Chidimma Adetshina made history as the first African and Nigerian to finish as the first runner-up at the Miss Universe pageant. This happened at the 73rd Miss Universe pageant, which took place on November 17, 2024. Despite the many challenges she faced, Adetshina won over the hearts of millions of people worldwide, making her an inspiration to many.
Chidimma Adetshina’s interest in beauty pageantry began when she was a little girl watching a show she loved, Toddlers & Tiaras. When South African model and beauty queen, Demi-Leigh Tebow won Miss Universe, it gave Adetshina the confidence she needed to be involved in beauty pageants. She admits she didn’t know what being a beauty queen entailed; it was only until later that she fully understood what it meant to be a beauty queen, which made her want to take it a step further in beauty pageantry.
Read Chidimma Adetshina’s story on pages 8 through 10.
With Christmas around the corner, we thought it right to bring you some fashion tips for the festive season. Whether you are going to a Christmas party or a simple family outing, we have the right tip for you on pages 4 and 5.
Our beauty page also considers the Christmas season and discusses ways to prep your skin for it. Scroll to page 12 for this enlightening read.
I have heard and read many excellent reviews about the movie Wicked, and I can’t help but wonder if it is as good as the theatre production. Either way, I’m prepared to see it. Have you seen it yet? Do tell me your thoughts.
Until next week, enjoy your read.
Photo: Kola Oshalusi
@insignamedia Makeup: Zaron
SUNDAY, DECEMBER 15, 2024
THEWILL NEWSPAPER • www.thewillnews.com
THEWILLNIGERIA
SUNDAY, DECEMBER 15, 2024
THEWILLNIGERIA
Vigilance as FG, State Governors Move To Establish State Police…
BY AMOS ESELE
Governor Uba Sani of Kaduna State last Wednesday sounded upbeat about the strong support for state police among majority of his counterparts, but some key stakeholders, many of whom he said would be further engaged after the Secretariats’ panel report and deliberation by members of the National Economic Council, NEC, in January 2025, are very cautious.
He said, “Today, one of the discussions we had at the NEC meeting was the update on the creation of state police. As you are aware, there was a submission by states towards the establishment of state police.
Addressing State House Correspondents after the 147th meeting of the NEC at Aso Rock Villa, Abuja, the governor said, “Thirty-six states have submitted (their reports) minus the FCT. The FCT is not a state; they explained why they have not submitted it. But 36 states have all submitted their own positions on state police. From what is available, virtually most of the states are in agreement with the establishment of state police in Nigeria. I want to say here clearly that most of us are in agreement with the establishment of state police. Most of us agreed that the establishment of state police in Nigeria is the way forward towards addressing the problem of insecurity in our own country.”
Governor Sani further explained that state police is an idea whose time has come because of a severe shortage of security personnel. The security agencies are unable to cover all areas across the 36 states adequately.
“This talk about insecurity and overstretched security agencies as a reason for the establishment of state police is like taking the symptoms for the disease,” National Chairman of the Inter-Party Advisory Council of Nigeria, IPAC, Alhaji Yusuf Dantalle, told THEWILL on Friday. “As a student of sociology, I have come to realise that in Nigeria, we always like to address symptoms of a disease rather than
the disease. And in the words of late Chief Obafemi Awolowo, as long as you do not solve the roots of the problems, they will continue to linger. Conventional crimes are symptomatic of social and political arrangement.
“If you follow Robert Merton’s theory of anomie on how people react to social situations, you will find that our challenges in Nigeria are about poverty, inequality and that the government is far away from the people they are supposed to be representing. Yesterday (Thursday) I was coming from Abuja and saw the number of policemen following one politician! Why does he need this level of protection for, against the people who voted him into power? What kind of democracy are we running.”
He contended the view that the army or police is overstretched and canvassed for better weaponry and welfare for security agencies to enhance their performance and professionalism.
“I do not believe the army is overstretched. If you say the military is overstretched, have you found out whether they have the wherewithal militarily? A lot has gone into equipping the military, but why are they not performing? So, there are so many questions to ask. I think the issue of insecurity in Nigeria is more political than policing can solve. Now, look at the State Independent Electoral Commissions and the Independent National Electoral Commission. The same governors that want state police would prevent people they do not want from becoming local government chairpersons. So, should we turn around and now leave state police in the hands of one person who has the local governments in his pocket? So, what happens at the end of the day? For me, state police are anachronistic; it is not an answer to insecurity. There are immediate and remote causes of problems. And there are long term and short term solutions to problems. The state
police thing is a short -term solution to the problem. Who are the criminals, who are the bandits? Are they Nigerians? If they are, why do they keep increasing in numbers?”
The Executive Director of Rule of Law and Accountability Advocacy Centre, RULAAC, Okechukwu Nwanguma, speaking with THEWILL at the weekend, said that in as much as there is a need to decentralise the police and ensure the devolution of policing powers and resources to lower levels for enhanced effectiveness, “pushing for state police without addressing the root causes of insecurity, increasing crime and police inability to tackle them effectively would amount to replicating one problem 36 times over.”
“Experience has established that certain state governors will turn state police into their tools for repressing freedom of expression and political dissent. State police will turn some states into police states. But the question needs to be asked. What will be the process of appointments? How will the state be controlled to avoid turning them into playthings in the hands of oppressive governors? How will accountability to the law and the people, rather than the governor, be guaranteed.”
According to him, state police debate has since gone beyond the question as to whether to support it or not since the President, state governors, senior and junior lawmakers and former Presidents have all declared their support.
“The question the stakeholders should concern themselves with at this stage is what can be done to ensure that appropriate and adequate legal and institutional mechanisms are put in place to ensure effective democratic control and accountability, to ensure that state police are established in strict adherence to the principles of operational autonomy based on sound professional practices in
COVER
FG, State Governors Move To Establish State Police…
appointment, operations and control,” he said, adding that, “I have always posited that centralised police structure is the bane of police effectiveness. But added to that is lack of adequate resourcing for the periodic recruitment to fill the manpower deficit, purchase modern equipment and ensure training and retraining to ensure professional effectiveness and improvement in welfare and working conditions.”
Speaking in an earlier interview with THEWILL on this matter, Managing Director of Beacon Security Intelligence, Dr Kabiru Adamu, said that although there is a general desire for a different security model in the country with state police as the most popular, Nigeria “as a country, still has not differentiated between policing and police.”
Policing, according to him, hich deals with the processes that ensure maintenance of law and order, prevention of crime and prosecution of offenders is often confused with police which is all about structure.
Contributing to the debate, Prof Onwudiwe Ihekwoaba in a recent article, titled; “The Future of State Police In Nigeria: A Focus On The Southeast,” published in the African Journal of Criminology and Justice Studies: Vol. 14: Iss. 1, Article 1, 2024, stated that, given the current situation in the country, it is crucial to establish a state police system that empowers each region to address security concerns in collaboration with neighbouring regions.
He contended that by integrating community policing into local police forces and drawing inspiration from successful policing practices in other federal systems, Nigeria can significantly enhance its security framework.
Speaking on the high level of insecurity in the southeastern states of Anambra, Enugu, Imo, Ebonyi and Abia, where “wholesale terror and retail violence make it impossible for the citizens to conduct their daily peaceful activities,” he canvassed that each state ought to be allowed to develop its police under the leadership of its governors, who would appoint the chiefs of police, individual leaders who are knowledgeable about their culture, customs, language, theology, rules and principles, to serve the communities and their local security concerns.
He however advised: “State police mandate should emphasise providing intelligence on offenders, such as kidnappers and other forms of domestic violent actors to the Nigerian Police Force, the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) and other security agencies, including the State Security Service (SSS) without much fragmentation.”
LONG ROAD TO STATE POLICE
This problem of definition between state police and policing, according to Dr Adamu, appears to be the stumbling block to the implementation of state police in the country.
THEWILL recalls that official support for state police is almost a decade old. And the reasons for support have remained the sameinsecurity and criminality space unmanned by security agencies.
During the constitutional amendment processes in 2011 and 2015, for example, state police was agreed upon by all stakeholders as the viable way to address the security challenges in the country. Former Governor Abdulaziz Yari of Zamfara state who was Chairman of the Nigeria Governors Forum in 2018 recounted this position during a two-day security conference organised by the Eighth Senate with state governors, service chiefs, civil society organisations, religious and traditional rulers in attendance.
“Today, we have reiterated the position of the Vice-President (Yemi Osinbajo, who had addressed the conference, saying that having, “state police is the way to go) and the position of the security summit that we held in August that there is a need for state police and we say it is the only answer.”
Nigeria hailed processes by the National Assembly to amend the 1999 Constitution to allow for the establishment of state police. The Conference of Speakers of State Legislatures of Nigeria, in a communique signed by the Conference Chairman, Adebo Ogundoyin, said, “The conference strongly advocates state policing to check the negative trend of insecurity in our country. To achieve this, the conference appeals to the National Assembly, the Presidency and other relevant stakeholders to leverage the ongoing constitution review exercise.”
In January 2025, the 148 National Economic Council, NEC, will meet to formally deliberate on the reports of its panel and secretariat on the agreement reached by majority of governors for the creation of state police. According to Governor Sani, it would be one year since the idea was officially mooted under President Bola Tinubu’s administration. The president and governors opened talks on state police on February 15, 2023.
Two days before then, the House of Representatives had entertained a bill, titled, ‘A bill for an Act to alter the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999, to provide for the establishment of State Police and related matters.’
In April, the Nigeria Governors Forum joined the bandwagon and called on governors to submit reports to NEC, which subsequently warned delaying states to hurry up with their reports or face sanctions.
Nwanguma told THEWILL that interventions by civil society organisations for serious reform of the country’s current police structure for enhanced operational efficiency has regrettably failed. According to him, in 2006, the Network on Police Reform In Nigeria, NOPRIN, with support from some development partners, conducted extensive research on policing within Nigeria with a view to accomplishing five objectives: Ground law enforcement policy and police reform in the realities faced by the Nigerian populace; document the patterns and prevalence of police abuses of human rights; inform and design of police responses to public safety and security needs; build and inform constituency for effective and accountable policing and finally, enable victims of police abuse to seek redress through internal and external oversight mechanisms.
The research conducted in 14 states over nine months, using representative samples across the six geo-political zones in the country, he said, showed that “the actions and operations of the Nigeria Police Force often contradicted Nigerian laws and increasingly endangered the lives that the police are meant to protect.”
He said, “The Nigeria Police Act, signed into law in 2020 aimed to transition the police from a colonial and oppressive force into a democratic, community- centered entity. However, the recent End SARS protests illustrated the public frustration with persistent police violence and impunity. Despite the enactment of the Police Act, the subsidiary police regulations remain outdated and contradictory, stalling meaningful reform.
