WEDNESDAY 8TH JANUARY 2025

Adeola: Tax Reforms Bills Presentation Altered Jan. to Dec. Budget Cycle Tradition Global

In 2024, Police Dismantled 5,049

Domains, Cybercrime Syndicates in

Tinubu Leads Obasanjo, Jonathan, Others to Mahama’s Inauguration

Linus Aleke in Abuja

BEHOLD, THE COMEBACK KID...

Ghana President, John Mahama taking oath of office in Accra, Ghana .... yesterday

NACCIMA Faults FG’s Deficit Financing Model, Says It's Making Nigerians Poorer

Insists Nigeria cannot tax itself out of current economic problems NECA: With rising FG support, states shouldn't complain about minimum wage

Emmanuel Addeh in Abuja and Dike Onwuamaeze in Lagos

The National President of the Nigerian Association of Chambers of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture (NACCIMA), Dele Oye, yesterday faulted the federal government's deficit financing model, arguing that the manner it was funding the expansionary budget deficit was depreciating the Naira.

Oye maintained that the development was also stoking inflationary pressure, thereby rendering Nigerians poorer after each budget circle.

Oye, who urged the government to listen to the ideas being championed by private sector operators on how to recalibrate its reforms, spoke when he appeared on the Morning Show on Arise TV, a sister organisation of THISDAY newspapers.

The NACCIMA chief spoke as the Director General of Nigeria Employers’ Consultative Association (NECA), Mr. Adewale-Smatt Oyerinde, separately maintained on the show, that all enforcement mechanisms should be activated to ensure a successful implementation of the current national minimum wage.

Oyerinde argued that with the current support from the federal government, no sub-national government should be complaining of inability to pay the N70,000 minimum wage.

But Oye emphasised the need for the government to support private sector growth, reduce costs, and attract investments to Nigeria, calling on the government to create an enabling environment for private businesses to thrive.

“Government must work with the private sector. We cannot tax ourselves out of this problem. To increase competitiveness, taxes should be reduced, and policies should align with those of neighbouring countries to make Nigeria more attractive for investment,” he pointed out.

Emphasising the importance of reducing government expenditure, promoting private sector competitiveness, and improving collaboration with stakeholders, Oye stressed that while the reforms may not be bad, there have to be adjustments to their implementation.

“We are not advocating a reversal of reforms but a recalibration. The private sector must lead in some of these efforts. It is not the business of government to be in business; government is a facilitator. It must create an environment that attracts investments into Nigeria,” he added.

Besides, he argued that increasing taxation would exacerbate the current economic difficulties, lamenting Nigeria's shrinking private sector as against the expanding public sector, which he attributed to deficit financing

Chinese Foreign Minister Arrives Nigeria

Michael Olugbode in Abuja

The Foreign Minister of the People’s Republic of China, Wang Yi, will arrive in Abuja, Nigeria today for an official visit.

According to a statement by the spokesperson of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Kimiebi Ebienfa yesterday, the visiting Foreign Minister who is also a Member of the Political Bureau of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China would be received on arrival by the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Dunoma Ahmed at

the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport.

Ebienfa said: “During his visit, Mr. Wang Yi will meet with the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Yusuf Maitama Tuggar at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Abuja on Thursday 9th January 2025 for bilateral talks that will focus on strengthening relations between the Federal Republic of Nigeria and the People’s Republic of China.

“The visiting foreign minister will also pay a courtesy call on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, to deliver a special message from the Chinese President at the Presidential Villa.”

and government policies.

“Government must listen more to businesses because it is the private sector that generates the income used to pay loans. Loans are not sustainable until the government cuts costs in its own sector,” he stressed.

He stated that the organisation had outlined 12 recommendations, key among which is addressing the naira’s instability, which deters investment.

“Nobody will invest in a climate where the currency depreciates daily,” he pointed out, urging the government to reduce its operating costs, curb deficit financing, and stop unsustainable borrowing, particularly in the local market.

According to him: “The CBN must reconsider its approach,” arguing that “Increasing interest rates punishes the private sector, which is not the cause of these economic problems.”

Oye further urged the government to adopt innovative strategies to restore Nigeria’s position as Africa’s leading economy.

“We must find a way to make Nigeria work. It is in everyone’s interest for the government to succeed because if it fails, we all lose. My members are ready to partner the government to turn the economy around,” he stressed.

He lamented that in 2014, Nigeria's Gross Domestic Product (GDP) was $560 billion, but that it has been slumping since then.

“All these are due to domestic policies around deficit financing and coordinated transfer from private to public sector. What you are seeing is that the private sector is shrinking while the public sector is expanding.

“The reason the Naira is crashing is because the government is running a deficit budget. What do you expect in a N13 trillion budget deficit? It is going to affect the value of the Naira.

The Naira will start appreciating if the government's expenses are cut down.

“Government must take the issue of the Naira seriously. It is the biggest driver of inflation. Nobody will invest

in a climate where the currency melts every day,” he maintained.

According to Oye, the private sector is not asking for handouts from the government, but a formula that would bring down the interest rate so that businesses can borrow at sustainable rates.

He said: “The president promised that he would give us a single digit interest rate on loans. We need to sit down with the government to create an enabling environment to establish this. This is what NACCIMA is saying.

“The high interest rates the private sector is paying for loans are not sustainable. That is why we are shrinking. And the CBN has been very imperial in its approach to this and we have said this several times that these policies cannot work,” he asserted.

While not advocating the reversal of the federal government’s reform policies, he argued that the way it is being currently implemented will

not lead Nigeria anywhere.

Also, in his intervention, Oyerinde said that the N70,000 new minimum wage has come to stay and advised every stakeholder to line up with the law.

He pointed out that no state or local government should claim that it does not have the capacity to implement the current minimum wage because enough revenues are now flowing into their treasury.

He said: “The issue of not having funds to pay the minimum wage does not even arise. The state governments should do the needful and meet the expectations of their workers because the next battle to fight is the battle of compliance.

“The law should take its course even on private sector organisations that are not paying. We have provisions for both compliance and enforcement. Therefore, the provisions for enforcement should be applied on those not complying with the new minimum wage.”

Blessing Ibunge in Port Harcourt

Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) has appealed to stakeholders in the Niger Delta to unite, shun politics and support the efforts of the commission to develop Niger Delta communities.

NDDC Executive Director for Finance and Administration, Alabo Boma Iyaye, made the call at a stakeholders’ interactive forum on the Borikiri-Okrika Bridge Project in Rivers State, held in Port Harcourt.

Iyaye urged Niger Deltans to work in harmony to drive the process of development for the well-being of the people of the region.

He said the project represented a significant initiative that would drive progress in Rivers State, noting that Borokiri and Okrika serve as key hubs in the oil and gas industry and play crucial roles

in the economic advancement of the Niger Delta and Nigeria as a whole.

In the statement signed by Director, Corporate Affairs, Seledi Thompson-Wakama, Iyaye stated that people's needs should take precedence over political considerations and development thrived in a peaceful environment.

He said, “Although this project was awarded in 2012, it has faced delays for various reasons. Upon the inauguration of the current NDDC Board, we prioritised completing this significant project, viewing it as a legacy initiative alongside the Kaa-Ataba Bridge linking Khana and Andoni local government areas in Rivers State."

Iyaye told the stakeholders that the Kaa-Ataba Bridge project was progressing satisfactorily, stating that the contractors have assured that cars would be able to pass

through before the end of the year.

The executive director observed that some NDDC key projects were delayed because the commission did not have an approved budget for the past four years.

“However, the president recognised the need for funding and approved the 2024 NDDC budget, which now includes financial provisions for this legacy project,” he said.

“Before proceeding with the project, we felt it was necessary to hold this interactive session, which is essential for fostering cooperation and creating a supportive environment for the contractors to ensure timely completion,” the executive director added.

In a goodwill message, the Amayanabo of Kirike Kingdom, Okrika, King Tamuno-Omisiki Opuiyo, thanked NDDC for organising the stakeholders’ engagement and

assured that the communities in his domain would cooperate with the commission to ensure the project's timely completion. He said, “We should not allow our political differences to hinder development. We assure NDDC of our support and appeal to the commission to engage a reliable and capable contractor.”

Speaking on behalf of other stakeholders, Dr. Sampson Parker, a former Commissioner for Health in Rivers State, thanked President Bola Tinubu and NDDC for reviving the Okrika-Borikiri Bridge project. Parker said, “The bridge project represents a vision that will act as a catalyst for the socio-economic revitalisation of the communities. Let us all support President Bola Tinubu's Renewed Hope initiative, which the NDDC, under Dr. Samuel Ogbuku's leadership, is actively working to implement.”

FACES AT MAHAMA’S SWEARING IN ACCRA...

Morka: I Did Not Threaten Peter Obi, His Family

Atiku condemns comments, says it’s gradual move to stifle opposition

Chuks Okocha and Adedayo Akinwale in Abuja

The National Publicity Secretary of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Felix Morka, has denied threatening the life of the presidential candidate of the Labour Party in the 2023 general election, Peter Obi, his family or those around him.

But former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar, has condemned the attack on Obi, saying it was not only disturbing, but a gradual move to stifle the opposition.

Obi had alleged in a post on X that Morka accused him of “crossing the line” and warned that he would “face consequences.”

However, Morka, in a statement

maintained that he would continue to hold Obi and other opposition actors accountable for their actions just as they seek to, and should, hold APC-led administration accountable, when truth and public trust were compromised.

He insisted that Obi’s allegation that he threatened his life was a self-evident malicious lie and attention-seeking, playing-thevictim, and emotional blackmail.

While saying his claim was patently false and reprehensible, Morka noted that though everyone has a right to free speech, no one has a right to peddle misinformation or outright falsehood.

“The right to free speech granted by our country’s Constitution is not Mr. Obi’s exclusive right but a right

that is available to all Nigerians, including Morka. Mr. Obi cannot disseminate misinformation and demand or expect that no one should disagree or challenge his false narrative.

“Ours is a democracy where every citizen, irrespective of political affiliation, is entitled to agree or disagree with other political views or opinions. More than any other Nigerian in this political dispensation, Mr. Obi has exercised his fundamental liberty to speak and disseminate his political views in person, in the formal and on social media,” he said.

Morka stressed that Obi led a restless band of online mobs, who continue to attack, intimidate, bully and issue death threats to

other citizens who dare disagree or criticise Obi or his opinions or position on any subject or matter of national conversation.

“Obi must think himself to be Nigeria’s sacred cow, the super citizen, quintessential, without blemish, beyond reproach, always right, never wrong, and endowed with the supreme and inalienable right to deride, castigate, intimidate blackmail and incite Nigerians against other political leaders who disagree with him, even those who defeated him decisively in the last general election.

“Mr. Obi is not entitled to any monolithic or exclusive constitutional or extraterrestrial liberty over and above any other citizen. There’s no doubt that Mr.

PDP Dumps Anyanwu, Accepts

Ude-Okoye as National Secretary

The leadership of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), has recognised Hon. Sunday UdeOkoye as the substantive national secretary of the party.

But the embattled national secretary, Senator Samuel Anyanwu, has said he has applied for a stay of execution of the Court of Appeal judgement as well as to the Supreme Court.

He accused the National Publicity Secretary, Debo Ologunagba, of playing politics as the party was on break and has not officially received the court of appeal judgement

Speaking on the aftermath of the assault on Sun newspapers reporter, Ndubiisi Orji, at the party secretariat on Monday, Ologunagba said, "After due consultations with the National Legal Adviser of the party, Ajibade Adeyemi, and the party's belief in the processes of rule of law and due practice, we have no other alternative than to accept Ude Okoye as the national secretary pending any appeal from

the supreme court."

Ologunagba said the judgement of the court was a declarative judgement that, ''even at that, that the former national secretary, Senator Samuel Ogidan decides to go to court, then, he has to obtain the permission of the court of appeal to enable the stay and consequently an appeal, to the supreme court

"As a party, we now recognise Ude Okoye because he has the substantive and latest court order, which is so far, the second highest court in the land.”

He explained that both Anyanwu and Ude Okoye went to two federal high courts of concurrent jurisdiction and Ude Okoye went on a further appeal that granted the request of the new national secretary.

''We have no further alternative than to obey the orders of the court of appeal in this matter. It is the highest court at least for now,” he said.

But in his reaction, Anyanwu said he has appealed the judgment of Court of Appeal, and also

appealed to the Supreme Court, and was expecting a favourable judgment anytime next week because the court was on break.

''The party has not been officially served, the party like the courts are on break and the party will

resume on January 13th, 2025.

''I wonder who and who Ologunagba consulted. He is just playing politics. The National Working Committee had not met, so who did Ologunagba consult to say that the party had decided? "

Obi has crossed the line of truth in his many assessments.

“Crossing the line of truth and peddling false narratives, arrogant unwillingness to acknowledge obvious markers of progress, mobilising outrage and stoking tension against the government are not exactly the most admirable hallmarks of leadership.”

On his part, however, Atiku said the comments by the spokesman of the ruling party was a gradual attempt to commence stifling of opposition voices in Nigeria.

The vice-president said, ''The inflammatory remarks issued by the Publicity Secretary of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Felix Morka, directed at @PeterObi, the presidential candidate of the Labour Party in the last general election, serve as a disturbing emblem of the current administration's unsettling strategy in addressing opposition figures.

''This threat against Obi, coupled with the prolonged detention of Mahdi Shehu, a prominent voice of dissent and others, signals a worrisome shift towards an authoritarian governance model, where the rights of opposition voices are being suffocated.

“The choice of words used by the APC spokesperson, particularly the ominous suggestion that Obi has ‘crossed the line’, reveals an alarming disdain for democratic

principles.

''Such language, rooted in hostility, has no place in a free society, where civil discourse and engagement should reign supreme. A true democracy thrives on the healthy exchange of ideas, where the criticisms and contributions of opposition leaders, like Peter Obi, are seen as vital for the betterment of governance and the promotion of public accountability.

''It is not merely the right, but the solemn duty of a democratic government to listen attentively to the voices of its critics, to engage in meaningful dialogue, and to allow space for the articulation of alternative viewpoints.

“Instead, we are faced with a chilling threat that suggests Obi must ‘be ready for whatever comes his way’. 'What, exactly, does Mr. Morka imply by this? It is imperative that the ruling party provides clarity on this disturbing insinuation.

''Equally troubling is the crude and disparaging manner in which the APC spokesperson has framed Peter Obi's calls for constructive engagement, likening them to a lawless Wild West scenario.

''Such reckless and derogatory expressions cannot be tolerated, and it is incumbent upon the APC to issue a formal apology to Obi and the Nigerian people for such disgraceful language,'' he stated.

Ondo Cult Clash: Police Arrest 19 Suspects as

New CP, Wilfred Afolabi, Reads Riot Act

Fidelis David in Akure

The new Commissioner of Police in Ondo State, Wilfred Afolabi, yesterday, revealed that 19 suspects had been arrested in connection with Sunday's cult clash in Owo, Owo Local Government Area of the state.

THISDAY reported that Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa, had Monday ordered a dawnto-dusk curfew in the town till further notice, following the cult clash and unrest in the community. However, CP Afolabi while

speaking with journalists at the command headquarters in Akure upon his assumption of office as the 45th commissioner of police in the coastal state, said aside the 19 suspects, efforts were ongoing to arrest other miscreants, having connection with the killing.

Afolabi, who had earlier went for an on-the-spot assessment of the crime scene of the violent cult attack that left four persons dead said peace has been restored to the affected areas, which included Eyin Ogbe, Iselu, Ijebu Owo, and Palace area, amongst others.

Consequently, the police boss assured the people that those arrested would be made to face the full weight of the law, stressing that level of compliance with the curfew imposed on the town by the state government was satisfactory.

"So far, 19 suspects have been arrested in connection with the crisis. Investigations are ongoing to determine their level of involvement in the incident. Life is precious and we will make sure that justice is dispensed over the Owo matter.

“There is proliferation of

firearms in the hands of people, who aren't supposed to be in possession of them. And that's why we are experiencing clashes here and there.

“But, we will work assiduously to make sure that such people are dispossessed of the firearms so that the state can be made safe and conducive for people to live."

Afolabi, however, issued a stern warning to miscreants and potential criminals to stay away from the state, emphasising the command’s resolve to rid the state of all forms of crimes and criminality.

President Bola Tinubu with former President Olusegun Obasanjo at the swearing in ceremony of John Mahama as the President of Ghana in Accra, Ghana.

President Bola Tinubu with former President Goodluck Jonathan

Chuks Okocha in Abuja

REDUCING HUNGER PAINS...

Minister of State for Finance, Dr. Doris Uzoka-Anite (5th left), alongside representatives of diverse groups during the distribution of over 5,000 palliative bags of rice to Imo State beneficiaries in Owerri…recently

Trudeau: Trump Has No Chance of Acquiring Canada as America's 51st State

Emmanuel Addeh in Abuja

Prime Minister, Justin Trudeau, yesterday dismissed US Presidentelect, Donald Trump's willingness to use "economic force" to absorb Canada into the United States as its 51st state, , reiterating that merging countries is not in the realm of possibility.

"There isn't a snowball's chance in hell that Canada would become part of the United States. Workers and communities in both our

countries benefit from being each other's biggest trading and security partner," Trudeau argued on X.

At a news conference earlier Tuesday, a bombastic Trump said he would consider using "economic force" to join Canada and the United States together.

"That would really be something," he said in Palm Beach, Fla. You get rid of the artificially drawn line and you take a look at what that looks like and it would also be much better for national

security. Don't forget: We basically protect Canada," Trump stated.

Trump outlined his issues with Canada, citing concerns about Canada's military and asserting that the US is subsidising the Canadian economy. He ruled out using military force on Canada, saying he would rely on 'economic force' when he returns to the Oval Office, CBC said.

When pressed on the issue, Trump later acknowledged he has no "right" to absorb the country

into his own. Criticising American spending on Canadian goods, he said the United States is still not obligated to support its closest neighbour economically.

In his answer, Trump pointed to several key imports he felt Americans didn't need: including the automotive, lumber and dairy sectors. The United States imported $614.3 billion Cdn worth of goods from Canada in 2022, according to the Office of the United States Trade Representative, and

Alleged Money Laundering: ICPC Files Charges Against El Rufai’s Aide

John Shiklam in Kaduna

The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) has charged Muhammad Sa'idu, a former aide to ex-Governor Nasir El-Rufai of Kaduna State to court for alleged money laundering.

The case was filed yesterday at the Federal High Court in Kaduna, by Dr. Osuobeni Ekoi Akponimisingha, ICPC’s Assistant Legal Officer.

Sa’idu served as the commissioner of local government affairs, chief of staff, and commissioner of finance during the administration of el-Rufai.

He was charged alongside

one Ibrahim Muktar, a staff in the Ministry of Finance.

According to the charge No. FHC/KD/IC/2025, the defendants are being accused of a two-count charge of money laundering.

The ICPC dismissed earlier claim that Saidu had been exonerated of all charges after 10 months of investigation.

According to the charge, “Sometime in March 2022 or thereabouts, Alhaji Muhammad Bashir Sa'idu, who at that time Commissioner of Finance, did accept cash payment of the sum of N155m from one Ibrahim Muktar exceeding the amount authorised by law, which sum

you received in cash through proxy to wit: Muazu Abdu, your Special Assistant and you thereby committed an offence contrary to Section2(a) and punishable under the Section 19(d) of the Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022.’’

The ICPC also alleged that in within the same period, Saidu “indirectly took control of the sum of N155m received in cash for and on behalf of you by one Muazu Abdul from Ibrahim Muktar, which he reasonably ought to have known, formed part of the proceeds of an unlawful activity to wit: corruption and you hereby committed an offence contrary to section 18(2)(d) and punish-

able under Section 18(3) of the Money Laundering(Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022.’’

The anti-graft agency noted that, Section 18(3) of the Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022 states that “any person who contravenes the provisions of subsection (2) is liable on conviction to imprisonment for a term of not less than four years but not more than fourteen years or a fine not less than five times the value of the proceeds of the crime or both.’’

The police had on January 2, 2025, arrested Saidu following a petition accusing him of diversion of public funds.

is Canada's best customer when it comes to oil and petroleum.

In only his second news conference since his election victory in November, Trump reiterated his intent to impose "substantial" tariffs on Canada and Mexico when he returns to the White House in less than two weeks.

Trump previously threatened to impose a 25 per cent tariff on all imports from the two neighbouring nations unless they do more to address border security.

He did not campaign on a plan to annex Canada but has spoken repeatedly in favour about Canada becoming "the 51st state."

Gordon Giffin, a former US ambassador to Canada,

said Trump's blustering about absorbing his northern neighbour is only a negotiating strategy to add urgency to his long-standing economic grievances. In his own statement, Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre said "Canada will never be the 51st state. Period." On X, NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh made his own threat against Trump. "No Canadian wants to join you. We are proud Canadians. Proud of the way we take care of each other and defend our nation. Your attacks will hurt jobs on both sides of the border," he wrote. "You come for Canadians' jobs, Americans will pay a price," he added.

Deji Elumoye in Abuja

President Bola Tinubu has feted Group Chief Executive Officer (GCEO) of Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL), Mallam Mele Kyari, as he clocks 60 today, January 8. Tinubu, in a release issued on Tuesday by his Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, commended Kyari's diligence in transforming NNPCL into a profitable organisation. He recalled that despite cynicism in some quarters, NNPCL under Kyari's leadership had recorded notable achievements, including the resuscitation of two refineries, an increase in domestic natural gas consumption, and a boost in oil production to 1.8 million barrels per day.

The president applauded Kyari's dedication to service and the professionalism he had maintained throughout his distinguished career at NNPC, Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC), and as the first GCEO of NNPCL. Tinubu said in the statement, "Kyari is a shining example and embodiment of the ideals of the

Renewed Hope Agenda. I commend his commitment to creating new opportunities and ensuring the growth and sustainability of Nigeria's energy sector."

He prayed to Almighty Allah to continue to grant Kyari sound health, wisdom, and strength to serve the nation while mentoring the next generation of energy sector leaders.

Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu, yesterday congratulated his wife and First Lady of the State, Mrs. Ibijoke Sanwo-Olu, on her 58th birthday.

According to a statement from the Governor’s Special Adviser - Media and Publicity, Gboyega Akosile, Sanwo-Olu described the Chairman of the Committee of Wives of Lagos State Officials (COWLSO), who turns 58 today as a reliable and dependable partner in the Greater Lagos development agenda.

He said Ibijoke Sanwo-Olu, a medical doctor by profession, was a committed prayer warrior, a caring, loving and devoted wife and mother, a strong pillar, and a trusted partner of many decades.

Sanwo-Olu also described his wife as a compassionate woman who has touched many lives, first as a medical practitioner and now as First Lady of Lagos State.

Sanwo-Olu said his wife, as a courageous, kind-hearted, and strong pillar of support, has contributed positively towards the delivery of dividends of democracy to millions of Lagos residents through the THEMES+ development agenda of his administration.

“My jewel of inestimable values has been a major pillar of my success, standing by me all through the journey for several decades. We’ve sojourned together in the turbulent public space and standing side by side, working

for the good people of Lagos State.

"Ibijoke is worth celebrating for being a God-fearing and kind-hearted woman, a good companion, a caring and loving wife and mother. She is a passionate Christian, a prayer warrior, and a lover of children.

