FRIDAY 24TH MARCH 2023

Naira Scarcity: NECA Urges NLC to Shelve Planned Strike CBN officials engage labour over picketing threat Onyebuchi Ezigbo in Abuja and Dike Onwuamaeze in Lagos The Nigeria Employers Consultative Association (NECA) yesterday advised the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) to shelve its

planned strike against the prevailing naira scarcity in order to avoid dragging the economy into a deeper crisis.

The Director General of NECA, Mr. Adewale-Smatt Oyerinde, gave this warning yesterday, in a press

statement titled, “Nigeria Labour Congress Nationwide Planned Strike: NECA Calls for Caution, Urges Social Dialogue.”

However, in a bid to stave off an impending protest by the NLC against the central bank,

some officials of the apex bank, including its deputy governors, yesterday met with the leadership of the congress in Abuja.

Speaking further, Oyerinde cautioned that embarking on the planned strike at this time would

be counter-productive.

Oyerinde said: “While we had expressed our deep concern as regards the mismanaged and dreadful implementation of the naira redesign policy, and in fact, some other policies of the Central

Bank of Nigeria, it is our strong believe that the planned strike by the NLC could further drag the economy into a deeper hole, leading to rapid business closures, Continued on page 5

NMDPRA Unveils Six Regulations, Moves Against Loading of Liquids in Unauthorised Locations... Page 6 Friday 24 March, 2023 Vol 28. No 10208. Price: N250

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PDP Bares Its Fangs, Suspends Fayose, Anyim, Others for Anti-party Activities... Page 5

Ekweremadu, Wife, Doctor Found Guilty of Organ Trafficking in UK Court Convicted of conspiring to exploit man for his kidney under Modern Slavery Act Nigeria’s former Senate President, Ike Ekweremadu, his wife, Beatrice and a medical doctor, Dr. Obinna Obeta, have been convicted of organ

trafficking, in the first verdict of its kind under the United Modern Slavery Act. Ekweremadu, 60, his wife,

Beatrice, 56, and Obeta, 51, were found guilty of facilitating the travel of a young man to Britain with a view to his exploitation

after a six-week trial at the Old Bailey, according to UK-based The Guardian.

They criminally conspired to

bring the 21-year-old Lagos street trader to London to exploit him for his kidney, the jury found. The man, who cannot be named for

legal reasons, had been offered an illegal reward to become a Continued on page 5

Keyamo Petitions DSS, Wants Political Opponents Charged with Treason LP: You closed your eyes to ethnic, vitriolic attacks on non-Yorubas in Lagos by your party and its supporters Says Obi's running mate a free citizen Group slams minister for pre-empting election tribunal Adedayo Akinwale, Emameh Gabriel and Alex Enumah in Abuja Minister of State for Labour and Employment, and one of the Spokespersons of the All Progressives Congress Presidential Campaign Council, APC PCC, Mr Festus Keyamo, has called for the arrest of the presidential candidate of Labour Party (LP), Peter Obi, and his running mate, Dr. Datti Baba-Ahmed, for allegedly making incendiary comments and claims capable of causing an insurrection against the government.

But the LP Presidential Campaign Council dismissed the allegations against the party’s candidates. It accused Keyamo of selfishness, saying he felt content to look the other way when his party, All Progressives Congress (APC), and its supporters moved against non-Yoruba nationalities in Lagos State with hateful speeches and acts during the last elections.

Continued on page 5

BUHARI RECEIVES OBA OF BENIN...

L-R: The Oba of Benin, Ewuare II and President Muhammadu Buahri during an audience at the State House in Abuja... yesterday

SUNDAY AGHAEZE

Otti: I Will Clear Backlog of Abia Workers’ Salaries, Pensions, Arrears By December... Page 16

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PDP Bares Its Fangs, Suspends Fayose, Anyim, Others for Anti-party Activities Drags Ortom before disciplinary committee Sets up caretaker committee for Katsina State chapter My suspension last kick of a dead horse, says ex-Ekiti governor NWC acting in contempt of court, Benue gov declares Suspend Ayu, not Fayose, Wike reacts, mocks party Fintiri’s campaign seeks sack of Adamawa REC Protesters want INEC chair, Yakubu, arrested Chuks Okocha, Adedayo Akinwale, Kingsley Nweseh in Abuja, Nume Ekeghe in Lagos, Gbenga Sodeinde in Ado Ekiti, Daji Sani in Yola and Blessing Ibunge in Port Harcourt Still smarting from its defeat at the February 25 presidential and national assembly elections, the National Working Committee (NWC) of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), yesterday, suspended a former governor of Ekiti State, Ayodele Fayose and a former President of the Senate, Senator Pius Anyim.

Also hit by the PDP big stick were Prof. Dennis Ityavyar from Benue State and Dr. Aslam Aliyu from Zamfara State, over alleged anti-party activities, believed to have translated into the PDP defeat on Saturday, February 25.

In addition, the NWC has also dragged some prominent members of the party in Benue State, including the governor, Samuel Ortom, before a disciplinary committee, while at the same time set up a caretaker committee for the party in Katsina State.

But Fayose, who reacted to the news of his suspension, has described

the action as the last kick of a dead horse, saying while the PDP lost the presidential election as a result of the fragmentation within the party, a majority of the leaders of the party also worked against the party.

Also, Ortom has warned that the NWC of the PDP was acting in contempt of a subsisting court order by referring him to the disciplinary committee of the party for alleged anti-party activities.

On his part, the Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike, has berated the PDP leadership for the suspension of Fayose and others over alleged involvement in anti-party activities, saying the party should have suspended its National Chairman, Dr. Iyiorcha Ayu, instead.

Meanwhile, the PDP governorship campaign council in Adamawa State, has called on INEC to sack the state’s Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC), Mr Hudi Yunusa Ari, over alleged manipulation of results to favour the APC governorship candidate, Aishatu Dahiru AhmedBinani.

This is as some protesters under the aegis of National Youth League for the Defence of Democracy

(NYLDD), yesterday, in Abuja, demanded the immediate arrest and prosecution of INEC Chairman, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu.

In a statement by the party's National Publicity Secretary, Debo Ologunagba, the PDP said, the NWC has approved the suspension of the following from the party with effect from today, Thursday, March 23, 2023.

Those suspended are Ayodele Fayose (Ekiti State), Senator Pius Anyim (Ebonyi State), Prof. Dennis Ityavyar (Benue State) and Dr. Aslam Aliyu (Zamfara State).

Further, the PDP said, "The National Working Committee (NWC) of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), has after very extensive review of the affairs of our party in the country and pursuant to the provisions of the PDP Constitution (as amended in 2017) referred the Governor of Benue State, Dr. Samuel Ortom to the National Disciplinary Committee over his reported involvement in anti-party activities."

The PDP urged all leaders, critical stakeholders and teeming members of party across the country to remain united and focused at this critical time.

Relatedly, on behalf of the

National Executive Committee (NEC), and in line and in pursuant to Sections 29(2)(b) and 31(2)(e) of our the Constitution of the PDP (as amended in 2017), the NWC has approved the composition of the Katsina State Caretaker Committee to run the affairs of the Katsina State chapter for a period not exceeding 90 days (3 months).

Members of the Katsina State PDP Caretaker Committee include Dr. Abdulrahman Usman as Chairman.

Others were Hon. Nura Shehu Giwa, Hon. Haruna Jami, Lawal I Safana Sanusi Audu Fari, Nura Ahmadu Kurfi, Sani Abdullahi Daba, Magajiya Lawal Matazu, Ado Dan Tura, Hon. Hamza Yunusa Jibia, Abdulhamid Danbatta, Aisha Medinat Ibrahim and Halima Zubairu Abdulhamid as Secretary.

The NWC urged all leaders, critical stakeholders and teeming members of the party in Katsina State to remain united and continue to work together for the task ahead.

Fayose: My Suspension Last Kick of Dead Horse

However, reacting to his suspension, Fayose, who described his suspension as "the last kick of a dead

horse", said, "Ayu and his cohorts were only entertaining themselves with the purported suspension as their latest comedy skit."

Fayose, in a statement by his spokesperson, Lere Olayinka, said in a matter of days, the inglorious tenure of Ayu as national chairman of PDP would become history and the party would enjoy a new lease of life.

The former Governor, said he and others, who stood by the party when Ayu and his cohorts left it to die would rescue it and give life back in due course, stressing that the purported suspension had no legs to stand.

However, featuring on the Good Morning Show on ARISE News Channel, Fayose, who claimed the PDP couldn't have won the presidential election because it was fragmented, reiterated that he supported the presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Bola Tinubu, by mobilising his supporters to vote for him in his state.

He hinted that a majority of the PDP leaders worked against the party, because they didn't believe in the process that produced former Vice

President Atiku Abubakar as the candidate of the party in the 2023 elections.

Fayose was of the opinion that going by Nigerians' attitude, and the behavioural component of everybody involved as well as stakeholders, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) did well.

He explained that the electoral umpire INEC did not carry guns and did not have powers to do certain things, other than to ensure a free and credible elections, adding that the majority of the politicians that contested in the just concluded elections were desperate to win at all cost.

Noting that what happened during the last election was not different from what happened in 1979, Fayose said, "I am one Nigerian that I am going to tell you my feelings without looking at your face. You might not like my opinion about things, but I'm going to just let you know this is my opinion and it remains. Let me tell you nothing has changed in Nigeria since I grew to know Nigeria and Nigerians and the political evolution.

Abuja with the sole aim of instructing them to push out inciting messages everyday on social media in order to cause panic and fear within the federation and to incite people to riot and social unrest.

Keyamo told the DSS, "These conducts and utterances are a buildup to something more sinister and it is important you rein them in now!

In this circumstance, I submit this petition in my personal capacity as a patriotic Nigerian to invite/arrest, interrogate and after investigation, if necessary, charge both individuals to court for their conducts, which amount to incitement and treasonable felony."

But spokesperson of the LP Presidential Campaign Council, Dr. Tanko Yunusa, in a statement, said, "Datti is a free citizen of this country and entitled to his fundamental right of freedom of expression. Datti never called for insurrection or any act envisaging treason."

The LP spokesman said Keyamo's statement lent credence to widespread allegations that the ruling party massively rigged the February 25 elections.

The statement said, "Keyamo talked about healing, that means Nigeria is sick, that means he recognised that the February 25th (presidential election) which announced his principal as the president-elect and the March 18 state elections were marred with blatant rigging, high level violence, voters suppression and intimidation orchestrated by his party.

"Surprisingly, Keyamo, who claims to be a 'patriotic citizen' closed his eyes to the ethnic and tribal vitriolic by his party and their supporters against non-Yoruba in Lagos. The so-called ‘patriotic citizen’ didn't report MC Oluomo, who told Igbo not to vote in Lagos.

"After the shameful Chatham House appearance of Keyamo's principal, his principal was recorded telling key supporters to fight, snatch, grab and run with ballot boxes, which was exactly what happened in the elections. Why didn't Keyamo, the ‘patriotic citizen’ report to the DSS. "Keyamo is just making baseless accusations. He's a known rabble rouser and chatter box, who doesn't want to lose political relevance before his paymaster, who have now seen him for what he is, which is a political paper weight, who has achieved nothing as a minister except posting fake news to rile up the polity on social media.”

Similarly, HURIWA, in a statement by its National Coordinator, Comrade Emmanuel Onwubiko, observed that Keyamo's statement insinuated that the ruling party already had the courts in their pockets.

Onwubiko condemned Keyamo’s statement on the grounds that litigation was yet to start. However, he charged the Supreme Court to "redeem its image and not be a cashand-carry platform to window-dress corrupt politicians, who rigged their ways through elections.”

falsely claiming the man was Sonia’s cousin in his visa application and in documents presented to the hospital.

Davies said Ekweremadu ignored medical advice to find a donor for his daughter among genuine family members.

He said: “At no point in time was there ever any intention for a family member close, medium or distant to do what could be paid for from a pool of donors.”

The judge, Mr. Justice Jeremy Johnson, will pass sentence on 5 May. The chief crown prosecutor, Joanne Jakymec, said: “This was a horrific plot to exploit a vulnerable victim

by trafficking him to the UK for the purpose of transplanting his kidney.

“The convicted defendants showed utter disregard for the victim’s welfare, health and wellbeing and used their considerable influence to a high degree of control throughout, with the victim having limited understanding of what was really going on here.”

DI Esther Richardson, from the Metropolitan police’s modern slavery and exploitation command, said: “This is a landmark conviction and we commend the victim for his bravery in speaking against these offenders.”

Continued on page 35

KEYAMO PETITIONS DSS, WANTS POLITICAL OPPONENTS CHARGED WITH TREASON A civil rights advocacy group, Human Rights Writers Association of Nigeria (HURIWA), also slammed Keyamo for saying the Presidential Election Petition Tribunal would clear Tinubu of all allegations brought against him by Obi and Atiku, insisting it amounts to pre-empting the panel.

Keyamo, who was also the spokesperson of the APC Presidential Campaign Council (PCC), in a petition addressed to the Director General of the Department of State Services (DSS), dated March 23, 2023, called on the secret police to charge Obi and Baba-Ahmed to court for their conducts, which he said was akin to incitement and treasonable felony.

The minister said in the petition, "I write this petition with the full realisation that in a post-election period such as this, there is a need to soothe frayed nerves, lower the temperature and begin the healing process. The president-elect, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, has issued a statement to this effect a few days ago."

Keyamo said it appeared Obi and Baba-Ahmed were not prepared to toe the conciliatory path for the sake of peace and national cohesion, while exercising their rights to pursue duly laid down constitutional means of addressing their grievances.

He said since the declaration of the presidential election results, the LP presidential candidates had been

hopping from one media house to the other making incendiary comments and claims about the affirmation of the president-elect by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

Keyamo claimed that these comments and claims were made not just within the boundaries of exercising their rights to freedom of speech and the freedom to air their grievances publicly, but they had since crossed the line to call for the outright truncation of democracy by insisting on the adoption of other processes outside the contemplation of Nigeria’s constitution.

While noting that in some cases, their privies had even called for the establishment of an interim

government, Keyamo said, "The latest of such are the comments made

by Datti Baba-Ahmed on behalf of himself and Mr. Peter Obi on Channels TV on Wednesday, March 22, 2023, wherein he threatened that if the president-elect is sworn in on May 29th, 2023, it would ‘signal the end of democracy’.

"Posing as an accuser, a judge and a jury all by himself, he unilaterally declared the duly elected presidentelect as ‘unconstitutional’ and, in a subliminal manner, threatened mayhem if the president-elect is sworn in on May 29th, 2023."

The minister said he had it on good authority that Obi and Baba-Ahmed had allegedly camped some youths in a popular hotel in

NAIRA SCARCITY: NECA URGES NLC TO SHELVE PLANNED STRIKE job losses and other socio-economic challenges.

“While we affirm emphatically our displeasure with government’s loud silence and seeming inactivity in resolving the self-inflicted quagmire, the planned strike, at this time, could be counter-productive.

“We, hereby, urge the maximum use of the instrumentality of social dialogue in resolving all issues associated with industrial and social-economic disputes.

“Actions by government and indeed social partners that could compromise the fragile economic state of the nation should be avoided. We urge the CBN and indeed, the federal government to

immediately address the genuine concern of Nigerians in view of the ongoing socio-economic difficulties.”

He added that it was without a doubt that the cash crunch had affected businesses, individuals and households terribly while economic experts and analysts had stated that the loss in economic terms could be over N20 trillion as a result of loss of productive hours in bank halls and petrol stations, shut-down of businesses due to low patronage, inability of employees to transit to work, challenges faced by households in meeting basic needs and the general distortion in general supply chain.

Meanwhile, officials of the CBN

yesterday met with the leadership of the NLC in Abuja.

THISDAY learnt from sources at the Labour House that the meeting held at the NLC's headquarters saw the CBN delegation explaining the government's financial policy, especially the naira redesign that resulted in cash crunch.

The source said the CBN delegation led by its Deputy Governors – Mr. Folashodun Adebisi Shonubi and Dr. Kingsley Obiora - pleaded for the understanding of organised labour on the lingering cash squeeze.

"The CBN team pleaded with the NLC not to embark on the protest, assuring that it is doing

everything to restore normalcy in the currency supply chain," he said.

The NLC had on Wednesday directed all workers to picket all the offices of the central bank nationwide starting from next week, over current cash crunch in the country.

NLC President, Joe Ajaero, who gave the directive while addressing journalists, had 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 the mobilisation had already commenced.

EKWEREMADU, WIFE, DOCTOR FOUND GUILTY OF ORGAN TRAFFICKING IN UK COURT donor for the senator’s daughter after kidney disease forced her to drop out of a master’s degree in film at Newcastle University, the court heard.

Sonia Ekweremadu was found not guilty. She cried in court as her parents were sent down from the dock.

In February 2022, the man was falsely presented to a private renal unit at Royal Free hospital in London as Sonia’s cousin in a failed attempt to persuade medics to carry out an £80,000 transplant.

For a fee, a medical secretary at the hospital acted as an Igbo translator

between the man and the doctors to help try to convince them he was an altruistic donor, the court heard.

The prosecutor Hugh Davies KC told the court the Ekweremadus and Obeta had treated the man and other potential donors as “disposable assets – spare parts for reward”. He said they entered an “emotionally cold commercial transaction” with the man.

The behaviour of Ekweremadu, a successful lawyer and founder of an anti-poverty charity who helped draw up Nigeria’s laws against organ trafficking, showed “entitlement, dishonesty and hypocrisy”, Davies

told the jury.

He said Ekweremadu, who owns several properties and had a staff of 80, “agreed to reward someone for a kidney for his daughter – somebody in circumstances of poverty and from whom he distanced himself and made no inquiries, and with whom, for his own political protection, he wanted no direct contact.”

Davies added: “What he agreed to do was not simply expedient in the clinical interests of his daughter, Sonia, it was exploitation, it was criminal. It is no defence to say he acted out of love for his daughter.

Her clinical needs cannot come at

the expense of the exploitation of somebody in poverty.”

Ekweremadu, who denied the charge, told the court he was the victim of a scam. Obeta, who also denied the charge, claimed the man was not offered a reward for his kidney and was acting altruistically.

Beatrice denied any knowledge of the alleged conspiracy. Sonia did not give evidence.

WhatsApp messages showed to the court revealed Obeta charged Ekweremadu N4.5 million (about £8,000) made up of an “agent fee” and a “donor fee”.

Ekweremadu and Obeta admitted

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NEWS

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

FUNERAL SERVICE FOR FORMER PRESIDENT JONATHAN’S UNCLE, ELDER AFENI...

R-L: Former President Goodluck Jonathan; his wife, Dame Patience and Bayelsa State Governor, Senator Douye Diri, during the funeral service of Dr. Jonathan’s uncle, Elder Omieworio Afeni, at the St. Stephen Anglican Church, Otuoke in Ogbia Local Government Area ... yesterday

NMDPRA Unveils Six Regulations, Moves Against Loading of Liquids in Unauthorised Locations Set to enforce compliance on installation of measurement devices Emmanuel Addeh in Abuja The Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA) has released six new regulations to guide operators in the Nigerian oil and gas industry in line with the provisions of the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA).

Key highlights of the regulations, according to the sector regulator, are that henceforth, the noose would be tightened on operators who load petroleum liquids in unauthorised locations as well as those who do not install standard measuring devices on their facilities.

Speaking during the programme which took place at the NMDPRA headquarters in Abuja, the Authority’s

Chief Executive, Mr. Farouk Ahmed, listed the new guidelines as: The midstream and downstream petroleum operations regulations, the petroleum measurement regulations and assignment or transfer of licence and permit regulations.

Other regulations mentioned by Ahmed included: “The natural gas pipeline tariffs regulation, the gas pricing, domestic demand and delivery regulation as well as the petroleum (transportation and shipment) regulation.”

Describing the PIA as the key legislative instrument that governs the business of petroleum operations in Nigeria, Ahmed stated that the law emplaces a framework for the development of the relevant

Court to Rule on Application to Set Aside Suspension of Seplat’s CEO on March 30 Wale Igbintade Justice Chukwuejekwu Aneke of the Federal High Court, in Lagos has fixed March 30, 2023, to rule on several applications challenging the suspension of the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Seplat Energy Plc, Mr. Roger Brown, from parading himself as the CEO of the company.

Justice Aneke adjourned the matter for ruling after hearing applications seeking to vacate the ex-parte order and to strike out the suit by counsel to the Respondents.

The court had on March 8, restrained Brown from parading himself as the CEO of the company pending the determination of a suit instituted against him and others by some aggrieved stakeholders of the company over allegations of racism, favouring of expatriate workers, discrimination against Nigerians, and breach of good governance.

Justice Aneke made order while ruling on a Motion Ex parte, filed

by J C Njikonye, on behalf of some aggrieved stakeholders of Seplat - Moses Igbrude, Sarat Kudaisi, Kenneth Nnabike, Ajani Abidoye, and Robert Ibekwe, Petitioners, against the Respondents, Seplat Energy PLC, Mr. Roger Thompson Brown, and Mr. Basil Omiyi, in Suit No. FHC/L/402/2023.

Similarly, Justice Aneke in a separate ex parte application, granted the petitioners leave to serve the petition, any order of

court and all other processes to be issued subsequently in the matter on Brown and Omiyi by pasting in the premises if Seplat Energy located at Ikoyi, Lagos.

When the matter was called yesterday for hearing of pending applications, Jeph Njikonye announced appearance for the aggrieved shareholders, Bode Olanipekun announced appearance for the first Respondent (Seplat Energy), Mathew Burkaa, announced appearance for 2nd Respondent (Roger Brown, while Uzoma Azikiwe, appeared for the 3rd Respondent (Basil Omiyi, Board Chairman, Seplat).

Addressing the court, counsel to the aggrieved shareholders, Njikonye informed the court that there were several applications before the court, submitting that his application for interlocutory injunction for joinder should be heard first before applications seeking to discharge the ex parte order made by the court.

He argued that by the nature of the suit and by virtue of Order 29 Rule 1A of the Federal High Court (Civil Procedure) Rules, the application for joinder takes preeminence above other applications.

However, counsel to the first Respondent, Olanipekun opposed the application arguing that the ex parte order granted by the court affected many other people who are not parties before the court.

regulations that will support sustainable growth across the oil and gas value chain in Nigeria.

According to him, the regulations were designed to enable businesses through regulatory clarity, certainty, fairness, transparency, and best industry standards.

In addition to the regulations that were launched, he explained that 14 other regulations, had been developed and will be issued shortly.

He lauded all the stakeholders, some of whom he said spent days working on the new regulations, led by the authority’s regulations drafting team who worked tirelessly to deliver on the critical assignment.

Giving a breakdown of the regulations, the NMDPRA Secretary/Legal Adviser, Dr. Joseph Tolorunse, stated that the objectives of the midstream and downstream petroleum operations regulations, aside guiding the operations of the companies in the sector, will provide procedures for the granting of licences, permits, authorisations and payment of fees as well as proffering sanctions and penalties for non-compliance.

Its application, he said, would encapsulate gas operations, petroleum liquid operations, oil

and gas service permits as well as spell out duties and obligations of licensees and permits holders.

The regulation will also apply to the importation, exportation, shipping, unshipping, and landing of petroleum, petroleum liquids, and products, conformity assessment.

He added that it would further guide technology adaptation, meaning that if a company intends to introduce a new technology, it will have to be approved by the authority to ensure that it’s adaptable to the Nigerian environment.

On the assignment or transfer of license and permit regulations, he stated that it will establish procedure for assignment or transfer of license or permit by holders in cases of mergers , acquisition and takeovers as well as prescribe fees for such assignments or transfer.

Tolorunse added that it would further provide sanctions or administrative penalties for failure to comply with the regulations, ranging from punitive measures to suspension of operations.

This, he said, would apply to the midstream processing facilities, installations, terminals and pipelines, blending facilities and petroleum products facilities as well as oil and

gas retail outlets.

Also, he stated that on the liquids measurement regulation, it will ensure accurate measurement and allocation of gas or its derivatives as well as crude oil or its derivatives.

“It’s important for companies to install appropriate measurement instruments in appropriate points in oil and gas operations. It will also help determine the basis for calculating revenue accruing to government, licensees, contractors, and other parties in the midstream and downstream petroleum operations,” he added.

He mentioned that if appropriate metering are installed, it will stem the spate of crude losses through theft in the value chain.

In all, he noted that the regulations will aid the Authority in controlling processes, setting standards, and monitoring operations in the technical and commercial aspects of the midstream and downstream petroleum sector in Nigeria and enhance internally generated revenue.

NMDPRA’s General Manager, Information Technology, Anne Omezi, who made a presentation on the launch of the midstream and downstream oil and gas service permits, explained that going

forward, no company or person shall be engaged by any person or operator in the sector without a service permit issued.

“Consequently, the licensee or anyone wishing to render service in the downstream and midstream must possess a service permit,” she stated.

According to her, the permits fall into three categories: The general category for artisans , major category and the specialised permits, with applications billed to be processed within three working days, except for those requiring verification of skills, place of service and capacity of technical workforce.

She explained that a portal has now been made available for that purpose and urged applicants to avail themselves of the information which can be also be accessed through the NMDPRA website.

Chairman of the NMDPRA board, Idare Ogan, explained that as much as the NMDPRA wants to provide an environment that encourages growth and development, without strict compliance, nothing will be achieved.

“Compliance is not only a major issue for operational efficiency, the authority will hammer on compliance when things go wrong,” he noted.

NAICOM: Insurance Industry’s Assets Increased to N2.32tn as Gross Premium Income Hits N726.2bn in Q4 Total claims amounted N318.2bn, paid claims N244.2 billion James Emejo in Abuja The total Assets of the insurance industry stood at N2.32 trillion in the fourth quarter of 2022, representing a 2.4 per cent, expansion quarter-on-quarter and 4.4 per cent year-on-year, the National Insurance Commission (NAICOM) disclosed yesterday.

Also Gross Premium Income (GPI) totalling about N726.2 billion was generated by the sector in the review period.

In addition, insurance claims reported during the quarter stood at N318.2billion, representing a 31.2 per cent quarter-on-quarter growth, while net claims paid amounted to N244.3 billion. This represented a growth of about 17.9 per cent quarter-on-quarter.

This was contained in Bulletin of the Insurance Market Performance for the period under review, which

was made available to THISDAY. The report noted that total assets was however relatively at a lower momentum compared to the prior period when the progression rate was recorded at about nine per cent year-on-year due to the wave of recapitalisation drive recorded in that period.

However, the report stated that, the "outlook of the market growth in terms of assets remained positive, with the increasing measures of market deepening and development, recapitalisation drive still ongoing, regulatory insurance laws and provisions enshrined in the insurance bill, being reviewed and, digitalisation of the supervisory wide processes would lead to the realisation of the vast potential in the insurance industry, " the commission stated.

The GPI performance represented a growth of about

36.3 per cent quarter-on-quarter and about 18 per cent year-on-year.

The improvement in the market indices was attributable to the growing awareness and market expansion as well as consumer’s confidence.

Data on the non-life segment showed that motor insurance led with regards to claims settlement vis-a-vis gross claims reported at about 92.3 per cent signifying a nine points improvement as against its prior position.

Fire insurance was the least with about 46.3 per cent, and the only class below average proportion.

Others included General Accident Insurance (80.7 per cent), Oil Gas (51.6 per cent), and Marine and Aviation (74.4 per cent), This was relatively at a lower momentum compared to the prior period when the progression rate

was recorded at about nine per cent (YoY), attributable to the wave of recapitalization drive recorded in that period.

The report added that there was continuous improvement in retention propensity, increased market size and industry profitability, compared to the preceding quarter.

The results were particularly remarkable given the real growth 3.5 per cent of Gross Domestic Product (GDP) over the same period.

The positive data was attributed to the consistent regulatory measures being carried out by the commission in recent times which had restored some measure of professionalism in insurance practice thus, boosting public confidence.

Continued online

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ACCESS BANK INTERNATIONAL WOMEN’S DAY CONFERENCE...

L-R: Wife of the Vice President, Dolapo Osinbajo; Minister of Women Affairs and Social Development, Pauline Tallen; GMD/CEO, Access Corporation, Herbert Wigwe, and chairman, Access Bank, Ajoritsedere Awosika, at the 2023 Access Bank International Women’s Day conference in Lagos... Yesterday SUNDAY ADIGUN

Adesina: Women in Africa Face $42bn Financing Gap Access Bank disbursed N40.5bn to women-led businesses, targets N100bn in 2023

Nume Ekeghe The President of the African Development Bank Group (AfDB), Dr. Akinwumi Adesina, has stated that the continent has a $42 financing gap for women and has advised financial institutions across Africa to work towards bridging the gap.

He stated that there was need for banks to create tailored products to cater for the needs of women that would de-risk financing to women and women-led businesses and has urged banks to ensure they end

more to women.

Adesina disclosed this at Access Bank’s International Women’s Day Conference in Lagos yesterday.

This was just as Access Bank has revealed that in its bid to promote access to finance for women-led businesses, it disbursed N40.5 billion in 2022 to women-led businesses through its W’ initiative product. The bank also stated that it was targeting to make available and disburse over N100 billion to women-led businesses.

Speaking further, Adesina said: “Women who own businesses are on the rise across the continent, contributing significantly to job creation and economic growth.

In fact, nine out of 10 women pay back their loans, a truly extraordinary number and this shows that women are bankable.

It is however bewildering that women in Africa continue to face a $42 billion financing gap in Africa.

“There exists inbuilt gender-based biases against women in terms of access to finance. We always hear

from financial institutions that they need guarantees and de-risking instruments to be able to lend more to women.

“I firmly believe that what we are really de-risking is not any high risk of lending to women, but we are simply de-risking gender-based biases on lending to women. All financial institutions in Africa and indeed globally should have well-designed programmes and instruments for lending to women.”

He added that at the AfDB, they were taking bold steps to rectify

WHO: Africa Records 26% Reduction in Death from Tuberculosis

Onyebuchi Ezigbo in Abuja

The World Health Organisation (WHO) yesterday said there was a 26 per cent reduction in Tuberculosis (TB) deaths between 2015 and 2021.

It also said Nigeria had significantly increased national TB cases by 50 per cent in 2021, using innovative approaches such as the expansion of the daily observed treatment protocols, use of digital technologies, community active case finding, and enlisting public private mix initiatives.

