FRIDAY 8TH MARCH 2024

UNICEF: Nigerian children deserve to learn in peace, rues abduction of 287 Kaduna students

UN Special Envoy, Gordon Brown promises global support for safe school initiative in Nigeria

Tinubu to security agencies: Ensure immediate rescue of kidnapped victims in Kaduna, Borno

Mrs. Oluremi Tinubu canvasses capital punishment for kidnappers

Chuks Okocha, Deji Elumoye in Abuja and KuniTyessi in Abuja

Findings have shown that activities of

Some

FG: Tinubu Determined to Reverse Underinvestment in Oil, Gas Sector

Allays concern over increase in fuel price, electricity tariff Minister inaugurates multi-billion dollar midstream, downstream gas infrastructure fund governing council

Olawale Ajimotokan in Abuja and Peter Uzoho in Lagos

The federal government yesterday, said President Bola Tinubu was determined to reverse the trend of low investment level in the oil and gas sector in order to address the revenue crisis that is severely impacting all Nigerians.

The Special Adviser to the President on Energy, Mrs. Olu

Verheijen disclosed this in Abuja at a Ministeria

Also yesterday, the Minister of State for Petroleum Resources (Gas), Ekperikpe Ekpo, called on stakeholders, both domestic and international, to join hands with the management of the multi-billion dollar Midstream and Downstream Gas Infrastructure Fund (MDGIF) to boost investments in the gas sector. The minister stated this in Abuja, at

the inauguration of the Governing Council of the MDGIF, according to a statement by his Spokesman, Mr. Louis Ibah.

Speaking further, Verheijen, noted that although the oil and gas sector was critical to the ability of the country to grow revenue and forex to stabilise the economy, investments level had fallen short of the country’s potential.

She lamented that since 2016,

Nigeria had only accounted for four per cent of Africa's total oil and gas investments, despite possessing 38 per cent of the continent's hydrocarbon reserves.

“We need to address the fundamental issues in the sectors so that we can attract capital to the infrastructure and there is no one who's going to invest in Infrastructure if they don't have assurance, the line of sight to the

attractiveness of gas supply.

“So, if gas suppliers are not making any investment because the fiscal terms of the business environment is a very difficult one in which to invest in, then it will be difficult to continue to mature mainstream projects and downstream projects because you have to deal with the ab initio problem which is gas supply.

“And that is exactly what

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has done by fast tracking these policy directives to ensure that we have sufficient gas supply whether we're trying to export, whether we're trying to compress natural gas or liquefied for domestic use, whether we're trying to have floating energy as an alternative way of getting gas into the market, all of those things are enabled by these policies.

ISIOKPO STANDSTILL AS DIGNITARIES HONOUR DECEASED BANKING ICON, WIGWE, HIS WIFE, SON

dignitaries both from international, national and local attended the programme.

The service which was officiated by the Redeem Christian Church of God (RCCG) started at 6:50pm and ended at about 9:26pm with vote of thanks from Herbert Wigwe's sister, Stella Eresie-Eke.

In his sermon, Pastor in Charge of Region 33, Redeem Church of God South-South, David Adewuyi, admonished the audience on the

need to prepare for life after death.

Noting the generous and philanthropic nature of late Wigwe which he said attracted thousands of delegates at the burial programmes, the clergy said "When the day of death comes no man has power over the spirit. When it is not yet your time to die, you can never die. But the moment it is your time, nothing can stop it.”

During the event, THISDAY observed the presence of dignitaries

including, Lagos State governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu; his Ogun State counterpart, Dapo Abiodun; Rivers State Governor, Siminalayi Fubara, and his deputy, Prof. Ngozi Odu; President of Dangote Group, Alhaji Aliko Dangote; former Governor of Delta State, James Ibori; Minister of FCT, Nyesom Wike, presidential candidate of Labour in the 2023 general elections, Mr Peter Obi; former Governor of Ekiti, Kayode Fayemi; CEO, Cowry Assets, Johnson

Chukwu; Tonye Cole, and several others.

Highlights of the service was the rendition of choruses by various Christian choirs both from Lagos and other parts of the country. Daughter of the deceased, Miss Tochi Wigwe, delivered the first biblical reading.

Vice Chancellor of the Wigwe University, Dr. Miles Davis, assured that the legacy of late Herbert Wigwe would not be allowed to die, saying that he and members of the Board

of Trustees (BOTs) have agreed and promised to sustain the university no matter the sacrifices they need to put for its success.

Davis, pointed out that of all his investments, the late banking icon never attached his name to any of them except the university.

He disclosed that he had already promised the family of the deceased that he would ensure that the university was preserved, just as he called for support from the

CONCERN MOUNTS AS NEW VIGILANTE CORPS IN KATSINA, ZAMFARA REINFORCE BANDITRY

Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF)

Country Representative in Nigeria, Christian Munduate, yesterday, pointed out that schools were supposed to be sanctuaries of learning and growth and not places of fear and violence, condemning the recent attack and abduction of 287 primary and secondary school pupils in Kaduna State.

Also, the United Nation’s Special Envoy for Global Education and former Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, Gordon Brown, yesterday, said the abductions of young students - the second in only a few days – has made the case for urgent action to both secure the pupils’ release from their captivity

and create safer schools across Nigeria.

However, disturbed by the development, President Bola Tinubu, yesterday, condemned the heinous incidents and charged the security agencies to ensure the safe release of vulnerable victims, internally-displaced persons in Borno State and students in Kaduna State.

Not less than 287 students and a principal, Abubakar Isah, were abducted in broad daylight on Thursday when bandits invaded the LEA Primary and Junior Secondary School, Kuriga in Chikun Local Government Area (LGA) of Kaduna State.

Officials of the school and community

leaders had told Governor Uba Sani, alongside key government officials, who visited the school on Thursday, that 187 students were abducted from the secondary school section and 125 from the primary school section.

However, Katsina State was the first to launch 1,466-strong Community Watch Corps at a ceremony held on October 10, 2023 which had in attendance former President Muhammadu Buhari.

Thereafter, in February Zamfara followed suit by inaugurating 2,645-member Zamfara State Community Protection Guards at an event attended by a former National Security Adviser (NSA), General Aliyu Mohammed Gusau.

NIGERIA PUTS $10,000 EXPATRIATE LEVY ON HOLD AFTER MINISTERS, STAKEHOLDERS' MEETING

and Investment said: "We came with NACCIMA and the organised private sector to meet with the Minister of Interior to get clarity on the EEL and we have had very engaging and fruitful discussion."

Uzoka-Anite added that at the end of the meeting all parties involved, "agreed to set up a joint committee to look at the implications of the EEL and how to implement it; pending that, the EEL implementation and rollout will be on hold until the stakeholders convene and meet."

On his part, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo said: "This is about stakeholders’ engagement. It's the first line in terms of the engagement process and we assure you the engagement

process will continue and at the end of the day, there will only be one winner, and that will be Nigeria."

President, NACCIMA, Dele Oye, and Chairman, Petroleum Technology Association of Nigeria (PETAN), Nicolas Odinuwe, who were both present at the stakeholders meeting, hailed the outcome of the meeting, describing it a significant breakthrough.

Oye, said he was entirely grateful for the government's current stance on the policy which had received knocks from key industry players and other stakeholders.

In a chat with the media also at the sidelines of the meeting, he said, "our members were impacted by the proposed policy. So we want

to use the opportunity to appeal to the industrialists and our various members that they should go on doing their business and that the effect or the likelihood of the proposed policy will be reviewed after we've done the stakeholders engagement."

In a chat with journalists, Odinuwe also said, "It's been a very fruitful meeting and I'm happy with the outcome and see that a collaboration now exists between the two the ministers that were involved in it.

“And I would hope that the joint committee being set up will work, quickly to make sure that, all nerves are calm so that the industry can grow."

Zamfara and Katsina are among worst hit states by the banditry conflict prevalent mostly in the North West and North Central parts of the country.

Despite warnings of the danger by intelligence and security agencies, the two states decided to establish paramilitary vigilante groups to confront the sophisticated bandits.

But rather than for the killings to abet the activities of the community-based security outfits has worsened security situation in the two states, with sudden upsurge in killings, a security expert told THISDAY.

Reports from the two states indicated the opening up of a new spate of killings which has further deepened the ethnic dimension of the conflict.

A researcher on the conflict in the North West, Dr. Murtala Rufa'I, said the fresh hostilities were predictable.

He explained: "First, they made a big mistake from the beginning. The recruitment into the vigilante groups was not inclusive. With almost exclusive Hausa membership it is easy for the Fulani to feel it's a force formed against them, and also for those involved to now conspire and target those they consider as the enemy.

"Secondly, the training was not extensive and their weaponry is not in the same category with what the bandits possess. At the end, the vigilantes now target soft targets that look like the people they are fighting with while the bandits renew their hostilities on account of this targeting of their kins and kiths," he said.

According to him, many bandits who had hitherto downed their arms due to

non-kinetic steps taken by government and admonishing of their leaders have now picked up their arms in response to the "indiscriminate attacks on Fulani soft targets and their settlements."

He said many of the vigilantes were also being killed, "because of their inexperience, exuberance and low-grade arms."

"The two governors wanted to do politics with the security issue but we warned them because we know the dangers. We were here when Abdulaziz Yari did a similar arrangement in Zamfara and we witnessed the terrible consequences of that experiment. In fact, we wrote the two states and told the political leadership here in Abuja but nobody listened to us," a senior security officer who pleaded to remain anonymous said, as he was not authorised to speak with the media.

According to him, the activities of the vigilantes has eroded the gains made in taming the conflict.

"Honestly I blame our ministers and the NSA. They are the right people to advise the President against allowing any governor to go this route. But they did not."

Another security source also attributed the security breaches, including recent kidnapping of students in Kaduna as response to the activities of the vigilates.

"There are several cases of extra-judicial killings, arson and confiscation of property, mostly unreported in the villages of Zamfara and Katsina states."

In February, former Zamfara Central

government and all those that loved the deceased bank chief.

Davis, also pointed out how Wigwe's wife, Chizoba, supported her husband in achieving success in all his endeavours.

Explaining how he got involved in the university, the vice chancellor project, he said: "I had no idea that we will be carrying on a vigil without him. I remember vividly the first day that I landed in Nigeria.

“The next morning, Dr Herbert invited me to his home and talked about what they wanted to do.

"I am aware that Dr. Wigwe owned a lot of businesses. He was involved with a lot of things. There is one thing that has the Wigwe's name in it and that is Wigwe University.

"I am here to assure you on behalf of the Board of Trustees, on behalf of the commitment that I made to Wigwe's family, that in the words of Dr. Wigwe, we will keep his right. I am someone who was born in the United States, with very proud Nigerian ancestry. I am excited to say that what people will be proud of is Wigwe University.”

Speaking further, he said: "We are excited that you are here. We hope we are going to see you (the dignitaries) in the campus, we hope this is not the last time we are going to see you on the campus. I want to assure you that myself and all those who have worked so hard will make this thing happen for the pride of Nigeria, for the pride of Africa."

Earlier yesterday, people of Ikwerre ethnic nationality in Rivers from different parts of the local government were in tears as they awaited the arrival of the remains of Herbert, his wife and son at the Port Harcourt International Airport, Omagwa.

The people in their traditional attires and songs lamented the exit of an illustrious son, saying they lost a selfless philanthropist. They followed the convoy of the corpse from the Airport to his hometown in Isiokpo, where they would be buried today.

L-R: Comptroller-General, Nigeria Immigration Service, Kemi Nanna Nandap; Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, Dr. Doris Uzoka-Anite; Minister of Interior, Hon. Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, and Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Interior, Dr. Aishetu Gogo Ndayako, at a stakeholders’ meeting where it was agreed to pause the implementation of the Expatriate Employment Levy in Abuja…yesterday

L-R: Director of NASME, Ugwu Ejimkeonye; Director General, Nigerian Turkiye Business Council, Uche Osoka; Chairman, Nigerian Economic Zones Association, Nabil Saleh; Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, Dr. Doris Uzoka-Anite; National President, NACCIMA, Dele Kelvin Oye; Minister of Interior, Honourable Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo; Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Interior, Mrs. Gogo Aishetu Ndayak; Chairman Petroleum Technology Association of Nigeria, Nik Odinuwe; and Head of Trade and Economics, European Union, Rikard NORDEMAN, at a stakeholders’ meeting where it was agreed to pause the implementation of the Expatriate Employment Levy in Abuja…yesterday

FARE THE WELL FRANK KOKORI…

L-R: Chief Great Ovedje Ogboru; Speaker, Delta State House of Assembly, Emomotimi Guwor; Senator Ede Dafinone, and Delta State Governor, Sheriff Oborevwori, during the funeral service of former labour leader, Frank Kokori at St. James Anglican Church, Oviorie-Ovu, Ethiope East LGA…yesterday SAMUEL JIBUNOR

Foreign Trade Increased to N71.88tn

Posts N1.4tn deficit in Q4, crude oil exports hits N10.3tn

James Emejo in Abuja

Nigeria's total merchandise trade increased to N71.88 trillion in 2023, compared to N52.38 trillion in the preceding year, the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) disclosed yesterday.

Of the total annual trade, exports amounted to N35.96 trillion while imports represented N35.91 trillion, indicating a surplus of N44 billion.

However, the country recorded a deficit of N1.41 trillion in the fourth quarter of the review period (Q3 2023), when total trade stood at N26.80 trillion, of which exports were valued at N12.69 trillion.

Sylvester Idowu in Warri

President Bola Tinubu, yesterday, eulogised the late former General Secretary of the National Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas (NUPENG), Chief Frank Ovie Kokori, describing him as the foremost nationalist Nigeria has ever produced.

The President made the declaration at the burial service of the octogenarian at St. James' Anglican Church, OviorieOvu in Ethiope East Local Government Area of Delta State.

Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Senator Heineken Lokpobiri, who represented President Tinubu said Kokori was a man of uncommon courage who put the country as his utmost interest.

"He (Tinubu) told me that Kokori is the most foremost nationalist Nigeria has ever produced and that he is a man of uncommon courage. He is a selfless leader who put the interest of Nigeria above his own interest. He also said Kokori is a man of proven integrity and a democrat who fought against the dreaded military regime for democracy to be restored in Nigeria.

"While some leaders were afraid and running away, Kokori stood there. He was the voice of the voiceless people, the voice of the less-privileged people," he noted.

Tinubu apologised to Governor Sheriff Oborevwori, the Kokoris and Deltans for his absence due to state engagements.

"He told me that Kokori was his comrade when they were fighting for democracy and he would have loved to attend the burial and that is why I'm here representing the President," the minister said.

Nonetheless, Q4 performance indicated an increase of 38.24 per cent over the value recorded in Q3, 2023, and by 128.64 per cent compared to the value recorded in Q4 2022.

According to the Foreign Trade in Goods Statistics (Q4 2023), which was released by the statistical agency, total exports in the quarter under review increased by 22.68 per cent when compared to N10.34 trillion in the preceding quarter, as well as increased by 99.60 per cent compared to N6.35 trillion in Q4 2022.

Similarly, total imports increased by 56.04 per cent compared to N9.04 trillion in Q3 and also rose

by 163.08 per cent compared to N5.36 trillion in Q4 2022, the NBS stated.

Further Q4 analysis showed that the country’s top five export destinations as The Netherlands with N1.91 trillion or 15.05 per cent of total trade, India N1.10 trillion or 8.68 per cent, Spain N1.03 trillion, representing 8.11 per cent, Canada N907.64 billion or 7.15 per cent, and France N799.77 billion or 6.30 per cent of total exports.

According to the NBS, exports to the top five countries amounted to 45.29 per cent of the total export value.

The largest exported product in the review quarter was petroleum oils and oils obtained from bituminous minerals, crude’ valued at N10.31 trillion representing 81.23 per cent.

This was followed by Natural gas, with N1.01 trillion, accounting for 8 per cent, as well as Urea, whether or not in aqueous solution’ with N251.90 billion or 1.98 per cent of total exports. Non-oil export was valued at N1.09 trillion while non-crude oil export stood at N2.38 trillion in Q4.

However, the top five imports trading partners included Singapore with goods valued at

N5.09 trillion, representing 36.09 per cent, China N2.06 trillion or 14.61 per cent, Belgium N1.14 trillion or 8.09 per cent, India N908.59 billion or 6.44 per cent and the United States of America N512.99 billion or 3.64 per cent.

The values of imports from the top five countries amounted to N9.71 trillion in the review quarter.

According to the statistical agency, the value of re-exports stood at N50.91 billion representing 0.40 per cent of total exports.

The top five re-export destinations were Malaysia,

Cameroun, Italy, Ghana, and the Netherlands and the most re-exported commodity was ‘Vessels and other floating structures for breaking up with N13.67 billion. This was followed by mechanically propelled vessels for the transport of goods, with gross tonnage higher than 500 tonnes’ which was valued at N6.76 billion.

Also, Other machinery of heading 84.30, not self-propelled amounted to N6.26 billion. Tugs and pusher craft valued at N4.54 billion, and ‘Artificial filament tow of cellulose acetate’ amounted to N2.42 billion.

Obaseki Launches ‘Operation Feed the Hungry’ Initiative with N1bn in Edo

Tinubu, urged Nigerians and Deltans to stop mourning but celebrate his exit to be with the Lord forever stressing, "Let me conclude by saying that Kokori's death is not the death that will be painful to only Delta people.

"He was more of Nigerian before Deltan. His death is painful to all of us in the country and whatever we can do to continue from where he stopped is what all of us will do.

Bishop of Warri Diocese, Rt. Rev. Christian Esezi Ide, had in his message themed, 'Hope', drawn from IThesa. 4:13-18, described the passing of Kokori as having created a vacuum that can hardly be filled.

