OnahNwachukwu Editor, THEWILL DOWNTOWN
The Nigerian fashion scene can be described as innovative, creative, and vibrant. Consumers locally and abroad have been thrilled with the intricate designs and rich traditional textiles. Recently, Nigerian designers and brands have gained attention from fashion lovers worldwide for bringing the country’s fashion designs to a global stage. The ability of the designers to blend modernday design elements with traditional African influences is one of the key factors driving the success of the Nigerian brand. Nigerian designers have mastered the art of infusing their collections with a sense of cultural heritage while pushing the boundaries of modern fashion, whether through Ankara prints or bold geometric patterns. Nigerian designers continue to push boundaries, challenge the norms, and redefine the narrative of African fashion through the exquisite craftsmanship of traditional fabrics. This week, we celebrate Nigerian fashion brands that have put the fashion scene on a global stage. See pages 8-10.
While many embark on trips for business or pleasure, have you ever considered the transformative power of a spiritual journey? Numerous destinations can awaken your spirituality, and we’ve handpicked a few of them for you on page 7. Prepare to be inspired and intrigued by these unique travel experiences.
Breakfast is considered the most important meal of the day because it determines our energy levels throughout the day. Eating one type of meal for breakfast every day can get boring, so it is advised that you up your breakfast game. In this week’s food page, Bon Appetit, we share some breakfast ideas that will help transform your breakfast routine. You’ll find that on page 11.
Our movie review page is interactive; click on the instructions below the QR codes to download the playlist.
Until next week, enjoy your read.
With the resounding call for state police from the executive and legislative chambers to town hall meetings, the advocates are winning the long-drawn battle to decentralise policing in Nigeria. The overwhelming security challenges in the country are the main drivers of the push.
In latest calls endorsing state police, the Speakers of the 36 Houses of Assembly in Nigeria last Thursday 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, Presidency and other relevant stakeholders to leverage the ongoing constitution review exercise.”
With this endorsement, it might be safe to say that state police is a done deal, given that it is a constitutional matter (that will come to the 36 Assemblies for vetting), which the Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Benjamin Kalu and 14 others have triggered with a bill that has passed second reading as of February 20, 2024.
Recall that five days before the bill, President Bola Tinubu and the 36 state governors had on February 15, 2024 agreed on the need to create state police to curtail the worsening insecurity in the country. They agreed to set up a committee to work out the legal and constitutional details.
But security and police experts are urging caution. They think it is a project that should not be rushed, almost in sympathy with the Inspector-General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, whose views against state policing collided with supporting views of exPresident Goodluck Jonathan and a former military Head of State, Gen Abdulsalami Abubakar (Retd.) and some stakeholders, who participated at a national dialogue on state police organised by the House of Representatives in Abuja on April 23, 2024.
Speaking in a brief interview with THEWILL on Friday night, Managing Director of Beacon Security Intelligence, Dr Kabiru Adamu, said that though there is a general desire for a different security model in the country with state police as the most popular, he thinks that “as a country, we still have not differentiated between policing and police.”
According to him, policing which deals with the processes that ensures maintenance of law and order, prevention of crime and prosecution of offenders is often confused with police, which is all about structure.
Executive Director of Rule of Law and Accountability Advocacy Centre, RULAAC, Okechukwu Nwanguma, agrees with Adamu. He told THEWILL on Friday that the 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 have 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 is established in strict adherence to the principles of operational autonomy based on sound professional practices in appointment, operations and control.”
Former Benue State governor, Gabriel Suswam, has also sounded a note of alarm. Speaking from experience, he said, “I was governor for eight years and know the power that governors wield. If you add state police to them, the security situation will get worse,” he said in reaction to the stiff opposition that greeted IGP Egbetokun’s submission at the Abuja dialogue.
He said he agreed with Egbetokun that Nigeria is not mature for state police and would not support the idea of having a police force controlled by state governors.
According to Suswan, the governors will use police under their control to deal with political opponents. For the former Benue governor, the country’s civil culture still functions on expediency similar to the culture of misuse that supported the abuse of Native Police in the First Republic Northern Nigeria before they were disbanded, adding that current experience with local government elections where federal police are used by governors to subvert the electoral process was a pointer to what governors would do with state police. He however submitted that some governors are refined enough to handle the police in a civilised manner.
For now, the major roadblock to the creation of state police are the provisions of the 1999 Constitution, which the ongoing bill in the National Assembly is designed to address before the 36 State Assemblies concur and the President gives his assent. They are Section 214 (1) and Section 215 (4) of the I999 Constitution.
While Section 214(1) of the Constitution clearly states that “There shall be a police force for Nigeria, which shall be known as the Nigeria Police Force, and subject to the provisions of this section, no other police force shall be established for the federation or any part thereof.”
Section 215(4) of the Constitution prescribes:
“Subject to the provisions of this section, the Governor of a state or such Commissioner of the state Government state as he may authorise in that behalf, may give to the Commissioner of Police of that state such lawful directions with respect to the maintenance and securing of public safety and public order within the state as he may consider necessary, and the Commissioner of Police shall comply with those directions or cause them to be complied with: provided that before carrying out any such directions under the foregoing provisions of this subsection the Commissioner of Police may request that the matter be referred to the President or such minister of the Government of the Federation as may be authorised in that behalf by the President for his directions.”
While Dr Adamu, like RULAAC’s ED, Nwanguma, sees nothing wrong with the call for state police, he
however thinks that basing the clamour alone on the worsening state of insecurity is misguided. For him, state governments in the country must take care of very important social and institutional challenges before embarking on the creation of state police or else what currently affects the centralised Nigeria Police Force will be replicated at the states and the noble idea will end up defeated.
He said the core drivers of insecurity are social and economic factors, which are beyond the police.
He said, “Cost of living, proliferation of light arms, and a criminal justice system that does not punish offenders are largely the main drivers of insecurity. Unemployment, lack of education and poverty are not what the police can solve, except of course, the issue of light weapons.”
Other issues that have been neglected or are yet to be fixed for effective take-off of state police deal with structure and institutional remedies.
Adamu argues, for example, that even till now, the Police Act 2020 is largely not operational. The Act contains operational activities that are yet to be implemented. Standard Operating Procedure, SOP, are yet to be reviewed to align with the mandate of the police as spelt out by the Act. Other issues of concern that he raised, regarding state police, are funding, jurisdiction and abuse in a lawless society such as Nigeria.
On the issue of funding, he thinks many states will have to address the issue of payment of wages. THEWILL recalls that some states are having problems funding some stop gap measures like the vigilante, which they have set up to tackle insecurity.
Zamfara State, for example, fired the head of the state’s vigilante for going public that his men were yet to be paid three months’ salaries.
Adamu maintains that jurisdiction between the
“Cost of living, proliferation of light arms, and a criminal justice system that does not punish offenders are largely the main drivers of insecurity. Unemployment, lack of education and poverty are not what the police can solve, except of course, the issue of light weapons
Federal Government on the one hand and between the states on the other, have to be properly defined to avoid disputes arising from clashes over authority within boundaries.
While he submits that certain checks can be put in place like the state version of Police Service Commission into which the government would have no hand in making appointments, he however raises the fear that State Assemblies that are often loyal to the governor can make laws that stifle effective operations. To him, the current structure of the Nigeria Police Force will not solve “our security challenges.”
The police, he contends, is like a chameleon since it was balkanised during the military era into National Security and Civil Defence, Federal Road Safety Corps, even the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, all of them doing the same job as the police. This is a structural defect that renders the police ineffective.
Adamu, who attended the recent dialogue on state police organised by the National Assembly, said, “We are yet to define what kind of police we want so that we do not transfer the current problems plaguing the Nigeria Police Force to state police.”
Nwanguma agreed.
He said, “If the state legislature and the judiciary are not independent and effective in checkmating executive overreach, and if local government councils and the so-called independent electoral commissions are not able to function independently without being privatised by state governors who already control executive powers, then state police will not achieve the expected objectives of increasing police visibility and enhancing interaction between communities and the police. State police will instead become an additional armament in the hands of tyrannical state governors to further shrink the civil space.
Nwanguman says that challenges that have rendered federal police ineffective will likely affect state police. Why is the federal police ineffective, he asked rhetorically?
The government, he answered, has not implemented the measures recommended for the reform of the Nigerian police by the police reform committees set up by successive administrations.
“These are depoliticisation of the police, improving police funding, recruitment, training, equipment, police welfare and decentralisation for effective performance. Police are not responsible for insecurity, but the root causes are socio-economic and political and lack of access to rights provided for under Chapter 2 of the Constitution.”
Adamu adds: “There is decentralised community policing where constables have been recruited in almost all the local government areas. But there is no budgetary provision to run them.”
The big issue now is how the police, federal or state, is to be operated. It was the point of agreement at the aforementioned dialogue of state police organised by the National Assembly. Former President Goodluck Jonathan, Speaker Tajudeen Abass and President of the Senate, Godswill Akpabio, all said so.
The Patriotic Elders Forum for Peace and Development has thrown its weight behind agitations by some Senators for the restoration of full autonomy to local governments in the country.
According to the Forum, the autonomy, if restored, will fast-track development at the grassroots and help curtail poverty and insecurity currently bedevilling the nation.
The Elders, who made the remark shortly after their meeting in Kano on Friday, said they fully support calls by the Senator representing Kano South Senatorial District in the National Assembly, Abdurrahman Kawu Sumaila, and others for the return of full powers to local government councils.
Reading the minutes of the meeting, the President of the Forum, Dr. Bature Abdul'Aziz, said the restoration of autonomy, though long overdue, "is better late than never."
"The local government councils should have their autonomy fully restored to them in such a way that they will operate within the framework that they will carry the people along in delivering the dividends of democracy to the grassroots.
"This is necessary considering how the local governments had in the past spent their monthly grants without taking care of the people's needs.
"Senators should insert a clause in the autonomy law to compel local government chairmen to fully commit themselves in writing that they will spend the grants they collect judiciously, or in the alternative, the provision should cause the National Assembly to control the spending of the local governments," Abdul'Aziz said.
The forum then commended Senator Kawu Sumaila for his sound representation and excellent contributions on the floor of the Senate despite the fact that this was his first outing at the Red Chamber.
It also lauded the contributions of the Deputy Senate President, Barau Jibrin, and other Senators towards the realisation of the local government autonomy.
The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has announced the suspension of the issuance of communication licences in three categories, including Mobile Virtual Network Operator (MVNO), Interconnect Exchange and Value Added Service Aggregator.
The Commission announced this in a public notice issued by its Director of Public Affairs, Mr Reuben Muoka, on Friday. It, however, said the suspension, which takes effect from May 17, 2024, is temporary.This means that no company will be able to apply for a new licence in any of the three affected categories.
