Fifty is a milestone age most people look forward to. It comes with life’s experiences and wisdom. Most people are grateful for reaching the golden age, which is no different for Dupe Olusola. As she turns 50, she is thankful to God for His grace and the ability to live a full life. Olusola has, so far, lived a life of impact not just to herself or her family but to the people around her. Looking back on her journey, she recognises that it has been one of growth, resilience, and purpose, with each phase teaching her something valuable. As she turns 50, she focuses on legacy––what she’s leaving behind for her family, community, and the women coming after her. Turning 50 also comes with her launching The Next Generation Foundation, a philanthropic fund set up to contribute to the eradication of child neglect in Nigeria. As for what she finds the most rewarding about reaching her golden jubilee age, Dupe Olusola is grateful that looking back at the last five decades of her life and knowing that there’s nothing she would have done differently or wish she had done because she said yes to opportunities, and yes to living fully and unapologetically is rewarding. Read her golden age interview on pages 8 to 10; you’ll love it.
Choosing the right colour to wear might be difficult because so many options exist. That is why we have listed six of the best colour combinations in this week’s fashion article. See pages 4 and 5.
Everyone is discussing body sculpting, whether they are celebrities, influencers, or everyday people. This week’s beauty page explores body sculpting and its function in helping you reach your ideal body goals. You’ll find this on page 12.
Until next week, enjoy your read.
Photo:
Kola Oshalusi
@insignamedia Makeup: Zaron
OnahNwachukwu Editor, THEWILL DOWNTOWN
SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 29, 2024 THEWILL NEWSPAPER • www.thewillnews.com
THEWILLNIGERIA
SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 29, 2024
THEWILLNIGERIA
COVER
ALL EYES ON NIGERIA'S BROKEN JUSTICE SYSTEM
As EFCC Chairman, Interior Minister, Bobrisky, VeryDarkMan Head to NASS Over Alleged Bribery, Racketeering
BY AMOS ESELE
This Monday, September 30, a drama of untold proportion will in all likelihood take place at the National Assembly, following the summons by the Joint Committee of the National Assembly to the Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, Ola Olukoyede; Minister of Interior, Dr Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo; crossdresser, Idris, Okuneye, aka Bobrisky; and social media influencer, Martins Vincent Otse, aka VeryDarkMan (VDM), to appear before it.
This summon is coming on the heels of allegations of bribery against the anti-graft agency and the National Correctional Service, NCos, following a recorded conversation involving Bobrisky that was leaked on social media by the VeryDarkMan.
In that conversation, Bobrisky, who was convicted for abuse of the Naira, the national currency, disclosed that he allegedly paid N15 million to unnamed EFCC officials to drop charges of money laundering preferred against him and that he served his six-month sentence in a VIP
facility, instead of the KiriKiri Medium Custodial Centre, Lagos.
The summon letter, dated September 27 also directed Olukoyede and Tunji-Ojo to come along with their officers implicated in the alleged bribery scandal.
Earlier on Friday in Abuja, the Minister of Interior, Dr Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo talked about the bribery allegation as part of the activities to mark his one year in office, a day after the ministry formally reacted swiftly to the development by suspending some senior officers through the Civil Defence Corps, Correctional Service, Fire and Immigration Services Board.
“We will not spare anybody, no matter how highly placed. Let us be patient. Investigation is on, but let’s be assured that nobody will be shielded and nobody will be protected,” the minister stressed, adding: “It is not just about Bobrisky. Of the four people we suspended, only two are linked to Bobrisky. The one in Afikpo took somebody
out. This will continue. It is not going to stop here.”
The minister who reposed confidence in “the integrity of the people in the investigation committee,” he set up to unravel the veracity of the report that Bobrisky, who was sentenced to jail earlier this year, paid officials not to serve his jail term inside the correctional centre, partly confirmed the same report.
Accordingly, Assistant Controller, ASC II, Ogbule Samuel Obinna, serving at the Medium Security Custodial Centre (MSCC), Afikpo in Ebonyi State, was suspended for allegedly accompanying a convicted inmate out of the custodial centre to a location outside the facility.
Another senior officer, Iloafonsi Kevin Ikechukwu, Deputy Controller of Corrections (DCC), in-charge of Medium Security Custodial Centre (MSCC), Kuje, Abuja, was suspended for allegedly receiving money on behalf of an inmate.
COVER ...Head to NASS Over Alleged Bribery, Racketeering
Other suspended officers are connected with the medium and maximum security custodial centres in Kiri-Kiri, Lagos, where Bobrisky supposedly served his jail term. They are Michael Anugwa, Deputy Controller of Corrections (DCC), in-charge of Medium Security Custodial Centre, MSCC, Kiri-kiri, Lagos State; and Sikiru Adekunle, Deputy Controller of Corrections (DCC), in-charge of MaximumSecurity Custodial Centre (MSCC), Kiri-kiri, Lagos State. “Be assured that all those involved will face the music,” Tunji-Ojo assured Nigerians and urged them to patiently wait for the conclusion of the investigation.
Like the Ministry, the EFCC, which reacted swiftly to the allegation by “constituting a team of Investigators to critically look into the allegations…”, while assuring, “the public that the allegations would be thoroughly investigated and the result of the findings made public accordingly,” stated that its investigation would be dictated by its core values of integrity, courage, professionalism and collaboration at all times.
When contacted, a dependable source at the Commission who asked not to be named told THEWILL that the EFFCC Chairman was aware that some of the agency's investigators have allegations of bribery hanging on their heads and he had on some occasions warned them to desist from taking bribes. “But this Bobrisky case will provide an opportunity for a thorough house cleaning. The allegation will be thoroughly investigated. Officers were assigned to handle the case, so it would be easy to fish them out. The Commission has promised to make its finding public. So, wait for the outcome of the investigation.”
THEWILL’s efforts to reach the Head of Media of the anti-graft agency, Dele Oyedele, for an update failed as he would neither answer his call nor respond to test messages delivered to his phone.
BOBRISKY, VDM AFTERTHOUGHTS
Although Bobrisky took to his Instagram page as soon as the story broke to deny the audio report that he paid EFCC the alleged N15m and demanded donations from friends and acquaintances for that purpose, the revelation by Nigerian rapper and songwriter, Folarin Falana, aka Falz, that the cross-dresser sought his assistance to pay for a VIP section of the prison added another dimension to the prevailing conversation.
VDM quickly apologised to Femi Falana, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, whose chambers threatened to sue him for defamation. The social media influencer had repeatedly echoed Falana’s name in surprise alongside his son, Falz, thereby defaming them in violation of section 23 of the Cybercrime Act, which criminalises intention to illegally take or make use of a name, business name, trademark, domain name or … and section 375 of the Criminal Code that frowns at publication of defamatory matter, quickly apologised, though in his own way.
In an apology that he posted on his Instagram and Tiktok pages, VDM stated that his intention was never to defame Femi Falana. He restated his respect for Falana, saying, “I never defamed and will never defame Femi Falana. I only reacted to the call Bobrisky made, which included allegations against Femi Falana. I choose not to believe Femi Falana would be associated with that. if so, I would be disappointed.”
his approval to leak it publicly, vouched for Femi Falana’ integrity and transparency but slammed what he called the double standards that prevail in the country, using himself as an example when he was remanded in a cell in Panti Police Station, Yaba, on the orders of a Magistrate Court for allegedly assaulting a policeman.
In his reaction, a broadcaster with ARISE TV, Rufai Oseni, said, “VDM, we beg you in the name of justice, love and safety to release the second part of the recording so that we can know the godfather who called the Comptroller of Prisons and then get to the end of this disturbing matter.”
One Ima Press simply said, “Now, people will begin to know the power of social media. As it is still hard for the EFCC to touch Yahaya Bello, let us use Bobrisky’s case to shine.”
Easy Gogeterstore said, “Content creators can see from this matter that the country can be made better by focusing on relevant issues beneficial to everyone.”
Also reacting, Jasper said: “VDM is the godsent voice of the masses. VDM is the most valuable individual in this country. He is more adored than all our elected leaders put together…”
When THEWILL contacted the President of the Nigerian Bar Association, Mazi Afam Osigwe, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, SAN, for his reaction, a lawyer who received the phone call, Ataba Agbo, said Osigwe had spoken on behalf of the organisation in a lengthy statement.
The statement stressed the need for a thorough and independent enquiry involving the office of the AttorneyGeneral of the Federation and Office of the National Security Adviser, NSA.
In the statement, Osigwe urged the EFCC and the NCoS to carry out a swift and thorough investigation. If any public official is found guilty, appropriate actions must be taken to hold them accountable, he suggested.
He said, “The suggestion that convicts can freely serve their time in private residences and potentially procure a pardon by paying a bribe undermines the very foundation of our criminal justice system and erodes public confidence in the system.”
Osigwe charged the NCoS to not only respond to the allegation that Bobrisky did not serve his time in the
“correctional facility but also provide transparent details of the condition in which Bobrisky served his sentence, adding that if it is proven that he was allowed to serve his sentence outside a correctional service in breach of the law and a court order, the officers and officials responsible must be prosecuted and dismissed from the service.
He promised that the NBA would appoint eminent members of the legal profession to monitor the situation and ensure that due process is followed.
FAMILIAR STORY OF CORRUPTION IN NIGERIAN PRISONS
To many Nigerians, stories of corruption in Nigerian prisons is not new. Scattered here and there, reports abound of cases of corruption involving the rich who can and have paid big money to buy comfort within the prison facility or in nearby houses.
Indeed, investigative journalist, Fisayo Soyombo in October, 2019 published an expose on police and prison corruption.
Soyombo who plotted his arrest and detention to expose corruption in the justice system in Nigeria spent five days in a police cell and seven days in Ikoyi Prison, in Lagos. After his release, he published a three- part serial of his investigation.
He noted: “Over the course of my seven days in prison, it was, quite simply, too easy for me to separate the corrupt warders, who were in the majority, from the clean ones … You can get a cell for N30,000, one of the warders tells me, you can also get for N100,000 or N150,000. You can even get a N1.5 million cell…
“A million and five hundred thousand naira?” I protested.
Another warder cuts in. “Don’t worry, you can never suffer in the prison yard,” he says. “As long as you have your money.”
In his reaction to this undercover story, the then Comptroller-General of the Nigerian Correctional Service, Ja'afaru Ahmed, said the service had set up a panel to commence investigation into corruption in Ikoyi prison.
WAITING ON NATIONAL ASSEMBLY
Honourable Patrick Umoh, representing Ikot Ekpene/ Essien Udim/Obot Akara Federal Constituency on the platform of the APC, may have set the tone for Monday’s meeting with the House Joint Committee of the National Assembly when he raised the motion last Thursday on the urgent need to investigate “the disturbing allegation of corruption against the EFCC and the NCos.”
Falana denied ever meeting Bobrisky, let alone demand the sum of N10 million, as stated in the recording, to secure presidential pardon for the cross-dresser.
However, Falz, and his sister, Folakemi, have insisted that they would sue VDM.
NIGERIANS, NBA REACT
Meanwhile, hundreds of Nigerians who are actively following the alleged scandal on social media have weighed in support of VDM for releasing the recording, which they consider an expose on the rot in the polity.
