SUNDAY 7TH APRIL 2024

Hike in Electricity Tariff will Worsen Living Conditions, Cost of Doing Business, Say Afenifere, Lagos, Abuja Chambers of Commerce

Timing of tariff hike wrong, Ndume insists NERC directs Discos to refund overbilled consumers within four days

Afenifere, and the Organised Private Sector (OPS), including

and Industry (LCCI) and the Abuja Chamber of Commerce of Industry (ACCI), have expressed grave concerns over the recent hikes in electricity tariff for Band ‘A’ customers by the

WHO Mobilises Private Investors for Nigeria's Healthcare… Page 5

Tinubu to Observe Eid-el-Fitr in Lagos… Page 10 Nigerian

Kwankwaso: NNPP is Alternative to Failed PDP, Failing APC

Says with necessary motivation, military has capacity to end insecurity

Chuks Okocha in Abuja

Former presidential candidate and national leader of the New Nigeria People’s Party (NNPP), Senator Rabi’u Kwankwaso, has described

his party as an alternative to the “failed Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and failing All Progressives Congress (APC).”

This is as he said the military can end the current security

challenge facing the country, given the necessary motivation. Kwankwaso, also a former Minister of Defence, guaranteed that the NNPP would introduce a revitalising change for citizens

and the nation as a whole.

The ex-governor of Kano State stated this during the party’s national convention, which took place at the A-Class Event Centre in Maitama, Abuja, yesterday.

In contrast, he emphasised the NNPP’s rapid growth as a party in Nigeria, highlighting its understanding of the significance of education in alleviating poverty and ensuring the security of lives

and property.

He said, “We are all aware that the PDP has completely failed. Many of us decided in 2014, and

Palpable Tension as Atiku, Wike’s Camps Fight for Control of PDP Ahead of NEC Meeting

Stakeholders fear FCT minister’s control of party’s structure may weaken main opposition party Suswam, Abba battle to succeed Ayu

Chuks Okocha in Abuja

Ahead of the National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) scheduled for April 18, there is palpable tension over the battle for the control of the party’s National Working Committee (NWC) by the camps of the former Vice President Atiku Abubakar and the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, THISDAY’s investigation has revealed.

The tension emanated from revelations that Wike will remain in the PDP and work for the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the 2027 presidential election, while Atiku will contest for the PDP’s presidential ticket.

The North-central is expected to present its anointed candidate for the position of the party’s National Chairman to NEC on April 18.

Continued on page 5

65 HEARTY CHEERS…

L-R: Imo State Governor, Senator Hope Uzodimma; wife of the late Governor of Oyo State, Mrs. Florence Ajimobi; and Governor Uzodimma's wife, Chioma, during the 65th birthday of Mrs. Ajimobi in Lagos...weekend.

Emmanuel Addeh, Adedayo Akinwale in Abuja, and Dike Onwuamaeze in Lagos The pan-Yoruba socio-political and cultural organisation,

the Lagos Chamber of Commerce

WHO Mobilises Private Investors for Nigeria's Healthcare

Onyebuchi Ezigbo in Abuja

The World Health Organisation (WHO) has flagged off a collaborative venture with the Private Sector Health Alliance of Nigeria (PSHAN), under the “Adopt-A-Healthcare Facility Programme (ADHFP).”

Speaking at the Project Collaboration

Signing Ceremony between WHO and PSHAN, held at Transcorp Hilton in

Abuja, WHO Representative in Nigeria, Dr. Walter Kazadi Mulombo, said PSHAN aims to establish at least one global-standard Primary Healthcare Centre (PHC) in each of Nigeria’s 774 local government areas.

He said the project will be executed in line with the guidelines of the National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA).

He added that WHO will provide

technical assistance to PSHAN and the NPHCDA in the execution of the project, to ensure capacity strengthening and adherence to guidelines, norms, and standards; accountability for results, and value-for-money.

"This partnership is consistent with the WHO offer to the Government of Nigeria as encapsulated in the 4th Generation Nigeria Country Cooperation Strategy (CCSIV) which

over the next four years, would guide our commitment and investment to ensure that no one is indeed left behind, in line with the GPW13 and ensuing GPW14.

"Let me at this point note with optimism the plan of the AdoptA-Healthcare Facility Programme (ADHFP), PSHAN aims to establish at least one global-standard Primary Healthcare Centre (PHC) in each of

PALPABLE TENSION AS ATIKU, WIKE’S CAMPS FIGHT FOR CONTROL OF PDP AHEAD OF NEC MEETING

Former Governor of Benue State, Senator Gabriel Suswam and former Minister of Police Affairs, Humphrey Abba, have indicated an interest in succeeding the sacked substantive National Chairman of the PDP, Senator Iyorchia Ayu.

However, the two contenders, who are also from Benue State where Ayu hails from, have refused to publicly align with Atiku or Wike’s camp for strategic reasons as such move may backfire and cost any of them the position.

THISDAY gathered that with Wike’s body language, which indicates that he will likely work for the APC in the 2027 presidential election, stakeholders in the PDP are concerned that if the party’s structure slips into his hands, he will weaken the party to pave the way for the victory of the APC.

Wike had said severally that he would not contest against President Bola Tinubu in 2027 which implied that he would work for the reelection of the president against his party’s presidential candidate as he did in the 2023 general election. His critics believe his strategy is to seize the PDP’s structure and further weaken the party to ensure an easy ride for the APC presidential candidate in 2027.

“Wike claims to be in PDP; he has refused to resign officially. But he is working for APC administration. If he is handed over the party’s structure, he will weaken it for the APC to retain power in 2027.

“It is for this reason that there is palpable tension in the party over who will have the upper hand in the battle to control the soul of the party by both camps,” a member of NEC told THISDAY.

THISDAY gathered that the NWC led by the acting National Chairman of the party, Ambassador Iliya Damagun, had been reluctant to summon the NEC meeting due to the continued intrigues between Atiku and Wike’s camps.

The rivalry between the presidential candidate of the party in the 2023 election and the former Rivers State governor was a fallout of the party’s presidential primary and the subsequent selection of the presidential running mate of the party. Atiku’s refusal to pick Wike as the vice-presidential candidate after defeating him in the presidential primary drove a wedge into their relationship and created cracks in the PDP.

Wike consequently worked against the election of the former vice president by throwing his support behind the then-candidate of the APC, Tinubu.

Wike is strongly believed to be nursing the ambition of controlling the party’s affairs despite working for the APC administration.

The former Rivers State governor still retains the loyalty of key members of the NEC and the NWC who are likely to do his bidding.

For instance, it was gathered that the National Secretary of the party, Senator Sam Anyanwu; the party’s National Vice Chairman (South), Dan Orbih; the Deputy National Chairman, South, Ambassador Taofeek Arapaja, among others, are perceived as Wike loyalists.

The governor of Oyo State, Mr. Seyi Makinde, who is also a member of the party’s NEC, is also a close ally of the FCT minister.

It was learnt that the presence of Wike’s supporters in the strategic decision-making organs of the PDP was one of the reasons the NWC has been unable to act on his alleged anti-party activities, which the NEC is likely going to consider.

There were indications that pressure was mounting on the NWC not to call the NEC meeting earlier because of the fear that it could play into the hands of Wike.

Atiku, who has been out of the country, has now returned ostensibly to prepare for the showdown ahead of the NEC meeting.

One of the issues being raised by Atiku's camp against the FCT minister was his alleged anti-party activities.

They view his role in the PDP as very suspicious and is also being perceived by his critics in the party as a mole.

Wike has severally claimed that he accepted the ministerial position in the APC government with the knowledge of the members of the NWC of the PDP.

The Atiku's camp, it was learnt, may call for the suspension of Wike and members of his G-5 governors for alleged anti-party activities.

But THISDAY was told that another group is opposed to the suspension of the FCT minister and his allies on the grounds that any disciplinary action will further polarise and weaken the PDP.

However, it is not certain if Wike will be attending the NEC meeting.

The FCT minister is also engaged in a battle of supremacy with his successor, Governor Sim Fubara over the control of the recently dissolved party’s structure in the state.

The FCT minister’s loyalist, Tony Okocha is the acting Chairman of the Rivers State APC and the minister also wants to control the caretaker committee of the PDP in the state.

But Fubara is said to have vowed that he would resist Wike’s attempt to also control the PDP structure in the state.

In all the PDP states, like in other states, the control of the party structures at the state level is vested in the governors.

THISDAY gathered that the NEC may also look into the situation in Rivers State where 25 members of the state House of Assembly elected on the platform of the PDP

defected to the APC allegedly under the instruction of Wike.

The committee will also deliberate on the issue of the next substantive chairman of the party who will replace Ayu.

Ayu resigned in March last year following sustained pressure from the G-5.

Nigeria’s 774 local government areas which is in line with the guidelines of the NPHCDA.

Mulombo further said: "My expectation is that the Adopt-AHealthcare Facility Programme will go beyond establishing PHC facilities, to ensure that private sector investment is directed towards improving the standards of service delivery including primary emergency care effort of government and all stakeholders are integrated to avoid fragmentation and ensure sustainable and resilient PHC systems to prevent, detect and respond to infectious diseases and outbreaks.

According to him, the initiative will ensure that: "Adequate investments are made to strengthen critical primary healthcare systems such as retention skilled and motivated health workforce at the PHC level; essential medicines, vaccines, and commodities; appropriate infrastructure and

equipment; as well as appropriate technology, pooled funds cover PHC so that all citizens would access PHC services free at the point of service use while paying attention to equitable resource allocation and prioritisation of those most in need proactive and scientific effort is made to track progress from the baseline."

The Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of PSHAN, Tinuola Akinbolagbe, said the significance of the initiative is to bring together the diverse expertise, resources, and perspectives of the public and private sectors, academia, civil society, and international organisations.

She said: "At the core of our partnership lies the visionary AdoptA-Healthcare Facility Programme (ADHFP), a flagship initiative aimed at establishing globally standardised Primary Healthcare Centres (PHCs) across Nigeria's 774 local government areas.

HIKE IN ELECTRICITY TARIFF WILL WORSEN LIVING CONDITIONS, COST OF DOING BUSINESS, SAY AFENIFERE, LAGOS, ABUJA CHAMBERS OF COMMERCE

Commission (NERC).

The Senate Chief Whip, Senator Ali Ndume, who represents Borno South in the National Assembly, has also condemned the hike in electricity tariff, describing the timing as wrong.

This is as NERC yesterday directed the power distribution companies to refund all overbilled Band ‘B’ customers by April 11.

In their separate reactions to the tariff hike by the apex regulator of Nigeria’s power sector, the groups said the decision would worsen the living conditions of Nigerians and also increase the cost of doing business in the country.

The LCCI expressed its view in a statement titled: ‘The Rising Cost of Doing Business in Nigeria," where it argued that the rise in electricity tariffs and the decision of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) to hike the Monetary Policy Rate (MPR) from 22.75 per cent to 24.75 per cent would make the costs of living and doing business in Nigeria unbearable.

The statement, which was signed by the Director General of LCCI, Dr. Chinyere Almona, said the two decisions were compounded by the difficulty in the importation and clearing of goods in the country’s ports.

"Feedback from businesses and analysts suggests that these moves will inflict severe

pain on the private sector, further exacerbating the already challenging economic environment," she said.

According to Almona, "The recent hikes in the MPR have directly translated into higher interest rates, making it more expensive for businesses to access credit for working capital, expansion, and sustainability.

"We have consistently advised that rate hikes alone will not curb inflation without resolving the challenges of the real sector of the economy. The real sector has demonstrated the capacity to create more jobs, manufacture products for consumption and export, and sustain the industrial base of the economy.

"While we understand that high-interest rates attract Foreign Portfolio Investments (FPIs) and local investors to treasury bills and bonds, we lament the drying up of funds away from the private sector to government treasuries."

The chamber acknowledged that the removal of the subsidy on electricity supply was to attract foreign investors into the sector with a cost-reflective tariff.

But it also insisted that it had "also advocated that we subsidise production instead of consumption.

"However, our major concern is seeing businesses pay heavily for the services that they do not enjoy optimally. It is a grave concern that with a higher cost

KWANKWASO: NNPP IS ALTERNATIVE TO FAILED PDP, FAILING APC

2015 to bring in some positive changes. Unfortunately, we have seen what happened from 2015 to date. This is the same APC government.

In contrast, he emphasised the NNPP’s rapid growth as a party in Nigeria, highlighting its understanding of the significance of education in alleviating poverty and ensuring the security of lives and property.

He said, “We are all aware that the PDP has completely failed. Many of us decided in 2014, and 2015 to bring in some positive changes. Unfortunately, we have seen what happened from 2015 to date. This is the same APC government.

“Therefore, as far as we are concerned, we have a failing party that is the APC and we believe that this country requires an alternative to the APC and of course, the PDP and the only party, in my opinion, and based on facts, because the NNPP today is the fastest growing party in this country.

“I also believe even beyond this

country, that is the only hope as we stand today. In many parts of this country, especially in northern Nigeria, particularly in my part of the north, so many people have been chased out of their homes, and so many have been killed. Some are in the bushes now in the forest under the care of bandits and other criminals. And it looks like many people don’t care.

“It is even becoming a normal thing to go and pick up people in their homes, on the roads, in the markets and so on. I believe it is only in this country that this sort of nonsense is happening. And it is the responsibility of every government, responsible government to ensure the peace of its people.

“I believe, as a former minister of defence in this country, as a former chief security officer of Kano State for eight years, and so on, I believe that we have adequate resources, we have enough manpower, we have all that it takes to protect Nigerians to peace in this country today. So it’s an opportunity for me to

ensure that we bring on board a united, stronger, more peaceful, more prosperous Nigeria for all of us.

“Let me say that this party will continue to unite. Its members will continue to be fair and just to all of us. All our members will continue to have an internal democracy within the party so that everybody is allowed to attain his or her position.

“Let me also, at this point, thank all of you for selecting me to be the national leader of our party. I’m so proud. I’m so happy. And I want to assure you that I will do whatever it takes to ensure that this party grows from strength to strength.”

On his part, Kano State Governor, Abba Yusuf, thanked those who supported the party during the campaigns and legal battles.

He noted that the NNPP ranks as the third-largest party in Nigeria, boasting approximately 21 federal legislators, nearly 30 state legislators, as well as one governor and one deputy governor.

of power, companies are still not having access to the service.

"We call for an aggressive metering programme that leads to 100 per cent coverage of electricity consumers.

"This guarantees liquidity for the distribution companies and gives more satisfaction to consumers with a feeling of paying for what they consume,” she said.

"We are concerned that businesses will face double jeopardy in paying a higher electricity tariff and another cost in providing a private electricity supply,” she added.

In a separate reaction, ACCI has also raised the alarm that the recent increase in electricity tariffs could negatively impact the ease of doing business in Nigeria.

The President of ACCI, Mr. Emeka Obegolu, said in Abuja yesterday that the hike would significantly impact businesses across the various sectors of the economy.

Obegolu expressed worry that the Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs), which are crucial to the country’s economy, would be greatly affected by the hike in tariff.

“The ease of doing business is a critical factor for fostering economic growth, attracting investments, and creating job opportunities.

“Regrettably, the increase in electricity tariffs can hinder these efforts by imposing additional financial burdens on businesses, especially SMEs, which are the backbone of our economy,” he said.

On its part, Afenifere has accused the Ministry of Power and NERC of forcing Nigerians to pay for their inefficiency.

In a statement issued yesterday by its National Publicity Secretary, Jare Ajayi, Afenifere stated that the 300 per cent electricity tariff increase would thwart President Bola Tinubu-led administration’s effort to boost the economy as businesses would shrink.

The group wondered how businesses could flourish as desired by President Tinubu when the amount to be paid per kilowatt hour (kWh) of electricity jumped from N68 to N225 just within 24 hours of its announcement.

It added: “If the relevant government agencies are to be sincere with Nigerians, what they should do is to first ensure regular and efficient supply of electricity before acceding to increase in payment for services that are being poorly rendered.

“A rough calculation indicated that a person on Band A who

was paying an average of N50,000 per month (on N68 per kWh) would now have to pay N170,000 for the same service. Note the increase!

"It is noteworthy that the ministry and its agency, the NERC, are interested in the revenue that would be generated rather than first ensuring regular and efficient supply. This is in contradiction to the claim that the government agencies care about the pains of Nigerians,” Afenifere added.

Timing of Tariff Hike Wrong, Ndume Insists

Ndume, who also rejected the new tariff, said that Nigerians were yet to recover from the removal of fuel subsidy.

In a statement he issued yesterday, the former Senate leader called on the federal government to reconsider its position in the interest of Nigerians, adding that Nigerians were already facing many challenges, including unprecedented inflation, poor purchasing power, insecurity, and other hardships.

According to Ndume, the federal government should focus on providing stable electricity first to Nigerians, reducing inflation, stabilising the naira, reducing food prices, and providing other basic amenities to Nigerians before increasing the tariff.

Ndume said: “The news of the increment came to me and many of my colleagues as a shock. It also came at a time when the National Assembly was on a break. I think the timing of this hike is very wrong. Nigerians are grappling with many challenges.”

However, despite the complaints, NERC yesterday insisted that the electricity tariff for Band ‘A’ customers, Nigeria, remains the 4th cheapest among 18 countries surveyed in Africa.

In a Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) released by the organisation, it stressed that despite the perceived high prices of on-grid electricity, it remains the cheapest and most reliable compared to other alternatives.

NERC Directs Discos to Refund Overbilled Consumers Within Four Days

Meanwhile, NERC yesterday directed the power distribution companies to refund all

LOVE IN THE AIR…

Groom's father/former Governor of Ondo

Petroleum Technologists Express Worry over Nigeria's 500,000bpd Oil Production Shortfall Valued Daily

The Petroleum Technology Association of Nigeria (PETAN), an umbrella body of oilfield service companies in the country, has lamented the huge revenue losses being suffered by the country arising from the 500,000 barrels per day (bpd) crude oil production shortfall daily. The association also estimated the financial value of that gap to be in the hundreds of trillions of

naira and in excess of Nigeria's annual budget. It, however, promised to support the efforts of the President Bola Tinubu-led administration to increase Nigeria's oil and gas production for maximum value to the nation.

The newly-inaugurated Chairman of PETAN and Chief Executive Officer of Geoplex Drillteq Limited, Mr. Wole Ogunsanya, made the assertions in Lagos during an interaction with energy reporters. He said the vision and intention

of PETAN was to support the authorities to ensure that all the values existing in the oil and gas industry are retained in Nigeria. He stated that if Nigeria could retain at least between 60 to 70 per cent value of the oil and gas value chain in the country, the nation stood a better chance of emerging as a top 20 economy in the world. Ogunsanya expressed concerns that Nigeria is currently losing a lot due to its inability to produce up to its oil production capacity,

saying that has hampered the ability of the government to fulfill some of its obligations. He said the losses from the underproduction would not have been recorded if there was full in-country retention of values and beneficiation across all the chains of the industry.

Nigeria's production still stagnates at below 1.3 million barrels per day despite promises by the government to ramp up production to between 1.8 million to two million barrels

Tinubu Will Turn Nigeria’s Fortune Better, Serve Two Terms, Says Omo-Agege

Sylvester Idowu in Warri

Immediate-past Deputy President of the Senate, Senator Ovie Omo-Agege, last night boasted that President Bola Tinubu would serve two terms in office and would turn the fortunes of the country better.

Omo-Agege gave the assurances in Ughelli during the homecoming reception organised for him by the leadership and members of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Delta State.

Addressing the mammoth crowd that turned up for his homecoming at Oil City Motel, Ughelli, he said when President Tinubu came to power, the economy was in the doldrums, with the cost of the dollar out of

control, adding that Tinubu put his foot down and things started taking shape.

"When he started, we all saw the confidence, we saw the economic stand he took; the dollar spiralled out of control but the Asiwaju, that we always know, has put his foot down and now things are taking shape. This is just the beginning.

"I am sure he will succeed. All we need is to pray for him. He is our own. When Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu succeeds, we all succeed. When it is good for him, it is also good for us. So, please, let us continue to pray for him and let us continue to protect him," he said.

"He has a mandate; some say it

is four years but we believe it is a mandate of eight years and we know in that eight years, he is going to turn everything around for good in this country," he said.

Senator Omo-Agege thanked all members of the party in the state for the solidarity and support he enjoyed from them all these years and urged them not to lose hope, assuring that the party, though did not win the governorship seat made an impact in the 2023 elections.

He recalled that the party won two senatorial districts and House of Representatives seats and that of the House of Assembly in the state, adding that it was unprecedented in the history of Delta State.

"It had never happened before. So,

I, therefore, thanked the leadership of the party, both at the national and state as well as the local governments and wards levels for their support," he added.

The senator representing Delta Central and Chairman of the reception, Senator Ede Dafinone recounted the exploits of the former Deputy President of the Senate, which he described as selfless service, and dedication to not only the people of the state but to Nigerian as a whole.

"I am proud to celebrate our own DSP, Senator Ovie Omo-Agege and to welcome him home. He has done us proud, as a legislator and as a leader. He had an exemplary performance in the Senate of the Federal Republic of Nigeria," he said.

Global Agency: Food Security Deteriorating across Nigeria

Says 24.8m Nigerians are food-insecure

Ndubuisi Francis in Abuja

The world's biggest humanitarian organisation, World Food Programme (WFP) has reported that food security across Nigeria is deteriorating, with an estimated 24.8 million food-insecure people, including the 4.3 million in the North-east that require humanitarian assistance.

According to the just-released WFP situation update on Nigeria, "food security across Nigeria keeps deteriorating. Protracted conflict and insecurities in the North-east increased the internally displaced persons (IDPs) population by 24 per cent since 2020, and a fluctuating returnee population experiencing recurring

displacements. "In the North-west and North-central, armed banditry and kidnappings leave more than 1.2 million people fleeing to safety."

The report noted that the recent mass abductions across the northern states constrain humanitarian access and limit access to agricultural lands.

"Food insecurity is exacerbated by heavy dependence on imports, which climbed 22.12 per cent year-on-year from February 2022.

Inflation reached 31.7 per cent in February 2024, a 9.8 per cent increase from the same month in 2023 (National Bureau of Statistics).

"These combined security

challenges and economic strain make food unaffordable for vulnerable people and limit their access to agricultural lands.

"In February, WFP held a joint planning meeting with key Borno State Government (BSG) agencies to review ongoing partnerships and identify opportunities across different thematic areas of food assistance, nutrition, livelihoods, and evidence generation.

"A joint draft plan has been submitted for government review. Once formally endorsed by the State Governor, both ends of the partnership will align priorities and monitor progress against set plans," the WFP said.

Nigeria's hunger score in 2023 was 28.3, placing it 109th out

of 125 countries on the Global Hunger Index, the WFP recently said in the 'Nigeria Annual Country Report 2023'.

The 109th position indicated six places down from 103rd in 2022.

According to the report, the escalation reflects compounding local and regional challenges, exacerbated by global events.

The report stated that "Nigeria's hunger situation worsened in 2023, dropping six places in the Global Hunger Index to 109th out of 125 countries, compared to 103rd in 2022."

Insecurity, economic hardships, and political tensions in the first two months of 2023 further exacerbated the situation, the report said.

per day.

Ogunsanya explained: "Essentially, if Nigerian organisations are involved in taking that oil out, taking it to a refinery owned by Nigerians and refining it. If we have petrochemicals refining the gas and we are processing it in power plants, we run pipelines to connect all those power plants, this country will be in the top 20 economies in the world.

"And we believe very strongly that there is no better prescription for Nigeria's economic solution than that.

"So, what we have is, as we see today, the production is down by at least 500,000 barrels. If you do the mathematics at today's rate,

you are talking of hundreds of trillions of naira, more than what the national budget per year is."

In order to retain those values in-country at every stage of the oil and gas process, Ogunsanya said a lot of gaps needed to be filled through government policy initiatives and collaboration with industry stakeholders.

Reiterating PETAN's commitment to support the retention of those values, he acknowledged the presidency's high interest in increasing production.

He pointed out that the presidency had given the directives and had formulated a lot of gazettes, adding that PETAN aligned with those initiatives.

Customs Generates N489bn at Apapa Port

Eromosele Abiodun

The Apapa Command of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), disclosed that it collected N489.6billion from import between January 1 and March 31, 2024.

In a press statement by the command’s Public Relations Officer, Usman Abubakar, the revenue for the first quarter of 2024 was over 100 per cent higher than N212.5 billion what was collected same period of 2023 by the command.

Abubakar, however, stated that the command’s Area Controller (CAC), Comptroller Babajide Jaiyeoba, commended the officers and port stakeholders for their cooperation for attaining the feat and called for sustained compliance by government and private sector stakeholders.

The command’s image maker stated that the controller reminded the officers that the Apapa Command is playing a critical role towards the realisation of the N5.7 trillion annual target of the customs in 2024, and as such, all hands should be on deck to achieve it.

According to him, the almost N2 trillion target the command is expected to collect in 2024 is attainable by diligently abiding by the service books of instructions like the Nigeria Customs Service Act (NCSA) 2023, government import/export prohibition lists, Common External Tariff and federal government approved Standard Operating Procedures (SOP) While thanking the officers for their punctuality, diligence, and non compromise in the discharge of their

responsibilities, Jaiyeoba reminded them of the confidence vested in them by the Customs’ boss, CGC Bashir Adeniyi and management of the service.

The CAC reminded the officers that the present customs management has created room for multiple benefits for those who operate in compliance with the rules.

He described the Command’s first quarter collection as a bold step towards the realisation of the target and reminded all port users about the importance of compliance, which, according to him, comes with multiple benefits.

