SATURDAY 1ST FEBRUARY 2025

Anxiety Heightens Among Nigerian Immigrants Over Donald Trump’s Deportation Policy

Sunday Ehigiator

Several Nigerians living in the United States (US) are currently experiencing heightened anxiety due to President

Donald Trump's renewed call for mass deportations of undocumented immigrants. This anxiety has been further fueled by social media warnings

and unverified videos allegedly showing United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) conducting raids in public spaces frequented by Africans.

A viral message circulating on platforms like WhatsApp warns: “If you know anybody that does not have American papers/ID, tell them to avoid African Markets and

International Markets. ICE raided Saraga Market on Morse Road today in Columbus, Ohio, USA.”

The claim, however, remains unverified. Adding to the panic, a

video purports to show an ICE operation but appears unrelated,

PDP

Governors Move to Save Party from Crises

Endorse Udeh-Okoye as National Secretary Advise party’s leadership to hold NEC meeting March 13

In a last-ditch effort to save the main opposition party, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) from self-

annihilation, governors under the party met yesterday in Asaba, Delta State and took some major decisions that might save the party, including confirming Sunday Udeh-Okoye as

the National Secretary, while taking a swipe at some policies by the President Bola Tinubu’s administration.

The governors also mandated the National Executive Committee (NEC)

of the party to ensure that they meet at a date not later than March 13, 2025.

This was as a chieftain of the party, Chief Olabode George, called out former Vice President Atiku

Abubakar and former governor of Rivers State and Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike for allowing their personal ambitions to destroy the party which he described

as “nonsense that must stop.” Furthermore, the governors called on the NWC of the party to implement

Continued on page 5

Stock Market Gains N1.95trn in January, FG

Meets JP Morgan to Ramp Up Investment

Lawal and Plateau, Caleb Mutfwang, after the PDP Governors’ Forum meeting held in Asaba…yesterday

L-R: Governors of Osun State, Senator Ademola Adeleke; Akwa Ibom, Umo Eno; Enugu, Dr. Peter Mbah; Rivers, Siminalayi Fubara; Bauchi, Senator Bala Muhammed; PDP Acting National Chairman, Umar Damagun; Delta, Rt. Hon. Sheriff Oborevwori; Bayelsa, Senator Douye Diri, Zamfara, Dauda

Chuks Okocha in Abuja

Trump Blames Diversity Policy, His Predecessors for Plane Crash Under His Watch

United States President, Donald Trump has blamed diversity requirements at the Federal Aviation Administration and his two Democratic predecessors for the midair collision over the Potomac River on Wednesday night, saying that standards for air traffic controllers had been too lax.

Trump cited no evidence that diversity programmes had anything to do with the fatal accident, which

Ndubuisi Francis in Abuja, Nume Ekeghe and Kayode Tokede in Lagos

The stock market appreciated by N1.95 trillion in January 2025, even as investors continue to adopt cautious trading on the Nigerian Exchange Limited (NGX).

This emerged as the Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Mr. Wale Edun, yesterday received a high-level delegation from JP Morgan, led by, Head of West Africa, Dapo Olagunju, as the West African country seeks to ramp up investment inflows.

Also, despite the inclusion of five additional Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) countries by Fitch Ratings to its Country Groups for the Country-Specific Treatment of Recovery Ratings, about 70 per cent of OIC countries, including Nigeria have retained their categorisation in Group D in the latest assessment.

Specifically, the NGX market capitalisation added N1.95 trillion at the close of trading yesterday, rising from the N62.763 trillion it opened in 2025, to close at N64.709 trillion at the end of January.

When compared to January 2024, the market capitalisation gained N14.44 trillion.

Also, the NGX All-Share Index closed January 2025 at 104,496.12 basis points, about 1.53 per cent or 1,569.72 basis points Year-till-Date (YtD) higher from 102,926.40 basis points the stock market opened for trading this year.

Since the beginning of 2025, the stock market has witnessed cautious trading by investors, especially in the Oil & gas, insurance and Industrial

killed 67 people, and even admitted when pressed that the investigation had only just begun.

Moments later, he blamed the pilots of the Army helicopter that appeared to fly into a passenger jet while it was on final approach to Reagan National Airport, across the river from the capital.

But he quickly returned to the theme that diversity goals that he said were created by President Barack Obama and President Joe

Goods sub-sector, and it triggered massive sell-off in large company stocks quoted on the bourse.

The NGX Industrial Goods plummeted by -8.52 percent YtD to close at 3,267.66 basis points as of January 31 2025 following massive profit-taking in Dangote Cement Plc’s stock price by 17.7 per cent YtD from N394 per share it opened for trading to N478.80 per share as of January 31, 2025.

Also, the NGX Oil Gas Goods dropped by -1.61 in its YtD performance to 2,668.40 basis points over 4.8 per cent YtD decline in Aradel Holdings Plc to N569.3 per share as of January 2025 from N598 per share it opened for trading this year, as Totalenergies Marketing Nigeria Plc was down by 4.01 per cent to close at N670 per share.

In addition, the NGX Insurance index was down -1.10 per cent YtD on profit-taking in Sunu Assurances Nigeria Plc that dwindling significantly by 46.5 per cent from N10.75 per share it closed 2024 to close January 31, 2025 at N5.75 per share. However, the outcome of a successful recapitalisation by some banks impacted on the NGX Banking index as it advanced by 9.76per cent YtD growth to close January 2025 at 1,190.35 basis points on aggressive demand for Zenith Bank Plc, Access Holdings Plc Guaranty Trust Holding Company Plc.

In January 2025, the stock price of Zenith Bank and GTCO advanced by 11.2 percent and 7.1 percent to close January 31, 2025 at N50.6 and N61.05 per share, respectively.

The stock price of Access Holdings moved from N23.85 per share in 2024

Oyedele: Tinubu's Tax Reform Bills Will Curb Inflation

Emmanuel Addeh in Abuja with agency report

The proposed tax reform bills by the Bola Tinubu administration will help curb inflation by lowering costs for most households, Reuters reported the Chairman of the Presidential Committee on Fiscal Policy and Tax Reforms, Taiwo Oyedele, as saying yesterday.

Oyedele also dismissed criticism that the plan risks worsening economic hardship in Africa's most populous nation.

After ending a costly petrol subsidy and twice devaluing the currency in his first year in office, Tinubu has shifted his focus to reforming the tax system in his second year. While the measures have sparked price pressures, the president aims to reduce inflation to 15 per cent this year from 34.8 per cent in December.

The presidential aide defended the plan to almost double the ValueAdded Tax (VAT) to 12.5 per cent by 2026, streamline its collection, and overhaul revenue-sharing between federal and state governments.

According to the report, the proposals include exempting food, medicine and essentials - which account for 82 per cent of household spending - from VAT, a consumption tax, which Oyedele said would lower costs for "the majority of Nigerians."

Only 18 per cent of goods would see price hikes, he said.

Biden, had created unsafe skies, implying that those moves had to have contributed to the disaster.

According to New York Times, Trump’s instant focus on diversity reflected his instinct to frame major events through his political or ideological lens, whether the facts fit or not.

It is something he has done before: After a terrorist attack in New Orleans a month ago, he blamed illegal immigration,

close of market transactions, gaining about 9.01 percent YtD to N26.00 per share, while United Bank for Africa (UBA) Plc appreciated by 10.88 per cent to close January 2025 at N37.7 per share.

The Nigerian stock market had closed 2024 NGX ASI with an impressive annual growth of 37.65 percent amid double-digit inflation, Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) increasing its monetary policy rate to 27.50 per cent that led to high yield on government securities and unstable naira at the foreign exchange market. Analysts stated that the stock market performance in January 2025, was a

even though the attacker was a U.S. citizen born in Texas. When wildfires erupted in California, he blamed Gov. Gavin Newsom’s water management policies, without any evidence that a different approach would have made a difference in the firefighting effort.

But his unproven accusation about the air controllers came just hours into the first disastermanagement challenge of his

reflection of uncertainty in the domestic economy.

The Investment Banker & Stockbroker, Tajudeen Olayinka in a chat with THISDAY stated that stock market performance in January 2025 was not impressive due to 2024 year-end rally that came rather too late and unimpressive.

On President Donald Trump’s policies impacting the emerging market, he said, “I do not see any negative impact on the market from Trump's presidency because Nigeria is an import- dependent nation, not to be seriously affected by Trump's wall of tariffs.”

new term in office. It quickly became a demonstration of both his political style and his instincts, and at moments resembled his series of news conferences, in the same briefing room, as Covid-19 spread across the country: a mix of accusations about the cause and prescriptions for how to proceed, often detached from facts and analysis.

He began in the tradition of other presidents who had to

Hitherto, the Managing Director Arthur Steven Asset Management Limited (ASAM), Mr. Olatunde Amolegbe, said the stock market growth in 2025, was underpinned by ongoing bank recapitalisation efforts, new listings, and anticipated monetary policy easing by the CBN.

Amolegbe, highlighted Nigeria’s relative market attractiveness as a key factor in attracting increased foreign portfolio inflows (FPI), provided stable policies are maintained.

Overall, his firm added that, “the 2025 outlook for the Nigerian stock market remains optimistic,

console a shocked nation, as Ronald Reagan did after the Challenger space shuttle disaster in 1986 or George W. Bush after the Columbia broke apart on re-entry to the atmosphere in 2003. Trump asked for a moment of silence to remember the victims, and told their families that “we’re here for you to wipe away the tears and to offer you our devotion, our love and our support,” regardless of party divisions.

bolstered by strategic reforms, policy adjustments, and improving investor confidence. While challenges such as exchange rate instability and inflation persist, key sectors are positioned to drive market performance and deliver strong returns for investors.”

In the meantime, Wale Edun yesterday received a high-level delegation from JP Morgan, led by , Head of West Africa, Dapo Olagunju. The meeting, which was held in Edun's office in Abuja, was part of a fact-finding trip organised by JP Morgan, aimed at exploring investment opportunities and economic strategies in the country.

PDP GOVERNORS MOVE TO SAVE PARTY FROM CRISES

the judgement of the Court of Appeal on the position of the National Secretary of the party which had pronounced the former National Youth Leader of the party, Udeh-Okoye, as the authentic National Secretary.

The office had been a source of fierce contest between Udeh-Okoye and Samuel Anyanwu until a Court of Appeal decision of December 20, 2024, which favoured Udeh-Okoye and restrained Anyanwu from parading himself as occupying that office.

Anyanwu also has a restraining order against Ude- Okoye dated January 13, 2025.

However, in a communiqué of the meeting signed by the Chairman of the PDP governors forum, Senator Bala Mohammed of Bauchi State said, "The Forum noted with delight the ongoing efforts at resolving the crisis in the NWC on the position of the National Secretary, and has reaffirmed its support for the Court of Appeal judgment; consequently, the Forum advised the NWC to set up the machinery for the effective implementation of the court judgment.''

"On the majority of consumption by the majority of households, they will see a decline in their prices because the VAT is being taken out," Oyedele said in the interview.

Nigeria's tax-to-GDP ratio of around 10.8 per cent ranks among the world's lowest, forcing the government to rely on borrowing to fund the budget.

The overhaul will boost compliance and align Nigeria with global tax standards, Oyedele said, adding that VAT revenue could drop 30 per cent to 40 per cent with the tax proposals due to the expanded exemptions compared with a decline of 60 per cent if the rate remains unchanged.

"So the fact is that people are paying less. It cannot be that they are paying more and VAT revenue is going down," he maintained.

However, critics, including state governors and analysts, remain skeptical, with Adewunmi Emoruwa, Chief Executive of public strategy firm Gatefield, saying that the VAT increase, similar to a 2019 hike, risked stifling consumption and industry growth.

"The government is putting pressure on people's ability to spend," he said.

A contentious proposal to allocate 60 per cent of VAT revenues to the states generating the revenues, up from 20 per cent, drew a backlash from the country's northern governors who fear regional inequality.

On the NEC, the communiqué said, "The Forum having examined all the notices required by law to be given to validly convoke NEC advised NWC to reschedule NEC to the thirteenth (13Th) of March 2025.''.

The PDP governors used the occasion to review the performance

depicting what seems to be a highway incident with no clear connection to immigration enforcement.

The Trump administration has taken a hardline stance on immigration, with a focus on tightening border security and enforcing deportation laws.

Under Trump's policy, thousands of Nigerians and other nationalities living in the US without proper documentation faced the risk of deportation.

Many of these individuals had lived in the US for years, building lives and families, but were unable to obtain citizenship due to various reasons.

The Trump administration's aggressive approach to deportation may lead to a more significant increase in the number of Nigerians being sent back to their home country.

According to reports, over 1,000 Nigerians were deported from the US in 2019 alone, and there are fears that over 3,690 more are targeted to be deported by the new administration.

In the document compiled by

of member states in particular, and the State of the nation in general, as well as developments in the party, as at the end of 2024; noting the monumental socio-economic, security, infrastructure and other challenges that confronted the nation during the period.

The PDP governors commended Governors of member states for pursuing policies and programmes that not only ameliorated the plight of the people, but were aimed at creating the foundation for sustainable development in their various states. They noted that the macro-economic policies of the federal government have inflicted hardship and pain on the polity, “therefore the Forum called the federal government to either revisit or rejig its macro-economic policies to ameliorate and or stop the hardship/pains that they have inflicted on Nigerians as no meaningful or impactful achievements in the states will be achieved until the harsh policies were addressed.”

The PDP governors stated further, "While commending the country’s valiant and patriotic Armed Forces and security agencies for maintaining the frontline in securing the country and the gains of our gallant personnel against bandits in parts of the country, the Forum viewed with deep concern, the resurgence of brazen non-state actors. It therefore calls for the strengthening of the nation’s security architecture.''

US Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Enforcement and Removal Operations, the agency revealed the data was broken down by nationality and number of people faced with deportation.

It also clarified that as of November 24, 2024, there were 1,445,549 noncitizens on ICE’s non-detained docket with final removal orders.

In the document titled “Noncitizens on the ICE Non-Detained Docket with Final Orders of Removal by Country of Citizenship,” Mexico and El Salvador top the list of nations facing the most deportation, with 252,044 and 203,822, respectively.

Many Nigerians living in the US have been forced to live indoors since the beginning of the Trump administration, in fear of being caught unprepared by ICE, and separating them from their loved ones and disrupting their lives.

Speaking with THISDAY, a Nigerian living in Texas, USA, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said, “My life has been disrupted. I can’t even

The PDP governors expressed gratitude to the Host Governor, Sheriff Oborevwori, the Government and the people of Delta State for their hospitality and friendly disposition that have yielded the successful, well-structured and impactful meeting; even as it equally commends the Governor for the giant strides recorded by his administration in the areas of infrastructure, environmental remediation, people empowerment and combating insecurity.

The PDP governors enjoined Nigerians not to despair in the face of the prevailing hardships with the firm assurance that they remain “committed to returning our great nation to the glorious days of pre-2015 era of manageable costs of living, security of lives and property and greater unity and prosperity for all citizens.”

Meanwhile, weighing in on what he perceived as the problem of the party, George, called out Atiku and Wike over the lingering crisis rocking the opposition party.

He spoke on Arise News Channel’s ‘The Morning Show’ yesterday.

He described the PDP crisis as depressing, adding that the opposition party was being decimated because of party members’ personal ambitions.

Tracing the genesis of the crisis to the party’s national convention ahead

go out to work anymore.

“The fear of ICE is the beginning of wisdom. I just moved here two years ago, and am still trying to get my life together. I spent over N18 million while migrating here and am still in debt back in Nigeria.

“If I am ever deported, my life would crumble because how do I begin to pick up my life again from the debt I am in? I don’t even know how long this exercise will last.

“I can’t even work to earn money for the last three weeks. I even face the stigmatisation of being deported back home to Nigeria. We are all living in anxiety in this precarious Donald Trump regime.”

Also speaking with THISDAY on condition of anonymity, another Nigerian staying in New Jersey noted, “I have been here for 15 years, married to an American, although divorced, we shared three kids.

“But for some reasons, including my marriage situation, I have been having issues with having a green card. So where do I start? Leave my

of the 2023 presidential election, the 79-year-old politician blamed Wike and Atiku, alleging that both of them had committed hara-kiri, a serious offence according to Japanese rating. While calling on Atiku and Wike to stop “this nonsense,” he enjoined the party to look inward and stop blaming the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) for its woes.

“Throwing tantrums and accusing APC, we are just trying to undermine the issue. We must sit down, all sides of the divides. Both Atiku and Wike have committed hara-kiri, and we must be bold enough to tell them enough of this nonsense,” George said. Preferring solutions to the issue, the Lagos-based politician urged the PDP leaders to set up a committee to investigate the matter and sanction any member who has committed serious offences.

“We have to set up a committee to x-ray the mess that started on that convention day, and we sought it out. Anybody guilty of any serious offenses must be dealt with. It’s not a private concern, and we have no apology; if you are a member of an organisation, there are rules and regulations on what you should do, follow them; if you can’t follow the regulations and you think you can manoeuvre A to B for your sustenance, then we ease you out,” he insisted

family and return to Nigeria to do what? Will my wife even allow me to go with my kids?

“The situation has caused me a lot of psychological stress. I operate a mini-supermarket where I sell an array of Nigerian products here in New Jersey. I can’t even restock anymore for now due to fear of being too exposed to ICE. We are all living in constant tension, uncertainty and fear.” Meanwhile, in response to Trump’s deportation policy, the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NiDCOM) said the federal government was ready to welcome deported Nigerians from the United States.

The Director of Media and Corporate Affairs of the commission, Abdur-Rahman Balogun, in a recent interview, said, “The federal government has set up an inter-agency committee, comprising the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, NiDCOM, Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and office of the National Security Adviser, NSA, should there be mass deportation of Nigerians from the US.”

UNLOCKING INVESTMENT INFLOWS…

L-R: Senior Portfolio Manager ENKO Capital, Delphine Arrighi; Executive Director JP Morgan Chase & Co. Calvyn Kirsten; Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Wale Edun; Managing Director and Head of West Africa at J.P. Morgan,⁠ ⁠Dapo Olagunju and Special Adviser to the President on Finance and the Economy, Ms. Sanyade Okoli, during an investors’ delegation visit to the Ministry of Finance in Abuja yesterday.

NNPC, Oil Marketers Spent

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

Petrol, Diesel Importation in Four Months

in Benin City

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

captured.

Emmanuel Addeh in Abuja

stupendous as N9 billion for

Dangote ramps up production to 550,000 bpd

The Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) Limited and select marketers spent over N5.5 trillion on the importation of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) and diesel (AGO) between October 1, 2024 and January 31, 2025, reports have revealed. The management of the Dangote Refinery is currently in court with the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA), the NNPC and other oil marketers to compel the industry regulator to stop issuing import licences for fuel imports, despite in-country sufficiency.

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

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

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

THISDAY learnt yesterday that in the last four months, specifically between October 1, 2024 and January 31, 2025, the NNPC and some oil marketers spent over N5.5 trillion to import petrol and diesel, according to port documents.

However, the NNPC has always in defence, maintained that its decision on where it buys its products is dependent on economic forces, especially on the issue of pricing.

“While NNPC prioritises sourcing products from domestic refineries, this is contingent upon economic viability. If local supply is cost-effective, it will be preferred, but the same principle applies to other marketers, who will

NACCIMA President, Oye Emerges Organised Private Sector Chairman

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

Dike Onwuamaeze

Kemi Olaitan in Ibadan

The National President of the Nigerian Association of Chambers of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture (NACCIMA), Dele Kelvin Oye, has been elected as the Chairman of the Organised Private Sector of Nigeria (OPSN).

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

record of leading multiple successful trade missions to significant economies such as the USA, UK, China, and various African nations demonstrates his commitment to enhancing Nigeria’s trade and investment opportunities,”

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

also evaluate total costs when deciding whether to buy locally or import,” the NNPC said recently, while defending its continuous importation of products. But industry data analysed yesterday showed that a total of over 3.2 million metric tonnes of petrol and 980,485 metric tonnes of diesel were imported during this period covering October 2024 to January 2024.

With a conversion factor of about 1,341 litres per metric tonne for petrol and 1,176 litres per metric tonne for diesel, this is roughly 4.29 billion litres of petrol and over 1.153 billion litres of diesel. The total cost of these imports exceeded N5.5 trillion, based on the average landing cost, it was learnt.

fathom projects which only existed in the imagination of the governor, it was discovered that the facility was not even N9 billion but a figure wrapped in secrecy as much as N17.5 billion to which the opposition in the house rejected and or refused to be part of the approval.

the state Governor, Mr. Godwin Obaseki across all sectors of the state over the past seven years.”

MEJ, Nepal, Rainoil, AYM Shafa, among others.

It was further gathered that the imported products arrived through Lagos, Calabar, Warri, and Port Harcourt, despite the recent restarting of the Warri and Port Harcourt refineries, and the coming online of the $20 billion Dangote Petroleum Refinery.

But in its reaction, the Edo State Government stated that the Edo APC was “obviously pained by the achievements of

Besides, sources close to the Dangote Refinery said that the company has ramped up production from the reported local consumption of 385,000 bpd to 550,000 bpd, enough to fully flood the Nigerian market and for export.

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

refinery is expected to pay for crude oil in naira and also sell the refined products to marketers in naira to eliminate currency and forex risks, while reducing the country’s reliance on the dollar for domestic transactions.

Although Nigeria’s crude oil production has increased, according to the authorities, feelers from the Dangote Refinery indicated that rather than increasing crude oil supply to the $20 billion facility, volumes have actually slumped.

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

continues to sell products to marketers in naira, absorbing logistics costs to ensure uniform pricing across the country.

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

“The refinery has generously assumed an equalisation status, a responsibility typically undertaken by the government. This has been met with enthusiasm by our partners, such as MRS, Heyden, and Ardova.

Mining Development: Nigeria, US Explore Areas of Strategic Partnership

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

Speaking while receiving

Aside from the NNPC, oil marketers listed as importers during the period include: BOVAS, Eternal Oil, AA Rano, Fatgbems, Matrix Energy, Ibeto, Swift, Raj, T-Time, Wosbab Energy, NorthWest, Sobaz, TS Logistics, Shorelink, Stockgap,

However, a huge volume of the crude oil still refined at the Dangote facility has mainly come from abroad as the national oil company has failed to meet the 385,000 bpd local supply agreement under the naira-for-crude deal.

