Paints unveils new logo for global competitiveness

Berger Paints Nigeria

Plc has unveiled a new logo in a bold move to reposition the company for global competitiveness, increase earnings and boost shareholders value.

The unveiling which held in Lagos had in attendance some members of the company’s board of directors, representatives of the shareholders and senior staff.

According to Berger Paints Chairman, Mr Abi Ayida, the new brand identity stemmed from a comprehensive market research which revealed that 70 per cent of its customers sought for a deeper brand connection.

Ayida added that the logo change was consistent with the future that the firm was envisioning.

He revealed that alongside the

new logo was an improved tagline which read: “Experience your world in colour.”

“Just like everything in life, there is a time when you refresh, modernise and update which is the same way we do as human beings.

“I think there is also a natural lifespan in the company’s image and its identity and touchpoint.

“We have thought long and hard and we are coming out of a difficult recent past globally and a lot has changed; the demography of our stakeholders are changing and we want that updated in a more memorable way,” he said.

Ayida also emphasised the need for government to create an operating environment that removes uncertainties for manufacturers to enhance proper planning and penetration for

businesses.

The company’s Managing Director, Mrs Alaba Fagun, stated that the paint firm was repositioning itself to take over the African market.

“Berger Paints has been in existence for over 60 years and is are at the top of it as a frontline indigenous company.

“We want to be the top paint manufacturing company in Africa, whilst attracting young customers.

“Our target market has reduced from 60 to 35 years and this brand identity will speak to the market,” Fagun said.

Meanwhile, a shareholder, Mrs Joke Shofolahan, representing the Independent Shareholders Association of Nigeria, congratulated the firm on the new logo change. (NAN)

(Source: Society for the Propagation of Islam Kaduna)

TIPS ON HEALTHY ‘IFTAR’

Choose lean proteins to get the benefits with little saturated fats. Include fish, skinless chicken or turkey and low-fat dairy to have as part of your iftar meal. If you’re vegetarian, you can select other protein sources such as legumes, beans and nuts.

(HealthyEating #Alarabiya.net)

Compiled By Al-Amin Ciroma

NGO trains over 200 on creation of jobs/ wealth from used tyres in Abuja

By Lateef Ibrahim, Abuja

Over 200 participants have been trained in Abuja on how diesel and furniture could be produced from used tyres by the Automobile and Touring Club of Nigeria (ATCN), a nongovernmental motorsports organization, NGO ,that promotes motorsports and road safety advocacy in Nigeria.

The training program, which took place at the the Cyprian Ekwensi Arts and Culture Centre, Area 10, Abuja, was anchored by two experts- Umar Yabo and Priscilla Babajide.

The president of Automobile and Touring Club of Nigeria (ATCN), Mr. Isiaku Bamayi, explained that, the program was aimed at raising awareness on the hazards posed by improper disposal of used tyres and to promote a circular economic approach via extended producer responsibility (EPR) to the environmentally sound management of used tyres, which in turn will promote environmental quality an aspect of the environmental pillar of the FIA Sustainability Roadmap.

According to Bamaiyi, “This awareness campaign will also educate Nigerians on the opportunities available for entrepreneurs to create employment and wealth thereby reducing poverty. In essence, there will be training on the uses of waste tyres to develop materials to enhance your knowledge”, he said.

Engr. Chukwudi, an Assistant Director, Plastic sector in the National Environmental Standards and Regulatory Agency (NESREA), who handled the Day one training session, explained that the essence of applying EPR “is not only to control and manage solid waste but to also engage manufacturers to ensure a policy action on how to re-use spent tyres instead of burning them and polluting the environment”.

The president of Association of Erudite Entrepreneurs of Nigeria, Alhaji Ibrahim Umar, said, “the advocacy helps us to understand that Tyre burning is a problem in terms of environmental hazards”.

Hon. Billy Nwoye, the Managing Director of Used Tyres Producers Responsibility Organisation of Nigeria (UTPRON), charged the participants to ensure that they take advantage of the entrepreneurial opportunities and tips the training would give to them while the principal technical officer of the VIO, Mr. Moses Daniel, commended ATCN for the advocacy programme.

The participants, who similarly took part in a street rally as part of the programme, were presented with certificates of participation at the end of the event.

Benue govt gets approval to construct airport in Makurdi

From Uche Nnorom, Makurdi

Benue State Government has secured approval licence from the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authorities to construct a Civil Aviation Airport in Makurdi, the state capital.

Benue State Commissioner of Information and Culture, Mr. Michael Inalegwu disclosed this at Government House in Makurdi while briefing Journalists at the end of the State Executive Council meeting on Wednesday.

He said about 12 States in the country have also secured licences from the Nigerian Civil Aviation

Authorities for the construction of Civil Aviation Airports in their respective dormain.

Inalegwu announced that Benue State Government had also sealed an approval from the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authorities to allow Air Peace to commence commercial flights from the Makurdi Airport to other parts of the country.

According to him, flights from the Makurdi Airport is billed to commence operations on the 17th April, 2023 at 8 am from Makurdi.

The Commissioner however, explained further that of the 12 States, only Benue and Ogun

states have been granted the approvals for the construction of the Airports.

The foundation laying ceremony for the airport according to the Commissioner is scheduled to take next week at Kura village, along Naka road, about 12 Kilometres away from Makurdi, the State Capital.

“The site for this airport is going to be at Kura, along Naka road, about 12 Kilometres from Makurdi town because of the proximity to the Industrial layout”.

Although the Information Commissioner expressed doubts about the possibility of the

Governor Samuel Ortom led administration to complete the airport project, he nonetheless believe that the Civil Aviation Airport would be a value addition to the socio economic growth of the state.

“The next administration can equally continue with the project but the good news is that this administration pressed for the approval of this airport and we got it”.

He said the choice of the location was appropriate as cargoes landing from the airport would be taken to the industrial layout on record time.

Kano Governor-elect appoints veteran journalist, Sanusi Bature as Chief Press Secretary

From Mustapha Adamu, Kano

The Kano State Governorelect Abba Kabir Yusuf has announced Sunusi Bature Dawakin-Tofa as his Chief Press Secretary for the transition period.

In a letter signed by the Chairman of the Gubernatorial Transition Committee on behalf of the Governor-Elect on Thursday, Dawakin-Tofa’s appointment as well deserved as it was based on his competence, loyalty, commitment and hard work which he exhibited since 2019.

Dawakin-Tofa is a seasoned PR guru, development communication and stakeholder engagement expert with 19

years working experience in both international development, private sector and the Media in Nigeria.

Until his appointment, Dawakin-Tofa is a winner of the Cambridge education award on investigative journalism in 2008, Bature has worked at different capacities in various national, International and Bilateral organizations such as the British Foreign and CommonWealth Development Office (FCDO), the United State Agency for Internal Development (USAID), Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, Save the Children International, Discovery Learning Alliance and the Rockefeller Foundation.

He held several positions which include General Manager

Corporate Services at Dantata Foods and Allied Products Limited (DFAP), Director Stakeholder Engagement at YieldWise Project, Country Program Manager at Girl Rising (ENGAGE) Project funded by the US Government, State Project Coordinator for MNCH Campaign Project of the BMGF, Deputy Director Operations at Discovery Learning Alliance, State Program Officer, Policy Advocacy and Media Development, Communication and Knowledge Management Specialist among other positions.

Graduated with a Bachelor’s degree (B.A. Hons.) in Mass Communication from University of Maiduguri, Sanusi holds a National Diploma in Mass communication from Kaduna

Polytechnic, a Higher National Diploma (HND) and a Postgraduate Diploma in Public Health Education and Promotion. He also bagged MSc. in Social Work with specialization in Community Development from Ladoke Akintola University of Technology, (LAUTECH) Ogbomosho, Oyo State and another master’s degree in Public Relations (MPR) from the prestigious Bayero University, Kano, Nigeria. He participated in MSc program on Project Management at Robert Kennedy College, Zurich, Switzerland.

Dawakin-Tofa served as the Vice President, Nigeria operations for a UK based firm, Kingston Organic PLC.

Minister of Science, Technology and Innovation, Dr. (Sen.) Adeleke Olorunnimbe Mamora (4th right) Director-General Energy Commission of Nigeria (ECN) Prof. Eli Jidere Bala (5th left) representative of the National zonal office, Federal Ministry of Environment, Mr. Nurudeen Yaru, (2nd right) Superindent of Customs Mr. Suleiman Bala (4th left) and other members of the National Technical Committee on Sustainable Cooling in Nigeria, in a group photograph during the National Stakeholders’ Consultative Workshop on Energy Efficient and Climate-Friendly Cooling yesterday in Abuja.

Photo: Justin Imo-Owo

PDP reverses suspension of Anyim, Fayose, Shema, 2 others

Quashes referral of Gov Ortom to disciplinary committee Harps on reconciliation

By Lateef Ibrahim, Abuja

The national leadership of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, has reversed the last week’s suspension placed on a former Senate President, Senator Anyim Pius Anyim, two former Governors of the party- Ayodele Fayose (Ekiti State) and Ibrahim Shema (Katrina State) as well as two others.

The party had similarly rescinded the referral of the Governor of Benue State, Dr. Samuel Ortom to its National Disciplinary Committee.

These decisions were taken yesterday at the National Working Committee, NWC, meeting of the PDP, presided over by its acting National Chairman, Ambassador Umar Ilya Damagum in Abuja.

The NWC of the PDP, under the

then Chairmanship of Dr Iyorchia Ayu (who has now been barred by an order of a Benue State High Court, sitting in Makurdi, from parading himself as the party’s National Chairman) had last week suspended Ayu, Fayose, Shema, Professor Dennis Ityavyar (Benue State) and Dr. Aslam Aliyu (Zamfara State) over alleged anti-party activities.

The same NWC equally referred Ortom to its National disciplinary committee over similar allegation of anti-party activities.

However, the NWC of the PDP, under the acting National Chairman, Damagum, emphatically stated that it recognized the imperativeness of a total reconciliation among Party leaders and critical stakeholders for a more cohesive Party in the

overall interest of its teeming members and Nigerians in general.

A statement issued at the end of the NWC meeting yesterday and signed by its National Publicity Secretary, Hon Debo Ologunagba, declared that the PDP must remain focused as it continues to take every necessary action to recover the stolen mandate freely given to it by Nigerians.

The statement by Ologunagba reads, “The National Working Committee (NWC) of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) at its meeting today (yesterday), Thursday, March 30, 2023, extensively discussed recent developments in the Party.

“The NWC recognized the imperativeness of a total reconciliation among Party leaders and critical stakeholders for a more cohesive Party in the overall

interest of our teeming members and Nigerians in general.

“Consequent upon the above, the NWC reverses the referral of the Governor of Benue State, His Excellency, Dr. Samuel Ortom to the National Disciplinary Committee.

“The NWC in the same vein reverses the suspension of the following underlisted members of our great Party:

*H.E Ibrahim Shema (Katsina State)

*Ayodele Fayose (Ekiti State)

*Sen. Pius Anyim (Ebonyi State)

*Prof. Dennis Ityavyar (Benue State)

*Dr. Aslam Aliyu (Zamfara State)

“This decision is without prejudice to the powers of the NWC to take necessary

disciplinary action against any member of the Party at any time pursuant to the provisions of the Constitution of the PDP (as amended in 2017).

“The NWC charges all leaders, critical stakeholders and teeming members of our Party across the country to be guided by the provisions of the PDP Constitution (as amended in 2017) as well as the new spirit and necessity of reconciliation, unity and harmony in our Party at this critical time.

“The PDP must remain focused as we continue to take every necessary action to recover the stolen mandate freely given by Nigerians to our Party and Presidential Candidate, Atiku Abubakar, on Saturday February 25, 2023, at the Presidential Election Petition Tribunal” the statement concluded.

The Leader of Coalition Of Civil Rights Group, Olufemi Akindele Lawson, Member of the Group, Mr Declan Ihaiire, and Inspector General of Police Alkali Baba Usman during presentation of Award to Inspector General of Police for best Outing of Nigeria Police in just concluded 2023 General Election, yesterday in Abuja.

Reps move to repeal mass literacy, adult education Act 2004

By Christiana Ekpa

The House of Representatives has passed through for second reading, a Bill for an Act to Repeal the National Commission for Mass Literacy, Adult and Non-Formal Education Act; Act No. 18 of 2004.

Consequently, the House intends to Enact the National Commission for Mass Literacy, Adult and Non-Formal Education Act; and for Related Matters.

Sponsored by Julius Ihonvbere (APC, Edo), the bill seeks to proffer solutions to the hydraheaded challenges and constraints bedevilling the nation’s attempt to get the mass of its people,

especially those in the rural areas, some form of education.

The mandate of Commission under the proposed legislation include: “research, training, development and stimulating the science and practice of curriculum development, learning and teaching methodologies, appropriate educational technologies, motivation of learners and instructors as well as the needs assessment in Mass literacy and adult and Non-Formal Education.”

Leading debate on the bill, Ihonvbere said the decision to propose the repeal of the old Act is informed largely by the yearning gap between the literate

and the mass number of Nigerians who have not attained formal education at any level.

“The National Commission for Mass Literacy, Adult and Nonformal Education was established in 1990, with a mandate to, among other things, provide basic education to the country’s nonliterate adults and youths aged 15 and above through a non-formal approach.

“But with the passage of time, it has become incumbent to broaden the mandate to include amongst others, the laying down and implementation of a National policy on Non-Formal Education geared towards the overall social and economic development of

Nigeria.

“Mr Speaker, Honourable Colleagues, the National Commission for Mass Literacy, Adult and Non-Formal Education is the propelling driving force for the attainment of the much needed growth and development of Mass literacy as enshrined in the 2020 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs),” he said.

The lawmaker said the functions of the Commission will include to: “formulate and co-ordinate a national policy on education; Collect and collate data for purposes of education Planning and Financing.

“Prescribe and maintain

uniform standard of education throughout the Country; control and monitor the quality of education in the Country.

“Harmonise educational policies and procedures of all the States of the Federation through the instrumentality of the National Council on Education (NCE).

“Effect co-operation in educational matters on an international scale; and develop curricula and syllabuses at the National Level.

“Seek proper funding and allocation from the Federal government for the Commission to enable her improve and meet the mandate and vision of its primary establishment.”

Photo: Mahmud Isa

Niger APC governor elect gets Certificate of Return

From Yakubu Mustapha Minna

Niger state Governor elect under the platform of the All Progressives Congress APC, Umar Muhammed Umar Bago has assured Nigerlites of his commitment to an all inclusive administration.

He stated this shortly after receiving his certificate of return from the National commissioner incharge of Niger, kogi and kwara, Sani Muhammad Admaz in Minna.

Umar Bago explained that his administration will carry everybody along irrespective of religion, tribe or ethnicity to enhance the development of the state.

He further revealed that his administration will prioritized security, welfare of the people, social amenities, infrastructure and economic growth.

Vice President-elect visits IBB, Abdulsalam in Minna

From

Yakubu Mustapha Minna

The Vice President elect, Kashim Shettima has paid a familiarization visit to the former military president,General

Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida and former Head of State, General Abdulsalam Alhaji Abubakar.

Shettima was in Minna yesterday to check on the two former Nigerian leaders to mark Ramadan fasting, according to some sources.

NUJ congratulates

From Mustapha Adamu, Kano

The Kano State Council of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), has congratulated Engr. Abba Kabir Yusuf on his recent election as the next Executive Governor of the state.

Sources close to the duo at the uphill residence hinted that the visit was not unconnected to the incoming All Progressives Congress (APC) government to be led by the president elect, Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

It was further gathered that the vice president elect visit was also to consult and find a way out over Department of State Services (DSS) alleged interim government plan by some political players in the country.

Kano governor-elect, Abbas Kabir Yusuf

This is contained in a statement signed jointly by the union’s Chairman, Abbas Ibrahim, and its Secretary, Abba Murtala in Kano yesterday.

Engr.Abba Kabir Yusuf of the New Nigeria People’s Party(NNPP) was declared winner of the March 18 governorship election in the state conducted

by the Independent National Electoral Commission(INEC).

In the statement which was issued to Newsmen on Wednesday in Kano,the council said:”Owing to your wealth of experience as an Engineer, we are confident that you will further take the state to improved infrastructure renewal as well as human development.”

“While wishing you Allah’s guidance in the onerous task ahead, we hope you will carry along the large media space in Kano in the scheme of things,” the union said.

Adding,”accept the assurances of our esteemed regards,please.”

Tinubu an outstanding pro-democracy icon - Uba Sani

Kaduna State Governorelect Uba Sani of the All Progressive Congress

(APC) has congratulated the President-elect, Bola Tinubu on

his 71st birthday, describing him as an outstanding public servant and pro-democracy icon.

Uba Sani who won the Kaduna State governorship election on March 18 is the outgoing Senator representing the Kaduna Central

Zone.

In a statement on Tuesday to felicitate Tinubu, the governorelect said, “Let me join my fellow compatriots and well-wishers across the globe in congratulating our dear President-Elect, His

Excellency Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu on his 71st birthday.

“Jagaban is a living legend; an extraordinary public servant, pro-democracy icon, political strategist and tactician of distinction and Pan-Nigerian.”

From: Femi Oyelola, Kaduna

L-R: Member Free Nigeria Movement, (FNM) Mrs Ndidi Mbagwe; Leader, National Youth League for Defence of Democracy, Anngu Onigu; National leader FNM, Moses Paul and member FNM Mr Yusuf Zariyi during a press conference calling for the immediate removal of the INEC Chairman over the irregularities in the 2023 presidential elections, yesterday in Abuja.

Photo: Justin Imo-owo

FG to partner stakeholders on combating data challenges - Minister

By Maryam Abeeb

The Minister of State for Education, Rt. Hon Goodluck Opiah has disclosed that the federal government through the ministry of education is set to collaborating with relevant stakeholders in dealing with data challenges in Nigeria.

The Minister made this disclosure during his remark at the national dialogue on education issues in Nigeria, held in Abuja.

He explained that credible, timely and reliable data generation is required for qualitative planning and decision making.

According to him, there is need to embrace the use of data in guiding an our decisions and policies.

He added that if the nation can successfully abridge the data gaps in Nigeria, it would have provided the basic fundamentals for resolving some many issues.

“The choice of the theme for this National Dialogue, Meeting The Data Challenge In Education; Achieving Gender Equality In And Through Education And Leaving No One Behind give me great comfort that this initiative is going to achieve its set objectives.

“ As a continent, we need to embrace the use of data in guiding an our decisions. It is often said that Data is to planning what oxygen is to living. If we can successfully abridge the data gaps in Nigeria, we would have provided the basic fundamentals for resolving some many issues.

“Credible, timely and reliable data generation is required for qualitative planning and decision making. Strategies to deal with this issue are on and the Ministry is collaborating with relevant stakeholders in dealing with data challenges in Nigeria,” he stated.

The minister assured that governments , at all levels and with the collaboration of stakeholders, will continue to pursue investments to help in achieving positive outcomes for the issues that the dialogue was convened for.

He stated that Nigeria remains focused on the implementation of a comprehensive and holistic programme of action including creating an enabling policy environment for data generation, gender equality and inclusive education.

Opiah stressed that commitment to this have been firmly entrenched in the National Development Plan (2021-2025) and the Ministerial Strategic Plan for Education.

He added that in 2022, the Federal Ministry of Education took steps further by developing a National Policy on Gender in Education that promotes equitable access to quality and inclusive education for all girls.

Further speaking, an education policy analyst of International Institutes of education planning, IIEP UNESCO, Polycarp Otieno, during his virtual presentation said that requirements of new data is t beyond the classical education sector and traditional disaggregation. He called for deepening inclusion and improving quality more financial resources.

Reps adopt conference C’ttee report on Peace Corps Bill

By Christiana Ekpa

The House of Representatives has adopted the conference committee reports on the bill to establish the Nigerian Peace Corps.

Rep. Babangida Ibrahim, Chairman of Committee, while moving for the consideration of the report in Abuja on Thursday said the bill among others was to establish the Nigerian Peace Corps.

He said the peace corps would be a body charged with the responsibility to develop, empower and provide gainful employment for youths.He added that it would also facilitate peace, volunteerism, community service, neighborhood watch and nation

building.