The cleric said the presence of Governor Oborevwori, a PDP governor, who was sitting side by side with Chief Ede Dafinone, Senator representing Delta Central Senatorial District of the APC, is a message that politicians should be one in Christ.

"The death of Chief Kokori has created a vacuum that can hardly be filled in the family. He was an illustrious son of the state and you can see the presence of Governor Oborevwori. We cannot, but remember him for good.

"We have political enemies not biological enemies. We are one in Christ. We should learn this," Bishop Ide admonished while urging Christians to have hope in God to overcome their life challenges", he said.

Joseph Akinlaja, who was Chief Kokori's deputy as General Secretary of NUPENG, and President of NUPENG, Williams Akporeha, called on President Tinubu to immortalise the late foremost unionist with national honours.

Says Nigeria's economic problems self-inflicted

Adibe Emenyonu in Benin City

As part of efforts to cushion the effects of economic crunch on the people, the Edo State Governor, Mr. Godwin Obaseki, has officially launched the ‘Operation Feed the Hungry Initiative' in the state with the sum of N1 billion.

Obaseki also said that the present hunger, and economic woes ravaging Nigeria, is self-inflicted, adding that when he first raised the alarm of an imminent economic danger, some people thought he was merely playing the opposition politics.

The governor while launching the initiative at St. Paul's Pastoral Centre, Benin City, and at the Government House when he met with the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) and League of Muslim Imams respectively, disclosed that the the first phase of the programme will capture over 60,000 residents of the state through the five blocks that make up the CAN and the Muslim communities.

He declared, "I know that when

people are distressed, very few of them will be able to cross the gate of the Government House to see me, but almost all of them will as I have seen, go to the various parishes to meet you to see that you assist them and I am sure that in the last few years of extreme economic hardship, the burden of the church has increased, that is why we want to use the religious bodies for this initiative."

Continuing, he said, "And for me, it is more than that, you know my position on the Nigerian economic situation. When we first raised the alarm a few years ago, some people thought we were joking, but it didn't stop us from getting to where we are. We cannot sit down to lament and and complain over the situation, we have found ourselves.

"As government, we have to think of how to respond to the situation we found ourselves and rather than ask you to come, I rather decided to come out to meet you the men of God to begin this process or an attempt to begin. I called CAN

here for a meeting on the 10th of February. It was deliberate, I did not invite them to Government House, but decided to come here to meet them. I told them how do we help, how do you respond, I got several ideas from them and my original rough file was richly enhanced and my original ideas was polished and greatly enhanced.

"I must say that this initiative will be purely driven by CAN as a body. Our responsibility as a government is to make the fund available and monitor the process to ensure that our goals are met. For the pilot phase, we are making available N1 billion. We will place it in a dedicated account, from where this programme will be carried out by the men and women of God.

"We are going to use this structure you are putting in place to try to reach as many as would be possible and let them know the economic opportunities that this government is making available, particularly in the areas of agriculture and when we get this programme settled in the

next few weeks, we will reach out to you to make the people know the inputs that we can give them, assurance that we will buy all their produce, particularly the ones with protein.

Earlier, speaking the Archbishop of Benin Catholic Church, His Grace, Most Rev. (Dr.) Augustine Obiora Akubeze, thanked the governor for nursing the plan of assisting the poor and hungry in order to cushion the effects of the biting economic situation suffering by Nigerians mostly the Edo people.

The Chairman, Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) in Edo State, Apostle (Dr.) Irekpono Omoike, lauded Obaseki, adding that Christian blocs in the state will justify the confidence reposed in them by making sure that the targeted persons are those to really benefit.

Also, the Chief Imam of Benin Central Mosque, Mallam Abdulfatai Enabulele who led other Imams to the meeting, commended the governor for the initiative, and pledged their support to make it work.

Imo Assembly Screens, Approves 12 Commissioner-nominees

Tony Icheku in Owerri

The Imo State House of Assembly has screened and approved the list of commissioner nominees sent to it by Governor Hope Uzodinma. The screened nominees include immediate past commissioners, comprising Information and Strategy, Declan Emelumba (Information and

Strategy); Ralph Nwosu, (Works); and Chimezie Amadi, (Digital Economy and e-Government).

Other former commissioners nominees screened include Cosmos Maduba,(Agriculture and Natural Resources); and Major Emenike, (Environment) ition to the returning commissioners, others who scaled

through the process includes Hon. Bede Ekeh; Dr. Chika Benson Abazu; Ozo Obinna Ogwuegbu; Hon. Osakwe Modestus; Hon. Anyanwu Anselem Ezechinyere; Hon. Onyeoha Obinna Evaristus and Hon. Nkechi Ugwu

The Clerk of the House of Assembly, Mrs. Chinelo Emeghara, told the House before the before the exercise that 12

names have been forwarded by the governor for screening and added that four more names are being expected. Governor Uzodinma dissolved his cabinet on January 16, 2024, after his inauguration on January 15, 2024.

The Speaker of the House , Hon. Chike Olemgbe, presided over the screening which took place at the Assembly complex

Hail

Stop Stoning Alleged Witches in Africa

The Advocacy for Alleged Witches urges all Africans to desist from stoning suspected witches or anyone accused of harming others through magic. This appeal followed the reported stoning of two women in the Democratic Republic of Congo this week. According to the report, the two women, aged 60 and 65, were accused of being responsible for deaths in their community. A local mob abducted these women, stoned them to death, and burnt their bodies. As often the case, the police intervened late. By the time they arrived, the women were dead. The brutal killing of these women was not an isolated incident.

Congo DRC is notorious for the accusation and persecution of alleged witches, especially children. A local nongovernmental organisation, the Association of Women in Media stated that alleged witches in the area were banished or killed. The stoning of alleged witches also takes place in Malawi, Kenya, Nigeria, Ghana, and other countries in subSaharan Africa. The practice of stoning witches continues because perpetrators get away with their crimes. There are no measures to deter and help end this barbaric practice. Those who stone alleged witches are not arrested. And in cases where they are arrested, they are not prosecuted or jailed. In many cases, after reporting the news, nothing is done. No further action is taken. The matter fizzles out. Life returns to ‘normal’ until another alleged witch is murdered.

The Advocacy for Alleged Witches urges Africans to stop this primitive and cruel practice of stoning alleged witches. Africans should understand the foolery in stoning witches. Look, if these women were witches as believed or accused, the outcome would have been different. If they had mystical powers, as alleged, they won’t allow people to attack or stone them to death without using their supposed mystical powers against them. If the women were witches as alleged, they would have used their witchcraft powers to tackle, resist, and destroy their stoners and killers.

But these women were not witches. They had no witchcraft powers. They were innocent of the crime. Africans should realize that

witchcraft is imaginary. Witchcraft is a form of superstition. Witchcraft has no basis in reason, science, or reality. Belief in witches is an ancient superstition that should be abandoned.

But this realization cannot take effect until state authorities rise to the occasion and fulfill their responsibility to protect alleged witches. State actors should know that the lives of alleged witches matter. They should ensure that persecutors of alleged witches are brought to justice. African governments should enforce laws against jungle justice and trial by ordeal. African schools should educate and help reorient the minds of children and youths. They should encourage them to think critically and scientifically. Belief in witches persists due to dogma and blind faith in the human ability to harm others through magical means. But critical thinking will help weaken the grip of this superstition on the minds of Africans.

Stop witchcraft accusations! Stop stoning alleged witches in Africa!!

Leo Igwe directs the Advocacy for Alleged Witches

TWailing for Phillip Shaibu

he political landscape in Edo State is looking gloomy for Comrade

Governor of the state. His was a history of intrigues, loyalty, disloyalty, executive powerlessness, and sheer braboss who is uneasily placated by any act of remorse but often determined to have his

With an impeachment process initiated by 21 out of 24 members of the state House of Assembly dangling in his face, only divine providence can save a political pugilist like Comrade Shaibu in the circumstance.

It is widely known that Governor Obaseki is yet to lose any political battle. So when his subordinate dared him, he simply bare his fangs.

Politics truly, is a game of interest. A time was when Comrade Shaibu was the hatchet man for Governor Obaseki: in those dark days when they were in the trenches against a perceived overbearing godfather.

EIt was sweet then. A common enemy needs to be checkmated and Philip Shaibu was the ready tool.

But that was sweet by and by. Now the chicken has come home to roost. And might be roasted too, in this raging storm.

Comrade Phillip Shaibu has the right to aspire to be governor of a state he has given so much to both at the state and federal level. But the Byzantine variant of the Obaseki politics saw it as an affront and said no.

I’m wailing for Phillip. Maybe he could have been more circumspect in his dealings with the governor against his estranged boss, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole. But that is like crying over spilled milk now.

Whatever happens in the days ahead, it will always be on record that a certain Phillip Shaibu came, fought and fought very dirty. Yet, he lost out on all desired fronts. But he must learn to take it with all philosophical calmness and equanimity. He’s still a young man. There may still be another day.

Austen Akhagbeme, Abuja

The Cost of Peace

ven the bravest and most decorated soldier will be avoided as much as possible.

There is much to fear when a man who avoided his military service because of ‘sore feet’, bone spurs in his heels, tells Russia “In fact, I would encourage them to do whatever the hell they want. You got to pay. You got to pay your bills.” and this is a potential repeat Commander-in-Chief of the most powerful country, and probably military force, in the world. He was sidestepped by generals who used to steal papers off his desk so that he couldn’t sign orders they knew were wrong. This does not inspire confidence.

He is the bully in the playground who picks on the child who cannot afford the celebrity sneakers or the teacher who sends a student home because they don’t have the correct uniform on.

Is he the best of the best in the US? No!

Dennis Fitzgerald, Melbourne, Australia

ACCEPT OUR CONDOLENCES…

L-R:

FG Mulls Legislation to Sanitise Health Sector

James Sowole in Abeokuta

The federal government has said it will soon come up with legislation that would regulate the healthcare sector to eliminate quacks and ensure improved service delivery.

Minister of State for Health, Dr. Tunji Alausa, stated this yesterday, when he paid a courtesy call on the Governor of Ogun State, Prince Dapo Abiodun, at the Presidential Lodge, Abeokuta. Alausa decried the unwholesome practice where untrained people are allowed to operate in the health sector.

He also lamented the prevalence

of quacks from where heinous acts, such as organ harvesting takes place.

The minister said, "We will be pushing for a new regulation to regulate the healthcare sector as more than 60 per cent of the nation's healthcare is in the hands of the private sector without adequate supervision.

"You see hospitals, laboratories, and diagnostic centres being run without anybody checking on what they are doing and these are some of the places where illegal practices like organ harvesting are taking place.

"What we are going to do at the federal level, is to set up a Health Facility Regulatory Commission that

Customs Partners Kano Grain Dealers to Fight Hunger, Implements Export Prohibition Act

Ahmad Sorondinki in Kano

The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has concluded plans to collaborate with the Dawanau International Grains Market in Kano to fight hunger and promised total compliance with the Export Prohibition Act in the country's borders.

The Comptroller General of the Service, Mr. Bashir Adewale Adeniyi, disclosed this yesterday during a courtesy call on the leadership of the market in Kano.

He said President Bola Tinubu has directed the service to collaborate with other federal government agencies and the Dawanau Grain Dealers Association to fight against hunger in the country.

Adeniyi explained that the Nigeria Customs Service was working assiduously to secure the Nigerian borders,

safeguarding industries as well as agricultural produce.

He said now that the country was passing through a food crisis, the President had directed total compliance with the Export Prohibition Act, which imposed a total ban on the exportation of food especially, when people were in dire need of them.

The Comptroller General urged the Dawanu grains dealers to assist the government by complying with the directive banning the exportation of food items, to provide enough food to the people.

"It is unwise for a reasonable and sincere country to embark on the exportation of food items when her citizens need them.

"You are big stakeholders in this direction and these are the reasons why I am here to interact with you and solicit your support," he said.

will start regulating the standard of health care across the country and we expect the states to set up their own regulatory bodies as well."

Alausa also hinted that the federal government is in the process of starting a programme that would increase the production of healthcare providers, starting with the admission of 10,000 medical students every year, while admission

for nurses would increase from 28,000 to 68,000, annually.

Throwing more light on the Sectoral Approach Programme launched by President Bola Tinubu, the minister explained that one per cent of the consolidated fund was for Basic Health Provision, 55 per cent for Primary Healthcare Centres, and 45 per cent for National Health Insurance, while five per cent goes

into Emergency Services.

He said Ogun State has been diligent in managing the Basic Health Provision Funds, which is meant for Primary Healthcare Centres, calling on the governor to adequately monitor the fund to ensure that it is directed to where it was meant for.

Alausa stated that his visit was to see how the federal government

would strengthen its relationship with state governments in pushing the President's mandate which is to revive, rejig, evaluate, and overhaul the healthcare delivery system for the benefit of Nigerians.

Responding, Abiodun, said his administration would not hesitate to replicate any federal government action aimed at eliminating quackery in the health sector.

Olowo: Sustainability Reporting, Practices Will Boost Economy, Wellbeing of Nigerians

FRC, NIRC sign agreement to enhance advocacy seamless implementation, others

James Emejo in Abuja Executive Secretary/Chief Executive, Financial Reporting Council (FRC) of Nigeria, Dr. Rabiu Olowo, yesterday, said sustainability reporting and practice could help the country to unlock foreign capital inflows, attract investments as well as improve the well-being of Nigerians.

He said given that only three per cent of climate finance finds its way to Africa, adopting sustainability practices could improve inflows, impact businesses and benefit the common man among others.

Olowu spoke as the FRC and Nigeria Integrated Reporting Committee (NIRC), signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to boost advocacy and capacity development towards the seamless implementation of Sustainability Reporting Standards in the country.

He said with the country's adoption of the new reporting templates, a lot of work had been done by the Adoption Readiness Group –with roadmap for Nigerian corporates to follow from 2024 and 2028 when the standard becomes mandatory.

The FRC boss described the partnership as one of the critical steps the council is taking towards ensuring effective and seamless implementation of sustainability reporting in the country.

He said, “This could not have come at better time considering the fact that the roadmap report for the adoption of the IFRS S1 and S2 will be launched on March 22, 2024 just precisely in two weeks during the visit of Mr. Emmanuel Faber, Chair, ISSB and his team to Nigeria as part of his three nation African tour.

“As you are all aware, Nigeria, through our council, took a bold step by declaring her intent to early adopt the International Sustainability Standards Board (ISSB) standards at CoP 27 in Egypt in 2022.

“We followed our declaration by setting up the Adoption Readiness Working Group (ARWG), hosted the launch of IFRS S1 and S2 in collaboration with the NGX Regulations Limited on June 26, 2023, and issued the Roadmap report for comments on February 1, 2024 with closing date for comments on March 14, 2024 just six days away.”

Olowo emphasised that the collaboration further demonstrated the council’s commitment to ensure adequate and comprehensive advocacy to herald effective corporate behavioural change that will drive the sustainability reporting in Nigeria.

He said, “In line with statutory provision of the FRC Act 2011 as amended, that empowers the Council to enter into Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) towards the achievement of her mandate, we could not have gotten a better partner for our advocacy drive than the Nigeria Integrated Reporting Committee (NIRC), an independent forerunner in the corporate reporting journey.”

He said the FRC is playing a critical part in the actualisation of President Bola Tinubu-led administration’s Renewed Hope Agenda driven through Digitisation, Operational Excellence, Stakeholders Engagement and Enforcement (DOSE).

He said, “This will take FRC to greater heights and unlock capital for the country, which in turn, will create employment. This event today is part of the stakeholder’s engagement and there is going to be more of it.

“I am delighted to note the commitment of the members of ARWG who diligently made lots of sacrifices to ensure that Nigeria became a good reference point globally on the adoption of sustainability reporting.

“We are indeed grateful for your efforts, which we believe will be further required in this journey. It is through collaboration and shared knowledge that we can drive meaningful change and create a more reliable financial report.”

He told THISDAY, “The question is what are we going to do between now and then? There's a need for advocacy training so that accountants or all those who contribute to financial reporting understand and appreciate, and that’s why we’ve gone into partnership with NIRC so they can help with the advocacy and capacity building for the adoption to be seamless.”

On his part, Chairman, NIRC, Dr. Innocent Okwuosa, said embracing sustainability reporting means it’s no longer business as usual for entities in Nigeria, adding that more than profit making, priority would be given to the environment, people and the planet.

ECOWAS: Over 3,500 Terrorist Attacks Recorded in W’ Africa in 2023, 9,000 Lives Lost

Michael Olugbode in Abuja

No fewer than 3,500 terrorist attacks were recorded in West Africa in 2023, the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) revealed yesterday.

The subregional bloc lamented that about 9,000 lives were claimed as a result of terrorism with the same period under review.

The Commissioner of Political Affairs, Peace and Security, Amb. Abdel-Fatau Musa, said this has left the body with no other option but to establish an Anti-Terrorism Force to address the challenge.

Musa gave the details yesterday in Abuja at the weekly press briefing of the ECOWAS Commission.

He noted that the bloc is not unattractive as some would want many to believe, stating that the body despite its challenges remains as attractive as before and that the request for membership from Morocco is still on the table and that the three member states - Niger, Mai and Burkina Faso that pulled out are still seen as members for they have up till February next year for their request to exit to be considered in accordance with Article 81 of the organisation.

He noted that efforts are being made within ECOWAS and outside of the group to persuade the departing member states to rescind their action and retrace their steps.

He said they are prominent members and importance in the security of the region from the Sahel to the Ocean, insisting that it is unimaginable that they would leave the bloc that has done so much to all the 15 countries, stating that the ECOWAS does not have anything against the association of the Sahelian States of which the three departing countries have formed for their security.

He said that is seen as a bilateral or rather multilateral relations among members for their good and not in conflict with anything under ECOWAS rule.