Under the deal, the Dangote

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

For instance, in February 2025, only four cargoes were allocated while for March, just two cargoes of 950,000 barrels each, that is 1.9 million barrels for the month, have been booked, representing an allocation of 61,290 bpd, far below the 385,000 bpd target.

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

Sources close to the Dangote Refinery, preferring to remain anonymous, said the refinery

formalisation of artisanal miners into cooperatives amongst others.

The Director General, National Orientation Agency (NOA), Mallam Lanre Issa-Onilu, has announced plans to launch a 37,000 Citizens’ Brigade in primary schools across the country.

Oye brings over 34 years of legal and business expertise to his role as Chairman of the OPSN.

His extensive background encompasses leadership positions within various sectors, including his current role as President of NACCIMA, where he has been instrumental in catalyzing economic collaboration and development.

He made the disclosure while speaking with journalists in Ibadan during a working visit to Oyo State.

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

Kemi Olaitan in Ibadan

In his new capacity, Oye will lead the OPSN, an umbrella organization composed of key stakeholders including NACCIMA, the Nigeria Employers' Consultative Association (NECA), the National Association of Small and Medium Enterprises (NASME), and the National Association of Small Scale Industries (NASSI) and the Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN). Together, these organizations represent a significant portion of Nigeria's economic landscape.

“Under Oye’s guidance, the OPSN aims to push for robust policy advocacy, foster stakeholder collaboration, and drive initiatives that enhance Nigeria's competitive edge in the global market. His proven track

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

Mr. Sola Obadimu, Director General of NACCIMA, who made the announcement said in a statement.

According to Oye, "Taking on the role of Chairman of OPSN is both an honour and a profound responsibility. I am deeply committed to ensuring that the private sector’s voice is not only heard but is also a fundamental contributor to Nigeria’s economic narrative. Together, we will embrace innovative approaches to tackle the challenges we face and leverage the opportunities that lie ahead."

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

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

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

Oye’s multifaceted career, featuring his distinguished roles in law, energy, real estate, and technology, showcases his versatility and commitment to social impact investing, particularly in youth entrepreneurship and women’s talent development. As OPSN Chairman, he is expected to harness his vast experience to further propel the private sector's role in national prosperity.

“NACCIMA would like to extend its gratitude to the outgoing leadership of MAN for their commendable service in steering the OPSN Secretariat over the past two years, during which significant strides were made in policy advocacy and stakeholder collaboration,” the NACCIMA DG added.

The Oyo State Government, yesterday, suspended Oba Gbolagade Muritala Babalola, as the Onido of Ido in Ido Local Government Area of the state. The government, in a letter dated 2nd of February, 2024 and signed by the Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Matters, Hon. Olusegun Olayiwola, indicated that Governor Seyi Makinde approved the suspension on 1st of February, 2024. The letter read in part, "I wish to inform you that His Excellency, the Executive Governor of Oyo State of Nigeria, in exercise of the powers conferred on him by Sub-section 1&2 of Section 26 of the Chiefs Law, Cap. 28 Vol I, Laws of Oyo State of Nigeria 2000 and by virtue of all other enabling powers in

Linus Aleke in Abuja

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

“The Petroleum Products Retail Outlet Owners Association (PETROAN), recently, entered into an agreement with the refinery to distribute its Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) nationwide at a uniform price across all its filling stations,” he said. The Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC), it was learnt, allocated only 1.4 million barrels for March, with the NNPC receiving 17 cargoes (35 per cent) of the total production; five to Dangote refinery; two to Warri Refinery, and three to Port Harcourt refinery.

PSC Approves Immediate Retirement of Senior Officers Above 60, 35 Years in Service

the tenure of the Inspector General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun.

The Police Service Commission (PSC) has approved the immediate retirement of senior police officers who have spent more than 35 years in service and those above 60 years of age.

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

The Commission had at its 24th Plenary Meeting of 27th and 28th September 2017 approved that the Force entrants should have their date of appointment in the force against the date of their enlistment.

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

This was as the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Lateef Fagbemi (SAN), yesterday put to rest the controversy surrounding

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

Critics had raised concerns over Egbetokun’s continued stay in office as the Inspector General of Police, even when he had clocked 35 years in service and attained the retirement age of 60 years stipulated by extant laws for retirement for public servants.

Alex enumah in Abuja

Meanwhile, a statement by Head, Press and Public Relations, Ikechukwu Ani, stressed that the Commission has passionately revisited their decision and has come to the conclusion that the said decision in its intent and purpose contradicted the principle

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

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

of merger of service in the public service and it is in violation of Public Service Rule No 020908 ( i & ii) which provides for retirement on attainment of 35 years in service or 60 years of age.

"Accordingly, the Commission at its 1st extraordinary meeting of the 6th Management Board held on Friday, 31st January 2025, approved the immediate retirement of those officers who have spent more than 35 years in service and those above 60 years of age."

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

Fagbemi, in a statement yesterday affirmed that the continuous stay in office of the Inspector General of Police, Egbetokun, is legal and lawful.

According to him, "The appointment of Egbetokun which took effect from 31st day of October, 2023 would have come to an end on his attainment of 60 years of age on 4th day of September, 2024.

Kuni Tyessi in Abuja

Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) said the registration for the 2025 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) will now commence on Monday, February 3, 2025, instead of Friday, January 31, 2025 as earlier slated.

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

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

The Board' Public Communications Advisor, Dr. Fabian Benjamin, in a statement yesterday, said the change was necessary to allow the Board implement essential adjustments to its registration templates.

Chime Eguma Ezebalike and Prince Lukman Oladele, were among five persons charged with terrorism and murder. The others are Kenneth Goodluck Kpasa, Osiga Donald and Ochueja Thankgod.

Ani said that the Commission's decision has been conveyed to the Inspector General of Police for implementation.

"However, before his retirement age, the Police Act was amended to allow the occupant of the office to remain and complete the original four year term granted under Section 7 (6) of the Act, notwithstanding the fact that he has attained the age of 60 years.

JAMB Shifts 2025 UTME Registration To Feb 3

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

“These adjustments came in light of the recent suspension of certain law programmes at selected universities, as submitted to the Board by the Council for Legal Education.

They were last week arraigned on a seven-count criminal charge

“Additionally, the Board discovered that some ComputerBased Test (CBT) centres had used deceptive facilities to be approved, prompting the need for further scrutiny and corrections by disapproving such centres.

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

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

“The Board acknowledges the disruption this may cause to candidates and other stakeholders and sincerely apologises for any inconvenience,” he said. He said the additional time would be used to ensure that all necessary changes were made for a smooth registration process.

Adibe emenyonu

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

COURTESY VISIT…

Cardoso Vows to Catalyse Credit Flow to Boost Youth Employment, Innovation

The Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Mr. Olayemi Cardoso, yesterday vowed to accelerate friendly credit policies and capacity-building programmes to empower Nigerian youths to foster economic growth and innovation.

Speaking at the Youth Action event with the theme, 'The Youths are Here' in Abuja, the CBN governor said the Bank was committed to

providing young people with the necessary financial tools to succeed.

Represented by CBN Deputy Governor, Economic Policy, Directorate, Muhammad Sani Abdullahi, Cardoso further reaffirmed the Bank'a commitment to bridging financial access gaps, fostering innovation, and ensuring their active involvement in policy formulation.

Specifically, he said the Bank’s policies would support youth

entrepreneurship and innovation, particularly in emerging sectors such as the green economy and digital transformation.

He said the CBN remained dedicated to creating a more inclusive and sustainable future, adding that it had evolved a strategy to strengthen partnerships with civil society, international organisations and the private sector.

He noted that the collaborations will amplify the impact of youth-led

initiatives, create jobs and drive innovation—critical elements for national and global progress.

Cardoso said, "The CBN is committed to forging strategic partnerships that will empower young people and underserved communities.

"By working together with urgency and purpose, we can align our efforts with the Pact of the Future to build a Nigeria where the youth can dream boldly and

Ned Nwoko Dumps PDP Over ‘Factionalisation Within Party’

Chuks Okocha and Sunday Aborisade in Abuja

The lawmaker representing Delta North Senatorial District in the National Assembly, Senator Ned Nwoko, has resigned from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), citing the division in the largest opposition political party in the country.

Nwoko's letter dated January 30, 2025, was addressed to the leadership of the PDP in Ward 8, Aniocha North LGA, Deita State.

He lamented that the current

factions in the party had made it difficult to foster unity in the party he joined since 1999.

Part of the letter read, "I write to formally resign my membership of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), a party I have proudly served as a foundation member since 1999.

"My decision to resign is first and foremost due to the deep divisions and factionalisation within the party.

"This fragmentation has made it increasingly difficult to foster unity and advance the collective interests of our people.

"Just this week, precisely on the 29th

of January, the top party functionaries degenerated to the lowest levels by physically fighting themselves arising from the stated factions, which have become irreconcilable.

"I also deeply appreciate the platform the PDP provided me to contest the 2022/2023 senatorial election.

"It was an opportunity that allowed me to engage directly with the people of my constituency and present my vision for a brighter future.

"However, during my campaign, I made solemn and actionable promises to my constituents, the commitments

I take seriously as a servant of the people.

"Regrettably, the current structure of the party in our state has not been conducive (for me) to realise those promises.

"After careful consideration, I have come to the conclusion that stepping away from the party is necessary to fulfill my obligations to my people.

"While I bid farewell to my membership in the PDP, I assure all party members and my constituents of my unwavering dedication to statesmanship, unity, and the advancement of Detta North.

CSOs Commend NBA President for Supporting Rule of Law

Fifteen civil Society organisations (CSOs) have commended the President of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Mr. Afam Osigwe (SAN), for his principled demonstration of support for the rule of law by appearing at the Federal High Court in Abuja on Wednesday, January 29, 2025 to observe proceedings in the arraignment of human rights and pro-democracy campaigner, Mr. Omoyele Sowore, on alleged cybercrime charges.

The CSOs namely, Media Rights Agenda (MRA), Hope Behind Bars Africa, Restorative Justice for Africa Initiative, Paradigm Initiative (PIN), Yiaga Africa, NULAI Nigeria, BO Foundation for Inclusive Media (BOFIM), Human Rights Journalists Network Nigeria (HRJN), International Press Centre (IPC), Global Rights, Nigeria Network of NGOs, Sesor Empowerment Foundation, Public and Private Development Centre

(PPDC), Dataphyte Foundation, Digicivic Initiative, andTechHerNG, called on all stakeholders to remain vigilant in the defense of justice and democracy in Nigeria.

The statement read: "We, the undersigned civil society organisations, wish to commend the President of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Mr. Afam Osigwe (SAN), for his principled demonstration of support for the rule of law by appearing at the Federal

High Court in Abuja on Wednesday, January 29, 2025 to observe proceedings in the arraignment of human rights and pro-democracy campaigner, Mr. Omoyele Sowore, on alleged cybercrime charges.

"The symbolic yet courageous act of the NBA President underscores the critical role of legal professionals in general and the NBA in particular in safeguarding democratic principles and ensuring that justice prevails in our society.

Augusta Ikpea-Enaholo Appointed Edo Health Insurance Commission DG

innovate confidently.

“We will harness our economic policies to create opportunities for youth to thrive as entrepreneurs, innovators and key drivers of economic development."

He said, “Initiatives such as youth-friendly credit policies and capacity-building programmes will be enhanced to equip young Nigerians with the tools they need to succeed, especially in emerging sectors like the green economy and digital transformation.”

Cardoso noted that Nigerian youths were not just the leaders of tomorrow but key stakeholders in shaping economic policies and transformations today.

He further stated that the CBN was focused on ensuring that young Nigerians had access to opportunities that would enable them to thrive as entrepreneurs, innovators, and job creators.

The apex bank boss also emphasised that financial inclusion remained central to the bank’s mission, adding that the CBN would continue to design and implement policies that bridge financial access gaps, particularly for young people and underserved communities.

The Minister of Youth Development, Ayodele Olawande, affirmed the government's commitment to youth welfare in the country.

Kano Signs Agreement with FMBN to Join National Housing Scheme

Ahmad Sorondinki in Kano

The Kano State Government has signed a Memorandum of Agreement with the Federal Mortgage Bank Of Nigeria (FMBN) to resume the National Housing Fund (NHF) contribution scheme for civil servants in the state.

The State Head of Service (HOS), Abdullahi Musa, who signed the agreement at his office on behalf of the state government, described the scheme as a fundamental component of workers' welfare.

Musa lamented over the far reaching effects of the earlier withdrawal from the National Housing Scheme that denied the workers of various financial opportunities.

"I feel honoured to be part of this occasion of signing the Memorandum of Agreement between Kano State

Deji Elumoye in Abuja

President Bola Tinubu has appointed Abba Abubakar Aliyu as the substantive Managing Director of the Rural Electrification Agency (REA).

According to a statement issued yesterday by presidential spokesperson, Bayo Onanuga, the appointment effective from January 23, 2025, is for an initial term of four years.

Aliyu has been acting as the agency's Managing Director since March 2024 until his appointment.

Association, and a Fellow of the Institute of Chartered Shipbrokers, London.

President Tinubu expressed hope that Aliyu will leverage his extensive expertise to further the REA's mission of providing rural communities with reliable electric power and contributing

Government and the Federal Mortgage Bank of Nigeria.

"This initiative supports our unwavering commitment of enhancing the welfare and well-being of our dedicated civil servants.

"It is pertinent to know that Kano State was an active participant in the National Housing Scheme until its exit in 2000.

"The decision to withdraw had far reaching implications particularly on the civil servants who were deprived of the available mortgage financing opportunities," he stated.

The Managing Director/CEO of the FMBN, Shehu Usman Osidi, who signed the agreement on behalf of the Bank, assured the state of Its commitment to ensure the state's workforce reaps the full benefits of the scheme especially for the civil servants.

to the administration's Renewed Hope Agenda on sustainable energy and power. The new REA MD has over 20 years experience in energy and organisational development in the private and public sectors and has played key leadership roles in the on-grid and off-grid power sectors, as well as the water resources and transportation sectors of Nigeria's economy. Previously, he was

James Emejo in Abuja

L - R : Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris; Minister of Foreign Affairs, Yusuff Tugal; Sayyid Ibrahim Sheikh Dahiru Bauchi; President Bola Ahmed Tinubu; Leader of Tijjaniya Islamic Movement, Sheikh Mouhamadoul Mahi Naiss; Chief Imam of State House Mosque, Abdulwaheed Suleiman and other members of the movement, during their visit the President at the Presidential Villa Abuja...yesterday

PROMOTING DIGITAL MUSEUM INITIATIVE...

NOA DG Warns Nigerians Against Scooping Fuel from Fallen Tankers

The Director General, National Orientation Agency (NOA), Mallam Lanre Issa-Onilu, has warned Nigerians against scooping fuel from fallen petrol tankers on the roads in order to stem the tide of series of devastating explosions which have claimed numerous lives across the country Issa-Onilu gave the warning yesterday during a sensitisation meeting with the tanker drivers association in Moniya, Akinyele Local Government Area of Oyo State. He emphasised that President Bola Tinubu has expressed his displeasure

over the incidents and called for urgent action, noting that scooping fuel from fallen tanker is like a death-wish and akin to stealing which is fraught with dangers.

According to him, “Many Nigerians have lost their lives to fuel tanker explosions with the latest in Enugu State, claiming the lives of no fewer than 18 persons. The Enugu incident followed a similar incident in Niger where more than 80 persons reportedly lost their lives while scooping fuel from crashed tanker."

The NOA DG also urged tanker drivers to adhere to traffic rules, avoid speeding and ensure their vehicles are

Nigeria Airlines Boss, Okonkwo Joins Anambra Guber Race

David-Chyddy Eleke in Awka

Chairman of United Nigeria Airlines, Prof. Obiora Okonkwo, has declared his intention to contest for the governorship position of Anambra State. He will be contesting under the All Progressives Congress (APC).

In his country home in Ogidi, Idemili North Local Government Area of the state, yesterday, Okonkwo inaugurated his campaign council, comprising people from all the 21 local government areas.

While addressing them, the political economist said: "The gospel of Jesus Christ started with just a few people, but the people who stood with Him believed in His teaching and His teaching started spreading.

"Today you all are my disciples, but what is important is that you have to believe in my gospel and spread

it. We will grow larger than this and eventually win the 2025 election.

"What I'm begging APC to do for me is to give me the ticket to let me contest this election, and I assure you I will give you victory.

"I'm happy that I called you all and you came. We have a structure and we are ready to empower people to do their work. Everyone will have a place where they will be allocated and empowered with what will help them do their job."

The businessman from Anambra Central Senatorial Zone told his supporters that some people are already jittery because of his entry into the contest, saying very soon those who are afraid will begin an orchestrated campaign for zoning and the target will be to discredit him with the intention of favouring aspirants from Anambra South Senatorial Zone.

R & A Farm to Hold Ramadan Discount Market

R & A Farm Limited, an integrated food aggregation and supply company, is set to hold the 2025 Annual Ramadan Discount Market in Lagos.

According to the Executive Director, Operations, Mr. Debo Adeniran, who made the disclosure during a press conference in Lagos, the event is scheduled for February 21 to February 23, 2025, at the National Stadium, Surulere, Lagos. He pointed out that the company decided to embark on this initiative as part of the effort to provide easy and affordable food items to the majority of Nigerians against the background of the current food scarcity across the country.

The theme of the 2025 event programme is 'Enhancing Physical And Spiritual Health During A Challenging Economic Environment'. Adeniran noted that “the event will provide opportunities for over 200 producers and distributors of raw and packaged food items to sell at wholesale prices and in bulk to over 50,000 people who are expected to attend.”

He also said Muslims and even non-Muslims would have the opportunity to purchase various food staples at discounted prices, with items available including grains, vegetables, proteins, ingredients, snacks, groceries and non-alcoholic beverages.

in good condition before embarking on journeys, assuring that the federal government is committed to repair roads in the country to reduce road crashes.

He appealed to Nigerians to be

their brothers keepers and help one another from difficulties instead of doing otherwise to make the society better for living, disclosing that the agency has produced jingles in 70 different languages on the campaign

for attitudinal change with the hope that Nigerians will live up to the moral standards expected of them.

The leaders of the tankers drivers in their various remarks, pledged their support to the government and appealed for the provision of standard trailer parks with modern facilities across the country. They also emphasised the need for urgent road repairs to prevent further accidents and explosions.

Court Remands 13 Chinese Nationals Over Alleged Impersonation, Constitutional Threats

Wale Igbintade

Justice Denide Dipeolu of the Federal High Court in Lagos, yesterday, remanded 13 Chinese nationals over allegations of impersonation, fraud, and attempts to destabilise Nigeria's constitutional structure.

The judge ordered the remand of the defendants after they pleaded not guilty to the various charges filed against them by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC)

The defendants were arraigned

alongside a company, Genting International Co. Limited.

The individuals facing prosecution include Wang Zheng Ming, Li Yin Hui, Xiao Hong Will, Wang Jia Qi (aka Xiao Tian), Long Shao Ming (aka You), Zhang Xiao Lei, Liu San Hua, Chen Wenyuan (aka Lee05mx20), Yang Sheng (Madison), and Rheeigh De La Vega (aka Rheignalyn).

The accused individuals were among a group of suspected fraudsters apprehended on December 10, 2024, by the EFCC at their hideout on No.

7, Oyin Jolayemi Street, Victoria Island, Lagos, following credible intelligence gathered by the anti-graft commission.

The EFCC's legal team, led by the Director of Legal, Aso Peters, and Bilikisu Buhari-Bala presented the charges, citing violations of Sections 18 and 27 of the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, Etc.) Act, 2015, as amended in 2024.

After the charges were read to each defendant individually, all except Wang Zheng Ming pleaded not guilty.

Wang Zheng Ming rejected the EFCC-appointed lawyer and requested time to hire his own legal representation.

Justice Dipeolu adjourned the case to February 3, 14, and 21 for trial and ordered the defendants to be remanded in the Nigerian Correctional Centres.

The two female defendants were remanded in the Kirikiri Female Correctional Centre, while the others were taken to the Ikoyi Correctional Centre.

Tariff Hike: PTECSSAN, NANS Advise NLC to Shun Planned Protest

Emma Okonji in Lagos and Segun Awofadeji in Gombe

Private Telecommunications and Communications Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PTECSSAN) has written to the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), warning that the planned NLC strike to boycott telecommunications services in protest of the 50 per cent hike in telecoms tariff, will not address the issue on ground.

In a related development, Nigerian Students under the aegis of the 'National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) have disassociated themselves from the planned protest by the NLC against the recent tariff hike. NLC President, Joe Ajaero, had

earlier in a statement, condemned the 50 per cent tariff increase and described it as an unjust burden on citizens already grappling with economic challenges.

Ajaero therefore urged Nigerians to reject the tariff hike and prepare for collective action, including the possibility of a mass boycott of telecoms services, and called for the reversal of the tariff increase.

However, the National Vice President of NANS, who addressed journalists in Gombe yesterday, said, the association was committed to advocating for the welfare and interests of Nigerian students not a protest that may not directly benefit its members.

"We cannot be part of a protest

that may not directly benefit our members.

Furthermore, we are concerned that the NLC protest may not be well-thought-out, and may not achieve its intended objectives," he said.

Also, in a separate letter addressed to the NLC President, dated January 27, 2025, and signed by the General Secretary of PTECSSAN, Okonu Abdullahi, the body said the leadership of NLC acted in error in taking such a decision without prior consultation with the union members that operate in the sector.

According to the letter, "The media was awash with the rejection and condemnation by the Nigeria Labour Congress of the approval of the federal government on the tariff increase

approved in the telecommunication sector. As we set in motion steps to discuss the subject matter with the leadership of the congress, we saw the communique released at the end of the meeting of the National Administrative Council of the Congress directing affiliate unions to commence mobilisation of their members for protest on February 7, 2025. "It is our firm belief that the congress leadership has acted in error in taking these decisions without prior consultation with our Union that operates in the sector. Perhaps getting in touch with us to provide information on the happenings in the sector would have assisted the leadership in taking a better decision than it had taken."

2024 Poll: Ondo Election Tribunal Begins Sitting

Fidelis

David in Akure

Marking a significant stage in the post-election legal process, the Election Petitions Tribunal for the November 16 governorship election in Ondo yesterday commenced proceedings with its inaugural sitting at the State High Court in Akure, the state capital.

