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Obaseki to El-Rufai: Not All 36 States Are against Cash Swap Deadline Says policy aimed at promoting financial inclusion, preventing inducement of voters in elections, tackling corruption, money-laundering, checking ransom payments Adibe Emenyonu in Benin Edo State Government yesterday distanced itself from the comments and moves by the Governor of

Kaduna State, Mallam Nasir El-Rufai and some other governors against the currency swap policy deadline.

In a statement by Special Adviser to the Edo State Governor on Media

Projects, Crusoe Osagie, the state government said the Kaduna State Governor does not speak for Edo State and called for, "guided utterances and inferences in such

critical matters, especially in the heat of the political season."

The statement explained: “We are not a party to the suit instituted by the Governments of Kaduna,

Kogi and Zamfara States against the CBN’s policy and take exemption to the claim by the Kaduna State Governor that the move by the three governments is backed by

Nigeria’s 36 State Governments.

“The currency swap policy, which is intricately linked to the Continued on page 5

Fuel Scarcity: NMDPRA Vows to Sanction Filling Stations Rejecting Use of PoS Machines... Page 6 Friday 10 February, 2023 Vol 28. No 10166. Price: N250

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State of the Nation: Silence of Former Heads of State Telling, Says Bode George... Page 41

Buhari Creates Presidential Transition Council, Signs Executive Order 14 Olawale Ajimotokan in Abuja President Muhammadu Buhari has approved the establishment of a Presidential Transition Council to facilitate and manage the 2023 transition programme. Secretary to

the Government of the Federation (SGF), Mr. Boss Mustapha, announced the approval yesterday, in a statement signed on his behalf

by Director, Information, Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (OSGF), Willie

Bassey.

The statement said the transition council would be inaugurated by the SGF on February 14.

Members of the committee, according to the statement, include the SGF as chairman, Head of the

Civil Service of the Federation, Solicitor-General of the Federation, and Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Justice.

The committee also has Permanent Secretaries from the following ministries and offices:

Defence, Interior, Finance, Budget and National Planning, Foreign Affairs, Information and Culture, Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA), Special Duties and Inter-Governmental Affairs, Cabinet Affairs Office,

General Services Office, and Economic and Political Affairs Office, and State House.

The transition committee includes National Security Adviser, Continued on page 5

Malami: FG Will Obey S’Court Ruling against Banning Old Naira Notes, Moves toVacate Order Gives reasons why suit should be set aside CBN attributes scarcity of new banknotes to hoarding NSA tasks lawmakers to find solutions to crisis Alex Enumah, Udora Orizu in Abuja and Hammed Shittu in Ilorin Attorney General of the Federation (AGF) and Minister of Justice, Mr. Abubakar Malami, yesterday said while the federal government would obey the Supreme Court ruling, which put on hold the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) demonetisation policy, the government would take necessary steps to set aside the interim order.

The Supreme Court had in a ruling on Wednesday suspended the CBN deadline for demonetisation policy and fixed February 15 for hearing on the matter.

Malami clarified that the federal government, out of its regard for the rule of law, would abide by the order of the apex court, even though it intended to challenge it and would do so within the provisions of the law.

Continued on page 5

LABOUR PARTY CAMPAIGN RALLY IN ABUJA...

L-R: Director General, Labour Party Campaign Council, Akin Osuntokun; vice presidential candidate, Yusuf Datti Baba-Ahmed, and presidential candidate, Peter Obi, during the Labour Party campaign rally in Abuja…yesterday ENOCK REUBEN

In Major Gaffe, Ayu Says 'PDP Has Brought Us Shame ... and We'll Not Continue to Retain Them in Power'... Page 5

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In Major Gaffe, Ayu Says 'PDP Has Brought Us Shame... and We'll Not Continue to Retain Them in Power' Adedayo Akinwale in Abuja

In a major gaffe yesterday, the National chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) slipped at the presidential campaign rally of the party held in Kano, when he said the main opposition party has brought them shame and should not be allowed to retain power beyond 2023.. Ayu was lamenting the state of the nation, saying "we are supposed to be the leaders in Africa and everywhere in the world we should be respected.

PDP has brought us shame and we will not continue to retain them in power."

However, after a few seconds, he corrected himself and said “APC”.

Ayu also said if the presidential candidate of PDP, Atiku Abubakar was elected, policies that would improve the country’s economy would be implemented.

Ayu added: “They are full of lies. They have nothing to offer the ‘talakas’ (poor) in Nigeria. We will come back. Our president, Atiku Abubakar, who you will vote to power in the next few weeks, we will rally around him.

We will discuss our policies, and we will see where it is affecting

you. We will make sure we implement a successful policy that will bring back Nigeria to its glory,” Ayu said.

“We are supposed to be the

leaders in Africa and everywhere in the world, we should be respected. PDP has brought us shame and we will not continue to retain them in power… APC.

“Vote for PDP from top to bottom, from bottom to top; Atiku Abubakar as president.”

On December 13, 2022, the PDP presidential candidate, while

speaking at the party’s campaign rally in Plateau state, had begged the people of the state to “ensure that you vote for A… I mean PDP this time around”.

Few weeks before Atiku's slips , the presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Bola Tinubu had said: “God bless PD…APC”.

FG Targets Zero Level Eradication of New Polio Variant Says over 78 million persons have received COVID-19 vaccine Onyebuchi Ezigbo in Abuja The federal government yesterday said it was aiming at zero eradication of the Circulating Vaccine Polio virus still afflicting the children in the country.

The Executive Director of the National Primary Healthcare Development Agency (NPHCDA), Dr. Faisal Shuaib, who stated this during a meeting Northern traditional rulers’ committee on immunisation in Abuja, yesterday, also said the country had been able to administer over 78 per cent of her eligible population with first dose of COVID-19 vaccine.

Speaking on the progress in immunisation, Shuaib said the reason the country was able to eradicate the Wild Polio virus

was due to the cooperation and collaboration with traditional rulers.

"One thing that is clear is that we are making progress, but the progress that we need to make this year is particularly important because while reducing the numbers of Circulating vaccineDerived Poliovirus, or cVDPV viruses by 90 per cent, we have to get down to zero, the target for 2023 is not further reduction but getting it to zero," he said.

He said for the first time in the history of immunisation, the agency was able to record 96 per cent coverage in child immunisation in some of the northern states.

"We want this to be the standard that anything we go out there,

no child will be missed from immunisation," Shuaib said.

Shuaib said that the agency was aware that achieving zero polio virus was going to be difficult, but that with the cooperation of the traditional rulers the feat would be possible to achieve.

He also said that the country would not be able to permanently eradicate CVP2 without sustaining a good record of routine immunisation coverage.

Shuaib noted that the strong voice of the traditional rulers would be needed as the agency carries out the routine immunisation.

According to him, the NPHCDA would over the next three months try to cover the gaps by intensifying routine immunisation

campaigns in February, March and April to try to close the gaps and reach those kids that were missed.

On successes recorded in COVID-19 vaccination so far, Shuaib said: "As of today, we have been able to vaccinate over 78 million Nigerians with at least first dose of the COVID-19 vaccine which translates to 68 percent of the eligible population."

He said that to be able to vaccinate over 78 million eligible population was huge, adding that states like Nasarawa, Jigawa and Kano have vaccinated more than 70 per cent of their eligible population Earlier, in his remarks, Minister of Health Dr. Osagie Ehanire said Nigeria was yet to get to where it expects to be regarding immunisation and eradication of

virus.

He, however, expressed the hope that the country would build on the successes recorded in the past years to continue to campaign for better immunisation and vaccination coverage.

Ehanire also expressed worry over the low level of development of Primary Health Care Centres accross the country, adding that slot needed to done to reactive and put these healthcare centres into proper use.

Also speaking on behalf of the northern traditional rulers, the Emir of Argungu Alhaji Samaila Muhammad assured that the royal fathers would always do their best to support health programmes targeted at saving the lives of the people.

MALAMI: FG WILL OBEY S’COURT RULING AGAINST BANNING OLD NAIRA NOTES, MOVES TO VACATE ORDER Malami spoke during an interview on ARISE News Channel, yesterday.

The comments by the minister came as THISDAY gathered that the federal government had filed reasons before the Supreme Court as to why the suit by three states challenging the February 10 deadline fixed by the CBN for phasing out the old N1, 000, N500, and N200 banknotes should be struck out.

Yesterday also, the CBN attributed the continued scarcity of new banknotes to hoarding in certain quarters.

But the National Security Adviser (NSA), Maj. Gen. Babagana Monguno, appealed to the House of Representatives to come up with practicable solutions to the attendant economic crisis arising from the scarcity of the redesigned naira notes.

However, a civil society group, the Alliance for Surviving Covid-19 and Beyond (ASCAB) advised the CBN to obey the order of the Supreme Court, which temporarily restrained it from going ahead with the plan to phase out the old banknotes from today, until after hearing on the matter.

A seven-member panel of the apex court presided by Justice John Okoro had on Wednesday

temporarily stopped the CBN from effecting the scheduled ban of old naira notes in N200, N500 and N1,000 denominations from February 10.

The order was issued during a ruling on an ex parte application brought by Kaduna, Kogi, and Zamfara states against the AGF. They had asked the court to issue an interim injunction against the government, pending the hearing and determination of their suit challenging the naira redesign policy of the CBN. The three states argued, among others, that the policy had brought an excruciating situation upon the country and unless the Supreme Court intervened timeously there might be anarchy in the country.

According to them, since the announcement of the policy, there has been an acute shortage in the supply of the new naira notes in their states, thereby making it very difficult and nearly impossible for citizens to access the new notes.

While they argued that the notice period given by the federal government was inadequate, they claimed that the CBN did not follow laid down procedure for implementation of the policy.

In a short ruling, the apex court

BUHARI CREATES PRESIDENTIAL TRANSITION COUNCIL, SIGNS EXECUTIVE ORDER 14 Chief of Defence Staff, InspectorGeneral of Police, Director General, National Intelligence Agency, Director General, State Security Services, Chief Registrar of the Supreme Court of Nigeria, and two representatives to be nominated by the president-elect.

Buhari, also yesterday, signed Executive Order No. 14 of 2023 on the Facilitation and Management of

the Presidential Transitions.

According to the statement, a key feature of the Presidential Executive Order No. 14 of 202, is the institutionalisation of a legal framework that would enable a seamless transition of power from one presidential administration to another, which was part of the Buhari legacy.

OBASEKI TO EL-RUFAI: NOT ALL 36 STATES ARE AGAINST CASH SWAP DEADLINE cashless policy of the CBN, is aimed at promoting financial inclusion; preventing inducement of voters in elections; tackling corruption and money-laundering and checking ransom payments among other cash-based financial infractions.”

He noted that the state government acknowledges the difficulties that had arisen from the cash swap policy and empathises with all Nigerians over the challenges faced with accessing the new notes as well as other difficulties in conducting financial transactions in the last few days, noting that, “while this situation is being managed by the concerned authorities and relief being sought by the authorised agencies, it is disingenuous for a

suit to be filed by three governments and then inferences are made to the effect that it is the entire state governments in Nigeria that sued the federal government and that they all stand against the CBN’s policy.

“The Kaduna State Governor does not speak for us in Edo State and we urge for guided utterances and inferences in such critical matters, especially in the heat of the political season.

“The Edo State government reiterates its commitment to the good people of the State and assures that it will continue to work assiduously to protect lives and properties and provide the conducive environment for all to thrive and live life to its fullness.”

granted the interim order and restrained the federal government from banning the old naira notes, pending the determination of the suit.

The Supreme Court subsequently fixed hearing for February 15.

But reacting to the interim order of the apex court, the AGF, while speaking with Arise News Channel yesterday, stated that it was within the right of the government to challenge any order it was not pleased with. He said the government would do so in this matter using the instrumentality of the law.

Malami stated, "The rule of law provides that there has to be obedience to the judgement and orders of the Supreme Court. The rule of law provides that when you are not happy with a ruling you can file an application for setting it aside and in compliance with the rights and privileges vested in us as a government, we are equally looking at challenging the order and seeking for it to be set aside."

Malami disclosed that the federal government had already put machinery in place to challenge the jurisdiction of the apex court to hear the suit of the three states.

He contended that the singular fact that the CBN was not joined as a party in the suit robbed the apex court of necessary jurisdiction.

He said when the court reconvened next Wednesday, the federal government, on one hand, would be challenging the jurisdiction of the apex court to entertain the suit, and on the other, see how the interim order would be vacated.

He said, "The order was granted by the Supreme Court and the order incidentally lapses on Wednesday, which is the day of the hearing, with that position in mind we have taken steps to file an objection challenging the jurisdiction of the court to entertain the matter.”

The minister explained, "Jurisdiction on the grounds that when you talk of monetary policy, regardless of the characters they take, the central bank is an indispensable and a necessary party for that matter.

“What we have at hand is a situation where the central bank was not joined as a party and if the central bank as an institution was not joined as a party, the position of the law is clear that the original jurisdiction of the Supreme Court cannot be properly invoked.

"So we have given considerations to diverse issues, inclusive of the issue of jurisdiction, and come Wednesday we will argue the case from that perspective, among others."

Malami added, "I think what we are talking about is not whether the

ruling is binding or not binding, we are talking about what we intend to do, there is no doubt about the fact that the ruling of the Supreme Court, regardless of the prevailing circumstances, is binding and then within the context of the rule of law.

“You can equally take steps that are available to you within the context of the spirit and circumstances of the rule of law.

"And what we are doing in essence is in compliance with the rule of law both in terms of obedience to the ruling and in terms of challenging the ruling by way of putting across our own side of the story, putting across our case, challenging jurisdiction.

"So the issue of obedience to the ruling of the Supreme Court is out of it. We are wholeheartedly in agreement that naturally, we are bound by it and will comply accordingly. But within the context of compliance, we shall challenge the ruling by way of filing an application seeking for it to be set aside, it is all about the rule of law."

Specifically, the federal government, in its preliminary objection to the suit, insisted that the Supreme Court lacked the necessary jurisdiction to entertain the suit in the first place.

It was the argument of the federal government that the agency (CBN), whose Act was being complained about by the plaintiffs, was a statutory body with legal personality that could sue and be sued in its name.

In the Notice of Preliminary Objection filed by its lawyers, Mr Mahmud Magaji, SAN, and Tijanni Gazali, the respondent claimed that the suit of the three states ought to have been instituted before a Federal High Court and not the Supreme Court, as done by the plaintiffs.

Besides, the respondent argued that “the plaintiffs have equally not shown reasonable cause of action" against it.

In the 11 grounds of objection to the suit, the respondent stated that the plaintiffs were challenging the powers of the Federal Government of Nigeria through its agency, the CBN, to withdraw old banknotes and introduce new ones.

The AGF further posited that the plaintiffs’ suit was about the powers vested on the CBN by the CBN's 2007 Act to call in its banknotes and introduce new ones.

The respondent also submitted that the suit as presently constituted fell under Section 251(1)(a)(p)(q) & (r) of the Constitution (exclusive jurisdiction of the Federal High Court) by virtue of the subject matter and parties.

While describing the instant suit as an abuse of judicial process, the

AGF urged the apex court to strike out the suit in the interest of justice, adding that the plaintiffs will not be prejudiced if the preliminary objection is upheld.

The respondent submitted, “The plaintiffs have no grievance whatsoever against the Federation of Nigeria. This suit has disclosed no dispute that invokes this court’s original jurisdiction as constitutionally defined.

“This suit is an abuse of judicial process. The plaintiffs have no locus standi to institute this action. The plaintiffs have no reasonable cause of action against the defendant."

Among the issues raised for determination are: whether having regard to the facts, it is the Federal High Court and not the Supreme Court that is vested with the exclusive jurisdiction to entertain this suit?

"Whether the provisions of Sections 17, 18 and 20(3) of the Central Bank (Establishment) Act, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004 to do not exclude the jurisdiction of the Supreme Court in view of the reliefs claimed?

"Whether the plaintiffs have the locus standi to institute this suit and have disclosed any cause of action against the Defendant."

In the event the issues raised are decided in favour of the federal government, then the apex court should make an order striking out the suit, the respondent sought.

The reasons presented by the federal government as to why the court should set aside its ruling were contained in a preliminary objection to the suit filed by filed Mr. Mahmud Magaji and Tijanni Gazali, lawyers representing the AGF, who is the sole respondent in the suit.

CBN Attributes Scarcity of New Banknotes to Hoarding

The CBN attributed the continued scarcity of new naira banknotes to hoarding by certain persons in the country.

Director, Consumer Protection, CBN Ilorin Branch, Mrs. Rashidat Mongunu, made the disclosure during monitoring exercises of some microfinance banks at Offa, the headquarters of Offa Local Government Area of Kwara State.

The monitoring team first paid homage to the Olofa of Offa, Oba Mufutau Gbadamosi, before heading to Stockcorp Microfinance Bank and Ibolo Microfinance Bank.

Gbadamosi said the redesigned notes were already made available by the CBN, “but it is those hoarding it that makes it look scarce and people now throng banks to collect money

almost at the same time.”

She said, “Because of the attitude of some Nigerians in hoarding the money, even those that don't really need the money are rushing to get it and keep, not to spend.

“Currency management is a cycle, but we have not allowed the cycle to mature, because when you issue out currency as CBN, what we expect is that the naira issued out will come back into the banking system again.

“But now, everybody collecting the naira is hoarding it. So, no matter how much naira we put out there, if we continue with this attitude and the CBN issue from now till December, it will still not be enough.

“And you know that in every economy, you must have a proper accountability on the indent.

“You just don't issue out naira for the fun of it, you issue the amount that is commensurate with the level of activity you have in that country."

The CBN director added that the situation could only get better when people start spending money already hoarded because enough money was already in circulation.

Mongunu said, “There is naira out there, I have been in Kwara for over three weeks and we have been allocating money daily.

“The truth is that if the currency is circulating the way it should and not being hoarded, we shouldn't have a problem.

“The only thing is for us to change our attitude because it can only get better when people start spending the money they have hoarded.”

She added that the CBN was already engaging traditional rulers to sensitive their people to have a positive attitude and be confident that the naira redesign policy was not to punish anyone but to better the economy.

In his remarks, the Olofa of Offa, Oba Gbadamosi, said the extension of the legality of the old notes from January 31 to February 10 was responsible for the problems people were facing currently. He said people had already deposited all that they had on them as of January 30, in anticipation of spending the new notes on February 1, hoping that it would be available, but it was not so.

The traditional ruler advised that if the CBN wanted the policy to be successful, it should make the new notes available for people to spend.

NSA Tasks Lawmakers on Solution to Crisis

The NSA, Maj. Gen. Babagana Monguno, appealed to the House Continued on page 42

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NEWS

Group News Editor: Goddy Egene Email: Goddy.egene@thisdaylive.com, 0803 350 6821, 0809 7777 322

10,000 FOOT SOLDIERS FOR TINUBU/SHETIMMA AND SANWO-OLU/HAMZAT...

L-R: Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu (left), exchanging greetings with Minister of Works and Housing, Mr. Babatunde Fashola, during the formal launch of “Eko O Ni baje 10,000 Foot Soldiers for Tinubu/Shetimma and Sanwo-Olu/Hamzat” organised by Fashola, at Ikeja... yesterday

Fuel Scarcity: NMDPRA Vows to Sanction Filling Stations Rejecting Use of PoS Machines Ijegun-Egba tank farm owners step up product distribution in compliance with N172/litre ex-depot price Emmanuel Addeh in Abuja and Peter Uzoho in Lagos The Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA) yesterday vowed to sanction any petrol retailer that has formed the habit of rejecting the use of point of sale (PoS) machines for payment for services rendered to customers.

Also, in continuation of the joint effort by stakeholders in the petrol supply and distribution system to ease the lingering scarcity and queues at filling stations, depot operators in Lagos under the aegis of Ijegun-Egba Tank Farm Owners Association have stepped up the distribution of the product across the country from their depots.

In a statement signed by the General Manager, Corporate Communications & Stakeholders Management, NMDPRA, Mr. Kimchi Apollo, the organisation said it was unacceptable that at a time everybody should be working to ameliorate the impact of the cash crunch, many retailers were drawing back the hand of government by rejecting the use of PoS. It stated henceforth, in collaboration with security agencies, the NMDPRA would be at the fuel dispensing stations to ensure that none of its rules were flouted, including the use of electronic means of payment.

“It has come to the attention of the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA) that some retail outlets are not accepting the use of Point of Sale (POS) machines at their filling stations due to the recent cash crunch brought about by the new Naira design.

“The Authority frowns upon this recent behaviour which is causing untold hardship for Nigerians at

a time when all hands should be on deck to assist the government in the transition to the new Naira,” the downstream regulator stated.

It therefore directed that any operator that refuse to abide by the extant rules would be punished, and reassured the public of its readiness to ensure the availability of products nationwide.

“All retail outlets are directed to ensure the free use of POS and bank transfer for the sale of petroleum products to alleviate the suffering of customers at this critical time.

“The Authority and security agencies will be at retail outlets to ensure compliance with this directive and any filling station found violating this directive will be duly sanctioned.

“We reassure the general public of our commitment to ensuring good quality service in the sale and distribution of petroleum products nationwide,” it added.

Nigeria has been under the burden of unprecedented shortages of petrol supply since February 2022 when adulterated petrol was imported into the country and has since graduated into one of the most prolonged scarcity situations in the country’s history.

The authorities had adduced several reasons for the erratic petrol supply in the country, including the Sallah festivities at some point, bad roads and rising handling charges, among others for its inability to make the products available at the pumps.

Meanwhile, in continuation of the joint effort of stakeholders in the petrol supply and distribution system to ease the lingering scarcity and queues at filling stations, depot operators in Lagos under the aegis of Ijegun-Egba Tank Farm Owners Association have stepped up the distribution of the product across the country from their depots.

The Chairman of the association

and Chief Executive Officer of Emadeb Energy Limited, Mr. Debo Olujimi, told journalists yesterday in Lagos, during an inspection tour of the tank farms in Ijegun-Egba, by a team from the NMDPRA that their members had started complying with the government's approved N172 per litre ex-depot petrol price.

Also, the NMDPRA said it

had ramped up enforcement and monitoring of petrol distribution system to ensure that all the operators play by the rules as part of the mandates of the federal government's committee on monitoring of petroleum products distribution.

Olujimi, who confirmed that there was enough petrol available to its members as the Nigerian

National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC) had supplied them 150 million litres of the product for February, added that his members had started trucking products to various locations they serve.

Some of the depots visited were: Emadeb Energy, A.A. Rano, Rainoil and Menj Oil. He confirmed that NNPC had

been consistent in supplying petrol to them, assuring Nigerians that respite had come their way with the product now available for dispatch to them.

The NNPC had on Sunday announced that it had evacuated 450.92 million litres of petrol to Continued on page 41

Mainstream Energy Hires Austrian Firm to Overhaul Nigeria’s Oldest Hydropower Plants Eyes 2024 completion date Emmanuel Addeh in Abuja Nigeria’s largest hydropower generation company, Mainstream Energy Solutions Limited (MESL), has announced the engagement of ANDRITZ, an Austrian firm, for the rehabilitation, overhaul and modernisation of two generating units, 2G5 and 2G6, at the Jebba hydropower plant as well as the Kainji facility.

The company which stated that the move was in line with its capacity recovery and expansion programme, noted that Jebba was commissioned in 1985, while the second plant, Kainji opened in 1968 to generate a cumulative 20 per cent of Nigeria’s power.

A privately-owned company governed by a Board of Directors and an Executive Management team that oversees daily operations, MESL which was incorporated in 2011 and licensed as a power generating company, noted in a release that the Kainji and Jebba hydropower plants have a combined installed generation capacity of 1,338.4 MW. It noted that both were acquired

through a concession agreement with the federal government of Nigeria in November 2013.

“The two plants are in a cascade 100 km apart with Kainji Dam upstream of Jebba and are rated at 760 MW and 578.4 MW, respectively.

Kainji was commissioned as Nigeria’s first hydropower plant in 1968, whereas Jebba was commissioned in 1985.

“When the power plants were taken over, Jebba was not operating at full power and Kainji was not generating at all. As a result, the total available capacity of both plants was only 482 MW. In response, MESL introduced its Capacity Recovery and Expansion Programme to restore both generating facilities and bring them back to full power,” the firm stated.

The company added that work had already begun at the Jebba hydropower plant which houses six generating units, of which two now need a general overhaul.

“In mid-2019, the senior management team of MESL visited ANDRITZ’ locations in Austria to get an impression of our extensive R&D, manufacturing

and engineering facilities.

“During the visit a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed agreeing to negotiate the scope for the rehabilitation of unit 2G6 of the Jebba hydropower plant as well as the overhaul of units 2G5, 2G3, 2G2 and 2G1, including their associated equipment.

“In February 2020, ANDRITZ received the first major contract for the 2G6 project. The scope of supply covers the entire electroand hydro-mechanical equipment, including a 96.4 MW turbine, a 103 MVA generator, and accessory equipment, as well as the intake gate.

“In September 2021, a second order for the rehabilitation of the 2G5 unit with an identical scope of supply was awarded. Both units are expected to be operational in 2024,” Mainstream stated.

It stressed that Jebba is currently equipped with six 96.4 MW turbines and has a total generating capacity of 578.4 MW while ANDRITZ is the original equipment supplier for the turbines.

Nigeria is Sub-Saharan Africa's largest economy and the largest

oil producer in Africa. It is also the most populous country of the continent with a growing demand for energy to support Nigeria’s industrialisation agenda.

The firm stated that the successful privatisation process of the hydropower sector has been ongoing and attracting companies to invest in the renewable power sector.

In line with the company’s ambitious expansion strategy, MESL said it would also partner ANDRITZ to provide technical services in its bid to acquire more power generation assets within Nigeria and beyond.

ANDRITZ, it said, has been active in Nigeria for more than 100 years and was involved in Nigeria's most important hydropower projects such as Kainji, Jebba, Shiroro and the recently commissioned Kashimbila project.

“Taking account of the development of the hydropower market and in order to strengthen its position in the very promising Nigerian region, ANDRITZ has established a legal entity in Nigeria,” the firm noted.

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I NEED THE CALIPHATE'S SUPPORT...

L-R: President Muhammadu Buhari, Sultan of Sokoto, Muhammadu Sa’ad Abubakar III and the Presidential Candidate of the All Progressives Congress, APC, Bola Ahmed Tinubu, during their courtesy visit to Sultan’s palace to solicit his blessings for Tinubu’s presidential bid in the February 25 Election… yesterday

NDIC Vows to Continue to Protect Depositors John Shiklam in Kaduna The Managing Director of the Nigeria Deposit Insurance Corporation (NDIC), Mr. Bello Hassan, has assured depositors that the corporation would leave no stone unturned in its commitment to the effective discharge of its mandate.

Speaking yesterday, at the NDIC day at 44th Kaduna International Trade Fair, Hassan said the

corporation has been carrying out its mandate efficiently and effectively since it was established in 1989.

He said the NDIC has created the enabling environment for the financial system, promotion of sustainable growth and development through efficient payment system.

Hassan who was represented by the Manager, Communications and Public Affairs Unit, Tanko Yahaha, said “By discharging our public policy objectives of protecting

depositors in the event of bank failures and offer a measure of safety for the banking system generally, we create an enabling environment for the financial system to support the SME sub-sector of our economy and promote sustainable growth and development through an efficient payment system.”

He said the corporation was established as a critical component of the nation’s financial system safety-net.

“The four broad mandates of the corporation are deposit guarantee, banking supervision, failure resolution and bank liquidation,” Hassan said.

According to him, “in order to consistently educate depositors, stakeholders and the general public about the presence of the Deposit Insurance Scheme (DIS), its advantages, and its drawbacks, the corporation has participated in the Kaduna International Trade

Buhari, Atiku, Tinubu, Uzodimma, Keyamo Congratulate New NLC President, Ajaero Charge him to be partner in progress Deji Elumoye and Adedayo Akinwale in Abuja President Muhammadu Buhari has congratulated Mr. Joe Ajaero on his emergence as the new president of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC).

Also, the presidential candidates of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Bola Tinubu, that of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Atiku Abubakar, Governor Hope Uzodimma of Imo State and Minister of State for Labour and Employment, Festus Keyamo, congratulated the new NLC president.

The president, in a statement yesterday, by his spokesperson, Mallam Garba Shehu, also hailed the National Executive Committee of the NLC on the success of the congress that produced the new leadership.

He said: “After many years of hard work and struggles, the selflessness with which Ajaero dedicated himself today paid off.

His journey in the labour movement has been a remarkable one, marked by many important milestones.

“This victory that emerged from a rancor-free congress,” the President noted, “is a mark of the strength of democracy in the nation’s labour movement.

“Today, as he rises to the highest position in the NLC, it is our hope and desire that he will use the position to write a new chapter of progress for all workers and the labour movement in the country and the continent in general.”

Buhari also expressed hope that Ajaero and his team would continue to be partners to the administration in fulfilling the aspirations of the Nigerian people.

The president also congratulated Ayuba Wabba for a successful completion of his tenure as the head of Nigerian workers, wishing him

the best in his future undertakings.

He wished the new executive body a successful tenure.

Until his elevation, Ajaero was the Deputy President of the NLC and General Secretary of the Nigerian Union of Electricity Employees, before he was unanimously elected unopposed as the NLC President at the just-concluded 13th National Delegates'Conference of the Labour movement.

Atiku, in a statement yesterday by his Media Adviser, Paul Ibe, also congratulated the 15 other members of the new executive committee of organised labour.

The former vice president said the emergence of Ajaero was an indication that the NLC was keeping faith with its mandate of protecting the interest of the masses.

He said: “Comrade Joe Ajaero has a career of unflinching commitment to unionism, and it is only deserving that he has emerged as the number one union leader in the country,” Atiku said.

Atiku stressed that while he continues to campaign and ensure that he becomes the next president of the country, he expressed optimism in working hand-in-hand with the new NLC leadership to recover Nigeria if elected.

He added: “If and when I am elected as President of Nigeria in the upcoming election, I shall work harmoniously with the NLC in order to ensure that the Nigerian workers and people have the sweetest moment ever, in our mission to recover Nigeria.

“The NLC shall be a partner in progress in this direction and it is my hope that from the moment the elections are over and if I enjoy the popular mandate of Nigerians, the NLC shall play a crucial role in our administration efforts to put succor in the country,” Atiku said.

On his part, Tinubu in a statement

issued by his Media office and signed

by Mr. Tunde Rahman, urged Ajaero to use his new position to mobilise the entire Labour movement for national unity, enhanced national productivity and socio-economic justice for all Nigerians.