“My dear wife of almost three decades has complemented the roles that God has given us now with all sense of dignity, dedication, and hard work. She has played critical roles through her pet projects and peopleorientated programmes sponsored by her office and COWLSO in ensuring that good governance and dividends of democracy are delivered to Lagos residents, particularly women and children.

"On behalf of my children, family, the government, and the entire people of Lagos State, I celebrate my trusted and reliable partner and lifetime partner, Dr. Claudiana Ibijoke Sanwo-Olu, on her 58th birthday.

“On this occasion of her 58th birthday, I thank God for her life and appreciate her for all the support, time, sacrifice, and contributions to the growth and development of Lagos State in different sectors.

"I also use this auspicious occasion to appreciate my darling wife for her remarkable contributions to our family, the medical profession, Lagos State, and humanity in general. I wish her good health and more prosperous and impactful years ahead," the Governor added.

Seplat to Revive 400 Idle Oil Wells, Set to Hit over 120,000 bpd after Buying Mobil Assets

Says there's been a change at the NNPC under

Emmanuel Addeh in Abuja

Nigeria’s Seplat Energy plans to revive 400 idle oil wells to meet its over 120,000 barrels per day crude production in the coming months, the company's top management has said.

This is coming as the Nigerian company that took over the local operation of ExxonMobil said that it intends to more than double production within six months, after moving in to take advantage of the retreat of foreign majors from the county’s onshore oil sector.

London-listed Seplat completed its purchase of a range of oil and gas assets owned by the US energy giant in December after a delay of more than two years by Nigerian regulators to sign off on the deal, the Financial Times reported.

Seplat’s senior management told FT that the plan was to more than double

output from about 50,000 barrels a day to roughly 120,000 bpd over the six-month period.

“The assets have had very minimal investments until now,” Seplat’s Chief Financial Officer Eleanor Adaralegbe told the Financial Times in an interview.

“We expect that once we come in there will be an opportunity to grow that much further,” she added.

The $1.28bn acquisition of Mobil Producing Nigeria Unlimited (MPNU) makes Seplat one of the biggest domestic producers with an asset base of 11 onshore oil blocks, 48 oil and gas fields, three export terminals and five gas processing facilities.

The combined assets mean Seplat controls 16 per cent of Nigeria’s present production capacity, according to chief executive Roger Brown.

The company is expected to run the assets in conjunction with state-owned Nigerian National Petroleum Company

Limited (NNPC) as legally mandated in the country’s oil and gas industry.

Brown said his company was confident that it could work with NNPC to raise overall production, a stated goal of Nigeria’s President Bola Tinubu. FT said NNPC had been criticisedfor decades of alleged corruption and mismanagement and last year admitted it owed its suppliers money, estimated to be more than $6 billion.

“We have no concerns working with the NNPC There’s been a massive change with President Tinubu, realising that production is a great way of getting dollars into the country and supporting the currency,” Brown stressed.

Many of the Nigerian assets require time and investment so they can produce again after being left idle. Chief Operating Officer of Seplat, Samson Ezugworie, said the

company currently has over 600 wells drilled, but with about a third of that number working.

“We have over 600 wells drilled and barely 200 of them are producing,” said Ezugworie. “We have significant idle wells that need to be rejuvenated and brought back into production within a short period of time,” he pointed out.

Exxon’s sale comes as international oil groups exit Nigeria’s troubled onshore and shallow water sector, which has been beset by decades of environmental damages, and more recently by declining production. International groups such as Italy’s Eni, Norway’s Equinor and Addax Petroleum have all departed, the FT said.

Shell, which is synonymous with Nigeria’s oil industry and drilled the country’s first successful well in 1956, has sold its onshore business to local

Tinubu

consortium Renaissance for $1.3 billion. Prospects of better returns with fewer environmental concerns have attracted foreign oil companies to offshore oilfields.

Seplat is now among a growing cohort of local Nigerian oil groups stepping into the gap. Nigerian companies have long sought to increase their production capacity and are betting that their knowledge of the local country would serve them well as they seek to engage with local communities, who have often been at loggerheads with international groups over environmental damage. Although critics say local groups are purchasing unwanted assets with little life left in them, Seplat's Ezugworie rejected the assertion.

Ezugworie said the company believed its new assets had “significant scope and opportunity” to produce and that there were abundant reserves

TINUBU LEADS OBASANJO, JONATHAN, OTHERS TO MAHAMA’S INAUGURATION

Deji Elumoye and Emmanuel Addeh in Abuja

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu yesterday led former Presidents Olusegun Obasanjo, Goodluck Jonathan and as many as 10 State Governors to the inauguration of John Mahama as the new President of Ghana.

Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, Adamawa State Governor, Ahmadu Fintiri, alongside governors of Taraba, Plateau, Zamfara, Delta States, Osun, Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Ms Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu, UN Deputy Secretary General, Amina Mohammed and others were all guests of the newly sworn in President.

In his speech, Tinubu declared that the African continent would not allow any outside forces to disrupt the peace achieved by past heroes

through their blood, sweat and lives.

The president, who spoke as a special guest at the inauguration of President John Mahama of Ghana in Accra, however, called on African leaders to guard against external forces infiltrating their ranks.

Mahama returned to the office he held eight years ago following his commanding victory in December elections. Now 66, he trounced the ruling-party’s candidate, Mahamudu Bawumia amid voter anger over economic hardship exacerbated by Ghana’s 2022 sovereign-debt default.

The new Ghanaian leader clinched 56.6 per cent support in a country where the margin between the two main political parties had previously been very slim.

"Today, I am here not only as the President of Nigeria, but also as an African in resolute support for Ghana and her people. This moment is a

IN 2024, POLICE DISMANTLED 5,049 MALICIOUS DOMAINS, CYBERCRIME SYNDICATES IN NIGERIA

erations within the period under review.

These operations, he said, also resulted in over 751 arrests and prosecutions of cybercrime threat elements, stating that 685 devices were recovered, which comprised 467 mobile phones, 137 laptops/ computers, 46 routers, four servers, one drone, four starlink devices, 16 houses, 39 plots of land and 14 land documents which were confiscated alongside 26 vehicles.

Noting that 508 cybercrime cases were reported with sextortion, cyberstalking within the same period, Adejobi also revealed that the centre secure 14 convictions in 2024.

"These accomplishments underscore the commitment of the Nigeria Police Force to safeguarding Nigeria’s digital landscape and combating cybercrime effectively.

"In early 2024, the NPF-NCC relaunched an upgraded Cybercrime E-Reporting System, enhancing accessibility and streamlining the process for citizens to report cyber incidents which includes Extortion, Cryptocurrency and Investment Scam, Cyber-stalking and other Cybercrime Trends.

"This system has increased reporting efficiency significantly, enabling quicker response times and more effective case management."

He said the police celebrated the Nigeria Police force national cybercrime center as the best cybercrime unit in Africa as it was rated the best cybercrime unit in Africa for 2024 by INTERPOL cybercrime directorate, Singapore, after a competitive performance assessment and cyber surg Operations code named “Operation Serengeti” where the center took the overall first position among 54 participating African countries.

Other commendations, he said, included "2024 Award of Nation Building in Cybersecurity Services by the Civil Society organisation of Nigeria. Nigeria Most outstanding

in IT security of the year by the Institute of Strategic Studies, and 2024 Cybersecurity merit Award by the Cybersecurity Experts Association of Nigeria (CEASN)."

This accolades, Adejobi said, recognised the relentless efforts and innovative strategies of the Inspector General of Police and significant contributions of the Nigeria Police Force National Cybercrime Center (NPF-NCCC) in the protection of Nigeria's critical national information infrastructure (CNII).

source of pride and honour for you, the entire continent, and its Diaspora.

"The sun is out, and the sky says daylight, but I see today a Black star rising high in the African sky. This black star shines over this nation, and its rays spread across this continent with a sense of shared history, hope, compassion, unity, and devotion to our common welfare.

"While others may seek to demean Africa and keep brother pitted against brother, that shining star reminds us of who we are. Better yet, it reminds us of who we can be. That star means that we shall always strive to work together.

“Even when we disagree, we shall dialogue and discuss until we reach an agreement. Never, never shall we harm others and never allow any outsider to hurt us or disrupt the unity for which so many of our heroes gave their sweat, blood, and very lives to achieve," Tinubu said.

The Nigerian president explained that both Nigeria and Ghana had succeeded in silencing critics through positive steps being taken to move people out of poverty and build a resilient economy at their own pace.

"This moment does more than symbolise another milestone in the evolution of Ghanaian democratic society. It lays to bed the question of whether Ghana and Africa are capable of democratic and productive endeavours.

“Ghana has answered that question resoundingly. It is time that Africa's critics stop forgetting the strides your nation, Nigeria and others have made by continuing to

ask us to prove ourselves.

“We have nothing to prove to anyone except ourselves. We have found the critical path to our success. We shall lift our nations out of poverty and build a resilient economy at our own pace," he added.

Mahama, 66, in the capital. Accra, took the oath before some 20 regional leaders as he promised to lift the West African gold and cocoa producer out of the doldrums, after taking over from Nana Akufo-Addo, who served two terms in power.

Aside Tinubu, other leaders present included: Senegal's Bassirou Diomaye Faye, Burkina Faso's leader Ibrahim Traore, Kenyan President William Ruto, President Felix Tshisekedi of the Democratic Republic of Congo and Gabon's Brice Oligui Nguema. Presidents Julius Maada Bio of Sierra Leone and Mamadi Doumbouya of Guinea as well as former leaders and officials also attended the inauguration.

But Tinubu, who described Mahama as a brother, friend and man of patriotic vision and substance, expressed his readiness to work with him for the good of both Nigeria and Ghana.

He said: "Your new president is a man of patriotic vision and substance. He loves his nation and its people to the core. He believes that your nation has a mission and intends for you all to fulfil it. No one can ask more of a leader than that.

"President John Mahama and I share a deep friendship. My dear brother, I am here to work with you. You know you can count on

Nigeria's support and goodwill whenever needed. We are your brothers and sisters. The bond is strong and cannot be broken."

Stressing that Nigeria and Ghana shared many things in common, including drawing inspiration from past leaders, he said, "The spirit of Ghana's first President, Osagyefo Dr. Kwame Nkrumah, is here today, lifting that star higher and higher.

Tinubu said: “Just as Ghana draws inspiration and a well of strength from Kwame Nkrumah and many of its past leaders, Nigeria similarly draws inspiration from its founding leaders, who not only fought for her independence but also cherished the close relationship between our two nations.

"It is always good when a friend and brother can visit the home of a close neighbour to celebrate his success and progress with him.

"Today, I am here not only as the President of Nigeria but also as an African in resolute support for Ghana and her people. This moment is a source of pride and honour for you, the entire continent, and its diaspora.”

However, the new administration faces the daunting task of steadying an economy beset by crippling debt and high living costs. Unemployment among younger Ghanaians is running above 20 per cent. Mahama promised to sort out the challenges firmly and timeously.

“I am honored and humbled to accept the mantle of the president of the republic of Ghana,” Mahama said in his inauguration speech in the capital, Accra. “I’ll have the

humility and presence of mind to take responsibility for any challenges and be willing to act firmly and timeously to resolve the challenges that we have as a nation,” Bloomberg quoted him as saying.

His running mate, Naana Jane Opoku-Agyemang, a former education minister, was also inaugurated as Ghana’s new vice president, making her the first woman to hold the office.

Once an investor darling, Africa’s top gold producer is just starting to recover from the economic crisis, after seeking a $3 billion bailout from the International Monetary Fund (IMF). Inflation peaked at 54.1 per cent in December 2022 and has exceeded 20 per cent for more than two years. Mahama, who led the country for five years until early 2017, said he would focus on restoring and stabilising the economy, improving the business and investment environment, making the government more effective and accountable, and tackling corruption. “There is every reason for hope,” he said.

Mahama’s National Democratic Congress ((NDC) is currently one seat short of a two-thirds majority in parliament, having won 183 out of 276 seats so far, according to the electoral commission. If the party wins a constituency where results are being collated for a second time following a legal dispute, it will secure the so-called super-majority, enabling it to push its legislative agenda unopposed.

"Today should mark the op-

ADEOLA: TAX REFORMS BILLS PRESENTATION ALTERED JAN. TO DEC. BUDGET CYCLE TRADITION

of paying taxes as a contribution to society, trust in how governments utilises tax revenues remains low.

Adeola, who is representing Ogun West Senatorial District in the Senate, told journalists in Abuja that efforts to pass landmark tax reform bills distracted the federal lawmakers from adhering to the January-toDecember budget cycle, started by the 9th National Assembly.

He, nevertheless, assured Nigerians that members of the Senate and House of Representatives were working hard to meet the January 31, 2025 deadline for the passage of the 2025 appropriation bill.

Adeola explained that the budget review timetable released on Monday would not be changed.

He said deliberations were being fast-tracked to meet the proposed deadline.

Adeola noted that legislative attention was completely shifted to the tax reform bills, which demanded extensive deliberations and collaboration between the National Assembly and the executive arm of the federal government.

He said, “Along the line, the tax reform bills took a lot of our time and focus as we worked to ensure they scaled through.

“We are pleased that the bills have successfully passed second reading in the Senate and are now before the committee for final review.”

Despite the distraction, he said that lawmakers resumed work in earnest on January 6, 2025, with joint sittings of both the Senate and the House of Representatives planned to accelerate the process.

He acknowledged the challenges posed by the tight timeframe, expressing optimism that the deadline for the passage of the appropriation bill was achievable.

He said, “As proposed in the timetable, we recommended a joint sitting of both Senate and House committees to engage with ministries, departments, and agencies (MDAs).

“This approach ensures that we complete our work swiftly and deliver the budget on time.”

The Senator dismissed fears that the government’s fiscal and economic targets might have been compromised.

He then, reassured Nigerians that the National Assembly remains committed to supporting President Bola Tinubu’s policy goals.

Adeola said, “We are working around the clock to ensure that the delay does not derail the set aims and objectives of this administration, especially in driving economic growth and infrastructure development.”

He called for support and patience from members of the public and stressed that the Senate was committed to retaining credibility and efficiency in managing the nation’s fiscal policies.

He said, “We might have faced a slight setback, but we are determined not to lose focus.

“The budget passage by January 31 will allow the government to implement its programs effectively and on schedule.

“The Appropriation Committee’s focus on a joint legislative approach highlights the urgency placed on recovering lost time.

“We urge stakeholders and the public to remain optimistic. The process reflects the Senate’s dedication to ensuring economic stability and sustainable growth.”

Global Survey Reveals Trust Issues in Tax Systems

Meanwhile, a report, the Public Trust in Tax 2024, has revealed that while most taxpayers recognise the principle of paying taxes as a contribution to society, trust in how governments utilises tax revenues remains low.

The just-released report which covered countries in Latin America, Africa and Asia was conducted by the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA), the International Federation of Accountants (IFAC), and the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD).

The survey established that transparency, fairness, and engagement remain vital to strengthening the fiscal

contract with taxpayers.

It highlighted significant disparities in global perceptions of tax systems, looked at attitudes towards taxation both in theory and in personal experience, providing new evidence on the state of the fiscal contract in the countries studied, as well as attitudes on tax competition and cooperation.

It also provided insights into how trusted nine different actors, including politicians, tax accountants, and social media, are as sources of tax information, and how frequently they are consulted.

According to the report, while 52 percent of respondents see taxes as a contribution to the community, only 33 percent feel tax revenues are spent for the public good, and just 32 per cent believe public services provide a fair return on their taxes.

The Public Trust in Tax survey highlighted some of the challenges faced by governments and tax authorities.

The survey results underscored the issues that needed to be addressed about how to best support trust in tax systems and thereby support sustainable development.

Key findings of the survey include that most people seem to support the fiscal contract in principle, but in many countries they don’t see it working in practice, adding that 52

per cent agree that their taxes are a contribution to the community and 61 per cent say it is never acceptable to cheat on tax.

Chief Executive of ACCA, Helen Brand OBE noted: “Trust in tax systems is crucial for sustainable development and prosperity, and the findings of this survey highlight the challenges that many governments across the world face in building it.

“We look forward to using this important work to engage with policymakers, tax authorities and civil society to drive evidence-based policy initiatives to build effective and trusted tax systems.”

Commenting on the trust placed in tax accountants, Lee White, CEO of IFAC, said: “This trust places an enormous responsibility on our profession to act with integrity, to bridge the gap between governments and taxpayers, and to uphold the highest standards of ethics.”

Manal Corwin, Director of the OECD Centre for Tax Policy and Administration, emphasised the need to rebuild trust: “Support for the fiscal contract remains strong in theory, but it’s not being delivered in practice for many.”

In Malaysia, survey results revealed more optimism than the global average. While 56 percent of Malaysians believe taxes contribute to the community, 43 percent agree that revenues are spent for the public good.

left to tap. Tinubu recently began the acceleration of approvals for divestment applications by some oil companies operating in Nigeria, with the Minister of State (Oil), Senator Heineken Lokpobiri, arguing in several forums that Nigeria has built enough in-country capacity to effectively run the oil assets and raise output.

CEO Seplat, Roger Brown

Email: deji.elumoye@thisdaylive.com

2025: Will Nigeria’s Judiciary Serve as Citizens’ Bastion of Hope?

n igerians look up to the judiciary as the last hope of the common man in year 2025 flowing from landmark judgements delivered by the s upreme Court in 2024 including that of July 11, when the apex court ordered payment of federal monthly allocations due to Local Government a reas directly into their accounts. Alex Enumah reports.

The judiciary as the third arm of government in Nigeria plays a crucial role not only in the stability of the country but also in the economic and political development of the country. To a large extent, it can be argued that the uninterrupted democratic dispensation of the fourth republic is attributable to the role being played by the judiciary.

However, it should be quickly pointed out that the fourth republic may also be ended by the same judiciary, if genuine efforts are not made to curtail some unsavoury and unreasonable judgements coming from the courts of recent.

The judiciary, particularly the court shape economic, political, social, religious, ethnic and other considerations by its judgements. While the legislature makes laws and the executive executes laws, it is what the judiciary says that is the Law. And this singular role of interpreting the law makes the judiciary appears to have overwhelming influence over the two other arms of government.

In 2024, the judiciary heard and determined several cases that have impacted one way or the other on the nation’s socio-political cum economic development. One of such cases is the landmark judgement by the Supreme Court on financial autonomy of Local Government Areas (LGA) in the country.

The judgement was very crucial because it was at the heart of development at the grassroots. This is because the states over two decades have been disbursing LG’s funds paid into a joint account at their whims and caprices, contrary to constitutional provisions. This conduct of states especially some governors alleged to pocket LG’s allocation after payment of salaries of LG’s staff, was said to be responsible for the underdevelopment and insecurity at the grassroots.

As part of measures to make the local government councils more effective and bring the dividend of democracy to the grassroots, the President Bola Tinubu-led administration had dragged the 36 state governments to the Supreme Court to resolve dispute surrounding the financial autonomy of local government councils.

In the suit filed in May last year by the Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF) and Minister of Justice, Prince Lateef Fagbemi, SAN, the federal government had accused the state governments of running aground the third-tier of government. According to the federal government, the states by keeping funds duly allocated to the local governments have starved them of needed funds for developing the grassroots and by extension responsible for the high rate of criminalities and insecurity in the country.

In the suit marked SC/CV/343/2024, the AGF therefore prayed the apex court for an order prohibiting state governors from unilateral, arbitrary and unlawful dissolution of democratically elected local government executives. Fagbemi in the originating summons also prayed the apex court for an order permitting the funds standing in the credits of local governments to be directly channeled to them from the Federation Account in line with the provisions of the Constitution as against the alleged unlawful joint accounts created by governors.

Delivering judgement in the suit in July last year, the apex court held that Section 162 (4&5) which stipulated a joint account for state and local governments have been defeated and being exploited by the various state governments hence, the need for an order directing the payments of funds due to the local governments from the federation account directly to the local governments.

In the lead judgement delivered by Justice Emmanuel Agim, the apex court pointed out that Nigeria operates a three-tier system of government where no one tier is subjected to the other. Justice Agim observed that for the last two decades the states have been retaining funds due to the local governments and

disbursing same at their whims and caprices, contrary to the provisions of the Constitution.

While berating the governors for running the LGs as if they were their stooges, Justice Agim warned that the local government was gradually going into extinction by the manner through which it is dissolved and run by undemocratic officials. The apex court further faulted the arbitrary and unilateral manner in which the governors disburse and manage funds belonging to the third-tier of government. Not also spared by the apex court were the various state houses of assembly accused of supporting the governors by enacting laws that put LGs at the mercies of the governors. It was the position of the Supreme Court that the retaining of funds belonging to the LGs have brought unnecessary hardship on the people in the various local government areas.

It was the conclusion of the apex court that although Section 162 of the 1999 Constitution directed the payment of their monthly allocations to a joint account, the aim of that law had been defeated owing to the retaining of the funds by the states and used as they like.

According to Justice Agim, by laying claim to Section 162 (4&5), the governors

were using the Constitution to perpetrate unconstitutionality, adding that the Constitution should not be applied in a manner that supports its own destruction.

He faulted the narrow interpretation of Section 162(4) which stipulated that funds of the state and the LGs “shall” be paid into a joint state and local government account, stressing that the governors were using it negatively.

“There is no doubt that the word “shall” will mean that the federal government will pay into the joint state account. But, it has not worked”, Justice Agim said.

To prevent the governors from further exploiting the said law, the apex court held that it is the responsibility of the apex court to make a law serve the interest of the people and the country in general.

“Since paying to the LGs through the state has not worked, the money should henceforth be paid to the LGs directly”, the apex court had held.

On the issue of appointing caretaker committees to take over governance at the local government level, the apex court reiterated its previous judgements wherein it declared such as illegal, unlawful, null and void, adding that state houses of assembly lacked powers to make laws empowering governors to appoint caretaker committees. The apex court subsequently declared that any governor who dissolve any democratically elected local government

No doubt, a lot is expected of the Chief Justice of the Federation, taking into consideration the current state of degeneration of the judiciary. Today, issues of alleged corruption, nepotism, incompetence, among others, have given the judiciary a bad image, especially the manner some judges had handled political cases. Although, Justice Kekere-Ekun had read the Riot Act immediately she came on board, it is only time that can tell if she will match her words with actions.

greatly breaches the Constitution and commits acts of gross misconduct.

Meanwhile, less than six months after the order was issued a scenario has played out in Edo State where the new administration of Governor Monday Okpebholo had last December suspended the elected chairmen and deputies of the 18 LGs in the state for acts of alleged insubordination.

Although, the Minister of Justice, reiterated the position of the apex court, no action has so far been taken against the governor as well as the state assembly.

The coming days however will tell if the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) which Okpebholo is a member is serious with enthroning true autonomy for local councils across the country.

Another landmark event in the judiciary in 2024 is another judgement of the apex court delivered on November 15, wherein the apex court had declared that the anti-corruption agencies such as Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Independent Corrupt Practices and other related offences Commission (ICPC) and the Nigeria Financial Intelligence Unit (NFIU), have legal powers to investigate and prosecute alleged corruption cases of states and local governments. Some states had dragged the anti-graft agencies to court seeking to stop their prying eyes into their expenditures on the grounds that the state did not ratify their establishing acts and as such lacked the necessary powers to investigate and prosecute states over their expenditures.

In the judgement delivered by Justice Uwani Musa Aba-Aji, the apex court however held that laws passed by the National Assembly does not need any ratification by the states of the federation.