The tribunal, led by Justice Nelson Ugubu, started hearing petitions filed by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), the Social Democratic Party (SDP) and the African Democratic Congress (ADC), all challenging Aiyedatiwa’s victory.

Notably, the PDP, as the main petitioner, has assembled 43 witnesses to back its claims of electoral malpractice.

During the sitting, the tribunal disclosed that a total of 149 witnesses would testify, with the breakdown as follows: 43 witnesses from the PDP (petitioner); 19 witnesses from INEC (respondent 1); 32 witnesses from respondent 2; 20 witnesses from respondent 3; 35 witnesses from the APC (respondent 4). Interestingly, legal representatives from both sides engaged in preliminary submissions, setting the stage for an intense legal battle in the coming weeks. However, the tribunal adjourned to February 10 for further proceedings, with witness testimonies and evidentiary submissions expected to commence in earnest.

Kemi Olaitan in Ibadan

L-R: Senior Vice President / Chief Corporate Services Officer, IHS Nigeria, Dapo Otunla; Director, Human Resources, Ejemen Okojie; Chief Executive Officer, IHS Nigeria, Mohamad Darwish; Director General, National Commission for Museums and Monuments, Olugbile Holloway; , Director, Sustainability IHS Nigeria, Titilope Oguntuga; Group Human Resources Officer, IHS Towers, Ayotade Oyinlola; and Curator, Lagos Museum, Nkechi Adedeji, during a courtesy visit to the National Museum to discuss progress on the Digital Museum Initiative supported by IHS Nigeria, to preserve and promote Nigeria’s cultural heritage in Lagos...recently

STRENGTHENING PARTNERSHIP...

DG Protocol, Katsina State Government, Umar Bashir; Principal Private Secretary to the Governor, Hon. Abdullahi Turaji; Chairman, Access Holdings Plc, Aigboje Aig-Imoukhuede; Katsina State Governor, Mallam Dikko Radda; Managing Director, Access Bank, Roosevelt Ogbonna; Chief of Staff, Government House, Katsina, Hon. Abdulkadir Mamman Nasir, and Special Adviser, Chieftaincy Affairs, Hon. Abba Jaye, during a visit by the Governor to Access Corporation’s head office in Lagos…yesterday

$5.46bn

The Executive Director/Chief Executive, Nigerian Export Promotion Council (NEPC), Nonye Ayeni, yesterday disclosed that the federal government earned $5.46 billion revenues from non-oil export activities in 2024.

She said the performance reflected a significant increase of $938.442 million or 20.77 per cent compared to $4.517 billion recorded in 2023. Speaking at the presentation of

progress report on the non-oil export performance for 2024 in Abuja, the NEPC boss said the council achieved the impressive performance through collaboration with other relevant agencies, contributing towards economic diversification.

She said this was despite the harsh economic realities and the global economic downturn.

Ayeni further attributed the achievement to active diversification of the economy through the non-oil sector with emphasis on promoting

agriculture, solid minerals, and manufacturing; increased production in energy; agricultural, and solid mineral sectors as well as the positive impact of the current effort by the federal government to enhance trade through effective policy implementation, both fiscal and monetary, under the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Tinubu.

In addition, she pointed out that participation in trade agreements driven by the Minister of Trade and Investment, Dr. Jumoke Oduwole,

helped to open up new markets for Nigerian products.

Ayeni also said NEPC’s current flagship campaign, #doubleyourexport, Export 35 Redefined, as well as increased advocacy, strategic collaborations, and partnerships had contributed significantly to non-oil export earnings.

According to her, the global economy's recovery from previous downturns had increased demand for Nigerian exports, further boosting export performance.

Edeoga, Enugu PDP Leadership Hold Talks

Gideon Arinze in Enugu

Leadership of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Enugu State has said that it is working to woo former governorship candidate of the Labour Party (LP), Chijioke Edeoga, back into the party.

State Chairman of the party, Martin Chukwunwike, made this known yesterday, when he led leadership of the party to the residence of the former governorship candidate in Enugu.

Edeoga, a former PDP member

of the House of Representatives between 1999 and 2003, had also served as Special Adviser (Legal) to former Deputy President of the Senate, Senator Ike Ekweremadu, in the 6th Senate as well as Special Assistant on National Assembly Matters to former President, Dr. Goodluck Jonathan; and two-term Commissioner in the Administration of former Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi between 2015 and 2022, all on the platform of the PDP before he pulled out of the party after the governorship

primary to run on the platform of LP.

Addressing journalists during the visit, Chukwunwike said “we have come to beg him to come back to the PDP because he is a force to reckon with in the state.

“The governor asked us to go and meet with him and discuss the possibility of coming back to the party so that we can work together.”

He noted that the PDP under Mbah was working hard to return the party into what it used to be, saying, "we are going to have him

back to the party and do everything possible to make Enugu become 100 per cent PDP,”

In his reaction, Edeoga said that the PDP was the party that made him what he is today, adding that he owes a lot to the party.

“But I must consult with those I am working with wisely because I am a product of several men and women of goodwill,” he said.

“I will take back the message from the chairman and his team and talk to my people after which I will get back to the party."

BUA Foods Revenue Rises by 109% to N1.53trn in 2024

BUA Foods Plc, one of Nigeria’s leading food manufacturing companies, has announced its unaudited financial results for the fiscal year 2024, posting significant growth across all key performance indicators.

Precisely, the company’s revenue surged by 109.3 per cent to a record N1.53 trillion, up from N729.4 billion in 2023. This was driven by strong sales growth across key product segments, optimised pricing strategies, and enhanced cost management measures.

Also, gross profit grew by 107.9 per cent to N541.71 billion, while profit after tax rose 145.3 per cent to N274.95 billion, further solidifying BUA Foods’ position as a dominant player in Nigeria’s food manufacturing

sector.

Its Earnings Per Share (EPS) climbed 145.3 per cent to N15.27, underscoring the company’s ability to drive value creation for shareholders.

According to the results, across key product categories, sugar sales increased by 74 per cent to N733.8 billion, flour sales surged by 172 per cent to N589.5 billion and pasta sales grew by 125 per cent to N197.6 billion, reflecting strong market demand and the company’s robust distribution network.

The company’s resilience, operational efficiency, and strategic expansion efforts have continued to drive remarkable financial performance, further reinforcing its

leadership position in the industry.

Founder and Chairman of BUA Foods, Abdul Samad Rabiu, in a statement, attributed the company’s strong results to its unwavering commitment to innovation, efficiency, and market expansion. He stated:

“BUA Foods’ exceptional growth in 2024 is a testament to our long-term vision of ensuring food security in Africa. We have continued to invest in capacity expansion, optimise our supply chain, and enhance operational efficiencies to meet growing market demand.

“As we move forward, our focus remains on driving sustainable growth, strengthening our market leadership, and delivering superior value to

our customers and stakeholders,” he added.

Speaking on the results, Managing Director of BUA Foods, Engr. Ayodele Abioye said: “We are pleased to report another year of exceptional performance despite prevailing macroeconomic challenges. The effectiveness of our expansion strategy, coupled with our operational excellence, enabled us to achieve strong volume growth and revenue milestones.

“Looking ahead, we remain committed to deepening our market presence, optimizing efficiencies, and ensuring that we continue to deliver superior value to all stakeholders in line with our strategic objectives.”

PDP Chieftain Tackles Wabara Over Party’s Crisis

Chuks Okocha in Abuja

Ripples of the crisis that played out on Wednesday at the meeting of the Board of Trustees (BoT) of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) continued as a prominent leader from the South-east zone of the party has accused the Chairman of the party's BoT, Senator Adolphus Wabara, of being complicit in the ugly episode that played out Wednesday at the Wadata Plaza venue of the meeting. South-east stalwart of the party,

Hon. Chukwudi Apugo who accused Wabara of being behind the crisis rocking PDP, asked him to explain why he took charge of the list of BoT members that were invited to the Wednesday meeting. According to Apugo, the BoT secretariat prepared a list of those that were expected to be in the meeting which excluded Ude Okoye but surprisingly another list containing the name of Ude Okoye signed by Wabara was sent to the security gate for accreditation.

The former two-term member of Abia State House of Assembly asked, "if Wabara was not out to play a sinister motive, at what stage did it occur to him to invite Sunday Ude-Okoye who is not a member of the Board of Trustees of the party?"

"To the bewilderment of everyone both Senator Samuel Anyanwu and Sunday Ude Okoye appeared on Wabara's list as serving National Secretaries which gave rise to the ugly incident that took place at

the PDP National Secretariat on Wednesday.

''If Anyanwu was recognised and invited to the meeting as a serving National Secretary of the party what then was the motive of Wabara in inviting Sunday Ude Okoye in the same capacity as a serving national secretariat if not to create confusion and ignite crises?” Apugo asked. He further queried why the Board of Trustees meeting should have two different accreditation lists if not to cause mischief .

She said there was an increase in the volume of agricultural commodities as non-oil export returns showed that 7.291 million metric tonnes of exportable products were exported in the period under review.

She said, "More importantly, the result for 2024 would have been much more considering that the volume of Informal Cross Border Trade (ICBT) represents a reasonable percentage of our exports."

Ayeni vowed that the council will leave no stone unturned in its collective effort, as a critical stakeholder, to ensure that the volume of non-oil export and its attendant increase in foreign exchange earnings maintained the upward trajectory.

She said, "At NEPC, we remain resolute and committed to driving up the volume and value of non-oil exports for sustainable and inclusive economic growth."

She said, "Based on information received from Pre-shipment Inspection Agents (PIAs), of the top 20 products and commodities exported in the year 2024, cocoa beans, urea/fertiliser, sesame seed, cashew nuts/kernels, aluminum ingots, cocoa butter, copper ingots, soya beans/meal, gold dore

and hibiscus flower were top of the list respectively.

"Interestingly, cocoa butter, among other products, has experienced a notable surge in exportation, propelling it into the top 10 ranking of exported products.

"This upturn may be attributed to increased global demand, improved production processes, enhanced market access to key importing countries, and targeted trade policies promoting value-added products.

"The top commodity in terms of total non-oil export, accounting for 30.55 per cent in percentage value was cocoa beans, followed by urea/fertiliser at 15.74 per cent while sesame seeds contributed 8.50 per cent of the total exported products respectively. there are quite some other exportable products that have contributed significantly to this huge volume of exports."

"A total of 32 banks participated in the processing of NXP Forms for export in the year in review. With a total number of 21,655 NXP forms processed. Zenith Bank Plc maintained its leading position, contributing 39.03 per cent to the total number of NXPs for non-oil export."

Abia Schools Won't Lack Teachers Again, Otti Vows

Abia State Governor, Alex Otti, has said that the state school system would never again be allowed to degenerate to a situation where there would not be enough teachers in the classrooms.

He stated this Thursday night at the January edition of his monthly media chat held at Government House Umuahia, during which he gave progress reports on the activities of his government and fielded questions from the media and listeners.

Otti noted that Abia schools had in the past been plagued by shortage of teachers, adding that his government has taken sustainable measures to ensure that schools have enough teachers irrespective of their locations.

He announced that the free and compulsory basic education policy of his administration as well as the repositioning of public schools has started yielding good results.

"I'm happy to report that we're witnessing an explosion in enrollment at public schools. That's why we're recruiting 2,500 teachers," he said.

Otti stated that with the huge increase in population of pupils and students in public schools there was no way the present number of teachers would be enough hence the need to employ more.

He assured parents and guardians that the free and compulsory basic

education policy of his government was being implemented to the letter, thereby tackling the out of school syndrome.

"When we say education is free, it is free and free; and when we say it is compulsory, it is compulsory," Otti stated.

Based on this policy of free and compulsory basic education, the Abia government has already made it a criminal offence for any parent or guardian to prevent a child from going to school.

The Abia governor expressed the commitment of the administration to scale up its investments in the social services sector.

He said that over N10 billion was allocated in the 2025 budget for the reconstruction of 200 primary health centres across the 184 wards. Otti also noted that N16.6 billion has been earmarked for the secondary and tertiary healthcare institutions to bring their facilities up to standard.

"We will continue to commit resources to the health sector," he vowed, adding that the target was to upgrade the secondary and tertiary health institutions within this year. According to him, when that is achieved, "we will be able to train our nurses and other health professionals. It is a major area of need and major challenge we must tackle."

James Emejo in Abuja

Emmanuel Ugwu-Nwogo in Umuahia

What’s

In Praise of President Buhari

Ending Witchcraft Accusations and Ritual Attacks

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

students, youths, and other members of society.

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

am writing because I feel heartbroken, disappointed, and betrayed. I write you because I believe, as educators, we are failing in our duty and obligation. I am writing to draw your attention to a disturbing and dangerous trend in our country: witchcraft accusations and ritual attacks. These practices are an ill wind that blows nobody any good. I urge you all to get involved in addressing this menace, campaigning against these harmful practices, and educating and enlightening the public. As you may have noticed, recently, our society has been witnessing a growing wave of attacks and killings linked to witchcraft accusations and ritual attacks. The situation is getting out of hand.

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

We must admit that we have failed in our duty as educators and enlighteners of students and society. But we can rectify this failure, fix this problem, and combat the menace of witch hunts. Unfortunately, many lecturers and teachers hold and enable these superstitious beliefs. They reinforce these misconceptions in the minds of their students. Many lecturers are witch hunters; they are witchcraft imputing and exorcising pastors/imams or members of witch-hunting churches/mosques and shrines. Many teachers believe in ritual money, engage in ritual sacrifice, or sanction ritual beliefs and practices. They defend witch hunting and ritual sacrifice of humans and animals as a part of African culture.

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

Protecting Older Persons from Superstitious Beliefs

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

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

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

Leo Igwe Ph.D, Director, Advocacy for Alleged Witches, Affiliate Researcher, Institute of African and Diaspora Studies, University of Lagos

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

igeria’s steep poverty levels and an alarming corrosion of values is putting its older persons at grave risk. Two incidents in the first month of the year show a lightning and murderous disregard and disrespect for older persons and their rights. First, in Ogun State, Kehinde Ojo, an older woman who was accused of transforming into a human from a bird was lynched. In Ebonyi State, a man simply identified as Nnomchi Okorocha was also lynched. Both Ojo and Okorocha were accused of witchcraft. Only recently, there was an unreported incident in Nasarawa State where another older man was accused of being behind the misfortune of a family before being set ablaze. All over the country, there have also been many unreported cases of unwarranted and unprovoked attacks on older persons by criminals masquerading as family or community

Stop Ritual Attacks and Killings

members, mouthing outrageous accusations of witchcraft.

THas it become a crime to grow old in Nigeria? Is it now a crime to live until the latter part of one’s life in Africa’s most populous democracy and economy where it takes some sort of miracle to get through each day alive?

It appears that the aphorism “old age is a blessing” is now lost on many people who now improbably perceive frail, older persons who should be treated with respect and dignity as threats. Is it no longer the case that when an old man dies, a library burns to the ground?

What happened to older individuals being allowed to participate in the life of a country that continues to search for its bearing more than 60 years since independence?

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

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

There have been rampant cases of abuse, savage acts, murder of suspected witches, and horrific killing of other human beings by ritualists. Men and women, youths and adults, children and elderly persons have been victims. The perpetrators have mainly been youths. These revulsive acts are motivated by misconceptions about nature and how nature works, by irrational and superstitious beliefs about causes of illnesses, death, and other misfortunes. These barbaric killings are motivated by mistaken ideas about wealth and riches, about how to make money or become successful. Witch hunting and ritual attacks persist because many people are deluded and have refused to confront and combat their delusions and superstitions. Witch hunting persists because many people believe strongly that human beings can turn into birds and cats, that human beings can harm others, and cause accidents and death through spiritual, magical, or supernatural means. These are nonsensical ideas, aren’t they? Ritual attacks take place in our society because many people believe in the potency and efficacy of ritual sacrifice of humans and animals. A notion is outright hogwash!

Distinguished colleagues, you would agree with me that witch-hunting and ritual attacks persist due to the failure of our schools and teachers to educate and reorient the minds of our

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

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

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

THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER

EDITOR OBINNA CHIMA

Ainofenokhai Ojeifo, Abuja

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Over the years, there have been fitful attempts to enshrine legislations and policies to protect older individuals from the days when their frailty will become lethally vulnerable to the superstitious stupidity of morally vacuous young people.

Ike Willie-Nwobu, Ikewilly9@gmail.com

Swear to Obey

Doctors swear to follow the ‘Hippocratic Oath’ which requires in simple terms that the doctor does the best they can for their patient and doesn’t cause harm.

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

This is a simple standard that doctors seem to have no problem following but what of the US doctors’ proposed boss, Robert Kennedy Jr? He has expressed a range of contradictory views on medical issues including vaccines, abortions and even the food industry. It is not safe or sensible to allow him to take the position.

Health is far more important than political favours.

Dennis Fitzgerald, Melbourne, Australia

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

Leo Igwe directs the Advocacy for Alleged

a waste!

TECH INNOVATION CONFERENCE...

FG Unveils Police Reform Blueprint

Linus Aleke in Abuja

The federal government has unveiled the Renewed Hope Police Reform Blueprint developed by the Ministerial Committee on Police Reforms to scale up policing in Nigeria to international standard.

The government also disclosed its plans to emplace mechanisms to monitor and evaluate the implementation of the police reform roadmap.

Unveiling the police reform document at a Stakeholders' Engagement on Renewed Hope Police Reform, the Minister of

Police Affairs, Senator Ibrahim Gaidam, said that police reform encompasses technical elements, skills development and political considerations which together lend legitimacy to the process.

He stressed that at the heart of these reforms are two mutually reinforcing philosophies, communityoriented and intelligence-led policing. These approaches, he said, are not just trends but essential components will drive meaningful success in the government's efforts.

He stressed that it is crucial that the reform initiatives collaborate closely with key members of the

Mustard Insights Launches Nigeria’s 2024 Business Survival Report

To better understand the impact of economic conditions on Nigerian businesses and the strategies employed to navigate them, Mustard Insights, a Nigerian data start-up, has conducted an in-depth survey of over 100 business leaders.

This culminated into the ‘Nigeria’s Business Survival Report 2024: Strategies for Sustainable Business Growth Amid Economic Turbulence'.

According to a statement announcing the unveiling of the report, 2024 was no doubt a challenging one for businesses operating in Nigeria.

“The country’s economy faced significant disruptions following the removal of fuel subsidies, the devaluation of the Naira, a surge in inflation, amongst others. These factors contributed to skyrocketing costs of essential commodities such as food, power, and transportation,

making survival a daunting task for both individuals and businesses.

“Many companies had to put their expansion plans on hold, while some were forced to shut down, divest, or report major losses. Following a broad macroeconomic overview, the report sets the stage by creating a schematic visualisation of the combination of factors responsible for the country’s cost of living crisis.

“Next, it offers a comprehensive analysis of how businesses performed between 2023 and 2024, detailing how the economic downturn affected revenue, direct costs, job retention, amongst others while also providing industry sentiment and projected outlook from business owners and top executives. Additionally, it presents insights into the strategic responses companies adopted to navigate the tough market conditions,” it added.

Baobab Nigeria Disburses Over N323bn Loans to Small Businesses

Charles Ajunwa

Baobab Microfinance, a leading provider of financial services to small and medium enterprises (SMEs) and micro-entrepreneurs, has further showcased its commitment to empowering businesses across Nigeria reaching over 407,000 customers.

With a total loan volume exceeding N323 billion, Baobab has played a pivotal role in supporting the growth and development of countless businesses, contributing significantly to economic development and job creation in Nigeria.

Acting Chief Executive Officer, Baobab Nigeria, Eric Ntumba, said this is a statement of the company’s mission to empower small businesses in Nigeria.

“At Baobab, we place our customers at the heart of our strategy and enhance more ways to build a sustainable financially inclusive society,” Ntumba said.

“These numbers reflect not just loans but opportunities for growth, innovation, and resilience for not only our customers but the society at large. Every loan we disburse shows our dedication to empowering individuals and businesses,” he added.

He further commented, “In a time like this, seeing business ideas come alive is what we look forward to achieving at Baobab. Granting credit facilities to small businesses across Nigeria sets the country on a path for advancement and development and this is one key role we desire to fill in the financial services sector.”

criminal justice system, including the judiciary and correctional services.

The minister noted that this collaboration will ensure the sustainability of their efforts and uphold the principles of international rule of law, which are vital for a just and equitable society.

According to him, "I am pleased to inform you about the "Renewed Hope Police Reform Blueprint," developed by the Ministerial Committee on Police Reforms.

"This document carefully examines previous reports, including those from 2006, 2008 and the recent

'Motion Without Movement'. It will serve as a working document during the upcoming police reform retreat where stakeholders can contribute to ensuring the long-term success of reform efforts.

"It is evident that effective policing is fundamental to all aspects of

security - whether it be human security, food security, economic stability, health or social well-being.

"This reality underscores the urgent need for us to establish a people-centric police framework, one that is grounded in a nationally owned reform blueprint."

Remo Diaspora Coalition Submits Proposals for Separate State Creation from Ogun

Remo sons and indigenes under the aegis of Remo Matters Diaspora Coalition (RMDC) has submitted a comprehensive proposal to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, the National Assembly and the Ogun State Government, outlining multiple options for the creation of a separate state from the present Ogun State.

The proposal, which was contained in a communique dated 20th January 2025 and signed by Acting Chairperson, Professor Musendiq Abdul alongside seven other officers and stakeholders, emphasised the need

for fairness, equity, and inclusivity in the proposed state creation.

According to the RMDC, the proposed state creation presents a unique opportunity to address the historical and cultural peculiarities of the Remo and Ijebu communities, which have been part of Ogun State since its creation in 1976.

The group noted that the current proposal to create a new state from Ogun State must take into account the aspirations and interests of both Remo and Ijebu communities.

Also as read in its communique

with reference number LOA/11/2025/ RMDC/01/20, the RMDC presented four main options for the creation of a separate state from Ogun State, including Ijebu-Remo State.

They maintained that the creation of a unified Ijebu-Remo State, with a hyphenated name that reflects the shared history and cultural heritage of both communities, would ensure equal representation and participation for both Remo and Ijebu communities in the governance of the new state.