Afrobeat musician, Seun Kuti, who said he was the first person VDM contacted about the recording and he gave
In a copy of his motion titled, ‘Urgent Need to Investigate the Disturbing Allegation of Corruption Against the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, and the National Correctional Service to Save Nigeria from Ridicule,’ which was made available to THEWILL, Dr Umoh said, among other things, that the allegations against Nigerian critical law enforcement agencies of the EFCC and the NCoS was “disturbing… and the negative image and portrayal of Nigeria as a corrupt nation and Nigeria’s struggle to redeem itself from that perception, was worrisome
In a copy of his motion titled, ‘Urgent Need to Investigate the Disturbing Allegation of Corruption Against the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, and the National Correctional Service to Save Nigeria from Ridicule,’ which was made available to THEWILL, Dr Umoh said, among other things, that the allegations against Nigerian critical law enforcement agencies of the EFCC and the NCoS was “disturbing… and the negative image and portrayal of Nigeria as a corrupt nation and Nigeria’s struggle to redeem itself from that perception, was worrisome.”
For a country that ranks 145 out of 180 countries and scored 25 out of 100 points in the recently launched 2023 Corruption Perception Index, published by Transparency International Nigeria on January 30, 2024, this development is indeed worrisome.
More worrisome however, before the Monday National Assembly meeting, is the mental health of the principal actor in the unfolding saga, Bobrisky.
He sounded suicidal at the weekend. “I have never in my life thought about suicide, but now it’s coming to my head. See what human beings are doing to their fellow humans just to bring them down. I don’t need sympathy from anyone. Who will fight for me? Haters, you win,” he said.
CJN To Swear in 87 New SANs on Monday
The Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Justice Kudirat KekereEkun, will swear in 87 new Senior Advocates of Nigeria on Monday, September 30, at the main courtroom of the Supreme Court.
A statement by the Court’s Director of Information and Public Relations, Festus Akande, on Friday, said the ceremony is part of programmes lined up to mark the formal commencement of the 2024/2025 legal year.
During the event, Justice Kekere-Ekun will deliver a state-of-thejudiciary address to highlight the performance of the Supreme Court in particular, and the Nigerian Judiciary in general, in the 2023/2024 legal year.
Also, other leading stakeholders in the Justice Sector, including the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Chairman of the Body of Senior Advocates of Nigeria (BOSAN), and President of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), amongst others, will present speeches bordering on the state of the justice sector of the country.
All the programmes outlined to mark the formal commencement of the new legal year will start at 10:00 am in the main courtroom of the Supreme Court.
The Legal Practitioners’ Privileges Committee (LPPC) had on August 1 approved the elevation of 87 legal practitioners to the status of Senior Advocates of Nigeria (SAN).
They include: Lateef Olaseinde Karim, Godwin Tagbo Ike, Johnson Odionu, Nnodim Marcellinus Duru, Innocent Adams Ovbagbedia, Soronnadi Anthony Njoku, Adamu Abubakar, Charles Oyaole Musa, Udochi Nunny Iheanacho, David Dare Onietan and Elele Chinatu Casmir.
Others are Josiah Rapuluchuks Nduka, Godwin Ikechukwu Obeta, Habeeb Orisavia Ilavbare, Moses Kolade Obafemi, Mathew Echezonam Esonanjor, Baba Fika Dalah, Babatunde Ademoye Sodipo, Mustapha Ikhegbe Abubakar, Emmanuel Ibhagbemien Esene, Henry Adedayo Bello, Boniface Chinedu Moore and Clement Amechi Ezika.
The advocate list also has Omokayode Adebayo Dada, Edwin Anikwem, Roy Ogbonnaya Umahi Nwaeze, Olumide Oniyire Olugbenga, Monday Onyekachi Ubani, Ayoola Olufemi Ajayi, Paul Chukwuma Obi, Olasupo Dominic Ati-John, Cole Segun Ololade, Charles Ayodeji Adeogun-Phillips and Okechukwu Kingsley Ajunwa.
Others are Jacob Ocheogbu Ifere, Emmanuel Aderemi Adekile, Christopher Ehumadu Okeke, Waziri Yusha’u Mamman, Oluronke Adeyemi, Oluwole Olawale Afolabi, Toboukebide Kekemeke, Akinbamigbe Adesomoju and Victor Owarienomare Odjemu.
Bayelsa to Prioritise Low-Cost Housing Schemes For Civil Servants, Others
BY AMOS OKIOMA
The Bayelsa State Government has given the assurance that it would accord priority attention to housing development in its bid to address the accommodation needs of the people of the state.
Governor Douye Diri said this while responding to issues raised at the Bayelsa Elders Council Quarterly general meeting held at the Niger Delta Wetland Centre, Ekeki, Yenagoa, on Thursday.
Governor Diri, who was represented by his deputy, Senator Lawrence Ewhrudjakpo, maintained that a number of housing schemes, including the completion of inherited housing projects would be vigorously pursued in his current second tenure. He said the government would deal directly with its housing and property development authority to build low-cost houses for civil servants and other categories of people in the state.
He said,"This time around, housing is going to be a major issue we are going to deal with. We deliberately decided not to appoint a Commissioner for Housing Development in the state, because we are going to deal with housing at the agency level. "We are going to fully engage the agency in terms of housing, because it is a major issue in our second term in office, to see to it that we build low-cost houses for the people, including civil servants and some of our deserving elders."
On the issue of science and technology, Governor Diri said contracts would soon be awarded for the building of an additional three technical colleges in the remaining LGAs.
He disclosed that about 1,500 teachers had so far been employed for the public schools in the state, with about 400 of them assigned to the new technical colleges, 230 for the primary schools, while secondary schools got the lion's share of 930 teachers.
Governor Diri noted that the government directed the employment of these teachers after carrying out a comprehensive needs assessment in the education sector with necessary emphasis on science subjects, English and Mathematics. He advised teachers to show true commitment to their calling and urged traditional rulers and other community leaders to hold teachers posted to schools in their communities accountable. Earlier, the Chairman of the Bayelsa Elders Council, Rear Admiral Gboribiogha John Jonah (Rtd), briefed the Council on the reports by its Agro-Allied Committee, Science and Technology Ad-hoc Committee, as well as the National Affairs Ad-hoc Committee.
FG Mulls Technological Investments, Alternative Fuels For Safe Shipping, Says Minister Oyetola
The Minister for Marine and Blue Economy, Adegboyega Oyetola, has said that the Federal Government will increase investments in new technologies and alternative fuels to ensure safe shipping operations in the country.
Oyetola, who was represented by the Ministry's Permanent Secretary, Mr. Oloruntola Olufemi, spoke during the celebration of World Maritime Day (WMD) 2024 in Lagos, which had the theme “ Navigating the Future: Safety First”.
According to him, "For safety and operational efficiency, it is imperative that we invest in upgrading our facilities and building capacity to ensure Nigeria remains competitive in the global arena of seaborne trade. He noted that in alignment with the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration, the Federal Ministry of Marine and Blue Economy is taking proactive measures to enhance the maritime sector by embracing emerging technologies and fostering innovation to drive growth.
"Key among the initiatives of the Ministry are digitalization and automation of port operations to enhance safety, security, and efficiency as well as performance optimization to reduce costs and increase reliability, and the adoption of innovative practices to propel our industry towards sustainable development," he remarked.
Also speaking, the Chairman of the Senate Committee on Marine Transport, Senator Wasiu Eshinlokun, and the Chairman of the House of Representatives Committee on Maritime Administration, Safety and Education, Hon. Khadijah Bukar Ibrahim, affirmed the legislators’ commitment to developing the requisite laws to support the maritime industry. Meanwhile, the Director General of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), Dr. Dayo Mobereola, called for renewed dedication to safety and assured that the Agency is committed to maintaining a sustainable maritime future for Nigeria.
"Let us renew our dedication for safety, innovation and stewardship in the maritime sector. Together, we can navigate a safer future for our maritime industry," Mobereola stated. On his part, the President of Association of Marine Engineers and Surveyors (AMES), Engr. Israel Obadan, commended the maritime industry, particularly NIMASA and the Nigerian Navy, for fostering a new sense of calm on the nation's maritime domain.
The MD/CEO of Sea Transport Services Nigeria, Mr. Aminu Umar, encouraged the Marine and Blue Economy Ministry and the industry to continue supporting youth in exploring career opportunities and vocations in the maritime sector.
L-R: Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Works (FMW), Dr Yakubu Kofarmata; Director, Reforms Coordination and Service Improvement, FMW, Ms Charlotte Ibekwe and the Deputy Director, Appointment and Promotion, FMW, Mr Olalemi Gboyega, during the inauguration of the FMW’s weekly Performance Management System (PMS) as directed by the Office of the Head of Civil Service of the Federation, at the ministry’s Headquarters in Abuja on September 26, 2024.
NEWS
Ogun State Police Command Decorates
Newly Promoted Officers
Ogun State Police Command has decorated sixteen Chief Superintendent of Police (CSP) for promotion to the next rank during the monthly Mess gathering for the month of September 2024, in Abeokuta, the state capital.
Commissioner of Police, CP Abiodun Alamutu and members of police management team in the state, decorated the elevated senior police officers to their next ranks.
The decorated officers included Csp Salami Moruf Akanbi, who heads the SWAT tactical team, Taiwo Opadiran, Fatoberu Oyekanmi, Thomas Udegbo, Edward Okosun, Anthony Omotosho, Femi James Ekemode, Sani Kehinde.
They were decorated with a bridgehead of the superintendent rank and only smart, competent, and intelligent officers were given the rank.
During the decoration, the CP reminded the recipients of the importance of grasping information technology in crime fighting to the rate at which crime is evolving.
Alamutu advised them to improve in acquiring more education, improve latest training skills and not to dodge when continuing courses in the field of security are announced.
He emphasised that inefficiency and ineptitude will not be condoned, admonishing the officers to rise up to the occasion and embrace their new post with professionalism, integrity, civility, and utmost respect for the rule of law and fundamental human right.
Responding, CSP Salami Moruf, while speaking on behalf of his other colleagues, pledged their unwavering commitment to protect lives and properties in observance with the Police Act.
ActionAid, Sokoto
BY TUNDE OMOLEHIN, SOKOTO
As part of efforts to address and tackle extremism in Sokoto State, the Office of the National Security Advisor (ONSA), in collaboration with Partnership Against Violent Extremism (PAVE), have carried out an advocacy visit to discuss with the Sokoto State Government on mainstreaming of Countering Violent Extremism (PCVE) into State Action Plan, security and development policies.
The Director, Directorate of Preventing/Countering Violent Extremism, Counter Terrorism Centre, Office of National Security Adviser, Ambassador Maira Abbas, who led the advocacy team, said the project is supported by ActionAid Nigeria.
He also said the project would be implemented through the System and Structure Strengthening Approach Against Radicalisation to Violence Extremism (SARVE III) with funding from Global Community Engagement and Resilience Fund (GCERF)
During the media advocacy visit to the State Deputy Governor, Engr. Idris Muhammad Gobir, Abbas noted that NEYIF as a principal recipient of GCERF funds, has been implementing PCVE intervention programs in Sokoto State over the last few years.
He noted that NEYIF is a member organisation of the Partnership Against Violent Extremism [PAVE] Network, and is represented on the National Steering Committee of the Network
Abbas said the visit is aimed at projecting the positive impacts of PCVE Project interventions in the state, and facilitate discussion on the prospects of mainstreaming PCVE into the state's peace, security, and development policies. "This initiative aligns with the National PCVE Policy Framework and National Action Plan (PFNAP) 2017 and seeks to foster coordination and collaboration between government, civil society organisations (CSOs), community actors, and other non-state actors."