Jaiyeoba said: “I want to urge all stakeholders in Apapa Port to keep supporting us in achieving an efficient system where everyone plays by the rules to achieve smoother, seamless, and faster import/export cargo clearance

“Making honest declaration puts the declarant at a vantage position to have a credible reputation and enjoy the benefits that come with earned integrity such as fast track and possible migration to the authorised economic operator (AEO)

“Such attitude of compliance saves time and money as examination officers would find the cargo less cumbersome to process and other units of the service including sister government organisations would not need to flag such cargo for seizure or arrest of the importers/exporters. The cargo gets cleared on time, and payments for penalties after demand notices are not necessary as no DN is issued on compliant import/export.

Peter Uzoho

State, Dr. Olusegun Mimiko; his wife, Olukemi; former Governor of Kogi State, Mr. ldris Wada; Ooni of lfe, Imperial Majesty, Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi; Ogun State Governor, Prince Dapo Abiodun; Couple, Omobayonle and Anjolaoluwa Mimiko; and Ondo State Deputy Governor, Dr. Olayide Adelami, during the solemnisation of the wedding of Omobayonle and Anjolaoluwa Mimiko in Lagos...yesterday. ABIODUN AJALA

To Enhance Troops’ Effectiveness, Lagbaja Pledges More Combat Enablers, Other Operational Requirements

Kingsley Nwezeh in Abuja

The Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lt Gen Taoreed Lagbaja, yesterday, pledged more support for troops in the form of combat enablers and other operational requirements to enhance their operational effectiveness in safeguarding their area of responsibility (AOR).

The COAS has also lauded troops of 1 Brigade Nigerian Army for their resilience and sacrifice in the fight against terrorism and insurgency in the North-west.

This is coming as Nigerian Army Headquarters said troops killed three terrorists in an ambush operation in Kaduna.

It said in a statement signed by Army Spokesman, Maj Gen Onyema Nwachukwu that the troops acting on credible intelligence targeted the terrorist group known for using motorbikes to carry out nefarious activities in the region.

The Army Chief gave the commendation yesterday when he paid an operational visit to 1 Brigade in Gusau, Zamfara State, where he was briefed by the Commander, 1 Brigade, Brig Gen Sani Ahmed on

troops' activities and successes in the conduct of the ongoing Operation Desert Sanity II in Zamfara and the contiguous states.

Lagbaja pledged more support in the form of combat enablers and other operational requirements to enhance troops’ operational effectiveness in safeguarding their area of responsibility.

The COAS also seized the opportunity to pay a courtesy visit to the Emir of Gusau, Alhaji Ibrahim Bello Sarkin Katsinan Gusau, where he expressed appreciation to the royal father and the good people of Gusau for their support to the troops and the Nigerian Army in general. He assured him that with continued support and cooperation of the people, terrorism and insurgency will be surmounted.

Meanwhile, the Nigerian Army Headquarters said troops killed three terrorists in an ambush operation in Kaduna.

Acting on credible intelligence, the troops targeted the terrorist group, known for using motorbikes to carry out nefarious activities in the region.

"During the operation on Friday, 4 April 2024, around Kidandan

Tinubu to Observe Eid-el-Fitr in Lagos

Deji Elumoye in Abuja

President Bola Tinubu will depart Abuja, the nation’s capital, today for Lagos ahead of the Eid-el-Fitri celebration.

The Eid-el-Fitri festival is celebrated by Muslims worldwide after observing Ramadan fasting for 29 or 30 days.

In a statement issued yesterday, the President’s Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Ajuri Ngelale, said Tinubu would “observe the moment in prayers for Nigeria and with family in deference to the solemn occasion, which marks the end of Ramadan”. “In deference to the solemn occasion, which marks the end of Ramadan, the President will observe the moment in prayers for Nigeria and with family,” Ngelale said. Ngelale who did not specify the date of Tinubu’s return said the Nigerian leader will “continue official duties during and after the Eid-el-Fitr holidays.”

NIMC: New

Village, Giwa Local Government of Kaduna State, the troops engaged the terrorists in a gun battle, neutralising three of them.

"The terrorist group was in transit to repair their motorbikes, which they used as mobility when unleashing their acts of terror on the populace in Kaduna State and across the North-west region," it said.

The statement said the operation also led to the recovery of one Ak- 47 Rifle, one stock Ak-47 Rifle, four motorbikes, and one Motorola radio.

Army Denies Setting Indicted Soldiers of Northern Extraction Free

In another development, the Nigerian Army yesterday denied

allegations that it freed soldiers of northern extraction accused of murder, while soldiers of southern extraction also involved in the same case were kept in detention.

According to the Army, a Military Court Martial set up to try all the soldiers indicted in the case, was composed of 60 per cent of officers from the southern part of the country.

Two Nigerian soldiers who were being court-martialled in the 82 Division of the Nigerian Army for murder were reportedly freed and re-absorbed into service.

The two soldiers are Private Usman Shonva and another identified only as Audu.

While Shonva allegedly shot and killed one of his coursemates in Ohafia, Abia State in 2022, Audu was accused of killing a Togolese national and one other person in

Anambra State

But the Nigerian Army argued that the allegations that the decision of the court was skewed in favour of the soldiers from northern extraction were unfounded.

A separate statement by the Director of Army Public Relations, Major Gen Nwachukwu said the Nigerian Army is a professional organisation, which does not bring ethnicity or religion into its decision-making process but acts on facts and evidence.

The statement reads: “Notably, the composition of the Court Martial was not based on regional representation, rather, the membership of the court was diverse, with personnel drawn from various regions of the country.

“It is exigent to note that the President of the Court Martial is of northern extraction, while the

Judge Advocate is from the South.

“Additionally, 60 per cent of the Court Martial members are of southern extraction, demonstrating a fair and balanced representation, even though religion and ethnicity are not major focal criteria in the decision-making process of the NA.

“The decision of a Court Martial is collective and based on evidence presented during the trial.

“The said Court Martial tried the personnel, irrespective of their ethnic and religious affiliations, and the outcome was determined strictly based on the evidence presented.

It said that: “In espousing the position of the NA in the cases mentioned in the report, taking that of Private Usman Shonva for instance, evidence revealed that there were other soldiers at the scene of the incident, who also fired their weapons.

51,447 Nigerian Pilgrims Registered for 2024 Hajj, Says NAHCON

Olawale Ajimotokan in Abuja

The National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON) has disclosed that 51,447 intending Nigerian pilgrims registered for the 2024 Hajj under the federal government quota of 90,000.

The Assistant Director, of Public Affairs, NAHCON, Fatima Sanda Usara, disclosed this yesterday in a statement.

The Hajj rites for this year are scheduled for Mecca and some holy sites in surrounding Mina, Muzdalifah, Arafat, and Jamarat from June 14 to June 19, in addition to visitation to Madinah.

The deadline for the payment of the balance was March 28.

The breakdown of the list shows Kaduna State has the highest number of registered pilgrims of 4, 493 while there are no pilgrims on federal quota from the four southern states of Abia, Cross River, Anambra, and Akwa Ibom.

The Armed Forces will also have 365 pilgrims, while Kogi, Bayelsa, and Ebonyi states have the least number of pilgrims 13 each. Sanda thanked the federal government for playing a leading

It would be recalled that after depositing N4.9 million as hajj fares, many potential pilgrims were confronted with uncertainty after NAHCON demanded an additional N1.9 million in fees to cover the cost of the exercise due to volatility in the exchange rate.

National ID Card with Payment, Social Features Ready Soon

Michael Olugbode in Maiduguri

The federal government, through the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC), has revealed a plan to introduce an enhanced National Identity card layered with payment capabilities and social service features.

The spokesperson for the NIMC, Kayode Adegoke, who disclosed this in a statement on Friday, said the card, which was being developed in collaboration with the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) and the Nigeria Inter-bank Settlement System (NIBSS),

would be powered by AfriGO, a national domestic card scheme.

The statement noted that the national ID card, fortified with verifiable National Identity features, is supported by the NIMC Act No. 23 of 2007, which mandates the enrollment and issuance of a general multipurpose card to Nigerians and legal residents.

The initiative, according to Adegoke, aims to meet the demand for physical identification, enabling cardholders to verify their identity and access both government and private social services.

The national ID card will promote financial inclusion, empower citizens,

and foster increased participation in nation-building endeavours, the statement said.

According to NIMC, only registered citizens and legal residents with the National Identification Number (NIN) will be eligible to request the card.

“The card, which will be produced according to ICAO standards, is positioned as the country’s default national identity card,” the statement said.

It added: “In addition to this functionality, cardholders will also be able to use the cards as debit or

prepaid cards by linking the same to bank accounts of their choice.

“The card shall enable eligible persons, especially those financially excluded from social and financial services, to have access to multiple government intervention programmes.

“In line with data protection regulation and public interest, NIMC remains committed to protecting cardholders’ data and will ensure compliance with international standards on data security protocols as security features that protect the confidentiality and safety of users’ information,” the statement added.

role in the realisation of this noble objective, noting that NAHCON recognised the numerous sacrifices it made against all odds towards easing the constraints of the intending pilgrims.

“The commission also commends the patience exhibited by the pilgrims who were caught up in the uncertainties. The concern demonstrated by the Ulamas over the pilgrims’ predicament did not go unnoticed by the commission.

Several stakeholders, including state governors, rendered solutions out of the gridlock. Some media houses showed tremendous understanding

of the constraints which exposed the reality of the quagmire the 2024 Hajj was confronting.

“Indeed, 2024 Hajj preparations came with unexpected challenges from which lessons have been learnt. NAHCON has always known that long-term planning has been the workable strategy that would have subdued the challenges that slowed down the year’s Hajj preparations. Going forward, long-term planning will be the commission’s paradigm shift in its pre-Hajj operations. It is a reality that all Hajj stakeholders must key into to avert unforeseen challenges,” Sanda said.

PDP to Hold Ward Congress in Ondo on April 8

Chuks Okocha in Abuja

The National Working Committee (NWC) of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has said that it will hold the ward congress of the party in Ondo State on Monday, April 8, 2024.

It also approved the nomination of party members to serve as members of the Ondo State Ward Congress Electoral Committee to conduct a three-man Ad-Hoc Ward Congress for the purpose of electing three ad-hoc delegates per ward (one of whom shall be a woman) in each of the 203 wards in the state

A statement issued yesterday by

the National Publicity Secretary of the PDP, Debo Ologunagba, said the ward congress is scheduled to hold at the ward secretariat in each of the 203 wards

The members of the committee are: Senator Abba Moro who will serve as Chairman, while, Hon. Tom Zakari, Issaiah Makinde, and David Kolawole Vaughan will serve as members.

Nheoma Ndu will serve as secretary of the committee. Ologunagba said the NWC charged all governorship aspirants, leaders, critical stakeholders and members of the party in the state to take note and be guided accordingly.

Officer, Tino Electronics Limited, Chief Timothy Ofoezie; Mrs. Obi; and former Chairman, Alaba Electronics Dealers Association, Chief Leo Okafor, at the burial of Chief Ofoezie’s mother, Ezinne Clarice Ofoezie, at Achi,

CONDOLENCE VISIT…

L-R:

Again, Nigerian Breweries Announces Third Price Hikes in Three Months

Dike Onwuamaeze

In what seems to have become a monthly ritual, the Nigerian Breweries Plc has once again announced a hike in the prices of its products that would take effect from April 9, 2024, after it had made similar announcements in February and March 2024.

A price review notification the Nigerian Breweries issued on April 5 to all direct customers in its west zone notified them “of the price review for some of our SKU’s, which takes effect from Tuesday, April 9, 2024.”

The notification, which was signed by its Zonal Business Manager-West, Mr. ‘Lekan Awosanya, also said that “all open orders in our system at 00.00 hours on April 9, 2024, will be invoiced at the new prices. “For further clarification, please do not hesitate to contact your regional business manager.”

The latest price review would affect 45 products that are manufactured by the company and also cut across its alcoholic and nonalcoholic products such as beer, malted, and other drinks. The affected brands included

Export, Goldberg, Gulder, Heineken, Life, More Lager, Star, Star Lite, Star Radler, and Tiger beers. Others are Amstel Malta, Maltina, Hi Malt Fayrouz products, etc.

The Nigerian Breweries had notified its distributor that it would increase the prices of its products on March 15, 2024, after a similar exercise on February 19, 2024.

The company had attributed the review of its prices in March to the continued rising input cost and the need to mitigate the impact.

It stated: “As earlier informed, we will review the prices of some of our SKUs effective Friday, March

15, 2024. This review has become necessary because of the continued rising input cost and the need to mitigate the impact.

“All open orders in our system at 00.00hrs on Friday, March 15, 2024, will be invoiced at the new prices.”

The notification added that “while thanking you for your commitment to our great partnership, be rest assured that we will continue to support your sales/distribution efforts as always.

“For further clarification, please do not hesitate to contact your regional business manager. Happy

APC Promises to Conduct Fair, Transparent Governorship Primary Election in Ondo

Adedayo Akinwale in Abuja

The All Progressives Congress (APC) has promised to conduct a free, fair and transparent primary election to choose its candidate for the November 11 governorship election in Ondo State.

The party’s Deputy National Organising Secretary, Mr. Nze Duru, gave the assurance yesterday in Abuja as the party drew the curtain on the submission of Expression of Interest and Nomination forms by aspirants.

“We assure aspirants that the party is interested and desirous of conducting a free, fair transparent primary election in Ondo State,’’ he said.

The primary election is scheduled to be held on April 20 to select a standard bearer from among the 16 aspirants who have shown interest in the governorship race.

“Saturday, April 6 marks the formal closure of the first step of electing the person that will fly the party’s flag at the forthcoming governorship election in Ondo State.

“The next exercise will be the screening of aspirants on April 11 and April 12 and after that, the primary election will be held,’’ he said.

Duru said also that aspirants would be formed into groups for the screening to ensure a smooth process.

He enjoined all aspirants to extend a hand of felicitation to whoever emerged as the party’s candidate as was done in Edo State.

He explained that Edo State had become a reference point in the party’s free process of choosing its candidates as even those not comfortable with the outcome came together to broker peace among party

members.

“They came to the negotiation table; had a handshake and now we have a very formidable team; and we believe that APC will win in Edo.

“If we trust that APC will win in Edo, we have confidence that it will win in Ondo State,’’ Duru added.

Those in the governorship race are the incumbent governor, Mr. Lucky Aiyedatiewa; Ms. Funmilayo Waheed-Adekojo; Mr. Olusoji Ehinlanwo; Mr. John Odimayo; Mr. Jimoh Ibrahim Folorunsho; Mr. Duerimini Kekemeke; and Mr. Samuel Akinfolarin, and Mr. Adewale Akinterinwa.

Others are Mr. Olugbenga Edema; Chief Olusola Oke; Mr. Felix Onwuyeye; Mr. Morayo Lebi; Mr. Diran Iyantan; Prof. Francis Faduyile; Ms. Judith Omogoroye; and Mr. Ifeoluwa Oyedele.

Oyedele was the last of the aspirants to submit his Expression of Interest and Nomination forms.

He said yesterday while submitting the forms that Ondo State needed a leader with vision and capacity to lead it to the next level, and stressed that he was the candidate to do that.

“I am not new to this process. In 2020, I was the front-runner against the late governor of Ondo State, Mr. Rotimi Akeredolu.

“Following persuasions from party leaders, I willingly and unconditionally stepped down for Akeredolu to ensure that the party was not disunited.

“And for the first time in the history of party politics, all the aspirants rallied behind Akeredolu at the election that took place on October 10, 2020, and the APC won,’’ Oyedele said.

HIKE IN ELECTRICITY TARIFF WILL WORSEN LIVING CONDITIONS, COST OF DOING BUSINESS, SAY AFENIFERE, LAGOS, ABUJA CHAMBERS OF COMMERCE

overbilled Band ‘B’ customers by April 11.

This directive followed complaints from customers, who are not on Band ‘A’ but reported that they were being made to pay N225/KWh for electricity.

The federal government had last Wednesday said they would no longer pay subsidies on electricity consumed by Band ‘A’ customers.

It, however, directed that other

customers would continue to pay the old rates. But as the Discos upgraded their payment platforms, some customers on Bands B, C, D, and E said they were made to pay N225/KWh instead of the old tariffs.

Following these complaints, NERC has directed all distribution companies to refund the affected customers. NERC also directed that “all DisCos shall ensure that only

the newly approved Band A feeders listed in their April 2024 supplementary orders are maintained as Band A for the purpose of vending to prepaid customers and billing for postpaid customers on their networks”.

The DisCos were also required to immediately post on their websites the schedule of approved Band A feeders that have been affected by the rate review.

“All DisCos shall set up a portal by April 10, 2024, on their website that allows all customers to check their current bands by entering their meter or account numbers.

“All customers wrongly billed at the new rate should be refunded through energy tokens not later than Thursday, April 11, 2024, and file evidence of compliance with the commission by April 12, 2024,” the NERC added.

selling!”

The brewery issued a similar “Price Review Notification” to all its direct customers in the west zone on February 12, 2024, for another price adjustment that commenced on February 19, 2024.

The notification said: “Please accept our best compliments! This is to inform you that we are constrained to review the prices of some of our SKUs with effect from Monday, February 19, 2024. This review has become necessary because of continued rising input costs and the need to mitigate the impact.

“In appreciation of our great partnership and your commitment, we will deliver at current prices all open orders that are fully funded and created in our system before 00.00hrs on Monday 19th February 2024.”

It, however, explained that orders exceeding the communicated

quantity window will be subject to the revised pricing.

“The exact quantity of orders that will be allowed will be communicated to you by your regional business manager (RBM). Any order over this quantity will be re-invoiced at the new price on February 19, 2024,” the statement added.

Earlier in August 2023, the Nigerian Breweries also carried out a price hike on its selected products, which took effect from August 10, 2023.

It would be recalled that the company booked a net loss of N106 billion in its audited result for 2023 due to the steep depreciation of the Naira.

It, however, recorded an operating profit of N44.5 billion.

Highlights of its 2023 report included an increase in revenue by 9.0 per cent while its cost of sales increased by 15 per cent.

Omehia Urges Wike to Purge Himself of Greed for Power, Allow Fubara Govern Rivers

Chuks Okocha in Abuja

Former Governor of Rivers State, Celestine Omehia, has advised the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, to reduce his propensity for power and greed and allow Governor Siminalayi Fubara to do his work.

Omehia made this assertion in a statement issued in Port Harcourt in response to the live television interview that Wike, granted in Abuja recently.

In the said interview, Wike described Omehia and other PDP leaders in Rivers State who declared support for the administration of Governor Fubara and President Bola Tinubu last week as "expired politicians and buccaneers."

But in a swift reaction, Omehia stated that Wike’s uncontrolled outbursts during the chat were borne out of his failure to secure a third term by proxy in the state.

He also added that the people of Rivers State have realised that the FCT minister’s quest for power is personal and not in the interest of the state or the South-South at large as claimed.

Omehia said: “The FCT minister thought that he would continue to

control and abuse the resources and governance of the state but God, through the people, resisted the impeachment plot by his members of the Rivers State House of Assembly.

“Wike is notorious for lying against anyone, anytime, and disrespects elders at will; so, there is no surprise about his outburst and criticism against innocent personalities in Rivers State.

“Wike speaks from both sides of his mouth; he says something today and denies it tomorrow like a clown. I am not a buccaneer and my capacity to contribute to the growth and development of my state and country is not impaired.

“I wonder why he is hurt by our support for the governor and the federal government under President Tinubu. Does he want us to perpetually be at political war with everybody, even long after elections are over and governance has taken over? Is it not madness?”

Omehia queried. He further noted that Wike’s excesses, inconsistencies, and hallucinations had reached a shameful peak and advised him to face his job in Abuja as the state was not missing his presence and nuisance value.

Senator Mohammed Hassan; Dr. Joseph Onoh; Senator Bashir Lado; former Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Professor Isa Pantami; former Minister of Aviation, Chief Femi FaniKayode; and Russian Ambassador to Nigeria, Alexey L. Shebarshin, when they paid a condolence visit to the Russian Embassy over the Moscow concert hall killings…recently

INTERVIEW

Investigation will Unravel the Killers of 17 Military Men in Okuama Community

As the mystery behind the killing of 17 soldiers in the Okuama community in Delta State continues to unravel, with the people of the Niger Delta community crying out, accusing the

General Christopher Musa, who said the military has a mandate from the President and Commander-in-Chief of Armed Forces, Bola Ahmed Tinubu to arrest the killers. Emma Okonji who monitored the interview, presents the excerpts:

First,acceptourcondolences over the death of military men in the Okuama communityinDeltaState.But the people of the Urhobo communityareaccusingthe militaryofhigh-handedness, makingitimpossibleforpeopletoreturn totheircommunity,andnotallowingthe community to bury their dead. What do youmakeofthis?

First and foremost, I need to appreciate Nigerians and Nigeria for standing by the military. The military appreciates Nigerians for commiserating with the armed forces for the loss of our gallant soldiers. I received condolence messages from within and outside of the country over the death of our soldiers and we appreciate them for their concern. People understand that the military was established as an arm of government to protect Nigeria and to protect Nigerians. We felt very bad when criminals took laws into their hands to attack the military. The Okuama attack on the military was premeditated. A group of criminals, cultists, and militants, decided to take laws into their hands because they make so much money from crude oil theft. team while on a peacekeeping mission to the community and that is unacceptable. We are happy that the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces has given us his mandate to arrest the killers and recover the ammunition.

IwanttoassureNigeriansthatthemilitaryintheOkuamacommunitywillnot do anything to impede the rights of the peopleofthecommunity.

The public is saying that the military, in the process of investigating the matter, is overreaching itself, since the Nigerian Constitution and the Armed Forces Act do not give the military the power to arrest and prosecute civilians, which is the function of the police. What is your response to this public criticism? arrest in the Okuama community and the military is working as a team in conjunction with the task force set aside for that purpose. The military men in the Okuama community were legally deployed with a mandate from the Commander-in-Chief of Armed Forces, Bola Ahmed Tinubu to arrest the killers. What we have on the ground in the Okuama community is a joint task force, comprising the Army, Navy, Air Force, police, DSS, and other security agents. So it is a joint investigation team and the Army is not doing it alone. people saying the Army has taken over the community, but what they do not understand is that it is a joint task force carrying out the investigation. Once we have been deployed arrest of all kinds of criminalities within the area. So the task force, which the Army is arrest and not to intimidate innocent people. threat was not high, and felt he could discuss peacefully with the people, that was why he went there with his team unarmed. If they were armed, they would have overrun the criminals and erased all of them. They were

rounded up and shot. Not only did they shoot them, they also dismembered their bodies, and their private parts act shows that there is a lot of human I call on all Nigerians to stand against this brutal act.

Sohowwillyoudescribetheoperationsofthemilitaryandthejointtask forceintheOkuamacommunity?

The operation of the task force is regulated, otherwise it could have been a situation where we would have erased and brought down the entire level, because we knew that not all the community members were involved in the killing of the soldiers, but we are also aware that people in the community are aware of the killing and they know the killers, so that makes them complicit in the matter. What we are doing is to thoroughly search the community for

Whatisyourtakeonthetraditional ruler and Ovie of the Ewu/Urhobo kingdominDeltaState,KingClement Oghenerukeywe,whowasdeclared

wantedbythemilitaryandwhowillingly surrenderedhimselftothepoliceforinvestigation? The traditional ruler who was declared wanted and willingly submitted himself to the police for investigation, should be commended, and we expect others who have been declared wanted to equally surrender on their own accord. We will investigate them and handle the matter fairly. We are not animals and we are not barbaric and we are not irresponsible military that will go about killing people, but the truth is that if they had not tempered with our own gallant soldiers, we would not have come out in the them and we have provided them with social amenities. We are not occupational military, but we are the Nigerian Armed Forces and we have an obligation to protect Nigerians and Nigeria.

Peopleareworriedaboutwhythepolice should hand over the traditional ruler to themilitaryforinvestigation.Ishesafein thehandsofthemilitary?

Yes, he is safe in the hands of the military. There is really nothing to fear about. He willingly surrendered himself to the police and the police handed him to the joint task force that also has the police component. So it’s a

joint investigation that is being conducted by the joint task force. I want Nigerians to understand that we are all Nigerians and the military loves Nigerians. We have put down our lives for Nigerians and we will not hurt innocent Nigerians. We are only after the criminals. The President and Commanderin-Chief of the Armed Forces gave us a mandate to arrest the perpetrators and we will carry out that order without complaint. The traditional ruler is safe. We will ask him a few questions and we will let him go. I do not want to comment so much on this, but to say that the investigation is ongoing.

WhyistheOkuamacommunityinDelta Stateunderlockdownandwhywerethe peoplenotgivenaccesstotheircommunity? The Okuama community is under lockdown because the joint task force is on a arrest. When we are done with the search, we will allow the people to gain access to their community and return to their community. There are lots of weapons in the community that were bought with money from crude oil theft. So we are going to search the community to recover the weapons in the community. We will thoroughly clean the community and ensure that no weapon is left in it. Our search and investigation will unravel the community when we are through with the search.

What is the state of the families of the killedsoldiers,especiallythewiveswho arepregnant?

The soldiers who were killed had wives who are pregnant and would deliver the babies without the babies knowing their fathers. Some are three months pregnant, months pregnant. Their case is pathetic and I barely sleep. Each time I close my eyes in sleep, I remember them. But I assure you that the military will always stand by them. I therefore call on Nigerians to support the military in arresting those involved in the killing. The President of Nigeria has awarded them posthumous awards and has given incentives to their families in the areas of their welfare and education. This has motivated our troops to continue to protect Nigeria and Nigerians and to do more.

What is the level of investigation on General Endurance Amagbeni whom themilitaryhasdeclaredwantedasthe mastermindofthekillingofthe17military menintheOkuamacommunity?

General Endurance Amagbeni as they call him, is a fake General and he is the mastermind of the killing of the soldiers. He is the one who planned and executed the killing with his boys. A lot of issues of cultism have been traced to him, and he has been declared wanted by the military. The full weight of the law is upon him and his team. It’s a matter of time. If he likes, let him run outside the country, we will still get him. We appeal to Nigerians not to support the killers and not to protect them in any way.