According to the group, the creation of an independent Remo

State, comprising present Remo communities in Ogun State would allow the Remo people to have full control over their affairs and develop at their own pace. They also suggested the balkanisation of the present Ogun State into three separate states: Ijebu State, Remo State, and a remaining Ogun State. This option would ensure that each of the three main ethnic groups in Ogun State (Ijebu, Remo, and Egba) has its own state and is able to develop according to its unique needs and aspirations.

Company Seeks Support to Unlock Abuja's Investment Potential

The Abuja Investments Company Limited (AICL) has called on diplomats to collaborate with the Nigerian Government to tap into Abuja's investment opportunities. This development comes as AICL announces the upcoming Abuja Business amd Investment Summit EXPO (ABISummit2025), scheduled to take place from October 21 to 25, 2025.

According to Group Managing

Director/Chief Executive Officer of AICL, Dr. Maureen Tamuno, the summit aims to foster strategic partnerships, drive innovation, and unlock investment opportunities in key sectors. The event's theme, 'Empowering Sustainable Growth: Unlocking Potential in Emerging Markets', reflects AICL's commitment to promoting sustainable growth and development in Abuja and Nigeria as a whole.

AICL has also planned an investors' forum in the United Kingdom for June 2025, which will provide a platform for connecting with European investors and showcasing Abuja's investment opportunities.

Speaking at the event, the Botswana High Commissioner to Nigeria, Ambassador Philda Kereng, and Colombia's Honorary Consul in Nigeria, Amb. Maricel Romero,

separately praised the Abuja Investment Company Limited (AICL) for the overwhelming success of the inaugural Abuja Business and Investment Summit.

According to them, the summit's achievement is a testament to the AICL's efforts in fostering a conducive business environment and promoting investment opportunities in Abuja, aligning with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu's Renewed Hope Agenda.

ASR Africa Commences Construction of 500-Capacity Lecture Theatre Hall for Nasarawa University

The ASR Africa, the brainchild of Africa’s industrialist and philanthropist, Abdul Samad Rabiu, has commenced the construction of a modern 500-capacity lecture theatre hall for the Nasarawa State University, Keffi.

The event, which took place at the university’s campus in Keffi, attracted dignitaries including Dr. Udoh Ubon, MD/CEO of ASR Africa, Prof. Sa’adatu H. Liman, Vice Chancellor of the University, and other high-ranking management staff of the university.

Speaking at the ceremony, the Vice Chancellor of the University expressed

gratitude for the nomination by ASR Africa under its Tertiary Education Grant Scheme (TEGs).

She commended ASR Africa for the award of the grant and the freewill extended to the university in the project selection.

According to her, “The lecture theatre happens to be a pressing need for the institution, as we continue to expand our academic programs and could not have come at a better time for our university.”

Liman noted that the ASR Africa is the TETFUND equivalent from the

private sector as many universities in Nigeria have benefitted from its Tertiary Education Grant Scheme (TEGs).

She also commended the Abdul Samad Rabiu Africa Initiative for its unwavering commitment to advancement of education in Nigeria, as this type of gesture is a testament to the ASR Africa Chairman’s investment and contribution to empowering future generations.

In his response, the MD CEO of ASR Africa, Dr. Udoh, commended the management of the university for

the take-off of the construction of the facility in spite of the installation of a new Vice Chancellor of the University. He stated that ASR Africa will continue to support the project and ensure its completion within the stipulated time frame.

The ASR Africa Tertiary Education Grant Scheme is targeted at supporting quality education within the tertiary education system in Nigeria. So far, over 30 institutions in Nigeria have benefitted from this grant, which ranges from N250 million to N2 billion.

L-R: Cloud Advocate, Fullstack Software and Solutions Engineer at Arthurite Integrated, Dr. Paul Aderoju; Frontend, Technical Writer and Solutions Engineer, Akande Olalekan Toheeb;Marketing Lead, Miss. Ebube Alexis Ezepue; Chairman/ MD, Arthurite Integrated Group, Engr. Somto Ezepue, Solutions Engineers, ⁠Sanusi Motunrayo, and Abolaji Abdurahman, during the Arthurite Integrated and AWS cloud innovations conference held in Lagos...recently

Managing Director/Chief Executive Networld Logistics Limited

#EndSARS: Stop Insulting Memories of Victims, Peter Obi Replies Bisi Akande

Tells cleric not to name structure after him

Chuks Okocha in Abuja

The Labour Party’s 2023 presidential candidate, Peter Obi, has criticised former Osun State governor, Bisi Akande, for alleging that the #EndSARS protest was orchestrated by the Obidient Movement to hinder Bola Tinubu’s presidential ambition. This was as the former Anambra State governor declined the proposal to have a magnificent hall at Shanahan College of Nursing Sciences, Nsukka named after him.

Obi dismissed Bisi Akande’s claims as an attempt to rewrite history, emphasising that #EndSARS was

a genuine call for justice and good governance.

He condemned the assertion as insensitive to the memory of those who lost their lives during the protests. In a recent podcast interview, Akande alleged that the Obidients used foreign funds to sponsor the protest as a political strategy to weaken Tinubu’s influence before the 2023 elections.

He stated, “The Obidients were behind #EndSARS. It was manufactured in America and brought in just to stop him (Tinubu). I said the Obidients, I didn’t say Obi. They came from America to do the #EndSARS

Ali Pate: Nigeria Healthcare System Gaining Global Attention

Sunday Ehigiator

The Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare of Nigeria, Prof. Muhammad Ali Pate, has revealed that the Nigerian healthcare sector is currently gaining global attention as people are coming from outside the country to patronise it.

Prof Ali Pate made this known in an interview with Arise Television yesterday.

According to him, "There is an interesting phenomenon happening right now.

"There are people coming from outside Nigeria into Nigeria as we speak to get medical care.

"So we have good things happening here. We have good health workers all across our facilities.

"You may not want to believe this because Nigerians are always sceptical about Nigeria, but there is something that this government is doing that is getting attention.

"I have seen myself people who have come from outside, some people who have come from the United Kingdom (UK) to have surgery here.

"People who have come from the USA to have surgery here. Believe it or not, that is happening.

"Those who are here, we respect and appreciate them. And we are working with all the health workers to ensure that we preserve all the harmony that we have enjoyed.

"The president has given all that we need, including some very difficult issues, such as the retirement age and all of that for clinical workers.

"We are working very hard to operationalise it, following due process, and following the established rules.

"But the president has given his word that this is important so that we have the workforce that we need and we follow due process to ensure that we attend to those.

"There are many other issues that have been long-standing and one by one we are trying to address them, and we count on the continued support and partnership, and we put Nigerians at the centre of attention.

"This is knowing that, if we do that, the issue of strike in the health workforce, I believe, will be abated."

and later became a movement to form a party. They couldn’t form a party. It was well planned and organised with a lot of money from America.”

Reacting to Bisi Akande’s claims on the #EndSARS protest, Obi’s media aide, Umar Ibrahim, dismissed Akande’s claims as misleading and divisive.

He said, “The allegations are not only misleading but also divisive. It is unfortunate Akande would suggest that the Obidient Movement was behind the #EndSARS protests, and even more astonishing that he would imply it was orchestrated to prevent a particular individual from becoming President.”

Ibrahim clarified that the Obidient Movement emerged organically as a grassroots movement driven by Nigerians passionate about good governance.

He explained that #EndSARS was a separate, spontaneous reaction to police brutality and systemic injustice,

saying, “To conflate these two distinct phenomena is not only inaccurate but also unfair to the millions of Nigerians who are genuinely committed to creating positive change.

''We urge former governor Akande to refrain from making unsubstantiated claims that can only serve to further polarize our society.”

The National Coordinator of the Obidient Movement Worldwide, Tanko Yunusa, also rejected Akande’s remarks, calling them an insult to the memory of all victims of #EndSARS, especially those who lost their lives.

Yunusa stated, “The Obidient movement outright rejects the baseless and revisionist claim by former Governor Bisi Akande. His false narrative is not only an insult to the memory of the young Nigerians who lost their lives in the fight against police brutality but also a desperate attempt to rewrite history and shift blame for the government’s failures.”

He stressed that #EndSARS was a decentralised, youth-led protest against police brutality, not a politically motivated campaign against any politician.

“Rather than engaging in revisionist propaganda, we urge Akande and his associates to focus on addressing the real issues facing Nigerians today - economic hardship, insecurity, unemployment, and bad governance. The people are suffering, and no amount of misinformation or historical distortion will change that reality,” Yunusa added.

Meanwhile. speaking after Obi presented a cheque of N20 million to support the construction of a hall at Shanahan College of Nursing Sciences, Nsukka, on Thursday, the school’s manager, Rev. Fr. Kelvin Caesar, informed the audience that the hall where the event was held was being solely funded by Obi and that it would be named

in his honour. In a swift response, Obi declined the honour, explaining that he was building similar structures in over 50 institutions across Nigeria and that it would be inappropriate if all of them were named after him.

He further emphasised that his contributions to education, healthcare, and poverty alleviation were motivated by a deep commitment to securing a better future for Nigerian children. Obi cautioned that philanthropy should not be driven by the desire for recognition but by the genuine urge to serve humanity. His words: I do it to serve humanity. The reason God blesses us with resources is so we can use them to improve the lives of others and not for self-glorification.

Obi also reiterated his passion for supporting medical and allied disciplines, stressing their critical role in society.

Drunk Driver Rams into Soldiers, Kills One, Others Injured

The Nigerian Army yesterday confirmed the death of a soldier after a driver rammed into troops during its bi-annual route march close to the Myhoung Barracks in Yaba, Lagos State yesterday.

Acting Deputy Director of Army Public Relations, 81 Division, Lieutenant Colonel Olabisi Ayeni, confirmed the accident in a statement, disclosing that it resulted in the death

of a soldier, with others sustaining various degrees of injuries.

According to the statement, the deceased has been deposited in the mortuary while the injured were receiving medical care at 68 Nigerian Army Reference Hospital Yaba, Lagos.

It stated that the 81 Division Military Police and other relevant security agencies were conducting investigation into the circumstances that led to this incident.

“The Division remains steadfast in its commitment to training and readiness to discharge its duties despite this devastating event.

“Furthermore, this tragic loss will not deter the Division’s dedication to safeguarding the lives and properties within its area of operations in accordance with the NA’s constitutional mandate.”

It stated: “The General Officer Commanding 81 Division NA, Major General Farouk Mijinyawa, expressed his deepest condolences to the families of the deceased soldier while praying for the speedy recovery of the wounded. The GOC also called for calm among the public as investigation into the sad occurrence has commenced.

Katsina Empowers 104,111 School Girls Through Cash Transfer

Francis Sardauna in Katsina

The Katsina State Government has empowered 104,111 girls through its Conditional Cash Transfer programme in 255 public secondary schools across the 34 local government areas of the state. The state Deputy Governor, Hon. Faruk Lawal, revealed this yesterday while briefing journalists in Katsina on the scorecards of the state government in the education sector. He said the “laudable initiative”

Abia Lawmaker Offers Scholarship to 1,200

The lawmaker representing Bende North Constituency in Abia State House of Assembly, Hon. Nnamdi Chimdi Ibekwe, has provided scholarships for over 1, 200 secondary school students for the West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE) and ICT training.

The initiative under his Oziomachi Foundation specifically covers 1,100 on ICT training, school fees for 81 students, 20 children's basic education and 1, 200 secondary school students for WASSCE.

Ibekwe explained that the project is in commemoration of his beloved mother for the foundation she laid in training him and the teacher who taught him in school and gave him the privilege of extra mural classes in her house free of charge. He said: “If you are living without a purpose, life would be meaningless. This education is a great investment."

The Abia lawmaker lamented that the inability of some parents to pay their wards school fees has made education seem less lucrative.

“We are here to provide funds and change that narrative because it's through education that people will succeed in life. We are also doing this as our contribution towards achieving the objectives of Universal Basic Education.

“The charter stipulates that there should not be any child with education and that funds shouldn't be enough reasons for not attaining education.

"Our vision is to ensure that every child is educated in Igbere

Students

land. We have just registered 31 students for the First School Leaving Certificate Examination and truly I don't personally know them but it's the good works of the Oziomachi Foundation. It is a good thing that neighbouring villages around the town are silently copying Igbere’s good works.”

He however, explained that the foundation embarked on the project in fulfillment of the Scriptures, because education is good; through it, one gets understanding and wisdom.

supported by the Adolescent Girls Initiative for Learning and Empowerment (AGILE) programme, has increased girls' enrollment in schools and improved their educational advancement across the state.

He explained that the World Bank funded programme, in collaboration with the state government, has provided digital learning materials and e-books to 370 schools as well as 1,200 refuse containers to 600 secondary schools.

Lawal added that instructional materials were distributed to 170,000 students and teaching and learning materials to focus schools for effective implementation, thereby empowering 60,000 girls with life skills in the state.

He explained that the government also built 75 secondary schools, rehabilitated and expanded existing infrastructure and provided water, sanitation and hygiene as well as games equipment to 578 secondary schools.

The state deputy governor affirmed that the state government has also procured and installed Closed-Circuit Television (CCTV) cameras in schools across the state to checkmate the activities of hoodlums.

“The administration has also prioritized security through installation of CCTV cameras in schools as well as providing essential learning materials such as school bags, uniforms, and exercise books to less privileged pupils”, he added. He said the government has unveiled a massive distribution of educational resources to primary school pupils, comprising 25,000 copies each for Mathematics and computer science.

According to him, “the efforts have yielded positive results in the improvement in pupils enrolment as well as enhancing conducive atmosphere for learning at primary schools.”

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu in handshake with Senegal Minister of Integration and Foreign Affairs, Mrs. Yassine Fall during the president's audience with her at the Presidential Villa Abuja... yesterday

Zambia, Mr. Bryan Sikalubya and Managing Director/Chief Executive of House of Commodity Limited Nigeria, Mr. Olajide Abiola, during the signing of partnership agreement on mining business at the Nigerian High Commission in Lusaka, Zambia…yesterday

MEDIA BRIEFING…

L-R: Operations Manager, R & A Farm Limited, Aduragbemi Olawoye;

being planned by R & A Farm Limited held in Lagos…recently

IGP Directs Police to Begin Enforcement of Mandatory Third Party Insurance Nationwide

Aleke in Abuja

The Inspector General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, has again reiterated his directive to all police formations across the federation to begin the enforcement of the Mandatory Third Party Insurance from February 1st, 2025.

A statement by Force Spokesperson, Olumuyiwa Adejobi, an Assistant Inspector General of Police, said that this directive aims to reinforce

road safety measures and ensure that all vehicle owners comply with the stipulated insurance requirements to protect themselves and others on the road.

"The Nigeria Police Force, cautions vehicle owners and operators against non-compliance with this essential regulation. Failure to possess valid Third Party Insurance will result in strict enforcement actions, including fines or penalties or both, as mandated by relevant extant laws.

Atiku: Tinubu Fighting Opposition, Not Corruption

Former Vice President and the presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the 2023 election, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar has accused President Bola Tinubu of using state institutions to attack his political opponents instead of fighting corruption in his administration.

Atiku made the allegation in a statement posted on his X handle yesterday, following the recent arrest of Professor Usman Yusuf, a prominent social critic of the Tinubu’s administration.

He wrote: “Two days ago, the nation was jolted by the arrest of Professor Usman Yusuf, a fierce and unyielding social critic. Though the charges against him have been festering since the previous administration, it is impossible to ignore the strong likelihood that his

detention is politically motivated.

“The Tinubu government, despite being riddled with individuals who themselves are embroiled in scandals and investigations by both local and international authorities, continues to use the very machinery of the state to silence its critics. It weaponises these pending investigations to suppress all opposition.

“It is absurd that while the administration shelters those under investigation, it continues to exploit state institutions to stifle dissent, all under the false pretence of combating corruption. Even to the most inattentive, it has become glaringly clear that Tinubu is not waging a war on corruption — he is waging a war on the opposition, manipulating the system for his own political advantage.”

"Effective February 1st, all vehicle owners nationwide are required to possess valid Third Party Insurance as they move about, and those without the Insurance, are advised to be insured quickly to avoid any sort of embarrassment.

"The Inspector-General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, has directed all State Commissioners of Police to ensure due enforcement, as police officers will be empowered to conduct checks and enforce penalties for non-compliance in line with relevant extant laws.

"The Nigeria Police Force remains dedicated to enhancing road safety and protecting the lives of all citizens

through the enforcement of traffic laws and regulations.

"Cooperation from members of the public in this crucial endeavor is much appreciated," Adejobi said.

In another development the Inspector General of Police Kayode Egbetokun observed that the efficiency of the Nigeria Police Force, which happens to be the lead security agency in internal security, to combat increased rate of crimes and criminality across the length and breadth of Nigeria has over time been undermined by persistent shortage of manpower.

He said that with a population exceeding 200 million, the police

to citizen ratio remains far below the United Nations recommended standard of one officer to 400 citizens making it extremely tedious for the NPF to carry out its core and other secondary responsibilities as enshrined in the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999, as amended.

According to him, "This deficit has severely hampered the Force’s ability to effectively tackle insecurity. However, the recruitment process itself had over the years been plagued by controversies, particularly disputes between the Police Service Commission (PSC) and the NPF, inefficiencies, and delays in the onboarding of recruits.

"At the core of the recruitment crisis lies a protracted conflict between the Police Service Commission and the NPF over who holds the constitutional authority to conduct recruitment exercises.

"While the PSC is empowered by the constitution to handle appointments and promotions, the NPF argued that operational realities necessitate its direct involvement in the process.

"These disagreements escalated into seeking the intervention of the court as regards the interpretation of the Schedule defining the powers of the PSC and the Police Service Commission Act in 2023.

James Emejo in Abuja

Raspberry Pi Limited has introduced low-cost general-purpose computing to entrepreneurs, startups, schools and industrial customers to meet their growth needs.

Raspberry Pi, a small, single-board computer (SBC) is used for a variety of purposes, including learning computer science, robotics, home automation, digital signage, and drones.

Speaking at its marketing/promotional event in Abuja, Chief Commercial Officer, Raspberry Pi Limited, Mike Buffham, said globally about 70 per cent of its business is targeted at industrial customers while about

30 per cent of business goes to education customers and enthusiasts.

He stated that the solutions allow for young entrepreneurial activity to start creating wealth and job opportunities for people quickly.

According to him, people getting their first experience of computing on Raspberry Pi have attested to their affordability and productivity compared to competition. He told THISDAY that the Nigerian market offers huge potential, allowing for much better access in remote locations, stressing that the solutions have the capacity to significantly boost remote learning as well as support agri-tech, particularly controlling agricultural irrigation.

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and its governorship candidate, Mr. Asue Ighodalo, yesterday called in five witnesses to prove their allegations of over-voting in the September 21 governorship election that produced Senator Monday Okpebholo of the All Progressives Congress (APC) as governor of Edo State.

The five witnesses which include; Haruna Ibrahim, Okuo Taiye Esther

Oluchi Chibuzor

The Chief Executive Officer/ Chairman of Arthurite Group, Somto Ezepue, has emphasised the importance of cloud adoption to enhance business efficiency.

Ezepue also reaffirmed the company’s commitment to equipping businesses with the right cloud strategies to scale effectively.

He said this at a tech conference with discussions centred around cloud adoption, moving award from physical servers and onsite storage systems in business especially with the advent of Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Supercomputers.

The event was organised by Arthurite Integrated in collaboration

from Igara, Akoko-Edo LGA, Abubakar Uzairu from Owan East, Asuluka Righteousness and Mautairu Yusuf from Etsako West LGA, all told the Edo State Election Petition Tribunal that the results recorded at the polling units were different from what was recorded at the words.

Documents they tendered to prove their allegations include; screenshots of polling unit results, BVAS (Bimodal Voter Accreditation System) reports, and Forms EC8A

with its partner, Amazon Web Services (AWS) Solution. It also saw the official launch of Arthurite Integrated’s training arm.

Speaking in an interview, Ezepue said: “Moving to the cloud is basically seamless because it helps you reduce cost; improve security and you can do more. Then, you are not just thinking about it as a storage device, you are thinking about how you can build any other existing thing on the cloud.

“From things as easy as website and because of the various use-cases that transverse between various industries and sectors, you can customise what you want to do with cloud computing.”

He stressed that the event was to empower existing and also attract potential clients and also

and EC8B for their various wards.

According to the witnesses, the alleged over-voting was occasioned by the exclusion of rejected votes in the final results that was used to declare Okpebholo winner.

But, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) which conducted the election and Governor Okpebholo and his party presented documents proving that there was no incident of rejected votes as was claimed by the petitioners.

to encourage tech enthusiasts.

Commenting on Arthurite Integrated’s training arm, he said: “Our focus is on empowering businesses with the right cloud strategies to drive efficiency and sustainable growth.”

In her contribution, the Manager, AWS Nigeria, Omohefe Justina, highlighted the benefits of the partnership, detailing how Arthurite Integrated had been positioned to help businesses ranging from SMEs, startups, individuals and bigger organisations implement AWS solutions effectively.

She also elaborated how AWS services could help clients manage costs, improve operational efficiency, and leverage advanced cloud technologies to scale their businesses seamlessly.

After adopting their witness' statement on oath, the witnesses were subsequently cross examined by lawyers to the respondents. Under cross examination, while one of the witnesses said she didn't sign her result sheet because of alleged over-voting, others claimed that they signed in order to obtain copies to forward to their party. Meanwhile, the witnesses admitted not being makers of the documents on which they based their evidence.

Alex Enumah in Abuja

Project Manager, Olumide Adeyemi, and Executive Director, Operations, Debo Adeniran, during a media briefing on the 2025 Ramadan Discount Market

Linus

Ferdinand Ekechukwu - 08035011394

Email: ferdi_adthisday@yahoo.com

Reminiscing Electrifying Performances at THISDAY 30th Anniversary

Ferdinand ekechukwu

Flavour Nabania’s perfor- mance at the THISDay’s 30th anniversary turned out to be the highpoint of the night, especially with him dedicating one of his songs to staff and management of the organisation as the ‘champion, the lion, and the conqueror.’ He charged his audience to vibe along as he got the high-profile guests dancing and singing to one of his chart-topping songs, ‘Game Changer’.

The ambiance was electric as the african music icon engaged the audience, creating an unforgettable experience for all in attendance. Flavour, known for his

high-energy stage presence and infectious music, captivated the audience with a dynamic set that featured a medley of his biggest hits.

