THEWILL NEWSPAPER, April 07, 2024

R&B sensation Funbi was born and raised in llorin; it wasn’t until 2002 that he moved to Lagos and was in the choir. Having heard him sing, people told him to take it seriously, so he did. By the time he was in secondary school, he had decided to go into the studio for his first studio session, which was paid for by his dad. He admits he wouldn’t want to play that song. He was in and out of the music scene until he released his major single, Hallelujah. When it comes to experimenting with other genres of music, Funbi says that while he might dabble in other genres, R&B is his core, and he wouldn’t be Funbi without R&B. For those of you who know, Funbi has been out of the music scene for six years, but he is back and set to release a new single titled Distance. We are looking forward to listening to it soon. Read his journey into music and where he is now in life on pages 8 through 10.

Did you know that there is something called kissing etiquette? Before you engage in lip-locking, there are a few rules you should follow. The two that stood out for me are: Don’t put your tongue before your mouth and control your saliva. Downtown Confidential lists some rules of the kissing game. See page 7.

From resort wear to elegant evening attire, our fashion pages have a comprehensive list of the different outfits you should pack with you on a cruise. You’ll find this on pages 4 to 5.

Don’t forget to click on the instructions below the QR codes on page 16 to download our playlist. You’ll love the music selection.

Until next week, enjoy your read.

Photo: Kola Oshalusi @insignamedia Makeup: Zaron

COVER

2027 POLITICS:

Again, Gov Sani, APC Battle el-Rufai Over Perceived Presidential Ambition

BY AMOS ESELE

There is definitely more than meets the eye in the lingering fight between Governor Uba Sani of Kaduna State and his predecessor, Nasir el-Rufai.

While many may see it as purely local politics, political pundits believe that the ongoing crisis goes far deeper than the Saturday, March 30 revelation of an alleged financial recklessness on the part of the former Governor of Kaduna State.

But the disclosures by Governor Sani at a town hall meeting in Kaduna last Saturday was not only a way of taking his fight against el-Rufai to the public space but also a tie-back to a subtle manoeuvre ahead of the 2027 General Election, THEWILL has learnt.

According to close inside sources familiar with the development, the latest backlash is just one of the ways of checkmating el-Rufai's usual tactics of presenting himself as an alternative candidate of the North and to further puncture his personal ambition ahead of the 2027 polls.

A source who craved anonymity told THEWILL that though there was nothing new in the new allegations against the former Kaduna governor, Gov. Sanni, who, infact received the blessings of el-Rufai for his governorship bid, might just be playing to the script written for him from Abuja by the forces against el-Rufai in Aso Villa.

''It's all part of 2027 politics and a means to checkmate el-Rufai who has fallen apart from the

leadership of the All Progressive Congress (APC) having failed to get a ministerial position from Presiden Bola Tinubu," the source told THEWILL.

"They all know that he's no longer happy with the party and know what he can do in his bid to be relevant again in the next dispensation. That's the reason they are using Gov. Sanni to dig up all sorts of allegations against him.

Confirming the no love-lost relationship between elRufai and the presidency, a close ally of the former governor told Saturday Vanguard that a legal battle is on the way as the embattled former governor is bent on clearing his name after he was labelled a ''security risk'' not worthy of being trusted with a ministerial position.

COVER

...el-Rufai Over Perceived Presidential Ambition

“You think Mallam will allow this tag to abide on him? I can assure you that he is going to clear his name in court. El-Rufai is a man who has many contacts internationally and he is not one to allow his reputation to be smeared by the reason given by the Senate of being a security risk,” the source, who craved anonymity was quoted as saying.

THEWILL recalls that in his handover notes in May last year, el-Rufai had reportedly declared almost the same financials that Sani revealed except that the gaps in both revelations tend to show ‘something fishy.’

Sani claimed that his administration inherited a huge debt burden of $587 million, N85 billion and 115 contractual liabilities from the previous administration, making it difficult for him to pay workers’ salaries.

Lamenting that due to the rise in the exchange rate, Kaduna State is now paying back almost triple what was borrowed by the Nasir el-Rufai Administration in addition to the paltry N3 billion available to the state after N7 billion out of the N10 billion Federal Allocation due to the state had been deducted to service the debt. For a state with a monthly salary bill of N5.2 billion, the N3 billion was like a drop in the ocean.

The disparity raises issues of financial probity, no doubt, but coming almost a year after the handover notes, the Town Hall revelations look more than damning.

On this, opinion is divided. Some sources say there is a social context to what may be called a Governor Sani vs el-Rufai dispute. According to these sources, the former governor left behind some serious social-economic challenges in Kaduna State that his successor is trying hard to resolve; his tendency to take centre-stage in national discourse reawakens animosities that go beyond the present.

THE BEGINNING

As earlier reported by THEWILL, the first signs of disagreement between the duo manifested when the former governor’s chance of clinching a ministerial position was sacrificed on the altar of power play within the governing All Progressives Congress (APC), whose antagonistic big wigs flaunted lack of security clearance against him, whereas, as a matter of fact, the larger issue of 2027 and 2031 politics was at play.

According to a source within the party, el-Rufai is perceived within political circles as a smaller version of ex- President Muhammadu Buhari in terms of his capacity to commandeer allegiance across political and religious lines, particularly in the North. A national platform like the ministerial appointment, his political rivals feared, would help him to consolidate his position.

However, upon the failure of his nomination, el-Rufai suggested a replacement that a state government source said was to further boost his image rather than enhance the status of the state. Jafaru Ibrahim Sani, his nominee, was a commissioner in three ministries in Kaduna State, namely Local Government, Education and Environment, during his tenure as governor.

Apart from being a loyalist, Sani also comes from the

same senatorial district, Zaria Local Government Area, as el-Rufai and the current governor of the state.

Governor Sani was said to have viewed this move as politically insensitive and immediately kicked against it. He was said to have prevailed on President Bola Tinubu to dishonour the replacement for the state’s ministerial slot.

In the first instance, according to THEWILL investigation, the governor was said to have considered his authority undermined by his predecessor when he was not allowed to make the nomination.

Secondly, the political implications further deepened the crisis of confidence in the state like previous miscalculations under el-Rufai’s governorship, which left the state more divided than he met it, not to talk of the insecurity and killings. The governor, sources claim, has been at his wits end trying to manage the social crisis in the state, particularly in the area of insecurity and restore the communal sense of belonging sundered by his predecessor’s policies.

ANOTHER LOOK

That the former Kaduna governor is interested in feathering his political nest is incontestable. A close source whom he confided in told this paper about his regrets of a missed opportunity in 2015 when the APC won the presidential poll and he would have occupied a strategic office that would have enabled him to command the social and economic heights of the country. Like many in the ranks of the new, but popular party then, he did not think the party stood the chance of defeating the governing PDP and so failed to make a plan for “that office whose occupation would have afforded him the position to shape the country according to his vision.”

So, when el-Rufai paid a visit to the national headquarters of the Social Democratic Party, SDP, in Abuja on Thursday, a fortnight after a national newspaper reported that stalwarts from APC and

For a state governor, who has just gone through the agony over the abduction and eventual release of 300 school children through the intervention of President Tinubu ... the Town Hall meeting was a chance to put el-Rufai in his place, said a dependable government source “

PDP were thinking about a mega-party to contest the 2027 polls, the politically discerning started piecing things together. According to sources, “the aim, according to them, is to prop up a former governor from the north widely known for his radical views and disposition on national issues as presidential hopeful against President Tinubu and his deputy, Kashim Shettima, in case they decide to seek a second term in office in 2027.”

El-Rufai has since denied any political connection with his visit to the SDP office and slammed people like Dr Faruk Ahmed, Chairman of Asiwaju Support Group (North), who said el-Rufai's visit to SDP was an open confirmation of the rumour that he was working clandestinely against APC and President Tinubu, “because President Tinubu did not make him a minister,” nor a former member of the APC Legacy Group, Ibrahim Modibbo, who said, “It’s not surprising that el-Rufai will visit the SDP National Secretariat for consultation about the future of his political career.”

According to el-Rufai's spokesman, Muyiwa Adekeye, the former Kaduna governor has no plan to defect from the APC or work against the party in 2027, saying insinuations towards that are effects of "obsession with politics".

Adekeye said el-Rufai only returned the Iftar visit by the SDP National Chairman, Alhaji Shehu Musa Gabam, adding that there was nothing political in the meeting.

"I consider the most recent speculations about Malam Nasir el-Rufai as reflecting an unhealthy obsession with politics.

"People have personal histories and relationships that predate political affiliations. It cannot be a hallmark of civilisation to have friends from within only your political party. When people visit each other or mingle across party lines, it is because human relationships exist, distinct from the political or the partisan," he said.

el-Rufai did not respond to phone calls seeking his reaction to this report.

LINGERING DOUBTS

Nonetheless, every move made by the former governor since he lost out in the ministerial nomination to those he lamented on his X platform as enemies “who will eat and drink with you as best friends, but go behind and stab you,” in reference to Bob Marley’s hit song, ‘Who The Cap Fits,’ will be under watch by his perceived enemies, said a source.

For a state governor, who has just gone through the agony over the abduction and eventual release of 300 school children through the intervention of President Tinubu with whom he remained in touch throughout the period of the rescue mission coordinated by the office of the National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu, the Town Hall meeting was a chance to put el-Rufai in his place, said a dependable government source.

“But then what the governor said was a fact. It may be hard to swallow and interpreted anyway. That is the part of administration the governor is duty bound to execute, at times without sentiment,” the source noted.

Inaugurated Assembly Members, Calls For Executive-Legislature

FROM UKANDI ODEY, JOS

Governor Caleb Manasseh Mutfwang of Plateau State has called for collaboration and synergy between the executive and legislature in the best interest of the state as he received the nine newly inaugurated members of the Plateau State House of Assembly at Government House in Jos. According to political analysts, the inauguration of nine out of the 16 persons who earned electoral victory at the Appeal Court in Abuja will go a long way to douse the tension that was building as the Speaker of the House of Assembly was being constrained by judicial instruments from performing the swearing-in ceremony.

The Director of Press and Public Affairs to the Governor, Gyang Bere, in a statement on Friday, said Governor Mutfwang had “officially welcomed the newly inaugurated members of the Assembly alongside the principal officers, whose return to office was validated by the judgement of the Court of Appeal. This development brings to an end the recent misunderstanding within the House."