NCC said the suspension is in line with its powers under the Nigerian Communications Act (NCA) 2003 to grant and renew licences, promote fair competition, and develop the communications Industry.
It, however, noted that all pending applications for the same licences would still be considered and treated accordingly.
Explaining the rationale behind the suspension, NCC in the public notice said, “This temporary suspension is necessary to enable the Commission to conduct a thorough review of several key areas within these categories, including the current level of competition, market saturation, and current market dynamics.
“The public is invited to note that during the suspension period commencing on 17th of May, 2024, new applications for the aforementioned licences will not be accepted. This is without prejudice to pending applications before the Commission which will be considered on its merits.”
NCC’s database shows that 45 companies are currently licensed as VAS aggregators. The VAS Aggregator licence was introduced in 2029 to guard against rising anti-competitive practices and other unfair sharing formulas between VAS licensees and Mobile Network Operators (MNOs). The Aggregators play the role of the middlemen between the MNOs and the VAS providers.
An interconnect exchange, or clearinghouse, in Nigeria’s telecommunications industry, is a central exchange where calls from different mobile network operators are connected, billed, and reconciled. Currently, 37 companies are operating in the interconnect space in Nigeria.
The MVNO licence is the newest category of licence introduced by the NCC. As of the last count, 43 companies have been licensed to operate in the five tiers of the licence. However, none of them have rolled out service yet.
Civil advocacy group, the Human Rights Writers Association of Nigeria (HURIWA) has expressed grave concern over the sensational and biased reporting of the ongoing court case involving Alliance Hospital and its Medical Director, Dr Christopher Otabor.
Observing that certain media outlets described as "5th Columnists" have skewed the allegations of illegal organ harvesting, HURIWA, in a statement signed by its National Coordinator, Comrade Emmanuel Onwubiko, decried the "attempt to malign the hospital and its staff before a fair legal determination has been made".
The Association noted that since the trial's inception, these 5th Columnists have consistently reported the proceedings in a manner that paints the hospital as a den of criminal activity, disregarding the principle enshrined in Section 36(5) of the Nigerian Constitution, which presumes every individual innocent until proven guilty by a competent court.
"This lack of professional objectivity and responsible journalism is alarming and calls for immediate redress", it cautioned.
"Dr Otabor has shared his side of the story, emphasising that the kidney donor, Oluwatobi Saliman, presented an affidavit confirming he was above 18 years old and, thus, legally competent to consent to the organ donation. The transaction was facilitated by a third party, who brought the donor to the hospital for the procedure, and Alliance Hospital acted within the legal and ethical boundaries of medical practice.
"Despite these facts, the court proceedings have been misrepresented to suggest a nefarious operation within the hospital. The misleading reports by these media outlets seem to ignore due process of law and the cross-examinations that have revealed significant discrepancies in the prosecution witnesses' testimonies. Such biased reporting undermines public trust in the judicial system and tarnishes the reputation of an institution providing life-saving medical services", HURIWA revealed.
The association commended Alliance Hospital for its pioneering role in bringing affordable and high-quality kidney transplant services to Nigeria, stating that the initiative has significantly reduced the need for Nigerians to seek expensive medical treatments abroad, which often come with high risks and low success rates.
It added that the hospital's collaboration with Indian medical experts to conduct transplants domestically represents a significant advancement in Nigeria's healthcare capabilities.
Governor of Rivers State, Siminalayi Fubara of Rivers (right), addressing the leaders and members of Ijaw Youth Council (IYC), during the council solidarity walk to Government House in Port Harcourt on May 16, 2024.
Two civil society organisations, Divine Era Development and Social Rights Initiative (DEDASRI) and Media Advocacy West Africa (MAWA-Foundation), have accused the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA) of allegedly awarding the construction of an oil depot to a non-existing company in what the groups say appears to be a practice that has helped undermine transparency in the oil and gas sector.
The Coordinator, MAWA Foundation and Director of Communication, Centre for Development Communication, Audu Liberty Oseni, made the allegation in a statement made available to THEWILL.
"Under the deal, NMDPRA with the mandate of providing a regulatory and fiscal framework for the Nigerian Petroleum Industry, awarded the construction of 500 Metric Tonnes (MT) of Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) Depot in the Gwagwalada area of Abuja to Novertec Energy Limited," the groups alleged in the statement.
"Worse still, a search at the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC) saddled with the responsibilities to regulate the formation and management of companies in Nigeria revealed that Noretek Energy Limited does not exist in its record. An indication that NMDPRA may have awarded the contract to a fake company that does not exist."
The statement claimed, "Divine Era Development and Social Rights Initiative (DEDASRI) and Media Advocacy West Africa (MAWA-Foundation) in the #DiscloseTheDeal project leveraged the Freedom of Information Act (FOI), wrote to NMDPRA requesting that it makes basic information about the contract, such as the amount involved and the procurement process for selection available to them. A request that NMDPRA has since refused four months ago, even as the FOI mandates it to provide that in seven days.
''It needs to be clarified the kind of procurement process undertaken by NMDPRA that resulted in the award of a multimillion Naira contract to a company that does not exist.
"In a standard procurement process, it is difficult for Novertec Energy Limited, a company that has no traceable record in CAC to be given such a contract. There is no way it will scale through procurement bidding without proper documentation which a valid certificate of registration in CAC is a major requirement."
The civil society organisations maintained that procurement abuse has continued in Nigeria, even as there are laws regulating procurement practices in the country.
Governor Umo Eno has approved a contract to construct a bridge and road project at Mbiaso in Obot Akara while inaugurating the 60-metre bridge and road projects.
Also, St Patrick’s Catholic Primary School in Nto Ide, close to the local government council headquarters, has been marked for renovation as a model primary school, to be completed with a laboratory, standard learning facilities and perimeter fence. Governor Eno, who announced these at the commissioning of the Nto Ide - Ikot Amba road and bridge project, paid glowing tributes to his predecessor, Mr Udom Emmanuel, who started the road and bridge project in 2021.
“This project was started by my predecessor, every good child completes what the father started. I'm not here to take the credit, just like Seyang has finished the project his father left behind, I have also completed the project my political father left behind.
“That's why on the plaque it's written there initiated by Mr Udom Emmanuel, CON and completed by my administration.
“We have the finishers anointing and we want to ensure that we liberate our communities.”
He commended the new managing director of the construction firm, Seyang for consolidating on the ideals of the founders, and announced that the firm will handle the newly approved bridge project in Mbiaso.
“Itoro Inyang for not letting the spirit of your father down you'll handle this project. Your father died halfway to the completion of this project. You and I had a conversation and I asked you if you could finish it, you said yes and you didn't let me down.
“For this reason, I'm awarding it to you, it seems you understand the topography and terrains of this place and you also have a good rapport with the people. I'm awarding it to you.” On the school project, the governor commended the management of the host school for organising the children who sang at the event and promised more incentives to enable more impacts on the children.
This is not the first time we are using a school environment but the headmistress, a woman of wisdom, thought it wise to organise these children to perform in their Immaculate white.
“Look at the English that the young girl spoke, I went round to check the classrooms where they are trained, the ceiling is broken, and there are no chairs, and I said, what if we bring Uyo to Obot Akara by giving them the Arise model school standard Science Lab, computerised school?", Eno asked.
The Federal High Court, Lagos, has convicted Anu Adepoju, a medical doctor and founder of MedContour Services Ltd., who conducted a failed plastic surgery that resulted in the death of Nneka Onwuzuligbo in 2020.
The Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC) had in 2020, arraigned Adepoju before Justice Mohammed Liman, on a five-count charge bordering on refusal to honour an invitation for an investigation into post-body surgery complications, among others.
Delivering a ruling in the case that spanned four years, Justice Mohammed Liman found Adepoju guilty and sentenced her to a one-year jail term. She was, however, given an option of N100,000, in lieu of the jail term.
Reacting to the development in a post on X, Babatunde Irukera, a former director-general of FCCPC, said the case has strengthened the accountability framework for society and professionals. “Today is a day of pride for me that I personally prosecuted Anu Adepoju and her medical practice. "Although I’ve left, the case has ended in a conviction strengthening the accountability framework for all in society, professionals or otherwise. This is how society should work & grow.
“Dr Anu Adepoju and her medical practice convicted in all 5 counts charged by FCCPC. The wheel of justice may grind slowly, but we must see it through. What we need are enforced with audacity and will to prosecute competently & diligently. Good day for consumers of professional services", the post read.
After a coterie of Senior Advocates of Nigeria, SAN, last week averred that the defected 27-lawmakers in Rivers State have automatically lost their seats by virtue of extant Court of Appeal and Supreme Court pronouncements on a similar matter, the legislative and executive powers in the oil-rich state swung in favour of Governor Siminalayi Fubara and gave him the upper hand in the supremacy battle with his predecessor, Nyesom Wike, Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja.
The resignation of five commissioners serving in the cabinet of Governor Fubara rather than deepen the ongoing political crisis in the State in fact further strengthened the governors’ hands.
The commissioners, who are known loyalists of Wike, are Jacobson Nbina Transport, Inime Aguma, Social Welfare, Prof. Chinedu Mmom, Education, Dr Gift Worlu, Housing, Austen Ben-Chioma, Environment.
Coming a few hours after Wike tendered an apology to the people of the state at a public function for choosing the governor as his successor, the resignation was timed for maximum political effect.
Addressing a grand civic reception in Ogu-Bolo, Rivers State, in honour of Chief George Thompson Sekibo’s 20 years of public service, Wike, who said he made a mistake and should be forgiven, also stated that the mistake would be corrected at the appropriate time.
That timing started with the resignations by the Commissioners, who cited in different ways, the unhealthy work environment and “loss of trust and animosity,” that could affect productivity and efficient service delivery. But in reality, they were handed a fait accompli.
These same commissioners were among the nine who had previously resigned in the heat of the political crisis in the state and were reappointed after President Bola Tinubu intervened in the face-off between Fubara and Wike, which also divided the House of Assembly into two camps loyal to each of them.
Coming barely 24 hours after Fubara slammed Wike and accused him of leaving a huge debt burden for him and a few days after Zacchaeus Adangor, Commissioner for Justice and Attorney-General and Isaac Kamalu, Commissioner for Finance, had resigned their appointments, the exit of the five commissioners in one fell swoop was expected. Conscious that the mood of the people and things have swung in his favour, the governor instigated the resignation.
First, he redeployed Adangor, to the Ministry of Special Duties, while Kamalu was redeployed to the Ministry of Employment Generation and Economic Empowerment. Others simply saw the handwriting on the wall and threw in the towel.
Filling the vacancies will pose no problem for the governor, according to sources, but doing so with the aim of achieving balance among various interests in the state could prove tough for him. For now, the mood has swung in his favour and he is moving fast to consolidate his hold on power.
