Saturday, April 29, 2023 Weekend Edition

Kokona crisis: Displaced persons in Mada community cry out for help

From Gambo Ahmed, Lafia

Mada victims of the recent clash between farmers and herders in Tattara village in Kokona local government council of Nasarawa state and its environs have made a passionate appeal to the federal and state governments as well as spirited individuals to come to their aid, with food items and clothes, in order to cushion the hardship being faced as a result of the clash.

Speaking in an interview with Peoples Daily Thursday in Garaku, one of the victims, Sunday Francis said that the call became imperative because many people fled their homes without

carrying anything alongside to sustain them.

According to him:” We are calling on the state government under the leadership of Governor Sule and other relevant agencies to assist us from this predicament. No food for us to eat. No clothes for us to swear.

“The situation is pathetic. We need assistance from the federal and state governments”.

Meanwhile, members of Mada community in Karu Local government council have been admonished to coexist in harmony with other tribes as well as herdsmen in their respective villages.

The Sarki Mada of Guduma, Malam Sarduna Ahmadu, who

gave the advice during a peace meeting held in Guduma on the need for Mada to forget what has happened and forge ahead as farming season is at hand.

He equally urged them to always report any threat on them to the relevant Authority for settlement just as he opined that Mada people are known to be peace loving people wherever they found themselves.

He however called on the state government to as a matter of urgency summon a peace summit between Farmers and herders across the state, stressing that farming activities has commenced and the need to adopt measures to avert clashes between farmers and herders is important.

Governor Sule

Why Nigeria must play stabilising role in Africa -Buhari

By Egena Sunday Ode

President Muhammadu Buhari says Nigeria’s size and resources have imposed on her a stabilizing role in the West African subregion and the African continent as a whole.

Speaking after receiving a message from President Ibrahim Ghali of the Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic, SADR from a Special Envoy at the State House Friday, President Buhari said peace and stability are central to the vision of Nigeria in Africa, adding that these were essential to security and prosperity in the continent.

He thanked the President of the Sahrawi Republic for the message he sent and gave an assurance that he will study its

content and brief the in-coming President, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu on their concerns, urging the Special Envoy to make the effort to brief the incoming President as well.

The Special Envoy, Mohammed Saleh, who was a former Minister of Foreign Affairs, now Minister of Diplomatic Affairs, recalled the role of President Buhari, in 1983 as Military Head of State as being the first African leader to recognise the Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic, paving the way thereby, for its recognition by the Organisation of African Unity, now African Union.

“History will not forget your important role in leading the fight for African freedom using money, arms and diplomacy

in the African Union and the United Nations to secure independence for South Africa, Zimbabwe and Namibia for, without this, these nations would not have been free,” said the Envoy.

Ambassador Saleh expressed the sadness of his country in President Buhari leaving office and expressed the hope that the Tinubu government will maintain the same interest in the independence struggle. He urged the President to continue to maintain relevance in the affairs of the SADR and that of the entire continent.

President Buhari accepted the request of the President of the Sahrawi Republic to participate in the inaugural events ushering in the new Nigerian President in May.

Ogoni power project will create jobs, spur socio-economic

By Egena Sunday Ode

President Muhammadu

Buhari has flagged off the construction of the Ogoni Power Project, expressing confidence that the project upon completion will spur socio-economic development of Ogoniland, create job opportunities for artisans and enhance entrepreneurial growth.

The President virtually participated in the groundbreaking of the Centre of Excellence for Environmental Restoration and the Ogoni 100 Bed Specialist Hospital, performed on his behalf by the Minister of Environment, Mohammed Abdullahi at Wiiya Akara, Khana Local Government Area (LGA), Rivers State, on Friday.

On the power project, the President noted that it will bring sustainability to the Potable Water Schemes, Livelihood Programme, Centre of Excellence for Environmental Restoration, and the Specialist Hospital projects being undertaken by the Hydrocarbon Pollution Remediation Project (HYPREP).

On the benefits of the Ogoni Specialist Hospital, the President said it would bring succour to those who over time have been exposed to hydrocarbon pollution and other ailments associated with environmental pollution in the community.

He urged the Ogoni community to cooperate with the Federal Ministry of Environment, HYPREP and the companies handling the execution of the projects.

He added that the Centre of Excellence for Environmental

Restoration, on whose site the groundbreaking ceremony was held, will provide capacity and research opportunities to scholars within Nigeria and around the world on environmental remediation.

‘‘It will initiate studies on home grown methods and approaches to addressing oil pollution in the Niger Delta and other parts of the country, to Sub-Saharan Africa and beyond.

‘‘It is instructive to know that Ogoni clean-up is not the only project being undertaken by this administration to give the people a sense of belonging in national affairs.

‘‘This administration is constructing the Bodo/Bonny Road -a multi-billion-naira project to provide a link road to Bonny Island - host to the Nigerian Liquefied Natural Gas Plant.

‘‘This all-important economic road passes through the heart of Ogoniland and the benefits it will bring to the local economy will be considerable,’’ he said.

The President also disclosed that approvals for the rehabilitation of the Ogoni axis of the East/West Road which the Bodo/Bonny Road opens into and serves as the gateway to the Oil and Gas Free Zone, Onne,’’ he said.

‘‘Today is special and dear to me as it reminds me of the promise I made to the Ogoni people when I came here to campaign in 2015 for the Presidential election that saw my emergence as the President of our great nation, Nigeria.

‘‘I pledged to implement the United Nations Environment Programme Report on the Environmental Assessment of

Ogoniland which was submitted to the Federal Government four years earlier if elected as the President.

‘‘It was a solemn pledge to my fellow citizens of Ogoni that deserves urgent economic, social and infrastructural intervention required for a decent living.

‘‘That assurance was redeemed on 2nd June 2016 when I flagged off the Ogoniland clean-up project at the Patrick waterfront in Bodo, Gokana Local Government Area.

‘‘The Hydrocarbon Pollution Remediation Project was established to oversee the operations of the clean-up as well as the constitution of the Governing Council, the Board of Trustees, and the Project Coordination Office to coordinate its implementation.

’’I am glad the implementation is progressing as evident in several critical awarded projects that impact on the livelihoods of the Ogoni people,’’ he said.

President Buhari told the gathering that contracts have been approved for the next phase of remediation of sites (medium risk sites), the training of five thousand Ogoni people in sustainable livelihood skills and the engagement of five hundred Ogoni youths as environmental vanguards.

The President commended the Minister of Environment his team at the Ministry and HYPREP for their doggedness in delivering on his instruction to as a matter of priority, deliver on the Ogoni cleanup and other key objectives of the Ministry including biodiversity and wildlife conservation, land remediation, upland and coastal erosion control.

He also applauded Governor

President Muhammadu Buhari

development, Buhari says

Wike for his support to Federal Government’s developmental initiatives and particularly for the relative peace in Ogoni Land and Rivers State in general.

‘‘Your Excellency and Royal Highnesses, it is my desire that you will continue to support this administration and the incoming administration led by His Excellency Bola Ahmed Tinubu who I am confident will consolidate the gains achieved from this project.

‘‘It is my hope that you will support the implementation of the project and utilize the benefits for the present and future generations of Ogoniland,’’ he said.

HRM Mene (Dr) Suanu

Timothy Yormaadam Baridam Gbenemene, Kasimene Bangha VII of Ogoniland, on behalf of the Supreme Council of Ogoni Traditional Rulers, presented a chieftaincy title, Gbene of Ogoni land (Mighty Eagle of Ogoni land), to President Buhari.

The title was received on behalf of the President by the Minister.

The Minister of Environment used the occasion to provide an update on the modest progress being made in the restoration of oil impacted sites, which is the core mandate of HYPREP.

‘‘Twenty out of the 65 United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) sites have been remediated to date. HYPREP recently awarded contracts for additional 17 sites and contractors were taken to the sites yesterday,’’ he said.

Abdullahi stated that six potable water schemes spread through the four LGAs of Ogoni land are at various stages of completion.

In his remarks, Mike Nweielghi,

Chairman Board of Trustees, Ogoni Trust Fund pledged that Ogoni people will provide the necessary support and conducive atmosphere to the contractors to deliver on the projects.

He thanked the President for touching the lives of Ogoni people with his commitment to the clean-up exercise, following the recommendations of the UNEP report.

‘‘As an Ogoniman, I am grateful that your administration has touched the lives of my people and their environment through the commencement of work at the specialist hospital, Centre of Excellence for environmental restoration and Ogoni power project,’’ he said.

He also lauded the President for considering Ogoni people worthy of piloting the affairs of the HYPREP projects, pledging prudent and transparent management of the funds.

In addition to the initial $1billion released for the Ogoni clean-up by the joint venture partners, Nweielghi, on behalf of the Board, appealed for more funds, saying current inflationary trends have made the initial funds insufficient.

The Project Coordinator, HYPREP, Dr Giadom Dumbari, described the projects as major highpoints of the Buhari administration in addressing the challenges of the Niger Delta, particularly the plight of the Ogoni people.

He explained that the specialist hospital is strategically located to service Rivers, Akwa Ibom and Cross River States and other surrounding communities.

Buhari, Tinubu meet, pray together in Aso Rock

By Our Correspondent

The President-elect, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, joined President Muhammadu Buhari to offer Friday prayers at the State House Mosque, Aso Rock Preaidential Villa, Abuja.

Before they joined the congregation in prayers, the two had a closed-door meeting at which they greeted one another on the Sallah occasion following the completion of the 30-day Ramadan fast and privately discussed a host of issues of common concern to

them, Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, Garba Shehu said in a statement Friday.

The President-elect was accompanied to the State House by the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila and

two Governors, Dr. Abdullahi Umar Ganduje of Kano and Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq of Kwara State as well as Alhassan Ado Doguwa the Majority Leader of House of Representatives, the statement noted.

It added that President Buhari in bidding a farewell to

the visitor said “thank you for joining us in prayer.”

Tinubu”s visit to the seat of power is believed to part of familiarity tours that the President-elect is expected to undertake to Aso Rock before his inauguration next month.

May 29: Kano NNPP transition committee accuses Ganduje of sabotaging handover

From Mustapha Adamu, Kano

The Gubernatorial Transition Committee of the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) in Kano state has accused the outgoing governor, Abdullahi Umar Ganduje of sabotaging the transition process in the state.

Speaking at a press conference in Kano on Friday, Chairman of the committee, Abdullahi Baffa Bichi lamented that Ganduje is frustrating all efforts for smooth transition of power to the governor-elect, Abba Yusuf of the NNPP.

According to him, in a bid to undermine the transition process, Ganduje had refused to inaugurate the 17-member Handover Committee he set up about four weeks ago.

Bichi added that to their surprise, the APC handover committee had requested the NNPP to provide three members to represent the party in the the committee constituted by Mr Ganduje, which according to him, the incoming party had refused to accept the request.

The former Senatorial candidate lamented that the NNPP would not as an incoming government, accept to be part of a handover committee with less than 20 percent representation, while the out going government dominates the committee with over 80 percent representation.

“We were made to understand that the thinking of the outgoing government is that there should be a joint transition committee in which the outgoing government should have 80% of the membership while the incoming government should have 20%.

“Perhaps that is why they are proposing a committee in which they have 82% of the members

(14 members) and asking us to nominate only 18% (three members).

“For us, the composition and membership are not the issues, the main issue of contention is the principle –we do not belong to the same political party, we do not share the same ideals and values –why should we do a joint transition committee?

“We went in person and enquired from the government why are they not replying our letter and acceding to our request for a joint meeting?” He stated.

He explained further that the APC ‘s handover committee should rather be inaugurated to work with the transition committee set up by the NNPP

and not otherwise.

He therefore called on Ganduje to be magnanimous and stop sabotaging the transition process.

Bichi however disclosed that the NNPP transition committee hae fixed a date to meet with the serving Permanent Secretaries of the state government to get the information, in the event Ganduje refuse to do the needful.

“In the meantime, as part of our measures to save time and side-step the road blocks and landmines that governor Ganduje is putting all over in order to sabotage and undermine the transfer of power, we wish to announce the following measures that GTC is taking, effective from Monday

May 01, 2023.

“Interaction with All Permanent Secretaries given the outright refusal of governor Ganduje to inaugurate his transition committee and their inability to meet with our committee to agree on modalities for the transition process, we are compelled by circumstances to, on behalf of the incoming administration of His Excellency Engr. Abba Kabir Yusuf to invite all Permanent Secretaries in the civil service to attend an interaction with the GTC.

“The interaction is slated for Tuesday May 02, 2023 by 10am at the GTC Secretariat.

“Interaction with Chief Executives of Agencies and

Parastatals. After the interaction with PermSecs, Subcommittees will commence the interaction with chief executives and heads of agencies and parastatals.

“Date, time and venue will be conveyed to all agencies and parastatals.

“Interaction with Directors of Personnel Management (DPM). We would also sought for some clarifications from the DPMs of all the 44 Local Government Councils. Date,time and venue will be conveyed to all DPMs” he declared.

He finally called on Ganduje to remember that God gives power to whom He wishes and is the one that has given power to Mr Yusuf and should not challenge the will of God.

President Muhammadu Buhari receives briefing from the Chairman National Population Commission, Hon Nasir Isa Kwarra accompanied by Health Facility Committee, Dr Ipalipo Harry, Dr Abdulmalik Durunguwa, Director General Tellson Osifo Ojogun and Director Census, Ms. Evelyn Olanipekun during an audience at the State House, yesterday in Abuja. PHOTO; State House

Clergyman cautions religious leaders over ‘emotional’ prophecies

From Uche Nnorom, Makurdi

Aclergyman, Apostle (Dr.) Paul Ameh of Paula Ministries has cautioned religious leaders in Nigeria not to make prophecies out of emotion, so as not to throw innocent people into pain.

This is just as he also advised politicians to keep to their vision and promises to the people so as to leave legacies, while speaking with Journalists in Makurdi on Friday.

Apostle Ameh lamented over the

high insecurity and poverty amongst Nigerians and urged politicians to work hard to curb it.

He particularly decried the high rate of bloodshed in Benue, noting that there is dire need for spiritual revival through fervent prayers and sincere repentance amongst the people.

Apostle Ameh also cautioned the Church to avoid division but to work in unity for the growth of society.

The Benue born, Lagos based minister of God who is in the State for a revival program expressed optimism that Nigeria

and Benue will witness a new season in the new Government.

“I congratulate Rev. Fr. Alia emerged as Governor of the State and I believe that as a man of God, he will govern to bring salvage and happiness to the lives of the people.

“Our state is sick and that is why it is projecting blood. Spiritual leaders should come together and pray, and whatever has gone wrong that made God withdraw His hand from the land, I believe that once we call for prayer, God will heal the land.

“There should be unity in the religious sector of the State. There should be religious cooperation and harmony.

“For the prophecies before the election, most religious persons prophesied emotionally. Most of them were looking at the physical outlook to determine the outcome. We have to manage politics and religion very well so that we do not throw innocent people into painful situations. Men of God need to be united because God does not work in disunity.

“I believe that we are going to see a new season in Nigeria’, he stated confidently.

Kogi 2023: APC governorship candidate, Ododo, gets Buhari’s blessings

By Egena Sunday Ode

The Governorship Candidate of the All Progressives Congress in Kogi State, Usman Ododo, on Friday, received President Muhammadu Buhari’s blessings as the party’s flag bearer in the November election.

Ododo, while briefing State House Correspondents after he was presented to the President by Governor Yahaya Bello, said he was committed to building on the unparalleled developmental strides of the Governor, which were achieved through inclusive governance, if elected in the forthcoming polls.

He said, with his wealth of experience in the private and public financial sectors, as well as the opportunity of learning from Bello, who he described as a great leader to Kogites, he was well equipped to steer the ship of the confluence state in the desired direction.

The APC candidate said specifically that he was confident of APC’s victory in the November governorship election.

Ododo emerged the Kogi APC governorship candidate through a direct primary election on April 14 and was ratified through a

special Congress of the party on April 15.

Governor Yahaya Bello expressed delight in the capacity of the APC candidate to deliver even more wins for the party in the state and assured kogi residents of continuity in the

infrastructure renewal masterplan, which his administration had embarked upon for more than seven years.

He reiterated that the APC in Kogi State was one united family, noting that the party was very well positioned to win the next

governorship election, landslide. President Buhari gave his unalloyed blessings to the APC candidate, while advising the party in Kogi State to embark on issue-based election campaign so as to ensure the party retains the state in the coming elections.

FG establishes agro-mineral ISO certified laboratory

The Federal Government through the Raw Materials Research and Development Council (RMRDC), has established the agriculture and mineral resources International Organisation for Standardisation (ISO) certification laboratory in Abuja.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the newly established lab is aimed at analyzing agro and mineral resources produced in accordance with international standards for exportation.

Mr Obassi Ettu, Deputy Director, Engineering Design, Development and Technical Assistant to the Director-General of the council, said the laboratory will curb the short-changing of exporters by other investors.

Ettu, who took newsmen on a tour of the newly constructed facility, added that it was part of the achievements of Prof. Hussain Ibrahim, the DirectorGeneral of the council.

He said the laboratory was part of RMRDC’s response to the nation’s requirements for quality

infrastructure.

“Exporters can short-change themselves by exporting their materials raw, what you need is value addition and it can be done by knowing what is inside the raw materials.

“It is done when the laboratory provides you with a characterisation of what is contained in the raw materials and with it the raw materials’ value rises.

“For instance, lead zinc exporters who sell raw zinc are given anything because they

need money.

“But after analysing the lead zinc, you would find silver, copper, lead and zinc leading to the value of the material.

“This would be listed out in the ISO certificate and an added value in the market”, he said.

Dr. Fortune Alabi, Assistant Director and Head, Pharmaceutical Materials Division, said the laboratory was ISO certified, hence whatever result it presented was accepted worldwide as a well certified analysis. NAN

President Muhammadu Buhari participating at the Nigerian Army Trooping and Presentation of Colours

Parade 2023 held at the Eagle Square, yesterday Abuja. PHOTO; State House

Emir of Zazzau condoles Police death of 3 officers in auto crash

From Femi Oyelola, Kaduna

The Emir of Zazzau

Malam Ahmed Nuhu Bamalli, CFR, has paid a condolence visit and delivered a letter to the Kaduna State Police Command, over the tragic road accident that led to the death of three and injuries of three other personnel.

According to a statement, signed by the Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), DSP Muhammad Jalige, made available on Thursday, April 27, represented by the Chiroman Zazzau District head Makera, Alh Shehu Tijjani Bamalli, in the letter submitted, the Emir said, “It is with great shock and sadness that we received the news of the fatal accident that claimed the lives of three (3) of your officers who supported us during our Sallah events on the 23rd of April, 2023 while on duty.

“On behalf of myself and the Zazzau Emirate Council, we commiserate with the Kaduna State Police Command and the families of the deceased officers for the untimely loss of these Galant Officers,” the letter said.

The Emir prayed for the good Lord to grant the State Command and families of the deceased the strength and fortitude to bear this irreparable loss.

Ministry hails Peace Corps for contributions to education sector

By Vivian Okejeme

The Ministry of Education has commended Peace Corps of Nigeria, for its quality contributions in the areas of setting up Peace Corps Clubs and the general maintenance of discipline in schools and colleges across the Country.

In particular, the ministry applauded efforts of the Corps in youth empowerment, peace and security, assuring the organization of its greater partnership and support.

This commendation was

given when a delegation from the Ministry, led by the Principal Executive Officer, Special Duties in the Ministry, Mr. Victor Opeyemi, paid an assessment visit to the Headquarters of the Corps in Jabi, Abuja.

He stated further that Peace Corps’ activities in Schools and Colleges through the formation of Peace Club has helped significantly in inculcating the culture of Peace in the younger generation.

He therefore promised that the ministry will continue to partner with the organization to continue with its activities

especially in Unity schools across the country.

Speaking further, Opeyemi prayed that the Bill for an act to establish the Nigerian Peace Corps which is to give statutory backing to the Organization, passed by the National Assembly and recently transmitted to President Muhammadu Buhari would receive positive attention from the Presidency, to enable the organization continue with its value -driven programmes geared towards the socioeconomic development of the youths.

In his reaction, the National

Commandant, Peace Corps of Nigeria, Professor Dickson Akoh, appreciated the Ministry for the visit and traced the relationship to 2002, when the Corps was registered as a nonGovernmental organization by the Ministry.