General Musa

NEWSXTRA

FACILITY TOUR…

L-R: Deputy General Manager, Glocient Hospitality, Mr. Dayo Olujekun (Concessionaire of Ikogosi Resort); Tour Guide, Mrs. Aina Adeyeye; Government and External Affairs Director, Cavista Holdings Limited, Olumide Olayomi; and the Minister of Tourism, Mrs. Lola Ade-John, during the minister’s working visit to Ikogosi Warm Springs Resort and Conference Centre, Ikogosi, Ekiti State…recently

Kogi Community Buries 25 Victims of Banditry

Ibrahin Oyewale in Lokoja

Twenty-five victims of Thursday’s banditry at Agojeju-Odo community in Omala Local Government

Area of Kogi State were buried yesterday. Chief David Akpa, District Head and Ochala Onu-Ife Bagaji Odo, Omala, told newsmen in his palace

ABCON Asks CBN to Adjust FX Rate Downward

The Association of Bureaux De Change Operators of Nigeria (ABCON), the umbrella body of all Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN)-Licensed Bureaux De Change (BDCs) in Nigeria has appealed to the Apex Bank to adjust and lower its applicable Exchange Rate downward below the N1,251/$ it’s pegged for the BDCs.

The request is coming amid the epoch history making achieved by the apex bank for the first time in the last 15 years for the unofficial market rates at N1,235/$ to be lower than the official BDCs applicable buying exchange rate of N1,251/$ (plus 1.5 per cent margin) set for the BDCs by the CBN in its latest tranche of intervention.

The group insisted that the naira’s speedy recovery, which was faster than expected had

made CBN’s selling rate to BDCs very expensive and difficult to offload to retail end buyers that are trooping to the undocumented forex operators for cheaper rates and avoiding the BDCs services

In a letter to CBN Director, Trade & Exchange Department, ABCON, signed by its National President, Alhaji (Dr.) Aminu Gwadabe, ABCON further expressed concerns that many BDCs who funded their accounts for dollar allocations are yet to receive their allocation of dollars to meet the legitimate critical demand of their clients due to scrutinization of the BDCs documents for collections at the various designated Centers which invariably made the BDCs vulnerable to exchange rate risk and significant loses.

Accelerated Learning Project

Improves Education in Kano Schools

Under the auspices of the Partnership for Learning for All in Nigerian Education (PLANE), the Accelerated Learning (AL) project has been making significant strides in enhancing educational outcomes across colleges in Kano.

Launched in April 2020 and slated to continue for nine years, the AL project, funded by Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO), has received commendation from educators, mentors, and teachers for its effectiveness in transforming the learning experience.

The PLANE programme is being implemented by a consortium of organisation led by DAI, with the British Council focused on the Accelerated Learning (AL) part which it implements with Teaching at The Right Level (TaRL) organization.

This year’s edition of the AL project in Kano witnessed widespread participation and positive feedback from stakeholders. School principals and teachers lauded the initiative, highlighting its pivotal role in addressing the pressing needs of the education sector.

that those buried included two women and four children.

Akpa described the attack as barbaric and wicked given the way and manner the bandits unleashed mayhem on his people.

“We are mourning our loved ones who were killed in cold blood. We have never had any misunderstanding either with bandits or with herdsmen before now. “As it is now, we are living in fear, more so that we heard that they are coming to Bagaji Odo, where surviving victims are taking refuge. “We are pleading with the federal and state governments

to come to our aid and protect us from bandits,’’ he pleaded. Akpa explained that Thursday’s attack was the second in the year sending serious fears into residents.

A community member had alleged on Thursday that a running battle between militia groups in parts of Benue and some bandits led to the onslaught on the sleepy towns of AgojejuOdo, Ajokpachi-Odo, Bagaji and environs.

“They destroyed farm produce with ease in an attempt to draw the communities into the conflict,’’ he said.

Retired Commodore Jerry Omodara, Special Adviser on Security to Governor Usman Ododo said on Friday that the governor had ordered a thorough investigation of the incident.

“The killing of innocent and harmless residents of the community by alleged hired militiamen is very callous, unacceptable and condemnable,’’ he said.

Omodara said property; especially houses, vehicles, and crops were destroyed in the attack. He called on the people of Agojeju-Odo and neighbouring communities to remain calm as government and security agencies

were on top of the situation.

The police spokesman in Kogi, SP Williams Ovye-Aya, also confirmed the attack and assured that security operatives were keeping vigil over the community to forestall further attacks.

“A tactical response team of the police, the military, and members of vigilance groups has been deployed in the area. Normalcy has since returned to the troubled community.

“Investigation into the incident has started to bring the perpetrators to book,’’ Ovye-Aya assured

Nigerians in Americas Demand Effective Security Measures to End Kidnappings, Other Criminalities

Emmanuel Ugwu-Nwogo in Umuahia

Nigerians living in the Americas have called on the federal government to adopt effective measures to halt the pervasive insecurity plaguing the country.

They made the call under the aegis of the Nigerians in Diaspora Organisation (NIDO) Americas in a statement jointly issued by the Board of Trustees (BoT) and Board of Directors (BoD).

In the statement signed by the quartet of Bukola Olaoye, NIDOA BoT; Chika Emmanuel, NIDOABrazil BoD; Lillian Alli-Balogun,

NIDOA-Canada; and Collins Ikegwuonu, NIDOA-USA; the group said nothing should be spared to extricate Nigeria from the grips of insecurity. The organisation commended the Nigerian government and its security agencies for the rescue of the 137 pupils and students kidnapped from schools in Kuriga, Kaduna State on March 7, 2024, 17 days after their abduction. “While we commend this swift action, it’s imperative to recognise that the issue of insecurity in Nigeria extends beyond isolated incidents and deserves broader

attention,” the group said.

It pointed out that the kidnapping of the school children got global attention due to the “significant media coverage given to the incident,” adding that it was “just one example of the pervasive insecurity plaguing Nigeria”.

NIDOA, which represents Nigerians living in the US, Canada, Brazil, and Belize, noted that countless private citizens had fallen victim to kidnappings without attracting the same level of public attention as the mass abductions.

The organisation stated that

kidnappings usually result in loss of lives, shattered families, and exorbitant payment of ransoms, hence the “urgent need for comprehensive security measures” to checkmate the perpetrators. It also lamented the insecurity situation in the farmlands, which has “worsened food insecurity threatening the livelihoods of farmers and exacerbating the already dire economic situation.”

NIDOA insisted that the killing of farmers and destruction of farmlands “cannot be overlooked in our discussion of Nigeria’s security challenges” and should also receive urgent action.

NIPR Restates Commitment to National Development

The Nigerian Institute of Public Relations (NIPR) has reaffirmed its commitment to fostering national development through strategic communications and public relations practices.

The Chairman of Edo State Chapter of NIPR, Dr. James-Wisdom Abhulimen, made this declaration at its m aiden public lecture with the theme, ‘Public Relations, Tool for National Development in a Depressed Economy.’

He asserted that NIPR has been instrumental in shaping the narratives and driving positive changes in Nigeria, adding that practitioners creates synergy and mutual understanding between the government and critical stakeholders, build trust and enlist stakeholder support and partnership in the implementation of development programmes. The Edo State NIPR chairman averred that by promoting dialogue,

transparency, and accountability in government, the Institute plays a key role in enhancing public trust and confidence in institutions, thereby facilitating sustainable development outcomes.

The guest lecturer, Dr. Obajide Ilugbo, stated that effective public relations strategies can serve as a catalyst for sustainable development goals even in the face of economic challenges, adding that strategic communication, reputation management, and stakeholder

engagement can contribute to the revitalisation of the Nigerian economy. The Public Relations Officer of Igbinedion University, Okada said the Nigerian Institute of Public Relations remains steadfast in its commitment to championing the principles of ethical communication, integrity, and excellence, adding assuring that NIPR will continue to be a catalyst for national development, driving positive changes and shaping a brighter future for all Nigerians.

It was a moment of joy when the family of the former Managing Director of Guardian Newspapers Limited, Mr. Lade Bonuola, gave out the hand of his daughter, Oluwawemimo, in marriage to Mr Babatunde Adewunmi at an elaborate event in Agbara Estate, Ogun State. Pictures below are of some of the personalities who attended the ceremony.

PHOTOS: ABAYOMI AKINYELE

Bride’s parents, Mr. Lade Bonuola and wife, Mrs. Iyabode Bonuola

Deaconess Mary Akinola and husband, Pastor Jacob Akinola

Engr Alex Ogedengbe and Mrs. Roseline Afolabi

Groom’s parent, Mr. Olufemi Adewunmi and wife, Deaconess Folake Adewunmi

Dr. Benard Medesem and wife, Folulope

Chief Samuel Adewunmi and Mrs. Abosede Olatunji

L-R: Mr Hakeem Bello; Mrs Yetunde Adeniyi; and wife of Oyo State Deputry Governor, Princess Jibike Lawal

Couple, Mr Babatunde Adewunmi and wife, Oluwemimo

L-R: Mrs. Tonye Onuigbe; and Mrs. Roseline Afolabi

L-R: Mr. Ozurumba Ikechukwu; Mr. Abdul-Quddus Yekeen; and Prince Ozurumba Solomon Uzoma

L-R: Adesola Ogunwole; Mrs. Oluwakemi Awolesi; and Mrs. Omowunmi Akanmu

L-R: Mrs. Rume Gabnel; Mrs. Femi Aiyetigbo; and Mrs. Shade Oladapo

L-R: Mr. Kunle Badmus; and Mr. Mojeed Raifu

Mr. Layi Oyelowo and Alhaji Rauf Adetona

R-L: Nze Emeka Alex Duru and wife, Dr (Lolo) Jane Duru

L-R: Mrs. Elizabeth Unuigbo; Mr. Oladokun Jimdi; and Mrs. Comfort Jimdi

Mr. Michael Ojowa and Mr. Folagbde Alamudun

Elder Olatunji Ojo and Mr. Fatolu Akeem

L-R: Mrs Serifat Olubunmi Kuti; Princess Fine Hassan; and Alhaja Kikelomo Adetona

L-R: Chief Kazeem Ishola; and Chief Akanmu Dauda

FREEDOM

AT LAST It’s exciting as Air Peace flies the Nigeria-London route, writes INGRAM OSIGWE

See Page 20

WHY KWIBUKA MATTERS TO NIGERIANS CHRISTOPHE BAZIVAMO

remembers the Rwandan genocide in which more than one million people were killed

See Page 20

EDITORIAL THE HIKE IN ELECTRICITY TARIFFS

See Page 45

NIGERIA AND NATIONAL INTEGRATION

FELIX OLADEJI argues the need to build powerful institutions and accountable leadership

Since the inception of the Nigerian nation, governments, past and present, have made serious efforts to propagate policies and programmes that are geared towards national integration. Despite such wellintended and unity-oriented programmes and policies, Nigeria’s unity has continued to be plagued and threatened by embedded sociocultural, religious and political dichotomies. Nation-building or national integration has long been seen as an important focus for postcolonial African governments. As some researchers and journalists noted, upon African decolonisation in the 1950s and 1960s, social scientists were concerned about the need for what was then called “national integration” in societies with multiple ethnic, religious and racial cleavages.

Nigeria’s efforts at achieving national integration have remained largely unrealised. In their words, the history of democratisation in Africa, in general, and Nigeria, in particular, has remained the history of national disintegration. Thus, the integration crisis facing Nigeria is manifest in the minority question, religious fundamentalism and conflicts, ethnic politics, indigene-settler dialectic, resource control, youth restiveness and militancy, and the clamour for a (sovereign) national conference or conversation about the terms of the nation’s continued unification.

The status quo has convulsed the productive sector, limited the impact of government’s economic programmes on the people, social insecurity, deepened the deterioration of physical and social infrastructure, distressed the living standards of a vast majority of Nigerians, militated against the educational system and resulted in the ostracisation of the generality of Nigerians and their exclusion from the political and economic space, among other glitches. The entire social matrix in Nigeria is characterised by inter- and intra-community, inter and intra-ethnic, aninterand intra-religious strife. Some of these conflicts are as old as the history of the Nigerian nation. While it is easy and very tempting to blame the colonialists for all of Nigeria’s woes, history and recent events in the country have revealed the covert selfishness, hunger for power and primitive accumulation exhibited by the political elite. Much worse, many political leaders exploit ethnicity for personal advantages. Consequently, the first hurdle in the path of national integration in Nigeria has been a regenerative breed of selfish and greedy political gladiators who seize power through the barrel of the gun or through stolen electoral mandates. As they competed for power, elite in a bid to secure the support of members of their own ethnic groups accentuate ethnic differences and demonize members of other ethnic groups. The brutal killings of the people in the North speak volumes of the naked motif of shambles in the nation’s security.

Secondly, corruption has so permeated the entire fabric of state that the issues that cause disaffection among ethnic nationalities in the country such as poverty, hunger, illiteracy and attendant limited opportunities, unemployment, marginalization, infrastructural decay, homelessness and lack of access to quality health are products of corruption. Rather than look to the West

should begin to look to the East (Asia) where capital or severe punishment is meted out on as it is being practiced in Nigeria today is another challenge for national integration. In their thorough study on the failure of the federal system to address the question of unity, local rule and development in the country, federalism as it is presently practiced federalism, over-centralisation of power at the centre, laidback or non-viable states, absence of state police, among others. More importantly, federalism in Nigeria has failed to guarantee national integration on one hand and yet fails to guarantee local rule on the other hand. According to them, although Nigeria does not have a better option for democracy, it cannot continue to administer the polity based on the existing federal arrangement.

The fear of losing control by the ruling class is another issue standing in the path of national integration in Nigeria. For many years now, the people of Nigeria have continuously canvassed for an opportunity to hold a national conversation to address Nigeria all to no avail. The ruling class in Nigeria inherited a state structure and has moderation up until now. The ruling class is preoccupied with the use of state paraphernalia for accumulating surplus without producing this surplus.

The resultant contradiction is an institutionalized myopic and visionless ethnic-centered leadership with separatist and particularistic political outlook. Fifthly, lack of political will to do the right thing by the political leadership has remained one reason the country has continued to flounder in the sea of confusion and tottering the precipice of ethnic division.

Another hurdle to realizing national integration in Nigeria is the existence of weak institutions of the state. It seems these institutions are kept weak to feather the political and economic fortunes of the ruling class. In Nigeria, it is criminal to be honest and honest to be criminal. Such weak, embryonic, sterile, insensitive and amoral characteristics of state institutions have further tilted Nigeria to the precipice. Lastly, lack of fairness, justice and equity with regard to resource allocation and distribution, power sharing, enjoyment of fundamental human rights and punishment of criminals who hide under political umbrellas

or bunkers created by the ruling classes takes the country backwards with regard to national cohesion.

Moreover, Nigeria is a multicultural society, a conglomerate of nations with different peoples and cultures, a basket of different religions and world-views and a country with the diverse expectations of its people. As a recipe for Nigeria’s growth and development, and by extension cohesion, there must be the need to recognize that none of the ethnic groups, big or small, shares a uniform dream about Nigeria. This is because the ethnic groups’ worldviews are completely different such as their expectations from their leaders, their notions of government, their moral standards, their perceptions and understanding of religion, their ideas of how to live and regulate their lives and their goals and missions as ethnic nationalities.

Nigeria’s heterogeneity can be seen in this wise: whereas one group would want their children to go to school, some others would want theirs to go to the farms and mosques; while a group could relate with men of another faith without any friction, another is odiously intolerant; while some are willing to move / along with the twenty-first century and be a part of the world, others want to bask in the bliss of the blind Stone Age. These choices are not wrong in themselves, ethnic groups must be allowed to make their different choices, being different people with different cultures, dreams, hopes and aspirations.

This cannot obviously happen until a consensual agreement is reached by all Nigerians on the future of the country. By writing in the constitution the indivisibility of the country, the military drafters of that constitution failed to respect the wishes of the Nigerian people and that sovereignty lies in and with the people. For the country to forestall a repeat of the Arab Spring, the establishment must begin to listen to the people and take steps to remedy years of wrongs and injustices.

In order to achieve national integration, therefore, not only must the government reel out fantastic policies and programmes, it must begin to build enduring institutions bigger and more powerful than the leadership. The leadership must become more accountable to the people and those members of the ruling class who fan the embers of hate, exploitation, ethnicity, marginalization and underdevelopment must be made to face the full wrath of the law.

Corruption which has become endemic must be fought until it is either eradicated or forcibly punished so that those who engage in it do so at their own risk. Mass mobilization of the hoi polloi is necessary to reorient them with the right values consistent with a modern and emerging economy. Nigeria’s diversity is not the problem, the managers of the state are. Nigerians must arise from the ashes of fear, wrongly inspired awe for political leaders and timidity and begin to make demands on the political leadership on what they want. For instance, the recent outpouring on topical issues sent an eruptive message to the ruling class that the people would no longer sit idly and watch them ride the country aground. The time to question the artificiality of Nigeria and to demand for a tinkering of this mammoth political edifice in line with the expectations of the Nigerian people is now. To claim this victory, the people must lead this vanguard of change.

Oladeji writes from Lagos

FREEDOM AT LAST

It’s exciting as Air Peace flies the NigeriaLondon route, writes INGRAM OSIGWE

Shylock foreign airlines are in trouble; they are gasping for breath for an exhilarating dawn of breath of fresh air for Nigerians flying the London route is here! At last, Nigerians can now fly to London and fly back without a gaping hole left in their pockets as a result of exorbitant airfare.

A Nigerian airline, Air Peace, which since berthing in the aviation industry, has adorned Nigerianess like a garb made this possible. Hate him or love him, you cannot take one thing away from Allen Onyema, the unassuming Anambra-born lawyer behind Air Peace: His fervent love for Nigeria and fellow Nigerians oozes from a heart that flows with milk of human kindness, a pure heart that knows no malice or grudges!

When he sprang up Air Peace a few years back, Allen had and still has “Love for Fatherland” as the sacred creed of his enterprise.

Onyema’s trajectory in the aviation sector leaves no one in doubt that remaining true to selflessness, altruism and patriotism even at the risk of business and profit losses is natural to him.

For the Air Peace boss, the interest of Nigeria and Nigerians comes first; and then business and profit follow. This is no sloganeering. Mr. Onyema has lived up to this billing now and again and makes no noise about it.

We saw him do this when distressed and traumatised Nigerians were left at the mercy of horror and indignities in South Africa, Libya and Ukraine.

Putting profit aside, Onyema deployed his planes to evacuate them safely back to Nigeria without demanding kobo from anyone.

Air Peace’s recent audacious and successful foray into the London route despite vicious, debilitating aeropolitics strewn on its path by local and international nay-sayers in the aviation industry again says much about how the extra-mile Onyema can go to do good to his country and his fellow citizens.

Reminiscent of what an indigenous network provider, Globacom owned by the irrepressible boardroom czar, Mike Adenuga did to the GSM industry in 2003 when he made a grand entry into it, Onyema’s Air Peace has demystified foreign airlines, broke their back and rescued Nigerians from mindless exploitation on the London route.

Recall that before Globacom stormed the GSM industry, foreign network operators which dominated the industry in Nigeria at that time sold their SIM cards as high as N30,000 and subjected Nigerians to an excruciating per-minute billing.

However, Globacom’s entry changed all that. At inception, it sold its SIM Pack for N10,000, N5,000 airtime inclusive. In effect, Nigerians bought Glo SIM cards for a mere N5,000 at that time compared to the cut-throat prices of the foreign GSM operators’ SIM packs.

In addition, Globacom also scrapped per-minute call billing and introduced per-second billing at cheap and affordable rates, a feat foreign GSM operators had claimed was impossible.

Globacom’s audacious and revolutionary steps were to put a stop to the hitherto unchecked exploitation of Nigerian subscribers by foreign GSM operators.

Like Globacom, Air Peace has given Nigerians a new lease of life. The indigenous airline has given Nigerians plying the London route a refreshing relief from harsh treatment from foreign airlines.

route, foreign airlines’ Economy class ticket costs were between N3.5m- N4m while Business class soared to N17m. However, with Air Peace pegging its Economy class return ticket on the route for N1.2m and Business Class ticket at N4m, foreign airlines have now been forced to slash their ticket prices drastically. Air Peace has indeed freed Nigerians from the fangs of shylocks!

Remarkably, with the commencement of flight on the London route, Air Peace has finally eviscerated national and international conspiracies that have barred it from the route. It is noteworthy that the airline applied to fly the route seven years ago but obfuscations and vicissitudes inspired by high voltage, vicious local and international aeropolitics were deliberately thrown on its path.

Air Peace is not new to international routes. The airline flies to China, India, Saudi Arabia, Dubai, South Africa and other international routes which take longer hours to fly to and fro. For example, Air Peace flies to China on Wednesdays, a journey of 28 hours forth and back.

It also flies to India every week- 12 hours to, 13 hours fro- and has undertaken 160 hours of flying within Nigeria every day for the past seven years without blemish. Why then were vested interests in the aviation sector intent at keeping the Airline from the London route, a mere six hours flying time?

The answer is simple: A powerful local and international cabal feeding fat on Nigerians via outrageous London route air ticket was not ready to lose out!

Meanwhile, as far as the London route victory is concerned, Air Peace has become a pathfinder of sorts to other indigenous airlines as some of them like United Nigerian Airline, Ibom Air and Azman Air are now striving assiduously to join the route.

According to Dr Obiora Okonkwo, Chairman of United Airlines, like Air Peace, his airline will conquer and overcome local and international aeropolitics to join the London route. “We will start very soon. I cannot tell when but if it is left for us to start, we would have started yesterday”, an elated Okonkwo said at an event to celebrate Air Peace’s London route triumph.

In all of these, credit must be given to Nigeria’s dynamic Aviation and Aerospace Development Minister, Festus Keyamo, SAN, for his numerous reforms and innovations in the ministry which made Air Peace’s breaking of the London route monopoly possible. The Minister has sufficiently stamped his competence and has also justified his appointment by President Tinubu.

Before Air Peace entered into the London Osigwe is the CEO of Fullpage Communications

WHY KWIBUKA MATTERS TO NIGERIANS

CHRISTOPHE BAZIVAMO remembers the Rwandan genocide in which more than one million people were killed

In a few days, Rwanda will mark 30 years since the Genocide against the Tutsi. “Kwibuka”, which means to remember, is an annual period of solemn reflection when we come together to honour the victims, unite in our collective grief and renew our commitment to continue to build a better future for Rwandans.

This important act of preserving memory, and ensuring the accurate re-telling of history, matters to Rwandans. The international community played a part in the tragedy while the world watched it unfold. Every nation can benefit from reflecting on the lessons from this preventable genocide borne of division and hatred.

Thirty years ago, in 100 days over one million Tutsi were murdered just because they were Tutsi. Hutus who opposed the genocidal government were also killed. This ‘crime of crimes’ happened in plain sight. The international community was, at best, indifferent to the horrific violence, with some countries being complicit in the killings.

No one came to Rwanda’s aid. The slaughter was only halted when the Rwandan Patriotic Front took Kigali and defeated the genocidaires. The Genocide showed what can happen when an ideology built on hatred is allowed to flourish unchecked by those with the power to intervene.

Although foreign governments and international institutions failed Rwanda in our greatest hour of need, there were many brave foreigners on the ground who made heroic contributions. For example, Mbaye Diagne, a Captain in the Senegalese Army who was part of the UN Assistance Mission for Rwanda (UNAMIR). During the Genocide, Capt. Diagne broke UN rules to carry out missions to save those in need, rescuing over 1,000 people before being killed. Rwanda posthumously awarded Capt. Diagne the Umurinzi honour - the Campaign Against Genocide Medal”.

Internationally, New Zealand, Nigeria and the Czech Republic used their positions on the UN Security Council to press for the institution to take action. Permanent Representative Colin Keating (New Zealand) and Chief Delegate Prof. Ibrahim Gambari (Nigeria) put forward separate resolutions calling for greater troop deployment and for the troops to be given a mandate to save civilians. Ambassador Karel Kovanda joined the calls for greater action and was also the first person to use the term genocide within the security council when describing what was happening. These few voices did what they could to raise the alarm with a world that was choosing not to listen.

Beyond remembering the individual stories, this significant commemoration provides an opportunity for the world to reflect on the lessons of the Genocide and the battle to preserve the

integrity of the historical accounts of it.

There has been a concerted effort to deny the Genocide happened in the way we know it did. These genocide deniers use various tactics, ranging from questioning the numbers of victims – despite having no evidence to contradict the verified figures – to blaming the victims for causing the Genocide. They even go as far as creating false equivalencies by suggesting a double genocide took place.

These tactics are not new. They have been deployed by perpetrators and deniers of other genocides such as the Holocaust. But if we are not careful, this distortion of historical facts – supercharged by social media and AI tools now in the hands of deniers – could be deployed across the world turning true history into contested debate.

Rwanda’s history has shaped Rwandan shared identity - this is why the historical clarity about the Genocide against the Tutsi is of national and international importance

The memorials Rwanda maintains (four of which have been designated UNESCO world heritage sites) are vital to anchoring the truth, and truth is essential to reconciliation and renewal. The artefacts we preserve are our evidence, and the stories we tell are witness testimony.

Our collective memory also provides the world with a warning that the ideology which drove the Genocide must not be allowed to flourish and spread ever again. This is unfortunately still happening today in different parts of the world.

How many times must we say ‘Never Again’ before it becomes real? We must learn from past atrocities and apply these lessons to prevent future tragedies.

Rwanda’s transformation, based on unity and reconciliation, offers hope. By investing in infrastructure, education, and women’s empowerment, Rwanda demonstrates the resilience that leads to sustainable development.

On this April 7 and beyond, we ask that Nigeria stand in solidarity with Rwanda. We ask that you do this to honour the memory of all Rwandans who lost their lives, and acknowledge Prof. Ibrahim Gambari and others who did their best to help during Rwanda’s darkest hour.