“Let me first look at the constitutional provision. The plaintiffs rely on Section 12 of the Constitution in their argument. Treaty is an agreement reached by two or more countries which has to be ratified. Conventions are agreed by a larger number of nations. Conventions only come into force when a larger number of countries agree.

“Therefore, the EFCC Act, which is not a treaty but a convention does not need the ratification of the houses of assembly. A convention would have been ratified by member-state and the National Assembly can make laws from it, which will be binding on all the states in Nigeria as it is the case of EFCC Establishment Act,” Justice Aba-Aji held.

While pointing out that the federating units in a country like Nigeria, do not have absolute power, the apex court held that where an Act or law is made by NASS like the NFIU and its guideline, it is binding on all.

“Any act that has been competently enacted by the NASS cannot be said to be inconsistent. Where the NASS has enacted several laws on corruption, money laundering, etc, no state has the right to make law to compete with it. The investigative power of the EFCC cannot be said to be in conflict with legislative powers of the state assembly”, she had declared.

The apex court subsequently dismissed the suit for lacking in merit.

While the states lost to the federal government in two major cases at the apex court, they however won in the case of revenue and control of lottery activities, as the apex court limited the Federal Lottery Act to the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).

The Supreme Court had nullified the National Lottery Act enacted, 2005, passed by the National Assembly for being unconstitutional.

The apex court voided the Act while delivering judgement in a suit filed in 2008 by Lagos and some other states, challenging the powers of the federal government to regulate the issue of lottery and games of chance across the country.

Kekere-Ekun

www.thisdaylive.com

Wednesday January 8, 2025

opinion@thisdaylive.com

ISSA AREMU: "COMRADE-DG" AT 64

TUNDE OLUSUNLE pays tribute to Aremu, frontline labour leader and DG of the Michael Imoudu National Institute for Labour Studies

Government can ensure food security through agricultural entrepreneurship, contends JOHN MAYAKI

AGRICULTURE, ENTREPRENEURSHIP, AND SUSTAINABILITY

I have decided to veer into this important topic: agriculture, entrepreneurship, and sustainability because I see them as the interconnected pillars that can transform our state, secure livelihoods, and give us economic independence without a seat in any government office.

As a farmer, both in animal husbandry, vegetable and crop farming, I cannot do but share my knowledge on our rapidly evolving world of agriculture, in terms of addressing food security, reducing unemployment, and promoting environmental sustainability. And for us in Edo State with fertile lands and yetto-be fully tapped agricultural potential, this trifecta offers a pathway to prosperity. And I’m glad the Governor of Edo State, Senator Monday Okpebholo has made agriculture one of his priority areas.

It was in my entrepreneurship and sustainability classes at the Oxford University and Cambridge University respectively, I learnt that agriprenuers are the backbone of rural industrialization, and with the right policies of this government, interested citizens can create a ripple effect and therefore lifting our entire communities out of poverty. This, I think should be our priority for now and not the craze for unavailable white collar jobs and political appointments.

LAGESC WAR AGAINST ENVIRONMENTAL INFRACTIONS

The Lagos State agency will continue to play a pivotal role in safeguarding the environment and public health, writes LOOKMAN AJAYI

See page 20 See page 20

EDITORIAL ACCOUNTABILITY AND PUBLIC EXPECTATIONS

Agriculture is more than just a means of producing food; it is one of the cornerstones to economic development and most importantly, employer of labour. In our state, our fertile lands provide us with the opportunity to grow not just crops but also wealth for citizens and communities but it is regrettable that our traditional farming methods can no longer sustain the demands of a growing population and so, we must embrace and deliberately shift towards innovation.

The game-changers towards innovation is smart farming practices such as greenhouse farming, hydroponics, and precision agriculture. Before his unfortunate death, Late Captain Hosa Okunbo had a greenhouse farm located along the Benin - Sapele Road Bypass with massive amounts of ball peppers among others. He conquered the land, just like the air and water. He was an exemplar.

And so, there’s nothing stopping the state government from owning its own farm. Government can develop farms across the three senatorial districts and even, local government councils can own their farms too. I do not mean the type of agriprenuer schemes that former Governor Godwin Obaseki introduced where money from the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), and those of budgetary provisions were squandered. The Sobe farm memories.

If government gets it right, this time around, these techniques can revolutionize agriculture, cut down wastages, maximize output, ensure efficiency, minimize resources and of course, higher yields. There are low hanging fruits that we can immediately tap into and which I currently practice, which is vegetable cultivation in this dry season.

With my irrigation arrangement, in my one acre portion of land, I have started harvesting to market, different types of vegetables and this would last for the next six months while I develop other plots to continue a year round growing. While some persons engage in transporting vegetables from the East to Abuja, for me, my nearness and proximity to market is already guaranteed.

And so, for crops with short gestation periods, such as vegetables, maize, and tubers, these practices can provide immediate results

which I termed the low hanging fruits. And this immediate results can increase our food availability and reduce prices within months of commencement. It’s not rocket science.

I want to particularly commend the government of Senator Monday Okpebholo for attaching so much importance to agriculture, at least, as seen from his budgetary provision and campaign documents. His plans to turn farmers into agriprenuers is also commendable. As an entrepreneur himself, this spirit has the power to elevate agriculture from subsistence to a thriving business, if genuine smallholder farmers can be equipped with tools, knowledge, improved seedlings and financial support needed to drive farming as a business. Of course, I have no doubt that they can evolve from the itinerant traditional farmers into agriprenuers.

For the Okpebholo’s administration to achieve this, existing farmers and intending others must get access to training for expertise. This training must be tailored around modern techniques, business management, and sustainability which can empower farmers to maximize their profits and also reduce risks. Don’t forget, there’s no venture without its attendant risk.

Farmers must necessarily need credit facilities. In the North, this is a commonplace. In Edo State under Obaseki, it was in the newspapers citizens got loans. There must be a shift from that ugly trend. I want to call on Governor Monday Okpebholo to seriously consider low-interest loans and grants for genuine farmers while also encouraging others to consider this route of livelihood. It would enable them to invest in high-quality inputs, modern equipment, and value addition process.

You don’t want to be a farmer. That’s not bad. But you can also consider the gains in the value chain of agriculture. It was Hajia Aisha Babangida, who organised a workshop in Abuja where I learnt how I can specialize in agric value chain. I appreciate her for that resourcefulness and empowerment. I can now move from production and processing to packaging and marketing and therefore creating additional jobs and boosting my purse and the local economy. What is wrong with that? Money is money, it doesn’t have to be salary earned from doing nothing sitting in government offices.

So, for this government to secure our future, the benefits of agricultural development should be considered because they are longlasting. The use of eco-friendly farming methods, crop rotation, and organic fertilisers to preserve soil health and biodiversity are key. What we need to teach our farmers now is climate-smart agriculture, such as irrigation systems and drought resistant crops. We do not need farmers who cannot farm all through the year because of rainfall. We need to ensure year-round production of food even in the face of climate change. This is where sustainability comes into play.

Importantly, what farmers face in Edo State is insecurity. There are big investors who have been frustrated out of farming and some kidnapped or farm invaded by herdsmen. I have advocated for smart method of animal husbandry where herdsmen like me can plant their own grasses for their animals. I think government should consider serious reforms around this too. Call it RUGA or any name, we cannot continue to allow these rampaging herdsmen to destroy our farmlands.

For food security in Edo State, government and our farming communities must address the challenges of insecurity. Farmers should be able to get the assurance from government that they can work their land without fear of harm, displacement or kidnap. Provision of land is not all about farming; it includes creating an enabling environment where farmers, workers and families can thrive.

So, this year alone, government can ensure food security through agricultural entrepreneurship. I think this is possible when government and citizens treat agriculture as a business and of course, the prioritization of sustainability that is when we can be able to achieve this. We have all it takes to produce all the food we need and reducing dependency on imports. I have told you what I am doing with irrigation - with this, we can practice allyear round farming, where vegetables, grains, and fruits are consistently available in our markets and with reduced prices.

Reduces prices? Yes, of course. Government can crash food prices through massive food production which benefits everyone and putting money in the pockets of farmers and making nutritious food affordable for households.

Mayaki is a journalist, farmer and an Oxford University, and Cambridge University-trained entrepreneurship, leadership and sustainability expert

TUNDE OLUSUNLE pays tribute to Aremu, frontline labour leader and DG of the Michael Imoudu National Institute for Labour Studies

ISSA AREMU: "COMRADE-DG" AT 64

A studious interrogation of his educational background, offers some insight into the experiences which crystallised into his latter day exertions as a left-inclined personality and public figure. He studied Economics at the University of Port Harcourt, posting a second class upper performance with honours. He encountered acclaimed radical theorists, Karl Marx, Friedrich Engels, Vladimir Lenin and so on in the course of his studies and research. He was mentored by the famous, radical political economist, Bade Onimode, Emeritus Deputy Vice Chancellor of the University of Ibadan, who sadly passed at 57 in 2001, among a cream of other influencers. He would thereafter pursue a career in journalism, opting for the labour beat in a vocation which was undergoing very rapid professionalisation at the time.

The Kano-based *Triumph* newspapers was his first address back in 1981. It was a milieu during which almost each of Nigeria's 19 states owned print and electronic media organisations. He thereafter underwent the mandatory one-year National Youth Service Corps, (NYSC), at the upcoming *Concord* newspapers in Lagos, between 1985 and 1986. He was engaged upon the completion of his NYSC, at the national headquarters of the Nigeria Labour Congress, (NLC). He thus became one of the country's first university graduates employed by the nation's foremost umbrella association for Nigerian workers. The gravitation of young technocrats like him was thenceforth going to energise the labour superstructure and impact public perception of the labour movement in Nigeria.

Born in Ijagbo in Kwara State, January 8, 1961, Issa Obalowu Aremu's life is as cosmopolitan as can be imagined. His untiring quest for knowledge has taken him around and about his home country and beyond. He has traversed educational institutions in Ilorin, Kwara State; Zaria, Kaduna State; Port Harcourt, Rivers State; Jos, Plateau State; Maryland in the United States of America, (USA), and The Hague in the Netherlands. The journey of his life has been populated by significant milestones all the way. He headed the Economics and Research Department of the NLC headquarters domiciled in Lagos at the time, between 1987 and 1989. He was on the Senior Executive Course 27 of the National Institute for Policy and Strategic Studies, (NIPSS), graduating in 2005. He would later serve for two terms, 2013 to 2017, as Secretary-General of the Alumni Association of NIPSS, known by the acronym *AANI.* He was Vice President of the NLC for two terms, stretching from 2007 to 2015.

While on this assignment, Issa Aremu was tapped as a Delegate of the Organised Labour, to the National Conference convened by Nigeria's former President Goodluck Jonathan in 2014, and was Deputy Chairman of the Committee on Civil Society, Labour, Youths and Sports. Aremu previously described the Conference as "wasteful and diversionary." He canvassed good governance, in place of talkshops. His perspective was different, however, after his participation in the Conference. He confirmed in a television interview that about 500 recommendations were proposed by the assembly to issues at the heart of the nation, which received concurrence by consensus. He alluded to labour-related issues such as workers' remuneration; pensions and gratuities; hours of work and maternity duration as some of the issues canvassed by the organised Labour.

On May 18, 2021, Issa Aremu widely known in labour and trade union circles as *Comrade,* was appointed Director-General of the Michael Imoudu National Institute for Labour Studies, (MINILS), by the immediate past President, Muhammadu Buhari. The institute was established by the administration of Nigeria's Second Republic President, Usman Shehu Shagari, in 1983. It has been suggested

that Senate Leader in that era, Olusola Saraki, was largely influential in siting the institution in Kwara State, the charismatic politician's home state. This tallies with the latter day disposition of the older Saraki's son, Bukola, governor of Kwara State between 2003 and 2011, who substantially assisted with the construction and modernisation of structures in the institute. MINILS is supervised by the Federal Ministry of Labour and Employment. It is headquartered in Ilorin, Kwara State, with a number of regional outposts in select states across the country. Aremu thus became the very first core, career trade and labour practitioner to be appointed to the position.

Aremu has successfully undertaken the renovation of the training block of the institution and installed solar facilities for the supply of energy to the directorate, administrative, training and education blocks, as well as the resource centre of the organisation. From time to time, he rehabilitates the dirt access from the Ajasse-Ipo road approach, to the institution's main gate, to ensure motorability. The said road is long overdue for asphalt or concrete tarring, both for the convenience of commuters and the health of other users, presently condemned to dangerous, daily dust inhalation. The parent ministry of the institute is reportedly collaborating with its parastatal, MINILS, and the Government of Kwara State to make the perimeters and precincts of the institution much better.

Former Senate President, Bukola Saraki and his successor, Abdulfatah Ahmed, were very supportive of the physical development of the institute. They built accommodation facilities and resource infrastructure to augment the evolution of MINILS.

There is, reportedly, continuing tripartite dialogue about how best to relocate illegal vendors and hawkers lining the major approach entrance into MINILS, as soon as feasible. Parties in the talks are said to include the Kwara State Government; the Federal Ministry of Labour and Employment, and MINILS. The tertiary institution is reputed to be the only such establishment, solely devoted to capacity building for labour and trade unionists on the west coast of Africa. It is imperative to impose more sightly aesthetics around and about the 42- year- old institute, both for Nigerian nationals, and potential foreign subscribers and partners. The sprawling beauty into which the older University of Ilorin within the same city as MINILS has evolved into, has become a veritable inspiration for other tertiary institutions in Kwara State. MINILS under Aremu's leadership last year, successfully hosted the *10th National Labour Summit* in its Ilorin facility.

Olusunle, PhD, Fellow of the Association of Nigerian Authors,

Abuja

The Lagos State agency will continue to play a pivotal role in safeguarding the environment and public health, writes LOOKMAN AJAYI

LAGESC WAR AGAINST ENVIRONMENTAL

Maintaining environmental sustainability is no small feat in a vibrant and dynamic city like Lagos. With a population that fuels the engine of commerce across formal and informal sectors, Lagos faces unique challenges in its battle against environmental infractions. However, through relentless efforts and sustained community collaboration, Lagos is making commendable strides in fostering a cleaner and healthier environment.

The Lagos State Environmental Sanitation Corps (LAGESC), also known as Kick Against Indiscipline (KAI), has been at the forefront of these efforts, enforcing environmental laws, advocating for compliance, and monitoring public behaviour. Under the vibrant and inspirational leadership of Corps Marshal Major Olatunbosun Olaniyi Cole (rtd), the agency has achieved significant milestones in curbing environmental infractions.

Dr. Omobolaji Gaji, Permanent Secretary of the Lagos Ministry of Environment and Water Resources, attributes this success to community engagement and the government's unwavering commitment to environmental sustainability.

Speaking at one of the several stakeholders' meetings organized by LAGESC, with the theme "Community Engagement: A Catalyst for Enhancing Environmental Compliance," Dr. Gaji emphasized the critical role of collective action in salvaging the environment. Every quarter, relevant stakeholders in environmental matters are engaged across the five divisions of the State on issues such as indiscriminate waste disposal, open defecation, and street trading in unauthorized areas.

In 2024, the agency held over 50 community sensitization programs targeting schools, market associations, and religious institutions. These engagements emphasize the importance of proper waste management, recycling, and adherence to environmental laws. In a bid to tackle waste more efficiently, LAGESC has also strengthened its relationship and partnership with relevant government and non-governmental organizations towards ensuring a safer and cleaner Lagos.

One core area where LAGESC’s efforts have yielded remarkable results is in its enforcement activities. For instance, in 2024, over 10,000 defaulters of various environmental laws were apprehended and prosecuted for various environmental violations, with significant fines and rehabilitation programs introduced for repeat offenders. The offenses ranged from street trading and expressway crossing to improper waste disposal and assault on environmental officials.

Expressway crossings accounted for the highest number of arrests, followed by street trading and others. Sentences for these offenses include jail terms of up to six months or community service, underscoring the state’s zero-tolerance approach to environmental violations.

Over 1,032 individuals were arrested for failing to use pedestrian bridges and over 165 miscreants were dislodged from bridges and public spaces. These enforcement actions, coupled with the ongoing public awareness campaigns, are reshaping public attitudes toward environmental compliance.

Recognizing the importance of education, the agency has ramped up its awareness campaigns to enlighten residents about the dangers of environmental pollution. The main message here is that improper waste disposal is not just an individual issue; it affects the entire community. Flooding, pollution, and disease outbreaks are consequences we cannot afford.

The agency’s public sensitization efforts are aimed at encouraging Lagosians to take personal responsibility for waste disposal and adherence to sanitation laws. These campaigns are complemented by community engagements where stakeholders, including market associations, transport unions, and community leaders, are urged to adopt and enforce good hygiene practices.

It is important to stress that open defecation

INFRACTIONS

remains a significant challenge in Lagos, posing health risks and environmental hazards. Several measures have been put in place to combat this menace. One such is the construction of public sanitation facilities in high-risk areas, with 24hour monitoring teams deployed to ensure maintenance and compliance.

The officers of the Agency have been maintaining sanity on major highways across the State to combat open defecation and other environmental nuisances capable of distorting the State's aesthetics and causing harm to the residents.

Worthy of mention is the restoration of sanity to the Berger end of the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway by the State's Ministry of Environment and Water Resources. Courtesy of this move, this particular part of the State's highway that was once a horrible sight to behold now wears a new look.

The presence of LAGESC officers, patrolling and monitoring activities along this area, has sustained the new look. As the New Year unfolds, LAGESC remains ever-resilient in its resolve to rid Lagos of environmental contraventions. Therefore, more personnel will be deployed in strategic locations, while more training will be organized for officers on environmental matters.

The agency will continue to play a pivotal role in safeguarding the environment and public health. Through robust enforcement, innovative strategies, and community engagement, LAGESC will keep setting a commendable example for other states to follow. With sustained efforts and support from stakeholders, Lagos becoming Africa's cleanest Megacity is not only possible but quite imminent.

However, the residents must be fully involved in ongoing efforts to make Lagos cleaner and safer. Universally, behavioral change communication is a continuous thing. What is required to maintain a sane and friendly environment is not just about what the government is doing but also about the people’s attitude. Lagos residents need to understand that the quality of our lives as human beings is substantially a reflection of the quality of the environment that we inhabit.

Despite efforts being put in place to sanitise the environment, some still prefer to continue to live in the past as they still get involved in actions capable of frustrating the government’s investment in the sector.

To redress the situation, the people need to change their attitude to the environment. It is whatever we give to the environment that it gives back to us. Community leaders, traditional rulers, NGOs, and other stakeholders should work in partnership with the state government to ensure that current gains in the sector are sustained. It is only in doing this that the government’s massive investment in the environment would not be a waste.

Ajayi

is

Head, Public Affairs and Advocacy Unit, LAGESC, Oshodi, Lagos

Editor, Editorial Page PETER ISHAKA

Email peter.ishaka@thisdaylive.com

ACCOUNTABILITY AND PUBLIC EXPECTATIONS

Public officers should do what is right

One distinctive feature of democracy is the right of the people to expect and demand good governance from elected officials. It is also the duty of the latter to perform creditably. That, in a nutshell is the essence of public trust. In Nigeria, however, this noble relationship has for long been misapplied such that public expectations of office holders in the country seem to be at conflict with national aspirations. It is then little surprise that many of the overpaid politicians and public officials have continued to fleece the very people they are supposed to protect and yet walk the streets free. Family members, friends, communities and tribesmen most often insist that the only way for a public officer to show their worth is to address personal needs.

It is therefore little surprise that this is taken to a ridiculous extent during elections when the people demand instant gratifications in exchange for votes. But whatever may be the justification, it is difficult to instil transparency and accountability in the country because of such disposition. A former governor once lamented on national television that the demands of money and other personal gratifications from the people are huge. It is therefore no surprise that accountability is not on the high agenda of those in public offices. As he explained, government functionaries are often pressured to divert funds meant for development to satisfy the need of individuals or groups within their various communities. While there can be no justification for abuse of public trust, it is also true that government officials face undue pressure from the people.

sence of any real empowerment in such critical areas as health facilities, education, shelter and others, desperation compels the people to directly source money from persons they see as the faces of government. This option is not only beggarly but also undermines the essence of representative administration – the very soul of democratic practice.

There is thus an urgent need for a proper re-orientation if we must reverse this detestable drift. Public officers must come to terms early with the doctrine of true service. In most cases, people are reduced to beggars by twin effects of illiteracy and poverty, so prospective office holders should be determined to discharge their responsibilities effectively rather than succumb to any shady practices, including the so-called public blackmail.

The people should not unwittingly provide public officers with reasons for underperformance

EDITOR SHAKA MOMODU

DEPUTY EDITOR WALE OLALEYE

MANAGING DIRECTOR ENIOLA BELLO

DEPUTY MANAGING DIRECTOR ISRAEL IWEGBU

CHAIRMAN EDITORIAL BOARD OLUSEGUN ADENIYI

EDITOR NATION’S CAPITAL IYOBOSA UWUGIAREN THE OMBUDSMAN KAYODE KOMOLAFE

EDITOR-IN-CHIEF/CHAIRMAN NDUKA OBAIGBENA

GROUP EXECUTIVE DIRECTORS ENIOLA BELLO, KAYODE KOMOLAFE, ISRAEL IWEGBU

All said, no excuse should be made for corruption and ineptitude. This nation will fare better if persons in places of authority insist on doing the right things, and not compromise responsible and responsive governance. Then, on their part, the people should not unwittingly provide public officers with reasons for underperformance. Poor implementation of projects and programmes is bad enough. And linking it directly to what is now being painted as the parasitic behaviour of the public makes the situation even worse.

However, we are persuaded by trends in the country to believe that the persistent pressure on public office holders is largely a product of leadership failure. Successive governments have failed to frontally address critical issues like provision of social infrastructure and security. So, in the ab-

DIVISIONAL DIRECTORS SHAKA MOMODU, PETER IWEGBU, ANTHONY OGEDENGBE

DEPUTY DIVISIONAL DIRECTOR OJOGUN VICTOR DANBOYI

SNR. ASSOCIATE DIRECTOR ERIC OJEH

ASSOCIATE DIRECTOR PATRICK EIMIUHI

CONTROLLERS ABIMBOLA TAIWO, UCHENNA DIBIAGWU, NDUKA MOSERI

DIRECTOR, PRINTING PRODUCTION CHUKS ONWUDINJO TO SEND EMAIL: first name.surname@thisdaylive.com

From whatever perspective it is viewed government patronage and begging are also caused by greed and selfishness without due consideration of the reality that such individuals stand to gain from the overall development of the country. Embracing accountability and political maturity is, therefore, urgently required by public officials to wake them up to the much-needed task of ensuring that the socio-economic development of the country is the only guarantee for improved living standards of the people and, indeed, the only true cure for poverty. That must be the new ethos.

Letters in response to specific publications in THISDAY should be brief (150-300 words) and straight to the point. Interested readers may send such letters along with their contact details to opinion@thisdaylive.com. We also welcome comments and opinions on topical local, national and international issues provided they are well-written and should also not be longer than (750- 1000 words). They should be sent to opinion@thisdaylive. com along with photograph, email address and phone numbers of the writer.