Mutfwang emphasised the importance of fostering a harmonious working relationship and enhancing collaboration among the three branches of government in the best interest of the state.

The Governor congratulated the newly sworn-in members and principal officers, saying: "Today brings me immense joy. I have always advocated for the seamless functioning of the three arms of government. Thus, it is gratifying to witness the House fully operational, poised to safeguard the interests of the people of Plateau State across various constituencies.

“Despite wrong accusations of obstructing the House's inauguration, it is evident that the House is fully in charge of its affairs and I commend you for that. Be rest assured, we are committed to serving the people of Plateau State."

The governor assured the members of the State Assembly of his administration’s support in enhancing their capacity through training to enable them to formulate quality legislation for effective governance in the interest of the people.

"We are dedicated to collaborating effectively to advance the interests of the people of Plateau State. The citizens are expecting nothing less than a cohesive effort from the Executive, Legislature, and Judiciary to ensure security, economic development, and overall progress," he added.

NERC Fines Abuja

Disco N200m For Tariff Infraction, Directs Customer Refunds Police Arrest Jailbreaker, Gunrunner in Plateau

The Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) has imposed a fine of N200 million on Abuja Electricity Distribution Plc (AEDC) over non-compliance with the Supplementary Order to the April 2024 Multi-Year Tariff Order 2024 for power distribution companies (DisCos).

NERC, in a letter addressed to AEDC Acting Managing Director, Victor Ojelabi, accused the Disco of flagrant breach of its order to comply with the prescribed customer band classifications for the tariff billing.

Dated April 5, 2024, the letter sighted by THEWILL reads in part: The Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (“Commission”) has taken enforcement action against the Abuja Electricity Distribution Plc (“AEDC”) for non-compliance with the Supplementary Order to the April 2024 Multi-Year Tariff Order 2024 for AEDC (the “Order”).

"AEDC has been fined N200,000,000 (Two Hundred Million Naira) for failure to comply with the prescribed customer band classifications for the tariff billing.

"This decision follows a detailed review and customer feedback, which revealed that AEDC had applied the new tariff to all customer bands, contrary to the Order, which was designed to ensure fair billing practices.

“Reimburse all customers in Bands B, C, D and E respectively that were billed above the allowed customer categories/tariff bands provided in the Order.”

The Plateau State Command of the Nigeria Police has paraded an alleged gunrunner and an escapee of the Jos Jailbreak of 2021 alongside 44 suspected criminal elements for committing various crimes of conspiracy and culpable homicide.

Commissioner for Police , CP Hassan Steve Yabanet, FCID, Yabanet made this disclosure during a press briefing held at the Command headquarters in Jos at the weekend.

He said the crime suspects were apprehended through intelligence information received from the DPO Bokkos who acted on the tip-off that led to a crackdown by the state team of IGP intervention squad.

He also disclosed that the operation led to the arrest of one Saddam Abdulmumuni male of Angwan Shukur of Bokkos town who was an escapee of the 2021 Jos Jail Break.

" The suspect is currently under investigation at the Antikidnapping Unit of the Command. He will be charged to court as soon as the investigation is completed," he said, adding that on the Friday at about 6:pm while on routine patrol around Bauchi Road, Jos North, SWAT operatives apprehended one Mohammed Awal of Filin Sukuwa area of Jos North LGA who with his gang members stabbed one Halima Hussaini female of Angwan Rogo of Jos North on her left hand and dispossessed her of TECNO handset. "When a search was conducted in his house and premises, one long cutlass was recovered. The suspect will be charged to court upon completion of investigation."

Another suspect was one Noel Chung (male), 30 years of Mountain Green Ji-yap, Jos, who was arrested with one fabricated locally made gun, following complaints by members of the public of incessant robbery along Old Airport Road.

Yabanet appreciated members of the general public for their cooperation, support and encouraged them, "to continue to give us timely and accurate information to enable us stem the tide of crime in the State. I also thank our esteemed members of the fourth estate of the realm for their commitment in reporting the activities of the police."

POLITICS

Edo 2024: The Contenders And Pretenders

BY AMOS ESELE

The Independent National Electoral Commission, March 30, 2024 list of governorship candidates in the forthcoming September 21 Edo State Governorship Election has shown that 17 political parties are in competition to produce Governor Godwin Obaseki’s successor. By April 23, 2024, electioneering will kick off in earnest.

But in reality, only three parties are in contention. The rest are just numbers meant to fulfill constitutional requirements.

In the displayed list of the candidates and their deputies, the candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) is Ighodalo Asuerinme; African Democratic Congress (ADC) has Obazele Paul Agbone, Labour Party (LP)’s candidate is Olumide Akpata Anthony; the All Progressives Congress (APC) has Okpebholo Monday and the People Redemption Party (PRP) has Key Patience Ndidi.

Others are Young Progressive Party (YPP)’s Okungbowa Paul Ovbokhan; Boot Party (BP)’s Osirame Edeipo, and Accord Party (AP)’s Enabulele Bright.

Mr Uwaifo Osaro is the governorship candidate of Action Alliance (AA), Social Democratic Party (SDP)’s candidate is Aner Abdullai Aliu; New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) has Azena Azemhe Friday as its candidate and the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA)’s candidate is Osifo Isiah.

The All People Movement (APM) has Ugiagbe Odaro Syvelster; Areleogbe Amos Osalumese is the standard bearer of the All Peoples Party (APP) in the governorship poll, while Akhime Kingson Afere will contest the election on the platform of the Action Democratic Party (ADP). The African Action Congress (AAC)’s candidate is Udoh Obersifo David and Zenith Labour Party (ZLP) has Akhalamhe Amiemenoghena.

Of the pack, the PDP’s candidate, Ighodalo, Okpeholo of the APC and Akpata of the LP stand out as the major contestants. For reach, political structure, demographic clout and membership, these parties are in that respective order.

PDP AND IGHODALO

For the corporate guru who has been contributing behind the scene as a think-tank in the state’s development stride through strategic and critical project design, aspiring to be on the saddle appears to have come with some challenges. Legal disputes and internal intrigues after the primary election are still lingering and taxing the loyalty and partisanship of leaders and the led alike. Contestants in the primary like the Deputy Governor Philip Shaibu and Anslem Ojezua, ex-APC state Chairman, who defected alongside Governor Obaseki, are yet to withdraw their suits against the primary.

“

While any LP aspirant that participated at the primary election has a chance to have their name in the ballot for the party, the consequences may be so devastating for the party that PDP and the APC will be the only viable contestants for the September 21, 2024 poll

Nonetheless, Ighodalo, by virtue of his association with the development stride of previous governments in the state, is seen to have a better grasp of issues at stake, enabled by a sense of independence and decisiveness that investors value in political leadership. Even so, political analysts also say he will take some of the blame for any dark spot in the outgoing administration that will be a matter of debate and campaign in the days ahead.

THEWILL learnt that corporate Nigeria sees Ighodalo as the man who has the qualities and grit to succeed Obaseki and they are pulling all the stops to make him succeed. In the meantime, party stakeholders have begun the fence-minding to arrest the lingering legal and personality clashes and disputes. The three geo-political zones in the state have been ‘captured’ in fairness and equity. While the Central zone that has been underrepresented in the governorship now had Ighodalo as candidate, immediate past Secretary to Government, Barr Osarodion Ogie, who hails from the highest vote catching South, (including the governor) is Deputy, the House Speaker Rt. Hon. Blessing Agbebaku comes from the North zone. In addition, the party controls the 18 local government areas in the state following the September 2023 election.

APC AND OKPEBOLO

With the choice of Hon. Dennis Idahosa as running mate to Senator Okpebolo, the initial post-primary crisis and intrigues which rocked the party has been checked.

Okpebolo, like Ighodalo, hails from Edo Central, which, incidentally, he represents at the National Assembly. Representative Idahosa, like PDP’s Ogie, hails from Edo South. From the North zones, comes Senator Adams Oshiomhole, who had initially frowned at Okpebolo’s emergence until his favourite aspirant, Idahosa, emerged as deputy governorship candidate in a meeting brokered by President Bola Tinubu. Thus, the governing PDP and the rival APC have made significant moves to strengthen their presence in the three geopolitical zones of the state. The competition looks poised for a battle royale.

LP AND AKPATA

After he won the Labour Party’s governorship ticket at the primary election, Barr Olumide Akpata looked like the candidate to watch, but things seem to be falling apart at the moment. The formidable ‘Obidient Movement’, which put its full weight behind the party during the 2023 General Election, is doubtful of the party’s preparation for the governorship election in Edo. From allegations that the conduct of the primary election was not transparent to the division of the party into pro-LP and antiLP factions, with some people reportedly offering support to Okpebolo in the face of the lingering leadership crisis at the national level.

Then comes an allegation of forgery, in respect of documents and information supplied to INEC, by LP deputy governorship candidate, Mrs Oluyinka Faith Alufokhai.

Alufokhai is alleged to have falsified her academic record and date of birth declaration in the EC9 form submitted to INEC. In an affidavit she swore to at an Epe Division of the High Court, she claims she was born on the May 18, 1981, the same year she got her first primary leaving certificate.

Akpata, on the other hand, is also involved in a controversy over the Oath of Allegiance he swore to another country, as shown in the particulars displayed by INEC. In the form on display at INEC offices, Akpata is seen to have ticked ‘yes’ to the question, ‘Have you made a declaration of allegiance to any country? If yes, specify the country. He answered yes and swore an Oath of Allegiance to Vanuatu – a small island country with a population of about 350,000 people.

With these infractions on their displayed forms, Akpata and his deputy, may have unwittingly violated Section 118 of the Criminal Code which prescribes 14 years imprisonment to anybody who gives false information on oath and has therefore committed perjury.

However, in reality, most of the DisCos have been shortchanging their customers by charging them at a particular rate without giving them power that is commensurate with the charges, with the socalled Band A customers hardly having up to between 20 to 24 uninterrupted power supply

Rewarding DisCos For Inefficient Service Delivery

The recently announced electricity tariff hike is nothing more than an unjust reward for inefficient service delivery and underperformance by the various power distribution companies (DisCos) in the country.

A big slap on the faces of helpless electricity consumers across the country, the April 3 tariff hike is another way of robbing Peter to pay Paul.