It also said through technical support, advocacy and effective partnerships, enormous progress had been made over the past decade, especially in the East and Southern African Regions. According to WHO, high-burden countries, like Ethiopia, Kenya, Lesotho, Namibia, South Africa, Tanzania, and Zambia have surpassed or reached the 20 per cent target of reducing new TB cases.

In her message to mark this year's World TB Day, WHO’s Regional Director for Africa, Matshdiso Moeti, said significant progress had been made in eradicating TB in Africa.

"WHO in the African Region is now on the threshold of reaching a 35 per cent TB death reduction. There has been a 26 per cent reduction in TB deaths between 2015 and 2021.

Seven countries— Eswatini, Kenya, Mozambique, South Soudan, Togo, Uganda, and Zambia—have reached a 35 per cent reduction in deaths since 2015," she said.

Speaking on the year’s theme, “Yes, We Can End TB", Moeti said there was need to ensure equitable access to prevention and care, in line with the country's drive towards Universal Health Coverage and the Sustainable Development Goals.

Moeti expressed delight that member-states were increasing the uptake of new tools and guidance recommended by WHO, resulting in early access to TB prevention and care and better outcomes.

She explained that the use of rapid diagnostic testing in African countries increased from 34 per cent in 2020, to 43 per cent in 2021, thereby improving the countries’ ability to detect and diagnose new cases of the disease.

"It is particularly important to find and diagnose cases of TB so that the patients can be treated, and their contacts offered preventive medication.

"Nigeria is an example of a country that managed to significantly increase national TB case finding by 50 percent in 2021 using innovative approaches such as the expansion of the daily observed treatment protocols, use of digital technologies, Community Active Case Finding, and enlisting Public Private Mix initiatives," she said.

Moeti added that TB required concerted action by all sectors: from communities and businesses to governments, civil society and others.

"We must work together to develop innovative approaches to reach vulnerable populations and ensure that they have access to quality TB care and management.

"We commemorate World TB Day yearly on March 24 to raise public awareness about the devastating health, social and economic consequences of this preventable

disease and call for accelerated action to end it.

"In 2021, with a clear roadmap, the WHO in the African Region showed that it is possible to reach – and even surpass –the first milestone of the End TB Strategy (20 percent reduction by 2020), with a decline rate of 22 percent in new infections since 2015," she said.

The WHO scribe however said that there was still a notable gap between the estimated number of new infections and case notifications of TB, adding that over 40 percent of people living with TB did not know of their diagnosis or it was not reported in 2021.

"One million people are living with TB in the region and have not been detected.

"Second, the link between TB and HIV. Approximately 20 percent of people newly diagnosed with TB are also living with HIV infection.

"Third, the multi-drug resistant TB. In the African region, only 26 percent of all people living with multi-drug resistance are receiving the appropriate treatment," she said.

Osun Guber: Appeal Court Decides Adeleke, Oyetola's Fate Today

Alex Enumah in Abuja

The Court of Appeal in Abuja, will on Friday give its decision on the authentic winner of last year's governorship election in Osun State.

A three-member panel of the court had on March 13, reserved its judgment in the appeal filed by Osun State Governor, Senator Ademola Adeleke against his ordered removal from office on grounds that he did not score majority of valid votes cast at the poll.

Justice M.F. Shuaibu, had at the last sitting announced that they reserved judgment to a date that would be communicated to parties, shortly after lawyers adopted and argued their briefs

of argument for and against the suit.

However, 10 days after, THISDAY gathered that the court had reached parties in the case, informing them that judgment would be delivered on Friday, March 24, 2023.

While Adeleke, represented by Chief Onyechi Ikpeazu, had at the hearing adduced reasons why the appellate court should set aside the judgment of the Governorship Election Petition Tribunal that nullified his victory in last year's poll, for erring in law, Chief Lateef Fagbemi, who represented, candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Chief Gboyega Oyetola, argued otherwise.

At the end of arguments however, Justice Shuaibu, announced before the

court that judgment would be delivered on a date that would be communicated to parties.

While Adeleke is the appellant in the appeal: marked CA/AK/ EPT/GOV/01/2023, Oyetola, APC), Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and the People's Democratic Party (PDP) 1st to 4th respondents respectively.

Adeleke had on February 9th, appealed the judgement of the Osun State Governorship Tribunal which nullified his election.

The tribunal had ruled in favour of Oyetola, Osun State immediate.

While delivering the judgment, two out of the three-member panel of the tribunal held that Oyetola proved that

there was over-voting in some of the polling units.

Chairman of the tribunal, Justice Tertsea Kume, who read the majority judgment had disclosed that the excess votes were deducted following which Oyetola won the election.

According to Justice Kume, having deducted the over-voting figure, Oyetola scored 314,921, while Ademola polled 290,266 votes.

Adeleke in the 31 grounds of appeal prayed the court for “an order setting aside the whole decision of the tribunal.”

The governor equally sought, “an order striking out the petition for want of competence and jurisdiction or in the alternative, an order dismissing the petition on the merit.

the phenomenon.

He also added that in 2019, the AfDB launched the Affirmative Finance Action for Women in Africa (AFAWA) initiative to bridge the financing gap and unleash the full potential of women in their businesses which had disbursed over $1 billion worth of loans to women.

Speaking about how Access Bank was bridging the financing deficit for women and women-led businesses the Group Head, W Initiative, Access Bank, Ms. Abiodun Olubitan, stated that the W’ initiative which was tailored to supporting women gave out N40.5 billion in loans last year and targets to do over N100 billion in 2023.

She said: “We have given out N40.5 billion to over 64,845 women SMEs in 2022. It was for women in businesses who had 50 per cent or more in the holding of the economy or they could own the business with a man but they have controlling shareholding or they are in the helms of affairs directing the business as that is our criteria of identifying women-owned or

women-led businesses.

“This also includes vehicle loans we gave to women to ease their challenges of mobility, especially after COVID-19.

“This year, we are not looking at anything less than N100 billion for women because we want to continue to support and as we see other opportunities to support women we are able to fit into that space and give to them the boost that they need for their businesses.”

On his part, the Managing Director of Access Corporation, Herbert Wigwe, in his opening remarks said: “It has been said that equality is leaving the door open for anyone who has the means to approach it, while equity is ensuring that there is a pathway to that door for those who need it.

“Today we're moving several more levels in our progress. We are not only embracing the notion of gender equality, and equal opportunities, but we are also celebrating individual differences and the need to adjust our resources, our systems, and approaches to cater to this.”

Buhari Assents to Copyright, Medical School Bills Udora Orizu in Abuja

President Muhammadu Buhari has signed two bills recently passed by the National Assembly into law.

The Senior Special Assistant to the President on National Assembly Matters (House of Representatives), Nasiru Ila, made this known in a statement he issued yesterday, titled, ‘Buhari Assents to Copyright Right, Federal College of Medical Laboratory Science and Technology Jos Bills.’

According to Ila, the president assented to the bills on March 17.

He said the new Copyright Act expands the rights of authors, raises sanctions for criminal infringements and more adequately addresses the challenges posed by digital and online use of copyright works.

The Act according to him, also provides specially for the needs blind, visually impaired and print disabled persons to have access to learning and reading materials in accessible formats, according to Ila. The statement read, “This Act repeals the Copyright Act, Cap C28, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004, and enact the Copyright Act, 2022, to provide for the regulation, protection and administration of copyright.

“The enactment the new Copyright Act has again demonstrated the commitment of

this administration to re-energising Nigeria’s creative economy and making it more globally competitive in the digital and age.

“The principal objectives of the new law, as outlined in Section 1 are to: protect the rights of authors and ensure just rewards and recognition for their intellectual efforts; provide appropriate limitations and exceptions to guarantee access to creative works; facilitate Nigeria’s compliance with obligations arising from relevant international copyright treaties and conventions; and enhance the capacity of the Nigerian Copyright Commission for effective regulation, administration, and enforcement.

"The Medical School Act, repeals the Federal School of Medical Laboratory Science, Jos (Establishment) Act, 2018, and enacts the Federal College of Medical Laboratory Science and Technology, Jos Act, 2023, establishes the Federal College of Medical Laboratory Science, Jos, to make the Institution more effective in the discharge of its functions by strengthening the organisational framework, and to bring its provision in conformity with current democratic principles and operations of existing educational institutions, and the laws of the Federal Republic of Nigeria."

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COMMITTEE ON THE UTILISATION OF AFRICAN GROWTH AND OPPORTUNITY ACT...

L-R: Director, Trade, Federal Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment, Mr. Suleiman Audu; Executive Director, Nigeria Export Promotion Council (NEPC), Dr. Ezra Yakusak; Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, Adeniyi Adebayo, and Permanent Secretary in the Ministry, Dr. Evelyn Ngige, after the inauguration of a technical committee on the utilisation of African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA) by the Minister in Abuja ... yesterday

Nigeria Air to Commence Operations Before May, Sirika Insists Says project 98% completed Kasim Sumaina in Abuja The Minister of Aviation, Hadi Sirika, yesterday in Abuja hinted that the ongoing process for the kick off of the national carrier, Nigerian Air was in the final phase, saying that it would commence operations before May 2023, despite legal issues on the matter.

Sirika gave the hint at 10th Aviation Stakeholders' Forum which brought together all relevant industry players within and outside the industry in Abuja.

The Aviation Minister revealed that local and international flights

would commence soon stating that, "negotiation meeting with the Ethiopian Airlines Group Consortium and the Federal Government of Nigeria are ongoing."

Sirika maintained that the benefits Nigeria stood to derive from the establishment of the national carrier includes reduced capital flight, gain from the optimal benefit of BASA and SAATM and develop an aviation hub.

According to him, "the National carrier will contribute to the Gross Domestic Product; facilitate hospitality and tourism; facilitate

growth and development of the Nigerian Agricultural Sector and create jobs around the Agro-Cargo Terminals.”

He further revealed that the national carrier project was 98 per cent completed, adding that successful implementation of the aviation roadmap would gulp $14.166 billion.

On the trapped funds of foreign airlines, the minister said the federal government had put up measures to ensure that the money doesn’t pile up again.

He said the ministry was handicapped because it has limited power as to what to

do about the trapped funds because the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) controls and handles foreign exchange matter.

The International Air Transport Association (IATA) recently said trapped funds belonging to foreign airlines operating in Nigeria had reached $743,721,097 from $662 million in January 2023.

According to a letter addressed to the Minister of Aviation and signed by the area manager, West and Central Africa, IATA, Dr. Samson Fatokun, the global airline community had sought an intervention from the Minister for the resolution of issue of airlines’

blocked funds in Nigeria.

Speaking on development of Cargo /Agro-Allied Airport Terminals airports across the country, the Aviation Minister revealed that Kebbi, Katsina, Plateau, Yola, Edo, Ekiti, Abuja, Port Harcourt, Lagos, Kano, Enugu and Calabar are presently being developed as locations for such.

He stressed that the cargos airports would take advantage of the high value agricultural products’ potential of Nigeria, among others.

He stated that the terminals would be established via a

Design, Build, Operate and Maintain model of Public Private Partnership (PPP).

"The proposed terminals will have facilities such as a dry Cargo Terminal Warehouse; Perishable Cargo Terminal with Cool Chain Storage; climate chambers for storage and handling of temperature sensitive products including Pharmaceuticals and Bonded Warehouses.

He however said that Kaduna, Kwara and Imo State had shown interest and, "we are currently discussing. Other states are encouraged to develop Cargo /Agro-Allied terminals.”

Signs €362,000 Grant FG, States, LGs Share N722.677bn February Revenue AfDB Agreement to Support Water Excess crude account balance now $473,754.57

Ndubuisi Francis in Abuja The Federation Account Allocation Committee (FAAC) yesterday shared a total sum of N722.677 billion February revenue to the federal government, states and local government councils.

This was contained in a communiqué issued at the end of the Federation Account Allocation Committee (FAAC) meeting for March 2023.

The N722.677 billion total distributable revenue comprised distributable statutory revenue of N366.800 billion, distributable Value Added Tax (VAT) revenue of N224.232 billion, Electronic Money Transfer Levy (EMTL) of N11.645 billion and N120.000 billion Augmentation from Forex Equalisation Account.

In a statement, the Director (Press and Public Relations),

Ministry of Finance, Budget and National Planning, Bawa Mokwa, disclosed that in February, the total deductions for cost of collection was N27.449 billion while total deductions for transfers, savings, recoveries and refunds was N109.909 billion.

He stated that from the total distributable revenue of N722.677 billion, the federal government received N269.063 billion, states got N236.464 billion while the local government councils received N173.936 billion.

The sum of N43.214 billion was shared to the relevant states as 13 per cent derivation revenue.

Gross statutory revenue of N487.106 billion was received for the month of February, an amount that fell short of the N653.704 billion received in the previous month by N166.598 billion.

From the N366.800 billion

distributable statutory revenue, the federal government received N178.683 billion, states received N90.630 billion and the local governments received N69.872 billion.

The sum of N27.614 billion was shared to the relevant states as 13 per cent derivation revenue.

For the month of February 2023, the gross revenue available from VAT was N240.799 billion, which was lower than the N250.009 billion available in the preceding month of January by N9.210 billion.

From this amount, the federal government received N33.635 billion, the state governments got N112.116 billion while the local government councils received N78.481 billion from the N224.232 billion distributable VAT revenue.

Also, the N11.645 billion Electronic Money Transfer Levy (EMTL) was distributed with

the federal government getting N1.747 billion, states received N5.822 billion, and the local government councils received N4.076 billion From the N120.000 billion Augmentation, the federal government received N54.998 billion, the state governments received N27.896 billion, the local government councils received N21.506 billion and a total sum of N15.600 billion was shared to the relevant states as 13 per cent mineral revenue.

According to the statement, in the month of February, Petroleum Profit Tax (PPT), Companies Income Tax (CIT), Oil and Gas Royalties, Import and Excise Duties all decreased significantly while VAT and EMTL decreased marginally.

The balance in the Excess Crude Account (ECA) stood at $473,754.57 as at March 22, 2023.

UTME Mock: 176,408 Candidates to Sit for Exams JAMB directs candidates to print out notification slips Kuni Tyessi in Abuja The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) has said no fewer than 176,408 candidates would sit for this year’s optional mock Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (Mock-UTME).

The exam body said notification slips for candidates who had registered for the Mock-UTME scheduled for Thursday, 30th March, 2023, would be ready for printing from Thursday, 23rd

March, 2023.

A statement issued by the Head, Public Affairs and Protocol of JAMB, Dr. Fabian Benjamin, yesterday urged all candidates for the mock-UTME to visit JAMB website for their notification slips.

“Visit https://www.jamb.gov. ng., Click on 2023 Mock-UTME on the Menu button to print their slips after inputting their Registration Number. This directive is only applicable to those candidates, who had indicated interest to take the mock examination.

“The Notification Slip would contain the Candidates’ Registration Number, Venue, Date, and Time of the Examination to enable them to easily locate their centres before the examination.

Candidates are also enjoined to be at their centres one hour before the examination for biometric verification “The Board also reiterated that the scheduled commencement time for the examination is sacrosanct.

In addition, the Board restated its zero tolerance for examination

malpractice.

“In the same vein, candidates are advised against going into the examination halls with prohibited items such as wristwatches, calculators, flash drives, phones, among others.

They are also warned to desist from the application of “laale” to do fancied drawings and paintings on their hands to avoid unnecessary interference with the whorls of their fingers which could impede biometric verification,” the statement read.

in Northern Nigeria The African Development Bank (AfDB) has signed a €362,000 grant agreement with Hadejia Jama'are Komadugu Yobe BasinTrust Fund to prepare additional studies under the second phase of developing a strategic plan for managing water resources in the Komadugu-Yobe Basin in northern Nigeria.

Specifically, the grant would support the preparation of a Resettlement Action Plan (RAP) for the Challawa Gorge Dam Watershed Management Project; a stakeholder engagement plan; a grievance redress mechanism, and stakeholder consultations involving riparian communities and the Lake Chad Basin Commission comprising Cameroon, Chad, Nigeria, and Niger Republic.

According to a statement, the project would be implemented over eight months.

The Hadejia-Jama'areKomadugu-Yobe Basin Trust Fund would execute the project.

The Trust Fund is jointly funded by the six states of Bauchi, Borno, Jigawa, Kano, Plateau and Yobe, in collaboration with the Federal Government of Nigeria.

Director General of the AfDB’s Nigeria Country Department, Lamin Barrow, underscored the program's importance, saying it would ensure long-term water security for the local people.

“The Komadugu Yobe Multi-Purpose Water Resources Development Program will support socio-economic development, enhanced livelihoods, and environmental

sustainability,” Barrow stressed.

Executive Secretary of the Hadejia Jama’are Komadugu Yobe Trust Fund, Dr. Hassan Bdliya, thanked the Bank for its continued support towards sustainable water resources management in the KomaduguYobe Basin.

Bdliya said: “We are very grateful to African Development Bank for its support. The Bank has been supporting us since 2016. The impact of the Bank’s support has been tremendous.

The implementation of this project will have a positive impact on people within the Komadugu-Yobe Basin.

“The Hadejia Jama’are Komadugu Yobe Trust Fund will work diligently with all stakeholders to ensure the timely completion of the studies”.

The Komadugu Yobe MultiPurpose Water Resources Development investment program is a top priority of the federal government due to its immense long-term benefits to the inhabitants of six riparian States in Northern Nigeria. It also aligns with the country’s development agenda, including the Medium-Term National Development Plan (2021- 2025) and Vision 2050.

Created in 2006, the HadejiaJama’are-Komadugu-Yobe Basin Trust Fund is an innovative platform for joint intervention by the riparian states, with the support of the Federal Government for augmenting line agencies in addressing the Komadugu Yobe Basin land and water resources issues.

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COMMEMORATION OF ELUMELU’S 60TH BIRTHDAY CEREMONY...

R-L: Co-Founder, Tony Elumelu Foundation (TEF), Dr. Awele Elumelu; Founder, TEF/Group Chairman, United Bank for Africa(UBA) and celebrant, Mr. Tony Elumelu, and daughter, Ego Elumelu, during the symposium held in commemoration of Mr. Elumelu’s 60th birthday held in Lagos…Wednesday

Mbah: I Will Be Governor for All Enugu People Irrespective of Political Leanings Emmanuel Addeh in Abuja The Governor-elect of Enugu state, Dr Peter Mbah, has vowed to run

an administration for all Enugu people irrespective of their political leanings or whichever part of the state they come from.

PDP BoT Chairman: We Warned PDP of Dangers of Ignoring Zoning in Abia Congratulates Otti, urges party to shun court Akwa Ibom Professionals congratulate Eno Chuks Okocha in Abuja Ripples of the outcome of the Abia state governorship election won by Dr. Alex Otti of the Labour Party continued as the chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party's (PDP) Board of Trustees (BoT), Adolphus Wabara said party ignored good counsels against zoning in the choice of its gubernatorial candidate.

The former Senate President, who had consistently advocated a power shift to Abia North in 2023, in line with the Abia Charter of Equity that recognised power rotation, noted with pain that PDP had learnt its lesson the hard way.

Wabara, in a statement made available to THISDAY, said he was not surprised with the outcome of the governorship election won by the Labour party According to the PDP BoT chairman, “We advised the PDP but the powers that be didn’t listen.

“We predicted what has happened to Abia PDP but some of us were abused and ruthlessly removed from office but we have since moved on.”

Wabara, who urged the party in the state not to contemplate any legal action against Otti and the Labour Party, went ahead to congratulate the governor-elect.

Wabara added, “I want to appreciate Abians for their choice, and also congratulate Otti who has really put up a spirited fight.

“Expectations are high on him.

Abians now want to see what he can see differently, and he must not

betray the confidence of the people.”

The PDP BoT Chairman appealed to all those who lost at the election to jettison the idea of resorting to any legal battle so as not to waste their resources and distract the governor-elect.

Accordingly, he said, “I commend Prof. Greg Ibe of APGA and others who had called to congratulate Otti even before the result was announced.

These are really statesmen who think and wish Abia well.

“Abians have spoken and their choice must be respected. They should give peace a chance so that Otti can hit the ground running from day one.”

Meanwhile, Professionals and Business men in Akwa Ibom State under the aegis of Akwa Ibom Professionals have congratulated the state’s governor-elect, Mr. Umo Bassey Eno, on his victory at the March 18, 2023 governorship election.

The National Coordinator of the group, Engr. Ufot Akan Umoren, in a statement yesterday in Abuja, noted that Eno’s victory at the poll was, “an affirmation of the trust and confidence reposed in him by the people of Akwa Ibom State as the best hand to sustain the achievements and legacies of Governor Udom Emmanuel.”

The professionals stressed that Eno, “is best suited for the office having been thoroughly equipped and prepared for purposeful and result-oriented governance while serving under Governor Udom Emmanuel.”

In his acceptance speech, Mbah pledged to devote the totality of his mind and body to serving the state during the 1,460 days that make up the initial tenure of office and enact policies that will give the people some comfort.

While thanking Enugu people for their support, he described the last few months as intense, stressing that even the last three days before the announcement of his victory were even fiercer.

“Let me restate that ours will not be a government of any section of Enugu State. It is your government, Ndi Enugu.

Under our administration, there can never be division between Nsukka and Nkanu or any other section of the state. We are all brothers and sisters.

“Those who attempted to create a wedge between us failed woefully. We were massively voted

by every section of the state. Those who wanted to smack our heads together had an ulterior motive and it was to create perpetual fussing and fighting between us.

“We resisted their machination and today, we are coming together stronger. Our resolve thereafter is to pursue the spirit of divisiveness from our state,” he stated.

He contended that in choosing him, the people did not allow mundane reasons to stop them, abandoning political party divides, religious denomination cleavages, clan and tribe and demanding a candidate who would guarantee a better tomorrow for the state.

As promised during the campaign, Mbah reiterated that in infrastructure, health, tourism, education and development of the state in general, he will run a government that the people can be proud of.

“We are in a hurry to dualize the Abakpa, Ugwuogo NikeNsukka road, build a monorail from Enugu to Nsukka, Udi, Awgu and construct a ring road to connect all the 17 local government areas of Enugu State.

“We are in a hurry to build a world class Theme Park in Enugu.

We are in a hurry to establish Special Economic Zones (SEZs) in all the local government areas, as well as Agro-allied processing zones and industrial parks in all our senatorial zones.

“We are in a hurry to unleash the tech talents in our young people, and grow and nurture their interest in business and vocations skills. We shall build a School of Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM), an Innovation Incubation Centre, as well as a Skill Enhancement Centre in each

of the three senatorial zones,” he vowed.

He pledged to run an allinclusive government designed to provide an inclusive economic development for Enugu.

“As we bring water to all homes in Enugu metropolis in 180 days of our being sworn in, we shall bring water, in the shortest possible time, to Nsukka, Oji River, Udi, Awgu and others too. We shall frontally confront the infrastructural deficits in all parts of the state and no one will be left behind.

“Let me, at this juncture, call on everyone to join me in this task of chiselling a great tomorrow from the rock of a despondent today. In the elections that we ran, we are all winners. No one is a victor, nor is anyone vanquished. The task at hand transcends emotions, politics and other mundane divides,” he added.

Anyim: I Never Fought Wike over Obi's Vice Presidential Run in 2019 Chuks Okocha and Emmanuel Addeh in Abuja A former Senate President, Pius Anyim, yesterday disputed Governor Nyesom Wike’s account of events that led to the choice of ex-Governor Peter Obi as the running mate to Atiku Abubakar in the 2019 presidential election.

The lawyer and politician denied ever discussing Obi’s matter with Wike or fighting him over his (Wike’s) purported support for Obi to be made the vice presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) at the time.

In a statement he personally signed, Anyim urged Wike to refresh his recollection of the narrative, explaining that he neither knew how Obi was picked by Atiku nor did he attend any of the meetings where the matter

was discussed.

“My attention has been drawn to a statement by Governor Nyesom Wike during his media chat of 22nd of March, 2023. In a response to a claim that he came after Governor Peter Obi during the 2023 presidential election, Wike recounted how he made it possible for Obi to be PDP vice presidential candidate in 2019 and that Obi was not appreciative.

“In Wike's words :'l was fought by people like Ike Ekweremadu, Governor Dave Umahi and Pius Anyim’. I would have ignored this misspeak by Wike, hoping that the Pius Anyim referred to is not myself.

“But reading it on Page 26 of Daily Sun of today (yesterday) 23 March 2023, confirms to me that I may be the one referred to, hence the need to put the records straight,” he stated.

Anyim contended that the PDP presidential primaries of 2019 held in Port Harcourt and that he did not attend.

In addition, he stressed that after Obi's nomination as running mate raised some dust in the South-east, PDP governors and party leaders from the region met on the matter in Ekweremadu's home in Enugu, explaining that he was also not at that meeting.

Thereafter, the former senate president noted that the presidential candidate, Atiku, held a town hall meeting with PDP leaders from the South-east at Nike Lake hotel Enugu, which he did not also attend.

“I want to state clearly, for Wike's recollection, that I did not and never shared any view with him on any candidate in 2019; neither his own candidate, who then was Governor Aminu

Tambuwal nor Atiku Abubakar who won the primaries, talkless (sic) of Obi. “I did not know how Obi emerged as PDP vice presidential candidate and I never cared to ask but maintained a stand that the reaction that followed his nomination would also have happened to any other person from the South-east,” Anyim added.

He explained that Wike may need to confirm from Obi that he (Obi) from the beginning to the end of the 2019 elections, enjoyed his (Anyim’s) encouragement and goodwill.

Anyim pointed out that the purpose of the clarification was to keep the records straight and to reconfirm to Wike that the Rivers governor was mistaken if the Anyim he referred to in his chat was him.

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NGX CLOSING GONG CEREMONY IN COMMEMORATION OF 2023 GLOBAL MONEY WEEK...

L – R: Executive Director, Junior Achievement Nigeria; Foluso Gbadamosi, Principal Manager, Head of Advocacy Office, Consumer Education and Evaluation Division, Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN); Mr Abubakar Albasu, Principal Manager, Market Development Department, Financial Inclusion Division, Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC); Mr John Achile, Divisional Head, Capital Markets, Nigerian Exchange Limited (NGX); Mr Jude Chiemeka, Jufradol Schools, First Runner-Up; Adele Mojeed, Canterbury International, Winner, Financial Literacy Quiz Competition; Enoch Nwogu, Dansol High School, Second Runner-Up; Faseyitan Moyege, Branch Director AIESEC Lagos; Abdulrahman Olawoyin, CEO Miniemoney; Gbolahan Faniran, Head Securities Dealing, APT Securities Funds; Muhammad Jamiu Kayode, Head, X-Academy, NGX; Ms. Ugochi Obi, Director, Global Business Development, Chartered Institute for Securities and Investment (CISI); Kelvin Moore, Managing Director/CEO, Meristem Stockbrokers Limited, Saheed Bashir, and, Head, Market Surveillance and Investigation, NGX Regulation, Abimbola Babalola, during the NGX Closing Gong Ceremony in commemoration of 2023 Global Money Week in Lagos...recently DAN UKANA

Otti: I Will Clear Backlog of Abia Workers’ Salaries, Pensions, Arrears By December Says he won because INEC stood by its rules

Adedayo Akinwale, Kingsley Nweseh in Abuja and Nume Ekeghe in Lagos Abia State governor-elect, Dr. Alex Otti has promised to clear all the backlog of salaries, arrears and pensions owed by the current governor of the state, Okezie Ikpeazu by December, 2023.

Otti gave the assurance yesterday, while featuring on 'The Morning Show' on ARISE News Channel.

"So, payment of salaries is a priority for me and I have given myself a deadline. I do not know what the numbers are today. But I do know that a lot of people are being owed. We are going to pay their salaries before the end

of this year. And by the time we do that, we will now begin to look at the other economic indices. It is our hope that by the time we are done in four years, the N3.5 trillion economy that we have today could have doubled, if not more than doubled."

He also said he won the state governorship election because the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) stood by its own rules and guidelines.

INEC had prior to the announcement of the winner in the election, initially suspended collation of results in some parts of Abia, in order to review the process before it was concluded.

The Labour Party candidate scored a total of 175,467 votes to defeat Okey Ahiwe of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) who polled 88,529 votes and Enyinnaya Nwafor of the Young Progressives Party (YPP), who got 28,972 votes in the election.

He said: "I would also like to thank INEC that stood by their rules. If that didn't happen, the election would have gone the way the others went.

"You will recall that I contested in 2015, I won that election. But the same local government, Obingwa, was used to torpedo the election in 2015. And that's exactly what they wanted to do this time around."

Otti reiterated that the Bimodal

Abe: Rivers Guber Poll Was Marred By Violence Describes election as a sham

Kingsley Nwezeh, Adedayo Akinwale in Abuja and Nume Ekeghe in Lagos The governorship candidate of the Social Democratic Party (SDP) in Rivers State in the March 18 election, Senator Magnus Abe, yesterday declared that the governorship election in the state was marred by violence.

He said the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and the security agencies were compromised and described the election as a charade and a sham.

Speaking during an interview on Arise News Channel, Abe condemned the ignoble role of INEC and the security agencies.

The senator alleged that they supported the injustice and violence that occurred during the gubernatorial polls, saying the security agencies were complicit and stood by while people were threatened.

He also accused INEC of reporting results with suspicious figures for Ahoada West Local Government Area where he claimed the collation exercise was marred by violence.

The SDP candidate also condemned the traditional rulers in the state whom he alleged threatened those in their communities through the use of town criers.

He alleged that such communities were told that if they wouldn’t vote for a certain candidate, they should stay at home.

“People were intimidated,” he said, while noting that businesses were threatened as well.

He denied allegations of vote buying levelled against the SDP, saying the party did not send out any amount of money to that effect.

He said the state government instead of conducting investigations into the violence and killings during the election, focused instead on how the SDP got tags for the election.

On his failure to win his ward and local government, he said he was only assured of one vote he could deliver and that was his vote.

“If the people of my ward decided not to vote for me, it is their choice, and their vote should be respected. I do not have the power to deliver any vote except for my own", he said.

He said he would gladly repeat the process all over again, stating that he was proud that he could stand for his rights as a candidate.

