SATURDAY 15TH FEBRUARY 2025

Nigeria's Crude, Condensate Output

Three-year High in Boost for 2025 Budget

Emmanuel Addeh in Abuja

Nigeria's crude oil and condensate production hit a high of three years and four months in January, rising to

1.737 million barrels per day during the period, and a major boost for the country's projected N54.9 trillion revenues in the 2025 budget. Although it fell short of the

country's forecast daily production of 2.06 million bpd for the year 2025, it was a major improvement on Nigeria's total volume of oil pumped, which fell to as low as 1.1 million

bpd in the last quarter of 2022. The country's new production data from the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC) showed that since April

2021, when the country produced 1.74 million bpd, the country has not achieved the current peak. Since 2020, after the COVID 19 pandemic, the country has struggled to

FG: Ignore Gambaryan's Falsehood against Nigerian Government

Tinubu, Obasanjo, Jonathan, Buhari, Atiku, Obi, Governors, Others Mourn Pa Adebanjo at

Say deceased's principled voice of political activism’ll be deeply missed Declare he will be remembered as foremost nationalist, patriot who gave his best as active community leader

Concerns as US Congressman Alleges USAID Funded Boko Haram

L-R: First Lady of Nigeria, Senator Oluremi Tinubu; President of Botswana, Duma Boko; President of Senegal, Bassirou Biomaye Faye; Rwandan President, Paul Kagame; Kenyan President, William Ruto; President of Zimbabwe, Emmerson Mnangagwa; Prime Minister of Barbados, Mia Mottley; Former Prime Minister of Chad and Chairperson of the African Union Commission, Moussa Faki Mahamat, and

Health Financing in Africa held on the sidelines of the 38th AU General Assembly in Addis Ababa…yesterday

Deji Elumoye, Chuks Okocha in Abuja, Segun James, Sunday Ehigiator in Lagos, James Sowole in Abeokuta and Fidelis David in Akure

President Bola Tinubu yesterday mourned the death of the leader of the apex Yoruba socio-political group,

Afenifere, Chief Ayo Adebanjo at the age of 96, saying the deceased's principled voice of political activism will be deeply missed.

Also, former Presidents Olusegun Obasanjo, Goodluck Jonathan and Muhammadu Buhari, former vice president, Atiku Abubukar, the

Presidential candidate of the Labour party in the last general election Peter Obi and Senator Orji Kalu, also commiserated with the family

of the late Afenifere leader. Governors of Ogun State, Dapo

FG: Ignore Gambaryan's Falsehood against Nigerian Government Officials

Binance executive accuses three lawmakers of demanding $150m bribe from him Agbese kicks, demand evidence, threatens legal action

Olawale Ajimotokan and Juliet Akoje in Abuja

In a fit of outrage, the federal government has expressed anger at the misinformation and defamatory statements credited to Tigran Gambaryan, an American personnel of Binance, who was recently tried in Nigeria for financial crimes.

In a statement last night, the Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris echoed concern about the unfounded allegations made by Gambaryan and asked the public to disregard the claims by the Head of Financial Crime Compliance at the cryptocurrency firm.

Gambaryan, who spent eight months in detention in Kuje Prison and in EFCC cell for allegedly laundering $35 million had alleged on his verified X handle that three Nigerian lawmakers demanded a bribe of $150 million from him. He specifically accused House members Philip Agbese, Ginger Onwusibe, and Peter Akpanke of demanding the large sum from him.

Deputy Spokesperson of the House of Representatives, Agbese, in a swift reaction, denied allegations of bribery levelled against him by Gambaryan, demanding that he provide evidence

or retract his claims within seven days or face legal action.

The Binance executive also accused the federal government of demanding data on its citizens from the cryptocurrency firm solely to target members of opposition political parties.

But Idris said although the Federal Government of Nigeria was hesitant to engage Gambaryan, given the high-level diplomatic intervention that resolved his case, the statement was nonetheless necessary just to set the records straight to stop Gambaryan's falsehoods from gaining traction.

He said: "The first visit by Mr. Gambaryan and his colleagues to Nigeria was discretionary on their part and government was not officially involved. However, when the attention of the government was called to an alleged bribery demand during that trip an investigation was immediately opened into it though there was no formal complaint by anyone.

"Mr. Gambaryan's second visit to Nigeria was part of a wider probe into the criminal manipulation of the Nigerian currency through peer-to-peer platforms like Binance, but investigators were frustrated by the tactics deployed by Gambaryan and his team.

"Mr. Gambaryan was released by the Nigerian government in October

CONCERNS AS US CONGRESSMAN ALLEGES USAID FUNDED BOKO HARAM

The damning revelation by a United States Congressman, Scott Perry that the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), funded terrorist organisations, including Boko Haram, to the tune of $697 million annually has elicited concerns by some security experts and diplomats in Nigeria.

Perry, a Republican representing Pennsylvania, made this assertion during a hearing of the Subcommittee on Delivering on Government Efficiency, citing alleged misappropriations of taxpayer funds.

According to Perry, USAID's reported funding of $136 million for building 120 schools in Pakistan has yielded "zero evidence" of the schools' construction.

He also questioned the allocation of $60 million annually for the Women's Scholarship Endowment and $5 million annually for the Young Women Lead program, suggesting that these funds may be supporting terrorism instead of empowering women.

The allegations sparked concerns about the misuse of taxpayer funds and the potential support of terrorist activities.

US President Donald Trump had suspended USAID and other aid programmes, accusing them of corruption.

But reacting to this troubling disclosure by a top US government official, a former Director, Department of State Service (DSS), Mike Ejiofor said this was not a surprise as the Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), had in the past also alleged that international non- governmental organisations were surreptitiously collaborating with terrorists in Nigeria.

He stressed that this was a kind of confirmation of that allegation.

The retired undercover cop expressed the need for further interrogation of the subject matter by the National Assembly and the security agencies to ascertain the veracity or otherwise of the grievous allegation.

Alleging that most of these foreign governmental and non-governmental agencies were mostly fronts, Ejiofor averred that the possibility of their culpability could not be ruled out.

On whether the government should ban such aid agencies operating in crisis-prone areas in Nigeria, the former Director said, "until investigations is concluded and culpability established."

He added, "It is only then that the

2024 on humanitarian grounds and following a high-level diplomatic intervention that ended with tangible benefits for Nigeria. The government rejected Binance's offer of a $5 million down payment in exchange for Mr. Gambaryan's freedom, in favour of a more beneficial settlement with the American government

"We categorically deny the

government can take decisive action.

On his advice to the government on the matter, he said, "proper investigation should be carried out by the national assembly since the revelation was made by the congress.

"The Department of State Service (DSS), the National Intelligence Agency (NIA), and other security agencies should all be involved in the investigation to establish the veracity of the allegation."

In his contribution, an international affairs analyst, Dr. Ambrose Igboke, said this was not the first time the super-powers would be doing such kind of thing, adding that they are known for this.

He alleged that some developed countries fund crisis around the world to orchestrate regime change or for other purposes such as economic interest.

"It is for this reasons that serious countries like Russia, and China often reject this international aid. They don't allow these aid agencies to come close to their countries because of this," he said.

He noted that the kind of sophisticated weapons Boko Haram and other terrorist organisations like ISWAP were using showed that they are funded internationally.

The CEO of Beacon Security and Intelligence Limited, Kabir Adamu, said in the realm of foreign service, the allegation was not new.

He stated that espionage and foreign service have been issues that have been on the table for a very long time, adding that the current U.S. administration was only washing its dirty linen in public.

He, however, stressed that the US congressman failed to establish the nexus between Boko Haram and al-Qaeda.

He stressed that within the realm of espionage, "it is very difficult to put it on the table, to say this is the country, because they don't do it directly, they do it through layers. And remember earlier on we admitted to the fact that there is a link between espionage and the Taliban".

He noted that the creation of Taliban was, to an extent, between the U.S. and the Russians, and the monster became what it became at the moment.

"The point I'm trying to make is, in Nigeria it's possible, but the onus should be on us as a people, not just to identify, but to limit the ability with which this is happening," he said.

retaliatory claims made by Mr. Gambaryan against Nigerian officials involved in his case, and we urge the public to disregard these false accusations in their entirety."

The minister added that it should be noted that Gambaryan's allegations were not only unsubstantiated but also lacked credibility, given his apparent motive to discredit and intimidate

those who ensured he faced justice.

"However, we are confident that both the Nigerian and American judicial systems will provide Mr. Gambaryan with a fair opportunity to substantiate his claims in court.

Until then, we advise the public to exercise caution and not be swayed by Mr. Gambaryan's unfounded and malicious claims," he affirmed.

TINUBU, OBASANJO, JONATHAN, BUHARI, ATIKU, OBI, GOVERNORS, OTHERS MOURN PA ADEBANJO AT 96

Abiodun; Ondo State, Lucky Aiyedatiwa, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, Chief Reuben Fasoranti, and the Obafemi Awolowo Leadership Selection Committee joined other Nigerians to mourn the late sage.

Pa Adebanjo, according to a statement from his family died peacefully at his residence in Lekki, Lagos State yesterday morning, February 14, 2025.

The statement read: “With a heart full of gratitude for a selfless life spent in the service of God, the nation and humanity, we announce the passing of our beloved patriarch, Chief Samuel Ayodele Adebanjo.

“He died peacefully this morning, Friday, February 14, 2025, at his Lekki, Lagos, Nigeria home at the age of 96.

“The foremost nationalist, elder statesman, distinguished lawyer, very distinct politician, an apostle of true federalism, former organising secretary of Action Group and the national leader of Afenifere is survived by his 94-year-old wife, Chief Christy Ayo-Adebanjo, children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

“We will forever cherish his commitment to fighting for truth, equity and justice. His belief and struggle for a truly independent and progressive Nigeria was total, and this he fought for until he breathed his last breath.

“The family is consulting with Papa's friends, associates, and numerous interest groups across the length and breadth of Nigeria and beyond to fine-tune plans for befitting funeral details, which will be communicated in due course.

“A condolence register is open at his residence in Lagos (8, Ayo Adebanjo Close, Lekki Phase 1, Lagos) and his country home in Isanya Ogbo, near Ijebu Ode, Ogun State.”

In a statement personally signed by him yesterday, President Tinubu described the deceased as a statesman and politician who stood among the last generation of nationalists who shaped the foundation of Nigeria as a nation.

Tinubu, who traced Baba Adebanjo's political history to the Action Group in the First Republic where he served as Organising Secretary described him as a committed disciple of late sage, Chief Obafemi Awolowo who joined the National Democratic Coalition (NADECO) as one of the leading

Delta and years of under-investment in the sector for the challenges. Nigeria has oil benchmark prices of $75, $76.2, and $75.3 for the daily crude oil production of 2.06 million barrels, 2.10 million barrels, and 2.35 million barrels daily for the 2025-2027 fiscal years respectively.

According to the NUPRC data, production came mainly from Bonny (7.57 million barrels); Brass (1.050 million barrels); Qua Iboe (4.63 million barrels); Forcados (8.86 million barrels); Excravos (4.48 million barrels); Odudu (2.33 million barrels) and Tulja-Okwuibome (2.26 million barrels).

“Lowest and peak production in January were 1.66 million bpd and 1.79 million bpd respectively. The daily average production in January was 1.737 barrels per day,

voices against Nigeria's military dictatorship in the 1990s.

The President added that though he later parted ways politically with Pa Adebanjo based on principle, he however shared a personal bond with the Afenifere leader.

"All who knew Baba Adebanjo drew from his boundless wisdom and cherished the democratic ideals he tirelessly campaigned for.

"His principled voice, which resonated through decades of political activism, will be deeply missed. As a nation, we will miss his regular interventions in national affairs, which enriched our political discourse.

“His unwavering commitment to truth and justice extended to my journey as a governorship candidate in 1999. Baba Adebanjo's steadfast support was instrumental in my election as Governor of Lagos State under the platform of the Alliance for Democracy,” Tinubu added.

Obasanjo described late Adebanjo as a great man, a committed nationalist, an effective representative of his people and an unpretentious personality.

According to him: "It was with deep sense of personal loss that I received the sad news of the passing of my beloved friend and senior brother, Chief Ayo Adebanjo, away in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, where I am currently attending the 38th Ordinary Session of the African Union Assembly."

The former President in a tribute made available to newsmen by his Special Assistant on Media, Kehinde Akinyemi stated that the unfortunate news came to him as a shock, lamenting his passing was "no doubt, a huge loss not only to me and to Ogun State but also to the country as a whole.”

"As a foundation member of the Action Group Party (A.G.), he will be remembered as a foremost nationalist and patriot who has given his best as an active community leader and an exemplary politician with integrity and one who has demonstrated that politics is an avenue not for mindless enrichment but for rendering faithful service to humanity.”

The former President recalled that:

"As a democratically-elected President of Nigeria between 1999 and 2007, we both sometimes disagreed to agree to committedly regenerate and reposition

comprising both crude oil (1.538 bpd) and condensate (198,783 bpd). The average crude oil production was 103 per cent of Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) quota (1.5 million bpd),” the NUPRC stated in its explanatory notes.

Also, OPEC has stated that Nigeria raised its crude oil production volume by 54,000 barrels per day in January. OPEC does not calculate condensates as part of production.

OPEC's Monthly Oil Market Report (MOMR), said Nigeria’s average daily crude oil output increased significantly to 1.539 million barrels per day last month, indicating that the country has now exceeded its quota by almost 40,000 bpd.

our country to meet the hopes and aspirations of the Nigerian people and chart the course to our nation’s glorious future. He was such an unpretentious personality! His thoughts, utterances and deeds were completely devoid of political partisanship. He had friends from all over the country and he led a life filled with remarkable experiences.

"Until his death, he fought with courage and tenacity to see to the restructuring of the Nigerian nation through which good governance based on democratic principles and practice and leading to unity in diversity, justice and equity, political stability, nationalism, popular participation, peace and security and socio-economic progress with strong leadership would be enshrined.

“I will undoubtedly miss my amazing and beloved Egbon Ayo, with the hope to continue to hold on to the good and remarkable memories we had together, till we meet to part no more," Obasanjo stated.

Ex-president Buhari, in a release by his spokesperson, Mallam Garba Shehu, described the demise one of Chief Adebanjo as a great loss for the nation.

“The late Chief Adebanjo was one of those rare politicians who straddled the worlds of the legal profession, politics, and socio-cultural activism,” said the former president. He prayed for the repose of his soul and for fortitude to his family, admirers, and the government and people of Ogun State to bear the loss

In a statement, former President Jonathan expressed sadness over the demise, describing the late elder statesman as a symbol of courage and resilience.

Jonathan noted that Chief Adebanjo was a national hero and crusader for justice who continued to advocate for a better society till the very end.

The former President stated: “I extend my deepest condolences to the family, friends, and associates of Chief Ayo Adebanjo, over the passing of the late elder statesman and notable nationalist who died at the age of 96 years.

“Chief Adebanjo was a revered leader of the pan-Yoruba socio-cultural organisation Afenifere and a national hero who dedicated his life to the service of our nation. He was a symbol

The oil cartel noted that data obtained from direct communication with Nigerian authorities showed that Nigeria recorded over 1.53 million bpd, although secondary sources reported that the country's crude production declined to 1.49 million bpd in January from 1.52 million bpd in December.

Essentially, OPEC gets its data on crude oil production from two sources, namely: Direct communication from member countries and secondary communication, data usually produced by energy intelligence firms.

It further showed that Nigeria retained its position as the largest oil producer in Africa, surpassing Algeria, which produced 907,000 bpd in January, with Congo coming

of resilience and commitment to the good of our society.

“His passing is a profound loss to our nation, as he was a man of unwavering principles, courage, and dedication to the ideals of justice, equity, and unity. May God grant his family and loved ones the strength to bear this irreplaceable loss.”

In his condolence , message, Atiku wrote, "I am saddened by the news of the passing away of Chief Ayo Adebanjo, a foremost elder statesman and one of the few remaining nationalists of our country.'' Atiku said that the late Afenifere leader was a formidable force and a fearless fighter for justice, equity, and an egalitarian society.

''It is on record that Pa Adebanjo spent his entire youthful days fighting against colonial rule; spent his middle age to fight against military dictatorship and his latter days to ensure that good governance, rule of law and democracy took firm roots in Nigeria,” he added. For his part, Peter Obi, said he was mourning the demise of his arch-supporter and the leader of the Afenifere.

Obi in lengthy condolences on his X (formerly Tweeter) handle recalled Pa Adebanjo's words to him still stressing justice and equity

In the condolence, Obi said, "My family and the Obidient Movement got the shocking news of the passing on of our dear father and leader, Pa Ayo Adebanjo, who was a great pillar in the struggle for a new Nigeria.

"We extend our deepest condolences to the family and the Afenifere organisation. His death is a profound loss to Nigeria and to all who cherish justice, equity, and truth. As the leader of Afenifere, Pa Adebanjo remained a steadfast advocate for a united and progressive Nigeria. His unwavering commitment to fairness and his relentless pursuit of a better nation have left an indelible mark on our country's history.

"One thing my political journey in life taught me, for which I am eternally grateful to God is bringing me close to a few great minds who helped to shape my perception of this land as a great country.

far behind with 251,000 barrels of oil per day during the period.

“According to secondary sources, total OPEC-12 crude oil production, total DoC crude oil production averaged 40.62 mb/d in January 2025, which is 118 tb/d lower, month-on-month,” it stated. Despite several challenges, Nigeria has been actively working to increase its oil production through various initiatives for years. The NUPRC and the ministry of petroleum resources have expressed their aspirations to exceed 2 million bpd by the end of the year.

In October 2024, the federal government announced a target to further boost production to 2.3 million bpd by mid-2025, attributing the goal to successful efforts against oil theft.

The Binance executive had claimed that the lawmakers in the House of Representatives demanded bribes to prevent security agencies from targeting him.

Ginger Onwusibe who represents Isiala Ngwa North/Isiala Ngwa South Federal Constituency of Abia State, chairs the House Committee on Anti-Corruption.

Linus Aleke in Abuja

STrATeGIC ALLIANCe TO SANITISe FX MArKeT…

ACCELERATING SENIOR SECONDARY EDUCATION…

L-R: Managing Director, North East Development Commission (NEDC), Alh. Mohammed Alkali; Minister of State for Regional Development, Uba Maigeri Ahmadu; Vice President Kashim Shettima; Senior Special Assistant to the President on Regional Development Programmes, Dr. Mariam Masha and Personal Assistant to the President, office of the Vice President, Mahmoud Mohammed, during a meeting on Accelerated Senior Secondary Education Programme (ASSEP) at the Presidential Villa, Abuja…recently

Edo APC, State Govt Trade Words over N9bn Fresh Loan Approval

First Lady Seeks Sustainable Health Financing for Africa

Elumoye

Edo State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC), yesterday, urged Governor Godwin Obaseki to stop securing loans, noting that the N9 billion loan recently approved by the House of Assembly was needless and will plunge the state into financial distress.

Wife of the President, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, has stressed that Africa’s aspirations for progress, economic growth, and social stability will remain difficult to achieve without a robust healthcare system that guarantees access to essential healthcare services for millions of Africans.

The First Lady stated this yesterday, during a high-level meeting on Domestic Health Financing in Africa, organised by Rwandan President, Paul Kagame on the margins of the 38th AU Summit in Addis Ababa.

She called for a sustainable financing

But in a swift reaction, the Edo State Government said it was perplexed to learn of what it termed “laughable and incredibly ridiculous tantrums attributed to the new acting chairman of the Edo State chapter of APC, Jarret Tenebe where he made baseless and spurious allegations on the fiscal management of our dear state by the Governor Godwin Obaseki-led government.”

Addressing a press conference yesterday, Tenebe had said the state was already suffering under a debt profile of N135 billion and $35.6 billion.

Blessing Ibunge in Port Harcourt

He said, "While it is a monumental disaster that Edo State patrimony

Kemi Olaitan in Ibadan

The Rivers State Government has stated its preparedness to tap into the opportunities provided by the National Digital Economy and E-Governance Bill to grow the state's internally generated revenue (IGR).

has been swindled by Obaseki-led administration with an unassailable, humongous debt profile of N135 billion and $35.6 billion, the governor is unyielding and unstoppable in his characteristic design to leave Edo State in ruin, by asking for a facility of N17.5 billion few days ago, which was said to be N9 billion."

captured.

that ensures efficient mobilisation and utilisation of resources for both short, medium, and long-term impact.

The First Lady explained that achieving a wealthy continent is largely dependent on the health of the people, and with the impending funding gaps occasioned by recent policy changes in the United States, the African continent must look inward for sustainable solution.

Sharing Nigeria’s perspective on the issue, Mrs. Tinubu harped on the need for a health system that guarantees access to quality health services without imposing financial hardships.

Rivers Govt: We're Ready to Harness Digital Economy for Economic Growth

Tenebe, said "It is important to state, that it is now in public and political space that the fiscal budget of Edo State was passed few weeks ago before the Edo State House of Assembly proceeded on leave without the commencement of the execution of the budget by the executive. It is most disheartening that the Edo State Government now is requesting for a facility of N17.5 billion with no corollary of project attached there to the said facility and also that the facility is not contained as loan to be taken in the 2024 fiscal budget just recently passed. A cursory perusal of the entire budget does not reveal where the project for the facility is ever

representative further said the new bill would enable the government make data-driven decisions because of the enormous data that will be available at its disposal through implementation of the bill.

"Information at the behest of the members of the Edo State House of Assembly is to the effect that they were recalled from their holiday or leave by the Speaker on the request of the state governor for the immediate approval of the said facility which according to them is said to be N9 billion but as event unfolded, after the mammoth request by the opposition in the House as to the rationale for a facility as

According to her, "Africa cannot continue to rely solely on donor funding and foreign aid, which, although helpful, are often unpredictable and unsustainable. Instead, we must develop innovative financing strategies tailored to our unique challenges and circumstances.”

She pointed out that her role as the Global and National Stop TB champion mirrors the role that other First Ladies, leveraging their position and platform, can play in

lid Minerals Development, Dr. Dele Alake, has described the United States as Nigeria’s longstanding ally and strategic partner for the nation’s mining sector development.

resources mobilisation for health from government, the private sector and donor agencies.

Her words: “Given the increasing funding gap for health on the continent, I urge us all to come together and commit to advocating for increased national health budgets.

stupendous as N9 billion for fathom projects which only existed in the imagination of the governor, it was discovered that the facility was not even N9 billion but a figure wrapped in secrecy as much as N17.5 billion to which the opposition in the house rejected and or refused to be part of the approval. But in its reaction, the Edo State Government stated that the Edo APC was “obviously pained by the achievements of

“In line with the Abuja Declaration, our governments should allocate at least 15 percent of their budgetary allocations to health.

“We must also support innovative

the state Governor, Mr.

across all sectors of the state over the past seven years.”

financing mechanisms and explore sustainable models, such as expanding health insurance coverage, health endowment funds, and investments from the African diaspora.

“Accountability and transparency must be ensured, as funds allocated to health must be used efficiently and effectively.”

“Tenebe has been on a frenzy looking for lies to tell since he assumed office as Acting Chairman. Rather than focus on reawakening his completely comatose party, which is unable to provide constructive criticisms expected of a viable opposition, he has resorted to spreading misinformation in a desperate attempt to curry cheap popularity.

Global and regional perspectives on domestic health financing in Africa and its contributions to the global agenda were also explored by

“In his infertile rambling, Tenebe made wild and completely off-themark comments suggesting that Edo State is owing $35 billion. Even if that was what was written for him, he should have known that the figure is wrong and can't be true.

"In reality, our debt stock is not a secret and in fact, we are ‘under borrowed’. Emperor Tenebe would have known this if he understood the economics of governance, fiscal responsibility and debt-to-GDP ratio.

Presidents and Heads of State of other nations present including those of Rwanda, Ethiopia, Botswana, Kenya, Senegal, Zimbabwe, Barbados, donor agencies and funding partners. They were unequivocal that Africa must begin to look inwards for homegrown solutions to its health care needs which include research, medications, technology, improved manpower and importantly, funding if it will be able to keep its citizens productive and prosperous.

Mining Development: Nigeria, US Explore Areas of Strategic Partnership

Nigeria, Others Move to Create African Credit Rating Agency

Speaking while receiving

Nigeria and other African countries are working towards setting up a continental credit rating agency to address Western credit rating agencies’ bias against Africa.

Charge d'Affairs, US Embassy, David Greene, in his office on Thursday, Alake lauded the United States’ commitment to fostering cooperation with Nigeria in diverse sectors of the economy, stating that it underscores the significance of the smooth bilateral relations between both countries.

The Director General, National Orientation Agency (NOA), Mallam Lanre Issa-Onilu, has announced plans to launch a 37,000 Citizens’ Brigade in primary schools across the country. He made the disclosure while speaking with journalists in Ibadan during a working visit to Oyo State.

This was disclosed yesterday, during stakeholders engagement organised by the Federal Ministry of Communication, Innovation and Digital Economy in Port Harcourt, the state capital.

Special Assistant to the Rivers State Governor on Information and Communication Technology, Fubara Fenibo, who presented the state's position on the proposed bill at the event, said the bill when passed into law would bring about ease of doing business.

He said 1,000 Citizens’ Brigade would be set up in each of the 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) to promote national values as of old, stating that the essence of the Brigade was to revive and rebuild the national values and create positive models

He stressed that the bill when passed into law and fully implemented would also make for financial inclusion, as creatives in the state can earn from it providing services across the globe from the comforts of the homes.

Kemi Olaitan in Ibadan

Fenibo highlighted that Rivers State was already ahead in e-governance with the full digitalisation of the Rivers State Judiciary and the Internal Revenue Board.

The Oyo State Government, yesterday, suspended Oba Gbolagade Muritala Babalola,

He also said when the bill becomes operational, the risk involved with physical contacts while transacting businesses would be reduced, urging the people to brace up to key into the enormous opportunities that will come with the passage of the bill.

The Rivers State government

among the youthful population. He said the government is worried that about 72 per cent of the nation’s youthful population have become foreigners through the influence of cartoons and movies which are foreign in contents, values and cultures.

"Rivers State is very much prepared to tap into those opportunities that the bill will bring. One of the opportunities this bill will bring is, it is going to bring ease of doing business because there won't be any blockage in terms of you haven to bring things physically, or you have to come physically for jobs, physical paper, everything goes digital, so the ease of doing business in Rivers State and across other states in the country would increase.

Issa-Onilu said as a way out of the malaise, NOA would soon launch a Mobile App containing indigenous cartoons through which local contents, national values and culture would be promoted.

The Minister of Information and National Orientation of Nigeria, Mohammed Idris, disclosed this during an interview with journalists in Addis Ababa, ahead of the African Union Summit.

“We are establishing, this year, 37,000 Citizens’ Brigade in Primary School. 1,000 in each state, including FCT, Abuja. These Citizens’ Brigade are going to be like Boys’ Scout and Girls’ Guild of the olden days.

African Union Assembly, it was agreed that they set up what is called the African Rating Agency, to supplant that being provided by the Western World. Hitherto, access to capital was always difficult for people of the African continent even when we have the population, investment opportunity and projects that are funded.

also want to be part of the move to reduce global emissions and put our mining sector on the global map. We have critical minerals that are in commercial demand globally,"Alake said.

all African countries to set up their rating agency. The rating agency set up by the west does not favour Africa.”

Idris explained: “At the last

"Another thing it would bring to Rivers State is financial inclusion. Creatives in the state that have talent, that know how to give value from the comfort of their home, will now be empowered to be able to tap into foreign clients, foreign currencies and draw down those things to Rivers State, so there'll be a whole lot of financial inclusion," he said.

According to him, "These various policies are geared towards changing the narratives and the wrong impression that the outside world is having about the country.

Giving an overview of the bill, Christopher Nwuya, a legal practitioner and consultant to the Federal Ministry of Communication, Innovation and Digital Economy on the National Digital Economy and E-Governance Bill 2024, said the essence of the engagement is to gather valuable inputs from all relevant stakeholders since the bill affects every person, adding that the bill seeks to transform the national digital economy.

powers in

Makinde approved the suspension on 1st of February, 2024. The letter read in part, "I wish to inform you that His Excellency, the Executive Governor of Oyo State of Nigeria, in exercise of the powers conferred on him by Sub-section 1&2 of Section 26 of the Chiefs Law, Cap. 28 Vol I, Laws of Oyo State of Nigeria 2000 and by virtue of all

“Across the world, Nigerians are known to be the smartest people on earth. This is a positive development but some people mischievously tend to portray us in negative light. But this is not who we are as a people.

The ongoing marital crisis rocking the home of Nigerian music legend, Innocent Idibia, popularly known as 2Baba, has taken another dramatic turn as the singer’s family formally petitioned the Department of State Services (DSS) over his sudden disappearance.

“To change the negative narratives, we are setting up the Citizens’ Brigade to produce young Nigerians and create positive models to rebuild the national values."

The Idibia’s family in a petition signed by Wilson Anuge, said the singer left his residence in his lounge-wear since February 10, 2025 suggesting that he was going for his habitual walk and had not returned home since then.