According to him, the project is to build safer and more resilient communities towards mainstreaming of Preventing and Countering Violence Extremism (PCVE) into State Action Plan and the development of local Action Plans.
The team also aimed to push for the establishment of a PCVE State Technical Working Group (TWG) that will comprise representatives of Government, representatives of Civil Society organisations from the State PAVE Network in Sokoto State, as well as other non-state actors in the state, including the Organised Private sector, among others.
Athe Sixth
in the trial of former governor of Benue State, Gabriel Suswam has narrated before the Federal High Court, Maitama, Abuja and presided over by Justice Peter Lifu how in 2014, he converted the sum of N3.1 billion, wired to him by Suswam as governor and delivered its equivalent of $15.8m in cash to him at his Maitama, Abuja residence.
Suswan, alongside his then Commissioner of Finance, Omodachi Okolobia are facing 11-count amended charges of money laundering to the tune of N3.1 billion, being part of the proceeds from the sales of the state government’s shares held on its behalf by the Benue Investment and Property Company Limited, sold through Elixir Securities Limited and Elixir Investment Partners Limited.
During the court’s proceedings, the witness, a bureau de change operator and CEO of Fanffash Resources, who has been testifying on the matter since 2018, first, before Justice A.R Mohammed and later Justice Okon Abang, disclosed that the total sum of N3.1 billion was transferred to him by Suswam, through a proxy in tranches with the first tranche of N413 million hitting his account on August 8, 2014 and the remaining, coming in subsequently to sum up to N3.1billion.
Umar, while being led in evidence by prosecution counsel, Rotimi Jacobs, SAN, affirmed that the proxy who did the naira transfers to him was a woman. According to the witness, he had to change a total sum of N3.1billion to dollars, which he said amounted to $15.8 million at the rate of N197 to a dollar and delivered it to Suswam in his Maitama, Abuja residence.
“One day in 2014, when I was in the office, the former governor of Benue State asked me to meet him in his house in Maitama, Abuja. I went and met him in the house together with one fair woman. He asked me to give the woman my account number. I gave the woman my Zenith Bank account number. The woman said she’ll send money into that account.
SEGUN AYINDE, ABEOKUTA
bubakar Umar,
Prosecution Witness,PW6,
POLITICS
Sponsorship of Bandits: Spat Between Lawal, Matawalle Not Yet Over
BY ABDULLAHI YUSUF
The last is yet to be heard in the ongoing public fight between Governor Dauda Lawal of Zamfara State and the Minister of State for Defence, Bello Matawalle over an allegation of banditry sponsorship in the North-West geopolitical zone, especially in Zamfara State.
Governor Lawal is said to have travelled out of the country, just after he fired the first salvo against Matawalle. It is believed that his return may open another chapter in the matter.
The Chief Press Secretary to Governor Lawal, Sulaiman Idris, who informed journalists about the governor’s absence from the country, said the Zamfara State Government would publish details of his boss’s position in the media due course.
Idris accused the Matawalle of lying against his boss, vowing that all the evidence against the minister would be released to the media.
He said, “He (Matawalle) is lying. We mentioned names. He should come out and clear his name. He needs to explain his relationship with them, (terrorists)
“These two people, they were the ones that he gave Hilux and money and foodstuffs to share with bandits. So, this is not an allegation, we have facts and the NSA is aware of that.
“When the governor met with the President, he explained these things to him. He has also told the NSA that this is the situation and these are the facts that we have. Since he’s asking for facts, I assure you that we are going to bring the facts out. He wants a media trial; he’s calling for it. So, we’ll do that because we know we have all the evidence.”
Reluctant to address the issue initially, the Defence Headquarters (DHQ) on Thursday disclosed that it commenced investigation into allegations of bandit sponsorship in some regions of the country.
The Director of Defence Media Operations, Edward Buba, stated that the military and other relevant security agencies had started investigating the matter and a proper announcement would be made.
He said, “When you talk about what’s going on about the sponsors, I can assure you that the relevant agencies that are saddled with that responsibility are doing a good job. And sooner than later, you will hear some announcements in that regard.”
He noted that the focus is on winning the war against terrorists and other criminals in the country. “Winning a war is destroying the enemy’s will to fight. When you destroy the enemy’s will to fight, the war is over and you have won the war. We are focused on destroying the enemy’s will to fight, “
Meanwhile, the North-West Northern Elders Professional Development Group has waded into the matter and called on the warring parties in the ongoing public confrontation to allow the Federal Government Anti- insurgency Committee to solve the deadly banditry ravaging the seven states in the North-West geo-political zone, namely, Zamfara, Sokoto, Kebbi, Kaduna, Katsina, Kano and Jigawa.
Addressing journalists in Sokoto, the Secretary-General of the group, Dr Adamu Lawal Giwa, described Governor Lawal’s accusations against Matawalle as “unsubstantiated and divisive.”
The group emphasised that Matawalle had consistently denied any involvement with bandits in Zamfara, highlighting his efforts to engage in dialogue as a means of curbing their violent activities.
Giwa said, “Governor Lawal’s accusations, as conveyed by his Chief Press Secretary, Sulaiman Idris, rely on unverified claims and unnamed sources. Idris alleged that Matawalle, during his tenure as governor, provided vehicles, money, and foodstuffs to bandits, yet no concrete evidence has been presented.”
The group further pointed out that Matawalle’s approach to addressing banditry through dialogue was not unique, as other governors in Niger, Sokoto, and Katsina states had also employed similar strategies to deal with the crisis.
It accused the Zamfara State Government of wasting resources on “propaganda and media trials” against the Defence Minister instead of actively supporting the military’s efforts,
“The group urged all the involved parties to stop politicising the issue of insecurity, stressing that political elites, clerics, and others using inflammatory language were contributing to unwarranted fear among the population and undermining President Tinubu’s efforts to eradicate banditry in the North
such as the Fansa Yamma operations, to combat insecurity in the region.
The group urged all the involved parties to stop politicising the issue of insecurity, stressing that political elites, clerics, and others using inflammatory language were contributing to unwarranted fear among the population and undermining President Tinubu’s efforts to eradicate banditry in the North.
“A state grappling with insecurity, poverty and unemployment challenges cannot afford the kind of propaganda and mischief aimed at maligning individuals due to political differences.”
Adding his voice to the call for a cease-fire between the combatants for the purpose of achieving the mission of ridding the North-West of banditry, a chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Kano State, Dr Musa Iliyasu Kwankwaso, has urged Governor Dauda Lawal of Zamfara State to work with his predecessor and Minister of State for Defence, Bello Matawalle, in his efforts to defeat banditry and other forms of insecurity in the North.
Kwankwaso, in a statement released to the media in Kano on Wednesday, also asked Governor Lawal to join hands with President Bola Tinubu and the Federal Government in their efforts to end insecurity in the North.
He said Lawal should do such “rather than reporting the Minister to the National Security Adviser (NSA), accusing him (Matawalle) of complicity in kidnapping and banditry in the state.”
Kwankwaso described the accusation as “a complete waste of time and an attempt to divert people’s attention from the successes recorded in the fight against insecurity in the North”.
According to him, Matawalle passed security screening before his appointment as Minister of Defence and as such, his integrity is not in question.
“I know that any Nigerian appointed to the strong position of a minister could not have gotten that privilege if his characters and records are questionable,” the APC chieftain said.
He said the North needs urgent solutions to its teething problems, including insecurity, and not the politicisation of its challenges.
Kwankwaso, therefore, urged all citizens of the region, irrespective of their positions, to rally round the Federal Government to enable it to address the numerous challenges facing the region.
Having publicly admitted to swearing on the Holy Quran to prove their innocence, Matawalle and Lawalr are yet to indicate how this public spat will end.
Recall that Governor Lawal had accused the junior minister of aiding banditry in the state and urged him to resign from office to clear his name. According to Governor Lawal, the former governor kept terrorists at Government House and ransom was paid to terrorists through the government.
In his reaction, Matawalle dismissed the allegation of aiding banditry and challenged politicians in the state, including Lawal, to swear on the Quran to prove their innocence in the banditry crisis plaguing the state.
“I was the only governor to swear on the Holy Quran that I have no hand in banditry.
“I challenged all the politicians, including General Ali Gusau and Dauda Lawal, to do the same. None of them could take the oath, and if they don’t take the oath, that means they are part of it,” Matawalle said, adding: “Because I engage in dialogue, it was not only me. Remember that all state governors engage in dialogue. The Governor of Niger State engaged in dialogue with bandits. The Governor of Sokoto did the same thing.”
Times without number, stakeholders have given the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, the benefit of the doubt after it organised a fiasco in the name of election. Whether the election is offseason as it happened in Edo State last week, or the one coming up in Ondo State on November 16, 2024, INEC, as currently constituted, cannot be trusted to deliver a free, fair and credible poll
Between INEC And SIEC
The results of the local government polls held last week in Enugu, Imo, Kwara and Sokoto States predictably turned out in favour of the governing political parties in those states.
In Kwara State, the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC, won all 16 Chairmanship and 193 Councillorship positions in contest, leaving nothing for any of the other five participating political parties. In Imo, also governed by the APC, where 17 of the 19 registered parties participated, all 27 Chairmanship and 305 Councillorships were won by the party.
In Sokoto State, the State Independent Electoral Commission, SIEC, like its counterparts in Imo and Kwara, declared the governing APC as winner of all the 23 Chairmanship positions. The same pattern was repeated in Enugu State where the governing Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, won all 17 Chairmanship positions and 260 Councillorship seats.
In these months of rash LGA polls being conducted by state governments, following the recent Supreme Court judgement that granted administrative and financial autonomy to local government areas and imposed nondisbursement of federal allocations to Caretaker Committees, that many state governments had instituted in place of elected local government councils, the outcome of the polls, always predictable as before, merely became a circus, as many of the state governments’ electoral umpires simple got officials to thumb print ballot papers and declared their preferred winners without announcing results.
Typically, these scenarios aptly capture the hackneyed phrase that he who pays
the piper dictates the tone. In practical terms, LGA polls in Nigeria do not reflect the wishes of the people, but that of the governing party, by the governing party and for the governing party. In political terms, this feature called machine politics, works from the instruction to the answer.
There is no reason to believe that this situation will change in the nearest future as long as internal organs of political parties lack democratic processes, not to talk of the systemic structure that favours oligarchs.
What happens at the LGAs is a reflection of what goes on at the larger level, either at the state or national level during elections conducted by INEC.
Times without number, stakeholders have given the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, the benefit of the doubt after it organised a fiasco in the name of election. Whether the election is off-season as it happened in Edo State last week, or the one coming up in Ondo State on November 16, 2024, INEC, as currently constituted, cannot be trusted to deliver a free, fair and credible poll.
Now, politicians from across political divide who perform all kinds of electoral malpractices from rigging, to vote-buying, thuggery and ballot box snatching, to mutilation of result sheets and attack on electoral officers, are known for their dodgy character and therefore may be pitied in comparison to polling officers of the Commission who deliberately falsify and manipulate figures on result sheets, on the one hand and on the other hand, deliberately refuse to activate the Bimodal Voters Accreditation System BVAS, to capture voters. Yet, the Commission would go ahead to announce results it even at times claimed were different from what
was uploaded in its INEC Result Viewing Portal, IREV.
Presumably neutral parties speaking on the collation process at the just concluded Edo poll, adjudged the process not transparent. The body, a coalition of accredited civil society organisations made up of the Nigerian Civil Society Situation Room, Yiaga Africa, Kimpact Development Initiative, Nigerian Women Trust Fund, ElectHER and TAF, the transparency of the collation of results by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), said: “Widespread disruptions at ward and local government collation centres, including intimidation of INEC officials and attempts to collate results, contrary to the provisions of the Electoral Act and INEC guidelines, raise significant concerns about the credibility of the results collation process.”