He applauded the announcement of the formation of a joint anti terrorism force by Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger Republic, stating that it was a welcome development.

He explained, "The whole geographical area of West Africa is rich in human and natural resources. However, our geographic area is an area of immense vulnerability.

"In 2023 alone, about 3,500

terrorist attacks were recorded in the ECOWAS region alone. This includes close to 2,000 in Burkina Faso, over 1,044 in Mali, and 500 in Niger Republic. These incidents have resulted in close to 9,000 fatalities including 7,000 in the three Sahel countries of Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger.

"In the three Sahel countries, a total of 4.8 million people faced food insecurity, 2.4 million people were internally displaced and close to 9,000 schools remain closed in the region.

"Burkina Faso has already taken over from Afghanistan."

On the creation of the Counter Terrorism Force, Musa said that the region will soon work out modalities to finance the force.

"On terrorism, you would recall that during the previous ECOWAS meeting, the Heads of State decided that there was a need to create a counter terrorism force to help fight terrorism in the region. This is presently underway.

"Very soon, there will be a meeting of Ministers of Finance and Defence to work out the modalities of raising our own resources in the region to finance that counter terrorism force," he said

Former President Olusegun Obasanjo; wife of the deceased, Chief (Mrs.) Modupe Soleye; Ogun State Governor, Dapo Abiodun and the Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister for the Economy, Mr. Wale Edun, during the funeral service for late Onaolapo Soleye at Owu Baptist Church, Abeokuta, Ogun State... yesterday

Ferdinand Ekechukwu - 08035011394

Email: ferdi_adthisday@yahoo.com

Celebrating International Women’s Day with Female Filmmakers

Ferdinand Ekechukwu

Lproducers, directors, actors and members ofmunity came together in Lagos for the ‘Her Voice, Our Story’ International Women’s Day event, in collaboration with Mo Abudu of EbonyLife TV, to celebrate the unique perspectives and remarkable stories of African women in the creative industry.

of Content in Africa, Dorothy Ghettuba, alongside Bolanle Austen-Peters, Hami- sha Daryani Ahuja, Chichi Nworah, and as women in the creative industry real-life female characters.

The event, aimed at celebrating and

honouring inspiring women in front of and behind the camera and the diverse storytelling by women and about women,

series.

The upcoming slate of femaleled Nigerian stories spanned various genres and themes of new local titles from Mo Abudu, Bolanle Austen-Peters, Kemi Adetiba, Chichi Nworah, and Hamisha Daryani Ahuja.

The International Women’s month is a time to celebrate and recognise the achievements, resilience, and contributions of women around Nigeria and Africa, especially women who have been lending their voices in that matter.

Fashion Brand, Iroko Launched at Lagos Fashion Festival

Lagos Fashion Festival returned this year, featuring performances from musicians, dancers, and models strutting down the runway. Set against the breathtaking backdrop of the Lagos Oriental Hotel, Victoria Island on the 2nd of March, it brought together a gathering of fashion enthusiasts, designers, product vendors, fashion bloggers, and fashion houses from across Nigeria and beyond.

cased clothes and fashion accessories from professionals, young, and aspiring designers. Iroko, a ready to wear female brand that

hand bags, made impressive debut at the show with the launch of its beautiful collection of African inspired pieces on the stands and the runway.

With minimalist designs, the founder and creative director, Precious Okoi, disclosed fashion. “Why we say arts meets fashion is because most of our pieces have hand painted designs on them that speak to our African and that also appeals to whatever aesthetic that we want.

“We also have our handmade bags of beautiful cowhide leather and it also has hand painted designs on them as well,” she added. She speaks further on the brand’s backstory. “I’m the daughter of a tailor (laughs). Yes,

my mum. I grew up in the house of a tailor. But I didn’t toe the line until very recently. But I have always been fashion conscious. “I have always loved putting things together and coming up with something unique. I believe so much in minimalism and simplicity. So, why I now decided to take this further is have a beautiful story to tell in Africa. Our story is so vast. There’s a deeper depth… there is more depth to the story.

“So, I felt one way I can tell a part, because I cannot tell it all, a part of the African story why I said our designs are artistic in nature. You will see the beauty and simplicity of it in the design. So, that is one thing that I just decided that ‘okay let me tell our story through our designs, through fashion.”

Nedu: Nigeria’s Comedy Industry is Big Enough for Everyone to

Chinedu Ani Emmanuel, a comedian popularly known in the entertainment scene as Nedu, is of a unique kind whose infectious humor and quick wit have endeared him to audiences across Nigeria and beyond. With a knack for delivering side-splitting performances and relatable anecdotes, Nedu has become a house hold name in the comedy scene. His comedic journey is as vibrant and dynamic as his personality. From humble beginnings to becoming one of the most sought-after entertainers in the country. Nedu’s rise to fame is a testament to his talent and dedication. He speaks with Tosin Clegg about his life and career, exploring the inspiration behind his comedy, his journey to success, and his plans for his scholarship initiative

Yourpodcast,TheHonestBunch isalwaysinthenewsdueto delicatetopics.Doyougoout ofyourwaytotriggerpeople?

Trigger who? No oh. See let podcast, when it was Frankly Speaking, the idea was to create a safe space for different people to share their opinions and have honest conversations. That’s all. Yes, we knew for a fact that there would be time we would handle delicate and even sensational subjects. I mean, in the world we live in, you cannot avoid this. But you cannot live life avoiding drama forever. Even if you try, drama will find you.

Youtendtoenduptalkingagooddealabout womenonyourpodcastandinyourskitson socialmedia.Doyouconsideryourselfafeminist?

I have loads of respect for women. Na woman born me, so no get choice. Yes, women feature prominently in the work I do, and it’s not just the comedy. Over the years I have come to better appreciate the essential part women play in everything. And I know for a fact that women are very capable. That being said, maybe I’m a bit of a feminist like I support women and I am all for seeing women thrive. Forget people saying it is a man’s world. Common sense will tell you that we cannot run this show alone. Women are just as important to making the picture whole.

Yourecentlylaunchedascholarshipproject. Canyouprovidemoredetailsaboutitspurpose andobjectives?

So, the Nedu Foundation in partnership with the Metropolitan School of Business and Management

Nedu

UK is starting a scholarship drive. The plan is to award 1,000 Nigerians with full scholarships at the tertiary level. We believe that a solid education at the tertiary level has the capacity to dramatically change the lives of people, especially in these times when a lot of people may aspire to get the education but cannot afford it. This program will be making a lot of dreams come true.

What motivated you to partner with the MetropolitanSchoolofBusinessandManagementUKforthisscholarshipprogram?

Well, the Metropolitan School of Business and Management UK has a long history of academic I had long conversations with the team from the

school and they were particularly enthusiastic about the collaboration. While they bring to bear their sterling reputation in the area of academia, I am hoping to leverage my public persona to generate support for the program.

Howdoyouandyourpartnersplantofund theprogram?

ensure the success of the scholarship drive. Already, we held a press conference in Lagos, announcing the project. A super-charged digital campaign is already in full swing, the idea being to spread the word about this project. In a couple of weeks, we will also be hosting a gala event that will be attended by donor organisations, public figures and a tone of well-meaning individuals. A major highlight of this event will be a fundraiser for the scholarship drive and we are very optimistic that this will go a long way to covering the associated costs of the drive.

Canyouelaborateontheselectioncriteria forthescholarshipbeneficiariesandhowyou intendtoensurediversityandinclusivity?

Interested applicants can visit the scholarship webpage where they will get to see all the information about the application process and such. It is a pretty simple application process and in case applicants have issues, they can reach out to the support team on the website or social media and they will get the help they need. And yes, this scholarship drive will consider diversity in its selection process. We know it is important to accommodate a wide swath of representatives of the country. So the selection process will be very fair.

You have been on radio for a long time, how much do you think radio has changed sinceyoustarted?

Radio? it’s always changing. I mean, some things remain the same or have remained the same over the years. Like the human part of radio. As much as that might change, it is still a big part of the picture. People come and go from OAPs to production personnel to management and newscasters and everything in between, but there

Radio is still one of the most popular mediums for reaching people, even now with the internet being so accessible. I know a lot of the content on radio changes with times such as music and news, but you can’t help that kind of change. I guess radio organisation just find a way to keep moving by holding on to some identity, even if it gets to change a bit with time. And personally, I think change is good. Radio in recent years has opened up Nigeria, particularly artists, to a large audience. And that can only be good. The more people can hear you, the more attention you get I guess.

Asaninfluencerandcomedian,howdoyou navigatethecompetitivelandscape?

Truth is, I, like many of my colleagues in the industry, probably have to work twice as hard these days as the market is getting saturated. You can sleep and wake up and see 200 new faces in comedy or on TV acting or influencing. Even you will be wondering what is going on. But I think a healthy dose of competition is good. It keeps you on your toes and motivates you to get better.

Ferdinand Ekechukwu

L-R: Peace Hyde, Hamisha Daryani Ahuja, Mo Abudu, Bolanle Austen-Peters, Chichi Nworah, and Dorothy Ghettuba...

Precious Okoi

POLITY

How to Achieve Efficient Healthcare Ecosystem in Nigeria

Hyacinth Nwabueze Achime

At no time in the history of Nigeria has healthcare issues topped national discourse as we have today. The reasons for this pre-eminence are multifaceted, the advancement made in the sector globally, the exodus of seasoned medical practitioners – doctors, pharmacists, nurses etc. – the dwindling quality of care in our hospitals, the high cost of living which includes high cost of medicines or healthcare products/services, and the issue of multi-dimensional poverty which the National Bureau of Statistics put at 63 percent or approximately 133 million Nigerians, among other factors.

Unfortunately, this discourse has been driven all along by the policymakers, who have minimal knowledge about the workings of the sector, with very little input from the healthcare practitioners, who tend to be more focused on their practice than the overall development of the sector. This has led to a scenario, where the crux of the discussion is centered around the perceived treatment of the symptoms rather than the root causes, resulting in the precarious situation we find ourselves today – a lot of motion without any tangible progress in addressing the challenges in our healthcare sector.

For example, the Nursing and Midwifery Council of Nigeria (NMCN), issued a circular on February, 7, 2024 revising the guidelines for requesting verification of certificates for nurses and midwives. In the revised guidelines, the NMCN, a body mandated by law to regulate the standards of Nursing and Midwifery education and practice in Nigeria, states that applicants seeking verification of certificates from foreign nursing boards and councils must possess, at least, two years of post-qualification experience from the date of issuance of the permanent practicing license.

They must also pay a non-refundable fee that shall cover the cost of courier services to the applicants’ institutions of training, places of work, and foreign boards; must present letters of good standing from the chief executive officers of their places of work and the last nursing training institutions attended; and must have active practicing licenses with a minimum of six months to the expiration date. This verification is mostly needed by nursing and midwifery practitioners who are seeking employment in foreign countries.

Earlier, in 2023, a bill to prevent Nigerian-trained medical or dental practitioners from being granted full licenses until they have worked for a minimum of five years in the country, passed through the second reading

in the House of Representatives. The bill titled, “A Bill for an Act to amend the Medical and Dental Practitioners Act, Cap M379, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004 to mandate any Nigerian-trained medical and dental practitioner to practice in Nigeria for a minimum of five years before being granted a full license by the Council in order to make quality health services available to Nigeria; and for related matters (HB.2130),” like the NMCN’s new guidelines, is aimed at discouraging Nigerian medical practitioners from leaving Nigeria for greener pastures in foreign lands.

The aforementioned measures, in addition to the increased clamour for a ban on public office holders from travelling abroad for medical treatment are, in the long run, aimed at developing the country’s healthcare sector and improving the health status of Nigerians.

The question is: how far can these measures go in achieving these desired goals? The truth is that, even on full implementation, these measures will not address the challenges of the healthcare sector, unfortunately. The reason is simple.

They are all ill-conceived and bereft of scientific basis because they do not take the critical factors that affect the healthcare system into consideration. While the first two measures are driven by the false narrative that the health sector is a matter of medicine and only medical practitioners can determine what should be done to achieve the desired impact, the third measure is driven by another false narrative that if you merely discourage the policymakers from seeking medical help abroad, they will be forced to

enact policies that will lead to the development of the local healthcare sector.

If we must achieve a considerable growth in our healthcare sector, we must cause a paradigm shift from looking at the sector from purely the medical prism to looking at it from the prism of economics. The reason is not far-fetched. Health products and services are, like other products and services, governed to a very large extent by the same economic theories and principles.

Economics, as a subject of study, has many definitions, depending largely on the interest of the economist but for this article, we look at it as the study of allocation of scarce resources among competing ends. This indicates that resources are scarce and not available in sufficient quantities and, due this scarcity, these resources must be wisely allocated among alternative ‘competing’ ends. How does this definition, which could easily resonate with us in terms of products and services in most other sectors, resonate in the healthcare sector?

To answer the above question, we turn to health economics. Health economics is a branch of economics that is concerned with issues relating to the efficiency, effectiveness, value and behaviour in the production, distribution exchange and consumption of health and healthcare goods and services. In general, health economists study the functioning of the various healthcare systems as well as health-affecting behaviours such as the use of dangerous drugs, casual sex, alcoholism and smoking.

Although health economics, like other areas of economics share the same principles - of scarcity, supply and demand, distinctions between need and demand, opportunity cost, discounting, time horizons, margins, efficiency and equity, it is distinguished by some factors. The sector is highly regulated, with extensive government intervention; intractable uncertainty as to the outcome of efforts; asymmetric information that puts the physician at an advantage over the patient; barrier to entry and externalities and presence of third parties, including the health practitioners and insurance companies/Health management organisations (HMOs).

To get the country’s healthcare sector out of the woods, health economics will proffer a study of the Nigerian healthcare sector, on the micro and macro levels, to come up with a comprehensive masterplan that, if implemented, will achieve the desired results of improving the overall health status of the country.

L-R: Chairman, Arewa consultative forum (ACF), Mamman Mike Osuman; Sponsor of the bill to Propose Constitutional Alterations for a Transition to Parliamentary System of Government,Hon. Kingsley O. Chinda; Chairman, Board of Trustees of the Arewa Consultative Forum, Alhaji Bashir Dalhatu; and Spokesperson of Parliamentary Bill Sponsors Group (PBSG), Hon. Abdussamad Dasuki, during the PBSG roundtable meeting with ACF, held at ‘Yar’Adu’a Centre in Abuja,,,,recently KINGSLEY ADEBOYE

L-R: Marketing and Communications Manager, Evercare Hospital Lekki, Chioma Enwereji-Ogbonda; Audiologist, Evercare Hospital Lekki, Dr Promise Okonkwo; Chief Business Officer, Evercare Hospital Lekki, Kehinde Oyesiku; Principal, Wesley School 1 for the Hearing Impaired, Mrs. Popoola Elizabeth Oluwayemisi; Vice-Principal, Mrs. Omolara Olorunda; and Business Development Manager, Evercare Hospital Lekki, Toyib Olatunji at a visit to Wesley School 1 for the Hearing Impaired in commemoration of World Hearing Day 2024. In Lagos… recently

L-R: Assistant Comptroller of Immigration, Callista Abinokhauno; Assistant Comptroller Chioma Uwabujo; Comptroller of Immigration, FCT Command, Tony Akuneme; Chief Superintendent Mary Odey and Chief Superintendent Shola Alade during the 2024 International Women’s Day Seminar organised by NIS FCT Command, in Abuja... yesterday

L-R: Head of Marketing and Communication, CFAO Mobility, Miss Funmi Abiola; Master Axel Davies-Tuashe; Master Oluwajuwonlo Aletan; Master Abdulwareez Sulaimon; Miss Udemah Danielle; and Managing Director Toyota by CFAO, Mr. Boye Ajayi during the prize presentation ceremony of the 17th Toyota Dream Car Art National Contest held at the Toyota by CFAO Showroom, VI, Lagos… recently MUBO PETERS

Coordinating Minister of Health, Dr. Mohammed Pate

Akinwumi Adesina: Leaders Should Lead with their Hearts, Not Their Heads

The President of the African Development Bank, Dr. Akinwumi Adesina, in this interview, speaks about Nigeria’s economic challenges and proposes solutions to help reset the ailing economy so as to improve livelihoods and tackle hunger. He emphasises the need for structural changes, such as shifting to an export-oriented industrial strategy, the need to address fiscal constraints and also boost foreign exchange inflows. Nume Ekeghe presents the excerpts:

Withthecurrencydepreciation,inflationarypressureandothermacroeconomic challenges,whatcanyourecommendto helpresettheNigerianeconomy?

It is not easy to tackle some of the challenges that Nigeria is facing and it is not unique to Nigeria. Especially with rising global interest rates and the fact that you also have a situation of rising debt levels and rising debt service levels that have been going up because of the rise in global interest rate. Secondly, because of the depreciation of many of the currencies including the naira, which means that the net debt exposure that you have and the cost of actually doing that has gone up significantly, at a time in which concessional financing globally has been going down. Therefore, the only way in which countries like Nigeria and others can get more access to capital is to go to the Eurobond market, the global capital market, which again becomes more expensive because the yield curves are very different. So, there are probably three or four things that I will say that one needs to pay attention to. One, of course, is to expand the access or the availability of forex because when currencies weaken, essentially what you have is that you don’t have enough forex to back your currency and therefore your currency depreciates. So, when you take a look at it, the approach that Nigeria has been following for decades now I think has been the approach of basically allocating forex. It is an allocative position in terms of a very restricted supply of forex and that is because we run an import substitution strategy, which we have constantly been doing for a very long time. Nobody wins by playing defense, you score on the other side and the way to score is for Nigeria to have in my view, an export-oriented industrial manufacturing stance. That export-oriented industrial manufacturing stance is like a funnel, in which you bring in more forex because you are developing your value chains that are export-oriented and earning a lot of forex, as opposed to a redistributive model of a small amount of forex. That is a fundamental structural change. That means that the country has to build industrial value chains in which it has a huge competitive advantage. It can be in agriculture, oil, it can be in gas, creative industry, digital industry, or any kind of industry that allows you to have the platforms to be a manufacturing power-house. That is a long-term solution to the problem that you have today. A doctor, if you have a problem, and they say, go change your lifestyle. If you maintain the same lifestyle, you’ll be back at the doctor’s table. Secondly, is that there needs to be a lot of support around Nigeria given the tight fiscal space, and the lack of forex to make available a lot more concessional financing to the Nigerian economy. That is what we’re doing at the African Development Bank. This year we expect to approve with our Board, because we always go to our Board of Directors for approval, we plan to be able to do $1.76 billion of financing to Nigeria in different sectors, including

considering a potential policy-based operation of budget support to Nigeria. We are discussing with the Minister of Finance. That is part of a $1 billion budget support operation that will go into two tranches. Again, I will say it has to be approved by the Board, but these are all the things that we are hoping to be able to do.