The announcement by the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) and the DisCos had jolted many Nigerians when it was made last week, more so, as it came with a whopping 300 percent increase at a time most Nigerians are going through serious hardship.

According to the Vice-Chairman, NERC, Musiliu Oseni, who announced the new tariff structure, customers in Band A, representing 15 percent of the 12 million electricity customers in the country, who have been paying N66 kilowatt per hour will now pay N225 per kilowatt per hour under the new tariff regime.

Band A customers are those who enjoy between 20 and 24 hours electricity power supply daily.

Those in Band B have power supply between 16 and 20 hours, while the Band C customers are those who enjoy power between 12 and 16 hours.

However, in reality, most of the DisCos have been short-changing their customers by charging them at a particular rate without giving them power that is commensurate with the charges, with the so-called Band A customers hardly having up to between 20 to 24 uninterrupted power supply.

It was therefore not surprising that reactions to the tariff hike have been overwhelming with widespread condemnation across the country from the organised labour, Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Associations of Nigeria (PENGASSAN), civil society organisations and the Nigeria Electricity Consumer Advocacy Network, as they all warned that the hike would further worsen the plight of Nigerians.

Although the tariff hike was due to the removal of subsidy on electricity by the Federal Government, another recommendation by the International Monetary Fund (IMF) following a similar withdrawal of subsidies on petrol, the rationalisation made last Friday by

the Minister for Power, Adebayo Adelabu, that Nigerians are complaining because they are used to cheap power does not hold any water.

Rather, it was a subtle insult on Nigerians as he was indirectly telling us that we are not disciplined, the same way former President, Muhammadu Buhari, labelled Nigerian youths as being ''lazy.''

However, the tariff hike might be a blessing in disguise as it has now triggered the interest of many states in floating their Independent Power Plants that will eventually free them from the manipulations of the DisCos.

The Federal Government should therefore ensure that services rendered by the DisCos must be commensurate with the charges they are imposing on Nigerians as nothing stops the masses from having an uninterrupted power supply as is being done in advanced climes.

States should also be assisted with all the necessary incentives to float their own IPPs if the government is really serious and sincere about its promise to provide seamless and uninterrupted power supply to Nigerians.

THEWILL NEWSPAPER TEAM

BY ABIODUN KOMOLAFE

When in 1814, Europe’s leading statesman, Count Metternich, said that Italy is “only a geographical expression,” the former Deputy of the Kingdom of Italy and the Father of Modern Italy, Giuseppe Garibaldi, didn’t take it as an offence. Instead, the only question on his mind was how to create Italians.

Take the recent detention and escape of one of the Binance Executives who was held in Nigeria for tax evasion, Nadeem Anjarwalla, as a case study! Anjarwalla’s escape from protective custody didn’t tell us anything other than the statelessness of the Nigerian state.

NIGERIA’S PROBLEM IS A DEFECTIVE CONSTITUTION. IF WE GO BACK TO WHAT WAS THE COST-BENEFIT ANALYSIS AND GENERAL WELL-BEING UNDER THE 1960 AND 1963 CONSTITUTIONS, WHAT HAS HAPPENED SUBSEQUENTLY IS THAT NIGERIA NOW HAS MORE THAN 133 MILLION CITIZENS BATTLING MULTIDIMENSIONAL POVERTY

In some countries, there would by now have been a gale of resignations. But in Nigeria, that has never happened and may never happen! Instead, the country moves on, until the fire next time.

Apart from the run-of-the-mill criminals, a jailbreak or detention escape does not portend anything other than a weak state, that those who aided and abetted it knew what they were doing, and that nothing would happen to them ultimately. Mayer Amschel Rothschild once asked that he be given control of a nation’s money supply and he cared not who wrote the laws.

That the Binance Executive who was trying to undermine the control of the Nigerian currency could escape from custody at all was a national disgrace! It’s a telltale sign of failure of intelligence and it’s sad! It’s tantamount to America informing a stunned world that Osama Bin Laden had escaped from custody. For America, it’s not possible!

The raging insecurity in Nigeria also says something about a broken-down state, where a lack of internal security mechanisms has become the norm. Take, for instance, Nigeria has 371,800 police officers serving a population of 213.4 million Nigerians. Regrettably, however, half of them are already fanned out to political bigwigs. So, what do we expect? That’s all the more reason to devolve power to the states if Nigeria wants to stop terrorism and associated criminalities.

How to be a Nigerian What Really is Nigeria’s Problem?

OMatter-of-factly, the vigilantes involved in the war against terrorism and banditry deserve national awards because of the risks involved in fighting with dane guns against men with AK 47 rifles and other sophisticated weapons and networks. Added to this is that Nigeria is currently ‘blessed’ with loads of ungoverned spaces. For example, Sambisa Forest alone is reportedly the size of Belgium. Niger State is also almost thrice the size of the Netherlands.

However, while the Netherlands maintains its position as the world’s 2nd largest exporter of food and agricultural products, what is Niger State exporting?

Nigeria is the world’s 9th largest crude petroleum exporting country. Still, she is deep in the sea of palliative miasma. Dishearteningly, that’s emblematic of a dehumanised society and lack of transparency on the part of the organisers and it’s disheartening. Nigeria’s problem isn’t a question of not producing enough food. Rather, it’s that the country does not have the infrastructure to have stable prices. The truth is that Nigeria has antediluvian agriculture. It is primitive and rain-fed! She doesn’t have a Commodities Exchange and Boards and/or storage facilities. In my opinion, the drivers involved in the movement of goods and services from the hinterland to the cities are risking their lives.

So, how much are they going to be paid to compensate for the risks? Unfortunately, instead of building rural roads, our state governors are busy building flyovers and embarking on other vanity projects. On the whole, Nigeria’s problem is a defective constitution. If we go back to what was the costbenefit analysis and general well-being under the 1960 and 1963 Constitutions, what has happened subsequently is that Nigeria now has more than 133 million citizens battling multidimensional poverty. Under the 1963 Constitution, that’s not possible. For those who care to know, India, Australia, Canada and Brazil have been operating under the same kind of Constitution. Look at where they are, compared to where Nigeria is hibernating.

While we cannot build a country without production, we cannot also build production on a defective constitution in which every state goes to Abuja every month, cap-in-hand, for handouts. The way out is for power to be devolved to the states, including powers to raise their own finances. It should be like the 1963 revenue-sharing formula, which favoured 50 per cent to the state and 50 per cent to the centre. How can Nigeria have more than 68 items on the Exclusive List? For God’s sake, they shouldn’t be more than 8 or 9 items; and they must have a revenue allocation formula that allows each state to carry out its responsibilities as a real subnational.

The key point here is that Nigeria is presently running on a very defective foundation and, until a Nigerian leader – and we hope that President Bola Tinubu will be the game-changer – is able to say what Massimo d’Azeglio said about Italy in 1861, Nigeria will remain captured. But the day a Nigerian leader possesses the interminable refinement and the presence of mind to emphasise that “we have made a geographical expression called Nigeria; now we must make Nigerians”, and he develops the capacity to do the needful, Nigeria will be free! The only way to create Nigeria is to revisit her foundational defects, not by piecemeal constitution amendments but by writing a brand new Constitution that’s based largely on the spirit and letter of the 1960 and 1963 Constitutions and have it passed by plebiscite.

BY PRINCE CHARLES DICKSON

n the average, Nigeria is good, her people are a bunch of good Bananas. Only a few rotten ones give the whole bunch a bad look and a rotten smell. Nigeria, ideally is one of the best places to live in, it is not a Police state like the so-called western democracies.

In Nigeria you can urinate anywhere and not get fined or arrested, you can get a ladder and climb the power poles and effect a change of power phases, that is if the problem is not from the nearby power transformer, which anybody can repair with dry wood.

In Nigeria, you can set traps inside your compound and catch birds and roast them to taste and not be afraid that you are at Piccadilly Square in the United Kingdom and some stern looking cops will harass you for animal rights violation. We still beat kids with cane despite parents that want to be more European than Europeans…

We as a nation need to restore national pride, a lot of us have lost hope in the system, the structure, the leadership, with each passing day, it is becoming obvious that Nigeria may be just an empty plastic cup, too light to hold a cup of coffee cold or hot.

I am rewriting this essay about my beloved nation that I originally wrote 15 years ago because lately I have discovered that I have tried hard to write nice stuff about my nation, but each time I try the truth hits me and I never end up, I criticize a lot and hardly give solutions…my reason, simple…there are enough solutions to Nigeria’s multi-dimensional and hydra-headed problems, enough to fill an American Congressional Library, well prepared by committees, panels, commissions and bodies of experts.

Name the field or area and I will refer you to a paper, a report that should ordinarily have solved that problem a long time ago. For example, how many times have we removed subsidies without removing subsidies or is it the Orasanya Report on merging and reducing government bureaucracy by shutting down some ministries and parastatals?

For avoidance of doubt, what happened to the Vision 2010, I was writing this in 2008, by then we were working on a vision 2056 for constant power electricity and it is 2024 now, how time flies and alas we still lack vision of who we are and what we want to be in terms of electricity.

I remember one committee like that with a long name that was supposed to provide palliative measures due to the rise in petroleum prices. Till date, it died a natural death. It is another 15 years and we are not only discussing palliatives but looting it with reckless abandon that our students die in stampedes for them.

There have been reports upon reports that if properly handled would have made Nigeria number one in most things if not everything, because if despite all the ills of our society we are still thus there as the most happiest and religious in the world…Then there is a problem.

In recent times, I have watched us be reminded of the successes of Malaysia, a success that was championed and achieved simply because of purposeful leadership, leadership that had the confidence

TODAY’S NIGERIA LACKS QUALITY EDUCATION, EFFECTIVE HEALTH CARE DELIVERY AND REAL DEVELOPMENT, DESPITE HER WEALTH. WE ARE BREEDING TERRORISTS, FRUSTRATED YOUNG MEN, SAD MOTHERS, SENIOR CITIZENS THAT DAILY CURSE THE NATION BECAUSE WE HAVE REFUSED TO GIVE THEM THEIR DUES

*Continues online at www. thewillnews.com

of the governed. That leadership brought about economic prosperity, industrial strength, intellectual pride and dynamism. We have discussed Singapore and for us the only thing that has poured is how our best brains and not so best have become caregivers in the UK and pouring into Canada and other places that were nowhere in the map of economic discussion only two/three decades earlier. It was only expected that when a nation barely commits one percent of its GDP on education, we would have a collapsed Unity school set up, a crazy university system. We all weep at the situation but no one really thinks how we can have national competitiveness when the level of investment in human capital is abysmally low.