“In the light of this, we urge INEC to invoke its powers under Section 65 of the Electoral Act 2022 to review any declarations and returns where results were not declared voluntarily or violated provisions of the Electoral Act and INEC regulations and guidelines.”
Similarly, Yiaga Africa, noted for giving wide, observed coverage to elections in Nigeria, based on reports from 287 of 300 (96 per cent) sampled polling units, Yiaga Africa’s statistical analysis shows inconsistencies in the official results announced by INEC. If INEC could fall this low in the conduct of a state election, how different is it from SIECs?
It is time to heed the stand by stakeholders that for INEC to deliver on its mandate, it must be unbundled, the appointment and financing structures redefined to make it serve the public, rather than official interests.
OPINION
NBA Election Model And Nigerian Elections
BY EKPA, STANLEY EKPA
Nigeria’s first federal election upon independence ended disastrously, with the United Progressive Grand Alliance (UPGA) refusing to participate in the elections on the grounds of irregularities. On the eve of the poll, the major alliance of southern political parties, backed by the ceremonial President, insisted on a postponement of the election as the only way to bring about a free and fair expression of opinion. When the demand was denied, political leaders from southern Nigeria boycotted the election.
THE BEST WAY TO DEEPEN THE FREEDOM OF THE PEOPLE TO EXPRESS THEIR FREE WILL IS TO IMPROVE ELECTION TECHNOLOGY THAT HELPS TO REDUCE THE TENDENCY OF HUMAN INTERFERENCE AND COMPROMISE
Nevertheless, the election was held and the Northern People's Congress (NPC) and its allies went ahead to win with a majority of seats. The consequent events led to Nigeria tottering “perilously on the brink of disintegration and bloodshed”, as the President, in an open disagreement with the Prime Minister, threatened to resign rather than carry out his constitutional duty to invite the NPC to form a government. Sixty years later, the credibility of elections in Nigeria is almost worse than the experience in the 1960s.
Whereas electoral irregularities occur in almost all democracies around the world, every country must constantly pursue processes that improve their electoral systems, as the foundation of a country’s credible leadership is a credible election. It is irreconcilable, the paradox of progress in Nigeria’s electoral process, particularly in a digital age, where almost all human interactions are digitised for efficient results.
To contextualise my immediate concern, it ruffles logic that a country like Nigeria with one of Africa’s brightest communities of successful tech and digital entrepreneurs and citizens is confined to the affliction of politically intended electoral irregularities. From the historical 1959 federal election that throttled Nigeria to independence in 1960 to the keenly contested electoral outcome of the 2023 general election, Nigeria has continued to seek electoral reforms for transparent, credible, free and fair electoral processes without success.
Notwithstanding that to date, no free or open-source electronic voting systems have been used on a large
national scale in any country, the Nigerian Bar Association’s recent National Executive Committee election presents a model that should guide Nigeria to leverage digital technologies for credible and inclusive elections. You cannot be an objective lawyer, who voted in the last NBA election and will not question the rationale for INEC’s sustained failure to leverage the electoral legal framework to build a safe, seamless and real-time e-voting system that allows for a hybrid Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAs), digitise the accreditation systems which will allow Nigerians anywhere in the world to vote either virtually or physically, ensure that votes cast at physical polling units are reflected realtime on the Election Result Viewing Portal (IReV), and provide credible electoral outcomes.
NBA’s e-voting system is not perfect, but since it was adopted by the NBA’s 27th President, Augustine Alegeh (SAN), in 2016, following the controversy that characterised the election that produced his administration in 2014, NBA’s e-voting system, which replaced the old delegates system, has helped to reduce campaign expenses and ensures seamless voting process. After four subsequent deployments of the e-voting system in NBA elections, the system has significantly improved.
If election is about people and the system seeks to ensure that the people truly participate in exercising their free will to choose their leaders, a hybrid voting model that is secure, inclusive and efficient is required.
With the level of entrenched electoral irregularities in Nigeria, an integrated hybrid model of voting remains a realistic option for sanitising the system. As Nina Wudiri puts it, the ‘purchased participation of the people in a democracy cannot be stopped by the rhetoric that “once you sell your vote, you have sold your voice”, particularly in the face of poverty and illiteracy’.
The best way to deepen the freedom of the people to express their free will is to improve election technology that helps to reduce the tendency of human interference and compromise. By advancing election technology, we can reduce the logistical challenges in delayed delivery of electoral materials, reduce widening apathy, eliminate ballot box fraud and reduce electoral violence.
We have barely two years and five months to the 2027 general election, to restore voters’ confidence, INEC must galvanize relevant stakeholders to amend Sections 40, 60, and 64, among other sections of the Electoral Act, 2022 to ensure that the accreditation, voting, collation and announcement components of the electoral process, which is mainly a manual process at the moment, is made hybrid, allowing for the BVAs to be used for both accreditation and voting, with votes cast reflecting real-time. INEC must further continue to develop a safe technology for digital voting – every eligible electorate should be able to vote from anywhere in the world. Voting should be through a hybrid model that allows for physical and digital voting, ballot paper should only be allowed as a last resort in cases where both the BVAs and digital voting channels fail.
*Continues online at www. thewillnews.com
Politics, Governance And The Value of Time
Governance requires effective time management to thrive. Unfortunately, political systems often waste this precious resource, compromising citizens' well-being and national prosperity. As a universal currency, time is equally distributed but unequally valued, with marginalised communities frequently bearing the brunt of temporal inefficiencies.
At the politics-time intersection, power dynamics emerge, shaping lives through prioritisation, policy and resource allocation. To maximise productivity, strategies like prioritisation and goal-setting are crucial, lest poor management leads to missed deadlines and lost opportunities. Historically, societies aligned tasks with natural rhythms, highlighting the tension between short-term gains and long-term benefits, thus underscoring the need for intentional time management in governance. In Nigeria, the value of time is often perceived as a luxury that only the affluent can afford. The average citizen is caught up in a daily struggle for survival, where time is a scarce resource. The chronic fuel scarcity, endless traffic jams, and inefficient public transportation systems all conspire to waste valuable time. These issues substantially impact the economy, with estimated losses of $1 billion annually.
Time plays a critical role in both political participation and environmental sustainability. It is a scarce resource in modern society and its value is often overlooked until it's too late. In today's fastpaced world, we're constantly reminded to ‘make every second count’ and ‘time is money.’ However, this mantra can lead to burnout and exploitation, as seen in the gig economy, where workers are pushed to work long hours without adequate compensation or benefits. Low-income households spend significant time managing finances, accessing social services and waiting in lines, resulting in severe time poverty. In stark contrast, effective time management can transform lives, as seen in the biblical examples of Joseph and Daniel.
Joseph and Daniel epitomise wise time management. They highlighted the importance of using time effectively to achieve success and fulfil one's purpose. Despite imprisonment, Joseph interpreted dreams and rose to Egypt's second-in-command. Daniel devoted himself to study and prayer, interpreted Nebuchadnezzar's dreams and gained prominence in Babylon. In contrast, Esau, the prodigal son, and the servant with one talent squandered their time and ultimately regretted their choices.
Remote work blurs work-personal lifelines, while systemic inequalities perpetuate disparities in incarceration rates, opportunities and marginalised communities' potential. Governance failures exacerbate this vulnerability, as seen in high-profile cases like the unresolved Chibok girls' abduction, which has devastatingly contributed to Nigeria’s economic and security shocks. Globally, COVID-19 and 'Black Lives Matter' also highlight the unequal distribution of time, underscoring its value and the need for intentional governance.
As a matter of fact, every 14 or 15-year-old student learns in Economics
O-Level about the ‘time-value of money’. The principle has its broader applicability beyond financial calculations. It also drives the political economy, leadership and governance. Governments allocate and expend resources, which is inherently time-bound. Governments have a limited window to make a meaningful impact, making every moment count. Consequently, evaluating a government's tenure – essentially an interregnum – hinges on its ability to optimise limited time.
Effective time management requires preparedness, as The Boy Scouts’ motto goes. Unfortunately, governance in Nigeria, like the rest of Africa, falls short due to military interruptions and lack of research. Moreover, most Special Purpose Vehicles (SPVs), humorously described as political parties, assume office without thorough preparations, largely due to the absence of data-driven insights. Coincidentally, Nigeria's oncethriving Research Departments associated with pre-independence and post-independence political parties have vanished, thus hindering their ability to drive meaningful development and sustainable growth. Is it any wonder why today's SPVs prioritise personal gain, job racketeering and other selfserving interests?
TO GET OUT OF THE WOODS, NIGERIA MUST STRENGTHEN INSTITUTIONS, COMBAT CORRUPTION AND PROMOTE TRANSPARENCY. SINGAPORE’S ECONOMIC TRANSFORMATION, DRIVEN BY STRATEGIC PLANNING AND INSTITUTIONAL REFORMS, NOW SERVES AS A MODEL
While exceptions exist, they are few and far between. This scenario exemplifies a concerning reality of which structured leadership intervention is crucial to prevent Nigeria's losing traction and impact. Nigeria needs leadership that prioritises economic growth through production and modernisation, rather than merely focusing on consumption and jobs for favoured individuals.
At present, Nigeria’s manufacturing sector contributes only 8.23 per cent to the country’s GDP, compared to 25 per centin South Africa. For a paradigm shift, the current leadership should allocate at least 60 per cent of the budget to capital expenditure, guided by performance-based planning and devoid of graft and waste. This is the only way to avert the comic tragedy we have seen in the past few days in Borno State where human negligence, ineptitude and incompetence other than natural forces have triggered a disaster of monumental proportions.
Governor Babagana Zulum has demonstrated effective administration of resources in Borno State. Nonetheless, the recent disaster necessitates an independent commission of inquiry to investigate the causes of the avoidable disaster. As fate would have it, all the Biblical disasters of yore have now been shown to not be ‘plagues and pestilences’ but the results of human error, incompetence and policy distortions. The Borno catastrophe, which is bound to be replicated in other locations, has demonstrated the need for preparedness and a new approach to governance, based on technical competencies and the proactive framework methodology. There’s no alternative!
BY ABIODUN KOMOLAFE
NBS Explains “Drop” in Nigeria’s Rising Unemployment Rate
Most Nigerians with access to the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) website are getting confused and worried over the drastic drop in the country’s unemployment rate from the surge towards 40 per cent in 2020 to the slump to the current 5-6 percent.
The statistics agency said the “drop” arose from the adoption of a new methodology in calculating employment and unemployment situations in the country.
Part of the recent NBS “Nigeria Labour Force Survey” reads:
“ In 2013, however, following the conclusion of the 5-yearly International Conference of Labour Statisticians, ICLS, new resolutions were reached on certain definitions and concepts used in the computation of labour force statistics.
“The main objectives of these new resolutions were to address limitations in the unemployment statistics by providing broader measures of labour underutilisation. It also recognises all forms of work, both paid and unpaid, and integrates labour statistics with other topics, such as national accounts amongst others.
Following the publication of the Q4 2020 labour force survey report, which produced headline unemployment and underemployment rates of 33.3 per cent and 22.8 per cent, NBS as part of its routine methodology review and enhancement processes, commenced work in 2021 with the World Bank and the International Labour Organisation (ILO) to update the methodology and process for conducting the NLFS in Nigeria. The review and methodology update in line with the 2013 ICLS resolutions have culminated in the publication of new labour force estimates\ which are now internationally comparable and provide more detailed and precise information on the labour market in Nigeria.
