MONDAY 17TH APRIL 2023

The Nigeria Employers’ Consultative Association (NECA) has cautioned the federal

government that adhering to the International Monetary Fund’s (IMF) advice to increase taxes in order to reduce public borrowing would spell disaster for

an economy already struggling to stay afloat and the private sector that is already overwhelmed by multiple taxes more vulnerable.

NECA warned that imposition

of additional taxes would further worsen Nigeria’s business environment, provoke massive capital flight, and defeat the country’s drive for foreign direct

investment (FDI) in the economy.

made available to THISDAY.

He said any discerning government should know that

These views were expressed at the weekend by the Director General of NECA, Mr. AdewaleSmatt Oyerinde, in a statement Continued on page 6

Sanwo-Olu Woos Investors in America, Says Lagos Right Place for Investments...Page

FG: $800m W’Bank Post-petrol Subsidy Removal Facility Awaiting NASS Approval for Disbursement

Continued

In New Low, Adamawa REC Announces Fake Election Result

INEC voids action, summons officials to Abuja There’s plot to undermine democracy, provoke violence, says Atiku No one should take laws into their hands, Fintiri warns PDP, BoT declare mandate can’t be stolen It’s a naked dance of shame, SDP candidate retorts

candidate of All Progressives Congress (APC), Senator Aisha Dahiru Binani, as winner of the state governorship election.

a rather depressing point of electoral rascality widely seen as more disappointing than any situation in the past, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) for Adamawa State, Hudu Yunusa, in the early hours of Sunday, declared the

Police and the Director of the Department of State Services (DSS) in the state, curiously, provided cover for the REC during the fake declaration of Binani’s victory. It is

Mallam Aliyu Ahmed, and

SIX

FG's N5bn Gas Fund Dormant at GACN as Shortages Cripple Power Generation, Supply

Peter Uzoho

About N5 billion federal government's gas-to-power fund meant to settle gas suppliers is currently lying idle at the Gas Aggregation Company of Nigeria Limited (GACN) despite the complaints by generation companies (Gencos) of the lack of gas to run their plants, THISDAY's finding has revealed.

The failure of the GACN, THISDAY learnt was to pay oil companies supplying gas to thermal power plants. While the fund remains dormant in its account, this has worsened Nigeria's poor electricity generation and delivery to people's homes and businesses.

GACN was established in 2010 by the federal government in furtherance to the National Domestic Gas Supply and Pricing Regulation 2008, for the implementation of the Nigerian Gas Master Plan (NGMP) and management of domestic supply of gas to the market.

The company was set up to ensure adequate supply of gas to the strategic sectors of the domestic market including the power sector, for the purpose of enhancing natural gas usage to achieve the much-desired industrialisation in Nigeria.

Lack of gas supply to thermal plants had been one of the biggest problems bedeviling the nation's power sector and remained unresolved for till date.

Gencos have repeatedly blamed their inability to ramp up power generation from the current 4,500 megawatts (mw) on the reluctance of the gas companies to supply them gas without upfront payment and without clearing the N1 trillion legacy debt.

The Gencos had also complained

of non-payment of their N1.6 trillion debt being for energy generated and other contractual obligations.

The gas producers have also been calling on the federal government to pay up the legacy debts owed them for gas supplied to thermal power generating companies, amounting to about $1 billion.

They said defraying the debt in addition to introducing a free market pricing regime for the gas sector would guarantee the continuous operation of thermal power generating companies in the country.

“It is very clear that upstream players are not happy with the legacy debt that they are being owed for gas supplied for power, close to a billion dollars.

“My appeal to the federal government is: let’s find a way and pay this money so that there will be peace", President of the Nigerian Gas Association (NGA) and Managing Director of Shell Gas Limited, Mr. Ed Ubong, had said at a recent forum.

However, THISDAY gathered that the N5 billion currently lying waste in the account of GACN was the balance of the money the federal government sent to the GACN for payment of gas supplied by gas companies that supply gas to the power market.

According to findings, the Nigerian Bulk Electricity Trading Plc (NBET) used to receive this gas funds from the federal government and settles gas suppliers before the GACN pressured the system and became the custodian of the fund.

A top official at the NBET, who pleaded to remain anonymous, told THISDAY that despite the outstanding N5 billion that had been with the GACN, gas supply has continued to be a challenge

to power generation as Gencos complain of lack of gas to run their plants and generate power.

The official, who blamed the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) for being the cause of the problem, said the regulator forced NBET to sign an agreement with the GACN, which the NERC has not bothered to ask whether the deal was producing the expected result.

The source explained, "So, when NERC came up with this instruction to NBET to sign an agreement with GACN, they had an MoU they

signed. On an average, our gas bill is about N18 billion, but what was done was that they transferred N32 billion to GACN, and so, after they had made two tranches of payment, what was left sitting idle in their account was about N5 billion.

"Now, the thing is that, are we going to get the money back? Yes, we are going to get the money back because what will happen is that, in subsequent gas payment, we are going to claw back that. "But the question really is, why are you making payments

to GACN? There is no extra value that GACN is providing to the process. Why can’t this money be paid directly from NBET to the gas suppliers?"

THISDAY's findings further showed that before the fielding of GACN to become the custodian of the gas fund, NBET was the one paying Gencos their money based on the invoice they presented and the Gencos would pay all their service providers including the gas companies.

But when the gas companies started complaining that Gencos

IN NEW LOW, ADAMAWA REC ANNOUNCES FAKE ELECTION RESULT

another instance of security agencies' connivance to undermine free, fair and credible electoral process in the country.

But INEC, yesterday, described as null, void, and of no effect the declaration of Binani as winner of the governorship election. The commission also summoned the REC, Returning Officer (RO), and other officials involved in the false declaration of Binani’s victory to the commission's headquarters in Abuja. This followed the heat the declaration had generated.

Binani was declared winner of the poll by Yunusa midway into collation of Saturday’s supplementary election results. The supplementary poll was held to conclude the March 18 governorship election.

But the presidential candidate of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the 2023 presidential election, Atiku Abubakar, called the attention of Nigerians to what he saw as a plan to upturn the democratic wishes of the people of Adamawa State in the governorship election. Atiku alleged that there was a plan to undermine democracy and provoke crisis.

However, the governorship candidate of PDP and incumbent governor of Adamawa State, Ahmadu Umaru Fintiri, called on citizens of the state to remain peaceful and law-abiding, warning that no one should take laws into their hands.

In its own reaction, PDP, yesterday, called on the people of Adamawa State, Nigerians, and the international community to disregard the purported declaration of Binani as winner of the governorship election. The party’s Board of Trustees (BoT) also said the mandate given to PDP by the people of the state could not be stolen.

But the Social Democratic Party (SDP) governorship candidate in the state, Dr. Umar Ardo, described the process of the rerun poll so far as a “naked dance of shame in the market place.”

Nonetheless, the Department of Security Services (DSS) said it had commenced investigation into a viral video, which seemed to show a man suspected to be a staff of the agency, being manhandled by angry youths in the aftermath of the controversial announcement of the winner of the Adamawa State election.

FG: $800M W’BANK POST-PETROL SUBSIDY REMOVAL FACILITY AWAITING NASS APPROVAL FOR DISBURSEMENT

sidelines of the just concluded International Monetary Fund (IMF)/ World Bank Spring Meetings in Washington DC, United States.

According to her, the facility would be deployed to provide succor to 10 million households, who are expected to get N5,000 each for a period of six months.

The minister explained that the initial duration of the palliatives meant to cushion the effects of the planned subsidy removal on vulnerable Nigerians was for six months, but would be reviewed upon extensive consultation with stakeholders.

She also debunked a report by a national newspaper (not THISDAY) that the federal government would be paying consultancy fee of $23.3 million on the facility.

Ahmed explained: “The $800 million has been negotiated and approved by the Federal Executive Council (FEC) and we now have a request before the parliament for approval. And once the parliament

approves it, we will roll it out.

"We've also been doing preparatory work side by side along the approval process. And that includes the building of the social register which will be used for the electronic transfers of the funds.

“We needed to have this ready because when the government eventually removes fuel subsidy, there will be an immediate transport palliative that will be provided to the most vulnerable members of our society who have been identified, registered and now contained in our national social register.

"This effort is led by the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management, and Social Development. They developed that register with the support of the World Bank. The register has about 10 million households and that's an equivalent of 50 million Nigerians.”

Speaking further, Ahmed said the initial design was to disburse

cash transfers of N5,000 per month per household for a period of six months.

She noted that there would be an assessment with the transition team and If the initiative or relief was not enough, the country may need to raise additional resources to be able to cover more people, extend the period or increase the amount.

“When the subsidy is removed, there would be additional revenue that would now accrue to the federation account. One of the things we are working on is how this incremental revenue would be used. The money belongs to the federal, state, and local governments.

“We hope that we'll be able to still ring- fence this incremental revenue and apply it to measures that will help to ensure that the fuel subsidy removal is actually sustained so that It won't be another start-and-stop program.

"But this has to be a collective

decision. The current administration and the incoming administration are working on a plan to make sure that we have a consensus on how to use that incremental revenue.”

Responding to a THISDAY question on the payment of consultancy fee on the facility, Ahmed said: “I have no clue as to what this is about. We raise our funds ourselves. We don't need consultants to raise funds from these institutions.”

She added: “The $800 million was raised by discussing with the Debt Management Office, the Ministry of Finance, and the World blBank Country Office for Nigeria. We don't need consultants to help us raise any kind of finance. We have internal expertise that has worked well over time, so we don’t need consultants for that.”

Shedding more light on the likely impact of fuel subsidy removal on the economy, she acknowledged

Continued on page 51

NECA: IMF’S CALL FOR TAX INCREASE WILL SPELL DISASTER, PROVOKE CAPITAL FLIGHT

increasing taxes in an environment with rising inflation was not the best decision, adding that not every advice from development institutions should be adhered to.

Oyerinde, said the call by the IMF might appear to be in favour of the government, since it would drive up its revenues. However, he stressed that any attempt to hike taxes would have a negative impact on households, individuals and businesses, which cannot be overstated.

He said: “The call by the IMF to the federal government to increase taxes in order to reduce borrowing spells nothing but disaster for an economy struggling to stay afloat.

“For a private sector already overwhelmed by multiple taxes, the imposition of additional taxes on services will make the business

community more vulnerable with a trade off on growth and job creation.”

He added that, “in an environment where individuals and corporate entities provide services and infrastructure that should normally be provided by the government, the best the government could do is to support and ease their burdens rather than considering any plans towards making them pay for its inefficiencies and fiscal indiscipline.

“Frankly, it is not every recommendation from development agencies that should be implemented without considering the peculiarity of the context in which such policies will be implemented.

“Many a time the emphasis is

always on revenue mobilisation when the conversation about tax increases is being canvassed. But it is instructive to note that tax economics encompasses more than just public funds.

“For any discerning government, a higher tax in an environment with rising inflation is not the best decision. More taxes, of course, will weaken the purchasing power of individuals and stifle consumption, with attendant consequences for social cohesion.

“Countries tend to reduce taxes during economic lull but increase the same during a boom. Unfortunately, we are not in the latter position. Any attempt to consider tax hike would create more burdens on tax payers.

“It may defeat any attempt to

INEC had earlier declared the governorship election in Adamawa State inconclusive. Fintiri of PDP was at the time leading with 421,524 votes while Binani trailed with 390,275 votes.

At the end of the official tally of results, Fintiri led Binani with a margin of over 30,000 votes. But the commission said the cancelled votes were more than the margin of victory between them.

In the process of the supplementary election on Saturday, Yunusa declared Binani winner of the poll, a development that immediately sparked angry reactions.

However, INEC National Commissioner, and Chairman, Information and Voter Education, Festus Okoye, in a statement, described the action of the REC as a usurpation of the power of the RO. The commission suspended the collation of results of the supplementary election in the state, and summoned the REC, RO, and others involved to Abuja. Okoye said in the statement, "The attention of the commission has been drawn to a purported declaration of winner in the Adamawa governorship election by the Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) even when the process has clearly not been concluded.

"The action of the REC is a usurpation of the power of the Returning Officer. It is null, void and of no effect. Consequently, the collation of results of the supplementary election is hereby suspended. The REC, Returning Officer and all involved are hereby invited to the commission's headquarters in Abuja immediately."

Meanwhile, the commission expressed worry over the harassment of two of its National Commissioners deployed to the state to ensure a peaceful and credible supplementary election. It urged the security agencies to provide them with necessary security and ensure that nothing untoward befell them.

INEC noted that the two National Commissioners, the Returning Officer and other staff of the commission must be allowed to perform their duties without let or hindrance, warning that it would not condone any act of lawlessness or brigandage targeted at its officials or the process.

Atiku: There’s Plot to

Undermine Democracy, Provoke Violence

were not paying them and Gencos on their part complained of nonpayment by NBET, the official said the bulk trader developed a model to address that.

"So when we pay the Gencos for energy generated, we also pay directly to the gas suppliers for gas supplied, whether it's Seplat or anyone else. But all of a sudden, GACN said they want us to be giving them the money for gas, so that they will be paying to the Gencos. It doesn't make sense. It's like introducing another third party to a contract," the source said.

of declaring the APC at all costs.

“It is, therefore, on this note that we wish to call the attention of the world to the scheme being perpetrated by INEC to compromise the electoral wishes of the people of Adamawa State. We also wish to inform the world that such behaviour by INEC has a natural consequence of unsettling the peace and security of the society.

“We have seen how INEC conducted the February 25 and March 18 elections against the run of play and challenged cheated candidates to go to the court, knowing full well the agenda that they are up to.

“It must be put on record that the people of Adamawa State will not allow themselves to be cheated three times in a row. It must also be put on record that whatever the consequences of the scheme being scripted, both the INEC and those vested with state powers should be blamed for the consequences of such actions.

“That the APC candidate has a prepared acceptance speech is a pointer to the guarantee of a false victory which the INEC must have promised her.

"Recall that this was the same Resident Electoral Commissioner, who pressured the Returning Officer to manipulate the results of the contentious Fufore Local Government Area in the March 18 governorship election. The people of Adamawa shall not allow this injustice to pass without being challenged.

"It is our demand that the Adamawa REC and any other parties complicit in this treasonable act should be arrested immediately and prosecuted to the full extent of the law to serve as a deterrent to anti-democratic forces, who may want to torpedo our democracy and provoke violence in our country."

widen the tax net as tax payers would consider tax avoidance measures. There will be massive capital flight, and the drive for direct foreign investment could be defeated.”

NECA, therefore, advised that, “government should consider widening its tax net as we had posited on my many occasions and at various forums.

“We support the IMF's recommendation to the federal government to consider widening its fiscal net. It is the way to go. In addition, one of the problems government at all levels in Nigeria has is the rising cost of governance.

“If the cost governance can be addressed decisively, it has the tendency to reduce borrowing since recurrent expenditure would automatically decrease.”

Presidential candidate of PDP in the 2023 general election, Atiku Abubakar, alleged plans to upturn the democratic wishes of the people of Adamawa State in the governorship election in the state. Atiku said the plan was to undermine democracy and provoke violence.

In a press release by his Media Adviser, Paul Ibe, Atiku said the initial decision of the REC in the state to declare the APC candidate, Binani, as winner of the election was a case study to the shambolic nature of the 2023 elections in general.

The former vice president stated, “Here in Adamawa, we are witnesses to a novel practice in election management where a Resident Electoral Commissioner announced the loser of an election as a winner. It is not in doubt that INEC has approached the Adamawa State election with a pre-set agenda

Fintiri:

Nobody Should Take Law into His or her Hands

Governorship candidate of PDP and incumbent Governor of Adamawa State, Ahmadu Umaru Fintiri, called on citizens of the state to remain calm and law-abiding. Fintiri warned residents not to take laws into their hands.

The governor, yesterday, convened a press conference at the Yola Government House to address the controversial declaration of Binani as winner of the governorship election in the state. He said he trusted that the world was watching the enemies of democracy at the height of their shameless brigandage.

Fintiri said at the press conference, "Fellow citizens of Adamawa State, this morning, we all woke up to an illegal announcement by merchants of anarchy headed by the Resident Electoral Commissioner, Mallam Hudu Yunusa Ari, who since the beginning of this election, is bent on pushing our collective patience to its limit.

"Nobody should take the law into their hands. Let’s peacefully await the next directive from INEC believing that they do know that the integrity of the commission is on test. Thank you for your resilience and resolve to not only exercise your democratic rights but to also protect it. We are on this until justice is done.

“Fellow citizens, once again, I call

8TH DAY FIDAU PRAYER FOR PRINCE BOLA AJIBOLA…

L-R: Eldest son of the deceased, Adesegun Ajibola (SAN); Ogun State Governor, Prince Dapo Abiodun and Chief of Staff to the President, Prof. Ibrahim Gambari at the 8th Day Fidau prayer for the late former Attorney General, Prince Bola Ajibola held at Crescent University, Abeokuta... yesterday

Adopt Multilateral Action to Achieve Sustainable Development, Economic Growth, ILO Tells W' Bank, IMF

Harps on importance of social justice

Oluchi Chibuzor

The Director-General of the International Labour Organisation (ILO), Gilbert Houngbo has called for coherent multilateral action to achieve sustainable development and economic growth. Houngbo, highlighted the growing inequality worldwide and the need for social justice as envisaged by the ILO’s proposed Global Coalition for Social Justice.

He stated this in a statement delivered to the World Bank and International Monetary Fund Spring Meetings in Washington recently.

He highlighted the need to overcome challenges facing economies and societies across the globe.

According to him, social justice makes societies and economies function more cohesively and productively by reducing poverty and hunger, inequalities, and social tensions.

He also said that, “Given its central importance to inclusive and sustainable socio-economic development, social justice should be seen as one of the cornerstones of the renewed multilateralism that is required to overcome current challenges."

The statements by Houngbo, to the IMF’s International Monetary

and Financial Committee and the World Bank’s Development Committee, outlined the gloomy global economic, social and environmental outlook.

It also emphasisied the impact of the cost-of-living crisis, the need for a just transition to greener economies, and called for more international support for achieving universal social protection.

Houngbo, called for a revival of development finance, combined with a reshaping of business incentive structures to encourage long-term investments in the real economy.

Describing universal social protection as a, “human right and a state responsibility”, he called on the international community to “support existing or new financing strategies which can mobilize additional resources, support better use of existing resources and enhance coordination between multiple domestic and international sources of finance.”

According to him, such actions would be aligned with the priorities of the UN Global Accelerator on Jobs and Social Protection for Just Transitions , protecting the chronically poor and those who are most affected by multiple and overlapping crises.

In addition, the Development

Committee statement called on the World Bank Group to “position itself firmly” as a key partner of the Global Accelerator and for “stronger support for institutional deepening in other areas that affect inclusion and resilience, notably the capacity of countries to implement labour standards.”

Referencing the findings of the ILO World Employment and Social Outlook: Trends 2023 report, the statements pointed to

the global economic slowdown, which was likely to force more workers to accept lower quality, poorly paid jobs.

According to him, women and young people are faring “significantly worse” in labour markets and the labour participation rate of women is under 48 percent compared to the male rate of 72 per cent.

“The unemployment rate of young people is three times that

of adults, with more than one in five not in employment, education or training (NEET).

"The statements highlighted the gap between wage growth and labour productivity growth, and the need for real wages to increase to catch up with inflation and become aligned with productivity growth.

“Income inequality and poverty will rise if the purchasing power of the lowest paid is not maintained.

In addition, a much-needed post pandemic recovery could be put at risk.

"This could fuel further social unrest across the world and undermine the goal of achieving prosperity and peace for all. There is an urgent need to apply well-designed policy measures to help maintain the purchasing power and living standards of wage workers and their families,” the statements said.

SERAP Urges Buhari, Osinbajo, Lawan, Others to Publish Their Assets

Udora Orizu in Abuja

The Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has urged President Muhammadu Buhari to use his leadership position and role as the African Union Anti-Corruption Champion to widely publish his asset declaration form as he concludes term of office in May 2023, in order to leave a legacy of transparency.

SERAP also urged the president to encourage the Vice-President, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo; Senate President, Ahmad Lawan; Speaker of House of Representatives, Femi

Gbajabiamila and high-ranking officials of the next administration to also promptly publish their assets to date.

In an open letter dated April 15, 2023, and signed by SERAP Deputy Director, Kolawole Oluwadare, the organisation said publishing the asset declaration form and encouraging other public officials and officials of the next administration to do so would enable Nigerians scrutinise the assets and worth of public officials before taking office and at the end of their term of office.

The letter, read in part:

"according to the Code of Conduct for Public Officers, contained in Part I of the Fifth Schedule to the 1999 Nigerian Constitution 1999 (as amended), all public officers are to declare their assets immediately after taking office; at the end of every four years; and at the end of his/her term of office. SERAP urges you to emulate the good example of former President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua who consistently published his asset declaration forms as president and governor of Katsina State.

“He also planned legislative reform to make it mandatory

for all public officers to declare their assets publicly. He believed that publishing his assets would put pressure on other public officers to do so. Publishing your asset declaration form and encouraging other public officials and the officials of the next administration to do so would also send a powerful message of your commitment to uphold the country’s constitutional guarantees and international obligations.

"It would also show that you are ready to do what is needed to leave a legacy of transparency and accountability.”

Fuhr: Govt Must Ensure Standards, Sanitise

Nigeria’s Multi-billion Naira Beauty Industry

Emmanuel Addeh in Abuja

Owner and Franchisor of Beauty Therapy Institute (BTI), Sandy Fuhr, at the weekend urged the Nigerian government to sanitise and set minimal standards for Nigeria’s growing multi-billion naira beauty and wellness industry.

Speaking during an interview on the sidelines of the Abuja graduation ceremony of the institute’s students in highbrow Maitama, Fuhr, who was a panel speaker at the event opined that a good place to start should be the accreditation of schools that render courses in beauty and

wellness.

Highlighting the danger of allowing unqualified persons handle cases of clients who need such services , Fuhr who boasts over 40 years in the beauty and aesthetics business, explained that the field goes beyond learning the regular make-up skills.

Some services provided by the organisation which has offices in Abuja, Lagos and Port Harcourt include dermatology consultation, plastic surgery consultation, laser treatment, micro-needing, medical grade facials, hair transplant, keloid treatment, among others.

“The first place the government

has to come in here is to the schools or colleges and they need to come in and accredit all the colleges that are teaching, whether they are teaching nails or make-up or they are teaching skin treatments.

“They need to come in and make sure that standards are proper in the schools. Because if it starts there, the industry is going to elevate and that's the whole idea. We're not going to grow an industry in a meaningful way if we don't start with good education.

“So , that I think it is the first phase the government needs to help. They also need to help by

sponsoring students, financing students with ‘learnerships’ or sponsorships internships, so that the students can get their education.

“This is because it costs a lot of money to hold training like we do here. And the cost of the products, the space, the equipment that we have to have costs. costs a lot of money. it's an immense amount of money, so we need to be very, aware of all of that,” she stated.

The South African beauty and wellness expert stressed that the issue of hygiene must be taken seriously in the country, maintaining that bleaching of

the skin by Africans must also be discouraged.

With 20 colleges: 14 in South Africa, three in Nigeria, one in Kenya, Ghana and Namibia, respectively, Fuhr stated that the institute and its partners will continue to push for expansion and sustaining the high standards it set for itself.

She stated that the industry still needed to be deepened especially with the provision of data and statistics of its contribution to the economy and the number of persons it has taken out of the unemployment market.

Also speaking, Head of

Operations, Skin 101 Centre, Abuja, Adanma Okoro, noted that whereas a handful of Nigerians would travel abroad for high level training in the past, the centre now offers top quality training locally.

Okoro said that BTI remains one of the key institutions in the country that offer high quality education with proper international certifications that are globally recognised.

She noted that the government could help Nigerians with student loans that people can access to make proper training accessible to give the citizenry more opportunities in the growing field.

INSTALLATION OF THE NEW OLOGBOTSERE…

UBA Records 47.5% Growth in Gross Earnings, Profit Hits N61.4bn

The United Bank for Africa (UBA)

Plc has released its unaudited results for the first quarter ended March 31st, 2023, recording growth across all its major income lines.

The bank’s result which was released to the Nigerian Exchange Limited (NGX), showed that gross earnings rose by 47.5 per cent from N183.9 billion to N271.2 billion; while interest income which stood at N125.9 billion as at March 2022, grew by 53.4 per cent to N191.9 billion in the

quarter under consideration. The results further revealed that operating income rose by 39.6 per cent to N175.7 billion, as against N125.9 billion recorded in the corresponding quarter of 2022.

Following the performance recorded in its just released 2022-year-end financials, UBA again saw its profit before tax (PBT) rising significantly by 38.2 per cent to N61.4 billion in Q1 2023, up from N44.5 billion recorded in the first quarter

of 2022.

In the same vein, its profit after tax (PAT) jumped from N41.5 billion to N53.6 billion, representing an impressive 29.1 per cent increase.

Commenting on the result, UBA’s Group Managing Director/ Chief Executive Officer, Mr. Oliver Alawuba, explained that despite the high inflationary, and challenging global environment, UBA was able to leverage the uptick in interest rates and improved digital offerings, in

growing funded and non-funded income, adding that he is particularly excited at the growth in PBT, which has helped to drive increased returns to shareholders, with a 22.6 per cent Return on Average Equity (ROAE) compared to 19.7 per cent recorded in December 2022.

“We have continued to record improved gains in our customer acquisition and retention strategies across our countries of presence, evident in the 10.5 per cent growth

Oil Marketer Blames High Cost of Cooking Gas on Inadequate Infrastructure, FX Scarcity

Advocates phased removal of fuel subsidy

Peter Uzoho

Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Hyde Energy Limited, a downstream oil and gas company, Mr. Oladimejj Edwards, has attributed the high cost of Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG), popularly known as cooking gas, to the inadequate supply, storage, and distribution infrastructure as well as scarcity of dollars in the market.

Edwards, also called on the incoming administration to adopt a phased deregulation of petrol pricing to lessen the inevitable pains that would be suffered by the Nigerian populace when the government eventually decides to do away with the wasteful petrol subsidy.

The Hyde Energy CEO, made the assertions in Lagos, during a parley with journalists, where he rolled out the companies upcoming plans and initiatives for deeper penetration into the LPG and lubricant markets.

He explained that the infrastructure deficit and the foreign exchange scarcity were responsible for the low consumption of LPG in Nigeria, compared to some countries on the African continent. For the past two years, the cost of LPG has been on the rise, with the prices recording over 200 per cent increase, and resulting to many households switching back to kerosene, firewood and other dangerous energy sources.

For instance, refilling the 12.5 kilogram LPG cylinder, which is the commonest amongst the middle class, has been costing between N9,800 and above N10,000 for past two years.

"I agree with you that lack of infrastructure has been why LPG is relatively more expensive than it should be. But you will agree with me also that over the years, the reason why LPG consumption volumes have almost quadrupled since 2018 is simply because of the fact that more and more infrastructure keeps on coming on ground, it takes time.

"We were at the lowest per capita consumption of LPG on the continent. In fact, we are still lower than Ghana, which has a population of 60 million and per Capita consumption because of the lack of infrastructure and that infrastructure.

"Bear in mind, a skid is a piece of infrastructure, a filling plant is piece of infrastructure, a bottling plant is a piece of infrastructure, a dredger is part of the infrastructure and of course, the jetty.

“But ultimately, it is this integration back to the gas field that will ultimately bring down the absolute price of LPG overtime and it will happen", Edwards said.

On petrol subsidy removal, he called on the incoming administration to adopt a phased deregulation of petrol pricing to lessen the inevitable pains that would be suffered by

the Nigerian populace when the government eventually decides to do away with the wasteful petrol subsidy.

Edwards, said subsidy removal and total deregulation of the downstream sector of the oil and gas industry has been a 20-year old conversation and that there was no need for further delay about the removal of the uneconomic policy.

Unfortunately, he said Nigeria missed several opportunities in which it would have removed the subsidy where the cushion of the increased price would have been easy on the Nigerian population.

With the facts today, he noted that ditching petrol subsidy had become inevitable and that the challenge the country has was two-fold, including the absolute price of oil and the exchange rate.

He opined, "So, as my personal opinion and as a private citizen, I believe in phased deregulation because we are also in life with human beings who have different needs. A phased deregulation will be easier and also help the government retrieve some cash and also easy on the population.

"But one of the things I would advocate is that the pressure groups or government pressure groups should ensure that whatever commitments government make as palliatives should be met and if I were them, I would focus on some typical areas

-education and health, and it's not just education as a word, there should be a deeper meaning to investment in education."

According to him, as long as there was high oil prices and a weak naira, the price of petrol at the filling stations would be high, adding, however, that as investments were happening within the country and there was an increased demand for naira, the value of naira was expected to go up and ultimately affect the price.

Noting that about 50 to 55 per cent of LPG consumed in-country was still imported, with its foreign exchange component in the mix, Edwards said that was part of the things the in-coming government has to manage, especially as far as the economy is concerned.

He said when investments in infrastructure went up and the naira was strengthened, the prices of petroleum products would start to come down over a period of five to seven years.

By that time, he explained that infrastructure investment of today would have been amortised, debts paid, and marketers would start dropping prices.

He said those making those investments were investing with borrowed funds, adding, "everybody must get paid along the value chain. But over time, once they have been amortised, you certainly start to see an improvement in price.

in customer deposits to N8.6 trillion from N7.8 trillion at the end of fullyear 2022.

“This has enabled the Group drive increased loan growth and interest income, with loans to customers at N3.6 trillion, representing a year-todate (YTD) increase of five per cent. For 2023, we remain committed to improving the Group’s performance as we strategically position our entities to take advantage of emerging developments within their jurisdictions and across the globe. We will continue to deliver excellent rewards to our stakeholders,” Alawuba said.

Also speaking on the performance, UBA's Executive Director, Finance and Risk, Ugo Nwaghodoh, said the performance demonstrated the group’s resilience and commitment towards delivering value and enhancing the confidence of its customers,

stakeholders and the wider public notwithstanding the competitive landscape and current global trend in the industry.

“The impressive performance of UBA Group in first quarter 2023 is hinged on its continuous improvement and growth in gross earnings and balance sheet size as gross earnings grew by 47.5 per cent year-on-year to N271.2 billion and total assets up by 4.6 per cent to N11.4 trillion from N10.9 trillion as at December 2022, " Nwaghodoh stated.

Continuing, he said, "The growth in gross earnings is on the strength of increase in both interest income and non-interest income while growth in total asset is attributable to increased deposits due to aggressive deposit mobilisation drive that resulted in a 10.5 per cent growth in customer deposit in the first quarter."

Senate Spokesperson Says Nigeria Ripe to Operate Digitalised Economy

Kuni Tyessi in Abuja

The Spokesperson of the 9th Senate, Senator Surajudeen Basiru, has said the Nigerian economy is ripe enough to be digitalised.

Speaking at the signing of partnership between NeGSt-TAS Technologies Ltd, Nigeria's eGovernment and digital technology service provider with Visa Incorporated, Basiru, said digitalising an economy would invariably lead to a worldwide network of economic activities, commercial transactions and professional interactions that are enabled by Information and Communication Technology, otherwise to be referred to as digital economy.

"Digitalising the economy involves the deployment of Information Communication Technology to commercial transactions taking place in a virtual world rather than the physical market place.