A new Nigeria cannot unfold, with fast paced infrastructural development, rapid push in human resource development, healthcare delivery, when of the approximately Universities and polytechnics enroll almost 2 million students yearly and graduate around 600,000 people, of which barely 5 per cent had a chance of a job, the remaining 95 per cent slowly became an unemployable bunch with redundant qualifications and there is no plan to put a halt to this because truth be told they are formally educated but informally employed, too many graduates fighting for few jobs.

Today’s Nigeria lacks quality education, effective health care delivery and real development despite her wealth. We are breeding terrorists, frustrated young men, sad mothers, senior citizens that daily curse the nation because we have refused to give them their dues.

Isn’t it intriguing and excitingly Nigerian, that this is Nigeria, the rich, poor and everybody cries and laughs almost at the same time; the difference is the swing of the pendulum.

Being a Nigerian requires a tricky trait, despite the Woles, Achebes, Anyaokwus, Maitamas, Balewas, Ziks, Awos, Sardaunas, and many too numerous to call, there is a distinction to being a Nigerian and wanting to be a Nigerian. The Nigerian big man makes a law, those wanting to be Nigerian or already big men proceed immediately to look for a way to break the law, he explores loopholes and escape clauses, like the Immunity clause used for stealing.

*Continues online at www.

Nigeria’s equities market closed the first quarter of the year March 28, 2024 on a resounding note of significant growth as investors counted huge gains.

Data by the Nigerian Exchange (NGX) showed that market capitalisation hit N59.12 trillion against N40.91 trillion when the market opened on January 2, 2024.

This represents a gain of N18.2 trillion which exceeds the figure for the equivalent period in 2023 when the market closed N29.54 trillion and gained N6.63 trillion in Q1 23.

All-Share Index, which is the index for measuring the performance of the Nigerian Exchange, rose by 39.83 percent in Q1 2024

The notable positivity recorded in the equities trading performance during the period reflected the bolstering investor confidence despite the runaway inflation and general downturn in the economy.

The renewed interest in the stocks of thriving corporate bodies was driven by the move towards equities by fortune hunters wishing to take position as transactions roll into the peak of the earning season as listed companies declare dividends.

The trend remained unwavering to the end of January equity trading on the NGX closed in the green territory as the NGX All-Share Index appreciated by 3 percent to cross 100,000 index points hitting 101,571.11 points.

The development was unprecedented in the history of the Exchange being the first time the Exchange achieved the feat.

Before crossing the 100,000 points, NGX had secured its position as the world’s best-performing stock market in the first three weeks of 2024, capping off the trading day on January 19, 2024, at an impressive 94,538.12 points.

With a remarkable year-to-date return of 26.43 per cent, the NGX has outshone its global counterparts.

Electricity Tariff Hike: Consumers Pay More For Darkness as Businesses Shrink

Following the April 3, 2024 electricity tariff increase announced by the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC), the Distribution Companies (DisCos) have instantly adjusted their billing template to reflect the new tariff. Consequently, electricity consumers will pay about 300 percent more for each kilowatt per hour of electricity than before.

The Vice Chairman of the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC), Musliu Oseni, who disclosed the new tariff regime at a press briefing in Abuja on Wednesday, had said the increase would see the customers paying N225 instead of the current N66 kilowatt per hour.

According to Oseni, customers in Band A represent 15 percent of the 12 million electricity customers in Nigeria.

Band A customers, according to NERC, are those that enjoy between 20 and 24 hours of electricity power supply daily. Those in Band B have power supply between 16 and 20 hours, while the Band C customers are those who enjoy it between 12 and 16 hour

Reactions from across the states showed that the so-called Band A consumers hardly enjoy up to 20-24 hours of electricity power supply daily.

A look at the list released by the Ikeja Electricity Distribution Company, showed that many of the Band A consumers experience more darkness daily than they enjoy power supply.

Investigation by THEWILL revealed that consumers in the Egbeda/ Akowonjo jurisdiction in Alimosho local government area, classified as Band A, have been more in darkness since December 2023.

A resident of the area who identified himself as Simon Adediran living on Shasha-Akowonjo Road said they have lived virtually in darkness since the year. His house falls under Business Unit No. 3 on the Ikeja Electric list as “Abule-Taylor (11-EkoroINJ-T1-Ekoro) in Akowonjo Business Unit enjoys 920KW/h”.

Mr Adediran showed a message from a neighbour who visited the Business

Unit earlier in the year to ascertain the cause of the perpetually poor power supply. The message read:

“I visited the Ikeja Electric sub-office, covering our area, at Onigbinde Street, Egbeda, today The visit was in connection with the prolonged deteriorating power supply in our area.

“One Mr Ernest, a member of staff, explained that the situation stems from a fault in the transformer feeder at the Alimosho Power sub-station {Gowon Estate) serving our area and the larger Alimosho.

“He further said the equipment had since been taken away for repair, but cannot say precisely when the repair will be concluded. He, however, expressed optimism that the repair could be done before the end of the first quarter (March) because it's outsourced.

“He confirmed we had power supply for about four hours this morning (and that could be all for the day).”

Over three months after, the situation remained the same. In a message to its customers on April 2, 2024, Ikeja Electric apologised for the prolonged power deterioration and offered explanation:

“Dear Esteemed Customer,

The current service disruption you are encountering is as a result of significant load restrictions across many of our transmission load centres, particularly impacting: Oworo TS, Maryland TS, ltire TS, lsolo TS, Ogba TS, Alausa TS, Ejigbo TS, Alimosho TS, llupeju TS, Ayobo TS.

“We apologise for any inconvenience caused. We are actively collaborating with relevant stakeholders to restore normal operations.

Signed, Management.”

All the service points visited in the Egbeda/Akowonjo area confirmed

BUSINESS WEEKLY

...Consumers Pay More For Darkness as Businesses Shrink

Amid poor power supply arising from frequent system collapse and shortage of gas supply to the generating companies (GenCos), the DisCos have continued to feed fat on poor consumers through arbitrarily high bills for services not rendered

that the new tariff now reflects in their service template.. Even the distribution companies (DisCos) notorious for extremely poor service, such as Enugu and Benin have already adjusted their tariff template while they continue to supply more darkness than light.

The tariff hike followed the removal of subsidy on electricity by the Federal Government as advised by the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund (IMF) who insisted that the subsidy on petrol and electricity must be phased out to free capital for other development priorities.

Some economic and industry experts have warned that hiking the price of electricity in less than a year of subsidy removal on petrol, will push many businesses into extinction because of inflation and high cost of operation. They also observed that the DisCos have not been fair in their dealings with their consumers as they introduce different tricks to exploit their customers. This includes the notorious estimated billing system.

For instance, the Abuja Electric Distribution Company (AEDC) in a statement posted on its X handle on Thursday, apologised to its customers over the wrongful billing of the new tariff rate.

AEDC explained that some Band A customers were wrongfully charged when recharging their meters, while former Band A customers who had been downgraded to Band B were charged the new tariffs of N225 per kilowatt hour. NERC has announced a sanction against AEDC for the action.

THEWILL reports that the DisCos) rake in enormous revenue from poor services, while their estimated-billing customers continue to groan.

The Nigeria Electricity Report by the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) for Q3 2023 revealed that the number of estimated-billing customers of the 11 DisCos increased to 6.03 million from 5.9 million year-on-year.

The report stated that “estimated customers during the quarter were 6.03 million, higher by 0.53 per cent from 6.00 million in Q2 2023. On a year-on-year basis, estimated customers increased by 2.02 per cent in Q3 2023 from 5.91 million in Q3 2022”.

Estimated billing is a system of arbitrary charging against unmetered electricity consumers for electricity (energy) they did not actually consume. The billing is based on perceived pattern of consumption, or on the ‘best of judgement’, with unjustified high revenue targets as the motive Consumers in this system are mandated to pay far above what they consumed on a monthly basis and the charges are usually outrageous.

“It is a system that thrives on corruption and is driven by tardy inclination to exploitation which defines a commodity in the category of monopoly,” said Gabriel Madu, an electrical installations contractor.

Last February, NERC issued a fine of N10.5 billion to be paid by all 11 DisCos) for their noncompliance with the mandated capping of estimated billing for unmetered customers across the country.

Amid poor power supply arising from frequent system collapse and shortage of gas supply to the generating companies (GenCos), the DisCos have continued to feed fat on poor consumers through arbitrarily high bills for services not rendered.

*Continues online at www. thewillnews.com

...Investors With N18.2tr Gain on ASI 39.83% Growth

Taking the second spot is the S&P Merval Index, reflecting the performance of the Argentine Stock Exchange (BYMA), with a year-to-date return of 26.37 per cent.

Analysts say the exceptional performance stands as a milestone in NGX’s history, defying prevailing economic challenges such as elevated inflation, a depreciating exchange rate, and persistent security concerns.

Moreover, the year-to-date (YTD) return of the NGX All-Share Index shows its resilience, standing at an impressive 39.83 percent with investors bouncing in fulfillment as they harvest the buoyant growth in their investments to the tune of N18.2 trillion.

Doyen of the Nigerian Stockbrokers, Sam Ndata, had told THEWILL that developments in the political atmosphere contributed to the boost in the performance of the equities market. According to him, politicians no longer wish to take the risk of investing in properties which could be traced by the anti-graft agencies and confiscated, hence they find the equities market a safe haven.

The NGX Alternative Securities Market (ASeM) Index also exhibited impressive performance, recording a remarkable surge of 135.25 percent to emerge as the best-performing index during the quarter.

Stock market analysts note, “This is despite the backdrop of escalating inflation, prospective interest rate adjustments, and volatile exchange rates, investor confidence has displayed remarkable steadfastness. This unwavering assurance has, in turn, spurred heightened market activity and intensified buying engagements”.

A look at the trading performance showed that NGX Industrial Goods Index recorded a growth of 78.49 percent YtD to close Q1, 2024 at 4,841.20 basis points.