CBN Extends
Since the fourth quarter of 2022, the
Continues on page 16
EDITOR Sam Diala
Nigeria’s Tax Revenue Expands on FIRS’ Tech-driven Reforms
The adoption of strong technology-driven reforms by the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) shows evidence of guaranteeing the growth trajectory of the nation’s tax revenue seen in the last five years.
This must have spiked the confidence underlying the FIRS leadership’s position that the agency would amass a record N20 trillion in tax revenue in 2024.
The FIRS chairman, Zacch Adedeji, recently stated that the federal government was on track to achieve its N19.4 trillion revenue target for 2024 as it pursues the technology-driven initiatives aimed at addressing tax collection deficiencies.
Adedeji noted that increased crude oil production this year, along with a stronger focus on tax compliance, was helping to reverse the previous downward trend. However, industry experts stress the importance of maintaining the tempo of the technology-driven reforms for easy tax collection and compliance which are germane to expanding the tax net and boosting tax revenue.
According to the FIRS chairman, the agency plans to boost tax efficiency by overhauling outdated tax laws, such as the Stamp Duty Act, which was established in 1939, before the existence of internet connectivity or any modern societal features.
“We set a target of 19.4 trillion naira for ourselves this year. We are almost in the third quarter of the year and with the figures we are seeing so far, I can say we are on the path of achieving our target,” he said.
Industry experts who spoke to THEWILL noted that the focus on the use of technology by the revenue agency is the surest way of achieving the needed tax compliance and expanding tax net necessary for attaining the almost N20 trillion revenue target of the FIRS.
“The world is moving towards technology. Tax payers are willing to show compliance and support the government’s tax revenue expansion when they are motivated to adopt technology in the process,” said Desmond Omojola, a tax expert.
He noted that this was the major reason the federal government constituted the fiscal and tax policy reform committee in 2023.
The committee which is headed by Taiwo Oyedele, a renowned tax expert, has rolled out some fiscal measures which include tax exemptions for manufacturers, farmers and those who earned below a certain monetary benchmark.
The committee had submitted its all-inclusive reports to the president, which cover efficiency in tax collection, reduction of the number of taxes from about 60 to single digit and also the digitization of tax collection across multiple industries.
In the first quarter of 2024, the FIRS announced that the country recorded N3.94 trillion in tax revenue, a 56.7 per cent increase from what was recorded in the same period the previous year.
Omojola stated that the Taiwo Oyedele Committee focused on technology-driven reforms towards achieving its target because, according to him,, “in this era of technology, you cannot make progress by operating the old way”.
The FIRS in October 2022 has issued a Public Notice announcing its intention to deploy the Sentinal National Payment Gateway (“Sentinal” or “the Gateway”) developed by e-Technologies Global, a UK-based Fintech company. Sentinal is a technology system that would provide the FIRS with the ability to collect taxes on gaming transactions in real time; thereby improving tax compliance with respect to companies providing online gaming services.
According to reports, Sentinal will allow integrated payment service providers to deduct taxes at transaction-points and remit the same directly to the Government's Treasury. Though there is no cost to the Government, the fee for using Sentinal will be deducted from the payments due to the online gaming operators, which may pass the additional cost to their customers.
To achieve this, FIRS mandated all Nigerian and non-resident companies (NRCs), offering online gaming services to Nigerian customers, to connect to the Gateway not later than 31 December 2022, enjoining affected companies to comply with its requirement or they will be penalized for failing to do so in accordance with relevant laws
Continues on page 16
BY SAM DIALA
Source; FIRS
BUSINESS WEEKLY
...Expands on FIRS’ Tech-driven Reforms
The introduction of the e-invoice, among other initiatives, is seen as a crucial step towards modernizing Nigeria’s tax system, ensuring efficiency, transparency, and better compliance
“Though Sentinal can be deployed to collect taxes at source in real time from the e-commerce industry, the FIRS has limited the deployment to online gaming transitions for now. It is possible that this may change in the future.
“The FIRS’ attempt to capture online gaming transactions in the tax net and ensure tax compliance by the companies operating in the industry is unsurprising, given the significant growth and expansion of the industry in recent years.
“With Nigeria’s revenue challenge as shown in the proposed 2023 Budget, the move to simplify tax compliance and collection of taxes in the industry from a transaction-point is timeous”, KPMG, renowned global tax and advisory service firm said in a note.
Recently, the FIRS announced plans to implement a digital solution called ‘FIRS e-Invoice’, aimed at improving tax administration and compliance in Nigeria.
According to Adedeji, this initiative which aligns with the Tax Administration and Enforcement Act of 2007 is part of the FIRS’ ongoing digital transformation strategy.
He noted that the e-Invoice system would facilitate real-time validation and storage of transactions across business-to-business, business-to-consumer, and business-to-government transactions.
An e-invoice, or electronic invoice, is a document that is exchanged between a buyer and a supplier in a structured data format. E-invoices can be processed automatically and electronically, and they remain digital throughout their lifecycle.
The introduction of the e-invoice, among other initiatives, is seen as a crucial step towards modernizing Nigeria’s tax system, ensuring efficiency, transparency, and better compliance.
Adedeji stated that the evolving tax environment presents both challenges and opportunities and leveraging technology is essential for creating a more sustainable and equitable tax system.
“Our collective efforts will pave the way for a more prosperous and resilient Nigeria. As we move forward, we encourage you to support these initiatives with constructive feedback and collaboration.
“By doing so, we can all build a stronger, more resilient economy that benefits everyone,” he said.
Nigeria is grappling with one of its most severe cost of living crises in decades, with inflation reaching 33.4%, according to the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS).
Despite being densely populated, with a large youth demographic, the country continues to face revenue shortfalls due to low economic output and widespread unemployment.\
Nigeria’s revenue-to-GDP ratio is among the lowest in Africa, contributing just 10.8% to the GDP.
Amid significant drop in oil revenue in recent times, the Federation Accounts Allocation Committee (FAAC) has recorded increased revenue proceeds arising from improved tax collection.
Data from the FIRS revealed that the revenue agency grew its tax collection from a paltry N4.9 trillion in 2020 to N12.37 trillion in 2023 and N3.94 trillion in Q1 2024.
...Nigeria’s Rising Unemployment Rate
NBS has been producing new labour force statistics using the revised methodology. This new model is designed to report quarterly estimates at the national level and state-disaggregated estimates annually.
Accordingly, this report presents the state-level findings for the year 2023, following 12 months of data collection from the fourth quarter of 2022 to the third quarter of 2023 - specifically, October 2022 to November 2023.
NBS has significantly enhanced the methodology it uses to collect labour market data through the NLFS. This is in terms of the concepts and definitions used, as well as in the actual conduct of the NLFS survey. This has been done following International Labour Organisation (ILO) guidelines in the 19th (International Conference of Labour Statisticians) ICLS Resolutions to bring the NLFS methodology in line with best international practice. In terms of the definitions, below are the most significant changes in the definition made under the recent revision –
I. Working Age Population – previously was persons aged 15 -64 but is now persons aged 15 and above.
II. Labour Force – previously those between the ages of 15 – 64, that were willing and available for work, which includes those employed and those unemployed. However, it is now those aged 15 and above who are willing and available for work, including those employed and those unemployed.
III. Unemployed Persons – the new definition of unemployed persons, is anyone within the Labour force, who within the reference period, (previous 7 days) did nothing or worked for less than 1 hour.
This is a significant change from the old definition, where to qualify to be employed, a person needed to have worked for a minimum of 20 hours within the reference period of 7 days.
IV. Underemployed Persons – Under the old definition, a person is considered Underemployed if he or she worked between 20 and 39 hours within the reference period of a week. Under the new definition, however, anyone working under 40 hours, which is 1 – 39 hours a week, and is willing to accept more hours of work is considered underemployed. A rise in the unemployment rate is not entirely equivalent to an increase in job losses or vice versa. Rather, an increase in unemployment can occur because of several reasons, of which loss of an existing job is just one.
A rise in the unemployment rate generally means the number of people searching for jobs has increased, which can occur because a people previously outside the la bour force (e.g. students, housewives, etc) have decided to join the labour force and are now in search of jobs. People previously working have lost their jobs and are now in search of jobs.However, it is often a combination of these two factors. As mentioned in statements a and b, an increase in the labour force size can lead to a decrease in the unemployment rate. What drives an increase in the labour force? The labour force does not change simply from job losses, since those people previously had jobs and were already in the labour market, which does not change because of them losing their jobs.
Rather, what causes an expansion in the size of the labour force is the increase in the number of persons within the working-age population, who were previously not willing or able to work, but who are now available and actively looking for work.
The 1 hour per week benchmark for determining whether a person is employed or not, does not suggest that working an hour a week is sufficient to cater for the person’s needs. It is only used as a benchmark.
Furthermore, labour force statistics deal with whether persons are engaged or not in any activity for pay or profit, and the nature of that engagement. The living standards or welfare of a person are captured by different indicators, such as poverty and other welfare statistics.
CBN Extends Suspension of Cash Deposit Processing Fees Till March 2025
The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has extended the suspension of cash deposit processing fees from September 30, 2024 to March 31, 2025.
The CBN disclosed this in a letter to banks and other financial institutions in the country signed by its Director of Banking supervision, Adetona Adedeji where it referenced its previous letter on the suspension of cash deposit processing fees till September 30, 2024.
According to a letter, the suspension on cash deposits exceeding N500,000 for individuals and N3 million for corporate accounts.
The processing fee for individual accounts is 2% of the amount while that of corporate account is 3% of the amount.
The letter reads, “Further to our letter dated May 6, 2024, referenced BSD/DIR/PUB/ LAB/016/023, the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) hereby extends the suspension of processing charges on cash deposits above N500,000 for individuals and N3,000,000 for corporates. The previous suspension, set to expire on September 30, 2024, has now been extended until March 31, 2025.”
“This suspension pertains to the 2% and 3% fees outlined in the ‘Guide to Charges by Banks, Other Financial Institutions and Non-Bank Financial Institutions,’ issued on December 20, 2019.”
The Central Bank of Nigeria stated that all financial institutions under its regulation are required to continue accepting cash deposits from the public without any charges during the specified period.
THEWILL recalls that the CBN had in May, 2024 announced the suspension of cash deposit processing fees till September 30. The extension was to ensure that depositors would not incur additional costs when making substantial cash deposits.
Prior to this directive, the processing fee for individual accounts was two per cent of the amount, while that of corporate accounts was three per cent of the amount.
The letter reads, “Further to our letter dated May 6, 2024, referenced BSD/DIR/PUB/ LAB/016/023, the Central Bank of Nigeria hereby extends the suspension of processing charges on cash deposits above N500,000 for individuals and N3,000,000 for corporates. The previous
suspension, set to expire on September 30, 2024, has now been extended until March 31, 2025.”
“This suspension pertains to the two per cent and three per cent fees outlined in the ‘Guide to Charges by banks, other financial institutions and non-bank financial institutions,’ issued on December 20, 2019.”
The apex bank stated that all financial institutions under its regulation were required to continue accepting cash deposits from the public without any charges during the specified period.
In 2019, the CBN announced plans to start charging bank customers for cash deposits and withdrawals beginning September 19, 2019.