"It is a positive disruption from the traditional model of buying and selling of goods as well as provision of services. It is the mass adoption of connected digital services by consumers, enterprises and governments in such a way that accelerates growth and facilitates job

creation.

"It will generate new job opportunities in Nigeria which will in turn improve the standard of living of the youths and reduce youth’s involvement in criminal activities," he noted.

The purpose of the partnership was to adapt digital tools in the process of moving from analogue to digital technology with a view to reducing human intervention, while at the same time mainstreaming access opportunities, generating increased income, ensuring search ability, interaction, integration, preservation, transparency, accountability and sustainability of the national economy for the benefit of all.

The Executive Vice Chairman of NeGSt-TAS, Felix Babatunde Obada, in his remarks at the signing of the agreement, revealed that Visa has digitised some countries, and doing same in Nigeria was possible.

"VISA digitised the economy of America, they have successfully digitised economy of Europe, they are presently digitising the economy of Ukraine, they are also digitising the economy of the UAE. If you see things moving so smoothly in the UAE, it is VISA.

L-R: The New Ologbotsere of Warri Kingdom, Chief Oma Eyewuoma; with His Majesty Olu of Warri Kingdom, Ogiame Atuwatse III, during the installation of the New Ologbotsere at Aghofen palace in Warri, Delta State...yesterday

10th Senate Presidency: Aspirants Move Battle to Opposition Senators’ Camp

The leadership and members of a strong coalition made up of the 43 opposition Senators-elect, are now the beautiful brides of the aspirants for the position of the Senate Presidency, reports Sunday Aborisade

Ranking senators of the All Progressives Congress who are aspiring to lead the 10th Senate are now looking beyond the zoning arrangements being planned by the leadership of their party.

They are now focussing their attention on the 43 members of the opposition political parties who have vowed to vote as a team during the inauguration of the 10th Senate by June, this year. Already, the Peoples Democratic Party, had formed a coalition with other opposition political parties, which had secured 12 seats in the forthcoming 10th National Assembly. Other minority parties are, the Labour Party (LP), and the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP), the Social Democratic Party (SDP), the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) and the Young Progressive Party (YPP). While the APC had so far won 59 seats, the PDP have 29, LP 6, NNPP 2, SDP 2, APGA 1, and YPPP 1.

No fewer than 11 APC senators-elect out of the 59 so far cleared by the Independent National Electoral Commission, have signified their interest in the number one position of the nation’s apex legislative institution.

They are Senators Sani Musa (North-Central); Jibrin Barau (North- West); Orji Kalu (South East); GodsWill Akpabio (South-South); Osita Izunaso (South-East); Peter Ndubueze (SouthEast); Abdul’Aziz Yari (North-West); Ahmad Lawan (North East); Ali Ndume (North-East); David Umahi (South-East) and Adams Oshiomhole (South-South).

Some leaders of the opposition parties coalition told THISDAY on condition of anonymity that their members would support a strong APC Senator-elect from the Southern part of the country as Senate President and a North Central Senator as the Deputy.

A Senator-elect from the North East geopolitical zone also confided in THISDAY at the weekend that their decision was based on equity, fairness, justice and peaceful coexistence of Nigeria.

According to him, only an insensitive leader will notice the obvious tension in the land and would choose to ignore it for selfish interest.

The Senator-elect, who is returning to the red chamber for the second term, said the mood of the nation is that a Christian from the southern part of the country should be the Senate President in the 10th National Assembly.

The North-East Senator-elect further told THISDAY on condition of anonymity that members of the minority caucus across political party lines have agreed to ensure good governance and would not allow the incoming administration of Asiwaju Bola Tinubu to give any excuse for non performance.

He said, “We are not going to rock the boat by producing the presiding officers from the minority caucus. We would abide by the global legislative convention by supporting the best aspirant from the majority bloc.

“We have also agreed that the best aspirant from the South-East geopolitical zone with the best credential will be supported to become the Senate President.

“We have equally agreed that we would ensure the emergence of a North Central Senator with outstanding records of good performance, as the deputy Senate President.”

He said the coalition started meeting since penultimate week and would wrap up their deal as soon as the leadership of the party announced the zoning arrangements for the presiding officers positions in the 10th National Assembly.

A ranking opposition Senator currently representing Osun East, Francis Fadahunsi, corroborated the claims of the North-East Senator in a telephone interview with THISDAY.

Fadahunsi, a retired deputy comptroller-general of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) said the PDP senators-elect were united in their resolve to contribute their quota to good governance in the incoming administration.

He said: “The meeting of the minority caucus has started and it is not to meant to frustrate the APC leadership move on zoning.

“We are prepared to support the best aspirant from the geopolitical zone where the presiding officers positions would be zoned to.”

Asked what would happen if the APC decided to look away from the South by zoning the positions to the

North, Fadahunsi said, “when we get to the bridge, we shall cross it.”

He, however, said: “We expect the National Working Committee of the APC and the President-Elect to feel the mood of the nation before taking such a delicate decision.”

Another Senator-elect, who is a member of the PDP from the North-Central geo-political zone, who preferred anonymity, said the minority coalition might pitch its tenth with a Southern Christian aspirant in case the party takes the Senate Presidency position to the North.

According to him: “The APC narrowly won the presidential election because of the same faith ticket of Asiwaju Bola Tinubu and Kashim Shettima. I don’t expect them to make another fundamental mistake this time around.

“We all know that the South-East is marginalised and the Christians are seriously agitating for inclusiveness.

“If the APC failed to reason with the current mood of the nation, we will help them to do the right thing on the day of inauguration. We will support a Christian Southern aspirant among the current APC contestants.”

While awaiting the zoning arrangements expected to be announced as soon as the President-elect returns to the country, the aspirants were not putting all their hopes on the APC zoning plans.

Checks by THISDAY revelaled that there could be a repeat of the Senator Bukola Sarakiled “coup” which was experienced in the Eighth Senate when he sought and got the backing of the opposition political parties to emerge as Senate President.

Aspirants across the various geopolitical zones have argued that South East region deserve the exalted position of the Senate President either as a form of rewarding them

Some leaders of the opposition parties coalition told THISDAY on condition of anonymity that their members would support a strong APC Senator-elect from the Southern part of the country as Senate President and a North Central Senator as the Deputy. A Senator-elect from the North East geopolitical zone also confided in THISDAY at the weekend that their decision was based on equity, fairness, justice and peaceful coexistence of Nigeria. According to him, only an insensitive leader will notice the obvious tension in the land and would choose to ignore it for selfish interest. The Senator-elect, who is returning to the red chamber for the second term, said the mood of the nation is that a Christian from the southern part of the country should be the Senate President in the 10th National Assembly.

for the volume of votes they got for the party in the last presidential election, or to ensure ethnic and religious balancing of the polity.

Aspirants from the South are drawing the attention of the APC leadership to the cultural heterogeneity of the country especially ethnicity, and religion.

They argued that since the President-elect is of the same Islamic faith with the Vice-President elect, it would be proper to have a Christian from the “marginalised” zone in the South as the Senate President.

They noted that failure to recognise the nation’s diversity and act on it in the interest of equity,fairness and justice, could make it more or less difficult for people to trust and cooperate with one another.

A very disturbing phenomenon in the entire development is the desperation of some aspirants particularly from the North West to push their ways to the number three seat at all cost.

There are reports that two of the aspirants from the North West had opened campaign offices at the prestigious Transcorp Hilton Hotel in the heart of the nation’s capital and allegedly lavishing huge sums of foreign currencies on the Senators-elect.

One of them was even said to have budgeted N2.2bn for the accomodation of the Senatorselect who he planned would check in to the luxury suites as soon the National Assembly finalized arrangements for their orientation programmes.

Most disturbing, however, is the involvement of state governors in the race, some of whom had even endorsed some aspirants even before the party’s zoning plans.

The National Vice Chairman of the APC in the North West geopolitical zone, Salihu Mohammed Lukman had raised the alarm over an alleged plans by desperate aspirants for the presiding officers’ positions in the 10th National Assembly, to frustrate the incoming administration of the President-elect, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu.

Lukman, who stated this in a statement issued recently in Abuja further alleged that aspirants in their desperation, had reached out to members of the NWC of the APC to stop the proposed zoning arrangements that would produce the presiding officers of the two chambers.

He confirmed that some of the desperate aspirants had started buying gifts, and spending foreign currencies on both elected members of the 10th National Assembly and the leadership of the party to buy their way into office.

He expressed fear that the desperate aspirants might have their way if not immediately checked because they have no respect for national unity and the person of Asiwaju Tinubu and Senator Shettima.

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

Musa

Akpabio Barau Kalu

This Week In Tech

Tech Top 5 News

GOOGLE REVEALS TOP SEARCHES BY NIGERIANS IN Q1

‘Peter Obi’, ‘INEC’, ‘Who is your guy? by Spyro’, ‘When is Easter 2023’ and ‘How to check my polling unit’ topped trending searches by Nigerians in the first quarter of 2023.

As revealed by Google’s top search trends, a captivating blend of politics, pop culture, and curiosity swept across the Nigerian digital landscape in the first quarter of 2023. Political intrigue reached a fever pitch as Nigeria’s general elections unfolded, captivating the nation’s attention. Held on February 25 and March 18, these pivotal elections determined the president, vice-president, Senate and House of Representatives members, and state governors in 31 out of 36 states.

Among the most searched individuals, Peter Obi, the Labour Party presidential candidate, captured the top spot, outpacing even Bola Tinubu, the president-elect. Atiku Abubakar, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) presidential candidate, claimed the fifth position.

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) emerged as the most searched entity between January and March, with Obi and the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) closely following. The CBN’s currency redesign before the elections undoubtedly contributed to its prominence.

Homegrown talent took centre stage in the realm of music as Nigerians avidly sought out the latest tunes. Spyro’s hit, ‘Who is your guy?’ claimed the top spot, with Ruger’s ‘Asiwaju’ and ‘Carry me go’ by Boy Spyce and Khaid securing second and third places, respectively.

The nation’s collective curiosity was also evident in the top trending questions, which ranged from ‘When is Easter 2023?’ and ‘When is WAEC 2023 starting?’ to ‘How to check my polling unit?’ and ‘Who is the President of Nigeria?’. Unsurprisingly, the popularity of Spyro’s song sparked the question, ‘Who is your guy?’, further displaying Nigeria’s deep-rooted love for the tune.

LINKEDIN INTRODUCES WAYS TO VERIFY IDENTITY, WORKPLACE

Professional networking platform LinkedIn has introduced new ways to verify your identity and where you work as part of its verification process, which will be free for all members.

The verification system was developed in collaboration with Microsoft’s Entra Verified ID services and the identity verification system operator, CLEAR.

These new features hope to promote more users’ authenticity on the platform and even a better chance to find the professional opportunities that matter to users and their community.

In a blog post shared, Oscar Rodriguez, LinkedIn’s vice-president (product management), said, “Through all these new, free features, we are helping give you the confidence that who you’re connecting with and the content you come across is trusted and authentic. While all LinkedIn members globally will not have access to these verification options immediately, we will expand availability and ways for you to participate over time. We will keep you updated as we continue rolling out more features like these as they may help to address the fake profiles problem that has been plaguing the platform for years.”

According to the company, around fifty million members globally are on LinkedIn, and there are over 4,000 companies, which is one more way to demonstrate the authenticity of your profile.

The company said it would roll this feature out to more companies and expand eligibility. Moreover, LinkedIn members can also verify where they work with Microsoft Entra.

The company is partnering with Microsoft to allow organisations to leverage the Microsoft Entra Verified ID platform to issue digital workplace IDs for free, enabling workers to display the verification on their LinkedIn profiles.

Tech Personality of The Week

TOMILOLA MAJEKODUNMI

This week’s tech personality is Tomilola Majekodunmi.

Majekodunmi is the co-founder and CEO of Bankly, a fintech platform that enables people to make payments, save, withdraw, and transfer money to others, especially in locations where physical banks are difficult to access.

Tomi started her career as a financial analyst at Meristem Wealth Management Limited.

She is a member of the Global Inclusive Fintech50 companies worldwide aimed at driving financial inclusion, especially for women and low income.

According to her, the idea for Bankly was born in 2015 when she joined a friend to develop a product called SmartCredit. SmartCredit was a lending product borne out of a partnership between Access Bank and Airtel.

The Lagos-based fintech offers direct-to-consumer products to Nigeria’s unbanked and underbanked populations.

In simple terms, Bankly digitises cash and provides micro businesses/individuals working in the informal sector a safer path to savings.

It also provides a USSD-based savings product where users fund their accounts using Bankly vouchers nationwide.

In 2019, Bankly beat 13 other global finalists to win the 2019 Innovating Justice Award organised by the Hague Institute for the Innovation of Law (HiiL).

The fintech believes that the only way to make financial products and services ubiquitous is to view them through the lenses of a fast-moving consumer good (FMCG), as seen in the telecoms industry through the distribution of vouchers for mobile top-ups for digitisation of cash.

Also, it is perceived that this approach is cheaper since the customer has an existing behaviour and does not need to be taught new methods.

It also reduces the risk and cost of creating a new distribution and agency network by leveraging the existing telco distribution network.

The feature will be rolled out at the end of April. The company plans to make this available to dozens of participating companies, reaching over two million LinkedIn members.

NIGERIA LAUNCHES SCIENCE-FOCUSED TV CHANNEL

The federal government has launched a new specialised television channel to broadcast scientific information and technological innovations in Nigeria.

The broadcast studio of the Nigerian Science, Technology & Innovation Television (NSTI-TV) was inaugurated in Abuja on April 11 by the Minister of Science, Technology and Innovation, Adeleke Mamora.

NSTI-TV, which will be broadcast in multiple languages, including English, Hausa, Igbo and Yoruba, will be available via terrestrial, satellite and internet links to make the channel easily accessible to the population, federal authorities said.

The launch of the TV channel comes when the country is experiencing a tech boom.

According to Mamora, the TV channel covers all topics related to science, technology, and innovation, notably engineering, scientific heritage, science policy, health and medicine, natural science, environment and wildlife, children’s curiosity, science and society, and agricultural innovations.

The channel will use multiple interactive formats such as documentaries, interviews, demonstrations, experiment shows, game shows, science fiction, and docu-dramas.

The minister said NSTI-TV will operate with a strong commitment to spreading scientific awareness, especially with Nigerian perspectives, ethos, and cultural milieu.

“The station will serve as a veritable platform to inform, educate and entertain as well as publicise scientific discoveries, inventions, and achievements of the various

parastatal under the ministry and exchange of ideas, knowledge and skill for the benefit of the common man,” Mamora said.

GOOGLE TO BLOCK FINANCIAL LENDING APPS FROM ACCESSING USER’S INFORMATION

Google is set to block apps that provide personal loans from obtaining permission to access users’ photos, videos, and contacts.

The move is to stop predatory loan apps from harassing and intimidating borrowers into paying outstanding debts, which often come with huge interest rates.

“We’re updating our personal loans policy to state that apps aiming to provide or facilitate personal loans may not access user contacts or photos,” said Google.

The change takes effect on May 31.

The new policy is being rolled out in markets hardest hit by the practice, like Nigeria, Pakistan, Kenya, India, Indonesia, and the Philippines. Recently, in these countries, individuals who have received loans from mobile credit apps have been on the receiving end of harassment after failing to repay those loans.

By accessing borrowers’ contacts and personal images, debt collectors have sent manipulated photos to friends and family of debtors. A number of these targeted individuals took their lives after the harassment, TC says.

In response to the widespread debt harassment, Google initially blocked hundreds and thousands of personal loan apps from the Play Store after being alerted by law enforcement agencies and central banks. The company also introduced rules to ban unlicensed loan apps from the Android app store.

The policy, which affects binary options, cryptocurrencies and personal loans, stipulated that “if your app contains or

promotes financial products and services, you must comply with regional and local regulations for any region or country that your app targets – for example, include specific disclosures required by local law.”

TWITTER BLUE INTRODUCES 10,000-CHARACTER TWEETS

Twitter has announced that users who pay for its premium version, Twitter Blue, can now write tweets of up to 10,000 characters, a significant increase from the previous limit of 4,000 characters. This new feature aims to give users more space to express themselves and share their thoughts on the platform.

In addition to the increased character limit, the website now supports bold and italics text formatting, allowing content creators to use those elements to break up potentially huge blocks of text.

Twitter has also announced a new feature called “Subscriptions,” which replaces the previously named “Super Follows.” With Subscriptions, users can charge people $3, $5, and $10 monthly for exclusive content, including subscriber-only chats in Spaces. Twitter has promised not to take any of its earnings for the next 12 months, except for transaction fees.

The move is part of Twitter’s efforts to diversify its revenue streams and provide more value to its users. The company has been testing the Super Follows feature since earlier this year and rebranded it to Subscriptions.

By increasing the character tweet limit for blue users and allowing them to post hours-long videos, Twitter gives creators more ways to keep their subscribers engaged. At the same time, getting users to spend more time on the website means more opportunities to serve them with ads that would make the company more money. That being said, Super Follows never quite took off, and it remains to be seen whether this iteration of the subscription service will fare better.

www.thisdaylive.com

SUSTAINING PEACE IN THE

CREEKS

Ndiomu has restored fiscal responsibility to the Presidential amnesty programme, argues RAY UMUKORO

See page 27

NEW INTERNET TECHNOLOGIES AND BROADBAND PENETRATION IN AFRICA

It is a pathway to sustainable digital economy, writes ONYINYE IKENNA-EMEKA

See page 27

EDITORIAL

THE TRAGEDY IN BENUE STATE

Indiscriminate killings are back after the business of election rigging, writes

CHIDI ANSELM ODINKALU

THE OWNERS OF THE KILLERS ARE BACK WITH IMPUNITY

Mbabai, the village where Tarnongo Mike Utsaha was buried on 1 April, 2023, used to be part of the municipality of Makurdi, the capital of Benue State. It only became part of Guma Local Government Area in Benue North-West in 1987. Current governor of Benue State, Samuel Ortom, also comes from Guma.

The LGA derives its name from River Guma, which empties into the River Benue, part of a network of fresh water sources that as the nation’s food basket. With arable land drained by an abundance of freshwater sources on the foothills of the rainy season, this is a neighborhood that should ordinarily bustle at this time of year.

The journey into Guma with Mike’s remains revealed the opposite. Mbabai and its neighboring villages had long been drained of life by mass atrocity. Mourners to the funeral needed the forceful presence of massive deployment of hundreds of well-armed soldiers along the route and in surrounding bushes to reassure them about their safety.

The compound in which the burial itself took place was nearly desolate. A capacious country home belonging to Mike’s dad, a retired judge, had been burnt twice over in attacks reportedly perpetrated, the villagers said, by armed herders. All the mourners could do was linger in the village long enough for the body to be laid into the ground before everyone scampered, grateful that there were no atrocity incidents.

As the mourners left, it was impossible not to ask how the people of Guma, nearly all of kind of martial deployment that accompanied Mike’s cortege, bury their dead. It did not take Mgban is a village also in Guma, not too far from Mbabai. Like Mbabai, Mgban has also been decimated by regular attacks from armed herders. Most of the village lives in internal displacement. By an arrangement involving the state government and the Benue State Emergency Management Authority, the Benue State Police Command deployed several police Government Education Authority (LGEA) Primary School in Mgban, so that those left in the community can go there to sleep at night.

That was until one week after the burial of Mike Utsaha. Shortly before mid-night around Good Friday, according to survivors, the police School in Mgban all entered their vehicles and left the premises without warning. The villagers already at the school to pass the night had no place else to hide.

Moments after the police retreated, armed attackers arrived, making game of every person in sight, mostly the aged, women, and children. Initial casualty count was over 43 killed by sunrise. By the end of the morning after the massacre, another 45 had also been evacuated to nearby hospitals in critical conditions. The dead got a quick and

perfunctory mass burial.

Less than 36 hours before the Mgban Massacre, on Wednesday, also in the Christian Holy Week, another attack on mourners in Umogidi in Entekpa-Adoka District of Otukpo LGA reportedly killed at least 52 persons. Another mass burial was all that they could get.

Some 48 hours before the massacre in Umogidi, a similar attack liquidated at least 47 un-armed persons in Ikobi village in Apa LGA, including the local chief.

Amidst this orgy of massacres, Benue State Governor, Samuel Ortom, who has since lost the ability to safely visit his village in Guma, traveled to Port Harcourt, Rivers State, around 6 April, reportedly to attend the commissioning of projects by his counterpart in Kaduna State, Nasir El-Rufai, both of them as guests of Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike. It was a characteristically thoughtless journey by a man who had long ago lost any sense of what a governor exists to do.

The symbolism of the encounter in Rivers State between the governors of Benue and Kaduna States, once implacable political foes, was not lost on many. In Port Harcourt, they could have been mistaken for a compatibly contented political pairing. Less than two years ago, in May 2021, they were at each other’s throats exchanging choice epithets with the abandon of drunken sailors in a barroom brawl.

Between them, these two men have presided over arguably two of the worst records of mass atrocity in Nigeria in the past eight years. In 80 reported at least 125 killed and 60 abducted. Those who specialize in tracking these incidents would swear that these numbers week of April 2023, Benue State lost at least 134 persons in a killing spree. In the period since the end of the presidential election in February, over 400 have reportedly been massacred in Benue State alone.

On 8 April, 2023, Daily Times reported that “[p]alpable fear pervades the entire horizon as renewed incidents of banditry, kidnappings, noticed in Nigeria ahead of the general

elections in February and March.”

The previous day had witnessed the high Deputy Governor of Nasarawa State near the Federal Capital Territory, Onje Gye-Wado. The newspaper also recounted a staggering rise after the vote of mass abductions of children as well as massacres in many states around the country including Benue, Edo, Imo, Kaduna, Kano, Nasarawa, Lagos, Zamfara, among others.

Confronted with this trend, President Muhammadu Buhari, whose primary job is to guarantee the safety and security of all these people, had a statement issued in his name calling for “an end to extreme violence.” It was disconcerting to see the president mistake himself for a non-governmental organization and reduced to condemning violence and calling for something to be done about it, as if he had forgotten that it was his place surely to do that something. The statement also seemed to imply that violence was alright if it was not considered “extreme”, but provided no criteria with reference to which to determine what extreme violence means. It was a very odd kind of thing for a president to say. But this Nigerian president has built his brand around toxic awkwardness.

Then, three days after issuing this statement, entirely in keeping with his habit of disregard for Nigerians over the past eight years, the April for a nine-day long jaunt. What he went there to do was unclear, a fact no much helped handlers who were busy spreading false information about the trip.

While Buhari remained in Saudi Arabia, Samuel Ortom quickly announced the demobilization of the Benue State Livestock Guards, the militia group established to enforce the state’s anti-open grazing law. Many people read this to mean a suspension of claiming that the law still remained very much in force without explaining who will now help him to enforce it.

Those who wonder how these killings have lasted and deepened in intensity for as long as they have need not worry anymore. With a law without enforcers and a state rapidly turning into a cemetery, Benue State’s Governor Ortom probably knows one or two things most others may be unable to voice. First, the owners of the atrocity killings in Nigeria are back after the business of election rigging. Second, it is not

When Catholic Bishop of Sokoto, Matthew Hassan Kukah, spoke in his Easter Message about the urgent mission of helping Nigeria “recover from the feeling of collective rape by those who imported the men of darkness that destroyed or country”, he knew what he was talking about.

A lawyer and a teacher, Odinkalu can be reached at chidi.odinkalu@tufts.edu

SUSTAINING PEACE IN THE CREEKS

A major highlight of the recent public presentation of Nigeria Heroes and Sheroes, Diary of a Journalist of Courage, a book authored by Ken Ugbechie, a celebrated Nigerian journalist and columnist, was the presentation of merit awards to some Nigerians.

The book is a compendium of the good, the bad and dark underbelly of the nation, but it gravitated heavily on the side of development journalism. It curated in breezy language, the development landmarks of some Nigerians and corporates. But it also documented with clarity the failures and

was uncovered. A good 513 delegates had 1,371 accounts fraudulently linked to their BVNs. Obviously, these were ghost accounts and it points to a possible collusion with external forces, the banks.

Other messy details exposed by the as follows: So many accounts did not have BVN linked to them. One individual was receiving stipends (N65,000 monthly) of 33 persons through fraudulent means. The forensic audit also revealed other duplicitous payment systems that turned the simple monthly payment of stipends to a feast of mindless heist.

Other scandalous details unveiled postNdiomu were that contracts with vendors some cases manipulated to steal huge cash out of the Programme. Through Ndiomu’s insistence on the adoption of global best practices in contracting, such contracts were renegotiated. The process saved about N1.5 billion for the Programme.

The book simply told the Nigerian story from a Nigerian perspective; a genuine and audacious front-row account by the author. This treatise is not so much about the 644page book as it is about the merit awards. The cast of awardees was a rich mix of individuals and corporates. Nigerians who and cognitive leadership. One of such recipients was Barry Tariye Ndiomu, a retired Major-General and currently the Interim Administrator of Presidential Amnesty Programme (PAP). Ndiomu deserves his medal as Icon of Integrity for many reasons. His award resonated positively with the audience made up of top media professionals, and sundry professionals. The loud applause that greeted the announcement of his award lent credence to the appropriateness of the award and to its relevance to the nation’s economy.

Appointed on September 15, 2022 by President Muhammadu Buhari, Ndiomu’s appointment as the top man to manage PAP at the time he was so named has been hailed as a masterstroke by President Buhari. pacifying the ex-agitators in the creeks of the Niger Delta. He came at a time the Amnesty Programme was drifting to nowhere with telltale signs of an imminent, almost inevitable, rupture in the relative peace in the region. And in barely six months, Ndiomu has Buhari reposed in him was not misplaced. For an agency that was festooned in graft and misappropriation of funds, it took Ndiomu less than three months to change the trajectory of the administration of the Programme from the path of corruption to

single account was 23,000. However, after

as at March, thus saving the Programme money in hundreds of thousands of naira monthly. Not just that, some names appeared in duplicates/triplicates; while some names were listed on both single/bulk payment list. It was discovered that delegates on inon the list other than theirs. Using an audit

With more than N5.5 billion and N4.5 billion owed both formal education institutions and vocational training contractors respectively as at September 2022, the PAP balance sheet was daily reported in red, over-burdened by debt. Today, the situation has been salvaged through prudent and strategic prioritisation of payments as prescribed by Ndiomu. For charge for timely consideration. Under Ndiomu, PAP resuscitated the Vocational Training Centres (VTCs).

Pronto, as part of his strategy to sustain peace in the Niger Delta region, Ndiomu initiated measures to revive, revamp and fully optimize the over N5 billion abandoned projects in a remarkable shift from the past by insisting that only quality jobs are approved and paid for to the joy of the programme

Ndiomu has achieved all this and many more without the usual noise associated with holders. The retired but not tired General has refused to be swayed by the tide of sweltering who are adjudged as high performers in own drum rather than be the one drumming to announce his exploits.

Ever since he set out to transform the Amnesty Programme, turning it from its previous bad ways of corruption and syndicated larceny, Ndiomu has come under a blitzkrieg of organized media lynching especially from the camp of those

at the Programme before his arrival. It’s a common trend in Nigeria. Those who are the promoters and progenitors of fraud in any system always resist change. Ndiomu brought change to PAP. A revolutionary

mob orchestrated protests and sponsored wishy-washy and usually poorly scripted media articles against him. But he stood his ground, insisting that money meant for ex-agitators was paid to them, and that the concurrent trainings designed to empower them were actually administered to them. The result of his doggedness and insistence agitations in the creeks.

Umukoro writes from Warri

It is a pathway to sustainable digital economy, writes

IKENNA-EMEKA

NEW INTERNET TECHNOLOGIES AND BROADBAND PENETRATION IN AFRICA

Africa is in a race to attain global standards in digital transformation for economic growth and sustainability. The continent’s need to achieve growth in its digital landscape is even more pertinent considering that emerging digital ecosystems are predicted by McKinsey to account for more than $60 trillion in global economic revenue by 2025.

Across the globe, a fast-paced digital transformation continues to inspire new approaches to work. Indeed, the internet, which is the holy grail of digital evolution, has been a critical driver for job opportunities and global economic boost over the last decade.

When the United Nations articulated the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) for its member-nations, a critical part of that agenda was to foster decent work and economic growth globally through digital innovation and technology.

Africa’s young urban population is notable for its utilisation of internet connectivity

the many challenges facing Africa’s digital ecosystem, we can take calculated steps in focusing on aspects with potential to produce the desired result. A starting point will include improving the provision of quality internet services and accessibility. By providing access to quality and reliable internet access, we will undoubtedly provide the youth with opportunities across various sectors of interest, stimulate innovation and entrepreneurship in ICT, and foster vibrant small and medium enterprises (SMEs). This strategic improvement is necessary to enable resilient work opportunities and commerce that will in turn stimulate wider social and economic development.

For instance, the continent’s most populated nation, Nigeria, with over 33.6 million aged between 15 and 35, need to improve the limited access to quality and reliable internet. Expanded internet access 19.61 per cent youth unemployment in the country. As the dynamics of work continue to evolve in today’s digital climate with many organisations employing talents globally in a remote and hybrid work culture, a dependable internet service would ensure more youths can take full advantage of global opportunities without experiencing frustrations necessitated by poor internet.

to create job opportunities and empower themselves amid an alarming unemployment rate. The Google and International Finance Corporation’s e-Conomy Africa 2020 report says Africa, with the youngest, fastest-growing and urbanised workforce has the potential to enjoy a $180 billion internet economy by 2025 owing to the increasing consumption of online services. The report also projects that increasing internet penetration to 75% has the potential to create 44 million new jobs. These statistics indicate that the continent’s predominantly young population requires accelerated measures to drive internet penetration and access, which will ultimately spur opportunities for economic growth.

We must now maximise these economic opportunities by improving the quality of network services and broadband penetration currently obtainable on the continent. This is critical, considering that a world development report suggests that developed economies that achieve a 10-percentage point increase in a 1.21 per cent increase in GDP growth, while developing economies with the same expansion would achieve a 1.38 per cent increase in GDP growth.

It is a daunting task. The World Bank estimates that Africa will require an investment of about $100 billion to make the internet accessible to every citizen by 2030. I especially worry that the continent, with peculiar socioeconomic and sociopolitical complexities, has its work cut out to achieve the goal by the UN.

What actions or strategies are we required to take in building inclusive digital technology that will set us on the path to achieving the UN’s SDG 8 that deals with providing decent work and boosting economic growth? Despite

Deployment of the 5G technology workers from anywhere across the globe quickly, access cloud-based applications with minimal delay, and collaborate on projects in real time. 5G-powered virtual reality (VR) and augmented reality (AR) technologies will similarly impact team dynamics, reducing the isolation that can come with working remotely through immersive and engaging communication.

5G technology in the entertainment generation network can enjoy a more seamless viewing experience by streaming high-quality video content with minimal can provide real-time video feeds with minimal latency, enabling homeowners to monitor their properties remotely. I am especially enthusiastic about MTN’s dedication towards improving access to internet service in Nigeria.

The desire to drive this level of quality our recent launch of the 5G network in Nigeria. The next-gen network is projected to contribute an additional $2.2 trillion to Africa’s economy by 2034, boasting the previously attainable internet speed of 80mbps.