“Rivers people know who won the election. They also know who did not win the election. I am very proud of the fact that I stood up for my rights and that Rivers people stood with me", he said.

Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) was a game changer, once the rules and guidelines are adhered to.

He said the electoral body stepped in to ensure that a review was done, adding that the mutated numbers which moved from 81,000 to 86,000 to 92,000 and finally 108,000 were punctured.

The governor -elect said just about 27,000 accredited voters were recorded in the back end of BVAS and out of that PDP scored 9,900; while LP scored 3,600.

He said the people of the state jubilated because it was the first time their votes counted.

According to him, they (Abia people) “have studied my manifesto. They have engaged with me on one-on-one basis.” “They also can attest to my character. And they believe that no matter how bad things are in Abia today, if there is one man that has the team that has the network, the skills, the competence, the character to fix those things, that it has to be me.

That's why they voted for me.”

Otti added: "This victory is for Abia people; the victory is for the suffering people of Abia; for the civil servants; for the worker; for the pensioners, who some of them were owed for close to 60 months; for health management workers; for doctors who have been on strike for about 26 months salary arrears; for the apprentices who have been suffering the outcome

of bad governance in the past 24 years."

He said he knew it was not going to be a smooth sail, but he was prepared, while promising to give good governance to the people.

His words: "How am I going to go about it? I already have my vision encapsulated in my manifesto. In the next few days, I will appoint a transition committee and subsequently appoint a team preparatory to the swearing-in on 29th of May 2023.

"I have a knack for choosing the right people. Because every organisation, every institution is only as good as its people. This will not be an exception. I'll pick the right people who can and would help me deliver to the Abia people."

Otti said when he assumes office, he would focus on the economy, even though the debt profile and the revenue of the state are also important areas to look at.

He explained that his government would also look at the low hanging fruits to jumpstart the depressed economy.

Otti stressed that statistics showed that the state's debt profile was well over N190 billion as of December 2021, adding that it might have increased between December 2021 and 2022.

He said when the current administration took over that the state debt profile was just

N34.5 billion.

Otti emphasised that his administration would look at the debt and ensure that everything about it was right and then begin to discuss with the lending institutions.

He said he would ensure that the debt issue in the state was dealt with in order not constitute a roadblock towards achieving the set target of his administration.

The former bank chief executive revealed that he had already started engaging the banks, saying one of the things they should be expecting was interest write-off, restructuring and debt forgiveness where possible.

He added that his administration would also get approval from the Debt Management Organisation (DMO) to issue bonds so that the loans could be spread over a long period of time.

Otti also hinted at taking more loans in order to jumpstart the economy, stressing that there was no problem with taking loans, but what to do with the loans.

Otti assured that he would not go after anybody when he assumes office, saying there was no reason for that.

He said he was not ready to spend four years chasing both real and imaginary political enemies, adding that his government has a lot of work to do and he didn't want to be distracted.

NSCDC Reiterates Commitment to Protect Schools Michael Olugbode in Abuja The Commandant General of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), Dr. Ahmed Audi has assured that its operatives would continue to provide the needed schools' security to enhance a safe teaching and learning environment in the country.

He gave the assurance at a one-day stakeholders workshop organised by the Corps, with the theme, "Ensuring Schools Security for Sustainable National Development," at the Corps National Headquarters, Abuja.

The CG hinted that participants were carefully selected from

various MDAs who are costakeholders in the Safe Schools Initiative programme such as Ministries of Finance and Education, the Nigeria Police, Department of State Services (DSS), National Orientation Agency (NOA), the Nigeria Governors' Forum among others.

He stated that the workshop would provide a forum for stakeholders to thoroughly examine the draft Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) document for the purpose of validation and full national implementation.

Represented by the Assistant Commandant General in charge of Operations, ACG Philip

Ayuba, the CG described the Safe Schools Programme of the federal government as laudable, reiterating that it would bring an end to series of attacks on schools and kidnapping of school children in the country.

According to Audi, the workshop also sought to harvest inputs, welcome suggestions and process the various contributions of other stakeholders towards the commencement of Safe Schools Operations in Nigeria.

He pointed out that as the lead agency in the programme, the NSCDC in May 2021, conducted a vulnerability survey of all schools in the country and have published the statistics obtained

of all vulnerable schools for necessary action.

The Corps helmsman maintained that in continuation with its resolve to ensure security in schools, the NSCDC with assistance from the Federal Ministry of Finance, flagged off the National Safe School Response Coordination Centre on the 13th of February, 2023 to commence the national implementation of the programme.

He expressed optimism that at the end of workshop, participants would come up with a carefully and thoroughly examined SOP that would serve as a blueprint for the program's implementation.

17

FRIDAY, MARCH 24, 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 22Mar-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 200.63 201.78 6.09% Afrinvest Plutus Fund 100.00 100.00 11.42% Nigeria International Debt Fund 331.08 331.08 7.05% Afrinvest Dollar Fund 107.17 108.27 1.65% 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 13.02% AIICO Balanced Fund 3.88 3.94 14.11% 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 6.41% Anchoria Equity Fund 154.78 156.38 6.78% Anchoria Fixed Income Fund 1.25 1.25 1.73% 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 23.37 24.08 6.52% ARM Discovery Balanced Fund 548.30 564.83 5.19% ARM Ethical Fund 47.49 48.92 5.27% ARM Eurobond Fund ($) 1.14 1.14 1.16% ARM Fixed Income Fund 1.13 1.13 1.57% ARM Money Market Fund 1.00 1.00 10.26% ARM Short Term Bond Fund 1.05 1.05 1.38% 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 93.97 93.97 -1.19% AVA GAM Fixed Income Naira Fund 1,127.26 1,127.26 0.07% 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 2.16 2.16 4.13% Capital Express Balanced Fund(Formerly: Union Trustees Mixed Fund) 2.39 2.44 7.99% 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 11.36% Paramount Equity Fund 20.01 20.38 5.08% Women's Investment Fund 154.92 157.18 5.09% CHD Nigeria Bond Fund 102.06 102.06 12.04% CHD Nigeria Dollar Income Fund 1.00 1.00 10.70% 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 N/A N/A Cordros Milestone Fund N/A N/A N/A Cordros Fixed Income Fund N/A N/A N/A Cordros Halal Fixed Income Fund N/A N/A N/A Cordros Dollar Fund ($) N/A N/A N/A 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 10.07% Coronation Money Market Fund 1.23 1.24 3.12% Coronation Balanced Fund 1.39 1.39 -1.29% 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 1,130.08 1,136.13 2.18% 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 1.14 1.14 24.47% Emerging Africa Eurobond Fund 106.07 106.07 4.68% 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 1509.49 1509.49 11.90% FBN Balanced Fund 209.67 211.21 4.90% FBN Halal Fund 126.21 126.21 12.36% FBN Money Market Fund 100.00 100.00 10.83% FBN Dollar Fund 122.11 122.11 6.98% FBN Smart Beta Equity Fund 174.95 177.28 5.64% FBN Specialized Dollar Fund 106.32 106.32 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 7.54% Legacy Debt Fund 3.53 3.53 -11.83% Legacy Equity Fund 2.10 2.15 20.99% 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 4,381.90 3,775.67 100.00

Offer Price 4,410.20 3,775.67 100.00

Yield / T-Rtn 18.63% 7.72% 11.31%

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 1,182.75 1,182.75 1.92% 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 13.03 13.09 5.77% Meristem Money Market Fund 10.00 10.00 12.15% 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) 102.77 102.77 10.15% Norrenberger Money Market Fund (NMMF) 100.00 100.00 12.16% 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 3,830.43 3,858.61 12.96% Stanbic IBTC Bond Fund 247.27 247.27 4.97% Stanbic IBTC Ethical Fund 1.51 1.52 20.24% Stanbic IBTC Guaranteed Investment Fund 337.03 337.03 7.63% Stanbic IBTC Iman Fund 279.13 282.16 19.44% Stanbic IBTC Money Market Fund 1.00 1.00 9.28% Stanbic IBTC Nigerian Equity Fund 12,960.99 13,116.52 18.70% Stanbic IBTC Dollar Fund (USD) 1.39 1.39 7.23% Stanbic IBTC Shariah Fixed Income Fund 122.65 122.65 4.91% Stanbic IBTC Enhanced Short-Term Fixed Income Fund 117.22 117.22 10.19% Stanbic IBTC Absolute Fund 4,659.92 4,659.92 9.54% Stanbic IBTC Aggressive Fund 3,442.76 3,485.50 23.82% Stanbic IBTC Conservative Fund 4,389.48 4,405.98 15.30% 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 11.11% United Capital Balanced Fund 1.57 1.60 14.79% 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 7.27% United Capital Eurobond Fund 126.85 126.85 5.45% United Capital Money Market Fund 1.00 1.00 9.44% 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 14.53 14.67 4.79% Zenith ESG Impact Fund 16.56 16.65 4.52% Zenith Income Fund 23.93 23.93 1.56% Zenith Money Market Fund 1.00 1.00 9.54% 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 8.37% Vetiva Consumer Goods Exchange Traded Fund 6.93 7.03 18.43% Vetiva Griffin 30 Exchange Traded Fund 19.86 20.06 12.26% 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 143.46 145.46 -9.01% 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

17.10 138.90 111.10 17.40 16.40

17.20 141.32 113.03 17.50 16.50

10.46% 8.85% 11.12% -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.

T H I S D AY ˾ FRIDAY MARCH 24, 2023

18

POLITICS

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

Osun Guber: Understanding Issues Before Appeal Court Ismail Omipidan writes about the issues before the Appeal Court sitting in Abuja to consider the petition against the ruling of the State Election Petition Tribunal which nullified the election of Senator Ademola Adeleke as Governor of Osun state during the July 16, 2022 gubernatorial poll.

L

ast Monday, litigants in the Osun governorship tussle appeared before the three-man Appeal panel, in Abuja, led by Justice M.L. Shuaibu.

But for the magnanimity of the panel, the counsel for all the parties would have lost the opportunity to give the “Chemistry and Biology” of their briefs.

Once the justices took their seats, Justice M. L. Shuaibu expressed concern that counsel for all the parties had not complied with the practice direction of the Appeal Court in filing their briefs.

He said that if they were to wield the big stick, they would have declared all the briefs invalid.

If that had happened, that would have been the end of the matter. Case closed!

But the Justices in this instance tempered justice with mercy and delved into the “Chemistry and Biology” of the briefs.

However, rather than acknowledging the benevolence of the Justices, some of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) members, including one of their lawyers, went to town twisting what transpired.

Anyway, that is not the crux of this discourse.

The discourse is mainly to examine the issues before the Appeal Court with a view to making Nigerians have a better understanding of what is at stake.

The Osun Election Petition Tribunal on January 27 nullified the election of Senator Ademola Adeleke as Governor of Osun State on the basis of over-voting, saying, among other things, “in other words, the defenses of the respondents are tainted with fundamental flaws, irreconcilable and unreliable, incapable of defeating the credible evidence tendered by the petitioners in respect of the 744 polling units where over voting has been established.”

In arriving at the decision, the Tribunal examined certain materials, including two BVAS reports and a report that emanated from the candidate of the PDP, following what their counsel called a forensic examination of the BVAS machines used in the conduct of the election.

Let me state from the outset that contrary to the position being canvassed by the INEC’s counsel, Prof. Paul Ananaba, to justify his synchronisation position, there is a difference between what happened on July 16 Governorship election in Osun and that of the February 25 presidential election.

In Osun, results were transmitted immediately on the day of election alongside the number of accredited voters through IReV (INEC Result Viewing) Portal.

But that was not the case on February 25.

So, there was no basis of comparison.

That is one.

Two, the first BVAS report, which the APC and its candidate, Adegboyega Oyetola, obtained from INEC, which formed the basis of their petition, was released to them 10 days after a declaration and a return had been made. The report was generated by INEC from its back-end server.

But some people said due to network challenge, the figures had not been synchronised before it was given to Oyetola and the APC by INEC. The question is, is it possible for there not to be network for the whole of 10 days to enable the transmitted figure drop on the INEC’s server as being canvassed by both counsel for INEC and Senator Adeleke?

Three, for me, the position of INEC in its affidavit to the Court of Appeal recently as it relates to the fact that the accreditation data contained in the BVAS could not be tampered with or lost, as they would be stored and easily retrieved from its accredited back-end server, is a vindication of the Tribunal’s position which relied on the

BVAS report obtained from the back -end server by Oyetola and the APC. Four, the second BVAS report, which was obtained by the PDP during the pendency of the petition, which they said was the synchronised BVAS report, unfortunately had issues.

Counsel for APC and Oyetola were able to point out over-voting in over 100 polling units in that same report.

Five, the report that emanated from Senator Ademola Adeleke, which his counsel prayed the Tribunal to consider while disowning the INEC’s synchronised BVAS report, also admitted that there was over-voting. The only difference being that, according to them, the over-voting

occured in only six polling units. However, it was not Senator Ademola Adeleke that conducted the election; therefore, he could not have submitted a report of an exercise he never conducted.

Besides, in my years of reporting election petition proceedings, this is the first time INEC and the beneficiary of the return made by it will not be on the same page.

For Senator Ademola Adeleke’s counsel to have disowned the INEC’s synchronised BVAS report, it means something was fundamentally wrong.

Regardless, at the Appeal Court, while Oyetola and APC urged the appellate court to dismiss the Adeleke, PDP and INEC appeals, they prayed the court to

hold that Governor Ademola Adeleke was unfit to run for the office of the governor, having established a forgery case against him by the Tribunal.

The appeal panel, led by Justice M. L. Shuaibu reserved the judgement for a later date after taking arguments from counsel for Oyetola and the APC, Prince Lateef Fagbemi, SAN, counsel to Adeleke, PDP and INEC, Onyechi Ikpeazu, SAN, Alex Izinyon, SAN and Prof. Paul Ananaba, SAN, respectively.

In all, the court heard four different appeals, including the cross appeal filed by Oyetola and the APC. Arguing the cross appeal, counsel for Oyetola, Chief Akin Olujinmi, (SAN), noted that the tribunal erred in law when it held that Adeleke was qualified to contest for the election, even after being found to have submitted a forged certificate. To this end, it prayed the Appeal Court to hold that Governor Adeleke was not qualified to stand for the election in the first instance.

On his part, Ikpeazu had argued that the failure of the tribunal member 2, Chief Magistrate Basiru Rabi, to make pronouncement as regards the lead judgement other than signing it renders the decision a nullity.

-Omipidan writes from Ila Orangun, Osun state.

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

Asuku Ready for Kogi APC Governorship Primary Emameh Gabriel writes about the readiness of the Chief of Staff to Kogi State Governor, Jamiu Asuku, to contest for the APC gubernatorial primary in the state next month.

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ext month, the All Progressive Congress (APC) in Kogi State will conduct its governorship primary to pick the flag bearer of the party for the November 1, 2023 gubernatorial election in the confluence state and one who will succeed incumbent Governor, Yahaya Bello.

Governor Bello, the youngest serving governor in Nigeria who has set a precedence of revolutionising a system that encourages youth inclusiveness in governance is faced with the challenge of picking his successor.

However, it’s no doubt that the Governor who has enjoyed the goodwill of Nigerian youths will leave behind a legacy that will continue to encourage young people in active politics.

Like many others who were appointed by the Kogi State Governor, the current Chief of Staff to Governor Bello, Jamiu Abdulkaree Asuku, is one perfect example of Bello’s believe in the potentials of the Nigerian youths.

In February, 2023, Asuku signaled his intention to contest for his party’s ticket. In fact, his early start has become a wake up call on other aspirants to stand up and be counted and he seems determined to get result through massive youth mobilisation.

The Chief of Staff in an interview with newsmen in Abuja recently described Governor Bello as “somebody known for providing a level playing ground for everybody” and one “who allows everybody to come on board and showcase their popularity”.

Asuku, 39- year old pharmacist, who picked his expression of interest form in February to contest the APC governorship ticket with other experienced politicians

of the party, has promised to consolidate on the achievements of Governor Bello.

He has been one of the most important persons saddled with the task of shouldering the huge burden of steering the engine room of Bello’s administration and has successfully conquered many grounds.

As a young man, and still on the battlefield, blazing the trail, he has also been described as Kogi State best and finest Chief of Staff in history with verifiable achievements under the current administration.

He believes and sees none of his fellow contenders as threat to his aspiration.

His concern is to bring to bare his wealth of experience.

“I served as the Chief of staff of this administration and many have referred to it as the engine room of the administration.

I believe it better to elect a man who is a part of the God-fearing administration.”, Asuku had said during an interface with

journalists.

To talk about his numerous achievements in office ever since he became the Chief of Staff to Governor Belo is to delve into the archives of the laudable impacts in the government of the state.

Beyond the massive appeal he enjoys across the ethnic divide in the state, Asuku’s profound attributes and leadership peculiarities have endeared him to the people of Kogi State, and even to those disaffected with government before now.

While zoning has never been part of the political arrangements in the state because the people, like most states in the country, have consistently aligned with a system that allows every qualified citizens of the state to test their popularity.

This is indeed one of the bright sides of the system of democracy in today’s Kogi.

Many believe that his contributions remain the special providence that has seen Yahaya Bello soar. Asuku represents the face of hope for the people of the state.

With the quality of his outputs in office, it shows that before his appointment in 2019, he had taken a long and hard look at governance plus the challenges therein, and today, as the Chief of Staff, with bounded executive functions he has done exceedingly well by bringing brilliance, finesse and precision to governance to the admiration of his principal, the people of the state and beyond.

The actions of the government from the period he was appointed Chief of Staff to the Governor, still remain part of the sunny sides of the present government in the state due to his youthful strength, strategic thinking and vibrancy which has earned him a place in his principal’s heart.

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

19

T H I S D AY ˾ FRIDAY MARCH 24, 2023

POLITICS

Gagdi Eyes House Speakership Burna Boy’s African Heritage and African-Americans

Udora Orizu writes that Chairman of the House of Representatives Committee on Navy, Hon Yusuf Gagdi, is one of the contenders for the Speakership seat of 10th National Assembly should the position be zoned to North Central region of the country.

hairman, House of RepresentaChido Nwangwu writes that the recent comments tives Committee on Navy, Hon Yusuf Adamu Gagdi, has joined attributed to Nigerian music sensation, Burna Boy, the race for Speakership of the on the historical background of African-Americans, 10th Assembly and is spearheading efforts aimed at having the seat zoned to has been condemned by some individuals in the US. the North Central region of the country.

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igerian superstar musician/artiste Burna Boy has been hit with a barrage of criticisms for his comments about African-Americans, arguing for them to return to the African continent heritage.

He said during an interview with entrepreneur and activist Chaka Bars “Let’s use America…. The Chinese American has a base; he knows he’s from China. Italian Americas know where their grandparents came from in Italy. They know the first person from their family to come to America and start that line. Same goes to everyone else except the African Americans.”

Many of his critics said he does not know what he is talking about.

One tweet by @MrIntrospect222 noted that most Black Americans today are the descendants of chattel slavery as distinct and different from the immigrant cultures he mentioned: “He skipped the whole history of African involvement in the slave trade and what that has meant for us. You can’t have a conversation with us without addressing that. So no he didn’t tell the truth he told the lord that you all have accepted as truth.”

Amid the backlash, Burna Boy sought to clarify his remarks in a lengthy statement.

“It’s sad to see that in 2023 there are still such black people who would prefer we stay divided and conquered.”

He said his critics misunderstood him.

“Maybe it’s my accent or something but I never said you are African and not Americans. I also did not say Africa is part of Heaven. You deserve all the

Land and reparations you want from America and I’m 100% in support of that.”

He added that “I believe coming together as brothers and sisters is the only way forward to US black people worldwide.”

I believe he means it when he calls for unity of purpose and togetherness for people of African heritage.

Burna Boy’s authenticity drives his Afrobeats music. And, yes, the world took notice two years ago when his music and provocative videos broke through — from Aba to Zurich, from Boston to Benin! His album ‘Twice As Tall’ won for the 31-years old Burna Boy (real name Damini Ogulu) the Best Global Music Album award at the 63rd Grammy Awards, on Sunday, March 14, 2021.

Being true to his roots as a PanAfricanist activist and thinker, he had proclaimed to the world that “Africa is in the house, men! Africa, we are in the house! You get me? This is a big win for Africans of my generation all over the world and this should be a lesson for every African out there. No matter where you are, no matter what you plan to do, you can achieve it. No matter where you are from because you are a king. Look at me: Grammy award-winning Burna Boy.” Overall, I think he has stacked substantial funds, significant achievements and successes in the music industry. But the young man still needs continuing, historical education. He is knowledgeable. He needs to be more careful before any critical, crippling error happens…..

Gagdi, a former Plateau State House of Assembly Deputy Speaker, is one of the leading contenders for the seat, if the zoning favours North-Central.

The APC lawmaker who just won his second re-election bid, is appealing to those who matter and members of the party’s National Working Committee (NWC) on the need to support the North-Central in producing the next Speaker of the House.

His appeal on why the position should be zoned to the North-Central is apt because, in the history of Nigeria’s legislature, out of the zones that have occupied the seat of the Speaker of House of Representatives, the North-central zone has had the shortest stint, serving only for three months.

The only time the zone held it was in 1983, when the NPN administration of President Shehu Shagari won a second term and Hon. Chaha Biam from Benue State, was elected Speaker of the House of Representatives and served from October to December of that year before the military came and sacked the Second Republic.

In the First Republic, Chief Jaja Wachukwu from the region now known as South-east became the first indigenous Speaker shortly before independence in 1959 and handed over the baton to Ibrahim Jalo Waziri from the region now known as North-east in 1960.

At the return of democracy in 1979, Chief Edwin Umezeoke of the NPP from the South-east had held sway as Speaker between 1979 to 1983. The Ibrahim Babangida administration had inaugurated a federal legislature that served under his military government and in that era, the South-east again got the slot of Speaker when Agunwa Anaekwe from Anambra State, served as Speaker of the House between 1992 and 1993.

With the return to democratic rule in 1999 almost all the geopolitical zones except North Central and South South have had the opportunity to preside over the affairs of the Green Chamber. From 1999 to 2007, the position of Speaker was zoned to the North-west with Salisu Buhari, Ghali Umar Na’Abba and Aminu Bello Masari taking their turns while between 2007 to 2011 the Southwest had it with Patricia Etteh and Dimeji Bankole presiding.

The position went back to the North-west between 2011 to 2015 with Aminu Tambuwal presiding and in 2015, the North-east clinched the position again with Yakubu Dogara.

In 2019, it returned to the South-west with the current Speaker, Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila.

As the race for who will replace Gbajabiamila has commenced, if the zoning favours North-Central, Hon Gagdi appears to be the best man for the job.

Gagdi represents Panskhin/Kanke/ Kanam federal constituency of Plateau state, a seat he won in March 2019 on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party. He later defected to the ruling All Progressives Congress.

He was born into the family of a local mosque Imam; Mallam Adamu on November 5, 1980 in Gum, Gagdi ward of Kanam Local Government Area of Plateau state, Nigeria.

His father was not just a spiritual leader in the community but also a Quranic Teacher.

Gagdi got his Islamic education under the teaching and guidance of his father. From him, he learned the virtue of simplicity and compassion, philanthropy, modesty and love for humanity.

The lawmaker attended Local Education Authority Primary School, Gum-Gagdi where he obtained his First School Leaving Certificate before proceeding to the Government Secondary School, GSS, Gagdi for his junior secondary education. He later transferred to the Government Secondary School (GSS), Dengi where he had his senior secondary education and graduated in 1999.

He got admitted to study Social Studies (Double Major) at the Federal College of Education (FCE), Pankshin. He couldn’t afford to rent a room of his own as accommodation hence he had to squat with the securities by the school gate.

Gagdi graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Economics Education and got employed by the Plateau State Teachers’ Service Commission and was then posted to Government Secondary School (GSS), Angwan Rogo. He was later seconded to the office of the Head of Service of the state where he served the then Head of Service, the late Dr. Godfrey Mamzhi as a Personal Assistant. He facilitated employment for more than 20 persons in the state civil service.

His experience growing up helped to mould his ideology of exceptional generosity as he always said “he knows what it means to be poor”.

He’s known to have built schools, hospitals and palaces, giving employment and other empowerment to thousands of his constituents.

As a former Plateau State House Deputy Speaker, he already had experience in legislative politics and was committed to the emergence of the leadership of the Ninth House which saw Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila emerge as Speaker.

He was thereafter made the Chairman of the House Standing Committee on the Nigerian Navy and he is also a member of 13 other standing Committees.

Gagdi made history as the first lawmaker in Nigeria’s parliament to sponsor six private member Bills that receive Presidential assent within a legislative session since the establishment of the National Assembly.

Three bills sponsored by Gagdi, which have already been signed into law, are: Police Act 2020, the Federal University of Education, Pankshin Act 2021, the National Hydrographic Agency Act 2021 and Admiralty University, Idusa Delta state.

Following his outstanding performance in the last three and half years, his constituents gave him an overwhelming support during the February 25, 2023 election as he was re-elected in landslide victory as a member of the House of Representatives for a second term.

If the position of speakership is zoned to the north central, the newly elected members of the green chamber from the six geopolitical zones may want to show support by electing Hon Gagdi as Speaker.

He’s competent, experienced and will run a fair, vibrant and just parliament.

20 T H I S D AY FRIDAY MARCH 24, 2023 TR

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& RE A S O

Friday March 24 , 2023 Vol 27. No 10208

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opinion@thisdaylive.com

www.thisdaylive.com

NDIOMU AT AMNESTY PROGRAMME The Presidential amnesty programme’s interim administrator has justified the confidence reposed in him, writes KEN OLALI

See page 21

SUBNATIONAL ELECTIONS: A ROUNDED VIEW OF OUR FAILINGS JOSHUA J. OMOJUWA argues that Nigeria should set the standard for democratic governments on the continent

See page 21 EDITORIAL

TIME TO BRING OUT NAIRA NOTES

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1

Politicians must deescalate the uproar arising from the just concluded general elections, writes BOLAJI ADEBIYI

LET THE HEALING BEGIN A few days after the results of the presidential election were announced, this column, 24 February 2023, made the case for a peaceful resolution of disputes arising from the keenly contested poll. Titled: Time to Move On, while acknowledging the complaints about some irregularities by the opposition political parties that lost out in the election, cognizance was taken of certain trends thrown up by the outcome, which gave the credibility of the results the EHQHÀW RI WKH GRXEW 7KH PRVW VLJQLÀFDQW RI WKH WUHQG LV WKH parity in the spread of wins as the three frontrunners, All Progressives Congress Bola Tinubu, Peoples Democratic Party’s Atiku Abubakar, and Labour Party’s Peter Obi, won outright in 12 states each with New Nigerian Peoples Party’s Rabiu Kwankwaso taking his home state of Kano. The other trend is the narrow margin of win across the states and regions except for the South-east where the winner scored an average of 90 per cent of the votes cast. Finally, the turnout of slightly above 24 million, a far cry from the several million usually recorded in past elections H[HPSOLÀHG WKH VLJQLÀFDQW SURJUHVV WKDW had been made in the journey toward HOHFWRUDO ÀGHOLW\ Without a doubt the increasing use of technology, from electronic card readers to bimodal voter accreditation systems, has helped to weed out the army of fake voters DQG UHVXOWV OHDGLQJ WR WKH ORZ ÀJXUHV WKDW were recorded in the presidential poll. But more important is the increasing interest that the people, particularly young people are showing in the electoral process.

This has uttered the pattern of electoral outcomes, which shows that the electorate is becoming more discerning in their political choices. Whilst there are indeed ample signs that ethnicity and religion are still key tools for the manipulation of voters, evidence is emerging that the people are beginning to pay more attention to the need to empower those who will take their aspirations more seriously.

If anyone is in doubt about this emerging trend, the defeat of seven sitting governors who bided for seats in the Senate should have cleared the doubt. Okezie Ikpeazu (Abia), Samuel Ortom (Benue), Ben Ayade (Cross River), Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi (Enugu), Simon Lalong (Plateau), Darius Ishaku (Taraba), and Atiku Bagudu (Kebbi) were told to go back home after their tenure by their people. It is also interesting to note that many of them that sought a second term had to struggle to win.

Of the 10 governors that have been UH HOHFWHG ÀYH 'DSR $ELRGXQ 2JXQ Babajide Sanwo-Olu (Lagos), Seyi Makinde (Oyo), Inuwa Yahaya (Gombe) and Abdullahi Sule (Nasarawa) struggled to make it back. Yet the issues were not

HVVHQWLDOO\ DERXW SHUIRUPDQFH LQ R΀FH otherwise Sanwo-Olu, generally assessed to have done well, would not have gone through the hassles he went through to emerge. More interesting is the case of Nasarawa where the contending party was not the main opposition PDP but the fringe Social Democratic Party.

Meanwhile, the ruling APC and the main opposition PDP traded places and strongholds with LP and NNPP making it to one government house each. The $3& ZRQ RI WKH VWDWHV RQ RͿHU losing Plateau and Zamfara to the PDP while the main opposition party won nine, losing Sokoto and Benue to the ruling party. This might be a strange outcome given the widespread complaint of underperformance by the APC but obviously, issues beyond the delivery of dividends of democracy were at play.

But for the ethnic and religious tensions that were aroused, particularly in Lagos, the South-east, and some Northern states, the trends earlier highlighted ought to be positive developments in our electoral and democratic history. At least the outcomes of the presidential, federal legislative, and governorship elections show that no one can claim to be a godfather of any place anymore.

Tinubu lost in Lagos, and Buhari could not deliver him in Katsina even as the president’s 12 million votes bank evaporated without any positive impact RQ KLV SUHVLGHQWLDO ÁDJEHDUHU 7KH 3'3 ORVW its 24-year-old dominance of the Southeast to a fringe LP. These were essentially due to citizens’ action of rejection of their experiences with the prevailing order, and the desire for positive changes in their material conditions.

But it is the toxic ethnic slur and verbal attacks that have dominated the media space. In spite of the decision of Atiku and Obi to take their grievances to the electoral tribunal as provided by law, their supporters have continued to hurt and trade bitter exchanges. More unfortunate DUH KDWH ÀOOHG DQG UHFNOHVV VWDWHPHQWV RI R΀FLDO VSRNHVSHUVRQV ZKRVH XWWHUDQFHV RXJKW WR UHÁHFW WKH GLVSRVLWLRQ RI WKHLU

principals.

