THURSDAY 23TH MARCH 2023 by THISDAY Newspapers Ltd

Seplat Energy Drags Former Chairman, Orjiako to Court for Alleged False Representation Seeks $5bn compensation Alex Enumah in Abuja Barely few days after Seplat Energy

was in the news over alleged acts of racism involving its former Chief Executive Officer, Mr. Roger Brown,

the company is again in the news over alleged false representation by its former Chairman, ABC Orjiako.

Orjiako in a suit filed by Seplat was also accused of acting unilaterally when without the consent of

the firm's Board of Directors, he communicated with the federal government over a business transac-

tion worth over $300 million. In a Writ of Summons filed before Continued on page 12

APC Suspends Boss Mustapha Indeﬁnitely for Non-performance... Page 36 Thursday 23 March, 2023 Vol 28. No 10207. Price: N250

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Rahman: Tinubu Out of Country to Rest, Observe Lesser Hajj... Page 10

At Last, Labour Party’s Otti Wins Abia, PDP’s Mbah Clinches Enugu Emmanuel Ugwu-Nwogo in Umuahia and Gideon Arinze in Enugu The controversial collations of governorship election results in Abia and Enugu states came to an interesting end last night,

with Alex Otti of the Labour Party (LP) emerging winner of the Abia election, while Peter Mbah of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) clinched victory in Enugu. The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) declared Otti winner of the March

18 governorship election in Abia State, after he polled 175,467 votes to defeat the candidate of the ruling PDP, Okey Ahiwe, who received 88,529 votes. In Enugu State, INEC pronounced Mbah winner of the election after he scored 160,895 votes to trump

his PDP rival, Chijioke Edeoga, who closely trailed with 157,552 votes. The final declaration of the Abia result and return of Otti as elected governor-elect marked the climax of four days of vote collation laced with Continued on page 12

Otti

Mbah

Non-compliance with Electoral Act Invalidates Tinubu’s Election, Atiku Tells Tribunal Maintains president-elect must score 25% in FCT Insists bypass, non-use of BVAS in results’ transmission affected integrity of polls Protesters storm National Assembly, call for annulment of presidential election Seek removal, arrest of INEC chairman British High Commission promises to keep an eye on legal proceedings Alex Enumah, Michael Olugbode and Udora Orizu in Abuja The candidate of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the last presidential election, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, has told the Presidential Election Petition Court (PEPC) sitting in Abuja that the non-compliance with the Electoral Act 2022 by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) rendered invalid the election of Bola Tinubu as president-elect. Atiku said this in a petition he filed, alongside his party, PDP, challenging the declaration of Tinubu as winner of the February 25, 2023, presidential election. Outside the courtroom, the finger-pointing and recrimination around the poll outcome continued yesterday, as protesters stormed the National Assembly, Abuja, to express their displeasure over the result of the presidential election. Similarly, yesterday, the British High Commission in Nigeria Continued on page 12

ELUMELU IS 60!!!... L-R: CEO, Tony Elumelu Foundation (TEF), Somachi Chris-Asoluka; daughter of celebrant, Ms. Ego Elumelu; Founder, TEF and celebrant, Mr. Tony Elumelu; Co-Founder, TEF, Dr Awele Elumelu, and Group Managing Director/CEO, United Bank for Africa (UBA), Mr. Oliver Alawuba, during the symposium held in commemoration of Mr. Elumelu’s 60th birthday held in Lagos…yesterday

THURSDAY MARCH 23, 2023 •T H I S D AY

THURSDAY MARCH 23, 2023 • T H I S D AY

THURSDAY MARCH 23, 2023 •T H I S D AY

THURSDAY, ͺͻ˜ ͺ͸ͺͻ ˾ T H I S D AY

NEWS

Group News Editor: Goddy Egene Email: Goddy.egene@thisdaylive.com, 0803 350 6821, 0809 7777 322, 0807 401 0580

TOUR OF THE PRESIDENTIAL WING'S NEW STATE HOUSE MEDICAL CENTRE... L-R: State House Director of Maintenance, Builder Mr. Joshua Apagu; Minister of State Finance and Budget and National Planning, Clem Agba; SGF, Boss Mustapha; Minister of Finance, Mrs. Zainab Ahmed, and State House Permanent Secretary Alh. Tijjani Umar, during tour of the Presidential Wing of the New State House Medical Centre due for inauguration by President Buhari..yesterday PHOTO: SUNDAY AGHAEZE.

World Leaders, Presidents, Family, African Entrepreneurs, Others Eulogise Elumelu Say his visionary leadership in business, philanthropy continue to inspire, motivate millions of young people to follow their dreams, aspire for excellence Obinna Chima in Lagos and Udora Orizu in Abuja Some world leaders, Presidents of African countries, business moguls in Nigeria, beneficiaries of the Tony Elumelu Foundation Entrepreneurship Programme (TEEP) and his family members have extolled the leadership and entrepreneurial spirit of the Chairman of the United Bank for Africa Plc, Mr. Tony Elumelu, as he marked his 60th birthday yesterday. Speaking during a symposium organised to honour him yesterday, in Lagos, the TEEP beneficiaries from several countries in Africa, took turn to testify to how their businesses were transformed after going through the programme and were provided with seed capital. Also, other notable Nigerians praised Elumelu for his contributions towards youth empowerment. In their remarks, his wife, Dr. Awele Elumelu and children prayed that God would continue to strengthen and empower Elumelu, who is also the Chairman of Heirs Holdings, to do more for the continent. In his goodwill message, the President of France, Emmanuel Macron, wrote: “It is a great pleasure for me to write to you on this very special occasion, as it allows me to

once again acknowledge the outstanding efforts put in place by your Foundation and yourself to support a vision of African entrepreneurship that we both share and to strengthen the continent’s position in the global economy. “In particular, your empowerment of the youth across the African continent, by enabling them to fulfil their ambitions in business and academia, bears a pivotal role for Africa’s future. I can therefore only commend the Tony Elumelu Foundation for the numerous initiatives and unquestionable positive impact it has as a leading philanthropic organisation. “Thanks to you, your companies have appointed many women at the highest positions and your Foundation has engaged in several initiatives with major stakeholders, including the European Union, to drive women’s leadership and entrepreneurship in Africa.” Also, for US President, Bill Clinton in his goodwill message to the Founder of TEF, wrote: “Hilary and I are glad to join your family, friends and admirers from the world in wishing you a very happy 60th birthday. From your successful career in business to your amazing work with your Foundation, you have accomplished so very much throughout your first remarkable

six decades. “It has been very inspiring for us to see your passion for philanthropy up close, and to watch as you empower a rising generation of entrepreneurs across Africa.” Similarly, former Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, Tony Blair, said, “I have had the great privilege of working with Tony in the past, through our Foundations and in particular the Blair-Elumelu Fellowship Programme. I have always come away from spending time with him, inspired, energised and grateful for

his wisdom and insights. “Our thinking aligns in so many ways. We have a shared optimism for the future. We believe in the transformative power of tech and innovation and the importance of entrepreneurialism as a means of solving many of the world’s problems, from healthcare to education to climate. Above all, we all believe in the importance of clear priorities, clear strategy and clear mechanisms for delivery; to put it simply, the importance of getting things done.” The President of Rwanda, Paul

The vice presidential candidate of the Labour Party (LP) , Datti BabaAhmed, yesterday maintained that the mandate of the President-elect, Bola Tinubu, remains in breach of the Nigerian constitution. Speaking on Arise Television last night, Baba-Ahmed referred to the certificate of return handed to Tinubu as a dud cheque, which he insisted will eventually bounce, no matter how long it takes. “We're not just talking about losing the election. We're now talking about the constitutional breach and where you have a constitutional breach,

there is no president-elect. “There is the clear interpretation of section 134 of the constitution. And there is the INEC’s interpretation of 134. Now, I'm going to hold on to that. I will stick to that and I will deliver victory on that. “By that idea, I tell you with all humility, we do not have a president-elect in Nigeria today. What Alhaji Bola Tinubu is holding is a dud certificate , a dud cheque. There are no funds in that account, it will bounce. “You cannot swear in a president whose certificate of return assaults the constitution because the constitution is the platform on which the

men to lead, reminding them that Africa’s future rests in their hands. On this day, and looking back on over a decade of knowing you, I can only encourage you to continue the good work and hope that others are inspired to emulate your example.” President of Ghana, Nana AkuffoAddo, said he was happy to join well-wishers around the world in wishing a patriotic Nigerian and an extraordinary son of Africa a happy birthday. Continues online

Buhari, Predecessors, VIPs to Assess Presidential Medical Centre Ahead of Inauguration Deji Elumoye in Abuja A state of the art Presidential Medical Centre to take care of the medical needs of the president, his visiting counterparts, ageing ex-presidents as well as other top government officials is ready for inauguration within the precincts of the State House, Abuja. Hinting at the news yesterday, Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Boss Mustapha, while inspecting the medical facility in

company with the Minister of Finance, Budget and National Planning, Zainab Ahmed and Minister of State for Budget and National Planning, Clement Agba. He described their visit to the site as final inspection of the multi-billion naira VIP wing of the State House Medical Center built by construction giant, Julius Berger. The inspection led by the Permanent Secretary, Tijjani Umar, Director of Maintenance, Joshua Apagu and other officials came less

Baba-Ahmed: Tinubu’s Mandate Assaults Nigeria’s Constitution Emmanuel Addeh in Abuja

Kagame, told Elumelu that, “year 60 is a moment to reflect on lessons accrued over the course of your life and pass this wisdom to the next generation. That has been the focus of your philanthropic work and it would be an understatement to say that the TEF has had an impact.” He added: “By funding, training and mentoring young African entreprenuers, the Foundation is creating jobs, driving innovation and building self-reliance. The Foundation’s biggest contribution is empowering young women and

presidency rests and when that has been violated, it cannot stand,” Baba-Ahmed insisted. He urged President Muhammadu Buhari and the Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN) not to back an ‘illegality’ , insisting that it remains unconstitutional, especially given that he did not get 25 per cent of the votes in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT). The running mate to Peter Obi of the LP contended that the law states that every candidate must garner 25 per cent votes , which he said Tinubu failed to get. Baba-Ahmed declared that by the standard definition of section 134, there will be a breach of the Nigerian

constitution if Tinubu is sworn in on May 29. “If you violate the constitution, use power or whatever to bring him in, he remains an unconstitutional president,” he added. Baba-Ahmed stated that although he does not have full faith in the Nigerian judiciary, it is not enough reason not to approach the courts to overturn the election of Tinubu. He gave the weird case of the Senate President, who contested for both the senate and the presidency simultaneously against the Nigerian constitution, but was given the goahead by the Nigerian judiciary to be the candidate of his party despite the alleged breach.

than two and a half months to the end of the present administration. President Muhammadu Buhari had in November 2021 approved a site for the construction of the VIP wing of the State House clinic within the precinct of the Presidential Villa, Abuja. The presidency had also vowed to inaugurate the state-of-the-art clinic, designed to offer medicare for the country's President, Vice President, visiting Heads of State and other high ranking officials of government before the end of the Buhari-led government. Speaking to newsmen after inspecting the 13-bed hospital, Mustapha expressed satisfaction with the pace of work and the quality of equipment already fitted in the five-star medical centre ahead of the official inauguration ceremony. According to him: "It's a great sense of fulfilment that I am seeing within the period of two years this edifice standing today. Those of you that were part of the coverage of the COVID 19 pandemic, when it involves the entire nation in 2020, will notice that we have inspected health facilities in and around Abuja, particularly the State House Clinic, in Asokoro. “My impression coming out of that inspection, deepens my desire to see that we have a standard world

class facility, which has basically produced this with a lot of satisfaction and great joy I'm seeing this standing today. So, this money is well spent, and it will be for the good and betterment of our country. The SGF, who declined to disclose how much the government has expended on the project, further explained that the facility would address the frequency of the country's presidents traveling abroad to seek medical treatment. "It would to a large extent deal with it. This is a clinic, I believe that all procedures can be conducted here, if need be through modern sciences. Telemedicine now is very common, somebody can be sitting in his office in Germany, or in the US directing diagnosis and prescriptions, and also even procedures on a patient in this place. "The other thing that this facility will do for us is that we receive visiting heads of state heads of government, peradventure there is an emergency, we need a facility that will provide the kind of care that is internationally acknowledged and recognised and a standard kind of care before even that particular head of state or government is evacuated out of the country. And this facility provides for that. Continues online

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STARS & LEGENDS STRATEGIC ALLIANCE PRESS CONFERENCE... L-R: CEO Baroque Works Studios, Victor Eimunjeze; President Silverbird Group, Guy Murray-Bruce; CEO Lukrush Records, Samuel Peterson; Founder and CEO Society of the Performing Arts in Nigeria (SPAN), Sarah Boulos and President, Performing Musicians Employers’ Association of Nigeria (PMAN), Pretty Okafor, at the Stars & Legends Strategic Alliance Press Conference at the Silverbird PHOTO: SUNDAY ADIGUN Galleria, Lagos on Tuesday

Report: Global Stock Markets Lost $25tn in 2022 World Bank: Only 22% of Africa's population accessed mobile internet services in 2021 Ndubuisi Francis in Abuja A new data published by the World Federation of Exchanges (WFE), the global industry group for exchanges and central clearing counterparties has indicated that a total of $25 trillion was wiped off global stock markets in 2022. The new WFE’s full year 2022 market highlights revealed that stock markets across the world declined by 20 per cent or $$25 trillion in market capitalisation and 10 per cent in value traded in 2022, interrupting the positive trend observed in the two previous years.

Global equity market capitalisation declined annually by approximately 20 per cent in 2022, with all regions declining significantly. In absolute terms, this represented more than $25 trillion wiped off stock markets worldwide. While trading value fell about 10 per cent globally in 2022, with trading value declining in every region, global volumes increased about five per cent with all regions contributing to this result. The reference year also recorded the highest global volumes in the last six years (48.32 billion trades) and the highest regional volumes

during the same period. The Americas posted 13.44 billion trades, Asia and the Pacific (APAC) recorded 31.13 billion trades and the EMEA (Europe, the Middle East and Africa (EMEA) region, 3.74 billion trades). The report also indicated that the number of initial public offerings (IPOs) and the capital raised through IPOs declined sharply compared to 2021 (-50 per cent and -65 per cent, respectively). The number of exchange-traded derivatives contracts, including both options and futures, reached their highest level in the last six years,

amounting to 56.17 billion for options and 29.59 billion for futures (84.76 billion derivatives contracts traded). This represented a 34.4 per cent increase compared to 2021. Commodity derivatives were the only product line whose overall volumes (that is, considering both futures and options) declined in 2022 (-14.5 per cent), while equity, currency, and ETF derivatives volumes witnessed double digit increases (48.4 per cent, 48.2 per cent, and 36.9 per cent, respectively). Interest rate derivatives volumes increased 8.5 per year-on-year. According to the WFE, factors

Afreximbank Raises Financing Facility for Fidelity Bank from $125m to $180m Partners ITFC on AFTRAF

African Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank) yesterday announced the enhancement of its financing facility provided to Fidelity Bank Plc, under the Afreximbank Trade Facilitation Programme (AFTRAF). According to a statement yesterday, the decision to increase Afreximbank's support for the bank was consistent with the economic and commercial success of the financing facility, the first $125 million of which had been fully utilised by Fidelity Bank. “The expansion to $180 million was also bolstered by the continued strong financial performance of Fidelity Bank, Nigeria's largest Tier 2 bank. “The augmented financing facility will allow Fidelity Bank to scale up and accelerate its activities and programmes in trade and related activities,” the statement added. President and Chairman of the Board of Directors of Afreximbank, Prof. Benedict Oramah, President said: “Fidelity Bank has proven its ability to make smart use of this type of financing, with consequent benefits for the Nigerian economy. Afreximbank is keen to support a leading African bank that supports African businesses and entrepreneurs.” Meanwhile, Afreximbank has announced a collaboration with the International Islamic Trade Finance Corporation (ITFC) in a risk participation facility designed to enhance Afreximbank's ability to promote and support trade finance activities in Africa. Under the arrangement, Afrex-

imbank would act as a confirming bank or trade confirmation guarantor on behalf of the approved African Financial Institutions and provide these services in favour of Beneficiary or International Banks. “ITFC will act as the issuer of irrevocable reimbursement undertakings to cover up to 50 per cent of Afreximbank’s risk exposure on the African Financial Institutions. “Undertaken as part of the Afreximbank’s AfTRAF, the arrangement will be used to increase

intra and extra-African trade and support the export and import of vital goods and services to Africa. “This arrangement will further support the Bank’s capacity to stimulate African trade as it continues to withstand the pressures of the ongoing Ukraine-Russia crisis,” a statement from the multilateral institution stated. Oramah added: “This risk participation arrangement will significantly augment Afreximbank’s capabilities in trade finance and

create room for deeper support to African countries. “It aligns with Afreximbank’s strategy of promoting intra and extra-African trade, achieving African’s industrialisation and closing the trade finance gap in the continent. ‘This partnership demonstrates the long-standing relationships between our two institutions and advances the objectives of the Arab-Africa Trade Bridges (AATB) of which Afreximbank and ITFC are shore partners in.”

that caused last year’s slump included the aftermath of the Covid-19 pandemic which triggered inflationary trends. This was fueled by strong consumer demand and supply bottlenecks exacerbated by the war in Ukraine and the sanctions against Russia, which increased energy prices, especially for European countries. China’s renewed Covid-19 lockdown, with stringent measures enforced for most of the year, strained the global supply chain, increasing prices of imported goods. Investment cooled down in the equity market as a result of the high inflation environment, alongside the tightening of monetary policies which included raising interest rates across most economies. Commenting on the report, WFE Chief Executive Officer, Nandini Sukumar said: “We witnessed a perfect storm in 2022 of so many negative pressures culminating to bring immense pressure on global stock markets, as our report highlights.” Meanwhile, only 22 per cent of the population in sub-Saharan Africa had access to mobile internet services at the end of 2021, a report by the World Bank has revealed. The lack of mobile internet access was hampering job creation and poverty reduction in the region, the report stated. Titled, “Digital Africa: Technological Transformation for Jobs,” the report stated that despite the

increased connectivity of the world, there were still significant gaps in access to technology. The report highlighted the largest gap between the availability of digital infrastructure and people’s actual usage in sub-Saharan Africa compared to all other regions in the world. According to the report, African countries are in critical need to increase the uptake of digital technologies to drive employment growth and reduce poverty. It revealed that on average, 84 per cent of a given country’s population had at least some level of 3G mobile internet availability, and 63 per cent had some level of 4G mobile internet services. However, only 22 per cent of the population used mobile internet services by the end of 2021. This disparity in usage rates ranges from six per cent in South Sudan to 53 per cent in South Africa, demonstrating the need for differentiated policy reforms across countries. The report emphasised the critical need for African countries to increase the uptake of digital technologies to drive employment growth for the more than 22 million Africans joining the workforce each year. Africa’s share of the global workforce was projected to become the largest in the world by 2100, making it vital to increase the uptake of digital technologies to create jobs and reduce poverty

Sule: Abuja People Living in Nasarawa Made My Victory Difﬁcult APC demystified in Bauchi, says Mohammed Nobody can unseat Tinubu, Fayose declares Emmanuel Addeh in Abuja The Governor of Nasarawa state, Abdullahi Sule, yesterday admitted that the high population of Abuja residents in parts of the state made his re-election bid very difficult. Sule also said that religion played a major role during the polls, stressing that although elections had never been easy in the state in the past, he wasn’t looking forward to one that will be as competitive in the future. Sule of the All Progressives Congress (APC) polled 347,209 to beat his closest contender, David Ombugadu of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) who got 283,016 votes in last Saturday’s governorship poll. Many people who work in the

Federal Capital Territory (FCT) live in Nasarawa state, which shares a very close boundary with Abuja, including the very populated Karu, Nyanya, among others. Speaking on Channels Television, Sule stressed that while the Peter Obi tsunami in Abuja snowballed into Nasarawa, the role that religion played was also very critical. “We have a lot of people who come into Abuja, but then they end up living in Nasarawa state. That's why today, Karu local government, which used to be a very small local government, has now over 300,000 voters, far more than the state capital. “So I think that was one of our challenges. Most of the people who actually come from other places to

settle here in Nasarawa state, most of them do not understand the local politics of the state. Therefore, you know, they go in most cases, they go the other way, and it's understandable,” he stressed. Sule also admitted that the APC lost much ground in the presidential election, including the divisions within the party in the state, noting that there had been some reconciliation before the governorship poll which ensured the victory of the party. The governor stated that while the Eggon people have a large population in the state, other tribes like the Hausa-Fulani, Alago, among others have very strong numbers, insisting that one tribe cannot make anybody a governor. “There was a lot of religion

also... but my number one goal now is to unite the state...in the same house, you will find Muslims, Christians and others who don't even care about any of the two religions. “So the moment we begin to introduce religion into our politics and ethnicity into our politics, it is going to only draw us backwards,” he stated. Also speaking in a separate interview during the programme, the Governor of Bauchi State, Bala Mohammed, who just got re-elected urged his opponent, Air Vice Marshal Sadique Abubakar to be statesmanlike in defeat. He accused the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate of vote-buying, using federal government agencies, including

the Humanitarian Ministry headed by his wife. Mohammed stated that while he was extending a hand of fellowship to his opponents, whoever would like to join him should do so, urging the APC candidate to eschew lies and what he termed treachery. Stressing that he knew that he was going to win but not with such large margin, despite APC’s alleged intimidation, he declared that he as governor came with unblemished pedigree. “I have extended my hands of friendship to them if they can come along. But if they feel very strong, already, they have been demystified. Already, they have been rejected by the people. They no longer matter any longer.

THURSDAY MARCH 23, 2023 • T H I S D AY

THURSDAY MARCH 23, 2023 •T H I S D AY

THURSDAY MARCH 23, 2023 • T H I S D AY

THURSDAY, ͺͻ˜ ͺ͸ͺͻ ˾ T H I S D AY

NEWS

FEDERAL EXECUTIVE COUNCIL MEETING... L-R: Minister of state for Health, Adeleke Mamora ; Minister of Mines and Steel Development, Olamilekan Adegbite; National Security Adviser to the President, Major General (retD) Babagana Monguno PHOTO: GODWIN OMOIGUI. and Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, at the Federal Executive Council meeting held at the Council Chambers of the Presidential Villa , Abuja...yesterday.

FEC Approves N459bn Contracts for Transportation Ministry, NDLEA Personnel's Barracks Includes maintenance of standard rail line from Kano-Maradi Selects Port Harcourt as Ukraine grain hub Deji Elumoye in Abuja

for the award of contract for the procurement of rollingstock operation and maintenance equipment for Kano-Maradi standard gauge rail line that is currently under construction.” According to him, the contract was awarded to Messers Motor Engine Nigeria Limited, “who are the contractors handling this particular projects in the sum of $984,722,302.05 inclusive of seven and a half percent verse with a completion period of four years." Also briefing the media, the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami, spoke on the contract award approved for the construction of barracks for personnel of the NDLEA at the total cost of N5,157,265,770, stressing the need to provide them with security because of the threat from drugs criminals. He said: "What was presented today by the Office of the Attorney General and Minister of Justice was a council memo at the instance or the NDLEA - National Drugs Law Enforcement Agency.

"As you are aware, there has been renewed and sustained onslaught against drug cartels and barons over time. Within the three months of 2023 about 18,940 arrests were affected by the NDLEA and indeed drugs the estimated value of which is over N40 billion where confiscated. "Again, about 2,904 convictions were recorded. These successes recorded unfortunately, translated to unprecedented threats and attacks on personnel, officers, men and other ranks of the agency and then the need has arisen for the federal government to consider the possibility of taking security measures that will now provide the desired protection to the officers and men of the agency. "So, with that in mind, what

Rahman: Tinubu Out of Country to Rest, Observe Lesser Hajj

The Minister of State, Budget and National Planning, Prince Clem Agba, yesterday said the federal government would commence installation of facial recognition technology at major airports in the country. Speaking when he hosted the Japanese Ambassador to Nigeria, Matsunaga Kazuyoshi, and a team from NEC Corporation of Japan in his office, the minister added that the airports would soon be operating automatic security measures that would incorporate the use of facial

The Federal Executive Council (FEC) rose from its weekly meeting yesterday, with the approval of contract awards worth about N459 billion for projects in the Ministry of Transportation as well as construction of 192 flats for personnel of the National Drugs Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA). The contracts for the Transportation Ministry which was for the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) involved the construction and supply of customised Fire Service search and rescue vans for extrication of accident victims at the cost of N510,934,600 and for the procurement of rollingstock operation and maintenance equipment for Kano-Maradi standard gauge rail line at the cost of $984,722,392. According to the Minister of Transportation, Mu'azu Sambo, who briefed newsmen at the end of the meeting presided over by President Muhammadu Buhari: "The Federal Ministry of Transportation this afternoon, presented to

Adedayo Akinwale in Abuja The President-elect, Bola Tinubu has travelled abroad to rest and plan his transition programme ahead of May 29, 2023 inauguration. This was disclosed in a statement issued yesterday, by the Office of President-elect which was signed by Tunde Rahman, adding that he took the deserved rest after

memoranda to council on behalf of two of its agencies. "The first agency was the Nigerian Ports Authority which sought to provide for the award of contract for the construction and supply for customized Fire Service search and rescue vans for extrication of accident victims. "For Rivers Ports, Port Harcourt, Lagos Port complex, Tin Can Island Port and Marina headquarters in Lagos, Council considered the memorandum and approved the award of the contract as recommended. "And reviewed by the Bureau of Public Procurement in the sum of N510,934,600 million inclusive of seven and a half percent VAT with a completion period of nine months in favor of Messrs All Works Commercial Company Limited. "The second memorandum presented by the Ministry was on behalf of the ministry itself but for the ultimate management by the Nigerian Railway Cooperation. "The memorandum sought council, consideration and approval

a very exhaustive campaign and election seasons. He said the president-elect left the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Ikeja for Europe on Tuesday night. Rahman said, "The Presidentelect decided to take a break after the hectic campaign and election season to rest in Paris and London, preparatory to going to Saudi Arabia for Umrah (Lesser Hajj)

and the Ramadan Fasting that begins Thursday." He said while away, Tinubu would also use the opportunity to plan his transition programme, adding that he is expected back in the country soon. He enjoined the media to stop publishing rumours and unsubstantiated claims and to always seek clarifications from the office of the president-elect.

President Muhammadu Buhari, has sent greetings and best wishes to Nigerian Muslims as they commence 30 days of Ramadan fasting today, urging them to use the season to project the best and finest virtues of Islam through personal conduct, and not precept. In a goodwill message to mark the beginning of the holy month of Ramadan, the President, in a

release by Mallam Garba Shehu, said, “Let us use this opportunity to put the best teachings of Islam into practice, such as kindness and the love of humanity. "This is an occasion for deep reflection and greater fear of Allah and avoidance of all evils that harm humanity. Ramadan is characterised by abstention from food and drinks from dawn to dusk, which brings both the rich and poor to share the experience of hunger together,

thereby strengthening the bonds between haves and have-nots." Buhari further explained that, "As we begin these 30 days fasting season, let us not forget that Ramadan is not only about abstention from eating and drinking, but it is a reminder to refrain from all kinds of evil and transgressions that harm humanity. "I am particularly aware of the activities of traders, who artificially increase the prices of their goods,

awarded to JP Sigma Nigeria limited in the sum of N2,889,480,320.55 and they are to construct accommodation for narcotics superintendents and narcotics agents, two blocks each consistent six numbers, three bedrooms, semi-detached flats, 12 flats and 11 blocks, each consisting eight numbers two bedrooms, semi-detached flats 89 flats total 12 plus 88 which makes 100 flats. So, the Council memo was taken. And it was accordingly approved by the Council." On his part, Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Mohammed Abubakar, said his Ministry presented a memo on the revised 2022 National Agricultural Seed Policy to FEC for approval. Continued on page 34

Agba: FG to Install Facial Recognition Cameras to Boost Security at Airports James Emejo in Abuja

Buhari Urges Muslims to Exhibit Islamic Teachings at Ramadan Deji Elumoye in Abuja

was presented before the Federal Executive Council today is a memo seeking approval for the award of contract for the construction of barracks accommodation for personnel of the drug law enforcement agency. "Accordingly, two contracts were awarded and the companies that were awarded the contract Whitchino Engineering Limited, was awarded the contract for the construction of accommodation for narcotics superintendents and narcotic assistant blocks, each consisting six numbers of three bedrooms, semi-detached flats, 12 flats, and five blocks each, consisting 16 number one bedroom terraces plots, 80 plots total 92 plots at the cost of N2,267,785,450. 83. "And the second contract was

including food at the beginning of every month of Ramadan. This kind of exploitation is against the spirit of the Ramadan and the spirit of Islam." The President added: "While we are observing this important occasion in the spiritual life of Muslims, let us share food and drinks with the less fortunate, because by sharing our blessings with others, Allah will multiply our rewards for good deeds."

recognition solution to improve security around the airports and easily detect impostors. Agba explained that the technology would be deployed to airports through grant agreements between the federal government and the Japanese Government, with a focus on Lagos and Abuja international airports in the pilot phase before the project would be extended to Port Harcourt, Enugu and Kano Airport. He said as part of pre-requisites for the processing of the facial recognition system, he would be leading the ambassador and the team on a site survey visit to Lagos and Abuja Airports for necessary assessments. The minister said, "I am happy that the series of meetings, which began in January this year in Tokyo on this project, aimed at recognising faces of persons who pass through our international airports has started to yield result. "This, we believe, would further strengthen the security of our people and the country as a whole. This project was conceived in view of several security concerns among Nigerians and the need to nip these growing concerns in the bud." The minister expressed his readiness and determination to leave a worthy legacy that would be

inherited by the next administration in the area of a more secured country. He also pleaded for the understanding and cooperation of all relevant stakeholders that would make the proposal a reality, assuring that facial recognition had proven to be effective globally, in securing airports. However, Kazuyoshi, in his remarks, explained that the use of advanced technology like facial recognition system would ensure that security threats were reduced in and around Nigerian airports. In a statement issued by the ministry's Director, Information Department, Mrs. Boriowo Folashade, he pointed out that the security measure would further strengthen the country's security architecture and encourage more investment opportunities in different sectors of the economy, citing the instance of similar project implemented in Nairobi, Kenya and how the project had changed Kenya's security narratives. The Japanese envoy stressed that the security solution works through image capturing techniques, Neo Face Watch Logging in, live view, widgets and dashboard, face Search and image manager and basic configuration, among others.