By providing this internet technology option, MTN is now able to further deliver areas in Nigeria. Public and private institutions and individual internet users can rely on the 5G service to achieve rapid online tool response time, excellent performance and employee productivity, and backup needs.

Ikenna-Emeka is General Manager, Fixed Broadband, MTN

Ndiomu has restored fiscal responsibility to the Presidential amnesty programme, argues RAY UMUKORO

ONYINYE

Editor, Editorial Page PETER ISHAKA

Email peter.ishaka@thisdaylive.com

EDITORIAL

THE TRAGEDY IN BENUE STATE

There must be an end to impunity. The incoming administration has its work clearly cut out

In Benue State today, no place is safe. Not even the internally displaced persons (IDPs) camps where hundreds of thousands had 25th February, while the nation went to the poll to elect a president and members of the National Assembly, suspected herdsmen invaded some communities in Guma and killed 13 people. A few days later, several communities in Kwande local government area were also raided with over a dozen people murdered. As Christians were observing the recent Good Friday, dozens of innocent men, women and children were again killed in communities across the majorly agrarian state. Some of the dead included IDPs taking refuge at LGEA Primary School, Mgban, in Guma local government area of Benue State.

In what has become a force of habit, President Muhammadu Buhari’s by his spokesman. “The entire nation stands the forces of terror and evil,” Buhari said in what appeared a regurgitation of previous statements that were not backed by concrete actions. That perhaps the president to go beyond mere pronouncements.

killings in the state and bring them to justice. But there is also a place for leadership in the state. The growing frustration, cynicism, and distrust between and among residents of the state have become injurious to their security and we hope that the next administration in Benue will handle the challenge better.

While we commiserate with the bereaved, we enjoin all relevant authorities to put an end to this impunity. In the past decade, Benue State has been in constant turmoil, and a graveyard of innocent

T H I S D AY EDITOR SHAKA MOMODU DEPUTY EDITORS WALE OLALEYE, OBINNA CHIMA MANAGING DIRECTOR ENIOLA BELLO DEPUTY MANAGING DIRECTOR ISRAEL IWEGBU CHAIRMAN EDITORIAL BOARD OLUSEGUN ADENIYI EDITOR NATION’S CAPITAL IYOBOSA UWUGIAREN MANAGING EDITOR BOLAJI ADEBIYI THE OMBUDSMAN KAYODE KOMOLAFE

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

Letters to the Editor

suspected herders. Statistics may not be readily available, but several hundreds of people have been killed since the renewed attacks commenced shortly after the 2015 presidential election. Perhaps the most bestial of these violent acts was on 1st January 2018, when some suspected herdsmen went on the villagers who were returning from the New Year eve service. Despite some hollow promises from Abuja, the Benue killings have continued.

It is noteworthy that violence in the state has in 2018 which was intended to curb trespass on farms by migratory herders and reduce the increasing people who rear livestock to buy land and establish ranches; prohibits open movement of animals within the state and spells out punishments, a law

cultural group Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria (MACBAN) vowed to resist, insisting that it is against their culture, movement, and economic interests. According to the Executive Secretary of the State Emergency and Management Agency (SEMA), Emmanuel Shior, no fewer than 5,138 people had been killed in the state within eight years, while 18 out of the 23 local government areas have been overrun by herders. While we condemn in the strongest terms the growing brutality targeted at innocent Nigerians, we are worried that these incessant attacks can only worsen the general feeling of insecurity across the country. It is clear the current administration is not interested in taking meaningful steps to address the problem and end the bloodshed. It is thus left for the incoming administration to clear the mess once solutions to the spiral of violence and bloodshed between farmers and herdsmen in various theatres across the country.

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

LETTERS

CHIMAMANDA NGOZI-ADICHIE AND THE SPIKES OF FACILE CRITICISMS

In these days of social unrest and political tension, when the prob lems of Nigeria has become gigantic in extent and chaotic in detail, dent, Joe Biden, engenders a timeless truth and an undeniable testi mony about the political legitimacy and morality of the 2023 Presi dential election in which the compromised chair of the Independent Electoral Commission (INEC) announced and endorsed the ruling party’s candidate Bola Ahmed Tinubu as the winner.

In the wake of Chimamanda’s open letter has been a mass of juve nile and childish criticisms which undoubtedly showboats a predi

distressingly annoying is the fact that many learned people have joined these facile criticisms forming a terrible tidal wave of hateful oligarchs who scorn truth, ridicule objectivity and rational reason ing, ordain corrupt sovereigns and validate an odious aristocracy and barefaced illegality.

Nigerians, therefore, must refuse to play to the gallery and ad dress the real issues of Chimamanda’s open letter. The real issues

INEC’s double tongue and ongoing shenanigans; INEC’s deliber their collusion to voters’ intimidation; disenfranchisement of Nige rians; election rigging; and the Nigerian state’s pervasive problem you must have heard or read are intellectually facile and shallow the real issues! Thus, it is pertinent to emphatically and unapologet ically state that the 2023 presidential electoral process was fraudu lent, manipulated and crippled by the manacles of desperation and the chains of unfettered thinking that money can buy everything and anything; indeed, it was a downright mockery of democracy.

Nigerians must continually read the signs of the times to under

untold strife, unwarranted pestilence, incessant insecurity issues and many more help our politicians to thrive and perpetuate their evil, vile antics and abominable theatrics. Hence, we must all be committed to tearing down these institutions by objectively analyz ing issues, standing for virtues, becoming congenital truth tellers, dissociating ourselves from the ropes and tyranny of bribery, greed

and corruption; and allowing a proper entrenchment of justice and peace to take their pride of place.

As it stands, our last hope is the Judiciary and we charge them Judiciary must not jeopardize the future of over 200 million people;

ing of all Nigerians. We want to have a government that will be ac countable and transparent in their dealings. We want to be ruled by

if we are to recalibrate Nigeria and set it on the path that leads to peace, prosperity and progress, then, we must learn to tell ourselves the truth. This task Chimamanda unambiguously did with an un savvy, but an undaunted philosopher whose unbridled search for truth has torn the veil of ignorance and taken her out of the cave of disillusionment and falsity.

Nwabuisi Johnpaul, melchi5801@gmail.com

It is left for the incoming administration to clear the mess once and for all. It must proffer workable and sustainable solutions to the spiral of violence and bloodshed in various theatres across the country

RATES AS AT APRIL 14,2023

With a Combine N1.562trn, Zenith Bank, GTCO Emerge Most Capitalised Banks on NGX

Kayode Tokede

Following a 7.7 per cent and 10.87 per cent increase in their share price in the first quarter of 2023, Zenith Bank Plc and Guaranty Trust Holding Company Plc (GTCO) outpaced other Deposit Money Banks (DMBs) to emerge most capitalised banks on the Nigerian Exchange Limited (NGX).

Zenith Bank shares increased by 7.7 to to N25.85 per share as of March 31, 2023 from N24.00 it closed for trading in 2022, lifting its market capitalisation to N811.6billion,

while GTCO’s stock appreciated by 10.87 per cent to N25.50 per share from N23.00 per share to reached N750.5billion in market capitalisation.

Zenith Bank since January 2022 outpaced GTCO as the most capitalised when its stock price closed trading at N25.50 per share.

Capital market analysts hinted that the anticipation of a robust dividend for the 2022 financial year and the fundamentals of Zenith Bank attracted foreign investors.

They however stressed that investors are losing confidence

in GTCO over the management’s adoption of the Holdings structure, among others.

Commenting, the Vice Vice President, Highcap Securities, Mr. David Adnori stated that the early filing of 2022 financial year result and accounts and dividend payout to shareholders repositioned Zenith bank stock in the period under review.

According to him, “The Holdings structure should have been advantageous but it is no longer serving as an advantage to

the bank because of the negative influence of the above issues.”

Zenith Bank had announced eight per cent drop in profit after tax from N244.6 billion in 2022 to N223.9 billion because of the increase in the Group’s effective tax rate from 12.7per cent in 2021 to 21.3per cent in 2022.

The Bank between 2022 and 2021 declared a sum of N468.47billion profit and proposed to shareholders a dividend of N197billion.

A capital market analyst, Mr. Rotimi Fakeyejo said records in

the last five years have shown that Pension Fund Administrators (PFA) and foreign investors are always sceptical about investing in Holdings structure.

Meanwhie, Stanbic IBTC Holdings Plc maintained the third position as the top three most capitalised DMB stocks on the NGX with about N487.18billion, followed by FBN Holdings with about N398.44billion in market capitalisation.

Stanbic IBTC Holdings reached N37.60 per share as of March 31,

2023, representing an increase of 12.4 per cent from N33.45 per share from December 31, 2022 amid N80.81billion profit after tax in 2022 FY from N56.97billion reported in 2021.

The board and management of Stanbic IBTC declared final dividend of 200 kobo per share in line with our commitment to delivering value to shareholders.

The story continues online on www.thisdaylive.com

With $252m Revenue in 2022, FG Moves to De-risk Cashew Value-chain to Boost

James Emejo in Abuja

The federal government has taken immediate steps to maximise and harness the full economic potential inherent in cashew export.

The Executive Director/Chief Executive, Nigerian Export Promotion Council (NEPC), Dr. Ezra Yakusak, said even though Raw Cashew Nut (RCN) emerged as the 5th leading

non-oil exportable product valued at $252 million, and accounted for 5.24 per cent of the country’s non-oil export portfolio in 2022, the potential of the sector remained largely under-developed.

Speaking at the launch of the Organic Cashew Certification Programme for Exports, organised by the council in collaboration with NICERT, Valency Limited and PRO-

Production, Export

Cashew in Abuja, he said Nigeria remained the 4th leading producer of raw cashew nuts in Africa with about 19 producing states “But sadly, we have not maximized and harnessed the full economic potential inherent in cashew export.”

The NEPC boss said the country’s cashew export trade was largely hampered by non-adherence to food safety standards, lack of traceability, low yield per hectare,

poor practices, ageing trees among others.

He stressed that most of the cashew exports are in primary form adding that “export of processed cashew kernel is very low and accounts for about 16 per cent of cashew export”, and mostly the conventional rather than organic certified cashew.

Yakusak said that given the scenario, the council deemed it necessary to collaborate and

chart a pathway with deliberate and planned activities to address the issues plaguing the Nigerian cashew sector.

He said, “That is why this initiative sponsored by the PROCashew through CNFA which is a five-year project funded by the USDA is timely and welcomed. The aim of this project is to support the Nigeria cashew sector and increase cashew productivity and efficiency, improve crop quality,

and improve harvest and postharvest techniques among others.”

He further assured that a careful and faithful implementation of the project would facilitate a gradual shift from conventional cashew to organic cashew, whose export guarantees niche market and premium pricing.

The story continues online on www.thisdaylive.com

PTAD: Unverified Pensioners to Lose Benefits, Health Insurance

James Emejo in Abuja

The Executive Secretary, Pension Transitional Arrangement Directorate (PTAD), Dr. Chioma Ejikeme, has warned that going forward, pensioners under the Defined Benefit Scheme (DBS) would be delisted from the payroll and denied health insurance benefits unless they are registered and verified on the directorate’s “I Am Alive Confirmation (IAAC)” platform.

The IAAC is an online application designed to enable pensioners under the DBS easily confirm their aliveness from the comfort of their homes or neighbourhood, using either a smartphone or a computer system.

Speaking during the full rollout of the innovative solution following a successful pilot exercise, the PTAD boss said the government was working to tie the I am alive project to health insurance adding that the former would soon become a ticket to health insurance and continuous pension benefit.

Ejikeme also said hinted that the government was considering diasporas pensions for Nigerians living abroad.

She however said data was critical for planning and insisting government must know where such pensioners are located.

Warning that the window for verification would soon be shut, she encouraged all eligible pensions under the programme to proceed forward and make their details available for continuous access to their benefits.

Following the launch of the IAAC in 2021, PTAD began with the pilot phase, where the application was tested with 50,000 randomly-selected pensioners across the four operational departments and six geo-political zones.

The aim was to test its efficacy and user-friendliness, bearing in mind that this novel initiative is meant for our senior citizens.

Ejikeme said the journey to test and provide the solution had taken PTAD over 18 months.

She said, “We are proud of our efforts and are hopeful that the solution will have a positive impact on our DBS pensioners as well as PTAD and the Government in general.

“The pilot phase was largely

successful, the teething challenges have been identified and resolved, and PTAD is ready to fully roll out the I Am Alive Confirmation (IAAC) solution to our pensioners. This we believe is the way forward as far as validation of the aliveness of our pensioners is concerned.”

She said, “It is important to let our pensioners know that nobody can tamper with your pension payment through the “I Am Alive” platform. If somebody with a smartphone or computer system in your neighbourhood helps you to confirm your aliveness, the person cannot steal your money.

“All we need is a confirmation that you are still alive and eligible to continue to receive your pension. We wish to use this opportunity to assure our esteemed pensioners that the “I Am Alive” confirmation solution has been designed with their utmost welfare in mind leveraging accuracy, reliability, user-friendliness, and convenience.

“PTAD has over the years promised that the era of bringing out our aged pensioners for field verification is over, and we are standing by this promise.”

SON Rolls Out Additional Security Authentication to Stem Product Counterfeiting

James Emejo in Abuja

The Director General/Chief Executive, Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON), Mallam Farouk Salim, has said arrangements have been finalised for the launch of its Product Authentication Mark (PAM) sticker to check the inflow of fake, sub-standard, and counterfeit goods imported into the country.

Speaking at a stakeholder’s sensitisation programme on PAM), he said over 20 security feature stickers have been created adding that when fully in use, these will address the prevailing challenges experienced as a result of dishonesty on the part of fraudulent importers and manufacturers of products.

Salim in a statement issued by the Director, Public Relations, SON, Mrs. Foluso Bolaji, explained that the agency had introduced the

Conformity Assessment Programme which is meant for imported goods into Nigeria to make sure that goods coming into Nigeria are certified before they reach its market.

He said, “SON introduce the SONCAP to ensure the quality of products in our market that we will be proud of as consumers while the merchants of fake products will continue to flood the market with substandard items.

“We also introduced for the locally manufactured goods the MANCAP in order not to be seen by the International Community as creating a trade barrier so that imported goods cannot come into our country especially with Nigeria being a signatory to the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).

“With this imported product will be certified and given the Product

How Workers Can Use Retirement Savings to Obtain Residential Mortgage

The goal of many employees is to own residential homes before exiting active employment. However, a significant constraint for most employees is their inability to provide equity contribution to access a mortgage loan to own a house. Considering this, the Pension Reform Act 2014 (PRA 2014) made provision for Retirement Savings Account (RSA) holders to use part of their retirement savings as equity contributions for residential mortgages.

Authentication Mark (PAM) and it will be in our market.”

He pointed out that though the security features would be made voluntary to local manufacturers, they should embrace the scheme in order to keep Nigeria safe and strong.

Salim said, “The sticker is not mandatory for the locally manufactured products for now, we are making it voluntary for them as I believe if they see the beauty of the PAM and the security it brings to their products, most of them will come in in due time.

“PAM will also protect genuine manufacturers and importers from faking and counterfeiting of their certified product as well as promote a level playing field in the market for both locally manufactured and imported products certified by SON.”

NCRIB Blames Banana Island Collapse Building on Non Adherence to Building Laws

The Nigerian Council of Registered Insurance Brokers (NCRIB), has expressed regret about the collapse of the seven storey building in Banana Island, Lagos.

The Council noted that the collapse brought to questioning the continuous recalcitrance of building contractors to adhere to extant regulatory prescriptions concerning public buildings in the country NCRIB President Mr. Rotimi

Edu, in a statement regretted the collapse, describing it as a case of negligence by the building experts who undertook the construction.

Edu seized the opportunity to underscore the sensitivity of public buildings necessitating the need for builders and owners to imbibe insurance policies such as Public Liability, Contractors All Risk (CAR) and other prescription of Section 64 & 65 of the Insurance Act, with regards to public buildings.

“If these insurance policies had been in place, the risk of total loss incurred by the owners of the collapsed buildings would have been greatly reduced’, he noted.

Edu called on the Lagos State Government to expedite investigation on the cause of the building collapse and urgently apprise the public with the result of the findings and actions to be taken to avert future building infractions in the state and the country.

Shareholders laud Custodian Investment for sustained performance

Kayode Tokede

Shareholders have commended the board of directors and management of Custodian Investment Plc for sustaining good performance and payment of N0.65 dividend in 2022 financial year.

President of Noble Shareholders Association of Nigeria, Matthew Akinlade, who led other shareholders to give the commendation at the 28th Annual General Meeting of the company in Lagos over the weekend, said Custodian Investment is an investor’s delight. He urged the board and management to keep

up the good performance.

Akinlade also commended the board and management for turning around the fortunes of UPDC Plc, a subsidiary of the company acquired with 51 per cent equity stake in 2020.

Addressing shareholders at the meeting, Chairman of the Board of Directors, Dr. (Mrs.) Omobola Johnson, noted that, “Notwithstanding the economic headwind faced during the year, our company was able to report decent financial performance across the group”.

“We reported total revenue of N103.08 billion, representing 20

per cent year-on-year growth.

Profit before tax for the year was N13.7 billion, an increase of 12 per cent when compared with N12.32 billion achieved in 2021. Profit after tax grew by 11 per cent to N11.17 billion.”

Johnson said, in line with the company’s commitment to deliver strong and sustainable returns to shareholders, the board approved a total dividend of 65 kobo per share - interim dividend of N0.10 kobo per share and final dividend of N0.55 kobo - in respect of the result of the 2022 financial year, subject to appropriate withholding tax.

In 2022, the National Pension Commission (PenCom) issued Guidelines on Accessing Retirement Savings Account (RSA) Balance towards Payment of Equity Contribution for Residential Mortgage by Retirement Savings Account (RSA) Holders. This article explains the application, documentation and remittance processes to follow by RSA holders desirous of accessing their accounts to pay equity contributions for residential mortgages.

First, the Guidelines provide that an interested applicant must obtain an offer letter for the property from the owner or approved agent and approach a Mortgage Lender to fill out an application form. The Mortgage Lender reviews the application form and verifies the genuineness of the property offer.

The burden of due diligence is on the Mortgage Lender (The Mortgage Lender is a Commercial Bank or Primary Mortgage Bank licensed by the Central Bank of Nigeria to provide residential mortgages) to ensure that the property is genuine and has a valid valuation report. When the property offer letter is confirmed, the applicants approach their PFA and request their RSA Statement to access the 25% of their RSA balance for payment of equity contribution. Couples are allowed to apply if they both meet the eligibility criteria jointly. In such a case, each party shall apply to their respective PFAs with copies of the verified property offer letter.

The PFA is required to issue a duly endorsed RSA statement to the applicant, which the applicant forwards to the Mortgage Lender. Upon receipt of the RSA statement, the Mortgage Lender verifies if 25% of the applicant’s RSA balance will be sufficient as an equity contribution. Where 25% of the RSA balance is acceptable as equity contribution, the Mortgage Lender issues a mortgage offer letter to the applicant.

If, on the other hand, 25% of the RSA balance is insufficient, the Mortgage Lender is required to request the payment of supplementary equity contribution from the applicant. Upon confirmation of the additional equity contribution payment and meeting other requirements, the Mortgage Lender shall offer a mortgage loan to the applicant.

Consequently, within two working days of issuing the mortgage offer letter to the applicant, the Mortgage Lender must forward to the applicant’s PFA copies of the mortgage offer letter, the mortgage application form, and the verified property offer letter. Additional information required includes the loan amount, equity contribution required, bank account details of the Mortgage Lender and indemnity by the

Mortgage Lender to the PFA on the use of the equity contribution. In addition, the Mortgage Lender is also required to provide evidence of payment of difference where 25% of RSA cannot cover the needed equity.

On receiving a mortgage offer letter, the applicant must approach his PFAs to request payment of his Equity Contribution. The applicant shall obtain and fill out an Application Form for 25% of his RSA balance and provide an indemnity to the PFA. The PFA also computes and validates that the requested amount is not more than 25% of the RSA Balance. In a joint application, each party shall apply to their respective PFA with a copy of the mortgage offer letter.

The PFA shall forward all applications that pass its review to the Commission within two working days of successful review and validation. If the PFA identifies any exceptions or discrepancies during the documentation review, the PFA shall communicate the exceptions to the Mortgage Lender within two working days. The Commission shall review all applications submitted by PFAs and approve or reject the applications. Where the Commission declines to approve an application, it shall communicate the reason(s) for its decision to the PFA.

Upon receiving the Commission’s approval, the PFA issues a payment instruction to its Pension Fund Custodian (PFC) to remit the approved amount to the Mortgage Lender within two working days. The PFC must pay the approved amount for equity contribution to the Mortgage Lender within two working days of receiving the PFA’s instruction.

Primarily, PFAs are obligated to ensure that all applications for equity contribution by RSA holders meet the requirement of the Guidelines. PFAs are also mandated to maintain a Record of Applications received from RSA holders for payment of equity contributions for residential mortgages. Additionally, for transparency and ease of supervision, PFAs and PFCs are required to make periodic reports and returns to the Commission on payments made in respect of equity contributions for residential mortgages.

In conclusion, interested RSA holders should contact their PFAs for more information and guidance. PenCom remains committed to the effective regulation and supervision of the pension industry in Nigeria.

PENCOM DG, Aisha Dahir-Umar

Carl Cruz: Unilever Nigeria is Here for the Long Haul

Tell us the vision of Unilever and what has made it stand out through the years.

Unilever’s journey began with our founder, Williams Lever. His vision of making products that solve environmental challenges was evident when he introduced Sunlight bar soap in the early 1890s. This milestone helped the Lever Brothers to become the first company to popularize cleanliness in Victorian England. This particular vision has become a Purpose for Unilever- a purpose that underpins our business strategy and guides our operations. Over the years, we have become a leading company in health and hygiene products. Our vision to make sustainable living commonplace permeates our global and Nigerian operations driving Purpose. In Nigeria, everything we do is centered on creating a positive social impact.

Could you tell us how Unilever Nigeria Plc has evolved over the years and what makes it a truly Nigerian company?

As a business that is 100 years old in the country, we have evolved into a truly Nigerian company, full of pride and positive impact through our brands that are household names in Nigeria. Our journey of impact, in the country, over the years has been made possible through various stakeholders- our employees, government, regulators, trade associations, NGOs, key distributors, vendors, suppliers, and our consumers. I have been with Unilever for decades and worked in different markets. I can clearly say that our business in Nigeria is deep-rooted in the resilient spirit of Nigerians.

The Unilever story has been guided by Purpose, and this has been an exciting journey of the impact that has fuelled socio-economic development in Nigeria through partnerships. Kindly share an overview of how this Purpose has been a catalyst, driving impact through brands and operations.

Purpose underpins our operations in all markets including Africa and Nigeria. Through our journey and guided with purpose, we built the Unilever Sustainable Living Plan (USLP), launched in 2010 and wound down in 2020 after making an incredible impact across our ecosystem in that particular decade. Our Purpose, now re-launched through our COMPASS strategy, is more holistic and encompassing for a more significant impact through our brands, people, and operations. Through our journey of 100 years and guided by Purpose, we are leveraging on building partnerships for impact. Our impacts cut across several sectors, enabling us to contribute to Nigeria’s socio-economic development. We are intentional about our localization agenda, diversity and inclusion, women empowerment, building capacity and capabilities of the youth in preparing them for the future of work, and most importantly, improving the planet’s health through our plastic collection drive. Unilever will stop at nothing to continue driving impact through our brands and operations, especially as we celebrate 100 years in Nigeria.

Over the years, Unilever brands, Pepsodent, Closeup, Knorr and many more are household names that are still very much around today. How would you describe your brand’s staying power in a highly fragmented and competitive market like Nigeria?

In our industry, teams and brands that engage consumers strategically will always win in the marketplace. At Unilever, the consumer is at the heart of everything we do as an organization. Over the years, we have built great campaigns for Knorr, Royco, Pepsodent, and Closeup. These campaigns have become synonymous with the Nigerian way of life. Having been here for a century, we have had to evolve how we operate and engage with consumers. This makes our brands fresh, relevant, and impactful in the country.

Unilever is a leading voice in equity, diversity, and inclusion advocacy. Can you tell us more about this and how they have been entrenched into the operations of Unilever Nigeria?

This is a crucial success factor for Unilever, especially in Nigeria. As a company serving a diverse consumer base, our employees representation reflects diversity such as gender, social and economic background, ethnicity, and beliefs. I am very proud to say that we exited 2022 with a female employee representation ratio of 47%. More importantly, over 51% of all new hires are female. We have also started a journey to include persons with disabilities in our employee base, which today stands at 1.4%, and our objective is to reach 5% by 2025. A key thrust of Unilever is to provide a safe zone in the organization. It is a zone where opinions, perspectives, and points of view hold the same way for consideration in decision-making. This is an excellent way for us and a critical success factor in our operations in Nigeria.

The future of work is a huge conversation that has evolved differently. As a centenary-old organization with the clamour for adopting technology to take over many human-related activities, what is Unilever doing about adopting technology in the future of work?

I think it is the right topic, and this is big on our

Cruz

agenda in Unilever Nigeria. For us, it is not about technology over humans or humans over technology.

It is about finding the right balance that works well for us to engage the consumers here in Nigeria in the best possible way. We are embracing the future ways of working through our agile working. It is system that allows everyone to function at their best. It is not about hirachy, it is about ownership and responsibility to achieve set target. This agile ways of working has generated tremendous energy and momentum in the organization in Nigeria.

As we continue to embrace the future of work, we are very intentional about our hybrid ways of working. We only require our people to report to the physical office twice a week. This helps our people to avoid and significantly reduce environmental challenges associated with commuting to the workplace. We believe that our people should spend quality time focusing on important things like taking care of family requirements, attending to kids while striking a balance focusing on work essentials to achieve greater results and impact.

The hybrid way of working has done wonders for us as we walk through the challenges of our environment. It has Improved significantly on the productivity of our people and their worklife balance. In 2020, we did an end-to-end review of our processes to automate our operations, reduce waste and leverage on other Unilever markets know-how to improve our operational efficiencies.

The goal is to make us an agile organisation that is data driven and quick to respond to market demands. For us, this is the future of work. We are not over-complicating things; we are making things simpler.

Tell us more about the Unilever Compass strategy and how significant it is to your journey as a centenary old company in Nigeria.

The Compass is the strategy for the Unilever group to be a force for good through purpose and innovation. The Compass is founded on three pillars: Brands with Purpose Grow; People with Purpose Thrive; and Companies with Purpose Last. The Unilever Compass corporate strategy puts serving our stakeholders at the heart of everything we do and outlines how we intend to make that ambition a reality. The Compass very much builds on the past ten years of the USLP: the successes, the failures and the lessons learnt. It lays the pathway for us to realise our vision of being the leader in sustainable business globally – as well as to finally put to bed the debate of whether sustainability is good for business. The Unilever Compass integrates the financial, environmental, social and governance dimensions of our business. The Compass forms the basis of our strategic choices in the coming years. The Compass is underpinned by existing business fundamentals of our operations, such as business integrity; safety at work; employee

been adopted locally. Strategic partnerships lie at the heart of our efforts to drive transformational change in our society. Unilever Nigeria has been supporting the efforts of social enterprise, Wecyclers, to collect and recycle waste since 2014. In 2019, we signed a 3-year partnership to collect and recycle plastic waste from the environment that was the equivalent in volume to what we produce and sell using community kiosk models. We have since extended our collaboration with Wecyclers, with support from TRANSFORM, to create plastic collection and recycling franchises around the country. These partnerships creating jobs and the subscribers to our community kiosks collection model are earning more than the national minimum wage monthly from exchanging their plastics waste.

How has Unilever been able to entrench its “people with a purpose thrive” belief to engender workplace growth that has ticked the boxes of creating capability through lifelong learning, unlocking capacity for change, and deepening the culture of pioneering?

Answer 9: At Unilever Nigeria, we firmly believe that winning in the marketplace requires winning with and through people. This belief continues to guide how we work and reflects in our policies and practices at every stage of our employment cycle. We are committed to remaining an equal-opportunity employer passionate about diversity, inclusivity, and mutual respect. Our employees are our most valued assets, and as such, their well-being and Purpose are integral to building a positive work environment that drives growth. In this regard, we deployed initiatives to promote a highly engaged and productive workforce while inspiring a sense of accountability and ownership.

wellbeing; product safety and quality; responsible innovation; responsible advertising and marketing; safeguarding data; engaging with stakeholders; being responsible taxpayer; and our commitment to transparency. We have made stretching sustainable development commitments through the Compass. Our commitments are built around three core pillars and eight sub-pillars. Our core pillars are, to improve the health of the planet, improve people’s health, confidence and wellbeing, and contribute to a fairer, more socially inclusive world. Our eight sub-pillars are focused on climate action, protect and regenerate nature, waste-free world, positive nutrition, health and wellbeing, equity, diversity, and inclusion, raise living standards, and future of work. As centenary old company in Nigeria the Compass is our strategy to deliver growth that is consistent, competitive, profitable and responsible. Our business simply will not prosper without a healthy planet and society. We’ve set out an ambitious sustainability agenda to tackle the issues that our consumers and stakeholders care deeply about – such as climate change, plastic pollution and inequality.

Are there specifics you can share with us on your climate change action, and plastic pollution?

On a global scale, Unilever has an ambitious plan to take us to net zero emissions by 2039. We’re transitioning to renewable energy across our operations, finding new low-carbon ingredients, expanding our plant-based product range and developing fossil-fuel-free cleaning and laundry products. We’re using our influence to accelerate progress in other areas of our value chain. Our brands are working to reduce the impact of our products when used by consumers. And we’re calling on governments, businesses and other partners to raise their ambitions and join the race to zero emissions. On Plastic Pollution - The Circular Economy, Nigeria generates about 32 million tonnes of solid waste every year, of which 2.5 million tonnes are plastic waste.

Most of these wastes, including plastic and nonplastic waste, end up in landfills, drainages, and water bodies. The Federal Ministry of Environment and the state’s counterparts have taken measures to improve waste management, and some businesses are geared to support the government’s efforts.

Unilever is equally taking action on plastic across our business using our framework: Less plastic. Better plastic. No plastic.

Globally, we are committed to ensuring that all our plastic packaging is reusable, recyclable, or compostable. We want to collect and process more plastic than we sell by 2025, reduce virgin plastic by 50 per cent and have 100 per cent reusable, recyclable, or compostable plastic packaging by 2025. These commitments are

As part of our drive to foster a productive and inspiring environment, we re-launched initiatives such as the “agile working” campaign powered by the recently completed office renovation across our business premises. We included a crèche, eco-friendly office workspaces, optimized resource sharing, and disability-friendly infrastructure. These are in addition to initiatives such as flexible working arrangements and the maternity and paternity support (MAPS) scheme. The MAPS scheme takes effect as soon as the employee is expectant, and this triggers support from the line manager and the leadership team even until and after their return from maternity leave. We give four weeks of paternity leave, and six months of maternity leave, of which four months are paid. This has engendered an increased sense of belonging, motivation, and commitment among employees.

It is one thing to have a talented team of committed professionals; it’s another to oil their commitment with developmental programs that give them a sense of belonging to the organization. How has Unilever continually gotten the best out of its people through employees engagement and talent development to drive business growth?