He said, "I congratulate the new NLC President, Comrade Joe Ajaero, for his election, particularly for having the confidence of his colleagues who unanimously elected him unopposed.

"Being elected by your colleagues is a measure of confidence and trust in your demonstrable ability to lead the NLC to new era of progress, cooperation and value creation for Nigerian workers and the entire people of our blessed country."

Tinubu charged the new Labour leader to use his position to mobilise the entire workforce for better national productivity and increased economic output that would quicken the quest for shared prosperity while fighting for social and economic justice and upholding the rights of workers.

On his part, Uzodimma congratulated the newly elected president of the NLC, saying he has joined the many sons and daughters of Imo who have made the state proud.

In a statement, Oguwike Nwachuku, the Chief Press Secretary and Media Adviser to Governor Hope Uzodimma said his principal noted with pride that Ajaero's emergence has once more shown that Imo State was made up of citizens that could be trusted with higher national and international assignments.

The governor was particularly elated that Ajaero emerged unopposed, as a consensus candidate, an indication that his colleagues have invested so much trust in him.

In congratulating Ajaero, Uzodimma said he had no iota of doubt that his leadership of the NLC

would help to galvanise national progress and development, and that through partnership with government that lasts, Labour under his watch will render service to humanity and God. The governor who also congratulated the delegates for conducting a peaceful conference said Ajaero's victory is a victory for Nigerian workers who believe so much in his capacity as their President to lead them to the promised land.

In a congratulatory message from Keyamo, who is also the Chief spokesperson of the APC Presidential Campaign, extolled the virtues of the unionist who had worked closely with him at the level of labour/civil society projects and at various Govt/Labour Committees and sub-committees.

Fair over the years.”

Hassan said this was significant to the corporation as it would enhance public confidence in the financial system.

He said, “If people are aware that their deposits are safe and that in the unusual event of a bank failure, a government agency will protect depositors, especially small savers.

“The corporation protects depositors through the discharge of its mandate in four critical ways namely: by guaranteeing deposits in banks; by supervising the banks in conjunction with the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) to ensure that they are run in efficient manner in line with extant laws and regulations; by resolving issues of distressed banks to reduce instances of failure; and ensuring orderly and efficient liquidation of failed banks to prevent disruptions to the payment system.

“It is worthy to note that the corporation has been effectively and efficiently discharging its mandates from inception till date, living up to its public policy objectives and contributing to financial system stability.”

Speaking further, Hassan said, “For instance, in the aspect of Deposit Guarantee, we are happy to state that NDIC has been highly responsive in providing coverage to all eligible deposits and products as they evolve in our banking system.”

He stressed that, apart from depositors of Deposit Money Banks (DMBs), Primary Mortgage Banks (PMBs) and Microfinance Banks (MBs), the Corporation has also been responsive by extending deposit insurance coverage to depositors of Non-Interest Banks

(NIBs), Payment Service Banks (PSBs) and subscribers of Mobile Money Operators (MMOs).

“Depositors of DMBs, PMBs, PSBs, and subscribers of MMOs are insured up to a maximum limit of N500,000.00 per depositor per bank, and those of MBs are guaranteed up to a maximum limit of N200,000.00 per depositor per bank.

“The corporation has also recorded similar giant strides in its other mandates which time will not permit us to delve into here,” the NDIC boss said.

He said through advertisements in the media and social media handles, the corporation repeated its calls to depositors of 20 closed banks in which it has declared 100 per cent liquidation dividends to come forward for verification and payment of their deposits that are in excess of the guaranteed sums.

“The implication of this is that, through our dogged liquidation activities, the corporation has realised enough funds to fully pay all depositors of the closed banks.

“Similar notices were also sent to creditors of seven DMBs inliquidation as well as depositors and ex-staff of two MBs and a PMB, details of which are still available on our website and social media handles.

“I, therefore, like to once again call on depositors, creditors and shareholders of the listed closed banks to avail themselves of the verification platforms provided by the corporation to claim their funds.

“They are at liberty to visit any of the corporation's nearest offices physically or utilise the NDIC app online or visit the website.”

Buhari Approves 67 New Broadcast Licences NBC sanctions 302 stations for election broadcast violation Olawale Ajimotokan in Abuja President Muhammadu Buhari has approved 67 new broadcast licences to increase the total number of licences granted by the administration from 2015 to date to 473.

The Director General, National Broadcasting Commission (NBC), Malam Balarabe Shehu Ilelah, who announced the approval in Abuja, yesterday, said the commission would soon commence issuing the licences. He described the approval as a great milestone in furthering pluralism and freedom of expression.

He said 47 of the newly licensed organisations were FM Radio stations, while five were community Radio and four DTT Radio stations.

He said presently, there were

740 functional broadcast stations in the country, while the list was expected to grow with further approval by the president.

Ilelah also disclosed that the president had approved for the NBC to recruit more staff that would monitor broadcast stations in all parts of the country as well as acquire state of the art nationwide broadcast monitoring equipment for the forthcoming election.

He added that in spite of the challenges with the implementation of the Digital Switch Over (DSO), the commission was determined to deliver to Nigerians life changing digital broadcasting using Simulcrypt and working in collaboration with NTA Star Nigeria and ITS. The NBC also disclosed that 302 stations have been sanctioned for violating

the 2023 election electioneering campaign which commenced four months ago.

The Director NBC Broadcast Management, Mrs. Franca Ayitor, gave the breakdown of the number of the stations that were sanctioned.

She said the erring stations have two weeks to pay the fines failure of which would lead to graduation of fines.

According to Ayitor, 17 stations were fined while 196 stations were warned. She said 63 stations were cautioned while 93 stations were reprimanded. She added that 70 percent of stations had paid the fines.

Ayitor said the affected stations did not follow the guidelines for political programming content and quality which was prepared by the commission and shared to the stations.

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NEWS

NESG-UNICEF PARTNERSHIP TO TACKLE CHILD POVERTY AND PROTECT CHILD RIGHTS...

L-R: Deputy Representative, United Nations International Children’s Fund (UNICEF Nigeria), Mr. Aboubacry Tall; Country Representative, UNICEF Nigeria, Cristiane Munduate; Chairman, Nigerian Economic Summit Group (NESG), Mr. Niyi Yusuf; and CEO, NESG, Laoye Jaiyeola, at the launch of the 'NESG-UNICEF Partnership to Tackle Child Poverty and Protect Child Rights in Nigeria', held in Abuja … yesterday

In Sokoto, Buhari Says Tinubu was Effective as Lagos Gov Vote PDP for Security, Economic Devt, Says Atiku at Kano Rally APC candidate inciting aides to attack own govt, ex-VP alleges PDP is dead, buried, declares Adamu Ruling party fighting for old notes to buy votes, opposition claims Collect their money, vote for me, Obi tells supporters in Abuja US: Our concern in Nigeria’s election is free, fair poll Deji Elumoye, Adedayo Akinwale, Emameh Gabriel in Abuja, Ibrahim Shuaibu in Kano and Onuminya Innocent in Sokoto President Muhammadu Buhari, yesterday, at a rally in Sokoto State, begged voters to help consolidate on the gains of democracy by voting the candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Bola Tinubu as his successor.

Buhari, who made the appeal at the Giginya Stadium, venue of APC presidential campaign rally, said Tinubu was the right person that could consolidate on his achievements.

The president said Tinubu’s greatest strength was in his effective governance of Lagos, the country’s former Capital, a business hub and home to diverse individuals from all over Nigeria for two terms; his commitment to democracy; as well as his role at the center as a Senator.

He said his message to Nigerians is that they should trust Tinubu with power to succeed him because the APC candidate, supported by

Kashim Shettima, the running mate will build on the successes of his administration.

On his part, the National Chairman of the APC, Senator Abdulahi Adamu, who also spoke at the rally, however, said the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) was already dead and buried in Sokoto State.

But the presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, yesterday, also at a rally in Kano, begged the people to vote for him if they wanted a revitalisation of the agricultural sector, opening of borders, security of lives and property, economic development, which he said were the major policy thrusts of his government if elected.

At the same time, Atiku has accused Tinubu of encouraging his aides to attack Buhari due to his frustration over the inability to deploy bullion vans on election day in the wake of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) naira redesign policy.

This is as the PDP has further accused the APC of fighting for the

retention of old naira notes for the sole purpose of using it to buy votes during the elections.

Similarly, Presidential Candidate of the Labour Party, Peter Obi, has told his supporters to accept money from moneybags in other parties attempting to buy their votes but vote for him.

Conversely, the United States Assistant Secretary of State for African Affairs, Molly Phee, has said the US had no preferred presidential candidate ahead of the presidential elections slated for February 25, but only interested in a credible, free and fair exercise.

Meanwhile, Buhari has congratulated Comrade Joe Ajaero on his emergence as the new President of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC).

However, at the Sokoto rally, Tinubu, who spoke earlier said, if given the opportunity to govern the country, he would tackle the problem of kidnapping, out of school children in the state, boost agricultural production, and create good markets for their farm produce.

A former governor of Sokoto

State, Senator Aliyu Magartakada Wamakko, affirmed that Sokoto remained an APC state, stressing that the party would have a resounding victory at the elections.

He further disclosed that the APC in the state would reclaim its stolen mandate, saying more than 70 per cent of Sokoto people were members of the APC. Chairman of Progressive Governor's forum and Governor of Kebbi, Senator Atiku Bagudu, said, all APC governors were working assiduously for the party's victory in their various states, adding that they had formed a united front and closed rank to ensure that the party coasts home to victory at all levels in their states.

The highlights of the event was the presentation of the decampees from PDP to APC by Wamakko to the national chairman, Adamu as well as the presentation of the APC flag to Ahmad Aliyu Sokoto, the party’s governorship standard bearer.

The decampees included former commissioner of security and career

EFCC Appeals Kogi Court’s Ruling, Seeks Stay of Committal Order Police appeals committal judgement, says call for sack of IG baseless Kingsley Nwezeh in Abuja The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), said yesterday it filed a motion before the Abuja Division of the Court of Appeal, seeking a stay of execution of the judgment of the Kogi State High Court in Suit No: HCL/696/2022 between Ali Bello and the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, and Others, delivered on 12th of December, 2022 and the consequential order made on the 6th of February, 2023.

The Kogi High Court judgement sought to commit the EFCC Chairman, Abdul rasheed Bawa, to prison for disobedience of a court order.

In the same breath, the Nigeria Police yesterday described the call for the sack and imprisonment of the Inspector-General of Police,

Usman Baba, by some retired police officers, who secured judgment for their reinstatement into the force as "baseless and mischievous".

A statement issued by the Spokesman of EFCC, Wilson Uwujaren, said other reliefs sought by the commission in the motion on notice include an order of interlocutory injunction restraining the appellants/applicant from attempting to execute/ enforce the judgment of the trial court pending the final hearing and determination of the appeal.

In the supporting affidavit to the application, deposed to by Samuel Anele Ugwuegbulam, he affirmed that the appellants had “strong, good and arguable grounds of appeal”.

He averred that the trial court did not have jurisdiction to entertain the matter as the alleged infringement of the respondent’s fundamental human

rights occurred in Abuja, and no element of it took place in Lokoja.

Therefore, the trial court lacked jurisdiction to proceed to hear the suit, a fact which the appellant dully raised before His Lordship.

He further pointed out that the appellant had applied to the trial court for compilation and transmission of the record of appeal, but as at the time of filing the motion, the file of the case was yet to be released to enable transmission of the record to the registry of the appellate court that rather than allow the record of the appeal to be transmitted, the trial court proceed to cite the appellant on 6th February for contempt The deponent further averred that that, “If the execution/ enforcement of the judgment of the 12th of December, 2023 and the pronouncement of the trial Court of

6th of February, 2023 is not stayed, it will jeopardize the appellants/ applicants’ constitutional right of appeal and exercise of his statutory functions.”

Meanwhile, the Nigeria Police yesterday described the call for the sack and imprisonment of the Inspector-General of Police, Usman Baba, by some retired police officers, who secured judgment for their reinstatement into the force as "baseless and mischievous".

A statement by the Force Public Relations Officer and Chief Supretendent of Police (CSP), Olumuyiwa Adejobi, said some retired police officers approached the National Industrial Court in April 2022 to challenge their retirement.

Judgment was delivered in their favour by the court.

Continued online

studies, Col Garba Moyi Rtd; former commissioner for science and technology, Hajia Kulu Haruna, and Alhaji Umaru Kwabo with 127 special advisers.

Receiving the decampees, Adamu said PDP in the state was dead and buried.

Tinubu was later scheduled to meet with Ulamas, religious leaders and business communities before proceeding to Kebbi State in continuation of his campaign.

Before then, Tinubu had taken a message to the Sultan of Sokoto, Sa’ad Abubakar III, saying, “We have come here to ask for your support and blessings; we want to win the coming elections.”

Tinubu, the first to speak and the first to bait the Sultan, said to leader of the Sokoto Caliphate: “I have come to be presented to you as Candidate. The President and Commander-in-Chief, Muhammadu Buhari is here in person to do that.

I want to win the election. Is there a way you will decline the request of the President?”

Echoing the same line, Buhari, according to a release by Garba Shehu, said, “My wish is for your support and blessings; we want to win.”

He went on to narrate the qualities of the candidates, including their common belief and commitment to the unity and progress of every section of the country, saying he had associated with Tinubu for more than 20 years and did not have any reservations in supporting him as the candidate of the APC. In his response, the Sultan declared that being an apolitical father of all and custodian of culture, he would continue to receive everyone that sought the blessing of the throne, telling Buhari that many had come before him for the same purpose while many more would still come.

"We will continue to pray for our nation. We cannot be tired of praying and will continue to advocate for peaceful and free elections in our fatherland," the Sultan further said.

Atiku: Vote PDP For Security, Economic Development

Presidential candidate of the PDP, Atiku Abubakar, yesterday, listed revitalisation of agricultural sector, opening of borders, security of lives and property, economic development, as his major policy thrusts if voted as President of Nigeria, come February 25.

He spoke in Kano at the Sani Abacha Stadium, Kofar Mata, during the party's presidential campaign rally attended by a crowd of party supporters.

"Do you want the return of peace?

Do you want agricultural prosperity?

Do you want the opening of borders?

Do you want economic development?

Then, vote PDP, I promise you that these policies will be implemented," Atiku said in his brief remarks.

National Chairman of PDP, Senator Iyorchia Ayu, described the ruling APC as a "contraption”, saying, “They have no policy. They only came to take power for their selfish interest.”

Ayu expressed optimism that Atiku would win the presidential election, insisting that, "in the next few weeks, our President (Atiku) will be elected. We will rally round him and come up with good policies that will stop the suffering of Nigerians.

"Since they came to power eight years ago, there is no money. There is no fuel. They are killing people in our villages. Buhari is not responsible.

No cabal in the Villa is responsible.

APC is responsible. They came and changed our good policies. Vote them out. APC is a party of suffering."

Sokoto State Governor, Aminu Waziri Tambuwal, described Kano as, "the melting of Nigeria's politics", adding that the crowd that turned out for the rally was "impressive” adding that, “Kano will elect Atiku.

Don't be deceived. This contest is between Atiku and others.

Akwa Ibom state Governor and chairman of APC Presidential Campaign Council, Udom Emmanuel, said PDP as a party was impressed by the crowd that graced the rally, describing the gathering as an endorsement of Atiku's presidential bid by Kano people.

The leader of PDP in Kano, Senator Ibrahim Shekarau, in his Continued on page 43

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POLITICS

Acting Group Politics Editor DEJI ELUMOYE Email: deji.elumoye@thisdaylive.com 08033025611 SMS ONLY

Soludo Moves to Give Anambra a Smart-City In this piece, David-Chyddy Eleke looks at the promise made by Anambra State governor, Prof. Chukwuma Soludo, to give the state a smart city.

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art of Soludo’s campaign promise during the 2021 governorship election was to make Anambra State a ‘livable homeland’. This to the governor included a state that its indigenes will feel proud of, and one where no matter where in the world they are, they will be happy to come back home and live, without being in a hurry to leave.

For Soludo, that included a secure state, and one where infrastructure and amenities would not be lacking.

Since his swearing in, on March 29, 2022, Soludo has worked hard to overcome the security challenges in the state, posed by rampaging gunmen. Having beaten down the security challenges to a huge level, the governor may have now decided to concentrate on the twin challenges of providing infrastructure and developing the state to the mega city that he had promised.

The former Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has in the last three months since the dry season set in, turned the entire state into a huge construction yard, with road projects going on in various towns and communities.

He has also begun moves to solve the housing needs of citizens of the state, albeit, providing a smart city. To underscore the promise of creating a livable homeland for the people of the state, Soludo began work on his first day in office after swearing in with a visit to Okpoko community; a sprawling slum close to Onitsha, which plays host to a huge population of residents and lacks all the infrastructure that makes any location livable. He had demolished most homes, awarded road contracts and also cleared drainages in the area.

But just last week, Soludo stepped up to fulfil his promise to make the state a smart city, with housing infrastructures that parade several amenities and entertainment sites, that will turn it into livable homeland. The state government signed a public private partnership agreement (PPPA) with seven real estate companies to develop residential estates around the state capital territory.

The Managing Director of Anambra State Investment Promotion and Protection Agency (ANSIPPA), Mr Mark Okoye who represented the state government during the signing of the memorandum of understanding (MOU) said Awka is densely populated and the state government is working to decongest it, hence the need to engage the developers.

He said: “The state capital territory, consists of seven local government areas, and about 24 communities. Awka town is already congested, so, we are working to move into others parts of the capital territory, in order to decongest Awka. We hope that soon Anambra will play host to some of the best real estate companies in the country.

“72 proposals came through in the last few months, but only seven developers made it for now. You (approved developers) have been approved and you have been found to be competent. I must tell you that the governor has a problem with (people not keeping to) deadlines, and he will hope to inspect something in the next three months.”

THISDAY took time to speak with some of the real estate companies, who gave insight into what the people of the state should expect as they commence work on their project sites.

According to the developers, they hope to give the state estates, which would boost of the best residential buildings that can be found in any city, and among all, it would be built to accommodate high and middle income earners.

The developers were allocated between

50 hectares to 110 hectares of land, and mostly situated within the state capital territories, but away from Awka city. The idea, it was gathered, was to take development to the undeveloped parts of the state

capital territories, and also encourage people to move out of Awka city, which is said to be congested already.

Group Managing Director of Rainbow Heritage Homes, one of the developers,

Ihedinma Oliver, who signed an MOU with the state government, while speaking with THISDAY said housing needs is not peculiar to Anambra State, but a national problem. He however expressed hope that with the new agreements, Anambra will rise to become the livable city that the governor dreams of.

He also spoke of his ability to perform within the range of three years.

According to him: “Housing problems cut across the entire country. Housing problem is a national issue, and a lot of people in Nigeria have housing issues, and a lot of interventions have previously been made in the past. We have identified Anambra as a critical state for that level of intervention. We wanted to change the landscape of Anambra State, the way real estate is done, and want to find solution to problems by driving the right type of development to be able to tackle all the erosion and other problems that come with development in Anambra State.”

Oliver said the company plans to develop Golf Residency Estate on the 110 hectares of land allocated to it by the Anambra State government, and this will involve 1,000 units of buildings that will service high and medium income earners.

Housing deficit has continued to remain a huge problem in Anambra State, especially in densely populated areas like Awka and Onitsha, where a huge population of the people are believed to live in residential places, said not to be befitting of even pets, let alone humans.

But with the commencement of Soludo’s smart city project, one may only anticipate a better living standard for the people of the state in few years to come.

Oborevwori Seeks Royal Blessing from Isoko, Ijaw Traditional Rulers Peoples Democratic Party Governorship Candidate in Delta State, Hon Sheriff Oborevwori, this week met with Isoko and Ijaw Royal Fathers to seek their blessings ahead of the March 11, 2023 Gubernatorial poll

F

ormer Governor of Delta State, Dr Emmanuel Uduaghan, has described the State PDP Governorship Candidate for the 2023 general election, Hon Sheriff Oborevwori, as the best candidate to rule the state as from May 29th, 2023.

He has, therefore, called on Deltans to cast their votes for him during the March 11, 2023 poll.

Speaking on Wednesday at the Palace of the Odiologbo of Owhe Kingdom in Otor Owhe, Isoko North Local Government Area of the State, where Hon Oborevwori had gone for royal blessings from Isoko Traditional Rulers, the former Governor said the State PDP Governorship Candidate is tested and trusted.

While saying the PDP Gubernatorial Candidate worked under him when he was governor, Uduaghan stated that he is a very humble person adding that Deltans will not regret making him their next Governor.

His words: “Our royal fathers, Rt Hon Sheriff Oborevwori is well known in the state for his humility. He has a wonderful crisis management skills. He worked with me as Special Adviser on Security and he made sure the state was safe for investors.

He is a man of the people and he can interact with anybody. Power belongs to God and there is no transition that is always easy and Rt Hon Oborevwori has had his fair share. People will blackmail you and carry so many rumours here and there about you”.

According to him: “Our Governorship Candidate has passed the heat, he has paid his dues and now ready to face the task of piloting the affairs of the state as a governor. I trust him, he will not fail Deltans

and I will not be here if I do not trust him.

He has the capacity and is well prepared to lead the state. I want to assure our respected royal fathers that he is the best Governorship Candidate to rule our dear state. I am standing on behalf of all well meaning Deltans, I am bold to say that he is the right man for the job. I want to appeal to you to tell your subjects in your various kingdoms to vote him and all other PDP candidates”.

In his speech, Hon Oborevwori declared that he wants to be Governor for all Deltans and Isoko nation will not be left out.

He said: “I am a Pan Deltan and a unifer.

I am coming to do more for Deltans from where our governor and Vice-Presidential candidate of PDP, Senator Dr Ifeanyi Okowa will stop on May 29th, 2023.

“Please, vote for me, vote for Atiku Abubakar and Governor Ifeanyi because

that is the ticket that will rescue the nation.

Our people should vote for all candidates of the PDP”.

Responding on behalf of other monarchs, the Chief Host and Vice Chairman of Isoko Traditional Rulers, HRM Romanus Ejirememe Inana, the Odiologbo of Owhe Kingdom, implored the Gubernatorial Candidate to remember the Isoko nation when he gets to Government House, Asaba.

He added that; “we will support your aspiration and run inclusive government when you are elected Governor. We will give you the needed support and as Traditional Rulers, we want to play pivotal role in your government”.

Chairman of Isoko Traditional Rulers Council, HRM. Anthony William Ovrawah Asanido 1 of Oleh Kingdom who offered prayers for the Governorship Candidate wished him well.

Hon Oborevwori who also met with members of the Delta Ijaw Traditional Forum for their blessings, commended the monarchs for their support.

According to him, Governor Okowa has done extremely well for the people in the riverine communities and other parts of the state, saying “but the government that is coming will do more for the riverine people and other Deltans. Continue to maintain the peace in your various kingdoms. I can manage the state effectively and so tell your subjects to vote PDP all the way because other parties do not have anything to offer.

The Atiku Abubakar and Governor Ifeanyi Okowa ticket will make our country to work again”.

NOTE: Interested readers should continue in the online edition on www.thisdaylive.com

T H I S D AY • FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 10, 2023

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FOCUS

As Banks Subvert CBN’s Cash Withdrawal Policy

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s public outrage against the festering scarcity of new naira notes jolts the nation’s economy, banking industry watchers said it is unfortunate that the Central Bank of Nigeria is the agency of government taking the fall for the outright subversion of its policy by money deposit banks.

The apex bank has been at the receiving end since the beginning of the year over the poor handling of the policy on Naira Redesign and Cash Withdrawal policy as banks continue to defy the directives on cash disbursement through on-thecounter withdrawal and the use of their automated teller machines.

There were reports that rather than comply with the CBN’s directives, some bank officials refused to upload new naira notes into their ATMs, while some of them decided to cut down the amount of cash paid out to customers in flagrance with the directives of the apex bank.

The directive on the new cash withdrawal limits was contained in the CBN letter dated December 6, 2022, which was addressed to all Deposit Money Banks and Other Financial Institutions, Payment Service Bank (PSBs), Primary Mortgage Banks (PMBs), and Microfinance Banks (MFBs).

The new policy followed the apex bank’s recent currency redesign project in which it had expressed concerns over the high volume of cash outside the banking system.

The affected naira notes were N200, N500, and N1000.

However, despite the open declaration of the CBN that it had disbursed enough cash to banks for onward transmission to bank users, reports have it that many Nigerians could not access cash through banks’ ATMs and the counter.

In response to public outcry over the difficulty in exchanging old naira notes for new ones, the Central Bank decided to move the deadline (for Nigerians to deposit old notes in exchange for new ones) from January 31 to February 10, a deadline that has now been pushed back until February 15, pending the court’s decision in a suit filed by three Northern State governors.

As public complaints grew, the CBN Governor, Mr Godwin Emefiele, directed commercial banks to begin the payment of the redesigned naira notes over the counter. He noted that the new directive would address the challenge of queues experienced at various commercial banks across the country.

The governor said, “while reiterating our commitment to Nigerians to ensure the effective distribution of the newly introduced naira banknotes, we urge them to exercise patience as the CBN is working assiduously to address the challenge of queues at ATMs.” According to him, in line with this resolve, the commencement of the payment of the redesigned naira notes over the counter is subject to a maximum daily payout limit of N20,000.

The governor also said the bank had observed, with grave concern, the activities of persons selling the newly redesigned banknotes and the queues at Automated Teller Machines (ATMs).

He expressed worry that unregistered persons and non-bank officials had been swapping banknotes for members of the public, purportedly on behalf of the CBN, among others.

Taking the Blame As Nigerians continued to raise their voices over the difficulty in getting the new notes from banks, analysts said it is unfortunate that the blame for the shoddy arrangement in banks is being laid on the doorsteps of the apex bank, whereas reports so far have indicated that the cash crisis is being orchestrated by some officials of money deposit banks who are said to

Festus Akanbi writes that the complicity of some officials of money deposit banks in the sabotage of the Central Bank of Nigeria’s Naira Redesign and Cash Withdrawal policy has shown that banks should take the blame for the prevailing naira scarcity and the attendant chaos team stormed the bank at about 1:30 pm to ensure compliance and demanded an explanation as to why all the ATMs were not dispensing cash, they were informed by the branch’s Head of Operations that the bank got delivery of the cash not too long ago.

She said ICPC operatives were aware that, the branch took delivery of the cash around 11:58 am and either willfully or maliciously refused to feed the ATMs with the cash.

Bank Manager Arrested in Osogbo In a related development, the ICPC Compliance Team in Oshogbo has busted an FCMB bank in Osogbo, Osun State, where some ATMs were loaded with cash with their wrappers un-removed, thus preventing the money from being dispensed.

Ogugua said the ICPC Team directed that the wrappers be removed and the cash appropriately loaded.

The Operation Manager of the Bank was arrested and taken in for questioning after a follow-up operation was undertaken and discovered that one of the ATMs was still loaded with the wrappers un-removed.

CBN: Blame Banks for Naira Notes Scarcity

Emefiele

be engaging in outright hoarding and illegal sale of the currency to PoS operators at a premium.

According to reports, virtually all the banks are neck deep in these illegal activities, which are putting undue pressure on Nigerians in all the regions of the country.

Zulum Read Riot Acts to Banks For instance, it took a serious threat from the Borno State Governor, Professor Babagana Zulum, last week for banks to come to their senses in the state following the allegation that bank officials were hoarding naira notes from the people.

Unhappy with the fate of the people in the state, the governor directed banks in the state to dispense the new notes via Automated Teller Machines (ATMs) and banking halls or risk losing their lands to the state government.

Zulum gave the warning after visiting branches of banks in Maiduguri, the state capital, to assess problems faced by residents trying to access new naira notes.

“Any bank in Borno State unwilling to ensure their ATMs are fully dispensing new naira notes cash to ease the suffering of our people, we will withdraw their land title immediately.

We will only spare Banks with verifiable constraints,” Zulum said.

He added that he was unhappy

seeing hundreds of people queuing at a bank branch, with He said further: “We just released salaries of about N5 billion, and the banks don’t have money; some of the ATMs are not working. We don’t have any problem with the CBN policy or the withdrawal limit, they said individuals could only withdraw N20,000, but why can’t everyone have access to that N20,000?” he queried.

ICPC Arrests Bank Official for Hoarding Naira Notes Reports showed in the Federal Capital Territory, the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) in Nigeria arrested an official of one of the commercial banks for alleged sabotage of the availability of Naira notes. This comes as the anti-corruption agency continues to clamp down on elements frustrating efforts to make the redesigned Naira notes available to Nigerians.

The bank official, who is the Branch Service Head of a bank in the Deidei Branch of Abuja, was taken into custody for her deliberate refusal to upload cash into the branch’s Automated Teller Machines (ATM) even when the money was available, and people were queuing at the ATMs. A press statement by ICPC spokesperson Mrs. Azuka Ogugua disclosed that when the commission’s monitoring

In Ogun State, the CBN said it discovered N4 million of new naira notes hoarded in some commercial banks in the state.

The Deputy Director the banking supervision department, CBN Lagos, Kayode Makinde, said this earlier in the week while monitoring the distribution of the new naira notes.

The CBN senior staffer, who was angry accused commercial banks of sabotaging the efforts of the CBN to make the new naira notes available.

Makinde told the public to blame the commercial banks over the scarcity of the new notes, saying the CBN has done its part.

“This is the third week of ensuring strict implementation of our directive as regards the issuance of new notes. We have banks, agents, and super agents circulate new notes in the economy. The experience has been mixed; we saw some trying to hoard new notes, we compelled them to upload into ATM terminals, and others had poor cash management.

“From our experience, CBN should not be blamed but commercial banks for scarcity.

We caught some of them with new notes in their vault, and we compelled them to upload them to their machines. We told them that instead of trying to ration, upload the ones they have and contact your central cash Management unit, which has direct access to CBN, for more.

“We came across instances of sabotage on the part of operators, we will take the case up, and they will be dealt with appropriately.

“We have given a directive that they shouldn’t pay out new notes via the counter, but other notes, some of them did that and ran out of cash. Some branches deployed creative cash management skills and never ran out of cash; others experienced money running out and are still waiting for their source.

“We came across one that couldn’t account for almost four million naira of new notes, and appropriate sanction will be placed on them.”

Analysts believed the embarrassment caused the whole nation was enough for the authorities to punish any of the bank officials that were found guilty of sabotaging the policy, which the apex bank said was in the best interest of the nation’s economy.

