FRIDAY 28TH APRIL 2023

The move by the federal government to phase out its controversial fuel

subsidy policy may no longer be feasible once more as the National Economic Council (NEC) yesterday advised the government to shelve it until all preparatory plans with

various segment of government, including states and the incoming administration are concluded.

The advice comes just as the Nigerian Chambers of Commerce,

Industry, Mines and Agriculture (NACCIMA) expressed concern that removing petrol subsidy would have adverse impact on businesses that could lead to the shutdown of

operation of local refineries will hurt businesses, shut down SMEs Story on

many Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) and exasperate the worsening unemployment rate in the country. The administration of President Muhammadu Buhari had worked

towards the removal of subsidy, culminating in its recent sourcing of an $800 million grant from the

Malami Dismisses Claims of Loss of $2.4bn from Crude Oil Sale to China... Page

they

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Govs: Work with Party to Elect 10th N'Assembly Principal Officers

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Deji Elumoye in Abuja and Dike Onwuamaeze in Lagos

Proton Energy, NNPC, Others Seal Gas Supply Deal for 150mw Power Project

First phase of 500mw facility ready by 2025

Emmanuel Addeh in Abuja

Nigeria’s power sector has received a lift with an indigenous firm, Proton Energy Limited, formally announcing yesterday, the signing of a deal with several partners in the country for the long-term supply of gas for the production of 500mw of power valued at over $250 million.

The partners include: Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC), Shell Petroleum Development Company (SPDC), TotalEnergies, the Nigerian Agip Oil Company Limited (NAOC) and the Gas Aggregation Company Nigeria Limited (GACN).

According to the company, the agreement was for the supply of natural gas for the 150 MW first

phase of the Proton Delta Sunrise project located in Sapele, Delta State.

Apart from the first phase of 150mw supply of electrons to the national grid, the second phase is expected to add a further 350 MW. According to the firm, if everything goes well, the first phase will reach commercial operation in 2025 and deliver the much needed reliable incremental power megawatts to the national grid.

At the event which took place in Abuja, the Executive Vice Chairman of the firm, who is also the Chief Executive Officer, Mr Oti Ikomi, noted that the deal has been in the works for years. He lauded all the partners for their resilience in the years preceding the deal.

Ikomi noted that the project worth over $250 million would enhance industrialisation, business and job growth in the country as well as the host communities.

Nigeria currently scores low on major indices tracking the supply of reliable electricity to its population and the agreement is in line with government's twin objectives of accelerating the development of a robust electricity sector and better utilising its gas endowment.

The successful implementation of the project, combined with other electricity value chain initiatives that are currently underway, would help to lay the foundations, in the medium term, for an era characterised by the supply of reliable and affordable

electricity to the general populace.

Besides, it is expected that the project would dramatically improve standards of living, catalyse economic growth and help transition Nigeria into an upper middle income economy.

Ikomi stated that the project was an advanced Independent Power Plant (IPP) project which with the continued support of key regulatory and financial sector stakeholders, has the potential to reach Financial Close by the end of 2023.

“We thank our partners for their dedication towards executing this agreement and their contributions towards the development of a more robust domestic electricity market,” Ikomi stated.

He explained that although the

BUHARI: OVERCONFIDENCE, BAD TACTICAL MOVES KILLED OPPOSITION AT POLLS

Progressives Congress (APC) worked hard to retain power during the recent elections by blending confidence with caution, the opposition relished in sheer over-confidence.

The president hinted at his retirement plan, saying he would first move to Daura, in Katsina State, where he intends to spend six months, before moving to Kaduna State.

Buhari, at a different occasion, yesterday, disclosed that his government since 2015 had succeeded in equipping the security agencies as well as subduing the activities of terrorists, bandits, kidnappers, and other criminal elements in the country. He added that the Nigerian military’s ranking had risen from seventh to fourth in Africa on his watch.

Speaking at the State House, Abuja, when he received the Progressive Governors Forum, led by its Chairman, Governor Abubakar Bagudu of Kebbi State, the president said, regarding the opposition parties, “They were already telling their foreign backers that they would defeat the APC. Our party blended confidence with caution; we worked hard and won.

“Now, their over-confidence is creating more problems for the opposition than anyone else. They are finding it hard to convince those, who supported them from outside why they are unable to beat us. A combination of over-confidence, complacency and bad tactical moves made them lose, plain and clear. This has created more problems in their camp. Why did they fail to remove us?”

Responding to an issue raised by

Bagudu, Buhari said, “An important reason I congratulate Asiwaju on winning is because the opposition got support and false hope from outside and went on to create the impression that they will win, that they will defeat us. How more wrong could anyone be?”

The president charged the APC governors to stick together and openly address issues among themselves.

He told them, “Try and keep solving problems. Be courageous to discuss them openly between yourselves. This is the best way to survive politically in Nigeria.”

Buhari also told the governors to ensure, “You have a programme to meet regularly and to discuss issues and how to maintain the party nationwide.”

Buhari spoke at length on his retirement proposal, saying he intends to be at home in Daura for six months before moving, eventually, to Kaduna. He thanked Governor Nasir El-Rufai of Kaduna State for the infrastructure he had provided in the state, which would help to make his retirement life as well as the lives of other residents of the state much better. He said Governor of Kano State, Abdullahi Ganduje, had equally done the same.

Speaking at the occasion, Bagudu said the visit was to say “Happy Sallah” to the president and thank him for the leadership he had given to the party and the country.

This being their first visit since the elections, the governors congratulated the president on the party’s victory

at the presidential polls, saying, “Congratulations, your party won the presidency, a majority in the senate and for being the leading party in the House of Representatives. These successes would not have happened without your support.

“History will remember you kindly. Around the world, the election is being celebrated because of the turbulence in the region and in the developing world, all courtesy of your leadership. We won by sheer hard work, the same thing you have always encouraged us to do. We thank you immensely for everything.”

Meanwhile, Buhari disclosed that his government had since 2015 succeeded in adequately equipping the security agencies as well as subduing the activities of terrorists, bandits, kidnappers, and other criminal elements in the country.

He spike in Abuja at a ceremony attended by two former leaders of the country, General Yakubu Gowon and Dr Goodluck Jonathan.

Buhari declared that upon his assumption of office in May 2915, the country's security situation was greatly challenged by the activities of violent non-state actors.

"Today, I am pleased to specially note that the situation has tremendously improved and I wish to also proudly highlight that we have made remarkable progress in the fight against insurgents, militants, oil bunkers, kidnappers, and other criminal elements in the country,” he stated.

Buhari said, “This administration

NEC PUSHES FG TO SUSPEND PLANNED FUEL SUBSIDY REMOVAL

World Bank to provide palliatives for vulnerable Nigerians.

Minister of Finance, Budget and National Planning, Zainab Ahmed, disclosed the advice by NEC to newsmen yesterday, after the Council’s valedictory meeting, presided over by Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, at the State House, Abuja.

However, she said despite the suspension, NEC agreed on the need to continue discussion on the matter and the necessary preparatory work in conjunction with states, stakeholders and representatives of the in-coming administration.

She stressed that Council agreed that the subsidy regime must be removed eventually as it was not sustainable.

She affirmed NEC's position that it was better to remove the subsidy now rather than later.

Ahmed said: “Today I was in the NEC meeting where we discussed the issue of post-subsidy removal.

Council agreed that the timing for the removal of subsidy should not be now, but that we should continue with all of the preparation works that needs to be done and that this preparation work has to be done in consultation with the states and other key stakeholders, including representatives of the incoming administration.

“Council agreed that the first

subsidy must be removed earlier rather than later because it is not sustainable. We cannot afford it anymore. We have to do it in such a way that the impact of the subsidy is as much as possible, mitigated on the lives of ordinary Nigerians.

“So, this will require looking at alternatives to the post-subsidy that needs to be planned for and subsequently put in place but also what needs to be done to support the people that would be most affected as a result of the removal.

“So, we will be working together with representatives of the state, we will have a plan that we will start working on putting the building blocks towards the eventual removal of the fuel subsidy.

“If I may remind the forum, that the budget for 2023 has provision for subsidy only up to June 2023 and also the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA) has a provision that requires that all petroleum products must be deregulated 18 months after the effective date of the subsidy removal and that period is also up to June 2023.”

Answering reporters’ questions on what happens after the June 2023 timeline for the subsidy removal when its funding would have ceased, the Minister said the Appropriation Act may have to be revisited or a supplementary budget made.

According to her, the PIA guiding subsidy removal may be tinkered with if the committee set up so decides. Her words: "If I said that we agreed to form an expanded committee that will be looking at the process for the removal including determining the exact time and also the measures that need to be taken to provide support to the poor and the vulnerable and then also the alternatives that will be put in place, including ensuring that there is sufficient supply of petroleum products in the country.

"So, this is a decision that has been taken to expand the committee that is currently working with representatives of the states and it means also that we have to be engaging with petroleum marketers.

"The immediate committee is just comprising of the ministry of finance, the NNPC, the regulator, the downstream upstream regulator, as well as the Ministry of Finance, Budget, and National Planning.

"So, there'll be an expanded committee so that it is not just a few people's thoughts that will guide the process, that there is sufficient consultation taking inputs from key stakeholders into the measures that need to be taken.

"Yes, I did. What I said is that it is not going to be removed now, which means it will not be removed before the transition is completed.

agreement was executed in February, it was important to recognise the work, the amount of negotiation as well as the amount of time and what the project will do for Nigeria.

“This agreement is going to give us a multi-year supply of natural gas to the port on the sunrise project located in Sapele in Delta State. Gas is the most critical supply cost structure in developing a power plant. So we are very proud of this,” he added.

He also highlighted the role played by the African Development Bank (AfDB), Nigeria country office. Ikomi added that Proton Energy Limited will reach the close of a financing decision by the end of the year.

“We expect direct and indirect jobs to be over 10,000. Look at the

multiplier effect on our nation. It will contribute to growth and development,” he added.

Also, the Chairman of Proton Energy, Mr. Ike Osakwe, lauded the management of the firm for achieving the milestone.

"The board of Proton Energy commends the management of Proton Energy for diligently progressing the project over a number of years. We re-echo our gratitude to our gas supply partners Shell SPDC; NNPC, GACN, Total Energies and AGIP,” he said. In his comments, Governor of Kebbi State, Abubakar Bagudu, who chaired the event, described the decision to make the huge investment even at a time the country was transitioning to a new administration as ‘brave'.

has achieved a remarkable transformation of the military in the areas of fighting power, training, operations, manpower, remunerations, and medical services. These are in addition to maintenance efficiency, accommodation, and expansion of forces. The improvements in these areas have collectively enhanced the army’s capacity to effectively carry out its constitutional mandate.”

The president stated that the robust plan to improve the security architecture of the country had been realised, with the upgrading of hardware, building of facilities, training, and equipping of staff and officers, and structuring of a welfare system that caters for more than 50,000 children of fallen heroes.

The president said he instituted the recruitment of 60,000 soldiers into the armed forces, and thousands graduated from the Nigerian Defence Academy and other security institutions to tighten security.

He also presented 81 new, symbolic flags to the various units of the Nigerian Army.

The president said, “As an administration, we have demonstrated commitment to increasing the strength of the armed forces in my resolve to secure the country. It is instructive to state that from 2015, when I was sworn in as the President and Commander in Chief of the Armed Forces, Federal Republic of Nigeria, I facilitated the recruitment of over 60,000 soldiers from Depot Nigerian Army, aside from thousands commissioned from the Nigerian Defense Academy Kaduna.”

That's what it means.

"But then we have two laws that have inadvertently made the provision that we should exit by June. So, if the committee's work, which will include the representatives of the incoming administration determined that the removal can be done by June, then, the work plan will be designed to exit as at June.

"But its determination is that the period needs to be extended, that will mean that as a country will have to visit revisit the Appropriation Act for example, because the 2023 budget only made provision up to June.

"So, if we're extending beyond June, it means we have to revisit the Appropriation Act and do a supplementary or amend the bill and also the PIA.

"These are the reasons why we had to do this consultation with NEC to get inputs from the governors. They're going to provide us their representatives to work together with us to have a defined process that will take us towards removal.

"But one thing that is clear is that everybody agrees that the subsidy should be removed very quickly because the cost is only not efficient but it is also not sustainable, and that when the time comes for removal, the removal will be done

Buhari, who endorsed 81 flags for the various units of the Nigerian Army, noted that the fighting power of the military was at low ebb as of May 2015.

“However, seven years later, its fighting power has increased significantly, making it fourth in ranking among African militaries, as against seventh in 2015,” The president said.

He said interventions and yearly budgetary allocations to the army, between 2020 and 2022 alone, had been able to procure hundreds of Mine Resistant Ambush Protected Vehicles, Troops Carrying Vehicles, utility vehicles, tanks, and Armoured Personnel Carriers to augment those earlier procured.

“From 2017 to 2022, significant numbers of new fighting and utility vehicles, along with supporting artillery guns, machine guns, rifles, and corresponding ammunition were acquired and inducted into various theatres of operations. This translates to a significant increment in the army’s equipment holding since 2015.

“With the significant improvement in the fighting power as a result of the procurement of equipment and mission-specific training, the army was empowered to rejig its operations. Accordingly, the army has restructured the conduct of its operations to meet current realities.

“The quantum of platforms inducted into the army since 2015 had enabled troops to take the battle to the terrorists and criminals, particularly in the North-east, resulting in the recapture of territories hitherto held by the insurgents.”

Buhari told the gathering of top security chiefs, traditional rulers, and top government officials, who witnessed the ceremony, that creation of the Army Aviation was one of the major aspects of the on-going expansion process in the Nigerian Army.

He stated, “The renewed vigour for the operationalisation of the Army Aviation emanated from a strong desire to effectively tackle contemporary security challenges across the country. This unit, when fully operationalised, will provide rapid deployment, close air support, casualty evacuation, and prompt delivery of logistics supply, among other roles."

The president said the efforts of the administration paid off with records of unprecedented successes, evident in the increased number of neutralised insurgents and those that voluntarily surrendered alongside their families for deradicalisation and rehabilitation through Operation Safe Corridor.

“This feat has continued to be replicated in other theatres of operation within the country, leading to the resettlement of Internally Displaced Persons to their ancestral homes and restoration of economic activities, in addition to the contribution of the Nigerian Army to global peace through Peace Support Operations.

“In the area of troops’ welfare, this administration has facilitated the approval of Manual for Financial

Administration, which has greatly enhanced the pay and allowances of troops. This has, no doubt, boosted troops’ morale and enhanced their zeal to discharge their constitutional mandate.

“Furthermore, in line with my resolve to cater for the families of deceased personnel, over 50,000 children and wards of personnel, who died in active service, are on the Nigerian Army scholarships from 2015 to date.”

Speaking on infrastructure development, the president said the administration had made determined efforts to surmount the deficit in accommodation and other amenities. As the strength of the army increased, special interventions were made to construct new barracks’ accommodations and renovate the old ones.

Buhari said, “So far, hundreds of new blocks of accommodation were constructed and thousands of the old housing units were renovated and remodelled in various formations and units across the country between 2016 and 2022.

“Currently, massive construction works are on-going in the new Muhammadu Buhari Barracks, Abuja, and other barracks to provide the requisite offices, houses, and facilities to cater to the increasing strength of the army personnel.”

Buhari commended the Chief of Defence Staff, General Lucky Irabor, and all the other service chiefs and heads of all paramilitary organisations for their commitment and selfless service to this nation.

He said, “The Nigerian Army that we celebrate today would not have been able to discharge its responsibilities optimally, including today’s Trooping and Presentation of Colours, without your collaborative support.”

Buhari stated that the colours he presented to the units were revered symbols of the identities of the respective unit, and displayed the regiments’ battle honours or those inherited from predecessors, while playing huge roles in the operational successes of their regiments.

He explained that the last Trooping and Presentation of Colors Parade was held in 2007, and since then new units had been established and operationalised in line with the increasing commitments of the army.

According to the president, “Additionally, existing colours have been extensively involved in multiple operations in various geo-political zones of the country as well as foreign countries, hence, deserving of retirement. Today’s ceremony is a continuation of our effort to re-invigorate the fighting spirit of our troops through the inculcation of greater pride in their units.

“Let me use this medium to sincerely commend the officers and men of the army, all members of the Armed Forces and other security agencies for their exceptional performances in the various operations across the country.”

NATIONAL ECONOMIC COUNCIL VALEDICTORY MEETING...

Malami Dismisses Claims of Loss of $2.4bn from Crude Oil Sale to China

Directs further inquiries to finance ministry, accountant general Says whistleblowers on the run, discloses details of recoveries from Abacha, Ibori, others

Udora Orizu in Abuja

Minister of Justice and Attorney General of the Federation (AGF), Abubakar Malami, has dismissed claims that the country lost over $2.4 billion revenue from alleged illegal sale of 48 million barrels of crude oil exported in 2015 to China.

Malami faulted the allegations during the resumed Ad-hoc Committee investigation on the alleged sale of 48 million barrels of crude oil amounting to over $2.4 billion and crude oil export to global destinations from 2014 to date.

Malami, who is the Chief Law Officer of the Federation, described the allegations as baseless, unfounded, lack merit and substance.

The House had in December last year resolved to constitute an ad-hoc committee to probe the allegation when it adopted a motion sponsored by Isiaka Ibrahim from Ogun State, at plenary.

The committee was also mandated to investigate all crude oil exports and sales by Nigeria from 2014 till date with regards to quantity, insurance, revenue generated, remittances into

the federation accounts or other accounts as well as utilisation of the revenue for the period under review.

Ibrahim had said in the motion, “a whistle-blower alleged in July 2020 that he had in July 2015, brought to the attention of a committee purportedly set up by the president for the recovery of missing crude oil exports, the existence of 48 million barrels of Nigeria’s Bonny Light crude oil in storage at several ports in China, under the authorisation of the then Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) to sell the cargo.”

Speaking at the hearing yesterday, Malami said the office of the Attorney General of the Federation had filed a criminal suit against the individuals who purportedly raised the allegations being investigated by the Ad-hoc Committee.

According to him, the individuals had attempted to defraud the federal government under the guise that the alleged crude oil stolen in China had been recovered.

Malami, explained that the ongoing investigation initiated by the House was unconstitutional and subjudice, and argued that the prosecution of

the petitioners, which started in 2019, suffered setback as a result of series of adjournment caused by the absence of the accused persons. He said the allegation in its own right is devoid of any reasonable ground pointing to a material suspicion cogent enough to invoke the constitutional oversight of the Committee.

According to him, "let me state on record and for the benefit of Nigerians and the committee that the allegations relating to the 48 million barrels are baseless. The allegation is unfounded. It lacks merit and indeed substance.

"The allegation in its own right is devoid of any reasonable ground pointing to a material suspicion cogent enough to invoke the constitutional oversight of the Committee.

"Why do I say so? Sometimes in 2016 allegations were rife and hyped in the social media. There were allegations of existence of stolen 48 million barrels of Nigerian crude in China said to have been valued at $2.4 billion.

"President Muhammadu Buhari informally requested the attorney-

general, making reference to my humble person, Mele Kyari, Lawal Daura, former DG of DSS; and late Abba Kyari; to look into it and advise. But unfortunately, for there to be a reasonable ground for suspicion, at least, you require certain basic facts.

"If you're talking of a product, you cannot establish the substance relating thereto, without confirming the origin of the purported product in China. If you talk about a product in China. Is it of Nigerian origin? That can be ascertained by sample and specifications. Is it Bonny Light for example, which you know emanate from Nigeria or what is it.

"The basic details of the existence of the product and connecting it to Nigeria was not there at all. If you are talking of a product, the vessel perhaps that has taken it, what are the particulars and details of the vessel. There were not available at our disposal at all.

"Which authority is it that has taken custody of the product? There was no information at all. So the issue is simple. There were no reasonable grounds for suspicion of the fact that the purported oil product either

FG Will Curb Revenue Leakages with Finance Act, PIA, Says Accountant General

Sunday Aborisade in Abuja

The Office of the Accountant-General of the Federation (OAGF) yesterday said it had taken measures to end revenue leakages being currently experienced in the country.

The OAGF also said it had perfected arrangements to boost the country's revenue collection. It explained that both measures would be achieved through the instrumentality of the Finance Act, 2021, and the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA), which were enacted by the ninth National Assembly.

The Director of the Federation Account Department, Office of the Accountant-General of the Federation, Mr. Muhammad Saleh, disclosed this in Abuja, at a three-day training by the African Leadership Development Initiative (ALDI), organised by the Department for its staff.

The theme of the training is:

"Evaluation of salient issues emanating from PIA and Finance Act as it affect Federation Account revenue and disbursement."

Saleh, while declaring the event open, expressed optimism that a firm knowledge of the content and of the two Acts would equip the staff of the Department to know what to look for in the nation's drive for more revenue generation and distribution.

He said, "I must say that the content of this program is a very rich content and is something that everybody should be availed the opportunity to learn one or two things.

"With the content of this program, you all know our responsibility; we have a responsibility of collecting all information regarding the revenue being generated by the revenue generating agencies, with especially the NNPC.

"The NNPC has turned to be

another thing today. It is a commercial venture which is supposed to remit its proceeds to the Federation for sharing but not as usually.

"There are basic items which it supposed to bring to the table for sharing. But until you know, then you will get it but if you don't know, you will not find the revenue that is needed to be distributed. At the end of the day we distribute nothing."

Corroborating Saleh's position, the Deputy Director of the Federation Account Department, Mrs. Rita Okolie, hinted that since the Finance Act came into effect, the revenue collection of the Federation has received appreciable boost, noting that the new law also increased the Value Added Tax (VAT) from 5 per cent to 7.5 per cent.

She said, "The training is about looking at the new policies that have been passed into law; that is

the Finance Act and the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA).

"We are looking at these laws because it will affect our functions, our responsibilities in the office; and we consider this necessary to see how these laws can positively affect and enhance our operations, especially in the area of revenue generation, so that we know what we should be expecting from the revenue generating agencies.

"Since the laws came into effect, we have seen a lot of positive impacts. For instance, revenue from the Value Added Tax of this country has tremendously improved.

"You know that before the Finance Act came into effect, VAT was five per cent, but now VAT is 7.5per cent.

"If you look at the revenue from the time of this policy, you will see that the difference is much higher.

exist in spirit or in fact or in indeed exist in China — and it is in no way connected to Nigeria. And all effort on our part to get details have proven abortive.

"It was a committee that was dead on arrival because it has not been formally constituted.

"We could not establish the substance in the allegation because detail information to confirm the existence and origin of of the shipment such as sample of the oil, vessel involved loading point etc, location of the crude in China etc were not provided

"We reported to the president that we were unable to confirm the veracity of the allegation, hence no further action was taken by my office."

The minister further disclosed that the OAGF was instrumental to the recovery of various sums of fund which were deposited in the Asset Recovery Account domiciled with Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN).

These included: “$322 million

recovered from Switzerland in 2016; $311.4 million from US/UK; $15.4 million Abacha Loot recovered in 2020 from Northern Ireland; £12.2 billion recovered from Ibori; $20 million recovered from Licosta as well as £954 recovered from Diepreye Solomon Peter Alamieyeseigha, respectively.”

While responding to question on the recovered funds, payment and disbursement, he said: "Ministry of Finance is the coordinator of the whistle blower policy and all payments to Whistle blower are made by the federal ministry of finance, budget and national planning.

"It should be noted that whistle blowing thrives on confidentiality and protection of information. Therefore, disclosure the details of whistle blowers at a public hearing breaches the confidentiality provision of which the office of the attorney general was committed to the account of personal security and the national security.

Court Orders Service of Suit against Census on Population Commission

Alex Enumah in Abuja

Justice Inyang Ekwo of the Federal High Court, Abuja, yesterday, ordered the service of a suit seeking to stop the planned national census on the National Population Commission (NPC).

Justice Ekwo made the order shortly after declining the request made by a Nigerian citizen, Mr. Ademola Omotuyi.

The applicant had in an ex parte application filed and argued by his lawyer, Victor Opatola, prayed the court for an order postponing the forthcoming census slated for May 3 to May 5, by another six months.

Omotuyi predicated his request on the grounds that the Commission was not well prepared, coupled with the issue of inadequate funds for the census exercise.

Consequent upon these, he prayed the court to declare that the NPC currently lacks effective preparation and adequate publicity towards the conduct of a credible, effective and constitutional census

in the country.

He further asked for a declaration that the commission was currently underfunded and thus unprepared to conduct a credible, effective and constitutional census.

However, the judge in his ruling refused to grant the application but, rather ordered the applicant to put the defendant, the NPC on notice.

"However, on considering the motion, I am of the opinion that the defendants should be put on notice," he held.

Justice Ekwo subsequently made an order directing the counsel to the applicant, Mr. Victor Opatola, to put the NPC on notice for the commission to appear in court and show cause why the applicant's motion should not be granted. He adjourned the matter until May 5 for the defendant to show cause.

Omotuyi had set out two questions for determination by the court.

L-R: State Governors, Prince Dapo Abiodun (Ogun); Hon Aminu Tambuwal (Sokoto); Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu (Lagos) and Engr. Abdullahi Sule (Nasarawa), during the National Economic Council valedictory meeting held at Abuja ...yesterday

77TH ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING OF NIGERIA BREWERIES...

World Bank Projects 21% Fall in Global Commodity Prices in 2023, Sharpest Drop Since COVID-19

Food prices to remain near-record high, energy prices to dip by 26% Urges govts to protect poorest citizens with targeted income-support programmes

Ndubuisi Francis in Abuja

Global commodity prices are expected to dip this year at the fastest clip since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, clouding the growth prospects of almost twothirds of developing economies that depend on commodity exports, the World Bank has said in its latest Commodity Markets Outlook report.

However, the drop in prices was expected to bring little relief to the nearly 350 million people across the world who face food insecurity.

Although food prices are expected to dip by eight per cent in 2023, they would be at the second-highest level since 1975, the report stated.

As of February this year, annual food price inflation was at 20 per cent globally, the highest level over the past two decades.

The multilateral institution noted that in real terms, food prices would remain at one of the highest levels of the past five decades, urging governments to avoid trade restrictions and protect their poorest citizens using targeted income-support programmes rather than price controls.

According to the World Bank Chief Economist and Senior Vice President for Development Economics, Indermit Gill, “The surge in food and energy prices after Russia’s invasion of Ukraine has largely passed due

to slowing economic growth, a moderate winter, and reallocations in the commodity trade.