Answer 10: Our employees are our most valued assets. Their well-being and Purpose are integral to building a positive work environment that drives growth. In this regard, we deployed initiatives to promote a highly engaged and productive workforce while inspiring a sense of accountability and ownership. In 2019, we pioneered a new growth culture where we introduced a management framework to encourage high performance and support employees in living out their Purpose while driving business growth. In addition to our focus on experiential development through on-the-job deliverables, we implemented robust technology-enable systems to develop better leadership, professional, and general skills in our employees for enhanced engagement and productivity to complement other traditional learning methodologies, with our business leaders being at the forefront of these initiatives. The introduction of the book club, line manager capability-building sessions, and other related activities continue to create the platform for our business leaders to engage with employees and share their experiences while also giving career coaching and mentoring to young employees within the organization.

As we celebrate the centenary of Unilever in Nigeria, what should Nigerians look forward to from the company, in line with the strategic direction of building a brighter future together?

The intent is to be here in the next 100 years and beyond. After being here for a century, Nigerians can expect a better and stronger, Unilever as an organization. We want to increase our relevance to Nigerian consumers by continuing to offer established products in a refreshed way and bringing in a diverse set of portfolios from other markets that will be genuinely relevant to making the lives of Nigerians much better in the next 100 years and more.

Carl Cruz is the Managing Director of Unilever Nigeria Plc. - one of Nigeria’s foremost multinational consumer goods manufacturing companies. He has worked with Unilever for over three decades across different markets. In this interview, he speaks about the company’s centenary celebration, among other issues, such as Impact, Purpose, Sustainability, Diversity, and the plans for the future. Excerpts

Defogging the Seplat’s Criminal Charges

Onyedikachi Uba

Last week, the Federal Government of Nigeria (FGN) filed a fourcount criminal charges against Seplat Energy Plc; its CEO, Mr. Roger Brown; and the Chairman, Board of Directors, Mr. Basil Omiyi to the Federal High Court, Abuja. Also charged were Independent Non-Executive Directors (INED): Dr. Charles Okeahalam, Prof. Fabian Ajogwu, Mrs. Basirat Odunewu, Mr. Rabiu Bello, Ms Emma Fitzgerald, and the Company Secretary/Legal Counsel, Mrs. Edith Onwuchekwa.

Marked FHC/AB/CR/149/2023, the lawsuit, which accused the Defendants of several criminal breaches of the Immigration Act 2015 and reads: “That you…on or before the 9th day of March, 2023 at Seplat Energy Plc Head Office 16 A Temple Road Oluholloway, Ikoyi, Lagos, within the Jurisdiction of the Honourable Court, did conspire among yourselves to allow Mr Roger Brown accept employment as CEO at Seplat Energy PLC without the consent of the Comptroller General of Immigration, contrary to Section 36 (1) (a) and 71 of the Immigration Act 2015 and punishable under Section 36 (2) and Section 71 (a) of the Immigration Act 2015.

“That you…did conspire among yourselves to allow Mr Roger Brown take over business as Chief Executive Officer of Seplat Energy Plc without the consent of the Minister of Interior, contrary to Section 36 (1) (b) and punishable under Section 36 (2) and Section 105 of the Immigration Act 2015.

“That you… as director, secretary, members of board of directors of Seplat Energy PLC as the case may be, did instigate, encourage, connive, by neglect on your part, allow Mr. Roger Thompson Brown, a non- Nigerian to accept employment as Chief Executive Officer of Seplat Energy PLC even after withdrawal of his immigration documents, contrary to Sections 36, 71 and 105 of the Immigration Act 2015 and punishable under Sections 36(2) 105(1) of the Immigration Act 2015.

“That you did refuse to make an application to the Comptroller-General of Immigration for his permission before employing Mr. Roger Thompson Brown both as Chief Finance Officer and Chief Executive Officer of Seplat Energy PLC, contrary to Section 38(1) of the Immigration Act 2015 and punishable under Section 38(5) of the Immigration Act 2015”.

No date has been fixed for the arraignment of the Defendants.

WEIGHTY MATTERS

Meanwhile, reacting to the suit, Seplat, in a statement by the Board Chairman and a Defendant, Omiyi, stated: “Seplat Energy has become aware of a suit filed at the Federal High Court sitting in Abuja by the Nigeria Immigration Service (acting for the Federal Government of Nigeria) against the Company and some of its Directors and Officers. The suit is in relation to the immigration status of Mr. Roger Brown and the withdrawal of his immigration visa by the Ministry of Interior.

“Seplat Energy remains confident that it has provided all of the required documentation to the Ministry of Interior and the judicial process will address the circumstances appropriately…”.

But the question remains: Is the matter as simple as that or is Seplat being dishonest and making light a very serious and criminal matter? Section 36 (1) of the Act provides: “No other person other than a citizen of Nigeria shall: (a) accept employment (not

being employment with the Federal, State or Local Government) without the consent in writing of the Comptroller of Immigration…without the consent in writing of the Minister given on such by or on behalf of such persons, as the Minister may prescribe”.

Section 36 (2) provides: “Any person desirous of entering Nigeria for any of the purposes in sub-section (1) of the Section shall produce the consent of the Comptroller-General of Immigration to an immigration officer; and the failure to do so shall be an offence, and any person who commits such an offence shall be liable on conviction to a fine of one million Naira or deportation or both as a prohibited immigrant”.

The Nigeria Immigration whose statutory duty is to issue the consent contends that Seplat did not get such approval and therefore have committed criminal offence Nigeria. While it is still subject to court verdict, it is deceitful to claim that the lawsuit was just about Brown’s immigration status.

Also, Section 71 states: “Any person who conspires with another person to commit an offence under this Act or any other relevant law commits an offence and is liable- (a) where the offence is committed, to the punishment provided for the commission of that offence under this Act or any other such relevant law: provided that where the offence is committed for the purpose of enabling the smuggling of an immigrant, notwithstanding any penalty provided for that offence in any other such law, the offender is liable on conviction to imprisonment for a term of ten years and a fine of One Million Naira or both....”

Equally instructive is that the alleged crimes for which Seplat has been charged could actually lead to the winding up of the company if convicted. Section 105 (1) of the Act states: “Where an offence under this Act or any other relevant law committed by a body

failed to act when a late 2022 company survey showed massive staff dissatisfaction with and deep mistrust for the company’s leadership. Maybe the same problem of playing the ostrich.

Interestingly also, in revoking Brown’s immigration papers, FG’s 3rd March 2023 letter read: “Testimony was received from several witnesses, which supported the allegations…. Investigation and records in the Ministry also revealed that Mr. Roger Brown was in possession of CERPAC (Combined Expatriate Residence Permit and Aliens Card) that was not based on validly issued Expatriate Quota approved by the Ministry of Interior resulting to the violation of relevant Immigration Laws and Regulations…. Mr. Roger T. Brown declined to attend despite two invitations, claiming to be unavailable even though we learnt he was in Abuja for other purposes at the time”. Would the UK authorities have patted a Nigerian immigrant worker on the back for snubbing their invitations even for less grievous alleged infractions?

corporate is proved to have been committed on the instigation or with the connivance of or is attributable to any neglect on the part of a director, manager, secretary of the body corporate, or any person purporting to act in any such capacity, the officer or person is liable on conviction to imprisonment for a term of three years or to a fine of Two Million Naira or both….”

Additionally, Section 105 (2) stipulates: “Where a body corporate is convicted of an offence under this Act, it is liable to a fine of Five Million Naira and a court may issue an order to wind up the body”.

PLAYING THE OSTRICH

Unfortunately, Seplat, in a wilful display of needless arrogance and shocking lack of crisis management skills, has continued to play the ostrich. Rather than face the reality, Seplat appears more interested in engaging in PR/media campaigns to blackmail the FG with the weak argument avoiding the discouragement of Foreign Direct Investments (FDI). Pray, how does upholding the rule of law become an impediment to FDI? Does the UK where Roger Brown hails from bend their laws and condone criminality to promote FDI?

Indeed Seplat, Brown, and Omiyi should blame themselves for allowing the company’s troubles to balloon out of proportions. First, there were allegations of racism, discrimination against Nigerians, favouring of foreigners, and series of alleged actions that were anti-Nigerian strategic national interest and in apparent breach of local content laws, etc. levelled against Brown by Nigerian workers in Seplat in their January 2023 petition to the Ministry of Interior. But Seplat’s PR consultants have not bothered to ask why the company failed to address those serious complaints to warrant a petition to the FG or why Seplat

As if such impudence was not enough, Seplat Board, upon receiving FG’s letter conveying the revocation of Mr. Brown’s visa, residence and work permits, quickly issued a rather combative statement repudiating FG’s action and absolving Brown of any infractions. The statement signed by the Board Chairman, Mr. Basil Omiyi, read in part: “On 8th March 2023, the Board of Seplat Energy unanimously passed a vote of confidence on Mr. Brown, who continues to discharge his duties and responsibilities as CEO from the Seplat UK office”. And to make good their statement, Mr. Brown continued to carry out the functions of CEO of Seplat, a Nigerian registered firm without the approval of the FG.

Even in the latest of their three selectively forgetful statements riddled with apparent duplicities, Seplat still failed to address the real issue concerning the charges, which is that Mr. Brown continued to work without the necessary papers and even after he was declared a persona non-grata. Instead, it claimed it had submitted the necessary documents to the FG. But assuming they did, were they not supposed to wait for the government’s response/clearance?

In conclusion, it is an aberration to say that punishing culprits of racism and criminal violations of Nigerian laws will affect FDI into Nigeria. If anything, the appropriate actions taken so far on this matter by the FG will enhance FDI. This explains the enormous support the FG has enjoyed in the media and amongst Seplat’s employees and host communities on the handling of the matter.

Sadly, Seplat under Brown and Omiyi is like the proverbial man, who fetched an ant-infested firewood. It has also become another biblical story of King Solomon and the two harlots. Whereas the woman, who is not the mother, didn’t mind the child split into two, the true mother readily gave up custody so the child would live.

The two founders of this Nigerian energy giant retired in keeping with promised corporate governance and in company’s interest, but the duo of Brown and Omiyi (who has spent 10 years on the Board overstayed by a year) are clutching desperately to their offices despite the deluge of controversies, crisis, and now criminal charges they have enmeshed the company and themselves in. Is it the pecks of office or unfinished businesses? Only time will tell.

Brown and Omiyi

CBN Cashless Policy and its Impact on Financial Inclusion

Barnabas Eke

The introduction of the cashless policy by the Central Bank of Nigeria in 2012 was, among other benefits, meant to essentially minimise the quantum of physical cash being deployed in the course of business transactions across the country.

Even with the initial resistance that greeted the policy, it was not long before Nigerians began to buy into the payment options which soon evolved: The Automated Teller Machines (ATMs), Point of Sale (POS) Mobile Money, USSD Bank codes, banking Apps and most recently Nigeria Quick Response Code (NQR) and e-naira among others.

For both the urban and rural dwellers, perhaps the payment options that have been most impactful are the ATMs and the POS. Prior to the wide acceptance of these options, banks had to bend backward to operate on Saturdays to meet customers’ demands. It got to a point that even the most conservative banks had to brace up to provide weekend services due to the impact of competition. This was not a tea party for some staff of banks who had to work six days in a week to keep their jobs. Even at that, the queues at most banking halls; particularly on Mondays and Fridays were massive. Customers were subjected to such excruciating delays that going to pick up money from one’s bank became a nightmare.

The growth of ATMs and POS is changing the narrative for the better- courtesy of the cashless policy. To push for faster acceptance of ATMs, banks began to encourage the withdrawal of certain amounts only through the ATMs while freeing the banking halls for customers carrying out other transactions; including those withdrawing bulk cash.

As the spread of ATMs grew, customers

began to get accustomed to other services that could be availed through the machine such as transfers and bills payment. These pushed the frontiers of the cashless policy in the right direction.

Arguably, the evolution of POS has become a game-changer for financial inclusion. This is applicable not only to the unbanked but also to the urbane who, regularly, rely on POS for their transactions. The penetration rate of POS is so high that its adoption has seen so many payment companies (apart from the banks) roll out the machines that now dot every nook and cranny of Nigeria.

Beyond payment facilitation, the POS has become a huge ‘industry’ creating businesses and employment for Nigerians. A great number of mobile money operators licensed by the Central Bank of Nigeria have their own branded POS, which serves as a veritable penetration tool for driving the cashless policy. Over 10 Mobile money operators are currently in the Nigerian economy. These are aside from other payment transactions that are being dr iven by some of the registered telecom operators.

The Nigeria Quick Response (NQR) Code is considered to be another efficient non-contact digital means of transactions that has added value to the cashless policy. The QR-Code-Based payments and collections is powered by Nigeria Inter-Bank Settlement System (NIBSS) while being regulated by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN). It was launched on March 16, 2021 while Nigeria’s Domestic Card Scheme, which is otherwise known as AfriGo was launched in January, 2023 through the collaboration of CBN

and NIBSS. The AfriGo which is the first in Africa is targeted at driving Financial inclusion, enhancing data sovereignty or protection, reducing the operating cost for financial institutions and freeing up forex reserves that would have been used to pay for services rendered by the use of the earlier existing cards owned by foreign companies.

Nigerians today are no longer in doubt of the efficiency with which FinTech companies being operated under some CBN licensed microfinance banks render payment services effortlessly without failure thereby deepening financial inclusiveness, cashless society and digitalization. Some of the FinTech drivers operating and rendering digital financial services either as microfinance bank or stand - alone FinTech companies include: Sofri digital bank powered by Links Microfinance Bank; Mint, a virtual bank provided by Finex Microfinance Bank Ltd; Piggyvest operating as a microfinance bank; VFD Microfinance bank with streamlined digital and mobile banking platform; Moniepoint-operating as microfinance bank and delivering financial services digitally; FairMoney which is a digital bank focused on lending; Carbon is a digital bank that also provides a loan facility and investment opportunities; Kuda microfinance bank with accounts coming with a free debit card; among others. Of particular importance is that each of these comes with special and peculiar financial services targeted at easing difficulties in finance and banking sector of the economy thereby enhancing economic gr owth.

To complement the other channels in the payment space, the e-naira, a

government issued electronic money was introduced in October 2021; few months after the unveiling of the NQR. These are all part of the CBN’s initiatives to bring the cashless policy implementation closer to all stakeholders in the nation’s economy.

While appreciating the degree of adjustment by the public towards adopting the series of payment options, the CBN Acting Director Corporate Affairs, Dr. Abdulmumin Isa, further enjoined the public who are still hesitant not to entertain any fear. He said this was informed by the fact that it has become world trend, which Nigeria cannot afford to be left behind in the global digital financial ecosystem.

According the Apex Banks spokesman, other motivations why the CBN is desirous of ensuring that the public take advantage of the use of other digital payment options such as the eNaira, include its convenience and the need to take full advantage of opportunities and benefits of digital payment channels.

This, he said, led to the launch of the eNaira in October 2021 aimed at broadening the payment possibilities of Nigerians, foster digital financial inclusion, with potential for fast-tracking inter-governmental and social transfers.

Although the adoption rate of each of the payment options varies, the policy has, no doubt, achieved a considerable level of success and transparency. They have not only offered convenience but also some degree of safety to parties involved in transactions. While not foreclosing the need to provide further safety nets, the progress we have seen is a pointer that with time, the benefits of the cashless policy would endure

H O meS & Design

Futuristic ECOWAS Edifice Evolves in Abuja

A new state-of-the-art is emerging in Abuja, courtesy of the Chinese government that is not only funding its construction but also putting its latest technology to bear on the project.

The new ECOWAS headquarters complex is designed and rendered as a super-building on a prime piece of land covering an area of seven hectares along Airport Road in Abuja.

Unlike the existing ECOWA building, this new complex will have state-of-the-art office buildings, conference rooms, solar

power systems, and road facilities, thus enhancing the operational capacity of the regional body made up of 15 member countries.

Besides the land provided by the federal government, the Chinese government provided technical and financial support for constructing the new headquarters. President

Bennett Oghifo writes

Muhammadu Buhari said the new headquarters would enhance productivity among staff and reduce operational costs as the ECOWAS Commission currently operates from three locations in Abuja.

Shaanxi Construction Engineering Group Company Limited (SCEGC) is undertaking the project.

The company’s personnel, including the team leader, chief engineer, quality assurance managers, SSHE manager, site manager, civil engineer, electrical engineer, mechanical engineer, surveyors etc., have been fully mobilised to the site.

The complex, whose pet name is ‘The Eye of West Africa’, will be ready by February 2025.

Debt, Debt Everywhere…

One of the dominant issues discussed at the just concluded Spring Meetings of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the World Bank was the elevated global debts. This remains a concern to countries, especially as interest continues to climb with weaker fundamentals to support debt repayment.

After soaring in the aftermath of the 2008 global financial crisis and the COVID-19 pandemic, global debt climbed to an unprecedented level as it hit $300 trillion or 349 per cent of world Gross Domestic Product (GDP) as of June last year.

With sustained negative supply shocks and the central banks across the world battling to cage inflation, debt risks are becoming increasingly alarming. Low income countries are worst hit as their debts have risen to astonishing heights, plunging most of them into even worse austerity than before.

This challenge prompted the IMF and the World Bank to initiate the Global Sovereign Debt Roundtable (GSDR).

The objective of the Global Sovereign Debt Roundtable is to build greater common understanding among key stakeholders involved in debt restructurings, and work together on the current shortcomings in debt restructuring processes, both within and outside the Common Framework, and ways to address them.

The roundtable is co-chaired by the IMF, World Bank and India (G20 Presidency) and comprises official bilateral creditors (both traditional creditors members of the Paris Club and new creditors), private creditors and borrowing countries.

Nevertheless, it is worthy to note that debt in itself is not bad as it is vital to the functioning of any economy.

During the Spring Meetings, members of the GSDR met and discussed debt sustainability and debt restructuring challenges and ways to address them.

The discussion focused on actions that can be taken to accelerate debt restructuring processes and make them more efficient, including under the G20 Common Framework. The importance to urgently improve information sharing including on macroeconomic projections and debt sustainability assessments at an early stage of the process was also agreed and the IMF and World Bank were asked to rapidly issue staff guidance on information sharing at each stage of the restructuring process.

The meeting discussed the role of Multilateral Development Banks (MDBs) in the processes

through the provision of net positive flows of concessional finance. The International Development Association (IDA) was also requested to provide positive net flows and the ex-ante implicit debt relief through increased concessionality and grants to countries facing higher risks of debt distress was welcomed.

The President, World Bank Group, David Malpass, stressed the need for a path towards meaningful debt restructuring.

He pointed out that the World Bank is contributing fully to debt resolutions by providing highly concessional financing, including grants and net positive resources during the delays in the restructurings and will support debt restructurings with concessional and net positive resources as restructurings return countries to debt sustainability.

“There should be a more predictable process that moves faster toward sustainability of the debt. In meeting the financing needs, it will be important to apply rules for transparency and for comparability of treatment, including a common discount rate.

“The roundtable has enabled a better understanding of the many issues that need to be resolved for the successful debt treatment for issues facing countries like Ethiopia, Ghana, and Zambia. However, there is urgency to act quickly, and the World Bank will do whatever it can to contribute toward a solution for these countries,” the World Bank boss explained.

On her part, the Managing Director, IMF, Kristalina Georgieva, said the debt roundtable brought together public and private creditors as well as borrowers, “the first time all of them are sitting around the table, to accelerate restructuring cases, including those under the G20 Common Framework, but also those that are not covered by the framework and are pressing.”

For Nigeria, whose public debt rose from N10.04 trillion to N46.25 trillion between 2013 and 2022, the IMF Director, African Department, Abebe Aemro Selassie, noted that the future trajectory of the Nigerian economy as well as the country’s debt sustainability would depend on the reforms and choice of policies of the incoming administration of the President-elect, Bola Tinubu.

Selassie explained: “For a country like Nigeria, the future trajectory of its economy is going to depend on a whole host of

variables; the reforms that the government decides to pursue, how effectively it uses the resources it has, and the oil price trajectory. It is a combination of those factors that will determine the sustainability of Nigeria’s debt.

“Right now, Nigeria’s debt looks manageable, but it is really also important, of course, and contingent on what policies will be pursued in the coming months and years.”

Commenting on the sustainability of Nigeria’s debt, Selassie said: “Whether debt is sustainable or not, is not dependent on just one number, one threshold, rather, you have to look at a lot of indicators to assess the trajectory, whether debt will be sustainable in the coming years or not.

“When we make an assessment and we classify countries as being a moderate risk or a high risk, or we talk about vulnerabilities being elevated, it takes into account what we think of the kind of policies that the government is going to pursue and, of course, certain assumptions about the global environment.

“The last several years have been full of shocks, so it has made countries’ ability to bring debt under a sustainable trajectory more difficult but, they have been compensating for that also with stronger economic policies.”

At the International Monetary and Financial Committee (IMFC), where Nigeria’s Finance Minister, Zainab Ahmed, represented 22 countries, she called for the speedy implementation of the G20 Common framework on debts.

“While raising concerns on delays in debt restructuring for some countries., I encouraged cooperation between creditors and the affected countries to ensue completion of the programs. I also used the opportunity to highlight macro-economic development in Nigeria including ongoing engagements with all critical stakeholders on the need to mobilise additional resources for remove the fuel subsidies and free up resources for investment in the social sector,” Ahmed explained.

According to Colombia’s Finance Minister José Antonio Ocampo, it is poor countries that face the most immediate risks.

“Hammered by tightening financial conditions and steep currency depreciations, dozens of developing countries are either teetering on the edge of a debt crisis or have already defaulted,” he said.

And the international community’s efforts to deliver relief have been far from inadequate, he argued, saying more ambitious action – such as an independent panel for sovereign-debt negotiations and another large issuance of special drawing rights by the IMF was needed.

Anne O. Krueger of Johns Hopkins University echoed supported Ocampo, saying, the “most promising route” would be to grant the IMF – which plays a crucial role in supporting macroeconomic policy reforms – greater authority to deem debt unsustainable. But, for any effort to have an impact, the international community must bring China and major private creditors on board.

For Nigeria to navigate the challenge its rising debt profile creates for the country, the Director General, Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Dr. Chinyere Almona, recommended that government should shift its focus to equity financing either by divestment or shedding of its equity holdings in state-owned enterprises, real estate, and infrastructure to reduce its debt commitments and improve its fiscal situation.

According to her, “both capital and interest payments on borrowed sums expose the country’s fiscal vulnerabilities. Also, the government should, as a matter of urgency, emphasise strategies on revenue growth while blocking leakages.

“Importantly, the government may want to consider the need to deregulate the downstream subsector of the oil industry to block a major drain on revenue.

“Finally and most importantly, following the commendable launching of the restructured Ministry of Finance Incorporated (MOFI) as the arrow head of Nigeria’s efforts to optimise national assets by President Muhammadu Buhari on February 1, 2023, the LCCI wishes to urge that copious references should henceforth be made to the growth in the stock of financial assets that Nigeria owns in corporate equities, real estate and infrastructure spaces and the returns Nigeria is generating on them, each time Government of Nigeria is providing updates on the growth in the stock of the financial liabilities that Nigeria owes and the costs it is incurring on them, to provide local and global observers a balanced picture of our financial evolution.”

The foregoing clearly shows that there is need for concerted efforts towards addressing the rising debt issues so as to give countries fiscal space to address socio-economic issues and engender sustainable development.

Rising debt waves across the world remains a major risk for global financial stability and undermines efforts to engender sustainable development, writes Obinna Chima

Achieving Financial Stability Amid Increasing Headwinds

One of the biggest challenges of any central bank is to aim at price stability amid torrents of local and external headwinds that threaten its very mandate.

Despite the vulnerabilities in the global economy, occasioned by the war in Ukraine which has distorted the commodity supply chain with the resultant high energy prices and imported inflation into various economies including Nigeria, the latter is yet to feel the full wrath of these developments.

The Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, Mr. Godwin Emefiele, had since unveiling his Five-year Policy Thrust of The apex bank (2019 – 2024), done everything possible to follow through with the framework.

Emefiele had promised to run a people-focused institution whereby the welfare of Nigerians is made a top priority in any policy intervention.

Little wonder why the CBN under Emefiele held the monetary policy rate constant for about two and a half years even when conditions warranted an increase.

Nigerians have come to realise that safe for the people-friendly central bank, the resulting economic hardship occasioned by developments in the global economy would have been unbearable.

As rightly pointed out by the CBN governor recently, but for the bank’s policies, both inflation and exchange rates would have been unimaginable.

But Emefiele had made financial system stability his watchword, finding a balance between the need to safeguard the economy and the welfare of Nigerians.

The CBN had been severally criticized for clinging to unorthodox means of managing monetary policy even though he had positive outcomes to show from his choice of management.

The central bank continued to play active roles in the liberation of the economy in times of turbulence as witnessed during the COVID-19 pandemic when it unleashed a flurry of development finance interventions that helped to stimulate consumer spending at a period when the federal government’s finances were grossly imperiled.

WADING THROUGH MURKY WATERS

The central had been battling continued upward pressure on inflation, rising cost of debt and debt servicing by the fiscal authority as well as deteriorating fiscal balances which may undermine the smooth path to a faster recovery, according to Emefiele.

Yet amid these bottlenecks, which should ordinarily weaken monetary policy and impair financial stability, the bank had continued to demonstrate resilience ensuring that Nigeria continues to look attractive for investors through the proper management of the exchange rate regime – even though as an import-dependent country, the options are limited.

REGULATORY PROWESS

No doubt, the financial stability in the Nigerian economy has come at a cost amid inflationary trends in most major economies.

Analysts are still wondering why and how Nigeria was exonerated from the recent banking crisis in the US

given the country’s exposures to the international market through the activities of major domestic financial institutions that are now plying their trade at the global level.

At the recent meeting of the CBN Monetary Policy Committee (MPC), Emefiele said recent bank failures in the US and Switzerland, an event that occurred following the persistent interest rate hikes in the US, and how this has adversely impacted the broad portfolio of banks in the US.

He said whereas MPR was increased by 500 basis points in Nigeria, from 12.5 per cent in 2022 to 17.5 per cent in January 2023, the Financial Soundness Indicators (FSIs) in Nigeria showed that the Nigerian banking system remains resilient.

This was due largely to the stringent prudential guidelines put in place by the CBN which has resulted in a strong build-up of not only the Cash Reserve Ratio (CRR) in Nigeria, but also the Liquidity Ratio and Capital Adequacy Ratio.

He said, “In the light of these strong FSIs, MPC was comforted that its various decisions in increasing MPR have had a moderate impact on inflation, given that the rate appears to have plateaued in Nigeria.”

Emefiele said, “We have put in place a couple of prudential guidelines to regulate the Nigerian bank and we see and make bold to say that the financial soundness indicators in the Nigerian banking industry which show that the banking industry remains very resilient compared to what we find in other climes.

“For instance, the capital adequacy ratio, which is meant to be between 10 per cent and 15 per cent; today it is about 13.7 per cent. Non-performing loans ratio has dropped to 4.2 per cent, liquidity ratio is about 43 per cent. Return on equity is at least 21 per cent, which we think is reasonable.

“Cash reserve today, aside from treasury bills that we are keeping, we are today holding close to about N14 trillion in cash reserve deposits from

banks. This is good liquidity that is meant to actually act as insulation.”

BUFFERS FOR STABILITY

The apex bank had implemented an array of policies that have contributed to achieving financial stability in the economy.

As pointed out by the MPC, the continued impact of exchange rate pressure on domestic price levels had called for policies to attract both portfolio and foreign direct investment to Nigeria.

The continued progress made with the RT200 FX programme, Naira-4-dollar, and other policies targeted at attracting diaspora remittances, it noted, would continue to help improve accretion to the external reserves and improve liquidity in the foreign exchange market.

However, while output growth remains on a positive trajectory, the MPC called for increased monetary and fiscal coordination to support the recovery in light of risks confronting the domestic economy.

ACHIEVING FISCAL BALANCE

Given that the monetary authority alone could not successfully achieve stability without a complementary effort, the central had called on the fiscal authority to explore other avenues to improve non-oil revenue to reduce the fiscal deficit and public debt burden which are risks to financial stability.

Emefiele said, “Following new risks of financial contagion emerging from the scenario of failed banks in some Advanced Economies, members examined the possibility of shocks to the Nigerian banking system from these banks and concluded that the Nigerian banking system remains reasonably insulated from such likely contagion.

“The CBN has been able to achieve this through stringent micro and macro-prudential guidelines that have ensured that individual banks and the banking industry in Nigeria have adequate buffers

to ward off global contagion.

“In addition to this, the MPC examined the possible impact of further policy rate hikes on the stability of the banking system and was convinced that further hikes would not adversely impact the stability of the banking system. The Committee, however, called on the Bank’s Management to strengthen its regulatory oversight on the banking system to ensure that the banking industry remains stable and resilient.”

IMF’S MAJOR ENDORSEMENT OF CBN POLICIES

Even amidst criticism by local analysts about the central bank’s monetary tightening regime which Emefiele had severally justified as key to maintaining financial stability, the recent admonition by the International Monetary Fund (IMF) that the apex bank should maintain its monetary policy-tightening mood in order to cage inflation and achieve price stability was more than exonerating and showed the quality of policy interventions by the CBN.

Speaking during IMF/World Bank Spring meetings in Washington DC, Division Chief, Research Department, IMF, Daniel Leigh, described the Nigerian economy as an “economy with very high inflation as well and this is why we have a forecast of about 20 per cent inflation for 2023.

“And one of our main recommendations is to tighten monetary policy to ensure that this inflation comes down towards the more target levels.”

JUSTIFICATION FOR RATE HIKE

At the completion of its meeting last week, the Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) of the apex bank, decided to maintain its contractionary policy stance by raising e Monetary Policy Rate (MPR) otherwise known as interest rate by 50 basis points to 18 per cent from 17.5 per cent.

Coming at a time the economy is bleeding –struggling with growth amidst high unemployment, rising inflation, and the already high cost of credit in the economy, local analysts had faulted the increase in MPR.However, Emefiele pointed out that if anything, the monetary authority said it was satisfied the tightening regime had started to reduce the rate of increase in prices, hoping that this would eventually lead to a decline in inflation moving forward.

He said, “But, the prospects for much lower inflation may not be immediately after all given that the current administration plans to end the fuel subsidy regime.

According to him, “subsidy removal has its own implication on prices, which is inflation. So, because monetary policy is not optimistic that prices will continue come down because of these measures, MPC feels that we need to continue to tighten and that’s what we did at this meeting.”

NOTE: The story continue online on www.thisdaylive.com

Financial Inclusion and Cashless Policy

On assumption of duty as the Governor of Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Mr Godwin Emefiele made financial inclusion a major plank of his monetary policy. In the Revised National Financial Inclusion Strategy of 2018, the CBN clearly stated that financial inclusion is achieved when adult Nigerians have easy access to a broad range of formal financial services that meet their needs at affordable costs.

Financial inclusion is generally defined as the availability and equality of opportunities to access financial services. It refers to a process by which individuals and businesses can access appropriate, affordable, and timely financial products and services. These include banking, loan, equity, and insurance products. Financial inclusion efforts typically target those who are unbanked and underbanked, and directs sustainable financial services to them. It is also understood to go beyond merely opening a bank account. It is possible for banked individuals to be excluded from financial services. Having more inclusive financial systems has been linked to stronger and more sustainable economic growth and development and thus achieving financial inclusion has become a priority for many countries across the globe, Nigeria inclusive.