THURSDAY MARCH 23, 2023 • T H I S D AY

THURSDAY, ͺͻ˜ ͺ͸ͺͻ ˾ T H I S D AY

TWELVE

Media Rights Group Seeks Clarification on Purported New Powers Granted NBC Emmanuel Addeh in Abuja The Media Rights Agenda (MRA) has asked the National Broadcasting Commission (NBC) through an application made pursuant to the Freedom of Information (FOI) Act, 2011 to provide it with details of the independence reportedly granted by President Muhammadu Buhari to the commission in the exercise of its regulatory functions. A statement released by the MRA

quoted the NBC’s Director General, Mallam Balarabe Ilelah, as having announced at a media briefing in Abuja on February 9, 2023, that the president had approved the independence of the commission from any political interference in the exercise of its functions, particularly with respect to the issuance and withdrawal of broadcasting licences. But the statement signed by the MRA’s Communications Officer, Idowu Adewale, said that the

organisation in an FOI request addressed to the director general and endorsed by Mr. Monday Arunsi, a Legal Officer, has asked the NBC for further details on the nature and scope of the new independence granted it. In particular, MRA asked for information on whether the power vested in the minister of information under Section 6 of the NBC Act to give the commission directives with regard to the exercise by the

commission of its functions had been abolished and if so, whether there are plans to amend Section 6 of the Act accordingly. The organisation also asked whether the NBC is now the final authority responsible for the issuance of broadcast licences as against the extant practice under Section 2(b) of the NBC Act which requires the commission to merely recommend applications through the minister of information to the

president for the grant of radio and television licences. In addition, it said, if the NBC is now vested with final authority to issue radio and television licences it wanted to know if there are plans to amend Section 2(b) of the NBC Act accordingly. MRA also asked the NBC to provide it with information about other issues regarding the commission’s independence that have been affected by the president’s approval

as well as other provisions of the NBC Act that are being considered for amendment as a result. It asked the NBC to provide it with a copy of the communication from the president through which the approval of the independence of the NBC was conveyed to the Commission. MRA said it hoped to receive the information from the NBC no later than the seven days response time stipulated in the FOI Act.

NON-COMPLIANCE WITH ELECTORAL ACT INVALIDATES TINUBU’S ELECTION, ATIKU TELLS TRIBUNAL promised to watch closely the legal proceedings against the presidential election result. INEC had declared the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate in the presidential election, Tinubu, winner and, thus, president-elect. INEC said Tinubu scored a total of 8, 794, 726 votes to emerge winner, while the petitioner, Atiku, scored 6,984, 520 to emerge first runner up. However, Atiku and PDP, in their petition dated March 21, 2023, and filed by a team of 26 Senior Advocates of Nigeria (SANs), among others, claimed that Tinubu’s victory was as a result of alleged malpractices and other irregularities, upon which they were seeking the nullification of his win. Besides, the petitioners maintained that for any of the candidates in the February 25 poll to be declared winner, he or she must score 25 per cent of votes cast in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT). They added that Tinubu’s failure to meet the said constitutional requirement invalidated his election. Respondents in the petition, marked: CA/PEPC/05/2023, are INEC, Tinubu, and APC as First, Second, and Third, respectively. The petition was based on four major grounds, among which were that (a) The election of the second respondent was invalid by reason of non-compliance with the provisions of the Electoral Act, 2022; (b) the election of the second respondent was invalid by reason of corrupt

practices; (c) the second respondent was not duly elected by majority of lawful votes cast at the election, and the second respondent was at the time of the poll not qualified to contest the election. Arguing the petition, lead counsel to the petitioners, Joe Gadzama, SAN, pointed out, “The non-compliance substantially affected the result of the election, in that the second respondent ought not to have been declared or returned as the winner of the election.” They recalled that INEC chairman, Professor Mahmood Yakubu, had repeatedly assured the general public that the February 2023 general election would be the best election ever. The assurance was based on the guaranteed use of the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) and real-time and direct uploading of the polling unit results to INEC’s electronic collation system and Results Viewing Portal (IReV), which were technological innovations in the electoral system that would ensure the transparency of the elections against all forms of manipulation. The petitioners stated that contrary to the undertakings, representations and assurances made by the first respondent, the first respondent proceeded on March 1, 2023 to wrongly return the second respondent as the winner of the election, “when the outcome (herein being challenged) and the results from the polling units, including the total number of accredited voters in the respec-

tive polling units, were yet to be transmitted to the 1st Respondent’s Electronic Collation System and the 1st Respondent’s Result Viewing Portal (IReV) as stipulated by the Electoral Act, 2022 and the INEC Guidelines and Manuals and expressly guaranteed to the electorate by the 1st Respondent.” The petition said further, “It is also the claim of the petitioners that the non-compliance with the electronic transmission of accreditation data and results in the presidential election was ‘to create opportunity for manipulation of figures to the advantage of the 2nd and 3rd Respondents. “The petitioners will lead evidence at the hearing to show that there were no technical ‘glitches’ that prevented the upload and transmission of the polling units results and the accreditation data of the presidential election to the electronic collation system and the IReV portal but what happened was the non-adherence to the system through a command and control element activated by a pre-programmed design to limit user-privileges of the front-end users of the BVAS machines at the polling units with respect to presidential election results while releasing user privileges in respect of the National Assembly election windows, by selectively withholding correct passwords and/or issuing wrong passwords through the use of the Device Management System equipment aforesaid. “It is the case of the petitioners

that the bypass and non-use of the BVAS machines in the transmission of the accreditation data and polling unit results of the election fundamentally and substantially affected the integrity of the results announced by the 1st Respondent for the 2nd and 3rd Respondents and thoroughly discredited the process of the election.” Moreover, the petitioners faulted the declaration of Tinubu as presidentelect, having not met the required geographical spread as required by law, according to them. They cited Section 134(2) of the Constitution, which stipulates that in a presidential election with more than two candidates, for a candidate to be deemed to be the winner of the election, he must have the highest number of votes cast at the election; have not less than one quarter of the votes cast at the election in at least two thirds of all the states in the Federation and have not less than one quarter of the votes cast at the election in the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja. According to them, “Out of the total votes of 478,652 cast in the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja the 2nd Respondent was ascribed only 90,902 (18.99%) of those votes. “The petitioners shall contend that to be declared duly elected, a candidate, in addition to obtaining not less than a quarter (25%) of the votes cast in at least two-thirds of all the states, must also receive at least one quarter (25%) of the votes cast in

AT LAST, LABOUR PARTY’S OTTI WINS ABIA, PDP’S MBAH CLINCHES ENUGU intrigues, suspense and controversy. Returning Officer and Vice Chancellor of the Federal University of Technology, Owerri (FUTO), Professor Nnenna Oti, pronounced Otti the Abia State governor-elect. In the final tally, Oti said the LP governorship flag bearer scored 175,467 votes to emerge victorious, while the PDP candidate, Ahiwe, came second with 88,529 votes. The candidate of Young Progressives Party (YPP), Enyinnaya Nwafor, came a distant third with 28,972 votes, while the APC candidate, Chief Ikechi Emenike, got 24,091 votes to place fourth. After the final declaration of the result, 11 party agents that were present signed and collected the result sheets. But the PDP state collation agent stayed away from the resumed collation, apparently, in protest against the way the Obingwa issue was resolved in favour of LP. State Collation Agent of APC, Anthony Eze, told the State Returning Officer (RO) that the result as announced was unacceptable to his party, citing alleged mutilations, falsification and allocation of scores to LP and PDP. The final declaration of the 2023 Abia governorship poll had been held up following a controversy generated by the result from Obingwa Local Government Area. LP had alleged that PDP was trying to impose on INEC outrageous vote scores outside the number recorded by the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS). By then results from 16 of the 17 local government areas in Abia State had been collated and declared at the state collation centre located within the INEC State Office, Ogurube Layout, Umuahia. To resolve the impasse, the national headquarters of INEC weighed in and directed the RO to suspend collation of Obingwa

votes and promised to send a team to Abia to review the case. However, the INEC leadership in Abuja later changed their mind and halted the earlier plan to send an investigative team to Abia. Instead, the electoral umpire opted to carry out the Obingwa vote review in Abuja, citing the tense situation in Abia. At the resumed collation, yesterday, the Administrative Secretary of Abia INEC, Mr. Clement Oha, said BVAS and Form EC8 were relied upon to resolve the Obingwa imbroglio in Abuja. At the Enugu collation centre, announcing the final results, four days after the election was suspended, returning officer, Maduebibisi Ofo Iwe, said Mbah polled a total of 160,895 votes to defeat Edeoga of the LP, who had 157,552 votes. Iwe also announced that the candidate of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), Frank Nweke, polled 17,983 votes to come a distant third, while candidate of APC scored 14,575 votes. "Having satisfied the requirements of the law, Mbah of the PDP is hereby declared winner of the election and returned elected," the returning officer said. INEC had suspended the collation of results for the governorship election in the state to allow it review results from two outstanding local government areas of Nsukka and Nkanu East. Since Monday, supporters of the two leading candidates in the governorship race had been protesting outside the headquarters of the INEC. While those of PDP called on INEC to declare Mbah winner of the election, supporters of the LP candidate alleged irregularities in the polls and insisted that INEC must look at the results in their BIVAS and follow what the Electoral Act said.

The disagreements lasted till last night when a winner emerged after results from the two council areas were reconciled. Following his declaration as winner of the governorship election, Otti told the people of Abia State that the siege was over and that he was in the state to serve the people. The former banker, in his acceptance speech, expressed gratitude to the people of Abia State for giving him the mandate to preside over the affairs of the state. He reiterated that his victory "is a call to service". Reading his speech amid jubilation by supporters at his campaign office in Umuahia, Otti noted that he was under no illusion that a huge work awaited him. He said, "Even as I come out of a bruising and long drawn out campaign, I know that this is just the beginning of the journey. "There is a lot of work to be done and we must get all hands on deck that we take back our state and bring the much sought-after dividends of democracy." Otti’s victory at the poll made him the first elected governor in the South-east on the LP platform and the third in Nigeria, after former Ondo and Edo States governors, Olusegun Mimiko and Adams Oshiomhole. Addressing the jubilant crowd, Otti promised to be a chief servant to the people of Abia State and strive to ensure that their needs and expectations were met. He added that he would serve as governor of all Abians and those residing in the state. The governor-elect told the people, "You voted us to serve you and not to be served. You voted us to alleviate your sufferings and not to compound and multiply them. This is a service

that comes with unusually high sense of devotion and commitment given our checkered history as a people. “During my electioneering campaign, I traversed all nooks and crannies of Abia State, and that enabled me to have first-hand assessment of the needs and expectations of Abians. "These are the basic things expected by the people for a responsible government to provide in order to unleash the potential inherent in the typically hardworking Abians. Based on my findings and those of my team members, it dawned on us that an immediate hands-on approach is required to hit the ground running and to ensure that we alleviate the sufferings of all Abians." The former bank chief executive stated emphatically, “The siege is over.” He further promised, "to use the resources accruing to all Abians for the benefit of all Abians and the residents." To puncture the widely held opinion that he was coming with vengeance against his traducers and perceived “looters” of Abia’s collective patrimony, Otti said he would run "a government that would unite everyone in this state as we are all brothers and sisters. "I will like to assure us that we hold no bitterness against anyone and will not go on any revenge mission against anyone. If in the process of getting here, we have wronged anyone, kindly find a space in your heart to forgive. We have equally forgiven anyone that wronged us." He thanked all that contributed to make his third attempt at the governorship a success, even as he congratulated his opponents in the race and invited them to join him and offer their ideas for the birth of a new Abia.

the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, this being an additional requirement introduced by the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 (as amended), the said Constitution having clearly distinguished the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, as a separate entity by specific and express mention.” In addition, the petitioners argued that INEC failed to comply with the provisions of Section 66 of the Electoral Act, which incorporated Section 134 of the constitution in wrongfully, unlawfully, illegally and unconstitutionally returning Tinubu as winner of the Election. On the allegation of corrupt practices, which was the second ground of the petition, Atiku and PDP submitted that the collation of election results in all the states of the federation was manipulated by INEC, “through the deliberate suppression and discounting of the lawful votes of the petitioners while inflating the scores of the 2nd and 3rd Respondents. “The particulars of corrupt practices before and during the disputed election included, but not limited to, the following; compromised printing/ production of electoral materials, manipulation of election material delivery, and compromised printing/ production of election materials. “Other acts of corrupt practices, according to them, include - suppression of votes; manipulation of the ballots and ballot boxes; manipulation of BVAS machines; manipulation of accreditation and collation; manipulation of election materials delivery; manipulation of election material reverse logistics; intimidation and harassment of voters; massive thumb-printing of ballot papers; destruction of electoral materials; hijack of electoral materials; mutilations, cancellations and overwritings on result sheets; inflation,

deflation of scores, and wrong entries in result sheets. “There was massive suppression of votes of the petitioners by the 1st Respondent in several states, as shown in the report of the statisticians relied upon by the petitioners. “In Sokoto State, the 1st Respondent cancelled results from 241 polling units but went ahead to declare results for the presidential election, while declaring the National Assembly elections in the same Sokoto State that were conducted simultaneously with the presidential election, as inconclusive.” The petitioners added that the cancellation affected 301,499 registered voters in 471 polling units of the affected local government areas. The petition said, “The petitioners contend that the 1st Respondent wrongfully entered incorrect results for the petitioners in Borno State. The petitioners contend that the 1st Respondent wrongfully made various unlawful entries and inscriptions not being record of lawful votes cast at the polling units which votes are liable to be voided. “In respect of Borno State, there was a deliberate by-pass of the use of the BVAS machines, notwithstanding the representations of the 1st Respondent’s agents based on the provisions of the Electoral Act and the INEC Manual and Guidelines.” Among the reliefs the petitioners sought from the court were a determination, “that the 2nd Respondent was not duly elected by a majority of lawful votes cast in the election and, therefore, the declaration and return of the 2nd Respondent by the 1st Respondent as the winner of the presidential election conducted on the 25th day of February, 2023 is unlawful, wrongful, unconstitutional, Continued on page 37

SEPLAT ENERGY DRAGS FORMER CHAIRMAN, ORJIAKO TO COURT FOR ALLEGED FALSE REPRESENTATION the Federal High Court, Abuja, on March 21, 2023, the company accordingly demanded for the sum of $5 billion as damages. While Seplat Energy is the sole plaintiff in the Suit No FHC/ABJ/ CS/386/2023, Orjiako and a firm, Amaze Limited are the first and second defendants respectively. It sought a declaration that the defendants acted in contravention of the companies and Allied Matters Act (CAMA) and the operation of the plaintiff when the first defendant unilaterally issued a letter dated December 22, 2022 purporting same to be from the plaintiff to the president of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and the Minister State for Petroleum Resources without the approval of the plaintiff or its Board of Directors. Seplat in the suit filed on its behalf by its lawyer, Mr. Mathew Burkaa, prayed the court for the following reliefs: “A declaration that the unilateral action of the first defendant via a letter dated December 22, 2022 to the president and Minister of State for Petroleum Resources representing same as being from the plaintiff without the consent of the plaintiff and its Board of Directors constitute a grave act of deceit and false representation especially as it is intended to bind the plaintiff in a transaction worth over $300 million, which act is act is unlawful as it negates the provisions of Section 90 (1) of the CAMA, 2020 and

the Articles and Regulations of the plaintiff. "A declaration that the first defendant's action of issuing the unauthorised letter dated December 22, 2022 and making far reaching commitment therein is a usurpation of the Board of Directors of the plaintiff and therefore offends the provisions of Section 87(1) of the CAMA Act, 2020 and the Article and Regulations of the plaintiff. "An order restraining the first and second defendants from carrying out in the name of the plaintiff any action or making any representation or committing the plaintiff without the express approval of the board of directors of the plaintiff is formally sought and obtained. "An order setting aside unilateral action taken by the first and second defendant without the express approval of the board of directors of the plaintiff. "A perpetual injunction restraining the first defendant from using the letter head of the plaintiff in making any representation on behalf of the plaintiff or committing the plaintiff to any transactions or deal without the express and formal approval of the plaintiff via its board of directors. "Damages in the sum of N5 billion only against the first and second defendant jointly and severally for deceit and false representation against the plaintiff.” No date has been fixed for the hearing of the suit.

THURSDAY MARCH 23, 2023 • T H I S D AY

THURSDAY MARCH 23, 2023 •T H I S D AY

THURSDAY MARCH 23, 2023 • T H I S D AY

THURSDAY MARCH 23, 2023 •T H I S D AY

THURSDAY MARCH 23, 2023 • T H I S D AY

T H I S D AY ˾ THURSDAY MARCH 23, 2023

POLITICS

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

Bwari: APC Should Zone Senate Presidency to North Central Former Minister of Mines and Steel Development, Hon. Abubakar Bwari, in this interview with Sunday Aborisade, stresses the need for the All Progressives Congress to zone the Senate Presidency to the North Central geopolitical region, as part of ways to eﬀectively tackle insecurity, poor infrastructure and other forms of economic sabotage in the area.

hat are the major challenges confronting the North Central zone that you want the incoming administration to tackle? The major issue at the moment is insecurity because it is slowing down all forms of economic activities in the region. Out people are much more agrarian in nature. When the issue of insecurity is effectively tackled, our people would be able to return to farms and those who are hunters would also be able to carry out their activities. Those who are into fishing would also resume their trade in full force. They would also be free to go to markets and carry out their normal businesses. Tackling insecurity will help a lot in addressing all the social and economic challenges that we are having in the North Central. Most mining activities take place here in Niger State. Another major challenge we are having in the North Central is that of infrastructure especially roads. Our roads in the North Central are bad especially in Niger State. The general issue of healthcare, education, water and sanitation are areas that should also be addressed in the North Central. How best can the country diversify it’s current mono-economy to increase revenue accruable to the federation account? There must be conscious efforts to improve agriculture and mining. These two very important sectors have not received adequate attention. We talk on papers than in practical terms. As a former Minister of Mines and Steel Development, I know that there are lots of things that needed to be done for the nation to attract key global players to the mining sector. We have the mineral resources but adequate exploration was not taking place. We need key mining companies to come in because we can not rely on the artisanal miners and the small scale mining that we are doing now. We need to really attract big players in the global mining industry just as we attracted the multinationals to our oil and gas sector. We need to really do a lot of studies in the

Steel lacked the manpower to adequately tackle illegal mining. Do you agree ? It is true because the ministry is not big enough and it doesn’t have the capacity to really address the management of mineral resources in this country. For instance, how can we expect one mining officer in a state like Niger to monitor effectively, all the mining sites in the state? The funding from the federal government is not even enough to carry out 10 per cent of activities in the ministry. Will you now support moving mineral resources development from exclusive to the legislative list so that states could handle mineral resources in their localities? That would amount to amending the constitution because it would be done by the Federal Government in agreement with the states. I see no reason why that should not be done.

Bwari

areas of exploration which is very expensive. We need to close our eyes as a nation and put money in exploration where all the minerals that we have would be identified. We should know their quantity and the quality. When these are ready, we would be able to attract a lot of investors The cheering news is that we have a lot of minerals in Nigeria that are playing key roles in the modern technology sector. We have all the minerals that they are using to manufacture contemporary gadgets like computers, telephones and even electric cars in abundance and in large quantity. The grade of these minerals are even higher than the global average in terms of quality. Government should pay adequate attention to the exploration of these high quality mineral resources. There is an argument that the Federal Ministry of Mines and

Why do you think that the North Central zone deserves to produce the presiding ofﬁcer for the 10th National Assembly? Following the conclusion of the Presidential and National Assembly elections, two very important positions have gone to the SouthWest and North-East geopolitical zones. The president and vice president have been elected from those zones. Other zones are now clamouring for the third most important position in the country, that is the Senate Presidency. If we look at performance, the North Central did very well for the All Progressives Congress in the last election. We produced very significant votes for the President-elect and the Vice President-elect. If you consider our strategic location and performance, if we didn’t get number one or number two positions, we should be given number three. I think our aspiration is fair and just for us to be considered. Our strategic position in balancing a lot of things in the country put the North Central in the best position to produce the presiding officer of the Senate.

How will a Senate President From the North Central Beneﬁt the country? There are lots of things that caused insecurity in the country but we are not going into that. However, I want to believe that a lot of mistakes over the years in terms of policies and implementation as regards security, had been faulty. The development had affected what we are seeing today. This has to do with justice and fairness. A lot of things have not been done properly, especially with those who felt they had been maltreated or short-changed in the scheme of things, when it comes to administering justice. Lack of fairness and justice had created a lot of problems and a lot of people had lost confidence in Governance. The second has to do with the recruitment of our security personnel, their training and funding. Those who are serving are not getting the required motivation that could make them offer to die for their country. The issue of patriotism, rewards and punishment system is also, very poor. Speciﬁcally, what role do you think the Senate President could play to address these challenges if a ranking senator from the North Central is in the saddle? The Senate President from the North Central zone would use his experiences and that of his constituents in the hands of bandits and terrorists to proffer solution to the menace. This is because legislative intervention will go a long way to support the military and other security agencies to go about finding pragmatic and practicable solution to the insecurity crisis from the point of view of the direct victims. For instance, Senator Sani Musa, who is seeking to be elected as the Senate President has gathered enough information and solutions to the menace and he would need an avenue to be able to carry them out if he is directly in charge of the Senate. NOTE: Interested readers should continue in the online edition on www.thisdaylive.com

‘Don’t Bring Religion into 10th N’Assembly Leadership Race’ Tajudeen Olawale writes that religion should not be a criteria for choosing the leadership of the 10th National Assembly

he legislature as an independent arm of government in a democracy has always been run devoid of religious sentiments due to its unique role as a check on the executive arm. In order to focus on the need for legislators to be patriotic, leaders of the parliament are selected based on ranking and the ability to preside over an array of lawmakers for the good governance of the country. For some years, this has been the practice in the federal legislature in Nigeria such that it never bothered Nigerians the composition of the leadership of the legislature. In the First Republic, the South East produced the Senate President and the Speaker of the House of Representatives in the persons of Nnamdi Azikiwe and Jaja Wachukwu simultaneously who were both Christians. After Azikiwe, two other persons from the South, Chief Dennis Osadebey and Nwafor Orizu who were of the same faith also held forth as Senate presidents. In the Second Republic, Dr Joseph Wayas was Senate President while John Wash Pam another Christian from Plateau State was Deputy Senate President when the House of Representatives had Chief Edwin Umezeoke and later Chaha Biam as Speakers. During the time of Ibrahim Babangida when Dr Iyorchia Ayu was Senate President, the Speaker was Agunwa Anaekwe. In the current democratic dispensation we had

periods where both the speaker and senate presidents or their deputies were of the same faith and everything went on smoothly. For instance Hon Patricia Etteh was Speaker when Senator David Mark was Senate President and Ekweremadu was Deputy Senate President. In the current dispensation, both the Speaker, Hon Femi Gbajabiamila

and his deputy, Hon Ahmed Idris Wase, are also of the same faith. More revealing is the fact that in all the democratic governments in Nigeria since independence in 1960, the Senate presidents have all been Christians until 2015 when Dr Bukola Saraki took the Gavel. Which implies that of the 14 senate presidents Nigeria has had so far, only two, Saraki and Dr Ahmad Lawan, are Muslims. This establishes the fact that religion has never

mattered in parliament. This is reinforced by the fact that even in opening prayers of both chambers of the National Assembly, adherents of the two major religions have adopted a common prayer irrespective of faith. This has helped to unite the legislators to pursue common goals for the greater good of the country. As the 10th Assembly prepares to select its leadership, it is important to stress that the religion of the leaders should not matter. What should be of utmost importance is experience, ranking and ability to guide the legislature in a way that will be beneficial to the country. Luckily there are ranking parliamentarians among those that were elected into the legislature who by their track records will do well in cementing the National Assembly. Such years of experience, deep knowledge of the legislature and sagacity cannot be thrown away on the altar of differences in faith as the legislature strives to have the best in the next dispensation to ensure that all arms of government are working for the common good of the country. This can only be achieved if the legislature is allowed to live according to the precepts it set to forge a common front and move the country forward. -Tajudeen, who can be reached via olawaleibrahim@gmail.com, writes from Ilorin.

T H I S D AY ˾ DAY, Ͱͱ˜ ͰͮͰͱ

FEATURES

Group Features Editor: Chiemelie Ezeobi Email chiemelie.ezeobi@thisdaylive.com, Tel: 07010510430

Winifred Ajakpovi: Sharing Insights into the Movie 4.4.44

Since her movie 4.4.44 hit cinemas nationwide last November, Winifred Ajakpovi – a lawyer turned filmmaker cum producer – has been basking in the glee of her newly found career in Nollywood. Through her tearjerking and feelgood films, Ajakpovi has been able to tap into the emotionality of movie enthusiasts at home and abroad, serving them with a great literary piece that portrays love as the ultimate. In this virtual interview with Rebecca Ejifoma, the Cranfield University graduate with over two decades in the corporate world reflects on spreading the love for mental health sufferers and their loved ones. She also shares her journey into expressing her creativity

ould you walk us through your journey of becoming a movie producer/director? Passion brought me here. I’ve always had a deep love for the creative arts, which goes as far back as my junior school days when Literature was my best subject. This attachment, I guess, was fuelled by my penchant for poetry and drama. And so, despite travelling a different path for many years where I became a lawyer by training and had first practised Law, then veered into the field of Human Resource Management for various multinational organisations, in 2017, I decided to return to my first love through various co-productions. I straddled my career and ventured into the world of the film until I was ready to leave one for the other. Yes, at some point, my passion came mainstream and became the real thing for me, so I took the leap of faith. And that journey brought me here today What was the last production you worked on as a producer and what is striking about it for you? The experience on the set of 4.4.44 was a cocktail of several things: difficult, fun, high emotions and everything in between. We were recreating an era that no longer exists, so attention to detail was vital, and this cost us a lot of time and resources, too. For example, we needed cars present in Nigeria in the era in focus, between the 1940s to 1960s. This search took us to Beirut in Lebanon; what an experience. We had diversity on set as we worked with a Lebanese team, German DOP and artistes from various backgrounds, veterans and newbies, among others. This pulled tremendously on my people management skills as the Producer. I believe we all came out from that experience richer in knowledge. Movie connoisseurs have described 4.4.44 as star-studded beyond the usual Nollywood love storyline. What was the motivation? It is a story whose time was simply right—a love story with one of the themes of mental health. Post the pandemic, there appeared to be a rise in global interest in the topic or issue of MH awareness and wellness. When I pitched the story to my Investors, they quickly bought into it. When we eventually told the story and got our first recognition in Los Angeles from a film festival that focuses on films dedicated to social causes, it confirmed that we had picked a good story. Also, it was a bit of a complicated story to tell, so having the

Winifred Ajakpovi right cast to interpret the emotions correctly was critical, and this was what influenced our choice of cast and not just making a star-studded movie for the fun of it. We also had a few additions like Teni the entertainer and Broda Shaggi, which provided an outstanding balance in terms of entertainment for a solemn story and the rest in History. What is the message behind 4.4.44? As Africans, we have created a lot of unhealthy myths about mental health issues. The film shows that mental health issues are like any other illness, and we need to know this and demystify it. It also shows that with the proper support, people living with mental health issues can thrive. Those are two key lessons that stand out for me, and I hope they stand out too for everyone who watches the film. Of all the movies you have produced, which stands out for you? Most of my earlier works were partnerships

and collaborations in various forms, one of which includes the Bling Lagosians produced by Bolanle Austen Peters, where I was an Associate Producer. Beyond that role as AP, I got my hands dirty regarding the rudiments of production, as this was one of my early platforms for expression. My favourite has got to be 4.4.44. for several reasons. Beyond the awards the movie has received in such a short time, it’s the movie's theme for me and the epic nature. Mental health, love, family, and societal values, are all themes in the film, and these themes are always relevant and evergreen. What do you think is the most challenging task of a producer when planning a production? Funding is usually a very “popular” challenge, along with it, distribution opportunities and decisions. A film is a business venture, and it's essential to keep your eye on the commercial value. I would say unreservedly this is

true, but I would like to add that it's probably deeper than just finding the funding. I think the deeper issue is why it is difficult to get funding for the business of film; why do investors find it difficult to invest in the business of film? What is wrong with our business value chain as filmmakers? What is wrong with the quality of our work? Or should I say, what is the perception about the business of film that makes it difficult to attract investors? My experience is that the industry value chain is still hazy to some people. Many see it as a passion business; they underrate the film's seriousness and struggle to see how the value is created or made. This beclouds their willingness to invest in it and thus creates the funding problem we experience. The film business is not considered very bankable, apart from a few banks that sponsor filmmaking in Nigeria. While I acknowledge that this is changing, with foreign collaborations and originally sponsored films by the Netflixes of this world and more financial institutions and individuals showing more commitment and interest, this, however, leads to the second issue of the real tasks for the producer, quality. The quality you produce influences your ability to attract investment or funding. So for a filmmaker, you are up against the challenge of quality in a global market and then working through the biases to attract funding. How would you describe yourself? I’m easy-going but know how to keep my eyes firmly on the goal. I look forward to working with fellow creatives and wish us all success and impact. I hope I capture the hearts of the audience who watch my films, I hope we change lives through our stories. The strong love and commitment to marriage vows a true reflection of the phrase: "in sickness and in health" and "till death do us part". I'm creative and looking forward to unfolding all that life holds in that space. When I'm not making films, I'm busy loving my family and friends. I keep a wide circle of friends and love to engage them all individually and as a group. Somehow I found the energy [L.O.L]. I'm at my peak between 4 am and 1 pm. Within this period, every aspect of the five major areas of my life gets attention: spirituality, self-care, socials, career/work/finances, family and friends. In what order depends on many factors, my mood, where I am at in terms of location, other life’s demands etc., but in the end, each must get a measure of attention within this time frame. After that, your guess is as good

An Appeal for Peace Uzoma Mba reports that Founder/Chief Executive Officer of Tingo International, Mr. Dozy Mmobuosi, has urged Nigerians to embrace hope, peace and unity while shunning violence

equel to happenings after the elections, UK based technology entrepreneur and Founder/Chief Executive Officer of Tingo International, Mr. Dozy Mmobuosi has urged Nigerians to embrace hope, unity and shun violence. Mmobuosi spoke in a short letter to Nigerians at home and in the Diaspora. The young founder of Africa’s top AgriFintech company and Tingo International Holdings Incorporated who is currently spearheading the construction of a multi-million dollar food processing factory in Delta State, Nigeria noted that in the face of escalating tension, violence, and division, it is more important than ever that we come together and embrace hope, unity, and leadership. His words: “Fellow Nigerians, as our nation emerges from the recent elections, we find ourselves at a crossroads. In the face of escalating tension, violence, and division, it is more important than ever that we come together and embrace hope, unity, and leadership. “First and foremost, I extend my sincere congratulations to our President-elect, Bola

Mmobuosi Tinubu, on his victory. I also recognise and appreciate the efforts of all other contestants, who have played a crucial role in the democratic process. Their dedication

to our nation is commendable. “Now is the time for us to move forward, and to ensure that the tribalism, ethnic slurs, and violence that have marred the post-election period do not define us. We must rise above these challenges and unite, focusing on our shared values, aspirations, and the love we have for our great country. “During these trying times, it is our resilience and unwavering belief in a better tomorrow that will guide us. We must stand behind strong and visionary leaders who will inspire and challenge us to be the best versions of ourselves. “As we work towards progress, let us prioritise the empowerment of our youth and women. By investing in their education and nurturing their talents, we can create a brighter future for all Nigerians. Together, we must address the critical challenges facing our nation, such as climate change, food security, and social upliftment. “On a personal note, as I move

forward in my journey to acquire Sheffield United Football Club in England, I am reminded of the immense potential that resides within each and every Nigerian. "This venture is not only about me but also a testament to what we, as Nigerians, can achieve when we dare to dream and work hard towards our goals. I hope this journey serves as an inspiration and a reminder to my fellow Nigerians that no dream is too big, and no aspiration is beyond our reach. “In this moment of shared purpose, I call upon each and every Nigerian to come together, set aside our differences, and work collectively to create the Nigeria we all dream of. Let us focus on our shared values, our common goals, and our boundless potential as a nation. “Together, we can pave the way towards a brighter future, where every Nigerian can prosper, and our nation stands as a shining example of hope, unity, and leadership in the global community. “May God continue to bless and guide our beloved Nigeria, and may He strengthen our resolve to work together in pursuit of a better future for all. In hope and unity.”