“But this is of little comfort to consumers in many countries.

"In real terms, food prices will remain at one of the highest levels of the past five decades. Governments should avoid trade restrictions and protect their poorest citizens using targeted income-support programmes rather than price controls.”

The report stated: "Overall, commodity prices are expected to fall by 21 per cent in 2023 relative to last year. Energy prices are projected to decline by 26 per cent this year.

"The price of Brent crude oil in U.S. dollars is expected to average $84 a barrel this year—down 16 per cent from the 2022 average.

"European and U.S. natural-gas prices are forecast to halve between 2022 and 2023, while coal prices are expected to decrease 42 per cent in 2023.

"Fertiliser prices are also projected to fall by 37 per cent in 2023, which would mark the largest annual drop since 1974. However, fertiliser prices are still near their recent high last seen during the 2008-09 food crisis."

But the bank urged central bankers to remain vigilant as a wide range of factors, including weaker-than-expected oil supply, a more commodity-intensive recovery in China, an intensification of geo-

political tensions, or unfavorable weather conditions, could push prices higher and reignite inflationary pressures.

Commenting on the report, the World Bank’s Deputy Chief Economist and Director of Prospects Group, Ayhan Kose said: “The decline in commodity prices over the past year has helped reduce global headline inflation.

"However, central bankers need to remain vigilant as a wide range of factors, including weakerthan-expected oil supply, a more commodity-intensive recovery in China, an intensification of geopolitical tensions, or unfavorable weather conditions, could push prices higher and reignite inflationary pressures.”

The Commodity Markets Outlook report observed that despite the large declines expected this year, prices of all major commodity groups will remain well above their 2015-2019 average levels.

It noted that European natural gas prices would hover at almost three times the average in 2015-19 while energy and coal prices will also remain above the pre-pandemic average.

On her part, Lead Economist in the World Bank’s Prospects Group, Valerie Mercer-Blackman said: “Metal prices, which increased slightly early in the year, are expected to fall by 8% relative to last year, primarily

because of weak global demand and improved supplies.

“In the longer term, however, the energy transition could significantly lift the demand for some metals, notably lithium, copper, and nickel.”

A Special Focus section of the report evaluated the performance of a wide range of approaches used

to forecast prices of seven industrial commodities (oil and six industrial metals).

A key finding of the study is that futures prices, which are widely used for price forecasts, often lead to large forecast errors.

Econometric models based on multiple independent variables

tend to outperform other approaches as well as futures prices. The analysis suggests that augmenting model-based forecasting approaches—by incorporating the dynamics of commodity prices over time and controlling for other economic factors—enhances forecast accuracy.

Elumelu’s Indirect Interest in Transcorp Increases to 25.58%

Kayode Tokede

The management of Transcorp Incorporated Plc (Transcorp), yesterday announced on the floor of the Nigerian Exchange Limited (NGX) that its Chairman, Mr. Tony Elumelu’s indirect interest in the conglomerate has increased to 25.58 per cent.

The notice on the Exchange disclosed that HH Capital Limited, a Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV) owned by the billionaire investor acquired 9,697,189,984 units of shares, bringing its total holdings in Transcorp to 9,991,173,177 units, representing 25.58per cent of the company’s total shares as of April 25, 2023.

According to the Group’s 2022 financials, Elumelu’s direct Holdings in Transcorp was at 273,104,041.

The financial statement had disclosed that 293,983,193 shares are held indirectly by Elumelu through HH Capital Limited and 273,545,722

Aig-Imoukhuede Foundation Showcases Commitment to Healthcare at

The Aig-Imoukhuede Foundation, a public sector-focused philanthropic organisation founded to improve the lives of Africans through transformed public service delivery and increased access to quality primary healthcare, was a key sponsor at the Africa-UK Health Summit, which held recently in London. The Africa-UK Health Summit is a prestigious annual event that brings together key stakeholders to facilitate dialogue and partnerships aimed at addressing Africa’s pressing health challenges.

According to a statement yesterday, the Foundation’s

Africa-UK Health Summit

sponsorship of the summit demonstrated its commitment to advancing healthcare in Africa and promoting collaborative efforts that lead to positive outcomes for African citizens.

Speaking during the summit at a session on, “Health Financing and the role of business,” the Chairman of the Foundation, Aigboje Aig-Imoukhuede, stated that the per capita spend of African governments on healthcare was insufficient to address the complex healthcare challenges facing the continent and that the private sector had a major role to play in devising innovative solutions to close this funding gap.

One such innovative solution is the Private Sector Health Alliance of Nigeria’s (PSHAN) groundbreaking initiative, the Adopt a Healthcare Facility, Programme (ADHFP), which seeks to establish one world-class primary healthcare centre in each of Nigeria's 774 local government areas, increasing access to affordable quality primary healthcare across the country.

During the summit, the Aig-Imoukhuede Foundation was presented with an award by PSHAN, for its adoption of 23 primary healthcare centres, a commitment of N2.3 billion, which will ensure that the healthcare

centres have the right equipment, medical staff and drugs to provide comprehensive healthcare services in the communities for a five-year period.

Presenting the award, the Managing Director of PSHAN, Dr Tinuola Akinbolagbe, stated that approximately 90 per cent of the healthcare challenges faced by Nigerians could be addressed at the primary healthcare level.

She applauded the AigImoukhuede Foundation for supporting the establishment of the primary healthcare centres and called on other private sector entities and individuals to follow suit and support the programme.

shares are held indirectly through Heirs Holdings Limited.

The acting Company Secretary, Transcorp, Funmi Olofintuyi in a statement obtained yesterday, explained: “In compliance with Chapter 17, Rule 17.13 of the NGX Issuers Rules, Transnational Corporation Plc (the Company) hereby informs the NGX and the investing public of the below new acquisition of shares in the company.

“With this new acquisition, HH Capital Limited now holds a total of 9,991,173,177 units, representing 25.58per cent of the Company’s total shares.”

According to her, HH Capital purchased 1,843,008,604 units at N1.85; 6,552, 167,522 units at N2.45; 16,738,209 units at N2.69; 1,039,399,057 units at N2.95, and 245,876,592 at various prices. all totaling 9,697,189,979 units were part of the transactions consummated between April 19 to April 25, 2023.

However, in a separate notice, Olofintuyi revealed that billionaire businessman and Executive Vice Chairman, Geregu Power, Mr. Femi Otedola, purchased additional 228,384,959 shares of the company.

The notice did not mention the value at which the shares were purchased by Otedola.

According to her, “the company welcomes the continued expression of confidence in its leadership and management by the investing public, as we continue our unwavering commitment to superior stakeholders’ returns, anchored in our ideology of Africapitalism.

“Rest assured, we are committed to remaining resolute in executing our Group’s strategy of making strategic investments in key sectors within the Nigerian economy, transforming Africa, and contributing positively towards building prosperity for all.”

It is, however, unclear if UBA Nominees, which was the erstwhile

majority shareholder of Transcorp still retains its shareholding or if part of it was crossed to HH Capital Ltd. UBA Nominees which owns about 9.25per cent of the company as of 2022 from 9.26 per cent reported in 2021.

The stock price of Transcorp closed yesterday at N3.12 per share, up by 5.76per cent from N2.95 per share it opened for trading. Elumelu on Wednesday, expressed satisfaction with the recent acquisition of significant stake in the conglomerate by Odetola. THISDAY had reported that the billionaire, according to the report now holds 6.3 per cent stake in the company.

However, speaking in an exclusive interview with Arise News Channel, THISDAY’s sister organisation, after the Group’s 17th Annual General Meeting (AGM), Elumelu said he welcomed Odetola’s investment in Transcorp, calling on the general public not to be sentimental about the decision.

According to him, “We go on international roadshows and talk to investors to invest in our companies. I am happy to see an active indigenous investors community. I am happy that Femi Odetola is investing locally and he should be commended for that and I also welcome him for that.

“That is because the more people show interest in the activities, and performance of the company, the better for shareholders. You want to make your stock investors’ toast and I am happy that Transcorp is becoming investors toast.

“About 10 years ago before we took over Transcorp, people were not interested. People lost confidence in the company. Today under our leadership, Transcorp has consistently paid dividends in the last five years.

There is a capital appreciation for the company.”

L-R: Corporate Affairs Director, Nigerian Breweries (NB) Plc, Sade Morgan; Outgoing Chairman, Chief Kola Jamodu; President, Manufacturers Association of Nigeria(MAN), Francis Meshioye; Incoming Chairman, NB Plc, Asue Ighodalo; Managing Director, Hans Essaadi and Company Secretary/Legal Director, Uaboi Agbebaku during the 77th Annual General Meeting of NB Plc held in Lagos…Wednesday SUNDAY ADIGIUN

EMIR OF KANO VISITS TINUBU AT DEFENCE HOUSE...

Governors to Meet Buhari over RMAFC’s New Revenue Formula

Want draft passed into law before May 29 Deliberate on the NFIU guidelines on disbursement, security votes

Chuks Okocha in Abuja

After over four hours meeting, the 36 States governors resolved to meet President Muhammadu Buhari to prevail on him to send the new revenue formula to the National Assembly.

Under the old formula, the federal government gets 52.68 per cent, the 36 states share 26.72 per cent, while the 774 local government areas in the country share 20.60 per cent every month.

However, the new proposal seeks a 3.33 per cent reduction in the current federal government allocation and on the other hand an increase of 3.07 per cent and 0.44 per cent for the states and local governments. It also seeks an increase 0.2 per cent for the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) and a decrease of 0.38 per cent for Development of Natural Resources.

Speaking to news men in the early hours of Thursday, Governor Aminu Tambuwal of Sokoto State, that the Revenue Mobilisation Allocation and Fiscal Commission (RMAFC) has submitted the draft of the new revenue formula allocation for the approval of the 36 state governments.

The chairman said the meeting discussed the National Financial Intelligent Unit (NFIU) guidelines.

In the last meeting held before yesterday, the governors had deliberated on the NFIU guidelines on security votes. They had argued that all security votes should be domiciled at the Central Bank of Nigeria and no longer the commercial banks.

Giving details of the meeting, the chairman of the Nigeria Governors Forum, said: “It’s nothing unusual, it’s the normal meeting of Governors where we discuss issues concerning the country, the sub-national and

of course democracy and Good governance.

“But today, we’ve discussed about the guidelines, about the NFIU about financial regulations that it’s working on, and how to ensure that Nigeria is taking out of the grey list of the Financial Task Force.

“And we also discussed about the primary healthcare and progress made so far.

“During our induction course, some states that have attained some milestones are going to receive some awards for their performance.

“And we also discussed about the new revenue formular submitted to Mr. President by RMAFC and the need to really approach Mr. President on the need to present the new draft formular to the National Assembly before this administration winds up.

“We also discussed issue about the stamp duties that are being owed

to both the federal government and the states that is warehoused in the central bank and we are working to make sure that that is being released for disbursement to both federal government and the states. So these are some of the issues we have discussed,” he said.

When asked about the details of the new draft revenue formula and whether the governors were satisfied with the RMAFC work, Tambuwal said: “We are going to meet Mr. President as the leadership of the Forum and we will appeal to him to present that draft revenue formula.

“By the time it’s presented, you’ll see what is there.”

In his assessment of the Nigeria Governors’ Forum, Tambuwal noted that as an institution established to promote good governance, the Forum has performed creditably well.

“For me, as a Forum and an

AfDB Secures $525,000 Grant to Strengthen Fintechs in Africa

The African Development Bank (AfDB) has signed a $525,000 grant agreement with Africa Fintech Network (AFN) for the setup of the Africa Fintech Hub, an online portal that would serve as a one-stop shop for all fintech activities in Africa.

According to a statement yesterday, the agreement was signed on 4 April 2023.

The Africa Digital Financial Inclusion Facility (ADFI) would provide funding and technical assistance to the Africa Fintech Network to host and manage the African Fintech Hub.

The hub is a digital platform that would enable fintech associations across Africa to pool resources and knowledge, strengthen relationships and partnerships, as well as showcase the work of fintech on the continent, including those which are female-led or owned.

The African Fintech Hub would be delivered through a strategic partnership between AFN and the Centre for Financial Regulation and Inclusion (Cenfri), which would provide technical support in the development of the Hub, as well as promote research, knowledge creation

and other innovative initiatives.

Director General of the African Development Bank’s Nigeria Country Department, Lamin Barrow, underscored the importance of the Bank’s support to the project, saying it would contribute to strengthening the fintech ecosystem in Africa, boost competitiveness in the digital world, whilst leveraging partnerships.

“At the African Development Bank, we recognise that we have a major role to play in helping to create a robust, efficient and sustainable fintech ecosystem across the continent. We are accelerating the delivery of our High 5 strategic priorities through our various innovative interventions.

“These have helped improve access to digital infrastructure, including Information and Communications Technology linkages to landlocked countries and broadband internet services.

“The need to leapfrog barriers and scale up inclusive digital financial solutions to accelerate economic resilience across Africa has become even more urgent,” he added.

The African Development Bank,

together with its partners, launched the Africa Digital Financial Inclusion Facility to make catalytic investments in support of innovative ideas such as the Africa Fintech Hub Project aimed at expanding access and usage of digital financial solutions to meet the needs of all Africans.

President of Africa Fintech Network, Dr. Segun Aina, commended the Bank for supporting the initiative.

“We are truly excited about this partnership with the African Development Bank, and the possibilities of working in partnership with Cenfri on multiple initiatives with fintech across Africa to further our mission to drive Africa-led fintech solutions, stimulate information exchange, ideation and the support and to promote innovative technologies within the financial services sector across Africa and beyond. “

ADFI Coordinator, Sheila Okiro, said the Bank, through the partnership of the Africa Digital Financial Inclusion Facility, is delighted “to support this project to strengthen the fintech sector, furthering our work to leverage

technology to contribute to closing the financial inclusion gap and creating employment across Africa.”

“Currently, ADFI-supported projects are enhancing digital financial infrastructure and regional interoperability through the development of payment systems and infrastructure in Ethiopia and the ECOWAS region. Other projects are equipping financial sector regulators with innovative technology to strengthen consumer protection in Ghana, Rwanda and Zambia.

“The Facility is also supporting projects to enhance the deployment of digital micro-insurance to smallholder farmers in Nigeria, Zambia and Kenya, as well as to build capacity for cyber resilience and help to remove barriers to access to fintech services across the continent.

“Although fintechs have great potential to contribute to digital financial inclusion across the continent, the African fintech sector significantly lags behind those in other regions such as Latin America and South-East Asia,” the statement added.

institution of governors that we inherited from our former leaders, past governors, I believe that a lot of achievements have been made particularly in making sure that we maintain the cohesion and the unity of governors, the non-partisanship of this platform and making sure that in all that we do, it’s all about Nigeria first and then our various states.”

While noting that the fifth meeting of the Forum in 2023, was attended by only the serving governors, he maintained that the Forum has been able to bring all the 36 State Governors together, “working for national interest, for the interests of the States, and making sure that there’s that unity among Governors on national issues. I believe NGF has done very well.”

ILO: Nigeria Needs to Do More to Ensure Work Place Safety

Onyebuchi Ezigbo in Abuja

The International Labour Organisation (ILO) has said Nigeria has not done very well in the area of implementation and maintenance of work place safety regulations.

It said the Federal Ministry of Labour and Employment needs to do more for their workers in terms of helping to ensure safety of their work environment.

Speaking to journalists during a rally/road show in Abuja, to mark this year's World Day for Safety and health at work place, ILO Health Officer, Mr. Ojobo Adah, said so many workers currently experience problem and challenges relating to their work environment.

He said: "When you talk of safety environment, Nigeria is not doing much, that is the truth about it. You see so many people have problems in their place of work. Most of them do come to Labour Congress for help and by the time they send them back to their employer, what we hear from them is not it's not good at all.

"By the time they decide to take it up most of these employers, try to use their connections. As an employee, whenever you want to go to court, they have lawyer there. So, Nigeria needs to do more.

"The Ministry of Labour need to do more for their workers in terms of helping their workers and as far as we are concern, they're not doing much. ILO on our own we've been doing a lot to support them in that area," he said.

Adah said though the country has laws and policies in place to regulate business operations, but that poor implementation has been the bane.

"You see the laws are there but the implementation is the problem. If government can wake up and implement it to the letter, let all employers do it the way it is in the law we won't have all these problems," he added.

On its part, Adah said the ILO has been supporting and partnering with the Labour Ministry and NLC over the years to make World Day For Safety at Workplace Programme a success.

"Over the years we have been supporting the Ministry of Labour financially and technically and this year is also not an exemption and we also here to support them,' he said.

Representative of the Minister of Labour and Employment who is also the Director, Occupational Safety and Health Department, Mrs. Laureate Adogu said that government has been doing its best to monitor and ensure compliance to workplace safety standards in the country.

She said apart from issuing caution letters to defaulting entities, the ministry has also applied penalties to those who do not comply to rules.

"We are here today to implement the National Policy on occupational safety in into both formal and informal sectors. So, that is why we are here and in all workplaces. There are some hazards that are inherent in such places.

"Like here we learned that they use chemicals, we have chemical hazards and what are hazards are conditions that can result in accidents and diseases. Accident can cause injury and disability and cause a lot of problems to the family," she said.

L-R: Fomer APC Publicity Secretary, Lanre Isa-Onilu; Minister of Sports, Sunday Dare; former Commissionser for Information and Strategy in Lagos State, and erstwhile Director of Media and Strategy, APC Presidential Campaign Council, Mr Dele Alake; the Vice President-elect, Senator Kashim Shettima; the Emir of Kano, HRH Aminu Ado Bayero; President-elect Bola Tinubu; Kwara State Governor, AbdulRahman AbdulRasaq and former Ekiti State Governor, Dr. Kayode Fayemi, when the emir visited Tinubu at the Defence House, his official residence, Abuja... yesterday

ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING OF UBA...

FG Targets N5bn from Non-oil Revenue in 2023

Nets $1.34 billion in first quarter Begins disbursement of N308.45bn promissory notes to 199 exporting companies

James Emejo in Abuja

The Executive Director/Chief Executive, Nigerian Export Promotion Council (NEPC), Dr. Ezra Yakusak, yesterday said the council has set a target to generate over $5 billion from non-oil export in 2023.

The NEPC boss also disclosed that the country’s non-oil products export amounted to $1.34 billion in the first quarter of the year (Q1 2023), representing an increase of 8.50 per cent over the $1.24 billion recorded in the corresponding quarter of 2022.

The sector recorded $4.82 billion in non-oil export earnings last year, which represented an increase of 39.91 per cent compared to 2021, and the highest value of export recorded since the council was established 47 years ago.

Speaking at the presentation of

the report on the non-oil export performance and activities of the council for the first quarter of 2023, Yakusak said, “I am optimistic that with the several export intervention programmes and projects that we have started and ongoing, the expected performance of the sector in 2023 will likely surpass that of 2022.”

He also disclosed that the disbursement of N308.45billion worth of promissory notes to 199 exporting companies under the Export Expansion Grant (EEG) Scheme had commenced.

He explained that out of the total sum, N193.45 billion was approved for 133 beneficiaries of the scheme in respect of EEG outstanding claims for the period of 2017 to 2020 while N108.31 billion was approved for 35 beneficiaries in respect of EEG backlogs of claims for the period

Fidelity Bank Posts 34% Growth in Gross Earnings, Declares Dividend

Kayode Tokede

Fidelity Bank Plc yesterday released its 2022 audited financial statements on the Nigerian Exchange Limited (NGX).

The results showed a 34.4 per cent growth in gross earnings, year-onyear (YoY), to N337.1 billion, driven by 45.2 per cent growth in interest and similar income to N295.6 billion.

The increase in interest income was led by a combination of improved yield on earning assets and 19.1 per cent YoY expansion in earnings base to N2.64 trillion.

This led to a profit before tax of N53.7 billion, representing 112.9 per cent annual growth.

Commenting on the bank’s performance, the Managing Director/ Chief Executive Officer, Fidelity Bank, Nneka Onyeali-Ikpe said, “We are happy to report another year of impressive double-digit growth across key income and balance sheet lines. This validates our growth strategy and capacity to deliver superior returns to shareholders.”

Further review showed that net interest income increased by 60.9 per cent YoY to N152.7 billion.

The high yield environment had a positive impact on net interest margin, which increased to 6.4 per cent from 4.7 per cent in 2021 full year-end, while average funding cost inched up slightly to 4.6 per cent from 4.2 per cent.

Similarly, Fidelity Bank’s total deposits increased by 27.4 per cent to N2.58 trillion, from N2.02 trillion in 2021 full year, in line with the bank’s

guidance for 2022FY published in its investor relations presentation.

The increase was driven by 43.1% growth in low-cost deposits (Demand | Savings | Domiciliary), which resulted in improved margins.

Speaking on the contribution of Foreign Currency (FCY) deposits to its financial performance, OnyealiIkpe noted, “FCY deposits increased by $597 million (63.4% YoY) to $1.5 billion and now accounts for 27.5 per cent of total deposits from 19.7 per cent in 2021FY, as we continue to harness the benefits of our renewed drive in the export business and the diaspora banking space.”

“Historically, Fidelity Bank has maintained high asset quality and a healthy balance sheet with its Regulatory Ratios well above the minimum regulatory thresholds.

“It reported a Liquidity Ratio of 39.6 per cent and Capital Adequacy Ratio (CAR) at 18.1 per cent compared to the minimum regulatory requirement of 30 per cent and 15 per cent respectively.

Its Non-Performing Loans (NPL) ratio remained unchanged at 2.9 per cent for the year.

“In 2023, we are committed to our strategic plan of expanding our service touchpoints beyond the Nigerian market and providing straight-through services that meet and exceed the needs of our growing clientele,” explained Onyeali-Ikpe.

On the back of the impressive performance, the bank has declared a final dividend of 40 kobo per share which took its total dividend for FY 2022 to 50kobo per share.

of 2007 to 2016 respectively. The NEPC chief executive also stated that the sum of N68, 389, 000.00 was approved for 13 beneficiaries in respect of stocks of outstanding Negotiable Duty Credit Certificates (NDCC), while N6.61 billion was approved for 69 beneficiaries in respect of the shortfall in the approved claims by the 8th National Assembly.

He, however, pointed out that the council was still awaiting the approval and release of the sum of N60.63 billion being the EEG claims for 34 beneficiary companies from the National Assembly.

Nevertheless, he said the year 2022 result lends credence to the fact that several export intervention programmes initiated and executed by the council did not only meet the expectations of NEPC but also that of stakeholders in the sector as well.

He said these export intervention programmes had significantly contributed to the exponential growth in not just the volume but the value of exportable products from Nigeria, despite the harsh operating business environment

which was partly precipitated by the COVID-19 pandemic and the global economic recession between the year 2020 and 2021.

Specifically, he noted that the Export4Survival initiative which he launched on assumption of office had “gradually awakened the consciousness of most Nigerians on the need to imbibe an export culture as the credible alternative for our survival as a people given the high potential of the sector to create employment, alleviate poverty, enhance economic growth and industrial development as well as boost the country’s foreign exchange earnings.”

Providing a breakdown, of the non-oil export performance for Q1, he said 167 products were exported ranging from manufactured, semiprocessed, solid minerals and raw agricultural commodities.

He added that similar to 2022, the first quarter also showed that Nigerian products are gradually shifting from the traditional export of raw agricultural commodities to the export of semi-processed and manufactured goods.

According to him, of the top 10 products exported, Urea, Cocoa Beans, Sesame Seed, Soya Beans/meal and Cashew nuts/kernels were the top five, adding that a total of 618, 184.06 metric tonnes of products worth $75.829 million were exported to 12 ECOWAS countries in the period under review, representing a 15.6 per cent increase over Q1 2022. Yakusak among other things said in a bid to harness and optimize the potential in the non-oil export sector, plans are underway to launch the “Export 774’’ programme whose objective is to identify exportable products in the 774 local government areas in Nigeria, with a view to harnessing them for exports.

He also said apart from the One State One Product (OSOP) programme, Export 774 was inspired by the huge success recorded in the export of Nigerian products to foreign countries in 2022.

He added, “The overall target of this programme is to further identify the products in all the 774 local governments in Nigeria, create awareness of their potential and showcase the specific places

where they can be sourced.”

He also spoke on the planned introduction of “Export Promotion” as a course of study in Nigerian universities' curriculum.

He said, “I am delighted to inform you that the NEPC in collaboration with the Nigerian Universities Commission (NUC) has commenced consultations towards the introduction of Export Promotion as a course of study in our nation’s Universities as part of her Export for Survival Campaign.

“This intervention is propelled by the need to inculcate basic exporting knowledge and skills to Nigerians in various tertiary institutions. The course when introduced to identified universities, has the potential of making the young graduands become employers of labour and therefore self-reliant.

“This initiative will be better appreciated years later when these universities begin to graduate a pool of skilled exporters that would occupy the non-oil export space, ensure the diversification of our products and generate the desired foreign exchange.”

TINUBU TO APC GOVS: WORK WITH PARTY TO ELECT 10TH N'ASSEMBLY PRINCIPAL OFFICERS

and lawmakers on the election of principal officers for the 10th National Assembly.

The appeal came as indications emerged that party stakeholders were already considering the South-west for the position of Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, even as meetings and consultations continued.

But National Chairman of APC, Abdullahi Adamu, yesterday, said the party was anxious to see the president-elect succeed in office.

Tinubu spoke yesterday in Abuja, when he met with the APC governors, who paid him a courtesy visit. They were led by Chairman of the Progressive Governors Forum and governor of Kebbi State, Atiku Bagudu.

The president-elect, according to a statement by his office, told the governors and former governorship candidates of the party that the incoming government was theirs.

The statement quoted Tinubu as saying, "We thank God Almighty for our electoral victory. It was tough and turbulent. The challenge before us is working in unison with the party leadership and the National Assembly over the election of their principal officers. And I charge you to unite in spirit and faith and work in line with the party.

"Once we know what we are doing and communicating as elected leaders and loyal party men, we

will conquer the challenge."

Tinubu reiterated his earlier admonitions that, as leaders, the new governors were elected to serve the people and humanity with fairness and justice. He expressed gratitude to God that he, "The first Muslim minority from the South-west, got the blessing of Allah to be elected president."

Tinubu dismissed for the umpteenth time speculations about his health, saying, “All speculation has been perished and their purveyors brought to shame."