After appointing a new Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice in the person of Dagogo Iboroma, a Senior Advocate Nigeria (SAN), Fubara said that a judicial panel of inquiry would be set up to investigate the management of the state’s resources and affairs under past administrations. The target is obviously Wike’s eight year administration, a slippery ground, indeed.
A former Deputy Speaker of the State House of Assembly under former Governor Chibuike Amaechi’s regime, Hon. Leyii Kwane, thinks that with the new development, the coast is now clear for Fubara to make the necessary changes and settle down to the business of governance which has suffered in the course of the ongoing crisis.
Commending Governor Fubara for the appointment of Iboroma as Commissioner for Justice, Kwane said
He called on the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, to conduct elections immediately to fill the vacant positions in the state legislature occasioned by the defection of 27 members, as provided by law
it is imperative that swift action is taken to address the current situation by filling critical positions which will enable the wheel of governance to move forward, providing much-needed services and support to the people of Rivers.
He called on the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, to conduct elections immediately to fill the vacant positions in the state legislature occasioned by the defection of 27 members, as provided by law. This, he said, will ensure that the state’s governance is truly representative of the people’s will.
On Thursday, Governor Fubara hosted the Ijaw Youth Council, IYC, who were celebrating the yearly heroic exploits of Adaka Boro, 56 years after his death and charged them to follow the path of peace, “as the enemies of Rivers State have been defeated.” But he did not fail to score political points from the visit as he noted that Major Isaac Adaka Boro genuinely stood for equity, justice and fair play, and pursued his course to ensure liberation for the Ijaw people and their clans.
He added that since Boro stood for justice and fair play, “we still celebrate him because he was a liberator. Every Rivers man, it doesn’t matter whether you are Ijaw or upland, the most important thing is that every genuine Rivers man must be a liberator.”
And then he veered off into the festering crisis in the state, stating that, “ I have also received you because we have one common purpose, to liberate our dear state. We are not going back on that.
“I am happy that you’ve told me this morning that when I call, you will respond. But there is nothing to call on you for because we have already defeated them.
Governor Fubara appealed to Ijaw youths, led by their president, Jonathan Lokpobiri, to conduct themselves peacefully as they celebrate Major Isaac Adaka Boro Day and be good ambassadors of the entire Ijaw nation.
For Wike, it is too early to say whether he has lost out in the festering crisis, but his stars seem to be deeming in both the state and national levels of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP. Party sources are thanking their stars that diplomacy has won, otherwise the crisis would have boiled over to involve the national leadership and thus create grounds for the defecting lawmakers to stand and further polarise the party. With a weakened hold at the state level, the minister’s leverage at the national level may suffer measurably and give his rivals ample room to checkmate him.
The immediate roll-out of the MVNOs therefore becomes necessary now to break the monopoly of the four big networks which are even considering a hike in their tariffs at a time of economic hardship in the country. Without any doubt, we sincerely believe that NCC really has a big role to play in ensuring the smooth integration of the MVNOs into the Nigerian telco market and the time to do so is now
The recent suspension of operational licences to communication companies in three categories - Mobile Virtual Network Operator (MVNO), Interconnect Exchange and Value Added Service Aggregator - by the industry regulator, Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), comes with a pinch of salt. The suspension, though temporary, according to the Director of Public Affairs at NCC, Reuben Muoka, is really something to worry about as it is coming at a time Nigerians were expecting the roll-out of the much-anticipated MVNOs after many of them were licenced last year.
THEWILL recalls that towards the end of last year, about 25 MVNO licences were awarded, thus raising the hope of a unique opportunity for the entry of new and innovative services and new value mobile offerings into the country.
The overwhelming response to the NCC's offer of new MVNO licences had been more than positive and had been considered a success story capable of
positioning the country as one of the major economic powerhouses on the African continent.
However, while the number of MVNO licences awarded so far has risen to about 43, it is really worrisome that none of these MVNOs has started operations, thereby depriving millions of Nigerians of the muchanticipated benefits.
With more than 226 million mobile lines already, representing just over 100 percent mobile penetration in the country, barely 60 percent of the Nigerian population has access to mobile Internet and only 4 percent of the population has access to 4G.
This, exactly, is where the MVNOs are expected to make the most sense as drivers of the mobile market.
More worrisome is the fact that almost a year after the exercise commenced, the frenzy and hope of the country going from having four mobile operators - MTN, Globacom, Airtel and 9Mobileto over 40 new ones, a milestone expected to revolutionise the country's telco sector - are almost becoming an illusion, thus defeating the purpose of the entire exercise.
Now, the strategy, which is aimed
at boosting competition in the mobile sector by bringing mobile telecommunications services to rural, remote and underserved areas of the country, is about to be punctured even before its take-off.
While we agree with NCC that the suspension became necessary to enable the Commission conduct a thorough review of several key areas within these categories, including the current level of competition, market saturation and current market dynamics, we urge the Commission to use the period of the suspension to fast track the process for the roll-out of the MVNOs to enable Nigerians enjoy the immense opportunities therein.
The immediate roll-out of the MVNOs therefore becomes necessary now to break the monopoly of the four big networks which are even considering a hike in their tariffs at a time of economic hardship in the country. Without any doubt, we sincerely believe that NCC really has a big role to play in ensuring the smooth integration of the MVNOs into the Nigerian telco market and the time to do so is now.
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Ilived in Uyo, Akwa-Ibom state, for four years. This was during my undergraduate days at the University of Uyo, where I studied Communication Arts. We had the best of times. We did not only go through the university, the university also went through us. We were very young and fully explored what Akwa-Ibom had to offer. We immersed ourselves in the culture and sampled local delicacies such as ‘404’ (dog meat) and palm wine, etc. We, the Aba boys, dated mainly Akwa-Ibom students. They appeared to be more loving and caring. This was unlike our own sisters, who approached campus relationships from an ‘OMATA’ or mercantile perspective - ‘What’s in it for me?
THE STATE GOVERNMENT USED EXTENSIVE MEDIA CAMPAIGNS TO DISCOURAGE AKWA-IBOMITES FROM WORKING AS HOUSE BOYS AND MAIDS IN OTHER PARTS OF THE COUNTRY. THESE EFFORTS EXCITED AKWA-IBOMITES AND ALSO HELPED TO ENTHRONE A ‘CAN DO’ CULTURE IN THE STATE
We later learnt that Akwa-Ibom girls from early on receive special training in caring for a man, especially in libido, food and other matters. Akwa-Ibom and Cross River girls, we understood, were sent to the fattening room just before marriage where older women schooled them in various aspects of husbandly and home care. I don’t know if this culture still exists.
During this time, there was an influx of Aba-brought-ups (ABUs), into Uniuyo. The first set that went from Aba and got admitted came back and announced to others what they saw; good food, beautiful women, competitive academic standards, etc. This triggered the mad rush for Uniuyo by Umu Aba.
My first-hand experience revealed to me that Akwa-Ibomites are very kind, peaceful and hospitable people. They are a bit laidback, though, but I think that that culture has changed. They were not venturing out of their state so much like Ndigbo did back then.
I was also able to observe some cultural similarities between Akwa-Ibomites and Ndigbo. We share the same food; rice, yams, beans, plantains, Garri, cassava, stew, etc. We also share soups such as vegetable and nsala soup which they call ‘white soup’. Afang soup, though now popular in Igboland, is traditionally an Akwa-Ibom delicacy. I have always wondered why Akwa-Ibomites prefer to add
periwinkles and its shells into the soup and then use tongue to suck out the periwinkles while eating. Not everyone does this though. Some break off the shells and cook only with the fleshy periwinkles. Akwa-Ibomites also wear Scottish Kilt-like dresses. Ndigbo do also, but we call ours ’Peteli’. They adorn the ‘Okpu Agbala’ made popular by Ndi Nze na Ozo in Igboland. You can see in this picture an example of Akwa-Ibomites wearing the ‘Okpu Agbala' and wearing a ‘Peteli’- like dress. Most Igbo masquerades and other traditional paraphernalia are sourced from Ikot-Ekpene, the centre of raffia and carved artworks trading in the South-East and South-South. This reinforces my assertion of cultural similarities.
During our Uniuyo days, one sensed a pervasive subservient culture. Maybe because then, AkwaIbom’s largest export to the rest of Nigeria was domestic servants. Little wonder Nollywood was always casting Akwa-Ibomites in such stereotypical roles.
Before the coming of Nollywood, the Gringory character in the sitcom ‘New Masquerade’ had already done damage to the psyche of Akwa-Ibomites. James Iroha played the role of Gregory, a ‘dumb’ Akwa-Ibom-born houseboy to Chief Zebrudaya Okoroigwe Nwogbo, the lead character of the sitcom. Funny as the act was, his portrayal of a dumb, stupid, though funny houseboy, didn’t help the people of Akwa-Ibom at all. Rather, it helped to promote a ‘culture of inferiority’.
However, when the current Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, was the Governor of Akwa-Ibom state, he launched an audacious and ambitious state repositioning campaign which greatly led to a significant mindset shift. The ‘Akwa-Ibom Ado Ok’ cultural re-awakening and social awareness campaign, introduced a culture of self-belief among Akwa-Ibomites. Free education was introduced alongside the ‘uncommon’ transformational infrastructure the state government embarked upon.
The state government used extensive media campaigns to discourage Akwa-Ibomites from working as house boys and maids in other parts of the country. These efforts excited Akwa-Ibomites and also helped to enthrone a ‘can do’ culture in the state.
Governor Udom Emmanuel continued from where Governor Akpabio stopped and launched the ‘Akwa-Ibom Dakkada’ project, a state repositioning, self-belief and mindset renewal campaign.
Also, the current Governor, Pastor Umo Eno, has not dropped the ball and is running with the ‘Akwa-Ibom Arise’ campaign.
Perhaps, the cultural similarities between Akwa-Ibomites and Ndigbo may be as a result of long periods of intermarriages and cultural exchanges. Successive boundary divisions have also seen some native Igbo-speaking people being drawn into Akwa-Ibom territories.
We should continue to celebrate what unites, rather than what divides Akwa-Ibomites and Ndigbo.
The much-awaited public presentation of the book, ‘Leading From The Streets: Media Interventions By A Public Intellectual, 1999-2019,’ authored by myself, took place at the prestigious Alliance Française/Mike Adenuga, Ikoyi, Lagos, with aplomb on Wednesday, May 8, 2024. It was a three-in-one event that featured the unveiling of the book, a panel discussion on the theme "Tinubunomics: What's Working, What's Not Working, Why, And Way Forward" and honours bestowed on six exemplary leaders from outside the corridors of power for their contributions to society by Leading From The Streets and not corridors of political power.