The harmonised report of the conference committee which was laid and adopted by the lawmakers showed the conference adopted the version of the bill as passed in terms of clause 38(2).

The hghlight of the adopted report is on clause 38 (1) of the version passed by the Senate which is in conflict with the version passed by the House of Reps as contained under clause 38 (1).

The Senate’s version seeks dissolution of the existing Peace Corps of Nigeria and National Unity and Peace Corps.

The House of Reps version of the Bill solely recommends the dissolution of the existing Peace Corps of Nigeria to

be transformed into the Nigerian Peace Corps when assented to by President Muhammadu Buhari.

It would be recalled that the Nigeria Peace Corps (NPC) Establishment Bill was passed in 2022 by the two Chambers.

Meanwhile, one of the lawmakers who crave anonymity because he was not authorised to speak on the report said the harmonised copy of the bill would reach the President early enough so as to quicken its assent.

Members of the House Conference Committee are: Rep. Babangida Ibrahim as the Chairman, Rep. Chinedu Ogah, Rep Ibrahim Potiskum, Rep. Abdulmumini Are and Rep. Legor Idegbo.

NMDPRA to resume safety audit of petrol outlets, tankers operations – Official

The Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA) says it will recommence technical safety audit of petrol retail outlets, tankers, refining facilities and depots operations nationwide to halt rising accidents’ cases.

The NMDPRA said that at least one death was recorded every four days in the course of products transportation, with 412 fatalities in 244 accidents between 2018 and the first quarter of 2023.

Dr Mustapha Lamorde, Executive Director of Health, Safety, Environment and Community (HSEC), in meeting with petroleum products transportation stakeholders in Abuja on Wednesday assured the operators of a halt to the deaths.

The engagement had in attendance executives of the Independent Petroleum Marketers Association (IPMAN), Petroleum Tanker Drivers (PTD) and the Nigerian Association of Road Transport Owners (NARTO).

Lamorde said that petroleum products retail outlets took the lion’s share of accidents and fatalities during the period with 39 per cent.

He said that this was followed by tankers, refining facilities and gas facilities which shared 13 per cent each and depot accidents with 11 per cent.

Lamorde was represented by Mrs Maijiddah Abdulkadir, North Central Regional Coordinator, NMDPRA.

He said that the engagement was to call for a sound management of safety in the transportation of petroleum products operations in the downstream sector.

He said that the proper approach to achieve this was to ensure that HSE was

managed from a business perspective and not for compliance purposes only.

He noted that safety-related matters should be integrated into the management decision-making process.

He added that the NMDPRA would continue to attune operators to the need to fully comply with relevant safety laws and regulations as stipulated in the Petroleum Industry Act.

In addition, the executive director said that this would forestall the dangers or risks posed by unwholesome practices and noncompliance to statutory provisions with respect to safety in the transportation of petroleum products.

“The NMDPRA has planned to recommence the HSE technical audits; of which the outcome will be used in liaison with other directorates, in the issuance of various licenses.

“The HSE technical audit will evaluate the adequacy of the HSE requirements, competency and training of staff engaged by the operators.

“This will no longer be business as usual, it is now safety first. The NMDPRA would ensure that the aspiration of the Federal Government in passing the PIA is achieved.

“The law has provided in clear terms that in the case of negligence by any operator, such operator would be sanctioned accordingly,” he said.

According to him, the aim of the engagement is not necessarily to sanction the operators but to ensure that operations are run in a safe manner to protect people, assets and the environment.

The executive director said health and safety needed to be a front burner to attract the growth of the business, reduction of insurance

premiums and protection of the public.

“For us to achieve the following, we must reawaken the safety consciousness in our operations,” he added.

In a presentation, NMDPRA’s Head of HSE, North Central Region, Mr Ugochukwu Okpara, listed the concerns and risks during operational activities like discharging or dispensing to include, not allowing the trucks to settle before beginning of discharge.

He also listed failure to ground the truck, discharging during high temperatures, carrying out maintenance work on the truck while discharging as well as discharging and dispensing simultaneously as some of the causes of fires in filling stations.

Okpara added that leaks on the truck, disorderly queues, lack of safety awareness by pump attendants, use of mobile phones, vehicle maintenance around the area and lack of firefighting equipment could cause serious damage.

Okpara urged stakeholders to stop kickstarting motorcycles around the dispensing area, smoking and dispensing while vehicle engine is on.

For tanker accidents and incidents, he listed inadequate training for drivers and handing of vehicles to motor boys, poor truck and hose integrity as well as lack of grounding, among others as being some of the causative factors

Many of the stakeholders drawn from states, however, commended the meeting and urged that the Federal Government to fix major roads in the country to minimise the frequency of tanker accidents.

The stakeholders appealed for a halt to the fake tyres and other vehicle parts in circulation in the country to prevent loss of lives and property. (NAN)

The Inspector-General of Police, IGP Usman Alkali Baba was on Thursday 30th March, in Abuja honoured by the Coalition of Civil Society Organizations for Good Governance with the award of Grand Defender of Democracy in recognition of his giant strides since assuming leadership of the Nigeria Police Force.

UBEC organises workshop on moral regeneration in basic education

By Maryam Abeeb

The Universal Basic Education Commission , UBEC has organised a stakeholders meeting to create a pathway for moral regeneration and reorientation at the basic education level in the country.

Speaking while declaring the meeting open in Abuja, Executive Secretary of UBEC, Dr. Hamid Bobboyi stated that over the years, the commission has been concern over the degeneration of moral and overturn of values in the society.

According to him, the Commission as an agency of Government has the onus to reorder the situation as it has as one of its objectives ‘’to ensure the acquisition of appropriate level of literacy, numeracy, manipulative, communicative and life skills as well as ethical, moral, and civic values”.

“In fulfilling this objective, and in relation to the mandate of the Commission, the focus is the school. In as much that there are many other institutions responsible for moulding the character of the child, the school plays a major role in the life of a child. The school is a socializing agent of moral and character building where responsible functional citizens are developed from the cradle,” he said.

Bobboyi added that since the basic education level is where learners are given the opportunity to equip themselves with moral values, skills and competencies that can assist them in effecting personal and community positive change, the Commission has taken it upon itself to organize the stakeholder’s workshop with the school as its target.

“Prior to now, The Commission had conducted an explorative survey to gather information on the level of moral degeneration, its causes as well as its effect on teaching and learning in the school. Besides, information on what could be done to mitigate the effect of the degeneration was also gathered. We shall be sharing some excerpts from the report. This is to enable whatever discussion we are having today to be meaningful and evidenced based,” he said.

UBEC boss urged the participants in the event, to use the opportunity to make meaningful contribution that will assist the Commission to achieve the goal of the programme at not just the basic education level but the society in general.

The event had participants from the different facets of life; the Church, Academia, the private sector, practitioners, and the classroom teachers.

Benue PDP frowns at harassment, intimidation of members

From Uche Nnorom, Makurdi

Peoples’ Democratic Party, PDP, Benue State chapter has stated that the crisis which has been lingering in the national leadership of the party for some time now is most unfortunate and does not bode well for its growth after its regrettable outcome at the just concluded election.

Publicity Secretary of the Party Bemgba Iortyom who stated this in a press statement on Wednesday frowned at any act of harassment and intimidation of

its members.

The Party said it is aware that one of its stakeholders, Terzungwe Atser, has over the past few days made threats of violence against some officials of the party in Igyorov Council Ward of Gboko Local Government Area.

It noted that Terzungwe Atser, a former Chairman of the Benue State Internal Revenue Service (BIRS) is believed to be aggrieved by the role of the said Igyorov ward executives following their suspension of National Chairman, Dr. Iyorchia Ayu’s membership of the party

on allegations of anti party activities.

“We, however, believe in the party’s well tested mechanisms for resolving its internal disputes, being they all civil and in line with its charter and character as a law-governed democratic institution.

“The emergence of Ambassador Umar Iliya Damagum as Acting National Chairman of the party following the exit of Dr. Iyorchia Ayu from the office attests to its proven ability to amicably resolve matters without resort to

violence of whatever kind as an option.

“We, therefore, caution Terzungwe Atser to desist from threatening any official or member of the party as to do so is not only a breach of the PDP constitution, but also amounts to criminality which is punishable under Nigerian law.

“PDP values its officials and members alike and will do everything within its powers to protect and defend them from both internal and external aggression, intimidation and harassment”, Bemgba said.

NANS, CSO task Buhari on fuel subsidy removal

By Maryam Abeeb

The National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) and Civil Society Organisation have called on President Muhammadu Buhari to remove oil subsidy before handing over power to the incoming government.

This was disclosed in a communique signed by the NANS’ National Secretary General, Usman Baba Kankia, and endorsed by its officials, including the president, Umar Usman Barambu, the Senate President, Comrade Attah Felix Nnalue, as well as zonal leasers; after a one-day seminar/town hall sensitization workshop on NNPC Ltd’s operations organized by the nation’s oil giant in Abuja.

In the communique made available to newsmen in Abuja, the NANS leadership emphatically noted: “We therefore call on Mr President, Muhammadu Buhari (GCFR), to, in the public interest,

remove fuel subsidy before handing over power to the next government.”

“NANS and the National Coalition of Civil Society Organization in Nigeria demand for the removal of fuel subsidy,” they further stressed.

They added that their call was in tandem with the president’s worries that petrol subsidy regime had been a recurring and controversial public policy issue in the country since the early eighties and its current fiscal impact had clearly shown that the policy is unsustainable.

According to the communique, the workshop held at the NAF Conference Centre, Abuja, which focused on understanding the operations of the New NNPC LTD in Nigeria was attended by representatives from the NNPCL, NANS and Civil Society groups.

Over 1,000 participants drawn from students fold and Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) also

participated in the event.

The Public Affairs Department of the NNPCL was led by the Group Geneneral Manager, Mallam Garba Deen Muhammad.

The workshop was also aimed at sensitizing the public on the NEW NNPC LTD in improving and enhancing governance and accountability for quality and accessible operations to the public since its transformation from NNPC to NNPC LTD.

Participants were enlightened about how Nigerians can benefit from the new operations of NNPCL under the new management, the roles of the public and relevant stakeholders.

According to the communique, the participants came up with a five-point observation: NNPL Ltd is open to all for business and partnership; the NNPC LTD is no longer a government-owned organization but public own company; the NNPC LTD has made pms available to marketers

for distribution national wide; marketers are responsible for the scarcity the nation has witnessed in recent times; fuel subsidy is a sabotage to the economy.

They therefore recommended that citizens should have a culture of reporting deficiencies, failures and anomalies in the NNPC Ltd; the system through the media and other communication channels should push for proper implementation of NNPC Ltd policies; CSOs should partner and encourage the operations to demand accountability from relevant authorities; government should harmonize the role of quality supply of petroleum products and inspecting agencies for effective and consistent monitoring and evaluation of the activities of oil marketers; existing committees should be strengthened and co-opted into advocacy to promote with immediate effect the removal of fuel subsidy.

L-R: Coordinator, National Youth League for the Defence of Democracy, Anngu Onigu; National leader Free Nigeria Movement, (FNM), Moses Paul and member of FNM, Mr Yusufu Zariyi during a press conference calling for the immediate removal of the INEC Chairman, over the irregularities in the 2023 presidential elections, yesterday in Abuja.

Photo: Justin Imo-owo

Berger Paints unveils new logo for global competitiveness

Berger Paints Nigeria

Plc has unveiled a new logo in a bold move to reposition the company for global competitiveness, increase earnings and boost shareholders value.

The unveiling which held in Lagos had in attendance some members of the company’s board of directors, representatives of the shareholders and senior staff.

According to Berger Paints Chairman, Mr Abi Ayida, the new brand identity stemmed from a comprehensive market research which revealed that 70 per cent of its customers sought for a deeper brand connection.

Ayida added that the logo change was consistent with the future that the firm was envisioning.

He revealed that alongside the new logo was an improved tagline which read: “Experience your world in colour.”

“Just like everything in life, there is a time when you refresh, modernise and update which is the same way we do as human beings.

“I think there is also a natural lifespan in the company’s image and its identity and touchpoint.

“We have thought long and hard and we are coming out of a difficult recent past globally and a lot has changed; the demography of our stakeholders are changing and we want that updated in a more memorable way,” he said.

Ayida also emphasised the need for government to create an operating environment that removes uncertainties for manufacturers to enhance proper planning and penetration for businesses.

The company’s Managing Director, Mrs Alaba Fagun, stated that the paint firm was repositioning itself to take over the African market.

“Berger Paints has been in existence for over 60 years and is are at the top of it as a frontline indigenous company.

“We want to be the top paint manufacturing company in Africa, whilst attracting young customers.

“Our target market has reduced from 60 to 35 years and this brand identity will speak to the market,” Fagun said.

Meanwhile, a shareholder, Mrs Joke Shofolahan, representing the Independent Shareholders Association of Nigeria, congratulated the firm on the new logo change. (NAN)

Minister inaugurates boards members of agencies institutions

By Mashe Umaru Gwamna

The Minister of Environment, Mohammed Abdullahi, has inaugurated board members of various agencies and Institutions under the environment sector.

Inaugurating the various members yesterday in Abuja, Abdullahi said the members were nominated based on their competence and experience in the sector . He called on every individual member and representatives

of MDA’s on the board to bring their experiences in taking critical decisions.

“Especially, they have to do with the overall mandate of the Ministry”.

The Minister who emphasized the role of the governing boards said they are to drive general policy formulation for the implementation of the Management Teams of the Agencies.

“The general principle is that Board Members are not involved in the day-to-day running of the

Agencies, except for Chairmen and Members who are statutorily saddled with executive functions”.

He stated the need for synergy and cooperation especially with those saddled with day to day running of these Agencies and institutions.

He also called on all stakeholders in the environment sector to work with this newly inaugurated Board to ensure a desirable and sustainable environment for Nigeria.

“It is important to note that Nigeria’s position on sustainable

environment at the international and local levels has been applauded and it is our vision to carry out the National Agenda in tandem with the SDGs so as to lead the country to the path of Green Growth and sustainable development”. Meanwhile, speaking unbehalf of boards members, Emir of Keffi, Dr, Barr. Shehu Chindo Yamusa 111,thanked Mr. President for finding them worthy of this appointment.

“we don’t take this for granted. We will discharge our duties to the best of our abilities”.

NGO mentors 120 boys against involvement in Gender Based Violence

An Enugu-based Non Governmental Organisation, Boys Champions (BC), has trained 120 boys on how to end GenderBased Violence (GBV) against girls and women.

BC is a non-profit organisation that leverages mentorship, sports, education, peace building and empathy to empower boys, founded by the United Nation award-winning Nigeria, Noel Alumona, in 2018.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the boys, who were drawn from different schools in Enugu State.

A Team Member of BC, Chukwunonso Okolo, said the mentorship training was aimed at making young people better people in the society and

teaching them how to respect girls and women.

He added that the training would help to raise responsible boys and men who would take actions to end violence against women and girls.

According to Okolo, the training will further reshape boys thinking of dominance and superiority over girls.

“We are actually making them to understand that both sexes can actually coexist and still achieve their dreams in life without suppressing the other because of their gender.

“We want to fix the society by mentoring these boys on the danger of GBV as we believed that fixing the boys will make the society a better place.

“We want them to understand

there is no competition among boys and girls and this will make them not to hit their wives when they marry,” he said.

Okolo explained that the project focused on boys, stressing “if they are fixed, GBV would be minimized.

“So today, we are training about 120 boys from different schools in Enugu.

“And, it is going to be an interactive session as they will be allowed to ask basic questions and their perception on gender equality,” he said.

He said that the founder had it rough, which made him to share his experience to help younger ones.

“If you know him very well, whatever we are doing at BC it’s actually his life story,” he added.

Taking the boys on the topic “Guys vs Girls: Building Healthy Relationship,” a BC facilitator, Onyekachukwu Asado, said there was nothing wrong for boys relating with girls if they do it right.

He said that things that kept him and family going was those things he learnt while growing, urging them not to claim superiority over their girlfriends.

A participant, Michael Omotayo from the Good Shepherd Anglican Secondary School, commended the organisers, saying the experience he gathered would help him in treating women well.

“I learnt that both genders are equal,” he said. (NAN)

L-R: Member of the Group, Mr Declan Ihaiire, Leader of Coalition Of Civil Rights Group, Olufemi Akindele Lawson, Inspector General of Police Alkali Baba Usman andSpokeperson of the Group, Mr Ologun Ayodeji during presentation of Award to Inspector General of Police for best Outing of Nigeria Police in just concluded 2023 General Election, yesterday in Abuja. Photo: Mahmud Isa

NSCC sets to establish bureau programe portal for aging persons

By Albert Akota

TheNational Senior Citizens Centre (NSCC) has put all machinery in place to establish Continuing Engagement Bureau (CEB) program.

The CEB Program will also help to provide platforms for incubating and utilizing the skills, talents, experiences and resources of retirees and other senior citizens for national and community development through volunteerism or paid employment.

The NSCC Director General, Dr. Emem Omokaro disclosed this in Abuja at the Service Level Collaborations and Review of the Dummy Portal and other Support Instruments for the Establishment of NSCC Continuing Engagement Bureau (CEB) Program.

The event which was aimed at building the foundational synergies between the National Senior Citizens’ Centre (NSCC) and its critical partners, was organized with the objectives of having an understanding of the input requirements and outputs of the CEB by its key partners.

Dr. Omokaro noted that the NSCC is focussing on the optimistic perception of aging which is the reason for the CEB Program, adding that it is also driving the Centre’s National Plan of Action and Strategic Roadmap.

FG begins registration of medical laboratories

The Federal Government on Wednesday began an online registration of medical laboratories in Nigeria to enhance service delivery.

Dr Tosan Erhabor, the Registrar of the Medical Laboratory Science Council of Nigeria (MLSCN) made this known in Abuja at a meeting with stakeholders and the agency’s consultants on automation led by Prof. Effiong Akpan of the University of Calabar.

He called on stakeholders to avail themselves of the great opportunities offered by the new framework to enhance service delivery.

Erhabor said that the registration would scale up

efficiency, effectiveness, transparency, speed of service delivery, as well as data collation and management.

He said that the purpose of the meeting was to enable stakeholders witness firsthand and possibly critique the ongoing digitalisation of the medical laboratory registration process.

“This is the latest in the series of council processes to be moved from the manual to the digital platform.

“Inspote of our meagre resources, council has successfully transformed other processes including Licensure, Examination, Indexing, Accreditation Service, and External Quality Assurance (EQA) and now the registration

of medical laboratories,” he said.

Erhabor urged medical laboratory proprietors to continue working with the council to enhance service delivery.

He said that proprietors would henceforth be able to register their laboratories seamlessly and from their preferred locations without the need to visit the council’s headquarters in Abuja.

“I am pleased to note that automation has raised our profile among stakeholders, and we must commend the consultants for a job well done,” he said.

Responding, Akpan lauded the council management for scaling up hitherto manual processes into the digital environment to enhance

service delivery despite the prevailing economic challenges.

“My team and I are proud to be associated with council and we encourage other agencies should emulate you in this respect,” he said.

Akpan expressing confidence that the stakeholders would also be proud of the council’s efforts.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that in September 2022, the federal government threatened to shut down unregistered medical laboratories in the country.

The council was warned not to relent or rest on its oars in the discharge of their statutory duties. (NAN)

Onaiwu tasks governors-elect on good governance

Aformer Director-General of the PDP Governors Forum, Mr Osaro Onaiwu, has charged governors-elect to reciprocate the electorate’s mandate by coming up with people-oriented policies and implementing them.

Onaiwu, in a statement in Abuja, said the era had gone when those elected by the people could behave anyhow and escape the wrath of the electorate at the polls.

“As you all receive your Certificates of Return this week, it is incumbent

that the euphoria of the moment don’t becloud the task before you and those responsible for your ascension to high office – the people.

“Going by how difficult it was for most of you, with incumbent governors losing at the polls, this message has become urgent and imperative,” he said.

According to him, when you serve the people, when you take them into confidence, when you demonstrate empathy and do less politics but more of governance, then your mandate is

truly of the people.

“As a religious people, whether Muslim or Christian, let the admonishing that “when the righteous are on the throne the people rejoice be your watchword,” he said.