OGONI AND AN ORGY OF DERELICTION

In 1956, in the sleepy town of Oloibiri, Bayelsa State,Nigeria happened upon what would turn out to be its greatest blessings, and ironically also its gravest curse: oil. With a country of staggering diversity on the verge of independence, and all its regions doing well for themselves economically and politically, the discovery of oil was supposed to be the icing on the cake, nature’s free flowing bounty that was supposed to give a country of prodigious promise a touch of gold. Alas, the black gold has turned out to be anything but golden.

Nigeria’s economy and politics have come to be built around oil, and stained by it in equal measure. With revenue streaming in from the export of oil, a government by theft has taken hold of Nigeria’s political structure effectively turning a resource state into a rentier state. What has followed has been a devastating mix of devilish poverty and deft kleptocracy.

Other sources of revenue that predated the discovery of oil have since closed shop, singed out of business by oil. Like dogs, every region of Nigeria has abandoned what once made it a formidable force and has become so used to lapping up oil that it is embarrassing.

While the story of the deterioration of Nigeria can be told in ugly, oily strokes, the story of Nigeria’s oil producing region,

the golden goose that has been laying the golden eggs all along, is one calligraphed in blood and bile. It is one slippery story of pollution.

Water sources and soil have been contaminated, rendering life in the region a nightmare. Movements have been born to reverse the ugly trend. These movements themselves turned ugly before becoming uglier in their signature enrichment of some so-called environmental activists in the Niger-Delta region at the expense of many others.

In 2017, the administration of former president Muhammadu Buhari commissioned the cleanup of Ogoni. The inauguration which attracted widespread attention was well publicized. However, more than five years down the line, it appears it was only a PR exercise to score cheap political points.

According to leaked UN documents cited by the Associated Press, the project has largely failed to get off the ground.

In the years since the clean-up was commissioned to much fanfare, oil has continued to run into water in Ogoni with laughably little done to clean up the almighty mess. Now, the cause may have finally been revealed with corruption — that chillingly familiar monster, and nauseating incompetence — fingered for the failings of the exercise.

There is very little doubt about it: just like the terrorism chewing up and spitting out the North of Nigeria, the environmental crisis in the Niger Delta region has become a proper cash cow for many of Nigeria’s pain profiteers.

The question is: if the one billion dollars sunk into cleaning up Ogoni have not been properly utilized or utilized at all to alleviate the pains of the long-suffering people of the Niger Delta and restore their land, what was the money used for and what, must now be the lot of the benefactors at the hands of the Nigerian state?

What has the Hydrocarbons Pollution and Remediation Project (HYPREP), the agency set up to facilitate the clean-up done since it was set up?

It is beyond unfortunate that Nigeria’s tale of nature’s generosity in the Niger Delta has been ferociously matched by a tide of mismanagement. Mismanagement of oil resources leading to devastatingly harmful spillage and gas flaring; mismanagement of oil revenues resulting in monumental corruption, and mismanagement of the oil narrative leading to a calamitous loss of face for the Nigerian state and oil industry.

Kene Obiezu, keneobiezu@gmail.com

Kayode Tokede

It has emerged that Dangote Cement Plc, Airtel Africa Plc and 13 other blue-chip stocks contributed about 79.98 per cent of the overall N62.76trillion market capitalisation of the Nigerian Exchange Limited (NGX) in 2024.

The remaining 13 blue-chip stocks that crossed the over N1 trillion mark in market capitalisation in 2024 were: BUA Foods Plc, BUA Cement Plc MTN Nigeria Communication Plc, Seplat Energy Plc, Lafarge Africa Plc and FBN Holdings Plc.

Others are: Zenith Bank Plc, United Bank for Africa Plc, Guaranty Trust Holding Company Plc (GTCO), Aradel Holdings Plc, Transcorp Hotels Plc, Geregu Power Plc and Transcorp Power Plc.

Dangote Cement, with a significant increase in its stock price

led others as the most capitalised stock in 2024, followed by Airtel Africa.

THISDAY analysis of trading numbers showed that Dangote Cement gained 49.67 per cent to N478.80 per share from N319.9 per share it opened for trading closing 2024 with a market capitalisation of N8.16 trillion.

Impressive corporate earnings in 2024 contributed to the growth in Dangote Cement stock price last year. The cement maker had declared N406.39 billion profit before tax in nine months of 2024, representing an increase of 0.4 per cent from N404.89 billion declared in nine months of 2023.

Overtime, the demand for Dangote Cement on the NGX impacted on the cement maker’s stock price to reach N763 per share in its 52-week high, making it the most capitalised company

at N13 trillion.

For Airtel Africa, the telecommunication giant listed on the NGX and London Stock Exchange (LSE), closed 2024 with a market capitalisation of N8.11 trillion. The N8.11 trillion market capitalisation of Airtel Africa was driven by its stock price that appreciated by 14.4 per cent to close December 31, 2024 at N2,156.90 per share from N1,887.00 per share it opened for trading.

Despite reporting a decline in profit in half year ended September 2024 results, capital market analysts have attributed increase in Airtel Africa stock price to its fundamentals.

Airtel Africa reported profit after tax of $31million in the half year ended September 2024, caused by $80 million of exceptional derivative and foreign exchange losses (net of tax), arising from the further depreciation in the Nigerian naira

during the quarter.

“Airtel Africa’s strong operational performance, driven by customer growth, expanded network coverage, and increased mobile money penetration, was significantly impacted by sustained currency pressures, particularly in Nigeria, resulting in declines in both revenue and profit for the quarter,” said analysts at Cordros Securities.

The telco’s customer base increased by 6.1 per cent to 156.6 million, and data usage per customer increased by 30.9 per cent to 6.6 GBs. Smartphone penetration increased 5.3 per cent to 42.9 per cent.

Further analysis revealed that BUA Foods recorded over N7 trillion market capitalisation. The stock price of BUA Foods increased to N415 per share, about 115 per cent gain in one year when compared to N193.4 per share the stock price opened for trading in 2024.

Despite losses, MTN Nigeria Communications market capitalisation closed 2024 at N4.2 trillion. The telecommunication giant has maintained losses in its corporate earning, leading to investors sell-off its stock on NGX. The stock price of MTN Nigeria dipped by 24 per cent to close 2024 at N200 per share, about drop from N264.00 per share.

Seplat Energy, and BUA Cement are the only two companies with market capitalisation at N3.35 trillion and N3.15 trillion, respectively.

As Seplat Energy’s stock price moved from N2,310 per share to N5,700 per share, that of BUA Cement dropped by 4.1 per cent to close 2024 at N93 per share from N97.00 per share it opened for trading in 2024.

Aradel Holdings, a new listed oil & gas company, Geregu Power and Transcorp Power closed 2024 financial year with market capitalisation of

over N2 trillion. The market capitalisation of Geregu Power, Transcorp Power and Aradel Holdings, closed 2024 at N2.88 trillion, N2.7 trillion and N2.68 trillion, respectively.

In addition, six out of the 15 bluechip stocks closed 2024 with over N1 trillion in market capitalisation. They are: GTCO, N1.68 trillion; Zenith Bank, N1.43 trillion; Transcorp Hotel, N1.19 trillion; United Bank for Africa, N1.16 trillion; Lafarge Africa, N1.13trillion and FBN Holdings, N1.01 trillion.

Analysts believe Dangote Cement, Airtel Africa among others were able to sustain their market capitalisation due to their fundamentals that include dividend payout to shareholders and impressive corporate earnings.

United Bank for Africa (UBA) Plc, has cemented its position as a leading customer-centric institution, emerging among the top five banks, in various survey’s segmentation, in the recently released KPMG 2024 West Africa Banking Industry Customer Experience Survey.

The survey showed that the bank earned an impressive second place in SME banking as well as

a third place in Retail Banking, marking a significant leap in rankings that highlights UBA’s transformation under its Customer First (C1st) philosophy.

The survey results showcase UBA’s remarkable transformation in customer experience over the past year. For instance, in retail banking, the bank rose to third place up from the14th place recorded in 2023, while in SME Banking, it jumped to second position up

from 6th place last year.

The bank also made notable progress in corporate banking, climbing to fourth place from 8th in 2023. These milestones underscore the bank’s ability to consistently exceed customer expectations and deliver unmatched service across all its business segments.

Speaking on the achievement, UBA’s Group Managing Director/ CEO, Oliver Alawuba, said: “This recognition is a testament to our

ability to turn aspirations into achievements and challenges into victories. At the heart of this success lies our unwavering commitment to the Customer First (C1st) philosophy. It is not just a slogan but the essence of who we are. Through C1st, we’ve redefined customer satisfaction, delivered value, and earned the trust and loyalty of our clients.”

Alawuba who credited UBA’s success to the dedication of its

employees, said, “From retail branches to corporate offices, from technology teams to front-line staff, every effort contributed to this extraordinary transformation. I extend my heartfelt gratitude to our exceptional team for making this possible.”

According to him, UBA has for several years, placed its customers at the centre of its operations, guided by its six pillars of Customer Experience: including

Integrity- Building trust through honesty; Resolution- Promptly addressing customer concerns; Expectations-Anticipating and exceeding customer needs; Time and Effort- Simplifying processes to save time; Empathy- Demonstrating genuine care and understanding as well as Personalisation- Delivering tailored solutions.

Eromosele Abiodun

2025: Year of Recapitalisation, Structural Transformation

The Nigerian banking sector is gearing up for a landmark year driven by the Central Bank of Nigeria recapitalisation mandate and broader economic challenges. With banks required to meet minimum paid-up capital thresholds by March 2026, the industry is set for a significant overhaul that could redefine its competitive landscape. These regulatory reforms, coupled with persistent inflationary pressures and evolving customer demands, position 2025 as a transformative period for Nigerian banks

The CBN’s directive for increased capital requirements has raised the bar for Nigerian banks. Under the new regulations, international banks must maintain a minimum capital base of N500 billion, national banks N200 billion, and regional banks N50 billion. This move is reminiscent of the 2004-2006 consolidation reforms that reshaped the sector. Analysts believe this current exercise will have far-reaching implications for the industry.

“Raising the shortfall and seeking regulatory approvals are expected to dominate the first half of 2025. While many banks are on track, non-interest banks and smaller players might need to explore creative solutions such as mergers or acquisitions to meet the thresholds,” remarked Head of Financial Institutions Ratings at Agusto & Co. Ayokunle Olubunmi in an interview with THISDAY.

Olubunmi further noted that the recapitalisation exercise could lead to a reshuffling of the banking hierarchy. He said, “It’s possible we’ll see some Tier-2 banks rise to Tier-1 status or even surpass current Tier-1 players. Conversely, smaller banks might face consolidation to remain viable.”

MeRGeRS, ACquISITIonS, STRATeGIC ReSTRuCTuRInG

One of the key trends emerging from the recapitalisation exercise is a wave of mergers and acquisitions (M&A). Tier-2 banks, in particular, are exploring horizontal mergers to strengthen their competitive edge against Tier-1 giants. This strategy could also involve acquiring smaller Tier-3 banks to bolster balance sheets and expand market reach.

Managing Director and CEO of Anchoria Advisory Services, Sam Chidoka, emphasised this trend: “For Tier-2 banks, it’s about creating scale. Horizontal mergers and acquisitions will allow them to remain competitive, especially as larger balance sheets become critical for underwriting substantial loans.”

However, Chidoka dismissed the likelihood of Tier-2 banks being acquired by Tier-1

institutions. “Most Tier-2 banks aim to survive independently. M&A can be disruptive, and these banks will likely prefer to grow organically or merge among themselves,” he explained. Despite these opportunities, Afrinvest Securities Limited warned of potential trade-offs. In its 2024–2025 outlook report, the firm noted that consolidation could lead to significant job losses and integration challenges. “While recapitalization will foster resilience, the broader implications for employees and smaller banks may be less favorable,” the report stated.

eConoMIC ChAllenGeS, PRoFITAbIlITY PReSSuReS

The Nigerian economy, according to analysts, presents a mixed bag of challenges and opportunities for banks. “High inflation rates, currency devaluation, and fluctuating oil revenues continue to exert pressure on profitability and operational costs. Yet, analysts remain optimistic about the sector’s resilience,” they stated.

According to a Zedcrest Wealth report, robust interest income and digital transformation initiatives are expected

to sustain profitability in 2025. “Nigerian banks have shown remarkable adaptability, and this trend will likely continue as they leverage new technologies and diversify their income streams,” the report noted.

However, the hawkish monetary policy stance of the CBN may dampen loan growth. Olubunmi highlighted this concern, stating, “The current interest rate environment could moderate appetite for lending, particularly in a volatile macroeconomic setting.”

Role oF TeChnoloGY In TRAnSFoRMATIon

Technology remains a critical driver of change in the Nigerian banking sector. Fintech innovations, from digital lending platforms to artificial intelligence-powered personalisation, are redefining customer experiences and expanding financial inclusion. The CBN’s Payment Systems Vision 2025 underscores the importance of digital adoption in creating a more inclusive and efficient financial ecosystem.

“By 2025, we expect a seamless integration of fintech solutions within traditional banking frameworks. This collaboration will enhance operational

efficiency while addressing gaps in financial inclusion, particularly for the unbanked population,” said an industry expert.

Despite these advancements, Fitch Ratings has expressed concerns over asset quality and regulatory uncertainties, warning that these issues could undermine long-term stability. Additionally, a PwC report suggests that traditional banks must adapt rapidly to remain relevant in an era where digital finance could overshadow conventional models.

2025 oPPoRTunITIeS And RISkS

The recapitalisation exercise, while necessary, comes with its share of uncertainties. Analysts caution that the March 2026 deadline could bring last-minute surprises, similar to the 2005 reforms that saw dramatic shifts late in the process. By December 2025, the landscape could see unprecedented realignments, including the emergence of new industry leaders.

As banks navigate these changes, the focus will be on leveraging their newly raised capital for profitable growth. The second half of 2025 will likely see banks deploying capital into innovative products and expanding their domestic and international footprints,” Olubunmi observed.

However, external factors, such as foreign exchange volatility and inflation, remain significant risks. Afrinvest Securities noted that these pressures could undermine the USD valuation of the capital base, complicating compliance efforts.

A SeCToR In TRAnSITIon

The Nigerian banking sector in 2025 is poised for a year of transformation, driven by recapitalisation, technological innovation, and structural changes. While challenges such as economic volatility and regulatory uncertainties persist, the sector’s resilience and adaptability offer hope for a stronger and more competitive future.

FG’s Patronage as Catalyst for Insurance Sector Growth

Insurers are optimistic that they will reap bountiful premium this year with the allocation of N17.3 billion group life insurance for civil servants and members of the National Youth Service Corps by the federal government, writes ebere nwoji

The federal government in its budget proposal for this year (2025) allocated N17.3 billion for the group life insurance of its workers. This is a significant improvement on the N9.6 billion allocated to the same policy by federal government in the 2024 budget.

According to government, the above figure will be used to provide Group Life Insurance cover for employees of Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs) of government as well as members of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC).

The government said the fund would also be used for provisions for administration and monitoring costs to ensure effective implementation of the program.

Section (9) subsection (3) of the Pension Reform Act 2014, requires employers to maintain a life insurance policy for all their employees. The act further mandates employers to pay at least three times the employees’ Gross Annual Total remuneration into the Group Life Insurance policy.

In the proposed budget, government said the policy extended not only to civil servants but also to critical security agencies like the Department of State Services (DSS) and other public institutions.

It further said the N17.3 billion budget would support the life assurance policies and cover the administrative expenses involved.

This, in the view of budget analysts, reflected the government’s commitment to ensuring transparency and efficient fund management to provide a financial safety net for the families of deceased employees.

Checks by THISDAY reveals that 12 insurance firms will be involved in the group life insurance contract this year.

In 2020, government approved the sum of N15 billion for group life insurance of its workers. In 2022/2023, it approved the sum of N24.7 billion representing 64.7 per cent improvement in the 2020 figure.

Looking at the allocations, one could see that the figure has been fluctuating and sources close to the present administration said approvement in the figure is dependent on funds available as not all approved funds in 2022 was released by the government due to its financial predicament within the period.

Reacting to the 2025 N17.3 billion allocation, insurers said it was a heartwarming development and has added up to the aspiration of the industry to be more solvent.

Speaking on this, the Executive Secretary, Nigerian Council of Registered Insurance Brokers (NCRIB), Mr Tope Adaramola, said the federal government must be commended for this increase in insurance allocation on those heads.

“Government is quite sensitive to the inflationary trend and the increasing value of the insurable assets. It’s most noteworthy that premium for group life is also double the allocation for previous year”, he observed.

Commenting on the N4 trillion allocated

to infrastructure in the budget, Adaramola said it would definitely cover the risks associated with the unfolding risks in the construction of roads, of which the Lagos-Calabar and Badagry- Sokoto roads are inclusive.

On the part of the industry, he said there would be need for more intensive follow up with the government to ensure that the funds were actually utilised for the premium as budgeted.

“It is the conviction that with delivery of value there is no stopping the government as a client in seeing the value of insurance and continue to extend its insurance dragnet and allocations in future years. But by and large it’s a good development”, he concluded.

Also, former Chairman, Nigeria Insurers Association (NIA) and Principal Consultant, Carefirst Consult Limited, Mr Gus Wiggle, said the significant increase in the budget allocation for Group Life insurance and infrastructure development in Nigeria’s 2025 appropriation bill was a positive development for the insurance

As Olubunmi aptly summarised: “2025 will be a defining year. By the end of this recapitalisation exercise, the Nigerian banking sector could emerge more robust, innovative, and better positioned to drive economic growth.” sector.

According to him, the increase could be attributed to increase in minimum wage which has a direct impact on the benefits of the employees, resulting in more exposures for the insurance companies and an increase in premium and revenues but not necessarily enhanced coverage for the civil servants which is something that would have also expected.

He said in overall, it showed government’s commitment to insurance and welfare of the civil servants which according to him was commendable.

On the other hand, he said it was a sign of government’s confidence on insurance.

“I also see this as a show of confidence of this government on insurance and thereby improving the public perception of the sector and enhancing public trust,” he said.

On the N4tn allocated to infrastructure development, Wiggle said such allocation led to economic growth which could create more opportunities for insurance companies to offer new products and services.

He however expressed fears on the fact that most of the projects did’t have insurance elements in the costing of the projects and where they have them, they mostly ignored insuring the projects.

“I will therefore seek for a collaboration with government, working closely with government agencies to ensure compliance with regulations that all projects must be insured and a certificate of insurance will be parts of the documents to be submitted by the contractors of these infrastructure projects,” he insisted.

According to him, by leveraging the increased allocations effectively, the insurance sector can indeed boost its growth and contribute to the overall economic development of Nigeria.

Thisday Afrinvest Index down 0.3%

Thisday Afrinvest 40 index declined 0.3% to print at 5,238.42 points due to losses in ZENITH (-3.6%), INTBREW (-2.8%), and ACCESSCORP (1.0%). Cumulatively, these stocks account for 11.5% of the index.

Local Bourse Reverse Gains... ASI down 0.2%

Yesterday, the local bourse closed on a negative note as the NGX -ASI shed 0.2% to 103,398.82 points, following sell-offs on ZENITH (-3.6%), UBA (-2.4%), and ACCESCORP (-1.0%). Consequently, YTD return dipped to 0.5% (previously 0.7%) while market capitalization declined 0.2% to ₦63.0tn. Meanwhile, activity level improved as both volume and value traded surged 30.0% and 10.5% to 1.1bn units and ₦14.6bn, respectively.

Bearish Sector Performance

Sector performance was bearish as four indices lost while Industrial Goods and AFR-ICT indices closed flat. Leading the laggards, the Insurance and Banking indices declined 7.7% and 0.6% respectively, due to profit booking on CORNERST (-10.0%), AIICO (-9.5%), ZENITH (-3.6%), and UBA ( -2.4%). Trailing, the Consumer Goods and Oil & Gas indices dipped 0.4% and 0.1% respectively due to price depreciation in HONYFLOUR (-9.9%), INTBREW (-2.8%), and OANDO (-0.9%).

Outlook

Investor sentiment, as measured by market breadth, weakened to -0.56x (previously 0.48x) as 19 stocks advanced, 51 declined, while 57 closed flat. Today, we expect the local bourse to follow similar trend in the absence of any catalyst.

Wednesday January 8th, 2025

Grimaldi Launches First-ever Direct Shipping Service from China to Nigeria

Eromosele Abiodun

The Grimaldi Group has unveiled a groundbreaking direct shipping service connecting Shanghai, China, to Lagos, Nigeria, eliminating the need for transshipments and setting a new benchmark for speed and efficiency in maritime logistics. This development, which is a first of its kind, was disclosed in Lagos yesterday by the Managing Director of Grimaldi Agency Nigeria and PTML Terminal, Mr. Ascanio Russo.

Russo highlighted the exceptional advantages of the new service, emphasizing its unmatched speed and efficiency.

According to him, the direct route will take just 27 days to transport cargo from Shanghai to Lagos—an industry-leading transit time.

“This is the fastest transit time in the industry. No transshipment, no delays! Nigerian importers can now ship their

goods with ease and confidence, knowing their cargo will arrive directly and on time,” Russo said.

Russo noted that this service is designed to deliver maximum value to Nigerian importers and exporters, offering competitive freight rates while maintaining Grimaldi’s reputation for reliable service.

“With the launch of this direct shipping service, we are addressing one of the key challenges faced by Nigerian importers—unnecessary delays caused by transshipments through other ports. This direct route reduces costs, eliminates risks, and simplifies logistics for businesses in Nigeria. It is a game-changer for trade between China and Nigeria,” Russo stated.

He further assured users of the service that they would enjoy the premium benefits associated with Grimaldi’s PTML Terminal, located at Tin Can Island Port.

“We are offering streamlined handling, priority processing, and an unparalleled level of service through our PTML Terminal, which remains the preferred logistics hub in West Africa. Our customers can rely on us for seamless, stress-free shipping solutions,” Russo added.

He said the launch of this service further underscores the strategic importance of the PTML Terminal, which has solidified its position as a premier logistics and transshipment hub for West Africa.

The Grimaldi Group recently inaugurated the new monthly shipping service with the maiden voyage of the Great Cotonou, a stateof-the-art G5-class ro-ro multipurpose vessel. The vessel is part of Grimaldi’s cutting-edge fleet, which integrates advanced technology for efficient cargo handling and reduced environmental impact.

International Breweries Emerges Best Company in Poverty Reduction, Climate Action

International Breweries Plc (IBPLC), received multiple awards at the recently held SERAS Africa Sustainability / CSR Awards. The company came tops among other contenders to clinch: Best Company in Poverty Reduction, Best in Climate Action and 2nd Runner up, Most Responsible Organisation in Africa.

The recognitions reflect IBPLC’s strong commitment to sustainability and corporate social responsibility through impactful initiatives targeted at ensuring the company’s operations contribute positively within its operational environment and across the country.

Receiving the awards

on behalf of the company, the Corporate Affairs and Regulatory Director of IBPLC, Temitope Oguntokun, said the awards underscore years of commitment to a sustainable environment and the company’s revolutionary initiatives such as the flagship Kickstart Initiative, the Hero Apprenticeship System, introduction of CNG-Powered Trucks within its fleet, energy transition to a CNG-powered Independent Power Project, Water Stewardship and Circular Economy, among others are testaments to its commitment in fostering social and environmental sustainability.

According to Oguntokun,

“We are deeply honored to receive these awards, which affirm our commitment to creating a future with more cheers for our communities and our planet. International Breweries’ ambitious plan is to shape a brighter future by revolutionizing the entire value chain with our Sustainability Goals. We are tackling this challenge through four strategic pillars: Smart Agriculture, Water Stewardship, Circular Packaging and Climate Action. These pillars are carefully aligned with the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (UNSDGs), ensuring our efforts contribute to a larger, global impact.’’