20 T H I S D AY THURSDAY MARCH 23, 2023 TR

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& RE A S O

Thursday March 23 , 2023 Vol 27. No 10207

opinion@thisdaylive.com

www.thisdaylive.com

REFLECTIONS ON THE DOHA SUMMIT The Doha Programme of Action is a practical guide to addressing the targets of the SDGs in the LDCs, reckons NOAH DALLAJI

See page 21

RACE FOR DOUGLAS HOUSE

NDUKA NWOSU asserts that Ochudo Martin Agbaso of Labour Party has what it takes to fight the battle ahead

See page 21 EDITORIAL

TACKLING THE WATER CHALLENGE

Nigerians must not lose their sense of expectancy in the face of electoral disappointments, writes MONDAY PHILIPS EKPE

ELECTIONS AND THE TRIAL OF HOPE Last Monday, a friend sent me videos of some Nigerians tearing their international passports into shreds. My response to her was spontaneous: “Clinical depression may have set it. So, so sad. Well, I don’t have another passport/country yet, so I won’t destroy mine. I believe we should make distinctions between the leaders and the country. Today, Nigeria doesn’t seem to have any leadership worth the name. Tomorrow, the story may change. In any case, wherever one lives on the planet, without hope, suicide is actually never too far away.” I tried to be as realistic and philosophical as I could be, not very sure how she would interpret it. Even as I write this, I still debate within me, though mildly, the appropriateness of that reaction. Do people really care about logic and rationality when dealing with pressing existential matters? Anyhow, for the want of better answers to the ugly phenomenon of having many Nigerians become increasingly fed up with their fatherland to the point of permanently turning their back on it, I guess I’ll have to stand with this line of thought for a long time to come. No matter WKH GHSWKV WR ZKLFK ZURQJ FKRLFHV GHÀFLHQW policies and shambolic implementations KDYH FRQÀQHG WKH FLWL]HQV GLVSDUDJLQJ and trashing the nation to demonstrate the numerous shortcomings therein shouldn’t be encouraged or allowed to take deeper roots in our psyche. One can’t deny the fact that even before the just concluded general elections (some persons have argued that we can’t truly declare them ended since some of the outcomes are being contested in courts and some others have been pronounced inconclusive), frustrations, discontentment, DQG ORVV RI FRQÀGHQFH LQ WKH HVWDEOLVKPHQW were already in abundance in the public space. One of the problems that culminated in the widespread rejection of the election results was the belief that help would come through electing the ‘right’ individuals. It looked like the February 25 and March 18 polls were positioned to serve as climax to a chain of national woes. The scramble for Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) was in a class of its own. As if bitten by a voting bug, Nigerians, notably those of the younger generation, decided that time had come for them to leave the fence and get involved in the electoral processes. They had had enough of empty political promises and were now ready to choose their own leaders or, better still, present themselves for posts begging for competence, capacity and character. They saw the ownership of those cards as the ultimate proofs of patriotism. And they went after them with vigour, undeterred by the needless trauma thrown up by their registration and collection. Equally stressful has been the daily search for petroleum products, a sad recurring condition that appears to have established itself as a national pastime, a truly shameful SURÀOH RI RQH RI WKH ZRUOG·V ODUJHVW SRVVHVVRUV of crude oil and, arguably, the only one in its

FODVV ZLWKRXW IXQFWLRQDO UHÀQHULHV 0DQKRXUV are being squandered on winding queues, with the attendant physical, emotional DQG ÀQDQFLDO LPSOLFDWLRQV /RVV DVVHVVRUV FHUWDLQO\ ZRQ·W ÀQG LW HDV\ WU\LQJ WR ÀJXUH RXW what individuals, families and institutions have surrendered to the systemic failures of this critical sector. To compound an already messed up situation, the one that the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) peddles as currency swap EXW ZKLFK LQ IDFW LV QDLUD FRQÀVFDWLRQ KDV entered the ring and complicated the lives of virtually everyone in the country. In what could pass for voodoo economics and warped monetary operations, the apex bank, months after embarking on this dangerous ride of deliberate, unprovoked onslaught on the people’s liberty and wellbeing, hasn’t EHHQ DEOH WR FRPPXQLFDWH HͿHFWLYHO\ WKH actual objectives of this scheme, perceived in some quarters as a tool for vindictive politics. Add these grossly mismanaged aspects of our national life to the ever-present challenges like mass unemployment, K\SHULQÁDWLRQ VXEVWDQGDUG VRFLDO DPHQLWLHV failing infrastructure, perennial poverty and hunger, and you have a ready recipe for collective disillusionment and angst. It was against this background that many people looked forward to the elections to produce visionary, result-oriented and accountable leaders; to usher in an era that would enable Nigeria to rise up strongly in the comity of QDWLRQV IHQG IRU LWV FLWL]HQV DQG UHVLGHQWV and regain its fast-fading glory. Permit me to single out the tribe of Nigerians popularly called ‘Obidients’ to illustrate this quest for something new. Contrary to the cloak of regionalism forced down their necks by those determined to WULYLDOLVH WKHLU LQÁXHQFH PDQ\ RI WKHP actually belong to the growing segment of the population desirous of a drastic change. Even though Mr. Peter Obi, Presidential Candidate of Labour Party (LP), from whom the coinage was derived, is not new to politics at the highest level, he represents a departure from the old order, in comparison to the rest frontrunners. I’m convinced that any thorough survey would show that ‘Obidients’ constitute a chunk of those who have been hardest-hit by the declaration of Senator Bola Tinubu of the All Progressives Congress (APC) as the president-elect.

No matter the depths to which wrong choices, deﬁcient policies and shambolic implementations have conﬁned the citizens, disparaging and trashing the nation to demonstrate the numerous shortcomings therein shouldn’t be encouraged or allowed to take deeper roots in our psyche

Luckily, their worries resonate with strategic entities like the United States Embassy in Nigeria. A part of its statement on the elections released earlier this week reads thus: “Members of the U.S. diplomatic mission observed the elections in Lagos and elsewhere and witnessed some of these LQFLGHQWV ÀUVW KDQG 7KH XVH RI HWKQLFDOO\ charged rhetoric before, during, and after the gubernatorial election in Lagos was particularly concerning. We commend all Nigerian political actors, religious and FRPPXQLW\ OHDGHUV \RXWK DQG FLWL]HQV ZKR have chosen to reject and speak out against VXFK YLROHQFH DQG LQÁDPPDWRU\ ODQJXDJH D΀UPLQJ 1LJHULDQV· FRPPLWPHQW WR DQG respect for the democratic process. “We call on Nigerian authorities to hold accountable and bring to justice any individuals found to have ordered or carried RXW HͿRUWV WR LQWLPLGDWH YRWHUV DQG VXSSUHVV voting during the election process. The United States likewise will consider all available actions, including additional visa restrictions, on individuals believed to be responsible for, or complicit in, undermining the democratic process in Nigeria. The United States renews its call for any challenges to election results to go through established legal processes, which must not be interfered with. We further call for Nigeria’s people to work together as they participate in and continue to strengthen the country’s vibrant democracy” The appeal for restraint and the push for progress, in spite of the obvious infractions, is remarkable as H[SHFWLQJ ÁDZOHVV SROOV ZRXOG EH XWRSLDQ Even the more institutionalised democracies like the US still grapple with hurdles that border on mistrust and base sentiments. Having spent 24 years in the current republic, the longest in its history, the only rational path left for our country is forward. Many of the ills threatening to get the nation grounded are traceable to the military era. Looking backward is, therefore, not a viable option. The Washington Post probably had that in mind before publishing a recent editorial titled, “Nigeria Points the Way toward Democracy.” Reacting to the aftermath on Tinubu’s declaration, it states that, “Opposition party supporters have not attempted an insurrection… Nigeria’s military has stayed out of the fray. This was not a given, since Nigeria’s generals ruled the country after a series of coups for most of the 1980s and ’90s. In Africa and elsewhere, a VXSSRVHGO\ ÁDZHG HOHFWLRQ KDV EHHQ D KDQG\ excuse for militaries to annul election results DQG VHL]H SRZHU IRU WKHPVHOYHV ,I 1LJHULD·V generals remain on the side-lines this time, it could be taken as evidence that Africa’s most populous country, and its largest economy, has moved past its coup-prone history…” /HW WKH OHJDO ÀUHZRUNV RQ REMHFWLRQV WR WKH results begin. And let the expectations for electoral integrity thrive, against all odds. Dr Ekpe is a member of THISDAY Editorial Board

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THURSDAY MARCH 23, 2023

The Doha Programme of Action is a practical guide to addressing the targets of the SDGs in the LDCs, reckons NOAH DALLAJI

REFLECTIONS ON THE DOHA SUMMIT

The recent United Nations summit in 'RKD 4DWDU ZDV D ÀWWLQJ UHPLQGHU WR WKH global community about the challenges of development in the Least Developed Countries (LDCs). The issues are not new actually but more than ever, there is the burning concern to mitigate or possibly overhaul them for a saner clime of human progress and social change. Interestingly, the African continent perhaps should be more concerned about the realities of these challenges with the clear understanding that out of the 46 LDCs, 33 are in Africa, which collectively are some of the poorest and most vulnerable economies in the

world. Other critical indicators in this regard are that these countries comprise about 14 percent of global population, account for only 1.3 percent of global Gross Domestic Product, receive 1.4 percent of total foreign direct investment and trade under 1 percent of world merchandise exports. As UNCTAD rightly observed ahead of the summit, the LDCs are the battleground on which the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development will be won or lost. Of course, the objective at the summit was how as many of the LDCs could graduate from their current status to the next level of progress with the basic socio-economic indices as signposts and UHFRJQL]HG DV VXFK ZLWK FRQFRPLWDQW HͿHFWV on the actualization of the SDGs as par the UN’s Agenda 2030. Therefore, it became imperative to mobilize international community’s commitments towards the implementation of the Doha Programme of Action for the LDCs (2022-2031) adopted by the UN General Assembly in April 2022, designed to RͿHU RSSRUWXQLW\ IRU D UHQHZHG SDUWQHUVKLS between the LDCs and their development partners to overcome structural challenges, eradicate poverty, achieve internationally agreed development goals and enable graduation from the LDC category. It is to be noted that the list of the LDCs is reviewed every three years by the Committee for Development Policy (CDP), a group of independent experts that report to the Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) of the United Nations, which may recommend for addition to or graduation from LDCs status. However, experts have also noted that in adopting strategies for development, how the LDCs achieve graduation is as important as when they do so, which calls for a deep appreciation of the issues of development in WKHVH FRXQWLHV DQG DSSOLFDWLRQ RI HͿHFWLYH policies and programmes. The 5th UN’s conference on the LDCs in Doha with the theme ‘From Potential to Prosperity’, was indeed a very important summit and the resolutions are forward-

looking at least in proposals and extent of expressed commitments especially within the context of the LDCs being in a race against time to deliver on the Sustainable Development Goals by 2030. In this regard were such major issues of development as WKH FKDOOHQJH RI SRYHUW\ DGYHUVH HͿHFWV RI climate change, food and energy concerns, debt burden as well as challenges of health, education and infrastructural facilities as strategic to economic development. As an D΀OLDWH RI WKH 81·V (&262& WKH $IULFDQ Children Talent Discovery Foundation (ACTDF) was well represented at the summit and participated actively in the proceedings. In tackling the multi-pronged challenges, many believe cognizance has to be taken of the dire circumstances in the LDCs with particular reference to their weak economies and the political will to take some very important decisions even with the consequences. In addition are the OHYHOV RI FRPPLWPHQWV DQG HͿHFWLYHQHVV of such shared vision and values of the development partners by walking the talk. Nonetheless, at the ACTDF, we strongly believe that action must now be taken in tandem with the necessity to change the tide against the state of poverty and underdevelopment in these countries if we must be realistic about achieving the UN Agenda 2030 because of the time constraint. Perhaps the proposals put forward by UNCTAD at the summit should provide a road map towards achieving the basic objective of attaining the UN Agenda 2030 if when applied and consolidated. As situated by UNCTAD, there was the need for bold action and development cooperation to achieve inclusive growth and sustainable development in LDCs. $FFRUGLQJO\ 81&7$' FDOOHG IRU HͿHFWLYH debt relief in LDCs to avert the growing risks of debt distress, partly caused by the lack of alternative sources of development ÀQDQFH H[SRUW GLYHUVLÀFDWLRQ WR VKLIW economic activities, jobs and resources from low-productivity sectors to higher-value –added and productivity sectors, stronger productive capacities in LDCs to improve their capacity to make quality goods and deliver services to enable them participate in global trade and a new strategy to enable LDCs graduate with momentum. Other parts of the proposal include increased investment capacity in LDCs WKURXJK ÀQDQFLDO DQG WHFKQLFDO VXSSRUW for investment project preparation and contract negotiation, investment-related dispute resolution, investment promotion facilities and related assistance as well as a just, balanced and sustainable low-carbon transition in LDCs through increased international support. Indeed, that it’s now time to put productive capacities at the heart of every development strategy. No doubt, overcoming the challenges of development in the LDCs is a huge task UHTXLULQJ D FROOHFWLYH HͿRUW ZKLFK DV WKH UN Secretary-General, Antonio Guterres, noted in his remarks at the plenary, “we PXVW ÀQG ZD\V WR FRPH WRJHWKHUµ DGGLQJ that “there is no more important issue around which we can and must unite than in transforming the words of the Doha Programme of Action into results”. Dr. Dallaji, President, African Children Talent Discovery Foundation (ACTDF) writes from Abuja

NDUKA NWOSU asserts that Ochudo Martin Agbaso of Labour Party has what it takes to fight the battle ahead

RACE FOR DOUGLAS HOUSE In June 2022 when Ochudo Martin Agbaso Agbaso has the gift of seeing beyond GRQDWHG KLV FDPSDLJQ R΀FH WR WKH /DERXU the ordinary, always identifying with men Party in Owerri Imo State, this writer wrote an and women whose political perception article titled: “Obi and the Nigerian Spring,” moves in the direction of positive change arguing that Nigeria’s revolution, like those for society. He has boldly challenged all of Czechoslovakia-the Prague Spring and the negative forces that impede society’s Arab world-Arab Spring has arrived, adding progress and cannot be blackmailed to the that the change we had been clamouring for contrary. He remains a man of capacity and would come through our PVCs, not by armed integrity. insurrection. In 2011 Agbaso keenly contested the About the same time, a woman from the APGA Governorship ticket when the bottom of the pyramid in faraway Sabongida- APGA ticket was up for sale by some Ora in Edo State, donated her shop to the Peter top hierarchy of the party. Okorocha Obi Campaign Organisation, a reminder of the RͿHUHG D KDQG RI IHOORZVKLS WR $JEDVR Biblical widow’s mite. Both Agbaso and the after grabbing the ticket. Agbaso, using Sabongida-Ora Obedient disciple had early in his APGA machine in Imo, vigorously WKH GD\ LGHQWLÀHG WKHPVHOYHV DV SUHFXUVRUV RI campaigned for him, ensuring his victory. a worthy cause. Okorocha later decamped to APC and the Agbaso has always been at the forefront of rest is history with the big frame up and positive change anyway; his involvement with impeachment of the Deputy Governor the Obedient Movement, the Unite Nigeria Jude Agbaso. Group (UNG), which he had convened Agbaso has gone ahead to keep the sometime in 2021, and the Labour Party, was APGA structure intact, a structure that has the result of a thought process, a mindset followed him to the Labour Party. waiting to happen. I was therefore surprised Oparanozie was querying the source of Agbaso’s wealth. How can anyone query the source of Agbaso’s wealth? For discerning minds, Agbaso’s employment in 1983 at the world-renowned Prudential ,QF D ÀQDQFLDO GHULYDWLYH DQG VWUDWHJLF investment management organisation, and subsequent admission in 1985 to the famous New York Stock Exchange, signaled the emergence of a man with a mission. Since then, he has not disappointed going ahead to be admitted as a member of the MillionDollar Roundtable on Interest Sensitive Products at Prudential Inc and member Commodity Improviser of New York in 1987. to read Dr. Chigozie Oparanozie’s recent Back home in 1992 Agbaso founded article (not published on THISDAY) with the Agad Nigeria Limited, a worldwide stocks headline: Imo 2023: “Martin Agbaso is Bad and commodities monitoring company News for LP.” through which he brought to bear his years Oparanozie’s hatchet man’s assault was of experience as a stock, insurance, and short of critical respect for a man who has commodity broker. contributed in many ways to the growth of He is the Executive Chairman of Sud Imo State and the service of humanity. The Riva Limited, a company that is a major son of Chief Nathan and Mrs. Anna Agbaso player in the construction sector, oil and and beloved husband of the American born, gas, and marine ropes, employing over Igbo speaking Robin Agbaso, his biographer 623 Nigerians. Agbaso, a homeboy, has painstakingly noted that his parents imparted provided jobs for many more people in him, Christian virtues of faith, hope, through his large-scale agricultural scheme and charity. “These virtues later became the in his Emekuku community. He has GHÀQLQJ FKDUDFWHU RI WKH PDQ ZKRVH OLIH LV over the years proved to be adept in the VLPSO\ D WUHDWLVH LQ FRPSDVVLRQ DQG ÁH[LELOLW\ µ art of creativity, and getting adequately Therefore, Oparanozie’s sweeping resume of a rewarded, maximising every opportunity man he does not know left a sour grape in the that comes his way while keeping his mouth. robust goodwill intact. Oparanozie and his sponsors made a The New York based Nathan determined attempt to whitewash a sterling Drycleaning Shop is a franchise he runs political track record coming all the way with his wife Robin. Today Nathan from college politics whether at the famous Drycleaners is a household brand in many &DWKROLF 3RQWLÀFDO 8QLYHUVLW\ LQ 5RPH ,WDO\ RU state capitals of the country complemented to the equally prestigious State University of by a winery whose plant is based in South New York, down to the fatherland, under the Africa. So, who has a problem with that? National Republican Convention (NRC) where Truth be told, Oparanozie seems to be he contested as a Senator and won in 1992, a front, a PR panel beater for some people and the Democratic Party of Nigeria (DPN) LQÀOWUDWHG LQWR WKH ,PR 6WDWH /DERXU under which platform in 1998 he clinched the Party by those threatened by the growing Senatorial seat of Owerri Federal Constituency. LQÁXHQFH RI WKH SDUW\ LWV VWURQJ DQG WHVWHG For the records, Agbaso won the 2007 Imo leader and governorship hopeful. The Governorship election under the platform of battle ahead goes beyond being bogged the All-Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), down by the activities of political hired but his victory was annulled in broad daylight, JXQV URRNLHV DQG ÀIWK FROXPQLVWV DFWLQJ RQ D GD\ KH ZDV DERXW WR EH R΀FLDOO\ JLYHQ as spoilers in a terrain littered with booby his mandate. This happened in an election traps, which only an Agbaso at this time where all other candidates of the State House can withstand, navigate, and close the of Assembly who were voted for at the same war, with a victory beagle booming in the time and place by the same people who voted ÀUPDPHQW for Agbaso, had their results endorsed and that of the Governorship annulled because of Nwosu an imaginary inclement weather that did not is a former Deputy Editor of THISDAY DͿHFW WKH RWKHU FDQGLGDWHV· UHVXOWV Newspaper

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EDITORIAL

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

TACKLING THE WATER CHALLENGE Government must invest more in the provision of potable water

n her statement to mark the 2023 World Water Day commemorated yesterday, UNICEF Nigeria Chief of WASH, Jane Bevan disclosed that 78 million children in the country are at risk from a convergence of water-related threats. “In Nigeria, one-third of children do not have access to at least basic water at home, and two-thirds do not have basic sanitation services,” wrote Bevan in a report that should concern relevant stakeholders. “Hand hygiene is also limited, with three-quarters of children unable to wash their hands due to lack of water and soap at home.” There are many reasons to worry in Nigeria. Goal Six of the United Nations (UN) Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) is on ensuring water and sanitation for all by 2030. This means that seven years from now, every person in Nigeria and other countries in the world should have access to safe drinking water and safe sanitation. Yet, our country, according to UNICEF, ranks second out of 163 countries globally with the highest risk of exposure to climate and environmental threats. “Groundwater levels are also dropping, requiring some communities to dig wells twice as deep as just a decade ago. At the same time, rainfall has become more erratic and intense, OHDGLQJ WR ÁRRGV WKDW FRQWDPLQDWH VFDUFH ZDWHU supplies.” It is unfortunate that for more than four decades, a preventable disease like cholera has been a recurring epidemic in Nigeria and has led to the death of thousands of our people, especially children. The spread of cholera is worsened when the environment is not clean; when water system is not treated and when sanitation is not taken seriously. In many of our states, the villagers and rural dwellers are left to rely on streams as the only source of drinking water and there are no provisions for disposing waste. In most cases also, the people even rely on stagnant

water for washing their clothes and other items. What’s more troubling is that if we continue at the current pace, going by UNICEF projection, “it will take 16 years to achieve access to safe water for all in Nigeria. We cannot wait that long, and the time to move quickly is now. Investing in climate-resilient water, sanitation, and hygiene services is not only a matter of protecting children’s health today, but also ensuring a sustainable future for generations to come.” 7KH ÀUVW FULVLV FRQFHUQLQJ WKH VSUHDG RI WKH GLVHDVH begins with failure by most state governments to provide potable water for their teeming population. In fact, chances are that the annual security votes for governors in most of the states astronomically surpass budgetary allocations to the provision of clean water for the people. While there have been VRPH HͿRUWV E\ WKH IHGHUDO government to deal with the challenge, we have not seen a corresponding commitment from the state governments where cholera and other waterborne diseases are ravaging citizens the most. States must do more in providing adequate clean water, especially for those in the rural areas. The federal government also has to streamline PRGDOLWLHV WKDW ZLOO WUDLQ PHGLFDO VWDͿ DFURVV the country on how to handle the outbreak of cholera and other water-borne diseases. But since prevention remains the best cure, it is important to take the issue of water more seriously. As critical stakeholders therefore mark the 2023 World Water Day, we hope that government at all levels will work towards accelerating change to solve the water and sanitation crisis. Dysfunction throughout the water cycle, according to the United Nations, “undermines progress on all major global issues, from health to hunger, gender equality to jobs, education to industry, and disasters to peace.”

Investing in climate-resilient water, sanitation, and hygiene services is not only a matter of protecting children’s health today, but also ensuring a sustainable future for generations to come T H I S D AY EDITOR SHAKA MOMODU DEPUTY EDITORS WALE OLALEYE, OBINNA CHIMA MANAGING DIRECTOR ENIOLA BELLO DEPUTY MANAGING DIRECTOR ISRAEL IWEGBU CHAIRMAN EDITORIAL BOARD OLUSEGUN ADENIYI EDITOR NATION’S CAPITAL IYOBOSA UWUGIAREN MANAGING EDITOR BOLAJI ADEBIYI THE OMBUDSMAN KAYODE KOMOLAFE

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

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

LETTERS NDIGBO AWALOKAN VERSUS YORUBA EMILOKAN Continued from the backpage The story is woven around Ngozi (Uche) and Yinka (Balogun) who met and fell in love at the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) orientation camp. Feeling insecure and jealous, the Yoruba husband laced his Igbo wife with ‘Magun’, the mysterious chastity control which instantly terminates WKH OLIH RI DQ\ PDQ ZKR GDUHV WR ¶FOLPE· (ͿRUWV WR EUHDN WKH spell on the faithful Igbo wife provided the entertainment DQG GUDPD RI H[LVWHQFH LQ WKH PRYLH ,Q WKH ÀQDO DQDO\VLV Ngozi’s redemption came from the family of her irresponsible Yoruba husband, the Yoruba native doctors, her local <RUXED JXDUGLDQ DQG ÀQDOO\ WKH ORYH VWUXFN <RUXED PHGLFDO GRFWRU ZKR RͿHUHG KLPVHOI DV D JXLQHD SLJ WR WHVW WKH H΀FDF\ RI ¶0DJXQ· RQ WKH DOWDU RI D ÀYH PLQXWH HQMR\PHQW Twice on this page, I have used the Yoruba/Ndigbo online war that has been going on for almost two decades to illustrate the danger of blaming the conduct of one person on an entire group. That happens to be the central message in ‘Magun’ which, as I also wrote in 2017, “speaks to a time like this

in our nation when some Yoruba and Igbo irredentists are promoting hate speech in the name of a meaningless superiRULW\ ZDU WKDW JORULÀHV VRPH GLVWRUWHG DFFRXQWV RI WKH SDVW µ In ‘Magun’ (produced by Tunde Kelani’s Mainframe), when the tribulation of Ngozi was over and she was confronted with the prospect of another Yoruba suitor, she was hesitant. But her father, who started out as a Yoruba antagonist, saved the day by giving us that memorable line: “A man is a man; and a race is a race”. At this point, let me state that no side is innocent in this never-ending ‘supremacy battle’ between Yoruba and Igbo, fuelled mostly by those in the Diaspora. Because of it, I have RQ VHYHUDO RFFDVLRQV VXͿHUHG XQSURYRNHG RQOLQH LQVXOWV DQG abuse which I usually ignore. While social media platforms amplify voices of the fool and the wise alike, the consequences are always more dire when those in responsible positions engage in toxic and hateful speech. That sadly was lost on Mr Bayo Onanuga, a respected senior colleague who was at the frontline in the struggle against the Sani Abacha dictatorship in Nigeria. By the position he holds in the APC cam-

paign, Onanuga’s words carry the imprimatur of authority. And because of that, he cannot say certain things. I have no doubt that some Igbo irredentists in Lagos have needlessly been making provocative statements because I also get a lot of their posts on WhatsApp. But there is a huge GLͿHUHQFH EHWZHHQ VRPH UDQGRP JX\ RQ 7LN7RN VD\LQJ ,JERV KDYH FRQTXHUHG /DJRV DQG WKH R΀FLDO VSRNHVPDQ IRU the president-elect saying Igbos are not allowed to participate in the civic life of the state they reside and in which many were born. He may claim to be speaking in his private capacity, and Tinubu’s call for healing shows they do not share the same view on the issue, but the toxic tweet is nonetheless still dangerous to the health of our society. It is important that Onanuga be made to retract and apologize. The damage is done, but there will at least be the symbolic acknowledgement that there are certain lines we must not cross, even in the pursuit of power. Olusegun Adeniyi, Abuja

T H I S D AY ˾ THURSDAY, MARCH 23, 2023

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SVB: Expert Insists on Establishment National Tech-innovation Startup Investment Fund for Nigeria