Efforts made to contact the Force Public Relations Officer, ACP Olumiyiwa Adejobi, failed he did not respond to calls or text messages. Nevertheless, the Inspector-General of Police, Egbetokun recently stated the Force’s position on state police. At the dialogue on state police organised earlier in the year by the House of Representatives,
Egbetokun, had said, “On the issue of state police, it is the submission of the leadership of the Nigeria Police Force that Nigeria is not yet mature and ready for the establishment of state-controlled police.” Egbetokun, who was represented at the talks by AIG Ben Okolo, suggested that the Federal Road Safety Corps and the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps could be merged with the Police Force to enhance its operational efficiency.
In a swift rebuttal, Speaker of the Lagos State Assembly, whose views represents that of proponents of state police, replied the IGP, stating that Lagos State, which has operated the Security Trust Fund through which successive administrations, starting from that of Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, have provided enormous support to the police command in Lagos, “yet crime of different dimensions has continued.”
In the same vein, many states in Nigeria in what looks like a dress rehearsal for state police, have been providing some form of funding for the police, including provision of operational vehicles, stations, equipment and subventions, yet to no avail, thereby forcing some states like Ondo, Ogun, Oyo, Osun and Ekiti to form a local security outfit, Amotekun, just as others like Edo, Zamfara have formed vigilantes, in their bid to confront security challenges in their region and states.
WAY FORWARD
RULAAC’s Nwanguma noted that as it had been argued in the CSO Panel on Police Reform, “state police should only be established on a basis of strict adherence to the principles of operational autonomy and be based on sound professional practice in appointment, operations and control.”
He added that the principles of the Police Act 2020 should not only be understood by both the police and citizens but also integrated into daily policing practises, thereby promoting a culture of lawfulness and respect for human rights within the police.
IPAC National Chairman, Dantalle insists that the problem is largely one of leadership. “They are not accessible to the people. It is all about money, money, money. The children of an average politician in Nigeria do not attend schools in the country nor do they go to hospitals here. So, you now see how the leaders distance themselves from the people.
“I think what is important is to address the level of social and economic inequality pervasive in the country. These are the urgent things facing Nigerians. As much as I like the idea of having state police, I think what is of vital importance and of urgency is the social and economic lives of the people. All conventional crimes we have in Nigeria are reactions to the social and economic realities in the country. We are arresting and killing criminals, but they keep increasing in numbers.
“The problem of insecurity, if we must address it, we must look at the root of the problem. The high level of unemployment, the hopelessness of the average Nigerian, politically and economically, inaccessibility of Nigerians to good education and health, in short basic needs of life are the challenges facing the country and efforts should be made to resolve them or we would be going around in a circle.”
For Prof Onwudiwe, there must be a willingness by the stakeholders, those with political and economic power, to admit and change the police structure for the maximum happiness and welfare of the citizens. Regions in Nigeria, he said, are connected and have similar security threats and patterns, adding that what affects one region, regarding security threats, directly and indirectly affects other regions. “While decentralisation aims to empower state governments with greater autonomy in law enforcement, collaboration and coordination with federal security agencies remain crucial,” he said.
Then Senate Minority Leader, Godswill Akpabio and Leader of the Northern Senators Caucus, Adamu Aliero, agreed that, “Measures must be taken to stop further killings and the only way to do it is to have a synergy between the security agencies. Even the governors agreed that having state police is the way to go. It is quite consistent with what the Vice-President has suggested,”
Almost in a similar fashion, the House of Representatives organised a national dialogue on state police on April 23, 2024. At the talk, exPresident Goodluck Jonathan and a former military Head of State, Gen Abdulsalami Abubakar (Retd.) and some stakeholders, who supported state police, disagreed strongly with Inspector-General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, who stiffly canvassed the idea that Nigeria is not matured for state police.
On May19, 2024, the Speakers of the 36 Houses of Assembly in
The question the stakeholders should concern themselves with at this stage is what to do to ensure that appropriate and adequate legal and institutional mechanisms are put in place to ensure effective democratic control and accountability, to ensure that state police is established in strict adherence to the principles of operational autonomy, based on sound professional practices in appointment, operations and control
CLEEN Foundation, an NGO that promotes public safety, security and access to justice endorsed state police but advised that certain measures be followed logically to realise police devolution. These are amendments of relevant sections of the Constitution, ensuring appropriate checks and balances to “safeguard against abuse of power and maintain national unity and cohesion.” Others are capacity building, inter-agency collaboration, community engagement, resource allocation, accountability mechanisms, clear operational framework and public awareness campaign.
“The question the stakeholders should concern themselves with at this stage is what to do to ensure that appropriate and adequate legal and institutional mechanisms are put in place to ensure effective democratic control and accountability, to ensure that state police is established in strict adherence to the principles of operational autonomy, based on sound professional practices in appointment, operations and control,” Dr Adamu, told THEWILL
Minister of Information and National Orientation, Alhaji Mohammed Idris (4th L); key Note Speaker, Prof. Tonnie Iredia (5th L) and others, at the 2024 Annual Conference of International Press Institute Nigeria on December 11, 2024.
FAAC Shares N1.72trn November Revenue to FG, States, LGs
BY FELIX IFIJEH
TheFederation Allocation Account Committee (FAAC) has shared a total sum of N1.727 trillion to the Federal Government, States and Local Government Councils as November 2024 Federation Account Revenue.
Mohammed Manga, the Director, Information and Public Relations, Federal Ministry of Finance, in a statement said, the allocation was shared at the December 2024 meeting of the FAAC in Abuja on Friday.
A communiqué issued by FAAC and signed by a spokesperson for the Accountant General of the Federation, Bawa Mokwa, explained that the N1.727 trillion total distributable revenue comprised distributable statutory revenue of N455.354 billion, distributable Value Added Tax (VAT) revenue of N585.700 billion, Electronic Money Transfer Levy (EMTL) revenue of N15.046 billion and Exchange Difference revenue of N671.392 billion.
According to the communiqué, Gross statutory revenue of N1.827 trillion was received for the month of November 2024. This was higher than the sum of N1.336 trillion received in the month of October 2024 by N490.339 billion.
While total gross revenue of N3.143 trillion was available for November, the total deduction for the cost of collection was N103.307 billion while total transfers, interventions and refunds were N1.312 trillion. Gross revenue of N628.972 billion was available from the Value Added Tax (VAT) in November 2024. This was lower than the N668.291 billion available in the month of October 2024 by N39.318 billion.
The communiqué stated that from the N1.727 trillion total distributable revenue, the Federal Government received a total sum of N581.856 billion and the State Governments received a total sum of N549.792 billion.
The Local Government Councils received a total sum of N402.553 billion and a total sum of N193.291 billion (13% of mineral revenue) was shared to the benefiting States as derivation revenue.
On the N455.354 billion distributable statutory revenue, the communiqué stated that the Federal Government received N175.690 billion and the State Governments received N89.113 billion.
The Local Government Councils received N68.702 billion and the sum of N121.849 billion (13% of mineral revenue) was shared to the benefiting States as derivation revenue.
From the N585.700 billion distributable Value Added Tax (VAT) revenue, the Federal Government received N87.855 billion, the State Governments received N292.850 billion and the Local Government Councils received N204.995 billion.
A total sum of N2.257 billion was received by the Federal Government from the N15.046 billion Electronic Money Transfer Levy (EMTL). The State Governments received N7.523 billion and the Local Government Councils received N5.266 billion.
From the N671.392 billion Exchange Difference revenue, the communiqué stated that the Federal Government received N316.054 billion and the State Governments received N160.306 billion.
The Local Government Councils received N123.590 billion, while the sum of N71.442 billion (13% of mineral revenue) was shared to the benefiting States as derivation revenue.
In November 2024, Oil and Gas Royalty and CET Levies recorded significant increases, while Excise Duty, Value Added Tax (VAT), Import Duty, Petroleum Profit Tax(PPT), Companies Income Tax (CIT) and Electronic Money Transfer Levy (EMTL) decreased considerably.
The Rule of Law Accountability and Advocacy Centre (RULAAC) has submitted a petition to the Senate Committee on Ethics, Code of Conduct and Public Petitions regarding a suspected syndicate within the Nigeria Police and the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
This syndicate allegedly aids a serial fraudster, Mrs. Titilayo Eboh, in evading justice while punishing her victims.
The petition, authored by RULAAC’s Executive Director, Okechukwu Nwanguma, outlines the case of Chinedu Ngwaka, a Bureau de Change operator, who alleges he was defrauded of N3 billion by Mrs. Eboh, the owner of ‘Blessed Hope Foundation.’
Despite Ngwaka’s complaints to the police and EFCC, he claims they have failed to investigate adequately, instead focusing on him as a suspect. Ngwaka has reported instances of extortion from law enforcement, including paying N6 million in bail after being wrongfully detained.
RULAAC’s petition highlights:
- A persistent pattern of fraud by Mrs. Eboh, including previous cases amounting to substantial losses for various victims.
- Allegations of collusion between Mrs. Eboh and certain police and EFCC operatives, who reportedly derive benefits from her criminal activities and hinder investigations.
- The tragic situation of a female banker who suffered immense losses due to Eboh’s fraud, impacting her mental health.
RULAAC calls on the Senate to take immediate action by:
1. Conducting a thorough investigation into the allegations against Mrs. Eboh and her associates.
2. Investigating the role of identified police and EFCC operatives accused of compromising investigations.
3. Ordering a review of the restrictions placed on Ngwaka’s accounts and the extortion claims made against him.
4. Ensuring accountability and justice for all victims involved.
RULAAC emphasizes that these allegations have serious implications for the integrity of law enforcement agencies and public trust in their ability to combat fraud effectively.
Governor of Lagos State, Mr. Babajide SanwoOlu (2nd Right); Commissioner for Housing, Mr. Moruf Akinderu-Fatai (Right); Minister of Housing and Urban Development, Arc. Ahmed Musa Dangiwa (2nd Left) and Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Housing and Urban Development, Dr. Marcus Ogunbiyi (Left), during the Minister’s courtesy visit, at the Lagos House, Marina, on December 11, 2024.
Appeal Court Quashes Order Stopping Rivers Allocation
BY FELIX IFIJEH
The Special Panel of the Court of Appeal, Abuja, has set-aside the judgement that barred the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), from releasing monthly allocations to Rivers State.
A three-member panel of the appellate court, led by Justice Hamma Barka, held on Friday, that the Federal High Court, lacked jurisdiction over the matter, affirming that issues related to state revenue should not be handled by federal courts.
The Court upheld the argument presented by Rivers State’s legal counsel, Chief Chris Uche SAN, that the federal court had no authority to entertain disputes about the state’s revenue.
Justice Joyce Abdulmalik of the Federal High Court, Abuja, had in a ruling on October 30, declared the presentation of the 2024 budget by Governor Fubara before a four-member Rivers House of Assembly as an affront to the constitutional provision had on 30th of October, has stopped the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), from further releasing monthly financial allocations to the Rivers State Government.