Onaiwu said, “If you fail to do this, then for those of you fresh on the saddle, second term becomes a huge challenge, and that is not what you wish for.

The owner of Governors Mandate TV and Newspaper, said that the

governors needed to work closely with the media and be accommodating for the necessary media mileage and exposure.

“By now, I am certain that all our governors-elect know the value of the media and being on it, you cannot be performing as a Chief Executive of your State and hide under a bushel of ‘I can’t do media.

“My hope is that with excellent media relations, this set of governors will be under the spotlight and do well,” Onaiwu said. (NAN)

President Muhammadu Buhari receives in audience Plateau State Governor, H.E Simon Bako Lalong at the State House Abuja. PHOTO; State House

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Interim government: Not in Nigerians’ interest

By Ibrahim Mustapha Pambegua

While Nigerian democracy is over two decades, the threat of interim government being bandied by DSS and other key stakeholders should not be treated with kinds’ gloves. There is the need for Sate Security Services to go after these evil forces and arrest them. Nigeria is biggest than individuals interest.

The department of State Security Service(DSS), has raised an alarm of clandestine move by some cabals to stop the swearing in of president-elect,Bola Tinubu, on 29 May. Peter Afunanya, DSS spokesman, stated that some persons have weighed various options, which include foisting interim government after obtaining frivolous court injunctions to forestall the inauguration of new executive administrations and legislative houses at the Federal and State levels. Afunanya said such persons were also considering sponsoring endless violent mass protests in major cities to warrant a declaration of State of Emergency. The Service considers the plot, being pursued by these entrenched interests, as not only an aberration but a mischievous way to set aside the constitution and undermine civil rule as well as plunge the country into an avoidable

crisis.” The state security department warned civil society Organizations, media and court to be vigilant so not to play into the dangerous hands of these plotters

Even before the press release by the DSS, one recalls, at the peak of naira redesign policy crises which is few days to general elections, governor Nasiru El-rufai of Kaduna state, raised similar threat. He stated that some cabals in the villa are behind the currencies redesign policy in other to make his party lost the election. El-rufai also accused the cabals for plotting interim government if APC eventually wins the presidential election. There is no section in our constitution that provide room for “interim government” after elections have been conducted and winners declared. Nigerians knew about “interim government” during the dark days of military rules. The annulment of 1993 presidential election which was adjudged as free and fairest, in which late Bashoru Abiola of SDP won, led to the foisting of the interim government by IBB military regime. The then military president, Ibrahim Babangida(IBB), had to quit the stage due to the mounting of pressure from NADECO and other pro-democrats to declare Abiola as the legitimate president.

In other to calm the looming crises that stared the nation at face because of the unfortunate annulment, IBB,

cleverly appointed Arnest Shonikan as the interim head of state. This was to pave the way for the emergency of his chief of Army staff, General Abacha, as the next president. Shonikan interim government did not last long as Abacha strike to become the head of state. If interim government could be foisted to the country during military era, we are now in constitutional democracy in which leaders emerged through democratic ways i.e free and fair elections. So, if those who contested and lost the elections are dissatisfied with the results, they can seek redress in elections tribunal.

Thank God, the major contenders have taken the right channel to challenge the victory of Bola Tinubu in court. Both Atiku Abubakar of PDP and Peter Obi of labour party have approached the tribunal to declare them winner. This is the beauty of democracy.

While Nigerian democracy is over two decades, the threat of interim government being bandied by DSS and other key stakeholders should not be treated with kinds’ gloves. There is the need for Sate Security Services to go after these evil forces and arrest them. Nigeria is biggest than individuals interest.

Ibrahim Mustapha Pambegua, Kaduna state 08169056963.

An outbreak of internet fraudsters

By Koye-Ladele Mofehintoluwa

“Corruption, embezzlement, fraud, these are all characteristics which exist everywhere. It is regrettably the way human nature functions, whether we like it or not. What successful economies do is keep it to a minimum. No one has ever eliminated any of that stuff”Alan

Greenspan

Every human society thrives based on a variety of factors but the most important is the human factor. The value system of the people and the type of people in a society determines to a large extent what will become of their society. Societies that place their values on building their youths and children into adults capable of progress and innovation would make more advancement than a society where they youths are largely known for a lifestyle in pursuit of wealth, sole personal career, fun and drugs.

Why do some nations fail and some nations prosper?

It is really down to the type of people(which determines the type of leaders) that are found in this nation and not necessarily the endowments of nature in terms of resources that such a nation possesses.

It is the case that African nations have since independence not been able to do much in terms of advancement in the areas of science and technology. The economies of African countries are also terrible in most parts. There are 33 countries in Africa considered LDC’s -Least Developed Countries. The continent has a total of 54 countries. Of the 47 countries considered Least Developed Countries in the world, 33 are in Africa.

It has been said often and ought not to be repeated that Africa has some of the world’s most treasured and valuable natural resources but yet has done nothing with it to translate into growth and development. The problem of electricity persists despite the presence of solar, wind and water sources for the power to be derived. The problem of feeding exists despite acres of land that can be used for agriculture. Various problems have their solutions right before the eyes of Africans and yet these problems are never solved. Several reasons have been given to explain this but the most important is that of the human factor. What are the values of African youths?

In Nigeria, there is a concern that has since the early 2000’s created much attention but has still not been doused. The concern of ‘yahoo’ boys or internet fraudsters that carry the popular local tag of 419. As at when the menace started, it began with a slow creep of emails sent to foreigners which aim to appeal to the greed of these foreigners in order to dupe them or some of them contain pity stories and then solicit help. An action criminalised as Obtaining Under False Pretence.

The fact that it was new as at then (early 2000’s) ensured the success rate of the scam was high and very little protection had been set up by internet service providers to check such mails. As such, the first

generation of those who went into the fraud system were very successful and had a ready market.

While they were at it, more people joined observing the luxury lifestyle of those who started it and they became attracted to it. With the crime widening, the government started the Electoral and Financial Crimes Agency which alongside the Independent Corrupt Practices Commission were empowered to tackle the menace of internet fraud. The fraud system had become lucrative however and before it could be curtailed spread beyond what the government could effectively stop especially as it was(and is) a type of crime that the offender(s) is invisible and cloaked behind a device.

While there are arguments that seek to justify the menace, the most popular one being that the era of slave trade deserves a reply from Africa with similar exploitation of Europe with fraud. One understands that the menace only deteriorates the condition of Africa further as it attracts her youths to a nonproductive sector that would not create any advancement or production of goods and services which strengthen the economy but only provides money that is immediately spent off back to the same source from which it came.

When one observes the lifestyle of internet fraudsters, one realizes that they spend quite lavishly on cars, drinks and women(who spend on jewelry, foreign makeup kits and other such) and this their mode of spending the money means they also return it to their supposed exploiters. The cars and other lavish items are usually produced in the countries from which the persons were exploited and as such, the money adds no national or communal value to the country of the fraudsters but rather takes more away from it especially as liability and not assets are acquired by the spendthrifts.

Recently, one of the participants in the Big Brother Nigeria show sought to defend the menace on the internet claiming that- ‘yahoo boys’ bring money into the economy. If this is so, why have African economies not reflected an increase or positive rise since the menace began? Why has the economic condition remained the same despite the fact that a lot of our youths have taken to internet fraud which supposedly brings money into the economy?

Already, the government has ignored the fact that the menace means great disaster for the future of Nigeria (and Africa) as a lot of our youths who should be gaining knowledge and skill to power our advancement in various sectors especially science and technology have taken to the easy wealth option of fraud and would in the long run not be of any use to the country. We are daily losing human resource as more people abandon work which can advance the economy and produce foreign exchange but rather take to an exploitative life of crime which benefits the person but not the society.

The ready-material for those who become internet fraudsters is present when there are no job opportunities

and the future does not seem good for youths who desire to make their own attainments and are ambitious . Again, there is the pressure to be as successful as the next man and when the next man attains this success by fraud, the motivation to do it spreads to others and as such is a very contagious menace.

The danger of the 11th plague is that it brings other plagues along with it. While we complain of internet fraud, there is a need to understand that it is linked to a lot of other issues such as drug abuse, human trafficking, robbery and also human rituals. There is a trend in Nigeria which suggests that crime is on the rise whenever the market for ‘yahoo-yahoo’ is bad. Whenever there is no means to defraud or it has become harder, in order to keep their lifestyles, there is a resort to criminality of various sorts especially armed robbery. There are also evidences to suggest that there is a chain in the underworld that links internet fraudsters and human traffickers.

Internet fraudsters establish links across countries and these links are also used to transport people for the purpose of prostitution, cheap labor and other sorts under the guise that they would be emigrating to a place where there are better opportunities.

In Nigeria, there is also a strong belief in diabolic actions. The desperation occasioned by internet fraud has led to a combination of diabolic practices and internet fraud. This is known as ‘yahoo plus’. Human body parts are sourced to the end that they are used for rituals that are believed to enhance the chance of an internet fraudster or to make him get the right ‘client’ who will be gullible enough to part with funds.

The 11th plague is a severe one and it is of late on the rise. As it stands, there is a need to educate people on how their actions hurt the community and how their explanations for why they take to such fraud is not tenable. There is a corresponding need to ensure that the government funds education and at the same time provides opportunities for educated Nigerians to be something better than Twitter political warriors fighting themselves to political ends. It is the case that as more people take to internet fraud, we lose a very strong populace of our youths and young ones to a life that would lead to no economic development of the nation but rather individual gains that are again quickly lost to lavish spending.

There is an hailstorm of internet fraudsters presently falling and to ensure that it stops, the Nigerian youth needs to see why he should stop. The government needs to come on board and dissuade this menace by creating alternate avenue for individual expression, ambition and success. The society also needs to stop praising these people in songs and to ensure that only people who make their wealth from the sweat of their brow are honored.

Koye-Ladele Mofehintoluwa can be reached on koyetolu@gmail.com.

A critical look at pant ritual claims in Nigeria

By Leo Igwe

Last year, rumours started circulating regarding a strange form of thievery in Nigeria. In this case, people were not stealing cars or computers, cell phones or wallets, but pants, female pants. When I first heard about this pant theft and ritual, I thought it was a joke, or some made up stories by local comedians. I was of the view that the pant ritual story would trend and quickly fade away. But I was mistaken. The story didn’t go away. Instead it kept appearing and reappearing in the media. In fact, the mainstream newspapers started publishing photos usually of young men arrested for stealing female pants in Imo, Lagos, Delta, Ogun, Anambra, Ondo Edo etc. In fact at some point, the pant ritual scheme was given a fashionable name, yahoo plus.

Let me provide a bit of a background to this pant ritual practice. Pant ritual is actually a subcategory of the money ritual practice, which is the use human body parts for some sacrifice linked to acquisition of wealth, or to success in business and politics. Local medicine experts use these body parts to preform magical processes that could make people rich. However, in this case, the ritual raw material is not a human head. It is not some private organs and other body parts but female panties including leggings and boxers. Suspected ritualists have been caught stealing braziers and pads. One report states that ritualists hunt for female underwear in order to secure the discharge from the female private organs. This discharge, mensural or any other vaginal fluid is extracted and used for ritual sacrifice.

For a better understanding of the pant ritual practice, two key aspects of this phenomenon will be discussed. They are the business and superstition aspects. These two features are intertwined in ways that confuse too many Nigerians, making it difficult for them to distinguish fact from fantasy, reality from illusion. As a business, pant ritual actually yield money and profit to those who market these female properties. Female underwear and other accessories associated with this ritual have turned into gold, an occult gold in many parts of the country. Pants that are used for rituals cost much more than the market price. So stealing female pants has reportedly become a very lucrative business. In the stores, pants cost between 500 to 1000 naira depending on the quality and brand. But a newspaper report says that some of the female pants cost between 250,000 to 300,000 naira each.

So imagine stealing an item that costs 500 naira and selling it for hundreds of thousands of naira. Even if one sells it for thousands or tens of thousands of naira. That is still good business. Isn’t it?

In a country plagued by acute poverty and unemployment, stealing and selling female pants for rituals present snappy business opportunities. They constitute easy ways of generating income for many Nigerian youths, hence the name yahoo-plus. As a yahoo scheme, pant ritual is a way of making sense of the wealth of persons who become stupendously rich without having any real

or conventional job. It is a byword for explaining wealth that is acquired through dubious or shady means.

Unlike yahoo-yahoo, which refers to the internet email fraud, yahoo-plus alludes to money that is made through ritual processes using human parts, women’s pants or performing some nocturnal blood sacrifices that supposedly yield enormous riches, locally designated as blood money, ritual money or medicine money as the case may be. However, the nagging question remains: Is there any thing like ritual money? Put specifically, do these pants turn into money, piles of naira and dollar notes, as seen in the movies, in the course of some ritual sacrifice?

And that leads to the other aspect of the pant ritual phenomenon, that is superstition. Beliefs that are based on fear, ignorance and blind faith drive the manifestation of pant ritual. These beliefs are spiritual, occultic, supernatural and transcendental; they are embedded in the society’s mainstream religious outlooks. The superstition in the pant ritual phenomenon is not whether people actually steal or procure female pants, and legging and bras, or whether ritualists take these items to a local medicine man or woman, to a spiritualist, a prophet or a diviner. Of course they do. The superstitious aspects are often some of the made up stories that trend a lot in Nigeria. Stories of some human heads that vomit tons of cash in the apartments of the ritualists; small huts – dark rooms, where ritual money is invoked that exist in the houses of the big men. There are also stories of alleged secret societies members who enter their apartments with their back, attend meetings in the night where they drink blood or donate a family member, or the pants in exchange for occult money or wealth.

Incidentally, there is no evidence at all that a sacrifice performed with female pants or bra or pads with mensural or vaginal discharge magically turn into money or make anyone rich or wealthy beside the above mentioned business transactions. Nigerians must be told this in very clear and categorical terms.

How could any one believe that people could get rich through a ritual sacrifice? People keep advancing explanations and justifications no matter how absurd for the reality of ritual money. Most surprisingly, it is the educated persons who often try defend or justify the baseless notions. Out of intellectual laziness, cowardice or bias, the educated often discourage thorough and rigorous inquiry, probe and analysis of these paranormal and superstitious claims that impact the society. Are you saying that there is nothing like ritual money? Are you implying that occult forces do not exist? Are you stating that magic is not real? They often ask. Nigerian intellectuals are more contented with sitting on the fence, and not taking a definitive stand in light of evidence. They have failed to provide the intellectual leadership that the society urgently needs to combat irrational beliefs. This is the main reason why superstitions persist in the society.

Look if by any stretch of imagination, female pants could yield the supposed wealth, young girls in this country would

be stupendously rich. Our female colleagues would become millionaires and billionaires overnight. They would not wait for anyone to come and steal their pants, they would actually go and do the rituals themselves in order to maximize profit and avoid being shortchanged. In fact, if pant ritual money is real as believed, then our females do not need to embark on any other job because they could just stay at home be selling pants or leggings for ritual sacrifice.

Many people would readily resign from their jobs in Nigeria where the monthly pay is usually not up to the cost of a magic pant. Well, this is not the case. This is not yet the case.

It is important that those who believe strongly that female pant ritual can yield magical wealth come forward with their proof, demonstration and evidence for such extraordinary claims. This is because many innocent people suspected of being pant thieves have fallen victims and many people motivated by this ritualistic belief have also ended up being mobbed or arrested by the police.

The Nigeria media have published reports of inhuman and degrading treatment that has been meted out to alleged ritualists or pant thieves. In Ogun state, pant thieves reportedly disguise as ice cream sellers. And in one case, a seller found with a bag filled with pants was arrested at a tertiary institution in Ogun State. In Onitsha, a 19 year old guy was arrested for stealing pants which he was “intending” to sell for 80, 000 naira. While in Awka a middle aged man was almost lynched for steal pants at a female hostel. He confessed to have stolen 58 pants which he sold at 500 naira each. Other suspected pant thieves have been apprehended in Benin, and Okigwe. In reaction to the reported cases of pant theft, the police in Lagos have warned that those caught in the act will be charged of attempted murder. It would be interesting to know how such a case would be prosecuted. If Nigerians knew that ritual money were an illusion, some hocus pocus, many would not indulge in stealing pants or in mobbing suspects.

In conclusion, the belief in ritual money is widespread in the country. Motivated by the absurd belief in occult money and wealth, ritualists have indeed harmed other human beings. Fears and panic linked pant ritual have resulted to mob action, lynching and victimization of innocent persons. Ice cream sellers, mentally challenged individuals, or those who sell female clothing items, persons in possession female underwear are potential targets and suspects. In fact a popular actress has reportedly said that she would stop wearing pants due to fears and anxieties that are associated with pant rituals.

So pant ritual is a serious issue, and has grave consequences on the everyday life of people in this country. Those who peddle ritual money claims should be taken seriously. They should be held responsible and made accountable for these extra ordinary claims. Humanists in Nigeria should champion this public education and enlightenment campaign.

Leo Igwe is a Public Affairs Analyst.

Sustainable food security still remains challenge for Africa

By Kestér Kenn Klomegâh

Someargued that African leaders, analysing insights into what is going on in Ukraine, have to blame Russia for the negative economic effects and increasing instability in Africa. On the other hand, Russia, in an attempt to increase its geopolitical leverage, ultimately agreed this March, with much hesitation, to prolong the Black Sea grain deal.

Beyond the rapidly changing geopolitics, internal economic bottlenecks and all kinds of conflicts have shaken African governance, and posed tremendous challenges for ensuring food security among 1.3 billion population in Africa. The Russia-Ukraine crisis, which began late February 2022, has also pushed prices of consumables resulting into high cost of living, thus complicating already existing economic obstacles across Africa.

In an Opp article headlined “Why African leaders have a blind spot for Russia” first published by the Council of Councils from authors of the South African Institute of International Affairs (SAIIA), said in part “African countries have not reacted well to Western pressure to condemn Russia. Their voting records in the UN General Assembly show the continent’s deep divisions.”

It further underscored that fact that Africa, however, has taken action. A senior African Union delegation traveled to Russia in June 2022 to seek safe passage for Ukrainian grain shipments. These talks paved the way for the Black Sea Grain Initiative between Russia and Ukraine, brokered by Turkey and the United Nations. But, Africa gets too little credit for this rare diplomatic win.

On March 20, Russian President Vladimir Putin, at the plenary session of the international parliamentary conference on RussiaAfrica, reassured that Russia has reliably been fulfilling all its obligations pertaining to the supply of food, fertilisers, fuel and other products that are critically important for African countries.

He pointed out that “Russia, guided by the needs of African countries, first and foremost, has recently agreed to extend the agreement concluded in Istanbul on the export of Ukrainian food through the Black Sea and the unblocking of Russian agricultural exports and fertiliser supplies for another 60 days.”

By the way, despite all the restrictions and limitations on the

export of Russian grain, almost 12 million tonnes were sent from Russia to Africa, Putin said at the Russia-Africa parliamentary conference, and added (with an ear-deafening applause from the hall) that “if we decide not to extend this deal after 60 days, Russia will be ready to supply the same amount that was delivered under the deal, from Russia to the African countries in great need, at no expense.”

Russian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova said earlier on March 16 that the grain deal was extended by 60 days. As reported earlier, Russia, Turkey, Ukraine, and the United Nations signed two documents in Istanbul on July 22, 2022 to set up a sea corridor for exporting grain from the Ukrainian seaports of Odessa, Chernomorsk, and Yuzhny and to lift barriers from exports of Russian food and fertilizers. The deal was now extended for 120 days in November 2022.

Some argued that African leaders, analysing insights into what is going on in Ukraine, have to blame Russia for the negative economic effects and increasing instability in Africa. On the other hand, Russia, in an attempt to increase its geopolitical leverage, ultimately agreed this March, with much hesitation, to prolong the Black Sea grain deal.

Russia’s initiatives on new possible instruments to encourage Russian exports to Africa is commendable, but African leaders have to adopt import substitution measures, maximally utilize resources to increase domestic production and this requires some external investment support in Africa. Perhaps, make a critical assessment of the capacity to engage in the agricultural sector, this should rather be the focus for African leaders when dealing with Russia.