Concluding, he assured the Ministry and the Federal Government that the organization would remain resolute in its commitment to national creativity, peace and youth development, being the cardinal objectives of the organization.

Expert urges deployment of STI in identifying public health needs

Prof. Olalekan Akinbo of the African Union Development Agency (AUDA –NEPAD), has called for the deployment of Science, Technology and Innovation (STI) to identify public health needs and cost effective packages of healthcare.

Akinbo told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Friday in Abuja that in most cases, ill-health could be attributed to poverty.

He said that building capacity in STI would help improve the health of citizens.

The Supervisor at the Centre of Excellence in STI disclosed that over the past century, science and technology provided the basis for the largest ever aggregate improvements in human health.

Akinbo said advances in scientific knowledge and its application, helped to slow the trend of high fertility and high mortality.

He said that this would also lead to increasing better health for many people all over the world.

The supervisor said that nonetheless, vector and water borne diseases, aids inadequate pre-natal and maternal and child created tremendous burden in developing countries.

He said diseases like smallpox and others like childbirth and routine infectious diseases had declined sharply.

Akinbo said that indoor air pollution, dysentery, water-

borne diseases such as cholera and vector-borne diseases like malaria, dengue and AIDS account for millions of deaths annually.

He said these diseases were hitting hardest the countries that are least prepared and could not afford to deal with them.

“Some of these issues can be addressed using current knowledge, like dysentery while others require scientific breakthroughs in science and technology,“ he said.

In the area of agriculture, the expert said advances in STI had facilitated higher yields, greater efficiency and nutritional content in the world food supply.

He said genome editing; an emerging technology being initiated by the AU, was a typical example of an

innovative technology that could be applied in agriculture for improved crop yield.

“Food production, however, must double in the coming decades to meet rising demand and meet the challenges entailed in inter alia improving resistance to drought, pests, salinity and temperature extremes.’’

Akinbo said the challenges associated with raising the nutritional content and reducing post-harvest loss, all in an environmentally and socially sustainable manner.

He said that at the same time, the regulatory challenges of assuring safety in food production and consumption would increase exponentially.

“Although, the necessary technology for increasing agricultural output is available in many developing countries

including Nigeria, certain requisites must be met’’, he said.

He said these include the will to advance economically, opportunity and organisation to use the technology, elimination of political, social and economic disasters to development.

Akinbo said it also involved the ability to first incorporate the technology into overall development and then to continue using it.

He said in the domain of food security, advances in science and technology provided the foundation for the green revolution.

“Improved knowledge of plant biology and breeding techniques led to better seeds and cultivation practices that drastically increase yields,“he said.(NAN)

Malam Ahmed Nuhu Bamalli, CFR

FG remains committed to infrastructure development in Nigeria – ICRC boss

Director-General, Infrastructure Concession Regulatory Commission (ICRC), Mr. Micheal Ohiani, has declared that the Federal Government remains committed to infrastructure development in Nigeria through Public-Private Partnership (PPP).

Ohiani said this at the 1st Quarter 2023 Public-Private Partnership Consultative Forum (3PUCF) and the Inauguration of State House PPP-Unit in Abuja on Thursday.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the meeting was hosted by the State House.

According to Ohiani, since the last 3PUCF meeting held in December 2022, the Federal Government has achieved more successes and milestones in major sectors to achieve a PPP economy.

The director-general said the 1st quarter meeting was scheduled for March 2, 2023, but had to be postponed due to the general elections.

Ohiani, who gave a summary of the PPP projects recorded since the last meeting, said there were more projects at the inception stage waiting to commence development.

He said: “We have over 200 projects at different stages of the development and procurement phases.

“In addition to over 40 projects at the implementation phase, I believe that together, we can do even more in the year, “he added.

He listed out some projects the commission had issued Outline Business Case (OBC) Compliance Certificates to include the development of Ports of Ondo Multipurpose Deep-Sea Port and the Benin Port Project in Edo State.

Ohiani said others included the Expansion and Development of Snake Island and the Lagos Multipurpose Sea Port project of the Federal Ministry of Transportation.

“The Burutu Port Complex Phases 1, 2, and 3 projects had the OBC Compliance Certificate revalidated,”Ohiani said

He revealed that in the PPP Procurement Phase, the following had been accomplished, with the issuance of Full Business Case(FBC) Compliance Certificates.

“Revalidation of the FBC

Compliance Certificate for Establishment of an Aviation Leasing Company (ALC) of the Federal Ministry of Aviation.

“The Refurbishment, Operation and Management of the water system at Tin Can Port, Tin Can Island by Nigeria Ports Authority.

“These give a total of 153 OBC Compliance Certificates and 75 FBC Compliance Certificates issued by the Commission to date, which is a record on its own”.

Ohiani also listed out some projects that had received the Federal Executive Council’s approvals to enable them achieve Commercial Close.

He said the projects included the Central Offshore Waste Reception Facility (OWREF) Concession and Eastern Offshore Waste Reception Facility (OWREF) Concession.

The director-general said others were the e-custom project of the Federal Ministry of Finance and the National Fire Detection and Alarm System project of the Federal Fire Service under the Ministry

of Interior.

“Development of Cassava Bio Ethanol Value Chain project of the Ministry of Finance, Budget and National Planning.

“The design, construction and financing of a Mixed Development Comprising Residential Houses, Hotels, Recreational Facilities and Office Blocks for Commercial Purposes Under a PPP arrangement of the FRCN.”

Caption for picture in the body: Members of State House PPP Unit being inaugurated by the Permanent Secretary? State House and DG ICRCMembers of State House PPP Unit being inaugurated by the Permanent Secretary? State House and DG ICRCThe Permanent Secretary, State House, Tijjani Umar, in his address, commended the ICRC for creating a roadmap to handle projects and programmes on infrastructure development through PPP.

“I share the spirit that 10 years from now because we have placed our fingers in the right places and we

have planned, execution is guaranteed to be delivered.”

Umar gave his assurances that the state house would work closely with other Ministries, Departments and Agencies(MDAs) for the greater good of the country, adding we should seek ways of using technology to attract viable projects.

He disclosed that the state house in consultation with the Ministry of Finance, Budget and National Planning, identified and tentatively screened three of its projects for possible consideration of final cases of PPP.

“They include the State House Wildlife Sanctuary and Citizen’s Park, State House Medical Centre, and State House Lagos Facility and we have trained our staff to prepare for this” he said.

The Head of the Civil Service of the Federation (HCSF), and Chairman of the meeting, Dr Folashade YemiEsan, called on more (MDAs) to create PPP departments.

Yemi-Esan, represented by Mrs. Agalasi Ehigie, Director,

Infrastructure Management Department, Office of the HCSF, said the ICRC was doing a lot to ensure the infrastructure needs of the country were met.

NAN reports that the forum, which was inaugurated 10 years ago at the State House, provides a platform for PPP departments in MDAs and stakeholders to share ideas, success stories, and challenges on their PPP projects to drive economic growth in Nigeria.

NAN

Alleged N640M fraud: Labour party demands retraction

From Femi Oyelola, Kaduna

In the wake of a letter of alleged N640M fraud written by an Abuja based legal firm, Vax Justice Attorney (Aniah A. Ikwien & Associate) directed at the 2023 Gubernatorial candidate of the Labour Party(LP), in Kaduna, Hon Jonathan Asake, the party has demanded a retraction from the legal firm and its client, Engineer Mike Auta.

The State LP Chairman, Hon Awal Aliyu Tafoki, asserted this during a press conference held in Kaduna yesterday.

According to him, the law firm is strange to them, and its client, Engr Mike Auta has never consulted the Party on this matter or on any matter relating to the issue at stake.

The Chairman added that the party leadership is surprised at the demands made which are strange since it was not aware of any such embezzlement as no such complaints or petition has been tendered to them.

Tafoki stressed that the retraction should be done within seven days of the press conference, and should be featured prominently on the social media, print and electronic media and the hard copy served the Party.

“Failure to heed to the above will leave us with no option than to take a legal action to clear the name of the party and seek compensation for damages caused by the said letter.

“A committee will be set up to investigate the real motive behind the letter.

“The committee will also investigate the roles of other players who may be party members in this issue.

“The outcome of the committee will enable us to take necessary action against any of our erring members who may be found wanting by joining us on an issue we are not aware of.

“We want to use this opportunity to reiterate that none of our party members are above the party’s constitution,” he warned.

It would be recalled that the

law firm of Messrs Vax Justice Attorney (Aniah A. Ikwien & Associate) had written a letter that went viral on behalf of Engr Mike Auta, accusing Hon. Jonathan Asake of fraud to the tune of N640M claiming that the monies were various donations and contributions meant for the Party to win the 2023 generation elections in the state.

“While we are facing distractions at the national level

by saboteurs, our dismay knows no bounds when we saw the letter in the social media space from the aforementioned law firm.

“Having read the highly libelous content of the letter, and especially that the Labour Party was made a partner, after due consultations we deem it expedient and necessary to clear the air on this issue,” Tafoki concluded.

Hon Jonathan Asake

Mr. Micheal Ohiani

CRIME NEWS

By Albert Akota

The National Senior Citizens Centre (NSCC) has expressed serious worries over the killing of 70-year-old, Ihwakar Kumekor Dam, in Konshisha Local Government Area of Benue State.

NSCC disclosed it had received a report that some youths in Mbatue Council Ward of Konshisha local Government Area of Benue allegedly buried alive a 70-yearold man, Ihwakar Kumekor Dam, for purportedly invoking thunder and lightning that killed his son, daughter-in-law and a grand-child.

Director General of NSCC, Dr Emem Omokaro, described the killing of the senior citizen as an abominable act and height of human right violation that must be confronted and the culprits made to face the

full weight of the law.

The agency, however commended the Nigeria Police Force for apprehending the suspects as well as the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons and other Related Matters (NAPTIP) for steps taken to bring culprits to book.

The NSCC DG assured Older Persons and Nigerians that the centre will stop at nothing to defend the rights of Older Persons as well as Improve their quality of life and well being within its mandate.

She revealed that the Centre Anti Elder Abuse Community Response Mechanism is working in partnership with the National Human Rights Commission, the Legal Aids Council of Nigeria and NAPTIP to stem abuse and violence against Older Persons and provide access to justice.

NSCC bemoans killing of 70-yr-old man in Benue Nigeria, Italy reaffirm commitment to global counterterrorism efforts

Nigeria and Italy have reaffirmed their commitment to strengthening criminal justice and rule of law in combating terrorism across the globe.

This commitment was demonstrated when the two countries co-chaired the seventh Plenary Meeting of the Global Counterterrorism Forum’s (GCTF) Criminal Justice and Rule of Law (CJROL) Working Group in St Julian’s, Malta.

This is contained in a statement from the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA) on Friday in Abuja.

The Coordinator, National Counterterrorism Centre (NCTC), retired Rear Adm. Yaminu Musa, said the administration of criminal justice terrorism-related cases could neither be efficient nor effective if the rights of those concerned were not protected.

Musa, who represented Nigeria at the event, said the effect of lack of protection for witnesses had resulted in the striking out of cases by the courts involving heinous crimes because witnesses often refuse to testify due to the absence of a system designed to cater to their protection.

He said that Nigeria had on May 23, 2022, signed the Witness Protection and Management Act into law to specifically address that challenge.

According to him, Nigeria first co-chaired the CJ-ROL Working Group with Switzerland in 2018 and developed the Abuja Recommendations on Collection, Use and Sharing of Evidence for Purposes of Criminal Prosecution of Terror Suspects.

He said the recommendation was endorsed at the 2018 GCTF

Ministerial Meeting on the sidelines of the 72nd United Nations General Assembly.

“It also co-organised the First Expert Meeting of the Working Group for the development of a set of recommendations on Rule of Law-Based Administrative Measures in the Counterterrorism Context held at The Hague, The Netherlands,” he said.

The NCTC coordinator said the CJ-ROL working group had since inception, accomplished a lot through the development of recommendations and good practice memoranda, such as the Rabat Memorandum on good practices for effective counterterrorism practice in the criminal justice sector.

He added that the working group’s Hague Memorandum on Good Practices for the Judiciary in Adjudicating Terrorism Offense had also

been compiled to assist judges to more effectively adjudicate cases that involve terrorism.

“It will also assist them in respecting the rights of all parties involved in the cases, in particular the rights to a fair trial for the accused, and the protection of victims and witnesses.

“We intend to build on the accomplishments of this important working group and further the knowledge and good practice to support the effective dispensation of effective criminal justice, rule of law and human right-based responses to terrorism,” he said.

Musa said the meeting, which was the first under the new working group co-chairs, focused on the presentation of priority areas highlighted in the group’s work plan for the period of 2022-2024.

“The meeting will guide the

activities of the group as it offers an opportunity for members to discuss collaboration and synergies with other GCTF working groups and initiatives.

“The CJ-ROL Working Group of the GCTF focuses on the critical role played by the criminal justice sector in combating terrorism and demonstrates the GCTF’s commitment to supporting rule-of-law-based and human rights-compliant approaches.

“The GCTF Criminal Justice and Rule of Law Working Group, co-chaired by Italy and Nigeria, is dedicated to supporting the development of effective criminal justice systems within a rule of law framework and fully respecting human rights.

“It aims to ensure that persons who plan, perpetrate or support terrorist acts are brought to justice,” he said. NAN

How Ortom stirred fresh contoversy with his life pension bill

By Uche Nnorom

The eight-year old administration of Governor Samuel Ortom has been mostly defined by controversies. If it is not about herder-farmer clashes, it would be about his akward stance on his political party matters or defending some interests that are not particularly beneficial to the Benue people.

Even at the twilight of his reign, the Benue governor would not let go of controversies in his words and deeds. Having lost his political bid become a Senator after his tenure ends as governor, Ortom has refused to be tamed by the lessons of his electoral misfortune which many had attributed to his reckless public statements and actions.

Barely a month to exit in office, Ortom has remaind in the eye of the storm. The Governor has been accused of official rascality to the distaste and displeasure of the opposition All Progressives Congress, APC, that is waiting by the wings to take over the reins of power in the State.

One nagging issue that has raised concerns and a lot of dust currently in the state is the proposed life pension bill for all former governors and their deputies.

Many politics watchers have condemned the bill, describing it as ‘outrageous’, noting that it is meant to cripple the State.

Director of Communication of the Governor-elect, Rev. Fr. Hyacinth Alia Organization, Kula Tersoo, in a statement dated Monday April 10th, 2023 entitled, ‘Governor Ortom’s plans to deepen Benue woes before and after exit forwards bill to grant him gratuity, pension and other benefits after May 29th, alleged that the outgoing governor has forwarded a bill to the state to grant him and other ex-governors and their deputies life pension and gratutiy. Part of the statement read:

“It has come to our knowledge that the outgoing Governor of Benue State, Samuel Ortom has forwarded a bill to the State House of Assembly that will place ex-Governors, starting with him, on Gratuity, Pension and other benefits.

“The bill also stipulates that after May 29th when he will become ex-Governor, Ortom should be allowed by law to go with some choice property of government in his possession as his post- service package.

“According to the bill, Governor Ortom should be built a Mansion of his taste in any part of the

Country he chooses to stay after leaving Government House; his medical trips with those of his family members should be footed by the State in addition to a jumbo monthly pay package.

“Findings revealed that members of the Benue House of Assembly are disposed to passing the bill but on condition that the Governor must give them some gratifications before they will initiate action on the bill which they consider to be more in Governor Ortom’s interest.

“Consequently, it is not appalling that Ortom who has, throughout his time as Governor of Benue State treated pensioners with utmost neglect that slides most of them to destitution now wants to be a pensioner?

“We, therefore, call on all citizens of conscience to intervene by restraining their representatives at the Benue State House of Assembly from initiating any action that will facilitate passing the bill in order not to deepen the despondency of the state.”

Similarly, a Legal Practitioner, Barr. Terhemen Oscar Aorabee in a piece made available to the media condemned the governor’s pension bill which he tagging it as pension scam.

He highlighted the bill said to have been presented to the Benue State House of Assembly by the Ortom administration.

“Section 1. Establishes the title of the Bill and intends for it to have retroactive effect. It is expected to take effect from 1999 so that it will cover former governors and their deputies, like, Sen. George Akume and late Ogiri Ajene. Sen. Gabriel Suswam and his deputy Steven Lawani, Dr. Samuel Ortom and his deputy Engr. Benson Abounu.

“Section 2(a)(i) makes provision for the payment to the former governors of a monthly “stipend”, equivalent to the “the SALARY” of a sitting/incumbent governor.

“Section 2(a)(ii) makes provision for the payment to all former deputy governors of a monthly “stipend”, equivalent to the “the SALARY” of a sitting/incumbent deputy governor.

“Section 2(b) provides for the building of a permanent residential accomodation in any town “of their CHOICE” by the State in Nigeria.

“Sections 2(c) and (h) provide for the provisions of 4 new cars every 4 years for the former governors and two (2) new cars every 4 years for the former deputy governors which cars shall be serviced and maintained at the expense of the State.

“Section 2(d) and (e)provide for 6 personal staff for the former governors and 3 for the former deputy governors to be paid for by the State.

“Section 2(f) provides for 24 hours security surveillance and guard for all former governors and their deputies at their direction .

“Section 2(g) provides for free medical treatment for them, their spouses and AT LEAST 4 children under the age of 18.

The lawyer noted that all the above entitlements are for life and all expenses are to be charged on the Consolidated Revenue Fund of the State (meaning that they are on First Line Charge) and are to take priority against other expenses like Salaries, Pensions and Gratuity of the citizen.

“Section 3 provides that all the above expenses can be MONETIZED or cashed out!

.“Section 4 stipulates that the former governors are entitled to 2 vacations abroad annually and the former deputy governor to 1 vacation abroad.

The lawyer noted that all the above entitlements are for life and all expenses are to be charged on the Consolidated Revenue Fund of the State (meaning that they are on First Line Charge) and are to take priority against other expenses like Salaries, Pensions and Gratuity of the citizen.

He also, opined that all the entitlements except the vacation can be converted into cash and paid out.

While critically examining the bill Barrister Aorabee said Section 1 makes the bill, when passed into law, to have retrospective effect which means that it will be backdated to cover all democratically elected governors and their deputies since 1999.

Hear him,”While I will leave constitutional lawyers to debate on the effect of giving the law backdated efficacy, it is important to note that if allowed to be passed, the State will be owing Governors George

He also, opined that all the entitlements except the vacation can be converted into cash and paid out. Cont. On Page 25

Governor Samuel Ortom

SPECIAL REPORT

Tears and anguish as fire guts 150 shops in Zaria

By Femi Oyelola

The ancient city of Zaria, Zazzau Emirate in Kaduna State has been thrown into confusiom and mourning following the inferno that gutted over 150 shops in the popular ‘Yan Katako’ Market in Sabon Gari.

The Tsunami-like fire which started in the early hours of Wednesday, April 26, destroyed shops and property estimated to run into billions of Naira.

An eyewitness, Ibrahim Dan Magaji, said the fire started around 1a.m, when there were no people in the market except few security men who couldn’t do much to save the situation.

Corroborating Dan Magaji, a local official said, “the fire spread to other shops in the market and that efforts to attract fire service agencies within the area were not successful.”

Speaking to Journalists on the incident, the Chairman of Timber Dealers Association, Alhaji Ali Ashiru, said the fire started around 1.45am and according to the security guards on duty when electric power was restored in the area, electric wires hamging on the poles sparked, resulting in the fire outbreak.

He said that for the past six years they had not witnessed any fire outbreaks in the market; noting that efforts put up by people to stop the fire from further escalation was what helped the situation.

While lamenting the usual ugly scenario of ‘no vehicle, no fuel’ in the Fire Service operations at the Kofar Doka station when they were contacted, they had to buy fuel for the Federal Fire Service Station at Sabon Gari main market, despite the intervention of Alh. Ibrahim Mai Gold Chairman Sabon Gari Market Association.

However, when contacted on phone the Officer in-charge of Zaria Fire Service, Malam Umar Mohammed, denied the alleged, claiming that they don’t have a vehicle on the ground and he confirmed that it was when the electricity power was restored that the incident occurred.

But in a sharp reaction, the Head of Corporate Affairs, Kaduna Electric Company, (KEDCO), Abdul Azeez Abdullahi, denied

that electricity sparks caused the inferno.

According to him, reports received indicated that the fire incident started in one of the shops in the market, where no less than 150 shops were destroyed at the ‘Yan Katako’ Market in Sabon Gari Zaria

However the frequent fire outbreaks that have ravaged several markets across the country are preventable if the government and traders could team up to put preventive measures.