The court had declared that the receipt and disbursement of monthly allocations since January 2024, by Governor Fubara, was a breach of the Constitution and an aberration.
It restrained the CBN, the Accountant General of the Federation, Zenith Bank and Access Bank from further allowing Fubara to access money from the Consolidated revenue account.
The judgement followed a suit marked: FHC/ ABJ/CS/984/24, brought before the court by the Martins Amaewhule-led faction of the Rivers State House of Assembly, who approached the court, praying it to withhold all federal monthly allocations meant for Rivers state.
Dissatisfied with the ruling, Governor Fubara had in an appeal marked CA/ABJ/CV/1303/2024, challenged the order of Justice Abdulmalik.
Aside Fubara, other appellants in the matter include the Rivers State Government, the Accountant-General of Rivers State and Zenith Bank Plc.
Defendants in the matter were the Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, Zenith Bank Plc, Access Bank Plc and the Accountant-General of the Federation (AGF). Others are Fubara, the Accountant-General of Rivers; Rivers Independent Electoral Commission, RSIEC; Chief Judge of Rivers, Hon. Justice S.C. Amadi; Chairman of RSIEC, retired Justice Adolphus Enebeli and the Government of Rivers.
FCT Police Bans Use of Knockouts & Firecrackers During Festive Season
The FCT Police Command has warned against the use of firecrackers (knockouts) during the upcoming Christmas and New Year celebrations.
The Spokesperson, SP Josephine Adeh, said the ban was implemented to ensure the safety of all residents and to protect lives and property throughout the festive season.
According to her, “CP Olatunji Disu, emphasizes that the use of these items can lead to unnecessary panic and anxiety within the community”.
“Additionally, they present significant risks, including fire hazards and other preventable incidents”, Adeh noted.
“Violators, including sellers and users of firecrackers and fireworks, will be subject
to arrest and prosecution under the law. Community leaders and residents are encouraged to raise awareness about the potential dangers associated with these items.
Residents are urged to remain vigilant and report any suspicious activities or violations of this directive to the Police using the following emergency numbers: 08032003913, 08061581938, 07057337653.
The FCT Police Command is committed to maintaining law and order during this festive period.
“We encourage everyone to celebrate responsibly, wishing all a peaceful and joyful Christmas and New Year”, Adeh advised.
Demolition: KNUPDA Investigates Staff Over Bribery Allegation
BY ABDULLAHI YUSUF
The Managing Director of Kano State Urban Planning and Development Authority (KNUPDA), Arc Ibrahim Yakubu Adamu, says the agency is investigating bribery allegations levelled against some of its staff by a businessman in the state.
newsmen earlier, threatened to take legal action against the agency over the demolition of his multi-million naira shop located on Zoo Road, Kano.
Mohammed alleged that the shop was demolished without prior notice by the Kano State Urban Planning and Development Authority (KNUPDA) despite following the due processes.
BY FELIX IFIJEH
The Independent National Electoral Commission has dismissed as fake a social media report claiming that its chairman, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, had died in a London hospital.
Chief Press Secretary, Rotimi Oyekanmi, who made the clarification in a statement on Saturday, urged Nigerians to disregard the rumour, saying Yakubu is alive, hale, and hearty. Oyekanmi also noted that the INEC chairman has not travelled to London in the last two years,
contrary to the fake report.
He said, “He was present at an interactive meeting with the House of Representatives Committee on Electoral Matters on Wednesday, 11th December 2024. He also chaired the Commission’s meeting with Resident Electoral Commissioners on Thursday, 12th December 2024. Both events were widely covered on television and reported on the front pages of most newspapers yesterday, Friday, December 2024.”
The businessman, Ibrahim Mukhtar Mohammed, had accused some officials of KNUPDA of taking money from him to design the construction, drawing and supervision of the work of his building that was later demolished by the agency.
The managing director warned that any of the agency’s staff found wanting in the matter would be sanctioned according to the laid down civil service rules and regulations.
“The staff of this agency are civil servants operating in accordance with the civil service rules and regulations and any of them found contravening such rules and regulations will be punished accordingly”, he said.
The businessman, while addressing
“This was once a beautiful building we constructed, but you can see what happened as a result of the demolition exercise that was carried out by KNUPDA.
“We were not given any notice prior to this demolition. We just woke up one morning and found it in rubbles.
“The loss incurred is about N20 million.
So, I have informed my lawyers. I have shown them what we have, what we did.
So, the lawyers are studying it, and by God’s grace, we will take legal action against the demolition”, he added.
Yakubu Under Fire for Comments on Ghana Poll
s one of the observers who monitored the December 7, 2024 Ghana polls, Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, felt moved to commend the smooth conduct of the election but ended up drawing the ire of Ghana’s decision to decentralise its electoral system was inspired by Nigeria’s success in managing constituency election
Unlike previous presidential and parliamentary elections in the West African country, the 2024 presidential election adopted a decentralised system, allowing constituency-level officers to announce parliamentary results locally, while only presidential results were sent to the Accra headquarters of the Electoral Commission for
In the election in which former President John Mahama defeated Vice President Mahamudu Bawumia and thereby ended the two terms in power for the governing New Patriotic Party (NPP) under President Nana Akufo-Addo, INEC Chairman, Yakubu, who monitored the election in a short video posted last Sunday, stated that Ghana’s current approach to managing results at the constituency level was inspired by Nigeria, adding that the process had
He said, “The second thing for me is the lesson that Ghana also learned from Nigeria in the area of managing constituency election results. Until the last election in Ghana, all results came to the Electoral Commission’s headquarters in Accra, both parliamentary and
“Although Ghana is not a federal system, they learned from Nigeria, where you have returning officers who announce results for parliamentary elections in various constituencies around the country. Only the presidential
“In Nigeria, this is what we have done. They borrowed a leaf from us and this is the second time they are implementing it. That is why, as you can see, the declaration of the presidential election result was a lot faster than it used to be in the past,” Yakubu said. In addition, Yakubu spoke glowingly about the political stability inherent in Ghana’s democracy, pointing at the consistency of its political party structures and voter loyalty.
“Rarely in Ghana do you see people moving from one party to another with every general election. So, that is important. It provides stability. It also provides their supporters with stability. So, there are people who have supported political parties for many years. Whether the party is in power or in opposition, they stick to the political party.”
Quite expectedly, the observation of Yakubu, whose controversial management of general and off-cycle elections in the country has always been a subject of intense debate, attracted criticisms across political divides and social strata.
A chieftain of the All Progressives Congress, Chief Eze Chukwuemeka Eze, said the statement from the INEC boss was self-serving and hypocritical.
According to Chief Eze, Prof. Yakubu’s “INEC has nothing to offer to the outside world except asking aggrieved candidates and political parties to go to court to ventilate their grievances.”
He lamented that INEC under Yakubu’s watch has turned itself into an extension of the ruling government, which has continued to deploy state forces and resources to push opposition parties and dissenting voices into redundancy, which is not in tandem with a genuine democratic environment that supports plural political party practice.
“For such a questionable character who is at the forefront of the project to thwart the will of the majority of Nigerians at the polls to turn around to commend Ghana’s electoral process is the height of crass hypocrisy, sheer idiocy and totally misguided,” he said, adding that “Nigeria is in the
He owes Nigerians an apology. We didn’t hear of electoral violence, snatching of boxes or any glitches whatsoever (in Ghana). The people spoke through their votes. Their votes counted and Ghanaians are happy with it “
present sad situation because of the way Yakubu chose to conduct the 2023 general election and other off-cycle elections that followed, causing Nigerians to lose hope in the entire electoral process.”
“Therefore, Yakubu’s commendation is an embarrassment to Nigerians before the international community, because he is at the helm of affairs of one of the most corrupt institutions in Nigeria.”
A human rights lawyer and the counsel for the Indigenous People of Biafra, Sir Ifeanyi Ejiofor, said he had been in disbelief since he heard Yakubu’s statements, saying, “I watched in utter disbelief as Nigeria’s own Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, Chairman of INEC, lavished praise
on his Ghanaian counterpart for conducting a credible election that saw an opposition leader emerge victorious as President-elect. For context, this is the same Prof. Yakubu, who presided over the widely criticised 2023 Nigerian presidential election, marred by massive irregularities and allegations of rigging in favour of the ruling party.
“In Ghana, the people’s votes were respected and counted, a stark contrast to the Nigerian experience. Nigerians are still waiting for Prof. Yakubu to explain the so-called ‘glitch’ in INEC’s server that enabled the blatant subversion of the people’s will.
“This manipulated process robbed millions of their rightful mandate and undermined the essence of democracy.
“The consequences of that flawed election are evident in Nigeria’s current dire state. Tragically, those whose mandates were stolen bear the brunt of this crisis, left impoverished and disillusioned.
“As Ghana shines as a beacon of democratic integrity, Nigerians are left with a painful reminder of how far we have fallen. The road to redemption will be long, but the lesson is clear: no nation can thrive when the will of its people is silenced.”
For Chief Bode George, a former Deputy National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Yakubu’s comments are unfortunate.
While projecting about the uncertainties ahead of the 2027 general election last Wednesday, George, took a shot at Yakubu; “I am so ashamed of INEC Chairman, Professor Mahmood Yakubu. He was good before, but now his performance is a bad joke.”
Obiora Ifo, spokesperson of the Labour Party said that the commission under Yakubu is a sad commentary on how not to conduct a free, fair and violent -free polls in Nigeria.
“It is a shame that the INEC Chairman should be talking when, in this case, he should be the one to learn from Ghana. He was the architect of exactly what Nigerians are suffering today.”
“He owes Nigerians an apology. We didn’t hear of electoral violence, snatching of boxes or any glitches whatsoever (in Ghana). The people spoke through their votes. Their votes counted and Ghanaians are happy with it.”
Reactions on social media have also been critical of Yakubu. A sample shows the same pattern of criticisms. Deji Adeyanju simply said; “INEC would have rigged the Ghana elections; remains Nigeria’s biggest hurdle to credible polls.
Johbull Igwe, wrote; “Is someone kidding me right now? Ghana learnt from the sham INEC orchestrated in Nigeria in the name of elections? No way. Ghana is 101per cent ahead of Nigeria.”
“Ghana’s election has provided a blueprint for conducting credible polls in Africa. Alhough the election was not perfect, it was the right step in the right direction. Nigeria was on the path to doing that until INEC, as presently constituted, rewound all the gains that we made in our electioneering journey. I hope we seize this moment to reform the Nigeria electoral system so that we can have an election that we can all be proud of,” @djokaymegamixer wrote.
For Umaru AJ, Ghana would likely experience retrogression should the country emulate Nigeria. He said: “May God not allow Ghana to learn anything election related from Nigeria. It will set Ghana back 20 years backwards.”