Bagudu said the visit was to congratulate Tinubu over the election, extend goodwill to him over the end of Ramadan fast, and welcome him back from his recent travel and celebrate with him.

The Kebbi State governor said the governors were ready for any assignment the president-elect might want to give them.

On the election of presiding officers of the National Assembly, Bagudu pledged that the governors would continue to discuss and work with the party and the lawmakers to arrive at the best decisions in the interest of the country.

Those in attendance at the meeting included Vice President-elect Kashim Shettima and Governors Simon Lalong (Plateau), Nasir el-Rufai (Kaduna), Aminu Bello Masari (Katsina), Hope Uzodinnma (Imo),

Abubakar Badaru (Jigawa), Babajide Sanwo-olu (Lagos), Ben Ayade (Cross Rivers), Abdulrahman Abdulrasaq (Kwara), Dapo Abiodun (Ogun), and Biodun Oyebanji (Ekiti).

Others were Deputy Governor of Ebonyi State, Kelechi Igwe, and APC governorship candidate in Kano State, Alhaji Nasiru Gawuna.

President. North-west will also produce Speaker and the South-west will produce Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives. But discussion is on-going, and it will be made public soon."

APC

Considers Southwest for Deputy Speaker

The leadership of APC was said to be considering the South-west for the position of Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives. But meetings and consultations continued.

A source privy to the meeting informed THISDAY that the Southsouth would produce the next Senate President, while the position of Deputy Senate President would go to the North-west.

The source, who added that the position of Speaker of the House of Representatives would be zoned to the North-West, said the North-central was being considered for Secretary to the Government of the Federation.

Asked if the stakeholders had agreed to the zoning formula, he said discussion was still on-going and the meeting continued last night.

The source said, "It is confirmed that the South-south will produce the Senate President and the North-west will produce the Deputy Senate

Meanwhile, the Coalition of Northern Patriotic Front, South-west Professionals, and Coalition of Arewa Youth Groups kicked against the aspiration of Hon. Ben Kalu, one of the contestants for Speaker of the House of Representatives.

Addressing journalists on behalf of the groups in Abuja, yesterday, President, Arewa Youths, Tijani Abdulmumuni, said the press conference was called to raise concerns on issues concerning the leadership of the 10th National Assembly.

Abdulmumuni was of the opinion that Gbajabiamila's illustrious outing had raised the bar and made the choice of a worthy successor inevitable. He warned against lowering of the present standard of leadership in the House by a triumph of mediocrity over excellence.

The groups stressed that among the criteria that should guide the House members in the choice was scorecard, contribution to the success of the party during the last elections, and public perception of those who had shown interest to lead.

Continued on page 33

L-R: Deputy Managing Director, Mr. Muyiwa Akinyemi; Group Chairman, Mr. Tony O. Elumelu, CFR; and Group Managing Director, Mr. Oliver Alawuba at the 61st Annual General Meeting of United Bank for Africa(UBA), held in Lagos ... yesterday

POLITICS

A Nation Under Security Stress

Persistent opposition of the OBIdients to the victory of Bola Tinubu is putting the nation under pressure, writes Segun James

How do you solve a problem like insecurity in a nation under stress? We are living in an age of insecurity, where increasingly, the value of liberal democracy based on the international rule system is being repudiated even though they have delivered progress in the last 20 years.

Over the course of a few weeks, some persons have perpetrated the big lie that the last presidential election in the country was stolen from a third-placed loser and that his supposed “mandate” could be restored by violence.

Tripoli, Mogadishu, Monrovia, and Freetown are some cities in Africa that have made history by being destroyed due to political disagreements among the political leadership of the countries.

Not too long ago in Ivory Coast, a political disagreement over who won the presidential election between Alassane Quattera and President Laurent Gbagbo snowballed into a war but for the quick intervention of the international community, the ECOWAS and the African Union that nation may still be at war today. All these have to do with the refusal of the loser, President Gbagbo to accept the outcome of the election. Today, Gbagbo is back in the country after serving some jail time abroad and he’s back in the country he once ruled and loved. He has not only apologized to President Quattera who has since pardoned him, he has begged the people of Ivory Coast for forgiveness.

Economic stress in recent times in Nigeria has contributed to the rising call from some sections for change in the belief that the problems in the nation are due to the activities of some old men who have refused to quit the political stage for younger people and are out of tune with the reality of recent times. These frustrated Nigerians pushed former Governor Peter Obi, the presidential candidate of the Labour Party (LP), into believing that he won an election he lost. They made him believe that he is the Messiah Nigeria needed at this critical period and that he must save the nation from the evils of the past.

But the reality is different. When Nigerians voted, they voted for one of the “old schools” of Nigerian politics, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu of the All Progressives Congress as president. This did not go down well with them and the false picture that the pushers of Obi have painted in their mind. That was where the problem began. Democracy in Nigeria is under intense security threat. No thanks to the activities of a new political terror group called the Obidients. In politics, the future is open to suggestions. You hear voices, and you notice movements, but are you open to communication?

It is hard not to be moved by the sight of Mr. Peter Obi crying on live television, lamenting how his victory and that of the people have been stolen and how the people are the worse for this dastardly act.

Although Obi never explicitly say it, his theatrics is a call to arms to his supporters. He evinced an air of a man of the people whose true vision for the development of the nation has been truncated by mindless opposition and enemies of progress.

With their odd mix of insecurity and overconfidence, the Obidients are today drumming for war.

Almost 60 years ago, Nigeria fought a fratricidal war that left over two million citizens dead. The wound of that war is yet to be completely healed. The descendants of the citizens that make up the Biafra axis of the war still feel that they are excluded from the most prestigious prize in any nation’s politics – the presidency.

Political history is sometimes written like an account of a game of chess, each move met by a countermove in a cerebral process

removed from human passions. Alternatively, it could be a soap opera in which everything is reduced to petty spite and furtive liaisons. It may sound like a badly produced Nollywood movie.

A group of impressionable young men had ventured to the Ship House building of the Federal Ministry of Defense in Abuja, FCT, to demand that the military should

take over the government. Their reason: the declared winner of the presidential election, in their opinion, did not win and to prevent President Buhari from handing power over to him, the military should take over.

As outrageous and outlandish as this may sound, this is the demand of a section of the Obidient Movement headed by Obi,

yet the defeated presidential candidate of the Labour Party (LP) has never condemned it or called them to order. He seemed to have forgotten that such an action is an indictment of the nation’s nascent democracy.

Barely a few days after the February 25th election, a handful of protesters marched on to the Ministry of Defense demanding President Muhammadu Buhari set up an Interim National Government to take over from him. Their reason: anyone as the next president but not Tinubu the winner of the election. That they were not arrested and charged with treason or shot for venturing into a restricted high-security military facility remains a mystery.

That action is the prelude to the desperation of some Nigerians to scuttle the nation’s democracy simply because their preferred candidate lost. While some people are busy trying to foment trouble and stir up crisis, Nigerians have majorly remained uninterested and to some extent, moot on the seed of discord that is being planted.

For far longer than most Nigerians have been alive, security has been the bane at the bottom of every issue in the polity.

Although militancy and insurgency have plagued the nation in the eight years of Muhammadu Buhari’s administration, none has threatened to derail the nation’s democracy as that in the political sphere right now.

The APC’s winning of the presidential election in the face of many profound odds in the polity and the economy may have surprised some Nigeria. But it happened. They say that life is the best teacher, and that we never stop learning; that every experience we go through teaches us something new. But that is not to say that every lesson learned is of a life-changing variety.

Welcome to the reality of our times.

Delta State Govt Moves to Boost Access to Education

Udora Orizu x-rays how Governor Ifeanyi Okowa’s administration is providing better opportunities for students in Delta state through access to quality education

When Senator (Dr) Ifeanyi Okowa assumed office as Governor of Delta State in 2015, he expressed a commitment to provide better opportunities for children in the State to access quality education.

True to his words, Governor Okowa has built nine model technical colleges, of which three have already taken off fully in Obiaruku Asaba and Effurun.

The newly established Model Technical Colleges in Delta State are currently attracting students from private secondary schools in the State, it has been confirmed. During a tour of the Model Technical Colleges in Asaba, the State capital and in Efurrun, Uvwie local government of the State, it was abundantly clear why this is so.

The other Model Technical Colleges championed by the Okowa administration have reached various stages of completion in Orerokpe, Omadino, Oghareki, Irri, Akugbene and Kiagbodo.

Before now, technical education was neglected in Delta until Governor Okowa resuscitated existing technical colleges in the State and built more.

The establishment of the nine Model Technical Colleges followed the government’s initial plan to rehabilitate six existing technical colleges it met on the ground.

The Okowa administration recorded impressive performance by staying true and revamping the six existing technical

colleges, which are sited in Sapele, Agbor, Kwale, Issele-Uku, Ofagbe and Ogor.

The Model Technical Colleges in Asaba and Effurun are laced with state-of-the-art facilities and equipment.

All subjects taught in secondary schools are taught along with technical subjects in the Model Technical Colleges. The school buildings are magnificent and the landscaping of the schools is beautiful to behold.

Speaking to a team of visiting journalists from across the country, a tutor at the Model Technical College, Effurun, Prince Anthony Nkwa, disclosed why parents are attracted to bringing their children and wards to the school.

According to Nkwa, who teaches electrical skills at the technical college, many parents were attracted by the finishing of

the buildings.

“However, when the parents come here, they see the state-of-the-art facilities and equipment and they are even more attracted. All our workshops are fully equipped. We teach all secondary school subjects along with technical subjects. When our students enter senior classes, they branch off to their chosen area of specialization. We have electrical, carpentry, plumbing, welding and fabrication, fashion and design and many others,” Nkwa said

If you visit the Model Technical Colleges, you will see that they are great establishments, looking more like universities. Beautiful edifices house the classrooms and the laboratories and there are so many ancillary support structures that are at the back of the institutions.

Students who attend these schools will no doubt excel more than their equals. The environment of the schools is conducive to teaching and learning.

In that comfort, they can truly learn and prepare themselves for the future.

Meanwhile, a special-purpose university has been carved out to cater for students who will graduate from the various technical colleges spread across the State. The Delta State University of Science and Technology, Ozoro is fit for the purpose.

The Delta State Government through the Ministry of Technical Education has employed 513 teaching and non-teaching staff for the state technical colleges.

Inside the Strategy for Biden’s ‘Battle for Soul of America’

Chido Nwangwu writes about the implication of United States President Joe Biden seeking reelection during the 2024 poll

The Favour Governor Akeredolu Can Do Us

Anthony

Dear Governor Rotimi Akeredolu Lagos and Abuja have two peculiar but common presence and practice managed by Nigerian State Governments that we are invited to dwell upon today.

The practice and presence are those of having government lodges and state liaisons offices in Abuja and in Lagos.

It is easy to trace the origin for both: Lagos, the current commercial capital of Nigeria, was also the political capital of the country till the creation of Abuja, the current capital of Nigeria.

Let us be clear. To discuss this issue, fate has chosen you, Dear Governor Rotimi Akeredolu, as our main interlocutor not because you are the only Governor with a Liaison office and a Government Lodge in Lagos and Abuja but simply because, just this week, there was a news item that most might have missed but that presented your state (Ondo state) as the newest property developer in Lagos.

The average citizens think and understand that the purpose of an agency like ONDIPA is to bring investments and developments to the state not do it outside the state.

You need to do us the favour of explaining where they get it wrong.

If Joe Biden, the President of the United States, is re-elected in 2024, the man who has given African-Americans the most powerful and influential positions in government, will become the oldest person to be inaugurated as President.

Biden’s following a bifurcation strategy of fighting for votes: the gun-hugging, xenophobic, insurrectionists versus the diversity champions and abortion rights supporters.

It is that strategy that made him to say, a couple of years ago, that: “Every generation of Americans has faced a moment when they have to defend democracy, stand up for the right to vote, and our civil rights. And this is our moment. Let’s finish the job. I know we can.”

Is he going to be able to finish the job?

Soon, time and the trailer loads of criminal charges and court cases against Trump will tell.

Early morning on Tuesday, February 25, 2023 announced that he is running for re-election.

In a three-minute video posted to his social media accounts, Biden reminded the country: “When I ran for president four years ago, I said we are in a battle for the soul of America. And we still are.”

Biden affirmed in the video: “That’s why I’m running for re-election.”

Long before Biden’s declaration and I must say, prematurely, the divisive and cantankerous former President of the United States, Donald J. Trump, on Tuesday, November 15, 2022 “officially launched” his third campaign for the White House.

He said “In order to make America great and glorious again, I am tonight announcing my candidacy for president of the United States…. America’s comeback starts right now.”

With visually engaging scenes of the January 6 insurrection by radical elements (encouraged and partly inspired by Trump & Co) who set upon the U.S Capitol, Biden introduced the strategy for his uncertain quest for re-election.

His video had images of abortion rights protesters. Biden pitched the dividing issues in the campaigns and across America.

Evidently, it could be another rough and bare-knuckle showdown between the 80-year incumbent and his aggressive, Republican predecessor Donald Trump. That is, if Trump beats the major court cases dogging him.

He highlighted his campaign as being the opposite of the Trump Republicans.

“Around the country, MAGA extremists are lining up to take on those bedrock freedoms, dictating what health care decisions women can make, banning books and telling people who they can love – all while making it more difficult for you to vote,” Biden listed.

He requested Americans to support and enable him “finish the job.”

He summarized the consequences, impact and debate to only one choice: “The question we are facing is whether in the years ahead we give more freedom or less freedom, more rights or fewer.”

The video directly seeks the continued support of African-Americans, women and abortion rights activists with images of Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris in several locations.

There’s a powerful message with Biden walking outside the White House with Supreme Court Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson. Jackson was Biden’s pick who significantly became the first Black woman to serve on the Supreme Court of the U.S.

There’s a clip of Latinos hailing him, “arriba, Biden!” — to which he replied “I know what I want the answer to be, and I think you do, too.”

As a snapshot of this moment in history, Biden is not polling well as the NBC News poll released in mid-April 2023 showed that 70% of Americans don’t want Biden to run again (26% say he should). 60% are opposed to Trump seeking another term as President. But the election is more than one year away!

Anything is possible in politics; let’s rather say that many things are possible in politics.

-Dr Nwangwu, is Founder of the first African-owned, U.S-based newspaper on the internet, USAfricaonline.com.

Follow him on Twitter @Chido247

Timing and coincidence apart, your track record of being a lawyer, activist and governor never to do things to be shy off or to shy away from done deeds also make you a preferred addressee.

Yes, if there is anyone that can do us the favour of explaining this practice and presence, it is you.

Some of the very important information that the news item gave us include the news that your government is re-purposing and re-developing its real estate assets in two prime areas of Lagos State.

The real estate assets are Sunshine Plaza in Victoria Island and Sunshine Apartments in Parkview Estate, Ikoyi.

We also learnt that the Sunshine Plaza is a 7-floor office development with a total gross leasable area of 3,798 square meters, and its completion is expected in Q4 2023 and that the Sunshine Apartments consist of 6 units of 3-bedroom apartments with BQs and a penthouse, and the average rent for a 3-bedroom apartment in Ikoyi is N12,500,000 Naira per annum.

For the uninitiated, here are four facts about the Sunshine Plaza and the Sunshine Apartments.

One (a finance related fact) is that the two buildings are located in two very prime areas of Lagos, the other (historical fact) is that the Sunshine Plaza was formally known as Oduduwa House.

The third fact is political and it is that previous Ondo state administrations have abandoned these buildings like many other state governments have done and are doing to their liaison and sometimes Government lodges.

The fourth fact for consideration is that these investment projects are managed by Ondo State Development and Investment Agency (ONDIPA).

By the way the agency is yet to list this new project on their website, let them take this as a reminder.

Dear Governor, I am sure you will agree with me that in the mind of the average citizens and residents of your state, an agency created to manage development and investments is imagined and indeed understood to be made to manage any and all development and investments inside Ondo state not Lagos or another state.

In the specific case of the Sunshine Plaza and the Sunshine Apartments, please ask any architect, bricklayer, contractor, dredger, electrician based in Ondo state that could have worked on these projects what I mean by their expectation that ONDIPA should be bringing development and investment to Ondo state not engage in building Lagos.

I am sure you like many other governors have your good and valid reasons for this and other investment projects outside your states, here is a good opportunity for you to do us the favour of explaining the rationale of such policies.

It is possible to argue that the investments generated in Lagos state will be used in Ondo state to generate development. That argument however brings to fore the question of the difference between the philosophy and ethics of managing public and private assets.

Should the public wallet and the assets contained in it, whether natural or social, be used for speculating in view of making profit, like individuals and private organisations do or should the commonwealth be strictly limited to the purpose of making life better for the populace?

There is another point that needs explanation: Investments and development are done in the name of and for the benefit of the people of the state, so technically and morally, the people of Ondo state are the landlords of these plaza and apartments in Victoria Island and Ikoyi.

I am tempted to wish these Landlords congratulations but understandably, they might not take it well considering how rich indigenes and residents of Ondo state are. My educated guess is that the people of Ondo state like many other citizens and residents of others states would rather not have any Government Lodge or State Liaison offices in Lagos or Abuja.

Those who doubt me should ask themselves how many times they or their family members have visited a Government Lodge or State Liaison offices in Lagos or Abuja.

-Kila is Centre Director at CIAPS. www. ciaps.org.

Kila writes that Governor Rotimi Akeredolu of Ondo state needs to come up with cogent reasons why he’s expending huge resources to remodel and develop two state-owned estates in Victoria Island and Ikoyi, Lagos.

TO OBY EZEKWESILI AT 60

OLUSEGUN OBASANJO pays tribute to Oby Ezekwelisi, activist, transparency advocate, and former Minister of Education

ASIWAJU MUST UNLOCK NIGERIA’S POTENTIAL

President-Elect Bola Ahmed Tinubu is a as the 16th President of Nigeria, the world’s largest Black democracy, the task of unlocking the huge potential which made many experts view the country as a future world power is on his lap. A deft manager of resources, Tinubu has been presented with a golden opportunity to goad Africa’s most populous country on the path of Eldorado. Now that he’s fully rejuvenated after a refreshing holiday in France, Tinubu’s eyes should be set on setting up two major teams of experts that will drive the power and rail sectors that may ultimately

See page 21

THE CURSE OF THE LITTLE THINGS: WELCOME TO NIGERIA

There is need to pay attention to ‘little things’ that matter, argues

JOSHUA J. OMOJUWA

The signing of two major bills by President Muhammadu Buhari which grants the states greater stake in the power and rail sectors are obviously game changers that the Tinubu presidency should greatly exploit to make Nigeria transform its teething problems, particularly in industrialisation. This holds the key to generating huge jobs for our teeming youth population and arresting the mass emigration to Europe and America. Nigeria needs about 60,000 megawatts for its 200 million population but has only been able to generate a paltry 7000 megawatts. With its antiquated and poorly maintained equipment, it’s been able to distribute a mere 4000 megawatts. Allowing the states access to transmission, distribution, and generation of electricity means greater resources will be deployed by the states to the power sector. the end of the country’s protracted epileptic power problems.

See page 21

EDITORIAL THE GROWING CANCER BURDEN

Tinubu has been one of the country’s biggest advocates of decentralization of electricity transmission, generation, and distribution with his stillborn Enron electricity project that was halted by the federal government when he was Governor of Lagos State. He can be regarded as the father of the Under his leadership, Lagos State and a US power company signed an $800-million deal to supply electricity to some eight million residents of Nigeria’s largest metropolitan area and commercial hub. The project, signed by Ltd, was envisaged to be done in two phases.

The Guardian as equivalent to 20 percent of the total power supplied to the state by the defunct Nigerian Electric Power Authority

gas turbine power plant. A 280-kilometer, 24-inch natural gas pipeline was also to be built to supply the station. The entire project was expected to create at least 2,500 jobs in the long term, AFP reported, quoting Lagos because they could not wait for the promised improvement in power supplies from NEPA. NEPA’s then-installed capacity was around 6,000 MW, but because of poor maintenance and mismanagement, it generated only 1,600

MW, AFP said, which was far below the national demand.

Tinubu now has the responsibility to replay his grand vision by ensuring that his government encourages states and even the 774 local governments to build mini-power plants to take care of their immediate needs.

powering and re-energizing major industrial hubs in order to generate massive jobs and keep our youth busy, we can also electrify and revive thousands of small-scale businesses outage. Our homes both in the major cities and several communities in the countryside can be energized. The impact on our highly mobile, energetic, and entrepreneurial youth can only be imagined. Tinubu needs to borrow from the strides already achieved to light up some industrial areas of the country.

pioneer power project developer in Nigeria, established a power generation facility in Aba, with the intention of providing high-quality electric service to a limited number of large the project consisted of the installation of a 141 110km of 33 kV and 11kV sub-transmission lines, four new substations, and capacitor banks for distribution of power to the large industrial and commercial consumers that had been receiving power from the defunct

Geometric Power and Aba Power secured a 20-year concession from the federal government to supply power exclusively to the Aba industrial city and its surrounding communities and has constructed the Aba

integrated power utility in Nigeria, which 27km gas pipeline, and a distribution utility, is an embedded electricity facility designed to generate and distribute its own electricity.

The city of Aba in Abia State is an important regional market and the principal commercial center in South Eastern Nigeria with a population of 2.3 million in 2006. Aba is due to the ingenuity of local businessmen, artisans, and craftsmen who are able to use locally available resources to fabricate spare parts and other machinery. Aba is a city

concerns whose need for an adequate and reliable supply of electricity for its complex and growing business environment is paramount. Aba’s industrial products include paper products, soap, glass products, oil mills, beer, and water bottling, and processed food products, among others. Small metal and wood fabrication industries are numerous, Aba depended on expensive diesel generation for a substantial part of their products because of the inadequacy of the power supply from the national grid.

The Ossiomo Power plant built by the administration of Governor Godwin Obaseki in Edo State is another. The Obaseki government entered into a Power Purchase market in the state.

Edo State with an estimated population of four million was then getting only a paltry 88 megawatts of electricity which does not meet the rising electricity need for residential and commercial purposes.

The 55MW CCETC-Ossiomo Power Plant state was designed to power and light up government buildings and public utilities, Ogbemudia Stadium as well as other public production center, an industrial hub located along the Sapele road axis of Benin City, ply their trades.

Speaking during the Power Purchase powered electricity would free up power for other users in the Sapele road axis where the distribution infrastructure of the company passes through.

At the production center, manufacturers engage in the production of nylon products, furniture making, fashion designing, metal fabrication, and waste recycling among others.

The Edo State government is already thinking of expanding the capacity of the Ossiomo power plant to power more communities in the state.

Allied to this, is the new law that allows the states to participate in rail transportation within their respective territory. Although interstate rail links are still the exclusive preserve of the federal government, nothing precludes states that are contiguous from partaking in rail partnerships. For instance, the South-west states have toyed with the idea of a railway project that will cover all the eight states in the old Western Region including Edo and Delta States. Ibrahim is a Development Expert based in Abuja

Tinubu’s Presidency should set up teams of experts that will drive the power and rail sectors of the economy, writes AHMED IBRAHIM

OLUSEGUN OBASANJO pays tribute to Oby Ezekwelisi, activist, transparency advocate, and former Minister of Education

TO OBY EZEKWESILI AT 60

Obiageli Ezekwesili is like a daughter to me. Even when she was a minister, I treated her the same way I treated my biological daughters. She was a dynamic young woman, who is competent, reliable and very enterprising. As she, therefore, clocks 60 today, I cannot but thank God and glorious years and decades ahead.

Oby and I met through Transparency International, an initiative started by Peter Eigen, who had worked at the

demand for more transparency in the oil and gas sector, she was a founding member of the Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative. The NEITI, Nigeria’s version of EITI, that we have today is by dint of her

Oby a minister in charge of solid minerals. At that period, illegal mining was being carried out in several parts of Nigeria and most of the people in the business I shared my frustration with said we needed to put in place the requisite regulation. They also suggested that we needed someone tough to handle that ministry. So, knowing Oby for the sector. That was why I sent her to the ministry, and she did excellently.

There is need to pay attention to ‘little things’ that matter, argues

JOSHUA J. OMOJUWA

THE CURSE OF THE LITTLE THINGS: WELCOME TO NIGERIA

A couple of years ago, I visited Antigua, Guatemala. When you enter a country from the airport, you can always tell whether it is a rich country or not. You’d probably miss it a few times but the airport readily signposts Rich countries welcome you like they want to show you something. You have arrived ba? Fine. Welcome. Start out disembarking the plane, then through the jet bridge. That often times is where the similarity ends with poor countries.

a crime, I am ready to do the time for these words. I lived through the times, I know and have a sense of appreciation for what has changed. Things are better. However, things are not better enough.

integrity in the public arena. While Oby and Peter collaborated, I chaired the advisory council. Due to her hard work and dedication to duty, and because I naturally like working with intelligent people, it was easy for me to warm to Oby at the time.

When I came out of prison in 1998, I travelled to the United States, essentially to thank those, who had worked for my release; people that cared, like the CNN founder, Ted Turner; people at Ford Foundation, where I used to be remember Oby came to see me on the day I was meeting with most of my children, sharing my prison experience and looking ahead to what I believed at the time to be a more private life. Oby was then at the Kennedy School of Government, Harvard University.

I became President, I already knew that I had somebody to bring into government. assigned her to work closely with me in what we called the Price Intelligence Unit, which she headed and was domiciled at the Villa. It later became the Due Process ‘Madam Due Process’. The idea was to cut down on waste and bring transparency and accountability into the award of contracts, which she did excellently. The point is, in government, you cannot accurately eliminate sharp practices; like Oby, you will reduce it to the barest minimum. That exactly was what she did at a period all contracts had to go through

reduction in cost of contracts, which, of course, saved the government billions of naira at the time.

Given her involvement in the global

After we had gone far in our transformation reforms in the Ministry of Solid Minerals, I realised that we had not done much in education. At that time, I knew that the Ministry of Education required reforms and the three people that I thought I could use were already heavily involved in other things. Ngozi Okonjowas handling the Federal Capital Territory, which had almost been destroyed with deviation from the original master plan. Then I had just put Oby in solid minerals. I had a conversation with the Head of Service, who felt that I could redeploy Oby for the assignment. I was hesitant because I did not want to disrupt what she was doing at the Ministry of Solid Minerals. “Sir, is the solid minerals ministry more important than that of education?” queried the HoS. That question settled it for me. I sent Oby to education, and I told her to recommend a replacement for the solid minerals ministry.