In the broader context of the continued development of cooperation, Africa has to rethink a number of initiatives such grain imports from both Russia and Ukraine. Despite the climate change and natural disasters, Africa could still use the huge expanse of land combined with other resources including the vibrant youth and adopt basic mechanization measures to improve agricultural production.

Worth suggesting that African leaders have to learn from Zimbabwe – a landlocked southern African country. It is ready to cooperate in business with external countries and for the benefit of

the people. Early February 2023, President Emmerson Mnangagwa recieved a large number of tractors, agricultural mechanization facility and other necessary instruments from Minsk, Belarus, for the agricultural sector.

Zimbabwe and Belarus agreed also on semi-trailers with hydraulic manipulator for transportation of construction machinery, drop-side trucks, firefighting equipment critical in forest business and emergency rescue operations. Motorcycles and a complete set of spare parts for every type of machinery and equipment were delivered. Mnangagwa has reiterated that Zimbabwe is open for business. Zimbabwe has been looking foreign partners from other countries to transfer technology and industrialize its ailing economy.

While a number of African countries largely depends on Russia and Ukraine for their regular supply of wheat and grains, even in spite of the persistent geopolitical warring situation, Zimbabwe has recorded its highest wheat harvest during the last agricultural production in 2022. Thus, Zimbabwe emerges as one of the few African countries which has adopted import substitution agricultural policy and strategically working towards self-sufficiency.

Some experts and international development organizations have also expressed the fact that African leaders have to adopt import substitution mechanisms and use their financial resources on strengthening agricultural production systems. Establishing food security is important for millions of people facing hunger in Africa and is crucial for sustainable economic development in the continent.

Addressing food security therefore, is key for a rising Africa in the 21st century. From various perspectives, African leaders have to focus and redirect both human and financial resources toward increasing local production, the surest approach to attain sustainable food security for over 1.3 billion population in Africa, and this falls within the framework of the Agenda 2063 of the African Union.

Kestér Kenn Klomegâh is a Public Policy Analyst.

Tinubu @71: Support group feeds 3000 IDPs in Abuja

Asiwaju Project Beyond 2023, one of the foremost support groups that worked for the election of Sen. Bola Tinubu, the President-elect, on Wednesday fed no fewer than 3000 Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) in Abuja.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the gesture was part of gestures to mark the 71st birthday anniversary of the president-elect by his supporters and well-wishers across the country.

The event which took place at the Dagba IDP Camp in Area 1, Garki Abuja, was attended by leadership of the support group and politicians who broke their Ramadan fasting and a cut birthday cake with the IDPs including women, children and youths.

The Director-General of the group, Mr Realwan Okpanachi, said the gesture was in line with the generous and humble nature which Tinubu is known for.

He said that the choice of the IDP camp was another demonstration of the low-key birthday celebration as directed by Tinubu who is currently outside the country.

“The significance of this event is Tinubu’s love for the downtrodden. For the less privileged and the challenged in the society. That’s why we are here to celebrate with these people.

“If you listened to his directive, he said his birthday should be celebrated with the downtrodden. That’s why we’re here.

“We’re also here to tell them that the very reason why they’re here is the same reason why Tinubu is coming as President of the Rederal republic of Nigeria to tackle the problem of insecurity which has led them to this place in the first place, abandoning their homes, farming and businesses to seek refuge in this place.

“By the coming of Tinubu to office, he will provide security, education for their children and ensure that each and everyone here is rehabilitated and returned to their original homes to start life afresh as it used to be.

“So, there are no better people to celebrate Tinubu’s birthday with than this vulnerable group who he cares about passionately,” he said.

Okpanachi added that as representatives of the President-elect, they had given the IDPs a message of hope that he will make live liveable and bearable for them in particular and all Nigerians as a whole.

He disclosed that the initial projection of feeding the IDPs was put at 2000, but with the large turnout witnessed additional 1000 packages which had to be made so that they could have a memorable breaking of Ramadan.

Amina Musa, a mother of five and one of the beneficiaries who spoke in Hausa Language thanked the group and said the foods, drinks and fruits collected by her household would help them in breaking the fasting.

“We thank Baba Tinubu for this gesture to me and my family. The things I collected here today will help us to break our fasting. We wish him happy birthday too”.

Speaking on behalf of the IDPs, Idris Alilu, expressed appreciation for the kind gesture from Tinubu to have remembered them at this Ramadan season.

Alilu used the opportunity to pray for good health and divine wisdom for the president-elect to pilot the affairs of the nation commencing from May 29 Presidential Inauguration Day.

NAN reports that prayers were also offered for the unity and peace of the country following the aftermath of the 2023 general elections.(NAN)

North-East group commends military for de-radicalization programme in region

By Tobias Lengnan Dapam

Agroup, North-East Rebuild Initiative has commended ongoing De-radicalisation, Rehabilitation and Reintegration (DRR) programme by the Nigerian Military.

The group attributed mass surrender of insurgents to application of both kinetic and non-kinetic measures by the Armed forces of Nigeria.

President of the group, Gambo Katagum, who made this known in a statement issued on Wednesday, said since the assumption of office of the present Chief of Defence Staff, Gen. LEO Irabor, the war against insurgents have become less noisy

with more positive results.

He said the revelations by the CDS that no fewer than 51,828 terrorists’ fighters and their family members surrendered to the Federal Government between July 2021 and May 2022 is a testimony of the good work being done by the troops to restore peace and stability in the country.

Katagum, expressed confidence that the remaining insurgents have no option but to surrender with the intense onslaughts on them by troops of the Armed forces of Nigeria.

“Just recently, troops of Operation Hadin Kai killed unconfirmed numbers of Boko Haram fighters as it raided 6 camps

of the terrorist group successfully in Bula Agaida, Bula Yaga, Bula Lambai, Kuluri, Bula Umar and New Churchur in Bama Local Government Area.

“Similarly, troops in collaboration with Civilian Joint Task Force (CJTF) stormed the hideout of ISWAP in Dikwa Local Government Area of Borno State, killing 41 of the terrorists including a Commander, Abu Zahra while others fled for their lives.

“In same period, Troops of 222 Battalion, Operation Hadin Kai killed several members of the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) in the North East of Konduga in Borno state.

“And just this Monday, Monday

March 27, 2023, troops of Joint Task Force Operation Hadin Kai successfully repelled ISWAP attack on a military formation in the volatile northeast of Kunnari near Burutai town in Biu Local Government Area, Borno State.

“The troops overwhelmed the terrorists in a gun battle and eliminated eight of them while others fled the scene.”

“North-East Rebuild Initiative is therefore calling on remaining insurgents to lay down arms as the Armed forces of Nigeria under Gen LEO Irabor from all indications will not allow them disturb the peace of the region.”

Biafra referendum suit suffers another setback ...as Court

By Abubakar Yunusa ABUJA

The suit filed by the Coalition of Northern Groups (CNG) seeking a referendum to determine the fate of Biafra and other self-determination agitations, suffered hearing for over two years as a Federal High Court sitting in Abuja, on Thursday, adjourned the hearing to 24th of May, 2023.

Yesterday, the case was adjourned after the court presided over by Justice Inyang Ekwo could not sit as scheduled.

Counsel to CNG, Barrister Sufiyanu Gambo Idris, while briefing journalists, noted that the case will now be heard on the 24th of May, 2023.

He said: “The court did not sit today (yesterday). Even though today supposed to be rejoinder. The Judge gave reasons that he was absent even though the information was not made available to us, so we decided to take another date and we took 24th of may 2023 for the motion.”

Recall that, the Coalition of

Northern Groups, CNG, had filed a suit before the Federal High Court in Abuja seeking to stop the National Assembly from taking any further action towards reviewing the Constitution unless the question of Nigeria’s unity, particularly the Biafra agitation was settled through a referendum.

The court document marked FHC/ABJ/CS/538/2021 was dispatched for service on the Offices of the Senate President, the Speaker of the House of Representatives and the Attorney-General of the Federation.

Reacting to the development, Abdul-Azeez Suleiman, Spokesperson of the Coalition of Northern Groups, said that the coalition have confidence that the court, being the ultimate temple of justice would eventually do justice to the suit and history would be made.

He said: “We're however worried that while the case is suffering these much adjournment, the country on the other hand, is getting more embroiled with each passing day. This case ought to be treated as

the only available decent option to finally resolve the long drawn and fast escalating regional agitations and unreasonable violence and resounding rumours of war from particularly the southeast.

“This suit, when concluded, will permanently put an end to the widespread pervasive distrust resulting from the hate campaigns persistently waged by political opportunists and authors of senseless violence. The suit hopes to secure a final legal pronouncement on the issue of self determination by enclaves that call for it on the slightest of pretenses. We hope the court will see the urgency of treating the matter once for all.”

Also speaking, Counsel to Ibom People’s Movement, Barrister. Adesina Oke, asking to join in the suit for self determination for Akwa Ibom citizens, demanded an end to the political and economic colonization of Akwa Ibom by the Nigerian State.

Oke said: “Ibom Peoples Movement is led by Offiong Offiong Aqua who is the Leader and

Chief Political Officer of this self determination group. We are asking for a self determination referendum to determine the future of ignored Akwa Ibom as a Federating Unit in the Nigerian State. Do our people want to continue being second class citizens in Nigeria or not?”

He noted that Akwa Ibom land has natural resources making it the number one contributor to the economy of the Nigerian State: He added: “Akwa Ibom resources are under the manipulation and control of other ethnic nationalities and the Nigerian State with net benefits of less than one (1) per cent to the people of Akwa Ibom. Akwa Ibom people do not have a proper and legitimate representation at the executive branch (MDAs) of the Nigerian State.

“We resolve to maintain the sanctity of the Akwa Ibom people who, as the most ancient of all the ethnic groups in present day Nigeria, are a unique, distinct and aboriginal people sharing no migration history whatsoever with any other tribe in Nigeria.”

NCC, NITDA, others partner with ASF France on protection of Nigerians’ digital rights

TheNigeria Communications Commission (NCC) and National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) have expressed their readiness to partner with Avocats Sans Frontieres (ASF) France on the protection of Nigerians’ digital rights. The Chief Executive Officer of NCC, Prof. Umar Danbatta, and Director-General of NITDA, Mallam Kashifu Abdullahi, gave the assurance, on Wednesday, during the launch of e-Rights Project by ASF France in Abuja.

The Nigeria Data Protection Bureau (NDPB) and the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) also said they would support ASF France, also known as Lawyers Without Borders France, on achieving the objectives of the project.

Prof. Danbatta, represented by Mr Chidi Dingwu, Head of New Media and Information Security, said the project was the latest intervention in promoting the fulfilment of human rights in Nigeria. “To transform Nigeria into a leading digital economy providing quality life and digital economies for all, it is imperative that we strengthen the people’s confidence in the use of digital technologies, and involvement in the digital

economy as stipulated in the soft infrastructure pillar of the National Digital Economy Policy and Strategy (NDEPS 2020-2030),” he said.

He said this pillar addressed the importance of cybersecurity, digital rights, data protection and privacy frameworks and guidelines that encouraged citizens to embrace the opportunities which digital technologies offer with a view to repositioning the Nigerian Economy. He said since the digital and other user rights in communications and electronic media are becoming more significant in the society as technology advances, there is the need to protect these rights.

“The event is an acknowledgement of the drive of ASF France to promote the rights of individuals to information, freedom of expression, privacy and data protection as they engage online,” Danbatta said. He said as the country continued to boost confidence and trust in its digital economy through fruitful deliberation and conversations, all hands must be on deck to safeguard the people’s rights to information, freedom of expression, privacy and data Protection, in the context of digital technologies, especially the Internet. Abdullahi, also

represented by Mr Emmanuel Edet, NITDA’s Head of Legal Unit, said that as at the last statistics, about 84 million Nigerians had access to internet

He said this showed that the number of internet users in the country had grown astronomically, hence, the need for the protection of their digital rights cannot be overemphasised.

He said there was the need for every stakeholders to collaborate to ensure that digital space was safe. Abdullahi, who said that the agency was working with NCC and others to develop child rights protection in the digital space, said he aligned totally with e-Rights Project and to ensure that this was adequately and properly used in Nigeria. The Executive Secretary of NHRC, Mr Anthony Ojukwu, said he was always inclined to associating with any programme aimed at protecting the human rights. “So there is the need to address the challenges and annex the potentials of digital space,” he said. Ojukwu also said that there was need for legislation that would help safeguard the digital space. The Chief Executive Officer of NDPB, Dr Vincent Olatunji, said with the huge population

of internet users, effort must be made to safeguard the people’s rights. Olatunji, who was represented at the event, said as nations across the globe march to the ever increasing tempo of technological advancement in the 4th industrial revolution, the need to safeguard the rights of citizens must be addressed with the keenest sense of equity and justice. Alexandre Borges-Gomes, Deputy Head of the European Union (EU) Delegation in Nigeria and ECOWAS, said new technologies can contribute significantly to the protection and promotion of human rights and democracy and make public participation easier and more effective.

He, however, said that this could also be abused “In this context, the e RIGHTS project is strategic because it aims at promoting people’s rights in the digital space in Nigeria; digital rights are all about freedom of expression and privacy and an extension of human rights for the internet age,” he said. Angela Uzoma-Iwuchukwu, the Country Director of ASF France, said the project was the latest human rights initiative of the organisation funded by the EU. According to her, it is aimed at enhancing digital rights in Nigeria.(NAN)

adjourn hesring to 24th May 2023

Kwankwaso attacks Uzodinma, Bello, says number six will become number one again

By Ikechukwu Okaforadi

Ahead of November 2023 off-season governorship elections in Kogi, Imo and Bayelsa states, the presidential candidate of New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP), Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso yesterday attacked the Imo and Kogi Governors for both deploying thugs and judiciary manipulation to cling to power.

Speaking to journàlists in Abuja after a National Executive Committee (NEC) of the party, Kwankwaso emphasized the need for the judiciary to dispense justice irrespective of who is involved, even as he decried situation where he said number four in governorship election suddenly emerged to become Governor.

He also lamented the use of security agencies to rig and disrupt a peaceful election in Kogi and Kano States in the last general election, warning that such acts of violence will do nobody any good, citing cases of Boko Haram, banditry and kidnapping, which he argued were offshoot of injustices in the high places.

“We saw what happened in some States, especially Kogi State, where security agents were seen running around, picking ballot boxes, shooting in the air. All sorts of things and many other States,

2023: Tinubu’s victory irrevocableSen Nnamani

By Christiana Ekpa

Former Governor of Enugu state, senator Chimaroke Nnamani has urged Nigerians, especially Ndigbo to support the administration of the President- Elect Bola Ahmed Tinubu. Senator Nnamani who currently represents Enugu East in the Senate cautioned that antagonism to the Tinubu presidency would not yield the needed dividend of democracy.

The federal Lawmaker stated: ”Tinubu has won the election . If any body has any reason to think otherwise, the courts are there to adjudicate. The courts are there as part of the electioneering process.

“What I expect our people to do is to align with the incoming administration, negotiate like others for national resources and political largesse for the benefit of our citizens”.

Senator Nnamani believes that a Tinubu Administration will be fair, just and equitable in the allocation of resources to every part of Nigeria.

He added that Tinubu has more than enough experience to run the affairs of Nigeria in a manner that will give all sections of Nigeria a sense of belonging.

even in Imo. We pray that the judiciary should be a better place for us, because now, we have number four being the Governor of the State, maybe he will be number five or six and still go back to his seat, being supported by INEC, supported by judiciary.

“We have seen in most States, how people were openly displaying money, both local and foreign currencies, purchasing voters and so on and so forth. We have seen how in many states, especially in my state Kano, how the government brought out money and the State government in Kano, imported thugs from neighbouring States and neighbouring countries and also being supported by some of the security agents that we have here in this country.

“People have seen what happened in our case in 2019, so actually for me, I believe that so many things are wrong with our democracy, and those that are hitting so hard at our democracy are the very people who are the beneficiaries of this democracy. Maybe because they have not supported it. People do not like them. That is the fact of the matter”, he said

The NNPP leaders also cautioned that democracy cannot go too far in Nigeria given the present circumstances in the country, just as he bemoaned the high

level of stealing of resources meant for the poor masses, with a view to impoverish them for electoral benefits.

“What we are seeing now is people stealing everything that should go to the people and making them so poor to the extent that on election day, you only need to give them Maggi, noodle, rapper and a couple of thousand naira and purchase their votes.

“I believe that democracy cannot go too far under our present circumstances. So we are concerned in the NNPP by the way and manner elections have taken place in the last general election and the potential of all these things is dangerous, in fact even in these off-season elections, no body is saying anything.

“Anything goes. After they rig the election, they will say announce me, let him go to court. Because the court is their own, they know what to do with the court. They don’t care. I believe it does not help anybody. It’s fair to keep it just. I believe it is what has created so many parts of the crisis in this country, banditry, kidnapping, Boko Haram.

“People are agitating here and there because of injustice. This injustice is what we have been seeing in high places. So we urge the government, especially the federal

government, which I believe everything stops on the table of the President. If he wants free and fair elections, if the leader looks away, these criminals will continue to do what they know how to do best”, Kwankwaso said.

He said “This is a very sad moment in this country, I can tell you that you cannot build something on nothing, and that is what is happening now. That is why we announce results from State Assemblies up to the National Assembly and nobody is celebrating, because what is coming out is not the wishes of the people.

“If you want to see celebration, go to Kano and see people dancing, because they are sick and tired of the government and not only Kano, peoples were expecting changes in many states, if not all States, but now Nigeria has gone back to square one, everybody was looking for a real change, positive change, not what we have today.

“Not the way and manner things are happening. Our children cannot go to school, our children are taking drugs, our graduates have no jobs, and nobody cares. All they need is swear me in and take over and worsen the situation”, Kwankwaso said.

INEC issues Certificate of Return to Akwa Ibom Governor-elect, Eno

By Musa Baba Adamu

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in Akwa Ibom State, on Thursday, issued Certificate of Return to the Governor-Elect, Pastor Umo Eno.

Eno emerged winner of the governorship election held on March 18.

The event held at the INEC Office in Udo Udoma Avenue in Uyo also witnessed the presentation of Certificates of Return to 25 newly-elected House of Assembly members by the National Commissioner, Mrs May Agbamuche-Mbu.

Etim Ekpo/Ika State constituency was left out as elections in the area were declared inconclusive. As such, 25 house memberselect out of 26 received their certificates of return from INEC.

Before making the presentations, Mbu

thanked all stakeholders for the role they played for the successful conduct of the just concluded election.

She said that the electoral act, mandates the Commission to issue certificates of return to winners of the election within 14 days from the day the results were announced.

She said, “Let me appreciate our critical stakeholders for their unwavering support throughout the 2023 general elections in Akwa Ibom.

“I wish to commend the Resident Electoral Commissioner, Dr Cyril Omorogbe, the management staff of the commission, members of the press and observers for their commitment and participation in the just concluded general elections.”

The Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) in Akwa Ibom, Cyril Omorogbe, reassured all stakeholders in the

electioneering process that INEC was poised at building on the high level of credibility it has achieved.

He urged them to use the renewed mandates given to them to serve the people diligently and truthfully.

In his remarks, the governor-elect, Eno promised to be magnanimous in victory and called for everyone to join hands to build the state.

“Let me again use this opportunity to invite my brothers who, also, aspired and contested for the same position that it has pleased God to entrust me with today, to join me in this great journey of deepening the continued peace and progress of our dear State.

“As I said in my acceptance speech, we all ran a good race, but

any contest, a winner must emerge and it has pleased God to make me the winner.”

in

L-R: Deputy Director ,Drug Evaluation and Research NAFDAC,Pharm. Ebele Anto, President, Association of Nigeria Health Journalists, Hassan Zaggi, Representative of the DG(NAFDAC), Dr. Patrick Leonard Omokpariola, Director (Public Affairs), Dr. Abubakar Jimoh, Director (North-Central Zone), Pharm. Mohammed Shaba, State Co-ordinator (Bauchi State), Mrs. Josephine Dayilim and the Director Drug Registration and Regulatory Affairs, Pharm. Linda Halim at the North-Central Zone Media Sensitization Workshop on Dangers of Bleaching Creams and Regulatory Controls, yesterday in Jos, Plateau State.