For instance, power fluctuation, which has been blamed for some of the fires, could be curtailed if the markets are left without public power supply and the use of generators strictly regulated.

Sympathizers who trooped to the scene said it was not the time to trade blames, but to rather find a solution to the disaster that has befallen the market.

Similarly, a community woman leader, Hajiya Laraba Hassan, called on the Kaduna State Government and other well-meaning Nigerians to come to the aid of the traders in order to reduce their losses.

Observers say it was high time that government at all levels, fire service agencies, electric distribution company, and other stakeholders woke up to their responsibilities to curb the escalating numbers of infernos especially at the marketplaces.

According to them, this is necessary because there is hardly any state in the federation that has not experienced one market fire incident or another on recent times. They added that fire disasters ravaging markets with attendant loss of lives and millions of Naira worth of property destroyed has compounded the suffering and poverty in the land.

The catalogue of fire disasters is long and worrisome.

The Ladipo market in Lagos incident, Bodija plank marker fire disaster the Onitsha fire incident as well as the Ilorin market inferno in Kwara state is still fresh and it is even reported that some of the traders have suffered health and mental challenges because of these incidents.

They argued further that to bring succour to the victims of inferno

people concerned should follow the steps of Governor Seyi Makinde of Oyo State who on Wednesday, 26th April, 2023 donated N25 million to the victims of Bodija plank marker fire disaster that occurred on Tuesday, 25th of April, 2023.

The governor equally informed the affected traders that the Ibadan

North Local Government Council will undertake the rehabilitation of the inner roads in the Market.

This is the kind of proactive measures needed to cushion the effects of ravaging market’s fire deserted in the country, observers said.

Politics

Adopt culture of inclusiveness to deepen democracy – Director NILDS to govt

By Christiana Ekpa

The Director General, National Institute

For Legislative and Democratic Studies, NILDS, Prof. Abubakar O. Suleiman, says for Nigeria to sustain and deepen democracy, it must imbibe the culture of political inclusion.

Prof. Suleiman spoke on

Thursday in Abuja during the public presentation of a research report on inclusive practices of political parties in Nigeria organized by the Institute for Legislative and Democratic Studies (NILDS) in conjunction with the Westminster Foundation for Democracy (WFD).

He observed that fake news, ethnic and religious

Adeleke commends security personnel, calls for interstate intelligence sharing, policing

By Musa Baba Adamu

Osun State Governor, Ademola Adeleke has commended the proactive actions of the Nigeria Police and other security agencies operating in the state.

The Governor also noted that strengthening intelligence sharing and firming up operational relationships among the state commands will stop criminals in their tracks before they launch cross-border raids.

The governor made the assertion on Thursday during a state security meeting while calling for the strengthening of inter-state policing to stem crossborder criminal activities.

In the meeting which had in attendance the Assistant Inspector General of Police, Zone XI, Akande Sikiru, Adeleke cited inter-state criminal attacks as a major issue demanding urgent attention.

While noting that Osun is a peaceful state with a strong responsive security apparatus, he said that the recent inter-state raids by armed robbers need a strategy review.

He also expressed hope that the best approach to addressing the challenge is to have all relevant operational Commanders in the same room.

“I am elated to have all of you here led by the police boss for the

zone. Recent security breaches are traced to inter-state raids by criminals. So it is productive that we have all the relevant officers here. Let us strengthen collaboration and partnership. Osun must remain as peaceful as ever, the State Governor directed.

Responding, AIG Sikiru assured the State Governor that the police service is re-strategising to sustain the records of peaceful existence in Osun state.

“Your Excellency, we are more than ready to sustain peace in Osun State. You have a team of dynamic and gallant officers who are already deploying a technology-driven approach in law enforcement and the prevention of crime in Osun state.

“Permit me to express our appreciation for the logistic support your administration is providing for our operations. We know you will do more for us as we also respond proactively to the security needs of the state, ” AIG Sikiru promised.

sentiments and the upsurge in politics of bitterness are threats to the country’s democracy.

He said there was a dark shadow over the significant achievements in the last two decades following some perennial challenges Nigeria’s democracy has continued to witness.

“An essential

requirement for sustainable democracy is political inclusion, especially for minorities and marginalised groups. Indeed, the very notion of democratic governance is premised on the notion of equal participation by all citizens.”

He lamented that women, young people, and

people with disabilities need equal and meaningful participation and representation in all facets of the electoral process, stressing that women and youth constitute more than half of Nigeria’s population, yet their participation in governance processes where decisions are made remains peripheral.

We’re not comfortable with relocation of Ebonyi election tribunal to Abuja – Labour Party

The Ebonyi State chapter of the Labour Party (LP) on Friday expressed concern over the recent relocation of the state Election Petitions Tribunal (EPT) to Abuja.

Recall that the President of the Court of Appeal, Justice Monica Dongban-Mensem, on Wednesday directed the tribunal

to relocate to Abuja immediately.

Speaking on the development, State Chairman of the Labour Party, Mr Godwin Jioke, said that the shutdown of the court in Ebonyi was worrisome to his party. According to him, the party is not comfortable with DongbanMensem’s decision.

“We aren’t comfortable with the cessation of operation and decision of moving the EPT sitting to Abuja,” Jioke told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abakaliki.

“The decision has to be reconsidered and allow matters to be handled in the state where elections took place. (NAN)

Senate Presidency: Kalu, Dickson, Nwoko, other Senators-elect meet

By Musa Baba Adamu

The forum of ex-House of Representatives members who are now Senators-elect has not endorsed any candidate for the position of Senate President.

The Convener, Ahmed Wadada (SDP-Nasarawa West), spoke to reporters after a meeting with members of the body in Abuja on Friday morning.

Wadada, to represent Nasarawa-West Senatorial District in the 10th Senate, said

the forum was yet to decide the incoming leadership.

The politician explained that the parley was convened to reunite for the good of the country, despite their political affiliation.

“We are about 26 members of the forum. This gives us a good bloc for us to come together with that sportsmanship we had while in the house of representatives,” he said.

Wada listed Senate President Ahmad Lawan, Sokoto Governor Aminu Tambuwal, Senator Abdul

Ningi, among members of the forum.

In attendance were Senate Chief Whip Orji Kalu, Senator Seriake Dickson (PDP-Bayelsa), Ned Nwoko (PDP – Delta North), and Mohammed Onawo (PDP –Nasarawa South).

The rest were Tony Nwoye (LP – Anambra North), Emmanuel Udende (APC – Benue), Karimi Sunday (APC – Kogi), Osita Izunaso (APC – Imo), Nasir Sani (APC – Katsina), Ibrahim Khalid (PDP – Kaduna).

Tinubu’s inauguration: Nothing will happen on May 29 – Methodist Prelate

By Ikechukwu Okaforadi

Ahead of the Presidential inauguration of May 29, the Prelate of the Methodist Church

Nigeria, His Eminence, Oliver Ali Aba says there is no cause for alarm as nothing untoward would happen on the set date.

The Prelate has asked Nigerians to remain

positive, saying May 29 would be normal like every other in the lives of Nigerians.

He spoke during the inauguration of the new Methodist Diocese of Awka and the enthronement of Rt. Rev. Onyekachi Nwakanma, as the Bishop, Aba. The clergyman pointed out that the country cannot afford to disintegrate due to political differences but must unite to build a prosperous

nation.

According to Aba: “Nothing bad will happen on May 29. We Nigerians should be able to love our country. Are we happy with what is happing in Sudan or Kenya where about 89 people were recently buried due to an act of nepotism and Kenya’s government said it had gone beyond cultism but an act of terrorism?

Peter Obi vs Tinubu: Resolve petitions before May 29, Afenifere urges tribunal

By Christiana Ekpa

The pan-Yoruba socio-cultural group, Afenifere, has insisted that it would continue to support what it called “the victory of Peter Obi” of the Labour Party in the February 25 presidential election and all his endeavours in its realisation.

Afenifere reiterated that the emergence of a president from the South East would guarantee equity, fairness and peaceful co-existence among Nigerians.

At the April edition of its general meeting held in IjebuIgbo, Ogun State, the group called on the Presidential

Election Petition Tribunal to ensure speedy resolution of all the petitions before it.

Obi and the Labour Party are in court to challenge the outcome of the presidential election, which Bola Tinubu of the All Progressives Congress (APC) won.

But, in a communique signed after the meeting by the leader, Chief Ayo Adebanjo, and the group Secretary General Sola Ebiseni (retd), Afenifere strongly called on the judiciary to ensure all petitions in respect of the presidential election are “timeously and justly resolved before the end of the tenure of the Buhari administration.”

Afenifere described this as the only way through which

the confidence Nigerians have in its intervention may be earned.

The group recalled that similar precedents in this regard have been laid, even by less endowed countries in Africa.

In the communique, Afenifere also asked the Federal Government not to be wasteful by committing about N100 billion to the coming population census.

Afenifere maintained that there is no compelling reason why the census must be held by “the expiring” President Muhammadu Buhari administration.

The group, therefore, called for “all steps and preparations in that regard [to] be stopped forthwith.”

POLITICS

Support Tinubu’s govt to take Nigeria to next level - Lawan urges Atiku, Peter Obi

By Musa Baba Adamu

The President of the Senate, Ahmad Lawan has urged all the opposition political parties to team up with the incoming government of the All Progressives Congress(APC) to jointly take Nigeria to the next level of development.

Lawan said the elections were over and what was left was governance which is for everyone.

The Senate President spoke in Abuja on Friday while receiving in audience a delegation of the Organisation of African, Caribbean and Pacific States(OACPS) led by its Secretary General, Georges Robelo Pinto Chikoti.

Lawan told his guests that they came at a time Nigeria is going through a transition but assured them that the transition from one government to a new government on 29th May, 2023 would not be an issue for the organisation.

The Senate President said: “You are coming at a time when we are going through a transition and thank you very much by the way for congratulating Nigeria for the peaceful elections that we had and of course the peaceful and very smooth transition that are going through.

“By the 29th of May this year, our president, current

Ahmad Lawan

president, and current administration would have finished his tenure but we will have another administration coming and that is not going to be an issue because it is a government that is being replaced by another government from the same political party.

“And of course here in Nigeria, so far, the opposition has been very supportive. The minority Leader is here. We have enjoyed very excellent relationship in the Parliament.

“We work for our country regardless of our political platforms and I will take this opportunity to call on all opposition in Nigeria to team up with our new administration for the development of our country.

“Elections are over and

what is left is governance and governance is for everybody. What is necessary, what is very critical and important today is how we are able to come together as a people regardless of our political platforms to ensure that our country is taking to the next level of development.”

Lawan commended the OACPS Secretary General for working so hard at the secretariat to ensure that the organisation remain very effective and efficient.

“The partnership that we try to form with the European Union is essentially to help us to be self reliant and self dependent, rather than taking some kind of little assistance from them. Partnership in trade and other areas that are vital

and that are decent for Africa and Pacific Countries,” Lawan said.

The OACPS Secretary General, Georges Robelo Chikoti had earlier told the Senate President that his team was in Nigeria to attend a global African symposium which was organised by the OACPS and the Department of Technical Cooperation of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Nigeria and the Nigeria National Commission on Diaspora.

Chikoti said: “Being in Nigeria, for me, is also an occasion to inform Your Excellency that at the OACPS level, the joint Parliamentary Assembly of the OACPS is now being constituted and indeed, at that level, we do count quite a lot on Nigeria which is an important member of this Parliamentary Assembly.

“And we do expect that as they work towards elaboration of rules of the joint Parliamentary Assembly, we certainly do expect that Nigeria will play a critical role to develop this Parliamentary Assembly.

“As we visit you on this courtesy call, it is also an occasion for me and my delegation to thank Your Excellency for the important progress your country, Nigeria, has made in terms of peaceful elections.”

Imo must be rescued from political gangsters – Intersociety

By Christiana Ekpa

The International Society for Civil Liberties and Rule of Law (Intersociety) said there’s an urgent need for Imo State to be rescued from “political gangsters”.

A statement on Friday by the Chairman, Emeka Umeagbalasi and other officials condemned the “political banditry and brigandage” ahead of the Nov 11 governorship election.

NASS Leadership: APC denies zoning list in circulation as fake

The non-governmental organisation also lamented the recurring cases of killings, abductions, disappearances and arson, among others.

It noted that more than half of the 27 Local Government Areas and most of their ‘autonomous communities’ are under terror as well as “military and police siege”.

“We are deeply alarmed that conventional security forces deployed have fully transformed into terror squads and become

more criminals than those they were deployed to checkmate.”

Intersociety accused security personnel of compromise, saying it has become difficult “to differentiate them from non-state actors”.

The group alleged that the state government was using public funds to “suppress and oppress its citizenry” in an attempt to retain power.

The statement said the image of Imo has been damaged and

charged democratic forces to free the South-East state from “another four tortuous and bloody years”.

“Leaderships of leading parties like APGA, PDP and LP must live above board, shun transactional/money politics and join hands to rescue Imo.

“Political defections in Nigeria have rubbished and messed up the country’s leading political actors and ruined their characters and integrity,” it added.

Abdullahi Adamu

By Ikechukwu Okaforadi

The All Progressive Congress (APC) yesterday denied an alleged National Assembly zoning list which has been in circulation, especially in the social media, saying it is fake and not from the party.

In a statement issued yesterday by the National Publicity Secretary of the party, Felix Morka, APC said the party has not zoned any of the principal officers of the Federal Parliament contrary to the information circulation in the social media.

“The attention of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has been drawn to versions of zoning arrangements for the 10th National Assembly leadership positions in circulation in sections of social media. The information did not emanate from the Party and should be disregarded.

“To be clear, the Party has yet to zone positions of leadership of the 10th National Assembly. Any decisions made in that regard will be duly communicated via the Party’s official information channels”, the statement issued yesterday by Morka said.

Taraba APC faction wants party chairman arrested for impersonation

By Ikechukwu Okaforadi

Afaction of the All Progressive Congress, APC, in Taraba State, has called on security operatives to urgently arrest the party chairman, Ibrahim Tukur El-Sudi.

They have also asked the national leadership of the party to call El-Sudi to order before he creates irreparable confusion in the party.

The faction made the call on Friday while reacting to the purported expulsion of a party member, David Sabo Kente and the Senator-elect for Taraba south, Jimkuta David, said El-Sudi has on February 2023 been removed as the party chairman and has no legal backing to expel or suspend any member of the party.

Led by its Acting Chairman, James Amadu, the group described El-Sudi’s action as an ”act of desperation from a

drowning man who is acting the script of his paymasters, desperately trying to retain relevance in the system after plunging the party to a colossal loss in the last election”.

They argued that El-Sudi has no legal power to suspend or expel any member of the party and called for his arrest over alleged impersonation.

Adding that “you may wish to know that on February 10, 2023, El-Sudi was

legally removed from office by a two/third majority of the state working committee of the party through a vote of no confidence.”

The group also expressed sadness at the alleged failure of El-Sudi to deliver his polling unit and his local government council to APC in the just concluded general election.

They urged him to immediately desist from parading himself as the party chairman in Taraba.

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EDITORIAL

OUR VISION

They’re back again

Thepast one and a half decades or so have placed Nigerians in some misery.

It heralded pain, fear and uncertainty. Security of lives and property has been at its lowest ebb. And citizens and leaders alike have been seemingly gropping in the dark as solutions have been slow to come.

But the buildup to the just concluded general election had brought some relief - the odious activities of terrorist groups and other criminal elements seemed to have been curtailed. The terrorists’ bombs were silent and bandits were seemingly on holidays from their kidnapping-for-ransom business that had held the nation by the jugular. That respite, coming on the eve of the elections, was received as the beginning of restoration of sanity that would herald a new dawn which the elections were meant to usher in. After a long period of psychological torment and trauma of citizens by Boko Haram insurgensts and their banditry associates, it is reasonable to expect that citizens cannot wait for a breather which had been promised them by political leaders but never realised.

Arguably, Nigeria has seen the worst of terrorism, whether perpetrated by Boko Haram or bandits, and it cannot be any worse than what citizens have already been experiencing in almost two decades: insurgency in the Northeast, banditry in the Northwest, herder-farmer crisis in the North-Central, IPOB coordinated attacks in the Southeast and so on.

However, for those who are under the direct heat of the inhuman activities of these anti social groups, the long night is getting longer everyday as the booming sound of their guns are thundering every now and then, and refusing to go away.

Zamfara, Kaduna, Katsina, Borno and Benue states epitomise the theatres of operation of these deadly groups, and they do not seem to be in a hurry to shift their battle ground. Neither are these terrorist groups seemingly contemplating to give up their nefarious and despicable trade, despite remarkable efforts by the security agencies to send them out of business. Just last week, one of the most wanted kingpins of the bandits terrorising Kaduna, Isiya Danwasa, was neutralised by the military. Ditto to countless members and leaders of the devious groups. But we are yet to see the desired outcome.

So, they are back again, in the forests and bushes causing nightmares to law abiding citizens. Without exaggerations, the days have become unpredictable for citizens of the affected areas where these men who live by the gun have chosen to dwell.

Just last week alone, the bandits struck in Zamfara about three times, leaving behind a gory tale as usual. Three villages in Bakura Local Government Area were targetted in one of the attacks, and no fewer than 56 persons were killed, according to reports. Barely 24 hours after, another seven people were killed by gunmen in Maradun Local Government Area of the state. Maradun

and Bakura local government areas share boundaries. Two villages of Faru and Kauyen Minane were the targets in Maradun last Saturday afternoon. Reports said dozens of children were also kidnapped in Tsafe Local Government last weekend.

Like Zamfara, Kaduna has been living under the yoke of banditry for too long. This newspaper can recall that Governor Nasir el Rufai had last year advocated what he called carpet-bombing of all the forests in the northwest region, and indeed, other parts of the country to eliminate the terrorists. That was how bad the situation was. Desperate! And the tale of woes and anguish scripted by the attackers is still reverberating.

On Wednesday, an attack by bandits on Atak’Njei community in Zango Kataf Local Government Area of Kaduna State reportedly claimed eight lives. The gunmen were said to have invaded the community from a nearby bush at about 9pm and randomly opened fire on residents. Just recently, Langson community in the same local government area suffered an attack that claimed the lives of 10 people, reportts said. Cases of bandit attacks in Kaduna are too numerous to be counted with Kajuru, Chikun and Birnin Gwari among others as the theatre of war.

The story from Benue is also worrisome. The State Police Command last week confirmed another attack by gunmen on one of the Internally Displaced Person (IDP) camps at Agan in Makurdi Local Government Area with scores of fatality.

This attack followed the killing of a traditional ruler in Apa Local Government Area of Benue earlier in the week along with many others before the attackers were said to have moved to Otukpo Local Government Area on Wednesday, killing 46 persons including a 33-year-old son of the local government chairman. These horrendous occurrences should be a source of worry for anyone and everyone. They are indicators of a major setback to civilization. They’re despicable and condemenable!

We acknowledge the spirited commitment of the Buhari-led administration to tackle this menace which, no doubt, predated his emergence on the saddle. It’s, however, unfortunate that at the twilight of his eight-year reign, bandits and insurgents are still raising their ugly heads and baring their fangs on the citizens.

That Nigerians cannot endure anymore pains from these elements is not a subject of arguments. The incoming adminstratin should have it at the back of its mind that security remains one plank upon which its successes would be measured.

Nevertheless, we believe that the outgoing adminstration can still do a lot in its remaining 42 days in office to reasonably push back these elements before it hands over the baton. An extraordinary approach can do the magic.

“To be a reputable, profitable, innovative and technologically reliant media company offering world class services and products”

OPINION

By Caleb Onah

Several good decisions and policies have been made in the past but when decisions are made, including educational ones in the absence of empathy or empathic intelligence, it creates a corrupt system and future that indirectly affects us and not others. Hence, to cure Nigeria’s educational sector of this malady, we have to make very large self sacrifices in order to achieve a change in the system, sector or the society.

During a speech at Northwestern University, Barack Obama once said that there is a more pressing challenge in our society, federal and institutional arena which is the “empathy deficit”. According to the former US president, it is empathy that will bring together a nation divided by ethnicity, class and political ideologies.