As President, I tried to expose some of the brightest talents I had in government to opportunities available to be the best they could possibly be. Without any doubt, Oby was one of the best talents I had working with me. On a lighter note, when Oby worked with me, she was quite young, but very intelligent. There were three of them at that time that used to drag age, and I enjoyed their banters: Oby, Frank Nweke and Nenadi Usman. The three of them were under 40 and then in council. They were always arguing among themselves about age seniority, and Ngozi used to treat them as juniors.

I recall when Oby informed me that she not want her to go because I really needed it may be part of Nigeria’s contribution to global development, especially in Africa.” best. She was, for me, one of the best from Africa.

Now that she is 60, she should look at what she has done in the past and what God has enabled her to do and give thanks, while preparing herself for the future. She is still a young lady. My prayer is that God’s grace will continue to abound in her.

Obasanjo is former President of Nigeria

Some rich countries take you several escalators if you choose not to use their massive lifts, then through one travellator after another – pretending to fast track your movement but actually asking you, how many unna get for unna country? Moderate your urges as they take you through a shopping experience that could pass for shopping at a modern mall. Some layer it up by making you travel through a tram where you then arrive

In the midst of CCTVs, we still have visitors. This is more prevalent in Lagos than Abuja. With due recognition and on doing the right thing, the MMIA Lagos travel experience generally makes the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport Abuja experience look like Nigeria from the future. Given the chance, you’d choose the Abuja airport all the time.

This is not a reference on the availability of facilities, this is about the personalities

If you decide to use the rest rooms, chances are that there are cleaners there helping to ration toilet papers. Tissue paper? Toilet roll? Let us assume travelers waste these tissue papers, because that is the only reason rationing must have been deemed a solution. How much are tissue papers that they have to be rationed though? That should end immediately. Their job should only be to ensure availability not to monitor or supervise use. We may not be the richest country in the world but we certainly aren’t the tissue papers.

to pick your luggage.

They want you to get lost in their show, many literally do. The airports are multilayered and expansive. If you are not used to seeing big airports, the jealous part of you starts to think you consider Mike Adenuga owning private you are rational. It’s like the average person owning more than one phone or shoes.

Don’t be angry. Let’s go back to Antigua. On arrival, I could tell this was at best an upper middle income country. The airport country committed to some tourism. That is not the point of the story though. What caught my attention was how clean the airport was. Clean, nothing was out of place. The sense of order was quiet yet called out to be heard. It smelled nice too. The next thing right after in took his time, even stepped away to speak to someone else. I could not be bothered. I was thinking, when you are done, you’ll return to me. A few questions and answers later, I was stamped in. At no time was there a request for a bribe, attempted or suggested. It was just a man doing his job. You gotta respect that. I did.

The Nigerian traveling experience has gotten better since 2013 when I wrote an article knocking everything that was the excuse for a on landing Abuja and Lagos these days. This gladdened my heart when a friend visiting access and its speed. There are fewer people asking to check your passport or boarding pass. 2013 versus 2023 traveling experience in Nigeria, whether for local or international where acknowledging progress appears to be

There should no longer be a reason for power outages at the airport. At worst, arrival halls should have power back-ups that hold the power during power cuts and transitions. Again, this is not as much about money as it is about intention.

When I was done at the airport in Antigua, what informed me that I was in a country that works was not the presence of some iconic skyscrapers. I do not have any such memories of that beautiful volcanic city. The one thing I am unable

It was as orderly and as synchronized as you would see it in any other country that works. I was aware that the reason I noticed that order was because I was

to suggest to you whether to go, stay or proceed with caution. There is no way they aren’t a form of coded suggestion lights. Abuja at times feels like a city that holds a strong promise, beauty and order identity along the way.

When you actually think about it, the or poverty, it is about the poverty of ideas and the absence of intentions. We cry about money all the time but think about it, how much does it cost to have more bins in our cities? How much does it cost to at least lit up the road that goes right into the Presidential Villa? I doubt hell is darker than Yakubu Gowon crescent at what’s with the darkness?

Omojuwa is chief strategist, Alpha Reach, and author, Digital Wealth Book

Editor, Editorial Page PETER ISHAKA

Email peter.ishaka@thisdaylive.com

EDITORIAL

THE GROWING CANCER BURDEN

All the critical stakeholders could do more to stem the scourge

Nigeria, according to the Catalan Institute of Oncology (ICO) and the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) 2023 factsheet, has a population of 60.9 million women from age 15 who are at risk of developing cervical cancer. “Current estimates indicate that every year 12,075 women are diagnosed with cervical cancer and 7,968 die from the disease” going by their statistics that should worry health authorities in the country. Although incidence of cancer has been on the increase in many regions of the world, mortality is relatively higher in less developed countries like Nigeria due to the lack of access to treatment facilities, and late diagnosis, among others.

The World Health Organisation (WHO) commonest types of cancers in Nigeria as breast cancer, cervical cancer, prostate cancer, non-Hodgkin lymphoma and liver cancer in the order. These cancer types and the other less common kill about 80,000 Nigerians every year. With data showing that the cost of cancer treatment and management is not in sync with the the disease, the government and other stakeholders must put a framework in place to encourage early management. This, it is believed, would prevent latethe scourge to get proper treatment without them worrying over who pays the bill.

Available records indicate that about 72 per cent of cancer patients in Nigeria pay out of pocket for their care; an action not in tandem with reality since many typically costs around N250,000—an amount far beyond the reach of most patients.

KAYODE KOMOLAFE

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

Letters to the Editor

While the alarming rate of death from cancer points to the state of medical institutions in Nigeria, it is important for critical stakeholders to understand the danger the disease poses to the future of our country. It is bad enough that cancer is a terminal disease, it is worse when most Nigerian medical centres lack the diagnostic capacity to quickly detect and treat cancer infections. That should encourage discussions on how to fashion both preventive and curative solutions at all levels of the society.

It is good the country’s healthcare system is tilting towards Universal Health Coverage (UCH) with the establishment of the Basic Health Care Provisions both the national and state levels. There is a need to inculcate cancer care into all UHC programmes since poor Nigerians cannot pay out of pocket. This framework must ensure Nigerians, irrespective of location, get unfettered access to healthcare services for diagnosis, treatment, and management of cancer, while the government sets aside from the insurance pool, funding to tackle their challenges. Cancer is preventable and treatable during its early stage, and Nigerians deserve this.

We believe that the task of saving its citizens from the cancer scourge remains essentially with government which must provide both the basic facilities to combat the disease and to create the enabling environment that can facilitate the collaboration of the private sector in tackling the menace. Increased awareness campaigns, improvements in public health and increased funding for health care initiatives - by government, donor agencies, and development partners - are all likely to lead to a decrease in the incidence of this killer disease. Nigerians themselves must also begin to imbibe the culture of regular medical check-ups so they can commence treatment of any diagnosed ailment promptly before it gets too late.

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

LETTERS

THE NEED TO PRIORITISE EDUCATION IN NIGERIA

The current situation of Nigerian students trapped in Sudan as a result of a battle for hegemony between two leaders of thefare as citizens.

Many people have wondered why any Nigerian would prefer to go to Sudan to study instead of their own country. Others have poignantly resolved the puzzle with an explanation that our country pays less attention to education compared to Sudan.

Any how one may look at it, there is an undeniable causal nexus between our country’s abandonment of the education sector and the increasing numbers of citizens who leave the country to get education abroad.

leaving the students to bear the pains of abandonment and setbacks.

Despite this frustration, as citizens, we keep renewing our hope for change in this country amidst daily disappointments from our governments. We have done so in recent times through massive engagement of the 2023 general election. We hope that the sore situation of our tertiary education under this

administration will end during the swearing in of the President-elect. This malady must not manifest in any other form. Lack of adequate investments in our education has left an insatiable void in the sector and the citizens who obviously value education are panting and over stretched. Wherever they can

Humans everywhere in the world deserve an environment which will help them to actualize their purpose in life. This in fact is an unassailable ingredient of the principle of law of any country and Nigeria is not left out. One of the three important elements of the concept of the rule of law as was determined at the Delhi Congress of International Commission of Jurists, 1959, states; “The establishment of social, economic and culturtheir legitimate aspirations.”

ry function of government and assert in Section 14(2)(b) that Security and Welfare of the people shall be the primary purpose of government.

Any government which fails to provide the necessary condi-

-

failed.

We expect a lot from the incoming president and will not accept the continuance of this perennial gap between promise and performance. While we do not expect him to perform magic in bringing the country to a state of El dorado overnight, we hope on him to strengthen our vital institutions, one of which is education. Senator Udo Udoma said and I agree, that, men are of nations.

The 1999 Constitution (as amended) in Section 18(1) provides; “Government shall direct its policy towards ensuring that there are equal and adequate educational opportunities at all levels”.

A resolve by the incoming President to pay huge attention to the education sector would be a minimal undertaking to transform this country. This is our right as a people and we hope he will be inclined to the duty of protecting this right. It is the least thing we expect him to do amongst many other things.

David Antia, Antiadavid3@gmail.com

Cancer is preventable and treatable during its early stage, and Nigerians deserve this

RATES AS AT APRIL 27,2023

Airline Operators Raise Co ncern over Delays, Loss of Resources Emanating from VIP Movement

Chinedu Eze

Airline operators have expressed concern over the unscheduled delays of airline operations in the air and on ground, occasioned by very important personality (VIP) movement, insisting that such delays are inimical to flight safety, causing loss of resources, as aircraft burn a lot of fuel while waiting in the air.

Senior member of Airline Operators of Nigeria and the

President/CEO of Top Brass Aviation Limited, Captain Roland Iyayi, told THISDAY that aircraft being made to stay at different areas of the airspace waiting for VIP movement could lead to accident because such unscheduled delays do not specify how long aircraft could wait in the airspace.

VIP movement refers to when the airspace is closed to other civil aviation flights for top government officials like the President, Vice

WOMEN IN FINANCE…

President or anyone operating presidential aircraft is cleared for flight.

Iyayi recalled that when he was the Managing Director of the Nigeria Airspace Management Agency (NAMA) in 2006, airspace was closed for the presidential jet in Lagos, which led to an incident when a Parsa 208 aircraft was forced to land on Ewekoro road after waiting in the airspace for 30 minutes and the aircraft fuel was running out. The

pilot decided to land on the road and waited until a signal came from air traffic controllers to approach and land at the Murtala Muhmmed Airport, Lagos.

It was believed that if the aircraft did not find a space to land it would have crashed, but because it was a small-body aircraft, it was able to land on the road. Passenger aircraft like Boeing 737 would not have attempted to land on the road

like the Parsa 208, which is a propeller aircraft.

A senior executive of one of the major Nigerian carriers narrated his airline’s experience on Tuesday in Abuja.

According to him, the airline’s flight was delayed at the Abuja airspace for 50 minutes due to VIP movement.

“From 16.58 (4:58 pm) to 17.48 (5:48 pm), 50 minutes, this evening (April 25, 2023) at Abuja airport,

operations were halted due to VIP movement. All flights have at least an hour delay and some had more than an hour delay, as the departures and arrivals experienced associated delays. Flights already boarded and about to depart were held down with passengers on board for 50 minutes.

L-R: Founder/ Managing Partners, Aruwa Capital, Mrs Adesuwa Okunbo-Rhodes; Partner/ Chief Operating Officer, Verod Capital Management, Nieros-Oyegun Soerensen ; Chief Executive Officer, 100 Women in Finance, Amanda Pullinger; former Chief Executive Officer, Africa Region, Standard Bank Group, Mrs Sola David-Borha; Managing Director/ Chief Executive Officer, ARM Harith Infrastructure fund Manager, Tariye Gbadegesin; and Vice President, Africa Finance Corporation, Taiwo Okwor, at the 100 women in finance Nigeria launch in Lagos… recently

Needs Debt Restructuring to Revamp Economy, Says Adebajo

Emma Okonji and Nosa Alekhuogie

The Chief Executive Officer of CFG Advisory, Mr. Tilewa Adebajo has called on the Nigerian government to stop borrowing and focus more on debt restructuring in order to revamp the economy.

Adebajo who spoke yesterday on the Morning Show of ARISE NEWS Channels, the broadcast arm of THISDAY Newspapers, said the official total debt profile of Nigeria is alarming.

Comparing America’s Debtto-GDP Ratio, which is over 101

per cent, to Nigeria’s Debt-to-GDP Ratio, which is 40 per cent, Adebajo said American government spends a single digit of 8 per cent to service her debts, while Nigerian government spends double digits of 96 per cent to service her debts.

According to him, no nation will continue to finance a deficit economy except such nation wants to go bankrupt.

“Nigeria therefore cannot continue to service debt, but should rather restructure her debt financing in order to grow the economy, before economies of the world force us to restructure our debt financing.

Nigeria therefore needs internal debt restructuring as a matter of urgency,” Adebajo said.

He advised the in-coming government on how best to restructure Nigeria’s internal debt profile.

He said the government must first reduce the current double unit interest rates to a single digit interest rate, in order to grow the economy much faster. He said the current bank’s lending rate of 30 per cent remained high and a disincentive to business growth.

“Nigeria must tame inflation in order to drop interest rate to a

single digit. Nigeria must unlock the different financial restrictions and create an enabling environment for businesses to thrive,” Adebajo further said.

Addressing the issue of economic stagnation, Adebajo said Nigeria should begin to focus on social infrastructure, healthcare and education.

According to him, Nigeria has no functional refineries across the county, even though Nigeria is one of the largest producers of oil in the world.

“If only Nigeria can put its social and economic infrastructure

in place, Nigeria can become a $1 trillion economy and compete with other economies. It is not rocket science to achieve it because the country has technology savvy organisations and individuals that can help the country achieve it. There are several institutions that the government needs to refocus and make them economically viable.

“Currently, our Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) is less than N1 trillion. What is saving Nigerian government is the inflow of start-up capital from around the world because most global

Venture Capitalists (VCs), still believe in Nigeria and African startups and have continued to invest in startups in Nigeria and other African countries, and that is the reason Nigeria still remains the largest economy in Africa,” Adebajo said.

He advised that institutions like the Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), and the Nigerian Liquefied Natural Gas (NLNG), should be restructured to boost oil production in the country and to raise sustainable money from oil and gas production for the country.

Giwa: Companies That Fail on Corporate Governance are Viewed as High-Risk Investment Option

What is your view about the state of corporate governance in Nigeria with emphasis on how it affects investment in the economy?

In recent years, regulators have implemented several measures aimed at improving corporate governance in the investment sector. For instance, the Financial Reporting Council of Nigeria (FRCN) developed the Nigerian Code of Corporate Governance 2018, which replaced all existing sectoral codes of corporate governance. In addition, the Securities and Exchange Commission developed additional recommended practices via the SEC Corporate Governance Guidelines. Both the code and the guidelines set out principles for entrenching sound corporate governance practices that seek to promote transparency, accountability, and ethical conduct among companies in Nigeria.

These regulatory interventions have helped to enhance governance practices in the corporate sector. But there is still a lot of work to be done to ensure that companies operate transparently and accountably. It is, therefore, in organisations’ best interests to adhere to these principles, not only to drive the right corporate culture but also to prevent the financial and reputational risk occasioned by breach.

How does lax corporate governance affect the flow of foreign investments into Nigeria?

Laxity in compliance with corporate governance standards would adversely impact investors’ interest in Nigeria because foreign investors are increasingly demanding for higher levels of transparency in doing business. They often opt to invest their funds in companies that satisfy defined governance metrics. Development Finance Institutions also seek out investment partners that meet various criteria, including adherence to ESG principles and stakeholder satisfaction. Therefore, companies that fail to meet these expectations are often viewed as high-risk investments. The implications may include higher borrowing costs, lower valuations, and reduced access to capital markets. All or any of these will negatively impact a company’s financial performance. It is, therefore, crucial that the Nigerian government and relevant regulatory bodies should continue to prioritise the improvement of corporate governance practices to boost confidence in the investment environment, attract foreign investment, and support sustainable economic growth.

The federal government has set up committees to produce governance codes for both the public sector and not-for-profit organisations. What benefits can these bring to the country?

The development of governance codes for the public and not-for-profit sectors is a welcome development, as organisations in these sectors have the same duty as those in the private sector to protect the interests of their stakeholders. Their governance codes are expected to bring about several benefits, including improved accountability and increased transparency. This will build public trust and confidence and deter corruption and other forms of misconduct. In addition, governance

codes can help public sector and notfor-profit organisations to operate more efficiently by promoting best practices in areas such as financial management, risk management, and performance measurement.

On a general note, how would you assess the implementation of corporate governance in the country, both in public and private sectors?

There has been some progress in the implementation of corporate governance in both private and public sectors in the country. Not too long ago, the term ‘corporate governance’ was an unfamiliar concept to many organisations. Thankfully, there has been a shift in this mindset as organisations have become more cognisant of their responsibility to a wider pool of stakeholders and are beginning to entrench sound governance principles in their operations. However, there is still a long way to go, especially in changing our mindset and approach to doing business generally.

What are the unique challenges facing the private sector face in this regard and how can they be fixed?

One of the primary challenges is the issue of transparency. Private companies are not subject to the same disclosure obligations as public companies, which makes it difficult for stakeholders to assess their

performance and make informed decisions. To address this challenge, private companies should implement a voluntary reporting framework or adopt best practices that promote transparency and disclosure. Another challenge is ensuring accountability. Private companies usually have a more concentrated ownership structure, with a small number of shareholders or family members exercising significant control over the company. This makes it challenging to ensure that the company’s interests are aligned with those of all stakeholders. But these challenges can be addressed by establishing independent boards of directors, implementing performancebased compensation structures, and adopting ethical standards that promote accountability.

Will the development of the Nigerian public sector governance code in any way affect the private sector?

The development of the Nigerian Public Sector Governance Code (NPSGC) is a positive step towards improving public sector governance in Nigeria. The code aims to provide guidelines for public

sector organisations to improve their governance practices. Doing so will enhance the performance of public sector organisations and ultimately lead to improved service delivery to citizens. The NPSGC will also have an impact on the private sector, as it will provide a benchmark for good governance practices that private sector organisations will adopt. In addition, the NPSGC will create a level playing field for both the public and private sectors. The code’s guidelines will apply to all public sector organisations and those in the private sector that interact with them will also need to adhere to the code’s principles. This will create a more transparent and accountable business environment and promote fair competition.

What are the objectives of Honeywell Group’s sustainability structure and what is the company doing to achieve these objectives?

Honeywell Group identifies sustainability as the delivery of long-term value to stakeholders. This is aptly captured by our vision statement, which says that we are “an investment holding company, committed to creating value that transcends generations.” We are committed to positively impacting all stakeholders, using economic, social, and governance principles as a yardstick for measuring performance. We are a proudly indigenous conglomerate, and through our investments in key sectors of the Nigerian economy, including financial services, technology, oil and gas, real estate, hospitality, and infrastructure, we are able to create value and improve lives.

Honeywell Group also funded Itanna, a supporting institute for mentoring and funding innovative and entrepreneurial talents in the tech startup ecosystem. One of the institute’s key support channels was the accelerator programme, a four-month impact initiative where graduates received up to $30,000 or its Naira equivalent from Honeywell Group, mentorship from industry leaders, and more. The impact of the support programme in Itanna has been immense. The organisation has also maintained a partnership with Lagos State Employment Trust Fund (LSETF) for three years, with the intent to equip successful applicants with mentorship and hands-on training opportunities through the Lagos Innovates program. Last year, 260 beneficiaries were selected from a pool of over 1000 candidates for the initiative. The programme successfully graduated beneficiaries from its first cohort in February 2023.

How can sustainability in the investment and financial sectors in

The Head, Governance and Sustainability, Honeywell Group, Mrs. Yewande Giwa, who is responsible for implementing and managing the governance framework for the group, in a recent interview spoke on the implications of corporate governance on companies. Dike Onwuamaeze brings the excerpts:

Giwa

BUSINESSWORLD INTERVIEW

GIWA: COMPANIES THAT FAIL ON CORPORATE GOVERNANCE ARE VIEWED AS HIGH-RISK INVESTMENT OPTION

Nigeria drive innovation?

Sustainable finance refers to the integration of environmental, social, and governance considerations into financial decision-making. So, by promoting sustainable finance in Nigeria, the financial sector will be able to encourage companies to adopt sustainable practices and develop innovative solutions that address sustainability challenges. Also, encouraging green investments, and sustainability initiatives promote investment in renewable energy, energy efficiency, and other sustainable projects that drive innovation in the country. Such investments will lead to the development of new technologies, products, and services that are more efficient and environmentally friendly. Impact investing is a type of investment that aims to generate positive social and environmental impact alongside financial returns. By supporting impact investing in Nigeria, the financial sector can encourage innovation in areas such as healthcare, education, and agriculture, leading to the development of new products and services that benefit society.

How has the CSR of the Honeywell Group improved in the past decade, and your plans for the next decade?

Honeywell Group’s strategy is one that aligns with its core values, mission, and vision to create shared value for both the company and its stakeholders. One of our core values as a company is collaboration – working with our stakeholders to deliver outstanding results and foster an environment built on trust. Honeywell Group has been more intentional in building partnerships and collaborating with partners who share similar values. The partnership with the LSETF on the Lagos Innovates Talent Development

Programme is a practical demonstration of this intentionality. Looking to the future, we hope to continue evolving and constantly refining the ways we deliver value to our stakeholders.

Do diversity, equity, and inclusion in a company’s board of directors positively affect corporate performance?

Research suggests that diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) in a company’s board of directors positively affect corporate performance. A diverse board brings a wider range of perspectives, experiences, and backgrounds to the table. This can lead to more creative problem-solving and decision-making, which ultimately benefit the company’s performance.

When a board is diverse, it reduces the risk of groupthink and increases the likelihood of more informed decision-making. This is because diverse perspectives help identify blind spots and challenge assumptions, leading to more robust and effective decision-making. So, companies that prioritise diversity, equity and inclusion are often seen as more attractive employers to a wider range of job seekers, leading to a broader pool of candidates to choose from, and ultimately resulting in more diverse and talented employees.

A board with diverse perspectives helps a company stay ahead of the curve and drive innovation. Diverse perspectives also help identify emerging trends and opportunities that might be missed by a more homogeneous group. Companies that prioritise diversity, equity and inclusion are often viewed more positively by consumers and investors, which lead to enhanced brand reputation and increased customer loyalty. This ultimately benefits the company’s bottom line.

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

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

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

GUIDE TO DATA:

Date: All fund prices are quoted in Naira as at 26Apr-2023, unless otherwise stated.

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

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

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

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

DAILY PRICE LIST FOR MUTUAL FUNDS, REITS and ETFS

EDIALE KINGSLEY: Building the Go-to Media Strategy Company

Ediale Kingsley is a dynamic media entrepreneur and the brain behind Sabistation Media, one of the most trusted and successful PR and media strategy companies in Lagos, Nigeria. With an impressive roster of clients from the entertainment, politics, and business sectors, Sabistation Media has built a reputation for delivering excellent results in managing clients’ online images and generating impactful media coverage. Kingsley’s company also operates Creator Ediale Films, a film production unit that leverages the power of social media platforms such as YouTube, Instagram, and TikTok to promote clients’ businesses and brands. Currently, the firm is running three partnership programmes and is fast becoming a major player in the online news business in Lagos. In this interview with MARY NNAH, he talks about his recent ventures and future plans

What inspired Sabistation Media?

The need to create a media and PR company that is not just effective but ethical. I have always been passionate about journalism and the media, and I saw the need to create a company that was focused on helping individuals and businesses create a positive image online.

Sabistation Media was born out of the need to provide effective PR and media strategy services to individuals, businesses, and organizations in Nigeria. I noticed that there was a gap in the industry as most PR firms focused on traditional media without fully leveraging the potential of online media. So, I decided to create Sabistation Media to help clients manage their online presence and have a strong presence on various news media platforms.

What sets Sabistation Media apart from other PR and Media strategy companies?

Our focus on ethics and professionalism set us apart. We believe that in the digital age, it is important to have a positive online presence, and that can only be achieved through ethical and professional practices. We also have a film production unit, which sets us apart from other companies and allows us to use different media platforms to push and sell our clients’ businesses.

The Sabistation Media Bloggers Partnership Program is designed to teach and partner with people who want to be professional News Bloggers. We help them set up their News Blogs and teach them the best practices in ethics and standards. This helps eradicate fake news and the evil associated with unprofessionalism in the news online business.

You are also working on your soonto-be-released YouTube series, The PR Movie. What should viewers expect from it?

The PR Movie is a docu-series that celebrates public and business people doing something great. The series features people who may not be as famous but have something great that the public should know about. The idea behind this series is to showcase individuals who are making a positive impact in their communities and to inspire others to do the same. We believe that everyone has a story to tell, and we want to help share those stories with the world.

What advice do you have for individuals and businesses looking to create a positive online presence?

Focus on ethics and professionalism. It is important to be authentic and transparent in your online presence. Do not try to create a false persona or hide your flaws. Be honest and transparent, and people will respect and trust you. Also, invest in your online presence and seek professional help if needed.

Can you tell us more about the Sabistation Media Bloggers Partnership Programme and how it’s helping to eradicate fake news?

The Sabistation Media Bloggers Partnership Program is a platform where we teach and partner with people who want to become professional news bloggers. We provide them with the knowledge and resources needed to set up their news blogs while ensuring they maintain the best practices as it concerns ethics and standards. Through this program, we’re able to help eradicate fake news and the evils

associated with unprofessionalism in the online news business. We believe that it’s our responsibility to help raise the standard of journalism in Nigeria, and this program is one of the ways we’re doing that.

Your company has a partnership programme with parents to help their kids become young media experts. Can you tell us more about this programme?

Yes, we have the Sabistation Kids Intelligence Programme where we teach and mentor kids to become young media experts. This program is designed to help kids between the ages of 8 and 16 learn the skills and knowledge they need to succeed in the media industry. We believe that investing in young people is one of the ways we can shape the future of our country. The Sabistation Kids Intelligence Program is our way of giving back to the community and helping to build a brighter future.

We also have a film production unit called Creator Ediale Films. This is an integral part of Sabistation Media as it helps us to use YouTube, Instagram, and TikTok to push and sell clients’ businesses and images. This unit is responsible for

producing high-quality video content that showcases our clients in the best possible light. We believe that video content is the future of online marketing, and that’s why we’ve invested in this unit to help our clients stay ahead of the curve.

