OnahNwachukwu Editor, THEWILL DOWNTOWN
When Tiwa Savage took on her debut role as Aisha for the movie Water & Garri, she knew it would be a challenge, so she worked with an acting coach in London for two weeks. Much like Savage’s real-life story, it tells the tale of an ambitious fashion designer who leaves home for the U.S. and returns home 10 years later. Tiwa Savage admits the experience was eye-opening, “I didn’t take the opportunity lightly. I worked with an acting coach in London for around two weeks, and that experience was eye-opening.”
The movie also starred Jemima Osunde, who played Stephany, Aisha’s cousin. Stephany, as a character, is a bubbly person, and Osunde says she loved the character and wanted to be the one to bring her to life.
I haven’t seen the movie yet but I hear the chemistry between Tiwa Savage and Jemima Osunde is one for the books. Read their interview on pages 8 to 10.
Our Travel page delves into the joy of travelling with friends, amplifying the fun and making for a more memorable trip. Flip to page 7 for this exciting read.
Downtown Confidential highlights some erotic books couples should have on their bookshelf to spice up their relationship. You’ll find that on page 15.
The Beauty page is a treasure trove of beauty hacks that can simplify your routine. These are tips everyone should have up their sleeve. Discover them in 6 Beauty Hacks to Simplify Your Routine on page 12.
Online communities are becoming more popular in this era of technology, so we discuss some rules to guide you in your online community.
Don’t forget to click on the instructions below the QR codes to download the playlist. You’ll love it.
Until next week, enjoy your read.
Echoes of the horrors in Okuama, a sleepy town in Delta State, which the Nigerian Army recently ‘sacked’ after 13 officers and soldiers on peace mission were killed in a controversial ambush, reverberated across the five states in the South-East geopolitical zone on Friday.
Five soldiers of the OP UDOKA security unit at a military checkpoint at Obikabia Junction in Obingwa Local Government Area of Abia State were killed last Thursday, their patrol vehicles burnt, and weapons stolen by unknown gunmen.
Reacting to the killing, army spokesperson, MajorGeneral Edward Buba, who identified the killers as terrorists of the Independent Peoples of Biafra, IPoB, a pro-Biafra separatist group and its armed wing, the Eastern Security Network, ESN, said, “It is absolutely imperative that the military retaliate against this dastardly act against troops,'' adding, ''The military would be fierce in its response. We will bring overwhelming military pressure on the group to ensure their total defeat.”
Shortly afterwards, the army released the identity of the murdered soldiers, further heightening tension.
The deceased included two Sergeants, two Corporals, one Lance Corporal and six civilians who were killed in the crossfire.
The soldiers were identified as:
1. Sergeant Charles Ugochukwu (94NA/38/1467)
2. Sergeant Bala Abraham (03NA/53/1028)
3. Corporal Gideon Egwe (10NA/65/7085)
4. Corporal Ikpeama Ikechukwu (13NA/70/5483)
5. Corporal Augustine Emmanuel (13NA/70/6663)
The military signal further disclosed that the assailants also took away 5 AK47 rifles, razed two military patrol vehicles and injured two civilians.
The signal read, “Gunmen who were enforcing a Sit-At-Home order numbering about 30, stormed troops location in 3 black Toyota Land Cruiser SUVs and opened fire during which 5 x Soldiers were killed.”
The military declaration heightened tension throughout the South-East where the Nigerian Army has been on duty to curb insecurity linked with the separatist activities of IPoB, whose sitat home orders on select Mondays to protest the detention of their leader, Nnamdi Kanu since 2021 and pressure the Federal Government to release him have negatively impacted the economy of the South-East as schools, banks, markets and businesses always shut down in compliance with the orders.
On Saturday, the Federal Government weighed in. It described the killing as barbaric and abominable and vowed to obtain justice for the dead.
Minister of State for Defence, Bello Matawalle, vowed that those responsible for the heinous act would be brought to justice.
The Minister, in a statement by the Director, Ministry of Defence, Henshaw Ogubike, said the killing of the military personnel was totally reprehensible and disheartening.
“The brutal assassination of the soldiers in Aba was without any provocation while on a lawful duty, protecting innocent citizens against the threat of non-state actors,” he said.
He condoled with the families of the deceased personnel and the Nigerian military, emphasized the role of communities in counter-terrorism and reaffirmed the government's commitment to supporting the military in their efforts to defeat IPOB, ESN and other criminals in other regions of the country to ensure total security in the nationurging the troops not to be deterred by the attack.
Recall that the Obikabia Junction attack occurred a few days after the leader of the proscribed IPoB, Nnamdi Kanu, was denied bail on May 19, 2024, almost three years since his arrest and incarceration by the Department of State Services, DSS.
Drawing a parallel of his continued detention with the ongoing insecurity in the geo-political zone, foremost Nigerian security outfit in a recent security report dated April 2024, which was made available to THEWILL, said, among others: “It is assessed as credible that the unresolved nature of this highprofile case continues to hold the potential to escalate tensions and provoke unrest in the SouthEast region. This underscores the delicate balance between legal proceedings and regional stability, thereby necessitating continued monitoring and preparedness for response strategies to ensure the security of enterprises and individuals within the affected areas.”
IPoB did not help matters as it neither denied nor confirmed carrying out the attack as alleged by the military and instead went on to praise as successful the sit-at-home order it issued for May 30 in commemoration of what it called ‘Biafra Day.’
Media and Publicity Secretary of IPoB, Comrade Emmanuel Powerful, said nothing in relation to the attack in the lengthy statement he issued on Friday, shortly after the military issued its statement. In fact, he sounded hostile and threatening.
According to him, the total compliance with the sit-at home order, which was largely obeyed in many parts of the South-East is an indication that “the Noble family and movement of the great Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) ably led by the prophet of our time, Mazi Nnamdi Okwu Kanu, is in full control of the region as, IPOB remembers the genocide of over 6 million Biafrans murdered during 1967-1970 genocidal war.”
In a boastful display of audacity, Powerful added that the group had sent a strong message to the government that it “is a state actor that is fully in control of Biafra territory,” and lamented that the “continuous illegal detention of Mazi Nnamdi Kanu,” was enough testimony of the “persecution against Ndigbo. “
He asked why the Federal Government “dropped charges against a Fulani confirmed terrorist leader
of Miyetti Allah militia and consequently freed him from DSS detention, … dropped charges against a Yoruba activist, Sunday Igboho, who called for the Oduduwa Republic and a former presidential candidate, Omoyele Sowore, who was arrested and charged with treason for calling for revolution in Nigeria, has been released, yet Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, who is Igbo, was kidnapped and extraordinarily renditioned from Kenya to Nigeria, still remaining in detention against local and international laws.”
WHO DID IT?
Although the army, which vowed to investigate the killing, has identified IPoB/ ESN as the culprit, some of whose members rode on three tinted Prado Toyota SUVs, while others surrounded the checkpoints. The President-General of Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide, Chief Emmanuel Iwuanyanwu, condemned the killing, saying, “The height of criminality is to kill soldiers who have been trained to protect the rest of us. “
He blamed the insecurity situation in the SouthEast on “criminals who broke away from the jail and now live in surrounding bushes with no means of livelihood and are ready to die for any cause.”
Generally, he identified the lack of moral and values among the younger generation who have lost anchor with the moors of their progressive forebears. He begged the military to refrain from carrying out their threat to retaliate and deal decisively with the yet-to-be identified killers, because “two wrongs do not make a right” and innocent persons would certainly be affected.
The Abia State Government in whose territory the killing happened immediately placed a bounty of N25 million on the head of the gunmen that perpetrated the attack.
The Commissioner for Information, Prince Okey Kanu, among other things, said, “To underscore
“To
underscore its resolve, the State Government is offering a N25 million reward to anyone with
useful
information
that could lead to the location and arrest of any of the criminals connected to the unfortunate killings, and the subsequent state of apprehension across the city of Aba and environs
its resolve, the State Government is offering a N25 million reward to anyone with useful information that could lead to the location and arrest of any of the criminals connected to the unfortunate killings, and the subsequent state of apprehension across the city of Aba and environs.”
Iwuayanwu on Friday night disclosed that he would soon summon a meeting of the five governors and elders in the South-East to chart a common front on this problem. As an immediate solution, he said the jail breakers who are majorly those behind the killing in the zone would have to be rehabilitated. Another immediate solution, he said, is for the Federal Government to release Nnamdi Kanu.
Recounting his three-hour visit to Kanu last week, the Ohanaeze president said the IPoB leader denied knowledge of the sit-at-home orders and made a promise that he would mobilise the youths to stop it if he is released. He described the longterm solution as constitutional and called on President Bola Tinubu to heed the call for political restructuring and initiate amendment of the Constitution to that effect.
The Presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party in the 2023 general election, Atiku Abubakar, while sympathising with the military over the killing of its troops, called for a political solution to the insecurity of the zone. Taking to his X handle during the weekend, he called for thorough investigation to unmask and separate those he referred to as criminals hiding under the separatist agitation from “legitimate agitators,” he said, “Without prejudice to the ongoing legal processes, I think the time has come to explore a political resolution to the Nnamdi Kanu and other associated issues.
“I believe that this will defuse the compressor cooker situation in the region. It will be a win-win for all parties,” he said.
Apart from resolving to work together with the security agencies and relevant stakeholders to address the insecurity in the zone, the five state governors who expressed sympathy with the military authorities, told the citizens of their various states: “We are after the perpetrators. Those who think we shouldn’t live should not live.”
A security expert who spoke to THEWILL on condition of anonymity, praised the South-East governors for rising to the occasion to condemn the killing, adding that if they sustained the joint action to work as a unit, they may be able to provide the necessary, bigger platform and support to security agencies and their citizenry.
“Individually, they have worked to address the insecurity in their respective states. But their individual efforts have not been and cannot be enough. That was why when insecurity infested Anambra, Governor Soludo, who rejected the theory of unknown gunmen and disclosed that home boys were involved, fought it and it appeared to migrate to other areas like Ebonyi, increased in Imo and now Abia. If they band together as they want to do now, they would achieve a lot of mileage in fighting insecurity in the South-East,” the expert said.
Kogi state Commissioner of Water Resources, Engr. Yahaya Farouk, has expressed the political will of Governor Ahmed Usman Ododo's administration to tackle scarcity of potable water supply in Lokoja and other communities across the state.
The Commissioner gave the hint while briefing Journalists on the efforts of the present government to ensure that citizens have access to clean drinking water.
According to the Commissioner, "the current administration, under the leadership of Governor Ahmed Usman Ododo and his Ministry are not sleeping over the scarcity of portable water in Lokoja and other parts of the state"
He said that the governor, had given his strong political will to actualise restoration of potable water in Lokoja and other communities across the state.
The Federal Government has described as barbaric and abominable, the killing of five soldiers on lawful duty at Obikabia Junction in Obingwa Local Government Area of Abia State, vowing that the perpetrators must face justice. Earlier, the Defence Headquarters declared that five soldiers and six civilians were killed on Thursday, during the attack by suspected members of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) and their armed wing, the Eastern Security Network (ESN).
Condemning the sad incident, Minister of State for Defence, Bello Matawalle, vowed that those responsible for the heinous act would be brought to justice.
The Minister, in a statement by the Director, Ministry of Defence, Henshaw Ogubike, said the killing of the military personnel was totally reprehensible and disheartening.
“The brutal assassination of the soldiers in Aba was without any provocation while on a lawful duty, protecting innocent citizens against the threat of non-state actors,” he said.
The Minister condoled the families of the deceased personnel and the Nigerian military, urging the troops not to be deterred by the attack.
Emphasising the role of local communities in counterterrorism, Matawalle urged citizens to provide information that could aid military operations against terrorist groups and keep faith in Nigeria.
The Coalition of Northern Groups (CNG) is partnering with critical stakeholders to combat insecurity bedevilling the region.
The critical stakeholders include Associations of Northern Artistes, Social Media Influencers and Bloggers.
A Communiqué issued at the end of an interactive session held in Kano, the CNG and the relevant stakeholders resolved to collaborate and change the narrative in addressing the security challenges facing the region, from negative to positive narratives.
The Communiqué said this is aimed at "dissuading the law abiding public from participating in the prevailing social vices."
The document, which was signed by the National Coordinator of the Coalition, Jamilu Aliyu Charanchi, said participants at the meeting also resolved to mount collective efforts to fight kidnapping, banditry and farmers-herders conflict.
Others are cattle rustling, criminal abduction for ransom, ethno-religious tensions, stigmatisation, out-of-school children, youth restiveness, political thuggery and drug abuse, among others.
The participants also stressed the need to forge close ties and strong synergy between and amongst all the three tiers of government in order to effectively tackle the insecurity ravaging the region.
The session also strongly emphasised the importance of deploying robust and adequate usage of the non-kinetic approach, with a view to mobilising the participation of the whole of society in the war against the lingering insecurity challenges.
"Participants equally expressed the firm view, that, in line with international best practice, it is widely expected that governments at all levels must rise up to the challenge of providing tangible support and meaningful assistance to the devastated communities to facilitate their speedy recovery.
"The Interactive Session was unanimous in urging the federal government in particular, to reactivate the welldesigned and people friendly programme of Rehabilitation, Resettlement and reintegration of all displaced communities throughout the region,” the communiqué read.
The Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Mr. Festus Keyamo, has announced the temporary suspension of the controversial $300 helicopter landing fee approved by the ministry recently.
Keyamo also constituted a committee to look into the issues raised by concerned stakeholders and submit a report on or before the end of June 2024.
This is coming after the Airline Operators of Nigeria (AON) rejected the fee, insisting it was commercially injurious to chopper operators and the Nigerian economy in general.
Spokesman of the Ministry, Mr Odutayo Oluseyi, in a statement on Friday, said the Minister’s directive took effect from May 30, 2024, adding that further actions on the matter would be taken after the review committee submits its report for scrutiny.
The committee, according to Oluseyi, comprises members drawn from the Ministry of Aviation and Aerospace Development and its relevant Agencies, Airline Operators of Nigeria (AON), International Oil Companies (IOCs) and Messers NAEBI Dynamic Concept Limited, which was granted the exclusive right by the Federal Government to collect such levies.
The minister had on April 25 directed stakeholders and civilian helicopter operators to pay a levy of $300 per landing to NAEBI Dynamic Concept Ltd, a consultant contracted by the ministry.
L-R: National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu; Chief of Defence Staff, General Christopher Musa; President of the Senate and representative of President Bola Tinubu, Godswill Akpabio; Chief of Army Staff, Lt Gen. Taoreed Lagbaja and Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshall Hazan Abubakar, during the commissioning of Headquarters of Defence Intelligence Agency, by President Tinubu in Abuja on May 30, 2024.
As Akwa Ibom State Government gets set to re-write its own tourism narratives, the Commissioner for Culture and Tourism, Sir Charles Udoh, has said that the 1914 Amalgamation relics are in Ikot-Abasi Local Government Area of the state and not in Zungeru. The Commissioner said the need to re-write all contentious tourism stories of the state is geared at placing Akwa Ibom in its rightful position as the tourism capital of Nigeria.
Already, the state government is drumming home the tourism story that the 1914 amalgamation of the Northern and Southern protectorates of Nigeria by Federick Lugard took place in Ikot-Abasi, not Zungeru, Niger State, as erroneously documented by non state actors.
Sir Charles Udoh said, this is based on the fact that, the relics of the epochal history such as the old Amalgamation House, old typewriter, archaic telephone and other surviving materials, which Lord Lugard ferried to Akwa Ibom are all seen in Ikot Abasi.
The Commissioner made this position known on Thursday, in Uyo, while welcoming the newly posted Permanent Secretary, Mrs Grace Akpan, to his ministry.
Sir Charles Udoh, who introduced the new Permanent Secretary to all headquarters staff of the Ministry of Tourism and Culture, disclosed that another narrative that must be changed is the 1929 Women’s War, which took place in Ikot Abasi, but has been erroneously captured in history books over the years, as the "Aba Women Riot".
Regretting that, these false tourism stories have been widely accepted for decades now across the globe, the commissioner said momentum is high towards changing all contentious tourism narratives about the state and called on all hands to be on deck in this regard. Udoh emphasised that only Akwa Ibom people that can best tell their own story. He called on all indigenes to brace themselves to join the government to change the tourism narratives of the state positively for posterity and generations yet unborn.
The House of Representatives says it was yet to receive any bill seeking a regional system of government in Nigeria. THEWILL reports that the Bill, seeking to substitute the Annexure to Decree 24 of 1999 with a new governance model for the Federal Republic of Nigeria, is already generating public reaction.
Titled “A Bill for an Act to Substitute the Annexure to Decree 24 of 1999 with a new governance model for the Federal Republic of Nigeria", a copy of the bill obtained by THEWILL, was drafted by one Dr. Akin Fapohunda as a private bill.
The draft seeks, among other things, new extant laws to be cited as “The Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria New Governance Model for Nigeria Act 2024.”
Reacting swiftly to the development, Spokesperson of the House of Representatives, Akin Rotimi, denied knowledge of the bill. He added that the said bill is not before the lawmakers and is not under consideration before the House.
“The Committees on Rules and Business and Constitution Review have confirmed that there is no such bill before them,” Rotimi told Punch. Similarly, the Chairman of the House Committee on Rules and Business, Francis Waive, said the bill is not before the committee.