And we ask for your solidarity in preserving the true account of Rwanda’s history so that the world can match the words ‘never again’ with tangible action to prevent history from repeating itself.

Amb. Bazivamo is Rwanda’s High Commissioner to Nigeria

Will the raised tariff lead to improved service delivery?

With less than 4000 megawatts of electricity serving more than 200 million people, and a national grid that collapses at will, the crisis in the sector has become more acute and apparent

Nigerian Navy Raises Stakes in Fight against Oil Theft F

our months after Vice Admiral Emmanuel Ogalla 22nd indigenous Chief of recorded its highest oil production in almost twostream Petroleum Regulatory Commissionincrease.

proof of the seriousness with which thepatrols.--

well as the increase in oil production inand expects nothing short of professionalsupport you with all the processes needed little wonder that Vice Admiral Ogalla is -

These are just a handful of the most -

pressing ahead with the construc-shore Patrol Vessels from Dearsan scheduled to launch 3 new Fasttum into the policing role of the it a priority to deepen relationships-is worth noting that the special securitythis regard.-

demonstrate its commitment when it conMaritime Conference / Regional Maritime in Africa through International Cooperation under the leadership of Vice Admiral EImandate.

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Mutiu Adeyemi

PERSPECTIVE

Do Palestinian Lives Matter?

Femi Fani-Kayode

35,000innocentanddefencelessPalestinians,including 15,000 children, have been targeted and killed in Gaza by Israel over the last 6 months yet it was only after seven western aid workers of theWorld Central Kitchen were tragically and callously targeted and murdered in cold blood by the Israeli Defence Force lastweekthatwesternGovernmentsandtheWestern media are beginning to recognise the fact that the Jewish state has turned into a monstrous and uncontrollable beast.

This begs the following questions. Does blood not flow through the veins of Arabs and Muslims in the same way that it flows through the veins of westerners and Christians? Is the blood of westerners redder than the blood of Arabs? Do Palestinian lives not matter?

Are American, British, Australian and French lives more precious than the lives of Palestinian men, women and children?

How can one explain or wish away this glaring display of emotional selectivity, hypocrisy and double standards? Is it not racism in its most glaring and ugly form?

Is this not a case of psychological apartheid in motion and have the leaders of the West not developed a classic sociopathic and psychopathic disposition when it comes to the suffering of the Palestinians.

Evenafter75yearsofbarbarousservitudeandoccupationfollowed by the mass murder and genocide that we are witnessing in Gaza today few notable western leaders give a damn and most of them have not only turned a blind eye to it but are also willing partners and complicit in the most graphic and barbaric expression of man’s inhumanity to man and sheer wickedness since the Nazi holocaust of World War 11.

Given this all-embracing endorsement and unconditional support that they enjoy is it any wonder that the Zionists believe that they have the divine right to give life and take it at will and at their pleasure?

Is it any wonder that the Jewish state believes that it can get away with mass murder and ethnic cleansing? Is it any wonder that the Zionists believe that they are divine beings with a divine purpose, the master race, God’s chosen people?

Isitanywonderthattheybelievethattheyaretotallyandcompletely above the law and untouchable given the unconditional support and tacit approval that they enjoy from NATO and the powers that be in the west?

Over the last six months western leaders have applauded Israel for slaughtering the Palestinians and destroying all their infrastructures yet they only started questioning their devilish collusion with what can only be described as unadulterated evil when seven of their own citizens who were doing charity work and helping to feed the starved and beleaguered children of Gaza were also butchered in a hail of precision rockets that brutally cut them down one after the other. These same people did not shed a tear or say a word when Israeli jets mowed down hundreds of Palestinian civilians as they tried to grab food from aid trucks that came in from Egypt.

Tothemthatdidnotmatterandneitherdidtheyviewitasanatrocity or describe it as a war crime or a crime against humanity because those that were murdered were “mainly Muslims and only Arabs”.

Is this fair? Can it be justified or defended? Is it not a perfidious display of double speak, double standards and devilry? Is it not a gratuitous insult to our collective humanity and a monumental shame? Are Arabs, Africans, Asians and the people of the “global South” not human beings too?

Again for the last few months western leaders stuck to their oars and stubbornly refused to acknowledge the fact that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is a wild and rabid dog that cannot be controlled and that no longer listens to its master.

They refused to accept the fact that he had become the proverbial falcon that was no longer prepared to listen to the falconer.

They refused to recognise the fact that the genocide in Gaza was not about religion but rather about the implementation of an insidious, sinister, religious and racist agenda and an unconciable attempt by a horrendous and deluded horde of callous, bitter and vengeful Zionist barbarians to decimate, displace and exterminate the Palestinian people and steal their land.

So drunk are Netanyahu and those around him on the blood of Palestinian children that not even American President Joe Biden, their biggest and greatest friend and ally, can control them.

Will the Zionists ever accept the fact that killing women, children, refugees, journalists, clerics, doctors, nurses, hospital workers, United Nations staff, the elderly, the disabled, the mentally challenged, the weak and other innocent and defenceless civilians in the name of world Jewry and the Israeli state is not only unacceptable but also an abomination and an affront to our collective humanity.

They say when a dog loses its mind and not only refuses to listen to its master but also turns on him and attempts to bite him one is constrained to put a bullet in its head and put it out of its misery.

Perhaps the same solution should be applied to the Zionist state. Perhaps it is time for it to be put down like a sick, dangerous and rabid old dog and removed from the face of the earth. I have said it before and I will say it again: in light of the events of the last six months Israel has lost her right to exist.

And if calling out Israel for the atrocities they are committing in Gaza and insisting on an immediate & unconditional ceasefire makes me anti-semitic then so be it.

As a matter of fact it is a badge and label that I would wear proudly. I do not believe that it is acceptable for the Jewish state to consistently break international humanitarian law and commit war crimes. If that

makes me anti-semitic then so be it.

I do not believe that aid workers and journalists should be targetted and killed. If that makes me anti-Semitic then so be it.

I do not believe that it is right for Bibi Netanyahu to smirk and grin on national television as he tells the world how the 7 western aid workers were targetted and murdered in Gaza by his army. If that makes me anti-semitic then so be it.

I do not believe that it is right and proper for the Iranian Embassy in Damascus should be targetted and bombed by the Israeli Defence Force or that senior Iranian military commanders that were staying there should be murdered in cold blood. If that makes me anti-Semitic then so be it.

I do not think it is acceptable for Israel to bomb the city of Allepo in Syria and kill 42 people including defenceless civilians. If that makes me anti-semitic then so be it.

I do not believe that the Jews have a licence from God to kill innocent and defenceless civilians. If that makes me anti-semitic then so be it.

I do not believe that it is right for the western nations to continue to supply arms to Israel and to be complicit in and an enabler of genocide. If that makes me anti-semitic then so be it.

I do not believe that the Jews are the master race that have been specially chosen above others by God. If that makes me anti-semitic then so be it.

I do not believe that demolishing the Al Aqsa Mosque, sacrificing three red heifers where it presently stands & building the third Jewish Temple on exactly the same spot is just, right and proper. If that makes me anti-semitic then so be it.

I do not believe that the Jews and the State of Israel should exert so much influence over the affairs of the United States of America, the western democracies, International politics, world banking & finance & the Western media. If that makes me anti-semitic then so be it.

I do not believe that an attack on Israel, no matter how horrific, gives the Jewish state the right to wipe out, exterminate or drive into the desert or the sea the entire Palestinian race or kill every single man, woman and child in Gaza. If that makes me anti-semitic then so be it.

I do not believe that Zionism is of God & I consider the Zionists to be far worse and more insidious, cruel and unrelenting than Hitler’s Nazis. If that makes me anti-semitic then so be it.

I do not believe that Candace Owens should have been fired from the Daily Wire for criticising Israel & I do not believe that Ben Shapiro and Rabi Shmuly are human beings. If that makes me anti-semitic then so be it.

I do not believe that Bibi Netanyahu is sane & I do not believe that he is acting in the best interest of the Jews

or the State of Israel. If that makes me anti-semitic then so be it. I do not believe that South Africa & Ireland have done anything wrong by taking Israel to the International Court of Justice for crimes against humanity, war crimes, ethnic cleansing & genocide. If that makes me anti-semitic then so be it.

I do not believe that it is right for Israel to prevent food supplies from going into Gaza and for starving the people to death. If that makes me anti-semitic then so be it.

I do not believe that ALL MUSLIM countries should unite against IsraelbutratherIbelievethatALLcountries,whetherMuslim,Christian, Hindu or anything else should unite against Israel. If that makes me anti-semitic then so be it.

I do not believe in ethnic cleansing and the elimination and extermination of an entire race of people as a formula for the resolution of international disputes and I wholeheartedly condemn the holocaust that is being inflicted on the people of Gaza. If that makes me antisemitic so be it.

Finally I no longer believe that Israel has the right to exist & I believe that they forfeited that right when they chose to bathe in the blood of Palestinian women, drink the blood of Palestinian children & butcher the Palestinian people. If that makes me anti-semitic then so be it. 75 years ago God in His infinite mercy & wisdom gave the Jews a new beginning, a new country and restored them to their former glory. This was a great blessing but they squandered it by orchestrating the Nakba, by refusing to share the land and live in peace with the Palestinians that they met there & by refusing to desist from treating them like animals, occupying their land & slaughtering them with impunity.

Sadly with their own hands they destroyed the great opportunity that God gave them & instead chose to visit the same unadulterated evil that the German Nazis once visited on them on the Palestinians. If the truth be told, contrary to popular opinion, Israel is not a democracy but rather a vicious, heartless, bloodthirsty, parasitic, vampiric and blood-lusting apartheid state that applies one set of laws to the European Jewish colonial settlers that own and run it and another to everyone else.

To be an Arab, a Muslim or a Christian in Israel is hell and to be any of the above living in either Gaza, the West Bank, Lebanon, Syria, Iraq or anywhere else in the Middle East means that you could well be subjected to genocide, ethnic cleansing or mass murder by the Jewish state whenever they deem it fit.

It is for this reason that the entire civilised world is enraged with Israel and that every right-thinking person expresses the following words from the inner recesses of their souls and with every fiber of their being.

They proudly proclaim, “From The River to the Sea, Palestine Will Be Free!”

And despite the double standards of the leaders of the western democracies, so it shall be to the glory of the Living God!

Netanyahu

The Onalajas: Of Love and Craftsmanship

Once upon a time, a young marketer embarked on a mission to persuade the Iyaloja of Alausa mini market to purchase his company’s products. Little did he know that this encounter would change the course of his life forever. In a twist of fate, he stumbled upon her niece, Tolu, and was instantly captivated by her charm and grace. It was a classic case of love at first sight for the young Bamidele Onalaja. The rest, they say, is history. The Onalajas’ love story, rooted in their shared faith and dream of affordable housing for Nigerians, manifests in their unflinching support for each other through life’s trials.

Vanessa Obioha captures their heartwarming journey in a recent encounter with the couple.

Our Relationship is Built on Friendship

On a balmy afternoon in 2002 when Bamidele Onalaja stepped into the bustling Alausa mini market, his spirit was lifted by the prospect of clinching a deal. After weeks of persuasive pitches, the Iyaloja of Alausa mini market had finally agreed to purchase his company’s wired lines, promising a much-needed boost to his finances.

With a spring in his step, Bamidele navigated through the maze of stalls toward the market shade where his potential customer usually held court. However, his anticipation came to an abrupt halt as he reached his destination. Instead of the familiar face of the Iyaloja, a striking young woman sat in her place, engrossed in a book. Mesmerised by her presence, Bamidele momentarily forgot his purpose- lost in admiration.

When he finally gathered his thoughts, he politely inquired about the whereabouts of his customer, only to learn that she had embarked on a pilgrimage to Jerusalem.

The couple also provides education and scholarship to indigent children, child and maternal healthcare, widow’s empowerment, among others through their foundation, Chris Bamidele Onalaja Foundation (CBOF).

“You’ll have to come back some other time,” the young woman, named Tolu, informed him.

Rather than taking his leave, Bamidele felt an inexplicable pull to stay, as if his destiny was rooted in her presence. It was then that he noticed the book in Tolu’s hands—an offering from his own pastor, Chris Oyakhilome, the esteemed leader of Loveworld Incorporated and founder of Christ Embassy.

“That’s my pastor,” Bamidele exclaimed, a spark of enthusiasm igniting within him.

Tolu, puzzled by his lingering presence, offered a warm smile, inviting further interaction.

“That’s my pastor too,” she said.

Their love story blossomed from that initial conversation and continues to unfold. Despite facing typical romcom challenges, such as Bamidele’s humble beginnings contrasting with Tolu’s family expectations, they persevered. Tolu, the only daughter in her family, faced pressure regarding marriage, but Bamidele was unwavering in his desire to build a future with her from the very beginning, proving that theirs was a love destined to conquer all.

Sitting across from each other in their tastefully furnished office in Ikeja, their eyes sparkled with love as they reminisced about their journey together. Tolu took the lead in narrating their love story, with Bamidele chiming in occasionally to add his perspective. Their shared glances and gentle smiles revealed a deep connection that has stood the test of time.

“We exchanged numbers and in one of those conversations, I told him that I was looking for a job,” Tolu said, recounting how her husband helped her to land her first job. “I had just finished my NYSC in Bonny, Rivers State.”

Calling himself a sharp guy, Bamidele arranged for Tolu to secure a job at his workplace, albeit in a different branch. However, he had not yet revealed his romantic intentions towards her at that point.

“It was when I got to the office that I realised that he had an intention. Everyone started greeting me with such familiarity. In my mind, I kept wondering what he told them. Did he tell them I was his girlfriend or something?”

He patiently waited until they began working together before finally revealing his intention to marry Tolu. Initially, she dismissed his proposal, accusing him of trying to leverage his influence in securing her job to win her affection. Despite her initial skepticism, Bamidele remained undeterred in his pursuit of her heart.

“I’m a very determined man so I took it as one of those things women say to discourage men because she wants to make sure that you are serious. Even if she loves you at first sight, she wants to let you know that she is not an easy catch.”

Tolu also had other suitors who boasted flashy cars and prestigious jobs, including a banker who showered her with crisp notes during their encounters.

“He usually meets them when he comes around.”

Bamidele, who lacked a car at the time, captured Tolu’s heart with his selflessness and spiritual depth. Despite the concerns of her friends, Tolu saw beyond material possessions, recognising the true value of Bamidele’s character.

“I remember when I started working with him. You know I had just rounded up my NYSC and I had no corporate outfits. From his little salary, he took me to Ikeja under the bridge to buy me some ‘bend down select’ clothes. He spent N16,000 on me that day and I knew his salary was just N20,000. So, in my head, I’m thinking if he can make such a sacrifice for me, he would spend the whole world on me if he has more. That was what got me hooked.”

“Hooked for life,” chimed in Bamidele. “She forgot to add that I was very handsome, ‘he said amusingly, “with a very big head.” Tolu gazed at him affectionately, as if reminiscing about the early days of their romance. Like her, Bamidele was drawn to her deep devotion to God.

“She is very energetic and hardworking. I saw that from the beginning. Even when my elder sister saw her, she approved of her immediately because of her good character traits.”

The couple faced financial struggles from the beginning, so when Tolu’s father planned to visit her future husband, they hastily rented a cramped apartment in a tenement building in Festac Town.

“It was her mother that gave us the money to complete the rent,” said Bamidele. “The house was so small that even the kitchen could not contain a pot and when it rains, we cry every night because there was water everywhere.”

The less-than-ideal living conditions did not appeal to Tolu’s father, who expressed disappointment and attempted to dissuade his daughter from a life of hardship, even though he liked Bamidele. However, Tolu remained resolute in her decision to build a life with Bamidele.

“It was so funny because I was used to cooking in a gas cooker but my husband has a stove.” Eventually, the couple upgraded to a better living situation. Bamidele secured a job at a real estate company in Agbara, which spurred his passion for the industry. Today, they co-own the innovative real estate development company, RevolutionPlus, with estates spanning across Nigeria and the United States.

Their love for each other is evident in their business endeavours. Portraits of the couple adorned the white walls of their Ikeja office, serving as a testament to their partnership. One frame in particular holds special significance, as Bamidele attributed every milestone achievement in his life to his wife.

Indeed, Tolu has played a pivotal role in his success. When he faced job loss, she took charge of the family’s financial responsibilities, even starting a cleaning company to make ends meet. She not only encouraged him to pursue his real estate aspirations but also convinced his uncle to invest in their venture at the outset. At one juncture, she made the sacrifice of leaving her lucrative job to provide unwavering support to her husband.

“My wife has helped me achieve so many things,” he emphasised. “She is my partner in most of the decisions I have made in life.”

Addressing the challenges they’ve encountered in their business, “Particularly with the several online complaints about land allocations,” Tolu highlighted the difficulty of providing affordable housing in Nigeria. She emphasised the issue of families reselling lands already purchased at a certain price, along with subscribers’ limited knowledge of land ownership, as major obstacles.

“There are many real estate developers who abscond with people’s money and go through worse things but we don’t see them in the media. Sometimes, people go on the internet to claim that they have paid us for their lands and we are yet to allocate them, but by the time we go through their documents, we realise that they have not made full payments.”

Bamidele added: “The landowners also constitute a problem. You can buy plots of land from a family for a certain amount, and later another family comes up, claiming that they have a court judgement to reclaim the land. We now have to pay an additional amount to repossess the land, and so forth. Now do I go back to tell the subscriber this is what has happened and they need to pay extra? I’m already running at a loss.”

Despite the shortcomings, Bamidele remains steadfast in his vision to provide affordable

housing. However, he revealed that the company has expanded its operations to include luxury housing, as well as ventures in the hospitality and food industries.

The year 2024 holds significant milestones for the Onalajas. RevolutionPlus will celebrate its 10th anniversary, the couple will mark their 20th wedding anniversary in October, and Bamidele will reach the golden age milestone in May. It’s a year of celebration for the couple.

Reflecting on their journey, the Onalajas attributed the strength of their relationship to their deep friendship, which has not only made them successful partners in marriage but also in business.

The Onalajas

National Call: President Tinubu’s Faith in Abdulkabir Aliu

In the history of Nigerian politics and governance, very few people can compare to President Bola Tinubu when the issue borders on headhunting talents and people with unusual capacities to engender growth and development. From his time as Lagos State Governor to when he was the main figure of the opposition in Nigeria, President Tinubu’s knack for peopling his team with exceptional brains has always received resounding and recurring mentions. In fact, his ascendancy to Nigeria’s Number One Citizen was deeply rooted in his broad network across the length and breadth of Nigeria.

The news therefore of President Tinubu’s appointment of the pioneer GCEO of Matrix Energy Group, Abdulkabir Aliu as a member of the Presidential Economic Coordination Council (PEEC) in a strategic move to bolster the nation’s economic governance framework and ensure robust and coordinated economic planning and implementation, would not come to many as a surprise. Chaired by the President himself who has Vice President Kashim Shettima as Vice-Chairman, this apex council has Senate President, the Chairman of the Nigerian Governors Forum, twelve key ministers and the Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, representing the public sector; while Aliu joined Aliko Dangote, Tony Elumelu, Abdulsamad Rabiu, Segun Agbaje and few others from the organised private sector.

Aliu’s membership of the economic council is a testament to his proven capacity, character and competence, which have been demonstrated for about two decades in the nation’s energy sector. An experienced graduate of Metallurgical & Materials Engineering, who has successfully steered the affairs of Matrix Energy Group from its foundational days till now when the Group has assumed a multidimensional conglomerate status.

Matrix Energy Group is a rapidly growing indigenous and integrated Oil Marketing and Trading Company in Nigeria, which was incorporated on November 25, 2004. Over the years, Matrix Energy has grown from a modest supply and distribution operation to a fully integrated petroleum products marketing and trading company with clients and suppliers all over the world. Under his leadership, it took less than 10 years of operation for Matrix to be listed as one of Nigeria’s 100 best-performing businesses in Nigeria.

As Tinubu Plans to Boost Electricity Production

A Chinese proverb holds that hope is like a path in the countryside: originally there was no path, but as people walk this way again and again, a way appears. Amidst the challenges and uncertainties of Nigeria’s power sector, this proverb rings true as a beacon of hope for its citizens. Under the leadership of President Bola Tinubu, concerted efforts are underway to address the longstanding challenges plaguing the nation’s power grid.

Critics have pointed fingers at Adebayo Adelabu, the power minister, attributing the sector’s woes to mismanagement and neglect. With two grid collapses this year alone, businesses have borne the brunt of erratic power supply, exacerbating economic strains amid rising temperatures and mounting pressure on citizens.

However, a beacon of optimism emerges as the President strengthens ties with German Chancellor Olaf

In the other room of Nigeria’s politics, where whispers often precede storms, Adebayo Adelabu finds himself battling through the

Scholz and Siemens, signalling a pivotal shift in the narrative. The alliance’s ambitious project aims to overhaul the power infrastructure, targeting identified load demand centres and prioritising economic and industrial hubs nationwide.

Central to the initiative is the execution of new 330kV and 132/33KV substations in strategic locations, complemented by the installation of thousands of kilometres of overhead transmission lines. These vital upgrades seek to bridge gaps in connectivity and bolster the reliability of the power network, fostering sustainable development and economic growth.

Siemens Energy’s unwavering commitment to President Tinubu’s agenda is evidenced by the delivery of critical equipment worth over 63 million Euros since the project’s inception. From mobile substations to transformers, these essential components are poised to transform the energy landscape, ensuring a more resilient and efficient power supply for all Nigerians.

Calm Down … Adebayo Adelabu is Not Part of Ministers to Be Sacked

tempest of speculations. As Minister of Power, his tenure has been shadowed by persistent rumours of impending dismissal due to perceived underperformance. But has the narrative changed?

The Ministry of Power has long been plagued by systemic challenges, with inadequate infrastructure, distribution inefficiencies, and rampant corruption casting a shadow over its operations. Adelabu inherited a formidable task upon assuming office, tasked with untangling the web of complexities that have long hindered progress in the sector. But he has not been doing very well.

Following this, rumours abound about Adelabu’s purported dismissal, fuelled by whispers of dissatisfaction with his stewardship of the ministry. President Bola Tinubu, it is said, watches closely, his patience

The World Celebrates Ogiame Atuwatse III at 40

As the world celebrates His Royal Majesty, Ogiame Atuwatse III, on his 40th birthday, the resounding echoes of his transformative leadership reverberate through the city of Warri and beyond. The 21st Olu of Warri, fondly called Oritsetsola and recognized as a beacon of modern monarchy, has carved a distinguished legacy marked by unwavering dedication to his people and profound global influence.

Educated both locally and internationally, the monarch embodies the fusion of tradition and modernity. His academic journey, culminating in a Bachelor of Arts in International Studies and Political Science from Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, Ohio, and a Master of Science degree in Management, reflects his commitment to holistic learning and intellectual growth.

Beyond academia, Oritsetsola has demonstrated exceptional entrepreneurial acumen, founding ventures such as Noble

Nigeria and Coral Curator. His leadership extends to the corporate sphere, where he serves as Chairman of Ocean Marine Security and holds directorships at the Gulf of Guinea and Vessellink Nigeria

Back then, the monarch’s journey to the throne was not without controversy. But amidst debates over succession traditions and heritage, he emerged as the rightful heir, despite challenges and conflicts. His ascension symbolised a bridge between tradition and modernity, as he embarked on a mission to unite and uplift the Itsekiri people.

Throughout his reign, Oritsetsola has spearheaded initiatives to drive socio-economic development and cultural preservation in Warri and its environs. From youth empowerment programmes to infrastructural projects, his vision for progress transcends borders, earning him accolades and admiration on a national scale.

wearing thin as the nation grapples with persistent power outages and dwindling public confidence.

Reportedly, Adelabu acknowledges the challenges within his ministry and has embarked on a relentless pursuit of solutions, rallying his team in pursuit of a shared vision of progress. From implementing measures to curb distribution inefficiencies to cracking down on corruption within the sector, Adelabu is allegedly leaving no stone unturned in his quest to restore confidence in the nation’s power infrastructure.

Yet, for all his efforts, the road ahead remains fraught with challenges. The task of overhauling a sector as vast and complex as energy requires time, patience, and unwavering dedication. But until change comes, Adelabu finds himself perpetually walking a tightrope, and wearing allegations of poor performance and rumours of imminent sacking.

Ogiame Atuwatse III

Aregbesola’s Resurgence: A Political Comeback in the Making?

It was Winston Churchill who said that success is not final, failure is not fatal; it is the courage to continue that counts. Former Osun State Governor, Rauf Aregbesola’s recent manoeuvres echo the timeless wisdom encapsulated in Churchill’s words. The political grandmaster is making strategic moves to bolster his political influence in the state, signalling a potential return to power.

The recent inauguration of the remaining members of the “management of the Omoluabi Progressives” on March 24, 2024, follows closely on the heels of the swearingin of state coordinators of the caucus on February 25, 2024. These consecutive developments are clearly Aregbesola’s moves to solidify the dominance of his

political caucus in Osun’s political landscape.

The Omoluabi Progressives, spearheaded by Aregbesola, is supposed to serve as a bastion of the genuine foundation members of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Osun. Aregbesola is mainly responsible for this vision and has been instrumental in nurturing its growth.

During the launch of the Omoluabi Progressives in August 2023, Aregbesola reaffirmed the commitment of his caucus to the APC, emphasising their resilience as long-distance runners in the political arena. This declaration was supposed to demonstrate Aregbesola’s unwavering dedication to the party’s principles and his determination to remain a stalwart within its ranks.

In reality, the emergence of the

Omoluabi Caucus provides a shield for Aregbesola’s loyalists, who have faced challenges amidst political infighting within the Osun chapter. This internal strife led to the loss of control for Aregbesola and thwarted the second-term ambition of former governor Adegboyega Oyetola.

Currently, Oyetola and his allies command the mainstream APC in Osun, relegating Aregbesola to the sidelines. However, the launch of the Omoluabi Progressives marks Aregbesola’s possible resurgence, catapulting him back into the political forefront and solidifying his status as a formidable force to be reckoned with.