Flavour took the audience on a musical journey, performing hits from his extensive catalogue of songs, including ‘ada ada,’ ‘adanma,’ ‘Levels’, ‘big baller’, and ‘bottom belle’. He delivered his signature blend of highlife, showcasing his vocal range and stagecraft.

The THISDay commemoration was packed with several celebrities, in recognition of three decades of excellence. The award night witnessed dignitaries, some of the best of the Nigerian society, including serving

and former governors, ministers, and captains of industry, technocrats, and politicians.

Apart from the different award categories, which cut across all sectors and endeavours, the highpoint of the night was the world class performance by 80 years old american singer, Diana ross, who thrilled the audience with some of her evergreen songs, leaving everyone with nostalgia.

Founded on January 22, 1995, by Nduka Obaigbena, THISDay is reputed as one of Nigeria’s most reputable media companies, celebrated for its resilience, innovation, and transformative impact on Nigerian journalism over three impactful journey of robust journalism.

A Glimpse at Nigerian Nominees at 67th Grammys

Clips of burna boy’s historic performance at the last Grammy awards ceremony surfaced online ahead of the 67th Grammys taking place at the Crypto.com arena in Los angeles tomorrow.

Since he won the Grammy back in 2021, burna boy has remained on the awards roll call. For the 2025 Grammys, he secured a nomination the second time in the best african Music Performance category for his single ‘Higher.’

Interestingly, eight Nigerian artistes including Davido, yemi alade, Lojay, Tems, rema, asake and Wizkid, were nominated in total to contend for two prestigious categories: the best african Music Performance and the best Global Music album.

The best african Music Performance category has all Nigerian talent, featuring nominations for yemi alade’s “Tomorrow,” asake’s “MMS” with Wizkid, Chris brown’s “Sensational” featuring Davido and Lojay,

and Tems’ “Love Me Jeje.”

already, Nigerians eagerly expect one of its music stars to bring home the Gramophone for the best african Music Performance, with some of the country’s biggest stars dominating the category this year.

Though burna boy has strong potential to win, given his previous Grammy success and strong global fan base, many, owing to the Grammy tradition,

believe this could be Davido’s first win for the Chris brown assisted work, ‘Sensational’. Tems, already a Grammy winner through her recognition on Future’s “Wait For u,” adds a fresh dimension to this year’s Grammy hopefuls. Tems contending with three nominations across different categories make her a major.

With her debut album, “born in the Wild”, Tems, who is also in the race for the best Global Music album, stands out as her multiple nominations signal wide acclaim, maybe.

Wale Ojo to Play ‘Elesin Oba’

Ferdinand ekechukwu

On a hot day in humid Lagos, I strolled into Digitrack Studios at Tafawa balewa Square, Lagos for a chat with actor Wale Ojo. It is not unlikely you meet the renowned thespian at Digitrack Studios which is the main production hub for Ojo’s company, named New Nigeria Cinema Productions Ltd, when he is not on set or in Fulham, West London.

He has just been cast to play ‘elesin Oba’ in Wole Soyinka’s classic play – which won him the Nobel Prize for Literature – Death and The King’s Horseman. He’s fascinated by the offering. Set in the ancient Oyo Kingdom, the play is based imaginatively on actual real life events which took place in the town of Oyo in 1946.

The King, alaafin of Oyo suffers demise and by ancient custom and tradition, ‘elesin Oba’, the King’s horseman, must follow him to the world of the ancestors simply by willing himself to death aided by ritual tradition. It is a classic piece of african literature that is held highly by academics and theatre practitioners worldwide.

Wale Ojo, was offered the role by utopia Theatre and the play is to be staged at the Crucible Theatre in Sheffield. The last production of DaTKH in the uK was at the National Theatre at the Southbank in London by the royal National Theatre Company of england.

It was directed by rufus Norris and starred Nonso anozie as the king’s horseman, Kobna Holbrook Smith as Olunde and the wonderful

Lucian Msamati as Mr. Pilkings. The last time the play was produced in Nigeria was by bolanle austin-Peters at the Terra Kulture Theatre and it starred Olarotimi Fakunle as elesin Oba in 2021.

Mawuyon Ogun played Iyaloja and Moshood Fatah played Olunde in the baP production.

“I have actually had an association with this play for a while, Wale Ojo recalls. “I first voiced Olohun Iyo, could have been some 30 years ago with the amazing Clarke Peters playing elesin Oba in a radio production for the bbC radio. Then in 2004 or thereabouts I played Olunde for the National Theatre of Nigeria in a play directed by ahmed yerimah and it starred Olu Jacobs as elesin Oba.

“It was meant to celebrate Soyinka on his 70th birthday. Fast forward 20 years and its time to play the king’s horseman. So it’s all rather timely

and exciting. I had been researching the play for a while now as biyi bandele of blessed memory had offered me the part about two years ago before he sadly passed away.

“So I am hopefully bringing all that knowledge to the role when we hit the Crucible stage in February.” DaTKH will be performed at the Crucible Theatre stage from February 3rd till the 8th February 2025. It is a co-production between the Crucible Theatre and the utopia Theatre Company and also produced by Tom Dixon for utopia Theatre.”

The play, to be directed by Mojisola Kareem would feature a diverse cast, including Kehinde bankole as Iyaloja, Theo Ogundipe as Olohuniyo and Michael ahomkay Lindsay as Olunde. Incidentally, both Wale Ojo and Kehinde bankole are both recipients of the 2024 aMVCa best actor and best actress awardees.

Tems’ nomination in the r&b category with her song “Burning” —the first of its kind by an african also stands to be a turning point for Nigerian music if she emerges winner. also in the best Global Music album is rema, for his sophomore album HeIS. rema’s chance hangs in the balance in this category dominated by global contenders, with albums from Matt b (uSa) and the royal Philharmonic Orchestra (uK), Ciro Hurtado (Peru), and antonio rey (Spain).

M.A.D Solutions Unveils New Initiative For Creators

Ferdinand ekechukwu

building on its recent groundbreaking partnership with TikTok, M.a.D Solutions, africa’s trailblazing digital distribution and content management company, has disclosed another transformative initiative— “M.a.D Solutions for Creators”—in partnership with global content giant youTube. This partnership evolved from M.a.D Solutions’ established Sound recording

and audio Visual (SraV) Partnership with youTube, which previously focused on asset management, monetisation and rights management for official artist channels via M.a.D Solutions Content Owner.

The new engagement expands this ecosystem with an Affiliate Content Owner For Creators “M.a.D Solutions Creators” integrating niche creators such as podcasters, lifestyle influencers, reality TV producers, and experts in travel, fashion, beauty, and more.

This puts M.a.D Solutions in position

as a youTube Creator Services Provider (CSP), setting new benchmarks for supporting creators in various aspects of their youTube Journey, Such as Content Production, Optimisation, Monetisation, and audience engagement.

In a statement issued by bugwu anetoOkeke founder M.a.D Solutions, he stated that M.a.D Solution is not only reshaping the digital landscape but also ensuring that creators, regardless of their niche, have access to funding, strategies, and the global platforms needed to amplify their voices.

Ferdinand ekechukwu

Flavour

wale Ojo

Davido

Burna Boy

Tems

energy expert Dan Kunle and his wife Olubunmi buzzed like busy bees as they hosted very top personalities in business and politics when their son, Adedayo, recently tied the knots in holy matrimony with his heartbeat, Iyanuoluwa, daughter of Mr. & Mrs Olayinka Eniojukan. After the wedding which was held at the Redeemed Christian Church of God, Throne of Grace Parish Abule Egba, Lagos, guests were entertained at 10 Degrees Events Centre, Oregun Ikeja. PHOTOGRAPHS: KOLAWOLE ALLI

Dr. Olubode Oke; and pastor (Mrs) Modupe rowaiye

pastor Oladeji Britto and pastor (Mrs) Titilola Britto

Mother of the bride, Mrs Modupe eniojukan with her husband Olayinka, and father of the groom Dan Kunle with his wife Olubunmi

Mr & Mrs Oyedele

L-r: emeritus professor Olu Obafemi and former Minister of State, energy Gas, Dr. Tunde Odusina

L-r: Former Ondo State governor Olusegun Mimiko, Chief wole Olanipekun, SAN and Sam Iwuajoku

L-r: Mrs, Oyin Olateju; Deaconness Felicia Oyebanji; pastor (Mrs) Olabisi Okunola;and pastor (Mrs) Abosede egbeyemi

Chief Dele Adesina, SAN Barrister Femi Mokikan Otunba Sam Owa(l) and Otunba Funso Owoyemi

Ayo Olorunfemi, SAN

Newlyweds Adedayo and Iyanuoluwa Kunle

L-r: Mr. Lekan Oyeleye; Alhaji Jani Ibrahim; prof. Yinka Omorogbe, SAN; and Mr. Mohammed M. Ibrahim

Major Gen.(rtd) and Mrs Funso Owonibi

L-r: Mr. richard Akanmode and Mr. richard Olonishuwa L-r: Mr. Osten Olorunsola and Mr. eniola Bello

Dr. reuben Abati with his wife Kikelomo

From left, Oba Babatunde Daniel and Oba Funso Ayeni Alhaji Ishaq Ajibola

Barrister Tunde Ayeni

rear Admiral Ayo Olugbode

Former Attorney General of the Federation, Chief Bayo Ojo, SAN and his wife, Hon. Justice Folasade Ojo

prof. reuben Olu Obaro and his wife, Ayodele

Mr. Ola Oyelola and his wife Oluyemisi

L-r: Idris Aregbe; Former Governor of Ondo State, Dr. Olusegun; Mimiko; former Minister of State, energy Gas, Dr. Tunde Odusina; Chairman of the ceremony, Chief wole Olanipekun, SAN; Couple, Adedayo Kunle and Iyanuoluwa Kunle; and Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu; Mother of the Groom, Mrs. Olubunmi Kunle; and Father of the Groom, Mr. Dan D. Kunle.

Mr.Abdulrazaq Isa Kutepa and prince Olusola Akanmode

IntervIew

Victor Umeh: Insecurity Worsening Economic Activities in Nigeria

The lawmaker representing Anambra Central Senatorial District in the 10th National Assembly, Senator Victor Umeh, bares his mind on the insecurity in the South-east, the continued detention of IPOB leader Nnamdi Kanu and raised concerns about the 2025 appropriation bill before the National Assembly. Charles Ajunwa brings the excerpts

The South-east is regarded as the worsthitbythegrowinginsecurity in the country. What is your take on this?

Well, in Nigeria today, insecurity isnotjustaSouth-eastproblem,it’s a national problem. Insecurity has posedsomanychallengestoNigeriaasanationacross the geo-political zones. If you look at the past few years,youseethatNigeriahasfacedverytormentous andenormoussecuritychallenges,intheNorth-east, intheNorth-west,intheNorth-central,intheSoutheast, it is the South-west and the South-south that may appear relatively less insecure, but there are incidents of insecurity across the whole country in theSouth-west.IrememberwhenonechurchinOwo (Ondo State) was attacked and worshipers were all massacred there. It’s an insecurity problem. The same thing with other areas like in the Niger Delta where some soldiers were killed somewhere inDeltaState.TheSouth-east,youaskedabout,has faced resurgent security problems when Nnamdi Kanu was arrested and taken into custody by the Department of State Security Services (DSS). All manners of gangs reared up in the South-east and startedwagingwaronthepeopleusingNnamdiKanu’s detention as an alibi for their criminal activities. So kidnappingsandkillingscameup,andtherewasthe caseoftheEasternSecurityNetwork(ESN),which said they are freedom fighters. In the North-east, Boko Haram has stepped up its activities. In the North-west, a group identified as Lakurawa terrorists came up and started doing what the ISWAP (IslamicState’sWestAfricaProvince)andtheBoko Haram group were doing in the North-east. They started killing in the same manner, so that states like Zamfara, Kebbi, Niger, have been on that serious attack, including Katsina. All these things will give you a national outlook that the problem is not aSouth--eastproblem.It’sanationwideproblem.So, we in the National Assembly receive these reports from representatives of the people. The President and his security team have been working so hard, I must give them credit, trying to lower the tensions and then try to secure relative peace. However, the spread of insecurity has worsened the economic activitiesinthecountry.Agriculturalactivitieshave cometoahaltinmostNorthernpartsofNigeria,and thecountryfacedveryacutefoodsecurityproblems. So, through our appropriations, like in 2024, we appropriated so much money, even in 2023, through oursupplementaryappropriations,weincreasedthe budgetsoftheArmedForcestohelpuscombatthis wave of insecurity across Nigeria. We did the same in 2024. But this year alone, the budget allocation for the Armed Forces rose to N4.9 trillion. It goes to show you the amount of seriousness we attach to securityoflivesandpropertyinNigeria.Apartfrom that, we’ve just gone through the round of budget defense for the ministries and the agencies under themandwehavecometothesameconclusion.But even at N4.9 trillion, our security people need to be funded more than N4.9 trillion because security is everything. Once you don’t have security, nothing willtakeplace,includinginvestments,attractionof foreigninvestmentsandevenforuslocallytobeable tooperateandbeproductiveastocontributetothe grossdomesticproductofNigeria,willbeamirage. People will not go to farm, people will be so unsafe, movementsarerestricted.Peopledon’tmovearound inNigerianowforfearoftheirlives.Butthroughthe great efforts of our Nigerian Military Forces, they arecomingupagainandthingsarebecomingunder control. The battle against insurgents, terrorists and bandits is being fought very fiercely now unlike last year and 2023, when there was a complete breakdown. We’re beginning to see a more secure Nigeria now. And we believe that what we should do is to support the military and the police to be at their best to be able to contain these criminalities going on in Nigeria. Now coming to the South-east,

we have a peculiar situation where Mazi Nnnamdi Kanu, the leader of the IPOB (Indigenous People of Biafra) has remained in detention. And people who killpeopleintheSouth-eastalwayssaythatNnamdi Kanu must be released. It got to a point where the SenatorsfromtheSouth-eastgatheredthemselves underourChairman,South-eastSenators’Caucus, Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe. We all went to see the Attorney General and Minister of Justice, Chief LateefFagbemi.Wemethimintheoffice,andthen sought an audience with him with a prepared text andaskedhimtohelpusgetNnamdiKanureleased fromdetention.Sincethecourtshavepronounced that he should be released- From the High Court, and Court of Appeal, until they got to the Supreme Court,wheretheSupremeCourtnoworderedretrial and things like that. If they had released him then, it couldhaveisolatedthecriminalsintheSouth-east. Nobodywouldbesayingthatthey’rekillingbecause they are freedom fighters or whatever, because of the continued detention of Nnamdi Kanu. We met with him, and pleaded with him to help the Southeast improve on its security by ensuring an early releaseorimmediatereleaseofNnamdiKanufrom detention. So we can now deal with criminals who are on the prowl in the South-east. We had that meeting with him, and he promised to convey our request to the President, because the President is the Commander-in-Chief. Later on, Abaribe and I sought and obtained an appointment to meet with theNationalSecurityAdviser,MallamNuhuRibadu. We were with him in his office for nearly two and a half hours, discussing this matter. Asking him to get the government to release Nnamdi Kanu. That, whenNnamdiKanuisreleasedfromdetention,the South-eastsecurityproblemwillbeisolated,sothat wewillnowknowwhothecriminalsare,andgoafter them.Nowthatthewholeplaceisinconfusion,that there’s a war of freedom being fought by people who you cannot even identify. Let us deal with this one, and get him released, so that we’ll focus on the otherpeople,killingandannihilatingourpeople.We pleaded with him after that discussion for nearly two and a half hours and he agreed that he would continuelookingattheproblemtoseehowitcanbe resolved. That’s the situation. Otherwise, I believe that an early release of Nnamdi Kanu would have addressed the insecurity in the South-east to a

great extent. It may not eliminate it finally, but it will help a great deal. So that everybody will become a neighborhood security watch agent.

ThepeopleoftheSouth-eastfordecadeshave criedoutoverbeingmarginalisedandnotincluded inthedevelopmentagendaofthecountrybysuccessivegovernments. Theyhaveraisedtheissue ofbeingexcludedfromtheongoingconstruction of standard rail lines and gas pipelines across the country. Are you comfortable with this development?

Well,themarginalisationisnotlimitedtoraillines andthegaspipeline.Thereisdiscriminationagainst theyouthsofthiszoneingettingappointmentsand employmentintogovernmentagencies.It’samajor sourceofconcern.Theyouthsarethedriversofthis agitationnow,nottheelderlypeople.Oncetheygoto lookforopportunitiesingovernment,employment ingovernmentagenciesandtheydon’tgetrecruited, theyjointhestruggleforemancipationofthezone. Soithelpstobridgetheinsecurity.Butifyouopen thedoorstotheuseofthezone,youwanttoemploy people in whatever agency of government that is recruiting and you absorb them, you will see that they’re not joining any of these non-state actors. The youths of today have become more sophisticated than the youths of yesterday. They are very internet and ICT savvy, They’re able to have access toinformation,theyknowwhatishappening.Ifyou nowopenthedoorstotheuseoftheSouth-eastzone inrecruitmentsintotheArmedForces,theyrecruit them into Armed Forces sometimes10 people per state,butbehindthatmorehappen.Buttheyreceive the very least number of people being recruited in all agencies of government. If improvements are witnessed in that regard, in employment of the youths they will become less restive and they will not take to crime and all kinds of insurrection activities.Thenyoucometotheinfrastructurearea. It still beats my imagination, how the country will develop a railway modernisation programme and since they started it many years ago, the Eastern Rail Line, which goes through the South-east has been abandoned and neglected. The Eastern Rail LinerunsfromPortHarcourttoAba,throughEnugu to Makurdi through Nasarawa, through Kaduna to Jos to Bauchi to Maiduguri. That is the Eastern Rail

Line, and is the oldest and longest rail line in Nigeria built by the colonial administration. But when they started the programme to modernise the Nigeria RailLine,theyborrowed$6.8billionfromChina.The raillineschosentobebuiltexcludedtheEasternRail Line. We now have Lagos to Ibadan completed, we have Abuja to Kaduna completed, we have Kaduna to Kano, ongoing and from Kano to Maradi in Niger Republic ongoing. All these are standard gauge rail and that is the essence of modernisation because whatwehadinthecolonialdayswerenarrowgauge tracks. So the modernisation they started in this revolution is through the standard gauge rail line. Lagos to Ibadan is standard gauge rail line, Abuja to Kadunaisstandardgaugerailline,AbujatoKadunais standardgaugerailline,AjaokutatoItakpestandard gauge rail line, Itakpe to Warri standard gauge rail line.Thesearebeingoperatedwithmoderncoaches the way you in Europe, America and Canada. So the Eastern Rail Line has remained the way it is. Even at that,fromAbatoMaiduguri,iscompletelydeserted. FromAbatoUmuahia,UmuahiatoEnugu,Enuguto Makurdi,MakurditoKafachan,KafachantoJos,Jos toMaidugurinotrainhasrunthroughthesetracksin upwardsof30years.Thetracksarebeingremoved bycriminalsbecausenotrainhasrunthroughthose tracks in so many years. Trees grow on the tracks, thieves remove the iron and everything on that track till date. You can see the level of neglect on thatzonewhiletheotherzoneshavebeenserviced with modern tracks.

That was the reason for me bringing a motion in 2018whenIfirstwenttotheSenate,fortheinclusion oftheEasternRailLineintherailwaymodernisation programmeoftheFederalGovernmentofNigeria. Themotionsailedthroughwithunanimoussupport. Even people from the North-central like Makurdi also brought prayers to extend the railway line to the hinterlands. The government has continued to proceed as if those prayers were not approved by theSenatein2018.WhenIcamebacktotheSenate in 2023, I started with the same push. I sponsored a motionagain,preciselyonNovember23,2023,that the Eastern Rail Line should be built with standard gauge tracks.

WhatisyourtakeontheAnambragovernorship election slated for November this year and what is your assessment of the incumbent Governor, Prof. Chukwuma Soudo?

Youknow,nogovernmentcandoallthingsessentiallyandbecauseihavebeenpartofthecreationof leadership in that state in the past 23 years, I’m in a position to know that the state is making progress, and I know that we have had governors within this period, everybody has done his own bid and moved on.andwehavesomebodyonthesideofourprocess, who must have done it. We have somebody in the saddle now, Prof. Chukwuma Soludo, I was part of theprocessofgettinghimintoofficeandbecoming governor.Intermsofassessment,it’salwaysgoodto leavethecitizenstoassesstheperformanceoftheir leaders.Itwillnotcomefrommouthslikemine,whois amajorstakeholderinthewayyouhavedescribedit, becauseanythingIsaywillbeseentobepoliticised.I don’tplaypoliticswiththedevelopmentofmystate. We’vehadchallengesinsecurityinthestateandwe wereallanxiousandworriedbutinthepastoneweek or two there appears to be renewed effort on the partofthegovernorandhisteamtotacklesecurity in the state. It got flat and terrible that everybody ran away from the state. But from what I’m seeing now, there is a renewed effort to fight criminality, bad people all over the place. And the story I told you about the clamour for release of Nnamdi Kanu that helped to degenerate into serious insecurity in the South-east, affected everywhere. But from whatweareseeing,ifthegovernormaintainsitthis way and from what I’m seeing on a daily basis now in the past one week, I’m sure the state will recover its sanity in the area of security.

umeh

NNPC’s Expanding Retail Footprints

robinson Chinwo

The Petroleum Industry Act (PIA), a historic piece of legislation which ushered in the full deregulation of the nation’s oil & gas sector conferred on NNPC the critical role of the supplier of the last resort. In practical terms, what this means is that at any point in time when there are discrepancies in the supply chain of petroleum products, it is the responsibility of NNPC to ensure availability of products until such a time normalcy is restored. Although NNPC was configured to face this huge responsibility, investment lethargy since the establishment of NNPC Retail Limited in 2000 undermined its capacity to fully discharge this critical function.

The vision plan of the management of the company at the time, to establish a petroleum products retail company as a Corporate Business Unit gave birth to NNPC Retail Limited with the core objective of creating access to quality white products and services for Nigerians. Launched in 2000, the company acquired its first retail outlet from Texaco Nigeria Limited at Ikoyi Lagos on January 1, 2002; its Abuja Mega Station commenced operations in December of the same year. The company has evolved over the years from 2009 when it was registered as a company and so also, the scope of its challenges and responsibilities. Under the leadership of Mele Kyari, NNPC is on a trajectory of expansion and growth buoyed by a fierce competitive spirit and determination to strengthen the footprint of the company in the downstream and enhance its vision of making quality products readily available to Nigerians.