Emma Okonji Former President, Institute of Software Practitioners of Nigeria (ISPON) and Chief Executive Officer of Mobile Software Solutions, Chris Uwaje, has re-echoed the need for the establishment of a National TechInnovation Startup Investment Fund as a strategic imperative and panacea for accelerated and sustainable tech-innovation model for Nigeria and Africa. According to Uwaje, the zeal to establish such tech fund in Nigeria, should not be misconstrued, following the recent collapse of the 35 years old Silicon Valley Bank (SVB) in

the United States, that served the same purpose of funding startups and tech development across the globe. Speaking with THISDAY about the March 10, 2023 collapse of the 35 years old Silicon Valley Bank, he said the SVB was set up as a bank to assist founders in the technology innovation space. He however said the collapse of SVB would not change his earlier advocacy for a special purpose funding vehicle for tech development in Nigeria that is similar to that of Industrial Development Fund of Nigeria. Uwaje explained that there were many factors responsible

for the collapse of SVB, which he listed to include: Excessive demand for technology solutions and services triggered by the global Covid-19 pandemic that spontaneously changed the service model offering and demand for technology innovation solutions and services, a trend that was particularly noticeable in the USA economy; Emergence of new form of work model (remote working model from home) requiring new infrastructural investment to companies such as Zoom and other remote communications platforms; and Survival of the fittest syndrome of intensive

competition in the technology ecosystem. “Accelerated speed for excessive profits on financial returns on investment coupled with oversized salary increase for top high-tech-skills, contributed to the above speed-based short-term tech- activities that were sponsored with long-term investment loan instruments, which were predicated on the assumption that the economic contractions of the unpredictable Covid-19 pandemic will last longer, ”Uwaje said. According to him, “It must be recognised that Nigeria is still a tech-millipede when compared to the United States tech-ecosystem. For this simple

reason, the Nigerian situation is different. Nigeria is an emerging tech- innovation service economy with massive creative pool of tech startup talents whose Intellectual Property (IP) is low cost and available to harvest by foreign investors, without restrictions. Experience from international founders who have invested in the Nigerian digital innovation space and has produced many unicorns, benefitted immensely to the detriment of Nigeria. Indeed, most of those companies are not owned by Nigerians, as they do not control the majority shares.” Giving insight on what should have been done to prevent the collapse of SVB, Uwaje said SVB

would have created multiple safeguards to mitigate the impact of organising, disbursing and managing short-term loan investment and long-term funding instruments of financial returns. He said some lessons could be learnt by the Nigerian startup community and the Nigerian government from the collapse of SVB, even though there is no specialised Tech-Innovation Bank in Nigeria. He therefore advised government to conduct a national baseline study and align national innovation funding model to the outcome of the study, with a predominant mission to first of Continued on page 24

Barge Operation: How NPA Created Jobs, Enhanced Ease of Doing Business at Seaports Eromosele Abiodun Stakeholders in the maritime sector and licensed customs agents have applauded the Managing Director of the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA), Mohammed Bello-Koko for the massive improvement in the ease of doing business at the

nation’s seaports. Some critical stakeholders who spoke on condition of anonymity expressed delight at the improvement in traffic in the port access road virtually rendered activity at the Lagos ports comatose before Bello-Koko’s reforms. Visits to Warri, Port Harcourt

and Calabar also showed massive improvement in infrastructure and orderliness as against what was obtainable at the ports a few years ago. They therefore applauded the NPA for increased ease of doing business, trade facilitation and the creation of several thousand of jobs

through effective barge operation This as the NPA has increased remittances to the Consolidated Revenue Account (CRA) of the federal government from N80 billion to N91 billion in the last one year. The increase in remittance is coming amidst low Importation into

the country and dwindling revenue generation by some agencies of government. The increment it was learn, was made possible because of BelloKoko’s private sector background, which he employed to get port managers deliver on the federal government’s mandate of increased

revenue due to the lure in the oil and gas sector. Bello-Koko, was appointed acting Managing Director of the NPA on May 6, 2021 and was confirmed substantive on February 21, 2022. Moreover, the NPA revenue has Continued on page 24

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CONTRACT Current TENOR Contract Rate Updated Time ($/₦) (MONTH) NGUS JAN 25 469.87 January 6, 1 2023 2023 January 6, NGUS FEB 22 2 472.05 2023 2023 NGUS MAR 29 474.23 January 6, 3 2023 2023 NGUS APR 26 476.42 January 6, 4 2023 2023 NGUS MAY 31 478.60 January 6, 5 2023 2023

THURSDAY, MARCH 23, ͰͮͰͱ ˾ T H I S D AY

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Impact of Tech Hubs on Nigeria’s Ecosystem Nosa Alekhuogie writes on the growth of indigenous technology hubs across Nigeria and their impact on the economy

igeria has been experiencing a significant increase in the development of local tech hubs in recent years. These tech hubs are aimed at creating an enabling environment for startups to thrive and contribute to the growth of the technology ecosystem in Nigeria. These tech hubs provide access to resources such as funding, mentorship, networking opportunities, and infrastructure to support startups in their early stages. Lagos, Abuja, and Port Harcourt are some of the major cities with thriving tech hubs in Nigeria. These hubs offer co-working spaces, incubation programs, and access to funding to help startups grow. The impact of local tech hubs on the Nigerian economy cannot be over emphasised. These hubs have created job opportunities for young people, reduced the rate of unemployment, and contributed to the development of the Nigerian technology ecosystem. The technology sector in Nigeria has seen significant growth in recent years, with several startups recording impressive successes. Furthermore, local tech hubs in Nigeria have helped to bridge the digital divide and promote inclusive growth. With the increasing penetration of mobile devices and the internet in Nigeria, tech hubs have become essential in ensuring that the benefits of technology are accessible to everyone, including those in underserved communities. The rise of local tech hubs in Nigeria has created conducive environment for startups to thrive and has contributed to the growth of the technology ecosystem in Nigeria. With the right support, local tech hubs in Nigeria have the potential to continue to drive economic growth and promote inclusive development. Lagos is home to several technology hubs, also known as innovation centres or tech clusters. These hubs provide a platform for startups to connect, collaborate and grow their businesses.

TECH HUBS IN LAGOS

Lagos is the home of most tech hubs in Nigeria, contributing to economic growth of Lagos State and Nigeria at large. Some of the tech hubs springing up in Lagos include: Co-Creation Hub (CcHub), MEST Incubator Lagos, LeadSpace, NG_Hub by Facebook, and Wennovation Hub, among others. Known as the ‘Silicon Valley’ of Nigeria, CcHub is one of the most popular technology hubs, it is located in Yaba, Lagos. It was founded in 2010 and has since become one of the most prominent innovation centers in Nigeria. The tech hub provides co-working spaces, funding opportunities, and mentorship to startups. They also run an incubation program for startups with scalable solutions. CcHub is known for its focus on technology for social good and has incubated startups like BudgIT, WeCyclers, and Lifebank. In addition to providing co-working spaces, funding, and mentorship, it also runs several programs, including the PitchDrive program, which is aimed at helping startups to expand their businesses globally. MEST Incubator is a technology hub located in Ikoyi, Lagos. It is part of the Meltwater Entrepreneurial School of Technology (MEST) and provides a platform for early-stage startups to grow their businesses. MEST provides seed funding, mentorship, and access to a global network of investors and entrepreneurs. MEST focuses on training and investing in startups that are developing innovative solutions in fintech, e-commerce, and software as a service (SaaS). Leadspace Technology Hub is a co-working

space and technology hub located in Yaba Lagos. It provides a conducive workspace for tech startups, freelancers, and entrepreneurs to collaborate, innovate, and create solutions that address the challenges in the African business environment. It offers various facilities and services, including high-speed internet connectivity, 24/7 power supply, meeting rooms, and event spaces. The hub also provides business development services, mentorship, and access to funding opportunities to support startups and entrepreneurs in their journey. Some of the notable startups that have been incubated at Leadspace include BudgIT, an open data platform that promotes transparency and accountability in government spending, and Printivo, an online print shop that offers printing services to businesses and individuals. NG_Hub is a technology hub launched by Facebook in partnership with Cocreation Hub. It is in Lagos, and provides training, mentorship, and access to Facebook’s global network of developers and investors. NG_Hub focuses on training developers in emerging technologies like Artificial Intelligence, Machine Learning, and Virtual Reality. Wennovation Hub is a technology hub located in Ikeja, Lagos. It provides a platform for early-stage startups to access funding, mentorship, and networking opportunities. It focuses on startups in the education, agriculture, and health sectors. It is safe to say Lagos is a hub for technology innovation in Nigeria, and several technology hubs have emerged to support startups in their preliminary stages. These hubs provide a platform for startups to access funding, mentorship, and networking opportunities. The technology hubs in Lagos are contributing to the growth of the technology ecosystem in Nigeria and are positioning Nigeria as a hub for technology innovation in Africa.

RISE IN INDIGENOUS TECH HUBS

Nigeria is experiencing an increase in the number of local technology hubs, which is a positive development and playing a significant role in the growth of the country’s technology ecosystem.

The increase in local technology hubs in Nigeria is a positive development that is contributing to the growth of the country’s technology ecosystem. The government’s support, the growth of the startup ecosystem, and the increasing demand for digital solutions, are some of the factors driving this growth. The impact of these technology hubs on Nigeria’s economy and the society, is significant and have the potential to drive innovation and address some of the country’s most pressing challenges. One of the main factors contributing to the growth of local technology hubs in Nigeria is the government’s support. The Nigerian government has recognised the importance of technology in driving economic growth and has implemented policies to support the growth of the tech industry. For example, in 2013, the government launched the Youth Enterprise with Innovation in Nigeria (YouWIN) program, which provides funding, training, and mentorship to young entrepreneurs in Nigeria. Additionally, the government has launched several initiatives aimed at improving internet infrastructure and digital literacy in the country, which has created an enabling environment for the growth of local technology hubs. Another factor contributing to the growth of local technology hubs in Nigeria is the increasing demand for digital solutions. Nigeria has a large and growing population, and there is a significant demand for digital solutions that can help improve access to essential services, such as healthcare, education, and financial services. The growth of the startup ecosystem in Nigeria has also contributed to the increase in local technology hubs, as entrepreneurs are looking for places to connect, collaborate, and access funding and mentorship.

THE IMPACT

According to recent research, the impact of the increase in local technology hubs on Nigeria’s economy has been significant. The hubs provide a platform for startups to access funding, mentorship, and networking opportunities, which has helped to grow the startup ecosystem in the country. Additionally, the hubs are creating jobs and contributing to

economic growth, as they attract talent and investment to the country. Furthermore, the technology solutions developed by these startups have the potential to address some of the country’s most pressing challenges, such as healthcare, education, and financial inclusion. The increase is part of a broader trend across Africa, where there has been a surge of investment and interest in the technology sector in recent years. This trend has been fuelled by a young, tech-savvy population, a growing middle class, and increasing access to technology and the internet. In Nigeria, the tech sector is particularly vibrant, with a growing number of startups and entrepreneurs developing innovative solutions across a range of sectors. One of the key benefits of local technology hubs is that they provide a supportive environment for startups to grow and succeed. They offer access to resources such as funding, mentorship, and networking opportunities, which can be critical in helping startups overcome the challenges they face in the initial stages of development. Additionally, technology hubs provide a space for collaboration and knowledge-sharing, allowing startups to learn from one another and develop stronger solutions. The impact of local technology hubs is not limited to the startups they support. They also contribute to the wider economy by creating jobs and attracting investment. As technology hubs grow and become more established, they can help to build a strong technology ecosystem, which in turn can attract larger investors and tech companies to the country. This can have a positive impact on the economy by creating new jobs, promoting innovation, and increasing exports. Moreover, local technology hubs are helping to drive innovation in key sectors such as healthcare, education, real estate and financial services. By developing digital solutions that address these critical areas, startups in Nigeria are helping to bridge gaps in access to essential services and improve the quality of life for millions of people. For example, startups such as Lifebank, which was incubated at CcHub, are using technology to improve access to blood transfusions in Nigeria, while startups such as Andela and Paystack have revolutionised the way businesses operate in the country.

PROSPECTS

The future of the tech hubs looks promising. With the growing interest of investors in African startups, there is a lot of potential for local tech hubs in Nigeria to attract more funding and support for startups. Additionally, the Nigerian government has been taking steps to create an enabling environment for startups, such as the recent launch of the Nigerian Youth Investment Fund, which aims to provide financial support to startups and small businesses. The increase in local technology hubs in Nigeria is a positive development that is contributing to the growth of the country’s technology ecosystem. They provide a supportive environment for startups to grow and succeed, contribute to the wider economy by creating jobs and attracting investment, and are driving innovation in critical sectors. With continued support from the government and the wider business community, indigenous technology hubs have the potential to transform Nigeria into a technology hub that rivals Silicon Valley and other global tech centres.

BARGE OPERATION: HOW NPA CREATED JOBS, ENHANCED EASE OF DOING BUSINESS AT SEAPORTS risen from N317 billion in 2020 to N361billion in 2022, thereby, supporting the federal government in meeting its obligation to Nigerians. “The NPA has supported the national economy through unprecedented revenue generation

and remittances to CRF of the federation with revenues steadily growing from N317 billion in 2020 to N361billion in 2022 and remittances progressively soaring from 80 Billion in 2020 to 91Billion by financial year end 2022. “The NPA created new

businesses and attendant job opportunities such as the barge operations services which apart from reducing pressure on the roads has grown into a N2 billion annual generation business both from direct investment and accompanying externalities.

Licensing of additional truck parks to increase capacity of truck parks servicing the Lagos Ports, “said an official of the NPA As part of his measure to improve ease of doing business at the ports, the Bello-Koko recently approved the licensing

of 10 Export Processing Terminals (EPT) to facilitate seamless export cargo out of the nation’s seaports. “Licensing of 10 Export Processing Terminals to facilitate exports at Nigerian Sea Ports is to provide a one-stop shop for export where quality control, cargo

assessment by all government agencies and issuance of good-toship clearance will be obtained. This has led to a significant reduction in truck turn-around time due to successful implementation of the E-Call Up System, “an importer, Akinwale James told newsmen.

SVB: EXPERT INSISTS ON ESTABLISHMENT NATIONAL TECH-INNOVATION STARTUP INVESTMENT FUND FOR NIGERIA all, target the African technology development market landscape. “Nigeria should among other things, establish the Office of the Information Technology General of the Federation (OITGF) with

the responsibility to reengineer empower and monitor the development and maturity of digital innovation and performance security, similar to the Office of the Accountant

General of the Federation. Nigeria should also review and re-engineer the defunct Nigeria Technical Aids Corps programme and rebrand it as Nigeria Technology Innovation

Corps for Africa (NTICA),” Uwaje advised. Addressing the way forward for Nigeria tech ecosystem, Uwaje said with the mastery of software innovation, “Nigeria

is peeping at the threshold of extraordinary self-discovery of her true human potential, adding that there is something beyond imagination in the accumulated creativity and moon-shot

expectations of Nigerians with respect to tech-innovation at the speed of thought. Within this 21st Century, a Nigerian IT-Mind will break a world digital innovation record.”

T H I S D AY ˾ THURSDAY, MARCH 23, 2023

BUSINESSWORLD

DEVELOPMENT

The Task Before President-elect On May 29, 2023 the President Muhammadu Buhari administration will come to an end to pave way for the incoming President. To allow a smooth democratic transition, it is expected that the new administration will build on the legacies of the past administration, finish the work left undone, and unfold its developmental blueprint. The eight years of the Buhari’s administration has had its own fair share of challenges, with twists and turns, good and bad days. In this analysis, Ugo Aliogo takes a cursory look at those activities and how they transformed the economy ECONOMIC GROWTH PROSPECT

t will nit be a tea party for the new government given the state of the Nigerian economy. Recently, the World Bank predicted a sharp, long-lasting slowdown for developing countries in 2023 as the global economy weakens. The bank said this in its latest ‘global economics prospects’ report released in January. The report revealed that the 2023 global growth is expected to slow to 1.7 per cent-a downgrade from 3 per cent earlier projected in June 2022. The World Bank warned that shocks including higher-than-expected inflation, sudden spikes in interest rates to contain price increases, or a pandemic resurgence could tip the global economy into a recession. The report also beamed a searchlight on Nigeria’s 2023 economic growth prospect. The World Bank noted that Nigeria’s 2023 economic growth projection to 2.9 percent from a previous projection of 3.1 per cent. This, the bank explained, is due to production challenges in the oil sector, rising insecurity, and flooding. The Bank also stated that in Nigeria, growth is projected to decelerate to 2.9 per cent in 2023 and remain at that pace in 2024 barely above population growth. The report said: “A growth momentum in the non-oil sector is likely to be restrained by continued weakness in the oil sector. Existing production and security challenges and a moderation in oil prices are expected

to hinder a recovery in oil output. Policy uncertainty sustained high inflation, and rising incidence of violence are anticipated to temper growth. Growth in agriculture is expected to soften because of the damage from last year’s floods.” If the economy is not fixed by the President Buhari’s economic team, and fiscal policy concerns are not addressed, the in-coming president will inherit an economy in crisis. Fixing the economy will take some amount of time probably six months or a year, depending on the economic approaches and commitment of the economic team.

FOOD INSECURITY

Nearly 25 million Nigerians are at risk of facing hunger between June and August 2023, if urgent action is not taken, according to the October 2022 Cadre Harmonisé, a government led and UN-supported food and nutrition analysis carried out twice a year. The report stated that this is a projected increase from the estimated 17 million people currently at risk of food insecurity. Continued conflict, climate change, inflation and rising food prices are key drivers of this alarming trend. Food access has been affected by persistent violence in

the north-east states of Borno, Adamawa and Yobe (BAY) and armed banditry and kidnapping in states such as Katsina, Sokoto, Kaduna, Benue and Niger. According to the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), widespread flooding in the 2022 rainy season damaged more than 676,000 hectares of farmlands, which diminished harvests and increased the risk of food insecurity for families across the country. The flooding is one of the effects of climate change and variability impacting Nigeria. More extreme weather patterns affecting food security are anticipated in the future. Of the 17 million people who are currently food insecure, 3 million are in the northeast BAY states. Without immediate action, this figure is expected to increase to 4.4 million in the lean season. This includes highly vulnerable displaced populations and returnees who are already struggling to survive a large-scale humanitarian crisis in which 8.3 million people need assistance. Reacting to the development, the Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator for Nigeria, Mr. Matthias Schmale, said: “The food security and nutrition situation across Nigeria is deeply concerning. I have visited nutrition stabilization centres filled with children who are fighting to stay alive. The story continues online on www.thisdaylive.com

Onyemelukwe: We are Focused on Data-driven Approach to Sustainability In this interview with the Director of Public Affairs, Communications, and Sustainability at Coca-Cola Nigeria, Nwamaka Onyemelukwe, she speaks about the company’s integrated Environmental, Social, and Governance priorities that have positioned sustainability at the core of its operations, Ugo Aliogo presents the excerpts How would you rate the signiﬁcance of sustainability to Coca-Cola Nigeria Limited? s a company, sustainability is a core aspect of our evolved global strategy. The Coca-Cola System in Nigeria, comprising Coca-Cola Nigeria, Chi Limited, and its bottling partner, Nigerian Bottling Company, has its environmental, social, and governance (ESG) priorities integrated into its strategy. In 2021, our company took steps to emerge stronger from the pandemic and position itself for continued growth. We are focused on creating a portfolio of beverage brands people love while building a more sustainable future for our business and our planet. We prioritized sustainability and consistently focused on areas where we can have a measurable, positive impact on the communities we serve around the world as a Company that truly believes in making a difference in the communities where we do business. Our ESG initiatives are interconnected, and so are the solutions we support. These solutions range from packaging waste management to water security and leadership, climate change, and finally, the economic empowerment of women and youths, ensuring the well-being of people and communities. In implementing these solutions, we seek an exponentially greater impact by fostering collective action, which is done by partnering across industries, government, and society to create shared opportunities. We are conscious of reducing our company’s environmental impact, so we announced several commitments and targets. I will speak on two key focus areas: water leadership and our world without waste commitment. Our 2030 water security strategy focuses on increasing water security through a context-based approach to water replenishment, advocacy for smart water policies and responsible water use across our operations and supply chain while our world without waste strategy is to make 100 percent of our packaging recyclable by 2025, enable 100 percent recovery for every bottle we sell by 2030 and use at least 50 percent

Onyemelukwe recycled content in our packaging by 2030. You noted that a key component of Coca-Cola’s global strategy is sustainability. How is that impacting operations in Nigeria and throughout West Africa? Our environmental, social, and governance (ESG) priorities continue to be embedded in our business and the way we work. This has led to a significant positive impact across our value chain and the people we serve across Nigeria and the African continent. Water is a top business priority. It is the principal ingredient in the products we make and is critical for the agricultural products we use. Together with our bottling partner, Nigerian Bottling Company, we have helped build healthy and productive communities through over 105 different projects, providing clean water access to over 1.2 million people over the last 10 years. Access to clean water is vital for health, helps save lives, drives economic growth, helps keep children in school, and increases opportunities for women and girls. We are proud of the progress we have made and will continue to make to provide proper

sanitation, which lowers the risk of diseases and ensures dignity, privacy, and safety for all, especially vulnerable women and children. We have also continued to make meaningful progress on our World Without Waste packaging initiative. We continue to invest in partnerships with innovators and NGOs like the Growing Business Foundation (GBF), Nigeria Climate Innovation Centre (NCIC), SWEEP Foundation, FABE Foundation, and the Food and Beverage Recycling Alliance (FBRA), and others in Nigeria. We have pioneered some innovations, such as switching from green to clear bottles for our iconic Sprite PET bottle, lightweighting across our packaging to reduce our plastic footprint, and championing an industry-leading goal to significantly increase our use of reusable packaging. Over the last five years, The Coca-Cola System and its philanthropic arm, The Coca-Cola Foundation, have provided over $6 million in grants to various NGO partners and social ventures to drive recycling initiatives, water and sanitation programmes, and economic empowerment projects in various communities, including disaster relief. We provided over 8,000 households with relief materials due to the recent flooding disaster in Nigeria. Through this, rice and cassava seedlings were also provided to approximately 2,800 small-holder farmers, 80 percent of whom were women, to support and restore their means of livelihood post-disaster. Our bottling partner, the Nigerian Bottling Company, is also leading the way in sustainable manufacturing by investing in solutions that contribute to advancements in its focus areas of energy use reduction, water use reduction, emissions reduction, and waste generation reduction. This has led to 50 percent of its manufacturing plants being partly powered by solar energy, with the photovoltaic cells delivering up to 3,640 kilowatts of peak power output (KWp) to the plants. Water risks and packaging waste are linked to climate change. We are reducing our carbon footprint through an intertwined and holistic approach across our ESG priorities. Our vision

is for packaging to be reused and recycled as part of a circular economy, which means a world with lower carbon emissions and climate impacts. These investments are implemented to stem the tide of environmental degradation and foster industry collaboration among all the players in the waste management value chain, foster economic prosperity, and promote water security for communities in the country. These grants you speak of, what projects are they supporting, and how have these projects impacted waste management in Nigeria thus far? We are excited to state that Coca-Cola has been a catalyst in galvanizing the recycling and waste value chain in Nigeria. This leadership dates back to 2005 when we supported setting up the very first recycling company in Nigeria. Since then, a lot of work and investment has gone into the development of small and medium-scale collectors and aggregators to support the new, but promising recycling sector that can drive foreign direct investment and create millions of jobs. Coca-Cola, in partnership with these NGOs, has co-created signature, award-winning, impactful projects that continue to create shared opportunities across various communities. Some of them include RESWAYE by Medic, Recycle pays by African Clean up Initiative, Waste in the City by SWEEP Foundation, Tidy Nigeria by FABE Foundation, Trash to Cash by WASTE Africa, REVIVE and Project DORI by Recycle Points, Waste to Wealth by Do Good Foundation, Empowering Collectors Initiative by Growing Business Foundation and CYLEPLAST by Nigeria Climate Innovation Centre. So far, over 4 billion plastic bottles have been removed from the environment, creating over 6,000 jobs for women and youth. We have also supported scaling and set up 23 small- to medium-sized collectors and aggregators, who are in turn creating thousands of jobs in their immediate environment. The story continues online on www.thisdaylive.com

THURSDAY, MARCH 23, 2023 • T H I S D AY

MARKET NEWS A Mutual fund (Unit Trust) is an investment vehicle managed by a SEC (Securities and Exchange Commission) registered Fund Manager. Investors with similar objectives buy units of the Fund so that the Fund Manager can buy securities that willl generate their desired return. An ETF (Exchange Traded Fund) is a type of fund which owns the assets (shares of stock, bonds, oil futures, gold bars, foreign currency, etc.) and divides ownership of those assets into shares. Investors can buy these ‘shares’ on the

floor of the Nigerian Stock Exchange. A REIT (Real Estate Investment Trust) is an investment vehicle that allows both small and large investors to part-own real estate ventures (eg. Offices, Houses, Hospitals) in proportion to their investments. The assets are divided into shares that are traded on the Nigerian Stock Exchange. GUIDE TO DATA: Date: All fund prices are quoted in Naira as at 21Mar-2023, unless otherwise stated.

Offer price: The price at which units of a trust or ETF are bought by investors. Bid Price: The price at which Investors redeem (sell) units of a trust or ETF. Yield/Total Return: Denotes the total return an investor would have earned on his investment. Money Market Funds report Yield while others report Year- to-date Total Return. NAV: Is value per share of the real estate assets held by a REIT on a specific date.

DAILY PRICE LIST FOR MUTUAL FUNDS, REITS and ETFS MUTUAL FUNDS / UNIT TRUSTS AFRINVEST ASSET MANAGEMENT LTD aaml@afrinvest.com Web: www.afrinvest.com; Tel: +234 818 885 6757 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Afrinvest Equity Fund 200.46 201.61 7.13% Afrinvest Plutus Fund 100.00 100.00 1.44% Nigeria International Debt Fund 330.98 330.98 0.02% Afrinvest Dollar Fund 107.16 108.26 14.04% AIICO CAPITAL LTD ammf@aiicocapital.com Web: www.aiicocapital.com, Tel: +234-1-2792974 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn AIICO Money Market Fund 100.00 100.00 13.14% AIICO Balanced Fund 3.88 3.94 13.92% ANCHORIA ASSET MANAGEMENT LIMITED info@anchoriaam.com Web:www.anchoriaam.com, Tel: 08166830267; 08036814510; 08028419180 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Anchoria Money Market 100.00 100.00 6.23% Anchoria Equity Fund 154.28 155.88 6.44% Anchoria Fixed Income Fund 1.25 1.25 1.69% ARM INVESTMENT MANAGERS LTD enquiries@arminvestmentcenter.com info@anchoriaam.com Web: www.arm.com.ng; Tel: 0700 CALLARM (0700 225 5276) Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn ARM Aggressive Growth Fund 23.36 24.06 6.43% ARM Discovery Balanced Fund 548.02 564.55 5.14% ARM Ethical Fund N/A N/A N/A ARM Eurobond Fund ($) N/A N/A N/A ARM Fixed Income Fund 1.12 1.12 1.55% ARM Money Market Fund 1.00 1.00 10.30% ARM Short Term Bond Fund 1.05 1.05 1.37% AVA GLOBAL ASSET MANAGERS LIMITED info@avacapitalgroup.com Web: www.avacapitalgroup.com; Tel 08069294653 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn AVA GAM Fixed Income Dollar Fund 93.41 93.41 -1.78% AVA GAM Fixed Income Naira Fund 1,126.92 1,126.92 0.04% AXA MANSARD INVESTMENTS LIMITED investmentcare@axamansard.com Web: www.axamansard.com; Tel: +2341-4488482 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn AXA Mansard Equity Income Fund N/A N/A N/A AXA Mansard Money Market Fund N/A N/A N/A CAPITAL EXPRESS ASSET AND TRUST LIMITED info@capitalexpressassetandtrust.com Web: www.capitalexpressassetandtrust.com; Tel: +234 803 307 5048 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn CEAT Fixed Income Fund N/A N/A N/A Capital Express Balanced Fund(Formerly: Union Trustees Mixed Fund) N/A N/A N/A CAPITALTRUST INVESTMENTS AND ASSET MANAGEMENT LIMITED halalﬁf@capitaltrustnigeria.com Web: www.capitaltrustnigeria.com; Tel: 08061458806 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Capitaltrust Halal Fixed Income Fund N/A N/A N/A CARDINALSTONE ASSET MANAGEMENT LIMITED mutualfunds@cardinalstone.com Web: www.cardinalstoneassetmanagement.com; Tel: +234 (1) 710 0433 4 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn CardinalStone Fixed Income Alpha Fund N/A N/A N/A CHAPELHILL DENHAM MANAGEMENT LTD investmentmanagement@chapelhilldenham.com Web: www.chapelhilldenham.com, Tel: +234 461 0691 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Chapelhill Denham Money Market Fund 100.00 100.00 11.40% Paramount Equity Fund 20.01 20.38 4.90% Women's Investment Fund 153.43 155.66 4.92% CHD Nigeria Bond Fund 102.04 102.04 12.04% CHD Nigeria Dollar Income Fund 1.00 1.00 10.41% CORDROS ASSET MANAGEMENT LIMITED assetmgtteam@cordros.com Web: www.cordros.com, Tel: 019036947 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Cordros Money Market Fund N/A 100.00 8.27% Cordros Milestone Fund 143.74 144.66 4.39% Cordros Fixed Income Fund 107.56 107.56 9.71% Cordros Halal Fixed Income Fund 104.56 104.56 6.03% Cordros Dollar Fund ($) 114.51 114.51 5.77% CORONATION ASSETS MANAGEMENT investment@coronationam.com Web:www.coronationam.com, Tel: 012366215 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn 1.00 1.00 9.86% Coronation Money Market Fund 1.23 1.24 2.94% Coronation Balanced Fund 1.39 1.39 -1.22% Coronation Fixed Income Fund EDC FUNDS MANAGEMENT LIMITED mutualfundng@ecobank.com Web: www.ecobank.com Tel: 012265281 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn EDC Nigeria Money Market Fund Class A 100.00 100.00 9.05% EDC Nigeria Money Market Fund Class B 1,000,000.00 1,000,000.00 10.97% EDC Nigeria Fixed Income Fund 1,129.81 1,135.79 2.15% EMERGING AFRICA ASSET MANAGEMENT LIMITED assetmanagement@emergingafricafroup.com Web:www.emergingafricagroup.com/emerging-africa-asset-management-limited/, Tel: 08039492594 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Emerging Africa Money Market Fund 1.00 1.00 13.71% Emerging Africa Bond Fund 1.09 1.09 10.30% Emerging Africa Balanced Diversity Fund 1.13 1.13 23.34% Emerging Africa Eurobond Fund 106.05 106.05 4.67% FBNQUEST ASSETS MANAGEMENT LIMITED invest@fbnquest.com Web: www.fbnquest.com/asset-management; Tel: +234-81 0082 0082 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn FBN Bond Fund 1509.02 1509.02 11.90% FBN Balanced Fund 209.47 211.01 4.90% FBN Halal Fund 126.18 126.18 12.36% FBN Money Market Fund 100.00 100.00 11.13% FBN Dollar Fund 122.08 122.08 6.94% FBN Smart Beta Equity Fund 174.79 177.11 5.54% FBN Specialized Dollar Fund 106.29 106.29 9.58% FCMB ASSET MANAGEMENT LIMITED fcmbamhelpdesk@fcmb.com Web: www.fcmbassetmanagement.com; Tel: +234 1 462 2596 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Legacy Money Market Fund 1.00 1.00 7.53% Legacy Debt Fund 3.53 3.53 -11.83% Legacy Equity Fund 2.10 2.14 20.71% Legacy USD Bond Fund 1.28 1.28 6.10% FSDH ASSET MANAGEMENT LTD coralfunds@fsdhgroup.com Web: www.fsdhaml.com; Tel: 01-270 4884-5; 01-280 9740-1