An article published by Alan Kirman and Miriam Teschl, entitled “Selfish or Selfless? The Role of Empathy in Economics”. They argue that although empathy has been practised, and incorporated into every aspect of life to some extent throughout history, as well as in other policy areas, much of its application in the educational system and current world has faded away, which I will say is the case of Nigeria’s educational sector. In Nigeria, according to the latest World Bank records, as of November 2022, her literacy rate was 62% in 2018. According to verified Statista, 68% of young Nigerians in 2020 will have a secondary education. About 15% of them completed their primary education, while 17% went on to further education after high school.

According to UNICEF later sources, cited by Reliefweb, 18.5 million children were out of school in Nigeria as of May 2022. 60% of these children are girls and 20% of all Nigerian children are out of school in mid-2022. Statistics on the most educated states in Nigeria by their literacy level shows Lagos State is the most developed state in Nigeria, has a literacy rate of 96.30%, Imo State has a literacy rate of 96.43%. Enugu State has a literacy rate of 96.00%, home to the first Federal University in Nigeria. Rivers State’s literacy rate is 95.76%. Abia State is the 5th most educated state in Nigeria with a literacy rate of 94.24%. Akwa-Ibom State has a literacy rate of 93.00%. The literacy rate of Anambra State is 92.11%, Ogun State is 90.57%. Edo State has a literacy rate of 90.53% and Osun State has a literacy rate of 90.00%.

However, out of the 36 states including the Federal Capital Territory, it would not be a bad idea to say that the entire Nigerian education system is suffering from a multitude of problems and the situation is getting worse every day. Some of the problem which some of us have become aware of includes: lack of funding, lack of quality staff; inadequate facilities, lack of furnished and quality classrooms, offices and laboratories for teaching and research; indiscipline among staff and students; inconsistent and erroneous educational policies; corruption in high and low places; worship of authority figures; irregular pay; exam malpractices; sexual acts for grading; the use of ghost labour force; fake sourcing and the provision of resources; bogus education data; appointments and promotions based on ethnicity and tribes instead of base on merit; as well as trivialisation of retirement.

It should be noted that of all the issues, corruption is a widespread problem in the political and economic sphere of Nigeria. It is not contradictory to say that educationally, Nigeria is

in chaos. Corruption is already deeply ingrained in the country’s institutional structures. But it becomes a more worrisome and tragic issue as it creeps into the educational sector. Understandably, corruption in politics is enough of a “tragedy” for a country as Nigeria; when practice in the educational sector is a “double tragedy”.

Unfortunately, it is also not out of place to say “educated illiteracy” and lack of “empathy” is what has pervaded Nigeria’s educational sector and continues to threaten economic growth. Because it has shown over the years no values to showcase leadership and initiative for growth and innovation in the sector or perhaps system by those concern, in policy making, and lack of common sense in ways to know that “one good turn deserves another” which why in a way critical thinking, empathy and cost-benefit analysis of others in today’s corrupt, polarised and divided world will revitalise and lead us to a better place in our country.

Empathy will show an understanding of challenges and difficulties that all students and staff face. It will serve as a great catalyst, serving as a pathway to correctly perceive and express concerns for citizens, and using those emotionalconcerns to facilitate policies, not only about and for self but the adjustment and growth of systems.

Several good decisions and policies have been made in the past but when decisions are made, including educational ones in the absence of empathy or empathic intelligence, it creates a corrupt system and future that indirectly affects us and not others. Hence, to cure Nigeria’s educational sector of this malady, we have to make very large self sacrifices in order to achieve a change in the system, sector or the society.

On the hand, if we are to employ empathy but it only produces benefit for people who look, think, believe, or vote like us which is the case of Nigeria today, then I would argue that not only we will keep falling back to our most base of tribal, corrupt nature, there is little chance that diverse nations like the U.S, UK, China, Finland and South African can continue to achieve great heights. The idea of these nations is based on the idea that it is because of their diversity and inclusion that they remain prosperous, strong and united. It also means that there is a national value created when we “sacrifice” ourselves for the greater good of others.

Caleb Onah is a Public Policy Analyst.

For when we are concerned with the educational system or intellectual growth of citizens, we pay attention with keen awareness, to how current economic situation affect others, we remain close to them and their stories, whether physically or cognitively, we seek to understand how our lives and actions intersect with theirs, including desires and actions.

By investing in education through empathy; governments, communities and NGOs can help prepare young people for the challenges ahead. If children are truly the leaders of tomorrow, and education is the bedrock for economic and national growth, it is time we start investing in them with empathy and not mere thinking or rulership! Therefore, if we begin to act with empathy, think with empathy, serve with empathy, and live with empathy there is always hope that we can get closer to the stability we seek in our educational system, nation and world.

Caleb Onah is a Public Policy Analyst.

Tunde Rahman: The Unseen Voice Behind Tinubu’s Incoming Administration

By Osigwe Omo-Ikirodah

Yes, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu is here, his time has come, and it is time to get to work and restore Nigerians’ hope. The elections were never served à la carte; they were fought for, and a multitude of factors contributed to making them a reality today.

The little things in life are what really count, but we miss them because we are preoccupied with the major moments.

The journey to today’s success, which we now witness the high and mighty swarming Tinubu’s official residence in Abuja, was packaged by individuals who believed in the cause even before it was formed and worked tirelessly to give it substance.

If not for the newly expanded hatred and demonization of Tinubu from apparently predictable quarters, Tinubu has been and remains one of the most well-behaved politicians in terms of his carriage, political, social and ideological pronouncements.

As we all know, Nigeria is full of cruise, so you hear cases of respected leaders throwing tantrums at themselves all because of ideological differences. We all recall the great War of Generals in 2011, when Obasanjo fired the first salvo, claiming IBB was a fool at 70, to which IBB replied, Obasanjo is a bigger fool.

We’ve seen governors take jabs at their colleagues and vice versa, unnecessary heating up of the system. Former Lagos State Governor and President-Elect Asiwaju, Bola Ahmed Tinubu has never been caught up in such needless distractions by leaders who should be guiding the nation in the right direction.

Even when respectable clergymen, politicians, tribal police, and amebos continued to poke fun at Tinubu, Asiwaju never fell for their idiocy; instead, he respected their opinions and made sure that his communications remained goal-focused.

Tunde Rahman is one of the unseen voices that has worked alongside Asiwaju to keep the mission alive and focused. As the President-Elect’s official spokesman, he has distinguished himself as a core democrat who knows what his principal wants and keeps to it.

Rahman possesses a Master of Science in Communication Studies, a Post Graduate Diploma in Journalism, and a Bachelor of Science in Political Science. Additionally, he took classes at the Lagos Business School.

Mr. Rahman began his media career in 1989 as a Political Correspondent for the Lagos Horizon, a community newspaper, and later transferred to the former Daily Times, where he climbed to the post of Political Editor.

He later joined Punch Newspapers as News Editor/Assistant Editor in its Abuja branch, and then as Group News Editor in its Lagos headquarters.

He left the Punch in 2004 to become Deputy Editor of THISDAY’s Sunday title, where he helped launch the paper’s political branch, CICERO.

Mr. Rahman rose through the ranks to become the Deputy Editor of the daily newspaper, and then the Editor of the Saturday and Sunday editions.He left THISDAY to launch the WESTERN POST newspaper.

Being meticulous with the little adjustments or details is the key to creating a fantastic dinner. At a time when the opposition is anxious to tarnish Tinubu’s name in the eyes of the entire world, playing the worst type of reputation one could imagine, Tunde Rahman has played a significant part in moulding the identity of the President-Elect.

Tunde Rahman, the doyen of journalism, is best described as a spokesman after the heart of Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, the incoming president on May 29, 2023.

Osigwe Omo-Ikirodah is the Chairman and CEO of Bush Radio Academy.

Failure of Nigeria’s educational system: Lack of “Empathy” or mere “Illiteracy”?

From Abubakar Yunusa Abuja

In an avowed drive to further deepen the capital market and attract more young people to the market, the need to embrace fintech has again been emphasised.

This was stated by the Director General Securities and Exchange Commission, Mr. Lamido Yuguda during the Supernews Nigeria Fintech Conference held in Lagos Thursday.

Yuguda who was represented by Director Registration, Exchanges, market Infrastructure and Innovation of the SEC, Mr. Abdulkadir Abbas stated that fintech is a game changer in deepening the capital market and enhancing financial inclusion.

He said the theme ‘Imperative of Fintech in Promoting Financial

Oando introduces electric vehicles to Lagos transport sector

From Abubakar Yunusa Abuja

Oando Clean Energy Limited (OCEL) has made inroads into the transportation business in Lagos State, acquiring and taking delivery of an undisclosed number of electric vehicles from Chinese carmaker, Yutong Bus.

OCEL is the clean energy arm of Oando Plc, largely owned by Wale Tinubu. His company signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Lagos State Government through the Lagos Metropolitan Area Transport Authority (LAMATA) on April 28, 2022.

The Oando, Lagos State agreement will see Oando Clean Energy roll out 12,000 electric mass transit buses, supporting charging infrastructure, and service centres (EV Infrastructure Ecosystem).

In a statement released to the capital market authority on Wednesday, it was disclosed that the electric mass transit deal would lead to the phase-out of current combustion mass transit buses in the state.

Commenting on the acquisition and deal between the state and his firm, Wale Tinubu, who is the Chairman of OCEL, said: “The arrival of our electric mass transit buses and development of an EV infrastructure ecosystem is a reminder that the only way to remain ahead of the curve is by being unafraid to break new ground and consistently looking for opportunities to leapfrog.

“Public-private partnerships have been critical to getting the project to this point and will continue to fuel our expansion across the entire country.”

Fintech will enable financial inclusion -Yuguda

Inclusion in Nigeria, is very important to the capital market as transformation in the sector is incomplete without fintech.

Abbas said “We can see a kind of game changer and rapid transformation in the financial sector due to fintech. It is a building block for enhancing financial inclusion.

“Traditional means can no longer work, the average age of investors in the capital market is 45-50 years and we are currently trying to attract the millennials to the market and this can be achieved with the aid of fintech.

“We are exploring ways to leverage on fintech to bring on the young people to the market. The capital market sees fintech as an opportunity and that is one of the ways we intend to change the dynamics of the capital market.

Abbas stated that it was in view of the importance of fintech that the capital market initiated the fintech roadmap which enabled the SEC to come up with innovations and rules to support the initiative.

According to him, “We need innovation to deepen and broaden the market and we had to come up with rules to support it like the rules on crowdfunding among others.

“We all saw the success achieved with the electronic offering by MTN, a lot of Nigerians were able to subscribe with their phones and other gadgets conveniently. We realised that one of the ways to unlock investment opportunities is through fintech and we are stepping up such

strategies to deepen the market”.

He however expressed the need to strike a balance between investor protection and innovation adding that financial inclusion cannot be achieved with it a good strategy for financial literacy.

Abbas expressed the readiness of the SEC to collaborate with other regulators and stakeholders in the quest to attract more investors to the capital market and grow the economy.

In her remarks, Publisher/ CEO of Supernews Nigeria,

Mrs Ngozi Onyeakusi said the conference centres on Fintech and Financial Inclusion which holds a great potential for the Nigerian economy and for the financial stability of the country.

She said the emergence of Covid-19 no doubt projected the need for adoption of fintech in daily activities and businesses but not without its attendant challenges.

Onyeakusi said the choice of the theme was aimed at contributing its quota to the

financial inclusion target of the federal government.

“This conference centres on fintech and financial inclusion which holds a great potential for the Nigerian economy and for the financial stability of the country”

“It is a learning opportunity designed to enhance awareness, deepen understanding of participants in the role of fintech in rendering banking, capital market, insurance and pension services cheaper, faster and conveniently” she added.

Federal govt suspends subsidy removal

From Abubakar Yunusa

The National Economic Council (NEC) on Thursday suspended the planned removal of subsidy on petroleum products by the end of President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration.

The Minister of Finance, Budget and National Planning, Zainab Ahmed, made this known to State House correspondents shortly after the valedictory Council meeting presided over by Vice President Yemi Osinbajo at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

The minister stated that the council deliberated on the matter and resolved that the fuel subsidy cannot be removed for now, according to Punch newspaper.

The council however agreed on the need to continue the discussion on the matter and the necessary preparatory work in conjunction with states and representatives of the incoming administration, she said.

“Council agreed that the timing of the removal of fuel subsidy should not be now. But that we should continue with all of the

preparatory works that need to be done and that this preparatory has to be done in consultation with the states and other key stakeholders including representatives of the incoming administration,” she said.

“Council agreed that the fuel subsidy must be removed earlier rather than later because it is not sustainable. We cannot afford it anymore. But we have to do it in such a way that the impact of the subsidy is as much as possible, mitigated on the lives of ordinary Nigerians.

“So, this will require looking at alternatives to the fuel subsidy that needs to be planned for and subsequently put in place. But also what needs to be done to support the people that will be most affected as a result of the removal.”

Mrs Ahmed added that the federal government is working with other institutions of government towards the eventual removal of the fuel subsidy.

“And if I may remind this forum that the budget for 2023 has a provision for fuel subsidy only up to June 2023 and also the Petroleum Industry Act has a provision that requires that all petroleum products

must be deregulated 18 months after the effective date of the PMS removal and that that period is also up to June 2020,” the minister said.

Earlier in January, Mrs 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.

“You can look at it in two ways, the payments made are revenues that would have come to the government but don’t because it is being spent on fuel subsidy.

“Also, where there is not enough revenue to buy the refined petroleum products, we have to borrow to buy the products, so, if we take that out, that is over N3 trillion, it’s a significant relief if we do not incur any more than that number that we projected for 2023,” she said.

The Nigerian government has, for decades, subsidised fuel and fixed retail prices of petroleum products. The payment has,

however, threatened the nation’s fiscal position and impacted government’s ability to fund developmental projects across the nation.

In November 2021, the federal government announced its plan to remove the fuel subsidy and replace it with a monthly N5,000 transport grant for poor Nigerians.

But the government later suspended the plan after the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and Trade Union Congress (TUC) threatened to embark on mass protests.

In February, the International Monetary Fund (IMF) urged the Nigerian government to deliver on its commitment to remove fuel subsidies by mid-2023.

The Washington-based lender in a report titled ‘IMF Executive Board Concludes 2022 Article IV Consultation with Nigeria’ urged the authorities to deliver on their “commitment to increase welltargeted social spending.”

Despite rising oil prices, the IMF said, the government’s fiscal deficit is estimated to have widened further in 2022, mainly due to high fuel subsidy costs.

From left, Husband of the celebrant, Pastor Chinedu Ezekwesili Former minister of Education, Dr. Oby Ezekwesili ; wife and Pastor of the Redeemed Christian church of God, Everlasting Arms Parish, Mrs Esther Odeyemi and Pastor Ezekiel Odeyemi during the thanksgiving service to mark the former minister’s 60th birthday celebration in Abuja yesterday. PHOTO.

The Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited on Wednesday signed an agreement with a Norwegian company, Golar LNG (GLNG), to build a floating Liquified Natural Gas (LNG) plant in Nigeria.

The signing of the agreement took place at the NNPC headquarters in Abuja.

According to NNPCL, the agreement was in furtherance of its efforts to deepen Nigeria’s domestic gas utilization and enhance gas export.

“NNPC Limited has signed a

NNPCL, Norwegian firm to build floating gas plant in Nigeria

Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with a Norwegian company, Golar LNG (GLNG), to build a Floating Liquified Natural Gas (LNG) plant in Nigeria,” the company said.

“Group CEO of NNPC Limited, Mele Kyari and CEO of Golar LNG, Mr Karl Fredrik Staubo, signed the agreement on behalf of their respective companies during a brief ceremony held

at the NNPCTowers in Abuja, yesterday.”

Golar LNG is one of the world’s largest independent owners and operators of marine-based LNG midstream infrastructure.

The LNG infrastructure is active in the liquefaction, transportation and regasification of natural gas, the oil firm said on its official Twitter page.

UN: Large-scale oil theft, cash scarcity stifled Nigeria’s economy

From Abubakar Yunusa Abuja

The United Nations says large-scale oil theft and the recent cash scarcity crippled the Nigerian economy and strained finances.

In a new report, titled, ‘Trade and Development Report Update: Global Trends and Prospects’, for April 2023, the intergovernmental organisation said the scarcity affected the informal sector the most.

The report was produced by the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD), an arm of the United Nations that promotes the interests of developing countries in world trade.

“In Nigeria, a shortage of cash, triggered by the replacement of the highest denominations of the country’s currency, hobbled the economy, especially the informal sector,” UN said.

“Meanwhile, the continuing decline of oil production, accompanied by large-scale oil theft, poses a main threat to strained finances in Africa’s most populous nation.”

The UN also projected that the general African economy will expand by 2.5 percent, which is a drop from last year, and “at a pace insufficient to make a dent in poverty levels”.

Like in other developing regions, the UN report explains, “weaker external demand and tighter financial conditions have made growth prospects gloomier for the region”.

“In the case of commodity exporters, the fading of the initial effects of the 2022 price boom will add to the equation,” the report said.

“Rising global interest rates have triggered significant capital outflows and have further constrained fiscal space, at a time when public finances were already severely affected by costly subsidy schemes aiming at contending the adverse effects of high food and energy prices.”

The United Nations also said, with half of African countries recording double-digit inflation in early 2023, many are at risk of stagflation in 2023.

Stagflation is an economic cycle characterised by slow growth and a high unemployment rate accompanied by inflation.

According to experts, a stagflationary situation presents a dilemma for economic policy, since

actions intended to lower inflation may exacerbate unemployment.

‘The risk of stagflation is a key concern for many African economies. In approximately half of the countries, inflation remained double digits in early 2023,” UN said.

“In many instances, these

recent inflation spikes relate to the continuing depreciation of several African currencies in early 2023 — often following a loss in 2022 of 10-30 per-cent of their value visà-vis the dollar.

“Public debt, in many cases standing at levels not seen since the early 2000s, is another worry

across the continent. Out of the 38 African countries that are part of the Debt Sustainability Framework (DSF) of the IMF and World Bank, eight entities are already ‘in debt distress’, while 13 are considered ‘at high risk’ of distress.

“Furthermore, many African

economies are approaching a maturity wall as maturities on international bonds issued in the previous decade are expected to peak in 2024 and to remain elevated for the next decade, with most governments unable to tap international capital markets to roll over maturing debts.”

How we resolved

The Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN) has suspended its strike across Mobil Producing Nigeria Unlimited (MPNU) and Esso Exploration and Production Nigeria Limited (EEPNL) facilities.

A statement by the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) said the industrial action was suspended following high-level mediation between the leadership of the company, NNPCL, and PENGASSAN.

“The industrial action across all Mobil Producing Nigeria Unlimited (MPNU) and Esso Exploration and Production Nigeria Limited (EEPNL) facilities which commenced on 13th April 2023, effectively constraining 300,000 barrels of oil production daily (BOPD), as well as export activities forced Mobil to declare

PENGASSAN

strike crippling Mobil production –

a force majeure across all their locations, has finally been called off by PENGASSAN,” NNPCL said in a statement.

The company said that the Group Chief Executive Officer, Mele Kyari, successfully led mediation efforts between the union and Mobil through a series of meetings and engagements for an immediate and unconditional return to work and resumption of production and export activities across all Mobil locations in Nigeria.

“At a tripartite meeting in Abuja on Wednesday, 26th April 2023, between the leadership of Mobil, PENGASSAN led by the National President of the Union, Comrade Festus Osifo, and NNPC Ltd, at the instance of Mr Kyari, the Union’s grievances were holistically addressed and firm commitments were put in place to avoid a repeat of the regrettable situation.

“Industrial relations broke down at Mobil as a result of the 2023 collective bargaining agreement stalemate and proposed changes to the rota schedule of operations staff,” it said.

During the mediation, the statement said the NNPCL leadership prevailed on both Mobil and the Union to shift grounds and find a common position in the interest of all parties and the federation.

“A pay adjustment acceptable to the union and within the threshold of Mobil was collectively agreed upon and signed off, while both parties have also agreed to put together a working team that will have a 5-month timeline to review the proposals for a possible change in rota schedule for operations staff and parameters for implementation,” it added. Furthermore, Mr Kyari implored the union to always

NNPCL

explore alternative means of dispute resolution rather than resorting to strike actions with far-reaching implications beyond the operations of the company involved in the dispute.

NNPCL explained that the industrial action commenced in the aftermath of the recovery of national production from an all-time low of sub-one million barrels of crude oil production per day in July 2022 to over 1.67 million barrels per day in March 2023.