Now, the other challenge of course, that you have is very high inflation. Inflation is almost 30 per cent and as a result of that, you’ll find that the purchasing power has been eroded significantly in Nigeria. But tackling inflation requires looking at some of the structural drivers. A big part of that inflation is food price inflation. If you look at the Consumer Price Index, probably 65 per cent of it, if not even 75 per cent, is the price of food. And so you don’t necessarily deal with food price inflation through your standard macro-economic policy of tightening monetary supply. You deal with it by producing the food because that’s the thing that needs to be done. So, I think it’s very important to be able to deal with that.

The third part of it, a lot of it is cost-push factors that are driving many of these things. If you look at structural challenges in terms of poor infrastructure, lack of electricity, and of course insecurity in many of the places that make

it difficult for people to also produce food, transport, all of those things add to it. So, I don’t think the solution to the problem is unitary, I think it needs to be a structural solution.

We are currently facing a food crisis; we are seeing people looting warehouses and food, meaning there is hunger. As a former minister of agriculture, what can be done to address this food crisis?

I’m not used to complaining; I’m used to finding solutions. That is why for us at the African Development Bank, and I did tell the President that we strongly support the Nigerian government in finding a solution to the food challenge. As I speak to you, we have approved $134 million for Nigeria to implement an emergency food production plan. And that is not something we are planning to do, it is what we are already doing. Already, we have supported the cultivation of 118,000 hectares of wheat in Nigeria this season. We just entered March, we will do 150, 000 hectares of maize production this month. By the rainy season in May and June, we will support Nigeria to do 300,000 hectares of rice. We will also do 300,000 hectares of maize, 150,000 hectares of cassava, and 50,000 hectares of soybean. So, that means just in basic terms that by the end of this March, Nigeria would get out an additional one million metric tons of wheat and

Adesina

Akinwumi Adesina: There is No Reason for Nigeria to Have Epileptic Power Supply

by November, we’ll have an additional four million metric tons of rice, cassava, maize and soybeans. I’m saying that because we have to continue to push for more food supply. But one thing that I would say is that the government needs to go back to the policy of electronic wallet system. Remember when I was a minister, we designed a program to get seeds and fertilizers to farmers directly via their mobile phones with electronic vouchers. We were able to reach 15 million farmers in four years the whole place was booming with food. And so it is like a patient that is sick, that you recommend something for the pharmacy, but who doesn’t have the medicine, a person will always be sick or probably even die. So at the end of the day, it is not your prescription, it is the access to what they need. And I think that is what I will advise needs to be done and done very quickly. Access to high-performing yields, high-performing seeds, fertilizers and farm inputs is very critical otherwise you will not be able to do it. So those are the things that we are doing in Nigeria. In addition to that, we have a program that we’ve already implemented called the special agro-industrial processing zones. These are new economic zones we are supporting Nigeria to develop that are dedicated completely to food and agriculture so that they have power, water, roads, infrastructure and food processing facilities. We provided $520 million for that, ourselves, at the African Development Bank, the Islamic Development Bank, and the International Fund for Agricultural Development. It is currently working in eight states and we expect that those things will start hitting the ground and start construction by June of this year.

What they will do is they will change the entire rural economy from what I can call economic misery right now, to new zones of economic prosperity because you turn agriculture into a real business with value chains that can work and add value and create massive amounts of jobs. We are already planning to launch this year in 28 states a program for $1 billion, ourselves and partners that will build 28 more special agro-industrial processing zones in 28 States.

Still on the food crisis, the cost of bread, a staple in many households, has significantly risen. In the past, you advocated for the adoption of cassava bread. Do you believe revisiting this option could contribute to alleviating the current price surge?

You are already eating cassava bread; you just didn’t know. If not because of the policy we did, and the fact that at the industry level, they have been incorporating cassava flour into bread, you will not be able to afford bread today in Nigeria. Buy any flour, and take a look at it, you have wheat flour and white flour and what is white flour? It brought the weighted price of bread down. You are getting blended flour that is blending wheat and cassava flour. Today, that is a national policy in Cote d’Ivoire and many African countries. Look at the price of wheat because of the war between Russia and Ukraine look at what has happened to the price of wheat. Every nation must develop not with what it does not have, but with what it has. And that is why today, check your flour bag and see the composition, but it is very good composite of flour and we have to continue to do more with that.

In light of the recent market-oriented reforms, particularly the petrol subsidy removal and the forex reforms, both of which profoundly affect every citizen, what measures can be implemented to alleviate the economic hardship?

When you take a look at the oil sector, there’s no doubt about it that people are hurting in terms of the impact of the removal of the fuel subsidy, but at the same time it is largely an inefficient subsidy. You may want to do surgery but don’t cut the artery because there would be too much blood even though you needed to do surgery. So, I think that everybody has to just support the government to make sure that the transition to that change is done in such a way as to reduce or minimise the negative consequences or the externalities of that decision. Because we are an import-dependent economy, the price of everything just shot up even the price of transport went up, and the people that are collecting rent, everything has gone up. You know, prices once they’ve gone up, it becomes sticky downwards, they don’t come down again and just stay there. I think that managing that transition is the biggest issue. But you cannot manage that transition without addressing the forex question. There has to be a way in which we get more forex into the country. That is why I will say that it is important that multilateral financial institutions like ourselves and others are able to provide access to concessional financing, which

Adesina

is long-term money at a very low-interest rate. When we give loans, we talk about one to 1.5 per cent for 40 years, a 10-year moratorium is the kind of loan we are talking about. It allows you to be able to invest properly without indebting yourself quite a lot more.

On concessional financing, how much do you think is needed for Nigeria to address the forex volatilities and should there be a collaboration with other multilateral institutions to give long-term loans to Nigeria?

If you look at the current situation, you can borrow your way, but you have to be careful what you are borrowing, how you are borrowing and the cost of what you are borrowing. It is like getting fat, that fat adds up all the time. So, the kind of debt, the time of rise of the debt, and the pricing of the debt are very important as you deal with this kind of situation. We can work with other multilateral financial institutions to make available long-term, low-interest concessionary financing, that brings down the cost of financing for the government at this particular time. And I will certainly help talk to others and convince something around that for Nigeria because that matters a lot in quickly dealing with this issue.

How much would we need?

I wouldn’t know what that amount is. I think it’s up to the Central Bank of Nigeria to determine what that level of liquidity they need. But all I can say is a strong support from us at the African Development Bank, I just made mentioned that we will we expect to do $1.76 billion this year. And I think that if we can agree with the government on macroeconomic policy issues and fiscal management issues and all of that, there is no reason why a few of us as multilateral financial institutions that give low-interest long-term finance, and I keep making that point, it’s very important to rally around Nigeria. Certainly, from my side, and of course, we would be keen to see what we can help to make happen on that.

Considering the current challenges, do you believe that our current economic position is sustainable?

No, because the slide of the naira that you see, it is because people are losing confidence in the economy. That is what it is. That is why I was saying that the way to deal with that is to make sure that we can expand inflows of forex into the country. I followed a few days ago, the Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) in terms of raising the interest rate. I guess that would work probably for the portfolio investors, but again, there are

you on all sides. You have to keep your eyes on just making sure inflation goes down. And for inflation to go down, a big part of what consumers are spending if you look at the consumer price index is just the price of food. So, produce a lot of it.

In expanding the productive base, there is the issue of power. What can be done to address this?

There is no reason why Nigeria has no power or why it has epileptic power because it simply adds to the cost of doing business. Even for domestic, if you’re not able to produce enough domestically, you’re not able to be competitive in the regional or global markets, because the cost of doing business goes up. Nigeria has huge amount of potential for hydro and a huge amount of potential for solar all across the country. In some areas, maybe even the Mambilla Plateau area you even have quite a lot of potential for wind power. The way I look at it is that we ought to be talking as a country of maybe having 60,000 to 70,000 megawatts capacity, not 4,800. Remember that supply generates its demand and if Nigeria is to develop fast growth in double-digit, it must solve this power problem, but more than solve it, it must accelerate it in a quantum way to allow Nigeria to be a place where low-cost power is available, industries want to move to for Nigeria, but also for the other regional markets. So, I can’t emphasise enough, if you don’t have electricity, the economy can’t grow. Simply running diesel is not a way to run an economy. I know the government is putting priority on that, but a lot more priority needs to be put on power. And it’s not rocket science. At the African Development Bank, we are supporting today 11 countries in the Sahel zone of Africa which includes all of Northern Nigeria, to develop 10,000 megawatts of solar power. It is called ‘Desert to Power’ and is a $20 billion investment we are making. And that will provide electricity for 250 million people and so all I’m trying to say is there has to be a real combination of thermal power, hydropower, solar power, wind power, use everything you’ve got because a nation can’t develop in darkness.

other consequences you will have in terms of investment in the critical sectors that you need to grow, to be able to produce more and have the kind of export-oriented industrial manufacturing stance that I said. So, it is a balance between short-term solutions and long-term structural things that need to be done. I do believe that we need to try and find a way to deal with the short-term, but keep our eyes on the long-term structural things that must be done. So, I think that we need to take a very serious look at that question. Take the case of places like South Korea and the Netherlands. The Netherlands added a year or two ago, over $90 billion a year from just the export of agricultural produce. How much land do they have? It is sitting on water and is a very small country. You take a look at South Korea, with earnings in export of $230 billion from machinery and electronics. We have top brains in this country and being competitive in the IT industry, and digital industry, of course, we are doing well in the creative industry and others. We need to build those platforms that allow us to have that export-oriented industrial manufacturing stance.

In the ongoing discussions regarding the potential revision of public sector wages, there is a concern that the private sector, facing certain limitations, might struggle to align with these adjustments. What strategies or measures do you propose for addressing wage negotiations in light of these sectoral disparities?

As President of AfDB, I try not to get involved in domestic government policies because those are domestic things that governments have to worry about. But I can only say in general that simply increasing nominal wages in a high inflationary environment is self-defeating. That is because at the end of the day, what matters is the purchasing power, effective purchasing power. And so, you got to keep your eye on keeping inflation down. And so, there are monetary policy issues that have to be taken, there are also a lot of other fiscal areas in terms of expanding access to forex, and getting the mix of financial instruments available to the government in terms of expensive commercial loans, which will also add to the problem versus quite a lot lower interest, long term concessionary financing, which I think is probably what Nigeria should be looking at. At the end of the day, nominal wage prices or wage increases in a high inflationary environment are just going to run away from

The IMF has stated that Nigeria has reintroduced subsidies through indirect means, and the World Bank shares similar belief. In light of the apparent challenges and criticisms, some argue for a policy reversal if it proves ineffective. What is your take on this?

I am not going to comment on the efficacy or otherwise of any domestic policy. I don’t in any country, and I won’t do it here. But the only thing that I can say is that you cannot have surgery without anesthesia. You cannot have a tooth extraction without anesthesia. At the end of the day, the impact of policies is on the livelihoods of people and I’m sure that every government will want to look at the maybe desired and undesirable impact of any policy. And then to be able to have an adaptive way in which you adjust yourself based on the realities that you face. I think at the end of the day, regardless of the country, if you are a pilot, or you’re going right through a headwind you can either continue to do that or you find a different direction to be able to do that. So, adaptive public policies are always very important in the face of realities that exist and I’m sure the government must be thinking about that.

You’re the recipient of several national and international honors. On a scale of 1 to 10, where does the Obafemi Awolowo Leadership Prize stand and why?

I have gotten quite a lot of global awards, but this is the first award I am getting that makes me emotional. It makes me emotional because it is about somebody that I revere because of his welfarist policies and without who’s welfarist policies, I might not have gone to school and maybe you will not be interviewing me today. For me, it is very special. And I think that places it not in my head, it places it in my heart. It is a treasured award for particular. Secondly, whenever you get awards, at least for me I don’t believe awards are things you hang up on, so you can say you got a trophy or recognised by a trophy. I think awards are things that are supposed to make you even change to have a sense of greater accountability to do more. That’s what I believe. The Obafemi Awolowo prize leadership further resonates what I already do, which is I am 100 per cent into welfarist policies, people-centric policies, because I think development should be about people and that leaders should lead with their hearts, not with their heads. You need your head to think but you must rule with your heart. I pattern myself after that welfarist policy. Therefore, it is probably the most significant award that I’ve received.

07052343083

ETCar Shuts Off While

Driving: 7 Reasons Why and What to Do

dangerous situation. There are many reasons for this headache. Learn the most likely culprits for sensitive at idle and can be caused by many

Driving

Faulty Crankshaft Position Sensor

One of the most common reasons for the crankshaft position sensor. The crankshaft

facilitate the optimal timing for fuel injection and ignition.

position sensor cannot provide the correct information about piston positioning in the

come on. Another sign of the faulty crankshaft properly. The tachometer is the gauge typically

The tachometer typically increases every time you rev your engine. When the intended speed sporadically.

Other common symptoms of a faulty

sensor is faulty is by using an OBD scanner and reading the error codes from the ECU. If sensor is having a problem.

Although an OBD scanner might not help

Faulty Engine Control Unit

Another source of problem that might lead to Check Engine light is a faulty Engine Control Unit (ECU) or engine control module.

The ECU in your car is a computer that collects information from various parts of an internal combustion engine to make sure properly in an optimal and precise manner

A faulty ECU can cause sudden drops in on. Another common symptom of a faulty driving. The check engine light might also light up on your dash.

you can do is to use an OBD scanner to see for a failing ECU. Your only option is to take to diagnose your ECU.

(Source:CarsFromJapan)

the

IWD: How Enugu Governor’s Wife is Making Difference through Custos Care Foundation

The energy and determination of the wife of Enugu State Governor, Mrs. Nkechinyere Mbah, towards the health and wellbeing of Enugu women and children heralds a better future for them, writes Gideon Arinze

The International Women’s Day (IWD), which is marked on every March 8, has no doubt grown in global stature at a time when the world celebrates the socio-economic, cultural, and political achievements of women and to raise awareness on matters that affect their daily lives. Enugu State was not left behind.

As part of the events lined up to mark the day, wife of the governor of the state, Mrs. Nkechinyere Mbah, and the Mrs. Ngozi Enih-led Enugu State Ministry of Children, Gender and Social Development put together an event to discuss issues affecting women such as inclusion, entrepreneurship, women in politics and decision making, among others.

In addition, it was also an opportunity to honour women of the state, who had distinguished themselves in their various callings and the work they have done to advance the causes of women and development of Enugu State. The awardees include the wife of the former governor, Mrs. Monica Ugwuanyi, who has done so much through her NGO, Ugo’s Touch of Life Foundation - U-TOLF; the first female Deputy Governor of the state, Hon. Cecilia Ezeilo; former Deputy Vice-Chancellor of the University of Nigeria Nsukka, Enugu Campus, Prof. Edith Nwosu; former Commissioner for Gender Affairs and Social

Development, Hon. Princess Peace Nnaji; first female Branch Chairman of the Nigeria Society of Engineers, Dr. Uchenwa Ujam; veteran actress, Mrs. Patience Ozokwor; women empowerment activist, Mrs. Chinemerem Anyi; and Member of State House of Assembly, Hon. Jane Eneh.

Importantly, it was an event that brought out Mrs. Mbah’s courage and strength of voice on issues affecting women and children, as she articulated a call to action on the need to dismantle all barriers - inequitable access to education and healthcare, gender-based violence, discriminatory practices in the workplace, among others, that hinder women. She also assured that her office would work closely with local farmers, engage in sustainable agricultural practices, and implement programmes that empower individuals and communities to secure their food sources.

Beyond

AlthoughCeremonies the history of the International Women’s Day dates back over a century, making the lives of women transcends a mere celebration that requires concerted effort by all. Interventions by well-meaning and public-spirited individuals, organisations, governments, international development agencies, and movements, among others matters alot in this

Damilola Ogunbiyi: Trailblazing Women in Climate

Damilola Ogunbiyi is the Chief Executive Officer and Special Representative of the U.N. Secretary-General (UN SRSG) for Sustainable Energy for All, and Co-Chair of U.N.-Energy. She is also the recipient of the Energy Institute President’s Award for 2023, opens new tab and has been recognised as a trailblazer in her field by numerous publications and globally respected lists.

With Ogunbiyi at the helm, Sustainable Energy for All (SEforALL) has entered into working relationships with over 200 partners, supported over 90 countries globally, and secured commitments of more than $1.3 trillion in energy finance.

This, according to Reuters, has been achieved through programs such as Universal Energy Facility, Powering Healthcare, Women and Youth at the Forefront, Cooling for All, and Clean Cooking; and innovative initiatives such as U.N. Energy Compacts, Energy Transition Plans, Universal Integrated Energy Plans, the Africa Carbon Markets Initiative (ACMI) and the Renewable Energy Manufacturing Initiative (REMI) among many others.