As Aregbesola swims these political waters with strategic finesse, his resurgence signifies a potential comeback to power.

Tinubu

Aregbesola

Adelabu

Opportunity dances with those already on the dance floor. Corroborating this proverb, Nigerian billionaire Femi Otedola emerges as a standout figure, reclaiming his coveted position among the world’s billionaires after a sevenyear hiatus.

As Forbes unveils its 38th Annual World’s Billionaires List, Otedola’s remarkable

Femi Otedola: The Billionaire Strategist Returns to Forbes’ Elite

comeback captures the spotlight and shows his enduring influence and astute business acumen.

Renowned as the bossman of Geregu Power and a key figure in Nigeria’s financial sector through his holdings in First Bank of Nigeria Holdings Plc (FBN Holdings), Otedola has orchestrated a strategic reinvention of his investment portfolio. His decision to divest his shares in Forte Oil, a move that marked his pivot into the energy sector, proved to be a pivotal moment in his resurgence.

Fuelling Otedola’s ascent to billionaire status is his diverse asset portfolio, characterised by offshore cash reserves, extensive international real estate holdings, and strategic investments in Nigeria’s leading banks, including FBN Holdings and Zenith Bank. Furthermore, Otedola’s recent foray into Dangote Cement, Africa’s largest cement maker, evidences his commitment to maximising returns and expanding his wealth across diverse sectors.

With an estimated net worth of $1.7 billion, Otedola has rejoined the ranks of Africa’s richest individuals, solidifying his status as a formidable force in the global billionaire landscape. His resurgence also contributes to the continent’s growing cohort of billionaires, which now stands at 20 - a testament to Africa’s burgeoning economic potential and wealth creation. On a global scale, Otedola’s return to the billionaire ranks mirrors a broader trend of wealth expansion, with Forbes identifying an unprecedented 2,781 billionaires worldwide.

As Otedola’s star continues to ascend, his entrepreneurial prowess and strategic foresight remain nodes of inspiration for aspiring entrepreneurs and investors alike. Together, they reaffirm the transformative potential of visionary leadership and calculated risk-taking in the pursuit of wealth and success.

Unbelievable: Ondo Ex-governor’s Widow Repossessed

Rumours have a curious way of taking on a life of their own, weaving through the fabric of society and leaving disbelief and confusion in their wake. One such rumour recently circulated about Lady Betty Anyanwu-Akeredolu, the widow of former Ondo State Governor Rotimi Akeredolu, and her supposed “repossession” by her late husband’s younger brother, Wole.

In a tale that seems more fit for the pages of fiction than reality, the Emeabiam Community in Owerri West Local Government Area of Imo State purportedly decided to hand over Betty, their daughter, to Wole. This astonishing revelation came just weeks after the passing of ex-Governor Akeredolu, who had battled cancer before his demise and was laid to rest in February 2024.

The Mgbafu Mkpe traditional ceremony, held on a sombre Sunday in March 2024, marked a significant turning point. Photographs from the event showed the symbolic handover of the widow to her late husband’s immediate

younger brother, Wole. This act, described as the climax of the ceremony, symbolised the family’s decision to retain Betty in their midst against Akeredolu’s absence.

Despite the outward display of acceptance and appreciation, questions lingered in the air. How could such a curious arrangement come to pass? Does it really symbolise a “repossession” of Betty, as naughty bloggers have reported? What does the future hold for the former First Lady?

As the dust settled and the ceremony concluded, Lady Betty, clad in mourning attire, offered no response. The presence of family members, local dignitaries, and community elders lent an air of solemnity to the occasion, reinforcing the gravity of the situation.

As the saga continues to unfold, one thing remains certain: the power of rumours to captivate and confound, blurring the lines between fact and fiction, truth and speculation. In a world where truth is often stranger than

In the tapestry of life, few threads shine as brightly as the journey of Wole Oladiyun, the man of hope and healing as he celebrates his 65th year. Born into a family deeply rooted in faith, Oladiyun’s path was paved with unwavering devotion and a relentless pursuit

fiction, the story of Lady Betty and her “repossession” is a testament to the enduring allure of the mischievous hearsays.

Wole Oladiyun: The Man Who Sees Tomorrow at 65

of service.

From humble beginnings in Ile Oluji, Ondo State, Nigeria, Oladiyun’s journey took him from the corridors of academia to the bustling streets of entrepreneurship. Despite early aspirations in engineering, his true calling beckoned from the pulpit, where he found solace and purpose in ministering to the faithful.

In 1998, heeding the divine call, Oladiyun founded the Christ LivingSpring Apostolic Ministry (CLAM), a sanctuary of solace and salvation for countless souls. Through CLAM, his passion for evangelism took flight, carrying the message of hope to the farthest reaches of Nigeria and beyond.

Beyond the confines of the church, Oladiyun’s legacy extends into the realms of civil engineering and entrepreneurship. As a civil engineer, he left an indelible mark on Nigeria’s skyline, overseeing the construction of landmark buildings that stand as testaments to his vision and expertise.

His entrepreneurial ventures under the JNISSI (Jehovah Nissi) banner flourished,

Time for President Tinubu to Keep Wike in Check

Power, absolute power, is not good for anybody. Over time, many people have demonstrated this fact, especially in Nigeria’s political corridor. But Nyesom Wike, former Rivers State governor turned Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Minister, leads the pack. With him, there really is never a dull moment.

It’s a new month, and Wike finds himself at the centre of controversy once again. This time, it’s not his policies or political manoeuvers stirring the pot, but rather the alleged striking resemblance between his convoy and that of President Bola Tinubu.

Although nothing is certain as yet, critics are out for Wike’s flesh and blood. The former Rivers State governor’s reported decision to model his convoy after the president’s has sparked outrage and raised questions about the limits of ministerial power.

While the role of the FCT Minister is vital, Wike’s alleged attempt to emulate the trappings of presidential authority has raised

eyebrows. Critics argue that such displays of ostentation are grossly inappropriate for a ministerial position. It even risks eroding the neutrality of Abuja as Nigeria’s administrative and political capital.

Clearly, from what these critics think, Wike is running a mini-Nigeria from Abuja. With his convoy reportedly styled after Tinubu’s, he only needs to take on the president’s physical figure, peculiar use of words at national speeches, and unmatched confidence. Then, “There goes the new Tinubu” would be Wike’s welcome anthem.

President Bola Tinubu’s apparent silence on the matter has also fuelled speculation about his own political motives. As Wike’s political benefactor, Tinubu appears unfazed over everything, clearly ignoring the calls to address the issue and check what is perceived as Wike’s excesses to demonstrate his commitment to transparent and accountable governance.

Overall, Wike’s recent manoeuvres,

serving as pillars of economic empowerment and social upliftment in communities across Nigeria. Yet, amidst his professional pursuits, Oladiyun remained steadfast in his commitment to philanthropy, channelling his resources towards the betterment of society.

Through the Pastor Wole Oladiyun Foundation (PAWOF), Oladiyun eventually became a lighthouse of hope for the downtrodden, offering scholarships to aspiring students, funding medical treatments for the ailing, and creating employment opportunities for the unemployed.

Currently, innovation and literacy are the hallmarks of Oladiyun’s legacy, even with the launch of http://www. prayerparliament.com, the world’s first prayer search engine, revolutionising spiritual supplication. In this domain, his literary works, comprising over 50 published books, continue to inspire believers seeking deliverance and breakthroughs.

Wike

including alleged demands for political patronage, highlight the dangers of unchecked ministerial power. If left unchecked, will other ministers follow suit? What will this amount to in a democratic system if not the popularisation of political impunity?

Things are Gradually Picking up for Oborevwori

A new dawn emerges in Delta state under the stewardship of Governor Sheriff Oborevwori. Elected with a resounding mandate, Governor Oborevwori has embarked on a transformative journey, placing the aspirations of the youth at the forefront of his administration’s agenda.

Unlike the past, where young people were relegated to the sidelines of governance, Oborevwori has ushered in an era of youth empowerment and participation through the groundbreaking Youth O’clock Agenda. This visionary policy recognizes the invaluable contributions of young minds in shaping the trajectory of the state, heralding a future brimming with promise and potential.

The tangible fruits of youth involvement are already evident across Delta, with Oborevwori’s administration reaping the rewards of their energy and enthusiasm. From enhanced productivity to heightened confidence, the ripple effects of youth engagement reverberate far and wide, enriching the fabric of governance and society as a whole.

Moreover, Oborevwori’s commitment to infrastructural development and security demonstrates his dedication to the well-being of all Delta residents. The reported partnership with Julius Berger to rejuvenate Warri and its environs stands as a testament to his vision for a prosperous and vibrant state.

Also, Oborevwori is successfully managing the state’s finances, meeting loan repayments without resorting to further borrowing. His steadfast leadership and resolve to complete ongoing projects while initiating new ones exemplify his commitment to delivering tangible results for the people of Delta.

Beyond state governance, Oborevwori’s philanthropic endeavours exemplify his compassion and empathy towards the less privileged. Through the Oborevwori Foundation Scholarship Scheme, he has provided educational opportunities to indigent students and empowerment packs to aspiring entrepreneurs, uplifting lives and communities across Okpe Local Government.

In the past, he could be accused of being slow. But no longer. Things are really picking up now as Oborevwori has started to inspire a new generation of leaders to follow in his footsteps.

Otedola Oborevwori

The Akeredolus

Mercy Chinwo, Nathaniel Bassey: Let’s Fight These Bullies

As a strong proponent of freedom of speech, I am constrained to write this piece. In the last few weeks, I have been in a really strange space where I have been considering the possible regulation of social media. The space has been bastardised, seized by goons who now use it to bully people just because they have a phone and can afford the N100 data you need to cause disruptions.

The comment sections of these platforms have now been turned to slaughter slabs where reputations are vacuously damaged. They just tear people’s hardearned reputations into pieces just because

FUBARA VS WIKE: A TALE OF TWO CRY BABIES

Who has been following this saga? To me, these two are just cry babies who are doing nothing but entertaining us with some Oscar-deserving performances. The very weak one who is the governor sends a wimpy message saying, ”Dare me.” Even as he is saying that one, we are “yimmuing” him because even he knows that we all know that he is sitting on that seat by the grace of the other one. A governor who cannot determine who makes up his own cabinet is what ooooo? Make una answer me. It is not to be doing ‘gorimapa’ things and sending funny warnings to people who are better coordinated and better prepared to take you out. You say you are respecting President Tinubu, that is why you are implementing an agreement that is skewed against you, and your opponents’ say you are not implementing it fast enough, and you are warning them to allow you to implement at your own pace. Are you a man?

The question you should be asking yourself is, will Wike have even attended that meeting in the first place as a PDP governor?

For my big brother, Nyesom, his statement that we have just seen where he reportedly said that he has no hands in the rumble of the State House of Assembly, that he was focusing on the job President Tinubu gave him, and that is why he did not “go home” for Easter is as

they can.

The other day one came at me and called me a paedophile, the other called me gay and I gave back as hard as I could. I abused their fathers and blocked them.

The issue of these beautiful gospel singers is just another sad occurrence on the gram. How for the life of me would someone go out there and make such banal allegations?

All without proof o; just because you are chasing “clout” as they call it, you throw a dagger into the happiness of these families. Thankfully, I hear the right steps have been taken with the recourse to the police and the naming and shaming of four of the

disrespectful as they come. That is, you think that we don’t have sense abi? Must you be physically present to cause havoc? It is for this same self-serving reason that you chose this Fubara over better-qualified candidates to succeed you. The reason for his infallibility and his inexperience. My brother you “just dey bully the man” and it is not good. You just dey disgrace am up and down and if you do not stop, the position of the Governor of Rivers will become cannon fodder for comedians.

No matter what the man is, he is the Executive Governor of Rivers as proclaimed by no less an institution than the Supreme Court which affirmed the mandate the people gave him. Please allow the man to drink water, elections will soon be near and then at that point, do your magic and take him out. But for now, please let him be, abeg. Thank you.

OLUKAYODE AJULO: A BABEL OF LEGAL VOICES

I thought it was a joke when he mentioned that he was going to appoint 273 lawyers. I have never met him, but we chat fairly regularly on WhatsApp. Our chats and engagements reveal that although he is extremely brilliant with a clear thought process, his approach to the practicality of politics has been quite academic and detached.

As a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), the man can write long articles o. He

culprits. I think very seriously that once an example has been made, there will be some level of sanity.

Finally, I also think we are gradually getting to the point where some level of regulation needs to come in. There are some words you cannot use on the net and you will not be picked up at international airports. That is regulation, the same must apply here. The cyberbullying law must be seriously enforced in the first instance while the National Assembly carefully looks into the need to apply some brakes on that place. It is really crazy now. Kai. Chinwo

makes it a point of duty to send them to me and I will read the first two paragraphs and tire. I will just shift and move to “xvideos” to relax my brain abeg. I cannot come out of Lagos traffic and be reading the attorney general’s postulations about things that no really concern me.

But this one caught my attention. Are you really going to appoint 273 lawyers? I asked him and he said yes, and I said how are you going to pay them and he replied, “No pay.”

The next day, I saw the report that he had gone ahead and given reasons citing an eight-point agenda, and the next day he was vexing with someone for issuing a statement calling him “Anthony-general.” Oga wrote another long epistle on why that shouldn’t be o.

The first thing that came to my mind was, “Ondo people go hear this one o.” Dem don go appoint a lecturer for office and he has now come with 273 graduate assistants. Na big English will finish Ondo people. The big big English they will be listening to will scatter their brain and give them a headache. Kai. I pity them o. The fact that they will not be paid will add to the major cacophony of this very reckless position. They will not be focused; may use these positions to foster their personal nests, they will be distracted and ego-driven. Decisions will be cumbersome and hectic with

273 people having something to say on one issue.

I tell you, even the governor go tire for this one, I swear. Governor will just be looking with amazement and asking himself, what exactly have I gotten myself into?

My bro, Kay baba, abeg get serious and face the very important job you have been given. This is clowning. Thank you.

BASSIROU FAYE: WELL DESERVED GARLANDS

My only source of joy in this one is the fact that bro has two wives. This is a win for all polygamists all over the world. The young man not only won an election in an African country at that age but also strode the platform with his two wives. This is very inspiring and shuts up my critics who will be saying, “Edgar what are you doing with three wives at your age?” like there is an age restriction to polygamy.

See person I senior with over 10 years, not only being President but also being with two very beautiful wives. Kai, that his first wife is extremely beautiful o. Please, anybody with access to him should let him know that I plead for a first right of refusal if he ever wants to leave her. I am here o.

But seriously, if you read the travails Senegalese have to go through to achieve this epochal moment where a very young democratically-elected president has

Fubara Faye Ajulo. Adefeko

emerged, you will be proud of them. I hear that he was not even the real man o. That his oga suffered severe persecution including imprisonment and from the prison, the strategy of upfronting this one with two wives was forged.

Kudos must be given to the Senegalese authorities for knowing when to give up. Some ‘mumu’ governments like some that we know would have annulled the elections and thrown the country into another round of uncertainty.

With Liberia and now Senegal, the subregion is beginning to look like sense is coming back after that rash of military interventions by some upstarts hiding behind some revolutionary gum shots to seize power.

I am also very happy that our president was there personally. He is now playing the big brother role. At least, if respect no come from America, we can start building it from home. Nigeria must support her younger ones in the sub-region. My prayer is for Oga not to go and teach the young man “agbado” economics o and that one will now stand at his inauguration and pronounce “subsidy is gone.”

ALLEN ONYEMA: THE LION HAS LANDED

You know how Nigerians leave the forest and fight the grass for lack of understanding? A historic thing just occurred and all the noise has been the uniforms the crew wore. Kai, Nigerians ehn, only God knows which mould of sand he used to create us. An individual has gone through thick and thin to land in the UK as a fullfledged Nigerian airline and all we see is the Lion of the Igbo that some, not all o, wore as cabin crew. The beautiful Nigerian pilots, the backroom staff that covered the operations, the banks that financed him, the Federal authority that gave all the support and much more importantly, the resilience of the man himself, all went missing simply because some staff wore something that represented one ethnic region. We have a problem I swear. What would they have worn? Would we have preferred for some to wear Igbo and others to wear Yoruba and the rest Hausa before we let the man rest? Even at that, the minorities will scream, because I would really scream o –where is my wrapper? Mbok, can we just focus and see how we can support this Air Peace so that it will not go the way of its predecessors? Abi the ones that first went and died, na Igbo cloth dem wear? Na wa.

KFC, ADEBOLA DANIELS AND A MISDIRECTED BASHIRU AYINLA

This honourable wants to spoil the matter now o. So the young man had complained, the firm had apologised, FAAN, the direct authority has taken a stand, imposing sanctions, and now this one is talking about an investigation.

So, this Honourable Ayinla now wants the whole National Assembly to leave all their matters and come and investigate the refusal of one overworked staff member to refuse another young man in a wheelchair entry into an eatery. The matter has been addressed and I must state very clearly that I stand with the wheelchair-bound young man but causing federal legislation’s investigations is taking it too far. One would understand if he was pushing for a national framework that would protect such Nigerians in all of our public places but asking for an investigation of this particular case as

reported is taking -eye service too far. Abeg oga, if you are less busy, better come to Shomolu. Let’s play monkey post together and stop trying to waste taxpayers’ money on this puerile matter. Joker.

NASIR EL-RUFAI: A MOMENT SIR

First sir, kindly assist in reining in your son. His mouth is worsening this matter. Calling the governor names and saying he is surrounded by

incompetent aides as reported is not helping this your matter at all. The fact that is on ground is that the governor has been reported to have announced that you left behind 115 contractual responsibilities, N85bn and $587m, making his ability to meet his obligations including salary payments quite difficult.

You see, I am on your side on this matter simply because the governor was not expecting to come and meet

STILL ON GENERAL RICHARD DURU

Elections to the alumni association of our alma mater would have been held by the time you are reading this and the fate of the wellrespected General Richard Duru is on the front burner. The immediate past executive as led by my brother Segun Adefila has been accused of not being very proactive in the matter and this may cost him his position. Although General Duru’s matter is not the main grouse held against him, his lack of posturing in the matter is certainly playing very seriously against him and this is why gentleman Taiwo Ayedun, a cognate corporate citizen with international reach and powerful networks is having not only my support but the support of the generality of the community. As an elder statesman and a failed presidential candidate, my voice is heavy and my voice is for Taiwo because I believe very strongly that he would be able to work his network and contacts within the present government

of President Tinubu to give us answers to this problem. General Duru is a wellloved alumnus of our school, Command Secondary School, Ipaja and apart from the fact that he has played very excellent roles in our alma mater, also served very diligently the Army and the nation by extension. Daily, we hear hundreds of children are being kidnapped and released but Duru is still in captivity. We do not even know what exactly has happened to him going into five months. I hear his wife is now so traumatised beyond belief. Nothing is worse than not having closure. Please, what exactly is the situation? Nobody is talking again o and all behaving like General Duru was just nobody. Please, President Bola Tinubu, can you come in and kindly intervene? We know you have the heart and can help bring out a resolution on this matter. Thank you so much in advance.

the Saudi Arabian treasury. All these are crocodile tears being faced with his inability to proffer solutions that would enable him to deliver on his promises. You see, we are tired of these excuses. Even you yourself played this game, blaming Jonathan for everything under the sky down to my inability to have a good time in the other room. It is a lazy way of governance. It is like inheriting a distressed bank and wailing to the shareholders that kai, no money o, they have wrecked the bank oo. Excuse me? Yes, the bank is wrecked, deal with it or ship out.

Let me state clearly to this Kaduna governor – I no even know his name sef – the treasury is empty, what are you going to do about it? Deal with it. What solutions are you going to throw up that will give you the leeway to deliver to your people? Even if you jail El-Rufai today, will that enable you to pay salaries? Abeg, leave all these lazy man tactics, El-Rufai has gone, face the devil and perform abeg.

My only worry is that this El-Rufai’s son with his loose mouth will not even let us see road to engage this governor and set him aright. Sir, can you kindly just ask your boy to “shut up” and let us hear word?

Please, Mr. Governor, which governor in this country inherited a healthy treasury o? Just face your mirror in your house, stand naked and answer that question truthfully. I suspect that the answer will give you peace.

Mbok, leave my brother El-Rufai alone, the man is focused on getting a new job. It’s not easy to be an applicant in this economy and at that age. I hear he has carried an application to SDP. Let’s wait and see first o. I wish him luck.

TOSH ADEFEKO: A PROFESSIONAL ODYSSEY

I crave your indulgence to celebrate this thoroughbred professional. When people are doing well, it’s good to celebrate them, especially at these times when there is so much despair in our nation. Tosh is a super brilliant PR and communications expert. She cut her teeth in Biodun Shobanko’s Quadrant where I heard that she led the organisation through its golden era. Her profound understanding of her space has led her to win such prestigious clients like Meta for her new agency. I know that some of you will not know what Meta is oo. I swear I know that my brothers Ken Etete, Dere Otubu, my Editor, Davidson and Chike Ireogbunam have never heard of Meta. Meta for those of you who do not know is the former Facebook.

Anyways, Tosh has suddenly discovered that content via the platforms of podcasts is the next wave when it comes to social cohesion amongst others. In this regard, she has built a multi-million naira studio in Ikoyi where she has hosted such notables like famous pastor Ituah Ighodalo and influential Lanre Olusola to very major discussions on life, economy and leadership. These discussions have been so engaging that they have gone viral, pulling in a lot of listeners to the podcasts. I have been begging my Editor, the handsome Davidson Iriekpen, to come as a guest but fear has been catching him and I don’t know why.

Anyways, Tosh must be celebrated for braving the odds and refusing to “Japa,” and also for building this inspiring agency that now has international recognition. Well done my sister, and please, she is the beautiful wife to my big egbon Ade Adefeko who taught me banking. If I don’t mention his name now, I no go hear word o. Lol.

Duru

Proud Moment for Abiodun Akinlade at 57

Call him a symbol of the true Ogun State dream, and you would be stating the obvious. By a mixture of sheer grit and hard work, Hon. Abiodun Akinlade has become a rising star beacon of hope and a reference point, not only in YewaAworiland but in Ogun.

Akinlade, a record fourthterm member of the House of Representatives from the Yewa South/Ipokia federal constituency, who turned 57 a few weeks ago, is a man of destiny whose circumstances of birth were unique and divine, being the only surviving child of his mother from all previous eight female children. Little wonder, this amiable man has dedicated his life to the service of God and humanity.

Currently serving as Chairman of the House of Representatives Committee on Aviation Technology, the down-to-earth philanthropist and ever-smiling gentleman, has kept to his vow to ensure that youths and women in Ogun State are gainfully employed and empowered. Little wonder, he has built a cult hero status and following across the length and breadth of the state.

Aptly described by his admirers and supporters as Baba Omo Kekere (father of young ones) for his large heart for youths, especially in the Ogun West zone, he has continued to facilitate federal jobs, support indigent folks, build and commission infrastructure, among others. He literally gives to the Jew as much as he does to the Gentile, hence, the durable prayers and well wishes from all and sundry.

Armed with a bigger vision and service to country and humanity, the birthday boy, who is the Baba Adinni of Yewaland, has chosen to be a man who lives for others, and that makes him a ‘breeder of tomorrow’s leaders.’

Clearly, nothing can take away the hugely visible footprints of one of the finest sons of Ogun in the sands of time.

Billionaire Businesswoman,Bola Shagaya’s Staying Power

Wealthy, powerful and influential with highwired connections around the globe, billionaire businesswoman, Bola Shagaya, is one of the top players in the oil and gas sector and her exciting journey would certainly inspire anyone who wants to succeed in the industry.

Constantly driven by an ambition to rule her world, she believes opportunities abide everywhere, except for those who have set some limitations for themselves.

Apart from oil and gas, she is also making waves in other industries, such as banking, real estate and photography, among others.

Despite gaining little support, the courageous founder and CEO of Bolmus Group International confronted the challenge of running one of the most strategic businesses in Nigeria, especially in a male-dominated milieu.

Today, she has stamped her authority in the nation’s economy, while her name is boldly written among the top business magnates in the continent.

Interestingly, in a society where many successful women have reportedly allowed fame, success and sometimes stardom to turn their heads, Shagaya recognises that only Allah is the unseen hand behind her success story; and she submits absolutely to His will. She also recognises that hard work pays, so she loathes laziness.

According to sources, the woman who is said to live a disciplined lifestyle doesn’t make any move or take any step without seeking divine guidance.

Indeed, her armour against failure is ceaseless prayers. Many of her friends are always amazed at her humility and her total dependence on Allah while making the most critical decisions of her life.

In fact, she is fond of saying that Allah and prayer are actually the secrets behind his success and upholds the five pillars of Islam, which includes the belief that “There is no god but Allah, and Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah,” prayer (salat), alms (zakat), fasting, and pilgrimage (hajj).

In her usual style, the stylish woman, last week, travelled to Mecca for Umrah, also known as lesser Hajj, to offer prayers for her state, her family and the entire nation.

Stop the Rumour! Segun Adebutu Hasn’t Abandoned Mega Project

That business mogul, Segun Adebutu, shares a lot in common with his magnate father, Chief Kessington Adebutu, is stating the obvious. From business acumen and philanthropy, he is no doubt a chip off the old block.

Adebutu’s vast business empire includes mining. He has a company which arguably ranks as one of Nigeria’s most endowed mining assets.

He also has a marine logistics firm reputed to be quietly amassing the largest fleet in subSaharan Africa and quietly executing several multimillion-dollar contracts across West Africa.

The younger Adebutu has truly done so well for himself to the admiration of his wealthy father who many believed has been his main backbone. As a billionaire on his own merit, Adebutu, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Petrolex Oil & Gas Limited, excited many in December 2017, when he announced his company’s major and landmark multi-billion dollar oil city projects.

spotlight and outside the shadow of his multibillionaire father.