“With NNPC Ltd asserting its industry leadership and the current sustained efforts at curbing production losses, Nigeria’s crude oil production output is poised to hit 1.8 million barrels per day before the end of the year. An improved production output implies significant economic benefits for the Country and all stakeholders,” it said.

President Muhammadu Buhari during the Virtual Flag-off ceremony of Infrastructure project for Ogoni Land, State House yesterday in Abuja PHOTO; State House

Weekend MagazineEntertainment

‘The Men’s Club’ returns for season 4 on Prime Video

The Men’s Club is back for its fourth season, this time on Prime Video.

After five years of delivering compelling stories and cultivating a strong following on YouTube, the web series is switching things up and heading instead to the streaming platform.

This move has been met with a wave of backlash from fans of the show online. With season four set to debut soon, its unclear how the series will be received.

The show, popularly known as TMC, was created by Urban Vision. It was first released in October 2018 on REDTV’s YouTube channel. Since then, it has had three seasons, with some holiday special editions.

Directed by Tola Odunsi, the show revolves around four male main characters and how they navigate their relationships and the ordeals that they face in their everyday life.

Since its debut, the first episode of the series has gotten over 1 million views and won several awards including the Gage Award for the best web series of 2020 and the best African series at the HAP Awards (Hollywood & African Prestigious Awards) 2021.

The show stars Ayoola Ayolola, Baaj Adebule, Efa Iwara, and Daniel Etim Effiong in lead roles. Sharon Ooja, Sola Sobowale, Adebukola Oladipupo, Nengi Adoki, and Shaffy Bello are some of the female characters on the show.

The Men’s Club returns in a few weeks, but season 1-3 is currently streaming globally on Prime Video.

Nollywood produces 280 movies in first quarter of 2023

Adedayo Thomas, Executive Director/CEO, National Film and Video Censors Board (NFVCB), says the board has received and censored 280 movies produced by the Nigerian film industry in the first quarter of the year.

The NFVCB boss said the figure was provided by the Department of Film Censorship and Classification of the board in its first quarter report for the year, capturing all films submitted to the board from across the country.

The report is for onward submission to the relevant Federal Government agency as input for the compilation of the nation’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) for the first quarter.

The report shows a decrease in the number of movies produced from 340 in the fourth quarter of 2022, to 280 in the first quarter of 2023, which represented about an 18% downward slope.

According to the statement, 106 of the films came in from the Lagos censorship centre of the board, representing the chunk of the movies produced during the period under review, followed by Abuja with 99 movies.

As indicated in the report, Onitsha is next with 32 films, Abeokuta raked in 3 films, Kano 15 and Benin 1

only.

The analysis by censorship location further shows that Jos recorded 14 films, Port Harcourt recorded eight, while Ibadan and Kaduna recorded one film each.

“There is no doubt that our film industry is a key contributor to the national economy as the films being produced are a clear reflection of the direct and indirect jobs the sector is creating.

“NFVCB, as a Federal Government agency, is committed to providing an enabling environment for

filmmakers; we, therefore, urge them to cooperate with us by ensuring that they submit their films for classification,” he said.

NFVCB is a Federal Government agency that regulates the film and video industry in Nigeria. The board is empowered by law to classify all films and videos, whether imported or produced locally.

It is also the duty of the board to register all film and video outlets across the country and to keep a register of such outlets among other functions.

Weekend Magazine

Court tells Zeb Ejiro, Anne Njemanze to settle Domitilla copyright issue

The Federal Trademark Registry, has fixed May 4 for a report of settlement in a dispute between veteran film-maker, Zeb Ejiro, and actress Anne Njemanze, over the rightful ownership of the brand, ‘Domitilla’.

The Registry, a Commercial Law Department of the Federal Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment, equally adjourned for ruling, if the parties in the dispute failed to reach an agreement of settlement.

Shefiu Adamu, the Registrar of the department, made the pronouncement at the resumed hearing of a petition filed by Ejiro, seeking revocation of a purported registration of ‘Domitilla and Device’ by Njemanze.

The petitioner is also seeking the expunging of the ‘Domitilla and Device’ entry from the Register of Trade Marks.

Domitilla is the title of a movie produced in 1996 by Zeb Ejiro, which starred Njemanze as the lead character.

The movie which also featured other veteran actresses such as Sandra Achums, Kate Henshaw and the late Ada Ameh, portrays the life of a young woman struggling to make ends meet as a Lagos prostitute.

A sequel, Domitilla 2, was also produced and released in 1999 by Ejiro, while a remake was released in 2023.

Years after the release of Domitilla 1 and 2, Njemanze reportedly trademarked the name ‘Domitilla and Device’ on September 16, 2020.

Ejiro, through his team of lawyers, led by Rockson Igelige, approached the registry to challenge the purported registration of the brand ‘Domitila and Device’ by Njemanze.

Igelige told the

registry that the said trademark had been in use since 1996 by Ejiro in connection with films and matters which fell under class 41 of the Register of Trademarks in Nigeria.

Igelige said that both in 1996 and 1999, the petitioner employed and paid the applicant to act in his films Domitilla and Domitilla 2 adding that the applicant knew of the petitioner’s prior and continuous use of the name since 1996.

“The petitioner owns the statutorily protected copyright of the film scripts of Domitilla and Domitilla 2, which were handed to the applicant in the course of her engagement as an actress in 1996 and 1999 respectively.

“Since the respective release of the films in 1996 and 1999, the films have continuously been in the market, first in video cassettes, later in compact discs and now majorly as internet downloads all under the proprietary name of the petitioner.

“The applicant has no goodwill and reputation in the word, Domitilla, separate from her role in the films Domitilla and Domitilla 2, which are intellectual properties of the

petitioner.

“The petitioner has continuously used Domitilla as a created film character and as the title of his films, Domitilla and Domitilla 2 since 1996 till date, thereby building strong goodwill and widespread reputation in the word.

“Domitilla in respect of the class of goods and services the applicant alleged to have applied for registration and or purport to have registered Domitilla & Device as a trade mark.

“The applicant’s alleged application for registration and or the purported registration of Domitilla & Device offends section 11 of the Trade Marks Act,” he said.

Igelige further said that the use of the trademark by Njemanze was likely to deceive or cause confusion and might bring a serious challenge to the petitioner to protect the name in the court of law.

He, therefore, urged the registry to cancel, revoke and expunge the purported registration of ‘Domitilla and Device’ from the Register of Trade Marks.

Marvin Ibem, the lawyer to Njemanze, told the registry that his client had filed a 98-paragraph reply against the petition to justify the registration.

He said that the petition lacked merit and urged the registry to trash it out in its entirety.

“I adopt our responses to the petition dated April 20, we urge the registry to dismiss the petition, the trademark has no jurisdiction to cancel the registration.

“The applicant has satisfied all requirements of the law to acquire the trademark,” Ibem stressed. NAN

Davido Refunds Herbs Vendor, Mideshaven, the N800k His Aide, Isreal Dmw, Allegedly Collected

Nigerian singer Davido has extended his kindness towards a herb vendor with whom his aide, Isreal DMW, refused to maintain a contract. On April 14th, 2023, an Instagram herbs vendor known as vendor, @Mideshaven_Official, took to her page to announce that Isreal owed her N800,000 for months after she paid him for an influencing job, and he failed to deliver or refund her money.

The young lady revealed that she had a deal with Isreal to pay him N1 million to post a video of her products on his page, but on the account that she was going to deposit N800,000 with him and balance up the remaining when the job was done.

However, Isreal didn’t meet up with the job as the matter escalated, and he went on to claim that 30 BG don’t refund.

Hours after the superstar unfollowed his aide for his homophobic assertions towards the popular Instagram influencer Enioluwa, that singer appeared to have reached out to the herbs vendor to resolve the matter she had with his aide. Mides Haven took to her account to appreciate Davido and thank him for refunding the money that was taken from her.

ICT/INNOVATION

ICT trends that will continue to improve the world in 2023

The current global economic landscape, beset by geopolitical crises and supply problems, among other issues, is leading companies to adopt new technological solutions. 2023 may prove to be a turning point for converting new digital challenges into competitive edges, and understanding the ICT trends can contribute to the making of the right decisions.

The ICT sector will continue to grow this year, driven by innovations in fields such as Artificial Intelligence, the metaverse and sustainable technologies. As revealed in a recent report published by Gartner, it’s estimated that nearly 4.5 billion dollars will be invested in technology, software and IT services worldwide in 2023, up from the figure of 2.1% in the previous year. Meanwhile, Spain will increase its spending on technology by 3.4%, according to data provided by the IDC consultancy firm.

Therefore, in order to make the right technologyrelated investment decisions, understanding the ICT trends set to revolutionise the digital universe in 2023 will prove highly useful when it comes to planning the correct strategies and adopting the best tools within any organisation.

Superapps, the ICT supertrend

This concept comes from Asia, especially China. They’re applications that group together a large number of services to enable customers to have a single application with all the functions. The services range from a dedicated space for messaging to an area for bank transfers. They’re gaining prominence among companies, as they increase their competitiveness and promote customer loyalty.

These applications are expected to incorporate more innovative elements such as chatbots, the IoT and metaverse experiences over time. Looking ahead to 2028, according to the data provided by TechSci Research, the superapps market will expand at a rate of more than 23%.

Explosion of the metaverse in the business world

The metaverse isn’t a new idea, but it’s one of the most promising ICT trends in 2023. The virtual world has great potential and it seeks to excel in important fields such as the possibility of changing the way people work, shop and live, all of which will be achieved by means of the creation of virtual spaces capable of blurring physical barriers. These new universes have brought with them new opportunities and business models that have been reflected in 2022, leading

to significant changes in the economic market. These changes are related to the value chain, partner and customer relationships and the sales and cost models associated with products and markets.

The metaverse is a reality and a revolution in terms of connectivity and the digital economy.

Digital twins

Digita twins have been among the most innovative technologies for a number of years and they’re now closely linked to the metaverse and the industrial sector. This technology can not only design sets of digital replicas of elements, spaces and systems so as to obtain more precise products, reduce costs and manage errors. They can also study and simulate procedures, for example, at an industrial plant or in an operating theatre with the aim of adapting them to physical spaces and reality.

This technology makes it possible to change elements in the digital world that are complete and optimised in such a way that improvements can be made to the real-world versions. Without a doubt, this digital development will completely change the way procedures in the construction, aeronautics, health and education sectors are perfected.

MedTech, the revolution in medicine

MedTech, or medical device technology, has become a crucial element for the healthcare services and an economic engine of innovation. According to the data provided by MedTech Europe, the medical technology market will be worth more than 15 billion euros by 2021.

The combination of IoT and MedTech symbolises a major opportunity to overcome challenges and resolve conflicts in today’s healthcare sector with the incorporation of digital technologies such as virtual care, RPA, AI, etc.

Artificial Intelligence and cybersecurity

The ICT trends that will continue to grow this year include Artificial Intelligence or AI. This technology primarily aims to improve the security of data on smart networks and, for this purpose, optimising the security capabilities of smart devices must become a priority for companies.

AI provides cybersecurity solutions with a proactive approach, enables the effective automation of decision-making processes and creates patterns based on incomplete or modified data, as the AI algorithms learn from the data on real threats.

This makes it possible to detect dangers more quickly, achieve a smaller margin of error, forecast threats and help cybersecurity experts to generate action protocols.

Blockchain, one of the most secure ICT trends

Thanks to its decentralised model, Blockchain technology eliminates the single control of information and the intermediation of parties and ensures that the veracity of data remains unchanged. Thus, the data are stored in an encrypted and highly secure manner to facilitate the automation of transactions and communications, an undoubted boost for digital identity.

In addition to speeding up verification processes and preventing fraud and cyberattacks, Blockchain is highly efficient, reliable and secure in a wide range of applications. It will therefore be highly important for businesses in the coming years, as it will improve data tracking, produce new billing systems, host patents, monitor sales processes, protect health data and so on.

2023 will be a year full of challenges, but also innovations that will improve the lives of millions of people. And many of these innovations can be found in the leading ICT trends.

Source:telefonica.com

HEALTHY Living

8 Proven health benefits of dates

Dates are high in fiber and antioxidants. Their nutritional benefits may support brain health and prevent disease. They are the fruit of the date palm tree, which is grown in many tropical regions of the world. Dates have become quite popular in recent years. Almost all dates sold in Western countries are dried.

You can tell whether or not dates are dried based on their appearance. Wrinkled skin indicates they are dried, whereas smooth skin indicates freshness.

Depending on the variety, fresh dates are fairly small in size and range in color from bright red to bright yellow. Commonly consumed varieties include Medjool and Deglet Noor dates.

Dates are chewy with a sweet flavor. They are also high in some important nutrients and have a variety of advantages and uses.

This article will discuss 8 health benefits of eating dates and how to incorporate them into your diet.

Very nutritious

Dates have an excellent nutrition profile.

Since they’re dried, their calorie content is higher than most fresh fruit. The calorie content of dates is similar to that of other dried fruits, such as raisins and figs

Most of the calories in dates come from carbs. The rest are from a very small amount of protein. Despite their calories, dates contain some important vitamins and minerals in addition to a significant amount of fiber.

A 3.5-ounce (100-gram) serving of Medjool dates provides the following nutrients.

Calories: 277

Carbs: 75 grams

Fiber: 7 grams

Protein: 2 grams

Potassium: 15% DV

Magnesium: 13% DV

Copper: 40% DV

Manganese: 13% DV

Iron: 5% DV

Vitamin B6: 15% DV

Dates are also high in antioxidants, which may contribute to many of their health benefits.

2. High in fiber

Getting enough fiber is important for your overall health.

With almost 7 grams of fiber in a 3.5-ounce serving, including dates in your diet is a great way to increase your fiber intake.

Fiber can benefit your digestive health by preventing constipation. It promotes regular bowel movements by contributing to the formation of stool .

In one study, 21 people who consumed 7 dates per day for 21

days experienced improvements in stool frequency and had a significant increase in bowel movements compared to when they did not eat dates .

Furthermore, the fiber in dates may be beneficial for blood sugar control. Fiber slows digestion and may help prevent blood sugar levels from spiking too high after eating.

For this reason, dates have a low glycemic index (GI), which measures how quickly your blood sugar rises after eating a certain food.

3. High in disease-fighting antioxidants

Dates provide various antioxidants that have a number of health benefits, including a reduced risk of several diseases.

Antioxidants protect your cells from free radicals, which are unstable molecules that may cause harmful reactions in your body and lead to disease.

Compared to similar types of fruit, such as figs and dried plums, dates appear to have the highest antioxidant content.

Here’s an overview of the three most potent antioxidants in dates:

Flavonoids: Flavonoids are powerful antioxidants that may help reduce inflammation and have been studied for their potential to reduce the risk of diabetes, Alzheimer’s disease, and certain types of cancer .

Carotenoids: Carotenoids are proven to promote heart health and may also reduce the risk of eye-related disorders, such as macular degeneration.

Phenolic acid: Known for their anti-inflammatory properties, phenolic acids may help lower the risk of cancer and heart disease.

4. May promote brain health

Eating dates may help improve brain function.

Laboratory studies have found dates to be helpful for lowering inflammatory markers, such as interleukin 6 (IL-6), in the brain. High levels of IL-6 are associated with a higher risk of neurodegenerative diseases like Alzheimer’s.

Additionally, other studies including animal studies have shown dates to be helpful for reducing the activity of amyloid beta proteins, which can form plaques in the brain.

When plaques accumulate in the brain, they may disturb communication between brain cells, which can ultimately lead to brain cell death and Alzheimer’s disease.

One animal study found that mice fed food mixed with dates had significantly better memory and learning ability, as well as less anxiety-related behaviors, compared to those that did not eat

them.

The potential brain-boosting properties of dates have been attributed to their content of antioxidants known to reduce inflammation, including flavonoids.

However, more human studies are needed to confirm the role of dates in brain health.

body. Oxytocin is a hormone that causes labor contractions during childbirth.

Additionally, dates contain tannins, which are compounds that have been shown to help facilitate contractions. They are also a good source of natural sugar and calories, which are necessary to maintain energy levels during labour.

and antioxidants. Thus, eating them may support diabetes management.

Although these potential health benefits are promising, more human studies are needed before conclusions can be made.

8. Easy to add to your diet

5.

May promote natural labor

Dates have been studied for their potential to promote and ease late-term labor in pregnant people.

Eating these fruits throughout the last few weeks of pregnancy may promote cervical dilation and lower the need for induced labor. They may also be helpful in reducing labor time.

An older meta-analysis from 2011 looking at studies where pregnant people took dates prior to their due date found those who ate dates were in labor for less time than those who did not eat them, but also notes that the link between eating dates and a faster delivery needs to be researched further.

A 2017 study of 154 pregnant people found that those who ate dates were much less likely to be induced compared to those who did not.

A third study found similar results in 91 pregnant people who consumed 70–76 grams of dates daily starting the 37th week of pregnancy. They were in active labor for an average of 4 fewer hours than those who did not eat dates.

Although eating dates appear to help promote labor and reduce labor duration, more research is needed to confirm these effects.

The role dates may have in pregnancy is likely due to compounds that bind to oxytocin receptors and appear to mimic the effects of oxytocin in the

6. Natural sweetener

Dates are a source of fructose, which is a natural type of sugar found in fruit.

For this reason, dates are very sweet and also have a subtle caramel-like taste. They make a great healthy substitute for white sugar in recipes due to the nutrients, fiber, and antioxidants that they provide.

The best way to substitute dates for white sugar is to make date paste, as in this recipe. It is made by mixing dates with water in a blender. A rule of thumb is to replace sugar with date paste at a 1:1 ratio.

For example, if the recipe calls for 1 cup of sugar, you’ll replace it with 1 cup of date paste.

It is important to note that although dates are high in fiber and nutrients, they are still fairly high in calories and best consumed in moderation.

7. Other potential health benefits

People claim dates have a few other health benefits that have not yet been extensively studied.

Bone health: Dates contain several minerals, including phosphorus, calcium, and magnesium. All of these have been studied for their potential to prevent bone-related conditions like osteoporosis.

Blood sugar control: Dates have the potential to help with blood sugar regulation due to their low glycemic index, fiber,

Dates are incredibly versatile and make a delicious snack. They are often paired with other foods, such as almonds, nut butter, or soft cheese.

Dates are also very sticky, which makes them useful as a binder in baked goods, such as cookies and bars. You can also combine dates with nuts and seeds to make healthy snack bars or energy balls, as in this recipe.

What’s more, you can use dates to sweeten up sauces, such as salad dressings and marinades, or blend them into smoothies and oatmeal.

It is important to note that dates are high in calories and their sweet taste makes them easy to overeat. For this reason, they are best consumed in moderation.

The bottom line

Dates are a healthy fruit to include in your diet.

They are high in several nutrients, fiber, and antioxidants, all of which may provide health benefits ranging from improved digestion to a reduced risk of disease.

There are several ways to add dates to your diet. One popular way to eat them is as a natural sweetener in various dishes. They also make a great snack.

It’s easiest to find dates in their dried form, though these are higher in calories than fresh fruit so it is important to eat them in moderation.

Dates are definitely worth adding to your diet, as they are both nutritious and delicious.

Source:healthline.com

We’re doing a lot to prevent flooding - NIWA boss

Managung Director of National Inland Waterways Authority (NIWA), Chief George Moghalu, was a guest of President Muhammadu Buhari at the Aso Rock Preaidential Villa on Thursday as the government prepares to wind down.

In this interview with newsmen after a closed-door meeting with Mr. President, the NIWA MD asserted that his agency is doing everything possible to prevent flooding during this year’s raining season; or to mitigate the the damage that usually come with flooding where total prevention becomes impossible. Our Correspondent was there.

What challenges do you face as an agency in trying to execute your mandate?

Yes, there may be challenges, but challenges are there for man to overcome and we’re doing our best with the support we’ve been receiving from Mr. President and from our ministers and our ministry, leaders in our ministry, Permanent Secretary, everybody. We have been achieving reasonable successes and we intend to sustain it until we actualize our desired ambition, which is to ensure that our waterways are all year round navigable to ensure that the potentials that abound in that sector of the economy, the maritime sector, is kind of explored and exploited for the benefit of our people.

The rains are already here, what are you going to do to ensure flooding does not occur this year?

Yes, I agree with you that challenge is there. Proactively, what we are doing is to first of all sensitize the people, identify the critical areas and get people to know what will happen with time. With regards to clearing, yes, water hyacinths are being cleared on a regular basis, wrecks are removed, channels that are blocked, we do everything we can, within the limits of our resources to open up those channels so that we can have easy flow of water during this period.