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

Bid Price 4,378.61 3,774.91 100.00

Offer Price 4,406.85 3,774.91 100.00

Yield / T-Rtn 18.51% 7.72% 11.23%

FSDH Dollar Fund 1.15 1.15 5.66% GUARANTY TRUST FUND MANAGERS LIMITED enquiries@investment-one.com Web: www.gtcoplc.bank; Tel: +234 812 992 1045,+234 1 448 8888 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Abacus Money Market Fund N/A N/A N/A Vantage Balanced Fund N/A N/A N/A Vantage Guaranteed Income Fund N/A N/A N/A Kedari Investment Fund (KIF) N/A N/A N/A Vantage Equity Income Fund (VEIF) - June Year End N/A N/A N/A Vantage Dollar Fund (VDF) - June Year End N/A N/A N/A LOTUS CAPITAL LTD ﬁncon@lotuscapitallimited.com Web: www.lotuscapitallimited.com; Tel: +234 1-291 4626 / +234 1-291 4624 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Lotus Halal Investment Fund 1.82 1.85 4.16% Lotus Halal Fixed Income Fund 1,182.51 1,182.51 1.90% MERISTEM WEALTH MANAGEMENT LTD info@meristemwealth.com Web: www.meristemwealth.com/funds/; Tel: +2348028496012 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Meristem Equity Market Fund 13.00 13.06 5.55% Meristem Money Market Fund 10.00 10.00 11.97% NORRENBERGER INVESTMENT AND CAPITAL MANAGEMENT LIMITED enquiries@norrenberger.com Web: www.norrenberger.com, Tel: +234 (0) 908 781 2026 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Norrenberger Islamic Fund (NIF) 102.68 102.68 9.88% Norrenberger Money Market Fund (NMMF) 100.00 100.00 12.19% PAC ASSET MANAGEMENT LTD info@pacassetmanagement.com Web: www.pacassetmanagement.com/mutualfunds; Tel: +234 1 271 8632 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn PACAM Balanced Fund N/A N/A N/A PACAM Fixed Income Fund N/A N/A N/A PACAM Money Market Fund N/A N/A N/A PACAM Equity Fund N/A N/A N/A PACAM EuroBond Fund N/A N/A N/A SCM CAPITAL ASSET MANAGEMENT LIMITED info@scmcapitalng.com Web: www.scmcapitalng.com; Tel: +234 1-280 2226,+234 1- 280 2227 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn SCM Capital The Frontier Fund 131.82 134.93 4.86% SFS CAPITAL NIGERIA LTD investments@sfsnigeria.com Web: www.sfsnigeria.com, Tel: +234 (01) 2801400 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn SFS Fixed Income Fund 1.02 1.02 11.02% STANBIC IBTC ASSET MANAGEMENT LTD assetmanagement@stanbicibtc.com Web: www.stanbicibtcassetmanagement.com; Tel: +234 1 280 1266; 0700 MUTUALFUNDS Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Stanbic IBTC Balanced Fund 3,825.70 3,853.87 12.82% Stanbic IBTC Bond Fund 247.19 247.19 4.93% Stanbic IBTC Ethical Fund 1.50 1.52 19.84% Stanbic IBTC Guaranteed Investment Fund 336.92 336.92 7.60% Stanbic IBTC Iman Fund 278.66 281.66 19.23% Stanbic IBTC Money Market Fund 1.00 1.00 8.83% Stanbic IBTC Nigerian Equity Fund 12,933.80 13,088.83 18.45% Stanbic IBTC Dollar Fund (USD) 1.38 1.38 7.19% Stanbic IBTC Shariah Fixed Income Fund 122.61 122.61 4.88% Stanbic IBTC Enhanced Short-Term Fixed Income Fund 117.17 117.17 10.15% Stanbic IBTC Absolute Fund 4,657.57 4,657.57 9.48% Stanbic IBTC Aggressive Fund 3,429.81 3,472.32 23.36% Stanbic IBTC Conservative Fund 4,385.32 4,401.76 15.19% UNITED CAPITAL ASSET MANAGEMENT LTD unitedcapitalplcgroup.com Web: www.unitedcapitalplcgroup.com; Tel: +234 01-6317876 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn United Capital Equity Fund 1.06 1.08 11.07% United Capital Balanced Fund 1.57 1.60 14.75% United Capital Wealth for Women Fund 1.27 1.29 9.03% United Capital Sukuk Fund 1.13 1.13 9.92% United Capital Fixed Income Fund 1.98 1.98 7.26% United Capital Eurobond Fund 126.83 126.83 5.45% United Capital Money Market Fund 1.00 1.00 9.55% QUANTUM ZENITH ASSET MANAGEMENT & INVESTMENTS LTD service@quantumzenithasset.com.ng Web: www.quantumzenith.com.ng; Tel: +234 1-2784219 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Zenith Balanced Strategy Fund 14.51 14.65 4.65% Zenith ESG Impact Fund 16.56 16.72 4.75% Zenith Income Fund 23.92 23.92 1.55% Zenith Money Market Fund 1.00 1.00 0.00% VETIVA FUND MANAGERS LTD funds@vetiva.com Web: www.vetiva.com; Tel: +234 1 453 0697 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Vetiva Banking Exchange Traded Fund 4.35 4.45 8.38% Vetiva Consumer Goods Exchange Traded Fund 6.93 7.03 18.45% Vetiva Grifﬁn 30 Exchange Traded Fund 19.85 20.05 12.17% Vetiva Money Market Fund 1.00 1.00 9.60% Vetiva Industrial Goods Exchange Traded Fund 25.46 25.66 27.28% Vetiva S&P Nigeria Sovereign Bond Exchange Traded Fund 143.32 145.32 -9.10% REITS NAV Per Share

Yield / T-Rtn

115.40 53.52 101.31 9.94

1.31% 4.74% -12.96%

Bid Price

Offer Price

Yield / T-Rtn

17.10 138.53 111.03 17.40 16.40

17.20 140.95 112.96 17.50 16.50

10.46% 8.56% 11.05% -4.46% -1.94%

NAV Per Share

Yield / T-Rtn

106.75

0.00%

Fund Name

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

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

INFRASTRUCTURE FUND Fund Name Chapel Hill Denham Nigeria Infrastructure Debt Fund

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

THURSDAY, MARCH 23, 2023 ˾ T H I S D AY

BUSINESS/MONEYGUIDE

Expert Calls on FG to Tackle Fraud in ePayment Sector Emma Okonji The Head of Engineering, OnePipe, Victor Irechukwu, has called on the federal government to tackle cases of online fraud in order to make epayments more acceptable to all. Irechukwu, in a statement, said the commonly reported theme has been a situation where people’s debit cards are used to make deposits on a gambling website without their knowledge. According to him, “At other times, you are shown a debit alert by someone who wants to purchase goods or services from you, but only later realise they showed you what has now been termed ‘fake alerts’. By this time, your goods, for instance, would have been long gone. “In recent months, social media has been awash with reports of money literally

growing wings and leaving some people’s accounts to those of other people without authorisation. Many of these cases have gone viral on social media, causing embarrassment for the banks involved - The issues are either quietly - or corrected with public acknowledgement. But not all are resolved. “As much as the country and even individuals would like to go cashless, these bad experiences leave a sour taste in the mouth, and they have continued to rain on the parade as Nigeria marches towards a cashless economy. It must be stressed that a cashless economy does not mean theft of money will stop, what it does is to change how thieves go about it. But more importantly, it also doesn’t mean thefts must occur.” He said in the electronic world, an article on The Balance Money, had described

hackers as the bank robbers and muggers. He quoted the Nigeria Inter-Bank Settlement System Plc (NIBSS), as saying that growth in the use of electronic channels, specifically mobile devices has also enticed fraudsters into focusing their efforts on these electronic channels. “NIBSS also showed that fraud attempts via mobile channel saw a 330 per cent increase year-on-year (YoY) between 2019 and 2020, while attempts via web and POS channels saw a 173 per cent and 215 per cent increase YoY. In those nine months, 96 per cent of the attacks were successful and there were 46,126 of such attacks. “This trend is expected to continue as Nigeria further grows financial inclusion and customers become increasingly dependent on electronic channels for their day-to-day transactions,” NIBSS said.

L-R: Member, Committee of e-Business Industry Heads (CeBIH) Advisory Council, Adeyemi Atanda; Divisional Head, Digital Banking, GTBank, Olayinka Odusote; Head, Card & Messaging Business, FirstBank of Nigeria and Vice-Chairman, CeBIH, Folasade Femi-Lawal; Group Chief Executive Oﬃcer, Guaranty Trust Holding Company Plc, Segun Agbaje; Head Card Business, Zenith Bank Plc and Chairman, CeBIH, Celestina Appeal; and Managing Director, Guaranty Trust Bank Nigeria, Miriam Olusanya, during the hosting of the general meeting of CeBIH in Lagos… recently

MARKET INDICATORS MONEY AND CREDIT STATISTICS (MILLION NAIRA)

FCMB Partners Leading Real Estate Firms on Affordable Housing First City Monument Bank (FCMB), has partnered with Brains & Hammers Limited and Brooks Assets & Resources Limited to provide affordable housing for salary earners and self-employed residents in Lagos State in a bid to make their dream of home ownership a reality. The partnership, which offers mortgage loans of up to N75 million, will empower FCMB customers and other Nigerians to purchase homes or acquire land in areas of their choice within Lagos State. The bank in a statement to announce the partnership said it understands the affordability criteria challenges facing its

customers as well as other Nigerians seeking to become homeowners. “Our partnership with Brains & Hammers Limited and Brooks Assets & Resources Limited provides a unique opportunity for our customers to fulfill their dreams of home ownership, easing all the constraints and fears associated with this exciting and self-fulfilling life moment that everyone cherishes, “said Divisional Head of Personal Banking at FCMB, Mr. Shamsideen Fashola. Commenting, the Acting Group Chief Operating Officer of Brains & Hammers Limited, Mrs. Christine Fashakin-Nobre

said: ‘’Brains & Hammers have an assortment of products in Abuja, Lagos and Kano that can meet the needs of every type of potential homeowner.” She said the company has products for Nigerians dreaming of becoming landlords and will work with FCMB to reduce the housing deficit. In her comments, the Managing Director of Brooks Assets & Resources Limited, Ms. Lanre Sola, said the provision of affordable and acceptable housing (AAH) to the average Nigerian has been a source of concern over the years, but the long-term mortgage facility by FCMB has come as a blessing in disguise.

Rainoil Calls for Optimal Utilisation of Gas to Achieve Energy Security The Executive Director, Rainoil Limited, Mr. Emmanuel Omuojine has said the optimal utilisation of gas is the guarantee to acvhieving energy security and equity in Africa. Speaking at the recently concluded Africa Refiners and Distributors Association Conference, ARDA Week 2023, held in Cape Town, South Africa, Omuojine, in his presentation titled “The Critical Role of Liquified Petroleum Gas in Africa Energy Transition”, stated that despite the growth in renewable energy projects, oil and gas will remain a significant part of Africa’s energy mix, with gas accounting for at least 25% of this by 2050.

He said Africa has over 620 trillion cubic feet of natural gas reserves which will be critical to its energy security. Referencing the impact of Russia – Ukraine war on the global energy sector, Omuojine said International Oil Companies such as BP, Chevron, ExxonMobil, Shell and TotalEnergies raked in a combined record profits of over $199.3 bn in 2022. Unsurprisingly that have soft-pedalled on their aggressive plans to slash oil and gas production by 2030. He stated that for Nigeria to harness the benefits of its energy transition is to fully implement the Petroleum

Industry Act (PIA) especially as it relates to the optimal utlisation of the country’s vast gas reserves. Focusing on the LPG sector, Omuojine stated that while Nigeria had significantly improved its annual per capita consumption of LPG from 1.8 kg in 2015 to at least 5 kg currently, it still imports well over 60% of its LPG demand. He added that this was an anomaly since Nigeria has the most proven gas reserves in Africa, at over 209 trillion cubic feet. Nigeria’s domestic demand for LPG increased from just over 400,000 MT in 2016 to over 1.3 million MT in 2022.

TLG Capital Launches N2.25b Credit Facility for OnePipe Emma Okonji TLG Capital, a pan-African alternative investments firm, has partnered OnePipe to provide credit services to the informal sector in Nigeria. The firm provided up to N2.25 billion in a collateralised credit facility for OnePipe, a Nigerian financial infrastructure company that uses its technology platforms to enable traditional businesses bring financial services into their operations. The deal was completed by the TLG Africa Growth Impact

Fund (AGIF) and represents TLG Capital’s 34th investment. The investment will be used to provide inventory finance to small shops in Nigeria. OnePipe is a fast-growing financial infrastructure company that enables merchants to access goods on credit from larger distributors who work with OnePipe. The company has built an extensive network of field officers and partners, including banks, and payment service providers. CEO of OnePipe, Ope Adeoye, said: “TLG’s exten-

sive experience structuring debt in Nigeria and their deep network across Africa, particularly in venture, made them the partner of choice as we look to scale. TLG is our first debt partner and has been a powerful resource in planning our growth and balance sheet strategy. Through this partnership, we’re looking to build the infrastructure to provide credit and payment services to the two-thirds of Nigerian business owners who don’t have access to effective and practical banking services.”

AUGUST 2022 Money Supply (M3)

49,356,443.6

-- CBN Bills Held by Money Holding Sectors

50,601.36

Money Supply (M2)

49,305,842.3

-- Quasi Money

27,869,678.3

-- Narrow Money (M1)

21,436,164

---- Currency Outside Banks

2,680,236.81

---- Demand Deposits

18,755,927.2

Net Foreign Assets (NFA)

5,074,909.92

Net Domestic Assets(NDA)

27,869,678.3

-- Net Domestic Credit (NDC)

61,195,142.4

---- Credit to Government (Net)

21,001,401.5

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

0.00

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

0.00

---- Credit to Private Sector (CPS)

40,193,740.9

--Other Assets Net

6,785,979.22

Reserve Money (Base Money

14,040,351.9

--Currency in Circulation

3,210,664.98

--Banks Reserves --Special Intervention Reserves

10,829,686.9 390,557.8

˾ ÙßÜÍÏ ̋

Money Market Indicators (in Percentage) Month

July 2022

Inter-Bank Call Rate

13.00

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

14.00

Treasury Bill Rate

2.76

Savings Deposit Rate

1.42

1 Month Deposit Rate

3.64

3 Months Deposit Rate

4.96

6 Months Deposit Rate

5.87

12 Months Deposit Rate

5.76

Prime Lending rate

12.10

Maximum Lending Rate

27.61

˾ ÙØÏÞËÜã ÙÖÓÍã ËÞÏ ̋ ͯͱϱ

OPEC DAILY BASKET PRICE AS AT 8 MARCH, 2023

The price of OPEC basket of thirteen crudes stood at $84.37 a barrel on Tuesday, compared with $84.59 the previous day, according to OPEC Secretariat calculations. The OPEC Reference Basket of Crudes (ORB) is made up of the following: Saharan Blend (Algeria), Girassol (Angola), Djeno (Congo), Zaﬁro (Equatorial Guinea), Rabi Light (Gabon), Iran Heavy (Islamic Republic of Iran), Basrah Medium (Iraq), Kuwait Export (Kuwait), Es Sider (Libya), Bonny Light (Nigeria), Arab Light (Saudi Arabia), Murban (UAE) and Merey (Venezuela).

T H I S D AY ˾ THURSDAY, MARCH 23, 2023

MARKET NEWS

Buy Interest in GTCO, Others Lift Stock Market by N17bn Kayode Tokede The stock market of the Nigerian Exchange Limited (NGX) yesterday closed on a positive note as the market capitalisation gained N17 billion, amid investors buy interest in Guaranty Trust Holding Company (GTCO) and eight other stocks. The NGXAll Share Index (ASI) rose by 31.43 basis

points or 0.06 per cent to close at 54,936.11 basis points. Also, investors gained N17 billion in value as market capitalisation went up to N29.927 trillion. As measured by market breadth, market sentiment was negative, as 14 stocks lost relative to nine gainers. GTCO and Wapic Insurance recorded the highest price gain of 2.44 per cent each to

P R I C E S MAIN BOARD

DEALS

F O R MARKET PRICE

close at N25.50 and 42 kobo, while Linkage Assurance followed with a gain of 2.22 per cent to close at 46 kobo, per share. Lasaco Assurance rose by 2.04 per cent to close at N1.00, while Transcorp appreciated by 1.56 per cent to close at N1.30, per share. On the other hand, NCR Nigeria led the losers’ chart by 9.69 per cent to close at

N2.61, per share. FTN Cocoa processors followed with a decline of 6.90 per cent to close at 27 kobo, while Japaul Gold & Ventures shed 6.67 per cent to close at 28 kobo, per share. Cutix lost 4.95 per cent to close at N2.11, while Consolidated Hallmark Insurance shed 4.62 per cent to close at 62 kobo, per share. The total volume traded

S E C U R I T I E S

T R A D E D

QUANTITY TRADED

VALUE TRADED ( N )

MAIN BOARD

rose by 5.0 per cent to 134.151 million units, valued at N1.330 billion, and exchanged in 2,479 deals. Transactions in the shares of Transcorp topped the activity chart with 28.122 million shares valued at N35.932 million. United Bank for Africa followed with 21.232 million shares worth N170.415 million, while Courteville Business Solutions traded

AS O F

19.123 million shares valued at N8.608 million. GTCO traded 13.551 million shares valued at N336.904 million, while FBNH transacted 8.126 million shares worth N88.998 million. Analysts at Afrinvest Limited said “in the penultimate trading session, we expect a muted performance on the bourse, on the back of weak investor sentiment.”

2 2 / 0 3 / 2 3 DEALS

MARKET PRICE

QUANTITY TRADED

VALUE TRADED ( N)

T H I S D AY ˾ AY, MARCH 23, 2023

HEALTH & LIFESTYLE

Group Features Editor: Chiemelie Ezeobi Email chiemelie.ezeobi@thisdaylive.com, Tel: 07010510430

Boost for War against Fake Drugs in Kano

Sunday Ehigiator writes that the war against the sales of fake drugs recently got a boost in Kano State with the inauguration of the ‘Coordinated Pharmaceutical Warehouse’

n 2022, the National Primary Healthcare Development Agency, NPHDA, said over 70 per cent of medicines being dispensed in Nigeria was substandard. The agency noted that the majority of Nigerians did not have access to quality health services. Similarly, officers of the Nigeria Customs Service in collaboration with other sister agencies like the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency and the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control recently destroyed 48 containers of substandard drugs coming into the country. Nigeria’s Plight A lot of Nigerians have been hard hit by the menace of fake drugs. According to medical experts, some of the health issues ranging from loss of sight and hearing defects as well as kidney and liver issues are caused by substandard drugs or abuse thereof. Nigeria is the most counterfeit market in the developing world, according to Bloomberg, occupying a top seat among African countries losing thousands of citizens annually to fake drugs. According to the Brazzaville Foundation, about 120,000 Africans die annually from health complications related to the use of fake or counterfeited drugs. The negative effects of substandard drugs in Nigeria can only be imagined as peddlers of these products disguised in several forms just to carry on with their illegal business. Proliferation of Fake Drugs Most streets in Nigeria have medicine merchants, popularly known as chemists, in various corners dispensing drugs at will without certification. This is not to mention fake drug peddlers in markets, villages, commercial buses and hard-to-monitor areas. While some hawk them, a few have backyard factories where they manufacture these products and dish them to vulnerable Nigerians. These products are attractive to the vast majority of Nigerians because they are relatively cheaper compared to medicines from genuine pharmacies. And with 95 million people poor in Nigeria, according to the World Bank, it is easier to see why the counterfeit market is booming, say experts. Some of these merchants of substandard drugs leave the buyer with no traceable address, making it hard to arrest and prosecute them. The pharmaceutical industry is hard hit by the prevalence of these drugs. Pharmacists complain that a lot of Nigerians now tar everybody in the drug value chain with the same brush. Also, counterfeit drugs are threatening over N500 billion in investments made by local pharma players in the country. Currently, several local industries complain of low patronage, resulting from Nigerians finding cheaper alternatives in unapproved medicines. It was to curb these negative trends that the idea of a ‘Coordinated Pharmaceutical Warehouse’ was born. Coordinated Pharmaceutical Warehouse One of the major impediments to the availability of good quality medicines and effective healthcare delivery in the country is the chaotic drug distribution system. This has led to open drug stores and markets where people sell drugs in the same manner as ‘second-hand clothes’, spare parts, and foodstuffs, among other things across the country. Medical experts say drugs are poisons and should be dispensed by professionals under appropriate conditions. However, open drug markets do not have a conducive atmosphere for storage, and operators of such markets do not take cognizance of the fact that drugs could be dangerous to the health of the people taking them. In 2018, former Registrar Pharmacists Council of Nigeria (PCN), Pharm Elijah Mohammed, said open drug markets are

L/R: Minister of Health, Dr Osagie Ehanire with Governor of Kano State, Abdullahi Umar Ganduje and other dignitaries at the recently held commissioning of the Kanawa Coordinated Pharmaceutical Warehouse Centre in Kano State the major hub of drug supply and drug problems in Nigeria. He said the four major open drug markets in the country that were of concern to the federal government were the Idumota Drug market, Lagos; Onitsha overhead Bridge, Anambra State; Ariaria Market Aba, Abia State and Sabon Gari Market, Kano State. In addition, the former Minister of Health, Prof. Isaac Adewole said the unsatisfactory drug distribution system led to poor product handling, difficulty in product tracking for statistical purposes and recall, circulation of substandard products, difficulty in audit trail and destruction of professional practice. He added that it was in its bid to reverse this ugly trend in 2013 that the Federal Ministry of Health issued the National Drug Distribution Guidelines (NDDG). The implementation framework to operationalize the NDDG was jointly developed by the ministry and regulatory agencies (Pharmacists Council of Nigeria (PCN) and the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC). Prof Adewole said the concept of a Coordinated Warehouse was developed to ensure that owners of medicine shops in the open markets across the country were allowed to relocate and operate in a regulated environment to ensure that the quality, safety and efficacy of the medicines sold by them are maintained throughout their shelf life. This eventually led to the building and commissioning of the ‘Coordinated Pharmaceutical Warehouse’ by Governor Ganduje in Kano state. Inauguration While inaugurating the warehouse,

Governor Ganduje issued a strong warning to stakeholders in the pharmaceutical business engaged in the sale of wholesale drugs in the open market in the Sabon Gari area of the state to relocate to the newly commissioned Coordinated Pharmaceutical Warehouse Centre (CWC) otherwise known as the Dr Abdullahi Umar Ganduje Pharmaceutical Centre. At the inauguration, which is part of the larger 117-acre Kano Economic City (KEC), developed under a PrivatePublic Partnership (PPP) arrangement between Brains and Hammers Limited and the Kano State Government, the Governor stated that “all other areas for wholesale of drugs in the state will be closed down forthwith and those found wanting will be taken for prosecution.” According to him, “This is a completely regulated market. It is the only legal place where you can sell wholesale drugs. “The Federal Government has guidelines for the sale of drugs that are healthy and we promised ourselves in 2015 when we came in that we will change the vulnerable situation in the sale of counterfeit, illegal and fake drugs that Kano finds itself. “With this commissioning today, we have reached a major milestone in the battle to control illegal and fake drugs.” Goodwill Messages In their goodwill messages, Minister of Health, Dr Osagie Ehanire and the Director General of NAFDAC, Prof. Mojisola Adeleye, praised the governor for becoming a model for

A lot of Nigerians have been hard hit by the menace of fake drugs. According to medical experts, some of the health issues ranging from loss of sight and hearing defects as well as kidney and liver issues are caused by substandard drugs or abuse thereof

other states. Ehanire said, “History will be kind to your administration for relocating all the stakeholders to a regulated drug facility;” while Adeyeye said, “the Kano CWC will make our job easier. This is going to be a one-stop spot for us.” Messages of support and encouragement from the Minister of Trade and Investment, Registrar, Pharmaceutical Council of Nigeria, Kano Pharmaceutical Partners and Director General, National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) among others were also rendered at the event which attracted the presence of the Emir of Kano, Alhaji Aminu Ado Bayero, a major stakeholder and financier of the project, Jaiz Bank whose serving Managing Director, Dr Sirajo Salisu along with his predecessor and members of the Kano State Executive Council. Chairman of the KEC, Alhaji Mohammed Aliyu Chiroma described the Coordinated Pharmaceutical Wholesale Centre as a complex of 2100 shops with warehouses, that will house businesses of all pharmaceutical products in Kano under the control of regulatory bodies such as the Pharmaceutical Council of Nigeria (PCN), Standard Organization of Nigeria (SON), and NAFDAC. Justifications With this formal opening, Kano has set the pace for other markets in the country where pharmaceuticals are being sold in an unregulated environment. These places include Ariaria in Abia State, Idumota in Lagos State and Onitsha Head Bridge in Anambra State. For years, federal regulatory agencies, particularly the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) and the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) engaged perpetrators of this unwholesome trade in a costly battle. The journey to the CWC which reached an epoch with the commissioning of the Kanawa Pharmaceutical Coordinated Wholesale Centre also known as Dr Abdullahi Umar Ganduje Pharmaceutical Centre in Kano recently may not be an end in itself but serve as a wake-up call for quick implementation of the project in the remaining states.

T H I S D AY ˾ AY, MARCH 23, 2023

NEWS

FERTILITY

With Dr. Kemi AILOJE drkemi@lifelinkfertility.com www.lifelinkfertility.com +2348033083580

Foundation Educates Women in Uterine Prolapse Part 1) IDPs on Menstrual Hygiene r%JTUSJCVUFT TBOJUBSZ QBET Adedayo Akinwale in Abuja The Okoroafor Chinaza Ogechi (OCO) foundation has embarked on the sensitisation of women JO *OUFSOBMMZ %JTQMBDFE $BNQT *%1T BOE NBSLFU JO "CVKB PO UIF importance of menstrual hygiene and the training of a grill child. The Founder, Chinasa Okoroafor, while speaking with journalists on Tuesday in Abuja during the sensitization program BU *%1T DBNQ BU "SFB BTTVSFE that the programme would be held twice in a year. She also explained that there are plans to extend the program

to other states of the federation, as she continues to propagate the gospel of good menstrual hygiene. Okorafor stated: “We are here on an outreach program education on the importance of menstrual hygiene and the importance of training the girl child. “We are here to educate the women on the importance of having good menstrual hygiene, because most of these women find it difficult to buy pads which are very expensive in the market and most of them use clothes which is unhealthy for them.

“So we are here to talk to them for them to understand that there is a very good importance of having a good measure of hygiene in order to avoid infections; to avoid deadly diseases and all that and also the importance of training your child.” Okoroafor explained that the outreach programme would also be extended to schools, markets, and other different places. She added that she chose the *%1T DBNQ CFDBVTF UIFZ IBWF more women than men, adding that aside from the distribution of sanitary pads, food items were also distributed to the women in the camp.

Nigerian Army Provides Radiodiagnostic Centre at Lagos Military Hospital for Advanced Healthcare Delivery Rebecca Ejifoma As an effort in providing advanced quality healthcare service delivery, the Chief of "SNZ 4UBGG $0"4 -U (FO Faruk Yahaya, has commissioned a radio-diagnostics centre at the /JHFSJBO "SNZ 3FGFSFODF )PTQJUBM :BCB /"3): -BHPT The new centre is equipped with CT scan, OrthopantomoHSBN $ "SN EJHJUBM 9 3BZ BOE fluoroscopy machines among others. The centre was launched alongside the newly constructed structure for the Nigerian Army School of Finance and Administration (NASFA), and the renovated Alafia Oluwa Primary School and borehole project. According to Yahaha, the Nigerian Army Medical Corps (NAMC) is responsible for providing quality healthcare to the Nigerian Army troops and their family members in peace and wartime through the NA healthcare facilities TVDI BT /"3): “The hospital served as a base hospital for operations TVDI BT &$0.0( BOE 6/".4*- JO UIF QBTU CFDBVTF PG JUT DBQBCJMJUJFT *U continues to support various *4 PQFSBUJPOT CZ USFBUJOH UIF 8PVOEFE JO "DUJPO 8*" from various theatres across

One of the state-of-the-art radio-diagnostic equipment at the NARHY the country through the provision of high-level tertiary care that is also extended to civilians in the host state,” he emphasised. During the years of the previously mentioned operations, COAS noted that the hospital offered a wide variety of services using the expertise of NA personnel who were available in sufficient numbers and complemented by MOD staff. He added that the corps BOE CZ FYUFOTJPO /"3): have witnessed significant improvement in infrastructural development in the last 12 months. The Army chief submitted that the infrastructural upgrade gave rise to the procurement

of requisite state-of-the-art equipment. Thus, he described the commissioning of the 3BEJPEJBHOPTUJDT DFOUSF BT having great significance in the history of the NAMC and the NA. )F TBJE i*U NBSLT UIF CFginning of modern diagnostic NFEJDJOF JO UIJT 3FGFSFODF Hospital, ensuring its place as a hospital of national repute. “The role of modern diagnostics in the care of patients, research, and residency training cannot be overemphasised. i*U DPOUSJCVUFT NBSLFEMZ UP improving early and effective diagnosis, prompt, and effective management of patients, and avoiding long-term complications.”