“There are two routes to making presentations for constitutional amendments. One is by members proposing an amendment bill during the plenary. The second is by memoranda from individuals and groups to the Constitution Review Committee. “Please, note that memoranda submitted should eventually come by way of bills sponsored by a member of the committee.
“On this specific memo (draft bill) under reference, I doubt if it has come before the Rules and Business Committee for listing. I speak as Chairman of the committee.” Earlier, Deputy Senate President, Jibrin Barau, said the draft bill reflects personal views.
“That bill on the parliamentary system is their sponsors’ views. We have received several presentations concerning what people think should be in our constitution,” he said.
The Benue State Government has agreed with a company to provide 100 tractors for farmers this cropping season. The Director-General, Bureau for Agricultural Development and Mechanisation, Engr. Terese Ninga, explained that the supply is part of the 1,000,000 tractors the Hyacinth Alia Administration promised to buy for farmers in the state.
"Already, the government has set up a Mechanisation Committee to move the state out of the primitive way of farming. So far, 100,000 farmers in the state have been profiled at the initial stage." The director-general expressed the hope that over 3 million farmers will be registered in the next four years to pave the way for a fully mechanised system, which will be the first of its kind in the history of Benue State.
Engr Ninga, who was fielding questions from Radio Benue on achievements of Governor Hyacinth Alia's one year in office, noted that the Bureau, a creation of the present government, is aimed at achieving mechanised farming.
According to him, Governor Alia’s government is also set to revamp the extension of agriculture services, maintaining that the Benue community will continue to witness innovations in the farming sector to boost their yields. Meanwhile, the prices of food items have continued to soar in the market, with a tin of rice going for N32,000 at Wurukum Rice Mill market, while a big tuber of yam is sold at the cost of N1,200. Our checks revealed that a milk cup of beans is sold for between N250 and N260, while a small bottle of palm oil goes for N700 as a short distance drop by Okada Rider is N300.
A market woman, Mrs Dorothy Aze, attributed the rise in prices of foodstuff to the high cost of transporting goods from local markets to the urban areas for sale.
A Makurdi-based transporter, Mr Igaber Utyo, said that at the moment, a litre of fuel in some filling stations has risen as high as N860, attributing it to a rise in transportation costs.
The crisis in the Edo State chapter of the Labour Party heightened during the stakeholders meeting between the Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, Professor Mahmood Yakubu and Chairmen of 17 political parties for the state governorship poll in BeninCity, the state capital.
When it was time for introduction, two people presented themselves as the state Chairman of the party.
First to speak, Mrs Elizabeth Ativie, who introduced herself, thus “I am the Right Honourable Elizabeth Uyimwen Ativie. By the grace of God, I am the youngest and the latest chairman in town, the Chairman of the Labour Party, Edo State.”
Rising swiftly to counter her, Mr Kelly Ogbaloi took the microphone, cleared his voice and said, “I am Comrade Kelly Ogbaloi (KSE), Chairman, Labour Party, Edo State.” The participants roared into laughter.
For both of them, however, there was no time for jokes as the issues which their actions threw up aptly captured the state of things in the party in the state.
Speaking with THEWILL in a brief interview, Mr Ogbaloi said, “I am the substantive Chairman of the Labour Party in Edo State. As far as I am concerned, I am not aware of a change of position in Edo State and I will continue to do my work until such a time that people are back to rectitude to do what is right. That was why I was in INEC.”
Explaining further about the embarrassing display at the INEC meeting, he said he heard “in the air”, that Mrs Ativie was appointed by the suspended National Chairman of the Party, Julius Abure, even though he was not formally informed. “But I doubt if he has the legitimacy to make such an appointment after he and his exco had been suspended by the Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC. A party is a corporate entity and such appointments are not made without procedure. That is why I have refrained from making any formal statement of the matter. The party ought to be talking of holding a congress and not appointing a committee, but we agree that congress can be put on hold because it is going to be held in Edo State, which we all need to face.”
Efforts to get Ativie, ex-Speaker of Edo State House of Assembly, failed as she could not be reached.
Recall that following the ratification of the suspension of Julius Abure from membership of the Labour Party by the Edo State chapter of the party, the Abdulwaheed Omar-led National Transition Committee (NTC) of the party has advised the suspended national chairman, Julius Abure, to keep off and stay away from the activities of the party in Edo State and elsewhere in the country.
According to the Chairman of the NTC’s sub-committee on Media and Publicity, Comrade Tony Akeni, the committee cautioned Abure and those the NTC referred to as the “Nnewi Gang,” who claim “to have been reelected to the party’s National Working Committee (NWC) at the disputed Nnewi Convention, to keep off the party’s activities in Edo and Ondo States, as well as other parts of the country.”
The NTC had since declared that the national convention orchestrated by Julius Abure at Nnewi by what it described as a “fragment of questionable hangers of Abure”, was “a phantom charade and does not hold any legitimacy whatsoever.”
The NTC stated that Julius Abure had been suspended by the ward executive of Ward 3, Arue, Uromi, in Esan North East Local Government Area of the state through a letter dated May 14, 2024, an action which was further ratified by the state executive council in another letter dated May 24, 2024, and signed by the state chapter chairman, Mr. Kelly Ogbaloi, and secretary of the state
chapter, Mr. Frederick Akhere.
Both letters were submitted to INEC and the party’s national headquarters on Monday May 27, 2024 by leaders and supporters of the party who stormed the federal capital territory for the purpose.
On the structure of the Edo State chapter of the party, Comrade Tony Akeni noted that any purported dissolution of the party’s executive council leadership in Edo state is a “figment of Abure’s imagination, null and void and of no effect whatsoever.”
The sub-committee chair stated: “The Nigerian public, especially our party’s teeming supporters in Edo State, should note that Abure’s suspension was appropriately ratified by all tiers of our party’s structure in
“The Labour Party upholds the principles of transparency, accountability and adherence to its constitution. As things stand today, by virtue of his suspension as ratified by all constitutional strata of our party, Julius Abure is not a member of the Labour Party
the state, from the ward and local to state executive councils. The ward’s suspension dated Wednesday May 14, 2024 was confirmed at a meeting of the state executive council held on Friday, May 17 in Benin City,” the NTC said.
The Labour Party NTC said it is committed “to upholding the principles of democracy and ensuring that the party operates in accordance with its constitution. Any individual or group attempting to disrupt the party’s activities will face appropriate sanctions in due course. Let dissidents working with the suspended Abure therefore not test our magnanimity of patience and the whiplash of the long rope they are tramping on.”
“We hereby advise the suspended former national
chairman of our party, Julius Abure, to desist from parading himself as a member of Labour Party or undertaking activities that undermine the labours of our authentic party leaders in Edo state and our party’s candidate in the forthcoming governorship election. We recognise and uphold his suspension by the executive committee of his Ward 3, Arue, Uromi, Esan North East Local Government Area of Edo state and ratification of his suspension by the LGA and state executive councils. “The Labour Party upholds the principles of transparency, accountability and adherence to its constitution. As things stand today, by virtue of his suspension as ratified by all constitutional strata of our party, Julius Abure is not a member of the Labour Party. Not even an ordinary member. Any individual who has been suspended by the party’s executive committee must respect the decision and refrain from engaging in any activity on behalf of the party as it is fraudulent and criminal to do so.
“Julius Abure is hereby advised to comply with his suspension.We call on the able leadership of Bishop Samuel Omede and other strata leaders of our Edo State chapter of Labour Party, from the wards to state level, to focus on the forthcoming governorship election and deliver the candidate of our party, Barrister Olumide Akpata.
“Our party leaders, stakeholders and genuine Obidients in Edo must make sure that Abure’s divisive expeditions and distractions are overcome to enable our party win Edo State and win the governorship election decisively,” the NTC stated.
THEWILL recalls that the Julius Abure-led national leadership of the party, on Monday, May 27, dissolved the Kelly Ogbaloi-led exco in the state and swore in a caretaker committee headed by Mrs. Ativie.
Abure’s excuse was that the tenure of the dissolved exco had since expired in the month of April 2024. But before Ativie’s committee came on board, Kelly Ogbaloiled exco endorsed the suspension of Barr. Julius Abure as National Chairman of the Labour Party.
It is absolutely imperative that the military retaliate against this dastardly act against troops,'' adding ''The military would be fierce in its response. We will bring overwhelming military pressure on the group to ensure their total defeat
The recent killings of five soldiers and six civilians in Abia State by unknown gunmen and terrorists claiming to be enforcing a ''Stay at Home'' order to honour people who lost their lives in the Nigerian civil war is worrisome and highly condemnable.
Storming the OP UDOKA security unit at a military checkpoint at Obikabia Junction in Obingwa Local Government Area of the state in three Sport Utility Vehicles, the hoodlums not only shot to death the gallant soldiers on lawful duties but also set their patrol vehicles on fire after making away with their weapons.