We believe that children are the future, and it is important to invest in them. The Sabistation Kids Intelligence Programme is designed to teach and mentor kids in the media industry. We believe that with the right guidance and mentorship, these kids can become young media experts and make a difference in the world.

Your company has a partnership programme with journalists across 12 countries. How does this program help your clients expand their reach?

Our Sabistation Media Press Network enables us to work with journalists across top platforms in 12 countries, including Ghana, South Africa, Kenya, Egypt, the UK, the USA, Canada, Dubai, China, Germany, France, and India. This programme helps us to ensure that our clients who want to expand their reach can do so easily and smoothly. We’re able to leverage our partnerships with journalists in these countries to help our clients get the exposure they need to

succeed. The Sabistation Media Press Network enables us to expand our reach and ensure our clients who want to expand their reach can do this easily and smoothly.

What are some of the challenges you face in the industry, and how do you overcome them?

One of the biggest challenges we face in the industry is the prevalence of fake news and unprofessionalism. This is why we take our Sabistation Media Bloggers Partnership Program very seriously, to help raise the standards and ethics of news blogging in Nigeria and beyond. Another challenge is the rapidly changing landscape of social media and digital platforms. We overcome this by constantly staying up-to-date with the latest trends and technologies, and adapting our strategies accordingly. We also have a strong team of professionals who are always ready to face any challenge head-on, and we invest heavily in training and development to ensure that our team is always at the top of its game. Finally, we have built a strong network of partnerships with top media platforms and influencers, which helps us to overcome many challenges and reach a wider audience for our clients.

What advice would you give to young people who are interested in pursuing a career in PR and media strategy?

My advice would be to start by gaining knowledge and experience in the field. Read books, attend workshops and seminars, and even intern at established PR and media companies. Also, it’s important to stay up to date with the latest trends and technologies in the industry. Finally, I would advise them to be ethical, honest, and professional in their dealings. Reputation is everything in this business, and it takes years to build and just one mistake to destroy.

Could you share with us a memorable experience you’ve had while working in PR and media strategy?

There are so many memorable experiences, but one that comes to mind is when we worked with a client to launch a new product in Nigeria. We employed various PR and media strategies, including influencer marketing, media outreach, and social media campaigns. The launch was a huge success, and the product sold out within days. It was a great feeling to know that our work had contributed to the success of the product and that we had helped to make a positive impact on our client’s business.

What are the future plans for Sabistation Media?

Our goal is to become the leading PR and media strategy company in Nigeria and Africa at large. We want to continue helping businesses, politicians, and individuals to improve their image and reach through effective PR and media strategies. We also plan to expand our partnerships and presence in other African countries, and even beyond the continent. We have a lot of exciting projects in the works, including new film and TV productions, as well as more partnership programs to empower young media professionals. We are always striving to be innovative and stay ahead of the curve in the industry, so there’s always something new and exciting happening at Sabistation Media.

Kingsley

Transformational Coach Emphasises Mindset Change Towards Living a Fulfilled Life

Funmi Ogundare

A transformational coach, Mrs. Monica Nnoka has advised young people to have a change of mindset towards enhancing their lives through self discovery so that they can live a fulfilling life.

Nnoka who gave this advise, recently, in Lagos, while announcing plans to hold the ‘Manifest Your Dreams’ retreat in six countries including Nigeria, Ghana, Dubai, South Africa, Kigali and United Kingdom; as well as the ‘ Evolve to Become More’ retreat for women, ex-

pressed concern that a lot of people are sleeping their greatness rather than waking up to discover where their potential truly lie.

According to her,” everybody have the seed of greatness in them, but they need the right condition to grow. You need to take breaks from your current environment and allow your greatness to flourish.”

She said it is imperative for people to practice intermittent fasting so that they can have healthy minds, adding that a lot of people are going through mental challenges which most times, make them live a me-

diocre life.

“A lot of us can do much more if we take the needed breaks to take us away from the triggers of life,” Nnoka stated.

The transformation coach, however expressed concern that many people are waiting for the government before they can blossom, adding,” every challenge has its advantage and we need to keep our eyes opened to see the opportunities. We also need to believe in ourselves so that more people can benefit from why we are on this planet.” Emphasising on the retreat, Nnoka noted that its vision is to help people create a life that

SALAMI, EGUBE, SANNI TO HEADLINE RCCG REGION 19 CONFERENCE

Nume Ekeghe

they want for themselves and manifest originality in what they do in a challenging economy.

The transformation coach added that the programme, will be hosted in partnership with other coaches who would help people to move from their current paradigm to more possibilities.

“ We are going to be empowering people by reprogramming their subconscious and begin to put the coaching tools that are vital into them. It is very important that you live life by changing your mind and your personality and have a sense of purpose,” she stated.

SPIN Beams Light On Climate Finance in Nigeria

Sustainability experts have identified sustainability financial instruments such as green bonds, sustainability bonds, sustainability financing, climate-tagged investment and other dedicated grants and investments put together by the national government, private Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) investors as well as foreign investors as a lever to support climate resilience in Africa.

This was made known during a webinar organised by the Sustainability Professionals Institute of Nigeria (SPIN), formerly known as theAssociation of Sustainability Professionals of Nigeria (ASPN), and sponsored by First Bank, Nigeria, on the theme “Harnessing climate finance opportunities in Nigeria”.

This is coming on the back of the official commencement of the implementation of the Climate Change Act 2021, following the approval of the work plan for the National Climate Change Council (NCCC) by President Muhammadu Buhari last February which is expected to provide a sustainable framework for climate-related activities in Nigeria and also underlines the nation’s commitment to the 2060 Net Zero-Target.

In his opening remarks, the Head of Sustainability, Media and External Relations, First Bank, and also the Director of Advocacy and Stakeholder Relations, at the Sustainability

SPIN President, Prof. Kenneth Amaeshi Professionals Institute of Nigeria (SPIN), Ismail Omamagbe, asserted that SPIN is a platform that promotes the practice and profession of sustainability in line with global best practice of sustainability in Nigeria committed to working with all the sustainability professionals and organisations with a goal to deepen, mainstream and complement sustainability practices in the country.

Ugochukwu, Managing Partner, GCACapital Partners, opined that in terms of organising domestic resources, the draft of the NDC, which outlines the targets and measures that represent Nigeria’s contribution to global climate change and also redrafted in 2021 with improved targets; the Medium-Term National Development Plan; the Energy Transition Plan; the Long-Term Vision Plan; and the recent commitment to set

The keynote speaker, Obi

up the climate change fund by the banker’s committee, make up the key milestones of Nigeria’s commitment to climate action.

It was estimated that Nigeria needs about Three Hundred and Forty-eight trillion Naira to fund its climate change action, and 86% of this funding is expected to be generated from private sector participation. This puts the spotlight on investment policy, mindset towards climate action and the public–private partnership (PPP) synergy in the evolving climate finance space.According to Carina Dunker, Director, Green Finance Intergovernmental Panel, Climate Change, IPC, Germany, Climate finance envelopes finance activities tailored towards climate action. Could be adaptation/mitigation or even a confluence aimed at impacting climate change.

Measuring progress through target metrics is equally as important when discussing climate finance and development.

Emmanuel Etaderhi, Executive Secretary, Finance Center for Sustainability, Lagos, postulated that in the future all finance will be sustainable finance, which he described as Green, Social and Sustainability-linked (GSS) financing.

Olusegun Alebiosu, Executive Director and Chief Risk Officer, First Bank, harped on the need to embrace sustainability as it ultimately improves the quality of our lives as humans, protects the general ecosystem and preserves natural resources for future generations.

ADVAN Lists Members of NMDT as GARM Kicks off Operations

Having announced recently that the umbrella body of advertisers in Nigeria- the Advertisers Association of Nigeria (ADVAN) was willing to advance further the course of marketing and advertising in the country, the names of the Nigerian Marketing Development Team members have been unveiled.

The names of these renowned professionals drawn from academia and practice were announced at the 2023 ADVAN IGNITES held at The Regent Hotel, Ikeja GRA Lagos recently. The Nigerian Chapter of the Global Alliance for Responsible Media (GARM) was also inaugurated.

Some of the members of NMDT are Bolanle Kehinde Lawal, Omobolanle Osotule, Rotimi Oyesiji, Gerald Osugo, Yosola Atere, Nwando Ajene, Osamede Uwubanmwen, Sadiat Lawal, Tola Bamigbaiye-Elatuyi, Chris WulffCaesar,Adebola Williams, Chioma Afe and Emmamoke Ogoro.

Others are Yusuf Murtala, Omobolanle Osotule, Obi Ike,

ADVAN members

Obum Okoli, O’tega Ogra, Samuel Akinrimisi, Dr Ikechukwu Obiaya, Prof. Bolajoko Dixon-Ogbechi, Bridget Oyefeso-Odusami, Victor Jolaoso, Adia Sowho, Mark Mugisha, James Odejimi, Manpreet Singh and Ediri Ose-Ediale.

Speaking at the inauguration ceremony recently in Lagos, the Chief Executive Officer of ADVAN, Mrs. Ediri Ose-Ediale said; “Today we are inaugurating

the Nigerian Marketing Development Team (NMDT) and the Nigerian Chapter of Global Alliance for Responsible Media (GARM) with the aim to improving the profession of marketing because not every Chief Executive Officer understands what marketing is all about.”

According to her, in Nigeria, we don’t have a template that can be used or even scientific

The Chairman of the Presidential Economic Advisory Council, Dr. Doyin Salami; the Lagos State Commissioner for Budget and Planning, Mr. Sam Egube; Executive Vice-Chairman of Emerging Africa Group, Mrs Toyin Sanni and others are slated to converge at Region 19 RMF, RCCG Economic Conference. In a statement, the Region 19 Pastor, Pastor Brown Oyitso, and the Region 19 RMF Coordinator, Pastor Amos Emovon, announced that this year’s RCCG Economic Conference will be held on 29th of April 2023 at the Dominion Sanctuary Acme, Ogba in Lagos, Nigeria.

Themed “Disrupted. Resilience. Rebuilding. Recovering.”, The conference will bring together leading economists, financial experts, and business leaders to explore the challenges and opportunities of rebuilding and recovering from economic disruptions.

The conference will feature a distinguished panel of speakers including Dr. Doyin Salami, Mr. Sam Egube, Mrs. Toyin Sanni, and Professor Sonaiya. These industry experts will share their insights and experiences on how businesses and economies can rebuild and recover from economic disruptions.

“We are excited to host this year’s RCCG Economic Conference,” said Pastor Brown Oyitso, the Chief Host of the event. “With the current economic climate, it is important for stakeholders to come together and identify strategies to rebuild and recover from economic disruptions. We believe this conference will provide valuable insights and opportunities for attendees to learn and network.”

Dr. Doyin Salami, Chairman of the Presidential Economic Advisory Council and has served as an adviser to the Central Bank of Nigeria, the World Bank, and the International Monetary Fund.

Mr. Sam Egube is the Lagos State Honourable Commissioner for Budget and Planning with over 20 years of experience in investment banking and financial management.

Mrs Toyin Sanni is a seasoned investment banker and currently the Executive Vice-Chairman of Emerging Africa Group. Professor Sonaiya is an academic and Agricultural Consultant, who has made significant contributions to the study of economics and politics.

The conference will include keynote speeches, panel discussions, and workshops focused on topics such as economic recovery strategies, emerging markets, and innovative financing models. Attendees will have the opportunity to learn from industry experts, exchange ideas and best practices, and network with like-minded individuals and organizations.

“The RCCG Economic Conference provides a platform for stakeholders to come together, exchange ideas, and identify strategies for rebuilding and recovering from economic disruptions,” said Pastor Amos Emovon, the Region 19 RMF Coordinator.

“We hope that this conference will inspire attendees to be innovative and resilient in the face of future economic challenges. We can exchange ideas and best practices, identify challenges and opportunities, and collaborate to build a more resilient and sustainable economic future for Nigeria and Africa.”

Registration for the RCCG’s Economic Conference is now open, https://forms.gle/Kh1Jtr7aPbunsaQcA

PMI FORESEES PROJECT TALENT DEMAND DESPITE SIGNS OF ECONOMIC WINTER

The Project Management Institute’s most recent Talent Gap report has predicted that 2.3 million people will be needed each year to fill all project management-oriented (PMO) positions expected to open by 2030.

The institute noted therefore that to remain competitive, companies will need to hire problem solvers and relationship builders who can help drive change and deliver strategic value. During this decade, sub-Saharan Africa will witness a 40% growth in PMO employment opportunities.

Emphasising on this, the Managing Director, Sub-Saharan Africa, Project Management Institute (PMI), George Asamani noted that the continent’s average growth over the past two decades has been a steady 4.5% and 5%.

He added, “Before the pandemic, six of the world’s ten fastest-growing economies were in Africa. When the recession induced by Covid-19 hit the developed economies, shrinking them by 5.5%, Africa remained more resilient, shrinking by just 2%.”

Asamani noted further, “Despite these economic conundrums, PMI’s Job Trends Report 2023 has it that the construction, energy, and information technology sectors are well placed to continue playing a key role in the sub-Saharan economy as job creators. “These sectors, alongside agriculture and manufacturing, have been a cornerstone of the regional economy. Skills shortages as the economy recovers will create significant opportunities for project talent as companies and countries fast-track projects. Also, foreign direct investment to African countries hit a record $83 billion in 2021, according to UNCTAD’s World Investment Report 2022.”

base elements to show how marketing impacts brands, noting that the marketing development team is going to come up with a templatetoshoworganisationshow marketing impacts the bottom line scientifically.

She stressed that the team will also be holding seminars and conferences to deepen marketing skills for leaders of marketing and marketing education.

Reuters estimates that $100 billion in energy projects are currently under consideration, including a $30 billion liquefied natural gas export terminal in Tanzania backed by Norway’s Equinor and energy giant Shell. While long-standing infrastructure and security challenges may stymie some planned initiatives, an assessment by the International Energy Agency found that gas exports from the continent could replace as much as one-fifth of Russia’s usual exports by 2030.

Realising the full potential of foreign investments requires that mega infrastructure and energy projects are delivered on schedule, within the scope, and, most importantly, within budget. Demand for industry-ready project professionals essential to this task remains robust, bucking sluggishness in job additions in the broader economy.

Stories by Mary Nnah

100WF Debuts in Nigeria, Targets Nigerian Women for Global Financial Inclusion

Gilbert Ekugbe

A global non-profit finance industry organisation, 100 Women in Finance (100WF), has launched its formal operations in Nigeria with plans to connect Nigerian women into the global financial space.

Speaking on the sidelines of the launch, Chief Executive Officer, 100 Women in Finance, Amanda Pullinger, explained that the move is part of its commitment to connect Nigerians especially women into the global finance industry, adding that the launch makes Nigeria the 32nd location of its footprints across the globe.

“Nigeria is part of the global finance industry. There are amazing volunteers in Nigeria especially women in the finance space and we want Nigeria to be connected to the rest of the global financial industry. Nigeria is now our 32nd location around the world and we are now across five continents,” she said.

She however, expressed optimism about Nigeria’s

investment climate despite the harsh business terrain, “she said.

According to her, 100 WF’s focus is to ensure that women who are running their own firms or managing other portfolios are adequately capitalised.

Amanda provided an overview of 100 Women in Finance and detailed the organisation’s mission and initiatives.

Also speaking, the former Chief Executive Officer, Africa Region, Standard Bank Group, Sola David-Borha, spoke about proper governance being the key to building a sustainable business and reflected that in the finance industry, the journey is more important than the destination

During the event, members of 100WF’s Nigeria Committee addressed the guests, Partner at Verod Capital, Nieros Oyegun Soerensen, shared her own experience joining 100WF as an early career professional in New York in 2007.

She encouraged members to fully embrace the organisation and the network’s offerings,

which include career education, peer engagement, mentorship, philanthropy and beyond.

On her part, the Founder and Chief Executive Officer, Aruwa Capital Management, Adesuwa Okunbo Rhodes, highlighted the significance of 100WF’s expansion into Nigeria, emphasising the platform’s global reach and the breadth of resources and opportunities available to members locally and globally.

“Having joined 100 Women in Finance in London some years ago, I am very excited to be part of the Nigeria committee that has successfully launched the Nigeria chapter. As the world becomes increasingly global and interconnected, what resonates with me about 100 Women in Finance and its importance for women in Nigeria, is the global reach the 100WF platform provides being active in 31 other countries. It is truly a global peer network for women, where there are great opportunities to network in any city you are in,” she said.

PEBEC, NBA-SBL Mull Business Reform at Private Sector Stakeholders’ Forum

The Nigerian Bar Association Section on Business Law in collaboration with the Secretariat of the Presidential Enabling Business Environment Council (PEBEC) recently held a workshop called Business Facilitation Act Forum at Alliance Francaise, Ikoyi to engage with the private sector stakeholder on the new amendment to the Business Facilitation Act. The Miscellaneous Provision of the said Act was signed by President Mohammadu Buhari on February 8, 2023 to promote best global practices and an enhanced regulatory environment for stakeholders.

A legislative intervention by the Presidential Enabling Business Environment Council (PEBEC), the Act codifies Executive Order 01 and amends 21 business related laws to remove bureaucratic constraints to doing business in Nigeria. To deepen the understanding of this amendment, select reputable law firms and other stakeholders met to mull the legal implication of this legal framework.

While fielding questions from journalists at the close of the workshop, the Special Adviser to the President on Ease of Doing Business, Dr. Jumoke Oduwole expressed optimism on the new amendment.

She said: “We got a lot of information and we had to bring out the most relevant. The legal drafting committee of the Ministry of Justice worked on aligning this new law with existing framework so that nothing is contrary and everything is constitutional. And we are talking about 21 amendments into different legislations. Yes, it was challenging but very gratifying and we must thank the speaker of the House of representative at the national level for his co-operation and the phenomenal role play by the committee on legal drafting before the attorney general made a presentation of the amendment to the house.

FirstBank Facilitates 52 Women into Wimbiz Associate Membership

Nume Ekeghe

FirstBank of Nigeria Limited has facilitated the induction of 52 women from its First Women Network (FWN) into associate members of Women in Management, Business, and Public Service (WimBiz).

FWN is an initiative that seeks to address the gender gap and increase the participa-

tion of women at senior and executive levels within First Bank. Speaking recently at the induction ceremony of the 52 new associates, Group Executive, Transaction Banking and Chairman, First Women Network Olaitan Martins said FirstBank is committed to empowering women in their workplace succeed.

On her part, the Execu-

L-R: Managing Director, Private Sector Health Alliance of Nigeria, Dr Tinuola Akinbolagbe presenting an award to Chairman, Aig-Imoukhuede Foundation, Aigboje Aig-Imoukhuede and Executive Vice-Chair, Aig-Imoukhuede Foundation, Ofovwe Aig-Imoukhuede at the recently concluded Africa-UK Health

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tive Director, WIMBIZ, Ms. Hansatu Adegbite said: “Our mission is simply to inspire and empower women to attain leadership positions, in business management and public service. We also have a vision and it is simply to be that catalyst that engages the status and influence of women and their contribution to nation-building.”

Financial Risk Technology Firm Set to Make Nigeria Entry

Nume Ekeghe

FACCTUM, a UK-based risk tech company specialising in watch list management and sanction screening services is set to bring its expertise to Nigeria by offering an array of technology, data compliance and management solutions to banks and other financial institutions

(OFIs). The firm in a statement noted that it prepares to hold a market entry business meeting with top echelons of the Nigerian financial, Fintech regulated business industries in Lagos. The business breakfast meeting, which is scheduled to hold in Lagos will have the leadership of the UK-based firm present its

offerings to the Nigerian market stakeholders.

Speaking on the upcoming event, the Head of Financial Crime Risk Management Product Strategy, FACCTUM, Chrisol de Assis Correia said: “We are delighted to bring our products and services closer to the Nigerian financial and fintech industry.”

OPEC DAILY BASKET PRICE AS AT 8 MARCH, 2023

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

Summit

Yinka Olatunbosun

UBA Shareholders Approve N1.10 Dividend, Applaud 2022 FY Performance

Kayode Tokede

The shareholders of United Bank for Africa (UBA) Plc, yesterday approved the Board’s proposal to pay a dividend of N1.10 per share for the financial year ended December 31, 2022, commending the management for maintaining stronger performance in the period under review amid challenges in the banking sector.

The bank had earlier paid an interim dividend of N0. 20

kobo per share during the half year ended 2022, while a final dividend of N0.90k was declared at the end of the 2022 financial year, bringing the total dividend to N1.10 per share.

Faruk Umar of Advancement of Shareholder Rights Association speaking at the bank’s 61st Annual General Meeting (AGM) which was held virtually, commended the bank for the excellent results which culminated into an impressive

dividend payout.

According to him, “I am very impressed by the growth in our bank’s earnings which is now very competitive; and which goes to show that our share price is currently grossly undervalued. We are happy that the bank’s presence is strengthened with its widespread into the African continent, and we are sure that the dividend will increase next year.”

In his address to shareholders,

UBA Group Chairman, Mr. Tony Elumelu, took time out to appreciate shareholders who have stood by the bank in the past years, as he noted that this continues to encourage the board to do more.

He commended fellow board members for their striving effort in making the bank achieved impressive performance over the years.

According to him, “Shareholders must be very proud of your

directors as they work very hard. They are extremely committed. The impressive results you see is largely due to direction the board continued to set for UBA.”

He stated further that “We appreciate all our regulators, customers and shareholders who have partnered with us in this exciting journey of growth, and in 2023, we hope to do even better than we did in the year 2022. We have therefore prioritised our plans for the

PRICES FOR SECURITIES TRADED ASOF 27/04/23

year which is very clear - it is all about execution, especially as this year marks a significant milestone for the group.”

He noted that the bank looks to the future with great optimism, assuring shareholders of surpassing 2022 performance and continued to deliver value.

UBA’s Group Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer, Oliver Alawuba, who spoke on plans to consolidate the bank’s investments in Africa, said,

Oby Ezekwesili at 60: An Attestation

Olusegun Obasanjo

Obiageli (Oby) Ezekwesili is like a daughter to me. Even when she was a minister, I treated her the same way I treated my biological daughters. She was a dynamic young woman, who is competent, reliable, and very enterprising. As she, therefore, clocks 60 today, I cannot but thank God for her life, as I wish her more fulfilling and glorious years and decades ahead.

Oby and I met through Transparency International, an initiative started by Peter Eigen, who had worked at the World Bank and saw the need for more integrity in the public arena. While Oby and Peter collaborated, I chaired the advisory council. Due to her hard work and dedication to duty, and because I naturally like working with intelligent people, it was easy for me to warm to Oby at the time.

When I came out of prison in 1998, I travelled to the United States, essentially to thank those, who had worked for my release; people that cared, like the CNN founder, Ted Turner; people at Ford Foundation, where I used to be Board of Trustees member, and others. I Iremember Oby came to see me on the day I was meeting with most of my children, sharing my prison experience and looking ahead to what I believed at the time to be a more private life. Oby was then at the Kennedy School of Government, Harvard University.

When opportunity afforded itself that I became President, I already knew that I had somebody to bring into government.

Before I appointed Oby a minister, I first assigned her to work closely with me in what we called the Price Intelligence Unit, which she headed and was domiciled at the Villa. It later became the Due Process office, which earned her the nickname, ‘Madam Due Process’. The idea was to cut down on waste and bring transparency and accountability into the award of contracts, which she did excellently. The point is, in government, you cannot accurately eliminate sharp practices; but if you have good public officials like Oby, you will reduce it to the barest minimum. That exactly was what she did at a period all contracts had to go through her office. Oby’s stewardship in the Due Process Office brought about substantial reduction in cost

of contracts, which, of course, saved the government billions of naira at the time.

Given her involvement in the global demand for more transparency in the oil and gas sector, she was a founding member of the Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative. The NEITI, Nigeria's version of EITI, that we have today is by dint of her efforts and the support I gave, especially in the days of difficult beginning.

From the Due Process Office, I appointed Oby a minister in charge of solid minerals. At that period, illegal mining was being

carried out in several parts of Nigeria and most of the people in the business I shared my frustration with said we needed to put in place the requisite regulation. They also suggested that we needed someone tough to handle that ministry. So, knowing Oby very well, I could not see a more perfect fit for the sector. That was why I sent her to the ministry, and she did excellently.

After we had gone far in our transformation reforms in the Ministry of Solid Minerals, I realised that we had not done much in education. At that time, I knew that the

Ministry of Education required reforms and the three people that I thought I could use were already heavily involved in other things.

Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala was still in finance, Nasir el-Rufai was handling the Federal Capital Territory, which had almost been destroyed with deviation from the original master plan. Then I had just put Oby in solid minerals. I had a conversation with the Head of Service who felt that I could redeploy Oby for the assignment. I was hesitant because I did not want to disrupt what she was doing at the Ministry of Solid Minerals. “Sir, is the solid minerals ministry more important than that of education?” queried the HoS. That question settled it for me. I sent Oby to education, and I told her to recommend a replacement for the solid minerals’ ministry. As President, I tried to expose some of the brightest talents I had in government to opportunities available to be the best they could possibly be. Without any doubt, Oby was one of the best talents I had working with me. On a lighter note, when Oby worked with me, she was quite young, but very intelligent. There were three of them at that time that used to drag age, and I enjoyed their banters: Oby, Frank Nweke and Nenadi Usman. The three of them were under 40 and then in council. They were always arguing among themselves about age seniority, and Ngozi used to treat them as juniors. But it was all fun.

I recall when Oby informed me that she was given a job at the World Bank, I did not want her to go because I really needed her. But then I said to myself, “Let her go, it may be part of Nigeria’s contribution to global development, especially in Africa.” She went to the World Bank and did her best. She was, for me, one of the best from Africa.

Now that she is 60, she should look at what she has done in the past and what God has enabled her to do and give thanks, while preparing herself for the future. She is still a young lady. My prayer is that God’s grace will continue to abound in her.

•Obasanjo, GCFR, is former President of Nigeria (1999 to 2007).

Sudan: First Batch of Nigerian Evacuees Arrive Country Today

5,500 students among them, FG reveals

Deji Elumoye in Abuja

The federal government, last night, disclosed that the first batch of Nigerians to be evacuated from crisis-ridden Sudan would arrive the country today.

Chairman of Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NIDCOM), Mrs Abike DabiriErewa, explained that the evacuation process was part of the government's effort to repatriate Nigerian citizens stranded in the war-torn county.