Ghana’s Electoral Example for Nigeria
n December 7, 2024
It is no surprise that in spite of reported cases of fraud and corruption in the country, choice firms like Guinness, Dunlop left Nigeria for a more enabling environment in Ghana. Fintech companies and media outfits like Google and FaceBook have taken firm root there. These are big lessons for Nigerian and its election and political managers
OGhanaians went to the poll and voted for a new president and parliamentarians. The election was not only smooth; it was peaceful and fair. The Electoral Commission cleared 12 candidates for the presidential ballot drawn from eight political parties and four independents, but in reality, only two political parties featured in the poll to elect 276 lawmakers and a new President.
The two rival parties are the opposition National Democratic Congress, NDC, and the governing New Patriotic Party, NPP, both of which have alternately shared power since January 1993 when the West African country transitioned to democratic governance. This was the ninth poll.
Last Monday the electoral umpire declared ex-President John Dramani Mahama winner of Saturday’s presidential election with 56.55 per cent of the vote, having polled 6, 328, 397 to beat the Vice President and candidate of the NPP, Dr Mahamudu Bawumia who scored 41.61 per cent of the votes at 4, 657,304.
Notably, the ruling party’s Bawumia conceded defeat and congratulated the opposition party’s Mahama, even before the electoral commission officially announced the results last Monday. Once he saw that his party was trailing its rival as the commission had counted votes from 267 out of 276 constituencies, he threw in the towel on Sunday in both presidential and legislative elections. That singular act of brinksmanship eased tensions in the election that had been predicted to turn violent, particularly when the incumbent
president had campaigned against allowing the rival NDC, which in turn vowed to probe officials of the governing party for corruption. Voter turnout was 60.9 per cent.
For Mahama who lost his bid for reelection to outgoing President Nana Akufo-Addo in 2016, becoming the only Ghanaian President thus far to suffer defeat after one term in office, the victory was a sweet one but certainly not one to seek revenge as the matured response from his main challenger had provided a consequential soothing balm.
This gesture is quite similar to ex-President Goodluck Jonathan’s action in 2019 when he conceded victory and congratulated his successor, Muhammadu Buhari, following the results announced by INEC.
Unfortunately, the succeeding election management crisis has since rolled back that political gain for the country, as intense disputes leading to litigation all the way to the Supreme Court, has characterised each election since 2019.
Another lesson from the Ghana poll is that violence, vote-buying, ballot snatching and unnecessary security presence were practically absent.
Since 2019, when parliament in a bipartisan vote passed a new law to outlaw violent prone party-associated ‘vigilantes’ and imposed criminal penalties on violators, election related violence has greatly reduced to its barest minimum in Ghana.
Just like Nigeria, Ghana election is a winner-takes-all, the President appoints
chairpersons of the electoral commission and Justices of the Supreme Court. Remarkably, however, the ability of defeated candidates to concede defeat and congratulate the winner has reduced the meddling of the courts, as often happens in Nigeria, in determining who eventually emerges winner in Ghana. Even when on two occasions as in the 2012 and 2020 general elections that generated so much accusation of rigging and violence that the Supreme Court had to litigate on the presidential poll, the verdict which was settled, on both occasions, in favour of the originally declared winner, was accepted with such decorum that the polity was unaffected and power was peacefully handed over. This inter-party acceptance of the outcome of electoral results not only makes for orderliness in governmental structure and system but also confers the voter with certainty and the power that their voices count in the choice of their elected representatives. In the end, democracy grows and governance takes root in the country. Gradually, a tradition of peaceful conduct of polls and orderly transfer of power after the constitutionally allowed two-term expires impacts the system multi-dimensionally for the good of all. It is no surprise that in spite of reported cases of fraud and corruption in the country, choice firms like Guinness, Dunlop left Nigeria for a more enabling environment in Ghana. Fintech companies and media outfits like Google and FaceBook have taken firm root there. These are big lessons for Nigerian and its election and political managers.
OPINION
Who Wants Mike Adenuga Jr Dead?
MAGNUS ONYIBE
he recent false alarm about Chief Mike Adenuga Jr.’s death was so influential that legendary musician Ebenezer Obey felt compelled to release a song debunking it. Back in the 1980s, Obey’s hit song Ketekete narrated the story of a horse burdened by its riders to the extent that ‘efe kpa ketekete’ (translated - you want to kill the horse) became a metaphor that resonated deeply and became an instant classic across yorubaland
IN 2013, A FALSE REPORT CLAIMED ASIWAJU BOLA TINUBU, FORMER LAGOS STATE GOVERNOR, HAD DIED. TINUBU LATER RELEASED A STATEMENT TO CONFIRM HE WAS ALIVE AND WELL. TODAY, HE SERVES AS NIGERIA’S PRESIDENT
This time, the focus of Obey’s song was to refute the fake news surrounding Dr. Mike Adenuga Jr., a beloved business magnate, celebrated philanthropist, and Nigeria’s second-richest man based
Before Obey stepped in with his musical clarification, Dele Momodu, a media entrepreneur and afficianado of Adenuga phenomenon, had already addressed the false reports, confirming that the business tycoon was
Born on April 29, 1953, Chief Dr. Mike Adenuga, founder of Globacom, is 71 years old. Though not a socialite, he recently hosted traditional and Christian wedding ceremonies for his daughter Afolashade first at his lavish banana lsland residence and later on October 26 at Se-Se’s Groove on
It was a rare occasion for Adenuga, who seldom attends or hosts events outside his private banquet hall at home. In my personal assesment, it is Adenuga’s preference for privacy that likely made him a target for the death hoax. Public figures like Femi Otedola, who are highly visible both on social media and in real-life social gatherings, are less likely to fall victim to such misinformation because he would have been seen in mutiple locations by lots of people before the false news purveyors finish typing the message or before the ink from the pen used in writing the falsehood dries up.
Before diving into Adenuga’s achievements as a businessman, philanthropist, and family man, it is imperative to explore the broader issue of misinformation and disinformation which have become a menace to society in a epidemic proportion. Understanding its drivers, particularly in
the era of social media and Artificial Intelligence, is crucial to tackling this growing malaise. The phenomenon of being falsely declared dead is not new; it is universal and dates back centuries. One notable example is Mark Twain, who in 1897 humorously dismissed a false death report by stating, “The reports of my death are greatly exaggerated.” Other examples include the “Paul is Dead” rumor about Beatles bassist Paul McCartney in 1969, Mick Jagger being falsely declared dead the same year, and Harrison Ford in 2015, when a fabricated report claimed he had died in a plane crash.
Similarly, in 2014, actor Zach Braff became the target of a hoax, and in 2012, Morgan Freeman was falsely declared dead, prompting his representatives to issue a statement affirming his wellbeing.
In Adenuga’s case, Dele Momodu quickly debunked the rumors, reaffirming Adenuga’s status as a living icon. Known as “The Spirit of Africa,” Adenuga has earned admiration across the continent, thanks to his philanthropic contributions that have positively impacted millions of lives. Among the celebrities in a global context who have also been falsely reported dead is professional wrestler and actor Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson. In 2018, a fake news story claimed he had died during a stunt mishap. Johnson responded humorously, tweeting, “I’m not dead; I’m just resting my eyebrows.”
While Mike Adenuga, the founder of Glo Telecom and Consolidated Oil, did not publicly address the rumors of his supposed death, the outpouring of support from his admirers undoubtedly touched him deeply.
These instances underscore the importance of verifying information from credible sources before spreading or believing reports about someone’s death. Fortunately, in today’s digital age, there are many tools to help with fact-checking—unlike in the past, when such resources were scarce.
The global spread of fake news, especially about celebrities, has caused significant distress, and it is unsurprising that Nigeria has witnessed its share of such incidents. For example, Nnamdi Azikiwe, Nigeria’s first Governor-General, was falsely declared dead multiple times before his actual passing in 1996. One of the most notable hoaxes occurred on June 9, 1969, when he was reported dead, and this continued for nearly three decades. Given Azikiwe’s survival for 27 years after such reports, it is possible that Mike Adenuga, also known as “The Bull,” may follow a similar path and live well into his later years, perhaps 100 years, just as Azikiwe did by living for another 27 years and well into the age of 91 after being falsely declared dead.
Other prominent Nigerians have also been targets of fake death rumors. For instance, rumors circulated that former President Muhammadu Buhari had died and been replaced by a Sudanese body double named “Jubril.” Buhari publicly refuted the rumors, affirming that he was still alive.
The Fall of Damascus: End of the Al-Assad
BY CLIFFORD OGBEIDE
Syria, a nation rich in cultural and historical heritage, has long stood at the crossroads of civilisation. Positioned at the heart of the Middle East, it is bordered by Turkey, Iraq, Jordan, Israel and Lebanon. Often referred to as the ‘cradle of civilisation,’ Syria is home to ancient cities, such as Damascus and Aleppo, as well as the fertile lands of Mesopotamia, which have witnessed the rise and fall of empires for millennia.
The modern Syrian state emerged from colonial rule in 1946 after the end of French mandate control. However, the country’s post-independence journey was marked by political instability, with military coups, economic struggles and ongoing attempts to establish a stable political identity.
In 1971, Hafez al-Assad, a former military officer and member of the Ba’ath Party, took control in a coup, laying the foundation for the Assad dynasty. His rule, which lasted until he died in 2000, was marked by authoritarianism and brutal repression.
The regime relied heavily on surveillance, political oppression and military force to maintain power. The Hama massacre of 1982, where thousands of people were killed to quell an Islamist uprising, became a chilling symbol of the regime’s ruthlessness.
For over 50 years, the Assad family ruled with an iron fist. Hafez al-Assad’s grip on power was firm, creating a stable but oppressive order. His son, Bashar al-Assad, succeeded him in 2000, initially promising reforms, but ultimately continuing his father’s legacy of corruption, authoritarianism and cruelty. Despite its tight hold on power, the regime’s foundation began to crumble over time. The 2011 Arab Spring protests sparked the civil war that would tear the country apart.
The Syrian conflict became a complex and multifaceted struggle, with various factions, foreign interventions and shifting alliances at play. By 2024, the once-formidable Syrian military had been severely weakened by years of conflict, internal divisions and a diminishing external support base. Bashar al-Assad’s main allies, Russia and Iran, were preoccupied with their global challenges and began to scale back their support.
On December 8, 2024, a historic event unfolded. The fall of Damascus marked the end of the Assad dynasty’s rule over Syria. For decades, Damascus had been the epicentre of the regime’s authority, but as the sun set on the ancient city, it symbolised the end of an era of oppression, bloodshed and political control. The city fell to an unexpected lightning offensive by Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), an Islamist militant group. HTS, along with other rebel factions, had spent months quietly preparing, building alliances and gathering resources.
When the moment came, they struck swiftly and decisively, launching a surprise attack on Damascus.