Sovereign Trust Insurance Named Outstanding Auto Insurance Company

Ebere Nwoji

Sovereign Trust Insurance

Plc recently won the Most Outstanding Auto Insurance Company of the Year Award

.The organisers of the Business Excellence Awards, Beta Media, said the underwriting firm clinched the award because of its consistency, professionalism, integrity, creativity and an uncompromising stance for providing far-reaching retail products and services.

“In recognition of the company’s creativity and adaptability in product development with regards to retail and affordable insurance products to the insuring public, the organisers of the annual award through its award committee nominated Sovereign Trust Insurance Plc as one of the possible recipients of the

award and at the end of it all, the company emerged the winner of the award for year 2024,” the organisers stated.

The Chief Executive Officer of Beta Media, Clarisse Ndinge, said the event was gracefully attended by captains of industries, brand management and marketing practitioners, the media and members of the public.

He said the criteria for the award as given by the Technical/Award committee included, efficiency in service delivery, creativity in product development, branch network, the use of technology, media presence of the brand, adherence to ethics and corporate governance and the quality of human resources available to the organisation within the period of the nomination and

the screening process.

According to him, the screening process for the companies nominated for the award was carried out by a group of seasoned brand management and marketing consultants and some notable members of the public.

“It was a very rigourous process in determining the eventual winner of the award but at the end of the day, Sovereign Trust Insurance was adjudged by all as the winner of the award category in question”, he stated.

Ndinge further reiterated that insurance companies needed to do a lot of work in terms of product development that would impact positively on the lives of the average Nigerian as insurance in the country was viewed by many as a service for only the rich.

Agbeyewa Farms Appoints Aiyeleso Managing Director/CEO

Agbeyewa Farms has announced the appointment of Seyi Aiyeleso (OSKA) as the substantive Managing Director/ Chief Executive Officer, effective December 30, 2024.

Until this new appointment, Aiyeleso was the Group Director, Sales at Cavista Holdings Limited, and also an Executive Director Agbeyewa Farms where he acted in a CEO capacity, driving the company’s strategic initiatives in 2024.

With over 30 years of experience in Sales and Marketing, Aiyeleso career spans

leadership roles in various multinational corporations in the FMCG, Oil/Gas and the Public sector.

With this new appointment, he is set to lead the transformation and expansion drive of Agbeyewa Farms.

“Agbeyewa is today one of the largest commercial cassava farms in Nigeria, and it is mostly thanks to the expert leadership provided by OSKA”, said John Olajide, Chairman of Agbeyewa Farms.

“We are confident that with his transformational and exem-

plary leadership, Agbeyewa is well-positioned for long term success. We are excited to have him step into the role of MD/CEO, where he will lead the execution of our 12 point agenda to transform cassava farming and ultimately address food insecurity in Nigeria.

“OSKA’s appointment underscores Cavista Holdings Limited’s commitment to expanding its market presence and enhancing customer value across Nigeria and West Africa.

Saharan Blend (Algeria), Djeno (Congo), Zafiro (Equatorial Guinea), Rabi Light (Gabon), Iran Heavy (Islamic Republic of Iran), Basrah Medium (Iraq), Kuwait Export (Kuwait), Es Sider (Libya), Bonny Light (Nigeria), Arab Light (Saudi Arabia), Murban (UAE) and Merey (Venezuela).

Stock Market Drops by N152bn to Post First Loss in 2025

Kayode Tokede

The domestic stock market yesterday posted its first loss in 2025 as the overall capitalisation depreciated by N152 billion on investors profit-taking in Northern Nigeria Flour Mills (NNFM) and 50 others.

Consequently, the Nigerian Exchange Limited All Share Index (NGX ASI) dipped by 249.42 basis points or 0.24

per cent to close at 103,398.82 basis points.

Also, market capitalisation depreciated by N152 billion to close at N63.051 trillion.

The negative performance was impacted by losses recorded in medium and large capitalised stocks, amongst which are; Northern Nigeria Flour Mills (NNFM), Vitafoam Nigeria, Africa Prudential, Zenith Bank and SUNU Assurance.

Investor sentiment, as measured by market breadth closed negative as 19 stocks advanced, while 51 declined. Abbey Mortgage Bank and PZ Cussons Nigeria recorded the highest price gain of 10 per cent each to close at N3.63 and N27.50 respectively, while Learn Africa followed with a gain of 9.90 per cent to close at N5.44, per share.

NCR Nigeria up by 9.77

per cent to close at N7.30, while Nigerian Exchange Group appreciated by 9.72 per cent to close at N29.90, per share.

On the other hand, FTN Cocoa Processors, RT Briscoe Nigeria and Veritas Kapital Assurance led the losers’ chart by 10 per cent each to close at N1.80, N2.70 and N1.53 respectively, per share.

SUNU Assurance and Cornerstone Insurance followed

with a decline of 9.98 per cent each to close at N10.01 and N4.15 respectively, while Honeywell Flour Mills shed 9.92 per cent to close at N7.54, per share.

The total volume traded increased by 30.0 per cent to 1.112 billion units, valued at N14.638 billion, and exchanged in 16,617 deals.

Transactions in the shares of FBNH Holdings (FBNH) topped the activity chart

with 161.460 million shares valued at N4.715 billion. AIICO Insurance followed with 120.703 million shares worth N225.444 million, while Tantalizers traded 104.762 million shares valued at N267.395 million. Universal Insurance traded 93.811 million shares valued at N78.058 million, while Regency Alliance Insurance sold 47.325 million shares worth N44.546 million.

Africa Energy Bank: Driving Sustainable Economic Growth in the Energy Sector

Chinenyenwa Owuamalam

In navigating Africa's journey towards energy security and economic growth, the enormous benefits of its fossil fuels remain undisputed.

Africa has over 125 billion barrels of proven crude oil reserves and hundreds of trillions of cubic feet of established gas reserves, with more discoveries emerging across the continent. This natural resource continues to power industries, generate revenue, and create jobs, playing a pivotal role in the development of the continent.

Traditional fossil fuels like petroleum and gas, are crucial in powering African economies, which are largely dependent on the petroleum sector for their foreign exchange, fiscal revenues and economic growth. Africa also boasts a diverse energy mix, such as renewable energy resources including abundant sunlight, hydroelectric power, strong winds and geothermal energy.

Approximately 60% of the world's best solar resources are concentrated in Africa, making it a prime location for harnessing solar power. Conversely, over 600 million people in Africa currently lack electricity and the majority of Africa’s over 1.5 billion citizens live without access to basic amenities such as affordable health care, housing and clean water. This energy sector deficit greatly hinders economic growth and social development for the continent.

Africa is on the verge of a momentous energy sector transformation with the establishment of the African Energy Bank (AEB). A joint initiative of the African Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank) and the AfricanPetroleum Producers’ Organization (APPO), the AEB is established as a Pan-African financial institution designed to support investments in Africa’s energy projects and accelerate Africa’s economic development.

In the words of Professor Benedict Oramah, the President and Chairman of the Board of Afreximbank, “…supporting the emergence of [the Africa Energy Bank] will enable a more efficient and predictable capital allocation between fossil fuels and renewables…that will make it possible to support its member countries more effectively in the transition to cleaner fuels.”

The gains of financing clean energy technologies far outweigh the burden and the urgent need for energy access in Africa underscores the importance of this commitment. Given the far-reaching reforms it proposes to an industry which is the single most significant contributor to African wealth, the AEB is poised to address funding hitchesand the enduring inefficiencies hindering remarkable

progress in the African energy sector by ensuring the equitable financing of energy projects across Africa to drive sustainable economic growth.

The AEB’s mission is highly commendable. To fullyharness the full potential of Africa's energy landscape, the overarching purpose of the AEB should be to strike an appropriate balance between financing energy projects for economic prosperity and addressing the environmental challenges arising from the activities of the energy sector, particularly those related to environmental degradation and climate change.

The AEB must therefore give due consideration to diversifying Africa’s energy mixthrough the integration of complementary energy solutions that address Africa's immediate energy needs.

The integration of sustainable practices

in the African energy sector by AEB will ensure that Africa can satisfy its immediate energy needs and develop the continent, without compromising its commitment to environmental stewardship. Investments in renewable energy projects have the tendency to create millions of new jobs across Africa which materially impacts Africa's workforce, thereby contributing to economic growth and poverty reduction.

Studies reveal that renewable energy projects can create up to 20% more jobs per unit of electricity generated compared to traditional fossil fuel projects. In fact, it is also estimated that Africacould generate 10 terawatts of solar energy which is significantly more than its current electricity demand.

These vast potentials offer a sustainable solution to Africa's energy security challenges and further spotlight AEB’s vision to promote inclusive growth by ensuring that the spoils of energy development are distributed across individuals and

communities in Africa, particularly, the grassroots. The AEB should therefore not only scratch the surface of conversations on sustainability but must also innovate and engage with industry stakeholders to draw up blueprints to guide and prosper the sector.

The role of law and policy in ensuring a balancebetween sustainability and energy sectordevelopment will continuously be tested. The AEB is uniquely positioned to lead transformation in the African energy sector by developing policies which align with the global and regional sustainability pactsto which its African member countries are subscribed.

The complexity of integrating sustainable practices into the energy sector may be particularly challenging but the AEB must be primed to remain ahead of the game. As a step in the right direction, the enactment of a novel framework to embodyAfrican Sustainable Energy Principles should be effectuated by the AEB.

The proposed Principles once implemented would sustain the social license of AEB to operate, by incorporating community and human investment programmes, especially in the oil-producing regions across Africa.

This approach is also a business promoting opportunity, as it can enhance the reputation, public opinion, competitiveness and resilience of the AEB, without downplaying the importance of foreign investmentsand partnerships. Another corporate consideration for the AEB would be to establish from inception, avibrant in-house sustainability office comprisingexperienced and skilled professionals, driven by a shared mandate to develop groundbreaking policies on sustainability in the African energy sector. These guidelines will propel the AEB to become the financial anchor of the African energy sector with a robust portfolio in clean energy investments.

Though the challenge to maintain an equilibrium between energy security, affordability andsustainability remains, the AEB is presented with the golden opportunity to lead Africa into an era of unprecedented growth by pioneering the positive trajectory for sustainable economic development in the African energy sector.

-Chinenyenwa Owuamalam is a distinguished Nigerian lawyer with extensive experience spanning fourteen years in the energy, financial, government and legal sectors. An avid sustainability expert and apex banker, she holds an LLM with Distinction in Oil and Gas Law from the University of Aberdeen and is based in Abuja, Nigeria.

Optiva Capital Partners and Loft & Keys LCC Forge Strategic Partnership to Drive $500m Investments in Nigeria

Uzoma Mba

Optiva Capital Partners, Africa’s leading wealth management and retention company, has announced a groundbreaking partnership with Loft & Keys LLC, a renowned real estate and investment company with dominant presence in Nigeria and the Middle East.

The ceremony which took place over the weekend at Optiva Capital’s Corporate Headquarters, aims to boost investment in Nigeria’s hospitality and healthcare sectors on the one hand, as well as provide Nigerian investors with opportunities to invest in real estate in the UAE, particularly in Dubai.

Speaking at the signing ceremony, Dr. Jane Kimemia, CEO,Optiva Capital Partners, emphasized the transformative potential of this partnership, “With Loft & Keys’ deep understanding of the Nigerian market and established networks in the Middle East, we are poised to bring $500 million in investments into Nigeria’s hospitality and healthcare industries. These funds will be strategically spread across Lagos, Abuja (FCT), Delta, and Enugu.”

The investment in hospitality will serve as a catalyst for economic growth in Nigeria. Beyond creating employment opportunities, it will spur infrastructure development, enhance regional tourism appeal, and foster business ecosystems in Lagos, the Federal Capital Territory, Enugu, and Delta.

Similarly, the healthcare focus will address critical gaps in medical infrastructure, improve access to quality care, and promote health innovation—key pillars for national development.

The partnership according to Dr Kimemia, also extends to Nigerian investors seeking opportunities in the UAE. With Loft & Keys’ expertise and extensive networks in Dubai and other Middle Eastern hubs, the collaboration will unlock access to one

of the world’s most dynamic real estate markets.

Speaking about the partnership, Chief Austin Ugochukwu Albert, Chairman, Loft & Keys LLC, said “Optiva Capital Partners stands as Africa's leading wealth retention company, a position that is firmly established and without question.

This partnership with Loft & Keys will further solidify their dominance and create even greater opportunities for growth. As Dr. Jane Kimemia has rightly emphasized, Loft & Keys, with our extensive expertise in the Middle East, is a trusted

and experienced partner”.

We have a strong presence in the UAE and are actively expanding into Saudi Arabia and Qatar in the near future. Together with Optiva Capital Partners, we are committed to capturing significant market opportunities in these regions. I am confident that this partnership will foster substantial growth that will be mutually rewarding for both parties.

Dubai, a city widely known for its opulence and rapid development, is reportedly operating at only 30 per cent of its projected capacity, presenting a significant growth opportunity for investors.

According to industry experts, this untapped potential creates a unique window for investors to capitalise on the city's future expansion and development.

The partnership aligns with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal 17 as two formidable brands, Optiva Capital Partners and Loft & Keys are committed to leveraging their collective strengths to drive impactful investments that benefit clients and communities alike.

Optiva Capital Partners is a premier wealth management and retention firm offering bespoke solutions in four areas of specialisation - investment immigration, investment advisory, insurance, and international real estate.

On the other hand, Loft & Keys is an internationally recognised real estate and investment company with a robust presence in Nigeria and the UAE. The firm is dedicated to connecting investors with high-value opportunities in dynamic markets.

Owuamalam

L-R: Dr. Jane Kimemia, CEO, Optiva Capital Partners and Chief Austin Ugochukwu Albert, Chairman, Loft & Keys LLC during the partnership agreement signing between Optiva Capital partners and Loft & keys LLC at Optiva's headquarters in Lagos, recently

TRIBUTE

Celebrating Culture Icon, Pa Frank Aig-Imoukhuede @ 90

By Steve Ayorinde

Ten years ago when he clocked 80, his good old, shoot straight self was more evident than ever.

“I don’t want people to remember me for anything (other) than this was a man who worked hard, and walked straight,” he told This Day in a rare, detailed interview.

That was him in his true elements, saying it as it is, with fervour; always with candour and dignity.

Pa Frank Abiodun Aig-Imoukhuede, the respected and celebrated man of culture and the arts.

Today, Wednesday January 8, 2025, he clocks 90, and not a few in Nigeria’s culture sphere and allied industries will be elated to see a true man of letters; an icon of the culturatti and inded one of the remaining shining stars of arts and literature engage in an authentic dance of the elders.

Journalist, poet, author, thespian and admistrator per excellence, Pa Aig-Imoukhuede is one of those blessed gems who have witnessed Nigeria’s transformation from the last few decades of her colonial era in the 30s, 40s and 50s; and of course all of the intriguing 64 years after independence.

At every point in time since his undergraduate days, he has captured different slices and shades of the country’s journey.

He has, in the process, contributed his own indelible quota to the greatness that Nigeria has achieved among the committee of nations.

Many knew him as a younger brother to the literary matriarch, Mabel Segun, together with whom they are the only surviving siblings from a family of six children.

Many more would know him as the father of the accomplished banker, business man and an art aficionado in his own right, Aigboje Aig-Imoukhuede, the chairman of Access Bank Holdings.

But Pa Aig-Imoukhuede is definitely known and celebrated beyond his family pedigree and progeny.

Until his retirement in 1995 as the Federal Director of Culture, he was a prime go-to man in matters of culture.

I bear witness to his wealth of knowledge, firm but accommodating spirit and his unwavering belief in how and why Nigeria must fulfil her potential as a uniquely blessed country

As a young reporter with The Guardian in the mid 1990s, Pa Imoukhuede was an unrivalled resource bank for journalists, especially on federal matters. His younger colleague, Oba Gbenga Sonuga (now the Fadesewa of Simawa, in Makun, Sagamu Ogun State) was another reliable source while he the Director of Lagos State Council for Arts and Culture and later Founder/CEO of International Centre for the Arts, Lagos (ICAL).

But Pa Imoukhuede was helpful to me beyond a couple of interviews he granted The Guardian.

He was one of the key people that graciously granted my request for an interview when I was writing the biography of a special cultural icon, my grand uncle, who was the late Ashipa of Ibadanland, High Chief (Dr.) John Adeyemi Ayorinde. Pa Imoukuede’s recollection of Papa Ayorinde was captured on Page 124 in Chapter 9 of my book, “Abokede: The Man, The Hill, The City”, published in conjunction with the Institute of African Studies, University of Ibadan in 2011.

My grand uncle was one of the key people that Pa Imoukhuede served with on the same committee during the hosting of the FESTAC in 1977 and while he was Secretary at the National Council for Arts & Culture (NCAC).

His views as captured in the book reads in part: “ I was co-opted into the committee through my boss, Chief Harold Dappa-Biriye, while I was at NCAC. I believe Papa J.A Ayorinde was appointed into the NCAC Board to represent Traditional Institutions. His deep knowledge of culture, clothing and traditional institution must have greatly endeared him to the authorities.”

His larger views on FESTAC are the stuff that words on marble are made of:

“ FESTAC did a lot for the black man. It was a symbol that brought 59 countries of the world together. It was the biggest event for the black man in the last century. It has symbols such as the National Theatre, Festac Town, Durbar Hotel and so on.”

It is worthy of note that Pa Imoukhuede did not just jump into matters of culture.

Culture found him from a tender age!

He was born on January 8, 1935 in Edunabon, near Ile Ife, in the old Western Region (now in Edo State) as the fourth child of the family. But he lost his father, Isiah Aigbovbioise Imoukhuede early in life. He was only three-years-old when his father passed on, leaving him (with his other sibblings) in the care of his mother, Madam Eunice Ovbialeke Imoukhuede, a hard-working trader who ensured that all her children had University education.

Although his father departed early, he picked at least four major legacies from his dad.

A legacy of quality education.

Legacy of ecumenical service that saw the good Reverend Imoukhuede adding to the pioneering work of spreading the gospel through many communities of the old Western Region.

The legacy of bloodline of royalty and nobility, traceable from Oba Ozolua the Great, who was the founder of the Sabongida Ora’s family ancestral homestead. He ruled Benin in the 15th century.

And of course he picked from his father the legacy of respect for heritage and love for creativity and the arts.

His father was credited with the popular Yoruba children’s song: “Iwe kika, laisi oko, koi pe o...” (education without farming is inadequate).

From Edunabon to Ila Orangun where he also lived with his mother and where he encountered the Fakeye family of carvers; to Lagos, then Ibadan and back to Lagos, the good legacies that his father left would later shape his life’s trajectory as a cultured, creative and forthright gentleman.

He got to Lagos in 1947 with innate love for things of culture. “I used to watch the annual festivals in those days,” he pnce said in a newspaper interview.

“In a way my experience living in several places influenced my passion for culture.”

He attended Igbobi College between 1950 and 1954, during which time he was a member of the College Cricket 11. Those were the good old days when education in public schools was not complete without sports arenas, including inter-house sports; literary and debating societies; functional science laboratories and excellent curriculum.

Young Frank Aig-Imoukhuede continued playing the gentleman’s sport at the University College, Ibadan where he enrolled to study English and would later graduate with honours in 1961.

He was a valued member of the University Cricket Team and won several international caps.

He was also a member of the University Hockey Team.

But University College Ibadan certainly did more for him than provide sporting activities.

It was at UCI that he honed his writing and theatrical skills.

He wrote, directed and acted in several plays, some staged at first in the dinning hall.

It is said that his was the first play penned by a Nigerian to be staged by the Arts & Theatre group of the University. He would later lead the University Graduating

Procession with his buddy, Prof. Wole Soyinka, the Nobel Laureate, who celebrated his own 90th last July.

It was not a surprise that both were involved in leading socio-cultural confraternity in campus and were welcoming to Robert Mugabe, who would later become the President of Zimbabwe (formerly Rodesia) when he had a stint at UCI.

But UCI sharpened Pa Aig-Imoukhuede’s somewhat revolutionary mien too.

He once protested the practice of Nigerian students playing the parts of animals in the classic university plays while their white lecturers had the good speaking roles.

His student political activism had peaked as soon as he arrived on campus.

Not surprisingly, he did not take the back seat, when almost two thousand students on campus led a major protest against the British Prime Minister at the time, Harold Macmillan, who had suddenly appeared at the university library one memorable day in 1958.

“It was the time of the atomic bomb in the Sahara desert”, Pa Aig-Imoukhuede, once recalled. “So we were politically alert. We were holding Independent movements and all that.”

The former British Prime minister, who incidentally was known as ‘SmartMac’ in England in those days, had to be rushed into a waiting car, hiting his head i the car in the process, to escape the wrath of the students in Ibadan.

That was years before ‘Ali Must Go’ protest; way before the protest that caught the late business mogul, Chief Arisekola Alao, at the University of Ibadan, and decades before the social-media driven #endsars protest by Nigerian youths in October 2020.

Upon graduation, his first job was with Radio Nigeria Service as Planning Officer to the Controller of National Programmes.

He also explored television briefly when he produced ‘Focus’ a documentary of Western Nigerian Government Programmes.

He worked with the Daily Express Newspaper as a journalist, thereby becoming arguably the first graduate of a Nigerian University to be hired by a local newspaper.

In 1962, he moved from full-time journalism to join the Nigerian Civil Service when he was appointed as Information Officer for the Western Region. But then he continued to write columns for a couple of newspapers and magazines, including SPEAR and Modern Woman magazine.

In 1963, he was assigned to the Federal Unit as a Scriptwriter, a position he held till 1971.

During that time, he scripted the popular radio series: ‘Save Journey’, ‘Oga Mr. Councillor’ and ‘Constable Joe’ among others. He also penned several radio plays that were performed to popular acclaim in Ibadan and Lagos. Of course Lagos played a central role in his illustrious career as a civil servant and he has fond memories of the city that his grandchildren would probably be referring to as ‘Lasgidi’ today.

“ We had all sorts of things happening at that time. Lagos was clean. We used to race in the gutter with matchboxes. We would make a shape out of it and we would run after it until we got to Marina.

“When I began my career, my office was opposite the Cathedral, the magazine section. That was when we started the cultural division and Marina was a bit different from what we have now.”

In 1964, he went on a post-graduate diploma course at Poona Film Institute in India, to study Cinenatography. His script at the Institute earned him a gold prize before proceeding to win another award at the maiden edition of the African and Asiant Film Festival.

Poetry had a sweet taste for him, especially the ones he wrote in pidgin. For their quality, he got them published in respected pioneer literary journals like the Black Orpheus (1964); The Horn and his major collection ‘Pidgin Stew and Sufferhead.’

His promotions and impact became steady in the ‘70.

From becoming the first ever Cultural Officer of the Federal Civil Service in 1971 and rising to the position of Principal Cultural Officer in 1975, he had become something of a force in Nigeria’s culture landscape. He practically supervised Nigeria’s entries and exhibitions during FESTAC. Between 1975 and 1988, he held the post of Director at NCAC and the annual competitive National Festival of Arts & Culture (NAFEST).