Labour Party suspends 11 executive members for anti-party activities

By Ikechukwu Okaforadi

Labour Party (LP) in Nasarawa

State has suspended 11 executive members for engaging in anti-party activities at the just-concluded governorship and House of Assembly elections. This was contained in a statement issued in Lafia on Thursday and signed by Mr Alex Emmanuel, Party Chairman and Mr Ashime Benjamin, Assistant State Secretary.

It stated that the suspension

was pronounced in conjunction with the national body of the party to stave recurrence.

The suspended executive members were state and local government party officials who were allegedly involved in antiparty activities at the March 18 elections.

“With reference to a complaint made to LP headquarters dated March 24 and the responses received, we bring to your notice that the suspended members have gone contrary to the party’s

Stop MC Oluomo from starting tribal war in Lagos –Ohanaeze begs Gani Adams

By Christiana Ekpa

The Ohanaeze Ndigbo

has urged the Aare Ona Kakanfo of Yorubaland, Iba Gani Adams, to restrain the thugs of the All Progressives Congress, APC, led by Musiliu Akinsanya, popularly known as MC Oluomo, from causing a war between Yoruba and Igbo in Lagos State.

Okechukwu Isiguzoro, the body’s Secretary-General, made the call while condemning the unprovoked attacks on Igbo in Lagos State.

Isiguzoro said the attacks on Igbo in Lagos State seem to have other motives other than winning elections.

In the past few weeks, markets largely populated by Igbo traders have been razed by “mysterious fires.”

On Thursday morning, fire razed down the Olowu spare parts market in Lagos State.

This happened three weeks after Akere Spare Parts Market on Kirikiri Road, Olodi-Apapa in

By Christiana Ekpa

Agroup, Save Nigeria

Democratic Movement, on Thursday called on the Inspector General of Police, Alkali Baba Usman, to arrest former Aviation Minister and Director of New Media, All Progressive Congress (APC) Presidential Campaign Council, Femi FaniKayode, within the 48 hours over his recent inciting comments.

Fani-Kayode, in a release on Saturday, warned that the country would be made ungovernable if supporters of presidential candidates of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Atiku Abubakar and Labour Party (LP), Peter Obi did not stop their protests against the result of the 2023 election.

He had said “Let this serve as a timely warning. We cannot be a punching bag for the opposition forever and soon we will react. Trust me when I tell you that if there is any foul play in this matter or any conspiracy to thwart the people’s will, we will make this nation ungovernable.”

Constitution.

“They violated Article 19, Part ‘B’ of the Constitution that stipulates disciplinary measures for anti-party activities that lead to embarrassment, contempt, and ridicule of the party,’’ the statement read.

It stressed that the officials endorsed a certain political party at the just-concluded governorship election without recourse to the LP thereby ridiculing the party.

The LP recalled that when its governorship candidate, Mr

Joseph Ewuga stepped down and declared his support for the Peoples Democratic Party’s (PDP) governorship candidate, Mr David Ombugadu, he duly informed the party.

“In the build-up to the governorship election, Ewuga stepped down for the PDP candidate and he informed the party and we communicated same to the national body of our great party,’’ the statement also read.

Those suspended included the State Secretary of the party, Mr

Dahiru Abubakar, the Women Leader, Hajia Hajara Dalhatu, the Treasurer, Mr Musa Doma, and the Lafia Local Government Area party chairman, Mr Muhammad Aliyu.

Others were party chairmen in seven local government areas of the state.

The statement added that a five-man committee had been constituted to further investigate the suspended members’ activities and if found guilty would face further disciplinary action.

Appoint Igbo affairs aides – Uzodinma’s appointee, Adamu tells Northern Govs

Ajegunle went up in flames.

Isiguzoro lamented that Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu of Lagos State has been helpless in resolving the attacks on Igbos.

A statement by Isiguzoro reads partly: “Ohanaeze Ndigbo, therefore, calls on Iba Gani Adams, the Aare Ona Kakanfo of the Yoruba nation to kindly use his revered office in bringing the situation to a halt.

“Already, it is becoming a Herculean task to hold Ndigbo back from retaliation in the face of the sustained “genocide and crimes against humanity” being perpetrated against Ndigbo in Lagos by some “APC thugs” under the command of MC Oluomo with the State Government and security agencies watching the “horror movie”.

“We are, however, consoled by the patriotic position of Afenifere under the valiant leadership of Pa Ayo Adebanjo and urge Ndigbo to remain law-abiding but “vigilant and on guard.”

By Musa Baba Adamu

Hassan Adamu Sokoto, Imo State Governor, Sen. Hope Uzodimma’s newly appointed Northern Affairs Special Adviser, has tasked the 19 governors of the Northern states of Nigeria to immediately appoint aides on Igbo Affairs.

Speaking to newsmen in Owerri on Thursday, Adamu said appointing core Igbos as Special Advisers on Eastern Affairs to the Government of the 19 states of the North will strengthen inter-state businesses and guarantee unity, peace and progress of Nigeria.

The Kebbi State-born All Progressives Congress, APC, Presidential Campaign Council Chairman of South East Hausa Community in

the just concluded general elections, lauded Uzodimma for giving adequate security, a conducive atmosphere, and a level playing ground to carry on their various businesses.

He said, “APC won with a landslide in Imo because of the tremendous achievements of Governor Uzodimma. The resounding victory was an indication of Uzodimma’s good governance.

“And I am using this medium to charge Muslims in Imo State to seize this holy month of Ramadan to pray for a peaceful Imo gubernatorial election come November 11, 2023, and Uzodimma’s reelection.

“I thank Governor Uzodimma for allowing me to serve my people. I will make sure that all the northerners from the 19 states of northern Nigeria feel

the impacts of Uzodimma’s good governance. I will equally make sure that northern governors appoint Igbo Affairs Aides to work in tandem in arresting our business challenges”, he promised.

He congratulated the President-elect, Senator Bola Ahmed Tinubu, and his Vice, Kashim Shettima, and APC elected Governors, Senators, House of Representatives and State Houses of Assembly members especially the 27 Imo House of Assembly members-elect.

“Look at Owerri-Orlu, Oweri-Okigwe, and OwerriUmuahia Roads. We can now boast of a good road network in Imo State. I am optimistic that Uzodimma will complete eight years in the office,” he added.

tells Police

Reacting, the group pointed out that Fani-Kayode’s ethnic profiling and inciting statements fuelled unprecedented violence against non-Yoruba voters in Lagos State at the just-concluded governorship poll.

At a press conference jointly addressed by its President, Danjuma Garba and Secretary, Olubankole Peters Adeniyi, SNDM condemned his recent threat to make the country ungovernable should the President-elect, Bola Tinubu be sworn in.

They called on the relevant security agencies to tame FaniKayode before he plugged the country into chaos with his inciting rhetoric.

The group said, “The Save Nigeria Democratic Movement is disturbed by the recent inciting comments by a former Aviation Minister and Director of New Media, All Progressive Congress (APC) Presidential Campaign Council, Femi FaniKayode.

“Recently, the media has been awash with reports of Fani-

Kayode’s inciting rhetoric targeted at causing ethnic disharmony and widespread violence across the nation. We can no longer continue to ignore his excesses as they pose a grave danger to our democracy, unity and security.

“Recall that his ethnic-profiling

and inciting statements fuelled unprecedented violence against non-Yoruba voters in Lagos State at the just-concluded governorship poll. We find totally unacceptable, his recent threat to make the country ungovernable should Bola Ahmed Tinubu not be sworn in.

This is a threat against national peace and security and should not be ignored by all relevant security agencies.

“Already, his rancorous and misguided outbursts had attracted the attention of the international community. A British envoy addressed him and pointed out the dangers of his inciting statements.

“However, instead of retracting his statements, he went wild against the envoy with derogatory remarks and tirades unbefitting of a supposed statesman.

“Femi Fani-Kayode is infamous in Nigeria for his opportunistic political misadventures. He is a rabble-rouser whose only political value is the noise he makes and the ripples of disaffection it causes.

“He has never contested, won or lost an election. His is to parasitically attach himself to the winning side and look for any available financial opportunity to sustain his extravagant and drugridden lifestyle.

“The incompetent junkie once blamed witches for the plane crashes that happened under his watch as the aviation minister.

Fani Kayode will set Nigeria on fire, arrest him now – Democracy group

Fani Kayode

NASS elections: Gov Ortom finally accepts defeat, withdraws case from tribunal

By Musa Baba Adamu

Benue State Governor, Samuel Ortom has finally accepted the outcome of the Benue North West Senatorial election which took place on February 25.

Recall that Ortom of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP who is expected to complete his second term in office on May 29, contested for the senatorial position but lost to the All Progressives Congress, APC.

While Ortom polled 106,882 votes, Titus Zam of the APC scored 143,151 votes, while Mark Gbillah, the candidate of the Labour Party, LP, garnered 51,950 votes.

The governor had since rejected the results, alleging irregularities by the officials of the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, saying the poll was clinically rigged.

Ortom and the PDP had petitioned the election tribunal seeking to overturn the victory of Zam.

However, addressing journalists in Makurdi on Tuesday, the governor declared that he has decided to withdraw the case in a bid to maintain the existing peace in the state.

He said, “Though there was glaring evidence of malpractices including non-transmission of results electronically during the conduct of the Benue North West Senatorial election, I have taken the decision to withdraw my case from the tribunal.

“As the Bible says in John 3:27 “A man can receive nothing, except it is given to him from heaven”.

“Let me add that the decision to withdraw my case from the court is in the interest of peace and without prejudice to the suits filed by other candidates of our party, PDP”.

Ebonyi: Court grants APGA, PDP exparte order to inspect INEC results

By Christiana Ekpa

The Governorship and House of Assembly Election Petition Tribunal sitting in Abakaliki, Ebonyi State, on Tuesday granted an ex-parte order, for the independent National electoral commission, INEC, to allow Prof. Benard Odoh and Ifeanyi Chukwuma Odii to inspect all sensitive electoral materials that led to the declaration of Francis Nwifuru as a winner.

Prof. Odoh is the governorship candidate of the All Progressives Grand Alliance, APGA, Ifeanyi Chukwuma Odii is the candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party,

PDP while Francis Nwifuru is the candidate of the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC.

Recall that, Nwifuru pulled a total of 199,131 votes to defeat Odii who scored 80,191 votes to come second while Odoh got 52,189 votes to come third in the just concluded governorship election that took place in the 13 local government areas of Ebonyi State.

The state INEC returning officer, Prof. Charles Igwe who declared Nwifuru the governorelect, said he polled the highest numbers from the total votes cast.

The candidates of PDP and APGA had dragged the

Independent National electoral commission, INEC, the All Progressives Congress, APC, and the governor-elect, Nwifuru to the Governorship Election Petition Tribunal sitting in Abakaliki, to challenge the process leading to the victory of Nwifuru in the just concluded election.

The counsel to Odoh, Uba Chukwu Dencency and that of Odii, Adams Uzuakpunwa Obeke Esq, had in their separate suits No. EPT/EB/Gov./01/2023 between Odoh Vs INEC and 2 others, and suit No, EPT/EB/Gov./02/2023 between Odii and ANOR Vs INEC and 2 others, solicited the court to prevail on INEC to allow their

clients inspect the governorship electoral material.

In his ruling, the Chairman of the three man governorship and House of Assembly Election Petition Tribunal, Justice Adekanye Lekan Ogunmoye, granted the Ex-parte order, directing the INEC to allow both Odoh and Odii to inspect the governorship election materials. Justice Ogunmoye, however, ordered that the independent National electoral commission, INEC, allow the plaintiffs; Odoh and Odii to inspect, scan and make photocopies for use of all the electoral materials that are their possession.

2023 election shows Nigeria no longer operating democracy – Sam Amadi

By Christiana Ekpa

The Director of the Abuja School of Social and Political Thoughts, Dr. Sam Amadi has said the outcome of the 2023 general elections showed that Nigeria is no longer practicing democracy.

Amadi disclosed this at the 2nd Ariyo Dare-Atoye memorial series, themed: “Is Nigeria a democracy? Reflection on the

2023 general election”, held recently in Abuja.

According to Amadi, the Feb 25 presidential, National assembly elections and March 18 governorship, house of assembly elections were not a reflection of the people’s choice.

He explained that the elections had further dissipated the leftover public trust on the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC.

The former Chairman of the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission, NERC described the just concluded elections as a ‘total desecration’, away from the democratic norms.

He said: “The outcome of the general elections showed Nigeria is yet to be democratic because the fundamental features of democracy, the three of them coming to these elections, fair institutions that should provide

equality for everybody, and guarantee basic freedoms have been denied largely in this election.

“We are no longer practicing democracy. We are not saying that alone, international rating agencies are saying that Nigeria first is a hybrid Democracy; meaning that we are functional or formally democratic but the logic of why Democrats is authoritarian”

Senate passes bills extending 2022 budget implementation to June

By Ikechukwu Okaforadi

The Senate on Tuesday at its plenary passed two bills seeking to extend the implementation of capital components of the 2022 Appropriation bills until June 30. Senate resolution followed the presentation of two bills, sponsored by Sen. Gobir Abdullahi (APC-Sokoto).

The two sponsored bills were: Bill for an Act to amend the 2022 Appropriation Act and Bill for an Act to amend the 2022 Supplementary Appropriation Act.

Abdullahi in his presentation said the bills seek to amend the 2022 appropriation act and 2022 supplementary appropriation act to extend the implementation year from March 31 to June 30.

He said the National Assembly

had extended the implementation of the 2022 appropriation Act from Dec 31 2022 to March 31, 2023.

This, he said was to allow for a full implementation of the budget, given the approval of supplementary budget approved in Dec 2022.

He said the extension had allowed Ministries Department and Agencies (MDAs) to use a

large proportion of funds released to them.

He, however, said significant amount of funds remained with MDAs and would require a further extension to be fully extended.

He said given the critical importance of some key projects nearing completion, requested for further extension of the expiration clause in the appropriation act.

He added that the long title

explanatory memorandum of the supplementary appropriation act was expedient.

This, he said was to avoid compounding the problem of abandoned projects, given that some of the projects were not provided for in the 2023 budget.

Abdullahi urged the senators to support the bill to allow for full utilisation of capital release to help reflate the economy.

Oando’s core investor set to take company private, offers minority shareholders 58% premium

From Abubakar Yunusa, ABUJA

Ocean and Oil Development Partners Limited (OODP), the core shareholder of Oando Plc, is taking the energy firm private more than three decades after the driller listed in Lagos as a public firm.

Wale Tinubu, Oando’s chief executive officer, holds a 66.7 per cent stake in OODP, where he is a non-executive director, while his deputy Omamofe Boyo, owns the remaining 33.3 per cent.

Mr Boye is also a nonexecutive director at OODP.

Oando said in a Thursday statement it is in receipt of an offer from its majority shareholder to procure the shares of all its minority shareholders at a premium of 58 per cent to its share prices on 28 March.

Shares in the company had jumped by roughly 10 per cent (the maximum daily gain allowed by the Nigerian Exchange) to N5.40 per unit at 11:13 WAT in Lagos. That is the highest level since 15 July, 2022.

“Each Scheme Shareholder shall be entitled to receive the sum of N7.07 in cash or its equivalent in South African Rand (ZAR) for every ordinary share held by the qualified Scheme Shareholders at the Effective Date of the Scheme,” Oando said in the document announcing the proposal.

The premium translates to about N37.5 billion for the minority shares listed on the NGX alone, totalling 5.3 billion shares in all.

The move will take Oando off the daily official list of the NGX and delist it from the Johannesburg Stock Exchange, where it has a secondary listing.

Last month, billionaire oilman and chairman of Ardova Plc, Abdulwasiu Sowami offered minority shareholders in the oil & gas firm premiums of 22.4 per cent and 24.9 per cent, summing up to N16.9 billion in a bid to take the company private.

Oando said it has applied to the Securities and Exchange Commission for a “No Objection” to the transaction and will seek approval of shareholders at a planned court-ordered meeting.

Nigeria’s public debt rose to N46.25trn in Q4 2022 – DMO

From Abubakar Yunusa, ABUJA

Nigeria’s total public debt stock rose to N46.25 trillion or $103.11 billion at the end of December 2022, the Debt Management Office (DMO) announced on Thursday.

The figure consists of the domestic and external debt stocks of the Federal Government, 36 state governments, and the Federal Capital Territory.

The figure reflects a 14.46 per cent increase when compared to

N39.56 trillion (USD95.77 billion) recorded on 31 December, 2021.

According to a statement issued by the DMO, in terms of composition, total domestic debt stock was N27.55 trillion (USD 61.42 billion) while total external debt stock was N18.70 trillion (USD 41.69 billion).

Amongst the reasons for the increase in the total public debt stock were new borrowings by the FGN and sub-national governments, primarily to fund budget deficits and execute projects.

The office said the issuance of promissory notes by the FGN to settle some liabilities also contributed to the growth in the debt stock.

To sustain the debt, the DMO said there are ongoing efforts by the government to increase revenues from oil and non-oil sources.

These efforts, it said, will be driven through initiatives such as the finance acts and the strategic revenue mobilisation initiative that are expected to support debt sustainability.

“Meanwhile, the Total Public Debt to Gross Domestic Product (GDP) ratio for December 31, 2022, was 23.20% and indicates a slight increase from the figure for December 31, 2022, at 22.47 percent.

“The ratio of 23.20 percent is within the 40 percent limit self-imposed by Nigeria, the 55 percent limit recommended by the World Bank/International Monetary Fund, and, the 70 percent limit recommended by the Economic Community of West African States,” it said.

Global economy’s “speed limit” set to fall to three-decade low – World Bank

By Abubakar Yunusa ABUJA

Theglobal economy’s “speed limit” is set to fall to a threedecade low by 2030, the World Bank has said.

The bank, in its report titled “Falling Long-Term Growth Prospects: Trends, Expectations, and Policies” said the global potential growth rate, the maximum rate at which an economy can grow without igniting inflation, is expected to fall to a three-decade low over the remainder of the 2020s.

The report offers the first comprehensive assessment of longterm potential output growth rates in the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic and the Russian invasion of Ukraine. It introduced the world’s first comprehensive public database of multiple measures of potential Gross Domestic Product (GDP) growth covering 173 economies from 1981 through 2021.

According to the report, nearly all the forces that have powered growth and prosperity since the early 1990s have weakened, partly because of a series of shocks to the global economy over the past three years.

It said the growth rates of investment and productivity are declining just as the global labour force is ageing and expanding more slowly.

It added that the growth of international trade is much weaker now than it was in the early 2000s, noting that the slowdown could be

even more pronounced if financial crises erupt in major economies and spread to other countries as these types of episodes often lead to lasting damage to potential growth.

As a result, the report said between 2022 and 2030, average global potential GDP growth is expected to decline by roughly a third from the rate that prevailed in the first decade of this century to 2.2 per cent a year.

“For developing economies, the decline will be equally steep from 6 per cent a year between 2000 and 2010 to 4 per cent a year over the remainder of this decade. These declines would be much steeper in the event of a global financial crisis or a recession,” it said.

The World Bank said these challenges call for an ambitious policy response at the national and global levels.

“The slowdown can be reversed by the end of the 2020s if all countries replicate some of their best policy efforts of recent decades and accompany them with a major investment push grounded in robust macroeconomic frameworks.

“Boosting human capital and labour force participation and making sound climate-related investments can also make a measurable difference in lifting growth prospects,” the bank said.

It added that bold policy actions at the national level will need to be supported by increased crossborder cooperation and substantial financing from the global

community.

However, the bank said the analysis shows that potential GDP growth can be boosted by as much as 0.7 percentage points to an annual average rate of 2.9 per cent if countries adopt sustainable, growth-oriented policies.

The report also highlighted some specific policy actions that can make an important difference in promoting long-term growth prospects.

It said policymakers should prioritize taming inflation, ensuring financial-sector stability, reducing debt, and restoring fiscal prudence.

“Ramp up investment: In areas such as transportation and energy, climate-smart agriculture and manufacturing, and land and water systems.

“Cut trade costs mostly associated with shipping, logistics, and regulations, capitalize on services and increase labour force participation,” it said.

