FRIDAY 26TH APRIL 2024

Analysts urge FG to complement CBN's initiatives, say currency’s recovery transient

NNPC Signs Deal to Build Another 100,000bpd Refining Plant within Port Harcourt Refinery

Fuel queues worsen in Abuja, environs, NNPC says issue resolved

Tinubu: We Will Continue to Take Difficult Decisions for Nigeria Despite Short-term Pain

Deji Elumoye in Abuja

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, yesterday, said his government would continue to take difficult decisions for the Nigerian people, despite the short-term pains that often come with such choices.

Says nation has seen worst of storms, yet unafraid of consequences since his actions are in best long-term interest Outlines roadmap for trade opportunities at meeting with Netherlands PM Tells Dutch industry partnerships must be transformative Dutch investors to activate additional $250m investment in Nigeria immense trade opportunities to the Netherlands across a pool of sectors, Tinubu, who met Rutte at his official residence, known as The Catshuis, in The Hague, also stated that his administration was already deepening reforms to enhance the investment climate.

Speaking at a meeting with Prime Minister Mark Rutte of the Netherlands, in The Hague, Tinubu said Nigeria had seen the worst of storms, yet he was not afraid of the consequences of his actions since they were in the best long-term interest of the people.

Noting that Nigeria offerred

The president disclosed that Nigeria was well-positioned to power the clean energy future of Europe and the world with its high-grade lithium deposits.

Tinubu said Nigeria sought robust, balanced, and mutually

Kukah Slams Nigerian Universities, Says They’re Promoting Ethnic, Religious Biases

Chuks Okocha in Abuja

Bishop of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Sokoto, Matthew Kukah, has slammed universities in Nigeria, saying they were increasingly promoting ethnic and religious biases.

Kukah stated this in an interview with Arise TV yesterday.

The cleric slammed what he described as a worrying trend of declining diversity and meritocracy in Nigerian universities, particularly in Northern Nigeria. “A mosque was constructed at the University of Nigeria, Nsukka.

I delivered a convocation lecture in Calabar three weeks ago. After my

lecture, the Chief Imam of the University came to congratulate me.

“But as I speak to you, Usman Dan Fodio, who is over 40 years old, Bayero University, and other universities in Northern Nigeria have decided to close their doors to the possibility of churches being built in the universities across this country.

Fagbemi, Judges, Lawyers, Others Eulogise

Late Justice Orji-Abadua at Special Session

Alex Enumah in Abuja

Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF) and Minister of Justice, Lateef Fagbemi, SAN, joined judges, lawyers, including Senior Advocates of Nigeria, to eulogise the late Court of Appeal judge, Justice Theresa Ngolika OrjiAbadua, who died in active service last month.

Speaking at a valedictory court session held in honour of the late Justice in Abuja, speaker after speaker remarked that her demise was a great loss to the appellate court, judiciary and the entire country. Justice Theresa Ngolika OrjiAbadua, former Presiding Justice of the Court of Appeal, Benin, passed away on March 8, 2024. In his remarks, Fagbemi observed that Orji-Abadua was a legal luminary, whose wisdom, integrity and dedication to justice have no doubt, left an indelible

NAIRA

“All this fanaticism we are seeing is expressed in public life. If students in the university or at the point of their growing up are not allowed to integrate and interrelate, and if churches or mosques cannot be built across this country, then there is a problem,” he said. He explained that diversity and meritocracy, in Nigerian universities, had continued to diminish, while ethnic and religious considerations were gaining prominence.

Consequently, he said, “There was a time when Ahmadu Bello University had lecturers from different parts of

mark on the nation's jurisprudence.

"As we reflect on the life and times of the Honourable Justice Orji-Abadua, as well as her contributions to the pursuit of justice, equality, fairness and integrity, we must honour her memory by upholding these principles she so passionately advocated for throughout her distinguished career," the minister said.

Continued online

WEAKENS FURTHER TO N1,309/$ AT OFFICIAL WINDOW, PLUNGES TO N1,450/$ AT PARALLEL MARKET

N1,300/$1 the previous day, marking one of its biggest losses in a single day in recent times.

However, daily turnover rose significantly by 60.99 per cent, to $318.08 million, compared to Wednesday’s $197.54 million.

The highest spot rate stood at N1,435 with the lowest spot rate recorded at N1,100.

The naira’s unimpressive outing came on a day analysts warned that its positive showing in recent times might be short-lived unless the fiscal authorities complemented the various policy initiatives of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) aimed at strengthening its position against the dollar.

Earlier in the month, investment banker, Goldman Sachs Group, declared that the naira had established itself as a top-performing currency globally, after it surged 12 per cent against the dollar.

But analysts told THISDAY that though the apex bank had succeeded in calming the market to restore confidence, this "may not be sustainable, especially against the backdrop that the foreign portfolio investors will be exiting in a few months and they will be requiring FX to do so".

They argued that the fundamental issues that would help the naira regain strength in the long run had not been tackled.

The analysts, in separate interviews with THISDAY, specifically pointed out that the fundamentals that will increase the supply of foreign currencies and reduce the demand of same were still not in place.

They attributed the naira’s recent recovery to government interventions, particularly the succour provided by the recent Afrieximbank's $3.3 billion lifeline.

The analysts urged the government to take advantage of the relative moderation of FX to work on a sustainable solution to grow both oil and non-oil exports and improve the ease of doing business, including tackling insecurity, to attract Foreign Direct Investments (FDIs).

President, Association of Capital Market Academics of Nigeria, Professor Uche Uwaleke, told THISDAY, "What the CBN has succeeded in doing is to calm the market to restore confidence, which is an essential step.

"The clearance of forex backlog and resumption of FX sales to BDCs were necessary to improve liquidity in the market.

"The increase in interest rates concerning government securities has helped to increase foreign portfolio investments, thereby increasing the capacity of the CBN to intervene in the FX market."

Uwaleke added, "It's equally important to note that the clamp down on Binance and directives to banks on net open position have gone a long way to curtail speculative FX demand.

"So, all of these have combined to bring about the naira appreciation that we see today.

"But this may not be sustainable, especially against the backdrop of the fact that the foreign portfolio investors will be exiting in a few months and will be requiring FX to do so.

"The government should take advantage of this breather by working on a sustainable solution which is growing both oil and non-oil exports, and improving the ease of doing business, including tackling insecurity, to attract Foreign Direct Investments (FDIs).” On the demand side, Uwaleke urged the government to improve the quality of health care and education to reduce capital flight due to education and health tourism.

He said, "Nigerians should be encouraged to patronise locally made goods through massive sensitisation and incentives.

“The good news is that the government is making efforts to fix the refineries and together with the Dangote Refinery, we expect fuel imports to reduce considerably shortly.

"We understand that this is gradually beginning to happen with a reduction in the import of diesel, which is rubbing off positively on exchange rate stability."

In his intervention, Managing Director/Chief Executive, Dignity Finance and Investment Limited, Dr. Chijioke Ekechukwu, called for more enduring and sustainable measures by the government. Ekechukwu said, "The fundamental issues that will make the naira regain its strength in the long run have not been addressed. In my opinion, the recovery recorded recently appears to be temporary. The fundamentals that will increase the supply of foreign currencies and reduce the demand of same are still not in place. “The recent CBN interventions have been mainly responsible for the recorded improvement."

According to him, "Tightening of the economy using monetary policy tools has also contributed to the recovery, but not significantly.

"More of these solutions are outside the purview of the apex bank, as both fiscal, other government policies, and trade policies must be deployed also."

Wealth Management and Business Development Consultant, Mr. Ibrahim Shelleng, also said

naira's performance appeared to be temporary.

Shelleng said of the naira’s recent positive showing, "Without fiscal support, it would not be sustainable in the long run.

"The naira has rebounded simply because of government intervention after receiving funds from Afriexim Bank.

"The CBN was able to clear FX backlogs reported to be around $7 billion (apparently, only $2 billion was genuine demand), they resumed sale of FX to BDCs, hiked up interest rates to attract FPIs and have reportedly pumped over $1 billion of the country's foreign reserves to manage the FX volatility.

"On the face of it, the indications are that this performance is temporary, and without fiscal support, it would not be sustainable in the long run."

On his part, however, Managing Director/Chief Executive, SD&D Capital Management Limited, Mr. Idakolo Gbolade, argued that the "naira's positive performance is not temporary".

Gbolade said, "The fundamental challenges mitigating against the strength of the naira are wideranging but the CBN has been able to address some of these issues that have given rise to the recent positive performance of the naira against the US dollar.

"The complex web of arbitrage between the banks, IMTOs, and BDCs has been addressed to a large extent.

"The lost confidence due to the country's inability to meet its obligations as regards FX forward payments for LCs established and airline accumulated FX payments has been regained after these obligations were met by the CBN.”

Gbolade stated that the CBN had also streamlined and strengthened policies around FX utilisation by banks and customers to the extent that local loan facilities could no longer be secured with FX in the bank's customers’ accounts.

He said, "I want to believe that the naira's positive performance is not temporary because of the perceived determination of the government through the CBN to strengthen the national currency with measures being put in place now and other policies to be implemented both on a long- and short-term basis.

"The continuous positive performance of the naira is also precedent on the ease of doing business in Nigeria, increased FDIs and increased business activities in all the key sectors of the economy to boost increased exports to increase revenue and strengthen the nation's reserves."

the world. Now, look at what has happened to our universities across Nigeria. Our universities have become just mere incubators of ethnic jingoism.

“So, I do not know which funded federal university that you will name that has a Vice Chancellor that is not a local boy. “So the universities themselves have become playgrounds for the ambitions of the local elite. The question is, why should a place of worship be a problem for a university? Whether it is for the Muslim students in Calabar or the Christian students in Sokoto.

Kukah

“I approached the Minister of Education about this. I have a letter from the Nigerian University Commission. The universities in northern Nigeria have refused to implement this recommendation,” he said.

NNPC SIGNS DEAL TO BUILD ANOTHER 100,000BPD REFINING PLANT WITHIN PORT HARCOURT REFINERY

itself as the special purpose vehicle incorporated for the specific purpose of co-locating the 100,000bpd crude oil refinery in Nigeria.

It stated that in line with the strategic plan of the Ministry of Petroleum Resources, the NNPC in 2016 advertised a Request for Proposal (RFP) , seeking bids for private investors to transfer brownfield crude oil refineries to the existing refinery sites in Kaduna, Port Harcourt and Warri.

According to the firm, this was aimed at increasing Nigeria’s national refining capacity in the shortest possible time frame.

ARPHL said it submitted a comprehensive proposal and solution to NNPC by the deadline and applied for the Port Harcourt collocation opportunity along with 11 other investors.

It stated that by virtue of having the “most complete package”, it was declared the winning bidder for the Port Harcourt co-location project. However, the value of the contract was not stated.

“Under the aforementioned MoU, we entered into an agreement with NNPC, whereby ARPHL will own and operate the 100,000 bpd refinery on 46 hectares of vacant land adjacent the PHRC ’s refinery complex, where we will benefit from direct crude supply from NNPC and access to other shared services, e.g. security, electricity, water, storage, jetty,” it added.

However, a source told THISDAY that it did not make sense that the

Port Harcourt refinery, which had been under rehabilitation for years had yet to begin operation and another deal was being signed to build an additional one.

Recall that part of the $1.5 billion facility to repair the Port Harcourt plant was taken from Afreximbank at the time, a debt which the NNPC is supposed to be servicing.

In December last year, the company announced the ‘mechanical completion’ of phase 1 of the 210,000bpd Port Harcourt refinery. Since then, it has not started refining crude oil.

“NNPC Ltd.’s move to boost local refining capacity witnessed a boost today with the signing of share subscription agreement between NNPC Limited and African Refinery Port Harcourt Limited for the colocation of a 100,000bpd capacity refinery within the PHRC complex.

“The signing of the agreement is a significant step towards setting in motion the process of building a new refinery which, when fully operational, will supply Premium Motor Spirit (PMS), Automotive Gas Oil (AGO), Aviation Turbine Kerosene (ATK), Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG), and other petroleum products to the local and international markets and provide employment opportunities for Nigerians,” the NNPC said in the announcement.

Meanwhile, several filling stations remained shut in Abuja and its environs yesterday as the petrol supply crisis which began a few days ago, worsened.

Aside Abuja, Nasarawa, Niger, other states close to the federal capital were impacted by the supply challenge, leaving commuters stranded.

Motorists besieged the few filling stations, including NNPC, resulting in long queues on Obasanjo Way, Zone 1, Conoil as well as Total filling stations opposite the NNPC headquarters in Abuja.

It was the same story at in Zuba, Niger State at AYM Shafa, NNPC outlet on Arab Road, Kubwa, Nyanya, Nasarawa State, among others. The situation was the same at stations owned by AA Rano, Mobil, NIPCO and Ardova Plc.

While the few open filling stations were selling for as high as N680 per litre and N700, at the roadside black market, the product sold for up to N1,000 per litre.

But in a reaction, the NNPC stated that the problem arose from logistics issues, assuring that it had been resolved.

“The Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC Ltd) wishes to clarify that the tightness in the supply of PMS currently being experienced in some areas across the country is as a result of logistics issues and that they have been resolved.

“It also wishes to reiterate that the prices of petroleum products are not changing. It urges Nigerians to avoid panic buying as there is a sufficiency of products in the country,” Chief Corporate Communications Officer, Olufemi Soneye, said in a statement.

TINUBU: WE WILL CONTINUE TO TAKE DIFFICULT DECISIONS FOR NIGERIA DESPITE SHORT-TERM PAIN

beneficial partnerships that would bring about value-addition in areas like solid minerals.

He reiterated that Nigerians had tremendous confidence in themselves and his confidence in the Nigerian people gave him the courage to take difficult decisions on their behalf, given his full awareness of the need to give Nigerians the long-term tools they need to succeed.

The president stated, "I am a determined leader of my people. I have and will continue to take the difficult decisions that will benefit our people, even if there is short-term pain.

“We have gone through the worst of the storms. I am unafraid of the consequences once I know that my actions are in the best long-term interests of all Nigerians.

"Taking a holistic view of the world order, there is a tremendous opportunity between us across trade spheres, but especially in solid minerals, where we have high-grade lithium deposits that we know can power the clean energy future of the world.

“There is excellent value-additive opportunity in Nigeria. The world knows us for oil. They will soon know us for greater innovative exploits in other areas.”

Tinubu said Nigeria boasted a highly energetic and self-motivated youth population.

He stated, "We have an extremely dynamic youth population in

Nigeria. It is a young country. Seventy per cent of our people are under the age of 30, and when we are referring to 200 million plus citizens, it represents both a massive workforce and a massive market for Dutch and other international investors.

"If our young people know they can achieve a good future in Nigeria, they will stay home and build our nation to greatness.

“Lawful migration of trained Nigerian minds and hands will be a benefit to Europe, and irregular migration will no longer be a source of fear in Europe if we partner effectively.

"This is what we want and it is why we are adamant about providing student loans and new credit opportunities to not only enhance the skills of our people but also to ensure that they can access a higher quality of life within their legitimate incomes. We will transform our economy, and our young people will be the reason why."

On the state the nation’s currency, Tinubu said, "The Nigerian naira is one of the world's best performing currencies today. We took the necessary risk, and all resilient Nigerians kept faith with us. “They will be rewarded, and the reward will only be greater as we partner effectively with you on new opportunities for development. As leaders, we must take decisions for the benefit of our nations, and

we cannot shy away from that."

He expressed his firm commitment to develop the developmental partnership between the European Union (EU) and Nigeria, stating that symbiotic economic ties remain the best long-term path to sustainable and mutual prosperity rather than one-sided relationships in which bilateral trade is skewed too much in one direction.

Specifically, to the Dutch industry, Tinubu stressed that bilateral partnerships must be mutually beneficial, transformative, and must translate into real gains for ordinary citizens.

Speaking at the NigeriaNetherlands Business and Investment Forum at The Hague, the Nigerian president emphasised the significance of stronger ties between Nigeria and the Netherlands. He said both countries must explore more creative channels of collaboration, through partnerships, joint ventures, or strategic alliances in order to build bridges that could connect markets and facilitate the flow of goods, services, ideas and peoples.

Tinubu said, “I am delighted and honoured to be at this occasion of the Nigeria-Netherlands Business Forum. This is a platform that symbolises the potential for collaboration and partnership between our two nations.

THE OKOYA'S CELEBRATE 25TH WEDDING ANNIVERSARY, SADE'S 47TH BIRTHDAY...

L-R: Former Commonwealth Secretary-General, Ambassador Emeka Anyaoku (L); Ogun State Deputy Governor, Noimot Salako-Oyedele; celebrants, Group Managing Director Eleganza Group, Chief (Mrs) Sade Okoya; her husband, Founder, Eleganza Group, Chief Razaq Okoya; Founder of Premier Lotto, Sir Kessington Adebutu; Chairman of Gibraltar Construction ltd, Sir Olu Okeowo and Prince Samuel Adedoyin during the Okoyas 25th wedding anniversary and Mrs Sade Okoya's 47th Birthday party held at Oluwanisola Estate, Lagos...yesterday KUNLE OGUNFUYI

Despite Suspension of Operations in 2022, Documents Show Dana Air’s Challenges Unresolved

Aviation experts insist FG flouted rules in latest incident

Despite the suspension of its operations in July 2022, documents sighted yesterday by THISDAY showed that many of the issues raised by the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) at the time were not addressed by Dana Air, and remain unresolved till date.

The company’s Air Transport Licence and Air Operator Certificate were suspended indefinitely at the time by NCAA Director General, Captain Musa Nuhu, after a financial and economic health audit carried out on the airline by the authority.

Although it was revealed that Dana

Air was no longer in a position to meet its financial obligations and to conduct safe flight operations, it was learnt that many of the issues raised by NCAA were not sorted out before Dana was recalled.

Last Tuesday, an aircraft belonging to Dana Air experienced a runway incursion upon landing at the domestic wing of the Murtala Muhammed International Airport in Lagos from Abuja, leading to another suspension by the federal government.

Though, the latest incident drew flaks from some aviation experts, who insisted that Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, breached the law for

directing NCAA to suspend Dana Air.

But in the damning 2022 report seen by THISDAY, signed by the then NCAA DG, Nuhu, the body stated that investigation revealed that Dana Air committed several flagrant operational violations.

The report said, “Dana Air operated several flights on the MD 80 fleet with no licensed captain. A captain of over 65 years of age sat on the jump seat, while a senior first officer on upgrade training sat on the left seat with a line first officer sitting on the right seat.

“A Senior First Officer occupied the left seat while a First Officer occupied the right seat and operated Dana flight 342 LOS – PHC with aircraft

5N-DKI on April 23, 2022. The flight continued from PHC – ABV and then ABV – LOS. The SF/O even went as far as signing the technical logbook.

“On April 20, 2022, a re-qualifying captain flew with a line captain, instead of a line trainer (instructor) or a check airman.

“Dana Air’s Director of Flight Operations conducted checks on the aircraft even though his Check Airman authorisation had expired on the 12 of September, 2020 and, in addition, he was over 65 years of age.

“One of Dana Air’s captains, who had attained 65 years of age in July, 2021, operated several flights on the

FG, States, Other Stakeholders Sign Accord for Economic, Financial Inclusion

Shettima wants more inclusive, prosperous future for the citizenry

The federal government on Thursday signed what it termed the Aso Accord for Economic and Financial Inclusion with the 36 state governments and other key stakeholders in the private sector.

The Accord is part of efforts to actualise delivery of financial services at affordable costs to all Nigerians, including those at disadvantaged and low-income segments of society.

Vice President Kashim Shettima signed the Aso Accord pact on behalf of the federal government at the opening of a two-day workshop for Economic and Financial Inclusion at the Banquet Hall of the State House, Abuja, in the company of Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Mr. Wale Edun, and Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, Mr. Yemi Cardoso.

Chairman of the Nigeria Governors Forum (NGF), Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq of Kwara State, signed the Accord on behalf of the states, while the Managing Director/CEO of Sterling Bank PLC, Mr. Abubakar Suleiman, singed on behalf of the private sector. The workshop is organised by the Office of the Technical Advisor to the President on Financial Inclusion (Office of the Vice President).

Declaring the workshop open,

Shettima demanded a renewed commitment from state governors and other key players in the nation’s economic and financial inclusion space to forge a more inclusive and prosperous future for all Nigerians. According to him, while President Bola Tinubu’s commitment to inclusive economic growth for sustainable development had been unmistakable, “at the core of Mr. President’s economic recovery strategy lies a multifaceted approach aimed at rescuing the economy through various means.”

The Vice President who listed the means to include “job creation, ensuring food security, eradicating extreme poverty, and, notably, facilitating access to capital,” pointed out that these “form the foundation upon which our nation's prosperity rests.

“They also demonstrate our resolve to reinvent a system where economic empowerment is not just a dream but a tangible reality for all,” he added.

Shettima noted that the inspiration to engage critical stakeholders in the two-day workshop stemmed from the shared interests that align with the stark reality that Nigeria cannot afford to maintain the status quo, expressing confidence that the depth of expertise within the reach of participants is enough to power their

grand ideas for financial inclusion.

He said, “I stand here today compelled to express my heartfelt commendation to all the esteemed individuals who have been pivotal in advancing the cause of financial inclusion in Nigeria. From the tireless efforts of the present and past Governors of the Central Bank of Nigeria to the unwavering dedication of the Federal Ministry of Finance, each of you has played an indispensable role in championing this noble cause over the years.

“I am proud to announce that part of our agenda today involves the signing of the Aso Accord for Economic and Financial Inclusion. This accord will symbolize a renewed and active commitment from all leaders in the economic and financial inclusion space, affirming our collective resolve to forge a more inclusive and prosperous future for every Nigerian.”

Earlier in his speech, the Deputy Chief of Staff to the President (Office of The Vice President), Senator Hassan Hadejia, said expectations are high, as stakeholders are expected to, among other things, interrogate the rising gender gap in financial inclusion.

Noting that the concept must integrate equality and accessibility of financial services to all and sundry, he said President Tinubu's charge

to stakeholders at the forum is to ensure that no one should be left behind as stakeholders adopt new strategies and models of meeting set targets.

In his goodwill message at the event, the 14th Emir of Kano and former CBN Governor, Sanusi Lamido Sanusi, emphasised the need for a review of strategies for enhancing financial inclusion and literacy across the country, noting that it is a continuous work requiring consistent implementation.

He stressed the need for the integration of financial literacy in the educational curriculum of schools in the country, explaining that there is a direct correlation between financial exclusion and the wave of insecurity and poverty levels, among other vices in the country.

Also speaking, Governor of Ondo State, Mr Lucky Aiyedatiwa, advocated the adoption and deployment of technology to boost the digital environment to strengthen access to financial services, even in rural communities.

He outlined some of the efforts made by the State government to boost financial inclusion in the state, noting the work done by the state Entrepreneurship Agency, especially in the rural areas to expand financial services to small businesses and individuals.

jump seat. Also, his Check Airman authorisation expired on August 23, 2021 but he continued to exercise the privilege.

“The Chief Pilot of Dana Air, who does not have an NCAA Check Airman Authorisation, yet conducted checks.

“Flight deck crews scheduled for flights disregarded flight duty times and crew rest regulations. The Zapways rostering system utilised by Dana Air, although a good system, is open to manipulation by the scheduling and rostering staff.”

The report reminded the airline that before then the Authority recently sanctioned Dana Air and its personnel for maintenance violations.

It said while Dana Air was fined a total sum of N30 million, which it had not been able to settle till date (at the time) due to financial constraints, the AME (Aircraft Maintenance Engineer) Licence of Dana Air’s erstwhile Director of Maintenance was revoked for making false statements and false

entries in the technical logbooks of the aircraft, 5N-SAI and 5N-JOY.