“So, because funding is key, it becomes very important for

The minister welcomed partnership with the US on investments in the mining value chain, expanding access to technology in extracting and processing minerals and securing mining areas.

Also speaking, the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Yusuf Tuggar said: “We are also one of the major contributing nations in terms of the African Union. We are a tier one country. So, we are very concerned about how those funds that we contribute are spent and applied within the

African region and there have been strong agitation for reform.

“I thank you for your visit. I met the US Assistant Secretary of State for Energy Resources, Geoffrey Pyatt, on the sidelines of the Mines and Money conference in London past year, and we had a fruitful engagement. I did analyse all our issues, and fundamentally, we just want to diversify our economy from oil. Not just for our own economic survival but also to be in tune with global trends for reduction in global warming. We

Alex enumah in Abuja

“We believe that Mr. Innocent left his residence in the early hours of 10 February 2025 in his loungewear, suggesting that he was going for his habitual walk, but he has not returned home since then. Despite the best efforts of his family, staff, and the management of his record label to reach or locate him—including contacting his friends and acquaintances—they have been unable to establish any contact or ascertain his whereabouts.

Throwing light on reforms embarked upon by the federal government, the minister highlighted revised Community Development Agreement (CDA) guidelines geared towards reducing friction in host communities; on-going plans for new security architecture to secure natural resources; efforts to generate big geo-data; the

formalisation of artisanal miners into cooperatives amongst others. "The mining sector provides a veritable avenue for increased trade between Nigeria and the United States, especially in the area of value addition, which implies processing of extracted minerals and setting up factories here. We would also require financing from multilateral institutions for our local operators. We are providing incentives for investments like tax waivers for mining equipment, policy of full repatriation of profits to home countries amongst others," Alake emphasised.

“That is why we have vested interest in making sure that the right kind of leadership is elected for the African Union, so that it carries out the necessary reform and use the African Union as a platform to agitate for all the developing nations for the reform of the global financial structure and the reform of political organisations on the continent.”

2Baba’s Family Writes DSS, Declares Singer Missing

for him to be completely out of touch.

They also expressed concern over calls from several of his close friends who had received messages from what appeared to be his social media accounts soliciting financial assistance.

In his remarks, the US Ambassador commended the renewed interest of Nigeria in solid minerals, stressing that the sector has huge potentials to rival the contribution of oil to the nation's economy.

the potential misuse of his identity while he remains unaccounted for.”

The family, therefore, requested the intervention of the DSS, urging the agency to use its resources and expertise to locate 2Baba.

that regard, has approved your suspension as the Onido of Ido in the area of authority of Ido Local Government Area of Oyo State." It directed Oba Babalola to hand over all government properties in his possession to the Chairman of Ido local government. In the meantime, the state government has vowed to hit hard at anyone, no matter how highly placed, who contravenes the law.

“We are writing to urgently seek your assistance regarding a profoundly troubling situation involving a member of the Idibia family, Mr. Innocent Idibia (also known as Tuface or 2Baba), whom our client reasonably believes has been missing since Monday, February 10, 2025.

Justice Bolaji Olajuwon of a Federal High Court in Abuja, yesterday, dismissed the application by two Rivers State indigenes challenging the jurisdiction of the court to try them over alleged complicity in the burning of the Rivers State House of Assembly complex in Port Harcourt, Rivers State.

“This disturbing situation, coupled with the fact that those who should have heard from him have not done so for over 72 hours, has left his entire family deeply concerned,” the petition read in part.

The family noted that 2Baba had never gone missing before, nor had he ever abandoned his work for such an extended period. They added that it was out of character

Chime Eguma Ezebalike and Prince Lukman Oladele, were among five persons charged with terrorism and murder. The others are Kenneth Goodluck Kpasa, Osiga Donald and Ochueja Thankgod. They were last week arraigned on a seven-count criminal charge

bordering on terrorism and murder. Although, they pleaded not guilty to all the charges, the judge however, ordered that they be remanded at the Kuje Correctional Center, pending the hearing of their bail application fixed for February 2, as well as the motion of the 1st and 2nd defendants challenging the jurisdiction of the court to entertain the suit against them.

“These messages are alarming, as Mr. Innocent is financially independent and has never required assistance in such a manner. This has led his family to suspect that his identity may have been compromised and that someone may have abducted him, actively manipulating him to exploit his contacts for monetary gain.

“The implications of this situation are grave, and the possibility of foul play or coercion cannot be overlooked. As a family, our clients are deeply worried not only about his physical safety but also about

Ezebalike and Oladele had argued that by the provisions of the Terrorism Act, it is only the Attorney General of the Federation that can file any charge of terrorism against them. Their lawyer, Mr. Lukman

“It is worthy of note that the victim is a legend and holds a celebrity status in the Nigerian music industry, with countless youths and citizens looking up to him—not to mention his wife, children, relatives, and employees, who are now traumatised. His musical empire has also been left in a state of paralysis as a direct consequence of the suspect’s criminal act of abducting him and rendering him incommunicado.

“Our humble request is that you intervene urgently to investigate, locate, and rescue the victim from wherever the suspect is currently detaining him.”

Fagbemi, SAN, submitted that the charge having been filed by the Inspector General of Police, was incompetent and asked the court to strike out counts 1,3,4,5,6, and 7 of the charge or strike strike out the entire suit for been incompetent. Responding, Police lawyer, Mr. Simon Lough, SAN, urged the court to dismiss the application for lacking in merit. According to Lough, besides Sections 4 and 66 of the Police Acts that empower them to bring the charge against the defendants, Section 5 and 99 of the Terrorism Act, shows that the police have powers to also initiate terrorism charges against the defendant.

Adibe emenyonu in Benin City

Godwin Obaseki

L-R: Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy of Nigeria, Wale Edun; Chairman, Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Ola Olukoyede and the Governor, Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Olayemi Cardoso, in a Strategic Alliance to Stimulate the forex market in Abuja…yesterday

Deji

in Abuja

AFRICAN MEDICAL CENTRE OF EXCELLENCE FACILITY TOUR…

UNIZIK Expels Female Student Who Fought Lecturer over Tik Tok Video

for disrupting her Tik

Chimamaka Precious, was seen in the video recording herself while dancing along a walkway in the school.

UNIZIK management had promised to set up a committee to look into the incident.

But in a letter signed by the Registrar of the university, Mr Victor Modebelu and addressed

to the student, the institution said the student is expected to vacate the school with immediate effect.

The letter with the title: 'Expulsion From Nnamdi Azikiwe University' read, "The Ag. Vice-Chancellor has

Give Abuja Constitutional Recognition as 37th State, CSO Tells Legislators

Kuni Tyessi in Abuja

The Centre for Human Rights & Civic Education (CHRICED) has called on the National Assembly to make the Federal Capital Territory-Abuja, the 37th State of the federation.

This recognition it argued would not only symbolise its inclusion within the broader national framework but also address the pressing concerns of the indigenous people.

Also, it called on legislators to prioritise a return to a regional system which it argued would involve utilising the six geopolitical zones as federal entities, while noting that the approach would not only promote regional autonomy, but also foster a sense of ownership and accountability among the local populations.

Speaking at a press conference yesterday in Abuja, Executive Director of CHRICED, Ibrahim Zukirullahi said currently, the original inhabitants grapple with a myriad of challenges, including statelessness, which leaves them without the rights and privileges afforded to citizens of recognized states.

He said this situation has led to political marginalisation, where their voices and needs are often overlooked in the national discourse which has continued to expose them to economic hardship, as they struggle to access basic services and opportunities for livelihood. Additionally, he highlighted that they face landlessness, as many have been displaced from their ancestral lands due to urban development and

government policies.

According to him, "The sole aspect of the proposal that we believe merits serious consideration by our legislators is the constitutional recognition of Abuja as the 37th State within the Nigerian federation.

"Furthermore, we hold the view that any constitutional amendment regarding the structure of Nigeria’s federation should not only focus on the recognition of Abuja but also aim at significantly reducing the size of the government apparatus and lower the cost of governance, making it more efficient and responsive to the needs of the citizens."

"Accompanying this shift should be a comprehensive devolution of powers and resources from the central government

to these regional entities.

"By empowering the regions, we can ensure that governance is more localised, allowing for policies and initiatives that are better tailored to the unique needs and circumstances of each area. This would also encourage healthy competition among the regions, driving innovation and development while reducing the over-reliance on federal allocations.”

"This will take care of some of the economically unviable states, who merely baby feed from the federal purse. It is fact that most of the existing states can barely meet the basic obligation of paying workers’ salaries, talk more of providing infrastructure and key social services such as education and healthcare without waiting for allocation from the federation account.”

CBN: Keystone Bank Safe, Sound, Fully Operational

The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) yesterday reassured the public that Keystone Bank Limited remains safe, sound, and fully operational.

The assurance came against the backdrop of the recent court order that the bank's shares previously held by the shareholders be forfeited to the federal government.

The clarification was particularly necessary to avert a run on the bank.

In a statement, CBN acting Director, Corporate Communications, Mrs. Sidi Ali, acknowledged that the court may have triggered customer concerns.

She, however, emphasised that the stability of the banking system and the safety of depositors' funds remained top priorities of the central bank.

The CBN said, "Keystone Bank's operations are entirely secure, and there is no reason for concern.

"For clarity, the court order merely reaffirmed the Central Bank of Nigeria's prior decision to take over the management of Keystone Bank Limited in January 2024, following a change in its leadership.

"Since then, the CBN has closely monitored the bank's operations to ensure they are in full compliance with regulatory standards, operational transparency, and the interests of depositors."

The apex bank stressed that

it shall continue to monitor the bank's performance, as part of its commitment to safeguarding the financial system and building public trust.

Ali further stated that the central bank will take all necessary steps to protect the interests of depositors, staff, and stakeholders.

Customers are also encouraged to contact Keystone Bank's customer support or visit any of its branches for inquiries or concerns.

Rivers Community Accuses Shell of Fresh Oil Spills

Blessing Ibunge in Port Harcourt

The Ogale community in Eleme Local Government Area of Rivers State is demanding for environmental justice over years of oil pollution suffered in their land. The people in their thousands barricaded the manifold of Shell Petroleum Development Company (SPDC) in the community, lamenting that despite efforts by the federal

government to clean up the environment, the oil multinational continues to re-pollute the area. Indigenes and residents of the community in their black attire had a peaceful protest on Thursday, at the front of the Shell facility with their various placards lamenting years of environmental damages in the community.

According to the community leaders, the protest was in solidarity with the ongoing suit before a UK

High Court filed by Ogale and Bille communinites against Shell over pollution.

About 10 years ago residents from the Bille and Ogale communities in Rivers approached the UK High Court, where they claimed that their livelihoods had been destroyed and homes damaged by hundreds of oil spills allegedly caused by Shell. They lamented that the pollution caused widespread devastation to the local environment, killing fish

and plant life, leaving thousands of people without access to clean drinking water.

After years of filing the suit, the matter came up for hearing for the first time on Thursday, February 13, 2025. While community representatives and other rights groups stormed the London court to witness the matter, the Ogale people at home decided to embark on the protest in support of the ongoing suit.

received the report from the Student Disciplinary Committee on the case of your assault on a lecturer from the Department of Theater and Film Studies which was found to be gross misconduct and violation of the Students Disciplinary Regulations particularly Regulation 4 (SDR).

"Consequently, the Ag. ViceChancellor has, on behalf of the University Senate, approved the Committee's recommendation that you be expelled and you are hereby expelled from Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka.

"The expulsion takes immediate effect. You are expected to vacate the university premises immediately and return any university property in your possession."

JAMB to Penalise Applicants Who Wrongly Claim Underage

Oluchi Chibuzor

The Registrar of the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB), Prof. Ishaq Oloyede, has pledged that the board will penalise any applicant who wrongly claims underage during the ongoing Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) registration.

Oloyede stated this yesterday when he visited some computer-based test (CBT) centres in Lagos.

The JAMB boss warned applicants who claimed underage that they would be penalised for wasting the resources of the board.

According to him, “As of today, we have registered 780,202. This is the second week, the 10th day of the registration and you know it's live. So that is figure at this moment, but surprisingly 11,512

of them are underage.

“When you are expecting 30 to 40, you can see the deceit. Today alone, we have registered 18,813 so far and out of the 18,813, 443 of them are underage and that's part of the introduction this year that we could have those who are underage. We could see what their problems were, we could pick from among them those who are sincerely underage and gifted.”

According to him, the global standard for exceptional students is one in a million.

“You know you have world standards, ordinarily it's about one in a million. So when people give examples, how many of them do you have in the whole of America, in the whole of Canada that you are referring to? Is one in a million.

Five Candidates Qualify for AGF's Oral Interview Appointment

Olawale Ajimotokan in Abuja

Five candidates successfully advanced to the oral interview stage of the selection process for the appointment of an Accountant-General of the Federation conducted yesterday.

This emergence of the five candidates followed the conclusion of the ICT proficiency test conducted for the 10 individuals who passed the initial stage of the selection process.

A statement by the Director Information and Public Relations Office of the Head of Civil Service of the Federation, Mrs. Eno Olotu, said the oral interview would serve as a critical evaluation stage of the candidates’ leadership abilities and strategic vision for managing the office of the Accountant-General.

She said the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, Mrs .Didi Esther Walson-Jack, commended the

rigorous and transparent approach adopted throughout the selection process and expressed satisfaction with the professionalism demonstrated so far, highlighting that the ICT proficiency test was conducted on a merit-based platform to ensure that only the most qualified candidates advanced.

“This process underscores our commitment to upholding accountability, equity, and excellence in public service appointments. I am pleased with the progress we have made and confident that the oral interview will help us identify the best candidate for this critical role,” Olotu said in reference to the Head of Service.

In the same vein, the oral interview for the seven Permanent Secretaries from Oyo State and North-west geo-political zone who previously qualified was also held yesterday.

James Emejo in Abuja

David-Chyddy Eleke in Awka Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka, has expelled a female student of the institution who was captured in a viral video fighting a lecturer

Tok video. The student, Miss Goddy-Mbakwe

L-R: Chief Executive Officer, African Medical Centre of Excellence (AMCE), Brian Deaver; Prof Onitilo; Founder/ President of Wellbeing Foundation Africa, Toyin Saraki; former Vice-President, Namadi Sambo; Chief Financial Officer, NNPCL, Adedapo Segun; Secretary to the Government of Nigeria, Senator George Akume; President/ AMCE Board Chairman, Prof. Benedict Oramah; and Deputy Senate President, Senator Barau Jibrin, during the AMCE’s high delegation facility tour...recently

INEC Loses 558 Ballot Boxes, 186 Voting Cubicles, Others to Sokoto Inferno

Urges N’Assembly to enact stricter laws prohibiting possession of large sums in poll areas

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has announced that it lost 558 ballot boxes, 186 voting enclosures (cubicles), 186 election bags and various Registration Area Centre (RAC) materials, among others in the fire incident that happened in its office in Sokoto State.

As part of efforts to curb votebuying and other electoral malpractices, INEC has called on the National Assembly to enact stricter laws prohibiting the possession of large sums of money within polling areas.

INEC’s Director of Litigation and Prosecution, Tanimu Muhammed, made the call while speaking at a consultative meeting with security operatives and the technical committee on electoral law amendments yesterday in Abuja.

INEC National Commissioner and Chairman Information and Voter Education Committee, Sam Olumekun in a statement yesterday, said the fire started in the early hours of Tuesday 11th February, 2025.

He said, “At its regular weekly meeting held on Thursday 13th February 2025, the commission took note of a sad incident of fire outbreak in our Gwadabawa Local

Government Area office in Sokoto State as reported by the Administrative Secretary in charge of the State office, Mrs. Hauwa Aliyu Kangiwa.

“The fire started in the early hours of the morning on Tuesday 11th February 2025. The entire building was damaged.

“Items destroyed include furniture and fixtures as well as movable electoral facilities, among them 558 ballot boxes, 186 voting enclosures (cubicles), 186 election bags and various Registration Area Centre (RAC) materials such as 12 large water tanks (1,000 litres), 400 sleeping mats and 300 plastic buckets.”

Olumekun stressed that preliminary report from the State office indicated that there was a sudden surge from the public power supply before the incident.

However, he said, the actual cause of the fire outbreak was being investigated by the security and safety agencies which have deployed their personnel to the facility.

Olumekun said the commission was making an effort to find an alternative temporary facility in the Local Government Area so that its activities are not completely disrupted.

Meanwhile, the consultative meeting with security operatives

ARM: Pilot Disbursement of N1trn MREIF to Begin in Abuja, 5 States

Bennett

ARM Investment Managers, a doublelimited fund manager, and the fund manager of the N1 trillion Ministry of Finance Real Estate Investment Fund (MREIF), has said it would begin the pilot disbursement of the mortgages in Abia, Lagos, Abuja, Kano, Rivers, and Enugu states.

The Ministry of Finance Incorporated (MOFI) Real Estate investment Fund (MREIF) is a N1 trillion government-backed initiative designed to provide long-term, low-cost mortgage financing for homebuyers and developers in Nigeria. The fund aims to address Nigeria's housing deficit and create a more accessible and sustainable homeownership system.

The key features of MREIF for homebuyers include Affordable Mortgage Rates: MREIF provides lowinterest, long-term mortgages (up to 20 years); Government Support: Funded through a public-private partnership, with the Federal Government ensuring stability; Flexible Financing: Allows pension-backed mortgage options to ease homeownership; Nationwide

Access: Open to eligible Nigerians across all geopolitical zones; and Simple Application Process: Designed to be transparent, efficient, and accessible. Those eligible are: Salaried employees (private and public sector); self-employed individuals meeting the income and creditworthiness criteria and Nigerians in the diaspora looking to invest in homeownership.

According to ARM’s Investment Manager, Olubiyi Adekunbi, “The Minister of Finance and Coordination of Economic Development, Mr. Wale Edun, has driven the development of what he calls the Ministry of Finance Real Estate Investment Fund (MREIF), which is a non-fee-forNigeria programme to establish a security-enriched income in Nigeria as a closed-ended fund that will mobilise capital from both the public and private sector in addressing the homeland economy. Now, I stated that the programme has to be registered, but the fund will be launched in series. One of the funds, which is N150 billion, has been registered and will be subscribed to by the Ministry of Finance and Coordination.

and the technical committee on electoral law amendments was organised by the Joint Senate and House of Representatives Committees on Electoral Matters in collaboration with the Policy and Legal Advocacy Centre (PLAC) and supported by the

UK Foreign, Commonwealth, and Development Office (FCDO).

Muhammed stated categorically that vote-buying has become a major threat to Nigeria’s democratic process. He was of the opinion that politicians often justify carrying

large amounts of cash on election day by citing party agent payments and logistical expenses.

"Vote-buying remains one of the biggest threats to credible elections in Nigeria. We need legislation that not only criminalizes this practice but also

puts preventive measures in place. "INEC is doing its best to handle prosecutions, but we need a dedicated institution with the legal authority and resources to investigate and prosecute electoral crimes comprehensively," Muhammed stated.

Shettima To NEDC Management: Posterity'll Judge You Fairly For Investing In Education,

Green Technology

Wants enhanced stakeholders' collaboration in promoting ASSEP project

Deji Elumoye in Abuja

Vice President Kashim Shettima has declared that posterity will judge the North East Development Commission (NEDC) fairly for going beyond infrastructure development to investing in education and green technology through the Accelerated Senior Secondary Education Programme (ASSEP).

He described ASSEP as the actual game changer in the age and time, pointing out that education is the greatest leveller through which even a son of a peasant could become a celebrated icon.

Shettima, who spoke during a meeting with the management team of the NEDC, who came to brief him on the level of work on the ASSEP project at the State House, Abuja said, "I want to commend the management of NEDC, the ministry, and, of course, Dr. Masha for doing an awesome job

and promoting ASSEP. There are two things that the North East Development Commission is committed to that posterity will judge them kindly.

"Yes, intervention in infrastructure is good, but this ASSEP and the likely investments in green technology will fully change the landscape."

The Vice President applauded generative platforms introduced by ASSEP, like the Virtual Reality (VR) headsets, saying they are going along in "revolutionising the learning experience, offering numerous benefits for students, educators and institutions because of enhanced engagement and motivation."

He further said, "We can truly leapfrog into the industrial age. From 100 teachers, we're able to reach 600 teachers in 71 institutions. I think of all the areas of intervention by the NEDC; none titillates my imagination, none captivates the spirit of the times greater than this ASSEP.

"It is truly a game changer because,

in other parts of the world, they are investing in digital educational tools because of the numerous benefits they offer. From improved knowledge retention to personalised learning to increased accessibility, VR headset enables students to engage in remote learning."

Shettima implored the NEDC, the Federal Ministry of Regional Development and other relevant stakeholders to collaborate among themselves to ensure efficiency.

His words: "And of course, there is the possibility of enhanced collaboration among all the relevant stakeholders, improved assessment and evaluation, and of course lastly, they imbue the students with soft skills for future careers in technology, in healthcare and engineering.

"I want to thank you. You may be buffeted with a lot of criticisms; uneasy lies the head that wears the crown. It (NEDC) is one of the most buoyant organisations in the country, and people

expect the NEDC to be like drunken sailors on a spending spree, but the MD is a very difficult man.

"In the Nigerian context, when you are described as a difficult man, it means you are a stickler to rules and regulations. The minister is a very humble man; he is not an overbearing person, and I have seen the rapport between them. I will urge you to work as a team."

Noting that by investing in education, NEDC is writing its name in gold, the Vice President further urged the commission and the ministry to maintain the tempo in driving the ASSEP to wriggle the North-east from poverty. He said: "The base of poverty in Nigeria is found in the North. And if the North-east of Nigeria were to be treated as a country, we would be poorer than Chad; we are poorer than Niger. The North-east of Nigeria is poorer than Afghanistan. It's one of the poorest places on earth.

67.35% Obtain Five Credits as NECO

Releases 2024 External Results

Kuni Tyessi in Abuja and Laleye Dipo in Minna

A total of 67.35 per cent candidates have obtained five credits and more, including English Language and Mathematics as the National Examinations Council (NECO) has released the results for the 2024 Senior School Certificate Examination (SSCE) External, which was conducted from November 14 to December 14, 2024. During a press conference held yesterday at the NECO headquarters, the council’s Registrar and Chief Executive, Prof. Dantani Ibrahim Wushishi, revealed that 86,067 candidates had registered for the examination, with 84,799 actually participating. Wushishi reported that 57,114

candidates—representing 67.35 per cent—obtained five credits or more, including English Language and Mathematics.

His words: " Total number of candidates that registered for the examination is 86,067 with 44,988 (52.27 per cent) male and 41,079 (47.72 per cent) female.

The total number of candidates that sat was 84,799 with 44,277 (52.21 per cent) male and 40,522 (47.78 per cent) female.

The number of candidates that sat for English Language is 83,220 out of which 62,929 representing 75.62 per cent got Credit and above.

The number of candidates that sat for Mathematics is 83,024, out of which 77,988 representing 93.93 per cent got Credit and above.

The number of Candidates who got five (5) Credits and above, including English Language and Mathematics is 57,114 representing 67.35 per cent. Also 70,711 candidates, representing 83.39 per cent got five (5) Credits and above irrespective of English Language and Mathematics."

Addressing the issue of examination malpractice, Wushishi noted a reduction in the number of malpractice cases compared to the previous year.

He revealed that 6,160 candidates were involved in various forms of malpractice, a 27.7 percent decrease from 2023’s 8,518 cases.

The NECO boss also mentioned that several exam supervisors and centres had been recommended for blacklisting.

"The number of candidates booked for various forms of malpractice is 6,160, as against 8,518 in 2023, which is lower by 27.7 per cent. Seven supervisors, including two each from Oyo and Ogun States, and one each from Lagos, Cross River, and Ebonyi States, have been recommended for blacklisting for poor supervision, lateness, and aiding malpractice during the exam," Wushishi explained. "Fourteen centres—10 in Ogun and 4 in Oyo States—have been blacklisted for involvement in widespread malpractice in nine subjects," he added. He said candidates can now access their 2024 SSCE External results by visiting the official NECO website at www.neco.gov.ng and using their examination registration number.

Oghifo

Adedayo Akinwale in Abuja

SEALED DEAL...

L-R: Managing Director, Heartland Fibre Optic Company Ltd, Kamaru Olajimeji; Senior Vice President and Chief Corporate Services Officer, IHS Nigeria, Dapo Otunla; Director of Heartland Fibre Optic Company and Commissioner for Digital Economy, Imo State, Dr. Chimezie Amadi; Chairman, Rasky Gbinigie; Vice President, Global Independent Connect Limited (GICL), Olabode Ojo; Director; Heartland Fibre Optic Company, Dr. Patrick Uzoma and Director, Dr. Kene Uyanwune, during the MOU signing between IHS Nigeria, through its subsidiary GlCL and Imo State Government to deploy fibre optic infrastructure within the State…recently

Tax Reform Bills Will Strengthen Fiscal Federalism, Say State Assembly Speakers

·Insist process of removing Obasa as Lagos speaker must be constitutional

Sunday Aborisade in Abuja

Speakers of the 36 state Houses of Assembly have commended the President Bola Tinubu administration for coming up with the tax reform bills saying the innovation would strengthen fiscal federalism in the country.

On the leadership change in the Lagos State House of Assembly, the presiding officers expressed reservations over the process in which the action was carried out. They insisted on

the removal of former Speaker,Hon. Mudashiru Obasa, through due process. The presiding officers stated this in a communique they issued at the end of their meeting held in Abuja yesterday.

The communique was signed by the Director-General, Conference of Speakers of State Legislatures of Nigeria (CSSLN), Busari Sarafadeen, on behalf of the Conference Chairman, Rt. Hon Adebo Ogundoyin.

Part of the communique read, “The

Conference commends the President's efforts on the tax reform bills currently undergoing legislative scrutiny at the National Assembly.

“We acknowledge the citizens' concerns and believe these will guide lawmakers in passing legislation that serves the nation's overall interests.

“If enacted, the reforms are expected to strengthen fiscal federalism by empowering states with greater financial autonomy.

“This will come through improved

tax collection and administration, by enabling states to fund critical infrastructure and public services for sustainable development."

The communique further read,

“The Conference acknowledges the constitutional provisions for the removal of presiding officers of State Houses of Assembly and emphasises that such processes must strictly comply with the constitution and enabling laws.

“We appeal to all critical stakeholders in Lagos State to respect

Tinubu Approves YABATECH Conversion to University

Funmi Ogundare

Minister of Education, Dr. Moruf Olatunji Alausa, yesterday, announced that President Bola Tinubu has approved the transformation of Yaba College of Technology (YABATECH) into a university.

Dr. Alausa, who disclosed this during his visit to the college to inaugurate and inspect key projects and interact with its staff and industry partners, noted that the staff, students, and management had eagerly awaited this change.

According to him, "The rector

mentioned earlier that they have been eagerly awaiting this conversion. While I wasn’t fully prepared for this announcement today, I can confirm that when I discussed the matter with President Tinubu, he quickly gave his approval. I am now just awaiting the official memo and necessary procedures from the relevant authorities."

He emphasised the institution's preparedness, noting that with over 200 staff members holding doctoral degrees in various fields, YABATECH is well-equipped to take this next step.

"This achievement is a testament to the President’s commitment to education and his dedication to ensuring that our youths, who are the leaders of tomorrow, receive the best opportunities," he added.

The minister called for a shift from the traditional white-collar jobs to essential Technical and Vocational Education (TVE) and Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics and Medical Sciences (STEMM) as key areas for Nigeria's development.

He said the nation’s tertiary institutions have long failed to

equip students with life skills, resulting in a workforce that lacks the technical expertise necessary for modern industrial growth.

He explained that such a shift aligns with directives from President Tinubu who has mandated a nationwide push for extensive technical training over the next several years.

The minister expressed concern that youths have continued to graduate without life skills saying that it is the reason for the high rate of unemployment in the country.

Afenifere Commends South-west Govs’ Resolution on Joint Security

Adedayo Akinwale in Abuja

The pan-Yoruba socio-cultural and socio-political organisation, Afenifere, has commended the governors of the six states in South-west for their decision to establish a joint surveillance monitoring team to oversee and coordinate security efforts across the South-west region. Its National Publicity Secretary, Jare Ajayi, said it was worthy of note that the governors expressed

their readiness to deploy advanced technology, including aerial surveillance systems in their area.

Afenifere described the move by this as a good and timely move.

It said, “Incidentally, a framework is already in place for them to work on. That is the South-west Security Network otherwise called ‘Amotekun’. All the states in the region have Amotekun except Lagos.

“What they needed to do now is not only to ensure that Lagos

Fragvest Secures $350k

establishes its own but to streamline the activities of the body, equip it and boost the morale of its personnel through appropriate wages and other incentives.”

It, however, urged the governors not to let this be at the level of mere postulation or rhetoric but to actualise the decision by “procuring and deploying modern equipment for the purpose of detecting security threats as well as providing the wherewithal to apprehend would-be culprits possibly before crimes are

committed and certainly even after the commission of criminality."