The report also underscores the need to strengthen global cooperation, adding that international economic integration has helped to drive global prosperity for more than two decades since 1990, but it has faltered.

“Restoring it is essential to catalyze trade, accelerate climate action, and mobilize the investments needed to achieve Sustainable Development Goals,” it said.

Franziska Ohnsorge, a lead author of the report and manager of the World Bank’s Prospects

Group, said recessions tend to lower potential growth, adding that “Systemic banking crises do greater immediate harm than recessions”, but their impact tends to ease over time.

“A lost decade could be in the making for the global economy. The ongoing decline in potential growth has serious implications for the world’s ability to tackle the expanding array of challenges unique to our times, stubborn poverty, diverging incomes, and climate change,” the World Bank’s Chief Economist and Senior Vice President for Development Economics, Indermit Gill said.

“But this decline is reversible. The global economy’s speed limit can be raised through policies that incentivize work, increase productivity, and accelerate investment,” he added..

A lead author of the report and Director of the World Bank’s Prospects Group, Ayhan Kose, said the world owes it to future generations to formulate policies that can deliver robust, sustainable, and inclusive growth.

“A bold and collective policy push must be made now to rejuvenate growth. At the national level, each developing economy will need to repeat its best 10-year record across a range of policies. At the international level, the policy response requires stronger global cooperation and a reenergized push to mobilize private capital,” he added.

L-R CEO Nigerian Exchange Limited (NGX) Mr Temi Popoola, Executive Commissioner Operations, SEC Mr Dayo Obisan, Divisional Head Capital Markets NGX Mr Jude Chiemeka, Assistant Director Securities and Investment Department SEC Mrs Bose Fakeye, Executive Director, Business Development CSCS Mr Yinka Shonekan and Head, Registration , Exchanges , Market Infrastructure and Fintech Innovation Department SEC Mr Abdulkadir Abbas during a Meeting between The SEC and NGX in Abuja Thursday

Ecobank grows PBT by 13% to $540m

By Abubakar Yunusa, ABUJA

The Ecobank Group grew its profit before tax by 13 per cent to $540m in the 2022 financial year.

This was disclosed in its audited results for the year ending December 31, 2022, which was released on Thursday.

According to the bank, the PBT growth was supported by the benefits of its diversified business model. Within the period under review, the solid profit growth in Commercial Banking up 100 per cent to $134m and Consumer Banking, up 50 per cent to $130m, was partially offset by a decrease of 17 per cent to $333m in Corporate and Investment

NICA inaugurates governance committees

From Abubakar Yunusa, ABUJA

The President of the National Institute of Credit Administration, Mr Andy Ojei, has announced the inauguration of committees set up by the governing council of the institute.

A statement said that during the inauguration event in Lagos, the president thanked its members for accepting to serve the institute voluntarily, honourably, and consciously through the various committees.

The committees are education, training and research committee, membership and subscription committee, publication and events committee, government, and corporate relations committee.

Others are establishment committee, credit management accreditation committee, economic innovation, and emerging industries committee.

“As you are all aware, the Federal Government of Nigeria on Tuesday, 16th August 2022, signed into law the National Institute of Credit Administration establishment Act No 1018 of 2022 of the National Assembly, making the institute a regulatory and supervisory authority for credit management profession, as well as serving as catalyst for the transition of the economy from cash-based to credit system in Nigeria,” he said.

He stated that the leadership structures of the committee are the chairman, deputy chairman, secretary, deputy secretary, and rapporteur general.

While noting that the institute’s secretariat under the leadership of the Registrar/Chief Executive Officer, Prof. Chris Onalo, would co-ordinate the process, he said the registrar/CEO of the institute is a member of every committee.

Banking PBT, mainly due to impairment charges associated with Government of Ghana’s debt restructuring exercise.

The pan-African banking institution also reported net revenues of $1.9bn in the period under review.

As part of its commitment to shareholders, the bank also announced a proposed final dividend payout of $28m or 0.11 US cents per share subject to shareholder approval at its next AGM.

Speaking about the result in a statement accompanying the financial results, the Chief Executive Officer of Ecobank, Jeremy Awori, said that Ghana’s debt restructuring exercise

placed the company in a difficult position during the financial year.

He said, “Ecobank’s strong 2022 performance reflects the strength of our diversified business model, growth momentum and efficiency, and was achieved despite operating in a challenging macroeconomic environment, which also included the difficulties that Ghana’s debt restructuring exercise placed on us.

“We grew profit before tax by 13 per cent to $540m, translating into earnings per share growth of 10 per cent and delivering a record return on shareholders’ equity of 21.1 per cent With stubborn inflationary pressures

in 2022, improving our cost-toincome ratio to 56.4 per cent demonstrates our discipline around cost management.

Moreover, we further reduced the amount of non-performing loans to 5.2 per cent, reflecting our continued progress in improving credit quality. Our balance sheet is well capitalised, with a total capital adequacy ratio of 14.4 per cent above the regulatory minimum.”

Awori, a Kenyan, started as the Group CEO of Ecobank earlier this month.

According to the bank, the gross impairment charges on loans and advances were $270 million for 2022 compared with $374 million in 2021, reflecting

a decrease in non-performing loans. The net impairment charges on loans and advances were also lower in 2022 at $10m compared to $170 million in 2021.

Meanwhile, the bank said that hyperinflation in Zimbabwe and South Sudan resulted in a $34m net monetary loss.

Its payment revenues grew $25m or 12 per cent to $234m (representing 13 per cent of the Group net revenues), driven by merchant acquiring, cards, and wholesale payment and its total assets increased by $1.4bn to $29.0bn, primarily driven by growth in loans and investment securities driven by customer deposits growth.

64.3million Nigerians lack adequate food, says UN

Thirty-two per cent (64.3 million) of Nigerians do not have enough food to consume, the World Food Programme, an organisation within the United Nations, has stated.

According to the organisation, 170 million people do not have sufficient food to consume across 19 countries. In a March 28 update of the ‘HungerMapLIVE: Western Africa insights and key trends,’ the countries with the highest prevalence of insufficient food consumption are Niger, Mali, Burkina Faso, Guinea, Chad, Sierra Leone, Cameroon,

Liberia, Central African Republic, Togo, Guinea Bissau, Nigeria.

In its latest Food Security Update, the World Bank revealed that food insufficiency in Nigeria from 29 per cent to 32 per cent over the last three months. It stated that the overall food and nutrition situation in Nigeria and other West African countries is challenging for a large share of their populations.

Quoting the WFP, the bank said, “The countries with the highest prevalence of insufficient food consumption in the order of severity are Niger (18.2

million people, 81 per cent of the population), Mali (13.9 million, 73 per cent), Burkina Faso (13 million, 66 per cent), Guinea (7.7 million, 62 per cent).

UN nuclear chief to meet Iran president Raisi during ‘crucial talks’ “Chad (9.2 million, 57 per cent), Sierra Leone (4.4 million, 53 per cent), Cameroon (10.2 million, 40 per cent), Liberia (1.7 million, 38 per cent), Central African Republic (1.6 million, 35 per cent), Togo (2.7 million, 34 per cent), Guinea-Bissau (0.6 million, 34 per cent), and Nigeria (64.7 million, 32 per cent).”

The global bank defined insufficient food consumption as poor or borderline food consumption as determined according to Food Consumption Score. It stated that it is different from food insecurity.

According to the Washingtonbased bank, the food security situation in West Africa is expected to worsen as the dry season progresses in the months ahead. It noted that while domestic food price inflation remains high, it is particularly bad in Africa, North America, Latin America, South Asia, Europe, and Central Asia.

President Muhammadu Buhari receives in audience Plateau State Governor, H.E Simon Bako Lalong at the State House Abuja. PHOTO; State House

Zenith Bank records

N946bn revenue in 2022

From Abubakar Yunusa, ABUJA

Zenith Bank has released its annual report for the 2022 financial year with all key income streams recording reasonable increase and revenue closing in on the N1 trillion mark.

The lender’s audited annual report however indicate that the net profit of Nigeria’s biggest bank by market value failed to keep pace with that of revenue as record inflation levels in the country pushed costs steeply up.

Similarly, gross earnings for the year jumped by roughly one fourth to N945.6 billion.

Interest and similar income came to N540.2 billion compared to N427.6 billion a year earlier as the bank reaped big from cycles of interest rate hikes by the central bank, which is enabling lenders to charge more for loans.

That in turn caused net interest income, a financial metric accounting for the difference between how much lenders charge for loans and what they pay out to savers for keeping their deposits, to shoot 14.3 per cent to N366.6 billion.

The bank made an allowance of N123.3 billion in its revenue to make up for potential losses from loans, whose chances of getting repaid have been hampered by perpetual defaults. That amount was more than double what it set aside for the same purpose a year earlier.

At N132.8 billion, Zenith Bank earned 27.8 per cent more in net income on fees and commission, thanks to a surge in account maintenance fees and fees on electronic products.

Operating expenses rose to N223 billion from N180.7 billion, with fuel and maintenance as well as AMCON levy being the key pressure points.

Profit before tax was slightly up by 1.5 per cent at N284.7 billion, while after-tax profit declined to N223.9 billion from N244.6 billion.

Meanwhile, Zenith Bank announced in a separate document a proposal for a final dividend of N2.90 per share, taking its total for the year to N3.20 per unit compared to N3.10 for 2021.

The bank said this month it has received an approval-inprinciple from the Central Bank of Nigeria to restructure into a holding company.

Petrol to sell at N400 per litre after subsidy removal – PENGASSAN

From Abubakar Yunusa, ABUJA

The Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN) has said that fuel prices in Nigeria would be sold between N360 and N400 per litre after the removal of petroleum subsidy by the government.

Festus Osifo, PENGASSAN president, made this disclosure when speaking to journalists on the sidelines of the association’s National Executive Council meeting (NEC) held in Abuja on Tuesday.

Mr Osifo spoke days after marketers and other groups in

the downstream sector of the Nigerian petroleum industry said subsidy removal will push fuel prices to N750 per litre.

In January, Nigeria’s Minister of Finance, Zainab Ahmed, said that it will be more appropriate for the government to begin the implementation of its fuel subsidy policy in the second quarter of the year.

The minister noted that the country needs to exit the fuel subsidy regime because it is a very significant contributory factor to revenue loss.

Speaking on Tuesday, Mr Osifo said the Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC) Limited being the sole importer of premium motor spirit (PMS)

will determine the petroleum pricing using the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) exchange rate.

“Today, the sole importer of PMS into Nigeria is the NNPC. The NNPC is using an exchange rate of the CBN which gives about N400 to N450 depending on the day and depending on the window that you are looking at. So, if you compute that into the model today, PMS should be selling for a region of about N360 to N400,” Mr Osifo said.

He added that the association has compelled all its organs nationwide to make fuel available for Nigerians and threatened to revoke the licenses of petroleum marketers hoarding petrol.

He noted that functional

local refineries will not only make fuel affordable but create jobs for Nigerians.

“While maintaining our support for the full deregulation of the sector and the significant milestone achieved in this regard, we counsel that efforts be made to increase the pace of the current rehabilitation exercise of refineries and get them back on track in due time,” he said.

He, however, said the incoming administration must address the currency swap as well as fuel scarcity across the country while noting that palliatives must be made available to Nigerians to mitigate the impact of the removal of petroleum subsidy.

Oando swings back to profitability as 2021 revenue crosses N722 billion

From Abubakar Yunusa Abuja

Oando Plc recorded an increase of more than a half in turnover for 2021, according to its unaudited earnings report issued Wednesday.

The increase helped the oil driller halt its two-year run of losses that began in 2019, the report showed.

Shares in the company had gained nearly 10 per cent, the upper daily limit allowed by the Nigerian Exchange, as of 10:14 WAT in Lagos after the news hit the market. But the stock was yet to see any movement in Johannesburg, where it has a

secondary listing, as of the time.

A messy shareholder dispute involving an indirect shareholder, Ansbury Investment Inc, had prompted the Securities and Exchange Commission to bar the firm from holding annual general meetings, making it impossible to release its financials for three years until last June.

At the heart of the conflict were loans granted to the shareholder, which forced Oando to make a huge impairment allowance that tipped the company into a loss after tax of N207.1 billion in 2019 and N140.7 billion in 2020.

Revenue for 2021 grew to N722.4 billion from N477.1

billion, while other operating income slowed to N36.7 billion from N43.6 billion as the company recorded a loss on fair value on commodity options in contrast to a gain one year earlier.

Oando earned N112.1 billion from reversal of impairment of financial assets, where a loss in the sum of N62.9 billion was posted a year ago, boosting operating profit.

Finance income expanded by almost fivefold to N44.1 billion, helping cushion the hit of net finance cost on profit.

Pre-tax profit stood at N48.4 billion compared to a loss before tax of N134.3 billion in 2020, while profit for the period came

to N34.7 billion relative to a loss after tax of N140.7 billion one year prior.

Earnings-per-share was N3.04 compared to a loss per share of N9.05 in 2020.

“Bullish oil prices throughout the year saw us record a 105% increase in average realized oil sale price whilst a surge in militancy and sabotage across the Niger Delta resulted in a 40% decline in average hydrocarbon production compared to 2020,” said CEO Wale Tinubu.

“Despite the challenges, a strong revenue performance, coupled with the refund of a longstanding receivable contributed to a Net Profit of N34.7 billion,” he added

Governor Muhammadu Inuwa Yahaya receiving his certificate of return as Governor-elect of Gombe State from the INEC Commissioner in charge of Gombe, Adamawa and Taraba States Dr. Baba Bila in Gombe, yesterday

Rotary district, five clubs commission N8m toilets in girls’ school

By Stanley Onyekwere

The Empowering Girl Initiative Committee of Rotary International District 9125 and five clubs have commissioned over N8million worth of toilets and bathrooms for Government Girls Secondary School(GGSS) in Dutse, Abuja.

Both the district committee and the clubs built five toilets, five bathrooms, 13ft by 12ft soak away, and renovated four toilets and four bathrooms.

The partner Rotary clubs are Abuja Kubwa, Abuja Prestige, Abuja Aso-Golf, Abuja Maitama, and Abuja Lugbe VON in District 9125.

The Governor for District 9125, Dr. Goddy Nnadi said the projects covered many areas of focus including disease prevention and treatment; water and sanitation; maternal and child health and basic education and literacy..

Nnadi said Rotary places premium on impactful projects.

He said the organization will continue to embark on projects that will touch lives in the 23 states and Federal Capital Territory, FCT, Abuja in the district.

He said: “All the projects we have done, are projects that will impact on human beings. We will continue to do more to improve the quality of life in the society.

Explaining how the district’s committee selected, GGSS Dutse, the Governor said: “We conducted needs assessment.

“When we came here, the first

thing we did was engagement. We engaged the school authorities to identify their areas of need. This assessment is important for you to know what they want, and that it makes sense to them.

“And then we realized that the environment was not so good, especially for our young girls. It is a kind of human debasement when you have a lady bathing and defecating outside. There were not enough toilets and some toilets had

collapsed.

On the cost of the project, Nnadi said: "The project should be about N8million. The whole project took us less than eight months to complete.

“I'm so pleased that is so impactful, that when they get in there, they will feel dignified, to stay inside, take the shower and come out".

The GGSS School Principal, Hajia Fatima Muhammad, who commended Rotary for

the intervention assured that the facilities will be adequately maintained.

The Principal said: "I am too excited that my girls would conveniently go to toilet and use the convenience as expected for either bathing or the other call of nature. “

On what the situation was before Rotary Club's intervention, she said "it wasn't looking good. She added: “It was not habitable in any way

and not conducive. But today we are smiling. But we feel like pulling out buckets of water and running in there now to bath”.

“The children are already receiving training and sensitization on maintenance, especially on the need to ensure that they enter the toilet with adequate water to wash and then always leave the toilet the way they want to meet it again. So this is the slogan we are using now. Leave the toilet the way you would want to meet it again".

Also speaking, the Chairperson Empowering Girls Initiative and District Committee Chairperson, Lovina Okorn-Ntui disclosed that the intervention was informed by Rotary International (RI) mandate to impact the life of the girl child.

She said: "So, when we got to this school, it broke my heart that the girls were bathing outside. Just in the open and you know, the female is open. And when you're open and you're bathing what happens? You can easily contract infections, which may affect their reproductive organs "So it gave us concern. We came here, we gave them sensitization. We did a foundation laying of the project, and to the glory of God, we're here today to commission".

On his part, the Head of the Department of Works, Secondary Education Board, Alh. Abubakar Haruna Kawo appealed to other NonGovernmental Organizations to emulate Rotary.

Alleged possession of ammunitions: IGP fails to produce detained Cameroonian

By Stanley Onyekwere

The Inspector General of Police, Usman Alkali Baba disobeyed an order of the Federal High Court Abuja, by failing to produce a Cameroonian Citizen, who has been in detention for over four hundred days.

The Cameroonian Citizen Mr. Agborsangaya Eyong was in detention for close to two years without being given bail. He was alleged to have been in

Flood:

possession of ammunitions illegally found in his house.

When the matter was mentioned for hearing yesterday, the applicant was not produced in court by the respondent (IGP) as required by an earlier court order.

Counsel to the applicant Mr. Danshita Shittu informed the court that, the order given to produce Eyong was disobeyed by the respondent as earlier given by the same court as the applicant was not in court.

In his counter argument, counsel

to the respondent who is an Assistant Superintendent of Police, Mr. Joseph Udo argued that, the IGP could not produce the applicant due to late arrival of the court order and bureaucratic process between office of the IGP and Attorney General’s office as the matter was referred to him for consent.

The applicant through his counsel had sought for an order of the court to be released on bail pending the hearing and determination of the originating motion on

notice.

He also, sought for payment of one hundred million naira as compensation for damages for his unlawful detention as well as apology to be published in two national dailies.

Justice Rita Ofili-Ajumogobia of the Federal High Court Abuja, who adjourned the case to 31st of March for hearing, ordered that the Cameroonian citizen be produced in court.

Dev’t Control begins inventory, removal of structures on waterways

By Stanley Onyekwere

The Development Control Department of the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) has commenced swift inventory and removal of structures on waterways, as part of the proactive measures to mitigate flooding in Abuja, the nation’s capital city.

To this end, the Department issued strong directives to all its sector monitors to forward their list of developments on flood plains, so as to remove them where necessary, before before the rains come fully.

Director in charge of the Department,

Town Planner Mukhtar Galadima made this disclosure during the removal of a perimeter fence and other obstructing structures on a flood plain in Mabushi District, in Abuja.

Galadima added that officials of the Department are going to identify more locations, and start removing the obstructing structures, before the rains begin fully.

He explains: “What we did today (Wednesday) was as a result of an outing with my management team, where we spotted these developments across the flood plain in Mabushi District, which we had to return and removed.

“We need to be more proactive. That’s why went round some Districts of the city,

and we noticed some of these developments across flood plains. We can’t wait any longer, as we have to start removing them before the rain fully comes. We have issued directives to all our sector monitors to forward their list of developments on flood plains.

“We are aware that the FCT Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has flagged off sensitisation on flooding, and in line with this, we are going to identify these locations and start removing the structures before the rains begin fully. So it is an ongoing exercise, we will keep moving round, take note and remove where necessary.

“There is no limitations to sensitisation or awareness on why people should not

build on waterways, because it is disastrous. We have seen the floods and other natural disasters, and their consequences across the globe”.

While answering question on whether there are sustainable punitive measures against such menace, the Director said:

“At a point in time, the FCTA had directed its Legal Secretariat to review in its entirety all legal framework governing developments in the FCT.

“This (blocking of waterways) will definitely be part of the FCT laws and regulations governing development and management of the Territory”.

L-R: The President of the Rotary Club of Abuja Prestige, Stephen Mere, the Head of Department of Works, FCT Secondary Education Board, Alh. Abubakar Haruna Kawo, the President of the Rotary Club of Abuja Maitama, Yusuf Alli, the District Governor for 9125 of Rotary International, Dr. Goddy Nnadi, the Principal of Government Girls Secondary School, Dutse Alhaji, Assistant Governor, Lovina Okorn Ntui and the President of the Rotary Club of Abuja Kubwa during the inauguration of N8m Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) by the district commitee on Empowering Girls Initiative and five Rotary clubs in the school. PHOTO: DISTRICT 9125

How Trump will try to spin his anticipated arrest

Donald Trump’s prediction that he will be arrested this week has yet to come true - but as the waiting game for criminal charges goes on, the former president is plotting a strategy designed to both keep him out of jail and turbo-boost his historic bid to return to the White House.