22

FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 10, 2023 • T H I S D AY

MARKET NEWS A Mutual fund (Unit Trust) is an investment vehicle managed by a SEC (Securities and Exchange Commission) registered Fund Manager.

Investors with similar objectives buy units of the Fund so that the Fund Manager can buy securities that willl generate their desired return.

An ETF (Exchange Traded Fund) is a type of fund which owns the assets (shares of stock, bonds, oil futures, gold bars, foreign currency, etc.) and divides ownership of those assets into shares. Investors can buy these ‘shares’ on the

floor of the Nigerian Stock Exchange.

A REIT (Real Estate Investment Trust) is an investment vehicle that allows both small and large investors to part-own real estate ventures (eg.

Offices, Houses, Hospitals) in proportion to their investments. The assets are divided into shares that are traded on the Nigerian Stock Exchange.

GUIDE TO DATA: Date: All fund prices are quoted in Naira as at 08Feb-2023, unless otherwise stated.

Offer price: The price at which units of a trust or ETF are bought by investors.

Bid Price: The price at which Investors redeem (sell) units of a trust or ETF. Yield/Total Return: Denotes the total return an investor would have earned on his investment. Money Market Funds report Yield while others report Year- to-date Total Return.

NAV: Is value per share of the real estate assets held by a REIT on a specific date.

DAILY PRICE LIST FOR MUTUAL FUNDS, REITS and ETFS MUTUAL FUNDS / UNIT TRUSTS AFRINVEST ASSET MANAGEMENT LTD aaml@afrinvest.com Web: www.afrinvest.com; Tel: +234 818 885 6757 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Afrinvest Equity Fund 199.62 200.77 5.55% Afrinvest Plutus Fund 100.00 100.00 11.27% Nigeria International Debt Fund 315.68 315.68 2.29% Afrinvest Dollar Fund 106.30 107.40 0.84% AIICO CAPITAL LTD ammf@aiicocapital.com Web: www.aiicocapital.com, Tel: +234-1-2792974 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn AIICO Money Market Fund N/A N/A N/A AIICO Balanced Fund N/A N/A N/A ANCHORIA ASSET MANAGEMENT LIMITED info@anchoriaam.com Web:www.anchoriaam.com, Tel: 08166830267; 08036814510; 08028419180 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Anchoria Money Market 100.00 100.00 8.76% Anchoria Equity Fund 154.42 156.07 6.54% Anchoria Fixed Income Fund 1.23 1.23 -0.39% ARM INVESTMENT MANAGERS LTD enquiries@arminvestmentcenter.com info@anchoriaam.com Web: www.arm.com.ng; Tel: 0700 CALLARM (0700 225 5276) Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn ARM Aggressive Growth Fund 23.52 24.23 7.17% ARM Discovery Balanced Fund 549.80 566.38 5.48% ARM Ethical Fund 46.51 47.91 3.09% ARM Eurobond Fund ($) 1.13 1.13 0.60% ARM Fixed Income Fund 1.12 1.12 1.02% ARM Money Market Fund 1.00 1.00 10.69% ARM Short Term Bond Fund 1.04 1.04 0.71% AVA GLOBAL ASSET MANAGERS LIMITED info@avacapitalgroup.com Web: www.avacapitalgroup.com; Tel 08069294653 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn AVA GAM Fixed Income Dollar Fund 96.9 96.9 1.89% AVA GAM Fixed Income Naira Fund 1,108.76 1,108.76 -1.57% AXA MANSARD INVESTMENTS LIMITED investmentcare@axamansard.com Web: www.axamansard.com; Tel: +2341-4488482 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn AXA Mansard Equity Income Fund N/A N/A N/A AXA Mansard Money Market Fund N/A N/A N/A CAPITAL EXPRESS ASSET AND TRUST LIMITED info@capitalexpressassetandtrust.com Web: www.capitalexpressassetandtrust.com; Tel: +234 803 307 5048 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn CEAT Fixed Income Fund N/A N/A N/A Capital Express Balanced Fund(Formerly: Union Trustees Mixed Fund) N/A N/A N/A CAPITALTRUST INVESTMENTS AND ASSET MANAGEMENT LIMITED halalfif@capitaltrustnigeria.com Web: www.capitaltrustnigeria.com; Tel: 08061458806 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Capitaltrust Halal Fixed Income Fund N/A N/A N/A CARDINALSTONE ASSET MANAGEMENT LIMITED mutualfunds@cardinalstone.com Web: www.cardinalstoneassetmanagement.com; Tel: +234 (1) 710 0433 4 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn CardinalStone Fixed Income Alpha Fund 1.01 1.01 0.89% CHAPELHILL DENHAM MANAGEMENT LTD investmentmanagement@chapelhilldenham.com Web: www.chapelhilldenham.com, Tel: +234 461 0691 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Chapelhill Denham Money Market Fund 100.00 100.00 12.30% Paramount Equity Fund 18.53 18.87 7.29% Women's Investment Fund 152.42 154.30 4.90% CHD Nigeria Bond Fund 108.20 108.20 10.86% CHD Nigeria Dollar Income Fund 1.06 1.06 9.31% CORDROS ASSET MANAGEMENT LIMITED assetmgtteam@cordros.com Web: www.cordros.com, Tel: 019036947 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Cordros Money Market Fund 100.00 100.00 10.11% Cordros Milestone Fund 142.83 143.73 3.57% Cordros Fixed Income Fund 106.53 106.53 10.00% Cordros Halal Fixed Income Fund 103.97 103.97 6.04% Cordros Dollar Fund ($) 115.12 115.12 5.49% CORONATION ASSETS MANAGEMENT investment@coronationam.com Web:www.coronationam.com, Tel: 012366215 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn 1.00 1.00 11.98% Coronation Money Market Fund 1.22 1.22 1.72% Coronation Balanced Fund 1.37 1.37 -2.90% Coronation Fixed Income Fund EDC FUNDS MANAGEMENT LIMITED mutualfundng@ecobank.com Web: www.ecobank.com Tel: 012265281 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn 100.00 100.00 10.58% EDC Nigeria Money Market Fund Class A 1,000,000.00 1,000,000.00 8.93% EDC Nigeria Money Market Fund Class B 1,114.28 1,117.27 0.61% EDC Nigeria Fixed Income Fund EMERGING AFRICA ASSET MANAGEMENT LIMITED assetmanagement@emergingafricafroup.com Web:www.emergingafricagroup.com/emerging-africa-asset-management-limited/, Tel: 08039492594 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Emerging Africa Money Market Fund N/A N/A N/A Emerging Africa Bond Fund N/A N/A N/A Emerging Africa Balanced Diversity Fund N/A N/A N/A Emerging Africa Eurobond Fund N/A N/A N/A FBNQUEST ASSETS MANAGEMENT LIMITED invest@fbnquest.com Web: www.fbnquest.com/asset-management; Tel: +234-81 0082 0082 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn FBN Bond Fund 1489.87 1489.87 12.54% FBN Balanced Fund 211.06 212.57 5.69% FBN Halal Fund 124.58 124.58 12.86% FBN Money Market Fund 100.00 100.00 13.24% FBN Dollar Fund 121.05 121.05 6.86% FBN Smart Beta Equity Fund 177.97 180.60 7.47% FBN Specialized Dollar Fund 105.02 105.02 9.63% FCMB ASSET MANAGEMENT LIMITED fcmbamhelpdesk@fcmb.com Web: www.fcmbassetmanagement.com; Tel: +234 1 462 2596 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Legacy Money Market Fund 1.00 1.00 9.12% Legacy Debt Fund 3.54 3.54 -11.58% Legacy Equity Fund 2.09 2.13 20.14% Legacy USD Bond Fund 1.27 1.27 5.27% FSDH ASSET MANAGEMENT LTD coralfunds@fsdhgroup.com Web: www.fsdhaml.com; Tel: 01-270 4884-5; 01-280 9740-1

Fund Name Coral Balanced Fund Coral Income Fund Coral Money Market Fund

Bid Price 4,355.64 3,744.17 100.00

Offer Price 4,387.42 3,744.17 100.00

Yield / T-Rtn 32.85% 8.08% 12.45%

FSDH Dollar Fund 1.14 1.14 5.80% GUARANTY TRUST FUND MANAGERS LIMITED enquiries@investment-one.com Web: www.gtcoplc.bank; Tel: +234 812 992 1045,+234 1 448 8888 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Abacus Money Market Fund 100.00 100.00 8.95% Vantage Balanced Fund 3.18 3.24 6.71% Vantage Guaranteed Income Fund 1.00 1.00 6.00% Kedari Investment Fund (KIF) 0.00 0.00 0.00% Vantage Equity Income Fund (VEIF) - June Year End 1.29 1.33 4.79% Vantage Dollar Fund (VDF) - June Year End 1.07 1.07 8.44% LOTUS CAPITAL LTD fincon@lotuscapitallimited.com Web: www.lotuscapitallimited.com; Tel: +234 1-291 4626 / +234 1-291 4624 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Lotus Halal Investment Fund N/A N/A N/A Lotus Halal Fixed Income Fund N/A N/A N/A MERISTEM WEALTH MANAGEMENT LTD info@meristemwealth.com Web: www.meristemwealth.com/funds/; Tel: +2348028496012 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Meristem Equity Market Fund N/A N/A N/A Meristem Money Market Fund N/A N/A N/A NORRENBERGER INVESTMENT AND CAPITAL MANAGEMENT LIMITED enquiries@norrenberger.com Web: www.norrenberger.com, Tel: +234 (0) 908 781 2026 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Norrenberger Islamic Fund (NIF) 101.59 101.59 8.91% Norrenberger Money Market Fund (NMMF) 100.00 100.00 11.49% PAC ASSET MANAGEMENT LTD info@pacassetmanagement.com Web: www.pacassetmanagement.com/mutualfunds; Tel: +234 1 271 8632 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn PACAM Balanced Fund 1.62 1.67 3.46% PACAM Fixed Income Fund 11.47 11.67 3.38% PACAM Money Market Fund 10.00 10.00 10.54% PACAM Equity Fund 1.51 1.54 6.46% PACAM EuroBond Fund 123.54 126.62 8.51% SCM CAPITAL LIMITED info@scmcapitalng.com Web: www.scmcapitalng.com; Tel: +234 1-280 2226,+234 1- 280 2227 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn SCM Capital Frontier Fund 131.80 134.14 0.05% SFS CAPITAL NIGERIA LTD investments@sfsnigeria.com Web: www.sfsnigeria.com, Tel: +234 (01) 2801400 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn SFS Fixed Income Fund 1.00 1.00 11.03% STANBIC IBTC ASSET MANAGEMENT LTD assetmanagement@stanbicibtc.com Web: www.stanbicibtcassetmanagement.com; Tel: +234 1 280 1266; 0700 MUTUALFUNDS Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Stanbic IBTC Balanced Fund 3,802.36 3,833.53 12.18% Stanbic IBTC Bond Fund 246.18 246.18 4.50% Stanbic IBTC Ethical Fund 1.51 1.53 20.63% Stanbic IBTC Guaranteed Investment Fund 334.73 334.73 6.90% Stanbic IBTC Iman Fund 275.39 278.45 17.85% Stanbic IBTC Money Market Fund 1.00 1.00 12.91% Stanbic IBTC Nigerian Equity Fund 12,983.54 13,136.50 18.89% Stanbic IBTC Dollar Fund (USD) 1.37 1.37 6.40% Stanbic IBTC Shariah Fixed Income Fund 121.83 121.83 4.21% Stanbic IBTC Enhanced Short-Term Fixed Income Fund 116.00 116.00 9.05% Stanbic IBTC Absolute Fund 4,605.82 4,605.82 8.27% Stanbic IBTC Aggressive Fund 3,456.48 3,500.37 24.34% Stanbic IBTC Conservative Fund 4,358.76 4,375.78 14.50% UNITED CAPITAL ASSET MANAGEMENT LTD unitedcapitalplcgroup.com Web: www.unitedcapitalplcgroup.com; Tel: +234 01-6317876 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn United Capital Equity Fund 1.02 1.04 7.01% United Capital Balanced Fund 1.54 1.56 12.12% United Capital Wealth for Women Fund 1.21 1.22 3.72% United Capital Sukuk Fund 1.12 1.12 10.01% United Capital Fixed Income Fund 1.97 1.97 7.49% United Capital Eurobond Fund 126.09 126.09 5.56% United Capital Money Market Fund 1.00 1.00 12.76% QUANTUM ZENITH ASSET MANAGEMENT & INVESTMENTS LTD service@quantumzenithasset.com.ng Web: www.quantumzenith.com.ng; Tel: +234 1-2784219 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Zenith Balanced Strategy Fund 14.41 14.54 3.87% Zenith ESG Impact Fund 16.40 16.54 3.69% Zenith Income Fund 23.75 23.75 0.81% Zenith Money Market Fund 1.00 1.00 10.80% VETIVA FUND MANAGERS LTD funds@vetiva.com Web: www.vetiva.com; Tel: +234 1 453 0697 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Vetiva Banking Exchange Traded Fund N/A N/A N/A Vetiva Consumer Goods Exchange Traded Fund N/A N/A N/A Vetiva Griffin 30 Exchange Traded Fund N/A N/A N/A Vetiva Money Market Fund N/A N/A N/A Vetiva Industrial Goods Exchange Traded Fund N/A N/A N/A Vetiva S&P Nigeria Sovereign Bond Exchange Traded Fund N/A N/A N/A REITS NAV Per Share

Yield / T-Rtn

114.09 53.06 101.31 9.92

7.63% 3.98% -13.13%

Bid Price

Offer Price

Yield / T-Rtn

16.61 142.14 110.52 17.40 16.40

16.71 144.61 112.44 17.50 16.50

7.30% 11.39% 10.54% -1.31% 2.88%

NAV Per Share

Yield / T-Rtn

106.75

0.00%

Fund Name

SFS REIT Union Homes REIT Nigeria Real Estate Investment Trust UPDC REIT

EXCHANGE TRADED FUNDS Fund Name Lotus Halal Equity Exchange Traded Fund SIAML Pension ETF 40 Stanbic IBTC ETF 30 Fund MERGROWTH ETF MERVALUE ETF

INFRASTRUCTURE FUND Fund Name Chapel Hill Denham Nigeria Infrastructure Debt Fund

The value of investments and the income from them may fall as well as rise. Past performance is a guide and not an indication of future returns. Fund prices published in this edition are also available on each fund manager’s website and FMAN’s website at www.fman.com.ng. Fund prices are supplied by the operator of the relevant fund and are published for information purposes only.

FRIDAY FEBRUARY 10, 2023 • T H I S D AY

23

24 T H I S D AY FRIDAY FEBRUARY 10, 2023 TR

UT H

& RE A S O

Friday February 10, 2023 Vol 27. No 10164

N

opinion@thisdaylive.com

www.thisdaylive.com

ABOVE AND BEYOND THE PRESIDENCY

JOSHUA J. OMOJUWA argues the need to elect the right people across all tiers of government

See page 25

NAIRA REDESIGN AND MATTERS ARISING The time allotted to the new naira notes exercise is too short, contends BASHIR ABDULLAHI

See page 25

EDITORIAL

TACKLING NEGLECTED TROPICAL DISEASES

26

1

It’s now obvious that the implementation of the new naira notes monetary policy was motivated by politics, writes BOLAJI ADEBIYI

POLITICS BY OTHER MEANS It is rather paradoxical that THISDAY Newspapers, which have been very supportive of the new monetary policy on the redesign of three of the nation’s eight Naira notes might have inadvertently laid the foundation for the political colouration of the implementation of the policy.

Engaging in its habitual interpretative approach to news, it had run a banner headline, “In Ambush of Vote Buyers, Ransom Takers, CBN Voids Naira Notes

by End January,” suggesting that the policy was targeted at politicians, who had built up a war chest to buy votes during the general election scheduled for 25 February and 11 March 2023. %XW *RGZLQ (PHÀHOH WKH JRYHUQRU RI the Central Bank of Nigeria, had explained during his 26 October 2022 announcement of the new policy that the main objective of the policy was to drastically mop up the huge cash in circulation in aid of his sundry monetary policies aimed at reining in LQÁDWLRQ DQG VKRUH XS WKH YDOXH RI WKH 1DLUD “This move is to enable the Central Bank of Nigeria to have control over the size of PRQH\ LQ FLUFXODWLRQ µ (PHÀHOH H[SODLQHG shortly after the unveiling of the new notes

by President Muhammadu Buhari on 23 November 2022, saying, “There is no need to think that the programme is targeted at anyone.”

The policy stipulated 31 January 2023 as the deadline for the swapping of the old and the new 1,000; 500- and 200-Naira notes even when the latter was only released to the public on 15 December 2023. The bank further directed that the new notes should only be disbursed through the Automated Teller Machines, forbidding over-the-counter dispensing of cash.

Though fears were expressed by several economic experts and public policy analysts that the notice and the deadline for LPSOHPHQWDWLRQ ZHUH WRR VKRUW (PHÀHOH insisted that the apex bank had made adequate arrangements to ensure the smooth implementation of the policy that many of the experts agreed was good on paper.

“As of 2018, we had 86,000 touchpoints nationwide where Nigerians could deposit and withdraw money. In October 2022, that number has risen to 1.4 million touchpoints,” KH DUJXHG DGGLQJ UDWKHU FRQÀGHQWO\ ´7KDW is to say we have over 1.4 million bank branches, POS points, and other ancillary RXWÀWV WR HQDEOH 1LJHULDQV WR UHWXUQ WKH ROG notes.”

The central banker’s position received the backing of the president who in a couple of media interviews and public engagements contended that three months were enough for anyone who had legitimate cash to return them to the bank for safe-keeping or swap.

However, two weeks before the deadline, it became obvious that the implementation of

the policy had run into troubled waters with citizens who could not access the new notes after depositing their old ones grumbling loudly. Long queues like those of fuel had welled up at the front of bank ATMs. In spite RI WKLV (PHÀHOH LQVLVWHG WKHUH ZRXOG EH QR shift in the deadline, an obstinacy that began to fuel the suspicion that the policy actually arose from politics rather than economics.

Politicians, particularly of the All Progressives Congress stock had been hostile to the policy. That hostility manifested RQ WKH ÁRRUV RI WKH WZR FKDPEHUV RI WKH National Assembly, where senators and representatives adopted motions requesting the CBN to extend the deadline to June 2023.

The bank with the support of the president was adamant.

With the mass of the people now grumbling stridently, Bola Tinubu, presidential candidate of the ruling APC, had to raise the alarm about the danger of the hardships, caused by the twin crises of acute shortage of cash and fuel, to his electioneering. He actually suggested that the persistence of the VKRUWDJHV ZDV DQ DFW RI VDERXWDJH E\ ÀIWK columnists within the party in cohort with the opposition Peoples Democratic Party.

The trend since the alarm tends to corroborate his claim of political saboutage.

Although increased public pressure forced (PHÀHOH DIWHU D PHHWLQJ ZLWK %XKDUL two days to the deadline, to grant a 10day extension to 10 February, the crunch nonetheless worsened with citizens unable to access any cash at all, old or new.

If the political motif of the policy was understated at the initial stage, what is going on now clearly exposes it as a mere political tool to disadvantage a frontrunner in the fray.

Fearing that further public pressure might force further extension of the deadline, 14 opposition parties under the aegis of the Conference of Political Parties, a political group put together by the PDP in the pre2019 general election as part of a coalition against the APC, on Monday threatened to boycott the general election if the deadline was further shifted. A day after the threat, four of them, the Action Alliance, Action

People’s Party, Allied People’s Movement, and National Rescue Movement, obtained an order from the court of Justice Eneojo Eneche of the Federal Capital Territory, restraining %XKDUL &%1 (PHÀHOH DQG FRPPHUFLDO banks from extending the deadline for the death of the old notes.

The opposition politicians’ fears were real because following pressure from APC governors, the president had asked for a seven-day window to enable him to resolve the cash crunch and fuel shortages. In the meantime, riots had broken out on the streets of Ibadan, Abeokuta, and Benin with the threat of spillover across the country as the people’s patience is been stretched beyond limits.

In the meantime, Atiku Abubakar and Peter Obi, co-frontrunners and presidential candidates of the PDP and the Labour Party, blew the muted trumpets, asking the people to endure the hardships.

The APC responded on Tuesday with three of its states, Kaduna, Kogi, and Zamfara, applying to the Supreme Court to put on hold the deadline. The apex court obliged them on Wednesday, asking the parties to maintain the status quo ante bellum, and adjourned the matter till 15 February. Without a doubt, the suit at the apex court would give the anti-deadline politicians a breathing space as it might not be concluded until after the election.

It would seem though that those who are insistent on removing cash from the public space before the election would not relent as many of the banks that are supposed to be dispensing cash had by Wednesday shut down ostensibly to avoid the anger of the VXͿHULQJ SXEOLF 0HDQZKLOH WKH &%1 WKH regulator, who was supposed to rein them in, appears to be missing in action.

The emerging irony in the crisis is quite interesting though. Despite Tinubu’s vocal opposition to the policy enunciated by an administration controlled by his party, Atiku and Obi have continued to openly support it even in the face of the widespread hardships being experienced by the people. Yet, on Wednesday, Abubakar Malami, the attorneygeneral of the federation and minister of justice, raised an objection to the Supreme Court’s restraining order. What’s going on?

Why are the opposition candidates the ones publicly supporting an unpopular policy of the ruling party? Could they be working with the APC administration to undermine the ruling party’s candidate?

Tinubu has since answered the question in WKH D΀UPDWLYH MXVW DV WKH DFWLRQV RI SULQFLSDO R΀FLDOV RI WKH %XKDUL DGPLQLVWUDWLRQ FRQFXU Adebiyi, the managing editor of THISDAY Newspapers, writes from bolaji.adebiyi@ thisdaylive.com

T H I S D AY

3 25

FRIDAY FEBRUARY 10, 2023

JOSHUA J. OMOJUWA argues the need to elect the right people across all tiers of government

ABOVE AND BEYOND THE PRESIDENCY It has been said that Nigerians, at least at one time, were the happiest people in the world. Whilst you could argue against that DW DQ\ SRLQW LQ WLPH \RX ZRXOG ÀQG LW D ORW harder arguing against us being the most hopeful people. Hope is the dust our streets are made of. It is the air we breathe. It is the picture we see when we cast our sights on a better tomorrow.

Hope is the one thing that keeps everyone going. Without hope, existence ZRXOG EH FRPSOHWHO\ GLͿHUHQW IURP ZKDW LW is. It is our individual and collective desire to hold on today because tomorrow holds a new promise. It is why we keep going,

irrespective of what life throws at us. That primal need to live, believing that whatever it is we are going through, time would deliver on its promise of a better tomorrow. :KHQ \RX UHÁHFW XSRQ LW \RX ZRXOG VHH that our most hopeful time as a country is often the period around elections and a new government.

Elections are here again, and we have heard shouts of messiah here and there.

One cannot begrudge anyone who believes that there is any one man or woman who would come save this country. As with the right to vote, the right to believe in the near impossible is inalienable. However, one now has more than enough data to state this clearly without a doubt; this Federal Republic of Nigeria will most likely thrive RQ WKH EDFN RI ZRUNLQJ DQG HͿHFWLYH subnational governments more than its IXWXUH OLHV LQ WKH HͿHFWV WKDW D FRPSHWHQW president could bring to bear.

In a world where nuance is dead and context is lost, let me make it clear that we ZRXOG DOZD\V EH EHWWHU RͿ ZLWK D FDULQJ competent and committed president.

There’d never be a situation or context where Nigeria – or any other country for that PDWWHU ² LV EHWWHU RͿ ZLWK DQ LQFRPSHWHQW leader. That ought to go without saying in a sane world, but conversations are more ruled by insanity these days.

Nigerians need their state governments and local governments to work. There is no running away from this. For a country of some 200 million people that is said to likely be 400 million in less than 30 years, our progress and development does not lie only in what happens in Abuja, it lies in what happens in every state capital and the GHYHORSPHQW WKDW ÀOWHUV IURP WKRVH FDSLWDOV to the inner cities and the rural areas.

In a scenario where you have a competent president and 36 incompetent governors and one where you have an incompetent president and 36 competent governors, ceteris paribus, the second scenario would bring about more development than the ÀUVW VFHQDULR $V ZH FRQWLQXH WR REVHVV over who becomes president, we should spare some time and care for those we are

electing as governors. It also matters that you pay attention to your local government chairpersons.

Some of the numbers we repeat as signals of our underdevelopment are numbers borne out of our failings at the subnational OHYHO ,I \RX OHDYH 1LJHULD RQO\ ÀYH :HVW African countries have more people than there are children out of school in Nigeria. This number is the failing of local governments and state governments. Each state has a State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB) designed on the back of the Universal Basic Education (UBE) Act of 2004 and adopted as law by the state governments.

Whilst the federal government may concern itself with these issues, the state of primary education in Nigeria is an example RI WKH EHQHÀWV RI D IHGHUDWLRQ ZH KDYH VHHQ some states pretend that basic education is a suggestion whilst some other states have stayed true to the spirit of the UBE – to get every child educated – by not only ensuring that children are in school but by ensuring that their teachers are able to carry out their teaching duties according to the FODLPV RI WKHLU FHUWLÀFDWHV &KHFN RXW WKH state of primary education across Nigerian VWDWHV LW LV RQH RI WKH PRVW WHOOLQJ HͿHFWV RI leadership at the subnational level – some states are blessed, other states are otherwise.

Whilst the provision of healthcare is the responsibility of the three tiers of government, primary health care is the responsibility of the local government.

They are managed collectively via the state governments’ primary health care board. Conversations about maternal and child mortality in Nigeria lose sight of the truth when they aren’t broken down to the numbers per state. When that is done, you start to have an appreciation for what some states are doing to keep their numbers low and what others must do to reduce their numbers.

These examples show that whilst we UHQGHU VRPH RI WKHVH VWDWLVWLFV DV D UHÁHFWLRQ of the state of the country per issue, we see the challenges better when rendered per VWDWH 7KH\ DOVR KHOS UHÁHFW WKH HVVHQFH RI federalism. Electing the right president is good, electing the right governors and local government chairpersons is better. The best scenario is to have the right people across the three tiers and arms of government. But if we continue to obsess over who becomes president whilst largely acting like other positions are ceremonial, we’d continue to miss the opportunity to get the best out of each election cycle.

As with previous elections, the 2023 elections will come and go. We would be left with those elected across every tier of government to deliver the dividends of democracy. We must be clear-eyed about WKH GLͿHUHQW R΀FHV DQG WKHLU HͿHFWV RQ RXU daily lives. Whilst the president becomes our national symbol with decisions WKDW ZRXOG UHÁHFW RQ XV DV D SHRSOH WKH local government chairpersons and the governors have a telling impact on our lives. This is an election about getting it right across the board. It would never be enough to just vote for the president and hope for the better.

Omojuwa is Chief Strategist, Aipha Reach and author, Digital Wealth Book

The time allotted to the new naira notes exercise is too short, contends BASHIR ABDULLAHI

NAIRA REDESIGN AND MATTERS ARISING Let me begin this with a disclaimer. I am a registered card-carrying member of the New Nigerian Peoples Party (NNPP). Let me also make it abundantly clear that my party and I are not against the Naira redesign policy. In fact, no sane human will. In the 21st century, we should go the way of the world. A cashless policy is the norm and has become the mainstay of most economies, both developed and developing. I applaud President Muhammadu Buhari for his resolve, determination, and commitment to conducting a free, fair, and credible election.

There is the possibility that, if conducted successfully, these might be the talk about the legacy of the president.

Having said this, let me add that for a

country of almost a million square kilometres, the time allotted to the policy is not just VX΀FLHQW EXW SUDFWLFDOO\ LPSRVVLEOH WR FRYHU within the period given. And this must be appreciated from the background of the level RI WKH JHQHUDO LQH΀FLHQFLHV RI RXU V\VWHP DQG how such reforms can be resisted, and in some instances outrightly thwarted.

Available data from the National Bureau of Statistics show that most households have DQ DYHUDJH RI D PLQLPXP RI ÀYH SHUVRQV :KDW WKLV FOHDUO\ VLJQLÀHV LV WKDW PRVW SHRSOH struggle daily to get by. Living in Nigeria, daily, in itself is a challenge. This is something that the various political shades seeking power acknowledge hence the litany of issues WKH\ SURPLVHG WR GR ZKHQ HOHFWHG LQWR R΀FH The 1999 Constitution as amended accounts for the equality of states as per federalism, but even the blind can see that Lagos State in the Southwest for instance is not equal to Yobe State in the North East, or Ebonyi in the South East to Kano in the North West. Clearly, Lagos is much more urbanised than Yobe and the same is true for Kano and Ebonyi. What this invariably means is that Lagos is more likely to have better banking services than Yobe. The same argument can be made for Kano and Ebonyi. The service penetration is not the same and the data on banking services in Nigeria clearly shows this. In a sense, the more sophisticated a banking service is the more it is urban located. This is certain of major innovations in banking services, which again follow the logic of where money is concentrated.

While it is true that every government SROLF\ VKRXOG EH PDGH IRU WKH EHQHÀW RI WKH people, let me now quickly examine the Central Bank of Nigeria’s cashless policy visà-vis the unintended negative consequences DQG VXͿHULQJ LW EURXJKW WR WKH YHU\ SHRSOH LW claims to serve. And it must be repeated here that this is by no means an attack on the policy itself, as some have.

The Governor of the Central Bank of 1LJHULD 'U *RGZLQ (PHÀHOH RQ FRXQWOHVV occasions, explained the objectives of the Naira redesign policy and on no account did he make claims that are of political or noneconomic reasons. The policy was purely monetary with expected positive economic outcomes for Nigeria. However, as all

policies do, particularly when not thought through, they tend to become victims of their unintended consequences. The apex bank may have had good intentions to deliver on an otherwise operable monetary policy, but has the implementation created enumerable situations and countless hardships?

The unintended consequences of the Naira redesign policy are in the numbers, but what is amazing is the “neglect” or QHJOLJHQFH E\ WKH &HQWUDO %DQN R΀FLDOV whilst framing the policy, the list of what could go wrong. A part of the nittygritty of general housekeeping of public policymaking is IF. The question must, therefore, be what could go wrong if we, that is the Central Bank, did this or that.

The Nigerian apex bank missed a lot of signs, innuendos, which were obvious and in the open, and more importantly its capabilities. The responsibility of the Central Bank of Nigeria, for example, does not include the assessment of possible social disorder, and the disenchantments the unintended consequences of the redesign of the Naira caused. This again, showed, that the bank was working in a silo, not reaching, consulting, or collaborating. Perhaps, what it is, is that the Central Bank sought glory but brought gory tales.