In 2018, it was estimated that about 1.7 billion adults lacked a bank account. Among those who are un-banked, a significant number were women and poor people in rural areas and often those who are excluded from financial institutions, face discrimination and belong to vulnerable or marginalized populations.

Due to the lack of financial infrastructure many

under-served and low-income communities suffer. Specifically, the lack of proper information can be detrimental to low-income communities and expose them to financial risks. For instance, payday loans target low-income persons who are not adequately informed about interest rates and compound interest. They become trapped and indebted to these predatory institutions.

For the CBN, it is a policy designed to cut across the social strata and gender, issues that have remained knotty in spite of the best efforts of institutions and experts who strive strenuously to ensure that no one is left behind in the plan to bring everyone into the financial net. To achieve this, some policies which include the revised national financial inclusion strategy, the Strategy for leveraging agent networks for women’s financial inclusion, the national fintech strategy and the payment system vision (PSV) 2025 were put in place. Others are, the Nigeria financial services maps and the CBN regulatory sandbox.

It needs to be recalled that from 2012 to date, over 59 policies and initiatives have been implemented by stakeholders to achieve the objectives of financial inclusion. These policies and initiatives cut across the banking sector, the insurance sector, the capital market sector and the institutions responsible for infrastructural development for financial inclusion in Nigeria.

In the process of implementing these policies, it is germane to call to mind the determination of monetary policy initiators, in particular the Central Bank of Nigeria under the leadership of Emefiele who, in his deliberate effort to achieve inclusivity, prioritized financial inclusion through an invention

for over four million smallholder farmers and Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) and creating over two million jobs at that level of the nation’s economy. It is expected that by the end of 2024, the aim of attaining 95 per cent rate of financial inclusion in Nigeria will hopefully be achieved.

It is noteworthy that Nigeria, as an emerging market economy is, indeed, at an important tipping point for financial inclusion. Even more significant is the situation that brings to the fore the relevance of the Nigerian economy in driving financial inclusion. Obviously, at no time has there been a prevalence of an enabling regulatory environment, proliferation of digital technology, innovation and collaborative platforms between the public and private sector – all strategic levers required to scale financial inclusion in Nigeria than now.

From the point of view of analysts, policymaking in advancing Financial Inclusion in Nigeria has continued to play critical role in ensuring that set goals are achieved within reasonable time frame. Specifically, financial inclusion is recognized internationally as key to reducing poverty and boosting prosperity. According to the World Bank, being able to have access to a transaction account is a first step toward broader financial inclusion. In its Universal Financial Access Initiative which concluded in 2020, it maintained the stance that ensuring that people worldwide can have access to a transaction account will continue to be an area of focus.

The World Bank stated that great strides have been made toward financial inclusion and pointed out that 1.2 billion adults globally have gotten access to an account between 2011 and 2017. As at this date,

it is recorded that 69 per cent of the world’s adults had an account. The beauty of this development is that digital financial services, including those involving the use of mobile phones, have now been launched in more than 80 countries, including Nigeria with some reaching significant scale.

The Central Bank of Nigeria, on its part, has pursued this policy directed at ensuring that individuals and businesses have access to useful and affordable financial products and services that meet their needs in the areas of transactions, payments, savings, credit and insurance with a single-minded determination to expand and consolidate the financial space. Furthermore, the policy direction is focused in such a manner to ensure that these products and services are delivered in a responsible and sustainable way.

The financial inclusion policy has been greatly enhanced by a subset of this monetary policy, that is to say, the introduction of the cashless policy. Experts’ study indicates that nearness of financial products and service outlets to rural settlements, ease of digital financial transactions and reduced visits to banking halls aided by access to cashless payment mediums has enhanced financial inclusion in Nigeria.

It also emerged that efficiency of cashless payment channels does not significantly reduce the use of financial products and services, hence financial inclusion. It is significant to point out that cashless payment channels have enhanced equal access and use of financial products and services in Nigeria.

Umar is a Kano-based economic affairs’ commentator

James Emejo writes on the ingenuity of the Central Bank of Nigeria in engendering financial stability and implementing people-centered policies to stimulate growth when it should have done otherwise.

Kabiru Umar

Accelerating Change to Solve Water and Sanitation Crisis in Nigeria

As the world marked the 2023 World Water Day on March 22, 2023, themed, ‘Accelerating Change’, Corporate Accountability and Public Participation Africa, CAPPA, in partnership with the Amalgamated Union of Public Corporation, Civil Service Technical and Recreational Services Employees, AUPCTRE, have harped on the need to accelerate change to solve water and sanitation crisis in Nigeria.

Sunday Ehigiator

reports

World Water Day 2023 is about accelerating change to solve the water and sanitation crisis.

Dysfunction throughout the water cycle undermines progress on all major global issues, from health to hunger, gender equality to jobs, education to industry, and disasters to peace.

In 2015, the world committed to Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 6 as part of the 2030 Agenda with the promise that everyone would have safely managed water and sanitation by 2030.

Data

As the world commemorates World Water Day, globally, more than 1.42 billion people, including 450 million children, are living in areas of high or extremely high water vulnerability, this is according to an analysis released by UNICEF in 2021.

This means that one in five children worldwide do not have enough water to meet their everyday needs.

The figures in Nigeria are particularly worrying, with 26.5 million Nigerian children experiencing high or extremely high water vulnerability or 29 per cent of Nigerian children.

Nigeria Water and Sanitation Situation

Nigeria is right now seriously off-track from SDG Goal-6. Billions of people and countless schools, businesses, healthcare centres, farms, and factories are being held back because their human rights to water and sanitation still need to be fulfilled.

There is an urgent need to accelerate change to go beyond ‘business as usual.’ The latest data show that government must work an average of four times faster to meet SDG 6 on time, but this is not a situation that any single actor or group can solve, as water affects everyone, hence everyone needs to take action.

Access to clean water and improved sanitation facilities is a daily challenge for many Nigerians.

This problem is particularly acute in northern Nigeria, where only 30 per cent of the population has access to safe drinking water and adequate sanitation. This contributes to the high prevalence of waterborne diseases, threatens the livelihoods of smallholder farmers, and contributes to low levels of school enrollment, especially among girls.

With reports by the United Nations Children Fund (UNICEF) that one-third of Nigerian children do not have enough water to meet their daily needs, the occasion of this year’s World Water Day has again brought to the front burner the seeming helplessness of governments to provide potable water nationwide.

Yet water remains a major accessory to the positive development of people. Its non-availability is a major indictment of government failure in the country.

Water as Gendered Resources

Arguably, the impact of water on sanitation affects women more than it affects their male counterparts. Women need access to clean water the most for personal hygiene, home sanitation and taking care of their children.

It has become increasingly accepted that women should play an important role in water management and that this role could be enhanced through the strategy of gender mainstreaming.

The importance of involving both women and men in the management of water and sanitation and access-related questions has been recognized at the global level, starting from the 1977 United Nations Water Conference at Mar del Plata, the International Drinking Water and Sanitation Decade (1981-90) and the International Conference on Water and the Environment in Dublin (January 1992) which explicitly recognizes the central role of women in the provision, management and safeguarding of water.

Moreover, the resolution establishing the International Decade for Action, 'Water for Life' (2005-2015), calls for women's participation and involvement in water-related development efforts.

The differences and inequalities between women and men influence how individuals respond to changes in water resources management. Understanding gender roles, relations, and inequalities can help explain the choices people make and their different options. Involving both women and men in integrated water resources initiatives can increase project effectiveness and efficiency.

Water as Human Right

Just like the right to life, right to free speech, and right to association, there is also the human right to water and sanitation.

Access to safe drinking water and sanitation are internationally recognized human rights, derived from the right to an adequate standard of living under Article 11(1) of the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights.

On July 28, 2010, the United Nations General Assembly adopted a historical resolution recognizing “the right to safe and clean drinking water and sanitation is a human right that is essential for the full enjoyment of life and all human rights.”

Furthermore, since 2015, the General Assembly and the Human Rights Council have recognized both the right to safe drinking water and the right to sanitation as closely related but distinct human rights.

International human rights law obliges States to work towards achieving universal access to water and sanitation for all, without any discrimination, while prioritizing those most in need.

In guiding the implementation by States, key elements of the rights to water and sanitation are elaborated by the Committee on Economic, Social and

Cultural Rights in its General Comment No. 15 and in the work of the Special Rapporteur on the human right to safe drinking water.

They posited that water must be “Available, Accessible, Affordable, Quality, Safe and Acceptable by all.”

Nigeria’s Attempt at Water Privatisation

Water is a universal human right. However, across the world and even in Nigeria, there have been attempts to privatise water access. Community members, civil society organisations (CSOs) and unionists say that if this succeeds, these attempts will do more harm than good.

Water is essential to life. However, the reality for many people in developing countries is that access to clean water is a problem. Even though water covers about 70 per cent of the earth’s surface, only 3 per cent is fresh water.

In June 2022, a controversial bill called ‘The Water Bill’ was re-presented to the Federal House of Representatives by Sada Soli, a member of the House of Representatives from Katsina.

This executive bill was first brought to the House in 2018 and was rejected by the eighth assembly, following widespread outrage.

This water bill seeks to bring all water resources (surface and underground) under the control of the Federal Government. It proposes licenses for the use of water including a requirement that all landlords must obtain a driller permit before sinking a borehole in their homes.

It was therefore shocking to see the bill represented again in 2022, in a surreptitious manner.

According to findings, the re-presentation of the bill in 2022 took place at a time when most members were away from the House for various reasons.

An anonymous source at the National Assembly has said, “We had to inform the members of the house who in turn started calling each other to return and attend to the bill.”

The re-presented bill had passed the first reading. However, no new update has been heard on it again as many Civil Society organisations, including CAPPA and other water coalitions,

have kicked against it, and are at the forefront of the fight for the government to respect water as part of human rights.

Fight against Water Privatisation

CAPPA has been at the forefront of the fight against water privatisation. According to CAPPA Executive Director, Akinbode Oluwafemi said, “for four consecutive years, we have wrestled against the private capture of our public water resources, disguised in the provision of the ‘packaged’ Nigerian Water Resources Bill” with activists battling plans by the government to privatise water through an unpopular and widely criticised National Water Resources Bill.” Olwafemi, speaking in commemoration of the 2023 edition of the Water Day celebration, noted that privatisation of water denies Nigerians their right access to clean water.

He admitted that though through no fault of Nigerians, citizens have been saddled with the task of providing water for themselves, further making access to clean water more difficult and expensive for people who cannot afford to set up their boreholes.

“Water privatisation is a failed option which only puts profits above people,” Oluwafemi noted.

He stressed that the evidence of failed privatisation schemes across the world for decades has made it clear that the country must accelerate change, away from the exploitative model of privatisation, and in favour of democratic public ownership and control of water resources.

He maintained that the everyday experience of communities in Nigeria and Africa reveals the realities of the water crises suffered by hundreds of millions, which he said is a “sharp deviation” from expectations, arising from the 201 Resolution 64/292 of the United Nations Assembly, which explicitly recognises the human right to water and sanitation.

The CAPPA boss also found the continued role of water privatising corporations and their representatives in the United Nations gatherings very disturbing.

“For instance, AquaFed, the organisation representing the abusive industry on the world stage is coordinating World Water Day! This is a slap in the face of water just and must end!” He pointed out.

In addition, he said there have been “Very disturbing accounts of the abuse of multinational corporations, such as Veolia and Suez, both members of AquaFed, have led communities across the continent to reject water privatisation in its many forms, including so-called public-private partnerships.”

He, therefore, called on the government, relevant authorities and stakeholders in the water industry, to accelerate efforts towards making water available through public ownership.

Access to clean water and improved sanitation facilities is a daily challenge for many Nigerians. This problem is particularly acute in northern Nigeria, where only 30 per cent of the population has access to safe drinking water and adequate sanitation. This contributes to the high prevalence of waterborne diseases, threatens the livelihoods of smallholder farmers, and contributes to low levels of school enrollment, especially among girls

L-R: Executive Director, Joint Action Front, Achike Chude, Associate Director, CAPPA, Aderonke Ige, Executive Director, Akinbode Oluwafemi, and the Immediate Past Secretary, Nigeria Labour Congress (NalC) Lagos Chapter, Abiodun Bakare

Change of Baton in Western Naval Command and Need to Amplify Successes

After holding sway for 14 months as the Flag Officer Commanding, Western Naval Command, Chiemelie Ezeobi reports that Rear Admiral Yakubu Wambia recently handed over the baton and moved to Defence Headquarters as Director of Transformation. While recounting the successes recorded under his watch, including the use of helicopter to effect arrest of a vessel of interest 88 nautical miles from shore, he charged his successor to amplify on all achieved

As with most military traditions, the handing and taking over ceremonies of commands provide ample opportunity to showcase their longstanding tradition in colourful parades.

That tradition was not in any way different last Wednesday during the change in baton at the Western Naval Command (WNC), the Nigerian Navy's premiere command, as the Flag Officer Commanding (FOC), Rear Admiral Yakubu Wambia handed over to his successor, Rear Admiral Joseph Akpan.

Wambai was transferred to the Defence Headquarters as Director of Transformation (D-Trans).

To herald this was the farewell parade at the Nigerian Navy Ship (NNS) BEECROFT parade ground in Apapa, Lagos. The parade began with form up of divisions and the guards before the throw in markers and march on of the divisions and guards.

After the arrival of the senior officers, the parade was officially kick-started with a march past that was inspected by Wambai.

He afterward went on to read his farewell speech leading to the FOC's exchange of Distinguishing Flags. After the marching in review order and three hearty cheers, the parade commander then marched off the personnel.

In his valedictory speech after he held sway as FOC from February 2022 until last Wednesday, he said the command under his watch witnessed landmark successes in the annals of the navy including the use of helicopter to effect arrest of a vessel of interest 88 nautical miles from shore.

Although he recorded many milestone achievements, he said the helicopter insertion topped the chart.

According to him, the helicopter was deployed because the suspect vessel was already leaving the country's waters and it would have taken about seven to eight hours for any warship to get to the location where the ship sighted.

He said: "It is the first time a helicopter was deployed from land to effect an arrest at 88 nautical miles in the high seas. The helicopter flew the arrest party, they were then inserted to

effect the arrest. After they arrested the ship, a warship was then deployed to evacuate them and the arrested vessel.

"This has opened a new vista of operation for us because subsequently, we can use helicopter to effect arrest and then the ships go in to move the vessels."

Wambai also dealt a huge blow on drug traffickers and their ilk. According to him, "during my time, we were also able to recover about 650kilograms of cannabis with street value of about a billion naira. We have been able to also maintain the flow of petroleum products from System 2B product."

More importantly, the waters remained relatively piracy free. Sharing his thoughts on that he said, "Our waters have remained piracy free which is very critical and important to us. Since I was here in the last 14 months there had been no piracy attack in our waters."

However, the era was not without its fair share of challenges and in his own case, it was adequate logistics.

Urging his successor, Rear Admiral Joseph Akpan, to be methodical and ensure that maximum results were gotten from small inputs, he said: "Funding is becoming less and the expectations keep going higher. You cannot say I do not have this to achieve a task you have been given. You must definitely look back on what you have to

ensure that you achieve desired results".

After the handing and taking over ceremony, the FOC, Rear Admiral Joseph Akpan, said it was time for officers and men to roll their sleeves and work.

Reminding them that theirs was a field command and that tangible results were needed to show they were working, he reiterated that the command would leverage existing collaborations with other security agencies in the zone to ensure adequate security of backwaters in order to prevent incursions by kidnappers.

But top on his list is the Presidential fleet review slated for May in honour of the Commanderin-Chief, Muhammadu Buhari, whose support to the navy has been unparalleled. Thus, he said work would kick off immediately with the planning for the review.

He said: "Talking about the presidential fleet review, it is done to globally in honour of the President and Commander-in-Chief. The last time we had one was under President Goodluck Jonathan.

"So, we felt it was only right to do so for the President because he has been very supportive of the Nigerian Navy. I dare say that in the history of the navy, the acquisitions we have had in terms of equipment, ships have never been this good.

"It has really helped us to do our work with more ease. You heard the outgone FOC mention how we have been able to tackle the perennial problem of piracy to the extent that Nigerian waters had been delisted from the piracy watch list.

"This has been attributed to the efforts of the President despite the scarce resources, he recognised that the Navy has big role to play in sustaining the economic base of this country.

"This is one of the reasons this fleet review is being organised in honour of the President. So, people will be coming from outside the country, our friends from West Africa, extra-African Navies that have been here patrolling the waters. It is a very huge ceremony.

"It is a tradition round the world and we felt that President Buhari should not leave office without the navy giving him this honour," said Akpan.

.....As Rear Admiral Nwatu Holds Sway in NAVTRAC

Chiemelie Ezeobi

Across board, the Naval Training Command (NAVTRAC) is saddled with the primary responsibility of meeting the professional manpower needs of the Nigerian Navy (NN).

Mindful of this role, the navy hierarchy always deploys astute flag officers commanding (FOC) to man the command in order to steer its affairs in identifying key requirements to make its professional trainings meet current NN operational realities and needs.

Just last week Tuesday, there was a change of baton at NAVTRAC as the former FOC, Rear Admiral Monday Unurhiere, handed over headship of the command to Rear Admiral Patrick Nwatu.

The occasion was heralded by a ceremonial parade, which saw officers and men of the command assemble at the parade ground of Nigerian Navy Ship (NNS) Quorra, Apapa, before the handing and taking over proper at NAVTRAC conference room.

Rear Admiral Patrick Chibueze Nwatu was born in Enugu and attended Command Secondary School Jos from 1981 to 1986 before his admission into Nigerian Defence Academy in 1988.

On successful completion of training at the Academy, he was granted Presidential Commission into the Nigerian Navy as a Sub Lieutenant on 10 September 1993. He has served in various capacities on board several ships in the Nigerian Navy.

He also served as an instructor at the Nigerian Defence Academy Kaduna and as a Member

of Directing Staff at the Armed Forces Command and Staff College Jaji before his appointment to NHQ as the Assistant Director Records in 2010. He also served in Yaoundé, Republic of Cameroon in 2013 as Nigeria's Defence Adviser with accreditation to cover other countries in Central Africa.

After a successful tour of duty, he returned to the country in April 2016 and was appointed the Assistant Director Transformation at the Naval Headquarters. He remained at the Headquarters until

his nomination to the National Defence College Abuja, as a member of Course 25.

He equally served as Principal Staff Officer to Chief of the Naval Staff at the Naval Headquarters after which he was appointment as Deputy Commandant, Armed Forces Command and Staff College Jaji in March 2021.

Having completed his tour of duty in Jaji he would return to NHQ as the Director of Policy where he remained until his current appointment to the Naval Training Command as the Flag Officer Commanding.

The senior specialist Navigator has attended

several military and civil courses including the Officers Long Navigation Course at the Nigerian Navy Ship QUORRA and the Amphibious Staff Operations Course at the Amphibious Training School Calabar.

Others are the Junior and Senior Staff Courses at the Armed Forces Command and Staff College Jaji as well as the National Defence Couse. After a First Degree in Mathematics, he later gained a Masters Degree in International Law and Diplomacy from the Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria and another Masters Degree in Shipping and Maritime Transport from Ladoke Akintola University of Technology, Ogbomoso.

The senior military officer also had a Master of Philosophy (M.PHIL) in Security and Strategic Studies at the National Defence College, Kaduna.

Rear Admiral PC Nwatu is decorated with the national honours of the Superior Knight of the National Order of Valour of the Republic of Cameroon as well as the Distinguished Service Star (DSS), General Service Star (GSS), Meritorious Service Star (MSS) and the Forces Service Star (FSS) of Nigeria.

He is a Fellow of the Defence College of Nigeria (fdc) and also awarded the Passed Staff College Dagger (psc+) from the Armed Forces Command and Staff College Jaji. He is also a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Public Diplomacy and Management (FCIPDM) and a subject matter expert on Nigeria-Cameroon trans border relations. The senior officer is married to Mrs Adarema Nwatu and the union is blessed with five children, four boys and one girl. He enjoys reading and swimming at his leisure.

Rear Admiral Monday Unurhiere after handing over headship of the command to Rear Admiral Patrick Nwatu

Rear Admiral Yakubu Wambia and his successor, Rear Admiral Joseph Akpan after the handing and taking over

Mutfwang Moves to Harness Plateau Energy Potentials for Economic Growth

Seriki Adinoyi

Plateau State Governor-elect, Caleb Mutfwang has taken a deliberate step towards harnessing and resuscitating energy potentials in the state with the hope of revamping economic opportunities for the prosperity of the citizens.

In a strategic session with the Director General of Energy Commission of Nigeria (ECN), Prof. Eli Bala, and the management staff of the commission, the Governor-elect emphasized the need to harness Plateau’s energy potentials, especially in the areas of renewable energy,

small hydro, solar energy, wind farms, and biomass for economic productivity.

Mutfwang explained that the gesture would improve energy balance and demand of Plateau state; increase productivity and manpower development, strengthen security architecture, and sustainable economic growth and development in the state.

The team reached a consensus on a draft Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with official referrals to country representatives of international partners such as United Nations Industrial Development Organization

(UNIDO), and International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA), who are expected to invest in Plateau, through the Global Environment Facility (GEF) domiciled in their organizations.

Bala expressed delight over the meeting, assuring that the Commission would partner with the state to improve its energy for economic growth.

He also gave the commitment of the Commission towards sending a technical team to the state, immediately after the inauguration on May 29th, 2023 to begin the actualization phase of the proposals.

Survey Ranks Konga as Most Innovative e-Commerce Brand in Africa

Emma Okonji

A new consumer-focused survey has projected Konga as the most admired and innovative e-commerce company on the African continent.

The survey, which was published on March 15, 2023, coincided with the World Consumer Rights Day.

The market-wide consumerbased survey examined the current state, performance and growth path of e-commerce in Africa. The poll, which cut across multiple consumer layers from youths to middle age and Boomers returned apromising verdict on Konga, identifying it as the fastest growing e-commerce company in Africa.

The survey carried out by

DigiPundits, a pan-Africa digital research and marketing firm returned the same verdict on Konga as previous independent surveys, all of which placed Konga top of the pack in the areas of pocketfriendly pricing, operational efficiency, and the courage to take responsibility whenever a hitch occurs.

When asked which of the e-commerce companies in Africa they would wish to work with, most of the respondents, mainly youths, said they preferred Konga as a potential workplace of choice.

Respondents described Konga as highly responsive, ambitious and bullish in its deployment of technology to scale-up operations. They also ranked Konga high as a

responsible corporate citizen. Respondents recalled that during the Covid-19 lockdown when they had to rely more on e-shopping, Konga stood out not only in making sure that prices of goods were heavily discounted with free, real-time delivery, but also in going a step further to supply thousands of families nationwide with essential food items, free of charge.

In addition, Konga was adjudged the most emotionally intelligent e-commerce company. Its partnership with a number of big brands ensured that consumers got their household needs with free toppings delivered to them hassles-free during the lockdown. Indeed,

South-South/South-East Business Leaders Holds Digital Transformation Summit

Oluchi

Chibuzor

Over 100 elite business leaders from the South-South and South-East regions of Nigeria will converge in Port Harcourt, on Friday, April 21, 2023 for the Digital Transformation and Investors’ Summit.

The Summit will also provide a platform for networking as well as an opportunity to deepen the regional innovation ecosystem.

The Summit which is being organised by #StartupSouth in partnership with BusinessDay Newspaper will highlight the impact of Digital Transformation for High value business Leaders, promote business longevity and Sustainability by spotlighting the opportunities

for Corporate Innovation while highlighting and mitigating the risk of technological disruptions.

Disclosing this in a Statement, the organisers stated that the Summit with the theme “Managing Digital Transformation & Technological Disruption for CEOs” is expected to draw participants from key Stakeholders that include Manufacturers Association of Nigeria.

According to the statement stakeholders from Port Harcourt Chamber of Commerce, Industry, Mines & Agriculture, Nigerian Society of Engineers, Delta Chamber of Commerce, Industry, Mines & Agriculture, Nigerian Employers Consultative Assembly, representatives of

MARKET INDICATORS

IOC’s are expected to attend.

Speaking about the Summit, Convener, #StartupSouth, Mr. Uche Aniche, said he believes the regions’ economic potential would be greatly enhanced through the adoption of digital transformation and corporate innovation by stakeholders.

He expressed optimism that the Summit would accelerate the expansion of the regional Startup Ecosystem which his organisation has championed for almost a decade.

According to him, “key features of the summit will include expert presentations & keynotes, panel discussions, book unveiling, Startup pitches and award presentations to Winners of the 2022 Startup Awards by #StartupSouth.”

Indian Envoy, Foundation Seeks Increased FG Support for Charity Organisations

Gilbert Ekugbe

The Consul General of India, Chandramouli Kern and Kirti’s Kare Foundation (KKF) have called on the federal government to increase the level of support given to charity organisations in the country. Speaking on the sidelines of the Swara Yatra L’il Champs 5 musical concert in Lagos, the Consul General stated that encouraging the less privileged people in the society would go a long way to drive an all

inclusive economic growth while helping the less privilege group in the society live a fulfilling life.

In his words: I have been part of many charitable foundations and I feel that Indians have a lot of gratitude towards Nigeria. Indians have invested in projects of humanitarian nature. There are lots of humanitarian project and there are over 60 indian organisations with some charitable part of their work and apart from that, Indian owned

Money

companies or Indian owned management companies are the biggest employers of labour after the federal government of Nigeria.”

He however, stated that Nigeria and India have continued to forge strong bilateral trade relationship, maintaining that Nigeria is the largest trading partner with India.

“Nigeria and India have a very strong relationship even before Nigeria’s independence. We have a great synergy with Nigeria’s economy.

OPEC DAILY BASKET PRICE AS AT 8 MARCH, 2023

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

Dangote Sugar Refinery Shareholders Approve N18.22bn Dividend

Kayode Tokede

The shareholders of Dangote Sugar refinery during the weekend approved the N18.22billion dividend payout for financial year ended December 31, 2022.

The shareholders at the 17th Annual General Meeting (AGM) approved the payment of N18.22billion dividend, being N0.50 kobo for every ordinary share of 50kobo each and the company’s performance in the

year under review.

The President of the Association for the Advancement of the Rights of Shareholders, Dr. Umar Faruk said the 50 per cent increase in dividend payout is commendable despite challenges in the domestic and foreign markets.

The Chairman Emeritus of the Independent Shareholders Association of Nigeria (ISAN), Sir Sunny Nwosu said shareholders look forward to 100 per cent

increase in dividend payout by 2023 financial year.

“We are investors and we must ask for more,” he echoed.

Despite the challenging operating environment in 2022, the company recorded a group turnover of N403billion in 2022, an increase of 46 per cent over N276billion recorded in 2021. Profit before tax stood at N82billion as profit after tax closed 2022 at N55billion.

The Chairman, Dangote

Sugar Refinery, Aliko Dangote speaking to shareholders at the AGM said the 2022 performance was achieved following the pragmatic approach management adopted during the year under review.

According to him, “Focus was on continued cost and process optimization, improved efficiencies in every area of our operations and service delivery to our customers.

The board and management

will continue to implement strategic actions to sustain the performance with the support of all stakeholders.”

On the future, he said, “the challenges ahead are daunting no doubt but our experience of the past few years have strengthened our resolve to succeed and taught us that with our strategies and focus, we will not only maximize every opportunity but will sustain our performance and

PRICES FOR SECURITIES TRADED ASOF 14/04/23

deliver on our business goals and objectives.”

The group managing director/CEO, Dangote Sugar Refinery, Ravindra Singhvi, said the Group performance for the year 2022 was impacted by the contracted economic activities that impacted businesses during the year under review, occasioned by the extended impact of COVID-19 pandemic on the global economy.

A Mutual fund (Unit Trust) is an investment vehicle managed by a SEC (Securities and Exchange Commission) registered Fund Manager. Investors with similar objectives buy units of the Fund so that the Fund Manager can buy securities that willl generate their desired return.

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

floor of the Nigerian Stock Exchange. A REIT (Real Estate Investment Trust) is an investment vehicle that allows both small and large investors to part-own real estate ventures (eg. Offices, Houses, Hospitals) in proportion to their investments. The assets are divided into shares that are traded on the Nigerian Stock Exchange.

GUIDE TO DATA:

Date: All fund prices are quoted in Naira as at 13Apr-2023, unless otherwise stated.

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

Bid Price: The price at which Investors redeem (sell) units of a trust or ETF.

Yield/Total Return: Denotes the total return an investor would have earned on his investment. Money Market Funds report Yield while others report Year- to-date Total Return.

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

DAILY PRICE LIST FOR MUTUAL FUNDS, REITS and ETFS

SYNOD THANKSGIVING OF THE METROPOLITAN DIOCESE…

L-R: Synod Secretary, Metropolitan Diocese of Ikeja, Very Rev. Oladapo Emmanuel Daramola; Rt. Rev. Stephen Adegbite; Lay President, Chrisbor Abassah-Marcus; Guest Preacher, Very Rev. Felix Ogunbisi and Presbyter of the host circuit, Very Rev Olutola Olugbesan during the Synod Thanksgiving of the Metropolitan Diocese of Ikeja in Lagos…yesterday

Osinbajo: Informed Leadership Key to Africa's Growth

Identifies terrorism in the Sahel as a common global challenge Reiterates Africa's potential in becoming first truly green civilisation

Deji Elumoye in Abuja

The Vice President, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo has stressed that for Africa to fulfill the needs and yearnings of its people towards growth ambitions, the role of knowledgeable leadership committed to good governance remains critical.

Osinbajo, stated this at the weekend while delivering a virtual lecture entitled “Africa 2050: Making Growth Work.” to the 2023 Africana Conference of the Fletcher School, Tufts University, USA.

The vice president who addressed a wide range of issues affecting Africa’s development, noted that though situations of wars, pandemic, political strife and energy crisis, among other factors, were inhibiting development in the continent, leadership remains key.

According to him: "Africa’s growth ambitions will surely need knowledgeable leadership

committed to good governance.

“Apart from the serendipity of getting the right leaders at the right time, the things I have spoken about fall within the purview of national governments. The reality though is that getting the right mix, timing and sequencing of development policies and implementing them successfully remains a major challenge."

Osinbajo also reiterated his view that Africa has the potential to become the first truly green civilisation – the first civilisation on earth to use renewable fuel for purposes of a transformative economic journey.

He explained that, "since it has the lowest carbon emissions, Africa can develop by deploying and using green energy effectively and by mobilising its young population to promote green manufacturing on a scale that would make it the global green factory of the world.”

Closely related to the continent's growth ambitions, he noted, was the external environment driven by the global economic order, peace and stability.

Quoting Nobel Laureate, Robert Solow, that "ingredients do not make a dish,” Osinbajo explained that one thing that also matters in the drive for growth, but which is not under control of domestic authorities was the external environment.

The global economic order matters because it frames the trade and development policy options available to developing countries.