It is a daunting task, and hunkered down in his Mar-a-Lago home, Mr Trump seems resigned to becoming the first US president to be indicted for a crime. Yet it’s also clear he will not go quietly. His past choices in moments of political crisis are a useful guide to what we might see next.

Was Trump’s Stormy Daniels payment legal? Throughout his 2016 presidential campaign, he leaned in to conflict when other politicians might have backed off. Blasted for criticising war hero John McCain? Trump upped his attacks. Accused of sexual harassment before a debate with Hillary Clinton? He held a press conference with Bill Clinton’s sexual accusers.

During his presidency, it was the same story through two impeachments, a special counsel investigation of Russia election meddling and countless smaller controversies.

“If Trump is indicted, the playbook remains exactly the same,” says Bryan Lanza, a Republican strategist and Trump adviser. “Attack the legal as political.”

The best defence, as the American football saying goes, is a good offence.

Mr Trump is already punching back against Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg, framing him as a liberal prosecutor hell-bent on pursuing political retribution against the former president.

A press release on Monday referred to him as a “progressive activist”, a “rogue prosecutor” and a “woke tyrant who has politicised the justice system”.

Expect those attacks to continue if an indictment is announced and for Mr Trump to portray himself as a victim of a leftist plot - a common theme of persecution Mr Trump has also regularly relied on in his political career.

According to Maggie Haberman of the New York Times, the former president is both “invigorated and angered” by his

possible arrest. He is focused on appearing defiant in any possible public appearances and ready to portray the criminal case as a de facto attack on his supporters.

The former president will have at least two prime opportunities to mount his counterattack in the days ahead. One is a planned rally in Waco, Texas. And if the past is any guide, Rally Trump is Mr Trump at his most unvarnished, going off script and on the attack, and feeding off the energy of his crowds.

The other opportunity for Mr Trump, if he is indeed indicted, will come on the day he could travel to New York City for any police booking and arraignment.

According to Ms Haberman, he is fixated on the so-called “perp walk” - a New York tradition where the accused is paraded through a crush of reporters on the way into the Lower Manhattan courthouse. Because of security concerns, that may not happen, but another judicial tradition, the press conference on the courthouse steps, seems much more probable.

It would give the former president, steeped in New York tabloid legal drama, the opportunity to lash out at his accusers, portray himself as the victim of a liberal elite and dominate the headlines across the US.

Such themes are already playing out in Mr Trump’s campaign fundraising appeals, which have reached a frenzied pace since he speculated that he may be on the verge of being charged with a crime.

“If this political persecution goes unchallenged, one day it won’t be me they’re targeting, it’ll be you,” read one email. According to a Trump adviser quoted in the Washington Post, the campaign has raised more than $1.5m since Saturday.

For the moment, the standard response from Republicans - including Speaker of the House Kevin McCarthy and other prominent elected officials - has played into Mr Trump’s hands. They echo Mr Trump’s rhetoric in condemning the New York investigation as an illegitimate political attack.

“I’ve been asked by multiple reporters if an indictment would lead me to rescind my endorsement of Donald Trump,” Ohio Senator JD Vance said. “The answer is:

Trapdoor spider:

Australian researchers have discovered a super-sized species of trapdoor spiders found only in Queensland.

The females of this rare species can live for over 20 years in the wild and grow up to 5cm long - large in trapdoor spider terms.

The males grow up to 3cm. Unfortunately, much of its habitat has been lost due to land clearing, making it likely to be an endangered species, scientists said.

So-called trapdoor spiders build “trap doors” out of leaves to prey on insects. They typically measure about 1.5cm to 3cm.

The newfound species, Euoplos dignitas, is a type of golden trapdoor spider discovered in the semi-arid woodlands of the Brigalow Belt, a region in central Queensland. It is not dangerous to humans.

In Latin, its name means diversity or greatness, reflecting the “impressive size and nature” of the spider, said scientists from the Queensland Museum, which discovered it.

Females of the species have a red-brown carapace, while males have a honey-red outer layer and grey-brown abdomens.

hell no. A politically motivated prosecution makes the argument for Trump stronger. We simply don’t have a real country if justice depends on politics.”

That strategy is less tenable for Mr Trump’s Republican political rivals, however, who may have to step up their efforts to wrest the spotlight from the former president. It’s not a coincidence that Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, potentially his most formidable 2024 nomination opponent, directly criticised Mr Trump for the first time this week.

In the past, a frontal attack on Mr Trump has been a fool’s errand for his Republican adversaries - a move of desperation that only solidifies Mr Trump’s standing with his base. Further attacks, with a metaphorical wrestling match in the mud, may only strengthen his position.

“If he’s indicted, he becomes bulletproof,” Mr Lanza says.

In the longer term, however, Mr Trump’s situation is not without risks.

Setting aside the possibility of conviction and a prison sentence, his legal troubles - which go beyond just the New York charges and include investigations by Georgia officials and a federal special counsel - highlight the character traits many Republican voters have said they like least

about him. His pugnacious online persona and his lack of personal discipline were targeted by Mr DeSantis in his recent swipes for a reason.

It also could be a significant distraction for the president and his campaign team, which will have to react to events in New York that are entirely out of their control, where court appearances compete with Republican debates and primary contests on Mr Trump’s calendar.

And if Mr Trump were to overcome the obstacles and win the Republican nomination, his legal travails are much more likely to be a negative component against the Democratic nominee.

“In the end, being indicted never helps anybody,” former New Jersey Governor Chris Christie said during an interview on ABC News. “Donald Trump is not someone who could be a winning general election candidate for the Republican Party.”

While Mr Trump has survived the kind of scandals and investigations over the past eight years that would annihilate other candidates, luck can run out and even the best of political instincts can fail when the circumstances change.

Even the sturdiest of ships can wreck in uncharted waters.

New giant species found in Australia

Euoplos dignitas lives in open woodland habitats, building its burrows in black soil.

The females spend their lives underground. Males leave to find a mate in another burrow after five to seven years.

Very few specimens of this species have been collected in recent decades, with only a single female submitted to the Queensland Museum since the 1960s, the scientists said in a study published in the Journal of Arachnology.

A three-day search in May 2021 revealed just one population along several hundred metres of a roadside verge, with most available habitat cleared for agriculture and stock.

The continuing decline of such habitats may render the species “critically endangered” in the future, they said.

The biggest spider in the world is commonly known as the goliath birdeater - with a body length of about 13cm and a leg span of 30cm - larger than the size of a dinner plate.

Source: BBC

Mr Trump arriving for jury duty in New York City in 2015

The species Euoplos dignitas is not dangerous to humans

Ethiopia PM appoints TPLF head as Tigray president

Ethiopia’s Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed has appointed a senior member of the Tigray People’s Liberation Front (TPLF) Getachew Reda as the head of the newly established interim administration in the northern region of Tigray.

The TPLF, which fought a two-year civil war against the federal government, nominated Mr Getachew last week.

Tens of thousands of people died in the fighting and the conflict sparked a huge humanitarian crisis. All sides have been accused of committing war crimes by the US administration.

The move is part of an implementation of the peace agreement the TPLF and the federal government had signed in South

Africa.

The interim regional administration will be in position until regional elections are held under the supervision of the electoral commission. The date is yet to be set.

Ethiopia’s House of Peoples Representatives on Wednesday removed the terrorist designation of TPLF.The TPLF, which fought a two-year civil war against the federal government, nominated Mr Getachew last week.

Tens of thousands of people died in the fighting and the conflict sparked a huge humanitarian crisis. All sides have been accused of committing war crimes by the US administration.

Inside Somalia’s hidden world of sex work

Two women in Somalia’s capital, Mogadishu, have been talking to the BBC about how they got drawn into the underground world of sex work in a city living under the threat of violence following years of civil war. We have changed their names to protect their identities.

Mogadishu’s vibrant and bustling Lido Beach offers a glimpse of what the city could become, as it tries to leave the conflict behind.

The seaside resorts, upmarket restaurants, hotels and fresh food are huge attractions.

But lingering nearby is an alternative scene - of partying, drugs and sex-fuelled violence.

The women caught up in this hidden side of the city are young, destitute and often vulnerable in this mainly Muslim nation.

Fardousa, 22, who has been a sex worker for three years, sits in a dark room shaded by red curtains in a bulletridden apartment building in Mogadishu’s Wardhigley district.

Above the screeching noise of the stove, the slim young woman with a soft voice describes what happened to her.

Fardousa explains that she left home at 19, a rare occurrence in Somali society where young women generally do not leave the family before they are married. However, abuse at home or irreconcilable differences with other family members can push some away and this appears to be a growing phenomenon.

“At first I didn’t see it as running away but I couldn’t bear to live with my stepmother any more,” Fardousa says.

“She became my father’s second wife after my mother passed away when I was young. She was very abusive over the years and despite this, my father would always take her side.”

Mogadishu’s sex workers live in the shadows and their voices are rarely heard (model used in the picture)

After leaving home, Fardousa drifted from place to place making new friends, who she thought would look out for her interests, along the way: “I thought they cared about me. Looking back now, I know they weren’t real friends.”

She eventually became addicted to opioids such as morphine, tramadol and pethidine, and joined the underground

party scene at Lido Beach, where she was introduced to sex work.

Fardousa soon found herself enmeshed in Mogadishu’s murky underworld where she went from hotels to strangers’ homes to secluded locations.

But now she knows enough potential clients that she can rely on people contacting her by phone.

“I wait for my phone to ring and then go out with the men to have sex. Other times, my female friends call me when they have men ready.”

‘I needed money for my addiction’

She deals with a variety of clients from all walks of life.

“These men at first were male friends of my female friends, then it changed to having sex with different men that I didn’t know. I was vulnerable and needed the money for my addiction, just like many other young women in this city,” says Fardousa.

Because of its nature, there is no official data on the extent of sex work but the testimony from Fardousa and others offers a glimpse into the dangerous environment that many of these young women find themselves in.

Hodan has been a sex worker for two and a half years. Like Fardousa, the 23-year-old ran away from home and found herself immersed in Mogadishu’s underground lifestyle consisting of fellow young runaways who have no financial support.

She speaks above the sound of children playing football outside in a steady and calm voice.

“I spend most nights in hotels. The same goes for many of these young women. You meet all kinds of men there but things can take a turn for the worse when you actually go off with some of these men,” Hodan says.

As sex work is illegal in Somalia, many of these young women find themselves in precarious situations with no recourse to the authorities.

The BBC requested comment from officials in the police and the ministry of women and human rights development about this and other issues raised in the article, but did not get a response.

“Many times the girls come back abused with marks on their bodies, while other young sex workers are taken advantage of by people they think they can trust,” according to Hodan.

For Fardousa, this led to violence.

“Early on, I used to go with men to places of their choosing to have sex but one night I was beaten and got bruises on my face and was left bleeding. It all started because we didn’t agree on the price,” she says.

“Ever since then, I don’t go to secluded places with any men, regardless of how much they’re offering. It’s just too dangerous. I prefer hotels knowing you won’t be harmed and if you are, then your cries for help will be heard.

“Many other women involved in sex work aren’t so lucky. Sex workers that go with these men to their homes and secluded places are abused and even raped, sometimes by more then one man.”

She also says that the assaults are sometimes filmed and the women are then blackmailed.

“They are shamed into submission.”

‘Hard to face loved ones’

Hodan says this filming can happen to sex workers after being drugged, with perpetrators coercing them to divide their profits.

“If they refuse, then they’re beaten and physically abused by the men with the video being used as a tool against them. In some instances, they’re even known to share the video around to torment the young women even more. It’s a form of digital blackmail.”

A recent report by the British TV network Channel 4 documented these forms of blackmail occurring within the female Somali population at large, beyond the margins of sex work.

“It’s happened to so many young women I know. Most are too ashamed to admit it but we all know what goes around. We’ve been in this lifestyle long enough,” Hodan says.

A UN report found that there was a big jump in sexual violence from 2019 to 2020, saying that abuse is often exacerbated in conflict zones. It also noted that “weak legislation allows perpetrators to walk free, and survivors receive little or no support”.

Women who engage in sex work are among the most vulnerable in Somali society, as they are shunned due to their taboo lifestyle, essentially making them outcasts.

“In Somalia, women like us have no support system in place and there’s nobody you can turn to. The societal pressure makes everything worse, which is why so many of these vulnerable women are reluctant to get help, especially if they face problems with addiction,” Fardousa adds.

There are several women’s organisations in Somalia but when contacted by the BBC they were unwilling to comment due to the sensitivity of the subject.

Hodan and Fardousa emphasise that many women would not enter into such dangerous work if the mechanisms and organisations were in place to support them, often leading them to being trapped in a violent and exploitative lifestyle.

“So many young girls are struggling with addiction which leaves them more vulnerable. A lot of them don’t even have a place to sleep at night,” says Fardousa.

Source: BBC

Getachew Reda will lead Tigray’s interim administration until elections are held

Mogadishu’s Lido Beach is a thriving part of the capital’s life, but nearby there is a hidden side

N ews F rom A s IA

Israel’s Netanyahu to visit UK amid growing turmoil at home

The beachside highway beside the British embassy in Tel Aviv descended into a scene of bitter division between Israelis a week ago, and blood was spilled on the tarmac.

The crowd started to block traffic - by now a frequent tactic of protesters - when a driver attacked one of the demonstrators.

They respond by subduing the driver, beating him back with an Israeli flag pole.

It was week 11 of mass antigovernment protests, ahead of a trip to the UK today by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

“Look at what [the driver] did... he hit me with the [oil] can,” protester Shay Noter, who suffered a broken nose and bloodied face, told the BBC.

“We have a dictator in Israel that is trying to make his people hate us. You tell your government, you tell your people. He is telling them all the time that we are the enemy.”

Part of the demonstrations have been focused on embassies and the main airport, as Mr Netanyahu has paid a series of visits to European capitals amid growing political turmoil at home.

Protesters were on the streets again this Thursday, rallying against plans by his coalition of far-right and ultra-religious parties to limit the powers of Israel’s courts.

Critics believe this will muzzle legal protections and open the door to an authoritarian, demagogic state. Mr Netanyahu says the changes will “rebalance” the branches of government.

The proposals would give ministers near full control over the committee which appoints judges and would ultimately strip the Supreme Court of crucial powers to strike down legislation.

“Our democracy is literally under attack by the government,” said demonstrator Avinoam Brog.

“My parents’ generation was part of the foundation of the country. Our generation was to protect it... Unfortunately, it’s changed

from protecting it against external enemies to an internal threat by our own government,” he told the BBC.

His daughter, Nitzan Weisberg, said they were protesting against a “post-Zionist, messianic government”.

“What were [we] fighting for? What were all the sacrifices made for?” she asked.

“My father and brothers didn’t fight in wars for a theocracy, for Orthodox Jews, that would persecute LGBT [people], that would discriminate against women, that would persecute Arabs,” she continued.

Mr Netanyahu is travelling to London on Thursday evening for talks on trade and security.

He is due to meet British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak for discussions billed by the Israelis as focusing on Iran and “strategic ties” with the UK.

The Israeli leader is expected to repeat his message that the highly controversial judicial reforms are necessary and that the country will “remain a liberal democracy”.

After his election win, he argues, the changes are the will of the people that should not be thwarted by unelected judges.

He has previously denied that minority rights would be affected by his far right coalition partners, saying he has “both hands on the steering wheel”.

And speaking ahead of his cabinet meeting on Sunday he said his government would not accept “anarchy”.

“There are those who are calling for the blocking of highways, for military refusal, for blood in the streets, and to attack public figures. We will not accept this. We will not accept violence by any side,” he said.

But there is growing international pressure on his government, which includes parties that espouse racist, anti-Arab policies, over both its legislation and rhetoric at a time when violence continues to spiral in the region.

Israel’s far-right Finance

Minister, Bezalel Smotrich, sparked a diplomatic crisis this week when he said there was “no such thing” as a Palestinian people, speaking in front of a map which put the occupied West Bank and neighbouring Jordan within Israel’s borders.

Earlier this month, he called for the Palestinian town of Hawara to be “wiped out” after a Palestinian gun attack killed two Israelis, which in turn sparked a deadly rampage by Israeli settlers against Palestinian civilians and their homes.

Under pressure, Mr Smotrich later said he didn’t mean it.

In the occupied West Bank, the protests feel a world away amid Israeli military outposts and growing numbers of army patrols.

Homes in Hawara still bear the scars of violence, with burned out buildings and vandalised shopfronts yet to be repaired.

Nawal al-Dumaidi, 70, showed the BBC inside her apartment which overlooks the main highway. She was trapped for three

days after the settlers burned the building’s entrance and still has several tear-gas and stun-grenade shells that she says the Israeli military fired at her terrace while the fire raged.

Now, her family fears a deteriorating atmosphere, with the settlers emboldened by their farright allies in government.

“We are suffering all the time. Settlers descend from the mountain, burn olive trees and attack homes,” said Mrs Dumaidi.

“I am afraid that they will occupy Hawara because of its strategic location on the main road,” she added.

Her nephew, Jehad Shurab, talked about the weakness of the official Palestinian leadership, adding that “only God” can help the residents.

“The prime minister of Palestine came here. While he was here, the IDF [Israeli army] is down there [on the road],” he said.

He believes that Mr Smotrich and Israel’s far-right National

Security Minister, Itamar Ben-Gvir, are helping create an atmosphere of chaos.

“Ben-Gvir, Smotrich, they are crazy. And you see what’s happening in Israel now... The international community must put an end to such behaviour of teenage Israeli politicians. The European Union, America, and the countries of the world must limit the dictatorial behaviour of these people,” he says.

In the nearby cities of Jenin and Nablus, there are no signs of progress in US-backed attempts to restore the limited security grip of the Palestinian Authority (PA) - the official leadership rejected by a new generation of armed militants whose firepower has grown dramatically over the last 18 months.

In the most deadly start to a year in nearly two decades, Israeli military raids have become increasingly lethal, alongside a continuing wave of Palestinian armed attacks. At least 88 Palestinians and 15 Israelis have been killed since the beginning of January.

UK airstrikes on IS may have killed 26 civilians, charity says

UK airstrikes in Iraq and Syria may have killed at least 26 civilians, research by a charity suggests.

Action on Armed Violence says it has found evidence that at least nine RAF strikes resulted in civilian deaths between March 2016 and March 2018.

A Ministry of Defence admission that it caused one civilian death in its seven-year campaign against the Islamic State group was not now credible, it added.

The MoD said “no evidence” of civilian deaths had been found in the strikes.

A spokesman said military personnel examine all available evidence, including mission data from every strike.

The analysis of UK strikes was carried out by AOAV, which researches the impact of global

conflicts. The BBC has not independently verified AOAV’s findings.

Based on its own research, the charity says at least 26 civilians are likely to have been killed in UK strikes in the two-year period between March 2016 and March 2018, while up to 32 civilians may have actually been killed.

Credible reports

Most of the strikes that resulted in civilian deaths were “self-reported”, meaning military personnel within the US-led coalition highlighted concerns civilians might have been killed following strikes.

Reports of civilian deaths were deemed “credible” in all but one of the nine strikes examined - with civilian casualties believed “likely” or ‘highly likely”.

AOAV analysed MoD strike reports released after each

incident, and cross-checked them with information provided by US Central Command and research by other charities, as well as reports from the ground and from media organisations, including the BBC.

One credible report of civilian deaths took place on 19 May 2017, in the Iraqi city of Mosul. The RAF said Tornado jets engaged seven IS targets there that day. The incident was self-reported.

The New York Times obtained a copy of the US coalition report, which stated that three civilians were near one target location. It said: “The explosion from striking the mortar site was large enough to conclude that any person in the blast radius was seriously injured or killed in the strike.”

The RAF has never accepted that civilian casualties were caused by its strike.

Cockpit footage

AOAV’s analysis also includes civilian casualties likely caused by RAF strikes that have already been identified by another charity, AirWars. One, in Raqqa, Syria, in August 2017 is reported to have resulted in 12 civilian deaths.