In a publicly released circular, the apex bank explained that the new transaction fees policy was aimed at reducing the amount of cash in circulation and enhancing the collection of government revenues.
The apex bank stated that the charges were initially applicable only to bank customers in Lagos, Ogun, Kano, Abia, Anambra, Rivers, and the Federal Capital Territory.
Fuel Pricing, Inflation And Nigeria’s Economic Stagnation
BY MARCEL OKEKE
Afew days ago, when the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) released the inflation figures for August 2024, the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) also issued a new fuel pricing template. Curiously, while the NBS data showed marginal drop of inflation rate (year-on-year) from 33.40 per cent in July to 32.15 per cent in August, the NNPCL’s new pricing template for fuel (Premium Motoring Spirit, PMS) showed a hike from N600 per litre early September to as high as N950 to N1,020 per litre (in various locations), effective, immediately.
Without a doubt, it was the quantum jump in the prices of PMS last year sequel to the “fuel subsidy removal” that largely drove steady rise in inflation rate in the past one year. Indeed, the jump in petrol pump price, from below N200 per litre in May 2023 to N600-N700 per litre by June 2023, drove the prices of practically all goods and services sky-high in the country—culminating in runaway inflationary trend. Notably, from a level of 22.8 per cent in June 2023, inflation rate peaked at 34.20 per cent in June this year, before the marginal drops in July and August. And this trend has wrecked the economy all along.
The fuel subsidy removal by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu-led administration on May 29, 2023, immediately translated to spike in PMS prices, in transportation costs, in food prices, etc. All these, coupled with the havoc on the polity engendered by the failed Naira floatation policy, pulled the economy further into the woods. For, the crash of the Naira in the foreign exchange (FX) market vis-à-vis the dollar and other hard currencies caused a drain on the nation’s resources, as PMS importation continued unabated. Now, the continued rise in the ‘landing cost’ of PMS because of continued importation and weakening exchange rate of the Naira, provide ready-made excuse for the NNPCL to keep raising fuel pump prices ad infinitum. Yet the correlation between rising pump price of PMS and the spiraling rate of inflation is not only high but also obvious and also disruptive of many economic activities.
could no longer afford the high cost of transportation engendered by high prices of PMS; hence, the reduction of week days as part of the palliatives packages.
This obviously redounds to waste of manpower and avoidable drop in productivity—which translates to retardation of the rate of national economic growth. No doubt, Nigeria has been able to achieve only a weak gross domestic product (GDP) growth of only about three per cent each quarter in the past one year. And with the inflation-driving power latent in high PMS prices, the new NNPCL’s fuel pricing template has the capacity to further spike rather than calm the roaring inflation tempo.
The new PMS pricing template surely portends further soaraway inflation; further crashing of the purchasing power of Nigerians, especially for the low-income families. Almost already at the bottom of the economic abyss courtesy of the lingering high inflation, most Nigerians would keep lowering their standard and cost of living in the as PMS prices keep soaring. Meaning that many more would be pushed below the poverty line!
In point of fact, since end-May 2023 to date, the apex bank— the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN)—has been battling to rein in the runaway inflation rate. Its Monetary Policy Rate (MPR) has been targeted at curtailing the rampaging inflation. Thus, from a level of 18.00% in May 2023, the CBN has had to lift the MPR to 26.75 per cent by May 2024—all in the belief that the instrument could help in curbing the rising inflation. Other monetary policy instruments have been similarly adjusted to ‘fight’ the soaring inflation rate, to no avail.
The upshot of all these however has been the ‘unintended’ pricing of credit beyond the reach of most genuine businesses in the country, especially the Small and Mediumscale Enterprises (SMEs). On a foundation of already high cost of operation due to high inflation (resulting from high PMS prices), hike in MPR by the apex bank practically got most SMEs asphyxiated. Many have had to scale down operational capacity; and not a few others opted to close shop.
The same high PMS-price-induced inflation has in the past one year impoverished many Nigerians, reducing their purchasing power to the lowest ebb. This reality has necessitated protests by civil and public servants in various towns and cities across the country. One of the multiplier effects of this has been the long-drawn ding-dong between the Organised Labour and the Federal Government with
respect to a new minimum wage.
The tension-soaked new minimum wage negotiations and tactics adopted by the Government on one hand and the Organised Labour and Civil Society Organisations (CSO) on the other, almost crippled the economy. Alongside this crippling high inflationary pressure has been the government’s resort to the provision of palliatives to assuage the lingering pains of poverty and despair among the citizenry. Indeed, the absence of any visible economic development roadmap of the Federal Government, Nigerians have been left at the mercy of ‘government by palliatives’— waiting for crumbs from within and outside the country. At the Federal and sub-national levels, the Government of the day has come to be known more for the dispensation of palliatives than the effectuation of any economic plan for sustainable economic progress. But all that has been in place only amounted to “giving the people fish to eat, rather than teaching them how to fish.” Thus, rather than the economy getting more productive, people are being made to live on crumbs.
As the high inflationary trend persists, with its implied erosion of the purchasing power of the people, not a few state governments have had to reduce the number of days per week that their civil servants have to physically report for work in their offices. And truly, most of the civil servants
By implication, as inflation runs rampant, consumers would more likely spend their money only on products and services that they absolutely need, and hold back on what they don’t. This implies that some more businesses are still likely to shut down, further exacerbating the stress on the already battered economy.
Recall that a few weeks ago, an agency of the Federal Government, the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC), almost at its wits end, dabbled into price control to ‘deal’ with the rampaging inflation. The FCCPC in what looked like a fiat, gave businesses a month ultimatum to crash prices of their products or face some sanctions. This move, although intended to fight inflation, elicited wide criticisms and ire of Nigerians of all social strata, who in unison, condemned such an order. Rather, the Government was advised to address the country’s economic challenges in a more realistic manner.
In the circumstances at present, the NNPCL should reconsider, and withdraw its latest PMS pricing template, to save the Nigerian economy from more ravaging effect of high inflation. Rather than continuing to dictate fuel prices, the NNPCL should allow market forces to play that role—more so in the so-called liberalized mid- and downstream oil sector. It’s not yet late for the agency to recant or revoke the PMS pricing template. Doing otherwise is highly ominous for the economy.
• Okeke is a practising Economist, Business Strategist, Sustainability expert and ex-Chief Economist of Zenith Bank Plc
Without a doubt, it was the quantum jump in the prices of PMS last year sequel to the “fuel subsidy removal” that largely drove steady rise in inflation rate in the past one year. Indeed, the jump in petrol pump price, from below N200 per litre in May 2023 to N600-N700 per litre by June 2023, drove the prices of practically all goods and services sky-high in the country—culminating in runaway inflationary trend
How Bishop David Oyedepo Celebrated His 70th Birthday
Bishop David Olaniyi Oyedepo, the presiding bishop of the Living Faith Church otherwise known as Winners Chapel clocked 70 a few days ago. For a man of his stature and influence, one day wasn't enough to celebrate him. It was a weeklong celebration that saw over 40 ministers of the
Continues on page 21
Zainab Shinkafi-Bagudu Receives
Distinguished Advocate Award
The International Gynecologic Cancer Society (IGCS) has awarded, a former first lady of Kebbi State, Dr Zainab Shinkafi-Bagudu, who is a global health leader in cancer care, with the prestigious 2024 Dicey Scroggins Distinguished Advocate Award. The award is presented annually to individuals who have made significant contributions to gynecologic cancer advocacy.
Shinkafi-Bagudu, a pediatrician and board member of the Union for International Cancer Control, was recognised for her dedication to improving cancer care access and outcomes, particularly for women and children. Under her leadership, Medicaid Cancer Foundation, Continues on page 21
ENTERTAINMENT &SOCIETY WEEKLY
EDITOR Ivory Ukonu
Nigerians' Preference For Niche Perfumes Challenged The Norm of Fragrance Creation For me – Temitope Omai
Catherine Tope Omai, an international perfumer and bespoke fragrance creator, speaks with IVORY UKONU about her fragrance line, ‘Contagious,’ how she got the international community interested in her products and sundry issues
Entering the world of fragrance
I have always loved to smell good, but I dabbled into fragrances properly in my adult years as a passion, more for my own wellbeing. As a student, I liked to smell nice, but I didn't have the money to buy the kind of perfumes I wanted. I had tried but it later became an expensive habit. So, I wondered if there was a way one could create a personal fragrance without buying expensive readymade ones. So, I searched Google and discovered all the studios where one could create unique fragrances. I picked one in Central London, went there three times to create my own unique scent. By the third time, somebody who had noticed my passion for fragrances and the creation process, encouraged me to attend a three-day fragrance creation experience in France. And that was how the journey into fragrance creation began. This got me more interested and curious, and I attended more courses. When I returned to Nigeria and got a job, my boss, who noticed how I always smelled nice, encouraged me to turn my passion into a business. I wasn't even thinking of turning it into a business at that time, but I followed his lead, nonetheless. At that time, creating niche perfumes wasn't really something people were excited about. There were a few people who felt it was something nice and unique, but the general consensus was that if you weren't an international brand, no one would reckon with you. So, I decided that instead of forcing my own brand on people, I would rather give them the opportunity to create their own unique fragrance that defines their personality. This was what I did for the first 10 years of the brand, just bespoke perfumery. So, the brand Mystique Bespoke Fragrances at the time was called that so as to create some kind of mystery around the bespoke fragrances I was creating for people. But I soon evolved because of how Nigerians pushed me to create their fragrances. Nigerians don't wear fragrances the way the people in other climes do; they wear theirs heavy. When I started creating these bespoke fragrances for them, I didn't really follow the formula of the way I learnt to create fragrances because Nigerians wanted something created outside the box for them. At first, in my head scientifically, it shouldn't work, but when I tried it out, it came out mind-blowing. It was good, but it challenged the norm of fragrance creation for me.
Challenges, the tonic booster
In the beginning, like I said, people preferred to buy well-known brands as against locally made niche perfumes. So it was tough convincing people that I had something worthwhile. I would go from one company office to another and sit in their reception hoping that the managing directors would be compelled to at least, even see what I was offering for sale. I was encouraged by a few people to keep pushing through their patronage. But what made me even take it a notch up was when I met someone who was quite condescending to me. The person was a fragrance lover, he knew that the quality of the fragrance I produced was good, but he was like, "I get the vibe of what you are doing, but you are meeting me in a restaurant with people drinking beer. So, because of that, I am a bit turned off. I travel the world and I feel like this should be something that people should experience in a very nice environment." He didn't think that what I created was worth his time. I went into my car that day and cried my eyes out.
Staying focused
Despite the setbacks and challenges, I refused to give up. My passion, I must say, kept me going for 14 years. One thing that kept me going and boosted my confidence about the product I was creating was the fact that I was using high grade materials and my packaging was very intentional.
Breakthrough
Luck soon smiled on me. I got to deliver some customised perfumes to one of the companies I was soliciting patronage from. They wanted to give unique gifts to their board of directors with their names engraved on the perfumes. That was how I got my first big order and the money they paid was what I used to pay the first rent. That was how the business took off. I must say that I am thankful to that guy who talked down on me for his words even though at that time seemed very
hurtful, pushed me to want to move the company beyond what it was then.
Entering the international market
Being challenged by what Nigerians want against the norm of fragrance creation was what paved the way to the international market for me. I learnt to create fragrances, using the DNA of time-tested formulas, but Nigerians pushed me beyond that because they always asked for different base notes to be infused together, beyond what is scientifically the norm.
Over time, I had learnt that one should not conform to what is theoretically written and that one can push beyond the boundaries.