Through her leadership, SEforALL has grown its global influence and country support providing clear pathways to accelerate progress towards universal energy access, ending energy poverty, and advancing the global just and equitable energy transition.

Prior to joining SEforALL, Ogunbiyi was the first female Managing Director of the Nigerian Rural

Electrification Agency where she initiated the Nigerian Electrification Project, a $550 million facility, which is a joint World Bank and African Development Bank program that to date has provided energy access to over five million people across Nigeria. She also conceptualized the Energizing Economies Initiative, estimated to impact 1.2 million SMEs.

Before joining the federal government, Ogunbiyi was the first female General Manager of the Lagos State Electricity Board. Under her leadership, over 100 megawatts of decentralised energy projects supplying electricity to Lagos State hospitals, schools and government facilities were completed.

Ogunbiyi currently serves as a member of the World Bank’s Private Sector Investment Lab, a member of the Global Leadership Council (GLC) of the Global Energy Alliance for People and Planet (GEAPP), an Advisory Board member of the Center on Global Energy Policy at Columbia University, a member of the Development Advisory Council of the U.S. International Development Finance Corporation (DFC), a member of the Clean Cooking Alliance Advisory Board, and a member of the Advisory Board of University of Oxford’s Future of Cooling Programme. She was part of the COP28 Advisory Committee, and was Co-Chair of the COP26 Energy Transition Council (ETC). She is a global leader and advocate for the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), and is passionate about achieving SDG7, which calls for access to reliable, affordable, sustainable, and modern energy for all by 2030.

It is an honour to be named as one of the Trailblazing

regard. Whether it is the various women movements dating back to 1909 or the UN international women’s conferences in Mexico City in 1975, Copenhagen in 1980, Nairobi in 1985 and Beijing in 1995; whether it is that advocacy by a communitybased NGO or positive government policies, it is these efforts, put together, that have remarkably improved the fortunes of women. It is also for this reason that they must be encouraged. It was good news for the people Enugu State, as wife of Enugu State governor, Mrs. Nkechinyere Mbah, recently founded the Custos Foundation, an initiative aimed at eradicating maternal and child mortality, improve the well-being of mothers and children, and indeed eradicate all barriers to social inclusion and social security. Custos Care Foundation focuses on four key areas, namely; mother and child healthcare and welfare, primary education for all, women and youth empowerment, and social protection and mentorship.

The energy Mrs. Mbah has invested in the Foundation and the attention she has accorded to the rural areas is underscored by the fact that the launch of the Foundation’s Mother and Child Healthcare and Welfare Project was held not only in the three senatorial districts of the state, but also in three local governments outside the state capital. They are the Primary Health Centres in Oji- River Urban, Oji-River LGA for Enugu West Senatorial District and also at Agbani in Nkanu West LGA for Enugu East Senatorial Zone. Both held on February 19, 2024. That of Enugu North Senatorial District held at the Health Center, Nsukka on March 1.

But why the focus on child and maternal motility? Mrs. Mbah provided a glimpse while launching the project at Oji River.

She said: “This project is very dear to me because women and children constitute the most vulnerable people in our society. It is worthy of note that one of the most significant challenges faced by women and children is maternal and child mortality. The world has battled against this enemy since time immemorial and stands united to eradicate it. There is nothing as painful as the death of a mother and or child. The United Nations, through the Sustainable Development Goals, is working towards reducing the maternal mortality ratio to less than 70 per 100,000 live births by 2030.

“They are also committed to ending preventable deaths of newborns and children under five years of age, with all countries aiming to reduce neonatal mortality to as low as 12 per 1,000 live births and under five years of age mortality rate to as low as 12 per 1,000 live births.

Ogunbiyi

Women in Activism. Embracing sustainability fosters innovation by encouraging the development of new technologies, products, and business models that address environmental and social challenges such as energy access and climate change, that we currently face. Sustainable business practices are essential for creating a resilient, equitable and prosperous future for both businesses and society as a whole, ensuring that we leave no one behind.

Oluchi Chibuzor with agency report

Nkechinyere Mbah

Revisiting AMCON’s Lifespan

Obinna Chima

The Senate last month passed for second reading, a bill seeking to amend the Nigeria Deposit Insurance Corporation Act (NDIC). The bill sponsored by the Chairman of the Senate Committee on Banking, Insurance and Other Financial Institutions, Senator Adetokunbo Abiru (APC) Lagos East), aims at making the corporation more effective, ensuring its independence and autonomy, and bringing it in line with current realities.

Leading the debate on the bill, Abiru noted that there have been series of appeals and consensus from among stakeholders on the need for an amendment of the Act to address all the issues that have been raised concerning it.

Curiously, despite all their efforts, the lawmakers left one burning issue in the financial sector, which is the need to activate a sunset date for the Asset Management Corporation of Nigeria (AMCON). There is need to outline an exit strategy for AMCON.

Coming at a time when President Bola Tinubu has established an 11-member committee tasked with the responsibility to execute the recommendations outlined in the Oronsaye Report, which focuses on the reorganisation and streamlining of government bodies, agencies, and commissions, most analysts believe that the operations of AMCON should be streamlined and freed from the intricate management responsibilities of a financial institution.

AMCON was established in July 2010, following the signing into law of the AMCON bill by President Goodluck Jonathan, with the aim of reviving the financial system via the resolution of the nonperforming loans in banks. The organisation was initially considered to exist for a period of 10 years.

The Corporation was created to be a key stabilising and revitalising tool aimed at reviving the financial system by efficiently resolving the non-performing loan assets of the banks in the Nigerian economy.

Initially mandated to purchase Non-Performing Loans (NPLs) and provide liquidity to commercial banks, AMCON successfully achieved this objective by acquiring over 12,000 NPLs worth N3.7 trillion and injecting N2.2 trillion as financial accommodation to prevent systemic failure.

Despite successes in supporting businesses, particularly in the aviation and manufacturing sectors, challenges have arisen, including its underperformance. AMCON’s intervention activity was funded by debt obligation of N4.65 trillion (as at 31st December 2018), which was to be repaid from internal and external sources, to the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) this year.

It is worth knowing that, at conception, it was envisaged that AMCON, being a loss minimisation entity, would repay 30 per cent of the obligation. The balance of the AMCON debt was to be offset by the Banking Sector Resolution Cost Fund (BSRCF). Some of the assumptions underpinning the funding model were: the banking sector was projected to grow at 20 per cent per annum; each bank would contribute 0.5 per cent (initially 0.3 per cent) of total assets per year, to the BSRCF and CBN to contribute N50 billion per year to the BSRCF.

The above-mentioned assumptions did not materialise, as the Corporation revealed recently. For instance, the actual growth rate of banking sector total assets from 2013 to 2017, with 2013 being the commencement year of contribution, has been approximately 8.4 per cent (as against the target of 20 per cent), and not all DMBs have contributed to the BSRCF.

In monetary terms, the actual Sinking Fund contribution from 2013 to 2017 was N1.13 trillion, as against an expected N1.45 trillion. This is a shortfall of N0.32 trillion. In addition, the actual recovery on recapitalised banks and intervened banks was 23 per cent and 10 per cent, respectively.

AMCON bonds were refinanced by the CBN at six per cent and this is higher than the rate payable by other intervention funds. The cash shortfall from internal and external sources meant that there was less funds to invest at the stated reinvestment rate.

The expected variance between forecast and estimate for 2018 to 2024, assuming a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 8.4 per cent is N1.56 trillion. The total shortfall gap in Sinking Fund is N1.7 trillion. The Sinking Fund was meant to contribute 70 per cent of the funds required to settle AMCON’s obligations.

Considering the fact that it has missed most of

its projections, commentators have questioned President Bola Tinubu’s recent appointment of a new management team for the Corporation, wondering why the president did not appoint a team to oversee the winding or the streamlining of the operations of the Corporation in line with the resolve of the government to implement the Oronsaye report.

Indeed, what this means is that the Abiru-led committee would need to revisit the ongoing amendment of the NDIC Act and take a second look at the continuous existence of the Corporation, in line with the federal government’s quest to implement the Oransaye Report.

Abiru, himself does not believe AMCON should continue to exist in perpetuity, and had during a presentation last December, stressed the need for the Corporation to have a timeline to recover all the outstanding liabilities.

“The only challenge that we have today is that we need to have a definite time that all the obligations hanging on the throat of AMCON must be redeemed,” he had said.

Similarly, the Senate Committee on Finance, Sani Musa, had expressed dissatisfaction with the commission’s performance, and had queried why AMCON should not be scrapped since it appeared to have lost its statutory mandate.

Some other lawmakers that also called for the dissolution of the ‘bad bank’ then were Senator Jimoh Ibrahim; Senator Adamu Aliero, and Senator Ifeanyi Ubah.

Even a former Managing Director and Chief Executive of the Corporation, Mr. Ahmed Kuru, throughout his tenure, had continued to stress that AMCON was not established to exist forever, noting that, “the Corporation has begun to put measures in place for eventual wind down of its activities as it is not created to remain in perpetuity.

“AMCON is not set up to remain in perpetuity, it has a sunset period,” Kuru had said further, warning that, “if at sunset, AMCON is unable to recover the huge debt of over N4 trillion, it becomes the debt of the federal government for which taxpayers’ monies will be used to settle.”

He added, “The implication is that the public will be made to pay for the recklessness of only a few individuals who continue to take advantage of the loopholes in our laws to escape their moral, and legal obligations to repay their debts. We should not allow a few individuals to escape with our commonwealth. And we want to do it within the confines of the law.”

“AMCON by its creation has a sunset date and the sunset date is built around its funding model. We believe strongly at AMCON that once you

address the funding model bit of it, AMCON has no role to play again. AMCON wasn’t created to be there perpetually. The earlier we finish, the better. But we can’t just walk away like that. It is not like a door you will just close and go. There has to be a process.”

Also, the International Monetary Fund (IMF) had stressed the need to wind down the operations of the corporation in order to curb what it described as “moral hazard and fiscal risks.”

According to the Managing Partner at the Trusted Advisors, Taye Awofiranye and Senior Associate in the Conflict and Dispute Management Practice Group at the Trusted Advisors, Ajibola Olaosebikan, winding down AMCON would help the federal government in cost reduction.

Citing the advantages of winding down the Corporation, in an article they jointly authored, they noted that, “Operational costs constitute a substantial portion of running a corporation of AMCON’s magnitude.

The duo posited, “The proposition to wind down AMCON stands as a prudent financial strategy to alleviate the strain on public resources. By eliminating ongoing expenses tied to its operations, funds can be redirected towards more pressing national priorities. This strategic reallocation of resources ensures a leaner financial structure, thereby fostering fiscal responsibility and efficiency.

“Closing AMCON heralds a shift towards a more streamlined governmental agenda. Freed from the intricate management responsibilities of a financial institution, the government can redirect its attention and resources towards core functions. Emphasising economic development, infrastructure, and social services becomes more feasible without the intricate burden of overseeing a financial entity. This refocusing aligns with the government’s commitment to delivering tangible and impactful outcomes for its citizens.

“Opting for the winding-down route introduces a pivotal element of market discipline. Financial institutions, operating in an environment where the consequences of their lending decisions are realised, are prompted towards more judicious and responsible practices.

“This dynamic contributes to the cultivation of a robust and healthier banking sector. By allowing market forces to play a decisive role, the government encourages financial institutions to make prudent decisions, fostering a more resilient and sustainable economic landscape.”

From the foregoing, AMCON continuing in operation in perpetuity would lead to costly inefficiency and a waste of taxpayers’ funds, as it will continue to incur high carrying cost and operating cost and erosion in the value of assets.

Therefore, it is imperative for the Senate to revisit its ongoing amendment of the NDIC Act so as to integrate the function of AMCON into the proposed legislation, and set a sunset date for the Corporation.

Tinubu

Abiru

Wilfred Ndidi

Back to His Game?

GLOBAL SOCCER

Wilfred Ndidi Back to His Game?

After a muscular injury ruled him out for almost three months,and also cost him a place in Nigeria’s Africa Cup of Nations party to Cote d’Ivoire,midfield enforcer,Wilfred Ndidi has now returned to the delight of Lecester City faithful that has seen their top spot in the English Championship threatened after three losses.The 27-year-old could not have hoped for a better return as Leicester City ended a three-match losing run to beat Sunderland in their last match

Super Eagles midfielder, Wilfred Ndidi, has just recovered from a serious muscle injury after missing Leicester City’s last 10 league games with his last appearance being in their 2-0 victory over Cardiff, back in December.

The Nigeria international has been a vital player for Leicester City this campaign, playing a significant role in the middle of the park as they seek to return to the Premier League.

His return couldn’t have come at a better time for the East Midlands side as they had been on a free fall in recent weeks, losing their last three Championship games which has reduced the gap between them and secondplaced Ipswich Town to three points.

The 27-year-old marked his return with a victory and Leicester City boss, Enzo Maresca, could not hide his delight upon seeing his star midfielder back in action after a long hiatus.

“I’m very happy. We need him, Wilf is so important to us so it’s good to have him back.” he told Leicester City’s website

Maresca expressed his delight with the return of Ndidi from injury, as the Super Eagles midfielder came on as a substitute during his side’s victory over Sunderland on Tuesday night.

Under the Italian tactician, Ndidi has suddenly improved offensively as he has been asked to play a more attacking role, and that explains him having 10 goal involve-

ments across all competitions at this time of the season.

Ndidi received a rousing welcome from the Leicester City travelling fans.

Maresca had earlier expressed his eagerness to have Ndidi back from injury as the midfielder nears a return to action

Ndidi was initially expected to miss around three months, keeping him out until April, but was back earlier than anticipated.

“Wilf is still out and that is all. He has already started to do some sessions with us, but part of the session, not all.

“Hopefully, next week he can complete the session with us, which means he starts to be available. We can have Wilf back because, as you know, he is an important player for us,” Maresca had earlier told the club website.

The Italian coach underlined just how much Leicester have missed the influential 27-year-old during his lengthy lay-off.

“That’s why I said if he can be back earlier than three months, it is much better for us. He is an important player,” Maresca added.

“Now we are trying to find solutions to adapt players but hopefully we can have him back very soon.”

Ndidi’s return was a major boost for Leicester as they look to seal an automatic return to the Premier League following relegation last season.

The tough-tackling midfielder, who had contributed to seven goals before his layoff,

was also a big miss for Nigeria as they reached the Africa Cup of Nations final without him in January.

But his imminent comeback is a timely one for club and country as the season enters its decisive final couple of months.

The Foxes are now three points clear at the top of the English Championship standings with 81 points from 36 matches.

Meanwhile, Maresca has said discussion over the future Ndidi and other players whose contracts are due to expire this summer will be put on hold until the Foxes confirmed their immediate return to the Premier League.

The Nigeria international’s contracts run out this summer and talks of a renewal are yet to begin.

Meanwhile, Barcelona are said to be ready to cash-in on Nifidi’s contract situation at Leicester.

Following Sergio Busquets’ decision to leave at the end of last season, Barcelona were forced to enter the market in search of a new defensive midfielder. Due to their ongoing financial problems, they couldn’t spend big, which led them to sign Oriol Romeu from Girona in a low-cost operation but it has not been an easy start to life back at Camp Nou for Romeu.

Given that Barcelona are still struggling financially, they are likely to find themselves in the same position of not being able to

spend big. The free agent market could be their best friend once again, and have been linked with Ndidi.

Ndidi is out of contract at the end of the season, and it doesn’t appear that he will renew, even though it looks like Leicester will be returning back to the Premier League at the first time of asking, having been relegated from the division last season. This could open the door for Barcelona to make a move, although Fichajes say that Juventus and Sevilla are also interested.

Ndidi was once considered to be one of the best defensive midfielders in the Premier League, although injury problems meant that he has struggled for form in the last couple of years. He has impressed in the EFL Championship, although that level is far away from the likes of La Liga and Serie A.

Still, especially at no cost, Ndidi could be a good addition to the Barcelona squad. He has shown this season that he is very good with the ball at his feet, and he is naturally a very strong tackler and is good at reading the play, which would be required if he were to make the move to Catalonia.

There’s no doubt that there are better options out there for Barcelona, but their financial woes mean that 99 per cent of targets will be unattainable next summer. This could mean that Ndidi is the best option, and if that is the case, he could be a good addition to the squad.

Wilfred Ndidi in action for Leicester City after more than two months against Sunderlan on Tuesday

Liverpool Host Man City in Premier League Top-of-the-table Clash

Few matchups stir the pot quite like Liverpool versus Manchester City in recent years. Tomorrow, the Premier League offers a spectacle as the Reds host the Citizens at Anfield in a clash that could very well dictate the trajectory of this season’s title race. With just a point separating the two gladiators, the stakes couldn’t be higher

For the final time in the Premier League, Liverpool’s Jurgen Klopp and Manchester City’s Pep Guardiola will share a warm embrace on theAnfield touchline tomorrow afternoon, before the first whistle blows in their tantalising top-flight battle.

Only one place and one point separates the two titans after 27 games of the 2023-24 season, although Arsenal could knock both sides down a spot before tomorrow’s headline encounter commences.

While Klopp and Guardiola could still engage in a battle of wits in this year’s FA Cup final, this weekend’s mouthwatering showdown will be the last time that the pair butt heads with precious Premier League points at stake, not to mention

outright control of the title race.

Thanks to their latest Premier League winning goal on record and the 10th latest in the history of the competition - since data became available - the crown is currently the Reds’ to lose, as Darwin Nunez came up with an extraordinary 99th-minute header to down Nottingham Forest last weekend, earning Liverpool’s first Premier League win at the City Ground in the process.

Whether the Reds’ winner should have stood has been a hot-button topic - referee Paul Tierney awarded an incorrect drop-ball according to the laws of the game - and as Nottingham Forest players and staff lost their rag at full time, Liverpool rejoiced in maintaining their one-point lead over the Citizens at the summit of the table.