Afenifere recalled that the Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde, only last month, revealed that bandits have established camps in his state, mentioning the one near Fashola in Oyo-Iseyin axis where he observed his birthday vacation in December, 2024.

It said there were also reports of banditry and terrorist acts in Ondo, Osun, Ekiti, and Ogun in recent times.

Investment, Makes Real Estate Accessible to Nigerians

Fragvest, an innovative real estate investment platform, recently secured a $350,000 pre-seed investment from Sthenic Finance & Advisory Limited, marking a significant milestone in its mission to democratize property ownership in Nigeria. This funding will drive product expansion, user acquisition, and technological advancements, further solidifying Fragvest’s position as a key player in Nigeria’s emerging proptech landscape.

By leveraging its fractional ownership model, Fragvest is

breaking down the traditional barriers to real estate investment, enabling everyday Nigerians to own a share of high-value properties for as little as N10,000. This approach makes real estate as accessible and affordable as buying stocks, allowing individuals to co-own luxury apartments, commercial spaces, and short let properties in prime locations across the country. The process is simple and userfriendly. Investors can browse curated properties on the platform, purchase fractional stakes (called “frags”) based on their budget, and earn a share of

rental income as the property generates revenue. If the property appreciates in value, investors can sell their frags at any time for potential profit. Fragvest also handles all property management, ensuring a hassle-free experience for investors.

“We’re breaking the myth that real estate is only for the wealthy,” says Tomiwa Olaifa, Co-founder of Fragvest. “With Fragvest, everyday Nigerians—Gen-Zs, freelancers, salaried workers, and even those in the diaspora—can own a share of real estate and earn rental income

without ever lifting a brick.”

The platform is specifically designed to empower young professionals who have disposable income but lack the capital or expertise to invest in full properties. “Our mission is clear: to make real estate ownership accessible to all. Too many young professionals earn well but struggle to navigate smart investment opportunities. At Fragvest, we aim to bridge the gap between their income and sustainable, long-term wealth creation,” says Bayo Durodola, Co-founder/Managing Director, Fragvest.

the independence of the legislative arm and ensure adherence to these provisions for the peace and progress of the state.”

The conference also noted the court verdict which affirmed the legitimacy of the Rt. Hon. Martin Amaewhule-led House of Assembly and called for consultations among stakeholders in Rivers State politics for peace to reign.

“The Conference notes the court judgements affirming the legitimacy of the Rt. Hon. Martin Amaewhule-led House of Assembly.

“We call on the Executive Governor

of Rivers State, His Excellency Dr. Siminalayi Fubara, and other stakeholders to engage with the duly constituted Assembly to promote stability and progress.

“Respect for judicial decisions and institutional harmony is essential for effective governance.

“The Conference of Speakers of State Legislatures of Nigeria remains committed to strengthening democracy, promoting legislative independence, and ensuring good governance across all states of the federation,” the communique added.

Group Rejects Contentious Bill for Pharmaceutical Technicians Council

Pharmacists under the auspices of Young Pharmacists Group (YPG) have criticised the National Assembly’s passage of a Bill for the Establishment of Pharmaceutical Technologists and Pharmacy Technicians Council against a subsisting agreement to abolish the training of pharmaceutical technologists in the country.

The group, an affiliate of the Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria (PSN), said the development is not only an invitation for chaos in the health sector, but also capable of destabilising the nation’s already fragile healthcare system.

Chairman of YPG, Tekena George, in a document argued that the passage of a bill to establish a separate Pharmaceutical Technologist and Pharmacy Technician Regulatory Council is counterproductive as it "contradicts the unified and comprehensive regulatory framework embodied in the Pharmacy Council of

Nigeria(PSN) Act and poses significant risks to the quality and safety of pharmaceutical services in Nigeria."

He described the development as a "shocking failure of legislative action" by a few of the Honourable members present at a session chaired by the Deputy Speaker, Hon. Benjamin Kalu to pass the bill. The controversial bill, according to George has been on the legislative agenda since 1999, and went through Public Hearing at the 8th Assembly on December 11, 2018, where key stakeholders, including representatives from the Office of Honourable Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice; The Federal Ministry of Health; Nigerian Law Reform Commission; Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria (PSN) Nigeria Medical Association (NMA) and several Civil Society Organisations, were in attendance.

Kwara-born Lawyer Joins Advisory Council of Emerging Political Leaders’ Fellowship

Joy Imie

The Emerging Political Leaders Fellowship (EPLF) has appointed Kwara-born legal practitioner and Executive Director of the Eagles Foundation for Humanity (EFFH), Titilope Tawakkaltu Anifowoshe, to its Technical Advisory Council for 2025.

Anifowoshe in her new role is expected to provide strategic guidance, support participant development, and contribute to key programme phases, including selection, training, mentorship, and evaluation.

Her appointment comes shortly after her selection to the Vetting Panel of the Liberia-based Young Political Leadership School, further demonstrating her growing influence in the field.

EPLF in a statement added that Anifowoshe will be involved in evaluating applications, conducting

interviews, and identification of 25 outstanding individuals with the potential to drive meaningful change in Nigeria’s political landscape. It informed further that her contributions will extend to enhancing various programme phases, including virtual training, civic engagement activities and, capstone project development, amongst others.

“Drawing on her experience as a former fellow and Alumni of the program, she is well-positioned to significantly impact the fellowship’s outcomes and effectiveness.

"Her dual appointments reflect her growing influence as a champion of leadership development and political engagement across Africa.

"The appointment which is effective for the 2025 fellowship year may be renewed based on mutual agreement and programme needs," the statement stated.

ANNUAL MEDICAL OUTREACH...

L-R: Advisor, Media Relations, NNPCL-NUIMS, Alex Igwe; Head, Social Performance, FIRST Exploration & Petroleum Development Company Limited (FIRST E&P), Ayebatonye Benjamin Basuo; Health Outreach Beneficiary, Mrs. Ekubo Kurotimi; Chairman, KEFFESO Host Communities’ Development Trust (KHCDT) and His Royal Highness, Mokoama Sangana Kingdom, Moses Theophilus; and Advisor, Community Relations, NNPCL-NUIMS, Hammed Oyedeji, at the Third Annual Medical Outreach by the NNPCL/FIRST E&P Joint Venture, held across 11 rural communities in Bayelsa State...recently

Canadian High Commission Mum over Denial of Visas to CDS, Senior Military Officers

It’s disrespect to Nigeria, says interior minister Arewa think tank alleges handiwork of fifth columnist to embarrass Tinubu Sule Lamido chides Ribadu over his utterance

Chuks

Okocha and Michael Olugbode in Abuja

The Canadian High Commission in Nigeria has refused to give the reason for the denial of entry visas to the Chief of Defence Staff, Gen. Christopher Musa, and some other senior military officers who intended visiting the North American country on an official engagement.

This was as the Minister of Interior, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, has said it is disrespectful to Nigeria for Canada to deny a visa to Nigeria’s Chief of Defence Staff, General Musa.

In the same vein, Arewa Think Tank (ATT), a northern group, condemned the treatment meted out to the CDS and others, insisting that it's the handiwork of fifth columnists allegedly in the corridors of power, who are

Touchdown Travels Partners ICAN on Discounted Flight Tickets

Ayo Ilias

Touchdown Travels Limited has entered into a partnership with the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria (ICAN) at the Western Zonal Accountants Conference 2025, themed 'Accounting Profession Beyond Numbers: Innovate to Elevate Professional Excellence', held recently.

According to a statement, for over 31 years, Touchdown Travels Limited has been a trusted name in the travel industry, offering seamless services that cut across flight and hotel reservations, airport transfers, visa assistance, travel insurance, tour packages, and more.

As part of its mission to support professional growth and ease of travel, it partnered with ICAN on the conference with the theme, "Accounting Profession Beyond Numbers: Innovate to Elevate Professional Excellence."

The conference, held from February 5–8, 2025, in Lagos, brought together industry leaders and financial experts

to discuss the evolving landscape of accounting.

“Recognising the crucial role travel plays in professional development, we reinforced our commitment to provide easy access to travel management services for all registered ICAN members. We believe that everyone deserves the opportunity to travel, if it's for business, education, or leisure.

To further our commitment, we awarded two return tickets to Dubai and extended special flight discounts for ICAN members, acknowledging the economic realities and offering our support in a tangible way.

“At Touchdown Travels, our role extends beyond business, we see it as our corporate social responsibility (CSR) to give back to society. Our partnership with ICAN reflects our dedication to bridging gaps and making travel more accessible for all. As we move forward, we look to expand our reach through meaningful collaborations, ensuring that travel remains a right, not a privilege.

Ohirein Ovbiagele Passes On at 81

With total submission to God for a life truly well-lived, the passing of Mr. Mac Ohirein Ovbiagele, an advertising icon and trailblazer was announced yesterday.

His demise, according to a statement, occurred on 26th January, 2025 in Lagos.

“His kingdom-inspired sense of dutiful service was massively felt in various ways, including, but not limited to various church projects and philanthropic causes. He was well renowned for his high standards of integrity, ethics, morals

and accountability.

“Mr. Mac Ovbiagele embraced many cultures. His mastery of various languages endeared him to many. He enjoyed an admirable amount of goodwill and respect from a wide circle of family, friends, associates and many others. He will be sorely missed by society at large.

“He was born on 26th December, 1943 and died on 26th January, 2025. He is survived by children, grandchildren, brothers, sisters, cousins, nephews and nieces.”

bent on embarrassing President Boa Tinubu's government.

However, former Jigawa State Governor, Sule Lamido, has strongly criticised National Security Adviser (NSA) Nuhu Ribadu over his public outburst against Canada’s decision to deny visas to Nigerian military personnel.

The Nigerian government has shown displeasure over the issue, with the National Security Adviser (NSA), Nuhu Ribadu, stating that Canada “can go to hell.”

The CDS had earlier expressed frustration over the incident, revealing that he alongside his team who were invited to an event in Canada honouring war veterans were denied visas.

He had said: “Every disappointment is a blessing. Yesterday, I was meant

to be in Canada. There’s an event to honour our veterans, those that were injured during battles, and we were meant to be there.

“We were invited with our team. Half has gone and half has been denied. It’s very disappointing. This is a clear reminder that we must stand strong as a nation and should no longer be taken for granted.”

But reacting to the incident Ribadu told the CDS, “Thank you for the courage to say Canada denied you visas. They can go to hell.”

He added that: “Even though it’s painful and disrespectful, we are peaceful and strong. I agree with you—it is time to fix our country. Yet, this is another reason we must work hard to make Nigeria work.”

Tunji-Ojo stated this on Sunrise Daily, a programme on Channels

Television, yesterday, noted that the action by the Canadian embassy was condemnable and showed a lack of respect for Nigeria as a country.

The minister wondered how an average Nigerian would be treated by the Canadian embassy if the Chief of Defence Staff was disrespected in that manner.

“Without knowing the full facts, I think even for us it is a policy. The issue of reciprocity, as I always say, has to be given due consideration. As much as we are not ready to dabble into the sovereignty of other nations, the issue of visas and migration management is a sovereign issue.

“As much as we don’t want to dabble into that, it is not just a disrespect to the Chief of Defence Staff. To me, without knowing the facts, it is disrespectful to the

country, and it is disrespectful to us as a people. If that can happen to the Chief of Defence Staff, then I am worried for an average Nigerian,” he said.

Similarly, a statement by the Chief Convener of the Arewa Think Tank, Muhammad Alhaji Yakubu, recalled how his group had in 223 advised the President to beware of fifth columnists in his government.

"The recent refusal of Canada to approve Visas for our top military officers, to say the least, is most embarrassing to Nigeria as a nation.

"We therefore request the Presidency to embark on an investigation into the civil service framework in order to eliminate individuals referred to as "moles" who are loyal to opposition parties in the country.

NHRC: About 170,000 Complaints of Human Rights Violations Received in January

Michael Olugbode in Abuja

About 170,000 complaints of human rights violations were received across the country in January, the National Human Rights Commission has revealed. Speaking at the presentation of the January 2025 Human Rights Situation Dashboard yesterday, the Executive Secretary of NHRC, Dr. Tony Ojukwu, said though this was a decrease from the figure in December, 2024, it is much higher than what was recorded in January 2024.

He said, "This month (January) we received 169,850 complaints from our 38 offices, a stark reminder that human

rights violations persist in diverse forms and at an alarming scale. Each of these complaints represents a person, a family, or a community seeking justice, accountability, and relief."

He explained that the 169,850 complaints represent over 100 per cent decrease from December 2024 complaints and over 100 per cent increase compared to January 2024.

According to him, “Our duty is to ensure that these voices are not just heard, but that tangible action follows. The complaints and our observatory show us that the human rights ecosystem continues to be challenging. In the North-east, we

are seeing the resurgence of Boko Haram and in the North-west banditry and insurgency continue to challenge our communities. Violence and criminalities in the South-east are assuming alarming dimensions impacting on human rights.

“While our efforts have led to significant interventions, the persistence of these violations raises critical questions: Are our systems strong enough to prevent recurring abuses?

Are we bridging the gaps between violations and meaningful remedies?

Are we holding perpetrators accountable while protecting survivors from further harm? What is our policy for the

protection of civilians and mitigation of harm during conflict?” Ojukwu added, “As we engage with this month’s trends, let us focus on strengthening preventive measures, closing protection gaps, and enhancing collaboration with state and non-state actors to reinforce human rights protections at every level. Our responsibility is not just to document human rights violations but to drive real, lasting change in governance, security, and social justice. It is our fervent hope that this dashboard will ignite the required change to build the Nigeria of our dreams.

4Stone Capital Plans to Invest in The Gambia Economy

The Managing Director of 4Stone Capital, Dr. Elizabeth Kings-Wali, has said that the company is working on making investments in The Gambia economy.

Kings-Wali, who disclosed this at a press briefing said the company “is looking at investing in The Gambia” because of the huge opportunities in the country.

At the briefing attended by key stakeholders in the African property market, including the Chief Executive

Officer, Top Solutions, Dr. Fatoumatta Gaye; the Director, Swami India International, Aikesh Pindoriya; and Business Development and Corporate Relations Manager, Global Properties, Nyillan Fye, she described The Gambia as a virgin land with great investment opportunities. According to her, although The Gambia’s population is small, her company wants to make use of every opportunity it sees; hence, it is looking at The Gambia.

“This is not about exploring Nigeria enough, or having footprints everywhere, because Nigeria is very big, with 36 states. We are not in all the 36 states, but you cannot have a presence everywhere. However, we are looking at starting with Africa, which is why we are looking at The Gambia,” she said.

Kings-Wali disclosed that the company had just started venturing into real estate in Nigeria, adding that real estate is ever-present and

versatile.

“We have decided to start with the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, so we are now into real estate in Nigeria. As for The Gambia, you know that in Nigeria, everybody loves to travel, and The Gambia is a tourist destination. It is surrounded by water and known for its beaches. So, we are looking at going into the real estate business there and providing vacation homes for people,” she disclosed.

In Praise of President Buhari

Ali Pate and Brekete Radio

When President Muhammadu Buhari took over the reins of power on May 29, 2015, Nigeria was sadly a broken state in many respects. As a result of many other factors including bad governance and untold level of corruption, government could not live up to its financial obligations to citizens and service providers at both the federal and state levels.

Witch Hunts and Gender-Based Violence in Kano

Atrial against one of the foremost Teaching Hospitals in Nigeria on the Brekete radio programme led by Ordinary President, Ahmed Isah, seems to be demarketing the status of Nigeria as a choice destination for healthcare tourism.

Indeed one of the first official assignments that President Buhari carried out was the approval of billions of Naira in bailout funds to enable state governors pay something as basic as workers’ salaries. Granting those bailout funds was a huge boost to national security because the pressure of arrears of unpaid monthly salaries building dangerously all over the country was a ticking bomb.

The trial seeks to tar the disclosure by the Minister for Health and Social Welfare, Professor Mohammed Ali Pate, that the federal government has implemented policies which are improving health care delivery in the country.

According to him his research suggests that harvested wombs were sold for around ₦80 million each, while unsuspecting victims of stolen wombs are compensated with two million Naira. So far he has not presented proven buyers and sellers of wombs on his show.

Ask the naysayers and they would readily remind you of how long it took President Buhari to appoint his ministers and how that contributed to collapse of the economy as if, without ministers, governance was frozen. But buying that narrative would amount to what a famous Nigerian writer, Chimamanda Adichie, termed “the danger of a single story”. Yet the whole story was that many of our citizens did not know how decrepit a state President Buhari inherited in 2015.

The policies include free ceaserean section at Federal Health facilities nationwide and state hospitals like Murtala Mohammed Specialist Hospital and Abdullahi Wase Hospital in Kano. It is aimed at reducing maternal and neonatal mortality in the country.

by the EFCC, President Buhari by his action has successfully brought back to the public consciousness the need to treat public funds with the highest level of transparency and accountability.

TAfter keeping treasury looters on their toes and at bay through the EFCC, particularly, President Buhari moved to curb unnecessary spending habits of the nation on what economists call articles of ostentation. Part of the disclosures of the President’s stock taking was how the country frittered away billions in foreign currency by importing goods, which can be produced at home. One of such items was rice, a major staple among Nigerians. By banning rice importation into the country, the President on one hand had saved the nation billions in foreign currency annually.

As an advocate for healthcare journalism to raise consciousness on the importance of health, I feel that bandying unproven allegations of womb harvesting against medical care providers is problematic. While it pushes Nigerians abroad to seek medical care, it creates doubt about the efficacy of our healthcare system and may drive away those coming to Nigeria for medical care.

And, on the other hand, the President has boosted domestic production of rice and in the process had nudged the country into self sufficiency in food production. He also created millions of jobs for young people in the rice value chain.

Stop Ritual Attacks and Killings

case, they did not. Kano state authorities must be commended for ensuring that justice is done. But we must redouble efforts and ensure that people are accused.

TThe trial on Brekete was sparked off by an allegation that a womb was removed from a female patient without anybody’s consent at the Aminu Kano Teaching Hospital (AKTH), Kano, in 2012. Her husband said she was taken there after a prolonged, life-threatening, labour.

The Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Professor Ali Pate recently told State House Correspondents that patients from other countries come to Nigeria for healthcare services.

It was therefore necessary for him to take stock against the background of the fact that the departing government did not, reportedly, cooperate full well with the incoming government in terms of leaving workable handover notes. Although President Goodluck Jonathan was gracious in defeat, many of his appointees were still sulking over what they saw as their personal losses and therefore pulled all the stops to make things difficult for the Buhari government.

Salisu Na’inna Dambatta, Kano

What is most admirable about President Buhari and his government is its frugal management of scarce national resources to attain optimum goals. Recall that since President Buhari stepped in the saddle, oil revenue dropped abysmally as if to sabotage him knowing all the big promises he made to citizens during his campaigns. But with the little resources that trickle in, the President is achieving what governments that received oil windfalls could not dream of.

he Advocacy for Alleged Witches welcomes the sentencing of five men for murdering an alleged witch, Ms Abubakar, in Kano in 2023. The five men were sentenced to death. Although the Advocacy for Alleged Witches does not support the death penalty the conviction of these men is a significant development in the fight against abuses linked to witchcraft beliefs and ritual attacks in the country. According to the report, the wife of one of those sentenced, Yahaya, was ill and accused Ms Abubakar of appearing in her dream, and of pursuing her holding a knife. Yahaya led a mob that confronted Ms Abubakar while she was on the farm. The mob beat and stabbed her to death. As in many cases of witch persecution and murder, this tragic incident took place in a rural community. And in rural areas, witch murderers often get away with their crimes. But in this

THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER

Medical personnel on duty noticed her dire condition, did the necessary tests and realised that the baby has died in her ruptured womb. She was also bleeding. A team of specialists operated on her and saved her life. The dead foetus was removed and handed over to her family for burial and the ruptured womb was also evacuated.

Even with the obvious and unpatriotic obscurantist behaviour of the PDP appointees and their supporters still in government hell-bent on making things difficult for Buhari, the President moved on with his methodical repair of a broken country. The first thing he did was to identify all possible sources of income to the nation and directed that all inflows be paid into one single account in line with the policy of Single Treasury Account (TSA).

Over a decade after the consented operation that saved her life, she went to Brekete radio to allege that the operation she had was done without consent by anyone.

The TSA policy, interestingly, was mooted by the PDP government but its penchant for imprudence and lack of accountability denied it the courage of implementing the policy. What the President literally did was to gather all the nation’s money into one box and locked it up with a big padlock and watched for any thief to come close.

But her former husband has testified that the operation was with consent. The Aminu Kano Teaching Hospital said at a media conference that there was a written consent for the operation.

Today, the trains are up and running daily from Abuja to Kaduna. And from Lagos to Ibadan a brand new rail track was started and completed; citizens are already commuting daily to and fro these two major cities in the country seamlessly as they reap from the dividends of democracy. And with the way this government is going, before 2023 when the President would leave, the entire country would be linked by rail with all of its economic advantages.

EDITOR OBINNA CHIMA

DEPUTY EDITOR AHAMEFULA OGBU

Ainofenokhai Ojeifo, Abuja

MANAGING DIRECTOR ENIOLA BELLO

DEPUTY MANAGING DIRECTOR ISRAEL IWEGBU

CHAIRMAN EDITORIAL BOARD OLUSEGUN ADENIYI

EDITOR NATION’S CAPITAL IYOBOSA UWUGIAREN

THE OMBUDSMAN KAYODE KOMOLAFE

THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER EDITOR YEMI ADEBOWALE

DEPUTY EDITOR AHAMEFULA OGBU

MANAGING DIRECTOR ENIOLA BELLO

THISDAY NEWSPAPERS LIMITED

EDITOR-IN-CHIEF/CHAIRMAN NDUKA OBAIGBENA

GROUP EXECUTIVE DIRECTORS ENIOLA BELLO, KAYODE KOMOLAFE, ISRAEL IWEGBU

DIVISIONAL DIRECTORS SHAKA MOMODU, PETER IWEGBU, ANTHONY OGEDENGBE

DEPUTY DIVISIONAL DIRECTOR OJOGUN VICTOR DANBOYI

SNR. ASSOCIATE DIRECTOR ERIC OJEH

Meanwhile, the Advocacy for Alleged Witches contacted the office of the National Human Rights Commission in Kano and the state coordinator confirmed the story. AfAW and the NHRC office are trying to reach the family of the victim to provide some psycho-social support. AfAW reiterates that dreams are not evidence of witchcraft as popularly believed. People seen in dreams are not witches or those who try to bewitch someone. Pastors and prophets, marabous and diviners peddle these misconceptions about dreams. They spread misinformation and disinformation about the causes of sickness, death, and other misfortunes. Religious leaders who propagate superstitious fears and anxieties, lies and falsehoods are charlatans. They aid and abet these heinous crimes and should be held responsible and made accountable. Leo Igwe directs the Advocacy for Alleged Witches.

Eggcited by this Eggsasperating Egg Theft

Some omelete loving thieves have stolen 100,000 eggs from the back of a truck in Greencastle, Pennsylvania. It’s hard to say how much they are worth as my local store doesn’t have any eggs to compare the price with. Australia, like many countries has been badly hit by the avian flu.

he Advocacy for Alleged Witches (AfAW) urges the Nigerian public to stop ritual attacks and killings because the notion of ritual money and wealth is completely baseless. AfAW is making this call following the reported arrest of suspected ritualists in Oyo State in southern Nigeria. The local media reported that members of the Western Nigeria Security Network, Amotekun, arrested suspected ritualists with the body parts of a 73-year-old man. The suspects, who were apprehended in the Boluwaji area in Ibadan, said that a Muslim cleric asked them to procure some human body parts for rituals. Ritual attacks are widespread in Nigeria. Irrational conceptions of how to make money or become wealthy and successful undergird these atrocities. Many Nigerians strongly believe in blood money, known in some local languages as Ogun Owo (Yoruba) or Ogwu ego (Igbo). They think that they could become rich, or successful through ritual sacrifice. Unfortunately, this is not the case. Ritual wealth has no basis in reason, science, or reality. Home movies known as Africa magic or Nollywood films have not helped matters. These movies continue to reinforce these mistaken notions and other superstitions. Families, churches, mosques, and other public institutions do not encourage the interrogation of these traditional occult beliefs. There are no robust efforts to criticize or dispel these irrational and paranormal claims in schools, colleges, and universities. So millions of Nigerians grow up blindly believing that they could make money through ritual sacrifice of human body parts. The belief has led many Nigerians to commit crimes and perpetrate atrocities. Many Nigerians have been jailed or are undergoing court trials due to ritualrelated attacks and murder.

Ordinary President Ahmed Isah has not contacted the Aminu Kano Teaching Hospital to hear their side of the matter. Instead, he said that he was widening investigation into alleged widespread unconsented removal of wombs from rural women by healthcare workers in Nigeria.

Who can blame the President for almost developing paranoia over the safeguard of the national treasury with revelations and reports of mind-boggling looting that took place in the 16 years of the PDP? With such disclosures of how billions meant for fighting insurgency in the Northeast ended up in the pockets of a few individuals while our gallant soldiers fought with bare hands and on empty stomach, President Buhari was duty bound to bring sanity and accountability back in national spending.

Thus, under President Buhari, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), which had remained comatose for years, was woken up to resume its duties. Apart from the trillions of Naira of looted

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CONTROLLERS ABIMBOLA TAIWO, UCHENNA DIBIAGWU, NDUKA MOSERI

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TO SEND EMAIL: first name.surname@thisdaylive.com

If they eat a decimal dozen of 10 every week they will have enough for almost 200 years although they might cause a stink by then. What will happen to the eggs, held to ransom, sold in a back alley individually, or even given to a food charity? It could be used for a record but Guiness requires a lot of documentation so they will no longer be anonymous. Off to the bat poles Batman. We need your help. (Apologies to Egghead from the 60s Batman show.)

Dennis Fitzgerald, Melbourne, Australia

Not too long ago, the police arrested some young Nigerians for stealing female pants, which they intended to use for ritual sacrifice. AfAW is asking all Nigerians to desist from ritual-related abuses because ritual money beliefs are baseless superstitions. Nigerian media, schools, and colleges should help educate and reorient the public. They should assist in reasoning Nigerians out of this killer-superstitious absurdity and nonsense.

Leo Igwe directs the Advocacy for Alleged

Celebrating love, friendship and admiration...

a waste!

CHANGE OF BATON…

R

Conference

Lay

Lay

Olugbenga Akindele; and Bishop, Diocese of Lagos North, Rt. Rev Gboyega Ohu, all of Methodist Church Nigeria at the presentation of Akindele as the new Lay President of Diocese of Lagos West and the dedication of other Diocesan Officers, held at the Cathedral of Blessing, Palm-Avenue, Lagos… recently

Trump Threatens New Tariffs in Bid to Reshape Trade

United States President, Donald Trump, has tasked his economic team to devise plans for reciprocal tariffs on every country that taxes U.S. imports, raising the risk of a global trade war with American friends and foes.

"On trade, I have decided for purposes of fairness, that I will charge a reciprocal tariff, meaning whatever countries charge the United States of America, we will charge them. No more, no less," Reuters quoted Trump to have told reporters.

Trump signed a memo ordering his team to start calculating duties to match those other countries charge

and to counteract non-tariff barriers such as vehicle safety rules that exclude U.S. autos and value-added taxes that increase their cost.

The latest directive stopped short of imposing more tariffs, instead kicking off what could be weeks or months of investigation into the levies imposed on U.S. goods by other trading partners and then devising a response.

Wall Street is anxious further tariffs may accelerate U.S. inflation, prevent the Federal Reserve from cutting interest rates and slow economic growth. The absence of further trade measures for now, drove global markets higher.

“While global financial markets may be inclined to take some relief

Jimoh Ibrahim In New York, Faults Global Taxation to Fund SDGs

Sunday Aborisade in Abuja

The lawmaker representing Ondo South Senatorial District, Senator Jimoh Ibrahimh, has told the United Nations that proposing a global tax to fund the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) was inappropriate and unacceptable.

Ibrahim, according to a statement by his Media Office, stated this during the interparliamentary opening session in New York yesterday. He said the international system was anarchic and lacked the authority to comply, asserting that there was no comprehensive international system in place.

According to him, global taxes will further exacerbate inequality within the geocentric system and could also increase poverty, undermining the United Nations' efforts to eradicate poverty by 2030.

As an alternative, Ibrahim suggested that environmental polluters compensate Africa to alleviate the debt burden.

“It is time for African legislators

to act decisively and compel the rest of the world to pay compensation for climate impacts so that we can finance our SDGs,” he said. Ibrahim identified that, among other issues, the SDGs struggle to achieve the goal of poverty eradication because many who are invested in meaningful outcomes are being excluded.

He said, “Furthermore, there is a lack of transparency, a deficit of trust, a significant failure of multilateralism, and insufficient support from nonstate actors for the SDGs.”

The federal lawmaker informed the United Nations that the year 2030 was approaching rapidly, emphasising a major shortfall in achieving the primary goal of poverty eradication. He advises that a review is becoming increasingly necessary.