The big one eventually came his way in 1988 when he was appointed the Federal Director of Culture, a position he held until his retirement in 1995. Few people have made matters of culture and creativity their full menu like Pa Aig-Imoukhuede. And he’s been somewhat relentless, even in retirement. If he’s not serving on the Board of several government and non-governmental agencies, he is presiding over committees and councils, or attending conferences.

He has remained a veritable resource, post-retirement, to the parastatals that were created from the old directorates of culture.

With dedication and integrity, he has played useful roles as culture and heritage specialist as well as arts and tourism consultant, including making contributions to the Niger Delta Development Plan, among other initiatives.

In retirement, he chaired the review of Nigerian Film Policy, even as many years in retirement saw him attending conferences and making presentations and being involved in legacy-making documentations. This will naturally include the writing of “A Calendar of Nigerian Traditional Festivals” and “Between God and Man: Meaning and Essence of Traditional Festivals.”

In the last 10 years, quite remarkably, he has continued writing and documenting Nigerian culture, exploring etymology of our ethnicity and interacting with old friends like Demas Nwoko and Bruce Onabrakpeya in similar endeavours.

Not surprisingly, he has aso found ample time for exhibitions at the Coronation Gallery, his son’s (Aigboje) arthouse in Lagos.

In fact, after the last exhibition at The Coronation, he was said to have remarked that although the exhibition was well-curated, but was lacking the works of “masters” that he would have loved to see. His verdict, therefore: he must be invited to all the Coronation Gallery exhibitions.

That’s vintage Frank Aig-Imoukhuede, the quintessential artman who joins the league of nonagenarians today and will later in the year celebrate his 60th wedding anniversary to his childhood love, Emily Ofovwe, with whom they share four children who “have made me a proud father”: Erekpitan, a University don; Aigboje the indefatigable banker; Oluwakemi a business tycoon and education entrepreneur and Aigbovbioise, a stock broker.

“At times people used to say I’m proud. Well, how can a man who is proud be also full of humility?” He asks rhetorically. He shoots straight, yet again, but with wise nuggets. “Life is about knowing where you are going and being focused!”

Happy birthday to this refined gentleman from Sabongida Ora who finds, and shares, values in culture.

•Ayorinde, a journalist, author and TV Host, is former Commissioner for Information, Culture & Tourism in Lagos State

Pa Frank Aig-Imoukhuede

2024 CALABAR FESTIVAL AND CARNIVAL...

Police vs Ofoegbu: Court Strikes out Defamation Count over Lack of Jurisdiction, Proceeds with Cyber Stalking

A Federal High Court in Lagos has held that defamation is not one of the items over which jurisdiction is conferred on the court by the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria as well as the Rules of the Federal High Court.

Justice Akintayo Aluko made the declaration while delivering ruling in a preliminary objection filed by one Chizorom Ofoegbu in his trial for alleged conspiracy, cyber stalking, and defamation.

But the court assumed jurisdiction on another count, which bordered on cybercrime based on the amendment of the Cybercrime Act, 2024.

The police had last year arraigned Ofoegbu before the court for allegedly using his social media handle to cause

hate and damage the reputation of one Evangelist Ebuka Obi.

However, Ofoegbu, through his lawyer, Mr. Femi Falana, SAN, filed a preliminary objection to the charge, claiming, among others, that the main offence of the trial was unknown to law.

Delivering ruling in the preliminary objection last July, Aluko dismissed two of the counts for being incompetent and ordered the defendant to stand trial on the remaining count.

In the first count, which bordered on conspiracy, the court agreed with the defendant that the count of conspiracy was illegal because the defendant could not conspire against himself.

Besides, Aluko held that a person could not be charged with conspiracy

to commit an offence, which was not known to the law.

On the third count, which bordered on defamation, the court held that by the community reading of Section 251 (1) (S), (3) of the CFRN and Section 7 (1) and (2) of the Federal High Court Act, it had no jurisdiction to try the offence of defamation.

The court, however, ruled that the offence of using social media handle to make online publication with the intention to cause hatred and damage the reputation of any person was an offence under the Cybercrime Act of 2024.

As such, the court held that it had jurisdiction to try the offence of cyberstalking vide online publication against the person of the evangelist, which put him to fear of death under

sections 24 (2) (c) (i) (ii) and (3) of the Act as amended.

The section provides for the offence of cyberstalking where a person knowingly or intentionally sends a message by means of computer systems or network that is pornography or which he knows to be false for the purpose of causing a breakdown of law and order, posing a threat to life or causing such message to be sent and where a person knowingly or intentionally transmits or causes the transmission of any communication through a computer system or network to bully, threaten or harass another person, where such communication places another person in fear of death, violence or bodily harm to another person.

The court held, "Coming from the

Tax Clearance by Students: Parents/Guardians Task Kogi Government to Rescind Decision

Piqued by the decision of the Management of the Confluence University of Science and Technology CUSTEC, Osara, that new intakes should present parents tax clearance before they attend classes, parents and guardians have called on the state government to prevail on the management to rescind the order immediately.

The parents argued that arbitrary decision of the Kogi State Government has sparked outrage in the state with parents, Human Rights activists and concerned educationists kicking against the policy.

This new policy is seen as "wicked, ungodly and an infamous act aimed at denying students of poor backgrounds, orphans and those struggling to train themselves the universal right of going to school and a clear negation of what Governor Usman Ododo professed when he was sworn in last year when he said' the poor must be allowed to breathe' "

The state government had in late November last year issued a memo from the chairman of the Board of Internal Revenue Services, Sule Enehe, to schools in the state not to allow students who failed to present a verifiable tax clearance certificate from their parents to continue their education in the state.

Reacting to the controversial policy, a Kogi-based legal practitioner and rights activist, Arome Odoma, has issued A Pre-Action Notice Against

Kogi State’s Policy on Parental Tax Clearance for Student Registration: A Fight for Educational Justice

Odoma who is challenging the legality of the policy, in a pre-action notice addressed to the governor of the state, Ahmed Usman Ododo, and the chairman of the Board of Internal Revenue Service, laid bare the policy’s flaws, branding it “repugnant to natural justice, equity, and good conscience.”

A copy of the notice which was made available to newsmen in Lokoja yesterday read in parts:

“I read a memo from the office of the Chairman Kogi State Board of Internal Revenue Service dated the 26th November, 2024 mandating institutions of learning not to register any student without a verifiable parent’s tax clearance certificate.

“This policy is not only repugnant to natural justice, equity and good conscience but also an attempt to deprive the future leaders their right to education.

“The chairman of the board should take note that education is not a privilege but a right, it then goes to say that education is legally guaranteed for all without discrimination.

“All states including Kogi State has the duty to protect, respect and fulfill the right of education of her citizens without discrimination.

“This policy is purely incongruous to the people’s right to education and we will hold the State accountable for violation and deprivation of our people’s right to education.

“How does it concern an innocent child/Student whose duty is not to enforce tax payment to suffer from non-compliance of his parent to pay tax to Kogi State Government. We should also take note that we were once children of no body before we became somebody.

“Our quest to satisfy the financial urge of the government should not deprive the citizens of their fundamental rights especially that of education which is not freely given.

“I have seen some students without parents or guardians strug-

gling to sponsor themselves with hard labour. Some of our governors and senators in Nigeria didn’t grow with parental support but via being determined and focused to achieve education.

“I know the current governor of Kogi State, the person of Alhaji Usman Ododo, his style of leadership to the best of my knowledge is not in conformity with this obnoxious policy made in violation of people’s right to education and I am of a strong view that the said policy be reversed.

forgoing, the preliminary objection is upheld over count one and three, while same is overruled on count two of the amended charge.

"Accordingly, count one and three are out on grounds of incompetence

while count two is sustained.” It was the court's position that the alleged offence of cyber stalking in count two was committed in February 2024, the same time the Cybercrime Act was amended.

UNESCO Rep to Nigeria Deployed as UN Resident Coordinator to Congo

Michael Olugbode in Abuja

The United Nations SecretaryGeneral António Guterres has deployed the Representative of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) to Nigeria, Abdourahamane Diallo of Niger Republic, as the United Nations Resident Coordinator in the Republic of Congo.

Diallo brings more than 20 years of experience in the field of development to his post.

Prior to becoming Resident Coordinator in Congo, he served in a number of positions in UNESCO, most recently as Representative of UNESCO to Nigeria, leading UNESCO’s response in the fields of education, sciences, culture and communication.

He also served as Head of Office and Representative of UNESCO in Brazzaville, Republic of Congo (2009-2013), Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of Congo (2014-2018) and

Accra, Ghana (2018-2023).

Mr. Diallo began his career with UNESCO in their Paris headquarters as a member of Niger’s permanent delegation to UNESCO.

In 2002 he became a programme specialist in the Africa department, responsible for monitoring cooperation with the African Union and the various sub-regional and regional African organizations. In 2006, he headed the department’s Section for Regional Organizations and Post-Conflict Situations, focusing on addressing the specific needs of African countries in crisis and post-conflict settings and the cooperation with the AU and African Regional Economic Communities.

Diallo holds a degree in Industrial Computer Engineering from the Hautes Etudes Industrielles in Lilles, France and a Master of Business Administration in International Business Engineering from the Institut Superieur de Gestion in Paris.

Journalists Hail Tinubu, Say FMC, Federal Varsity Will Transform Southern Kaduna

The Southern Kaduna Journalists’ Forum (SKJF) has lauded President Bola Tinubu for approving the establishment of a Federal University of Applied Sciences and a Federal Medical Centre (FMC) in Southern Kaduna.

In a statement issued yesterday, SKJF chairman Ango Bally praised the collaborative efforts of Kaduna State Governor, Uba Sani, senator representing Kaduna South, Sunday Marshall Katung, and member representing Zango Kataf/Jaba Federal Constituency, Amos Magaji.

The forum credited their legisla-

tive and administrative synergy for securing the approval of the two landmark projects.

“The Federal University of Applied Sciences, Kachia, sponsored by Senator Katung, and the Federal Medical Centre, initiated by Hon. Magaji, represent transformative milestones for the socio-economic and educational development of Southern Kaduna,” Bally said.

The university, which will include an additional campus in Manchok, Kaura Local Government Area, is expected to provide quality education, technical expertise, and foster innovation in the region.

Bally described it as a beacon

of hope for a region historically marginalized and underdeveloped, noting that it aligns with the federal government’s inclusivity agenda.

“The establishment of the Federal Medical Centre, will significantly enhance healthcare delivery in Southern Kaduna and surrounding areas,” Bally added.

The SKJF applauded the “Renewed Hope Agenda” of President Tinubu and expressed gratitude to Vice President Kashim Shettima, who announced the presidential assent during a condolence visit to Southern Kaduna on December 28, 2024.

Shettima assured the region of

continued federal collaboration with the state government to improve road infrastructure and other developmental projects.

The forum emphasized the importance of unity among political leaders, commending Governor Sani, Senator Katung, and Hon. Magaji for prioritizing the interests of the people over partisan differences.

“As custodians of information and public opinion, we pledge to support initiatives that promote peace, unity, and development in Southern Kaduna, Kaduna State, and Nigeria at large,” the SKJF statement said.

The Group Head, Public Sector, First Bank of Nigeria Plc, Nkiruka Harris-Eze and the Executive Governor of Cross River State, Prince Bassey Edet Otu, during the 2024 Calabar Festival and Carnival…recently

Kuni Tyessi in Abuja

Ibrahim Oyewale in Lokoja

Alex Enumah in Abuja

INAUGURATION OF FACILITY DONATED BY THE US...

NDLEA Nabbed 18,500 Drug Traffickers,

Seized 2.6m Kg of Drugs in

Michael Olugbode in Abuja Chairman/Chief Executive of National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), Brig.-Gen. Buba Marwa (Rtd), yesterday, revealed that in 2024 the anti-narcotics agency seized over 2.6 million kilogrammes of illicitMarwadrugs.added that across the country, more than 18,500 drug trafficking offenders were arrested, with over 3,250 convicted, including 10 drug barons. He also stated that more than 220 hectares of cannabis farms were destroyed.

He spoke at the commissioning of the central exhibit office donated by the United States Government to NDLEA at the agency’s headquarters annex in Ikoyi, Lagos.

The NDLEA boss said over 8, 200 persons were counselled and rehabilitated, with more than 3,000 sensitisation and advocacy programmes organised across the country. He said the programmes sought to create a balance between the agency’s drug supply reduction and drug demand reduction efforts.

Marwa stating that the steady operational successes being recorded by the anti-narcotic body in its drug supply and demand reduction efforts will continue to justify the support and assistance it was getting from the United States government, other partners, and stakeholders.

He commended the United States government as a reliable ally in Nigeria’s renewed effort to combat drug-related crimes, stating that the continued collaboration with the US has bolstered and enhanced NDLEA’s operational capabilities.

The facility was handed over to the NDLEA boss by the US Consulate General, Ms. Jo Ellen Georg, supported by other senior US officials.

Marwa said at the commissioning, “Today, I am particularly pleased to acknowledge one of such gestures, namely the donation of the office for our central exhibit custodians.

“This donation acknowledges the critical need for efficient and secure handling of evidence, which is essential for the successful prosecution of drug-related cases.

“This contribution will not only strengthen our operational framework but also set a new standard for accountability and transparency in drug law enforcement. It is an investment in the security and the future of our nations.”

He said despite the agency’s improved performance, “We recognise that the war against drug trafficking and abuse is far from over. As an organisation, we are committed to surmounting the challenges.”

Marwa said the challenges notwithstanding, tremendous successes had been recorded on all fronts against the drug menace.

He stated, “So far, the results have been justifying. In 2024, we seized over 2.6 million kilogrammes of illicit drugs. Across the country, we arrested more than 18,500 drug trafficking offenders. Got over 3,250 convicted, including 10 drug barons, with more than 220 hectares of cannabis farms destroyed.

“In the same breath, we counselled and rehabilitated over 8, 200, with more than 3,000 sensitisation and advocacy programmes organised across the country in schools, markets,

motor parks, worship centres, work places and communities, among others, thus creating an equipoise between our drug supply reduction and drug demand reduction efforts.”

While calling for continuous support and more collaboration from the US government and other partners, Marwa said the challenges of illicit drugs were dynamic and multifaceted, and, as such, require continuous partnership and innovation.

He added, “That is why we are pragmatic in our unending quest for further support from our international partners, key stakeholders and publicspirited persons.

“We seek intervention in critical

areas, such as capacity building and enhanced training for our officers, provision of technology and equipment, especially for advanced surveillance and tracking, intelligence and information sharing and provision of operational logistics.” Marwa commended the American people for their support and magnanimity over the years.

He said, “Our shared goal remains the protection of lives and the promotion of a safer, healthier world. As Chairman and CEO of NDLEA, I pledge our commitment to accountability, transparency, and the effective utilisation of the resources entrusted to us.

“I assure you that every donation

2024

inspires confidence in the agency and, by extension, inspires resilience, hardwork and dedication among our workforce.”

He specifically thanked the US DEA attaché in Nigeria, Mr. Robert Bascoe, whose untiring efforts and commitment made the donation and several others a reality. He also expressed gratitude to the United States Africa Command and the US Embassy for their invaluable partnership.

In her remarks, the US acting Consul General, Ms. Jo Ellen Georg, said the relationship between Nigeria and US was premised on the vibrancy of democracy.

Georg stated, “It's a principle

deeply embraced by both of our nations. And one of our leaders who helped nurture this deep and enduring partnership between our two countries was former President Jimmy Carter, who, as noted, passed away on December 29th at age 100. “President Carter was an extraordinary leader, and he dedicated his years in and out of office promoting peace, democracy, health, and human rights. And today, as is customary in the United States, his body is being drawn on a horse carriage to the U.S. Capitol to lie in state so that we can all respect the legacy that he has left for us. And President Carter was actually the first U.S. President to make a state visit to Nigeria.”

Borno Governor Tasks Nation's Youth on Hardwork, Humility

Governor Babangana Zulum of Borno State yesterday urged Nigerian youth to imbibe the culture of humility and hardwork.

Zulum also challenged faith-based institutions in the country to produce graduates trained in spirituality and morality in order to bail Nigeria out of its current moral decadence of corruption and social vices.

The governor made the submissions in Ilorin, the Kwara State capital on Tuesday while delivering the 20th anniversary lecture of the first

Islamic faith-based university in Nigeria, the Al-Hikmah University, Ilorin, themed, “Two decades of Excellence: Al-Hikmah University's Impact on Scholarship and Educational Development in Nigeria".

Zulum who said he was a son of a peasant farmer and a commercial driver that was plying MaiduguriOkene-Ibadan roads, advised youth to imbibe culture of respect for parents, sacrifice for humanity and love for hardwork.

The governor also said that shortcut to anything in life usually ends in regret and disaster, adding that,

"hardwork is good but humility takes you far in life".

"Hardwork is one thing. But humility is the best. When I finished my Master’s degree, I went to my village to go to farm with my parents. I could have remained in Maiduguri wearing babanrigan, but because I have to be obedient to my parents that is why I am what I am today", he said.

In his address at the 20th anniversary dinner/award night of the university, the vice chancellor, Professor Noah Yusuf, said that the most pressing challenge of the university is inadequate funds.

The VC also said that the spiral effect of the funding challenge is the inability to meet some critical needs of the university.

Professor Yusuf therefore appealed for support from friends of the university in the following areas - construction of hostels to be endowed after the name of the donor, construction of faculty building to be endowed in the name of the donor, joint construction of classrooms and offices to be endowed in the name of the donors, scholarship grant to indigent students and research funding for academic staff of the university.

Hammed Shittu in Ilorin

Muslim Ummah of South West Nigeria, (MUSWEN), the umbrella body for all Muslim Communities/ Councils and all Muslim organisations in the six states of South West of Ekiti, Lagos, Ogun, Ondo, Osun and Oyo States of the country yesterday lauded the management of the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON) over the recent appointment of Alhaji Alidu Shutti as the acting Secretary of the Commission.

Alhaji Shutti, an astute Hajj administrator was appointed as the acting Secretary of the NAHCON following the voluntary resignation

of the former Secretary of the Commission, Dr. Abdullah Kotangora. In a signed statement issued by MUSWEN and made available to newsmen in Ilorin, the Kwara State capital on Tuesday the MUSWEN President and Deputy President-General (South) of Nigerian Supreme Council of Islamic Affairs, Alhaji Rasaki Oladejo, described the appointment of Alhaji Shutti as a round peg in a round hole considering his long years’ experience in the management of Hajji Affairs in the country. The statement read: "The Chairman of NAHCON is highly commended for this well-thought-out decision of looking inwards to identify an

experienced hand, versed in your operations.

"This is, as opposed to the approach of appointing someone who will still require going through training and induction into the culture and the inner workings of NAHCON.

"Alihamdulli Llaah, for your painstaking thoroughness, Mr. Chairman.

"May Allah (SWT) continue to guide your thoughts and your ways.

"Once again, as we congratulate Alhaji Alidu Shutti, the Acting Secretary, we highly commend Prof. Abdullah Usman Saleh, Chairman/ CEO, National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON) for this thoughtful appointment.

Funmi Ogundare

The General Manager of the Lagos State Environmental Protection Agency (LASEPA), Dr. Babatunde Ajayi, yesterday, unveiled a series of initiatives aimed at improving public engagement, enhancing environmental monitoring, and tightening enforcement regulations for 2025.

Speaking with journalists, Dr. Ajayi highlighted the agency's commitment to strengthening communication channels with the public.

"We are increasing our capacity across our public complaints portal,

making it easier for people to reach us. This year, we will deploy new complaint management systems that will help us filter and address issues as they arise, ensuring better engagement and faster responses," he said.

He stated the agency has expanded its outreach with multiple platforms, including WhatsApp, emails, social media direct messages, and its website, where citizens can easily report complaints.

A key focus for the agency this year, Ajayi noted, is the enforcement of Lagos' anti-smoking law, which aims to make smoking in public spaces a

thing of the past. He emphasised the agency will work to ensure designated smoking points are created in buildings, with clear signage for smoking and non-smoking areas. He said: "The agency will also enforce regulations prohibiting the sale of cigarettes to minors and continue raising public awareness on the dangers of smoking." Dr. Ajayi also discussed LASEPA’s efforts in waste oil management, explaining that advocacy campaigns are encouraging citizens to hand over used cooking oil to designated collectors for proper disposal.

Hammed Shittu in Ilorin

Acting Consul General of the US Consulate in Nigeria, Ms JoEllen Gorg (second left) handing over the keys to a facility donated by the US government to the Chairman/Chief Executive of NDLEA, Brig Gen Mohamed Buba Marwa (Rtd) (second right) flanked by Robert Bascoe (L) and Alex Menez (R) of the US embassy in Nigeria during the inauguration of the facility in Lagos ... yesterday

LORD'S CHOSEN CHARISMATIC REVIVAL MINISTRIES'S ANNUAL CONVENTION...

L-R: General Overseer of the Lord's Chosen Charismatic Revival Ministries, Pastor Lazarus Muoka with the Governor of Bayelsa State Duoye Diri ,at the Church's Annual convention Entitled ' What God Has Determined shall be done' held in Mgbidi , Imo State ... recently

APC Chair: No Sign of Fubara,

Wike’s

Reconciliation in 2025

Says former governor did not disparage ex-governor Odili Refutes alleged plan to join PDP

Emmanuel Addeh in Abuja

The Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Rivers state, Tony Okocha, yesterday expressed doubt over the possibility of a truce in the state this year, blaming Governor Siminalayi Fubara for failing to extend the olive branch during ex-Governor, Nyesom Wike's recent birthday.

In an interview on Arise Television,

Okocha argued that the altercation between the two political figures will not come to an end soon, insisting that Fubara missed an opportunity to mend fences with Wike during the festive season.

“I don’t see Rivers State coming out of this quagmire in 2025. By reason of prognosis, I am not a prophet of doom. The governor of Rivers State and his immediate

benefactor should not be enemies.

Even if they were, the festive season was a time to exchange convivialities and goodwill.

“What could it have taken you? Your boss, as he used to call him, celebrated his birthday in December. Even if it were just a scroll of news to say ‘congratulations on your birthday,’ that doesn’t take anything away from you, from my own assessment.

“The governor who is suing for peace can just drive to the minister’s house or anybody else’s to say, ‘I come to celebrate with you on Christmas Day.’ I am sure nobody will chase the governor away if he visits his home. But instead of doing that, he’s threatening brimstone and fire.I don’t see peace. I don’t see peace anytime soon because the governor holds the key,” he predicted.

Controversy Follows Sack of Seven Lecturers at Kwara Polytechnic in Ilorin

Hammed Shittu in Ilorin

There was controversy yesterday in Kwara State over the purported sacking of seven lecturers at Kwara State Polytechnic, Ilorin.

The state government announced the recruitment of 1,811 teachers for primary schools across the state to boost education of primary schools’ pupils.

The sacked lecturers, according to THISDAY checks, were allegedly relieved of their appointments due to alleged insubordination and being members of the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the state.

It was further learnt the sacked lecturers were employed last year when the institution sought appointment of more lecturers.

THISDAY gathered that the affected lecturers were also accused of working against the return of the incumbent rector of the institution, Engineer Abdul Jimoh, for a second term in office.

Contacted on the development, the institution's Public Relations Officer, Mrs. Garba Haleemah, said the seven disengaged lecturers were not sacked based on their alleged political affiliations.