The NNPC Retail Limited Mele Kyari inherited had to envision and deploy a bold strategic move to not only operate on a competitive pedestal but unleash exponential profit in its operations. In the words of Kyari, “We started NNPC Retail Limited in the year 2000 and until the acquisition of OVH chain, we were not able to grow organically. We had 48 stations that we owned and a mirage of companies that are affiliates all over the country, some of which were not functional fuel stations, they could not serve the purpose because there were dealers who could not pay for the cost of the products, and we had locations where we could not guarantee either the quantity or the quality of the products sold.

“We failed to grow organically for 23 years. The only way to bridge that gap is to do something strategic and this is very difficult in our industry. You have to acquire other people’s assets if you want to grow to achieve the objective of the Petroleum Industry Act and grow this company to the business we want it to be.” NNPC’s acquisition of OVH Energy Marketing (OVEM), owner of the Oando downstream assets in 2022 was indeed a masterstroke envisioned to build on existing structure of OVH and operate model service outlets leveraging OVH’s extensive asset base and commercial capabilities. It was a bold strategic move that opened the floodgate of possibilities and solidified the company’s vision of becoming the largest petroleum product network in Africa. In all ramifications, the acquisition of OVH Energy under the Accelerated Network Expansion (ANEX) Initiative was a major coup; it completed the acquisition of

OVH downstream assets including Jetty (ASPM) with 240,000 metric tons monthly capacity, eight Liquified Gas (LPG) plants, three lubes blending plants, three aviation depots and twelve warehouses; it also brought 380 additional filling stations under NNPC brand in Nigeria and Togo, a development which strengthens the possibility of the company attaining 1, 500 filling stations target it had set for itself. The trajectory of expansion and growth of NNPC Retail limited under the guidance of Mele Kyari is real, impactful and epochal. Today, its filling stations are spread across Nigeria and Togo with plans to expand to other West African Countries. The company has 900 filling stations ranging from Affiliate Stations, Mega Stations and Standard Stations to Leased Stations, Ultra-Modern Stations and Floating Stations. NNPC Retail Limited is about the only retail outlet with eight Floating Stations in the Niger Delta operationalized to bring quality petroleum products to residents of the riverine communities who hitherto had to travel several kilometres outside their communities to buy the products.

The full impact of the transformational vision of the current NNPC management is in plain sight; the growth trajectory from a loss position of N803 billion in 2018 to a recording breaking profit of N3.297 trillion in 2023 bears testimony to the abundant potential of NNPC Limited to lead the process of wealth creation in our nation. According to a recent report, NNPC Retail Limited raked in a total of N255 billion by the third quarter of 2022; it also achieved six per cent year-on-year increase in white product sales,

N255 billion revenue, N15 billion EBITDA (Earnings Before Interest, Taxes, Depreciation and Amortization) and N14.14 billion profit as at Q3 (third quarter) 2022.

The report further revealed NNPC Retail limited completed the construction of two standard stations in Kano and Kaduna states and onboarded 71 new stations within the year under review; five of them were leased while sixty-six were affiliate stations, the company also completed Phase 1 Solar Power project and three stations in Borno, Bauchi and Nasarawa States, NNPC successfully carried out rehabilitation and face lift of fifteen company owned stations within the network in 2021. The transformation of NNPC from a loss-making government controlled entity into a vibrant, commercially driven conglomerate is remarkable. The NNPC 2023 Audited Financial Statement (AFS) declaring a net profit of N3.297 trillion at the close of the Financial which ended in December 2023, an increase of over N700 billion (28%) when compared to the 2022 profit of 2.548trillion telling the story of steady growth in poignant terms.

This strong fiscal performance is a reflection of both strategic foresight and operational resilience of the company under the guidance of Mele Kyari. This remarkable achievement was buoyed by the strong record posted by its Strategic Business Units (SBUs), increase in oil and gas production and the devaluation of the country’s currency. For instance, NNPC Trading Limited formerly PPMC grew its profitability by 261 per cent, from N3.59 billion in 2020 to N12.95 billion in 2021 and reduced demurrage costs by 85 per cent.

As a result of the proactive leadership at the helm of the operations of NNPC, its retail arm, NNPC Retail Limited is not only pioneering provision of charging power points for electric vehicles at its stations in the near future, it is also providing Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) as well as conversion of vehicles for the use of CNG for interested car owners in the country. As a highly ambitious company with eyes firmly fixed on the future, NNPC Retail Limited is determined to play the critical role spelt out in its core mandate and even surpass it. The company pioneered the Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) cylinders and partnered with LPG dealers to sell LPG across the country, leading to greater penetration of LPG use in the country. In spite of these significant accomplishments, systemic issues continue to challenge its ambitious vision of building the biggest petroleum product network on the continent. The vulnerabilities that continue to impinge on its lofty objective include insecurity, multiple taxation and lack of investment in the energy sector due to uncertainty in the business environment; in the last ten years less than three per cent of the total investment flow into Africa came into Nigeria. This depressing Statistic notwithstanding, the company is determined to break new grounds. With Mele Kyari, the intrepid corporate leader in the saddle of the NNPCL group, it is a matter of time.

Robinson Chinwo, a Public Affairs Analyst Contributed this piece from Woji town, Port Harcourt, Rivers State.

Kalu’s Trip to UK: Masterstroke In Strategic International Dialogue

Sam Hart

In the last week, the media space have been awash with news of the Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Benjamin Kalu engaged in a series of activities in the United Kingdom. Keen watchers of unfolding socio-political developments will no doubt admire the dexterity of Kalu in representing Nigeria so elegantly at the global stage.

Kalu’s mission to the United Kingdom, tagged: UK-Nigeria Strategic Legislative Dialogue, was an opportunity to engage in interactions with various layers of the United Kingdom socio-political actors and explore opportunities for further mutually beneficial cooperation and bilateral engagements.

From the Lancaster House, Foreign and Commonwealth Development Office of Lord Collins of Highbury, the United Kingdom Minister for African Affairs, to Westminster to meet with Members of the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association led by Hon. Kate Osamor, to Oxford and other places visited, Kalu wore the Nigerian flag proudly and projected the country in positive image to the admiration of his hosts.

The remarkable thing about Kalu’s visit is that not only did he use the occasion of his several engagements to champion support for the Legislature in Nigeria where he is a presiding officer, he also brought to the front burner, critical reforms embarked upon by the Executive Arm of Government and even the Legislature.

No wonder Kalu’s favourite quote is “though we are three arms of government,

we are one government and we must work together to project the image of our beloved country at every given opportunity”. Indeed, Kalu proved that the three arms of government were one government when he used the opportunity of his visit to the United Kingdom to bring his hosts up to date on developments across the various arms of government in Nigeria.

During his meeting with Lord Collins, Kalu emphasized the importance of collaboration between the two countries on a number of fronts. He commended the diplomatic ties between Nigeria and the United Kingdom, highlighting the potential for deepened economic relationships.

Referencing the partnership between Nigeria and the UK as a testament to shared values and mutual interests, Kalu added that by deepening collaboration across various sectors, both countries will unlock the opportunities for sustainable growth and development.

He said: “The UK-Nigeria Strategic Partnership establishes a comprehensive framework for deepening bilateral relations and achieving shared objectives. Through the Enhanced Trade and Investment Partnership (ETIP), both nations will drive mutual economic growth by addressing market barriers, boosting two-way trade, and fostering sustainable investments in manufacturing, agriculture, and energy”.

According to Kalu, “the United Kingdom could do more with Nigeria considering our history. Increase the frequency of trade missions to Nigeria like other nations because various opportunities are there beyond oil and

gas”, he said.

The Deputy Speaker also informed his host about his intervention in the security circles especially in the South-East to arrest the escalating insecurity situation. He said that the security situation in Nigeria required various interventions to resolve it.

Said Kalu: “I adopted the non-kinetic model in the South-East Nigeria where the civil war left marks that birthed conflicts and agitations which the barrels of guns over the years in form of military intervention failed to heal. Peace in South East Project- PISE-P-, an initiative I birthed, became the new platforms for intervention”.

Responding to Kalu, Lord Collins who intoned that “I think your approach is the correct one. The focus on peace, progress, is key. What you’re advocating is absolutely right”, Kalu said that the intervention was necessary to help to restore peace in the South East.

Kalu also disclosed that the Leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, a UK citizen, had also subscribed to peace. Kalu, however stated, that efforts were being made to release him from detention.

“In order to achieve the peace we are looking for in the South Eastern region, we have to bring Nnamdi Kanu out of incarceration because a lot of criminals are leveraging his incarceration as a reason to commit various heinous crimes and we cannot continue to allow that.

“While he is in court, what some of us have done has been to look for a political approach towards the resolution of the problem by ap-

pealing to Mr. President because you cannot coarse a President. You cannot force him. We want to use that approach to achieve peace in that area and the President that we have, is a listening President. He is not averse to it.

“He is opening up lines for conversations. We are having the conversations and he is watching and getting advice on how to go about it. I am one of those who approached the President for Nnamdi Kanu’s release. I am from the region and I know what that would do for my region. I believe the matter will soon be resolved”.

Hart, a Member of the National Institute, is Special Adviser to the Deputy Speaker on Public Affairs

Kyari

Kanu

When Opposition Parties Go Low, Governor Radda Keeps Going High

In politics, the electioneering campaign trail is a high-stakes course where candidates are faced with pressure and endless public appearances. In this intense environment, gaffes—those verbal missteps, awkward moments, or off-script remarks—are almost unavoidable. Gaffes are natural part of the human experience, especially in the high-pressure world of politics. This is common among leaders globally, as they are human and are subject to mistakes. For instance, the immediate past United States president, Joe Biden, made a gaffe a few days before he left office. During a public event he fumbled through a rendition of “Happy Birthday,” forgetting both the song lyrics and the young man’s name.

The 82-year-old president’s performance, witnessed by a crowd, showed a noticeable pause during the song when he couldn’t recall the person’s name, though the recipient handled the situation graciously, smiling as Biden’s voice faded before completing the tune.

Another notable gaffe by a global leader was one that took place last September, when United Kingdom Prime Minister, Keir Starmer’s plea for peace in the Middle East went badly awry when he inadvertently called for the return of the “sausages” from Gaza in a speech at his Labour Party’s annual conference.

While the premier quickly corrected himself, footage of the awkward mistake quickly circulated on social media, detracting from his more serious message seeking to defuse tensions and asking all parties “to pull back from the brink.”

In Nigeria, during the 2015 presidential campaign, former President Goodluck Jonathan had inadvertently said ‘PDP’ instead of ‘APC.’ Similarly, in 2018, Atiku Abubakar made a similar slip while criticising the ruling party. In 2023, Peter Obi of the Labour Party momentarily mixed up party names during a rally. These instances highlight that such errors are universal and not indicators of political incompetence. Indeed, the high-pressure environment politicians face is a breeding ground for gaffes.

That is why it is disgusting to see opposition political parties, including the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), which ought to be focused on playing responsible opposition and fixing its broken party at the national level, exerting so much energy on a recent verbal gaffe by Governor Dikko Radda during a rally by the All Progressives Congress (APC) ahead of the Katsina Local Government election.

The Governor had, during a rally in the state, said, “Katsina belongs to PDP.” With that, the PDP and other political parties went to town celebrating the mistake.

However, in reaction, the Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Ibrahim Kaula Mohammed, described the incident as a natural and universal human error. He emphasized that verbal missteps are common worldwide and are a testament to Governor “Globally, verbal slip-ups are not only common but fundamentally human. Governor Dikko Umaru Radda’s recent momentary linguistic deviation during the campaign flag-off at Ingawa Local Government simply reflects this reality,” he

added.

Governor Radda has been a staunch member of the APC since its inception in 2014 and remains deeply committed to the party’s progressive ideology.

Far from being intentional, the governor’s verbal slip was a brief moment of human imperfection that does not diminish his unwavering loyalty to the APC and its developmental goals for Katsina State. The Chief Press Secretary noted that such errors are not unique to Governor Radda, and he urged the people of Katsina to view the incident as a minor distraction and focus on the APC’s developmental agenda under Governor Radda’s leadership.

“Katsina State, under Governor Dikko Umaru Radda, remains resolute as we prepare for the February 15th local government elections. The APC is poised to achieve historic victories across all 34 local government areas. To our electorate, this momentary verbal misstep should be seen as a fleeting occurrence, overshadowed by the APC’s progressive vision for the betterment of Katsina State,” the CPS added.

The leading opposition political party in the State, the PDP, through the noise it has generated from the gaffe, has tried to cover the fact that its party in the State is gradually dying. The PDP has continued to push the narrative of the gaffe so that people would not know that at that same rally, the National Chairman of the APC, Abdullahi Ganduje, received over 40,000 defectors from various political parties, including the PDP, into the ruling party ahead of the local government polls this month.

It is, however, worthy of note that Katsina State under

Governor Radda is wearing a new look as he continues to push for the transformation of the state. Let’s digress a little this compassionate and energetic Governor knows his onion he is an all-around leader making his impact felt in all sectors.

As a Governor who wants to improve the health sector of the state, oftentimes, Radda makes unannounced visits to health centres across Katsina State, to see things for himself. It’s either he drives himself or he’s accompanied by one of his security aides. He checks on patients, listens to their medical challenges, settles outstanding medical bills, offers prayers, and meticulously assesses the quality of attention given to the patients.

In terms of healthcare, under Radda’s leadership, the state now boasts 1,751 primary, secondary, and tertiary health institutions in Nigeria, with over 85 percent fully functional.

Also, under his Building Your Future blueprint, he has a target to establish comprehensive primary healthcare facilities in all 361 wards and general hospitals in each of the 34 local government areas. Radda’s diplomatic mission to World Medical Relief in Detroit, USA, has already begun yielding results, as out of the 10 containers of medical supplies and equipment secured in November 2023, one has been delivered to Katsina. Two are en route from Lagos.

Governor Radda’s dynamic developmental strides at the local government level are dismantling the old order of redundancy, unemployment, and personal insecurity. Through initiatives such as AFAN, NPK, MLGCA, house-to-house environmental listing, vigilantes, FGN MoU for vulnerable and poor registration via SOCU, submission of FYP for screening, and payment of trainees sent for metallurgical training, Governor Radda is ushering in a new era in rural areas.

In the agricultural sector, Governor Radda has prioritized fertilizer distribution, recognizing its pivotal role in the rural economy. The noteworthy aspect lies in the organized supply, specifically targeting small farmers at the local government level, a departure from previous practices dominated by middlemen. Local government chairmen are integral to the success of this revolutionary fertilizer distribution exercise, showcasing Governor Radda’s commitment to ensuring food self-sufficiency.

The correlation between state self-sufficiency in food production and the potential reduction in issues related to insecurity and lawlessness underscores the strategic vision of Governor Dikko Radda. That is why it is nauseating that the PDP and other opposition parties that ought to be making efforts to make the state government focus on delivering the dividends of democracy are busy with inanities.

Before the governor marks his second year, he has fulfilled a significant part of his promises detailed in his Building Your Future agenda. That’s to tell you the governor knows what he’s doing. And he won’t be deterred by whatever noises orchestrated by detractors. What matters is the future of the sons and daughters of Katsina state, and the Radda we all know won’t back down from building a sustainable future.

In addendum, the statement by the PDP on the verbal slip-up goes to show that of all the important and serious issues surrounding the lives of Katsina people both at home and diaspora, the only thing the PDP in Katsina State found worthy to pay attention was a common slip of tongue by the governor.

L-r; President Junior Chamber Intl Nigeria Lagos Metropolitan, Tobi Kuti; Permanent Secretary Ministry of Physical Planning and urban Development Lagos State, engr Wole Sotire and Chairperson Oba Leadership Lecture, Oluwadamilola Kuti, during courtesy visit to the Permanent Secretary at alausa, Lagos.....recently

L-r: Member, Project Implementation Team of accelerated Senior Secondary education Programme (aSSeP), ali addo; Chairperson Project Implementation Team, Hajia Sa’adatu ahmed Shehu; adamawa State Commissioner for education and Human Capital Development, Dr. umar Garba Pella; Permanent Secretary, aisha Mohammed umar and the acting adamawa State Coordinator, North east Development Commission (NeDC), Hajia Fatima bakari, during a courtesy call on the Commissioner as part the stakeholder’s engagement on the implementation of aSSeP, in yola …recently

L-r: apex Nurse Jadesimi abosede; Deputy Director Dr. ume; CeO Dr. Olufunmilola eso; Pastor Ituah Ighodalo; Grace Ogunlowo; aDNS OLuwayemisi Okubajo apka and Mr. Dare ajayi during the recent visit of the Ibidunni Ighodalo Foundation to present gifts and other items to the management of the Orchid road General Hospital, Lekki, Lagos...recently

Minister of Women affairs, Hajiya Imaan Sulaiman-Ibrahim (r), receiving an award from the Vice Chancellor of university of abuja, Professor aisha Sani Maikudi, at the Faculty of Social Sciences annual academic Summit held on Wednesday at uNIabuJa

Donatus eleko

Radda

FeATureS

As Nigeria Dominates Africa in $13.5bn Upstream Investment

Peter uzoho

In recent years, Africa’s investment climate has seen significant fluctuations, with Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) declining amid widespread economic uncertainties. Nigeria, as the continent’s second-largest economy, hasn’t been immune to these challenges. Issues such as economic instability, currency volatility, and rising operational costs—compounded by increasing inflation—have made doing business in Nigeria increasingly difficult.

As a result, more than 20 companies have shut down and relocated their investments to other markets between 2020 and 2024. This exodus has not only affected the business landscape but has also led to substantial job losses, further aggravating the already dire youth unemployment situation in Nigeria. However, in this dire strait, the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited and other International Oil Companies, some of which are in Joint Venture operations with the former, offered a glimmer of hope by making Nigeria Africa’s top upstream investment destination of choice in 2024.

A market intelligence firm, Wood Mackenzie, in its recent report, shows that Nigeria ranks as Africa’s leading destination for upstream oil and gas investment in 2024. The country accounted for three out of four Final Investment Decisions (FIDs) totaling $13.5 billion announced by global oil and gas majors in 2024.

The FIDs announced within the Nigerian market included Shell’s $122 million investment in the Iseni Gas Project, TotalEnergies’ $566 million commitment to the Ubeta Gas Project and Shell’s approval of the Bonga North Tranche 1 project, estimated to be a $5 billion investment.

Iseni Gas Project

Shell Petroleum Development Company of Nigeria (SPDC) and its joint venture (JV) partners, in February 2024, decided to move ahead with the development of the Iseni gas field in Nigeria to supply the Dangote Fertiliser and Petrochemical Plant. The company’s JV partners include the Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC) Limited, TotalEnergies EP Nigeria, and Nigerian Agip Oil (NAOC). SPDC is the operator of the JV. SPDC explained that the initiative would involve the construction of a dedicated gas facility by the JV to supply 100 million standard cubic feet of gas per day to the Dangote Fertiliser and Petrochemical Plant for 10 years.

SPDC Managing Director, Osagie Okunbor, said that the FID marked a major step in underpinning the Nigerian government’s ‘Decade of Gas’ vision.

Okunbor said, “This investment decision is a critical step in pursuing the development of the gas-rich Iseni field, which is part of the Okpokunou Cluster in Oil Mining Lease 35 located in Sagbama Local Government Area of Bayelsa State.”

He further said that the project would boost gas deliveries to the domestic market and contribute to driving economic growth. The $2.5 billion Dangote Fertiliser and Petrochemical Plant is said to be the largest urea complex in the African continent. Its production capacity is three million tonnes per annum, which meets 65 percent of the fertiliser requirements in Nigeria. Furthermore, the plant caters to all the key markets in the sub-region.

The Minister of State, Petroleum Resources (Gas), Ekperikpe Ekpo, said, “I am extremely excited with SPDC, NNPCL, TotalEnergies, NAOC who worked assiduously for the realisation of the FID on the Iseni project that is capable of producing the equivalent of 400MW of energy, which will be delivered into the domestic market when construction is completed.

“This is a significant milestone in our quest to achieve our aspirations of the Decade of Gas initiative.”

Royal Dutch Shell has in January 2024 signed an agreement to divest SPDC to Renaissance, a group of four Nigeria-based exploration and production firms and an international energy group.

$566 million Ubeta Gas Project

The $550 million upstream gas project between NNPC Ltd and TotalEnergies on the development of the Ubeta field took off in September 2024.

The Special Adviser to the President on Energy, Olu Verheijen, disclosed this during an inaugural US-Nigeria Strategic Energy Dialogue, hosted by the U.S. State Department in Washington, DC.

The signing ceremony of the $550 million FID on the Ubeta Field Development Project took place in Abuja in June 2024. The Ubeta field, which was discovered in 1964, is located northwest of Port Harcourt, Rivers State.

Speaking at the inaugural US-Nigeria Strategic Energy Dialogue, Verheijen explained that the upstream gas project would deliver 350 million standard cubic feet of gas per day when operational.

She added that major energy reforms introduced by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu since June 2023 focused on improving energy security, attracting investments, and deepening collaboration with key partners, including the US government.

She said the key reforms had improved the viability of the gas-to-power value chain of the country.

The reforms, according to her, included initiatives to improve cash flows in electricity distribution through smart

Oil and Gas

metering and the payment of outstanding debts owed to investors and to reduce carbon emissions from gas production.

She added that the President issued five new executive orders to support the reform efforts, aimed at providing fiscal incentives for investment and reducing the cost and time of finalising and implementing contracts to develop and expand gas infrastructure. The presidential aide said the directives were aimed at immediately unlocking up to $2.5 billion in new oil and gas investments in the country.

Responding, the U.S. Assistant Secretary of the State Department’s Bureau of Energy Resources, Geoffrey Pyatt, said the dialogue was apt and strategic.

“The inaugural U.S.-Nigeria Strategic Energy Dialogue has set the stage for strengthened energy collaboration between the United States and Nigeria. Together, we’re advancing shared energy security, decarbonisation, and economic growth goals,” he said.