“The AME Licence of Dana Air’s Quality Inspector was suspended for 60 days and the AMEL Validation of one of Dana Air’s expatriate Maintenance Engineer was also suspended for 60 days, for maintenance violations.

“The Authority is convinced that Dana Air and its personnel deliberately violate the provisions of the Nig.CARs relating to safety and therefore the Airline is no longer in a position to conduct safe operations.

“The cumulative and apparent deliberate violations of the Nig.CARS, as indicated above, by DANA Air employees, especially several key post holders is indicative of a toxic corporate safety culture within the organisation.

“This, in conjunction with report of the Financial and Economic Health Audit, is a good indication that safety and security of Dana’s flight operations are under serious threat and can no longer be guaranteed."

Chinese Oil Cargo Stranded in Lagos over Dangote Refinery’s Dollar Troubles

We are looking for best possible deal, says company

Emmanuel Addeh in Abuja

A cargo belonging to Chinese state energy major PetroChina, has been waiting to unload a cargo of US crude at Nigeria's giant Dangote refinery for nearly a month due to payment issues, according to Reuters, quoting four trading sources and its tracking of shipping data. The impasse, it said, highlights difficulties the $20 billion plant funded by Africa's richest man, Aliko Dangote, faces in its aim to be the biggest refinery on the continent and in Europe when it reaches full capacity this or next year.

Nigeria has had severe dollar illiquidity for a while as its foreign exchange earnings from crude oil dwindled due mainly to its inability to raise crude oil production.

Dangote aims to reverse the trend by which the oil-rich country exports its crude but almost totally relies on imports of fuel and other refined products.

The 2-million-barrel West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude cargo shipped by PetroChina onboard supertanker Maran Mira has, however, been floating off Nigeria since March 28, shipping data on LSEG and Kpler showed.

The completion of the oil sale from PetroChina to Dangote has been delayed as the refinery has yet to issue a letter of credit to the Chinese trader, one source familiar with the matter told Reuters.

A letter of credit is the most common form of trade finance. A buyer's bank sends a letter to the seller's bank guaranteeing payment to the seller once goods arrive.

PetroChina was also not keen to receive oil products as payment, one of the ways that Dangote has been paying for its crude, the source said.

Two of the sources also told Reuters that the refinery has had difficulty accessing dollars through the Nigerian government, with the naira's slide against the US dollar as global oil prices have risen straining Nigeria's finances.

The government did not immediately respond to a request for comment and a Dangote executive did not directly address the issue in comments to Reuters. PetroChina has another 2 million barrels of WTI crude onboard supertanker Kondor that is making its way to Nigeria, according to another source and LSEG shiptracking data.

Deji Elumoye in Abuja

Emmanuel Addeh in Abuja and Chinedu Eze in Lagos

INAUGURAL STAKEHOLDERS' ENGAGEMENT FORUM ON IMPACT OF CLIMATE CHANGE...

L-R: Associate Professor of Medicine, University of Lagos and Principal Investigator, Dr.Obianuju

of Physical Activity and Health

MOI University, Kenya Physician

National Hospital, Kenya and Co-Investigator, Dr. Boni Maxime Ale;

FG to Julius Berger: Return to N200bn BonnyBodo Road or Face Contract Termination

Offers additional N20.5bn to firm, out of N28bn demanded

The federal government has ordered Julius Berger, the contractor handling the N200 billion BodoBonny road construction to return to site within 14 days or risk termination of its contract.

Works Minister, David Umahi, gave the marching order at a meeting with the contractors as well as representatives of Nigeria Liquefied Natural Gas (NLNG) and royal fathers from Bonny Kingdom and other members of host communities in Abuja.

A statement by the Director of

Information and Public Relations in the ministry, Ben Goong, quoted the minister as saying that the Bonny-Bodo road contract which was initially awarded at the cost of N120 billion in 2015, was later varied at N199 billion, with a completion date of December 2023, which had since elapsed. The minister deplored the unilateral stoppage of work by Julius Berger, describing the action as unacceptable. While rejecting in total the company’s request for variation based on fluctuations in exchange rate and increasing cost of material,

the minister said government does not award contract based on exchange rate.

He pointed out that no contractor will come to government for a downward review of the cost of any project if the exchange rate becomes one naira to one dollar, adding that government cannot anchor contract cost based on exchange rates variations.

Umahi was particularly unhappy that the timelines for the completion of the project were not adhered to, maintaining that if the project was completed in December 2023, as contained in the contract agreement,

issues of high exchange rate and increasing cost of materials would not have arisen.

He, however, promised that he would make a presentation to President Bola Tinubu for some augmentation to ensure that the project is completed on or before December 2024.

THISDAY learnt that the minister offered an additional N20 billion out of the 28.5 billion demanded by the company to complete the project, which is a partnership between the federal government and NLNG.

“I am making an offer to pay

prices in 2024, 4% in 2025 World Bank: Major Flare-up in Middle-East Conflict May Worsen Global Inflation

Predicts 6% decline in

A further escalation of the Middle East conflict with oil supply disruptions may push up global inflation, the World Bank has warned, noting that a moderate conflict-related supply disruption could raise the average Brent price this year to $92 per barrel.

The World Bank, in its latest Commodity Markets Outlook also disclosed that a more severe disruption could see oil prices surpass $100 per barrel, raising global inflation in 2024 by nearly one percentage point.

According to the report, global commodity prices are leveling off after a steep descent which played a decisive role in whittling down overall inflation last year, and could make it harder for central banks to cut interest rates quickly.

The report also revealed that a major outbreak of conflict in the Middle East could halt the inflationary decline that has occurred over the past two years.

Between mid-2022 and mid-2023, global commodity prices plummeted by nearly 40 per cent.

This, the report stated, helped to drive most of the roughly 2-percentage-point reduction in global inflation between 2022 and 2023.

food

Since mid-2023, however, the World Bank’s index of commodity prices has remained essentially unchanged.

Assuming no further flare-up in geopolitical tensions, the Bank’s forecasts call for a decline of 3 per cent in global commodity prices in 2024 and 4 per cent in 2025.

That pace will do little to subdue inflation that remains above central bank targets in most countries.

It will keep commodity prices about 38 per cent higher than they were on average in the five years before the COVID-19 pandemic. “Global inflation remains undefeated. A key force for disinflation—falling commodity prices—has essentially hit a wall.

That means interest rates could remain higher than currently expected this year and next. "The world is at a vulnerable moment: a major energy shock could undermine much of the progress in reducing inflation over the past two years,” said, the World Bank Group’s Chief Economist and Senior Vice President, Indermit Gill.

Persistently high geo-political tensions over the past two years have propped up the price of oil and many other critical commodities even as global growth has slowed.

The price of Brent crude oil, for

example, surged to $91 per barrel earlier this month—nearly $34 per barrel above the 2015-2019 average.

The Bank’s forecasts indicate that Brent prices will average $84 per barrel in 2024 before declining to an average of $79 in 2025, assuming no conflict-related supply disruptions.

If the conflict in the Middle East were to escalate further, however, oil-supply disruptions could push up global inflation. A moderate conflict-related supply disruption could raise the average Brent price this year to $92 per barrel.

A more severe disruption could see oil prices surpass $100 per barrel, raising global inflation in 2024 by nearly one percentage point.

“A striking divergence is emerging between global growth and commodity prices: despite relatively weaker global growth, commodity prices will most likely remain higher in 2024-25 than in the half-decade before the COVID-19 pandemic.

“One critical factor behind this divergence relates to heightened geopolitical tensions that are keeping upward pressure on prices of major commodities and stoking risks of sharp price movements.

"Central banks must remain alert about the inflationary implications

of commodity-price spikes amid elevated geopolitical tensions,” said World Bank Group’s Deputy Chief Economist and Director of the Prospects Group, Ayhan Kose.

Highlights of the report showed that the average price of gold—a popular choice for investors seeking “safe haven”—is expected to hit a record in 2024 before moderating slightly in 2025.

Gold holds a special status among assets, often rising in price during periods of geopolitical and policy uncertainty, including conflicts.

Strong demand from several developing-country central banks, along with heightened geopolitical challenges, is expected to bolster gold prices throughout 2024.

An escalation of the conflict in the Middle East could also drive up prices of natural gas, fertilizers, and food, the report noted. The region is a crucial gas supplier—20 per cent of global liquefied natural gas (LNG) trade transits the Strait of Hormuz.

If the LNG supply were interrupted, fertilizer prices would also rise substantially, likely driving up food prices.

The Bank’s baseline forecast, however, is for overall food prices to decline somewhat—by 6 per cent in 2024 and 4 per cent in 2025.

N20.5 billion out of the N28 billion and we still have to seek presidential approval on this. The company would have to state through a letter if they accept but by Friday, if I don’t get anything we would return to our standing which involves termination of the contract.

“Our position is straightforward, we reject Julius Berger’s conditions and ask Berger to please go back to the site to complete the project based on our offer. Our offer is unconditional and we say, accept or reject, so you cannot subject our offer to your conditions.

“Berger should note that our 14-day termination ultimatum has gone and we will make a proposal if you do not agree with this,” the minister said.

Earlier in his presentation, the Managing Director, Julius Berger Plc, Dr. Lars Richter called for the variation of the contract which he said had become necessary in view of the declining value of the Naira

and rising cost of construction materials in the country.

The chief executive drew the attention of the minister to the time lag between when the contract was awarded in 2015 during which the exchange rate was N305 to a dollar, adding that the cost of building materials had since risen by over 1000 per cent.

In his contribution, the Deputy Managing Director of NLNG, Olakunle Osobu pointed out that the contract which is being funded through the Tax Credit Scheme is intended to complement the efforts of the current administration.

He called on all parties to the project to remain patriotic as well as make the necessary sacrifices for the actualisation of the project.

On their part, royal fathers of host communities led by Chief Abel Attoni, Palace Secretary, Bonny Kingdom, expressed gratitude to the president over the decision to ensure that Bodo-Bonny road is completed.

Obaseki Mourns Passing of Iyase of Asaba

The Edo State Governor, Mr. Godwin Obaseki, has mourned the passing of Iyase of Asaba and former Secretary to Government and Head of the Civil Service of the defunct Bendel State, Chief Patrick Onyeobi. Obaseki, in a statement, described the late Onyeobi as a consummate administrator and distinguished community leader, who deployed his intellect and resources for the service of humanity, his community, and country.

Obaseki commiserated with the Onyeobi family, as well as the people of Asaba, praying that God will grant all the fortitude to bear the irreparable loss.

“I received the news of the passing of Iyase of Asaba, Chief Patrick Isioma Goodluck Onyeobi, with a heavy heart. A fine gentleman, Chief Onyeobi was a consummate administrator and outstanding community leader who achieved remarkable success in the various endeavours he pursued.

“He was a beacon of excellence and espoused virtues of diligence

and hard work. From his early days as a clerical officer at Western Region Civil Service, rising to a Permanent Secretary at Bendel State Civil Service between 1974 and 1983.

“He was later Head of Service and asformer Secretary to Government of the defunct Bendel State, his intellect and hard work stood him out, endearing him to all who came in contact with him.

“His demise is even more painful, particularly at this time when we still mourn and are yet to complete the burial rites for the Asagba of Asaba. He will be remembered for his knack for excellence, his undying quest for truth and justice, and an abiding commitment to the development of his community and our dear nation. He will be sorely missed,” he said.

On behalf of the Government and people of Edo State, the governor commiserated with the people of Asaba, the Onyeobi family, friends, and associates and prayed that God will grant all the fortitude to bear the irreparable loss.

Emmanuel Addeh in Abuja

Ndubuisi Francis in Abuja

Ozoh; Lecturer,

Kenyatta

Associate Professor

Promotion, University of the West of England, Bristol, UK and Co-Investigator, Dr. Faatihah Niyi-Odumosu; Associate Professor of Public Health, Teeside University, UK and Principal Investigator, Dr. Davies Adeloye; Associate Professor of Microbiology, Covenant University, Ota and Co-Investigator, Dr. Olayemi Akinnola; and Family Medical Practitioner, Covenant University, Ota and Co-Investigator, Dr. Alexander IseOlorunkanmi, during the inaugural stakeholders' engagement forum on the impact of climate change on respiratory health in Nigeria organised by C2REST Nigerian Study Team funded by Medical Research Foundation UK in Lagos, Nigeria ... yesterday

QATAR MISSION VISITS ZULUM...

L-R: Director Nigeria Arabic Village, Prof Ibrahim Mohammed; Assistant Ambassador of State of Qatar Mission in Nigeria, Mr Abdullah Hilal Alnuimi; Borno State Governor, Babagana Umara Zulum; Ambassador of State of Qatar Mission in Nigeria, Dr Ali Bn Ghanem Al-Hajri, and the Country Director of Qatar Charity Organisation in Nigeria...yesterday

EFCC, Emefiele Absent as Court Adjourns to June 24

As US accuses security agencies of arbitrary arrest

Alex Enumah in Abuja

The trial of former Governor of Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Mr Godwin Emefiele, was on Thursday stalled at the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), sitting at Maitama, Abuja.

Emefiele is standing trial on a 20-count amended charge brought against him by the office of the Attorney General of the Federation (AGF).

At the last sitting, trial judge, Justice Hamza Muazu, had adjourned till April 25, for further cross examination of the seventh witness.

When the matter was called on Thursday, neither lawyers to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) nor Emefiele was in court. But a lawyer, who claimed to be part of the defence team, one I. D. Ahmed, told the court that his lead counsel had informed him of a letter from the prosecution for the adjournment of the matter to a date in May.

Although, he did not give the reason for the adjournment in the open court, it might not be unconnected with Emefiele's fresh trial in Lagos.

Responding, Muazu, who observed that the date suggested by counsel for continuation of trial was not convenient for the court, subsequently, fixed June 24 and 25 for continuation of trial.

At the last sitting, the seventh prosecution witness, Mr Michael Agboro, under cross examination admitted that Emefiele did not confer any unfair, corrupt advantage on himself in the award of contracts to some companies during his tenure at the apex bank.

Among allegations against Emefiele was that he forged a document titled, “Re: Presidential Directive on Foreign Election Observer Missions,” dated January 26, 2023 with Ref No. SGF.43/L.01/201 and purported same to have emanated from the office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF).

The anti-graft agency had alleged that Emefiele engaged in criminal breach of trust, forgery, conspiracy to obtain by false pretence and obtaining money by false pretence, when he served as the apex bank's boss.

Besides, EFCC alleged that the former CBN governor used his office to confer unfair and corrupt advantage on two companies: April 1616 Nigeria Ltd and Architekon Nigeria Ltd.

Agboro, an investigator with the Independent Corrupt Practices and other related offences Commission (ICPC) was the seventh witness called to establish the claim of the commission.

Lawyers representing Emefiele in the suit would, however,

Enugu Govt Pledges to Support ANAMMCO Achieve Massive Economic Development

Gideon Arinze in Enugu

The Enugu State Government has pledged its readiness to collaborate with Anambra Motor Manufacturing Company Limited (ANAMMCO) in upscaling its economic relevance in Enugu State, the South East Region and Nigeria in general.

The Commissioner for Labour and Productivity, Chika Ugwoke, made this known yesterday at the end of a facility tour of the company's vehicles production facilities by the state governor, Peter Mbah.

continue their questioning of the witnesses when trial resume in June.

Emefiele, in the amended charge, was alleged to have, on February 8, 2023, knowingly obtained by false pretence $6,230,000.00 by falsely representing the SGF vide a letter dated January 26, 2023 with Ref No. SGF 43/L.01/201 and requested the CBN to provide a contingent logistic advance in the sum of $6,230,000 “in line with Mr. President's directive.”

Meanwhile, the United States of America berated the Nigerian

government over the arrest of Emefiele last year over corruption allegations.

The U. S., in its 2023 Country Reports on Human Rights situation in Nigeria, published on April 23, 2024, described Emefiele's arrest as "arbitrary".

The report released on the US Department of State Website, while claiming that there were numerous arbitrary arrests in the year under review, alleged that "law enforcement and intelligence agencies did not always follow due process, arresting suspects

without appropriate arrest and search warrants”.

Besides Emefiele, the report also pointed to the arrest of leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu, who has been in custody of the Department of State Services (DSS) since 2021 when he was extradited back to Nigeria to face treasonable felony charges.

Under Section 1 titled, "Respect for the Integrity of the Person,",the US recalled that the DSS on June 10, detained Emefiele “for investigative

reasons”.

It said, "On July 25, the Federal High Court in Lagos granted Emefiele bail and ordered he be held at the Ikoyi Correctional Centre until the bail was made. However, the DSS immediately attempted to arrest Emefiele again, and a fight reportedly broke out between DSS agents and Nigerian Correctional Service officers as each group tried to take Emefiele into custody. Emefiele was released on bail on November 8. Emefiele was later charged with corruption".

TUC Demands Immediate Re-opening of Port Harcourt Refinery to End Fuel Scarcity

Onyebuchi Ezigbo in Abuja

Amid the resurgence of long queues at petrol stations in the Federal Capital, Abuja and neighbouring states, the Trade Union Congress (TUC) has urged the federal government to keep to its pledge and reopen the old Port Harcourt Refinery immediately.

The union which lamented the persisting hardship Nigerians are facing due to harsh economic policies of government, said the federal government should restore the payment of wage award to workers pending the conclusion of negotiation on new minimum wage.

It noted that some states, including Delta, Anambra , Benue have failed to pay wage award to the workers or provide any form of palliative for its people.

In the same vein, the union listed states that have excelled in the provision of palliative for its people to include, Lagos, Oyo, Bayelsa, Yobe, Kaduna, Rivers, Edo and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).

Addressing journalists in Abuja yesterday , shortly after the National Executive Council (NEC) meeting of the union, TUC President, Festus Osifo, said the federal government appears to be reneging on its assurance that the old Port Harcourt Refinery will commence operations by first week of April.

He said that the failure of government to rehabilitate local refineries was responsible for the persisting fuel scarcity tormenting the country .

Osifo said: '’Sometime in the first quarter, the 12th annual congress of

Nigeria led a delegation to the Port Harcourt Refinery. Although the inspection, both the contractors and those that are employees of company, they told us clearly that the refinery is going to come into fruition on the 1st week of April .

"Today, we are approaching the first week of April this year. Now, we are approaching the end of April and the refinery production has not resumed in the old Port Harcourt Refinery.

"We wish to, hereby, call on federal government to do everything within its arsenal to ensure that the old Port Harcourt Refinery starts production immediately.

"You could go outside today and you could see cubes everywhere in FCT and in some other neighbouring states. But we certainly believe that if

our refineries were working optimally, today we would continue to have enough supply".

Osifo however commended the recent signing by the President of a new Presidential Order regarding some incentives encourage oil and gas production.

The TUC president further said that the NEC meeting reviewed the progress of negotiation of the new minimum wage with government. He said that TUC was not happy with the slow pace of progress on the matter.

When asked about the common stand of NLC and TUC regarding the amount being demanded as new minimum wage, Osifo said that both labour centres were jointly pushing for the new minimum wage to be pegged at N615,000.

“The Mbah-led administration will ensure that ANAMMCO bounces back to its days of serial and concerted vehicles production,” he said.

On his own part, the Chief Operating Officer of the company, Ben Ejindu, said that the visit was a major step in the right direction, adding that Enugu State was a stakeholder in ANAMMCO.

“This is why Mbah remains poised to integrate the company in its rapid strategic transformation plan of Enugu State. ANAMMCO has the potential to give employment to the teeming masses at every stratum for manpower,” he said.

In his address, Ugwoke said that the governor remains committed to collaborating with the private sector as an expression of his unparalleled passion for infrastructural development in the state.

Blackouts: AUN Shifts Exams, Halts Academic Activities over Students’ Protest

Daji Sani in Yola

The management of the American University of Nigeria,(AUN) Yola, Adamawa State, has shifted the start of its final semester exams by three days due to the students peaceful demonstration to voice their grievances about the national electricity crisis. The students also lamented the human and environmental cost of the prolonged electricity blackout and called on the authorities to address the situation .

The students requested that their residence halls and reading rooms be powered for longer hours so they

can prepare for their examinations and for more flexibility in their exam schedules

The AUN in a press release signed by the Senior Director, Public Affairs , Yusuf Mohammed, said the management in its response to the students demands during their demonstration, the spring semester examinations which were earlier scheduled for Saturday, April 27, was shifted to begin on Tuesday, April 30, 2024. Other concessions granted the students by the university management include halting of regular teaching activities to afford students more

time to prepare for their exams and installation of more solar power lighting and cooling systems in the library complex. According to the press release, management also gave the students an assurance of a minimum of five hours of electricity supply until public power is restored while pledging to continue to dialogue with the body of elected student representatives, the Student Government Association (SGA). "The students also received the assurances of the goodwill and solidarity of the University President, Dr. DeWayne Frazier who was away

in Cairo, Egypt where he attended the Association of American Universities and Colleges Overseas by International Conference.

“The Cairo conference presented an opportunity for AUN to seek partnerships and agreements for student and faculty exchange with other American Colleges abroad.

"The students were received by senior management staff present including the VP for Finance, Ms. Nnenna Mosugu, Interim Provost, Prof. Adewale James, Interim Registrar and VP Administration, Mr. Daniel Okereke and Dean of Student Affairs, Mr. Byron Bullock," said release

FINANCING AGREEMENT FOR ACTIVE PHARMACEUTICAL INGREDIENT PLANT...

New York's Appeal Court Overturns Harvey Weinstein's Rape Conviction

Dike Onwuamaeze

An Appeal Court in New York has overturned the 2020 rape conviction against former Hollywood Movie Producer, Mr. Harvey Weinstein.

The decision was announced yesterday when the Appeal Court noted that the trial judge made improper rulings, which included allowing a woman to testify against Weinstein about allegations that were not a part of his case.

The Court of Appeals agreed last year to take Weinstein’s case after an intermediate appeals court upheld his conviction. Prior to their ruling, judges on the lower appellate court had raised doubts about Burke’s conduct during oral arguments. One observed that Burke had let prosecutors pile on with “incredibly prejudicial testimony” from additional witnesses.

Appellate Chief Steven Wu stated that Weinstein’s acquittal

The Court of Appeals, in a four to three ruling, overturned Weinstein’s 23-year sentence because “the trial court erroneously admitted testimony of uncharged, alleged prior sexual acts against persons other than the complainants of the underlying crimes,” which it described as “an abuse of judicial discretion."

Malaria: Emzor to Build $23m API Facility in Ogun

Folalumi Alaran in Abuja

In a major stride towards curbing the scourge of malaria in Nigeria and Sub-Saharan Africa, Emzor Pharmaceuticals has unveiled plans to construct an Active Pharmaceutical Ingredients (API) facility in Shagamu, Ogun state, with an investment totalling $23 million.

In a joint statement released by the Head of Marketing and Strategy, Kunle Faloye and Executive Director, Uzoma Ezeoke, the company reaffirmed its dedication to addressing the pressing public health challenge posed by malaria.

The firm expressed its commitment to combating malaria through robust research and development endeavours.

According to the company, the establishment of the API plant signifies a pivotal advancement in enabling the local production of vital pharmaceutical ingredients essential for manufacturing antimalarial drugs.

The statement said: “ The company's commitment to innovation is further exemplified by the establishment of its state-of-the-art API plant, which will enable the local production of critical pharmaceutical ingredients essential for antimalarial drugs manufacturing.

“This initiative not only strengthens the antimalarial supply chain but also contributes to expanding pharmaceutical manufacturing capacity in the region.

" By aligning with Sustainable Development Goal 3, which aims to ensure longer and healthier lives for all, Emzor's efforts promise to protect millions of people in Africa from disease and disability.

“Moreover, the project emphasises financial inclusion and the health of pregnant women by producing APIs intended for use in manufacturing antimalarial pharmaceuticals, including those for the Intermittent Preventive Treatment of malaria in pregnancy.