The NGX Banking Index and NGX Insurance Index appreciated by 14.76 per cent and 26.20 per cent YTD, respectively. The NGX Consumer Goods Index also rose by 43.66% YTD to close on March 28, 2024, at 1,610.80 basis points.

These factors propelled key performance indicators and spurred market activities, resulting in the stock market being ranked as the second best-performing in Africa, trailing only behind the Zimbabwean exchange.

The NGX equity markets celebrated a resounding triumph at the end of the first quarter of 2024, propelled by a resurgence in investor confidence in listed companies. This exceptional performance stands as a milestone in NGX’s, defying prevailing economic challenges such as elevated inflation, a depreciating exchange rate, and persistent security concerns.

The optimism manifested in discernible shifts in purchasing behaviour, culminating in the All-Share Index reaching a noteworthy close at 104,562.06 index points by the end of the quarter.

Moreover, the year-to-date (YTD) return of the NGX All-Share Index shows its resilience, standing at an impressive 39.84 percent.

The Nigerian Stock Exchange Alternative Securities Market Index (NGX-ASeM) is an innovative platform for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) to access the capital market for growth and development. NGX- offers SMEs a flexible, low-cost, and efficient solution to raise capital, providing investors with a new source of investment opportunities in emerging sectors.

The NGX-ASeM index tracks the performance of listed companies in sectors such as technology, healthcare, education, and renewable energy.

It provides up-to-date information on the growth and progress of SMEs in Nigeria and helps investors make informed decisions.

Access Bank Unveils Ground-Breaking Digital Platform to Boost Convenience, Security

Access Bank Plc, a leading institution in the Nigerian financial sector, has unveiled its innovative offline banking platform, www.901.ng to provide customers an additional digital channel to manage and carry out uninterrupted daily transactions.

With this innovative solution, Access Bank is redefining convenience and security in banking, ensuring uninterrupted access to financial services even in the absence of internet connectivity.

Speaking to journalists during a media round table chat at the bank’s head office recently, Victor Etuokwu, Deputy Managing Director, Access Bank, said “In today’s fast-paced digital age, connectivity is often taken for granted.

However, millions of individuals worldwide still face challenges accessing online banking services due to various reasons such as poor internet infrastructure, remote locations or security concerns. Recognizing this gap,

Access Bank has developed this solution to empower our customers to bank securely, anytime, anywhere, irrespective of internet availability.

We are committed to leveraging technology to enhance the banking experience for all our customers. With the introduction of our offline banking platform www.901.ng, we are breaking barriers and empowering individuals and businesses to manage their finances with confidence, even in offline environments.”

Reiterating Victor’s comments, Njideka Esomeju, Group Head, Consumer Banking, Access Bank, told newsmen that Access Bank’s offline banking platform www.901. ng reaffirms its one of the bank’s core values – Innovation and sets a new standard for accessibility and security in the banking industry.

As part of its ongoing commitment to excellence, Access Bank will continue to

evolve its offerings to meet the evolving needs of its diverse customer base. Some of the key feature of this offline banking platform – 901. ng include: a simple way to send money, buy airtime, and pay bills whilst incurring no extra fees or hidden charges, no internet subscription required and no session fees

Head of Digital Channels, Access Bank, Oluremi Gabriel also speaking at the briefing said: “What we have today is a first-of-its-kind, and what it does is allow customers to do their basic banking with or without data. This innovation is driven by data as we know what customers want to do and we have made it very easy and available to our customers especially when they run out of data.”

Access Bank is a leading Nigerian financial institution committed to providing innovative and customer-centric financial solutions. With a focus on digital transformation and community engagement, Access Bank continues to redefine the banking experience for its customers.

Alibaba And Wife Welcome Triplets Via Surrogate

On April 1st, veteran comedian and actor, Atunyota Akpobome Alleluia, otherwise known as Alibaba, announced that he and his wife, Mary, had welcomed a set of triplets. Expectedly his

TOBI ADEGBOYEGA, IN THE EYE OF THE STORM

Tobi Adegboyega, the founder of Salvation Proclaimers Anointed Church (SPAC Nation), has been accused by Super Eagles player, Olanrewaju Kayode of having an affair with his wife, Ezinne. Kayode plays as a forward for Turkish club, Gençlerbirliği. He alleged that Adegboyega engaged in sexual affairs with Ezinne who allegedly left their home for extended periods to attend orgies in London where Adegboyega resides. Kayode was forced to make this allegation after a video of his wife at Adegboyega's birthday party in London surfaced, while he (Kayode) was away in Turkey at work. According to the Super Eagles star, Ezinne and their children were supposed to be in Nigeria, but

ENTERTAINMENT &SOCIETY WEEKLY

There is no Manual on How to Navigate Workplace or Life – Dr Omotola Bamigbaiye

Dr Omotola Bamigbaiye, an author and the Nigeria Marketing Director (Sub-Saharan Africa) of Pladis Global, a much sought after facilitator for customer service, consumer behaviour, marketing, brand management courses, soft and emotional skills for multinational organisations, tells IVORY UKONU why her book, entitled 'Imperfectly Awesome,' is essential, especially for those who want to reinvent themselves personally or in the workplace, in this interview. Excerpts:

Why did you decide that authorship was the next hurdle to scale?

Well, because I was under severe pressure to share my story and experiences. I get asked a lot of questions concerning my work life and personal experiences and so I decided to make it easier by writing my memoir. The book, titled 'Imperfectly Awesome' captures the power of resilience and hope. Written in an honest and relatable tone, I shared my stories of becoming to help you love yourself, reinvent, and bloom, just the way you were designed to. There is no perfect life. Just when you think you have mapped out a perfect plan to shine and take over the world, there comes reality, smacking you really hard and letting you know that pitfalls exist and we’re all a little flawed and need more help than we sometimes admit. From career expectations to motherhood, relationships, and the nagging whispers of imposter syndrome, there is always something to grapple with in life. However, you can do so with razor-sharp wisdom and large doses of humour. The world may only play off-tune beats, but you can create your rhythm and dance to it gracefully or however else you please. With so many books about personal life and experiences in the corporate world, why do you think anyone should be interested in yours?

Because everyone has a story in them, but not everyone gets to write it. We are all diverse and unique passing through different experiences in life. The challenge is not always that there will not be issues along the way, but how we react to it differs. The book is about building your own ladder, one rung at a time, with laughter, tears, and maybe a little lipstick smeared on the way. It's embracing the unexpected and realising that you are good enough even when the circumstances surrounding your life say otherwise, and balance is a tricky act you get better at every day. It's about learning to love yourself, flaws and all, and embracing the messy, beautiful chaos that is life.

You described your book as a tool to help one bloom, reinvent oneself in just the way one is designed. What do you think are some of the reasons one gets stuck in a rut, personally, socially and in the workplace?

I have also learned that there is no manual to teach you how to navigate the world of work or life in general. Most of us had to learn many things the hard way. However, I have observed that life is easier when you learn from other people’s experiences. You gain wisdom, avoid pitfalls, become unapologetic about your existence, own your mistakes and become equipped to run your life’s course better. That’s why I’ve written this book. Throughout its pages, I have woven diverse stories on different phases of my life: career, relationships, transitions, self-love and boundaries, and other numerous and often hilarious happenings. Each chapter ends with thought-provoking questions to make your reading more engaging and actionable.

What are the signs that suggest one is in a rut?

Life will throw curveballs, trust me. You'll stumble, you'll doubt, you might even trip on your shoelaces. But here's the secret, every stumble is a lesson, every doubt a chance to dig deeper, and every shoelace mishap a hilarious story to tell later. So, my friend, pick up your tools, grab your shoes, on to the field of life, and start building your masterpiece. Don't wait for someone to invite you to the table – build your table!

Name at least five takeaways from the book which you think will come handy for anyone venturing into the corporate world

The first is building your resilience table. This is the most important thing. It should always be, 'Your Table, Your guests!' Do what works for you and do away with anything that no longer serves you unapologetically.

Secondly, there will always be lemons and more lemons – remember to add a bit of garnishing while making your lemonade.

Thirdly, never stop being curious. I always wanted to try new things and I was no longer scared of making mistakes. So, even when I messed up, I saw it as a learning opportunity.

Fourthly, someone else’s opinion shouldn’t matter. They were not going to

determine my destiny and whatever doubts they had, were their problems not mine.

Finally, I learned to wear my disappointments like badges of honour. For me, it was proof that I was strong enough to keep going.

Are you going to be publishing a volume 2, after all, there are still more experiences yet to be garnered?

I am on my way to conquer another chapter. This time, maybe I'll learn to dance, or write a symphony, or climb a real mountain. The possibilities, as they say, are endless. My story is just beginning, from the girl who learned to build her own ladder, and wear lipstick while doing it. This isn't the end of the story, just a pause between chapters. There are still mountains to climb, lessons to learn, and maybe even a dance step or two to be mastered. Stay tuned, the adventure continues!

You are so many things - a mother first and foremost, a lecturer, an entrepreneur, an expert in consumer marketing and now an author. How do you find time to handle your different roles without one of them suffering?

Even in the storm, I discovered something amazing: I wasn't alone. I experienced the warmth of a mother who was passionately committed to seeing me conquer life’s toughest battles and bask in the realm of fulfilled dreams.

I also learned to love myself more and choose me.

Would you consider yourself a fulfilled woman?

I have learned not to push the pause button on happiness, even as I try to excel in other areas of life. Time is life’s most precious resource. The world will never stand still for you to catch up. So, each day, I am learning to savour every moment I encounter, to smell my roses even as I climb the mountains. It's embracing the unexpected and realising that you are ‘good enough’ even when the circumstances surrounding your life say otherwise, and ‘balance’ is a tricky act you get better at every day. It's about learning to love yourself, flaws and all, and embracing the messy, beautiful chaos that is life.

It has obviously not all been rosy. What are the greatest challenges you have had and how were you able to overcome them?

This book encapsulates some of my current experiences, but I learned to navigate boardrooms with a baby strapped to my back, mastered the art of the ‘work-mom ponytail,’ though it was a chaotic one at first and discovered that sometimes, the best career advice comes from the least expected persons in the most unlikely situations.