At that time, Osinbajo inaugurated Africa’s largest tank farm built by the young Adebutu’s indigenous integrated energy conglomerate. The tank farm is a 300 million-litre storage facility with 20 storage tanks.

But inaugurating the largest petroleum products depot was just the tip of the iceberg, as Adebutu intended to systematically turn Ibefun, particularly, the project axis, into one large energy estate that will be reckoned with as the biggest and best in Africa.

This, he hoped to do with other mega projects, such as the proposed 250,000 bpd oil refinery, a lube plant, a fertiliser plant, a gas processing facility and a power plant to power all the operations with an option to sell the excess to the national grid.

In the history of Nigerian aviation, there has never been a joyous moment as the recent one created by Allen Onyema, the boss of Air Peace.

The trained lawyer is generally regarded as a breath of fresh air in the country’s aviation sector, as well as the nation’s private sector. Since he launched Air Peace in 2013, the affable Onyema has continued to live up to his reputation as one of the pillars of the nation’s business, while he continues to project the country’s positive image around the world.

That he is indeed a blessing to the aviation sector and the nation at large is an understatement. He has succeeded in the belief that something good could actually come out of Nigeria.

He has written his name with a golden pen even as he stands to be counted in rewriting the story of the country’s aviation sector and

Besides his investments in oil and gas and involvement in the gaming industry, younger Alobo-Bakare

When Adebutu drew the high and mighty, including the then Nigeria’s Vice President, Yemi Osinbajo, to the sleepy, border town of Ibefun in Ogun State to unveil plans to build “the second largest refinery in sub-Saharan Africa and the largest petroleum product depot in Nigeria,” it was the first time he would be under the

Allen Onyema’s Historic Moment

launching it onto the global map.

Onyema, at the moment, is rejoicing for achieving one of his heart desires, pumping his fist in the air in a victorious manner like an army general who has secured yet another victory in a war. Who wouldn’t? It is a huge historic moment worthy of celebration.

You cannot fault him if he had invited the greatest griot to render his panegyrics or if he had engaged the most creative town crier to trumpet his triumph when he finally realised his most desired goal.

Also, you wouldn’t blame him if he had donned his Sunday best and danced like the Biblical King David on the occasion of achieving the Lagos-London route. That this came a day after his birthday made it even more significant and it would definitely remain cherished for the rest of his life.

Not a few applauded the younger Adebutu for this audacious move in Nigeria’s troubled streams. But seven years down the line, his strategic and promising private investments have yet to sprout.

Hakeem Alobo-Bakare’s New Beautiful Dream

construction giant and notable socialite has done well for himself to have remained in the minds of many.

The businessman is highly connected and is also one of the country’s nouveau riche, with big wallets and an even bigger social reputation.

Alobo-Bakare has successfully etched his name in the sand of times. But he is the kind of man who makes no noise about his success.

The Otunba Bobajiro of Jogaland’s spirit of total commitment and determination to strive for excellence propelled him to the limelight in his early days in his chosen career.

Does Hakeem Alobo-Bakare need any introduction? The answer would be a capital “No!”

The Lagos State-born building developer,

Also, his leadership quality stands him tall among his contemporaries. This superb attribute has earned him laurels and accolades many times. Those whose paths have crossed his in the past will attest to the fact that he has a charming character and uncommon leadership qualities. His leadership quality is born though, it oozes out effortlessly.

Perhaps this is what some of his co-members have noticed in him and persuaded him to lead the prestigious Lagos Island Club in the next dispensation.

As revealed, the businessman is not just a member, but part of the club’s history. He has been a member of the club for over 32 years and has seen it grow, and evolve and the challenges that they have overcome together as a community.

His experiences have equipped him with a deep understanding of the complexities of leadership, but also with a profound respect for the values that bind them all at one of the most exalted social clubs in the country.

Society Watch gathered that AloboBakare’s vision for the club when elected as chairman includes fostering a sense of community, enhancing members’ engagement, and ensuring the sustainability of the Island club for future generations.

Shagaya

Adebutu

Akinlade

Onyema

ARTS & REVIEW ARTS & REVIEW

At NK Art Space, Emerging Artists Find a Haven

With its sights set on becoming one of Nigeria’s top five galleries in the next five years, a Lagos-based art space has big plans for its creative protégés. Okechukwu Uwaezuoke reports

Here is one fact that immediately jumps at the interviewer during a recent WhatsApp chat with the young Nancy Keshinro: Her gallery, NK Art rising talents and artists who don’t always get the spotlight. promoting diversity and fostering creative expression further explains.

nurturing young artists who may not have had as many art spaces.

providing a platform for them to showcase their creativ saw the National Open University, Lagos, economics to painting in 2020, amidst the pandemic.

stage. “We want the world to see how talented, smart,

need of a gallery that will change the structure

many galleries doing the same thing. Hence, she with similar structures.

In any case, the main focus for NK Art Space currently lies in enhancing online interaction

Additionally, it aims to forge alliances with fel

In addition to its proclaimed aim to support emerging artists, NK Art Space also strives to create a diverse and lively art environment, thus providing a platform for promoting artistic growth, innovation, and community a lasting appreciation for contemporary art among its audience.

the narrative of contemporary African art. And to the EDITOR OKECHUKWU

earn the respect and attention of local, national, she notes its vast evolution and envisions its po use of materials and mediums fascinating, as it infuses fresh perspectives into traditional forms of expression.

UWAEZUOKE/ okechukwu.uwaezuoke@thisdaylive.com

A painting by Segun Aiyesan

A photograph by Hakeem Salam

A painting by Kelani Fatai Keshinro

Reliving a Night of Terror with Mixed Feelings

Far from reliving trauma, the recent screening of the short Breathe in Lagos revisits the once-burning global news item (#BringBackOurGirls) about the missing schoolchildren from the Chibok community in Borno State. In one fell swoop, 276 girls vanished from the Government kidnapped by the terror group that robbed them

part in a project. Perhaps the visual paradox rests on the fact that the tear-jerking emotion didn't consume the artists until the actual presentation of the sculptures before the parents of some of the missing or late Chibok girls.

For a mother who had lost two daughters to a night of terror, it was painful to watch the sculptures. But for another, it was gratifying to have a tangible item that connects with the memory of the missing girl—even with moments of shared quirky humour around how close to perfection some of the facial features were.

two-prong impact: to raise awareness about the plight of the girls who are still missing and to highlight the global struggle for girls’ education.

force the bird’s eye view, which is symbolic in more ways than one. It could be the presumed presence of an all-knowing being or the international community, which could not compromise cross-border security protocols to rescue the girls.

The aesthetics of this “army of girls” hinge on its indivisibility—the pieces must remain together heads signed by the respective students would go on tour before they would return to the

Directed by Chioma Onyenwe and Vincent gives life to the lifeless and the missing Chibok girls, validating their voices. By interrogating this collective trauma, the art scholars behind this project have carefully bridged the gap between “town and gown.”

The plot is woven around the conversations with the mothers of the eight models and their desire to ensure the world does not forget the girls.

Dr. Olusegun Fajigbe of the Department of

Oluwafemi Otoki’s dream two years ago was to hold his next solo exhibition at the Mydrim Gallery in Ikoyi, Lagos. It is now a reality, as his eye-catching, big paintings evoke ideas about urbanisation and the environment. This full-time studio artist had always been fascinated by landscapes in his surroundings, which had formed the foundation of his three-decade work.

With several group exhibitions on his sleeves, Otoki decided in 2022 to have Not For Sale at the Signature Gallery. The feedback was overwhelming and he decided to have another one in March.

“I started working from the day I told them that I would love to have a show here,” Otoki said as he walked us through the paintings. It was a preview day with a handful of journalists who were de- termined not to steer the conversation out of context. Focusing on his large works, he explained how the space on canvas helped with his unique visual storytelling.

“Some of my collectors and gallery owners that I have related with have told me that I work better when I have the space. I think it is true.”

This show, Landscapes of My Fatherland, is a continuation of sorts, trailing

and nearby communities in Osogbo as well as Lagos to participate in making memorial sculptures for the missing Chibok girls.

Chioma Onyenwe and Vincent Lorca, captures the activities culminating in a groundbreaking one-day workshop held to immortalise the Chibok girls. The exhibition, which was a collaborative project by the French sculptor Prune Nourry

echoes an earlier artistic statement by Nourry.

women and the earth in her army of “Terracotta Daughters” in China.

In retelling the story of the missing Chibok girls, she assembled yet another army of Ife terracotta heads. Created in the style of the iconic ancestral Ife head, eight original sculptures were cast in clay sourced from Ile-Ife by potters from a female potter’s community in Ilorin alongside delegation of mothers of the Chibok girls and girls who managed to escape Boko Haram captivity were also in attendance, honouring and remembering their friends and loved ones depicted in the sculptures. On screen were raw footage of the participating students in their work spaces, excited to be taking

“The intention was to use art as a tool of social awareness, transformation, and reconstruction in order to shed light on certain ills of society, such as kidnapping and insecurity, and that is why we have chosen to use sculpture to tell the story of the Chibok girls,” he said.

For the producer of the documentary movie, key to projecting the message. “From the onset, it was clear that we had to involve the community and seek their consent as well. Through various contacts, I reached out to communities. In consultation, we got in touch with the parents of the missing Chibok girls for their consent. It was as if our people were almost forgetting the girls. I think many considered this an immortalising.”

An Artist’s Longing for Pristine Nature

One of

MOVIE COMMEMORATION

paintings

after the thematic preoccupation of the previous solo show. Otoki is concerned about how fast cities are encroaching on nature, replacing rural normalcy with city life, and its architectural disruption. For him, it is important to document the mo- ment for historio-cultural preservation.

landscapes and sometimes I stop along the way to take pictures if I see something fascinating,” he said. “I am not really fascinated by city life. I love landscapes that show nature untouched. It has not been distorted. I love painting riverside, mountains and other things that appeal to the Someeyes.” of the places he had painted

before hardly look the same some years down the line due to urbanisation. With a detailed depiction of scenery, Otoki weaves the conversation about the impact of poorly planned urban development on sustainable development and best practices. For instance, urbanisation often results in deforestation, habitat loss, and other forms of environmental degradation.

Otoki had discovered mountains being destroyed in Nigeria. This threat to the national landscape had been worrisome to him and had further propelled his curiosity for the subject and the desire to crystallise history.

“I feel that it is the only thing we have,” the artist added. “We must do everything within our power to preserve our cultural heritage; if not, we will be losing on both sides so that future generations can begin to see how things were done before they came into existence. But if we start destroying everything now and in the future, what will happen? It is like losing who you are. We should be able to tell stories about our culture and the need to preserve those things.”

Otoki, a keen observer of the natural world, captured the aesthetic qualities of a rural community in his painting “Fisherman’s Village,” which has major and shelters built on water, both of which represent life.

Yinka Olatunbosun

Yinka Olatunbosun

the

at the exhibition

Sculptures of Missing Chibok Girls in 'Statues Also Breathe'

IN THE ARENA

The Abduction of FirstNews Editor

The recent abduction of FirstNewsEditor, Segun Olatunji, during a commando-styled raid of his home in Lagos, and his 13-day detention in Abuja by operatives of the Defence Intelligence Agency, pose a significant threat to press freedom in Nigeria and undermine democracy, Wale Igbintade writes

Is Nigeria back to the dark days when journalists were arrested, tortured and detained? This was the question that readily came to the minds of Nigerians when on March 15, in Gestapo style, the Editor of FirstNews, Segun Olatunji, was abducted by operatives of the Defence Intelligence Agency (DIA), an agency that reports to the Chief of Defence Staff, General Christopher Musa, and the Chief of Defence Intelligence, Major General Emmanuel Undiandeye.

For the 12 days out of the 13 days that Olatunji was detained, nobody, including his family and employers, knew his whereabouts.

Olatunji, a former employee of The Punch Newspapers, was arrested in his Iyana-Odo, Abule-Egba home in Lagos State and flown to Abuja for performing his constitutional duties in a democratic era, not under military rule. He was released on March 28 on the grounds that he would be available whenever needed by the military authorities and after much protest from journalists, human rights organisations and lawyers.

Narrating the ugly incident, Mr. Olatunji’s wife, who witnessed the abduction of her husband, said the armed men stormed their residence a few minutes after 6 pm, that day. On their arrival, she recounted, the abductors immediately confiscated her husband’s telephone before shoving him into a van. Her inquiry about her husband’s offence fetched no answer but rebuffs from the stern-looking men.

The Publisher of FirstNews, Mr. Daniel Iworiso-Markson, as well as Olatunji’s colleagues and family members, tried in vain to locate him. But those who abducted him ensured he was incommunicado. They also ensured that no one knew his whereabouts, a development that further traumatised his family, employers and colleagues.

While the confusion over his whereabouts continued, the military authorities were said to have denied having him in their custody, despite the intervention of senior officials of the federal government. This raised serious concerns over his safety. It took the International Press Institute (IPI) to provide a ray of hope when it revealed that the editor was in the custody of the DIA.

While a few analysts raised concerns about the possibility of criminals replicating such actions, leaving Nigerians in doubt about the involvement of military authorities, others wondered what would be the fate of the average Nigerian if found in a similar situation given the way the editor was treated despite having a voice and institutions backing him.

Under the 1999 Nigerian Constitution and other international instruments to which Nigeria is a signatory, it is forbidden for any citizen or resident to be detained beyond 48 hours, except with a valid court order. Therefore the arrest of Olatunji was seen as a direct attack on press freedom by analysts.

Analysts also posited that the incident is a throwback to the era of military dictatorship when operatives brutalised, hounded and jailed journalists for spurious offences. For instance, the military government under Muhammadu Buhari, Ibrahim Babangida and the late Sani Abacha, detained journalists and summarily shut media houses for performing their duties.

The World Press Freedom Index compiled by Reporters Without Borders ranked Nigeria No. 123, scoring a pitiful 49.56 out of the 180 countries ranked on press freedom. South Africa was ranked 25th, and Namibia was ranked 22nd. In 2022, Nigeria was ranked number 129.

This is why many feel that the action of the DIA should not be condoned under the current democratic space. For them, it is clear that some officers in the military are still finding it difficult to subject themselves to civil authority 24 years after the country returned to representative governance.

Those who spoke with THISDAY on condition of ano-

POLITICAL NOTES

nymity, described the incarceration of Olatunji for performing his constitutional duties as illegal and highly unacceptable in a democracy and urged the federal government to ensure that all the officers involved are dealt with and the journalists and his family duly compensated.

They also have called on President Bola Tinubu not to condone the vicious, uncivilised, unlawful and criminal action of the DIA, which they described as unacceptable.

Many believe that if officers of strategic agency like DIA could hack a journalist’s telephone, traumatise his wife, abduct him, detain him secretly for 12 days and disobey senior officials of the federal government, then the country’s democracy is not safe.

Free press serves as a watchdog on power. The press is the connection between the people and the government. If the press is not allowed to carry out its social and constitutional responsibilities but instead obligated to power, it simply serves as an extension of power. Without freedom of the press, Nigeria’s democracy is endangered. A free press is also critical in exposing abuse of power and corruption. While the media is not above the law, in a democracy, the only way to determine wrong or right is through the legal process.

This is why speaking at a joint press conference organised by the IPI, NGE and NUJ in Abuja, the secretary of the NGE, Iyobosa Uwugiaren, on behalf of the groups, condemned the detention of Olatunji, describing it as “an attack on press freedom.” The groups also called on President Tinubu to ensure that the military officers involved in Olatunji’s arrest are punished for bad behaviour.

“Although our colleague has now been released, we are calling on President Tinubu to ensure that these officers are punished for their bad behaviour. The DIA’s action is a direct attack on press freedom. One of the core missions of the free press is to serve as a watchdog on power.

“Without freedom of the press, our democracy is endangered. In the case of corruption, a free press is critical to exposing abuses of power. For sure, the media is not above the law, but in a democracy, the only way to determine wrong or right is through the legal process.

“If officers in a military institution like DIA could hack a journalist’s telephone, mishandle his wife, abduct him, detain him secretly for 12 days and disobey senior officials of the federal government, then our democracy cannot be said to be safe,” Uwugiaren added.

Going forward, the federal government should ensure it upholds the tenets of democracy and press freedom in all ramifications. If a journalist has breached the laws of the country, there are democratic tools that could be deployed through the right judicial processes. It should also ensure that the military is not allowed to overreach its powers into civilian matters.

Ekweremadu’s Disappearance from the Political Space

Until he was arrested and convicted in London where he is currently serving a jail term, Senator Ike Ekweremadu was a renowned politician and lawyer who dominated Nigeria’s political landscape like a colossus for several decades. He was best known for his role as the Deputy President of the Senate. During his time in the Senate, Ekweremadu represented the Enugu West Senatorial District.

As Deputy President of the Senate, Ekweremadu was the Chairman of the Joint Committee of the National Assembly on the Review of the 1999 Constitution.

He played a significant role in Nigeria’s legislative process, formulating and enacting laws and policies. He also represented the Senate at various national and international fora, contributing to Nigeria’s overall diplomatic relations and legislative diplomacy. Ekweremadu was involved in efforts to promote good governance, the rule of law, and democracy in Nigeria. He advocated for constitutional reforms, electoral reforms, and the protection of human rights.

But things took a swift turn downhill for the senator when he and his wife Beatrice were arrested in London and charged with conspiring to bring a child into the UK with the aim of harvesting his organs. An investigation of the

crime went on for about 11 months from when the Metropolitan Police were informed of potential violations of modern slavery legislation. Ekweremadu was tried, convicted and jailed for nine years and eight months, while his wife was sentenced to four years and six months imprisonment. His influence and celeb rity status quickly diminished after his arrest, conviction and sentencing. He has since disappeared from the political space in Nigeria. Many Nigerians have blamed him for not using his influential position to attract world-class hospitals in Nigeria, which could have prevented the medical tourism that landed him in trouble.

His experience should serve as a lesson for other Nigerian political leaders.

Tinubu

Ekweremadu

BRIEFING NOTES

Kaduna: The Centre Can No Longer Hold

A recent angry outburst from Governor Uba Sani of Kaduna State over the huge debt he inherited from his predecessor, Mallam Nasir El-Rufai, shows that the relationship between the former governor and his godson has gone sour, Ejiofor Alike reports

Until the Nigerian political leaders realise that power is transient and tread with caution when exercising the power vested on them by the constitution, they will continue to be humiliated when they are out of office.

This summarises the fate of the immediatepast governor of Kaduna State, Mallam Nasir El-Rufai, who was fond for courting controversy when he ruled the state like emperor, and made unguarded utterances against both his enemies and friends alike, for eight years.

His critics, including a former senator from Kaduna State, Shehu Sani had described him as an opportunist, whose political career was characterised by switching loyalty and allegiance, political sycophancy and crass opportunism.

He was also accused of betraying all those who assisted him in his glorious political career, including former President Olusegun Obasanjo, ex-Vice President Atiku Abubakar, former President Goodluck Jonathan, and lately, former President Muhammadu Buhari.

As governor, El-Rufai’s word was law to the extent that he once declared that he would never retire to the National Assembly because he did not have the patience required to lobby other lawmakers to implement legislative functions.

“The legislature is one branch of government I know I can never function. The hard work needed to convince people to support even your motion is something some of us have no patience for.

“You know management in the executive is very straightforward; it is very hierarchical and once you are a governor, your word is almost law. But in the legislature, everybody is equal and there is no management that is more difficult than managing your equals,” the governor reportedly explained.

At the peak of the nationwide invasion of Nigerian farming communities by murderous herdsmen from the neighbouring countries, El-Rufai’s comment that the governors in the southern parts of the country lacked the capacity to implement the anti-open grazing laws they made in their federating units, was regarded as impunity taken too far.

His state became a killing field during his eight-year tenure and he could not find the solution to the killings, yet he claimed that other governors should not make laws to stop the escalation of the killings in their states.

El-Rufai’s utterances on the Muslim-Muslim tickets during the 2023 presidential election were also viewed by his critics as having the capacity to potentially hurt the efforts of the

President Bola Tinubu-led administration to heal the wounds of the last general election.

The then governor had insinuated in a video that went viral that it was only when Muslims dominated the state government that his administration was fair to all.

El-Rufai had also curiously suggested that allowing Muslims to occupy all the major positions was an indication that religious politics had been eliminated in Nigeria. Having gained notoriety for making what were widely perceived as inflammatory and divisive utterances on religious, ethnic and other national issues, many analysts were not surprised that the Senate withheld his confirmation as minister over security screening.

Before he lost his ministerial bid in President Tinubu’s cabinet, he had boasted that he would not be minister, having served as the FCT minister at the age of 43.

The former Kaduna State governor had in the past also declared that he did not believe in President Tinubu’s style of politics.

Since he lost his ministerial bid, his political fortunes have diminished considerably to the extent that his recent association with the leaders of the Social Democratic Party (SDP)

fuelled speculations that he was on his way out of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).

A recent comment by his successor and close ally, Governor Uba Sani on the state’s huge indebtedness showed that he has lost grip of the political structure in the state, which will further hurt his political fortunes.

Governor Sani recently raised the alarm that the huge debt burden he inherited from El-Rufai’s administration was suffocating the state.

Speaking at a town hall meeting, tagged: ‘The State of Kaduna State’, the governor lamented that the debt burden was so huge that the government would have to borrow to be able to pay workers’ salaries.

According to the governor, the debt burden includes $587million, N85 billion and N115 billion contractual liabilities, “sadly inherited from the previous administration”.

According to him, Kaduna State only receives N3.6 billion after deduction of N7.2 billion for debt servicing.

“What we received from the federal allocation in Kaduna this month was N3.6 billion out of over N10 billion. The sum of N7.5 billion was deducted from our allocation to service debts.

NOTES FOR FILE

“We cannot pay salaries without borrowing. Our salary bill is N5.2 billion. We will have to borrow N2 billion to be able to pay salaries,” the governor added.

Speaking further, the governor said he had approached President Bola Tinubu for assistance.

Governor Sani’s public indictment of his predecessor showed that the relationship between them has broken down.

Though the former governor has maintained silence, his son, Bashir El-Rufai, had in a swift response, accused the state governor of shying away from his responsibility by always staying away from the state and hibernating in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Abuja.

Bashir also accused Governor Sani of surrounding himself with a retinue of incompetent aides appointed for political patronage.

Bashir said that instead of admitting its incompetence, the Sani’s administration has resorted to deflect by raising alarm on a debt burden inherited from El-Rufai’s administration.

In a series of tweets on his X handle, Bashir berated Governor Sani and his team, accusing them of incompetence, contract inflation and forex speculation, wondering why they were giving debt burden as an excuse for their poor performance.

On the debt profile of the State, he responded: “FYI: He (Governor Sani) was the Senator from Kaduna who lobbied and approved the loans.”

The Women’s Leader of the Kaduna State Chapter of the APC, Maryam Suleiman, speaking in the Hausa language in a viral video, also berated the governor over his remarks.

In the said video, Suleiman accused Governor Sani of mismanagement and advised him to refrain from attributing his failures to El-Rufai.

But in a swift reaction, Kaduna State Chapter of the APC suspended Suleiman for alleged gross misconduct.

The suspension notice was signed by the APC Chairman and Secretary of the Badarawa/Malali ward, Ali Maishago and Zakkah Bassahuwa, respectively.

The party accused Suleiman of carrying out actions to tarnish the governor’s reputation.

Though the Governor Sani’s spokesman, Alhaji Mohammed Shehu, said the governor would not dignify El-Rufai’s with a response to his attack on the governor, the suspended APC Women’s Leader, had insisted that he has no regrets over her criticisms of the governor.

No matter how the political pendulum swings, Governor Sani’s comment and the suspension of the APC Women’s Leader were clear indications that El-Rufai has lost the political structure in the state.

Lack of Political Will against Forgers

The Minister of Education, Tahir Mamman, again last week declared that security agencies would go after individuals with fake university certificates.

When the minister first hinted that security agents would go after people with fake certificates from foreign countries who had used them to secure opportunities in the country, some Nigerians who studied hard to obtain their certificates were elated.

But little did they know that it would soon become a singsong.

Mamman had described such individuals as criminals and not victims. He said the federal government would suspend degree certificates from countries like Uganda, Kenya and the Niger Republic.

The minister’s threat came after an

undercover journalist had detailed how he acquired a degree from a university in Benin Republic within two months and in fact, deployed for the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC). This led to the federal government immediately suspending accreditation of certificates from the two francophone West African nations.

The Nigerian government also inaugurated a probe committee, which the minister said should submit its report in three months.

Four months after, rather than informing Nigerians how many people have been arrested, the minister was still blowing hot on the issue at the maiden quarterly citizens and stakeholders’ engagement in Nigeria’s education

sector in Abuja.

This explains why many Nigerians don’t take the government seriously. That issue, as scandalous as it was, was swept under the carpet. It is when a similar incident happens that the issue would resurface. This stance speaks volumes about government complacency and lack of political will.

Those who committed this crime need to be dealt with to serve as a deterrent to other wouldbe perpetrators. This is what moves any society forward.

In developed societies, certificate forgery is considered a serious crime.

For the minister to come out last Tuesday to tell Nigerians again that security agencies would soon go after individuals with fake university certificates in the country was an insult to our collective intelligence. Nigerians deserve to know how many people have been arrested and prosecuted.

SaniEl-Rufai

Mamman

All Eyes on Bill for Judges’ Pay Rise

The recent passage of a bill by the House of Representatives, seeking to increase the salaries, allowances, and benefits for judicial officers nationwide, sheds light on the financial challenges judges face in comparison to public officials from other arms of government, Juliet Akoje writes

Following President Bola Tinubu’s executive bill to the National Assembly to review the salaries of judicial officers, the House of Representatives has passed a bill for the upward review of salaries, allowances, and fringe benefits for judicial officers nationwide for the third reading.