Helpline Foundation Trains FCT Original Inhabitant Girl-child on Health Practices Olawale Ajimotokan in Abuja Federal Capital Territory original inhabitant girl-child has been trained on health practices, gender equality, social inclusion and human rights. President, Helpline Foundation for the Needy, Dr. Jumai Ahmadu, disclosed that her organisation has mentored the girl-child on leadership and capacity building, among others and has given her a voice through the Voice of the (JSMT 1BSMJBNFOU XIFSF UIF girl-child meets to enact laws. She thanked MacArthur 'PVOEBUJPO 3FTPVSDF $FOUFS GPS )VNBO 3JHIUT BOE $JWJD &EVDBUJPO $)3*$&% BT XFMM BT %S ;JLJSVMBIJ *CSBIJN GPS championing the project in the FCT and beyond Ahmadu, who was represented by the Foundation’s Project Manager, Mr.

Onoja Arome, noted that the organization has equally engaged over 189 of the FCT original inhabitant women and youths on local economic development project through traditional attire weaving for cultural preservation. Speaking for one of the QBSUOFST 3FQSPEVDUJWF Health/Family Planning Program Officer, Pathfinder *OUFSOBUJPOBM /JHFSJB ,PTJ *[VOEV TUBUFE UIBU TFOTJUJTBtion of girls of reproductive age in hard to reach areas was part of her organisation’s mandates. *[VOEV FYQSFTTFE IBQQJOFTT for being able to gather the girls in one place and talk to them about sexual reproductive health and their rights today. i*O TVNNBSZ XIBU XF are telling the girls today is helping them to maintain their agencies in terms of having information to be able to

protect themselves and to be able to speak out in case of any form of harassment or EJTDSJNJOBUJPO u *[VOEV TBJE She noted it was important for the girls to be given the right information so that “they can grow into very healthy adolescents and adults and they are able to fulfill their potentials in the society”. Asked why the boys were not part of the training, she responded: “We do that in our programming very regularly even though the boys are not present in the room”. i(JSMT EPO U HFU SBQFE PS abused on their own. They (abuses) are either perpetrated by boys or older adults within their neighbourhoods. i *U JT WFSZ JNQPSUBOU UIBU the boys are also listening. *U JT JNQPSUBOU UIBU UIF CPZT are carried along in this great process that they grow up to be very responsible adults”, she said.

he uterus (womb) is a muscular structure held together by pelvic floor muscles and ligaments. Pelvic floor muscles are the muscles, ligaments, and tissues in the pelvis (area of the body below the abdomen). The uterus, bladder, vagina, rectum (part of the large intestine terminating at the anus), and other pelvic organs are all supported by these muscles. When the pelvic floor muscles are damaged or weakened to the point where they can no longer provide support, a prolapse occurs. Uterine prolapse occurs when the pelvic floor muscles and ligaments stretch and weaken due to pregnancy, childbirth or difficult labour to the point where they can no longer support the uterus. As a result, the uterus descends and enters or protrudes from the vagina. Uterine prolapse is most common in women who have had one or more vaginal deliveries after menopause due to the natural loss of the hormone estrogen.Uterine prolapse can be mild or severe, depending on how weak the uterine supporting muscles have become. Normal activities can be disrupted and made uncomfortable by uterine prolapse. Very mild cases may not necessitate treatment or cause any discomfort. However, severe cases may make it difficult to pee or have a normal bowel movement. Uterine prolapse is typically a quality of life issue, and healthcare providers treat it when symptoms begin to interfere with daily life. STAGES OF UTERINE PROLAPSE Uterine prolapses are classified as either incomplete or complete. r *ODPNQMFUF 6UFSJOF 1SPMBQTF *O BO incomplete uterine prolapse,the uterus partially displaces the vagina but does not protrude and may lead to a lump. r $PNQMFUF 6UFSJOF 1SPMBQTF *O B complete uterine prolapse, a portion of the uterus protrudes from the vaginal opening. The introitus is another name for this opening. Muscle weakness may cause your uterus to sag or completely exit your body in stages. The severity of this condition is graded into: 1. First Degree: The cervix (opening/ neck of the womb) drops into the vagina.

menopause leading to loss of muscle tone r $POTUJQBUJPO PS TUSBJOJOH XJUI CPXFM movements on a regular basis r #SPODIJUJT PS DISPOJD DPVHI r 4NPLJOH r )FBWZ XFJHIU MJGUJOH PO B SFHVMBS CBTJT r )JTUPSZ PG QFMWJD TVSHFSZ IZTUFSFDUPNZ r (FOFUJD GBDUPST UIBU DBVTF DPOOFDUJWF tissue weakness SYMPTOMS OF UTERINE PROLAPSE Mild uterine prolapse is quite common GPMMPXJOH DIJMECJSUI *U VTVBMMZ EPFT OPU cause any symptoms. The following are symptoms of moderate to severe uterine prolapse: r 7BHJOBM UJTTVF XFBLOFTT r 7BHJOBM CMFFEJOH r *ODSFBTFE EJTDIBSHF JTTVFT EVSJOH sexual intercourse r 3FDVSSJOH CMBEEFS JOGFDUJPOT constipation or difficulty passing stool r -PXFS CBDL BDIF r 'FFMJOH PG UIF WBHJOBM UJTTVF rubbing against clothing r 8BMLJOH JO QBJO r )BWJOH EJGGJDVMUZ JOTFSUJOH UBNQPOT or other vaginal applicators. r 'FFMJOH BT JG UIF CMBEEFS EPFT not completely empty when you use the restroom r 6SJOF MFBLBHF JTTVFT BMTP LOPXO as incontinence r )BWJOH UIF TFOTBUJPO PG TJUUJOH PO a small ball r )BWJOH EJGàDVMUZ IBWJOH B CPXFM movement and needing to press the vagina to have one r 4FFJOH PS GFFMJOH UJTTVF QSPUSVEF GSPN the vagina r 'FFMJOH IFBWJOFTT PS B QVMMJOH TFOTBUJPO in the pelvis Standing, walking for long periods of time, coughing or sneezing may worsen symptoms as gravity puts extra pressure on the pelvic muscles in these positions. The condition may impair bowel, bladder, and sexual function if not treated properly.

4. Fourth Degree: The entire uterus is outside the vagina leading to a condition known as Procidentia. That is, the lack of strength in all of the supporting muscles.

COMPLICATIONS OF UTERINE PROLAPSE Uterine prolapse is frequently associated with prolapse of other pelvic organs. These types of prolapse could also occur: r 1SPMBQTF PG UIF BOUFSJPS VUFSVT Anterior prolapse is caused by a lack of connective tissue between the bladder and UIF WBHJOBM SPPG *U IBT UIF QPUFOUJBM UP cause the bladder to bulge into the vagina leading to frequent urination, retention, urgency and incontinence. This is referred to as a cystocele or a prolapsed bladder. r 1SPMBQTF PG UIF QPTUFSJPS WBHJOBM wall - Weak connective tissue between the rectum and the vaginal floor can cause the rectum to protrude into the vagina. This could make bowel movements difficult. Another term for posterior vaginal prolapse is called rectocele.

CAUSES OF UTERINE PROLAPSE The following are some of the causes of weakened pelvic muscles and tissues: r 7BHJOBM CJSUI r "HF BU àSTU EFMJWFSZ PMEFS XPNFO are at higher risk of pelvic floor injuries compared with younger women) r %JGàDVMU MBCPS PS DIJMECJSUI USBVNB r #FJOH PWFSXFJHIU PS PCFTF EVSJOH childbirth r -PXFS FTUSPHFO MFWFMT GPMMPXJOH

r )FSOJBUJPO PG UIF VQQFS SFBS vaginal wall - This occurs when a small portion of the bowel bulges into the vagina. Standing causes a pulling sensation and backache, which may be relieved by lying down. Herniation of the upper rear vaginal wall is also known as enterocele. Ulceration (open sore) of exposed tissue and prolapse of other pelvic organs, such as the bladder or rectum are also commoncomplications

2. Second Degree: The cervix descends to the level just inside the vaginal opening. 3. Third Degree: The cervix is outside the vagina.

THURSDAY, MARCH 23, 2023 • T H I S D AY

GAMINGWEEK

Edited by NSEOBONG OKON-EKONG | ikotibok@gmail.com | Tel: 08114495324

Agenda 12 Introduces Competitive eSports to Kaduna

FOR ECAST

International Football Returns with AFCON, Euros Qualifiers

Davidson Abraham

Nseobong Okon-Ekong writes that eSports is given a pride of place in Kaduna KADUNA STATE ESPORTS ASSOCIATION

n 2022 the Ministry of Sports Kaduna State established and inaugurated the Kaduna State Esports Association in recognition of the sport’s potential for economic growth, youth development and engagement, evidenced by the innumerable esports centres littered across the Kaduna metropolis. Last month the association mobilized the esports community to host its first event, ‘Agenda 12’, based on FIFA 2023. The qualifiers were held at four locations across the metropolis with the finals

holding in Barnawa Kaduna. The winner Samuel Eyitayo won the cash sum of N50,000 and gift items worth N500,000, the second winner Abraham Abu won a cash price of N30,000 with take-home goods worth N300,000 while the 3rd prize winner Bosman Bognet won the sum of N20,000 and goods worth N200,000 which were provided by NBL ( Malvina) and the cash price was sponsored by Def Media (owners of HYAI 89.5 FM Kaduna) The association is chaired by Yahaya Maikori, including Kassim Kabiru, Turaki Mohammed, who acts as the secretary, Dapo Babalalola and

Valentine Ogbodo. The association is currently on a membership mobilization campaign across the length and breadth of Kaduna. It is working with the ministry to ensure that the youth, particularly in secondary schools, leverage the opportunities in the growing sector. The association is working on the next competition tagged ‘King of the Hood’ scheduled for summer when most students will be on holiday. The video game industry is a relatively young sector in Nigeria. But due, majorly to the country’s fast-growing mobile market and its young population, video games are

rapidly growing in popularity. A lot is happening in the sector, and the enthusiasm shown by game developers and gamers is infectious. Nigeria has shown interest in participating in the global esports competition, the FIFAe Nations Cup Competition. The popular eSports organization, Gamr is working with the Nigeria Football Federation, NFF, in a technical capacity. At the state level, Lagos is arguably leading the way with its recent formal launch of an eSports body recognised by the government. The state has also entered a working relationship with the government of France to develop eSports.

Ghana Hosts Gamr Game Developer Mixer For weeks leading up to March 18, there was a buzz of anticipation in Ghana. On that fateful day, the anticipation transformed into something else entirely - an event that dominated the gaming scene across the country. On Saturday, all roads led to Accra, Ghana, for the Gamr Mixer: Ghana’s Game Developers and Gamrs Gather at Otium Game Lounge. The event brought together game developers, publishers, gamers, and other industry stakeholders from Ghana. The event was organised to celebrate and promote the growing game development industry in Ghana and provide an opportunity for game developers to showcase their latest games, network with other developers, and learn from industry experts. The event started at 4 p.m. with over 50 people from various countries, including Ghana, Nigeria and South Africa. Different esports organizations, including Kwasi, Afroconmades, Yatra gaming lounge, Esports Africa News, Ace gamers esports, Eyram Leti Arts, Sunami games, Afro CodeMasters, Now Available Africa, and Panda esports, were present at the Mixer. The event also featured keynote speeches, panel discussions, workshops, and an exhibition of games developed by Ghanaian game developers. Gamr COO, Mr Kunmi Adenipebi, highlighted the potential of the game development industry in Ghana, citing the rapid growth of the industry in recent years and the numerous

The International football break of the year is well and truly on, and football around the globe will swap their favourite clubs’ souvenirs for that of their respective countries as the hectic club football calendar takes the backseat for over a week for national team actions. In one of the two clashes of the day, reigning European champions Italy will take on world cup quarterfinalists England. In this tie, both teams have a good shot at winning. England seem to be the better team on paper, while Italy has the home advantage. In any case, the game should produce at least two goals. World cup finalist France welcome the Netherlands to the Stade De France in the second clash of the day. Although it will be a tight game, France have an upper hand in squad depth and attack thanks, and they will be hoping that their newest captain Kylian Mbappe who recently

became Paris Saint Germain’s all-time leading goalscorer, will lead them to victory. Cristiano Ronaldo, included in Roberto Martinez’s squad, is expected to lead Portugal to victory against Liechtenstein and is likely to extend his record as international football’s all-time top scorer when they host the minnows. Serbia and Belgium are expected to beat Lithuania and Sweden, respectively, while any of the two sides can win the game between Poland and the Czech Republic. In Africa, Nigerian star strike Victor Osimhen who has established himself as one of the best strikers in the world this season, is expected to lead the Super Eagles of Nigeria to Guinea against Guinea Bissau. Egypt and reigning champions Senegal are expected to beat Malawi and Mozambique, respectively. Ivory Coast will likely breeze past Comoros to victory as the AFCON qualifiers get underway.

DATE

FIXTURE

BETTING TIPS

Thursday 23/03/2023

Italy Vs England

Over 1.5

Thursday 23/03/2023 Portugal Vs Liechtenstein

Friday 24/03/2023

France Vs Netherlands

Over 1.5

Friday 24/03/2023

Serbia Vs Lithuania

Friday 24/03/2023

Nigeria Vs Guinea Bissau

Friday 24/03/2023

Egypt Vs Malawi

Friday 24/03/2023

Ivory Coast Vs Comoros

Friday 24/03/2023

Sweden Vs Belgium

Over 1.5

Friday 24/03/2023

Senegal Vs Mozambique

Friday 24/03/2023

Czech Republic Vs Poland

Over 1.5

PROMO!!! 50 MOST

INFLUENTIAL PERSONALITIES IN GAMING

The winning cheque for Samuel Eyitayo job opportunities it has created. He also emphasized the need for the government and other stakeholders to support the industry to drive growth and innovation further. He finally mentioned the plans Gamr has in place for game developers in Ghana and Africa. He projected the roadmap for gaming development and the solution for seamless and affordable access to gaming gadgets for gamers and developers. One of the highlights of the event was the demonstration of the Gamr App and its features, which include tournament management, the Gamr wallet - for receiving and paying out wins, team management, the feed feature, which allows gamrs

to connect and discuss topics, and the bracket by Gamr, which was the most significant feature announced by Gamr. This feature allows tournament organizers to create and manage tournaments completely. It comes with a series of games played during a knockout and elimination. Bracket by gamr can contain up to 512 players and bracket types like single elimination, double elimination, battle royale and round-robin. This product solves the problem of gaming data, picking formats, creating teams and schedules, and keeping scores. Another important highlight was the fireside chat, where game

developers and attendees could interact with a diverse range of game topics, including action, adventure, parental control, and educational games. The fireside chat was a very creative, innovative, and technical discussion. The attendees discussed the challenges and opportunities facing game development and gaming/esports in Africa at the event. The panellists, drawn from various questions, discussed further sustainability, funding, talent development, and market access. They also shared their experiences and insights on how to build a successful game development and esports business in Africa.

ADVISORY: +18 PERSONS UNDER 18 MUST NOT PARTICIPATE IN BETTING, GAMING OR LOTTERY ACTIVITY

Keep a date on Thursday, March 30, 2023 as Gaming Week reveals across the gaming spectrum, the ladies and gentlemen who turn the wheel.

GAMINGWEEK TEAM Nseobong Okon-Ekong ikotibok@gmail.com | 08114495324 John Bamidele amostogun@yahoo.com | 08022212236 Akeem Lasisi lasaisai@yahoo.com | 08023687884 Vanessa Obioha vaysylver@gmail.com | 08069838305 Davidson Abraham davisiano.adm@gmail.com | +971 56 744 6013

THURSDAY, ͺͻ˜ ͺ͸ͺͻ ˾ T H I S D AY

FOCUS Nigeria’s Struggle for Democracy: A Glimpse into the Lagos Gubernatorial Elections of 2023 Koye Rhodes

the APC.

Introduction:

The Call to Action:

Despite the tragic events that unfolded during the Lagos Gubernatorial Elections, the Nigerian people must not lose hope. The country’s resilient youth and citizens need to remain steadfast in their pursuit of democracy, accountability, and justice. They must continue to demand change and hold leaders accountable for their actions, refusing to be silenced or coerced into submission by the APC or any other political party seeking to perpetuate corruption and oppression. The youth, being the largest demographic in Nigeria, must rise and take their rightful place in the political landscape. They must remain vigilant, engaged, and united in their pursuit of a better Nigeria, and work together to ensure that the dreams and aspirations of the Nigerian people are genuinely represented.

he Lagos Gubernatorial Elections held on March 18, 2023, were meant to be a shining example of the revitalised Nigerian democratic process. Instead, they became a dark reminder of the struggles the country faces in its pursuit of true democracy. The elections were marred by violence, intimidation, and voter suppression, with Nigerians witnessing a blatant attack on their democratic rights. This note delves into the troubling events that unfolded during the elections and calls for renewed hope and action in the pursuit of a better Nigeria.

The Disgraceful Events: The day after the elections, headlines from major newspapers exposed the truth of the election process that took place , with phrases such as “DEMOCRACY IN SHAMBLES” and “BLOODY, VIOLENT POLL” dominating front pages. Violence, apathy, and voter suppression were evident, with gangs wielding dangerous weapons attacking voters, ballot boxes being snatched and burned, and security forces standing idly by. The victims of these acts were not only adult voters but also children who had to bear witness to the brutality that unfolded before them. The situation was further exacerbated by tribalism, with specific groups being targeted, such as Nigerians of Ibo extraction who were subjected to persecution reminiscent of the Nazi era.

Conclusion:

INEC Chairman, Mahmood Yakubu

The Perpetrators: The main (reported) orchestrators of these events were the ruling party, the All Progressives Congress (APC), and their president-elect. The APC, fearing defeat in

the elections, resorted to desperate measures to maintain control over Lagos, which they have long perceived as their personal property. The party employed thugs and other criminal elements to intimidate, harass, and suppress voters, particularly those who did not support

Global example shows that the struggle for true democracy is not an easy one,and Nigeria is not exempt, but it is a fight that must be won for the sake of the country’s future generations. The Lagos Gubernatorial Elections of 2023 serve as a painful reminder of the challenges faced by Nigeria, but they also offer a rallying point for Nigerians to come together in the pursuit of change. The spirit of the brave youth and the tenacity of the Nigerian people will ultimately triumph over the forces of corruption and oppression. Together, we can usher in a new era of prosperity, progress, and hope for Nigeria. The struggle must continue r3IPEFT XSPUF JO GSPN -BHPT

NEWS

PDP Accuses FHC Judge of Bias, SeeksTransfer of Cases to Other Courts Alex Enumah in Abuja The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has accused Justice Inyang Ekwo of bias in his handling of cases involving it and has consequently asked the Chief Judge to transfer all their cases to another judge. The accusation was contained in a letter written to the Chief Judge of the Federal High Court and signed by the party’s National Chairman, Dr Iyorchia Ayu and National Secretary, Senator Samuel Anyanwu respectively. Specifically, the PDP had demanded for the transfer of suit number: FHC/ABJ/CS/123/2023; between Siminialayi Fubara and others vs PDP & 5 ORS; suit number: FHC/ABJ/CS/112/2023between Amb. Desmond vs PDP & 2 ORS; suit number: FHC/ASJ/ CS/215/2023- between Send Sandy and anor vs PDP & 5 ORS; and all other cases involving the People’s Democratic Party. The PDP in the application had said, “We are constrained to bring this application to your Lordship to transfer the above listed cases

and ail other cases involving our Party from Hon. Justice I. E. Ekwo due to circumstances showing or demonstrating manifest bias/grave likelihood of bias on the part of Hon. Justice I. E. Ekwo against the party. The PDP claimed that Justice Ekwo “is in the monotonous alternative habit of issuing injurious ex parte Orders against the Party”. According to them, in the build up to the 2022 primary elections of the Party, the judge had issued “series of harmful ex parte Orders against the Party which eventually caused the Party huge electoral misfortune at the 2023 general elections”. They mentioned suit number: FHC/ABJ/CS/598/2022- between Hon. Monday Iyore Osagie & Ors Vs Peoples Democratic Party & Ors as one of the cases the judge had issued damaging ex parte Orders against the Party. Ekwo was said to have issued ex parte order on May 6, 2022 restraining the lawful ad hoc delegates who emerged from the Ward congresses conducted by the National Leadership of the Party

from participating in the Party’s Primary Elections in Edo State. “This singular Order caused deep division and disaffection in the Party which eventually affected the fortune of the party in Edo State. “Suit number: FHC/ABJ/ CS/123/2023- between Siminialayi Fubara and other vs PDP & 5 ORS. This is a case filed by all the Candidates of the Party in Rivers State praying that they should not be suspended from the Party. “The case borders on the internal affairs of the Party over which the Court has no jurisdiction to entertain yet Justice I. E. Ekwo granted ex

parte Order against the Party. “Suit number: FHC/ABJ/ CS/215/2023- Between Sen. Prof. Sandy Onor & Anor VS PDP & 5 Ors. This is a case filed by the Cross River State Governorship and Deputy Governorship Candidates of the Party asking that they should remain members of the Party. The case borders on the internal affairs of the Party over which the Court has no jurisdiction to entertain yet Justice I. E. Ekwo granted ex parte Order against the Party”, the party stated. In the case between Amb. Desmond Akawor VS PDP & 2 Ors,

Members of the House of Representatives would today debate a bill seeking to amend the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency Act, 2004 to confer additional responsibility of the power to grant and revoke licences for the cultivation of Cannabis (or any of its three species namely Cannabis Sativa, Cannabis Indicia and Cannabis Ruderalis) plant for medicinal purposes. The proposed legislation which

was stepped down at the plenary, Wednesday in order to consolidate it with similar bill, was sponsored by Hon. Benjamin Kalu and Hon. Olumide Osoba. Kalu had at the plenary moved for the second reading of the Bill, but Hon. Miriam Onuoha raised a point of order, notifying the Speaker, Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila, that she had sponsored a similar bill and hers should also have been consolidated and recognised. Commenting, Hon. Nkem Abonta called for understanding

instead made an order that parties should maintain status quo till the final determination of the matter in the face of the pending objection challenging his jurisdiction. “On March 9, 2023, the Plaintiff filed motion for amendment of the Originating Summons alongside motion on notice. The reliefs introduced in the amendment being sought and the Motion on Notice is to restrain the Party and its National Officers from denying the Rivers State Legal Adviser of the Party the right to represent or appoint External Solicitors to represent the Party.

Guber Poll: Yiaga Africa’s PVT Confirms INEC’s Accuracy in 3 States Chuks Okocha in Abuja Yiaga Africa, yesterday, said its Parallel Vote Tabulation (PVT) methodology deployed to monitor governorship election in three states confirmed the accuracy of the official results by the Independent National Electoral Commission

(INEC). This is contained in Yiaga Africa’s Post-Election statement jointly signed by its Executive Director, Samson Itodo and a board member Ezenwa Nwagwu in Abuja. Itodo said a total of 900 stationary observers were deployed to a

Lawmakers to Debate Bill to Grant, Revoke Licences for Cannabis Cultivation Today Udora Orizu in Abuja

the PDP pointed out certain alleged “strange developments which leave no one in doubt that Justice I. E. Ekwo has predetermined the case”. According to the petitioner, the Plaintiff filed its Originating Summons on January 25, 2023, while filed its counter affidavit and Notice of preliminary Objection challenging the jurisdiction of the Court to hear and determine the matter on February 6. “When the matter came up for hearing on the same February 6, 2023, the Judge refused to hear the party’s preliminary objection and

from Onuoha due to legislative time factor. Disagreeing, Hon. Makki Yalleman called for the stepping down of the bill to accommodate Onuoha’s bill. On his part, the Chairman Committee on Rules and Business, Hon. Hassan Fulata was of the view that Kalu’s bill should be ready for a second time, as the amendments of Onuoha’s Bill is seeking might differ from the current Bill. Corroborating Fulata’s opinion, Hon. Sada Soli pointed out that

there were some differences between the consolidated Bill and that of Onuoha. But, the Speaker Gbajabiamila clarified that the subject matter seems similar enough and the House should err on the side of caution. He stated that thoroughness cannot be sacrificed on the altar of time. He thereafter ruled that the bill should be stepped down to allow all parties harmonise their views before the next legislative day.

representative randomly selected sample of 300 polling units for each of the states and an additional 97 roving observers were deployed in Benue, Delta and Kano. He said Yiaga Africa deployed 550 observers in the other 25 states to observe the conduct of the election and results’ collation, noting that the PVT turnout projections for the three states were consistent with INEC’s declaration. Itodo, however, said Yiaga Africa’s projections did not include cancelled results in polling units, as these were not consistently announced by INEC during collation, noting also that the PVT statistical analysis was based on the number of registered voters and not the number of PVCs collected. “Yiaga Africa PVT findings on the results declared by INEC in Benue, based on the PVT findings, the results announced by INEC for 22 LGAs are consistent with the PVT estimates for the governorship election in the state. Although the

election for Kwande LGA was rescheduled, INEC proceeded to make a return on the basis that the results from Kwande LGA will not substantially affect the margin of lead between the two leading candidates. “Based on reports from 276 of 300 which is 92 per cent of sampled polling units, Yiaga Africa’s statistical analysis shows that the All Progressives Congress (APC) should receive between 57.9 per cent and 64.7 per cent of the vote. “The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) should receive between 26.6 per cent and 32.6 per cent, while no other political party should receive more than 5.6 per cent of the vote,” Itodo said. In Delta, he said based on reports from 281 of 300 which was 94 per cent of sampled polling units, Yiaga Africa’s statistical analysis showed that APC should receive between 33.9 per cent and 40.9 per cent of the votes.

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NEWS

OSIGWE ANYIAM OSIGWE ANNUAL LECTURE SERIES... L-R: Trustees, Anyiam-Osigwe Foundation, Kennedy Anyiam-Osigwe; Charles Anyiam-Osigwe; George Anyiam-Osigwe and Media Consultant, Tope Ajayi during a media brieﬁng on the forth coming PHOTO: ABIODUN AJALA 16th session of Osigwe Anyiam Osigwe annual lecture series in Lagos...yesterday

CBN Orders Banks to Immediately Collect Old Banknotes from its Branches to Ease Scarcity Labour issues strike threat Onyebuchi Ezigbo in Abuja and Ugo Aliogo in Lagos The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has directed commercial banks to collect the old N500 and N1,000 they had previously deposited at its branches nationwide in order to further ease the scarcity of the currency nationwide. A reliable source at the CBN who disclosed this to THISDAY, yesterday, expressed optimism that the directive would help end the naira scarcity before the end of the week and the country would be awash with naira notes. The directive from the apex bank came just as the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), yesterday, directed all workers to picket all the offices of CBN nationwide starting from next week over current cash crunch

in the country. NLC President, Joe Ajaero, who gave the directive while addressing journalists at Abuja, said the directive became imperative following the expiration of a one-week ultimatum given to the apex bank to make cash available to Nigerians. He said workers decided to take their destiny in their hands, adding that mobilisation would commence immediately He said the protest action from next Wednesday, would be total until further notice. Ajaero said: "Last week at the end of our CWC meeting, we gave a one-week ultimatum for the federal government to address immediately, among other issues, issue of cash crunch that was caused by the policy. As at this morning when the CWC met again to review

the situation, we discovered that not much, improvement has been made. "The situation is still almost the same. People are still buying our currency with our currencies. People can no longer can still not assess the currency and the government seems to be very adamant on this. No moves have been made to reduce the suffering of Nigerians. "Consequently, the CWC-insession resolved to go into the process of actualising the one-week notice. "From Friday, there will be mobilisation of all state councils through a NEC meeting. All unions have already been directed to mobilise all their organs and their branches. By Wednesday, next week, all Central Bank of Nigeria offices nationwide will be picketed.

CBN Seeks to Include Financial Education in School’s Curriculum James Emejo in Abuja

The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has said it is currently working to ensure that financial education is incorporated in school’s curriculum across the country. CBN Deputy Director, Consumer Protection Department, Mrs. Chinyere Nwobilo, disclosed this at the financial literacy fair to commemorate the 2023 Global Money Week with the theme: "Plan Your Money, Plant Your Future". She pointed out that the initiative would ensure continuity in financial inclusion awareness in children. Nwobilo, who also heads the Consumer Education Division in the department, said "Without financial literacy, children of young age will not be able to imbibe financial discipline." She said, "So, the essence is to educate children on financial literacy to enable them acquire financial capability that would help them to have financial wellbeing. "We are trying to catch the children young so as to be able to earn, save and invest at a very young age. "And we are celebrating with the rest of the world and CBN is the coordinator of all stakeholders in this celebration." The CBN deputy director stressed that to sustain financial at early stages of life among children "we are going to have financial education

in scholl curriculum very soon." On the theme of the celebration, she said, "You know you have to plan your money before you can plant your future. You plan your money through savings, budgeting and investment.

"And the children are equality taught during this period on needs and wants and you know you have to separate your needs from your wants. You won't put all your money in your wants and you won't have savings to invest."