According to her, “The staff were not sacked based on political affiliations.” Haleemah, in a statement issued in Ilorin, which she personally signed on behalf of the management of the institution, said, "The polytechnic management wishes to clarify that this exercise does not target anyone.

"It is purely an internal review and cost-saving measure that involved the movement of some old hands and, inevitably, rightsising of a few

new hands whose employments were still probationary.

"It was not a decision taken in haste or without due considerations; we, therefore, appeal that such exercise should not be politicised.

"The polytechnic is undergoing significant restructuring, including increased use of technology to improve efficiency, reduce cost, and enhance service delivery in line with global best practices."

However, a pro-democracy group in the state, People's Voice Advocacy Network (PVAN), condemned the dismissal of the lecturers for their alleged membership of an opposition political party.

In a statement issued on Tuesday by its Publicity Secretary, Comrade Yusuf Obe, the group described the sack of the individuals as “politically motivated, callous, reprehensible and unacceptable”. It called for their immediate reinstatement.

According to PVAN, “Our findings revealed that six of the dismissed workers are from Ilorin, Kwara Central, while the other person hails from Kwara South, and no concrete reason was given for their sacking other than ‘their service is no longer needed.’”

The group added, "This is no doubt a politically motivated decision. It is callous, reprehensible, unacceptable and a direct assault on Kwara youth, especially those who harbour opinions different from those of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).

"As the voice of the people, we demand the immediate and unconditional reinstatement of the dismissed workers and call on the governor to publicly disassociate

himself from this oppressive act carried out by his personal aide.

"Furthermore, we urge him to take decisive action against those responsible for this shameful display of political intimidation."

Meanwhile, the state government announced the recruitment of 1,811 basic school teachers and attendants across the primary schools in the state.

A statement by the State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB), which was signed by the press

secretary of the board, Mrs. Aminat Atere, said the recruitment was based on A recent process involving at least 55,713 applicants from across the state.

The statement said, "The breakdown of the successful applicants included 1,500 teachers, mostly from STEM subjects, and 311 non-teaching staff, comprising drivers, security guards, and office assistants for schools in the 16 local government areas of the state.

Besides, Okocha interpreted the reported attack by the FCT minister on former Governor Peter Odili as that of someone merely advising that Odili should not take sides in the quarrel between two sons of his.

“If I am to interpret what the FCT minister said, the FCT minister merely said to the governor, I mean, to our leader, Dr. Peter Odili, that you are a father, and that the role of a father is not to take sides when children are having disagreements. That's my understanding. Because it was overreaching for the former governor, the man that we respected so much in River State.

“We still respect him so much in Rivers State. He brought some measure of pride to the state. I'm sure Nigerians haven't forgotten the resource control cap that he introduced in Nigeria. So he had carried that aura along for a long while,” Okocha asserted.

He maintained that labelling Wike as someone who wanted to claim Rivers as his personal estate, was not right.

Pointing out that Wike had no intention of disparaging Odili, Okocha noted that the elder statesman should have called the warring parties together, with a

view to settling them, rather than backing one party against another.

“I'm not holding forth for the minister of the FCT, but in all of these scenarios that I've noted, I was present. It's not like a reporter's speech. I was present and sitting pretty at the table near the high table, as people would call it, ” he added.

Okocha’s defence of Wike, a supposed member of the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Rivers state also highlighted the complexity of the issues in the disagreement between the FCT minister and the governor.

The APC chairman also denied wanting to join Fubara’s camp, stressing that any report or picture of him meeting with the chairman of Obio/Akpor local government in Rivers to facilitate the move was a mere hallucination.

“I am thinking of diction that is stronger than hallucination. For anybody to imagine that at my level I have attained in politics, if I want any meeting or something to be brokered, I will go to Chijioke Ihunwo …” he stressed, describing insinuations that he was fraternising with Fubara's team as “absolute nonsense”.

Union Seeks Gov Uzodimma's Intervention in Imo COED Crisis

Tony Icheku in Owerri

The Colleges of Education Academic Staff Union (COEASU) on Tuesday appealed to Governor Hope Uzodimma of Imo State to intervene in the management crisis rocking Benjamin Uwajumogu State College of Education, Ihitte Uboma, threatening industrial action within two weeks if the crisis is not nipped in the bud

THISDAY reports that the union and acting Provost of the College, Dr. Maryrose Nwachukwu, were currently engaged in a running battle, with the union accusing the provost of abuse of power and award of contracts without due process.

According to the College's COEASU chapter Chairman, Comrade Wilson Amandi, and Secretary, Rev. Fr. (Comrade) Benedict Amuchie, the provost has been acting for 30 months, but only paid imprest

for only five months to Directors, Deans, and Heads of Departments.

The union claimed that the directors, deans and HODs had been using personal funds for official purposes, including documentation and logistics for accreditation since March 2024 and had not been refunded despite several applications for refund.

The union further alleged that the provost procured items singlehandedly and awarded TETFund contracts without Academic Deans and HODs' involvement or recourse to due process.

The union alleged regarding the provost, “She awards TETFund contracts in the college without following the Procurement Act 2007 guidelines and has awarded over N1.5 billion contract without recourse to the Tender Board, which comprises academic deans and HODs.”

COEASU, in a statement, accused Nwachukwu of solely assessing TETFund for Microteaching laboratory equipment without the knowledge of HOD of that office.

It maintained that the TETFund projects executed under her watch were poorly designed, executed and did not follow the college's development plan.

The statement read, in part, “The academic staff of the college are not considered in the scheme of activities in the college, including project monitoring activities, which she only monitors with TETFund team alone.

“The college's neglect and abandonment of projects have made it unattractive to students.

“Rather than engage other management staff, the provost prefers only the services of the college acting registrar.”

The COEASU leaders further ac-

cused the provost of terminating the acting bursar's appointment without reason, forcing him to hand over to a new appointee.

It stated, “Without any known offence, report or directive from the governor, the provost wrote to the acting bursar to hand over to a new appointee from the Imo Ministry of Housing Corporation.

“The union reminded the provost that the college is autonomous and not part of the ministry and doesn't accept staff from any ministry,

“Also, we reminded her that the acting bursar’s appointment was a political one by the Governing Council of the college on behalf of the Visitor of the college.

“In spite of our petitions, the provost not only forged ahead with the appointment, but forced the acting bursar to handover to the new bursar in a shocking manner that involved the police.

END OF YEAR PERFORMANCE APPRAISAL...

L-R:

during the end of the year

We’re Committed to Military Armaments Upgrade, Troops’ Capacity, Declares COAS

Pensioners barricade finance ministry over unpaid entitlements GOC assures soldiers of welfare, inaugurates projects in Elele

The Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lieutenant General Olufemi Oluyede, has restated his commitment to vigorously pursue realistic training, adequate troops' sustenance, and pragmatic equipment procurement and maintenance.

He stressed that these were critical requirements for combat readiness and operational success in the Nigerian Army.

But retired military personnel, yesterday, barricaded the entrance to the Ministry of Finance in Abuja to protest non-payment of their entitlements.

The retirees were allegedly owed 20 to 28 per cent salary increment covering January to November of 2024.

At the same time, the General Officer Commanding 6 Division Nigerian Army, Major General Jamal Abdussalam, has stated that the wellbeing of soldiers and their families remained the priority of the Army authority.

A statement by Director Army Public Relations, Major General Onyema Nwachukwu, stated that the COAS reaffirmed this commitment, while declaring open the Doctrine and Training Conference for the year 2025 in Minna yesterday.

The Army Chief observed that Nigeria's current security

and defence environments were characterised by both transnational and domestic challenges, including terrorism, insurgency and banditry.

He said included in this were farmers-herders conflicts, economic crimes related to oil and gas pipeline vandalism, and secessionist agitations among others.

He pointed out that in dealing with these challenges, the Nigerian Army had in the past continued to prioritise equipment upgrade and manpower boost.

The COAS expressed optimism that the conference would assess Nigeria's current security and defence environments, critically evaluate the NA’s training curriculum, and propose new ideas on how the Nigerian Army trains and fights.

Oluyede clarified that the conference offered a veritable platform for in-depth deliberations on the implementation of doctrine and training directives in the Nigerian Army (NA) for year 2025 and beyond.

In his welcome address, the Commander, TRADOC, Major General Kevin Aligbe, pointed out that the conference set the tone for training activities in all Nigerian Army Training Schools and institutions by drawing inspiration from the extant Nigerian Army's Proactive Responsive Doctrine to guide the training on how troops fight.

Military Pensioners Barricade Finance Ministry Over Unpaid Entitlements

Retired military personnel, yesterday, barricaded the entrance to the Ministry of Finance in Abuja to protest non-payment of their entitlements.

The retirees are owed 20 to 28 per cent salary increment covering January to November 2024.

The protest by the senior citizens followed a similar action in December, during which they shut down the ministry over the government's failure to settle their claims.

This was as the chairman, Military Pensions Board (MPB), Air Vice Marshal Paul Irumheson, confirmed the receipt of the 50 per cent balance of the pension arrears of the military retirees from the federal government.

For months, the retirees were told there were no funds to clear their entitlements, despite an official approval for payment.

The retirees also demanded payments for other outstanding benefits, including palliatives for the period between October 2023 and November 2024, an additional N32,000 added to their pensions, a bulk payment of the Security Debarment Allowance and a refund of pension deductions from the salaries of medically boarded soldiers.

In response to their December

protests, the federal government paid 50% of the owed entitlements and promised to settle the balance. However, the retirees claimed the government has failed to fulfill its promise, prompting the resumption of their protests.

GOC Assures Welfare of Soldiers, Inaugurate Projects in Elele Barracks

The General Officer Commanding 6 Division Nigerian Army, Major

General Jamal Abdussalam, has stated that the wellbeing of soldiers and their families remained priority of the Army authority.

The GOC also stated that ensuring the good wellbeing of the soldiers was in tandem with the command philosophy of the Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen. Olufemi Oluyede.

Abdussalam, maintained that the 6 Division would continue to see to the welfare of officers to ensure they were well-motivated to carry

barracks

out their functions.

The GOC stated this yesterday, shortly after inaugurating several projects embarked upon by the Commanding Officer, 343 Artillery Regiment, Lt. Col. E. A. Kaan at the Elele barracks, Ikwerre Local Government Area of Rivers State. The inaugurated projects were a 200-meter concrete road, a corporal below quarters, an indoor sports complex, a tennis court and a refurbished squash court, among others.

Armed Thugs Attack Edo

LGC Legislative Leader

Adibe Emenyonu in Benin City

Early Tuesday, the legislative leader of Oredo Local Government Council, Harrison Izekor, was attacked by masked thugs wielding dangerous weapons at his office in Ogunmwehin, Government Reserve Area (GRA), Benin City.

The assailants reportedly gathered, stole his official vehicle and valuable equipment worth millions of naira.

Eyewitnesses recounted that the heavily armed group numbering over 20, fired gunshots indiscriminately, leaving several people injured,

and in an attempt to escape the violence, Izekor was forced to flee into a nearby bush for safety.

THISDAY gathered the attack has been linked to ongoing political tensions in Edo State with reports suggesting it may be connected to the state government’s alleged efforts to unseat the current chairman of Oredo Local Government Council, Dr. Tom Obaseki.

Observers believe yesterday’s assault is part of a larger pattern of harassment, intimidation directed at council chairmen and their deputies in the state for force them out

TINUBU LEADS OBASANJO, JONATHAN, OTHERS TO MAHAMA’S INAUGURATION

portunity to reset our country," the 66-year-old new president, wearing the West African country's national dress, told a jubilant crowd decked in the green, red, black and white hues of his NDC party. Energy radiated from Accra's Black Star Square, as a sea of elated faces waved Ghanaian and NDC flags, chanted and broke into spontaneous dance to the beat of drums and the blaring honk of vuvuzelas.

The landslide comeback for former president Mahama ended eight years in power for the New Patriotic Party (NPP) under AkufoAddo, whose last term was marked by Ghana's worst economic turmoil in years, an International Monetary Fund (IMF) bailout and a debt default.

Mahama, who led Ghana from 2012 to early 2017, had previously failed twice to win back the presidency but in December's election managed to tap into expectations of change among Ghanaians.

"I've never been so proud to be Ghanaian," said Akosua Nyarko, 28, a teacher from the southern city of Cape Coast. The energy here is amazing... This is the dawn of a new era!" Nyarko told AFP. Mohammed Abubakar, a 50-yearold farmer from Tamale in northern Ghana, said he was confident Mahama would prioritise rural development.

"Coming here to Accra for this historic event is a dream come

true," the farmer said, adding that Mahama's "leadership gives me hope that my children will have a better future".

Kwame Ansah, a 34-year-old trader from the city of Kumasi in Ghana's Ashanti region, said he was ready to support Mahama whom he called a "man of the people".

The jubilant crowd wore the green, red, black and white of Mahama's NDC. "I believe he will deliver on his promise to create more jobs and improve healthcare," Ansah said.

The economy became a major election issue after Ghana defaulted on its debt and entered into a $3 billion deal with the IMF.

Ghana has only just begun recovering from its worst economic

downturn in years, with inflation peaking at 50 per cent in late 2022 -- although it has since fallen to 23 per cent.

With a history of political stability, Ghana's two main parties, the ruling NPP and the NDC, have alternated in power equally since the return to multi-party democracy in 1992.

The country of 33 million people is Africa's top gold exporter and the world's second cocoa producer.

Meanwhile, presidential spokesman, Bayo Onanuga has said that the presence of President Tinubu at the swearing-in ceremony of Ghana's newly elected President, Mahama, would further deepen the relationship between Nigeria and Ghana. Onanuga, who disclosed this to

newsmen yesterday evening in Accra, capital of Ghana, stressed that Nigeria will also break new grounds with Ghana under the new president.

"Ghana happened to get its independence first and Nigeria followed three years after and the two countries have had long time relationships so many things hold us together either musically or economically.

"Now the new president is President Tinubu's friend, they have known each other for some years now and secondly, Ghana and Nigeria are like siamese twins and this relationship dates back to some four to five decades ago.

"That is why we are here to continue that cordial relationship

by all means and pave way for the governor lackeys and party members.

A neighbor who witnessed the incident, identified as Mr. Sunday Akpan, told journalists that, “The attackers were more than 20 armed thugs, and they started shooting sporadically. It was very frightening.” Meanwhile, local authorities have yet to issue an official statement regarding the attack.

Residents of the area are calling on the government to ensure the safety of public officials and bring the perpetrators of this act to justice.

between Nigeria and Ghana. And for the president to witness the swearing in of a friend, what I foresee is that the relationship between the two countries will be further deepened," he said.

He added that Ghana, under its former leader, Akufo-Ado, also recorded laudable feats with Nigeria. He said: "Even under the past leader, Akufo-Ado, this was the case , I can see us breaking new grounds under Mahama, I say this because there is also a personal relationship involved."

Onanuga hinted that many challenges will be further tackled, thereby strengthening the relations between the two countries and leveraging on the two leaders' personal relationships.

Linus Aleke in Abuja and Blessing Ibunge in Port Harcourt

Media practitioner, Mr. George Okorie; Deputy Director, Public Affairs, Lagos State Environmental Protection Agency (LASEPA),Mr. Adesoye Oyelami; General Manager, LASEPA, Dr. Tunde Ajayi; and member of staff ,Channels TV, Mrs Titilayo Abereowo,

parley organised by LASEPA in Alausa, Lagos… yesterday

PHOTO: ETOP UKUTT

Group Condemn Unconstitutional Removal of Elected LG Chairmen in Edo

Adibe Emenyonu in Benin

A group, Justice Research Centre (JRC) yesterday condemned the way and manner elected chairmen of the 18 local government areas were being impeached by councilors without passing through due process.

The Executive Director of the Centre, Donald Inwalomhe in a chat with journalists in Benin City

said the current administration has contravened all constitutional provisions of the country’s constitution and disobedience to all court orders as far as the issue of local government areas are concerned in the state.

According to him, “They used former councilors in some local government areas and only one or two in others. For instance in Etsako West, they used former

Oborevwori Opens State Chapters for Indigenes in African, Asian Countries

Governor Sheriff Oborevwori of Delta has activated the state chapters for indigenes living in Some African and Asian countries to engage them in the policies and programmes of his administration.

Senior Special Assistant on Morals and Diaspora to the Governor, Dr Favour Obakoro, disclosed this at a press conference yesterday in Asaba.

Obakoro said that opening the state chapters in Ghana, Liberia, Burkina Faso, Qatar and Malaysia has offered veritable platforms

for the Governor Oborevwori led government to related with her indigenes in the diaspora.

She said that the governor won two awards including a 24 karate Gold souvenir from Government of Malaysia for creating a platform to enable a robust partnership between Delta and Malaysia. According to her, the successes recorded in the five countries with the state’s presence would spur her to go extra miles reaching out to Delta indigenes in the United Kingdom, U.S.A.; Italy, Spain, Canada and others.

NSCDC Arrests Seven in Abuja for Vandalism

Michael Olugbode in abuja

The Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) has arrested seven vandals of critical national infrastructure in Abuja in an effort to put an end to recent attacks on critical national assets and infrastructure in the nation’s capital city.

Speaking during a parade in Abuja, the Commandant of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), Dr. Olusola Odumosu, said the

intensified surveillance by his Command led to the arrest of five vandals in Constitution Avenue, Central Area at the weekend.

He noted that the arrest came after the men of the Command laid ambush for the vandals who came in the dead of the night to destroy and remove the manhole covers and armoured cables around the Constitution Avenue, Central Area, Abuja, while describing the constant vandalism of infrastructure in the FCT as inhuman and an act of wickedness.

PDP Disassociates

Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has disassociated itself from the assault on The Sun Newspaper Correspondent, Mr Ndubuisi Orji, which reportedly happened within the premises of its national headquarters in Abuja.

The party’s National Publicity Secretary, Debo Ologunagba, at a news conference yesterday in Abuja, said that the perpetrator acted on his own and not on the

councilors to perpetrate their acts of removal while in Ikpoba-Okha, Ovia North East, Etsako East, Uhunmwonde, Orhionmwon and others, they used one councilor

and then brought in former councilors to remove elected chairmen.

“This is absurd and a daylight robbery on democracy and it is

unfortunate that people who front themselves as democrats are the ones displaying this illegality.”

He said: “There are constitutional processes for the

impeachment of an elected chairman none of them were followed in the process that happened across the 18 local government areas.”

APC Chieftain Hails Court Judgment on Rivers Budget

Blessing Ibunge in Port Harcourt

A Chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Chief Eze Chukwuemeka, has hailed the judgment of a Rivers State High Court sitting in Port Harcourt, which dismissed a suit seeking to compel Governor Siminalayi Fubara to re-submit the 2024 budget to the embattled 27 lawmakers led by Martins

Amaewhule.

The case was filed by the Registered Trustees of the Association of Legislative Drafting and Advocacy Practitioners, with the Rivers State Government, the Governor and the AttorneyGeneral named as defendants.

In the judgment delivered on December 20, 2024, Justice Sika Aprioku, held that the suit was “premature”, noting that legal disputes regarding the legitimacy

of the 27 lawmakers to make laws are still unresolved in various Courts.

The presiding Judge reasoned that the status quo post-defection by the 27 lawmakers on December 11, 2023 should be maintained until the matters before the courts are conclusively determined.

Justice Aprioku insisted that Governor Fubara can transact business with the members that

did not vacate their seats. “The governor cannot carry on business with those who defected and by that act of defection, lost their seats.”

Justice Aprioku cited precedents from the previous administration of Governor Ezenwo Wike, stating that budget presentations and financial bills could proceed even when legislative membership fell below the constitutional threshold.

Abia CP Disbands Anti-cultism Unit for Unprofessional Conduct

The Commissioner of Police, Abia Command, Danladi Isa, has disbanded the command’s AntiCultism Unit for unprofessional conduct and incivility towards members of the public.

A statement by the command’s spokesperson, ASP Maureen Chinaka, yesterday said that the action aligned with the vision of the Inspector

General of Police. Chinaka quoted Isa as saying the action was to establish a professionally competent, servicedriven, rule-of-law-compliant, and people-friendly police force. She also stated that Ebuka Okonkwo (F/No: 527324), attached to Area Command, Aba, but on special duty at Isuochi, was demoted from

Corporal to Constable. The spokesperson stated that the decision followed the conclusion of an administrative investigation, which found him guilty for discreditable, unprofessional conduct and incivility to members of the public.

“The Commissioner of Police emphasised the command’s

zero-tolerance policy for any form of unprofessional conduct among officers that could tarnish the good image of the Force.

“Members of the public are also encouraged to report any unprofessional conduct by officers to the Complaint Response Unit Abia Command via 09031593827,” the statement read in part.

Zaar Clerics Commends Bauchi Gov on Sayawa Chiefdom

Segun AwofadejiinBauchi

Bauchi State Governor, Senator Bala Abdukadir Mohammed, has been urged not to be deterred by the myriad of allegations and insults on his person over his determination to actualise the long sought after Sayawa Chiefdom with headquarters in Tafawa Balewa town.

The call was made by Zaar Clerics Consultative Forum, Bauchi Branch, in a statement signed by Rev Haruna Mbidur, Chairman, Rev Sabo D. Muwari, Coordinator and

Self from Assault on Journalist

PDP’s directive.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reported that a staff member of PDP attached to the office of the National Secretary, Sen. Samuel Anyanwu, who was recently removed by the court, had on Monday assaulted Orji.

NAN also reports that the staff member equally forcefully prevented other journalists from

gaining access into the premises of party’s national headquarters.

Ologunagba said that the PDP leadership had received a very disturbing report about the conduct of the party official.

Ologunagba, who said that the PDP was committed to the rule of law and the democratic tenets of freedom of the press, transparency and openness, strongly condemned the action.

Navy Rescues 8 Police Officers, Civilian from Boat Accident in Bayelsa

The Nigerian Navy yesterday said its personnel deployed around Agbura community in Bayelsa, have rescued nine passengers comprising eight policemen and one civilian.

The Director of Naval Information, Commodore Aiwuyor Adams-Aliu, made this known in a statement in Abuja.

Rev Masoyi Jibilla Dadi, Secretary, made available to journalists in Bauchi yesterday. The forum stated that, “Your Excellency sir, we are not unaware of the objections, oppositions and threats already staged against you with regard to this particular issue at hand.” It added: “But, we urge you to disregard the voices of Individuals and groups who have positioned themselves as meddlesome interlopers, seeking to frustrate and disrupt the establishment of the Zaar Chiefdom using all manner of manipulative emotional blackmail, religious propaganda, deadly lies and grand deceptions. They do not act in the interest of lasting peace, tranquility, inclusivity or the progress of our dear State.” “As a matter of fact, most of them are neither indigenes of Rauchi State nor residents of Tafawa Balewa and Bogoro LGAs, but completely strangers to the cause of the people of our dear State and areas and they care less about peace and harmony in Bauchi State,”The forum stressed.

Adams-Aliu said the police officers were drowned while enroute Yenagoa, when their speed boat hit a submerged wreck and capsized.

According to him, first aid was administered to those injured and were subsequently transferred to the

Adams-Aliu said its personnel also recovered three rifles belonging to the policemen during the search and rescue operation.

Federal Medical Centre, Yenagoa, for further medical treatment.

He said the submerged wreckage that caused the incident was noted and marked to prevent further occurrences.

“The recovered weapons were documented and secured awaiting proper handing and taking over to the Nigerian Police Force Bayelsa State Command.