Ibrahim, who praised President Bola Tinubu for upholding his commitment to the SDGs in his budget proposal at the United Nations Interparliamentary, urged the United Nations to reflect inward, as time is critical for the success of the SDGs.

from the delay in the immediate imposition of reciprocal tariffs, it is not clear to us whether the delay necessarily reflects a lower likelihood that they will eventually be imposed," Barclays analysts said in a note.

Trump's potential targets include China, Japan, South Korea and the European Union.

Howard Lutnick, Trump's pick for Commerce Secretary, said the administration would address each affected country one by one and

said studies on the issue would be completed by April 1.

That is also the deadline Trump set on his first day in office for Lutnick and other economic advisers to report to him with plans to reduce the chronic trade imbalances that

Trump sees as a U.S. subsidy to other countries.

Trump, who campaigned on a pledge to bring down consumer prices, said prices could go up in the short term as a result of the moves. "Tariffs are great," he said.

Tinubu Arrives Addis Ababa for AU Summit

To deliver speech on African union peace, security council

Deji Elumoye in Abuja

President Bola Tinubu has arrived in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, to participate in the 38th Ordinary Session of the Assembly of the African Union (AU) Heads of State and Government.

The President, according to a statement issued yesterday by his Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, was received on Thursday night at the airport by the Ethiopian Deputy Chief of Protocol, Eshetu Legesse, the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Yusuf Tuggar, and the charge d'affaires of the Nigerian embassy in Ethiopia,

Ambassador Nasir Aminu. Tuggar later briefed President Tinubu about the summit and some diplomatic wins for the country, a session that stretched until about 2a.m. yesterday.

Among the wins was the reelection of Ambassador Bankole Adeoye as African Union Commissioner for Political Affairs, Peace and Security.

Nigeria also retained its seat on the African Union Peace and Security Council, reaffirming, in the words of Ambassador Tuggar, "Nigeria's leadership and commitment to peace and security on the continent."

At the briefing were the Minister of Finance, Mr. Wale Edun; Minister of Defence, Abubakar Badaru; the Minister of Trade and Investment, Jumoke Oduwole; Minister of Aviation, Festus Keyamo; Minister of Information and National Orientation, Muhammed Idris; Minister of Environment, Balarabe Abbas Lawal; and Minister of State for Finance, Doris Uzoka-Anite.

Director-General of the National Intelligence Agency, Ambassador Mohammed Mohammed, and the Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Emmanuel Ogalla, also attended the briefing.

This year's AU summit, under

the theme 'Justice for Africans and People of African Descent Through Reparations', focuses on reparatory justice and racial healing.

President Tinubu will deliver a speech at the Summit-level meeting of the African Union Peace and Security Council, where discussions will focus on current security challenges on the continent, including the escalation of conflict in the Democratic Republic of Congo. The President will participate in meetings on health financing, establishing an Africa Credit Rating Agency, and climate change. President Tinubu will return to Abuja on Monday, February 17.

Three Kaduna Lawmakers, Ex-Senator Dump PDP

Group backs Anyanwu in national secretary tussle

Three lawmakers elected to the Kaduna State House of Assembly on the platform of the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) have decamped to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) in the state.

Also, Danjuma La’ah, a two term former senator who represented Kaduna South senatorial zone on the platform of the PDP, has resigned his membership of the party.

This was the Concerned People's Democratic League (CPDPL) has reaffirmed its support for Senator Samuel Nnameka Anyanwu, insisting that he remains the legitimate occupant of the office.

The three state lawmakers who decamped to the APC includes Henry Mara, representing Jaba state constituency, Emmanuel Kantiok, Zonkwa constituency and Samuel Kamabai, representing Zangon Kataf constituency.

Their defection was contained in letters addressed to the chairmen of

Media Integrity Initiative Africa Unveiled to Strengthen Ethical Journalism

In an era where misinformation and ethical lapses threaten the credibility of journalism, a bold initiative is stepping forward to reshape the landscape. The Media Integrity Initiative Africa (MIIA) has officially launched, bringing together an elite consortium of 20 veteran media professionals dedicated to restoring integrity, responsibility, and excellence in African journalism.

A statement by the Coordinator, Femi Akintunde-Johnson, saidMIIA is a non-governmental organisation committed to teaching and training

media practitioners - free of chargeon the ethics, demands, and practices of responsible, people-focused journalism. Through structured online training, expert mentorship, and practical leadership, the initiative seeks to nurture a new generation of ethical and proficient media professionals.

At the heart of MIIA’s mission is the principle of "training the trainers and the trainable" - ensuring that media professionals not only attain personal excellence but also become role models and influencers within

the industry. The initiative offers a quarterly curriculum featuring online courses and electives tailored to different sectors of the media space, ranging from investigative journalism and ethical reporting to broadcast presentation, financial reporting, and entertainment media.

To drive this vision, MIIA has assembled a formidable Board of Facilitators - an exclusive network of renowned editors, broadcasters, media executives, and journalism scholars. These distinguished professionals, including Lanre Ìdòwú,

Richard Akinnola, Ohi Alegbe, Tony Onyima, Tokunbo Ojekunle, Adeboye Ola, Azu Ishiekwene, Seun Olagunju, Marcel Okeke, and Lekan Otufodunrin, will lead structured training modules designed to equip participants with the highest standards of media professionalism. Other facilitators are: Yakubu Lawal, Fisayo Soyombo, Michael Effiong, Deji Balogun, Yinka Shokunbi, Monday Ashibogwu, Olumide Iyanda, Johnson Onime, Lanre Arogundade, and Alex Ogundadegbe.

the PDP in their various wards.

Their decampment came a few days after Amos Magaji, a federal lawmaker,representing Zangon Kataf/ Jaba Federal Constituency decamped from the PDP to the APC.

The three lawmakers, explained that their defection was "to align with the ruling APC in the state, the sterling leadership and performance exhibited by Governor Uba Sani, the state governor."

They added that "the political future of their constituents was sacrosanct, and they believed that they would serve their people better in the APC."

Mara, who is the Chairman, House Committee on Information said, "the popularity of the PDP and dominance in Southern Kaduna have crumbled."

According to him, the achievements of Governor Sani have erased animosity towards the ruling APC as peace, security, and unity have returned to Southern Kaduna under the present administration.

“A major realignment in the power structure of the House of Assembly is looming as we’re expecting more opposition members to dump the PDP for APC", Mara said.

On his own, La’ah who tendered his resignation letter to the PDP chairman in his Mallagum Ward, Kaura Local

Government Area, on February 4, said his decision to leave the PDP was personal. He did not however disclose the party he would be moving to. Meanwhile, the CPDPL’s apex leader, Daboikiabo Z. Warmate at a press conference in Abuja yesterday, alleged that some high-ranking members of the party are spreading misinformation and engaging in acts of sabotage aimed at unlawfully removing Anyanwu. He singled out a member of the House of Representatives, Hon. Ikenga Ugochinyere, National Publicity Secretary Debo Olunulagba, National Legal Adviser Kamaladin Ajibade (SAN), and PDP Board of Trustees (BoT) Chairman, Senator Adolphus Wabara, alleging that they had deliberately violated the PDP’s constitution to advance their personal interests.

Sunday Ehigiator with agency report

John Shiklam in Kaduna and Juliet Akoje in Abuja

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Public Relations Adviser, Abiona Babarinde;

President, Archdiocese of Lagos Mainland, Olusola Adu; Host Bishop, Diocese of Lagos West, Rt. Rev Ezekiel Akande;

President, Diocese of Lagos West,

Gov. Eno’s Student Bursary: Boost Towards Educational Advancement

Mfon bassey

For numerous scholars and schools of thought, “ Education remains the bedrock of every nation”

That is why since the assumption of office on May 29, 2023, Governor Umo Eno has demonstrated his unwavering commitment and support towards programmes and interventions aimed at fostering quality and compulsory education across the State.

In keeping with campaign promises as encapsulated in his A.R.I.S.E Agenda, Governor Umo Eno has initiated the payment of bursary to Akwa Ibom students studying in public tertiary institutions

Eno’s bursary payment to Akwa Ibom students is indeed a significant boost towards realising the “ E” component of the ARISE agenda which is educational advancement.

Under this programme, qualified students from Akwa Ibom State studying in public tertiary institutions are eligible to receive bursaries. The application process is straightforward, with students required to register on the Akwa Ibom State Bursary Portal and upload necessary documents, such as their student ID card, admission letter, valid student registration number, valid school fees receipt and certificate of origin via Akwa Ibom State bursary portal official registration link.

A breakdown of the second phase of the bursary payment shows that students pursuing professional courses like Engineering, Medicine, Law, Agriculture, and Education would receive N30,000, while all eligible students of Akwa Ibom extraction would get N20,000 each to support their academic pursuits.

This is an improvement from last year

when students got N20,000 and N10,000 respectively.

The 2025 bursary payment began with a press briefing organised by the SSA to the Governor on ICT and digital services, Dr. Frank Ekpeyong in collaboration with education stakeholders and the Personal Assistant to Governor on Student Affairs, Comrade Wisdom Emmanuel

Eno’s administration has already made significant strides in this regard, with over N200 million disbursed to students as of March 2024

The Governor’s investment in education is expected to have a positive impact on the state’s human capital development and economic growth.

In summary, Eno’s bursary payment initiative is a commendable effort to support Akwa Ibom students and boost educational advancement in the state.

Fagbemi Calls for Robust M&E Framework to Check Corruption

bennett Oghifo

The Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Lateef Fagbemi, has stressed the need for a robust Monitoring and Evaluation framework in the public and private sectors to curb corruption and enhance the country’s development.

The Attorney-General gave this charge at the inauguration of the National Anti-Corruption Strategy (NACS) 2022-2026 Monitoring and Evaluation Committee (M&E), at the Federal Ministry of Justice, Abuja, recently.

The minister said, “Corruption, as you are aware, is a formidable challenge to our National Development Goals. It undermines trust in public and private institutions, distorts resource allocation and incapacitates the ability of institutions to provide effective and efficient service delivery.”

Thus, Fagbemi emphasised the importance of a robust M&E framework, which he said, cannot be overstated.

“Monitoring & Evaluation activities serve as the backbone of any strategic initiatives, providing essential tools needed to identify gaps and challenges, measure progress, collate scientific data to improve on the implementation of strategic plans for quality policy making processes and informed decision making,” he added.

Also present at the inauguration were the Solicitor General of the Federation and Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Justice, Mrs. Beatrice Jedy-Agba; the Director, Technical Unit on Governance, and AntiCorruption Reforms (TUGAR), Mrs. Jane Onwumere; the Director (Planning, Research and Statistics), Federal Ministry of Justice, Mrs. Victoria Fila Ojogbane, and some senior staff of the Ministry of Justice.

“Your inauguration today is an attempt on my part at strengthening the capacity needed for the effective implementation of the NACS and its Action Plan 2022-2026,” the minister said.

The membership of the M&E Committee comprises representatives of key MDAs and Civil Society Organisations (CSOs).

Nigeria, he said, signed the United Nations Convention on Anti-Corruption on the 9th of December, 2003 and ratified same in 2004. Similarly, Nigeria adopted the ECOWAS Protocol on the fight against Corruption in 2001, and joined other Member States in adopting the African Union Convention on Preventing and Combating Corruption (AUCPCC) in July 2003.

In addition to these, he said, “Several laws and policies have been put in place in compliance with our obligations under the UNCAC, at both the Federal and State Levels in Nigeria. In particular, Nigeria has taken steps to strengthen the institutional framework of our various Anti-Corruption Agencies, and foster collaboration with the Inter-Agency Task Team (IATT), with the aim of tackling the growing incidence of corruption.

“Further, in compliance with national and international obligations, the Federal Executive Council (FEC) in November, 2022, approved the extension of the National Anti-Corruption Strategy (NACS) for another four (4) years i.e. NACS 2022 – 2026.”

Fagbemi said NACS, as a federal government policy was built on five pillars: Prevention of Corruption; Public Engagement; Campaign for Ethical Re-Orientation; Enforcement and Sanctions; and Recovery and Management of Proceeds of Crime.

The NACS recognises that while there was high global perception of the corruption problem in the country, there was however need for a contextual approach

that interrogates the problem with a view to designing home grown interventions as much as possible.

One of the interventions necessary for achieving significant results in the fight against corruption was the development of effective monitoring and evaluation mechanisms. This ensures that government and organisations are more responsive to demands from internal and external stakeholders for good governance, accountability, transparency and greater efficiency and effectiveness.

He added, “As demands for greater accountability in governance continues to grow, there is an accompanying need for useful and useable results-based monitoring and evaluation systems to support the management of policies, programmes, and projects to address

At Last, Nigeria Meets, Surpass OPEC Quota

atoyebi bamidele

Oil and gas industry globally is deep and surreal, full of intrigues and dangerous bends so much that even the most courageous turns blind eye to happenings in that sector to have peace of mind. However, as has been severally canvassed, individual capacity and sagacity still determine how successful a man can be in and out of office.

This truism has manifested under the President Bola Ahmed Tinubu administration where what appeared as an impossibility even among those with military will has been achieved without a whimper. To doubting Thomases, a simple question is apt here; when last did Nigeria meet its Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) quota? Why have we not been meeting the quota even when our revenue which has been dwindling depends on it?

An attempt at answering those questions will lead to a glaring answer… a thieving cartel has been cornering the commonwealth of the

country and living large while the nation reeled in debt and lack of development. It is common knowledge as some investors in the oil and gas sector have severally lamented, that the cabals in the sector had a worse stranglehold on it than meets the eyes. Coming from such people who are big players in the industry is a testament that there is no frivolity in their assertions.

In the last days of President Muhammadu Buhari, some marginal oil field owners had lamented that between their fields and the export points, they lose more than 80 per cent of their volumes and for a capital intensive business like oil exploration, operators were going into bad debts because what was left of their supplies at export terminals could hardly cover the cost of using existing facilities to export their products.

Then came President Tinubu who one of his disciples, Raji Fashola last week explained that one of the factors going for the President was that of his natural mien which lulls people into underrating him and before you know it, he would have gone far as an advantage; so has he also dealt with the cabal which result we

have now exported to the world.

With a population of over 200 million and an output of 1.5 million barrels at 87 dollars per barrel would still leave most of the population with less than living income and therefore with lower standard of living than has been credited to the country. However, with the volume of fossil deposits and the global campaign for cleaner energy which is de-emphasising on petroleum products which allegedly impact negatively on global warming, it therefore becomes imperative and behooves of Nigeria to expedite action and exploit the deposits before it becomes overtaken by global campaigns and the new world order that would leave them unutilised.

It could be recalled that it was consistent inability of the country to meet its OPEC given quota that led to the reduction of the quota from 1.8 million barrels a day to the present 1.5 million which for several years were not met. This was with its attendant loss of revenue largely due to sabotage of trunk lines, illegal oil bunkering and outright stealing of crude oil as well as community-

corruption in Nigeria.”

The overall objective of the M&E system, he noted, “is to strengthen public sector efficiency, effectiveness, accountability and transparency, with a view to enhancing service-delivery and ultimately contributing to the achievement of national goals on the subject.”

The NACS and its action plan 2022-2026 include several milestones outlining steps to consolidate the implementation of NACS. These include timeous and accurate release of reports on the status of implementation of the strategy and the number of corruption cases prosecuted. The work of the M&E Committee is therefore vital to conducting corruption risk assessments, setting up integrity mechanisms, and encouraging public awareness.

The terms of reference of the NACS Monitoring and Evaluation Committee/ M&E Secretariat (TUGAR), include: Develop the M&E template including the assessment criteria; preparing the budget for execution of M&E programmes; advocating for the inclusion in MDA Budgets resources for the implementation of MDA specific activities specified in the NACS; Conduct quarterly monitoring visits to MDAs or as the need arises; conduct annual review of the progress of the implementation of NACS and submit its reports to the NACS Ministerial Committee through the NACS Secretariat by the 30th of January of each year; provide quarterly updates based on monthly self-assessments and quarterly reports of MDAs; among others.

The M&E Secretariat, which is TUGAR, has Onwumere as its Director.

based disputes that lead to several force majore and stoppage of either production or lifting of extracted products.

One unfortunate revelation was the involvement of those vested with the duty to secure and stop crude stealing in the theft with accusing fingers being pointed at highly placed and influential people whose mention might shake the peace of the nation. That led to the scheme to stop it becoming a game of the cobweb which catches smaller insects and lets the big ones pass. However, last December, the tide had changed and government informed the people that it had hit target but was not believed by many.

A glance at how it was achieved shows the determination and consistency of the President Tinubu regime in focusing efforts at solving the issue which had attained international dimension with vessels switching off their gadgets that will enable locating them, then sneak into the Niger Delta and load the country’s crude oil so that it was said that the illegal bunkering of crude oil had become larger than the Nigerian economy.

Eno

Fagbemi

I’m Turning Anambra into Most Preferred Place to Live, Invest, Work Chukwuma Soludo:

Highly cerebral, adroitly detailed, he wears prudence like a cloak and though on the surface he looks apolitical, he adeptly strides with professional politicians, Governor of Anambra State, Prof. Chukwuma Soludo has consulted for many global bodies in areas of development and economies. After some attempts at governing Anambra State, he assumed office in March 2022, and insists he is not surprised by any of the obstacles such as insecurity in the State which still threatens to blight his achievements. He has however methodically mapped out and is implementing his programmes without borrowing, even rejecting a World Bank loan. He reels out his plans and projections for leaving a lasting legacy in Anambra State to Obinna Chima, Ahamefula Ogbu and David-Chyddy Eleke. Excerpts:

Our New Security Architecture Stemming Criminality from Its Foundation

Can you outline some of your achievements in the last three years?

I have been in office for just two years and 10 months. I must say no surprises, no shocks. No regrets, no disappointments. What we saw is what we expected to see. We saw these challenges before we decided to run for the job. since we came in, we have been very intentional, deliberate about executing our plans. these plans are put into five major buckets. Call it pillars if you like. the first is security law and order; the second is infrastructure and economic transformation; the third is human capital and social agenda; the fourth is governance and human value system then the fifth is environment. since we came in over two years and 10 months, we have been deliberate in pursuing them. In the area of security, you may have heard of the anambra Homeland security Law, which we are using to restore law and order in the area of security. When we first came in, eight local government areas were in the hands of criminals, so much so that I and some candidates could not go to such areas to campaign. But we have intentionally and systematically dislodged the criminals and made the place safe. the second pillar is infrastructure and economic transformation, and there we have a huge agenda. It has been going on since the last two years and 10 months. On infrastructure, you can go from the basics, like roads, where we have over 700 kilometers of roads awarded and close to 400 kilometers of roads completed. We are constructing an average of 11 kilometers per month and the quality that anambra has never seen before. they have not seen widespread use of stone base and sub-cement stabilisation and so on to build it to last. Not just that, it is being done, but it is crisscrossing the entire local government areas simultaneously. there is no local government that we don’t have one, two or even three road projects going on or even completed. and as you have that on going, there are many bridges and culverts ongoing and many have been completed. there is also the historic dualisation of major federal highways. anambra has the second smallest land mass after Lagos, everywhere is getting fully built up quickly, and if we don’t have freeways today, in the next 20 to 30 years, it will be impossible to move around. We have drawn the master plan for our rail, the anambra rail master is set. We hired the CpCs of Canada to help us with it, and we are now thinking of the combination for financing and how to do the first phase. It is very expensive. But unlike any other state, the number of buildings you may have to bring down, even to do the first phase will be over 6,000. so, we are chewing all of this, but the master plan is ready. the dualisation from here to the boundary with Imo state, almost 40 kilometers through amawbia here to agulu, through to Imo and the other from agulu through to Nnewi, linking Okija and Onitsha-Owerri expressway. We are also doing some major dualisation too. Here in awka, we are intentional about building awka into a modern model capital city and one key thing about our infrastructure is that it has to do with erosion control. anambra is the gully erosion capital of the world, and we have massive erosion control projects, where we have put in tens of billions. simultaneously, we have infrastructure projects, not just building roads, but connecting economic hubs. this will end up raising the value of wealth of an average anambra person. Whoever has a piece of land in anambra is smiling now because several places have gone up by hundreds of percent in terms of value because of the infrastructural development going on. traders, farmers now bring their goods to the market with ease and anambra now has one of the lowest agric inflation in the country because goods are getting down. But from there, as part of the economic transformation is the urban regeneration. It is a major sub- programme. today I’m proud to say that the former Okpoko, a sprawling slum is now a new city. It is now called New Heaven. after swearing in on 17th of March, I went to Okpoko on 18th. It used to be the biggest urban squalor in Nigeria. I don’t know anywhere else in Nigeria that is comparable to it. I’m sure even ajegunle is smaller in terms of size. We have over one million people, who were living in the most despicable condition - No roads, no water, no electricity, and the condition in which they lived was that there were no hospitals, no health facilities, nothing!. But we visited the place and intentionally turned it around. and today we have about 20 kilometers of roads there, crisscrossing the entire Okpoko. We now have street lights, such that if you come there at night you know that you’re in a town. For the first time in their history, today you can fetch pipe-borne water and they no longer

Soludo

Today I’m proud to say that the former Okpoko, a sprawling slum is now a new city. It is now called New Heaven. After swearing in on 17th of March, I went to Okpoko on 18th. It used to be the biggest urban squalor in Nigeria. I don’t know anywhere else in Nigeria that is comparable to it. I’m sure even Ajegunle is smaller in terms of size. We have over one million people, who were living in the most despicable condition - No roads, no water, no electricity, and the condition in which they lived was that there were no hospitals, no health facilities, nothing!. But we visited the place and intentionally turned it around

drink from well. today they also have a general hospital for the first time since anambra state was created. the erosion control that used to drown children in the area every year, the depth can take a twostory building because of the force of the flooding. every year, one school child mistakenly slips in there and gets flushed away, but today, Okpoko is a case study for urban regeneration. Now you get down to Onitsha south, the Fegge area, from port Harcourt road to Niger street, used to be like a dungeon, and other parts, even Ochanja roundabout was a huge refuse dump. When I visited there, the heap of refuse was high, touching the traffic light. Now the entire place from Moore street has been cleaned up. the roundabout is now a water fountain; street lights have been installed. We are the only state that has not borrowed in three years, in fact, we are the only state that opted out of a World Bank loan. We are very deliberate about what we are doing here. In urban water scheme, I can tell you that now in awka, in Okpoko, in Onitsha, Nnewi, Otuocha, agulu and every sub-urban areas, water is back. this year we are deepening this. so far as we sit on this seat, we want to keep deepening this, until every home gets water. But you know those selling pure water and borehole water will not be happy with this, because this is treated water and people can just take it and drink it straight. again, don’t forget that our mission is to turn anambra into a liveable smart city, so we needed to clean up and take waste manage-

ment seriously. so making the place to feel like a place where human beings live, like providing water, roads, fixing security which we just started doing. In electricity, we have converted over 20,000 to 30,000 street lights into solar, we are moving to greener energy. the list is long, but in economic transformation, that is what we have done. We have hired alitalia, the former Mahindra, an Indian company of international repute, we have over 400, 000 hectares of land and they had drawn for us the master plan for our new industrial city and we are going to begin work on the boulevard that will crisscross the area. We have already awarded contracts, and we are already taking 32 KVa to the city so that we can have at least 22 hours of electricity. It is situated around aguluezechukwu, Ogboji, Ndiowu, Ndikeliowu and all those axis. that is where we have our mixed industrial city, with pharmaceutical end, chemical, agro, allied and automotive sections and it has been designed. We are partnering with afreximbank and they are coming with arise, a major developer. that is the new axis of prosperity and we are very intentional about it. We have our awka 2.0, where we also acquired about 5,000 plots of land for the new awka, which is being signposted with our 10-storey Marriott Hotel which is ongoing now. It is located inside the ICC. We are expecting that to be completed before the end of next year, then the next awka city park that will be like no other in africa. then for Onitsha 2.0, we have acquired again over 5,000 hectares of land, which is the Oba, Odekpe section, linking it to the Niger. It’s swampy, but we are reclaiming it, and it will be the next Onitsha. We are taking time to plan all of these. Now, in awka, we are trying to make anambra a

destination and there is a level of intentionality in what we are doing. I’m not sure they took you to the awka Fun City, the new government house, which one of our statesmen said is like a mini city. It compares favourably with the villa. you will see what we have been able to do there in months. We are building it to last because we are anambra. there is a tower currently going up there. ekwueme square is also being rejigged. that road that leads to the new government house is a four lane, they will soon mark it. Now the road network that we have done; you will see we are doing a flyover bridge that will connect the two awka - Ifite and awka town. We are intentional about making awka and anambra a destination, not a departure lounge. that is the intentionality of what we are doing. We want to make anambra the most preferred place to live, invest and work. If it is not a place where people can relax and work, then they will not want to live there. so we are changing the narrative. When you talk about urban regeneration, we have been very deliberate about urban regeneration. We now have a plan to dualise all trunk a and trunk B roads, state and federal, and wherever we stop, let the next government takeover. the next pillar of our development plan is human capital and social agenda. anambra as a people, our greatest asset is our human capital. Before I forget, our solid minerals have a new Ministry of petroleum and Natural resources. We have created agencies to exploit our solid minerals, and sooner or later we will be inviting you to the commissioning of the anambra Kaolin plant at ukpor. We have Kaolin here, and they have been mining it illegally, but we are now developing the plant and it will soon be ready for commissioning. anambra ain’t seen nothing yet. We are moving in all sectors simultaneously. We’re also doing human capital where we have health, education and caring for the vulnerable. On health, anambra won the international award by uNdp , uNICeF and others. In all, 17 experts were hired, including themselves, and they went through the entire 36 states and the FCt and they saw what we were doing in the area of primary health and we won $500,000 as the best in the south-east and $700,000 as the national champion. We are the leader in public and primary health in Nigeria. We have gotten primary healthcare centers in all 326 wards functional and recruited over 1,000 medical personnel. We are linking them with tele-medicine, and any ward you live in, you have access to a doctor. We offer free antenatal, free delivery and as of december, we had 82,888 women who have benefited from our free antenatal, free delivery in anambra with over 400

My Performance Will Determine My Re-election When the Time Comes

cesareans done. you go for antenatal we give you drugs for free. the same way people go to the us to deliver is the same way people flock to anambra to benefit from these. Less than 48 percent of those who have benefited are from anambra, while 42 per cent are from outside the state. Many people now, when they are getting due for delivery, they move to anambra to join their relatives, so they can have free delivery, and this is with near zero mortality. this speaks to the efficiency of our healthcare system. We started five brand new general hospitals, in local government where they didn’t have any, and all have been completed except one. What is interesting is that all the hospitals are in the North senatorial zone, whereas I come from the south. North is the same zone that finished and handed over to us. In roads, we have places in that zone where you cannot find roads. I need to make a point about infrastructure and road network. anambra West used to be the only local government in Nigeria that you could not drive to their headquarters in Nzam, but they have a road ready for commissioning now. enugu Otu, aguleri, eziagulu Otu and Mkpunando, these are three communities that are part of aguleri but remained inaccessible. some people said it was impossible to do a road there, but we are now doing 8.8 kilometers of road there. We are connecting people who have been abandoned. In awka North, awka Ofemili, we have done 27 kilometers of roads to that place. since adam and eve were created, these people have not seen one square inch of tarred road. there is also a local government that for you to access their headquarters, you needed to go through four or five local governments, now we are connecting the communities to their local government headquarters. awka North is getting over 40 kilometers of roads in my first term as governor. Just one local government. It is not in my zone. Our priority is to serve the underserved and leave no one or any part of the state behind. We are connecting the state in a very fundamental way. there is Olumbanasa, no governor has been able to visit that place since the history of anambra state, but we have been there. In that place, you cannot have a car because it is surrounded by water. But today they have a functional hospital, and we have built a school for them. Having said that, let me return to health. We are building a world-class nursing school, and a branch of the Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu Cancer Center, and at the Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu teaching Hospital we are building a trauma centre that we think will be the biggest in Nigeria, and that will be finished before the end of next month. We are investing massively in the entire value chain. For the drug centre, we are investing in making sure that we keep recruiting. that is a few nuggets on health. On education, we are the first governor who came into office and in the first nine months, we started with the recruitment of 5,000 teachers to end the era of schools without teachers and we have gone ahead to recruit another 3,115 teachers. In my first two years in office, I recruited 8,115 teachers. It is record-breaking, no federal or state government has done this. several of these teachers we post to mission schools and we pay their salaries, we pay their gratuities and pension. We’re spending billions as subsidy on mission schools. Now we have started leave-noone-behind, by instituting a truly free primary and secondary education in all schools. you don’t charge any child a penny. and we are spending so much on upgrading facilities in our schools. We are investing in training teachers to give them the tools because you cannot have smart education without smart teachers. you know what, because of our true free education, the percentage of out-of-school children in 2023, we were lowest in Nigeria at 2.9 percent, and I just heard that the latest figure, even though it has not been announced officially, it has dropped further to 0.25 percent out-of-school children. Ours is to build an education system where our outputs are employable at home and exportable abroad. We continue to win laurels, prizes across the world in education. But now, we want to be very deliberate and systematic. We are going to be having a law on education that provides even for quality assurance. at primary and secondary levels, we are investing massively, and at tertiary, we are also investing heavily, especially in technology in the university and also the college of education which we want to upgrade to a university. Now, we have the youth empowerment. part of our promise was to grow 1,000 millionaires a year, and you know what, our one-youth two-skills programme has created more than that. Here we intentionally exploited what anambra people are known for - the apprenticeship system which is all over Igbo land now. In the apprenticeship system, we take you and put you through a master to learn

your best skill. you learn the trade, we give you the second skill and when you finish we empower you. two years ago when the first set graduated, we empowered them with slightly over N2 billion as seed capital. Guess what we did a major event recently where young people who went through this programme, about 1,000 of them, they call themselves youthprenuers who are millionaires, are now offering to train 1,000 others for free. as we speak, over 8,300 people are undergoing the second batch of the training, and when they finish, we are dolling out billions to them as well. By the way, I wouldn’t like to let the cat out of the bag, but we are planning bursaries, and scholarships. Our fourth pillar is on governance, where we are putting technology everywhere. We are setting out to build 2,000 kilometers of fibre optics that will provide the infrastructure for the digital revolution. you can’t have digital revolution without access to the internet. these docks that are being laid everywhere is what ignites what we have in terms of technology everywhere and everything technology. Over 600 kilometers already laid, and we are moving. Government is also being reformed in terms of technology; that is what led us to provide laptops for head teachers and all those who teach technology- related subjects. you give them the tools that enable them to be part of the 21st century discourse. the final one is environment. tree planting, waste management, erosion control and the rest. We now have an environmental law that criminalises people getting water from their homes out on the streets because that is what causes flooding and erosion. you must have drainage. the major thing we cracked in this pillar is waste management. Before now, everywhere was refuse. In erosion control, you know before now you just do it and you don’t care how it terminates, but now we are intentional about that. We have a destination in mind for anambra, and it is that destination that we are putting the pillars together now. It is not an adhoc thing. We have the architectural design of the building we want to build. When we close our eyes, we can see the anambra that we want to build, and so we are systematically putting on the pillars. For now, we are at the dpC level, so many may not still see it for now.