"This initiative has the potential to empower women and address gender inequality within communities."

According to the statement, upon completion, the API facility will produce 400 metric tonnes of quality APIs annually, significantly accelerating the fight against malaria in Africa.

This milestone, the company added, underscores Emzor's long-standing commitment to strengthening the pharmaceutical sector in Africa and aligns with World Health Organisation (WHO) malaria elimination target by 2030.

on the most serious charges — two counts of predatory sexual assault and a first-degree rape charge involving actor Annabella Sciorra’s allegations of a mid1990s rape — showed jurors were paying attention and they were not confused or overwhelmed by the additional testimony.

While Thursday’s ruling was a blow to #MeToo advocates, they noted that it was based on legal technicalities and not an exoneration of Weinstein's behavior, saying the original trial irrevocably moved the cultural needle on attitudes about sexual assault.

But, Judge Madeline Singas, in her dissenting judgment wrote that the Court of Appeals was continuing a “disturbing trend of overturning juries’ guilty verdicts in cases involving sexual violence.”

Despite the ruling, Weinstein would remain in jail because he had been convicted of another rape in Los Angeles and sentenced to 16 years in December 2022.

Weinstein was found guilty in February 2020 in New York of rape in the third degree and a criminal sexual act in the first degree and sentenced to 23 years in prison.

Weinstein was accused of rape in the third degree against an actress in 2013 and forcibly performing oral sex on a TV production assistant in 2006.

Reacting to the judgment, Weinstein’s Lawyer, Mr. Arthur Aidala, declared the court’s ruling “a tremendous victory for every criminal defendant in the state of New York.”

Aidala argued before the Court of Appeals in February that the trial judge swayed the case by allowing three women to testify about allegations that were not part of the case.

He stated that the extra testimony went beyond the normally allowable details about motive, opportunity, intent or a common scheme or plan, and essentially put Weinstein on trial for crimes he wasn’t charged with.

In appealing, Weinstein’s lawyers sought a new trial, but only for the criminal sexual act charge. They argued the rape charge could not be retried because it involved alleged conduct outside the statute of limitations.

However, Attorney Douglas H. Wigdor, who represented eight Harvey Weinstein’s accusers, including two witnesses at the New York criminal trial, called the ruling “a major step back in holding those accountable for acts of sexual violence.”

Wigdor insisted that "courts routinely admit evidence of other uncharged acts where they assist juries in understanding issues concerning the intent, modus operandi or scheme of the defendant.

“The jury was instructed on the relevance of this testimony and overturning the verdict is tragic in that it will require the victims to endure yet another trial.”

Also, another attorney, Ms.

Debra Katz, a prominent civil rights and #MeToo attorney who represented several Weinstein accusers, said that her clients are “feeling gutted” by the ruling, but that she believed – and was telling them – that their testimony had changed the world.

"People continue to come forward, people continue to support other victims who’ve reported sexual assault and violence, and I truly believe there’s no going back from that,” Katz said, predicting that Weinstein would be convicted again at a retrial.

However, the Manhattan district attorney’s office has signaled its intention to retry Weinstein, and his accusers could again be forced to retell their stories on the witness stand.

Dozens of women had accused Weinstein, including famous actresses such as Ashley Judd and Uma Thurman.

But Weinstein maintained his innocence, insisting that the sexual activities were consensual.

LPDC Derobes Barrister Ogunde on Professional Misconduct

Strikes off her name from the roll of legal practitioners in Nigeria

Dike Onwuamaeze

At last, the Legal Practitioners Disciplinary Committee (LPDC) has withdrawn the practicing licence of Ms. Adekunbi Ogunde, a lawyer formerly in the law firm of Wole Olanipekun and Co, and struck off her name from the roll of legal practitioners in Nigeria.

The withdrawal of Ogunde’s practicing licence, which was announced yesterday, followed the LPDC’s findings that she violated the Rules of Professional Conduct for Legal Practitioners.

Ogunde was alleged to have written an email to Saipem Oil Limited, an international oil company, to win its brief from the law firm of Okeke & Ajumogobia in a case against Rivers State Government.

The letter was, however, viewed as an unprofessional and

surreptitious attempt to solicit a brief from Saipem SPA, knowing that another firm was already handling the case.

The letter allegedly touted the supposed overriding influence of the firm’s principal partner, Chief Wole Olanipekun, SAN, who was the chairman of the Body of Benchers and a respected past President of the NBA.

This compelled the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) to initiate disciplinary proceedings against Ogunde for violating the sacred rules of professional conduct, particularly Rule 1.

In a petition that was dated July 19, 2022, the NBA prayed the LPDC to immediately commence the disciplinary process and prosecute Ogunde.

The petition also sought the LPDC’s opinion on whether the partners of Wole Olanipekun &

Co. should also be disciplined, considering Ogunde’s ostensible authority to act as a partner and her actions on behalf of the firm.

The petition, numbered BB/ LPDC/901/2022, was filed by NBA 1st Vice President, Mr. John Aikpokpo-Martins, who stated that Ogunde was expected to exhibit and maintain a very high standard of conduct, professionalism, and respect for the integrity of the court and the judicial process when discharging her professional duties.

The NBA noted that members of the association were surprised by the contents of the letter, which allegedly originated from the esteemed office of Wole Olanipekun & Co. The legal profession and the general public were disturbed by this infamous letter, and the NBA had hoped that the allegations were false.

However, alleged letters from

Wole Olanipekun & Co. apologising for Ogunde’s actions and disclaiming her confirmed the authenticity of the allegations.

The inception of the investigation constrained Ogunde to take a leave of absence from the Wole Olanipekun and Co in 2022, ostensibly to enable her time to undergo necessary courses to equip herself better in dealing with professional and life issues.

It was further alleged that Ogunde announced that she would involve herself with community and social work pro bono, with a few selected NGOs.

She promises to be back at a later time after consultation with her parents, senior colleagues, and well-wishers.

But her return is now very unlikely following the striking off of her name from the roll of legal practitioners in Nigeria.

L-R: Arthur Delor, Investment Officer Project Finance Division, EIB; Moussa Nakoulima, Loan Officer, Public Service, EIB; Mr. Frankline Keter, CEO, APIFA; Dr. Jamila Bio Ibrahim, Minister of Youth; Mr. Emeka Okoli, Chairman of Emzor Pharmaceuticals; Mr Diederick Zambon, Director for International Partners, EIB Global and Dr Stella C. Okoli, OON, Group Managing Director, Emzor Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd, at the official signing of a financing agreement for the Active Pharmaceutical Ingredient Plant, between Emzor and EIB, which held at the Presidential Villa

FROM RUSSIA WITH LOVE…

Court Sets Aside Arrest Warrant against Gov Fubara's Chief of Staff, Edison Ehie

his earlier order for the arrest of

The judge had on January 31, granted an exparte application to the police to arrest Ehie and five others over their alleged

NDDC Tasked on Sustained Peace for Enhanced Development in N'Delta

The Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) has been tasked to ensure the promotion of peaceful engagements in communities in the region, which ensure sustainable community development and actualisation of its mandate as a Commission.

The Executive Director of Impact for Change and Development (IMPACT), Dr. Naomi Akpan-Ita, made the call in her keynote speech at the strategic capacity building training on conflict management and peace building approach for NDDC's personnel, organised in Port Harcourt by the Commission.

Speaking on the theme: "Fostering Peaceful Engagement for Sustainable Development", Dr. Akpan-Ita noted that frequent hostilities and violent conflicts in the Niger Delta communities have been a major impediment to implementation and sustainability of NDDC's projects in the region.

She stressed the need to critically examine ways in which staff of the commission in their individual and corporate capacity can intervene in the promotion of peace in the communities, saying that "To achieve this, such staff need to have a good understanding of conflict management and acquire peacebuilding skills for needed interventions".

To achieve a sustained peace that will enhance development in the region, Akpan-Ita said "NDDC needs to build capacity of its staff generally and Department of Dispute and Conflict Resolution (DCR) staff in particular in conflict management and peacebuilding.

"Understanding Conflict Sensitivity and Do-noharm principles for project conceptualization and management; acquisition of conflict analysis skills; skills for effective

and strategic communication in conflict; negotiation as well as mediation skills, are necessary for carrying out their responsibilities effectively.

"Acquisition and application of these skills would result in peaceful and meaningful engagement of stakeholders with regards to developmental projects in the Niger Delta".

In his remarks, the Managing Director of NDDC, Dr. Samuel Ogbuku said the training was important for the staff because it is going to equip them on peace building skills, saying that it will help the commission in engagement with the communities in terms of conflict issues due to the projects it would be having in the area.

Represented by Patrick Ekade, Director, Human Resources and Administration, NDDC, Ogbuku said the issues of conflicts affected the commission adversely in the past, which he said had stalled some of their projects, resulting in moving the project to different locations because the necessary skills for that engagement were not available then.

Speaking on distrust among the people leading to the level of the conflict in communities, Ogbuku said "I am very optimistic that the outcome of this programme will resolve the issues of conflicts in various communities of the region. The knowledge gained here will greatly help our staff in bringing about trust with the communities".

On his part, the Director, Conflict and Dispute Resolution Department, Ayewumi Goddy, noted that the training is going to resolve a lot of issues, citing the conflict in Okuama Community in Delay State. Ayewumi said: “This training is going to solve a lot of issues in the region, because the MD of NDDC, Samuel Ogbuku, is a

man of vision. When they went for the economic summit in Akwa Ibom, there is one thing he said that the NDDC is transiting from transaction to transformation.

“What that means is that we are going to be doing things in a more transparent way. This programme is the idea of the MD where NDDC personnel are trained as managers of conflict. Conflict should not arise before we move, but once we observe anything that we lead to conflict we move.

complicity in the burning of the Rivers State House of Assembly.

However, delivering ruling yesterday, Justice Nwite, agreed with the submissions of Ehie's lawyer, Mr Femi Falana, SAN, as well as counsel to the other defendants, Mr Oluwole Aladedoye, SAN, that the court lacked jurisdiction to have granted the order in the first place, having not been presented with any charge against the defendants.

He subsequently made an order setting aside the warrant order. Beside the Chief of Staff, others affected by the voided order include Jinjiri Bala, Happy Benneth, Progress Joseph, Adokiye Oyagiri and Chibuike Peter also known as Rambo. Justice Nwite gave the order while delivering a ruling in an ex-parte application brought by the Inspector-General (I-G) of Police's lawyer, Simon Lough, SAN.

He granted the ex-parte application as canvassed by Lough on the grounds that the six defendants had been at large to stand their trial in a seven-count preferred against five other suspected arsonists currently being prosecuted before a sister court presided over by Justice Bolaji Olajuwon.

But Falana and Aladedoye filed separate motions on behalf of their clients.

While Falana filed a motion seeking an order to set aside the January 31 order made by Justice Nwite, Aladedoye filed an application for a stay of execution of the arrest order.

In a motion marked: FHC/ ABJ/CS/112/2024 dated February 2 and filed February 7, by Falana, the CoS sought two orders, including “an order setting aside the order made on January 31 for want of jurisdiction.

“An order of this honourable court staying the execution of the order made on January 31, 2024, pending the hearing and determination of this application.”

Giving six grounds of argument, Falana argued that the I-G (complainant) had not filed any criminal charge or motion before the court.

The senior lawyer argued that the court lacked the territorial jurisdiction to entertain the exparte application as the alleged offences of conspiracy, attempted murder, murder and arson took place in Port Harcourt, Rivers.

Aladedoye, in a motion on notice dated and filed February 9, on behalf of the five defendants, sought two orders, including “an order staying execution or further execution of the order(s) of this honourable court made on January 31, 2024, pending the hearing and determination of the appeal filed by the applicants.”

Cult War: Lawmaker Convenes Security Summit, Says 34 Killed in 3 Weeks

As NSCDC, army meet, strategise on security

David-Chyddy Eleke in Awka

The member representing Awka 1 State Constituency in the Anambra State House of Assembly, Hon Henry Mbachu, has regretted the recent incidences of killings in Awka, as a result of cult clashes.

The lawmaker said a security summit is underway for Awka indigenes, government and law enforcement agencies to discuss the security of the state capital.

This is coming as the commandant of Nigeria Security and Civil Defense Corps (NSCDC) in Anambra State, Mr Olatunde Maku, met with the Commander, 302 Artillery Regiment (302 AR) Nigerian Army, Onitsha, Col. M. B. Abubakar, to strategize on how to provide security in the state.

While speaking about the spate of gun attacks in Awka, Hon Mbachu said: "We cannot

continue like this. We have to come together and fashion a way forward. Awka is the capital of our dear state. It houses the governor, deputy governor, speaker and all members of the house of assembly.

"The police commissioner lives in Awka; same for the director of DSS, commandant of NSCDC, and various security agencies. So, who are cultists that these people cannot team up and combat their activities? We need to look inwards to know what the problem is because I no longer believe this is just about cult killings.

"Between Easter and now, I have kept count, no less than 34 youths have been killed. These people are people's children, they are people's husbands and fathers. Should we continue to fold our hands and let these happen?

"It is as if we are afraid, but

something has to be done. That is why we are convoking a security summit for every Awka person to come together and let's seek a way forward."

The lawmaker regretted that every street in Awka has been barricaded with gates, and multiple vigilante groups have been formed and arms distributed, yet the killings have continued unabated.

He called on all Awka indigenes to come out on May 29 for the summit, which he said would among other things produce a communique that would be sent to the governor and other security agencies and also make out rules that will ensure safety in Awka.

Meanwhile, the Public Relations Officer for Anambra State Command of NSCDC, SC Okadigbo Edwin in a press release said that the commandant, Maku has met with the commander of

302 Artillery, Abubakar to strengthen security in the state.

Okadigbo quoted Maku as saying during the visit to Col Abubakar: "I am proud to say that you have not disappointed me. In executing our core mandate in the protection of critical national, state and local government assets and infrastructure. We have sought for your synergy and I am happy to say, you have without hesitation availed us. Thank you for always partnering with us.

"We commend the Nigerian Army for being a supportive partner to NSCDC in the area of training and retraining of the Corps personnel, joint operations, fight against illegal oil bunkering, pipeline vandalism, illegal oil refining and petroleum black market racketeering.

"We hope that our partnership will help us tackle sundry crimes in Anambra State."

Alex Enumah in Abuja

Justice Emeka Nwite of a Federal High Court, Abuja, has set aside

Edison Ehie, the Chief of Staff (CoS) to Governor Siminalayi Fubara of Rivers State.

Blessing Ibunge in Port Harcourt

L-R: Russian Trade Commissioner in Nigeria, Mr. Max. Patrov, Governor of Imo State, Senator Hope Uzodimma, Sen. Patrick Ndubueze and Special Adviser Abuja Liaison, Ambassador Humphrey Orjiakor when Uzodimma met with Patrov in Abuja ... yesterday

INAUGURAL NIGERIA INSTITUTE OF PUBLIC RELATIONS WEEK...

L-R: Femi Adeniran, Director

We’ll Recapture Fleeing Inmates of Suleja Custodial Centre, Tunji-Ojo Assures Nation

Michael Olugbode in Abuja and Laleye Dipo in Minna Minister of Interior, Hon. Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, has promised the country that the 119 fleeing inmates from Suleja Medium Security Custodial

Centre would be recaptured, disclosing that the manhunt for them has already begun.

Wednesday’s heavy downpour in Abuja and neighbouring Suleja in Niger State left part of the custodial facility destroyed, giving

opportunity for some of the inmates to flee.

The minister, who visited the custodial facility to assess the situation yesterday, said manhunt had begun for those at large and they would soon be recaptured.

Ondo Guber: APC NWC Pleads With Aggrieved Aspirants to Work for Party

Adedayo Akinwale in Abuja

The National Working Committee (NWC) of the All Progressives Congress (APC), yesterday, pleaded with 15 aggrieved governorship aspirants to work for the victory of the party in the off-cycle election scheduled for November in Ondo State.

Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa, who contested last weekend’s primary election with several other aspirants was declared winner by Governor Usman Ododo, who chairman the election committee.

The other aspirants were the Senator representing Ondo South Senatorial district, Jimoh Ibrahim; Olusola Oke, former President of Nigerian Medical Association, Prof. Francis Faduyile, Funmilayo WaheedAdekojo and the National Vice Chairman of the APC, South West, Isaac Kekemeke.

Others were Dr. Soji Ehinlanwo, Akinfolarin Samuel, Okunjimi Odimayo, Adewale Akinterinwa, Olugbenga Edema and Brig-Gen. Ohunyeye Olamide (rtd), Morayo Lebi, Oladiran Iyatan and Ifeoluwa Oyedele.

But some of the aspirants had since kicked against the outcome of the election, alleging irregularities. They were Olugbenga Edema, Omoba Jimmy Odimayo and Adewale Akinterinwa.

The National Chairman of the party, Dr. Abdullahi Ganduje, while addressing the aggrieved aspirants during a peace meeting summoned by the NWC at the party's

headquarters in Abuja appealed to them.

"I have to thank you for honouring our invitation in the shortest time and also considering the emotional distress as a result of the primary conducted in a few days.

"But equally the same, since we are all democrats, we used to have ups and downs of politics. So, I have to thank you for honouring our invitation.

"The purpose of this dialogue, this meeting is to appeal. The purpose is not to dwell on what has happened, what has not happened, what is correct, what is not correct.

“If we dwell on that, then it will lead to what we call, 'too much analysis leads to paralysis’. If we are to dwell on that, there are professors, amongst us, lawyers, some are engineers, even the gender is being accommodated.

"We, who are less educated, the controversy will not cover us considering the galaxy of politicians, who are here. So, our own is to appeal to you. We in the party here, we are both insiders and outsiders.

“So when you say something is inside and also outside you have to think about that oxymoron. You have to think about that controversy. We are insiders because it is our party, that is a ruling party in Ondo State and we are the managers of our party in Nigeria.

"So, we are an interested party even if it is a local government election. We are outsiders because this state belongs to you, this party belongs to you. I am sure your

prayer is that our party, your party should be the ruling party in Ondo state.

"I think this is our common focus, our party should be the ruling party in Ondo state. It is already a ruling party. Our prayer is that it should continue to be a ruling party in Ondo State.

“So you see, we are here to appeal to you so that we succeed in maintaining this state as APC state. I appeal to you, we are all practitioners in this game, in this politics, in this agenda.”

Olubunmi-Ojo said the federal government was amassing support from security agencies to recapture the fleeing escapees. He lamented that there were gaps in reporting line at the centre, stressing that the situation could have been avoided if the right information had been passed to the right channel on time.

The minister stated, “There was a breach on the outer wall of this facility and some of the inmates escaped. We were able to recapture 10 out of the 119 that escaped. So now we have 109 at large and the manhunt is presently ongoing and we will do everything humanly possible to make sure that everyone is brought in.” Tunji-Ojo added that the federal government was going to look further into the remote and immediate causes of the collapse of the perimeter fence, which led to the escape.

He said, "We must make sure that this does not happen again. This could have been avoided

if the right information at the appropriate time had been disseminated with regard to the structure and others "But we will get them back, we will secure our correctional facilities and make sure that this doesn't happen again in Nigeria.

"Obviously, the walls are already old and there are certain responsibilities we must take but we'll do everything possible to prevent this happening in other facilities."

He stressed that President Bola Tinubu had been concerned about urbanisation reaching into areas with custodial centres, hence, there was need to relocate some of them from the city centres for better security. The minister also said, "There are a lot of things that I will not be able to say on camera with regard to the correctional centres, the reporting lines and other issues but we will handle those things behind the scene. "We are not here to make excuses, but to take

responsibility because we were elected to do the job and that job will be done.

"This is a facility built to hold 250 inmates. Before the incident, we had 499 inmates here. This gives credence to our concern over overcrowding in our correctional centres."

Already, the Nigerian Correctional Service (NCoS) said 10 of the fleeing inmates had been captured but a manhunt was still on for those running.

A statement from the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) service said the agency had since activated mechanism to recapture the remaining fleeing inmates.

Not less than 50 inmates escaped from the Suleja Correctional Centre in Niger State following the collapse of the perimeter fence of the centre on Wednesday night.

THISDAY learnt that those rearrested was as a result of the combined efforts of security operatives in Suleja and members of the community.

Benue Under Siege, Alia Needs Support of All of Us, Declares Former Governor Ortom

George Okoh in Makurdi

Former Governor of Benue State, Samuel Ortom, has called on Nigerians to support his successor, Hyacinth Alia, over the spate of attacks by criminals including herdsmen in the state.

Ortom lamented that the state was under siege by suspected armed herders despite the existence of anti-open grazing law meant to prevent armed herders’ influx and herders-farmer conflicts.

He made this known at a public lecture delivered in Makurdi by Prof. Samuel Ovuete Aghalino of the History Department, University of Ilorin, as part of activities marking his (Ortom’s) 63rd birthday celebration.

Urging the Benue people to rise

to the challenge, Ortom said the incumbent governor, Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Senator George Akume, and himself, could not do it alone.

He therefore, advised Alia, to sheathe his sword and find ways to work with the SGF to enable the people of the state benefit from the position, which according to him, was being occupied by a Benue indigene for the first time in the history of Nigeria.

“Benue State is our state, we have no other state other than Benue State. We need peace but we need to be strong. There are challenges, the challenges are beyond the SGF.

“I appreciate the SGF for his goodwill message. He is my father figure, he is my leader, he is my

mentor. I appreciate him for what God has used him to do in my life.

“I also appreciate the Governor of Benue State for his goodwill message, especially second to the last paragraph in which he described me as a statesman.

“Benue State had never had an opportunity to have an SGF. The governor must sheathe his sword and find ways to work with the SGF so that all of us will enjoy the dividends of having an SGF and a governor. We are all his subjects, we are available.

“Elections were fought and elections were won. Litigations took place and God vindicated him. Power does not come from anywhere; it comes from God.

“After Supreme Court judgement, my governorship

candidate congratulated him and I followed suit and congratulated him and I made myself available if there were issues. So, it is his responsibility to do the needful so that Benue State will be at peace.

“Benue is under siege and this siege, the governor cannot do it alone, I cannot do it alone, the SGF cannot do it alone. It requires all of you,” he said.

In his remarks, former Minister of Justice and Attorney General of the Federation (AGF), Chief Michael Kaase Aõndoakaa, asked Alia to amend the penal code of the anti-open grazing law and take the glory of the amendment if he did not want to share the glory of introduction of the law with Ortom.

of Corporate Communications & CSR at Airtel Networks; Victoria Uwadoka, Corporate Communications, Public Affairs & Sustainability Lead at Nestle Nigeria; Yomi Badejo-Okusanya, Founder/CEO of CMC Connect & Chairman of the Local Organizing Committee for NIPR Week 2024; Chineze Amanfo, Lead of Public Relations at 9Mobile; Abiona Babarinde, GM of Marketing & Corporate Communications at Coscharis Group; and Ndiana-Abasi Matthew, Group Head of Media Operations, Strategic Communications & Events at Aiteo, gather during the inaugural Nigeria Institute of Public Relations (NIPR) Week. The event, held April 22-26 in Abeokuta, Ogun State, themed "Boldly Public Relations" and included a session on the impact of Brand PR and Corporate Communications on the bottom line

WALEEMATU-NIKKHAI CEREMONY...

L-R: Mother of the Groom, Hon. Kafilat Ogbara; Senator Tokunbo Abiru,Wife of Lagos Governor, Mrs Ibijoke Sanwo-Olu; the

of Kwara

of Appeal, Alh. Abdulateef Kamaideen; and

the

Abdulbaasit

Alhaji Luqman Ogbara; dur ing the Waleematu-Nikkhai ceremony of Abdulbaasit Ogbara and Raabihah Mohammad held at White Stone Events Place Oregun, Lagos ...recently

PDP National Chairman, Damagum, Heads Ondo Guber Primary Election Appeal Panel

NNPP holds own primary today

Chuks Okocha in Abuja and Fidelis David in Akure

The National Working Committee (NWC) of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) nominated the party’s National Chairman, Umar Damagum, to head the Ondo State Governorship Primary Election Appeal Committee.