It remains to be seen if the Central Bank of Nigeria considered what could go wrong if the Naira was redesigned at the time, it implemented the policy. This also raises questions as to whether the three months to FRPSOHWH WKH H[HUFLVH ZDV VX΀FLHQW 7KUHH issues are clear from this. First, whether the Nigerian banking infrastructure is as big as was thought of? Secondly, did the Central Bank of Nigeria miss an obvious challenge or opportunity that there is still work to be done, regarding the depth and breadth of the country’s banking system? The Nigerian banking system has remained largely urban-biased and has evolved very little to serve infrastructure in rural areas. Perhaps, this is why the apex bank governor persistently complains about the quantity of cash outside the banking system. This clearly shows that there are JDSV LQ WKH &%1·V HͿRUWV DW SURYLGLQJ banking services across the country. The banking system must innovate a new UREXVW ÀQDQFLDO LQIUDVWUXFWXUH WKDW QRW RQO\ resolves many of the problems Nigerians are currently encountering but deepen and broaden inclusiveness and participation.

The question of the timing of policy is important. As much as it can be argued, and it has been, that there is no particularly VXLWDEOH WLPH WR HͿHFW D FKDQJH RU UHGHVLJQ a country’s currency, the Central Bank Act is already clear on this. Thus, in some regards the monetary authority failed in the discharge of her responsibility on time, more importantly, to anticipate when. Here in lies the basis for the political interpretation of the CBN’s decision on timing. The question has therefore become about when and over what duration, and not about what. But, more importantly, policy makers must be able to anticipate the consequences, especially the negative unintended consequences. Across the country are Nigerians standing in long queues at ATM galleries across the country tempting to access the new currency notes.

Abdullahi II, Fcasi, Fimc** is a Builder, Entrepreneur, Student of Policy and Chief of Planning & Strategy RMK Presidential Campaign Council

26 4

T H I S D AY

FRIDAY FEBRUARY 10, 2023

EDITORIAL

Editor, Editorial Page PETER ISHAKA Email peter.ishaka@thisdaylive.com

TACKLING NEGLECTED TROPICAL DISEASES Too many Nigerians are still prone to preventable diseases. It’s time to match rhetoric with practical progress

T

he prevalence of neglected tropical diseases (NTDs) in Nigeria remains deeply concerning. Last week, the World Health Organisation (WHO) said the country accounted for 50 per cent of the ailment in Africa - a diverse group of viral, parasitic, DQG EDFWHULDO GLVHDVHV WKDW D΁LFWV PDLQO\ WKH SRRU Health Minister, Osagie Ehanire, while launching the country’s 2023-2027 master plan on NTDs also admitted that Nigeria has a huge global burden of the diseases with millions of persons at risk.

Neglected tropical diseases are overlooked infectious ailments grouped together due to their often chronic, GLVÀJXULQJ DQG stigmatising impact and their close association with poverty and geographic overlap. At least 15 of the WHO-designated 20 NTDs are present in Nigeria, including Trachoma, (granular conjunctivitis), Onchocerciasis, (river blindness), Lymphatic Filariasis, (elephantiasis), Schistosomiasis (parasitic worms), Leprosy, Snakebites yaws, Rabies and Buruli ulcer. According to the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), these diseases have VLJQLÀFDQWO\ FDXVHG LOOQHVVHV DQG GHDWKV FKLHÁ\ DPRQJ the vulnerable or disadvantaged Nigerians. It has also impacted negatively on families and the society.

5HSRUWV KDYH VKRZQ WKDW SHU FHQW RI WKRVH DͿHFWHG or at risk in Nigeria are of pre-school age while 28 per FHQW RI WKHP DUH EHWZHHQ DJHV ÀYH DQG \HDUV 7KH remaining 52 per cent are from 15 years and above.

6RPH PLOOLRQ 1LJHULDQV DUH DW ULVN RI ÀODULDVLV D GLVHDVH WKDW DͿHFWV WKH O\PSK QRGHV DQG YHVVHOV DQG PLOOLRQ E\ ULYHU EOLQGQHVV 7KHVH GLVHDVHV and more, Ehinare has argued, devastate not only the DͿHFWHG SHUVRQV EXW DOVR OHDYH WKHLU IDPLOLHV PLVHUDEOH This is why we must give these public health concerns adequate attention by addressing them head on.

The gains made in tackling other known health issues could come to nothing if NTDs are wreaking havocs.

And nations are no longer rated mainly by how deep WKHLU ÀQDQFLDO UHVHUYHV DUH RU E\ JUHDW EULGJHV DQG WDOO buildings, but also by their human capital development which includes the health of their people.

Many Nigerians do not know how to prevent themselves from NTDs or how to manage them properly. Stakeholders must make this a priority, especially in rural and hard-to-reach areas where the diseases are prevalent. Although Ehinare said last week the country would soon meet up with the global target of eliminating some of these diseases before the end of 2030, the burden of the diseases is still heavy, and spreading. According to the Akwa Ibom State government, NTDs are endemic in all its local government areas. “Most times, we drive on the streets and see people with swollen leg, or you go to the communities and see people with their swollen scrotum,” claimed Aniekeme Uwah, state coordinator of the NTDs in the health ministry. “We also have some which led to people having rashes on their skin. And these are rashes that you treat continuously but refuse to heal, which also leads to blindness.” Patients of these sicknesses need the necessary attention.

For a start, all levels of government should include NTDs sensitisation in their programmes, as ignorance KDV EHHQ ÀQJHUHG DV WKH PDMRU IDFWRU IXHOOLQJ WKH ULVH of the scourge. Just like Malaria and Tuberculosis, governments (both local, state, and federal) should SURYLGH VLJQLÀFDQW EXGJHWDU\ DOORFDWLRQV IRU WDFNOLQJ NTDs. Ondo State last week announced the building of NTDs clinic to tackle the menace of the diseases in the state, just as the Lagos State government spoke of plans to assess some NTDs in its local councils as part of HͿRUWV DW WDUJHWHG WUHDWPHQW RI WKH GLVHDVHV LQ WKH VWDWH There is need for collaboration to contain the diseases.

Thus, the theme of the 2023 NTDs Day, “Act now. Act together. Invest in Neglected Tropical Diseases” could not have been more apt.

Nations are no longer rated mainly by how deep their financial reserves are, or by great bridges and tall buildings, but also by their human capital development which includes the health of their people T H I S D AY EDITOR SHAKA MOMODU DEPUTY EDITORS WALE OLALEYE, OBINNA CHIMA MANAGING DIRECTOR ENIOLA BELLO DEPUTY MANAGING DIRECTOR ISRAEL IWEGBU CHAIRMAN EDITORIAL BOARD OLUSEGUN ADENIYI EDITOR NATION’S CAPITAL IYOBOSA UWUGIAREN MANAGING EDITOR BOLAJI ADEBIYI THE OMBUDSMAN KAYODE KOMOLAFE

T H I S D AY N E W S PA P E R S L I M I T E D EDITOR-IN-CHIEF/CHAIRMAN NDUKA OBAIGBENA GROUP EXECUTIVE DIRECTORS ENIOLA BELLO, KAYODE KOMOLAFE, ISRAEL IWEGBU, IJEOMA NWOGWUGWU, EMMANUEL EFENI DIVISIONAL DIRECTORS SHAKA MOMODU, PETER IWEGBU, ANTHONY OGEDENGBE DEPUTY DIVISIONAL DIRECTOR OJOGUN VICTOR DANBOYI SNR. ASSOCIATE DIRECTOR ERIC OJEH ASSOCIATE DIRECTOR PATRICK EIMIUHI CONTROLLERS ABIMBOLA TAIWO, UCHENNA DIBIAGWU, NDUKA MOSERI DIRECTOR, PRINTING PRODUCTION CHUKS ONWUDINJO TO SEND EMAIL: first name.surname@thisdaylive.com

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

LETTERS JUDICIAL INTERFERENCE IN NIGERIA’S ELECTORAL PROCESS In modern day democracy, elections into various national SROLWLFDO R΀FHV FDPH LQWR PDQLIHVWDWLRQ WKURXJK WKH LQVWUXPHQtality of law. Both the electoral institution and its processes are governed by legal framework. Every democratic state across the world elects their political leaders through direct or indirect electoral system which is supervised by electoral body guided by relevant rules and regulation.

By virtue of judiciary as one of the fundamental tripod which upholds democratic system, no democratic nation can oust the jurisdiction of the court from intervening in the institutional machinery and procedural mechanism which usher in her political leaders and administrators. Any attempt to either exempt the decisions of the electoral umpire from judicial review or place the electoral procedure above judicial scrutiny would defeat the fundamental principle of democracy.

Nigeria, being a democratic state is not an exception in this regard. The country has both the electoral and legal institutions created by law to handle the conduct of elections and the issues emanating from the electoral exercise respectively. The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), which is the

country’s electoral institution, was a creation of Sec 153 (f) of the 1999 constitution, as amended. The functions of this electoral body are further stipulated in Sec 15, Part 1 of the Third Schedule of the constitution.

In the same vein, the constitution empowers the ordinary court to entertain pre-election matters. On the order hand, an exclusive jurisdiction is conferred on a special court (election tribunal) to hear post-election matters subject to Sec 285. In this light, the erroneous notion that the judiciary is an uninvited interloper smuggled into the electoral process by the ruling party is uncharitable. It is practically impossible to exclude the judiciary from electoral process.

The exclusionary suggestion as being debated in some quarters is a blatant display of ignorance. Nigerians can either choose between democratic system and live by its rules or full-blown dictatorship and live by the discretionary dictates of the authoritarian regime. If Nigeria continues to embrace democratic system, the judiciary too would continue to intervene, review and adjudicate on her electoral process. Though, a number of judicial decisions may attract some collateral damage. Nevertheless,

the judiciary can’t be held responsible.

In every democratic election, the rules and regulation for the H[HUFLVH DUH HVVHQWLDOO\ PHDQW WR DFKLHYH D OHYHO SOD\LQJ ÀHOG IRU all candidates in the political contest. This innocuous motive would be defeated if the electoral umpire, political parties, candidates and the electorate are permitted to act contrary to the stipulated rules. The failure of any of these electoral stakeholdHUV WR VWULFWO\ DELGH E\ ODZ ZRXOG GHÀQLWHO\ RSHQ HQGOHVV TXHVtions of suspicious manipulation and irregularities. It is therefore left for the judiciary to determine the merit of such claims.

Some individuals whose political interest seem threatened are currently inciting the unsuspecting members of the public against Nigeria’s judiciary. They have continued to undermine the judicial system with numerous vituperative remarks. This premeditated conspiracy as targeted towards diminishing peoSOH·V FRQÀGHQFH LQ WKH MXGLFLDU\ LV RVWHQVLEO\ DLPHG WR IXUWKHU aggravate the current state of anarchy and disarray in the country.

Binzak Azeez, Newworth LLP (Legal Practitioners), Onikan, Lagos

T H I S D AY ˾ FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 10, 2023

27

BUSINESSWORLD R A T E S MONEY MARKET

A S

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REPO

Group Business Editor Eromosele Abiodun Email oriarehu.eromosele@thisdaylive.com

08056356325

F E B R U A R Y

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CALL

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INDEX LEVEL

613.31%

1/4 TO DATE

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N416.86/ 1 US DOLLAR*

OVERNIGHT

11.50%

1-MONTH

9.56%

1-DAY

0.16%

YEAR TO DATE

7.64%

*AS AT LAST FRIDAY

3-MONTH

10.52%

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0.44%

Aircraft Charter Operators Raise Concern over Low Patronage as General Election Draws Near

Chinedu Eze With barely two weeks to the 2023 general election, which will begin with the presidential election on February 25, aircraft charter operators in the Aviation industry have raised concern over low patronage, contrary to their projected high season market that is associated with general election.

Unlike the previous elections that were characterised by large volume of aircraft charter by members of the political class, the operators

are worried that aircraft charter business is not looking good this season, with just two weeks to presidential election.

The operators recalled that in 2015 it was difficult to meet the demands of clients who needed their services despite the fact that there were more aircraft available at that time.

They added that aircraft demand during the 2019 general election was more than what is happening currently.

The Chairman and Chief

Executive Officer, Quits Aviation Services Limited, Sam Iwuajoku, who operates the biggest business aviation terminal in Nigeria and Quits Aviation Services Free Trade Zone, told THISDAY that in the last one year there has been decrease in business, a situation exacerbated by unfavorable and inconsistent policies, noting that there is no surge even during the election period compared to 2015 and 2019, but expressed the hope that activities might pick up after the election.

“In the last one year, we have

witnessed decrease in Aviation business. Before 2015, if you were here, you will see about 10 aircraft.

People come in and go out and based on that a lot of activities went on.

Presently, the activities here are very low, but after the election, it may pick up. There is no surge even during this election period, when compared to 2015 and 2019 general elections.

But there are still some activities taking place presently,” he said.

Another charter operator told THISDAY that although he does not categorise his clients to

know those who are travelling due to political reasons but agreed with Iwuajoku, whom he said has the figures and is the authority in the business.

He also noted that the three major contenders in the presidential election: the All Progressives Congress (APC), the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and Labour Party (LP) have private jets or supporters that could lend them private jets, adding that despite what looks like slump when compared to 2015, business is still going on.

“Maybe people may be travelling

less, but I can say that business is always good because people must fly. We really don’t ask our clients where they want to go or the reason why they are travelling but I know that during political period, there are lots of movements but I agree with Iwuajoku because he is an authority. He has the figures because he records everything and should be in position to know,” the charter operator said.

The story continues online on www.thisdaylive.com

Korean Envoy: Nigeria Gateway to Africa’s Blue Economy Eromosele Abiodun The Deputy Minister for Overseas Koreans and Consular Affairs, Republic of Korea, Choi Yeong has described Nigeria as the gateway to unlocking the potentials of the African continent’s blue economy.

Choi Yeong who made stated this during a courtesy call on Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) in Lagos led by the Korean Ambassador to Nigeria, Kim Young Chae also commended the sustained and improved security situation in the Gulf of Guinea with

the strong presence of Nigeria, adding that the Korean government looks forward to continuous support from the Nigeria government in the area of intelligence and information sharing.

“Nigeria is the one of the biggest country on the African continent in terms of economic size, population and market potentials. So Nigeria could be a very important partner to us the People of Korea. Nigeria could be our gateway to the whole of African continent. We are glad to inform you that Korea has scheduled a summit involving the entire African continent in 2024 and we hope it

will strengthen relationship with Nigeria and Africa.” He said.

Speaking during the visit, the Director General, NIMASA, Dr. Bashir Jamoh noted that the relationship between both countries is over 40 years adding that there is the need to further deepen it.

He noted that Korea is a foremost maritime country with highly recognized capacity in the areas of shipbuilding and ship repairs adding that Nigeria is willing to partner Korea in shipbuilding for the short, medium and long tern benefits of both countries.

He added, “There is no how the issue of trade can flourish without adequate security. NIMASA is making steady progress in collaboration with the Nigerian Navy and other security Agencies to secure the safety and security of investors, Vessels, and Seafarers in the Nigerian maritime domain.

Considering the fact that population of Koreans is highest in Nigeria when compared to other African states, the need for improved relationship between Nigeria and Korea cannot be over emphasized Korea has arguably

the best Shipbuilding Companies globally and that is an area we desire partnership. We have commenced discussions with the Samsung Group and Hyundai as well on the issue of shipbuilding and ship repairs.”

Commenting on the issues of piracy in the Gulf of Guinea, he stated that since the 2nd quarter of 2021, there have been no issues of kidnapping and insecurity, assuring them that the Federal Government is determined to achieve a safe and secured maritime domain in Nigeria, adding that the time to

improve Korea, Nigeria Bilateral relationship particularly in the fishing sector is now.

“I believe we can also explore improved interphase in areas such as deep sea fishing. . Fishing in Nigeria used to be a very large source of income not far behind oil and Gas. The numbers are not looking very encouraging at the moment. Partnership will lead to more fishing trawlers in Nigerian waters, ”he said The story continues online on www.thisdaylive.com

M A R K E T D ATA A S AT T H U R S D AY, F E B R U A R Y 9 , 2 0 2 3 BONDS DESCRIPTION Price ^14.20 14MAR-2024 ^13.53 23MAR-2025 ^12.50 22JAN-2026 ^16.2884 17MAR-2027 ^13.98 23FEB-2028

10.362, 00 10.459, 00 10.287, 00 11.168, 00 10.386, 00

Yield 10.82 11.11 11.35 12.60 12.92

Change Updated Time (%) January -0.01 6, 2023 January -0.71 6, 2023 January 0.00 6, 2023 January 0.00 6, 2023 January 0.00 6, 2023

BILLS MATURITY

Discount

Yield

NTB 26-Jan23 NTB 9-Feb23 NTB 9-Mar23 NTB 27-Apr23

3.01

3.01

3.01

3.02

2.21

2.22

3.20

3.23

NTB 11May-23

3.23

3.27

OTC F X F U T U R E S

CPS

Change Updated Time (%) January 6, -0.01 2023 January 6, 0.00 2023 January 6, -1.71 2023 January 6, 0.00 2023 January 6, 0.00 2023

MATURITY FDHP CP III 17-MAR-23 VHPL CP III 1-APR-23 MREP CP VI 11-APR-23

Change Updated Time (%) January 6, 9.26 9.43 0.00 2023 January 6, 14.15 14.64 0.00 2023 January 6, 10.52 10.81 -0.01 2023

Discount Yield

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CONTRACT TENOR Contract (MONTH) NGUS JAN 25 1 2023 NGUS FEB 22 2 2023 NGUS MAR 29 3 2023 NGUS APR 26 4 2023 NGUS MAY 31 5 2023

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FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 10, 2023 ˾ T H I S D AY

BUSINESSWORLD

AIR WATCH

Court Orders Stay of Action on MMIA Concession

Chinedu Eze

The Federal High Court sitting in Lagos on February 6, 2023, ordered that the planned concession of the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos and cargo terminals be stopped, pending the hearing and determination of a suit filed

by Sifax Group of Companies Limited challenging the bidding process.

The matter has been adjourned to March 29, 2023.

Sifax had filed a suit claiming that it was one of the 13 firms that submitted a bid for the contract after the third defendant issued a formal Request for Qualification, stating that no applicant is expected to bid twice for any of the specific assets under any guise or form, hence the suit against the Attorney General of the Federation, Abubakar Malami; the Federal Government; Minister of Aviation, Hadi Sirika; NAHCO Aviance Plc; Infrastructure Concession Regulatory Commission; TAV Airports Holding Company and

GMR Airport Limited as first to seventh defendants.

The plaintiff claims that contrary to the misleading impression that both the sixth and seventh defendants are separate entities, a search on the Internet revealed a contrary position.

The firm, Airport De Paris, owns 49 per cent and 46 per cent shares in the sixth and seventh defendants respectively.

The plaintiff further added that having contravened the Request for Qualification without any legal basis, the sixth and seventh respondents should be disqualified from participating in the tender or joining any group in future, saying their action is a demonstration of dishonesty and deliberate attempt to deceive the contracting authority.

Justice Ambrose Lewis-Allagoa ordered parties to maintain the ‘status quo’, following an application by Sifax lawyer, Kunle Ogunba (SAN) on Monday while he also overruled the objection raised by the fourth and sixth defendants’ lawyer, Adeseye Opasanya (SAN), to the suit.

Sifax is seeking the following: A declaration and a concomitant order that the submission of separate bids by the sixth and seventh respondents with the impression that they are separate entities without any admixture of ownership structure amounts to a material misrepresentation and a breach of Section 2.2, and Sub-section 2.2.1 of RFQ. An order directing the third respondent to immediately disqualify 6th defendantled consortium and the 7th defendant’s submission, as well as ADP as a standalone party from participating in the tender or joining any group in the future after the announcement of pre-qualification results.

A declaration and concomitant order that the plaintiff is the most qualified applicant/bidder in the bidding process, both in terms of commercial and technical components of the entire bidding exercise and therefore should/ ought to be declared the successful bidder for the concession of Murtala Muhammed International Airport.

NAMA to Increase Airlines’ P ro f it a b i l i ty w i t h S BA S The Nigerian Airspace Management Agency (NAMA) has resolved to constantly upgrade navigational infrastructure in the country.

This is borne out of the determination to enhance safety, improve operational efficiency of airlines and increase their profitability in the long run through reduced operational costs.

The acting Managing Director of NAMA, Matthew Pwajok, stated this in Abuja after a successful test flight of the Satellite Based Augmentation System (SBAS) flight procedure using the agency’s calibration aircraft.

He expressed confidence that the implementation of SBAS would enhance safety, efficiency and capacity of the Air Traffic Management system.

According to him, this would also increase the efficiency of the airlines

through reduced flight time and turnaround time, reduced fuel consumption, reduced workload for both pilots and air traffic controllers and increased profitability over time.

“The whole essence of the SBAS is to improve on the integrity, accuracy, availability and continuity of the PBN signals by deploying a ground infrastructure or a master station that receives signals from several satellites, triangulates them and takes the best location and then broadcast it through a broadcast media globally to be received by any aircraft within that airspace. So, we have done PBN that provides lateral guidance needed to locate an airport but we have gone a step further to improve on it by implementing precision approaches using the satellite provided by Nigerian Communications Satellite

(NIGCOMSAT).”

Pwajok said while PBN would provide lateral guidance for the aircraft to locate an airport, SBAS would provide improved accuracy, improved integrity of the signals, improved availability and continuity of the signals as it collects information from several signals or satellites rather than an aircraft using just one signal from a GPS to fly.

The NAMA boss said: “The SBAS would be a win-win situation for airlines because over time they have been focusing attention on reducing cost and increasing profitability and this innovation will surely be of immense benefit to them in that regard.”

He maintained that an aircraft would not require more than a retrofit for those that have been flying PBN and that it would not be capital-intensive for an airline to acquire a retrofit.

Ethiopian Airlines Group Inaugurates Second Aviation Academy Campus Ethiopian Airlines Group, the largest aviation group in Africa, has inaugurated a new aviation training centre in the city of Hawassa. The new aviation training centre in Hawassa will serve as the second campus for Ethiopian Aviation Academy and will currently be providing pilot trainee programs.

The facility accommodates different types of classrooms, three training simulators, three aircraft parking and workshop hangars, trainees’ and instructors’ dorm rooms, a cafeteria and sports ground for various sport types.

Ethiopian Aviation Academy had been providing aviation trainings at its base campus in Addis Ababa to trainees from

different parts of the world.

The new training centre will enable the academy to accommodate more trainees. Regarding the new Aviation Academy Campus, Ethiopian Airlines Group CEO, Mr. MesfinTasew said: “We are truly happy to see the inauguration of our Aviation Academy second training centre in Hawassa. As Africa’s giant in the aviation industry, we are determined to reach more people who dream of becoming aviation professionals and enrich our continent with qualified personnel who will take Africa’s aviation to the next level. From the day it has been established more than six decades back, our aviation academy has

been producing the best aviation professionals who are competitive at a global level. With our second training center open now, more trainees will have the chance to realize their dreams and that is a huge achievement for us.”

He added: “Apart from the basic aviation courses, the training center will be offering various customer service and leadership trainings for companies in Hawassa and South regional states, contributing for their success.”

Ethiopian Aviation Academy (EAA) is the largest and most modern aviation academy in Africa recognised as ICAO regional Training Centre of Excellence.

A I R WATCH Quits Aviation FTZ to Reduce Processing Ti m e f o r I m p o r t e r s a t M M I A

QUITS Staff and NCS officials at the free trade zone Ugo Aliogo Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has set up Free Trade Command at the Quits Aviation Services Free Trade Zone (FTZ) centre, a development that is expected to reduce processing time for importers and exporters.

Speaking at the unveiling of the Command, the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Quits Aviation Services Limited, Sam Iwuajoku, stated that before Customs decided to establish the command, there was long delay in the processing of imports and exports, which was adversely affecting business in the free trade zone.

He decried the situation where the bureaucracy remained one of the major challenges faced by businesses utilising the terminals, but expressed relief with the establishment of the Free Trade Command by Customs.

Iwuajoku also noted that before the creation of the Customs Free Trade Command, processing documents for any import through Murtala Mohammed International Airport Custom Command, took very long time, adding that to improve service delivery, the NCS created the Custom Free Trade Zone command which headquarters is based at Ibeju-Lekki, Lagos.

He further explained that the NCS decided to create a branch of the Command at Quit Aviation Trade zone to ensure that all the free trade zone companies within the airport would process their imports and exports through the Quits Aviation facility.

He remarked that before the launch, they requested for Quits Aviation to give Nigeria Customs Service an office, which the management acquiesced, adding that the office has Iinternet enabled computer systems and the server connects to NCS server bankrolled by the company for effective service delivery.

He added that the Quit Aviation free trade zone has a full Customs Free Trade Zone Command in it, which is not only for Quits, but it is for all enterprises and free trade zones within airport area.

“Like what I told them before, whenever we have goods and bill of lading coming, we write to Nigeria Export Processing Zones Authority (NEPZA), who will in turn write to the Custom Commander at Murtala Mohammad Airport, When the goods arrive there, due to Nigeria’s bureaucracy, the processing that is supposed to take one hour or 30 minutes to carry out, will eventually take one day and sometimes, three or four days.

“So, by putting their Command here it will bring an end to the red tape, so we will no longer have issues of delay. Remember, we are at the airport and we deal with aviation spare parts for aircraft that is on ground, and those things are things you need urgently. So, with the zone here it will help to expedite our processing and results. Therefore, it is a welcome development.

The bureaucratic processes can lead to an increase in damage of perishable goods,” he said.

Iwuajoku also stated that the delay creates huge losses for “us as well as companies that want to move their goods”.

According to him, “Sometimes the delay causes damage to perishable goods. The major problems we have at the ports both Tin Can ports are caused by human factors. I do not see any reason why a container will arrive in Nigeria’s ports and the Customs will inspect the goods and conclude every necessity, and when it gets out of the port, another unit of customs will stop it and start

another inspection.

“When you go to some countries, something that is supposed to take 30 minutes, takes days in Nigeria. It is discouraging and that is why in Nigeria we are losing investors; they rather go to Ghana where they will not get all this ‘red tape’.

In Nigeria, we are causing ourselves problems.

These are the challenges we have in the country, and all this adds to the cost of doing business here.

Setting up a Customs command here cuts off all this ‘red tape’, so we will no longer experience those issues.”

He also said it was difficult to quantify the monetary values of the goods that come into the free trade zone, disclosing that sometimes, they might have 20 to 100 orders per day, which comes from overseas.

Iwuajoku further said: “What is being imported might be a small item, while another might be big. If it is aircraft spares some spares can come in together but might belong to different airlines.

So, the new Command will help but at the same time again it is depending on Nigerian factor. We hope that with the coming of a new government, these bottlenecks would be addressed. In other countries, the documentation processes usually takes a short period of time, while in Nigeria it takes days, which is very discouraging and that is why we are losing investors. These investors prefer to go to Ghana where they will not suffer these bottlenecks. Quit Aviation import value for 2022 was over $12 million and this was due to the construction we are carrying out. All the materials we are using are imported from overseas.

“MRO- Maintenance, Repair and Overhaul saves a lot of capital flight. But the challenge we are having is the Nigeria factor. For instance, some of the Nigeria pilots don’t appreciate anything made in Nigeria; they prefer to take the repairs and maintenance of the aircraft overseas. They tell the owners of the aircraft that it cannot be properly maintained or repaired in Nigeria. We have some domestic airlines that do their MROs here such as Air Peace. In the past we had Aero when they were still doing well, so they bring their Boeing B737 aircraft. In the last one year, we have witnessed decrease due to the economic policy of the government and inconsistence of policies. Federal government has good policy, but implementation is the problem. Before 2015, if you were here, you will see about 10 aircraft. People come in and out and based on that there is an activity. Presently the activities here are very low, but after the election, it may pick up. There is no surge even during this election period, when compared to 2015, but there are still some activities taking place.”

On her part, the Comptroller FTZ, Customs, Yisa Omogbehin, said the command wanted to facilitate trade, adding that with the establishment of a free trade zone in Quits Aviation, it would make Customs dream come true.

She said: “We are glad that we have a free trade zone here. There are always bottlenecks everywhere and these are some of the things that we want to find out why there are bottlenecks and to eliminate those bottlenecks. Anywhere NEPZA is overseeing that place automatically becomes a free trade zone and that is the message I am taking to the Glass House (Customs headquarters) and talk with the Area Comptroller, and ensure we address those issues. Definitely, there cannot be two area comptrollers who will process documents. The old comptroller and I will try as much as possible to make sure that things are done correctly.”

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BUSINESSWORLD

BUSINESS PERSONALITY

Chantelle Abdul: Courage of an Ingenious Business Leader Oluchi Chibuzor takes a look at how Mojec Meter Company and Meter Services Hub under her leadership of Ms Chantelle Abdul, the Group Managing Director and Chief executive officer of Mojec International Holdings has produced over a million meters in the Nigerian market, pioneered projects like the Mobile MAP initiative, a meter penetration and partnership idea, which enables the Mojec to get more Nigerians conveniently metered

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lobally, thriving companies can trace their success to the point of recognising opportunities in problems and turning such into global solutions through innovation, service delivery, product quality, ethics and integrity and financial results but are not exclusive to the business acumen and vision of a leader.

One such company that can boast of visionary leadership with strong acumen contributing to the growth trajectory of the company for the past thirty-eight years is Mojec international holdings, led by Ms Chantelle Abdul, the Group Managing Director and Chief executive officer of Mojec International Holdings who was recently awarded the Leadership Business Person of the Year 2022.

Ms Abdul has demonstrated her prowess in business circles and oversees a portfolio of companies across Africa and Asia namely: Mojec Meter Asset Management Company, Virtuitis Solaris Power, Mojec Meter Company and Meter Services Hub. She has successfully led the growth of this family business into becoming West Africa’s largest manufacturer of smart meters and has expanded its reach from manufacturing to power generation, transmission and distribution.

Under her leadership, the company has produced over a million meters in the Nigerian market and pioneered projects like the Mobile MAP initiative, a meter penetration and partnership idea, which enables the Mojec Meter Asset Management Company Limited (M3AC) to get more Nigerians conveniently metered. Under her watch she has also initiated the vendor financing to the power sector, which enables DisCos to give out meters in massive numbers for the first time after the sector was privatised as well as won several

Abdul

awards such as the PWC award, the Nigerian stock exchange & Business Day Next Bulls Award, as well was honoured by the German government as one of Africa’s Hidden champions and has been listed under the London

stock exchange as companies to watch out for.