Now, what is the difference between operation Udo Ga Achi and Agunechemba and what is the mandate of your new security outfit?

Operation udo Ga achi and agunechemba

are two different things, but related in terms of function. agunechemba is our own amotekun, if you can relate to that. But it is different from the old Vigilante service. the old one was community-based, but this one is at the community, local government and state levels, each of them performing coordinate but different functions. agunechemba is like anambra’s security outfit, while operation udo Ga achi is a specific operation that involves agunechemba and members of other security agencies, working in collaboration to achieve specific operational outcomes. In udo Ga achi, you have agunechemba, army, police, dss, Civil defense, Navy and all of them. Like the successful operations they just had, you find operatives of these combinations, going to have targeted operations. that is what udo Ga achi is all about. that is not without prejudice of normal other functions of the police, normal other functions of the agunechemba and the rest. this is if you like, call it special force, targeted at addressing identified specific problems. It is different from what has existed before.

There were cases of kidnapping during the last yuletide when people came back home massively, many are wondering why you allowed the criminals have free reign only to launch these security outfits when the people have gone back?

I think you got it wrong because you were not here. the yuletide here was filled up, traffic was everywhere and people returned massively. For those reading social media, they are the people circulating stories about insecurity. the biggest social event in 2024 held in Ihiala and that was the wedding of the daughter of aBC Orjiakor. all the who is who in Nigeria attended. so the premise of your question was wrong. people came home massively and moved about everywhere and many were asking what is this thing we hear? you may have read about Zenco’s mother’s burial. Before I assumed office, there were three camps in ukpor, no one could step out, but in 2023 december, ukpor had a mass return. this last Christmas in 2024, the entire stakeholders visited me to show their gratitude and they would pride themselves that ukpor is the safest community. that was why Zenco could hold such an event and there was no incidents. In uli, Ihiala, that was a place where we could not go to for campaigns then. Maybe people are sensationalising these things because I’m not good at propaganda. that is one area I am not good at. I’m not good at talking when you don’t have substance. several of the things I’m doing, I take them as things I should do, so why should it be news? unfortunately, that is what I’m battling with. every time, people tell me you need to be talking about your successes, like the successful operations of the udo Ga achi and how they arrested killers of the lawmaker, people are telling me, you

need to address the media on this and that, but I’m not good at that. udo Ga achi is working, so let their work and my work speak for me. Now let me tell you that I don’t just get into something, I try to find the solution from the fundamental level, and that was why I pulled back to realise that we can’t stop insecurity just through guns. you can kill a few thousand, and more will emerge, that is why we are going back to the foundation of society and make it everybody’s responsibility through the law we have passed. First of all, you have to begin to attack those things that society celebrates unjustly. today, it is ‘oh, he has money.’ that should not be the basis for celebrating anyone. elsewhere, in other parts of the world, part of your introduction is to say ‘I’m Mr. X, I work at so place.’ But today, people introduce themselves and simply say I’m a businessman. If you ask what kind of business, they begin to stutter. that is why we had to come out with the homeland security law to criminalise a lot of things. you have seen buildings being demolished recently in anambra, those are part of the things we want to use to fight.

You once made a statement about your party being free to enter into an alliance with any political party. Is there any such arrangement ongoing? Also, many people have been rooting for a second term in office for you, but you have remained mum about that. Will you run?

First is that, we are the all progressives Grand alliance, the very first party in Nigeria registered as a progressive party. We were registered in 2002. It is the grand alliance of all progressives. In subsequent years, we have seen other parties coming up with something progressives, we even have the all progressives Congress, young progressives party. everyone is now adding progressives to their names. Our view is that to move Nigeria forward is beyond party, beyond individuals. For us, what drives us is the progressivism. any political party that advocates progressivism, and we can see the tenets of progressivism in the way they do things, we don’t mind those kinds of ideologically-driven convergence, mutual support to one another, and alliance for Nigeria’s greatness. I believe Nigeria needs to come together in very fundamental ways. today, many political parties merely exist as ways to get power, in which members of the party don’t even understand what the party stands for. they join this one and look for nomination and it doesn’t work and they move to another one. What is that party, how does it align with the one you are coming from? you don’t know. I’m calling that we begin to have political parties with souls. so when I said apGa is open to have conversations with anyone who shares the same ideas, it was borne out of the realisation that one political party cannot do it. We need all hands on the deck. Now to the second question about the election, I can say my preoccupation is that Ndi anambra employed me for a job, and that

Soludo

The Belief That Those perpetuating Criminality in South-east are Freedom Fighters is False

job has a term of four years, which is subject to renewal and another term of four years which is the last. My answer is that I’m two years and 10 months into the current employment, which has a lifespan of four years. so I’m just two years plus and it is about delivery. I and my team hold strategy meetings all the time to assess ourselves. Where are we with water, where are we with roads, what are our schools, how about our hospitals, have they improved, when are they due for commissioning, when do we deliver projects? If I wasn’t doing this interview now, I would be in the field inspecting projects. so for me it is about delivering. the people are my employers and they will determine if I should be employed a second time. When the time comes, we will still ask the people whether we should reapply. We will get to know. yes, people have been asking me to run, in fact, they are up to 70 support groups now urging me to run, but for me, those are beside the point. It is about delivering for the job that I have been employed. even if I am to run for re-election, every day will still be about delivery, I will still be working round the clock and no day will be wasted. I have a belief that when you give people value, it will translate into political value. When the people receive value that will naturally translate to political capital. When the time comes, if I will run, then we will go to Okpoko, Fegge, Obosi, awka North, awka south and other places and lay out what we have done, and what is still ongoing and the people will make their choice.

We are seeing many strong politicians move into the APC, LP and other political parties, are you saying you are not threatened by these movements?

Who are the people you are mentioning? I have not seen any strong person at all. please let’s talk about something serious (laughs).

You said you rejected a World Bank loan, yet everywhere in the state is a construction site, what is the magic?

In the 90s, there used to be a debate about the east asian miracle, and so former president Olusegun Obasanjo visited Lin Quan yu, and he asked him how he did the east asian miracle, and Lin Quan yu said, we got few things right and we kept doing it right for a period of time, and the results kept showing. down here, some people call it magic, some say it’s a miracle, but I say to them, it is not rocket science. We are taking prudence, value for money to a level that anambra has not seen before. every penny we deploy, we show you for what value we deployed it. Here we prioritise public good over private comfort. as we speak, almost three years now, anambra state government has not bought even a bicycle for the first lady to use. she uses my private vehicles which I came into office with. Here, this is governor’s residence, all these curtains you are seeing, all these chairs, that is the way I met them. I have not added any or removed any. the only change was that we probably removed the mattress from the bed and put a new one. I told my wife, anambra cannot afford a new bed, we simply removed the mattress and the bed is still there. I’m always thinking, this money we are spending this way, if you take it to urum in awka North Local Government area, or to that abandoned and forgotten community, we can use it to fix solar in their school and the children will be comfortable. We can fix the leaky roof. as an economist, I’m always thinking of the opportunity cost for every Naira that we spend, and that is why in three years, we will be spending only a small fraction of what was spent in just one year in 2013, that is if you put it dollar for dollar. even in dollar terms, it is not comparable because one dollar in 2013 had a higher purchasing power than a dollar in 2024, but let’s even compare in nominal terms of dollar for dollar. In three years I will be spending 65 percent of what was spent in one year. In fact, if you go to 2014, our spending in three years will be just 61 percent of what was spent in 2014. today, everyone is saying anambra is a construction site, it is because we are cutting down and investing in the right places. see what I’m wearing, made in abia (dress), this is handmade. I’m not wearing designers like you guys. My shoes were bought for me from aba. unfortunately, they finished building it and had to put the name of a foreign brand because of the psychology of our people. you won’t believe it, this pair of shoes is just N22, 000, cheap and cheerful, even though they ended up putting Clark badge on it. sometimes my people go to Ogbunike here in anambra to buy my shoes. We are driven by value, and we are in a haste and we realise we don’t have resources. I don’t know which government has recurrent expenditure as 23 percent, and 77 percent capital expenditure.

that was what we did in the 2024 budget, that was what we have done in the 2025 budget and it covers salaries and everything.

Are you not afraid that for an election year like this, not attending to stomach infrastructure may affect you?

Let me tell you what stomach infrastructure means from the way I define it. What we are delivering is putting money in the pockets of the people. When you have antenatal, free delivery, free caesarian, that family that is going to the hospital knows they used to pay, and it is now free, so that’s money back to them. that woman whose child is now in school and used to pay thousands, she knows that the money is now back to her pocket. When I commissioned a road in Onitsha, a bus driver was screaming that he wanted to give me money in appreciation, but the security people didn’t let him. I told them to let him and he brought out money and gave it to me, saying it was his earnings for the day. He said he wanted to appreciate me because since I did the road, his shuttle bus which used to go to the mechanic every day is now in good condition. He has also stopped having body pain. that is stomach infrastructure. the man appreciates that there was money he was spending going to mechanic and buying drugs. In december, I was addressing workers and a woman brought a fowl to me and I said give the mic, and she said I did a road around Nkpor through Obosi. that she used to go through that road and used to get a lot of body pain, but now all those have gone and she decided to bring me fowl from the ones she rears. Guess what, another woman who was following behind had a bag of orange, she is a widow and a cleaner in the office of the head of service. also during this yuletide, a reverend father came to my house in the village to thank me for the liberation of ukpor where his parish was. shortly after, he was transferred to Nnewi and few months after I started doing the road in Nnewi and he felt it was personal to him and he came to say thank you to me. Farmers are now confessing that it is cheaper to bring their products out for sale, because of the roads we have done, the prices of their properties are also going up. youths are now going back into the village to become land agents. so that is money back in the pockets of the people. We are also paying salaries when due, we’re paying minimum wage, in fact we are paying above that because after all the deductions, including union dues, no one is going home with less than N72,000. We are paying pension. We inherited four years of pension arrears, but we have cleared them. that is money in people’s pockets, so we are doing stomach infrastructure in a very developmental way, not sharing money to people. If we are to do that, how many are we going to share? Now, if you have 82,888 beneficiaries of our free antenatal, free delivery, what stomach infrastructure will you give to equate that? a man ran away because his wife gave birth to quadruplets, the man ran away and put off his phone. When they finished the surgery,

no one could locate him, but they started calling him to say please come, soludo said it is free. the woman was so happy, together with the sister and when the man heard it, he resurfaced. that surgery according to the consultant would have cost at least N6 million. that is the stomach infrastructure we are giving.

What’s your idea of Aku ruo Ulo?

Our model of development is what we call ppCp - public, private, Community partnership. It is a realisation that the total resources available to the state is probably three or four percent of the income available in anambra. In the short to medium term, you’re not going be collecting too much taxes. We need to get the communities and the private sector involved, and I will tell you it is massive. throughout the yuletide season, I went round communities commissioning roads, hospitals, electricity, solar, markets built by private individuals. In other words, they are not just building estates and other businesses, but our people are getting down to building infrastructure. so I can say so far so good my clarion call to the people is being taken seriously. you may have heard about the Zenco’s mother’s funeral, but you didn’t hear that the next day I went to ukpor to commission 1.2 kilometers of road built by him. He is doing more and others are also doing too and installing street lights on them. that is the spirit. Now in anambra, the late tonimas tarred 18 kilometers in his community. there is a guy from adazi ani, who said he wants to break that record. He has done 16 kilometers of roads and his target is to do 30. there are many of them. I was in abatete in december 2023 to commission 11 kilometers of road and so on and so forth. there is a guy from Ozubulu for whom I commissioned about three kilometers and he did markets, lock up shops and open stalls and now he is doing several other kilometers. It is just like that in very many communities. so the competition is on. We love our homeland.

We like to know what you and other south-east governors are doing for the release of Nnamdi Kanu, especially as some people believe that his continued detention is fueling insecurity in the South East zone?

the first thing is that the belief that those perpetuating criminality are freedom fighters is false. those who are in the bush are criminals. It has nothing to do about any liberation. I told some of his supporters that when you were arming people to go into the bush, it came with a decoy that the aim was to go and chase out the Fulani. so, what is your plan for their feeding without engaging in criminality? It has turned to become a large-scale criminal enterprise, and all those involved in it are feeding fat. they have made so much money that there is nothing you will tell them today to stop. even if Nnamdi Kanu were to come out today and tell them to stop, they would even seek to kill him. If you tell them to stop, will you give them the money

they make from kidnapping? I told his supporters that you people did not think this thing through. If you are enrolling in the military, there is an exit plan, there is a certain age you get to and you retire and you’re paid gratuity and pension till you die. this one, what is the scheme of service? you will arm someone, and tomorrow you think you will just say stop and the person will say yes sir? If he stops, what does he go back to? How are you going to disarm him? so we now have all these gangs, each with their commander, and they have all asserted their independence. If it was about Kanu, how many times have we seen IpOB issue dozens of press statements dissociating themselves from what is going on? they have also dissociated themselves from the sit at home. My call for his release is not because if he comes out, insecurity will stop, not at all. Kidnapping and criminality had been there before Nnamdi Kanu emerged. My father was kidnapped in 2019 and he was in the bush for 15 days. He was 79 then, they went to his house after dinner, picked him. the same year they picked tonimas; the same year they kidnapped GuO Motors, right inside the church, kidnapped pokobros in 2009, this was before IpOB was formed. It is important that we get the context right. It’s just that every criminal gang now in the bush claim to be esN or fighting for Biafra, because that is how they gain legitimacy, under the guise that they are fighting for the people. If Kanu comes today and says stop, they will say he has sold out. they will find a reason to abandon him and continue what they are doing. so his situation is not a rosy one. But fundamentally, I have been at the forefront of calling for his release. after my swearing in, I visited him in the dss facility, I’m probably the first and only governor that has done that. I called for his release and I did so very forcefully, and my message was first from a humanitarian point of view and secondly, there had been court judgments that asked that he be released, even though the federal government had appealed. We keep hoping that the due process of the law be upheld, or that he be granted amnesty. For me, my primary reason for calling for his release is not so that criminals who have tasted blood will stop. they will not stop until you kill them. Now, IpOB will issue a statement to stop criminality, and simon ekpa will issue a counter. Now that both of them (Kanu and ekpa) are in detention, why haven’t the criminals stopped? I called for Kanu’s release because I believe when he comes out, I will sit with him this way I’m sitting with you and interrogate those ideas he has. Igbos have never sat to debate the merits and demerits of these agitations. people just shout that we are being marginalised, we have never interrogated it. We are only thinking we are being marginalised in terms of how many GOCs we have. these things happening now is the one that will marginalise Igbo more in centuries to come. they are doing recruitment for soldiers, you will not apply, you say you are Biafra, that you’re not Nigerian; we are recruiting police, no we are Biafrans, we are not going. this was what that uwazuruike guy caused us during the 2006 census. He refused for our people to be counted and population is one of the criteria for distribution of resources, and you will sit down and say they are marginalising us. so I pray that Nnamdi Kanu will get out, and we sit like this to discuss.

What peer review mechanism is the South East governors’ forum putting in place to ensure that development is happening simultaneously across the zone?

We are having this conversation at the south east Governors’ Forum. I think this crop of governors in the zone from what I saw from afar with the previous team, I think this is the most cohesive. In terms of measuring development, I will say that the peer review mechanism is not formalised, but it exists and we call each other to share thoughts and discuss development and we thank God that we now have the south east development Commission. Let’s see how it goes in terms of resources available. south east integration is key, but let me say that it is already integrated, there is free movement around the zones for people from all the states. What we are talking about is to collaborate or coordinate investments in some public good. Like the eastern rail line, which personally, I’m hopeful the regional development commission can really get things moving in that conversation. Like I said, anambra has their own master plan, we have enugu, abia, and others. But now we have a central commission that can help put everything together. But one thing is clear to me, the governors of the south east are very intentional about moving the sub-region forward, and that very encouraging. as a full-blooded Igbo man, I believe that the future of an Igbo man is better served in a united Nigeria than in a divided Nigeria.

Michael Dosunmu: Why We Need to Fix Nigeria’s Primary Education

Westerfield College recently received the approval of the government of the United Kingdom to open a campus in the United Kingdom. The founder of the institution, Mr. Michael Dosunmu, talks about what it means for a Nigerian educational institution to expand to the UK. Dike Onwuamaeze brings the excerpt:

What informed your decision to establish the Westerfield College in The United Kingdom when you have not conquered most Nigerian cities?

If the definition of conquering Nigeria is to be in every state or every metropolitan in the country, then that is not a vision for us. The beauty of education, especially at the higher level, is that universality that makes the institution a melting pot for cross-cultural learning. The goal is not to be in every State or every metropolis in Nigeria. And if you ask me, we have conquered Nigeria because we are exactly where we want to be. We purposely built our first school in Yaba, Lagos State. So we are intentional about exactly what we wanted to do; the kind of education we wanted to deliver, which was what we did in our first ever campus in Yaba. When Yaba became too small, God granted us grace to be where we are now in Victoria Island, which is six times bigger than Yaba. We also wanted to carter for the northern part of Nigeria. So, our next school after that in Lagos is Kano. It was a strategic move to Kano. We are also in Abuja, which is a nice melting pot for Nigeria. Abuja defines Nigeria and is home for all Nigerians. Abuja typifies the spirit of Nigeria. So, for me, we have conquered Nigeria. On what informed our choice for the United Kingdom (UK)? The programmes we offer in Nigeria are predominantly British programmes. What we offer here is called International Foundation Programme and the Cambridge A Levels. These are programmmes that are geared toward getting students into the UK. It is called sixth form education in the UK. And that is what we offer. We set out as a British school from the very first day. We have world class mindset from the very beginning. We were careful about crafting the mission, vision, goals and core values of the school. The culture that informs the way we drive the school is global from the very beginning and we did not want to do a school that is just of Nigerian standard. The UK expansion is actually because our vision has been global from day one. We wanted to teach students from Asia, Europe, and America. In the world there are places that are called source markets for students and there are places that are called destination markets for students. Nigeria is not yet a destination market for students at the moment. But we are proudly Nigerian and that vision of teaching the world still remains and wherever it can be actualised we will go out and do it. The UK has a history of being an amazing study destination. It is maybe the top-one or top-two in the world. The UK is a very strong and renowned destination that sells itself. It lends credence to what we are doing, especially as our programme is built around the British educational system.

What were your educational and career background before you started the Westerfield College?

I got into University of Lagos (Unilag) as a teenager. It was the only university that I had wanted to attend. I studied Mass Communication. Before I got to the Unilag I had been presenting on radio and television. My dream in life was to be a radio or television broadcaster because I had been doing teenage programmes on Ray Power radio and the African Independent Television (AIT). May God bless those who set up Unilag’s Department of Mass Communication that prepared me for what I am doing today. I got my first job when I was a year two student at Unilag. It started when I was in year two and was invited to speak at a welcome party for British universities visiting Nigeria. I was 19 then. I attended and was asked if I wanted a job by one of the universities, the University of Bedfordshire that was called the University of Luton at the time. The job waited for me for two years so that I would finish from Unilag. That was how this whole journey started for me. Later on I went to the UK to study human resource management at the masters’ level at the University of Hertfordshire, which is where my career actually started. My job was to build the university’s brand in Nigeria. I did that for five years before Westerfield College started. Also I went to the University of Northern Carolina in the United States of America where I studied for MBA.

How did you end up a proprietor of an educational institution seeing that you had no background in education?

It started with an offer to stay in Nigeria and work for the University of Luton. It introduced me to the marketing of education. I did that for the university for four years. Then I left and set up my business in Nigeria to represent and build the brand of the University of Hertfordshire in Nigeria for five years. My first business was called Mode Education that recruits students into post graduate courses and undergraduate courses for what is called foundation programme in an embedded college that offer pre-university courses, which is called Year Zero in The UK. That recruitment into Year Zero programmes was what birthed Westerfield College. Some students from Nigeria were admitted in The UK at the age of 16 and 17. It gave me an opportunity to see them from when they were very young in Nigeria and how they transition in The UK and how that transition affected them. Because

of my position I could see the rather unsavory part of this transition at their young age. I then decided that it will be nice for us to create a school in Nigeria where the students can study for an extra year and mature more before going to The UK. It was solving this problem that informed the setting up the Westerfield College.

How are you structuring your template for the UK’s campus of Westerfield College?

The template we have deployed in Nigeria is what we are going to take global. We have a working Nigeria system at Westerfield College, which is what we are going to export. So, we are going to be a proudly Nigerian school in The UK. We are going to be ambassadors of Nigeria in The UK. We owe a responsibility to Nigeria to do it well and ensure that people can say good things about Nigeria. Our vision is to impact the child, impact the world and success story for us is a story of changed lives. Our goal is to have students who can attribute their successes to the experience they had at Westerfield College. This is exactly what we are going to take to the world.

Will you be targeting the Nigerian community in the UK?

No. Our target in the UK is not the Nigerian community. We intend to be a proudly Nigerian school in the UK that is teaching students from all over the world. It does not matter to us where the kids are coming from. At the moment, we have established offices in 10 countries. We are in China, India, Botswana, Egypt, Morocco, Ghana, The UK, U.S.A, Kenya, Saudi Arabia and Kuwait. The impact is what matters.

What unique offerings will you be providing to make your UK school a proudly Nigerian educational institution?

The programmes we are delivering here are not from Nigerian curriculum. We offer British education system. And we are going to offer that in The UK. In terms of things that will make us proudly Nigeria: the first is food. We are going to have British foods and at the same time have a global café that will sell Nigerian foods like jollof rice, suya, etc. Secondly, Nigerian music is global at the moment. So do not be shocked when you see Davido, Whiskey, Bona Boy, etc. Our campus in Midland, United Kingdom, is very beautiful. It is close to 100 acres of land with rolling hills and clock tower that was used in the world war. (People travel to London to see the Big Ben, so we have the Big Ben on the campus). I worship at Daystar Christian Centre and there is going to be a youth church of Daystar on the campus. There are good things in the culture of Nigeria. Everything good about our culture in raising young people

will be promoted while keeping with the culture of the UK. We have halls of residence for girls and boys. We have a stable so that people can ride horses. We have swimming pools, football pitches, lawn tennis courts, cricket pitch, and our own Japanese garden. We have a lake and people can fish on campus. But we are going to be very exclusive and selective. Only the best 150 students across the world will be accepted in the school every year.

Is the land a purpose-built school?

The site has been a school since 1916.

Are there Nigerians in Diaspora who are bringing their children to Westerfield College in Nigeria?

Yes! There are lots of Nigerians in diaspora who like to send their kids here. That happens.

What are your views on how to strengthen the Nigerian educational system?

There is a lot of emphasis right now on the university system when you hear government’s policies. But I think that that is not where the problem is. What I will recommend is to go far below the university system and fix the elementary education. It is sickening that we have Nigerian university graduates who cannot speak English which is the sole language of instruction in Nigeria. But you do not learn to speak English in the university. You learn it in the primary school and not even secondary school. I think that what we need to do in Nigeria is to fix the primary level of education. It is broken from that stage and that is what my recommendation will be to the government. We need to fix primary and secondary education and the university will fix itself eventually.

What has been the success rate of Westerfield College?

There are two success rates you can measure. The first one is academic success, which is 100 per cent for students who complete their courses. For progression to university, it stands right now at 95 per cent. We are proud to say that we have 95 per cent of our students being placed into universities across the world, including Nigeria. We currently have our students in 100 universities around the world in Canada, Australia, The UK, United States of America, Grenada, Spain, Hungary, France, Republic of Ireland, Nigeria, and Ukraine. Grenada is a very important country for us because it has one of the best medical schools in the world, the St. George’s University School of Medicine. Students come to Westerfield College and take a three-term program, which gives them access into third year of the medical school.

What are the programmes Westerfield College will be offering in the UK?

We are going to offer five different programmes. In Nigeria, we are offering two programmes. We offer an international foundation programme with 10 streams that are designed after faculties in the universities such as law, engineering, etc. These foundation programmes are further broken down into destinations. We have a foundation programme for the UK, USA, Canada and Australia. They are all under the International Foundation Programme. Then we have the A’Level Cambridge programme, which is a two year programme that gets students into first year university study in any country. In the UK we are offering additional set of programmes. We are still going to offer the same foundation programme with the exception that it is not going to be designed to take you to any other country. You must go to a UK university. What we will offer in the UK is called degree foundation programme. The second programme is the Cambridge A’Level. The third programme is Summer Camp for children from age 10 up to 17 only for the holiday period. We will also offer a range of English programme such as the EAP: English for Academic Purposes and the ESOL, which is English for Speakers of Other Languages. It is for students from countries like China where English is not widely spoken. They come to us to study one year English course to get them ready for university. The EAP is where students learn specialised English for a particular degree. Our fifth programme is Pre-Masters that is open to students from any country in the world whose bachelor’s degree is deemed inadequate to get them into universities. They come to us to study one semester course and that will prepare them, upscale their academic and English language ability to get into the universities. These are the five programmes that we offer in the UK.

What challenges did you encounter while trying to set up in the UK?

First, it took us four years of mostly rejection to find the right place to site the school. It was a difficult process of being able to afford it but just couldn’t get it. We experienced rejection at site where the school is presently sited until it came through. But getting approval from the government was not difficult.

Dosunmu

Debo Adeniran: Nigeria Needs Fresh Ideas to Tackle Threats to Food Security

The last few years have particularly been challenging for Nigerians in terms of food availability and cost. Executive Director, R & A Farm Limited, Debo Adeniran, discusses the current food situation in the country and some of the measures his company is taking to support the government to tackle the challenges of food supply in the country. Oluchi Chibuzor brings the excerpts:

What is your assessment of the food supply situation in the country?

It is quite serious and should generate concern for all stakeholders. The country currently faces not less than 50 percent gap in the local production-local demand gap for grains and other staples. Prices are at unprecedented levels, levels that could not have been imagined even in war situations. We know because our company is there. Items like cassava and maize where Nigeria should have comparative advantage as one of the largest producers in the world are scarce for domestic consumption and industrial use because we cannot cultivate enough. The result is what we are seeing and so there is an urgent need for intervention by all stakeholders.

What is majorly responsible for this situation?

The desire by all of us to focus on quick and easy money provided by the oil and gas industry while neglecting what had always been the mainstay of our existence, which is agriculture. We probable never knew that the day of reckoning would come but it is here. And sincerely we haven’t seen anything yet if we don’t face the issue of agriculture squarely. At some point in the future, oil and gas will become less fashionable despite the focus of some major governments in the world to continue to drill, baby drill. But food will never become obsolete as long as the human society is in existence. We failed to give agriculture the desired priority, despite accounting for over 40 percent of our GDP. Now, we have to deal with the unfortunate consequences of this action by all of us.

How do you think the government can address the problem of food scarcity in Nigeria?