The public presentation of the book was attended by Gen. Yakubu Gowon, who served as the chairman of the occasion, former governor of Ogun State, Aremo Segun Osoba, a media royalty, former Cross Rivers State governor, the effervescent Mr Donald Duke, and the man who charted a path for me in politics, former Delta State Governor and irrepressible national political leader, Chief James Ibori. Intellectual governors, Prof. Charles Soludo of Anambra State and his Edo State counterpart, Mr Godwin Obaseki, were unavoidably absent as they are outside the shores of our country, but they sent words and representatives.
The private sector was also well represented, with the Chairman of HEIRS Holdings/UBA, Mr Tony Elumelu, represented by the company secretary of UBA, Mr Billy Odum, as well as Mr Nnamdi Okonkwo, GMD/CEO of First Bank Holding, in attendance, personally amongst many others such as Mr Henry Imasekha, an investment banker/Chairman of Berkeley Group Plc and Mr J K Randle, one of the foremost accountants in our country. Other private sector players, too numerous to list in this short piece, were well represented, and we are most grateful to all of them.
As one of the readers of the book pointed out because it captures the socioeconomic and political developments in Nigeria between 1999 and 2019 in one volume, any researcher who wants to learn about the dynamics of change in the evolution of politics, societal issues and the economy of Nigeria should plan to have the book as a companion because it would be a useful compass.
Rt. Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila, who is the Chief of Staff to President Bola Tinubu, was unable to personally attend the event due to prior engagements but offered to send a representative to attend on his behalf. In a letter affirming his support for the book, he made the following observation: “By documenting history in books, we make ourselves part of the timeless fabric of humanity. That is as close to immortality as we can hope for.” He then concluded by stating: “For many years, you have been one of the preeminent public intellectuals in our country. I’m glad that your contributions through the years are now available in one easily accessible volume, and I congratulate you on this publication.”
The Rt. Hon. Gbajabiamila’s complimentary statement provides the answer to the question that has been agitating the minds of some Nigerians, who have been wondering why I published "Leading From The Streets," which was presented to the public on the 8th of May. As the Chief of Staff to President Tinubu rightly noted, the book chronicles my personal contributions to nation-building through media articles spanning two decades of Nigeria’s return to multi-party democracy now encapsulated in one time.
The hope is that the nuggets of wisdom contained in the book would give confidence to the masses
UNDERSTANDABLY, THE MOST CRITICAL ELEMENT CURRENTLY MISSING IS PATIENCE, WHICH IS REQUIRED FROM NIGERIANS TO ENABLE THE POLICIES DRIVEN BY TINUBUNOMICS TO ATTAIN MATURITY
and nudge long-suffering Nigerians towards pulling their skills and resources together for the prosperity of the nation and her people. It is also expected to guide those leading from the corridors of political power presently and in the future to learn from the documented past records of their predecessors so that they can avoid the mistakes of the past occupants of the seats that they presently occupy.
After the unveiling of the book by Gen. Gowon, GCFR, alongside other dignitaries, the panel discussion on the theme "Tinubunomics: What's Working, What's Not Working, Why and the Way Forward" commenced. It generated tension as one of the panellists, Mr Bala Zarka, a chartered accountant and leader of the Ikeja Lagos district of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria (ICAN), declared that "Tinubunomics" (an encapsulation of the reform politics of President Tinubu), was not working. He became emotional in denouncing the reforms and almost drowned out the voices of the other panellists, including the moderator, Prof. Anthony Kila, Ms Ayo Obe, a renowned civil rights lawyer, Mr Sam Omatseye, Chairman of the Editorial Board of The Nation newspaper, and Dr Dakuku Peterside, former NIMASA Director-General, who was co-opted into the panel.
As the other panellists pointed out, some of the policies are working, such as the removal of a substantial part of the subsidy on petrol pump prices and the devaluation of the naira, which are responsible for more money currently flowing into governments at sub-national levels. Hopefully, the funds would be optimally utilised by governors by channelling them into developing the rural areas where the masses reside.
Petrol subsidy removal is also programmed to be the source of funding for the recently introduced Student Loans Fund, with Mr Akintunde Sawyer as the Executive Secretary and Mr Jim Ovia, the founder/Chairman of Zenith Bank, serving as the Chairman of the board. Without being said, it is expected that Mr Ovia, who birthed Zenith Bank as the founder of a financial institution that has been a phenomenal success, will bring his magic touch to bear on the student loan initiative. In my estimation, the positive effect of that policy can only be equated to the late sage Obafemi Awolowo's introduction of free education in the Western Region when he was the premier, which leapfrogged the region into the stratosphere of prosperity in terms of education and socioeconomic development compared to her peers in the Eastern and Northern regions.
The high cost of goods and services as well as the increase in operating expenses experienced by businesses in Nigeria are, directly or indirectly, linked to the high cost of doing business in the country’s ports.
Findings by THEWILL showed that the cost of clearing imported goods has skyrocketed due to the upward review of Customs duties introduced as a result of the devaluation of the naira in June 2023. Corruption and high level of inefficiency injected into the process contribute immensely to the challenge.
With the continued depreciation of the naira against the dollar, customs duties paid on imported goods have risen by about 93 percent since the federal government’s foreign exchange reform came into effect eleven months ago.
The cost of clearing imported items is higher, thereby putting pressure on already struggling businesses and making it more difficult for them to stay above troubled waters.
The increase in customs duty was caused by weaker naira, which has seen manufacturers and importers of finished products continue to spend more to bring goods and raw materials into the country. Besides, the exchange rate applied by Customs fluctuates and varies every day..
The Nigeria Customs Service has adopted the Central Bank of Nigeria’s official foreign exchange rate for clearing of imported goods at the port, yet importers and clearing agents cannot predict the rate to be applied on any day.
THEWILL saw the currency rates
Continues on page 14
EDITOR Sam Diala
United Bank for Africa (UBA) has maintained the lead in electronic banking (e-banking) revenue among theTier-1 banks, according to data from the FY 2023 and Q1 2024 financial statements of the institutions. In the Tier-1 category are Access Bank, FirstBank of Nigeria, Guaranty Trust Bank, United Bank for Africa and Zenith Bank.
The e-banking income includes revenue from electronic platforms, such as mobile applications, USSD channels, Internet banking, ATM, PoS as well as other debit and credit card transactions.
The banks have embarked on several avenues to expand their e-banking channels for maximum performance and enhanced revenue generation, which have created a stiff competition among them.
Analysis of the FY 2023 financial statements of the Tier-1 group in their Holco structures, revealed that the Big Five generated a total of N385.85 billion in e-banking revenue as against N277.14 billion in 2022, representing a 40 percent increase.
UBA earned the highest e-banking income among the Tier-1 financial services institutions. The bank generated N125.57 billion in 2023 representing 32.5 percent of the Tier-1 group total income for the year.
By this, Africa’s Global Bank grew its e-banking income by 59 percent when compared with N75.94 billion it earned in 2022 to emerge the first in 2023, followed by Access Bank which recorded N101.61 billion against N59.65 billion in the previous year, accounting for a 70.34 percent rise.
FirstBank grew its e-banking income by 20 perent to N66 billion in 2023 from N55 billion in the preceding year, ranking it the third among the Big-Five group. It was followed by Zenith Bank with e-banking revenue of N51.81 billion compared to N45.73 billion in the preceding year, representing a growth of 13.3 percent.
The financial statements of Guaranty Trust Bank revealed that the 34-year-old bank recorded N40.82 billion as e-banking income in 2023, against N31.73 billion in 2022, constituting a 28.6 percent increase.
The Q1 2024 financial statements of the Tier-1 group (excluding FirstBank of Nigeria) amounted to N108.95 billion against N64.32
billion or 70 percent increase and followed the same performance trend by the major banks.
UBA’s N44.35 billion e-banking revenue in Q1 2024 representing 60 percent of the total e-banking income by the four Tier-1 banks was the highest during the period. It was followed by Access Bank which recorded N33.38 billion, while Zenith Bank and Guaranty Trust Bank earned e-banking income of N19.96 billion and N11.26 billion respectively.
The remarkable increase in e-banking revenue of the banks shows the high level of interest in alternative payment system by bank customers as the CBN pushes for expansion in financial inclusion across the country.
According to Nigeria Inter-Bank Settlement System (NIBSS), e-banking activities through the electronic payment transactions in Nigeria hit an all-time high in 2023 as it rose by 55 per cent to N600 trillion, compared to N387 trillion in 2022.
Also, the total value of point of sale (PoS) transactions for 2023 was N10.73 trillion compared to N8.39 trillion recorded in 2022 indicating a 27.85 per cent increase.
The data from NIBSS indicated that in March 2023, the volume of e-payment transactions reached an unprecedented peak of 1.17 billion, followed by the 968 million transactions recorded in December.
Elaborating on the UBA’s e-banking revolution, the Group Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer, UBA Plc, Oliver Alawuba, said that the bank’s consistent investment in strengthening its digital channels has been paying off as UBA is well-positioned to meet the growing demand of its customers across Africa and beyond.
Alawuba spoke during the bank’s new executives’ visit to the Nigerian Exchange Limited’s Head Office in Lagos in 1922..
Commenting on UBA’s driving factor over the past years regarding the adoption of technology, Alawuba said, “We have invested so much in digital banking. We have great digital banking capabilities and we
on page 14
Today we have over 30 million customers across various platforms and these customers are doing their transactions seamlessly
also have a growing customer base. Today we have over 30 million customers across various platforms and these customers are doing their transactions seamlessly.
“Over. 90% of our transactions are done digitally and we are looking at 95% shortly. This has been helping us to ensure that we manage our cost of operations and to deliver excellent customer service to our customers over time.”
He explained that the bank’s foray into the larger African market 17 years earlier continued to yield largely for the institution, as activities in the African market account for over 50% of the banks’ profitability, with room for even more opportunities going forward.
On plans and strategy for the immediate future, Alawuba said, “As it stands, UBA can lead in Nigeria and Africa, and we the new management are here to ensure that UBA takes the leadership position in every country we operate in. We will continue to focus on the customer.
“We are committed to our Customer 1st philosophy. The customer determines what we do at every point in time and we will ensure that we do all it takes to satisfy them optimally.”
UBA’s Q1 2024 financial results showed very strong growth across key performance measures.
The Group’s results saw outstanding year-on-year increases: Gross Earnings rose by 110%, from N271.1billion to N570.2 billion; Interest Income grew by 130% to N440.7 billion. Operating Income increased by 115%, from N175.7 billion in 2023 to N378.59 billion.
Further consolidating the record performance delivered in the Group’s 2023 Full Year Audited Financials, UBA again saw Profit Before Tax rising significantly by 155% from N61.7 billion in Q1 2023, to N156.34 billion in Q1 2024; while Profit After Tax jumped from N53.5 billion to N142.5 billion, representing an impressive rise of 165% year-on-year.