He cited success stories in Japan, South Korea, Malaysia, Indonesia, China, and increasingly India and Vietnam, noting that the liberal international economic order allowed for the exchange of ideas, technology and know-how across countries and could be said to have peaked with the globalisation that started in the late 20th century.

The vice president further noted that the claim had been made that more people were taken out of poverty in post Second World War period than in the preceding 500 years.

dimensional poverty over the last 15 years.”

Osinbajo, however, submitted that Africa has not been very lucky, stressing that “…we should ponder a bit on the global economic order and ask ourselves whether the conditions under which recent late developers grew fast is still available and would still be available to support Africa’s quest to make growth work over the next 27 years." That is between now and 2050.

“To be candid, the omens do not look good and it seems to me that those of us with an abiding interest in international relations must work together to ensure that it continues to enable global peace and security, as well as economic progress.”

On peace and security, Osinbajo alluded to the fact that “the ability of Africa to make the most of growth depends a great deal on peace and security in the rest of the world and within the continent.

occasions, this is one area in which the great powers and emerging powers can put aside rivalries and work together with ECOWAS and the African Union on an initiative to stamp out terrorism in Africa, especially in the Sahel.”

On the issue of access to resources, the vice president added his voice to the call for the framing of a new institutional framework for debt restructuring that goes beyond the Debt Service Suspension Initiative and the Common Framework.”

He noted further that, what was needed at this time was a new international framework for tackling debt issues along the lines of The Global Sovereign Debt Roundtable that took off at the IMF/ World Bank Spring meetings.

productivity and to create jobs.

“While Africa must insist on climate justice in the sense of common, but differentiated responsibilities, it should also agree that there is a new way by which it can benefit from the process of adapting to climate change.”

He listed other factors that can ensure effective growth in Africa to include regional integration, leveraging the African Diaspora, ensuring good governance and tackling corruption.

He, therefore, urged developed countries to support the fight against terrorism in Africa, especially in sub-Saharan region.

“This is a framework that brings together all those concerned bilateral creditors, including China, private creditors - including bondholders, the multilateral development banks and, indeed, debtor countries. This is surely the way to go to if we are to address the changed nature of the terrain in terms of new prominent players and new types of debt.”

Osinbajo also noted that “it is important for Africa to overcome the limitations of its small, fragmented economies. The take-off of African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) in January 2021 is a step in the right direction. The AfCFTA is expected to create a $2.7 trillion market by eliminating trade barriers and enabling economies of scale on the continent. This arrangement should be exploited in full to enable African countries make gains from trade, not only in goods, but also in services.

In order to offer its customers better viewing experience, StarTimes, a digital TV service provider had invited all its subscribers in Lagos to migrate to its newest T2 decoder for free.

The upgrade was aimed at providing a better viewing experience to its esteemed subscribers.

The company revealed this in a statement yesterday.

"Subsequently, T1 decoder signal will be switched off on May 1st in Lagos, meaning customers still using the old StarTimes decoder will stop receiving signals from May 1st. When StarTimes launched in 2010, the T1 decoder was introduced as its initial decoder.

“As a subscriber, if you are still using the T1 decoder (the silver colour set-top box decoder), we understand that you may be experiencing poor signal, unclear images, and limited channel options. However, with the new T2 decoder, you can say goodbye to these issues and enjoy the best of digital television,” CEO, StarTimes Nigeria, Alex Jian said.

Jian added: “We are offering all our T1 decoder subscribers the opportunity to upgrade to

the T2 decoder for free. To take advantage of this offer, visit our business halls or select dealers, come along with your T1 decoder and remote, recharge for one month on classic bouquet, and swap instantly to the T2 decoder at no extra charge. We encourage you to act fast as the old StarTimes (silver colour) decoder will stop receiving signals from May 1st.

“It is important to note that you must present your T1 decoder to get the T2 decoder. However, if you forget to come with your T1 remote, you can purchase the T2 remote for just N500.

“We understand that many of our subscribers fall into the average income bracket, and that is why we have made this upgrade available for free. We believe that every subscriber should be able to enjoy the best digital TV experience regardless of their income.

“We remain committed to providing quality and affordable digital TV service to all our subscribers. We urge all T1 decoder subscribers to take advantage of this offer and upgrade to the T2 decoder before May 1,” Jian added.

"This is not so difficult to believe if we consider the remarkable transformation of China and India. For instance, China is reported to have lifted 770 million people out of poverty over a forty-year period, while India is said to have lifted 415 million people out of multi-

James Sowole in Abeokuta

President Muhammadu Buhari, the former President, Olusegun Obasanjo and Ogun State Governor, Dapo Abiodun, were among eminent Nigerians, who eulogised the former Attorney General and Minister of Justice, Late Justice Bola Ajibola, who died last week Sunday at the age of 89.

At the eight Day Fidau of the late jurist, Buhari called on Nigerians to emulate the commitment and sacrifice as exemplified by the former Justice of the International Court, Hague.

Buhari said the country would experience more socio-economic development if Nigerians could imbibe and live the values left behind by Ajibola.

Buhari who spoke at the ceremony

According to him, “given the scale of the problem and the fact that the threat of terrorism anywhere on earth is a threat to the whole of humanity, I think it is time for the global community to treat the menace of terrorism in the Sahel as a common challenge.

“As I have stated on several

held at Crescent University, Abeokuta, said the deceased was not only a Pan-Africanist and a world class legal guru, but a philanthropist who used his wealth to cater for the less privileged in the society.

Represented by the Chief of Staff to the President, Prof. Ibrahim Gambari, Buhari expressed condolences with the family, the Ogun State government and people of the state, noting that "Prince Ajibola made Nigeria proud and was well disposed to issues relating to the development of Islam and education. your loss is our loss."

The president added that the late judge had an illustrious career as he towered above his colleagues as a Judge of the World Court, observing that the best way to honour the deceased was for Nigerians to be

Commenting on climate change and technology, Osinbajo said because Africa is rich in fossil fuels but energy-poor, a just transition is one that will allow the continent to use existing natural gas as transition fuel, saying Africa can use climate action to underpin an increase in

committed to the socio-economic development of the nation.

Also speaking, Abiodun described late Ajibola as a man who lived an impactful life by establishing the Crescent University, to provide quality education to the people.

The governor affirmed that he was a great icon and an industrious son of the state who sacrificed his time, energy and resources to the service of God and humanity, calling on Nigerians to live a life that people would be proud of after their demise.

In his remarks, Obasanjo, while recalling his childhood days with late Ajibola, said he had always been a workaholic who would strive to make good use of opportunities as well as be the

“The process, of course, will be aided by putting in place the necessary infrastructure to underpin production, as well as an efficient payments system that overcomes the need to purchase third currencies before trade can take place between African countries.”

The Vice President also highlighted the important role of the African Diaspora.

StarTimes Upgrades Lagos Subscribers to Better Viewing Experience Buhari, Obasanjo, Abiodun Eulogise Late Ajibola

best in all his endeavours.

According to the former president, the late legal luminary was integrity personified and a core professional who was committed not only to his job, but his family, adding that the vacuum created by his demise would be hard to fill.

The Olowu of Owu, Oba Saka Matemilola, said the late Ajibola was a man of high integrity who made an indelible impact on the lives of the people around him.

In his sermon, the Mufaseer of Egbaland, Dr. Taofeeq Amolegbe, who spoke on the topic, 'Life after death,' said no man came to the world with anything and would return to his or her Maker without anything, calling on the people to do good deeds all the time as no one knows when death would come.

BUSINESS VISIT TO PARALLEX BANK…

L-R: Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer, Bank of Beirut, United Kingdom, Mr. Sophoklis Argyrou and Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer, Parallex Bank Limited, Dr. Olufemi Bakre, during a business visit by Argyrou to Bakre at the Parallex Bank Head Office in Lagos...recently

Sanwo-Olu Woos Investors in America, Says Lagos Right Place for Investments

Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu, has urged existing and potential investors to continuously see Lagos, “the crown sub-national jewel of the African economy," as a choice place for investments.

He said Lagos State remains the right place for investments in FinTech, EdTech, Health-Tech, Business Process Outsourcing (BPO), Talent Training and Placement, or Physical Infrastructure like Data Centers,

among others.

“It is always my very great pleasure to engage with existing and potential investors and business people in Nigeria, and most especially, Lagos State, the crown subnational jewel of the African economy. I am sure many of you will be familiar with the numbers, the fact that Lagos is the fifth largest economy on the continent, the most populous city, and the fastest-growing urban center, with a very vibrant and

entrepreneurial population, made up of mostly young people.

“We have the market, we have the talent, we have the enabling environment, we have the physical infrastructure, all in place. And we have the success stories, great testimonials of what is possible when people come together to develop and implement great ideas and solutions, backed by the power of private capital and the support of understanding and enthusiastic governments,” a

statement quoted the governor to have said.

According to the statement, Sanwo-Olu spoke at a US-Nigeria Council for Food Security, Trade and Investment (UNSC) event on the sidelines of the World Bank-IMF Spring Meetings in Washington DC, United States.

The governor acknowledged the place of the US-Nigeria Council, as the pre-eminent business organisation working to strengthen economic and

Omo-Agege, Gbajabiamila, 18 Others Shortlisted for Hall of Fame Awards

Udora Orizu in Abuja

A Civil Society Organisation, OrderPaper Nigeria and its partners have announced the Deputy Senate President, Ovie Omo-Agege, Speaker of the House of Representatives, Femi Gbajabiamila, and 18 other members of the Ninth National Assembly as Semi-Finalists for the country’s first-ever Most Valuable Parliamentarian (MVP) Hall of Fame.

In a statement at the weekend, the Executive Director of the organisation, Oke Epia, said the awardees also included a female Senator, two Principal Officers, two Presiding Officers and ten first-term lawmakers across party lines from both the Senate and House of Representatives.

The MVP Hall of Fame initiative, which is in furtherance of OrderPaper’s contributions to legislative strengthening and promotion of improved service delivery in the National Assembly, aims at identifying and sustaining a distinct class of legislators who are performance-driven, excellenceinspired, and public-spirited.

According to the statement, having undertaken an independent, unprecedented data-driven annual performance appraisal of the 469-member ninth National Assembly since its first anniversary in 2020, the organisation deemed it appropriate

and timely to commence instituting the MVP Hall of Fame.

The annual appraisals focused exclusively on the core legislative function of law-making, and consideration for the MVP nomination and subsequent shortlisting essentially applied the criteria of value, impact and productivity in rating the contributions of those shortlisted.

Following the midterm appraisals, 55 members of the National Assembly were nominated for possible induction and consequently conferred with certificates of recognition at a prestigious Evening of Sparkles held at the Transcorp Hilton Hotel in Abuja in July 2022.

Only 20 of the nominees have now made the semi-final shortlist and would be subjected to a rigorous points-based scoring system to arrive as the eventual inductees into the Hall of Fame.

The lawmakers who made the semi-final list included: "Top Performers- Value and Impact Bills - Samuel Ifeanyi Onuigbo (APC, Umuahia North/Umuahia South, Federal Constituency, Abia); Ezenwa Francis Onyewuchi (LP, Imo East Senatorial District); Ovie Augustine Omo-Agege (APC, Delta Central Senatorial District), and Uba Sani (APC, Kaduna Central Senatorial District), Benjamin Okezie Kalu (APC, Bende, Federal Constituency, Abia).

On the other hand, top

performers - Senate Productivity Index - Uba Sani (APC, Kaduna Central Senatorial District); Ibrahim Yahaya Oloriegbe (APC, Kwara Central Senatorial District); Aishatu Dahiru Ahmed (APC, AdamawaCentral Senatorial District); Mohammed Sani Musa (APC, Niger East Senatorial District) and Ovie Augustine Omo-Agege (APC, Delta Central Senatorial District)."

"Top Performers, House Of Representatives Productivity Index, Dan Agundi Munir Babba (APC, Kumbotso Federal Constituency, Kano), Uzoma Nkem Abonta (PDP, Ukwa East/Ukwa West, Federal Constituency, Abia), Fulata Abubakar Hassan (APC, Birniwa/Guri /Kiri Kasama, Federal Constituency, Jigawa), Mohammed Tahir Monguno (APC, Monguno /Nganzai/Marte, Federal Constituency, Borno), and Femi Gbajabiamila (APC, Surulere I, Federal Constituency, Lagos).

"Top Performers, Senate Newbies - Mohammed Sani Musa (APC, Niger East Senatorial District), Uba Sani (APC, Kaduna Central Senatorial District), Orji Uzor Kalu (APC, Abia North Senatorial District), Micheal Opeyemi Bamidele (APC, Ekiti Central Senatorial District), Ifeanyi Patrick Ubah (YPP, Anambra South Senatorial District).

“Top Performers, House of Representatives Newbies - Simon Davou Mwadkwon (PDP, Barkin

Ladi /Riyom Federal Constituency, Plateau), Dachung Musa Bagos (PDP, Jos South/Jos East Federal Constituency, Plateau), Onofiok Luke Akpan (PDP, Etinan/Nsit Ibom / Nsit Ubium Federal Constituency, Akwa Ibom), Waive Ejiroghene Francis (APC, Ughelli North /Ughelli South/ Udu Federal Constituency, Delta) and Benjamin Okezie Kalu (APC, Bende, Federal Constituency, Abia).”

commercial ties between the United States and Nigeria.

Sanwo-Olu during the event spoke on the giant strides of his administration in different sectors, especially in Infrastructure, Food Security and Digital Technology, in line with the THEMES six pillars developmental agenda - Transportation and Traffic Management, Healthcare and Environment, Education and Technology, Making Lagos a 21st Century Megacity, Entertainment, Tourism and Sports, and Security and Governance. He said: “One of the accomplishments we are proudest of, in our first four years, has been the completion of the first phase of the Lagos Light Rail Blue Line – the first modern intra-city rail system in Lagos State.

“As I speak test-running is going on, allowing Lagosians to have a long-overdue feel of what it is to belong to a city with the 21st-century rail system.

“We are also completing work on the first phase of the Red Line; together the Blue and Red Lines form two of the planned total of six Lines that will crisscross the metropolis.

“At the beginning of this year, the President joined us in Lagos to commission the Lekki Deep Sea Port, on the eastern corridor of Lagos. It will interest you to know that the Deep-Sea Port is the first Deep Sea Port to be built in Nigeria, and is now the most modern one in West Africa. A real game-changer for shipping and logistics in Nigeria and all of the West Coast of Africa.

“Lagos State owns a 20 percent stake in that Port, while private investors own 75 percent. The Port will create an estimated 170,000 direct and indirect jobs and generate government revenue over of $200 billion over its 45-year concession period.

"It is in our view among the biggest and most transformational infrastructure investments in Lagos State in several decades, and we worked very hard with the private sector and the federal government to deliver it.

“Expect more of these kinds of collaboration in the next four years, especially as we look to deliver on a new bridge across the Lagos Lagoon, the 4th Mainland Bridge, and a new International Airport in Lagos.”

Osun, FG Hold Stakeholders’ Engagement on Domestication of Nigerian Startup Act

Participants at a stakeholders’ engagement organised by the Osun State government and the federal government through the Nigeria Startup Act (NSA) have showered encomium on Governor Ademola Adeleke for taking the bold step of domesticating the Act.

Speaking at the stakeholders’ engagement held in Osogbo, the Osun State capital at the weekend, spokesperson of the Forum of Digital Technology Entrepreneurs (FODITE), Segun Solomon, noted that the steps taken by Adeleke, not only put Osun ahead of other States, but also created an awareness to the whole nation about Osun State as a digitally inclined nation.

He added that the private sector was fully ready to support the state government and ensure that it succeeds with domesticating the Startup Act while pledging support to the state government on all its digital economy and information technology related activities.

He explained: "This is a good time to be from Osun and I must sincerely commend Governor Adeleke for the giant stride taken in the few months he had saddled the responsibility of Osun state as the Governor.

"What he has done especially with domesticating the Nigeria Startup Act has placed Osun ahead of other states in the Southwest and in Nigeria at large as well as announce the state to the whole

nation as a digitally inclined state.

"So, in the private sector, we are glad, we are happy to be part of this and we are ready to support the government in all its digital economy and information technology related activities."

Speaking at the event, the Coordinating Director, Ministry of Innovation, Science and Technology, Kehinde Jimoh, said every stakeholder was carried along in ensuring proper domestication of the Act.

“The Osun State Government want to use this bill to develop the youths, to engage them meaningfully. What the state is targeting is to ensure that this Startup engages them and channels their knowledge to something positive.

Yinka Kolawole in Osogbo.

2023 BULLION LECTURE…

L-R: Chief Executive Officer, Centre for Financial Journalism, Ray Echebiri; Special Adviser on Media and Publicity to President Muhammadu

Fashola: Tinubu’s Alleged Controversial Past Has Been Ventilated Sufficiently

Insists efficiency, not sainthood needed in governance Says he’s unlikely to participate in next administration

The Minister of Works and Housing, Mr Babatunde Fashola (SAN) yesterday argued that Nigeria does not need saints at the top echelon of government, but people who can deliver on developing the country.

Speaking on Channels Television last night, the former Lagos governor maintained that many of the controversies surrounding the past of the President-elect, Bola Tinubu, were still largely unproven.

Tinubu was recently declared the winner of the February 25 presidential election in the country and barring any last-minute development is expected to be sworn in on May 29 this year.

Fashola maintained that many issues concerning Tinubu’s past, including his age, education, state of origin, source of wealth were already overbeaten, hinting that Tinubu has always prevailed when those situations arose.

“I think that makes it the more interesting and I think those issues have been ventilated sufficiently and you know what the Nigerian

people have decided, those issues don’t matter. That’s what they have said by this vote. The only thing is that any time it got more difficult, I used to tell people that this was his path to success.

“There’s no easy day for him. The more difficult it gets, you can be sure it’s Asiwaju's. And I think for somebody who has faced these obstacles...and that’s the Asiwaju story...the more difficult it gets, the more it brings out the best in him.

“Now that these hurdles have been surmounted, maybe their is a divine purpose to it. Maybe perhaps, this is where Nigeria begins to turn in the most positive way forever. Governance is not about sainthood but about efficiency, performance and delivery.

On why Tinubu has so much controversy around him, he recalled the case of Abraham Lincoln and the process that ended global slavery, adding that governance is about getting results.

Stressing that he should not be misunderstood as supporting immorality in governance, the minister explained that all the allegations have either been unproven or there is no evidence to support them.

Fashola stated that the administration was already sending in performance reports to the transition planning committee, stressing that after 21 years at different levels of government, he (Fashola) needed peace and would want young hands in government. He stated that he became chief of staff at 39 and would be 60 soon.

Fashola refuted the imputation that the APC had a rigging plan insisting that Tinubu won the election fair and square. He stated that the APC trained 2,000 agents who went to train others , insisting that the party was fully prepared for the poll.

He added that the situation room already knew the results before the official release because it had all the information and data to make decisions. Fashola described election as big business , explaining that the APC knew this before time.

The minister said that although the party did not underrate any party, politics remain a game of numbers , pointing out that all the candidates of the opposition in the 2023 election were in the same party in 2019 and lost with over 4 million votes.

“Not only did they divide,

they now subtracted with the G5 governors, so it was bad mathematics,” he stressed.

He faulted the public polls before the election, saying they were either badly conducted or were self-serving, unlike the APC which based its decision on data.

He argued that it wasn’t necessarily APC supporters that voted against Tinubu in Lagos, but that the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) simply shifted to the Labour Party (LP).

The minister noted that the level of violence in Lagos paled into insignificance compared to what was witnessed in the past, stressing that isolated incidences should not be used to measure the credibility of the poll.

The senior lawyer contended that APC got the votes because it had performed credibly and therefore deserved to win.

“There’s identify politics now all over the world and nobody should try to hide behind the finger. So, people vote and are impacted with making a choice by so many items or stimulus. It may be my identity, my faith, how you cut your hair, how you wear your tie or how you talk.

Lalong, Yahaya, Amao Pour Encomiums as Military Buries Ex-Spokesmen, Chukwu, Meigida in Abuja, Plateau

Kingsley Nwezeh in Abuja

Governor of Plateau State, Simon Lalong, the Chief of Army Staff, Lt Gen Faruk Yahaya and the Chief of the Air Staff, Air Marshal Oladayo Amao, poured encomiums on late military spokesmen, Brigd-Gen Texas Chukwu and Air Commodore Wapkerem Maigida, whose remains were laid to rest in Abuja and Plateau State respectively.

The remains of late Brigd Gen Texas Chukwu (rtd), former Director Army Public Relations (DAPR) were laid to rest at Guards Brigade Cemetery Lungi, Abuja. The retired late senior officer passed away on Thursday 5, January 2023 at his residence in Abuja.

Also, the Nigerian Air Force buried the former Director of Public Relations and Information, Air Commodore Wapkerem Maigida, in a colourful but solemn ceremony with full military honours amidst encomium from personalities, who knew him closely.

The event took place at his hometown of Ajikamai, Nyak in Shendam Local Government Area of Plateau State.

The body of Chukwu arrived at St Joseph Catholic Church, Mambila Barracks, where a funeral mass was held in his honour before it was conveyed to the Guards Brigade Cemetery at Lungi for final interment.

During a funeral oration read by the Chief of Army Staff, Lt Gen Faruk Yahaya, who was represented by Brigd Gen Agada Ameh, described late Chukwu as a brilliant, diligent resourceful, and meticulous senior officer, who had an unblemished record throughout his career in the Army.

He eulogised the late senior officer for his forthrightness, remarkable and overwhelming moral standard which helped to inspire young officers.

He prayed that God Almighty would grant the soul of the deceased eternal rest.

Chukwu rose through the ranks and became the Director Army Public Relations from 26 February - 3 December 2018.

He was later appointed a Resource Fellow at the Army Resource Center, Abuja. Before then, he was one time Commandant of the Nigerian Army School of Public Relations and Information (NASPRI), Lagos among several other appointments.

Late Brigd Gen Texas was born on 24 December 1966 in Makurdi. He hails from Awgu Local Government Area of Enugu State.

Meanwhile, the Nigerian Air Force laid Maigida to rest in a colourful, but solemn ceremony with full military honours amidst encomium from personalities, who knew him closely.

Speaking at occasion, Lalong, described the late Maigida as a man of character who lived an impactful life.

Lalong said Maigida’s demise was a great loss to his family, the state and Nigeria in general. He said the deceased would be highly remembered for his positive impact on his community and family, saying that he served the nation with zeal and diligence.

He described him as a role model to the younger generation, who revered him as an accomplished officer.

Lalong urged his family to be consoled that he lived a fulfilled life serving others and was a humble father and husband.

In his remarks, Amao who was represented by the Chief of Logistics, Air Vice Marshal PD Masiyer said, the demise of Maigida created a vacuum that hardly would be filled not just in the Air Force, but also in his family, his state and the nation at large.

“As we mourn his death today, we also celebrate his immense contributions to the Nigerian Air Force and the nation at large. While he was alive, he was at various time the spokesman for the Nigerian Air Force, Deputy Director of Information at the Defence Headquarters and until his death, he was the Director of Civil Military Relations.

“Maigida was used to be a very quiet and humble senior officer, who would indeed be greatly missed by all,” he said.

You can’t wish these away.

“You know my position on religion which is that it is a personal thing which should be kept out of public space. It’s your relationship with God. Let’s talk about policies and others,” he said.

However, he stated that while the ideal election should be based on ideas and intellectualism, it was a mix of colour and unsavoury reports in the last poll. He stated that he wasn’t in those places where the threats and negative reports happened and therefore couldn’t make comments

first hand.

On whether he was worried about the profiling and violence that happened in Lagos, Fashola called for maturity, stressing that tempers were already cooling on the matter.

On the whereabouts of the president-elect, Fashola said he spoke with him last week and he was in France at the time, insisting that Tinubu is fine. He also explained that Tinubu would be back soon. He said Tinubu ran a gruelling campaign and therefore deserved the rest.

Edo Supplementary Elections: PDP Candidates Win Three State Assembly

APC wins one House of Reps seat Obaseki hails party’s candidates’ victory

Adibe Emenyonu in Benin City

Candidates of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) have been declared winners of the supplementary elections held on Saturday to beat their closest rival of the All Progressives Congress (APC).

But the state's Chairman of Labour Party (LP), Kelly Ogbaloi has kicked against the results.

In Edo House of Assembly election, PDP's Destiny Enabulele, Natasha Osawaru, and Uyi Omosigho were declared winners in Ovia Southwest, Egor and Oredo East constituencies respectively.

In the supplementary election in Orhionmwon/Uhunmwonde federal constituency of the state, APC's Chief Billy Osawaru emerged victorious, as the poll was declared inconclusive by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) on February 25.

INEC had on March 21, declared as inconclusive, the March 18 Edo House of Assembly election in Ovia Southwest, Egor and Oredo East constituencies.

There was no governorship election in Edo state on March 18. It would hold in September 2024, as the second term of Governor Godwin Obaseki would expire on November 12, next year.

In the elections earlier conducted in Edo, PDP won 12 of the 24 seats of the state's House of Assembly, APC's candidates emerged victorious in eight constituencies, with LP winning one seat.

In the House of Representatives' election, APC won five seats, LP had two seats, while PDP won

one seat, with APC winning two senatorial seats, while LP had one senatorial seat.

Edo chairman of LP called on INEC to cancel Saturday's House of Assembly supplementary election in Oredo East and Egor constituencies, while describing the poll as a charade, which he said must not stand.

He also called for another supplementary election in Oredo East and Egor constituencies.

Ogbaloi, at a news conference in Benin, yesterday, reiterated that fierce-looking young men were stationed in all the polling units, where the supplementary election was held, denying supporters of LP access to the polling area.

He revealed that LP members were dehumanised and molestated, while trying to gain access to their polling units, with one of them knocked down by a vehicle at Ward 12, Agbado Primary School polling unit in Benin, while trying to escape from his assailants.

LP chairman in Edo said: "We have come today (on Sunday) as LP, to dissociate ourselves from the charade they call election in Oredo East and Egor constituencies. They introduced brigandage into the election. LP is not part of the charade.

"A poll where we were totally refused participation cannot be said to be an election. Some officials of LP were beaten and lying in the hospital. Only officials of PDP government in Edo State were allowed into the polling units. Persons who attempted to vote for LP were beaten up, their clothes torn, and pushed out."

Buhari, Femi Adesina; Director, Public Affairs, Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), Reuben Muoka, and Publisher, Political Economist NG, Ken Ugbechie, at the 2023 Bullion Lecture held in Lagos… recently

Emmanuel Addeh and Raheem Akingbolu in Abuja

28TH AGM OF CUSTODIAN INVESTMENT PLC...

APC Loses Seat as INEC Releases Results of Rerun Poll in Bayelsa

PDP wins PHALGA 2, Khana/Gokana fed constituencies in Rivers Marafa loses senate seat, APC wins Taraba fed constituency Melaye wins Kogi PDP guber primary

Wole Ayodele in Jalingo, Olusegun

Samuel in Yenagoa, Blessing

Ibunge in Port Harcourt and Ibrahim Oyewale in Lokoja

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has released results of the supplement elections for the Southern Ijaw Federal constituency and constituencies 2 of the Bayelsa State House of Assembly.

In Southern Ijaw Federal constituency, Rodney Ambaiowei of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) was declared winner while Obein Godknows of the All Progressives Congress (APC) also won the Ogbia constituency 2 of the state House of Assembly.

According to the result declared by the returning officer, Professor Christopher Onyema, the PDP candidate, Ambaiowei polled a total of 13,992 votes to defeat the incumbent member of the House of Representatives, Preye Oseke of the APC, who scored 12,992 votes.

The result declared by the returning officer, Professor Johnson Ohakwe

on everyone to remain peaceful and law-abiding trusting that the world is watching the enemies of democracy at the height of their shameless brigandage.”

The governor assured the citizens, “It is on record that we went to the polls for the first round of the election on 18th of March, 2023. Even when it was apparent that I was coasting home to victory, this same gang aided the confusion that rendered the election inconclusive.

"As civilised citizens, who were committed to democratic ethos, we accepted the situation in good faith and prepared for the rerun. Yesterday, Saturday, 15th – April, the rerun was held peacefully across the state.

"The appropriate officers commenced the process of the collation. The first round of the collation went well with 11 LGAs collated, before the process was adjourned to continue today 16th April at 11.00 a.m.

"Just when we were waiting for the resumption of the collation, the REC this morning took up a task, he is not constitutionally empowered to do by making an illegal announcement of the outcome of the election without result. This action is, no doubt, provocative, but in this situation, I appeal for calm as always. I assure you that as your leader, I will ensure nobody thwarts your democratic rights.

"The independent National electoral Commission has demonstrated its umpire status by first distancing

indicated that APC’s Godknows got 5,291 votes to defeat incumbent legislator, Munalayefa Gibson of the PDP, who had 4,342 votes.

With the outcome, the Peoples Democratic Party would have 17 seats in the seventh Bayelsa Assembly while the All Progressives Congress would have five and the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), two.

PDP Wins PHALGA 2, Khana/Gokana Fed Constituencies

Candidates of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Rivers State, have won Saturday's supplementary election for Port Harcourt 2 and Khana/Gokana federal constituencies.

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), declared the PDP candidate for Khana/Gokhana Federal Constituency, Mr Dumnamene Dekor winner, while Blessing Chigeru Amadi was declared winner for PHALGA 2.

The Returning Officer for the Khana/Gokana Constituency election, Kingsley Owete, while reading the

performance of the various candidates in the election held at Sogho and Bagha said Mr Dekor satisfied the requirements of the law and was re-elected.

At Port Harcourt Federal Constituency 2, the PDP candidate did not have any serious challenger, as the House of Representative candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the February 25, 2023 general election, Collyns Owhonda had earlier defected and asked his supporters to vote in Blessing.

INEC held a rerun election in 377 units of the Port Harcourt II and 42 units in Khana/Gokana federal constituencies.

Marafa Loses Senate Seat, PDP Gusau/Tsafe fed Constituency Candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) for Zamfara Central Senate election, Senator Kabiru Marafa, has lost his senate bid to his Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) rival, Alhaji Ikira Bilbis.

REC ANNOUNCES FAKE ELECTION RESULT

itself from the act of the REC and assured that the right thing will be done. The right thing in this context is the conclusion of the collation at the designated location and the declaration of a winner by the Returning Officer in the person of Professor Mele Kyari."

PDP, BoT Say Adamawa’s Mandate Can’t Be Stolen

Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and its Board of Trustees (BoT), yesterday, called on the people of Adamawa State, Nigerians and the International Community to disregard the declaration of Binani as winner of the election, saying the people’s mandate cannot be stolen.

PDP, in a statement by its National Publicity Secretary, Debo Ologunagba, said, "it is even more absurd that the Adamawa State REC did not only usurp the powers of the Returning Officer but attempted to declare a winner without figures in reckless violation of the provisions of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 (as amended), the Electoral Act, 2022, INEC Guidelines as well as the sensibility of the people of Adamawa State."

"This reprehensible criminal conduct of the Adamawa State REC confirms the earlier alarms by the PDP, which demanded for his immediate removal from Adamawa State following evidence of his complicity and being compromised by the APC and its

candidate to manipulate the election in their favour notwithstanding the votes by the people of Adamawa State.