What about the wrecks?

Yes, I said earlier that wrecks, even floating debris are all being removed at various locations across the entire country, as we identify them, we do the basic survey and once we identify them, we set the process in motion to

remove them. We’re doing some now as we keep identifying them, and you know these things like water hyacinth, like wrecks, like floating debris, are not fixed items that you will say ‘I will remove now and it won’t be there

again. You can remove a wreck tomorrow and by next tomorrow, another wreck will come. What are these wrecks? Broken down vessels that are condemned, logs and what have you. So as we identify them, using survey, identify the coordinates, the next thing we do is to set in motion the process of removing them.

As we speak, procurement processes have been concluded and some are being removed while as we identify, we set in motion the process of removing. We see them as a challenge and we are attacking them.

There are concerns over the National Water Ways Bill as the 9th NASS will be winding up soon.

National Assembly winding up does not mean that the country is winding up, it’s a continuum. If they are not able to finish whatever they have to do this time around, the next Assembly will continue and complete it. The important thing is that bills that are meant for the benefit of our people will be looked at from that perspective and addressed. If this Assembly can’t finish it, the next Assembly will continue, that’s why government is a continuum.

Annual flooding, what are you doing to ensure we don’t have the kind of humanitarian crisis we had last year?

Yes, it’s of a great concern. Like you talked about what happened last year, it was of great concern to us as an agency of government that has something to do with water and flood. So what we started doing proactively was first of all to start aspects of sensitization, getting people to understand because we have a department in our office that monitors flood flow, looking at the floodplain and giving us report on a monthly basis or bi-weekly basis, to my office and then the department that is responsible will now develop the data, which we’ll now use to sensitize the people, keep them informed of the possible floodprone areas so that people will have to leave those locations. While at the same time also,

“

I said earlier that wrecks, even floating debris are all being removed at various locations across the entire country, as we identify them...

MD of NIWA, Dr George Moghalu

We’re doing a lot to prevent flooding - NIWA boss

like you may be aware, we have 23 area offices across the country. So what we are doing, in terms of opening of blocked channels, is using the area offices across the country, identifying those areas where we have blocked channels and then within the limits of our own resources and capabilities, we start opening them up so that they have free flow of water.

Do you have yhe resources to do capital dredging?

Like I did say the last time I spoke to the media and it was here the question was asked, the resources available for you to do massive capital dredging is not there. What we’re doing is to use the resources we have to do what we call maintenance dredging, that is opening up channels, deepening channels where we have information, based on the statistical report from our department where we have such blockages and then we keep doing what we can do to ensure that these channels are open all year round.

When I started I said one of our

primary responsibilities is to make sure that our channels are all year round navigable and that means opening them up to the extent that vessels can move around across the country.

Talking of resources, how much do you have on ground for this year?

All the resources, all the money available for NIWA this year is not all dedicated to dredging or to opening up of channels. There are other issues that take up resources; human capital development, development of infrastructure, building new jetties, building new ramps across the country and then getting vessels also and putting them to effective use.

So what we’re doing is as much as we have, we try to prioritize, but the important thing is that the key aspect of it is the human, the Nigerian, what affects them more, of what gives us opportunity for more benefit. So we look at that primarily, the Nigerian is the key here. So we addressed that primarily and the interest of the average Nigerian comes before every other interest, as far as it has to do with our own planning

and our operations.

When you are doing these prioritizing, do you consider River Niger and River Benue, especially about the sand blocking the waterways?

If you will take note, not too long ago, about two, three weeks ago, the river chart for Benue, down to bifurcation, the first phase of it was launched, a few weeks ago. That’s an arrangement we have, it’s a collaboration between National Inland Waterways Authority, the Navy, being supported by NEXIM Bank, on the instrumentality of Sea Link Project.

When we talk about inland waterways in Nigeria, you will not lose sight of the fact of the positioning of River Benue and River Niger, these two are the major rivers in our country and that whatever we’re doing is around these two rivers, even the jetties we’re building or the ports we’re building, like you have a port in Onitsha completed, you have a port in Baro completed, the one in Lokoja is ongoing, not yet completed, the one in Oguta is not yet completed. We just started the Environmental Impact Assessment for the one in

Makurdi.

So you find out that all these jetties and all these ports are all in line with the issue with River Benue and River Niger. We’re very concerned about that, we’re very conscious of that and whatever we’re doing, we have that at the back of our minds.

Nigerians have expressed concerns about the National Waterways Bill. Should Nigerians be really concerned, is anything wrong with the bill?

The position of NIWA, as it has to do with the bill, has been transmitted in writing to the ministry, but the point here is that the National Assembly are made up of Nigerians and they are representing various communities and constituencies in the country. So for me, there is no issue that cannot be discussed. If there are concerns raised by various groups, certainly it has to be addressed for us to come up with a bill that is universally acceptable by everybody. So if there are concerns, I’m sure that National Assembly will look at it and then address the issues as they arise.

Cont. from previous page

President Muhammadu Buhari (right) and MD of NIWA, Dr George Moghalu

Biography

Shehu Shagari (25 Feb. 1925 – 28 Dec. 2018)

Shehu Usman Aliyu Shagari GCFR (25 February 1925 – 28 December 2018) was a Nigerian politician who was the first democratically elected president of Nigeria, after the transfer of power by military head of state General Olusegun Obasanjo in 1979 giving rise to the Second Nigerian Republic.

An experienced politician, he briefly worked as a teacher before entering politics in 1951; and was elected into the House of Representatives in 1954. At various times between 1958 through independence of Nigeria in 1960 and 1975, he held a cabinet post as a federal commissioner or as a federal minister. As President, Shagari presided over the mass deportation of West African migrants in 1983, which primarily impacted Ghanaian migrants in Nigeria.

Early years

Shehu Usman Shagari was born on 25 February 1925 in Shagari to a Sunni Muslim Fulani family. Shagari was founded by his greatgrandfather, Ahmadu Rufa’i. He was raised in a polygamous family, and was the sixth child born into the family. His father, Aliyu Shagari,was the Magajin Shagari (magaji means village head). Prior to becoming Magajin Shagari, Aliyu was a farmer, trader and herder. However, due to traditional rites that prevented rulers from participating in business, Aliyu relinquished some of his trading interests when he became the Magaji. Aliyu died five years after Shehu’s birth, and Shehu’s elder brother, Bello, briefly took on his father’s mantle as Magajin Shagari.

Shagari started his education in a Quranic school and then went to live with relatives at a nearby town, where from 1931 to 1935 he attended Yabo elementary school. In 1936–1940, he went to Sokoto for middle school, and then from 1941 to 1944 he attended Barewa College. Between 1944 and 1952, Shagari matriculated at the Teachers Training College, in Zaria, Kaduna, Nigeria. From 1953 to 1958, Shagari got a job as a visiting teacher in Sokoto Province. He was also a member of the Federal Scholarship Board from 1954 to 1958.

Political career

Entry into politics

Shehu Usman Shagari entered politics in 1951 when he became the secretary of the Northern People’s Congress in Sokoto, Nigeria, a position he held until 1956. However, his early Political activities started in 1945 when as a teacher, he founded a youth group called Youth Social Circle in Sokoto and became the secretary. The organization became one of the smaller groups that came together to be part of Northern People’s Congress (NPC) which was founded in 1948.

In 1948, when Dr. Nnamdi Azikiwe of the NCNC was touring Nigeria to raise funds to send a delegation to London to ask the colonial office to abrogate Richard’s constitution as undemocratic, Shehu Shagari who was a keen reader of the West-African Pilot paper was the only man of Sokoto origin to attend this meeting. When the British Provincial Educational Officer was informed of Shagari’s attendance, his salary increment was postponed that year to serve as a punishment.

The West-African Pilot was banned in the northern region schools and Shagari wrote for it an article for its revival in 1948. At the same time, Shagari had started advocating for the departure of colonial rule that he had produced a Hausa pamphlet carrying poetry which he named “Anti Colonialist” and put it in circulation. In 1950, Shagari, a young teacher at 25, was nominated by a British District officer H.A.S Johnson to participate in the Ibadan Conference to debate the Richards Constitution.

Election to parliament

In 1954, Shehu Shagari was elected into his first public office as a member of the federal

House of Representative for Sokoto west. In 1958, Shagari was appointed as parliamentary secretary (he left the post in 1959) to the Nigerian Prime Minister, Sir Abubakar Tafawa Balewa and that year he also served as the Federal Minister for Commerce and Industries.

Ministerial appointments

From 1959 to 1960, Shagari was the pioneer Federal Minister for Economic Development of independent Nigeria where his Ministry was responsible for drawing the 1962–1968 development plan. Shagari’s Ministry of Economic Development was also responsible for the establishment of the Niger-Delta Development Board. From 1960 to 1962, he was the Federal Minister for Pensions which undertook the mission of Nigerianization of the civil service. From 1962 to 1965, Shagari was made the Federal Minister for Internal Affairs. From 1965 up until the first military coup in January 1966, Shagari was the Federal Minister for Works and had executed many important projects including Eko Bridge Lagos which was the first major contract of the German construction firm Julius Berger in Nigeria, and the completion of the Niger Bridge which was commissioned in 1966 by Prime Minister, Sir Abubakar Tafawa Balewa. In 1967 he was appointed as the secretary for Sokoto Province Education Development Fund. From 1968 to 1969, Shagari was given a state position in the North-Western State as Commissioner for Establishments.

As a Member of the Parliament and a Federal Minister, Shagari led and was part of several Nigerian missions abroad. As Minister of Economic Development, he was a member of the Nigerian delegation to the Tangiers Conference of the U.N. Economic Commission for Africa (ECA) which was led by Minister of Finance Chief Festus Okotie Eboh. In 1961, he led the delegation to the tenth anniversary of Libya’s Independence. The same year, he was at the GATT Ministerial conference in Geneva, where he raised the issue of European Economic Community’s (ECC) discrimination against African countries like Nigeria who were not then associated with EEC. The same year, he led a delegation to the Commonwealth Parliamentary Conference (CPA) in London. He became the chairman of the next CPA Conference held in Lagos between October–November 1962.

In 1962, he led the delegation to the ECA meeting in Addis Ababa to the commission’s third meeting, the first which Nigeria attended as a full member where he strongly urged for a price stabilization arrangement for tropical products. In 1963, Shagari was Nigeria’s delegate to CPA meeting in Kuala Lumpur. Then in December 1965, just when Ian Smith made the Unilateral Declaration of Independence, Shehu Shagari attended the CPA conference in Wellington, New Zealand where he criticized and made an explicit denunciation of Ian Smith’s declaration. In the same meeting. Shagari also expressed concerns about Rhodesia now Zimbabwe where he criticizes the Britain colonial policies and the handling of Rhodesia’s situation. Shehu Shagari’s speech at the CPA conference was so significant and far-reaching that he received many commendations from other delegates. He also made headlines on New Zealand’s Christchurch Star of 4 December 1965, and The Morning Post of Wellington.

He also led a delegation to the first session of the Economic Social Commission of the Organisation of African Unity (OAU). Shagari also represented the Prime Minister on different occasions including when President Gamal Abdel Nasser of Egypt invited the Nigerian Prime Minister Abubakar to inspect Egypt’s security arrangements. He also represented the Prime Minister Tafawa Balewa at Winston Churchill’s funeral.

Pre-presidency

Fall of the First Republic

Main articles: 1966 Nigerian coup d’état and 1966 Nigerian counter-coup

After the 1966 Nigerian coup d’état, Shagari was among the government officials who handed over government to the military leadership of Maj. Gen. Aguiyi Ironsi. He returned to Sokoto to promote education. He served as the Executive Secretary of the Sokoto Province Education Development Fund in 1967, where he built many provincial schools. He was later appointed as Commissioner of Establishment and Training and also served briefly as Commissioner for Education in the defunct North Western States before he was invited to serve under the Federal Military Government of Gen. Yakubu Gowon.

Minister after the Civil War

Following the Nigerian Civil War, from 1970 to 1971, Shagari was appointed by the military head of state General Yakubu Gowon as the federal commissioner for economic development, rehabilitation, and reconstruction which worked to carry out the reconciliation policy of Gowon’s Government. Shagari began reconstruction and rehabilitation of schools, hospitals, and other infrastructure in the South East. He also undertook the mission of persuading South Easterners to rejoin the civil service while negotiating the release of Biafran political prisoners after a letter written to him by Pius Okigbo was smuggled for him from Enugu Prisons.

From 1971 to 1975 he served as the Federal Commissioner (a position now called minister) of finance. During his tenure as the commissioner of finance for Nigeria, Shagari was also a governor for the World Bank and a member of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) committee of twenty. Shagari as the Federal Minister of Finance also launched the present Nigerian currency Naira. In 1976, Shagari initiated the Nigeria Trust Fund in African Development Bank with the sum of $100 million in order to assist poor African Countries to finance some of their developmental projects.

As a minister under Gowon, Shagari also undertook a peace mission to mediate between Julius Nyerere of Tanzania and Idi Amin of Uganda in order to avert Uganda–Tanzania War by withdrawing their troops from the borders. After serving under Gen. Yakubu Gowon,

he returned to Sokoto again to serve as the Chairman of Sokoto State Urban Development Authority (SUDA) during which he started building Sokoto Modern Market. In the wake of local government reforms under the Obasanjo led government. Shagari was elected as the counselor of Yabo Local Government in 1976.

Election to the presidency

Second Nigerian Republic

Afterward, he served in the 1977–1978 constituent assembly which drafted the 1979 constitution. In 1978, Shehu Shagari was a founding member of the National Party of Nigeria. In 1979 Shagari was chosen by the party as the presidential candidate for general election that year, which he won the 1979 election with the help of his campaign manager, Umaru Dikko. The campaign had the support of many prominent politicians in the North and among southern minorities. The party’s motto was “One Nation, One Destiny” and was seen as the party best representing Nigeria’s diversity.

At early ages.

Shagari’s government has recorded a number of successes in Education. In his fouryear term, there was a dramatic improvement in secondary schools and teachers in Teaching colleges multiplied. In 1981, a mass literacy campaign was launched and in 1982 a 6–3–3–5 system of education was introduced.[31] Shagari’s government also built several tertiary institutions in Nigeria. New Universities of Technology were established in Bauchi, Benue, Adamawa, Ondo, Imo, and Osun States. They are Federal University of Technology Yola, Federal University of Technology Akure, Federal University of Technology Owerri, Federal University of Technology Minna, Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta, and Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University. Shagari’s administration also upgraded seven other existing colleges of Education to degreeawarding institutions in Abraka, Ondo, Kano, Ado Ekiti, Bidda, Port Harcourt, and Zaria and also established eight other Federal polytechnics in Ado Ekiti, Bidda, Bauchi, Idah, Uwana (Afikpo), Yola and Ilaro. The Federal Open University was also established during the end of Shagari’s administration in 1981. It also offered scholarships for students studying abroad.

The Shagari Presidency will be remembered for his giant strides in encouraging women and youth in nation-building. On assumption to office, he gave directives to States to provide at least one woman and one youth out of the seven nominees. During his campaign, he selected a woman from Imo State as his running mate, to be his Vice President. However, she declined after previously accepting, due to a lack of support from stakeholders in Southern Eastern Nigeria where the Vice-Presidential Ticket was zoned to, it was the closest Nigerian women have ever been to the presidency. Nevertheless, the first female Ministers and diplomats in Nigeria were appointed by Shagari. He appointed Ebun Oyagbola as the Minister of National Planning and later Ambassador to the United Mexican States of Panama, Costa Rica and Guatemala and Mrs. Janet Akinrinade as State Minister of Internal Affairs and two other female Ministers Mrs. Asinobi and Mrs. Ivasi. Similarly, Mrs. Elizabeth Ogbon was appointed Consul General to Hamburg Germany, Mrs. R Mohammed was Nigeria Ambassador to Botswana and Zimbabwe.Whereas, several young people had joined Shagari’s government and Ministers and Advisers. One of the famous ones is Prof. Pat Utomi, who was 29 when he was appointed as Economic Advisers. Ministers appointed in their early 30s are Audu Innocent Ogbeh (32) and Bello Maitama Yusuf (34). Many of the cabinet Ministers were below 50 years of age.

Source: wikipedia.org

Alhaji Shehu Shagari

How Ortom stirred fresh contoversy with his life pension bill

Cont. From Page 9

By Uche Nnorom

Akume and Gabriel Suswam with their deputies all the entitlements provided for in the Bill/Law.

“Again, the monthly stipends to be paid to the beneficiaries, apart from being for life and backdated, calculated and monetized, are capable of TOTALLY crippling the State Treasury and Economy.

“Remember that the Law DOES NOT say that the stipend should be equivalent to the “BASIC SALARY” of a sitting governor but the “SALARY.” Now my research shows that the monthly basic salary of a sitting governor is N2, 223,794 while the monthly Salary of a sitting governor, comprising allowances etc, is N11,540,896. This means that Sen. George Akume alone, will be entitled to N138,490, 752 per annum from the time he left office till his death. Same for Senator Suswam and Governor Ortom and other governors after them.

“Now multiply N138,490, 752 x 3 former governors in a year alone, you are going to be spending N657,276,456.00 on Ortom, Akume and Suswam alone in 2024 as monthly stipends. (We have not considered the backlog for Akume and Suswam.

The three deputies will take home N440,631,348.00 per annum as monthly stipends.

Add N657,276,456.00 to N440,631,348.00 for the governors and their deputies and you have N1, 097,804.00 (One Billion, NinetySeven Million, Nine Hundred and Seven Thousand, Eight Hundred and Four Naira. [This is the stipends of the 3 sets of governors and their deputies for one year alone.

“Next, the governors and their deputies are entitled to 6 vehicles every four years. Let us assume that each vehicle costs N70, 000,000.00 (I am assuming this based on my findings that a Toyota Landcruiser Prado Jeep, 2022 model costs about that much). If you multiply that sum for 6 cars, you will have N420,000,000.00 spent on them every 4 years. We will resist the urge to go on calculating the cost of service of these vehicles for every year. Mind you that the Law does not place a ceiling on the cost of the cars.

“NOTE also that the Bill does not stipulate that the Four year old cars, should be returned to the State Pool in exchange for the new cars.

“Next is the provision for the building of residential accomodations of no prescribed limit in value in any Town of their choice in Nigeria. I assume that

nobody would want to have a house built for that purpose in Makurdi, Gbajimba, Anyiin or Wannune. They would rather prefer to have house in Banana Island or Asokoro in Abuja where the cost of buying plain land alone will cost Hundreds of Millions and building could cost a Billion or more.

“What about the medical expenses for them, their spouses and AT LEAST 4 children irrespective of whether the children are biological or not. Once a child reaches the age of 18, he or she could easily be replaced by another “child”. Again the medical expenses are not limited in value or within Nigeria.

“Do we still need to talk about vacations ABROAD? What about the salaries of the 6 and 3 personal staff for life for governors and their deputies?

“Incidentally, the law, which is a a state law that does not override federal laws, provided that a beneficiary shall not take any other entitlement from the State or the Federation, but is silent on refund or penalty for breach of section 5 of the Law.

“Now we all see why this Pension Scam should not be signed into law because it will cripple our economy once it is implemented”, the lawyer warned.

However, despite the outbursts, outcry and condemnation that have trailed the bill, the lawmakers have decided to go ahead with it as it was read for the first time on the floor of the House on April 11th, 2023.

It was learnt that the Assembly members were offered a juicy package of a trip to the US to give the bill an accerelated hearing and ensure that it is passed before the exit of the Ortom administration.

Many political analysts have questioned the rationale of this bill at this time, maintaining that it is ‘ill-conceived’. They said it is a mockery of the pensioners who are been owed 34 months for State retirees and 74 months for local government retirees.

But the governor has severally defended himself saying that when he assumed office, he met a whooping sum of 70 billion debts in pension and gratutiy.

He also, explained that he has domesticated pension matters by setting up the State Pension Board which has so far been able to save over 5 billion naira, stressing that once the state reaches the threshold of 10 billion naira, it can borrow from Pencom to offset the backlog of arrears.

Meanwhile, a group, Incorporated Trustees of Bridges and Hands Foundation has dragged the Speaker

Benue State House of Assembly, Benue State House of Assembly, Clerk of Benue House of Assembly and Hon. Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice Benue State before Justice Gyuse of the State High Court, Gboko division over a controversial executive bill.