Commenting on the results, Alawuba, said the Group delivered a strong first quarter performance, building on the solid momentum of 2023, as well as the ongoing execution of its long-held strategy of customer focus, geographic diversification and effective risk management and governance.
He said, “Our record Q1 profit before tax was delivered with triple digit gross earnings growth, supported by very strong interest and non-interest incomes. Fees and Commissions rose by 118% year-on-year on the back of improved efficiencies and continued digital adoption. This has helped drive improvement in efficiency and customer satisfaction, with the Group’s costto-income ratio held at 57.8 per cent.”
“The Group’s balance sheet grew steadily with Total Assets increasing by 23 percent to N25.4 trillion. Customer deposits closed at N18.4 trillion, recording a 23 percent increase year-onyear, largely attributed to growth in current accounts and savings accounts.”
“Our unwavering commitment to sound governance, robust risk management, and financial strength positions us for continued growth, while we contribute meaningfully to inclusive economic development across our network.”
THEWILL recalls that UBA emerged Global Finance’s Best SME Bank for 2023 in Nigeria, Ghana, and Mozambique, awards that spotlight the bank’s continuous resolve towards supporting small and medium scale businesses which is the life of any growing economy. Also, the bank, with presence in 20 African countries won the 2023 FMDQ Gold Awards in three key categories of Money Market Liquidity Provider; FX Market Liquidity Provider and Dealing Member of the Year, while UBA was also named as Global Finance’s Safest Bank in Senegal 2023.
Shareholders of Fidelity Bank Plc have endorsed the recommendation of the board of directors for a final dividend of N19.2 billion for the financial year 2023.
The shareholders gave the approval at the company’s 36th Annual General Meeting (AGM) held virtually on Thursday.
The dividend, which was ratified at the AGM, amounts to N.60 kobo per share for the company’s shareholders
The final dividend brings the total dividend for the review period to N.85 kobo per share, amounting to N27.2 billion.
The directors had approved and paid an interim dividend of 25 kobo per ordinary share of 50 kobo each on 32,000,000,000 shares, amounting to N8 billion for the half-year period ended June 30, 2023. Withholding tax was deducted at the time of payment.
The Chairman of Fidelity Bank Plc, Mr. Mustafa Chike-Obi, addressing shareholders at the AGM, noted that the bank has transitioned from a modest player in the Nigerian finance
announced by Customs for Friday, May 16 which featured N1,530.367/USD, N1,936.373/GBP and N1,662.285/EUR
While the AFEM rate on FMDQ platform showed N1,497.33/USD on May 16, the Customs rate was N1,530.36/$1 which is N33.03 higher.and, also, higher than N1,520 at the parallel market.
This has resulted in high import tariffs occasioned by the high exchange rate for calculating customs import duty at the port which has risen by 86.8 percent since FX reforms and 51.3 percent since January 2024.
What this means is that importers and manufacturers are now using more money to clear their goods at the port.
For instance, a 40-foot container of pharmaceuticals that was previously cleared for N7 million by this time last year when the exchange rate for customs duty was N422.30$ is now cleared for N25 million while a 20-foot container of pharmaceuticals is now cleared with N12 million from N5 million.
This explains why medicines, which have zero duty and 20 percent levy, are very expensive today.
In response to the costly importation, importers have reduced their volume of imports and are now increasing prices to cover their costs.
Muda Yusuf, CEO of the Centre for the Promotion of Private Enterprise, said the decision to apply the FX rate on form M for calculating import duty is a laudable response because it would reduce the current uncertainty around imports.
He, however, said the apex bank’s intervention did not address the bigger and more troubling issue of the currently prohibitive cost of clearing goods at the ports.
“The high exchange rate for import duty assessment is fueling the already high inflation, increasing production and operating costs for manufacturers and other businesses, worsening the cost-of-living crisis, and putting thousands of maritime sector jobs at risk,” he said.
Yusuf suggested the pegging of FX for paying Customs duty at N1,000 to the dollar to mitigate the current hardship.
Various inefficient practices also contribute to the worsening state of doing business in the ports. THEWILL learnt that a fault that occurred in the server used in the clearing process ecently, led to accumulation of demurrage at the Lagos ports thereby further swelling the cost of clearing goods.
According to inside sources, due to the server failure by the Senegalese IT firm, Webb Foutaine, over 1,600 containers were trapped on a daily basis at Apapa Port, Tin Can Island Port and the rest while economy loses N192 million daily.
Additionally, clearing agents and importers lament that they pay for the inefficiency of the IT firm in terms of rent and demurrage, noting that the problem has deeply hurt Customs operations across various commands.
This awkward development has forced the National Association of Government Approved Freight Forwarders (NAGAFF) to cry out and escalate its concerns over the recurrent server failures plaguing the Nigeria Customs Service.
In addition to these challenges, importers and clearing agents have multiple checkpoints to cross before arriving at the destination of the imported cargo.
industry to a prominent and respected brand, proving its resilience and growth potential.
Chike-Obi said that the bank’s story is a testament to the power of a well-crafted strategy
He said the bank consistently surpassed industry benchmarks on crucial metrics such as deposit size, risk assets creation, and profit before tax (PBT), demonstrating its ability to deliver exceptional results.
“Our deposits increased by an impressive 56% in the review period, from N2.6 trillion in 2022 FY to N4.0 trillion. Advances to customers rose by 46% from N2.1 trillion in 2022 FY to N3.1 trillion, while Total Assets grew by 56% from N3.9 trillion in 2022 FY to N6.2 trillion.
In the 2022 financial year, we attained a significant milestone by reporting a PBT of N53.6billion.
We grew that figure by 131.5% in the review period to close at N124.3billion. Our business attained an important landmark, exceeding
the N100 billion PBT mark for the first time in our history. We are excited about the future and the opportunities in our market,” he said.
MD/CEO of Fidelity Bank. Mrs. Nneka Onyeali-Ikpe said that in line with the bank’s commitment to the growth and development of the Nigerian non-oil export and agribusiness sectors, it developed initiatives to provide market access to practitioners in the agric value chain.
Onyeali-Ikpe noted that one of the bank’s major strategic aspirations is to diversify its income base by expanding service franchises beyond the shores of Nigeria.
She said that in July 2023, following regulatory approval from the Prudential Regulation Authority (PRA) in the United Kingdom and the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), the bank completed the purchase of the former Union Bank UK Plc, adding that the institution was renamed FidBank UK Limited in February 2024.
“The checkpoints are toll gates. Most of them are illegal but manned by security agents. This is part of the corruption that has compounded Nigeria’s notorious poor business environment, with the escalating costs passed to the final consumer”, a regular importer, James Ukah, said. *Continues
After close to one century-and-half operation in Nigeria, the multinational giant, PZ Cussons Nigeria, has announced its plan to quit Nigeria and a few other African countries. Ironically, this is happening at a time that President Bola Tinubu’s every trip outside the country is deliberately used to woo foreign investors. The latest of such trips being the one to the Netherlands, from where, as usual, the President and his ministers, have been telling Nigerians about billions of dollars of investments that would soon flow from the outing.
Unsurprisingly, one of the foreign firms already being bandied about by Mr President’s team as having sealed a deal with Nigeria to invest US$600 million in the country, A. P. Moller Maersk, has promptly denied. While Tinubu and his team were still on the trip, Robert Maersk, Chairman of the Danish shipping giant (Maersk) refuted signing any US$600 million investment deal with the Nigerian government despite a Sunday (April 28) press statement by Mr President’s aide saying otherwise.
Although President Tinubu met with Mr Maersk at a special session of the World Economic Forum (WEF) in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, and asked the shipping mogul to come invest in Nigerian “seaport reconstruction,” no deal was actually sealed in this regard. In fact, the Maersk group have denied such a deal, saying “we are unable to comment on any investment talks,” in response to enquiries by UK-based Lloyd’s List newspaper. This denial however marks the latest in a trend of the Tinubu administration’s penchant for pushing around false claims about securing (investment) agreements with foreign bodies. There have been similar claims during a visit to India and others.
In point of fact, the annual reports 2023 and first quarter 2024 accounts of most major companies in Nigeria show huge losses. These humongous losses are euphemistically tagged “revaluation losses” or “Forex losses”— meaning that they were incurred owing to the impact of the floatation of Nigeria’s national currency, the Naira, in June 2023. Floating the Naira has led to an unprecedented devaluation
In its latest ‘World Economic Outlook,’ the IMF estimated Nigeria’s gross domestic product (GDP) at US$252 billion based on current prices, lagging behind Algeria at US$267 billion, Egypt at US$348 billion, and South Africa at US$373 billion
While this latest gambit was playing out, PZ Cussons (on April 24) said it had begun a strategic review of its African businesses to exit Africa, mainly due to economic challenges in Nigeria. The company said its sales in Nigeria plunged by almost 50 per cent due to the Naira devaluation and inflation. Jonathan Myers, the company’s chief executive in Nigeria, stressed the importance of looking towards the future while respecting PZ Cussons’ past, adding that the review’s outcome could include changes in ownership.
Myers said: “The macro-economic challenges and complexities associated with operating in Nigeria are significant, and there is much more to do to unlock the full potential of the business, adding: “as such, we have undertaken a strategic review of our brands and geographies and have embarked on plans to transform our portfolio, refocusing on where the business can be most competitive.” The CEO said that in addition to the challenges of the exposure in Nigeria, the group “is complex for its size, with financial and human resources spread too thin to generate returns.”
With this, the exit of PZ Cussons from Nigeria after 140 years of operations becomes a fait accompli; thus, joining in the exodus of blue chips and multinational companies (MNCs) from the country in recent times. Unfortunately, each exiting company points to the adverse impact of recent reforms or economic policies of the government of the day in Nigeria. Specifically, when, a few months ago, GlaxoSmithKline (GSK), Sanofi, Procter & Gamble (P&G) and others were announcing their exit from Nigeria, each one of them blamed the worsening business climate in the country.
of the currency: from about N460/US$1 in May 2023 to well over N1500/US$1 in March 2024— and now hovering around N1300/US$1.
Examples of major companies in Nigeria, with their reported Forex losses (based on their 2023 financial year results) include: MTN Nigeria (N740.43 billion); Nestle Nigeria (N195 billion); Cadburys Nigeria (N195 billion); Dangote Sugar (N172 billion); Dangote Cement (N164 billion); Nigerian Breweries (N153 billion); BUA Foods (N81.87 billion); Intercontinental Breweries (N70.38 billion); BUA Cement (N67 billion) and Lafarge Cement (N21 billion), among others.