However, Klopp’s side will be demoted to the runners-up spot if Arsenal overcome Brentford today, and the Reds arrive back on Merseyside following a taxing - but worthwhile - Czech Republic jaunt, demolishing Sparta Prague 5-1 in the first leg of their Europa League last-16 showdown.

The epet Arena annihilation of the Maroons marked Liverpool’s seventh successive win across all tournaments since last month’s 3-1 beating at the hands of Arsenal, and the Reds boast an identical triumphant streak at home, where they are now without defeat in 29 straight fixtures since Real Madrid’s Champions League crushing 13 months ago.

At least three goals have also flown into the opposition net in six of Liverpool’s last

seven Anfield contests, but with the hosts only managing one clean sheet from their last nine home affairs, an equally rampant Man City have every right to dream of playing the role of party poopers.

Beginning the month of March with back-to-back Premier League blockbusters, Guardiola’s side were shocked by a Marcus Rashford rocket against Manchester United last weekend, but hotshot Phil Foden (two) and Erling Haaland - atoning for one of the worst misses the competition has ever seen - completed the Citizens’ expected comeback.

While Liverpool still have 90 minutes of their Europa League tie to go before they can celebrate progression, the Manchester mammoths cruised into the last eight of the Champions League with a 6-2 aggregate beating of Copenhagen - earning a straightforward 3-1 home success on Wednesday - and a second straight treble is still a possibility for Sunday’s visitors.

Sixteen of Man City’s last 17 matches across all tournaments have ended in victory - including each of their last fivesince December’s 1-0 reverse at the hands of Aston Villa, which has preceded an astonishing 10-game winning run on the road for the reigning top-flight champions. A 1-1 Etihad stalemate earlier in the season saw Man City stretch their unbeaten run against Liverpool to three matches since a 1-0 defeat in this exact fixture last season, but the Reds have only been beaten in one of their last 20 Premier League home games versus the Citizens, and that 4-1 loss in February 2021 came inside an empty stadium deprived of the unnerving Anfield atmosphere.

PREMIER LEAGUE

TODAY Man Utd v Everton 12:30

Bournemouth v Sheffield Utd 15:00

Crystal Palace v Luton Town 15:00

Wolves v Fulham 15:00

Arsenal v Brentford 17:30

Aston Villa vTottenham 13:00

Brighton v Nott’m Forest 14:00

West Ham v Burnley 14:00

Liverpool v Man City 15:45

La Liga

TODAY Valencia v Getafe 13:00

Cádiz v Atlético 15:15 Granada v Sociedad 17:30

Girona v Osasuna 20:00

SUNDAY

Alavés v Vallecano 13:00

Las Palmas v Bilbao 15:15 Madrid v Celta Vigo 17:30

Premier League Table

Liverpool’s Wataru Endo emsured he was not outjumped by Man City’s Erling Haaland when both sides met in the reverse fixture at the Etihad Stadium

NDLEA, NPFL Partner on Drug Test for Footballers

Michael Olugbode in Abuja

The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, NDLEA, and the Nigeria Premier Football League, NPFL, have agreed to partner on the conduct of drug test for footballers in the country as part of efforts to curb the menace of substance abuse in Nigeria.

This was one of the highpoints of discussions between the leadership of the agency and the football league when the Chairman of the NPFL board, Hon. Gbenga Elegbeleye led a delegation including ex-international, Daniel Amokachi; Chairman of Sokoto State Football Association, Mohammed Saidu Nasiru; Chief Operating Officer of the NPFL, Davidson Owumi and Head of Legal, NPFL, Uche George Egbe on a courtesy visit to the Chairman/Chief Executive Officer of NDLEA, Brig Gen Mohamed Buba Marwa (Retd) in Abuja yesterday.

In his remarks, Elegbeleye acknowledged the inspiring and impactful leadership Marwa has given NDLEA to become a frontline law enforcement agency now respected home and abroad. He said the activities of the agency have not only raised national awareness about the drug scourge but have equally curbed the impunity of drug cartels and barons.

He said part of the problems facing the sports

industry in the country especially football is betting and use of performance enhancing drugs by footballers. He said he has to reach out to the agency for partnership to salvage the situation. “The only agency that can save this situation is NDLEA by working with us to carry out random drug test on our players. Once they know we conduct drug test, they will refrain from abuse of illicit substances. This is why we seek the support and partnership with NDLEA”, Elegbeleye stated.

In his response, Marwa commended the NPFL boss for his giant strides and innovations to build the football league. He assured that the agency won’t relent in its offensive action against drug cartels in the country. He expressed the willingness of NDLEA to partner with NPFL to curb abuse of illicit substances by footballers.

“We are happy with your request for random drug test for players. This is available in all our commands nationwide and we are ready to work with you in this respect. We are very ready to collaborate and support you in your quest”, Marwa stated.

He said the league should also consider mobilising star footballers to get involved in open advocacy against drug abuse because a lot of youths look up to them as role models.

Joshua Beats Ngannou via Second-round Knockout

Anthony Joshua yesterday knocked out Francis Ngannou with a devastating second-round finish to shatter any prospect of a sensational upset and continue his march towards becoming a three-time world champion.

Joshua floored a shell-shocked Ngannou with a vicious right hand in the opening round before knocking down the former UFC heavyweight champion twice in the next, the second of which would leave Ngannou flat out for the count.

It arrived as the most destructive knockout of Joshua’s career to follow up statement

stoppages over Robert Helenius and Otto Wallin in reigniting his pursuit of another world title opportunity.

The prospective prize had featured prominently throughout the build-up in Saudi Arabia, with victory now expected to pave the way to a shot at the winner of Tyson Fury and Oleksandr Usyk’s clash for the undisputed heavyweight championship.

Joshua says he wants the win- ner of Tyson Fury vs Oleksandr Usyk after his devastating KO win over Francis Ngannou.

“When I saw the fight with Fury, I thought damn, this guy

could fight, I wanted a piece of that,” said Joshua post-fight.

Joshua had cut a laserfocused figure all week amid all the pageantry and promises, maintaining that approach as he delivered a knockout clinic to hand Ngannou a ruthless exposure to the true world of heavyweight boxing.

Ngannou had arrived riding the momentum of a staggering debut performance against Fury back in October, his shock thirdround knockdown in defeat to the WBC champion earning him another lucrative day between the ropes. As 4am approached in Saudi Arabia, Joshua was in no mood for further drama.

Onyeka Backs Osimhen’s Premier League Move amid Man Utd, Chelsea, Arsenal Links

Brentford FC midfielder, Frank Onyeka, has expressed his desire for Napoli forward, Victor Osimhen, to join the English Premier League amid interest from top European clubs.

The Nigerian star garnered media attention during his remarkable performance for Gli Azzurri in the 2022-23 Serie A season, leading them to win the trophy for the first time in 33 years.

Throughout the campaign under Luciano Spalleti’s leadership, he netted a total of 31 goals and provided five assists in 39 appearances, attracting interest from clubs like Manchester United, Chelsea,

World No 1 Novak Djokovic has not ruled out competing for the Los Angeles Olympic gold in 2028 at the age of 41.

The 24-time Grand Slam winner has only managed a bronze in four trips to the Olympics, though he will have another opportunity to improve his medal record in Paris this summer.

Djokovic will be 41 by the

and others.

During an interview with Sky Sports, Onyeka was asked about the possibility of playing alongside his compatriot, who has been heavily linked with a move to the Premier League. In a light-hearted response, he jokingly remarked that Osimhen might be too expensive for the West London side. “No, no, no! He’s too expensive!” he jokingly replied.

Expanding on Osimhen’s qualities, the midfielder emphasised his competitive spirit and dedication to winning.

“He’s a really good guy but he’s someone that wants to win. He doesn’t like to lose, even in

time the Los Angeles Games roll around but the Serbian says he has not ruled out competing for gold in 2028.

“Everything is on the cards, I just don’t know how many cards I have left,” Djokovic said with a smile when asked about LA 2028.

“It’s still very far to think about Los Angeles Olympic

Forest Manager Gives Reason for Benching Awoniyi against Liverpool

Nottingham Forest, manager Nuno Espírito Santo has explained why Taiwo Awoniyi was not named in the starting lineup for their Premier League match against the striker’s former club Liverpool last weekend.

The Nigeria international entered the game as a substitute with 25 minutes left on the clock as Nottingham Forest searched for a winning goal.

Awoniyi missed nine consecutive matches played by Forest in the Premier League after a gravating a groin injury during Nigeria’s 2026 World

Cup qualifying match against Lesotho.

The former Golden Eaglets and Flying Eagles striker has been overused for a player returning from a long-term injury, having started all but one game in the top-flight prior to the visit of Liverpool to the City Ground.

In the FA Cup, Awoniyi went the distance in a physically demanding game versus Manchester United and logged 56 minutes against Bristol City. Nuno Espírito Santo couldn’t manage Awoniyi’s game time better because back-up striker

Chris Wood was sidelined due to a hamstring injury.

Addressing the media at his pre-match press conference before the trip to Brighton & Hove, Nuno Espírito Santo told reporters: “He’s closer. Everybody knows what happened with Taiwo, it was a long-term injury, then he started playing more than he should due to the circumstances of the squad but he’s improving.

“I think the decision of not starting him against Liverpool) was related to the previous game in the FA Cup when he made ninety minutes.

African Knockout Season 3 Ends in Style

Championship season 2024 got off to an explosive start last Saturday, and the card delivered masterclass performances with the main event of the night ending in just two minutes while other fights were decided on knockouts and decision victories.

The main event of the AKO 3 fight night between Josias ‘the K.O Wizard’ Musasa from Democratic Republic of Congo and Abdelghani Saber of Egypt ended in the first round.

Musasa, living up to his alias, took less than two minutes to win the featherweight fight, beating his Egyptian opponent by technical knockout.

training. He always wants to push players around him, try to encourage them. He’s a fighter.”

Onyeka believes Osimhen’s contributions were undervalued at the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations, where he emerged as one of the standout performers despite not scoring many goals.

“He’s always there to help the team, fight for the team. Even when the team is down, he’ll be the first man to push the team. He never gives up. For me, he was one of the best players in the tournament, but people don’t really see what he does,” he added.

Games but the thought of it excites me of course. I’d love to play that but... I can’t really commit to that yet.

“It’s becoming harder and harder but I still love this sport and have still been competing at the highest level.

“I am still number one, so I feel at the moment that I want to keep going, keep trying to make more history.”

The partisan crowd that packed the BoxMall at the Sol Beach, Oniru, were disappointed as Nigeria’s Segun Ogunnoiki suffered defeat against Flex Munwe from Democratic Republic of Congo in the Middleweight Division.

The co-main event had the

Oghumah @ 50

Today’s grand finale of Benedict Oghumah @ 50 Golf Tournament at Benin Club Golf Section (BCGS) in Edo State will tee-off with about 100 top ranked amateur golfers from across the country.

The golf tournament which teed-off with caddies’ event on Wednesday, also had veterans and super veterans, ladies hcp 29-36, invited professionals and eaglets

Liverpool and Manchester City will clash in what could become a defining game for the league title tomorrow as the three-way title race gets hotter. This match will be broadcast live on GOtv.

Meanwhile, title hopefuls, Arsenal will host Brentford today as they look to add to

‘Machine Gun’ on the back foot in all three rounds against Munwe who recorded split decision victory and ensured that Congolese fighters returned to Lubumbashi victorious from AKO 3.

The night started badly for Nigeria when Abdulbasit Bello suffered defeat in the first fight of the AKO 3 card, losing against Uganda’s James Opio. The Ugandan dominated the lightweight fight en route to a second round technical knockout win.

Dennis Johnson gave home fans something to cheer for in the second fight of the night. The Nigerian did enough to record a split decision victory over Israel Mano of Burkina Faso in the light-heavyweight division.

The night got better for Nigeria and cheers went louder for Jackiel ‘Smiling Assasin’ Anyana who stunned Benard Seret of

Kenya in the lightweight division with a technical knockout win after a perfect head-kick.

The Women’s Bantamweight division between Precious Okoh of Nigeria and Togo’s Cythia Jibidar was stopped by the referee. The Togolese dominated the fight and scored a technical knockout win over Okoh.

The first of two Nigeria/ Ivory Coast contests saw Nigeria’s Cornell Thompson deliver a wrestling masterclass to secure a unanimous decision win over Francios Ahizi in the featherweight division.

Ahizi’s defeat to Thompson was swiftly avenged by Xavier Adams Boa who totally knocked out Ugochukwu Melvin of Nigeria in the light-heavyweight contest.

The lightweight fight between Jibrin Inuwa Baba of Nigeria and Jean Do Santos from Benin Republic ended in a split decision win for the Beninois.

Golf Tourney Climaxes Today

played yesterday.

The 50th birthday tournament is being sponsored by friends of Benedict Oghumah led by the Chairman of Oceanwave Group, Mr. Peter Omoh Dunia as well as Committee of Friends.

Moreover, the exciting event teeing-off being the final day with ceremonial tee-off by the celebrant and others just as the men’s hcp 0-28 and ladies hcp

their seven games winning streak. Mikel Arteta’s men have scored 31 goals in those seven games, while maintaining the meanest defence in the league with just 23 goals conceded so far. Tune in SuperSport Premier League (ch 66) at 6:30pm to watch.

Also today, the pressure

0-28 as well as invited guests enter the course after.

Similarly, winners in various categories will win awesome prizes and trophies, and it will be done during presentation and birthday party which will hold later in the evening.

Dignitaries from all over Nigeria and beyond are anticipated to grace the presentation and birthday party slated for the golf house.

will pile on Erik Ten Hag when his side host Everton at Old Trafford on SuperSport Premier League (ch 66) at 1:30pm.

Tomorrow, top four rivals, Aston Villa vs Tottenham will lock horns at Villa Park on SuperSport Premier League (ch 66) at 2:30pm.

Action during the African Knockout season 3 at the boxmall, Oniru, Lagos

Joshua secured the 25th knockout of his career

‘Reverse Back’ Wrong

OVERHEARD yesterday: “Reverse back”. Get it right: reverse—you cannot ‘reverse front’! ‘Reverse’ implies going back.

“Idahosa wants INEC to uphold APC primary of February 17 that produced him as flag-bearer”

(THISDAY front-page kicker, March 5) This way henceforth: standard-bearer, not flag-bearer.

You are welcome to South-South Nigeria: “Businessman strangled to death in Eket” Delete ‘to death’ to foreclose more casualties! A rewrite: Businessman strangled in Eket

This edition continues with THE NATION ON SUNDAY of March 3: “A key factor in resolving the political conundrum in Taraba State…unexpectedly died last week, upsetting calculations about the conflict.” Apart from, perhaps, the condemned criminal who has a date with the hangman, nobody knows when their death will come. So, that aspect of ‘unexpectedly’ smacks of loose thinking. The speaker simply died last week. As the Bible states, no man knows the day or time of his exit—except, possibly, supernatural cases like money rituals!

The next set of grammatical fatalities is still from THE NATION ON SUNDAY: “Last Saturday, October 21, was no different as a large crowd converged at (on) the venue to….”

Lastly from the weekly comment under review: “While we join the government and people of Anambra in mourning the dead….” Do we mourn the living? Just mourning!

“…Obiano’s critics said however he is (was) little unknown….”

“…have been holding consultations in his sprawling country home mansion and soliciting for his blessings.” Yank away ‘for’ to avoid syntactic ripples.

“…foreign exchange inflow through export of

shrimps and other fisheries (fishery) products.”

“2027: Nigeria won’t breakup (break up), says good governance group”

Let us welcome DAILY INDEPENDENT back to this column after a long absence. Its March 4 edition goofed: “Moves to stop girl-child marriage intensifies (intensified)” I hope the currency dictates of headline casting did not confuse the sub-editor.

“How do I recognize NUC approved universities?” A voice of your own: NUC-approved varsities

Leadership of February 14 contained a basketful of school-boy howlers starting from its politics page: “We are building evidences against those who are using….” ‘Evidence’ is an uncountable noun and has no plural form. Use a singular verb after it and note that it is wrong to say ‘true evidence’ instead of ‘reliable evidence’. Furthermore, you can say a piece/ scrap/shred of evidence. Phrases are sweet if correctly used.

From the politics page we move to the views page which circulated a-dozen-and-half Basic One infelicities that question the writer’s professorship: “The poor infrastructural facilities in the sector is (why?) compounded by….”

“…as unmitigated abuses in this all important (all-important) department of our national life.”

“…they stock sub-standard equipments in addition to….” ‘Equipment’ is non-count.

“…the agency carried out massive inspection (a massive inspection) of private health facilities in the state.”

“…some were located in distressed building (a distressed building) and some others (and others) were located (cited) in filthy environments.”

“Some of the hospitals he disclosed operated….” A rewrite: Some of the hospitals, he disclosed, operated….

“Quite a number of the clinics (a comma) he stated (another comma) have (had) male nurses

functioning as medical doctors.”

“It is an open secret there is sizeable (a sizeable) number of quack doctors practicing (practising—British English verb) in Lagos….”

“It is sad that we have degenerated to (into) a level….”

“But what is not known is what happen (happens) to such impostors at the end of the day.”

“Asides (sic) from the dearth of medical doctors in the health sector has put immense pressure on those on ground.” Existential humanism: just begin the sentence from (or overhaul the entire wrong-headed entry): The dearth or aside, the dearth

“…listen to their patients (patients’) complaints.”

“…thousands of Nigerians that seek for health care abroad.” Delete ‘for’ to avoid raucousness!

“Amidst this (Amid these) most Nigerians have opted to patronize private clinics despite its (their) obvious shortcomings.”