The NWC said the panel would hear appeals arising from the primary election ahead of the governorship election.

The appeal panel is scheduled to sit Friday, April 26 at the NWC Hall, PDP National Secretariat, Wadata Plaza, Zone 5, Abuja.

A statement by National Publicity Secretary, Debo Ologunagba, stated that the time of the appeal hearing is 11:00am.

Other members of the committee were Amb. Taofeek Arapaja, Hon. Umar M. Bature, Hon. (Arc), Setonji

Koshoedo, Hon. Daniel Ambrose Woyengikuro and Hon. Ahmed Yayari Mohammed.

Also on the committee were Kamaldeen Adeyemi Ajibade, SAN; Hon. Debo Ologunagba; Hon. Sir Daniel Obi Okechukwu; Hon. Amina Darasimi D. Bryhm, Prince Muhammed Kadade Suleiman; and Chief Dr. Ali Obasi Odefan.

Further included in the list as members were Chief Dan Osi Orbih, Dr. Emmanuel Nkavoa Bovoa, Hon. Theophilus Dakas Shan, Senator Bello Hayatu Gwarzo, Ajisafe Kamoru Toyese, Olagunsoye Oyinlola, Senator Umaru Tsauri, Hajiya Inna Ciroma, and Chief Onyema Ugochukwu as members.

The embattled National Secretary of the party, Senator Samuel Anyanwu, is to serve as Secretary.

NNPP Holds Own

Guber Primary Today

The New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) in Ondo State scheduled to hold its governorship primary today.

The primary election is expected to hold between Israel Ayeni and Prof. Ibrahim Ajaguna. Ayeni had said the agitation of

youths and women in the state for good governance prompted him to join the race for the November 16 poll. While speaking with journalists

in Akure, the state capital, Ayeni said he had to yield to the agitation through political means to ensure that the future of the people of the coastal state was guaranteed.

Alake Urges Foreign Businesses to Invest in Nigeria’s Mining Sector

Folalumi Alaran in Abuja

The Minister of Solid Minerals Development, Dele Alake, has described Nigeria as Africa's choice mining investment destination, emphasising incentives and policies promoting ease of doing business in the mining sector. The minister disclosed this while virtually addressing the NigeriaAustralia Investment Roundtable. Highlighting efforts to combat illegal mining and insecurity around mining areas, Alake cited the establishment of the 2,220 strong elite para-military force tagged “Mining Marshals” which is made up of a 60-man rapid response squad, deployed in each of the 36 states

Ganduje in Gombe, Presents Flags to APC Candidates Ahead Saturday's LG Elections

Segun Awofadeji in Gombe

National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC),has presented flags to the party’s chairmanship candidates ahead of the forthcoming local governments elections in Gombe State.

The party also received thousands of decampees from opposition PDP, NNPP and other political parties, including former NNPP National Chairman, State and National Assemblies Candidates in the last

general election and a flag bearer of PDP in the council polls.

At a grand rally presided over by Ganduje at the Pantami Township Stadium, Gombe, amid crowd of supporters, the former Kano State governor extolled Governor Inuwa Yahaya's leadership style, which he said, gave rise to the enormous progress being witnessed since his assuming office in 2019.

"The development being witnessed today in Gombe State is a product of hard work of the governor. It is not a

coincidence or wishful thinking, and it is in line with our cardinal objectives in the All Progressives Congress, the APC, where we prioritise development and results.

“The rapid infrastructure development in Gombe State is a testament to Inuwa's sagacity, administrative acumen and managerial competence. And that is why I always describe him as an epitome and encyclopedia of development and democracy dividends," he said.

Further, Ganduje noted that, "Gombe

is clearly one of the foremost states in Nigeria in terms of peaceful coexistence, unity and stability. That is because the people have been shown the path of tolerance and, unity and stability. And this credit goes to the Governor.

“I urge the people of the state to remain supportive of the administration. Let me also say that the mission and vision of the Inuwa-led administration compatibility fit into the Renewed Hope Agenda of Tinubu Administration that centred on commitment to uplift every Nigerian in all ramifications.

of the federation and FCT.

“Illegal mining is not just unlicensed mining. It covers licensed miners operating with invalid licenses or licensed miners operating outside their coordinates or mining minerals not approved in their licenses.

“The specialised mining marshals have in the little time of operations discouraged illegal mining, brought relief to recognised miners and is clamping down on those involved in nefarious activities around mining areas across the country”, the minister added.

Speaking further, Alake assured the Australian investors that plans for the establishment of the private sector led Nigerian Solid Minerals Corporation has reached advanced stages.

He stressed that the corporation was poised for Joint Ventures with investors on critical minerals like Lithium, Gold, Baryte Lead, Iron-ore amongst others.

“Both the legislative and corporate processes for the establishment of the corporation have reached appreciable stages. I hope to invite you to the formal unveiling of Nigeria’s intervention in the international mining business, very soon”, he added.

On strengthening regulatory frameworks, the minister revealed that after the revocation of 1,633 titles for default in payment of annual service fees, scrutiny has been extended to other categories of defaulters in a bid to tackle indiscriminate speculation, license racketeering and the menace of those that obtained licenses over the years but refused to move to site.

“We have raised the approval level of permits and licenses for buying minerals; export of minerals and operation of mineral processing centres whilst also authorising the publication of the monthly digest of mining statistics to keep the sector abreast of developments,” he stated.

In addition, Alake urged his audience to make Nigeria their choice investment destination, reiterating the commitment of the Tinubu administration to providing incentives and removing impediments to ease of doing business.

“Australians seeking to expand their mining portfolio to Africa should prioritise Nigeria in view of our positive investment friendly policies and ongoing rapid transformation.

TINUBU: WE WILL CONTINUE TO TAKE DIFFICULT DECISIONS FOR NIGERIA DESPITE SHORT-TERM PAIN

"It is worthy to note that while this forum seeks to highlight and advance the potential of mutually beneficial partnerships, I wish to state here that we must also ensure that the partnerships are creative and transformative in such a manner that the ordinary citizens of our countries can reap verifiable gains.

"It is on record that Nigeria and the Netherlands have established business ties for decades. There is every need to re-invigorate this relationship. This is a call for creativity on the part of all of us."

While noting the long history of diplomatic relations between Nigeria and the Netherlands, Tinubu called for even stronger bonds, not just in diplomacy but also in commerce, innovation, and enterprise.

According to him, "Our countries possess unique strengths and resources. It is through collaboration that we can harness these strengths, unlock new opportunities, and drive economic development.

"Together, we have the potential to create synergies that will benefit our present and future generations. We must endeavour to replicate the success stories of various Dutch companies and enterprises by learning and sharing their experiences and approaches for the benefit of all.

"As the world braces up for today’s economic challenges, which in many ways affect our two countries, a creative approach

to the search for investment-minded solutions will prove to be the most viable path to the level of sustainable development that we all desire.

"In line with the above vision, I believe that we must endeavour to push this narrative into our daily business activities and to move toward industrial value addition, agribusiness, innovative technology, green energy, marine economic expansion, as well as solid mineral exploitation and processing."

Tinubu emphasised that relations between Nigeria and the Netherlands would henceforth set a new tone and foundation for stronger economic ties between both countries.

He stated, "As we engage in discussions and negotiations today, let us do so with a spirit of openness, trust, and mutual respect. Let us listen to one another, learn from each other, and find common ground that will allow us to move forward together in pursuit of our shared prosperity."

Tinubu said his administration was enhancing the business environment in Nigeria to make it friendly through various reforms. He said such reforms included, "The cleaning up of our foreign exchange market to make it more transparent for seamless business transactions, removal of the fuel subsidy, and the readiness of the Central Bank of Nigeria to provide

the necessary window to allow foreign companies repatriate their profits, among others."

Tinubu said the improved business environment in Nigeria was making the country an investors’ paradise. He urged business men and women to take advantage of these opportunities for mutually rewarding economic partnerships between Nigeria and the Netherlands.

Rutte, on his part, stated that Tinubu's economic reforms had engendered greater confidence in the Nigerian economy by international investors, adding that Dutch investors have activated another set of $250 million worth of new investments over

the next few months, including a $100 million investment in a waste-to-wealth industrial facility in Lagos State.

The Dutch prime minister said,

"You are promoting democratic governance and the solutions it can bring in dealing with problems of development. I saw how you went through democratic channels to remove an incumbent president in 2015 in partnership with President Buhari and how that has led to development in your country.

"I saw you take the courageous decision to deal with fuel subsidies and other reforms, and we are interested in what allowed you to take the decisions that many before you could not take.

Groom,

Ogbara; Vice President, Kashim Shettima; Chief Justice

State, Sharia Court

Father of

Groom,

POLITICS

Sule: Nasarawa Set To Host Investment Summit In May

Folalumi Alaran writes that Nasarawa state is set to hold the 2024 edition of its annual investment summit next month in Lafia, the state capital

Nasarawa state government has finalised arrangements to host its annual investment summit in the state by May, 2024. The state governor, Abdullahi Sule, who disclosed this at a news briefing in Abuja, said the investment summit will be coming up from May 15 to May 16 in Lafia, the state capital.

The governor said the expected outcome of the investment summit for 2024 will be intense investment opportunities.

He said: Believe me, even without the summit we are beginning to see that. That’s why I’m always running between one meeting or the other. Every time I come to Abuja I will attend at least seven to 10 meetings before I go back to Lafia. And that will strengthen what we started and it has worked for us, that is PPP.

“The PPP arrangement has worked so far from the last summit, and we want to continue to do that and then the infrastructural development. I always have an opportunity to express great appreciation to Mr. President because of the policies he came with, we have seen improved revenue for every state of the federation and with that, infrastructural development are springing up everywhere including in Nasarawa.

“We are also going to promote knowledge exchange and capacity building. In Nasarawa, we consider capacity building, especially human capital development key. And that is the reason why we came up with Nasarawa state human capital development agency where we have a full DG that is taking care of that one and of course the sustainable and inclusive development that we are looking at in totality Nasarawa state

“So I’m actually pleased and excited about the prospects of the summit for 2024 to usher in the Nasarawa industrial Renaissance.”

He said a structured strategy of developing skilled workforce to participate in the various industrial projects has been set in motion.

Sule said the summit with the theme “the Industrial Renaissance” would leverage the immense industrial, agricultural and mining potential of the state.

“The summit serves as a strategic platform to facilitate robust engagements, interactions, innovation problem solving, and for forging mutually beneficial relationships among key stakeholders, including government, industry leaders, investors and development partners.

“We will also host another edition of MSME Challenge as a way of involving small businesses to challenge the old ways of doing things... to deepen the spirit of entrepreneurship among our teeming youth,” he said.

Sule said some of the expected outcome of the summit would be enhanced investment opportunities, strengthened public private partnership, infrastructure development as well as knowledge exchange and capacity building.

He said from the 2022 summit, the state had worked out suitable and sustainable partnerships that would stand the test of time.

The governor added that some of the benefits of the 2022 summit have started manifesting in terms of inaugurated projects and deals.

Sule also announced that Nigeria’s first and largest Lithium Processing Plant of about 4000 metric tonnes a day will be inaugurated in Nasarawa state in May, 2024.

The governor, who said he had already met with the Minister of Solid Minerals, Mr. Dele Alake on the inauguration of the Lithium Processing Plant, added that the residents of the state would benefit from its industrial renaissance.

According to him, “In fact, I was at the Ministry of Solid Minerals and I met the Minister Dele Alake and the invitation was for him, to agree on the commissioning of the very first and the largest Lithium processing plant that we are going to have in Nigeria, which is going to 4000 metric tonnes a day which is coming up in the month of May in Nasarawa.

“Definitely industrialization plays a major role in economic development, creating employment opportunities, and improving the quality of life of citizens. And these are areas of focus as far as we are concerned in Nasarawa state.

“So we have had lots of meetings yesterday with so many potential foreign partners that are coming to be looking at retail investors. We had a Russian delegation. I also met with

Japanese Ambassador and some other people.

“So just like the last summit, we are also going to create a Bureau. because last time

so many deals were carried out and some of them are the ones that we are implementing. So similarly, this 2024 summit, we are going

to create a Bureau where such activity will be carried on. And I’m happy that one of the issues of the roundtable is going to be energy, focus and that’s where the GACN comes in handy.

“Apart from the fact that we have the MOU I’ve always mentioned to whoever is interested in knowing that Nigeria indeed, when I work for an oil and gas company in the US, we are always looking at Nigeria as not an oil country, but actually a gas country that has oil, because Nigeria has far more gas than oil.

“So far, over 200 trillion standard cubic feet of gas reserves in the country. And yet 40 billion barrels of oil. What that means is that Nasarawa is also just coming up. Just for the site talks of it is that one of the reasons why all the drilling aspect has not been completed up till now is because they actually came across gas too early during the operation in Nasarawa state.

“I have been following that well and I want to make sure that it’s completed as soon as possible They actually came across gas too early so they have to do what we call the impartation of water in order for them to continue with the operation. So that’s how blessed Nigeria is and indeed Nasarawa state in this case.

“So we will continue to create this mutually beneficial relationship and that is the whole essence of the summit so that at the end of the day, the stakeholders including government, industry, leaders, investors and development partners and the political leaders who also come in to be part of it because they are interested in the arrangement because of policy that we are looking forward to. we will also focus on our MSME because Nasarawa state is a state that has a lot of small scale businesses.

“And so we’ll do everything possible to promote them so that we can be promoting entrepreneurship especially among our youth so we can drive that.”

SEDC Bill: New Foundation for Peace, Prosperity and Justice In Nigeria

Stanley Ohajuruka writes that the recent passage of the North East Development Commission Bill by the National Assembly is a sign post for Peace, Prosperity and Justice in the country

The recent passage of a bill for the establishment of the South East Development Commission by both Chambers of the National Assembly is indeed a welcome development.

Coming on the heels of consistent calls by well meaning Nigerians for a marshal plan to address the socio- economic and infrastructural deficit in the South East caused by the unfortunate Nigerian civil war of 1966, this can’t be less a lofty feat.

While announcing the passage of the bill in the House Of Representatives, the Deputy Speaker, Rt. Hon. Benjamin Kalu who sponsored the piece of legislation said “The House of Representatives successfully passed the bill for the establishment South East Development Commission SEDC after fifty three long years.”

This prompted some spontaneous exitement in the South East, signposting an era of fresh breath in Nigeria through political inclusion.

No doubt, the region has, prior to now, been enmeshed in a myraid of post war challenges some of which find expression in infrastructural deficit, socio-economic problems and security challenges that require the special intervention of the federal government.

The jubilation that greeted the passage of the bill speaks to the over all negative impact of the civil war and the need to chart a deliberate policy direction and strategy that will address the challenges and also restore the right of ‘Ndigbo’ of the South East and make them equal beneficiaries of the dividends of democracy in Nigeria. For purposes of accentuation, this has been the wish of every Igbo man of the

South East hence, their overwhelming joy and support to the bill. To say the least, the bill is a catalyst to achieving development in the South East.

When eventually signed into law by President Bola Tinubu, the Commission will unlock the latent ingredients that will lead to economic emancipation, empowerment, integration, rehabilitation and reconstruction of the South East. But ultimately, it will foster peace and national cohesion.

Expectedly also, the Commission will fully harness the industrial, agricultural, tourism, energy and power trading potentials in the South East for the benefit of the country st large. At this juncture, special gratitude and appreciation must be paid to our dynamic

President Tinubu on whose watch this landmark feat has been achieved.

His exceptional visionary leadership and the determination to work for a new Nigeria through his Renewed Hope is highly commendable. His desire to give every part of Nigeria a sense of belonging is legendary and worthy of commendation as there is no doubt that he will graciously assent to the bill when it gets to his table.

The South East should therefore show and demonstrate their immense gratitude and appreciation to Mr President by giving total and unalloyed support to his administration.

To the South East Legislators in the National Assembly ably led by the sponsor of the bill in the House of Representatives, our ebullient, amiable and resourceful Deputy Speaker, Rt. Hon. Kalu, I say thank you for your exceptional representation and legislative sagacity. I also thank the Senate President, Godswill Akpabio and Speaker Tajudeen Abass and members of the National Assembly for their understanding and support. Your believe in the full integration of the South East into Nigeria is well appreciated and will surely guarantee true peace and progress in our country

In conclusion, the establishment of the South East Development Commission will ultimately restore hope and trust in the system, stamping the belief in Igbo people and indeed, all Nigerians across all walks of life that a new Nigeria that gives everyone equal opportunities has been birthed under President Tinubu.

• Ohajuruka writes from Umuahia, Abia State.

UNENDING PROBLEM OF FUEL QUEUES

Petrol shortages are hurting and worrying

Since last week, the federal capital territory has been hit by an acute shortage of Petrol. The problem has spread to explanation from the Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC) Ltd. “It and other states that are close to the FCT,” said the

stations in these areas are not selling PMS, which, of course, has led to the serious queues you see in the few ones that are dispensing the product.” excuse this time, the must note that hours are being lost at fuel stations by motorists while the are getting depleted with the hike in transport costs. Despite claims to the petroleum industry and the fact that the pump price has almost quadrupled since President Bola

predicament is one they cannot hardly fathom. It is as confusing as it is frustrating. The question that remains unanswered is whether Nigerians

downstream sector of the petroleum industry. This should worry the current administration, especially since there seems to be no coherent policy in place to deal with the issue in a holistic and lasting manner.

An oil producing country should have no business with shortages of refined

regulatory failure in Nigeria more than the oil with wasting billions of Naira on importing toxic fuel that often consumers are unfairly made to bear the brunt resurgence of fuel queues country has exposed the mess in the sector and there is a need to demand accountability.

We cannot emphasise enough the fact that an oil

no remarkable progress has been made in the management of our downstream petroleum

they did in the past.

It is indeed unfortunate that in the past six decades, oil has continued to fuel the hope as well as despair of Nigerians. That perhaps explains why few people can understand how the sixth

poorly equipped managers running our national life and their decisions are hurting all of us.

From daily hikes in costs of staple foods, transportation, school fees, house rent, and other routine expenses, Nigerians are groaning under harsh economic conditions arising from recent reform measures. To now add fuel scarcity to their problems is indefensible. The fact that up astronomically and the commodity is now questions that demand urgent answers from the Tinubu administration.

WHO GAVE OUT OGWASHI-UKWU LIBRARY?

My purpose of writing this letter is to ask the Commissioner of Higher Education in Delta State and the Delta State Library Board

erty meant for research purposes. We are pro reading culture amongst youths. We are urg ing you to please see that the church stops its for research purposes. We are hoping that the brary has not been sold to the church. This

is because for a church to start building on complaining about the dying reading culture to help complete the Library. We would be Education and the Delta State Library inter

Feyisetan Akeeb Kareem, Ogwashi-Ukwu Delta State.

A FEW STOLEN ITEMS RETURNED EVENTUALLY

How long will it take for all of the 'stolen' material in muse world, to be returned to their owners or descendants? Some of this material is human remains that should be buried where they came from with appropriate respect.

Dennis Fitzgerald, Melbourne, Australia

BUSINESS WORLD

LCCI Decries Mining Sector’s Contribution to GDP, Seek NIOMCO, Ajaokuta Revival

Dike Onwuamaeze

The Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI), has expressed concern about the abysmally low performance of the Nigerian solid mineral sector, which contributes less than 0.5 per cent of the country’s GDP.

The LCCI stated this in a statement titled, “LCCI Statement on the Declining Performance of Nigeria’s Solid Minerals Mining Sector.”

According to LCCI: “Despite Nigeria’s enormous mineral resources, the minerals sector is not a major engine of economic growth and receives little investment. The sector produces less than 0.5 per cent of GDP with limited value chain in the economy. Nigeria’s solid minerals are exported with little or no value added. While Nigeria intends to capitalise on the mining

sector’s potential, it faces numerous challenges in mineral beneficiation and value addition.” The chamber observed that the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) recent reports showed that the Nigerian mining industry has recorded low performance in the last two quarters.

According to the NBS, the mining and quarrying sector’s productivity declined from 8.32 per cent in third quarter of 2022 to 4.47 per cent in the fourth quarter of 2023 despite its immense potentials.

It, therefore, urged, “the government to review the mining industry’s strategy to attract mineral exploration investments, reignite mining project development, accelerate new mineral discoveries, and encourage optimal utilisation of Nigerian mineral resources in line with the Environmental, Social,

and Corporate Governance (ESG) principles for sustainable growth.

“Furthermore, we urge the government to address the sector’s funding issues and enable enhanced its access to finance for processing value-added minerals based products by establishing seed funds and special incentives to attract foreign and domestic investors.

“The government should seek innovative ways of revitalising the Ajaokuta Steel Company Limited (ASCL) and the Nigerian Iron Ore and Mining Company (NIOMCO). We have consistently advised that the model of the NLNG management can be adopted for this purpose.

“To ramp up investments in this sector, we need to deploy more relevant research and technology to trace more mineral deposits, and make more relevant data available to interested investors.”

The Director General of LCCI, Dr. Chinyere Almona, said many obstacles had hampered the mining sector, including inadequate infrastructure, regulatory inconsistencies, limited access to financing, and security concerns in mining locations.

Almona, said the challenges have collectively contributed to the sector’s stifling growth, deterring investments, and impeding the sector’s ability to fulfill its role as a catalyst for industrialisation in spite of the mining roadmap in 2016 and other measures taken to ensure that the sector would contribute 3.0 per cent to GDP by 2025.

The chamber observed that regulatory and legal challenges, including inconsistent policies, unclear land tenures, and issues between federal and state governments, particularly in the

collection of royalties and taxes from licensed miners operating in their domains were undermining the performance of the sector.

She said the government should learn from the hindrances presently experienced in the Niger Delta for the failure to allow small scale crude refineries to operate under set supervision and standards and “adopt an inclusive a strategy on Artisanal and Small-Scale Mining (ASM) aligned with development plans at all levels of government and linked to other national rural sector strategies. “This will make the solid minerals sector more integrated with other activities that generate more jobs in rural areas. We need to support the mining ecosystem with amenities like electricity, good roads, and water. Mining companies should be engaged to

sign Community Development MOUs with the host communities that will help to create a sustainable operating environment.”

“The LCCI believed that these proposed measures could revitalise Nigeria’s mining sector and position it as a critical driver of economic growth and development if they are effectively implemented.

“Their successful execution requires concerted efforts and collaboration among government agencies, private sector entities, civil society organisations, and local communities. As stakeholders committed to advancing Nigeria’s mining industry, we stand ready to collaborate with all relevant stakeholders to overcome the existing challenges and unleash the sector’s latent potential for its contribution to our nation’s development,” she said.

Stakeholders: Airlines Lose N4bn Reve nue Annually Due to Limited Flight Hours, Aircraft Underutilisation

Chinedu Eze

Aviation industry stakeholders have stated that Nigerian airlines lose about N4 billion revenue annually due to inability to operate flights for longer hours. They identified lack of airfield lighting at some airports, paucity of air traffic controllers and insecurity as reasons for the limitation of airlines to operate their aircraft for longer hours.

According to industry experts, a Boeing 737 could be operated for over 16 hours a day. However, in Nigeria only few airports operate for 24 hours and these include Lagos, Abuja, Port Harcourt and Kano airports. Others largely operate from 6:30 am to 6:30 pm daily and most aircraft operate only for about eight to 10 hours rotation due to ground turn around, which is gross underutilisation of the equipment. A senior official of the Federal

Airports Authority of Nigeria

(FAAN), told THISDAY that beyond the absence of airfield lighting at some airports, the major challenge is that the Nigerian Airspace Management Agency (NAMA) does not have enough Air Traffic Controllers (ATC) personnel to run shifts, “and because of this some airports in Nigeria cannot operate beyond 6:00 to 7:00 pm daily.”