Also, despite recent hikes in prices of its products, Guinness Nigeria reported a loss of N62 billion for the nine-month period ended March 31, 2024—compared to a profit of N5.9 billion in the same period last year. The company has also shut down its head office production plant at Ikeja, Lagos, and now runs mainly the plant in Benin City, Edo State. Similarly, Nigerian Breweries has shut two of its plants in the country to better manage its “FX losses” in the coming years.
In the oil and gas sector, almost all international oil companies (IOCs) are divesting in one form or the other from Nigeria. Many of the IOCs are in the circuitous process of divesting their assets from (mainly) onshore operations—and leaving only offshore (or deep offshore) activity. These IOCs include Shell Nigeria, Elf Energies, Mobil Producing (Nigeria), and Eguinor
(that has exited completely), among others. Although, these quitting oil and gas giants claim they are mainly responding to the dictates of ongoing energy transition worldwide, the reality is that Nigeria is losing out in terms of no fresh investments. The cumulative effects of all these are in forms of fast spreading and deepening poverty levels in Nigeria; and the country’s loss of its place in the comity of oil producing nations. For instance, for three consecutive months (January to March, 2023), Nigeria’s crude oil production/export has been dropping compared to previous months. This, according to the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC), has not only pushed Nigeria behind Algeria (among African oil producers), but also meant the country’s oil output hovering around 1.3 million barrels per day (mbpd). This is as against the projected 1.78 mbpd in the 2024 national budget and the about two million barrels per day OPEC quota for Nigeria.
All these have translated to continued shrinking (rather than growth) of the Nigerian economy in the past ten years—a situation the International Monetary Fund (IMF) vividly showed in a recent publication. Specifically, the IMF said that Nigeria now ranks the fourth largest economy in Africa; this is as against being the largest economy on the continent since 2013.
In its latest ‘World Economic Outlook,’ the IMF estimated Nigeria’s gross domestic product (GDP) at US$252 billion based on current prices, lagging behind Algeria at US$267 billion, Egypt at US$348 billion, and South Africa at US$373 billion. Nigeria’s GDP stood at about US$510 billion in 2013. Apparently, the current worrisome state of the Nigerian economy has been pushing the Tinubu administration into a frenzy in the ‘trial and error’ policy making mode. However, the policy somersaults rather than encouraging or attracting local/foreign investors, unleash the opposite effect.
The backdrop of deepening and spreading insecurity in the country is also a clear counterpoise to whatever investment attraction Nigeria possessed. This largely accounts for why, rather than more investors coming into Nigeria, existing businesses keep leaving in droves. And many are dying quietly— especially most small and medium scale enterprises (SMEs).
The net effect remains a shrinking economy.
•Okeke, a practising Economist, Business Strategist and Sustainability expert, was Chief Economist at Zenith Bank Plc
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The African Magic Viewers Choice Awards, AMVCAs which celebrated and recognised outstanding achievements in television and film held on Saturday, May 11, 2024 at the Eko Hotel, Lagos, bringing the best cinema creators in Africa under one roof. The best African movies produced on the continent in 2023 were listed for recognition in different categories. While some went home with a few awards, others did not. IVORY UKONU shines the spotlight on these critically acclaimed movies that got celebrated and recognised
Mami WataLong before it received an award at the AMVCAs, 'Mami Wata' was already making waves on the international scene. The black-and-white fantasy thriller film written and directed by C.J. "Fiery" Obasi, based on West African folklore, is a coproduction between Nigeria, France and the United Kingdom. The film premiered at the 2023 Sundance Film Festival. In October 2023, it was selected as the Nigerian entry for Best International Feature Film at the 96th Academy Awards by The Nigerian Official Selection Committee (NOSC). It was nominated in the Best International Film category of the 39th Independent Spirit Awards and in the Outstanding International Motion Picture category of the 55th NAACP Image Awards. It however bagged one award at the AMVCA in the Best Makeup category.
It is currently the most talked about movie based on the number of awards it carted home, and rightly so. The movie by the trio of Eku Edewor, BB Sasore and Derin Adeyokunu, is a faith-based movie about Timi Johnson played by Wale Ojo who, for all intents and purposes, loses his religion after losing his family early in life to a local thug, leading to a series of tragic events that turn Timi into a recluse. Many years later he hires a houseboy, Elijah played by Chimezie Imo, and lets him into his home and the story follows how Elijah worms his way into Timi’s heart, changes Timi's life and helps him to rediscover his faith and purpose. For a faith-based movie, it is not the typical playbook. There is no singular verb when Jesus comes down and turns things around. It does not preach to its audience with bible verses; instead in the moments when they do show up, they are seamlessly integrated into the progression of the storyline. The movie not only won the Best Movie award at the AMVCA but also won in the Best Actor (Wale Ojo), Best Supporting Actress (Genevova Umeh), Best Supporting Actor (Ademola Adedoyin) and Best Director (BBSasore and Derin Adeyokunu) categories respectively. And what is more, a member of the cast, (Chimezie Imo) won the Trailblazer Award.
Just like 'Mami Wata,' 'Over the Bridge' will be making its international debut at the 31st edition of the New York African Film Festival (NYAFF), hosted by the Film Society of Lincoln Centre. Since its inception in 1993, the festival has been at the forefront of showcasing African and Diasporan filmmakers’ unique storytelling through the cinema. This year’s festival theme, 'Convergence of Time,' explores the intersection of historical and contemporary roles played by individuals representing Africa and its diaspora in the art world. 'Over The Bridge' tells the story of an investment banker with secrets whose life is turned upside down when his ethics are compromised over a controversial rail construction project. Although the movie was the highest nominated film in this year’s AMVCA with 12 nominations, it only won in two categories, the Best Art Direction and Best Cinematography categories.
Nollywood actor, Femi Adebayo Salami elevated the art of epic Yoruba story telling with 'Jagun Jagun,' a historical drama set in an ancient Yoruba kingdom, featuring a mercenary warlord and a young warrior. A project of monumental undertaking, 'Jagun Jagun' tells the story of Warlord, Ogundiji who begins to feel threatened by the potentials of a young warrior, Gbotija, whose main aim is to avenge the death of his father. Ogundiji, a dictator who succeeded in snatching a lot of kingdoms for wrong leaders, soon became threatened by the arrival of the young warrior. The movie won in the Best Indigenous Language Movie (West Africa) category and the Best Costume Design award category at the AMVCA.
Abiographical film by Bolanle Austen-Peters, it ironically won in the Best Writing in a movie category at the AMVCA despite the fact that it got premiered a day after the award ceremony and got released in cinemas five days after, on May 17th precisely.
The film follows the life story of the late Funmilayo Ransome Kuti, a renowned Nigerian educator, political campaigner, women’s rights activist and the mother of Afrobeat legend, Fela Anikulapo RansomeKuti. The movie explores her days at Abeokuta Grammar School, her marriage to Israel Ransome-Kuti and her revolutionary fight against colonialism and patriarchy through the creation of the Abeokuta’s Women’s Union. The movie includes special appearances from her grandchildren, including Femi Kuti and Yeni Kuti who portrays her aunt Dolupo. Dotun Ransome Kuti plays his father Olikoye, while Kunle Ransome-Kuti takes on the role of his father, Fela Anikulapo-Kuti. Great-grandson Made Kuti also makes an appearance.
This docuseries created for Africa Magic focuses on the stories of Igbo men who are married to non-Nigerian women, shedding light on their love stories, cultural blends, and everyday challenges. These 'Oyibo wives' found a way to integrate their husbands’ culture into their lives and vice versa. They learn to speak the language, immerse themselves in history, adopt traditional attire, and relish the preparation of traditional meals. Although the love stories are sweet, intercultural relationships are not without their challenges. The documentary also shows the humorous side of these couples’ lives as non-Igbospeaking partners attempt to speak in Igbo or translate Igbo words. This not only adds some good-natured fun but also makes their struggles more relatable. The docu series got a win as the Best Unscripted Mnet original.
Set in the colonial period, many years before the amalgamation of northern and southern Nigeria, this 260-part series is a refreshing cultural show with an incredible storyline about the fight for Ibaokuta’s throne. The show explores themes such as power, politics, love, money, betrayal etc. The series won in the Best Scripted series category at the AMVCA.
The drama thriller film by Charles Okpaleke, Arafat Bello-Osagie, Roxanne Adekunle-Wright, and Agozie Ugwu is set against the backdrop of the Niger Delta oil conflict. This perhaps explains the use of Ijaw language extensively in its dialogue, and includes an Ijaw language subtitle option as well, making it the first film on Netflix to do so. The movie which won in the Best Sound Design category at the AMVCA is about six young people fleeing a town devastated by oil pollution and political unrest, stow away on a ship laden with stolen crude oil and embark on a perilous journey across the Atlantic Ocean, not realizing the dangers that await them.
Produced by MNET for Africa Magic, Africa Magic, Ìrora Ìyá’ meaning Agony of Motherhood is a Yoruba series which follows the story of a teenage girl who got pregnant and fled home. In her bid to take care of herself and the baby, Morayo falls into the hands of an infant trafficker. The plot takes the audience on a rollercoaster of emotions and keeps viewers engrossed and on lookout for every episode. The series won in the Best Indigenous MNET original category.
Produced by Editi Effiong, this crime thriller film starring veteran Nollywood actor, Richard Mofe Damijo aka RMD has a semblance to the American movie, John Wick, whose character and that of RMD, the protagonist and lead actor leans towards that of John Wick itself played by Keanu Reeves, a former hitman who is now drawn back into the criminal underworld he had abandoned. The movie which reportedly cost $1 million to produce starts with the kidnapping and killing of the husband and infant of a Nigerian minister who revealed some dark secrets of corruption in the ministry she heads. To cover their doings, the plotters of the killings, sort to pin the killing on an innocent son of Paul Edima played by RMD who part of was formerly this gang, but has since gone low and settled to serving the Lord as a clergy. Following the killing of his innocent son, RMD seeks to avenge his death and goes after the mastermind, who also doubles as his former boss, General Issa played by Alex Usifo. Paul wins the fight and retrieves the black book. The movie won in the Best Editing category at the AMVCA.
A10-part limited crime series, set in Lagos, Nigeria, Slum King is about a young boy who witnesses his family's murder after he forgets to lock their door overnight. He is then forced to live amongst pickpockets, armed robbers, and bullies and he grows with guilt and anger and is determined to be the slum king and take revenge. The Mnet production for Africa Magic won in the Best Scripted MNET original category.
Amagical realist short film by Kagho Idhebor, the story follows the psychological effect of child molestation which awakens cosmic realities and it is told from a father's point of view. The main character played by Richard is reportedly inspired by prolific Nigerian painter and sculptor Ben Enwonwu. The short film which screened at The Annual Film Mischief 2023, winning the best short film and best film poster for The Broken Mask also won in the Best Short Film category at the AMVCA.