A BBC investigation into a RAF strike in Mosul, on 9 January 2017, is also recorded. Two civilians were reported to have been killed when a truck bomb was targeted.

The MoD still does not accept that any civilians were killed, even though the coalition now says those reports of civilian deaths were “credible”.

In May 2018, the MoD admitted to “unintentionally” causing one civilian death when a motorcyclist was killed while crossing the path of a missile fired by a Reaper drone targeting insurgents.

Definitive proof of civilian casualties is hard to establish. The US-led coalition did not have teams on the ground to verify reports of civilian deaths during the campaign. Most analysis was conducted by reviewing video from the cockpit of the aircraft involved.

The US military estimates that 1,437 civilians may have been killed in the bombing campaign against IS between August 2014 and May 2023.

In a statement, the MOD said it has “identified nothing to indicate that such civilian casualties were caused in Syria”. “The RAF always minimises the risk of civilian casualties through our rigorous targeting processes… but no evidence has been identified in these instances.”

Source: BBC

Protester Shay Noter suffered a broken nose after being attacked while blocking a road outside the British embassy

Tawang: The town living in the shadow of India-China war

Thutan Chewang, 71, still remembers the day the war began.

It was October 1962 and China had just launched a surprise attack on what was then known as the North East Frontier Agency (which later became Arunachal Pradesh state) in north-eastern India.

“They [Chinese troops] came charging from all sides. People started to flee, fearing for their lives,” says Mr Chewang, who was just 11 at the time.

The attack was swift, and despite putting up stiff resistance in some areas, Indian forces appeared to be struggling against Chinese troops.

Soon, China seized Mr Chewang’s hometown Tawang, a few miles away from the disputed border between the two countries. China’s People’s Liberation Army (PLA) troops remained there for around a month before withdrawing.

More than 60 years later, that war still casts a shadow over the people of Tawang - especially when tensions escalate between the nuclear-armed neighbours. In December the town was back in the headlines when Indian and Chinese troops clashed along the Tawang border.

But locals say despite the pain of the past, they are looking forward to a more promising future.

“A lot has changed in Tawang between then and now,” Mr Chewang says.

Perched some 3,000m (10,000 feet) above sea level in the westernmost part of Arunachal Pradesh, Tawang shares a boundary with China in the north and Bhutan to the south-west.

At first glance, the town could easily be mistaken for one of several hill stations in India, with mushrooming hotels, eateries and small market areas, and rampant residential and commercial construction.

But there are many things that set it apart. The 8m-high giant Buddha statue looking over the township and the sprawling Tawang monastery - India’s largest Buddhist monastery - underscore the influence and significance of Buddhism here.

Tawang is one of the most important pilgrimage sites for Tibetan Buddhists and attracts a steady stream of tourists every

year. But its strategic location has long made it the focus of tensions between India and China - Tibet, annexed by China in 1950, lies just 35km (22 miles) to the north. In fact, the Tawang monastery was where the 14th Dalai Lama briefly stayed after fleeing from Tibet in 1959.

India and China share a frontier that isn’t fully demarcated - India says it is 3,488km long but China puts it at around 2,000km. Both sides have deployed tens of thousands of soldiers with heavy armaments along of the Line of Actual Control (LAC), which separates Chinese and Indian territory.

China continues to stake claim on the whole of Arunachal Pradesh, calling it “South Tibet”. In 2021, it even came out with a list renaming 15 places in the state, triggering a sharp response from India. Beijing has also routinely objected to visits by the Dalai Lama and Indian leaders to the region.

But many people in Tawang say that they don’t allow the border tensions to dominate their lives. Civic issues feature more frequently in their conversations than China.

“The media blows things out of proportion at times,” says Karmu, who goes by only one name and runs a garment store in Tawang.

The “exaggerated” media coverage of border face-offs, Ms Karmu adds, brings fewer tourists to Tawang, hitting incomes.

While many people from the area join the Indian army, paramilitary forces and other government jobs, others depend mainly on tourism.

The Indian government has now allowed tourists to go right up to the LAC in the Bum La area, opening up another income source for scores of cab operators in Tawang, some of whom undertake multiple trips to the border in a day.

Tenzin Darge, who runs a gift store, says that life in Tawang is as normal as it is anywhere else.

“The media makes a hullabaloo every time something happens on the border. But for us, it is life as normal.”

That doesn’t mean the town has forgotten the horrors of the past.

Sitting in the courtyard of the Khinmey monastery near his

With many families no longer able to afford products like beef the government has advised they eat chicken feet

house, Mr Chewang speaks of the hardships people had to face during the 1962 war.

“We didn’t even have proper roads. People walked night and day through jungles to reach safer places. It was a nightmare.”

For others, too, the memories of 1962 are still fresh.

Lobsang Tsering, 71, recounts how his parents fled all the way to the neighbouring state of Assam for shelter.

He says it was equally hard to return. When China announced a ceasefire and withdrew its troops in November 1962, many who had escaped from Tawang were too afraid to go back.

“We were told that the war was over and that we could go back but not many could believe or understand this. Some thought that they were going to be handed over to the Chinese,” says Lham Norbu, 76, who, along with his family had also escaped to Assam in 1962.

The journey back home also left many scarred.

Rinchin Dorje, who was in his mid-twenties during the war, says

he remembers seeing dead bodies of Indian soldiers on the roads.

“I wish I could forget those memories,” he says.

A memorial at Tawang lists the names of 2,420 Indian soldiers who died in the area during the 1962 war. The bullet-riddled helmets of Indian soldiers displayed there are also a grim reminder.

Others are trying to keep the memories alive in their own ways. Around 22 miles from Tawang,

in a small township called Jang, is a roadside restaurant called Café 62. Named for the year of the war, the eatery was opened by Rinchin Drema, a retired paramilitary solider who served in the army for 21 years.

“When the war happened, our elders were put through a lot of misery. Café 62 is just a tribute to all they went through,” he says.

Source: BBC

Tawang is home to India’s largest Buddhist monastery

Sitting in the courtyard of the Khinmey monastery near his house, Mr Chewang speaks of the hardships people had to face during the 1962 war. “We didn’t even have proper roads. People walked night and day through jungles to reach safer places. It was a nightmare.”

Tawang is home to India’s largest Buddhist monastery

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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).

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RAIN OF PRAYER ASSEMBLY

TREASURE MINDS CLUB

Peseiro Receives N156.4m Partial Payment From NFF

Super Eagles Head Coach, Jose Peseiro, has been paid $210,000 (about N156,400,000), being three of the 10 months salary owed him by the Nigeria Football Federation, NFF.

Head coaches of other national teams like the Super Falcons, U-23 Eagles, Flying Eagles, Falconets, Golden Eaglets and the Flamingos were paid between five and seven months salaries.

Before this latest payment, Peseiro was not paid a salary since he was engaged in May 2022 by the Amaju Pinnick-led Executive Board of the NFF. The Portuguese was contracted following an assurance by the Minister of Youth and Sports Development,

Chief Sunday Dare, that the Federal Government will pick the bills of a foreign coach after the Austin Eguavoen-led technical crew failed to qualify Nigeria for the 2022 World Cup in Qatar.

NFF President, Alhaji Ibrahim Gusau, who confirmed the payment of some outstanding salaries to national team coaches told Completesports.com that the payments were made from the funds from its affiliate international bodies.

Gusau debunked an online newspaper report that Peseiro’s salary was not paid all this while because the NFF insisted on the salary being paid first into the NFF’s account before the coach can be paid.

“There is no truth in that publication because the sports ministry did not at any time ask the NFF to furnish it with Peseiro’s account details. Why will we do such? The coach is aware of the true situation and it is contrary to that report, ” Gusau explained.

“When I assumed office as President of the NFF, I demanded to see Peseiro’s contract and the approval by the Federal Government agreeing to pay the coach’s salary. But to my utter dismay, there was no approval. I was made to understand that the approval was verbal.

“This also surprised the Sports Minister who asked us to write to get the approval, this we did since last year. We are still waiting for

the approval and subsequent payment of the salary of the Super Eagles’ coach.

“Whoever published that story – that the NFF refused to furnish the Ministry with Peseiro’s account details is a liar who does not mean well for football in Nigeria, ” Gusau who assumed office in September 2022 stated.

On bonuses and allowances owed to the various national teams, especially the Super Eagles, the NFF Boss said all that will be sorted out soon, adding that he has paid some allowances.

“The bills owed by the NFF are huge and we are working hard to offset them soon, ” Gusau concluded.

Source: completesports

S P R T

Nigeria set to receive FIFA Women’s World Cup™ Trophy

African women’s football giant Nigeria will welcome the original FIFA Women’s World Cup™ Trophy as the train makes its way to the Federal Capital, Abuja on Sunday.

The Trophy has already left FIFA’s headquarters and been to several countries, and will arrive in Nigeria, one of only seven countries to have taken part in every edition of the competition, on Saturday evening. The Trophy will make its way to all the 32 countries taking part in this year’s finals, with Nigeria being the ninth stop on the game-changing global tour.

Since world football’s governing body, FIFA, launched the women’s flagship tournament 32 years ago, only Nigeria,

USA, Norway, Germany, Brazil, Japan and Sweden have played in every edition. All seven nations will again be on display at the ninth FIFA Women’s World Cup finals to be co-hosted by Australia and New Zealand from 20th July to 20th August this year.

The one-month championship Down Under will be the biggest in the history of the competition, as it welcomes 32 teams – the same number as featured in the men’s World Cup in Qatar late last year.

The FIFA Women’s World Cup was launched as a 12-team tournament in China in 1991, and stayed on that number for the championship in Sweden in 1995. It became a 16-nation tournament in the USA in 1999 and 2003 and was also

Paris 2024 Race: Olympic Eagles

the same number for China in 2007 and Germany in 2011. It became a 24team tournament in Canada in 2015 and remained that way at the last competition in France in 2019.

Only four countries have won the glittering trophy: USA, Germany, Norway and Japan. USA have been victorious on four occasions and Germany have lifted it twice. Japan and Norway were champions once each.

Nigeria, South Africa, Morocco and Zambia will fly Africa’s flag in Australia and Aotearoa New Zealand, with ninetime African champions Nigeria already slotted into Group B which will also feature co-hosts Australia, Republic of Ireland and Canada.

fire blanks against

The Super Falcons will play their first match at this year’s FIFA Women’s World Cup against Canada at Melbourne Rectangular Stadium on Friday, 21 July 2023.

The FIFA Women’s World Cup Trophy will be on display at the Transcorp Hilton Hotel, Abuja from 12 noon on Sunday, with a photo session planned for a number of invited guests.

Before the display, the FIFA team will pay a courtesy visit to the Honourable Minister of Youth and Sports, Chief Sunday Dare in his office at the Moshood Abiola National Stadium.

More information regarding the FIFA Women’s World Cup Trophy Tour is available at FIFA.com/TrophyTour.

Guinea in Abuja

Olympic Eagle players

By Albert Akota

Nigeria’s U23 boys failed to take advantage of home soil and finished their U23 Africa Cup of Nations final qualifying fixture, first leg match against Guinea 0-0 at the Moshood Abiola National Stadium, Abuja on Wednesday. Success Makanjuola and Timilehin Ogunniyi,

who ran Tanzania out of gas in Ibadan in October last year, could not produce the same fiery performance as Guinea stifled Nigeria’s midfield play, created chances of their own and were solid at the rear.

In the 28th minute, Ogunniyi rocked the crossbar from a free-kick 20 yards out on the right, but that turned out the major effort of the

Olympic Eagles in a tepid game that did not quite live up to its billing.

Makanjuola’s inswinger in the 45th minute was parried from danger by goalkeeper Mory Keita.

In the second half, the visitors came quite close when Ousmane Camara hit the upright from a corner kick. Ifeanyi Ogba blasted a couple

of opportunities wide, and in the 64th minute, Jonathan Alukwu watched in agony as Keita punched away his shot when Nigeria flowed forward.

On the dot of time, Nigerian defender Christopher Nwaeze was handed the red card for a second bookable offence, and will miss the return leg in Rabat on Tuesday.

European Championship 2024 qualifiers: Who do you think will reach Euro 2024?

Here we go again. Qualifying for the 2024 UEFA European Championship in Germany gets under way this week as 53 nations battle for 24 places.

In a repeat of last tournament’s final, England face holders Italy in their first Group C match on Thursday.

Scotland find themselves in a difficult group with Spain and Norway as they hope to reach just their second major tournament this century.

Wales, semi-finalists in 2016, are in Group D with Croatia, Turkey, Latvia and Armenia.

Northern Ireland, who made their only Euros appearance seven years ago, are in an intriguing Group H which includes Denmark and Finland.

Two teams from each group advance straight to the finals, plus there is a backdoor route via the Nations League for a handful of teams.

We want to know who you see booking their spot in next year’s tournament, plus you can have your say in the comments.

Group A

Who will reach Euro 2024?

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Group D

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Who will reach Euro 2024?

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Group F

Who will reach Euro 2024?

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Group G

Who will reach Euro 2024?

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Group H

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Group I

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Group J

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England, Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales all start their qualifying campaign for Euro 2024 this week

PEOPLES DAILY

Tinubu’s mandate and the hunter’s call

Mason Mount ‘interested’ in Bayern Munich

It is not only unfathomable but also preposterous and downright stupefying that some fellow Nigerians and their foreign sympathisers are still engaging in arguments about the veracity and authenticity of the outcome of the February 25 Presidential election results.

Guest Columnist

The chatter around Mason Mount’s future continues as we while away the last few days of this interminable international break, with The Guardian claiming that the 24-year-old would indeed be “interested [in] reuniting” with Thomas Tuchel at Bayern, reciprocating our former head coach’s reported interest.

Considering that success they had together, that’s hardly surprising, and if Mason were to leave, that would certainly be a more preferable destination than, say, Liverpool or Manchester United — who remain linked as well, especially in the former’s case.

The Athletic also have a rundown of the situation, claiming that the Reds have given this a “proper consideration” if — and that remains an “if” — Mount is unable to agree an extension with Chelsea when — and that remains a “when” — talks over said contract resume at the end of the season.

What everyone seems to agree on is that Chelsea would be expected to cash in on Mount if we cannot find an agreement, as opposed to letting him run down his contract and leave for free next year. The Athletic put our potential asking price at £70m, which isn’t too bad, but somehow still feels inadequate for what (and whom) we would be losing in the process.

Source: SBNATION

It even gets to most irritating levels that in their hearts and genuinely in their private moments they admit to themselves that from the campaigns , the rallies , the recruitment of new voters and the execution of their campaign strategies both at the communication and logistics levels they was no iota of hope towards a pathway to victory of any sort. Yet after the denouement of electoral failure they are now hell bent on clutching at straws hoping they can pull down the house if they cant occupy it. The intelligence community has duly alerted Nigerians and stakeholders alike about the deadly plot by some disgruntled politicians to truncate our long suffering 24 year old fourth democratic journey. The hunter has sounded his whistle calling his dog to return to base ! The Department of State Security service has not for the first time appealed to all detractors to tow the line of peace and tranquility in their response to their electoral calamity .

Even the Abdusalaam Peace Committee extracted a commitment from these political combatants to uphold the peace before , during and after the elections. Yet , we had violence in some deep country precincts. The hunter’s dog , it would seem has lost its way. For them because it’s raining in their villages , they ignorantly conclude that it’s raining all over the world . They shut their minds to the fact that it might not be raining elsewhere.

Let’s us recall how we got here . It was common knowledge that the opposition People’s Democratic Party started it’s campaign early and seemed to have gathered some momentum by the first month of 2023 , but alas the fallout from it’s Presidential primaries caused an irrevocable angst between some governors and the candidate for reasons of non-adherence to the rotation principle entrenched in the party’s constitution as well as the “parapoism” of Gov Tambuwal’s stepping down for candidate Atiku much to the chargrin of Rivers State governor Nyesom Wike whose chances of victory was dealt a deadly blow by Tambuwal’s action. PDP never recovered from the oppobrium and “internal war” that ensued.

By Danladi Bako, PhD

Secondly, non-political , non card-carrying voters who constitute about 70 percent of the populace were torn between voting for another eight years of another Fulani president after Buhari or choosing a southern candidate.

In comes the Labour party whose poster boy is a southern candidate Peter Obi. He fitted the bill. So PDP’s stronghold in the south east of Nigeria were it used to reign supreme was further decimated. PDP was in trouble . As if that wasn’t enough , the master strategists of the APC Presidential candidate Ashiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu took him into the creeks of Graramatu Kingdom to meet Tompolo in Okerenkoko as part of search for votes. Government Emuopolo alias Tompolo is “government” of his own if you know what I mean. Even the dreaded Asari Dokubo jumped on the “Sell Tinubu” train courtesy of Ashiwaju’s magnanimity to his wife and children while Asari was in custody. As the final nail on the coffin the PDP literally gave up campaign in the south west and seemed to rely on Fulani hegemony and a few northern APC governors to betray the ruling party and vote PDP. Of course the APC governors of Kwara ,Kogi , Jigawa , Zamfara , Niger and Borno all delivered as expected and Sen George Akume wrestled Benue from PDP and gave Ashiwaju as a bonus. How could PDP have won the presidential election with these uncertainties and topsy-turvy rollercoaster journey ? Not in the wildest dreams.

The other dog of our famed hunter that is not listening to the hunter’s whistle is the Labour party and it’s candidate Peter Obi. Whoever thought Peter Obi was going to be president was living in some extra-terrestrial

bubble oblivious of realities on ground in this 925000 square kilometers of land called Nigeria. Indeed the large population of non card-carrying voters come from a culture where a voting pattern bequeath to them by their grandparents and parents have been entrenched in the family psyche and sub-culture over long decades . For instance most Yorubas would vote UPN , AD , ACN or it’s current version of APC. The appelation “progressives” fits the Awo philosophy they grew up with , so on election day they are not going to wake up one morning and change because a certain Peter Obi has shown up. Likewise numerous Hausa Fulani will go the Northern People’s Congress route and it’s modern da version of the National People’s Party NPN. There is a history to the voting behaviour of every family. Of course some of today’s youth generation will break the ranks , but it has now dawned on Peter Obi that they don’t form the critical mass needed to upturn voting pattern and long standing behaviour in his favour. The Labour party needs another 4 years of mobilisation to get the the remote villages of Konshisha (Benue), Jekanadu (Sokoto) Yorla ( Rivers ogoni) , Ipokia ( Ogun Stare ) Rikoto (Kebbi) and Dawakin Tofa( Kano) and all such communities where 70 percent of Nigerian dwell. Not on the internet .

The party needs another four years to get foot soldiers in the 176, 000 polling units who will go on election eve and appeal to the locals from house to house to come out and vote , sometimes coax them , sometimes induce them ! That’s how it works , my friend. The trajectory of the media and internet simulation in favour the Labour party was

exaggerated and completed misdirected. Be that as it may , for the 6 months effort of Peter Obis resurgence of the Labour party to produce one governor and more than 30 National Assembly members is commendable but it also accentuates th volume of humongous work and gangantuan goodwill Ashiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu and Sen Kashim Shettima have built over the decades for them to amass 8 million votes on February 25.

From the forgoing the opposition People’s Democratic Party and Labour party have no reason to claim they won the elections. Ashiwaju had 22 governors at his disposal for heaven sake with all their resources and voter strength. Tinubu picked his mandate in style , grand style with a gap of close to 2 million votes .

The path of self destruction that the disgruntled politicians the DSS mentioned are embarking on is needless , irresponsible and totally suicidal. These fifth columnists who have no capacity to handle failure are refusing to heed the call of their huntermaster. When you prepare for war , you crave for victory but also make provision for possible failure. That’s the mark of a great warrior . This is the time to sheath their swords and prepare for the next elections in four years time. The democratic journey we seem to be nurturing successfully does not need this aberation of already doomed idea of “interim government” . As we say in Hausa “Wanda bai ji bari ba ya ji hoho” (one who refuses to listen to advice will feel the pain later).

Dr Danladi Bako OON is an APC chieftain and member , Media Directorate , Presidential Campaign Council.

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There is a history to the voting behaviour of every family. Of course some of today’s youth generation will break the ranks, but it has now dawned on Peter Obi...