Finally from Leadership Views Page of February 14 under review: “This revelation will not surprise any Nigeria (Nigerian) who patronize (patronizes) even the public hospitals.” Remove ‘the’!

“…considering the capacity crowd the adoration ground attracts on weekly (a weekly) basis….”

“…some fellows raised alarm (the alarm) on (about) ‘fire’, which made the worshippers trooping (troop) out to scamper for safety and, in the process, fell over themselves (one another).”

Lastly from the back page: “The NFF…must get its acts (act) together by looking….”

Please note that remuneration, like infrastructure, is both a countable and uncountable noun in stateside English. Machinery has the plural machineries.’

Avoid ‘gather together’, ‘join together’ and other such biblical expressions—use just ‘gather’

The Average Nigerian Story

It is not as if Yeside Zubair is docile, lazy or unintelligent. It just so happens that she is completely helpless nowadays - unable to feed her family, send her children to school, clothe them in decent garments to attend Sunday school… and so many things a mother desires for her children. She is mortified at the speed her fortunes have nosedived within a few months, and the prospects for a positive reversal seems unlikely.

This fairly new year (2014) has been a spectacularly cruel year for Yeside, yet there was nothing to show some kind of premonition, during the last days of last year, that hell was just around the corner. She graduated a decade ago from a state university 350 kilometers away from Lagos with a respectable bachelor’s degree in Biochemistry. She didn’t fool herself that she would be getting a good job with her degree as countless graduates with better grades were roaming the lean job markets without hope. But she has always been industrious and hardworking. While in school, she ran three ‘thriving’ businesses: making pies and canapes, weaving and plaiting hair, and selling recharge cards. Though her parents never shirked in providing for her school needs, and thus never short of expendable cash, Yeside was nonetheless keen to provide for herself, in preparation for graduating into the world outside the campus.

In her final year, Yeside met the man who would swoon her off into matrimony. Alex Wogu was a smart, good-looking young man with bags of jokes that constantly had Yeside in stitches. He was in his final year as an Engineering student with dreams of travelling the world working in great and staggering projects while building a massive reputation as a structural engineer. She was happy and at peace in the presence and adulation of her Alex.

A few weeks over one year that the relationship took off, and while both were

observing the mandatory national youth service programme, the lovers decided to formalize their relationship. The wedding was small, short and reflective of their ambition to be career-minded and successful as professionals. They had dreamt of using the first three or four years of their marriage to develop themselves in their individual professions - amassing the best credits and perquisites their efforts would throw up. Financial stability was paramount for the sort of lifestyle they envisaged. So, increasing the membership of the family would have to come later, when they are well settled and satisfactorily endowed to nurture and provide for at most two children. That was the great master plan.

However, despite their best efforts, Yeside became pregnant just six months after collecting her NYSC certificate. Despite the fervent pleas and protestations of Alex, she would not contemplate any abortion. Of course, she knew it was not part of their plans, and getting a very elusive job would become even more difficult to achieve. Worse still, Alex had become morose and far from the jovial fun-loving man she met at the university. The reasons were obvious: his dreams of a high-flying job after a first class degree in engineering were turning to a mirage. Companies that seemed promising when he contacted them for graduate internship opportunities while in school, considering his high-flying grades, were now in different stages of distress: two were in the process of relocating to ‘saner’ climes as a result of economic downturn; and others had even restructured their business focus to steer away from the treacherous routes of construction and engineering contracts. Alex was disillusioned, as he resorted to driving a Bolt taxi with his car, a wedding gift, given to him by his only aunt living overseas.

Being a pragmatic person, Yeside

or ‘join’. Apart from elegance, they convey the message intended devoid of clumsiness.

Next is the Views Page of Daily Trust, February 7: “Crisis of unemployment in Nigeria” ‘Unemployment’ is a challenge/crisis/problem anywhere. So, unemployment in Nigeria….

“…under the auspices of the OECD, alerted the nation of (to) the danger ahead unless something was done about youth unemployment.”

“It is both a big risk and economic waste to be investing heavily on (in) human capital development without….”

“The PDP has expressed serious concern at the fire outbreak, describing it as suspicious.” Just delete ‘outbreak’ on grounds of redundancy.

“Nigeria in search for (of) an enduring political structure…”

“NGO sensitises (sensitizes, preferably) girls on (to) engineering, STEM-related activities”

“…or through these number….” EFCC please take note: this number

“We urge that that it will (should) be sustained.”

“For instance, NLC would (should) have opposed land border closure by the immediate past government when it was clear that in Nigeria….”

“Zamfara, C’River, Adamawa, Ogun top cholera cases (case) list”

“Imo agog as APC Flags (sic) off mother of all campaign” Get it right: mother of all campaigns

“Chief Whip stages walk out (walkout) to protest Senate president’s out-of-order ruling”

“The management of the radio station, in a statement (how else?), said his body has (had) been deposited at the Federal Medical Centre….”

“The trustees of Royal Sports Club International, Abuja (another comma) felicitate with (felicitate) you as you mark the Golden (sic) age of 50.” Write right: ‘of 50’ is an overkill!

“13 teams battle for glory as activities build-up (build up)”

had stopped hoping for more than rejection letters from the companies she had applied to as a graduate biochemist, or even as a mere laboratory assistant. She believed if she got a lowly lab job in a government establishment, she would have more time on her hands to continue her small businesses which she started on campus. When she convinced herself that the Nigerian economy, led by neo politicians with scant knowledge of macroeconomic demands, was not in any position to give her comfort or emoluments that could take care of her family, she returned to her old habits.

Of course, she was more energized to upscale her businesses as she decided to focus on confectioneries, including shawarma and such edibles that would make a delicatessen attractive and profitable. With the help of her parents, she rented a double containerised suite, modestly designed and fitted with stools and modern items to attract white-collar folks whose tastes have been impacted by the offerings of the many big-time eatery franchises in Lagos and other major Nigerian cities. Yeside was ready to make the best of the situation, as she also injected a considerable sum into the project from her savings during her school days. “I must to make am,” was her daily mantra, as she set for her shawarma shop everyday.

The day Yeside found out that she was expecting a set of twins (male and female) was both the saddest and the happiest day in her life. For obvious reasons, there was nothing in the revelation that Alex would describe as ‘happy’…not to add ‘happiest’. He didn’t want a child for a few years, as agreed…

but to expect two at once, was too much for his frayed nerves. He started drinking and smoking…even as his clients often complained about his erratic driving, and the inevitable worrying smell of alcohol. On more than two occasions, he almost ran the car off the road…barely avoiding what could have been serious accidents. Once, Yeside was invited to a police station on the Island as her husband was involved in fighting with another motorist over some matter related to the right of way. Alex was getting more hysterical, distant, aggressive, and less communicative. He felt trapped in the marriage, and would love nothing more than running away, to start a new life abroad. “But where man go get dollars…?” was the familiar refrain to end his regular reverie.

With all his best efforts, driving from dawn to dusk, accepting virtually all online hire requests through the Bolt channels… and even off it, barely rejecting any route, however inconvenient…he could still not provide for his wife’s upkeep; not to add the matter of the oncoming child…now children!

The economy was so out of shape: cost of fuel was killing, vehicle repair was more like a vultures’ ken…some of his customers had perfected the acts of paying with fake alerts! The roads were insanely bad, shortening the lifespan of taxis and tyres…and one should not even go near the matter of the so-called law enforcement agents - that is apart from the near exorbitant cost of regularizing the driving and vehicle papers. Yet, all that was about eight years ago.

(To continue)

NLC Warns of Further Protests if Food Scarcity, Hunger Persist

Onyebuchi Ezigbo in Abuja

Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has said that the federal government may not be able to quench the orgy of protests and looting of food trucks and warehouses across the country, unless something was done to arrest the worsening socioeconomic situation confronting the masses.

In the same vein, the Medical and Health Workers Union of Nigeria (MHWUN), said that the health sector has been hard-hit by pressures from

the current harsh economic situation in the country.

Speaking at the opening ceremony of the 11 Quadrennial National Delegates Conference of Medical and Health Workers Union of Nigeria (MHWUN) in Abuja yesterday, NLC President, Joe Ajaero, lamented that the government's harsh economic policies have impoverished the people and stripped them of those values that make them human beings.

He said: "Our people have been reduced to beggars with an ever-

increasing number relying on waste dumps for their daily meals. Food has become so scarce that Nigerians have become scavengers and resort to raiding food trucks and warehouses for food.

"If those in government cannot see the danger in what is happening, we see it and must ensure that government fulfills its duties to the people. We are increasingly going hungry in our father’s land and cannot continue in this destitution.

"The greatest unifier and

mobiliser of a people is hunger so it insults common sense when those in government assume that somebody is sponsoring people who are protesting because of hunger. If anybody is arousing the people, it is those in government whose policies have impoverished the people and stripped them of those values that make them human beings.

"The looting of food trucks and warehouse is what you get when this happens. Unless something is done, this may unfortunately escalate. We

PDP to Obaseki: Stop Impeachment Move against Your Deputy

Chuks Okocha in Abuja

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the South-south Zone has strongly criticised the attempt by members of the Edo State House of Assembly to impeach the Deputy Governor of the state, Comrade Philip Shaibu, on the basis of alleged misconduct.

In a statement issued by the SouthSouth Publicity Secretary, Mr. Bishop Ante, the chapter said the move to impeach the deputy governor was unreasonable and uncalled for.

The chapter said it was even more wrong at a time the party is striving for reconciliation amidst internal

Sylvester Idowu in Warri

Delta State Governor, Sheriff Oborevwori, has expressed satisfaction with the ongoing construction works on Emevor-Ivrogbo-Orogun Road, Phase 1, at Emevor town in Isoko Local Government Area of the state.

The governor, during an on the spot inspection yesterday commended the contractor, Emorock Concept Limited (ERCL), a subsidiary of De Wayles Group of Companies, affirming that the projects were executed to specification.

divisions ahead of the governorship elections scheduled for September 21, 2024.

“It is a sad development and indeed a sign of failure of the leadership of the party in Edo State to allow internal political disagreements to snowball into a major crisis that could jeopardise the chances of the party in the forthcoming governorship elections in the state,” the group said. While acknowledging the authority of the State House of Assembly to impeach the deputy governor, the PDP emphasised that such powers must be exercised in accordance with the laws of the land.

Oborevwori, who was accompanied by the state Commissioner for Works (Rural) Charles Aniagwu and Director, Ministry of Works, Solomon Aragba, said the project was inline with his MORE Agenda and commended the company for being part of the programme.

"Emorock Concept Limited strides in the construction industry. I must commend the company for its strides in the construction industry. The company is a strong and dependable stakeholder in the drive towards actualization of the MORE Agenda

The party expressed concern over the ongoing feud between Governor Godwin Obaseki and his Deputy Philip Shaibu, elected on the PDP platform to improve the welfare of the people.

The PDP feared that this mandate has been neglected, evident in the current political crisis in the state.

While urging Governor Obaseki to abandon the idea of impeaching his deputy, the party warned that such a move, particularly based on politically induced and unfounded allegations, could severely impact the party’s chances in the forthcoming elections.

for the benefit of the good people of Delta State," he said. He particularly acknowledged ERCL at ensuring that the Emevor Road construction project will be delivered in due time, considering the extent of works so far accomplished at the moment, assuring continued patronage by the Delta State Government.

The governor expressed his satisfaction with the progress achieved by the company on various aspects of the projects, including the deep double drain on the shoulders of the

Group Extols Gbadebo Rhodes-Vivour's Virtues at 41

Funmi Ogundare

A socio-cultural group, Njiko Umunne Social Club of Nigeria, has congratulated the Labour Party's (LP) Governorship candidate in Lagos State in the March 18, 2023 election, Mr. Gbadebo Rhodes-Vivour as he turned 41 years yesterday.

In a statement signed by the Club's Chairman, Chief Ugochukwu Udo Chukwuocha and Secretary, Uche Offor, respectively, they said Rhodes-Vivour represents a special and enviable breed of the younger generation of Nigerians determined

on enthroning accountability, probity and good governance in the country.

The statement further added that Rhodes-Vivour, an accomplished architect, exhibited the virtues of tenacity of purpose, doggedness, commitments and conviction for a better Lagos during his electioneering campaign as a governorship candidate in the state.

The group also lauded the calmness and maturity Rhodes-Vivour displayed during the Election Tribunal’s proceedings, and the ruling which eventually turned in favour of his APC contender, Governor Babajide

Sanwo Olu, which showed he never played the 'do or die' brand of politics.

The statement added: "As we celebrate with you as you mark 41 years,let it be on record that you fought a good fight in your conviction to govern Lagos State.

“Moreover, your political journey so far has shown that you are cut out as a game changer, and a role model for the teeming younger generation who now see in you as a man of courage and conviction who remained unshaken despite all the threats and intimidation by your political opponents to jettison your governorship ambition.”

The statement commended the maturity and restraint shown by Deputy Governor Philip Shaibu amidst provocation and urged him to continue being a loyal and committed party member.

At this critical juncture, the PDP stressed the importance of Governor Obaseki focusing his efforts on reconciling and unifying the Edo PDP Family to secure victory for the party in the upcoming elections.

“Engaging in a self-serving impeachment move against Philip Shaibu at this time will do us no good,” the statement concluded."

road to ensure free flow of water, in order to promote flood control, quality of materials utilised, and viable equipment alongside highly experienced and diligent crop of engineers.

Odion of Emevor Kingdom, HRM Dr. John Holt Ologho, thanked Governor Oborevwori for the laudable road project connecting Emevor, lvrogbo and Orogun kingdoms.

He prayed for the success of the Oborevwori administration and appealed for the Delta State Government to establish a Central Hospital in Emezor to improve on the health status of his subjects.

The company Projects Director, Oghale Agelebe, reaffirmed ERCL's continued commitment to upholding utmost level of professionalism in the handling and execution of engineering construction activities in the state.

He assured that the company will not take the rare privilege of partnering with the Delta State Government for granted.

Agelebe expressed gratitude for the recognition and continued confidence reposed on EmoRock Concept Ltd, reiterating the company's dedication to contributing to the socio-economic and infrastructural advancement of Delta State.

pray it does not.Those who therefore think that they can stop us from this divine mission with their threats and violence should think twice. We cannot be cowed. We cannot surrender our natural mandate to powers and agents of poverty and emasculation.

"We are not after anybody’s job but we must insist that the instruments of governance must be used for the greater good of the people and not to wreck their lives. We must insist that

any political calculation that does not put the lives of Nigerians first fails abysmally and is totally unacceptable.

"The people of Nigeria must have to survive first so that Nigeria can survive before we begin to talk about 2027.We must all work together to build power with which we can use for successful engagement with those who are in charge of the various corridors of power in our dear nation. Nigerians look up to us and we must not fail them."

N6.9bn Fraud: Absence of EFCC's Witness Stalls Fayose's Trial

Wale Igbintade

The ongoing trial of former Governor of Ekiti State, Ayodele Fayose, over alleged N6.9bn fraud money laundering was stalled yesterday due to the absence of prosecution witness, Aliyu Madaki.

Consequently, the trial judge, Justice Chukwujekwu Aneke, told the prosecutor for the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Mr. Rotimi Jacobs (SAN) to inform the witness that the court has ordered his presence in court on March 22.

The judge fixed the date following the displeasure of defence counsel who argued that they have disengaged themselves from other commitments in order to be in court for the case, only for them to hear that the witness did not come.

Fayose is being prosecuted by the EFCC alongside a company, Spotless Investment Ltd, on 11 counts bordering on N6.9 billion fraud and money laundering offences.

When the case was called on yesterday, EFCC prosecutor, Jacobs, announced his appearance, while Messrs Ola Olanipekun (SAN) and

Olalekan Ojo (SAN) appeared for the first and second defendants respectively.

In his submission, Jacobs informed the court that his 13th witness, Mr. Aliyu Madaki, who is to be cross examined by the defence, was held up in Jos and unable to attend court.

He also told the court that the witness is no longer a staff of EFCC, and now resides in Nasarawa, adding that he was unable to make it to court today as he is in Jos presently. Prosecution informed the court that the witness had pleaded for another chance to be present on March 28, an already existing date given by the court, adding that the witness no longer works with the EFCC Jacobs, however, said he had just discovered that the court will be on Easter vacation by then, and he consequently, prayed for a further date .

Initially, the judge had fixed April 25 and 26 for continuation of the matter but the two defence counsel were not satisfied with the dates, insisting that at least a date should be fixed in March.

Ajakaiye Named NITR's Acting Director-General

A renowned veterinary doctor and researcher, Dr. Joachim Joseph Ajakaiye, has been named the Overseeing Director of the Nigerian Institute for Trypanosomiasis and Onchocerciasis Research (NITR), Kaduna.

By the appointment, which was approved by the Minister of Innovation, Science and Technology, Chief Uche Nnaji, Dr. Ajakaiye will, with immediate effect, oversee the office of the institute's DirectorGeneral.

According to a letter dated March 5, 2024 and signed for the minister by the Ministry's Director of Human Resources Management, Alhaji Baba

Ibrahim Hassan, the appointment followed the mandatory retirement of the previous holder of the post, Dr. (Mrs.) Felicia Enwenzor. Dr. Ajakaiye, who holds the Doctor of Veterinary Medicine (DVM), Master of Science (Veterinary Physiology) and Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) degrees began his career at NITR as a Veterinary Research Officer in 2006. He was promoted to the position of Director of Research in 2018.

A Fellow of the College of Veterinary Surgeons of Nigeria, Ajakaiye is also a recipient of the Fellowship of the Cuban Academy of Science.

EU Asks Political Parties to Adopt Robust Measures to Increase Women's Participation in Politics

Michael Olugbode in Abuja

The European Union (EU) has urged political parties to adopt robust measures and strategies to increase women’s participation and representation.