Governments at all levels, particularly the federal government, needs to come up with fresh ideas to address the problem of food security. In my opinion, this is about the most urgent challenge Nigerians today. Unfortunately, it is not a problem that can be treated in isolation. To address the problem of food, the government will have to address so many other

problems like security, like infrastructure, like regulations like financing and so on. But they can take it one after the other. But a critical way forward could be to work directly with some big farmers and operators through a set of structured interventions that will include provisions of critical infrastructure in operation areas, long-term term quasi debt financing, focused security plans and waivers and concessions, all tied to a set of KPIs for the operators selected.

Tell us about R & A Farm?

R & A Farm is an integrated food system business focused on expanding access to indigenous healthy African foods by Africans within and outside the African continent. The company operates across the different value chain of the food system, including cultivation, aggregation, milling, processing, wholesale distribution, retailing and exports.

What’s the motivation behind setting up the business?

The promoters are people with deep background in the food

value chain business. We noticed over time that despite considerable efforts being made by governments at different levels, the food scarcity problem just seems not to be going away. For what we call the major Nigerian staples like rice, beans, maize, garri, etc., there is at least forty percent shortage in local production. So inadvertently, Nigeria and indeed Africa cannot feed itself. So we have to keep importing to make up for the shortfall, depressing the economy and creating joblessness along the way. Unfortunately, agriculture seems to be one of the very few areas where Nigeria has comparative advantage. While sectors like technology, property development, financial services and so on sound trendy, they have very limited potential to create competitive advantage for our country at the moment, create jobs and lift many of our people out of poverty. So the R & A Farm concept is our intervention to help in addressing the food crisis.

What’s different about how you do your business compared to other operators in the food system sector?

We are very particular about the healthy and climate-friendly production system. Many literature on personal diets tend to focus on healthy consumption, which is good. In R & A Farm however, we believe that healthy consumption should be preceded by healthy production. We notice that the craving for huge profitability is driving many operators in an unethical direction. Some people add chemicals to oil to make it red, grow plantains with carbide, mix cassava with paracetamol and so on. The food production sector has also become a victim of our dysfunctional system. This problem is what we seek to address.

What is Ramadan Discount Market all about?

Ramadan Discount Market is just as the name implies. It is a platform created to support Muslims in their spiritual endeavors in the holy month of Ramadan. It provides opportunities for Muslims and even non-Muslims to buy food items, non-alcoholic beverages, prayer items, gifts and so on in preparation for Ramadan at heavily discounted prices. Beyond foods and drinks, there will also be doctors and nutritionists who shall be advice on fasting diets during Ramadan, particularly for those that have health challenges. Lectures, giveaway, sponsorships and consultations on hajj and umrah are also part of the programme.

Government relations & Public affairs Manager, International breweries Plc (IbPLC), Christopher Obi with assistant Corps Marshal Operations, Federal road Safety Commission (FrSC), aCM Hyginus Omeje, during the donation of reflective Jackets to the Corps Marshal of FrSC in abuja

L-r: Plant Manager, Lafarge africa Plc, Philip anaobi; Trainee, akanbi aderonke; Head of Sustainability, Lafarge africa Plc, Gabriel Pollyn; and Head of Mining, Lafarge africa Plc. yusuf yakubu during the 3-day Capacity building Training For Geologists and Mining engineers in Ogun State Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment in ewekoro, Ogun State …recently

L-r: Managing Director, CandourCrest Finance, Debola agunbiade; Deputy High Commissioner of Canada to Nigeria, Lagos, Carlos roja-arbulu; Chairman, board of Trustees, Nigerian Canadian business association (NCba), ebi Obaro; and secretary, board of trustees, Zubbi Nwosu, during the NCba February business breakfast meeting in Lagos…. yesterday.

L-r; Special adviser to the President on Industry and Trade, John uwajumogu; Hon Minister of State for Industry, Trade and Investment, Senator John Owan enoh; Director General, Standard Organisation of Nigeria, Dr Ifeanyi Okeke; and Director, SON, Talatu ethan during the Minister’s tour of SON facility in Lagos…..yesterday SuNDay aDIGuN

adeniran

Life and Times of Pa Ayo Adebanjo

In a poignant coincidence, Afenifere Chieftain, Pa Ayo Adebanjo passed away on Valentine’s Day, February 14, 2025, at the age of 96, leaving behind a legacy of love and devotion to his country and people. According to a family statement, he died peacefully at his residence in Lekki, bringing to a close a life dedicated to the pursuit of justice, equality, and true federalism. As Nigerians mourn the loss of this nationalist and statesman, they also remember his unwavering commitment to the values of love, unity, selflessness, and patriotism to the country, which Valentine’s Day embodies, writes Sunday Ehigiator

Early Years and Political Roots

Chief Adebanjo’s life spanned nearly a century, during which he witnessed and played a significant role in shaping Nigeria’s history.

Born on April 10, 1928, he lived through the country’s constitutional processes: the struggle for independence, party politics, the civil war, military rule, and the return to democracy.

Adebanjo’s involvement in politics began early, as he joined the Zikists in 1943, following Dr. Nnamdi Azikiwe, and later became a member of the youth wing of the Action Group in 1951.

This marked a defining moment in his life, as he became a mentee and political disciple of the late Chief Obafemi Awolowo, adhering to the principles of ‘Awoism’, which emphasises free education, free healthcare, rural development, and federalism. For 67 years, Adebanjo remained faithful to these ideals, earning him a reputation as a dedicated advocate for democracy, good governance, and Yoruba interests. Throughout his life, he was known for his integrity, fearlessness, and commitment to justice, never hesitating to speak truth to power.

Marriage and Family Life

During his studies in the United Kingdom in the late 1950s, Adebanjo met his wife, Mrs. Christiana Modupe Adebanjo. They married during that period, and their union lasted for several decades.

Throughout his political career, Mrs. Adebanjo remained a pillar of support, standing by him through the highs and lows of his activism. She survives him, along with their children, grandchildren, and greatgrandchildren.

The 1962 Felony Charge and Exile

Adebanjo’s life has been marked by his unwavering commitment to his political beliefs, even in the face of adversity.

In 1962, he was charged with treasonable felony alongside 30 others during the tumultuous period of the Action Group and Chief Obafemi Awolowo’s trial for treasonable felony. This led to his exile in Ghana, but he continued to advocate for his principles.

Following the annulment of the

June 12, 1993 election, which was won by Chief MKO Abiola of the then Social Democratic Party, Adebanjo was one of the chieftains of the National Democratic Coalition (NADECO).

He joined protests, stood at the barricades, and made his voice heard. Members of the democratic coalition and other groups in civil society were shot at, harassed, and humiliated, and their family members were intimidated. Used to the dangers of political life in a dangerous society, Adebanjo’s resolve remains unshaken, even in the winter season of his life.

When he fled into exile in 1962, his father was arrested, detained and rough-handled by the state. Many of Adebanjo’s colleagues have died in the course of the struggle. Some moved to the other side of the fence. Others adjusted in later life.

Adebanjo’s Politics of Ideology

The very essence of Chief Adebanjo’s politics lies in his consistency, his unwavering commitment to ideas rather than opportunism, his courage in the face of fire and intimidation, the life of sacrifice that he has lived, and his loyalty to ‘Awo’ and ‘Awoism’. On this last score, he may, in fact be described as the last of the original

‘Awoists’.

Chief Ayo Adebanjo’s politics have been shaped by his strong commitment to ideology and party politics, particularly Awoism. This is significant, especially in today’s Nigeria, where politics is often driven by a desperate search for power rather than core beliefs or principles.

Many politicians in Nigeria today struggle to articulate their beliefs, and some have even switched between five different political platforms with contradictory ideologies in under a decade.

Adebanjo’s political journey began in 1951 when he joined the Action Group (AG), followed by stints with the Unity Party of Nigeria (UPN), the progressive democratic coalition, and the Alliance for Democracy (AD).

However, when the AD transformed into the Action Congress of Nigeria (CAN), Adebanjo distanced himself and focused on leading the Afenifere, a pan-Yoruba socio-cultural group committed to ‘Awoist ideology’.

‘Awoism and the Awoist Ideology’

So, what exactly is Awoism? At its core, Awoism advocated for public good, including free education, healthcare, and prosperity for all, as well as rural development and welfarism.

The Action Group, the Unity Party of Nigeria, and the Alliance for Democracy had consistently preached the same ideology of public good: free education, health, prosperity for all, rural development and welfarism.

It was on this platform that Chief Obafemi Awolowo transformed the Western region as a leader in the First and Second Republics, and it is these same principles that have continued to guide those who profess to be ‘Awoists’.

But Awoism, in a real sense, is not just about service delivery, it is also a mode of engagement with the rest of Nigeria by a group of political actors in the Western region.

These actors are committed to federalism, a restructuring of Nigeria, regional autonomy, and a re-negotiation of the mandate of 1914. In real terms, these are the same issues that have caused much political difference in Nigeria. Awoists naturally align with minorities across Nigeria, historical circumstances, particularly the civil war, pitched them against Igbos, and hegemonic politics pitted them against the mainstream Northern political establishment.

Chief Ayo Adebanjo was one of the most vocal, unrelenting apostles of Awoism in Nigeria. His loyalty and religious devotion should be worthy of study.

He believed that Nigeria must be restructured and that Nigeria’s unity was indeed negotiable, the basis for that having been established in 1954 and the subsequent Lancaster House conferences.

As a member of the 1978 Constituent Assembly and the 2014 National Political Conference, Adebanjo has been consistent in demanding a restructuring of Nigeria through the vehicle of a Sovereign National Conference.

He believed almost with thuggish resolve in federalism, as he continually made the point that Nigeria, as presently arranged, was doomed to fail.

Beyond Politics

Beyond politics, Adebanjo, originally a journalist before he went to study law in England, has proven to be media-savvy.

Adebanjo

TribuTe

Last of the Originals

WhenthelateChiefAyoAdebanjomarkedhis90thbirthdaysixyearsago,hisfamilycommissionedacollectionoftributes publishedinacoffeetablebookentitled,ALegacyofConsistency.Thisessaywasculledfromthatbookoftributes.

Eniola Bello

It is one thing to grow to the ripe old age of 90. Many have hit that milestone bedridden – unable to see nor hear nor walk nor eat nor remember - having been weighed down by diseases associated with old age, reduced to a vegetative state, an uneasy burden on children and family members. It is yet a different thing to, at 90, still have the physical and mental strength to be socially active – up and about without any form of assistance, human or technological. Chief Ayo Adebanjo is one of the very few nonagenarians who has defied the disabilities of old age, and remains physically strong and mentally alert. Some have attributed such uncommon blessing to heredity, Chief Adebanjo having been well into his 70s when his father died. However, genes alone couldn’t have made this possible without personal discipline derived from good breeding. Like men of his generation, Adebanjo was raised on a strict moral code. He once told an interviewer (Vanguard February 19, 2011), “In our days, moral instruction was one of the things that were very important…. Every morning in the CMS Grammar School, before we left for classes, there was a moral instruction where they talked about the evil in the society and we were taught how to guide against it…Through all those moral lessons, I got the character of godliness, straightforwardness and honesty in public life, and even private life.”

Chief Adebanjo’s politics of ideology, fidelity to principle, and unbendable dedication to a cause was forged in the fire of the strict moral code in his early life. In 71 years of politics and political activism, Adebanjo has remained consistent, an apostle of Obafemi Awolowo’s political philosophy of Social Democracy, and an advocate of a

restructured Nigeria to a federation in line with the principles of the 1963 Constitution. Adebanjo, unlike many of today’s politicians, makes his living from law and not from politics. Most of those claiming to be Awoists have hopped from one party to another in a bid to occupy elective or appointive offices, while acquiring wealth for its own sake in the process.

Chief Adebanjo has, at different times, walked the political minefield of treasonable felony trial, exile and detention, and yet stayed the course. One of the last of the original Awoists, men who could be counted on the fingers of one hand, Adebanjo has continued to espouse the principles of Awoism from the time of the Action Group in the first republic, through the days of the Unity Party of Nigeria in the second republic, to the Alliance for Democracy in

Life and Times of Pa Ayo Adebanjo

He was not shy in expressing his views. He understood the power of the media. He was brutally frank and was an engaging conversationalist. He enjoyed public engagement, was intellectually gifted and confident enough to hold his own in any argument.

You can’t bully him. Journalists liked to interview him, knowing that he would speak his mind truthfully and forthrightly and thus help to sell the newspapers.

When he called those who disagree with him ideologically names, as he was known to do, he reinforced his persona as a professional opposition figure and as a self-styled superior moral force; at the same time, though, he plays up certain contradictions even at his own local, ethnic, base.

Awoists, by nature and choice, are professonal opposition politicians. There also seems to be a consensus among them that anyone who disagrees or falls out of line with them is to be vilified.

Adebanjo’s confidence and fearlessness earned him respect but also sometimes led to controversy, as he was not afraid to speak his mind and criticise those he disagreed with.

NADECO Struggles

Following the annulment of the general election of June 12, 1993, which was won by Moshood Kashimawo Abiola of the Social Democratic Party (SDP), Adebanjo was one of the chieftains of the National Democratic Coalition (NADECO) who protested against the military government’s decision. Adebanjo joined protests, stood at barricades and made his voice heard. Members of the coalition and other civil society groups were shot at, harassed and humiliated at the time.

“I have told people that my problem with the annulment has nothing to do with MKO Abiola as an individual. My problem with that annulment also has nothing to do with the fact that Abiola is a Yoruba man. Even if the annulment had been against a Chukwuemeka or a Dan Fulani or an Essien Udom or Isokrari James, I would still have opposed that annulment the way I have always opposed it,” Pa Adebanjo had said in a 2020 interview.

“Look, 14 million Nigerians voted. Why should one man, just one man, decide that he would annul that

the present dispensation. Not lost on him was what he first learnt in 1947, when as an organising secretary in the Action Group, the late Chief Obafemi Awolowo had said at a seminar: “You don’t have to tell any lie to the people. Just tell them what we will do. Tell them what is wrong in the society that we are going to correct.”

In today’s politics of “Change”, it seems to win elections you need to tell the people a basket of lies and promise to do what you may not be able to in 10 life times. It could be argued that throughout the different phases of Nigeria’s political development, first Awolowo, then his followers, failed to work out the right strategy to acquire power at the centre. Indeed, at the beginning of this political dispensation in 1999, the national political establishment conceded the country’s presidency to the southwest, in

election? What right does one man have to say that he is annulling an election? In a country where people voted just one man annulled the election, why?.”

Notable Disputes

As stated previously, Chief Adebanjo was an adherent to the Awoist ideology, which emphasises social justice, federalism, and good governance. Throughout his career, he remained committed to these principles, often criticising those who deviated from them.

This led to public feuds with notable figures like Olusegun Obasanjo, Bola Ige, President Bola Tinubu, and Prof. Yemi Osinbajo, whom he accused of compromising on Awoist values.¹

Adebanjo’s unwavering stance has been both praised and criticised. Some saw him as a champion of integrity and accountability, while others viewed him as inflexible and divisive.

His criticisms of those who engaged in national politics rather than adhering to regional ideologies used to spark debates about the role of ideologues in shaping regional politics.

The deceased in and out of party politics upheld and sustained the same tradition that saw him blacklisting Samuel Ladoke Akintola, Adegoke Adelabu, Remi FaniKayode, Oduola Osuntokun, Meredith Akinloye, Richard Akinjide or anyone at all who dared to play “national politics” or question the core beliefs of the Awoist group.

Hence, today, in his autobiography, ‘Telling it as it is,’ Chief Adebanjo flagellated Olusegun Obasanjo, whom he accused of not being a Yoruba man or not being Yoruba enough, and so on.

apparent compensation for the annulment of the June 12, 1993, presidential election and the death, in detention, of Chief MKO Abiola, the winner of that election. Even at that, the Awo group or Afenifere, as represented in the Alliance for Democracy, the Yoruba mainstream political establishment, could still not cobble together a winning formula. Indeed, the processes leading to the selection of the party’s presidential candidate caused a schism, and the bitterness arising therefrom resulted in the decimation of the party and its loss of the southwest in the 2003 elections. Some have attributed the crisis in the Alliance for Democracy to the Afenifere Conclave of Elders, particularly the Ijebu quartet of Adebanjo, the late Abraham Adesanya, Olanihun Ajayi and Solanke Onasanya – their insistence on the old ways of doing things, their refusal to embrace new ideas, their failure to allow compromises, and their desire to have the party acquire power on its own terms. No matter. Adebanjo, like those men of his generation, at least stood for something. He exuded strength, courage, mental fortitude, and stood up to authority when the Yoruba were being persecuted by the administration of the late General Sani Abacha. His is still a loud voice in the campaign for a better deal for the people in a restructured Nigeria. His is a constantly stringent voice against the politics of cant and deceit. Passionate about Nigeria and robustly aggressive in pushing his cause, Adebanjo is an example of how to serve the country outside of government. Have the people been better served by the Renaissance Awoists who undermined the Adebanjo generation to chart a different path? The jury is still out. In Adebanjo’s politics, however, are three immutable attributes - consistency, loyalty, and integrity. Nigeria would be better served should those in government take a dose of these attributes.

The late Bola Ige was similarly portrayed as a traitor because he chose to join national politics and worked for Obasanjo. In various interviews, Chief Adebanjo was on record as having criticised Tinubu, Osinbajo and others for daring to work with either Obasanjo or Muhammadu Buhari, who, in his view, was nothing but a confirmed “disappointment.”

Farewell

Chief Ayo Adebanjo, who passed away at 96, lived a life of purpose and conviction. Though he may not have seen the realisation of his dreams for a restructured Nigeria, he could take pride in his remarkable life’s work. As a champion of democracy and good governance, Adebanjo remained steadfast in his commitment to the ideals of Chief Obafemi Awolowo, advocating for true federalism, social justice, and regional autonomy. Throughout his life, Adebanjo played a significant role in shaping Nigeria’s political landscape, from his early days as a member of the Action Group to his leadership in the Afenifere. His unwavering dedication to democratic principles earned him respect across political and ethnic lines.

Though he may not have received national honours nor had a university named after him in his lifetime, Adebanjo’s legacy as a selfless leader who stood by his principles will endure.

His life serves as a testament to the power of conviction, integrity, and service to one’s people and country. May his family, friends and the entire nation which he has so impacted be comforted by the memory of his principles and conviction, as put by Malcolm X, “A man who stands for nothing will fall for anything.” Rest well, Pa (Chief) Ayo Adebanjo!

Adebanjo

Adebanjo

Ferdinand Ekechukwu - 08035011394

Email: ferdi_adthisday@yahoo.com

Alariwo of Africa: For Me, Music Was Hobby, Not Profession

Years after he made a name in the entertainment scene, veteran musician, broadcaster and compere, Oluwarotimi Martins, popularly known as Alariwo of Africa is still very much in the business of making music. Having taken a backseat for some time to focus on other interests, Alariwo believes he’s still relevant and hasn’t given up on music. The once-controversial figure speaks to Ferdinand Ekechukwu on a number of subjects, covering his, background, time, and chance in the industry. Excerpts…

Wherehaveyoubeen?

I’ve been around. I took a backseat because I have other things that I’m doing; I’m exploring in so many ways. I run my own little Pr Company. I’m a broadcaster; I’m a journalist like you and I run a production company so to say. I have a studio; an audio/visual studio. So I’m into so many things and I’m still doing music at the background. but for now, I’m just keeping it on a low. I have got 33 songs recorded. So when the time is right we will bring it out one after the other. but the truth is promotion is very expensive. and it’s a bit tough to do such at the moment. Social media is part of the thing that can help. but we need to do it and do it properly.

IrecallyourlastsongDemNoFit,ifI’mnotwrong,wasin 2021 or thereabout?

yes, Dem No Fit, but I have not done the video. I’m taking my time because musical videos are expensive… Dem No Fit. I also did another one as well I shot the video in america and Dubai; titled ‘Darling’. The video is on youTube. AlariwoofAfrica,whydidn’tyousayAlariwoofNigeria? Howdidyoucomeaboutthatmoniker?

I started with alariwo of Oregun when I was living at Oregun. So I met my sponsor and mentor, his name is Obafemi Lasode, the man behind Sango. He came to a barbing salon where I was squatting with some of my friends and all the songs that were playing on the screen I was singing all of them he was wondering who’s this young chap? and he asked my name and I told him he said oh wow…ok I have a studio on the Island, come let’s see what we can do for you. From there I became his musical video director then I met my producer, Nelson brown. He produced ‘yawa go Gas’ (his debut single).

WereyousignedtoNelsonBrownatsomepoint?

No, I was not. Nelson is my friend. Still produces my song till tomorrow. I got the studio time from Femi Lasode. He was a producer that comes to Femi Lasode’s studio to produce. So from there I did my song and then whilst I was still with Femi Lasode, one day I met King Sunny ade there and I greeted him and Femi Lasode said that’s my boy his name is alariwo of Oregun. and Sunny ade said, alariwo of Oregun, no you are alariwo of africa. Since then I became alariwo of africa. and it got stuck. I adopted the name because Sunny ade was King Sunny ade and the Golden Mercury of africa.

IhaveheardyoubeartheCrossoverKing…

Good. It was an award given to me at a specific university. They had an event and their MC was not available I took over as the MC. The comedian they wanted to invite agreed, collected I think N2,000 and didn’t show up. The comedian is a big name now in Nigeria. I anchored, I cracked jokes and I also sang. So on that day, they were wondering he sang, he anchored, cracked jokes…wow! after then I was nominated at FaMe Music award, aMeN award, I was given the same award as the Crossover artiste of year. That was how the name, the Crossover King came up. So anybody that addresses me will address me as the crossover king alariwo of africa.

YouseemtohavelivedmostlyinLagos,whatfondmemories doyouhaveofthecity?

I was born in Lagos 56 years ago. I was born in a place called Fadeyi. I grew up partially in Fadeyi and Mushin. From there moved down to Ojota, from Ojota moved down to Ogba, I now live here. Growing up in Lagos was peaceful and lively. We were educated via the television. about going to school, television gave us the best education. Very educative you know and things were easy then. I remember the first television my father bought was 30 naira. It was interesting back then. We had odd and even numbers. My father had two cars. It was fun, it was family oriented lifestyle and we enjoyed ourselves then things were smooth and easy going. I lived in a boarding house. I attended Victory Home School in Ikeja. The school is still there. and it was a wonderful experience.

Whatkindofchildwereyougrowingupwereyouexposed to music?

I was a very stubborn child but very respectful to my father; disrespected my mum a lot because I was close to my mum. but my father was very strict. My father was a lover of music. I loved music because my father made me love music but he didn’t want me to do music. but while he was infusing music into my life he didn’t know. but I started creating a love for and

Alariwo

passion for music through my dad. He wakes up in the morning he will be playing the music of Jim reeves, playing the music of Don Williams, bob Marley, rex Lawson, Osita Osadebe, Sunny ade, and ebenezer Obey. Saturdays in the morning he will be playing Fela. My father influenced my musical career without him knowing. but along the line I started building the interest myself and that was how I ventured into music.

Youwereexposedtothemusicoftheselegendsyou mentionedFela,VictorOlaiya,SunnyAdeandthelikes, growingup.Whatimpactdidthathaveonyouandyour music?

The impact it had was because all the people I mentioned were all Nigerians excluding Jim reeves, and bob Marley. They were all Nigerians and all their songs were meaningful and their songs were deep. and they were philosophical. They impacted my musical career, with emphasis to Fela you know. When I was young I never really enjoyed Fela. but when I started growing up I started listening to Fela’s music more and I became a ‘Felasopher’ so to say.

Felasopher,how?

a Felasopher is someone that loves afrobeat and started following the trend. yes, I’m a Felasopher.

Didyouevermeethimoneonone?

I didn’t meet him personally, but I was at the Shrine twice when he performed I was at the Shrine with a friend of mine called Weird MC and when we went together, we just went to watch him perform. I did not meet him physically. I just sat down and watched him perform. but I was highly inspired.

Musichasevolved;musicofsome15to20yearsago isnotthesameaswhatwehavenow.Whatwouldyou attribute to it?

Life itself evolves. It’s a natural thing. When the likes of Sunny ade, ebenezer Obey, Fela started they were putting in their best and gradually things started improving. When we started our own we started it in a way that we felt we should be a little more creative. I’m the first afrobeat artiste to play afrobeat with an infusion of hip-pop. because I felt that hip-pop would sell the afrobeat genre. So that was why I did it. The beat was strictly hip-pop, the message was complete afrobeat. and mind you, I play afrobeat, not afrobeats. So there’s a great difference. Fela was the originator, we are the followers or we were the followers. So when I created mine, everybody started following suit by doing hip-pop and doing afrobeat.

Youdidmentionyoudidafrobeatandbasicallynow whatwehavemostoftheseyoungactsdoingisafrobeats?

I’m still doing afrobeat. What they are doing is afro hip-pop. Luckily for them, someone in the uK couldn’t describe what they were playing and he called it afrobeats, which is still

an advantage for us because the genre is still within the african context so it’s still allowed and still giving credit and kudos to Fela anikulapo-Kuti. So it’s good enough.

ThekindofsongstheyplayImeantheyoungonesnowso manyofthemcreativeandtalentedartistes.Butthereseemstobe mixedopinionorshouldIsaymixedacceptanceofthekindof songstheyplay.Howdoyoufeelorwhat’syouropinionabout thesenewartistesandthekindofmusic/songstheychurnout?

Some of them are very creative, some of them are in the business to make money, some of them are in the business just to be known, there’s a great difference between being a musician and being an entertainer. Some of them are entertainers, we are edutainers, we are musicians, we are philosophers; we are musical philosophers. They are entertainers to the core. Now you could hear one beat with different verses, you can hear one beat with different songs, you understand. So they keep coming with different beat every time but the message is still a little bit on the vulgar and dirty part of life. Most of them their music has no direction it’s all about sex, drugs, money, violence, lifestyle. It doesn’t make sense. but most of them are singing what people want to hear and they are doing it properly to an extent.

Ifyouaretoworkwithanyoneofthem,whowouldthatbe?

Olamide I would like to work with; so many of them. but sincerely Olamide, Phyno, Flavour. There’s one young chap called Seyi Vibez I love his vibe, its deep. but tell me to pick first, I will pick Olamide.

WhyOlamide?

Olamide is creative; he’s a lyrical undertaker. He’s deep; he’s vast, humble and very supportive musically. He has empowered a lot of young talented musicians. I would like to work with Olamide.

Looking at your musical journey you had breaks at some point;abitofinconsistencyyouknow?

I wouldn’t say inconsistency, I’m a broadcaster, I was with a radio station and music for me was a hobby, and not profession. I was just making fun of Fela you know and people felt ‘oh I sounded like Fela’. That was how I decided to dig in and do it properly and professionally.

You’vehadsomegoodandbadpressatsomepointconsidering yourstatusthenintheentertainmentscene.Whichoneofthe goodandoneofthebadpressremainunforgettabletoyou? as a media personality, positive or negative publicity is publicity. So I wouldn’t say and as a Christian, I would not confess negativity within my vicinity. In life we make mistakes. and we learn from our mistakes. My best is yet to come because I’m a winner. and I do not want to remember the negative press. So I wouldn’t say this is the best and wouldn’t say this is the worst.

Butyourespondedtosomeofthosepress/storiesthenbecause you were actually in the news mostly then unlike what we have now that social media has taken over?

I was filled with controversy back then. but my controversies were positive controversies. Positive in the sense that as a Pr person, people didn’t understand what I was doing; I was trying to sell the alariwo brand and I sold it properly to my own ability and that was what I was doing. I like minding my business lately and taking it easy.

Your contemporaries, a good number of them who took musicfullyasacareer,atthemomentarestrugglingtomake a comeback to the scene or struggling to keep up with the pace of music. We can’t talk music now without technology, socialmedia.Coulditbethattheyfinditdifficulttokeepup withthepaceasaresultofthechangesintechnology?Ortheir musicisnolongerrelevanttowhatwehaveatthemoment? No, every song is relevant. My song is still highly appreciated if I get to France now at least five or six people will be parking trying to take me to my destination free of charge. Our kind of music is different from the kind of music that is being played now. Now music is a huge business investment. For you to invest in someone you need at least 200 million naira for starters. That’s why when some people say they are leaving their record label because of this and that I just say to them they don’t know what they are doing. Music is big business. If somebody wants to invest 200 million in my career right now I can assure you that my music would come back and it will be everywhere. My contemporaries not because they are not as talented as they used to be; it’s because there’s no fund to push it and if you don’t have someone that is ready to fund your project you have other responsibilities to take care of. I can beat my chest and tell you that I’m still absolutely relevant in the industry.

Mixed Reactions as 2Baba Proposes to Natasha Osawaru

Ferdinand ekechukwu and Tosin Clegg

Sometime in May 2016, Nigerian music icon, Innocent Idibia popularly known as 2face was conferred with an honorary degree by the Igbinedion university, edo State. The event was witnessed by his estranged wife, annie Idibia, the staff of the University, family, friends and fans.

It was not certain if his new lover, Natasha Igbinedion Osawaru, the deputy majority leader of edo State House of assembly, who by then was 23, was among the many excited guests at the occasion as the legendary artiste was bestowed with the honour.