I wrestled with imposter syndrome and juggled work and motherhood. Then came the more horrible stuff. The job loss, career switches, unstable relationship experiences that toyed with my emotions. I learned the hard way but I learned anyway that work friends aren't always your besties although you laugh, play, and seemingly share similar dreams. I’ve had to battle the feeling of inferiority complex just because I was the youngest in the room – or a woman - and my supposed colleagues didn’t think I deserved the role. But through it all, I discovered a secret weapon: ‘Resilience.’ You know that magical inner power that lets you bounce back from a face plant with a ‘hold my bag’ and keep climbing.

What would you consider to have significantly shaped you to be who you are today?

This is my journey from a wide-eyed dreamer to well, still a dreamer, but one wearing sensible shoes and carrying a backpack. But this time a backpack

overflowing with lessons learned not out of guilt, shame, or feelings of inadequacy.

What is your singular greatest regret in life and what would you have done differently in hindsight?

I have none. I have learnt to own my mistakes, which has in turn empowered me. This is my story, and I am the protagonist. I am not waiting for someone to hand me a script or feature in my story. I have owned it, laughed at it, learned from it, and, most importantly, I never, ever stop dreaming big.

What is your career trajectory?

Currently in my next phase of career seating as Advisory Board to a couple of quoted companies in the financial sector.

And your educational background?

I have a first degree in Insurance from the University of Lagos; my second degree, Msc in Marketing is also from the University of Lagos and my PHD from the International School of Management, Paris.

If you weren't a leader in the marketing world (corporate sector)

what other career do you think you would have excelled in?

Teaching, as I am currently an Adjunct Lecturer at the University of Lagos Business School, Rome Business School, Orange Academy, Financial Institutions Training Centre, Mac Tay Consulting and Nigerian Interbank Settlement Scheme

What are some of life's lessons that you live by?

Life is not all sunshine and rainbows. So, yeah, there will be chapters filled with tears and tantrums, but there will also be chapters overflowing with laughter, love, and confidence. Embrace them all and live it to the fullest.

What do you value most in life?

kindness is one of my core values. Every day, I try to embody that attribute. And if I’m kind to people, then I know I’m living according to my value of kindness.

How do you let off steam when you aren't working?

I dance like no one is watching.

Bamigbaiye

Bamigbaiye

ENTERTAINMENT &SOCIETY WEEKLY

NNAMDI OKONKWO’S DAUGHTER GETS MARRIED

Nnamdi Okonkwo, the immediate past MD/CEO of Fidelity Bank and the current Group Managing Director of FBN Plc, alongside his wife, Lady Uche, hosted the cream of Lagos society when their first daughter, Odera Obianuju, got married to Hillary Chisom Nwankwo on Easter Sunday.

The ceremony was an all-English affair as the hosts and most of the guests were decked out in formal attires. The holy solemnization of the wedding took place at Our Saviour Anglican Church, Tafawa Balewa Square, Lagos and it was officiated by a group of clerics led by Venerable Folorunsho Olaoluwa Agbelusi and Arch Deacon of Ikoyi. Steering proceedings at the reception, which took place at Landmark Events Centre, Lagos, were Nollywood actors, Okechukwu Onyegbule, aka Okey Bakassi, and Kate Henshaw, while Chinedu Okoli, aka Flavour N'Abania, entertained the guests with songs from his repertoire. Some of the guests who honoured the Okonkwos and Nwankwos included Leo Stan Ekeh who was the chairman of the event; Aruma Oteh, Femi Otedola, Ndidi Anyaehie, Ibukun Awosika, Mo Abudu, Sir Eme and Ngozi Ekeoma, Gladys Ndubuisi Kanu, John Momoh and his wife, Shola; Tayo Ayeni, Segun Awolowo, Olu Okeowo, Rotimi Amaechi, Uju Ifejika, Bose Ogulu, Emeka Onwuka, Musiliu Obanikoro, Amaju Pinnick etc. Odera is a supply chain manager while Hillary is a chief financial officer at Propetrol Group, a leading indigenous energy solutions provider.

Continued from page 16

Tobi Adegboyega, in The Eye of The Storm

she allegedly left home for the party in London without informing him. He alleged that Adegboyega sponsored her trip to attend the birthday party. In the said video, both Dora and Adegboyega were allegedly captured whispering sweet nothings into each other's ears with Dora too close to Adegboyega for comfort.

Kayode also alleged that she stole two Mercedes SUVs from her husband to finance the lavish lifestyle of Adegboyega and his associates. He also alleged that his wife conspired with realtor Ugochukwu Igboanugo and accomplices, Jennifer Max Nduaguibe and Lynda Dike Anulika to transfer property ownership from him to herself. He claimed that his wife abducted their three children on Sunday, March 24, 2024 and their whereabouts is unknown. Despite numerous complaints and petitions to law enforcement, including the Nigerian Police FCID Alagbon under AIG Idowu Omohunwa, efforts to recover the stolen vehicles, properties and abducted children have been futile. Kayode also said his wife had been falsely parading herself as a lawyer and suspected of drug abuse, and allegedly attempting to manipulate officers of some security outfits to coerce him into relinquishing his property or face harm. But the United Kingdom-based pastor has dismissed the allegations, saying he is too busy to listen to lies and more focused on raising people from difficult backgrounds to greatness. The cleric also said he was unbothered by all kinds of news about him.

“I focus on raising young people from difficult backgrounds into greatness, that’s the news. Every other news is just desperate oldies looking to take where they have not sown. I believe in the resurrection. If you are stressed look at me, no stress, no problems. Church this morning is going to be an awesome day of ordination. Anybody can say what they like," he said.

Adegboyega is no stranger to controversies. He has been accused of financial exploitation, misappropriation, fraud,

domestic abuse, and sexual abuse. The church at some point allegedly pressured youths to take out loans and sell their blood in order to pay for the church’s lavish spending via their church doctrine known as 'bleeding for seed'. At other times, the top pastors of the church allegedly threatened parishioners who failed to raise enough money or allegedly told members to beg, borrow or steal in order to gather money for the church. In 2022, the UK government shut down his church over fraud allegations. It said SPAC failed to account for more than £1.87 million in expenditure and operated with non-transparency. A cousin of British actor, John Boyega, Adegboyega started out as a pastor with Nigerian based World Evangelism Bible Church (WEBIC) owned by Prophet Samson Ayorinde, before leaving to set up SPAC in 2008, three years after he moved to London from Nigeria. Adegboyega lives a life of flamboyance. He drives flashy cars like Lamborghini, Mercedes Benz G-Wagon, Brabus, Range Rover. He also likes to wear very outlandish, in your face, designer outfits and seems to particularly like the Louis Vuitton brand. Besides having a Rolex in his collection, he is an ardent disciple of the Richard Mille brand. Like him, his pastors also follow in his footsteps, dressing in designer apparels and driving fast flashy cars. He also likes to throw loud late-night parties with a lot of revelry.

Adegboyega explains his need for flamboyance as being a beacon of prosperity on a global scale as he redefines pastoring. When he and his pastors show off, he explains it as community wealth and not personal wealth. He likes to regard his fellow flamboyant pastors and members as a community of fighters and winners who don’t care what anyone thinks about them because anyone who condemns how they live can’t obviously withstand their resolve and ultimately doesn’t like good things.

BIODUN FATOYINBO THROWS LAVISH PARTY FOR MUM'S 80TH BIRTHDAY

This past weekend, the Founder and Senior Pastor of Commonwealth of Zion Assembly, COZA, Biodun Fatoyinbo rolled out the carpets for his mother, Lady Comfort Mojisola Fatoyinbo's 80th birthday. The celebrant who doesn't look anywhere near her age looked exquisite on her big day. From her makeup to her hair-do, poise and carriage, Lady Comfort exuded timeless charm and dignified aura. She looked resplendent in more than one outfit that she changed into as she sashayed and gyrated to the melodious tunes belted out by the various ministers of the gospel like Dare Ogundoyin, Daniel Elijah, and Laolu Gbenjo, all of whom reeled out songs from their repertoire.

Days before the celebrations, there was a community outreach organised by COZA in honour of Lady Comfort at Ilorin, the Kwara State capital. It was an atmosphere of love and sharing to meet the needs of people in Sabo-Oke community of the state.

On the birthday proper, accompanied by her famous son, Lady Comfort arrived at the venue of the celebration in Ilorin, in a convoy of luxury vehicles such as Rolls Royce, Range Rover and even horses. She was handed a bouquet of flowers on arrival at the venue. The Senior Pastor of Kingsway International Christian Centre (KICC), Matthew Ashimolowo, who is like a father to Reverend Biodun, gave the sermon at the occasion. Kwara State Commissioner for Social Development, Afolashade Opeyemi, representing the deputy governor, delivered a goodwill message while Pastor Korede Komaiya, Rev Fatoyinbo's best friend, gave the welcome charge. The highlight of the birthday was the exquisite all white and gold cake which descended from a trap door in the roof of the venue of the party. That single act wowed the guests in attendance. Fireworks wrapped up the celebrations.

Alibaba And Wife Welcome Triplets Via Surrogate

social media page where he had put up the post was flooded with congratulatory messages. However not a few were a bit sceptical about the authenticity of the news and understandably so for a few reasons. He made the announcement on a day that is widely regarded as All Fools’ Day (in this regard, April 1), a day set aside for playing harmless pranks, practical jokes and hoaxes. Jokesters often expose their actions by shouting 'April Fools.' Also putting Alibaba’s wife's age (she is 55) into consideration, the plausibility that she actually got pregnant and they both welcomed triplets was slim. Alibaba himself is inching towards 60. Besides, they already had five children. So, who in their right senses would welcome more children after five, right? Particularly as the economy is forcing most people to downsize and live within their means. Or so the

skeptics thought. Finally, the comedian named his triplets, Aaron, Aalexander and Aandrew (emphasis on the double 'A' in their names). Skeptics were double sure he played a prank. Well, it turns out Alibaba did not pull an April fool joke and indeed, welcomed a set of triplets. However, his wife did not deliver the babies. According to very reliable sources close to THEWILL, they were born via a surrogate in Abuja two months ago like Alibaba noted in his announcement. At first, they chose to keep the delivery under wraps for reasons best known to father and mother. But soon, Alibaba began to itch to announce their delivery while his wife preferred, they continue to keep it under wraps. Alibaba won the game of wits and made the announcement. Well from THEWILL, congratulations to the Akpobomes.