"Mallam Yunusa Ari’s action is subversive and calculated to cause crisis in Adamawa State, destabilise our democracy and peaceful co-existence as a nation. We call on the Inspector General of Police to immediately arrest Mallam Yunusa Ari and make him face the full wrath of the law for his conduct."

The BoT, in a statement by its acting chairman, Senator Adolphus Wabara, stated, "With due respect to the Electoral Act 2022 and the INEC guidelines regarding the 2023 electoral process, Nigerians watched in dismay the display of disregard to the rule of law by the Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) for Adamawa State, in person of Mr. Hudu Yunusa-Ari.

“Accompanied by security officials, and without following due process contained in the INEC guidelines and the Electoral Act, the REC took it on himself to assume responsibility for declaring results and hurriedly declared a winner in the Adamawa supplementary elections as results collation were still on-going for 10 LGAs.

"So far, results from the collated 10 LGAs indicated that the PDP was still in clear lead over the closest contestant. This open disregard for the rule of law is a pointer that the electoral commission is compromised from within and Nigerians are expecting

Returning Officer, Prof. Kabiru Abdullahi, said Bilbis of the PDP scored 102,866 votes to defeat Marafa of the APC, who polled 91,216 votes.

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), has also declared the PDP as winner of the Gusau/Tsafe federal constituency, in Saturday’s supplementary election.

Returning Officer of the initial February 25 senatorial election, Prof. Ahmad Galadima, declared the election as inconclusive on February 28, saying the number of accredited voters, which was 43,881, was higher than the margin of lead between the two top runners.

He explained that while the PDP candidate polled 93,120 at the Feb. 25 election, while the APC candidate polled 79,444 votes.

With a margin lead of 13,676 and accredited voters figure of 43,881, the election could only be declared as inconclusive, he said.

On the other hand, the Returning Officer for Gusau/Tsafe federal constituency, Dr Aliyu Moyi said Alhaji Kabiru Amadu of the PDP scored 60,587 votes, followed by

INEC to act justly as a neutral entity with respect to the supplementary elections taking place in Adamawa and other states in Nigeria.

"With the plethora of controversies surrounding the general elections so far, we call upon INEC to ensure that the outcome of the supplementary elections is not added to the list of controversial elections conducted by the body.

"We also call upon members of our great party, PDP, to remain law-abiding and calm as we continue to follow developments from the supplementary elections to ensure that the will of the people of Adamawa state is not thwarted by the few who have no regard for the law.”

Tambuwal Wins

Meanwhile, INEC declared Governor Aminu Tambuwal winner of the Sokoto South senatorial district in the supplementary election.

Declaring the results, the Returning Officer, Professor Abdullahi Bagudo, said Tambuwal of the PDP polled one hundred and eighty thousand, sixty votes to defeat the candidate of APC, who scored ninety five thousand and eighty six votes. Bagudo said Tambuwal, having satisfied the requirements of the law, was declared winner of the election, and returned elected.

But shortly after announcing the result, police fired teargas to stop angry supporters, who started destroying

Alhai Sanusi Rikiji of APC, who polled 52,495 votes.

Moyi said Amadu of the PDP, having scored the higher number of votes and met the requirements of the law was the winner and returned elected.

The election was earlier declared inconclusive because of cancelation of the exercise in 38 polling units in Gusau and Tsafe Local Government Areas. (NAN)

APC Wins Taraba Fed Constituency Supplementary Election

A former Speaker of the Taraba State House of Assembly and candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Mark Useni, has been declared winner of Saturday's supplementary election for Ussa/ Donga/Takum federal constituency.

Declaring the result of the election, the returning officer for the supplementary election, Prof. Luka Juma, said Useni polled 25,929 to defeat the candidate of the New Nigeria Peoples Party(NNPP), Rimam

vehicles at the collation centre.

It’s Naked Dance of Shame, Declares SDP Candidate

Governorship candidate of Social Democratic Party (SDP) in Adamawa State, Dr. Umar Ardo, described the rerun process as a “naked dance of shame in the market place.”

According to Ardo, "The current imbroglio is testimony to that. Based on various irregularities perpetrated by the Peoples Democracy (PDP) and All Progressives Congress (APC) candidates during the two sets of governorship election in Adamawa State, the untoward desperation and actions of the PDP and APC candidates, in addition to the excessive vote-buying observed, the unlawful declaration of the APC candidate by the Adamawa REC and her instant acceptance speech, both of which proved the existence of an unholy close coalition of the two.

"The ensuing total confusion created by the two candidates in the election exercises, INEC and the security agencies in the state, all have combined to make a mess of the ensuing fallout in the election results, thereby eroding the credibility and, therefore, the acceptability of the entire election results in the state.

"By extension, it will also threaten the credibility of our national electoral process and the integrity of INEC itself as an electoral umpire. These

Shawulu, who scored 25,350 votes to come second.

Candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Istifanus Gbana, also a former Speaker of the assembly and current Chief of Staff to Governor Darius Ishaku, polled 20,234 to come third.

Dino Melaye Wins Kogi PDP Governorship Primary

A former Senator representing Kogi West, Dino Melaye, has picked the PDP governorship ticket ahead of the state gubernatorial election scheduled for November 11 2023.

Dino polled 313 votes to defeat his closest rival, Jabiru Usman, who polled 127 votes.

The chairman, PDP primary Election committee, Ahmed Makarfi, announced the results on Sunday at end of the indirect primary held in Lokoja.

A former deputy governor of the state, Yomi Awoniyi, scored 77 votes and the PDP governorship candidate in 2019 poll, Musa Wada, had a total of 56 votes.

are clear illustrations of expensive electoral jokes getting out of hand, capable of marring the entire 2023 national elections if drastic action is not taken by INEC to arrest the situation.

"To this end, therefore, because of the unedifying roles played by the PDP and APC candidates in discrediting the elections and the electoral process as a whole and in bringing to disrepute the integrity of the commission, we call upon INEC to consider approaching the Federal High Court to disqualify the two culprit candidates, cancel the entire process and conduct fresh election for the remaining qualified candidates in the governorship contest."

DSS Probes Attack on Staff over Adamawa Guber Rerun Poll

Department of State Services (DSS), yesterday, commenced investigation into a viral video seeming to show a man suspected to be a staff of the agency, being manhandled by angry youths as fallout of the false announcement of the winner of the Adamawa election.

The victim of the youth anger was seen in the video claiming he was given N2 billion to rig the election. But a statement by the spokesman of the DSS, Dr Peter Afunanya, said the agency had commenced a probe of the incident.

L-R: Group Managing Director, Custodian Investment Plc, Mr. Wole Oshin; Chairman, Mrs. Omobola Johnson, and Company Secretary, Mr. Adeyinka Jafojo, during the company's 28th Annual General Meeting held at UPDC Festival Hotel, Amuwo-Odofin, Lagos ...recently

CITIZENS’ ENGAGEMENT PLATFORM FOR TRANSPARENCY...

Buhari: With Democracy, Institutional Powers, Nigeria Has Achieved a Lot

Meets Borno, Yobe govs, EFCC chair, others in Makkah Receives briefing on concluded rerun polls Bawa hints on plan to prosecute suspected electoral fraudsters

Deji Elumoye in Abuja

President Muhammadu Buhari, yesterday, in Makkah, Saudi Arabia, said whatever Nigeria has achieved today was as a result of the power of its democracy and the institutions, which must continue to be strengthened.

He also received in audience in Makkah, the Governors of Borno and Yobe, Professor Babangana Zulum and Mai Mala Buni, Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Abdulrasheed Bawa and other top government officials.

The President, who met with the guests on the fifth day of his official visit to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, weekend, shared warm moments with the two governors and other officials, during which he was updated on the situation reports back home, including the conclusion of outstanding elections.

At the Makkah Guest Palace, where he was accommodated by the government of the host country, President Buhari, according to a release by his spokesperson, Mallam Garba Shehu, also received the incoming Governor of Katsina State, Dr Dikko Umar Radda.

The others were the the Chairman of Nigerians in Diaspora Commission, Abike Dabiri-Erewa and a past Chief of Army Staff, General Tukur Buratai (rtd).

After listening to the briefs, Buhari said whatever Nigeria has achieved today is as a result of the

power of its democracy and the power of the institutions, which must continue to be strengthened. Speaking individually after the meetings, the Governors of Borno and Yobe States, said they remained appreciative of the efforts of the

President in curbing the threats of Boko Haram terrorists in their states and happy that peace had been restored. The duo promised to continue to work for the betterment of their peoples and remain loyal to the president.

On his part, Chairman of the EFCC briefed the President on efforts to conclude ongoing court cases and the plan to prosecute more offenders. He also briefed him on the arrests of several suspects in connection with election fraud and the plan to

charge them to court. Radda gave assurances of his commitment to an open and transparent government as promised during the campaign. After the meeting, the guests joined the Buhari to observe the afternoon prayers.

Army Holds Rivers Community Hostage, Burn Houses as Residents Flee for Safety

Blessing Ibunge in Port Harcourt

Some indigenes and residents of Rundele in Emohua Local Government Area of Rivers State have fled the community following the invasion of soldiers over attack on their men deployed on special assignment between Rundele and neighbouring community. THISDAY gathered that some soldiers deployed to guard crude oil pipelines in the areas had an altercation with some vigilante members, which resulted in shooting.

It was gathered that trouble started, when one of the artisanal refiners, who was a member of Onelga Security, Peace Advisory Committee (OSPAC), a vigilante group in the area, was allegedly ordered by the soldiers to load the illegally-refined petroleum products into their waiting vehicle and he refused, saying he was tired and could not continue.

The information had it that at this point, the OSPAC member was allegedly punished by the soldiers while they look for someone else to continue loading the products for them.

News of the punishment of the OSPAC member quickly went out through phone calls and his colleagues mobilised and stormed the scene to rescue their member, shooting their Pump Action guns sporadically, overpowered the soldiers, who ran away leaving two of their colleagues that were held from behind and their guns allegedly seized.

The two soldiers, who were also beaten, it was learnt were later freed without their guns returned to them. Thus, they went back, reinforced and stormed the community, where they suspected that some of the youths involved

hail from, making arrests and burning houses among others with a view of recovering their arms.

A source from the area who pleaded anonymity disclosed that the incident occured on Saturday between the soldiers and the artisanal refiners but the personnel invaded Rundele yesterday (Sunday) in search of the guns and uniforms of the attacked soldiers.

Traditional ruler of Rundele, HRH Damian Ejiowhor, who spoke on the incident confirmed the tension in the community, and revealed that he was told the

FG: $800M W’BANK POST-PETROL SUBSIDY REMOVAL FACILITY AWAITING NASS APPROVAL FOR DISBURSEMENT

that it was expected to cause some increase in the prices of goods and services. This may further elevate inflationary pressure in the country.

The Consumer Price Index which measures inflation in Nigeria rose to 22 per cent in March, according to figures released by the National Bureau of Statistics at the weekend.

“Fuel subsidy removal would always come with some challenges like increased inflation, which would naturally happen. It would spike initially and then it would moderate and normalise. Anywhere in the world where you remove any kind of subsidy, it has that effect.

"That is why that initial fund is necessary so that you are deploying it quickly and reducing the impact on the lives of the most vulnerable people in our society.

“So yes inflation may go up, but our assessment is that it would not go up much because as it is, price of fuel in Nigeria or the cost Nigerians are already paying

for fuel reflects the high cost of what would be attained when the fuel subsidy is removed," Ahmed declared.

She pointed out that, "people are buying fuel at very high rates, it is not the pump price. So we think that inflation is already built into it. There might be some increase, but it would not be a huge spike and even if there is, it would be transient and it would quickly come down and moderate.”

Giving an overview of the performance of the country’s delegation to the 2023 Spring Meetings which was led by her, she said: “We met at a time of high global uncertainty with successive shocks of the war in Ukraine, rising inflation, fragmentation and monetary policy tightening and most recently the financial market stress in the Silicon Valley Bank, Signatures Bank and Credit Suisse Bank.

“With over 345 million people in

Developing countries facing acute food insecurity and 700million people living in extreme poverty most of who are in Africa. The delegation attended a couple of statutory, bilateral and side meetings.”

On the statutory meetings, she said: “At the International Monetary and Financial Committee where I represented 22 countries, I spoke on the need to monitor financial stability risks and the need for moderation, open and rule-based trading system to allow for the free flow of essential supplies.

“I also called for the speedy implementation of the G20 Common framework on debts. While raising concerns on delays in debt restructuring for some countries., I encouraged cooperation between creditors and the affected countries to ensue completion of the programs. I also used the opportunity to highlight macroeconomic development in Nigeria

including ongoing engagements with all critical stakeholders on the need to mobilise additional resources for remove the fuel subsidies and free up resources for investment in the social sector.

“I am happy with the retention of the IMF growth forecast for Nigeria at three per cent which is consistent with our internal projections even though our desire is to have higher GDP growth.

“At the Development Committee of the World Bank, we discussed the on-going World Bank Group evolution agenda which is in response to the G20 Independent Panel on Capital Adequacy Framework.

“We encouraged the Bank to remain focused on the twin goals while enhancing its operating and financing models to enable it cope with increasing trans-border and global challenges. We encouraged the World Bank to consider access to energy as one of the global

challenges for Africa

“At the G24 Meeting, I commended members for their support that led to election of Dr. Iyabo Masha of Nigeria as the first African Director.

“I also had bilateral meetings with Multilateral Investment Guarantee Agency (MIGA) to consider how best Nigeria can leverage MIGA resources in infrastructure investment and discussed some pipelines

“I also met with Senior Management of IFC Vice President for Africa, where we agreed to grow Nigeria’s portfolio in the real sector. We also had preliminary conversations on the possibility of IFC’s visibility in the aviation and maritime sectors especially in the newly modernised airports and some of the seaports in Nigeria. I also facilitated the dialogue between MOFI and IFC

“I also had preliminary discussions with Shelter Afrique

soldiers and vigilante commander had confrontation on Saturday, and that the soldiers stormed the community in search of the seized riffles and uniform. Meanwhile, the Executive Director of Youths and Environmental Advocacy Centre (YEAC-Nigeria), Fyneface Dumnamene Fyneface, who monitored the incident through sources, wondered why the soldiers would invade the community to burn houses, arrest people and hold the community hostage over an incident that happened at illegal refinery site near Rundele.

on the need to explore an innovative housing program for the IDPs and support the affordable housing scheme

“At the FAD of the IMF, we discussed the need to scale up Technical Assistance for FIRS and NCS in growing the revenue potentials of the country.”

Furthermore, Ahmed disclosed that in collaboration with the World Bank Group, development partners and some members of the international community, “we held an event to showcase the massive investment potentials of the country, the current challenges and how we are tackling them.”

“We also had conversation with them including members of the Transition Team on potential priorities of government and requested for the understanding and strong support of the Developments and Business community for the in – coming government,” she added.

L-R: Commissioner for Science and Technology, Mr. Akeem Fahm; Special Adviser, Office of Civic Engagement, Aderemi Adebowale; Director General, Office of Transformation Creatives and Innovation, Mr. Toba Otunsanya, and Special Adviser on Development Agenda for Western Nigeria, Mr. Adekunle Olayinka, during a news conference on the Citizens Gate 2.0 (A Citizen Engagement Platform), held at Alausa, Ikeja…recently

BACKPAGE CONTINUATION

CHIDI AMUTA, PETER OBI AND THE ‘OBIDIENT’S’ THRIVING TYRANNY

Chukuma Soludo of Anambra State who became the object of vicious attacks when he dared to predict last year that there was little hope of Obi winning the presidency.

Soludo was proved right even if Obi performed better than had been expected in the election. But in any election just like in a football match, it is not merely performing well that matters , but winning.

Even though he argues that there is no justification for allegations bordering on treason leveled against Obi and his Vice-Presidential candidate, Datti-Ahmed at various times by Minister of Information, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, the Department of State Services (DSS) and the Ministry of Defense, Chidi Amuta is unable to pretend that there is nothing untoward in the utterances of those so accused. Thus, he writes that “Admittedly, there has been a few incensed and even careless statements by both the losing PDP and the LP. Peter Obi’s running mate, Mr Datti Ahmed, may have been a bit too emphatic and irreverent in his Channels interview on a matter that should be left to the judicial finality of the Supreme Court. But Mr Dino Melaye of the PDP has been even more unguarded. Not to talk of the serial indiscretion and incendiary incitements of Mr Femi Fani Kayode of the APC. Mr Bayo Onanuga of the Tinubu campaign has been even more vitriolic and dripping with ethnic hate in his choice of utterances”.

While implicitly admitting that Obi and Datti-Ahmed went overboard in some of their utterances with reference to Tinubu’s emergence as winner of the election, Amuta tried to exculpate them with reference to alleged utterances of members of the campaign teams of the APC and the PDP. Unfortunately, he demonstrates no logical equivalence here with regard to the two instances. The throwing of most times harsh and unsparing brickbats in the course of a political campaign is normal and understandable. However , to not only reject the outcome of an election but also go outside the stipulated constitutional channels of seeking redress for alleged electoral infractions as Datti-Ahmed in particular and members of the Obedient movement have done is a direct affront to national security and stability altogether.

Amuta is unable to cite a single utterance that can even be remotely tagged as treasonous by Melaye, Fani Kayode, Keyamo or Bayo Onanuga. But he cannot deny that Datti-Ahmed asserted emphatically on national television that the swearing in of Tinubu as President on May 29 would signal the end of democracy in Nigeria. He is aware that on the same television programme, the LP Vice/presidential candidate gave the distinct and undeniable impression

that the judges’ decisions on pending election petitions before them must conform to his party’s views or be unacceptable. Neither can he be ignorant of the antics of a group of Obidients, most likely taking a cue from Obi and DattiAhmed, converging on the Ministry of Defense Headquarters and pleading with the military to intervene in the political process in reaction to the outcome of the elections !

Did Amuta expect any responsible and self-respecting government to keep mute and inactive in the face of such extra-constitutional provocations? It is unlikely.

For, he also writes that “In the heat of the campaign, some fringe elements of the Obidients movement may have overstepped the bounds of decent assembly in response to the hooligans of the APC in places like Lagos for instance. Even then, with the LP and the Obidients, we are dealing with uncharted territory. A popular movement that finds itself as the rave of the political movement has a capability to go overboard. But critics of the Obidients have hardly spared a thought for the many of them that were killed, maimed and seriously injured in parts of the country by APC professional thugs”.

This is nothing but an elaborate and manifestly dishonest attempt to justify the irrational extremism of the Obidients in response to the failure of Peter Obi at the polls. Amuta makes reference to alleged attacks by APC thugs on members of the Obidients movement in parts of the country but is silent on the several viral trending videos on social media showing attacks by LP agents on members of other parties in the South-East and parts of the South-South, a factor that largely explains the electoral dominance of the LP in these areas particularly in the presidential election.

Referring to APC members, Amuta comically asserts that “Party hawks and attack hounds are still busy insulting our public sensibility. They are berating, abusing and profiling their election season opponents. It as though the elections are not yet over”. If Chidi truly believes this, then he deserves nothing but pity and empathy. An otherwise brilliant mind has become so clearly disoriented by the outcome of an election that he so obviously desperately wanted his fellow ethnic man to win. For, his misplaced statement about the fictive aggression and violence of the APC members more accurately reflects what most people have come to see as the defining characteristics of the Obidient movement. Even in London, a staff writer of Time magazine, Astha Rajvanshi, has had to lock her Twitter account following vitriolic attacks on her by members of the Obidient movement. Her offense? She had written the citation of President-elect, Bola Tinubu, in the 2023 issue of the magazine’s 100

WHY THE NATIONAL ASSEMBLY RACE MATTERS

already have a Muslim-Muslim Presidency plus a Chief Justice of Nigeria that is a Muslim. The Christian community may feel threatened and side-lined if the leadership of the three arms of government are all Muslims. Third, regional and geopolitical balancing issues will ensure that a considerable section of Nigeria is in the leadership structure of the government. Fourth, inter-and intra-party warfare may have a spillover effect in the hallowed chambers of the National Assembly. Even blind people can sense the ominous feeling that the election of National Assembly leadership this time will be unusual.

The present emphasis on zoning can serve a political equity purpose. But the need for an enlightened legislature is a sine quo non. The search for equity and fairness must uphold the need for quality leadership of the National Assembly. Otherwise, this may undermine the output and the impact of the 10th Assembly. This Assembly presents a rare opportunity for the legislative institution to reassert herself as the pillar of democracy and earn public trust. And this must start with the quality of leaders’ legislators elected in June. In addition to our sensitivities, merit must be the highest consideration. NASS should use the election of its leadership to show the public that it is not business as usual and that the focus has shifted to meritocracy. Nigerians must be excited about the quality of leaders the legislature will elect to lead that institution. The most critical positions in this contest are that of the Senate President and the Speaker of the House of Representatives.

The Senate President is the Chairman of the National Assembly, head of the legislative arm of government and directly presides over the screening of prospective appointees to critical national offices. The Speaker of the House of

Tinubu

Representatives is a powerful office that often controls the House’s functions, particularly appropriation. The Speaker sets the house legislative agenda and oversees oversight. The Speaker and Senate president can make or mar the plan of the executive arm of government. Whoever occupies these offices will benefit our development as we advance and should matter to Nigerians. National Assembly leadership is as important, if not more important, than the Presidency. Although historically, this has not been the case because the Executive interferes with the selection and sometimes voting of these principal officers. The Executive often plans to

most influential people.

Chidi Amuta is of the view that “The period between a general election and the swearing/in of a successor administration ought to be filled with excited anticipation. It is usually time of pleasant speculations on the new faces that will soon grace television screens and newspaper front pages…For the elite, this ought to be a time to debate policy perspectives and options for the new administration “.

Possibly yet to emerge from the deep depression that Tinubu’s victory in the election has submerged him in, the writer is unaware that there is already great expectations across the land as regards the possibilities of the incoming administration.

There are already wide ranging debates on various policy options for the next government on fuel subsidy, monetary policy, electricity supply, restructuring and security among several others. The media is daily awash with speculations on which faces will feature as members of the new administration. If Amuta and those of his group persuasion decide to psychologically alienate themselves from this process, there is nothing anybody can do about it. It is their cup of tea.

The writer asserts that the APC is “consumed by an overwhelming sense of nervousness” and that “Instead of engaging the public in sensible debates about policy options and directions, the APC appears to have retreated into a perpetual campaign mode”. More than any other party, the APC and its presidential candidate presented their policy platform to various audiences in campaigns and Town Hall meetings across the country. The outcome of the elections was a validation of the acceptance by a majority of voters of the policy direction in which the party seeks to lead Nigeria.

It is rather the LP and Peter Obi that are betraying signs of nervousness as it becomes daily more evident that their petition against the election rests on fragile and slippery empirical and evidential grounds. Thus, Obi is suddenly talking about his being under pressure from mysterious and unidentified quarters to leave the country for his safety. Surely, the APC cannot be among those who want this. The party will surely want the LP candidate to be very much around in the country to pursue his petition in court to its ultimately futile conclusion.

Amuta wonders why Tinubu “has not disbanded his abusive and divisive campaign machinery”. It is certainly not any member of the Tinubu campaign that has been caught in an audio recording plotting with their spiritual daddies on how to pursue their election campaign as a religious war. It is evident that what Amuta desires is a visceral and funereal silence from the APC as the LP persists in trying to delegitimize an election it lost fair and square locally and

internationally. He will not get what he wants.

The APC will continue to defend the credibility and integrity of Tinubu’s electoral victory with greater vigor, logic and determination than can be summoned by those who seek to discredit the election and destabilize Nigeria.

Indeed, the writer also seeks to cast doubts on the integrity and credibility of the election but cannot stop himself from celebrating the fact that Obi “thrashed Tinubu in Lagos, swept the Federal Capital Territory like a political hurricane leaving his rivals no room for even a 25% miserable vote score” and “ swept the whole of the South-East, South-South as well as the Middle Belt states of Nasarawa, Benue and Plateau”.

Yet, this is the same election he describes as massively rigged and unreliable. What contradiction! What dishonesty! What hypocrisy!

Still gloating about Obi’s impressive performance in an election he avers as rigged and lacking in credibility, Amuta contends that “From Nasarawa and Southern Kaduna, Obi and his rampaging political train menacingly eyed the conservative Northern bastions with the force of a powerful political message”.

This is self-deluding political fiction. Obi did not attain over all victory in any of the three geopolitical zones in the North. Atiku had the highest number of votes in the North-East and Tinubu emerged Victor in the North-West and North-Central. Obi won in the South-East and South-South and could not muster even 25% of the votes in the North-East or North-West. There is no way he could have emerged as President.

Amuta writes rapturously about Obi’s rosy promises to the electorate and how superlatively he would perform if elected President. Until he provides the public with concrete and verifiable examples of Obi’s accomplishments as governor of Anambra State for eight years, it will be utterly time-wasting to engage his wild speculations.

Chidi applauds Obi for his feat in joining “a small party like LP and in less than a year transformed it into a serious power contender”. He is utterly oblivious of the fact that by March 18, Obi’s LP’s ‘roar’ in the February 25 presidential election had become not more than a whimper in the governorship and House of Assembly elections. The LP only struggled to win a governorship seat in Abia State.

There is a limit to which you can ride on ethnic and religious sentiments to build a viable and enduring political organization in a complex polity like Nigeria, but, we cannot, and we should not deny Chidi Amuta his delusions ! •Dele Alake, former editor of Nigeria’s National Concord newspaper, is Special Adviser to Asiwaju Bola Tinubu the President elect.

and patriotic about protecting , preserving and promoting the institution. It is commonsensical that quality National Assembly leadership will boost the people’s confidence in this new government and ensure a proactive legislature that will shape our democracy.

There are several reasons why Nigerians should be interested in those who will be elected leaders of National Assembly, and this should be more than just the business of assembly members. The success of this new administration depends on the quality of leadership of the National Assembly, and it is high time Nigeria had a legislature that is “fit for purpose” and not a caricature of modern legislatures overshadowed by the executive branch and a thing of the butt of jokes for serious minded people in the country. In most recent times, the National Assembly has had to contend with the challenge of exerting itself as a meaningful check on the executive branch of government for a number of reasons including dearth of capacity and serial compromises.

hijack the leadership of the National Assembly to make their governing easier. As practical and utilitarian as this may sound, it goes against the fundamental principles of separation of powers among the three tiers of government, with the checks and balances enshrined in the constitution for the smooth running of our democracy.

News reports indicate that the fight for the leadership of the 10th Assembly is intensifying. The people are observing and noticing the usual horse-trading, unethical and evil past influences among the contenders. But as you know , the quality of leadership for the legislature is a choice and elected members must be intentional

The time has come for things to improve in this country. Just as we put fervent and earnest efforts to hold the incoming administration accountable because of heightened political awareness, I advocate for a similar level of attention on the legislature. Our democracy will benefit significantly if the legislature performs its primary duties of law-making and oversight functions against the executive and pursues a vision for Nigeria that will make Nigeria a great nation. Nigerians are watching, and they will not forgive nor forget those who failed in their duties to make Nigeria great again.

•Dr. Peterside is a former Director General of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA)

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Bandits Attack Kaduna Community, Kill 27

John Shiklam in Kaduna

Gunmen suspected to be Fulani herdsmen have killed 27 in an attack on Runji community, Zangon Kataf Local Government Area of Kaduna state.

It was gathered that the incident occurred on Saturday at about 10.00 p.m when the gunmen invaded the community and opened fire on the villagers who were said to be already

asleep.

Some of the victims were said to have been burnt beyond recognition as the bandits set their houses ablaze.

President of Atyap Community Development Association (ACDA), Dr. Samuel Ache, condemned the attack in a telephone interview, saying that 27 people were killed while several others sustained injuries.

It was gathered that the local

One Killed, Properties Destroyed as Youths Protest Coronation of Hamlet Head in Bauchi

Segun Awofadeji in Bauchi

Bauchi State Police Command yesterday confirmed that a 70year-old man, Appollos Danlami was killed in communal clash that occurred in Sang village in Bogoro LGA of Bauchi State.

The command also confirmed that one Nahemiya Bature, 65 years old man was seriously injured while various properties including 64 houses were razed in the process.

The Command Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), SP Ahmed Wakili, in a press statement stated that the Commissioner of Police, CP Aminu Alhassan has ordered for a full -scale investigations into the issue just as he cautioned against any reactions that will

lead to the disturbance of public peace in Bogoro LGA. The commissioner also appealed for calm as normalcy has been restored in the affected area.

According to the PPRO, on 15/04/2023 at about 1900hrs, the Police Command received a distress call over ongoing skirmishes in the Bogoro area of the State while preliminary investigations revealed that the communal clash in Sang village of Bogoro LGA emanated from the coronation of the hamlet head of Sang.

He narrated that some irate youths who belonged to different factions protested against the coronation of the appointed hamlet head of the area.

Group Set to Fund Environment Defenders in N’Delta

Blessing Ibunge in Port Harcourt

Natural Justice, an international organisation has unveiled a programme ‘African Environment Defenders Fund (AEDF)’ to support environment, human right defenders in the Niger Delta region and Nigeria at large.

According to the group, the AEDF will help to tackle financial challenges faced by the environment activists in the field.

Mr Stephana Rahorijao, representative of Natural Justice from Madagascar, disclosed this during his online presentation at a three-day training workshop for human rights and environmental activists in the Niger Delta, held in Port Harcourt.

Natural Justice is a pan-African

organisation, with membership from South Africa, Kenya, Senegal, Nigeria, Ethiopia, Madagascar and Mozambique.

Rahorijao revealed that on application, a qualified activist gets about $5,000 fund from the organisation within 48 hours.

Speaking to journalists at the training, Programme Manager for Natural Justice (Nigeria), Mr Mike Karikpo, explained that the group collaborates with the communities to protect the environment, defend rights and financially assist when the need support arises.

Karikpo also explained that the aim of the training was to meet with activists who had for years defended the environment and the people. He disclosed some of their challenges to include attacks from communities, non-state organisations, companies, armed men, discrimination, others.

vigilance group in the community attempted to engage the invaders, but were overwhelmed by the superior fire power of the bandits. The intervention of the military taskforce was said to have saved the community from being wiped out by the killers.

The Kaduna state Commissioner for Internal Security and Home Affairs,

Samuel Aruwan, confirmed the incident in a statement yesterday but did not give casualty figures. He said: “Several lives were loss” in the attack. The commissioner said preliminary reports indicated that “the attack also left some residents injured and an unspecified number of houses burnt down in the community.“

Aruwan said the report further indicated that, “troops had a fierce encounter with the attackers and are still in the general area.”

“While waiting for a detailed report, Governor Nasir El-Rufai, who received the preliminary report in the early hours of yesterday, condemned the killings as unacceptable and unjustifiable,” the statement said.

Aruwan said the governor expressed condolences to the families that lost their loved ones and prayed for the repose of the victims’ souls as well as for the speedy recovery of the injured. He said the Kaduna state government would update the public on the incident as soon as detailed reports are received from security agencies.

Pregnant Woman, Crippled Arrested for Drug Offences

Micheal Olugbode in Abuja

A 24-year-old pregnant woman, Rabetu Abdulrasak, and a crippled, Shehu Adams, were among the people arrested for various drug related offences by operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) last week.