Trailing the business world and the power sector with her leadership prowess, Mojec International Holdings has rapidly expanded the number of

prepaid electricity meters in Nigerian homes and offices, which marks a new era of fair and accurate electricity and bill payment feasible, and with its state-of-theart Advanced Metering Infrastructure (AMI) monitoring system for easy monitoring and tracking of field meters, DisCos can read, monitor as well as manage revenue collection. Her vision is to position the company as one of the few indigenous companies floated on the London Stock Exchange and the New York Exchange.

Without a doubt, Ms Chantelle Abdul has successfully led Mojec to be one of the leading companies to become the largest manufacturer, distributor, and installer of smart metering, power generation and energy solutions services providers in all of Sub-Saharan Africa.

As the Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the Meter Manufacturers and Assemblers Association of Nigeria (MMAAN), her continuous inputs and footprints in the sector and world at large as continually put her in the limelight and earned her recognition beyond the borders of Nigeria, such as the 2016 Outstanding Woman in Power Regional Award by the West African Power Industry Awards, the ECOWAS & ECREE Women in Energy Award, the Most Enterprising Female of the year 2018 at the Nigeria Entrepreneurs Award, and now the Leadership Business Person of 2022.

Ms Chantelle’s growth mindset has made a name for herself in the power sector whilst she penetrates other human endeavours like Agriculture, Real Estate, Retail and Energy where she is continually making waves as she believes that Opportunities abound everywhere and none can be compared to that of Africa because a lot of her sectors still need to be harnessed.

Needed for Continuity: Umo Eno’s A.R.I.S.E. Agenda Bassey Inyang

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n Saturday, March 11, 2023, the people of Akwa Ibom State, like their compatriots across the length and breadth of Nigeria, will troop out to elect their governor for the political dispensation commencing May 29, 2023.

For the people of the state, it will be a choice between the devil they know and the angel they do not know; a choice between certainty and uncertainty, and a choice between going forward and moving backward.

The choice will be between progressing with the current trajectory of development, which they have witnessed in the last seven and a half years, giving a glimpse of the short, medium and long term developmental strides of the state, and treading a path that nobody can decipher at the moment.

From what they have seen under the administration of Udom Emmanuel, the prospect of re-inventing the wheel does not look attractive.

Pastor Umo Eno, the governorship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) for the 2023 election, is currently campaigning on an agenda he has strategically christened A.R.I.S.E. (agricultural revolution, rural development, infrastructural maintenance/ advancement, security management and educational advancement). A cursory look at the programme shows a deliberate attempt by the candidate to continue and, in fact, progress along the path which the current administration has drawn up – the path that has enabled Akwa Ibom to enjoy relative peace

in a country that is plagued by insecurity, thus creating the environment that has made development in all sectors thrive.

A major bane of development in Nigeria has been the proclivity by successors to discard the programmes and projects of their predecessors, no matter how lofty and beneficial they might have been, for the vain-glorious pursuit of those that would separate them from the latter, based purely on the pedestrian objective of not wanting to be identified with the programmes of others.

It is the reason the country is littered with abandoned and uncompleted projects and programmes that have cost tax payers colossal sums of money.

At its current level of development on all fronts – infrastructure, healthcare delivery, security, industrialization, job creation, rural development and education – Akwa Ibom needs a leader who would use the template that has been designed by the current administration to take development many notches higher, for the betterment of the lives of the people, today and for generations yet unborn. It does not need a leader that would pander to political interests by seeking to chart an unknown path that may lead to a reversal of the gains that have been recorded these past seven and a half years, which could result in complete retrogression.

Eno has demonstrated capacity and competence to be the leader the state needs in the post-Emmanuel era, both as a private sector operator who has run successful enterprises and created

thousands of jobs, and in the public sector where he ran a ministry whose activities affected the generality of the people. His experience in the two sectors has prepared him adequately for the onerous task of building on the gains of the current administration. He is, undisputedly, the round peg that can easily fit into the round hole in the state.

The A.R.I.S.E. agenda of the PDP candidate shows a clear understanding of the immediate needs of the state. These include food security, in a country where natural conditions that include climate change, and the high rate of insecurity, have impacted negatively on food supply; expansion of infrastructural development in critical sectors; further improvement in healthcare delivery and education, as well as a deliberate and focused rural development programme that would discourage rural-urban migration by making all parts of the state conducive to live and work.

A deeply religious man who shepherds over a large gathering of Christians, Eno is widely known to be a man who not only preaches peace, but also practically promotes it. His disposition to peace puts him in good stead to work for the sustenance of the peace that makes Akwa Ibom stand out, relatively speaking, in the midst of insecurity.

With the agenda, Eno hopes to capitalize on his many decades’ experience in job creation to expand the frontiers of industrialization by not only setting up industries, but also making the investment

climate in the state even more conducive for private enterprise, with the aim of boosting the job creation efforts of his administration, if voted into office. The candidate recognizes the correlation between unemployment and insecurity, the reason his development agenda would pursue job creation on a massive scale.

The policy of the current administration to open up Akwa Ibom for tourism and investment through land and air transportation has put the state on the national and international map, with Ibom Air as the flagship of this endeavour. With the A.R.I.S.E. agenda, Eno hopes to make the airline a major carrier in the Gulf of Guinea and the West African subregion, for the realization of the objective of facilitating the emergence of Akwa Ibom as an industrial hub in the two regions. This underscores the candidate’s eagerness to drive home the transformation that has commenced, which is aimed at turning Akwa Ibom from a purely civil service state to one with an economy that is private sector-driven.

Whether intentional or coincidental, the A.R.I.S.E. sobriquet resonates with the Dakkada philosophy of the Udom administration which challenges Akwa Ibomites to rise to greatness by utilizing their God-given potential to attain any height of their dreams.

Without doubt, this signifies the PDP candidate’s readiness to continue with the lofty programmes and policies of the present administration that have set the state on the path to economic development, growth and prosperity, which is encapsulated in the Yak ika iso iso (Let’s continue to move forward) mantra of the present administration. t *OZBOH MJWFT JO 6ZP

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BUSINESSWORLD

AVIATION

NIGCOMSAT’s Bold Steps towards Satellite Service Offering The Nigerian Airspace Management Agency and the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority are collaborating with the Nigerian Communications Satellite Limited to expand satellite based navigation of aircraft to different destinations in Africa. Such collaboration will enhance safety and precision in flight operations, save funds for airlines and boost revenue of government agencies, writes Chinedu Eze

L

ast week the Nigerian Airspace Management Agency (NAMA), held demonstration and conference on Satellite Based Augmentation System (SBAS), which is a system that will provide satellite navigation and communication to pilots. For this to be possible, the pilots flying in Nigeria and other parts of Africa will depend on the satellite provided by NIGCOMSAT. Migration of NAMA satellite based navigation to NIGCOMSAT satellite is not just to cover Nigeria’s airspace but the whole of African airspace and improve precision for landing and take-off for pilots.

NIGCOMSAT is a company under the supervision of the Federal Ministry of Communications and Digital Economy, responsible for the operation and management of Nigerian Communications Satellites.

The NIGCOMSAT was established on the 4th of April 2006 for the provision and oversight of Fixed Satellite Services (FSS) to its customers.

Over the years, it has provided wholesome satellite service to millions of Nigerians, but according to the officials of the agency, NIGCOMSAT has been underutilised over the years because the demand of its services has been largely for security, ease of communication and others, but it has the capacity to serve the whole of Africa and beyond.

NigComSat-1R was launched in 2011, after NIGCOMSAT-1, Nigeria’s first satellite was de-orbited due to technical reasons. The launch of NIGCOMSAT1R, which was a replacement of NIGCOMSAT-1, was a huge accomplishment for Nigeria and this satellite could be used for demography, including the planning and mapping of population surveys, the mapping of census enumeration areas, the planning and monitoring of rural and urban growth, and the provision of early warnings for natural disasters like floods, earthquakes, volcanic eruptions and storms.

ABOUT SBAS

Satellite-Based Augmentation System (SBAS) is

measurements taken by accurately located reference stations deployed across an entire continent.

NIGCOMSAT AND PBN

augmentation of a global navigation satellite system, which is a method of improving the navigation system’s attributes, such as precision, reliability, and availability, through the integration of external information into the calculation process.

According to Skybrary.aero, SBAS is a wide area differential Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) signal augmentation system which uses a number of geostationary satellites, able to cover vast areas, to broadcast primary GNSS data which has been provided with ranging, integrity and

correction information by a network of SBAS ground stations. While the primary purpose of SBAS is to provide integrity assurance, use of the system also increases the accuracy and reduces position errors to less than one meter for pilots.

The system helps pilots and aircraft in many ways because SBAS improves the accuracy and reliability of GNSS information by correcting signal measurement errors and by providing information about the accuracy, integrity, continuity and availability of its signals. SBAS uses GNSS

The acting Managing Director of NAMA, Matthew Pwajok, explained during the SBAS flight demonstration at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja, that Satellite Based Augmentation System means pilots using satellite systems to be able to navigate their aircraft in the airspace.

Pwajok further explained that it would be using equipment not based on the ground to guide flights, but using satellite systems to navigate, which is akin to what NAMA had installed years ago, the Performance based Navigation (PBN). He however said with NIGCOMSAT satellite it would cover broader airspace, from Nigerian to regional airspace that can serve the African region and beyond.

“Some years ago, Nigeria implemented what we call performance based navigation, which is a satellite system for navigation and what it does is for you to use satellite base system with an aircraft equipped with performance system to navigate or to fly. When the aircraft uses that with ground procedures that are developed with flight procedure design, it enables it to manoeuvre, approach and land. It can also be used for en-route whereby you provide air routes, so that after takeoff it follows what we call a standard aircraft departure that is based on satellite still. That is using a satellite to develop manouvres for an aircraft for takeoff to climb to the en-route phase. When it reaches the en-route phase, when you have an air route based on satellite it continues with the same satellite system to also fly from one point to the other.

So the satellite based navigation system covers all phase of flight,” Pwajok said.

The story continues online on www.thisdaylive.com

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IMAGES

T H I S D AY ˾ DAY ͯͮ˜ ͰͮͰͱ

Photo Editor Abiodun Ajala Email abiodun.ajala@thisdaylive.com

Presidential Candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu (centre), flanked

by Ekiti State Governor, Mr. Biodun Oyebanji (left); immediate-past Governor of Ekiti State, Dr. Kayode Fayemi (right); and other leaders of the party at the APC presidential campaign rally at the Ekiti Parapo Pavilion in Ado-Ekiti, Ekiti State…recently

L-R: A clergyman, Revd Bunmi Jenyo; Osun State Governor, Senator Ademola Adeleke; and ‘Church Planter’ (Baba Majiyamo), Prophet Adewale Adeyemo at the 20th anniversary of the CAC Mountain of Grace Church, Alekunwodo area, Osogbo, Osun State…recently

The National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) Director-General, Brigadier General Yusha’u Dogara Ahmed (left), presenting a souvenir to former Nigerian Head of State and Founder of NYSC, General Yakubu Gowon (rtd) (right), during the Corps boss visit to Gowon at his residence in Asokoro, Abuja…recently

L-R: President of Tanzania, Suluhu Samia; President Muhammadu Buhari; and President of African Development Bank (AfDB) Group, Dr. Akinwumi Adesina, at the Feed Africa Summit in Dakar, Senegal... recently

L-R: President, Actors Guild of Nigeria, Emeka Ejezie Rollas; Host/Convener of ‘Celebrity Prayse’, Pastor Paul Emmanuel; representative of Lagos State First Lady, Mrs. Nkem Sofela; General Overseer, Revival Assembly Church, Apostle Anselm Madubuko; and his wife, Mrs. Emmy Madubuko, at the event with the theme: ‘Non Shall Be Missing’, held at the Civic Centre in Lagos…recently PHOTO: SUNDAY ADIGUN

L-R: Chief Executive Officer, House of Tara Int’l, Tara Fela-Durotoye; The Event Xperience Africa (TEXA) Convener/CEO Zapphaire Events, Funke Bucknor-Obruthe; Partner at Banwo Ighodalo, Stella Duru; and CEO, Aspire Coronation Trust Foundation, Alile Oruene, during ‘The Event Xperience Africa (TEXA) conference in Lagos…recently

L-R: National Secretary, Peoples Redemption Party (PRP), Babatunde Alli; presidential candidate, PRP, Alhaji Kola Abiola; Chairman, PRP, Mallam Falalu Bello; and vice-presidential candidate, PRP, Haruna Zego Haro, during the PRP South-west presidential rally held at the Adamasingba Stadium in Ibadan, Oyo State…recently

This

Weekend

FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 10, 2023

Spotlight on

FEMALE PRESIDENTIAL, GOVERNORSHIP CANDIDATES for 2023 Elections

Group Features Editor: CHIEMELIE EZEOBI chiemelie.ezeobi@thisdaylive.com

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ͯͮ˜ ͰͮͰͱ ˾ T H I S D AY

COVER

Spotlight on Female Presidential, Governorship Candidates for 2023 General Elections (1) For the 2023 General Elections, about 25 females are contesting to be governors of their respective states on various political platforms, a move that has been lauded in many corners.The adulation stemmed from the underlying concerns over low participation of women in politics, which has continuously led to the clamour for 35 per cent affirmative action to ensure inclusion of more women in governance. Recently, Women Radio 91.7FM, with support from UN Women and Canadian government, engaged them to unveil their agenda for the poll. Chiemelie Ezeobi and Rebecca Ejifoma, who chronicled some of the women, write that their incursion into politics was a welcome development given the hitherto abysmal statistics of women in such positions In the forthcoming 2023 General Elections, about 416 persons will be contesting to be governors across 28 states of the federation. Out of that number, only 25 are females.

For many, this abysmal number calls for improved female participation in politics, especially with the fact

LANCASTER-OKORO NNENNAYA NGWAMMA

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chartered accountant, Ngwamma was born on August 26, 1925. She attended Government School and Presbyterian Mission, School, Arochukwu. She also attended Hope Waddell Training Institute, Calabar; Leeds College (now Leeds Polytechnic), Yo r k s h i r e , England; Sheffield U n i v e r s i t y, England; and Regent Street Polytechnic, London.

According to Wikipedia, she rose from the ranks of an accountant to chief accountant and then financial controller, Eastern Nigeria Development Corporation.

She was a member Justice Obi Okoye Commission of Enquiry, Eastern Nigeria Broadcasting Service; and member, Economic Survey Team, Eastern Nigeria Government Industries.

She is also the Principal Partner, Lancaster Okoro and Company, Chartered Accountants; member, Management Audit Team, Oriental Lines Limited, Government Trading Agency; member, Imo State Public Accounts Committee; Chairman and Managing Director, Lanco Consultants Limited; Director, Golden Guinea Breweries Limited, Umuahia; fellow, Chartered Association of Certified Accountants; fellow, Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria; fellow, British Institute of Management; Director, Science of Mind Organisation (Church of Religious Science), California; Patron, Nzuko Arochukwu; and member, Rotary Club.

JOHNSON-OGBUNEKE GLADYS IKONNAYA UGOZIKA: SOCIAL DEMOCRATIC PARTY, ABIA (GOVERNORSHIP)

A Nigerian medical doctor, politician & businesswoman, Ugozika ran as the Abia SDP governorship candidate in the 2023 Governorship Elections in Nigeria.

The 58-years-old hails from Abia State and is a member of the Social Democratic Party (SDP).

She was picked as the party governorship candidate in the state.

A medical doctor by profession, she later joined politics in order to bring about the needed change in the political atmosphere of Nigeria.

A graduate of the College of Medicine from University of Nigeria, Nsukka where she obtained her MBBS (Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery),

DAHIRU AHMED AISHATU: ALL PROGRESSIVES CONGRESS, ADAMAWA (GOVERNORSHIP)

Aishatu also known as Binani, was born on 11th August 1971.

A Nigerian senator of the All Progressives Congress (APC) re p re s e n t i n g Adamawa Central senatorial district in the 9th Assembly, she was formerly a member of the House of Representatives representing Yola North/ Yola South/Girei federal constituency as a member of the People’s Democratic Party in the 7th Assembly (2011–2015).

She started her early school education at Kaduna and completed it at Gwadabawa Primary School, Jimeta Yola. Afterwards, she went to the UK for her

that since democracy, Nigeria has not produced any female elected president, vice or even governor, rather few are relegated to the position of a deputy governor.

These and many more were reasons why Women Radio 91.7FM, with support from UN Women and Canadian government, recently engaged all 25 of

them to unveil their agenda for the poll. Organised by the Executive Director, Women Radio, Mrs Toun Sonaiya, who is passionate about women, she is of the opinion that if 25 women can govern 25 states in the country, “peace will come back to Nigeria”, while charging the media to project the female

university education where she obtained a Higher National Diploma in Electrical Engineering at the University of Southampton. She is currently the Chairman of the Senate Committee on Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

She was declared winner of the APC Adamawa governorship primary after polling 430 votes to defeat her closest contestant, Nuhu Ribadu, the pioneer Executive Chairman of Nigeria’s Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), who got 288 votes.

UDOH EMEM MONDAY: SOCIAL DEMOCRATIC PARTY, AKWA IBOM (GOVERNORSHIP)

Monday is an expert in integrated reservoir modelling, asset development strategy, petroleum, exploration and appraisal, technical Reservoir Simulation.

With excellent gas skills and proven track record of managing diverse projects, she has been recognised as a team player that thrives on challenges and is eager to work in a highly competitive and dynamic working environment to contribute to growth and advancement of the organisation.

With the skills she has applied effectively in a competitive corporate world and with her enhanced knowledge and expertise, she is bringing that to bear in her quest to occupy the number one position in Akwa Ibom State.

DR. ROSELINE ADA CHENGE: ACTION DEMOCRATIC PARTY, BENUE (GOVERNORSHIP)

Roseline Ada Chenge is a former Benue State gubernatorial aspirant on the platforms of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in 2007, and All Progressives Congress (APC) in 2015.

She has a string of firsts attached to her name. She is not only Northern Nigeria’s first female mechanical engineer but also the first female Managing Director, Benue State Water Board, and the first female Managing Director of the 12 River Basins in the country.

In this election, she is clamouring to become her state’s first female governor. She is also a fellow of the Nigerian Institute of Engineers.

ABUBAKAR FATIMA: AFRICAN DEMOCRATIC CONGRESS, BORNO (GOVERNORSHIP)

Abubakar Fatima went to high school in Iran then studied medicine in Hacettepe Medical University in Ankara, Turkey.

She has working experience as an intern in both Turkey and Nigeria.

She started working in psychiatry at a Trust grade doctor for a year. She is based at Cedar Ward, Harrogate district hospital which is an inpatient psychiatric ward in Harrogate for working age adults.

With her knowledge in the field of psychiatry, she has been keen on working in general adult psychiatry.

AISHATU MAHMUD: NATIONAL RESCUE MOVEMENT, KANO (GOVERNORSHIP)

Aishatu Mahmud obtained her first degree in 1997 from the prestigious Bayero University, Kano,

with B.sc honors in Economics and a Master’s degree in Business Administration (MBA) from the same university in 2000.

After her NYSC, she joined the private sector as an ‘Officer-Commercial Banking’ at United Bank for Africa Plc (UBA) from September 1998 to May 2001 and then moved over to Karama Industrial Ventures where she served as Administrative Officer from June 2001 to May 2003.

Her experience, commitment to duty and vision then propelled her to the public sector as a civil servant; from 2003 to 2006 where she served as an Administrative Officer at the then Federal Ministry of Internal Affairs.

She has also worked with the Rural Electrification Agency as Assistant Manager in 2007 before moving to the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) later that year where she served as ‘Manager – Market Analysis and Compliance’ from June 2007 to May 2010, ‘Principal Manager – Tariff & Rates’ from July 2013 to May 2018, and ‘Assistant General Manager – Head, Tariff & Rates’ from May 2018 till November 2020.

According to her profile, she rose through the ranks in service and gained experience and expertise in both public and the private sector, with a great array of personal development training cutting across Oil & Gas, Electricity Regulation and Strategy, International Financing Framework and Management, Process Re-engineering, Financial Analysis and Utility Infrastructure Management among others.

ABDULAHI-IYA KHADIJAH: ALL PROGRESSIVES GRAND ALLIANCE, NIGER (GOVERNORSHIP)

An award winning innovator an ideation specialist, a serial social entrepreneur, lawyer, author, publisher, and mentor, Khadija founded a group of social enterprises to foster the SDG goals of sustainable communities.

A social change actor who is passionate about her community, she is now charting a new frontier as the curator of Tatsuniyya Network, a platform that is documenting African culture and Values through animated storytelling; African original folklores, history and African contemporary life towards a more effective futuristic Africa.

She believes that the African child must have a strong sense of self when s/he knows her story and heritage before figuring where s/he’s headed.

Khadijah is a fellow and certified Gender based Violence specialist, a Fellow of the Institute of Management Consultants (FIMC) a Certified Management Consultant (CMC).

With an LLB from the University of Abuja and Masters in Law & Diplomacy from the University of Jos, continuous learning, focus & determination are her strategy for personal growth and development.

Khadijah’s worries led to varied journeys where she founded a variety of social enterprises & businesses.

She is the president of the Women Community in Africa. Notably, the CEO of S. I. Magazine Ltd and the founder/Executive Director of Beyond Mentors Inc. The executive Director of Peaches Confections Ltd and Presently curating Tatsuniyya Tea and Tatsuniyya Network; twin start ups -recreating the Nigerian folktales, history and contemporary African stories into animations.

EVANGELIST DR. EBITI NDOKJEGEDE: (PRESIDENTIAL)

Evangelist Dr. Ebiti Ndok-Jegede (born Ebiti Onoyom Ndok) is a Nigerian politician who ran for presidency in the 2011 presidential election under the platform of

candidates too.

For these women, the stakes are high as they march to the polls on February 25, 2023 for the Presidential/National Assembly election and on March 11, 2023 for the Governorship/State House of Assembly election. the United National Party for Development, a party she once served as National Chairman.

Born in Ibadan, the capital city of Oyo State, South-Western Nigeria, Ndok-Jegede is a native of Akwa Ibom State, Nigeria. She attended St Anne’s School Ibadan for secondary school education.

She started her career as a practicing nurse at the University College Hospital, Ibadan before she proceeded to the United Kingdom, where she obtained a degree in Management, Law, and Diplomatic Studies and also did Social Welfare training.

In 2011, she was the only woman who ran for president of Nigeria under the platform of the United National Party for Development, receiving 98,262 votes. She hopes to repeat this feat in this election.

USMAN HADIZA: ZENITH LABOUR PARTY, ZAMFARA (GOVERNORSHIP)

Usman Hadiza was born on January 2, 1976.

She came to public consciousness for her role as one of the co-founders of the Bring Back Our Girls campaign. She is also a founding member of the ruling All Progressives Congress.

According to Wikipedia, Usman was born in Zaria to a Fulani ruling class family of the Sullubawa clan.

Her father, Yusufu Bala Usman, the grandson of Sarkin Katsina Muhammadu Katsina Dikko, was a prominent academic and historian. He later founded the Centre for Democratic Development, Research and Training in Zaria.

Her great g r a n d f a t h e r, Abdullahi Bayero (father to her paternal grandmother), was the 10th Emir of Kano from 1926 to 1953, her paternal grand father was the Durbin Katsina, her grand uncle was Usman Nagogo the Emir of Katsina and her great grand father was Sarkin Katsina Muhammadu Dikko (father to her paternal grandfather).

Hadiza grew up on the campus of Ahmadu Bello University in Zaria, where her father worked.

She started her education at the university staff primary school and went ahead to complete her secondary education.

In 1996, she enrolled at the university and received a bachelor’s degree in business administration in 2000. She later received a master’s degree in development studies from the University of Leeds in 2009. In 1999, she spent a year at the Centre for Democratic Development and Research Training in Zaria as a research assistant.

She then worked at the Bureau of Public Enterprises from July 2000 to August 2004 as an enterprise officer. From October 2004 to January 2008, she was then hired by the UNDP for the Federal Capital Territory Administration as a special assistant to the Minister on project implementation.

In 2011, Hadiza campaigned and lost for the federal constituency of Musawa/Matazu as a candidate of the Congress for Progressive Change.

She then joined the Good Governance Group in Nigeria, a non-governmental organisation, as the country director of strategy from 2011 to July 2015.

In 2015, following his election Governor Nasir Ahmad el-Rufai appointed her as Chief of Staff to the Governor of Kaduna State. She was appointed as the Managing Director of Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) in July 2016 by President Muhammadu Buhari until last year when she left after series of opposition from the then Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi.

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T H I S D AY ˾ ͯͮ˜ ͰͮͰͱ

NEWS

British Council Announces 2023 UK Alumni Award Winners in Nigeria Twelve UK alumni in four categories were recognised for their outstanding achievements as business professionals, entrepreneurs, and community leaders as well as for their contribution to strengthening ties between the UK and Nigeria.

The British Council announced the recipients of the Study UK Alumni Awards 2023 in Nigeria at a prestigious ceremony held at Eko Hotel, Lagos.

This year, the winners received a grant prize of £4000, which could be used for their professional development or a grant to their respective organisations.

Following a call for applications, and an in-depth scoring and review process by a judging panel, recipients were selected for the four award

categories, namely the Business and Innovation Award, Culture, and Creativity Award, Science and Sustainability Award, and finally, Social Action Award.

The prestigious international award celebrates UK higher education and the achievements of UK alumni all over the world.

Now in its ninth year, the award received more than 1,200 applications from international UK alumni in nearly 100 countries, representing more than 120 UK higher education institutions across the UK. Nigeria is one of the many countries hosting the awards this year. National-level awards are taking place in 18 countries in 2023, including India, Saudi Arabia, the USA, and Vietnam.

In her opening remarks, Director Examinations, British

Council Nigeria, Marniee Nottingham, who spoke on behalf of the Country Director, British Council Nigeria, and West Africa Cluster Lead, Lucy Pearson, said that “Applicants from these countries have been entered into the Global Alumni Awards to run concurrently with the national awards.

“The Global Alumni Award winners will be invited to the UK for a professional networking opportunity in late summer 2023.” She further disclosed that a Nigerian Alumnus, Israel Balogun was the Global Alumni Award Winner in 2022 under the Social Action category.

A professor of Public Health at the Bayero University and Aminu Kano Teaching Hospital, Muktar Gadanya,

led other finalists to emerge the overall winner in Science and Sustainability category with a grant prize of £4,000. He was a graduate of the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine.

The Culture and Creativity Award was presented to Isah Matankari, a graduate of Aston University. Matankari is a performing artist and founder of Creative Culture, an Abujabased edutainment start-up that produces engaging experiences and media content for Africa’s post-millennial generation.

He has been instrumental in growing the FCT’s creative industry by building communities, hosting over 52 events, and creating paid opportunities for over 150 young creatives.

IWS Solicits Better Living Conditions for Widows

L-R: District Executive Committee members, Chartered Institute of Taxation of Nigeria, Mowe/Arepo and District Society; Mr. Oloruntoba Niyi, Mr. Adebekun Rotimi, Mrs. Ajiboye Olayemi, 15th President of CITN, Chief Adesina Adedayo, mni, FCTI, Pioneer District Chairman, Akin Akindele, LL.B, ACTI. and Mr. Abikoye Olusanjo during the special general meeting with the 15th President in Arepo, Ogun State

Stories Mary Nnah The International Women’s Society (IWS) has called on Nigerians and the world to continue working together to create a world where every widow can live with dignity, hope, and a sustainable future.

Speaking during IWS’s WINYEF 2023, a New Year feast for the widows with the theme “Sustainability for Widows Impacting Sustainability Programme: The IWS 24-year Journey”, the Chairperson, Widows Trust Fund, Mrs. Banke Adeola said that in Nigeria, widowhood most times comes with maltreatment, discrimination,

and stigmatisation.

Noting that Traditions and Neo-patriarchy present challenges to Nigerian women, she added, “Some traditions bar women from inheriting land and property. Widows are forced to drink the water used to wash their husband’s corpse – in the belief that it will kill them if they are guilty of causing his death – or of being made to declare their innocence before a local deity.

They may be forced to shave their hair. It is the most gruesome experience anyone could face.”

“As widows move through their own experiences of grief, loss, or trauma after the death of a spouse, they may also face

SNF Food Donates to Orphanage SNF Foods Limited recently the Hearts of Gold Hospice in Surulere, Lagos where donate food items and also gave financial support to the children.

The Managing Director, SNF Foods, Ashish Misra explained that the company’s inputs will be used to support Heart of Gold Hospice’s mission of providing high-quality care to the children currently living in the orphanage including nutrition which is in tandem with the company’s vision to craft high-quality products that people love, to keep them active and healthy in body and spirit.

“We believe that it is our responsibility to make a positive difference in the world and are honored to be able to support such a worthy cause. We look forward to working with Heart of Gold Hospice Institution and making a positive impact in our community. This initiative is an example that we can make a positive difference within our areas and communities by

taking continuous small steps in the right direction”, he said.

Misra who said that Hearts of Gold Hospice, is a wellmanaged care home for children without much support, revealed that between 60-64children are living in the care home with most of the children being orphans and also suffering from medical conditions like Down’s syndrome and spectrum disorders, added, “The idea is to provide a care package of Activa oil, Whippy Mayo, bread and other food products and cash donation for the children as part of our ‘Doing Better by Doing Good’ initiative.”

“SNF Foods believes in supporting and assisting the communities in which we operate. We believe that happy communities replete with good nutrition and good growth opportunities are the model communities and we would like to play our part in building a stronger society”, he noted further.

economic insecurity, discrimination, stigmatisation, and harmful traditional practices.

“The stigma or outright rejection a woman who has lost her husband can face often leaves her abandoned. Superstition causes other women to believe they may lose their husbands if they associate with a widow, while some men fear they, too, will die.”

She said therefore that it was for this reason that IWS established a Widows Trust Fund 24 years ago, long before the United Nations ratified International Widows Day, which is at the forefront of sustainable development for widows in Nigeria.

For over two decades, over 1,500 widows have been empowered. Generous donations have constantly sustained their businesses.

The occasion had the presence of the First Lady of Lagos State, Dr (Mrs.) Ibijoke SanwoOlu, led by the IWS President, Mrs. Ifeoma Monye, where over 200 widows’ faces filled with quantifiable joy as they went away with not only lunch boxes but cash gifts, raw food items and various tools and equipment to enhance their earning capacities further and empower them to be self-sufficient; providing for their children.