Karo Ekewenu is Dead

Popular socialite and chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Delta State, Ambassador Oghenekaro Ekewenu is dead. Ekewenu who was fondly referred to as Karo Ekewenu reportedly died in his sleep about two weeks ago in his home. He was in his early 40s. Ekewenu was a businessman,

philanthropist and United Nations Ambassador on Sustainable Development Goals. Prior to his defection to the APC in the build up to the 2023 general election, he was a close ally of former Governor Ifeanyi Okowa and was his Executive Assistant on Marine Development. He was also a friend of the incumbent Governor, Sheriff Oborevwori. He, however, supported former Deputy President of the Nigerian Senate, Senator Ovie OmoAgege and President Bola Tinubu in the last election following his defection from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). He was married to his Fovwe Sandra, a former Most Beautiful Girl in Nigeria (Universe).

Fatoyinbo

Olanrewaju Kayode and wife, Dora Ezinne

The Nwankwos

MEDIA BODIES, C SOS DEMAND INVESTIGATION INTO SEGUN OLATUNJI'S DETENTION AND PROSECUTION OF PERPETRATORS

The undersigned media organisations, media associations and professional bodies as well as civil society organisations wish to express our deep concern and

strong condemnation regarding the recent unlawful arrest, detention, brutalisation and torture of Mr. Segun Olatunji, Editor of FirstNews newspapers, by militar y personnel in response to stories published by the media outlet.

We hereby demand a speedy, public, transparent and independent investigation into this act of barbarism displayed by militar y personnel as well as the brazen disregard for the Constitution and the Government's obligations under relevant domestic laws and international instruments.

We further demand that all persons within and outside the militar y who are found to have been connected with this unacceptable violation of the rights of the journalist and the Constitution, including those who effected Mr Olatunji's arrest, detention and torture, those who directly commanded them, and those who ordered or instigated the action, should be prosecuted before the appropriate court and punished to the full extent of the L aw The Chief of Defence Intelligence (CDI), who commands the Defence Intelligence Agency (DIA), Major General Emmanuel Undiandeye, reportedly ordered the operation that culminated in Mr Olatunji's abduction, torture, and detention while the Chief of Defence Staff, General Christopher Musa, to whom the CDI reports, was also reportedly aware of the operation but joined the CDI to claim for days that the journalist was not in their custody. They need to be held accountable for their roles in the matter

Armed men wearing militar y uniforms and who introduced themselves as militar y personnel from the Nigerian Army, the Nigerian Air Force and the Defence Intelligence Agency (DIA), led by a militar y officer who also introduced himself as Colonel L awal, invaded Mr. Olatunji's home in a L agos suburb on March 15, 2024, seized Olatunji's mobile phone, handcuffed and bundled him in one of their vehicles and flown , blindfolded to Abuja where he was kept in an underground cell for 14 days.

Stripped to his boxers , legs manacled, hands in cuffs, kept incommunicado and not informed of his offence or the reason for his arrest nor of his rights as required by L aw, as guaranteed under the Constitution, Olatunji was only released on March 29, 2024. He was repeatedly interrogated about stories published by FirstNews in the absence of a legal practitioner of his choice because he was not given the opportunity to consult a lawyer His mobile phone was also unlawfully searched in an effort by his abductors to ascertain the sources of the stories published by the news outlet.

Given the above, we unequivocally condemn this gestapo -like, unlawful and unconstitutional treatment of a journalist under a constitutional democracy simply for doing his job and therefore demand that:

* The Federal Government conducts a speedy, public, transparent and independent investigation into the incident in order identif y all persons within and outside the militar y who were connected with the violation of Mr. Olatunji's rights;

* There should be full accountability for all those responsible. Therefore, all persons within and outside the militar y who are found to have been connected with the incident, including those who effected Mr Olatunji's arrest, detention and torture, those who directly commanded them, and those who ordered or instigated the action, should be prosecuted before the appropriate court;

* In accordance with Section 35(6) of the 1999 Constitution, as amended, the Federal Government should pay Mr Olatunji substantial compensation and issue a public apology to him for the unlawful and unconstitutional violation of his rights as well as the inhuman and degrading treatment to which he was subjected; and

* The Federal Government should make an unequivocal public commitment to respect and defend the rights and freedoms of journalists and other media practitioners to carr y out their professional duties in a safe and conducive environment in accordance with Sections 22 and 39 of the 1999 Constitution, as amended, and advise all law enforcement, security, intelligence, militar y and other agencies accordingly.

Should the Federal Government fail to respond positively to all these demands within 14 days from today, the undersigned media associations and professional bodies as well as civil society organisations will pursue all available mechanisms at the national, regional and international levels to ensure compliance with our demands.

MAL. K ABIRU A . YUSUF DR . YEMISI BAMGBOSE EZE ANABA

President, Newspapers Proprietors Association of Nigeria (NPAN) / President, Nigerian Press Organisations (NPO)

Executive Secretar y, Broadcasting Organisations of Nigeria (BON)

MUSIKILU MOJEED

President, International Press Institute, Nigeria Chapter (IPI Nigeria)

COMRADE CHRIS ISIGUZO, MFR

President, Nigerian Guild of Editors (NGE)

EDETAEN OJO

Executive Director

Media Rights Agenda (MRA)

National President, Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ)

MAUREEN CHIGBO

President, Guild of Corporate Online Publishers (GOCOP)

L ANRE AROGUNDADE Executive Director, International Press Centre (IPC)

SHOTS

L-R: Commissioner for Industry, Trade and Investment, Ogun State, Mr. Adebola Sofela; Founder/ CEO, Nature's Bounty Health Products Limited, Affiong Williams; Commissioner for Agriculture, Ogun State, Dr. Bolu Owotomo; Deputy Mission Director, USAID, Sara Werth; Regional Head, Lagos, FCMB, Mrs. Omowunmi Kalejaiye and the Special Adviser on Ogun State Investment Promotion and Facilitation Agency, Ms. Sola Arobieke, during the commissioning ceremony of the ReelFruit factory of Nature's Bounty Health Products Limited, held in Abeokuta, Ogun State on January 15, 2024.

L-R Senators, Barinada Mpigi, Jimoh Ibrahim, Saliu Mustapha, Senate President Godswill Akpabio, Deputy Senate President, Jibrin Barau, Deputy Minority Leader, Oyewumi Olalere and Senator Ikra Bilbils, during the breaking of fast (iftar) hosted by the Senate President, in Abuja on April 2, 2024.

L-R: Regional Implementation Manager, MTN Momo, Temitope Akarah; Founder, Making of Champions, Mr Bambo Akanni; GM, Segment and Devices, MTN, Mr Idowu Adesokan; Commissioner for Sports Oyo State, Wosilat Adegoke; Commissioner for Education Science and Technology, Prof. Salihu Adelabu; Nigeria Schools Federation representatives, Oba Dairo Jacob Oludayo, during a news conference in Ibadan on April 4, 2024.

L-R: General Manager - Refineries, Aradel Holdings Plc, Mr Temitayo Ogunbanjo; Group General Counsel, Aradel Holdings Plc, Ms Titi Omisore; Managing Director, Lauramac Nig. Ltd. Mr Mac-Umesi Noble; Chief Technical Officer, Aradel Holdings Plc, Dr Ebenezer Ageh; General Manager - Commercial, Aradel Holdings Plc, Mr. Lare Daramola; Managing Director, Edemon Engineering Ltd, Engr. Monday Obudu and Contracts & Procurement Manager, Aradel Holdings Plc, Mr Chukwuma Nkwodinmah, at the Aradel Holdings Inaugural Suppliers Forum held Lagos recently.

Director-General, National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), Brig.-Gen. Yushau Ahmed (right), presenting a souvenir to the Registrar, Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB), Prof. Ishaq Oloyede, during the visit of JAMB delegation to the NYSC headquarters in Abuja on April 4, 2024.

L-R: Deputy Director, Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency, NIMASA, & Chairperson, Women in Maritime and Energy Awards Advisory Board, Chizoba Anyika; Chief Executive Officer, All On, Caroline Eboumbou; Founder/CEO MRB Limited/Ecopawa, the Ehondor of Benin Kingdom, Chief Iyare Ehondor and DG, Nigerian Chamber of Shipping, Vivian Chimezie-Azubuike at the Women in Maritime & Energy, (WIME) award ceremony recently held in Lagos.

Wole Oguntokun: Final Curtain Tor Thespian

BY MICHAEL JIMOH

His dimples got you first, deep on both cheeks making them the most distinguishing features on his face, especially when he smiled. And he had such a good smile, not the counterfeited glee of someone faking it to please but a genuine one straight from the gut.

Wole Oguntokun (1967-2024) had more than a smile to give the world in his 56 years. Though a lawyer by profession, he was a thoroughgoing professional in the theatre where left an indelible footprint just like his compatriot Biyi Bandele who died unexpectedly in August 2022. Oguntokun’s demise on 26 March has left many experiencing something close to déjà vu in Canada and Nigeria, cruelly bringing to mind the untimely death of the dreadlocked Bandele. Oguntokun’s passing has brought about that sinking feeling in us when young and extremely talented people depart the world too soon.

Both were gifted, productive and on the path of greatness in the theatre on the national and international stage. Both died after a brief illness. And their death literally took the breath away from colleagues, friends and family because of the unexpectedness, eliciting something like “But we saw yesterday and even made plans to meet somewhere.” “He looked fit as a fiddle the last time I saw him.”

Called Laspapis by his close friends, Oguntokun was already so many things to so many people. With a Bachelor and Masters’ degree in law, Oguntokun would have made a brilliant lawyer had he chosen to practice. But it was on the stage he made his mark as a playwright and director, earning respect from senior colleagues. One of them has written that Oguntokun’s “intellectual prowess was matched only by his artistic fervour.”

During the 2022 Stratford Festival, he was dramaturge, culture consultant and dialect coach for Wole Soyinka’s Death and the King’s Horseman. He was also dramaturge and played the lead role of Elesin Oba in the production of the same play for Soulpepper Theatre/ Stratford Festival’s Canadian production in 2021. Of course, Oguntokun had his own theatre troupe Renegade Theatre which he has used to direct and produce plays, notably Chibok Girls: Our Story, first at MuSon Centre Onikan in Lagos in 2015 and then at the Cross Currents Festival Washington DC in 2019.