That none of the aggrieved presidential aspirants has called their supporters and spokesperson to order is worrisome.

However, a ray of hope for caution appeared on Monday when Tinubu sued for peace, regretting and condemning the ethnic slur that characterised the lastminute electioneering for the governorship after the announcement of the presidential election results.

“My appeal is for us to rise above our GLͿHUHQFHV ZKLFK LQ UHDOLW\ DUH IHZHU WKDQ the valued strings that bind us together as a people irrespective of the circumstances of our births,” he said in a statement, adding, “As former governor of Lagos State, I can attest to the strength in our diversity and togetherness.”

He pledged as president-elect, he would bring the spirit of inclusiveness that was engendered in Lagos into national governance so that together Nigerians could attain their full potential.

Tinubu said the elections were over and that all contestants should come to terms with the fact that the people had made their choice of who would serve them for the next four years. “The time for leadership and governance is now upon us,” he stated, adding, “We must take urgent steps to unite the people; those who voted for us and those who did not.”

Although the feelers from the opposing camp have not been encouraging the reconciliation that the president has been seeking, he pleaded, “We must champion the healing process by embracing the opponents and their supporters. As I have stated previously, the time for politicking is gone. This is time for nation-building, a task beyond one individual or a section of society. We need every hand from wherever it may come to be on deck.”

The case for reconciliation could not have been better stated. But it’s important to appreciate that the need for reconciliation and peace does not exclude the right of the aggrieved to ventilate their resentment at the appropriate channels laid down by law.

It is against this background that the Atiku and Obi petitions at the tribunal could not be taken as a rejection of Tinubu’s Olive branch. Lasting peace is only possible if the aggrieved feel a sense of justice and closure.

The petitions at the tribunal, therefore, should not be an excuse for the aggrieved to escalate the dispute. At the same time, it should not be a pretext for the victorious QRW WR SHUVLVW LQ WKH HͿRUWV WR FXUE WKH disagreement.

Adebiyi, the managing editor of THISDAY Newspapers, writes from bolaji.adebiyi@ thisdaylive.com

T H I S D AY

321

FRIDAY MARCH 24, 2023

The Presidential amnesty programme’s interim administrator has justified the confidence reposed in him, writes KEN OLALI

NDIOMU AT AMNESTY PROGRAMME The Interim Administrator (in acting capacity) of the Presidential Amnesty Programme (PAP), Barry Tariye Ndiomu, a retired Major-General, has been silently busy these past six months. But while he chose to EH VHOI HͿDFLQJ WKH UHVXOWV RI KLV DFWLRQV DUH boldly etched on the dashboard, tellingly pointing to the emergence of a new order of peace and progress in the management of the Programme.

This March marks the sixth month anniversary of Ndiomu on the job. For a man who was appointed at a time the critical Amnesty Programme was almost at tipping SRLQW LQ LWV VOLGH LQWR WKH QDGLU RI LQH΀FLHQF\

and administrative tardiness riddled with IUDXG DQG VWDͿ GHVSRQGHQF\ 1GLRPX KDV proven that oasis of hope could emerge out of the desert of despair.

The PAP was established in June 2009 by the late President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua and it has remained one of his best legacies.

It was a Presidential booster shot against rising agitations in the Niger Delta which reduced the nation’s oil production. At that time, major towns and cities of the nine states of the oil producing were always caught in upheavals fueled by obvious neglect of the communities despite their hefty contributions to the national basket of resources. Adopting a non-kinetic approach WR FRQÁLFW UHVROXWLRQ WKH IHGHUDO JRYHUQPHQW opted for Disarmament, Demobilisation and Reintegration (DDR). It was a shortterm approach for an intended long-term VROXWLRQ $QG VR IDU LW KDV SDLG RͿ H[FHSW that at a time, the Programme was mired in an assortment of fraud to the disadvantage RI WKH LQWHQGHG EHQHÀFLDULHV 1GLRPX LV changing the narrative to the acclamation of sundry groups and stakeholders including traditional rulers in the region.

2QH PDMRU PLOHVWRQH WKDW KDV GHÀQHG KLV six-month tenure is the palpable aura of peace that courses through the administration of the PAP. It is for this peace that Nigeria has LQ UHFHQW PRQWKV HͿHFWLYHO\ DFKLHYHG RYHU 1.67 million barrels of crude oil production per day, 130 million barrels shy of the OPEC allotted 1.8 million barrels. But for President Muhammadu Buhari’s appointment of Ndiomu at the time he did (September 15, 2022), perhaps all the gains recorded in the stability of the once-upon-a-time volatile Niger Delta creeks would have been wiped away. Ndiomu calmed frayed nerves among the ex-agitators some of whom had openly voiced their frustrations and bile against the status quo. They had threatened to resume hostilities in the creeks. The implication of such threat and its actual execution would be a relapse to the old ambience of tension in the oil-bearing communities. Should this happen, the oil companies would declare force majeure. This ultimately would trigger a huge cut in the nation’s crude

oil production which translates to loss of revenue at the international market.

But Ndiomu has achieved beyond the bounds of peace. Upon discovering the existence of a messy ledger, he streamlined ÀQDQFLDO UHFRUGV DQG DFFRXQWLQJ SURFHGXUHV which produced instant results: timely payment of monthly allocation, completion RI ÀYH YRFDWLRQDO WUDLQLQJ FHQWUHV GDWD sanitisation to verify genuine ex agitators among other new policy initiatives.

The interim administrator has proven that he has a passion for the job by deploying the right human and material resources to ensure that the case load of 30,000 documented exagitators are rehabilitated and reintegrated into society.

Tech is the rotor that drives the engine RI H΀FLHQF\ LQ WKH PRGHUQ ZRUNSODFH Ndiomu understands this and he has infused technology into the operations of the Programme. The result is a clean database of JHQXLQH H[ DJLWDWRUV DQ HͿHFWLYH ÀQDQFLDO system that has exposed and remedied the embedded fraud in the old order. In modern management, it’s called ‘running lean and mean.’ PAP is running lean and mean and it shows with robust statistics that should make President Buhari proud of his choice of Ndiomu.

Before the Ndiomu dispensation, the ÀJXUHV IRU VLQJOH DFFRXQW ZDV +RZHYHU DIWHU VWULQJHQW YHULÀFDWLRQ DQG cleaning up of the data for which he became D VXEMHFW RI PHGLD DWWDFNV WKH ÀJXUH ZDV reduced to 19,510 as at March, thus saving PAP ଂ226,850,000/monthly.

I the old deliberately muddled stipend ledger, some names appeared in duplicates/ triplicates; while some names were listed on both single/bulk payment list. For instance, delegates on in-training receiving ଂ70,000 monthly were also on the list other than WKHLUV 8VLQJ DQ DXGLW YHULÀFDWLRQ WKURXJK BVN check, it was discovered that 513 delegates fraudulently had 1,371 accounts linked to their BVNs. Obviously, these were ghost accounts and it points to a possible collusion with external forces, the banks.

Other details showed that so many accounts did not have BVN linked to them.

One individual was receiving stipends (N65,000 monthly) of 33 persons through fraudulent means. The audit also revealed a duplicitous payment system that turned the simple monthly payment of stipends to a heist.

Aside personnel fraud, contracts with vendors were found to be fraudulently LQÁDWHG LQ VRPH FDVHV PDQLSXODWHG WR cream huge cash out of the system. Through Ndiomu’s insistence on the adoption of global best practices in contracting, such contracts were renegotiated and reevaluated. The process saved a hefty N1.5 billion for the Programme.

Servicing of inherited debt became an issue. With more than N5.5 billion and N4.5 billion owed both formal education institutions and vocational training contractors respectively as at September 2022, the PAP was sinking deeper into the abyss. Today, the situation has been salvaged through prudent and strategic prioritization of payments. Matters that have direct impact RQ WKH GHOHJDWHV ZHUH SXW RQ WKH ÀUVW OLQH charge for timely consideration.

Olali, an environmental activist, writes from Port Harcourt

JOSHUA J. OMOJUWA argues that Nigeria should set the standard for democratic governments on the continent

SUBNATIONAL ELECTIONS: A ROUNDED VIEW OF OUR FAILINGS One of my friends who had come to monitor the 2023 elections told me before any vote was cast that I should be grateful as a Nigerian, that no matter what happens, we still get to change our leaders at most in eight years.

Whilst I have always been aware of that fact, hearing a foreigner say that helped to centre my attention on something I had taken for granted; the fact that our country had gone through many waters through the decades and amid all its challenges, we are comfortably in a place where we can change our leaders at every turn. But today’s piece is not about most viable minimal outcomes but about asking the best of us.

In 2013, a governor led the campaign against one of his opponents by branding said opponent a ‘Yoruba candidate’ in a Southeastern state. The governor’s party on the back of his approval went the extra mile of printing posters of said candidate with photos of Chief Obafemi Awolowo to buttress the point whilst contrasting that with posters of

that numbers were bumped for most of those elections. INEC performed below par in 2023 based on the expectations of Nigerians and the standards it asked to be judged against, this should not be confused with claims that these elections are worse RͿ WKDQ WKRVH HOHFWLRQV WKDW KDG QR IRUPV of electronic auditing.

Elections that ought to bring us together appear to have further divided us. This is what happens when we play on the IDXOW OLQHV RI RXU GLͿHUHQFHV EH LW UHOLJLRQ or ethnicity. This is not even limited to GLͿHUHQFH LQ UHOLJLRQ SROLWLFLDQV KDYH UXQ FDPSDLJQV RQ WKH GLͿHUHQFHV EHWZHHQ VHFWV and denominations even in states that are largely of one religion. We have also seen such divisive politics played among people of the same ethnic group, with politicians H[SORULQJ GLͿHUHQFHV HYHQ DPRQJVW SHRSOH of the same ethnic origin and religion.

Those of us who know better must do better. Nigeria has played around the borderlines of mediocrity for too long.

Whilst INEC for instance deserves all the blames it is getting, the outcomes that warranted those blames should not be seen in isolation; we have a behavioral challenge that’s got nothing to do with INEC. You could hire a new Chairman for INEC who would do a better job, but this would only be incremental or marginal change at best.

To see some sort of discontinuous change from organisations like INEC, you’d have to look at the root of the matter.

Now that the elections are over, we now look up to the Judiciary to live up to expectations. If we organized better elections, the Judiciary would have less to do, and its already packed schedule would his own candidate with photos of Dr. Nnamdi not get over burdened by endless election Azikiwe and Ikemba Odumegwu-Ojukwu. A petitions. In the end, our shortcomings decade on, it was shocking and sad to see some at every turn have a way of costing us at voters in Lagos disenfranchised by thugs who every turn immediately after. We keep prevented them from voting on suspicion they carrying gaps from one level of governance were Igbo. Along with reports of violence and to the other. other forms of electoral malpractice across the One used to think that the more power country, including states like Rivers, Enugu, devolves to the states, the less the agitation Delta, Abia, Anambra, Bayelsa, etc., you would for power we’d see at the centre. It now expect much better from INEC and some appears to me that, except we address Nigerians by now. This is not to say, ‘nothing the root of the matter, we’d at best be has changed’ as some people want us to transferring the unwholesome obsession believe. But we should be doing much better with power at the centre to the states. That’d than we generally did these 2023 elections. make an already bad situation worse. It is There should be no place for the violence seen the same issue with state policing. Whilst across several states during the subnational one believes states should have their own elections. police and be truly in charge of their own If controversies invalidated election results, security, without addressing the root of the all the previous presidential elections from 1999 issues that make the Federal Police what to date would be deemed invalid. The same it is, we’d only be spreading those issues would go for most of the subnational elections. DFURVV WKH VWDWHV WKLV WLPH LQ WKH GLͿHUHQW It is not impossible to admit shortcomings colours of their various prospective whilst still accounting for progress. It is uniforms. particularly shocking when some people insist The Washington Post in its editorial on claiming that just because an election was whilst taking a rounded view of Nigeria’s conducted amidst some form of violence, the just concluded elections wrote, ‘even results are invalid, without consideration for D ÁDZHG HOHFWLRQ LQ 1LJHULD FDQ VHW D the depth and spread of such violence and their standard in a part of Africa where staging HͿHFW RQ WKH WRWDO YRWHV FDVW 7KDW VDLG HYHU\ a coup is more common than canvassing form of violence and electoral malpractice for votes,’ it is our responsibility to now must be condemned by all and sundry. The go from organising elections just to say we authorities must prosecute everyone arrested have done it to organizing one that would carrying out such crimes. That ought to be the be the standard, not just for a region still minimal expectation. battling with the challenges of coups, but The biometric reforms introduced to voter the standard for democratic governments accreditation has now ensured that election across the continent. Let’s be the African results no longer return the ‘millions’ of votes standard for a start. they used to return across the country. When you compare the numbers since the advent of Omojuwa biometric accreditation against the elections is chief strategist, Alpha Reach and author, of the noughties, it could not be clearer Digital Wealth Book

22 4

T H I S D AY

FRIDAY MARCH 24, 2023

EDITORIAL

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

TIME TO BRING OUT NAIRA NOTES The apex bank should make the local currency available to Nigerians

T

here’s no papering over the fact that most Nigerians are literally going through the valley of the shadow of death in the aftermath of the Central Bank of Nigeria’s (CBN) Naira Redesign policy. Since its introduction, many lives have been lost in avoidable circumstances, businesses have been ruined while many have been socially dislocated.

Now that the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has directed public sector workers in the country to embark on strike next week Wednesday, we hope that relevant authorities will do everything to avert the looming crisis.

When in the last quarter of 2022 the apex bank announced its plan to redesign the 200, 500 and 1000 Naira notes, and end the use of the old notes by 31stJanuary 2023, it explained that the policy would enable it take control of the Naira in circulation, PDQDJH LQÁDWLRQ while combatting counterfeiting and ransom payment. Whether the policy has achieved the set objectives is yet to be determined. But since the commencement of implementation, the policy has LQÁLFWHG KDUGVKLS RQ PLOOLRQV RI 1LJHULDQV %HVLGHV it has also created some perverse incentives for racketeering in an environment where unscrupulous people game every process.

First, the acute scarcity of the new notes made the initial deadline unrealistic, and prompted the apex bank, with the approval of President Muhammadu Buhari, to extend the legal tender status of the old notes till February 10. Since then, even with twists and turns, litigations and expectations, Nigerians have had to bear the brunt of Naira scarcity. Perhaps, never in the history of the country have the people been made to face the current level of currencyinduced hardship and socio-economic dislocation in peace time.

The local currency has become so scarce that Nigerians keep vigil at banks, and many more buy

the elusive currency from emergency cash merchants at scandalous prices. As a result, sundry economic and social malaise are now associated with the new currency redesign policy. Buying and selling have become a nightmare without the local currency, and the electronic platforms now come with their own challenges. Even the CBN has admitted to the glitches arising from online banking and Point of Sales (PoS) transactions.

Since the introduction of the policy, the Nigerian economy has reportedly lost an estimated N20 trillion from the cash crunch arising from decelerating economic activities. It has crippled trading activities DQG WKH LQIRUPDO HFRQRP\ ZLWK OLYHV PDGH GL΀FXOW for inhabitants of rural communities. According to the Centre for the Promotion of Private Enterprise (CPPE), this is a huge cost for an exercise that is still ongoing DQG LV RI GRXEWIXO EHQHÀW to the people. What is of serious concern is why the cash crunch does not seem to be yielding any respite almost two weeks after the Supreme Court judgement reinstated the initially phased out old currency till the end of 2023.

While the CBN has ordered commercial banks to begin issuing the old banknotes alongside the redesigned ones, reprieve appears to be far from the beleaguered populace and businesses. There are still long queues in the banks and the lull in markets persists. There are questions as to whether the old notes which the apex bank mopped up from the economy before the intervention of the apex court are still within the banking system or already crushed.

Meanwhile, it is regrettable that President Buhari, who repeatedly owned up to authorising the naira UHGHVLJQ KDV RͿHUHG OLWWOH RU QR HPSDWK\ ZKLOH 1LJHULDQV JURDQ XQGHU WKH KDUGVKLS LQÁLFWHG E\ D policy that has his full imprimatur. While we do not want to indulge in any blame-game, we urge the apex bank to quickly make the local currency available to Nigerians.

The local currency has become so scarce that Nigerians keep vigil at banks, and many more buy the elusive currency from emergency cash merchants at scandalous prices 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 SEPLAT: THE DANGERS OF A ONE-SIDED STORY Globally, history is replete with horrendous stories of how often one-sided story has wreaked havoc on individual lives, communities, groups and organisations.

Like every coin with two sides, every story has two sides’ – distorted facts and the true facts.

Allowing our emotions to becloud our sense of reasoning often end in regret, doing more harm than good in the long run.

Just recently, the Nigerian media space was awash with news stories about Seplat Energy Plc, one of Nigeria’s leading independent International energy provider that has been operating in the country since 2009 for various negative allegations which have since been refuted and found out to be false.

The allegations against Seplat published in most onOLQH DQG R΁LQH PHGLD UDQJHV IURP UDFLVP DJDLQVW WKH &KLHI ([HFXWLYH 2΀FHU 0U 5RJHU %URZQ ZKR KDV since stepped aside from his role, to poor governance within the organisation, forced resignations and sack-

LQJ RI 1LJHULDQ VWDͿ EDVHG RQ GLVFULPLQDWRU\ SROLFLHV There were also allegations of manipulative ranking VFKHPH LQ WKH FRPSDQ\ ZKLFK DOVR LQFOXGHV GLͿHUHQW retirement ages for Nigerians and expatriates amongst others.

0DQ\ 1LJHULDQV ZHUH PLͿHG E\ WKH DOOHJDWLRQV ZLWK many calling for the head of the CEO of Seplat Mr. Roger Brown, a British national who was eventually deported by the federal government to calm frayed nerves.

One cannot blame Nigerians who called for the head of the former CEO on the basis of these allegations; to many disgruntled citizens, we cannot continue to be taken for granted and be treated like second class citizens by expatriates in our own country.

However, when the allegations were subjected to independent investigations, they have been found to be a result of high wired boardroom brawl being climaxed strategically with a media war.

According to reliable sources at Seplat like the Seplat

Awesome Women’s Network (SWAN), some disgruntled outgoing members of the board who were part of the re-organisation otherwise termed “Transformational Agenda’ jointly embarked upon after the appointPHQW RI 0U %URZQ DUH QRZ ÀJKWLQJ EDFN ZKHQ WKH transformational policies they created are now biting them.

These powerful forces made up of principally indigenous retired executive and non-executive directors, KDYH PDQDJHG WR LQÀOWUDWH WKH PDQDJHPHQW SRODUL]LQJ the system along tribal and portfolio lines.

From all indications, Nigerians who were up in arms against the now deported CEO Mr. Roger Brown, where acting on the basis of a one-sided story – a dangerous trend that must be eschewed by all when emotions are high.

Adetola Odusote, Anipr, Arpa, Lagos

T H I S D AY ˾ FRIDAY, MARCH 24, 2023

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BUSINESSWORLD R A T E S MONEY MARKET

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

08056356325

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ARCON Attributes Growth in Marketing Industry to FG’s 75% Local Content Policy, Reduction in Capital Flight Global TV Advertising Revenue 201-2026

Raheem Akingbolu The Director General of the Advertising Regulatory Council of Nigeria (ARCON), Dr. Lekan Fadolapo, has stated that the advertising and marketing communications industry has fared well under the Buhari/Osinbajo administration.

In an interview with THISDAY, Fadolapo, who hailed the administration for the recent ban on the use of foreign models and voice-over artists in Nigeria’s advertising space and the use of a cumulative of 75 per cent local

content in ambience, production, and post production activities, added that the industry has witnessed transformational reforms through progress-driven policies, regulatory frameworks, and legislations in the last two years.

“Quite a number of policies were made to protect and improve the ethical advertising business environment and practice. The administration ensured the successful implementation of the Advertising Industry Standard of Practice (AISOP), which provides a minimum standard of business practice between stakeholders as

well as the deregulation of media rate in Nigeria.

“The protection and improvement of local contents in the advertising industry were brought to the forefront to boost job creation, reduce capital flight, and attract investments in the sector,” Fadolapo said.

On the repeal of the Advertising Practitioners (Registration Etc) Act CAP A7, L.F.N 2004 and the enactment of the Advertising Regulatory Council of Nigeria Act, No. 23 of 2022, he pointed out that it has adequately empowered the Council to regulate the business and practice of advertising,

advertisements, and marketing communications in Nigeria in all ramifications.

On the constitution of council, Fadolapo further said: “In as much as the Constitution of a Governing Council would have complimented the works done by the Council, its absence did not adversely set back the potentials of the Council. The Honourable Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, did not relent in ensuring that the Council receives proper attention, which aids in the discharge of its statutory and ancillary mandates.”

President of the Association of

Advertising Agencies of Nigeria (AAAN), Mr. Steve Babaeko, said the performance of the communication industry under the current administration had been a mixed one.

Babaeko admitted that the appointment of the Registrar, Dr. Olalekan Fadolapo, was a significant boost for the industry.

“Fadolapo’s proactive approach saw the implementation of several reforms, including The Advertising Industry Standard of Practice (AISOP) and the passage of the ARCON bill by the National Assembly. The signing of the bill into law by the

President was also a major milestone for the marketing communication industry. Additionally, the Minister for Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, regularly engaged with stakeholders, effectively bridging the gap between the industry and the government,” he said.

However, like most practitioners, Babaeko agreed that the nonconstitution of the ARCON council remained a setback for the industry. While appealing to President Muhammadu Buhari to take necessary action before the end of his tenure, he emphasised that the issue required urgent attention.

Aviation Roadmap: Stakeholders Kick against Airport Concession Project Chinedu Eze Stakeholders in the aviation sector, especially members of the aviation unions have expressed fears over the perceived failure of the President Muhammadu Buhari’s aviation roadmap programme.

They are therefore resisting the airport concession project, while calling for a complete stop of the project.

According to them, the federal government may have failed in accomplishing two major projects in the President Muhammadu Buhari’s aviation roadmap programme, which are the national carrier and the concession of terminal facilities at the major airports in the country, like the Lagos, Abuja, Port Harcourt and Kano airports.

The unions have insisted that the concession has failed less than

two months to the end of the Buhari’s administration, adding that they have decided to stand against the project because of the opaque process and seeming lack of sincerity.

The Secretary General of the National Union of Air Transport Employees (NUATE), Ocheme Aba told THISDAY on Wednesday in a telephone interview that the decision of the unions to stand against the concession project was because it would not serve the interest of majority of Nigerians, as airports are invaluable assets of the Nigerian citizens.

Aba said that the federal government does not have the right to concession the airports without resort to the states and the local government councils because the ownership of the infrastructure is a collective one.

He said that the Infrastructure Concession Regulatory Commission (ICRC) by law should be approached by the owners of the facility to be commissioned, which is the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) and not the Ministry of Aviation, which has been negotiating with the body for the airports concession.

“The process itself is riddled with a lot of contradictions and irregularities. The process does not tally with expectations in this kind of arrangement and up till now they cannot reconcile with the gaps,” he said.

He wondered why the federal government wanted to concession brand new airport terminals and alleged that the process is clothed in secrecy, disclosing that the concession arrangement included the concession of car park at the Nnamdi Azikiwe

International Airport, Abuja, which was contrary to the initial concession plan, remarking that now that they have included the car park they would invariably include the toll gates.

“We have the actual labour issues which the Minister of Aviation, Senator Hadi Sirika has not attended to or addressed. We have been engaging them and we would want these issues to be discussed before we take action,” he further said.

Aba also condemned the demolition of the Lagos office of the Accident Investigation Bureau (AIB), which is now known as the Nigerian Safety Investigation Bureau (NSIB), as it has extended its services to rail and maritime accident investigation.

He said the demolition of the office complex was done in vain,

remarking that if the facility were not demolished it would have become a hub for the investigation of rail and maritime accidents in Lagos and the South West region.

Aba said the Buhari’s administration has registered success in the area of infrastructure in the aviation agencies but it failed on the aviation road map.

The unions had earlier stopped the concession of the airports by the federal government through the court.

The unions comprising of; Air Transport Services Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (ATSSSAN), National Union of Air Transport Employees (NUATE), Association of Nigeria Aviation Professionals (ANAP) and the Nigeria Union of Pensioners (NUP-FAAN Branch), had declared that the Ministry of Aviation and the Federal Airports Authority

of Nigeria were not competent to concession any airports in the country as planned.

The unions engaged the services of Femi Falana Chambers to challenge the planned concession of the airports at the National Industrial Court in the Lagos Judicial Division in Lagos State.

An originating summons dated March 14, 2023, had the Ministry of Aviation as the 1st defendant, while FAAN was the 2nd defendant in the case, which is yet to be assigned to a judge.

According to the claimants, the four airports scheduled for concession are the assets of the Federal Government, alleging that the government was not aware of the planned concession of the airports.

The story continues online on www.thisdaylive.com

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

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

Change Updated Time (%) 10.82 -0.01 January 6, 2023 January 11.11 -0.71 6, 2023 January 0.00 6, 11.35 2023 January 12.60 0.00 6, 2023 January 12.92 0.00 6, 2023

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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

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FRIDAY, MARCH 24, 2023 ˾ T H I S D AY

BUSINESSWORLD

AIR WATCH

NRC Promises to Release Accident Report Chinedu Eze The Nigerian Safety Investigation Bureau (NSIB) has assured that it would release its report on the train and the Lagos State staff bus accident, which occurred at Ikeja area of the state earlier this month.

The Bureau has also agreed to deepen its relationships with the Lagos State Emergency Management Agency (LASEMA) and the Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC) through a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU), on ways of enhancing safety in the rail and road sectors.

Speaking during courtesy visits to the two organsiations in Lagos, the Director-General, NSIB, Akin Olateru, said investigators had begun investigation into the causal and contributory factors of the March 9, 2023 train and bus accident in Lagos.

He explained that its report, which would be made public, would

also include safety recommendations to both parties on how a recurrence could be avoided in the future.

Speaking at LASEMA, Olateru regretted the accident, which claimed 10 lives with colossal damage to the bus, but assured the Lagos State government that its investigators would do a thorough job and come up with safety recommendations.

He, however, said that it does not impose blame on any party, rather, issue safety recommendations on how such accident could be prevented in the future.

He explained that NSIB has well-trained 45 investigators who are deep on investigation of rail and maritime serious incidents and accidents.

“We have 45 well-trained investigators who are well-trained in the United States, Singapore Academy and others. So, we do what we do well. It takes time to

carry out investigation.

“But, for this, I don’t think it will take time because some of our investigators have already been trained on train and maritime investigation.

“All the accidents and serious incidents that we have investigated in the past, we made them public.

There is no hiding of anything, but the thing is we don’t blame anyone. We have the causal and contributory factors that would tell you why the accident happened,” Olateru said.

The Director-General also sought partnership between NSIB and LASEMA on capacity building, training and exchange of idea.

Earlier in his presentation, the Permanent Secretary, LASEMA, Dr. Olufemi Oke-Osanyintolu, showed some slides on the train-bus accident and how its agency was able to minimise the casualties.

A I R WATCH As Air Peace Expands International Operations

Accra Weizo Returns after Covid-19 Break A travel market in Ghana, known, as Accra Weizo will resume this year after it was stopped for three years due to the effect of Coronavirus that led to global lockdown.

Accra Weizo Travel Expo is a travel event that seeks to grow seamless Travel in West Africa and it is organised by Akwaaba African Travel Market in partnership with Ghana Tourism Authority. West Africa is the biggest region in Africa with over 400 million people rich in culture and tourist attractions. It

receives the least number of tourists yet, West African countries generate the highest number of outbound travellers in Africa. There is a need to encourage West Africans to travel within the region and this is the goal of Accra Weizo. To make this happen, there is a need to create a seamless travel environment making West Africa an open domestic market, harnessing the market and opportunities within which is the goal of AccraWeizo, explained the organisers of the meeting.

The organisers said Accra Weizo has stimulated inspiring discussions on how to liberalise movement within the African borders, especially the West Africa, to promote travel across borders, viz-a-viz easing business transaction and movement of people. Over the years, AccraWeizo has become one of the biggest travel events in Ghana having in attendance the Minister of Tourism, Director General of Tourism Agencies and prominent drivers of travel and tourism in Africa.

Nominations Open for 2023 IATA Diversity, Inclusion Awards The International Air Transport Association (IATA) has announced the opening of nominations for the 2023 IATA Diversity and Inclusion Awards.

Nominations will be accepted from all individuals or organisations working in the aviation value chain and will close at 23:59 CET on 19 April 2023.

IATA said the annual awards program recognises excellence in diversity and inclusion in three categories: Inspirational Role Model Award, High Flyer Award and Diversity & Inclusion Team Award.

Inspirational Role Model Award recognises a woman holding a senior position within the air transport industry who has had a significant impact on the aviation agenda through her strong contribution to business delivery, as well as her

ongoing support for the diversity and inclusion agenda. Nominees are welcome from across the aviation industry.

High Flyer Award recognises a woman aviation professional under the age of 40 who has demonstrated leadership through concrete action in favor of diversity and inclusion, making a positive impact on the industry. Open to all women professionals in the aviation industry.

Diversity & Inclusion Team Award recognises an airline that has seen measurable positive change in diversity and inclusion as a result of the work it has been doing in this area. Open to all IATA member airlines.

According to IATA’s Director General, Willie Walsh, “Diversity & Inclusion are top priorities across the aviation industry—particularly

as the industry competes for the next generation of talent to deliver the benefits of global connectivity.

The IATA Diversity & Inclusion Awards help accelerate progress by recognizing the leaders who are making a difference. By acknowledging the results that they have generated, we are aiming to inspire others to also take action to advance aviation’s gender balance.

I encourage people to send in their nominations and look forward to shining the spotlight on the winners at our upcoming Annual General Meeting and World Air Transport Summit in Istanbul.”

Each award winner will receive $25,000 (payable to the awardee or their nominated charity for diversity and inclusion activities) thanks to the generous sponsorship of Qatar Airways.

AVEVA Announces Subscription Business Model to Foster Innovation Emma Okonji AVEVA, a world leader in industrial software, has announced its portfolio-wide transition to a subscription business model that will enhance industrial innovation.