In the originating summons made available to Weekend Peoples Daily on Tuesday 25th April, 2023, the group is seeking the following determinations:

A determination whether the Executive bill sponsored by the Benue State Government for the maintenance of Former Governors and Deputy Governors is reasonably justifiable in a democracy when civil servants who served the state for 35 years are owned over 35 months of pensions and gratuities.

Whether the Benue State House of Assembly can legitimately legislate on former Governors and their deputies when their entitlements and benefits are decided by the Revenue Mobilisation and Fiscal Commission and paid from the account of the Federation during their terms are Governors and

Deputy Governors.

Whether the Benue State House of Assembly will not be acting ultra vires to legislate on the maintenance of Former Governors and their Deputies no legislative item in that regards is provided for in the current legislative list of 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (2011 as amended).

Whether the Honourable Court has jurisdiction to restrain the defendants from proceeding with the hearing and passing into law of the executive bill titled “ A Bill FOR A LAW TO MAKE PROVISION FOR MAINTENANCE OF FORMER GOVERNORS OF THE STATE AND THEIR DEPUTIES AND FOR OTHER RELATED MATTERS CONNECTED THERETO upon the determination of questions 1,2 and 3.

The group is also seeking from the court the following declarations:

A declaration that the Executive bill sponsored by the Benue State Government for the maintenance of Former Governors and Deputy Governors of the State and other related matters is unreasonable and unjustifiable in the current democratic and economic situation in Benue State.

A declaration that no item under the concurrent list empowers the defendants to legislate on the maintenance of Former Governors and their Deputy Governors of Benue State who drew their salaries and remunerations from the Federation Account during their tenure of service.

A declaration that Former Governors and Deputies in the State are not retired civil servants in the State to be entitled to pensions and gratuities and other severance under the disguise of maintenance.

A PERPETUAL INJUNCTION restraining the defendants from proceeding with any hearing, be it public, committee or any hearing at all in respect of the executive bill titled “ A BILL FOR A LAW TO MAKE PROVISIONS FOR THE MAINTENANCE OF FORMER GOVERNORS OF THE STATE AND DEPUTIES AND FOR OTHER RELATED MATTERS CONNECTED THERETO.

Hearing of the matter has been fixed for 5th May, 2023.

For a Benue economy that is purely agragrian and with a poor internally generated revenue to augment the federal allocation, can the State afford to dole out such billions of naira (which is more than the entire State budget) to cater for it’s past leaders? That is the mindboggling question on the lips of Benue indigenes.

Governor Samuel Ortom

“

A declaration that Former Governors and Deputies in the State are not retired civil servants in the State to be entitled to pensions and gratuities and other severance under the disguise of maintenance

International

Ukraine war: Nineteen dead as Russian missiles hit cities

Awave of Russian air strikes on cities across Ukraine, including Kyiv, has left at least 19 people dead.

Seventeen people including a child were killed in an attack that hit a block of flats in the central city of Uman, officials said.

And a woman and her three-year-old daughter were killed in the city of Dnipro, according to the local mayor.

The Russian defence ministry said its military had targeted Ukrainian army reserve units with the strikes.

State-owned RIA news agency said Russia was aiming for the reserve units and used high-precision weapons on Friday.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said the apartment block was among 10 residential buildings that were damaged in Uman.

The state rescue service said the child killed in the city was born in 2013 and another 11 people needed hospital treatment.

Mr Zelensky said the attacks showed further international action needed to be taken against Russia.

“Evil can be stopped by weaponsour defenders are doing it. And it can be stopped by sanctions - global sanctions must be enhanced,” he said in a tweet.

The head of the Kyiv city military administration said it was the first Russian missile attack on the capital in 51 days.

There are no immediate reports of civilian casualties in the capital.

Twenty-one out of 23 missiles and two attack drones were shot down by Ukraine’s air defence system, officials said in a post on the messaging service Telegram.

The Russian-installed mayor of

Donetsk said seven people were killed in the separatist-run city when Ukrainian artillery shells hit a minibus. BBC News has been unable to immediately verify the claim.

A video posted on Telegram by Ukraine’s State Border Service showed a badly damaged apartment building in Uman after the strikes.

A resident of one damaged block of flats, Olga, told the Reuters news agency that windows were blown out of her apartment “then came the explosion”.

One man cried as he watched the emergency services carry a body away on a stretcher.

Another local resident said he heard an explosion at 04:30 local time (02:30 GMT), and “there were two very strong explosions, everything started to burn, cars started to burn.”

In Uman, a town that has been largely spared of attacks, a nine-storey apartment building partially collapsed after it was hit by a missile.

The pre-dawn attack happened as people were sleeping, and residents were trapped under the rubble.

More than 10 hours after the attack, rescuers were still working at the site while residents tried to retrieve some of their belongings.

In nearby buildings, some residents were already fixing broken windows.

Oleksander, a 35-year-old resident of the bloc hit, said he had been woken up after he heard a “powerful explosion.”

“I couldn’t understand what was happening. I went to the balcony and saw glass everywhere. It was horrible,” he told the BBC.

“Russia is a terrorist state. You can

see, there’s no military object here. And it happened at four o’clock in the morning, as people were sleeping”.

Another resident, 60-year-old Vanda, said she heard an explosion and “everything shook”.

“We tried to find ways to leave the building. I heard a voice of a child who was screaming in the flat next to ours. We wanted to help other people. There was smoke and fire everywhere,” she said.

“Peaceful people were just sleeping.”

The attacks come as Ukrainian forces say they are ready to launch a military offensive with new equipment, including

tanks, supplied by Western allies.

“As soon as there is God’s will, the weather and a decision by commanders, we will do it,” Ukrainian Defence Minister Oleksii Reznikov told an online news briefing on Friday.

Russia has struggled to make headway in a winter offensive including a 10-month battle for control of the strategically important city of Bakhmut.

The Russian defence ministry said on Friday its military had targeted Ukrainian army reserve units with long-range strikes using high-precision weapons, according to a report by the state-owned RIA news agency.

Mike Pence testifies in criminal probe of Trump and Capitol riot

Former US Vice-President Mike Pence has testified as part of a criminal investigation into alleged efforts by Donald Trump to overturn his defeat in the 2020 election.

Mr Pence, 63, sat for more than seven hours before a federal grand jury in Washington DC, sources told the BBC’s US partner CBS News.

He was issued with a subpoena to testify under oath earlier this year.

The questioning by prosecutors took place behind closed doors.

His appearance on Thursday came just hours after an appeals court rejected a last-ditch bid by Mr Trump’s legal team to stop Mr Pence from testifying.

Mr Pence’s lawyers had also sought unsuccessfully to challenge the subpoena, arguing that his role as president of the Senate during his time in office meant he had congressional immunity.

His eventual testimony, which had been sought for months, is a major milestone in the two-year investigation which is being led by special counsel Jack Smith, a former war crimes prosecutor who was appointed to the role by Attorney General Merrick Garland.

The investigation has been gathering evidence about whether Mr Trump and his allies broke federal law in their efforts to challenge the result of the 2020

election, which was won by President Joe Biden.

It is also investigating the US Capitol riot on 6 January 2021, when Mr Trump’s supporters stormed the building in an effort to prevent the election result from being certified.

Mr Pence, who like all vice-presidents was also president of the Senate - a mostly ceremonial role - could in theory have derailed the final certification of the election result and delayed the transfer of power.

Mr Trump publicly pressured his vice-president to do so, and his refusal led him to lash out at Mr Pence.

Trump supporters then chanted “hang Mike Pence” as they stormed Congress and marauded through the corridors of the Capitol building as politicians, including Mr Pence, sheltered inside.

Mr Pence is considered a key witness in the investigation and prosecutors will likely have asked him about his interactions with Mr Trump and his team in the days and weeks leading up to the riot.

“We’ll obey the law, we’ll tell the truth,” Mr Pence said in an interview with CBS on Sunday. “The story that I’ve been telling the American people all across the country... that’ll be the story I tell in that setting.”

Mr Pence has previously spoken about the Capitol riot and the pressure to challenge the result. “President Trump is wrong. I had no right to overturn the election,” he said in a speech in February.

He is reportedly considering a presidential bid of his own in 2024, which would see him challenge Mr Trump directly for the Republican nomination.

Mr Trump, who has already launched his bid to return to the White House, was in New Hampshire on Thursday for a campaign event. When asked by NBC

News about Mr Pence’s testimony, he commented: “I don’t know what he said, but I have a lot of confidence in him.”

The former president is facing other legal issues, including another federal investigation led by Mr Smith into the potential mishandling of classified documents.

There is also a separate investigation in Georgia into alleged efforts to overturn the 2020 election result.

Source: BBC

Rescuers in Uman pulled casualties from the rubble during Friday morning

Mike Pence’s testimony is a major milestone in the two-year investigation

NEWS FROM AFRICA

Sudan crisis: Turkish evacuation plane fired on

ATurkish evacuation plane coming into land at an airbase outside Sudan’s capital, Khartoum, has been fired at, Turkey’s defence ministry confirms.

No-one was injured and it landed safely at Wadi Seidna, where it was being checked.

Sudan’s army blamed paramilitary fighters for firing at the aircraft and damaging its fuel system.

The Rapid Support Forces (RSF) denied the allegation, saying it was committed to the extended humanitarian truce.

The rival military factions agreed to an extension of their ceasefire at midnight local time (22:00 GMT on Thursday) for a further three days.

It has had only a limited

effect, with army jets continuing to pound RSF positions in Khartoum during the night.

The previous truce allowed thousands of people to attempt to flee to safety, while dozens of countries organised evacuations.

Turkey’s defence minister said efforts would continue to rescue Turkish citizen from Wadi Seidna and the city of Port Sudan on the Red Sea coast.

Since the clashes began 14 days ago, hundreds of people have been killed and tens of thousands forced from their homes.

The fighting is devastating the capital and its surrounds - which until recently had a population of around 10 million - leaving people without supplies of food, water and fuel.

Sudan crisis: Ceasefire extended but fighting continues

Rival factions of Sudan’s military agreed to renew a three-day ceasefire, shortly before it was due to expire.

The extension - for another 72 hours - follows intensive diplomatic efforts by neighbouring countries, as well as the US, UK and UN.

But there are continuing reports of heavy fighting in the capital Khartoum.

The previous truce allowed thousands of people to attempt to flee to safety, while dozens of countries have tried to evacuate their citizens.

Almost two weeks of fighting between the army and a rival paramilitary group have left hundreds dead.

The ceasefire had been expected to end at midnight local time (22:00 GMT on Thursday).

Early on Thursday evening the Sudanese regular army agreed to an extension, and its rival the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) followed suit hours later.

South Sudan has offered to host peace talks, and the army has agreed to send representatives to the talks.

Despite the bitter past and years of conflict that led to South Sudan’s separating from Sudan in 2011, the two nations now enjoy cordial relations.

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said Washington was “very actively working” to extend the truce, adding that while imperfect it had reduced violence.

But White House spokeswoman Karine JeanPierre later said the situation could worsen at any moment.

Abiy Ahmed, prime minister of neighbouring Ethiopia where the Africa Union is

headquartered, tweeted that he had called up both of the rival generals to urge them to settle their differences amicably.

On Friday, a Turkish military plane on an evacuation mission was shot at as it was landing at an airport outside Khartoum. No-one was injured and the RSF denied accusations by the army that it was involved.

Meanwhile the RSF and eyewitnesses said the army had been pounding its positions in Khartoum.

The foreign minister in the former civilian government, Maryam al-Sadiq al-Mahdi, told the BBC from her home in Khartoum that despite the ceasefire, civilians were still living in fear.

“What they call a truce has nothing to do with what is happening,” she told BBC Radio Four’s World Tonight programme. “The bombardment

by the aeroplanes is taking place almost all day and night.”

Fighting has also been reported in the western Darfur region and other provinces.

At least 512 people have been killed in the fighting and almost 4,200 injured, although the real number of deaths could be much higher.

The World Health Organization said it expected there to be “many more” deaths due to outbreaks of disease and a lack of services.

Health officials say most hospitals in conflict areas are not functioning, and more than 60% of health facilities in Khartoum are inactive.

David Miliband, the head of the International Rescue Committee and former British foreign secretary, said the international community was in danger of neglecting the wider crisis in Sudan in the rush to

evacuate foreign nationals.

“The fact that for the last 10 days pretty much all the media coverage and the vast bulk of political attention has been on getting out thousands of people and not on the need to tend to millions of people really sticks in the gullet,” he told the BBC.

“Of course the lives of the thousands who need to evacuate are important, but what about the 45 million who are left?

“Sudan’s population has 15 million people in humanitarian need and I think part of our call today as the International Rescue Committee is to say let’s not fall into that trap of thinking that once thousands are evacuated the problem is solved.”

An army statement quoted by Reuters new agency said it had taken control of most of Sudan’s regions but “the situation is a bit complicated in some parts of the capital”.

It has not been possible for the BBC to verify the army’s claims.

Foreign nations, including the UK, have been urging their citizens to leave the country as soon as possible.

Speaking on Thursday evening, Ms Jean-Pierre urged Americans to depart within the next 24 hours.

Evacuations are continuing, but many foreigners are still stuck in Sudan. Some have struggled to get to the airstrip used for evacuations.

Local civilians are continuing to flee the capital, where there are problems with supplies of food, water and fuel.

The number of Sudanese fleeing the fighting in Darfur have outnumbered Chadian residents in the village of Koufroun on the other side of the border, the UN children’s charity says.

Chad would not be able to sustain the influx of refugees if the situation worsened in Sudan, Unicef’s Donaig Le Du told BBC Newsday.

The fighting broke out on 15 April as the result of a bitter power struggle between the regular army and RSF.

Army commander Gen Abdel Fattah al-Burhan and RSF chief Gen Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo, better known as Hemedti, disagree about the country’s proposed move to civilian rule, and in particular about the timeframe of the 100,000 strong RSF’s inclusion into the army.

Both factions fear losing power in Sudan because on both sides there are men who could end up at the International Criminal Court for war crimes committed in Darfur almost 20 years ago.

Source: BBC

There is a sombre mood as people mark the end of the fasting month of Ramadan

People have used the relative lull in fighting to go outside their homes

Feature

Pastor Paul Mackenzie: What did the starvation cult leader preach?

The leader of a Christian cult in Kenya is due to appear in court next week, as the exhumation of bodies found in mass graves on his land continues. At least 90 have been discovered so far.

Pastor Paul Nthenge Mackenzie has said he closed down his Good News International Church four years ago after nearly two decades of operation.

But the BBC has uncovered hundreds of his sermons still available online, some of which appear to have been recorded after this date.

What picture do they paint of a man whose followers have starved themselves to death?

‘Let no-one turn back’

In a passionate, raspy voice, Pastor Mackenzie delivers his sermons to large congregations in thrall to his apocalyptic themes.

“We are about to win the battle… let no-one turn back… the journey is about to be accomplished,” reads a banner across the screen.

One series of videos on his church’s YouTube channel has the caption: “End Time Kids” and shows groups of young children delivering messages to the camera.

Others culminate in exorcisms in which followers - often womenwrithe around on the ground while he “torments” the demonic forces within them.

These YouTube channels have thousands of subscribers and a Facebook page set up by his church links to many of the videos.

It’s not clear when the sermons were filmed, but there is reference to an upcoming preaching event by Pastor Mackenzie in Nairobi in January 2020, which contradicts his claim to have ended his preaching activities the previous year.

‘Children are crying because they are hungry, let them die’

Former members of the church have claimed that they were forced to fast as part of their adherence to its teachings.

There is no direct evidence in

“He repeatedly references “New World Order” - a conspiracy theory about a plot by global elites to bring about an authoritarian world government, replacing nation states - falsely claiming the Catholic Church, the UN and the US are behind it

the dozens videos we’ve seen of Pastor Mackenzie directly ordering people to fast, but there are many references to followers sacrificing what they hold dear, including their lives.

“There are people who don’t

even want to preach [about] Jesus. They say their children are crying because they are hungry, let them die. Is there a problem there?”

In an interview with the Kenyan Nation newspaper a few weeks ago, Pastor Mackenzie denied he forced

‘Education is evil’

Another theme of Pastor Mackenzie’s sermons has been the idea that formal education is satanic and used to extort money.

“They know education is evil. But they use it for their own gains” he says in one sermon. “Those who sell uniforms, write books… those who make pens… all kinds of rubbish. They use your money to enrich themselves while you become poor.”

In 2017 and again in 2018, he was arrested for encouraging children not to go to school as he claimed education was “not recognised in the Bible”.

Pastor Mackenzie has also condemned education for promoting homosexuality through sex education programmes.

“I told people education is evil…. Children are taught gayism and lesbianism,’’ he told the Nation newspaper.

Doctors ‘serve a different God’

He has also encouraged mothers to avoid seeking medical attention during childbirth and not to vaccinate their children.

In one of the videos, a woman narrates how she helped to deliver a baby through prayer and without the need for a caesarean section, adding that she later received a “prompting” from the holy spirit to warn her neighbour against vaccinating her child.

The pastor then echoes her sentiments that vaccines are not necessary, claiming that doctors “serve a different God”.

He also discourages women from plaiting their hair, wearing wigs and wearing ornaments.

Satanic symbols and global conspiracies

Much of Pastor Mackenzie’s preaching relates to the fulfilment of Biblical prophecies about Judgement Day.

The church’s online content also features posts about the end of the world, impending doom and the supposed dangers of science.

And there are frequent warnings of an omnipotent satanic force that has supposedly infiltrated the highest echelons of power around the world.

The church’s online content features a wide range of conspiratorial images and memes

He repeatedly references “New World Order” - a conspiracy theory about a plot by global elites to bring about an authoritarian world government, replacing nation states - falsely claiming the Catholic Church, the UN and the US are behind it.

his followers to fast.

“Is there a house maybe or an enclosure or a fence somewhere that has been found [at the farm] where people might have been locked in?” he replied when the reporter asked him about this.

He is also highly sceptical of modern technology, previously claiming a plan by the Kenyan government to establish a unique identity number for citizens to access government services was the ‘mark of the beast’.

Source: BBC

Grieving relatives of the cult victims in the Kenyan coastal town of Kilifi

Apocalyptic themes and warnings about impending doom feature heavily in Pastor Mackenzie’s sermons

Pastor Mackenzie often delivers his fiery sermons to a large congregation

Chinese Quotes of Inspiration:

Share Chinese Harmony, Perform Nigeria-China Symphony

APRIL 29, 2023

— All Living Creatures Grow Together Without Harming Each Other, All Roads Run Parallel Without Interfering With One Another.

President Xi holds trilateral talks with Macron, EU President

Chinese President Xi Jinping has held a Trilateral Meeting with French President Emmanuel Macron and European Commission President, Von Der Leyen. The meeting was held on the afternoon of 6 April at the Great Hall of the People.

In April, a lot of countries visited China, including developed countries and developing countries, a reason China is gradually becoming more attractive for the world.

At the meeting, President Xi pointed out that the concurrent visit to China by President Macron and President Von Der Leyen demonstrates the positive desire of the European Union (EU) to grow relations with China and advance the common interests of China and the EU. In a complex and volatile world beset by the protracted Ukraine crisis, faltering global recovery, volatile financial markets and growing difficulties facing developing countries, China and the EU need to stay committed to dialogue and cooperation, uphold world peace and stability, foster common development and prosperity, promote human progress, and address global challenges together.

This year marks the 20th anniversary of the China-EU comprehensive strategic partnership. China is prepared to work with the EU to set the right direction and tone for China-EU ties, fully resume exchanges at all levels, revitalize mutuallybeneficial cooperation in various fields, and overcome disturbances and challenges, thus injecting fresh impetus into China-EU relations and global peace,

stability and prosperity.

On the afternoon of April 7, 2023, President Xi Jinping also held an informal meeting with French President Emmanuel Macron at the Pine Garden in Guangzhou City of Guangdong Province, China. Xi Jinping warmly welcomed Macron to Guangzhou and expressed his pleasure to meet and talk with him again. The two heads of state strolled through the Pine Garden, chatting and stopping at times to enjoy the unique beauty of the southern Chinese garden.