Now, the Nigerian Army has vowed to deal ''ruthlessly'' and come down real hard on the perpetrators of the dastardly act in retaliation of the killings of the soldiers identified as Sergeant Charles Ugochukwu (94NA/38/1467), Sergeant Bala Abraham (03NA/53/1028), Corporal Gideon Egwe(10NA/65/7085), Corporal Ikpeama Ikechukwu (13NA/70/5483) and Corporal Augustine Emmanuel (13NA/70/6663).
According to the Nigerian Army, the five soldiers and the six civilians caught in the crossfire were mowed down by unknown gunmen
suspected to be members of the Independent Peoples of Biafra, IPoB, a pro-Biafra separatist group and its armed wing, the Eastern Security Network, ESN.
Sadly, no feeling of remorse nor any claim of responsibility has officially come from IPOB and its officials who called for the Stay-atHome order though the pan-Igbo social-cultural group, Ohanaeze, has condemned the act. Other leaders from the region have also condemned the killing, even as the Abia State governor, Alex Otti, has placed a N25 million bounty on the perpetrators of the evil act.
Nigerian Army spokesperson, Major-General Edward Buba, who disclosed the retaliatory measures, did not mince words in passing his message, saying, “It is absolutely imperative that the military retaliate against this dastardly act against troops,'' adding ''The military will be fierce in its response. We will bring overwhelming military pressure on the group to ensure their total defeat.”
Discerning Nigerians really know what this threat means for peace and security in the South East going by the antecedents of similar exercise in other areas. Only recently, the sleepy village of Okuama in Delta State was ‘sacked’ following the killing of 13 officers and soldiers on peace mission in an ambush by the youth of the village.
Stoking the fire of fresh violence in the South-East at this point in time by these hoodlums is really not the best way to honour their fallen heroes and surely not a good development for a troubled region that is just returning to normalcy after years of violent clashes between the military and the socalled unknown gunmen .
It is unfortunate that these unknown gunmen have terrorised the people of the South-East, killing and maiming innocent residents and targeting government facilities for many years. Now, that relative peace is gradually returning and business activities resuming after many years of driving fear into the minds of the people, the dare-devils have struck again.
We therefore call on the Nigerian Army to re-consider its threat of a total clampdown on the region, while fishing out the perpetrators as Nigerians know that where two elephants fight, it is the grass that suffers. The ordinary residents of the South-East must not be made to suffer for the sins of a few rascals masquerading under the guise of unknown gunmen.
We are also happy that leaders of the South East are already condemning the action of the gunmen as we pray for total peace to return to the region that has witnessed a lot of violence in the recent past.
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In response to Nigeria’s alarming inflationary rate of 33.69 per cent in April 2024, the Central Bank of Nigeria’s Monetary Policy Committee, during its 295th meeting held between May 20 and 21, 2024, opted to raise the benchmark interest rate by 150 basis points, a decision that was consistent with global best practices aimed at addressing inflationary pressures.
ADDRESSING NIGERIA’S INFLATION NECESSITATES A HOLISTIC APPROACH THAT TRANSCENDS TRADITIONAL MONETARY POLICY MEASURES
However, the Governor of the CBN underscored the nuanced nature of combating inflation, emphasising that there is no “magic wand solution”. This acknowledgment resonates with the intricate economic dynamics and highlights the necessity for a multifaceted approach to tackling Nigeria’s inflationary challenges.
Inflation typically occurs when demand outpaces supply, often as a result of an excess of money circulating in the economy. To address this, the central bank raises the benchmark interest rate, aiming to reduce inflation by tightening the money supply. Higher interest rates increase the cost of credit, discouraging borrowing and spending. Savings and investing in government securities become more appealing as higher returns are offered. All these lead to reduced spending by individuals and businesses; thereby decreasing the amount of money in circulation and helping to curb inflation.
Nigeria’s inflation, however, stems from factors other than excessive money supply. The elimination of fuel subsidies has significantly increased transportation costs, affecting prices across the economy. Floating of the naira has led to substantial devaluation, raising the cost of imported goods, raw materials, and fuel, thereby driving up prices. Widespread insecurity has left many farmlands uncultivated, causing food shortages and higher food prices. This scarcity often results in profiteering and hoarding of foodstuffs, which are later sold at inflated prices.
including the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), acknowledge that raising interest rates is not the sole solution. There is a limit to how much the CBN can increase rates without causing significant adverse effects on the economy. The organised private sector has raised concerns regarding the potential negative impact of higher borrowing costs on businesses which could further lead to more unemployment in the country.
Additionally, while the previous rate hike did attract foreign direct portfolio investments, its impact seemed short-lived, further highlighting the need for a more comprehensive approach to address Nigeria’s inflationary pressures.
Dangote Refinery brings a glimmer of hope for Nigeria’s economic landscape with the production of premium motor spirit (PMS) set to begin as there is anticipation that the price of PMS will decrease, mirroring the trend observed when the refinery commenced diesel production.
This reduction in the price of PMS is expected to have a ripple effect, resulting in lower transportation costs across the country. However, the government needs to take all necessary measures to fast-track the diversification of the economy. This diversification is essential to improve revenue sources and enhance the country’s balance of trade, which will, in turn, help stabilise the value of the naira.
Improving the security situation in the country is crucial for achieving these goals. Current security challenges have severely impacted sectors like mining, agriculture, and oil production. Without addressing these security issues, efforts to diversify the economy and boost production in these critical areas will be significantly hindered
In conclusion, addressing Nigeria’s inflation necessitates a holistic approach that transcends traditional monetary policy measures. As aptly highlighted by the Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, Dr Yemi Cardoso, there is no instant solution or magic wand to overcome the multifaceted challenges driving inflation in the country.
While adjusting interest rates can contribute to managing inflation by curbing the money supply, Nigeria’s inflationary pressures are rooted in a complex web of factors. Therefore, implementing a comprehensive and multifaceted strategy that includes enhancing security, boosting local production, diversifying the economy, improving infrastructure, and stabilising the naira is imperative alongside monetary policy adjustments, which are essential for effectively combating inflation and fostering long-term economic stability and growth.
nambra State, a vibrant and significant part of Nigeria’s southeastern region, is currently under the leadership of Governor Charles Soludo who assumed office in March 2022.
During his inaugural address, Governor Soludo laid out a comprehensive vision for the state, emphasising the importance of security, education, infrastructure and economic development among many other priorities. However, a crucial aspect of governance that still needs to be fulfilled is the conduct of local government elections.
The absence of constitutionally and legitimately elected local government chairmen, coupled with Governor Soludo, not honouring his word, is very detrimental to Anambra’s democracy and Ndi Anambra’s belief in democracy. Citizens will feel disconnected from the political process and believe their participation does not impact the outcome, hence, excluding them from the democratic process. Appointed officials lack the motivation to be as accountable to the people as elected representatives, threatening local government autonomy and weakening the quality of governance at the local level. Local government elections are vital for several reasons. Firstly, they facilitate the decentralisation of power, allowing for more direct representation and participation of citizens in their local governance. This can lead to more efficient and tailored solutions to local issues, as well as promote accountability and transparency at the grassroots level.
Secondly, local government councils play a critical role in service delivery, including primary education, healthcare, sanitation and infrastructure development. The effective functioning of local governments is, therefore, essential for the overall development of the state.
The 1999 constitution (as amended) stipulates that each of the 774 local governments in Nigeria be vested with some powers and duties which include: registration of births, deaths, and marriages; maintenance of cemeteries, burial grounds, and homes for the destitute or infirm; registration of outdoor advertising licences; licensing of bicycles, vehicles, canoes, wheelbarrows, and carts; regulation of slaughterhouses, markets, motor parks and public conveniences as well as construction and maintenance of roads, streets lightings, drains, parks, gardens, open spaces etc. They are also in charge of naming roads and streets, but unarguably their most important responsibility lies in the delivery and upkeep of primary, adult and vocational education and health services.
Despite these benefits and the clear mandate from the constitution that local government elections be conducted periodically, Governor Soludo’s government has yet to fulfil this crucial democratic obligation. It has been over two years since he assumed office and the last local government election in Anambra State was conducted in November 2014, during the administration of Governor Peter Obi. This is close to 10 years ago and it also means that Anambra has only conducted local government elections once since we returned to democracy in 1999. This delay not only undermines the principles of democracy but also hampers the development and effective functioning of local governments in the state.
The Constitution mandates that every state must enact laws governing the creation, organisation, makeup, financing, and duties of local government councils. However, the duration of tenure for elected officials in local councils varies from one state to another, as each state government determines it. Additionally, state governments hold the authority to decide the timing of local government elections. This variation in governance practices can be linked to the misuse of this dependence on state governments by governors.