BY
IVORY UKONU
The duo of actress, Carolyne Hollinworth Hutchings, formerly known as Caroline Danjuma and fashion entrepreneur, Toyin Lawani have buried the hatchet and are now back to being best of friends. A few years ago, both ladies were very close friends but gossip, backbiting and jealousy tore their friendship apart. Fast forward 2022 when they were both inadvertently cast as members of the 'Real Housewives of Lagos,' a reality television series, both women took to X formerly known as Twitter, to open up their can of worms and generally wash their dirty linen in public.
Back in the day, it was common knowledge that Toyin dated a prominent member of the Oniru royal family in Lagos State. The relationship however broke down shortly after he threw her an elaborate birthday party at the Civic Centre, Lagos. Toyin blamed Caroline for the breakdown of her relationship. She accused Caroline of ruining her life by allegedly getting entangled with her then married lover. Toyin claimed she was with her ex-lover who she was engaged to be married to, for 11 years only for Caroline to allegedly embed herself in her (Toyin) ex-lover's life which led to her (Toyin) ex turning against her and chasing her and her young daughter out of the home he got for her.
Toyin claimed that her ex-lover also kicked her out of the stores he set up for her where she ran some of her businesses, including a fashion outfit, a travel agency etc. She claimed she was beaten black and blue by her ex-lover before he kicked her out. Toyin also claimed that Caroline who thought she could ruin her (Toyin) own life got served by karma as she (Caroline) also got caught, allegedly having an extra marital affair.
She also said that, being a good friend, she did everything within her power to protect Caroline and even till date, refused to spill the beans about what Caroline was up to while married to her now ex billionaire husband, Musa Danjuma and even allegedly pleaded on Caroline's behalf to her husband.
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Acording to her, Caroline had no visible means of income and she peddled lies for a living.
She claimed that Caroline lied that she had a record label, when in reality her ex-husband didn't allow her to work. Toyin recalled giving her money sometimes as Caroline's husband allegedly wouldn't even give her money. She recalled that Caroline would cry endlessly about how horrible her ex-husband allegedly treated her.
In those dark times, Toyin claimed, she was Caroline's succour. She also said that while she had a legitimate business that put food on her table, Caroline allegedly had a 9 to 5 job where she worked for someone else, but lied that she owned a business. Defending herself, Caroline whose marriage to Danjuma ended in 2016 over counter accusation of infidelity denied being the reason Toyin's love affair with her married lover ended. She alleged that Toyin's married lover had people monitoring Toyin's movement and giving him feedback of her alleged shady movements and including getting entangled allegedly, with different men. She alleged that Toyin dated her married lover in the hopes that he would ditch his wife and engage her as Toyin was never engaged to him.
She accused Toyin of being mean to her married lover's wife including any woman she saw him with.
Caroline also claimed that Toyin allegedly abandoned her ex-husband in London just to be with her married lover but that her unfaithfulness towards her married lover ended the relationship. The accusations were endless. But it is obvious that the two have decided to let love lead. This was evident during Africa Movies Viewers Choice Award, AMVCA ceremony this past weekend. It was an opportunity for both women to show they have both reconciled their differences. Both stepped out to the glamorous event together with Caroline wearing a custom-made piece by Toyin.
Adeleke in recognition of his contribution to the growth and development of Ede and Osun State at large. While receiving the title, the governor dedicated it to his late brother, his late parents , his older brother Dr Adedeji Adeleke and his sister, Chief Dupe Adeleke-Sanni. Some of the dignitaries in attendance were the Ogun State governor, Dapo Abiodun; Oyo State governor, Seyi Makinde, Lagos state governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu; the Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Ogunwusi; the Soun of Ogbomoso, Oba Afolabi Ghandi Olaoye; the Orangun of Oke-Ila Orangun, Oba Adedokun Abolarin Aroyinkeye; former president Olusegun Obasanjo and his wife, Bola; Bola Shagaya, the Iyaoloja General, Folashade Tinubu-Ojo; Ebenezer Obey; Sunny Ade; Senator Biodun Ogunjimi; business moguls and other dignitaries from various walks of life from within and outside the state.
No Love Lost Between Oba Elegushi, Oluwo of Iwo
Onyemaechi
Delta State Commissioner for Education (Technical), Joan Onyemaechi has resigned her appointment from the cabinet of Governor Sheriff Oborevwori. Unlike the commissioners in Rivers State who resigned because of their allegiance to Nyesom Wike, the erstwhile Governor of Rivers State and currently Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, Joan resigned to ensure that her younger brother, Jude Chukwunwike, wins his second term in office as the Chairman of Aniocha South Local Government Area of the state. There has been grumbling that Jude's tenure, which ended in March, is being imposed on the people by his sister despite the fact that the position of local government chairman rotates among three towns in the LGA, namely Ogwashi-Ukwu, Ubulu-Ukwu and Nsukwa. Some groups have emerged agitating for equity and fairness and asking that the Nsukwa clan be allowed to produce the next chairman in the council election slated for July 2024. But Joan allegedly vowed never to allow anyone to occupy the seat but her younger brother, who is contesting for a second tenure. She is being accused of using her influence and closeness to the corridors of power to disrupt the zoning formula. She has however dismissed the allegations, describing it as baseless with a resolve not to be blackmailed since she isn't the first person to be favoured by the state governor to be in government and at the same time having a relation who is also in government. She added that it was the bickering and jealousy being faced by her family over her brother's second-term bid that prompted her to tender her resignation in the interest of her brother and Ubulu-Ukwu, their town.
Onyemaechi was a former member of the Delta State House of Assembly, member, of the House of Representatives and a former Director-General of the Asaba Capital Territory Agency in former Governor Ifeanyi Okowa's government. She used to be married to a former AttorneyGeneral and Commissioner for Justice in the state, Peter Mrakpor until the marriage collapsed in 2021. The marriage produced three children coupled with two other children from Joan's previous relationship.
No one can tell exactly what the problem between them is, only that they are both now, two poles apart. So close were they at some point that one could never have imagined that their bond would be broken. The duo were fond of accompanying each other to society events and both enjoyed nighttime activities together. Their bond was such that when Oba Akanbi had marital issues with one of his erstwhile queens, Jamaican born Chanel Chin, Oba Elegushi played a prominent role in ensuring that the marriage lasted for as long as it did. He was reportedly the glue that kept the marriage intact until it collapsed like a pack of badly arranged cards.. In fact, the erstwhile queen once revealed that she was introduced to Oba Akanbi by a prominent Lagos king during a coronation party for him (Oba Akanbi) in Lagos. She (Chanel Chin) was an invited guest to the party. She however did not
mention the name of the king. The cracks in the friendship of the two traditional rulers became noticeable when over a year ago, specifically during the 7th coronation anniversary of Oba Akanbi cum book presentation event, Oba Elegushi was conspicuously absent. For a king who doesn't pass on an opportunity to celebrate with his close friends and personally attending their events, it was telling. Hopefully, this new wave of reconciliation pervading the social space hits them to put their differences aside.
Abudu, Others Named Among 40 Most Powerful Women in International Film
The trio of Mosunmola Abudu, Funke Akindele and Jade Osiberu have been named by The Hollywood Reporter as some of the 'Most Powerful Women International Film’. The Hollywood Reporter is an American digital and print magazine which focuses on the Hollywood film, television, and entertainment industries. The trio join 37 others from China, UK, France, Germany, Italy and South Korea, who are making their marks globally in the film industry. The prestigious news outlet described the 40 filmmakers as the pioneering executives and creators who are producing tomorrow’s global hits. The Hollywood Reporter spotlighted Abudu’s ‘Dust to Dreams’ film directed by Idris Elba, and Akindele’s ‘A Tribe Called Judah’ which generated over N1.4 billion at the box office. Osiberu, on the other hand, was described as the most artistically ambitious of a new generation of Nigerian producer-directors.
Akanbi Akindele Abudu Osiberu
Photo Editor: Peace Udugba [08033050729]
L-R: President of the Inter-Parliamentary Union(IPU), Dr Tulia Ackson; President of the Senate of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Godswill Akpabio and Mr C Rattray of the United Nations, during the first sitting of the Preparatory Committee for the Sixth World Conference of Speakers of Parliament, at the
L-R: Support Officer/NASEN Desk Officer, OAGF, Mr. Mustapha Marafa; Deputy Programme Manager, System Support and Sustainability Directorate, OAGF, Mr. Jeremiah Asanato; Executive Vice Chairman/ CEO of NASENI, Mr. Khalil Suleiman Halilu; Coordinating Director, Finance and Accounts, NASENI, Alh Ibrahim Baba Dauda and Coordinating Director, Science Infrastructure Directorate, NASENI, Prof Umaru Gaya, during a one-day sensitization workshop on Government Integrated Financial Management Information System (GIFMIS) held at NASENI Headquarters in Abuja on May 14, 2024.
Students of various Schools in Lagos, participating in the celebration of World-Wildlife Day 2024 commemoration, held at Lekki Conservation Centre in Lagos State recently.
R-L: Managing Director, ANOH Gas Processing Company, Effiong Okon; CEO Seplat Energy Plc, Roger Brown; GCEO, NNPCL, Mele Kyari; Deputy Governor of Imo State, Chinyere Ekomaru; Board Chairman, Seplat Energy Plc, Udo Udoma, and others, during the Presidential Commissioning of the ANOH Gas processing Company in Owerri on May 16, 2024.
L-R: Teacher, The Vale College, Adenike Oladimeji; State Business Manager, Airtel Nigeria, (Ogun), Adetokunbo Alegbejo; State Business Manager (Oyo), Wumi Adejumo; Regional Operations Director, West Region, Tolu Adeniyi (Middle); Regional Technical Officer (West Region), Airtel Nigeria, Olusola Bisuga; Retail Head, (West Region), Airtel Nigeria, Grace Agaga; Regional Enterprise Head (West Region), Airtel Nigeria, Femi Adegbite and Teacher, The Vale College, Josphine Oloyede, during an interactive session with girls from The Vale College, Ibadan in commemoration of Girls in ICT Day in Ibadan on April 29, 2024.
L-R: Executive Secretary, Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB), Filix Ogbe and Women In Energy Network, Eyomo Fatayi-Willams, during the latter’s visit to NCDMB Office in Abuja on May 16, 2024.
Experts from the United Nations have called for the immediate and unconditional release of Yahaya-Sharif Aminu. SharifAminu was sentenced to death by hanging in 2020 for sharing allegedly “blasphemous” song lyrics on WhatsApp about prophet Mohammed.
Sharif-Aminu’s case, pending before the Supreme Court of Nigeria, challenges the Sharia-based blasphemy law of Kano State, Nigeria.
Sharif-Aminu remains in prison awaiting his appeal to the Supreme Court, which was filed with the support of ADF International in November 2022.