The Assad regime’s response was disjointed. The streets of Damascus, once a stronghold of loyalists, were eerily
silent. The population, worn out by years of war and repression, had lost faith in the regime.
Internal corruption and mismanagement, coupled with the overextension of military resources had alienated much of the population.
The critical support of Russia and Iran had eroded, further weakening the regime’s ability to maintain control.
Syria had long been a proxy battleground for global and regional powers. Israel’s airstrikes on Iranian and Hezbollah positions weakened Assad’s regional allies. Meanwhile, Russia, once Assad’s most steadfast supporter, struggled to maintain its military presence due to the ongoing war in Ukraine. Iran, also facing challenges of its own, continued to support Assad through Hezbollah and other militias, but its influence was diminishing.
AS SYRIANS BEGIN TO REBUILD FROM THE ASHES OF THE ASSAD REGIME, THE FUTURE REMAINS UNCERTAIN. THE PEOPLE, AFTER ENDURING YEARS OF SUFFERING, NOW STAND AT A CROSSROADS. THE QUESTION IS WHETHER THEY CAN CHART A NEW COURSE, ONE THAT LEADS TO PEACE, RECONCILIATION AND A DEPARTURE FROM THE PAINFUL LEGACY OF THE PAST
The United States, despite its opposition to extremist groups like HTS, provided indirect support to stabilise the region and pursue counter-terrorism objectives.
Bashar al-Assad once considered a potential reformist, became a symbol of everything wrong with Syrian governance. His violent crackdown on peaceful protests, including the use of chemical weapons, mass arrests and brutal sieges turned him from an aspiring leader into a ruthless dictator.
By December 8, 2024, it was clear that Assad’s forces were no match for the rebel offensive. The Syrian Army, exhausted by years of war, crumbled under pressure and by early morning, Damascus was in rebel hands.
The fall of the city sent shockwaves throughout the world. Bashar al-Assad, who had endured 13 years of civil war and decades of autocratic rule, fled to Russia, which granted him political asylum. This marked the definitive end of the Assad regime, leaving Syrian fractured and without a leader.
Equities Market Exceeds N60trn
Mark as Investors
Set for Huge Gains in 2024
The Nigerian equities market has advanced into the N60 trillion territory, a record performance that boosts investors’ optimism for massive gains haul in the next 10 trading days to close the year.
At the end of trading on Friday, December 13, 2024, the local bourse recorded a surge in market capitalisation to N60.24 trillion, the highest in the history of the Nigerian Exchange (NGX).
The All-Share Index also jumped to 99,379.06 points, fuelling expectations of historic 100,000- point benchmark to round off the current year.
The market, which opened with N40.91 trillion capitalisation in January, closed at N60.24 trillion last Friday. This resulted in a N19.32 trillion gain for investors whose robust confidence led to a 20.8 percent growth. The AllShare Index rose by 15,604.29 points to closed at 99,378.06 points against 74,773.77 points on 29 December, 2023.
The All-Share Index surge beyond 99,000-threshold was driven by positive price movements in mid- and large-cap stocks. Market watchers believe that the remarkably bullish momentum sets the stage for a potential rally towards the muchanticipated 100,000-point mark in the nearest future.
With strong investor confidence and robust performance across key sectors, the Nigerian equities market is poised to sustain its upward trajectory into the New Year.
Last Friday’s performance of NGX market indices, which moved up 617.47 (0.63 percent) points after the previous day’s trading, to close at 99,378.06, represents a 1-week gain of 1.19 percent, a 4-week gain of 1.69 percent, and an overall year-to-date
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EDITOR Sam Diala
Concerns Over Declining Foreign Investments in Oil, Gas, Telecom
BY SAM DIALA
..Amid $1trn Economy Dream
Two critical sectors, oil, gas and telecommunications (Telecom), recorded poor foreign investment performance in the third quarter of the year (Q3 2024), according to the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) Capital Importation report for the period.
The two sectors constitute major pillars of the economy by revenue and employment generations and, also, play a major role in the real sector development. In the past, the sectors were in the league of top Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) beneficiaries which spurred rapid growth in gross domestic product (GDP).
Their recent poor foreign investment situation, therefore, constitutes a major concern about Nigeria’s ability to attain a $1 trillion economy by 2030. It also points to a bleak future for the economic agents in the sectors.
According to the latest capital importation data released by the NBS last week, the Oil & Gas sector recorded zero investment inflow for Q3 2024 compared to $0.85 million in the corresponding period of 2023, and $5 million in the preceding quarter (Q2 2024).
The sector also achieved zero capital importation in Q1 2024. Although oil and gas remains the mainstay of the economy, accounting for about 70 percent of government revenue, over 85 percent of total exports, and 95 percent of foreign exchange earnings, it has witnessed low gross domestic product (GDP) growth in recent times.
According to the NBS, the real GDP growth of the oil sector in Q3 2024, stood at 5.17 percent year-on-year, marking an improvement of 6.02 percentage points from the -0.85 percent recorded in Q3 2023.
However, this represents a decline from the 10.15 percent GDP growth posted in Q2 2024 as Nigeria continues to struggle with ramping up crude oil output.
Further disaggregation of the reports showed that the oil sector contributed 5.57 percent to the total real GDP in Q3 2024, higher than the 5.48 percent recorded in Q3 2023 but lower than the 5.70 percent contribution in Q2 2024.
“The oil and gas sector performance has not been impressive, generally. It has suffered immense decline in recent times through a combination of negative factors – ranging from policy disorderliness to hostile community attacks and the exit of oil and gas majors amid an unmitigated plague of corruption in the industry,” said Engr. Hezekiah Omagwu, an industry expert.
THEWILL recalls that majors like Exxon, Shell, TotalEnergies, and Eni had all opted to leave Nigeria’s oil-rich Niger delta in recent years to focus on deep-water drilling, citing security concerns, including theft and sabotage.
The departure of the majors resulted in a total of 26 onshore blocks later put on offer, holding an estimated reserve of 13.76 billion barrels of oil, 2.70 billion barrels of condensate, and about 90,717 billion cubic feet of gas, according to the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC).
Notwithstanding the dip in the sector’s fortune, crude oil, liquefied natural gas and other petroleum gases, constitute the most exported
commodities that fetch Nigeria the highest foreign exchange earnings.
According to the latest NBS Foreign Trade in Goods Statistics for Q3 2024, crude oil exports during the period were valued at ₦13.40 trillion; which represents an increase of 57.06 percent from ₦8.53 trillion in Q3 2023 and by 6.32 percent from ₦12.60 trillion in Q2 2024.
Other oil product exports in Q3 2024 stood at ₦4.57 trillion, showing an increase of 303.93 percent from ₦1.13 trillion in Q3 2023 and 53.01 percent from ₦2.99 trillion in Q2 2024.
BELEAGUERED TELECOM
The telecom sector suffered a similar fate. According to the latest capital importation data released by the NBS, the telecom sector recorded an 87 percent decline in foreign investments for the third quarter of 2024, marking a significant downtrend from the previous two quarters of the year. The NBS data shows that the sector attracted only $14.4 million in capital importation in Q3, a sharp decline from the $113.42 investments recorded in Q2 of this year.
Year-on-year, the Q3 2024 capital importation for the telecom sector also represents a 77 percent decline when compared with the $64.05 million achieved in the same period last year.
This came after years of consistent decline in investments even with a gaping infrastructure situation requiring billions of investments to bridge.
A close study of the sector’s performance showed that FDI in telecom in Q2 2024 stood at $113.4 million. While this is lower than the inflow recorded in the preceding quarter, it represents a whopping 339 percent increase over the $25.81 capital inflow recorded in the same period last year. However, the recent drop in foreign investment in the sector signals more challenging days ahead as the economy battles with high exchange rate and inflation. Industry experts stress that the issue of forex instability which affects the operators’ ability to import equipment is still a major problem that needs to be addressed to encourage more investments in the telecom sector. Other challenges include outrageous rights of way charges, multiple taxes, high cost of diesel to power their base
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Concerns Over Declining Foreign Investment... BUSINESS WEEKLY
stations and insecurity.
The telecom industry report for 2022 published in 2023 by the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) showed that total investment inflow to the industry in that year stood at $399.9 billion. This represents a 47 percent decline when compared with the $753 million recorded in 2021.
The statistics bureau further reports that the ICT sector dominated by the telecom industry was the third-largest contributor to the real GDP in Q3 2024, coming behind only crop production and trade industries, which contributed 26.51 percent and 18.78 percent respectively.
AT THE TIME THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT IS DRIVING THE DREAM OF A $1 TRILLION ECONOMY BY 2030, THERE ARE CONCERNS THAT DECLINE IN THE TELECOM, OIL AND GAS SECTORS, WHICH
HAD PLAYED PIVOTAL ROLES IN GDP GROWTH, SIGNALS CHALLENGING DAYS AHEAD
Before that, capital inflow into the telecom industry stood at $942.8 million in 2019, which made the 2021 inflow a decline, when compared with the pre-COVID-19 year.
On the GDP performance, activities in Information and Communications Technology (ICT) largely dominated by the telecom sub-sector, contributed 16.35 percent to Nigeria’s real GDP in Q3 2024, a decline from the 19.78 percent it added in the previous quarter, according to the NBS.
Continues from page 14
Industry stakeholders express concern that the once-booming telecom sector in Nigeria has continued its downward spiral with a continuous decline in GDP growth rate over the last one year. This highlights the sector’s growing importance in Nigeria’s economic landscape as a growth in the sector more often than not leads to an overall growth in the economy. Telecom is the engine room of the digital economy. A steady decline in the GDP growth rate of the sector for more than a year is a clear indication that things are not going the right way.
At the time the Federal Government is driving the dream of a $1 trillion economy by 2030, there are concerns that decline in the telecom and oil and gas sectors, which had played pivotal roles in the GDP growth, signals challenging days ahead.
Equities Market Exceeds N60trn Mark as Investors Set for Huge...
gain of 32.9 percent.
Compared with the previous NGX trading day (Thursday, December 12), last Friday’s data shows 9 percent improvement in volume, 5 percent improvement in turnover, and 2 percent improvement in deals.
On weekly basis, a total turnover of 2.729 billion shares worth N49.845 billion in 43,298 deals was traded last week ended December 13, by investors on the floor of the Exchange, in contrast to a total of 3.893 billion shares valued at N87.749 billion that exchanged hands the
previous week in 43,868 deals.
The Financial Services Industry (measured by volume) led the activity chart with 1.705 billion shares valued at N18.874 billion traded in 19,203 deals; thus contributing 62.48 percent and 37.87 percent to the total equity turnover volume and value respectively.
The ICT industry followed with 286.657 million shares worth N6.346 billion in 2,603 deals. Third place was the Oil and Gas Industry, with a turnover of 209.404 million shares worth N10.827 billion in 5,803 deals.