Based on the provisions of the bill, judges are to enjoy over 800 per cent pay rise, with the Chief Justice of Nigeria expected to earn N64.6 million annual basic salary and allowances, far higher than what the CJN earns currently.

According to the bill, the CJN will earn N13.5 million annual basic salary and N51.2 million as regular allowances. A further breakdown shows that the CJN will take N1.1 million as a monthly basic salary and N4.3 million as regular allowances.

The package also includes personal assistant- N3.6 million; hardship - N6.7 million; entertainment - N6 million; utilities - N4 million; outfit - N3.3 million; journal subscription - N2 million; medical - N5.3 million; long service allowance - N1.3 million; restricted or forced lifestyle - N6.7 million; dual responsibility - N2.9, and legal researchers - N6.9 million.

Other benefits are N53 million motor vehicle loan which is optional and to be repaid before the expiration of his/her tenure. There is also a leave allowance of N6.7 million per annum and an estacode of $2,000 per night during foreign trips.

Also, justices of the Supreme Court are to earn N61.4 million annually and N9.9 million annual basic salary. The breakdown includes motor vehicle allowance - N7.4 million; personal assistant - N2.4 million; hardship - N4.9 million; domestic staff - N7.4 million; entertainment - N4.4 million; utilities - N2.9 million; outfit - N2.4 million; journal subscription - N1.4 million; medical - N3.9 million; long service allowance - N991,339; restricted or forced lifestyle - N4.9 and legal researchers- N6.9 million. Each justice is also entitled to N39.7 million motor vehicle loan and a severance package of N29.7 million.

The President of the Court of Appeal is to earn N62.4 million allowance, comprising N9.9 million annually and N52.5 million regular allowances and is entitled to N39.7 million motor vehicle loan and a severance package of N29.7 million.

Other justices of the Court of Appeal are to get a total of N52.6 million as total allowances. The breakdown shows that N7.9 million is the annual basic

salary and N44.1 million is the regular allowances.

Chief Judge of the Federal High Court, President of the National Industrial Court, Chief Judge of FCT High Court, Grand Kadi FCT Shariah Court of Appeal, President of FCT Customary Court, Chief Judge of State High Court, Grand Kadi State Sharia Court of Appeal and President State Customary Court of Appeal are to earn the same salaries and allowances.

For this category, the annual basic salary is N7.9 million and N42.3 million as annual regular allowances. The severance gratuity and motor vehicle loans are N23.9 million and N31.9 million, respectively.

While sitting judicial officers are contending with several challenges ranging from the absence of essential working tools to poor offices, as well as insecurity, their salaries have remained static for 17 years.

Although the federal government reviewed the salaries of public servants and political officers on four occasions between May 1999 and March 2011, the last time judges’ salaries and allowances were increased was in 2007, following the enactment of the “Certain Political, Public and Judicial Office Holders (Salaries and Allowances, etc) (Amendment) Act of 2008,” which came into force on February 1, 2007. The law had repealed a similar Act of 2002 to create room for the increase of judges’ basic salaries, allowances and fringe benefits in 2007.

Under the law, the CJN’s annual basic salary is N3,353,972.50 (or N279,497.71 monthly), while other Justices of the Supreme Court and the President of the Court of Appeal receive N2,477,110 as basic annual salary or N206,425.83 monthly each.

The Justices of the Court of Appeal, Chief Judge of the Federal High Court, Chief Judge of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) High Court and President of the Industrial Court, Grand Khadi of State and FCT Sharia Court of Appeal, President FCT and State Customary Court of Appeal earn an annual basic salary of N1,995,430.18 each.

The judges of the Federal, State and FCT High Courts, National Industrial Court, Khadi Sharia Court of Appeal in the FCT and State; and FCT and State Customary Courts also earn an annual basic salary of N1,804,740 each.

Whereas, the average exchange rate of $1 to naira in 2007 when Nigerian judges received a pay rise was $1: N117.88, the salary of judges remained static even though the exchange rate jumped from 1$: N117.88 in 2007 to 1$: N815 in

2023. Between January and March 2024 when a dollar fluctuated from N1,000 to N1,800, nothing was added to the salaries of judicial officers. The implication is that the salaries of judges in Nigeria have not kept pace with inflation.

When adjusted for inflation, the CJN and all categories of judicial officers in the country actually make less in 2024 than what they did between 2007 and 2022 when naira was stronger.

A survey of judges’ salaries in other countries of the world shows that they not only enjoyed periodic reviews of their salaries but that Nigerian judges’ salaries are mere fractions of what their counterparts earn.

So bad and painful is the situation that constitutional lawyer, Sebastian Hon (SAN), in 2022 filed a suit at the National Industrial Court in Abuja where he sought for the upward review of judges’ salaries. He submitted that the salaries and allowances of judicial officers have remained unchanged since 2008.

Delivering judgement in the case, Justice Osatohanmwen Obaseki-Osaghae said salaries of judges and justices had stagnated for over 14 years. She held that the current salaries of judges and justices, which were last reviewed in 2008, no longer reflect modern realities, owing to the devaluation of the naira, exchange rate, and the general economic downturn.

She stressed that despite the increased workload on judicial officers, they have continued to suffer in penury owing to their “extremely low salaries and allowances,” which the court described as “very embarrassing.” Justice Obaseki-Osaghae however pointed out that the first defendant (RMAFC) has failed to use its constitutional powers to review the earnings of these judicial officers, 14 years after the last review was done in 2008.

The judge lamented the negligence, refusal, and failure of the Revenue Mobilisation Allocation and Fiscal Commission (RMAFC) to review judges’ salaries upward since 2008, deeming it unfortunate.

This is why many argue that judges should

receive higher salaries to ensure their independence from any party influence. A comparison of judges’ salaries, allowances, and benefits to those of average ministers, permanent secretaries, and other executive officials, as well as senators and members of the House of Representatives, reveals a significant disparity.

“One of the problems we have in the country is that our leaders do not know who to pay adequately to avoid corruption. We have situations where a councillor with just a school certificate gets more salary in this country and a professor with all his education and qualifications, gets far less. Look at our teachers, they are the least paid while our legislators get over N500 million annually. Tell me why the government should not give these judges far more. How much does a minister, permanent secretary, senator or House member get a day when he or she is out of his or her station on official assignment? We want justice yet look at what we want to pay to the judges. This is a shame,” a senior lawyer who didn’t want his name in print told THISDAY.

Recently, many Election Petitions Tribunal judges came under severe criticisms for their incoherent and incongruous judgments on cases brought before them. Legal and political observers said that some of the judges and justices handed controversial justice to petitioners and appellants.

In some cases where some petitioners were denied justice on technical grounds rather than on the merit of the case, allegations of compromise were imputed.

Reacting to the plight of serving Nigerian judges during a recent interview, constitutional lawyer and human rights activist, Dr. Kayode Ajulo (SAN), lamented the disproportionate remuneration of the judiciary compared to the other two arms of government despite the significance of its works.

“Despite shouldering the burden of political irregularities and providing justice for politicians, the judges’ wages do not reflect the significance of their work.

“With less than 300 federal judicial officers compared to over 400 politicians at the National Assembly receiving substantial salaries and emoluments, it is imperative to ensure that judges receive salaries commensurate with their indispensable role,” he added.

It is high time the government recognised the vital role of judicial stability and aligned their salaries with that of senators.

TinubuAkpabio

Ariwoola

Termination of US-Niger Military Cooperation Agreement: The Challenge of the Franco-US Vacuum

The military cooperation agreement between the United States and the Republic of Niger was denounced on Saturday, 16th March, 2024 in a televised statement made by Mr. Amadou Abdramane, the official spokesperson for the Abdourahamane Tchiani regime in Niamey, the capital city of Niger Republic. The denouncement is of geo-political importance at many different levels. First, the denouncement is a direct protest and message of caution to the Washingtonian authorities. The denouncement came after the visit of a US delegation sent to Niamey to discuss with the Tchiani government about Niger’s allies.

Secondly, the denouncement should be understood against the background of the attitudinal disposition of the Western leaders who generally consider the Tchiani junta as illegitimate, not recognised, and therefore, should not be related with. Thirdly, the US delegation reportedly objected to the Niamey government’s choice of military allies. Undoubtedly, the United States showed its concerns about, and rejected the deepening of ties with, China, Russia, and Iran. And true, the US objection appeared to have also angered the Tchiani junta, thus prompting the need to stop the bilateral military ties between the US and Niger. Fourthly, the denouncement is an expression of affirmation, not to say reaffirmation, of political independence and non-dependent sovereignty and, perhaps most significantly, an expression of determination of non-acceptance of foreign dictates henceforth.

It is important to note that one major rationale, not only for the Tchiani coup d’état, but also particularly why the coupists enjoy popular support, is the growing animosity of the people vis-à-vis the French government which is seen to have been taking the political independence and sovereignty of Niger Republic for granted, hence the need to put a full stop to it. The United States delegation arrived in Niamey, acted in the same imperial mania of the French, and the Tchiani junta reacted on behalf of the people and consolidated its controversial legitimacy. Fifthly, and above all, the denouncement raises the question of what future is there for the United States’ and France’s military cooperation in Africa.

Military Cooperation Agreement

At the level of the United States, the US government has told the world that it is in contact with Niger and wants ‘to see our partnership continue if there is a pathway forward.’ This statement is loaded with some implications: First, the United States is not quite sure if there can be a pathway forward. Second, it is the wish of the United States to have the status quo maintained. Third, US national interests appear to be under threats by Iran, China, and Russia. Most unfortunately for the United States, the Tchiani junta has pitched its tents with the Russians and with the perceived other enemies of the United States. This is one major fear that the US government wants to have the Niamey government consider.

There is no disputing the fact that the United States is much ‘troubled on the path that Niger is on,’ that is, particularly strengthening ties with Russia and Iran. US ties with both Russia and Iran are generally at their lowest ebb. The ties are predicated on mutual animosity for one another. It is therefore quite understandable if the United States was hostile to Niamey’s choices of allies. The critical questions however, are not far-fetched: why should the friends or enemies of the United States be the same as those of Niger Republic?

The strategic fears of the United States cannot also be farfetched: difficulties in reconciling Russo-American interests in Niger Republic. Without doubt, the United States has two military bases for manned and unmanned flights and has not only invested about $100 million on its drone base in central Agadez, more known as Airbase 201, but also has over 1000 troops in Niger as at 2023. The number has now been reduced by about 50% following the Tchiani coup on July 26, 2023. By implication, not only has the US drone base that has been serving

as the epicenter for monitoring terrorists and jihadists linked to the Al Qaeda thrown into désuétude, a vacuum has also been created for many uncertainties to exist. Put differently, who is to fill the gap? Will it be occupied by Russia or China or by both? Can the European Union be chanced to also serve as a replacement? These questions are interesting in light of the suggestion made by Mr. Valérie Giscard D’Estaing, when he was French President. He proposed a sort of Triumvirate, comprising the United States, European Economic Community by then, and Africa. The strategic calculation by then was that Africa should remain the major source of raw materials for the development of Europe and to which Nigeria, under the military administration of General Yakubu Gowon, vehemently opposed. Dr. Okoi Arikpo, then Commissioner for External Affairs, made Nigeria’s policy crystal clear, particularly on non-acceptance of foreign military bases in Africa. In D’Estaing’s strategic calculations, the roles of the Europeans and the Americans should be limited to provision of funds and military assistance for the protection of such Africa’s resources. And perhaps more interestingly, France was to continue to serve as agent of the development partners in Africa in the strong belief that France knew Africa more than all other development partners. And true enough, France was more culturally present in Africa than all the other

And true enough, opportunities and new challenges have been created for Nigeria and should be taken advantage of. Firstly, Nigeria as a regional influential, can fill the vacuum. Filling the vacuum requires examining the applicability of some Nigerian foreign policy principles, such as Professor Ibrahim Gambari’s foreign policy concentric circles. In this regard, West Africa may no longer be the first outer circle. The innermost circle still remains Nigeria and her immediate neighbours, because of their intertwined security interests. Secondly, the articulation of what foreign policy interests are to be pursued in the Alliance of Sahel States is another desideratum in the spirit of Ambassador Oluyemi Adeniji’s constructive and beneficial concentricism. Thirdly, since the time of General Gowon’s Okoi Arikpo, Nigeria has been vehemently opposed to the use of African mineral resources only for the development of Europe. So has Nigeria been opposed to the establishment of foreign military bases in Africa. Even though owners of military bases in Africa have always argued that they are in Africa based on the sovereign invitation of other African countries, the vacuum created by the declaration of France and the United States as personae non-grata in the security sector is a unique opportunity for Nigeria as a major player in the conduct and management of ECOWAS affairs to exploit

colonial masters, as Francophone Africans were then considered as other metropolitan French.

Most unfortunately, too, the same France of Giscard d’Estaing that strengthened defence agreements between France and Francophone Africa through establishment of military bases, has also been declared a persona non grata like the United States in the area of security cooperation. As noted in the Round Table (The Commonwealth Journal of International Affairs), ‘the French colonial tradition has been characterized by its assimilative tendencies (the representation of colonial territories in the mother Parliament, and the strong cultural influence of France), by its paternalist policies, which made the colonies economically, as well as politically dependent on France, and by a constitutional rigidity, which up to 1956, made adaptation to modern conditions both politically and psychologically difficult’ (vide Volume 51, 1960, Issue 201, pp.29-38).

What is particularly noteworthy is that the French outline-law of 1956 enabled administrative decentralization. The advisory elected assemblies in the Territories were given the right to control certain local services and their own finances. In fact, Executive Governments were established in such a way that, by 1958, they have become ‘embryo Governments with de facto Prime Ministers.’ This internal autonomy was further strengthened under the 1958 Fifth Republic Constitution which brought about three new innovations: establishment of a semi-federal relationship between the former colonies and France within the framework of a Franco-African Community; withdrawal from the Community by agreement; and provision of clauses enabling the revision of the Constitution without difficulty (ibidem).

Guy Martin drew attention to the factors of continuity and change in France’s relations with Africa in 1994, in a paper he presented to the Conference on “The End of the Cold War and the New African Political Order,” held at the James S. Coleman African Studies Center at the University of California. As identified by Guy Martin, ‘the elements of continuity include enduring historical and cultural ties; their informal, intimate, and secretive politico-diplomatic relations, typified by the biannual Franco-African summit meetings; and the fact that when all is said and done, the continent remains of great economic importance to France’ (Vide guy Martin, “Continuity and Change in Franco-African Relations,” The Journal of Modern African Studies, Volume 33, No.1, 1995, pp.1-20).

While these factors of continuity are partly explainable by Cold War politics until 1990 when the post-Cold War era began, there is no disputing the fact that the Doyen of Francophone African politics, President Félix Houphouet-Boigny of the Côte d’Ivoire was both a factor of continuity and change. When he died in December 1993, there was no strong Francophone leader in the then West African sub-region (now West African region) to challenge the leadership of Nigeria or to keep the ECOWAS on its knees like Houphouet-Boigny did. In fact, France had no more such an ally to give troubles to Nigeria. France even became happier as France was quickly able to redirect French foreign trade and capital investments to non-Francophone countries, to Nigeria in particular. France knew that the markets of all Francophone West Africa put together were not up to the size of Nigeria. The same is still true as at today. Nigeria has a bigger market, bigger population, and bigger purchasing power. Kenya, South Africa, and Zimbabwe were also the beneficiaries of the new French foreign trade policy and cannot be compared with Nigeria. This is not to suggest that France’s pré carré, that is, sphere of influence, was on the decline. Contrarily to the position of Guy Martin, however, Tony Chafer noted in 2002 that France had not been disengaging from its ‘traditional pré carré in black Africa. Instead, he argued that, under pressure from a rapidly evolving international environment and a changing domestic policy context, a partial modernization of French African policy had taken place. This new global environment put constraints on French African policy and also presented France with new opportunities to pursue its national interests in Africa, in the context of globalization and international liberalism (vide Tony Chafer, “Franco-African Relations: No Longer So Exceptional?” African Affairs (The Royal African Society), No. 101, 2002, pp. 343-363).

Whatever is the case, the Franco-African Community of today is no longer as strong as it used to be. It is on the path of disintegration. The establishment of an Alliance of Sahel States is a case in point. A vacuum has been created. The same is true of the US influence in Niger.

Filling the Franco-US Vacuum

As noted by the United States Department of State, ‘US foreign assistance to Niger plays a critical role in preserving stability in a country vulnerable to political volatility, terrorism and the spread of violent extremism, food insecurity, and regional instability. US assistance seeks to continue to improve food security, build counter-terrorism and peace-keeping capacity, sustain security sector reform, support productive agricultural enterprises, promote democracy and good governance, support justice sector reform, improve health and education, and strengthen security sector education and training.’ Thus, US-Niger cooperation covers several areas of bilateral interest.

Abdramane

BACKPAGE CONTINUATION

MAY WE FINALLY PUT OPL 245 TO USE?

up his own N200 million equity to complete the property purchase, Aliyu returned the N300 million to the bank, retrieved the land documents and sold the same property to the CBN in 2013. It was the N300 million refunded by Aliyu that the EFCC classified as a bribe in the trial at the FCT high court. Ironically, in another case filed against Adoke and Aliyu in a federal high court, the EFCC classified the N300 million as mortgage. It was the same prosecution witness presented by the EFCC, Mr Ibrahim Ahmed, that made the contradictory claims. This was one of the facts stated by Justice Kutigi in dismissing EFCC’s charges, which he described as “frivolous”.

Adoke, sounding surprised by my line of questioning during the phone call, said the major role he played in the OPL 245 resolutions was to give legal advice to President Goodluck Jonathan who wanted to know if the consent judgment entered into with Malabu by the Obasanjo administration in November 2006 was valid. President Olusegun Obasanjo had revoked the oil block in 2001 without stating any reason. He then gave it to Shell. Malabu sued the government, lost on technical grounds and appealed. Obasanjo opted for an out-of-court settlement and agreed to return the oil block to Malabu. Adoke said he studied the consent judgment and advised Jonathan that it was binding.

Jonathan subsequently set up an interministerial committee to implement the settlement agreement. OPL 245 was returned to Malabu in 2010, with Mrs Diezani Alison-Madueke, then minister of

TRIPLING TARIFF

The Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) on Wednesday approved a new electricity tariff plan. The elite consumers — classified as Band A — now pay three times higher than the former tariff. Other consumers will keep paying old rates. The deal, as announced, is that Band A consumers would be enjoying a minimum of 20 hours electricity per day. There is so much to say, but what the government just did was to pass N1.5 trillion of the electricity subsidy to Band A consumers. The dark side is that while Band A may indeed enjoy more hours, other bands will most likely get less. In essence, the sector’s foundational problems will remain unsolved, at least in the short run. Grief.

petroleum, re-issuing the licence to the company fronted by Etete, who was previously convicted of money laundering in an unrelated case in France before the conviction was quashed on appeal.

In 2011, Shell and Eni teamed up to acquire Malabu’s interest in OPL 245 for $1.1 billion.

All the funds totalling $1.3 billion — including the signature bonus of $210 million paid to the Nigerian federation — were then deposited by the oil companies in Nigeria’s account at JP Morgan in London.

This was where the story became convoluted. According to anti-corruption campaigners, Malabu’s proceeds of $1.1 billion from selling its interest in OPL 245 should have been paid to the federation account. That was the origin of the “Malabu scandal” narrative. But if a company sells off its interest in an oil block, how can the proceeds go to the federation? It sounded even sleazier when it was reported that Etete bought a private jet from the proceeds — which is not unusual with those who hit windfalls. I doubt anyone would make that kind of money and not buy a yacht and even the sea. Gen Theophilus Danjuma also bought a private jet from OPL 246. It seems to be a status symbol.

My major misgiving was that Etete awarded an oil block to himself in 1998 — a clear case of conflict of interest. Surprisingly, every president, except President Muhammadu Buhari, recognised Etete as the owner of Malabu. Buhari appeared to recognise Mohammed Abacha, who said Etete outwitted him. The EFCC wrote twice to Aso Rock that the son of the former head of state

should be compensated before the trial of Adoke, Aliyu and the oil companies could be terminated. Also, Etete used a pseudonym in registering Malabu. Mohammed used “Mohammed Sani”. This was apparently to mask their identities. These issues were not raised by the EFCC during trial. I am still at a loss.

Now that all the court cases on OPL 245 have been dispensed with (although the EFCC has hinted that it may appeal the FCT high court ruling — but having studied it with my “unlearned” eyes, I don’t see an appeal going anywhere), my interest is how Nigeria can put the enormously rich oil block to productive use. By some estimates, the block can produce over 200,000 barrels per day when it finally gets in the groove. Similar deep offshore acreages are producing hundreds of thousands of barrels daily. But for the long-drawn crises in the quest to expose “The Biggest Corporate Scandal in History”, the acreage could have gone into full production ages ago.

On coming to power in 2015, the Buhari administration had commenced a slew of litigation, trying to get Shell and Eni convicted for corruption. The licence issued for prospecting in 2011 suffered a serious knock. By 2021, the OPL should have been converted to a mining licence but Buhari declined to give the go-ahead, perhaps still hoping the court cases would yield a result, even though the headline trial in the Court of Milan had gone against Nigeria. We had also sued JP Morgan in the UK, asking for a compensation of $1.7 billion under the

And Four Other Things…

PEACE MEAL

Great news: Air Peace is now flying to the UK. Reviews so far have been very encouraging and exciting. It had been a thing of shame that the route was left entirely to foreign airlines for so long since the exit of Arik. Nigerians have been suffering from paying extortionate fares — and in dollars. Sadly, I read the comments about the Igbo-style outfit of the cabin crew members. This is so unnecessary. I don’t know when we are going to get over the election mode so that we can free our minds. Rather than celebrate our little successes, some would rather be playing the ethnic card. I don’t care if they wear Kanuri dara. All I desire is for Air Peace to make Nigeria proud. Godspeed!

RISKY BEHAVIOUR

Idris Okuneye, the social media celebrity better known as Bobrisky, was the unusual guest of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on Thursday. The influencer, who identifies as a female, was arrested, detained and charged to court for abusing the naira after being caught on video manhandling (womanhandling?) the national currency. There is actually a law that criminalises this very Nigerian culture but it is mostly observed in the breach. There is a feeling the conviction of Bobrisky will send a strong signal to other celebrities and party goers that the EFCC will enforce the law going forward. Some say it will be nice to see celebrity billionaires face the music too. Cynical.

THE ‘BAND A’ TARIFF HIKE AND RELATED MATTERS

NERC has also approved feeders for allocating consumers to bands, that is not really a useful factor in the SBT system when compared to the hours of electricity delivered to consumers. According to NERC, the minimum supply requirement is as follows: Band A, 20 hours/day; Band B, 16 hours/ day; Band C, 12 hours/day; Band D, eight hours/ day; and Band E, four hours/day. On paper, this is a great idea: the better service you receive, the higher the rate you pay. Many people will not pay attention to the different bands and whether the minimum requirement is observed or not if the difference between Band A and Band B is just N5/ kWh. However, when the difference between one band and the next is N162/kWh, it is a different and potentially combustible proposition.

But most importantly is if there are actually Nigerians who receive 20 hours of electricity supply per day apart from maybe the few who live in estates with a special service arrangement under the ‘willing seller, willing buyer’ scheme. I know of an estate in Magodo in Lagos and of Games Village in Abuja. There may be more. But I doubt that they constitute up to 15% of electricity consumers. According to the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS), the number of electricity consumers in Nigeria was 12.12 million at the end of 2023. If we use the number from the national statistics agency, it would mean that 1.82 million electricity customers receive more than 20 hours of electricity per day.

I may be wrong, but I find it difficult to believe such a number. I will be surprised if there are actually up to one million electricity consumers who receive a minimum of 16 hours of electricity per day. NERC speaks with authority here, as a regulator should. It says: “empirical service data has confirmed that this class of customers has truly received the committed level of service (20 hours/day of supply measured over a period of one week)”. NERC is not talking about what is likely to happen but what it has ‘empirically confirmed.’ It will be good to see NERC’s granular and disaggregated data on those receiving 20 hours of electricity per day, and for NERC to open it up for third-party validation. For now, however, the claim reads like fiction.

The third issue is that those who think the increment would easily pass because only a small proportion of the electricity consumers is affected miss a key point. There are two basic

facts about reforms that the proponents of this idea might have ignored. One is that those who feel aggrieved about an issue have the incentive to protest while those who benefit do not have the motivation to do anything. So, the 15% will complain and loudly and disproportionately too while the 85%, the supposed beneficiaries, will do nothing. Two is that it is not really the number of those involved that determines that decibel or the impact of a protest. You don’t need so many people to start a protest or a riot. You just need a few who are motivated and aggrieved enough. This is Policy Reform 101. Reformers are thus usually advised to pay attention to how organised the aggrieved or potentially aggrieved are or can be, and the tools available to them to ventilate their grievances and who is likely to ally with them (unions, opposition figures, media, civil society activists, and even supposed beneficiaries hurting from other things). So, operating with the assumption that you are only dealing with a few people or a handful of companies may be misleading.

The fourth issue is related to the third: the need

“Quincecare duty” doctrine for transferring some of the proceeds of OPL 245 sale to Malabu’s bank accounts. Nigeria lost for lack of evidence.

We went on a wild goose chase while the enormously endowed economic asset was wasting away. Top government officials engaged their friends as lawyers to be pursuing OPL 245 cases globally and netting millions of dollars in fees and commissions. They eyed huge cuts if Shell and Eni were to be improbably ordered to pay another $1.1 billion to Nigeria or if the UK court awarded $1.7 billion against JP Morgan. OPL 245 litigation became an oil block on its own. In the end, we woefully lost everything: the lawsuits; and inflow of investments to, and revenue from, the oil block; and JP Morgan won its £22.25 million libel case against us. Total waste of time and energy (pardon the pun). We were kobo wise and naira foolish. We delayed production from the acreage because we wanted $1.7 billion compensation, whereas we could make far more than that if drilling was allowed to start. More so, Nigeria badly needed higher oil output to be able to earn more from taxes, royalties and export, plus the inflow of lifesaving FX. What’s more, producing deep offshore was the sanest and safest option — with minimal risks of oil theft, pipeline vandalism and host community issues. Our production was dwindling severely but we were comfortable locking up OPL 245. Now that the litigation market has closed, may we kindly allow OPL 245 to commence the process of pumping oil?