National Lotteries Regulatory Commission Grants Betway License Extension Leading global online betting and gaming brand Betway has announced the renewal of the national gaming license of Betway from the National Lottery Regulatory Commission inAbuja, enabling itsoperationsinall36states and 774 local government areas in Nigeria for another five years.

TheDirectorGeneraloftheCommission, Mr. Lanre Gbajabiamila, whilepresentingtherenewedlicense to the Betway team commented on the high compliance of Betway to regulations guiding the gaming and betting category in the past five years,sayingthatBetwayisoneofthe most compliant betting companies in Nigeria, He commended the management and board of the company and encouraged them to continue with this impeccable compliance record while assuring the Betway teamofaregulator-businessrelationshipthatisevenbetterthanthevery cordial relationship experienced in the recent past.

Anthony Werkman on behalf of the Betway brand, said, “We are honoured to have had the privilege

of serving our Nigerian customers in a way that is consistent with our globalpracticesbyputtingcustomer satisfactionandresponsiblegaming at the centre of our operations, so wearetrulygratefultotheNational LotteryRegulatoryCommissionfor extendingourlicenceinNigeria.Asa brand,Betwayconsidersregulatory complianceinanycountrywhereit operates as a primary responsibility and ensuring our customers are playing in a fair, safe, secure and responsible environment, will help us to continue to grow globally.”

Mr. Chris Ubosi who lead the teamtoreceive the renewed license added that Betway has long been well-regarded due to their generous service in various Nigerian communities with initiatives that include the donation of relief materials to flood victims in Bayelsa State, the provision of portable water in Lagos, the donation of several million’s worths of sports equipment to gyms across Nigeria and the provision of medical finance assistance alongside the Lagos State Gaming Authority.

GARLANDS FOR A SCHOLAR IN GOVERNANCE Sam Hart Over the course of his administration, Abia State Governor, Dr. Okezie Victor Ikpeazu has had a number of books written in his honor to document his monumental impact in the firmament of Abia State.

Numerous writers have penned a number of volumes of books seeking to x-ray the driving motivations, thought processes , key speeches and interventions and even the life and times of this enigma.

He thus earned for himself, deservedly, the sobriquet ‘A Scholar in Governance.’

On Thursday the 16th of February, 2023, the emblematic Shehu Musa Yar’Adua Centre in Abuja will play host to the creme of the Academic and Socio-Political Class in our Nation.

The event is the Public Presentation of the Book ‘The Biochemistry of Environmental Pollution’, an Academic intervention co-authored by Abia State Governor, Dr. Okezie Victor Ikpeazu alongside a professional colleague of his, Dr. Kalu Kalu Igwe.

The book is a chronicle of his research over the years on the relationship between environmental pollution and Biochemistry.

It is a deep-dive into the behavior of environmental pollutants as explained from the molecular lense of a Biochemist.

It will be recalled that prior to his assumption of office as Governor of Abia State in 2015, Dr. Okezie Victor Ikpeazu was the Deputy General Manager of the Abia State Environmental Protection Agency in charge of the Aba Area where he deployed his Biochemical background to the challenges of waste management to the perpetual admiration of residents of the bustling cosmopolitan metropolis of Aba. Prior yet to his taking up of that challenge, Dr. Ikpeazu was a seasoned Biochemist with a Doctorate Degree in Biochemical Pharmacology rising to the rank of the Head of Department of Biochemistry at the Enugu State University of Science and Technology (ESUT).

His tenure as the Head of the Waste Management Agency in charge of Aba thus gave him a first hand opportunity to deploy his scientific knowledge to the tackling of waste in Aba. This book is therefore his contribution to the body of knowledge of the understanding of the behavior of different categories of waste from a Biochemical vantage standpoint.

It is gratifying to note that despite his grueling schedule as Governor, Dr. Okezie Victor Ikpeazu, a scholar in Governance, still found time to devote to his passion of scholarly exertions culminating in this book.

Indeed, I bear personal testimony to the fact that Governor Okezie Ikpeazu personally read through every line of this book several times over and corrected the chemical formulae and biochemical pathways at times sitting in one place for days on end until he was satisfied that the outcome mirrored his intendment.

It is natural for some people to presume that the book was ghost-written for him and he merely affixed his name to a finished work but the manuscripts for this book, in his own handwriting, are very much around and will be preserved at the Ishmael Ikpeazu Memorial Library and Center for Scientific Leadership, Umuobiakwa which the Governor built for the preservation of scholarly excellence.

Worthy of note also is the fact that Dr. Ikpeazu has within the period under review, authored and co-authored scores of research materials and interventions which have been peerreviewed, accepted and published in a number of Academic Journals locally and globally.

The Igbos have a saying that ‘onye ana akpo nwere ihe ona eme’ meaning the one being eulogised has something he is doing to earn him those eulogies.

This 400-page book being presented is thus a testament to the maxim that you will always find time for that which you truly love.

Governor Okezie Ikpeazu’s love for academic and scholarly impartation has been a constant underpinning of his life. It will be noted that he bagged his Ph.D in Biochemistry at the University of Calabar before he clocked 30 years of age. This was after his first and second Degrees in the same field at the University of Maiduguri.

Even as Governor, he has been a Pro-Bono Visiting Lecturer at the Department of Biochemistry in the Abia State University where he has been delighting his students with his mastery of the subject.

The first son of a teacher, Governor Okezie Ikpeazu was highly influenced by his late father who devoted his life to imparting knowledge and sought to follow in his noble footsteps before destiny steered him in the direction of politics and Governance This book is thus an ode to his beginnings and professional calling. Atestimonial to his mentors in the field of Biochemistry who inspired him on his academic journey and a tangible placement in the firmament of posterity.

It will be a guide to academic scholars in the field and scientists of all persuasions as well as motivation to all scholars who have been steered in other life directions to remain true to their calling.

As we welcome distinguished guests across strata to this public presentation of the Book ‘The Biochemistry of Environmental Pollution’, we celebrate the doggednes and tenacity of the authors, the fidelity to purpose and the zeal to find the time to do the needful irrespective of pressing demands.

Congratulations to a scholar in governance on this feat. t)BSU B MBXZFS XSJUFT GSPN 6NVBIJB "CJB 4UBUF

FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 10, 2023 ˾ T H I S D AY

38

BUSINESS/MONEYGUIDE

PressOne Raises $600,000 Pre-seed to Help Entrepreneurs Connect with Customers Emma Okonji PressOne Africa, a startup with a unique product that allows entrepreneurs to monitor all business calls on the go, has announced the closing of her $600,000 pre-seed round.

The round was led by Ventures Platform, along with participation from Voltron Capital and a set of stellar angels.

Founded by Mayowa Okegbenle and Opeyemi Shokunbi, PressOne delivers world-class reporting and call monitoring to enable entrepreneurs get the maximum value from every customer call.

With the PressOne app, business owners can monitor all customer phone conversations made by staff or team members from anywhere, just like big companies do.

PressOne Africa Chief Commercial Officer, Unoma

Adeyemi, said: “With the close of the $600,000 Pre seed, we have only just scratched the surface. We want business owners to run their business more efficiently with peace of mind. When entrepreneurs know that their customers are well taken care of, and they can monitor business call conversations from anywhere, they are able to do more. Our goal is to see entrepreneurs grow their businesses through better customer communication without losing their peace.”

According to CEO for PressOne Africa, Mayowa Okegbenle, there has been a lot of innovation around messaging, but the primary channel for building new customer relationships and closing transactions is still over phone calls. Customer centric businesses thrive more because they listen.

Founding Partner, Ventures Platform, Kola Aina, said:

We are excited to be backing PressOne. We believe that the most compelling technology solutions on the continent will empower small and medium businesses with tools and services that enable them to reduce churn, increase their user base and revenue.

When we first met Mayowa Okegbenle and Ope Shokunbi, PressOne’s co-founders, we were immediately struck by their technical expertise and their singular mission to enable businesses to listen to their customers.”

CTO of PressOne, Opeyemi Shokunbi, said: “We built our platform to democratize the complex technology of owning a business phone number that allows entrepreneurs manage all customer interactions on a single platform, share one business number with team members, receive multiple calls at the same time and with the same number from multiple devices anywhere.”

Director General, Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency, NIMASA, Dr. Bashir Jamoh presenting a souvenir to the Deputy Minister for Overseas Koreans and Consular Affairs, Republic of Korea, Choi Yeong during avisitbytheDeputyMinister totheNIMASAHeadquartersinLagos

MARKET INDICATORS MONEY AND CREDIT STATISTICS

Chipper InauguratesVirtual USDVisa Card to Boost SMEs, Others Funmi Ogundare Chipper Cash has launched a virtual USD visa card designed to connect entrepreneurs and customers in Nigeria to the global marketplace, so as to make payments and shopping easier for Nigerians.

Chipper Cash has two virtual card products in Nigeria, offering naira and USD. In a statement, the Marketing Campaign Manager at Chipper Cash Nigeria, Goldie Iyamu, said the USD card is particularly useful for Small and Medium Entrepreneurs (SMEs) and creative entrepreneurs who want to scale their businesses and will not have to worry about the hassle of making international payments

for whatever they need to do to ensure their continued seamless business operations.

According to her, “as a brand deeply committed to supporting the ambitions of the continent, Chipper Cash has hosted several informative online sessions by experienced entrepreneurs to offer tips to other Nigerian entrepreneurs on ‘How to scale their SME.’ “The Chipper card has helped over 100,000 people from Nigeria transact online around the world. We have had customers tell us that having access to the virtual USD card has helped them increase their revenue by as much as 50 per cent.”

She stated that the USD card can be used for online purchases wherever visa cards are accepted,

including online subscriptions and ads, shopping on international platforms such as Amazon, Shopify, Canva, Photoshop, Facebook, Instagram, Apple Music, Alibaba, among others. “ Getting a Chipper USD Card is free and easy. The Chipper Cash app can be downloaded from Google Play or the App Store.”

“It exists to provide the most trusted and reliable products for people living in Africa and beyond.

Hearing the success stories from Nigerian entrepreneurs and SMES has been the fuel we need to keep hard at work refining and innovating our products to help boost our economy, support our customers’ ambitions and catapult these entrepreneurs to a global audience,” Iyamu stated.

Carbon Doubles Revenue, Disrupts Credit Banking in Nigeria Mary Nnah Carbon, a credit-led pan-African digital bank has announced that it has doubled its client base and revenue since 2018 primarily due to its disruptive ‘Carbon Zero’ product.

The company in a statement said its 2022 financial report showed a remarkable revenue climb from N3.7 billion in December 2018 to N7.7billion in December 2021.

“The product also contributed

heavily to the tremendous growth of the company’s customer base to over 3 million active users. Since its inception as ‘One credit’ in 2012, through its evolution as ‘One-fi’, ‘Paylater’ and finally ‘Carbon’ in 2018, the bank has firmly placed its customers’ needs at the center of its innovative products and services, The product has been designed to perform better than a loan; with Carbon Zero, customers can make purchases online and

offline, spread the cost of any bill, and pay in four installments at 0% interest. In addition, by signing up on the web or using the Carbon app, customers receive an N30,000 spending limit. Carbon akes pride in the fact that it has made finance more accessible to Nigerians, offering not only affordable loans but also a deposit account, a high-yield savings account, free bill payments, free transfers and debit cards, “the statement read in part.

Parallex Bank MD Bags Doctorate Degree Prowess University DelawareUSA has awarded the Managing Director of Parallex Bank Limited, Mr Olufemi Bakre, a Doctor of Philosophy in Business Administration (Honoris Causa). The doctorate was awarded by the Institute of Arts Management and Professional Studies of Prowess University in recognition of Bakre’s demonstration of integrity, accountability, and transparency in quality service delivery in private and public life.

Speaking at the award ceremony, the African Representative of Prowess University, Professor Eze Nwauba, said Bakre has been singled out by the university’s investigative team as a proponent of national development, humanitarianism,

and transformational leadership.

According to Nwauba, Bakre was identified as a firm believer in selfless service to humanity and confirmed by opinion shapers across the country as a beacon of hope to underprivileged in the society.

The Professor of Intrapreneurship said Bakre’s nomination was unanimously endorsed by the members of the Advisory Board of the Institute of Arts Management and Professional Studies and the Award Selections Committee, headed by renowned scholar Professor Chidi Justice.

Other awardees at the event include the Group Managing Director of Revolution Plus, Mr Bamidele Onalaja, and the

Group Head of Marketing and Corporate Communications of United Capital PLC, Tolulope Latunji, among others.

Responding to the award, the Managing Director of Parallex Bank, Mr Olufemi Bakre, appreciated the Board and management of the Institute of Arts Management and Professional Studies and Prowess University for the honour and recognition.

He mentioned that it was gratifying to have been recognized by such a prestigious institution and awarded the prestigious Doctorate Degree. Bakre said he places great value on honour and promised not to relent in doing his best for the business community and Nigeria at large.

(MILLION NAIRA)

AUGUST 2022 Money Supply (M3)

49,356,443.6

-- CBN Bills Held by Money Holding Sectors

50,601.36

Money Supply (M2)

49,305,842.3

-- Quasi Money

27,869,678.3

-- Narrow Money (M1)

21,436,164

---- Currency Outside Banks

2,680,236.81

---- Demand Deposits

18,755,927.2

Net Foreign Assets (NFA)

5,074,909.92

Net Domestic Assets(NDA)

27,869,678.3

-- Net Domestic Credit (NDC)

61,195,142.4

---- Credit to Government (Net)

21,001,401.5

---- Memo: Credit to Govt. (Net) less FMA

0.00

---- Memo: Fed. and Mirror Accounts (FMA)

0.00

---- Credit to Private Sector (CPS)

40,193,740.9

--Other Assets Net

6,785,979.22

Reserve Money (Base Money

14,040,351.9

--Currency in Circulation

3,210,664.98

--Banks Reserves --Special Intervention Reserves

10,829,686.9 390,557.8

˾ ÙßÜÍÏ ̋

Money Market Indicators (in Percentage) Month

July 2022

Inter-Bank Call Rate

13.00

Minimum Rediscount Rate (MRR) Monetary Policy Rate (MPR)

14.00

Treasury Bill Rate

2.76

Savings Deposit Rate

1.42

1 Month Deposit Rate

3.64

3 Months Deposit Rate

4.96

6 Months Deposit Rate

5.87

12 Months Deposit Rate

5.76

Prime Lending rate

12.10

Maximum Lending Rate

27.61

˾ ÙØÏÞËÜã ÙÖÓÍã ËÞÏ ̋ ͯͱϱ

OPEC DAILY BASKET PRICE AS AT 24 OCTOBER, 2022

The price of OPEC basket of thirteen crudes stood at $92.17 a barrel on Monday, compared with $92.09 the previous Friday, according to OPEC Secretariat calculations.

The OPEC Reference Basket of Crudes (ORB) is made up of the following: Saharan Blend (Algeria), Girassol (Angola), Djeno (Congo), Zafiro (Equatorial Guinea), Rabi Light (Gabon), Iran Heavy (Islamic Republic of Iran), Basrah Medium (Iraq), Kuwait Export (Kuwait), Es Sider (Libya), Bonny Light (Nigeria), Arab Light (Saudi Arabia), Murban (UAE) and Merey (Venezuela).

39

FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 10, 2023 ˾ T H I S D AY

MARKET NEWS

Analyst: Domestic Investors’Dominance Shields Stock Market from Global Headwinds Kayode Tokede Analyst at Parthian Group has expressed that dominance of domestic investors in the Nigerian stock market is a good development because it shields the market from the impacts of funds outflow from emerging markets and global headwinds.

Speaking recently at the February 2023 forum of the Finance Correspondents Association of

Nigeria (FICAN), the Head of Investment Research, Parthian Securities, Mr. Oluwaseun Dosunmu advised those with interest in stock market should to focus on : top 20 fundamentally strong stocks in terms of market capitalization on the Nigerian Exchange Limited (NGX); stocks that are liquid and those that pay good dividends.

The theme of the forum was “Assessing Nigeria’s Financial Sector and Outlook for the

P R I C E S MAIN BOARD

DEALS

F O R MARKET PRICE

Economy in 2023”.

Speaking earlier, the Head, Global Markets at Parthian Partners, Mrs. Ronke Akinyemi, who was speaking on what to expect from the market that will guide investment decisions, disclosed that there will be Public-private partnerships to reduce pressure on budget funding, just as there will be debt issuances on the back of these partnerships and opportunities to invest

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in these issues. According to her, “Uptick in interest rates is however anticipated in second quater, resulting from a reduced level of liquidity and huge budget deficit. We expect the market to commence this year with some depression in yield, owing to expected liquidity elevation in first quarter.”

Generally, the investment expert noted that the market is expected to be choppy and largely driven by political

T R A D E D MAIN BOARD

transitioning, oil price fluctuations, trade wars, possibility of interest rate hikes by other economies and risk off/on sentiments.

According to her, the Monetary Policy Rate (MPR) is likely to increase and credit conditions may remain tight in Q1-23 Further, the experts agreed that there will be increased financial speculation and weakened investors confidence.

Earlier, Akinyemi recalled

AS O F

that after the Q2-2022 selloffs triggered by higher interest rate in the fixed income market, the Nigerian stock market was volatile with many stocks trading at substantial discounts and delivering greater dividend yields than fixed income space.

As such, the stock market created a massive opportunity for bargain hunting from mid Q2 to Q4 2022, pushing the 2022 year-to- (YTD) return to 19.98per cent.

0 9 / 0 2 / 2 3 DEALS

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40

FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 10, 2023 • T H I S D AY

NEWS

ABIODUN WELCOMES FRANK MBA...

L-R: New Brigade Commander, 35 Artillery Brigade, Alamala, Brigadier General Mohammed Aminu; outgoing Commissioner of Police, Ogun State Command, Mr Lanre Bankole; Governor Dapo Abiodun; former Brigade Commander of the 35 Artillery Brigade, Alamala, Major General Musa Abdullahi and incoming Commissioner of Police, Ogun State Command, Mr. Frank Mba during the presentation of the new security chief to the governor at the Presidential Lodge, Abeokuta on Thursday

INEC: Partisan, Convicted Lecturers Won't Be Accepted as Returning, Collation Officers Engages 23,258 personnel as collation, returning officers Says 300 pre-election cases before Appeal Court, 155 before Supreme court We're not supporting any candidate Adedayo Akinwale in Abuja The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has warned that it would not accept the nomination of university lecturers who are card carrying members or had participated in partisan politics or convicted of electoral malpractice as Returning and State Collation Officers in the forthcoming polls.

The Chairman of INEC, Prof.

Mahmood Yakubu, made this known yesterday, in Abuja, at a meeting with Vice Chancellors of Nigerian Universities.

He said without the involvement of the tertiary institutions, especially the universities, the Commission

would find it extremely difficult to conduct credible elections The chairman noted that at the polling unit level, the critical segment of election duty staff was drawn from products of universities and polytechnics involved in the mandatory National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) scheme.

Yakubu, stressed that for the various collation and declaration centres, the Commission draws the required Collation and Returning Officers from the academic staff of the universities, including the Vice Chancellors who serve as Returning Officers for Governorship election and State Collation Officers for Presidential election.

Frank Urges USA, UK, EU to Prevail on Buhari, INEC Not to Postpone Elections Adedayo Akinwale in Abuja A former Deputy National Publicity Secretary of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Timi Frank, has called on the European Union (EU), the United States of America (USA), and United Kingdom (UK) to prevail on President Muhammadu Buhari and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) not to postpone the forthcoming general election.

Frank in a statement yesterday, said there was a potent plot by those he described as, "enemies of democracy" to cause a postponement of the elections to enable them perfect their rigging strategies.

He said a recent media report that the APC was allegedly seeking postponement of the elections for four weeks had vindicated his position that the ruling party had commenced plot to derail the elections.

Frank alleged that APC Governors at the behest of Tinubu have been mobilised to blackmail INEC and Buhari to postpone the elections so as to enable them perfect their rigging plot.

He said: "It has become imperative for leaders of advanced democracies and defenders of freedoms like the USA, UK and EU, among others, to impress it on President Muhammadu Buhari and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) not to succumb to APC’s blackmails, but to conduct the elections as scheduled.

“The purpose of calling for shift

of date of elections is not in the interest of Nigerians, it is being motivated by their presidential candidate, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, who used a similar method to emerge flagbearer of the party for 2023.”

Frank said it had become necessary for the international community to mount strong diplomatic pressure on the President not to heed the advice of naysayers because any posts would plunge the country into an unimaginable crisis.

He stressed that their intervention would not only ensure that the elections were held as scheduled, but would help save democracy in Nigeria.

He noted: “APC Governors have no right to complain that people in rural areas are suffering because of fuel and Naira scarcity since they are directly responsible for the pains and suffering in the first place."

Frank pointed out that this was the very reason Nigerians wants the elections to hold as scheduled so they could end the tenure of this uncaring administration for good.

He added already the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) had assured INEC that whatever logistics needed

by INEC to conduct the elections would be provided to make conduct of the elections seamless.

“Why is it that it is only the ruling party that is crying over a policy which they initiated. They are not working to win the elections. They are working to steal the elections.

That is why they need time," Frank said.

He added that despite few challenges, the partnership further enhanced the transparency and credibility of the elections in Nigeria as well as public confidence in the process.

Yakubu pointed out that the 2023 general election would hold in 1,491 constituencies nationwide involving the presidential, 28 Governorship, 190 Senatorial, 360 Federal and 993 State Constituencies.

He said the general election would involve the highest number of registered voters in the history of democratic elections in Nigeria, as the final register of voters now stands at 93,469,008.

The chairman added that the commission's final list also indicated that a total of 15,333 candidates have been nominated by the 18 political parties for the election.

He explained further that collation of results would take place in 8,809 Registration Areas or Wards, 774 Local Government Areas, 36 States and the FCT. Yakubu said the commission requires Returning Officers for each constituency.

According to him, “put together, we will engage 23,258 personnel as Collation and Returning Officers.

It is for this reason that this meeting is of crucial. We need the support of our universities to source the requisite number of suitably academic staff of impeccable integrity who must also understand that this is a call to national service.”

The Chairman said as in previous elections, the commission had requested each university for a specified number and category of academic staff as contained in his letter to the Vice Chancellors.

He stated: "I must warn that staff who are card carrying members or have participated in partisan politics should not be nominated.

"Similarly, those who may not be involved in partisan politics but are known to have obvious political leanings should not be nominated.”

Furthermore, those who have been convicted of electoral malpractice must be excluded, he said.

"The Commission will carefully scrutinise the list which must be submitted confidentially in the manner prescribed by Commission in my letter to the Vice Chancellors.

Like all election duty personnel, each Collation and Returning Officer will swear to an oath of

neutrality."

During a meeting between INEC and the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) exco, Yakubu said political parties have conducted primaries and submitted names of candidates to the commission, adding that some of the cases have gone to the Federal High Court, while some are before the Appeal Court and before the Supreme Court.

According to him, on pre-election litigations alone, INEC has been joined in1,241 cases. These were not elections conducted by INEC but each time they (aspirants) go to court, they join the commission.

Out of these cases, over 300 are before the Court of Appeal and 155 before the Supreme Court as of Monday last week.

"What is good about the NBA is that at the end, it submits reports to INEC at the end of the election.

Don't underestimate the reports you file because they assist us in proposing reforms to the National Assembly each time there is an opportunity. So, we don't accredit observer groups just for the fun of it," the chairman said.

Responding, NBA President, Yakubu Maikyau said free and fair elections could only be achieved if the people would be allowed

to make their own choice of leaders and have confidence in the electoral body saddled with the responsibility of conducting the elections.

He said with the good work Yakubu has done in the commission, he has earned the confidence of Nigerians as an umpire properly positioned to deliver a free, fair and credible election.

Maikyau stated: "If the process of the election has any question mark, or the person saddled with the responsibility cannot be trusted, it will mar the outcome of the exercise.

"The NBA is solidly behind you.

We will not allow anything that will deray your assignment or threaten your independence. If there is anything or anyone that threatens your independence, call on us and and we will be there to assist you.

"When one state chapter endorsed a particular candidate, we said that the NBA will not observe elections in that state. The NBA is not a political party and does not support any candidate.

We support the Nigerian people.

NBA will not leave a trace of wrong perception during the election."

FG Saved $12m from Local SIM Card Production, Sales in 2022 Emma Okonji Determined to promote local content development and reduce expenditure on foreign goods, the federal government saved as much as $12 million from the sales of locally developed SIM cards used in mobile phones and other devices.

The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) disclosed this yesterday in Lagos, during a panel session, moderated by its Director, Public Affairs, Mr. Reuben Muoka, at the ongoing AfricaNXT forum.

He said the money was saved from August 2022 to January 2023, following the ban on foreign SIM cards in the telecom sector.

The ban, according to NCC, compelled telecom operators to patronise local SIM cards that were produced and sold in Nigeria, as against foreign SIM cards that were imported at the rate of $3 per SIM card, a development that helped the federal government

to save as much as $12 million from August 2022 to January 2023.

Speaking on the theme: 'The NCC Mandate Towards Realisation of Full Digital Economy, Muoka said the Digital Economy Agenda was built around the Eight Pillars of the NCC, driven largely by telecom infrastructure.

According to Muoka, “The need to ensure individuals, businesses, and the nation harness derivable benefits and the opportunities offered by the emergent digital culture, to improve quality of life, grow businesses, and leapfrog the national economy, remains the overarching objective of government policies, plans, and strategies.

“The NCC is mandated to facilitate the attainment of this and many other objectives by enhancing the availability, accessibility, and affordability of digital services.

“In carrying out its duties, the NCC has instituted processes to

improve connectivity, protect infrastructure, and defend the interest of consumers and other stakeholders.

“While there have been challenges, the commission has ensured that it consolidates on the successes recorded in the telecom industry, while striding steadily to achieve government plans as articulated in the National Digital Economy Policy and Strategy (NDEPS) 2020-2030, and particularly the Nigerian National Broadband Plan (NNBP) 2020-2025, the NCC Strategic Management Plan (SMP) 20202024, and the Strategic Vision Plan II (The Five Point Agenda) 2021-2025, to meet the targets outlined in the policies, plans, and strategies.”

He added: “They are measurable in terms of country-wide broadband access, connectivity, qualitative improvement in citizens' life, quantifiable growth in businesses,

and remarkable growth of the nation's economy.”

One of the panelists, and Head of Digital Skills and Services at NCC, Freda Bruce-Bennett, said infrastructure development remained key to achieving full digital economy.

According to Bruce-Bennett, NCC licenced seven Infrastructure Companies (InfraCos) across the six geopolitical zones, including Lagos, to drive broadband infrastructure that would further help to achieve full digital economy and innovation. “NCC is at the forefront of driving technology innovation and creativity, which have helped to build Nigerian unicorns that are driving the African technology space. Among the seven unicorns in Africa today, Nigeria has five, and unicorns are technology startups with minimum of $1 billion,” Bruce-Bennett said, adding that NCC will continue to support digital talents in Nigeria.

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PRESS CONFERENCE ON 2023 POPULATION AND HOUSING CENSUS...

L-R: Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Information and Culture, Mrs. Lydia Jafiya; Minister of Information and Culture, Alh. Lai Mohamed and Executive Chairman, National Population Commission, Isa Kwarra, during the Press conference on the 2023 Population and Housing Census in Abuja ... yesterday ENOCK REUBEN

State of the Nation: Silence of Former Heads of State Telling, Says Bode George Insists he will not vote for Atiku Says $29bn lost yearly to epileptic power supply Segun James The former Deputy National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Chief Olabode George has warned former Heads of States and other national leaders that their silence on the state of the nation portends evil for the country, alleging that

Nigeria was sliding to a state of hopelessness.

George, who said this yesterday, in a statement titled, ‘Nigeria 2023: Time for Sooner Reflexion,’ alleged that the government and it's agencies were clueless about the sociopolitical issues in the country.

"Without mincing words or trying to raise an alarm, the

global golden rule called 'order' - a legal and constitutional process of conformity with law or decorum - seems to have taken a flight from Nigeria's political, economic and social lives.

"Due to this anomaly, which is a deviation from regulation or what is regarded as normal, there seems to be a graveyard silence while

Court Restrains Rivers Govt from Arresting Atiku's Supporters Blessing Ibunge in Port Harcourt A Federal High Court sitting in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, has restrained the state government from arresting any member of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the state in support of the party's presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar The trial judge, Justice A. T. Ibrahim, gave the order yesterday, in a motion ex-parte filed by the former National Chairman of the PDP, Uche Secondus, Senator Lee Maeba, Abiye Sekibo, Senator Geroge Sekibo, Celestine Omehia, Austin Opara, and others.

The order also restrained the

Nigeria Police and Department of State Services (DSS) from obeying the arrest order.

The PDP had accused the Rivers State government of harassing and intimidating their supporters in the state.

Justice Ibrahim, therefore, ordered the state government and other respondents in the suit to maintain status quo pending the determination of the case.

A Chief Magistrate court in Port Harcourt, had remanded 21 supporters of Atiku in some of the correctional facilities in the state.

Atiku's supporters were accused of involvement in alleged conspiracy, cultism, and unlawful gathering,

FUEL SCARCITY: NMDPRA VOWS TO SANCTION FILLING STATIONS REJECTING USE OF POS MACHINES marketing companies for last week, adding that for the week, the average daily evacuation stood at 64 million litres while year-to-date average daily evacuation was 63 million litres.

The state oil company had insisted that Nigeria was not dealing with supply problem, but distribution problem, maintaining that NNPC has huge volume of products both onshore and offshore that could serve the nation for nearly 30 days.

However, the petrol scarcity has taken different dimensions, ranging from the pump price rising from the initial government approved price of N165 per litre to N185, and to between N250 and N650 per litre, depending on the location.

In addition, the fuel crisis has resulted to many motorists now having to stay on fuel queues for hours, while black marketers and greedy marketing companies cashing in on the problem caused by the distortion of the petrol market to the detriment of poor Nigerians.

But with the improvement in supply from NNPC to depot

owners, the Ijegun depot owners' chairman assured Lagos residents that distribution to filling stations would improve and scarcity eased in few days time.

Olujimi said, "The mission here today is actually for the regulators and Nigerians to know that PMS which is the only product that Nigerians have been suffering from in the last few months is fully available and is sold at the government-regulated price in all the depots in Ijegun.

"On a monthly basis, what we've been receiving so far, we just want to talk about the consistency of supply from the NNPC, which is a very key factor here. As at date, NNPC for the month of February, has given Ijegun over 150 million litres.