Bonga North deep-water project

Also in December 2024, Shell Nigeria Exploration and Production Company Limited (SNEPCo), a subsidiary of Shell plc, announced a final investment decision (FID) on Bonga North, a deep-water project off the coast of Nigeria.

The company said Bonga North would be a subsea tie-back to the Shell-operated Bonga Floating Production Storage and Offloading (FPSO) facility which Shell operates with a 55% interest. The $5 billion Bonga North project involves drilling, completing, and starting up 16 wells (8 production and 8 water injection wells), modifications to the existing Bonga Main FPSO and the installation of new subsea hardware tied back to the FPSO, according to the company. The project is expected to sustain oil and gas production at the Bonga facility.

Bonga North currently has an estimated recoverable resource volume of more than 300 million barrels of oil equivalent (boe) and will reach a peak production of 110,000 barrels of oil a day, with the first oil anticipated by the end of the decade.

“This is another significant investment, which will help us to maintain stable liquids production from our advantaged Upstream portfolio,” said Zoë Yujnovich, Shell’s Integrated Gas and Upstream Director.

According to the oil giant, Bonga North will help ensure Shell’s leading Integrated Gas and Upstream business continues to drive cash generation into the next decade.

SNEPCo (55%) operates the Bonga field in partnership with Esso Exploration and Production Nigeria Ltd. (20%), Nigerian Agip Exploration Ltd. (12.5%), and TotalEnergies Exploration and Production Nigeria Ltd. (12.5%), on behalf of Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC).

Bonga is a deep-water development located in OML 118, at water depths exceeding 1,000 meters. Production at the Bonga FPSO began in 2005, with a capacity to produce 225,000 barrels of oil per day. The project produced its one-billionth barrel of crude oil in 2023. “The investment in Bonga North is expected to generate an internal rate of return (IRR) in excess of the hurdle rate for Shell’s Upstream business,” Shell said.

President Tinubu welcomes investment

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu welcomes Shell and its partners’ announcement of the Final Investment Decision (FID) on the Bonga North Deep Offshore Field. This landmark development, Nigeria’s first deepwater oil project in over a decade, underscores the transformative impact of the President’s policies and reforms in attracting investments in the oil and gas sector.

The Bonga North oilfield represents an impressive estimated $5 billion investment and is expected to yield approximately 350 million barrels of crude oil.

Tinubu remarked, “The Renewed Hope Agenda funda-

mentally focuses on attracting investments to transform the Nigerian economy and deliver prosperity to our people. We designed our policies and reforms from the start of my administration to achieve this goal. Shell and its partners’ decision to invest in Bonga North affirms the success of our efforts. We will continue to offer the necessary support to ensure their success and the realisation of Nigeria’s energy potential.”

Significant Gas Sales Agreement

In October 2024, the NNPC and three IOCs—Shell Petroleum Development Company, TotalEnergies, and Eni—signed a Gas Sales and Purchase Agreement (GSPA) for the $3.5 billion Brass Fertiliser and Petrochemical project in Bayelsa State. This agreement involves the supply of 270 million standard cubic feet of gas per day to the project, marking the largest single GSPA to any domestic gas off-taker in Nigeria. The project is expected to generate over $1.5 billion annually from exports of fertilizers, petrochemicals, and other gas-based products. The Minister of State for Petroleum Resources (Gas), Ekperikpe Ekpo, highlighted that this milestone demonstrated Nigeria’s business-friendly environment and the government’s commitment to investorfriendly policies.

Experts’ Comment

With a total of $13.5 billion FIDs announced in Niger in 2024, the African Energy Chamber applauded the government’s policy reforms and commended the nation’s dedication to simplifying policies and facilitating market growth for global oil and gas investors.

According to the AEC, the investments reflect Nigeria’s ongoing efforts to unlock its hydrocarbon potential through investor-friendly policies and strategic global partnerships.

The Chamber commended the Nigerian government for its proactive legislation aimed at attracting foreign investments, streamlining project implementation and reducing bottlenecks.

In 2024, Nigeria introduced several initiatives to create a conducive environment for oil and gas investors, including new tax incentives aimed at attracting up to $10 billion in natural gas investments - offering tax relief for gas investors, reducing corporate income tax and extending capital allowance benefits – for deepwater gas projects.

Other policies include the Presidential Directive on Local Content Compliance Requirements, 2024 to address reduction in oil and gas investments caused by high operating costs compared to global markets.

The Presidential Directive on Reduction of Petroleum Sector Contracting Costs and Timelines, 2024 reduces time spent to award contracts for oil and gas projects.

In addition to the directives, Nigeria also launched its 2024 oil and gas licensing round, offering 19 blocks for exploration, demonstrating its commitment to continued collaboration with local, regional and international partners.

“With this momentum, further FIDs are anticipated, including TotalEnergies’ expected $750 million commitment to the Ima Shallow Gas Project in 2025,” the AEC said.

With 45% of the Nigerian population lacking access to electricity and affordable and reliable energy, the Chamber believes the FIDs and policies are a right step in driving the country’s universal energy access and socioeconomic development targets.

“Nigeria continues to set a benchmark for investorfriendly policies, leveraging its hydrocarbon potential and government initiatives to drive sustainable development,” stated NJ Ayuk, Executive Chairman of the AEC, adding “The Chamber commends President Tinubu, Special Adviser to the President on Energy Olu Arowolo Verheijen and Nigerian energy stakeholders for fostering an environment that attracts global investments, contributing to energy poverty eradication, sustainable development and global energy market stability.”

executive Director, Aftersales & Special Duties, Coscharis Group, Mr. Cosmas Junior Maduka; and Group Head, Human resources & Administration, Coscharis Group, Dr. omowunmi wale-okusi; with some of the trainees, during the recent commencement announcement of the Coscharis Training Academy in lagos… recently

Coscharis Motors Resumes Tuition-free Training Academy

Coscharis Motors recently reopened its training academy for admission into its one year training programme in automobile technical engineering, which is free of all cost at its CG eko, Ikeja outlet as part of its corporate social responsibility investment aimed at giving back to the society.

according to Mr. Cosmas Junior Maduka, executive Director, aftersales & Special Duties, Coscharis Group, the main objective of the academy is to deliver human resources to fill the vacuum created by the dearth of professional automobile technicians, who are needed to support the fast, innovatively growing automotive industry and minimize foreign capital flight resulting from engaging expatriates.

Initially, the Coscharis academy debuted in 2013 as a public private initiative in partnership with Lagos State Government and has successfully graduated over a hundred trainees (both males & females) till date. Importantly, these graduates have been either absorbed into Coscharis, other automobile companies or become self-employed.

“Coscharis has always been driven by its Corporate Vision Statement “To build an institution that is timeless in its relevance” and to remain timeless, we needed to plough back resources in local human capital development that translates to supporting the government human capacity drive and equipping interested but financially challenged employable market; which in turn, contribute to the overall economy of Nigeria,” enthused Mr. Cosmas Junior Maduka.

Dr. Omowunmi Wale-Okusi, Group Head, Human resources & administration, Coscharis

Group, stated that for the current diet, Coscharis admitted 25 trainees expected to graduate in October 2025 at the completion of the three months theoretical and nine months practical training spread over 4 quarters with an industrial training experience at the Coscharis Head Office in Awoyaya, Lagos. The five top performers will receive automatic employment at Coscharis, which has been the tradition ab initio.

Coscharis Group believes in equal opportunity “therefore, while admission and training is at no cost, the programme is designed to reflect diversity, equity and inclusion of individuals interested in acquiring competency in the automotive technical field.” She further reiterated the objective of Coscharis by this project to include eradicating poverty, enhancing a decent work place while creating economic growth in line with Sustainable Development Goals”.

Chery, Carloha Strengthen Partnership with Nigeria to Drive Innovation

The Head of the Chinese Consulate in Nigeria, Consul General yan yuqing, has applauded Chery and Carloha for their remarkable progress in advancing technological developments in Nigeria and africa.

She gave this commendation when she met with senior executives from Carloha led by Mr Zhao Qiang, Sales Director of Carloha Company, the exclusive national distributor for Chery vehicles in Nigeria.

according to a statement by Carloha, “This pivotal meeting marks a significant milestone in the collaboration between Nigeria and Chery, a globally respected Chinese automotive brand and the number one exporter among Chinese manufacturers with a 26-year legacy of excellence.”

Consul General yan applauded Chery’s remarkable progress in global markets, highlighting its role as a trailblazer in the automotive sector. Chery’s commitment to innovation aligns with the “belt and road” Initiative, driving economic growth and advancing technological development. She expressed optimism about the potential for Carloha to deepen its roots in Nigeria, encouraging the company to enhance its local presence through cutting-edge technologies, quality services, and impactful community-driven activities.

Mr Zhao Qiang reaffirmed Carloha’s dedication to empowering Nigerian communities by offering reliable, affordable, and innovative mobility solutions.

He emphasised that Chery is committed to building stronger bilateral trade between Nigeria

r-l: Head of the Chinese Consulate in Nigeria, Consul General Yan Yuqing; and Sales Director of Carloha Company, Mr Zhao Qiang, at the Chinese Consulate… recently and China. With a focus on high-quality vehicles tailored for the Nigerian market, Carloha aims to redefine consumer expectations with products that are safe, practical, and accessible. This collaboration is not just about vehicles; it is a step towards creating local opportunities. With 60% of Carloha’s management team being Nigerian and an emphasis on training and upskilling local talent, the partnership symbolises Carloha’s investment in the people of Nigeria.

Furthermore, the company is actively contributing to environmental sustainability by introducing electric vehicles and promoting eco-friendly mobility solutions.

Chery and Carloha are not just selling cars; they are building dreams, one innovative step at a time. From its expansive Lagos showroom to its customer-first 6-year warranty and service programmes, Carloha is setting new standards for service and trust in the automotive industry.

Why is the alternator important?

The alternator is the main component in your vehicle’s charging system. It converts mechanical energy into electrical energy, supplying the battery with a constant source of power. Without the alternator, the battery will not be able to stay charged. This is due to the alternator not providing the necessary power to the battery. a failed alternator will make your car unusable until the alternator is repaired.

What causes the alternator to not charge the battery?

burnt out diodes – The diodes convert the electricity from aC to DC. exposure to extreme heat or short circuit can cause the diodes to burn out. If a diode fails, the alternator will struggle to provide the battery with the required amount of power.

Damaged belt/pulley – an alternator drive belt transmits mechanical power from the engines crankshaft to the alternator pulley , which is turned into electrical power by the alternator. If this belt/pulley fails, your alternator will not be able to produce any power, resulting in the battery being starved of energy.

Damaged alternator clutch pulley – some modern alternators have a clutch pulley (rather than just a fixed / static pulley). If the clutch pulley fails it will often make noise while rotating and can either reduce the alternator charging output, or stop it all together.

bad wiring – There are many wires that connect to your alternator. If any of these wires become damaged or disconnected from the alternator, it could lose output charging power.

Damaged internal component – Inside the alternator are several components such as the bearings, stator, rotor and cooling fan. These parts can become damaged over time, resulting in it not being able to convert energy correctly.

Dirty battery terminals – The terminals on your battery can become corroded, limiting the alternator’s ability to charge it. This corrosion can usually be scraped off. Symptoms of an alternator not charging the battery: a failing alternator will display the following symptoms:

battery / Starting problems – The most obvious symptom is that the battery is not holding a charge. your vehicle may fail/ struggle to start and lose charge after short amounts of time while driving. This can cause your vehicle to start running rough, lose power and then stop altogether, while driving which is a dangerous situation to be in, especially at night / rain or in heavy traffic / roundabouts and so on.

Lighting problems – Lower battery power can cause the headlights and dashboard lights to flicker or lose brightness.

alternator Screeching or Squealing noise – your vehicle may produce a screeching or squealing noise that get worse when you rev the engine up. This can be due to the belt being slightly loose or worn and not working correctly.To test if the alternator drive belt is the making this noise, often carefully pouring cold water on to the alternator drive belt while the engine is running will quieten the noise down.Often the simple solution to prevent the alternator drive belt making the loud and embarrassing screeching or squealing noise is to tighten the alternator drive belt to the correct belt tension. Please be very careful not to over tighten the drive belt, as this can quickly damage alternator bearings and other bearings for other items driven by the drive belt such as the water pump, air conditioning pump and so on.We recommend that you get the alternator drive belt tighten and tensioned correctly by your trusted local mechanics.

Marching Orders, Not ‘Order’

YOU are welcome to our language clinic: “We aim at making Nigeria’s upstream sector investors (investors’) destination—NUPRC boss”

“Commissioning of Amal Technology Production Facility for Gas Leak (Gas-leak) Detection Device and Printed Circuit Board”

“NNPCL, TotalEnergies sign MoU on adoption of methane detection (methanedetection) technology”

Daily Trust of January 16 circulated a few mistakes: “Delta State sets (set) to pioneer medical tourism”

“He, in addition, assured that the NHIS would be improved to make it more productive.” Who did he assure?

“…as we use (used) to do every year.”

“FG projects N1.4trn yearly from crop processing (crop-processing) zones”

Let us welcome THISDAY, THE SUNDAY NEWSPAPER, of January 26 starting with this school-boy faux pas: “The PPRO died in a ghastly (fatal) motor accident….” There is even no point for ‘fatality’ inclusion in the circumstance because of the fact that he died! That is one of the hallmarks of tight news reportage—for other illustrative, prose writings we can be explicitly demonstrative.

Once an accident results in death, it is fatality—not ghastliness.

“Nigerian banks’ cost to income (cost-toincome) ratio still the highest in emerging, frontier markets”

“We got a marching order (We got marching orders) on N11.5bn Dutse Airport”

“When jokes goes (what!) sour”

“A new purpose-built gallery in (on) Victoria Island….”

The last contribution from THE SUNDAY NEWSPAPER under review: “The expectation

of the people was that the deputy governor would have be (been) the first person to follow his boss to APC….”

THE NATION ON SUNDAY of January 26 goofed right from one of its major pages: “We have restored hope in (to) Lagos”

From The Nation online come the next four infractions: “How 75 per cent of Nigeria (Nigerian) workers are stressed—study”

“…for continents like Africa (for a continent like Africa) to attain a higher economic growth, the continent need (needs) to mix-up” For the umpteenth time, phrasal verbs abhor hyphenation!

“…revealed that economic volatility has increased pressure on Nigerian workers with 75 per cent reportedly seeing more stressedrelated illness (illnesses) since the downturn.”

“2003 was a beehive of activities (a hive of activity) for the small and medium scale (medium-scale) enterprises….”

Lastly from THE NATION ON SUNDAY under review: “Former CAR president en route Benin Republic (en route to Benin Republic)”

DAILY Independent Online of January 13 comes next with two improprieties: “ALGON passes confidence of vote in president” Fixed expression: vote of confidence/confidence vote

The next three contributions are by Mr. Charles Okogene: “Terrorists bury arms in Abuja cemetary (cemetery)” (Sunday Vanguard, January 26)

“…he said the vehicles destroyed were the ones used during the attack and was (were) sited (sighted) through air surveillance….”

(Source: as above)

“A few weeks ago, there was some news report (a news report) about the involvement of….”

“...all the major roads in the Eastern part of the country have become pure death

traps and for challenging his (President’s) non-challant attitude and doing anything positive in Igboland (Igbo land).” Get it right: nonchalant.

“...there have been series of polemical attacks of (on) the commission and its activities by an obscure and often fictitious section of the public.” This way: a (take note) series of polemical attacks.

“The president and commander-in-chief of the armed forces also addressed the nation same evening.” Get it right: the same evening.

“The almost impassible (impassable) roads accentuate the usual hectic traffic of motorists, making business transactions in Lagos a herculean task.”

“…robbers who held residents and commuters to ransome for hours….” Spell-check: ransom.

“I doff my hat for.…” The right mix: I doff/ take off (preferably) my hat to (not for).

“Out of lawyers’ population estimated at about 40,000, only 10 females have been opportuned (opportune) to adorn the silk.”

“This is another scintillating edition for the matured (mature) mind.”

“Preponderant of the views aired by the people centre (sic) around (upon, on) issues like corruption, unemployment.…” Running a true federation: preponderance...centres.

“Benue assures on abandoned project” Just tell readers who the state assured. Enough of nightmarish banners….

“A recent report on food related (a hyphen) ailments show (shows) that in many parts of the world….”

“Besides, these storage facilities should be provided together with necessary agric inputs.” Taming hunger: ‘input’ is uncountable in British English, but takes an inflexion in corruptive American English! Unnecessary input?

Homelessness: The Menace Next Door

The nightmare of homelessness in Nigeria’s urban centres is no longer the stuff of whispered inconveniences. It stares us in the face at traffic stops, slithers past us in the form of children begging at night, and lounges in broad daylight under the bridges of Ikeja, Obalende, Oshodi, Ojuelegba, and their ilk. Entire communities have sprouted in the shadows of these concrete overpassessocieties within a society, with their own rules, elders, and survival tactics. In Obalende, there is “Karkashin Gada”, a settlement that sounds like the title of a Nollywood blockbuster but is, in reality, a graveyard of broken dreams.

Liya’u Sa’adu, a 60-year-old veteran of this underworld, has lived beneath the bridge for nearly three decades. Originally from Zamfara, he came to Lagos in search of fortune but found himself trapped in an endless cycle of hardship. He now serves as an unofficial guide for newcomers, showing them where to sleep, how to avoid police raids, and, most importantly, how to beg with just the right mix of humility and aggression. These men are not criminals. They are the human debris left in the wake of a failing economy, government indifference, and the impossible cost of living.

Why do they come to Lagos in the first place? The same reason thousands have migrated to cities across the globe for centuries - hope. The rural parts of Nigeria remain locked in a medieval struggle against poverty, poor infrastructure, and limited economic opportunities. But Lagos, with its glowing billboards and fast-paced energy, sells a dream. No one warns them that the dream is reserved for the privileged, and they will likely end up sleeping on newspapers under a bridge, waiting for the next task force sweep to disrupt their meagre existence. And what has the government done? Ah, the Nigerian approach to homelessness is as predictable as harmattan dust - raze the slums, destroy the shanties, fine the beggars, and move on. No one stops to ask what happens to

the displaced. Once in a while, a governor with a fondness for Western models will promise “low-cost housing” or “skill acquisition programmes,” but we all know how that story ends - half-built estates overrun by weeds, budgets siphoned into private pockets, and a fresh round of official excuses.

Meanwhile, the world outside our borders has also been grappling with homelessness, and while they have not found perfect solutions, they at least acknowledge that human dignity should be protected.

In the United States, homelessness is a persistent crisis, but there are structured interventions. Cities like Houston have made significant strides by adopting the “Housing First” model - providing permanent housing without preconditions. New York runs an extensive shelter system where families with children are guaranteed accommodation. Of course, the U.S. still has over 600,000 homeless individuals, with places like California struggling against soaring property prices, but at least the authorities attempt long-term solutions rather than mere demolitions.

The United Kingdom, despite its welfare state, still battles homelessness, particularly in London. However, local councils are legally required to provide emergency housing for eligible individuals. Charities like Crisis and Shelter work alongside the government, ensuring people do not simply fall through the cracks. Compare this to Nigeria, where even the “lucky” ones who get evicted from slums are left to fend for themselves with no alternative provisions.

Germany and Japan, two nations with vastly different cultural approaches, have also tackled homelessness with varying success. Germany has robust social welfare programmes that prevent many from becoming destitute, and

“Unfortunately, however, I, and many other Nigerians, have been infuriated by our servants….” In pursuit of linguistic orderliness: many other Nigerians and I. The concept of the cart and the horse applies to language usage, too.

“One can only hope that these peoples’ representatives would realise that the electorate is (are) patiently waiting for another chance.”

“But all our future blessings would be achieved through waiting in the Lord.” If you are after God’s heart you wait on, not in, Him.

“Before embarking on the strike action….” You can as well embark on ‘strike inaction’! Just ‘strike’ please.

“It was as though both informants were mischievous people who had an affinity in (for) discrediting the preachers.”

“The vigilante group visited instant judgment on the thief and sent him to the great beyond.” In the name of excellence: The vigilance group.

“Sixteen people were killed and two others seriously injured in a ghastly (fatal) accident which occurred along (on) the Bauchi-Auchi road on Saturday. The mishap did not drag along the road, but occurred at a spot on the road.

“Some of the despotic regimes thrown up in (on) the continent did worse things than was (were) experienced under colonialism.”

“A weekly magazine took a professional risk and charged the speaker for (with) forgery.”

“By 1998, the figure has (had) increased positively.”

Wrong: pomp and pageantry; right: pomp and ceremony or pomp and circumstance or just pomp.

the government funds transitional housing projects. Japan, ever the meticulous planner, has used employment reintegration policies and temporary housing measures to keep its homeless population remarkably low. Tokyo, a city of nearly 14 million people, has fewer than 5,000 rough sleepers - a fraction of what we see sprawled across Lagos daily.

Meanwhile, in Russia, the brutal winter ensures that homelessness is a life-or-death situation. The government operates shelters and temporary hostels, but economic instability has driven many to the fringes. China, with its rapid urbanisation, has faced a growing homeless problem, particularly among rural migrants. While Beijing and Shanghai have government-funded hostels, there is still a culture of “invisibility” surrounding homelessness - much like in Nigeria, where the authorities would rather not acknowledge the scale of the issue.

India and Brazil present a reality that hits closer to home - massive populations, widespread poverty, and urban centres struggling under the weight of rural migration. In Mumbai, thousands live on the streets, yet the government has made efforts to build night shelters. Brazil, after decades of favelas mushrooming across major cities, has developed social housing policies like “Minha Casa Minha Vida”, which provides subsidised homes for low-income families. They are still a long way from solving the problem, but at least they recognise that sweeping people off the streets is not a strategy.

So why, in a country as wealthy as Nigeria (at least on paper), do we refuse to even take the first step toward meaningful reform? Why is our approach always brute force and not sustainable policy? We cannot keep treating the homeless like weeds in a garden - uprooting them with no thought for where they will regrow.

The solutions are neither radical nor impossible. First, we need transit shelters in major cities - safe spaces where the homeless can get temporary accommodation, healthcare,

and social services. These should not be seen as charity but as investments in public health and security. Second, a real low-cost housing scheme must be implemented, with proper oversight to prevent the usual corruption. This could be achieved through public-private partnerships aimed at constructing lowcost units. Third, economic empowerment programmes must be designed for those on the streets - job training, micro-loans for small businesses, and reintegration schemes. Fourth, rural development must be prioritised to reduce the influx of desperate individuals to urban centres. By improving infrastructure and creating opportunities in rural areas, the pressure on cities like Lagos can be alleviated.