The recognition was such that, 2baba, 49, then promised to use the opportunity to start a legacy program at the Igbinedion University to be based on music, to benefit upcoming artists… saying, “So once again I say a big thank you to Igbinedion university, Okada. One Love...”

Fast forward to 2025, 2baba and Natasha Osawaru, the granddaughter of Chief Gabriel Osawaru Igbinedion, founder of the university are all over the internet. as news of their romance swirl, 2babae was captured in a viral video as he proposed to Natasha.

a bit of Natasha’s bio says she is a graduate of law from Igbinedion university

and holds a Master’s degree in Film Production from Full Sail university united States. before joining politics, she was an advocate for youth and women’s development.

The singer who had barely weeks ago announced the split of his marriage to his long-time lover, annie, caught the attention of many online after a surprise appearance at the State House of assembly during a plenary last Monday, sparked rumours about his relationship with Natasha.

The rumours suggested that Natasha might have contributed to his separation from his wife, annie. However, in a video shared shortly after on Instagram, the music star clarified his relationship with Natasha that she has nothing to do with his current situation with annie.

announcing his relationship with Natasha, he shared a subsequent post about marriage. 2face opened up on his intentions for Natasha and spoke a little about his failed marriage with annie whom they had not been together for a while and have two daughters together.

He also expressed his affection for Natasha, stating, “yes, I love her. I want to marry her”. The ‘True Love’ crooner also defended Natasha, calling her a “young, brilliant, and amazing woman,” who has been unfairly labeled as a “home breaker”.

“I said what I said. all of us will be alright… Hon. Natasha, I see she

has been dragged; she has been called all sorts of names. She has been labelled as a home breaker. She is a young, brilliant and amazing woman,” he said.

“She has nothing to do with what’s happening between me and annie. but I see everybody trying to allegedly want to rope her into everything. yes, I love her. She is amazing, she is cool, I want to marry her.”

annie, an actress and model, has been married to 2baba since 2012, and they have two daughters together. Last month, the singer announced that he and Annie were filing for divorce. The news of their separation has continued to trigger backlash from fans, celebrities alike.

Popularly known as “Honourable Natasha,” 2baba’s rumored new love interest is a politician and a serving member of the edo State House of assembly, representing the egor Constituency under the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and was elected in april 2023.

a few days ago a video went viral when an Audemars Piguet wristwatch was flaunted and allegedly presented to Natasha by 2baba.

Thousands of comments have been shared on different social media platforms since the development unfolded and many worry over the state of annie Idibia at this time. The rash actions by 2baba apparently move on with his life seemed to worry thousands who have filled up comment sections with all kinds of negative and appalling statements.

The dismay by many is that the 49-yearold father of six chose to publicly declare his intention to marry another woman just barely after announcing his separation from his estranged wife, annie.

As 2baba’s whirlwind affair with Ms. Oshawaru continues to dominate headlines fueled and backed by photos and videos surfacing everywhere we can only anticipate or possibly imagine what the next phases of things would be as this steam continues. With the public interest on a high note many are left to wonder what turns the unfolding of this saga would be. Is there a more concrete confirmation in view or a grand wedding in anticipation? Only the next couple of days into weeks would tell as many remain in overdrive.

Tems Partner San Diego FC, Envisions Greater Opportunities for Younger Talents

From Lagos to San Diego, Grammy award-winning, Oscarnominated Nigerian singer-songwriter Tems officially joins San Diego FC ownership group as a club partner. In a joint Instagram post by both parties it features Tems talking about her love for football and how joining as a partner means a lot to her especially in view of many young talents that would be impacted by the club’s academy.

In her Instagram post she disclosed that, “I am so stoked to announce I have officially joined the@sandiegofc ownership group as a Club Partner. I get to be a part of a family that encompasses everything I believe in with the SDFCs @

right2dream initiative, which is all about giving young talents the opportunity to shine both on and off the field. This is more than a club-it’s a movement. Can’t wait for what’s ahead.”

Tems also reminisces that she used to watch her brother and his friends play football while she was younger. In an excerpt from the video she explains that, “I have always loved soccer and I have always been a fan of sports. To be very honest, music and sports they are kind of similar in a way that they give opportunities to the young talents and the young generation coming up.”

Several fans have come to throw their weight of support and applause for this major milestone which she has taken amplifying that is a thoughtful venture which further solidifies her stand as a global impact. Many consider her move strategic, focused driven and an example

JessenationJoins Stonebwoy on Planned North American Tour, Unveils New Single “Goosebumps”

afro-fusion artist Jessenation is making waves as he joins Ghanaian reggae-dancehall icon Stonebwoy on the up & running North american Tour. The tour kicks off on February 20th in Chicago at Outset, marking an exciting milestone in Jessenation’s career.

Fans are eager to witness his first major performance after cutting his signature dreadlocks—a bold transformation that

signals a new era for the rising star. renowned for his electrifying performances and seamless blend of afrobeat, reggae, and dancehall, Jessenation is set to captivate audiences across major cities, including New york, Los angeles, and Toronto. With a renewed artistic vision, he promises an unforgettable stage presence, delivering high-energy performances that showcase his evolution as an artist. adding to the excitement, Jessenation is gearing up for the release of his first single of 2025, Goosebumps, a track insiders predict will make a significant impact on the Afrobeats scene. “This is a defining moment for me,” Jessenation shared. “Cutting my dreadlocks was

more than just a change in appearance—it’s a new chapter, and I’m excited to bring that energy to the stage and my music.”

Speculation is also mounting about a possible collaboration between Jessenation and Stonebwoy, as the two artists have reportedly spent time in the studio together. If confirmed, this partnership could produce one of the biggest afro-reggae anthems of the year.

With his fresh sound, reinvigorated image, and an international platform alongside Stonebwoy, Jessenation is poised to leave an indelible mark on 2025. Fans can expect a thrilling showcase of afroreggae excellence as he embarks on this transformative journey.

of heights hardwork can take one to. Her Grammy win for Love Me Jeje was a major milestone for her this year and this partnership announcement coming in now just serves as an icing on the cake. Tems rose to prominence in 2019 with her breakout hit Try Me. Her international recognition soared after being featured on Wizkid’s essence, a chart-topping song that earned her several award nominations, including a Grammy. Throughout her career, she has received numerous accolades, including multiple NaaCP Image awards, a Soul Train Music award, and beT awards, solidifying her status as a global music sensation.

Looking ahead we can only expect more milestone achievements from Tems who keeps proving herself to many with the saying that what a man can do a woman can do much better.

2Baba

Tosin Clegg

Fido

Jessenation

Tosin Clegg

•Tourism •Arts&Culture

Promoting Nigeria’s Culture, National Cohesion Through INAC, NAFEST

Charles Ajunwa

Nigeria is blessed with abundant human and natural resources. With a population of over 200 million, scholars profess that the country’s manifest destiny is largely tied to its arts, crafts and culture.

Today, many nations of the world are leveraging on arts and culture not only to generate revenues but to promote peace, friendship and entrepreneurship.

Over the years, the National Council for Arts and Culture (NCAC), an agency under the Ministry of Art, Culture, Tourism and Creative Economy, through annual initiatives such as International Arts and Crafts (INAC) Expo and National Festival of Arts and Culture (NAFEST), promoted Nigeria’s rich cultural heritage locally and internationally.

Both events enjoyed the support of the Presidency, state governments, National Assembly, and Ministry of Art, Culture, Tourism and Creative Economy and relevant stakeholders.

Participation in these two annual events is usually drawn from the 36 states including the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), foreign missions, artist glee, Nigeria Crafts Council (NCC), States Craft Council (SCC), NGOs specialising in arts and culture, manufacturers and investors, Nigeria

Chamber of Commerce and Industry fashion houses, institutions, designers, corporate entities, market unions and all relevant stakeholders.

These events reached their greatest peaks during the tenure of the immediate past NCAC Director General, Olusegun Runsewe, who brought his years of experience, expertise and international exposure to bear on INAC Expo and NAFEST.

INAC formerly known as African Arts and Crafts (AFAC), was initiated in 2008 as an

annual event of the council with the aim of showcasing the rich and unique collections of African arts and crafts and as avenue to promote rural economy which boosted the nation’s gross domestic product (GPD).

Its objectives among others include promoting the import/export business of arts and crafts to the international community, sensitise investors on the need to invest in the arts and crafts sector, as a way of encouraging enterprise development

and export-oriented production, establishing an international arts and crafts market place in Africa.

Speaking at the 16th INAC Expo 2023 with the theme: ‘Networking Nigerian Crafts To The World,’ held in Abuja, Runsewe declared that it was important to keep an eye on the cultural exchange which fosters unity, social cohesion and promotes diversity and mutual understanding among states, countries, participants and visitors alike.

Musawa Stimulates Diaspora Investment with ‘Motherland 2025’ Project

As part of the roadmap to position Nigeria as a hub for African culture, investment and tourism, the Minister of Art, Culture, Tourism and Creative Economy, Hannatu Musawa, in partnership with Discover Motherland Africa, recently unveiled ‘Motherland 2025’ project.

Musawa at the launch held in Abuja, described ‘Motherland 2025’ project as more than a festival, adding that the transformative initiative aligns with the ministry’s “Destination 2030: Nigeria Everywhere’ strategy leveraging Nigeria’s rich

heritage, economy and tourism potential to drive global engagement.

“Motherland 2025 is more than a festival—it’s a homecoming. A movement inviting our global brothers and sisters to reconnect with their heritage while contributing to Nigeria’s economic and cultural renaissance. This initiative cements Nigeria’s role as a powerhouse of Black and African identity, commerce, and innovation.

“This is a call to the diaspora and beyond. ‘Motherland 2025’ is an opportunity to shape Nigeria’s future. From investors and policymakers to cultural leaders and travelers, this initiative invites global stakeholders to experience and invest in Nigeria’s resurgence as a cultural and economic powerhouse.”

Following the realisation of $71.6 million from last year’s ‘Detty December’, the Lagos State House of Assembly has urged Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu to direct relevant Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs) to expand the reach of the annual celebrations.

The motion moved by Hon. Desmond Elliot under Matters of Urgent Public Importance, according to Nairametrics, highlights the significant revenue generated from the 2024 Detty December celebrations.

The report, according to Elliot, indicated that hotels earned approximately $44 million, while short-term rental services recorded $13 million, totaling about $71.6 million

Contributing to the motion, Hon. Gbolahan Yishawu noted that Lagos has the required infrastructure and an enabling environment to attract tourists and visiting family members.

He called for a coordinated event calendar and the development of an iconic tourism site in the state.

On his part, Hon. Abiodun Tobun argued that Detty December contributes to crime reduction by engaging potential offenders in recreational activities.

Hon. Sa’ad Olumo emphasised the state’s commitment to promoting culture, security, and business growth.

Speaker of the House, Rt. Hon. Mojisola Meranda, who emphasised the need for improved traffic management during the period, suggested that the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA) employ additional personnel for the festive season, creating temporary jobs for residents.

The House resolved that private sector partners should develop globally marketable programmes for the period while advocating for local government participation to decentralise and broaden the benefits of Detty December.

The minister also announced the ‘See Motherland Through Your Eyes’ competition, inviting participants to showcase Nigeria’s landscapes, communities, and traditions through visual storytelling.

“This competition invites participants to capture and share Nigeria’s vibrancy, showcasing the beauty, resilience, and spirit of the motherland. To mark the beginning of this journey, we are launching the ‘See Motherland Through Your Eyes Photo and Video Competition’ —a celebration of Nigeria’s rich and diverse identity. From the Kelangu drumbeats of the North to the Bata rhythms of the South-west and the echoing Ogene of the East, our culture moves like a dance, alive

in every moment.”

She also called on government agencies, ministries, and partners to join in showcasing Nigeria to the world.

Earlier, the Managing Director of Discover Motherland Africa, Chidimma Nwankwo, stated that the unveiling of the initiative was the beginning of a transformative movement which not only reconnects the Nigerian diaspora to their roots but also unlocks investment, cultural pride, and a future filled with opportunity.

“Motherland is a homecoming. It is a journey. It is a commitment. This December, we invite the global diaspora to experience Nigeria like never before—not as visitors, but as participants in a redefined vision of tourism.

Ikogosi Warm Springs Resort Partners Ekiti State Govt

In a move to boost cultural tourism in Ekiti State, Ikogosi Warm Springs Resort and Conference Centre has partnered Ekiti State Government to promote Adire Ekiti, the state’s unique indigenous fabric.

During her visit to the resort, First Lady of Ekiti State, Dr. Olayemi Oyebanji, emphasised the importance of integrating Adire into Ekiti’s tourism experience.

“Every visitor to our beautiful state should have the opportunity to experience and appreciate the artistry of Adire Ekiti. This fabric is more than just clothing—it is our heritage, our identity, and a symbol of Ekiti’s creativity,” she said.

According to her, the Adire Ekiti should as a matter of priority be showcased at the resort to give guests opportunity to enjoy both the luxury of the resort and the cultural richness of Ekiti.

Expressing her admiration for the resort, she described it as “amazing, massive, and one of the best in the world,” applauding Mr. John Niyi Olajide, Chairman of Ikogosi Warm Springs Resort and Conference Centre, for his commitment to elevating tourism in Ekiti.

Responding, Olajide thanked the First Lady for her support to the resort, while praising her drive for promoting local culture and tourism.

According to him, “Ikogosi is more than just a resort—it’s a symbol of what’s possible when we invest in our heritage. By partnering with Her Excellency and the Ekiti State Government, we are creating a destination where visitors can

enjoy nature’s wonders while experiencing the beauty of Adire Ekiti. This is about job creation, economic empowerment, and putting Ekiti on the global tourism map.

“This partnership marks a significant step toward positioning Ekiti as a must-visit destination, blending nature, luxury, and culture. Guests can look forward to an immersive experience where world-class hospitality meets authentic local artistry.”

Musawa

Asika

runsewe

Charles Ajunwa

Charles Ajunwa

Charles Ajunwa

Meranda

L-r wife of ekiti State Governor, Dr. Olayemi Oyebanji receiving a souvenir from Chairman Glocient Hospitality, Niyi John Olajide, during the First ady’s courtesy visit to Ikogosi warm Springs resort and Conference Centre

BACKPAGE CONTINUATION

THOUGHTS ON FITCH RATINGS

human endeavour, these ratings have their limitations and intimations of bias here and there.

It is to the credit of these rating agencies that they are respected enough globally for many investors, governments, and financial institutions to rely on their offerings – particularly Fitch Rating – for some important policy decisions. Fitch Rating, for instance, deploys well laid out, arguably transparent, criteria and painstaking reports to back its ratings. It also has global reach and covers a broad range of entities; including sovereign states, credible corporations, banks, and structured finance products.

Notwithstanding the foregoing, however, there is the possibility, or at least veiled suspicion, of possible conflict of Interest now and again; because issuers often pay for their own ratings. When we also consider that these agencies base their ratings mostly on historical and current data, it become easy to understand why they are sometimes accused of not being forward looking; and of being ill-equipped to predict sudden downturns.

Thus, while Fitch ratings provide valuable benchmarks in many situations and cases, those who use the ratings alongside other financial analysis and risk assessment tools stand a better chance of being secured. That is why many organization, investors and economic trend analysts and students of political economy compare ratings from several agencies, as a form of due diligence, before taking positions on many economic issues.

Let us recall that Fitch, Moody’s and S&P neither anticipated, nor knew how to respond to, the 2008 subprime crisis. They also had no clear ideas about how to deal with the full impact of the crisis. Before the calamitous downturn, these agencies had given very high ratings, such as AAA, to Mortgage-Backed Securities (MBS) and Collateralized Debt Obligations (CDOs) that were actually high-risk. This would not have happened if these agencies were as perspicacious as they are taken to be. That the securities quickly lost value and led to the, arguably global, financial crisis when the housing market collapsed, is traceable to this lapse.

On closer examination, the conclusion that inflicts itself on us, regarding the 2008 global fiasco, includes the fact that Fitch and Co. were using what can best be described as a flawed model for the matter they were dealing with. They stood squarely on historical data, which data is likely to easily underestimate the likelihood of future, potential or precipitate widespread mortgage defaults.

There is also the fact, hinted at earlier here, that once it is known that issuers of securities paid for their own ratings, the suspicion that rating agencies could give favorable – or at least tendentious – ratings can be taken for granted. Added to the above is the charge that Fitch as a rating agency is guilty of overreliance on Structured Finance; such that it is always dealing with complex financial products, wherein it is difficult to accurately assess all the risk factors; leading to the possibility of underestimating the risks and dangers involved in certain transactions.

Perhaps the most compelling reason to handle the offerings of rating agencies with some caution, especially bearing the events of 2008 in mind, is the fact that they appear not to react quickly enough to budding signs of trouble. The danger signals, which latter morphed into the House Fire of 2008, became visible in 2007. But Fitch and similar agencies did not quickly downgrade securities. The behaviour delayed market corrections and made the full-scale crisis inevitable. It is now a matter of history and record that, following the 2008 crisis, regulators began to scrutinize rating agencies more closely. They also began to demand greater scrutiny. These demands led to reforms; like the Dodd-Frank Act and to changes in how structured products are rated.

Of course, Fitch has improved its methodologies since then. We shall get to that, after explaining the qpurport of the Dodd-Frank Act.

The collapse of major banks and financial institutions, like Lehman Brothers, exposed weaknesses in the financial system. The evidence of high-risk Lending, wherein subprime mortgage lending and securitization led to widespread defaults and market instability emerged. This exposed the failure, or at

REMAKING OF SECURITY IN ENUGU STATE

sit for some subjects in a national examination, because those subjects had been slated for Mondays. I received countless messages from parents who lamented how their children could not secure university admission, on account of having not written a compulsory subject required for admission. The complaints were mostly relating to Mathematics, because the subject had been scheduled on a Monday. This was a common experience. I’m sure if we sampled opinions, there would likely be someone here who knows a family where a child had experienced such cruel fate. Attacks on security officials almost became the norm, with a significant number of personnel fatalities as a sad reminder of that grim era. Back then, criminals gleefully posted bodies of security personnel and the arms they had stolen through their brazenly regular attacks.

But what difference 20 months make! Such wanton attacks have been pushed to the darkest recess of history. We have gained control of our streets. The outlaws who once held our people hostage have either been neutralized or fled.

We have substantially reduced crime rate. Statistics attesting to that abound. We can further glimpse this in the fact that night life has returned in full swing. Streets that were desolate and deserted have regained their groove.

I still remember a phone call I got at a very odd hour. I thought there was an emergency. It wasn’t an emergency after all. The excited caller was at a popular social spot, and was eager to show me live footage of bustling night life via his phone.

The pleasant experience arising from the vastly improved security is widespread: The businessman who could not open his shop and incurred losses as a result has found the confidence to do so; the child, who could not go to school every Monday in the past can now confidently do so without any fear; our security men and women can now carry on their law-enforcement duties without any brazen attack. What difference there has been in

20 months! But our job is not done yet; it needs to be sustained.

The importance of security in any society can never be overstated. Our Constitution clearly emphasizes this when it notes, under the Fundamental Objectives and Directive Principles of State Policy, that “the security and welfare of the people shall be the primary purpose of government”.

So, the provision of security is a fundamental reason for the existence of the state – or governments, if you will. Security is arguably the single most important sector upon which all socio-economic goals of states and nations rest. It can make or mar our dreams.

Few things incentivise enterprise as much as a reassuring sense of security. Conversely, nothing kills the spirit of enterprise as fast as a prevailing air of insecurity. We can indeed say that security and development have become inextricably intertwined in the world that we live in today. Investing in development projects without a corresponding investment in security is akin to spending vast sums to build a livestock farm, but yet leaving the doors of the pen open to wolves.

These points and anecdote resonate particularly for us, because at the heart of our audacious growth plan is the goal to make Enugu State the premier destination for investment, leisure and living. Our targets to make Enugu the conferencing capital of Africa and, also, attract three million annual tourists will seem like mere posturing if those tourists do not feel sufficiently safe on the streets and in their hotels.

Securing businesses, keeping the people safe, and improving their welfare are our primary motivation. And it is consistent with the pledge I made while seeking the people’s mandate. We have invested substantially in securing our state, and continue to do so, because there are no half measures in the fight against insecurity.

The various security measures we have put

least limited capacity, of Credit Rating Agencies, like Fitch, Moody’s, and S&P; and the problem posed by their sometimes overly questionably optimistic ratings on risky financial products.

The Act was an institutional response to the need for better regulation, to ensure that shadow banking, derivatives trading, and proprietary trading by banks came under serious and rigorous scrutiny and regulation. It was also the outcome of a public outcry, demanding that calls for government bailouts cannot be open ended; and that stricter rules should be put in place to prevent future crises of the 2008 variety.

Thus, the Dodd-Frank Act came out with several provisions, to give rating agencies and everyone else a marked lane to travel on. One of such provisions was the Financial Stability Oversight Council (FSOC), which monitors systemic risks in the financial system. Another is Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB), which protects consumers from predatory financial practices. The Volcker Rule, for instance, limits banks from engaging in risky proprietary trading, is yet another provision of the Act.

In addition to the foregoing, there is the Increased Oversight of Credit Rating Agencies, which introduced accountability measures for agencies like Fitch; such that greater transparency became evident in their ratings.

There is also the Stronger Derivatives Regulation, which requires derivatives (like credit default swaps) to be traded on transparent exchanges. These measures provided have improved financial stability, reduced risky practices, and increased consumer protection.

Now, to the matter of why fitch Ratings had to do some things differently.

The global shock of 2008 for national economies and economic actors, and the institutional scandal that nearly overwhelmed Fitch Ratings after the 2008 economic crisis, were fundamental game changers. Fitch and other credit rating agencies were roundly lambasted for underestimating the risks attendant upon mortgage-backed securities and other complex financial instruments. It was in response to the new demands for greater proof of responsible engagement

in place underscore this conviction. You actually do not have to search for our interventions in security. They literally stare you in the face. The Enugu State Command and Control Centre is a logistical novelty built via cutting-edge innovation comparable to what exists in more advanced countries. It was a moment of pride for us when it was commissioned in January to national acclaim, by the President and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces, His Excellency Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

Even when no security official is in sight, our round-the-clock surveillance system that covers our streets and neighbourhoods still ensures strict vigilance. The ultimate goal is to nip crime in the bud.

This crime-fighting device is complemented by the Distress Response Squad, designed to react swiftly to any security breach or threat of it. It is also further boosted by a large fleet of 150 security vehicles embedded with AI-enhanced cameras deployed across the state. The reassuring sense of security that these measures guarantee should not be for a moment in time only. It is important for it to exist at all time. This is crucial to the attainment of our ambition to grow Enugu State to become a $30 billion economy.

But enthroning a water-tight security, such as we are implementing in Enugu State, requires a humongous amount of funds to sustain. I dare say, there’s hardly any state that can solely handle such responsibility. The Enugu State Security Trust Fund is therefore a child of necessity. Its emergence is rooted in the increasing realization that an active civic engagement of citizens, offers more enduring solutions to pressing social exigencies normally exclusively borne by the government.

We are thus witnessing a civic rebirth in Enugu State. I strongly believe this is the day that the timeless campaign that security is everyone’s business finally sinks in. The old saying “all for one and one for all” easily comes to mind here.

2BABA, ANNIE, SOCIAL MEDIA POLICE AND THE REST OF US

one else is aware of or a group of social media spies constantly on the lookout for the newest trends and memes. We can always rely on them to make us laugh and ponder, one post at a time, even though we might never discover the key to their commenting skills.

Clearly, while some comments on social media might be thought-provoking, entertaining, or educational, others can be irrelevant or nasty.

While public figures understand that a degree of scrutiny comes with fame, the level of vitriol and invasion of privacy often witnessed on social media is disproportionate and at times, deeply harmful.

But have you ever pondered as to why these persons consistently show up in the comments section of almost every post that social media algorithms provide us with? Does it have a scientific basis? Guess what, though?

Studies have linked dopamine, a neurotransmitter that is essential for controlling

the reward and pleasure centers of the brain to social media addiction. According to addiction expert, Dr. Anna Lembke, with each swipe, like and tweet, our smartphones are turning us into dopamine addicts. In her book, ‘Dopamine Nation,’ Lembke points out that most social media users are now addicts.

According to her, the smartphone is now the “modern-day hypodermic needle,” as most of us can’t do without it and turn to it almost every second for quick hits, to seek attention, validation and distraction with each swipe, like and tweet.

While not taking away the benefits of monetisation, the prevalence of behavioral (as opposed to substance) addictions has increased dramatically since the year 2000. Whether it’s swiping through Facebook, Instagram, or X, every free moment is an opportunity to be stimulated, she added.

“We’re seeing a huge explosion in the numbers

of people struggling with addictions,” Lembke added.

Lembke strongly believes that one can beat digital addiction by embracing a more monastic mindset. Additionally, limiting the time one spends on social media can significantly reduce its addictive nature. Set specific time slots to check your accounts and avoid using social media outside the fixed times can also be very helpful.

Now back to the 2Baba marriage saga, the singer in his latest video on the matter assured his supporters that, “everybody is going to be alright and everyone is fine, there is no fight or quarrel.”

While I do not support divorce and it is never an easy decision for those involved, in a situation whereby a relationship has become toxic and irredeemable, it can act as a transforming catalyst, giving individuals an opportunity to reclaim their sense of self-worth and emotional

that Fitch implemented some improvements to its methodology and governance templates.

The significant changes subsequently introduced by the Fitch include Enhanced Criteria for Structured Finance, which meant stricter criteria for rating mortgage-backed securities (MBS) and collateralized debt obligations (CDOs). There was also increased stress-testing, to account for extreme economic downturns, in addition to greater scrutiny of loan-level data and originator quality.

It all came down to increased Transparency and more detailed disclosures on rating methodologies and assumptions. The agency put out publicly available stress test results and sensitivity analyses, alongside clearer explanations of rating changes and outlooks. These were in addition to stronger Corporate Governance and Conflicts of Interest Management rules; with rating analysts and commercial teams disaggregated, in order to minimize conflicts of interest.

Then you have the introduction of an independent review function to oversee rating decisions, with stricter policies on interactions with issuers. The more conservative sovereign and bank ratings, as well as revised criteria for rating sovereign debt to better incorporate fiscal and economic risks, were some of the new measures. With these came more stringent assessments of bank liquidity and capital adequacy. These new measures were meant to place greater focus on systemic risks and the contagion effects in global finance, all in aid of regulatory compliance and oversight. The efforts to comply with new regulations, such as those introduced by the Dodd-Frank Act in the U.S. and ESMA regulations in Europe, crated a new rule for more rigorous internal controls and oversight by regulators and periodic review of methodologies to ensure they reflect evolving risks.

Then what? While it is true that much has changed with the ratings agencies, to strengthen investor confidence and improve the accuracy of their credit ratings in assessing financial and economic risks, the question still is: what has really changed; especially given the “profound revelations” from Fitch Ratings about the status and health of some of our banks?

However, while we take unrelenting steps to squash criminality and threats to businesses, it is just as vital to adopt some non-kinetic strategies. It is in this regard that the influence of our traditional rulers and towns union ought to shine forth as moral beacons of the grassroots. The non-kinetic approach should involve constant enlightenment to sensitize the people on the importance of being security conscious. Eternal vigilance by everyone is a boost for security. As a government, we are wholly committed to the values of accountability, and do not view any demand for it as an irritant. This citizenfunded initiative will further widen the doors of transparency. Let us donate, buoyed by the knowledge that we are giving to a worthy cause. Let us donate fuelled by the knowledge that we are collectively building the future we desire – and deserve. Let us donate, knowing that the future we dream of is one ruled by certainties – not one ruled by fear.

This of course includes the certainty that business owners need to flourish, knowing that they no longer have to take extra measures to secure their businesses, which increased their operational costs in the past. No one should be overcome with anxiety whenever they think about travelling to their country-home. This is what we envision; this is what collective action can achieve.

Such collective resolve will ensure that the target of N20 billion we have set for the Security Trust Fund this year, will not only be achieved – but surpassed.

I congratulate everyone gathered here. You are all makers of a proud history and witnesses to its birth.

God bless Enugu State.

Tomorrow is here!

•Being a speech delivered during the official launch of the Enugu State Security Trust Fund

well-being and also the chance to embark on a new chapter of life. The result of staying in an unhappy marriage is that if one is not happy in marriage, he or she will not be able to put anything constructive in the marriage or relationship, and it will only get worse. Divorce may free both parties from emotional turmoil that a terrible marriage is known for and may enable them put their mental health first and establish a more wholesome atmosphere for happiness and personal development. Ultimately, while public interest is understandable, those lamenting must understand that celebrities who unfortunately have become the prime influencers and role models to a lot of them are human beings, are not perfect and are often in need of psychological support. Finally, as 2Baba sang, those that want to criticise him should “talk small small because you no holy pass my brother…you no holy pass my sister.”