To accelerate access to modern solutions and meet dynamic business needs, customers can trade-in their existing perpetual licenses for subscriptions spanning any mix of cloud, hybrid, and on-premises solutions across the design-operate-optimize industrial lifecycle.

The AVEVA Flex subscription program revolutionises the way industrial software is purchased and consumed. According to the software company, it could help reduce upfront costs as much as 65 per cent, while enabling flexibility and scalability to respond to changing business needs, industry standards and regulatory requirements.

New licenses for major

engineering and operations solutions in AVEVA’s software portfolio are now subscription only, and the company has set a target to transit 80 per cent of customer licenses from perpetual to subscription by 2025.

Vice President of Cloud Platform and Digital Business at AVEVA, Saadi Kerman, said: “Industrial organizations, taking a hybrid approach to their software architectures, are capitalizing on the increased data insights and functionality that cloud-based solutions provide - without giving up much-needed tools on-premises.

A single subscription program that spans edge-to-cloud solutions and from engineering to operations can empower teams to connect and collaborate in new and agile ways.”

He added: “As opposed to traditional perpetual software, where ownership creates incentives to use dated and potentially unsupported software over time, AVEVA Flex instead ensures you

are always on your software’s latest, most capable version—and you always know what your software costs are.”

European Energy uses AVEVA Unified Engineering in the cloud to enable a scalable, secure engineering workflow across their global footprint to empower their latest Power-to-X projects.

Power-to-X technology produces green e-methanol based on renewable wind, solar, and biowaste energy sources. As projects ramp up around the world, a flexible software subscription model allows tighter control and alignment between technology investment and business requirements.

Senior Project Manager of European Energy, Michala MulvadThiim, said: “Our vision is to be a major global force in driving the green energy transition. To achieve that requires innovative approaches.

AVEVA Flex subscription removes the barriers to innovation and will be instrumental to our success.”

Chinedu Eze On March 31, 2023 Nigeria’s major carrier, Air Peace will be adding a major destination, Mumbai, India to its international routes, making it the second long distance flight to Asia.

The first was China, which it started last year. With this development, the airline is already breaking the jinx, prodding though the odds and stoically charting its way to be an international carrier from Nigeria.

Air Peace, which started operations in 2014, was the first airline that started with seven aircraft after obtaining its Air Operator Certificate (AOC) unlike many others, which started two or three aircraft. But when the airline started, its name had a peculiar ring that didn’t dovetail with the rhythm of the industry, Air Peace. Some stakeholders said they laughed at the name then.

But eight years after it started operation, the airline, against some cynical predictions, has soldiered on, grabbing many firsts in many ways and now, it is a beacon of hope for Nigeria’s aviation industry. It employs over 5, 000 workforce as its fleet increased and its destinations also increased. It will continue to increase its workforce in the coming years as it is bringing in more aircraft and extending its wings to more destinations.

THISDAY spoke with the Chairman and CEO of Air Peace, Allen Onyema, who disclosed that everything is ready for the inaugural flight to Mumbai, India. The plan to fly to India started shortly before the Covid-19 lockdown in 2020 when the Indian community realised that Nigerian flag carrier with long-haul fleet could be taking Indians directly to India instead of flying first to some airline hubs before getting home. That discussion culminated in the evacuation flights when Air Peace airlifted Indians from Nigeria to India. That was shortly after Air Peace evacuated Israelites to Israel during the lockdown.

The Air Peace Chairman told THISDAY that Air Peace would operate two flights a week to India and would increase the frequency over time. He said that the existing and planned international destinations of the airline include, South Africa, China, Jeddah, Medina; Tel-Aviv, Israel and there is discussion between Barbados and Air Peace for direct flight from Barbados to Nigeria.

Onyema also told THISDAY that Air Peace has expanded operation in the West and Central Africa, which include: Doula in Cameroon, Banjul in The Gambia, Freetown, Sierra Leone, Monrovia, Liberia and it has advanced its plans to fly to Togo, Abidjan, Cote d’Ivoire and Kinshasa, Congo. The airline also expanded operations to Accra, Niamey and Dakar, Senegal.

The network in West and Central Africa is in line with the objectives of the Single Africa Air Transport Market (SAATM), which wants to see that every part of the continent is connected in order to boost intra continental connectivity for business. Air Peace with these West Coast designations will seriously rival Asky, a pan-African airline operating in West and Central Africa based in Lome, Togo, and connects over 25 destinations in 20 countries on the African continent. Air Peace domestic destinations in Nigeria are about 24.

The airline in its fleet, has three Boeing B777, it also has 12 Boeing B737, five brand new Embraer E192-E2 and some Embraer 145

aircraft. It has a total of 38 aircraft currently in the fleet. It is also expecting 15 Boeing B737 MAX, inclduing seven Boeing B737 MAX 8 and eight Boeing B737 MAX 10. In addition to that, the airline is also expecting the delivery of eight E195-E2 aircraft, which will complete the brand new Embraer aircraft to 15 in the fleet. The airline is also negotiating with the Boeing Company for two Boeing 787 Dreamliners.

“We are deploying our Boeing B737 MAX 10 to European destinations. We have applied to operate to London and to secure our Third Country Operators Permit (TCO),” the Chairman said.

With brand new Embraer E195-E2 and the Boeing 737 MAX that would be delivered soon, it is expected that the Nigerian carrier would not have problem meeting the EU conditions, which border on safety.

In her speech during Air Peace inaugural flight to China last year, the Chief Operating Officer (COO) of Air Peace, Mrs. Oluwatoyin Olajide said: “When we set out for the Air Peace trajectory in 2014, we envisaged an airline that would predominantly do two things: create massive employment for Nigerians and reduce the burden of air travel for Nigerians, and by extension, Africans, through the provision of affordable and peaceful connectivity across cities and continents.

“Now, we can confidently assert that Air Peace has kept to this vision of providing seamless connections and expanding existing network to accommodate the evolving air travel needs of the flying public. Today, we’re officially adding the continent of Asia to our network of continents, with the commencement of initial one-weekly flight to Guangzhou-China.”

According to her, “If you have been following the growth of Air Peace, you will be familiar with the fact that the Chinese airspace is not new to us, as we’ve successfully operated several evacuation/special flights to the country at different times in the past, especially in 2020, during the COVID-19 lockdown. So, we’re going into China, not as newcomers, but as an airline that is technically and operationally acclimatised with the Chinese terrain.”

It is the same with the Indian airspace, as the airline has been operating to India before the scheduled flight service.

There are also plan of the airline to operate to the Caribbean. In fact, simpleflying.com, an industry online medium, recently reported that there were negotiations between Barbados, the Africa Export-Import Bank, and air Peace for the commencement of a direct route between Barbados and Nigeria as soon as the second half of the this year.

The medium explained that Barbados’ Caribbean Community (CARICOM) Ambassador, David Comissiong, disclosed that negotiations between the Africa ExportImport Bank and Nigeria’s Air Peace were going well. If successful, the island could see the commencement of the direct route to Africa.

“Hopefully, before the middle of the year, we are going to have that direct airline license, not between Ghana and Barbados, but it’s likely to be between Lagos, Nigeria, and Barbados twice a week. So once we can get on that plane at Grantley Adams International Airport and fly across the Atlantic to Lagos, that is just a short journey from Lagos to Accra, Ghana,” Comissiong assured.

T H I S D AY ˾ FRIDAY, MARCH 24, 2023

BUSINESSWORLD

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NEWS

e-NSITF to Ensure Transparency in Employee Compensation Onyebuchi Ezigbo in Abuja The Nigeria Social Insurance Trust Fund (NSITF) has said that the digitization of its system through the e-NSITF will promote efficiency, transparency and accountability in it’s operations.

A statement by the General Manager, Corporate Affairs, Mrs. Ijeoma Orji-Okoronkwo quoted the new Managing Director of the NSITF, Mrs. Maureen Allagoa as saying that the initiative will also bring abiding benefits to the doorstep of Nigerian workers.

Speaking at the Abuja venue of a fund-wide, twoday training for key staff of the agency on Strategic Re-positioning, Aliagoa said the project, which is in line with the federal government policy on ease of doing business, will increase efficiency, break all barriers to outreach, transparency and accountability while blocking all the loopholes and leakages that badgered the fund over the years.

Represented by the Fund’s Executive Director, Administration, Dr. Gabriel Okenwa, Allagoa said digital technology has brought innovations to government and private businesses, which

no organization can ignore without great peril.

“Digital technology has brought great changes to businesses and the world of work in such a manner that compels organizations to align with the trend. The NSITF, which occupies a cardinal position in the nation’s social security system cannot afford to lag behind.

“The e-NSITF whose first phase has been completed, is a practical platform which leverages on ICT to ease the implementation of Employee Compensation, by modernizing our systems and processes, while expanding our frontiers in business and social security.

“This innovation is also stakeholder-inclusive, in that it grants our customers who are employers of labour, an unfettered access to our services by exposing them to our digital tools for interaction and business conduct. They will secure satisfaction while the accompanying instant feedback, in turn, optimizes the fund’s quality service in real time. “ From the comfort of the respective offices of our enrollee-employers, they can register by keying into our platform, make payment which is tracked into a central pool and seamlessly generate compliance

certificates. Waiting for period unending will be eliminated. “ This process will also put securely behind us, every controversy over payment of claims which can now easily be tracked with the identity of the recipient in a public record.”

The Managing Director further urged all staff to key into the reform, meant to equip and adapt them to the digitization. She pledged the commitment of the management to improved staff welfare and other service conditions that assist efficient delivery of services.

NSITF MD said that the end of the two-day sensitisation which is taking place simultaneously across the six zones of the country, the select staff-participants are expected to take the training to their respective 56 branches of the fund.

She said apart from boosting the fund’s digital infrastructures and equipping the staff with necessary skills and knowledge, the training will arm them for aggressive enrolment of employers, effective and prompt payment of claims and compensation, as well as active health and safety administration. Over one thousand out of 5000 staff strength of the fund is taking part in the programme.

FRIDAY, MARCH 24, 2023 ˾ T H I S D AY

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BUSINESSWORLD

MARITIME

The Revival of Nigerian Ports Since the appointment of Mohammed Bello-Koko as the Managing Director of the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA), the Nigerian seaports narrative has changed. The ports have wrest cargoes, hitherto, lost to neighboring countries due to improved infrastructure, effective traffic management, law enforcement that made the ports more efficient, writes Eromosele Abiodun

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igerian ports, before now have been described as the most expensive and inefficient in the West and Central Africa sub-region. This made the nation’s seaports unattractive to importers who prefer diverting cargoes meant for Nigerian ports to neighboring countries that have efficient port system.

For instance, neighboring Benin Republic, Togo, Ghana seaports received cargoes meant for Nigerian port because of their efficiency and ability of the ports to meet the yearnings of the importers and clearing agents.

Dilapidated port infrastructure, long cargo dwell time, vessels turn around time, long clearing process and port congestion occasioned by traffic gridlock on the port access road were basic challenges that have retarded the viability of the nation’s seaports.

This myriad of challenges contributed immensely to cargo diversion to neighboring countries by importers, thereby affecting the nation’s revenue generation and cargo throughput.

However, in the last few years, things have turned around for good following painstaking work to enforce reforms.

The crusade to restore sanity at the ports was championed by Mohammed Bello-Koko following his appointment as the Managing Director of the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) Bello-Koko, was appointed acting MD of NPA on May 6, 2021 and was confirmed as the substantive MD on February 21, 2022.

Since his appointment, Bello-Koko has changed the narrative of the nation’s seaports, taking the port from the lowest ebb to be the beautiful bride to importers.

Now, Nigerian seaports are proffered destination to Nigerian importers as well as to land locked neighboring countries who prefer to route their transit cargoes through

Bello-Koko the nation’s seaports.

In fact, industry stakeholders have applauded the tremendous turnaround of the Nigeria port system in a short period especially the completion of Lekki deep seaport, championing the rehabilitation of dilapidated port access road, ending port congestion and perennial traffic gridlock on the port access road through the enforcement of Electronic Call-up system among others.

INCREASED REMITTANCE TO CRF Another remarkable achievement of the NPA under Ballo-Koko’s watch is the Support of the national economy through unprecedented revenue generation and remittances to Consolidated Revenue

Fund (CRF) of the federation with revenues steadily growing from N317 billion in 2020 to N361billion in 2022 and remittances progressively soaring from N80 billion in 2020 to N91 billion by financial year end 2022.

Also, the NPA under Bello-Koko has 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 business both from direct investment and accompanying externalities. Others are; the licensing of additional truck parks to increase capacity of trucks servicing the Lagos Ports, licensing of 10 Export Processing Terminals (EPT), to facilitate exports at Nigerian Sea Ports. This is to provide a one-stop shop for export where quality control, cargo assessment by all government agencies and issuance of good-to-ship clearance will be obtained.

There has also been a significant reduction in truck turn-around time due to successful implementation of the E-Call Up System. Enforcement of Minimum Safety Standards on trucks which stipulates that all trucks accessing the Ports are inspected, certified and issued stickers to assure safety and 65% reduction in number of accidents recorded, arising from improved standards of trucks operating within the Port premises.

ENHANCED NAVIGATIONAL AIDS, PORT SECURITY The current management has provided and installed 86 Buoys for Warri and Calabar Pilotage Districts, for proper channel marking and route mapping.

The NPA has also acquired Harbour Crafts (Tugboats, Pilot Cutters, and Patrol Boats) to eliminate delays associated with berthing and sailing of vessels and improve efficiency at the Ports. Others are: Dry-docking of various marine crafts to increase the fleet of marine crafts available for vessel support operations, procurement and deployment of Security Patrol Boats (SPBs) to all Pilotage Districts to address incessant attacks of vessels along the channels and at Ports’ waterfronts, establishment of a robust partnership with the EU-funded West and Central Africa Ports Security (WeCAPS) towards risk prevention, vulnerability assessment of port infrastructure, skills acquisition to port personnel to strengthen the security and safety of the Nigerian Ports and standardisation of Operational Procedures for Different Activities such as barging, private jetties, pilotage, vessel berthing/sailing etc.

Similarly, there has been significant reduction in the traffic gridlock along the main Port corridor and the internal access roads through enforcements, proper batching, continuous access control mechanisms and movement of cargo via barge operations, provision of 24 motorcycles deployed to aid effective monitoring of Truck E-Call Up operation at Apapa/TCIPC/Ijora axis to ease free flow of traffic, established a standing partnership with the Police high command resulting in the reduction of illegal checkpoints along the port corridor to stem abuse and extortion as well make traffic management more effective.

The story continues online on www.thisdaylive.com

This

Weekend

F FRIDAY, MARCH 24, 2023

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

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WEEKLY MAGAZINE

HON. OLUWABUNMI AYOBAMI AMAO:

Harnessing the Creative Talent of the African Child

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COVER

Hon. Oluwabunmi Ayobami Amao: Harnessing the Creative Talent of the African Child To commemorate the 2023 Day of the African Child, the Centre for Black and African Arts and Civilisation, CBAAC, provided a platform where children can showcase the remarkable talents and potentials that characterises their existence. Chiemelie Ezeobi reports that this move by the DG, Hon. Oluwabunmi Ayobami Amao, was premised on the fact that creativity drives the world economy today, thus children must be caught young in order to properly harness their potentials

Mr Akinwunmi Braithewaite presenting the 1st position certificate in the Drums Category to Oduneye Precious of Ilogbo Junior High School

Mrs Oyinkan Afolabi of Oakville Preparatory School, presenting the certificate to Tolu Doherty of Dowen College who took second position in the Folklore Category

The CBAAC DG with the producers of Goge Africa, Ambassadors Isaac and Nneka Moses

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lobally, the Day of the African Child was instituted to create awareness on the plight of the African child and at the same time, celebrate their bravery and ingenuity.

This year, the Centre for Black and African Arts and Civilisation (CBAAC), led by Hon Oluwabunmi Ayobami Amao (FITPN), chose the theme to be centered around “Harnessing the Creative Talent of the African Child”.

Given that the strategic mandate of CBAAC is to preserve, present and propagate the African Culture in its entirety, the event kicked off with the SSA 1 to the DG, Manji Diyal A, introducing the concept of the day.

This was followed by the National Anthem by Ayanwura before the MC for the day, Ayodele Okundalaiye (aka SACO) took over. The guests were thrilled with a Shekere Performance by Aduke, a cultural performance of Unity Dance by Island Theatre Villa before the competition kicked. The event also had a talking drum performance by Adeboye and Brother.

GLOBAL PLATFORM According to the DG CBAAC, the theme was carefully chosen to provide a platform where children can showcase the remarkable talents and potentials that characterises the African Child.

She said: “It is our belief in CBAAC that providing an avenue that nurtures, promotes and enhances the creative talent of the African Child is key in preparing him or her for a better and brighter future. Today, creativity drives the world economy and we must “catch them young” in order to properly harness their potentials.

“To this end, the centre has made the Day of the African Child one of its flagship to be celebrated annually with a Talent Hunt. The programme will continue to serve as a platform where children can develop their God-given talent, showcase their creative skills, mingle and exchange ideas with their peers and air their views on issues that affect their wellbeing.

“It is our believe in CBAAC that providing a platform that nurtures, promotes and enhances the creative talent of the African Child is key in preparing him or her for a better and brighter future.”

STRATEGIC INTERVENTION IN THE ARTS For Amao, with the talent hunt put up,

“the centre aims to invest in the African Child through strategic intervention in the areas of Creative Writing, Poetic Rendition and Demonstration of skills and creativities in the use of Musical Instruments such as the Guitar, Talking-Drum, Set Drum, Saxophone, as well as other activities like Folklore, Comedy and Cultural Dance.”

Therefore, she urged all participating school children, who took part in the different categories of the creative activities, to put in their best as the event was systematically designed to offer them an opportunity for an alternative career path in life.

The D.G flanked by Mrs Nike Folarin and the Chief Judge, Dr Seyi Khenny presenting the winning trophy to Maryam Abba of De Basic Innovation

Secondary school who came 1st in the Folklore Category PARTICIPATING SCHOOLS Twelve schools in Lagos graced the occasion and they include Aunty Ayo International School, Ikoyi; Dowen College, Lekki Phase I; Federal Science and Technical College, (F.S.T.C.). Yaba; Golden Anchor Group of Schools, Akoka, Yaba; Ilogbo Junior High School, Ebute-Meta; Mary Anne College, Lagos Island; Masterpiece College, Ayoninujesu, Kola; Christ the Redeemers Secondary School, Gbagada; S.T.C College, Ojuelegba, Surulere; De Basic Innovation International School; Top Grade Secondary School, Surulere; and Queens College, Yaba.

WINNERS At the end of the competition, there was an award recognition for the best talents chosen by a team of judges led by Dr. Sheyi Kehnny, an Associate Professor of Music and Sub-dean of Faculty of Arts, University of Lagos.

Others include Oluwaseun Omisakin, a drummer; Dr. Shaibu Husseini, Culture journalist, critic arts administrator and Communication scholar; Mrs. Adenike Folarin, Senior Partner, The Law Temple; Mrs. Aramide Akinkuotu, CEO Raindrops Associates, Limited; Araola Olamuyiwa, Cultural ambassador to Ife Kingdom; and THISDAY Art and Culture reporter, Yinka Olatunbosun. Winners of the various categories were rewarded with cash prizes.

While the first prize winners got N100,000 each, the second positions got N80,000 each and the third positions got N50,000 each. But beyond this, each student got a certificate of participation, which went a long way to boost their morale.

In all, the cultural diversity of talents that were showcased gave credence to the move

by CBAAC to harness them young.

Ara the drummer with a young star

The D.G, Dr Seyi Khenny and Chief Mrs Bola Ogundele with a student of STC College.

The school came first in the Dance Category

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NEWS

WIEN Committed to Advancement of Women in the Energy Sector

HEDDYDECOR HIGHLIGHTS EXPECTATIONS FOR 2023

Heddydecor CEO, Adefila Titus Adebola

L-r: Committee member, Adebola Ajayi, Publicity Director, WIEN, Charlotte Essiet and Programme Chairperson, WIEN 2023 International Women’s Day (IWD) celebrations, Abimbola Onakomaiya during the briefing

Stories By Mary Nnah The Women in Energy Network (WIEN) has pledged its commitment to work towards the advancement of women in the energy sector, while it looks forward to collaborating with the new administration of the just concluded 2023 General Elections to create a more equitable and inclusive energy sector.

While the group is also promising to prioritize the advancement of women in the energy sector, its president, Funmi Ogbue, during a press briefing held in Ikeja Lagos, yesterday, to announce its 2023 International Women’s Day Breakfast Session, asserted that this can be achieved through policies and initiatives that promote equal opportunities, gender diversity, and inclusion

in the workplace.

Themed, “Programmes & Initiatives for Equitable Access for Women in the Nigerian Energy Industry”, the event is being organised in partnership with Women in Shell Network and Seplat Awesome Women’s Network.

Now in its third edition, WIEN’s first two breakfast sessions have successfully brought together women in the industry to discuss the challenges they face and share experiences. These sessions have provided valuable insights into the issues affecting women in the sector, and we are committed to addressing these challenges through our upcoming event.

“As we all know, the energy industry is critical to the growth and development of Nigeria, and women play an essential role in driving

innovation, excellence, and progress in this field.

However, despite their contributions, women still face significant barriers to entry and advancement in the energy sector.”

“That is why the WIEN 2023 International Women’s Day Breakfast Session is so timely and essential. This event brings together industry experts, policymakers, and advocates to share insights on the various programs and initiatives aimed at promoting equitable access for women in the Nigerian energy industry.”

“As we celebrate the progress, we have made in advancing the role of women in the energy sector, we are also aware of the challenges that lie ahead. According to a recent report by the International Energy Agency,

women make up only 22% of the energy industry’s workforce in Nigeria, and only 12% occupy senior management roles. This highlights the need for concerted efforts to promote gender diversity in the sector, and we believe that the new administration has a critical role to play in this regard”, Ogbue said.

While noting that since our inception in 2020, WIEN has been committed to the promotion and advancement of women in the energy sector as it works tirelessly to empower women through various initiatives and programs, the group also urged the government to support training and mentoring programmes for women in the industry and to encourage public-private partnerships that promote gender diversity in the sector.

OPay Appreciates Customers for their Unwavering Support, Patronage Nigerian payment and financial service company OPay appreciate its customers, merchants, and partners for their strong patronage, especially over the last 3 months. We express our appreciation to our over 30 million registered app users, 500,000 agents, and 100,000

merchants who use OPay daily to make transactions and ultimately spread OPay’s mission of shared prosperity to all.

According to OPay-Nigeria’s President and CEO, Olu Akanmu, “ our OPay customers should continue to enjoy OPay’s reliable, fast, and safe

transactions anywhere and anytime through OPay platforms. We are committed to providing inclusive financial services to all Nigerians that ensure no one has left behind no matter their social situation or geographic location”.

OPay Digital Services Limited is fully licensed by

the Central Bank of Nigeria and all deposits are insured by the National Deposits Insurance Corporation (NDIC). OPay is committed to providing relevant and impactful financial services that deepen financial inclusion and shared prosperity in Nigeria

UNESCO Partners Netflix to Release Six Short Films from Africa Yinka Olatunbosun

Timeless Stories from across the African continent, reimagined and retold by a new generation of six storytellers come together, the African Folktales Reimagined short films in partnership with UNESCO, will launch on Netflix on March 29 The anthology of six short films was launched as part of Netflix’s partnership with UNESCO to support the next generation of storytellers who were provided with

resources including a $90 000 budget and creative guidance by established filmmakers as mentors to bring their stories to life. The emerging filmmakers were selected in 2021 following a call for submission that resulted in over 2000 applications from 13 countries in the sub-Saharan Africa region.

The 6 emerging storytellers from Nigeria, South Africa, Mauritania, Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania will see their respective short films, make their debut on Netflix, globally.

The African Folktales,

Reimagined short film collection features a variety of African on-screen talent in stories by emerging African storytellers such as Mohamed Echkouna from Mauritania with Enmity Djinn; Walt Mzengi Corey from Tanzania with Katope; Korede Azeez from Nigeria with Zabin Halima (Halima’s Choice); Voline Ogutu from Kenya with Anyango and the Ogre; Loukman Ali from Uganda with Katera of the Punishment Island and Gcobisa Yako from South Africa with MaMlambo.

Nigerian filmmaker, Korede Azeez

Heddydecor, an event management company and one of the growing and impactful brands that ensure others around it grow and impact the world at large has highlighted its expectations for 2023 to include making Nigeria a better country, that would encourage young entrepreneurs to be better even as they invest more in the Nigeria economy. It intends also to encourage foreign investors to come into the country so that the manufacturing and production sector can function well.

Chief Executive Officer of Heddydecor, Adefila Titus Adebola explained that ‘It would have a positive impact on the nation’s economy, adding, “Also, we hope we would have a good leader who would take development a priority in the country thereby making all of the youth who have left the country come back to be a useful tool in the country’s development.”

As an emerging market with a population of over two hundred million people, Nigeria remains a center of attraction for different events. Events vary for different occasions and purposes in Nigeria, most big events require the services of professional event managers or organizers to deliver on the promise.

To achieve this, an event management company like Heddydecor is a company to beat.

The brand was selected among the top Nigeria event planners’ delegates to represent Nigeria and Africa at the Dubai Global excellence wedding award 2023 which took place in January 2023 and also awarded among the top fastest-growing 100 SMEs in Nigeria by BusinessDay newspaper.

Also, the brand was part of the top Nigeria planner who visited Ghana in 2022 to discuss how Ghana and Nigeria’s event sector could foster relationships and development among so many other awards he has received, In 2019, the brand was nominated for the award of best event decorator of the year by the professional event planner’s association and also awarded as the event management brand of the year 2021 in the Entrepreneur Africa Awards a feat that put the brand on its toes to ensure that it continued to stay ahead.

According to Adebola the event management landscape in Nigeria is quite competitive, as there is always someone who can offer a lower price but deliver poorly.

“So, it’s always essential for our client and customers to understand that the price we offer gives the best output, but since we are known for quality and premium service delivery, the competition is not a major problem for us as we just ensure we get our clients satisfaction in all of our deliveries so this has helped us to stay ahead of our competitors.”

NBAWF HOLDS THIRD ANNUAL CONFERENCE IN ABUJA As part of events marking this year’s International Women’s Day (IWD), globally marked on March 8th, the Nigerian Bar Association Women Forum (NBAWF) is set to hold its 3rd Annual Conference with the theme “Tech Her In Innovating for Gender Equity” The event which is scheduled to hold in Abuja from Thursday, March 30th to Friday, March 31st, 2023 will feature speakers, panelists, and contributors who will provide insight into the conference topics and anchor the conference sessions. Participation in the conference is open only to registered participants.

Speaking during a press briefing on the forthcoming event, the Chairperson, Nigerian Bar Association Women Forum, Chinyere Okorocha said the theme for the conference is timely adding, “The world today is centred around the use of technology in everything.” Okorocha noted further that the conference will afford women the opportunity to learn the new technologies that they can use to advance their lives and careers.

The NBA Women Forum which is an arm of the Nigerian Bar Association is a Forum of Female Lawyers committed to the well-being of women globally with a resolve to empower female lawyers for success and be the voice of the voiceless within Nigeria and beyond.

Scheduled hold at the A-Class VIP Lounge, Sapphire Hall, Plot 102 Kashim Ibrahim Way, Abuja FCT the conference will feature seasoned speakers drawn from across and beyond the shores of Nigeria, and from diverse sectors and walks of life, who will address issues aimed at the sustainable empowerment of the female lawyer.

THURSDAY MARCH 17, 2023 T H I S D AY ˾

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ART WEEKEND

…For pure art enthusiasts

Brenda Fasugba: “Talent is Great; Attitude is Primary”

KUNLE ADEWALE APPOINTED AS STEERING COMMITTEE MEMBER FOR WHO JAMEEL ARTS & HEALTH LAB

In commemoration of InternationalWomen’s Day with the theme,“Embrace Equity,” Yinka Olatunbosun sought out a female leader in arts management in Nigeria, Brenda Fasugba who currently serves as Head of Arts, British Council Nigeria and as lead, Creative Economy for Sub-Saharan Africa I have always known you as an Arts Manager.

Would you say that your previous line of work has prepared you for this new role? henIstartedartsmanagement, I started with the Lagos Theatre Festival.That’s like some ten years ago. In 2013. That opportunity reframed my careerbecauseitwentfrombeingarelativelyunknown festival to a festival that is now recognized internationally. And that cemented the desire to continue in that path. When the contract for Lagos Theatre Festival (LTF) ended, my partner and I thought that from what we have learnt, we could use our skills to support others which was one of the mandates of the festival- to support younger artists. That was how we founded the Lagos Fringe. It was just a transfer of skills from the five years of LTF. LTF prepared me in a way for this role in terms of deepening my knowledge on delivering on art projects and finding that balance. People don’t know how much investment is made in the arts by international organisations. Transitioning from personal art management into this bigger administration of an art programme really helps.

It is a lot of work. The portfolio here is for the whole Nigeria and nine countries in Sub-Saharan Africa where we deliver a creative economy. I think even all the work I did on festivals is managed.

I had physical labour. The British Council has structured the way we work and I have a team that helps to support what I do.

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Artists are known for not following the rules. And that is perhaps part of being creative. How do you deal with the different temperaments of the different types of artists that you have to work with?

It is a multi-layered approach. Thankfully, I have had the experience of working with artists directly especially around the performance side of things and to be honest, it was a lot of introduction of discipline and having an agreement on how we are going to work together. You have to understand the temperament of the artist as well. But you will find a delicate balance between the ‘the who pays the piper dictates the tune’ and the ‘artistic temperament and expression’.

It requires patience and a lot of listening. You just have to wait and listen because they are not trying to be unreasonable most of the time. They are just probably misunderstood because they may not be the best at communicating what they want at a time in the most articulate way. This is where arts management comes in. There is a part of arts management where you would have someone to sort out the business side of it. Unfortunately, it is not a skill that you can learn formally. It takes a while for managers to actually perfect the business management side of managing an artist. An artist usually sees from the lens of their work- more importantly on how the work is going to be received and distributed.

More often than not, there are systems in place in the world for these kinds of things, sometimes their ideas may not fit into the systems. This is where the misunderstanding starts. For me, it is about indulging some of these temperaments and setting the rules clearly.