NO COMMENT

Kano state is full of drama, especially under the current governor, Alhaji Abba Yusuf. But I am very much interested in the charges filed against Dr Abdullahi Ganduje, the national chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), for allegedly collecting $200,000 bribe from a contractor in 2018. The video purporting to show Ganduje collecting the cash and stuffing it in his babanriga went viral at the time but nothing came out of it, apart from the backlash on Daily Nigerian, the newspaper that published it. Ganduje has kicked, describing the charges as “trumped up”, but won’t it be quite some sight to see the national chairman of the ruling party being sent to jail for corruption? Wonderful.

narrative has always been that the problem is because consumers are not paying enough. Almost forever, NERC has been adjusting tariffs through its multi-year tariff order. In September 2020, NERC effected a rate hike of close to 100%. There were hikes in 2021 and 2022. Yet the challenges of the sector have lingered.

The grid, controlled by the government, collapses with embarrassing frequency. The 2013 privatisation of the generation and distribution segments of the sector was expected to infuse fresh capital, expertise and ideas into the space. Beyond the increase in generation capacity that means nada to the end consumers, there has not been any remarkable difference to a majority of consumers in the last mile in the past 11 years.

to be mindful of the growing angst in the land and the imperative of not carelessly pushing the country over the edge. Nigerians are still trying to come to terms with the removal of petrol subsidy and the significant depreciation of the Naira. There have been valid concerns about the sequencing of the two reforms. To layer in another shock so soon may amount to not just being insensitive but also to pushing luck too far or be asking for it. Yes, some multilateral institutions, especially IMF, have advised that all subsidies, including the one on electricity, must go. But these folks have no package to insure governments or societies against social and political instability. When the mess hits the fan, they will be the first to skip town. Nigerians are on the edge, and the country is a mere spark away from a conflagration. This is not the time to listen to those who have absolutely no skin in the game.

The last point worth highlighting is how an eternal obsession with cost-reflective tariffs masks or deliberately sidesteps the deeper issues within the sector, especially post-privatisation. We are dealing with a sector in grave distress. The favoured

The end users continue to be under-served, demonised and overburdened. Yet evidence of under-investment and inefficiencies abounds. DisCos continue to exceed their Aggregate Technical, Commercial and Collections (ATC&C) losses. As at 2022, the ATC&C losses by the 11 DISCOs was 45%, as against the 21% approved by NERC. (Remarkably, the leader on this front, the Kaduna Electricity Distribution Company, recorded actual losses of 75% as against the approved 11%). In the same 2022, metering progress was 39%, down from 45% of five years earlier.

It is worthy of note that in March 2022, the then minister of finance stated that the government had quietly phased out electricity subsidy as rates paid by consumers coincided with cost-reflective tariffs. But exactly two years later, we are talking about a projected electricity subsidy of N3.13 trillion. Electricity subsidy resurfaced and to this quantum partly because of Naira devaluation as we curiously continue to index electricity tariffs to the dollar as if all costs of electricity supply are incurred in dollars, and the government and the regulator continue to think that the consumers must always carry the can.

Critical to addressing the structural gaps in the electricity sector will be the need to reduce costs, improve operational and commercial efficiency, and expand the number of consumers served. Financial viability of the operators and the sector will hang on the quality and quantity of service provided, not on merely hiking tariffs every now and then. A complete overhaul of the philosophy and the model of Nigeria’s electricity supply sector is long overdue.

Minister of Power, Mr Adebayo Adelabu

Museveni then and Now

Within the diverse pantheon of African rulership, something curious is emerging. In many ways, President Yoweri Museveni of Uganda is fast emerging as a model of the transformation of democracy into authoritarianism in Africa. While Museveni has retained his nationalist streak in the fight against the global LGBTQ epidemic as well as his isolated battles against Western multinational exploitation and blackmail, his practice of democracy and adherence to the rule of law would disappoint pundits of African democratic enlightenment. He has repressed basic freedoms, violated the rights of his political opponents, bludgeoned opposition political figures and jailed those who disagree with him. He has enthroned what is easily a personality cult of leadership that is easily a combination of draconian military dictatorship and crass authoritarianism. That is not strange in a continent that has produced the likes of Nguema, the Bongos and Paul Biya.

In addition, Museveni now displays some of the worst excesses of Africa’s famed authoritarianism, dictatorial indulgence and the dizzy materialism of its leadership. For instance, the president is reported to travel around with an interminable motorcade that includes a luxury airconditioned toilet. Worse for Uganda’s democracy are the recent stories of Museveni’s manouvres towards self-succession. Specifically, he has appointed his son as Chief of the army, a move which many observers of Uganda see as a pointer to his succession plan.

For me, the unfolding Museveni authoritarianism is a classic instance of the transformation of African leaders from revolutionary nationalists to authoritarian emperors. I once met and spoke with the early Museveni. He had emerged from a bush war as a liberator and valiant popular soldier that was heralded into Kampala as a liberators. He came to mend a broken nation from the locust ears of Idi Amin and Milton Obote.

The Museveni that I sat and conversed with in the early 1990s was a committed socialist. He was an African nationalist. He was a social democratic politician with a strong social science background. His primary constituency was the people most of whom fired his liberation movement in the countryside. We exchanged ideas freely on the thoughts of Karl Marx, Frederick Engels, Frantz Fanon, Walter Rodney and Amilcar Cabral among others.

As the Chairman of the Editorial Board of the new Daily Times under Yemi Ogunbiyi, I initiated and conducted a one on one interview with Yoweri Museveni in his early days after the overthrow of Obote with the backdrop of the Idi Amin carnage. What follows is both a travelogue and a reminiscence of the Museveni before now. Is it the same Museveni or are there two Musevenis?

In 1991, I scheduled a trip was to Kampala to interview Yoweri Museveni. I travelled alone through Addis Ababa and Nairobi. In those days, inter African flight connections were a nightmare of stops and delayed connections. I arrived Kampala and found my long standing friend, Dr. Manfred Nwogwugwu, a demographer who was based in Kampala as head of the United Nations Population Commission. We had been together at Ife where he and his lovely wife, Ngozi, hosted me for the weeks it took me to find my own accommodation as an apprentice academic at Ife. He took me on a tourist trip around Kampala. The city was broken and bore fresh bullet holes and bomb craters, the marks of war. From Biafra, I knew this ugly face well enough. Kampala had just been liberated by Museveni’s forces after ousting Milton Obote and remnants of Idi Amin.

I knew as a background that Mr. Musev -

eni had been helped in his guerilla campaign by both M.K.O Abiola and General Ibrahim Babangida, then president of Nigeria. He therefore had a very favourable disposition towards Nigeria. He was also quite influential with African leaders from whom Nigeria was seeking support as General Obasanjo was lobbying to become United Nations Secretary General when it was deemed to be the turn of Africa. As a matter of fact, I was joined at the Museveni interview by Obasanjo’s media point man, Mr. Ad Obe Obe, who had come to interview Museveni as part of the Obasanjo campaign.

Museveni’s Press Secretary, a pleasant but tough woman called Hope Kakwenzire, kept in touch while I waited in Kampala for my appointment. She was sure the interview would hold but wanted to secure a free slot on the President’s choked schedule. She promised to call me at short notice to head for the venue.

When she eventually called, it turned out that the interview venue had just been switched from the Kampala State House to a government guest house in Entebbe, close to the airport and by the banks of Lake Victoria. Entebbe brought back memories of the famous Mossad raid to free hostages of a Palestinian hijack of an Israeli plane. At the appointed time, I was picked up from my friend’s residence. As we headed for Entebbe, memories of the dramatic Israeli commando rescue of airline hostages at Entebbe during the Amin days kept flashing through my mind. When I arrived Entebbe airport on my way in, I was shown the warehouse where the hostages were kept ahead of their dramatic rescue. The rescue

more chilling is the eerie silence of the location except for the flapping of the wings of flamingos and pelicans playing by the lakeside. I quickly framed it in my mind: “Conversations by Lake Victoria!”

Seated alone in one of the tents is President Yoweri Museveni, the new strongman of Uganda. His simplicity beleis the mystique of cour age and valour that now define his reputation. He was a leading figure in Africa’s then latest mode of political ascension: the strong man who wages a guerilla movement in the countryside and marches from the forest into the city center of the capital after toppling an unpopular sitting dictator and his government with its demoralized army . After him, Joseph Kabilla of the Democratic Republic of Congo (formerly Zaire) and Charles Taylor of Liberia followed the same pathway of political ascension but with differing outcomes.

The man in the tent was dressed in a simple black suit. He welcomed me very casually and warmly. “Nigeria is a long way from here, I imagine!”, he said jovially as he ushered me to take a seat. As we settled down to exchange views, it turned out that our exchange would be more than an interview. It was more of a radical social science conversation.

had made world headlines in those days. It reinforced Israel’s military prowess and the intelligence dexterity and detailed planning of the Israeli DefenCe Force (IDF) but the operational dexterity and intelligence excellence of Mossad in particular.

We arrived a nondescript white bungalow tucked amidst trees and vegetation. It was a colonial type sprawling white bungalow. The entrance gate was a long drive from the building itself. When your car is cleared through the first gate, you drive along a bushy drive way towards the building. The first gate has normal military sentry who already know you are expected. As you drive along the bushy driveway, some surprise awaits you. Suddenly some small figures in full combat gear dart onto the drive way and wave your vehicle to a sudden stop at gun point. They are too young and too small to be regular soldiers. But their moves are rather professional and smart. They are ‘child soldiers’ or rather ‘baby soldiers’ who had fought alongside Museveni’s liberation forces in the bush war that led to the freedom of Uganda. No emotions, No niceties. They screen the vehicle scrupulously for explosives. These small men have apparently been trained to trust no one. They ignore the escort and Press Secretary both of whom are familiar faces. They insist I answer their questions for myself. I explain I have an interview appointment with the President. They briefly return to their tent at the wayside and briefly confer by radio communication. They wave us through to the building. I am taken through a rather unassuming hallway and a colonial looking living room and dining areas that opens into a simple sit out at the back of the building. The sit out at the back of the building opens into a vast courtyard with well manicured green gardens. The extreme end of the green is Lake Victoria. At its banks, there are tents with simple garden chairs. The serenity of the location is striking. Even

We compared notes on the class struggle in Africa, the burden of the political elite far removed from the masses, the alienation of the rural masses, the working class in Africa’s imperialist inspired industrialization. Museveni was very knowledgeable and sharp. His intellectual exposure was impeccable. He knew a lot about Nigeria, about our cities and the structure and general disposition of our elite. He had very kind words about M.K.O Abiola and his commitment to African unity and liberation which he was supporting with his vast resources. In particular, he supported Abiola’s ongoing campaign for reparations from the West to Africa for the decades of pillage during the slave trade and the subsequent colonial expropriation and haemorrhage of resources.

I still managed to pierce through his armour of social science and dialectical materialist analysis to ask him a few worrying questions about Uganda and Africa’s political future. He was generally optimistic about the turnaround of Uganda after the devastation of war and the rampaging carnage of dictators. He added that he was facing the tasks of reconciliation among Ugandans after decades of division and di strust just like Nigeria did after our own civil war. He invited me to return to Kampala a few months hence to witness what the will of a determined people can do towards post war reconstruction. He told me he was out to fix not only the broken landscape of the city but more importantly the destroyed lives of many poor Ugandans. When I mentioned what I had seen of the devastation of AIDS in the countryside, he nearly shed tears but sternly reassured me that he would contain the scourge of the epidemic by all means.

I left Museveni on a note of optimism on the prospects of Africa’s comeback after the days of the Mobutus, Amins, Obotes and Bokasas. Given my own left leaning ideas, I found Museveni a kindred spirit and an unusually enlightened and progressive African statesman. He questioned everything: African traditions, beliefs, the assumptions of African history, the political legacy of the colonialists and the neo colonial state. He discussed pathways to Africa’s future economic development and the urgent need to question and possibly jettison old development models being peddled by the West through the World Bank and the IMF.

That was Museveni back in 1990-91.

Museveni

SUNDAY SPORTS

OLYMPIC

QUALIFICATION

Super Falcons Depart for Mother-ofAll-Battle with Banyana in Pretoria

Duro Ikhazuagbe

Aftergaining a slim 1-0 advantage over South Africa last Friday in Abuja, the Super Falcons will depart Lagos this evening for Johannesburg en-route Pretoria where they will battle Banyana Banyana in the return

on Tuesday evening.

Rasheedat Ajibade scored from the spot to give the ninetime African champions the edge. The South Africans who are desperate to grab the ticket at stake, are dragging Super Falcons to play the crucial second leg in high altitude venue inside the Loftus Versfeld Stadium in Pretoria that they hope will give them the advantage.

Banyana Banyana Head

“Look, we said it was going to be a tight game but we are hopeful of overturning this result in the second leg.

“We are still in the game. We created a couple of chances, a penalty decided the match but the game is not over. I thought

in the second half we raised our game a lot and created good chances and could have equalised. Maybe we could also have gotten a penalty atvery proud of the team,” said Ellis before departing Lagos

In what appears bulk-passing of blame, Super Falcons Coach, Randy Waldrum, untidy training programme that led to key members of the Nigerian team arriving their Abuja camp a day before the clash with South Africa last Friday.

While Banyana Banyana were already settled in Abuja since Sunday, the Super Falcons’ overseas call-ups trickled into camp leisurely right up to a day before the epic encounter. Asisat Oshoala, Chinwendu Ihezuo and Esther Okoronkwo reported to the camp Thursday, just a day before the

“I am not the one who sets up the camp. That’s above me,” theAmerican coach responded when asked about the shabby build up of his team before they eventually edged past Banyana Banyana 1-0 on Friday.

Super Falcons are due to depart Lagos tonight for Pretoria for the must-win return leg fixture of the 2024 Olympic Games qualification against South Africa on Tuesday

Despite the narrow 1-0 home win, Okoronkwo insisted yesterday that she is very Paris 2024 Olympics in South Africa.

“There is no question of

losing because we will cope weekend. Nine-time African champithe Olympics in 2008 at the Beijing Games.

Arsenal Leapfrog Liverpool at the Top of Premier League

AArsenal leapfrogged Liverpool at the top of the Premier League on Saturday with a 3-0 win at Brighton after Kevin De Bruyne scored twice in Manchester City’s victory at Crystal Palace

Goals from Bukayo Saka, Kai Havertz and

Leandro Trossard lifted the Gunners to 71 points – one clear of Jurgen Klopp’s men, who are tied on 70 points with defending champions City. Liverpool face a trip to mercurial Manchester of a thrilling three-way title race.

Mikel Arteta’s Arsenal, who have now won 10 of their past 11 league games, dominated

Chukwueze Bags

Assist as AC Milan Defeat Lecce

Super Eagles winger, Samuel Chukwueze, has continued to impress fans and Coach Pioli as AC Milan walloped Lecce in the Italian Serie A.

Pulisic was the star in a new role in the 3-0 win, but Chukwueze, Yacine Adli, Rafael Leao and Olivier Giroud also left their in the Serie A.

While Pulisic and Raphael Leao got a rating of 8/10, Adli and Olivier Giroud got 7.5 rating Theo and Chukwueze earned 7 over 10ers.

Pioli had said on Friday he had seen improvement from the Nigeria international. The coach didn’t lie as Chukwu delivered an assist for Pulisic and won many duels down

a penalty to take the lead.

The breakthrough came when Gabriel Jesus was brought down by Tariq Lamptey and the returning Saka sent Bart Verbruggen the wrong way for his 14th Premier League goal of the season in the 33rd minute.

Arsenal doubled their lead shortly after the

Samuel Chukwueze... contributed an assist to AC Milan’s win at Lecce

hour mark when Jorginho set up Havertz at the near post for a simple tap-in and Trossard

The Gunners have not been crowned Premier League champions since 2004, when Arsene Wenger was in charge, but they have added steel to style after faltering in the home straight last season.

NNL Hammer Falls on Rovers, Ekiti Utd, Coal City FC

Organisers of the nation’s second tier professional football league, NNL, have banished Rovers FC of Calabar out of their base to Eket, Akwa Ibom State.

The league body in a statement signed by the Chief Dr Ayo Abdulrahman, said Rovers were sanctioned for not providing adequate security amongst other breaches during their home game against Ekiti United which was eventually abandoned mid-way in the second half.

Apart from being banished, Rovers were also for abandoning the game.

“For breach of security, assault and encroachment,

the sum of N1,000,000.00 in consonance with article 16.2 of the rules framework. That Rovers FC must produce the person that assaulted the Ekiti Utd FC goalkeeper, of prosecution. Ekiti Utd FC is for refusing to continue the game, citing inadequate security. Article 14.9 of the NNL rules framework is hereby applied.”

The league body further ordered both clubs to conclude the match at the neutral venue in Eket, even as it recommended the stepping down of the referee and match commissioner that handled the match for doing a poor job.

“The referee and the match commissioner are hereby recommended for delisting by the appropriate bodies for poor handling and ineptitude towards the game,” NNL stated.

“We are all aware that the PDP has completely failed. Many of us decided in 2014, and 2015 to bring in some positive changes. Unfortunately, we have seen what happened from 2015 to date. This is the same APC government” – Former presidential candidate of NNPP, Senator Rabi’u Kwankanso, describing his party as an alternative to the failed PDP and failing APC. Kwankwaso to PDP, APC

SIMON KOLAWOLE

May We Finally Put OPL 245 to Use?

Anytime I remember this story, I laugh and shake my head. In 1994, a Nigerian music promoter organised a concert, dubbing it “The Greatest Show”. There was plenty of hype built around it. Shabba Ranks, the Jamaican dancehall artiste and one of the biggest international acts at the time, headlined the concert, which was held at the Tafawa Balewa Square (TBS). There was a modestly attended VIP-only event at the National Arts Theatre, Iganmu, but the TBS event was a total disaster. Only a handful of people showed up. Waziri Adio was then my colleague at TEMPO. After covering the concert, he crafted this scathing headline: “From the Greatest Show to No Show”. Wicked!

This came to mind again after Justice Abubakar Kutigi, a judge of the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), ruled on March 28, 2024 that the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) had failed to prove that there was corruption in the transfer of Malabu Oil & Gas Ltd’s interest in OPL 245 to Shell and Agip in 2011. It had been billed as “The Biggest Corporate Scandal in History” but after intense scrutiny by the US department of justice, US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), the Court of Milan in Italy, the commercial court of England and Wales, and now the FCT high court

Tinubu

in Nigeria, they all came to just one verdict: no evidence of corruption whatsoever. Anticlimax. The EFCC took its latest loss at the FCT high court quite badly and there were soon WhatsApp

WAZIRI ADIO POSTSCRIPT

rumours that its prosecutor, Mr Offem Uket, was bribed to scuttle the case — although the commission has denied making such an allegation. But if, indeed, the EFCC prosecutor was bribed, were the Italian prosecutors bribed to lose the case in Milan too? In fact, the prosecutors are now facing criminal charges for allegedly hiding vital evidence that would have exonerated Shell and Eni during trial. Were the officials of the US department of justice and SEC bribed as well? It seems the EFCC was working to an answer all along and did not properly plan for how to handle possible defeat.

I started hearing of “Malabu scandal” over a decade ago but, honestly, I never paid attention to it. After all, Nigeria is a huge scam yard. Only God knows how many scams are planned and executed per hour across the length and breadth of Nigeria — both in private and public sectors, and even in religious houses, media and civil society. It takes something of monumental proportions for us to open our mouths and scream. I read that $1.1 billion “that should have gone to the federation account” had been paid to Malabu, a company owned by Chief Dan Etete, a former minister of petroleum, and his friends. Now, $1.1 billion is mouthwatering! I started reading the stories.

In 2017, I had a phone conversation with Mr Mohammed Bello Adoke, the former attorneygeneral of the federation (AGF) and a big

figure in the OPL 245 affair who was accused of authorising the transfer of the first tranche of $810 million to Malabu. He told me he was not a signatory to the account and did not have powers to issue payment instructions. He said Dr Yerima Ngama, then minister of state for finance, authorised the payments. Mr Danladi Kifasi (then permanent secretary, ministry of finance) and Mr Babayo Shehu (then director of funds) also issued instructions. He sent me a bundle of documents on the entire OPL 245 affair, dating back to 1998. His claims checked out.

The EFCC also accused Adoke of taking a bribe of N300 million (around $2 million at the time). The alleged bribe was said to have been paid into his Unity Bank account in 2013 — two years after the OPL 245 deal was signed, sealed and delivered. Something did not click. The Nigerian officials I know do not wait for two years to collect gratification. Pardon me, but I would also expect a corrupt Nigerian minister to get more than $2 million “thank you” in a $1.3 billion deal. Adoke swore and sternly denied collecting a kobo from the deal, saying the N300 million was a loan he took from Unity Bank to buy a property from Alhaji Abubakar Aliyu that was manipulated by the EFCC as bribery.

According to him, when he could not pay

The ‘Band A’ Tariff Hike and Related Matters

The Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC), alongside other policymakers and actors in the power sector space, must have thought it was a resistance-free, genius idea to raise electricity tariff for only a small segment of Nigerian electricity customers while maintaining a tariff freeze for the vast majority. So, on 3rd April 2024, NERC activated the idea. The sector regulator approved a 231% increase in electricity tariff for customers in the ‘Band A’ service category. Those in Band A, according to NERC, constitute only 15% of electricity customers in the country, receive 40% of available supply, and enjoy at least 20 hours of light daily from the grid.

There is an undisguised, underlying, two-sided logic in the move: one, those in this very special class are an extremely better-off and better-served segment of the electricity consuming population—they gulp a disproportionate share of the available supply of very scarce power, should be more than happy to pay much more for the rare privilege and should lack the moral right or even the appetite to complain; and two, with the vast majority of electricity consumers protected from a rate increase, the usual protests that accompany tariff hikes should be effectively neutered.

On point of logic, it is a flawed argument. By way of spin, it is a good attempt but underpinned by a fiction, and as such it is hollow. And in reality, the idea has turned out to be far from being a

genius move.

NERC and others must have been surprised by the angry reactions of the past few days. The industry regulator has been thrashing about, issuing statements and orders with unusual rapidity. It is hard to remember the last time NERC has been this busy. The regulator and others wouldn’t have been this staggered if they had paid more attention to the dynamics of voice and agency, to the demands of implementing potentially contentious policy reforms, and to the prevailing temper in the country.

In a way, the rate hike could be described as a difficult but necessary move to salvage a tottering industry. According to those who should know, the electricity supply industry in Nigeria is on the verge of collapse, and if allowed to happen, this would further compound the challenges to citizens’ welfare, business competitiveness and national productivity. However, while a rate hike might be necessary, the alleged underpayment by consumers is not the sole ailment of the industry. There are more fundamental issues to be resolved than just raising tariffs for some or for all. We will return to this shortly. Just to say upfront that historically, there has not been any link between increasing tariffs and the improvement of power supply or the efficiency of the operators.

The official reason for the 231% rate hike for the Band A customers is the need to reduce the subsidy paid on electricity by the government. (There may also be an unstated revenue dimension, as the higher the tariff, the higher the VAT to be

hauled). Before the hike, the electricity subsidy for 2024 was projected at N3.13 trillion, which amounts to 10.88% of the N28.77 trillion budget of the Federal Government. The surge in electricity subsidy should be of concern, as it will further reduce the fiscal space for the government. According to NERC, the increase in tariff for consumers in Band A from N68/kWh to N225/kWh would reduce the subsidy to be borne by government in 2024 to N1.14 trillion. Going by this calculation, that is a reduction in government’s electricity subsidy by a whopping 63.58%.

To achieve such a massive reduction while keeping the subsidy for 85% of electricity consumers should pass for an award-winning form of financial engineering. Effectively, government is getting 15% of the consumers not only to co-subsidise the vast majority of electricity consumers but also to take 64% of the subsidy burden off the government. Again, this is genius move, at least on paper. But in practice, things get trickier.

The first problem is that NERC is asking those in Band A to pay way more than the cost-reflective tariff defined as the full cost of efficient operation by the operators plus a reasonable return on the capital they invested in the business. According to the April 2024 Supplementary Order to the Multi-Year Tariff Order-2024 issued by NERC within the week, the end-user cost reflective tariff for the Abuja Electricity Distribution Company (AEDC) from April to December 2024 is N180.2/kWh. (By the way, this figure has incorporated the adjustment

of the forex exchange rate to N1,463.31/$1, the change in inflation, and the hike in gas rate from $2.18/MMBTU to $2.42/MMBTU.)

It is one thing to ask those in Band A to forfeit subsidy on electricity. That can be argued as the price of a better service (though they will conceivably pay more for each unit and for total units of electricity they consume). Yet it is another thing to ask them to pay way and above what the regulator itself adjudged to be the full cost of electricity. And it is another thing entirely for government to shift almost two-thirds of the electricity subsidy burden to those in this category. Cross-subsidy is not inherently bad, and actually can be progressive (and may be viewed in the same spirit as progressive taxation). Effectively, what NERC and the government are doing is asking those in Band A under AEDC’s coverage to pay N44.8 or 24.86% more than the full and profitable cost of generating a kilowatt of electricity that they consume. Cross-subsidy, if that is the intention, must be sensible and fair. The one imposed on Band A customers is neither. The second issue is whether the basis of allocating electricity consumers to an elite band can actually stand. On 1st November 2020, NERC introduced the Service-Based Tariff (SBT), which is meant to improve service delivery and ensure that the tariffs paid by consumers mirror the hours of electricity they receive from their DisCos. Though

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