The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has reiterated that all versions of the naira, including the old and new designs of N1,000, N500, and N200 denominations, as well as the commemorative and previous designs of the N100 denomination, remain valid and continue to be legal tender without any deadline.
A statement signed on Friday, by Mrs Hakama Sidi Ali, Acting Director of Corporate Communications at the apex bank, urged the public to disregard any claims that the old series of the banknotes will cease to be legal tender on December 31, 2024.
The statement reads: “The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has observed the misinformation regarding the validity of the old N1000, N500 and N200 banknotes currently circulating.
“In line with the Bank’s previous clarifications and to offer further assurance, the CBN wishes to reiterate that the subsisting Supreme Court ruling granted on November 29, 2023, permits the concurrent circulation of all versions of the N1000, N500 and N200 denominations of the Naicirculatingra indefinitely.
“For the avoidance of doubt, all versions of the Naira, including the old and new designs of N1000, N500, and N200 denominations, as well as the commemorative and previous designs of the N100 denomination, remain valid and continue to be legal tender without any deadline.
“We, therefore, advise the public to disregard any claims that the old series of the aforementioned banknotes will cease to be legal tender on December 31, 2024. We urge Nigerians to continue accepting all Naira banknotes (both old and redesigned) for their daily transactions and to handle them with care to ensure their longevity.
“Furthermore, the general public is encouraged to embrace alternative modes of payment, such as e-channels, to reduce pressure on using physical cash.”
Polaris Bank Wins Sectoral Award at 2024 NECA Employers’ Excellence Event
Polaris Bank has achieved yet another milestone by emerging as the Sectoral Winner in the Banking and Other Financial Institutions Sector category at the 2024 NECA Annual Employers’ Excellence Awards.
The Bank received the sectoral recognition for its innovative HR practice at the NECA’s Excellence Awards, (the 4th edition) which held recently at the Balmoral Convention Centre, Ikeja.
The recognition is particularly significant as it marks the first award the Bank has received for its efforts in Human Resources Management, reaffirming Polaris Bank’s commitment to creating a people-oriented workplace culture.
The NECA Annual Employers’ Excellence Awards celebrate organizations that excel in key areas such as leadership and people management practices, sound human resource systems, effective corporate governance, responsible business conduct, technological innovation, Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) practices, and the elimination of child labour.
Speaking on the award, Polaris Bank’s Managing Director/CEO, Kayode Lawal, stated:
” Winning this prestigious award accentuates our deliberate approach to promoting an environment where employees can thrive, innovate, and contribute meaningfully to the Bank’s success.
“It also highlights Polaris Bank’s leadership commitment to evolving into an employer of choice and a great place to work.
“Congratulations to the entire Polaris Bank family for this outstanding achievement on a sectoral scale! This win is a testament to the hard work, dedication, and innovative spirit of every member of our team. It could not have been any BIGGER! ”
THEWILL recalls that Polaris Bank was adjudged Nigeria’s Digital Bank of the Year in 2024, 2023, 2022 and 2021 in Business Day’s Banks and Other Financial Institutions (BAFI) Awards.
Also, at the inaugural ‘MSME Finance Awards 2024’ organised by a digital media platform and The Economic Forum in Lagos last August, Polaris emerged Nigeria’s top bank in MSME Lending.
It was a notable achievement considering the emphasis the World Bank has laid on focusing on that sector to boost job creation and the
people’s standard of living.
The award, which highlighted Polaris Bank’s dedication to supporting MSMEs through various direct and indirect funding initiatives, was well received among stakeholders.
According to reports, the judges emphasised the bank’s consistent efforts in providing sustainable finance, which has enabled Nigerian entrepreneurs to grow and expand their businesses.
“This is a welcome development. At a time the manufacturing companies are facing a huge challenge in accessing foreign exchange to import raw materials and other accessories, this is the time to revisit the backward integration policy in particular with vigour,” said Engr. Dan Ikoku, owner of a grain processing outfit.
According to Abdulrasid Yarima, president/ chairman of the governing council of the Nigerian Association of Small and Medium Enterprises (NASME), about 10 percent of the 40 million MSMEs in the country have shut down since the subsidy removal.
In a statement late last year, Yarima said, “It’s been very tough for our members as we are managing to survive. Some of them are closing shops while others are looking for new business opportunities.”
Polaris Bank’s efforts in bridging the gap in MSME financing will go a long way in repositioning the small business operators to play their role in the economic development of the country.
PUBLIC FINANCE
Nigeria’s 2025 Budget: Gross Violation of Fiscal Responsibility Act
BY MARCEL OKEKE
Whenever (and if ever) it comes into existence, Nigeria’s 2025 Federal Budget is already a gross violation of the letter and spirit of the country’s Fiscal Responsibility Act (FRA) 2007. Specifically, the timelines enshrined in the Act with respect to the budgetary process have all been thoroughly breached by the Bola Tinubu Administration.
For instance, an annual budget is supposed to commence with the preparation of the Medium-Term Expenditure Framework (MTEF), four months before the commencement of the next financial year. Meaning that the MTEF (covering three years) should be ready, and presented to the National Assembly not later than August 31st each year.
Section 14 of the FRA says the Minister shall before the end of the second quarter (that is June) of each financial year, present the MTEF to the Federal Executive Council (FEC) for consideration and endorsement. This document, after approval (or adjustments) by the National Assembly, becomes the basis for the preparation of the estimates of revenue and expenditure for the actual budget.
The FRA also mandates the President to present the budget to the National Assembly at least three months before the commencement of the next financial year. (This means not later than September 30th). This provision is aimed at ensuring that the National Assembly has sufficient time to scrutinize the budget, and make necessary adjustments before its passage.
However, for Nigeria’s 2025 budget, it was not done until Thursday, November 14, 2024 that the FEC approved the MTEF (2025-2027) together with the Fiscal Strategy Paper (FSP). This NEC approval, going by the provisions of the FRA 2007 ought to have taken place by end-June 2024. And not later! Shockingly, the Federal Government went to town with the critical components of the MTEF and FSP, as if the final job had been done on the budget. The wild publicity was advertently pre-empting the duty of the National Assembly that must vet those documents.
Now, almost one month after the ‘improper release’ and publicity for the contents of the MTEF and FSP (including the proposed budget size of N47.9 Trillion), the 2025 Appropriation Bill is still in the cooler. Although the National Assembly has hastily rubber-stamped the MTEF and FSP, the submission of the 2025 Budget to the National Assembly has remained in the realm of speculation.
One week after his return, no word on the 2025 budget; Mr President has rather been playing host to visiting German President, Frank-Walter Steinmeier.
Unsurprisingly, however, President Tinubu is only on the road to beating the record he made last year, when he
Although the Presidency has not linked the delay in presenting the 2025 Appropriation Bill to the National Assembly to its feverish push for the approval of the Tax Reform Bills, the speculation is already gaining traction that the Government would most likely anchor the 2025 budget on the provisions of the Tax Bills
At a point, the rumour mill was awash with stories that Mr President would be submitting the 2025 Appropriation Bill after his state visits to France and South Africa. President Tinubu was in France from November 27 to December 1, 2024 for a three-day state visit. On Monday, December 2, Tinubu departed France for South Africa. He returned to Abuja on Wednesday, December 4, 2024.
presented his very first budget, for 2024, on Wednesday, November 29, 2023. The upshot of this was the rushed and muddled up legislative action on the budget by the National Assembly. In a bid to maintain the budget cycle (by having the 2024 budget from January 1), the National Assembly jumbled and joggled figures in the Appropriation Bill.
This hurried approval of the 2024 budget has since led to the resort to a Supplementary Appropriation Bill 2024 as well as the ‘recall’ of some portions of 2023 budget. And so, in fiscal 2024, there is the approved budget, the
supplementary budget and the ‘brought forward’ of the 2023 budget.
A peep into the not-so-glorious recent past shows that the restoration of the January to December budget cycle had been attained. Thus, in 2022, President Muhammadu Buhari presented the 2023 Appropriation Bill to the National Assembly on Friday, October 7, 2022. A year earlier, he had presented the 2022 Appropriation Bill on Thursday, October 8, 2021.
In line with the rule of law and due process, therefore, the provisions of the FRA 2007 as regards the budgetary process, were almost strictly adhered to under the Buhari administration. And without a doubt, the benefits of the certainty of a national budget cycle to businesses and other stakeholders cannot be overemphasised. Conversely, the uncertainty, indiscretion in fiscal management and lack of transparency embedded in muddled up budgets are a present danger to economic progress. Clearly, a delayed or rushed budgetary process, such as President Tinubu is reinstating (unwittingly, perhaps), is a recipe for failed public finance management. It is anathema to accountability and transparency in budgetary management.
At present, keeping the 2025 Appropriation Bill in limbo and putting virtually all Government resources in pursuit of the Tax Reform Bills presents an ominous augury. President Tinubu seems to be deploying everything in his ‘political armoury’ to push the Tax Bills through the Legislative process. This has been heating up the polity; ruffled not a few feathers and drawn the ire and opprobrium of some groups and interests.
Although the Presidency has not linked the delay in presenting the 2025 Appropriation Bill to the National Assembly to its feverish push for the approval of the Tax Reform Bills, the speculation is already gaining traction that the Government would most likely anchor the 2025 budget on the provisions of the Tax Bills. Unfortunately, the Tax Reform Bills are already entangled in a web of ethno-political contentions and contestations, with a number of groups calling for their withdrawal from the National Assembly.
Howbeit, the continued delay in the presentation of the 2025 Appropriation Bill for legislative deliberations, few days to end-2024, amounts to pulling the entire economy far into the woods. The distortions and disruptions inherent in truncating the budget cycle are enormous. The ripple and multiplier effects on economic agents (locally and internationally) are really unfathomable.
It goes without saying that the subsisting delay of the federal budget is rubbing off on the sub-nationals: states and local governments. Some provisions of the FRA 2007 make it imperative for these governments to take a cue from the fiscal stance and profiles of the Federal Government for their budgeting. No wonder therefore that a number of state governments are also yet unable to put their budgets 2025 together.
As year 2024 is fast drawing to a close, we hope the Federal Government appreciates the enormity of economic disaster ahead, without the 2025 budget in place. Time is indeed fast running out!
•Okeke is a practicing economist, business strategist, sustainability expert and ex-Chief Economist of Zenith Bank Plc
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EDITOR Ivory Ukonu
ENTERTAINMENT &SOCIETY WEEKLY
2024 Society Weddings That Won’t Be Forgotten in a Hurry
In 2024, wedding bells rang persistently as celebrities and socialites walked down the aisle. Some of the wedding ceremonies were so well organised that they cannot be forgotten in a hurry. Most of the couples ensured that no expenses were spared to hold their dream weddings. IVORY UKONU spotlights some of these weddings that shook the Internet and the social scene in 2024.