He said Air Traffic Controllers are not allowed to work longer hours

because of the critical role play in safe flight operation, emphasising that stretching them could lead to dire consequences.

“We have acquired airfield lighting which we are installing at the airports that do not have them, but the major problem we have currently is that there is inadequate number of Air Traffic Controllers. ATC cannot work for long hours. So, in many airports they have to close by 6:00 pm because they do not have enough

personnel to do shifts. The problem is not FAAN staff because we have enough. During Christmas period we operated some airports till 11:00 pm. When airlines request that they would operate late hours into some airports, we keep the airports open for them. We operate our power system till that time the airline will operate the last flight to that airport. But we cannot keep all the airports open because some of the airports do not have enough traffic

Fidelity Bank Celebrates Air Peace, Commends Onyema

Chinedu Eze

Fidelity Bank Plc last weekend celebrated Air Peace for its milestone of commencing scheduled flight operations into London, United Kingdom.

The special event, organised by the bank at Civic Centre, was graced by stakeholders in aviation, media personalities and well-wishers of both brands.

In her remarks, the Managing Director, Fidelity Bank, Dr Nneka Onyeali-Ikpe, commended Air Peace’s giant strides and financial discipline, which it has upheld since inception.

She said: “Air Peace has been very loyal to us. We are grateful to have them as our client and we are celebrating their milestone of launching direct flight service

to London and other milestones they will achieve.” The Chairman, Air Peace, Dr. Allen Onyema, who noted that it was not rosy for the airline to attain its current status, expressed gratitude to the flying public, the various aviation stakeholders, the media and the government for the continued support since it launched in 2014.

He acknowledged the pivotal role played by former DG, Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority, Ben Adeyileka, in helping the airline secure its Airline Operator Certificate (AOC). The Air Peace boss thanked Fidelity Bank for the consistent support and stressed that the bank had contributed to the success story of the airline.

“I call it our journey with

Fidelity Bank. I did not envisage this day would come when an indigenous institution would be celebrating another indigenous institution. Fidelity supports real business. They keep removing people from the streets of poverty. Let other banks emulate Fidelity,” Onyema said.

He emphasised that Air Peace was set up primarily to create employment, not to profiteer. According to him, the motivation behind the business was to empower Nigerians economically.

Highlighting how the airline continuously engage in humanitarian interventions for Nigerians, especially the numerous evacuation flights at critical times, the aviation leader asserted that Air Peace truly cares about the Nigerian project.

Aviation Minister Inaugurates

National Executive Safety Committee

Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, in compliance with the safety requirements of the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) annex 19, at the weekend, inaugurated the National Executive Safety Committee (NESC) of Nigeria’s State Safety Programme.

While charging the members to discharge their roles and responsibilities in a professional and appropriate manner to determine the safety risk picture of the aviation industry within the Nigerian state, the Minister said the NESC would ensure the development, periodic review and policy making pertaining to SSP activities, such as safety policy, safety indicators, enforcement policy, safety data protection and sharing, SMS regulatory requirements, integrated and internal coordination of internal SSP review and findings.

Keyamo in a statement, stated the terms of reference of the committee to include: Endorsement of the priorities and ensure that appropriate resources

are allocated to drive the desired improvements in safety performance, based on risk assessment, and give strategic direction to the Safety Improvement Advisory Committee (SIAC); Ensuring the development, periodic review and decision and policy making pertaining to SSP activities, such as safety policy, safety indicators, enforcement policy, safety data protection and sharing, SMS regulatory requirements, and internal SSP review and findings are carried out in an integrated and coordinated manner; Monitoring safety performance against Nigeria’s safety policies and objectives; (iv) Assess and accept the picture of the aggregate risk within the aviation industry in Nigeria; Identifying new and emerging strategic safety risks; Directing and monitoring the effectiveness of the SIAC; Ensuring the effectiveness of the safety oversight of regulated organisations and personnel; Review and sign off major policies, rules and interpretation changes;

Handle escalated issues identified by the SIAC; (x) Approve Terms of Reference as recommended by the SIAC for projects, new entities and other safety activities as determined by the SIAC; and Ensure the effectiveness of the organisation’s safety management processes demanded for a periodic progress report on a quarterly basis for consideration.

In his Speech, the Director General Civil Aviation Authority

Capt. Chris Najomo said by fully implementing of an effective SSP , Nigeria would posses a clear understanding of its role and contribution to safe operations that will enable it and the aviation industry prioritise and address safety risks.

Aviation Experts Identify Barriers to Intra-African Trade, AfCFTA Implementation

Chinedu Eze

At the 2024 MRO Africa Conference held in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, from April 23-25, aviation experts brainstormed on the challenges facing air travel in Africa, how to boost trade and tourism on the continent.

The stakeholders acknowledged that air transport as catalyst for economic development is the bedrock that would buoy and enhance trade and tourism; when there is free movement of people across nations with liberalised inter-state movement.

to double by 2042, it means that we have more aircraft in operation, more aircraft means more maintenance, so we really need also to have MRO facilities,” he said.

Berthe said aircraft financing had been a big challenge for Africa airlines, especially small, upstart carriers. However, he disclosed that AFRAA and African Development Bank were collaborating to create a platform that could facilitate easy access to funding by African airlines.

Ethiopian Airlines Launches New Service to Warsaw

Ethiopian Airlines Group CEO, Mr. Mesfin Tasew, regarding the planned commencement of the new passenger services to Warsaw, said: “We are truly excited to further grow our presence in the European market with yet another new destination. This development is in harmony with our strategic intent to bridge Africa with the globe while fostering commerce and tourism within the continent. We have finalized our

preparations to start delivering a gratifying journey experience to our patrons on this route.”

The Director General Nigeria Safety Investigation Bureau (NSIB), Capt Alex Badeh, expressed appreciation to the Minister for the opportunity given to them to serve in the Committee and promised to do their best. Ethiopian Airlines, Africa’s largest network operating carrier, has announced the launch of new four times-weekly

With its modern fleet, extensive network, and award-winning services, Ethiopian Airlines continues to be a leading airline in Africa and a global player in the aviation industry offering convenient travel options with seamless connections to more than 135 global destinations.

The stakeholders posited that the full implementation of African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) can be realised when there is easy movement of people in Africa without the hindrances of state boundaries, which means that there should be visa waivers or visa on arrival protocol among Africans and this would be possible through collaboration, partnerships and legislation by states.

Secretary General of African Airlines Association (AFRAA), Mr. Abdelrahmane Berthe, said the future of aviation in Africa remained bright because there are so many things to do, the level of traffic is still very small and only a few African citizens can afford air travel today.

“So, we need to create an environment to develop the traffic, the affordability of fares. That is why the single African Air Transport Market (SAATM) is important, also the African Continental Free Trade Area. If there is no activity between countries, it is difficult for an airline to open a route. And also, we are seeing still some visa restrictions between African countries. This also should be solved. And I think African airlines also are not cooperating much. We have commercial agreement. This is something which needs to be changed,” he said.

The AFRAA Secretary General said Nigeria remained a big market, which should position itself well to fully exploit its potential in air travel, recognizing the fact that it has the highest number of indigenous travellers in Africa.

“AFRAA is discussing with African Development Bank to see how they can support the project. You know, it’s simple. If you want money to buy a house, the bank will see if you can service the loan for the time. It is the same thing. So they need to really look at the management, the business plan of the airline, to get confidence that the airlines can operate the aircraft and fund the loan. There are some discussions around it. It is a very critical question. And we hope that we will find a solution as soon as possible. Because you are right, because if I said we will have more aircraft in operation, how do we get this aircraft? We need finance,” he said.

On the barriers to free movement and the realization of common airspace for Africa, which is the Yamoussoukro Declaration (YD), the AFRAA Secretary General said that even the countries that have signed to SAATM and are also signatories to YD are still engaging in protectionism, not allowing other African airlines to freely operate into their airspace.

Mastercard, in collaboration with the Committee of E-Banking Industry Heads for Nigeria (CeBIH), recently hosted the second edition of its annual Fraud Forum in Lagos, Nigeria.

Building on the success of the inaugural edition in 2023, this year’s forum convened key industry players ranging from financial institutions, payment service banks, and fintech companies, to discuss critical issues such as threats and vulnerability, intel-sharing, and best practices in combating industry risks.

The cybersecurity event, attended by key public and private sector actors, also covered the regional threat landscape based on Mastercard’s strategic threat intelligence data.

Speaking at the forum, the Vice President, Customer and Solutions Center, West and East Africa at Mastercard, Kari Tukur, said: “We are excited to continue the Fraud Forum in Nigeria. With cyberattacks posing serious challenges within the Nigerian financial

ecosystem, we take pride in establishing a platform where key stakeholders can convene, network, and exchange best practices to safeguard against potential vulnerabilities. Mastercard remains committed to creating unique and essential solutions to help business owners protect themselves and their customers against vulnerabilities, and this platform provides us with an opportunity to drive knowledge regarding these solutions as we aim to elevate cybersecurity standards and ensure the resilience of the Nigerian financial ecosystem.”

Secretary, Emerging Payments of CeBIH, Temitope Onibaniyi, who represented the CeBIH Chairman, Celestina Appeal, said: “We are delighted to partner with Mastercard on another edition of the Mastercard Fraud Forum in Nigeria. This event continues to serve as a pivotal platform for industry leaders, stakeholders, and experts to convene and address the evolving landscape of fraud and cybersecurity challenges.”

“Nigeria is a big market. We have some member airlines from Nigeria. So today if you look at the continent, in aviation, we have activities in east, southern regions, and western/ central sub-region weak. Only Nigeria has a strong domestic market and intercontinental market. I hope to see Nigeria having an airline, which will also cover the continent like the Ethiopian Airlines is doing today. You see the Ethiopian Airlines global operation out of Africa and within Africa. So Nigeria has the potential and I really hope that from the Western Central region, we can have a hub in Nigeria to connect Africa as well, this will be important,” Berthe said.

On aircraft Maintenance, Repair and Overhaul (MRO), he said MRO remained very important, noting that there are two critical elements regarding the cost of operation, the fuel and maintenance.

“We know that in Africa, fuel costs are very, very high. Now we are seeing also maintenance becoming high cost because of the supply chain and the logistics, restrictions and also customs sometimes in some countries. So these challenges are making it difficult to develop MRO activities in the continent. However, if we see that we expect the traffic

“We have today 38 seats signed to a Single African Air Transport Market last month. But all of them have not complied, maybe 10, some will sign, they will continue to deny even third or fourth traffic rights. I am just not talking about fifth freedom traffic rights. This is a concern for us. So far we have been trying to do advocacy, but even advocacy is not working very well. Today there are two things we are working on; to put in place what we call the dispute settlement mechanism at the AU level which will authorise an airline or a state to go in dispute against a state who is denying a traffic right. If you sign and you are denying, you can be taken to the court and also there will be some sanctions around it. In parallel to that, it is also important to reach the high-level political decisions leaders, because so far we are talking to ministers, is not working very well. So now we feel as stakeholders, we need to package something and go higher at the level of prime minister or even head of state. If the instructions come from the head of state, we hope that state will really implement it,” he further said.

The Group Chief Executive Officer of Ethiopian Airlines, Ato Mesfin Tasew, decried a situation where some countries and airlines are unwilling to work with their fellow African airlines, but rather, prefer to work with European carriers, harping on fear of domination by another African carrier. He said what would enhance the growth of African airlines and increase the market share of the regional carriers is African airlines working together. He cited example with Ethiopian Airlines partnership with Asky and recalled how Ethiopian helped establish Asky and today it is the best airline in West Africa, operating to 29 cities in West and Central Africa.

Evolution of Customer Experience, Technology in Pension Industry

Ophelia Alex-Iwuanyanwu

Customer Experience is the overall perception and impression that customers associate with a brand based on their interactions throughout the entire customer journey, from initial awareness to post-registration support. It encompasses every touchpoint and interaction experienced by a customer which would include marketing, sales, customer service, and product or service usage.

Customer experience is crucial to organizations because, as it is often said ‘Perception is Everything’. Hence, it is important for customers to perceive an organization as caring, innovative, and forward-thinking. Moreover, with the introduction of digital technologies, customer interactions with organizations have become more intimate and fast paced. In Nigeria, the financial sector has been at the forefront of the use of digital technology as a point of service, especially as commerce is tied to financial transactions. This becomes even more important as financial products are fast becoming commoditized and customer expectations have in turn become more sophisticated with emerging trends. This experience has evolved in the industry from the traditional methods of physical visits to branches to the introduction of technology-driven methods like query resolution via emails, deployment of call centers for query resolution via telephony, SMS, mobile aps, and other social media platforms.

In the service industry, understanding customer needs is crucial for providing effective solutions. Let us briefly explore three key customer needs that reflect their attitudes, expectations, and desires towards products or services.

Functional needs: What does the product/ service/brand do and what are its qualities?

Social needs: How does the use of this product/ brand influence the way customers are perceived by others?

Emotional needs: How does this product/ service/brand make me feel?

While the Pension Industry as we know it today is relatively new, being birthed only 20 years ago with the enactment of the Pensions Reform Act of 2004, the industry has seen a significant evolution in customer experience and technology integration. Investments in digital technologies

have become critical to remain competitive. It is a well-known fact that organizations that provide great customer experience record faster growth, stable retention, and better brand capital. Therefore, to achieve these three key objectives, industry players need to look more closely at how they can use technology and digital capabilities to manage their organization’s service delivery, capitalize on these opportunities, and enhance even further their customers’ experiences. There is a rapidly growing tribe of digital natives (millennials and Gen Zs, Alphas, and soon-to- come Betas) that form an increasing proportion of the active contributors’ bucket in the pensions industry. Taking Nigeria as an example, its huge youthful population presents an opportunity for a steady source of pension contributions. These ‘natives’ experience on their devices, relevant insights tailored to them, customized dashboards, and access pertinent tools across sectors leading to elevated expectations. Instant gratification is no longer just a concept but is now a stark reality that demands a carefully curated response from organizations hoping to retain their customers’ loyalty. Expectedly, these

‘natives’ demand similar kinds of experiences, which that have become accustomed with from their pension providers. In seeking to deliver better experiences to customers, PFAs need to adopt a ‘platform’ approach by offering a myriad of services and capabilities. As mentioned earlier in this write up. traditional pension management has shifted more towards user-friendly digital platforms, offering self-service options, personalized retirement planning tools, and real-time access to account information.

Technology such as AI and machine learning is being used to provide recommendations for retirement savings. Mobile Apps and online portals have become common, allowing customers to manage their pensions conveniently from anywhere. Overall, the focus has been on enhancing accessibility, transparency, and efficiency in managing retirement funds, ultimately improving the customer experience in the pensions industry. The ‘platform’ approach also allows for the integration of technologies to manage organizational internal capabilities such as core business processes, data, and analytics, whilst constantly improving customer experience. It can provide end-to-end seamless service delivery that meets the demand for customer satisfaction. It offers a means to reduce organizational complexity and embraces a simplified digital operating model that is agile and efficient. Unlike in traditional models, digital solutions and technology are now at the heart of the business.

Digital technology can help a pension company become more competitive in several ways:

1. Streamlined Operations: Implementing digital tools and automation can streamline administrative processes, reducing overhead costs and improving efficiency.

2. Enhanced Customer Experience: Digital platforms can provide self-service options for pension members, such as online account management, retirement planning tools, and personalized advice, leading to higher satisfaction and retention rates.

3. Data Analytics: Leveraging data analytics can provide insights into customer behavior,

investment trends, and risk management, enabling more informed decision-making and tailored product offerings.

4. Mobile Accessibility: Offering mobile apps and responsive websites allows customers to access their pension accounts real-time, anytime, anywhere, improving convenience and accessibility.

5. Personalized Communication: Using digital channels, such as email marketing and social media, enables targeted communication campaigns tailored to specific customer segments, increasing engagement and loyalty.

6. Cybersecurity Measures: Implementing robust cybersecurity measures to protect sensitive customer data and prevent fraud enhances trust and confidence in the company’s services.

7. Innovation and Product Development: Embracing digital innovation allows for the development of new products and services, such as digital investment platforms, roboadvisors, or pension planning apps, catering to evolving customer needs and preferences. It also creates room for integration into the wider financial ecosystem such as banking services, payroll/outsourcing companies, etc. By effectively leveraging digital technology, a pension company can stay ahead of the competition, improve operational efficiency, and better serve its customers.

It is important to note that these technological capabilities will need to be supported by human resources and the organizational culture of innovation and entrepreneurship to be truly successful in achieving the desired goal. While we may not be able to predict how customer needs will evolve in the next 15 years, but with the right digital strategy, organizations will be able to adapt to the fluidity of customer and market requirements.

Overall, prioritizing customer experience is essential for organizations looking to thrive in today’s competitive business landscape by fostering customer loyalty, driving revenue growth, and building a strong brand reputation. Digital technology is the tool to achieve this worthy goal and infuse more customer confidence in the capabilities of the industry.

Ophelia

Why Private Jets Cannot Resist Charter Service

For the umpteenth time, the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority has made strong effort to discourage the use of private registered aircraft for commercial charter. Chinedu Eze identifies reasons why private aircraft owners cannot resist commercial charter service

Many times in the past, the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) made efforts to stop the use of aircraft registered as privately owned for hire and reward, but the agency had failed.

Industry stakeholders are of the view that NCAA and the Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo may be serious this time.

On Tuesday, NCAA suspended three private jets engaged in commercial activities against the stipulations of their operating permit. At the same time, the minister ordered re-evaluation of Permit for Non Commercial Flights (PNCF) to stop the abuse of such approvals.

NCAA said in March 2024, it issued a stern warning to holders of the permit for non commercial flights (PNCF) against engaging in the carriage of passenger, cargo or mail for hire and reward.

“The Authority had also deployed its officials to monitor activities of private jets at terminals across the airports in Nigeria. As a consequence of this heightened surveillance, no fewer than three private operators have been found to be involved in violation of the annexure provision of their PNCF and Part 9114 of the Nigeria Civil Aviation Regulations 2023.

“In line with our zero tolerance for violation of regulations, the Authority has suspended the PNCF of these operators. To further sanitise the general aviation sector, I have directed that a re-evaluation of all holders of PNCF be carried out on or before the 19th of April 2024 to ascertain compliance with regulatory requirements. All PNCF holder will be required to submit relevant documents to the authority within the next 72 hours,” acting Director General of NCAA, Captain Chris Najomo said.

The regulator stressed that this riot act is also directed at existing Air Operator Certificate (AOC) holders, who utilise aircraft listed on their PNCF for commercial charter operations.

“It must be emphasised that only aircraft listed in the Operation Specifications of the AOC are authorized to be used in the provision of such charter services. Any of those AOC holders who wish to use the aircraft for charter operations must apply to the NCAA to delist the affected aircraft from the PNCF and include it into the AOC operations specification.

“NCAA wishes to reiterate to the travelling public not to patronize any airline charter operator who does not hold a valid Air Operators Certificate issued by the NCAA, when they wish to procure charter operations services”, the authority said in a statement.

IRRESISTIBLE CHARTER SERVICE

Many Nigerians who own private jets cannot resist them for charter service because of the

money they generate, which they use to pay the crew, maintain the aircraft, pay for their insurance and also fuel them. These demands are money guzzlers. It costs so much to maintain cockpit and cabin crew, ferry aircraft overseas for major maintenance and pay insurance and other charges for the aircraft. So, when there are offers for charter service, some aircraft owners take the opportunity to earn revenue from the aircraft.

Although what they do is illegal, in the past, NCAA had not taken stopping them seriously as the current management and the Minister have done. Many of those aircraft owners are highly influential and can disobey those directive; unless practically enforced, as Najomo has done. Another fact is that there are demands for charter service. In some period of the year during electioneering campaigns and during festive seasons; there are always high demand for charter, which aircraft duly registered cannot meet. So, aircraft with PNCF literally sneak into the market and operate for hire and reward.

Elated by the action of NCAA, the Chairman of West Link Airlines Limited, Captain Ibrahim Mshelia, commended the Minister of Aviation and NCAA, especially the acting Director General for having the courage to stop PNCF registered aircraft from operating charter service.

“Well done the Minister. Well done DGCA. You have done what others failed to do. I love that patriotic courage. We as citizens support you 120 per cent and will stand with you. I am happy to be quoted anywhere that Hon. Min. Keyamo has done what others deliberately or nonchalantly failed to do for this country and the industry at large. DGCA Najomo, thank you for sealing it. Well done and kudos,” Mshelia, said.

MAJOR INCIDENTS

What may have stirred the determination of the Minister of Aviation and the management of NCAA, were the series of major incidents that happened since last year involving aircraft on PNCF registration. In November last year, a private jet, HS25B with core sign, 5NAMM operated by Flint Aero overshot the runway at Ibadan Airport, but nobody on board or on the ground was injured. The aircraft was on PNCF when the incident happened. The incident prompted NCAA to issue a warning, directing aircraft on PNCF registration to stop operating charter.

Similar incident happened in January this year also involving a private jet with call sign N580KR, which suffered runway escussion on landing at the Chief Ladoke Akintola Airport, Ibadan. The aircraft was ferrying 12 passengers and three crew

members. No casualty was reported. NCAA reiterated its warning; that aircraft registered as privately owned should stop operating charter service.

Before now some officials of NCAA would say that it was difficult to stop such illicit charter service because the owner of the aircraft could claim that the passengers in his aircraft are relations and friend and that the operation is not for hire and reward.

REVENUES

Some time ago THISDAY carried out a survey on the cost of charter service in Nigeria. The cost of charter service ranged from $4,500 to $7000 per hour. This means that each aircraft makes an average of 90 operations in a month at an estimated cost of $6000 per trip.

King Air 350i: $4,500 per hour; Hawker 800XP: $5,500 per hour; Challenger 604: $6,500 per hour; Gulfstream GIV: $7,000 per hour.

These prices may have changed significantly from when the survey was carried out. Nigerian economy has tanked, but hope in the horizon is rising.There is the high cost of aviation fuel, the high insurance premium and the dwindling number of aircraft for charter.

MAINTENANCE COST

The price for a brand-new private jet ranges from $3 million to $90 million or more. Though secondhand jets are cheaper, they still cost millions of dollars.

Few years ago, the most expensive private jet on the market was the Gulfstream G-650, which had a base price of $70 million. With extras and customisation, the price could soar to hundreds of millions of dollars. But these days new jets are emerging with earth-shaking prices.

The purchase price of a private jet represents only a fraction of the cost of owning one. Maintenance and repair costs depend on the size of the aircraft but typically range from $700,000 to $4 million per year.

Fuel is one of the highest costs for jet owners. Planes with larger fuel tanks for long-range flights require more fuel. For example, the Bombardier Global 8000 has a fuel capacity of nearly 50,000 pounds. The average expense to fill up the tank is $53,000.

NCAA’S INSISTENCE

NCAA in the circular it issued last Tuesday insisted that only aircraft listed in the Operation Specifications of the AOC are authorized to be used in the provision of such charter services.

Commercial charter services, which is

for hire and for reward has strict oversight by the regulatory authority and insurance premium is higher and the operators pay 5 per cent VAT to government, but private jet owners are not subjected to such rigour because they do not provide service to others beyond their family, friends and associates.

So NCAA penalises private aircraft owners when they airlift passengers for reward but as stated earlier, the major challenge the agency faces is to discern which operation is for hire and for reward, as the pilot at start up will always tell the air traffic control that the persons in the flight are the owners and their relations.