Furthermore, community support services play a crucial role. Establishing centres that offer counseling, healthcare, and rehabilitation can assist individuals in transitioning out of homelessness. Public awareness campaigns are also vital to foster empathy and encourage collective action.

In conclusion, the sight of individuals living under bridges should not be an accepted facet of urban life in Nigeria. It is a clarion call for immediate and compassionate action. By implementing comprehensive and sustainable strategies, we can address the root causes of homelessness and work towards a society where everyone has a place to call home. And finally, our government must develop a conscience. Instead of treating poverty as a crime, leaders should realise that a society is only as strong as its weakest members. When a nation fails to protect its most vulnerable, it is not just the homeless who suffer - it is everyone. The bridges of Lagos should be monuments of progress, not graveyards of broken dreams.

GLOBAL SOCCER

Samuel Chukwueze Spain r eturn on the Card

His 13 goals and 11 assists forVillarreal in the 2022-23 season encouraged Italian powerhouse,AC Milan,to cough out €28 million for the transfer of Super Eagles winger,Samuel Chukwueze to the San Siro Stadium.However, since his move to the Italian fashion capital,the 25-year-old has not been able to sustain hisYellow Submarine’s form and the Rossoneri are ready to ship him out if the right offer comes.With Real Sociedad keen on January move,a return to Spain is on the horizon for Chukwueze

Super Eagles and AC Milan winger, Samuel Chukwueze may be making a return to Spain just one and a half years after his move to Italy, following his failure to impress at the San Siro Stadium. With the 25-year-old attracting interest from Real Socieded, who are keen on bringing the winger back to LaLiga, a return to Spain is in the offing.

According to reports, there is a risk that Chukwueze’s future is away from Milan despite the heroics off the bench during the dramatic 3-2 win over Parma on Sunday, in which he scored the 95thminute winner.

According to reports from Superdeporte, aside that Real Sociedad have shown interest in the Nigerian winger, Chukwueze is not in the plans of Milan’s new coach, Sergio Conceicao and the directors are even willing to offload him before the winter transfer window closes. However, the Rossoneri would only be willing to do so in the event it were a permanent transfer and therefore no loan formula will be considered. Around €13-18m could be enough to convince Milan though, between the fixed sum

and potential bonuses.

Chukwueze was Milan’s most expensive signing during the 2023 summer window, joining for €20m plus €8m in bonuses from Villarreal. He penned a contract until 2028 with a salary of €4m net per season, but Spain could be in his future again if Sociedad come forward.

Real Sociedad are exploring the possibility of signing the winger from AC Milan during the January transfer window, with the Spanish club keen to offer him a return to La Liga.

Chukwueze’s progress has been hindered by injuries and the form of Christian Pulisic, who has firmly established himself on the right wing under different Milan coaches, and the Nigerian, who joined Milan from Villarreal in 2023 in a deal worth around €28 million, has struggled to make a significant impact in Italy.

Despite a slow start to his Milan career, Chukwueze has had moments of brilliance, including a dramatic injury-time winner in a recent 3-2 victory against Parma.

However, reports from Spain suggest that Real Sociedad are closely monitor-

ing his situation, with the Basque side looking to strengthen their attack for the remainder of the season.

AC Milan are reportedly willing to part ways with Chukwueze if the right offer arrives, with the club unwilling to consider a loan move.

The Rossoneri are believed to have set an asking price of between €13 million and €18 million, ensuring they avoid a financial loss on their initial investment.

Offloading him would provide the club with financial flexibility, allowing them to reinforce other areas of the squad.

Milan have already made moves in the transfer market, including an approach for Bologna’s Riccardo Orsolini, further indicating that Chukwueze’s time at San Siro may be coming to an end.

A move to Real Sociedad would mark a return to familiar territory for Samuel Chukwueze, who spent six years at Villarreal, winning the Europa League in 2021.

During the 2022-23 season, he delivered an impressive 13 goals and 11 assists, which earned him a high-profile switch to Milan.

However, his time in Italy has not lived up to expectations, prompting Sociedad to consider a move.

The Spanish club, currently competing in the Europa League, believe Chukwueze’s pace and dribbling ability would add a new dimension to their attack.

If a deal materialises, it could offer the Nigerian international a fresh start in an environment where he has previously thrived.

While no formal bid has been submitted yet, developments are expected in the coming days as Sociedad weigh their options. Meanwhile, another La Liga side, Sevilla are ready to rival Real Socieded for Chukwueze’s signature but on a loan arrangement.

The Andalusian club, known for its astute transfer dealings, sees Chukwueze as a dynamic addition to bolster their attack for the remainder of the La Liga campaign. His ability to play on the wing and in central attacking roles adds versatility, making him an attractive prospect for Sevilla’s tactical setup.

A loan deal could prove mutually beneficial, as Chukwueze would have the chance to rediscover his rhythm and develop further, while Sevilla would gain a talented winger capable of making an immediate impact.

With negotiations reportedly progressing, all signs point to a potential reunion between Chukwueze and La Liga, with Sevilla FC poised to make the Nigerian their next reinforcement. If Milan receive an offer that meets their valuation, Chukwueze’s Serie A adventure could be cut short after just one and a half seasons.

oN

Chukwueze tries to get the better of an opponent

Iheanacho’s Future in Limbo after Leeds Utd Pull Out of Deal

EFL Championship side, Leeds United, have decided against signing Super Eagles and Sevilla forward, Kelechi Iheanacho.

The 28-year-old attacker moved to the Spanish La Liga last summer, but has struggled to make a mark in the club and he is yet to score a league goal after more than half a season at the club the league.

Interestingly, Sevilla have signed Nigerian striker, Akor Adams from French Ligue 1 side, Montpellier, leaving Iheanacho out in the cold, amidst interest from several

clubs.

Leeds United were one of the sides keen on the former Leicester City man, but a deal is now off the charts, as per Motleeds, and are interested in sealing a deal for Cameron Archer instead.

Leeds were skeptical of Iheanacho’s goalscoring record during his time in the EFL Championships, as he struggled for playing time under Enzo Maresca. Due to this, the English second-tier side have stopped the pursuit of the Nigerian, even ruling out a potential summer move.

Iheanacho still has interest from France, with Olympique de Marseille on the lookout for another forward to compete alongside Neal Maupay in attack, but it is unsure if the former Manchester City striker fancies a move to France.

One thing is sure, if a move for Iheanacho does not happen in the next few days, he’ll become a fringe player under Garcia Pimienta.

Across all fronts for Sevilla this season, Iheanacho has scored just two goals, with both coming in the Copa Del Rey.

Access Bank Lagos City Marathon: The Journey So Far

Every epoch has its defining moments for men and women who shape history, either for good or for bad.

From its inception in 2016, the story of the Access Bank Lagos City Marathon has been that of courage, resilience, and sheer grit.

In February 2016, the management of Access Bank Plc in partnership with the Lagos State Government hosted the inaugural edition of the Access Bank Lagos City Marathon. Then, it was basically to encourage healthy lifestyle by encouraging people to engage in physical exercise.

Ten years down the line, Nigerians are reaping the full benefits of the Marathon, especially its contributions to the economic development of the host city, Lagos in particular and the nation in general.

In the same way, long distance runners from across the globe continue to smile going by the huge financial gains they make at every edition of the Access Bank Lagos City Marathon since 2016.

At inception, the goal of the partnership was to provide strategic support to the country’s sports industry and promote a healthy and active lifestyle among citizens. The campaign

activities were built around the theme: ‘Running from the Old to the New’.

The 2016 Access Bank Lagos City Marathon had 50,000 registered participants, and was ranked 2nd in Africa, after the Cape Town Marathon by the All-Athletics.com. It was also ranked 71 amongst over 1,000 international marathons across the globe.

One major achievement by the Access Bank Lagos City Marathon was clinching the World Athletics Bronze Label on the heels of its second edition in 2017, becoming the third marathon in the world to accomplish such feat within that time.

The Marathon got awarded the Silver Label two years later, becoming the first ever marathon in the world to attain this after only four editions.

And in 2023, the Access Bank Lagos City Marathon earned the World Athletics Gold Label ahead of that year’s edition of the Race, officially becoming the first full marathon in Africa to achieve this historic feat and the 25th in the world to be awarded the coveted status.

It is worthy to note that the World Athletics Gold Label is

awarded to races that satisfy the international body’s requirements in terms of quality of organisation and management among other criteria.

With its new status come higher expectations for this 10th edition, and the organisers and sponsors of the Access Bank Lagos City Marathon are saying that come Saturday, February 15, 2025, they will deliver a race that rivalled previous editions in reach, impact and magnitude— proving that the Marathon is indeed worthy of its status and is well on its way to clinching the elite label.

Hopefully, the Access Bank Lagos City Marathon will aim at the Platinum Label, which is the highest rating any international marathon can attain.

Amongst its many achievements in the past, the Access Bank Lagos City Marathon partnered with the UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR) to provide a platform for fundraising and awareness for refugees across Africa. Executed for the first time in 2023 edition, over 16 refugees from across Africa and Syria participated in the enthralling road race.

Top Seeds Exit as Okoya-Thomas Cup Ends Today

The quarterfinals of the 56th Molade Okoya-Thomas National Table Tennis Championships saw major upsets, with Women’s Singles top seed Sukurat Aiyelebegan and Men’s Singles defending champion Muiz Adegoke being eliminated on Friday, January 31. The finals, set for Saturday, February 1, will commemorate the 10th anniversary of the passing of the tournament’s founder, Sir Chief Molade

Okoya-Thomas. All eyes will be on Bose Odusanya, who aims to secure her 10th consecutive title at Africa’s longest-running table tennis tournament.

Ondo’s Funmilayo Ojo initiated the surprises by defeating Aiyelebegan 3-1, in the women’s singles quarterfinals. JamiuAyanwale followed suit by overcoming two-time champion and Men’s Singles defending championAdegoke 3-2, in a thrilling match.

Man City Draw Madrid in UEFA Champions League Play-offs

Manchester City will play 15-time European Cup winners Real Madrid and Celtic will face Bayern Munich in the Champions League play-off round.

City, the 2023 Champions League winners, will host Madrid at Etihad Stadium on 11 February before travelling to Spain for the second leg on 19 February.

Celtic, the first British club to win the trophy when they did so in 1967, will face Bayern Munich at Celtic Park on 12 February

before the Bundesliga club host Brendan Rodgers’ side at Allianz Arena in the second leg on 18 February.

The winners of City’s tie against Madrid and Celtic’s meeting with Bayern will face either German side Bayer Leverkusen or Spanish club Atletico Madrid in the last 16. The draw for the last 16 is on 21 February, following the conclusion of the play-off ties, but some elements of that draw are pre-determined.

Clubs that finished in the top eight of the 36-team Champions League group table progressed directly to the last 16. The teams in the bottom eight were eliminated. The remaining 16 teams that finished between ninth and 24th place progressed into the play-offs. Of those 16 teams, the clubs that finished ninth to 16th in the league phase were seeded into four pairs for the play-off draw. Those that finished from 17th to 24th were put into four unseeded pairs.

Arsenal, Man City Clash in Premier League Showdown on Showmax

Arsenal and Manchester City face-off in the biggest match of the weekend, with both sides needing a win to keep pace in the title race. Arsenal battled to a hard-fought 1-0 victory over Wolves last week despite going down to 10 men after Myles Lewis-Skelly’s controversiala first-half red card. Mikel Arteta’s men remain six points behind Liverpool and will look to close the gap when they host City at 5:30 pm tomorrow, streaming live on Showmax.

City secured a 3-1 comeback win against Chelsea in their

Blue House, penultimate Thursday, emerged winner of the 2025 Annual Interhouse Sports Festival of the Lagos Anglican Girls’ Grammar school, Surulere.

The inter-house sports festival, which was cohosted by the school’s 1982 set, was organised in a pomp and pageantry atmosphere. It saw junior and senior girls of the school compete for honours in a very friendly atmosphere.

Parents and old students of the school turned out colourfully in their numbers to cheer the pupils and also add vibes to the occasion.

At the end of a keen

Odusanya advanced to the semifinals by defeating Joy Emmanuel 3-0. Aminat Fashola beat Khadijat Musa 3-1, and Bisola Asaju triumphed over Rabiat Ayoola 3-0 In the Men’s Singles quarterfinals, national champion Matthew Kuti defeated Matthew Fabunmi 3-1. Akinwale Fagbamila edged out Amadi Omeh 3-2, and Abulbasit Abdulfatai ousted former champion Rilwan Akanbi 3-2 to reach the semifinals.

last outing, their fourth victory in five league games. Pep Guardiola’s men are finding form at the right time, climbing back into the top four. A win at the Emirates could put them firmly back in the hunt.

Liverpool will look to tighten their grip on top spot when they visit Bournemouth today.

The league leaders cruised past Ipswich 4-1 last weekend and could extend their lead if Arsenal and City cancel each other out. Fans can stream the game live on Showmax at 4:00 pm.

competition among the houses, Olumide House (Blue) emerged the overall winner, after amassing 9 gold, 4 silver, and 3 bronze medals.

Fagbemi House (Green), which led in the heat, came second with 8 gold, 4 silver and 3 bronze medals.

Ayedun House (Purple) was third with 4 gold, 6 silver and 7 bronze medals.

Showande House (Red), with 4 gold, 4 silver and 4 bronze medals, was fourth, while in fifth place was Oluwole House (Pink), after a cumulation of 3 gold, 4 silver and 8 bronze medals.

Obasa House (Yellow) came in the rear with just 1gold, 6 silver and

Manchester United scraped a 1-0 win at Fulham but continue to struggle. They’ll hope to improve their home form against Crystal Palace tomorrow. Chelsea, now sixth after another poor result, will try to turn things around against West Ham on Monday. Elsewhere, Tottenham’s season went from bad to worse after a 2-1 home loss to Leicester. Newcastle bounced back from defeat to beat Southampton 3-1 and will aim to build momentum against Fulham.

Sports

3 bronze medals to be placed in sixth position. Some of the highlights of the Inter-house sports festival were the calisthenics, football match final, egg and spoon, invitation school relay boys and girls. They also had tug of war, staff race, old girls race, management race, parents race, amongst many others.

The Chairperson of the day, Mrs. Augustina Makasy, who also doubles as President, LAGGSOGA UK and Ireland branch, thanked the old girls for turning out in their numbers to cheer the students and their overall contribution to the development of the school.

Okoku, Odiye Donate Sports Equipment to St Finbarr’s College

Former Super Eagles stars, Godwin Odiye and Paul Okoku have donated sports equipment to Saint Finbarr’s College, Akoka, Lagos State, on the occasion of their 60th inter-house sports on Saturday, January 25, 2025, at the school premises.

The ex-internationals, who passed out from Saint Finbarr’s College, also handed out an undisclosed sum of money in scholarships to the school

through the Old Boys Association of the acclaimed secondary school.

At the colourful St Finbarr’s College 60th Inter-house sports competition, where the sports equipment donated by Okoku and Odiye were presented to a packed cheering crowd in the school’s sports complex, the school authority, parents, students, well-wishers, and distinguished former students of the illustrious secondary

school spoke glowingly of the humanitarian efforts of the US-based former students. The sports equipment include Adidas jerseys, football boots, branded tracksuits, hoses and shin guards for the school football team.

Friday Okoku presented the equipment and jerseys to the school administrator, Rev Father Babalola Emmanuel, who was elated with Odiye and Okoku’s humanitarian gesture.

L-r: principal, Lagos Anglican Girls’ Grammar School, Chief Mrs Folashade Ogedengbe, Ochuwa Gabriel of purple House, Favour ezeamama of Green House, executive secretary of LASMAB, Venerable Victor Ayo Olusa presenting the trophies, Mildred Maduemezia of Green House and president LAGGSOGA uK and Ireland, Mrs Augustina Makasy during LAGGS’ inter-house sports festival... recently

Iheanacho

Olumide House Wins LAGGS 2025 Annual Inter-house

Evans to Lagos State Govt

“My client is now a repentant person. He was a young man consumed by crime but he is now remorseful. Presently, he is a 200-level student at the National Open University of Nigeria. In fact, he made A1 in all his papers in NECO while in prison. All these was made possible through a scholarship given to him by the Federal Government” – Evans who told the court through his lawyer, Emefo Etudo, stated this after taking his plea on the amended five counts bordering on murder, attempt to murder and conspiracy to commit kidnapping, preferred against him by the Lagos State Government.

OBINNA CHIMA

obinna.chima@thisdaylive.com

Envelope Budgeting System and Its Discontents

One issue that has continued to resonate since the commencement of the defense of the 2025 federal government’s appropriation bill by Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) is the criticism of the country’s envelope budgeting system.

Almost all heads of MDAs that have appeared before the lawmakers have voiced their opposition to this budgeting system which most of them have described as an opaque system that results in the capping of funds notwithstanding the needs of the MDA.

Interestingly, some National Assembly members also share the same sentiment. The envelope budgeting system started in Nigeria in 2006 and has not been reviewed since then. It is a system that focuses on the allocation of the amount of money available for a specific purpose in a given financial year. It replaced the Zero-budgeting method which was being used previously.

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu last December presented a N49.7 trillion budget proposal for the 2025 fiscal year before a joint session of the National Assembly in Abuja, with defense and security sectors getting the highest allocation of N4.91 trillion. In the proposed fiscal plan, the Defence and Security were closely followed by infrastructure with the sum of N4.06 trillion, while the sum of N2.48 trillion was allocated for the health sector and N3.52 trillion budgeted for the education sector.

According to the President, the 2025 budget proposal again reinforced his administration’s roadmap to secure peace, prosperity, and hope for a greater future for our beloved nation.

Tinubu, in the budget presentation noted that the budget christened, “Budget of Restoration: Securing Peace, Rebuilding Prosperity,” was at the very core of his Renewed Hope Agenda and demonstrated his government’s commitment to stabilising the economy, improving lives, and repositioning the country for greater performance.

A national budget is a key instrument for the execution of the government’s economic policies. It is an important tool for the allocation of resources, as well as for influencing economic activities in the country.

In Nigeria, the budget defense is seen as an annual ritual and a fun-fair whose outcome has little or no impact on the majority of the citizens as poor budget implementation remains one of the major issues that have plagued Nigeria over the years. The country ranks low in

terms of budget transparency because it provides its citizens with insufficient budget information making it difficult for taxpayers to understand how public resources are utilised. In addition, the country’s budget process takes very little feedback from the public, and the final budget document does not reveal how the meagre feedbacks are used. The delays in the release of essential budget documents is also a major challenge with public sector budget in the country.

Some of these defects have been partly attributed to the envelope budgeting system with most MDAs seeking to opt out of the system.

Whereas countries have discarded the envelope method of budgeting in place of the performance-based budgeting system, Nigeria continues to adopt this budget practice.

To the Senate Appropriations Committee, the envelope system undermines effective budget planning and development. They argue that it gives room for duplication and inflation of expenditure heads by MDAs, alleging that it allows public officers to exploit its inadequacies to mismanage public funds which is not good for the economy. Furthermore, they noted that the current national budgeting system makes the legislature less involved and at best reactive as they have to rely solely on the information provided by the executive arm of government. Under the current arrangement, federal lawmakers say there is an absence of a coherent and systematic means of exerting legislative control over fiscal decisions and priorities of the federal government.

They also argue that it makes resources allocated to MDAs to be thinly spread over a large number of projects, resulting in the non-performance of successive budgets.

Likewise, some heads of MDAs have equally called for this scrapping of the budgeting system, saying it leads to a reduction of their annual appropriations and impedes operational efficiency.

But federal government sees this system as a way to help it manage its lean resources.

According to the Director General of the Budget Office of the Federation, Tanimu Yakubu, the envelope system of funding the annual budget will continue unless there is an improvement in revenue generation in the country.

The director general said there is nothing the Budget Office could do than to manage available resources.

“For the four months I have been in office, I have been working with the system I met on the ground, which is the envelope system. Even though I don’t like the system, we have been talking to ourselves on how to review the system of budgeting and have done much to improve what I met on the ground.

“We apply the envelope system in all MDAs and I have not seen any agency that is okay with what it is given. The complaint has been the same across. We shouldn’t be seen to be throwing money at projects that have no bearing,” he explained.

Considering the hordes of complaints that have trailed the envelop budgeting system, the federal government needs to consider jettisoning it and adopt the performance-based budgeting system that

some of its peers in the region, such as South Africa, Kenya, Uganda and Mozambique have embraced to ensure efficiency in the operation of the national budget.

The performance-based budgeting system is an approach where funding decisions are based on achieving specific, measurable performance goals and outcomes. It links budget allocations to the achievement of predetermined performance targets and sets clear performance indicators for MDAs.

In addition, the performance-based budgeting system holds government officials accountable for the use of public funds and requires them to demonstrate that they are using resources effectively and efficiently to achieve desired results. It also relates funds allocated to measurable results.

“Performance budgeting aims to improve the effectiveness and efficiency of public expenditure by linking the funding of public sector organisations to the results they deliver. It uses systematic performance information (indicators, evaluations, programme costings etc) to make this link. The impact of performance budgeting may be felt in improved prioritisation of expenditure, and in improved service effectiveness and/or efficiency.

“Performance-based budgeting usually also emphasises giving government agencies and their managers greater flexibility in the use of resources than they would typically have under traditional tightly-controlled public management systems. A key element of this is greater flexibility in the choice of the mix of inputs which are to be used to deliver services,” a report by the Centers for Learning on Evaluation stated.

The increased international interest in performance budgeting has been prompted in part by a recognition that it is all too easy in the government to lose sight of the fundamental objective of delivering positive outcomes to the citizens.

Ultimately, the goal of any budget system should be to serve the public interest. This requires not only efficient allocation of resources but also the assurance that the resources are being used responsibly and effectively. The current debate surrounding the envelope budget system provides an opportunity to re-evaluate our approach and ensure that we are prioritising transparency, shunning budget padding, ensuring accountability, and ultimately, good governance.

The public deserves to know how their money is being spent, and it is our collective responsibility to demand nothing less.

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