For me, I make it a rule that if I work with an artist who has a bad attitude and we work with the project through, chances are that I might not be able to work with him or her again. I think attitude is primary and talent is great. It doesn’t have to be a great attitude but a manageable attitude.

We do not have arts management courses at the higher institutions.We have a lot of artists in Nigeria and the arts scene is demanding for these skills in a formalised institution.

Why can’t we have that?

First of all, there is a big challenge in our curriculum. A lot of people are doing work to support that. You also have a government that needs to do its own part. The creative economy needs a counterpart in the curriculum. We need to find a way to bring industry into the classrooms and we don’t have a lot of schools with that option.

If they were thinking about the industry, a lot of

Fasugba

curricula would have been updated.

As an organisation, the British Council developed an e-learning programme and it is very robust and put together by industry experts. It takes you through all the levels of professional years. We have one for the beginners which is a basic two module course.

You move on from there to the intermediary course. The idea is to get them to understand the basic framework of arts management and it is a free programme delivered in a hybrid format.

For me, I have been mentoring and this is a desire expressed about five or six years ago.

I let people understand that there is a whole career path around managing artist and artistic management outside the performance side of things. There is a value chain that needs to be understood properly. That is something that I mentor young people on. Sometimes, that feels like a drop in the ocean. More people need to take on this responsibility.

What projects are you working on?

At the moment we are rounding off on our year-long project. What happened was that we needed to focus on post-COVID recovery. For 2022 and 2023, we are opening opportunities for artists to display their creative products.

The idea is to have partners in the sector that would help us do this. We have four partners secured through a very rigorous process. They are located in Lagos Abuja, Port Harcourt and Kano. People who have worked with the British council creatively on a programme and independently of course. We opened up our space- the garden behind one weekend in a month to artists to showcase or hold business clinics for people in the creative sector.

Are there plans to reactivate the British library and the learning hub?

The library is still there. It is just not in a physical space anymore. If you have observed what’s going on in the world, then you have to go with the times. You can see more and more shifts away from the traditional ways of learning. Right now, you can access the British library without charge.

As an artist and someone who has invested a lot of time into arts, do you think that skit making has the potential to kill that actual process of developing talents?

Hmmm. I don’t think so. Digital is just another platform. Some people perform live and there are some people on the digital platform. I think it enhances the sector in my own opinion because now, performance can travel and it can travel worldwide. People in different time zones can be watching the same thing simultaneously. You still have Broadway.

People are still buying tickets to shows like opera and there are seasons of theatre…mostly the holidays. I think it enhances. The digital space democratises the opportunity to be seen, to

generate income. It is a legitimate platform and I think it has been embraced.

I am not trying to argue with you on this.

But look at a scenario where someone has gone through the rigour of training in the theatre where the director would be shouting “project” just to develop a well-rounded artist.

But on the other hand, you have an influencer culture where someone who may not have any kind of skill in arts but would get brand endorsements while the artists struggle to get sponsorship for their plays. How do you explain this type of situation?

You see the situation is not a silo on its own.

It grew from technology being infused into our lives. The truth is that everybody needs to keep up. Do you remember when there were typewriters? There were people who were sent to secretarial schools to learn typing and shorthand so they could become typists. And then the computer came and disrupted that model.

My 11-year old son has been using a computer since he was six. They were men who were trained to ride horses but now we have race car drivers. Technology has come thus far. People who have been trained traditionally would fare well if they transitioned into the digital platform. The possibilities are now endless. AI may be introduced into the pre-production process to help with script interpretation. That is the future.

Today I am talking to you on WhatsApp. Twenty years ago, could we do this? No. My husband has been an artist for 27 years.

He started with break dancing. Then moved on to choreography and then directed movies and theatre productions. I don’t think anyone would succeed in this world if they are not multi-skilled and more flexible to transition.

If you follow the crop of artists who started the revolution of bringing the theatre back, a lot of them have transitioned into digital spaces. They still do their performance art but then in digital spaces. Nigeria is a place where if you are not multi-skilled, it will be hard for you to gain grounds in this sector.

There is a digital element to everything that we do now.

Let’s talk about diversity. How can productions or the creative economy be more inclusive of persons living with disability or the women in male dominated areas? How do we break down the barriers?

Acouple of years ago, I started the conversation about women in the arts where I wanted to bring attention to the imbalances in the creative sector. And how women were left off the performance side of things. Producers, creators, and funders are mostly men. And it was a perception but recently that has begun to turn around. There are still few women in major creative businesses. On the value team side of it I am not sure that we are up to 50 per cent. Ask yourself, who is the female counterpart of Don Jazzy in music? Or a female version of Clarence Peters? In those specific sets of skills, in pre-production, post production, behind the scenes, you don’t tend to see a lot of women and I blame our education for that. No doubt, a lot of women are very successful in performance. You don’t have a lot of options for leading men in Nollywood like you do for females. But we are looking for opportunities to be inclusive in every way.

I remember that we supported a school for children with disabilities and they would come for our festival to perform- three years in a row. It’s different when they come because they have some sensory challenges. We had to wait for some specific hour of the day where they could perform. we had to make sure that we had no mirrors to bounce the sun off their eyes Being conscious to be inclusive is the larger society’s responsibility. Building with the thought of how to make the facilities in public spaces accessible to persons with disabilities is a factor for inclusivity.

The story continues online on www.thisdaylive.com

Adebowale

Yinka Olatunbosun Nigeria’s leading artist, KunleAdewale has been appointed as one of the distinguished steering committee members for the WHO-Jameel Arts and Health Lab in New York. The international artist who was endorsed by the Arts Council England as a global leader in the field of Arts in health in 2022 currently resides in Manchester United Kingdom where he continues to engage leading experts, cultural producers, researchers, scholars, academic institutions, and arts in health practitioners in Europe and the global south.

AsapartofthecohortfortheWHOArtsPractice andEthicsofCareproject,Adewalelooksforward to this opportunity to deepen conversations on global arts and health initiatives.

“This is a great opportunity and a humble privilege to work alongside global leaders in the fieldofartsandhealthtodeepenresearch,educate and foster a greater interdisciplinary approach for more significant impact and sustainable development for good health and wellbeing. This initiativewillfurtherstrengthenregionalandglobal collaborations and provide the needed resources for emerging arts in health practitioners, students, scholars, professionals, and institutions. Arts is a unifier and can provide the needed engagement for healing and hope. The continuous advocacy of the union of arts and health is a big win for all sectors,’’ he said.

The JameelArts & Health Lab has been established by the World Health Organization (WHO) Regional Office for Europe, the Steinhardt School atNewYorkUniversity,CommunityJameel,and CULTURUNNERS.Focusedonoverlookedand underservedcommunities,thelabwillcoordinate and amplify academic research into the effectivenessoftheartsinimprovinghealthandwell-being to drive policy implementation across 194 UN member states.

The JameelArts & Health Lab was launched at The National Arts Club in New York on February 27, 2023, following the signing of agreements between the World Health Organization (WHO) RegionalOfficeforEurope,theSteinhardtSchoolat NewYorkUniversity(NYU),CommunityJameel, and CULTURUNNERS. The lab will coordinate andamplifyscientificresearchintotheeffectiveness of the arts in improving health and well-being to drive policy implementation across 193 UN member states. The lab represents the first major artsandhealthinitiativeinthehistoryoftheWHO and follows its 2019 report on the role of the arts in preventing illness and promoting health.

Based between NYU Steinhardt and WHO’s RegionalOfficeforEuropeinCopenhagen,thelab will highlight arts and health research to promote the broad integration of the arts into mainstream care. Initial projects will look at music’s effect on mothers who experience postnatal depression, the potential of cultural archives in promoting post-conflict mental health recovery, and the effectiveness of the arts in dementia care. It will also launch an international research coalition investigating the benefits of the arts in hospitals and care communities.

Speaking on the lab initiative, WHO DirectorGeneral, Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus remarked: “The arts can be a powerful ally in our quest to improve health for all. I have seen the impact of the arts on community wellbeing, and I’m very pleased that this collaboration will help us understand the science of that impact

31

T H I S D AY ˾ DAY ͰͲ˜ ͰͮͰͱ

IMAGES

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

L-R: Customer Marketing Manager, West and North Africa, Edrington, Abayomi Ajao; Marketing Director, Raju Ghana, Jihane Thakur; and Managing Director, Raju Ghana, Kumar Thakur, during the exclusive ‘Macallan Experience’ at the Country Club in Trasacco, Ghana…recently

L-R: Principal Partner, H. O. Davies and Co., Mrs. Abimbola Joseph; Head of Grace Children School, Dr. Nike Akindayo; Executive Director/Chief Executive Officer, Grace Schools, Mrs. Iyiola Tokunbo Edun; and Supervisor, Grace Children School, Mr. Ndubuisi Ibe, at the third day of Grace School biennial Cultural Week titled: ‘Hope’, held at the school premises in Gbagada, Lagos…recently PHOTO: ABAYOMI AKINYELE

Some voters waiting behind after casting their votes in the last Saturday’s governorship and state House of Assembly elections at Ward 062, Orelope Plaza Polling Unit, Egbeda, Alimosho Local Government Area of Lagos State...recently PHOTO: ABIODUN AJALA

The Director-General, National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), Brigadier General Yushau Dogara Ahmed (left), addressing corps members who served as ad-hoc officers in the last gubernatorial and state House of Assembly elections when he visited the headquarters of the 23 Artillery Brigade, Nigerian Army, in Bauchi… recently

L-R: Permanent Secretary, Office of the Ogun State Governor, Kehinde Onasanya; Ogun State Commissioner for Industry, Trade and Investment, Mrs. Kikelomo Longe; Supply Director, International Breweries Plc (IBPLC), Tony Agah; Logistics Director, Anheuser-Busch InBev BU West Africa, Lize Kruger; Procurement Director, IBPLC, Akintunde Fayanmira; and Gateway Plant Manager, IBPLC, Akintayo Oguntunde, at the unveiling of new IBPLC gas-powered trucks in Abeokuta, Ogun State…recently

Children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren at the burial ceremony of the matriarch of Abolarinwa’s family, Mrs. Hannah Folorunso Bolarinwa, held at Esie, Kwara State...recently

32

FRIDAY, MARCH 24, 2023 ˾ T H I S D AY

BUSINESS/MONEYGUIDE

InfraCredit’s Anti-bribery Management System Certified ISO 37001 Compliant by Lloyd’s Register Oluchi Chibuzor InfraCredit, an ‘AAA’ rated specialised infrastructure credit guarantee institution, backed by the Nigeria Sovereign Investment Authority (“NSIA”), Private Infrastructure Development Group companies GuarantCo and InfraCo Africa, KfW Development Bank, Africa Finance Corporation (“AFC”) and African Development Bank, has announced that its AntiBribery Management System has been certified as ISO 37001 compliant by Lloyd’s Register.

The company in a statement said securing the recognition reflects the robustness of its Compliance and Anti-bribery Program, “and further demonstrates InfraCredit commitment to upholding the highest international anti-bribery standards across our business and in a challenging frontier market in which we operate.

The certification comes after a rigorous auditing process undertaken by the leading

global assurance independent body, Lloyd’s Register Quality Assurance (LRQA), the world’s leading provider of independent assessment services. The audit involved examining our anti-bribery practices, including reporting procedures and transaction cycle, to ensure appropriate measures to prevent bribery have been implemented across our entire business.

“ISO 37001 is the gold standard in anti-bribery measures with globally stringent audit system. Developed by 59 countries to address the global threat to sustainable development posed by bribery, the ISO 37001 certification was published by the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) in 2016, recognizing companies with well-implemented systems designed to prevent, detect, report and deal with bribery across their business practices. The average Transparency International Corruption Perceptions Index (2022) score

across sub-Saharan Africa is just 32/100, 11 points below the global average – 43/100. The specific challenges of combating bribery in sub-Saharan Africa makes InfraCredit’s ISO 37001 certification very significant.”

Its CEO, Chinua Azubike in the statement said, “As one of the very few African companies to achieve the status, InfraCredit is leading the way in tackling the challenges posed by bribery to infrastructure project development in Nigeria. As we endeavour to maximize our development impact and to ensure transparency around the use of proceeds on our guaranteed projects and capital investments, we take any allegations of corruption extremely seriously.

In facilitating sustainable and inclusive infrastructure development in critical economic sectors in Nigeria, we adopt a zero-tolerance approach towards bribery and corruption in all its forms”.

L-R: Managing Director, ENL Consortoum, Mr. Mark Walsh; Chairman, Seaport Terminal Operators Association of Nigeria (STOAN), Vicky Haastrup and Commander, Apapa Special Area Command, National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), Udotong Noah when the NDLEA team visited Haastrup in Apapa, Lagos....recently

MARKET INDICATORS MONEY AND CREDIT STATISTICS (MILLION NAIRA)

Haastrup Assures of Support in Fight against Hard Drugs The Chairman, Seaport Terminal Operators Association of Nigeria (STOAN), Princess Vicky Haastrup has assured the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) of the association’s support in the fight against importation and use of illicit drugs in the country.

Haastrup gave the assurance on Friday when NDLEA Commander, Apapa Special Area Command, Udotong Noah, paid a courtesy call on her.

Stating that drug abuse in the country is becoming increasingly worrisome especially among youths, the STOAN Chairman said NDLEA must be supported by all well-meaning stakeholders

in its effort to curtail illicit production, importation, exportation, sale and trafficking of psychoactive substances.

Haastrup particularly commended the Apapa Special Area Command for its vigilance at the nation’s seaports to ensure that illicit drugs imported by unscrupulous elements do not find their way into the society.

She advocated further enlightenment of port users, truck drivers and motorboys on the dangers of drugs and substance abuse, which she said has ruined many lives and led to catastrophic effects in many homes.

“The task of making Nigeria

drug-free is the responsibility of all Nigerians. NDLEA is doing a lot of work to stop the importation and exportation of illicit drugs in Nigeria. The agency has also done very well to curtail the abuse of drugs by Nigerians especially the youths. All of us, both at the corporate and individual levels, must therefore join hands with NDLEA to put a decisive end to this dangerous menace, ”Haastrup said.

The NDLEA Commander, Apapa Special Area Command, Udotong Noah, said his visit to the association was to solicit the support of terminal operators in fighting illicit drug importation and abuse around the port area.

FMAN Holds Brown Field Day to Promote Wheat Production The Flour Millers Association of Nigeria (FMAN) recently held its highly anticipated Brown Field Day, which brought together wheat farmers, research scientists, policymakers, development partners, and other stakeholders to interact and appraise new and improved technologies for adoption and to showcase the potential of wheat production in Nigeria.

The event took place in Azambu Village Mallam Madori Jigawa State and was organized in cooperation with Technologies for African Agricultural Transformation (TAAT), Africa Development Bank (AFDB), Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural

Development (FMARD), and Lake Chad Research Institute (LCRI).

The aim of the event was to provide a platform for stakeholders to discuss and share information on the latest developments in wheat farming, including innovative techniques, seed varieties, and market opportunities. During the FMAN event training was provided to wheat farmers and extension agents, to prepare them for pre- and post-harvest handling for good quality produce, and to assure them of the support of all stakeholders across the wheat value chain to achieve wheat self-sufficiency for National food security.

“Overall, the Brown Field

Day was a great success as it recorded over 1,500 farmers in attendance alongside the leadership of FMAN ably represented by the Executive secretary Olalekan Saliu, the office of the Deputy Governor of Jigawa, The commissioner for Agriculture, Directors of Partner Milling Companies, Royal Fathers Seed Production partners, and well-wishers. It provided a valuable platform for relevant stakeholders to share information, network, and learn from each other. FMAN is committed to continuing to support the growth of the wheat industry in Nigeria and looks forward to working with all stakeholders to achieve this goal, FMAN said in a statement.

Axxela Achieves Historic Safety Milestone of 7m Man-hours without LTI Axxela Limited, sub-Saharan Africa’s fast-growing gas and power company, has announced the achievement of a landmark safety milestone of seven million man-hours without any Lost Time Injury (LTI) across its business operations.

This laudable accomplishment was recorded earlier this week.

The LTI landmark indicates that Axxela has maintained its operational excellence without a productivity downtime that could have arisen from an injury to its employee or any of its contractors. This is the industry’s

benchmark to evaluate adherence to environmental, safety, health and quality requirements in operations and is a critical Key Performance Indicator (KPI) for Axxela and its contractors.

Chief Executive Officer of Axxela Limited, Bolaji Osunsanya, said the milestone Seven Million LTI-Free Man-Hours achievement over the past eleven years underscores the organisation’s strictest commitment to safety and global best practices across its operations. “This milestone reflects our culture of holistically promoting health and safety best

practices among our employees, contractors, and other cognate stakeholders. It aligns with our unwavering dedication to keeping our people and operations safe while upholding world-class safety guidelines, ”Bolaji added.

In his remarks, Head, EHSQ, John Okoro, said; “This milestone safety record is indicative of our relentless zero tolerance for noncompliance with regulatory and work-class safety requirements that is in place at Axxela, which has contributed immensely to maintaining a safe work environment.”

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).

33

T H I S D AY ˾ FRIDAY, MARCH 24, 2023

MARKET NEWS

SEC Task Youths on Investment, Savings Culture Kayode Tokede Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has urged young people to plan their future by engaging in savings and investments from an early age.

Director, Market Development Department, SEC, Mr. Nestor Ikeagu stated this while speaking at the Global Money week organised by the commission yesterday in Abuja.

He stated that the commission is on a drive to educate and enlighten the youths on money management as well as encourage them on investments opportunities available in the capital market.

According to him, “We are proud to be part of this annual financial awareness campaign highlighting the importance of teaching children & youth about financial education & financial

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literacy. The sensitisation to Gwagwalada and Nassarawa is aimed to directly speak to the children and youths and highlight how important this is to the SEC. “For today, we have reached out to students in secondary schools with the message on what they can do at this early stage to groom them to better manage their money and also explore avenues of investing.

We will continue reaching out

to them and mentor them on how to plant their future.”

In her remarks, Divisional Head Financial Inclusion Division, SEC, Mrs Sa’adatu Faruk stated that the theme this year is on planning and investment, as savings that leads to investment is what brings wealth.

“I enjoin investors to plan more, save more and be able to do much more investments, this will help to ensure a better

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life for them in the future”.

At Government Day Secondary School, Karu, Abuja, Senior Manager Market Development Department Mr. Musa Dakup told the students to be financially prudent and prioritise their spending.

“You should not always spend; you need to plan to do meaningful investments with the money you get. You need to have the culture of savings

AS O F

and investments so that you can plan for your future. Don’t waste money, invest your money. Plan for your future and that is why we are here today to enlighten you. The SEC is available to educate and enlighten you to assist you in making sound financial decisions,” he stated.

Dakup enjoined the students to check very well before investing to avoid patronising illegal fund managers.

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FRIDAY, MARCH 24, 2023 • T H I S D AY

NEWS

WORKSHOP ON EXECUTIVE COURSE ON 2023 BUDGET...

L-R: Director, Planning Cell, Federal Ministry Of Health, (FMoH), Mr. Fatai Oyediran; Representative of the director Finance and Account, FMoH, Mr. Babatunde Makinde; Representative of the Permanent Secretary, FMoH, Dr. Ngozi Azodoh and Director, Human Resources, FMoH, Hassan Saliu, during the Workshop on Executive Course on 2023 Budget Implementation/Monitoring Procedures organised by FMoH in Abuja ... yesterday ENOCK REUBEN

Ramadan: Tinubu, Atiku, Sanwo-Olu, Other Govs Charge Nigerians on Good Conduct Chuks Okocha, Adedayo Akinwale in Abuja, James Sowole in Abeokuta and Segun Awofadeji in Gombe Prominent Nigerians, including the President-elect, Bola Tinubu, presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Atiku Abubakar, and the Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, among other governors, have charged Nigerians to be of good conduct in the spirit of the season, Ramadan.

Tinubu and the All Progressives Congress (APC) urged the Muslim faithful to remember Nigeria in their prayer as they embarked on 30 days fasting in the holy month of Ramadan.

In his Ramadan message, yesterday, Tinubu said Ramadan was more than a month of fasting, and that Muslims must use the period to strengthen their relationship and appreciation of Allah.

“We fast to make ourselves better servants of both Allah and our fellow man. However, this month is more than abstention from food and drink from dawn to dusk. It must entail imbibing the spirit and true meaning behind the holy month. We must keep hold of the excellent and wonderful things the holy month of Ramadan signifies.

"As we embark on fasting and spiritual reflection, let us proceed, imbued with the spirit of sacrifice, self-discipline, goodwill, justice, tolerance, mercy, compassion and generosity that lie at the heart of Islam."

The ruling party, on its part, called on Muslim Ummah to use the season for deep reflection

and spiritual rejuvenation towards greater devotion to Allah, and service to the nation.

National Publicity Secretary of the party, Felix Morka, in a statement, said Ramadan was one of the most blessed, if not the holiest month of the Islamic calendar.

Atiku, while urging Muslims to make sacrifice for the sake of peace in Nigeria, said, "First is the importance of sacrifice not just to our families and the people around us but to the cause of peace."

In a Ramadan message personally signed, Atiku said, it was with a sense of praise to the Almighty Allah that he welcomed Muslim faithful in Nigeria and across the globe to this year’s glorious month of Ramadan.

"As Muslims, we understand that the basic tenets of this holy month is about sacrifice and devotion in worship to God. For us as Nigerians, this year’s Ramadan has come at a time, when our dear country is at the crossroads.

"For us as individuals and as a people, we are at a point of despondency and confusion. But the month of Ramadan has come to us as a blessing from the Almighty with an opportunity for us to wash away our worries, doubts, and hopelessness.

"It is quite clear that the essential principles of this holy month are what is needed to heal our wounds, both as individuals and as a country," adding that it is the requirement of piety from all in the worship of God. Sanwo-Olu, who also felicitated Muslim faithful urged them to use the holy month to pray for peace in Nigeria and Lagos in particular,

Emir Bayero Congratulates Kano Governor-elect, Yusuf Ibrahim Shuaibu in Kano

The Emir of Kano, Alhaji Aminu Ado Bayero, has congratulated the Governor-elect of Kano State, Engineer Abba Kabir Yusuf, on his victory in the election conducted on Saturday 18th March 2023.

In a letter, the Emir noted that the people had accepted the democratic system of government, which was very important considering how they came out en masse to vote as provided for in the constitution.

Emir Bayero also thanked Islamic scholars, priests and

the rest of the community for all the prayers they offered for peace, before, during and after the elections.

He, however, called on the governor-elect to cooperate with all the community groups in running the government, because doing so would help to improve lives and bring economic growth.

He further wished for lasting peace and stability in Kano State as well as other parts of the country, praying the Almighty Allah for the successful completion of his tenure as well as the development of the economy of the state.

adding that the Ramadan period should be used to exhibit the best virtues that Islam teaches.

In a statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Mr. Gboyega Akosile, he implored Muslims, as well as Christians and other religious groups to demonstrate love, tolerance, empathy, compassion, and peaceful coexistence in this month of Ramadan, which coincides with the Church Lenten fasting season.

"I want to congratulate Muslim faithful across the world, especially in Nigeria and Lagos in particular on the commencement of the holy month of Ramadan. As we begin this holy month today, I pray that Almighty Allah will grant us good health and strength to observe the fasting and other acts of worship associated with it.

"I want to also urge Muslims and Christians as well as other religious denominations to avail themselves of the teachings and serenity that the fasting season affords to cleanse their hearts, enrich their souls with virtues, and dedicate themselves to the good of humanity and the development of Lagos State and Nigeria.”

Gombe State Governor, Muhammadu Inuwa Yahaya, has also enjoined the Muslim Ummah in the state and the citizenry in general to use the opportunity provided by the Holy month to pray fervently for peace, development as well as prosperity of the State and Nigeria.

In a goodwill message by the Director-General Press Affairs, Ismaila Uba Misilli, marking the commencement of the Ramadan fast, the governor stressed the need for all and sundry to play their roles in finding new directions towards fixing the problems bedevilling the country, and particularly admonished Muslims to embrace piety as demanded of them during the month- long fast.

“As one of the five pillars of Islam, Ramadan fast avails the Ummah a golden opportunity for spiritual rejuvenation and devotion through supplication and other acts of worship. We therefore must use this opportunity to pray fervently for our dear state and the nation as well as for those in authority as we collectively battle to combat the many socio-economic challenges facing our nation and humanity,” he said.

His Edo State counterpart, Godwin Obaseki, called on Muslim faithful to propagate the virtues of piety and compassion during the Ramadan season.

In a statement, the governor said, “As the Muslim faithful embark on this fasting period, I implore you all to uphold the virtues of love, introspection, and compassion. It is a time to imbibe good neighbourliness and extend a helping hand to the needy in society.

Governor Ben Ayade of Cross River State has asked Muslim faithful to place peace and unity of Nigeria above any other thing as they commenced the 30 day Ramadan fast.

A statement by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Christian Ita, quoted the Governor as urging the Muslims to "reflect on the teachings of Ramadan as one of the five pillars of Islam through acts of kindness, generosity, love, unity and support for the weak.

"Ramadan is a period of spiritual upliftment and devotion to Almighty Allah which the faithful should take advantage of to reinvigorate spiritually. On behalf of the government and people

of Cross River State, I call on the Ummah to take advantage of the Holy month to strengthen their commitment to the service of Allah and humanity.”

The Ogun State Governor, Dapo Abiodun, while felicitating with Muslim Ummah in the state, noted that Ramadan remained one of the holiest months in the Islamic/Hijra calendar, when Allah opens His doors of mercy, urging the Muslims to avail themselves with the virtues of the month.

The governor, in a statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Kunle Somorin, said the month also signifies a period to increase one's good deeds and improve spiritual activities for the pleasure of Allah, calling on the adherents of Islam in the state to use the month for spreading kind words and show love to the less privileged.

Abiodun, who declared that his administration would continue to make Ogun a safe haven for the residents and investors, urged Muslims in the state to always put Ogun in their prayers, assuring them that, his second term would usher in more goodies of democracy and good governance.

Lawmakers Oppose Bill Seeking to Legalise Cannabis Bill passage may turn Nigeria to drug baron country like Columbia, says Wase Udora Orizu in Abuja Members of the House of Representatives, yesterday, at plenary were divided over a Bill seeking to amend the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency Act, 2004, to confer additional responsibility of the power to grant and revoke licenses for the cultivation of Cannabis 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.

Yesterday, however, the Bill was presented for second reading after it was consolidated with Hon. Miriam Onuoha's bill, tilted, "Bill for an Act to Decriminalise the Growth and Use of Cannabis, to Establish a System for the Registration and licensing of Cannabis Growers."

The co-sponsor, Hon. Benjamin Kalu, leading the debate on its general principles, informed his colleagues on the plethora of medicinal benefits attributed to

cannabis such as pain control, weight loss, cancer treatment etc.

He said the Bill sought to establish and regulate the safe use of cannabis as a source of medicinal treatment in medical centers, adding that Nigerians shouldn't live in denial on the benefits while they go outside and import it, in medical form, from Germany, Australia etc.

On the financial implication, Kalu who is also the House spokesman, said the NDLEA was an existing agency of the government and if the Bill was passed into law, it would not bring additional cost to the government.

But speaking against the Bill, Hon. Nicholas Ossai, noted that Nigeria was a signatory to the international treaty of nations on the ban on cannabis, and therefore, queried the authenticity of the statement that cannabis could cure cancer, or that it could be efficiently regulated when allowed to be legally administered.

Countering Ossai's view, the Speaker of the House, Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila, reminded Ossai that

where existed conflicts of Laws and Treaties, Laws always took preeminence, especially when the treaties were not fully domesticated.

He stated that the bill did not repeal any existing law and that it would allow experts to contribute at the Public Hearing if cannabis could treat the mentioned illnesses.

Hon. Nkem Abonta, on his part, called for balance in the passage of the Bill as the motive of the sponsors of the Bill was just, but the practical application could be harmful to society, especially if not effectively regulated and then abused.

He therefore advised on a rigorous debate at a public hearing where the relevant experts could shed more light of knowledge on the matter.

Deputy Speaker of the House, Hon. Idris Wase, who also opposed the Bill, expressed worry that if legislation was used to legalise cannabis, it could be exploited to abuse the drug, especially among the youths.

But Gbajabiamila insisted that the very fact that the drugs were

being abused necessitated the need for regulation.

Disagreeing further, Wase warned that if cannabis was legalised Nigeria would be turned to a drug baron country, and Nigeria shouldn't be turned to Columbia.

Chief Whip, Hon. Mohammed Monguno also stated that the articles of the bill seemed vague and ambiguous and at such, could make it highly manipulated by abusers of cannabis.

Kalu, in exercising his right of reply, stated that the consolidation of the different Bills, has distorted original intention.

Judging by the mood of the House, Kalu requested to step down the Bill for further consultations.

In another development, the lawmakers at the plenary passed through second reading, a Bill for an Act to Provide for Establishment of Traditional Complementary and Alternative Medicine Council of Nigeria. The proposed legislation was sponsored by Hon. Alex Egbona.

35

FRIDAY, MARCH 24, 2023 • T H I S D AY

NEWS

9TH AFRICA MAGIC VIEWERS' CHOICE AWARDS PRESS CONFERENCE...

L-R: Elohor Olumide-Awe, Portfolio Manager, Adjacencies, Amstel Malta; Doris Ohanugo, Executive Head, DStv Media Sales; Segun Ogunleye, GM Marketing, Seven-Up Bottling Company; Debola Williams, Marketing Director, Promasidor; Dr. Busola Tejumola, Executive Head of Content & West Africa Channels, MultiChoice Nigeria; Olaoluwa Babalola, Portfolio Manager, Beyond Beer (Zagg Energy Drink) at the 9th Africa Magic Viewers' Choice Awards press conference in Lagos... yesterday

Emefiele Seeks Greater Women Engagement to Bridge Digital Gender Divide, Drive Inclusion James Emejo in Abuja The Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Mr. Godwin Emefiele, yesterday called for more engaging conversations on the role of women in leveraging technology and innovation to bridge exiting digital gender gap.

Emefiele, in his keynote address during a webinar to commemorate the International Women’s Day celebration, pointed out that digital financial services had become a critical dependency in the economy.