So acquiring the aircraft is one thing but managing it is another. Without engaging in charter services, it would be difficult for many aircraft owners to keep it in the air because the aircraft has to be maintained, the insurance must be paid and the crew salary must be paid.

Disappointed by the activities of private jet owners who operate charter services with their aircraft, the CEO of Aero Contractors, Captain Ado Sanusi, once told THISDAY that he frowned at the owners of privately registered aircraft, which are illegally used to operate charter services.

“In a local parlance, I will say that they are doing kabu-kabu and when they do this they deprive operators, who registered their aircraft as commercial charter equipment, business.

“They don’t pay taxes to government and the insurance they use does not cover charter operation, which means they are not liable if their passengers are involved in accident and their maintenance is not up to standard for commercial aircraft charter, but I wish to note that this did not start today; it has been there for a long time,” he said.

THISDAY also learnt that many Nigerian private jet owners register overseas in order to hide their identity, to pay less insurance premium (they will pay more in Nigeria if the aircraft has Nigerian registry because Nigeria is described by insurance brokers as very harsh environment), adding to that is the fact that wherever the aircraft is registered the aircraft would be under the oversight of that country’s civil aviation authority.

“The question of registration is very clear. You can register anywhere but you need to pay fees in the country where you operate and you must abide by the regulation of where you operate while you will be under the supervision of the country you registered the aircraft,” NCAA source told THISDAY.

With the bold step taken by NCAA to stop private jets from commercial charter service, many in the industry are hoping that the agency would sustain its tough stance because this will enhance those who registered for charter service to have jobs, pay their taxes and also compete effectively.

This Weekend

DR. MIKE ADENUGA

The Quintessential African Entrepreneur as a Study in Diligence, Excellence

Dr. Mike Adenuga: The Quintessential African Entrepreneur as a Study in Diligence, Excellence

Call Dr. Mike Adeniyi Ishola

Adenuga Jr. (GCON), the quintessential African Entrepreneur and you won’t be wrong. The Chairman of the Mike Adenuga Group, spanning oil and gas, telecommunications, aviation, construction, banking and real estate, who would soon clock 71 on April 29, has been a consistent study in Diligence, Philanthropy and Entrepreneurial Excellence. Known for his passion and commitment to engendering prosperity for Africa, his consistency in investing on the continent is also legendary. Chiemelie Ezeobi writes that having etched his name in gold with his business empire, the dividends continue to echo through his greatest assets- the thousands of people he mentored and nurtured over the years

Born on April 28, 1953, in the ancient city of Ibadan, into the family of Chief Mike Adenuga Snr. and Madam Oyindamola Adenuga, a successful trader and Yeyeoba of Ijebuland, Dr. Mike Adeniyi Ishola Adenuga Jr. (GCON), Nigeria’s quintessential African Entrepreneur’s life is a story for the books.

His years of excellence began with his attendance of the famous Ibadan Grammar School, in Oyo State, Nigeria, for his secondary education. He would study Business Administration at Northwestern State University, Alva Oklahoma, in the United States before he earned a Master’s degree at Pace University, New York, majoring in Business Administration with emphasis on Marketing, which perhaps explains his wit when it comes to building a formidable brand.

Over the years, this quintessential African entrepreneur through extreme commitment and resilience has etched his name in gold in business and investment on the African continent in key sectors spanning oil and gas, hospitality, telecoms, aviation, construction, banking and real estate.

With a remarkable net worth of $6.7bn in 2024 as estimated by Forbes, Adenuga, ranked at number 409 in the Forbes list and number two in Africa, which is beyond inspiring for someone that earned his first million at the age of 26 selling lace and distributing soft drinks.

MAINTAINING LEAD IN OIL AND GAS SECTOR THROUGH CONOIL PLC

In the oil and gas sector, for instance, Conoil Plc is one of the largest and most profitable oil marketing companies in Nigeria.

Even though Conoil Producing, the downstream arm of the conglomerate, made history by becoming the first Nigerian company to strike oil and produce it in commercial quantity in 1991, that has not made them relax their oars, rather under the dynamic leadership of Dr. Adenuga, has spurred them to greater heights.

Operating six highly prospective blocks in the Niger Delta and producing about 20,000 barrels of oil daily, the company boasts over 27 years of experience and currently holds a substantial oil reserve running into millions of barrels and trillion cubic feet of gas.

REVOLUTIONISING THE TELECOMMUNICATIONS INDUSTRY THROUGH GLOBACOM

In the telecommunications industry, Dr. Adenuga (Jnr.) is exactly what he has been described to be- a revolutionary, having introduced so many earth-cutting and innovative solutions to Nigeria and the continent at large through Globacom, a digital solutions provider.

In fact, under his guidance, Globacom has been one of the most innovative networks in Africa and has operations in Nigeria and Ghana with footprints in Senegal, Gambia and Cote d’Ivoire.

In 2010, he made history when his telecoms firm commissioned its solely-financed international submarine cable, Glo 1 and has over the years provided a solution to the long-standing problem of insufficient internet bandwidth for Africa and has led to a much faster and robust connectivity for voice, data and video.

The company is the only operator with a wholly owned submarine cable, Glo 1, which connects West Africa directly to the United Kingdom and the rest of the world. It also connects 12 nations in the West Africa sub-region, including some of them that are landlocked.

He is also credited with playing a major role in the telecom revolution in Nigeria as Globacom’s historic introduction of Per Second Billing and crashing of SIM cost from over N50,000 to as low as N100, which led to the massive telephone penetration in Nigeria, thus contributing to the over 165m active telephone lines in Nigeria today.

The network also pioneered such revolutionary products as Blackberry Services,

Multimedia Messaging Service (MMS), Magic Plus, Glo Direct, International MMS, Inflight Roaming, Prepaid Roaming, Glo Mobile Internet, GloFleetmanager, Mobile Banking, Glo Mobile Office, Glo TV, Glo Cloud, Glo Always On, and Glo Berekete, amongst others.

Currently, Globacom is currently embarking on laying Glo 2, the first submarine cable in Nigeria to terminate outside Lagos, which would take bandwidth beyond Lagos to other parts of the country, especially the oil platforms to enable “Digital Oilfields” and empower under-served communities in the South-south and South-east.

BANKING

In banking, he also wielded his magic wand through Equitorial Trust Bank (ETB), which was one of the few banks that effortlessly met the N25billion capital requirement during the 2005 banking consolidation exercise without going to the stock market. It only merged with Devcom Bank which was also owned by Dr. Adenuga.

Few years back, ETB merged with Sterling Bank and is still waxing strong. His ownership in Sterling Financial Holding has made the company listed on the Nigerian Exchange. Currently, Sterling operates two key subsidiaries: Sterling Bank PLC, a commercial banking service provider, and Alternative Bank Limited, a pioneering Non-Interest Banking (NIB) business.

BUILDING MULTI-BILLION DOLLAR INVESTMENT IN REAL ESTATE

Adenuga also has a multi-billion dollar investment in real estate. Through Cobble-Stone Properties & Estates Limited, Adenuga’s property development and marketing company has played a vital role in shaping Nigeria’s real estate industry.

With a portfolio of over 200 landmark buildings comprising residential, commercial, and mixed-use properties, including the recent Ilé jà development, his real estate company is a reflection of his vision to transform urban landscapes.

TRANSFORMING LIVES THROUGH EMPLOYMENT OF LABOUR

What Dr. Adenuga has done with these companies, while commendable, cannot measure up with his biggest and perhaps most important feat so far- which is transforming the lives of thousands that work for these companies.

What these companies and investments he berthed have done is provide direct employment to thousands of Nigerians and people from the international community, as well as millions of other indirect employment.

Earlier this year, this reporter was opportune to witness the joy and excitement of these staff as they were wined and feted at the End of the Year Soiree held at Eko Hotel and Suites to commemorate the 20th anniversary of the digital solutions company, Globacom.

Hundreds of these employees from the

With all he has accomplished and is still accomplishing, it’s not surprising that each of his business ventures and investments in different sectors, play leadership roles by setting the pace and contributing to the growth of the Nigerian economy and the continent at large

Globacom brand were flown in and lodged to be appreciated for their dedication to duty. Millions were won and others celebrated for having worked for two decades for the company, but what stood out was the pride and the feeling of ownership the brand had bestowed on its staff-from the low to highest level, a legacy his daughter, Bella Disu has sustained.

INCOMPARABLE SUPPORT FOR FOOTBALL IN AFRICA

In terms of support for sports, Dr. Adenuga Jr., through his company, Globacom, is the biggest supporter of football in Africa and has raised the profile of football in Nigeria and Ghana with the sponsorship of the Premier Leagues and national football teams of the two countries for several years.

It’s on record that the company spent over N15 billion in cash and kind on Nigerian football. It also transformed the annual CAF Awards and made it the most glamorous sports event on the continent. It was not surprising that CAF awarded Adenuga the Pillar of Football in Africa for his strong support for African Football at both national and continental levels.

NATIONAL AND GLOBAL LAURELS

With all he has accomplished and is still accomplishing, it’s not surprising that each of his business ventures and investments in different sectors, play leadership roles by setting the pace and contributing to the growth of the Nigerian economy and the continent at large.

In recognition of his business accomplishments and outstanding contributions to the growth of the country, he was awarded the Grand Commander of the Order of the Niger (GCON).

He also holds honorary doctorate degrees conferred on him by the University of Ibadan and the Ogun State University.

During Nigeria’s 50th anniversary celebration, Adenuga was one of the 50 pre-eminent Nigerians who were conferred with the Special Golden Jubilee Independence Anniversary Awards by the Federal Government of Nigeria. Business-wise, his accomplishments have continued to seek him out for national and global accolades. In Ghana, he was given the highest national award, “The Companion of the Star of Ghana” in 2016.

In 2017, he was honoured by the French government with the award of the “Chevalier la Legion d’Honnuer” and in July 2018, the French President, Emmanuel Macron, elevated him to ‘Commander of the Legion of Honour’, France’s highest national honour.

Expectedly, Dr. Adenuga has won numerous other awards in recognition of his personal and business accomplishments among which is the African Telecoms Entrepreneur of the year for his courageous and rapid investment in the telecoms sector. He was early 2010 voted Nigeria’s Most Outstanding Business Personality in the last 50 years by THISDAY, Nigeria’s most influential newspaper.

In 2009, Dr. Adenuga won the coveted Silverbird Man of the Year Award, polling over 75 per cent of the votes cast to beat other eminent personalities nominated for the same award. Similarly, several other media organisations, Sun Newspapers, Independent Newspapers, Leadership Newspapers; City People and Ovation International Magazine have also honoured the Globacom Chairman with their Man of the Year Award within the last few years.

In 2020, THISDAY named him Entrepreneur of the Decade at its Silver Jubilee celebration, while Nigeria’s oldest private newspaper, Tribune, awarded him Nigeria’s Most Outstanding and Innovative Entrepreneur at its 70th anniversary event.

As he clocks 71, on April 29, this year, the Otunba Apesin of the Ijebu clan, would as usual be celebrated for his business acumen, excellent spirit, entrepreneurial drive and philanthropic nature but for most people, its his ability to transform the lives of his employees and those who come in contact with him, that counts the most.

Dr. Adenuga

FAB Treasure Tackles Menstrual Challenges at IDP Camp

Mary Nnah

FAB Treasure Foundation, a champion for women’s empowerment and wellbeing, tackled menstrual health challenges head-on at the Kuchingoro IDP camp in Abuja. With support from ActionAid Nigeria, they provided reusable sanitary pads and crucial menstrual health education to over 100 women.

This was necessitated by the results of a study conducted by FAB Treasure’s programmes unit. The research revealed a harsh reality: for these displaced women, basic needs like food and clothing came first. They simply couldn’t afford sanitary products and have resorted to using other unhealthy means of managing their menstruation.

This sad reality forms the bedrock of FAB Treasure Foun-

dation’s thematic approach to women empowerment. Having considered the importance of menstrual hygiene and the prevalence of several social and economic factors that impede women from upholding a healthy lifestyle, FAB Treasure took to a 3-day outreach tagged “Empower Her; Embracing Sustainable Solutions for Menstrual Hygiene,” at the Kuchingoro IDP CampAbuja.

The outreach aimed to educate and encourage healthy menstrual practices, deconstruct age-long perspectives and beliefs attached to menstruation, and distribute reusable and easy-to-maintain sanitary pads, thereby reducing the burden of purchasing sanitary products monthly. Beneficiaries of this project - women and girls alike who were taught how to use and manage the reusable sanitary products expressed gratitude and joy as they will not need to bother

about purchasing sanitary pads for the next six months.

“I love this pad because it is reusable, very simple to manage, and better than the others we have received,’ Miriam Yohana said.

In tandem with Miriam’s assertion, Patience James appreciated FAB Treasure for the new knowledge and menstrual products. they have received. “Before now, I used to think, menstrual blood is dirty blood, but now I know better. I will share this with my friends,” she noted.

With a clear desire to continuouslyimprovewomen’shealthand empower them for change, Festus Abigail, Executive Director of FAB TreasureFoundation,hasreiterated hercommitmenttocreatingabetter and healthier living condition for womenandgirls,particularlythose who are marginalised.

“Over the years, I have witnessed and heard stories of

women living under terrible circumstances, the kinds where survival is the most important thing and menstrual hygiene is of little or no concern to them.

“These women opt for unhygienic options during menstruation like, clothes, wrappers, and a host of other ways to manage their menstruation. Sadly, the economy has made it difficult to get sanitary pads”, Abigail noted. Abigail expressed her wish to continue to uphold a more accommodating environment for women and girls to freely and healthily go through their menstrual periods.

“I and my team have and will continue to do our best to see that period poverty is a thing of the past, and women are more inclined to discuss their menstruation without fear of stigmatization and sentiments,” she added.

Exploring Indigenous Microorganisms: A Sustainable Solution to Environmental Challenges

Jude Igborgbor

In the global pursuit of sustainable solutions to pressing environmental issues, researchers and scientists are increasingly turning their attention to the remarkable potential of indigenous microorganisms.

These often overlooked organisms, existing in myriad forms within various ecosystems, hold the key to addressing a wide array of environmental challenges, including pollution remediation. By harnessing the power of these microbes, humanity can pave the way for a cleaner, healthier planet while fostering a deeper understanding of the intricate web of life that sustains us all.

Indigenous microorganisms, commonly referred to as (IMOs), are naturally occurring in specific environments, including soil, water, and air, where they play pivotal roles in ecosystem functioning, aiding in nutrient cycling, decomposition, and maintaining overall environmental balance. What sets them apart and renders them particularly valuable in the realm of environmental solutions is their adaptability to local conditions and their ability to thrive in diverse habitats.

One of the most promising and widely explored applications of indigenous microorganisms lies in pollution remediation.

Pollution, whether it be from heavy metals, petroleum products, or other contaminants, poses significant risks to both human health and the environment.

Traditional cleanup methods often involve costly and disruptive interventions, such as excavation or chemical treatment. However, indigenous microorganisms offer a more sustainable and cost-effective alternative.

These microorganisms have evolved mechanisms to break down and metabolize a wide range of pollutants, effectively detoxifying contaminated environments.

For example, certain bacteria have demonstrated the ability to degrade hydrocarbons found in oil spills, while others can immobilize heavy metals through processes like biosorption or bio-mineralization.

By harnessing the natural abilities of these microbes, scientists can develop bioremediation strategies that mitigate environmental damage and restore ecosystems to health.

During my research on the characterization of naphthalene-degrading bacteria from soils in automobile mechanic workshops, I identified several indigenous isolates with remarkable capabilities for degrading naphthalene.

Among these isolates, strains of Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Serratia rubidaea, and Serratia marcescens stood out for their high naphthalene-degrading potentials in laboratory experiments using Bushnell Haas medium, these bacteria were able to degrade up to 100% of 10mg/ml of naphthalene.

These organisms, native to hydrocarbon-contaminated environments, have developed their biodegradation abilities through exposure to spent engine oils and other hydrocarbons commonly found in auto mechanic settings. This adaptation underscores the remarkable resilience and adaptability of microbial communities to environmental pollutants, and highlights the potential of indigenous bacteria for bioremediation efforts in contaminated sites.

This further gives credence to the potentials of, indigenous microorganisms in revolutionizing sustainable practices both in pollution control and other areas. In an era of increasing concerns about environmental degradation, optimizing soil health is paramount. IMOs play a vital role in pollution control.

By incorporating indigenous microorganisms into pollution control, we can reduce the reliance on disruptive techniques and the use of chemical treatment in the cleanup of pollutants. The exploration of indigenous microorganisms also extends to other environmental realms, including wastewater treatment, renewable energy production, and climate change mitigation.

Microbial fuel cells, for instance, harness the power of bacteria to generate electricity from organic matter, offering a sustainable energy source with minimal environmental

THE NEED FOR IMPROVED REGULATIONS IN HEALTHCARE IN NIGERIA

Duro Simpson

The evolution of regulations in healthcare has been a complex and iterative process, influenced by several factors including advances in medicine and technology, shifting social and economic conditions, and evolving political and public attitudes. Healthcare regulations have developed to address critical issues such as patient safety, quality of care, and access to comprehensive and affordable services.

The proper regulation of healthcare institutions involves several aspects including Licensing and Registration, Quality Standards, Drug and Product Regulation, and Professional Regulation. Until the beginning of the 20th century, however, healthcare regulations were relatively minimal, with little oversight of medical practices, pharmaceuticals, or healthcare facilities.

This lack of superintendence led to widespread problems, including unsafe medications, unqualified practitioners, and substandard facilities.

In response to these challenges, the first regulations were designed to ensure the safety and efficacy of medical products and the competence of healthcare providers. The Pure Food and Drug Act of 1906, for example, was a significant milestone in the history of healthcare regulation, as it established the first federal standards for the safety and labelling of food and drugs in the USA.

The Food and Drugs Act of 1955 took into consideration the modern means of processing food and drugs, and the Food Safety Act of 1990 comprehensively restructured British food legislation.

The expansion of healthcare services and the increasing specialization of medical practices in the mid-20th century prompted further regulatory changes. For example, the Hill-Burton Act of 1946 provided federal grants and loans to support the construction and modernization of hospitals in the USA.

The latter half of the 20th century also saw significant advancements in patient rights and protections. The introduction of informed consent requirements and privacy regulations aimed to empower patients and protect their privacy.

The emergence of managed care, the rise of patient advocacy, and the increasing influence of technology in healthcare has also triggered fundamental and ongoing changes in healthcare regulations with significant consequences for healthcare providers.

For instance, the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) recently suspended Africa’s only accredited drug-testing laboratory for numerous deviations from international standards.

In a related development in the United States of America, the Alabama State Supreme Court recently ruled that frozen embryos are human beings and that those who destroy them can be held liable for wrongful death. This has thrown the future of fertility care into jeopardy, raising costs and restricting access to those affected by this ruling. Alabama Governor Kay Ivey, seeking to protect patients and fertility care providers from legal liability, signed a fast-tracked Bill into law, providing civil and criminal immunity to patients and IVF providers.

Some experts have expressed scepticism over this legislation noting that while the bill protects IVF providers from liability, it could also insulate them from medical malpractice claims.

The American Society for Reproductive Medicine, on the other hand, has warned that IVF providers will continue to be vulnerable to civil and criminal prosecution until the issue of whether a fertilised egg is legally considered a person is determined.

footprint. Similarly, microbial communities in wetlands and forests play crucial roles in carbon sequestration and climate regulation.

Despite their immense potential, the full scope of indigenous microorganisms’ capabilities remains largely untapped. Further research is needed to unlock their secrets and develop innovative applications that address the complex challenges facing our planet.

Collaboration between scientists, policymakers, and local communities will be essential in harnessing the power of these microbes for the benefit of both people and the environment.

In conclusion, indigenous microorganisms represent a valuable resource in our quest for environmental sustainability.

From pollution remediation to agricultural resilience, these tiny but mighty organisms offer nature-inspired solutions to some of our most pressing challenges. By embracing their potential and fostering stewardship of the ecosystems they inhabit, we can build a more resilient and harmonious relationship with the planet we call home.

As we continue to explore and understand the intricate roles of indigenous microorganisms, we unlock the keys to a brighter, more sustainable future for generations to come.

These examples underscore the importance of setting and adhering to well thought out healthcare regulations that provide protection to both patients and healthcare providers. Healthcare institutions in Nigeria are regulated by several government bodies to ensure that they meet specific standards and provide quality care to patients.

The primary regulatory body for healthcare in Nigeria is the Federal Ministry of Health, which sets policies, guidelines, and standards for healthcare delivery in the country. Additionally, the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) regulates the quality, safety, and efficacy of pharmaceuticals, medical devices, and other healthcare products, while the Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON) prepares standards relating to products, measurements, materials, processes and services.

The Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria (MDCN), established in 1963, is tasked with ensuring the competence, licensing and registration of medical professionals in Nigeria. Several other bodies are involved in the regulation of healthcare in Nigeria. Different agencies regulate various categories of healthcare providers including nurses and midwives, pharmacists, laboratory scientists and other healthcare workers.

In Lagos State, the Healthcare Facilities Monitoring and Accreditation Agency (HEFAMA), accredits and monitors healthcare facilities. Similar agencies exist in other states across the country.

There are, however, several challenges currently facing the regulatory framework with regard to healthcare in Nigeria. The existing framework is highly fragmented which has led to lack of coordination and inconsistent standards between different regulatory authorities with no specific focus on overall output as it affects the patient. Virtually all healthcare regulatory agencies have been set up to react to issues rather than proactively ensure the establishment and maintenance of healthcare facilities to laid down standards.

Although the MCDN, for example, has a code on medical negligence and responds effectively when claims are made, the problem is that a claim must be made before the Council can respond. The damage has already been done and this is not good enough when lives are at stake. Weak regulatory enforcement is another major challenge affecting safe and effective healthcare delivery. The various medical specialties and sub-specialties have well established guidelines for the minimum standard of practice. However, these guidelines serve only as a reference point for practitioners and have no legal structure to uphold and enforce them.

Recently, a medical practitioner, who had contravened the guidelines laid down by the governing body of his specialty and was subsequently sanctioned, was able to successfully sue both the society to which he belonged as well as HEFAMAA for lack of jurisdiction. Despite this discouraging experience, some healthcare providers have realised that operating according to international standards is the only route to credibility. In 2004, Bridge Clinic became Nigeria’s first IVF centre to be ISO certified, a status it has maintained

FAB Treasure... Abigail addressing women at the IDP Camp

International Breweries Offers Rights Issue, Pledges Commitment to Nigeria

Kayode Tokede

International Breweries Plc, a member of ABInBev, the world’s largest brewer has reiterated its commitment to long-term investment in Nigeria.

This came on the heels of the completion of the company’s Extraordinary General Meeting (EGM) held in Lagos.

As part of its strategy to return the company to profitability, IBPLC proposed and got overwhelming support from its shareholders, to embark on a rights issue plan.

During a second EGM, the shareholders gave support, with the approval of a shareholder loan.

According to the IBPLC, the generated funds from the rights issue/shareholder loan are earmarked for the full and final settlement of its USD loan, which was utilised to build its state-of-the-art plant, the largest in sub-Saharan Africa - in Ogun State. Chairman of the Board of Directors, Igwe Nnaemeka Achebe, emphasised the full support of AB InBev for the

shareholder’s loan, stating, “We project that the repayment of the Loan will inject the desired equity to recapitalise the business, thereby setting it on the path to profitability, in addition to driving IBPLC’s value which will ultimately translate to better returns for our shareholders.”

Continuing, the Chairman said it is noteworthy that IBPLC’s parent company’s support of the rights issue is an indication of its confidence in Nigeria. “Anheuser-Busch InBev (ABInBev) fully supports this process and has committed to taking up their rights in full.

This decision, including threading the path of the shareholder loan, demonstrates ABInBev’s commitment to the success and sustainability of IBPLC, including its dedication to long-term presence and continuous strategic investments in Nigeria”.