My first fragrance, Contagious Gold and Contagious Rose for the international market, was a validation of this. It was a mind-blowing experience. I was able to break boundaries in the fragrance industry.
I was privileged to attend PITTI, a fragrance exhibition in Italy for niche fragrances.
The exhibition is like the Fashion Week for fragrances. I was the first West African perfumer to attend the exhibition. The reception was mind-blowing, not just because I was African but the materials I used to create the fragrances were things they had not really experienced before. It validated my work.
This prompted me to add a third fragrance, Contagious Green, which has the hallmark of a truly Nigerian product - from the ingredients used to produce it, one of which is scent leaf, to its packaging using 'aso oke.' Not only are the fragrances stocked here in Nigeria, but they are also stocked in seven countries around the world - Australia, France, Royal Oud Riyadh in Saudi Arabia, Dubai, Germany, Saks Fifth Avenue in the USA. Going international is my biggest achievement.
Where creation happens I create all my fragrances in the United Kingdom, particularly the ones that would be sold internationally. They have to be registered with an independent body there that regulates sale of fragrances and ensure that the right process in fragrance creation is followed religiously to meet their standard. I work alongside a factory, for my creations to happen. I give them my formula and they create what I want. But I create bespoke fragrances in Nigeria as an aside because I have some of the materials here. I also do private labeling for some brands in Nigeria and in the UK.
Formal training in perfumery
rave reviews in international publications makes me internationally qualified as a perfumer.
Fulfillment as a top niche perfumer in the country
The journey has been challenging, no doubt. But I am thankful for the successes I have scored. Am I really where I want to be? No, because I always want to push for more. However, getting into the international market and being able to make that mark for my brand is what is fulfilling for me. Also, getting to be a stockist in Saks Fifth Avenue was really big for me. I’m very proud of that achievement because entering the US market is a very big deal. I didn’t lobby for it. I wasn’t even planning to go into the US market. They contacted me, based on the reviews they heard about my fragrance. The rave and the noise around my work, within the fragrance industry, was what attracted Saks to me.
What the future holds
Aside from the fact that I attended Gallimard School of Perfumery in France, my years of qualification, 14 years precisely, qualifies me as a perfumer. Also, the fact that that some of my works have received
I am looking to be in major cities across the world. Yes, I am in seven countries at present, but I am looking at spreading worldwide, dominating the global market.
Omai
Omai
STORIES BY IVORY UKONU
ENTERTAINMENT &SOCIETY WEEKLY
Peter Igbinedion’s Daughter Ties The Knot
The rich culture and tradition of Edo State was on display penultimate week at the home of the patriarch of the Igbinedion family, the Esama of Benin kingdom, Chief Gabriel Osawaru Igbinedion, when he gave out his granddaughter, Etiosa, in marriage. Etiosa is the daughter of one of the Esama’s sons, Peter, a former managing director of the Federal Airport Authority of Nigeria, FAAN, was joined traditionally in marriage to British-born Ian Samuel Jacquet in accordance with the Bini native law and custom.
The grand and colourful ceremony which took place during the weeklong celebrations heralding the 90th birthday of the Esama, was attended by several dignitaries from within and outside the country. The couple, who held their civic wedding in the United Kingdom before travelling down to Nigeria to complete the traditional rites, already have a child together. Although the bride's father was present, his older brother, Lucky, a former governor of Edo State played the role of the bride's father. The bride's mum was absent, having passed on 17 years ago. The groom's parents were physically on ground to witness their son's joyous moment.
Continued from page 18
How Bishop David Oyedepo Celebrated His 70th Birthday
Continued from page 18
Zainab Shinkafi-Bagudu Receives Distinguished Advocate Award
MCF, which she founded, has become a significant force, providing free access to cancer screening, diagnosis, and treatment support. Through her efforts, the foundation has demonstrably increased awareness by 25.8 per cent since 2008, reduced late-stage cancer presentations and provided affordable treatment options for countless individuals.
Shinkafi-Bagudu who is also a senior adviser to the Coordinating Minister of Health, has a long-standing commitment to cancer care beyond the foundation. During her time as a former First Lady, she spearheaded critical partnerships with the World Health Organisation (WHO), Clinton Health Access
Initiative (CHAI) and the Kebbi State government. These collaborations led to the screening and treatment of over 40,000 women for cervical cancer. She was one of the facilitators for the introduction of the HPV vaccine for schoolgirls in Nigeria. This landmark achievement has already benefited over 13 million girls. As a private citizen and a medical doctor, she has been at the forefront of caring for people suffering from cancer across the state through the foundation which she founded. ShinkafiBagudu, who is also a senior adviser to the Coordinating Minister of Health, has a long-standing commitment beyond the foundation.
gospel from around the world converge to celebrate Oyedepo for being one of the enigmas of the charismatic movement in Nigeria, Africa and in several other continents around the world where his impact has been felt and is still being felt. The celebrations started on the morning of Monday September 23rd with visitations to hospitals, orphanages and old peoples' homes bearing gifts, prayers and words of encouragement to them. In the evening heralded a praise and thanksgiving service organised by the alumnus of Covenant and Landmark Universities which he both founded. Both alumni presented him with significant gifts in appreciation of his impact in their lives. It was also an opportunity for students of the Bethesda Home of the Blind to publicly acknowledge how he has been responsible for their welfare - feeding, clothing and schooling with at least 21 of them graduating from universities and at least half of them bagging first class degrees. On the morning of Tuesday September 24, there was a public lecture in his honour at the Covenant University Chapel as its Chancellor and Chairman, Board of Regents. The lecture title, 'The Black Race And The Leadership Question' was delivered by Professor Peter Okebukola, a former Executive Secretary, National University Commission, NUC. In the evening of Tuesday was another praise and worship session. This continued till Wednesday September 25 and Thursday September 26, with more rounds of praise and worship in the evenings. On the morning of Friday September 27, the d-day, was a birthday service. Virtually who is who in the Christian faith, were at the service to felicitate with him. Clergymen such as Pastor Enoch Adejare Adeboye of the Redeemed Christian Church of God, RCCG; Bishop Mike Okonkwo of The Redeemed Evangelical Mission, TREM, Bishop Wale Oke, President of the Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria, PFN, Archbishop Margaret Idahosa of Church of God Mission International; Pastor Paul Enenche of Dunamis International Gospel Centre; Pastor David Ibiyeomie of Salvation Ministries; Pastor Femi Emmanuel, Pastor Sam Adeyemi, Pastor Goodman Akinlabi, Pastor Jerry Eze, Rev Esther Ajayi and many others too numerous to
mention. Other dignitaries at the service were former president Olusegun Obasanjo, Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu of Lagos State; Governor Dapo Abiodun of Ogun State and his predecessor, Otunba Gbenga Daniel. Others were Delta State governor, Sheriff Oborevwori of Delta State, Mudashiru Obasa, Speaker of the Lagos State House of Assembly; Professor Jerry Gana; several traditional rulers and too many dignitaries to mention. Following the service was a grand reception. And on Sunday, a thanksgiving service was held to round up the celebrations. Some of the gospel acts who ministered throughout the weeklong celebration were Evangelist Tope Alabi, Lilian Nneji, Yinka Alaseyori, Nathaniel Bassey, Dunsin Oyekan, Mercy Chinwo, Emmanuel Edunjobi aka Emma Oh My God, City Choir, Ayewa Band, Covenant University choir, Faith Tabernacle choir etc. To show the profound impact Oyedepo has on them, two of his sons in the Christian faith gave him two Rolls Royce Cullinans. One of them is Ibiyeomie. A third son in the Christian faith anonymously donated N1 billion to feed the over 50,000 guests throughout the duration of the birthday celebration.
That Oyedepo has made some profound impact cannot be overemphasised. Besides his ministry which spans over 300 cities in Nigeria and numerous countries worldwide, three of his accomplishments stand out in the public eye. The first is building the first 50,000-seat church auditorium, Faith Tabernacle, in Canaan land, Ota, Ogun State, something that was unheard of in Nigeria until he did it within one year. In 2010, Guinness World Records book recognized it as the largest church auditorium in the world. The second is his trailblazing zest in education. In addition to founding two universities in Nigeria, the church's chain of primary and secondary schools spread across the country and beyond the shores have set new standards and prepared many young minds for global challenges. The third is the 105,000-seater Ark Project, a stadium-like edifice costing hundreds of billions of naira with a proposed launch date of November 2025. This project on completion will dwarf the 50,000-seat church auditorium and will serve as an overflow facility.
Ogunsanwo
BOLANLE OGUNSANWO GIVES MUM BEFITTING BURIAL
TUgo Ejidoh Honoured by Canadian House of Commons
he city of Ibadan, Oyo State came to a standstill for seven days when Olori Bolanle Ogunsanwo the wife of the Ilara of Epe, Oba Olufolarin Ogunsanwo feted dignitaries to the burial ceremony of her late mother, Mama Florence Folawe Thomas. Madam Florence who was a registered nurse before her retirement passed on a few weeks ago at the age of 92. She has been described as a selfless human whose acts were dedicated towards God and the Methodist Church of Nigeria, Diocese of Ibadan, Agbeni Circuit, in Oyo where she worshipped as she single handedly saw to the various physical developments in the church including the children’s church which was named after her. Madam Florence was also the mother of Yeye Sewa Babalola, wife of legal luminary and educationist, Afe Babalola. Both siblings, Olori Bolanle and Yeye Sewa pulled all the stops, combined with their husbands' influence to host a successful talk of the town burial ceremony for their late mother. The weeklong ceremony culminated into a lavish reception party which saw gospel artist, Laolu Gbenjo and the Faith band entertain dignitaries at the reception which saw over 20 traditional rulers from Lagos including their wives present. Also present at the ceremony was Noimot Salako-Oyedele, the Ogun State Deputy Governor; Mudashiru Obasa, the Speaker of the Lagos State House Assembly and several other dignitaries.
Ugo Ejidoh, an environmental and occupational health analyst, has been honoured by the Canadian House of Commons for her contributions to public health in Nigeria and across Africa. Ejidoh’s contributions have improved public health outcomes in Nigeria and inspired others in the health sector to explore more innovative approaches to creating healthier and safer environments. Her
work aligns with global efforts to achieve sustainable development goals, particularly in the areas of good health, well-being, and climate action. She has dedicated her career to creating healthier communities through data analytics and innovative public health solutions. Her dedication to analysing environmental health data has been crucial in identifying health risks and implementing preventative strategies that benefit communities across Nigeria and Africa. Reacting to the award, Ejidoh emphasised that it not only honours her past efforts but also serves as motivation to continue advocating for positive change as well as an opportunity to further impact lives and be inspired to continue advocating for healthier communities across Nigeria and Africa as a whole.
The Jacquets
Ejidoh
ENTERTAINMENT &SOCIETY WEEKLY
STORIES BY IVORY UKONU
TOSIN AJIBADE'S PAWAPAY SURPASSES ONE BILLION TRANSACTIONS
Singer and businessman, Oluwatosin Oluwole Ajibade, a.k.a Mr Eazi, has achieved a major milestone as his co-founded financial company, Pawapay recently reached a historic milestone of one billion transactions. That means Pawapay has become the fastest private payment company in history to reach a significant one billion transactions.
Based in the United Kingdom and focused on Africa, Pawapay is a unified platform for collecting payments and facilitating payouts across Africa. It is a spin-off from online sports betting company, betPawa. Pawapay was able to achieve this feat in under three and a half years, faster than it took popular payment platforms, Paypal and Stripe. It took both platforms five and seven years, respectively, to reach a billion transaction.
The Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer of Transcorp Hotels Plc, Dupe Olusola, recently clocked 50 years. To celebrate, the happy go lucky business executive opted for a destination party which had in attendance, her close-knit family in company with friends and associates. Her choice country for the celebration was Spain. In her usual characteristic manner, she ensured that there was never a dull moment as she basked in the happiness of her landmark age. Award winning singer, David Adeleke aka Davido was her choice singer to serenade her and her guests. Prior to her birthday, Dupe had launched a foundation the Next Generation Foundation (NGF), a philanthropic fund dedicated to improving the lives of underserved and vulnerable children through education. A dynamic,
Very business savvy, Ajibade has followed in the footsteps of his father in-law, Femi Otedola, by seeking out lucrative ventures to invest in. In 2022, he sold Vydia, the portfolio company of his venture capital fund, Zagadat Capital, for $1 billion. The digital audio and video distribution infrastructure company was acquired by American firm, Gamma, a music and technology firm owned by former Apple Music Executive, Larry Jackson. The deal was the biggest in the history of Afrobeats. Last year, he veered into the real estate business, unveiling his multi-million-naira estate in Rwanda. Ajibade is also the owner of music distribution platform, emPawa.
results-oriented leader with a successful track record of building profitable businesses and delivering superior performance, Dupe has over 25 years’ corporate experience spanning various sectors locally and internationally. She has deep knowledge of banking, finance and several corporate and retail market economics with expertise in creating vision, identifying opportunities, creating high quality products and services, delivering strong revenues and profits, and positioning start-ups and existing businesses for sustainable global growth in competitive markets. She has excellent business and political acumen developed through active networking over the years and involvement in several development and empowerment associations.
After 25 years in the United States, a Nigerian medical doctor, Julius Oni, has taken a very bold decision to leave his highly placed job at Johns Hopkins Hospital and return to Nigeria to fulfill his ultimate goal of transforming musculoskeletal care in Nigeria. Musculoskeletal health refers to the performance of the locomotor system, comprising intact muscles, bones, joints and adjacent connective tissues that bind them together. The return of the associate professor of Orthopaedic Surgery and the CEO of Xsite Capital, a private equity multi-family real estate company, has undoubtedly attracted mixed reactions among Nigerians.
While some, including those in dire need of this service, have applauded Oni’s decision, not a few have had to question his rationale for returning to a country plagued by economic woes, hardship and high cost of living. But Julius has remained undeterred and is focused on fulfilling one of his life's goals which is to ensure that Nigerians no longer need to travel abroad to access high-quality
orthopaedic surgery and treatment.
As part of his mission to deliver great healthcare, the 41-year-old returned to set up a world-class orthopaedic practice in Lagos, offering high-quality musculoskeletal care. He also plans to establish a fellowship training programme to train the next generation of joint replacement surgeons to serve the Nigerian population. Before his relocation Julius relinquished his duties as Director of the Joint Replacement Fellowship and his role as the Diversity Chair for the Department of Orthopaedic Surgery at Johns Hopkins. He however retained his position as the Director for Global
Olayiwola Amoje Shuts Down Lagos For 80th
It was a convergence of the matriarchs and patriarchs of high society when veteran socialite, Chief Mathew Olayiwola Amoje hosted a big celebration to herald his 8oth birthday in Lagos penultimate week. Decades ago, Amoje was one of the big names that rocked the social scene. A titled chief in Oyo State, he made a name for himself as a successful footwear merchant and businessman. His legacy in business and influence on the social scene remains strong and far reaching. This much was confirmed when he hosted the creme de la creme of society to a lavish birthday party.
Birthday Party
The day started with a thanksgiving service at St. Anthony Catholic Church, Surulere, Lagos. Later in the day, the celebrant hosted his guests to a grand reception party at the Balmoral Convention Centre, Federal Palace Hotel, Lagos. Both Ebenezer Obey and King Sunny Ade were on the bandstand to thrill the dignitaries who thronged the venue of the party. From traditional rulers to serving state governors, former governors, high profile individuals, businessmen and women, it was clear from the turnout that Chief Amoje has touched many lives and he is somebody to be reckoned with.
Orthopaedics. He took a leave of absence from his job at Johns Hopkins, sold his property and then moved back with his family.
Julius' interest in orthopaedics was spurred by his paternal grandmother’s inability to access care while she suffered from endstage knee arthritis. Unfortunately, she passed on during his orthopaedic surgery training, and he never really got the chance to take care of her. With a bachelor's degree in Biology from the State University of New York at Plattsburgh, a medical
TOLULOPE AWOSUSI SET TO BECOME OLORI OF IWAYA
Oba Sulaimon Owolabi Oloko, the Olu of Iwaya, is getting ready to expand his harem. He has decided to add popular celebrity makeup artist, Awosusi Tolulope Rebecca, widely known by her brand name, TShakky, to his growing harem. There have been rumours of a hush-hush relationship between the Lagos traditional ruler and the single mum of two. Both lovers have never publicly acknowledged this, but they chose to operate under the radar undetected. Luck however ran out on them when Fuji music Czar, King Wasiu Ayinde Marshal, KWAM1 blew their cover open at a recent party in Lagos. Both TShakky and Oba Oloko were in attendance at the party. Although both arrived separately and sat separately, KWAM1 couldn't keep calm as he kept on eulogising both the king and TShakky in a song, telling everyone in attendance that she is the new queen lighting up the palace of the king of Iwaya Kingdom.
Care in Nigeria
degree from the Howard University College of Medicine, Oni completed his Orthopaedic Surgery Residency Programme at the New York University Hospital for Joint Diseases. A fellow of the University of Iowa’s Department of Biochemistry and the NIH/ National Cancer Institute in Bethesda, MD, he is also an inductee of the Alpha Omega Alpha Honor Medical Society. Julius Oni has practised in his field for 11 years across three different continents, including over 10 years of experience as an Academic Joint Replacement Surgeon, being a fellow of the American Orthopaedic Association, the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons, and the American Association of Hip and Knee Surgeons, recognition as a 'Top Doctor' in Joint Replacement by Baltimore Magazine from 2019 to 2022, and over 50 publications in orthopaedic surgery, among others. He is also an active angel investor, with a portfolio featuring companies such as Helium Health, Akido, Magic Fund, Chronus Health, MDAAS Global and ROM Tech.
Awosusi
Oni
Olusola
Amoje
Ajibade
SHOTS OF THE WEEK
Photo Editor: Peace Udugba [08033050729]
Artist, Iyanu: Child of Wonder comics, Toyin Ajetunmobi; Artist and Art Director, Iyanu: Child of Wonder and Iyanu series, Godwin Akpan; Voice Actress of Iyanu in the
West Africa at MultiChoice, Victor
and
Managing Director, News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), Malam Ali Muhammad Ali (Left), presenting a souvenir to the representative of Chairman, Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), Mr Clifford Oparaodu, during the former's visit to the Commission in Abuja on September 25, 2024.
L-R: Associate Project Officer, Rule of Law and Anti-Corruption Programme, Peter Omenka; Solicitor General and Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Justice (FMOJ), Beatrice Jedy-Agba; Director, Administration of Criminal Justice Reform Department, FMOJ, Leticia Ayoola-Daniels and the President, Centre for Socio-Legal Studies, Prof. Yemi Akinseye-George, during a 3-Day Review and Validation of the National Minimum Documents and the inauguration of the National Working Group on the Administration of Criminal Justice Act/Laws, in Abuja on September 24, 2024.
From left: Mandate Secretary, FCT Women Affairs Secretariat, Dr Adedayo Benjamins-Laniyi; Commandant, Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps(NSCDC), FCT, Dr Olusola Odumosu; and Her Royal Highness, Amb. Hanatu Usman Nga, during the Mandate Secretary visit to NSCDC FCT Command in Abuja on September 25, 2024.
L-R: Member, University Governing Council, University of Abuja, Prof. Akeem Oyerinde; Registrar of the University of Abuja, Malam Yahaya; Chairman, Senate Committee on Federal Character and InterGovernmental Affairs, Sen. Allwell Onyesoh and the acting Vice Chancellor of the University, of Abuja, Prof. Aisha Maikudi, during the visit of the university’s Governing Council to the chairman’s office to validate their staff nominal roll and efforts to uphold the Federal Character Principles, at the National Assembly Complex in Abuja on September 24, 2024.
L-R:
animated series, Serah Johnson; Head of Production,
Sanchez Aghahowa
Artist, Iyanu: Child of Wonder comics, Akinboye Olasunkanmi at the Lagos Comic Convention held in Lagos recently.
Player Strikes Loom as Football's Calendar Congestion Worsens
BY JUDE OBAFEMI
The issue of fixture congestion in football has reached a critical point, with players, managers and organisations grappling with its consequences. The expansion of domestic and international competitions, driven by commercial interests and broadcast deals, is pushing players to their physical and mental limits, leading to unprecedented calls for player strikes and demands for reform in the football calendar.
Beyond injuries, performance metrics are also negatively affected
At the heart of this problem is the continuous expansion of competitions. UEFA's revamp of European tournaments, particularly the UEFA Champions League format change which has started in the 2024/2025 season, will only add more group-stage matches to an already packed calendar. While these changes are marketed as beneficial for fans and clubs in terms of revenue and exposure, they place extraordinary demands on players.
Players have begun to voice their frustration with the relentless schedule. Manchester City midfielder Rodri suggested that players are approaching the point of striking, if no action is taken to reduce the number of games.
He highlighted the physical toll on athletes, explaining that even top professionals can only perform at their peak for 40 to 50 matches in a season. With current schedules stretching to 70 or 80 games, the quality of performances inevitably drops, raising concerns about player well-being and the quality of football delivered to fans.
Rodri's concerns were tragically validated when he sustained a serious injury shortly after expressing these views. This incident, along with injuries to other high-profile players like Barcelona’s Marc-André ter Stegen and Arsenal's Martin Ødegaard, underscores the real-world consequences of the congested calendar. Manchester City, for instance, could potentially play up to 75 matches this season if they reach the finals of all competitions, which is not farfetched, excluding international duties. This figure could rise to 85 games for some players when national team commitments are included.
The global football players' union, FIFPRO, has been particularly vocal about this issue. The union's president, David Terrier, described the situation as "crazy," emphasising that it is not just about physical fatigue but also mental health. The constant pressure to perform without adequate rest between seasons is leading to burnout, injuries and reduced career longevity for players.
The increasing frequency of injuries among top players is one of the most evident indicators of this crisis. Clubs are increasingly resorting to "load management" strategies, such as Chelsea leaving out key players from squads for European games to preserve them for other competitions. Injuries not only affect individual players but also diminish
situation is not unique to any single club, as similar concerns have been raised by top players such as Manchester City midfielder, Bernardo Silva; Tottenham captain, Heung-Min Son and managers across Europe’s top leagues.
The expansion of tournaments by governing bodies like UEFA and FIFA has exacerbated the issue. The increased number of fixtures, such as the expanded Champions League and the new 32-team Club World Cup, has been criticised for prioritising revenue over player health. UEFA president Aleksander Ceferin's comments that playing fewer matches would result in less money highlight the economic motivations driving the current congestion in the football calendar. This relentless pursuit of profit, whether through ticket sales, broadcasting rights, or sponsorships, puts immense pressure on both clubs and players to perform continuously, leaving little room for rest and recovery.