"All central bank from the CBN headquarters will be shut till further notice. Workers are directed to stay at home and join in the picketing exercise.” According to him, "workers can

The Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Dr. Isa Pantami has drawn the attention of the digital economy stakeholders and the general public to the ministry’s activities before, during, and after the 2023 gubernatorial and states’ houses of assembly elections. Pantami said the committee, which he inaugurated to monitor Nigeria's cyberspace, recorded a total of 3,834,244 attacks, originating from both within and outside Nigeria, before, during and after the gubernatorial and State Houses of Assembly elections across the country. According to a statement released yesterday by the Ministry of Communications and Digital Economy and signed by the Senior Technical Assistant (Research and Development) to the Minister, Dr.

Femi Adelusi, the daily breakdown of the attacks showed that on Friday 17th March, 2023, there were 1,046,896 cyberattacks; On Saturday 18th March, 2023, there were 1,481,847 Cyberattacks; On Sunday 19th March, 2023, there were 327,718 Cyberattacks and on Monday 20th March, 2023, there were 977,783 Cyberattacks. The statement further stated that activities on the Nigerian cyberspace during the Gubernatorial and State Assembly elections, we're much lower than those during the Presidential and National Assembly elections. "This is neither surprising nor unexpected as, Nigeria being Africa’s largest democracy, the Presidential and National Assembly elections are bound to attract much attention of everyone, including cyberthreat actors than during the Gubernatorial and State Assembly

"We have decided to take our destiny in our hands. So comrades, the mobilisation commences immediately and when we talk of action from Wednesday, it's total. Until further notice."

Again, Buhari Declines Assent to Customs and Excise Amendment Bill Udora Orizu in Abuja

President Muhammadu Buhari has once more returned the Customs and Excise Management Act amendment bill to the National Assembly for the second time. The bill which was sent to the president for assent in July 2022, was first returned with fundamental observations which were corrected by the lawmakers and returned to him. The proposed legislation, which was the first amendment to the Customs Act in over 60 years, was expected to introduce fundamental changes to the operations of the Nigeria Custom Service, while boosting revenue generation efforts of the government. The bill was recommitted to the Committee of the Whole at yesterday's plenary and reconsidered

Pantami: Nigeria Recorded 3.9m Cyberattacks Before, During, After Guber Elections Emma Okonji

no longer go to office and nothing is happening. So we have been pushed to the wall having given one week and we thought they could address the situation which is not addressed.

elections. “The Minister is confident that the implementation of some recommendations as well as measures taken to fortify our cyber defence mechanisms might have helped in this," the statement further said. Pantami reiterated that the attainments would not have been possible without the continued support of President Muhammadu Buhari, in particular, and the administration in general, towards ensuring Nigeria’s successful transition into the digital economy. "The digital economy sector has enjoyed Mr President’s unprecedented support and it is highly appreciated," Pantami said. Based on the Minister’s directives, the committee provided close oversight on the activities of the cybersecurity Centres, from Friday 17th March, 2023 to Monday 20th March, 2023.

by the lawmakers. The proposed legislation was recommitted alongside three other bills which were returned to the Assembly by the President after declining assent. The bills were Arbitration and Conciliation Act (Repeal and Enactment) Bill, 2019 (HB.91); Federal Medical Centre, Okigwe (Establishment) Bill, 2021 (HB. 1603); and Federal University of Health, Sciences and Technology, Enugu (Establishment) Bill, 2021 (HB. 1604). Presenting the recommitted bill for consideration, the Chairman of the House Committee on Customs and Excise, Hon. Leke Abejide (ADC, Kogi) gave two reasons for the President declining assent and returning the bill to the House. Abejide said, "this bill is not

new. It came the first time and was adjusted. It came the second time and was adjusted. This time, it is only one clause that was in the original and was omitted from the amendment bill. The other area, we already dealt with it the last time. “The Ministry of Finance complained that the Chairman of the Board should be the Minister and not a retired Deputy Comptroller General of Customs and we corrected it here. “Anywhere in the bill where the board Chairman appear, it was supposed to be changed to Minister. But when they were doing the clean-up, they didn't change that." Thereafter, the House approved amendments to clause 1, 4,12,184 and 212 and is expected to be transmitted again to the President for assent.

FEC APPROVES N459BN CONTRACTS FOR TRANSPORTATION MINISTRY, NDLEA PERSONNEL'S BARRACKS He noted that the country had been operating on the 2010 policy, which was revised in 2015 before the latest revision in 2022. According to him, the revision became necessary because of the need to have improved seeds. Abubakar explained: "With the current continuous development in technology, seeds are always being upgraded, standardised four to five with several vitamins. There's also the issue of genetically modified organisms or seeds, if you will. "So, this revision, seek to conform with global best practice in yield. Our farmers must have access to best quality seeds that have been fortified, seeds that can produce the yield that will be worth their while, seeds that can produce again, the produce that can compete in the world market. This is the basis for this particular policy. "The implementing agency is the National Agricultural Seed Council of Nigeria. The same agency works with the department within the Ministry, also work with other agencies and MDAs that are

also involved in some ways with agriculture, work with civil society organisation, international agencies. "Nigeria every year holds summit that we call Seed Connect. This is an international summit that discusses and focuses on improvement development in seeds from around the globe. So, seeds are really very important, very critical. As you all know, the agric sector form a great part of the GDP of this country and all that we focus on small holder farmers. "Someone will wonder how do they get good quality seed? We want to make sure they are priority. We distribute good quality seeds to them free. “We make sure that any seed that is coming into the country also is subjected to the decentralisation. "We have a system that is called Codex, and we'll make sure all seeds that will be taken to the market have these Codex. They have gone through our screening. And this is the purpose of this policy, to make better seeds and to achieve food security.

THURSDAY, ͺͻ˜ ͺ͸ͺͻ ˾ T H I S D AY

NEWS

8TH EDITION OF BUILDMACEX NIGERIA EXPO... L-R: Sectional Head, Civil Building unit, Lagos State Office 1, Standard Organisation of Nigeria (SON), Mr. Emefiele Ogom; Sectional Head, Civil Building Unit Lagos State Office 2, SON, Mr. Abah Daniel; Representative of the Director General/Head, Products Registration, SON, Mr. Joseph Ugbaja; Managing Director, Atlantic Exhibition, Mr Ayo Ologbade; and Exhibition Manager, Atlantic Exhibition, PHOTO: SUNDAY ADIGUN Jumoke Azeez, at the Opening of the 8th Edition of Buildmacex Nigeria Expo in Lagos…recently

Wike Issues AIT Quit Notice, Orders Media House to Vacate Premises in 48 Hours

Blessing Ibunge in Port Harcourt

The Governor Nyesom Wike-led government of Rivers State has served a 48 hours quit notice to the management of DAAR Communications, owners of African

Independent Television (AIT) to vacate part of its premises housing AIT/Raypower FM in Port Harcourt. In the letter dated March 20, 2023 and signed by the Permanent Secretary of the Rivers State Ministry of Works, Mrs Ebere Dennis

Emenike, the government stated that the notice became necessary to enable it demolish the structure and commence construction of proposed Government Residential Area (GRA) phase 5 in Ozuoba. The land on which AIT and Raypower Radio Station built its

transmission station in Ozuoba has been a subject of dispute between the Rivers State Government and Daar Communication Plc. The state government recently claimed the property through a motion passed by the State House of Assembly.

EFCC Arraigns Bank Manager, Two Others over N55m Fraud in Benue

Kingsley Nwezeh in Abuja

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has arraigned one Kichime Gomwalk, a branch manager of First City Monument Bank (FCMB), Michael Damkas Buayam of Tan Global Energy Limited, and Abbas Andrew Dayilim of Castlegate International Limited before Justice P. S. Gang of the Plateau State High Court sitting in Jos on a five-count charge bordering on stealing, cheating and obtaining by false pretense to the tune of N55 million. A statement issued by the spokesman of EFCC, Wilson Uwujaren, said Kichime Gomwalk, while serving as branch Manager, FCMB Plc, Murtala Mohammed Way Jos, in Plateau State, was alleged to have forged Cocin Gratuity Certificate of Pledge/Letter of Set-off dated 30th December, 2019, purportedly co-signed by Mrs. Monica Bitrus Tang and Rev Amos Musa Mohzo, Directors, which he used to

secure overdraft facility from FCMB Plc to the tune of N55, 000.000.00 with COCIN Gratuity account N0. 100GOMWALK379 domiciled with FCMB Plc Count one of the charges read: “That you, Kichime Gomwalk, Michael Damkas Buayam of Tan Global Energy Limited, and you Abbas Andrew Dayilim of Castlegate International Limited, sometime in December, 2019 at Jos, in Plateau State within the jurisdiction of this Honorable Court did conspire among yourselves to commit an unlawful act to with: without Lawful authority engaged in the acquisition of N55,000.000.00 overdraft credit facility from FCMB Plc and thereby committed an offense of conspiracy contrary to section 59 (1) of the Plateau State Penal Code Law, (20017) and punishable under Section 59 (2) of the same Law.” Count two read, “That you, Kichime Gomwalk, Michael Damkas

Buayam of Tan Global Energy Limited, and you Abbas Andrew Dayilim of Castlegate International Limited, sometime in December 2019 in Plateau State within the jurisdiction of this Honorable Court fraudulently used Letter of Consent to engage in the acquisition of N55,000.000.00 overdraft credit facility from FCMB Plc knowing that at the time of acquisition of the said money, it was derived from unlawful activity

and thereby committed an offence contrary to section 18 (a) of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (Establishment Act) 2004, and Punishable under section 18 (2) of the same Act.” The defendants pleaded 'not guilty' when the charge was read to them. The prosecution counsel, Uwaise Yusuf urged the court to remand the defendants and fix a date for trial.

Part of the letter read: "Following the imminent commencement of the above project, all structure(s) impacting on the right-of-way of the project have been earmarked for demolition including your own. "Consequently, you are by this notice requested to remove such structure(s) within 48 hours to allow for speedy progress at work please". Meanwhile, the Rivers State chapter of the Nigerian Union of Journalists (NUJ) has pleaded with the state government to review its plan to pull down the AIT structure. The NUJ in a statement signed by its Chairman and Secretary, Stanley Job Stanley and Ike Wigodo respectively, appealed to the Rivers State Government to review its position on the land dispute and drop its plan to demolish and take over the AIT property. The NUJ urged the state government to open a negotiation channel with the media organisation for a peaceful resolution. The Union said though it ap-

Umahi Declares Intention to Vie for Senate Presidency Benjamin Nworie in Abakaliki Outgoing Governor of Ebonyi State and Senator-elect for Ebonyi South zone, Dave Umahi, yesterday, declared his intention to contest for the office of Senate President. Umahi, who addressed news-

men in Abakaliki appealed to the President-elect, Bola Ahmed Tinubu; the Vice President-elect, Kashim Shettima and the National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Senator Abdullahi Adamu, to consider zoning the position of the Senate Presidency

to the South East zone. He noted that if the position was zoned to the zone, it would address the injustice and marginalisation against the people of South East. The governor also called on the National Assembly to amend the

Buhari: I’ll Resolve Obalende Prayer Ground Ownership Tussle in Two Weeks Sets up committee headed by Gambari Deji Elumoye in Abuja President Muhammadu Buhari, has pledged to resolve the tussle over the ownership of Obalende Muslim Prayer Ground between the Lagos State Jama’atul Muslimeen (Muslim Community) and security agencies. He has, therefore, set up a committee under the leadership of the Chief of Staff, Professor Ibrahim Gambari, to advise him on the processes and all that needed to be done to do justice to all parties involved. Other members of the commit-

tee were the Minister of Defence, Works and Housing, the Chief of Army Staff, the Director General, Department of State Services and others recognised as stakeholders in the matter. Speaking at the State House at a meeting with members of the Jama’atul Muslimeen on Wednesday, Buhari, according to a release by his spokesperson, Mallam Garba Shehu, said justice and fairness were principles very dear to him and would hold onto them as long as he lives. “I have listened to the enlightening historical details you have read.

preciated the State Government's urban renewal policy, it pleaded with the government to temper justice with mercy. "We appeal to the Rivers State Government to review the quit notice given to Daar Communications Plc, owners of AIT and Raypower Radio Station. "The Press and the Rivers State Government have come a long way as partners in progress. We believe that proper negotiation and peaceful resolution of the land dispute will serve the Government and people of Rivers State better. "Whatever the merit of the quit notice by the Rivers State Government to Daar Communications Plc, we would not want the world to see the Press in a fight with the Rivers State Government in view of our long standing mutual relationship. "NUJ will not be happy to see a Media House in Rivers State been demolished over a land dispute that can be resolved peacefully and amicably", the statement read in part.

You will get justice as far as this is concerned. I commend you for adopting a peaceful approach to seeking justice, without heating up the polity. The Chief of Staff will get back to you in two weeks," he said. In their presentation, the group said it had come to the president as a last resort, having explored several avenues to get justice to no avail. In their account as rendered by the leader of the delegation, Alhaji Sikiru Alabi-Macfoy, Secretary of the Board of Trustees of the organisation, the Lagos State

Muslim Community informed the President that their ownership of the land dated back to 1931, when the Nigerian Government made an “Absolute Grant” of 3.11 acres of the land in question to serve as Muslim Prayer Ground at the new Hausa Settlement, Ikoyi Plains, Lagos, now known as Obalende. This, they explained, was much earlier than the arrival in the area of their neighbours, the Dodan Barracks, that came after the collapse of the First Republic. The Lagos Muslim Community further presented documents to show approval of the owner-

ship of the land, signed by the late Major General Shehu Musa Yar’Adua, Chief of Staff, Supreme Headquarters, under Obasanjo’s Military Administration, affirming their ownership of the land. They reported that “in the last few years, officials of the Department of State Services (DSS), at Dodan Barracks have been threatening to deny the Muslims access into the prayer ground, because the Muslim Community was claiming ownership of it, apparently based on their erroneous understanding that the Prayer Ground belongs to Dodan Barracks."

Senate rule to accommodate first timers to contest for the principal offices of the National Assembly, saying he was forward, willing and competent to contest for the Senate Presidency if it was in accordance with the decision of the party. "I am asking the National Assembly to set aside the House Rules for the best to emerge. If the Senate zones the Senate Presidency to the South East, I am indicating interest, so I have been in public service for the past 16 years, so you can see that I understand what it takes to rebuild this country. I appeal to the Senate to set aside the rules for the best man to emerge. This is without prejudice to the will of God. "We courageously left PDP to APC, because of injustice, so the South East trusts APC because in Ebonyi State, we returned three Senatorial Candidates, three House of Representatives Candidates, so Ebonyi is totally APC. It will be very fair enough for the nation Nigeria to look in the direction of South East in this Senate Presidency,” Umahi said.

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TAF AFRICA POST ELECTION REPORT... L-R: Chairman, Board of Trustees, TAF Africa, Prof. Vincent Anigbugu; Member Board of Trustees, TAF Africa, Hajiya Zainab Usman and Chief Executive Oﬃcer, CODE, Hamzat Lawal, during the TAF Photo: ENOCK REUBEN Africa post -election meeting on the 2023 gubernatorial and State Assembly elections in Abuja ... recently

Wike to Obi: I Did Not Work Against You in Rivers State Says G-5 governors never betrayed PDP Dismisses plan to manipulate Fubara after leaving office Blessing Ibunge in Port Harcourt Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike, yesterday, said he never worked against the Labour Party presidential candidate, Mr Peter Obi, to deny him victory in the February 25, 2023 presidential election, in the state, saying he only supported a southern presidential candidate and not specifically rejected Obi’s candidacy. Wike, who made the clarification during a media chat in his home town, Rumueprikom, Obio/Akpor, also said there was never a time

the G-5 governors endorsed Obi or another candidate as their preferred candidate for the presidential election, to the extent of betraying the PDP. The governor, who also denied plans to manipulate the governorelect, Siminailayi Fubara, when he leaves office, further described Obi’s alleged accusation that he manipulated the electoral process to his disadvantage as unfortunate. “I don’t work for INEC. I don’t have INEC documents with me. I am not an ad hoc staff of INEC and so, I am not in a place to rig election for anybody. It is when you

have the materials of INEC that you talk about rigging. But I take exception to Peter Obi’s comments that I came out against him. People are not being sincere, people are not appreciative,” he said. He maintained that his primary preoccupation as far as the 2023 presidential election was concerned was for a southern Nigerian to succeed President Muhammadu Buhari, whose tenure ends on May 29, 2023. According to him, “I never told Rivers people to vote for the candidate (of the APC). I told Rivers people (to vote) for the unity of

Nigeria. As far as Rivers State is concerned, their position is that, ‘look, we want a power shift.’ And there are two candidates from the South – Asiwaju Bola Tinubu and Peter Obi. “If Rivers people have chosen to vote for Asiwaju, and the same Rivers people also voted for Peter Obi, that tells you that their decision was to vote for a Southern President. So, amongst them one must always get the highest vote. If you look at the votes, APC won, followed by the Labour Party. So, that tells you what the decision they took. That

is the decision of Rivers people.” Wike said he was among those who recommended Obi to Atiku Abubakar’s running mate in 2019, saying, “In 2019, ask Peter Obi, I was one of the team that chose Obi to be the Vice Presidential candidate of Alhaji Atiku Abubakar. When we met at Abubakar’s house, he said these are the names, I will choose Obi. Obi was invited while we were at Saraki’s house in the night. “I was fought by people like (senator Ike) Ekweremadu, my own friend the governor of Ebonyi State (David) Umahi, and Pius Anyim. Every blame was on me. Why will I be the one that will say

Peter Obi? Why should I chose for the South East? Did he come out to say Governor Wike was the one who supported me to be the vice presidential candidate? He didn’t say so.” He also declared that the G-5 governors and the Integrity Group never during any of their meetings unanimously endorsed Obi or any presidential candidate of southern Nigeria extraction. His words: “There was never a time the integrity Group met and say it must be this person. We only agreed on southern President. We formulated strategies and the southern President emerged."

PDP Governors’ Forum Congratulates Party's Governors-elect APC Suspends Boss Mustapha Chuks Okocha in Abuja

The Peoples Democratic Party Governors' Forum (PDP-GF), has congratulated the governors-elect so far declared on the platform of the party for their resounding and refreshing victory at the gubernatorial election held on Saturday, March 18, 2023. In a statement by the Director General of the forum, Cyril Maduabum, the party said the forum particularly identified with the re-election of Governors Bala Mohammed and Seyi Makinde of Bauchi and Oyo States respectively for another term of four years; as

well as the successes at the polls of Governors-elect of Akwa Ibom State, Pastor Umo Eno; Delta State, Hon. Sheriff Francis Oborevwori; Plateau State, Mr. Caleb Mutfwang; Rivers State, Mr. Siminialayi Fubara; Taraba State, Mr. Kefas Agbu and Zamfara State, Dr. Dauda Lawal Dare. According to the statement, the PDP said, "From the results announced so far and as the nation awaits INEC’s final declaration, we are optimistic of the victory of the PDP candidates in Adamawa and Enugu States. "We dedicate this victory to Almighty God, because power, as we know, belongs to God; and we

encourage our governors-elect to see the victory as an enormous privilege and honour to be entrusted with the government of their various states. "We urge them to be energised by the massive support and overwhelming vote of confidence reposed in them by the electorate and to reciprocate this ringing expression of the people’s will by implementing all the promises and commitments made to the people in the course of the electioneering. "We admonish those re-elected to draw on the lessons they have learnt in the last four years and apply same to make their states greater and better in all ramifications; and

the new governors-elect to draw on the experiences and lessons of their predecessors to set the priorities of government, communicate the goals and outcomes of policies and programmes, and pursue them with a relentless zeal that will better serve their various states "And as you rise to this onerous task of leadership in your respective States, the Forum wishes you success at every step you take to attain your set goals for your people and the nation in general," the forum said, felicitating all members of the party elected into the various State Houses of Assembly across the States of the Federation.

Indeﬁnitely for Non-performance The All Progressives Congress, (APC) in Adamawa state, has suspended the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Boss Mustapha, for losing his polling unit to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the presidential and governorship polls. According to the party, the SGF did not contribute to the victory of APC presidential and governorship candidates, hence the need to ease him out of the party.

The Chairman of APC, Gwadabawa Ward , Mu’azu Kabiru, who announced the suspension in Yola, said that Mustapha was not committed to an APC victory during the last presidential election. He explained that based on a series of complaints against him, the Ward executives decided to suspend him indefinitely, noting that individuals should not take themselves above the party that gave them a platform.

Secondus: INEC Bent on Abe: Traditional Rulers, Police, Thugs Marred Rivers Guber Poll who were supposed to be fair the night before the election the entire state by violence and then said Destroying Nigeria’s Democracy Blessing IbungeinPortHarcourt rulers, in their dealing with their community governor made a broadcast. Out people are not ready for election, Chuks Okocha in Abuja

A former National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Uche Secondus, has accused the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) of being on a design mission to destroy democracy and the country. Secondus, who marked his 68th birthday, yesterday, said he was spending his birthday anniversary in supplication to God to save the country from the atrocities of the electoral commission. "There is nothing to celebrate, when the people are dying and enduring unprecedented hardship, but to take our case to God,” the former PDP boss said, adding that the elections conducted on February 25th and March 18, 2023,

showed that INEC was delivering a prepared script written by the APC and handed down to them to implement. “It’s sacrilegious for anybody, who has been part of this country since 2015 under APC administration to think that Nigerians will want to vote for APC for any reason. It has been INEC versus all the other parties in a democratic setting of multiple democracies,” he said. Secondus, therefore, charged the judiciary to rise to the huge challenge ahead of them and save this country from going down. He also prayed God to save Nigeria from being ruined by the inordinate ambition of some desperadoes bent on destroying the country, using a visibly compromised and biased electoral commission.

Governorship candidate of the Social Democratic Party (SDP) in Rivers State, Senator Magnus Abe, has alleged that traditional rulers, Nigeria Police and thugs, working for Governor Nyesom Wike of the state, marred the outcome of the March 18, Governorship and House of Assembly elections in the state. Speaking with journalists in Port Harcourt, yesterday, on the outcome of the Saturday election and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) announcement of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) candidate, Siminalayi Fubara, as winner of the poll, Abe said the election was marred by irregularities, violence, hijack of ballot boxes, intimidations and rigging among others. He regretted that the traditional

subjects, working on directives were the ones allegedly forcing people to vote for a particular candidate. The SDP gubernatorial candidate also wondered why his party members and supporters should be subjected to intimidation and arrest if the ruling party claimed they were prepared for the election, saying about 24 hours to the election, the state government declared some of his key members and supporters wanted. While noting that the Saturday election witnessed voter apathy, the SDP standard bearer was sad that even when the opposition parties were yet to react, the governor was allegedly making comments that could incite hatred and violence among residents of the state. "If I was not ready for the election,

of the people he declared wanted, over 70 per cent of them were from Ogoni. So, if wasn't ready for the election, why was he targeting me. Everything they did was done to ensure that Ogoni people were disenfranchised. “In Khana, all the ballot papers were mixed up, everything was done, at the end, the total votes was more than 6000 and I am not ready. Every target in this whole exercise, the police came here, their only target was to destroy the SDP. Our members were being specifically targeted and arrested all across the state on the instructions of the governor. "Allow an election to hold freely, then you will know those who are ready for election and those who are not ready. You cannot lock up the

what are we supposed to do if we are ready for election. “Is it not for people to come out with their PVCs and present themselves at the polling units. Where in Rivers State could ordinary people peacefully go and present themselves at the polling unit to cast their votes for a candidate of their choice.” He however, said the decision to approach the court would be after meeting with his party members and relevant stakeholders in the state, saying, "We did not expect perfect election in Rivers State, however, we expected election where everybody will be given an opportunity to participate and express their preference one way or the other, unfortunately that did not happen."

THURSDAY, ͺͻ˜ ͺ͸ͺͻ ˾ T H I S D AY

NEWS

LAUNCH OF THE DAWN PROJECT COMPETITION 2023... L-R: Commissioner for Health, Lagos State, Prof. Akin Abayomi; The Dawn Project Collaborators, Dr. Pamela Ajayi; Mr. Desmond Majekodunmi and Mrs Angela Emuwa, during the Launch of The Dawn Project Competition 2023 held in Lagos…recently

Kogi: PDP Screens Melaye, Awoniyi, Others for Guber Primary Anyanwu gives condition for consensus in Imo Chuks Okocha in Abuja The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governorship primary committee headed by Hon. Hassan Saleh, has screened nine aspirants from Kogi State, including Senator Dino Melaye, Senator Attai Aidoko, Kebiru Usman, Abdullahi Haruna SAN, Hon. Zakaria Alfa, Musa Wada, Bolu Femi, Yomi Awoniyi and Idoko Lona Idah. Meanwhile, the National Secretary of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Senator Samuel Anyanwu, yesterday, said the only consensus in the governorship primary election in the state is for the former governor, Hon. Emeka Ihedioha, to step down for him in the forthcoming primary election in the state. Anyanwu and Ihedioha were the only persons that appeared before the PDP Imo State governorship primary election screening committee headed by Senator Gabriel Suswam. Speaking with reporters after appearing before the screening committee, the PDP national Secretary, said the only alternative to having a consensus was for Ihedioha to step down for him.

According to him, "On the possibility of consensus, the only consensus is when he steps down for me, because he has been the governorship candidate in the state for three times, that is why Imo state people are agitating for a new person and how can you give one person ticket for three times? So, this time, let a new person go. "Yes, I have been screened, it's almost take a bow and go, because I have passed through different screenings, before becoming national secretary. I have served in different capacities. I have been a two term local government chairman, two term state house of Assembly member and a senator and I also ran for governor with Emeka Ihedioha in 2019. "So, I passed through the screening, even the screening panel said they don't have an issues with me. Today, I even let them know what they don't even know before about the issue of tax clearance, tax clearance can be forged out there, but I told them to always demand for the receipt. We are only two in the governorship race: Emeka Ihedioha and myself," he said.

Also, the governorship screening committee for Bayelsa State, headed by the Deputy Governor of Edo State, Philip Shaibu, has screened Governor Douye Diriye of the state, who is the only governorship candidate for the state. Certifying him worthy to stand for the governorship election, the

chairman of the committee, said, having being a senator as well as a serving governor and the right of first refusal, "We certify him worthy to contest the November governorship election this year.” Fielding questions after receiving his certificate, Diri said, "I have an unfinished business. I want to

extend the peace currently in the state. The only way is to stabilise the peace and development currently in the state. I am seeking a new term of office to complete the projects that is currently ongoing in the state. "Presidential, National Assembly and State Assembly took place in

Kano Senator, Jibrin Declares for Senate Presidency, Says He's Most Experienced Sunday Aborisade in Abuja The Chairman, Senate Committee on Appropriation, Senator Barau Jibrin, has declared his ambition to contest the position of the Senate President in the 10th National Assembly. The Senator, who is representing Kano Central Senatorial District, told journalists yesterday, that he was the most ranking and experienced among those contesting the position

with him. He promised to officially begin his campaign in the coming weeks. He said, “I intend to seek to be the President of the 10th Senate. In the next few days, I will start my campaign and make a formal declaration.: The Kano Senator noted that the position of the Senate president was that of experience and competence, not sentiments. He said, “Legislature is a distinct

arm of government that doesn’t work based on sentiments, it works on your ability to get the job done. It is the tradition all over the world and it is also stated there in our rule book and the rules are drafted from our constitutions." Jibrin has been in the National Assembly since 1999 and in the Senate since 2015. He explained that the Senate rule gives credence to seniority and experience above sentiments.

NON-COMPLIANCE WITH ELECTORAL ACT INVALIDATES TINUBU’S ELECTION, ATIKU TELLS TRIBUNAL undue, null and void and of no effect whatsoever.” They also sought a determination “that the return of the 2nd Respondent by the 1st Respondent was wrongful, unlawful, undue, null and void having not satisfied the requirements of the Electoral Act 2022 and the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (as amended), which mandatorily requires the 2nd Respondent to score not less than one quarter (25%) of the lawful votes cast at the election in each of at least two-thirds of all the states in the federation and the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja.” They equally urged the court to hold that Tinubu as at the time of the election was not qualified to contest the said election. The petitioners, however, prayed that in the alternative, “that it may be determined that the 1st Petitioner, having scored the majority of lawful votes cast at the presidential election of Saturday, 25 February, 2023, be returned as the winner of the said election and be sworn in as the duly elected President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. “An Order directing the 1st Respondent to conduct a second election (run-off) between the 1st Petitioner and the 2nd Respondent.” In further alternative, the petitioners prayed “that the election to the office of the President of the Federal

Republic of Nigeria held on 25th February, 2023 be nullified and a fresh election (re-run) ordered.

Protesters Storm National Assembly, Call for Annulment of Presidential Election

Protesters, yesterday, stormed the National Assembly, Abuja, to express their displeasure over the outcome of the February 25 presidential election. They carried placards with various inscriptions, including, “Save our Democracy”, “Politicians are Killing our Democracy”, “INEC killing the Nigerian Democracy.” They reiterated their earlier call for the annulment of the 2023 presidential poll. The protest, which took off from the Unity Fountain in Maitama, paralysed vehicular movement in the heart of the nation’s capital for hours. The demonstrators, however, met stiff resistance, as they were denied entry into the National Assembly premises by security men. The Divisional Police Officer (DPO) at the National Assembly, who came to address the protesters, said there was no written permission from the group or the relevant authorities, and as such, they would not be allowed into the National Assembly premises. Leader and co-convener of the Free Nigeria Group, Dr. Moses Ogidi

Bayesla state without recording a violent activity. This, I will extend to other parts of the state and make the state a heaven of peace," he stated. The screening of the Kogi State governorship aspirants has been scheduled to take place today, Wednesday.

Paul, while addressing newsmen, described INEC as a failed institution. Paul called for the arrest and prosecution of the INEC chairman for supervising what he described as a fraudulent presidential election. Other members of the group equally expressed their pain over the conduct of the presidential poll. That came less than 24 hours after the group had staged a similar protest to the headquarters of INEC, where they demanded immediate removal of the INEC chairman.