Addressing newsmen at the State House, Abuja, Dabiri-Erewa also stated that no fewer 5,500 Nigerians, schooling in Sudan, would be evacuated due to the escalating war in the country.

According to her, 13 buses had departed from two universities in Khartoum, carrying Nigerian students to the Aswan border in Egypt, where they would be airlifted to Nigeria.

She highlighted the challenge of more Nigerians expressing interest in returning home than previously indicated.

Her words: “We have some buses that have departed from the African International University in Khartoum, Sudan and as I speak, I think they are just about two hours away from Aswan in Cairo. Others departed

from the Elrazi University also in Khartoum.

“All in all, 13 buses have departed for Aswan border in Egypt, where they will be received by the Nigerian Ambassador there and the Director-General of the National emergency Management Agency (NEMA), Habib Ahmed, who is already there with some officials.”

Dabiri-Erewa disclosed that there were over three million Nigerians residing in Sudan and efforts were being made to evacuate as many Nigerians as possible from Sudan, if the war persisted, adding that priority would be given to children, students and women.

She said it was time for Nigeria to focus more on Nigerians in Sudan and other parts of Africa, because there are many of them residing in other African countries.

“When we were talking about Diaspora voting, some people were saying when we do that, it may not augur well. But we said no, we need to go to places like Sudan where we have millions of Nigerians, who migrated there years ago and they have relationships and businesses there.

“The data is being worked on but I want to tell you

categorically that by the time we finish the research we are doing, perhaps, Sudan would be one of the largest areas where we have the largest concentration of Nigerians in diaspora. Everytime we focus on Europe, America and all that, it is time to focus on Africa and Africans in the Diaspora,” she said.

Dabiri-Erewa said as the evacuees returned to Nigeria, they would be given some

stipends to help them settle down before joining their families.

“NEMA will decide what would be given to the returnees because the funding is with the Ministry of Humanitarian affairs and Disaster Management. Usually, it’s just a little amount. The last one we gave when we evacuated people, we gave them $100. So, it depends on the budget they have.

"But we in NIDCOM give

them recharge cards, SIM cards and sometimes phones. Usually they get $100 just to hold and these are students coming back to their families. They are not refugees, they have homes,” she stressed.

She also said challenges associated with the evacuation process were already being addressed as she suggested that Rapid response Squads be established by NEMA in all parts of the country and in

the diaspora, to help address unforeseen circumstances.

“I think that moving on, it is very important for NEMA to have Rapid Response Squads with military formations in all parts of Nigeria and then in the diaspora with military attaches. There really has to be those teams set in place. It shouldn’t be when the crisis happens we start running around,” the NIDCOM boss said further.

Polo Luxury Joins World Industry Players at Watch Exhibition

Polo, Nigeria’s premier luxury company was in Geneva, Switzerland, to capture the inspiring watch novelties and innovations at Watches and Wonders Geneva 2023, the largest watchmaking summit in the world.

According to a statement yesterday, from March 27th to April 2nd, “the heart of Geneva beat to watchmaking rhythms as key players in the global watchmaking industry gathered to discover the wonders and unique innovations that nearly 50 watch brands and manufacturers unveiled while taking a deep dive into watchmaking excellence.”

It added: “As West Africa’s official retailer for Rolex, Cartier,

Piaget, and other prestigious Swiss watch brands, Polo was on the ground to capture highlights of the event, but most importantly the timeless novelties launched at the event.

“Just as the previous year, several watch brands made quite an impression with their direction in watch innovation. One of the most delightful and beautiful to behold were the Rolex novelties led by the new Rolex Oyster Perpetual sporting a new ‘Celebration’ dial. In this joyful piece, the dial is dotted with bubbles in the colours of the lacquered dials introduced in 2020 – candy pink, turquoise blue, yellow, coral red and green.

“Other novelties from Rolex

include the Rolex Perpetual Cosmograph Daytona, Rolex Perpetual 1908, Rolex YachtMaster 42, and Rolex Perpetual Sky-Dweller among others, all with exciting new looks and amazing features.”

Furthermore, it added, “Cartier also unveiled a series of novelties at the event, revealing classic watch design codes which had an intertwining of historical references.

“One of these was the Cartier Tank Normale, a new version of the Cartier Privé. An emblem of Cartier watchmaking, the Cartier Tank Normale features a new hour/ minute marker, available on an Alligator strap, or in an all-yellow gold or platinum version.

“Other novelties from the Maison include the tank Americainé, Santos-Dumont, Baignoire, and La Panthère De Cartier among others.

“Other Swiss watch brands like Piaget unveiled the phenomenal High Jewellery Aura, and the Piaget Polo Perpetual Calendar Ultra-Thin watches, while Chopard revealed its new Happy Sport 25, L.U.C 1860, and Mille Miglia Classic Chronograph watches. Montblanc released among other watches, the Montblanc 1858 Geosphere Chronograph Zero Oxygen; a watch that pays tribute to the world’s highest peaks and the alpinists who dare to climb them.”

Ezekwesili

Edo Education Week: Obaseki Launches Agenda to Improve Learning Outcomes in Schools

The Edo State Governor, Mr. Godwin Obaseki, yesterday launched the Edo State Learning Agenda, a blueprint to measure and improve learning outcomes in schools across the State and ensure the sustainability of ongoing reforms in the education sector.

Obaseki, launched the agenda as part of programmes for the Edo Education Week 2023, taking place in Benin City, the Edo State capital, between February 26 and February 30, 2023.

He said, “I am here today to launch the Edo Learning Agenda. Our vision is to create a state where all boys and girls arrive at school ready to learn, acquire real learning, and are ready to enter the job market with the right

skills to become productive and fulfilled citizens. We believe we will achieve these goals.

“In setting the learning agenda, we looked at three key elements: How do we get our children ready to learn? How do we get them to read? and how do we get them to learn the skills we need them to learn so that they can be useful to their communities and country?”

Noting that ongoing reforms in the state’s education sector, especially those in the basic education system through the EdoBEST programme have helped place the state on the global map, Obaseki said the learning agenda would help solidify the gains so far recorded and create pathways for sustainability.

Digital Learning: Lagos to Partner UNICEF to Reduce Out-of-School Children

Funmi Ogundare

The Lagos State government yesterday expressed readiness to leverage on the digital platforms provided by United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) to reduce the challenge of out-of-school children in rural communities.

The Director, Policy, Planning, Research and Statistics, Ministry of Education, Dr. Afolabi Adejare, who made this known at a two-day media dialogue with the theme, 'Digital Learning Platform's, organised by National Orientation Agency (NOA) in collaboration with United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF), stated that it would bring to bear the existing Nigeria Learning Passport (NLP) platform with which UNICEF had trained over 3,000 facilitators and provided tablets for such purpose.

He explained that the initiative was imperative as it would help children improve their learnings especially with the audio-visual system provided, which will reduce abstract learn.

"We are leveraging on existing NLP, an online/offline platform designed to compliment the existing system of impacting knowledge and learning, it's an initiative of federal, state government in partnership with UNICEF.

"We have a number of out- ofschool children, and some who are

slow in assimilating; so this platform will help them listen, watch, learn and understand better what they are being taught in the classroom.

"It's a complimentary platform used to boost the normal traditional learning system which we are using to reduce and address such issues, especially in places like Makoko and other suburbs.

The Director noted that the idea was to bridge the gap between the fast and the slow learners, adding that every child can learn at his/her own pace, and also revise topics that they can understand and assimilate. He added that teachers are incorporated in the system, as they have opportunity to teach students by projecting the contents because children are able to learn faster with audiovisual materials.

Speaking with journalists, the Programme Specialist, UNICEF, Joannes Yimbesalu, emphasised on its 'Youth Agency Market Place’ (YOMA) initiative, a digital platform created by young people which allows them to connect and build the future they want.

He noted that the initiative gives them opportunity to earn token and build capacity in scholarships.

According to him, "we are concerned about young people and giving them the platform across Africa to be employable and the key thing is promoting opportunities for these people.

He added, “For us, it's about planning: laying the plan and the trajectory which the education system should proceed over the next several decades.

“We have to come up with means to measure learning outcomes. We have to work with our partners to develop large-scale assessment tools and define our targets.”

Obaseki continued: “Are the

teachers in school? Yes, they are. Are the students in school? Yes, they are. We have data to show. Are the teachers teaching? Yes, they are, we can see them from our portal. What are they teaching, pedagogy? We are working on it. Are the children learning? I don't know and that is what learning poverty is about.

“We’ve done these three things and need to focus on the fourth

one - how do we know the children are learning? Where is the evidence that these children are learning?

“What agenda do we have to measure or standard measures to show us clearly that they are learning and what they are learning? The last issue we need to deal with is sustainability - how do we ensure we do not step back after we leave office next year? How do we keep the system

running for a long time even for those who want to continue with the reforms?”

Reaffirming the government’s commitment to strengthening the state’s education sector, the governor added, “Recognition from across the globe and outside the state is very important and helpful so that our people begin to realise that what we are doing, the world acknowledges.”

Hope Rises for Aba Residents as Otti Invites Julius Berger to Inspect Strategic Road for Reconstruction

Emmanuel Ugwu-Nwogo in Umuahia

The Abia governor-elect, Mr. Alex Otti has given a clear indication that he would fulfill his campaign promise to embark on a holistic transformation of Aba, the commercial and industrial hub of the state.

He signalled the new lease of life coming for the residents of Enyimba City as a team of engineers from the renowned construction giant, Julius Berger yesterday carried out an inspection of Port Harcourt road, Aba.

The Julius Berger team, accompanied by journalists, was hailed by Aba residents as they walked the length of the 5.9km road assessing the sordid state of the very strategic road which traverses Aba South and Ugwunagbo local governments.

Port Harcourt road, which ranks among the most strategic roads in Aba has been abandoned for over 20 years by successive administrations. The road is now a stretch of bushes, ponds and refuse dump interspersed at various sections of the road. Abia governments since 1999, made feeble attempts to rehabilitate the road but fell short.

Even after a massive and indiscriminate destruction of buildings was carried out by the outgoing Okezie Ikpeazu’s administration it still ended up abandoning the road.

But the media adviser to Alex Otti, Mr. Ferdinand Ekeoma told journalists after the inspection tour of the road by the Julius Berger engineers that the sordid state of Port Harcourt Road would soon become a thing of the past.

He said the Abia governor-elect

had, during the 2023 electioneering, pledged to invite Julius Berger "to come to Abia and fix our roads."

According to him, Otti has been discussing with not only Julius Berger, but other construction firms expected to be involved in the infrastructural transformation of Abia.

Ekeoma, explained that the Julius Berger engineers were in Aba to see the reality of the poor state of the Port Harcourt road and, "the tragedy that has befallen our people" due to the failure of government to rehabilitate the road.

"They(Julius Berger) now have first-hand information on what is on ground and we're expecting the needful to be done in a matter of weeks," he said.

The media adviser emphasised that, "Otti considers it a top priority to begin with Port Harcourt road(after

his inauguration next month)while discussions are ongoing on other roads".

He said: "Port Harcourt road is of strategic importance to our people. It is a legendary road. Hundreds of thousands of people who live in this area and millions that pass through the road every year have been adversely affected while businesses have collapsed".

Ekeoma said the choice of Julius Berger was in line with Otti's "firm promise to use grade 'A' contractors to execute projects so that they will stand the test of time and the positive impact would be felt by our people."

However, he pointed out that, "no contract has been awarded" by the governor-elect, adding that "nothing will be done in secret (because) when it is awarded Abians will know everything, including the length of the road, cost, specifications."

TINUBU TO APC GOVS: WORK WITH PARTY TO ELECT 10TH N'ASSEMBLY PRINCIPAL OFFICERS

Abdulmumuni stated, "The likes of Benjamin Kalu, the current spokesman of the House, who bandies his aspiration with objectionable sense of entitlement, and a host of others in the region, who have also indicated interest, and we are by this compelled to call on the ruling party to look beyond ethnic or religion colouration to go for the best in the best interest of the country.”

They insisted that the likes of Kalu, who did not possess the prerequisite qualities to man the House, should bury his ambition of becoming Speaker and be patient enough to learn the ropes.

Adamu: We're Anxious to See Tinubu Succeed As President

National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Abdullahi Adamu said everyone in the party was anxious to see the president-elect, Bola Tinubu, succeed as president. Adamu disclosed this yesterday in Abuja, when he received supporters of APC under the aegis of The Natives, at the national secretariat of the party. He said Tinubu took time off because of the rigours of the campaigns, but thanked God he was back.

Adamu said, "I was with him with members of the NWC. He is hale and hearty. He is ready to work. He is rejuvenated and ready to work."

He urged party supporters to keep faith with the party and the incoming government, adding that

their support was needed to ensure that the transition was smooth and peaceful.

According to Adamu, "We want President Muhammadu Buhari to hand over safely by the end of May 29. Buhari has led us to this victory. And one way we can pay him is to ensure that he has a very peaceful exit. And our support for President Buhari should be because he is not going to be president after May 29th.

"Our loyalty to him should not be extinguished on May 29th. This incoming government is our President. We voted for him. We supported him. Every one of us should be more anxious to ensuring that Bola Ahmed Tinubu succeeds as President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. He will take off by the 29th of May by this grace of God.

"The support of everyone of you is required. As you were in the campaigns, so you will be during the governance. It is my hope that God in his infinite mercy and wisdom will protect all of us. I hope that by the time we are in, I will see more of you."

Earlier, the leader of the group, Smart Edwards, said some political parties imagined they won elections, when they didn’t even know where the country's tribes reside around the 176,846 polling units in Nigeria, nor did they have agents in the villages.

Edwards noted that the 2023 elections were a wake up call to all ethnic nationalities, a clarion call for national solidarity, stressing that the Emilokan slogan made everyone realise it was the turn of competence, turn of minorities, turn of the forgotten tribes.

AFRICA-UK HEALTH SUMMIT...

L-R: MD, Private Sector Health Alliance of Nigeria, Dr. Tinuola Akinbolagbe, presenting an award to Chairman, Aig-Imoukhuede Foundation, Aigboje Aig-Imoukhuede, and Executive Vice-Chair, Aig-Imoukhuede Foundation, Ofovwe Aig-Imoukhuede, at the Africa-UK Health Summit held recently

MBAH PAYS COURTESY VISIT TO OUTGOING GOV UGWUANYI...

Kogi: Adeyemi, Abubakar, Others Want APC Primary Cancelled

Seeks intervention by Buhari, Tinubu, Adamu, ACF, others NGO observers commend party primaries, say exercise is credible

The Senator representing Kogi West Senatorial District, Senator Smart Adeyemi, son of a former

Kogi State governor, Shuaibu Abubakar and three others have demanded immediate cancellation of the just concluded All Progressives Congress (APC) primary ahead of the

governorship election.

They, however, called on President Muhammadu Buhari, the President-elect, Bola Tinubu, Vice President-elect, Senator Kashim Shettima and the Arewa

Ige, Akinosun Co-Author Book on Natural Gas Administration

James Emejo in Abuja

A book, “Understanding Natural Gas – a Nigerian Perspective,” has been added to the country’s literary assets, particularly the energy landscape - detailing the evolution, progress, and current status of Nigeria’s natural gas sector.

Co-authored by a technocrat, Dr. David Ige as well as a foremost commercial lawyer, Dapo Akinosun – the publication is both an easy-to-read historical guide as well as an educational blueprint that traces Nigeria’s energy transition journey from the first coal plant in 1896 to today’s vastly different energy sector dominated by petroleum and, increasingly, gas.

The book is a product of their technical knowledge and rich experience in the local and global gas sectors.

Written in accessible language, it constitutes an easy-to-absorb reference on the fundamentals of natural gas including commercial transactions and agreements.

It is essentially a comprehensive overview of Nigeria’s gas policy journey that students, academics, investors, lawyers, and others interested in this subject will certainly find the book enormously useful – and will serve as a useful manual for entrepreneurs at different levels of the gas ecosystem and anyone who seeks a better understanding of the gas sector.

Among other things, the publication addresses the fundamentals of natural gas: how gas is formed, its uses, key terms, and a thorough

overview of the gas sector value chain; technical concepts in natural gas processing and transportation sector in Nigeria, with in-country examples; the evolution of gas in the global energy mix; Nigeria’s energy transition from the first coalfired power plant in Marina, Lagos, in 1896 when the energy mix was 100 per cent coal, to the current dominance of natural gas as the most dominant fuel in the energy mix for power with coal effectively reduced to zero.

Other topics include the commercial aspect of natural gas: gas contracts, fiscal terms, and investment appraisal methods for gas projects; the evolution of gas fiscal provisions in Nigeria which has culminated in the Petroleum Industry Act fiscal revisions. Guidance to gas contracting; the Nigerian gas sector: an overview of the resource base, key gas infrastructure in Nigeria and the overall sector structure, and the evolution of gas policy trends in Nigeria, lessons learned from past policy development and a look ahead for policy focus as well as an overview of the new Petroleum Industry Act (PIA).

Reviewers described the book as a great contribution to the body of knowledge – and likely to earn a coveted place in the libraries of policymakers, students of political economy, and investors looking to understand the Nigerian gas sector landscape.

Meanwhile, Ige is the Founder/Chief Executive of Gas Invest Limited, an industry veteran with over 23 years of

industry experience who had previously served as NNPC’s Group Executive Director, Gas & Power between 2011-2015.

He earned a Ph.D. from Cambridge University and held top positions in Shell and Accenture UK.

He was the architect of Nigeria’s gas masterplan who led its implementation and was in charge of the gas and power agenda while at NNPC.

Similarly, Akinosun is a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) and Founding Partner of SimmonsCooper Partners, a leading commercial law firm.

He is a specialist in gas, banking and finance as well as foreign direct investment.

Consultative Forum to intervene in order to save democracy in Kogi State.

In the suits marked: FHC/ ABJ/CS/556/2023 and FHC/ ABJ/ CS/557/2023, filed by Senator Adeyemi and Abubakar respectively, the plaintiffs asked the court to declare as illegal, unlawful and invalid the purported direct primary election said to have been conducted by APC and which produced Ahmed Usman Ododo as the governorship candidate of the APC in November this year.

The grouse of the aggrieved governorship aspirants was that the alleged unlawful selection of Ododo ran foul of Section 177 of the 1999 Constitution and Section 29 and 84 of the Electoral Act as well as Article 20 of the APC's Constitution.

Apart from Adeyemi and Abubakar, other aspirants who have already commenced legal action against the outcome of the primary included a former Minister of State for Education, Professor Stephen Ocheni, Deputy National Publicity Secretary of APC, Martala

The plaintiffs amongst others prayed the court to invoke Section 177 of the Constitution, Section 29 and 84 of the Electoral Act and Article 20 of the APC Constitution, to declare the purported primary election invalid.

They also asked the court for an order compelling the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to reject and refuse recognition of the name of Ahmed Usman Ododo as APC's governorship candidate on the grounds that he emerged from an invalid primary election.

They further prayed for another order compelling APC to conduct a fresh primary election and to give all aspirants equal opportunity as prescribed by the Electoral Act, 2022.

Senator Adeyemi's suit and that of Abubakar are instituted on their behalf separately by Dr Adekunle Oladapo Otitoju.

Meanwhile, a group, the National Independent Democratic Observers (NIDO) has commended the APC for

holding a free, fair and credible gubernatorial pramaries in Kogi State.

This was contained in a press statement by its National Coordinator, Comrade Habbey Oladejo, which stated that from the field reports of its observer team, Alh. Usman Ododo was clearly the most accepted by the majority of the party members.

"The Kogi APC Primaries which produced Alh. Usman Ododo as the party's gubernatorial flag-bearer of the party was credible, transparent and largely a true reflection of the party member's wishes across the 21 local government area of the state.

"This is without prejudices to the avoidable lapses which are mainly logistical shortcomings on the part of the party, inadequate information dissemination among others.

"While protest and seeking redress is a constitutional guaranteed right of all aggrieved parties, we want to enjoin politicians and their agents to stop stamping truth on its head, when events fail to go their way,” he said.

Alleged

Homicide:

Court Orders Kano Govt to Prosecute Doguwa

The tide, yesterday, moved against the majority leader of the House of Representatives, Alhassan Ado Doguwa over the alleged culpable homicide, following an order of mandamus granted by the Kano High Court.

The Order of mandamus is a judicial writ issued as a command to an inferior court or ordering a person to perform a public or statutory duty.

The fresh order by Justice Maryam Sabo of the state high court on Thursday compelled the Attorney

General and Commissioner for Justice in Kano, Musa A. Lawal, to exercise his powers as prescribed under section 211 of the constitution of the federal republic of Nigeria 1999 as amended.

In an ex parte motion filed by Muntari Garba Dandago, a retired Chief Magistrate, Justice Sabo instructed the Kano State government to execute full legal proceedings against the defendant baggage of criminal charges with immediate effect.

The federal legislator was accused of killing members of the opposition party in his Tudun-Wada constituency and

razing a secretariat of the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) in the community during the February 15 National Assembly elections.

The lawmaker representing Doguwa Tudun-Wada federal constituency of Kano was remanded at Kano Correctional Centre by Chief Magistrate Court for alleged five counts bordering on culpable homicide and other criminal charges.

Doguwa was however granted bail at the sum of N 500 million by a Federal high court sitting in Kano, on a fundamental right ex-parte application brought before it.

While the federal high court was sitting in waiting for the determination of the substantive suit, Justice Sabo upheld the ex-parte application seeking an order of mandamus filed by Dandago on behalf of the victims.

The Motion ex-parte, which contained 19 paragraphs of the affidavit was duly sworn to by Applicant himself, dated 5th April 2023 and the written address filed by the Applicant Counsel, dated 10th April 2023.

The Court subsequently adjourned the case to May 12th, 2023 for hearing of the motion on notice.

Ibrahim Shuaibu in Kano

Alex Enumah in Abuja and Ibrahim Oyewale in Lokoja

Yakubu Ajaka and Dr Sanusi Ohiara.

L-R: Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi of Enugu State; Governor-elect of the state, Dr. Peter Ndubuisi Mbah; Deputy Governor-elect, Ifeanyi Ossai, and Chairman of Mbah's Transition Committee, Ike Chioke, when the governor-elect led members of the committee to pay a courtesy visit on the governor at the Government House, Enugu…yesterday

PROTON ENERGY GAS SALES AGREEMENT...

FG Gets S'Court's Nod to Raise Fresh Issues against Kanu's Release

The Supreme Court, yesterday, permitted the federal government to file nine new grounds of appeal

against the release of the leader of the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Mazi Nnamdi.

A five-member panel of Justices of the apex court gave

CBN Steps Up eNaira Sensitisation, Visits Kaduna, Rivers

John Shiklam in Kaduna and Blessing Ibunge in Port Harcourt

The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), has asked Nigerians to embrace its digital currency, the eNaira.

The apex bank made the call when its officials visited Kaduna and Rivers States.

In Kaduna, a Deputy Director in the apex bank, Mohammed Musa, during a sensitisation campaign of traders on the use of the electronic currency yesterday, said the digital currency was introduced by the CBN to address challenges of using physical cash as well as enhance transactions with much ease.

Speaking in an interview with journalists shortly after a sensitisation meeting with traders at the Kawo and Central Market, Kaduna, Musa said, the time had come for Nigerians to key into the policy because of its numerous advantages.

“We are preaching the message of eNaira. eNaira is another representation of cash, the same cash that we are used to is what eNaira is complimenting.

“It will address the well-known issues associated with the use of cash, such as losing your money to robbers or fire incidents and so many other other ways.

“The CBN introduced it to address these kind of issues as well as enhance transactions in an easier and better way than the use of cash.

“That is the message we are trying to push to Nigerians, so that they will understand and take advantage of all the benefits,” Musa said.

According to him, the CBN was partnering with agents to promote the use of the eNaira.

He said, “One of the companies that is here with us is a partner agent for the eNaira. We had a train the trainer session with them.

“They had over 60 agents that attended the training and we are going to have additional training sessions.

“These agents are going to go out to all the markets across the Kaduna state to sensitised people.”

Musa further said the National Orientation Agency (NOA), has also been engaged in the sensitisation campaign.

According to him, so far, there are over 10 million eNaira wallets, describing the development as encouraging.

“We have already engaged the National orientation agency in the sensitisation campaign, but Nigeria is so large that relying on just one agency cannot really get the work done.

“We are working with NOA as well as expending to other channels to ensure that the work is done.

“We are very encouraged with what we have done so far. We have over 10 million eNaira wallets. It is a gradual process.

“We are also engaging government agency…A lot of them are working with us, they can channel their funds to eNaira wallets.

“We are engaging as many stakeholders as possible. The hope is that in no time, everybody will embrace eNaira,” Musa said.

He also dismissed insinuations that the electronic was introduced for a particular class of Nigerians, stating that it was designed to take care of every citizen regardless of the type of phone he or she uses including those without phones.

“We have different medium for eNaira. Whether you have Android phone or iPhone or ‘torchlight phone’ or you don’t even have a phone, eNaira is there for you.

“We have different platforms that allows you to operate even offline. It is for every Nigerian. When people see the benefits, even salaries may be paid with eNaira”, he said.

Relatedly, the Vice Chancellor of Uniport, Prof. Owunari Georgewill, commended the CBN for bringing the sensitisation programme on eNaira to the university.

Represented by Prof. Angela Frank-Briggs, Provost, College of Health Science of the institution, Georgewill said the sensitisation exercise was good and innovative.

the permission while ruling in an application by the counsel to the federal government, Mr Tijani Gadzali, SAN.

The apex court also granted leave to the federal government to include the nine new grounds as part of its amended Notice of Appeal dated October 28, 2022.

When the matter came up for hearing on Thursday, Kanu's

lead lawyer, Mike Ozekhome, SAN, informed the court of his motions seeking bail of his client and another seeking Kanu's transfer to the Kuje Correctional Center in order to get proper medical attention.

Ozekhome, who claimed that Kanu's health has been deteriorating under the custody of the DSS, urged for an accelerated

hearing of the matter.

But Gadzali sought an adjournment to enable him file a counter affidavit against Kanu's plea for transfer from DSS' custody, on the grounds that he just took over the Matter.

According to Gadzali, the DSS detention centre has adequate resources to attend to Kanu’s health needs.

After listening to the arguments, the panel advised Ozekhome to withdraw his applications to pave the way for a speedy hearing of the main suit.

It also directed Gadzali to file the appellant’s brief within six days from Thursday.