LOCAL GOVERNMENT COUNCILS PLAY A CRITICAL ROLE IN SERVICE DELIVERY, INCLUDING PRIMARY EDUCATION, HEALTHCARE, SANITATION AND INFRASTRUCTURE DEVELOPMENT. THE EFFECTIVE FUNCTIONING OF LOCAL GOVERNMENTS IS, THEREFORE, ESSENTIAL FOR THE OVERALL DEVELOPMENT OF THE STATE
In an August 2022 speech, former President Buhari condemned governors for their financial misappropriation of local government funds. This accusation came on the back of protests from some quarters following his signing of Executive Order 10 in May 2020. This order sought to give Local
Acknowledging the complexity of Nigeria’s inflationary challenges, many experts and stakeholders, *Continues
Governments financial autonomy from State governments. However, on February 12, 2022, the executive order was invalidated by the Supreme Court In a divided ruling with six Justices in favour and one against.
The court stated that the order was illegal and inconsistent with the provisions of the Constitution. The 9th Assembly sustained the fight for the independence of LG as they initiated a constitutional amendment process in March 2022. The National Assembly transmitted 44 bills to the State houses of assembly for their concurrence to get Mr President to sign into law, among these was the local government autonomy bill.
Eventually, the bill and eight others failed to meet the required two-thirds approval threshold from the 36 state houses of assembly.
The absence of democratically elected local government councils has led to appointed officials managing these bodies. In the current Anambra dispensation, Governor Soludo renews the tenure of caretaker chairmen every three (3) months with the help of the State’s Assembly. This arrangement is undemocratic and often leads to inefficiency and a lack of accountability.
Moreover, the non-conduct of local government elections has implications for the state’s relationship with development partners. It is reported that the need for local government elections in Anambra State is costing the state partnerships with development agencies, as many of these partners prefer to work with democratically elected local governments.
In December 2023, the Senate considered suspending statutory allocations to Local Governments that were not democratically elected. Prompted by the flagrant violation of the Constitution by some Governors, the Senate passed a resolution urging the Federal Government, through the Ministry of Finance to cut off funding to appointed local governments, adjusting the scope to include all errant states. If this were to go through, this would not only hamper service delivery at the grassroots in Anambra but would eventually lead to a lengthy litigation process at the Supreme Court where scarce state resources will be expended.
Governor Soludo’s delay in conducting local government elections also contradicts his promise to do so. During his inaugural address in 2022, he promised that “over the next two years, we shall review, amend the relevant legislations, reform and strengthen the system for efficiency, restructure and strengthen the Anambra State Independent Electoral Commission and conduct Local Government elections.”
Two years after it declined to sign the agreement to divest $1.28 billion assets to Seplat Energy, citing national intere the Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC) Limited has announced the signing of a settlement agreement facilitating the divestment of ExxonMobil’s stake in Mobil Producing Nigeria Unlimited (MPNU) to Seplat Energy Plc; The $1.28 billion deal, first announced in February 2022, has been entangled in regulatory hurdles for over two years.
According to a statement released by NNPC, the agreement involves MPNU, Mobil Development Nigeria Inc., and Mobil Exploration Nigeria Inc.
With the signing of the settlement agreement, Nigeria could add at least 700,000 barrels per day (bpd) to its current daily crude oil production volume, to hit about two million bpd before the end of the year.
“Settlement agreement between NNPC Ltd. and Mobil Producing Nigeria Unlimited, Mobil Development Nigeria Inc., and Mobil Exploration Nigeria Inc. signed regarding the proposed divestment of a 100 per cent interest in Mobil Producing Nigeria Unlimited to Seplat Energy Offshore Limited,” NNPC stated.
This development comes after a directive from President Bola Tinubu to the Ministry of State for Petroleum Resources (Oil) and NNPC on May 28 to resolve the divestment issue that had stalled the Seplat and ExxonMobil deal for over two
Tinubu had assured the ExxonMobil delegation that the federal government was committed to resolving the divestment issues between NNPC and Seplat Energy. Minister of State for Petroleum Resources (Oil), Heineken Lokpobiri
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EDITOR Sam Diala
The rapidly declining investors’ confidence in the Nigerian economy is set to witness a reversal. This is indicative of the initiatives being proposed by the Presidential Fiscal Policy and Tax Reforms Committee constituted by the Federal Government in 2023. The committee was set up by President Bola Tinubu to review and redesign Nigeria’s fiscal system with respect to (1) revenue mobilisation, both tax and non-tax (2) quality of government spending and (3) sustainable debt management. In addition, the committee will identify relevant measures to make Nigeria an attractive destination for investment and facilitate inclusive economic growth
During its public consultation dialogue on the proposed changes to the nation’s tax policy held in Lagos recently, the Committee Chairman, Taiwo Oyedele, urged Nigeria to do away with what he called nuisance taxes. According to him, this category of taxes have very low revenue yield, high cost of collection and constitute the ultimate burden on poor and small businesses.
Taiwo presented an array of unnecessary taxes and policies that hinge on the deeply rotten system which constitute a recipe for business failure, poverty and low revenue profile. He noted that Nigeria’s notorious culture of lacking in ease of doing business revolves round corruption, numerous taxes, levies and official extortions that cannot make genuine business to thrive.
This, generally, accounts for the unhealthy present socio-economic reality encapsulated in slow economic growth with the GDP around 3 percent in the past 10 years. High inflation of 33.7 perent as of end of April 2024, and high unemployment rate of over 35 percent.
Other vices include high widespread poverty with over 95 million in monetary poverty and 133 million in multidimensional poverty. Low revenue, high public debt, declining investment and increase in the rate of emigration. The challenging lack of conducive business environemtn creates the multiple windows of failed businesses, poverty and lack of investment.
According to him, the manufacturing sector and small and medium enterprises are the worst hit. He disclosed that the sachet water
producers bear the burden of about 13 taxes and levies most of which are paid on a daily basis.
“Many of these businesses are nano, micro, small and are barely surviving. They have no ability or capacity to pay taxes. Imagine asking the vulcanizer to file tax returns, where will he start? He cannot hire Accountants, he cannot hire Lawyers or even Tax practitioners. What every country should do is to protect their most vulnerable population” Oyedele said.
The manufacturing sector is exposed to numerous taxes and levies most of which are a duplication. This include state and local government taxes on environmental preservation, ooze layer protection and similar commitments.
Additionally, the electronic process of registering a business, payment of taxes or registering a complaint are increasingly cumbersome and frustrating while non-state actors play active part in revenue collection which often translate to official extortion.
Alluding to the idea canvassed by the leadership of the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS), Nigeria should abolish multiple revenue collection agencies which constitute avoidable cost and pave the way for deepening corruption.
According to Oyedele, the Committee has recommended that Nigeria should create a central tax agency, known as the Nigerian Revenue Service, eliminating over 100 different collection agencies at the federal, state and municipal levels.
Oyedele disclosed that the Federal Government has signed into law the withholding tax bill proposed by his committee which exempts manufacturers and small businesses from paying the tax.
“We sent the withholding tax proposal to the National Assembly for approval and I just heard it has been signed,” Oyedele said.
The tax advisory committee also recommended that governments at national and sub-national levels do away with over 60 taxes, leaving only eight taxes which are income tax, value added tax, property,
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custom duties, excise tax, stamp duties, special and harmonised levy.
stated, “Mr. President has given a clear directive to the NNPC GCEO and I to resolve the issue of divestment, and we are doing whatever we can to achieve that.”
The manufacturing sector is exposed to numerous taxes and levies most of which are a duplication
It also recommended that the government restructure the budget and classify items under infrastructure; human capital investment; personnel cost, headcount & productivity; administrative overheads; debt service & sinking funds and fully implemented zero-based budgeting, and introduce longterm appropriation.
It called on the government to tackle systemic corruption, prioritise spending on basic needs to address multidimensional poverty, restrict borrowing to productive spending and selffinancing projects, and enhance public procurement effectiveness.
On his appointment last year, the Executie Chairman, FIRS, Zacch Adedeji made it clear that he would persuade the government to adopt single-revenue agency window as against the multi-revenue system that had existed in over the years.
He also adopted a strategy that focused on expanding the tax net instead of introducing new taxes to burden the people. The new structure he put in place at FIRS helped to achieve these objectives leading to the impressive performance of the agency.
The FIRS chairman said a single revenue-collection agency is responsible for collecting revenue in other countries, which he noted is a better approach.
“But here in Nigeria we have more than 62 agencies collecting (revenues) one way or the other on behalf of the federal government,” Adedeji said.
“And when you see people (agencies) instead of going to their area of strength, everybody tries to collect (revenue) — the leakage is all there.” Speaking on the target for 2024, Adedeji said the agency is aiming for a tax revenue of N19.4 trillion. According to himi, the strategy for reaching the target is to develop proactive engagement by establishing regular communication.
“We will provide customised and efficient services that address the unique needs of large taxpayers and key sector contributors,’ he said.
“We will improve service delivery, expand tax net and enhance compliance measures by improve enforcement activities in line with relevant laws, and increase collaboration with strategic stakeholders.