It noted that the active participation of women at all levels of decision-

making and politics is essential to the achievement of equality, sustainable development, peace, and democracy.

The EU also said that there is an urgent need for political parties to review and reform all founding and policy documents, namely political parties’ constitutions, manifestos, party rules, and

procedures and strategy documents to incorporate national and international norms and obligations on gender equality.

European Union Ambassador to Nigeria and ECOWAS, Samuela Isopi, made the call during the Women in Parliament Summit in Abuja, in

Otti to Sustain Gender Sensitivity in Abia, Says Women Engender Development

Emmanuel Ugwu-Nwogo in Umuahia

Abia State Governor, Mr. Alex Otti, has said that his administration would continue to be gender sensitive in recognition of the huge impact of women in societal development.

He stated this in a goodwill message to Nigerian women on the 2024 International Women's Day, describing them as embodiments of resilience, devotion to duty in the home front, workplace and in the larger society.

"Here, in Abia State, our administration is highly gender sensitive and this has seen to the increased number of women appointed into the State Executive

Council and Ministries, Departments, and Agencies of government.

"It is worthy of note that women occupy strategic positions in health, education , agriculture and poverty alleviation in the State Executive Council, while out of the total 24 Permanent Secretaries in the state, 17 of them are women," he said.

The Abia chief executive pointed out that the front role positions that women now occupy in Abia is unprecedented in the history of the state civil service.

He said that Nigeria, and indeed the world, owe women a debt of gratitude for their contributions towards ensuring global economic, social and political development.

The Abia governor specially

congratulated women for their achievements despite numerous challenges imposed on them by nature and the society.

commemoration of the International Women’s week, organised by the European Union Support to Democratic Governance in Nigeria (EU-SDGN), with the theme, 'Inspiring Inclusion: Policy Mechanisms for Gender Parity in Politics'.

She said: "The ongoing constitution reform process presents an opportunity to adopt an inclusive legal framework that promotes equal participation of all Nigerians regardless of gender, ethnicity, age and disability status.

"In Nigeria, the advocacy for women’s political participation has been long drawn, and in spite of the very dynamic interventions by women’s groups and other key stakeholders, their

representation remains in steady decline. For example, women’s representation in the 10th National Assembly is 7.4 per cent out of 469 combined seats in the Senate and House of Representatives.

"There has been no woman elected governor in Nigeria’s 25 years of democracy and the percentage of women appointed to political positions still falls significantly short compared to men. I am not quoting these figures to make it seem impossible, but to show that it is indeed possible.

"It is recognised that political parties are the 'real gatekeepers' on women’s political empowerment. If the political parties institutionalise gender equality measures and transform from within, it

will have a direct impact on women’s equal participation and representation in Nigeria."

Isopi urged political parties to set women’s representation in their decision-making bodies such as the National Executive Councils and directorates for elections at not less than 30 per cent, which is regarded as the critical figure for women to have any influence.

“The political culture in Nigeria is underpinned by patriarchy and the 'unwritten' rules on male privilege within political parties. Oftentimes, only women whose husbands support them or have a legacy of family political activism make it to the top.

CONCERN MOUNTS AS NEW VIGILANTE CORPS IN KATSINA, ZAMFARA REINFORCE BANDITRY

senator, Kabiru Mafara, had cried out saying the Zamfara Community Guards Corps arrested, detained and tortured his political allied, one Magaji Lawali to death.

Also last week, a prominent cleric and chief Imam of Mada town, Imam Abubakar Hassan Mada was allegedly summarily killed by the security guards.

In Katsina, a former local government chairman, was killed in similar fashion by members of the Katsina Community Watch Corps.

"Government at the centre must be courageous to stand up against this. Otherwise it is going to cost us a lot.

It will be an endless vicious circle," Rufa'i said.

UNICEF: Nigerian Children Deserve to Learn in Peace, Rues Abduction Of 287 Kaduna Students

Meanwhile, UNICEF’s Country Representative in Nigeria, Munduate, in a statement, rued the attack, saying Nigerian children deserved to learn in a peaceful environment.

Munduate said schools were supposed to be sanctuaries of learning and growth, not places of fear and violence.

The statement read: “I am deeply saddened and concerned by the reports of yet another abduction of students in Kaduna State. The alarming frequency of such incidents across the country signals a crisis that requires immediate and determined action from all levels of government and society. Schools are supposed to be sanctuaries of learning and growth, not sites of fear and violence.

“This latest abduction, as any previously, is highly condemnable and part of a worrying trend of attacks on educational institutions in Nigeria, particularly in the North-west, where armed groups have intensified their campaign of violence and kidnappings.

Just a day prior to this incident, the UN Resident Coordinator spoke about the abductions of large numbers of women, girls and boys by members of a non-state armed group in Borno state.

“UNICEF urges immediate action to

ensure the safe return of the abducted children and staff and calls on authorities to implement comprehensive measures to secure schools across Nigeria.

“It is imperative that the safety and security of students and educators are guaranteed, allowing schools to fulfill their role as safe havens for learning and development.”

It added: “Our hearts go out to the families of the abducted students and staff, and we stand with them in this harrowing time. The right to education is fundamental and must be protected against any form of violence or intimidation. The children of Nigeria deserve to learn in peace.

“UNICEF is coordinating with local officials and providing assistance to the affected parents and families through psychological support services.

“Every child deserves to grow up in an environment of peace, away from the looming shadows of threats and insecurity. Unfortunately, we are currently facing a significant deterioration in community safety, with children disproportionately suffering the consequences of this decline in security.”

UN Special Envoy, Gordon Brown, Promises Global Support for Safe School Initiative in Nigeria

According to Brown, the international community must urgently do all it could to support the release of the students, adding that the Nigerian government should have immediate surveillance support from international partners to locate the kidnapped pupils.,

“As UN envoy for global education, I am in contact with governments asking them to offer help to find the girls whereabouts with a view to their early release. But no child should be in fear of going to school, and no parent, worried as their children leave for school that they may never see them again, should need to consider keeping their daughter or son at home because the risk of kidnapping and violence is too high.

“And because these abductions continue to recur because of terrorism,

I want to set out what can be done to make sure schools are safer places to attend and our proposals are modelled on safe schooling initiatives throughout the world I have been involved in, not least in Nigeria at the time of the Chibok Kidnapping.

“Then, I visited Nigeria on many occasions to advise successive presidents, and our global Safe Schools Initiative was launched at the World Economic Forum in May 2014.

“Now I believe that at every level - federal, state, and local - Safe Schools measures must be reintroduced, reinvigorated and supercharged from today, with technical support and funding available internationally and nationally to ensure schools have significant security and safety upgrades.

“For parents who are now wondering whether their daughter or son will be the victim of violence or kidnapping, and whether when they leave for school that day, whether they will see their children again, we must provide reassurance. We must end the unfair choice parents face: send a child to school, at risk of being abducted, or keep a child out of school, at risk of them forgoing a better future.”

Furthermore, he stressed the need for the four broader initiatives needed to be considered as a matter of urgency, that add up to a comprehensive blueprint for safe schools.

“First, we need enhanced intelligence and security information-sharing through the engagement of the Governors and intergovernmental forums. Second, we need detailed state-by-state school safety plans which are made public, with detailed actions both to build walls and fencing and to introduce state- of- the art telecommunications connections and security alarms that can be easily actioned.

“Third, we need to invest in community outreach and engagement programs, working with traditional and religious leaders to explain why if schools are protected and safer children should continue to attend. And fourth, we need to empower local people - school-based management committees - to make their own decisions to prioritize pupil and teacher safety to best meet local circumstances and needs.

“My offer is to do everything I can to mobilise international financial and other support and worldwide expertise to help deliver the safe school programmes

“And my message to children is: if you come to school, we will make it more secure. And my promise Nigeria is this: You have suffered too much from the interruption of schooling because of terrorism and threats; it is now for us, the whole international community, to show solidarity and support your efforts to build back better, to make schools safe and secure, making a reality of the promise of high-quality education for every child

“The international community must urgently do all it can to support the girls release The Nigerian government should have immediate surveillance support from international partners to locate the kidnapped girls, and as UN envoy for global education , I am in contact with governments asking them to offer help to find the girls whereabouts with a view to their early release.”

Tinubu to Security Agencies: Ensure Immediate Rescue of Kidnapped Victims in Kaduna, Borno

Also, President Tinubu in a statement issued by his Media Adviser, Ajuri Ngelale, directed security and intelligence agencies to immediately rescue the victims and ensure that justice is served against the perpetrators of these abominable acts.

According to Tinubu: "I have received briefing from security chiefs on the two incidents, and I am confident that the victims will be rescued. Nothing else is acceptable to me and the waiting family members of these abducted citizens. Justice will be decisively administered."

The President sympathised with the families of the victims, assuring them that they would soon be reunited with their loved ones.

In the same vein, addressing the media, yesterday, Minister of Education, Prof. Tahir Mamman, stressed that security agencies must do everything within their powers not only to rescue the victims but also ensure they were brought back unhurt.

L-R: Dr Wiseman Ubochioma; Mr. Saif Coomasie; Mrs. Foluke Ogunbayo; Dr Dale Ogunbayo; Mr. Dayo Ashonibare; Mr. Abdulmuhsin Wakawa at the Call to Bar of Dr. Ogunbayo at the Nigerian Law School, Abuja... recently

CHANGE OF NAME

Atiku to FG

“Within one week, there have been many reported cases of mass abduction of hapless citizens in the Northwest and Northeast regions of our country. The cases are endless, and the problem seems interminable. The APC-controlled government has failed woefully to give the people the basic things expected of a responsive government. It is a clear manifestation of the failure of governance. The government has continued to play the ostrich while the nation is plagued by insecurity. While the weak and vulnerable are neglected, the government is making empty rhetoric about reforms.”

–Former Vice President, Atiku Abubakar

OKEY IKECHUKWU

EDIFYING ELUCIDATIONS

okey.ikechukwu@thisdaylive.com

Buba Marwa’s NDLEA

As military Governor of Lagos State in the 90s, he introduced Operation Sweep. This was a special anti-crime outfit, with incredible rapid response capabilities. Suddenly, crime rates dropped precipitously in places like Mushin, Maroko and those far-flung parts of the state which were generally looked upon as no-man’sland; in terms of guaranteed security. Yes, Lagos became unsettlingly calm. After-dark criminality suffered a major setback. The criminals fled, mostly to neighboring Ogun State. This prompted the Military Administrator of the besieged state to inaugurate Operation Wedge, a few months after the emergence of Operation Sweep.

So, as Marwa swept them out of lagos, Ogun wedged then for ultimate extermination. Thereafter, all other Military Administrators latched onto the idea and set up various security outfits. But most of them lacked the rigour, professional efficiency and real-time response profile of Marwa’s Operation Sweep.

Then, The Guardian newspaper set up a 13-man interview team, one of the largest interview teams I had ever seen or heard about, to meet with Marwa and discuss governance and other political issues. To my surprise, my name was on the list of interviewees. This was most unusual, because I was on the Newspaper’s Editorial Board; members of which were usually not part of Newsroom activities. So, off we went to the Governor’s office on the appointed date.

It was a full harvest. The questions kept coming. The Governor kept answering. The exactness of his answers, his general articulation and pointed grasp of issues of leadership and strategic engagement stood out so clearly. Then I asked: “What is the explanation for the very conspicuous decline in petty crimes, and general criminality, since you became governor? Is it indicative of an improvement in the level of living, or is there some special method you deployed to bring about what we are seeing today?”

He managed his usual dimpled smile and said, matter of factly and almost casually, “I simply studied the crime demographics and did the needful”. That was not enough explanation, and I told him so. He needed to tell the public exactly what he was doing.

Then Marwa explained how and why a leader must use security reports to guide himself in the management of state security. “Remember that I was a military officer attached to one of Nigeria’s Foreign Missions. I looked at the New York City Model and that is what I have applied here, with some modifications suited to our environment”. He went further to explain that he met areas, like Ikoyi, with low crime rate having far more police presence and patrol than the very densely populated parts of the state. Why, for instance, would Ikoyi have four patrol teams while Mushin, with 20 times the population of Ikoyi, having just one patrol team? He asked rhetorically.

“There must be a method, and even a science, to every serious engagement, if you want to make the right impact and achieve meaningful and lasting results. I can tell you this with absolute certainly: Any governor coming after me who applies this same template will achieve exactly the same commendable results”. He rounded it

off by saying that the best approach to any job is to first find out how best to do it, before you start. And, it is a matter of record that he was one hell of a good governor while in Lagos.

Is he bringing more or less the same approach, paradigms, effectiveness and attitude to his current watch as the Chairman of the Nigerian Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA)? I believe that the answer is a resounding yes!

All the arrests and seizures of illegal drug consignments and sundry successes of Marwa’s NDLEA have been very heavy on preemptive intelligence work. There is also overwhelming evidence of thorough going demographic analysis. Within this you find, also, the conscious mapping of drug production, transportation, distribution and consumption patterns. Marwa’s NDLEA is one of the few examples of an organization that is paying deliberate scientific attention to the physical and human geography of drug-related issues today.

There seems to be, in all of this, a structured collaboration with the internation anti-drug network, with focus on predictive, and predictable drugrelated activities.

Last week, Brig. Gen. Buba Marwa (rtd) said that drug abuse among Nigerians was one of the main drivers of insecurity in the country. This was during the sensitization and advocacy programme for women and youths in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) in Abuja. The programme was a collaborative engagement with Dr Aminu Gusau, organized under the platform of WADA. Marwa’s stated concern at the event was the growing involvement of women and youths in drug abuse.

This unfortunate development has taken absolutely incomprehensible dimensions in the country, across all the six geopolitical zones. It is also no longer an urban phenomenon, or problem. Many rural communities are now bedeviled by the malaise. As Marwa pointed out, the problem

of drug abuse among the youth has now become everyone’s problem. It required everyone’s effort to deal with, and eliminate, it. All parents, schools, religious leaders, the general public, and the youths themselves must rise to the occasion.

One of the essential takeaways from Marwa at the aforementioned event is his observation that the youths constitute the engine room of every society, which must be in the right shape mentally and physically to drive a better future. But that will not happen if they are damaged by psychotropic drugs. This is a universal problem of humanity, irrespective of tradition, culture, and religion.

Listen to Marwa: “The youths exhibit attitudes both for the development of society and, at the same time, for the creation of problems in society. Drug abuse leads to criminal offences, and this fuels insecurity, such as armed robbery, murder, kidnapping, and banditry, among others. This also leads to burglary and sex work. Evidence shows that young people use drugs for various reasons, which include relaxation, experimental/curiosity, and enhancing performance, among others”. These are brute, incontrovertible, facts of our daily experience, as Nigerians.

“Go all out for drug barons and cartels”, was Marwa’s charge to NDLEA commanders, when he set targets for Commanding Officers in his 2024 Tasking Orders. As he was telling Zonal Commanders, State Commanders and Area Commanders of the Agency to go all out and smoke out drug barons still in hiding, he was also telling them to dismantle their cartels. The dismantling of the cartels, distribution networks and other facilitating variables, as part of ongoing efforts to totally cut off illegal drug supply generally, and especially to persons involved in criminal activities across the country, will make visible impact on local and national security. Marwa is probably one of the few heads of government agencies in Nigeria today who can say with justification: “Within the limit of our resources,

we have been able to push boundaries. The statistics of our operations, empirical facts from the field, the general anti-illicit drug climate we have built and the rapport between us and our domestic and international partners, all speak volumes about how we are faring, especially against the backdrop of where we are coming from, of what the situation used to be a few years ago”. Go and verify, as Peter Obi would say.

And Marwa also operates with more than a fair doze of realism, while on the job. Hear him, again: “Commendations apart, we also cannot afford not to tell ourselves the plain truth; we still have a long way to go. Hence commanders, officers and men of NDLEA can’t afford to rest on their oars. Yes, we have kept the flag of performance flying, but there’s still room for improvement. There is still much to do. And we cannot afford to be complacent now, as we have committed to a lot of ongoing efforts to improve our operational capabilities”. He also spoke of how the Agency is constantly engaging stakeholders within and outside the country, to support and help optimize its capabilities. “We need to remind ourselves that to achieve our mandate, professionalism and discipline must be maintained at all times and in all our operations”, he never stops saying.

The NDLEA, under Marwa, is working with all relevant state authorities, and available supportive channels, for improved funding and greater impact. With improved funding, the Agency will deal more comprehensively and holistically effective, as an essential part of the “solutions toolkit’ for dealing with an aspect of the security challenges facing the nation today. If the NDLEA can effectively undermine drug availability, and also cut off the access for drug delivery routes and channels for criminals and the vulnerable, there will be a substantial, and measurable, gain in social stability. The will also be a decline in youth restiveness and general insecurity.

In this regard, it is important that the Agency gets improved funding, which should be seen as a very important investment in an overlooked aspect of the much-vaunted non-kinetic approaches to guaranteeing national security. This is a matter the President should take seriously, and personal; especially bearing in mind the youth crisis in Olowogbowo, and some other parts of Lagos.

If, as Marwa said to his Commanders: “This year, we want to raise the bar of our performance and this calls for commanders who are up to the task to be up and doing on the job”, it means that the NDLEA should be helped to “… clean our streets and communities of illicit substances”. The matter is made more urgent by the fact that, as the NDLEA boss said: “… recently, there is another demand by kidnappers and bandits aside money, which is drugs. In that sense, it means NDLEA is working because they don’t ask for it before, meaning that they’re no longer as available as they used to be and the prices of those available have gone beyond their reach.”

Lest we forget, there is a direct connection between joblessness, poverty, school closures, drugs and criminality. But this does not take away from the need to deal with whatever is under our control. In the instant case, it is the menace of illicit and harmful drugs. That is Buba Marwa’s call, and plea. He needs everyone’s support in this fight.

Buba Marwa