Carloha Reinforces Partnership with TotalEnergies

Carloha, Nigeria’s leading authorized dealer of Chery vehicles, has reinforced its partnership with Totalenergies with the successful delivery of 14 units of Chery vehicles. This milestone underscores Carloha’s commitment to providing high-quality, durable, and innovative vehicles to corporate organizations, ensuring efficiency and convenience for their mobility needs. The partnership reflects the growing trust in Chery’s exceptional lineup of vehicles, known for their advanced technology, fuel efficiency, and premium comfort.

The handover of the vehicles marks a significant step in the strategic collaboration between Carloha and Totalenergies. Through this partnership, Totalenergies can now enjoy reliable and stylish Chery models that enhance their daily operations and lifestyle. This initiative aligns with Carloha’s mission to offer cutting-edge mobility solutions tailored to meet the demands of modern businesses and professionals.

beyond vehicle delivery, Carloha remains committed to providing exceptional after-sales service, including comprehensive maintenance support and access to genuine spare parts. With a strong nationwide service network, Chery owners under Totalenergies Cooperative Society will enjoy seamless vehicle servicing and maintenance, ensuring optimal performance and longevity. This initiative further strengthens the brand’s position as a trusted automotive partner in Nigeria.

Speaking on the partnership, Mr. Taiwo

akinpelu, General Manager, Marketing for Chery Nigeria, emphasized Carloha’s dedication to fostering corporate relationships that drive value and enhance customer satisfaction. “We are proud to deliver these Chery vehicles to TotalEnergies, reaffirming our commitment to excellence and customer-centric service. This collaboration is a testament to the trust in Chery’s superior engineering and Carloha’s unwavering support in providing top-tier

mobility solutions,” He stated. In same vein, the National Sales Manager of Chery Nigeria, Mr. Olayinka Oladipo, expressed delight in building a formidable partnership with Totalenergies, and promised to deliver innovative and automotive solutions that meet the needs and preferences of customers in Nigeria. and to make the ownership of Chery vehicles easy and affordable, Chery Nigeria offers 6 years warranty/200,000 kilometers, 6 years free service and 7 days service guarantee to all customers. as Carloha continues to expand its footprint in Nigeria’s automotive industry, partnerships like this highlight the brand’s growing reputation for reliability and innovation. With Chery’s world-class designs and advanced automotive technology, Carloha remains focused on delivering unparalleled driving experiences while strengthening corporate collaborations across various industries.

ABC Transport Clocks 32, Recalls Challenges, Success Story

The Managing Director of abC Transport Plc., Mr. Jude Nneji, recently, flashed his mind back to the road the company has travelled since it began business in 1993, declaring that there have been some daunting challenges on the way.

but, he disclosed that through a combination of astute management and support of loyal customers, the company was able to navigate the challenges to stay afloat and achieve some milestones that define the road transport industry today.

Nneji, who spoke on the 32nd anniversary of abC Transport, stated “There have been challenges in the past 32 years. but, we are braced up for them. you know it is not easy for a company to survive three decades in Nigeria.”

He said the company is currently focusing on rebranding and consolidating on the achievements of the past three decades.

“We are doing a lot of renewal; the logo change, the rebranding, and refleeting, among other things, just to move on to the next stage.

“We are consolidating the divisions we have. For now, focus is on our Haulage and Cargo divisions, as well as our Driver Training academy (DTa), which is turning a lot of graduates into the professional driver market.

The success story of abC Transport PLC began on February 13, 1993, when five mini buses

emblazoned with the abC Transport reindeer logo, departed Owerri on a maiden trip to Lagos.

Little did the observers know that the vehicles were paving the way for what is today the foremost land transport company in Nigeria.

The history-making Toyota Hiace buses were procured with a loan from Diamond bank (now access bank) by a youthful and audacious entrepreneur, Mr. Frank Nneji OON, who had the dream of delivering world-class transportation services to Nigerians.

ABC Transport was not among the first generation of luxury bus transporters where a pathfinder like Ekene Dili Chukwu (founded by the late Chief augustine Ilodobe) belongs, but with Frank Nneji in the driver’s seat, it revolutionised road transportation and set the standards for modern, long distance passenger services.

as the founder of abC Transport, Frank Nneji recalled in a recent interview that it was the unpleasant personal experience he had during a trip from Owerri to Lagos on board a bus which finally broke down at Ore, that led to the conception of the idea of a modern transport company in 1993.

The objective then, according to him, was to set standards in luxury bus transportation with emphasis on passenger comfort, safety and strict adherence to schedules.

Today, like the oak tree, abC Transport has not

only scored many firsts in road transportation, but has also grown to become a household name in the industry, with a fleet of about 500 vehicles and a network of over 90 locations across the country and in West africa.

Following the success recorded in the beginning, the ABC Transport fleet was sustainably

expanded with the injection of more mini buses and state-of-the-art luxury coaches . This earned for the company the travellers’ acclaim across the country as the first to introduce air-conditioned coaches with toilet facilities, as well as on-board entertainment featuring video screens and mid-journey refreshment.

Carloha Mobility Partners Huawei, Hands Over Chery Vehicles for Fleet Management Project

Carloha Nigeria, the authorized dealer of Chery vehicles in Nigeria, has officially handed over a fleet of Chery vehicles to Huawei Nigeria as part of a strategic partnership to support Huawei’s fleet management operations over the next 4 years.

The handover ceremony, held at Carloha’s Lagos headquarters, marks a significant milestone in the collaboration between the two industry leaders.

The company’s officials said this partnership aligns with Carloha’s mission to provide innovative and reliable mobility solutions for businesses in Nigeria. Huawei, a global leader in ICT and smart device manufacturing, selected Chery vehicles for their exceptional performance, advanced technology, and cost-effectiveness. This decision reinforces Huawei’s commitment to efficiency and sustainability in its operations.

Speaking at the event, Mr. Taiwo akinpelu, General Manager Marketing, for Chery Nigeria, emphasized the importance of the partnership: “We are thrilled to partner with Huawei Nigeria,

a company that shares our commitment

diverse operational needs, from executive transport to logistics. each vehicle is equipped with advanced features such as intelligent infotainment systems, robust fuel efficiency, and enhanced safety mechanisms. These vehicles will support

Huawei’s operations, enabling seamless mobility for staff and efficient delivery of services.

The Management of Huawei Nigeria, expressed confidence in the collaboration: “Partnering with Carloha for our fleet management project is a testament to our commitment to working with trusted local partners. The quality and reliability of Chery vehicles align perfectly with Huawei’s high standards for operational excellence.”

The 4-year-fleet management project underscores Carloha’s growing reputation as a key player in Nigeria’s automobile industry and its ability to support large-scale corporate partnerships. This collaboration also highlights Huawei’s dedication to fostering local partnerships that drive economic growth and development in Nigeria. as both companies look ahead, the partnership promises to unlock new opportunities for collaboration and innovation in Nigeria’s automobile and technology sectors. Carloha and Huawei remain committed to delivering value to their stakeholders while contributing to the advancement of mobility and technological solutions in the country.

ABC Transport CNG-powered trucks

Some units of Chery Vehicles delivered to Totalenergies

Carloha Mobility, Huawei Nigeria and some of the Chery vehicles handed over

to innovation and excellence. The Chery vehicles we are delivering today are equipped with state-of-the-art features to ensure reliability, safety, and comfort, which are essential for fleet management.”

The Chery fleet includes models designed to meet

GLOBAL SOCCER

GLOBAL SOCCER

Calvin Bassey

From Foxes r ookie to p remier League r ock

Five years back,he was just a struggler in Leicester City’s academy before moving to Glasgow Rangers in the summer of 2020.Super Eagles and Fulham defender,Calvin Bassey,has since emerged as one of the standout performers in the Premier League this season,with statistical data highlighting his exceptional contributions to Marco Silva’s side.According to data from PFF FC,no centre-back in the English top flight this season has a higher Ball Carry Grade than the Nigerian,who leads the category with a score of 82.9

Nigerian international Calvin Bassey has flourished in Fulham’s backline, playing a crucial role in a team that sits ninth in the league after 24 matches. The Cottagers have also progressed to the FA Cup fifth round, where they will face Manchester United after edging past Wigan Athletic.

Bassey has been a mainstay in the Fulham defence, making 23 Premier League appearances and amassing 2,070 minutes on the pitch. While his overall performances have been widely praised, a deeper look into the numbers reveals just how dominant he has been in key defensive areas.

According to data from PFF FC, no centre-back in the Premier League this season has a higher Ball Carry Grade than Calvin Bassey, who leads the category with a score of 82.9.

This metric, which evaluates a player’s dribbling, carrying ability, and resistance to tackles, typically favours midfielders, making Bassey’s ranking all the more impressive. His score places him among some of the league’s elite ball carriers, including James Maddison, Moisés Caicedo, and Youri Tielemans.

Bassey’s ability to progress the ball out of defence has been crucial for Fulham, allowing them to bypass opposition presses and transition smoothly into attacking phases. His composure under pressure and technical ability make him a vital asset in Silva’s tactical setup.

Beyond his ball-carrying ability, Bassey has been an all-round defensive powerhouse.

Fulham have conceded 32 goals this season—ranking ninth-best in the league and Bassey has played a major role in maintaining their defensive solidity.

The 24-year-old ranks third among centre-backs in tackling with an impressive grade of 85.0, placing him fifth overall in the league. He has won 37 tackles and successfully defended against 20 dribbles, boasting a 44% tackle success rate (13th overall) and winning 59% of his duels against dribblers (seventh overall).

Bassey has also been effective in aerial duels, registering a grade of 79.3, ranking him 28th among centre-backs. He has won 48 aerial duels this season, displaying his strength in physical battles and his ability to dominate in the air.

A product of Leicester City’s academy, Bassey moved to Rangers in 2020, where he won the Scottish Premiership and Scottish Cup.

He played a key role in Rangers’ run to the 2022 UEFA Europa League final, where they narrowly lost to Eintracht Frankfurt.

His performances in Scotland earned him a big-money move to Ajax in 2022 for

a club-record £20 million. That transfer fee also made him the most expensive Nigerian defender in history.

However, after just one season in the Eredivisie, Fulham secured his services in the summer of 2023 for €21 million.

Bassey has since adapted seamlessly to the Premier League, proving his quality at the highest level. His first goal for Fulham came in a dramatic 2-1 victory over Manchester United in February 2024 in his 20th league appearance for the London club.

Bassey was a couple of months short of his 18th birthday when he first got the chance to sample Ibrox Stadium and the young Leicester City kid left his mark in more ways than one in that 6-1 rout against the Rangers development squad.

Former Ibrox striker, Ryan Hardie felt the full force of his physicality as he was “barged off his feet and the ball”, inside the box by Bassey.

However, it was Bassey’s ability to recover that left Hardie in awe as he stood in the Ramon Sanchez-Pizjuan Stadium to watch his old club in the 2022 Europa League final.

Bassey recovered from a slip to make a last-ditch recovery tackle to deny Eintracht Frankfurt’s Rafael Borre.

Hardie was amazed at the 24-year-old’s desire as he kept going to the bitter end despite the stifling Seville heat.

Also, in the stadium that night was another player- Conor Tee, who featured

in that game five years ago and upstaged his good friend and team-mate.

Tee recalled that game in September 2017 but believes a return match a couple of years later was the one that really convinced the Ibrox side, managed then by Steven Gerrard, to make a move.

But Bassey did enough to impress with ‘B’ team boss, David McCallum an instant admirer and the wheels were set in motion for the eventual transfer a short time later.

Bassey was picked up for around £300,000 as they took advantage of the cross-border compensation rule and that is proving a bargain with every man of the match display, with some claiming he’s now in the £25 million bracket.

Tee told Record Sport: “I went to watch Calvin in Seville and I was buzzing for him because he’s my best mate.

“It was surreal watching him in Seville on that big stage. It was a proud feeling for us and his family watching.

“There’s no question he’s good enough for the English Premier League but it’s about getting the move that suits him.

“I joined Leicester City at Under-12s and he joined at Under-16 level and we became good friends. We lived with each other in digs when we both got a scholarship and we’ve been mates ever since.

“He had all the attributes to be a top player and he’s shown that. I always

felt left back was his strongest position because he’s so good at attacking.

“It’s crazy to think I was on the end of that challenge five years ago and to see how far Calvin has come.”

Born in Italy, Bassey was eligible to represent Italy, England, or Nigeria at international level. He ultimately committed to Nigeria, making his Super Eagles debut in a World Cup qualifier against Ghana in March 2022.

He played a key role as Nigeria reached the final of the Africa Cup of Nations in Cote d’Ivoire last year.

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THISDAY oN SATurDAY editor Obinna Chima deputy editor ahamifula Ogbu

THISDAY NewSpAperS

editor-in-ChieF/Chairman nduka Obaigbena

MANAgINg DIreCTor eniOla bellO DepuTY MANAgINg DIreCTor israel wegbu

Bassey celebrates one of his goals for Fulham

F’Eagles Coach Optimistic of Nigeria’s Qualification from ‘Group of Death’

The head coach of Flying Eagles, Aliyu Zubairu, has voiced his optimism following Thursday’s group stage draw for the Africa U20 Cup of Nations, which will take place in Cote d’Ivoire, April 26 –May 18. The Nigerian team finds itself in a demanding group alongside traditional powerhouses; Morocco, Egypt, and South Africa, all of whom have a rich history in African youth football.

In his reaction to the draw, Zubairu remarked: “It’s a very good draw. If a team truly

aspires to reach the FIFA World Cup, there is no need to shy away from any opponent. Facing Egypt, Morocco, and South Africa at this stage presents a tremendous opportunity. I believe it’s a blessing.” This perspective not only highlights Zubairu’s confidence in his squad’s capabilities but also underscores his commitment to challenging his players against formidable rivals, which can ultimately foster their develop-

IBB Ladies Open, a World Ranking Tournament

Olawale ajimotokan in Abuja

The 26th IBB Ladies International Open, which teed off on Thursday, February 13, and to end tomorrow, will be a world ranking event, certified lady professional golfer, Mrs Uloma Mbuko, disclosed.

The event will play host to 450 players from about 50 clubs from Nigeria and five countries, including Rwanda, Uganda, Ghana, Zambia and Zimbabwe.

At a press briefing, Mbuko said that the players featuring at the tournament billed for IBB International Golf and Country Club, Abuja will be rated according to the world ranking. “It is a global tournament, a three-day event, already we have more than 400 participants taking part. We are also expecting about 200 plus ladies. We all know golf takes care of everybody. The major thing is we are having women inclusion.

ment and resilience.

Understanding the gravity of the situation, Zubairu stressed the necessity for mental preparation as his team gears up for these high-stakes matches. He is keen on instilling a robust sense of self-belief within his players, emphasising that they should approach every opponent with respect and seriousness.

“We need to dispel the notion that this is a ‘group of death,’” he said. “In African football, there are no small teams anymore. The key is to prepare very well.”

We are looking forward to a world standard golfing within these three days. Those who perform well will be rated according to world golf ranking. I’m looking forward for a Nigerian to lift the trophy,” Mboku said.

The President Ladies Golf Association of Nigeria, Evelyn Oyome, noted that the tournament is gross event of over 54 holes.

She said although some of the experienced Nigerian players like Rachael Danjuma and Amina Wilfred have turned professional.

Runsewe Backs South West Games 2025

The President of the Nigerian Golf Federation (NGF), Olusegun Runsewe (OON), has officially endorsed the highly anticipated South West Games2025(SWG2025),lauding the initiative as a revolutionary platformforsportsdevelopment, youth empowerment, and regional unity.

In a glowing letter ofendorsement, the former Director General of the Nigerian Tourism Development Commission (NTDC), commended the tournament’sorganisersfortheir visionary efforts in bringing the event to life.

“Iwritetosincerelycommend theOrganisingCommitteeofthe South West Games (SWG 2025) forthevisionandthepainstaking effortsinorganisingthefirstedition oftheGames.Ialsowishtoconvey to the Committee my full support and goodwill,” Runsewe

stated in his letter.

The South West Games 2025, scheduled for March, is set to bring together 1,200 athletes and 120 officials from all six South West states, creating an electrifying sporting spectacle.

Runsewe described the tournament as an avenue that would not only foster unity and friendship among the participating states but also strengthen the traditional bond that has long existed within the South West region of Nigeria.

TheNGFChiefhighlightedthe tournament’spotentialinmaking the South West region a hub for sports excellence and tourism, reinforcingthebroader vision of positioning Nigeria as a global sports powerhouse.

“In addition to providing an ample opportunity for talent discovery, it will also make the South West a formidable hub in

sports and sports tourism, facilitate and boost the development of sports in Nigeria,” he stated.

At the heart ofthetournament istheflagshipsub-event,theBola Ahmed TinubuAlliance Games (BATAG),whichaimstospotlight the best young talents under the ageof18.Thisfive-daycompetition will see young athletes from the six South West states compete in seven sporting disciplines, makingitabreedinggroundforfuture champions.

Runsewe’s endorsement further underlines his deep-rooted beliefinthepowerofsportstodrive nationaldevelopment, economic growth, and social cohesion. “I am particularly excited by the innovative idea of the BolaAhmed TinubuAllianceGames(BATAG), a flagship sub-tournament of the Gamesdesignedtoshowcasethe region’s most talented under-18 athletes.

Premier League Strugglers, Man Utd, Spurs Battle Live on Showmax

Premier League action resumes this weekend as 13th-placed Manchester United travel to face 14th-placed Tottenham Hotspur in the standout fixture of week 25. The game kicks off at 5:30 pm tomorrow and will be available for streaming on Showmax.

The dismal campaign has seen both sides amass a

combined 56 points—equal with Liverpool’s point tally. Spurs, who triumphed 3-0 at Old Trafford earlier this season, could complete a rare league double over United with a win. Week 25 action began yesterday night with Chelsea return to theAMEX Stadium to take on Brighton & HoveAlbion at 9 pm. Today, Arsenal travel to face

relegation-threatened Leicester City in an early kickoff at 1:30 pm. The Gunners, currently six points behind Liverpool, have little room for error in their title pursuit. Meanwhile, the Foxes are battling for survival, sitting two points away from safety. A result against Arsenal could prove vital in their fight against relegation.

ITTF Africa President, Oshodi Promises to Make the Federation’s Events More Attractive

This is your first official tournament as the President of ITTF Africa. How excited are you, and what should we expect in terms of organisation and logistics?

Firstly, I would like to extend my heartfelt appreciation to Mr. Khaled El-Sally, the former ATTF President, for his dedication and efforts in elevating the Africa Cup to its current level. His leadership has significantly contributed to the growth of this prestigious event.

As the newly elected ATTF Executive Committee, we are thrilled that the 2025 African Table Tennis Cup will be our first major event of the term. While many of our Executive Council members have been involved in this competition in previous years, this new chapter presents an opportunity for us to innovate and introduce enhancements that will make the event even more exciting and attractive for all stakeholders.

We have been in close discussions with our top officials, ITTF representatives, and, most importantly, our leading players. These conversations have allowed us to evaluate various aspects of the event and explore ideas for improvements that will quickly become evident.

This event marks a significant moment—not just for me personally, but for ITTF Africa as we begin implementing our vision for the sport on the continent. Tunisia has a strong history of successfully hosting top-level table tennis events, and I have full confidence that this year’s edition will meet global standards in logistics, hospitality, and competition management.

We will be working closely with the Tunisian Table Tennis Federation and all relevant stakeholders to ensure a seamless experience for players, officials, and fans. I look forward to an

exciting and memorable tournament that will showcase the best of African table tennis.

What innovations will be introduced in Tunis for this tournament?

We are introducing several innovations aimed at elevating the professional standards of the tournament. We have taken note of the exciting developments in WTT events and plan to integrate some of those elements into the African Cup to enhance its appeal.

One major focus is on improving officiating quality. For the first time, we will have a world-class Gold Badge umpire mentoring our young international umpires. This initiative will help raise officiating standards across Africa. Additionally, we will be hosting a Level 3 Coaching Course, the highest certification level for our coaches, before the tournament. This is a critical step in equipping our coaches with advanced knowledge, which in turn will improve the development of players across the continent.

Beyond competition, we hope to transform the African Cup into an entertainment spectacle in years to come. The goal is to make the event more engaging, not just for table tennis enthusiasts but for entire families. We are enhancing media coverage, digital engagement, and fan interaction to bring African table tennis closer to a global audience. We are also exploring improved broadcasting solutions to make the tournament more accessible and enjoyable for viewers worldwide.

On the financial side, we are working on securing sponsorship deals that will increase prize money and provide long-term financial support to teams, ensuring sustainability and greater participation.

The African Club Championship will precede the African Cup. How do you intend to make the club tournament more attractive for teams in Africa?

The African Club Championship has seen a decline in participation in recent years. However, we have actively engaged with member associations, and I am pleased to see a rise in team entries from across different regions this year.

After this edition, we will conduct a comprehensive review to determine the best direction for the championship. We will analyse the successful club models in Europe and see what strategies we can adopt. Currently, Africa is the only continent still hosting this event in its traditional format, and we will explore ways to modernise and enhance it.

Our key priorities include increasing visibility and incentives for clubs, introducing a ranking system to add prestige and encourage long-term participation, and expanding marketing and media coverage to make the event more appealing to fans and potential sponsors.

The African Cup is one of the prestigious tournaments in Africa, what areas does your board intend to change in the competition, and how do you plan to attract more teams to it?

As a qualifier for the ITTF World Cup, the African Cup is already one of the most prestigious tournaments on the continent. While it has been successful, there is always room for improvement. A key challenge has been increasing participation from more African nations.

A major obstacle for many teams has been the high cost

Lagos Govt. Diverts Traffic for Access Bank Marathon Today

Some roads will be closed to facilitate the Access Bank Lagos City Marathon today as the Lagos Government reassured residents that traffic management officials would be deployed to minimise disruptions.

The Lagos State Government has released a traffic diversion plan to the motoring public ahead of the 10th

edition of the Access Bank Lagos City Marathon Race on Saturday, 15 February 2025. The Commissioner for Transportation, Oluwaseun Osiyemi, said this in a statement on Tuesday in Lagos.

Mr Osiyemi announced that the marathon will be held from 5:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m., starting at the National Stadium in Surulere.

The marathon route will follow Ikorodu Road toward Anthony (Bertola), then through Gbagada to the Third Mainland Bridge, and finally head inbound towards Lagos Island. “From there, it will continue through Dolphin Road, leading to Alfred Rewane Road and onward to Falomo Roundabout.

ITTF Africa president, Oshodi

Flying eagles

The newly-elected board of the African Table Tennis Federation (ITTF Africa), led by President Wahid Enitan Oshodi, will officially begin its four-year tenure with the ITTF Africa Cup in Tunis,Tunisia, from February 25 to 27. And Oshodi has promised his commitment to making the events more attractive to stakeholders and engaging for fans worldwide. Here are some excerpts from his interview

Saturday, February 15, 2025

TRUTH & REASON

MISSILE

US Congressman on USAID Funding

Price: N400

“Who gets some of that money? Does that name ring a bell to anybody in the room? Because your money, $697 million annually, plus the shipments of cash funds in Madrasas, ISIS, Al-Qaeda, Boko Haram, ISIS Khorasan, terrorist training camps. That’s what it’s funding” – US Congressman, Scott Perry, alleged that US aid agency, United States Agency for International Development, funded terrorist organisations, including Boko Haram

Thoughts on Fitch Ratings

Our people say everyone should be careful about the predictions of a fortune teller, or seer, who could not foresee the collapse of his house, or the coming of the downpour that took the house away. Our people also say that it is not forgetfulness when a man who has the duty of saying “watch out” at the approach of danger fails to do so; such that danger overtakes him and his society. I state the above, just-invented proverbs, with reference to the presumed superior and reverential status we have come to attach to the pronouncement of S&P, Fitch, Moody and similar organizations of the family of supposed economic fortune tellers.

But more about that later.

A Thisday Newspaper front page report of last Thursday had this title: “Fitch Ratings: Nigerian Banks Progress towards New Capital Requirements”. The

report said: “Nigerian banks are making significant progress in raising core capital to meet new paid-in

PETERMBAH

GUEST COLUMNIST

capital requirements, and they are generally on track to meet the end of first quarter 2026 deadline set by Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN). Fitch Ratings, one of the global rating agencies, disclosed this in a statement posted on its website yesterday”.

Problem number one here is that Fitch is doing us the great favour of revealing to us facts it obtained from our own Central Bank. Alright, I get it: Fitch is explaining the implications of these facts, which implications are also available to anyone who checks the records. But no matter.

The Fitch report was also reported to have told us that the ongoing recapitalization would support a recovery in capitalization from the impact of naira devaluation and provide fuel for business growth, among other things. Listen: “Fitch-rated banks have made notable progress towards compliance. Almost all have raised capital or formally launched the process to do so. The two largest banks, Access Holdings

and Zenith Bank, are the first to secure enough fresh capital to meet the N500 billion requirement for an international licence”.

Good news, but then again what are we dealing with here? Revelation, intuitive insight? What is it that we celebrate when we hear of a positive Fitch rating? What makes us feel so terrible, or terrified, about a negative Fitch rating?

There was a major financial crisis between 2007 and 2008, tagged the subprime crisis, which the three big credit rating agencies, Fitch, Moody’s and S&P did not see coming. At least they were nearly as dumbfounded, and confounded, as everyone else. In all fairness, the ratings of these Big Three are usually taken seriously; especially when thinking or speaking of the creditworthiness of governments, corporations, and financial institutions. But, like every

Remaking of Security in Enugu State

Those who make history often do not immediately grasp the depth of impact their actions would have on humanity.

I can sense the unfolding of a remarkable legacy before us, something that looks certain to outlive us, inspire generations, and be cited always as a reference on the power of collaboration – especially between the state, the people and corporate organizations.

Let me start by expressing my profound gratitude to the Board of Trustees of the Enugu State Security Trust Fund, for the time and zeal they have committed to nurturing this idea to reality.

I’m particularly delighted by the devotion and

inspiring leadership demonstrated by the Chairman of the Board of Trustees, Dr. Ike Chioke, and the Executive Secretary, Engr. Chinedu Joseph Ani.

You have, alongside other members of the Board, laid out a practical template for collaboration between the state, the private sector and literally everyone, towards creating a formidable funding structure for our security needs.

Your names will always be etched in gold and celebrated, whenever the labour of love that defined your collective work is recalled. I’m also immensely grateful to Engr. Arthur Eze, for graciously accepting to be the Chief Launcher at this epoch-making event.

Yours is a name that inspires pride, and we are

proud to be associated with you. You are a pillar of industry, a man with a lifetime commitment to noble causes.

Thank you, sir, for once again leading by example and lending support to a very worthy project.

I began this speech on a very optimistic note. However, it wasn’t typically a cheery experience speaking about the security situation in Enugu State 20 months ago.

Let’s try and recall for a moment what the ever-bustling Ogui Road looked like on a Monday morning about 20 months ago. The entire stretch was a picture of desolation as business premises – from banks to retail shops – remained shut for

the entire day. Of course, it wasn’t a decision borne out of personal choice. They were compelled to do so by the so-called “sit-at-home” order issued by a criminal gang. At this time on Ogui Road then, the only sound you may possibly hear is the cry of a child in an apartment. You could indeed imagine the anxious parents consumed by fear as they tried to calm the child. I’ve listened to parents recount the heartwrenching tale of how their children could not

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They are on all social media platforms. They have a knack for leaving comments on everything posted on social media. They move from Facebook to Instagram, X (formerly Twitter), TikTok and other social media platforms you can think of. They have an idea of everything. From marriage, politics, governance, public policy, religion, entertainment, and any other issue you can think of, they are experts. They are the social media police. Today, they are marriage specialists and they have already taken a position on the 2Baba (Innocent Idibia) and Annie’s wedding saga.

While some of them have used all manner of unprintable words against the ‘African Queen’ crooner “most of them to destroy him,” those we refer to as social media in-laws are rendering emotional support to Annie Idibia and are already calling Edo State lawmaker, Natasha Osawaru “Ole” for stealing 2Baba’s heart. These “people are acting like them know it all.” Hmmm, some have even vowed that 2Baba will not be allowed to go scot-free.

With users acting as judge, jury and executioner, social media sites like Facebook, Instagram, and X have gradually transformed into virtual courts where comments vary from sincere expressions of

concern to blatant denunciation and unsolicited counsel.

Social media police who are individuals that often resort to moral grandstanding and personal attacks have vast knowledge of anything and everything that trends and their comments must count.

They have already expressed their opinion on the ongoing feud between Nedu (Chinedu Ani) and VDM (Martins Otse) following the outcome of the latest episode of The Honest Bunch podcast, while also sparing some time to give the former Governor of Kaduna State, Nasir El-Rufai free tutorials on governance and

party loyalty and in equal measure bashing him on social media platforms due to his recent comments. El-Rufai’s supporters on the other hand have continued to cheer him up.

The other day, these set of persons were chanting “fight, fight, fight” when Paschal Okechukwu, popularly known as Cubana Chief Priest and Grammy-winning artiste, Burna Boy had their clash. Even President Bola Tinubu, Peter Obi and Atiku Abubakar are not left out as they are tried almost every day by these social media police. They seem to have a private feed that no

CBN governor, Olayemi Cardoso