“So the focus is to improve tax collection effectiveness without increasing tax.”
Following the impressiver performance of the revenue agency, the government said it is committed to support the FIRS towards a sustainable tax culture that will ensure the continuous flow of revenues even at an improved level.
Among the steps recommended by the Fiscal Policy and Tax Reforms Committee for immediate implementation are measures to ensure prudent public financial management an improve public sector efficiency, optimise value from non-tax revenue sources e.g. government assets and natural resources, develop a tax intelligence system “Data4Tax” to expand the tax net and increase personal relief allowance for employees and tax deductions for employers in respect of salary increases, transport subsidy and net increase in employment.
Others are option for Nigerian businesses (other than those in the oil and gas sector) to pay all their taxes and levies in Naira, address impediments to global employment opportunities for Nigerians based in Nigeria, suspend VAT on diesel, give tax waivers on CNG, CNG conversion, and renewable energy items, as well as.suspend multiple taxes which place burdens on the poor and small businesses and compensate with windfalls revenue of certain agencies.
The government should also promote export of goods, services and intellectual property and modify Tax ProMax to allow part payment and waive penalty and interests on tax liabilities.
Lokpobiri had earlier revealed that Nigeria lost $34 billion in the last two and a half years due to the fall in production from the assets being divested by ExxonMobil to Seplat Energy, as assets declined from 600,000 barrels per day (bpd) to current 120,000bpd, leaving a shortfall of 480,000bpd, which he said amounted to $34 billion loss at a conservative $80 per barrels, in the last two and a half years.
THEWILL recalls that in February 2022, Seplat announced an agreement to acquire ExxonMobil’s 40 per cent stake in MPNU, expecting the transaction to be completed in the second half of the year. However, on May 19, 2022, the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC) declined to approve Seplat’s proposed acquisition, citing “overriding national interest.”
Two months later, Seplat reported that NNPC had secured a court injunction preventing ExxonMobil from selling its assets in Nigeria. This opposition led former President Muhammadu Buhari to reverse his initial authorization for the acquisition on August 10, 2022, shortly after granting approval.
As required by law, former President Buhari approved the deal in his capacity as Minister of Petroleum Resources, stating that the deal was in sync with the nation’s ambition to attract investment in the petroleum and gas industry.
Following the President’s approval, the Executive Secretary of the NUPRC, Gbenga Komolafe declined the signing off on the deal, stating that that the commission is the sole regulator on such matters.
This has led to series of back and forth over the acquisition, which has halted investment in the assets in question and threw spanner in the works of other possible deals in the oil and gas industry.
Last year, Seplat’s CEO Roger Brown vowed to complete the deal, especially with the new President Bola Tinubu administration in place with a different approach calling the embattled acquisition “a game-changing operation.”
However, ExxonMobil is reducing its presence in Africa’s biggest oil-producing country, shrinking its office space and scaling back operations as other oil producing companies divest from the country.
Exxon has reportedly vacated its large office in Lagos, opting for a smaller, more centralised location. Similar downsizing is expected in other Nigerian cities where the company has a presence.
Exxon is relocating staff from the 12-floor Mobil House, reportedly leased at the cost of $10 million annually, to a six-floor office building 22 kilometres away in the upscale Ikoyi area, built to accommodate half the personnel working at the former offices.
The exact number of employees affected by the office closures is unclear, but the move is likely to result in job losses and a smaller overall footprint for Exxon in the country.
ExxonMobil has been operating in Nigeria for over 50 years and is one of the largest oil producers in the country. The company’s scaling back is likely to have a significant impact on the Nigerian oil and gas sector, as well as the broader economy.
Industry analysts suggest that Exxon’s decision is part of a wider trend among international oil companies (IOCs) in Nigeria. Many IOCs are facing pressure to reduce costs and streamline operations, leading to a shift towards smaller, more efficient teams.
The long-term impact of Exxon’s downsizing on the Nigerian oil and gas sector remains to be seen. However, the move underscores the challenges facing the industry and the need for adaptation in the current economic climate.
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has directed Federal Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) in the country to patronise technologies and products of the National Agency for Science and Engineering Infrastructure (NASENI) to support Made-inNigeria goods and reduce importation.
The President represented by President of the Senate, Godswill Akpabio made the declaration while commissioning NASENI-Portland Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) Conversion, Filling, Reverse Engineering and Training Centre in Utako Abuja on Friday, May 31, 2024.
President Bola Tinubu who doubles as Chairman, NASENI Governing Board, said he is aware that the Agency is in collaboration with private sector players in the commercialisation of its products, noting that the Presidential CNG Initiative (PCNGi), which NASENI has keyed into is the way to tap into Nigeria’s abundant gas resources and to also attain cleaner energy.
Furthermore, he said the use of CNG-powered transportation would reduce pressure on foreign exchange, save money for vehicle owners by converting fuel-emitting vehicles to CNG. He
equally lauded the Agency for working with private sector collaborators in the effort to establish lithium ore processing plant in the country to produce lithium battery for electric vehicles.
Earlier in his welcome address, the Executive Vice Chairman/CEO of NASENI, Khalil Suleiman Halilu, said the NASENI-Portland CNG Conversion and Training Centre, a partnership between NASENI and Portland Gas Limited, is a state-ofthe-art facility for the conversion of fossil fuel vehicles to CNG, a cleaner and more cost-effective alternative.
He said this facility can convert 15 cars every two hours, translating into an output of 2,700 conversions every month. “Mr. President, by our calculations, if Nigeria is able to have 10 of this kind of facility in each of the 36 States and the FCT, we will be able to convert every vehicle in the country to CNG within one year”, he said. He urged the President to give NASENI approval to convert all the vehicles in the State House fleet to CNG. “We are asking for your approval to do this, and showcase our capabilities. Second, we are offering to carry out CNG conversions for every Ministry, Department and Agency of the Federal
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Eniola Ajao is a first-time movie producer whose indigenous epic movie, 'Beast of Two Worlds' followed in the footsteps of Odunlade Adekola's 'Orisa', Femi Adebayo's 'King of Thieves' and 'Jagun Jagun', etc. She speaks with IVORY UKONU about the movie, the controversy surrounding it and sundry issues. Excerpts:
ou recently joined the league of female movie producers whose works are selling out in cinema halls. What is your epic movie, ‘Beast of Two Worlds’ all about?
The film is about a king who faces banishment from his home unless he is able to produce an heir to his throne. His desperation for an heir however pushes him to take a new wife, thus inviting chaos into his kingdom. I got the inspiration for the movie from Femi Adebayo’s ‘Ageshinkole’. He took such a huge risk to make the movie. In the Yoruba arm of Nollywood, we usually don’t take such big risks, but Femi took that risk and I was motivated that if he could do it, then I could as well. I began sourcing good stories to retell and finally decided on
You revealed that giving embattled cross dresser, Idris Okuneye, aka Bobrisky, the award for 'best dressed female' during the premiere of the movie was a way to promote the
Well to get people to talk about it. In the beginning, I was afraid that the movie may likely not sell out the way I would want it to. When I saw the story, I knew it was going to do well, but I did not want to depend on that belief alone. I needed to do more, to push for more visibility. I was the originator of the publicity stunt. It was my idea. I sent Bobrisky a message, and he responded immediately. I explained to him my idea about the premiere and that I wanted to create some buzz. He agreed without questions, even though I wasn’t going to pay. He told me that he had done something similar before. So, I came up with my own buzz. It was all just create noise around the film. But after the backlash, some of the influencers that I wanted to use felt reluctant and I had to step back and focus on social media, paying blogs, and doing a lot of adverts online just to keep the movie buzz going.
What is your take on the stunt degenerating into a social media quarrel between actors Femi Adebayo who announced Bobrisky as winner and Dayo Amusa who called him out for presenting the award to the cross-dresser?
I felt so terrible because I just wanted to create a buzz, nothing more. I didn’t even know such was going to come up. When I saw the issues it generated, I started making calls to placate all parties because it was never my plan to create issues. I just wanted to create a buzz.
Just like Femi Adebayo revealed about selling his property to fund his hugely successful movie, 'Jagun Jagun', you also claimed that you had to sell your property to fund the movie Yes, I had to sell a lot of things. I sold my cars. I sold my parcel of land in Lagos and then some of my gold jewellery. I sold them to make the movie. It was a decision I had to take without telling anybody because a lot of people would have said, ‘Don’t do this, you don’t even know what would come out of this; you cannot sell all your life investments just because you want to make a movie.’ This was why I decided not to tell anybody. I sold everything and decided to go on with it.
How successful was the movie in the first few weeks and how is it doing now?
It did well and is still doing well. I am so grateful to God.
Funding a film for the cinema is not cheap in Nigeria. Do you think you have what it takes to consistently raise the amount of money that you will need for every film you want to make?