At the meeting, shareholders expressed anticipation for the commencement of the rights issue so they could save to buy more shares noting that the full payment of the loan in May will drive the company’s equity upward.

According to a shareholder, Boniface Okezie, who is the National Chairman of the Progressive Shareholder Association of Nigeria, “As shareholders, we are eagerly awaiting the commencement so we can take up the right issue. This is because after paying the loan we know the company will start generating profit and start paying dividends to shareholders. We want to thank International Breweries and ABInBev for keeping faith with Nigeria despite the economic challenges. I appeal to the minority shareholders to endeavour to do what they can to participate in the rights issue.”

The National Coordinator of the Independent Shareholders Association of Nigeria and Chairman Audit Committee, Moses Ibrude said, “This decision we are taking today will enable us to support driving more value for the company. IBPLC borrowed to build a world-class brewery and the profit the company makes has been used in servicing this debt. The board is taking the right step and we all support this resolution.”

CITN Cautions Authority against Abusing Tax Holiday

Omolabake Fasogbon

The Chartered Institute of Taxation of Nigeria (CITN) has decried indiscriminate granting of tax holiday, which it says would further weaken the economy.

The institute which is not entirely condemning this gesture insisted that tax holiday should be granted on merit and in fair terms, as against family or political patronage.

Speaking at the institute’s 26th tax conference holding in Abuja said taxation remained the only sustainable way to run the government and fund the country’s budget of N28.77 trillion.

He stated that most successful economies run their operations on taxation and not just natural resources, adding that Nigeria must imbibe culture of sustainability in taxation to propel

President of CITN, Samuel Agbeluyi also advised federal government to urgently embrace measures that will improve the nation’s tax system for effective administration of the country.

voluntary tax p ayment.

“Achieving tax compliance in Nigeria is an essential step towards fiscal sustainability and economic growth. This is why it is important that tax dividends are seen on the public who should continuously demand accountability from the leaders. This is necessary to enhance the system, otherwise, not accountable for collected tax can only weaken the system. We are grateful that Nigeria’s President, through his committee on tax reforms is bringing taxation to shape in the country.

Access Holdings’ Subsidiary, Hydrogen Hosts Workshop

Dike Onwuamaeze

As part of its mission to empower African businesses with tools needed to thrive, garner admiration, and foster global acclaim, leading payment solution company, Hydrogen Payment Services Company Limited (Hydrogen), recently partnered with the Co Creation Hub (CcHub), to host the latest edition of the Catalyst workshop in Lagos. Hydrogen is a subsidiary of Access Holdings.

The Chief Technology Officer, Hydrogen, Mr. Emeka Awagu, who spoke as a panelist, addressed the issue of customercentricity, which according to

him, was key to Fintech growth. Awagu, advised startups to listen to customer demands and understand their needs in order to develop the right solutions that will lead to long term market viability.

He said: “Innovation is key for startup growth. However, understanding customers’ needs and change in behaviour will help any startup to innovate better. Startups must be flexible and agile to develop solutions with high interoperability and processing speed, and they must be ready to learn from startups that have failed.”

“Statistically, a staggering number of startups fail, often

due to financial mismanagement. Hence, founders must prioritise understanding and maintaining a healthy the Costto-Earnings ratio.It is not just a number, but a pivotal indicator of a company’s financial health as well as being a key attractiveness determinant for investors,” Awagu added.

On his part, the Group Director, Digital Transformation, ARM HOLDCO, Ina Alogwu, who also spoke as a panelist at the session, stressed the need for startups to develop sustainable products and solutions that will help them remain competitive in an environment that is faced with harsh economic realities.

Agbeyewa Farms Launches Community Development Foundation

Agbeyewa Farms, a subsidiary of Cavista Holdings, today formally launched the Agbeyewa Farms Community Development Foundation (AFCDF), aimed at investing in various community development initiatives to enhance the quality of life of citizens of Ekiti State. The foundation’s launch took place today during a retreat for selected traditional rulers in Ekiti on the traditional institution and private investment promotion in Ekiti State. Distinguished guests at the event included the

Governor of Ekiti State, represented by the Commissioner for Chieftaincy and Home Affairs, Ojo Atibioke, Speaker of the Ekiti State House of Assembly, Adeoye Aribasoye, Commissioner for Agriculture and Food Security, Ebenezer Boluwade, Commissioner for Infrastructure and Public Utility, Prof Mobolaji Aluko and other notable attendees.

In his address, Dele Odufuye, the Executive Director of Cavista Holdings, emphasized the foundation’s alignment with Cavista’s overarching mission to create enduring

value for all stakeholders and transform lives and communities. He highlighted the pivotal role of Agbeyewa Farms in funding the foundation’s initiatives, underscoring the company’s dedication to corporate social responsibility and community welfare.

“The launch of the Agbeyewa Farms Community Development Foundation marks a significant milestone in our ongoing commitment to serving and empowering the people of Ekiti State,” stated Dele Odufuye.

L-R: Chairman Board of Directors, International Breweries Plc (IBPLC), Igwe Nnaemeka Achebe; Company Secretary / Legal Counsel, IBPLC, Marian Reginald-Ukwuoma; Independent NonExecutive Director, Olutoyin Odulate; and Director, Corporate Affairs and Regulatory, IBPLC, Temitope Oguntokun; at the Extra-Ordinary General Meeting (EGM) of International Breweries Plc, in Lagos...recently

Dangote Cement’s Profit Up 13% to N166.4bn in Q1 2024

Kayode Tokede

Dangote Cement Plc, yesterday announced its unaudited first quarter (Q1) ended March 31, 2024 with N166.4 billion profit before tax, an increase of 13.3 per cent from N146.8 billion profit before tax declared in (Q1) first quarter of 2023.

The Cement maker on the Nigerian Exchange Limited (NGX) announced N112.67 billion profit

after tax in Q1 2024, representing an increase of nearly three per cent when compared to N109.5 billion in Q1 2023.

Significant increase in revenue influenced Africa’s largest cement producer profit generation in Q1 2024.

In the Q1 2024 under review, Dangote Cement announced N817.35 billion revenue, a significant increase of 101 per cent from N406.72 billion in 2023,

owing to strong volume growth in addition to price increases in line with inflationary realities.

Both its Nigeria and pan-Africa operations recorded volume growth in the period.

The company explained that sales volumes from its core Nigerian operations rose 26.1per cent to 4.6Mt in Q1 2024 from 3.6Mt in Q1 2023.

“The strong rebound in Nigeria volumes is due to an uptick in

economic activities in comparison to last year when the combined effect of election uncertainties and currency crunch caused a slowdown of infrastructural projects and impacted the retail end of the market.

“As a result, Nigeria revenue rose 61.6per cent to N452.9billon in Q1 2024 from N280.3 billion in Q1 2023.Meanwhile, pan-African volumes continued an upward trajectory in the first quarter,

increasing by 3.1 per cent to 2.7Mt from 2.6Mt in Q1 2023, on the back of improved sales, especially coming from Congo, Zambia and Ghana.

“Consequently, pan-Africa revenue was up by 201.6per cent to N381.3billion, owing to robust demand from the region in addition to price increases.,” the company added in a statement obtained by THISDAY.

Operating profit of N255.3

billion in Q1 2024, representing 62.7per cent increase from N156.9 billion for Q1 2023, to bring its margin to 31.2per cent in Q1 2024 from 38.6per cent in Q1 2023.

The Chief Executive Officer, Dangote Cement, Mr. Arvind Pathak in a statement said, “Driven by an uptick in economic activities, our Nigerian operations witnessed a strong rebound, with volumes up 26.1per cent to 4.6Mt in the quarter.

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SAFER ENVIRONMENT ON THEIR MINDS…

L-R: Director, Enforcement and Compliance, Lagos State Environmental Protection Agency (LASEPA),Mr. Kayode Bello;Managing Director, FUMMAN Chemicals Limited, Mr. Olayiwola Adeyemi; General Manager, LASEPA, Dr. Tunde Ajayi;Special Assistant to Lagos State Governor on the Environment, Mr. Olakunle Akodu, and former LASEPA General Manager, Mr. Ayodele Anthonio, at the workshop on effective operation of effluent treatment plants in Lagos…recently ETOP UKUTT

Police Rescue Three Victims, Neutralise Eight Kidnappers, Bandits in Bauchi

Segun Awofadeji in Bauchi

Operatives of Bauchi State Police Command in conjunction with the hunters group have successfully rescued three kidnapped victims and neutralised eight kidnappers/ bandits in the state.

A statement issued by the state Command Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), SP Ahmed Mohammed Wakil, which was made available to journalists yesterday, said: “The operation was carried out on April 22, 2024, following credible information received by the

FG Revokes 924 Dormant Mining Licences

Folalumi Alaran in Abuja

In furtherance of efforts to sanitise the mining sector, the federal government has revoked 924 dormant licences spanning exploration, mining, smallscale mining, and quarrying licences

Making the announcement on Wednesday at a press conference, the Minister of Solid Minerals Development, Dele Alake, declared that in line with constitutional provisions, adequate notice was given to all concerned parties through the official Gazette of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, No. 227, which was published on December 27, 2023.

He said: “The notice gave all concerned parties 30 days to regularise their status, including clarifications on what caused the license to be dormant.

Thus, although a total of 963 licencees were published and notified of the threat of revocation, no fewer than 39 either moved to site immediately or convinced the authorities of the challenges hindering their operations”, the Minister asserted.

In view of the foregoing, Alake affirmed the revocation of 928 dormant licences, which include 528 exploration licenses; 20 mining leases; 101 quarry licenses, and 273 Small Scale Mining Licenses (SSML).

Artificial Scarcity of Fuel Hits Kogi

Ibrahim Oyewale in Lokoja

Palpable fear may have gripped motorists and computers in Lokoja, the Kogi State capital, following the artificial scarcity of petrol orchestrated by the independent marketers in the state.

It was gathered that most of the filling stations in Lokoja metropolis are already hoarding their stock and have closed the their filling stations in some cases.

Those spotted selling in the early hours on Wednesday horridly closed their stations upon

receiving information that some independent marketers in Lokoja were not selling their products to customers.

Where petrol was available, there was a long queue where the motorists spent hours before they could get fuel for their vehicles.

Sources hinted that some independent marketers are now selling petrol within the range of N700 to N730 per litre which is above the official pump price.

Black marketers, however, have also capitalise on the scarcity of fuel as they are now selling within N1000 to N1,200 per litre.

THISDAY News Editor Buries Mother-In-Law

The families of Balfor Obaghoro in Warri North Local Government and Akparifugwe of Sapele Local Government, Delta State, have announced the burial programme of late Mrs Rebecca Henry Akparafigwe (Nee Balfor) who died on January 8, 2024 after a protracted illness. She is the mother-in-law of the News Editor of THISDAY Newspapers, Mr. Goddy Egene.

According to a statement, there will be Service of Songs at No 2, Rufia Street, Shibiri, Ojo, Lagos on Saturday, April 27, at 4.00p.m. Funeral service and interment will take place in Okpara Waterside, Delta State, while guests will be received and entertained at St. Malachy’s Grammer School Open Field, Ugbeyiyi, Sapele, Delta State on May 4, 2024.

Late Rebecca Akparifuguwe is survived by her Husband, Mr. Henry Akparifugwe, three children and grandchildren.

They include: Mrs. Joy Egene (wife of Goddy Egene); Miss Eseh Akparifugwe and Precious Henry Akparifugwe.

Late Mrs Rebecca Henry Akparafigwe

Command regarding suspicious activities near the state border with Plateau States.

“The detectives deployed from Gumau, Tilde, and Tulu Police Divisions encountered the bandits during their routine

patrol and engaged in a firefight in self-defence, resulting in the neutralisation of four suspected kidnappers. Two of the suspects in their eleventh hour, who later died, confessed to multiple kidnapping incidents across

Bauchi and Plateau States, including the heinous killing of a village head in Ruruwai village, Lame district, Toro LGA, Bauchi State, on March 17, 2024,” he stated.

The statement added that:

“Based on the information provided by the late suspects, the detectives proceeded to the kidnappers’ hideout to rescue three kidnapped victims from Dokayel village, who were taken captive on April 20, 2024.

Gunmen Kidnap Assistant Controller of Corrections in Niger

Laleye Dipo in Minna Gunmen have kidnapped the Assistant Controller of Corrections, Niger State Correctional Centre, Minna, ACC. Abdulrahamam Ibrahim Gelele.

It was learnt that the Gelele had been kidnaped since April 17, 2024.

According to sources close to the correctional centre, the officer was abducted along Ilorin-Minna Road but was not known if he was going out or coming back to Minna. The incident has been shrouded in secret with the belief that he would regain his freedom soon but after over a week it has become the talk in the headquarters of the centre. It was said that the kidnappers made contact with family of the victim once and since then have cut off all communication with either his office or the family.

A statement apparently confirming the incident quoted the Controller of Corrections, Nigerian Correctional Service, Niger State, CC. Mohammed Hamisu Isa: “On behalf of the officers and men of the command solicit your prayers for his safe release and freedom from the captives please” The statement was signed by CPRO, CSC. Rabiu Mohammed Shuaibu.

Oborevwori: Nigerians Must Unite against Threats to Country’s Security

House Committee assures stakeholders of justice in Okuama crisis

Omon-Julius Onabu in Asaba and Sylvester Idowu in Wari

Governor Sheriff Oborevwori has charged Deltans and Nigerians, particularly political and traditional rulers, to intensify efforts towards ensuring that peace reigns supreme at all times in their communities in order to foster an atmosphere of progress and sustainable development in the country.

The governor noted that Nigeria as a whole has been going through a lot of challenges, including insecurity in some parts of the country that were threatening the nation’s peace, and urged all stakeholders from federal to state and local government levels to work harmoniously to overcome the challenge of insecurity, which has been exacerbated by prevailing economic problems.

Oborevwori spoke at separate occasions in Asaba when members of the House of Representatives Committee on Defence called on him, and while receiving a delegation of the state council of traditional rulers who were at the Government House to express their appreciation for the role he has played in resolving the crisis generated by the killing of 17 military personnel in Okuama, a riverside community in Ughelli South Local Government Area of Delta State about five weeks ago.

Taraba: Police Trails Ex-LG Boss over Killing of Lawmaker

Wole Ayodele in Jalingo

The Taraba State Police Command is currently on the trail of former Chairman of Takum Local Government Area, Hon. Shiban Tikare, over the killing of a member of Taraba State House of Assembly, Bar Hosea Ibi. The State Police Commissioner, CP. David Iloyanomon, disclosed this while briefing journalist in Jalingo yesterday. Iloyanomon stated that the former chairman is presently on the run but could definitely not escape arrest. The Chief Judge of the State, Justice Joel Agya, while sentencing two accused persons arraigned for killing Hosea Ibi in January 2018 expressed dismay that Tikare was not arraigned in court despite the accused persons mentioning his name as mastermind of the killing. Ibi was abducted in December 2017 in Takum and his body was later found in a bush in January 2018 after being killed by his abductors after collecting N30m ransom.

SAfER: 2,537 Benefit as Oyo Distributes Inputs to Farmers

Kemi Olaitan in Ibadan

The Oyo State Government has commenced the fourth phase of the distribution of agricultural inputs to 2,537 farmers across the state with the distribution of cassava stems, hybrid maize seedlings, herbicides and napsack sprayers.

Ahmad Sorondinki inKano

The Kano state Science and Technical Schools Board, has denied involvement in the alleged sale of 36 staff quarters of Government Technical College,Tiga,in Bebeji Local Government Area of the state.

While flagging off the exercise at Eruwa, Ibarapa East Local Government Area, the Oyo State Commissioner for Agriculture and Rural Development, Olasunkanmi Olaleye, who also doubles as the chairman, SAfER Food Security Sub-Committee, hinted that the distribution of inputs to farmers was also going on simultaneously at Igboora, Ibarapa Central LGA and Ayete in Ibarapa North LGA.

He recalled that N1 billion loan

was disbursed to farmers through accredited microfinance banks, while thousands of poultry, fishery and piggery farmers had also benefited in the first, second and third phases of the inputs distribution exercise to farmers across the state.

Kano Science Board Denies Involvement in Illegal Sale of Govt Properties

The Executive Secretary of the Board, Professor Dahiru Sale Muhammad, denied the allegation during an interview with newsmen in his office yesterday.

He, however, described the allegations as baseless, saying that there was no such transactions whatsoever.

“What exactly happened was that a former Commissioner of Education in the last administration was the one who sold houses belonging to the Science and Technical Schools Board, and not under the administration of Abba Kabir Yusuf. “As at the time I assumed office

there was nothing like selling of any houses, but I also know that there were some Staff of the Government Technical College, Tiga, who took the Principal of the School to Court for allegedly selling houses and the Court found him guilty and was adequately prosecuted”.

Oyebanji Installs New Monarch, Seeks Fight against Kidnappers

Gbenga SodeindeinAdoEkiti

The Ekiti State Governor, Biodun Oyebanji, yesterday enthroned the new Onirele of Irele Ekiti, Oba David Andero, calling on the traditional institution to coalesce efforts with his government to wage virulent wars

against kidnappers and marauding herders terrorising the state.

Oyebanji reiterated the resolve of his government to always partner the traditional institution for speedy development, security and robust maintenance of law and order for Ekiti to become epicentre of

investments and industrialisation.

Oyebanji, represented by the Deputy Governor, Chief Monisade Afuye, said these yesterday while presenting the Staff of Office and Instrument of appointment to the new Onirele, from Ikole Local Government Area of the state.

Presenting the paraphernalia of office to the new monarch, who hailed from Oke Aga Royal Dynasty, Oyebanji, urged the Irele people to partner the new monarch to rout the perpetrators of kidnapping and killings in Ipao-Oke Ako- Irele axis of the state.

PROMOTING FOOD SECURITY…

L-R: Mr. Dauda Lawal; Oba Sunday Aniyi; Elder Daniel Olajide; Chairman, Cavista Holdings, Niyi John Olajide; Directors of Agbeyewa Farms Community Development Foundation(AFCDF), Mrs. Peju Babafemi; Chief Biodun Akin-Fasae, and Mr. Tunji Aribasoye during its official launch of AFCDF at Ikogosi, Ekiti State… recently

Naval Chief Wants Operators to Seal Deactivated Wellheads to Curb Oil Theft

Relaunches Operation Delta Sanity to eradicate oil theft

Chiemelie Ezeobi in Lagos and Blessing Ibunge in Port Harcourt

The Chief of Naval Staff (CNS), Vice Admiral Emmanuel Ogalla, yesterday advocated the buy-in of the federal government and Nigeria National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) and other regulators to compel oil operators to seal all deactivated wellheads.

This is just as Rivers State Governor, Siminalayi Fubara, encouraged the Nigerian Navy (NN) to be resolute in the fight against all forms of economic sabotage, particularly crude oil theft, in the waterways.

The CNS, who spoke after relaunching Operation Delta Sanity at Nigerian Naval Ship (NNS) Pathfinder, Port Harcourt, said this measure would go a

Calabar-Itu Highway: C’River Approves Compensation for Right-of-Way

Bassey Inyang in Calabar

The Cross River State Government has stated that it has decided to address the bottle neck that has delayed the construction of the Calabar-Itu-Ikot Ekpene federal highway within the state up to the Itu bridged. The construction of the dual carriage federal road linking Cross River State and Akwa Ibom State commenced in 2021, and has moved at snail speed due to some compounding challenges.

However, the Cross River

I, formerly known and addressed as MISS OGECHI STELLA NJOKU, now wish to be known and addressed as MRS OGECHI STELLA ANIGBOGU. All former documents remain valid. The general public should take note.

I, formerly known and addressed as MISS MMESOMA FRANCISCA OHANOGHA, now wish to be called and addressed as

I, formerly known and addressed as ONILE SANDRA OREOLUWA, now wish to be called and addressed as SALAMI SANDRA OREOLUWA. All former documents remain valid. The general public should please take note.

I, formerly known and addressed as IHEKA PRECIOUS ULOMA, now wish to be called and addressed as DAFILUELO PRECIOUS ULOMA. All former documents remain valid. The general public should please take note.

I, formerly known and addressed as ADEYEMO DAYO OKESHINA, now wish to be called and addressed as ADEYEMO OLUDAYO OKESHINA. All former documents remain valid. The general public should please take note.

State Government has decided to address one of challenges which is the payment of compensation for right of way from Ikot Nyong to Itu bridge head for work to proceed on the stretch of about 29 kilometres.

The state Commissioner for Works, Mr. Pius Ankpo, who briefed journalists, late Wednesday, after the monthly State Executive Council meeting in Calabar, said that the state executive council has granted approval for the state government to pay compensation for right of way, for the ongoing construction work along Ikot- Nyong to Itu bridge. The commissioner said that payment of compensation had been one of the major issues that hindered the pace of work on theAnkpoproject. warned that those who hurriedly erected various structures in order to make claims, should not expect anything.

He said compensation would be paid only to those with ancestral structures, and what would be paid would be a fraction, while the balance would be the contribution of the landlord communities, and owners to the actualisation of the project.

I, formerly known and addressed as TAIWO ABIDEMI OLUWANIFISHE, now wish to be called and addressed as ABIDEMI OLUWANIFISHE TAIWO. All former documents remain valid. The general public should please take note.

I, formerly known and addressed as MARIAN DIEKOLA ADEWOLE, now wish to be called and addressed as MARIAN DIEKOLA AKEREJOLA. All former documents remain valid. The general public should please take note.

I formerly known and addressed as FLORENCE OLUFOLAKE OLOKO, now wish to be known and addressed as OLUFOLAKE FAITH OLOKO. All former documents remain valid, Union bank Nig Plc, Industrial Training Fund, Forte Oil, Zenith bank and the general public should please take note.

long way to tackle the challenges of oil theft in the Niger Delta region.

Vice Admiral Ogalla said

the directive has been given to compile a list of all those wellheads with recommendation to the NNPCL that they be

deactivated properly by sealing them so it will no longer pose as an opportunity for oil vandals.

While over 62,000 barrels of

crude oil, as well as 1 million litres of illegally-refined diesel, petrol and kerosene, valued in total at about N10 billion

Protesters Storm APC Secretariat, Demand Ganduje’s Resignation

Adedayo Akinwale in Abuja

The call by the protesters was coming few days after the Kano State High Court reversed itself on Ganduje’s suspension

The protesters led by

Protesters under the aegis of Concerned North Central All Progressives Congress (APC) stakeholders yesterday stormed the national secretariat of the party in Abuja where they called for the resignation of the party Chairman, Dr. Abdullahi Ganduje.

Mohammed Saba called on the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Senator George Akume, to ensure that the position of national chairman of the APC be returned to North Central.

The protesters armed with placards with inscriptions like ‘Ganduje must resign’ and ‘Return the APC chairmanship to North Central’, dismissed the vote of confidence passed on the embattled chairman by the Forum of State Chairmen as a ruse.

FRSC to Clamp Down on Trucks Conveying Goods, Passengers

Adibe Emenyonu in Benin-city

The Edo State Command of the Federal Road Safety Commission (FRSC) has warned truck drivers to desist from carrying goods and passengers together, saying it would soon commence clapping down on erring drivers.

The Edo State FRSC Sector Commander, Paul Okpe, gave the warning yesterday during a sensitisation programme for truck drivers at the Aduwawa axis of Benin-city.

Okpe said the sensitisation was to engage the leadership of the truck drivers’ union on how to

drive on the highway, imbibe safety culture, and stop using truck to carrying goods and passengers.

He said: “We going to go round other locations of the union in the state to also sensitise them. It is not a good practice and when accident happened, most of the passengers always died and we want to reduce accident on the road.

“We are happy that the drivers are keying into the exercise and assured us of their support. They have also given us good advice, especially stopping the loading of passengers and good from the North.”