He stressed the need to provide vast opportunities to bridge the digital gender gap, drive financial inclusion and increase employment and economic opportunities for women.

The CBN governor also restated the bank's commitment to promoting gender equality and financial inclusion among women through such policies as the Micro Small and Medium Enterprises Development Fund (MSMEDF), which dedicates 60 per cent of the funding under the scheme to women-owned enterprises.

Other initiatives included the Framework for Advancing Women’s Financial Inclusion in Nigeria, which seeks to address gender gaps in access to finance, targeted onboarding of women on its central bank digital currency, the e-Naira, amongst others.

Speaking on the theme of the celebration, "Digitise Her: Bridging the Digital Gender Gap for Financial Inclusion and Sustainable Growth", Emefiele attributed the successes recorded by the central bank to the hard work, resilience, and commitment of the female staff.

Similarly, the CBN Deputy Governor, Financial System Stability (FSS), Mrs. Aishah Ahmad, who hosted a Coffee Table Chat with the first and former Minister of Communication Technology under the administration of former President Goodluck Jonathan, Dr. Omobola Johnson, called for broad private and public sector commitment to gender parity and ensuring that women, youth and rural dwellers have access to digital financial services.

Ahmad noted that despite increased digital mainstreaming, women were less likely than men to have access to technology, creating a digital gender gap which perpetuates women’s economic exclusion.

In a statement, she noted that digital innovation could be the missing link and a winning strategy for fixing the parity problem and deepening access to financial services.

On her part, Johnson, a Senior Partner with TLcom Capital and who was the Special Guest Speaker at the virtual event, emphasised that

Okupe Appeals Judgment Convicting Him of Corruption Alex Enumah in Abuja A former Senior Special Assistant on Public Affairs to Ex-President Olusegun Obasanjo, Dr. Doyin Okupe, has appealed his conviction by a Federal High Court, Abuja, on charges bordering on corruption and money laundering.

Okupe, in the appeal filed by his team of lawyers, led by Mr Joe-Kyari Gadzama, SAN, has also asked the appellate court to set aside his conviction and discharge him from all the charges.

Justice Ijeoma Ojukwu of the Federal High Court, Abuja had in a judgment delivered on December 19, 2022, found the former presidential aide guilty of accepting cash transaction above the N5 million approved by the Money Laundering Act and subsequently sentenced him to two years imprisonment.

The court however, gave an option of N13 million fine, which should be paid before 4.30pm of the close of work.

Dissatisfied, Okupe has approached the Court of Appeal

to challenge the judgment of the trial court.

The appeal which is predicated on four grounds amongst others is claiming that the trial judge erred in arriving at a guilty verdict against the appellant.

The crux of Okupe's appeal is that he had received the said sums in cash not in his individual capacity but on behalf of the office of the Senior Special Adviser to the President on Public Affairs and under the instructions of the ex-president and hence, should not be penalised unjustly.

Specifically, the former SSA in the appeal complained about the part of the judgment which convicted him under Counts 34 to 59 of the charge sheet.

Submitting that the judgment of the trial court was unreasonable and could not be supported, having regards to the evidence, he, therefore, prayed the court for, "An order allowing the appeal and setting aside the judgment of the trial court and to discharge and acquit the Appellant of all counts of the Charge sheet.

inclusive innovation that was gender sensitive was critical to reducing the gender exclusion gap.

She also advocated for a catch-them-young strategy to encourage females to pursue careers in technology and the establishment of special funds for female led tech businesses to achieve greater participation in the digital economy.

She particularly underscored the importance of making Science, Technology, Engineering and

Mathematics (STEM) education attractive for girls by showcasing role models in the sector. She highlighted the potential for digital financial services to enable not just financial services but important interventions in health, agriculture and SMEs. Johnson, therefore, urged men to be deliberate in mentoring high-achieving women and their daughters in their pursuit of male-dominated careers like STEM. Also speaking, the Minister

of State for Industry, Trade and Investment, Mariam Katagum, equally stressed the need for women to learn digital skills to participate effectively alongside their male counterparts in digital financial services.

Whilst commending the CBN for its efforts at enhancing financial inclusion, she disclosed that CBN and some agencies of government, such as the Bank of Industry (BOI), Industrial Training Fund (ITF), and the Small and Medium Enterprise

Development Agency of Nigeria (SMEDAN), have special funds that women can access for support.

Discussions during the panel session at the webinar focused on the strategic role of digital technology and targeted-out-ofthe-box approaches to closing the digital gender gap, guaranteeing women’s access to the digital economy and improving digital financial inclusion and broadbased economic participation of women.

PDP BARES ITS FANGS, SUSPENDS FAYOSE, ANYIM, OTHERS FOR ANTI-PARTY ACTIVITIES "We had an issue in 1979, Chief Obafemi Awolowo went to court, before (Muhammadu) Buhari took over. And when we came to this new day democracy in 1999, we've always gone to court. The system is sick. We are all involved. We are all guilty and we need to sit back.

"I absolutely believe in the judiciary that they will do justice.

But let me say to you, none of the contestants, none of them did not do one wrong thing or the other.

And the system does not limit or give the whole of the actions to INEC. INEC is just one party of all the parties to this whole issue on ground.

"May I say to you that our leaders are products of what we make out ourselves. When you give money (for) vote buying, who receives the money? The people. When you give police money, who gives the money?

Who received the money? The police, not the giver. Now we are in the stage of the lawyers, they will all begin to charge money because it is a cash out time for all of them."

Fayose noted that the majority of people who were not supposed to go to court were encouraged to go by the lawyers because of what the lawyers would make out of it, stressing that while he was not trying to justify what happened in Lagos during the elections, whatever happened in Lagos happened in other parts of the country.

According to him, “Most of the things that happened in Lagos happened everywhere. So don't let us single out Lagos, Kano, Kaduna.

We were seeing the same attitude as in 1979. Nothing has changed. In the north, we saw what happened in a number of states. When they begin to talk about Lagos, I get angry.”

The former governor said the Chairman of the PDP, Dr. Iyorchia Ayu, and his Labour Party counterpart were looking for allies to create an impression that the election was rigged, but disagreed with them.

"The way you lay your bed, you sleep on it. Take a PDP for example.

Was the PDP expecting to win that

election? The answer is no! We're badly fractured. The same set of people that betrayed the party at that time. It was a payback time.

Majority of the leaders of the PDP were pregnant inside and had their stomach flat externally. They were all working against the party, because they never believed in that process.

"To me, that election going by Nigerians' attitude, going by the behavioural component of everybody involved and stakeholders, INEC did well. Let me say to you, my position is this, Asiwaju won that election fair and square. All of them participated in whatever odd or the other you might claim," he said.

He said as far as he was concerned, the election that brought Tinubu within the context of the conduct in this country was credible, but it might not be the best.

Ortom: PDP NWC Acting in Contempt of Court

Benue State Governor, Samuel Ortom, yesterday, said the NWC of the PDP acted in contempt of a subsisting court order by referring him to the disciplinary committee for alleged anti-party activities.

Ortom, in a statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Nathaniel Ikyur, "It is contemptuous of the leadership of the PDP to disregard the Court Order, which barred the party or any organ of the party from issuing any disciplinary measure against him.

"The case is pending in court and there is an order of injunction restraining any organ of the party from carrying out any disciplinary action against the governor. This case is adjourned to 18th April 2023 and so, it is baffling to see such a statement coming from the national leadership of the party.

"I think the national leadership of our great party is losing its sense of direction. Instead of the leadership to sit back and think of ways on how to rebuild the party from the ruins of the defeat from the just concluded elections, they are going about chasing imaginary shadows.

"In any case, the first person the

party should refer to the disciplinary committee should be the national chairman of the party, Dr. Iyorchia Ayu. The national chairman lost his polling unit, lost his ward, local government, and even the state.

"As if that is not enough, there are strong indications that the national chairman was involved in anti-party activities in Benue State by working for the opposition All Progressives Congress (APC), just to get at me because of my principled stand against certain aspects of the decisions of the national leadership of the party."

Wike to PDP: Suspend Ayu, Not Fayose

Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike, has berated the PDP leadership for the suspension of a former governor of Ekiti State, Ayodele Fayose, and others over alleged involvement in anti-party activities, saying Ayu should have been suspended instead.

He however, boasted that his Benue State counterpart, Ortom, would not appear before any disciplinary committee over same allegation.

Wike, who spoke yesterday in Government House, Port Harcourt, said the decision to refer Ortom to the party's disciplinary committee was an insult to the governor, and described the suspension of Fayose by the PDP leadership as a nullity.

"I want to state clearly and let members of the party and Nigerians hear it clearly, the National Working Committee made up of Dr Iyorchia Ayu, who they say is the chairman of the party; Sam Anyanwu, the national secretary and other members of NWC, cannot suspend Ayo Fayose, not to talk about referring Governor Ortom to national disciplinary committee.

"Referring a governor to your so-called national disciplinary committee is the height of all insult, and we will not take it. Therefore, be ready for whatever you see as far as this our party is concern.

Governor Ortom, who has stood firm for the unity of this country,

Governor Ortom, who has come out openly to say that Nigeria must be one is not the type you will say you'll refer to that your kangaroo committee," he said.

He said if anyone deserved to be suspended from the party, that person was Ayu, whom he accused of contravening the PDP constitution on the zoning of elective and appointive offices.

Fintiri’s Campaign Seeks Sack of Adamawa REC

In another development, the PDP Campaign Council for Ahmadu Umaru Fintiri, which made the call at a press conference in Yola, also called on the international and local observers as well as the media to investigate the activities of the REC during the governorship to further prosecute him and his co-conspirators to save the nation’s democracy.

Deputy Director-General for the council, Chief Felix Tangwami, who read a speech on behalf of the council, said before this drama, Ari, had at collation centre sent another form EC&C to the Returning Officer Fufore LGA, Dr Bashir Danejo, to reentered the final results, asking him to do everything possible to help the APC candidate to win the polls, saying it was an order from above.

"Saying it is an instruction from above, highly classified.

The statement was gotten from a leaked telephone conversation that has since been in circulation on the social media.

"Again the proper thing to also do after the leaked conversation of Mr Ari with the Returning Officer Fufore LGA is hearing that Mr Ari has been suspended immediately so as redeem the lmage of the commission.

“But no, the INEC headquarters was silent and could not even call Ari to order, kept Adamawa Governorship results for 48 hours that led to friction between security men and some youths, which led to injuries and damage to some properties such as cars," he said

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FRIDAY MARCH 24, 2023 ˾ T H I S D AY

NEWS

CAMPAIGNING AGAINST ALCOHOL ABUSE…

L-R: Executive Secretary, Distillers and Blenders Association of Nigeria,(DIBAN), Mr. John Ichue; Director, Public Affairs, NAFDAC, Dr Abubakar Jimoh; representative of Minister of Health, Mrs. Olubunmi Aribeana, and Advocacy Lead, DIBAN, Mr. Mobolaji Alalade, during the flag-off of DIBAN campaign against underage drinking and excessive consumption of alcohol in Abuja...recently

EFCC Nabs Cleric, Twins, 25 Others for Alleged Fraud in Kwara Hammed Shittu inIlorin

Operatives of the Ilorin Zonal Command of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) have arrested 28 persons suspected to be fraudsters popularly called ‘Yahoo-Yahoo boys’, in Ilorin, the Kwara State capital.

The arrest, according to

THISDAY checks, was effected at the Mandate Area in Ilorin following actionable intelligence on the activities of fraudsters operating in the area.

Confirming the arrest yesterday to journalists in Ilorin, the Zonal Commander of EFCC, Mr. Michael Nzekwe, said: “Preliminary investigation revealed the identities of the arrested suspects to include

Egbeyemi’s Peace Efforts Unforgettable, Says Ekiti Assembly

Gbenga Sodeinde inAdoEkiti

The Ekiti State House of Assembly of Assembly members have hailed the contributions of the late former state Deputy Governor, Otunba Bisi Egbeyemi, in maintaining peace and resolution of chieftaincy and boundary disputes in the state while alive.

The state Assembly members led by the Speaker, Rt. Hon. Olubunmi Adelugba, made the remarks when they paid a condolence visit to the family of the late deputy governor, who was also a member of the old Ondo State House of Assembly in the Second Republic.

According to a statement issued yesterday by the Special Adviser (Media) to the Speaker, Odunayo Ogunmola, theAssembly delegation was received by the family of the late deputy governor led by his daughter, who is also a memberelect of the Ekiti State House of Assembly, Mrs. Bolaji Olagbaju.

Describing the death of Egbeyemi as a “huge loss to Ekiti State,” Adelugba said the deceased lived a fulfilled life and was very successful in public service, community service and in his professional calling.

Adelugba said the late Otunba Egbeyemi excelled as a House of Assembly member, Local Government Chairman, Commissioner for Education, Attorney General/Commissioner for Justice and lastly as the deputy governor during which he complemented his boss, former Governor, Dr. Kayode Fayemi.

The Speaker noted that the deceased brought vibrancy and relevance to his last assignment as deputy governor and helped to resolve many conflicts within and among communities in the state and also advocated for peaceful coexistence among their residents leveraging on his experience as a teacher, lawyer and a community chief.

PIND Trains CSOs for Host Communities on PIADelta,Implementation Rivers and Ondo States.

SundayOkobi

The Foundation for Partnership Initiatives in the Niger Delta (PIND) in collaboration with the Ford Foundation has begun the training of Non-governmental Organisations (NGOs) and Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) on the implementation of the Petroleum IndustryAct (PIA) in the Niger Delta.

A workshop, which was held in Warri, Delta State, starting on Tuesday, came barely two years after the enactment of the Act. Representatives of the host communities were drawn from five epicentre states of oil and gas extractive activities in the Niger Delta region.

The participants at the capacity building initiative anchored on restructuring the management of the host communities and regulating the midstream and downstream operations, among others, were drawn from Akwa Ibom, Bayelsa,

At the workshop, the Executive Director of PIND, Tunji Idowu, who was represented by the Advocacy Manager of PIND, Chuks Ofulue, at the opening ceremony of the three day workshop, said the workshop was to create awareness and understanding of the requirements of the PIA and ensure that communities recieve value from Host Communities Development Trusts.

According to him, “We want to build a capacity of the community people by getting the people that are closer to them which are the Nongovernmental Organisations(NGOs) and the Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) to help them build their own capacity so that they can understand what to expect from these Host Communities Development Trusts that will be established by the Oil Companies so that they can have a say in what development comes to their state.”

a cleric, twin brothers, six students of various institutions, mining operator and a host of other specialised private individuals.”

He said those arrested were Toheeb Albarka, a cleric; Lambe Kehinde and Lambe Taye, twin brothers; Francis Stephen, Olabode

Yusuf and Musbaudeen Akorede, who trade in dog respectively; Moshood Okunola, Kayode Aderemi, Ayobami Olorunfemi, Paul Ayomide, Agboola Marvellous and Adebisi Olatunde, who are all undergraduates.

According to him, “Others

include Olaleye Solomon, miner; Akinade Samuel, computer technician; Damilola Shagaya, real estate developer; Muhammed Awal, graphic designer; Adam Mubarak, anti-money laundering analyst; Ogundiran Nathaniel, tiler; Jamiu Ishola, printer; Dauda

Tunde, plumber; Abdullahi Sikiru, Bet Naija agent; Kasali Afeez Adegoke, website developer; Jordan Adeyinka, wears/shoe dealer and a driver, Ojeniyi Boluwatife, Adedamola Samson, Olarewaju Adisa Taofeek, Adewale Oloro and Omogbolahan Ibrahim.

Kogi Assembly Suspends Nine Members, Eight LG Chairmen over Anti-party Activities Ibrahim Oyewale in Lokoja Kogi State House of Assembly has suspended nine of its member and eight local government chairmen over alleged anti-party and terrorism during the just concluded general election.

This followed the receipt of a letter from the office the state

Governor, Yahaya Bello, alleging the lawmakers and LG chairmen of antiparty and terrorism activities, urging the Assembly to immediately suspend both the lawmakers and chairmen for various offences.

The Assembly Speaker, Matthew Kolawole, had earlier read the letter to the members

for House, and the Deputy Speaker, Hon Alfa Rabiu Momoh, supported the suspension of lawmakers, saying the state is bigger than any personal interest, and that lawmakers should not be found contravening the law.

The suspended lawmakers include Daniya Rayin of Bassa constituency; Muktar Bajeh,

Okehi constituency; Kilani Olumo, Ijumu constituency; Moses Akande, Ogori-Magongo constituency; Lawi Ahmed, Okene I constituency; Atule Igbunu, Ibaji constituency; Suleiman Attajachi Musa, Idah constituency; Aderonke Aro, Yagba West constituency, and Bello Hassan Abdullahi, Ajaokuta constituency.

Guber Poll: APC Accuses Wike of Electoral Banditry in Rivers Blessing Ibunge in PortHarcourt Chairman and Secretary, Mr. thugs allegedly working for at the time of this report.

The Rivers State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has accused the state governor, Nyesom Wike, of electoral banditry in the just concluded governorship and state house of assembly election.

In a statement by the APC

Emeka Beke and Mr. Darlington Nwauju, respectively, the party noted that the election was marred with intimidation, thugs attack, hijack of electoral materials, killings and other electoral offences.

The APC also alleged rigging masterminded by

the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in connivance with the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and the police.

The party expressed sadness that about four of its members died during the election, adding that two were still missing as

“Last Saturday’s election in Rivers State was between APC and INEC, the police and Gov Wike’s PDP. There was no election in the real sense of it.

INEC and the police brazenly worked together to install Gov Wike’s PDP candidates as winners of the election.

Monarch, Ex-Abia PDP Chairman Urge Otti to Meet People’s Expectations Emmanuel Ugwu-Nwogo in Umuahia The newly elected governor of Abia State, Mr. Alex Otti, has been advised to manage well the messianic status conferred on him by the people of Abia following the mandate he received to topple the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

The Chairman of Ikwuano/ Umuahia Supreme Council of Traditional Rulers, HRM Eze Nnamdi Ofoegbu, gave the royal counsel while speaking with journalists on the outcome of the 2023 governorship poll in Abia.

He said: “Abia is liberated based on the fact that an opposition candidate has been

able to win the governorship election after over two decades of one party holding on to power.

“Abians are looking for a messiah and people now look at Otti as someone who can change the terrain.We hope he can do so.”

Eze Ofoegbu, who is also the Chairman of Ndi Eze Ohuhu Council, noted that people were

happy as Otti fits into their expectation of a good leader who would change the state for better.

He said that the governorelect should embrace all and harness good ideas and should give positions of trust to people with capacity to solve problems and not those whose interest is only to enrich their pockets.

PDP to Challenge APC Guber Victory in Benue State GeorgeOkohinMakurdi

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Benue state and its gubernatorial candidate in the March 18 election, Rt. Hon. Titus Uba are to challenge the outcome and victory of Rev. Fr. Hyacinth Alia of the All Progressives Congress (APC) at the Tribunal.

The decision was conveyed to

newsmen at a press conference addressed by the state Chairman of the party, Hon. Isaac Mfo in Makurdi yesterday.

Hon. Mfo said the decision to take a legal challenge to the declaration of APC’s Alia as governor-elect was based on the glaring manipulation of the election by electoral officers, aided by security forces sent from

Abuja for that purpose.

In the results of the election declared on Monday by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), the Catholic priest got 473,933 votes compared to that of his closest rival, PDP’s Titus Uba, who scored 223,913.

But at the press conference which was preceded by a meeting of the

state party leadership with the campaign Committee, the state Chairman said: “From the reports received and studied by the legal department of our party, we have arrived at the conclusion that the conduct of the elections fell far below the acceptable minimum standards as obtained under our current democratic dispensation.

NNPP Rejects FCT Senatorial Election Result, Heads for Court Sunday Aborisade in Abuja

The Federal Capital Territory chapter of the New Nigeria Peoples Party(NNPP), has rejected the outcome of the national assembly election in Abuja and has proceeded to the tribunal to seek redress.

The NNPP Senatorial candidate

for the FCT, Ahmad Tijani, disclosed this yesterday while addressing journalists.

He, however, urged his party loyalists to remain calm while the party is prosecuting the case at the Court.

Tijani alleged that the candidate of the Labour Party(LP), Ireti Kingibe, who was declared winner

by the Independent National Electoral Commission(INEC), actually emerged through electoral malpractices.

He said: “All our efforts were sabotaged and undermined. I’m not trying to level allegations but it is clear to everybody in FCT that LP and the INEC played some role in sabotaging our efforts in

NNPP.” He alleged that the INEC unilaterally changed the logo of the party thereby creating serious confusion on the day of the election.

The NNPP candidate said: “Our logo was changed on the ballot papers and this made NNPP to lose massive votes.

FRIDAY MARCH 24, 2023 ˾ T H I S D AY

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NEWSXTRA

SUPPORTING WOMEN IN BUSINESS…

L-R: Founder, 360 Woman Africa, Yvonne Chioma Ofodile; representative and associate of the Chief Executive Officer, Elgazelle (Osato El-Osemwingie), Adelekan Lateefat; and Group Executive Director, African Industries, Uche Iwuamadi, presenting the first prize grant award to the winner of the 360 Women In Business Fund the Enterprise Summit and Grant Awards in Lagos…recently

Guber Polls: Troops Arrest 25 Armed Thugs, Recover Weapons in Rivers, Kwara, Lagos, Says DHQ Recover 62 AK-47 rifles from Boko Haram, ISWAP

Kingsley Nwezeh in Abuja

The Defence Headquarters (DHQ) said yesterday that troops arrested 25 armed thugs and recovered weapons in Rivers, Kwara and Lagos States during the just concluded March 18 governorship election.

At a media briefing in Abuja, the Director of Defence Media Operations (DDMO), Maj Gen

Musa Danmadami, said the arrests reduced the scale of violence that would have taken place as well as the relative peace enjoyed during and after the elections.

He said prior to the elections all the issues raised about trouble spots across the country were addressed and nipped in the bud.

“That is why we did not see widespread violence during and

House Demands Overhaul of Electronic Banking Platforms Juliet Akoje inAbuja The House of Representatives yesterday urged the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) to direct all commercial banks in the country to immediately overhaul their existing online electronic banking platforms for efficiency and ease of conducting electronic banking operations.

This resolution followed the adoption of a motion calling on the CBN to Direct all Commercial Banks to Overhaul their Online Banking Service Platforms to Ease Electronic Banking Operations moved by Hon. Sergius Ose Ogun.

Ogun Noted that Section 88 (1) and (2) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (as amended) empowers the National Assembly to conduct investigations

into the activities of any authority executing or administering laws made by the National Assembly (like the Central Bank of Nigeria).

According to him, the CBN was established under Section of the Central Bank of Nigeria Act, Cap. C4, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004 to issue legal tender currencies in Nigeria.

“Section 2 of the Central Bank of Nigeria Act saddles the Central Bank of Nigeria with the duty of promoting a sound financial system in Nigeria.

“In the wake of the recent naira redesign and cash withdrawal limit policy of the Central Bank of Nigeria, there has been an increase in the use of online and electronic banking services to carry out monetary transactions across the country.

BSN Donates Bibles worth N16.7m The Bible Society of Nigeria (BSN) donated assorted Bibles worth N16.7 million in the year 2022 as part of its free Bible distribution objective.

The value of the Bibles donated to the sighted was N9.8 million, while 137 complete sets of Braille Bible given to people with visual disabilities cost N6.9 million.

According to BSN, this gesture is in line with The Society’s mission to make the Holy Bible available to Nigerians in their preferred languages and formats and help them engage with the word of God through programmes to transform their lives.

Beneficiaries of the free Bible distribution included prison inmates, churches, Christian fellowships and organisations, schools for the blind, and individual members of the public,

among others.

A complete set of the Braille Bible, which comes in 37 volumes, costs N50,000. The organisation carried out the free distribution programme with funds donated by members of the Bible-A-Month Club, Special Members, corporate organisations, churches, and individual donors for the Braille Bible project, You Can Be Their Eyes (YCBTE).

Through the free Bible distribution and other laudable programmes, the BSN has continued to break every known barrier that makes the Word of God inaccessible to people.

The BSN is a not-for-profit interdenominational Christian organisation that translates the Bible into local languages, distributes, publishes, and raises funds for the Bible work.

after the elections,” he said.

He stated that all political thugs arrested by the troops and seized weapons were handed over to the Nigeria Police for further action.

On the ongoing military operations in the country,

Danmadami disclosed that in the past two weeks, both kinetic and non-kinetic operations were conducted in the various theatres of operations by the troops with significant results recorded.

He affirmed that 27 terrorists

were neutralised in fierce encounters at various locations with the troops between March 9 and 23, while more than 46 AK-47 rifles were recovered from Boko Haram and Islamic State of West African Province (ISWAP)

within the period under review.

He said troops recovered 16 AK47 rifles, 1 x 60mm mortar bomb, 10 dane guns, 12 dummy rifles, one pump action gun, one PKT gun, 280 rounds of 7.62mm special.

Group Storms INEC Head Office, Demands Cancellation of Kaduna Guber Poll’s Result Sunday Aborisade in Abuja

A group under the aegis of the Coalition for The Restoration of Kaduna Mandate besieged the headquarters of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in Abuja, yesterday, to protest the conduct of the March 18 Governorship and House of Assembly elections in the state.

The group, led by its spokesperson, Edward Auta and Convener, Hadwyah Samuel, demanded an immediate review of the entire results and the sacking of the INEC Administrative Officer in the state, Auwal Mashi.

Armed with placards containing various inscriptions, the protesters arrived the INEC headquarters at Maitama district of Abuja around

12 noon chanting solidarity songs.

They were received by the Deputy Director in charge of Security at the Commission, Ndidi Okafor, on behalf of the INEC Chairman, Mahmoud Yakubu.

Addressing journalists and the representative of the INEC Chairman, Auta alleged that the Kaduna Governorship Election, “was short of a democratic

process as the outcome did not reflect the choice of the people or complied substantially with the provisions of the law.”

He noted that the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) was meant to prevent multiple voting, uploading of results to the INEC IREV portal and collation at the polling units was ignored

FG, UNICEF Seek Better Reportage of Child Rights Onyebuchi EzigboinEnugu In a bid to reduce the incidence of child abuse in the country, federal government and United Nations International Children Emergency Fund (UNICEF) are partnering to improve on techniques of communicating children’s rights issues, including various violations and sanctions against them.

The initiative is to develop university curriculum that helps to broaden the scope of knowledge and exposure of the communication students and practitioners of Mass Communication by infusing child rights concerns.

Speaking at the two-day training of trainers on the presentation of this new curriculum for Child Rights Reporting for Universities

and Polytechnics in Nigeria in collaboration with UNICEF in Enugu yesterday, Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, said the idea was to facilitate the movement of journalists from the present level of child rights awareness to a certain degree of knowledge thereby bringing about the needed paradigm shift in reporting

children.

Director/Head Advocacy Unit, Child Rights Information Bureau (CRIB), Federal Ministry of Information and Culture, Zira Zakka Nagga, who represented the minister said bringing about the needed paradigm shift in reporting children and expose them to the rights to survival, development, protection and participation.

Ogun Polls: Observers Pass Vote of Confidence on INEC vast majority of the residents in National Electoral Commission observed the 2023 presidential, James SowoleinAbeokuta An independent monitoring group under the aegies of Forum of Election Observers Groups (FEOG), has declared that the outcome of the Governorship and House of Assembly elections in Ogun State largely reflected the opinion of the

line with the assessment of various stakeholders, including local observers.

Coordinator of the FEOG, Mr. Ayodeji Ologun, stated this at a media briefing in Ikeja, Lagos, yesterday, where he passed a vote of confidence on the Independent

(INEC), over the conduct and eventual results of the polls.

The FEOG were among the 146,913 observers that were accredited by INEC to observe the conduct of the 2023 general elections.

Ologun said: “As a group, we

National Assembly, governorship and state assembly elections and we wish to state, that the results as announced by the INEC, during the last governorship and state assembly elections were consistent with our parallel vote tabulation results estimates.

Court Dismisses Lulu-Briggs’Suit Challenging Ownership of Moni Pulo Wale Igbintade

Justice James Kolawole Omotosho of the Federal High Court in Abuja has dismissed a suit by the Chairman of Platform Petroleum, Chief Dumo Lulu-Briggs and three others, challenging the decision

of the late Kalabari High Chief, O.B. Lulu-Briggs to transfer his shares in Moni Pulo Limited to his wife, Dr. Seinye O.B. LuluBriggs, his daughters and the O.B. Lulu-Briggs Foundation.

Justice Omotosho held that Dumo’s suit, marked FHC/ABJ/CS/1481/2021,

was the same as FHC/ABJ/ CS/1576/2019, which was discontinued by Justice Taiwo Taiwo (retired) on September 30, 2021, and which is pending on appeal before the Court of Appeal.

The judge held that Dumo’s fresh suit constituted an abuse

of court processes and did not deserve further hearing by his court.

The 1st to 4th plaintiffs in the suit marked FHC/ABJ/ CS/1481/2021 were Senibo Lulu-Briggs, Dumo Lulu-Briggs, Sofiri Lulu-Briggs, ‘Chima Onimin Lulu-Briggs.’

PDP Rejects Ebonyi Guber Election Result, Heads to Court BenjaminNworieinAbakaliki

Ebonyi State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has rejected the result of the March 18 governorship and State House of Assembly election in the State.

Briefing newsmen inAbakaliki, the

acting State Chairman of the party, Barrister Ifeanyi Nworie alleged that irregularities, violence and electoral manipulation marred the election.

He noted that his party was prepared to go to court with clear evidences of electoral frauds allegedly committed by the All Progressives

Congress (APC).

Nworie also called on the Independent National Electoral Commission(INEC) to review the outcome of the elections as it fell below the expectations of the people. “We unflinchingly state that our candidate, Dr Ifeanyi Odii was

duly elected by a majority of the lawful votes cast in the election for the office of the Governor of Ebonyi State. Our opponents in APC resorted to electoral manipulations, violence, killings and the desecration of electoral rules”.