A statement yesterday by the anti-narcotics agency’s spokesman, Femi Babafemi, said the pregnant

woman and the cripple were arrested by NDLEA operatives in Agbede, Etsako West Local Government Area of Edo State, while over 14 kilogrammes of assorted illicit drugs including cannabis, methamphetamine, tramadol and swinol were recovered from them last Saturday.

Babafemi also disclosed that consignments of tramadol, rohypnol, Ecstasy (designer drug) and cannabis concealed

in winter jackets and bottles of body cream were intercepted by operatives of the NDLEA at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos.

He said the psychoactive substances were recovered at the new terminal of the airport last Friday, following the arrest of a passenger, Josiah Sunday, who was traveling on a Qatar Airline flight via Doha to Oman, in the Middle East.

He noted that a thorough search of the suspect’s two black bags led to the discovery of 4.8 kilogrammes of cannabis concealed in three winter jackets and various quantities of tramadol, rohypnol, Ecstasy (designer drug) hidden in bottles of body lotion, adding that preliminary investigation revealed that the suspect came into Nigeria from Oman on April 7, and was returning exactly a week after.

Sensational Reportage ‘ll Jeopardise Nigeria’s Security, CSO Warns

AdedayoAkinwaleinAbuja

The Centre for Advancement of Peace, Security and Social Development (CAPSSD) has warned that the spate of highly sensational and promotional articles published in national dailies against security agencies was capable of jeopardising the country’s security

Its Executive Director, Mallam Mustapha Funtua, in a statement issued yesterday cautioned that the trend if not quickly checked,

would cause disaffection among the security agencies.

The group noted that intelligence gathering and security operations are private and secret undertakings, adding that deliberately exposing the names of serving officers in missions and publishing details of their actions was tantamount to leaking classified information to the enemy.

It said: “Our attention has been drawn to series of highly sensational and promotional articles published

in national dailies recently, and as a CSO that seeks to monitor and advocate for effective peace building and sustainable social development in the country, it has become imperative to raise the alarm over what we see as deliberate attempts to cause disaffection and endanger the synergy amongst Security chiefs and their foot soldiers across the country.”

The group expressed dismay with the media coverage of sensitive personnel and units in our security

architecture. It said the perpetrators of this act are intentional in causing disaffection among the security chiefs, saying this was dangerous to the fragile security situation and must not be allowed to go unchecked.

It added: “It has become necessary for the Army, the Police and other security agencies to tighten their grip over sensitive information as many people are now abusing the privilege that comes with free flow of information under the Freedom of Information Act.”

Ogun: Tricycle Ambulance Initiative to Serve Rural Areas

James Sowole inAbeokuta

The Ogun State Government yesterday said that the introduction of tricycle ambulances in the State was to address the menace of maternal and infant mortality in rural areas.

It stated that lack of transportation has been identified as one of the major causes of avoidable loss of lives of pregnant women, necessitating the

idea to complement the advanced life support ambulances.

This was contained in a statement by the government. According to the statement, the tricycle ambulances were formally launched in February 2022 following the procurement of 50 tricycles by the state government and donation of additional 30 by the Office of the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Sustainable Development Goals

( SDGs) while 10 were donated by individuals.

The statement noted that the recent state effort was commended at the recent round table held in Abuja on the implementation of Emergency Medical Services and Rural Ambulance System organized by the Federal Ministry of Health, where the Ogun State Commissioner for Health, Dr. Tomi Coker, was invited to share the gains of the

tricycle ambulance initiative and best practices implemented so far in the Gateway State.

It added that the Senior Health Specialist, World Bank, Dr. Olumide Okunlola, specifically lauded the initiative of Prince Dapo Abiodun led government for a successful implementation of the tricycle rural ambulance initiative in the last 14 months across the 20 local government areas.

‘Why We Shun Traditional Banks for Digital Ones’

Some low income earners particularly artisans yesterday in Abuja said the difficulties encountered with traditional banks forced them to resort to digital banks.

The artisans, who spoke with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), said the advent of digital banks was a blessing.

They further said the difficulty in accessing traditional banking

services during the Naira scarcity was the last straw that broke the camel’s back.

According to them, while it was difficult making transfers with traditional bank applications, it was easy with the digital banks.

A motocycle rider in Nyanya, a surbub of the FCT, Mr Ayuba Abubukar, said he recently opened an account with one of the approved digital banks.

He said he was prompted to do so because he lost a lot of customers during the Naira scarcity.

On why he chose a digital bank above traditional bank, Abubakar said the testimonies of ease of banking led him to doing so.

“It took me a few minutes to open an account with a digital bank and transfers have also been easy as well,” he said.

A petty trader, Mrs. Ojone Idoko,

who deals in palm oil, said she also recently opened an account with a digital bank.

She said what gave her the confidence was how effective their services were during the Naira scarcity.

“I realised that I do not have problem with any transaction carried out using digital banking agents unlike traditional bank applications.

OML 42: NNPC Exploration MD, ED to Face Contempt Proceedings over Disobedience

Wale Igbintate and Alex Enumah in Abuja

A local exploration and production company, Neconde Energy Limited, and a Nigerian oilfield services solutions company, Jones Creek Hydrocarbon have initiated a contempt proceeding against the Managing Director of NNPC Exploration and Production Limited, Ali Muhammed Zaffah over alleged disobedience of the interim orders of court made on 29th of March 2023.

Other contemnors are: the Executive Director, Production and Asset Management NNPC Exploration and Production Limited, Mustapha M. Yusufu and the Asset Manager OML 42 —NNPC E & P Limited, Zimako U. Ibe.

The applicants in their application brought pursuant to section 72 of the sheriffs and civil process Act CAP. S6 LFN 2004, filed by their lawyer, Uche Valentine Obi SAN, stated that the alleged contemnors flouted a subsisting court order made by Justice Daniel Osiagor of the Federal High Court, Lagos State, restraining them from changing, altering or replacing the crude oil evacuation arrangement in place for OML 42 crude oil through pipelines from the asset to Keremor Manifold and vessel barging operation to Ugocha export Terminal by diverting or rechanneling the crude oil to Transforcados Fxport Terminal through the Transforcados pipelines or any other means pending the hearing and determination of the Motion on Notice for interlocutory injunction filed in suit number no: FHCL/CS/550 2023.

In their notice for committal proceedings, the applicants prayed the court for an order of committal to prison of the 1st, 2nd and 3rd Contemnors / Respondents having flouted, neglected and/or disobeyed the interim orders of the court made on 29th March 2023.

Justice Osiagor had granted “An Interim Order restraining the Defendant Respondent, whether acting by itself or through its servants, employees, officers, agents, privies, affiliates, subsidiaries, or any other person, howsoever described, from changing, altering or replacing the crude oil evacuation arrangement in place for OML 42 crude oil through pipelines from the asset to Keremo Manifold and vessel barging operation to Ugocha export Terminal by diverting or rechannelling the crude oil to Transforcados Export Terminal through the Transforcados pipelines or any other means pending the hearing and determination of the Motion on Notice for interlocutory injunction filed in the instant suit.

The court also restraining the Defendant/Respondent, whether acting by itself or through its servants, employees, officers, agents, privies, affiliates, subsidiaries, or any other person, howsoever described, from acting contrary to the terms enshrined in the binding Master Service Agreement (MSA) executed by it in favour of the 2”4 Plaintiff / Applicant granting the sole right to handle and evacuate the entire crude oil produced at OML 42 through Ugocha Export Terminal for a period of 15 years pending the hearing and determination of the Motion on Notice or interlocutory injunction filed in the instant suit.

In an 18-paragraph affidavit deposed to by one Olukayode Shobowale, a Litigation Executive in Alliance Law Firm, Solicitors, he stated that on 29th March, 2023, the court granted interim preservatory orders as stated above against the Defendant/Respondent including its officers, employees, servants, members, agents, assigns, privies, affiliates or any their person(s) howsoever described pending the determination of the pending motion on notice for interlocutory injunction filed in the suit.

He stated that ‘’On 30th March, 2023, at about 2.15pm, the certified true copies of the enrolled Orders of the Court together with the Plaintiffs/Applicants’ Motion on Notice for Interlocutory injunction, writ of Summons, Statement of Claim and other originating processes in the suit were served by the Bailiff of the Court, on the Defendants through its branch office located at 9th Floor, Foreshore Towers, Ikoyi, Lagos.

‘’As additional precaution and warning against violation of the court orders, the Plaintiffs’ counsel Mr. Uche Valentine Obi SAN, forwarded the aforesaid Court order with the endorsed receipt stamp of the Defendant / Respondent under a covering letter dated 30” March 2023 to the official email addresses of the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd Contemnors / Respondents amongst other persons.

‘’In the said letters strict waning of the legal consequences of flouting, disobeying and undermining the Court orders were explained with a call for respect and obedience to the Court orders.”

‘’However, despite the aforesaid service of the aforesaid Orders, at about 2.15pm on 30 March 2023 the 1st Defendant acting through the 1st - 3rd Defendants had convened a meeting at about 5pm on that same date presided over by the 2nd and 3rd Contemnor which was attended by its staff and workers of OML 42 concession and announced that

the planned and threatened switch and diversion of OML 42 crude oil to Trans-forcados.

‘’In defiance of orders of this Court, the contemnors instructed its personnel, workmen drawn largely from the contractor, Pipeline Infrastructure Nigeria Limited, to continue with the injuncted works at the Keremor manifold with a view to concluding it expeditiously and achieved its planned switch and diversion of OML 42 Crude oil over the weekend so that it could claim that the injuncted acts

had been already concluded and thus undermine the orders and foist a faith accompli on the Court and render its orders impotent and academic.

‘’Consequently, the injuncted and forbidden works had resumed at Keremor Manifold by the Defendant’s workmen and personnel in morning of Saturday 1, April 2023 through Sunday 2 April 2023 intensively under the directives of the Ist and 3rd Contemnors.

‘’When they drew the attention

of the workmen and Defendant’s personnel to the subsisting Court orders they had explained that the 1st -3rd Defendants had directed resumption of works with an assurance that the Court orders must be vacated by their lawyers within a couple of days possibly before the return date of 21st April 2023 fixed by the Court for further proceedings and that they had to continue with their work in the circumstances as there was a subtle threat to withhold their payments if they had stopped

work in obedience to Court order. He stated that upon reporting to the 1st Plaintiff’s Executive Management of the unsettling discovery, a helicopter overfly of the work site at Keremor Manifold was conducted in the morning of Sunday 2nd April 2023 which confirmed intensive works being executed by the workmen and personnel of the Defendant at the directives of the Defendant Management and as insisted on by the 1st – 3rd Contemnors / Respondent.”

AMCON’s Failure to Render Account on Arik Air Confirms Allegation of Mismanagement

Chinedu Eze

The failure of the Asset Management Corporation of Nigeria (AMCON) to obey the court judgement of March 31, 2023 to render account of its operations in Arik Air since it took over on February 9, 2023 till date, has confirmed allegation that the agency might have grossly mismanaged the airline.

In December 2021, the Founder of Arik Air, Johnson

Arumemi-Ikhide and his wife Mary Arumemi-Ikhide (plaintiffs) filed an originating summons and prayed the court that the duty imposed on the receiver-manager, Kamilu Omokhide (first defendant) by Section 553 of the CAMA 2020 to act in the best interest of Arik Air Limited as a whole, includes the duty to act in the best interest of the plaintiffs (Johnson and Mary Arumemi-Ikhide) as members of Arik Air Limited.

Arumemi-Ikhide in addition to

other prayers, prayed the court to direct the 1st and 2nd defendants to render accounts and/or deliver returns to the plaintiffs covering the entire period of the receivership over Arik Air Limited within 14 days of the making of the order.

Justice Ambrose Lewis-Allagoa, in his ruling granted most of the prayers of Arik Air founder, including “unfettered access” to the premises. The court also directed AMCON to render an account of its stewardship in the

next 14 days.

But the judgment recognised the power of AMCON to appoint a receiver-manager in line with Section 34 (6) of the AMCON Act. “It is therefore clear that in the exercise of AMCON (2nd defendants) power under Section 48 (1) of the AMCON Act to appoint a receiver-manager 1st defendant, by the provisions of Section 34 (6) of the AMCON Act, the exercise of that power cannot be challenged.”

Do Not Drag Journalists into Your Politics, Kogi NUJ Warns Politicians

Ibrahim OyewaleinLokoja

Piqued by the contradictory reports in the media by politicians since the conduct of the All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship primary election, the Nigerian Union of Journalists, Kogi State chapter, has warned politician to stop impugning the integrity of journalists and various media houses.

While addressing journalists at NUJ Secretariat yesterday in Lokoja, the Chairman of the state council, Adeiza Momohjimoh, said: “They claimed no election was held anywhere, and that results were cooked and announcement made.

“I want to put it on record that our members (journalists) went to the field on the election day and monitored the process across the state.

“Audio, videos and pictorial shreds of evidence of the exercise were gotten from the field by journalists who monitored the process, and reports were sent to various media houses based on their observations on the field.

“Our members were fair enough to report places where voting started early and some other places where there were delays in the arrival of electoral materials and officials as it’s typical of Nigerian elections.

“Having monitored and reported the process in our media outlets, journalists converged on the collation centre at the state APC secretariat in Lokoja till 3 a.m. of last Saturday to also cover the collation and

NIS Officers May Protest Extension of CG’s Tenure

Michael Olugbode in Abuja

Trouble may have started brewing in the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS), as some officers of the Service have written to President Muhammadu Buhari not to extend the tenure of the Comptroller-General of NIS, Idris Isah, who normally should have retired.

The officers did not also rule out protesting should the comptroller-general spend a day beyond his present extension of service.

Isah has had his retirement extended from last year to April 24, 2023, but there is an

allegation that he has started lobbying for another one year extension, a situation which the aggrieved officers claimed would affect the morale and discipline in the Service.

In a letter signed by Akinwale Ayomipo Dennis on behalf of the officers who addressed themselves as Concerned Nigeria Immigration Stakeholders, the group told the president that they took the decision not for personal gains but to protect the integrity and sanctity of the Nigeria paramilitary structure, particularly the Nigeria Immigration Service.

The letter read in part:

“We are a group of patriotic Nigerians writing under the aegis of Concerned Nigeria Immigration Stakeholders, who are worried about recent developments in the Nigerian Immigration Service (NIS). Our worry is not about personal interest but about protecting the integrity and sanctity of the Nigeria paramilitary structure, particularly the NIS, and more importantly is the preservation of your legacy as a rare nationalist and principled retired military officer who understands and imbibes the fundamental concept of morale in the military and paramilitary system.

declaration of results.

“For any aggrieved politician to now asserts that all these sacrifices done by journalists amounted to colluding to declare concocted results, is not just only far from the truth but shows disrespect

for journalists and their media organisations.”

He added: “For us at the state NUJ, we stand by the reports of journalists as published in their various media outlets on the conduct of the election.

“We want to use this medium to advise our politicians to use the prescribed ways of seeking redress whenever the outcome of elections is not favourable to them rather than resorting to blackmail and attempting to pull everything down.

Awoniyi’s Nottingham Sinking Further into Relegation Forest

Arsenal fans panic EPL title slipping away as a result of draw with West Ham

Femi Solaja

Nigerian international Taiwo

Awoniyi and his Nottingham Forest teammates are sinking deeper into the relegation zone after visiting Manchester United secured a vital 2-0 win to boost their top-four finish this season.

Awoniyi who played 65 minutes in the Premier League clash before he was replaced by Sam Surridge came close to getting one in the 43rd minute.

He was however unable to keep his first-time strike from the edge of the penalty area on target - seeing it fly over the crossbar.

Awoniyi’s fellow compatriot, Emmanuel Dennis was in action for 81 minutes with hitting the target.

Goals from Antony and Diogo Dalot however ensured that the Red Devils capitalised on Newcastle and Tottenham's slip-ups to consolidate on the third spot on the log.

United so nearly took the lead inside the opening minute when Jadon Sancho latched onto a loose ball in the heart of the penalty area after Keylor Navas failed to punch a low cross clear of danger.

Sancho's subsequent first-time sidefooted effort on goal, although it beat Navas, failed to find its way past Felipe, who rushed back to block the ball.

The majority of the opening half hour was very evenly contested after that, with Forest causing Man Utd problems from set pieces and the visitors causing problems from open play.

Elsewhere, Arsenal fans bemoaned a chaotic two-minute period in their clash with West Ham that saw Bukayo Saka miss a penalty, before Jarrod Bowen equalised 2-2.

The Gunners raced into a 2-0 lead within the first 10 minutes in the encounter at the London Stadium thanks to goals from Gabriel Jesus and Martin Odegaard.

They appeared to be cruising before the Hammers were awarded a penalty after Gabriel fouled Lucas Paqueta, with Said Benrahma making no mistake from the spot.

The goal gave the struggling hosts a lifeline and they started the second half brightly, but disaster struck when Michail Antonio was adjudged to have handled Gabriel

NPFL: Bendel Insurance Maintain Unbeaten Run in Ikenne

Bendel Insurance held hosts Remo Stars to another 1-1 result to maintain their unbeaten run in 14 games of the Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL) yesterday.

The 1-1 draw at the Ikenne Stadium home ground of Remo Stars is the fifth consecutive same score line for the Benin Arsenal who are maintaining the top spot of Group A of the NPFL’s 2022/23 season with 28 points.

Kwame Mawuena fired Remo into the lead in the 16th minute while Divine Nwachukwu restored parity for Insurance four minutes later.

Elsewhere, Plateau United defeated Akwa United 1-0 to jump to the fifth spot on 21 points. Mustapha Ibrahim scored the winner in the 37th minute for the Peace Boys at the New Jos Stadium.

Mbaoma Chijioke’s brace in the 29th and 76th minute gave Enyimba a 2-1 victory over Kwara United at the Akure Township Stadium.

Samad Kadiri scored the consolation for the Harmony Boys in the 36th minute.

It was the People’s Elephants’ first-ever away win over Kwara United whom they have lost to eight times as they moved to the second position with 24 points.

RESULTS

Martinelli's shot.

However, Arsenal talisman Saka put his spot kick wide in dramatic fashion before a hopeful ball in from Thilo Kehrer found Bowen and he fired past Ramsdale - although the Gunners No 1 perhaps should've

done better with the effort.

In total, there were two minutes between the penalty miss and Bowen's equaliser in what could be a pivotal moment in the title race. And frustrated Arsenal fans were quick to lambast their team for

being pegged back, particularly after drawing 2-2 with Liverpool last week having led 2-0.

Piers Morgan tweeted: 'Wake the f*** up, Arsenal - we’re throwing the Title away.' Another added: 'Every single game is the same.

We get into a comfortable position then stop trying and make things difficult for ourselves.' A further supporter went even further and claimed they had now 'bottled' their push for the Premier League as a result.

South-west Gymnastics Championship to Kick off April 25

All is now set for the maiden edition of the South-west Gymnastics Championship scheduled to hold at the indoor sports hall of the National Stadium, Surulere, Lagos.

The championship scheduled to take place between April 25 and 27, 2023, will have a total of 60 gymnasts drawn from across five states within the South west region. The states include; Ekiti, Ondo, Ogun, Oyo and hosts, Lagos states.

The championship is powered by the Omowunmi Olalere Foundation. Chairperson of the South-west Gymnastics Association, Dr. Omowunmi Olalere said she is indeed excited that the Championship which has Numero Group and Dozen price Supermarket as co-sponsors is coming up at this time.

"This would be the first of its kind to be hosted in the region hence my excitement", Mrs. Omowunmi noted.

She stressed that the programme will help to create the needed awareness that will galvanise Southwest youths’ interest in gymnastics as a sport and in turn, get them adequately prepared for future competitions.

She added that the region has for a long been lagging behind competition-wise hence her decision to take the bull by the horns this time in order to arrest the situation.

"As the chairperson, it is my resolve to change the narrative by developing and popularising gymnastics within the Southwest, thus making it a household sport in the region. "That influenced my decision to accept the Southwest Chairperson position in the first place"

"I plead with all the stakeholders in the Southwest to join me in this crusade so that together we can change the narrative,” she concluded.

2-0 away win to consolidate on third position of the English

Runsewe, Helen Mark Hail Outgoing IBB Club Lady Capt, Ikwue

Olawale Ajimotokan in Abuja

The President Nigeria Golf Federation (NGF), Otunba Olusegun Runsewe, and Mrs Helen Mark, the wife of former Senate President, David Mark, have hailed the outgoing Lady Captain of IBB International Golf and Country Club, Abuja, Joy Ikwue.

Runsewe and Mark, who were guests at the 2023 Lady Captain’s Cup Tournament held over the weekend at IBB Club in honour of the outgoing Captain, commended Ikwue’s values which impacted the lady section in the past one year.

Runsewe, who is the DG National Council for Arts and Culture (NCAC) said female membership drive at IBB Golf Club in the past five years has increased by over 40 per cent as more women have embraced the game of golf.

“The culture of halving the Lady Captain’s Day is a statement that a

particular captain has contributed her achievements during her tenure. For me, Joy has done very well to be able to bring the ladies all together, coordinate well and set

an agenda for the incoming lady captain so that the standard will remain,” Runsewe noted.

On her part, Mrs Mark commended the series of activities at

the lady section of IBB Club in the past one year while urging Ikwue to offer support to her successor.

“She is a very active young lady. It has been a very pleasurable one year. I want to ask her to continue and she should not think that since she has rounded up as the lady captain that it is over. It is just the beginning she has to give the helping hand to whoever becomes the next lady captain. I want the next lady captain to continue from where Joy stopped. There is always a children’s clinic as part of the lady captain calendar,” Mark said. Guests who attended the gala night got a huge dose of entertainment from cultural dances while golfers who excelled got prizes.

Rachel Danjuma and A.A Agip won the ladies and men best gross prizes shooting 80 and 75 respectively.

L-R: President of the Nigeria Golf Federation (NGF), Otunba Olusegun Runsewe; outgoing Lady Captain, IBB Club, Joe Ikwue, and Mrs Helen Mark, during the 2023 IBB Lady Captain's Cup over the weekend in Abuja

Sunuta K. Biju, who plays off 36 handicap, emerged the overall winner with the nett score of 65.

South-south Wins 4th PwC/NCF U17 Cricket Championship

Defending champions, Team South-south has won the fourth edition of the PwC/NCF U17 Cricket Championship.

South-south Male and Female teams showed sheer dominance in the competition, winning all games and eventually claiming the titles at stake.

It’s the fourth consecutive win for the ladies and the third for the male team. The women’s game pitted the South-south against against South-east.

South-east won the toss and opted to field. The bowling effort of Faith Okpara 3/16 was not enough to limit the defending champions as

they raced to 133/5 in 20 overs. Player-of-Match Piety Lucky 49(36) and teammate Peculiar Agboya 30(20) did the job for the South South zone as they finished the innings on a high note.

In reply, South-east managed to reach 67 runs/10 in 17.4 overs as Lucky earned a 4-wicket haul for 10 in 3.4 overs. South-south won by 64 runs.

The men’s game began with South-South winning the toss and electing to bat against North-West.

Abraham Oaikena 27 (33) and Godswill Effiong 28(29) did the most for the defending champions as they scored 128 all out in 24 overs.

To win, North-West needed to score 129 runs but the likes of Unity Ogbide 3/16 and Effiong’s 5/6 were instrumental to restricting the Northern to 56/10 in 21.4 overs. South-South won by 71 runs.

Earlier, South-West defeated South East by 17 runs in the men’s event and also defeated North-West by 7 wickets to claim the third place. A number of individual awards were also given to the deserving players.

For Girls, Aisha Aliyu from NorthEast emerged Best Behaved, while Precious Simon from North West was the Best Fielder and Kehinde Amusan emerged Best Fielder from

South West.

The Best Batter was presented to Chinemerem Ihezuo of South-East and the Most Valuable Player was presented to Piety Lucky of South -South.

The Boys event saw Abdullahi Ismail of North-West go home as the Best Behaved while Daniel Joseph of South-West was Best Fielder.

The Best Batter was presented to South-West’s Wale Odukoya while South South’s Joseph Omonkhobhio as Best Bowler and the MVP award to Kareem Gafar from South -West. The tournament which began on Thursday ended with fan fair yesterday.

Nottingham Forest’s Taiwo Awoniyi (left) in aerial battle with Casemiro, during Manchester United’s

Premier League standings...yesterday

MISSILE Atiku to INEC

“We also wish to inform the world that such behaviour by INEC has a natural consequence of unsettling the peace and security of the society. We have seen how INEC conducted the February 25 and March 18 elections against the run of play and challenging cheated candidates to go to the court, knowing full well the agenda that they are up to” –FormerVice President, Atiku Abubakar, chiding INEC over the controversy that followed the yet to be concluded governorship election in Adamawa State.

Peter Obi and the ‘Obidient’s’ Thriving Tyranny RIGHTOF REPLY

Chidi Amuta,

Nothing captures and portrays the crisis of credibility and integrity of the vast majority of a sectional intelligentsia than a recent piece by Dr Chidi Amuta titled ‘Peter Obi and the looming tyranny’. To some who thought Chidi was supposedly more cosmopolitan, liberal, less parochial and less paranoid, his vituperation is more revealing than concealing.

In the absurd and falsely alarmist apocalyptic piece, Amuta squanders valuable time and needless words lamenting an imminent tyranny of the incoming All Progressives Congress (APC) administration, which is entirely a figment of his fertile imagination. What a not insignificant number of Nigerians are bothered about today is not an alleged imminent or looming tyranny by an incoming administration that is only a matter of reckless conjecture but a fully blown intolerant, arrogant, abusive, toxic and insulting Obidients’ (Obidiots?) dictatorship that is already thriving in our midst.

Anyone who has dared express any view critical of or opposed to that of Mr. Peter Obi, presidential candidate of the Labour Party (LP) in the 2023 elections, is immediately set upon by the unwieldy column of wild dogs who have labeled themselves ’Obidients’ and constitute a lawless mob baying for blood on social media !

Obi

It does not matter how eminent and revered the personality under attack is or how logically incontrovertible his or her submission is, the Obi horde spares no effort and eschew no

epithet or expletive, no matter how repulsive, to shred their reputations to pieces and tarnish images carefully nurtured over decades .

Most of the time the only offense of those who come under the ferocious and feral attacks of the Obidient mob is that they exercise their democratic right to disagree politically with a Peter Obi whose rabid supporters have come to see, portray and worship as infallible deity.

Now, tyranny or dictatorship is normally associated with those individuals, cliques or groups who utilize their control of state and governmental powers to harass, intimidate, oppress and suppress opposition and dissent. They are the proponents and practitioners of the one-dimensional narrative in society who can hardly tolerate alternative viewpoints and narratives. Pray, many have asked, if a group without control of and influence over state power like the Peter Obi clique, is so ferociously against the expression of a multiplicity of viewpoints now, what grave danger of descent to absolutism would Nigeria have faced had their man won the presidency?

That is the dangerous possibility that should bother Chidi Amuta’s mind and not his farfetched and implausible rumination on a possible looming APC tyranny.

Like I said, many members of this sectional intelligentsia like Amuta find themselves walking

DAKUKU PETERSIDE

GUEST COLUMNIST

an uncomfortable tight rope especially when it comes to dealing with the sinister menace that groups like the ‘Obidients’ have come to pose to society.

On one hand, as intellectuals, they are expected to be committed to expressing the truth and nothing but the truth at all times no matter whose Ox is gored. However, they are, on the other hand, first and foremost primordial, and believe they have a duty to protect the interests of their ethnic group.

It is instructive that there are scores of Yoruba intellectuals who fiercely oppose Asiwaju Bola Tinubu’s politics just as there are several members of the Northern political elite who vociferously criticize Atiku Abubakar. But it is virtually impossible to find any Igbo intellectual of note critical of or opposed to Peter Obi even when some of them, like Chidi Amuta, are assumed broad minded enough to have spouses from other tribes.

The sad truth is that the Chidi Amutas of this world are, deep within them, in mortal fear of the Obidients mob and dare not express their real and honest views openly. They thus seek to ingratiate themselves with the “headless mob” known as Obidients so they don’t suffer the fate of a courageous voice like governor

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Why the National Assembly Race Matters

Nigerians have divided opinions about the efficacy of democracy in driving its development. There are constant threats to our democracy stemming from procedural and structural deficiencies in the system. At the core of these deficiencies are the imbalances in relevance and power among the three tiers of government that have seen the ascendancy of the executive arm above the legislature and judiciary. This anomaly is worse because it defeats the very essence of our representative democracy, where absolute power resides with the people, and they yield their powers to their various representatives at the centre. These representatives are in the National Assembly, working to influence the direction and impact of democracy.

Therefore, the legislature makes the laws, has oversight functions over the executive, the executive implements the laws, and the judiciary interprets them. In Nigeria, the executive arm has attracted all the attention and enjoys all the influence over and above the other two tiers. This reality has made some people question the relevance of our legislature and not reckon with it, especially in the recent past where,

unfortunately, the National Assembly looks more like a student dormitory of equals, with no exciting debates, bickering on the floor, and lack of vision for the development of this country.

The National Assembly must be pivotal in addressing our country’s problems. Today, democracy in Nigeria is facing two threats. The first is the total disconnect of the government from the yearning and aspirations of the Nigerian people. The second is the need for uniting national vision. In both cases, the National Assembly has a role to play, and the people agree that it has performed abysmally in its position to alleviate or eliminate these threats and forge a democratic system to improve its citizens’ living standards. The fact that the National Assembly allows the executive to run roughshod over the citizens has yet to help the rating and importance of this institution in the public mind.

To play its role as a driver of democracy depends on the quality of its leadership and membership. The summation of the quality and character of individual legislature members provides the total quality and nature of the National Assembly. Therefore, the quest for an excellent National Assembly starts with the selection and election of candidates. The

practice where the Senate was the dumping ground for former governors and high political figures without consideration for the character and quality of the individuals assaulted the Senate’s virility figuratively and turned it into almost a retirement home for politicians tired of playing local politics at their home states.

Besides, the business of legislation is a knowledge-intensive one. Members of the National Assembly must be versatile, dynamic, and ready to learn new things. This idea underscores the importance of ensuring that legislators receive appropriate training and support to understand the essence, purpose and philosophy of a modern legislature. Legislative knowledge and skills are essential for the National Assembly leadership. The National Assembly leadership crafts and implements a broad spectrum of programmes and agenda to fulfill its vision and mission for the legislature. They are the soul and spirit of the legislature and can either make or mar it. The legitimacy of the National Assembly before Nigerian people can be enhanced or diminished by the quality of leadership.

If the leadership of the National Assembly is less knowledgeable than the common run of the executive branch, the quality of National

Assembly leadership can only be low, and the legislature is open to abuse, control, and sometimes complete capture by the executive arm. The Executive, in this case, turns the legislature into a rubber stamp institution and a toothless bulldog. The leadership of the National Assembly should compare with that of their fellows in the developed world, and anything less jeopardises our legislature and its legislation.

Unfortunately, there are no known criteria for selecting National Assembly leadership other than membership in the National Assembly. Issues of cognate experience are a matter of convention and convenience. Therefore, merit has never been a top consideration. A ‘historic drama’ will most likely play out in the National Assembly leadership election in June . A multiplicity of factors peculiar to this 10th National Assembly influences the drama’s plot. First, there is the issue of all the other parties working together, constituting the majority versus APC which is the party with the single highest number of members in National Assembly. Second, there is heightened religious sensitivity because we

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