Limestone Tech Launches Security Alert Solution

Dike Onwuamaeze

The Limestone Technology Services Limited (LTSL) has introduced Limestone Panic Alert, which would enable residents to directly notify security services anytime they are faced with threat of criminals invading their neighbourhood.

The LTSL said that the panic alert is a laudable digital technology product that could empower individuals and communities to take control of their safety and bridge existing gaps in home security.

It said: “We empower estate managers and residents with a comprehensive suite of security, property management, and community-building tools, all accessible through our userfriendly solution.

“Our focus is on streamlining daily operations, enhancing resident experience, and fostering a thriving sense of community within gated estates in Nigeria. A veteran Nollywood actor, Mr. Hafiz Oyetoro, endorsed the Limestone Panic Alert when he opened up recently on his traumatic home invasion in 2022 and advocated a tech driven security solutions.

NPAN Condoles with Ray Ekpu over Wife’s Death

The Newspaper Proprietors’ Association of Nigeria (NPAN) has condoled with veteran journalist and columnist, Ray Ekpu, over the death of his wife, Mrs. Uyai Ray Ekpu. She died at 73.

In a statement signed and made available to THISDAY yesterday by the President of NPAN, Kabiru Yusuf, the group expressed shock over the news of the death of Mrs. Ekpu. NPAN in the statement described her as: “A quintessential management and training specialist and seasoned administrator,” adding that her passage has created a deep void in the country’s socio-development landscape.

“Though she is no more, we are consoled by the enviable legacies she left as a thorough professional; the value she held as a bridge builder and her exemplary disposition for community service,” it added.

Mrs. Ekpu was a senior staff of the Centre for Management Development (CNID) and retired in 2011 as an acting Director, Management Education and Training Department.

“On behalf of the Executive Council of our esteemed association, we commiserate with you and your entire family. We pray that the Almighty God will console and uphold each and everyone of you,” NPAN said.

Fides Et Ratio Academy Denies N2.9bn TETFund Contract

Kuni Tyessi in Abuja Educational organisation, Fides Et Ratio Academy, has denied an investigative report alleging that a purported N2.9 billion contract awarded to it by the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund) was not executed.

Funmi Ogundare

The General Manager of Lagos State Environmental Protection Agency (LASEPA), Dr. Tunde

Ajayi, yesterday warned Lagosians who constitute nuisance to the environment

Speaking to newsmen in Abuja during a media parley on the firm’s plan to roll out massive skill training programmes in the country, Chief Executive Officer of the Academy, Paul Chukwuma, clarified that the organisation never had a contract with TETFund. Chukwuma, who owns a university in East Africa, explained that Fides Et Ratio Academy only entered into an agreement with TETFund on a skill training programme for directors and deputy directors of Information and Communication Technology (ICT) as well as students in higher education institutions in the country.

erroneous report, Chukwuma asserted that the academy’s project was fully executed.

Expressing surprise over the

“I never had a contract with TETFund. What I had was service engagement. I don’t do contracts with my education interest. In the university, if you want a course, you pay for it,” he said.

LASEPA Warns Business Owners, Transport Workers, Churches against Noise Pollution

through noise pollution to refrain from such, saying the agency will come after them and shut down their businesses. Ajayi, who gave this warning at the International Noise Awareness Day with the theme: ‘Protect Your Hearing, Protect

Your Health’, stressed the need for Lagosians to reduce the volume of their noise and be considerate of their neighbours so that the state can be habitable for everyone.

Speaking with journalists, he explained that his agency

has been carrying out lots of advocacy in curbing noise pollution in the state by sensitising the public on its impact on their health and why Lagos cannot continue as a noisy city particularly in residential areas.

FG Backs Out of Payment of Salary of Foreign Coach for Eagles

Duro Ikhazuagbe

Despite enthusiasm in football circles in the country that a substantive head coach for the Super Eagles will be announced any moment from today, there appears to be a twist in the matter following resolve by the Federal Ministry of Sports not to be involved in the payment of the emoluments of the new gaffer. There have been clamour for the employment of a foreign manager to replace Portuguese Jose Peseiro whose renewed contract expired with the AFCON 2023 in February this year.

THISDAY sources hinted of the leadership of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) tilting towards contracting a foreign manager as recommended by the Technical Committee recently.

The general believe was that the Federal Government will be responsible for the payment of the salaries of the new coach.

But sources close to the Sports Ministry confided in THISDAY yesterday that the Sports Minister, Senator John Owan Enoh, has made it known to the NFF that the Federal Government will not be involved in the payment of whichever foreign manager that is contracted for the senior national team.

Although the minister is not averse to hiring a foreigner so long as it does not involve cash-strapped NFF running cap-in-hand to his ministry for bailout when unable to pick the coach’s salary bill.

“This development has thrown the NFF into confusion, a development that may involve having a review of its earlier decision to hire a foreigner,” observed the

top level football official who spoke with THISDAY yesterday afternoon. It is this new twists that may cause the NFF to now look in the direction of considering picking either Emmanuel Amuneke or Finidi George for the vacant job.

Nigeria’s Super Eagles have two crucial 2026 World Cup qualifiers against South Africa and Benin Republic in June. The three-time African champions who were denied qualification for the 2022 World Cup in Qatar are third in the Group C standing after pulling draws from the first two games played Lesotho and Zimbabwe.

Rwanda are leading the group on 4 points from one win and one draw while South Africa are third on three points from one win.

NTIC

offers for star forwards Eberechi Eze and Michael Olise that start at £60million or more for each player.

Both players with Nigerian ancestry are qualified to play for the Super Eagles but have not looked in the direction of the green and white colours of the three-time African champions. Olise is born by a French Algerian mother to a Nigerian father which makes him eligible to play for Algeria, France, England and Nigeria while Eberechi born by Nigerian parents in England is eligible for both countries.

The Eagles as Crystal Palace are incidentally called, are safe from relegation having secured a club-record 12th season of Premier League football, and financially do not need to sell either player.

Miracle Ezechukwu, Breaks

To represent Nigeria at U-20 World Championships in Peru

Miracle Oluebube Ezechukwu,

TRACK & FIELD

the Youth category into the Junior class, broke the MTN CHAMPS outright 100m record of 11.82secs. She went on to win gold in 11.81secs as her teammate, Chigozie Nwankwo, who broke 12secs for the first time in her career during the semis (11.95secs), settled for silver in 12.02secs. Ojone Akubo-Adegbe was third in 12.38secs.

Divinefavour Okisamen (10.79secs) of Real Winners, Sasere

Taiwo (10.93secs) and Enoch Dabo (10.94secs) of Speed of Light were the Top 3 finishers in the Junior Boys’ 100m.

Adaeze Eze, also of Nigerian Tulip, and Mercy Ogbonna of G.S.S Township, were the standout athletes in the Youth Girls 100m category, both running new Personal Bests (PB) to win their respective heats. Eze ran a PB of 12.36secs, the fastest time overall to win Heat 6,

Golf: SA Cup Celebrates 30 Years of Freedom and Democracy

The South African Consulate General in Lagos, in partnership with Crossflex International will host the South African Golf Tournament at Ikoyi Golf Club on Sunday, April 28th, 2024 to mark the 30th anniversary of freedom and democracy as well as 30 years of unbroken diplomatic relations between South Africa and Nigeria.

Tolu Adesemowo, Managing Director of Crossflex and coordinator of the event, said the event will feature over 100 players. The event debuted last year as the South Africa Consul General Cup.

According to him; “Last year’s

edition of the event, left an impression on the players; especially fun and the atmosphere it created among the diplomatic community. There was a compelling need for it to make a return for the freshness it brings to golf in Ikoyi and the diplomatic circle.”

Adesemowo said that this year’s event, like its previous edition, will feature top amateur players at the Ikoyi Club 1938, both male and female players vying for honour with the Stableford scoring system.

“The event will see a “short-gun” tee-off, with all the players setting out from each of the 18 holes simultane-

ously. This would help us manage the huge entry that has signed on for the event, and also help manage the closing ceremony later in the event.”

The event is sponsored by Geregu Power PLC, Qshop, Pepsi, Acutech, Kaldi Africa, Simplygolf apparel will be an 18-hole Stableford game where both men and lady golfers will vie for honours.

Professor Bobby Moroe, the Consul General, South Africa Consulate in Lagos, earlier endorsed the appointment of Crossflex International Nigeria Limited as a partner.

In his statement he said, “we are excited and proud to partner

Crossflex International, one amongst the reputable private golfing agencies in Nigeria. Sports diplomacy, in particular, golf, is a crescendo to harness partnerships and promote enduring relationships amongst the golfing community”.

The event is set as part of the South African Week Celebrations in Nigeria and will be one of the major events in celebrating the 30th year of independence for the Rainbow nation since apartheid was abolished. Other prizes on offer include; longest-drive, nearest to the pin, and 30th place finish will be rewarded at the event.

However, given some of the praise for 25-year-old Eze in particular in recent weeks and the form of Olise, 22, they accept that bids are highly likely to come this summer.

And Palace feel that £60million per player is the starting price for interested teams if they want to enter negotiations.

Both Olise and Eze signed longterm deals this season so Palace are in a strong negotiating position.

Neither contract contains a straightforward release clause and any deal will be complex with percentages due to the players' former clubs, the players themselves and Crystal Palace.

Last summer Eze was the subject of interest from Manchester City but the champions signed Wolves' Matheus Nunes instead, while Chelsea unsuccessfully attempted to sign Olise for a fee in the region of £35m, thinking they had activated his release clause.

The players are happy at Palace and are keen to make sure that any potential move is one that benefits them, with a particular focus on picking a team that will allow them to show their ability on the ball and demonstrate their attacking flair.

Match of the Day pundit Danny Murphysaid Eze was "on a different planet" in their 5-2 win over West Ham on Sunday, adding: "He is a Champions League player - I'm sorry, Palace fans. He will not be there next season. This is an unbelievable talent.

"There are going to be so many clubs after him because he can do the lot. A wonderful, wonderful player."

There is a noticeable difference in the way Crystal Palace play when neither Olise or Eze are in the side and the pair have started just six Premier League games together. They have scored or assisted 13 of the 14 goals in those six games. Olise and Eze are two of the success stories Palace have signed from the Championship under sporting director Dougie Freedman.

StarTimes is thrilled to announce that it has successfully secured the non-exclusive broadcast rights for the highly esteemed Spanish football league, LALIGA EA Sports and LALIGA Hypermotion, for the next five seasons.

LALIGA EA Sports is the premier football league in Spain and is considered one of the top professional football leagues in Europe and the world, featuring 20 participating teams. Each season consists of 38 rounds with 10 matches per round, following a home and away format. LALIGA also boasts the record for producing the most winners of both the Ballon d'Or and the FIFA World Player of the Year awards.

With this acquisition, StarTimes holds the rights to broadcast LALIGA EA Sports and LALIGA Hypermotion for the seasons spanning 2024/25, 2025/26, 2026/27, 2027/28, and

2028/29. The broadcast will be available in all languages including English, Portuguese, and local languages, reaching audiences across all countries in sub-Saharan Africa. Melcior Soler, LALIGA’s Audiovisual Director stated: “Reaching our audience is essential for us, and partnering StarTimes is key to deliver our best-in-class content to all our fans in the Sub-Saharan region.” "We are thrilled to share the news of our successful bid for the LALIGA broadcast rights, securing access to one of the most prestigious football competitions globally. Soccer is at the heart of StarTimes’ sports content strategy, and this latest acquisition underscores our dedication to delivering top-notch football entertainment to our subscribers," said Tiffany Shao, Sports Acquisition and Operation Director of StarTimes.

Michael Olise (left) and Eberechi Eze are now commanding hefty transfer fees following blissful season for Crystal Palace this season

Finidi George (left) and Emmanuel Amuneke are in the running for the Eagles job

Emmanuel

Bauchi Gov Directs Upward Review of Allowances for Traditional Rulers

Segun Awofadeji in Bauchi

Bauchi State Governor, Senator Bala Mohammed has directed the state’s Ministry of Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs to begin the process of upward review the allowances of traditional rulers in the state.

The governor disclosed this when the Emir of Katagum, Alhaji Umar

Farooq led traditional rulers from the emirate on a Salah homage held at the Council Chambers, Government House, Bauchi yesterday.

Mohammed said the upward review of the allowances is to meet the needs of the traditional rulers by addressing their challenges faced in discharging their assigned responsibilities so as to discourage them against engaging in

corruption and other criminal activities.

He appreciated the understanding and mutual working relationship existing between his administration and members of traditional institution in the state and promised government’s continued support to the institution to achieve the desired objectives.

Earlier, the Emir of Katagum

commended the governor for his administration’s developmental projects in which the emirate is beneficiary and reaffirmed his Emirate’s support and loyalty to the present administration.

The Emir told the governor that his Emirate had directed all mosques within the emirate to embark on a fervent prayers for the support of the present administration in the state.

ENHANCING CLIMATE RESILIENCE IN AFRICA THROUGH DFI INVESTMENTS IN MITIGATION AND ADAPTATION STRATEGIES

water security; climate information and early warning; green transport and infrastructure; green energy and energy efficiency; and green finance.

The International Finance Corporation (IFC) has identified climate change as a strategic focus, committing to increase its climate-related investments, globally, to an annual average of 35 per cent of its own-account, long-term commitments from 2021 to 2025. In partnership with various financial institutions, the IFC is financing projects that address climate risks through both mitigation and adaptation strategies. In fiscal year 2022, the IFC allocated $4.4 billion to global climate finance, leveraging an

additional $3.3 billion from external sources. Of this, $2.1 billion was directed towards supporting Africa’s transition to green energy.

Notable among the IFC’s projects is its contribution to the World Bank Group’s Scaling Solar initiative. This programme seeks to accelerate the adoption of privately funded solar power in developing countries. The IFC, along with the Finland-IFC Blended Finance for Climate Programme, the European Investment Bank, and Proparco, financed the Kahone and Kael solar plants in Senegal, costing about $41million. Operational since 2021, these facilities have a combined capacity of 60MWac.

THE LONG ROAD FROM ROME

he had seen a small cloud, the size of a man’s hand. Not minding the size of the cloud, Elijah declared that a torrential downpour was impending”.

Continuing, the Senate President was eclectic: “In this country we have had a deficit of heroes. Not because Nigerians are not heroic but because we do not celebrate our heroes. Yet heroes play a vital role in society through the provision of inspiration, motivation, hope and serving as representations of values and character. Celebrating heroes could bring the much-needed change we need in the fabric of our society and make our country a better place.

“So today, I can see in this award ceremony a small rain cloud, the size of the hand of a man. But I declare, like Elijah, that out of this event shall come a mighty downpour of recognition of heroes and heroines in all sectors of the public service, law enforcement and allied service”.

Delving into the literary world, Akpabio navigated the thoughts of one America’s finest naturalist, essayist, poet and philosopher, Henry David Thoreau. He said, “It is apt that the police should set the ball rolling for us in this hero’s recognition affair. Many have sought to hang the police to dry for all our many vices. But the truth of the matter is that the police are all members of our society. Down the ages the popular philosophical thinking was that man could not be better than the society because the society makes the man, socialises man, and orients him with a sense of right and wrong. But Henry David Thoreau came with a counter narrative that man can surpass societal limitations, and rise above societal norms and expectations”.

According to Akpabio, “This is what the police are trying to do with this event under the current leadership. This leadership understands that the role of the police in a democracy cannot be overstated. They are the custodians

Both plants supply power to 540,000 people at some of the lowest tariffs in sub-Saharan Africa and prevent approximately 89,000 tonnes of CO2 emissions annually.

As Africa confronts a diverse array of climate challenges across short-, medium-, and long-term horizons, securing funding from Development Finance Institutions (DFIs) for key climate adaptation and mitigation projects becomes crucial. AfDB estimates the cumulative financing needs for Africa to respond adequately to climate change at about $2.8 trillion over the 2020-2030 period. The needs are mainly split across four sectors: transport (58 per cent),

of law and order, and they ensure the safety and security of the citizens.

“In a democratic society, it is imperative that the police uphold the highest ethical standards in carrying out their duties. They are entrusted with the responsibility of protecting the rights and liberties of the people, while maintaining law and order.

“Once again, I commend the police for this maiden effort in organising

this awards ceremony. It is a testament to IGP Egbetokun’s commitment to giving honour to whom it is due. By recognising the gallant, selfless, and patriotic contributions of individual officers, will not only motivate them for higher performance but also reinforce the new policing agenda of the force. This agenda focuses on internal ethical regeneration, restoration of professional standards, and the enhancement of

energy (24 per cent), industry (7 per cent), and agriculture, forestry, and other land use (AFOLU) (9 per cent). Countries will need to develop comprehensive national climate policies and strategies, foster an investment-friendly climate, and prepare a portfolio of projects ready for investment. This strategic positioning is essential for attracting and harnessing the necessary funding to address the continent’s climate risks effectively.

•Dr. Ebenezer Onyeagwu is the Group Managing Director/CEO of Zenith Bank Plc and Chairman of the Body of Banks’ CEOs in Nigeria.

the anti-corruption drive”. He left some words of admonition: “However, let us not ignore the challenges faced by the police in Nigeria. The ever-evolving landscape of crime and the increasing sophistication of criminal gangs pose significant obstacles. More so, as we honour the good officers, let us weed out the bad ones because a chain is as strong as its weakest link. We must address these issues and work together to find solutions. The police need the support and cooperation of all stakeholders, to overcome these challenges and build a stronger and more effective police force.

“I congratulate the awardees who have excelled in their respective fields of policing. Their dedication, bravery, and integrity have set them apart and made them deserving of this recognition. I commend every one of them for their outstanding performance and commitment to the service of our nation. I urge them to remember that to whom much is given, much is expected.

“As the leader of the National Assembly, I pledge our full cooperation and support for the better policing of Nigeria. We recognize the importance of a well-equipped and motivated police force in ensuring the security and well-being of our citizens. We will continue to work tirelessly to provide the necessary legislative framework and resources to enable the police to carry out their duties effectively”.

This is what our institutions need now, this is the quality Nigeria is looking for and the leaders that deserve to be at the helm of affairs. Senator Akpabio was generous in the act and in the heart of his personal support to the families of the posthumous awardees.

•Hon Eseme Eyiboh is the Special Adviser on Media and Publicity and the official Spokesperson to the President of the Senate

Senate President, Godswill Akpabio

MISSILE

Hayab to Nasir El-Rufai

“During the regime of El-Rufai, projects were done half way, commissioned and abandoned, workers’ salaries were not being paid and people were divided. The planned probe is not an attack on the former governor of the state (Kaduna). It is about accountability. What I think they want him to do is to provide information on areas about governance and expenditure of public funds...” –Former Kaduna State CAN Chairman, Rev. John Joseph Hayab, defends the planned probe of El-Rufai.

EBENEZER ONYEAGWU

GUEST COLUMNIST

Enhancing Climate Resilience in Africa Through DFI Investments in Mitigation and Adaptation Strategies

According to the World Economic Forum’s 2024 Global Risks Report, extreme weather events are ranked as the second and first most severe global risks in the short term and long term, respectively. The African Development Bank (AfDB) identifies climate change as the foremost threat to development in Africa, disproportionately affecting the continent’s poorest countries and exacerbating existing vulnerabilities. Africa stands as the most climatevulnerable region globally, with minimal resilience and preparedness against climate change.

This persistent challenge has galvanised global efforts towards climate change mitigation and adaptation, receiving support from governments and multilateral institutions worldwide. Commitments under the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

and the Paris Climate Agreement underscore the global dedication to combating climate change through emission reduction (mitigation) and

ESEME EYIBOH

GUEST COLUMNIST

enhancing resilience against extreme climate events (adaptation).

Financing is critical for implementing climate mitigation and adaptation programmes, especially in regions like Africa, which are significantly impacted by climate change. Despite stiff competition for funds, the AfDB highlights the global benefits of supporting climate action in Africa. However, it also points out that subSaharan Africa receives less than 3 per cent of global climate finance.

Amid these challenges, Development Finance Institutions (DFIs) on the continent are leading in driving resilience against climate change’s devastating impacts and supporting the transition to a low-carbon economy. DFIs contributed to 69 per cent of adaptation finance in Africa during 2019-2020, according to the Global Climate Centre on Adaptation.

The contributions of key DFIs, such as the AfDB and the International Finance Corporation (IFC), in mobilising

funds for climate projects in Africa are commendable.

The African Development Bank (AfDB) has established the Climate Action Window (CAW) to expedite and streamline access to climate finance. It aims to mobilise co-financing while prioritising assistance for the most vulnerable nations, including fragile states and those impacted by conflict. The CAW is committed to dedicating 75 per cent of its resources towards bolstering adaptation measures, 15 per cent to mitigation efforts, and the remaining 10 per cent to providing technical assistance. With an ambitious goal to secure $4 billion by 2025, the CAW sets its sights on an ultimate target of $13 billion funding portfolio.

According to the AfDB, the flagship continental climate finance vehicle will support projects across six sectors including agriculture and food security;

Continued on page 31

The Police and Akpabio’s Sermon on the Mount

84-year-old renowned Belgian painter and writer, Erik Pervernagie, says: “People die from lack of shared empathy and affinity. By establishing social connectedness, we give hope a chance and the other can become heaven (“Le ciel c’est l’autre”).

No institution has been so disparaged and stigmatised as the Nigeria Police. It is treated with so much contempt and neither appreciated nor celebrated. Rather, anything bad or despicable is attributed to the police. An average policeman is held in utmost and never enjoys any empathy or affinity from most Nigerians. Although the police are the friend of the people, the mutual reciprocity from the people is seemingly non-existent. The compensation is abysmal while the motivation is infinitesimal.

That is why in its years of existence, no one has remembered to honour its

men and officers who have excelled in their professional outings until the coming of IGP Olukayode Egbetokun. Hence, the maiden edition of the Nigeria Police Awards and Commendations Ceremony held in Abuja last Monday was long overdue and an emotionladen event. This was the first time the Nigeria Police celebrated itself by recognising gallantry, rewarding excellence and professionalism, thereby boosting the morale of officers and men, which has over the decades been at an all-time low.

By this maiden award, the present Inspector General of Police has jumpstarted a new Nigeria Police Force whose personnel are ethically compliant, professionally focused, and stable with a strong reward culture and post-service incentives. The IGP has also, through this event, instituted a reward system and reputation management process that will ultimately change the general

perception our people hold about the Nigeria Police. Going forward, the men and officers of the force will be motivated and energised to give their all in spite of the negative reception from the public and compete to be recognised and honoured.

Putting the icing on the cake was the effervescent President of the Senate of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Senator Godswill Obot Akpabio, CON, who stole the show. It was, however, devoid of an elaborate sense of humour or trademark jokes nor hilarious laughter. It was the underpin of the inspirational remarks by the number one Legislator in Nigeria.

In a delivery reminiscent of the oratory of a Barrack Obama, Luther King, William Churchill or Nelson Mandela, Akpabio’s speech evinced the feelings of empathy and affinity. Call it Sermon on the Mount, and you will be damn right! Because he gave the Nigeria

Police Force a thump-up for the timely, strategic, and innovative strategies it has adopted in the cutting-edge reputation management of the organisation and the morale-boosting initiative adopted to foster professionalism, innovations, competition, and courage amongst its workforce.

The admonition of Senator Akpabio falls within the prism of constructive stakeholders’ engagement and an urgent demand to integrate the force into a citizen-police cubicle. Drawing allusions from the Holy Books (the Bible and Koran) to drive home his message, Akpabio said, “I see hope in today’s event. The story is told of how Prophet Elijah (known in the Koran as Ilyas), after three and a half years of drought, asked his attendant to go and look for a rain cloud. After seven attempts, the assistant came back and told him that

President Tinubu