The Court subsequently fixed May 11, for hearing on the pending motion and the main appeal.

NEC PUSHES FG TO SUSPEND PLANNED FUEL SUBSIDY REMOVAL

once and for all."

Ahmed said the $800 million facility sourced from the World Bank remains with the government, expressing hope that the fund would be added to the savings that would accrue from subsidy removal to provide for the poor and vulnerable.

She explained: "On the issue of the 800 million. So far, what we have is that 800 million that has been secured. We're hoping that the removal of fuel subsidy with the savings that removal will cause that the Federation, which is federal government and states themselves will be able to provide further measures from this increased revenue that will accrue to the Federation account.

"Again, that is a matter of discussion. The states may want to have their own designed programmes, the federal government you want to do something different."

The valedictory NEC meeting also hailed Osinbajo for providing an uncommon leadership to it in the last eight years.

Governor Bala Mohammed of Bauchi state told newsmen after the meeting that the Council used the opportunity to thank Osinbajo and appreciated his leadership as well as members, top government officials who have been guiding it on major economic issues, policies and programmes.

"And of course, he has shown nationalism and he has given each and every one of us members of the council opportunity to express ourselves without any hindrance.

"He had not brought any personal or political issues into his own leadership and that's what made most of us to really appreciate him. And he had brought invention and innovation in governance and tolerance, tolerance in terms of whatever opinion expressed, he was there and very calm and of course, statemanly in his conclusions on his own resolutions.

"In the Council, we are very happy.

We missed him and will continue to miss him. So, we sang a song, ‘he's a jolly good fellow,’ and of course, all of us sang because of the kind of personality he is.

"We wish him and, of course, by extension the president who he is deputising for the kind of leadership they have given us, the kind of fraternity and unity they have exhibited as a team and of course, all the governors are happy that they have given us leadership."

NACCIMA: Fuel Subsidy Removal Without Operational Local Refineries Will Hurt Business, Shutdown SMEs

Meanwhile, NACCIMA has expressed concern that the proposed removal of petrol subsidy would have adverse impact on businesses that could lead to the shutdown of many SMEs.

NACCIMA also called on the federal government to fix the country’s domestic refineries, which he described as productive palliative for subsidy removal rather than borrowing $800 million in foreign loan in order to distribute N8,000 for each beneficiary of the loan in the name of cushioning the adverse effects of the intended removal of the subsidy.

These declarations were made yesterday by the National President of NACCIMA, Mr. John C. Udeagbala, during the second quarter of 2023 press briefing of the association in Lagos.

He also advised the federal government to use the planned national census to expand the country’s tax net and integrate the various data platforms in Nigeria such as the National Identification Number (NIN), Bank Verification Number (BVN), the Permanent Voters Card (PVC) amongst others into one central data platform.

Udeagbala said even though,

“NACCIMA and indeed the Organised Private Sector of Nigeria (OPSN) are not against subsidy removal from fuel; however, we are concerned about the impacts of the subsidy removal on our businesses, which are already burdened with so much economic pressures and difficulties, leading to the shutdown of many SMEs and more unemployment in the country.

“The greater challenge is that government has not shown any tangible productive plan to cushion the impacts of the subsidy removal other than to borrow additional $800 million (statistically translating to N8000 per ordinary Nigerian) which, according to them is meant to cushion the impact of the fuel subsidy removal.

“The NACCIMA calls on the federal government to urgently fix our four refineries, which remained comatose for the past 16 years to end the importation of petroleum products into the country.

“Aside from production of basic fuel products (PMS, Diesel, etc), there are other heavier distillates and by-products of these refineries, which are also critical inputs for industries such as LPFO, SRG, carbon black, etc.

“This, we believe, will help to generate further employment opportunities for our citizens, particularly the teeming youths. It will also address the impact of fuel subsidy removal without adding additional debt burden on the nation.

“Besides, our ability to provide some basic raw materials internally will help our industries to compete better to benefit from the African Continental Free Trade Agreement (AfCFTA).”

NACCIMA also noted that the 2023 population census initially scheduled for May this year could not have come at a better time. “It will be the first digital census to be

carried out in Nigeria and it is hoped this will meet global best standard.

“The NACCIMA calls on the government to use the opportunity of this census to harmonise the various data platforms, such as NIN, BVN, PVC etc. into one central data platform. NACCIMA sees this census as an opportunity for government to widen the tax base of the population in the country instead of increasing tax rates and multiplying taxes on the already over-taxed few individuals and OPSN companies,” NACCIMA’s president said.

The chambers’ association also drew the attention of the federal government to the deteriorating ease of doing business in the country in spite of the progress the President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration record in enhancing the EODB during its first tenure.

It also warned against the planned increase of the VAT from 7.5 per cent to 10 per cent, which it described as one increase to many at the detriment of micro businesses and SMEs.

Udeagbala said potential of the country’s mining sector have remained largely untapped in spite of its continued meaningful contribution to the national GDP and growth of the Nigerian economy.

He said: “The organised private sector is worried about the several issues, which have remained as constraints to the growth of the sector, including poor infrastructure, weak regulatory framework and institutions, lack of oversight, lack of best practices and lack of data.

“Furthermore, concerns over illegal mining, lack of protection for legal miners as well as the dichotomy between federal and state governments have all contributed to constraining investments in the sector. We call on the government to promote investment in this sector through provision of necessary infrastructures and policies that enhances ease of doing business in this sector.”

Alex Enumah in Abuja

L-R: Member Presidential Transition Committee, Mr. Wale Edun; Governor of Kebbi State & Member Presidential Transition Committe, Alhaji Atiku Bagudu; Executive Vice Chairman, Proton Energy Limited, Mr. Oti Ikomi; Chairman, Mr Ike Osakwe, and NNPC General Counsel NUIS, Mr. Ikponmwosa Omigie, during the Proton Energy Gas sales agreement ceremony between Shell SPDC JV and Partners - NNPC, TotalEnergies, Agip and GACN, held in Abuja…yesterday KINGSLEY ADEBOYE

EMPOWERING THE WOMEN…

L-R: Plant Manager, Port Harcourt, Nigerian Bottling Company (NBC) Limited, Mr. Chika Ogbonna; Director for Adult and Non-formal Education, Rivers Sttate, Chief Sunny Ovudah; Commissioner for Women Affairs, Rivers State, Mrs. Ukel Oyaghiri; Executive Director, Karis and Eleos Foundation, Bukola Bamiduro; Representative of the Eze of Oginigba Community, High Chief. Stanley Dike; Commissioner for Commerce and Industry, Rivers State, Dr. Kadilo Brown; and East Region Key Account Manager, NBC, Mrs Linah Gbodo, a women empowerment initiative by NBC in Port Harcourt… recently

Abdulrasaq Stalls Announcement of Sule as New NGF Chair, Indicates Interest

The Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF), Wednesday night, stood down the proposed unveiling and announcement of its new chairman, after the Kwara State Governor,AbdulrahmanAbdulrasaq, suddenly indicated interest in the seat, challenging the consensus choice of the Nasarawa State Governor, Abdullahi Audu Sule.

The NGF had concluded plans to announce Sule as its new chairman at its Wednesday meeting, as the current chair and Governor of Sokoto State, Aminu Tambuwal, who took over from his former colleague, Dr. Kayode Fayemi of Ekiti State, is due to leave office next month, having

served out his two terms of eight years as governor.

Besides, the NGF had in May 2013, resolved to avoid choosing its chairman through the ballot system, after the re-election of a former governor of Rivers State, Rotimi Amaechi, turned out controversial and had sharply split the elitist group.

Amaechi’s decision to seek re-election as NGF chairman was resisted by some forces within the system, believed to have the backing of then government of President Goodluck Jonathan, who from all indications, did not want Amaechi to secure another term as NGF chair, believing the group had

constituted needless opposition to his government.

But when the former Rivers governor insisted on seeking reelection as NGF chair, a decision he considered his right, another of his colleague and former governor of Plateau State, Jonah Jang, was encouraged by those loyal to the establishment to challenge him, causing intense disaffection in the group.

Although Amaechi eventually won with 19 votes to Jang’s 16, the Plateau governor refused to accept defeat and claimed he won, resulting

in the famous “16 is greater than 19” slogan.

The NGF had since struggled for relevance, especially after the major political parties started creating their own groups of governors.

Since then, the NGF as a body had allegedly agreed to forgo election in the choice of its chairman and unanimously agree on one person, based on competence and relationship with individual colleagues.

It was on the basis of this that, the group, according to sources, collectively agreed to have Sule

succeed Tambuwal, given his private sector experience and capacity shown so far as governor, in addition to being a jolly good fellow amongst his friends.

Their Wednesday meeting was, however, chosen as the occasion to unveil and announce him before Abdulrasaq allegedly rose at the meeting and indicated interest, a development said to have startled other governors, who thought for a man, who was not a regular face at their meetings, such aspiration was divisive and uncalled for.

Besides, some of them were said

to have expressed concerns that Abdulrasaq, largely considered an introvert, could not oversee the NGF, more so when this is not an affair of the APC but the governors across parties. While there was said to be an instant debate, albeit in hushed tones about capacity and networking, they generally thought his intention to run was unhealthy for the group. Against this backdrop, therefore, the group stood down the item from its agenda, because it did not want to go to any election and inadvertently create more problems for itself.

APC Crisis: Lukman Drags Adamu to Court over Refusal to Convene NEC Meeting

Katsina

Partners

UN to Establish Security Research Centre

The Katsina State Government has partnered with the United Nations (UN) to establish a security research centre to tackle security challenges and restore sustainable peace in the state.

The Special Adviser to Governor Aminu Bello Masari on Security, Alhaji Ibrahim Ahmed-Katsina ,disclosed this yesterday in an interview with journalists in the state.

He said the security research centre, code-named ‘Centre for the Research and Study on Banditry’, would soon be established by the state government in collaboration with the UN.

He said: “We are going to establish a Centre for the Research and Study on Banditry. The centre is already in process. We are already in partnership with some research fellows and the United Nations for the establishment of the centre.”

Ekiti Partners Electricity Agency to End Power Outage in Rural Areas

Gbenga Sodeinde in Ado Ekiti

The problem of epileptic power supply in some rural areas in Ekiti State would soon end as the state government has sought the intervention of the Rural Electrification Agency in Abuja.

The state Governor, Biodun Oyebanji, who, last Wednesday, led a delegation of some state officials to a meeting at the agency’s head office in Abuja, said the state would require an improved power supply to

drive economic development and achieve his government’s vision for shared prosperity.

Governor Oyebanji at the meeting appreciated the support of the agency for Ekiti State in time past, as he sought further collaboration of the agency to address power outage in the state.

The governor aligned his vision for a developed and prosperous state with the electrification agency to engender sustainable and affordable electricity supply to every sector in Ekiti State.

Insecurity: Nigerians Urged to Support Security Agencies

Hammed Shittu in Ilorin

Chairman, House Committee on National Planning and Economic Development, Hon. Abdulganiyu Saka Cook Olododo, has urged Nigerians to continue to partner with the security agencies in the task of addressing the prevailing insecurity in the country.

Olododo, who represents Ilorin East/ Ilorin South Federal

Constituency of Kwara State at the lower chamber stated this in Ilorin yesterday during the official inauguration of a new police station and quarters to house police officers at Ondoko and Okelele area of Ilorin East local government area of the state. The project was facilitated by the lawmaker as part of his constituency project for the people of his federal constituency.

The All Progressives Congress (APC) National Vice Chairman, North-west, Dr. Salihu Lukman has dragged the National Working Committee (NWC) of the party led by Senator Abdulahi Adamu before an Abuja High Court over his refusal

to convene the National Executive Committee (NEC) and National caucus meeting of the party.

Lukman had in an open letter to Adamu last week gave him a week ultimatum to convene the NEC meeting or he would be dragged to court.

However, Lukman made good his

threat Thursday when he instituted a case with Suit No: FHC/ABJICS/ 573, with APC, Adamu, the Secretary of the party, Senator Iyiola Omisore and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) were joined in the suit as first, second, third and fourth defendants respectively.

Lukman in the originating

summons through his attorney prayed the court that the APC, Adamu, Omisore and INEC within 30 days after service of this summons on them, inclusive of the days of such service, cause an appearance to be entered for them to this summons which was issued upon the application.

NEC Members Hail Osinbajo as Council Holds Valedictory Meeting

Members of the National Economic Council (NEC) including State Governors, and some members of the Federal Cabinet rose from the monthly NEC meeting on Thursday with words of commendation and praise for

the Chairman of the Council, Vice President Yemi Osinbajo. According to a release issued by Osinbajo’s media aide, Laolu Akande, the Governors and other council members who were having a physical meeting in a long time rounded up their accolades for the VP when they all rose up singing

“for he is a jolly good fellow” in unision and a round of applause at the end of the meeting held inside the Council Chambers at the State House, Abuja.

Speaking on behalf of all the 36 State Governors and under the auspices of the Nigerian Governors Forum (NGF), Sokoto

State Governor, Hon Aminu Tambuwal commended “ Mr. Chairman and the Vice President for leading the council very very well and under your leadership, the NEC has been very regular and effective. You have managed the affairs of NEC with a sense of fairness and patriotism.

3,000 Imo Opposition Members Did Not Defect to Your Party, PDP Mocks APC

ChuksOkochainAbuja

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Imo State has described the reported defection of 3,000 opposition members to the All Progressives Congress (APC) as another menu in the series of lies

and falsehood concocted by the fizzling APC in the desperation to create an impression that the APC is still alive in the State.

In a statement by Collins Opurozor, the State Publicity Secretary Imo PDP., said, “Our Party has checked through our registers in

all the wards in Imo State and can report unequivocally that none of our members except three rejected and politically spent individuals, who have lost all electoral relevance in the State and only fit for a political dustbin like the APC. “It is indeed pathetic that such empty deserters connived

with some APC leaders in Imo State to swindle the jittery and desperate Governor Hope Uzodimma, at very huge cost, by gathering a crowd of known APC members, thugs and hirelings and presented them to Governor Uzodimma as defectors from opposition parties in the State.”

Mbah Inaugurates Transition Committee, Wants Implementable Action Plan

GideonArinze in Enugu

Governor-elect of Enugu State, Peter Mbah, has inaugurated a 64-man Transition Committee ahead of the May 29 takeoff of his administration.

Inaugurating the committee yesterday, Mba said that they have a duty to produce an implementable

action plan in line with his manifesto for the transformation of the state.

Mbah said: “The people of Enugu State chose us, believing that we are going to take them through a consequential journey of growth, development, and greatness. We also chose you because we believe that with your expertise, we are able to reduce this journey to an

empirical and verifiable roadmap,”.

Speaking further, he said: “So, we have taken the view of what Enugu can achieve in the next four to eight years. As you also know, Enugu has always played a consequential role in the developmental trajectory of this country. And it is our hope that with the vision and dreams that we have, Enugu State can

take back that preeminent position that she has always played in the development of this country.”

He noted that the growth level his administration plans to achieve cannot come from the public sector alone, adding that it will happen through constructive investment; and that will come largely from the private sector.

Union Urges FG to Halt Ajaokuta Steel, Mining Company Concession

The Nigeria Union of Mines Workers (NUMW), yesterday urged the federal government to as a matter of national interest halt the process to concession the Ajaokuta Steel Plant and the National Iron Ore Mining

Company.

National President, NUMW, Hamza Mohammad, gave the advice in a statement issued in Abuja. The union argued that consequences of the previously hurried privatisation, lack of due diligence and the actions of the

government had resulted in Nigeria paying over $400,000,000 to GINL as fees for out-of-court settlement through a process that lasted 15 years.

It however stated that while it was not in any way against private investments in the steel sector, it

would not hesitate to draw the attention of the federal government and indeed Nigerians that the “rush and speed of the process might end up putting the two companies back into the same mess that President Muhammadu Buhari tried hard to bring them out.”

Francis Sardauna in Katsina

Adedayo AkinwaleinAbuja

Deji Elumoye in Abuja

Kasim SumainainAbuja

Ebonyi Unveils N36bn Modern Airport to Spur Investment, Economic Growth

Chinedu Eze

The Ebonyi State Governor, Dave Umahi, yesterday unveiled N36 billion International Cargo Airport at Onueke, near the state capital, Abakaliki.

As an incentive for travellers to use the airport, the state government offered the indigenes a free two weekly flights from Lagos and Abuja for the next one month.

Speaking after two Air Peace flights landed from Lagos and Abuja respectively to mark inaugural flight to the state-of-the-art airport, the governor said that the newly constructed airport would be named President Muhammadu Buhari International Cargo Airport, Onueke for the massive support received from the out-going president.

According to the Umahi, Buhari approved the sum of N10 billion for the take-off of the project, adding that several supports were also received from the federal government to ensure the successful completion of the airport.

The governor said that

the airport would drive development and investments in the state and appealed to investors to take the opportunity of the airport to invest in the state.

He further called on the incoming government to ensure good use of the facility for the people of the Ebonyi, the South-east and the entire Nigerians.

‘FG Promoting Divide and Rule over 40% Pay Rise’

Kuni Tyessi in Abuja

The Colleges of Education Academic Staff Union (COEASU), has accused the federal government of promoting what it described as divide and rule in its recent 40 percent increase in the salary of civil servants.

The union of colleges of education lecturers in the country, which said that it was happy that civil servants who are the drivers of government policies have been considered for salary increase, however expressed sadness at government’s decision to exclude some categories of workers including lecturers and other workers in the tertiary institutions in the gesture.

COEASU, in a statement on Wednesday by its president,

WORLD OF ISLA M

Edited by: MJO Mustapha Email deji.mustapha@thisdaylive.com

The Six Days of Shawwal

By: Sheikh Salman Al-Oadah/ IslamToday/IslamiCity

Dr. Smart Odunayo Olugbeko, regretted that government’s action came even as the various unions in the sector made several overtures to it (government) on salary increase.

The union said that government’s action was disheartening given that lecturers and other workers in colleges of education had their last increase in salary in 2010, which was 13 years ago.

“The implication is that what the lecturers were earning in 2010 is the same amount they still earn in 2023,” it added.

The statement read: “The Colleges of Education Academic Staff Union (COEASU) has received with mixed feelings the increase of 40 per cent in the salary of civil servants.

Seplat Energy Increases Dividend by 20%

Emma Okonji

The Seplat Energy has announced 20 per cent increase in its quarterly dividend from 2.5 cents per share to 3.0 cents per share.

This was revealed in its statement of results for the first three months of 2023, which announced that revenues of the company went up 37 per cent to $331 million while the bottom line grew by 189 per cent to $57.5 million.

While revenues grew 37 per

cent, the company’s analysis revealed that cost of sales rose by just 6.6 per cent meaning gross profits surged by 69 per cent to $198.3 million at a margin of 60 per cent, compared to 48 per cent in the first three months of 2022.

Delving deeper into its operational update, it became clear that the company remained extremely professionally managed despite recent complaints.

Seplat again demonstrated why it has adopted the moniker of Nigeria’s leading independent by

delivering average daily working interest production of 51,720 barrels of oil and gas equivalent and extending its safety record to 3.8 million person-hours without a single lost-time injury.

Perhaps it is not a surprise then that Seplat was the first African E&P company to be awarded the coveted ISO 55001 asset management certification, which recognised companies that manage their assets responsibly and effectively throughout their life cycle.

NLC Warns State Chapters against Hobnobbing with Governors, Politicians

Onyebuchi Ezigbo in Abuja

Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has cautioned all the state Councils of the Congress currently granting phoney endorsements and awards to politicians and individuals to desist forthwith to avoid disciplinary actions.

It said the affected branch officers either desist from such acts or face sanctions.

NLC commended the federal government on its just announced Salary award decision to public servants in the Country, saying that it was in recognition of its policies of last two years that, “have caused hyperinflation in the country and deeply eroded the real wages of Nigerian workers”.

In a resolution at the end of the National Administrative council (NAC) meeting of the NLC, it

condemned alleged meddlesome actions of some state governors in the internal affairs of Congress especially during the last State Delegates’ Conference of the NLC in all the States of the Federation

The resolution jointly signed by NLC president Comrade Joseph

Abu Ayyub al-Ansari relates that Allah’s Messenger (peace be upon him) says: “Whoever fasts the month of Ramadan and then follows it with six days of fasting in the month of Shawwal, it will be as if he had fasted the year through.” [Sahih Muslim (1163)]

The month of Shawwal is singled out for the observance of extra fasts since this month follows immediately after Ramadan. The six days of voluntary fasting are to the obligatory fast of Ramadan what the Sunnah prayers are to the obligatory prayers. It is related from Thawban that the Prophet (peace be upon him) said: “The fast of Ramadan is like observing ten months of fasting. Fasting six days of Shawwal is like observing two months of fasting. This together is like fasting throughout the year.” [Sahih Ibn Khuzaymah (2115) and Sunan al-Nasa’i al-Kubra (2860) - and authenticated by al-Albani]

Al-Nawawi observes [Sharh Sahih Muslim (8/56)]:

Scholars have explained that it is like observing a year of fasting because the reward of one’s good deeds are multiplied tenfold. Therefore, fasting the month of Ramadan is like fasting for ten months and fasting six days in the month of Shawwal is like fasting for two months.

Virtues of Fasting Six Days in Shawwal

1. Fasting six days in Shawwal after observing the Ramadan fast gives the person the reward of fasting throughout the year.

2. The fasts of Sha`ban and Shawwal are like the Sunnah prayers that accompany the five obligatory prayers. Like the Sunnah prayers, these extra fasts cover up for the deficiencies in our performance of our obligatory worship. On the Day of Judgment, our voluntary acts of worship will compensate for the shortcomings in how we carried out our duties. Most of us have deficiencies in our observance of our Ramadan fasts and we need something to cover up for those deficiencies.

Ajaero and General Secretary, Emma Ugboaja, “warned all the State Councils of the Congress currently granting phoney endorsements and awards to Politicians and individuals to desist forthwith to avoid disciplinary actions”

DELSU Ranks 4th among StateOwned Universities in Nigeria

SylvesterIdowuinWarri

The latest global ranking of universities by the Alper-Doger Scientific Index has shown that the Delta State University, Abraka (DELSU), is now the fourth among the best state-owned universities in Nigeria.

According to the latest global ranking, DELSU is ranked as the 27th best university in Nigeria among

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the over 200 universities in the country.

The Vice-Chancellor of DELSU, Professor Andy Egwunyenga, disclosed this on Wednesday evening at a press conference to usher in the 15th convocation ceremony of the university.

The convocation ceremony is scheduled to hold tomorrow at Campus Three, Abraka, beginning at 9 a.m. with the commissioning of projects, award of diplomas, first degree and higher degrees as well as award of prizes.

Egwunyenga said: “Further analysis of the ranking showed the university to be the best state university in the South-south and South-eastern parts of Nigeria.

“Furthermore, another highly recognised global university ranking body, Webometrics, in their own latest ranking, placed the university as 194th out of 2087 Universities in Africa and 24th out of over 200 universities in Nigeria, based on verified Google Scholar Citations.

“According to the ranking, DELSU recorded 56,443 citations, beating some highly rated universities in the United States of America, The United Kingdom, France, Sweden, Turkey, Portugal, Canada, and some other more advanced countries.”

[Note: The deficiencies being discussed here are not missing days of fasting. Rather, they are the deficiencies in our conduct that detract from the value of our worship.]

3. Our return to the habit of fasting right after Ramadan is a sign that our Ramadan fasts were accepted. When Allah accepts our worship, He blesses us to engage in further acts of piety. The saying goes: The reward of virtue is further virtue. Therefore, following one good deed with others like it is a sign that the first deed had been accepted by Allah. By contrast, if a person’s good deed is followed by a sinful one, it is an indication that the first good deed might not have been accepted.

4. Those who observe the fast of Ramadan are given their recompense on the day of `Id al-Fitr, the day when the fast is rewarded. Getting into the habit of fasting again soon thereafter is a means of giving thanks to Allah for the blessings that we have received. There is no blessing greater than forgiveness for one’s sins, and we know that fast of Ramadan is recompensed with forgiveness of one’s previous sins.

Indeed, Allah has commanded us to give thanks for the blessings of the Ramadan fast and to do so by making mention of Him and through other means of giving thanks. Allah says: “(He wants you) to complete the number of days, and to glorify Him in that He has guided you; and perchance you may give thanks.”

[Surah al-Baqarah: 185]

Fasting these days in Shawwal is one way for us to express our thanks for Allah blessing us in our observance of the Ramadan fast.

It is known that some of the Pious Predecessors would try to get up at night to pray the Tahajjud prayer. When Allah blessed them to wake up and do so, they would fast the next day in thanks to Allah for blessing them to observe that prayer.

Once Wuhayb b. al-Ward was asked about the blessings of various acts of devotion and he replied: “Do not ask

about the blessings that can be earned b performing these acts of worship. Rath e ask how you can show your thanks t Allah if He blesses you to perform the m for he is the one who assists us in doi n so.”

Every blessing that Allah gives us something that we have to be thankf u about. Moreover, when Allah blesses u to show thanks, this is a further blessi n from Allah that deserves further than k from us. If we show further thanks, t h in turn is another blessing deserving o u gratitude. There is no end to this a n we can never be thankful enough. Wh e we recognize that our thanks is nev e enough, this is the highest expressi o of gratitude we can give.

The Legal Ruling Regardin g the Six Days of Shawwal

Al-Shafi`i, Ahmad b. Hanbal, and Ish a al-Rahawayh hold that is preferable a n recommended to fast six days in the mont of Shawwal. This opinion has also be e related from Ibn `Abbas, Ka`b al-Ahb a Tawus, al-Sha`bi, Maymun b. Mahra n and Ibn al-Mubarak.

They base their opinion upon the hadit that we have discussed above.

Others have regarded fasting six da y in the month of Shawwal to be somethi n disliked. This view has been related fro m Malik and Abu Hanifah. They argue th it is feared from the general public th a they might misconstrue fasting these s days to be something obligatory. Th e also see it as emulating the People of t h Scripture to exceed the number of fasti n days in the prescribed month of fastin

However, these objections are spurio u in the face of the clear statements of t h Prophet (peace be upon him) that encourag this fast. If we were to abandon a Sunn a act on the grounds that we are exceedi n what is obligatory, then we would have t abandon all recommended fasts, includin the fast of `Ashura’ and the fast of t h middle of the month.