In February 2021, Oguntokun won the Young-Howze award for Dramatic Writing of the year with his drama The Emancipation of Yankee Oluwale based on the death of a Nigerian David Oluwale, a migrant who was killed by two English Bobbies.

Oguntokun’s death was announced by his colleague Kenneth Uphopho for Jasonvision who let it be known on behalf of Guild of Theatre Directors of Nigeria. “Laspapi, as he was fondly called, was an inspiration to many of us and his revolutionary contributions to the renaissance of theatre in Nigeria can never be overemphasized,” Uphopho wrote. “Words can’t describe how much we’ll miss him.”

Ever since his untimely death, Nigerians have continued to pay their respect. “The theatre world is shrouded in sorrow at the passing of Wole Oguntokun, a distinguished Nigerian playwright, who drew his last breath on March 26, 2024, in Canada. Fondly known as Laspapi, Oguntokun’s legacy as a visionary of the dramatic arts, whose brilliance illuminated stages across Nigeria and beyond, remains etched in the hearts of many as can be gleaned from the outpouring of emotions on X in

Amid Grid Breakdown, Chinese Firms Offer Effective Solar For Nigerian Households SPECIAL REPORT

BY TUNDE OMOLEHIN. SOKOTO

Monday Wisdom needs regular power in his metal workshop in Sokoto, north-west Nigeria. But, unable to rely on the public grid, he depends on a diesel generator, at significant personal expense, pollution and noise.

“I spend no less than 4,000 naira (about US$5) to purchase diesel on a daily basis,” he says. “What’s more, I still have to pay the power distributor’s bill for what I didn’t consume at the end of month.”

Due to power failure in the state, many of his colleagues in the welding profession have resorted to menial jobs for survival such as bricklaying and commercial motorcyclists, he said.

Most Nigerians living in cities also experience regular power cuts, while a majority of rural

It is far from just donations that have found a place in Nigeria’s solar system. Business is booming too. “The presence of Chinese solar firms in Nigeria’s energy markets is making households’ hope a reality,” says Amadi Joshua, an electrical engineer with AY Global Energy, an Abuja-based renewable distribution company.

“They are providing affordable solar panels, solar street lights, energy-saving bulbs, rechargeable lamps and fans, among other clean energy products, to Nigerians, “he adds. Nuhu Isaac, a sales representative with Beebeejump Technology, a company based in Shenzhen with multiple offices in Nigeria, in an interview said: “Solar power is what matters to all Nigerians now irrespective of their economic status.” The company says it sells off-grid solar products across Nigeria’s 36 states, using flexible billing and payment solutions to reach more customers. Beebeejump Technology says it hopes to solve the power supply issues for 3 million people in areas vulnerable to blackouts.

In 2020, another Shenzhen-based company, Kang Ming Sheng Technology, says it has helped in providing alternative sources to millions of Nigerians especially those in remote hinterlands. “Our rechargeable bulbs and solar bulbs serve millions of poultry farmers as well as shop owners,” said Nnaji Collins, the company’s customer service

Collins also explained that their power banks and solar power kits power agency banks

Babatunde Fashola, former minister of works, power and housing, is optimistic about solar power development in Nigeria. “The prospects of clean energy leapfrogging conventional sources are certainly within reach for Nigeria, particularly in light of rising diesel costs, and partly due to the increased market penetration of renewable energy

Toyin Ilo, executive director of Gennex Technologies, one of Nigeria’s leading solar companies, says that despite the great progress made over the last several years, “one of the major challenges include the proliferation of experienced and unequal solar installers who unethically advise commercial, industrial and even residential customers

With grid collapses and blackouts a frequent reality for all Nigerians, off-grid solar developments offer one route to better and cleaner power connectivity for the people.

This work was produced as a result of a grant provided by the Africa-China Reporting Project at the Wits Centre for Journalism at the University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg. The views of this report are of the authors.

From Plateau to Podium: Gyang, Nigeria's Emerging Marathon Prodigy

Gyang's triumph is a testament to the transformative power of dedication and perseverance

BY JUDE OBAFEMI

In a nation where sport has long been a source of pride and unity, a new star has emerged with the promise of stretching the number of competitions where Nigeria can be assured of a podium finish. Gwom James Gyang, a 17-year-old marathon runner hailing from the lush hills of Plateau State, has etched his name in the chronicles of Nigerian sporting history with his remarkable triumph at the Calabar Marathon. This young phenomenon's breakout is more than just a tale of personal achievement; it is a testament to the boundless potential of Nigeria's youth and a clarion call for a renewed focus on sports development in our country.

Gyang's path to glory began long before the cheering crowds and the finish line of the Calabar event. It was a journey rooted in unwavering dedication, an innate passion for running, and a steadfast determination to push the boundaries of his own abilities. From an early age, Gyang's connection to the sport was palpable, as he spent countless hours training on the dusty tracks of his hometown, honing his skills under the guidance of local mentors.

The Calabar Marathon, a prestigious 15-kilometre race that attracts the finest longdistance runners from across Nigeria, presented Gyang with the ultimate test. Amidst a field of seasoned competitors, the young marathoner displayed a poise and focus that belied his years. Crossing the finish line in an impressive time of 39.8 minutes.

Gyang's triumph is a testament to the transformative power of dedication and perseverance. The countless hours of gruelling training, the early mornings

As we celebrate Gyang's triumph, we must also recognise the urgent need to strengthen our youth sports development ecosystem. By investing in comprehensive programmes that provide world-class training facilities, qualified coaching, and competitive platforms, we can empower the next generation of Nigerian champions to emerge and thrive.

Through this multifaceted approach, we can nurture a culture of excellence and camaraderie, fostering a new wave of role models who will inspire their peers and communities to embrace the transformative power of sports. These young athletes will not only bring glory to our nation on the global stage but also serve as beacons of hope, demonstrating the immense potential that resides within our youth.

Will This New Tariff Increase Turnaround Nigeria's Electricity Troubles?

The recent decision by the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) for a 300 per cent tariff increment for Band A consumers of electricity, following the removal of subsidies totalling N240 billion per month, has sparked a widespread debate and divided public opinion. These customers, according to the regulator, receive up to 20-24 hours power supply daily.

The increment came after the Federal Government also increased the wholesale price of gas to power plants by 11 per cent. Personally, I believe this move represents a critical juncture in the ongoing efforts to reform and improve Nigeria's electricity supply, though the implications are complex, far-reaching and require a trip down memory lane.

The National Electric Power Authority (NEPA), the defunct state-owned power utility company, was long plagued by inefficiency, corruption and an inability to meet the country's growing demand for electricity. NEPA's woeful failures, despite billions of dollars in fresh investments during the Olusegun Obasanjo presidency (19992007), cast a dark shadow over the sector, leaving businesses and households alike nationwide grappling with the consequences of an unreliable power supply.

The decision to privatise power generation and distribution in 2013 by the Goodluck Jonathan Administration was seen as a potential solution to NEPA's woes. The Federal Government believed that by attracting private investment and fostering competition, the sector would become more efficient, reliable and responsive to the needs of consumers, but sadly, this has not been the case nationwide. The emergence of Generation Companies (GenCos) and Distribution Companies (DisCos) promised a new era of accountability and improved service delivery.

However, the privatisation process was not without its challenges. Allegations of a lack of transparency and the involvement of politically connected individuals raised concerns about the true motives behind the restructuring. As a result, the new players that emerged often lacked the experience, capacity, and know-how to effectively transform the sector.

Despite the privatisation efforts, Nigeria continues to grapple with persistent power failures, leaving businesses and households alike struggling to cope with the unreliable electricity supply. The gap between demand and supply remains vast, with many communities enduring prolonged outages and erratic service. For the last two weeks, we have scarcely enjoyed more than an average of four hours of public power supply in my estate despite being a so-called Band A customer.

The situation is similar across homes and businesses. This status quo has had a significant impact on the country's economic growth and the daily lives of its citizens, forcing them to rely on expensive and environmentally-damaging alternative power sources. The recent tariff increase, coupled with the removal

of subsidies, has added to the financial burden on consumers. While some argue that this is a necessary step towards a more sustainable and cost-reflective pricing model with over N200bn in monthly savings, others contend that it places an additional strain on households and industries already struggling with the challenges of an unreliable power supply system.

The government's role in the power sector's challeng-

es cannot be overstated. The privatisation process was not as transparent as the telecoms sector's privatisation, where experienced and capable operators were given the responsibility to run the licences. This lack of transparency, combined with the government's reliance on subsidies to keep the GenCos and DisCos afloat, has contributed to the sector's current difficulties.

Furthermore, the government's own debts to these companies, with the Nigerian Bulk Electricity Trading (NBET) Plc reportedly owing the GenCos over N1.64 trillion, have hindered the ability of these entities to operate optimally. This situation has created a vicious cycle, where the GenCos and DisCos struggle to invest in infrastructure and maintain service levels due to government's outstanding payments.

Government's actions, or lack thereof, have been a significant factor in perpetuating the power crisis. Delayed payments, insufficient regulatory oversight, and a failure to address systemic issues have all contributed to the sector's woes. As the Federal Government moves forward with the tariff increase and subsidy removal, it is crucial that they demonstrate a renewed commitment to transparency, accountability and a collaborative approach with the private sector.

Adequate metering is another critical component in ensuring transparency, accountability and fair billing in the power sector. The proliferation of prepaid metres is essential in ensuring that consumers pay for the actual electricity they consume, reducing the burden of estimated billing and electricity theft. However, the slow pace of metre deployment remains a major challenge, underscoring the need for accelerated efforts in this regard.

As Nigeria navigates this complex and contentious issue, it is clear that a more comprehensive and transparent approach is needed to address the power sector's challenges and to unlock the sector's potential to deliver the reliable electricity supply that the citizens deserve and that the country so desperately needs to accelerate economic growth.

The recent tariff increase and subsidy removal represent a significant shift in the government's approach to the power sector. Proponents argue that these measures are necessary to ensure the financial viability of the GenCos and DisCos, enabling them to invest in infrastructure and improve service delivery. They contend that the burden on consumers is a short-term sacrifice for long-term gains in the sector's performance.

Government must address its own outstanding debts to the GenCos and DisCos, clearing the backlog of payments and providing a stable financial foundation for these companies to invest in infrastructure upgrades and service improvements