I can’t possibly go to the cinema with every production. Cinema is like once a year. I can do my normal YouTube movies, and other productions constantly instead.
Will you now rank yourself as an A-list actor and movie producer and increase your engagement fee?
I love my Yoruba industry people because we are always supportive of one another. No one can take that away from us. So, I’ll always be there for my people. I will just reduce the number of jobs I take though as I will be going more into production.
Until recently, many did not know that you have a young adult son. Why did you keep him away from the public?
It was a decision that I took long before I even entered the industry. He is 22 years- old. I was going to be 21 when I had him. So, I thought no man would want to marry me with a kid, I had that mindset. So, I had to keep it from the public. When people started undermining me in the industry, I made the revelation. You know sometimes, people use that as a yardstick to measure your age and I detest it a lot. To the glory of God, I have not put myself in any scandalous affair and you can’t see me everywhere. You cannot shy away from things like that. It comes with the job. When people see you in movies and on screen, it is the job that entices them.
Do you think celebrities should strive to keep their private lives off social media like you did with your son?
The thing is you cannot put everything on social media. People don’t need to see everything about us. One thing that is affecting us in the industry is social media because before now, people respected and appreciated us more. Right now, we don’t even amount to anything in the eyes of these people because we put a lot of drama in their faces. They no longer want to use one Naira to watch us because we’ve given them all the drama. So, I am an advocate of not putting everything out there. You’re a celebrity; people should constantly seek for you, not you giving them what they have to talk about all the time. People no longer appreciate us like before and I keep saying it. They have seen everything that we have to offer. They have seen it all and it shouldn’t be like that.
You seem to be quite close to Odunlade Adekola. Is he your mentor in the industry?
Yes. Even before I became who I am today, I always made myself available for his productions. I have been in the industry since 2003
and I didn’t get noticed until 2010 or 2011 when God used this man to push me out there. He has always been in support of my career and I have always been in support of whatever he is doing.
Is it true you almost poisoned yourself at a point in your career?
Yes. It was because something about me was published online. The news about me was far from being true. I didn’t eat for like seven days. The people that were around me can testify to this. I couldn’t go anywhere. This was around the same time when I was planning my movie. My sister, my son, everyone was calling me because the story came from nowhere and I felt terrible.
What is next for Eniola Ajao?
I am having another production soon by September and it should be out by next Easter.
If you weren't an actress, what other profession do you think you would have excelled in?
An accountant maybe. I am still going back to do my MSC. I got my first degree from the University of Lagos.
Barely a few months after it lost the sum of $24 million to unauthorised POS transactions, Gbenga Agboola-led Flutterwave has again suffered another security breach that allowed unknown persons to allegedly divert billions of naira to several bank accounts. The perpetrators illegally transferred at least N11 billion to several accounts in April 2024.
Sources revealed that the stolen funds were allegedly moved to several accounts in five financial institutions over four days. The incident likely went undetected because the perpetrators ensured the deposits remained below limits that would trigger fraud checks. The matter was reported to law enforcement agents and investigations began in earnest. Sources within the financial industry also revealed that Flutterwave reached out to request KYC details of the accounts involved, adding that the accounts related to the incident have been temporarily restricted. However, despite admitting that it detected unauthorised activities that were inconsistent with usual customer behaviour on one of their platforms without specifying the amount, adding that it is a common phenomenon in the financial services industry, Flutterwave backtracked, denying it ever suffered any security breach or lost N11 billion. It said that it discovered suspicious activity on one of its customer platforms in April 2024, but maintained that it aggressively prevented any loss of customer monies.
This is the fourth incident of unauthorised transfers at Flutterwave reported in the last 14 months. In October 2023, about 6,000 account holders across 35 banks and financial institutions received N19 billion ($24 million) illegally transferred through unauthorised transactions by POS merchants. In March 2023, about 107 bank accounts in 27 banks
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received N550 million.
In a February 2023 breach, N2.9 billion was diverted to 107 bank accounts in 27 banks, according to court documents. In February, Flutterwave received a court order—a Mareva injunction— that enables it to recover the funds and assets of the identified account holders, even though they have spent the funds, with the KYC details provided by these financial institutions. This avalanche of incidents raises security worries for Fintech which accepts payments in over 30 currencies from 40 countries.
Penultimate week, the Real Estate Development Association of Nigeria (REDAN) pulled all the stops to celebrate its 5th anniversary. It was also an opportunity to hold the investiture of Akintoye Adeoye as the 5th President of the association. He took over from Bamidele Onalaja.
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Aisha
Government, George Akume, to the grand opening of her luxury apartment homes aptly named W Luxury Bespoke Living. Her decision to expand into luxury apartments may not be unconnected to her addiction to her lifestyle of luxury living. Recall that Aisha was in the news two months ago for hosting Nigerian socialites, politicians, businessmen and women etc to a weeklong luxurious 50th birthday party at Calivigny Island and Silversand Grenada, an exotic five-year-old seven-star luxury resort located in Grand Anse beach in the Caribbean Island of Grenada, which cost about $132,000 per night. One
of the numerous parties took place aboard the Silver Angel, a Yacht sailing on the Caribbean Sea under the flag of the United Kingdom. The philanthropist is the founder and managing director of Abuja-based Felak Concept Group, a company that is into consultancy services related to health, equipment procurement, training and capacity building; founder of Altex Engineering Oil & Gas Limited and had also made her mark in maritime and transportation engineering through her Oceangate Engineering Oil and Gas Limited. She is the first woman transaction advisor/ consultant to develop a seaport (Ibaka Seaport) in Nigeria.
Osun State, when everyone felt obliged to kowtow to him. Save for his wife who has stood by him through thick and thin, it is obvious that anyone who doesn't want to be in the black books of President Bola Tinubu should do well to keep Aregebesola, his former ally, at arm's length.
Recall that the cold war between the two began after Gboyega Oyetola, a former Osun State governor and now Minister of Blue Economy, reversed some of Aregbesola’s policies in the state. Aregbesola felt betrayed that Oyetola, who was his former Chief of Staff, would make some moves that would turn the people of the state against him. He therefore made a vow not to support Oyetola’s second term bid. He anointed Moshood Adeoti, a former secretary to the state government as his own candidate, a move that Tinubu was not pleased with.
Tinubu felt betrayed that Aregbesola could turn his back against his anointed candidate, Oyetola. The
Oyetola and Tinubu, the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, took advantage of the situation and emerged victorious in the governorship election held in the state. While the war between Aregbesola and Tinubu raged on, many eminent personalities attempted to wade in to reconcile the two but it all ended in futility. At the twilight of the Muhammadu Buhari Administration, Aregbesola tried to worm his way back into Tinubu's heart by actively getting involved in the campaign for the return of Babajide Sanwo-Olu as governor for a second term. He also issued a public apology to Oyetola and pulicly acknowledged Tinubu as his political benefactor. Unfortunately, these gestures did nothing to assuage Tinubu’s feelings. This may perhaps have prompted him to want to take matters into his own hands. Sources reveal that Aregbesola plans to allegedly float his own political party, obviously to be limited to only Osun State. However true that turns out to be remains to be seen.
The anniversary party, which was quite successful, was coordinated by the Group Managing Director of Gracias Group, Dr Ololade Valentina Abuta, in her capacity as Chairperson of the Contact and Public Alliance Committee of REDAN. Others who saw to the success of the event were Group Managing Director, Adron Homes, Adetola Emmanuel King and CEO, Victoria Crest Homes, Kennedy Okonkwo, who also doubled as the Investiture Committee Chairperson.
The event, which took place at the Balmoral Hall, Federal Palace Hotel, Victoria Island, was themed 'Distribution National Prosperity and Wealth Creation Through a Transparent Real Sector,' with the Minister of Housing and Urban Development, Arc. Ahmed Musa Dangiwa, as the Chairman, and HIM Oba Enitan Ogunwusi, the Ooni of Ife, in full attendance.
Other real estate personalities in attendance were the founding partner of Diya, Fatimilehin and Co, Gboyega Fatimilehin, the immediate past president (IPP), Alhaji (Dr) Aliyu Ciroma Wamakko, who gave the valedictory speech; Oba Saheed Elegushi; Udo Okonjo; the Alara of Epeland, Oba Olufolarin Ogunsanwo, among many others.
About two weeks ago, the Osile of Oke-Ona Egba, His Royal Highness, Oba Adedapo Tejuoso, CON (Karunwi II), celebrated the 35th anniversary of his coronation. The 86-year-old had moved into the palace with his three queens - Olori Omolara, Olori Yetunde and Olori Olabisi in 1989.