British High Commission Promises to Keep an Eye on Legal Proceedings

The British High Commission in Nigeria promised to keep an eye on the legal proceedings against the presidential election result. This was contained in a signed statement, yesterday, by Senior Communications and Public Diplomacy Officer, Foreign Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) of the British High Commission, Atinuke Akande-Alegbe. The statement disclosed that the British High Commission observed the governorship elections on March 18. It said the commission sent teams to Benue, Enugu, Kano, Lagos, Oyo and Rivers states. The high commission stated, “We observed improvements around elec-

tions logistics by INEC during the gubernatorial elections, particularly when compared to the presidential elections. “More polling units opened on time, there was greater evidence of BVAS and IREV working and results uploaded in real time from polling units and collation centres. These are positive markers to build on for future elections. “However, there were notable points of concern. Members of our observation mission personally observed violence, and voter suppression in numerous voting locations. We witnessed and received credible reports from other observer missions and civil society organisations of vote buying and voter intimidation, the destruction and hijacking of election materials and the general disruption of the process in numerous states, including Lagos, Enugu and Rivers. “In addition, we observed incidents of harassment of journalists. Freedom of speech and a free press are crucial for a healthy democracy, and journalists must be able to go about their work without being threatened.” It further stated that the UK was concerned about the use of “inflammatory ethno-religious language by some public and political figures. We call on all leaders, not just to distance themselves from this kind of language, but to prevent those who speak on their behalf from

doing so in this way. “It is a testament to their commitment to democracy that many Nigerians were prepared to vote despite being faced with intimidation and hostility.” The statement recalled that the UK Minister of State for Development and Africa, Andrew Mitchell MP, had on February 21 said the UK was prepared to take action against those who engaged in or incited electoral violence and other anti-democratic behaviours, noting, “The action could include preventing people from obtaining UK visas or imposing sanctions under human rights sanctions regime.” The statement revealed that collation of relevant information was currently being undertaken, with a view to taking action against some individuals. The statement further said, “We urge any party or individual who wishes to challenge the process or outcome of the elections to do so peacefully and through the appropriate legal channels. “We will be observing the course of legal challenges made. It insisted, “The 2023 elections are not only important to Nigeria and Nigerians, but to Africa and the world as a whole. As a long-term partner, the UK is committed to strengthening the ties between our countries and peoples, including by supporting democratic development.”

He said, “It is stated there in our standing rules that aspirations of elections for the seat of the Senate Presidency shall be in accordance with ranking. “Among those who are running for the seat of the Senate Presidency, I am the most ranked senator. "So, it’s constitutional and among those who are showing their intentions to run for the Senate Presidency, I am the most experienced. "The issue is that of competence. You need to be grounded, in the residue of the legislature before you become the Senate Presidency. Do you now play against competence based on sentiment. "Remember that David Mark was a Christian, his Deputy, Ike Ekweremadu was a Christian and the Speaker Patricia Etteh was a Christian because they were the most experienced and ranking and that is the tradition. So do we now relegate competence for other sentiments? "The National Assembly has the latitude to regulate its own procedures as a distinct arm of government. That's why we have our standing rules.” Speaking further, he said: "It is clear in the Senate Standing Rule that aspiration or election for the Office of the Senate President shall be in accordance with ranking and most experienced. “Among those who are seeking to occupy that office, I have the highest ranking and most experienced. "The issue is that of competence. You need to be grounded in procedures of legislation and other activities of the parliament before becoming the Senate President. "As we speak, I'm number one among those who are aspiring to become Senate President in terms of experience. "There was a time we had a Christian Senate President, David Mark, and the deputy, Ike Ekweremadu, a Christian and the Speaker of House of Representatives, Patricia Etteh, a Christian.

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THURSDAY MARCH, 23, 2023 ˾ T H I S D AY

NEWS

SUPPORTING ECOWAS FRIENDLY COUNTRIES TRADE FAIR

L-R: Corporate Communication Executive, Air Peace, Efe Osifo-Whiskey; President, ECOWAS and Friendly Countries Trade Fair (ECOFAIRS), Ejarkaminor Sylvester; Marketing Executive, Air Peace, Oluwatuyi Olumuyiwa, and Corporate Communication Executive, Air Peace, Omezi Ifeanyi ,at a Strategic partnership meeting in Lagos…yesterday SUNDAYADIGUN

General Election: Archbishop Martins Condemns Ethnic Profiling, Calls for Peace, Tolerance in a statement issued in Lagos yesterday, condemned in strong terms, all forms of ethnic profiling, provocative utterances, and incidents of violence witnessed in some parts of Lagos State, before, during and after the elections. The cleric in the statement signed by the Director of Social Communications, Rev. Fr. Anthony Godonu, described as

unfortunate and unacceptable the tension, hate speech and violence, especially before and after the recent gubernatorial and House of Assembly elections in some parts of the state. The prelate urged the state government, as a matter of urgency, to call all parties

ManWho Drank from Gutter to Celebrate Buhari’s Victory in 2019, Dumps APC in Frustration

Lagos State artisans and technicians have warned the Labour Party governorship candidate in last Saturday’s election, Gbadebo Rhodes-Vivour, to desist from destructive and inciting comments that may cause the breakdown of law and order in the State. The artisans and technicians advised Rhodes-Vivour to express his grievances over the gubernatorial poll through the appropriate channel, which is the court of law, rather than inciting people with ‘infamous outbursts and calls for terror.’

Goddy Egene The Catholic Church has warned that the ethnic profiling and violence that marred the justconcluded elections in Lagos State, if not promptly checked, could truncate the peaceful co-existence of residents in the state. The Archbishop of Lagos, Most Rev. Alfred Adewale Martins,

Segun Awofadeji in Bauchi A Bauchi State man, Aliyu Mohammed Sani, who bathed and drank from the gutter in celebration of President Muhammadu Buhari’s victory in 2019 has dumped the All Progressives Congress (APC) after being frustrated. Sani, who is also known as Ali Gayu Na Baba Buhari, while addressing a press conference in Bauchi yesterday, said he has withdrawn his loyalty from the APC. According to him, “My name is Aliyu Mohammed Sani, popularly known as Ali Gayu Na Baba Buhari, but that was in the past.

“I am the man that almost everybody is aware that when Buhari won the 2019 election, I took my bath and drank from gutter in celebration of his election victory. “As a result of the incident, many people came to see him and sympathise with him, among whom were Alhaji Musa Azare, who he said took flight to Bauchi to see how he was faring after drinking from the gutter.” Mohammed who regretted that none of APC members cared about him apart from Alhaji Musa Azare,, who is of the PDP, added that since then, he became Azare’s loyalist.

CourtJailsFatherofSixoverIllegal Mining Activities in Kwara Hammed Shittu in Ilorin A Federal High Court sitting in Ilorin, Kwara State, has convicted and sentenced Mr. Buba Muhammed, a 37-yearold truck-driver, to one-year imprisonment for being in possession of solid minerals without lawful authority. The court also ordered the forfeiture of the truck used as means of transportation of the illegally acquired minerals, which were confirmed by the Nigerian Geological Survey Agency (NGSA), to be lepidolite, montmorillonite and chrysocolla belonging to the federal government. Lepidolite is one of the raw materials usually transported outside the country for production of batteries for vehicles, cell phones, cameras and other electronic devices.

The Ilorin Zonal Commander of Economic and Financial Crime (EFCC), Mr. Michael Nzekwe, had repeatedly warned operators in the mining sector in the state against illegal mining activities and non-payment of royalties to the federal government, which he described as “acts of economic sabotage.” Buba, a father of six with two wives, began his journey to the Nigerian Correctional Centre on August 30, 2022, when he was arrested at Lade, Pategi Local Government Area of the state by the operatives of the Ilorin Zonal Command of the EFCC. He was one of the 13 suspects arrested by the EFCC on the said date while trying to transport a truckload of assorted crude minerals for sale outside the state.

to order and to put in place machinery for the quick restoration of peace and normalcy. In the same vein, he implored the law enforcement agencies to safeguard the lives and property of all residents in

the state irrespective of tribe, religion, or ethnic groups. Archbishop Martins also urged the residents of Lagos to remain calm and not allow themselves to be divided against their neighbours. According to him, “The ethnic and discriminatory

comments making the rounds particularly on social media are not a reflection of the true nature of Lagosians, who are known to be peaceloving, accommodating and cosmopolitan, including by promoting inter-tribal marriages for many decades.

Lagos Guber Poll: Stop Heating the Polity, LP Candidate, Rhodes-Vivour,Told Speaking at a press conference in Ikeja yesterday, on behalf of the artisans and technicians, the National Coordinator, Association of Nigeria Artisans and Technicians (ASNAT), Adeshina Akinyemi, congratulated Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu, for his victory and vowed to defend the governor’s mandate. They appealed to Governor Sanwo-Olu to establish an autonomous governmental agency or parastatal that will serve as an overseer agency for

the operational activities of all Lagos artisans and technicians, pleading that one of them, a professional artisan or technician should be allowed to head or manage the agency or parastatal when created. He said: “The governor’s reelection serves as a re-affirmation of confidence and faith reposed in him by majority of Lagosians. Through his character of competence, capacity, and sagacity, Mr. Babajide SanwoOlu has demonstrated his vast knowledge of Lagos and Lagosians’ needs.

“We believe that Governor Sanwo-Olu will use the opportunity provided by his re-election to leverage on his first term achievements and success to provide more beautiful milestones in infrastructural developments in all sectors of governance through his THEMES agenda.” They called on all the traditional fathers, especially Oba of Lagos, Oba Rilwan Akiolu, and all Eko elders to call Gbadebo Rhodes-Vivour to order and warn him to desist from his destructive and inciting comments.

My Victory a Call to Do More, Says Makinde Kemi Olaitan in Ibadan Governor of Oyo State, ‘Seyi Makinde, has maintained that his victory in last Saturday’s governorship election was a call

to do more for the state and its people. This is just as he said his administration would continue to uplift the people of the state, noting that he would continue to lift people from poverty to

prosperity. The governor stated this at Ilaji Resort, during a reception organised by the chairman of the resort and Otun Apesinola of Ibadanland, Dotun Sanusi. Governor Makinde, who

appreciated Sanusi for his support and for facilitating what he described as a victory get-together, said he would now focus on the task of building the state, having exited the campaign mode.

Blame Omo-Agege for APC’s Failure in Delta, Says Ojougboh Omon-Julius Onabu in Asaba A chieftain of the All Progressives Congress(APC) in Delta, Dr Cairo Ojougboh has alleged that the APC gubernatorial flag-bearer, Ovie Omo-Agege, who is also the Deputy President of the Senate, actually brought the 18th March electoral misfortune

upon himself by pratically hijacking the party in the state and running same like a private estate. According to Ojougboh, OmoAgege muzzled responsible APC leaders and political heavyweights in the state. Reacting to the dismal performance of the party in the election, which left the

APC winning only four out of Delta’s 25 local government areas, Ojougboh said that there was urgent need for the national leadership of the APC to intervene so as to rescue the party from the ruinous grip of Senator Omo-Agege. Specifically, the former member of the House of Representatives said that unless

such urgent step was taken to save the party, then the story might not change for Delta APC in future elections, including the 2027 polls, as the party was bleeding badly. He therefore, called for “intervention of stakeholders, including President Buhari before leaving office in May this year.”

More Political Tragedy Awaits APC, Says Osun PDP Chairman Yinka Kolawole in Osogbo The Osun Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has said it has found it laughable and amusing the accusation of the defeated opposition party in the state All Progressives Congress (APC) of having the effrontery to

make a fallacious statement against the PDP and the governor of the state. The party in a statement yesterday by the acting Chairman, Dr Akindele Adekunlem said he was ashamed on behalf of the Osun APC who instead of burying their head in

shame of failing woefully as a political party, are now reveling in long comedy of error and shifting blame of their bad outing at the last electoral contest in the state. The Osun APC had accused the ruling party in the state of riding on blood to victory and equally challenging that

the overwhelming victory of the PDP in different electoral contest is a charade and unacceptable to them. “ If Osun APC wants to fallaciously claim we rode on blood to victory, the people of the state are there to be the unbiased judge of this unsubstantiated claim from them.”

THURSDAY, ͺͻ˜ ͺ͸ͺͻ ˾ T H I S D AY

THURSDAYSPORTS

Group Sports Editor: Duro Ikhazuagbe Email: duro.ikhazuagbe@thisdaylive.com

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Super Eagles are battle ready for Guinea Bissau in the ﬁrst leg of the 2023 AFCON qualiﬁers on Friday in Abuja

Osimhen: We Are Ready for Guinea Bissau Showdown Ambitious G’Bissau’s Wild Dogs land in Abuja hoping to upstage Nigeria

Duro Ikhazuagbe Napoli front man, Victor Osimhen, has reassured Nigerians that Super Eagles will defeat Guinea Bissau in Abuja tomorrow and seal the qualification for the 2023 AFCON with another victory away in Bissau on Tuesday. Speaking yesterday in Abuja, Osimhen who is the leading marksman in Italian Serie A on 21 goals however emphasized that Super Eagles will not underrate the visitors. “We don’t underrate our opponents Guinea Bissau but it is our determination to win on Friday and complete the job on Tuesday in the second leg away in Bissau,” began the Nigerian forward who is in hot demand amongst top European clubs at

2023 AFCON QUALIFIERS the moment. He said that he was not particular about scoring more goals to become the highest scorer in the qualifiers but for Nigeria to win the two legs and qualify for the 2023 AFCON scheduled to Hold next January “It won’t be an easy game but I believe that we can win. The players are ready and willing to give their all on Friday. For me, it is not wether I want to become the highest goals scorer in the qualifiers. The most important thing is to help the team win and qualify for the 2023 AFCON.” While trying to put behind the non qualification of Nigeria for the last World Cup in Qatar,

stressed that Eagles are set to win well and regain the confidence of Nigerian football fans. FC Porto’s defender, Zaidu Sanusi was the last Super Eagles player to join the camp yesterday to complete the squad for the all-important double header Tomorrow and Tuesday. Meanwhile, Nigeria’s opponents in tomorrow’s 2023 AFCON qualifying match at the Moshood Abiola Stadium, the Wild Dogs (Djurtus) of Guinea Bissau arrived Abuja yesterday with a 30-man delegation. The delegation including players and technical officials, changed its travel plans severally but finally touch down in Abuja

looking confident and ready to upstage star-studded Super Eagles. At the head of the delegation is the First Vice President of the Guinea-Bissau Football Federation, Celestino Gonçalves with Coach Baciro Cande leading the players and technical team. Other members include, ‘Moreira’, Ivanildo Soares Cassama and Vítor Correia, former football star also the ambassador of football, Ciro Zé, former Guinean international referee, Fidel Gomes, special adviser to the president of the football federation in the areas of cooperation and international relations, Suaré Baldé, president of the club de Bula, Feliciano Sanca, and sports journalists. The team spent one day in Dakar, Senegal with all the invited

25 players available and trained at the Ibo Mar Diop Stadium before departed the Blaise Diagne International Airport to Nigeria yesterday. According to Coach Cande, the players are in good physical

condition during training and motivated to face the Super Eagles on Friday. The team will leave for home aboard a chartered aircraft immediately after tomorrow’s match in Abuja.

Rivers Utd Edge Rangers in Rescheduled NPFL Game Rivers United defeated Rangers International FC of Enugu 1-0 in a rescheduled Nigerian Premier Football League (NPFL) Match-day 8 game at the Adokiye Amiesimaka Stadium in Port Harcourt yesterday. Nyima Nwagua’s lone striker in the second half gave the Pride of Rivers people the 1-0 victory. The win has now moved the Pride of Rivers people to second on the log on 18 points, just one point behind Group B leaders Lobi Stars in the NPFL abridged

league season. The Pride of Rivers have been consistent in their recent performance both in the confederation cup and the domestic scene They qualified for the quarterfinal of the Confederation Cup last weekend despite grinding out a 2-2 draw against visiting Diables Noirs of Congo Brazzaville. The Port Harcourt club, Nigeria's sole survivor on the continent have been unbeaten in their last seven matches in all competitions.

Buhari Lauds Medal-winning Efforts of Nigerian Athletes, Footballers Adeoye: Motorsports on Deji Elumoye in Abuja

President Muhammadu Buhari has hailed the medal-winning efforts of several Nigerian athletes and their counterparts in other sports including football, saying their dedication and commitment were exemplary. The President stated this on Wednesday at the State House, Abuja, while playing host to the Minister of Youth and Sports Development, Chief Sunday Dare, who recently received “Special Recognition Award for Contributions to Sports Development in Nigeria and the Africa Region” from President Mohammed Solih of Maldives. Speaking after receiving the trophy from the Minister, the President thanked him for the honour to the country. He recounted the exploits of Nigeria’s national football team, Super Eagles, at national and international stages, noting he still hasn’t forgotten Nigeria’s absence at the Qatar World Cup 2022. Commending Dare’s enormous contribution to sports development, the President expressed delight

that he has been recognised and applauded outside the shores of the country. The President noted that under Dare, Nigeria’s sports sector has developed from recreation to business, adding that with revamping of infrastructure, laurels have been harvested at international events by our athletes while harmony and

unity of purpose have prevailed in several sporting associations. President Buhari also applauded the Minister’s commitment, dedication and service to the nation in a sector that brings young and old together, as well as athletes and fans. Earlier in his remarks, the Minister thanked the President for his tireless support towards

sports matters in the country. He cited the generous and timely funding from the government to all sporting organizations and their many local and international engagements, describing the recent donation of N200 million to Team Nigeria at the last Commonwealth Games in Birmingham as deeply inspiring.

Boxing Coach Punches In-law to Death in Edo Adibe Emenyonu in Benin City Boxing coach, Scott Eguabor, has allegedly punched his brother-inlaw, Sunday Okoro, to death. The incident was alleged to have happened on Sunday at Erie Street, off Sakponba Road in Benin City, Edo State. The retired boxer allegedly committed the act while trying to resolve marital problem between his immediate younger sister (who is also a judoka) and her husband (the deceased). The former boxer who is in charge of boxers in the Edo State

Sports Commission and also Head of Edo State Security Network in Erie and its environs, reportedly fled his home after committing the crime, barely one month after the victim's wife put to bed. An eye witness, Osahon OkoroObaraye revealed that the deceased wept profusely after the attack on him before heading to Esigie Police Division to make a complaint but was advised to go and get treatment Obaraye said the deceased ignored the police advice and instead went to his in-laws to report the matter where he collapsed and died.

"Esigie Police Station prepared an extract for Sunday to go and treat himself at the Police Clinic. He, however, went to his in-laws house where he collapsed and died. I then took his body to the same police station where we were advised to take him to a mortuary. "Sunday, a casket maker, had just finished paying over N300,000 debt he incurred after his wife (now widow) was delivered of a baby boy via a Caesarian section. When contacted, Edo State Police Command PPRO, Chidi Nwabuzor said that he was yet to get the details of the incidence.

the Path of Growth in 2023 The Founder of the Work and Play Motoring group, Adeoye Ojuoko has said partnerships with different Motorsports communities will drive the needed growth for the sport in Nigeria in 2023. Ojuoko whose group partnered the BMW Club Nigeria to deliver the Xmas Auto Fest on December 18, 2022, in Victoria Island, Lagos said the industry has a lot to gain from the growth of Motorsports and the fusion of ideas through its different promoters. “I think that the event that we pulled off with the BMW Club Nigeria was the biggest Motorsport event in the country last year and that easily communicates the much the industry can achieve when we come together. “For now, we have very little window for professionalism in the sport in Nigeria and I think, as such most of the players have day jobs that keep them occupied. It means that most of the needle-moving activities for the sports will be

better achieved as a group where everyone comes on board to work as a team,” he said. Ojuoko also added that pockets of other groups can also come on board to showcase their distinct purposes during those events, like racing clubs, vintage cars, and fans of retro-fitted vehicles. “You will be so amazed how many of these different sub-clubs are growing across the country. I think racing clubs because of their visibility, whenever they have activities, seem to be the most popular groups. But a bunch of other car enthusiasts that express their passion for the industry in various other forms are also growing and only when a common platform is created that you can see them.” The Xmas Auto Fest, a third in the partnership arrangement between Work and Play group and BMW featured drag races and drifting from some of the most popular athletes across the country.

Thursday, March 23, 2023

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Price: N250

MISSILE

Olumide Ohunayo to Aviation Workers Union The unions are trying to save face with the last-minute court process because they have sat and dined with the minister on this issue. They were even taken to some countries outside Nigeria to see how those airports and Ethiopian airlines operate. They came back and defended the position. So, what has made them turn against the government with just three or four months to go?” --Aviation Round-Table Secretary-General, criticizing Union for dragging Aviation Minister, Hadi Sirika to court over the planned airport concession

OLUSEGUNADENIYI Ndigbo AwalokanVersusYoruba Emilokan THE VERDICT

olusegun.adeniyi@thisdaylive.com

allam Mamma Daura is easily one of the most powerful Nigerians today. Not only because he occupies the amorphous ‘Office of the First Nephew’ as the supreme commander of ‘Aso Rock Cabal’ but also because he knows how to play the power game. Daura is hardly ever seen in public neither does he court media limelight, despite his professional accomplishments. So, when a man who prefers anonymity decides to speak publicly, especially on such a hot potato issue as zoning, people are bound to pay attention. That was precisely what happened three years ago. In a rare interview with BBC Hausa Service in July 2020, Daura was quoted to have said that the 2023 presidential election in Nigeria should be based on competence rather than on zoning. Such was the uproar generated by the interview that the presidency had to dissociate itself from Daura’s position. “It is important that we state from the onset that as mentioned by the interviewee, the views expressed were personal to him and did not, in any way, reflect that of either the President or his administration,” presidential spokesman, Garba Shehu, wrote in a statement. “At age 80 and having served as editor and managing director of one of this country’s most influential newspapers, the New Nigerian, certainly, Malam Mamman qualifies as an elder statesman with a national duty to hold perspectives and disseminate them as guaranteed under our constitution and laws of the land. He does not need the permission or clearance of anyone to exercise this right.” Not surprisingly, fierce criticisms of Daura’s position came from several quarters. But I paid more attention to the views canvassed by Southeast politicians. The kernel of their argument was that the idea of ‘merit’ was being floated by Daura to deny the Igbo people what was generally considered their turn at the presidency. Based on my reading of the situation at the time, I believed an elite consensus could indeed be forged on the issue in the interest of equity in diversity. I decided to intervene with a piece titled, ‘Thoughts on Igbo Presidency’. As I reasoned, the Ndigbo had more claim to the presidency in a nation where citizens had long been conditioned to a tripodal (WaZoBia) political arrangement. But I also argued that it would be more productive to stake the Igbo claim within the main opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) than in the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC). I rested my thesis on the fact that the Southeast people had been loyal to the PDP from inception so could easily negotiate for the party’s ticket. Besides, I could recall a conversation I had with the Katsina State Governor, Aminu Bello Masari in 2016 while writing my book, ‘Against the Run of Play: How an incumbent president was defeated in Nigeria’. Masari had told me then (seven years ago) that after President Muhammadu Buhari, it would be the turn of Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu to pick the APC ticket and that many of his colleagues in the north were already committed to working for that outcome. As I often do when I write on sensitive issues, especially when they border on ethnicity or religion, I shared the draft with a few respected friends for counsel. The consensus was that even though I made a compelling argument for ‘Igbo presidency’, the draft could still be misconstrued by those who already believed at the time that Buhari was planning to hand

Tinubu over power to someone from the Southeast on the platform of APC. By my own assessment, PDP was a more realistic route to power for the Southeast. At the end, I decided to err on the side of caution by not publishing the draft. While the content of my unpublished column may have been overtaken by recent events in the polity, let me share some of the views that prefaced the intervention. In July (2020), former Governor of Anambra State, Dr Chukwuemeka Ezeife, warned that not allowing an Igbo man to succeed President Buhari in 2023 would not be in the national interest. “My view is the general view. We are talking of equity, we are talking about fairness, and we are talking of justice. All these considerations require that power should move to the South and within the South, it should go to the Southeast. Unless some people are not interested in what happens to Nigeria then they can deny the Southeast,” Ezeife reasoned. Same week, former PDP National Chairman (and erstwhile Enugu State Governor), Dr Okwesilieze Nwodo, said: “the Igbo, 50 years after the war, have been so marginalised as if the civil war was still on. To heal that wound and to put that war behind us, I think if the country reaches out to the Igbo (for the presidency), it will be the masterstroke to heal the wounds.” The then President General of Ohanaeze Ndigbo, Chief Nnia Nwodo, who spoke through his Media Aide, Emeka Attamah, also insisted that it was the turn of the Southeast: “Daura’s comment is self-serving. He should have said this before the 2019 elections. They ganged up against former President Jonathan because they believed it was the turn of the North to produce the President. Having benefited from his nephew as President, he now wants the principle of rotation jettisoned…Now that it is the turn of the South, precisely Southeast, Daura is mouthing qualification and competence. Equity is a constant flagship for peace and good governance. Without it, there will be continued agitations and crisis. At his age,

Daura should stand for equity and fairness.” The foregoing subtext provided the background to the primaries of the political parties last year. In the PDP, Mr Peter Obi was easily the most prominent Southeast politician bidding for the party’s ticket. But when it became obvious that some power brokers within the party had other ideas about where the ticket should go, Obi left to become the flagbearer of the Labour Party. By accident or design, he had also become the toast of young Nigerians on social media. Meanwhile, shortly before the APC primaries last June, Tinubu was in Abeokuta to meet with the Ogun State delegates. Speaking in an angry note at a period his aspiration for the APC ticket appeared to be floundering, he reminded his audience of the role he played in the emergence of Buhari in 2015. He ended with the famous line, “Emilokan”. Although Tinubu spoke against the background of whatever agreement he and Buhari may have struck in putting together the political special purpose vehicle called APC, it was not lost on many politicians from the Southeast that a Tinubu presidency would be at the expense of their legitimate group aspiration. When ‘awalokan’ (it is our turn) jams ‘emilokan’ (it is my turn), it is no surprise that we have this crisis between the Yoruba and Ndigbo. It may be unspoken but in the words of a writer I once referenced, the most dangerous part of an iceberg is not the part you see; it’s usually the part beneath the water surface. However, having had a Yoruba man (President Olusegun Obasanjo) who spent eight years in office with another eight years by Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, there is no group aspiration in the Southwest for the Number One job in the country. But the fact that Tinubu is a Yoruba man is a problem even if he plotted his way to power by forging alliances that have paid off for him. Meanwhile, the challenge of the moment has been compounded by the outcome of the presidential election on 25th February in Lagos followed by recourse to violence, ethnic baiting and unbridled brigandage during the gubernatorial election last Saturday. I am going to unpack that election and all the associated issues but that is not for today. We have two immediate challenges on our hands. One is about the distribution of political opportunities in a way that excludes a significant section of the country. The second is on inter-ethnic relations, harmonious living and the danger that comes with profiling. In a plural society such as ours, profiling not only creates and perpetuates a poisonous social environment, but it also makes peaceful co-existence very difficult. I derive no satisfaction in saying that I saw this problem coming but it is on record that I warned about it. In my column, ‘At the End, Only One Will Win’ published just two days before the presidential election, I illustrated my point with the story of how in 1825 a new Russian Czar, Nicholas I, cancelled the pardon granted dissident, Kondraty Ryleyev because of what he said after miraculously surviving hanging. I concluded the column with the following words: “…many Nigerian politicians and their supporters have refused to learn: That words spoken or written in moments of anger or sometimes for fun, have consequences. Beneath the sabre-rattling we have witnessed in recent weeks is a certain mentality of politics as warfare. However, my concern is not the damage their words can do to themselves

but rather to the peace of our country and national security, especially after the votes are in. With the presidential election just hours away, it is important that the leading candidates and their supporters watch what they say, regardless of whether they win or lose. Given how the BATified, ATIKUlate and OBIdients have gone overboard during this campaign, especially on social media, one cannot rule out gloating or even ethnic baiting by members of the victorious side at the end of the process. Yet, one insensitive tweet or a reckless Tiktok video post could trigger violence in a contest that unwittingly stands on Nigeria’s ancient tripod…” Whether we want to admit it or not, Nigeria now has a problem that the political elite must confront. With the current arrangement based on north-south oscillation of power, a psychological exclusion of an important ethnic group for a long time cannot help the development of our country. As we therefore seek to navigate this tricky period in our history, those “whose palm kernels were cracked for them by a benevolent spirit should not forget to be humble,” to borrow from the wisdom of the late literary icon, Prof Chinua Achebe. It is to the eternal credit of the late Professor Akinwunmi Isola that in writing the script of the movie, ‘Magun’ (Thunderbolt), he chose to make the Yoruba character the villain. So, it is easy to recommend it at a time like this. Incidentally, I first deployed the message embedded in the movie in August 2013 in my column, ‘Yoruba, Igbo and Media Warriors’ where I wrote that the “Igbo this, Yoruba that” argument that dominated the period “detracts from what should be the focus of our attention…It is time we put an end to the on-going nonsensical debate between some Igbo and Yoruba commentators and face the real issues of poverty, development and national unity.” The cast included seasoned professionals like Adebayo Faleti (now also of blessed memory), Bukky Ajayi, Uche Obi-Osotule (one of Nigeria’s most adored actresses of my generation), Lanre Balogun, Wale Macauley, Ngozi Nwosu and the late Dr Larinde Akinleye. Continued on page 22

Commendable!

bia Governor, Dr Okezie Ikpeazu sponsored his former Chief of Staff to succeed him on the platform of the ruling PDP in the state. Following the declaration of the Labour Party candidate as winner last night, Ikpeazu made this statement: “Since we have come to the logical end of this battle, it is appropriate to congratulate the winner, Dr Alex Otti on his hard-fought victory. Having myself spent about three and half years in different courts and having experienced first hand, the distraction such cases can cause a leader, I appeal to every candidate in this election not to distract the incoming administration with court cases. Let us break this negative trend of subjecting our Governors to endless litigations and allow them to concentrate on providing good governance.” Quite commendable!

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