The Adelekes
Award-winning music star, David Adeleke, aka Davido, got married to his lover, Chioma on June 25. 2024. Coming a few months after the coupled welcomed a set of twins, it was the biggest wedding ceremony of 2024. The couple had lost their son, Ifeanyi the previous year. The extravagance and display of wealth at the wedding will remain memorable for quite some time. There were so many dignitaries in attendance despite a heavy downpour. Many of the important dignitaries in attendance were not only guests of Davido but also guests of his billionaire businessman father, Adedeji Adeleke, his uncle, the Governor of Osun State, Ademola Adeleke and his aunt, Chief Mrs Dupe Adeleke.
Politicians, including a former President, state governors, a representative of President Bola Tinubu and traditional rulers, businessmen and women, entertainment practitioners and the corporate world also attended the event. In fact, the guest list was endless. Much later, Davido claimed that his wedding day was the happiest day of his life. He revealed that Chioma, who he met when they were both students of Babcock University, Ogun State, was the reason he considered giving marriage a shot. He acknowledged that Chioma’s calm and grounded nature has helped him to effectively manage his public image, which can be controversial, and his private life.
DThe Ateres
The four-day wedding extravaganza of famous Nigerian luxury designer, Victoria James and her husband, Femi Atere, a businessman, caused quite a stir on social media. Victoria, whose fashion brand name is Veekee James used the opportunity that her wedding which took place on February 10, 2024, in Lagos State, provided, to showcase her skills as one of the most sought-after luxury fashion designers in Nigeria. Her white wedding dress was nothing short of spectacular. Being a renowned fashion designer, Victoria crafted her wedding gown with fabrics sourced from Istanbul, Turkey. Some fashion enthusiasts estimated the amount spent on her various wedding outfits to be nothing less than N50 million. Also, the significant amount of money spent on the wedding itself was evident in the luxurious displays with the chosen theme of the wedding being vintage. One of the highlights of the wedding was when the bride led 200 singers from the Lagos City Mass Choir in a heartfelt rendition of her own gospel song, ‘Olugbeja.’ The performance turned the wedding into a soulful concert, as the groom and the 200 singers went on their knees in worship. Victoria’s wedding will for sure be remembered as a milestone in the Nigerian fashion scene.
The Coles
espite the controversy that surrounded the union between chef, actress, sports presenter and content creator, Wofai Ifada and her lover, Taiwo Olakitan Cole, they still got married traditionally and held their civic wedding in Lagos a few weeks after. Taiwo’s family strongly disapproved of the relationship and did all they possibly could to prevent the wedding from taking place, including issuing a press release. They publicly distanced themselves from the union after images and videos of the traditional wedding ceremony held in Wofai’s home state in Ugep, Cross River, surfaced online. Kunle Cole, the family patriarch, vehemently denied any knowledge or approval of the union, insisting that ‘the Cole family of Victoria Island, Lagos,’ is not aware of any marriage ceremony involving their son, neither did they grant permission nor support in that regard. The family also warned against recognising anyone claiming association with them as a representative of the family. However, despite the family’s rejection, Wofai and Taiwo seem quite happy and recently welcomed a daughter.
N ollywood actor, Charles Okocha, aka Mr Phenomenal, shocked many when he announced that he was getting married. Not many believed him until the actual ceremony kicked off. Charles, who already has two teenage children from previous relationships has vowed to stay committed to his United States based nurse wife who he fondly refers to as Mimi.
STORIES BY IVORY UKONU
The Babalolas
The wedding of Amina Nicole Balewa and her lover, Professor Gboyega Edward Afe-Babalola was a fusion of two notable families from Northern and Southern Nigeria. While Amina is the daughter of Abduljalil Tafawa Balewa, a son of Nigeria’s first Prime Minister, Sir Abubakar Tafawa Balewa and Hajia Hafsat Balewa, the Chairperson of Ogun Guangdong Free Trade Zone and China-Africa Investment FZC, Gboyega is the son of Chief Afe Babalola, SAN. Their wedding, which spanned three days, culminated in a grand reception at Thisday Dome, Abuja. The event was more or less like a music concert, considering the number of artists that turned up to perform to the delight of guests which included a former president and his wife and a horde of politicians, businessmen and women etc. An entrepreneur, Amina plies her trade in the real estate industry while her beau, is the director of sports and an associate professor at his father’s university, Afe Babalola University Ado Ekiti (ABUAD). He also holds a PhD.
The Jacquets: The rich Benin culture and tradition of Edo State was on display when Etiosa Evisa, the daughter of Peter Igbinedion, one of the sons of the patriarch of the Igbinedion family, the Esama of Benin kingdom, Sir, Chief, Dr. Gabriel Osawaru Igbinedion and a former managing director of Federal Airport Authority of Nigeria, FAAN married her lover, British born Ian Samuel Jacquet in accordance with Benin native law and custom. The grand and colourful ceremony took place during the weeklong celebrations heralding the 90th birthday
The Jacquets
The rich Benin culture and tradition of Edo State was on display when Etiosa Evisa, the daughter of Peter Igbinedion, one of the sons of the patriarch of the Igbinedion family, the Esama of Benin kingdom, Chief Gabriel Osawaru Igbinedion and a former Managing Director of the Federal Airport Authority of Nigeria, FAAN married her lover, British-born Ian Samuel Jacquet in accordance with Benin native law and custom. The grand and colourful ceremony took place during the weeklong celebrations heralding the 90th birthday of the Igbinedion patriarch in September which was graced by several dignitaries from within and outside the country. The couple already held their civic wedding in the United Kingdom before travelling down to Nigeria to complete the traditional rites. They have a child together. Although the bride’s father was present, his older brother, Lucky, a former governor of Edo State played the role of the bride’s father. The bride’s mum was absent, having passed on 17 years ago. The groom’s parents were physically on the ground to witness the joyous moment.
ENTERTAINMENT &SOCIETY WEEKLY
The Okopis The Nwokes
of the Igbinedion patriarch in September which was graced by several dignitaries from within and outside the country. The couple already held their civic wedding in the United Kingdom before travelling down to Nigeria to complete the traditional rites. They have a child together. Although the bride’s father was present, his older brother, Lucky, a former governor of Edo State played the role of the bride’s father. The bride’s mum was absent, having passed on 17 years ago. The groom’s parents were physically on the ground to witness the joyous moment.
The Remis
Gospel singer, Peterson Okopi and fashion designer, Prudential Gabriel, practically dragged members of the Lagos society and entertainment scene to Port Harcourt in Rivers State, a few months ago for their lavish wedding ceremony dubbed ‘heavenonearth2024.’ It was one wedding that won’t be forgotten in a hurry.
The Ifeanyis
Despite an attempt by nitpickers to ruin the wedding of Nollywood actress, Sharon Ooja and her husband, Ugo Nwoke, with a story that Ugo had been thrice married to other women and not properly ending his third marriage, Sharon’s wedding was nothing short of magical. Not only did she look breathtakingly beautiful, slaying all her looks perfectly, her husband who made such a dapper groom pledged not to let Sharon down. The two-day ceremony took place in Abuja and like a typical celebrity wedding, it was an opulent and extravagant one with many of her industry colleagues flying into the Federal Capital City to support her with their presence.
The year 2024 started with an unexpected announcement from Nollywood actor, Kunle Remi, about his wedding. He had shared pre-wedding photos of himself and his wife, Boluwatiwi Oye online. But it wasn’t until his wedding day in Ibadan, Oyo State, that many people realised that his wife is a niece to billionaire businessman, Femi Otedola. The Otedola family was fully represented at the wedding led by Femi Otedola himself and his wife, Nana. Kunle’s wedding opened the floodgate for an avalanche of celebrity weddings all through the year. His colleague, Bimbo Ademoye whom many had thought would end up being his wife, was his best man.
In a grand display of opulence and tradition, Senator Victor Umeh, representing Anambra Central Senatorial District in the National Assembly on the platform of the All Progressives Grand Alliance, APGA, hosted members of his constituency and other dignitaries to the wedding of his daughter, Chidinma Uzoamaka to her lover, Obinna Cyril, the son of Chief Obiora Ifeanyi. Chief Ifeanyi, the Gburugburu of Ihiala in Anambra State, is the founder of Obikings Group, makers and marketers of two brands of very popular and widely accepted brands of home appliances, Century and Power Deluxe. The three-part festivities began with a civil ceremony and later a traditional wedding in Enugu State. The choice of Enugu may not be unconnected to the insecurity plaguing the southeast, specifically Anambra State where the two families hail from.
The ceremonies ended with a lavish white wedding in Abuja where a distinguished guest list from Nigeria’s elite, reflecting Umeh’s prominence in both political and social circles attended. While the groom works as the operations director in his father’s company, Chidinma who goes by her social media name, Dimmeh is a content creator, Youtuber, beauty, fashion and lifestyle blogger.
The Oshiomholes
Like billionaire businessman Dahiru Mangal, 2024 was also a wedding year for Senator Adams Oshiomhole who threw wedding parties for two of his sons. The first wedding party took place in Abuja earlier in the year and it was between one of his sons, Stephen and his lover, Emerita. It was also a perfect opportunity for Iara, the young wife of the Senator to make an appearance after a long absence that got many wondering if all was well between her and her much older husband. The second wedding party took place later in the year and it was between another son of the Senator, Emmanuel and his lover Chinwe Ufondu. They held their civic wedding in September and their traditional wedding in the first week of December.
ENTERTAINMENT &SOCIETY WEEKLY
STORIES BY IVORY UKONU
The Bakares The Enangs
The duo of Teni Sagoe, one of the creative forces behind Clan Fashion Label and daughter of fashion designer, Deola Sagoe and her lover, Seyi Bakare, one of the sons of Pastor Tunde Bakare, opted for a quiet wedding ceremony. In fact, many people were not aware of the marriage until THEWLL exclusively reported it. The wedding ceremony was a blend of elegance with cultural heritage. The union not only marked the coming together of two influential families but also symbolised the merging of creative and spiritual legacies, resonating deeply within Nigeria’s social and cultural spheres. Attended by notable figures from the worlds of fashion, business and the religious worlds, the ceremony was a beautiful fusion of traditional and contemporary elements, reflecting the couple’s appreciation for their cultural roots and modern sensibilities.