38

FRIDAY MARCH 24, 2023 ˾ T H I S D AY

NEWS XTRA

Benue Guber: Group Requests WORLD OF ISLAM SSG, House Speaker Positions Towards aValue-Enhancing Ramadan

Edited by: MJO Mustapha Email deji.mustapha@thisdaylive.com

George Okoh inMakurdi

The Benue Rebirth Movement (BRM) has requested the incoming administration of Rev. Father Hyacinth Alia, to restore the position of Secretary to the State Government (SSG) and cede that of the Speaker of the Benue State House of Assembly to Benue South Senatorial District, popularly known as Zone C. The request was contained in BRM’s congratulatory message to Rev. Father Alia, the Benue State’s governor-elect and the Deputy Governor-elect, Dr. Sam Ode, on their victory at the just concluded

governorship election in the state.

In the message signed yesterday by the National Coordinator of BRM, Air Vice Marshal Monday Riku Morgan (rtd), the movement said that from the mood of Benue people immediately, before and since the election day, it was clear that Alia was the popular choice of the people of Benue state.

Morgan restated the main objective of BRM, which is the pursuit of the emergence of the 2023 governor of the state from Benue South Senatorial District (Zone C) after over 47 years of the creation of Benue state, to achieve inclusiveness in governance.

“However, that ambition could not be realised in the just-concluded election because of the peculiar ethnic suspicion and the uncooperative posture of the major political players in Benue State.”

He, nevertheless, said that as bona fide citizens of the state and believers in democracy, “we in BRM identify with and pledge our full support and cooperation with your in-coming administration.

We believe that your coming at this time will resolve the knotty issue of ethnic rivalry that has beclouded major decision process in the state.

C’River Central APC Ticket : I Did Not Disobey Tinubu, Says Ekpere-Eta Former Director General of National Centre for Women Development(NCWD) and an aspirant for Cross River Central All Progressives Congress (APC) senatorial district ticket in the just concluded election, Mary Ekpere-Eta has refuted claims that she shunned the reconciliatory move initiated

by President-elect, Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

Ekpere-Eta, in a statement by Director, Media and Publicity of her campaign organization, Njan Ndoma, said that publications in a section of the media accusing

CHANGE OF NAME I formerly known and addressed as MISS ADETAYO OMOYEMI OLUWAFUNMILEYI, now wish to be known and addressed as MRS NIXON OMOYEMI OLUWAFUNMILEYI. All former documents remain valid. The general public should please take note.

I formerly known and addressed as MISS KOKO TAIWO FATIMAH, now wish to be known and addressed as MRS. IGE TAIWO FATIMAH. All former documents remain valid. The general public should please take note.

I formerly known and addressed as AGBAI MBA, now wish to be known and addressed as AGBAI MBA ANTHONY. All former documents remain valid. The general public should please take note.

I formerly known and addressed as MISS YINUSA TAIWO ORIYOMI, now wish to be known and addressed as MRS ABATI MARY YETUNDE. All former documents remain valid. The general public should please take note.

I formerly known and addressed as BOLUWATIFE ADENIKE BABALOLA, now wish to be known and addressed as BOLUWATIFE ADENIKE DOWOLEMI. All former documents remain valid. The general public should please take note.

I formerly known and addressed as EMEM EFFIONG AKANGA, now wish to be known and addressed as EMEM DAVID EYO. All former documents remain valid. The general public should please take note.

I formerly known and addressed as MISS OBI SYLVER CHIOMA, now wish to be known and addressed as MRS ONUEGWUNWOKE SYLVER CHIOMA. All former documents remain valid. The general public should please take note.

I formerly known and addressed as MISS IHEKWOABA CHIOMA BETTY, now wish to be known and addressed as MRS OHAETO CHIOMA BETTY. All former documents remain valid. The general public should please take note.

her of disobeying the presidentelect were sponsored blackmail by her rival.

After an Abuja High Court ordered APC to conduct fresh primary for Cross River Central, Tinubu, during a town hall meeting in Calabar, openly appealed to Ekpere-Eta and all aggrieved aspirants who were in court to withdraw their cases in the interest of the party.

While Sen. John Owan Enoh, who was challenging the candidacy of the APC governorship candidate and governor-elect, Sen. Bassey Otu backed out of the legal tussle,

the battle for the central ticket continued, leading supporters of the candidate and Senator-elect, Rt. Hon. Eteng Jones Williams to accuse Ekpere-Eta of disobeying Tinubu.

Reacting to the development, Ekpere-Eta said that at the time Tinubu intervened, Eteng, and not her was in court and ought to have withdrawn the case in line with the reconciliatory move but did not.

“At the time the presidentelect, Sen. Bola Ahmed Tinubu intervened on the 20th of December, she was not in court.

Eteng was the only one in court.”

Diri Preaches Love, Unity at Jonathan’s Uncle’s Funeral Bayelsa State Governor, Senator Douye Diri, has admonished people of the state to always promote unity and brotherliness for the sustenance of peace and development.

Senator Diri gave the admonition yesterday at the funeral service of Elder Omieworio Afeni, an uncle of former President Goodluck Jonathan, at the St. Stephen Anglican Church, Otuoke in Ogbia Local Government Area of the state.

Governor Diri said the state’s development should not be hinged on politics alone but ought to also entail how the people collectively tackled issues of common interests.

He said he was particularly pleased with the large number of Bayelsans that turned out in solidarity with Jonathan, his wife, Dame Patience and the

Afeni family.

Diri described the former president as a father and serviceoriented leader, who has made indelible mark in the political history of not only Nigeria but also in Africa and beyond.

While condoling with the bereaved Afeni family, he noted that the passage of any individual should teach people how to number their days and live upright life.

“On behalf of the government and people of the state, we condole with Dr Jonathan and the entire Afeni family as well as the Otuoke community. We pray God to grant the family the fortitude to bear this loss,” he said.

Diri on the occasion directed the Commissioner for Works and Infrastructure to immediately undertake the renovation of the Dame Patience Jonathan Pavilion in Otuoke.

Three Arraigned over Election Violence in Delta Omon-Julius Onabu inAsaba

Three persons have been arraigned at a Chief Magistrate Court in Asaba, Delta State, following their alleged involvement in violence during the March 18 Governorship and House of Assembly election in the state.

The three accused men brought before the court for breaching the peace during the election are: Udeh Henry Chukwuedo (32), Dike Onyekahi Samuel (27) and Rabbi Godwin Nana (29).

The accused persons, who allegedly committed the offence along with others now at large, however, pleaded not guilty when the four-count charge was presented to them. The State Commissioner of Police, who is the complainant, via Charge Number CMA/103c/2023 comprising four counts charge, accused the defendants of breaching relevant

sections of the Electoral Act 2022.

The Presiding Magistrate, C.I. Moeteke, however, granted them bail in the sum of N1 million each and one surety each in like sum.

This followed the granting of an oral bail application by the defence counsel, V.O. Agu, who pleaded that the offence was bailable; whereupon the court subsequently adjourned the case till May 9, 2023.

In count one, the defendants and others now at large, were said to have, on March 18, 2023 at “Ogwashi-Uku in the OgwashiUku Magisterial District but triable in Asaba, conspired among yourselves to commit felony to wit: being in possession of live cartridges during the conduct of the Governorship and state House of Assembly elections and thereby committed an offence punishable under Section 121(5) of the Electoral Act 2022.”

By: Sadullah Khan/IslamiCity

T

he global ummah is about to enter Ramadan, ready to enter the mode of fasting.

Fasting is of course one of the fundamental pillars of Islam, an important component of our ‘ibadah (worship), and an integral program for the spiritual and moral enhancement of human consciousness, for the improvement of human character, and the promotion of welfare to communities and advancement of societies.

Spiritual Wayfaring As we approach Ramadan, this month of high-intensity ethical training, let us mindfully reflect that those who are fasting are on a journey, what the Qur’an refers to as sa’ihun - spiritual travelers on a transcendent journey; but journeying towards what? This is where fundamental values are significant. Values are essential for the development of our spirituality, our morality, and our character. Whether we exit Ramadan better than we enter Ramadan, depends on how we prioritize and actualize our values. Values help us figure out what we want out of life and help us behave in ways that match what we really want to do and who we actually want to become. When we are faced with challenges, it is our values that guide and inform our decisions. Our values reveal who we are.

Living by our higher values requires moral maturity, and moral maturity entails taking responsibility for our own lives, making rational decisions that reflect the best that we can offer. The yardstick of maturity, however, is personal integrity; applying basic values to the decision-making process and thus living in a way that allows our personality to be consistently good. In reality, integrity is about thinking and acting in a way that reflects the full stature of a rational human being.

Fasting and Taqwa In Islam, values are embedded in ihsan (goodness), premised on and motivated by ikhlas (sincerity of intention and genuineness in purpose), manifested in ‘amal al-salihat (good beneficial deeds) and in pursuit of taqwa (righteous Allah consciousness).

Taqwa is the pinnacle of human spiritual and moral development [Quran 49:13], and the primary objective of fasting which was divinely prescribed throughout history [Quran 2:183]. Fasting and the pursuit of taqwa are highly personalized, yet they are integral to our overall values entrenched in ihsan. Fasting is thus not merely the abstention of food and drink; it is the abstention from indifference towards the dignity of people. In the words of Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him), “Whoever does not give up false statements (i.e., telling lies), and evil deeds, and speaking bad words to others, acting foolishly/ignorantly; Allah is not in need of his (fasting) leaving his food and drink.” [Bukhari:6057], The person who rushes to help a widow or an orphan is like a mujahid in the path of Allah, like a person who prays the whole night and fasts all day. [Tirmidhi:1969) In fact, the best evidence of taqwa is expressed through our commitment to manifest social justice, “Ensure that you are just for the manifestation of justice is the closest expression to taqwa” [Quran 5:8]. We cannot truly be living Ramadan, with all our personal attempts at a heightened level of spiritual consciousness and recalibrating our morals through our siyam (fasting) and qiyam (night prayer), without social consciousness; without being concerned about the suffering of those who are desperate, oppressed and dispossessed.

Value-Laden Responsibility As a collective Muslim community, we have the responsibility of ensuring that those in leadership positions are worthy of leadership who serve the people; that those of us who are by the means, liberally avail what we have to uplift others; and that our community of faith not be distracted by unnecessary divisions but be united by the Quranic slogan; “hold

on fast to the bond of Allah and do not be divided” [Quran 3:103]; and strive to consult constructively (make shura) with one another to resolve the pressing issues that we face This could create avenues to make the lives of many worthy and meaningful. Apt indeed are the words of the Prophet; “When your leaders are the best among you, when the richest ones are the most generous among you, and your affairs are conducted by mutual consultation among you, then being alive on the surface of the earth is better for you than to be dead and buried in it. [Tirmidhi:2266] Personal Commitment to Ihsan As for the improvement of ourselves, let this coming month of Ramadan truly be a month of high-intensity moral development and spiritual rejuvenation. The Prophet advised the need for sincerity in private and in public justice in anger or happiness, moderation in times of scarcity or abundance; forgiving those who may have done wrong, generosity to those who may not reciprocate, relationship with those who break off with me; therefore let us hasten to do good [Sahih Muslim], and “know Allah loves the doers of good” [Quran 2:195].

So, this Ramadan, let us commit to cleanse our hearts and minds of all base thoughts and destructive emotions. Let us rid ourselves of the moral diseases of pride, jealousy, malice, backbiting, rage, self-righteousness, dishonesty, pretension, vanity, selfishness, vainglory, greed, envy, bigotry, hatred, egoism, arrogance, vindictiveness, obsessive love of the world, manipulation of power, and abuse of Allah’s favors.

Let us instead fill our hearts with positive inspirational motivations that lead to constructive deeds; deeds that reflect our iman, deeds done with purity of intention, deeds emanating from empathy, compassion, kindness, truthfulness, trustworthiness, humility sincerity; all the characteristics that reflect ihsan Ihsan entails the confluence of good deeds emanating from a sound mind, motivated by a pure heart; and it is that pure heart that is the passport to Paradise. Let us be reflective of the divine admonition; Prepare yourself not to be of those who will grieve on that Day of Resurrection when neither your material worth nor your family status will benefit you; What will rather benefit is “presenting yourself to Allah with a pure/ sound heart”. [Quran 26:89]. So, if we could truly engage our hearts, it will open our minds and elevate our insight; evoking our higher consciousness and then we may see the essence of our acts beyond the apparent rituals. The Allah consciousness required for the pursuance of taqwa is facilitated through ihsan; “To be in divine obedience as if you witness the divine, for He is ever observing you” [Bukhari:4777].

Carpe Diem (Seize the Opportunity) At a personal level, let our Ramadan journey be steps towards a better self. Know that our tomorrows are determined by the steps we take each day. Let every suhoor and every iftar be time for introspection. Realize that every sunset gives us one day less to live, but every sunrise also gives us one day more to hope. Savour every step, make every fast count; treat every moment with respect, for we do not know how many more moments exist before all our moments in this world are over How many dear ones, who have passed on in recent months, did not know that they would not witness the coming month of Ramadan?

Though our yesterdays have passed, those yesterdays are alive in our hearts because of memories… our tomorrows are anticipated because of hope; therefore, make every day of Ramadan a great memory for the future so that tomorrow does not become a time of regret. Remember, it is about purity and goodness. Let each one asks... How many Ramadans have passed, how many Ramadans do we actually have left? Do not leave the coming Ramadan saying, “I wish I had done that”; rather end Ramadan saying, “I am glad I did that”.

Ramadan Kareem

39

FRIDAY, MA ͺͼ˜ ͺ͸ͺͻ ˾ T H I S D AY

FRIDAYSPORTS Super Eagles Seeking to Regain Confidence of Nigerian Fans Against Guinea Bissau

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

0811 181 3083 SMS ONLY

Duro Ikhazuagbe Super Eagles are as good as qualified for the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations.

They lead their group on maximum six points from two matches. Their opponents this evening at the Moshood Abiola Stadium in Abuja, Guinea Bissau, are second on four points. Both Sierra Leone and São Tomé and Principe who drew 2-2 in Agadir, Morocco yesterday are as good as dead in the running for the group ticket.

The Leone Stars are stuck on just one point with no point for São Tomé the whipping team of the group.

But Super Eagles who lost the 2022 World Cup ticket on the same Moshood Abiola Stadium ground to eternal rivals Ghana in a final playoff last year, know Nigerians still nurse the wound and the memories of the destruction of that edifice that followed that failure, remains fresh.

Only a massive win this evening can begin the healing process which will be completed on Tuesday in Bissau if they win the reverse fixture and qualify with maximum 12 points

A F C O N 2 0 2 3 Q UA L I F I E R S for AFCON 2023 with two games to spare.

With Victor Osimhen leading Super Eagles attack, most Nigerians are sure of victory this evening. It is not for nothing that the Osimhen, with 25 goals in all competitions this season for Napoli, is the biggest news on the transfer hub. The 24-year-old former U17 World Cup winner netted a significant four goals in a remarkable 10-0 win for Nigeria against Sao Tome and Principe in June last year. He had earlier scored the winner in a 2-1 win over Sierra Leone on Matchday 1 at the same Moshood Abiola National Stadium.

With five goals to his name, Osimhen is among the leading marksmen in the qualifying race, and will grab his opportunities with both hands in the two matches against Guinea Bissau in order to put daylight between himself and other contenders for the title his former teammate, Odion Ighalo

Moses Simon, Ademola Lookman, Terem Moffi and Paul Onuachu are available for the fore sector, as the Eagles aim for all six points that will super-pave their pathway to the finals.

Coach Baciro Candé, who has led the Djurtus to an impressive four points in their previous two games, said on arrival in Nigeria on Wednesday that his boys will

play with confidence and invention.

Guinea Bissau have featured in three Africa Cup of Nations finals, making an impressive debut at the 2017 tournament in Gabon.

Will the visitors ride on Nigeria to their fourth appearance at the African football showpiece? Only 180 minutes will decide that. The first 90 minutes this evening will certainly point the way forward.

RESULTS

Super Eagles Player Gets Four-match Ban

Ma’gascar 0-3 C’Africa Rep. Ghana 1-0 Angola Congo 1-2 S’ Sudan Zambia 3-1 Lesotho

Nigerian international, Peter Olayinka, went from hero to zero last Saturday as the Czech Republic’s League Disciplinary Committee slammed a four-match ban on him.

Olayinka who scored Slavia Prague’s 30th minute opening goal in their 2-2 away draw with Slovan Liberec, was sent off after he headbutted a defender of the home team.

In the Disciplinary Committee’s verdict yesterday, Olayinka was found guilty of dragging the game into disrepute with his conduct and therefore slammed him with the ban.

But his Slavia Prague club however immediately insisted that they are going to appeal the decision. ”The disciplinary committee punished Peter Olayinka with a 4-match suspension for a red card in a match against Liberec. The player will appeal the red card in cooperation with the club,” the club announced on its website.

Nigeria v G’Bissau C’Verde v Eswatini B’Faso v Togo Cameroon v Namibia Egypt v Malawi Guinea v Ethiopia Uganda v Tanzania Mali v Gambia I’ Coast v Comoros DR Congo v Mauritania E’Guinea v Botswana Tunisia v Libya S’Africa v Liberia Senegal v Moz’bique

TODAY

EURO 2024 France v Netherlands Gibraltar v Greece Czech v Poland Sweden v Belgium Austria v Azerbaijan

Nigerian Breweries Plc Brands Dangle Clash Awards to Boost Eagles Three brands from the stable of Nigerian Breweries Plc, Goldberg, Life Continental and ZAGG Energy Drink are offering extra motivation for the Super Eagles as they seek early qualification for the 2023 AFCON tournament scheduled to take place in Cote d’ Ivoire next January.

Nigerian Breweries Plc, who are NFF partners with their two products, Life and Goldberg, are offering two million naira in total.

There is the sum of one million naira for Man-of-the-Match, and another one million naira for the new Energy-Moment-of-the-Match.

These brands provide a platform to celebrate the best players and their contributions to the team's success However, beyond the traditional award, ZAGG Energy Drink, an unconventional energy drink brewed to perfection, is coming out with something unique.

The Energy Drink, which is now the talk of the town, will reserve special honour for the ‘Energy Moment of the Match’.

This award recognizes the most impactful moment of the game and is sure to keep the players energized and motivated throughout the

annexed in the race to AFCON 2019 in Egypt.

Coach José Santos Peseiro will surely put his best foot forward in only his third match, with the objective of keeping intact his hundred per cent record in competitive matches.

Goalkeeper Francis Uzoho could

start in goal, and there are Semi Ajayi, Bright Osayi-Samuel, Kevin Akpoguma, Kenneth Omeruo, Calvin Bassey, Zaidu Sanusi and Bruno Onyemaechi to pick from for the rearguard, as well as Englandbased quartet Wilfred Ndidi, Frank Onyeka, Alex Iwobi and Joe Aribo in the middle of the pack.

Captain Ahmed Musa, Kelechi Iheanacho, Samuel Chukwueze,

match.

The Senior Brand Manager Life Continental Beer, Francis Obiajulu, noted that these brands would be offering new life not just to the Super Eagles but Nigerian football in its entirety.

According to him, the brands will continue to fuel the passion for football in the country with innovative ideas that would be enjoyed by all including the players, fans and loyal consumers.

“If you call it a new dawn, you are right, we have always matched our words with action and that is what we are doing with this new phase of sponsorship of the national team,” he declared.

Nigerian Breweries Plc, have a long-standing partnership with the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) since February 2018 and the relationship has now entered a new gear with three of its brands going all out to pump up the Super Eagles and all the other grades of the national football teams.

Telecommunication behemoth, MTN is also offering the sum of one million naira for that player that is selected Most Valuable Playerin the clash with Guinea Bissau.

Super Eagles praying for success as they take on Guinea Bissau in AFCON 2023 qualifier at the Moshood Abiola Stadium in Abuja...this evening

Ronaldo Now World’s Most Capped Footballer Cristiano Ronaldo became the most-capped men's international footballer last night following his starting place in Portugal's Euro 2024 qualifying opener against Liechtenstein last night.

Ronaldo moved level with Kuwait forward Bader AlMutawa on 196 caps when he faced Morocco at the World Cup but has now extended the record to 197.

New Portugal Manager, Roberto Martinez, renewed faith in the 38-year-old forward who was believed to have ended his international career which started in 2003 but is now waxing stronger playing in Saudi Arabia for Al Nassr.

He has now scored a men's record 118 international goals.

Martinez insisted “he is very important for the team" and "I do not look at the age".

Ronaldo's latest record has further cement his status as one of the greatest footballers of all time.

The Portuguese's glittering career has seen him win seven domestic top-flight titles, 11 other major domestic trophies,

five Champions Leagues, four Club World Cups and one

European Championship.

The former Sporting Lisbon,

Cristiano Ronaldo is now the most capped male footballer in the world with 197 appearances for Portugal. He is now one more than Kuwaiti’s Bader Al-Mutawa

Manchester United, Real Madrid and Juventus forward has also won the Ballon d'Or five times and been named the Best FIFA Men's player twice.

He became the first player to score 800 top-level career goals in November and also holds a host of other men's individual records for both club and country including: r .PTU $IBNQJPOT -FBHVF goals (140) r .PTU $IBNQJPOT -FBHVF appearances (183) r .PTU $IBNQJPOT -FBHVF wins (5) r 0OMZ QMBZFS UP TDPSF JO UISFF Champions League finals r "QQFBSFE JO NPTU &VSPQFBO Championship finals (5) r .PTU HPBMT JO &VSPQFBO Championship finals (14) r .PTU &VSP BOE 8PSME $VQ final goals combined (22) r .PTU JOUFSOBUJPOBM HPBMT JO world football (118) r 5IF àSTU QMBZFS UP TDPSF 10 hat-tricks in men's international football Kristine Lilly is the mostcapped female footballer of all time, having played 354 times for the United States.

Nigeria, G'Bissau AFCON Qualifiers Live on StarTimes Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) Qualifying match between Nigeria and Guinea-Bissau will be broadcast live on StarTimes World Football channel at 5pm today.

Currently unbeaten on home turf since 2021, today’s hosts will be looking to put on a dominant display in front of what is set to be an expectant home crowd.

On the other hand, Guinea-Bissau

will be looking to cause an upset and secure their place in the AFCON tournament.

Having fared poorly on their recent travels, today's visitors face yet another daunting task on the road where they have won just one of their last nine matches across all competitions.

Nigeria ended 2022 on a poor run of results, but their first outing

of 2023 provides a good chance to get back on track.

PR Manager, StarTimes Nigeria, Lazarus Ibeabuchi said of the match: “We expect the home side to see off the threat of their visitors comfortably at the end of the 90 minutes.

“All the AFCON qualifiers matches are airing on StarTimes sports channels.

“Non-StarTimes subscribers can stream the matches live on StarTimes-ON mobile app on the N800 weekly MAX VIP subscription.

Active StarTimes subscribers on classic and super bouquet can stream the matches live on their mobile phones via the StarTimes-ON streaming app at no extra cost by linking their smartcard numbers to StarTimes-ON apps,” he concluded.

G

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Friday March 24, 2023

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MISSILE NLC to FG, CBN “The situation is still almost the same. People are still buying our currency with our currencies. People can still not assess the currency and the government seems to be very adamant on this. No moves have been made to reduce the sufferings of Nigerians. From Friday (today), there will be mobilisation of all state councils...All unions have been directed...By Wednesday, next week, all CBN offices nationwide will be picketed” –NLC President, Joe Ajaero, mobilising for a showdown, over the Naira scarcity in the country.

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EBUN-OLUADEGBORUWA GUEST COLUMNIST

The Tokenism of Devolution

L

ast week, it was widely reported that the President Muhammadu Buhari assented to 16 new bills sent to him by the National Assembly, most of which relate to the amendment of the Constitution. This has been in the pipeline for a long time, being a ritual with every legislative regime in Nigeria. It is taken as job for the boys, to enable certain privileged legislators go around the country in the name of gathering the views of the people for constitutional amendment, at the end of which we were usually fed with stories of lack of cooperation by the State Houses of Assembly and then it will end up as another case of money down the drain. So much money was spent on this project, so much time went into it and sufficient resources was amassed such that it would have been a great disservice to our dear country should these efforts be rendered futile.

For this and other reasons, the National Assembly deserves commendation and the President himself has earned his place in history for making these tireless efforts to have achieved some form of federalism, no matter the manner it was done. However, it would seem that the ruling party was very frugal in the consideration of the real issues that require amendment in the Constitution, given the time and resources that went into this exercise. No other body could have achieved constitutional amendment apart from the National Assembly.

Deliberately and without mincing words, the framers of the Constitution in section 4 thereof established the legislature as the first arm of government, because law is needed to define all other aspects of human existence. It is thus expected that through its additional powers of approval and oversight functions, the legislature will work to curb the excesses of the executive arm of government, especially in situations where retired military men have hijacked the democratic process, having in their prime usurped power through the ignoble strategy of coup d’etat, only to turn around in retirement to transform themselves into democratic dictators. Let us now consider the tokens delivered so far, at least from the news reports, by way of constitutional amendment.

The President was said to have signed into law 16 bills seeking to amend various portions of the 1999 Constitution. According to the information from the Office of the Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Ahmed Wase, who is the co-chairman of the Committee, the bills assented to by the President included those devolving powers from the Federal Government to the States as some items were moved from the Exclusive Legislative List to the Concurrent List in the Constitution.

The power devolution bills that passed legislative requirements include those on power, railway, airports and prisons as well as biometric and criminal records. While the President signed the Bills seeking to grant state legislature and judiciary autonomy, the majority of the state Houses of Assembly opposed independence for local governments. The National Assembly in January transmitted 35 Constitution Alteration Bills passed by the state Houses of Assembly, out of the 44 bills sent to the states. To amend a clause in the Constitution (two-thirds or

Buhari

four-fifths) majority of each of the Senate and the House need to approve the amendment after which it will be transmitted to the state Houses of Assembly, where two-thirds or 24 out of the 36 of them have to concur. Out of the 36 states, 27 Houses of Assembly – Abia, Adamawa, Akwa Ibom, Anambra, Bauchi, Bayelsa, Benue, Borno, Cross River, Delta, Ebonyi, Edo, Ekiti, Enugu, Imo, Kaduna, Kano, Katsina, Kogi, Lagos, Nasarawa, Niger, Ogun, Ondo, Osun Rivers and Yobe – forwarded their resolutions on the bills. Let us look at the Bills assented to by the President, in detail.

Independence for the State Houses of Assembly and State Judiciary This is christened as the bill to provide for the financial independence of state Houses of Assembly and state Judiciary; and for related matters. This has been a major project for the present administration, spearheaded by the President himself. To the credit of the federal government, most legal practitioners prefer the

federal bench largely because of the seeming independence and the welfare packages. A good example is the case of a highly-respected couple who both retired from the bench. The husband was immediately paid his pension and gratuity by the federal government whilst the wife was subjected to harrowing lamentations by a State that could afford to pay the salary of all judges in Nigeria put together. It is the same story for the legislature as the National Assembly enjoys greater independence in its operations and even in its funding, than the State Assemblies, which are run more as appendages of the executives.

and Governors to submit the names of persons nominated as ministers or commissioners within 60 days of taking the oath of office for confirmation by the Senate or state House of Assembly; and for related matters. I have been at the forefront of this struggle to get the executive moving. This was necessitated by the delay by the President to constitute his cabinet well over six months after he took the oath of office in 2015. A suit was filed in Court in which locus standi became the focal point of judicial intervention. It is indeed gratifying that the legislators have risen to the occasion.

Power Generation/Electricity

The Missing Links

This is titled as the bill to allow States generate, transmit and distribute electricity in areas covered by the national grid; and for related matters.

I was virtually jumping up in my spirit, to read of this final liberation from the powers of darkness and backwardness. By all means, not only States but also local governments, property developers, institutions and corporate entities that have the capacity to do so should be able to generate and distribute power for themselves and also for the use of those in their various localities. That is the only way to galvanize the industrial revolution that our nation needs desperately. Going round my neighbourhood recently, I discovered that almost every home has a generator and this will be the same for companies, schools, religious centres, institutions and all places of human existence. The amount of money spent on the procurement of generators, on petrol and diesel to power them and then on maintenance of generators are enough to bail us out of our economic quagmire. The task before the States is to urgently take steps through detailed legislation to in turn devolve power on electricity generation to the local governments and the corporate entities in order to achieve mass involvement. The economy of Nigeria is just waiting for the full implementation of this law to kick start our growth and development.

Businesses have collapsed due to the rising cost of production, the most basic of which is power supply.

The centralization of education by the Constitution has no place in a federation, whereby the federal government will determine the mode of admission of students into a university established and funded by a State. There can be no basis under our present circumstance, for sustaining the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board, which destroys merit as the basis of seeking and acquiring knowledge, by cooking up figures for admission into tertiary institutions in the name of cut off marks. This is one of the frustrating factors for our youths, who are daily exiting Nigeria to other climes for greener pastures.

Then of course is the issue of resource control.

The ninth Assembly should not have missed the opportunity to make a statement for the existence of true federalism, unity and equity.

People should be allowed to take their destiny into their hands and to determine what to do with the resources that God has endowed them with.

It is difficult to imagine that governors of the states still oppose autonomy for the local governments, which are the agents of development closest to the people. Money cannot be the root of this retrogression, given the monumental losses that our people have been subjected to over the years. Yes, it has been touted in the past that the issue of joint account between the states and local governments has been the bane of development and autonomy for the latter. Presently, the local governments only exist on paper, as no activity of any meaningful description is going on in those locations.

The duties assigned to the local governments under the Constitution, such as the control of markets, cemeteries, billboards, radio and television licences, environmental sanitation, waste disposal, road construction, etc have all been taken over by the states. This has in turn crippled the local governments such that most of them cannot pay the salaries of their workers. I appeal to the governments to please review their position on the issue of local government autonomy in order to place this third tier of government in the best position to discharge their responsibilities under the Constitution. In all, what we have in the name of constitutional amendment falls short of our expectations and indeed the promises made by the ruling party in its own manifesto.

There is still time to do the needful, before handing over.

The Cabinet This is titled as the Bill to require the President

I appeal to the governments to please review their position on the issue of local government autonomy in order to place this third tier of government in the best position to discharge their responsibilities under the Constitution. In all, what we have in the name of constitutional amendment falls short of our expectations and indeed the promises made by the ruling party in its own manifesto. There is still time to do the needful, before handing over

•Adegboruwa, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), writes from Lagos

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