The event began with a 35hour marathon praise session themed, ‘God’s Festival,’ at
the Obasanjo Presidential Library, which was led by juju exponent turned clergyman, Evangelist Ebenezer Fabiyi Obey. Other ministers of the gospel took their turns to render praises unto God on behalf of the king for preserving his life, despite a prophecy that he would not live more than two years on the throne. There was a soft premiere of a movie based on his true-life story during the marathon praise and prayer session. The real premiere comes up in three months' time. Other activities that took place in commemoration of the anniversary were a three-day crusade and chieftaincy installation. A special Jumat service was held prior to the actual event while the event was rounded up with a thanksgiving service at St James’ Cathedral, Idi-Ape, Abeokuta, Ogun State.
Adeoye
Cby choice, Alobo-Bakare did not appear on the ballot on Martins emerged chairman after polling 272 votes to defeat his closest rival, Shogunle Olayinka who polled 198 votes. His deputy, Engineer Amure Damola polled 370 votes to defeat Danjuma Alao Kamoru who polled 101 votes. Some of the highly placed membersof the club who were present during the voting process include former President Olusegun Obasanjo; the Alake of Egbaland, Oba Adedotun Gbadebo; former Works Minister, Babatunde Raji Fashola; Retired Justice George Adesola Oguntade; Bisi Olatilo; Senator Felix Bajomo; former Governor of Lagos State, Akinwunmi Ambode; former Chairman, Body of Benchers of the Nigerian Bar Association, Wole Olanipekun; Abayomi Finnish; Chief Alex Duduyemi, former Deputy chairman, All Progressive Congress, APC; Iyiola Omisore; Tai Elemosho-Okesanjo
Association of Nigerian Authors (ANA) and was at a time, the auditor of the Lagos branch of ANA.
A former National Publicity Secretary of the Committee for the Defence of Human Rights (CDHR), Oladunjoye was the Assistant Publicity Secretary of the Directorate of Strategic Communications of the All Progressives Congress (APC) Presidential Campaign Council for President Bola Tinubu. He was also
a member of the publicity committee of the APC presidential primary and the Ogun State Publicity Secretary as well as the current Coordinator of South-west Publicity Secretaries of the APC.
With a bias for arts, social policy, politics, human rights reporting and media advocacy, Oladunjoye, for several years, covered the biggest film festival in the world, the Cannes Film Festival, Cannes, France.
A journalist, activist, author, community leader, poet, publisher and politician, Oladunjoye has been a multiple award winner right from his days as a student at the foremost journalism training school in Nigeria, the Nigerian Institute of Journalism (NIJ). As Council Chairperson in Ijebu East Local Government (2007-2010), Ogun State, he was named the Overall Best Chairperson in Ogun State for 2008 and 2009, becoming the first and only chairperson to date, to win the coveted award backto-back. He was later announced as the Best Council chairperson in South-west Nigeria, while his score was the highest among others so nominated in the six geopolitical zones.
hioma, wife of businessman and Chairman of Zinox Group, Dr Leo Stan Ekeh recently clocked 60 years and the e-commerce mogul pulled out all the stops to ensure he threw her a befitting birthday party. Venue was his London multi-millionpound home situated in Surrey, a reserved resort area populated by an elite group of Jewish, Arabian and Russian billionaires. It was an exclusive party as only 60 carefully selected couples, including Nigerians, British and Asians, were invited to the soiree. The guests were more than glad they were selected to be a part of Chioma's memorable day as the host ensured that every one of them had a memorable time.
Two international gospel artistes, Osinachi Kalu Okoro, aka Sinach and Ada Ehi were flown into London to serenade the birthday girl and her guests. The highlight of the birthday soiree was when 68-year-old Stan took up the role of the disc jockey from Nigerian-born DJ ChoplifeIhama and displayed his deft skill behind the turntable, dishing out wellmixed oldies and contemporary
Afrobeats at the spectacular party. He also wowed his guests with his upbeat dance steps. While Zinox Computers is naturally equated with Stan, not many know that Chioma joined him in shaping the course of technology distribution in Africa. Her husband describes her as the integral analyst, the backbone behind the brilliant success of the Zinox Group where she has continued to
Ambition, resilience, determination, fuelled by lack of opportunity in Nigeria are some of the reasons why Nigerians in the diaspora are prone to succeed against all odds. And one of such is Dr. Ikenna Okezie, the Chief Executive Officer and co-founder of Somatus, a $2.5 billion market leader in value-based kidney care. His healthcare start-up based in Virginia, United States is all set to revolutionize the way kidney disease is managed and treated.
support all the businesses across the board.
A graduate of mathematics, Chioma is a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Certified Accountants (FCCA, UK), Chioma is the brains behind TD Africa, a regional technology distribution powerhouse headquartered in Nigeria and with branches across Africa and in four other continents. A company she led from start-up stage, TD Africa pioneered ICT distribution in Sub-Saharan Africa and has remained the industry leader by market share in the region and the biggest provider of credit to resellers boasting an unmatched and growing network of partnership with global brands like HP, Microsoft, Apple, Starlink, IBM, Dell Technologies, Ring (by Amazon), Cisco, Lenovo, APC by Schneider Electric, Samsung, Bosch, Phillips, Logitech, Vivo, among several others.
Under Chioma’s exemplary leadership, the company has achieved numerous milestones, earned a long list of local and international awards/accolades and ensured Nigeria and indeed Africa is reckoned with at the global table of technology conversations and discussion-making.
Founded in 2016, Somatus has grown to become a leader in kidney care with a focus on prevention and enabling patients to take better control of their health. Born in Nigeria but raised in Detroit, his attraction to medicine was influenced by the fact that his father and elder brother are physicians. But his close-knit family encouraged him to widen his net and go into business.
Majoring in Economics at Yale, where he graduated cum laude, he moved to Harvard Medical School in 1994 where he earned high honours and honours in all clinical rotations. Three and a half years into his medical degree, he followed his passion for business by applying for the Harvard Business School where he was accepted and his journey into health-related business started. His reason for starting Somatus is not farfetched. Millions of Americans have chronic kidney disease, underscoring the potential need for businesses like Somatus with room for expansion. As of 2022, Dr Ikenna Okezie was valued at $250 million and his company valued at $2.5 billion during a successful series E funding, that is, an injection of capital into a startup, usually by venture capitalists and institutional investors, to further propel its growth trajectory.
OkeziePhoto Editor: Peace Udugba [08033050729]
Nigeria's track and field history is adorned with athletes whose performances have made them successful names in the sport. Olusoji Fasuba, for example, who holds the national 100m record with a time of 9.85 seconds, has raised the bar for sprinters nationwide. In the realm of hurdles, Tobi Amusan stands out as the champion of the 100 metres hurdles in the World, Commonwealth and African championships.
Amidst these track and field giants, Favour Oghenetejiri Ashe is carving a legacy of his own. At
the tender age of 22, this sprinter from Ughelli in Delta State is already showing signs of greatness, with performances that hint at a future filled with Olympic accolades and national pride. His rapid ascent in the world of track and field is a beacon of hope for Nigeria's Olympic aspirations.
In a feat never before achieved by a Nigerian, Ashe recently became the first to clock sub-10 second times in the 100m dash on five separate occasions across three consecutive years. His latest jaw-dropping performance came at the NCAA East Prelims in the United States last Friday, where he scorched the track in 9.94 seconds - the fastest NCAA time this year and secondquickest globally in 2024 so far.
This prodigious burst not only punched Ashe's ticket to the NCAA Outdoor Championships beginning June 7 but also established him as the red-hot favourite to claim the NCAA 100m crown in Eugene, Oregon. Moreover, his scintillating form has thrust him into the global spotlight as a genuine Olympic medal contender for the Paris 2024 Games.
Ashe's stratospheric rise seemed unfathomable, just a few years ago. Growing up in Ughelli, his introduction to athletics was unstructured - dashing down streets in informal races against friends. Yet coaches recognised his raw talent, initiating a journey that would propel him onto the international stage.
The challenges were immense back then, with limited facilities and equipment. But Ashe was obsessed with running, it was his singular passion. The streets were his training ground and the dream of representing Nigeria on the highest stage fueled his tireless pursuit.
Overcoming obstacles has been a defining hallmark of Ashe's career. Injuries, self-doubt and lack of resources threatened to derail his ambitions time and again. Yet, an unwavering determination, coupled with the unconditional support of coaches and family, enabled him to stay the course against all odds.
There were countless times when the young Ashe felt like quitting, overwhelmed by the sacrifices required to follow his improbable dream. But something deep within would not allow him to surrender. He had to dig deeper than ever before, pushing through barriers of pain and adversity to keep chasing his goals.
on the hallowed streets of Paris.
The weight of such expectations would buckle lesser mortals. Still, burden has long been Ashe's travelling companion - each sacrifice driving him harder, every setback fueling his insatiable desire to keep re-writing the record books.
From the bustling streets of Ughelli to the elevated stratosphere of elite international competition, the Nigerian sensation has harnessed an unbreakable will to succeed. A will forged from modest beginnings and fanned by the eternal flame of youthful ambition.