On Saturday October 26, billionaire businessman, Otunba Mike Adenuga Jnr, surprised many when he emerged from his shell to give Shade, one of his daughters with second wife, Titi, out in marriage to Adebola, the son of late Mr. Ademefun and Mrs. Idera Ogunsanya. As expected, the wedding had all the trappings of luxury and opulence. It was in fact, reminiscent of the wedding party he threw for Bella, his daughter with his ex-wife, Emilia Adefolake Marquis. Se-Se’s groove, Ikoyi, Lagos, the venue of the wedding, was transformed, using the services of the finest florists, event planners etc. to create an unforgettable dream wedding. Every element, from the lavish décor to the intricately designed invitation cards, was curated to reflect the couple’s union in a way that mirrors the prestige of both families. The nation’s elite gathered for an unforgettable evening filled with glitz, glamour, and celebration, proving once again that when it comes to family, Adenuga spares no expense. 29-year-old Shade is a certified Barrister and Solicitor of the Supreme Court of Nigeria, currently serving as a Group Executive Director of MA Group and the founder of QuickLaw.
The journey of Nigerian born gospel artiste, Moses Eyoh Enang, aka Moses Bliss and his lover, Ghanaian-born Marie Wiseborn becoming man and wife was nothing short of romantic. From meeting on Instagram after she tagged him in a video of her dancing to his popular song, ‘Miracle no Dey tire Jesus,’ to his proposal to her where he had to travel all the way to the United Kingdom, hired an orchestra and performed a song that he specially composed for her - that was the kind of stuff one can only see in movies. The couple had their civil wedding on February 27, 2024, in Abuja, Nigeria and their traditional wedding in Accra. Rather than opt for a bachelor’s party, he chose to throw a gospel music concert for his fans in Ghana. Many of his colleagues in Nigeria and beyond were on ground to lend their support. His white wedding, which held in Ghana, was also opulent in all ramifications. It was attended by several Nigerian gospel preachers and the groom’s colleagues in the gospel music industry, as well as members of the Nigerian entertainment industry.
The Ademefuns
The Mangals
2024 was a wedding year for Dahiru Mangal the billionaire businessman who serves as the Founder and Chairman of Max Airline. He hosted dignitaries to the wedding of three of his children. Earlier in the year, April to be precise, he hosted the northern elite to the grand wedding of his daughter, Nafisa, to her lover, Muhammad Bashir Mangal who happens to be the bride’s uncle. Six months after, in November to be precise, he threw another lavish wedding party for his second daughter, Zainab who married her heartthrob, Alhaji Atiku Ibrahim in a wedding ceremony that spanned three days. And still in the same November, he alongside Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, the 2023 presidential candidate of the New Nigerian Peoples Party (NNPP) hosted the creme de la creme to the wedding of their children, Engineer Fahad Mangal and Dr Aisha Kwankwaso. The wedding Fatiha took place at the Kofar Kudu Palace of the Emir of Kano, Khalifa Dr. Muhammadu Sanusi II. The Kano State governor, Abba Kabir Yusuf who is an inlaw to Kwankwaso stood in as the bride’s father during the ceremony. He personally handed over the bride to the family of the groom.
The Shagayas
The families of billionaire businesswoman, Hajia Bola Shagaya, and entrepreneur cum politician, Senator Tolulope Odebiyi became united via the wedding of their children, Muktar Tolani Shagaya, a member of the Kwara State House of Assembly representing Ilorin West/Asa Constituency and Ayotola Oluwatoyin Odebiyi. Muktar is the third son of the businesswoman. The wedding extravaganza happened over a period of four days. From the Henna night to the bride’s mother’s night, to the traditional ceremony, all of which took place in Lagos and the grand finale, a reception party which was held at the Transcorp Hilton Hotel, Abuja on Friday July 12. Without mincing words, lavish and extravagant for lack of a better e word is the best way to describe the wedding event. The parents of the bride and groom left nothing to chance as they ensured their children and their guests had the best of times. Among the dignitaries that attended the wedding were a former President, the nation’s current Vice President, two former first ladies of the nation, state governors, politicians, businessmen and women, the corporate sector, etc.
SHOTS OF THE WEEK
Photo Editor: Peace Udugba [08033050729]
L-R: CEO, Commonwealth Enterprise and Investment Council (CWEIC), Mrs. Rosie Glazebrook; Governor of Lagos State, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu; Commissioner for Commerce, Cooperatives, Trade & Investment, Mrs. Folashade Ambrose-Medebem and the Chairman of CWEIC’s Nigeria Advisory Board, Mr. Supo Shasore, during the signing of MoU between Lagos Government and CWEIC, at the Lagos House, Marina on December 10, 2024.
L-R: Managing Director, TeamApt Ltd, Dennis Ajalie; Partner, Digital Engineering, Deloitte, Oluwole Oyeniran; Chairman, Association of Licensed Telecoms Operators of Nigeria (ALTON), Gbenga Adebayo; Chief Executive Officer, Emtech, Carmelle Cadet; Chief Operating Officer, Nigerian Financial Intelligence Unit (NFIU), Dr. Mohammed Jiya and Founder, aCubed Limited, Wunmi Ogunbiyi, at the Committee of e-Banking Industry Heads (CeBIH) Conference 2024 held in Lagos recently.
L-R: The Macallan Brand Educator and Ambassador, Lagos, Daniel Atteh; Assistant Brand Manager, Edrington Portfolio, Nigeria, Idorenyin Emmanson; Premium Spirit and HoReCa Director, Coca-Cola Hellenic, Ioannis Simos and Senior Brand Manager, Edrington Portfolio, Nigeria, Hammed Adebiyi at the unveiling of ATAFO’s Spring/Summer 2025 Collection, held at the Centre Point, Ikoyi, Lagos recently.
Guest Speaker, Prof. Matilda Banwat, Guest Speaker, Prof.
Association of
ceremony of 2024 Annual General Meeting/Scientific Conference of Association of Resident Doctors (ARD) Jos University Teaching Hospital (JUTH) branch in Jos on December 11, 2024.
Special Survey, Household Statistics Division, National Bureau of Statistics, Mr. Henry Olisaemeka; Head of Technical Unit on Governance and Anti-Corruption Reforms (TUGAR), Jane Onwumere; Minister of Youth Development, Comrade Ayodele
and
L-R: Wife of the Chairman, Ibadan Central Hospital, Mrs. O. Olamitoye; her husband, Chairman, Ibadan Central Hospital, Dr. Abib Olamitoye; President/Founder, Care People Foundation, Rev. Paul Tioluwani - Lesekese and the Vice President of Care People Foundation, Barrister Favour Tioluwani – Lesekese, during the Carnival for Physically challenged, Orphans, Widows and the less privileged, organised by the Care People Foundation in Ibadan Oyo State on December 8, 2024.
L-R:
Chungdung Miner and President,
Resident Doctors (ARD) Jos University Teaching Hospital (JUTH) branch, Dr. Kwarshak Kevin, during the inauguration
Olawande; Country Representative, United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), Mr Cheikh Toure, during the commemoration of the 2024 International Anti-corruption Day organised by the Ministry of Youth Development
UNODC in Abuja on December 10, 2024.
ogannah@thewillnews.com
No One Deserves African Footballer of the Year Award More Than Lookman
Nigerian international, Ademola Lookman, has emerged as a standout candidate for the Men’s African Footballer of the Year award, with compelling reasons supporting his nomination. His remarkable achievements with Atalanta in Italy and the Nigerian national team clearly puts him ahead of his contemporaries.
The highlight of Lookman’s year was his extraordinary performance in the UEFA Europa League final. In a breathtaking 26-minute spell, he scored a historic hat-trick against the previously unbeaten Bayer Leverkusen, earning Atalanta its first continental title since 1963. This achievement also made him the first player to score a hat-trick in a UEFA Europa League final since 1975 - a feat that immediately set him apart from other nominees.
During the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON), Lookman proved equally impressive. He was the creative heartbeat of the Nigerian national team, scoring crucial goals that propelled the Super Eagles to the final of the tournament. His double against Cameroon in the Round of 16 and a decisive winner against Angola in the quarter-finals demonstrated his ability to perform under significant pressure.
In Serie A, Lookman maintained an exceptional standard of performance. He contributed directly to 18 goals in the previous season and continued his form into the current campaign, registering 12 goals and assists in just 12 matches. In a significant global recognition, he was nominated for the prestigious Ballon d’Or, finishing as the highest-ranked African player in the 2024 awards. His impressive 14th place in the final standings underscores his status as one of the top players in the world and highlights the significant impact he has made on the global stage. His consistent brilliance earned him Atalanta’s Player of the Season Award and inclusion in the Europa League Team of the Year.
When comparing Lookman to other nominees, his achievements stand out significantly. Morocco’s Achraf Hakimi, despite winning a league-and-cup double with Paris Saint-
Germain, did not match Lookman’s historical impact. Guinea’s Serhou Guirassy scored 28 goals in the Bundesliga, but failed to secure silverware and struggled with injuries. Ivory Coast’s Simon Adingra showed promise during AFCON but lacked Lookman’s consistency in club football.
Lookman’s playing style draws interesting comparisons with the Nigerian-English Arsenal star Bukayo Saka. While Saka is known for his versatility and tactical intelligence, Lookman excels with explosive pace, exceptional dribbling, and creativity in attacking positions. Both players can change game dynamics, but Lookman’s recent European and international performances give him a distinct edge.
The broader context of Nigerian football adds depth to Lookman’s story. Nigeria’s fortunes in the African Player of the Year awards have been notably positive in recent years, especially with Victor Osimhen winning the award last year. This marks a significant moment for Nigerian football, as it highlights the resurgence of talent within the country. The back-to-back recognition of Nigerian players at this prestigious level is a source of pride and optimism, contrasting sharply with the often negative narratives surrounding Nigeria in the media. The success of players like Lookman and Osimhen serve as a reminder of the potential that still exists within the nation, and it is a testament to the hard work and dedication of these athletes.
This positive narrative surrounding Nigerian football can be replicated across other sectors in the country..
With the Confederation of African Football set to announce the winner of the African Footballer of the Year award this Monday, December 16, 2024, it is crucial that it recognises the outstanding contributions of Lookman. The integrity of the voting process must be upheld, ensuring that the most deserving candidate is honoured. It is essential for CAF to avoid the pitfalls of political favoritism that have marred other institutions, such as the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in Nigeria, which has faced criticism for not allowing the democratic process to function as intended. I therefore urge CAF to prioritise merit and performance over
political considerations, ensuring that the award reflects the true spirit of African football.
The potential recognition would represent more than a personal achievement. It would signal the continued growth of African football, highlighting the continent’s capacity to produce worldclass talent capable of competing at the highest international levels. For Lookman, this award would be a fitting recognition of an extraordinary year. His journey represents the best of modern football: talent, determination, humility and the ability to excel across different competitions and challenges.
It is my view that Lookman’s performances have not just been impressive; they have been transformative, setting a new standard for what African footballers can achieve on the global stage.
If Nigeria can allow its best talents to excel in various fields, including sports, public office and governance, it could pave the way for a brighter future. The success of individuals in their respective domains can inspire a new generation and foster a culture of excellence. By supporting and nurturing talent, Nigeria can shift the narrative from one of struggle to one of achievement and progress