On the afternoon of April 6, 2023, President Xi Jinping met with President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen at the Great Hall of the People. President Xi pointed out that China always regards the European Union (EU) as a strategic force in the international landscape, and takes the development of China-EU relations as a priority in its diplomacy. China is ready to work with the EU to carry forward the fine tradition, maintain close communication, enhance strategic mutual trust, focus on mutually beneficial cooperation, and jointly overcome disturbance and challenges, to promote high-level development of China-EU relations. President Xi emphasized that China and the EU need to strengthen communication, foster a right perception of each other, and avoid misunderstanding and miscalculation. The Chinese nation, throughout its 5000-plus-year history of civilization, has always been opposed to military aggression, the strong bullying the weak, or seeking hegemony from the

Chinese Premier Li Qiang harps on Chinese vision for a shared global future

On March 30, Premier of the State Council of the People’s Republic of China, H.E. LI Qiang delivered a keynote speech themed “Following the Vision of a Community with a Shared Future for Mankind and Bringing More Certainty to World Peace and Development”, at the Opening Plenary of The Boao Forum for Asia Annual Conference 2023.

Highlights of Premier Li Qiang’s speech showed that the theme of this year’s Annual Conference, “An Uncertain World: Solidarity and Cooperation for Development amid Challenges”, is highly relevant to our times and responsive to our shared concerns. In a world of turmoil and transformation, humanity is faced with unprecedented challenges. Instability, uncertainty and unexpected developments have become the norm. Amid the momentous shifts where uncertainty abounds, people yearn for more and stronger forces of certainty to drive the world to a brighter future.

Qiang noted that ten years ago, President Xi Jinping had put forward the vision of building a community with a shared future for mankind. Later, he expounded China’s proposition on this vision at this Forum and on many other international occasions, and went on to propose the Global Development Initiative (GDI), the Global Security Initiative (GSI) and the Global Civilization Initiative (GCI). These initiatives are China’s proposals for global development and governance. Over the past 10 years, China has taken concrete actions to advance the building of a community with a shared future for mankind, and achieved a series of major outcomes. The high-quality Belt and Road cooperation, in particular, has helped developing countries achieve faster development and

opened up new space for the growth of the world economy. Meanwhile, China has made productive efforts as a major responsible country to champion political settlement of crises, resolve international hot-spot issues, facilitate peace talks and de-escalate tensions. These are the real steps that China has taken to build a community with a shared future for mankind. What has happened shows that the vision of a community with a shared future for mankind has become a banner that guides the trend of the times and human progress, and a source of certainty for lasting peace and shared prosperity in the world.

Qiang advocated for need to First, work together to maintain a peaceful and stable environment for development to bring greater certainty to the fluid global environment.

Second, to work together to build a more vibrant center of growth to bring greater certainty to world economic recovery.

Third, to work together to expand effective ways for enhanced solidarity and cooperation to bring greater certainty to the shifting global governance.

Fourth, to work together to pursue deeper and more substantive people-to-people exchanges to bring greater certainty to the interactions among civilizations. Looking ahead over the longer run, he said there is certainty in the goals and prospects of China’s development.

“A China that is stable and dedicated to development, a China that is down-to-earth and pressing ahead with fortitude, and a China that is confident, open and sharing will surely be a strong force for global prosperity and stability. Looking at the near term, both the dynamism and momentum of China’s growth are strong,” he noted.

On the afternoon of 6 April, President Xi Jinping had a trilateral meeting with French President Emmanuel Macron and European Commission President Ursula Von Der Leyen at the Great Hall of the People in China.

position of strength. China pursues development for the purpose of delivering a better life for the Chinese people.

On April 14, President Xi Jinping held talks with Brazilian President Lula da Silva, who was on a state visit to China. On April 19, 2023, President Xi Jinping aslso held talks with Gabonese President Ali Bongo Ondimba who was in China for a state visit.

The two heads of state decided to elevate the China-

Gabon comprehensive cooperative partnership to a comprehensive strategic cooperative partnership. On the afternoon of 21 March local time, President Xi Jinping held talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin at the Kremlin in Moscow. They had sincere, friendly and fruitful talks on the bilateral ties and major regional and international issues of mutual interest, and reached new, important common understandings in many fields.

Chinese Foreign Ministry protests US breach of One China Policy

In apparent disregard of China’s serious representations and repeated warnings, the United States has been accused of deliberately approving the transit of Tsai Ingwen, leader of the Taiwan region, through the United States, an action seen as a breach of the One China policy.

Statements by the Chinese Foreign Ministry Spokesperson on Tsai Ing-wen’s “Transit” Through the United States recently gave indication to that effect.

A statement by the Foreign Ministry Spokesperson noted that US House Speaker Kevin McCarthy, the number three in the US government, had held a high-profile meeting with Tsai. Other US officials and lawmakers also had contact with Tsai and provided the platform for her separatist rhetoric for “Taiwan independence”.

“This is essentially the United States acting with Taiwan to connive at “Taiwan independence” separatists’ political activities in the United States, conduct official contact with Taiwan and upgrade the substantive relations with Taiwan, and frame it as a “transit”. This is a serious violation of the one-China principle and the provisions of the three ChinaUS joint communiqués. It seriously infringes upon China’s sovereignty and territorial integrity and sends an egregiously wrong signal to the “Taiwan independence” separatist forces. China firmly opposes and strongly condemns it.

“The one-China principle is a prevailing consensus of the international community and a basic norm in international relations. It is also the prerequisite and basis for the establishment and development of China-US diplomatic relations. In the three China-US joint communiqués, the United States made a clear commitment of maintaining only unofficial relations with Taiwan. Over the years, however,

the United States has obdurately attempted to contain China by exploiting the Taiwan question and betrayed its commitments. The United States has been crossing the line and acting provocatively on issues such as US-Taiwan official exchanges, arms sales to and military dealings with Taiwan and creating chances for Taiwan to expand its so-called “international space”, and kept fudging and hollowing out the one-China principle.

• Countermeasures Against Hudson Institute, the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library and Museum and Their Leaders

A Decree of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the People’s Republic of China has accordingly approved a number of measures against the breach of the One China policy.

The Decision on Taking Countermeasures Against Hudson Institute, the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library and Museum and Their Leaders was issued and came into force as of 7 April 2023.

“In disregard of China’s repeated representations and firm opposition, the United States allowed Tsai Ing-wen, leader of the Taiwan region, to “transit” in the U.S. and engage in political activities there from 29 to 31 March and from 4 to 6 April 2023. Hudson Institute and the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library and Museum provided platform and facilitation for Tsai Ing-wen’s “Taiwan independence” separatist activities in the U.S. It is a serious violation of the one-China principle and the provisions of the three ChinaU.S. joint communiqués, and a grave infringement upon China’s sovereignty and territorial integrity.

China’s consumer products expo sharing massive market

On April 10, the third China International Consumer Products Expo (CICPE) kicked off in southern China’s island province of Hainan, with more than 3,300 products from 65 countries and regions on display at the sixday event. The total exhibition area is 120,000 square meters, an increase of 20 percent over the previous edition, and the overall design of the booths this year is more fashionable and has a modern touch, according to the organizing committee.

People visit the third China International Consumer Products Expo in Haikou, capital city of South China’s Hainan Province, on April 10, 2023.

What Has China Done in Three Years of Fighting against COVID-19!

It has been over three years since the outbreak of COVID-19. With the virus mutating, severe cases and mortality caused by the Omicron variant have significantly dropped, indicating a milestone in the global fight against COVID. During the past 3 years, China had effectively protected the lives of its people and contributed its wisdom and strength to this global fight.

China has always safeguarded the health of its people. Over the past 3 years, the Communist Party of China (CPC) and the Chinese government have struck a balance between prevention measures and socioeconomic development, drawing on China’s conditions to formulate policies that were in the best interests of the general public. As a result, China has experienced the lowest number of COVID deaths among the world’s major countries. What some have labeled as the “failure of the dynamic zero-COVID policy” is nothing more than a fallacy without a shred of truth. At the height of the virus’ deadliest period, China mobilized all its resources and spared

no expense to protect the health of its people, which has contributed to the fight against the pandemic of people all over the world. Whether it was a newborn baby or a centenarian, China’s policy ensured that no infected person was left behind and no patient was abandoned. The concept of “putting the people and their lives above all else” has been consistent.

China has worked vigorously to implement mass vaccination. More than a dozen kinds of vaccines are available in China, spanning a wide range of technologies and modes of vaccination, with an annual production capacity of 7 billion doses. China’s full vaccination rate is already over 90%, and the rates for those over 60 or 80 are 85% and 65% respectively. China has administered 3.4 billion doses of the vaccine, protecting its people through the most dangerous period. The Chinese vaccines have proven to be fully effective and prevented millions of lives from being lost. The unwarranted questioning of Chinese vaccines is an attempt to defy

science and discredit China. China is enhancing its vaccines to improve efficacy and to better respond to the mutations.

China has championed international cooperation. No country can stand alone in the face of the pandemic. To date, China has supplied more than 2.2 billion doses of vaccines to more than 150 countries and international organizations, as well as hundreds of billions pieces of medical supplies to 153 countries and 15 international organizations. China is the first country that pledged to make COVID vaccines a global public good, to support intellectual property rights (IPR) exemptions for vaccine R&D, and to cooperate with other developing countries in the vaccine manufacturing process. In this way, China has made important contributions to address the distribution deficit and the immunization gap, demonstrating its commitment to fulfilling its international responsibility.

This photo taken on April 8, 2023, shows the booth of Italy, the guest country of honor, at Hainan International Convention and Exhibition Center, the venue for the 2023 China International Consumer Products Expo, Haikou, Hainan province.

By taking advantage of the Hainan Free Trade Port policies, The third China International Consumer Products Expo (CICPE) connects domestic and international market resources.

SPORTS

Everton fans call for Bill Kenwright to be removed as chairman

An Everton fans’ group has called on owner Farhad Moshiri to sack Bill Kenwright after saying it had “no confidence” in the Toffees chairman.

Long-serving Kenwright, 77, defended the way the club is run in an open letter to fans last week.

Everton’s 4-1 home defeat by Newcastle on Thursday leaves the club rooted in the Premier League relegation zone.

“The situation is not sustainable [and] not befitting of our great club,” said the Everton Fan Advisory Board.

It added: “As Evertonians, we do not deserve it.”

Second-bottom Everton, who have been in the top-flight for 72 years, are two points adrift of safety with five games remaining.

Kenwright and the rest of the board of directors have not attended a home game since January after what the club described as “threatening correspondence” was received before a game against Southampton.

Some supporters have held peaceful protest marches before every home game since, expressing their frustration at the running of the club.

The target of their frustrations are Moshiri and the board of directors, which includes Kenwright, chief executive Denise Barrett-Baxendale, chief financial officer Grant Ingles and former Toffees striker Graeme Sharp.

Kenwright, who has been Everton chairman since 2004, says their removal will not help the team’s current on-field struggles.

“The chair of any organisation has a core responsibility for leading the board, ensuring its focus on strategic matters and direction, overseeing the company’s business, and setting high governance standards,” said the Everton Fan Advisory Board, an independent body which consults with the club’s board.

“We were therefore hugely

disappointed at the chairman’s statement last Friday.

“At a critical time for our club, when we most needed leadership, understanding, accountability and a recognition of the strength of feeling and concern across large parts of our fanbase, we got the absolute opposite.

“After careful consideration, we are therefore making a call of no confidence in the current chair.

“The FAB is also calling on the majority shareholder to urgently take charge of securing stronger expertise, experience and more appropriate leadership for our club.”

Everton’s board failed to hear the alarm bells ringing at deafening volume when they narrowly escaped relegation

last season, and now it looks increasingly like they will be punished by dropping into the Championship.

The scale of mismanagement from owner Farhad Moshiri, chairman Bill Kenwright, chief executive Denise BarrettBaxendale and the rest of Everton’s board has been on an industrial scale when measured in money squandered in hundreds of millions and the lack of any coherent plan.

Now, with five league games left, Everton are teetering on the precipice after the 4-1 loss at home to Newcastle United left them second from bottom, two points from safety.

Chairman Kenwright’s ill-timed open letter to fans in recent days made no reference to any of the failings that have

landed this proud club in crisis, with the board not attending a game since January amid security fears and the Premier League referring them to an independent commission for an alleged breach of Financial Fair Play rules.

All this against the backdrop of Everton sliding towards the bottom of the table.

Kenwright’s letter smacked of “nothing to see here” in the context of a board that has presided over catastrophically bad decision-making in recent years. They bear a huge weight of responsibility.

There have been hints change is coming in the form of new investment and boardroom upheaval. The biggest change could be in Everton’s status - from Premier League club to Championship.

Tottenham: Harry Kane held ‘honest conversation’ with chairman Daniel Levy

Tottenham striker Harry Kane said he held an “honest conversation” with chairman Daniel Levy on Monday to try to revive the club’s season.

Kane and some other senior Spurs players met with Levy 24 hours after their 6-1 thrashing at Newcastle.

Interim boss Cristian Stellini was sacked later that day and replaced with first-team coach Ryan Mason.

“I think it was important [for Levy] to understand where the players’ heads were at in that moment,” said Kane.

“It was an honest conversation of where everyone is at and what we need to try to do to give us the best possible chance to finish the season with something.”

Kane added that he felt the Newcastle result had been “building up” since Tottenham conceded two late goals in a 3-3 draw against Southampton last month, a result that led to the departure of previous manager Antonio Conte.

The north London club fought

back from 2-0 down to draw 2-2 with Manchester United in Mason’s first game back in charge on Thursday to stay fifth in the table, six points outside the top four.

“We’re still fighting for fourth place but if it’s not fourth, we’ll try to finish fifth or sixth - as high up as we can,” added Kane.

“In this league, it’s so competitive, you can easily end up eighth or ninth if you’re not careful. That’s what it was - to give us the best chance and I’m glad we reacted like that.”

Kane would not comment on speculation about his future despite Manchester United fans singing they would “see him in June” during Thursday’s match at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.

Kane, who was the subject of interest from Manchester City in 2021, is about to enter the final 12 months of his Spurs contract and has been linked with a summer move to Old Trafford.

“I heard what they were saying but I’m just focused on this team and trying to

finish strongly,” he said.

‘Kane one of the best in the world’

Meanwhile, interim boss Mason has labelled Kane “one of the best and most intelligent players in the world”.

The 29-year-old is the club’s alltime top scorer with 274 goals in 430 appearances having moved ahead of Jimmy Greaves in February.

He also overtook Wayne Rooney to become England’s all-time top scorer with

his 54th international goal against Italy last month.

“This country probably doesn’t appreciate how good Kane is from a footballer point of view. He’s incredible,” said Mason, who was also a team-mate of Kane during his playing days.

“Watching him live, this country should appreciate we’ve got a real special talent. We’re talking about one of the best, most intelligent players in the world.”

A group of Everton fans have held a protest march before every home game since early February

Harry Kane set up the equaliser for Son Heung-min in Thursday’s 2-2 against Manchester United

The graveyard of intellectuals and technocrats

In his song, The Poverty of Philosophy, the socially conscious Peruvian-American rapper, Immortal Technique, calls our attention to the dilemma of transitioning into the system one has previously antagonised. “The problem with always being a conformist,” he raps, “is that when you try to change the system from within, it’s not you who changes the system; it’s the system that will eventually change you.” This indictment is a familiar tragedy and a bewildering experience for Nigerians who’ve watched such demystification of the activists who once led their struggles against a dysfunctional system.

Not many who have transited, or committed “class suicide”—as it is called among the Nigerian characters who identify as Marxists—have succeeded in resisting the pull to conform to the practices they had opposed and about which they had fantasized redeeming. This is the reason the reputation of critics absorbed into the government, and neutralised—either by their inability to walk their talk or willing compromise—is a stigmatising reminder to their successors.

This generation is still haunted by the memory of Farouk Lawan, the lawmaker whose pyrotechnic activism at the House of Representatives as the self-styled Mr. Integrity, brought our hope in Nigeria to life. He charmed his ways to the heart of Nigerians and tricked them into believing the possibility of fighting the system from within. Lawan’s integrity test came in 2012, after 13 years as a voice of reason at the House. This was when Nigerians across classes mobilised for nationwide protests against the system of which Lawan was perceived as an ally. When, as Chairman of the House Ad-hoc Committee on Fuel Subsidy, Lawan spearheaded a probe that underlined the elite as recipients of billions of dollars in subsidies for the fuel they never delivered, he became the posterchild of the anti-system struggle.

Nigerians had not left the streets when this star of the Nigerian awakening who had exposed insanely huge scams amounting to $6.8 billion, was accused of receiving $620,000 as a part of a $3 million bribe he solicited to delist the billionaire Femi Otedolaowned companies implicated in the scams. His betrayal of that short-lived revolution was caught on camera!

The Lawans, therefore, are what we fear when tough-talking government critics proffer a solution or offer an alternative. The endless cycle of class suicides among yesterday’s critics, and their transformation into Lawans, is

Guest Columnist

By Gimba Kakanda

always cited by government officials to suggest that their critics aren’t any different. In a sense, they are right. The Nigerian intellectual elites are reservoirs of beautiful ideas that strangely fizzle out once they find a seat at the decision-making table.

We are always quick to point to the frailty of our institutions as the reason our intellectuals and technocrats misplace their ideas in government, without emphasising the reason they conform to the rules set by the predecessors they had demonised. As a panellist at a democracy day conference in 2017, we deliberated the reasons “good people” missed their ways in government. It began when, after a crossfire of fancy ideas, and interactions with the audience, a mischievous member asked if we would accept an untraceable bribe of, say, N50 million if occupying a political office.

Nigerians have an automated response to this: “No!” And my fellow panellists didn’t disappoint in advertising their incorruptibility. “It depends on the circumstance,” I said, amusing the audience. “It depends on what I’m going through when the bribe was given. If I’m dying of kidney disease with no support from the system, then…” An outburst of laughter. This joke was a true

commentary on the system that has produced the Farouk Lawans, citizens who had also projected themselves as invulnerable and believed they would be upstanding even in the dark. Such insincerity has also supplemented the fiction that placard-carrying and the pen-wielding angry citizens are the answers to the Nigerian question.

These visionaries of yesterday were not indoctrinated by the system. They are inventions of our collective indifference to, and complicity in, the operations of the government. Our climate of corruption fits into the case study of criminology scholars who developed the WOE theory—that corruption prevails because of the will to perpetrate fraud by actors in the system, the opportunity discovered or presented and, third, the existence of an exit. This interprets Nigeria’s ruling elites, and the ease with which they abuse their offices is the inspiration for our clamouring for strong institutions.

But the mistake in building strong institutions to protect us from ourselves is our misunderstanding of how institutions are built. We tend to confuse them with government organisations and expect them to be built by the bureaucrats. This narrow definition is also why we think a change can only be instigated from within. But the institutions we desire to escape this corruption of our “messiahs” are, in fact, the patterns of established behaviours and interactions between the governed and the system, with a focus on the performance of all stakeholders.

Our default response to the moral demise of our allies in government has been that they are only revealing their true colours, and then we embark on the search for a “true” messiah. The Labour leader, Adams Oshiomhole, behind whom Nigerians had queued up to fight the government, is no longer the same after being baptised in the system as Governor and then a ruling party leader. His allegiances are no longer with the working-class, but the protection of his political capital as he fights to emerge as a provincial godfather and retain his seat at the table. The Minister of Education, Adamu Adamu, was persuasive in developing

education reforms for Nigeria as a Daily Trust columnist, but since absorption into the administrative web of the system, it’s hard to tell if he’s the same ideologue who claimed he knew “Why ASUU is always on strike.” Like Oshiomhole and Adamu, President Buhari is a product of mass expectation of the individual as a messiah. That seemingly ascetic politician whose theatrics were an assurance of salvation for the Talakawa, manifests in the system today as compassionately numb to the plights of the same masses his politics has misled into anti-rich populism.

We have not built strong institutions because we are underplaying the power of the citizen and focusing on the fancy speeches and promises of politicians performing for our emotions and applauses. The outcome is this tragedy that has turned us into philosophers of regrets. If, for instance, Buhari had not won these elections, the remaining decades of this century may be dedicated to analysing how he could’ve rescued this colonial start-up. But Buhari, like Lawan, Oshiomhole, Adamu and other “conformists,” is a mere reflection of the quality of citizenry in Nigeria. Our system is an experiment that no individual in government, left unscrutinised and unchallenged, prioritises the interests of the public. The system may be a graveyard of ideas, but Nigeria isn’t broken for lack of brains. It’s so because this dysfunctionality is more profitable.

Gimba Kakanda is a Public Policy Analyst.

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Our default response to the moral demise of our allies in government has been that they are only revealing their true colours, and then we embark on the search for a “true” messiah.