Agbeyewa Farms Appoints Seyi Aiyeleso as MD/CEO

Agbeyewa Farms has announced the appointment of Seyi Aiyeleso (a.k.a OSKA) as the substantive Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer (MD/CEO), effective December 30, 2024.

Until this new appointment, Seyi ‘OSKA’ Aiyeleso was the Group Director, Sales at Cavista Holdings Limited, and also an Executive Director Agbeyewa Farms where he acted in a CEO capacity, driving the company’s strategic initiatives in 2024.

With over 30 years of experience in Sales and marketing, Aiyeleso’s career spans leadership roles in various multinational corporations in the fast moving consumer goods (FMCG), oil/gas and the public sector.

He holds a Bachelor’s degree in Management Studies (Accounting) from the University of Jos, an MBA from Bayero University, Kano, and is currently pursuing a doctorate degree at Ekiti State University, Ado Ekiti. He is a fellow of the Chartered Institute of Marketing, Nigerian Institute of Marketing of Nigeria, and the Nigerian Institute of Management.

NOVVA Media & Communications Wins LaPRIGA Award

NOVVAMedia & Communications, a leading public relations and communications agency, has been recognised for its outstanding work in corporate social responsibility (CSR) storytelling at the prestigious LaPRIGA Awards.

The agency was honored with the award for “Best in Brand

Storytelling in CSR” for its impactful campaigns executed on behalf of its client, Rector Cares Foundation, for their Opi Water project, which provided access to clean water to a community in Nsukka that hadn’t had good water in decades.

The project marked the foundation’s fifth water project in

a fourth Nigerian state, fulfilling their goal of providing clean water access to underserved communities.

This accolade underscores NOVVA’s commitment to crafting compelling narratives that not only showcase the positive impact of their clients’ CSR initiatives but also inspire and engage stakeholders.

NFF Appoints Éric Sekou Chelle to Qualify Super Eagles for 2026 World Cup

Immediate task is to lead Home-based Eagles to CHAN 2024 in East Africa

Duro Ikhazuagbe

After months of searching for a befitting coach to resurrect Nigeria’s fading glory in the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers, the Executive Committee of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) on Tuesday night endorsed the choice of former Mali Head Coach, Eric Sekou Chelle, 47, as the right candidate to lead the Super Eagles to the promised land. Chelle with no known pedigree in both continental and global

football, has been saddled with the task of making the Super Eagles to win all their remaining six matches in the qualifying rounds of the 2026 Mundial.

Eagles are presently fifth in the six-team standing on miserable three points. Rwanda, South Africa and Benin Republic lead the Group on seven points each while Lesotho are fourth on five points, two points better than Nigeria. Only Zimbabwe are behind Nigeria in Standings. This is the reality of the situation that the Ibrahim

Musa Gusau led-NFF board has saddled a man with no capacity to turnaround.

In appointing Chelle born in Côte d’Ivoire to a French father by a Malian mother, the NFF said in a statement last night that it was endorsing the recommendation of its Technical and Development Sub-Committee.

The 47-year-old who featured for Martigues, Valenciennes, Lens, Istres and Chamois Niortais in France during his playing career, led Mali close to a place in the semi-finals

of the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations in Côte d’Ivoire. Mali lost to hosts and eventual winners Cote d’Ivoire

2-1 after extra time, after leading by a lone goal until the final minute of regulation time.

The defence minded gaffer with preferred 4-3-1-2 playing formation, led Mali to beat Nigeria 2-0 in Morocco last year. He first showed interests in the Nigerian job barely weeks after Portuguese Jose Peseiro left the post.

Ex international Finidi George was appointed but got fired after

Forest Boss, Santo, Salutes Awoniyi Over Win against Wolves

Following his performance in the 3-0 away win at Wolverhampton Wanderers, Nottingham Forest Head Coach, Nuno Espírito Santo, has praised Nigerian striker, Taiwo Awoniyi, for his performance in the match.

The former Union Berlin forward has struggled to nail down a starting berth for the Reds since Nuno Espirito Santo took over the coaching reins at the City Ground in December 2023.

Awoniyi’s struggle for game

time was largely due to injuries. He kept struggling with persistent groin problems, which saw him miss the AFCON 2023 tournament in Cote‘d Ivoire.

Nuno Espirito Santo made sure to reduce Taiwo’s playing time in a bid to make sure his groin was fully healed when he’s ready to play more frequently for Forest.

Awoniyi found the back of the net on Monday after coming on to replace Chris Wood at the Molineux, tapping home from a

James Ward-Prowse pass and his coach was thrilled.

“The goal will help his confidence a lot and we were delighted; especially his teammates were delighted for him – the way he celebrated and even in the dressing room.

“We need Taiwo, he is taking a while, but we are very happy for him. He deserves everything. He is such a nice guy,” the former Tottenham Hotspur gaffer said in quotes by Nottingham Post.

Taiwo Awoniyi’s strike against Wolves was his first goal since February 2024, ending a 324-day goal absence streak. It is also his first in the league this season, from 15 outings, even though most of those have been substitute appearances.

Forest fans, alongside the fans of the Super Eagles of Nigeria, will be hoping the 27-year-old remains fully fit in a bid to help the Reds retain top-four status while Nigeria seek to claim a spot in the 2026 FIFA World Cup tournament.

two games for poor results. Head of NFF’s Technical Department, Augustine Eguavoen was drafted to continue Eagles qualification rounds for AFCON 2025. He succeeded in getting the ticket for Nigeria with a game to spare but declined to continue the World Cup qualifiers starting next month with Eagles away trip to Rwanda and home games against Zimbabwe same March.

In an earlier chat with NFF TV,

NFF President, Gusau, insisted that Chelle’s immediate task will be to lead the Home-based Eagles to next month’s 2024 CHAN in East Africa.

“We have come out with the policy that whoever we employ as the Super Eagles will also be the one to manage the affairs of the CHAN Eagles,” Gusau said in that interview. “We want players from the domestic league to be injected into the Super Eagles.”

Is Kelechi Iheanacho

Heading to Egypt?

As the January transfer window in Europe is beginning to bubble, there are speculations that Super Eagles player, Kelechi Iheanacho may be heading back to Africa to join Egyptian giants Al Ahly.

According to the Egyptian publicationKingfut, the record African champions are reportedly exploring the possibility of signing former Manchester City and Leicester striker Kelechi Iheanacho.

Kelechi Iheanacho, who joined Sevilla on a free transfer last summer following the expiration of his Leicester City contract, has struggled to make an impact in La Liga.

The Nigerian forward has failed to score or assist in nine league appearances this season, pushing Sevilla to seek a loan move during the January transfer window with an option to buy.

While several English clubs have expressed interest in Iheanacho, the 28-year-old is also reportedly attracting interest from Greece, Turkey, and the USA.

However, according to English

outlet Express, Al Ahly has emerged as a contender for his signature as a possible replacement for South African forward Percy Tau, as the Cairo powerhouse looks to bolster their attacking options ahead of the summer’s Club World Cup in the USA.

Kelechi Iheanacho has previously featured in the 2018 World Cup in Russia, as well as the two previous AFCON championships for Nigeria.

In addition to his experience at the highest level with both Manchester City and Leicester City, the forward could be a difference-maker for the African champions.

If the rumours are anything to go by, negotiations will be expected to intensify in the coming weeks as Sevilla seeks to offload the striker, and Al Ahly will be aiming to capitalize on this opportunity to bring a seasoned forward into their ranks.

Bendel Insurance Camp Bubbles as Players, Officials Return toTraining

The Camp of Bendel Insurance Football Club of Benin City is bubbling with players in high spirit as they resume training in preparation for the second round of the Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL2025) after a week-long Christmas and New Year break.

All the regular players as well as some new faces were seen at their training ground on Monday and Tuesday busy with fitness exercises as they expressed their optimism for a fitting end of the 2025 season.

Speaking with Bendel Insurance Mediaon Tuesday, after the team's second training session,the Head Coach, Greg Ikhenoba, expressed

joy over the positive attitude of the players, saying that the prompt response of the boys to resume less than a week after the last match before the new year is quite encouraging Coach Ikhenoba appealed to the boys to continue with the positive attitude as he anticipates a quick blend of both the old and the new players ahead of the remaining half of the league season which is expected to kick off on January 25,2025..

He said," I'm happy to welcome my boys back to work. We know the tasks at hand and I am happy they understand where we are,where we are coming from and where we hope to be

as well as the challenges.

"Work has begun and I have told our players to be ready to put too much pleasure aside,make sacrifices in any way to help us finish the season well and get rewarded later.

“The management led by Hon Desmond Amadin Enabulele, the Edo State Sports Commission chairman has given us the nod to fortify our team in order to be able to compete favourably and we have started the process and hope to find the round pegs in the round holes in appreciation of the commitment of our chairman and the state government,”

The captain of the team Efe Enabulele while also speaking,said

that he was impressed with the response of the players to training after resumption from the break. "I am very happy with the turn out of the players today after the short break . We are all happy to return to the field because we have a lot of work to do and brackets to cover. " He said Bendel Insurance FC ended the first round of the league on Tuesday, December 31, 2024 in a barren draw away in Aba with Enyimba FC. The draw moved Bendel insurance out of relegation zone and now standing in the 15th position with 21 points from 19 Games.

The Benin Arsenals will take on Enyimba FC in Match-day 20

Eric Sekou Chelle...newly appointed Super Eagles Head Coach

Bendel Insurance players resumed training in Benin City yesterday after returning from the week-long yuletide break

Kelechi Iheanacho...on his way out of Sevilla this winter window

MISSILE

Gov Sule to Tax Bills Antagonists

“It’snotjustme.Andunfortunately,thedebateaboutthistaxreformhas gonetowronghandsandalotofpeoplewhohavezeroknowledgeabouthow VATisevengeneratedhaveenteredintothedebateandmadeitactually uninteresting.Andthatiswhypeoplelikemenowaremute...Someofthem aredoingittosavetheirjobs...” --NasarawaStateGovernor,AbdullahiSule, saysthetaxreformdebatehasbeenhijackedbyignorantpeopleonthetaxbills.

OKEY ANUEYIAGU

GUEST COLUMNIST

The Igbo Landing, and The Courage of A People

During this past New Year’s celebration, l did something that has been on my bucket-list for ages – I took a long six-hour drive from Atlanta, to St. Simons Island in the State of Georgia, in the USA. The ardous task of the long drive was made bearable and pleasant, because I was accompanied by my wife Hadiza, and our twin sons, Aka and Arize. Our destination was the heritage and monument site named; The Igbo Landing in St. Simons Island near the sea port of Savannah, Georgia.

Over the years, I have read and listened to stories about this legendary story, and the vast and deeper meaning of the shared history to this global event of great tapestry and implication. I was intrigued and fascinated about this historical event, and began to wonder why such an epoch event and its relevance to world history has been denied most people. As I began to engage myself in some research and study about The lgbo Landing, I thought it was necessary to visit this site and dip the sole of my feet in the waters that swallowed the souls of those brave Igbo.

This sacred site that we visited, holds the nerve-shattering historical story of how in May of 1803, a large group of captured, kidnapped and enslaved Igbo resisted their enslavement in the most brave and dramatic way, when, inspired by a noble chief among them, they rose up in unison, and martyred themselves at Dunbar Creek on the Island of St. Simons. The slaves marching into the ocean were singing Igbo war songs, and chanting: “The Water brought us here… The Water will take us away…”. They all walked into the river, and drowned. These Igbo slaves embodied the mantra and the message that: You may enslave my body, but you will never be able to enslave my spirit and my soul. They all chose to die honourable deaths, instead of living lives worse than dying, in the cold cotton fields of the wicked and cruel white slave owners who in humiliating and dehumanizing them, profited from their blood, sweat and tears.

Upon arriving at the exact spot where this epic history took place, I was instantly overcome with an indescribable feeling of anxiety – my heart was beating with such rapidity that the pulsation sounded like a war-like drumbeat. The sound of my heartbeat filled the entire space in our car, alerting me to the fear that I may have betrayed my apparent lack of control of my emotions to my children. We stood transfixed at the entry point of the river, with my mind conjuring what may have transpired at the moment those brave Igbo fearlessly walked into their known demise. It is absolutely impossible to accurately write down the countenance I felt. I had a mixed feeling of sadness and pride, as I fought back tears that had began to well up in my eyes. I began to compose and conjure silent prayers for the repose of the souls of those brave Igbo slaves. I asked God why he allowed so much sorrow and pain to befall the Igbo since creation, and why these horrors have persisted? I received no answers, but I kept praying, and pondering, and trying my best to conceal and contain the pain and tears that I have harbored for this day, and for many, decades.

As we stood in a trance at this history point, with a sign on the top of a pier on the river boldly written with the inscription: “EBO LANDING 1803”, there stood an older white man. His name was Thomas, the owner of the property on which this historic site is situated. We had apparently trespassed on his property. We apologized to him and explained our mission. My wife was more expressive as she told him that we are Igbo people who travelled for hours to come and see where our ancestors took their lives and drowned in honour and pride. Mr. Thomas was very welcoming. He knew the entire history of Igbo Landing. He began to narrate the entire story in detail. One of my sons interrupted Mr. Thomas’s tales by pointing out that the word Igbo was misspelled as Ebo, to which Mr. Thomas, retorted sharply that, that was how the slaves pronounced it, and their owners spelled the word.

We were held spell -bound by Mr. Thomas’s education. We listened to him with rapt attention asking questions intermittently as he reeled off details about slavery in the South and the role of all the parties that were involved in the heinous and atrocious trade.

At a point in our interaction with Mr. Thomas, I was anxious to resolve the legendary tales of the appearance of the ghosts of these Igbo slaves on the Island, so I asked him if he had encountered the ghosts of the dead slaves. He confirmed that many have heard the strange singing

and wailing voices of these slaves and the clanking and jangling of chains and shackles at odd times. He also confirmed that at many instances, he had experienced many unexplained odd happenings on his property – like finding the lights in his home coming on. These stories gave me goose bumps, as I felt instantly, the presence of these brave Igbo slaves around. The feeling was indeed, real, and eerie too.

Over many years, I have come to the very painful realization that there is a deadly plague or affliction that characterize tribal and ethnic disturbances around the world that have senselessly consumed millions of lives. From the hundreds of millions killed by Belgium’s King Leopold in the Congo, the millions that Germany’s Hitler incinerated, the millions that were starved and killed by bullets and bombs in Biafra, and many other atrocities around the world. Not to mention the millions that died enroute to slavery in the whiteman’s land, and particularly those lgbo slaves that died to uphold their rights to freedom and dignity. At this point, I began to realize the meaning of being Igbo, and of being a part and parcel of the pain and agony that comes with that affinity or affiliation.

As we stood at the site of Igbo Landing, I began to wonder how and where the lgbo people find the tolerance and resilience to bear the long suffering that they have faced in this unkind world. I began to ponder about how they acquire the forbearance to face all the adversities that have become their burden for centuries. I am starting to imagine that the longanimity, which the Igbo have borne for uncountable years, must be an important or a special trait domiciled by God in their DNA. It must be, otherwise how have they been able to withstand and survive the near obliteration of their tribe through slavery, wars, ethnic cleansing, tribal crisis, and many other rebarbative attrition targeted toward them in as many years as our memories can recount.

After about 200 years since the Igbo Landing incident, the ever-deepening account of how our ways of life and our cultures have become so decadent is very concerning. Almost everything about our world has fallen off the cliff, and hitherto remains anchored in hate, prejudices and timidities in such blinding and harmful ways. The wicked impulses of members of God’s creation, and the repulsiveness therefrom, can be traced all the way down to greed, hatred, petty envy, covetousness, insatiability and the lust for domination of certain races, tribes or ethnic groups by others. There are infact, a million good reasons why we must all find a way out of these wicked malfeasance and immorality that predated slavery, and is still subsisting today, and that which are steeped in false and bewildering piety, infecting the entire world with pure evil and tyranny.

Our groundbreaking trip to St. Simons Island brings to light one of the most shameful chapters in the history of the world – it helps me to unearth a part of the many lost stories of the heinous sins of slavery, while equally exposing me to questions about what have become of the descendants of the Igbo slaves who took their own lives by drowning.What is still baffling to me, is the insidious

legacy of tribal animosities that reverberate today against the Igbo. It shames and grieves me as a descendant of people who suffer for absolutely no fault of theirs. We must all recoil and be embarrassed that we all still remain and wallow under the cruelty of slavery and other forms of persecution that have pervaded the world and eaten deep into the fabric of our soul.

In my many writings, I have attempted to invoke the Igbo conundrum as an incubus that has scarred and haunted many since creation. But I do not write exclusively about the Igbo pains and agonies, even as I have made explicit insertions into our everyday lives of the signs and symbols that have put and placed mankind to the lowest levels of discriminations and prosecution. My writings often as depressing and emotional as they may appear, are fundamentally optimistic, even when they are ferociously and courageously critical of those who perpetrate evil and crimes that unfortunately point us to repeatedly insist that racism and tribalism with the other evils of the world will never end.

I write because I believe that the time has come for us to speak up and counter the hegemonic tribal or even the racial hatred and fill them with the passion of historical remembrance and resistance. I believe that the time has come when all our words are needed, and must be strongly spoken to help us move past these horrors, these pains, and to collectively feel the power of change, and of transformation, redemption and revolution in all that we do.

I feel very deeply that I may have become a temple dedicated to acknowledge our pain now, and stand to claim it as a voice for atonement and freedom. When I listened to one of the descendants and direct beneficiaries of slavery; a rich white man, justify the slave trade and the dehumanizing of the black slaves, I was repulsed, and felt an aversion to retch and vomit on his pale and pugnacious face. When this white man in his regurgitation of his revisionist history of slavery, told me the tales of how the white slave traders preferred Igbo slaves to others because they were strong, hardworking, and survivalists, but also equally detested the rebellious nature and tenden- cies of the Igbo slaves who were very proud and less subservient to their masters – that they did not tolerate nonsense, I was elated. Those two distinguishing and distinct attributes and virtues of the Igbo slaves, made me very proud to be Igbo.

Standing tall in front of The Igbo Landing site, with my chest proudly kissing the blue skies casting ominous shadows over the waters where my proud ancestors martyred themselves, it became clear to me, that I, and some members of my immediate family present at this site, have become part of an epic history. It was also painfully clear to me that we may not make reparations to the casualties, or to the descendants of these callous and wicked acts; be they the ones committed at St. Simons Islands, or in Biafra. But it is never too late to hold our collective breath and inquire about what happened and why. We have a sacred duty, I believe, to reflect on the meaning of these atrocities and ask what became of our humanity.

Looking back, we can – indeed, must - attempt to process the dehumanization of a people; and we also ought to ask why these atrocities were, and are still being committed, why no contrition has been demonstrated or compunction shown, why no formal amends have been made. These questions will continue to reverberate for generations to come. And they are reasons why I keep writing and hoping that the perpetrators of these crimes will be held accountable, and will repent and become reconnected to a peaceful sempiternal universe.

When we returned from visiting St. Simons Island, I was emotionally exhausted, I was troubled by the sensibility and justification given to the inevitability of slavery – how the free labour of black slaves was necessary for the survival of the white man and his world. This much was, with a straight face, expressed by Mr. Thomas to us. Blacks were static components and expendable objects in the eyes of the white slave owners. White animosity towards blacks, is almost emblematic to the poor treatment the Igbo receive on a daily basis in their own country. I could not sleep, as l kept pondering these paradoxes and the cycle upon cycle of the benevolent violence visited on people because of their race, tribe, religion or the colour of their skin.

As I struggle to shut my eyes and get some sleep, I fell into a trance – an out-of-body experience that transported

me back to the shores of St. Simons Island, and right at the point of the lgbo slaves entry into the river. Behold, and arising out of the river, were ghosts of the slaves in their shinning and glowing toned bodies with pulsating and intermittently thundering drums accompanied with melodious songs. I was frightened, but stood transfixed in a steady gaze, my lips trembling, and my jaws clasping. They began to address me in familiar but ancient lgbo dialects. The leader spoke to me in a thunderous but soft and reassuring voice. His voice was unmistakably strong and his face had a mixed expression of calmness, breaking his speech with a slight smile that exposed his clean and well-arranged set of pure white teeth. I was very attentive, even as my entire core was trembling not from the freezing winter temperature, but from being in the presence of my ancestors – standing before our legends, and our pride and joy.

He began: “Nwamnwoke,ibia?Chukwugoziegi” -Myson,youcame?Godblessyou.

“Kedakaunodi?AsinaAnaIgboekpugoirunaani” - How is home? They say that Igboland has been destroyed.

“Ununaegbuonweunukaokuku... Obuifeanyijinwuo...Aluemeeeooo”

- You people are killing each other like chicken ... Is this what we died for... abomination …”

As he spoke, tears began to stream from his eyes, and I may have seen fumes of smoke coming out of his huge nostrils. He spoke for a long duration, lamenting the calamities that have befallen the lgbo – mostly self-inflicted. I was so frightened to speak. I hung my head very low and avoided making any sustained eye contact with the Igbo leader by the shores of the powerful Atlantic Ocean. Our ancestors took turns in delivering valuable messages to the world, and to our people at home. They said much more, in some sort of je ne sais quoi; in inexplicable, indefinable and ineffable words – words so difficult to put into writings.

As I attempt to personalize the larger story of The Igbo Landing through my individual experiences, I have entered transformative eye – opening and gut-wrenching conversations that will hopefully recall the horrors and sheer magnitude of the injustices of oppression be it in St. Simons Island or in Awka, Nigeria. I was immersed in my dream with my trembling becoming more of a quake, accelerating with each word that my ancestors spoke. At that point, I began to wonder why these ghosts chose me as a messenger for their address of the many spectrum of issues that have bedeviled the world, and particularly the trauma of the Igbo existence. Then, suddenly, from the back of the river rose a voice from a younger ghost who appeared to be the scribe of the group. He was a huge but well chiseled man with his entire face covered in a bushy beard. His eyes were bloodshot red, and with his long strong arms, he held up what appeared like a stone tablet from which he read out a long list of their communique to the world and to Ndigbo. I instantly began to take mental record of the very perfectly articulated message that helped me not only to decolonize my mind, soul and body, but brought me to a deeper level of how I must be motivated to work for the demise of evil in this world. As I listened to the long catalogue of our problems, especially those of the Igbo in the present day Nigeria from this scribe, who I have now named Ojelilgbo Ozi, I found in his message, the decadence that has enveloped our people. I was enraged – but I found in the rage and fierce anger, a healing source of love, strength and hope, and a catalyst for positive change and healing in our home.

All of a sudden my dream that had lasted for many hours began to end. The lgbo ghosts of St. Simons Island had finished with me, and they turned their backs to me, and began to return to the water in slow, but measured gait singing in loud sweet melodies of songs in lgbo that l have never heard before. l then noticed that all their backs were lacerated with sweltings that came from the whippings received from the sharp and strong horsewhips, and the painful floggings they received from their wicked white slave owners. The deep wounds may have healed, but they left scarred evidence of the horror inflicted by our fellow humans on us. Crying, I was jolted out of my bed that has now been drenched in tears and cold sweat in a bloody cold Georgia winter night.

•Okey Anueyiagu, a Professor of Political Economy and is also the Author of Biafra, The Horrors of War, The Story of A Child Soldier

President-General of Ohanaeze Ndigbo, Fidelis Chukwu