It has been related that Malik us e to personally fast six days in Shaww a Also, later Hanafi scholars decided th a there is no objection to fasting these da y

The Maliki jurist Ibn `Abd al-Bar explain [al-Istidhkar (3/380)]:

Malik did not know of the hadith relate by Abu Ayyub al-Ansari, even though is a hadith from the people of Madina h No one possesses all the knowledge he l by others. Malik explained and clarifi e what he disliked about it - He was afra i that it would be added to the obligato r fast of Ramadan by the general publ i Malik was extremely cautious when came to matters of religion.

As for fasting six days in the mon t of Shawwal to seek extra blessings - a Thawban depicts it - this is somethi n that Malik had no objection against and Allah knows best - since fasting a person’s protective shield and its virtue are well-known. When we give up o u food and drink for Allah’s sake, it is virtuous and good deed. Allah says: “a n engage in good works that perchance y o will be successful.” [Surah al-Hajj: 7 7

Malik was well aware of all this.

How We Should Fast the Si x Days in Shawwal

There are various opinions about t h question:

1. Some scholars hold the view th a it is preferable to fast the six days i consecutive order, starting from t h second day of Shawwal. This is the vie of al-Shafi`i and Ibn al-Mubarak.

2. Others are of the opinion that it preferable to fast the six days intermittentl spreading them out throughout the mont of Shawwal. This is the position of Ahma b. Hanbal and Waki`.

3. Then there are those who hold t h view that the days should all be postpone until later in the month and not clo s to the day of `Id, which is a time o celebration and feasting. They pref e fasting the three days in the middle o the month (ayyam al-bid) along with t h three days right before or after. This is th opinion of Ma`mar and `Abd al-Razza There is considerable flexibility in a of this. We can choose to follow any o these approaches that we wish.

And Allah knows best.

There is the aspect of furtive Yoruba triumphalism, or, to be more precise, the Yoruba of Senator Ahmed Bola Tinubu’s persuasion. It is the difference between the legitimacy of the Ayo Adebanjo’s Afenifere and the illegitimacy of the contrived Reuben Fasonranti’s faction. So to say, the ‘election’ of Tinubu is inherently a tragedy for all concerned, beginning with the man of the moment himself. I cannot recall a precedent in modern world history where an incoming president arrives in office with the liability and illegitimacy of a most disreputable pedigree. Not even the infamous Donald Trump, matches him in this regard. At least Trump won his election, free and fair.

Tinubu is one of Nigeria’s political personages, I would rather not publicly discuss. For whatever it is worth, I shared a personal relationship with him, reinforced by the fact of our Yoruba consaguinity. Significantly, he was there for the Yoruba people, when duty beckoned in the annulment of the 1993 presidential election crisis. Regardless, it is equally a Yoruba tragedy, in the sense of a comparative analysis of the qualities of hitherto Yoruba representation at the height of political office in Nigeria. How does he fare compared to Obafemi Awolowo, Ladoke Akintola, Olusegun Obasanjo, Ernest Shonekan, Moshood Abiola. More significant is the applicability of the abiding Yoruba canon of omoluabi. Here is a pertinent illustration of what constitutes Omoluabi:

“We’ve had OBJ military, Sonekan and OBJ civilian. Tinubu would be 4th!!. This matter is first and foremost about Integrity, Conscience and the essence of Omoluabi, on which measures, those of us opposing Obi, and wanting a 4th Yoruba Presidency, when our neighbours have not hand ONCE, have woefully betrayed the Yoruba core ethos of Omoluabi. An Omoluabi is NOT greedy and self-centered!!!” These excerpts are not my words but

they adequately capture my sentiments. The sad commentary here is that no Yoruba can claim to support Tinubu on the grounds of any fine principle, idealism, altruism or patriotism. Neither have I heard any of such supporters make the claim. For them, it is a question of opportunism, survival of the fittest, my brother right or wrong. It is the difference between 1999 and 2023.

The implicit concession of the Nigerian presidency to the Yoruba in 1999 was a compensation for the annulment of the 1993 presidential election won by Chief Moshood Abiola. It was a political and moral victory for forward looking Nigerians and it set the stage for the adoption of the power rotation convention. The convention also serves as a responsive containment strategy to the destabilising zero sum dimensions of Nigerian politics.

Fast forward to 2023 where another Yoruba has been ‘elected’ the president, in a situation of direct contradiction of the moral imperative of the 1999 concession. As the saying goes, the revolutionaries of yesterday have become the reactionaries of today. It is the story of how the NADECO Progressives of yore have substantially morphed into the neo Buhari ideologues of today, a subsidiary bulwark of a criminally bent status quo. The difference between the Yoruba society of 1999 and the culpable one of 2023 is the gap that separates the hero from the mercenary.

Whereas the ascendance of Chief Olusegun Obasanjo to the Nigerian presidency in 1999 was rectitude and remedy of a wrong that was perpetrated against Abiola inclusive of his Yoruba heritage; that of Chief Bola Ahmed Tinubu (if the court so decides) 24 years after is a callous deprivation of a sense of belonging to the most conspicuous victim of Nigeria’s power politics.

It is ironical that the consolidation of

AMERICAN WONDER! NIGERIAN WONDER!

preliminary report, indicted the electoral body of erosion of confidence and trust. In their report, she said and I quote ‘’at the close of the polls, challenges with the electronic transfer of results and their upload to a public portal in a timely manner, undermined citizen confidence at a crucial moment of the process ‘’

The report continued, ‘‘Moreover, inadequate communication and lack of transparency by the independent National Electoral commission (INEC) about their cause and extent, created confusion and eroded voter’s trust in the process ‘’. End of quote.

The report of JOEM, clearly indicted the electoral commission. Prelude to the conduct of the general elections, INEC had promised on several occasions to the chagrin of stakeholders, to transmit the results of the Presidential elections in real time, for the public to view. For clarity, let me quote the chairman of the commission, Prof Yakubu, in his words, “let me once again reassure Nigerians that there is no going back on the deployment of BVAS for voter accreditation. There is no going back on the transmission of results to the INEC result viewing portal (IREV) in real time on Election Day. “. Rather than stick to their guidelines, they hoodwinked Nigerians on the Election day, and technically refused to upload the Presidential election results in real time, thereby eroding the confidence and trust of Nigerians in the whole process. The inability of INEC to upload results, even one month after the polls, smacks of a hidden agenda.

To worsen the matter, when opposition parties drew the attention of the commission to the obvious flaws, rather than address the issues raised before declaring a winner, the commission, responded with the now infamous “GO TO COURT”.

To subtly tell Nigerians that the results they are about to announce does not reflect their wishes, while Nigerians were yet asleep, in a manner only akin to a thief, the electoral body announced the

Tinubu

result of the presidential election.

This to me was an indirect way of sarcastically telling Nigerians, you don’t need to be awake to hear the results as it does not reflect your wishes.

While Nigerians thought the electoral body would have redeemed itself with the next scheduled elections as the governorship and state assembly, the electoral body once again failed Nigerians and recorded high spate of inconclusive elections across the country. The INEC imbroglio was compounded by the embarrassment in Adamawa, were against any known law, the REC who is not empowered to do so,

the 1999 remedy into the equitable norm of power rotation would meet its nemesis at the behest of Yoruba insensitivity and selfishness. The ensuing (potential) Tinubu Presidency thereby tantamount to the usurpation of a norm with manifest utility of restoring equilibrium to Nigerian politics. Whereas 1999 was cause celebre across the length and breadth of Nigeria, the 2023 outcome speaks for itself in the prevailing self-evident atmosphere of gloom and despondency stalking the land. Alienation from this explicit violation of a norm has been deepened by the 2023 farcical elections.

About two years ago, President Olusegun Obasanjo, in consultation with Professor Wole Soyinka, resolved to host a non-partisan Pan Yoruba summit. I was charged with the role of the coordinator, in which capacity I went to brief and invite Tinubu. After hearing me out, he proposed that the agenda should include two items. One is the call for a referendum on a putative constitutional review and the other is the demand for power shift to the South. I concurred with the caveat that my own support for presidential power rotation begins and stops with the South East zone. In fulfilment of a sense of personal obligation, I alerted him that this was going to be the subject matter of my column the following day. Nothing has since happened to warrant a variation of this position. As a matter of fact, intervening developments have made it more compelling.

As the cliche goes, a lot of water had since passed under the bridge. If there was any vindication for those of us who had conspicuously stood for the zoning of the Nigerian presidency to the South East, it was the emergence of Peter Obi as presidential candidate. Beyond fulfilling the righteousness of the national unity and integration prescribed concession of the Nigerian presidency to the South

East, he has enjoyed national and global acclaim and attestation (as a befitting round peg in a round hole) on the kind of leadership that best serves the cause of Nigeria’s socioeconomic development going forward.

Buoyed by the obidents movement, he utilised the presidential campaign spanning several months to successfully pitch his candidacy. In him, the opportunity provided by the concatenation of the 2023 election circumstances found competence and capacity. Against this generic background, I couldn’t have found myself in any position other than the one I presently hold, ideologically and morally. It is a position that was bound to come in conflict with that of sundry Yoruba nationalists and opportunists. The difference between us and this latter category, is the difference between a Yoruba nationalist and a Yoruba patriot. I had earlier clarified the distinction:

‘The compelling virtue of the Afenifere endorsement of the Labour Party presidential candidate, Peter Obi can be reduced to the theoretical distinction between patriotism and nationalism. Unlike nationalism, good citizenship or patriotism is not a function of racial/ethnic identity. It is a conscientious Yoruba and good Nigerian who concludes that it is the turn of the Igbo to be the beneficiary of the observance of power rotation to the South. All cultures are ennobled by the application of the fundamental scriptural dictum ‘to love your neighbour as you love yourself’.

‘You can be a Yoruba nationalist without being a good man but you cannot be a good Yoruba if you are not a good man. The difference between patriotism and nationalism is simple – a patriot loves his country and is proud of it for what it does whereas a nationalist loves his country and is proud of his country, no matter what it does’.

while collation was still ongoing. What a bizarre.

While aggrieved parties have heeded to the infamous “go to court”, it now behooves on the judiciary to prove to anti- democratic forces, that the judiciary remains the last hope of the common man by righting the electoral wrongs of the last general elections without fear or favour.

If we must progress as a nation, our electoral institutions must be so strong as to eliminate any possibility of seeking redress in the courts. We must do everything within the armpits of the law to make every vote count.

A government without the sovereignty of the people will only return us to a state of nature were life is short, brutish and nasty. None of us can witness the revolt of the people.

The revolt may not happen now, or in the next election, but what is certain, if we continue in this cruel way of recruiting leaders through a very crooked and flawed process, without little or no approval from the electorates, perhaps, just one day, the owners of political power shall revolt, to end the Nigerian version of American wonder.

MR. PRESIDENT’S APOLOGY MANTRA

arrogantly announced a winner in the Adamawa Guber even when collation was still ongoing . The impunity displayed by the Adamawa REC, Mr. Hudu Yunusa, were derived from the posture of unprofessionalism and illegality by its national Chairman, who despite severally been reminded of fragrant violation of its own guidelines, went ahead to announce a winner in very odd hours of the night. Mr. Hudu must have been bolstered by the impetus of its chairman in doing the wrong thing, if not; I wonder what gave him the audacity to announce a result without figures, even

While I was rounding up with this piece, I just read over the news that Mr. President has asked Nigerians to forgive him. While there is no problem in seeking for forgiveness, after all, God almighty admonished us to forgive those who have wronged us, but Mr. President did not tell us what offense he has committed, at least that would have afford Nigerians a clear understanding of what sin they are pardoning for Mr. President, in any case, I wish him good luck as he retires from service to the nation.

•High Chief Sen. Ben Ndi Obi, CON, FNIPR writes from Abuja

Osimhen on the Cusp of History with Napoli

Spalletti’s men may clinch first title in 33 years tomorrow

Duro Ikhazuagbe

Super Eagles striker, Victor Osimhen, is on the cusp of history this weekend. His Italian side Napoli are on the verge of winning their third Scudetto in 33 years. Osimhen is at the driver’s seat of this Naples club chasing history. His contribution of 21 goals out of the total 67 scored by Luciano Spalletti side, places him at the top of the goals scorers’ chat in this tough Italian league.

However, before this dream of becoming the first Nigerian player to win the Scudetto in Italy, Napoli will have to surmount the obstacle posed by lowly Salernitana and also pray that second-placed Lazio drop points at Inter Milan.

And if that happens on Saturday, Osimhen would have succeeded

where the likes of Obafemi Martins, Nwankwo Kanu, Taribo West, Sunday Oliseh and Ogenyi Onazi failed to win the Italian topflight.

Already a cult hero with Naples fans, Osimhen at just 24 years, is on the way to emulating the legendary Diego Armando Maradona whom the Napoli stadium is named after for his achievements while there. Maradona led Napoli to two championships in 1987 and 1990.

Although still too early to compare the ambitious Nigerian lad with Maradona, Napoli fans who have gone ahead to erect statue to celebrate his feat this season, are seeing him in same class as the maverick Argentine.

If Napoli succeed tomorrow against Salernitana and Lazio are beaten or even pull a draw, they

Dozy Mmobuosi, GTI Affirming Growing Private Sector Confidence in NPFL

Private sector confidence to invest in the Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL) is building as the Interim Management Committee (IMC) and Dozy Mmobuosi Foundation penned an unprecedented billion Naira renewal deal for the second edition of the NPFL-Dozy Mmobuosi Foundation Pre-season Tournament.

After the first of its kind Sponsorship prize money of N130million for the first edition that held in November last year, Dozy Mmobuosi Foundation has now staked N1.2billion in prize money pool for the winner and runners-up with the winner set to receive N1billion and N200million for the second placed side.

The IMC at inauguration was mandated to stabilise the NPFL and position the league to attract investors and sponsors.

GTI, a finance investment company was the first to embrace the reformed league when through The Nigeria Football Fund (TNFF), it signed to inject over N1billion for administrative and marketing of the league with an objective to grow the league to a N5billion industry in the next five years.

At a ceremony in Abuja in early January, GTI had presented N200million to the 20 NPFL clubs

as season's start-up grant in addition to providing funds for enhanced indemnities for Match Officials and also ensure live broadcast of NPFL matches.

Chairman of the IMC, Hon. Gbenga Elegbeleye, described the development as the private sector's vote of confidence in the ongoing reforms of the NPFL.

"I am encouraged that our work to reposition the league is being well received by corporate Nigeria and I see the Dozy Mmobuosi Preseason Tournament as a fantastic opportunity to signal to others that we now have a league they can partner with to showcase their products and services while providing young football talents in the country the enablement to live their dreams".

Concurring, Mr. Dozy Mmobuosi, who sits atop a global multi-million dollars tech business minced no words in demonstrating his confidence in the NPFL as the right platform to impact on the overall good of football in Nigeria.

"We decided to expand the scope of the tournament from four to 12 in response to growing demand from fans and stakeholders for more high-level football action", Mmobuosi explained.

More Schools Boost Zenith Bank Swimming Gala at Ikoyi Club

The annual Zenith Bank sponsored inter school swimming gala billed to take place on Saturday at prestigious Ikoyi Club 1938 has been boosted by some new entrants.

A total of 15 teams took part in the secondary school swimming event last year but this time some new schools have registered to show that more fun will be derived by the participants.

A member of the organising committee, Folusho Olaiya, revealed yesterday that six new schools have registered for the 2023 event.

Kids Courts School, Supreme Education Foundation, Lagoon Secondary School, Dowen School, CourtHill School and Greenville School are the latest addition.

She noted that this was an indication of how stiff and competitive the forthcoming event will be as the registration procedure was ongoing as at Thursday evening.

will go 81 points and become the first team to win the title with six matches remaining.

Spalletti is a conservative personality and so expects his wards not to count their chicks before they are hatched, despite the fact that they are within touching distance of the prized silverware.

"I don't like to celebrate in advance," he said on Wednesday evening. "If we all do it together

there will be twice as much joy,” observed the Italian ahead of the big day tomorrow. It would be unthinkable for Napoli to blow their 17-point lead at this stage but Spalletti's caution is understandable given a tough April in which his team managed two wins in six games in all competitions.

With no other silverware to play for after Napoli were knocked

out of the Champions League by AC Milan in the quarterfinals this month, Spalletti can focus on landing the domestic crown, though he will be without injured defender Mario Rui.

Salernitana have improved dramatically since Paulo Sousa took over from Davide Nicola in mid-February and have pulled well clear of the relegation scrap. They are up to 14th in the table after an

eight-game unbeaten run. Simone Inzaghi's Inter have slipped to sixth place after Juventus won an appeal against a 15-point deduction that sent the Turin club back up to third in the standings. Only 24 hours stand between Osimhen and this piece of history waiting for this kid whose door to fame was opened after winning the FIFA U17 trophy with the Golden Eaglets in Chile in 2015.

Oshoala Leads Barca Femeni to Third Successive UCL Final

Femi Solaja

Five-time Women African Footballer of the Year and Super Falcons forward, Asisat Oshoala, yesterday led Barcelona Femeni to aggregate 2-1 victory over Chelsea Ladies to reach their third consecutive Champions League final.

The feat, no doubt asserts the Nigerian star as the first African to play in the prestigious women’s tournament for the third time aside the fact that she was the first from the continent to score in the final match when Barcelona lost 1-4 to Lyon two seasons ago.

After a grueling 60 minutes action without a goal, Oshoala had to be substituted by Salma Paralluelo.

Asisat Oshoala ( fifth , right) celebrating with teammates after Barcelona Femenino beat Chelsea aggregate 2-1 to reach their third consecutive Champions League final...last night

“We have new schools joining us and we are hopeful that more schools will register for the 2023 event,” she said.

Chairman of the Swimming Section, Ikedichi Kanu, stated that Ikoyi Cub was ready for the swimming event for the junior swimmers.

In the 2022 edition, 15 secondary schools attended the event in which 184 swimmers competed for honours in 24 individual and four relay events.

“It is always fun to see the young ones compete especially those in schools, they are the future.

“As the host, we are ready in all aspects to stage a high standard event for the young ones. Everything is in place and we are ready,” Kanu said.

The events to be competed for by the boys and girls are the 33.3m and 66.6m categories of Butterfly,

It was however Caroline Graham Hansen that haunted Chelsea again having scored the lone goal in the first leg at Stamford Bridge last week to give Barcelona a slender lead to the Camp Nou match.

The English side facing the

Spanish team who had won their last 19 home games in Europe, were equally prepared for the night. They dared Barca Femeni’s roaring 70,000 fans and even equalised four minutes after the home side scored in the 60th

minute.

Chelsea pushed for the winner as they still trailed on aggregate but it never came as Barcelona confirmed their place in the final for a third successive year.

The defeat ended Chelsea's pursuit of a treble this season. They however remain firmly in the Women's Super League title race and will compete with Manchester United Ladies for the Women's FA Cup.

Football Great, Pelé, Enters Dictionary to Mean 'Unique'

Pelé, the nickname of the late football legend, Edson Arantes do Nascimento, has officially become synonymous with "exceptional, incomparable, unique".

The Portuguese-language Michaelis dictionary, one of the most popular in Brazil, added "pelé" as a new adjective to its online edition.

The inclusion came after a campaign by the Pelé Foundation to honour the football star gathered more than 125,000 signatures.

Pelé died in December aged 82.

The only player to have won the World Cup three times, he is

widely considered to be the best footballer in history.

During his playing career spanning two decades, he scored a record 1,281 goals with Brazilian club Santos, Brazil's national team, and the New York Cosmos.

Since his death from complications from colon cancer, his former club, Santos, sports channel SporTV and the Pelé Foundation had been pressing for the football star's name to be recognised with its own entry in the dictionary.

On Wednesday, the publishers behind Michaelis dictionaries

announced the word would be included in the digital edition of their Portuguese-language dictionary immediately and in the printed version once the next edition was published.

The entry reads: "pe.lé adj. That or someone who is out of the ordinary, who or who by virtue of their quality, value or superiority cannot be equalled to anything or anyone, just like Pelé, nickname of Edson Arantes do Nascimento (1940-2022), who is considered the greatest athlete of all time; exceptional, incomparable, unique."

Victor Osimhen (centre) leading the gaze at the Italian Scudetto. Napoli may win their third league title if they beat Salernitana and Lazio drop points at Inter...tomorrow

Pelé...now listed in Portuguese dictionary as meaning ‘unique’

NUJ President to Journalists

“We should always remember that while the gatekeeper on social media platforms has died or never even existed, the gatekeeper in the traditional media lives on. Unlike traditional journalism, social media is a bottom-up emergent phenomenon in which there is little or no editorial oversight or formal journalistic workflow. It does not require training or professionalism. It is therefore my contention that in an attempt to discuss this topic, adequate consideration should be given to the traditional media” –NUJ President, Chris Isiguzo, charging Journalists to guide against fake news.

Their Finest Hour AKIN OSUNTOKUN

“Let us therefore brace ourselves to our duties, and so bear ourselves that, if the British Empire and its Commonwealth last for a thousand years, men will still say, “This was their finest hour.”-Winston Churchill- commending the bravery of the British people (especially the youths) during the second world war.

“Everyone should lose a battle in his youth, so that he does not lose a war when he is old”- George Martin

The debt of tribute I owe the younger generation in Nigeria has accumulated since the martyrdom of Leah Sharibu. It is late in coming but God knows my appreciation of her supreme sacrifice resides in my heart since the beginning of her captivity. She stared terrorism in the face and rejected her captors’s offer of conditional freedom. In the circumstances, it was not really a demanding coercion. Just momentarily renounce Christianity for Islam and we will set you free. If there was ever a good bargain, this was it. Yet she rejected the offer. Remember

she was even a child. As a matter of fact, the Islamic doctrine of taqqiya has a priori absolved her of culpability in

BEN NDI OBI

GUEST COLUMNIST

specifically the kind of situation she found herself in. Faced with a similar burden, did the founder of christianity, Saint Peter, not deny Jesus Christ, thrice before cock crow at dawn?

I have been privileged by fate to be at the centre stage where her peers have decided to pick up the gauntlet for the political salvation of Nigeria. They call themselves the obidients movement, so christened as a rally for the personification of their ideal choice for the political leadership of Nigeria, the presidential candidate of the Labour Party, Mr Peter Obi.

Not too uncommon, at the latter part of middle age, I have been experiencing intermittent weariness of spirit on the sacrifices of the political choice I have made and the probability of Nigeria getting it right. If I will not succumb, the credit goes to the pact I have intrinsically made with this Nigerian demographic. I urged them on, all through the campaign, with the challenge and exhortation of Frantz Fanon, that, “out of relative obscurity, every generation must discover its destiny, to fulfil or betray it”. As the 2023

presidential election goes, they fulfilled their part of the bargain but their dream has been abbreviated by the depravity of the political status quo.

As a student of Nigerian politics, it would be remiss of me to give the impression that I did not anticipate all that has happened in the interim. But we human beings are a creature of hope. How could I have imagined that a Muhammadu Buhari presidency would, in repudiation of its soul and spirit, birth a new dawn for Nigerian politics? Wasn’t I the one who earlier spoke of the theory of social reproduction in which tendency, a regime reproduces itself, in form and character. So, welcome to the neo Buhari ideological dispensation where we are confronted with its manifestation in the weaponization of ethno religious bigotry and polarisation, not to talk of the intimate commonality of the physical and mental fragility of the man on whose desk the buck stops. An apple, they say, does not fall from the tree.

American Wonder! Nigerian Wonder!

The beauty of every democracy is periodic elections and such elections must pass all the known characteristics of an election in a democratic setting.

Abraham Lincoln, the 16th American President, probably, gave us the basic tenets of what an election ought to be in a democracy, when in his famous Gettysburg speech, he defined democracy as a government of the people, by the people and for the people. As simple as that definition was, it contains all the requirements that are expected of a credible, fair and free elections. The central idea in Lincoln’s celebrated speech is that in a democracy, elections are meant for the people and its outcome must reflect the wishes and aspirations of the people the elections were meant for. What this means and implies, is that sovereign authority belongs to the people and flow from them. Anything outside this cannot be said to be an election. It is either a magic or a mere selection which has no place in a democratic setting.

The danger of a regime without sovereignty of the people, is that anarchy

and chaos are bound to loom, this is because, man is naturally a political being and he is bound to revolt when his rights are violated, such rights as determining who rules and govern over him. When such rights are violated, they become an invitation to anarchy, chaos and anti-regime profiling.

This is better explained in the theory postulated by Thomas Hobbes in explaining the social contract theory between the ruled and ruler. According to Hobbes, to escape the state of nature that is gloomy, sordid, brutish and short, man willingly surrendered his rights and entered into a contract for the establishment of a state. The social contract obliges citizens to respect and obey the state, in exchange for stability and security that only a system of political rule can provide.

In modern day democracy, that social contract is renewed every election year. The implications of a forceful contract, presupposes a return to what Hobbes described as state of nature as the people who were supposed to freely consent to the contract through elections were neglected, this happens when politicians rig elections

and impose themselves on the people, the danger of such undemocratic move, is that anarchy is bound to reign supreme under such circumstances.

Since the return to democratic rule in 1999, Nigeria has had a chequered and sour history with regards to the sanctity of the electoral process. While we may have tolerated the electoral malfeasance for the past 20 years now, as periods of experiment and learning, the 2023 general elections was the height of electoral heist ever witnessed in the history of this country, despite providing the umpire with all the necessary tools it required to conduct a credible and free election . Armed with a solid improvement in technology, one would have thought that the electoral body would have leveraged on them to make the polls credible, rather, the elections as widely reported by international and local observers failed to meet the standard expected of an election.

During the old good days, in description of a new invention and innovations especially in science and technology, and in exclamation to surprise inventions, we

usually respond with that timeless old song: Come and see, American wonder, Come and see, America wonder, who no know, American wonder, who no know, American wonder. The song and caption of this piece reminds us of how time has changed, and the American Wonder has been replaced with such negativity as fraud, stealing and electoral abracadabra. Maybe, the Nigerian version of American wonder could not have been properly expressed than what INEC did in the last presidential election, leaving some of us who sang the American wonder song in those days to wonder, if our own version of Nigerian Wonder connotes everything fraud. The Nigerian wonder that INEC showcased to the world bequeaths everything negativity in direct opposite of the American wonder.

The joint election observation mission(JEOM) involving The International Republican Institute (IRI), National Democratic Institute (NDI) led by Her Excellency, Joyce Banda, former President of Malawi, in their

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Tinubu