"So, you can see the vessels discharging at the jetty and we're telling Nigerians that we're confirming it to everybody that this product is coming out from here at the government-regulated price and that Nigerians can trust us, trust this business here.

Continued online

according to the charge before the court.

Efforts to get them bailed proved abortive, as the trial Chief Magistrate, Collins Ali directed that the case file be transmitted to the office of Director of Public Prosecution for advice and information. The matter was adjourned to March 22, 2023 for bail consideration.

Reacting to the arrest, Police Public Relations Officer in the state, Grace Iringe-Koko said, "The arrest is not related to any political meeting. Those arrested are presently being profiled and 12 of them have already been released.

All others found to be clean will be released soonest while those found guilty to be charged in court."

Iringe-Koko claimed they were arrested over alleged cult-related issue.

Nigeria is bedeviled on all fronts.

Something strange or unusual happens in the polity every day, leading to socio-economic turmoil permeating our entire landscape.

It is grieving to see Nigeria slowly sliding into a state of perpetual hopelessness.

"In all honesty, I cannot decipher the logic of quietness against the cliff edge which the APC government has plunged the Nigerian state into, where there seems to be no opposing views, calling the ruling government to stop and rethink."

The leader of the PDP in Lagos pleaded with former Heads of State to immediately come out to speak truth to power on the state of the nation.

George was also particular about the political situation in the PDP, stressing that he would not vote for the party's presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar unless the issues demanded by the G5 Governor's were resolved.

He also accused the opposition political parties of being silent on the crisis in the polity.

"Our party, the PDP, and others, such as the Labour Party, SDP, NNPP, seem to have concurred to the present shenanigan. I wonder, what hate, what evil, what madness will propel anyone of sane mind to plunge Nigeria into the present

state of hopelessness, annihilation and abject suffering of the citizenry?

"At the same time, I see it as absolute lunacy for anybody to campaign for APC or to contest on the platform of APC, due to the state of formlessness the ruling party has thrown Nigeria into. It puzzles rationality. It benumbed our senses as Nigerians wake up every day to daily agonies of perennial fuel scarcity, tossed at us by the NNPC and the agony of non-availability of cash, occasioned by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) through its naira rebranding.

"Where is the presidential candidate of our party, the PDP, Atiku Abubakar? Where is Iyorchia Ayu, the National Chairman.

How come the voice of the DG, Campaign Council of the PDP is drowned in perpetual silence against the atrocities of the APC government with the presidential election just a few days away?

"Why have they allowed their voices to be drowned in conspiratorial silence? Where are the opposition political parties?

What does the graveyard silence portend for Nigerians? It seems to mean that Nigerians' right to good has been consigned to the dustbin by the political class.

“Governments are elected to guarantee the pursuit of happiness, to ensure the protection of personal

liberties, to create an atmosphere where all citizens can carry out their economic livelihoods without being subjected to oppression or being savaged by the lawlessness of incendiary actors.”

He added: "The center appears overwhelmed, stunned, halted, stalled, puzzled about grappling with the Nigerian challenges.I believe the various state actors can do better. Managers of our economy should not take Nigerians for granted by churning out retrogressive economic policies.

"We should rather strive to review our focus and our ultimate horizon. Nigeria must withdraw from the destructive brink.”

He also lamented the state of the power sector of the economy which, according to him, was the backbone of any national development.

"Sadly enough, it is on record that Nigeria has continued to toy with the issue of power supply which is very germane to the development of any economy, particularly, a developing economy like ours.

“Presently, our country loses an estimated $29 billion in accruable revenue every year due to epileptic power. This is not sustainable.

Power is the very lifeblood of all industrial revolution. It is the fuel of all economic development.”

TUC Charges FG to End Fuel, Currency Scarcity Onyebuchi Ezigbo in Abuja As concerns continues to mount over the fuel and currency shortages in the country, the Trade Union Congress (TUC) has asked the federal government to do something urgently to normalise the situation or be ready to face legitimate response from the workers.

It said at end of its 7-day ultimatum to the federal government to restore normalcy, the union would take all legal means to compel remedial action by the authorities.

Addressing a press conference in Abuja, yesterday, TUC president, Festus Osifoh, noted that for many days now Nigerian populace have not been able to pay for basic needs including food, medicines, clothes and transportation "This is nothing but a calamity of epic proportions. We have never had it so bad, never have

our populace been made to attack banks, strip in banking halls or threaten to commit suicide inside financial houses because they cannot have access to their hard earned money," he said.

Osifoh said the union had vowed not to allow the nightmare to continue and has started engaging the relevant authorities to quickly bring the situation under control.

"We are not going to come out to protest. We said we are going to engage from all our organs and all our stakeholders we will have an engagement on the best way forward "We are worried and wish to note that smaller denomination of N100 notes and N50 notes were not affected by the Naira redesign, but paradoxically not in circulation anywhere in the country.

"Again, the lengthy explanations on why there are long queues at fuel stations and prices of PMS

being far above the official price can no longer be tolerated. All we demand is that petrol returns to fuel stations and is available at the official price across the country.

“As we have often stated, the answer to the fuel shortage question, is the local refining of our petroleum product needs. Local refining would add value to our crude oil, provide local jobs, and not only save us foreign exchange, but would enable us earn far more income.”

When asked if the union and the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) were still supporting the Labour Party Presidential, Mr. Peter Obi, the TUC president said that the two labour centres have already directed their members to vote for the candidate.

However, Osifoh said that TUC would want to politicize the present Naira note crisis.

"We have activated all our state

councils and they were part of all the rallies. They have been working together, no doubt about that. But that should not be misconstrued with the purpose that we are here today, for we are here to assure Nigerians and give them message that we are solidly behind them and that we are with them," he said.

Also Osifoh advised government to obey the Supreme Court interim order so as not to give room to anarchy in the land.

He also urged the Council of States to intervene and help broker a solution to the crisis.

"No matter how bitter a judgment could be, no matter how nice a judgment could be, no matter how you feel, that Oh, no, this judgment could have gone the other way. So irrespective of what your opinion is, the Supreme Court of Nigeria remains the Supreme Court of Nigeria and their decision. is final," he said.

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EASE OF DOING BUSINESS ON THEIR MINDS...

L-R: Managing Director, Edo State Skills Development Agency (EdoJobs), Violet Obrokoro; Edo State Commissioner for Industry, Trade and Cooperatives, Afishetu Braimoh; Managing Director, Edo State Investment Promotion Office (ESIPO)- Ease of Doing Business Secretariat, Mr. Kelvin Uwaibi; Edo State Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Wole Iyamu; Commissioner for Physical Planning, Housing, Urban and Regional Development; Isoken Omo; Ikponmwosa Osayande; Managing Director, Edo Geographic Information Service (EdoGIS), Mrs. Osaro Grace Aihie; Managing Director, Edo City Transport Service (ECTS) Mrs. Adugie Agbonlahor, after the Edo State Ease of Doing Business Council meeting in Benin City.

Fashola: PDP Suffering From ‘G-5 Infection’ Without Cure Tells PDP guber candidate that being a gov’s cameraman not qualification for the job Tinubu has the best credentials, Sanwo-Olu declares

Segun James Minister of Works and Housing, Mr Babatunde Fashola, took a swipe at the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and said the opposition party was suffering from a political ailment known ‘G5 Infection’, which he claimed has weakened the party for imminent defeat in the forthcoming presidential poll.

Fashola, who stated this at the formal launch of "Eko O'ni Baje Ten Thousand Foot Soldiers for Tinubu/ Shettima and Sanwo-Olu/Hamzat" an idea he initiated, also threw a jab at the governorship candidate of PDP in Lagos State, Olajide Adediran, saying working as a cameraman in his press crew as the governor of Lagos State was not enough to aspire for the position of governor.

He expressed confidence that the presidential candidate of the APC, Bola Tinubu, would win the presidential election, adding that, he represents the best the nation has.

"At this point in time, Asiwaju is the best fit for this country.

Tinubu/Shettima is a team that is unbeatable. We are talking about facts, what development trajectory that had happened. What the man has done not only in Lagos but for Nigeria. Giving his skills and capacity, Nigeria will be better for it. It is not about political patronage but this is a man we believe in," Fashola stated.

The former Lagos State governor urged Adediran to come back to the progressive fold and attend leadership training saying, “Some

people say they will take the land from us, that is too much. I did the Job of Governor for eight years and part of what helped me was that I was chief of staff to the Governor, even that was not enough.

“So just following a governor being a cameraman and then watching me for eight years then you think you will now be a governor, you are not ready. Come to our leadership school, you are not yet ready.

“That is why you will see that they are focusing on the N51 billion Lagos State is generating. You did not see the immigrant population that is coming into Lagos every day. The bigger the prosperity, the bigger the problems. Their party doesn't see people, they don’t see the problem,” he said.

Fashola, however, encouraged members of APC to canvas massively and vote for the party.

In his address, Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu said nobody has the credentials like Tinubu to become President, noting that Lagos would deliver the largest vote for APC. “I want to thank our minister and all those who have worked with him, especially, his 10,000 foot soldiers. That five million votes will come out. Tinubu is the best for Nigeria. Nobody has a credential like Tinubu to become President, that is why we truly believe in him.”

Speaker, Lagos State House of Assembly, Mudashiru Obasa urged party faithful and supporters of the party to be dedicated, committed, enlighten and educate others on

the importance of the election, describing the event as crucial to disseminating information about the electoral process.

In their Goodwill messages, some party faithful and leaders, including, Minister of Science and Technology,

Olorunimbe Mamora, former Deputy Governor of Lagos State, Adebisi Sosan, Senator Gbenga Ashafa, took their turn to urge party faithful to go out en masse to canvass votes for candidates of the party in the elections

Meanwhile, a Coalition of Political Parties in Lagos State numbering about 74, which included the de-registered ones have endorsed Tinubu and Sanwo-Olu's re-election bid.

Speaking on behalf of the group,

Hon Akinola Obadia, said, "The basis of our choice for Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu as the next President Federal Republic of Nigeria is not Far-fetched. Our choice is based on His track records, which is visible in the public domain for All to see.

Obasanjo: Nigeria Too Large for Only Federal Police to Man Says IGs unwilling to accept PSC's supervision Emameh Gabriel in Abuja Former President Olusegun Obasanjo, yesterday, at a book launch, argued that the country was too large to have one federal police to safeguard the whole country.

This is as he frowned at a whopping one hundred and fifty thousand out of the three hundred and fifty thousand officers guarding private and influential citizens in the country, saying the current security situation of the country called for the licensing of private guards to provide security for citizens.

The former President, who spoke at the launch of a book, "Policing The Nigeria Police", written by Chief Simon Okeke, a former official of Police Service Commission at the Yar'Adua Centre, Abuja also frowned at the unwillingness of the office of the inspector general police to work in line with recommendations from the Police Service Commission (PSC).

Obasanjo said, "The current state of policing this country is unacceptable.

We can't have one federal police for

a population of 216 million people.

Worse still, is the fact that 150,000 out of the 350,000 Officers are guiding important persons."

While highlighting the content of the book, Obasanjo said licensing of private guards to take up the role of providing security for personalities was imminent.

"I think private guards can be licensed to provide security for private citizens," he said.

On state police, Obasanjo explained that countries like Columbia, which abolished their state police had to return to it.

According to him, the PSC ACT of 2001 was robust enough but contended that the Inspectors General of Police were reluctant to submit to the supervision of PSC. "IGPs take more than their mandate permits. The current structure of the Nigerian Police is not closer to the people, hence state police is inevitable", he said, adding that, the fear of abuse by governors was tenable but safeguards could be put in place like in pre-Independence Nigeria.

"The so-called fear of abuse by governors, is the federal police not being abused one way or the other?

We can retrace our steps back to what it used to be. Countries like Columbia, who earlier abolished state police had to return to it," he explained.

He said the problem was not about enabling laws but the unwillingness of Inspectors General of Police to respect the the oversight functions of the PSC. "The problem is not about enabling laws. The Police Service Commission, PSC, ACT of 2001 is enough law. The painful reality is that the IGPs are not ready to submit to the supervision of PSC,” Obasanjo said.

Earlier, a former Inspector General of Police, Solomon Arase, commended the author for putting the book together in such a time he described as timely.

He described Chief Okeke as a patriotic Nigerian with sound knowledge and intellectual ability to dissect complex dialogue and one who gave "recommendations that shaped the the Police Service Commission and entire Nigerian

Police Force."

He said it was "indeed for this that today his tenure at the Commission has become a reference point in the discourse on police oversight functions.

"With his wealth of knowledge, it would have been a disservice to the nation if Chief Okeke did not document his experiences in the service. With all these in perspective, I have no doubt that policing in Nigeria today, is as formative as it is, would not only enrich the scope of the knowledge of oversight but it will also open new grounds that will deepen the discuss" "It is my expectations that this robust document, will add value to due process in our beloved country,” Arase said.

Ray Ekpu, the Director of May 5, urged Nigerians to speak against anomalies in the Nigerian Police, and bemoaned the continuous deployment of officer for the security of private persons against the overwhelming majority of our citizens, saying even the 350,000 Police Force has not met the the United Nations recommendation.

MALAMI: FG WILL OBEY S'COURT RULING AGAINST BANNING OLD NAIRA NOTES, MOVES TO VACATE ORDER of Representatives to come up with practicable solutions to the attendant economic crisis arising from the scarcity of the redesigned naira notes.

Monguno, who appeared before the House of Representatives ad-hoc committee on the policy of the CBN, said his office was also working on measures to assist the legislature in tackling the problem.

The committee in continuation of its meeting had invited the Minister of Finance, Zainab Ahmed; Managing Director, Nigerian Security, Minting and Printing Company, Ahmed Halilu; Chairman, Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Professor Mamoud Yakubu; and Director of Currency Operations of the CBN, to appear before it yesterday, but those invited gave excuses for their absence.

Represented by Rear Admiral Abubakar A. Mustapha, a director in charge of the secretariat that conducts general security appraisal of committee with special focus on elections and other security situations exigencies in his office, the NSA said the policy was affecting military operations in some areas, stressing that some soldiers on the battle fronts are having financial difficulties.

Speaking shortly before the press was excused for a closed door session, Monguno said, "Because of the sensitive nature of some of the information that will come, bordering on security, there are things you cannot say in the media. But that being said, globally, military operations, even in the First World countries, such policies if not well thought out will affect some

things because some of our soldiers are deployed in places where they cannot actually access digital means of paying whatever daily subsistence.

“One of the main issues that the NSA has been talking about is that this committee sits down and articulates better ways of addressing these issues and he has directed a committee in his office, which I am part of, to write out his position to assist the committee to meet its mandate. On more detailed level, I will be able to talk to the committee when the press leaves.”

Earlier in his remarks, the chairman of the committee, Hon. Alhassan Ado Doguwa, said the meeting was in line with the mandate given to them by the House to interface with relevant agencies on the naira redesign. He said the CBN policy was unpopular

and had subjected Nigerian to untold hardship, adding that it is a threat to the general election.

Doguwa said, "For the records, this is a continuation of our duties and obligations as an ad hoc committee of the House of Representatives in the specified matter of redesigned naira notes and swap policy of the federal government.

“I believe members would recall that on the last day of our sitting before we went for break, on the submission of our report, the House through the Speaker gave this committee an extended mandate to continue to follow up this matter so as to see to the implementation of this very important policy effective.”

Doguwa said those invited that couldn’t appear before the committee yesterday, were expected to appear

today, warning against dishonouring the invitation.

Briefing newsmen after the closed door session, Doguwa added that the committee would be forced to use the legislative instrumentality to cause appearance of any invitee that refused to honour the invitation.

ASCAB Urges CBN to Obey Supreme Court Order

ASCAB advised the CBN to obey the order of the Supreme Court which temporarily restrained it from going ahead with its plan to phase out the old banknotes.

According to the group, the fact that the CBN was not made a party in the suit does not excuse it from obeying the orders of the apex court.

In a statement by its Interim

Chairman, Mr. Femi Falana, ASCAB frowned on the alleged refusal of the CBN to obey the interim order, noting that the CBN cannot choose orders of courts to obey or not to obey.

Falana said, "We have just read a report that the authorities of the CBN have decided not to comply with the ex parte order issued by the Supreme Court of Nigeria in respect of the avoidable currency swap crisis.

"The reason adduced for the contemptuous disregard for the rule of law is that the CBN is not a party to the case of Attorney-General of Kaduna State & 2 Ors. v. AttorneyGeneral of the Federation (Suit No: SC/CV/162/2023) pending at the Supreme Court.

Continued online

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NEWS

IT IS THE LORD'S DOING...

Immediate past Governor of Delta State, Dr. Emmanuel Uduaghan (left) congratulating the newly ordained Bishop, Catholic Diocese of Warri, Most Rev. Anthony Ewgerido in Warri…yesterday

SYLVESTER IDOWU

Adebayo: Proposed Governance Codes for Public Sector, Not-for-Profit Will Rebuild Confidence in Economy Inaugurates technical working groups FRC boss: Codes to address corruption, conflicts of interest, appointment, composition of board of directors, others James Emejo in Abuja The Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, Mr. Niyi Adebayo, yesterday said the development of the Nigerian Public Sector Governance Code (NPSGC) would among other things help to rebuild public trust and investor confidence in the Nigerian economy.

The minister said the regulation would also set higher standards of good governance and ethical practices in the public sector.

Speaking at the inauguration of the Technical Working Group (TWG) for the Development of the Nigerian Public Sector Governance Code (NPSGC), under the guidance of the Financial Reporting Council of Nigeria (FRC), Adebayo further pointed out that the code would further engender public accountability of government resources and ensure the sustainability of governmentowned entities among others.

The minister also inaugurated

the TWG for the development of the Nigerian Not-For-Profit Governance Code (NNFPGC), which he said would enhance the public accountability of interventions from donor and donor agencies as well as ensure the sustainability of not-for-profit entities.

The TWG for the development of the public sector governance code is chaired by former Head of Civil Service of the Federation, Mr. Danladi Kifasi, while former Director General, Bureau of Public Service Reforms (BPSR), Dr. Joe Abah heads the TWG on the drafting of the code for not-for profit.

Adebayo said the events represented a giant stride in the country’s quest to be a preferred investment destination.

He said, “As we promote and imbibe best practices in public governance, I am hopeful that very soon, given the influx of core professionals/practitioners and constant flow of talents from the

corporate world to the political space and vis-versa, we will also be promoting and demonstrating higher standards of good governance practices in the political space over time.”

He said the code would enhance the fulfillment of the overall mandate of not-for-profit entities so they can achieve their intended outcomes for citizens and render better service to users as well as help them to operate in an effective, efficient, transparent, and ethical manner going forward.

The minister therefore urged members of the TWGs to employ their wealth of knowledge, expertise, experience, professionalism, and time in developing an acceptable code that will rebuild and reshape perspectives about the public sector, and in the short, medium, and long term, lead to national growth and development.

Speaking at the ceremony, the Executive Secretary, Financial Reporting Council (FRC), Mr. Shuaibu

Ahmed, noted that the public sector remained critical for the success of the economy due to the strategic role it plays in the key functioning of the country.

He said as the regulator of businesses in the economy, it is imperative that the public sector is well governed itself, adding that it is in line with this belief that the FRC had always recognised the need for a code that will guide the public sector.

Ahmed further explained that the proposed public sector governance code was necessitated by the fact that the existing Nigerian Code of Corporate Governance 2018 though had enabled Nigeria to join leading countries around the globe with a national code of corporate governance that guides companies on corporate governance best practice - it does not cover Ministries, Departments, and Agencies of the Government (MDAs).

He said, “These institutions will now be covered by the code that

will be developed by this esteemed audience, namely, the Nigerian Public Sector Governance Code.”

The FRC boss, among other things, said the proposed public sector governance code must critically address 10 key areas including corruption, diversity challenges, conflicts of interest, appointment and composition of the board of directors, protecting the board secretary, and protecting the internal auditors.

Other areas of focus include appointment and role of external auditors, risk management framework, institutionalising code of ethics and transparency as well as embedding and promoting sustainability frameworks.

On the other hand, he said developing a Code for the NFP sector governance was long overdue, adding that the sector remained critical for the success of the Nigerian economy due to the strategic role it plays.

Essentially, he noted that the

non-profit sector had actively been engaged in charitable causes and philanthropy through their corporate social responsibility programmes, adding that charity has progressed from individual charitable acts of helping the poor to more organized philanthropy through the years.

Ahmed said Not-for-Profit Entities were increasingly being used by notable figures including celebrity individuals and families, religious leaders, and wealthy capitalists, primarily using foundations and other non-profit forms to contribute their resources in addressing social problems including alleviating poverty, provision of free education and healthcare, and philanthropic giving.

Therefore, he said NFP entities remained a significant tool for indirectly enhancing the growth and development of the economy through capital mobilisation and imbibing enduring leadership values in the citizenry.

IN SOKOTO, BUHARI SAYS TINUBU IS RIGHT PERSON TO SUCCEED HIM...VOTE PDP FOR SECURITY, ECONOMIC DEVT, SAYS ATIKU AT KANO RALLY "The thieves and criminals are no Polls, US Posits to attack President Muhammadu it to buy votes in the forthcoming the Central Bank to make sure that

short remarks, urged Kano people to vote Atiku and other PDP candidates, saying, "We don't have to tell you what we are going to do for you.

We did it before, and we are going to do it again."

Atiku’s entourage also paid homage to the Emir of Kano, Alhaji Aminu Ado Bayero, after which he commissioned an Islamic Secondary school, built by Senator Shekarau, as part of his constituency projects.

Atiku: Tinubu Encouraging Aides to Attack Buhari’s Govt

Presidential candidate of the PDP, Atiku Abubakar, has accused his APC rival, Bola Tinubu of encouraging his aides to attack President Muhammadu Buhari due to his frustration over his inability to deploy bullion vans on election day in the wake of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) naira redesign policy.

Atiku, in a statement by his Special Assistant on Public Communication, Phrank Shaibu, also said it was tragic that the Minister of State for Labour and Employment, Festus Keyamo, continued to defend Tinubu, despite his attacks against the government and policies of President Buhari.

He wondered how Keyamo would continue to support Tinubu, who was demarketing the federal government.

“In furtherance of his desperation to buy votes on the day of election, Tinubu has encouraged his aides

Buhari and key members of his government.

“They started by constantly attacking Godwin Emefiele to organising a smear campaign against Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo, who had refused to attend any of their insipid rallies. They called him an ice cream man," he said.

Atiku added that they also went on television to accuse Buhari’s Secretary, Tunde Sabiu, of controlling the President, "inferring that the President is a toddler who needs to be held by the hand. This is indeed laughable.

“Festus Keyamo is the Minister of State for Labour and Employment.

Even his senior Minister, Chris Ngige, has distanced himself from Tinubu’s campaign and said he will not support anyone. This is honourable given the fact that Tinubu is a failed project.

“But Keyamo continues as Spokesman for the campaign despite the fact that the likes of Tinubu and Bayo Onanuga continue to attack President Buhari. If Onanuga says Malami is a public enemy, how does Keyamo sit with Malami during Federal Executive Council meetings? If Tinubu says Buhari’s government is a failure, doesn’t that also mean that Keyamo is part of the failed government?”

In a related development, the PDP has accused the ruling APC of fighting for the retention of old naira notes for the purpose of using

general election.

It said the APC was hiding under the guise of fighting for the suffering masses to perfect its illicit plans of spending its stashed old notes on vote buying.

Spokesman of the party’s Presidential Campaign Council, Mr. Charles Aniagwu, who stated this at a news conference in Asaba, added that the PDP, having engaged Nigerians on how it intends to recover and rebuild the country from the ruins of the APC-led government was very much prepared for the elections and warned against moves that could lead to postponement of the polls.

He accused the APC of plotting to derail the electioneering process by instituting frivolous court injunction and warned that the PDP was very ready for the polls to hold as scheduled.

According to Aniagwu, we are depending on the interface we have had with Nigerians and we are depending on the fact that Nigerians know that Atiku-Okowa have what it takes to rescue and rebuild Nigeria.

"Why is the APC going to court to seek extension of the old notes rather than ask the court to compel the CBN to release more new notes to the populace?

"The PDP as a political party would want the elections to hold as scheduled. We are impressing it upon the federal government and

funds are available to the people in line with the limits they have set.

"This is important so that when you go to the ATM or the banking hall, you should be able to access the little or the much you desire in line with that benchmark.”

Collect Their Money Vote Me, Obi Tells Supporters in Abuja Labour Party’s presidential candidate, Peter Obi, has told his supporters to accept money from other parties attempting to buy their votes but vote for him.

The former governor of Anambra State, stated this in Abuja at a campaign rally organised by his supporters at the old parade ground.

“I and Datti have said, hold us responsible for a new Nigeria. We will change this country. We will stop all this stealing. None of us has stolen money from government.

Our record is clear. They told you I am stingy because they have stolen all the money. They want to buy your votes. If they give you money, take it. It is your money. Vote for us,” he said.

Obi, who also vowed to tackle the challenges of insecurity and make Nigeria a country that every citizen would be proud of said, “Everything that is wrong is what they have been producing in the last twenty years. What Datti and I are offering you is simple. We are offering you security of lives and property. We will fight insecurity.

more formidable, except that there is no leadership. We will ensure that we unite Nigeria. We will ensure that no Nigerian after five years, will ever say that, ‘I am from the east, north or south’ but that ‘I am a Nigerian.’ You will be proud of your country because your country will move from consumption to production.

“Today, we have 35 per cent unemployment. To show you how bad things are in your country, in 2012, the number of Nigerians that were in absolute poverty was 55 million. Today, it is 95 million.

Unemployment was 15 per cent, today it is 35 per cent. Everything goes down.

"We have high level of youth unemployment. We will employ our youths. We will make them productive. We have vast land in the north, where our youths will be engaged and they will be productive.

Nigeria will feed itself. Nigeria will be a great nation again. We don’t want excuses again. That is what Datti and I are offering you.

“We want people who are competent, who have capacity and who have compassion, so that they will know when people are suffering.

We cannot continue the way we are.

It is impossible.”

Our Concern in Nigeria’s Election is Free, Fair

The United States Assistant Secretary of State for African Affairs, Molly Phee, has said the US has no preferred presidential candidate ahead of the presidential elections slated for February 25, but keen about a credible, free and fair election.

Phee said the US government or its Western ally had no power to change Nigeria, but only to ensure that the elections were credible, free and fair.

She spoke yesterday during a programme organised by the US Consulate General tagged ‘Youth Involvement in the Democratic Process’ held at the American Corner, Airport Road, Ikeja, Lagos.

The US official also urged young Nigerians to take the bull by the horns and fix their country by having one voice and trooping out to the polls with their Permanent Voter’s Cards (PVCs) to elect the right leaders.

Speaking as a panelist about the much-anticipated 2023 general election, Phee said, “We are not backing any individual. The US doesn’t have preferred candidate.

We are backing Nigerian democracy.

Nigeria is important. So, the US is to help and make elections peaceful and have results respected.”

Phee told Nigerian youths, “You guys are the future of Nigeria. Young population can change this country.

You don’t need American help to engage yourself.”

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MEGA MILLIONS NAIJA LOTTERY WINNER…

L-R: Legal Compliance Officer, Interra Networks, Emmanuel Moemeke; Representative of the winner, Mohammed Adekunle, and Managing Director, Mega Millions Naija, Okwy Okeke, during the presentation of N2 million cheque to the winner of the lottery in Abuja… yesterday KINGSLEY ADEBOYE

2023 General Elections: FG Orders Closure of Universities

KuniTyessiinAbuja

In preparation for the forthcoming general elections, the federal government has hearkened to the voice of the National Assembly and has directed all universities to shut on February 22.

In a statement from the National Universities Commission, all heads of institutions have been directed to close down, adding that no academic activities will take place between February 22nd and March 14.

The closure also includes all inter-university centres.

The announcement was contained in a statement signed by the Deputy Executive Secretary in charge of administration, Chris Maiyaki titled “Ministerial Directive on the Closure of all Universities and Inter University Centres During the Upcoming 2023 General Elections”.

According to the statement which was released on February 3, the decision followed concerns about the security of staff, students and the universities’ properties during the general elections scheduled from February 25 to March 14.

The commission said the Minister of Education, Mallam Adamu Adamu, gave the directive following consultation with relevant security agencies.

“Vice-Chancellors of all Universities and Directors/ Chief

Executive of Inter University Centres are quite aware, the 2023 general elections have been scheduled to hold on Saturday 25 February 2023, for the Presidential and National Assembly, and Saturday 11 March 2023 for Gubernatorial and State

Assembly, respectively.

“In view of the foregoing and concerns expressed on the security of staff, students and properties of the our respective institutions, the Honourable Minister of Education, Mal. Adamu Adamu has following

extensive consultations with the relevant security agencies, directed that all Universities and Inter University Centres be shut down and academic activities be suspended between 22nd February and 14th March, 2023.

Nigeria Moving Towards Topmost Hub for Business, Says Osinbajo KemiOlaitaninIbadan The Vice President, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo, yesterday said despite the challenges facing Nigerian business environment, the country has continued to move towards being one of the topmost hubs for business, trade and investment.

This is just as he called on

Nigerians within the country and in Diaspora to embrace the real estate industry for the sake of the nation’s future.

The vice president who spoke yesterday in Ibadan, during the inauguration of Phase 1 of Westlink Iconic Estate, a joint venture between Odu’a Investment Company Limited (OICL) and Chapter 4

Estate Management Limited, said the commitment of the administration of President Muhammadu Buhari, to improve the ease of doing business led to the inauguration of the Presidential Enabling Business Environment Council (PEBEC), stating that this had helped to catalyse the country’s business environment and also maintain

a proper business climate.

He added that the appeal to Nigerians in the Diaspora encouraged what he described as the joint venture project between OICL and Chapter 4 Estates Management Ltd, maintaining that it confirms that there is a huge opportunity in the country for investments in real estate industry.

The petition, written on his behalf by Onyechi Ikpeazu (SAN), said a document in circulation that purportedly emanated from the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) alleged that Mbah’s certificate was not authentic.

He said the guber candidate completed his youth service programme in Lagos State in

2002 where he was issued his discharge certificate.

The PDP standard bearer stated that the said letter from NYSC was a product of mischief makers desirous of breaching the peace.

He therefore, called on the IG to investigate the allegations and bring the culprits to book.

“We have been briefed and

our services retained by Mr Peter Mbah, whom we shall hereinafter refer to as our client and on whose instruction we write.

“Please accord this correspondence the extreme and urgent attention it deserves in order to avert a breach of the peace in Enugu State and beyond”, it said.