In addition to calling for Sharif-Aminu’s immediate release, the UN experts expressed their concern that, “Mr. Sharif-Aminu has been in prison for too long for exercising his human rights,” and they urge the Supreme Court of Nigeria to “consider Mr. SharifAminu’s case as a priority, and to urgently adopt a decision taking into consideration Nigeria’s obligations under international human rights law”. The experts called on the government to promptly review SharifAminu’s case, guarantee the protection of his human rights, and ensure his well-being.
“We are grateful to advocates of religious freedom, freedom of expression, and other important human rights across the globe, including at the United Nations, who are speaking out on Yahaya’s behalf,” said Sean Nelson, legal counsel for ADF International. “While the international community demands action, Yahaya continues to languish in prison awaiting a hearing at the Supreme Court of Nigeria.”
Nelson continued, stating: “Now is the time for Nigerian officials to heed the urgings of world leaders, immediately release Yahaya Sharif-Aminu, and get rid of these egregious blasphemy laws that violate the basic human rights of their citizens. No person should be punished, prosecuted, or threatened with death for their peaceful expression and their faith. The time to act is now.”
“As long as religious minorities are imprisoned for mere peaceful expression, religious freedom is imperiled in Nigeria,” stated Kola Alapinni, international human rights lawyer and legal counsel for Yahaya Sharif-Aminu in partnership with ADF International. “I am thankful to the UN experts for speaking out on Yahaya’s behalf, and I implore all who are able to keep up the
“
Now is the time for Nigerian officials to heed the urgings of world leaders, immediately release Yahaya Sharif-Aminu, and get rid of these egregious blasphemy laws that violate the basic human rights of their citizens. No person should be punished, prosecuted, or threatened with death for their peaceful expression and their faith. The time to act is now
global pressure for advancing our human rights in Nigeria. It is my hope that in a positive step forward, the Supreme Court will hear Yahaya’s case and eliminate these oppressive blasphemy laws that hinder our rights to speak and live freely.”
The persecution of minority religion adherents, including Christians and minority Muslims, in Nigeria is especially severe. More Christians are killed for their faith in Nigeria than any other country on earth. Recent reports show over 7,000 Christians were killed for their faith last year, with at least 200 Christians murdered by militants in Plateau State, Nigeria, this past Christmas.
The US Commission on International
Religious Freedom recently recommended that Nigeria be placed on the US’s CPC list, highlighting Yahaya Sharif-Aminu’s blasphemy case.
Earlier this year, members of the US Congress voted to move forward with a resolution calling for greater US action in response to the religious freedom crisis in Nigeria. The House resolution, which can be read in full here, calls on the US Secretary of State to designate Nigeria as a Country of Particular Concern (CPC) on their list of worst religious freedom offenders for “engaging in and tolerating systematic, ongoing, and egregious violations of religious freedom,” while also highlighting religious prisoners of conscience and the egregious blasphemy laws in Nigeria.
Earlier this year, both members of the US House of Representatives and US Senate moved forward with resolutions that condemn the prevalent violations of religious freedom in Nigeria, and call for greater intervention from the US government, including to “leverage all diplomatic and sanctions tools available to the United States Government to hold religious freedom violators accountable for their actions”.
Members of the UK Parliament also condemned Sharif-Aminu’s sentence and imprisonment, stating “The UK Government opposes the death penalty in all circumstances. We will continue to raise Mr. Sharif-Aminu’s case as he appeals his sentence.” The Parliament went on to convey their support for Sharif-Aminu, and their support for freedom of religion and belief for all in Nigeria.
•Credit: ADF International
BY JUDE OBAFEMI
The transfer window ahead of the current season of the American National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL) carried with it the usual whirlwind of mouth-watering moves and headline-grabbing acquisitions as the American sides jostled for big names to
While Oshoala may possess a predatory instinct honed to sharpened perfection, she remains only as potent as the service lines behind her
shore up their squads. For the expansion side Bay FC in the National Women's Soccer League, their marquee signing came in the form of a notoriously deadly Nigerian striker whose quality has left many a seasoned defender trembling, Asisat Oshoala.
Transferring from the indomitable Barcelona Femení side that she had helped go from glory to glory, Oshoala arrived on American shores amid great fanfare. Her lethal combination of blistering pace, clinical finishing and an insatiable appetite for goals had dismantled the best defences in Africa, Europe and Asia. Suddenly, the NWSL's backlines were put on notice –Africa's deadliest markswoman was coming for them.
The dream beginning script wrote itself when Oshoala coolly slotted home Bay FC's first-ever goal against Angel City FC on opening night. Cue pandemonium in the stands as the Nigerian's new adoring fans were granted an early glimpse of the fireworks to come. When she followed it up with an assist just days later, visions of Oshoala running rampant and shattering records danced in the minds of the Bay FC faithful.
However, those burgeoning fantasies have since been doused in the harsh realities of the unforgiving NWSL season. After that blistering opening salvo, Oshoala's impact has waned as Bay FC find themselves entrenched in a malaise that has them languishing in 13th place of the 14-team league, having suffered seven consecutive defeats.
Yet, this nosedive needs not constitute a diagnosis of Oshoala's pedigree as a glance at her CV easily serves as a smelling salt to complacency. The Nigerian's ascent has been nothing short of meteoric, her obvious talent on the pitch blazing a trail for African and non-African strikers on the world stage. Oshoala enjoyed an illustrious career at the club level, excelling in multiple top-tier leagues around the world. She began her professional journey with Rivers Angels in Nigeria, where her exceptional performances caught international attention, leading to a move to Liverpool in the Women's Super League. After a season in England, she joined Arsenal, where she continued to demonstrate her striking chops. Her career reached new heights in China with Dalian Quanjian, where she was the league's top scorer and led her team to the title.
honed to sharpened perfection, she remains only as potent as the service lines behind her. Bay FC's teething problems as an expansion franchise have manifested in disjointed build-up play and a lack of cohesion – the slick interplay and creativity required to bring the best out of their talismanic Number 9 has also been sorely lacking. In Barcelona, this was only natural and it provided Oshoala with only to think of clinical finishing, which she was seamlessly aligned to do with efficient regularity.
It is clear that, for all her undoubted gifts, Oshoala is merely human. The physical and psychological toll of acclimatising to a new league, lifestyle, and culture should not be underestimated in accounting for her inauspicious start to life in American female football top flight.
online at www. thewillnews.com
In a nation plagued by economic woes, crumbling infrastructure and a plethora of challenges that demand urgent attention, it is egregiously unacceptable for any government, federal or state, to divert scarce public funds towards sponsoring religious pilgrimages or other religious activities for citizens.
The recent revelation by Vice President Kashim Shettima that the current administration has allocated a staggering N90 billion to subsidise the 2024 Hajj pilgrimage is not only a flagrant violation of Nigeria's secularity but also a stark betrayal of the government's responsibilities towards its citizens. Both federal and state governments funding of personal religious pilgrimages and faith-related activities have been ongoing for decades since the military era in a clear violation of the constitution. Nigeria, by constitutional mandate, is a secular state, which means that the government is prohibited from adopting or favouring any religion. Section 10 of the Nigerian Constitution explicitly states, "The government of the federation or of a state shall not adopt any religion as state religion." It simply means that public money cannot be spent on anything that has to do with personal faith or religion. By channelling public funds towards sponsoring religious pilgrimages, governments are not only contravening this fundamental principle but also demonstrating a concerning disregard for the diverse religious landscape of the nation.
I want to state that I respect the right of every citizen to practice and worship God in their chosen faith. This is indeed a fundamental universal right. For clarity, I am a Christian and think it is wasteful and unconstitutional to deploy state funds for any religious activity or to build places of worship, be it church, mosque, synagogue, temple or shrine.
The expenditure of trillions of naira in subsidies for personal religious pilgrimages either to Jerusalem or Mecca is a slap in the face of the millions of Nigerians grappling with the ravages of poverty, lack of access to quality education and healthcare, dilapidated infrastructure and the ever-present spectre of insecurity. This colossal sum could have been employed to address critical developmental issues that plague the nation, yet it has been diverted to facilitate the religious obligations of a select few.
A retrospective glance at the government's longstanding practice of subsidising pilgrimages reveals a pattern of misplaced priorities and squandered resources. Over the years, staggering amounts have been poured into this endeavour, with states like
The expenditure
Kano admitting to spending N1 billion annually on Hajj sponsorship alone. In 2017, it was estimated that a minimum of N136.5 billion was spent on pilgrimages by state governments despite the nation's
economic recession at the time.
This trend of profligacy persisted even during the COVID-19 pandemic, when the Federal Government allocated N2.6 billion in the 2021 budget for the activities of the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria and the Nigerian Christian Pilgrim Commission. Such allocations defy logic and demonstrate a profound disconnect between the government's actions and the pressing needs of its citizens.
The funds squandered on pilgrimages could have been channelled towards addressing the nation's
of
trillions of naira
crumbling infrastructure, which has been a perennial blight on Nigeria's development. Imagine the impact N90 billion could have had on constructing and maintaining roads, bridges and transportation systems, facilitating economic growth and improving the quality of life for citizens.
Moreover, these funds could have been invested in bolstering the nation's ailing education and health sector. The construction and equipping of schools, hospitals, the provision of essential learning materials, and the training and remuneration of teachers and healthcare personnel could have been a gamechanger for the country's youth, who represent the future of the nation.
Furthermore, channeling these monies towards infrastructural development, job creation initiatives, and the promotion of small and medium-scale enterprises could have provided a much-needed economic boost, empowering citizens and fostering an environment conducive to sustainable growth and development.
It is unconscionable for a nation grappling with such profound challenges to prioritise the sponsorship of religious pilgrimages over the well-being of its citizens. The government's role is to serve the collective interests of the people, not to subsidise individual religious obligations that primarily benefit the economies of other nations.
The time has therefore come for our governments to reorient its priorities and focus its efforts on addressing the myriad challenges confronting the nation. It is incumbent upon the leadership to uphold the secular principles enshrined in the constitution and disentangle itself from the realm of religious affairs.
The government's mandate is to govern effectively, foster economic development, and ensure the wellbeing of all citizens, regardless of their religious affiliations.
Rather than subsidising pilgrimages, governments should direct resources towards creating an enabling environment that allows citizens to fulfil their religious obligations without burdening the public purse. Continuing on this road is a stark reminder of the disconnection between the government's priorities and the pressing needs of its citizens.
It is now time for governments to hands off religion and face governance squarely, addressing the nation's developmental challenges with unwavering commitment and resolute action.
in subsidies for personal religious pilgrimages either to Jerusalem or Mecca is a slap in the face of the millions of Nigerians grappling with the ravages of poverty, lack of access to quality education and healthcare, dilapidated infrastructure and the ever-present spectre of insecurity