LASTMA Rescues Multiple Accident Victims in Lagos Alleged NYSC Certificate Forgery: Enugu PDP Guber Candidate, Mbah, Petitions IG

Sunday Ehigiator

Operatives of the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA) yesterday rescued two multiple accident victims and several others on ‘Kara’ bridge, outward Lagos.

The accident which occurred around 7am yesterday, involved a fully loaded 40fts containerised truck with five other private vehicles.

Astatement signed by LASTMA Director, Public Affairs and Enlightenment Department, Adebayo Taofiq, explained that preliminary investigation into the incident revealed that the fully loaded 40fts containerised truck developed a brake failure and crushed four other private vehicles.

“The vehicles include, Passat Jeep, a Camry, a black Lexus Jeep, a black Prado Jeep, and a

Hiace 18-seater commercial bus with passengers. A male hawker selling died instantly during the accident.

“The corpse of the dead hawker and several others rescued by Lastma personnel were handed over to medical personnel on ground at the scene of the accident.”

The Head of LASTMA (Zebra) around Ojodu- Berger Mr. Mabunmi Oluwa-biyi Abisola who led the rescue team also confirmed that the truck with the four other private vehicles involved in the fatal accident were immediately removed from the bridge to pave ways for free flow of traffic to other road users.

He disclosed that emergency responders at the scene of the accident included the Nigerian Police, Trace Officials and Federal Road Safety Commission (FRSC).

Kingsley Nwezeh in Abuja The candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Enugu State, Dr. Peter Mbah, yesterday petitioned the Inspector-General (IG)of Police, Usman Alkali Baba, over allegations that he did not participate in the national youth service programme in 2002.

Supreme Court Ruling: No Victor, No Vanquished, Says Emenike and deep sense of relief among the movement. There is no victor, no Supreme Court dismissed the appeal

EmmanuelUgwu-Nwogoin Umuahia

The governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Abia State, High Chief Ikechi Emenike, has welcomed with the Supreme Court verdict affirming him as the flag bearer of the party in the 2023 general election.

The verdict has elicited jubilations

Abia APC faithful, who had been waiting in suspense following the topsy-turvy outcomes of pre-election matters in the courts.

Reacting to the verdict delivered yesterday by the apex court in Abuja, Emenike described it as “a very important victory for the good people of Abia State, whose cause we are fighting for in our rescue

vanquished. This is also a very apt vote for the rule of law and human decency,” he said.

This is the second time in less than two months, that Emenike has been declared winner and authentic candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC’s), for the 2023 governorship election in Abia State.

In a unanimous judgment, the

against his nomination for lacking in substance and merit.

According to Justice Tijana Abubakar, who read the lead judgment, “there is nothing meaningful for the appellant to ask in this appeal and it is therefore dismissed. The judgment of the lower court delivered on December 23 is hereby affirmed.”

Diri Inaugurates 603 Bayelsa Obasanjo Faults Appointment of Former IGs as Chairmen of PSC President Olusegun retired Justice Clara Ogunbiyi authored by Chief Simon Okeke, delivery.

Community Safety Corps Former Obasanjo yesterday in Abuja took over as acting chairman. a former chairman of the PSC. The former president noted

Olusegun Samuel in Yenagoa

The first batch of 603 trainees under the Bayelsa State Community Safety Corps were yesterday inaugurated

by Governor Douye Diri in Yenagoa, the state capital.

The Corps came into existence in December 2021 when Governor Diri signed the bill establishing it into law.

The law streamlines the operations of the state’s security outfit, Operation Doo-Akpo, the Bayelsa State Volunteers and the Bayelsa Vigilance into an umbrella body.The personnel are mandated to work closely with security agencies in the protection of lives and property.

Speaking at the launch/ graduation ceremony, Governor Diri enjoined them to operate within the rules of engagement and not operate as tax collectors, settlers of land disputes or domestic issues but rather work with statutory security agencies to rid the state of criminals.

He also urged security agencies to work in synergy with the corps as they would be invaluable in crime fighting in the rural areas.

His words: “You are indeed the pride of Bayelsa State. You have undergone some set of training and are expected to know your rules and act within the rules of engagement.”

frowned at the appointment of former Inspectors-General of Police as chairmen of the Police Service Commission (PSC).

President Muhammadu Buhari appointed former InspectorGeneral of Police, Mr. Musiliu Smith as chairman of the PSC in 2018. He resigned in 2022 and

In January 2023, President Buhari appointed another retired IG, Mr. Solomon Arase, as substantive chairman of the PSC But Obasanjo expressed his misgivings when he spoke at the public presentation of a book: “Policing the Nigeria Police’’

He said: “When you make a retired police officer the head of the PSC, it is like asking a thief to catch a thief.’’

He said civilians should be appointed as chairmen and retired police officers appointed as members of the PSC to ensure effective and efficient service

that the author believed that Nigeria, a federation should not have unitary police establishment as people had argued that state police would be abused by governors.

“I won’t say yes or no, but can they not be abused by the federal government?

Property Tussle: Court Refers Suit against Ex-N’Assembly Clerk to Sharia Court of Appeal Alex Enumah in Abuja

Justice Ado Muktar of an Upper Area Court of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) in Gudu, Abuja, has referred a suit on property tussle involving a former Clerk to the National Assembly (N’Assembly), Alhaji Ataba Sani-Omolori and his

siblings to the Sharia Court of Appeal, Abuja.

Justice Muktar, made the order shortly after delivering ruling in a preliminary objection raised against the hearing of the suit.

The former N’Assembly Clerk and his siblings are currently locked in legal battle over the

property of their late father.

The plaintiffs, Nasir Sani-Omolori and Buhari Sani-Omolori, who had sued on behalf of themselves and other members of the family, are accusing their brother of failing to account for the family estate left behind by their father.

Specifically, they are asking

the court to make Omolori account for the property.

However, Omolori had raised an objection to the hearing on the grounds that proper parties were not before the court.

In a short ruling, the judge accepted the submission by Omolori and subsequently struck out the suit against him.

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NEWS XTRA

PDP Raises the Alarm as Gunmen Attack Ugochinyere Again Adedayo Akinwale in Abuja The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has raised the alarm following another attack on the residence of the party’s House of Representatives candidate for Ideato Federal Constituency of Imo state, Ikenga Ugochinyere.

The State Publicity Secretary, Collins Opurozor, in a statement issued yestderday said the latest attack was the third in two months.

On December 23, 2022, Ugochinyere narrowly escaped death when his convoy was attacked as he returned home from Abuja, Also, on January 14, 2023, his residence in UmukegwuAkokwa witnessed a bloody

onslaught that left three persons, including his uncle, dead, 32 vehicles burnt to ashes and buildings levelled to the ground with explosives.

Opurozor said: “The PDP alerts Nigerians that for the third time in less than two months, there was another bloody attack on February 7, 2023 at the residence of our candidate for ideato Federal Constituency, Barr. Ikenga Ugochinyere.”

He stressed that eyewitnesses are very exact and unanimous that the hooded attackers were members of the state-backed Ebubeagu Militia Force who were said to have been stationed in Akokwa. Just recently, Opurozor alleged that this

latest attack, apart from its core objective to assassinate Ugochinyere, it was also contrived to intimidate his supporters and weaken the resolve of Ideato people who are fully determined to elect Ikenga Imo Ugochinyere as member of the House of Representatives at the polls on February 2Sth, 2023, He added: “Today, the state-sanctioned terrorists who rode in a convoy of vehicles that included an armoured personnel carrier returned to the very same residence with even more audacity, unleashing mayhem on the buildings and letting loose bell upon everyone at sight. We are yet to establish the casualties.”

Makinde Inaugurates C’ttee to Review Civil Service Rules Kemi Olaitan in Ibadan

Oyo State Governor, ‘Seyi Makinde, yesterday, inaugurated a Committee to review the Civil and Public Service Rules and Regulations in the state for more effective and productive service delivery.

The governor, while inaugurating the committee at the Executive Council Chamber, Governor’s Office, Secretariat, Agodi, Ibadan, said most of the rules and regulations guiding the activities of the workers were no longer effective compared to the emerging environment.

He said the Civil/Public Service Rules and Regulation Volume I and II was last reviewed in the year 2013, adding that, there was the need for the public/civil service to embrace the use

CHANGE OF NAME I, formerly known and addressed as MISS BIOKORO UFUOMAEFE BETTY, now wish to be known and addressed as MRS NATHANIEL BETTY UFUOMA-EFE. All former documents remain valid.

The general public should please take note.

I, formerly known and addressed as AMINU DANJUMA ABUBAKAR, now wish to be known and addressed as AMINU DANJUMA. All former documents remain valid. The general public should take note.

I, formerly known and addddressed as MR. KALU THOMAS ONYEANI, now wish to be known and addressed as MR. KALU FELIX ONYEANI. All former documents remain valid. The general public should take note.

I, formerly known and addddressed as MISS EDU RUTH JOEL, now wish to be known and addressed as MRS. KALU RUTH FELIX. All former documents remain valid. The general public should take note.

I, formerly known and addddressed as SHITTU ADEMOLA MUTIAT, now wish to be known and addressed as AREMU ALICE MUTIAT ADEMOLA. All former documents remain valid. The general public should take note.

CONFIRMATION OF NAME This is to inform the general public that my name was captured on my NIN registration as WILLIAMS OLUFUNSHO CHRISTOPHER and on my WAEC result as ODEDEYI FUNSHO CHRISTOPHER. That I am one and the same person, and now wish to be known and addressed as WILLIAMS OLUFUNSHO CHRISTOPHER. All former documents remain valid. General public should please take note.

of technology for more effective and productive service delivery.

He maintained that the committee would be joined by the private sector to serve as a bridge between the old and the new generation.

He appreciated the workers for their commitment at ensuring the application of relevant rules to certain issues, which he said, culminates into the delivery of the dividends of democracy to all and sundry in the Pacesetter state.

“We are here today to inaugurate the Committee

on Review of Public Service Rules and Regulations and I think I need to talk briefly on why this is needed. The last review, according to the records made available to me for Volumes I and II, was conducted in 2013, which is about ten years ago.

“Some of the rules have not been reviewed since then, and since that time, things have changed very much. For instance, the advancement of technology requires that things be done differently now. But people are still so much used to carrying files around.

NESG, UNICEF Partner to Address Child Rights Violations, Poverty Kuni Tyessi in Abuja

and will focus on aligning the country’s poverty reduction The Nigerian Economic Summit strategy with the child and Group (NESG) has collaborated national Multidimensional Index (MPI), with UNICEF to establish a Poverty partnership aimed at addressing reviewing social sector policies child rights violations and to reduce child poverty, and implementing presidentialpoverty in Nigeria.

The partnership, which level accountability measures is set to launch in Abuja in for reporting and feedback February, will receive support on child rights and poverty from the federal government in Nigeria.

Chairman of NESG, Niyi CHANGE OF NAME Yusuf, said: “Today’s children I, formerly known and addressed are tomorrow’s leaders, and as MISS TAIWO VICTORIA it is crucial that we tackle MERAYEBU, now wish to be child rights violations and known and addressed as MRS poverty in Nigeria to ensure TAIWO VICTORIA OGUNSAN. their success. According All former documents remain to the National MPI 2022, valid. The general public should two-thirds of our children take note. are multi-dimensionally poor I, formerly known and ad- with 51 percent of all poor dressed as ADAMA MABE, now wish to be known and people being children. This addressed as MARVELOUS means that over half of poor MABE PETER. All former children lack the intellectual documents remain valid. The stimulation necessary for early general public should take note. childhood development.

“Our partnership with I, formerly known and ad- UNICEF is both timely and dressed as OWOLABI TOLU- significant. UNICEF is a leading WALASE LADELE, now wish provider of humanitarian and to be known and addressed developmental aid for children as OWOLABI TOLUWALASE worldwide, and this launch OLABAMIDELE. All former represents a critical step towards documents remain valid. The general public should take note. a future where children’s rights are respected, and they receive I, formerly known and addressed the support they need to become as TREASURE NMESOMA productive citizens.”

ALARIBE now wish to be known Also, the UNICEF Nigeria and addressed as TREASURE EFEJIRO BARTH-AKABA. All Country representative, Cristian former documents remain valid. Munduate, said: “UNICEF is General Public should please dedicated to protecting children’s rights in Nigeria and worldwide, take note.

I, formerly known and addressed and in helping them build a as CHIBUZO IFEYINWA ALA- strong foundation for their RIBE now wish to be known and future. Our partnership with addressed as CHIBUZO IFEYIN- NESG highlights the urgency WA BATHOLOMEW-AKABA. All of realising this goal and its former documents remain valid. efforts to achieve child rights The general public should please protection in Nigeria through take note. effective public policies.

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FRIDAYSPORTS

Group Sports Editor: Duro Ikhazuagbe Email: duro.ikhazuagbe@thisdaylive.com

0811 181 3083 SMS ONLY

Nigerian Sprinter, Oduduru, Suspended By AIU, Risks Six-Year Ban

Duro Ikhazuagbe Barely one year after Blessing Okagbare was banned for 11 years for dope, her teammate, Divine Oduduru, has also been provisionally suspended from track & field and notified of two potential Anti-Doping Rule Violations by the Athletics Integrity Unit (AIU).

If Oduduru, 26, is found guilty, he risks a six-year ban from athletics.

It may even be more years in the cooler just like Okagbare who got additional one year to the 10 years she was initially banned.

According to AIU yesterday, Oduduru’s alleged violations relate to the possession or use or attempted use of a prohibited substance. The Nigerian sprinter was fingered as “Athlete 2” in the America’s Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) investigation of Therapist Eric Lira who was prosecuted for

supplying performance-enhancing drugs to athletes at the Tokyo Olympics. Both Okagbare and Oduduru were listed as “Athlete 1” and “Athlete 2” in that investigation that involved the review of Okagbare’s telephone chats and discussions with Eric Lira.

U.S. Customs and Border Protection found “incriminating text and voice messages with Lira” on Okagbare’s phone on her return to the United States from Tokyo where she was stopped from competing in the semi final of the 100m event.

"The complaint against Lira provides specific information regarding persons identified as 'Athlete 1' and 'Athlete 2'," the AIU said in a statement at the time.

"In February 2022, a sole arbitrator of the AIU Disciplinary Tribunal concluded that they were 'comfortably satisfied' that 'Athlete 1' was Oduduru's team mate, Blessing

Okagbare.

"Based on the information in the complaint, including text conversations imaged from Okagbare's mobile phone by the FBI and further evidence obtained from the AIU investigation, the body alleges that Oduduru is 'Athlete 2' identified in the complaint."

Okagbare was provisionally suspended July 31, hours before her scheduled appearance in the 100-meter semifinals in Tokyo, after she tested positive for human growth hormone in a sample taken before the Games. She subsequently was found to have tested positive for recombinant erythropoietin in a different sample.

Oduduru has a personal best of 9.86 seconds in the 100 metres and 19.73 seconds in the 200 metres - a national record. He was disqualified in the 100m heats in Tokyo while he reached the 200m semi-finals.

Okpekpe Race to Serve as Qualifying Event for 2023 World Athletics Championships The Gold Label Okpekpe International 10km Road Race will serve as a qualifying race for World Athletics' flagship event, the World Athletics Championships scheduled for Budapest, the Hungarian capital this August.

This means athletes coming to compete for the prize money on offer will also have the additional motivation to secure the entry standard to the 19th World Athletics Championships.

The Okpekpe international 10km road race is one of the approved events that have met all the requirements to serve as a qualifying event for the biennial championships.

According to the entry requirements for the Budapest campionships in August, athletes wishing to be among the 27 who will compete in the respective men and women's 10,000m event can do so by running in any road race with a certified course.

According to World Athletics, 'performances for qualifying purposes may only be achieved on a course measured by a World Athletics/AIMS Grade 'A' or 'B' international road race course measurer with the measurement certificate established no more than five years before the date of the race.

Okpekpe international 10km road race course has met the requirements

Nilayo Partners FMY&SD to Deliver Cross Country Race in Jos Nilayo Sports Management Limited is partnering the Federal Ministry of Youth and Sports Development (FMY&SD) to deliver the first Cross Country event in Nigeria in over five decades.

The 10km race is scheduled to hold February 18 at the Rhino Golf Course in Jos, the capital of Plateau State.

Nilayo Sports Management Limited is the marketing company that has delivered the first gold label marathon race in West Africa and have decided to co-sponsor the Cross Country event.

The race is one of the plans the Sports Ministry, through the Sports Minister, Chief Sunday Dare has embarked on to develop long distance running in Nigeria.

Project Consultant/Coordinator, Tony Osheku is delighted with the coming on board of Nilayo Sports Management Limited.

“There cannot be a better sports management company to partner the FMYSD in this project than the company that has delivered

the biggest marathon in Nigeria's history and one of only two gold label 42 195km road races in Africa in 2023,” said Osheku, a former Nigeria 1500m champion.

Osheku believes the road to producing long distance runners capable of achieving world class performances which will ultimately translate to podium appearances in international competitions and games in the not too distance future will be clearer with the institutionalisation of cross country running among Nigeria's middle and long distance runners.

“It is a known fact that training for and participating in cross country races help distance runners to be better because of the very difficult terrain they will have to navigate before reaching the finish line,” added the man who trained Falilat Ogunkoya to two Olympic medals and two African records; four straight World Championships finals in the 400m and the number one in the quarter mile in 1998.

specified and is indeed the first road race in Nigeria to have its course measured by a certified measurer.

To meet up with the five year validity, the course was measured again last year and remains valid until 2026 which means the race will still serve as a qualifying event for next year's Olympics and the 20th edition of the World Athletics Championships in Tokyo, Japan in 2025.

For an athlete to secure the entry standard come May 27 in Okpekpe town, Edo State, he has to run 27:10 which will be a new course record for men and for the women, the athlete will have to make 30:40 which will also be a course record for the women.

NOT A LAUGHING MATTER...

Divine Oduduru’s future in track & field is on the edge following his suspense and a possible six-year ban by the Athletics Integrity Unit of the World Athletics...yesterday

CAF Confirms Guinea-Bissau, Nigeria Clash for Morocco Femi Solaja withagencyreport

Following the inability of GuineaBissau to provide a good home ground to host the country’s return fixture against Nigeria’s Super Eagles in the on-going AFCON 2023 qualifying round of matches, CAF ruled yesterday that Morocco has been adopted as home ground for the Guineans.

The African Wild Dogs will host the Super Eagles on the 28thof next month in the Match-day 4 fixture.

The first leg of the qualifying match will hold a week earlier on March 20th at the MKO Abiola Stadium in Abuja.

CAF had last weekend approved several stadiums to host the qualifying matches across the continent and only 24 of the 48 nations participating had their home grounds given all-clear signals to stage matches.

The continental body also directed that countries without approved stadiums will have the option of an adopted ground to host their

Super Eagles...to play Guinea Bissau in Morocco next month

AFCON 2023 QUALIFIER home matches. Morocco hosted many countries’ matches in the

Chelsea Make Osimhen Top Target in Summer Chelsea have identified Napoli striker, Victor Osimhen, as their primary striker target for the 2023 summer window, 90min reports.

The Blues' new ownership has spent big to bolster the squad but remains on the hunt for more firepower, after the acquisition of Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang reached a new low with his removal from the Champions League squad.

Kai Havertz has struggled to fill the void in attack and so Chelsea are prepared to sign a new striker in 2023, and sources have confirmed to 90min that the Blues are desperate to win the race for Osimhen.

90min revealed in October that Chelsea scouts had been instructed to step up their reporting on Osimhen, and having spearheaded Napoli's Serie A title charge with 16

goals in 17 games, the 24-year-old has established himself as Chelsea's top target.

Osimhen has two years remaining on his contract and so Napoli are prepared to demand his full value, with the Partenopei understood to be looking for close to €150m for the Nigeria international - a fee which has not scared Chelsea away.

However, with extensive plans

to sign players in other positions as well, Chelsea are expected to try and reduce that fee by offering a number of players in exchange, with Romelu Lukaku one of a number of possibilities if the Belgian does not return to Inter.

Napoli President, Aurelio de Laurentiis, has already fired a warning to Osimhen's suitors, insisting the striker is not for sale.

last AFCON and FIFA World Cup qualifying matches.

Super Eagles are in firm control of Group A with maximum six points after beating Sierra Leone in Nigeria before thrashing Sao Tome and Principe in Morocco last year.

Should Nigeria win both matches, Eagles will have maximum 12 points and qualify for the tournament to be hosted by Côte d’Ivoire in January 2024 with two matches to spare.

In another development, CAF is expected to also name the host nation for the 2025 tournament today. Nigeria and Benin Republic have a joint bid while Zambia, South

Africa, Morocco and Algeria are the other countries in the contest to win the hosting rights.

The on-going political disagreement between Morocco and Algeria could force CAF to ignore either of the two in spite of their fantastic facilities.

The Nigeria/Rep of Benin bid may also be ignored to avoid West Africa staging the tournament back-to-back since Cote D’ Ivoire will host the 2023 edition moved to 2024.

That leaves the bid in favour of South Africa and Zambia.

South Africa is the home of CAF boss, Patrice Motsepe and boast of quality facilities that were used to stage the FIFA World Cup in 2010 and hosting the AFCON 2013.

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MISSILE Yakasai to Politicians

“Those who prioritise winning the upcoming elections at all cost may not understand my concerns for the survival of Nigeria and its people. Unfortunately, there are unpatriotic individuals who are solely focused on their own selfish and narrow interests and do not care about the future of the country and its people. I have been pondering on what motives those who plan to rig or scuttle the upcoming elections and particularly the Presidential election” –Elder Statesman, Tanko Yakasai, warning desperate politicians against rigging the elections.

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ATTAHIRU JEGA GUEST COLUMNIST

Towards Free, Fair and Credible 2023 General Elections INTRODUCTION am greatly honoured with the invitation to deliver the Keynote address at this important gathering organized by the Abuja Central Mosque, to sensitize Nigerians on the importance of such a national issue as the 2023 General Elections, which will, In Shaa Allah (God willing), hold on February 25th and March 11, 2023. I wish to thank the organisers for inviting me, and especially for the commendable initiative of organizing this event.

As is generally recognized by knowledgeable people both here at home and abroad, this year, Nigeria’s general elections are the most consequential elections to be held globally, for at least three reasons. First, due to military coups and authoritarian reversals on account of bad governance, inept leaders, and poorly conducted elections, in some countries in the West African sub-region, there is concern about what would happen in Nigeria. Second, given the fractious nature of the Nigerian political class and their engagement in/with the electoral process as a “do-or-die” affair, and the mobilisation (some say the weaponization) of ethnicity and religion, there is concern about electoral violence, which could escalate and lead to profound instability in the country.

Third, there is the concern that if things do not go well in Nigeria’s 2023 elections, the opportunity to project Nigeria as a model of democratic development amidst global resurgence of authoritarianism, will be lost.

For us, Nigerians, therefore, all hands need to be on deck, to ensure that we have the best conducted elections, in terms of their being free, fair and credible, as well as peaceful, with good quality people elected into public offices in the legislative and executive arms of government at all levels / tiers of the Nigerian federation., as this would place our country more assertively on the trajectory of stable democratic development and good governance.

There is no doubt that, the better the conduct and management of elections, the more the likelihood of improving the sphere of governance for addressing the fundamental needs and aspirations of the citizens. And, key among what tends to make elections better, is the enlightened active participation of eligible citizens in the electoral process. All stakeholders therefore have a responsibility to sensitize and enlighten citizens about their responsibility, indeed obligation, to actively engage with / in, the electoral process.

I

BACKGROUND The 2023 general elections would be the 7th since 1999, when Nigeria returned to civil democratic rule, after a long period of military authoritarian rule (previous six being in 1999, 2003, 2007, 2011, 2015, 2019). No doubt, in the past 23 years, Nigeria has come a long way with regards to striving to improve the integrity of the preparations and conduct of elections. Incremental positive changes are clearly discernible. Many of the traditional, crooked methods used by politicians to undermine the integrity of elections have been systematically addressed. A few examples of these would suffice: 1.

Use of ballot papers without serial numbers has been eliminated.

2.

Movement of ballot papers from, say, Sokoto to Enugu, to be fraudulently used, has

INEC Chairman, Yakubu

been eliminated, using colour coding 3.

Ballot boxes are now numbered and customized to polling units, so they can no longer be snatched from one place and taken to another place for collation 4.

Result Sheets on which returns are made, are also now customized for each polling unit, so they can no longer be snatched, used for writing false results and fraudulently brought back into the electoral process for counting 5.

Ballot papers now carry multiple security features, making them virtually impossible to forge 6.

Upscaled use of technology, such as creation of electronic register of voters, use of Smart Voters Card, and authentication of voters with technological devices (e.g. in 2015 Card Reader, now BVAS) has also made fraudulent voting very difficult indeed.

In addition, compared to between 1999 and 2007 elections, INEC has become more professional, impartial and competent in preparation and conduct of elections with relative integrity.

In spite of all these, however, we are still not yet out of the woods. A lot more effort needs to go into continuous improvement and enhancement of the integrity of our elections.

Clearly, improvement within INEC alone, without commensurate improvements within all stakeholders in the elector processes, while necessary, is not sufficient for ensuring free, fair, credible, transparent and peaceful elections.

Toward Free, Fair and Credible Elections in 2023 The improved role of INEC alone, as remarkable as it has noticeably been, does not guarantee successful and unblemished elections. All hands need to be, indeed must be, on deck. In this regard, a number of outstanding challenges need to also be squarely addressed. These include: 1.

Improvement in the role and participation of security agencies in the electoral process. It has improved compared to the past, but it needs to be remarkably much, much better in the 2023 elections. The possibility or probability of armed and paid thugs, or bandits, or insurgents, attempting to disrupt the elections has to be anticipated and checkmated appropriately, if

it happens 2.

Improvement in the role of the judiciary in electoral adjudication, both in handling pre-election and post-election litigation. Again, while in relative terms some improvements are noticeable, a lot more needs to be desired, to cure entrenched public perception that electoral justice still goes to the highest bidder!

3.

Upscaling of the positive role of civil society organizations (CSOs), community-based organizations (CBOs), traditional, religious and community leaders, is necessary and desirable, in sensitization, voter education, peace-building and conflict resolution in communities and electoral constituencies.

To my mind, the most worrisome challenges going into the 2023 general elections are: 1.

The attitude and disposition of the so-called political class (politicians and political party bureaucracy or aristocracy); and 2). The attitude and disposition of the electorate, the eligible voting citizens, as they engage with the electoral process.

The so-called political class, as active partisans and as candidates/contestants in elections, are the category of stakeholders with perhaps the least noticeable improvements in the ways in which they engage with the electoral process since 1999. Their mindset is to achieve victory at all cost; to win elections deploying ‘all means necessary’; seeing electoral contests as a “door-die” affair. As they have done since 1999, they have continued to do, and are likely to do in 2023. They perpetrate and/or aide the commission of electoral offenses with incredible impunity; they deploy enormous financial resources buy off security personnel, election officials, judicial officers, and increasingly, even voters, so as to influence electoral outcomes in their favour. They arm and drug thugs from the large pool of unemployed youth and pay them to intimidate, harass, and violently disrupt the electoral process Many youth become susceptible to this, on account of the fact that 63.5% of youth are either unemployed or under-employed. And they dangerously mobilise religion, ethnicity, sectionalism and all sorts of divisive identities and ‘weaponize’ them in the electioneering process.

As their impunity has remained unchecked, so have their criminal and fraudulent predispositions increased. This may constitute the major challenge to the 2023 general elections.

The attitude and disposition of the electorate, those citizens who qualify to register and to vote, is also a major concern. Increasingly, even if they register to vote, they hardly make the effort to vote, as declining voter turnout statistics of general as well as off-season elections indicate.

This may be because of what is called a crisis of rising expectations; and/or inadequacy, or lack of sensitization, political and voter education. As the intrinsic value of electoral democracy is hinged on citizens participation in election to, in an enlightened manner, elect their trusted representatives in the legislative and governance institutions, the evidence of declining participation of eligible citizens, or of their unenlightened participation is undesirable and needs to be addressed.

Therefore, sensitization, public enlightenment and voter education are absolutely necessary, not just close to elections, but throughout the 4-year electoral cycle. This is even more significant in a country such as Nigeria, with

significant numbers of ‘illiterate’ (i.e. in western education, which in 2021 was put at 38% of the population or 76 million). For, in our own kind of situation, it is not enough for people to register to vote, and go to polling units on election day to vote: they must know how to vote and not waste their votes!

That is why, this kind of sensitization event, by a responsible and respectable religious organization such as this, is necessary and desirable. I would say further, that it would even more desirable, to partner with especially community-based organisations, to take the sensitization and voter education from conference halls, down to communities where the people live and vote. Traditional rulers and community leaders also are important partners in discharging this duty. The key messages to popularise are: if you are eligible, ensure to register to vote, obtain your voters card, know how to vote, go and vote on election day, vote properly/appropriately, and even more significantly, vote your conscience! Do not let monetary or material inducements to sway you to vote for a criminal, selfish, greedy, anti-people, narrow-minded contestant, when there is a decent, selfless, responsible, pro-people, visionary contestant. In a country with 133 million people or 65% of the population is to be affected by multidimensional poverty 2022), it may seem unrealistic or even futile to ask people not to accept money offered by corrupt politicians. It may be more effective to say,’ even if you take the money, then vote your conscience!’. The more enlightened voters we have going on election day to vote their conscience and make informed choices, the better the quality of elected representatives would be, and the more likely the prospects of having good governance that would address people’s needs and aspirations while securing them and protecting their human dignity.

CONCLUSION I wish to reiterate that the 2023 elections are the most consequential elections in the world, this year 2023. More importantly, it offers us an opportunity to keep on improving the integrity of our elections as well as the quality of governance in our country, after decades of declining participation and bad governance, accompanied by reckless vandalization of national resources, by a tiny band of selfish political class.

All responsible and respectable stakeholders, need to engage actively and contribute to a better and desirable outcome, as that is the only way to ensure quality representation, peaceful co-existence, progress and socioeconomic development in our country Nigeria.

May Allah SWT guide us well, and enable us to continue to contribute towards citizens political and voter education and enlightenment, as well as free, fair, credible and peaceful elections.

Once again, thank you for the opportunity to contribute to this sensitization event.

God bless the Federal Republic of Nigeria. *Keynote Address, presented at the Public Sensitization on Peaceful Co-existence and the need to have Hitch-free 2023 General Elections, Organized by the Abuja National Mosque Da’awah and Welfare Foundation (ANMDWF), at the National Mosque Conference Hall, Tuesday 7th February, 2023

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